KASPAROV’S Chess Openings

KASPAROV’S
Chess
Openings
A World Champion’s Repertoire

OTTO BORIK

Trafalgar Square Publishing

NORTH POMFRET. VERMONT
First published in German in 1989 as Kasparows
Schacheroffnungen by Falken-Verlag GmbH, 6272
Niedernhausen/Ts.

© Falken-Verlag GmbH, 6272 Niedernhausen/Ts., 1989

First published in Great Britain in 1991 by

The Crowood Press Ltd

English translation ©The Crowood Press Ltd 1991

First published in the United States of America in 1991 by

Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, Vermont 05053

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or
any information storage and retrieval system without
permission in writing from the publishers.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 90-71397

ISBN 0-943955-39-4

English translation by John Littlewood

Printed in Great Britain by

Redwood Press Ltd, Meiksham, Wilts.
 Contents

About This Book- 7

1. The Queen's Gambit- 9
1. The Orthodox Defence (2. . .. e6}_ 9
A The Exchange Variation with Bg5_ 9
B The Exchange Variation with Bf4_ 15
2. The Slav Defence (2... c6)_ 19
3. The Semi-Slav Defence (... e6/... c6)_ 26
4. The Queen's Gambit Accepted (1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4) _ 32
A The System with 4. . .. a6_ 32
B The System with 4. ... c5_ 33
C The System with 4. . . , e6_ 35
2. The Nimzo-lndian Defence_ 36
A The System with .. . b6_ 36
B The System with .. . d5_ 43
C Alternatives on Black's Fourth Move_ 46
3. The Modern Benoni_ 49
4. The Griinfeld Defence- 55
5. King's Indian and Old Indian_ 61
A King's Indian- 61
B Old Indian- 69
6. The Sicilian Defence- 73
A . The Scheveningen System_ 73
B The Keres Attack- 80
C The English Attack_ 85
D Other White Systems_ 90
7. The King's Indian as Black_ 96
A The Exchange System_ 96
B The Blockade System_100
C The Gligoric System_103
D The Samisch System_107
8. Black against other systems-113
A Bird’s Opening_113
B Queen's Pawn Opening_117
C The Double Fianchetto Opening_119
D The King's Indian Attack_122
Index __126
 About This Book

We have based our material on two new selecting from recognised openings a
learning criteria, so would like the reader number of lines which suit our particular
to peruse the following before plunging style, but such a task is greatly time-
into the games analyses, in this way, he consuming. However, since leading pro¬
will save himself a lot of unnecessary fessionals with time and expert help at
opening preparation in the future. We their disposal have already carried out
can define our main aims as follows: such a task for their style of play, why
shouldn't we adopt the repertoire of one
To provide a suitable opening of these players? That is in fact precisely
repertoire what we have done in this volume. By
Which is the correct opening for you? To using as our model the best chess-player
play chess well, you must learn, under¬ in the world, we have presented an
stand and enjoy playing certain types of opening repertoire for any player who
position. For this reason, a selected prefers an active, tactically-oriented
opening must fit in with your style of game without excessive risk, or who
play. One player who likes endings will simply wishes to learn more about
be happy to exchange pieces. Another Kasparov's style as evinced In such a
who enjoys active play may wish to keep repertoire. This could be done for differ¬
pieces on the board but at the same time ent styles of play by using other leading
only launch an attack after thorough players as our model, but that is another
preparation. Yet another player will attack story and another day.
whatever the cost. If we offer these
three distinct kinds of player the position To establish a basic chess open¬
in the Caro-Kann after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 ings 'vocabulary'
and ask them to continue with White, One of the aims of any training method is
the end-game player might opt for a to achieve optimum use from a mini¬
peaceful existence with 3. exd5 cxd5 4. mum expenditure of time and effort.
Bd3 Nc6 5, c3, the moderately active Why not then use a scientific approach
player go in for 3. Nc3 on the basis of when learning chess openings? Any
'Let's wait and see what happens' and language contains a vast number of
the hot-head choose 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 words (around 100,000) which can hardly
5. g4 with an inward cry of ‘Let me get at be mastered by one individual. However,
his king’. . , research has shown that a basic vocabu¬
Of course, there are many intermediate lary of about 2,000 words and idioms is
styles between these three and we sufficient to understand up to eighty-five
might be justified in placing Kasparov in per cent of a non-specialised text and to
the middle category with a modicum of carry on an everyday conversation.
spice added for good measure! In build¬ These statistics encouraged me to ima¬
ing up a repertoire it is worthwhile gine a corresponding basic 'vocabulary'
 ABOUT THIS BOOK

of the most useful chess openings varia¬ can use the material in about seventy to
tions, despite the immense time and eighty per cent of his games, thus
effort such a task would entail. It was not drastically cutting down his work-load
until I acquired the Chess-Base Data- and giving him time to explore the
Bank computer program that I was in a inevitable problems which remain.
position to carry out the equivalent of a
Otto Borik
word-frequency count using around
15,000 games (i.e. find out how often
specific variations occurred). In this way,
I was finally able to reduce the vast
amount of chess opening theory to [I have taken the liberty of adding the
palatable proportions (which an average occasional comment and a few recent
club-player could handle without being games to bring the material as up-to-date
overburdened by too much detail), a as is humanly possible.
method that has already proved its worth The keen reader is advised to continue
on my chess-training courses. In the this up-dating process for his personal
present volume, although the reader is use; he will find the experience most
presented with only a small part of the rewarding in terms of both results and
huge store of opening knowledge, he enjoyment John Littlewood]

8
1 The Queen's Gambit

Just like any other chess professional, that his play with the black pieces
the reigning World Champion is occa¬ evinces the directly opposite method of
sionally prepared to surprise a particular ripping open the centre at the first
opponent - for reasons known only to opportunity, a point we shall come back
himself - by playing 1. e4 or 1, c4. to later in the relevant chapters.
However, in the vast majority of games The most common reply to 1. d4 is 1.
(over ninety per cent) Kasparov relies on . . . d5, with the Indian systems (1. . . .
the advance of his'd' pawn. Most of the Nf6) close behind. That is why we
world's leading players are also advo¬ devote this first chapter to the Queen's
cates of 1. d4. Ex-World Champion Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4} and the following
Anatoly Karpov, who until his World defensive systems given in order of
Championship matches against popularity:
Kasparov was an 1. e4 player, changed
his repertoire from 1965 and now invari¬ 1. The Orthodox Defence (2. . . . e6)
ably opens with 1. d4. In the top group of 2. The Slav Defence (2. . . , c6)
leading grandmasters with an Elo rating 3. The Semi-Slav Defence (2. . . . c6
of 2,600 and over, more than seventy per combined with . . . e6)
cent prefer to open with 1. d4. 4. The Queen's Gambit Accepted (2. . . .
Does this mean that the advance of dxc4)
the QP offers more advantages than the
advance of the KP? Not really; it is a
matter of personal style and preference. 1. The Orthodox Defence
The great Viktor Korchnoi once made the (2. . . . e6)
following wise observation: ‘I consider
both moves of equal worth but prefer the
closed positions arising after 1. c4 and 1.
d4 because they offer more scope for
A The Exchange Variation
with Bg5
the strategic player. 1, e4 produces
many forced sequences of moves and Exchanging pawns is not always a draw¬
thus compels a player to learn far more ing device. One of the most important
variations.' basic principles in chess Is that a success¬
Although this may well be a valid ful wing attack necessitates a secure
argument for most players, it hardly centre. In this particular variation, the
applies to Kasparov who is renowned for cxd5 exchange stabilises the centre, thus
his phenomenal memory. Perhaps allowing attacking chances on the wings,
Kasparov's choice of 1. d4 stems from especially when the players have castled
his preference for wing attacks with on opposite sides. With a stable centre,
pawns, which require a secure or even pawn advances can be made against the
static central set-up. It is worth noting enemy king. The following game from the

9
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Olympiad is an excellent illustration of 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nge2 g6 11 0-0-0. In

such strategy: Portisch - Orr from the same Olympiad,
Black castled short and was successfully
G Kasparov - D Campora attacked by h3, g4 and Ng3, whilst in
(USSR v Argentina, Thessaloniki, 1988) Kasparov's game against Andersson
1. c4 Nf6 (World Cup, Reykjavik, 1988) Black
2. d4 e6 castled long, only to be attacked down
3. Nc3 d5 the c file after Kbl and Rcl.
4. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Nbd7
5. Bg5 Be7 I am often asked why experts block in
6. e3 their QB like this instead of first playing
The standard position of the Exchange 7. . . . Be6. The point is that the bishop is
Variation. thus exposed to a possible attack by
f4—5 after 8. Qc2 (threatening 9. Bxf6
and 10.’ Bxh7 + ) Nbd7 9. f4 threatening
10. f5. As 9. . . . Nb6 allows 10. Bxf6
winning the h pawn, Black must play . . .
E 4 Am E g6 or . . . h6 weakening his kingside

A A A mA A A pawns and thus making it easier for

White to open up attacking lines by
advancing his wing pawns. For this
reason, Black would have to play 8. . . .
A 4 g6 or 8. . . . h6 at once, with similar
consequences: (i) 8. . . . g6 9. Nge2
A -- —
followed by 10. Nf4 when White would

E A already be threatening 11. Bh6 Re8 12.

Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bxg6 winning.
AA AAA (ii) 8. . . . h6. This is also possible earlier,

IS # W_ M, s
but masters are not keen on such a weak¬
ness. White's plan is to play Bf4, f3, g4,
h4 and g5 utilising the h6 weakness to
open lines much more quickly than would
be possible with a black pawn on h7.
6_ 0-0 8. Nge2
The most common reply. The key move in this system. Of course,
In the Supplementary Material section, the natural 8. Nf3 is often played and is
the reader will find practical examples of also good, but the text move is strategi¬
the alternative continuations: cally more flexible, planning f3 when
(i) 6. . . . h6 and a later . . . b6 (his game White has the choice of aiming for play in
against Beliavsky) the centre with e4 or else launching a
(ii) 6. , . . c6. This can transpose to the direct attack on the enemy king with g4.
present game or else can be part of a Often both ideas are combined.
plan to exchange black-squared bishops 8. . . . Re8
by . . . Nh5 e.g. 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. Bd3 Nh5 9. Qc2

10
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Keeping an eye on h7, thus preventing . . . b4 allows White to blockade by Na4)

. . . Nb6 and forcing Black onto the and . . . Ga5 (to protect the a4 pawn and
defensive if he wishes to develop his then play . . . b4 and . . . b3). However, in
QB. the meantime White's attack is proceed¬
9. . . . Nf8 ing apace, as the following analysis
A well-known basic position. Black pro¬ reveals: 10. . . . c6 11. f3 b5 12.g4a5 13.
tects his Achilles' heel on h7 and clears Ng3 a4 14. Nf5 and now:
the way for his QB. White could now (i) 14. . . . Bxf5 15. gxf5 Qa5 16. Rdgl
attempt the quiet plan of castling king- b4 17. Nbl! b3 18axb3 axb3 19. Qg2
side followed by f3, Bh4-f2 and e4, but when Black has no dangerous threats
Kasparov opts for the sharpest line of to compensate for White's attack
play. down the g file.
(ii) 14. . . . Qa5 15. Nxe7+ Rxe7 16. e4l
(better than 16 Bxf6 gxf6 when the
a b c d e f g h

E A m E S <#
e3 pawn is in the way) 16. ... b4 (16.
. . . dxe4 17. Nxe4 with a clear

AA A AAA A
advantage) 17. e5 bxc3 18. exf6
cxb2+ 19 Kbl! and White has clear

m attacking chances. Of course,

Kasparov's opponent, the Argentin¬
A ian Daniel Campora, knows this very
well, so develops his remaining
A minor piece.

sAA 10. . . . Be6

A sm a A A A Keeping open the thematic possibility of

, . . Rc8 and . . . c5 without wasting a vital

S
a
& abe d e J 9 h
tempo on . . . c6.
11. Kbl
Anticipating the above-mentioned man¬
oeuvre by moving the king from the firing
10. 0-0-0 line. If Black now tries to free his game
Castling on opposite sides is usually a with 11.... Ne4 White has the advantage
prelude to mutual attacks on the king, after 12 Bxe7 Gxe7? (12. . . . Nxc3+ 13.
when the eternal question is: 'Who will Nxc3 Qxe7 14. f4 f6 15. e4 gives White
strike first?' The maestro demonstrates the initiative, according to Kasparov)
how the attack should be played after 10. 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Ng3! (but not 14.
. . . Be6, so let us consider what happens Nxe4 Bxa2+ 15. Kxa2 Qxe4 with equal
if Black launches an immediate attack chances) 14. . . . f5 15. d5 Bc8 (15. . . .
with his queen's side pawns. In this Bd7 16. Gb3 threatening d6+ and also
concrete example, such an attack is Qxb7) 16. Nb5.
hardly to be feared, but ft is relevant in 11. . . . Ng4?<
other positions. For White's king to be Campora did not relish 11.... Rc8 12. f3
seriously threatened, Black requires five c5 13. Bb5 followed by e4, but Kasparov
tempi: . . . c6, b5, a5, a4 (the immediate feels that it was the lesser evil.

11
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

12. Bxe7 Qxe7 Or 19. . . . Rae8 20. Nxe6 Rxe6 (20. . . .

13. Nf4 Nf6 fxe6 21. g5 N6d7 22. 14) Nf5 with the
After 13. ... c6 14. Nxe6 fxe6 (not 14. attack (Kasparov).
. . . Qxe6 15. Bf5 or 14. . . . Nxe6 15. 20. Ng2
Bxh7+) 15. e4 with active play for White. White plans 21. g5 Nd7 22. f4 threaten¬
14. f3 c5 ing f5.
In 'Informant 46' Kasparov gives 14. . . 20. . . . Nd7
Ng6 15. g4 Nxf4 16. exf4 as clearly Countering the above idea, since now
better for him; in fact, f5 g5 (all with gain 21. g5 would allow 21. . . . Bh3!
of time), followed by g6 smashing open maintaining control of the important f4
the position, is already in the air. square.
15. g4 cxd4 21. Rhgl!
Or 15. . . . c4 16. Bfl Qd7 (intending . . . With the idea of attacking down the g file
b5) 17. e4! dxe4 18. d5 Bxg4 19. fxg4 not only after the threatened 22. Nf5
Qxg4 20. Qf2 winning for White Bxf5 23. gxf5 (which explains Black's
(Kasparov). next move) but also after a subsequent
16. exd4 knight sacrifice, as we shall see.
21... . Ree8
a b c d e f g h

1 to 11K a b c d e fg h

AA
—
w A. A A 1 W: i
to A 4 A A AA
A A mA 4
,=vfl to to A
&s A ■ :j
m to
to a w J L ~s —j
A A ft
a toE ..toJ to1to: w ^tto
abode f g h
a
1*
b c
a d e f
s:
9 h
The opening stage is over and already
White has the better prospects, since How can White now make progress on
the centre is blocked, he has no queen- the kingside? He has to find a way of
side weaknesses and his kingside attack advancing his pawns.
is under way. 22. Rdf 1!
16. . . . Qd6 Since 22. f4 Bxg4 and 22 h4?? Qxg3 are
17. Od2 a6 not possible, the rook moves away from
18. Nce2 Re7 a possible attack by Black's bishop when
19. Ng3 Ng6 it reaches g4, thus allowing the possible

12
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

variation 22. . . . Nb6 23. f4 Bxg4 24. f5 25. f43! gxh5

Nf8 25. Qg5 Bh3 26. Nf4! Bxfl 27. Ne4 26. f5 h4
winning the queen or mating on g7. Note Since 26. . . . hxg4 27. Nxg4 opens the g
that, if the black knight had retreated to file, allowing threats of Gg5, Qh6 or Nh6
h8 instead of fS, we would finish with (intending Rg8 mate), Black hastens to
the amusing 27. . . Qf8 28. Nf6 mate! keep the file closed.
22. . . . Ngf8 27. fxe6 fxe6
Carefully anticipating the above line but 28. g5 Re7
unfortunately relinquishing control of f4, Or 28. . . . Ng6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Qf2
thus allowing White's next move, Re7 31. Ng4 Rh7 32. Nh6 Rf8 33 Qxh4
23. Ne3 Kh8 with a clear advantage (Kasparov).
The f pawn cannot be stopped, since 23. 29. Ng4 Rg7
... Qf4 24. Nh5 Qh6 25. f4 is even worse 30. Nh6 Qb6
than the game continuation. Black is now Wrongly hoping to gain a breather by his
hoping to move the bishop to g8 after attack on the d pawn, but even the
. . . f6, but he is given no more time for defence of his second rank by 30. . .
such an idea. Qe7 would have failed to 31. Rg4
24. Nh5! followed by Rgf4 and Qf2.
A fine move, threatening either to win 31. g6! hxg6
the pawn on g7 or else open the g file Or 31. . . . Nxg6 32. Bxg6 followed by
after 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. gxf5 followed by Nf7+ and Qh6.
Qg2. 32. Nf7+ Kg8
24. . . . g6 33. Qh6!
Trying in vain to stem the tide of advance
by protecting f5 and attacking the knight a b e d e f 9 h
on h5, but the latter threat turns out to be
Illusory. efX 4 <# —
A 4 ©X
a b c d e f g h
W A Aw
8
X X m we 5
A
7
A 4 A i7 4
A A
6
A mA A 6
3 :' ' .
A
5
A 5
2A A 2
4
A A 4
1 (y
\m5
3'
A S[A L,
3 a b c d e f 9 h

2
[A 1 Tgw
.. iA.
2
The decisive move, if now 33, . , , Rxf7

’1
O'

a
& b
T-Al
c d e
aa t _a_ h
1 White wins by 34. Bxg6 Rxf1 + 35. Rxfl
Nf6 (35. . . Nxg6 36. Qxg6+ Kh8 37.

It
 THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT

Rf7) 36. Bf7 +! (better than 36. Rxf6 Qc7 Rh6 Nf8 43. Rd6 Rf7 44. a5 Rd7 45.
37. Bf7 + Qxf7) 36. . . . Kxf7 37. Qxf6+ Rxd7+ Nxd7 46. Nc5 Nf8 47. Nxb7 Ne6
winning (Kasparov). White either mates 48. Ke4 1-0
on g7 or wins the rook on a8.
33. . . Rh7 G Kasparov - U Andersson
34. Rxg6+ J\lxg6 (World Cup, Reykjavik 1988)
35. Qxg6+ Rg7 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
36. Qh6 1:0 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8.
Rien ne va plusI Bd3 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nge2 g6 11.
0-0-0 Nb6 12. Ng3 Ng7 13. Kbl Bd7 14.
Supplementary Material Rcl 0-0-0 15. Na4 Nxa4 16. Gxa4 Kb8 17.
G Kasparov - A Beliavsky Rc3 b6 18. Ba6 Ne6 19. Rhcl Rhe8 20.
(Fifth Matchgame, 1983) Gb3 Gd6 21. Nfl Ka8 22. Nd2 Nc7 23.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 Bf 1 Ne6 24. g3 Rc8 25. Bg2 Rc7 26. h4
5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 0-0 8. Bd3 b6 Rd8 27. Nf3 Bc8 28. Qa4 c5 29. Ng5
9. Nf3 Bb7 10. 0-0 c5 (in the seventh Nxg5 30. hxg5 Bb7 31. dxc5 bxc5 32.
game, Beliavsky played 10. . . . Ne4 Qf4 Qxf4 33. gxf4 d4 34. Rxc5 Rxc5 35.
which is probably better) T1. Ne5 Nbd7 Bxb7+ Kxb7 36. Rxc5 dxe3 37. fxe3 Re8
12. Bf5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Ne8 14. Bg3 Nc7 38. Re5 Rxe5 39. fxe5 Kc6 40. Kc2 Kd5
15. Qg4 Qe8 16. Bd7 Qd8 17, Radi h5 41. b4 Kxe5 42. a4 f6 43. gxf6 Kxf6 44.
18. Qh3 h4 19. Bf4 Bg5 20. Bf5 g6 21. b5 1-0
Ne4 Bxf4 22. exf4 gxf5 23. Qxf5 dxe4
24. Qg4+ Kh7 25. Rxd8 RfxdS 26.
Qxh4+ Kg8 27. Qe7 e3 28. Rel exf2 +
29. Kxf2 Rd 2+ 30. Re 2 Rxe2+ 31. Kxe2
Ba6+ 32. Kf2 Ne6 33. f5 Nd4 34. e6 Rf8
35. Gg5+ Kh7 36. e7 Re8 37. f6 Ne6 38.
Qh5+ Kg8 1-0

L Portisch - K Orr
(Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1988)
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5
5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Gc2 Nbd7 8. Bd3
Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nge2 g6 11.0-0-0
Ndf6 12. h3 Ng7 13. g4 0-0 14. Ng3 Nfe8
15 e4 dxe4 16. Ncxe4 Ne6 17. Gc3 Nf4
18. Bc2 Nd5 19. Qd2 Qc7 20. Kbl Qf4
21. Qel Ng7 22. Ne2 Qc7 23. Gd2 f5 24.
Ng5 Ne6 25. Nxe6 Bxe6 26. g5 f4 27. h4
Bf5 28. h5 Qf7 29. hxg6 Qxg6 30. Rh6
Bxc2+ 31. Qxc2 Qxc2+ 32. Kxc2 Rae8
33. Ncl Re7 34. Rdhl Rg7 35. Nd3 Rf5 The Hungarian grandmaster Lajos
36. Nc5 Nc7 37. Ne4 Nb5 38. Kd3 Kf8 39. Portisch has long been in the leading
a4 Nc7 40. Rxh7 Ne6 41. Rxg7 Kxg7 42. group of chess-players.

14
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

J Nogueiras - D Barlov Qf7 + Kh6 35. Qxd5) 31. Nf6+ Kg7 32.
(Zagreb Interzonal, 1987) Nxd7 Rxd7 33. Re4 Qd6 1-0
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5
5. Bg5 Bb4 6. e3 c5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4
h6 9. Bh4 Bxc3+ 10, bxc3 0-0 11. Ne2
B The Exchange Variation
Nbd7 12. 0-0 Qa5 13. a4 Ne4 14. Qc2
with Bf4
Re8 15. Rfbl a6 16. Rb4 Nf8 17. f3 Nd6
18. Bg3 Nc4 19. Nf4 Ne3 20. Qb3 Qd8 However beautiful the attacking system
21. Rel a5 22. Rb5 Bd7 23. Rxb7 Bc6 24. in our first model game may be, Black
Bb5 Rc8 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Qb5 Qc8 27. can in fact avoid it by answering 3 Nc3
Nd3 Nc4 28. Rxe8 Qxe8 29 Ne5 Nxe5 with 3. . . . Be7, a move the reader may
30. Bxe5 Qe6 31. Qd3 Ng6 32. Rb8+Rc8 well have seen before and perhaps
33. Rxc8+ Qxc8 34. h3 Qc6 35. Qb5 wondered at the reasoning behind it. Let
Qxc3 36. Qxd5 Qa1+ 37. Kh2 Qxa4 38. us see how it avoids the Nge2 system.
Bc7 Gc2 39. Qxa5 f5 40. Gc5 1-0 The point is that White cannot play an
immediate Bg5 but must find another
A Saidy - P Clemance continuation. 4. e3 would block in his
(Samt-John Open, 1988) QB, and 4. cxd5 exd5 merely postpones
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 the decision for one move.
5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 0-0 7 Bd3 c6 8. Qc2 There remains 4. Qc2 but this move
Nbd7 9 Nge2 Re8 10. 0-0 Nf8 11, f3 h6 leaves the d4 pawn exposed after 4. . . .
12. Bh4 c5 13. Radi Be6 14. Bb5 N8d7 dxc4, allowing 5. Nf3 (4. e3 again shuts
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. dxc5 a6 17. Ba4 b5 18. in the GB and brings about a Queen's
cxb6 Qxb6 19. Bxd7 Qxe3+ 20. Rf2 Gambit Accepted in which White's queen
Bxd7 21. Nxd5 Qa7 22. Nxf6+ gxf6 23. is misplaced on c2) 5. . . . Nc6 6. e3 Nb4
Nc3 Bc6 24. Qd2 Rab8 25. b3 Bb5 26. 7. Odl (7. Qa4+Bd7 only loses time)
Qxh6 Rbd8 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. h3 Qc7 7. . . . Nd3+ 8. Bxd3 cxd3 9. Gxd3 Nf6
29. Rd2 Re8 30. Ne4 Re6 31. Rdl 10. 0-0 0-0 11. e4 c5 and Black continues
Qb6+32. Khl a5 33. Rd5 f5 34. Qg5+ with . . . b6 and . . . Bb7. when his two
Rg6 35. Qxf5 Bf 1 36. Ng5 1-0 bishops guarantee him a comfortable
game.
A Huzman - A Petrosian So he should perhaps first exchange
(Lvov, 1988) pawns before playing Qc2, but Black
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 does not oblige with 4. . . . Nf6 allowing
5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 0-0 7 Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 5. Bg5 and plays instead 4. . . . c6. Of
Re8 9. Nge2 Nf8 10. 0-0 c6 11. f3 Ng6 course, White can play 4. Nf3 but this
12. e4 dxe4 13. fxe4 Be6 14. h3 c5 15. excludes the possibility of going into the
Bxf6 Bxf6 16. e5 cxd4 17. exf6 dxc3 18. Nge2 line. This means that 3.. .. Be7 has
Nxc3 gxf6 19. Khl Rc8 20. Radi Qe7 21. indeed prevented the Bg5 and Nge2
Gf2 a6 22. Rdel Red8 23. Bf5 Rc6 24. system, but only to allow another active
Re3 Qc5 25. Be4 Rc7 26. Qxf6 Rcd7 27. system of exchanging pawns then post¬
Qf3 Qc7 28. Bf5 Bxf5 29. Qxf5 Ob6 30. ing the QB on f4. Our model game was
Nd5 Qd4 (30. . . . Rxd5 31. Qxf7+ Kh8 played in the last Chess Olympiad at
32. Re8+ Rxe8 33, Qxe8+ Kg7 34. Thessaloniki.
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

G Kasparov - N Short a b cd e fg h
1. c4 e6
4 ttr # 4 H
k kr A A A k
2. Nc3 d5
3. d4 Be7
4. cxd5 exd5
5. Bf4 k
k
E A
mm A § 4 i m
km Akk A a a. a EE 3
ffi & A © ts
k a b c d e f g h

s A a. which Kasparov skilfully exploits in the

s A [A a 3
present game. The move 6. . . . Bd6 is an
interesting alternative tried out in the

a game Lerner - Lobron (see later) when

E a b c
w siA mSi
d e f 9 h
White obtained some advantage in the
opening. Note that the win of a pawn by
7. Nxd5 Bxf4 (not 7. . . . cxd5? 8. Bxd6
winning a piece) 8 Qe4+ (8. Nxf4 Qxd4)
The basic position of this system. Here Ne7 9. Nxf4 is bad in view of 9. . , . Qa5+
or later (after . Nf6 and ... 0-0 for 10. Kd 1 Bf5 etc.
example} Black can also play . . . c5, but
this would immediately reveal one dis¬ Black intends to achieve . . , Bf5 but is
advantage of 3. . . . Be7, since Black there no other way to do this? In the
would lose a tempo recapturing on c5 same Olympiad, the imaginative Nor¬
after dxc5 (see the famous eighth game wegian grandmaster Agdestein tried out
from the Kasparov - Karpov match in the the bizarre-looking 6. . . . h5 against
Supplementary Games). Seirawan. The point is two-fold. Firstly,
5. . . . c6 he wants to prepare . . . Bf5 by playing
Aiming to develop his QB to f5, since the his knight to h6 without allowing his
immediate 5. . . . Bf5? fails to 6 Qb3! pawn position to be shattered by Bxh6.
attacking the d5 and b7 pawns simul¬ Secondly, if White plays the natural 7. e3
taneously. Once . . . c6 has been played, (intending 8, Bd3 to prevent . , . Bf5),
Qb3 can be answered with . . . Qb6. Black has the cunning 7. . . . g5 8. Be5 (8.
6. Qc2 Bg3 h4) f6 9. Qg6+ Kf8 10. Bxb8 Rxb8
The most exact continuation. Admittedly, when the white queen, threatened by ...
White cannot prevent. . Bf5 in the long f5 and . . . Rh6, must retreat; after 11.
run, but this will involve 6. . . . g6 Qc2 Kg7 12. Bd3 Nh6 13. Nge2 Be6
weakening the dark squares, a factor followed by . . . Qd7, Black's bishop pair

16
Grandmaster Nigel Short is one of the great hopes of English chess.

ensures him a good game. However, by 8. Bd3. The loss of a tempo is

after 7. h3! (reserving h2 as a retreat compensated by the fact that Black's
square for his bishop) Seirawan demon¬ exposed bishop on f5 wilt be driven back
strated that the inclusion of h3 and . . h5 with gain of time after f3 and g4 or e4 .
was more beneficial to White than Black 8. Nf6
(see later). in the seventh game from the Karpov -
What happens if Black gives up the Kasparov 1986 match in London, play
idea of playing . . . Bf5 and plays a routine went 8_Nd7 9. f3 Nb6 10. e4 Be6 11.
developing move such as 6. . . . Nf6 e5 with advantage to White (see later).
instead? Play might go 7. h3 (safeguard¬ 9. f3 c5
ing the bishop against . . Nh5) 7. . . Putting pressure on d4 before White
0-0 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Bd3 (aiming to expose smothers him by pawn advances.
the h7 pawn to attack after g4-g5) 9 . . . 10. Bh6
Re8 10. g4 Nf8 11. Nge2 Be6 12 Not only preventing castling but also
Ng3 planning Nf5, and we are strongly forcing Black to clarify the position in the
reminded of our first game Kasparov - centre, since both 10. . . Bf8? 11. Bxf8
Campora. Now back to our model game. Kxf8 12. dxc5 and 10. ... Nc6 11. dxc5
7. e3 Bf5 Bxc5 12. Bg7 Rg8 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14.
8. Qd2 Nxd5 lose Black a pawn.
An idea used by Karpov against Kasparov '10 _ cxd4
(!) and preferable to exchanging bishops 11. exd4
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Qc7 15. 0-0 0-0-0 16. Racl-H 15. 0-0

Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Qb6 17. Radi (17. Qg7
Ke7> 17_0-0-0 (17. . . . Qxb2 18. Rbl
Qa3 19. Rxb7 + = ) 18. Rd2 when White
stands a little better.
14. Bg2 Nb6
15. b3 Rc8
16. 0-0 Rc6
17. h3
Securing g4 in preparation for the advance
of the f pawn.
17. . . . Nfd7
An attempted trek by the King to the Q
side would fail to 17. . . . Kd7 18. a4 Kc8
19. a5 Nbd7 20. Na4 with an attack
(Kasparov); White continues with Rfcl,
We note again the strong resemblance Nf4 and Bfl.
between the two Exchange Variation 18. Ndl Rg8
systems. After 18. . . . f6 planning . . . Bf8, White's
As in the Campora game, the centre is advantage is clear.
static, the f3 pawn guards e4 and the 19. Nf2 f5?
g4 advance is prepared. Kasparov's Black tries in vain to break out of his
games frequently contain this kind of passive position. After 19. . . . g5
set-up. Kasparov intended to exploit his advan¬
11... a6 tage as follows: 20. f4 f6 21. Ng3 Rg6
After 11, , , , Nc6 Kasparov laconically 22. f5 Rxh6 23. fxe6 Rxe6 24. Rfel Nf8
states that '12. Bb5 gives White the 25. Nf5 Rg6 26. Rxe6 Nxe6 27. Rel Qd7
advantage’. 28. Nd3 (28. Qe3 Kf7) Kf7 29. Nxe7 Qxe7
Doubtless,the World Champion had 30. Nc5 +-. Perhaps 19. . . . f6 was the
the following ideas in mind: he drives the least evil.
bishop away from f5 by Nge2 and g4 (it is 20. Rael g5
vital to be able to play the king to bl 21. gxf5 Bf7
later); should Black then castle K side, Or 21... . Bxf5 22. Ng3 Be6 (22. . . . Bg6
the attack proceeds with h4-h5, and if 23. Bxg5) 23. Nh5 Rg6 (23. . . . Bxh3 24,
Black chooses the Q side for his king, Bxh3 Rxh6 25. Ng7 + ) 24. Ng4 Qc7 (24...
the b5 bishop is excellently placed to Bxg4 25. fxg4 Rxh6 26. Ng7 mate) 25.
support the attacking plan of Kbl, Rcl Ng7+ Kd8 26. Nxe6+ Rcxe6 27. Rxe6
and Na4. Rxe6 28. Bxg5 +- (Kasparov).
12. g4 Be6 22. Ng4 Bh5
13. Nge2 Nbd7?! 23. Ng3 1-0
In Informant 46, Kasparov also places The finish might be 23. . . . Bxg4 24.
White better after 13. . . . Nfd7 14. Bg2 Bxg5 Rxg5 25. Qxg5 Kf8 26. f6 Bxf6 27.
Bh4+ 15. Ng3 g5 16. f4! and prefers fxg4 followed by Nh5 threatening Qg7
instead 13. . . . Nc6 14. Bg2 Bf8 (14. , . , mate.

