29.5.15

Svidler and the Bluff

The last round of the Khanty-Mansiysk Grand Prix defined the winners of the event. But perhaps the most interesting game was the one between Peter Svidler and Baadur Jobava. Especially the comments of teh Russian GM:
A game that I liked (ChessBase 13)

[Event "FIDE Grand Prix - Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.26"]
[Round "11.5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:21:34"]
[BlackClock "0:29:09"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 {Jobava switched back to the Rubinstein French.}
4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Neg5 {[%csl Ye6,Yf7,Yh7]
Diagram [#] This move is connected with a blunder as Svidler explained at the
press-conference. One of the key ideas for White in these set-ups to sacrifice
the knight on either e6 or f7. Svidler saw that in the line} (8. c4 {(to get
control of the d5 square)} Ngf6 9. Neg5 h6 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. Bg6+ Kf8 12. Qxe6
{Black does not have the move Bc6-d5, but has anotehr way to save himself} Bb4+
{followed by Qd8-e7 and wins.}) 8... Bxg5 {But while thinking, the Russian GM
realized that in the line} (8... h6 $1 9. Nxe6 ({He also desperately considered
} 9. Qxe6 hxg5 10. Nxg5 Nh6 11. Bg6 {which however is refuted by the simple}
O-O) ({Therefore, he should have opted for the sad} 9. Ne4 {and as he mocked
himself after the game "I would sit here and explain to you how important is
to have the b1-h5 diagonal weakend and how deep my idea is to deliver
checkmate later". Svidler is an amazing annotator!}) (9. Nh3 {is horrible
after} g5) 9... fxe6 10. Bg6+ Kf8 11. Qxe6 {Black for some reason still has
the move} Bb4+ {:)}) 9. Nxg5 h6 $146 ({Previosly only} 9... Ngf6 10. c4 O-O 11.
O-O {has been played in Fluvia Poyatos,J (2450)-Lopez Martinez,J (2440) Spain
2004}) 10. Nf3 ({Bad is} 10. Qh5 Qe7 11. O-O Ngf6 12. Qh3 O-O-O 13. Nf3 g5 {
with pleasant attack for Black (Svidler).}) 10... Qf6 11. Ne5 $5 {[%csl Rg2]
Diagram [#] The only way to fight for the advantage. Black is very comfortable
after} (11. Be4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 O-O-O $11) 11... Nxe5 ({White has ample
compensation for a pawn after} 11... Bxg2 12. Rg1 Bc6 13. Bd2) 12. Qxe5 ({
White did not like} 12. dxe5 Qh4 {[%cal Gg8e7,Ge7f5] with the idea Ng8-e7-f5
