Okay ... This is a classic encounter - Kasparov versus Topalov
Wikanzee 1999
A brilliant game
by Kasparov
e4 was played
Topalov replied d6
so we have a kind of Pirc defence
emerging
after Nc3 here
g6 ..
Bishop e3
Bishop g7
Kasparov plays rather crudely now
trying to exchange off this fianchettoed bishop
and
Perhaps to just crudely attack Black's king after that
He plays Queen d2 so it is all very
straightforward chess by both sides here
Topalov doesn't castle here
he delays with c6. Now f3 is played
b5 so again
Topalov is delaying castling kingside
Perhaps already he is thinking of castling on the other side
to avoid this
primitive attacking potential of Bishop h6 and h4
Knight g-e2 Knight d7
Now Bishop h6
is played anyway
so Topalov takes the opportunity to lure the queen away
to h6
and
just plays
Bishop b7
saying to Kasparov
I don't care your queen is there.. I am going to castle queenside
a3 e5
Black
starts to put pressure on these dark squares
which might be felt more
because White has given up the dark squared bishop
he has played f3 so these dark squares
are weaker than usual
castles queenside
Queen e7
King
b1
a6
so a change of plan is needed now - none of this h4 stuff
instead
a different plan .. Kasparov plays Nc1
Perhaps with the immediate ideas of Nb3 and Na5
castles queenside .. Nb3
now Topalov
releases the tension in the center
with exd4
Rook takes d4 .. c5
Black is gaining some space
seems to be an interesting position
for black
and doesn't seem to have too much to worry about at this moment
rook retreats
Knight b6
perhaps with he potential aim of d5
trying to equalise or gain space
g3 gives
scope for Bh3 now
Kb8 prophylactic move just in case Bh3 check is going to be annoying ...
Also perhaps
the rook can come to c8 and the other one to d8
Knight a5 was played
Bishop a8
Black doesn't want to give up that bishop in a hurry
which would expose some weaknesses potentially on the light squares
Bishop h3
at least this stops this Rc8
But Black now plays d5
which kind of liberates the pieces if he can get away with it
Queen f4 ... King a7
Rook h-e1
So Kasparov is tempting black to play d4 to gain more space
which is exactly what he did
Knight d5
so some suprise
as potentially the pawn is going to be weak on d5 after the knight capture
so what is Kasparov up to ?!
exd5
Queen d6
However... it is here Kasparov shows
some brilliance
Instead of just say Qxd6
followed by Re7 which
might be tempting
He plays the absolutely shocking
move.. can you find it ?!
I will give you five seconds (or pause the video!)
i'll show you know
brilliancy move - Rook
takes d4
after cxd4
Rook e7 check here
Now the first point
If Queen takes e7
new variation
there is a mate in four with
Queen takes d4 check
Kb8
Queen b6 check
this bishop is stopping the escape square c8
Bb7
and
now
Nc6 check
King a8
Queen a7
so thats pretty convincing
so now we have the
king being forced
to do something else
the King comes to b6
Kasparov plays Queen takes d4 check
and another piece
bites the dust
but the king is getting sucked up the board in dramatic style
b4 check
King a4
and now
Kasparov leaves a whole roon enprise with
queen c3
of course
Queen takes e7
is not a very good idea because of Qb3 mate
but there is also another brilliant resource here
that is if
Bishop takes d5 to stop this Qb3
White still has a mate in four
believe it or not with Kb2
with the threat of Qb3 check
Bishop takes
b3 cxb3 mate
so that would be pretty dire for black
so here
after Queen c3
Topalov played Queen takes d5
Kasparov continued
with Rook a7
and then there is bishop bb7
Rook takes b7
Queen c4
Now Queen takes f6
Kasparov is getting back some material.. he is only the exchange down now
he doesn't mind of Topalov plays Rd1
because Kb2
will be protecting a3
pawn
and still be threatening this menacing Queen takes a6
so Topalov boldly
brings the King further down
King takes a3
Queen takes a6
King takes b4
c3 check
very precisely calculated
how to take this c3 pawn ?!
Topalov took with his king but lets quickly examine Queen takes c3
population frequency
There would be mate in 3 with Q takes b5
King a3
and now
either Ra7 check
or Queen a6 is mating
so you have to be careful how you take this pawn
so he took with the King
and after
Queen a1 check
King d2 - we have
the spectacular
suction of the black king down the board
after Qb2 check
King d1
Kasparov now plays yet another brilliant move
He plays
Bishop f1 - fantastic decoy!
if Topalov replied Queen takes f1
there would follow
a mate in 3 this time with Queen c2 check
King e1
and Rook e7 mating
so
this horrible
decoy.. the queen is forced to do something
there is no useful check
no Qd3 check or anything
But Topalov decides not to move the queen but instead to play
Rook d2
and here Kasparov plays yet another brilliant move
He plays Rook d7
so now there is the threat of Qxd2 mate
and if Rook takes d7 then Bishop takes c4
which is how the game continued
so Kasparov is ...
equalising on material
especially after taking the Rook on h8 he is now up on material ...
Queen against rook
difficult for Black now
to be such material difference
he plays now
Rook d3
Kasparov is now bringing the queen back in the game with Queen a8
Queen a4 check
now he makes time for f4
f5 King c1
Rook d2
Kasparov just plays Queen a7
with Queen g1 check or Queen e3 check
Topalov
has had enough here
material down .. superbly played game by Kasparov