18
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Supplementary Material 46. Kc3 b5 47. Nxa6 Nb6 48. Rb7 Nd5 +
G Kasparov - A Karpov 49. Kc2 Ne3+ 50. Kb3 c4+ 51. Kb4 Rxd6
(Eighth game. London Match 1986) 52. Kxb5 Rd2 53. Kc5 c3 54. bxc3 Rxa2
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exdb 55. Rb6+ Ke5 56. Nb4 (56 Rxh6 Rc2 with
5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 0-0 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 a fairly safe draw e.g. 57. Kb4 Nd5 + )
9. 0-0 Bg4 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. h3 Bxf3 56. . . . Ra5+ 57. Kc6 Ke4 58. Rb5 Rxb5
12. Qxf3 d4 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Radi Qab 59. Kxb5 h5 60. c4 Nxc4 Vi-Vz
15. Ng3 dxe3 16. fxe3 Oxa2 17. Nf5 Qe6
18. Bh6 Ne8 19. Oh5 g6 20. Qg4 Neb Y Seirawan - S Agdestein
21. Qg3 Bf6 22. Bb5 Ng7 23. Bxg7 Bxg7 (Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1988)
24. Rd6 Qb3 25. Nxg7 Qxb5 26, Nfb 1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5
Rad8 27. Rf6 Rd2 28. Qg5 Qxb2 29. Khl 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 h5 7. h3 g6 8. e3 Bf5 9.
Kh8 30. Nd4 Rxd4 31. Qxe5 1-0 Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11 Nge2 Nf8 12
0-0-0 h4 13. f3 b5 14. Kbl Ne6 15. Be5
K Lerner - E Lobron Bf6 16. e4 a6 17. f4 b4 18. Na4 Rh5
(Amsterdam, OHRA B, 1988) 19. exd5 cxd5 10. g4 hxg3 21. Nxg3 Rh4
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exdb 22. f5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Nf4 24. Qb3 Qg5
5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 (in our model game White 25. Nb6 Rd8 26. Nxd5 Kf8 27. Nxf4 Rxf4
played 6. Qc2 here, but 6. . . . Bd6 7. 28. Rxd8 + Oxd8 29. Rdl Ob6 30. Qd5
Bxd6 Qxd6 8. e3 Ne7 9. Bd3 would Qe3 31. Qd8+ Kg7 32. Nh5+ gxh5 33.
merely transpose into the present game) Qg5+Kh7 34. f6 Qe4+ 35. Kal Rxf6 36.
6. . . . Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Bd3 Ne7 9. exf6 Og6 37. Qxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rgl + 1-0
Qc2 (preventing . . . Bf5) 9. . . . Bg4 10. f3
Bhb 11. Nge2 Bg6 12. e4 (again avoiding A Karpov - G Kasparov
the exchange of bishops and gaining the (Seventh game. London Match 1986)
upperhand in the centre) 12. . . . dxe4 13 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5
fxe4 Nd7 (White now stands better and 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 Bf5 8. Qd2 Nd7
should have played 14 0-0 0-0 15. Radi 9. f3 Nb6 10. e4 Be6 11. e5 h5 12. Bd3
c5 16. eb Bxd3 17. Rxd3 Qh6 18. Nf4 Od7 13. b3 Bh4+ 14. g3 Be7 15. Kf2 Bf5
with good attacking chances according 16. Bfl Kf8 17. Kg2 a5 18. a3 Qd8 19.
to Grandmaster Lerner) 14. 0-0-0?! 0-0 Nh3 Bxh3+ 20. Kxh3 Kg7 21 Kg2 Nd7
15. g4 c5 16. h4 h5 17. e5 Qe6 18. Bxg6 22. Bd3 Nf8 23. Be3 Ne6 24. Ne2 Nh6
fxg6 (White's pawn centre collapses but 25. b4 Qb6 26. b5 c5 27. Nc3 cxd4 28.
he has compensating tactical chances) Bxh6+ Rxh6 29. Nxd5 Qd8 30. Be4 h4
19. d5 Qxe5 20. d6 Nc6 21. Qxg6 Rae8 31. Rhfl hxg3 32. hxg3 Rc8 33. Rhl
22. gxh5 Nd4 23. h6 Nxe2+ 24. Nxe2 Rxhl 34. Rxhl Bg5 35. f4 Rc5 36. fxgb
Qe3+ 25. Rd2 Qxh6 26. Qxh6 gxh6 27. Rxd5 37. Bxd5 Qxd5+ 38. Kh2 Qxe5 39.
Nc3 Re6 28. Rh3 Kh7 29. Nb5 a6 30. Nc7 Rf 1 Qxb5 40. Qf2 Nxg5 41. Oxd4+ 1-0
Rf1 + 31. Kc2 Reel 32. Kb3 Rdl 33-
Rhh2 Rf3+ 34. Kc2 Rxd2+ 35. Rxd2 Rf6
36. Kc3 Kg6 37. Rd5 Rf3+ 38. Kc2 Rfb 2. The Slav Defence (2-c6)
39. Rd2 Rf6 40. Nd5 Rf7 (40. . . . Rxd6??
41. Ne7+) 41. Re2 Rf8 42. Re7 Rd8 G Kasparov - J Timman
43. Nf4+ Kf6 44 Ne6 Rg8 45. Nc7 Rd8 (Optibeurs Tournament, Netherlands 1988)
 THE QUEEN S GAMBIT

1. d4 d5 back to f3. 6. . . , Bd7 7. e4 is

2. c4 c6 advantageous to White and 6. . . . Bg6 7.
3. Nf3 Nf6 Nxg6 hxg6 8. e3 e6 is similar to the
4. Nc3 dxc4 game.
5. a4 Bf5 Let us now examine two other pos¬
The Main Variation of the Slav Defence, sibilities:
The alternative 5. . . . Bg4 is rarely seen; (i) 6. . . . Be6 7 e4 Na6 8. Be2 Nb4 9.
we give an example in the supplemen¬ 0-0 g6 10. Be3 Bg7 11 f4 h5 12. h3
tary game Kasparov - Conquest (see Qd7 13. Nf3 Nh7 14, a5 f5 15. Nh4
page 25), Nd3 16 e5 and White stood better
6. Nh4 in Tolush - Bagirov, USSR 1960.
(it) 6. . . . Bg4 7 h3 Bh5 8. g4 Bg6 9.
Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bg2 (after 10. e3 Black
has 10. ... e5 11 dxe5 Qxdl+ 12.
Nxdl Nxg4) 10. ... e6 11.0-0 Na6 12.
e3 Nb4 13. Qe2 with better pros¬
pects for White once he has regained
the c4 pawn e.g. 13. . . . Nd3?l 14.
Bd2 (aiming to remove the knight's
support by b3) 14.... Nxb2 15. Rfbl
Nd3 16. Rxb7 Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18.
e4 dxe4 (18. . . Be7 19. exd5 exd5
20. Bxd5) 19. Qxe4 Rc8 20. Rxa7 Be7
21. Gb7 with a clear advantage to
White.
This Is not the last word in the 6. . . .
variation but the top players distrust it
and Timman is no exception.
7. Nf3
In the game Kasparov - Tal (World Cup,
As you will soon see, this move either Reykjavik 1988), White tried instead
gains a little time on the clock by trans¬ 7. e3 but after 7 . . . e5 8. Bxc4 exd4
posing to the same position with two 9. exd4 Be7 10. 0-0 Nd5 11. Rel 0-0
moves extra, or else - if Black varies - 12. Nf3 Be6 13. Gb3 Na6 14. Bxd5 cxd5
it gives White some good attacking 1 5. Bd2 Nb4 16. Ne2 a5 17. Nf4 Bg4 18.
chances. Re3 Rc8 19. Bxb4 Bxb4 20. Qxd5 Gc7
If the reader wants to avoid the com¬ Black had enough counterplay and drew
plications given in the next note, he can in forty-two moves (see later).
simply play 6. e3 here, as does Kasparov 7. . . . Bf5
two moves later. Offering a tacit draw by repetition. How¬
6. . . . Bc8 ever, Kasparov now reverts to the normal
This retreat became the most common line.
reply, once it was realized that White has 8. e3 e6
nothing better than to play his knight 9. Bxc4 Bb4

20
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

a_b c d e 1 Ne8 16 Nxg6 hxg6 17. Be3 White's two

bishops and spatial advantage make it
difficult for Black to equalize.

LlUiAA7 A recent game Tukmakov - Torre

(Biel 1988} went: 17. . . . Nc7'18. Qb3
JpAlU* Qe7 19. Khl c5 20. d5! Bxc3 (after 20.
. . . exd5 21. Nxd5 Black's bishop on b4 is
ii_WiuSl 5 shut in behind its own pawns) 21. dxe6!
Bd4 (21. . . . Nxe6 22. bxc3 Nxg5 23.
Qxb7 is also very good for White) 22.
exd7 Qxd7 23. Radi b6 24. Bxd4 cxd4

_d! fi Afl’
25. f4 Rad8 26. f5 Qc6 27. Qc2 Rd6 (not
27. . . . gxf5?? 28. Bxf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxc6)
28. Rxd4 gxf5 29. Rxf5 Ne6 30. Rxd6
Qxd6 (White is clearly better but the final
moves were played in mutual time-
10. 0-0 Nbd7 trouble) 31. Qf2 Qdl + 32. Qgl Qc2 33.
The most usual move. Castling has lost Bd5 g6 34. Rf6 Rd8 35. Qfl Rxd5 36.
popularity among the leading players, exd5 Nxg5 37. Qg2 Qc1+ 38. Rfl Qe3
Decause after: 10. ... 0-0 11. Nh4 Bg4 39, d6 Ne6 40. Qf3 1-0
12. f3 Bh5 13. g4 Bg6 14. e4 Nbd7 15. g5 11. Qb3 a5

Kasparov and Timman analysing after the game.

21
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

12. Na2 Be7 Kasparov always plays this move here,

13. Nh4 as the supplementary games reveal. The
The pawn snatch by 13. Qxb7 allows two ideas are to anticipate counter-play
Black to draw after 13. . . . Rb8 14. Qa6 by Black down the h file in conjunction
Ra8 15. Qxc6 Rc8 16. Qb7 Rb8 17. Qa6 with . . . Qc7 and to vacate g2 for the
Ra8 18. Qc6 Rc8 (Smyslov- Flohr, USSR regrouping manoeuvre Rdl and Bf1-g2 in
1947). answer to a later , . . e5. We shall
examine this in more detail in our notes
abed e f g fr to the next diagram.

A 9# i 14. . . . Qc7
Seethe supplementary games for 14. . ..

A %AA A A Qc8 (Kasparov - Beliavsky) and 14. . . .

Qb6 (Kasparov - Dolmatov, or, with Q
A Am side castling for Black, the instructive
game Karolyi - Franke).
A 15. Nc3 0-0

t 1A ft 16. Nxg6
17. Rdl!
hxg6

m 1 The immediate question is why White

ft A AA 2 does not play the obvious 17. e4? In fact,

the move would be premature, allowing

1 Jk & 17. . . . Gb6! 18. Gxb6 (18. Be3 Ng4! or

a be d e
lS_
f g h
18. Rdl e5 19. dxe5 Ng4! are both
satisfactory for Black) 18. . . . Nxb6 19.
13. . . . Bg6 Bd3 Rfd8 20. Ne2 e5 or here 20. Be3?l
The most commonly played move. The Ng4.
two alternatives are: 17. Rdl not only protects d4 but also
(i) 13. . . . Bg4 14. f3 Nd5 15. fxg4 Bxh4
16. e4 N5b6 (the bishop is lost after
a b c d e f g h
both 16. . . . N5f6 17. g3 and 16. . . .
Ne7 17. g3 Bf6 18. e5) 17. Bd3 Bf6
m i#
18. Be3 and the black knights have
no good squares. A game Ivanov - A w1 A A 4
A 4 mt
—
Rjumin (USSR 1971) continued: 18. .. .
0-0 (18. . . . e5?? 19. g5 wins the Aw.
bishop) 19. Nc3 Rb8 20. e5 Be7 21.
Qc2 h6 (21. . . . g6 22. Bh6 Re8 23.
A AA
Qf2) 22. Gd2 Nd5 23. Bxh6 and a AA -2
White's attack won for him.
(ii) 13. . . . Be4 drew for Black in the A Aft
game Kasparov - Nikolic (World Cup,
a A A
a IM a
Reykjavik 1988) but White could per¬
haps improve on this (see later).
14, g3
3>

22
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

prepares to counter the freeing move 17. a b cd et g h

. . . e5 by playing 18. Bf 1! exd4 19. exd4
with advantage to White according to
s nIS
Miles. Let us consider why this is so: A AJL ii
(i( 19, . . . Nb6 (before White can play
m AL A —

_ ‘r’
Bg2 followed by d5) 20. Bf4! Gd8
(20. . . . Bd6?? would lose a piece} 21.
d5N Nfxd5 (21. . . . cxd5 22. Be3
Nbd7 23. Qxb7) 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23.
Gxb7 Qc8 (23. . . . Rc8 24. Bh3 or 23.
A Aa _ i 1

. . . Qb6 24. Qxb6 Nxb6 25. Bg2 Rfc8 A \A

26. b3 and Racl +-) 24. Qxc8 RfxcS
25. Be5 with the better ending after A ai 4
Bg2 and Racl.
(ii) 19, . . . Rad8 20. Bf4 Bd6 (not 20. . . . a b
ma
c d e f
b
g h
Qb6? 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Bc7) 21.
Bg5 Nb6 22. Racl with advantage, that 22. . . . cxd4 23. exd4 Qxd4? loses to
since d4-d5 can no longer be pre¬ 24. Bxa5.
vented and 22. . , . Be7? allows White 22. e4 N5f6
to win material by 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Perhaps Black originally intended 22. . . .
Nb5. Nb4 but after 23. Nxb4 Bxb4 24. Be3
Both of these are interesting examples (threatening d5) he is in trouble. If then
of how to exploit the superior mobility of 24. . . . Qc7 White can either quietly
one's pieces. Now back to the game. strengthen his position by f4 and Bf3 or
17. . . . Bb4 else immediately open up the centre
Still trying for. . . e5 by removing a guard with 25. d5 exd5 26. exd5 cxd5 27. Bxd5
from d5 after exchanging his bishop for Qxc2 28. Rxc2 Nf6 29. Bf3 Rxdl+ 30.
the c3 knight. Bxdl Nd5 31. Bg5! and 32. Bf3.
18. Qc2 Rad8 23. Be2
The immediate 18. . . . e5 fails to 19. So that Be3 cannot be answered by . . .
Qxg6. Ng4. The d4 pawn still cannot be captured
19 Na2 Be7 because of Bxa5.
20. Bd2 23 ... . e5
Kasparov is not interested in the blood¬ Nor would 23. . . . c5 24. Be3 bring Black
less draw by repetition after 20. Nc3 Bb4 any relief; the threat of dxc5 forces 24.
21. Na2 etc. . . . Rc8 (24. . . . cxd4?? 25. Bxd4 wins at
20. . . . Qb6 once) 25. d5 exd5 26. exd5 when the
White's position is also more pleasant plan of Nc3 followed by Nb5 is very
after 20. c5 21. Bb5. powerful.
21. Racl (see diagram above! 24. Be3 exd4
21. . . . Nd5 25. Bxd4 Qc7
Black has no joy with this manoeuvre but 26. f4
21.... c5 22. Bb5 leaves his knight on d7 The opening phase is over and White's
badly placed and his KR out of play. Note bishop pair combined with his spatial

x „ m
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

35. Bxf5
Naturally avoiding 35. gxf4 Rxd4.
35. . . . Rxd4
Or 35. . . . Nxg6 36 . Qe4 winning for
White.
36. Rxd4 Qxe5
37. Re4 Bc5+
38. Khl Qxf5
39. gxf4 Bd6
40. Qc3+ Kxg6
41. Qd3
Threatening 42. Re6+
41. . . . Be7
42. fxg5
Better than 42. Re6+ Bf6.
42. . . . Qd5
advantage give him a clear plus. Nor is 42. . . . Bxg5 fails to 43 Re6+ Bf6 44.
Black's king safe e.g. 26. . . . Rfe8 27. Rgi+
Bc4 Bf8 (27. . . . Nb6 28. Bxf7+ Kxf7 29. 43. Qe2
Qb3+wins at least a pawn) 28. e5 Nh7 Rather than exchanging queens into an
(28_Nd5?? 29 Bxd5) 29. e6 fxe6 30. end-game, White launches a strong
Qxg6 with a strong attack. attack on the exposed enemy king
26. . , . g5? 43. . . . Rh4
This bold attempt at counter-play is 44. Nc3 Rxe4
energetically refuted. 45. Nxe4 Nxa4
27. e5 46. Rdl Qe6
Much better than 27. fxg5 Nh7. 47. Qc2 Qf5
27. . . . Nd5
28. Qe4
Threatening both Qxd5 and also 29. Bd3
g6 30. f5.
28. . . . N7b6
29. Bd3 g6
30. f5 f6
Otherwise White breaks through with
fxg6.
31. fxg6 f5
32. Qe2 Kg7
33. Qh5
According to Kasparov, 33 Bbl (prevent¬
ing Black's thirty-fourth move, was even
stronger.
33. . . . Rh8
34. Qf3 Nf4!?

24
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

The last trick, but Black only has a few Nbd7 9. Qb3 a5 10. Na2 Be7 11. Nh4
spite checks as a reward, If instead he Be4 12. Nc3 Nb6 13. Be2 0-0 14. Nxe4
plays 47. . . . Nb6 48. Nc5+ Qf5 the Nxe4 15. Nf3 Nd5 16. Qxb7 Nb4 17. Ne5
ending is easily won after 49, Qxf5+ Rc8 (there is no draw to be had after
Kxf5 50. Nxb7 a4 51 Rcl Bxg5 52. Rxc6 17. , . . Rb8 18. Qd7) 18. Bf3 (this
Be3 53 Nc5 etc 48. Qxa4 Qf3+ 49. Kgl eventually leads to a draw, so 18. Qd7!?
Qg4+ 50. Kf2 Qf4+ 51. Ke2 Qg4+ 52. is worth considering) 18..,, Ng5 19. Bd2
Kd3 Bb4 53. Qc2 Qf3+ 54. Kd4 Kg7 55. (not 19. Bxc6? f6 or 19. Nxc6?? Nxf3+)
Ke5 1-0 19. . . . Nxf3 + 20. gxf3 Bd6 21. Bxb4
Gg5+ 22. Khl Bxe5! 23. dxe5 (or 23.
Supplementary Material Bxf8 Gh5 as in the game) 23. . . . Gh5
G Kasparov - S Conquest 24. Bxf8Qxf3+ V2-V2
(Simultaneous, London 1984)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 G Kasparov - A Beliavsky
5. a4 Bg4 6. Ne5 Bh5 7. f3 Nfd7 8. Nxc4 (Team Championship, Moscow 1981)
e5 9 Ne4 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Ge7 11. Bxb4 1. d4 d5 2, c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4
Qxb4+ 12. Gd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 exd4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0
14. Ned6+ Ke7 15. Nxb7 Na6 16. Nba5 Nbd7 9. Qb3 a5 10. Na2 Be7 11. Nh4
Nb4 17. Ra3 Nc5 18. e3 dxe3+ 19. Bg6 12. g3 Oc8 13. Nc3 0-0 14 Nxg6
Rxe3 + Kf6 20, g4 Rad8+ 21. Ke2 Bg6 hxg6 15. Rdl e5 16. Bf 1 Bb4 17. Bg2
22. h4 h5 23. g5+ Kf5 24. Nb7 Rd4 25. Re8 (17. . . . exd4 18. exd4 Nb6 19. Bg5)
Kf2 Rxc4 26. Kg3 Rxh4 27. Rxh4 Nxb7 18. Na2 Bf8 19. Bd2 g5?l (19. , . Oc7!
28. Rxb4 1-0 gave better equalising chances) 20 Racl
G Kasparov - S Dolmatov g4 21. Nc3 Qb8 22. Qc2 Qa7 23. d5 cxd5
(USSR Championship 1981) 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Nf6 26. Ba2 b6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 27. Qf5 Ob7 28. Bc3 Gf3 29. Oxf3 gxf3
5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 30. g4 Nxg4 31. Rd7 Nh6 32. Bd5 Rac8
Nbd7 9. Qb3 a5 10. Na2 Be7 11, Nh4 33. Bxf3 Bb4 34. Bd5 Red8 35. Rxd8+
Bg6 12, g3 Ob6 13. Nc3 Oxb3 14. Bxb3 Rxd8 36. e4 Rc8 37. f3 Bd6 38. Kf2 Kf8
Bd3 15. Rdl Be4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. f3 39. Ke2 f6 40. h4 Nf7 41. Kd3 Ke8 42.
Nd6 18. e4g5 19. Ng2 h5 20. Ne3 c5 21. Rgl Kf8 43. Rbl Nh8 44. h5 Nf7 45. b4
dxc5 Nxc5 22. Bc2 Nd7 23. b3 f6 24 Kg2 axb4 46. Bxb4 Rd8 47. Bxd6 + ?! (even
Ne5 25. Bb2 Kf7 26. Rd2 Rad8 27. Radi stronger is 47. Kc4! Ng5 48. Kb5 Nxf3
b6 28. Bd4 Nc8 29. f4 gxf4 30. gxf4 49. Kxb6 Rb8+ 50. Bb7) 47. . . . Rxd6 48.
Rhg8+ 31. Kf2 Ng4+ 32. Nxg4 Rxg4 Kc4 Ng5 49. Rb3 f5 50. Kb5 f4 51. Ka6
33. Kf3 Rdg8 34. Bf2 e5 35. fxe5 fxe5 Ke7 52. Kb7 Rh6 53. Rxb6 Rxb6+ 54.
36. Bg3 Rf8 37. Kg2 h4 38. Rfl + Ke8 Kxb6 Nxf3 55. a5 Nd2 56. a6 f3 57. a7 f2
39. Rxf8+ Kxf8 40. Kf3 Rg5 41, Bxh4 58. a8(Q) fl(G) 59. Kc7 Gd + 60. Bc6
Rh5 42. Bg3 Na7 43. Rf2 Kg7 44. h4 Nc6 Nxe4 61. Oe8+ Kf6 62. Qg6+ Ke7 63.
45. Kg4 Rh8 46. Bd3 1-0 Gxg7+ Ke6 64. Qg4+ Kf7 65. Gg6+ Kf8
G Kasparov - P Nikolic 66. h6 1-0
(World Cup, Reykjavik 1988) T Karolyi - H Franke
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 c6 (Budapest 1988)
5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4

m
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 D c a e

H-1 h
Nbd7 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. g3 a5
12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Rdl 0-0-0 14. h4 Qc7 1 AK # 1
15. e4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nxe4 17. Bf4 Nd6
18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Qxe6 Rhe8 20. Qxd6
A A. 4 s1 A
Qxd6 21. Bxd6 Re6 22. Bf4 Nb6 23. Be5 A Ai
Rd7 24. f4 Kd8 25. Kf2 Ke8 26. Ke2 Kf7
27. Rdbl Nd5 28. Kd3 Re8 29. c4 Nb4+ —1 A
30. Kc3 Ke6 31. g4 Rh8 32. Rhl Rf7
33. Rh2 Kd7 34. Rahl b5 35. axb5 cxb5
a; A
36. cxb5 Nd5+ 37. Kb3 Rc8 38. Ral Ke6 g). A]K
39. Rxa5 Rb7 40. Rc2 1-0
£i A ,_i 1 A A A
3. The Semi-Slav Defence E A Wis
a b c
sod e f 9 h
. . e6/ . . . c6)

The Semi-Slav is a mixture of the Ortho¬ Meran variation, but until someone de¬
dox and Slav systems, with Black playing cides to play the line against Kasparov,
an early . . . c6 and . . . e6. It is usually perhaps in time for the second edition of
produced by the opening sequence: 1. this book, we shall have to quote other
d4 d5 2. c4 c6 (a Slav!) 3. Nf3 (or 3. Nc3 instructive examples chosen on the
which normally just transposes) 3. . . . following basis:
Nf6 4. Nc3 and now. instead of 4. . . . (i) After 8. Bb3 (Larsen-Petersson) or 8.
dxc4 giving us the pure Slav, the move Be2 (Christiansen-Flear/Piket-Van't
4. , . . e6 produces the Semi-Slav. Hof) the position is clearer from
White's point of view than after 8.
G Kasparov - J Van der Wiel Bd3. Moreover, there are far fewer
(Brussels 1987) variations to be learnt, an economical,
1. d4 d5 time-saving factor that appears like a
2. c4 c6 red flag throughout this book.
3. Nc3 Nf6 (ii) Both these players with White have a
4. e3 e6 similar playing style to Kasparov's,
5. Nf3 Nbd7 which means we can bank on the
6. Bd3 World Champion choosing one of
In both the Kasparov games we quote, these methods if confronted with the
his opponents reply 6. . Bb4. This is system. If I were a betting man I'd
not the usual continuation but allows us to give 3:1 odds on it . . .
examine ways of handling some typical Coming back to the actual games played
structures of the Queen's Gambit. by Kasparov, we must ask ourselves the
6. . . . Bb4 purpose of . . . Bb4. By putting pressure
(see diagram above) on c3. Black temporarily prevents e4
Many of your opponents will play 6. . . . which would give White a foot-hold in
dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 here, the so-called the centre and activate his QB (heading

26
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

perhaps for g5). Kasparov's next move 8. 0-0 0-0

forces Black to declare his intentions. 9, Qc2
7. a3 Controlling e4.
9. . . . dxc4
In the game Korchnoi-Hubner, Black
a b cd ef g h
8
I £ w K 8
played here 9 . . Qe7, when White
changed plans by exchanging on d5 and

7
mA 4 j£m A 7
playing on the Q side. This game is well
worth playing through, but White has the
6
A A4 6 equally good alternatives of playing 10.
Bd2 or simply 10. e4, according to taste.
5
A 5 10. Bxc4 Bc7

4
AA A 4

3
A 0 il A m 3
8
a

1
b

£m
c d e

m
f g h

2
1 A AE 2
7
A A A4 A AA
1
a
a b
%w&
c d e f
!a
h
1
6 A A4
5
The exchange on c3 would only help
4
£A
m s
White, since he can easily eliminate his
doubled pawns by cxd5 and remain with 3
A A
a useful pair of bishops. Play might go:
7. . . . Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 0-0 9. Qc2 Re8
10. cxdb exd5 11, Ng5 h6 (or 11. . . . g6
2
sm AA 1
12. h4 intending 13. h5 Nxh5 14. Nxh7)
1
a
a b
&
c d e
&f g h
12. Nh3 Nf8 13. Nf4 Ne6 14, Ne2
followed by 0-0 and f3 preparing to open
up the game for the two bishops. Of Now Black's intended . . . e5, opening up
course, other plans are possible too, the QB's diagonal, can no longer be
such as 11. Nd2 to become active in the prevented. This simple plan of active
centre by playing e4 after due prepara¬ defence has to be taken seriously, as can
tion with 0-0, Rel and f3. be seen from the way in which Black can
7. . . . Ba5 comfortably equalize after the obvious
In some games, the bishop has been 11. e4 e.g. 11.... e5 12. Rdl (White can
played to d6 in order to capture on c4 rapidly go downhill if he is not careful:
followed by . . . e5. White obtains a free 12. d5?l Nb6 13. Bb3 cxd5followed by...
hand in the centre after a rapid e4 {see e4 and attacking chances with . . . Ng4.
the supplementary games Kasparov- Or 12. Bg5? exd4 13. Nxd4? Ne5 wins a
Hubner and Speelman-Kalinin). The piece) 12. . . . Ge7 and Black obtains
retreat to a5 maintains the pressure on active piece play after . . . exd4, . . . Nb6
c3, preparing to answer e4 with .... Bxc3. and various tactical possibilities such as

27
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

13. Bg5 exd4 14. Nxd4? (14. Rxd4 Ne5 Qxc7 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. b4 Ne6 17. Qxc7
threatening . . . Nxf3+ and . . . Qe5) 14. Nxc7 18. Nxe5 winning a pawn. Or 12. ...
. . . Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Ng4+ and 16. . . . exd4 13. exd4 c5 14. Bg5 (the result of
Qxg5. It is rare to find a situation in which Black's pawn exchange in the centre) and
such reasonable looking moves as 11. e4 after Radi and Rfel, all with gain of time,
and 13. Bg5 bring no joy to White. White has a winning position with the
Kasparov's prophylactic set-up is typical immediate threat of Bxf6 followed by
of the modern approach to this system. Nd5. This leaves us with the plan of
11. Ba2! e5 exchanging pawns in the centre followed
12. h3! by . . . Nb6, but the moves Ba2 (prevent¬
ing gain of time by . . . Nb6) and h3
a b c d a f g h (preventing a possible . . . Bg4) have

2 pA¥H1 * deliberately catered for this continuation

e.g. 12. . . . exd4 13. exd4 Nb6 (after

A j|L A m A A 13.... h6 White smashes through with

illi
A
“P A i u
i 14. BxhGM gxh6 15, Qg6 + Kh8 16.
Qxh6+ followed by Ng5, Nce4 etc) 14.
Bg5! threatening to break up Black's K
side by Ne4 and Nxf6 + . Play might then
go:
S3 (i) 14. . . . h6 15. Bh4 (even 15. Bxh6

A AA A gxh6 16. Qg6+ is still possible, but

the text is clearer) 15.... Nbd5 (15.,..
AA w aA g5? 16. Qg6+ Kh8 17. Oxh6+ wins)

E
a b
Sc d
i
e
la0 f g h
16. Bxd5! cxd5 17. Bxf6 gxf6 (17. . . .
Qxf6?? 18. Nxd5) 18. Nxd5; or here
15. . . . Qd6 16. Nb5! cxb5 17. Bg3
followed by 18. Bxc7 with a clear
White's last two moves are the result of advantage to White. And so, avoiding
some thorough analysis based on the . . . h6, we have:
characteristics of this position. As we (ii) 14.. .. Qd6 15, Rcl (threatening Nb5)
saw in our last note, the e5 square plays 15. . . . a6 16. Rfel Nbd5 (or 16. . .
a great part in Black's defence, since he Bd7 17. Ne5; note that 16. . . . Be6
can use it as a pivot point for his fails to 17. Bxf6 Bxa2 18. Be5l) 17.
manoeuvres, For this reason. White Na4 and after Nc5 and Ne5 Black has
leaves his pawn on e3 in order to a depressmgly cramped position.
recapture on d4 with a pawn, preventing 12. . . . h6
occupation of both e5 and c5 and thus After seeing the effect of Bg5 in the
making it difficult for Black to develop his above variations, we can well under¬
QB by moving the knight on d7. It is in stand the reasoning behind this move,
fact almost impossible for Black to make 13. e4 Re8?!
progress without moving this knight e.g. After the game, both players agreed that
12. . . . c5 13. Nb5b6(or 13. . . . Bd6? 14. this move is the root cause of Black's
Rdl; or 13. . . . Bb6 14. dxe5) 14. Nxc7 subsequent troubles. The least evil is 13.

28
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

. . . exd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Be3 Qe7 16. queen) 23. Kd3! Qxf2 24. Rxg4+
Rfel although even here White stands Kh8 25. Bxh6 etc.
better (f4 and e5 are in prospect) c) 18. . . . Qh2+ 19. Kfl Nxe4 20.
Qxe4 Bd7 21. Nf3 transposing to
variation A; play might go 21. . . .
Qhl 4 22. Ke2 Qxg2 23. Rgl Gxh3
24. Bc3!! winning easily e.g, 24. . . .
g5 25. Gg6 mate; or 24. . . .
Rae8 25. Rxg7 + Kh8 26. Rh7+ Kg8
27 Rh8 mate; or 24. . , . Rfe8
25. Rxg7+ Kf8 26. Rxf7+ Kg8
26. Rxd7+ Kf8 28. Bg7 mate; or
24 . . . Bg4 25. Rxg4 etc.
After this tactical excursion, let us return
to the game.
14. Be3 Nh5?
Black imagines tactical possibilities on
the K side involving . . . Qh4 and . . . Nf4
after the exchange of centra! pawns, but
it is only a pipe-dream. It was easy to
play 14. , , . Qe7 15. Rfel in the spirit of
the variations mentioned (Larsen).
15. Radi
We will dwell a while on this position
because this kind of situation frequently
occurs in various lines of the Queen's
Gambit. It is instructive to consider the
tactical possibilities after Black captures
on e4:
(i) 16 . . . Nfxe4? 17. Nxe4Nxe4(17. . . .
Qxe4?? 18. Qxc5) 18. Bd2 Gd6 19.
Qxe4 Qh2+ 20. Kfl Bd7 (intending
. . . Rae8) 21. Nf3 with a’ material
advantage.
(ii) 16. . . . Ncxe4 17. Bd2 Qd6 (17 . . .
Qe5?? 18. Nf3) 18. Nxe4 and now:
a) 18. . . . Qxd4 19. Bc3 Qd8 (19. . . .
Qb6?? 20. Nxf6+ followed by mate
in two) 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qg6+
Kh8 22. Bxf6+ winning quickly,
b) 18. . . . Gh2 + 19. Kfl Qh1+ 20.
Ke2 Qxg2 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 (21. . . . 15. . . . exd4
Kh8 22, Qh7 mate) 22. Rgl Bg4+ The immediate 15. . . . Nf4 fails to 16.
(22.Re8+ 23. Kd3 winning the dxe5 when the pin on the d file means

29
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

that Black cannot reply 16. . . . Nxe5 is forced to block in his QB. If 19, . . .
saving his knight. This leads us to the Bxe6? 20. Bc5 is curtains and 19 ...
idea of 15. . . . Qf6 preparing . . . Nf4, but Qxe6? allows 20. Nxc7. The only valid
this removes the guard on his KB allow¬ alternative is 19. . . . cxb5 20. Ba2 Bb6
ing 16. Nd5! cxd5 17. Qxc7 dxe4 18. (otherwise Bc5 is again playable and 20. .
Nxe5 exploiting White's better develop¬ b6 loses to 21. Qe4 Rb8 22. g4 Bb7 23.
ment (Larsen) e.g. 18. . . . Nxe5 (18. . . . Qe3) 21. Bxb6 axb6 22. Rd4 (threatening
Re7 19. Ng4 Qh4 20. Qd8+ Kh7 21. g4) when 22.. .. g6fails to 23. Qxg6+ etc.
Bxf7! wins) 19. dxe5 Rxe5 (19. . . . Qxe5 19. . . . fxe6
20 Bxf7+ or 19. . Qe7 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 20. Nxc7 Qxc7
21. Rd8+ Kh7 22. Rcl or 19. . . . Qg6! 21. Qg6 Qf7
20. Rd6!) 20. Rd8+ Kh7 21. Bd4 winning. 22. Qxf7+ Kxf7
16. Bxd4! 23. Be3
Better than 16. Nxd4 Qh4 White encircles the knight. If now 23. . . .
16. . . . Qe7 g5 24. Rd6 Ng7 25. g4 followed by 26.
17. e5! Nf8?> Rfdl leaves Black tied hand and foot, so
Another mistake in a bad position. He Van der Wiel tries a few tricks.
had to play 17. . . . Nf4 18. Nb5 Bb8 19. 23. . . . Rf8
Nd6 Bxd6 20. exd6 with advantage to 24. Rd4!
White. Although Black is still worse after 24. g4
18. Nb5! Ne6 Kg8 25. Kg2 (25. gxh5 Rxf3) 25. . . . Nf4 +
Black loses immediately after 18. . . . 26. Bxf4 (26. Kg3 Nd5) 26. . . . Rxf4, he
cxb5 19. Bc5l would not collapse so catastrophically as
19. Bxe6! after Kasparov's move.
24. . . . Kg8
25. Rfdl b6
26. Rh4 Rf5
27. Nd4 1-0
After 27, . . Rxe5 28. Nxc6 Rb5 29. a4
and the black rook cannot maintain guard
on the knight.