and very nice position for Black.}) 12... O-O-O {Jobava plays for more than
equality which he has after} (12... Qxe5+ 13. dxe5 Ne7 $11 {[%csl Gd5,Gf5]
Diagram [#]}) 13. Be3 Qe7 $6 {Again the trade of the queens is objectively best
} (13... Qxe5 14. dxe5 Ne7 $11) 14. O-O-O Nf6 15. f3 $14 {Now the bishop pair
provides some advantage to White.} g5 ({Black cannot equalize with} 15... Nd5
16. Bd2 Nb4 17. Bxb4 Qxb4 18. Qxg7 $16 {(Svidler)}) 16. c4 b6 17. Bd2 ({Some
more preparation was possible} 17. Rhe1 Nd7 18. Qg3 f5 19. Qf2 f4 20. Bd2 Nc5
21. Bc2 {with advantage for White (Svidler)}) 17... Nh5 {[%csl Yg5,Rh5,Yh6]
Diagram [#] The problem for Black is that he has to sit and wait while his
opponent is preparing the central break d4-d5.} 18. d5 f6 19. Qe2 {White's
advantage grew and Jobava tries to muddy the waters with} Ba4 20. b3 Bd7 ({The
piece sacrifice} 20... Qa3+ 21. Kb1 Bxb3 {fails to} 22. Bc1 $1 Bxd1 23. Qxe6+ {
(Svidler, Jobava).}) 21. g4 Ng7 {Now the knight is stranded. Svidler believed
that Black should have sacrificed a pawn instead} (21... Nf4 22. Bxf4 gxf4 23.
dxe6 Bxe6 24. Qe4 Kb8 25. Qxf4 a5 {with chancesto survive.}) 22. Kb1 ({Better
is} 22. Bc3 Kb8 23. h4 {with pressure on the dark squares. White will very
much like to conduct the play on the color of the bishop that the opponent
does not have.}) 22... h5 {Generates useful pressure along the h file.} 23. h3
Qf7 24. Bc3 Kb8 25. Be4 (25. Qb2 $5) 25... Bc8 26. Rhe1 {Diagram [#]} ({In
case of} 26. Qb2 {White did not like} Ne8 (26... e5 27. b4 Bb7 28. Qb3 {
followed by c4-c5 is excellent for White.}) 27. dxe6 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Qxe6 29.
Rd8 $6 (29. Bd5 {keeps an edge for White instead.}) 29... hxg4 $1 30. hxg4 $2
Rh1+ {and wins.}) 26... hxg4 27. hxg4 Bb7 28. dxe6 Bxe4+ 29. Qxe4 Rxd1+ 30.
Rxd1 Nxe6 31. Qf5 {Black managed to trade one of the bishops, but his brother
still dominates the knight. Badly.} Rh6 ({Jobava saw the line} 31... Rf8 32.
Re1 Ng7 33. Qh7 $1 {[%cal Gf3f4,Gg4g5] followed by f3-f4 and g4-g5!}) 32. Rd2
Qg6 33. Qxg6 Rxg6 {[%csl Yf6][%cal Gd2d5,Gd5f5,Gf5f6] Diagram [#] In order to
relieve the pressure Black has to exchange the queens, but now he inevitably
loses the pawn on f6.} 34. Rd5 Rh6 35. Rf5 Rh1+ 36. Kb2 Rh2+ 37. Kb1 Rh1+ 38.
Kb2 Rh2+ 39. Ka3 a5 (39... Rf2 {would be similar to the game} 40. Bxf6 {This