Supplementary Material
G Kasparov - Dr R Hiibner
(Brussels 1986)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5.
Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. a3 Bd6 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 e5 11. 0-0
0-0 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Rel exd4 14. Rxe8+
Gxe8 15. Qxd4 Be7 16. Bg5 Bxg5?l (16.. .
Nf8 17. Rel and White is a little better
according to Kasparov) 17. Nxg5 Nf6 18.
A surprising but logical exchange of his Rdl Be6 (18. . . . h6 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20.
powerful bishop, but only because Black Gxe4 Qxe4 21. Rd8+ Kh7 22. Bxe4+

30
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

wins, as given by Kasparov) 19. Rel Qd8 V Korchnoi - Dr R Hiibner

20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Qe3 Kh8 22. h3 (here (Brussels 1986)
and on the next move Qxe6? is an¬ 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5.
swered by . . . Re8!) 22. . . . Qd7 23. g4 d4 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. a3 Ba5 8. 0-0 0-0
Re8 24. Oe5 Qd8 25. Kg2 Qb6 26. Rdl 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd2 Qd8
c5 (26. . . . Rf8 27. Rd2 followed by b4 12. Ne2 Bb6 13. Ng3 Re8 14. b4 a6 15.
and c5 with a dear plus to White accord¬ Bc3 Nf8 16. Rael Be6 17. Ne5 N6d7 18.
ing to Kasparov) 27. Ba4 Rf8 28. Rd6 Qc7 f4 f6 19 Nf3 Bc7 20. Nd2 Nb6 21. Bal
29. Rxe6 Qf7 30. Qxc5 Nxg4 (30. . . Bf7 22. Nf5 Kh8 23. a4 Nc8 24. Nb3 Nd6
Qxe6 31. Qxf8+ Ng8 32. Qf4 with two 25. a5 Nxf5 26. Bxf5 Bd6 27. Bc3 Bg6
healthy extra pawns) 28. Bxg6 Nxg6 29. f5 Nf8 30. e4 Qc7 31.
e5 fxe5 32. dxe5 Bxc5 33 Rxo5 Rxc5 34.
f6 gxf6 35. Rxf6 Kg8 36. Qf2 Rae8 37.
a b c d e f g h
Rxf8+ Rxf8 38. Qg3+ Qg7 39. Qxg7 +
w Kxg7 40. Bxe5+ Kg6 41. Nc5 Re8 42,

A A mA A Bd4 Re2 43. Nxb7 Rd2 44. Be3 Rb2

45. Bc5 Kf5 46. Nd8 d4 47. Bxd4 Rxb4

a 48. Bb6 Rc4 49. Nb7 Kf4 50. Nc5 Rel +

51. Kf2 Rc2+ 52. Kel Rcl+ 53. Ke2

m Rc2+ 54. Kd3 Rxg2 55. Nxa6 Ke5 56.

A
A n r;-:
s1 Nc7 Rxh2 57. a6 Ra2 58. a7 Ra3+ 59.
Ke2 Ra2+ 60. Kf3 Ra3+ 61. Be3 c5 62.
a8(Q) Rxa8 63. Nxa8 c4 64. Nc7 1-0

| 1 s K -
J Piket - A Van't Hof
(Dordrecht 1988)

a b c
□d e f 9 h
1. d4 I\lf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5.
e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 (the
Meran Variation) 8. Be2 b4 9 Na4 c5 10.
31. Qxf8+! Qxf8 32. hxg4 followed by dxc5 Bb7 11.0-0 Bxc5 12. Nxc5Nxc5 13.
33. Re8wins 1-0 Bb5+ 14. Ke7 14. Bd2 Qb6 15. Nd4 a6
16. Bxb4 axb5 17. Nb3 Rhc8 18. Nxc5
J Speelman - V Kalinin Rxc5 19. Rel Rac8 20. Rxc5 Rxc5 21.
(Zonal, Bath 1987) Od4 (21. . . . Nd7 22. Rel and White wins
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. the exchange and a pawn) 1-0
Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bc)3 Bb4 7. 0-0 0-0 8. a3 Bd6
9. Rel e5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. e4 dxe4 12. B Larsen - M Petursson
Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Rxe4 exd4 14. Rxd4 Bc5 (Hastings 1986)
15. Rh4 g6 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 1. c4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5,
18. Qd2 Nf6 19, Rel Qd6 20. Rd4 Qb6 Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bb3
21. Bc4 Nh5 22. Qh6 Qf6 23. Ng5 Qg7 b4 9. Ne2 Ba6 10. 0-0 Bd6 11 Rel c5
24. Nxf7 Qxh6 25. Nxh6+ Kg7 26. Ng8 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nf4 Bxf4 14. Bxf4 c4
b5 27. Bb3 a5 28. g4 Nf4 29. Re7+ Kh8 15. Ba4 Nef6 16. Bc6 0-0 17. Qa4 Qc8
30. Nf6Nh3+ 31. Kfl Ng5 32. h4 1-0 18. Bxa8 Nb6 19. Qa5 Nxa8 20. Oxb4

31
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Bb7 21. Ne5 Nd5 22. Qd2 IMab6 23. Bg3 a 1 b" c d e f 9 h

ff A m
f6 24. Nf3 Qc6 25, Qa5 Re8 26. Rad
Nd7 27. Qa3 Kf7 28. IMd2 N5b6 29. IMe4
8
I A E 8

IMc8 30. f3 Ndb6 31. Qc5 Qd5 32. Nc3

Qc6 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. d5 Qd7 35.
7
A a A A A AA 7

dxe6 1-0 6
% 6

5 5
L Christiansen - G Flear
(Interzonal. Szirak 1987)
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5.
4
iii A 4

Nf3 IMbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 3 3

Bb7 9. 0-0 a6 10. e4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. a4
Nxc3 13. bxc3 c4 14. Ng5 Be7 15. Bf3
2
!a a A A A A 2

Bxf3 16. Qxf3 0-0 17. Qg4 Nb6 18. axb5

axb5 19. Rxa8 Nxa8 20. Ne4 Kh8 21. Rel h£
L a b
±W
c d e f 9
IE
h
1

b4 22. Re3 bxc3 23. Rh3 g6 24. Qf4 g5

25. Nf6 1-0 and make a few intelligent guesses
about Kasparov’s possible choices if his
opponents were ever to give him the
4. The Queen's Gambit chance to play any of the following lines.
Accepted (1. d4 d5 2. c4
dxc4)
A The System with 4. ... a6
In our Chess Database we find that this 4. . . . a6
opening only occurs in four per cent of all 5. e4 b5
Queen's Gambit lines. The same applies Otherwise his previous move would be
in Kasparov's case but, through trans¬ meaningless, since White would simply
position, other systems can arise from capture on c4 and obtain a decisive
the Queen's Gambit Accepted which his central advantage.
opponents use regularly. Kasparov's pre¬ 6. e5 Nd5
ferred sequence of moves is: 7. a4
1. d4 d5 In his youth, Kasparov adopted a similar
2. c4 dxc4 system against the Slav Defence with
3. Nf3 Nf6 one of Geller’s favourite lines: 1. d4 d5 2.
4. Nc3 c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. IMc3 dxc4 5. e4
(nowadays, as we have seen, Kasparov
plays 5. a4} 5. . . . b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4
In Kasparov's latest games (e.g. in the giving us the diagrammed position with
one against Hubner in the Barcelona the difference that it is a pawn on c6
World Cup, 1989) his opponents have rather than the pawn on a6 supporting
played 4_c6 here transposing into the b5. We can therefore logically assume
Slav defence after 5. a4 (see Kasparov- that Kasparov would probably adopt the
Timman from an earlier section). Let us present system for White, should any of
consider other fourth moves for Black his opponents allow (risk?) it.

32
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

10. Bg2 Qb7 11. 0-0 Bd5 12. e6 Bxe6

13. Ng5 Bd5 14. Bxd5 Qxd5 15. axb5 e6
16. Rel Nd7 17. Qh5g6 18. Nxe6 1-0

A ZlochevskY - S Barichev
(USSR, 1986)
7, . , . Nb4 8. Be2 Bf5 9. 0-0 Nc2 10. Ra2
Nb4 11. Ra3 Nc2 12. Nh4 Bd3 13. Bxd3
cxd3 14. e6 fxe6 15. Qh5+ g6 16. Nxg6
hxg6 17. Qxh8 b4 18. Qg8 bxa3 19.
Qxg6+ Kd7 20. Qxd3 Nb4 21. Qe4 a2 22
Nxa2 Nd5 23. Rel c6 24. Qxe6+ Kc7 25.
Nc3 a5 26. h4 Na6 27. h5 Nab4 28. h6
Qd6 29. Nxd5+ Nxd5 30. Qg8 Qb4
31. Rfl Nf6 32. h7 Nxh7 33. Qxh7 Qxd4
34. Qh5 Bg7 35. Rdl Qe5 36. Gg4 Rd8
After 7. a4 White is threatening to 37. g3 Rxdl + 38. Qxdl Qe4 39. Bf4+ e5
exploit the pin down the 'a' file by 40. Bd2 Qd5 41. Qel e4 42. Bxa5+ Kb7
capturing on b5, or, if Black guards the 43. Bc3 Bd4 44. Bxd4 Qxd4 45. b3 1-0
rook with , . . Bb7, to play e6. The game
Knaak - Bonsch (GDR, 1970) is a good
B The System with 4. ... c5
illustration of this idea: 7. . . . Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Bb7 9. e6! fxe6 (somewhat better 1. d4 d5
is 9. ... f6 10. Be2 Qd5 11.0-0 Qxe6 12. 2. c4 dxc4
Rel although White has clear pressure 3. Nf3 Nf6
after Nh4 and Bh5+) 10. Be2 Qd5 11. 4. Nc3 c5
Ng5 (threatening Bf3) 11. . . . Qxg2 12
Rfl Bd5 (or 12. . . . Qxh2 13. Nxe6 Qd6
14. d5! followed by Bf4, since 14. . . .
Bxd5?? loses a piece to 15. Qxd5!) 13.
axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Bg4 e5
16. Be6!! with a strong attack.
The move 7. . . . b4 shatters Black's
pawn chain, allowing the fl bishop to
develop freely after, for example, 8. Ne4
c3 9. bxc3 bxc3 10. Ba3 followed by Bc4,
Qd3 and 0—0
Here are two examples of play from
the diagram, taken from USSR tourna¬
ments:

E Bareev - J Jakovitch
(USSR Junior Championship, 1986)
7. . . . Nxc3 8. bxc3 Qd5 9. g3 Be6

33
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Occasionally, the transposition 4. . . . e6 Ne4 Qe7 22. Nf6 Rh8 23. Be2 g3 24. Bg4
5. e4 c5 6. d5 occurs. Nd4 25. Qg2 Qd6 26. Qxg3 b4 27. Rh2
5. d5 e6 c3 28. Rdhl Qa6 29. Rh7+ Rxh7 30.
6. e4 Rxh7 + Kf8 31. Qh3 Nb3+ 32. Kc2 Nd4+
Black must now allow complications if 33. Kbl 1-0
he is to complete his development e.g.: So it appears that Black must look
6, . , , Be7? allows 7. d6! Bf8 (he cannot towards the main line from the diagram:
capture on d6 without losing a piece! 6. . . . exd5
8. e5 with a tremendous position. 7. e5 Nfd7
6. . . . b5?! is imaginative but fails to 7. Not 7. . . . d4? 8. Bxc4! Nc6 (we already
Nxb5 Qa5+ (7. . . . Nxe4? 8. Qa4! Bd7 9. know 8. . . . dxc3 9. Bxf7 + ) 9. exf6 dxc3
dxe6 fxe6 10. Bxc4) 8. Nc3 Nxe4 9. Bd2 10. Qe2+ Kd7 11. Bf4 and Black’s king
Nxd2 10. Qxd2 followed by 11. Bxc4, seems doomed.
since 10.... Ba6 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Ng5 8. Bg5 Be7
and 13 0-0-0 followed by Qe3 gives The alternative 8. . . . f6? fails to 9. exf6
White an attack. gxf6 10. Qxd5! fxg5 (after 10. . . . Qe7 +
6. . . . Nxe4 7. Nxe4 exd5 is a bold simply 11. Be3 wins) 11. 0-0-0 and
attempt at a counter-attack tried out in Black's defences can hardly withstand
several games, but one has the impres¬ the white hurricane unleashed by Bxc4
sion that the extra piece is stronger than and Rhel -k
Black’s pawn mass after 8. Nc3 Be6 9. Bxe7 Qxe7
(8. . . . d4 gives White an attack on the 10. Nxd5 Qd8
king after 9. Bxc4! dxc3 10. Bxf7+ Ke7
11. Qb3 and 12. 0-0) 9. Ng5! and now, as
a b c d e f g h
the following two examples illustrate,
both 9. . . . Nc6 and 9. . . , Be7 are not X 4 AM M
good enough for Black:
AA 4 —
A A A
H Olafsson - G Flear
(Wijk aan Zee, 1987)
9. . . . Nc6 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. g3 Qf6 12.
Bh3 Be7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. f4 Rad8 15. f5
k ft S
Qd4+ 16. Qxd4 cxd4 17. f6 Rxf6 18.
—
A _ j
Rxf6 Bxf6 19, Bxe6+ Kh8 20. Nxd5 Rd6
21. Bf7 d3 22. Nxf6 Rxf6 23. Bxc4 Ne5
ft
24. Bd5 Rd6 25. Bxb7 Rd7 26. Bf4 d2 27. ftl A S' A A
Rdl

W Schmidt - K Mokry
1-0
ESabode
1s
f g
11
h
(Warsaw Zonal, 1987)
9. . . . Be7 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. Qh5 + g6 11. Qc2!?
12. Qg4 Kf7 13. h4 Nc6 14. Bg5 h5 15. In true Kasparov style, even though we
Qf4+Kg7 16. 0-0-0 Bxg5 17. hxg5 Rf8 have as yet no examples from his actual
18. Qd2 Rb8 19. f4 b5 20. g4 hxg4 21. games!

m
 THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

In this position, his great rival Karpov eventually seeing his flag fall.
prefers the calm, clinical approach which 25. Qe4 Rd4 26. Qe3 Qf5 27. h4 b6
is equally unpleasant for Black, as he 28. h5 Re4 29. Qd2 Rd4 30. Qe3 Re4
showed in his Belfort World Cup game 31. Qd2 Rd4 32. Qh6 Kb7 33. f4 Nd3
against J Ehlvest in 1988: 11. Bxc4 Nc6 34. Bf3+ Ka6 35. Qg7 Rxf4 36. Qb7+
12. 0-0 0-0 13. Rel Nb6 14. Nxb6 axb6 Kb5 37. a3 Ne5 0-1
15. Qxd8 Nxd8 16. a3 Nc6 17. Radi Bg4
18. e6 Bxe6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Rxe6 Rfd8
C The System with 4. ... e6
21. Rdel Rd3 22. h3 h6 23. Ne5 Nxe5
24. RlxeB Rf8 25. Rxb6 Rd1+ 26. Kh2 1. d4 d5
Rxf2 27. Re7 Rdd2 28. Rg6 Rf7 29. Rxf7 2. c4 dxc4
Kxf7 30. Rb6 Rd7 31. Kg3 Ke7 32. Kf4 3. Nf3 Nf6
Kd8 33. Rb5 Rc7 34. Ke5 Kc8 35. Kd5 4. Nc3 e6
Kb8 36. g4 Re7 37. Rxc5 Re2 38. Rb5 5. e4 Bb4
Kc7 39. Rb3 g6 40. Rc3+ Kb6 41. b3 h5 The alternative 5. . . . c5 would merely
42. Rf3 hxg4 43. hxg4 Ka5 44. Rf7 Rg2 transpose {after 6. d5) into the previous
45. Rxb7 Rxg4 46. Kc5 Rg5t- 47. Kc6 system. The reply 5. ... a6 is rarely met
Ka6 48. b4 1-0 in practice, because 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3
The move 11. Qc2 leads to tactical Bb7 8. e5 Nd5 gives White the freer
positions with good attacking chances game.
for White. In the game J Piket - E After the text move, 6. Bg5 leads us
Vladimirov (European Team Champion¬ into the complexities of the so-called
ships, Rotterdam 1988) play from the Ragozin System, in which we may well
diagram went: see a beautiful model game played by
11. . . . Nxe5 Kasparov one of these days. Until then,
Or 11. . . . Qa5+ 12. Qc3 Qxc3+ 13. we’ll have to make do with the less well
bxc3 Kd8 Or 11. . . . Qa5+ 12. Qc3 known 6. Qa4+ system, as illustrated by
Qxc3+ 13. bxc3 Kd8 14. 0-0-0 Nc6 15. the following game:
Bxc4 Re8 16. Rhel followed by 17. Bb5,
since 16 . . . a6 loses to 17. Nb6. I Nemet - E Preissmann
12. Qe4 Be6 13. Qxe5 Qxd5 14. Qxg7 (Swiss Championship, 1988)
Rf8 15. Rdl Qe4+ 16. Be2 Nd7 17. Ng5 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Bg5 Bd7 8. Qc2 h6
Qg6 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 9. Bd2 b5 10. Be2 Rb8 11. 0-0 0-0
Not 18. . . . fxe6?? 19. Qxd7 mate. 12. Radi Qe7 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 b4
19. Qg5! f6 20. Qh5+ Rf7 21. 0-0 0-0-0 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Qbl Ba4 17. Rcl Bb3
22. Rd6 Qxd6 23. Qxf7 Ne5 24. Qxh7 18. Ne5 Rb7 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Nxc4
Qe6 Rc8 21. Rfel Qd7 22. h3 Qb5 23. b3
If 24. .:. Qd2? 25. Qf5+ Kb8 (25. . . . Kc7 Nc6 24. d5 exd5 25. Na3 Qa6 26. Bxf6
26. Bxc4! Nxc4 27. Qxc5+) 26. Qxf6 gxf6 (26. . . . Qxa3 27. Rxc6 gxf6
with advantage for White. In this position 28. exd5 Rxb3 29. Qf5 with an attack)
White stands better and his treatment of 27. exd5 Ne5 28. Qf5 Rxb3 (28
the opening is exemplary, even though Qxa3?? 29. Qxc8+) 29. Nc2 Rc3 30. Ral
he now proceeded to blot his copy-book Qb7 31. Nd4 (threatening Qxf6 and
by losing the thread of the game and Nf5) 1-0
2 The Nimzo-lndian Defence

The nearest relation to the Queen's but also prevents the unpleasant pawn
Gambit is seen in the opening sequence weakness often resulting from . . .
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 when White has to Bxc3+. We give two model games
decide whether to develop a knight on c3 which illustrate the ideas and plans
or f3. Kasparov has played both moves in arising after this rehabilitated move.
his career but latterly has given the
preference to the direct 3. Nc3 threaten¬
A The System with . . . b6
ing to occupy the centre at once with e4.
Of course, Black can now transpose to Let us firstly comment on the unusual
the Queen's Gambit by 3.d5 or go circumstances surrounding our model
instead into the Modern Benoni Defence game, with grateful acknowledgements
by 3.c5, a system we shall examine to the chess magazine 64. Top stars on
in the next chapter. the international chess scene occasion¬
The third alternative 3. . . . Bb4 gives ally donate their prizes to a good cause,
us the basic position of the Nimzo-lndian the most well known example being
Defence, partly named after the great when Karpov and Kasparov donated the
theoretician Aaron Nimzovitch (1886- seven-figure prize-fund of their 1986
1935) who, together with the all-round World Championship match to the victims
chess genius Richard Reti (1889-1929), of the Chernobyl disaster.
founded the Hypermodern School of In mid-December 1988, it was again
masters who, particularly in the twenties, possible to use a chess occasion as a
subjected the prevailing opening theory means of raising a substantial amount of
to a ruthless examination, thereby bring¬ money for humanitarian purposes. In the
ing into question many entrenched ideas attractive Benefit Active Chess Match in
about chess strategy. One of the most Madrid between a Soviet team and a
important contributions of the Hyper¬ 'Rest of the World' team, a number
moderns was their reevaluation of the of firms forked out a total of around
concept of the centre. 'The centre', 160,000 dollars to be divided between
wrote Nimzovitch, 'cannot only be con¬ UNICEF and its USSR counterpart.
trolled by occupation with pawns but can The eight members of each team
also be controlled by pieces.' met all the members of the opposing
The main idea of the Nimzo-lndian team (the Scheveningen System), with
Defence is in fact to control the e4 twenty-five minutes on the clock for
square, initially at least, by pieces only: each player to complete the game. The
first a knight on f6, then a bishop on b7 Soviet team, with the notable absence of
(after. . . b6). The most direct reaction to Karpov (himself playing in the World
this plan is 4. Qc2, Kasparov's favourite Active Chess Championship at Matzatlan
move of late which he has imbued with which he in fact managed to win), just
new dynamism. It not only controls e4 scraped home with 32V2 points to 31V2.
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

The best individual efforts {5V? out of a b c d e f _9 h

8) were achieved by the veteran Viktor
Korchnoi ('Rest of the World') along with
8
z m A* X # i'ij
8

the two Soviet players Mikhail Gurevic 7

A l A A A A 7
and, of course, Garry Kasparov. Three
games were adjudged to be the best of 6 P Am 6
the match: Dolmatov - Nogueiras, a
5 5
tactical battle published in 64, plus two
of the World Champion's efforts, his
enthralling duel with Speelman (which
4 n AA 4

we shall consider in Chapter 7) and 3 3

i

A At A
the game we give here as an example
of 4. Qc2 against the Nimzo-lndian
2
A 2

Defence.

G Kasparov - J Hjartarson
1
s I
a tT d~
& £m H _
e t -9- h
1

(Madrid, 1988)
1. d4 Nf6 supplementary game Kasparov - Sax.
2. c4 e6 The idea of 6. . . . Qe8 is to answer 7.
3. Nc3 Bb4 Bg5 with 7. . . . Ne4, so White can play
4. Qc2 0-0 7. f3 or else follow the plan of Korchnoi -
The most usual continuation in which Lerner. As for the wild 6 ... b5?I, it
Black keeps his cards to his chest a little looks a little risky, even though the game
longer, postponing the decision whether Thorsteins - Adorjan ended in a draw.
to establish a pawn in the centre with . . . 6_ b6
d6 and . . e5 or to f ianchetto his GB with 7, Bg5
. . . b6 and . . . Bb7. We shall examine This bishop move is more aggressive
other fourth moves for Black in the third than the 7. e3 played in the supplement¬
section of this chapter. ary game Karpov - Kasparov, the only
5. a3 game so far where Kasparov has played
White chooses the most favourable this line as Black.
moment to obtain the immediate advan¬ 7. . . . Bb7
tage of two bishops, because Black has Since Black must play this move sooner
no option but to exchange his bishop for or later, other continuations usually
the knight (5. . . . Be77 6. e4 would give transpose into one of the games given in
White a massive spatial advantage). this section. The most common trans¬
5. . . . Bxc3+ positions are by 7. . . c5 8. dxc5 bxc5 9.
6. Qxc3 e3 Bb7 or by 7. ... d5 8 e3 Bb7 or by 7,
Black has now to decide in which way he . . . h6 8. Bh4 Bb7.
should develop his QB, by moving his d7 8. f3
or b7 pawn: We examine 6 , . . b6 in the This move restricts the action of the b7
present model game and 6. . . . d5 (by bishop and prepares to gain space with
transposition) in the next one (Kasparov e4. For the second time Black is faced
- Nikolic), whilst . . . d6 is seen in the with the decision of whether to play 8.

m
 THE NIMZO'INDIAN DEFENCE

8. . . . h6
9. Bh4 d5

... d5 as in this game or choose from:

(i) 8. . . . d6. Kasparov considers this
a weaker move, because it allows
White to establish a strong pawn
centre by e4 and, if necessary, a later 10. e3
d5, as in his World Cup game against The best continuation. After 10 cxd5
the same opponent, played a few exd5 Black can play his knight to the
weeks before the present one (see more active c6 square e.g. 11. e3 Re8
Supplementary Material). 12. Bf2 c5 13. Bb5 (13. dxc5 d4!) 13. . . .
(ii) 8. . . . c5 9. dxc5 bxc5. In the further Nc6, as in the supplementary game
course of play, Black develops his Kaidanov - Vishmanavin. In the supple¬
knight on c6 and usually begins a mentary game Oil - Goldin, White boldly
central pawn clash with . . . d5. played 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12.
None of Kasparov's opponents has Qxc7 but, despite the fact that the young
tried this against him yet. After the Soviet master finally won this game, no
possible 10. e3 Nc6 11. Nh3 h6 12. one has yet repeated the experiment. . .
Bh4 Rc8, a game Hjartarson - Salov [Beliavsky momentarily rehabilitated the
(Amsterdam, 1989) continued 13. 10. cxd5 exd5 11. e3 Re8 line in his win
0-0-0 d5! ? and White cannot capture against Vaganian in the 1989 USSR Cham¬
the c5 pawn in view of the pin down pionship, when he successfully played
the 'c' file. For this reason, 13 Rdl I 12. Nh3?l Nbd7 13. Be2 c5 14. 0-0 Qe7
is stronger, when Black has problems. 15. Bf2 Rac8 16. Rfel cxd4 17. Qxd4
However, the days of 8. ... c5 are followed by 18. Radi. However, only a
probably not yet numbered, since the few weeks later. Chandler in his Hastings
move keeps cropping up in the West game against Gulko came up with the
German League. We can only hope splendid counter 12. . . . Qe7! 13. Bf2 c5
that it is tried out against Kasparov 14. Bb5 Bc6 15. Be2 Bd7! when White
some time. had to accept the weakening of his K

38
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

side pawn structure after 16. 0-0 Bxh3, tournament with a substantial prize fund
since 16. Nf4 fails to 16. . . . Nc6! with in dollars and that, by drawing it against a
decisive central pressure. Clearly, this pursuing rival, Gurevic had one eye on
opening is in a state of flux . . .]. the prize money. In different circum¬
10. . . . Nbd7 stances, he would have definitely made
Note that Kasparov's accurate sequence a greater effort to win, admittedly with
of moves has prevented the active plan some risk involved, by trying 15. Bb5!
adopted above by Vyshmanavin, since Rfd8 16. Bxd7 Rxd7 17. dxc5 bxc5
now 10. . . . c5? loses a pawn after 11. 18. Ne2 intending e4 and Rcl with the
dxc5 bxc5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 better prospects. [With the benefit of
14. Be7! Re8 15. Bxc5 etc. hindsight, may I equally point out that
11. cxd5 Karpov, as Black, opted for the exchange
It is generally advisable not to capture on of queens against Salov at Skelleftea,
d5 until Black has committed his QN 1989, when Salov captured on c7 allow¬
to d7. ing Black to win back the e3 pawn.
Hence, presumably, Beliavsky's rever¬
sion to 10. cxd5.]
a b c d e f g h
12. Bd3 c5

i m E# 8 After 12. . . . Re8 White has 13. Bf5!

protecting the e3 pawn and threatening
A A. A 1 A A 7
14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. Bxf6 weakening

A m jjAi6 Black's king position.

13. Bf5!

A:l A 5

A A 2*
A 2 3

A 2 2j
s li M 2ISi’
a b c d e f g h

11_ exd5
In the game M Gurevic - Polugayevsky
(New York Open, 1989}, Black forced the
exchange of queens by 11. . . Nxd5
12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 (13. Bxc7 Nd5
14. Bd6 Nxe3!) 13. . . . Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. e4?l Ne7 16. Bb5 Nc6 17. Ne2 Rfc8
18. 0-0 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nc5 20. Nxc6
when a draw was agreed. It is worth A well-known strategem. White antici¬
pointing out, however, that this game pates 13. , . . Rc8? Bxf61 again weaken¬
was played in the penultimate round of a ing the K side pawn structure and, at all

39
 THE NIMZQ-INDIAN DEFENCE

events, is planning to play Bxd7 against g4 and Ng3, but this involves four tempi
13..,. Re8? or even against 13.... Bc8? compared with only two for Nh3 and g4.
(14. Bxd7 Bxd7 15. dxc5 Rc8 16. Bxf6!>. Finally, in case Black relaxes his grip on
An important point to note is that, the centre by playing . . . c4, the h3
exceptionally in this particular set-up. knight is ideally placed to support the e4
White always answers , . . cxd4 with counter from f2.
exd4! maintaining control of the impor¬ In the diagram position, Black has to
tant c5 and e5 squares and keeping think up a plan. As we have seen, 14. . . .
Black's 'bad' bishop out of the game. Rac8? is answered by 15. Bxf6, whereas
13. . . . Qc7 14. . . . Ba6 looks stronger than it really
14. Nh3 is, because White can castle artificially
by 15. Kf2 and 16. Rhel. The obvious
choice is 14. . . . Rfe8 but after 15. 0-0
Black still has problems developing his
QR, because both 15.... Rac8? 16. Bxf6
and 15. . . . Rad8 16. Bxd7 Rxd7 17. Bxf6
weaken Black's K side pawn structure.
There is little wonder that the Icelandic
player hastens to eliminate one of
White's powerful bishops at the cost,
however, of weakening the black
squares around his king.
14. . . . g6
In order to play . . . Rac8 with counterplay
down the c file if the bishop retreats to
d3 or c2, [It is amusing to note that one
defect of the knight on h3 is that it
prevents the thematic retreat of the
bishop to that square!]
This choice of square for the knight 15. Bxd7 Nxd7
occurs in many of Kasparov's games 16. 0-0 Rfe8
against the Nimzo-lndian, so we must 17. Nf2 Rac8
ask ourselves why this square rather 18. Qd2 h5
than Ne2 which we have seen him play After the exchange of central pawns the
in the Queen's Gambit variations where h6 pawn would be exposed to attack, so
f3 is required. In both cases, the f4 it is advanced, at the same time guarding
square is available, but not immediately g4 against an invasion by the knight.
in view of . . . g5. What other prospects 19. Rfel
does the e2 knight have? At the moment We have now reached a middle-game in
it cannot go to g3 which would block the which White's minor pieces stand better
bishop's retreat, but even if it reaches g3 than their black counterparts. This be¬
after Bf2 there is little scope for it there. comes clear if Black seeks refuge in
Of course, it can go to g3 in conjunction simplication e.g. 19. . . . cxd4 20. exd4
with a K side pawn advance by Ne2, Bf2, Rxel + 21. Rxel Gc2 22. Qxc2 Rxc2 23.