is better than} (40. Rxf6 Nf4 41. Rf8+ Kb7 42. Bf6 Nd3 43. Bxg5 a5 44. Rd8 Rxf3
) 40... a5 $16) 40. Rxf6 Re2 41. Rf5 Rf2 42. Re5 Nf4 ({Worse is} 42... Rxf3 43.
Bxa5 $1 bxa5 44. Rxe6 Rf4 45. Re5 {where the three connected pawns easily
prevail.}) 43. Rxg5 Rxf3 44. Kb2 ({In case of} 44. Bd4 Nd3 45. Rg8+ Kb7 46. g5
{Jobava suggested} Rg3 (46... c5 $5 {Svidler}) 47. g6 Rg2 {when Black indeed
has a lot of counterplay after} 48. g7 Nb4 {Mate is threatened!} 49. Bb2 {and
here instead of the Georgian's sugegstion} Nc2+ ({Black can do} 49... c6 $1 {
[%csl Ya3][%cal Rb6b5,Rb4c2] Diagram [#]} 50. Rf8 b5 {when White has to find
the draw} 51. Rf7+ (51. cxb5 $2 {loses after} cxb5 52. Rf7+ Kc6 53. Rf6+ Kd7
54. Rf7+ Kd6 55. Rf6+ Ke7) (51. g8=Q $4 Nc2#) 51... Ka6 52. cxb5+ cxb5 53. Rc7
$11) 50. Ka4 Nd4) ({Svidler also considered the amusing} 44. Bxa5 bxa5 45. Rf5
{but quickly figured it a draw after} Kb7 46. g5 Rg3 47. Rxf4 Rxg5 $11) 44...
Nd3+ 45. Kc2 Nb4+ 46. Bxb4 axb4 47. Rf5 Rg3 48. g5 {The rook endgame is very
unplesant for Black. The passer on g5 is extremely good. But as we know "all
rook endgames are draw", are not they?} Kc8 $1 {Black cannot hold with the
rook only, he needs to bring on all the reserves.} (48... Rg2+ 49. Kd3 Rxa2 50.
Ke4 Re2+ 51. Kf4 $1 {followed by Re5-e3 wins for White.}) 49. Kd2 Kd7 50. Ke2
Ke6 51. Rb5 Rg2+ 52. Kf3 Rxa2 53. Rxb4 Ra1 $6 {Diagram [#] Up to now Black had
defended very well, but this is a serious step in the wrong direction.} ({
Jobava should have activated the rook as soon as possible} 53... Rd2 $1 54. Rb5
Rd4 {with reasonable drawing chances.}) 54. Rb5 Kf7 55. Ke4 Rd1 $6 {Another
inaccurucy. Better was} (55... Re1+ 56. Kd5 (56. Kd4 Rd1+ 57. Ke5 Re1+) 56...
Re6 $1 57. Kd4 c5+ 58. Kd5 Ke7 {and Black should hold.}) 56. b4 Re1+ 57. Kd5
Re6 58. Kd4 {Without the c7-c5 resourse Black is in trouble.} Re1 59. c5 Rd1+
60. Ke4 Re1+ 61. Kd5 $1 Re6 62. Kd4 $1 {Diagram [#] Zugzwang!} Rg6 (62... Ke7
63. cxb6 cxb6 64. Re5) (62... Kg6 63. cxb6 cxb6 64. Re5 Rd6+ 65. Kc4) 63. cxb6
cxb6 64. Re5 Rc6 65. Kd5 Rc1 66. Kd6 {The b6 pawn drops and tehnblack king can
do nothing to stop the b4 one.} ({The official recording says that White
played here} 66. Ke4 {but is not likely to be the truth. Probably the king was
placed on e4 at the moment of Black's resignation.}) 1-0



Report.

19.5.15

Humans Too

The last tournament from the Grand Prix series is in progress in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
A game that I liked (ChessBase 13) Fabiano Caruana is leading before the free day with 3/4, but it could have been different if Evgeny Tomashevsky had won his game in round two. This game proved that the top GM are also human beings, tending to make mistakes.

[Event "FIDE Grand Prix - Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.15"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:03:00"]
[BlackClock "0:11:03"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 {The Bagirov's is
Tomashevsky's beloved weapon against the KID.} e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. g3 {Diagram [#]
Tomashevsky's pet move. He is the guiding force behind the whole line and the
creator of the theory here.} (8. Nh2 {is considered to be the main line.}) 8...
Qe7 {Quite an unusual move by Grischuk that forced his opponent into some
thought. However, I doubt that it will attract any followers.} ({If you have
missed the last issue of the Master bulletin, then you missed a lot! GM
Abhijeet Gupta annotated extensively the topical theory after} 8... f5 9. exf5
gxf5 10. Nh4 Nf4 (10... Nf6 {is the other option.}) 11. Bd2 Qe7 12. Qc2 Na6 13.
a3 Bd7 14. O-O-O {Tomashevsky,E (2716)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2705) Tbilisi GEO 2015})
({The other main move is also covered there} 8... a5 9. Be2 Na6 10. Nh2 Nf6 11.
Ng4 {Ipatov,A (2592)-Bacrot,E (2711) Jerusalem ISR 2015}) 9. Nh2 Na6 $146 {
This is a novelty.} ({The only predecessor saw the illogical} 9... Nf6 10. Bg5
h6 11. Be3 Kh7 $16 {Stromer,A (2272)-Bremond,E (2300) Etang Sale 2001}) 10. Be3
{Tomashevsky proceeds with development.} (10. Be2 Nf6 {looks less convincing.})
10... Nc5 11. h4 $1 {[%csl Yf7][%cal Gg3g4,Gh4h5] Diagram [#] White's idea is
to gain space on the kingside and to basically kill any counterplay there. A
very mean strategy!} (11. Be2 {leads White nowhere after} Nf6 12. f3 Nh5 $1)
11... a5 12. Be2 Nf6 13. Qc2 c6 14. g4 {This is the position that White is
heading for. He is now better on both flanks. In comparison to some lines of
the Averbakh sistem Black did not have time to push the b pawn, or at least
bring his queen on a5.} Na6 ({If} 14... cxd5 {White can simply recapture} 15.
cxd5 ({but there is an even more decent option} 15. Bxc5 $1 dxc5 16. g5 Ne8 17.
Nxd5 {followed by Be2-g4 and total domination.})) (14... Bd7 15. g5 Ne8 16. h5
{is also great for White.}) 15. g5 Ne8 (15... Nd7 16. h5 $16) 16. h5 Nb4 17.
Qd2 cxd5 18. cxd5 Bd7 19. O-O-O {[%csl Yd7][%cal Gc1b1,Yd1c1,Yc1c2,Yh1c1,Ya2a3,
Re2b5] Diagram [#] White finished his development and intends to strengthen
the position with Kc1-b1, doubling of the rooks along the c file and of
course- trade of the light squared bishop via b5 whenever possible.} f5 {
Grischuk tries to counter attack.} 20. Kb1 b5 (20... f4 21. Bb6 {would leave
Black completely paralized.}) 21. hxg6 {White completely ignores the
opponent's provocations on the other wing.} ({Instead} 21. Bxb5 $2 Bxb5 22.
Nxb5 f4 23. Bb6 Qb7 {would drop a piece for White.}) ({And} 21. Nxb5 $6 Rb8 22.
Nc3 f4 {would work well for Black as well.}) 21... hxg6 22. f3 Nc7 23. Rc1 {
The kingside is stable, it is time to take care of his "own" one.} Nba6 24. Bd3
b4 25. Ne2 Nb5 {Grischuk need one more more to play Rf8-c8 and things would
not be that clear but...} 26. Rc6 $1 {[%csl Gc6][%cal Rb3g8,Rh1h8] Diagram [#]