40
 THE NIMZCMNDIAN DEFENCE

would allow 24. Bf6 threatening Qg5,

Bc3 and Qf6.
24. Ne4 Re6
25. Qg5!
Threatening Rxd5 and, after the retreat
of the knight, Nf6+ followed by Rxe6
winning easily. If now 25. . . . f5 White
has 26 Nc3! Rxel + 27. Bxel I threaten¬
ing both Nxd5 and Qxg6+
25. . . . Qg7
26. Rxd5 Bxd5
27. Qxd5 Qxb2
28. Rdl c4
Or 28. . . . Qxa3 29. Nd6l (threatening
not only Nxc8 but also 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31.
Qd7 + ) 29. . . . Rf8 30. Nxf7! Kxf7 (30.
Re8 + Kg7 24. Nd3! and the threat of . . . Qe3+31. Bf2> 31. Qd7+ etc.
Re7 in conjunction with Nb4 (if . . . Bc6) 29. Qg5 c3
or Nf4 (if . . . Bc8) or Bg3 (if . . . Rc7) Banking on the advance of this pawn, but
immediately brings Black into trouble. At White's attack on the king is quicker,
all events, exchanging on d4 is generally 30. Rd8+ Rxd8
bad, since it opens up a line for White's 31. Qxd8+ Kh7
queen to reach h6 with the threat of Nh3- After 31. . . . Kg7 32. Bf6+ Rxf6 33.
g5, which is equally the reason why 19. Qxf6+ Kg8 34. Qxc3 it is curtains.
. . . c4? fails to 20. e4! 32. Nf6+ 1-0
19. . . , Qd6 After 32. . . . Rxf6 33. Bxf6 Qcl + 34. Kf2
20. Radi Qf8 there is no perpetual check (34. . . .
Preventing once and for all the latent Qc2+35. Kg3 h4+ 36 Kxh4 Qf2+ 37.
threat of Qh6 and planning himself .... Kh3) so 34, . . . Qd2-f is forced, allowing
Qh6 followed by . . . g5 and h4.-White 35. Qxd2 cxd2 36. Ke2 winning.
therefore begins active play in the centre.
21. dxc5 bxc57! Supplementary Material
It may have been the lesser evil to play G Kasparov - G Sax
21. . . . Nxc5 but White can reply 22. b4 (World cup, Reyk(avik, 1988}
Ne6 (22. . . . Nb3? 23. Gb2 or 22. . . I. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0
Na4? 23. Bf6) 23. Bf6 followed by Bal 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d6 7, f3 d5 (7 .
with dangerous threats such as Qb2 and Nbd7 8. e4 e5 9. d5 a5 10. b4 with a
94. spatial advantage; or here 9. . . Nc5 10.
22. e4 Nb6 b4) 8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. e3 Re8 10. Nh3 h6
If 22. . . . d4 23. b4! cxb4 24. Gxd4 Nb6 II, Bh4 c6 12. cxd5?! (Black would be in
25. Qxb4 Qxb4 26. axb4 Rc4 27. Nd3 and difficulties after the much stronger 12.
Bf2 wins a pawn Rdl !) 12. . . . exd5 13. Bf2 c5 14. Nf4
23. exd5 Nxd5 cxd4 15. Qxd4 Qa5+ 16. b4 Qb6 17. Qd2
Overprotecting f6, since 23. . , . Bxd5 a5 18. b5 Nc5 19. Rdl Nb3 20. Qb2 a4

414
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

21. Be2 Qa5+ 22. Kfl Bd7 23. Bh4 d4 24. 34. Rf4 Nf8 35. Rcfl Ne6 36. R4f2 e3 37.
Bxf6 gxf6 25. exd4 Bxb5 26. Kf2 Bxe2 Rf7 d4 38 Rxa7 Bxe2 39. Qxe2 Gg6+ 40.
27. Nxe2 Qg5 28. Rd3 Re7 29. Rhdl Qg2 Ng5 41. Kh 1 d3 42. Rff7 1-0
Rae8 30. Ng3 f5 31. Kfl Qh4 32. d5 Nc5
33. Rd4 Qxh2 34. d6 Re3 35. Kf2 Rxf3+ G Kasparov - J Hjartarson
Kxf3 Re3+ 37. Kxe3 Qxg3+ 38. Kd2 1-0 (World Cup, Reykjavik 1988)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0
K Thorsteins - A Adorjan 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3
(Akureyri, 1988) d6 9. e4 c5 10.d5Nbd7 11. Nh3exd5 12.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 cxd5 a6 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. 0-0
0-0 5, a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b5 7. cxb5 c6 b5 16. Rfel Ne5 17. Bfl Bc8 18. Nf2 Ng6
8. Bg5 cxb5 9. e3 Bb7 10. Nf3 h6 11. 19. Bd2 Bd7 20 b4 Rfc8 21. 14 cxb4 22.
Bh4 a6 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. 0-0 Na5 14. Bxf6 Qxb4 Rc2 23. Reel Rxcl 24. Rxcl Ne8
gxf6 15. e4 Kg7 16. Rael Rg8 17. Qcl 25. Rel Rc8 26. Bd3 Gf6 27. g3 h5 28.
Rc8 18. Qf4 Qc7 19. Qh4 Nc4 20. Re2 Be3 h4 29. Bd4 Qd8 30. Qd2 Nf6 31. Be2
Qd8 21. Qf4 Qc7 22. Qh4 Qd8 23. Qf4 Qe7 32. Bf3 Ne8 33 Re3 Qd8 34. Bdl
Qc7 Vz-Vz hxg3 35. hxg3 Nf8 36. Bb3 Ng6 37. e5
dxe5 38. fxe5 Qg5 39. Ne4 Qh5 40. e6
S Mohr - L Christiansen fxe6 41. Nc5 e5 42. d6+ Kh7 43. Nxd7
(W German League, 1989) exd4 44. Re2 Rc3 45. Gel Nh4 46. Nf8+
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 Kh8 47. Ng6+ Qxg6 48. Rxe8+ Kh7 49.
5. a3 Bxc3-f 6. Gxc3 b5 7. cxb5 c6 8. f3 Bg8+ Kh6 50. Qd2+ Kh5 51. Re5+ Nf5
Nd5 9. Qd2 (better 9. Qd3 f5 10. e4 Nc7! 52. Qe2+ Kg5 53. d7 Qd6 54. Qe4
according to Christiansen) 9. . . . f5 Rxg3+ 55. Kf2 g6 56. Rd5 1-0
10. Nh3 cxb5 11. e3 Nc6 12. Bxb5 Na5
13. Qd3 Rb8 14. b4 Rxb5 15. bxa5 A Karpov - G Kasparov
(15. Qxb5? Nb3 16. Rbl Qh4+ 17. Nf2 (USSR Championship, 1988)
Nxcl 18. Rxcl Nxe3 with good play for 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0
Black) 15. . . . Ba6 16. Bd2 Rb6 17. Qc2 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8. b3
Rc6 18. Qdl Gh4+ 19. Nf2 Gg5 20. g3 d5 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Be2 dxc4 11. bxc4 c5
Nxe3 21.Nh3Qh6 22.Qb3 Ng2 + 0-1 12 0-0 Rc8 13. Bb2 cxd4 14. exd4 b5 15.
c5 a6 16. a4 Nd5 17. Qd2 b4 18. a5 Qc7
V Korchnoi - K Lerner 19. Rfd Qf4 20. Bfl Rfd8 21. Qxf4 Nxf4
(Lugano, 1989) 22. Ra4 Nd5 23. Nd2 Rc7 24. Raal Nb8
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 25. Nc4 Bc6 26. Nd6 Ra7 27. f3 Ne7 28.
5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Qe8 7. Nf3 d6 8. g3 Rc4 Nd5 29. Red Ne7 30. Rc4 Vfe-%
b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. 0-0 Nbd7 11. b4 Ne4
12. Qc2 f5 13. Ng5 Gg6 14. Nh3 e5 15. G Kaidanov - A Vyshmanavin
f3 Nef6 16. Ng5 Rae8 17. d5 c6 18. Bh3 (Lvov, 1987)
e4 19. Ne6 cxd5 20. Nxf8 Rxf8 21. cxd5 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0
Bxd5 22. Bf4 Nh5 23. Qd2 Nxf4 24. Qxf4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3
Bc4 25. Rael d5 26. fxe4 fxe4 27. Bf5 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. e3 Re8
Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Qe8 29. Rcl Nf6 30. g4 h6 12. Bf2 c5 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Ne2 c4 15. b3
31. g5 hxg5 32. Qxg5 Nh7 33. Qg4 b5 cxb3 16. Qxb3 Na5 17. Qa2 Bc6 18. Bd3

42
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

Ba4 19. Rbl Rc8 20. 0-0 Qd7 21. Ng3 immediate threat of cxd5 followed by
Rc3 22. Qd2 Rxa3 23. e4 dxe4 24. fxe4 Qxc7. The alternative 6 . . . Nc6 7. Nf3
Ng4 25. Nf5 g6 26. h3 gxf5 27. hxg4 fxe4 Ne4 8. Qc2 transposes into a line we
28. Bb5 Bxb5 29. Qxh6 Re6 30. Qg5+ examine shortly. Kasparov's opponents
Rg6 31. Qxb5 Qxb5 32. Rxb5 Nc4 33. have invariably adopted Black's next
Bh4 Ne3 34. Rcl Nxg4 35. Rh5 Kg7 36. move.
d5 Rd3 37. Bg5 e3 38. Kfl Rd2 39. Rc8 6. . . . Ne4
Rf2 + 40. Kel Rf5 41. d6 Rxd6 42. Rch8 7. Qc2
Rxg5 0-1

L Oil - A Goldin
(Klaipeda, 1988)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0
5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3
h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bxf6
Qxf6 12. Qxc7 Ba6 13. Qe5 Qc6 14. Qe3
Rc8 15. Nh3 Qc2 16. Qd2 Qb3 17. Rcl
Nd7 18. Rc3 Qa2 19. Nf4 Nf6 20. g4 g5
21. Nd3 Bxd3 22. exd3 Rxc3 23. Qxc3
Qbl +24. Kd2 Re8 25. Bg2 Qa2 26. h4 a5
27. hxg5 hxg5 28. f4 gxf4 29. Bf3 Nh7
30. Rh5 Qbl 31. Bdl Re3 32. Qc2
Qxc2+33. Kxc2 Nf8 34. Rxd5 Ne6 35.
Kd2 Rg3 36. Rf5 Rg2+ 37. Kc3 Rgl 38.
d5 Nc5 39. Bf3 Rcl + 40. Kd4 Kf8 41. g5
Ke7 42. Rf6 Nd7 43. d6+ Ke8 44 Rxf4
Rgl 45. Bc6 Rxg5 46. Re4+ Kd8 47. Black dare not delay any longer, because
Re7 1-0 White is planning to apply pressure on c7
with Bf4. Admittedly, Black can always
block the 'c' file by playing . . . c6, but this
B The System with . . . d5
hardly improves the situation of his QB
G Kasparov - P Nikolic and White can simply develop naturally
(World Cup, Barcelona 1989) with Bf4, e3 and Bd3.
1. d4 Nf6 7. . . . e5
2. c4 e6 The radical tactical solution for freeing
3. Nc3 Bb4 the QB. There are two main alternatives:
4. Qc2 d5 (i) 7. ... c5 as played against Kasparov
5. a3 Bxc3+ by the leading Bulgarian player Kiril
6. Qxc3 Georgiev in the 1988 Olympiad. After
White has acquired the bishop pair, 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3
whilst Black has still not resolved the Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxc5 12. Qxc5 Nxc5
problem of his QB. Simple development Kasparov gives as best 13. Bc3! 0-0
does not help Black here e.g. 6. . . . 0-0 7. 14. e3 Bf5 15. Rdl maintaining an
Nf3 b6 8. Bg5 Bb7 9. Rcl with the advantage. As you can see in the

43
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

supplementary game, Kasparov played e g. 9. . . exd4 10, cxd5 Qxd5 11. f3 etc.
instead 13. Be3?l and his managing 8. . . . exd4
to win the game had nothing to do 9. cxd5! Qxd5
with the opening. 10. Nf3!
(ii) 7. . . . Nc6 8. Nf3 e5 constitutes a The danger facing Black is clearly shown
gambit which has a poor reputation in the variation 10. . . dxe3? 11. Bc4
not only among theorists but also exf2+ 12 Ke2 Qc6 (12. . . Qf5 13. Bd3)
with present-day players. Taimanov 13. Ne5 winning a piece; if Black then
continues 9. dxe5 Bf5 10. Qb3 dxc4 tries to obtain material compensation by
11. Qxc4 0-0 12. Be3 Qe7 13. g4 Bg6 playing 13. . . . Ng3+, he loses to 14.
14. Bf4 with advantage to White. An hxg3 Qxg2? 15. Bxf7+ Ke7 (15. . . . Kf8
interesting sub-variation here that 16. Qc5 mate) 16. Qc5+ Kf6 17. Bg5+!
could well appeal to Kasparov is 12. Kxg5 18. Nd7+ Kg4 19. Qh5+ Kxg3 20.
g4 Bg6 13. h4 with sharp play. Qh4 mate.
Returning to the game continuation, 10. . . . Qc6!
although no definitive conclusion has Black applies the emergency brake! It is
been reached about the acceptance of in fact too late for quiet developing
the pawn by 8. dxe5 Nc6 and . . . Bf5 moves e.g. 10. ... 0-0 11. Bc4 Gf5 (11.
with active play for Black, Kasparov . . , Qc6? 12. Ne5 wins) 12. Nxd4 Qg4?l
prefers a more clear-cut position with a (12 ... Qg6 13. f3 wins a piece and 12.
small but lasting advantage. . . . Qe5 13. Bd3 wins the pawn on c7 or
8. e3 h7) 13. Be2! (but not 13. f3? Qh4+ 14.
The point is that Black can no longer g3 Nxg3 15. Of2 Nf5!) 13. . . . Qg6 (13.
transpose to our note above, since 8. . . . . . . Gxg2? 14. Bf3 or 13. . . . Qh4? 14 g3)
Nc6 loses a piece after 9. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bf3 Re8 15. Qxc7 winning a pawn.
10. Bc4, whilst 8. . . . Bf5 fails to 9. Bd3 11. Nxd4
Now 11. Bc4? fails to 11... . Nd6!
11.... Qxc2
12. Nxc2 Nc6
13. b4 Be6
14. Bb2 0-0
White's bishop pair and possible pressure
down the ‘c' file guarantee him an edge
in the end-game, despite the fact that he
is a little behind in development. The
best continuation is 15. Bb5! threatening
to weaken Black's pawn position e.g. 15.
. . . Bd5 16. Rcl Rfc8 (White was
planning 17. Bxc6 Bxc6 18 Nd4 which is
why both 16. . . . a6 and 16. . . . Nd6
would be bad) 17. 0-0 Nd6 (White would
equally play his rook to dl after 17. . . . a6
or 17. . . . Nf6) 18. Rfdl! Nxb5 (18. . . .
Bxg2 19. Rxd6!) 19. Rxd5 Nd6 20. Nel

44
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

a b c d e f g h (The vulnerability of his b5 pawn cuts out

8
I ——
3L 8
any winning chances for Kasparov.)
30. g4 h5
7
4kk kk k7 31. h3
32. hxg4
hxg4+
96
6
4 4 6 33.
34.
Ke2
Kd3
Rc5
f5
5 5
35. gxf5 gxf5
4
A. 4 4 36.
37.
f3
e4
b6
V2-V2
3
1 A
3
Supplementary Material
2
$ Sx EA
hi
2
G Kasparov - K Georgiev
1
I
a b c d
5 j§] s
& t g h
1 (Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1988)
I. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4, Qc2 d5
5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5
planning to post the knight on c5. In 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3 Qa5 +
these and other possible variations, II. Bd2 Qxc5 12. Qxc5 Nxc5 13. Be3?I
White retains a small but enduring ad¬ (13. Bc3! 0-0 14. e3 Bf5 15. Rdl
vantage, as the objective Predag Nikolic gives White the advantage according to
admitted after the game Kasparov) 13. . . . Ne4 14 Nd4 0-0
This is the end of the opening phase. 15. Rdl Be6 16. f3 Nd6 17. Nxe6 fxe6
In the remainder of the game, which we 18. Bc5 Rad8 19. e4 Rfe8 20. exd5
quote for the sake of completeness, exd5+21. Kf2 b6 22. Be3 Re5 23. Bd3
Kasparov adopted a faulty plan and Rf8 24. Rcl Na5 25. Bd4 Re7 26. Rhel
gradually frittered away his opening plus. Rd7 27. Bc3 Nb3 28, Rcdl Nc5 29. Re5
15. Rcl?! Nd6 Nf7 30. Re3 Nd6 31. Bbl Nc4 32. Re2
16. b5 Na5 Rfd8 33. Ba2 b5 34. b3 d4 35. bxc4 dxc3
17. Nd4 Bc4! 36. Rxd7 Rxd7 37. cxb5+Kf8 38. Rc2
(Black takes over the c4 square Rb7 39. Bc4 Na4 40. Ke3 Re7+ 41. Kd4
18. Bc3 Bxfl Rd7+ 42. Ke5 Rb7 43. Kd6 Rb6+ 44.
19. Rxfl Nac4 Kd5 Rh6 45. Bb3 Nb6+46. Kc5 Rxh2
20. Bb4 Rfc8 47. a4 Ke7 48. Kc6 Nd7 49. Rxc3 Rxg2
21. Ke2 a6 50. f4 h5 51. Re3+ Kd8 52. Rd3 Rg6+
22. Bxd6 Nxd6 53. Kb7 h4 54 Kxa7 Rg3 55. Rxg3 hxg3
23. a4 axb5 56. Bd5 Kc7 57. Bg2 Kd6 58. b6 g6 59. a5
24. axb5 Ra5 Kc5 60. b7 Kb4 61, a6 1-0
(. . . reminding White that he
weak points ) M Gurevic - G Franzoni
25. Rbl Ra2+ (World Team Championship, Lucerne
26. Kf3 Re8 1989)
27. Ral Rb2 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5
28. Rfbl Rxbl 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Oc2 c& 8.
29. Rxbl Re5 dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3 Bf5 11.

m
 THE NIMZO'INDIAN DEFENCE

b4 0-0 (11_Ng3 12. Qb2!) 12. Bb2 b6 b6 allows 5. e4, as in the supplementary
13. b5 bxc5 14. bxc6 Qa5+ 15. Nd2 game Rodriguez-Vilela. The latter move
Rab8 16. c7 Rb6 17. Be5 c4 18. f3 Nxd2 can also be played against 4. . . . d6, but
19. Qxd2 c3 20. Qg5 c2+ 21. Kf2 Qc5 + the supplementary game Barbero -
22. e3 Bg6 23. Ba6 f6 24. Qf4 fxe5 Assmann illustrates another promising
25. Qxf8+ Kxf8 26. c8(Q}+ Qxc8 27. plan for White.
Bxc8 d4 28. e4 1-0 5. dxc5 Bxc5
Sometimes, Black first plays 5. . . . 0-0
or 5. . . . Na6 but after 6. Bf4, threatening
C Alternatives on Black's
to play to d6, we usually have a trans¬
Fourth Move
position to our main line with 6. . . . Bxc5.
1. d4 Nf6 6. Bf4 0-0
2. c4 e6 Once again, 6. . . . d5 7. e3 0-0 merely
3. Nc3 Bb4 transposes. Note that the aggressive 7.
4. Qc2 . . . d4? loses a pawn after 8. 0-0-0 Nc6 9.
Nf3.
d e f g 7. Nf3 d5
8. e3 Nc6
S4i 9 A 9. a3 Qa5

A A AA A m A 10. 0-0-0

nnm
X AB X .

£¥ A it A AAA
mn 4 A4
—
iA AW A A ¥ ¥ 9 AA
a rA £ Sitl A m
A ¥ A¥
We have already considered 4. . . . d5
and 4. . . . 0-0 followed by . . . b6. Black
Am A ¥¥
can also play 4. . . . b6, 4. . . . d6 and, in
particular, 4. . . . c5. Unfortunately, since
&in d e
A f
[1
we have no examples from Kasparov's
games, the reader will have to make his 10. . . . Be7
own choice from the lines available. This Although the fork by b4 is not yet a threat
section deals with a few possible ideas in view of . . . Qxa3 + , Black makes a
to help with the choice. preventive retreat, since 10. . . . Rd8 is
4. . . c5 answered strongly by 11. Nb5! (protect¬
This is the main alternative reply. 4, . . . ing a3 and threatening b4 and Bc7) 11.

46
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

. . . dxc4 12. Bxc4 when Black has The 'g' pawn is taboo e.g. 11.... dxc4
problems. After 10. . . . Bd7 White does 12. Bxc4 Nxg4? 13. Rgl Nf6 (13. . . . e5
not play 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nxd5? Nxd5 14. Bg5 with a strong attack) 14. Bh6
13. Rxd5, because of 13. . . . Bxe3+ Ne8 (14. . . . Nh5 15. Ng5! f5 16. Nxe6;
winning, but again replies 11. Nb5! with or here 15. . . . Bxg5? 16. Rxg5 winning)
unpleasant threats. Finally, 10. . . . a6, 15. Rxg7 + ! Nxg7 16. Rgl Bf6 (or 16. . . .
guarding b5, is no improvement, f5 17. Rxg7+ Kh8 18. Rxe7 Nxe7 19.
because 11 g4 would immediately Bxf8 winning) 17. Ne4 Qd8 18. Neg5!
threaten to win the d5 pawn by 12. g5. and there is no defence to the threats. In
It is interesting to note that the above these variations, the moves . . . . f5 or. . .
diagram frequently arises by transposi¬ h5 guarding the knight simply fail to h3.
tion from the Bf4 variation of the Queen's This means that in the diagram position
Gambit, so don't be surprised to find White stands very well, as our three
three of our supplementary games illustrative games confirm.
which do not begin with the Nimzo-
Indian moves!
Supplementary Material
11. g4!
G Barbero - A Assmann
This gambit caught out two prominent
(Lugano, 1989)
victims in 1988. Firstly, in the USSR
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 d6
Team Tournament, Andrei Sokolov, the
5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd2 0-0 7. a3 Bxc3 8.
finalist of the 1986-1987 Candidates
Bxc3 Qe7 9. e4 e5 10. d5 a5 11. b4 b6
matches, lost to Mikhail Gurevic in only
12. Bd3 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxal
nineteen moves. Secondly, a few days
Bb7 15. 0-0 Ra8 16. Bb2 Qd8 17. g3 Nh5
later, the highly ranked Nigel Short lost
18. Nel g6 19. f4 c5 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21.
an important match-game with this line
bxc5 bxc5 22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Qb2 Qc7
in just twenty-seven moves against his
24. Be2 Ng7 25. Nd3 f5 26. Qxe5 Qxe5
fellow-countryman Jon Speelman (see
27. Nxe5 fxe4 28. Nd7 Rc8 29. Nf6+ Kh8
Supplementary Material).
30. Nxe4 Nf5 31. Bg4 Ba6 32. Bxf5 gxf5
33. Nd6 Rb8 34. Ral Rb6 35. Nxf5 1-0

A Rodriguez - J Vilela
(Camaguey, 1987)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 b6
5. e4 Bb7 6. Bd3 c5 7. d5 b5 8. b3 exd5
9. exd5 0-0 10. Nge2 d6 11. 0-0 bxc4 12.
bxc4 Nbd7 13. f4 Re8 14. Ng3 Nf8 15.
Nce4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bc8 17. f5 f6 18. g4
Rb8 19. Bf4 Rb6 20. Qg2 Nd7 21. g5
Rxe4 22. Bxe4 Bc3 23. Rabl Qe7 24.
Kh 1 fxg5 25. Bxg5 Bf6 26. Bf4 Ne5 27.
Qc2 h6 28. Rxb6 axb6 29. Rbl Nd7 30.
Bd3 Be5 31. Qe2 Qf6 32. Bd2 Qh4 33. a4
Nf6 34. Qg2 1-0

47
 THE NIMZO-INDIAN DEFENCE

Rxb7 32. Rxe8+ Kf7 33. Re3) 30. Bxc7

Nxc7 31. Nac5 Kf7 32. Na5 Kg6 33 Nxc6
Kxg5 34. Rgl + Kh6 35. Nd4 g6 36. Nxf3
exf3 37. b4 f4 38. Rel Rc8 39. Re7 g5
40. Rd7 Kg6 41. Rd6+ Kf5 42. Rh6 Rh8
43. Nd7! (better than 43. Nxa6 Nxa6 44.
Rxa6 h5 followed by . . , g4) 43. . . . Re8
44. Rf6+ Ke4 45. Rc6 Kf5 46. Rc5+! Kg6
47. Ne5+ Rxe5 48. Rxe5 Kf6 49. Rel
Black overstepped the time-limit in a lost
position e g. 49. . . . h5 50. a4 g4 51.
hxg4 hxg4 52. Rgl Kf5 53. b5 g3 54. fxg3
f2 55. g4+! Ke4 56. Rfl Kf3 57. g5 Kg2
58. Rxf2+Kxf2 59. g6 Ne6 60. b6 f3 61.
b7 Ke2 62. b8(Q) etc. 1-0

E Vladimirov, a former second of J Speelman - N Short

Kasparov, had to leave the World
(Third Game, London 1988)
Champion's 'team' under suspicion of
1 d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5.
spying for Karpov. . .
Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Nc6 8. Qc2 Bxc5
9. a3 Qa5 10. 0-0-0 Be7 11. g4 Rd8 12.
E Vladimirov - D Campora
h3 a6 13. Nd2 e5 14. g5 Ne8 15. Nb3
(GMA Open, Moscow 1989)
Qb6 16. Nxd5 Rxd5 17. cxd5 exf4 18.
1 d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5.
dxc6 fxe3 19. fxe3 Bxg5 20. Kbl bxc6
Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6
21. Bc4 Ra7 22. Rhfl Bf6 23. Qe4 Kf8
9. a3 Qa5 10. 0-0-0 Be7 11. g4 Rd8 12.
24. Qxh7 g6 25. e4 c5 26. e5 Bg7 27.
h3 a6 13. Nd2 Qb6 14. Bg2 d4 15. Na4
e6 1-0
Qa7 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. exd4 Qxd4
18. Be3 Qd3 19. Qxd3 Rxd3 20. g5 Ne8
21. Kc2 Rd8 22. Nb3 e5 23. Na5 Bf5+ M Gurevic - A Sokolov
24. Kc3 Be4 25. Rhgl Bf3 26. Rxd8 Bxd8 (USSR Championship 1988)
27. Nb7 f5 28. Rel Bc7 29. Bb6 e4 (after 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bf4 Be7 5.
29. . . . Bxb6 30. Nxb6 Rb8 Black does e3 0-0 6. Nc3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6
not win a piece: 31. Rxe5 Nc7 32. Re7 9. a3 Qa5 10. 0-0-0 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Be7
Rxb7 33. Na8 Nxa8 34. Rxb7 c5 35. Ra7 12. g4 b5 13, Bxb5 Bb7 14. Nd2 Nb4 15.
and after Rxa6 followed by b4 the white axb4 Bxb4 16. Nc4Qa1+ 17. Kd2 Bxc3 +
pawns are overwhelming; or here 31... . 18. Ke2 Qa2 19. Ral 1-0

48
3 The Modern Benoni

After the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. tice by Czech players, in particular by

Nc3 we have considered 3. . . . d5 Karel Hromadka, where Black answers 3.
leading to the Queen's Gambit (Chapter d5 with 3. . . . e5 and normally develops
1) and 3. . .Bb4 giving us the Nimzo- his bishop on e7;
Indian Defence (Chapter 2), so let us turn
The Modern Benoni where Black plays
now to the third defensive idea 3. . . . c5
. . e6 before or after d5 then exchanges
referred to as the Modern Benoni.
pawns to bring about a sharp asymmet¬
Why this name? Aaron Reinganum, a
rical position giving rise to dynamic and
chess-player about whom we know no¬
tactical situations.
thing else, analysed the opening at the
beginning of the nineteenth century as The Old Benoni almost belongs to his¬
an escape from his melancholia. In 1825 tory, hardly ever occurring in modern
he published a book on the opening, tournaments except via the King's Indian
christening it with the Hebrew name Defence or else as a means of trans
Ben-Oni ('son of my tears'). The chess posing later into the Modern Benoni,
world adopted this name, although spell¬ thus avoiding opening disasters similar
ing it incorrectly 'Benoni'. to our model game Kasparov - Nunn,
The first known game beginning 1. d4 Equally, the Czech Benoni (successfully
c5 (Hanstein - Von der Lasa) was played at one time by Larsen) has few
played in 1841 in Berlin. Two years later, adherents nowadays and none of these a
it appeared in two games of the World Czech player! Even the Modern Benoni,
Championship between Staunton and which was immensely popular in the
Saint-Amant but with Black, on both sixties and seventies, is tending to be
occasions, answering 2. d5 with 2. . . . f5 adopted more against 3. Nf3 or 3. g3
and only later advancing the 'e' and 'd' than against 3, Nc3. The present chapter
pawns. All the above three games were will explain why.
won by White (our source is The Old Our model game is perhaps too one¬
Benoni by Stolya and Kondratiev, 1965). sided to be considered one of Kasparov’s
The opening lay fallow for a century most impressive games, but its fame is
before becoming popular in the second due to other reasons. Dr John Nunn
half of the twentieth century and being (now a leading grandmaster) was even at
differentiated as follows: the time of this game among the top
thirty best players in the world and had
an excellent reputation as a theoretician.
The Old Benoni characterized by the
In fact, only a few months before this
moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5, with
game, his Benoni for the Tournament
Black leaving his pawn on e7 and playing
Player had been published and is still
. . . g6 and . . . Bg7;
considered the best work on the subject.
The Czech Benoni introduced into prac¬ And yet, despite all this, we see him

49
 THE MODERN BENONI

having to resign after a mere twenty-one

moves! After the game, he admitted
that, whilst still believing in his pet
system, 'it is impossible to play it against
Garry,'
It looks as if he is right on both counts,
because, although the Benoni is still
played in tournaments, no one has since
dared to play it against the World Cham¬
pion (simuls not counting!) . . .

G Kasparov - J Nunn
(Lucerne Olympiad 1982)
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c5
4. d5 exd5
5. cxd5
The same position can be reached via Bg5+ f6 12, d6+ Kf8 13. Nf3!l fxg5 (or
the sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 13. . . . Nxe5 14. Nxe5 with advantage to
4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5, giving us the Main White) 14. 0-0 Bf5 (14. . . . Ne3 15. Ng5+
Line. Nxfl 16. Qf3+ Bf6 17. Rxfl and Black
5. . . . d6 cannot survive) 15. e6 Bf6 16. e7+ Bxe7
6. e4 g6 17, dxe7+ Oxe7 18. Nd5 with an over¬
7. f4 whelming game.
Whether or not we can definitely say that The only serious alternative defence is
this early pawn-storm is the best counter the ultra-sharp 8. . . . Nbd7 9. e5 dxe5 10.
to the Benoni, there is no doubt that it fxe5 Nh5 when White can win a piece by
is the ideal attacking weapon for an 11. e6 but cannot avoid great complica¬
aggressive player! tions beginning with 11. . . . fxe6 12.
7. ... Bg7 dxe6 Qh4+ or the immediate 11. . . .
Although 7, , , . a6 prevents the following Qh4+. [Our own David Norwood is an
check, if allows White time to act ener¬ expert on this line but has been forced to
getically in the centre with 8. e5 dxe5 9. admit that it is perhaps not good enough!
fxe5 Ng4 10, e6! and the knight hangs; See Supplementary Material for a recent
or here 9. . . . Nfd7 10. e6. example.]
8. Bb5+ Nfd7 If White wants a practical alternative to
Considered the best reply, 8. . . . Kf8? winning the piece, he can try 11. Nf3! 0-0
would block in the h8 rook and the more 12. Bg5 (once again the win of a piece by
cunning 8. . . . Ke7 (threatening to drive 12. g4 Nxe5 13. gxh5 Bh3! is risky) and:
away the bishop with . . . a6 and then (i) 12. . . . Qb6 13. Be7 Re8 14. d6with
castle artificially by , . . Re8 and , . , Kf8- strong pressure after Bc4 and Nd5
g8) gives White immediate attacking (ii) 12. . . .Qe8 13. d6 Bxe5 14. Be7 Bf6
chances e.g. 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Ng4 11, 15. Nd5 with advantage to White
 THE MODERN BENONI

W Grandmaster John
| vH Nunn has also made
1 V name as

PH IVv ff^^BBiBrBl^^r 4 1 chess theory.

(iii) 12. . . . f6 13. exf6 Ndxf6 14. 0-0 a6 idea is 9. . . . Qh4+ (or 9. ... a6 10. Bd3
15. Be2 b5 16. d6! with active play Qh4+11. g3) 10. g3 Qd8 (10. . . . Qe7)
(Komkowsky) e.g. 16. . . . Bb7 17. g4 losing time in order to create white
h6 18. gxh5 hxg5 19. hxg6; or 16. , . . square weaknesses e.g.
h6 17. Be3 c4 18. Ne5.
Returning to the game continuation 8.
, Nfd7 which avoids such lines. Black
still has problems disentangling his
queen's side pieces, as we shall see.
9. a4
According to Kasparov, this move is
stronger than the alternatives Bd3, Be2
or Nf3. It stops any queen's side expan¬
sion by Black whilst reserving the option
of playing the bishop back to the most
suitable square on the a6-f1 diagonal or
even of exchanging it with gain of time,
9. . . . Na6
(see diagram opposite)
We shall examine the obvious 9. ... 0-0
in the supplementary games. Another
 THE MODERN BENONI

(i) 9. . . . Qh4+ 10. g3 Qe7 11. Nf3 0-0 After 11. ... 0-0 12. Rel a6 13. Bfl!
(the risky pawn-snatch by 11. . . . Kasparov prefers White, as Black’s Q side
Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxe4+ gives White still has to be disentangled and it is difficult
an attack well worth the pawn after for him to organize the typical Benoni
13. Kf2 0-0 14. Rel Qf5 14. Bfl! pressure on the 'e' pawn e.g. 13. . . . Re8
followed by c4, Bb2 and Bd3) 12. 0-0 14. h3 Nf6 15. g4 Rb8 16. Bg2 threaten¬
and, according to Konikowsky, the ing the immediate 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe5
plan of Rel followed by e5 (if then .. . followed by d6 (or Nc4 then d6).
dxe5, d6 is strong) gives White a very 12. Bxd7 + Bxd7
active game. 13. f5! 0-0
(ii) 9. . . . Qh4+ 10. g3 Qd8 11. Nf3 a6 Still the best defence according to
(this move can also be played earlier) Kasparov who gives analysis to show
12. BcS3 0-0 13. 0-0 Nf6. In several that 13. . . . gxf5 14. Bg5 is very strong
games. White has played Kg2 to for White after 14. . . . f6 15. Bf4 Qc7 16.
prevent . . . Bh3, thus allowing Black Nd2 0-0-0 (16. . . . Nd3 17. Bxd6! Qxd6
to achieve his strategic aim of elimi¬ 18. Nc4 Qc7 19. Qxd3) 17, Nc4; or 14.
nating the KN after . . . Bg4. . . Bf6 15. Bf4 0-0 (15_Qe7 16. e5!
Nevertheless, it is doubtful whether dxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 followed
Black can equalize by such a time- by Rel) 16. e5 (16. Bxd6 Bxa4) 16. . . .
wasting plan. For example, instead of 13 dxe5 17. Nxe5 and Black has problems.
0-0 it is worth considering 13. Kf2 Nf6 The second alternative of 13. ... c4 gives
14. h3 followed by Bg2 and Rel restrain¬ White a clear advantage after 14. Bg5
ing Black’s QB. Qb6+ 15. Kh 1 Nd3 16. f6 Bf8 17. a5
10. Nf3 Nb4 Nf2+ 18. Rxf2 Gxf2 19. Na4.
11. 0-0 14. Bg5 f6
Or 14. . . . Bf6 15. Qd2 maintaining the
pressure. Or 14. . . . Bd4+ 15. Khl! (not
however 15. Qxd4?! cxd4 16. Bxd8 dxc3
17. bxc3 Nxd5 18. exd5 Raxd8 with
unclear play) 15. ... f6 16, Bh6 Re8 17.
Rel with positional advantage to White
(Kasparov). If then 17. . . . gxf5? 18. Nh4
gives a strong attack which is similar to
the game.
15. Bf4 gxf5?!
A desperate move which only hastens
the end. However, after the alternative
15. . . . Ge7 Kasparov intended 16. fxg6
hxg6 17. Nh4 Kh7 (or 17. . . . g5 18. Ng6
winning material) 18. Bg3 b5 19. Qbl c4
20. Nxg6 Kxg6 21 Bxd6 and 22. Bxb4,
since 21. . . . Qxd6?? fails to 22. e5+
winning the queen.
 THE MODERN BENONI

abcdef g h 20. Nxe4 Kh8

8
X w X# 8
21. Nxc5 1-0
As White is attacking both queen and
7
k k £A 7 knight, Black is not only forced to lose
the exchange after 21. . , Qxd5 22.
6
k k 1k 6 Qxd5 Nxd5 23. Ne6 Rf7 24. Nfxg7 Rxg7
25. Nxg7 Kxg7 but he must also lose at
S
m A 5
least a pawn to 26. Rd4 etc.
4
Am P
A Jt 4

3
S £ 3
Supplementary Material
G Kasparov - F Kuijpers
(Dortmund, 1980)
2
K AA 2

w
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5.
1
1
a b c d e -
S
f g h
1 cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+
Nfd7 9. a4 0-0 10. Nf3 a6 11. Be2 Nf6 12.
0-0 Qc7 13, e5 Ne8 14. e6 fxe6 15. Bc4
Qe7 16. dxe6 Nc6 17. f5 Nc7 18 Bg5 Bf6
Position after 15. Bf4
19. Ne4 Bxg5 20. Nfxg5 gxf5 21. Nxd6
Nd4 22. Qh5 Bxe6 23. Rael Rf6 24. Nxf5
16. Bxd6 Bxa4
Nxf5 25. Nxe6 Nxe6 26. Rxe6 Rxe6 27.
Or 16. . . . Re8 17. Bxc5 fxe4 18. Nd4
Qxf5 Re8 28. Rel 1-0
Nd3 19. Nxe4! Nxc5 (19. . . . Rxe4 20.
Qxd3 with an extra pawn and better
J Levitt - D Norwood 4
position) 20. Nxc5 when e6 is invaded by
(London, 1988)
a white knight.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5.
17. Rxa4 Qxd6
cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7
18. Nh4! fxe4
9. a4 0-010. Nf3 Na6 11.0-0 Nc7 12. Bd3
19. Nf5 Qd7
Re8 13. Bd2 a6 14. Bel Rb8 15. e5 dxe5
16. Bh4 Bf6 17 d6 Ne6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6
19. Nd5 Og7 20. fxe5 Kh8 21. Qd2 b5 22.
axb5 axb5 23. Rael c4 24. Bc2 Bb7 25.
Nc7 Bxf3 26. Nxe8 Rxe8 27. Rxf3 Nxe5
28. Rfe3 f6 29. h3 Rd8 30. Qd5 Qd7
31. Rxe5 fxe5 32. Oxe5+ Ng7 33. Qf6
Qa7 + 34. Khl Rg8 35 Re7 Oa1+ 36.
Kh2 Qa8 37. Bxg6 Qf8 38. Qxf8 Rxf8 39.
Be4 Rd8 40. d7 b4 41. Bc6 c3 42. bxc3
bxc3 43. Re3 c2 44. Rc3 Ne6 45. Ba4
Kg7 46. Rxc2 Kf6 47. Rc8 Ke7 48. Kg3
Nf8 49. Kg4 1-0