Splendid!} Rfb8 ({The rook is not delicious} 26... Bxc6 27. dxc6 Nbc7 28. Bc4+
Ne6 {would lead to a completely helpless position for Black, e.g.} 29. Rd1 {
(not the only winnning move)} Kh8 (29... Rfd8 30. Bb6) 30. Qxd6 Qxd6 31. Rxd6 {
and White wins.}) 27. Rhc1 f4 (27... Bxc6 28. dxc6 d5 29. exf5 {is again bad
for Black.}) 28. Bf2 Bf8 (28... Qxg5 29. Bxb5 Rxb5 30. Rxd6 $18) 29. Ng4 {The
game is practically over. However, at the stage appears his Majesty, the
Time-Trouble.} Qxg5 30. Rh1 Qe7 ({Please note that the rook always invincible
due to the weakness of the light squares} 30... Bxc6 31. dxc6 Be7 32. Bc4+ Kg7
33. Qd5 {and in order to save the checkmate Black will have to give up the
knight on b5.}) 31. Bxb5 Rxb5 {Diagram [#]} 32. Nxf4 $1 {So far so good,
Tomashevsky acurately calculated the win.} Bxg4 ({The choice is decisive
attack for White after} 32... exf4 33. Bd4 Bg7 34. Nh6+ Kf8 (34... Bxh6 35.
Rxh6) 35. Qxf4+ Ke8 36. Bxg7 Qxg7 37. Qxd6 $18) 33. Nxg6 Qf6 34. Nxf8 Rxf8 35.
Rg1 {With seconds on the clock White plays it safe.} ({A more spectacular win
would have been} 35. Rxd6 Qxd6 36. Qg5+ Kf7 37. Rh7+ Ke8 38. Qxg4 Rb8 39. Qh5+
Kd8 40. Bh4+ Kc8 41. Qg4+) 35... Qxf3 36. Qg5+ Kf7 37. Rxg4 Ke8 (37... Qxf2 38.
Qg7+ Ke8 39. Rc8#) 38. Qg6+ Qf7 {Two more moves and the time trouble will be
over. Almost everything wins for White. Tomashevsky fevereshly calculates the
capture on d6 but at the last moment looks at the clock and realizes that
there are only four seconds left. He grabs the first available piece instead...
} 39. Qxf7+ {Which also wins.} (39. Qxd6 {is forced mate instead} Rb8 (39...
Qxf2 40. Rc8+ Kf7 41. Rxf8#) 40. Qxe5+) 39... Rxf7 {Diagram [#]} 40. Be3 $4 {
If the previous move had thrown away the mate, this one throws away the win!} (
{One more check would have done the job} 40. Rg8+ Kd7 41. Rxa6 {as the knight
is invincible} Rxf2 42. Ra7+ Rb7 43. Rxb7#) 40... Nc5 $2 {And Grischuk returns
the favour! Needless to say, he was also in time trouble.} (40... Rf1+ $1 {
would be a draw instead} 41. Rc1 {Best or else Black might get better.} (41.
Bc1 $2 Rc5 {is very good for Black.}) (41. Kc2 {fails to} b3+ 42. axb3 $2 Nb4+)
41... Rxc1+ 42. Bxc1 b3 $11) 41. Rg8+ {The time trouble is over, both players
have time to take breath and reasses the situation. Tomashevsky is still
winning, but miracles are not yet over...} Kd7 42. Ra8 Rb7 43. Bxc5 (43. Bg5 $1
{would have been better! The only way to stop the checkmate is} Rf1+ 44. Kc2
Rf2+ 45. Kd1 Ne6 {when White wins a piece and the game after} 46. dxe6+ Kxc6
47. e7 Rxe7 48. Bxe7 Rxb2 49. Rxa5 b3 50. a3 $1) 43... dxc5 44. Rxc5 {Diagram
[#] The wrong pawn!} (44. Rxa5 $1 {was still good enough for the full point as}
Rf4 45. Rh6 $1 {leaves Black no time to capture the pawn} Rxe4 46. Rh7+ Kc8 47.
Ra8+ Rb8 48. Rh8+) 44... Rf1+ 45. Rc1 Rxc1+ 46. Kxc1 b3 $1 {Grischuk creates
counterplay! We all know that "the rooks endgame are always draw".} 47. a3 Rc7+
48. Kd2 Rc2+ 49. Kd3 Rxb2 50. Rxa5 Rh2 51. Rb5 Rh3+ 52. Kd2 Kd6 $1 {Black
activated all his pieces and managed to hold the draw later.} 53. a4 Rh2+ 54.
Kc3 Rh3+ 55. Kd2 (55. Kb2 Re3 56. Rb4 Kc5 $11) 55... Rh2+ 56. Kc3 Rh3+ 57. Kc4
Re3 58. Rb6+ Kc7 59. Rxb3 Rxe4+ 60. Kc5 Rxa4 61. d6+ Kd7 62. Rb7+ Ke6 63. Re7+
Kf5 64. d7 {Diagram [#]} Rd4 65. Kc6 e4 66. Re8 Kf4 67. d8=Q Rxd8 68. Rxd8 e3
69. Kd5 e2 70. Re8 Kf3 71. Kd4 Kf2 72. Kd3 e1=Q 73. Rxe1 Kxe1 74. Kd4 {A
delightful conclusion- the top Grandmasters are human beings too!} 1/2-1/2