Left: Position after 20. Nxe4

 THE MODERN 8ENONI

B Kouatly - E Szalanczi Kc7 39. Qc8+ Kb6 40. Qc6+ Ka7 41.
(Budapest, 1987) Nc8+ Kb8 42. Qxd6+ Kxc8 43. Qe6+
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. 1-0
cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5 + Nfd7
9. a4 0-0 10, Nf3 a6 11. Be2 Re8 12. 0-0 M Petursson - B Perenyi
Nf8 13. h3 Nbd7 14. Rel f5 15. e5 dxe5 (Saint-John Open, 1988)
16. d6 e4 17. Bc4+ Ne6 18. Bxe6+ Rxe6 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5.
19, Ng5 Nf8 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Be3 Bf7 cxd5 d6 6, e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7
22. Bxc5 Rc8 23. Bd4 Qxd6 24. Bxg7 9. a4 0-0 10. Nf3 a6 11. Be2 Re8 12. 0-0
Qxdl 25. Raxdl Kxg7 26. Kf2 Ne6 27. Nf8 13. e5 Nbd7 14. Ng5 dxe5 15. f5 Nf6
Ke3 Nc5 28. Rd6 Nd3 29. Re2 Nxb2 30. 16. g4 b5 17. axb5 c4 18. Be3 h6 19.
Rxb2 Rxc3+ 31. Kd2 Rc7 32. g4 Be8 33. Nge4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Bb7 21. Bxc4 axb5
a5 Bb5 34. Rb3 Rf7 35. Ke3 g5 36. fxg5 22. Rxa8 Qxa8 23. Bb3 Rd8 24. Qf3 Bxd5
fxg4 37. Kxe4 gxh3 38. Rxh3 Bc6+ 39. 25. Bxd5 Qxd5 26. Bxh6 Qd3 27. Be3
Ke5 Re7 + 40. Re6 Rd7 41. Reh6 Rd5+ Nh7 28. Khl Kh8 29. h4 Qb3 30. f6 Bf8
42. Ke6 Rxa5 43. g6 Bd5+ 44. Ke7 Be4 31. Rf2 Rd3 32. Re2 Bb4 33. Kg2 Nf8 34.
45. gxh7 Re5+ 46 Kd6 Rd5+ 47. Kc7 Nf2 Rd6 35. h5 Kg8 36. g5 Qd5 37. Qxd5
Kh8 48. Re6 Rc5+ 49. Kb8 Bc6 50. Rxd5 38. h6 Ne6 39. Rc2 Kh7 40. Kf3
Rg6 1-0 Nd4+ 41. Bxd4 exd4 42. Nd3 Bd6
43. Kg4 Rf5 44. Rf2 Rd5 45. Re2 Bb4
46. Re7 Bd2 47. Ne5 Bxg5 48. Kxg5 Kg8
P Lukacs - B Perenyi 49. h7+ Kxh7 50. Rxf7+ Kg8 51. Ra7 Kf8
(Budapest, 1988) 52. Kf4 g5+ 53. Ke4 1-0
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5.
cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7 Savchenko - Sandler
9. a4 0-0 10. Nf3 a6 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. h3 (Belgorod, 1989)
c4 13. Bc2 b5 14. axb5 Bb7 15. bxa6 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5.
Nxa6 16. Be3 Re8 17. 0-0 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nbd7
f5 19. Nfg5 Nb4 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. Bd4 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 Qh4+ 12.
Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4 fxe4 23. Bxe4 Bd5 24. g3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qxhl 14. exd7+ Bxd7
Rel Re7 25. Kh2 Bxe4 26. Nxe4 Qc6 27. 15. Qe2+ Kd8 16. Bg5+ f6 17. 0-0-0 Re8
Nf6+ Kf7 28. Rxe7+ Kxe7 29. Nxh7 Nd3 18. Qf 1 fxg5 19. Bxd7 Kxd7 20. Ob5+
30. Qf6+ Kd7 31. Nf8+ Kc7 32. Nxg6 Kd6? (Black could probably still draw
Qe4 33. f5 Nf4 34. Qg5 Ne2 35. f6 Qd4 after 20. . . . Kc7!) 21. Qxb7 Bxc3 22.
36. Qa5+ Kc6 37. Ne7+ Kd7 38. Qf5+ Gc6+Ke7 23. d6+ 1-0
4 The Grunfeld Defence

In the years after World War I, Vienna otherwise. In almost all his games so far
was the centre of new chess ideas. In its with White he has adopted the above-
coffee-houses were to be found Dr quoted Exchange Variation and our
Xavielly Tartakower and Richard Reti, model game sees him introducing a
two of the most brilliant exponents of powerful new system (Nf3 in conjunc¬
these modern concepts which were to tion with Rbl) which still remains one of
exert an influence on the whole Viennese the most popular attacking methods
chess scene. Ernst Grunfeld (1893- against the Grunfeld. The game was
1962), famous for his deep knowledge of played in the USSR - Greece match and
classical openings, could not remain was, in fact, Kasparov's first Olympic
indifferent to this influence. He put into game.
practice the Hypermodern theory that
'control of the centre is equally as good G Kasparov - E Natsis
as its occupation' by perfecting a defen¬ (Chess Olympiad, Malta 1980)
sive system, rightly named after him, 1. d4 Nf6
which 'gave up the centre' to White with 2. c4 g6
a view to exerting pressure on it by 3. Nc3 d5
pieces, in particular the fianchettoed 4. cxd5
bishop on g7. Not the only method of play against this
The key move of this opening, after 1. defensive system but certainly the most
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3, was the popular and aggressive one.
surprising 3. . . . d5, immediately giving 4. . . . Nxd5
White the opportunity to establish what 5. e4 Nxc3
appeared to be a formidable-looking 6. bxc3 Bg7
pawn centre by playing 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. 7. Nf3
e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3, a centre which Black The same position can be reached by
was prepared to attack by . . . Bg7, . . . c5 transposition in a number of ways, but
and . . . Nc6. this particular move is Kasparov's speci¬
For a long time, Kasparov adopted this ality. Only once, against Sax in 1986, has
opening as Black, but his poor results he played the 'old' 7. Bc4, but of course
with it in both of his World Championship he could revert to this equally good move
contests against Karpov has since led at any moment, thus making the present
him back to a preference for the King's chapter partially redundant. It' is like
Indian Defence which we shall examine making a choice between red or black at
in the next chapter. As a result of certain roulette!
key games, Kasparov's opponents so 7.... c5
rarely play the Grunfeld against him that I We meet the dubious 7. . . . b6?l in the
was on the verge of cutting out this supplementary game Kasparov - Pribyl.
section until colleagues persuaded me 8. Rbl

55
 THE GRUNFELD DEFENCE

(ii) 8_cxd4 9. cxd4 Qa5+ 10. Bd2

Qxa2? (Black's queen must make a
dismal retreat which is equivalent to
a declaration of bankruptcy) 11. Qcl!
attacking the c8 bishop and threaten¬
ing to win the queen with Bc4. There
is no good defence to be seen from
the diagram position e.g.

a b c d e f g h

2 ma #jj - i s
ft ft jiisj ft
1 I
Another Kasparov patent. The
moves away from the dangerous a1-h8
rook
Ak [I!
diagonal, thus allowing White to sacrifice
temporarily his c3 pawn to gain space by
&a
playing d5 in many variations. The rook q
also seizes the half-open 'b' file, exerting
m i 4a
E i # $ii a
pressure on b7 and thus making Black's
development more awkward. Finally, in
some variations the rook can rapidly be atoed e fgh
brought into play, as we can see from
the diagram.
(i) 8.. . . Qa5?! (attacking c3 and a2 but
clearly premature as White now a) 11. . . . Nc6 12. Bc4 Qa4 13. d5 and
demonstrates) 9. Rb5! Qxc3+ (9.. .. the knight cannot move in view of
Qxa2 10. Rxc5 is better for White Bb5+.
who has eliminated one of the key b> 11. ... 0-0 12. Bc4 Qa4 13. Bb5
pawns which could challenge his Qa2 14. Rb2 Qa3 15. Bb4.
central position) 10. Bd2 Qa3 11. c) 11. . . . Qe6 12. Ng5 Qd7 (12. . . .
Qc2! threatening Ra5 winning the Qc6 13. Bb5) 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. d5
queen. We then have: etc.
a) 11. . . . b6? 12. Bel Qa6 13. Rxc5 (iii) 8. . . . Nc6?! 9. d5 Bxc3+ 10. Bd2
with a double attack on a6 and c8. (we now see why it was important
b) 11. . . . Nc6? 12. Rb3 Nb4 (12. . . . for the white rook to vacate al!) 10..
Qa4 13. Bb5) 13. Bxb4 and Black . . Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 and now:
can resign. a) 11_Na5? 12. Bb5+ Kf8 (12_
c) 11. ... c4 12. Bb4 Qa6 13. Bxc4 Bd7 13. Qc3! f6 14. Bxd7+ Kxd7
regaining his pawn with an excel¬ 15. Qxc5 winning back the pawn
lent position. with a clear superiority, as his
 THE GRUNFELD DEFENCE

knight is heading for e6) 13. Qc3 f6 This last variation in particular has been
14. Qxc5 with a winning game, tried out in many games but unfortuna¬
b) 11. . . . Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. tely, as yet, none by Kasparov!
Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bc4 b6 15. Qxd4 0-0 If you wish to experiment with a
16. 0-0 with a situation similar to promising alternative to 9. Be2, I recom¬
our model game. White has better mend the cunning 9. Qd2l? which is no
chances of controlling the impor¬ better but has the advantage of cutting
tant 'c' file (Rbcl, Ba6). out a number of defensive possibilities.
8_ 0-0 For example, 9, . . . Qa5? now just loses
a pawn to 10. Rb5 and after 9. . . . cxd4
10. cxd4 Black no longer has . . . Qa5
available, which immediately allows us
to consign our first variation to the
rubbish bin. Nor is variation two as
attractive to Black after 9. ... b6 10. Bc4
e6 (10. . . . cxd4? 11. Bd5 wins a piece;
10... Bb7 11. d5 seems good for White
and 10.... Nc6 11. d5 Ne5 transposes to
a line we examine later) 11. Ba3 (seri¬
ously threatening the c5 pawn) 11....
Bb7 12. Qe3 followed by 0-0 and Rfdl
with a promising position for White.
Of course, 9. .. . Nc6 is possible, in the
spirit of our third variation, giving us (9.
Qd2 Nc6) 10. d5 Ne5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12.
f4 Bg7.

In this position there are hundreds of

a b c d e t g h
games in which 9. Be2 is played, when
the game usually develops as follows:
(i) 9. . . . cxd4 10. cxd4 Ga5+ when
s £W &
White has a choice between ex¬ AA A £ A.
changing gueens by 11. Qd2 and the
unclear pawn sacrifice by 11. Bd2.
A
(li) 9. ... b6 10. 0-0 Bb7 11. Qd3 Ba6 12.
Qe3 as in Khalifman - Lau (see
AA .1

Supplementary Material). AA
(iii) 9. . . . Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 (10. . . . Bxc3 +
11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Gxd2 Na5 13. —
A ;;. . f]
h4! gives White a strong K side
A w AA
attack, as we shall see later) 11.
Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qd2 e6 13. f4 Bg7 14.
c4.
s1
abode
A s
f g h

57
 THE GRUNFELD DEFENCE

You can now reach the third variation of abed e f g h

the Be2 line by playing 13. c4, thus
cutting out any calculation of the first
8
11 £m X# 8

two variations. Or else, without much

danger, you can try the interesting 13.
7
A A A A A 7

e5, a move used by the author in many 6

A 6
simultaneous exhibitions without any of
his opponents achieving equality against
it. White stands well after 13. . . . e6?!
5
A 5

4
14. Bc4 or 13. . . . b6 14. Bc4 a6 15. 0-0
4
$ A

b5 16. Be2 Bb7 17. c4. In about a dozen 3 3

games, my opponents played 13. . . . f6
14, e6 Gd6 15. c4 Rd8 16. Be2 b6 hoping
2
A. E A A ‘a 2

for 17. 0-0? Bxe6! but after 17. Qe3 f5

18. Bb2 White is better.
1
a
1
b c d
iti?
e f g
e h
1

If 13. e5 is successful, you will have

acquired a good weapon against the
Grunfeld with minimal expenditure of facing white pawns on a2, d5 and e4. In
effort, and even if a defe.nce to it is found practice, Black's G side pawn majority is
you can always revert to 13. Be2 (see difficult to exploit, whereas in many
examples in Supplementary Material). variations White creates a strong passed
Now let us return to the game and see 'd' pawn. If Black now decides not to
how Kasparov finished. Although this exchange queens, he has basically two
does not reveal the latest theory of plausible continuations:
the line, it is nevertheless an excellent (i) 14. . . . e6? only helps White after 15.
example of how to handle a typical d6 followed by 0-0 and Rfdl when
Grdnfeld position. not only is the d6 pawn very strong
9. Be2 Nc6 but the plan of Rc7 is unpleasant for
10. d5 Bxc3+ Black e.g. 15. ... b6 16. Rcl Bb7 17.
After 10. . . . Ne5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Gd2 Rc7,
we arrive at the variation just examined. (ii) 14. . . b6 15. 0-0 Bb7 16. a4!
11. Bd2 Bxd2+ followed by a5 with great pressure
12. Qxd2 Nd4 down the 'b' file.
It is hardly worth considering 12. . . Na5 14. . . . Q25 +
13. h4! (threatening h5. hxg6 and Qh6 15. Qd2 Qxd2+
with a decisive attack) 13. . . . Bg4 16. Kxd2 Rd8
{13. . . . h5? 14. Qh6 f6 15. Qxg6+ etc.) After 16. . . . e6 then 17. Bc4 is
14. h5! followed by Qh6 when Black is strong.
lost. 17. Ke3 b6
13. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Rbcl e6
14. Qxd4 18 . . . Bb7? 19. Rc7 wins a pawn.
This is the typical set-up we mentioned, 19. Bc4
with its characteristic structure of black Black remains under pressure. For
pawns on a7, b7 (or often a7, b6) and e7 example, after 19. . . . Kf8 20. Rfdl

58
 THE GRUNFELD DEFENCE

Ke7, although he has stopped the Supplementary Material

threat of d6, he still loses at least a G Kasparov - J Pribyl
pawn to 21. e5! exd5 22. Bxd5 Rb8 (European Team Championship,
23. Rc7+ Rd7 24. Rdcl! etc. Skara 1980)
19. . . . e5 I. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
20. Bb3 Bd7 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3
21. Rc7 a5 b6 8. Bb5+ c6 9. Bc4 0-0 10. 0-0 Ba6
Black counts on his Q side pawn majority, II. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Qa4 Qc8 13. Bg5
but again White's central pawn is stronger. Qb7 14. Rfel e6 15. Rabl c5 16. d5
22. d6 b5 Bxc3 17. Redl exd5 18. exd5 Bg7 19.
White's advantage is indisputable. We d6 f6 20. d7 fxg5 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22.
give the last moves without comment. Nxg5 Bf6 23. Ne6 Nc7 24. Nxf8 Rxf8
23. f4 exf4+ 25. Rd6 Be7 26. d8(Q) Bxd8 27.
24. Kxf4 Ra6 Qc3+ Kg8 28. Rd7 Bf6 29. Qc4+ Kh8
25. e5 a4 30. Qf4 Qa6 31. Qh6 1-0
26. Bd5 a3
27. Rfl Ra4+ A Khalifman - R Lau
28. Ke3 Be6 (Europa Cup, Rotterdam 1988)
29. Bxe6 fxe6 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5.
30. Rff7 Rh4 cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Rbl
31. Rg7+ Kh8 0-0 9. Be2 b6 10. 0-0 Bb7 11. Qd3 Ba6
32. Rge7 1-0 12. Qe3 Qc8 13. d5 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Bxc3
There is no defence to d7 followed by 15. e5 Qf5 16. Rb3 Ba5 17. Nh4 Qd7 18.
Re8+ Bh6 Qxd5 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Rd3Qb7 21.

The Soviet
grandmaster Artur
Yusupov, several
times World
Championship
Candidate, has a
playing style which
has earned him the
nickname of 'The
Russian wall'.

59
 THE GRUNFELD DEFENCE

Rd8+ Kg7 22. Nf5+ gxf5 23. Qe3 Qc6 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7, bxc3 c5 8.
24. Qg5+ Qg6 25, Qxe7 1-0 Rbl 0-0 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 11. Nxe5
Bxe5 12. Qd2 e6 13. f4 Bg7 14. c4 Re8
A Yusupov - O Romanishin 15. e5 f6 16. d6 fxe5 17. Bb2 Rf8 18. 0-0
(Jakarta, 1986) e4 19 Be5 b6 20. Bg4 Qd7 21. Qc3 Ba6
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. 22. Rbel Bxe5 23. Qxe5 Bxc4 24. Rxe4
cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Rbl Bd5 25. Rdl Qf7 26. Rxd5 exd5 27. Be6
0-0 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe4 28. h4 Rae8 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30.
Bxe5 12. Qd2 e6 13. f4 Bg7 14. c4 Re8 Qd5+ Kg7 31. d7 Rd8 32. Qe5+ Kf7 33.
15. e5 f6 16. d6 fxe5 17. Bb2 exf4 18. f5 gxf5 34 Qxf5+ Kg7 35. Qe5+ V2-V2
Bxg7 Kxg7 19. 0-0 Rf8 20. Rxf4 Rxf4 21.
Qxf4 Qf6 22. Qd2 b6 23. Bf3 Rb8 24. d7 A Vaiser - M Pein
Ba6 25. Rd 1 Qd4+ 26. Qxd4+ cxd4 27. (Budapest, 1989)
Rxd4 Rd8 28. Bc6 e5 29. Rh4 g5 30. Rg4 1. d4 Nf6 2- c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5
Kf6 31. h4 h6 32. Kf2 Ke6 33. hxg5 hxg5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rbl
34. Ke3 Kd6 35. Ba4 Kc5 36. Rxg5 Bxc4 0-0 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2
37. Rxe5+ Kd6 38. Re8 Kc7 39. Bc6 Qxa2 12. 0-0 b6 13. Qcl Qe6 14. Bc4
Bxa2 40. g4 a5 41. g5 Bbl 42. Kf4 Rxd7 Qxe4 15 Rel Qb7 16 Bb4 Be6 17. Rxe6
43. Bxd7 Kxd7 44. Re2 Bg6 45. Ke5 a4 fxe6 18. Ng5 Nc6 (18. . . . Kh8? 19. Rb3!)
46 Kf6 Bh5 47. Rh2 Be8 48. Re2 Bh5 49. 19. Nxe6 Kh8 20. Bc3 Bf6 21. Qh6 Rg8?
Re6 b5 50. Rb6 Be2 51. Ra6 Bc4 52. g6 (21. . . . Rf7!) 22. Rel Rg7 (22. . . . Qc8
Kc7 53. g7 Bg8 54. Ra8 Bc4 55. Ke5 1-0 23. Re3 Rg7 24. d5 Ne5 25. Nxg7 Nf7 26.
Rxe7! Nxh6 27. Bxf6 Ng8 28. Ne8+ Nxf6
A Geller - A Pereira 29. Nxf6 wins) 23. g4! Na5 24. Bd3 Qc6
(Correspondence, 1987) 25. Bal Rf7 26. g5 Bg7 27. d5 Qxd5 28.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 Bxg7+ Kg8 29. Bxg6 1-0
5 King's Indian and Old Indian

We have considered Indian systems why Kasparov adopts the solid Classical
involving . . . e6 (Chapter 2), . . . c5 System against the King's Indian.
(Chapter 3) and . . . d5 (Chapter 4). Our
fourth Indian system is characterised by
A King's Indian
the moves . . . d6 and . . . e5 and we
distinguish between the development of This defence is for fighters, so let
the KB at g7 (King's Indian) and at e7 (Old us have a rapid look at Kasparov's
Indian). opponent in our first model game. Per¬
Although both systems are related haps one day I will write a book about
enough for Kasparov to adopt a similar Ilya Smirin whom ex-World Champion
pawn structure and piece development Mikhail Botvinnik, one of the leading
against them with the white pieces, chess trainers in the world, rates as one
there are sufficient differences to of the five or six most talented players in
warrant our using an illustrative game for the USSR. In his case we are tempted to
each one. believe in the old Latin tag 'nomen est
Since our first model game sees omen'. The Russian verb ‘smiritf means
Kasparov as White playing against the 'to overcome', so Ilya is on this basis
King's Indian, which is his own preferred a 'winner’. Furthermore, his Christian
defence, it is worth commenting on a name crops up in many Russian legends.
situation which must inevitably arise For example, 'Bogatyr Ilya' (there was
when a player has a favourite open¬ a film of the same name about this
ing: how do you play against your pet character) is a kind of Plercules, a fear¬
systems? less and successful champion of just
It is perhaps sound chess psychology causes. As far as we know, our particular
as White to remember that the initiative Ilya fights his battles solely over the
granted by having the first move gives chess-board, despite the fact that he is
you the leeway to make good moves well-built, over six feet tall and capable of
without necessarily adopting the most holding his own in less cerebral pursuits!
exact ones. Clearly, it is hardly advisable At all events, a sound constitution is an
as White to reveal to opponents the asset to any chess professional.
variations or positions you would not be As you might imagine from the above
happy with if you were playing Black! comments, Smirin's playing style reflects
This means that, as White, it is best to a need to conjure up complex combina¬
use solid systems which postpone the tions and a willingness to burn all bridges
real battle until the middle-game, thus behind him as he launches his attacks.
avoiding sharp theoretical clashes in the Admittedly, he loses our model game,
early stages, as a means of keeping your but it is after all Garry Kasparov sitting
opening secrets for another day. This is opposite him . . .

61
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

G Kasparov - I Smirin a b c d e f g h
(USSR Championship, 1988)
1. d4 Nf6
8
I A, m 1 8

2. c4 ge
7
A A A. 1AkA 7

3. Nc3
4. e4
Bg7
d6
6 Tf] A 4 A 6

5. Nf3
Kasparov has used this particular system
5 ff ff A A 5

1A 2
since 1981, with only a few variations of 4 4
late.
5_ 0-0
3
iff s 3

6. Be2 e5
A typical King's Indian move. Occasion¬ 2| [A 2 a 1 A A 2 2

ally, 6. . . . Bg4 is played, with the idea of 1 a M9 [S 1

applying pressure on d4 by . . Nfd7, . . . abode f g h
Nc6 and . . . e5, but this slow method has
few adherents. In the supplementary Let us remember what we said earlier
game against Vukic, Kasparov success¬ about playing against one's own favour¬
fully adopts a promising counter-plan of ite defence.
7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Ngl! etc. Although the sharpest continuation
7. 0-0 here begins with 9, Nel and although
This quiet continuation is played in most Kasparov rarely avoids confrontations in
games with this system, but Petrosian's the opening, he adopts the text move,
7. d5 is also favoured by some players. In presumably in order not to reveal any
the early eighties, Kasparov played 7. secrets about a line that could well be
Be3 twice, resulting in two beautiful played against him!
wins, although the resistance of his To anyone unacquainted with the
opposition left something to be desired. King's Indian, it may seem strange to
In the World Cup (Reykjavik, 1988) he play a knight to d2 blocking the QB, but
played 7. Be3 once again, but this time White intends to expand on the Q side
against a top grandmaster, Dr Nunn, with b4 and c5, when this knight will
obtaining little from the opening. You will have a good post either on b3 or c4. The
find these three games in the Supple¬ two supplementary games Gurevic -
mentary Material section. Uhlmann and Lputian - Akopian show
7. . . . Nc6 how dangerous such a Q-side assault
The most common move here. Kasparov can be.
has met the alternative 7. . . . Nbd7 only 9. . . . a5
once, in a simultaneous game, when he Temporarily preventing b4. A good alter¬
had the rare experience of missing native is 9. ... c5 which is analysed in
a witty stalemate combination (see detail by Dr John Nunn in 64 (June 1989).
Supplementary Material game versus We give five examples of this line to give
McDonald). you a total view of both possibiities.
8. d5 Ne7 10. a3
9. Nd2 Planning to play b4 after Rbl.

62
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

prevent c5 and planning . . . g5, . . . Ng6,

.. . h5 and . . . g4.
14. Na4 axb4
15. axb4 g5
16. c5!

a b c de fg h

8I 1 A w X #
7 ■A % 41 A A
6 A A
5
AAA A
A AA
Preparing immediate K side counterplay
A
A AA
by . . . f5. There are two alternatives:
(i) 10. . . . Bd7 11. Rb 1 a4 12. b4 axb3
13. Nxb3 b6 (to stop c5) 14. Ral! and
the 'a' pawn is successfully advanced
to a5, as in our pretty supplementary
t Aw I&
game Lputian - Kupreichik. Although Black is defending the key c5
(ii) 10. . . . c5 and play proceeds in similar square more than it is attacked, this
fashion to our note to move 9. temporary pawn sacrifice is typical of
11. Rbl f5 these pawn storms. After 16. . . . bxc5
12. b4 b6 17. bxc5 dxc5 (or 17. . . . Nxc5 18. Nxc5
The move 12. . . . Nf6 allows White to dxc5 giving us similar positions) 18. Qb3,
play 13. c5 and if Black plays 12... Kh8 forcing Black to defend against d6+,
planning . . . Ng8-f6 then 13. Nb3 White wins back the pawn at his leisure
supports a possible c5. In a later round of by Ba3 and Rfcl, when the weak c7
the same championship, Kasparov him¬ pawn will be exposed to an attack.
self played 12. . . . Kh8 against Gavrikov. 16. . . . Nf6
He never managed to carry out the main 17. cxd6 cxd6
idea of transferring the knight from e7 to Not 17. . . . Qxd6? 18. Nc4 Gd8 19. d6
f6 and only drew with difficulty (see winning at least a pawn.
Supplementary Material). 18. b5
13. f3 Not of course 18. Nc4?? b5. Both the
Securing e4 against later pressure from a black pawns on b6 and d6 are now fixed
black knight on f6 and freeing his QN to objects of attack.
go to a4 and support the c5 thrust. 18. . . . Bd7
13. . . . f4 19. Nc4 Nc8
Momentarily leaving his knight on d7 to 20. Ba3 Ne8

63
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

24. Bxf3 Nf6

Kasparov gives as worse 24. . . Rb8
25. Bg4 Rxfl -I- 26. Kxff Qf6+ 27. Kg2
Bxg4 28. Qxq4 with advantage to White.
25. Bg5 Ra7
26. Rf2 Rb7
27. Rb3 Ra7
28. Rbl Rb7
29. Rb3
Gaining time on the clock by repeating
moves.
29.... Ra7
Normally, a fighter such as Ilya Smirin is
not so peacefully inclined but in a difficult
position and against the World Champion
he would not be averse to a draw by
Black has opted for a passive defence of repetition!
his weak points on the Q side whilst he 30. Rb4!
prepares to play his rook to g6 followed But Kasparov will have none of it!
by . . . g4.
21. g4!
This typical blockading move ends the
opening phase. If Black now leaves this
pawn on g4 (21. . . . h5 22. h3l), it brings
his K side play to an abrupt end, allowing
White to direct his energy to the Q side
by Qb3, Nc3, Bb4, Ral and then, with or
without the exchange of rooks, Ra6 with
a hopelessly passive position for Black.
21. . . . fxg3
22. hxg3 g4!
The best chance according to Kasparov.
After 23. fxg4 Rxfl + 24. Kxfl Qf6+ 25.
Kg2 Qg6 26. Bf3 Nf6 Black obtains
strong counterplay.
23. Bel!
A multi-purpose move. Firstly, it pre¬
vents the black bishop from becoming 30. . . . Kh8?l
active on h6. Secondly, it plans to put Only now does White's advantage be¬
pressure on the b6 pawn from e3, now come decisive. Black was hoping for play
that Black's f4 pawn has gone. Thirdly, down the 'g' file after . . . Rg8 but, since
this bishop can now take part in a K side nothing comes of it, he should have
attack as in the game. adopted Kasparov's suggested 30. . . .
23. . . . gxf3 Qe8 31. Naxb6 Nxb6 32 Nxb6 Bxb5 33.

64
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

Qbl when White stands a little better Rxb6 Nxe4! when Black could simply
(plan; Nc4 and Rb8) lean back comfortably and scrutinize his
31.Qfl! opponent's face. It seems incredible
Intending (after 31. . . . Rb7) 32. Bh5 that, in fact, White can allow his rook to
followed by Ne3-f5 (Kasparov). be captured . .
31. . . . Bxb5 35. Bxf6! Rxf6
The spectators in the Moscow tourna¬ if 35. . . . Qxb5 36. Bxg7+ Kxg7 37. RxfS
ment hall were wondering if the World Black is either mated or loses hopelessly
Champion had blundered away a pawn ... after 37. . . . Rail 38. RxcS Rxf1 + 39.
32. Rxb5 Rxa4 Bxf 1 etc.
33. Bg2 h6 36. Rxf6! Qxb5
34. Bh4 Attacking two white pieces and, accord¬
We can now see the point of the pawn ing to Smirin's own statement, expect¬
sacrifice. White simply intends to win a ing Kasparov to take the perpetual check
piece by Bh3 followed by Bxc8 or, if by 37. Rf8+ Bxf8 38. Qxf8+ etc.
Black defends by the passive . . . Ra8, to
post his bishop on e6 and attack down a b c q
d e f h
the 'h' file after advancing the 'g' pawn
'■'I'
to g5. [There are even simpler options for
White if Black does not immediately free
8
4 8

himself from the pin, such as Rb3-f3 or

7
X 7

Ne3-g4 piling up on the f6 knight.]

34. . . . Qe8
6
XL A S A 6

5
A1w 5

abed 4
I £ A 4
8
4 .Mi 8
3
A 3
7
A 7
2
A 2
6
X A 4 A 6
1 Ed W i*
1
5
a. AA 5 ""a b c ~~d e f _S_ Fi

4
* s A A 4
37. Re6M
3
A 3 Now the knight is taboo, since 37, , . .
Qxc4 allows mate in three moves and
2
1 A 2 37. . . . Rxc4 loses to 38. Qf7 Qc5+ 39.
Kh2 Rcl 40. Re8+ Kh7 41. Qf5 mate.
1 .. w & 1
[Even the dismal retreat 37. . . . Qd7
abode fgh preventing Qf7 fails to 38. Qf5 (threaten¬
ing to win the queen by 39. Rxh6+) 38. .
Unpinning the knight by attacking the . . Ra7 (38. , . . Qc7 allows mate in three)
rook on b5. If now 35. Nxb6 (protecting 39. Qh5! (threatening Re8+) 39 . . . Ne7
the rook by his queen) 35. . . . Nxb6 36 40. Bh3! and, since White's king can

65
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

escape rook checks by moving to e3 and rook and knight up but cannot prevent
Black's queen is threatened, the finish mate.
might be 40. , . . Qc7 41. Rxh6+ Bxh6 40. Be6+ Kh8
42. Qxh6+ Kg8 43. Be6 mate. So Black Or 40. . . . Kh7 41 Gf5+ Kg7 42. Qf7 +
protects f7 with his king.I Kh8 43. Qg8 mate.
37. . . . Kg8 41. Of6+ 1-0
38. Bh3! If 41. . . . Bg7 42. Gh4+ Bh6 43 Oxh6
Threatening Rg6 and Be6 + . Black should mate, and if 41. . . . Kh7 42. Qf7+ Bg7
now defend with 38. . . . Ra7! because 43. Bf5+ Kh8 44. Qh5+ Kg8 45. Be6+
White must still be careful about his own Kf8 46. Qf7 mate.
king's position, but it is understandable
that Smirin failed to take into account Supplementary Material
White's next diabolical move which must G Kasparov - M Vukic
have been foreseen at least four moves (Banja Luka, 1979)
before. 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
38. ... Rxc4? Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 Bg4 7 Be3 Nfd7 8. Ngl
39. Rxh6M Bxe2 9. Ngxe2 e5 10. 0-0 a5 11. Qd2 Nc6
This beautiful move must have been one 12. f3 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Radi Ne6
of the reasons why this game was 15. Ndb5 Re8 16. Gel Gb8 17. Bh6 Bh8
awarded the Brilliancy Prize of the 1988 18. Nd5 Nb4 19. a3 Na6 20 f4 c6 21. f5
USSR Championship, The first important cxd5 22. fxe6 Rxe6 23. exd5 Re7 24. Bf4
point is that, although Black can now win Rd7 25. Nxd6 Gd8 26. Nb5 Nc5 27. Qe3
the queen by 39. . . . Qc5+ 40. Khl Rcl, b6 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 Na6 30. Bg5
White then has 41. Be6 mate! Qb8 31. d6 Nxb4 32. Be7 Gb7 33. Rxf7
Kxf7 34. Rf 1 + Bf6 35. Bxf6 1-0

a b c d e f g h G Kasparov - M Chiburdanidse
8

7
4 I] s .n
8

7
(Baku, 1980)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Qe7 8. d5 Ng4
9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 h5 11. h3 Nh6 12. Nd2
6
A £
ff 6
c5 13. Nfl Nf7 14. g4 hxg4 15. Bxg4 g5
5
w KA 5 16. Bxc8 Rxc8 17. Ne3 gxh4 18. Nf5 Gd8
19. Qg4 Ng5 20. Nxh4 Rc7 21. Nf5 a6 22.
4
% A 4 h4 Nh7 23. Rgl Qf8 24. Ke2 Ra7 25. a4

2
1 3

2
b6 26. Gh5 Kh8 27. Rg6 Rd7 28. Ragl
Rab7 29. Qg4 Rbc7 30. Rg2 Rb7 31. Kfl
Ra7 32. Kgl Rf7 33. Ne2 Gc8 34. f4 b5

1
a b c d e
ugfiSs
w
f
is
9 h
1
35. axb5 axb5 36. cxb5 Rab7 37. h5 Nf8
38. Gh3 Nxg6 39. hxg6+ Kg8 40. gxf7 +
Kf8 1-0

39. . . . Bxh6 G Kasparov - J Morrison

As in the romantic days of old, Black is a (Graz, 1981)

66
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. 50. Qg8+ Ke7 51. Qe6+ Kf8 52. Qd6+
Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Qe7 8. d5 Ng4 Kg7 53. Qe7+ Kh6
9. Bg5f6 10. Bh4 h5 11 Nd2c5 12.dxc6
bxc6 13. b4 Be6 14. 0-0 Nd7 15. Nb3
Nxh2 16. Kxh2 g5 17. Na5 Nb8 18. Bg3
h4 19. Bg4 Bxg4 20. Qxg4 hxg3+ 21.
fxg3 a6 22. Ndl d5 23. Ne3 Ra7 24. cxd5
Qxb4 25. Qe6+ Raf7 26 Nac4 Qe7 27.
Nf5 1-0

G Kasparov - Dr J Nunn
(World Cup, Reykjavik 1988)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 h6 8 0-0 Ng4 9.
Bel Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nd2 f5 12. Bxg4
fxg4 13. b4 b6 14. Nb3g5 15.a4 Ng6 16.
a5 Bd7 17. c5 bxc5 18. bxc5 a6 19. Nd2
Nf4 20. Rbl dxc5 21. Ba3 Rf7 22. Nc4
Qf6 23. Bxc5 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Raxf8 25. Rb4 54. Bxe4? (54. Qxe4!) 54. . . . Rxg3+!
h5 26. d6 Be6 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. exd5 55. Kxg3 Qe5+! (56. Qxe5 stalemate!)
cxd6 29. Rb6 Rd7 30. Rxa6 Qg6 31. Rel Vz-Vz
Nd3 32. Nxe5 Nxe5 33. Rxe5 Qf6 34.
M Gurevic - W Uhlmann
Re2 Re7 35. Rc6 Rxe2 36. Qxe2 Qa1 +
(Tallinn, 1987)
37. Qfl Qxa5 38. Rxd6 Re8 39. Re6
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
Rxe6 40. dxe6 Qe5 41. Qcl Kg7 Vz-Vz
5. Nf3 0-0 Bc2 c5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7
9. Nd2 Nd7 10. b4 f5 11. a4 Bh6 12. Nb3
G Kasparov - N McDonald
Bxcl 13. Rxcl Nf6 14. f3 f4 15. c5 g5
(Simultaneous, London 1986)
16. Nb5 Ne8 17. Qc2 Ng6 18. cxd6 cxd6
1 d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
19. Nc7 Nxc7 20. Qxc7 Qf6 21. Nd2 Rf7
Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. 0-0 e5 8. Be3 Re8
22. Qa5 h5 23. Nc4 Bd7 24. Nb6 Raf8
9 Qc2 exd4 10. Bxd4 c6 11. Rfel Qc7
25. Qxa7 g4 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. Qb6 Nh4
12. Radi b6 13 h3 Bb7 14. Bf 1 Rad8
28. Rc7 Rff7 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 30. fxg4 Qg6
15. Be3 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. b4 Bc8
31. Qf2 Qxe4 32. Bb5 Rg7 33. Qxh4
18. c5 b5 19. a4 a6 20. Ral Nh5 21.g3f5
Rxg4 34. Qf2 Qxd5 35. Be2 Rg7 36. Rdl
22. axb5 axb5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Bg5 Rd4
Qe6 37. Qf3 Qg6 38. Gd5+ Kh8 39. Bf3
25. Bxb5 e4 26. Be3 Rxb4 27. Nd5 cxd5
Qc2 40. Qd2 1-0
28. Bxe8 f4 29. gxf4 Nxf4 30. Ra8 Rb2
31. Qdl Bc3 32. Rxc8 Qxc8 33. Bxf4 Qf5 S Lputian - V Akopian
34. Be3 Bxel 35. Qxel Kf8 36. Qal (Erevan, 1988)
Qxh3 37. Bf4 Qg4+ 38. Bg3 Qe2 39. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Qa8 Qdl + 40. Kh2 Qd4 41. Bc6+ Kg7 Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9.
42. Qa7+ Kg8 43. Qd7 Rxf2+ 44. Kh3 Nd2 Nd7 10. b4 f5 11. c5 dxc5 12. bxc5
Rf3 45. Bxd5+ Kf8 46r Qd8+ Kg7 47. Nxc5 13. Ba3 b6 14. Bxc5 bxc5 15. Nb3
Qg5+Kf8 48. Qg8+ Ke7 49. Qxh7+ Kd8 Kh8 16. Qd2 fxe4 17. Nxc5 Nf5 18.

67
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

N5xe4 Bh6 19. Qd3 Nd4 20. Rabl a5 21. Rd2 24. Bh5 e4 25. Rbl Rxa2 (White
Rfel Ba6 22. Qh3 Nxe2+ 23 Nxe2 Bg7 stands a little better but, according to
24. N2c3 Qe7 25. Redl Rf5 26. d6 cxd6 Nunn, Black should be able to hold the
27. Rxd6 Bc8 28. Nd5 Qf8 29. Qd3 Ra7 ending. The following blunder, however,
30. Ne3 1-0 turns the game on its head) 26. g4?? (26.
Bxc5 is the correct move) 26. . . . Ral 27.
S Lputian - A Khalifman Rxal Bxal 28. Bf7 a5 29. Be8 Kg7 30. g5
(USSR Championship, 1987) a4 31. Bxa4 Kf7 32, Bf6 Bxf6 33. Bc6
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5 Nd8 34. Bd5+ Ne6 35. gxf6 Kxf6 36. f3
Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. e3 37. Kf 1 Nf4 38. Bb7 Ke5 39. Bc8 h6
Nd2 c5 10. Rbl Nd7 11. Nb5 Qb6 12. b4 40 Kel Kd4 0-1
cxb4 13. a3 bxa3 14. c5 Nxc5 15. Bxa3
Qd8 16. Nxd6 b6 17. N2c4 Ba6 18. Bxc5 A Chernin - R Gunawan
bxc5 19. Nb7 Bxb7 20. Rxb7 Nc8 21. d6 (GMA Open, Belgrade 1988)
Nb6 22. Na5 Nc8 23. Nc4 Nb6 24. Qd2 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Qf6 25. Rd 1 Qe6 26. Qc2 Qf6 27. Na5 Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9.
Rfd8 28. Bc4 Nxc4 29. Qxc4 Bf8 30. d7 Nd2 c5 10. Rbl Ne8 11. b4 b6 12. bxc5
Rab8 31. Qd5 Be7 32. Rxb8 Rxb8 33. bxc5 13. Nb3 f5 14. Bg5 Rf7 15. exf5
Nc6 1-0 Bxf5 16. Bd3 h6 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Qc2
Rf7 19. Ne4 Nf6 20. Ng3 Bxd3 21. Gxd3
L Winants - P Scheeren Kh7 22. Nd2 Rb8 23. Rb3 Rfb7 24. Ra3
(Zonal, Budel 1987) a5 25. Nde4 Nxe4 26. Nxe4 Rb4 27. g3
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. a4 28. h4 Kh8 29. Kg2 Qf8 30. Rel R8b7
Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. 31. Re3 Rd7 32. Rf3 Qe8 33. Qc2 Rd8
Nd2 c5 10. Rbl Ne8 11. b4 b6 12. bxc5 34. h5 g5 35. Nf6 Bxf6 36. Rxf6 Qxh5 37.
bxc5 13. Nb3 f5 14. Bg5 Nf6 15. exf5 Qf5 Kg7 1-0
gxf5 16. Qd2 Ng6 17. f3 Rf7 18. Khl Nf4
19. Rfel h6 20. Bh4 h5 21. Bfl Ng6 22. I Farago - A Sznapik
Bg5 Qf8 23. Na5 Nh7 24. Be3 e4 25. f4 (Zonal, Warsaw 1987)
Nf6 26. h3 Bh8 27. Nc6 Rh7 28. Kg 1 h4 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
29. Be2 Nh5 30. Bxh5 Rxh5 31. Rb3 Rh7 Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9.
32. Rebl Rf7 33. Nb5 Kh7 34. Qa5 Bf6 Nd2 a5 10. Rbl c5 11. a3 Ne8 12. b4
35. Bd2 a6 36. Nc7 Bd4+ 37. Khl e3 38. axb4 13. axb4 b6 14. bxc5 bxc5 15. Nb3
Bxe3 Bxe3 39. Rxe3 Nxf4 40 Nxa8 1-0 f5 16. f3 Nf6 17. Bd2 Nh5 18. Ral Rxal
19. Qxal Nf4 20. Qa5 Qxa5 21. Nxa5
I Farago - W Watson fxe4 22. fxe4 Bh6 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Nb5
(Beersheva. 1987) Bg7 25. Nxd6 Bd7 26. Khl Rb8 27. Nab7
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 0-0 5. Bd4 28. e5 Bc8 29. e6 Bxb7 30. Rbl Be5
Be2 d6 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. 31. Nxb7 Nf5 32. Bd3 Nd6 33 Nxc5
Nd2 c5 10. Rbl Ne8 11. b4 b6 12. bxc5 Rxbl + 34 Bxbl Nxc4 35. Ba2 Nd6 36.
bxc5 13. Nb3 f5 14. Bg5 Kh8 15. exf5 Nd3 Bd4 37. Nxf4 Kg7 38, g3 Kf6 39. Kg2
gxf5 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. d6 Nxd6 18. Nd5 Bc5 40 Kf3 Bb6 41. Nd3 Bd4 42. Nb4
Re8 19. Nxe7 Rxe7 20. Qd5 Bb7 21. Bc5 43. Nc6 Bgl 44. Bbl Bc5 45. Bd3
Rxb7 Nxb7 22. Qxd8+ Rxd8 23. Bxe7 Ba3 46. h4 Bel 47. g4 Bd2 48 g5+ Kg7
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

49, Kg4 Bel 50. h5 gxh5+ 51. Kxh5 Ba3 the exception of Korchnoi) in a simul¬
52. e7 Ne8 53. Bf5 Nc7 54. Bd7 Kf7 55. taneous display These were serious
Kh6 Bel 56. d6 1-0 clock games, with each opponent having
two and a half hours for the whole game,
S Lputian - V Kupreichik whilst Kasparov had to spread this time
(USSR Championship, 1987) over six boards, giving him an average of
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. twenty-five minutes per game, including
Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. the time it took him to move on to each
Nd2 a5 10. a3 Bd7 11. Rbl a4 12. b4 player plus the readjustment time required
axb3 13. Nxb3 b6 14. Ral Ne8 15. a4 f5 to change over from one game to the
16. f3 Kh8 17. Be3 Ng8 18. a5 bxa5 19. next!
Nxa5 Bh6 20. Bxh6 Nxh6 21. Qd2 Nf7 Since five of the Swiss team were
22. c5 dxc5 23. Nb7 Qb8 24. Nxc5 Nf6 themselves International Masters who
25. Rxa8 Qxa8 26. Khl Qa5 27. Nxd7 were very strong players used to giving
Nxd7 28. exf5 gxf5 29. f4 e4 30. g4 Nf6 their own 'simuls', the experts predicted
31. g5 Ne8 32. Nxe4 Qxd2 33. Nxd2 a resounding defeat for the World Cham¬
Ned6 34. Rcl Ra8 35. Bh5 Ra2 36. Nf3 pion. In the whole of chess history, no
Ne4 37 Bxf7 Nf2+ 38. Kgl Nh3+ 39 player had ever undertaken such a task,
Kf 1 Rf2 + 40. Kel Rxf3 41. d6 cxd6 42. but Kasparov, after thorough preparation
Rc8+ Kg7 43. Bd5 Re3+ 44. Kd2 Re2 + of his opponents' games, pulled off a
45, Kd 1 h5 46. Rc7+ Kf8 47. g6 1-0 tremendous 5V2-V2 victory . , .

V Gavrikov - G Kasparov G Kasparov - M Trepp

(USSR Championship, 1988) (Simultaneous, Zurich 1987)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 1. d4 Nf6
5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 2. Nf3 d6
9. Nd2 a5 10. a3‘ Nd7 11. Rbl f5 12. b4 3. c4 Nbd7
Kh8 13. Qc2 b6 14. Nb3 axb4 15. axb4
fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nf6 17. Bd3 Nxe4 18. a b c t h
d "e 9
Bxe4 Nf5 19. Qd3 Qh4 20. g3 Qf6 21. f3
Bd7 22. Bd2 Nd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Ral 2 A w 1# 8
Bh3 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Rdl Bf5 27. Rel
h5 28. Kf2 Bxe4 29. Qxe4 Ra3 30. Qf4 A- A %A k A A 7

Qxf4 31. gxf4 Bf6 32. Re8+ Kg7 33. Rc8

Ra7 34. Ke2 Bh4 35. Kd3 Bf2 36 Bel
k 4 6

Ral 37. Rxc7+ Kf6 38. Bd2 Ra3+ 39. A 5

Ke4 Ra2 40. Kd3 Ra3+ V2-V2

A AA 4

3
B Old Indian p 51

Our mode! game comes from one of iA A EA A A 2

m (A J a]&□
the most fascinating chess encounters
1
ever. In 1987, Kasparov took on the
abode f g h
whole of the Swiss Olympiad team (with

69
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

4. Nc3 c6 his pieces except the QR, but if he now

5. e4 e5 plays 13. . . . Rc8 White gains more
6. Be2 Be7 space with 14. b4, ready to answer 14....
7. 0-0 0-0 Bf8 wfth 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. c5 blocking
The basic position of the Old Indian out Black's QB. It is difficult for Black to
Defence. untie the Gordian knot in the centre e.g.
8. Rel (i) 14. . . . c5 15. bxc5 dxc5 16, d5
A waiting move, preparing to protect the (threatening the b5 pawn) 16. . . . b4
e4 pawn in lines such as 8. . . . exd4 9. 17. Na4 and again Black's QB stands
Nxd4 Nc5 10. Bf 1 etc. In two other badly.
games, against Larsen (Bugojno, 1982) (ii) 14. ... d5? 15. exd5 exd4 (otherwise
and Stein (Hamburg, 1987), Kasparov a pawn is lost) 16. Nxd4 bxc4 (16.
closed the centre with 8. d5 (see Supple¬ cxd5 17. c5 is clearly good for
mentary Material). White) 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Bxc4 fol¬
8. . . . a6 lowed by Qb3.
9. Bfl b5 (iii) 14. . . . exd4 15. Nxd4 c5 16. Nf5
10. a3 looks very good for White, as does
Preventing . . . b4. 16. bxc5 Nxc5 17. cxb5.
10. . . . Bb7 Let us look more closely at the black
11. Bg5 h6 pawn structure b5/c6/d6/e5. The b5 and
12. Bh4 Re8 e5 pawns are both under pressure from
13. Rcl the c4 and d4 pawns respectively and
White has reached an ideal set-up protected by the c6 and d6 pawns. This
against this defence, with all his pieces means that any premature pawn advance
poised for a struggle over the whole by . . . c5 or . . . d5, however desirable,
board. Note in particular the Rel, Bfl relinquishes vital protection of the other
manoeuvre. Black too has developed all advanced pawn, whereas exchanging
first on c4 or d4 brings a white minor
piece into an attacking position (a bishop
on c4 later backed by Qb3, or a knight on
d4 heading for the ideal f5 square. This is
the nature of the dilemma facing Black
as he tries to form a suitable plan!
13. . . . Qa5?!
This move admittedly prevents b4 and
frees d8 for his QR but in view of White's
next move it would have been better to
adopt Kasparov's recommendation of
13. . . . Nh5 to bring some relief by
exchanging White's QB.
14. c5M exd4
Black has no choice since, owing to the
absence of the black queen's protection,
14. . . . dxc5 15. dxe5 wins a piece.

70
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

15. Nxd4 Qc7 21. . . . Re6

Trepp sees the dangers of 15. . . . Nxc5 Or 21... . Nxe4 22. Qd4 (another way of
16. b4or15.... dxc5 16. Nf5 (threatening attacking g7) 22. . . . Qe5 (or 22. . . . Nf6
e5) and if 16. .. . Ne5 17. Nxe7+ Rxe7 18. 23. Nxh6+ etc.) 23. Qxe5 Rxe5 24. Nd6!
f4 Ng6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. f5 Ne5 21. Qh5 winning material. Or 21. . . . Rxe4 22.
followed by Re3 winning. Ne7+ winning the exchange (or 22.
16. Nf5 Nxc5 Rxe4 Nxe4 23. Qd4! etc.).
If 16. . . . dxc5 17. Bg3 Qd8 (17. . . . Ne5 22. Qxb8+ Rxb8
18. f4 and 19. e5) 18. e5 Nd5 19. Qg4 23. e5 Nd7
with a clear advantage for White after 19. 23. . . . Nd5 24. Nd4 wins the c6 pawn
. . . g6 (19. . . Bf8? ? loses to 20. Nxh6+ (24. . . . Rg6 25. Bd3).
and 21. Nxf7, whilst 19. . . . Bg5 20. f4 is 24. f4
equally hopeless) 20. Nxh6+ Kg7 21. Black's position is lost in view of the
Nxf7! Kxf7 22. e6+ etc. useless bishop, weak 'c' pawn and
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 danger down the'd' file after Redl. Little
18. b4 Nd7 wonder that he capitulates very quickly.
Not 19.... Bxc3 20. Rxc3 Nxe4? in view 24. . . . f6
of the typical attacking move 21. Qg4 25. Nd4 Ree8
Ng5 22. h4 winning. 26. e6 Nf8
19. Nd5 Qb8 27. f5 1-0
20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 With the prospect of 21... . Rbc8 28.
Rc5 followed by Reel or g3 and Bg2,
a b c d e f g h White's win is only a matter of time, so

m1 i
IM Trepp decided to see how his team¬
mates were faring . . .

P AA
A A £ 4 A
Supplementary Material
G Kasparov - B Larsen
(Bugojno, 1982}
A A 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7
5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 0-0 7. 0-0 c6 8. d5 Nc5
A A. 9. Qc2 cxd5 10. cxd5 Qc7 11. Nd2 Bd7

A 12. a4 Rac8 13. Ra3 Ne8 14. Rdl Bg5

15. b4 Na6 16. Qb3 f5 17 Nc4 Bxcl
E A1 18. Rxcl fxe4 19. Nxe4 Bf5 20. Ng3 Qd7

a be
1 m I1m
d e f g h
21. h3 Nf6 22. Raal Bg6 23. Ne3 Rxcl +
24. Rxcl Rc8 25. Rc6! I bxc6 (or 25. . . .
Nc7 26. Rc3 Na6 27. Bb5 Qd8 28. Ngf5
Bxf5 29. Nxf5 Rxc3 30. Qxc3 Nxd5 31.
21. Qxd6 Qc4; or 25. . . . Nb8 26. b5 Kh8 27. Rc4)
Black has managed to avoid all direct 26. dxc6+ Qf7 27. Bc4 d5 28. Nxd5 Kh8
threats but his poorly placed bishop and 29. Nb6 Qc7 30. Nxc8 Qxc8 31. b5 Nc5
backward pawn on c6 give him a lost 32. Qa3 Nce4 33. Qe7 Nxg3 34. c7 Bf5
ending. 35. fxg3 h5 36. a5 e4 37. b6 axb6 38.

71
 king's INDIAN AND OLD INDIAN

axb6 Kh7 39. Qc5 (39. . . . Bd7 40 Qa5 Badzarani - Sur

Bc6 41. Ba6 Bb7 42. Bxb7 Qxb7 43. (USSR, 1989)
Qf5+) 1-0 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5
5. e4 c6 6. Be2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Rel Qc7
G Kasparov - B Stein 9. Bf 1 a6 10. Bg5 Re8 11. d5 h6 12. Be3
(Simultaneous, Hamburg 1987) Nf8 13. h3 Ng6 14. Qd2 Bd7 15. b4 c5
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5. 16. Rabl b6 17. Rb2 Rec8 18. Rebl cxb4
Nf3 c6 6, Be2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d5 a6 19. Rxb4 b5 20. cxb5M Qxc3 21. b6 a5
9. Be3 cxd5 10. cxd5 b5 11. Nd2 Nxe4 22. R4b3 Qxd2 23. Nxd2 Rc2 24. Ra3
12. Ncxe4 f5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 fxe4 Rb8 25. Bd3 Rcc8 26. b7 Rc7 27. Ba6
15. Nxe4 Nf6 16. Nxf6+ Rxf6 17. b4 Rf8 Rc2 28. Nc4 Nxe4 29. Nxa5 (29. Ba7!)
18. Qc2 Bg5 19. Bd3 h6 20. b5 Bb7 21. 29. . . . Nc5 30. Nc6 Bxc6 31. dxc6 Bd8
bxa6 Bxe3 22. fxe3 Rxfl + 23. Bxf 1 Bxd5 32. Bd3 Nxd3 33. Ba7 1-0
24. Rdl Bf7 25. Qe4 1-0

72
6 The Sicilian Defence

In the previous five chapters we have d3 (the 'King's Indian Attack') to which
been considering Kasparov's opening we devote a model game in our final
repertoire as White. We now turn to his chapter.
choice of openings with Black. Against 3. . . . cxd4
1. e4 he plays almost exclusively the 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Sicilian Defence (around ninety per cent 5. Nc3 d6
of his games), a fighting system which We have reached the basic position of
ideally suits his aggressive style and this opening. White can now adopt the
tactical skill. classical continuation 6. Be2 (the Schev-
The name 'Sicilian' goes back to two eningen System) which quietly develops
characters in chess history: the Italian a piece with a view to castling K side, as
master and first chess publicist, Guilio in our first model game. Or he can try the
Cesare Polerio (1548-1612), who exam¬ bold Keres Attack with 6. g4 (second
ined 1. e4 c5 in his writings around 1575 model game). The latest attacking at¬
without giving the defence a name; and tempt is the 'English Attack' which
his compatriot, Gioacchino Greco (1 BOO- consists of the moves Be3, f3, Qd2 and
1634), who in his manuscripts described g4 (third model game).
the opening as '// giuoco sicihano, the
Sicilian Game. Since then, the Sicilian
A The Scheveningen System
Defence is not only firmly embedded in
opening theory but has become in the In the 1923 Scheveningen tournament,
20th century the most commonly played Max Euwe (World Champion 1935-1937)
of all the openings. adopted the . . . e6/ . . . d6 set-up of the
The Sicilian comprises many systems. Sicilian for the first time, against Geza
Kasparov has tried out several of these Maroczy. This was the origin of what
but has gradually focussed his attention was to become the most commonly
on systems involving . . . e6 and . . . d6, played system in the Sicilian Defence. It
even going so far as to publish (with is important to note that this flexible
Nikitin) a Batsford book on this opening. pawn structure can often be reached by
transposition from other Sicilian systems.
1. e4 c5 For example, the Najdorf System 1 e4
2. Nf3 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
This most commonly played move leads Nc3 a6 only takes on special significance
to the 'open' Sicilian. We shall consider if linked with 6. Bg5, whereas alterna¬
at the end of the chapter alternatives tives such as 6. f4, 6. a4, 6. Be2 and
such as 2. c3 and 2. Nc3. 6, Be3 inevitably transpose into the
2 . . . e6 Scheveningen System after the normal
3. d4 6 . . . e6. We make this point because
Opening up the position, in contrast to 3 chess books and magazines usually fail

73
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

to take into account the fact that it although in some cases, as we shall see,
is often not until the eighth or ninth it can play a useful part from b8.
move that a transposition into the 6. Be2
Scheveningen occurs. A word -of warning! After 6. f4 Black
must not automatically reply 6. . . Be7?l
A Beliavsky - G Kasparov when 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. e5! gives White
(World Cup, Barcelona 1989) the advantage e.g,
1. e4 c5 (i) 8. . . . dxe5 9. fxe5 Nd5 (9 . . . Ng8
2 Nf3 e6 10. Gg4 is most unpleasant for Black)
3. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd5 exd5 (10. . . . Bxb5? loses a
4. Nxd4 Nf6 pawn to 11. Nxb5 exd5 12. Qxd5!)
5. Nc3 d6 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 (11. . . . Nxd7 12. e6
is also good for White) 12. e6 fxe6
13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qe5 0-0 15. Bh6 Rf7
16. 0-0-0 Nc6 17. Qxe6 with a clear
advantage to White in view of the
weak pawn on d5.
(ii) 8. . . . Nd5? 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. e6! with
even better chances than in Variation
(i) e.g.
a) 10. . . . fxe6 11. Nxe6 Qa5+ 12.
Bd2! when 12. . . . Gxb5?? loses
the queen to 13. Nc7 + .
b) 10. . . . Bxb5 11. exf7+ Kxf7 12.
Qh5 + ! Kf8 (after 12. . . . g6 13.
Qxd5 + and 14. Qxb5 White wins
a pawn whilst maintaining his
attack) 13. Nxb5 Ga5+ 14. Nc3
and the queen on h5 prevents the
otherwise strong . , , d4.
Our basic position. The elastic black However, the devotees of the Scheven¬
pawn structure of d6/e6 is ready to face ingen System need not unduly fear 6. f4,
a pawn attack by f4 followed by e5 or f5. since after the correct reply 6. . . . a6!
Black's KB will go to e7 and his QN to c6. (preventing Bb5+) the advance 7. e5?l
His QB usually aims for the a8-h1 diag¬ dxe5 8. fxe5 Nfd7 only results in a weak
onal, either directly via . . . a6, . . . b5 and pawn on e5. So White usually proceeds
. . . Bb7 or indirectly via . . , Bd7, . . . with 7. Be3 or 7. Be2 transposing into
Nc6xd4 and . . . Bc6. Black's queen the variations of our model game. The
belongs on c7. It is only the future move 6. f4 only takes on special signifi¬
placing of the black rooks which is cance with the follow-up Qf3 when the
unclear: the KR usually goes to e8 for queen is not usually well placed facing
reasons we shall explain later, whilst the Black's QB on the long white diagonal.
QR normally backs up the queen's pres¬ We give two examples of this white set¬
sure down the open 'c' file from c8, up in our first two supplementary games

74
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

in which Kasparov is Black against (n) 9. Khl Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11 e5
Korzubov and Yudasin. Even though the dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 13. Ne4! followed
first of these was played over twelve by c4 with the better game.
years ago, Kasparov's approach is modern 9. Khl Gc7 •
enough. The moves 6. Bc4 and 6. g3
occur less frequently, but we give an
a b c d e f g h
example of each from Kasparov's games,
versus Sarapu and Ceskovsky respectively I 4A X 8
(see Supplementary Material).
6. . . . Be7 4m A4 4 4 7

7. 0-0
8. f4
0-0
a6
4 4 44 6

a b c d e f g h
AA 4

a4 m a# 3

A a4 4 4 A A ay A A 2

4 4 44 ra £ w m
abed
be f g h
1

lit
t y
S3 A ri
A 10. a4

A This popular continuation prevents

immediate Q side expansion by Black (.. .
A A IA A A A b5). The latest evidence seems to be
that, if White does not play this move,
ar Am yA ’iS _
a b c d e f g h
his chances of an opening advantage are
minimal. For 10. Be3 b5 see the supple¬
mentary game Sokolov - Ivanchuk.
Once again, alternative moves for White White can also prevent . . . b5 by the
in this position usually transpose rapidly immediate 10. Bf3 (10. ... b5? 11. e5)
into the game position e.g. 9. Be3 Nc6 when Black does best to play the uni¬
10. Khl Qc7 or 9. Bf3 Qc7 10. Be3 Nc6. versal move 10.... Nc6 11. a4 (11. Be3
Although most players adopt the move of Na5 and . . . Nc4) transposing to the
our model game, 9. Khl, the nuances present game. At one time 10. Qel was
of the position are not always clear to the very popular, but after it became clear
average player. Let us consider just one that 10. . . . b5 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. e5 Ne8!
situation in which 9. Khl is superior to 9. was quite good for Black, both theoret¬
Be3: icians and practicians reverted to the
(i) 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e5 move adopted by Beliavsky in this game.
dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 with approximate 10. . . . Re8
equality, since White's QB is under Kasparov's speciality which retains the
attack. flexibility of retreating the bishop to f8 or

75
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

the knight to d7 (if White advances his 'g'

pawn to g5) e.g. 11. g4 b6 12. g5 Nfd7
13. Bf3 (13. f5 BfS) 13. . . Bb7 and Black
is two tempi ahead of our model game
(Kasparov's moves with his OB to d7, c8
and b7). If then 14. f5 Bf8 a black knight
will settle on e5.
11. Be3 Nc6
12. Qd2 Bd7
Planning to post this bishop on c6 in lines
such as 13. Radi Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5 15.
Be3 Bc6 16. Bf3 (not 16. Nd5? Nxd5 17.
exd5 Bxa4) 16. . . . b5 when Black
becomes active on the Q side This is
why White does not allow the exchange
of knights.
13. Nb3 Very strongly played. White can hardly
Threatening 14. a5 blockading the Q side accept the proffered pawn e.g. 20. Bxb6
which Kasparov quickly prevents. Nxb6 21, Nxa5 Ba8! (threatening . . . d5
13. . . . b6 followed by . . . Bb4) 22 Nb3 Nc4 23. Ndl
14. Bf3 (23. Rabl Nxb2 24. Rxb2 Qxc3) 23. . . .
Also possible is 14. g4 Bc8 15. g5 Nd7 e5! 24. f5 (after 24 fxe5 Rxe5 attacks the
with a similar position to the game. e4 and g5 pawns) 24. . . . d5! and now:
14. . . . Rab8 (i) 25. exd5? e4 26. Bg2 e3 27. Qe2
15. g4 Bc8 Qg3! 28. Rf3 (28. Qxc4? Bd6) 28. . . .
16. g5 Nd7 Qxg5 29. Rh3 (29. Qxc4? e2 30. Ne3
17. Qf2 Bf8 e1(Q)+ 31. Rxel Qh4+ 32. Rh3
Kasparov used this plan for the first time Qxel + etc.) 29. . . . Nd6 followed by
in the famous twenty-fourth game of his . . Nxf5 with advantage for Black.
World Championship match against (ii) 25. Gg2 Rb4! (looking for 26. . . .
Karpov which gave him the title. The dxe4 27. Bxe4 Ne3! 28. Nxe3 Bxe4)
latter continued here 18. Bg2 (see Sup¬ 26. exd5 Nd6 with many threats (. . .
plementary Material}. Nxf5/ . . . Rh4+/ , . . e4 followed by
18. h4 . . . e2 and if ever Be2 the c2 pawn
White launches a K side attack. The hangs).
alternative 18. f5 is bad in view of 18. . . . Nor is 20. Nxa5 bxa5 good for White in
Nde5 (intending to attack along the a8-h1 view of the great pressure down the 'b'
diagonal after . . . Nxf3, . . Bb7 and . . . and 'c' files e.g. 21. Rgl Ba8 22. Rabl
exf5) 19. Be2 (19. Bg2 Ng4 20. Qe2 Rb4 followed by . . Reb8.
Nxe3 21. Qxe3 Ne5 and . . . Nc4 is good 20. Radi Nc4
for Black) 19. . . Nb4 20. Racl Bb7 with 21. Bel
the initiative (plan: . . . exf5 and . . , Nc4). The highly instructive opening phase is
18. . . . Bb7 over and Kasparov has built up a typical
19. h5 Na5! Sicilian position in which he stands very

76
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

Bxe4 followed by 30. , . . Qxc2.

27. Be3 g6
28. Rd2 Red8
29. hxg6 hxg6
30. Qh4 Nc6
31. c3
31. Bxe4? Nxd4 winning material.
31. . . . Ne7
32. c4 Rxd4!
33. Bxd4 Nf5 O
34. Qh3?
White's game now goes downhill. After
34. Gf2 Nxd4 35. Rxd4! (not 35 Gxd4>
Bc5 followed by . . . Kg7 and . . . Rh8+)
35. . . . Bc5 Black wins back the
exchange but the situation is unclear.
well. Later analysis reveals that he Perhaps after 34. Qf2 he would do best
should now play 21... . Ba8! followed by to play 34. . , Bb4 followed by . . . Kg7
... b5, so we could stop here with regard and . . . Rh8+
to the main purpose of this volume 34. . . . Kg7
However, the author has no intention of Threatening . . Bb4 and , . , Rh8.
denying the reader the remainder of the 35. Qc3 a5
game, even though both players, already 36. c5
in great time-trouble at this point, were Otherwise . . . Bb4 is very unpleasant.
hardly enamoured with their subsequent 36. . . . Nxd4
play. Perhaps Kasparov's final move in 37. Rxd4 Bxc5
the game is some compensation. 38. Rc4 Rh8+
21. . . . Rbc8?l 39. Bh3 e3+
22. Bg2 Nc5 40. Kh2 Qc6
23. Nd4 d5?! He could also play 40. . . . Ba6, but the
24. e5 IMe4 exchange will not run away, since mate
25. Nxe4 dxe4 is now the threat.
26. b3? 41. Qc2 Ba6
After 26. Qe2 White would pick up the 42. Kg3 Bxc4
e4 pawn, with Black's freer play giving 43. Qxc4 Qd7
him insufficient compensation. In the 44. Bg4 Qd2
post-mortem Kasparov finally had to 45. Be2 Rd8
admit this fact. Black's break in logic 46. Rcl
occurred on move 21 and Beliavsky's After 46 Rdl Black has a pretty queen
corresponding blunder in some way sacrifice with 46. , . . Qxdl 47. Bxdl
evens out matters . . . Rxdl 48. Kf3 Rd2 49, Qcl (49. Kg4 e2
26. . . . Na5 50. Qcl Bb4 followed by . . . Ra2 and , . .
It is already too late for 27. Qe2 because el(Q)) 49. . . . Rf2+ 50. Kg3 Ra2 followed
of 27. . . . Bc5 28. Bxe4 Bxd4 29. Rxd4 by . . e2 and . . . Bb4,

77
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

The Soviet
grandmaster
Alexander Beliavsky,
despite being a
leading player for a
number of years, has
a catastrophic
personal record
against Kasparov.

46. . . . Rd4 54. Rg2 e2!