Report.

15.5.15

"Retired Old Man"

"The Battle of the Legends" took part in St. Louis at the end of April. Garry Kaparov and Nigel Short met again 22 years after their WWC match. The match consisted of ten games- two rapid and eight blitz. The first day was good for Kasparov who proved that he is still capable of producing great games. He won 3.5-1.5 that day but was not satisfied with the result as he missed a clear win in the first rapid game and lost on time in one of the blitz games. It seems as he wanted to prove who is the boss in the second day and it started with the following encounter:
A game that I liked (ChessBase 13)

[Event "Battle of the Legends: Kasparov vs. Sho"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.26"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:18"]
[BlackClock "0:00:20"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {The Najdorf served Garry
Kimovich well all those glory years!} 6. g3 {Diagram [#] Short on his turn
opts for a quiet, maneuvering game.} e5 7. Nb3 Nbd7 8. a4 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. O-O
Be7 11. Re1 {Overprotects the e4 square and prepares the maneuver of the
knight from b3 to...d5. This knight is often the main problem for White in the
positional set-ups and if it was closer to the d5 square the the Najdorf would
not be an appealing opening at all. But while it moves around Black now can
finish the development and create threats of his own.} ({White can start with
the trademark knight maneuver at once} 11. Nd2 Nc5 12. b4 Ne6 13. Nd5 Rc8 14.
c4 O-O 15. a5 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 $14 {Popov,I (2582)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2718)
Puerto Madryn 2009}) 11... Rc8 12. Nd2 h5 $146 {Diagram [#] Kasparov would not
be himself if he is not thoroughly prepared. Even for a friendly blitz match!
Here comes an important novelty which will be definitely explored in the next
tournaments to come.} ({Most of the predecessors saw the regroupment} 12... Rc5
13. Nf1 Qa8 {which is aimed against the natural Nf1-e3-d5 maneuver. White can
nevertheless go for it} 14. Ne3 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. f3 (16. Bxe4 {deserves
attention as well} Qxe4 17. b3 {with the idea Bc1-a3}) 16... Bg6 17. b4 Rc8 18.
c4 {with compensation for a pawn, Sedlak,N (2576)-Brkic,A (2560) Zadar 2009}) (
12... O-O) 13. Nf1 {Short reacts in a cool way and pretends as if nothing had
happened.} h4 14. Ne3 g6 {Kasparov developed his troops perfectly and is now
waiting for his opponent's move.} ({The typical exchange sacrifice is already
in the air} 14... Rxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe4 {but it is hardly good at the moment due
to} 16. Nd5 $1 ({Better than} 16. Nf5 {which allows the crazy complications
after} Nxf2 $5 17. Kxf2 hxg3+ 18. hxg3 Bxg2 {with the idea} 19. Kxg2 $2 Qa8+
20. Qf3 Rh2+ {and wins.})) 15. Re2 {[%cal Ye2c2,Gc3d5] Diagram [#] White
defends the pawn on c2 and is ready to jump finally at d5 with his knight.} ({
The immediate} 15. Ned5 {is possible though as long as White is willing to
part with a pawn after} Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 $5 ({The pawn capture on
d5 is excellent for the second player. The hole on d5 disappears and the black
kingside pawns become mobile} 17. exd5 hxg3 18. hxg3 f5 {and this is at least
more pleasant for Black.}) 17... Rxc2 18. b4 {with compensation for the pawn
thanks to the light-square domination.}) ({Maybe White's best choice is the
semi-waiting} 15. Qe2 $5 {regrouping afterwards with Re1-d1 and Ne(c)3-d5. The
Black can use the situation of the queen with} Nc5 $5 {followed by Nc5-e6-d4
with a tempo with complexed game.} (15... Rc5 $5) (15... Kf8 $5)) 15... hxg3
16. hxg3 {Kasparov sank in some thought here although I had no doubts what is
he going to play next.} Rxc3 $1 {Diagram [#] This is the case in which Black
used his hand rather than brain when performing the sac. Kasparov has done it
so many times in the past, and he even have accused once Movsesian of "lack of
chess culture" for allowing the sacrifice. True, the situation there was