47. Qc2 Qb4 55. Rxe2
48. Qc3 After 55. Kxe2 (55. Bxe2 Rxb3 + ) 55. . . .
White leaves the f4 pawn to its fate, Bf4 wins the e5 pawn, thus creating
since 48. Rfl Rd2 49. Qc4 Rb2 (or 49. . . . three powerful connected passed pawns.
Qa3) offers him very little hope of survival. Black's plan is then very simple: he plays
48. . . . Rxf4 his bishop to c5, sacrifices the exchange
49. Qxb4 Rxb4 by . . . Rxc4 and proceeds to advance his
50. Bc4 three pawns supported by the king.
Beliavsky is counting on the opposite' 55. . . . b5
coloured bishops plus the fact that the 56. Bxb5
black rook cannot quickly come into play. If 56. axb5 a4 57, Rb2 a3 58. Ra2 Bel
Let us see what happens! followed by 58. . . . Bb2 when, although
50. . . . Be7! both rooks are in a tragi comic situation,
51. Kf3 Black's K side pawns will prove the
If he defends the pawn by 51. Kf4 Black decisive factor.
has 51.... b5 52. axb5 a4 53. bxa4 e2 56. . . . Rxb3+
54. Ke3 Rxc4! winning. 57. Kg4 Be3
51. . . . BxgS 58. Rc2 Bd4
52. Ral 59. Kf4 Rh3
52, Rc2 Kf8 transposes to the game, The e5 pawn is finally lost. The threat
52. . . . Kf8 is simply . , . Rh4+ and after 60. Re2
53. Ra2 Ke7 Rh5 followed by . . Rf5+ still wins the

78
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

pawn. So White produces the threat of L Yudasin - G Kasparov

mate in one move, only to find that (USSR Championship, 1988)
Kasparov has catered for it in a most 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
diabolical fashion. 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 a6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qf3 Bb7
60. Rc8 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. a3 Rc8 11. 0-0 Be7
12. Rael 0-0 13 Qh3 Nc5 14. Bf2 Nfd7
15. Khl Bf6 16. Rdl Re8 17. Bgl g6
18. Nde2 Bg7 19. f5 Qe7 20. Bd4 Nf6
21. Qg3 e5 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Be3 Nfxe4
24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Nc3
Bb7 27. h4 Rc4 28. Bg5 Qe6 29. Rd2 Rg4
30. Qd3 f6 0-1

O Sarapu - G Kasparov
(Lucerne Olympiad, 1982)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. 0-0 b5
9. a3 0-0 10. Be3 Bb7 11. f3 Nc6 12.
Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Qd2 Nd7 14. Rfdl Qc7
15. Qf2 Rfe8 16. Ne2 Ne5 17. Nd4 Bd7
18. c3 Nc4 19. Bel Bf8 20. h3 Qb7
21. Bc2 Rac8 22. Khl g6 23. Nb3 Bg7
24. Nd2 d5 25. Nxc4 bxc4 26. Rbl Bc6
60. . . . Rh4+ 27. exd5 Bxd5 28. Be3 Red8 29. Bb6
61. Kg3 Rh8M Rd7 30. Ba4 Bc6 31. Rxd7 Bxd7 32. Bc2
1-0 Bc6 33. Be3 Bd5 34. Kgl Qb8 35 Qe2
After 62. Rxh8 Bxe5+ 63. Kf3 Bxh8 it is Rd8 36. Bf2 h5 37. Gel Rd7 38. Ba4 Rb7
all over. 39. Qd2 Be5 40. Bdl Bh2+ 41. Kfl Bd6
42. Bd4 Bxa3 43. Ral Bd6 44. Rxa6 Bf4
Supplementary Material 45. Be3 Bxe3 46. Qxe3 Rxb2 0-1
M Korzubov - G Kasparov
(Moscow, 1977) W Ceskovsky - G Kasparov
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 (USSR Championship. 1981)
5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. f4 b5 8. a3 Bb7 9. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6
Qf3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. 0-0 Be7 12. 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. 0-0
Rael 0-0 13. Qg3 Rxc3 14. bxc3 Nxe4 Be7 9. a4 0-0 10. Nce2 Rc8 11. c3 a6
15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. f5 Bh4 17. Qxd6 exf5 12. h3 Qc7 13. g4 (13 Be3 Na5 14 b3 b5
18. Rd 1 Qe8 19. Bf4 Be7 20. Qxa6 Nc5 with counterplay) 13. . . . d5 14. exd5
21. Gxb5 Qa8 22. Rd2 Gxa3 23. Nb3 Ne6 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Nf4 Bc5 17. Nb3
24. Be3 g6 25. Ge5 Rc8 26. Rd7 Bd8 27. (17. Be3 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Qd6) 17. . . . Ba7
Nc5 Bg5 28. Nxe6 Bxe3+ 29. Khl Bh6 18. Qxd5 Be6 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20 Qe4 (20.
30. Qf6 Rf8 31. Nxf8 Qa2 32. Ge7 Qc4 Qxe6+ Kh8 21. Be3 Bb8 22. f4 Rce8
33. Rfdl Be3 34. Qh4 Bxg2+ 35. Kxg2 winning) 20. . . . Rxf2 21. Rxf2 Qg3+ 22.
Qxh4 0-1 Gg2 (22 Khl Qxh3+ 23. Kgl Bxf2+ 24.

79
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

Kxf2 Rf8+ 25. Ke2 Qfl + 26. Ke3 Qe1 + B The Keres Attack
27. Kd3 Rd8+ 28. Nd4 Ne5+) 22. . . .
The Estonian, Paul Keres (1916-1975),
Bxf2+ 23. Kf 1 Ge5 24. Bf4 Qxf4 25.
belongs to the greatest personalities of
Gxf2Qc4 + 0-1
chess history. From Nottingham 1936 (a
tournament in which the elite of the
A Sokolov - W Ivanchuk
chess world took part and which Keres
{Linares, 1989)
won together with the American Reuben
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Fine) until his death, Keres was one of
e6 5. Nc3 Oc7 6. Be2 a6 7 0-0 Nf6
the best players in the world. He also
8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Khl 0-0 11 Oel
enriched the game with a wealth of
Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5
opening ideas, including the 6. g4 attack
Qb6 15. Qg3 Bb7 16. f5 exf5 17. Rxf5
which has given Scheveningen players
g6 18. Rafl Ne4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. R5f2
so much trouble over the years.
Qe6 21. b3 Bxc2 22, Bf3 Rac8 23. Bb7
Rc5 24. Bd4 Bd6 25. Qe3 Qxe3 26. Bxe3
Rc7 27. Bxa6 Bd3 28. Rdl Re8 29. Bh6 L Ljubojevic - G Kasparov
Rce7 30. Bd2 Ra7 31. Bc3 Rxa6 32. Rxd3 (World Cup, Belfort, 1988)
b4 33. Bd2 Rxa2 34. Rfl Re2 35. Rdl 1. e4 c5
Be7 36. g4 h6 37. Bf4 Bf6 38. R3d2 2. Nf3 d6
Raxd2 39. Rxd2 Re4 40. Bxh6 Rxg4 Kasparov varies the order in which he
41. Be3 Re4 42. Rd3 Bc3 43. Kg2 Re8 plays . . . e6 and . . , . d6 but usually
44. Kf3 Ra8 45. h3 f6 46 Bc5 Ra5 favours the former.
47. Bd6 Ra2 48. Ke4 Rb2 49. Kd5 Rxb3 3. d4 cxd4
50. Bxb4 Rxb4 51. Rxc3 Kg7 52. Rc7 + 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Kh6 53. Ke6 Rb6+54. Kd5 Rb3 55. h4 5. Nc3 e6
Re3 56. Rc8 f5 0-1 6. g4
White’s plan is to gain space on the K
A Karpov - G Kasparov side by advancing this pawn to g5.
(Twenty-fourth Game, World Champion¬ Should Black castle on this wing, then
ship, 1985) the.advanced pawn can form the basis
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 of a pawn storm against the king by h4-
5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. f4 0-0 9. h5 and g6. Black can temporarily hold
Khl Gc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 back g5 by playing 6. . . . h6 but this
Rb8 13. Qd2 Bd7 14 Nb3 b6 15. g4 Bc8 weakening of his K side pawns practic¬
16. g5 Nd7 17. Qf2 Bf8 18. Bg2 Bb7 19. ally excludes the possibility of castling
Radi g6 20. Bel Rbc8 21. Rd3 Nb4 22. short and, at all events, White can
Rh3 Bg7 23. Be3 Re7 24. Kgl Rce8 always prepare g5 by Rgl and h4.
25. Rdl f5 26. gxf6 Nxf6 27. Rg3 Rf7 6. . . Nc6
28. Bxb6 Qb8 29. Be3 Nh5 30. Rg4 Nf6 In his book Sicilian with . . . e6/ . . . d6
31. Rh4 g5 32. fxg5 Ng4 33. Qd2 Nxe3 (1983), Kasparov gives this move as
34. Qxe3 Nxc2 35. Gb6 Ba8 36. Rxd6 best.
Rb7 37. Gxa6 Rxb3 38. Rxe6 Rxb2 39. 7, g5 Nd7
Qc4 Kh8 40. e5 Qa7+ 41. Khl Bxg2+ Now an attack on the d6 pawn by 8.
42. Kxg2 Nd4+ 0-1 Ndb5 would yield White nothing.

80
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

a b c d e f g h Kc7 15. Rd2 h6 16. gxh6 Rxh6

»x A w # A s
followed by . . . Rah8 with good
chances in the ending.

7A_ A % A A A (ii) 10. Gh5 contains some venom in the

line 10. ... a6? 11. 0-0-0! axb5 12.
6 4AA Bxe5 but Black can play instead 10....
Ng6! 11. Bg3 a6 12. Nd4 d5 (threat¬
5
A ening . . . e5 and . . . d4) with good
counterplay.
4
A
s 2U
Another idea is 8. Bg2 preventing a
3 jl+il possible . . . d5 counter by Black, but
Kasparov is optimistic about the defens¬
2A a A ii A A ive possibilities after 8. . . . a6 e.g.

a b
awlSMfi.
c d e t a
Hh a b c d e f g h

Kasparov gives the following variations:

8
X A w # JL X 8

8. . Nb6 9. Bf4 (otherwise 9, . . . a6

would gain time by forcing the knight to
7
A % A A A 7

retreat) 9. , . . Ne5 giving us the following

6
A 4AA 6

possibilities (see diagram below):

(i) 10. Bxe5 dxe5 11. Gxd8 + Kx8 12. 0-
5
A 5

0-0+ Bd7 planning . . . Bc5 and . . .

Ke7 with good play on the black
4
A 4

squares e.g. 13. Nd6 Bxd6 14. Rxd6

3
3 3

2
A :s A A '£ A 2

1 H £W M 1
a b c d e f g~ h

(i) 9. Be3 Nde5 10. 0-0 h6 11. gxh6 Gh4

12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. Oxf3 g6 14. Radi
Bxh6 (Ubtlava - Anikaev, USSR
1976) and after 15. Bxh6 Qxh6 16.
h3 Ke7 followed by . . . Bd7 and . . .
Rad8 Black is fine.
(ii) 9. h4 Be7 10. f4 0-0 11. Be3 (11 f5
here and in similar situations allows
11... Nde5) 11,.., Re8! (again this
Kasparov regrouping removes the
sting from the pawn advance) 12.

81
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

Qd2 (planning to castle long; if 12. Let us now return to our model game
0-0 then 12. . . . b5 gives Black position in diagram 70.
excellent counterplay after both 13, 8. Rgl
f5 Nde5 followed by . . . Bd7 and . . . In many games the transposition 8. Be3
Rc8 and 13. a3 Bb7 and 14. . . . Rc8) Be7 9. Rgl occurs.
12. . . . Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b5 14. a3 (14. 8. . . . Be7
e5 d5) 14. . . . Bb7 and after . . Qa5 9. Be3 0-0
and . . . Rac8 Black has enough play 10. Qd2
against White's king. White wishes to castle long and begin a
(iii) 9. f4 Be7 10. h4 transposing to the 9. pawn storm on the K side.
h4 variation. 10. . . . a6
Finally, White can try 8. Be3 when 8. . . . 11. 0-0-0 Nxd4
Be7 9. h4 0-0 gives us two main lines: 12. Bxd4 b5
13. f4
The cautious 13. a3 is answered by 13....
abed e f 9 h
Rb8 14. Rg3 Re8! 15. f4 Bf8 16. f5 Qa5
1 A Wf 1 when the break by . . . b4 gives Black
good chances, according to Kasparov.
1 A 4£A A A 13. . . . b4

4AA a b c d e f g h
A X Am K#
E&A
E A
4
A
0
A
A A A
As A A A
a abode
V A m
fg h A a AA
m
A AA w r A
(i) 10. Qd2 Nde5! (intending . . Nc4)
11. Qe2 Na5. In Akopian - Shabalov
a b
SteaL I 1
c d e fgh
White allowed the knight to go to c4
when Black stood welt, whilst in
Kontronias- Astrom White prevented Where should the knight go now? After
this by 12. b3 (see Supplementary 14. Na4 Kasparov gives in the above-
Material). mentioned book 14.... Ga5 15. b3 Bb7
(ii) 10. Qe2 anticipates the above knight 16. Bg2 e5 17. Be3 exf4 18. Bxf4 Ne5
manoeuvre but in Quillan - Buckley followed by . . . Rc8 with good play for
Black still managed to organize good Black.
counterplay. 14. Ne2 Qa5

82
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

15. Kbl e5 26. Bd6 b3!

16. Bf2 Nc5 27. c3?
The standard manoeuvre 16. . . . exf4 to 27. axb3 cxb3 28 c3 (28. cxb3?? Qc2 + )
seize e5 for the knight is not good here fails to 28. . . . Qa4 and . . . Qa2+ but
because White's knight can recapture after 27. Rc3 the position would still be
and reach d5. unclear. Kasparov's next move forces
17. Qe3 Be6 White to open up the vital b1-h7 diagonal.
18. Ncl 27. . . . Rcd8!
Ljubojevic was not keen on 18. b3 Qb6 28. e5 Bxd6
followed by . . . a5-a4. 29. exd6
18. . . . exf4 After 29. Rxd6 Rxd6 30. exd6 Bf5 +! 31.
19. Qxf4 Rac8 Kcl bxa2 wins at once.
20. Bd4 Rfe8 29.... Rxd6!!
21. Nb3 Qa4
22. Bf6 Bf8 a b c d e f g h
Not of course 22. . . . gxf6?? 23. gxf6+
winning.
8
£ # 8

23. Rg3 Qc6 7 . i; A A A 7

A w 1. & 6

5
A 5

4
A w 4

3
AA j£ 3

2LA;a 52 i

1
a b c
1 sli i
d e f g h

Like lightning out of a clear sky, Kasparov

produces a rook sacrifice which cannot
be accepted by the rook or queen:
(i) 30. Rxd6 Bf5+ 31. Kcl (31. Qxf5
allows mate in two moves) 30. . . .
The opening stage is over and Black has bxa2! 32. Rxc6 a1(Q)+ 33. Kd2 Qel
obtained a good position. His threat mate!
against the e4 pawn cannot be coum (li) 30. Qxd6 Bf5+ 31. Kcl (31. Kal
tered by 24. Bg2?? in view of the Qxd6 and White cannot recapture
weakness of c2 (24. . . . Nxb3), so White because of the back rank mate; 31.
is forced to exchange on c5. Bd3 or 31. Rgd3 simply lose the
24. Nxc5 dxc5 queen) 31. . . . bxa2! 32. Qa3 (32.
25. Be5 c4 Qxc6 al (Q)+ 33. Kd2 Qxb2 mate is a

83
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

Garry Kasparov in
conversation with his
trainer Alexander
Nikitin who is a
leading expert in the
Sicilian Defence, The
photograph was
taken at the 1986
Dubai Olympiad.

self-block!) 32. . , Qe4 33 Bd3 40. Qf2 Bg4 wins material 0-1
(otherwise 33. . . . Gc2 mate or 33.
Rd2 Qbl mate, another self-block) Supplementary Material
33_Qf4+ 34. Rd2 (34. Kc2 Re2 + V Kotronias - R Astrom
followed by mate) 34. . . . cxd3 35. (Rilton Cup, Stockholm 1988)
Rgxd3 (35. Qxa2 Rel mate) 35. . . . 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Bxd3 and the curtain falls. 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 Nc6 7. g5 Nd7 8. Be3
This was the most beautiful combination Be7 9. h4a6 10. Qd2 Nde5 11. Be2 Na5
at Belfort, a tournament which Kasparov 12. b3 0-0 13. f4 Nec6 14. Nf3 Re8 15. a3
won a point ahead of Karpov. b5 16. h5 Bf8 17. g6 fxg6 18. hxg6 h6 19.
The rest of the game is something of f5 d5 20. Bg5 hxg5 21. Bd3 Bd6 22. e5
an anti-climax: Bxe5 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. 0-0-0 Nf3 25.
30. Rcl Qc5 Qe3 Nh4 26. Oe2 Of6 27. Nxd5 Nxb3+
31. Kal Red8 28. cxb3 Qal + 29. Kd2 Qb2+ 30. Bc2
32. Re3 Rdl Bb7 31. f6 Bxd5 32. f7 + Kf8 33. Rxh4
33. Rel Rxel gxh4 34. fxe8(Q)+ Kxe8 35. Gf2 Qf6 36
34. Rxel Qa5 Qc5 Qf4+ 37. Kc3 Qe5+ 38. Rd4 Kd7
35. a3 Qd5 39. Kb2 Rc8 40. Qb4 h3 41. Gd2 h2 42.
36. Be2 96 Be4 Qxe4 43. Rxe4 hl(Q) 44. Rf4 Qg2
37. h4 Qd2 45. Rf7+ Kd6 46. Rf2 Qe4 47. Re2 Qxg6
38. Qfl Bh3 48. Qa5 Of6+ 0-1
39. Qgl Re8

84
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

G Quillan - J Buckley is following the same strategy of advanc¬

(British Championship 1987) ing his K side pawns, in particular g4-g5.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 The main difference lies in the prepara¬
5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 Nc6 7. g5 Nd7 8. Be3 tory move f3 strengthening tlje centre
Be7 9. h4 0-0 10. Qe2 a6 11. 0-0-0 Nxd4 before developing with Be3. Qd2 and 0-0-0
12. Bxd4 b5 13. Rd3 b4 14. Ndl Bb7 15. and timing the advance of his 'g' pawn.
f4 Qa5 16. Kbl e5 17. Bh3 f5 18 Nf2 Black's strategy, as always in such cases,
exd4 19. exf5 Bxhl 20. Qxe7 Nc5 21. f6 is to counter-attack in the centre and of
Rf7 22. Qe2 Nxd3 23. Nxd3 Bd5 24. f5 course this is more difficult to organise
gxf6 25. g6 Rc7 26. gxh7+ Kh8 27. Nf4 when the e4 pawn is firmly protected,
Qxa2+ 28. Kcl Qal + 29. Kd2 Rxc2+ 30.
Kxc2 Rc8+ 0-1 J Hjartarson - G Kasparov
(Olympiad, Thessaloniki 1988)
V Akopian - A Shabalov 1. e4 c5
(Vilnius. 1988) 2. Nf3 d6
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4
5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 Nc6 7. g5 Nd7 8. Be3 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Be7 9. h4 0-0 10. Qd2 Nde5 11. Be2 Na5 5. Nc3 a6
12. 0-0-0 Bd7 13. Nb3 Nac4 14. Bxc4 6. Be3 e6
Nxc4 15. Qd4 b5 16. Nd2 Nxe3 17. fxe3 7. Qd2 b5
Qc7 18. Nf3 Rfc8 19. h5 Be8 20. h6 Bf8 8. f3 Nbd7
21. Rd2 g6 22. Kbl Qb7 23. Rh4 b4 24. 9. g4 h6
Ndl a5 25. Qf6 a4 26. Nd4 e5 27. Ne2 As in the Keres Attack, Black can also
Rab8 28. Ncl Qc6 29. Qf2 Bd7 30. Kal allow g5 by playing 9 . . Nb6 10. g5
Be6 31. CSg2 b3 32. Rh2 a3 33. axb3 Nfd7 followed by . . . Bb7. . . . Rc8 and
Bxb3 34. Nxb3 Rxb3 35 c3 Qa4 36. Kbl . . . Nc4, but Kasparov wishes to try out a
Ra8 37. Qe2 Qxe4+ 38. Gd3 axb2 39.
Nxb2 Qa4 40. Kcl Qal + 0-1 a b cd ef g h

8* n# # S
C The English Attack 7
A A 7
The youngest child in the Sicilian family
is the English Attack introduced into •a r A. A 4 A‘
tournament practice in the eighties by
the London grandmaster Dr John Nunn,
5
A 5

a renowned player and theoretician, and 4

SLA' A 4
immediately taken up enthusiastically by
the leading English players Nigel Short
3---T
£ £A 3

and Murray Chandler. The new system

was adopted by the rest of the world as
2A A 7T W A2
soon as the excellent results of this trio
were known.
1^_
a
n £ ffl’
b c d e f g h
The English Attack is a close relative of
the Keres Attack, since in principle White Position after 10. . . . Bb7

85
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

diabolical improvement he has dis¬ Black from an otherwise typical and

covered in the . . _ h6 line. advantageous central counter by . . .
10. 0-0-0 d5 e.g. 11. . , . b4 12. Nce2 d5 13. exd5
The immediate 10. h4 is energetically Nxd5 14., Nxe6! Qa5 (14. . . . fxe6
countered by 10. ... b4 11. Nce2 d5! 15. Bg6+ and 16. Nf4 with an attack)
10. . . . Bb7 15. Kbl fxe6 16. Bg6+ Kd8 17. Nf4 Bd6
c h 18. Nxe6+ with excellent chances.
a b d e f
11.... Ne5
X M# A X: 8
In view of the above variation, it seems
advisable to block the 'e' file and be
j£ AA 7
prepared to eliminate White's KB when¬

A A A 4. A 6 ever necessary.
12. Rhel b4
4 5
13. Na4
The alternative 13. Nce2 gives Black a
A £> A) 4
good game e.g. 13. . . . d5 14. exd5 Nxd5

& A 1 A Til 3 15. Nf4 Qd7! (protecting e6 against a

possible piece sacrifice) 16. Kbl Be7
A 1[Ai W 12 17. Nh5 0-0-01 18. Be2 (18. Nxg7 Nxe3

a
ma1b c d e f
i':
g h
1
19. Qxe3 Qxd4 20. Qxd4 Rxd4 21. Rxe5
Bf6) 18. . . . g6 19. Nf4 Nxe3 20. Qxe3
Bd6 (see Supplementary Material game
Black does not hurry with the standard Vidarsson - Olafsson).
central riposte by . . . b4 and . . . d5 which 13. . . . d5
is risky with his king still in the centre. 14. exd5 Nxd5
Similarly, White does well to develop his 15. Bf2 Bd6
pieces first before launching a premature
pawn attack e.g. 11. h4 b4 12. Nce2 d5
13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nf4 Nxe3 15. Ndxe6
a b c d e f g h
(not 15. Qxe3? Qb6, Anand-Sax, Phila¬
delphia 1986, when the pin of his d4 •x m X>
knight stops White sacrificing on e6.
Black continues . . . Bc5 and ... 0-0
7
A AA 7

threatening . . . e5) 15. . . . fxe6 16. Nxe6

(16. Qxe3 Qb6!) 16. . . . Nxdll! (much
*\Lr AA A«
better than 16.... Qc8 17. Bd3 intending 5
14 m 5
Rhel and Bg6+) 17. Nxd8 Kxd8 18.
Qxdl Kc7 19. Bd3 Bd6 20. Rfl Rhf8 4E5 A A ii-;. 4

followed by . . . Rf4 and . . . Raf8 when

Black's chances are preferable.
3
A A' 3

11. Bd3 2 A A AW A 32
This move, stemming from Nunn, is
linked with the sharp tactical idea of
Nxe6 and Bg6+, which thus discourages
i
LW a !
b c d e f g h

86
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

The Icelandic
grandmaster Johan
Hjartarson reached
the quarter-finals of
the latest World
Championship cycle,
beating on the way
Karpov's long¬
standing rival, Viktor
Korchnoi.

All this has already occurred in several 20. Bxf3 Bxf3

previous games. Black is now better 21. Bb6
after 16. Bg3 Nxd3 + 17. Qxd3 0-0 18. After 21. Qxd6 Bxdl 22. Qxd8 Raxd8 23.
Kbl Rc8 19. Ne2 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Qa5 Bc5 Bxg4 24. Bxf8 Rxf8, according to
21. c4 (21. b3 Bc6 22. c4 bxc3 23. Nexc3 Kasparov, Black has a similar advantage¬
Nxc3+ 24. Nxc3 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Rxc3 ous ending to the game.
- + ; or here 22. Nb2? Bb5 23. Qd2 Bxe2 Black's game now appears critical e.g.
24. Rxe2 Nc3 + ) 21. . . . Qxa4 22. cxd5
Bxd5 (see Supplementary Material game
Mainka - Olafsson).
16. Bf5
The new move which had been thought
to give White an advantage. Kasparov,
who had spent only a few minutes on
the opening so far, suddenly produced
his next move.
16_ 0-0
Only now did it become clear to the
Icelandic grandmaster that Kasparov had
already done his homework, but it was in
any event too late to turn back.
17. Nxe6 fxe6
18. Bxe6+ Kh8
19. Bxd5 J\lxf3!

87
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

21. . . . Qh4 22. Qxd6 Bxdl 23. Rxdl Kbl Bd2 26. Rfl Bxg4 27, Rxf8+ Rxf8
Qxg4 24. Bd4! threatening both Qxh6+ 'with compensation for the sacrificed
and Qxb4. However . . . material', but in reality Black is threaten¬
21.... Bxdl! ing .. . Bh3 and ... Rfl + e.g. 28. b3?
i was writing reports for the chess Bh3 29. Kb2 Rfl 30. Ga7 Bcf+ 31. Kbl
magazine 64 at the Olympiad where this Ba3 mate. Or 28. c3 Bf5+ 29. Ka 1 Bd3
game was played and arrived at the winning. Finally, 28. a3 bxa3 and White's
board just in time to see the reactions of K position is shattered. Nevertheless,
both players at this point. Kasparov this was White's best chance-
picked up his QB, gave his opponent that 23. .. . Bf4+
penetrating look we often complain 24. Kbl Rxd1 +
about in chess-playing scenes on film or 25. Rxdl Bxh2
TV, then captured the rook on dl. A 26. c3 bxc3
queen sacrifice, but, to continue our 27. Nxc3
comparison, he failed to mutter some It seems unbelievable that Kasparov's
such inanity as 'bishop takes rook'! The opening preparation had actually gone as
fair-skinned Icelander went bright red far as this point! He now gives 27. . . .
with shock but had no alternative but to Kh7, to advance his king to g5, as the
accept the offer. clearest way for Black to win. Instead, he
22. Bxd8 Raxd8 throws away his advantage with his next
Not 22. . . , Bf4 23. Qxf4! move and allows his opponent to escape
23. Qxdl with a draw, We give the moves with
Of course, 23. Rxdl ?? or 23. Kxdl ?? lose just two main notes:
at once to 23. . . . Bf4. In his Chess
Informant notes, Kasparov gives as best
for White 23. Qg2 Bf3 24. Qgl Bf4+ 25.

a b c d e f g h

8 r
X B

7
7
m
6

5
A d 1% A 6

3
bA A 4

2
A sA w 1 12

1
a b
&
c
11
d e f g h
1
11
27....
28. Rhl
29. Rel
Rf4?
Rf2
Kh7

88
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

30. Re2 Rxe2 After the apparently strong 49. . . . Bg5

31. Nxe2 Kg6 White draws with the strong reply 50.
32. Nd4 Bd6 Nf2+1 gxf2 (50. . . . Kh2 51. Ng4+ Kh3
33. Nf3 h5 52. Nf2+ Kh4? 53. Ne4) 51. Kxf2 Kg4 52.
34. gxh5+ Kxh5 Ke2 Kf4 53. Kd3 Ke5 54. Kc4 Bd2 55. a3
35. Kc2 95 Kd6 56. b4 a4 57. Kb5 drawing.
36. Kd3 g4 50. Nf4 Bg5
37. Ke4 51. Ne2 g2
Kasparov gives the simplest draw as 52. Ke4 Be7
37. Ke2! gxf3+ 38. Kxf3 Kg5 39. Ke4 Kf6 53. Kf3 Bb4
40. Kd5 Ke7 41. Kc6 a5 42. Kb5 Bc7 43. 54. Ke4 V2-V2

37. . . . 93
38. Nel Kg4 Supplementary Material
39. Ng2 Kh3 J Vidarsson - H Olafsson
40. Kf3 a5 (Akureyri, 1988)
41. b3 Be5 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
42. Nel Bc7 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Qd2 b5 8. f3 Nbd7
43. Ng2 Bd6 9. g4 h6 10. 0-0-0 Bb7 11. Bd3 Ne5
44. Nel Kh2 12. Rhel b4 13. Nce2 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5
45. Ng2 Be5 15. Nf4 Qd7 16. Kbl Be7 17. Nh5 0-0-0
46. Ne3 Kh3 18. Be2 g6 19. Nf4 Nxe3 20. Oxe3 Bd6
47. Ng2 Bd6 21. c3 bxc3 22. Qxc3+ Kb8 23. Qb3 Ka8
48. Nel Be7 24. Nd3 Bd5 25. Qb6 Qa7 26. Qxa7+
49. Nd3 Kxa7 27. h3 Nc4 28. Ncl Rc8 29. Ncb3
Bg3 30. Rhl Rhd8 31. Rdgl Be5 32. Rdl
Kb6 33. Rcl a5 34. a4 Bf4 35. Rcdl Ne3
36. Rd3 e5 37. Nb5

R Mainka - H Olafsson
(Dortmund, 1988)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7. Qd2 b5 8. f3 Nbd7
9. g4 h6 10. 0-0-0 Bb7 11. Bd3 Ne5 12.
Rhel b4 13. Na4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15.
Bf2 Bd6 16. Bg3 Nxd3+ 17. Qxd3 0-0 18.
Kbl Rc8 19. Ne2 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Qa5 21.
c4 Qxa4 22. cxd5 Bxd5 23. b3 Qc6 24.
Nd4 Qb7 25. g5 hxg5 26. Rhl f5 27. Qe2
Qe7 28 Qh2 Gf6 29. Qh7+ Kf7 30. Nxf5
Qxf5+ 31. Qxf5+ exf5 32. Rxd5 Kg6 33.
Rhdl Rc3 34. g4 Rxf3 35. gxf5+ R8xf5
36. Rd6+ Rf6 37. R6d4 Rfl 38. Kcl a5
49. . . . Kh2 39 Rd5 R6f5 40. Rd6+ Kh5 0-1

89
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

E Prie - L Psakhis tion in the centre that we see in the

(Paris, 1989) Open Sicilian with 2. Nf3 and 3 d4.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3, d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 2. , . . e6
5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. f3 0-0 Of course, if he wishes, White can still
9. g4 Nc6 10 0-0-0 Rb8 11. g5 Nd7 12. f4 transpose fo the Open Sicilian with 3.
Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b5 14. h4 b4 15. Ne2 Qa5 Nf3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6. Black
16. Kbl Nc5 17. Bg2 Bb7 18. Ng3 Na4 must take care not to play here 3. . . . d5
19. Kal Rfc8 20. Rbl Rc4 21. Bfl Rc7 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. d4 when he
22. h5 Rbc8 23. Bd3 Nc5 24. g6 Nxd3 has problems with his isolated'd' pawn.
25. gxh7 + Kxh7 26. Qxd3 Qb5 27. Qf3 f5 3. g3 d5
28. Rhgl Bf8 29. Qe3 e5 30. fxe5 dxe5 4. exd5
31. Qg5 exd4 32. Qg6+ Kg8? (32. . . . After 4. Bg2 Nf6 Black is fine and 5. exd5
Kh8!) 33. Qe6 + Kh8 34. h6 g5 35. Nxf5? exd5 transposes to our model game.
(35. Qf6+! Kh7 36. Qxg5 +-) 35. . . Black could also try 4. . . . d4, so Spassky
Qc6 36. Qe5+ Kh7 37. Rxg5 Qxe4 decides not to give his opponent this
38. Qf6 Qc6 39. Gxd4 Qxc2 40. Qgl option.
Be4 0-1 4. . . . exd5
5. Bg2 Nf6!
White's game is more comfortable after
D Other White Systems
5. , . , d4 6. Qe2+ Ne7 (6. . . . Be6? 7.
(2. Nc3/2. c3}
Bxb7) 7. Nd5.
We devote this fourth section to the 6. Nge2
Closed Sicilian (2, Nc3) and to 2. c3, In the game Spassky - Borik (West
although there have been relatively few German League, 1982) White played 6.
times when Kasparov has had to face them. d4 Nc6 7. Be3 c4 followed by ... Bb4 with
equality. According to Spassky, 7. .. . Bg4
1 The Closed Sicilian
The only world-class player with a pen¬
chant for this opening is Ex-World
Champion Boris Spassky, so it is logical
to assume that the only game to have
been played by Kasparov against this
system was in fact against Spassky.
Although the game was played seven
years ago, it is still highly relevant, since
Kasparov’s treatment of the opening
reveals one of the most important novel¬
ties of the eighties.

B Spassky - G Kasparov
(Bugojno, 1982)
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3
White avoids the immediate confronta¬

90
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

Boris Spassky, World

Champion from 1969
to 1972, was
dethroned by the
Legendary Bobby
Fisher. Along with
Karpov and Short, he
is one of the few
players who rarely
lose against
Kasparov.

is perhaps even more promising. advantage to Black; or 14. h3 (after

6. . . . d4 14. f3 Bh5 the e3 square is already
7. Ne4 Nxe4 beckoning Black's knight) 14. . . .
8. Bxe4 Nd7 Bd7! (14. . . . Bh5 15. g4 Bg6 16. f4)
Black gains a tempo on the bishop to followed by . . . Bc6, . . . Rae8 and . . .
reach the ideal f6 square. Nd5 with good play for Black.
9. 0-0 Nt6 These variations explain why Spassky
10. Bg2 Bd6 chooses to avoid the obvious in favour of
By playing natural moves, Black has complications.
achieved equality and now, after the 11. c3 d3
obvious 11. d3 0-0 12. Bf4, he has the 12. Nf4 0-0
strong 12. . . . Bg4! with the following White would stand well after 12. . . . Bxf4
possibilities: 13. Qa4+ Bd7 14. Rel + Kf8 15. Gxf4
(i) 13. Bxb7?l Bxf4 14. Bxa8 (14. gxf4? etc.
Rb8 15. Bg2 Rxb2 and White's weak 13. Nxd3 Bxg3
pawn on f4 gives him the worse of it) 14. fxg3 Qxd3
14.. .. Qxa8 15. gxf4 (1 5. f3?? Be3+) 15. Qf3 Qxf3
15.. .. Bh3 16. f3 Bxfl 17. Qxfl Nd5 16. Bxf3
followed by . . . Ne3 with very good White has problems with the develop¬
play for Black. ment of his Q side, whilst Black's b7 is
(ii) 13 Bxd6 Gxd6 and now 14. b3?! (14. under pressure.
Bxb7? Rab8 is clearly good for Black) Black could now play 16. . . . Rd8
14. . . . Rae8 15. f3 (15. Rel Nd5 17. Rdl (to advance the'd' pawn) 17. . . .
intending . . . Nc3) 15. . . . Bd7 Bg4 but Kasparov prefers a tactical solu¬
followed by . . . Bc6 and . . . Nd5 with tion.

m
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

It would be a blunder to play 27. Ba3

Nel + 28. Kf2 Nc2 etc.
27. . . . h6
28. Rdl hxg5
29. Rxd3 Re2 +
30. Kf3 Rxa2
31. d5 Kf7
32. d6 Ke8
V2-V2
After 33. Rd5 g6 24. g4 a drawn end¬
game would be reached.