different as White had castled long.} 17. bxc3 Nxe4 {For the exchange Black
has a pawn and strong center, but his next moves are not optimal.} 18. Bb2 Ndf6
(18... f5 $1 {to get firm grip in the center was preferrable.}) 19. c4 Qc8 {
Also not optimal. Both} (19... Qa8) (19... Kf8 {are more reasonable.}) 20. Nd5
$1 Nxd5 21. cxd5 {Now Short got rid of one of the strong knights, undoubled
his pawns and strengthened his center. He can breeth freelier and his position
is easier to play. Although it still remains very tense.} Ng5 {Kasparov wants
to keep his attacking knight.} (21... Nc3 {instead is leading to slight
advantage for White without counterplay for his opponent after} 22. Bxc3 Qxc3
23. Rb1) 22. c4 {A solid move. Other options were} (22. Ra3 $5) (22. Qd3 $5) ({
But not the overaggressive} 22. f4 $2 Qc5+ 23. Kf1 Nh3 24. Bxh3 Rxh3 25. Kg2
Rh5 {and Black wins.}) 22... a5 {As always Kasparov pays attention at the
whole board. He rules out the a4-a5 possibility and improves his bishop.} 23.
Rc1 (23. Qb3 Ba6 24. Rc1 {would transpose to the game.}) 23... Ba6 24. Qb3 Qg4
25. Rcc2 {Diagram [#] Somewhere around here the players went under the five
minute mark and started the blitz. This naturally affected their play.} (25.
Re3 $5 {might be more precise to defend the third rank.}) 25... Bc8 26. f4 $1 {
Short shows teeth as well!} Nh3+ $6 {A natural check which puts the knight on
the rim and Kasparov on the verge of defeat.} ({It would be very difficlut to
choose the piece sacrifice even with hours on the clock} 26... Bf5 $1 27. fxg5
Bxc2 28. Qxc2 ({Or} 28. Rxc2 Qd1+ 29. Kf2 Bxg5 {with possible perpetual check
somewhere along the lines.}) 28... Qxg3 29. Qc3 Qh2+ 30. Kf1 Bxg5 {Black has
three pawns for the piece and the position is anything but clear.}) 27. Kf1 f6
28. Qf3 Qf5 ({The endgame with a knight on h3 is not Black's dream} 28... g5
29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Qxg4 Bxg4 31. Red2) ({Or} 28... Qxf3+ 29. Bxf3 {with clear
advantage for White in both cases.}) 29. Re4 {Solid move in time trouble.} ({
However, if Short had found} 29. Ba3 $1 {things might have not ended that well
for Kasparov. The threat Rc2-b2 is hard to parry and as the bishop on e7 needs
to protect d6 as well Black would be in trouble.}) 29... Kf7 (29... g5 $5) 30.
Rce2 Qg4 31. fxe5 (31. Ba3 $1 {was still strong.}) 31... Qxf3+ 32. Bxf3 dxe5 {
[%csl Yh3] Diagram [#] Short had reached the endgame that he was hoping for
but his next move spoiled all his previous efforts.} (32... fxe5 33. Bg4 {is
better for White.}) 33. Rh4 $2 {Allows the knight to escape and ruins the pawn
structure. Such moves are made by top players only under tremendous
time-pressure.} (33. Rh2 {instead was much better for White.}) 33... Rxh4 34.
gxh4 Nf4 {Now Black is clearly better thanks to his better pawn structure and
above all the lack of open files for the white rook. His position is easier to
play too, which means a lot in blitz.} 35. Rd2 Bc5 36. d6 {Loses but one can
hardly criticize White for this move.} (36. Rh2 Bh3+ 37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kf2 $17)
36... Bh3+ 37. Ke1 Bb4 38. Kd1 {[%csl Ya4,Rd2] Diagram [#] And instead of
taking the rook Kasparov did} Bd7 $1 {without any hesitation.} ({He understood
that there might be technical issues after} 38... Bxd2 39. Kxd2 Bd7 40. Bd1 Ng2
41. Ba3 Nxh4 42. c5) 39. Rh2 Bxa4+ 40. Kc1 Bxd6 {Black is winning.} 41. Kb1 f5
42. Bc1 e4 $2 {A click that could have costed Kasparov the ful point. Now
Short gets his last chance to survive.} ({Both} 42... Nd3) ({and} 42... Bb3 {
would have won instead.}) 43. Bh1 $2 ({The chance was} 43. Bxe4 $1 {Diagram [#]
} fxe4 44. Bxf4 Bxf4 45. Rf2 Ke6 46. Rxf4 Ke5 47. Rg4 Be8 48. Kc2 {with a draw.
}) 43... Nd3 {Now it is all over.} 44. Re2 Bd1 45. Rd2 Bb3 46. Rxd3 exd3 47.
Bd5+ Kf6 48. Kb2 a4 49. Kc3 b5 50. Kxd3 Bxc4+ 51. Bxc4 bxc4+ 52. Kxc4 f4 53.
Kd4 {Diagram [#] After this game enthusiastic Kasparov won all the reaming
four blitz games to win the match with the incredible 8.5-1.5 result. Not too
bad for a retired chessplayer...} 0-1



Short complained after the event of the jet lag. Report.