2 The c3 Sicilian
There are unfortunately no recent ex¬
amples of Kasparov's play against this
system, the last being in 1980. In many
openings where changes occur very
17. Bxb7 Rae8 slowly, this would not matter so much,
The alternative 17. . . Bxfl 18. Bxa8 Bd3 but the 2. c3 Sicilian has seen dramatic
19. Bf3 Re8 20. b3 and Ba3 is worse for developments of late. This factor caused
Black. the author a few moments of anguish
18. Bg2 before he finally opted for the following
Not 18. Rdl Bg4 19. Rfl Be2 20 Rel plan:
Bd3 and White will be gradually stifled. 1) To quote all the games played by
18. . . . Bxg2 Kasparov against 2. c3.
19. Kxg2 Re2+ 2) Then to analyse in more detail his
20. Rf2 Rfe8 assumed 1990 preferred line, the
Now what is White to do with his QB? active 2. . . . d5, and presenting the
After 21, d4 cxd4 22, cxd4 Rel (threaten¬ latest theory and supplementary
ing .. . Rdl and . . . Reel) 23. Rfl R8e2 + games.
24. Kf3 (24. Kgl Rxf1+ 25. Kxfl Rxh2)
24. . . . Rxf1+ 25. Kxe2 Rhl 26. h4 Ne4 L Yurtaev - G Kasparov
27. Kf3 f5 White has problems despite (Tiffs, 1976)
his extra pawn. I. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5.
21. b3 Rxf2+ Bc4 Qc7 6. Qe2 Nb6 7. Bb3 d5 (7. . . .
22. Kxf2 Ng4+ d3!) 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10 0-0 d3
23. Kg2 f5 II. Qe3 Na5 12. Na3 a6 13. Ne5 Nxb3
24. h3 Ne5 14. axb3 Bf5 15. Nac4 Nxc4 16. Nxc4
Not 24. . . . Re2 + ? 25. Kf 11 (25. Kf3?? Qe6 17. Qg3 Qg6 18. Bf4 Qxg3 19. hxg3
Rf2 mate) 25. . . Rf2+ 26. Kel winning Rc8 20. Na5 b5 21. b4 f6 22. Nb3 e5
a piece. 23. Be3 Rc6 24. f4 Be6 25. Nc5 Bxc5
25. d4 cxd4 26. bxc5 Bg4 27. fxe5 fxe5 28. Rf2 h6
26. cxd4 Nd3 29. Kf 1 Ke7 30. Kel Rg6 31 Kd2 Bc8
27. Bg5 32. Kxd3 Rxg3 33. Rel Bb7 34. Kc2 Rxg2

92
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

35. Rxg2 Bxg2 36. Bd4 Kf7 37. Rxe5 Rf8 N Short - G Kasparov
38. Kb3 a5 39 c4 Rd8 40 Bc3 b4 41. (World Junior, 1980)
Rf5 + Kg6 42. Rf2 Bc6 43. Rd2 Rxd2 44. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 exd5
Bxd2 Kf5 0-1 5. d4 Bd6 6. Be3 (6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+
Qxd7 8. 0-0 Ne7 =) 6_c4 7. b3 cxb3
I Alenkin - G Kasparov 8. axb3 Ne7 9. c4 (9. Bd3 Bf5 =) 9. . . .
(Daugavpils, 1978) Nbc6 10. c5 Bc7 11. Nc3 0-0 12. Bd3 Bf5
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 13. 0-0 Qd7 14. Ra4 a5 (14_a6 15. b4
5. d4 a6 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. Be2 c4 8. Nbd2 b5 16. cxb6 Bxb6 =) 15. Nel b6 16. Nb5
Bd6 9. Bxd6 Qxd6 10. 0-0 Nge7 11. Rel Nb4 17. Nxc7 Qxc7 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19.
0-0 12. Ne5 b5 13. Bf3 Be6 14. Nfl Nxe5 Nd3 b5 20. Ral (20. Rxb4!) 20, . , . Nc6
15. Rxe5 Ng6 16. Re3 Nf4 17. Qd2 a5 21. Qg4 Qd7 22. Rfel f6 23. Nf4 Rf7 24.
18. g3 Nd3 19. Be2 Bf5 29. Bxd3 Bxd3 Qe2 b4 25. Qd3 Re8 26. Ne2 Rfe7 27.
21. Rael b4 22. f3 Rab8 23. Re5 bxc3 Bd2 h5 28. f3 h4 29. Kf2 g5 30. Radi Kg7
24. bxc3 a4 25. Ne3 Qh6 26. a3 Rb5 31. Bel Nh6 32. Ngl Qf5 33. Rxe7 +
27. Qg2 Qd6 28. Qh3 t'6 29. Qe6+ Qxe6 Rxe7 34. Qxf5 Nxf5 35. Ne2 a4?
30. Rxe6 Kf7 31. Ra6 Re8 32. Rxa4 Rb3 (Kasparov could have won here by 35.
33. Ra7 + Kg6 34. Ra5 Rxc3 35. Rxd5 . . . Rxe2 + ! 36. Kxe2 Nfxd4+ 37. Kd3
Rxa3 36. Rc5 Ra2 37. d5 h5 38. d6 Rd8 Nxb3 38. Be3 a4 and the pawns cannot
39. Rc6 Rd2 40. Nd5 Kh6 41. Nb6 Be2 be stopped) 36. bxa4 Ra7 37. g4 hxg3 +
42. d7 Bxf3 43. Rxc4 Rb8 44. Rc8 Rxb6 38. hxg3 Rxa4 39. g4 Nh4 40. f4 Ra2 41.
45. d8(Q) Rxd8 V2-1/2 fxg5 (41.... b3 42. gxf6+ Kxf6 43. Bf4
Rc2 =) V2-V2
E Sveshnikov - G Kasparov Now let us examine the latest 2. c3
(USSR Championship, 1979) theory:
1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 1. e4 c5
5. Nf3 Nc6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5 2. c3
dxe5 9. Nxe5 Bd7 1 0. Nc3 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Or 2. Nf3 e6 with three possibilities:
Bxb5 12. Nxb5 Qxdl + 13. Kxdl Nd5 14. (1) 3. d4 gives us a transposition into the
Ke2 a6 15. Rdl 0-0-0 16. Na3 e6 17. Nc4 Open System which we have al¬
(17. Bg5 Bxa3!) 17. . . . Be7 18. Bd2 b6 ready considered.
19. g3 Kb7 20. Ne3 Nc7 21. Nc4 Rd4 (ii) 3, d3 gives us the King's Indian
22. Raci Nd5 23 f3 Rc8 24. Ne3 Nxe3 Attack which we shall be discussing
25. Bxe3 (25. Rxc8 Nxdl 26. Re8 Rd7 in Chapter 8.
27. Kxdl Bb4) 25. . . . Rxdl 26. Rxdl (iii) 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 was played in
Rc2 + 27. Rd2 Rxd2+ 28. Kxd2 Kc6 29, f4 Kasparov's games against Alenkin
b5 30. Kd3 Kd5 31. h4 h5 32. Bf2 Bb4 and Short which we have just quoted.
33. b3 g6?! (33. . . . Ba5! 34. Ke2 Ke4 35. Note that 4. e5 could transpose into
Bc5 f6 36. exf6 gxf6 followed by Kf5 and the Advance Variation of the French
e5) 34. Ke2 Bc5 35. Bxc5? (35. Bel b4 Defence (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5>
38. Kf3 equalising) 35. . . . Kxc5 36. Kd3 which any Sicilian player adopting
Kb4 37. Kc2 Ka3 38. Kbl a5 39. Kal a4 this particular defence against c3
40. bxa4 Kxa4 41. Kbl Ka3 42. Kal b4 must be willing to accept. If not, he
43. Kbl b3 0-1 should adopt the . . . Nf6 rather than
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

. . . d5 line, as in Kasparov's quoted Qa4 (or 9. Nbd2 Bxf3 10. gxf3) 9. . . .

games against Yurtaev and Svesh- Bxf3 10. gxf3 g6 11. Be3 Bg7 12 0-0
nikov. Nd5. Or finally 7. c4 Oe6+ winning a
2. ... d5 pawn.
3. exd5 Qxd5 (i) 6. Be2
4. d4 Nf6 Now 6. . . . Bg4 would have no point
5. Nf3 Nc6 (7. c4 and d5 gaining space) so Black
does best to set up a systematic
blockade of White's isolated 'dr
a b c d e f 9 h
pawn by exchanging on d4 then
8
X k #k X playing . . . e6, . . . b6, . . . Bb7 and . . .
Rfd8 (see the Supplementary Mater¬
7
AA AkA ial game Schmittdie! - Lau).
6
ft m ■iii; (ii) 6. Be3
Overprotecting the d4 pawn and
5
Am thus planning to post his KB on d3.

4
A ' Black proceeds very much as he does

5
against 6. Be2 (see Supplementary
3
A Material game Sariego - lonescu).
(iii) 6. Na3
2
Am jA A An interesting attempt to recapture

1
£ S1
abode
sr f g
Ifl
h

After 5. . . . Bg4 the latest wrinkle is

6. Qa4+!? Nc6 7. Bc4 Qd7 8. dxc5 Bxf3
9. gxf3 e6 10. Be3! Nd5 11. Bxd5 Qxd5
12. Qe4 Qh5 13. b4 and White managed
to win a complex game in Sveshnikov -
Neverov (Moscow, 1989).
Before we examine White's three
main continuations 6. Be2, 6. Be3 and 6,
Na3, it is worth pointing out that the
tempting move 6. Bd3 weakens d4
allowing 6. . . . Bg4! (not however the
immediate 6. . . . cxd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4? 8.
Nxd4 winning a piece because 8, . . .
Qxd4?? loses the queen to 9. Bb5 + )
which gives White problems in view of
the threatened . . . Bxf3 winning a pawn The West German grandmaster Half
e.g. 7. Be3 cxd4 8, cxd4 Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 Lau, a participant in many Olympiads,
and White's pawn structure is very plays for Solingen in the first division
weak. Or 7. dxc5 0-0-0 8. Be2 Qe6! 9. of the League.

94
 THE SICILIAN DEFENCE

on d4 with this knight by gaining 15. Rfel Ng4 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Ne5 Nf6
time with Nb5 threatening Nc7+. In 18. Bbl Kg7 19. f3 Ned5 20. Ne4 Qe7
the Supplementary Material game 21. Qf2 Nh5 22. Ba2 Rc7 23. Qd2 h6
Schmittdiel - Andersson, Black 24. Ng4 Rh8 25. Nef2 Qg5 26. Qxg5
solves the problem of the c7 square hxg5 27. Bb3 Ndf6 28. Nh3 Bd5 29. Bxd5
in simple fashion by castling Q side Nxd5 30. Rd2 Rhc8 31. Ne3 Nxe3
and applying more pressure down 32. Rxe3 Rc2 33. Ree2 Rcl + 34. Kf2 Nf4
the'd' file. 35. Nxf4 gxf4 36. Re4 g5 37. h4 Kf6
38. hxg5+Kxg5 39. d5 R1c2 40. Ree2
Supplementary Material Rxd2 41. Rxd2 Rd8 42. d6 Rd7 43. Rd4
Kf5 44. a4 e5 45. Rc4 Ke6 46. g3 fxg3+
E Schmittdiel - R Lau 47. Kxg3 Rxd6 48. Rc7 Rd7 49. Rc6+
(Dortmund, 1987} Rd6 50. Rc7 a5 51. Rb7 f5 52. Rb8 Kd5
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 53. f4 exf4+ 54. Kxf4 Kc4 55. Kxf5 Kb3
5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8. 0-0 56. Ke5 Rh6 57. Kd4 Kxa4 58. Kc3 Rc6+
Be7 9. Nc3 Qd6 10. a3 0-0 11. Bg5 Nd5 0-1
12. Ne4 Qd8 13. Be3 b6 14 Qd3 Bb7 15.
Racl Rc8 16. Rfdl h6 17. b4 Rc7 18. Nc3 E Schmittdiel - U Andersson
RcB 19. Bf 1 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Bf6 21. Rdcl (Dortmund, 1987)
Qd6 22. Nd2 Be7 23. Qe4 f5 24. Qf3 f4 I. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 Nf6
25. Ne4 Qd7 26. Bxf4 Bg5 27. Nxg5 hxg5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Na3 Bg4 7. Be2 cxd4
28. Qh5 Rxf4 29. Rh3 Qxd4 30. Qh7 + 8. Nb5 0-0-0 9. Nbxd4 e5 10. Nxc6 Qxc6
Kf7 31. Qh5+ Kf6 32. Re3 Qd2 33. II. Qb3 Be6 12. c4 Bc5 13. h3 Qe4
Rxe6+ Kxe6 34. Qg6+ Rf6 0-1 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Qg6 16. g4 Ne4
17. Bd3 f5 18. Qa3 fxg4 19. hxg4 Qxg4
E Sariego - C lonescu 20. 0-0-0 Qxf3 21. Qxa7 Nf2 22. Qa8+
(Havana, 1988) Kc7 23. Qa5+ b6 24. Qxe5+ Kb7 25.
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 Qxg7+Ka6 26. b4 Nxd3+ 27. Rxd3
5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be3 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8. Nc3 Qxhl + 28. Kc2 Qh2+ 29. Kcl Rxd3 30.
Qd6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 0-0 11. 0-0 b6 b5+ Ka5 0-1
12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Radi Rac8 14. Bg5 g6

95
7 The King's Indian as Black

Kasparov’s main weapon against 1, d4 look at the Samisch System with

has always been this active defence Kasparov's games against Timman and
which he was already playing at the age Gheorgiu.
of thirteen in his first international tourna¬ Those readers with knowledge of
ment, the World U-16 Championship in King's Indian systems will probably be
France 1976. In the mid-eighties, he wondering why the popular line 1. d4 Nf6
temporarily abandoned his first love in 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6.
favour of the Tarrasch Defence and Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 is not analysed more
Grunfeld, but he fared badly with both fully in this chapter. The reason is simply
systems in his World Championship that hardly any of Kasparov’s opponents
matches against Karpov. For this reason, seem to be willing to enter into a lengthy
two years ago he successfully reverted theoretical debate with the World Cham¬
to his beloved King's Indian, scoring pion on this particular subject! [Fortu¬
7V2-4'/2 with it (four wins, one loss and nately for us, since the German edition of
seven draws). this book, another fascinating Korchnoi -
The King’s Indian contains many sys¬ Kasparov duel has taken place in Barce¬
tems, but about ninety per cent of lona. I give the game, with brief
Kasparov's games with Black open with comments by Kasparov, in the Supple¬
diverse variations of the Classical System mentary Materia! section].
(Nf3) and the Samisch System (f3),
which is why we devote our five model
A The Exchange System
games exclusively to these lines. Let us
first introduce them. The star of the 1980 World Junior Cham¬
It is always annoying for the stronger pionship in the industrial town of Dort¬
player when his White opponent adopts a mund, which will next host the event in
’swapping off policy, in the hope that the 1992, was undoubtedly Garry Kasparov.
reduced material will stifle any winning All his opponents treated him with the
attempts on the part of Black. For King's greatest respect, including the Bulgarian
Indian players, the Exchange System junior, later to become an International
involves such a 'wood-chopping’ exercise, Master, Silvio Danailov, who even refused
so our first model game (Danailov - to raise his visor! After a few exchanges,
Kasparov) shows us how to handle this as he offered Kasparov a draw, to no avail. . .
Black. In the Classical System with Nf3,
White can choose between blocking the S Danailov - G Kasparov
centre and maintaining the tension, so our (World Junior, Dortmund 1980)
second and third games against Yusupov 1. c4 96
and Speelman contain two brand-new 2. Nf3 Bg7
ideas by which Black sacrifices material 3. Nc3 d6
to obtain strong counter-play. Finally, we 4. d4 Nf6
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

5. e4 0-0 Kasparov's speciality. Other grandmasters

6. Be2 e5 prefer 9. . . . c6. White can now play
7. dxe5 10. 0-0-0 after which Black must again be
One of Kasparov’s first widely publicized careful. The threat is Nxe5 and 10. . . .
games (Yuferov - Kasparov) began with Re8? loses at least a pawn after 11. Nb5,
our above-mentioned sharp system 7. whilst again 10.... h6? allows 11. Bxf6
0-0 Nc6 and ended with a loss to White 8xf6 12. Nd5 winning the c7 pawn. This
(see Supplementary Material games). is in fact why the natural move 9. . . . Nbd7
Danailov knew this game, so decided to was neglected until Kasparov showed
avoid undue complications, remember¬ that 10. 0-0-0 can be answered by the
ing perhaps that ex-World Champion surprising 10. . . . RfS! so that after
Botvinnik, whilst rating very highly his 11. Nb5 c6 there is no knight fork on c7
protege's tactical skill, had stated that his and 12. Nd6 Nc5 attacks e4, giving Black
positional play left a little to be desired. good play. If White does not play 11. Nb5,
7. . . . dxe5 then 11.... c6 is still good for Black (see
8. Qxd8 Rxd8 supplementary game Haag - Kochiev)
White can now even exchange another 10. Nd5 c6
piece by 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. cxd5, although 11. Ne7+ Kf8
after 10. . , . c6 Black can begin active 12. Nxc8 RdxcS
counter-play (see Supplementary Mater¬ Unpinning the f6 knight which now
ial game LeBlancq - Botterill). threatens the e4 pawn.
9. Bg5 13. 0-0-0 Nc5
The Exchange System is not without its 14. Bxf6
drop of poison e.g. 9. . . . h6? 10. Bxf6 Not of course 14. Nxe5?? Nfxe4 winning
Bxf6 11. Nd5 winning by attacking the material.
bishop and 'c' pawn simultaneously. 14. . . . Bxf6
9. . . . Nbd7 15. Bd3

abed e f g h a b c d e f g h

s i. i #! 8
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A A 4 AAA 7
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Al 1 AA A 2

E a b c d
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1

97
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

White has exchanged almost half the A position to remember. Black's plan
pieces, so thinks it is now time to ask becomes clear if we take the plausible
Kasparov to halve the score as well and sequence 17. b3 (to stop Black's game
go for a stroll around the town. continuation of. . . a4/. . . Bd8-a5 gaining
Such tournament 'breaks' were actually space on the Q side) 17.... Bd8 18. Bc2
tempting for many of the youngsters Bb6 (eyeing f2) 19. Re2 f6 20. Red2 Ne6.
participating in this tournament. For ex¬ Black then plays his bishop to d4 and
ample, Nigel Short (who came second) continues actively with . . . b5 and
enjoyed his share of discos and- girls perhaps later with . . . h5 and . . . g5. Rd7
along with the chess, whereas Kasparov can be easily neutralised by . . . Re7 and
clearly came to Dortmund to gain the . . . Ke8.
title without any distractions. As we have The d4 'hole' is in fact typical of the
said, the draw was turned down. Exchange System, as is the manoeuvre
What about the position, then? Both with . . . Ne6 and . . . Bd4. All this
bishops are defending their 'e' pawn at explains White's next move, with the
the moment, so Black wishes to protect intention of posting his 'bad' bishop
his e5 pawn by ... f6 in order to free his on h3 to exchange it for the knight if it
bishop for other more valuable work retreats to e6,
(Kasparov's sixteenth and seventeenth 17. Bfl Bd8
moves). However, first of all the excel¬ 18. g3?
lent position of the cb knight must be An immediate 18. b3 was better, al¬
secured and his opponent's Q side ex¬ though Black's position is still preferable
pansion (by 16. b4 Ne6 17. c5 followed (Kasparov). Now White's game goes
by Bc4) be prevented. rapidly downhill.
15_ a5 18. . . . a4
16. Rhel Re8! 19. Kc2 Ba5
20. Re3 Rad8
21. Rxd8 Rxd8
22. Bh3
a b e d e f g h
Nxe5? Rd2+ 23. Kcl
£ £# 22. . . .
23. Re2
f6
Ke7
A A £ 24. Bg2

A AA White intends to drive away Black’s

knight as soon as it goes to e6, since 24.

1 jft. A . . . Ne6 25. Bh3! Nd4+? 26. Nxd4 brings

about bishops of opposite colour, a
A 14. notorious drawing factor.

A £ 24. . . . Nd3!
Threatening to win the a2 pawn by 25. . ..

AA AA A Nb4+ when 26. Kbl ?? would allow Rdl

a b c
a il m
d e f g h
mate .
25. a3
26. h4
Nc5
h5

98
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

27. Re3 g5! Nel Nd7 10. Nd3f5 11. Bd2 Nf6 12.f3f4
28. hxg5 fxg5 13. c5 g5 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. Nf2 Ng6 16.
29. Re2 a4 Rf7 17. Nb5 h5 18. h3 Bf8 19. Gc2 a6
Or 29. Nxg5 Rd2+ 30. Kcl Rxf2 31. Bh3 20. Na3 Rg7 21. Rfcl Nh4 22. Qdl Bd7
Bd2 + 23. Nc4 g4 24. hxg4 hxg4 25. fxg4 Nxg2
29. . . . Nb3 26. Kxg2 Nxg4 27. Bxg4 Bxg4 28. Qxg4
Intending 30. . . ,g4 31. Nh2 Nd4 + Rxg4+ 29. Nxg4 Rc8 30. Nh2 Qh4 31.
30. Kbl Kf6 Rc3 Rc7 32. Rgl Rg7+ 33. Khl Rxg1 +
0-1 34. Kxgl Qh7 35. Bxf4 exf4 36. Nd2 Qd7
37. Rc4 Bg7 38. b3 Bd4+ 39. Khl Bc5
a b c d e f 9 b 40. Ndf3 b5 41. Rc2 Oe8 42. Rg2+ Kf8
IP
W 43. Ng5 Oh5 44. Ne6+ Ke7 45. Rg7 +
Kf6 46. Rg4 bxa4 47. bxa4 Be3 48. Nxf4
A Bxf4 49. Rxf4+ Ke7 50. Kg2 Qdl 51.

A I jfe Ng4 Qxa4 52. Ne3 a5 53. Nf5+ Kd7

54. Rh4 Qc2+ 55. Kf3 a4 56. Rh7+ Kd8

k A A A 57. Ne3 Qb3 58. Kf4 a3 59. Nf5 Qb2 0-1

A A 4 V Korchnoi - G Kasparov

ia 4
(Barcelona. 1989)
it A 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.

a s A\Sl d4 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9.

a4a5 10. Nel Nd7 11. Be3 f5 12. f3 Nc5

tl *
a b c d e
_
f 9
□
h
13. Nd3 b6 14. b4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 axb4
16. Nb5 Kh8 17. Ob3 Ng8 18. Qxb4 Nf6
(18. . . . fxe4! 19. fxe4 Rxf1+ 20. Rxfl
White is completely helpless: Bh6!) 19. exf5 gxf5 20. Bg5 h6 21. Bh4
(i) If 31. Kc2 g4 32. Nh4 Nd4+. Bd7 22. Ra3 Qb8 23. Bf2 Rg8 24. Rbl
(ii) If 31. Nh2 Rd1+ 32. Kc2 (32. Ka2 Nh5 25. Khl Od8 26. a5 Bxb5 27. Qxb5
Ral mate) 32. . . . Rgl 33. Bf3 Nd4+. bxa5 28. g3 f4 29. g4 e4! 30. fxe4 (30.
(iii) If 31. Re3 Rdl + 32. Kc2 Rc1+ 33. gxh5 e3 31. Bgl Qg5 32. Bd3 Qxh5 with
Kd3 g4 34. Nh4 Nc5 + 35. Ke2 Rel a good attack) 30. . . . Nf6 31. Bh4 Qe7
mate. 32. Bf3 Oe5 33. Rel Nh7 34. Qd7 Bf6
It was a short game, with Garry Kasparov 35. Bxf6+ Nxf6 36. Gf5 Gxf5 37. exf5
using relatively little thinking time, so Nxg4 38. Bxg4 Rxg4 39. Rh3 Kg7 40.
the Bulgarian could still take his stroll, Re7+ Kf6 41. Re6+ Kxf5 42. Rhxh6 Rf8!
but without a draw to keep him com 43. Rh5 + Rg5 44. Rxg5+ Kxg5 45. c5 a4
pany . . . 46. cxd6 cxd6 47. Rxd6 Ra8 48. Re6 a3
49. Rel Kf5 (49. . . . f3l) 50. h4 f3 51. d6
Supplementary Material a2 52. Ral Kf4 53. Kh2 f2 54. d7 Kf3 55.
S Yuferov - G Kasparov Rel al(Q) (56. Rxal Rxal 57. d8(Q)
(Minsk, 1978) Rh1+ followed by mate in two moves)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. 0-1
Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9,

99
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

S Le Blancq - G Botterill There are by way of exception no

(Zonal, Bath 1987) supplementary games to this model
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 0-0 example, simply because Kasparov’s
5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 idea is a brand-new one which will of
Rxd8 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10, cxd5 c6 11 Bc4 course be taken up by other players at a
cxd5 12. Bxd5 Nd7 13. Ng5 Rf8 14. Be3 later date!
h6 15. Nxf7?! (White does not relish
retreating his pieces by 15. Nf3 Nb6 16. A Yusupov - G Kasparov
Bb3, so opts for an unpromising ex¬ (World Cup, Barcelona 1989)
change of two minor pieces for rook and 1. Nf3 Nf6
pawn) 15. . . . Rxf7 16. Rcl Nf8 17. 2. c4 g6
Bxf7+ Kxf7 18. 0-0 Ne6 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 3. Nc3 Bg7
20. Rxc8 Rxa2 21. Rbl Bf8 22. Rb8 Ra7 4. e4 d6
23. g3 Bc5 24. Kg2 b6 25. Rdl Bd4 5. d4 0-0
26. Rd2 Ra4 27. Rb7+ Kf6 28. Rd3 Ng5 6. Be2 e5
29. h4 Nxe4 30. Rf3+ Ke6 31. Rg7 Rb4 We have already met the Exchange
32. Rxg6+ Kd5 33. b3 Nc5 34. Rxh6 System 7. dxe5. The alternative 7. 0-0 is
Nxb3 35. h5 Nd2 36. Rf7 Rb2 37. Rhf6 frequently played but, as we mentioned
Ne4 38 Rd7 + Kc4 39. Rc7+ Kb5 40. Rf5 earlier, almost everyone is unprepared to
Nxf2 41. Kfl Ng4 42. Rg5 Nh2+ 0-1 plunge into the complications of the line
against Kasparov. Artur Yusupov, semi-
M Haag - A Kochiev finalist of the 1989 Candidates (he is to
(Balatonbereny, 1988) meet Karpov), opts for the 'safe' Block¬
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. ade System to which ex-World Cham¬
d4 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 pion Tigran Petrosian made such an
Rxd8 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0 Rf8 11. Nd2 important contribution that it is some¬
c6 12. b4 Re8 13. c5 a5 14. a3 axb4 times called the Petrosian System.
15. axb4 b6 16. Be3 bxc5 17. bxc5
Bf8 18. Nb3 Nb8 19. Kc2 Be6 20. Ral
e 9

1 4 s,1
Nbd7 21. f3 Bxb3+ 22. Kxb3 Bxc5
23. Bxc5 Nxc5+ 24. Kc4 Ne6 25 Rhbl
Rxal 26. Rxal Rd8 27. Ra2 Ne8 28. Ra6
Rd4+ 0-1 AA A
A
I4 W
MA
A
B The Blockade System
AA
The outcome of a game is usually linked
to the opening but not always. Some¬ If A
times a player succeeds in his opening
play only to squander his advantage later, s £
mostly because of time-trouble. The only AA 5 AA A
i A w EW-m
game in this book which Kasparov loses
could well have been the brightest jewel
in his crown, but . . . a b c d e f g h

100
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

7. d5 way of suffocating an opponent,

White stabilises the centre as a prelude Kasparov, however, manages to over¬
to expanding on the Q side with b4 and come Black's apparent problems in sur¬
c5, a plan which proved highly effective prising fashion.
in many of Petrosian's games. Black 13. . . . f5!
must take immediate counter-measures An attractive solution to his problems,
before launching his own pawn advance the point of which will not become clear
(see the moves . . . a5 and . . . Na6). until later. Until this game, the move 13.
7. . . . a5 . . . f5 was considered dubious, because
8. Bg5 h6 after 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Nde4 White's
9. Bh4 Na6 control of e4 gives him the better of it.
This knight is heading for c5 but does not That still applies but . .
wish to block the QB by using d7 for this 14. exf5
purpose. After 14. f3 g5 15. Bf2 Nf6 16. Rbl Qg6
10. Nd2 Qe8 17. b4 axb4 18. axb4 g4 Black has active
11.0-0 Nh7 play.
12. a3 14. . . . gxf5
Preparing Rbl and b4. 15. Bh5 Qc8!!
12. . . . Bd7 This is Kasparov's new idea, as opposed
To answer 13. Rbl? with 13, . . . 34! to the old 15. . . . Qb8 16. Be7 Rc8 17.
when 14. b4 axb3'15, Nxb3 b6 followed g4! which is good for White.
by 16. . . . Nc5 would give White 16. Be7 Re8!
problems with his weak ’a' pawn. Black gives up the exchange on e8 in
13. b3 order to efiminate White's light-squared
By preventing . . . a4, White is ready to bishop and gain time to transfer his
carry out the plan of Rbl and b4 linked queen to the K side.
with f3, Bf2 and c5, a typical Petrosian 17. Bxe8 Qxe8
18. Bh4 e4
19. Qc2
a b c d e f g h
Yusupov did not relish 19. Rcl Nc5
•S n 9 W # Me followed by . . , Nd3 [although in Naum-
kin - Kuzmin, Moscow 1989, White
7I A A A 4 A S’ —
obtained a reasonable game after 20.
A A |Aj6 Rc2! Nf8 21. Ne2 Ng6 22. Bg3 Nd3
23. f3 e3 24. Nbl Nb2 25. Rxb2 Bxb2
5A %1
‘5 26. Re 1 ].
19. . . . Qh5
4
A -~~
A —
E* 20. Bg3 Rf8
All Black's pieces are mobilised and the
3iA; A m
;3
threat is . . . Nc5-d3, which is why White
2
K E A A A]2 now blockades on f4. If 21. f4 8d4+ 22.
Khl (22. Bf2?? e3) 22. . . . Kf7 and . . .
'K a b c
W ad e f g h
1
Rg8 threatening . . . Rxg3 [There
appears to be a good defence here by

101
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

■k%-| s 1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

i i#
A A at &S A A m 3
4 A A A A
A a A 1# A a A iiiy; .

a A a AA A
a A5 m a a % wa
_i S aa a W a a
K a
s b c d e f g h a b c d e
s&
f g h

23. Rfdl! followed by Nf 1. Kasparov 28. Rc2

gives 21. f4 Nc5 22. Rfdl! Nd3 23 Nfl If 28. Bxh6 f4! followed by . . . Bh3 and
Bd4+ 24. Khl Nf6 25. Rxd3 exd3 26. mate on g2.
Qxd3 Bc5 with unclear play. He also 28. . . . Kh7
considers White's next move to be an The threat of. . . Rg8 now forces White’s
error], move from the 'g' file. Note that 29.
21. Bf4 Qg4 Bxh6 f41 still mates. [Kasparov gives the
22. g3 Ng5 amusing variation 29. Qe2 Nxf4 30. Qxf3
23. Khl Nh3+ 31. Kg2 exf3+ 32. Kxh3 f4+33. g4
After 23. Bxg5 hxg5 followed by . . . Kf7 h5 34. Ne4 hxg4+ 35. Kh4 Kg6 followed
and . . . Rh8 Black has a strong attack by . . . Rh8 mate].
down the 'h' file, or if here 24. f3 Qh3 25.
fxe4 f4! etc.
23. . . . Nf3
24. Racl
Not of course 24. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 25. Kgl
Bxc3.
24. . . . Nc5
25. Nxf3 Qxf3+
26. Kgl Nd3
27. Qd2
White offers back the exchange in return
for the strong knight but Kasparov will
have none of it.
27. . . . Bd4!

102
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

29. h3 Rg8 34. . . . Bb6?

30. Kh2 Qh5 The Tragedy of Barcelona'! 34. . . .Qh4M
31. Ndl would have forced the win e.g. 35. Qxd4
So far Kasparov has played the attack Rg3! 36. Rg2 Rxh3+ 37. Kgl Rhl mate;
magnificently but has used up a great or 35. Ng2 Qg3+ 36, Khl Qxh3 mate; or
deal of thinking time in the process. 35. Rgl Qxf4+ 36. Khl Rxg1+ 37. Kxgl
According to grandmaster Georgadze, he Bxe3+ winning the queen: or 35. Ng4
could now have won by 31... . Nxf4! 32. fxg4 36. Qg2 gxh3 winning. After this
Qxf4 (or 32. gxf4 Qg6 33. Ne3 Bxe3 34. final error, the game swings round in
fxe3 Qg3+ 35. Khl Qxh3+ 36. Qh2 White's favour, with both sides in great
Qxfl +) 32_Be5 33. Qe3 (33. Qd2 f4 time-trouble. The remaining moves
34. g4 Bxg4) 33. . . . f4 34. Qxe4+ were:
(34. gxf4 Bxf4+ 35. Qxf4 Qxh3 mate) 34. 35. Qf2 Qg6
. . . Bf5 35. Qg2 fxg3+ 36. fxg3 Rxg3 36. Re2 Bc5
37. Qxg3 Qxh3 + ! 38. Kgl Qxg3+ 39. 37. fxe4 fxe4
Rg2 Bd4+ 40. Nf2 Qxb3 etc. Even after 38. f5 Qh5
Kasparov's next move he is still winning 39. Rd2 Rg5
but he has lost the thread of the game. 40. Qf4 Qe8
31. . . . Ne57! 41. Ng4 1-0
32. f3 Nd3 Time-trouble is over and the game ad¬
Not 32. . . . Nxf3 + ? 33. Rxf3 Qxf3 34. journed with White the exchange up.
Qxd4 winning for White. [Kasparov gives Kasparov quickly decided that the game
32. . . . Qxf3! 33- Bxe5 Qxfl 34. Bxd4 f4 was lost, so resigned, perhaps glad to
35. g4 Bxg4 36. hxg4 Rxg4 37. Qf2 Qxdl get away from a would-be brilliancy he
winning]. had spoilt! Despite the time-trouble dis¬
33. Ne3 Nxf4 aster, this remains a wonderful model
34. gxf4 game for the King's Indian enthusiast.

C The GHgoric System

a b c d e f ah
In the Classical System, after 1. d4 Nf6 2.
1 c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6.
Be2 e5, apart from the moves 7. dxe5

— AIA'Jl i . : # and 7. d5 which we have already discus¬

lA A sed and 7. 0-0 which Kasparov's oppo¬

nents rarely adopt against him. White
4 A A m can maintain the tension in the centre by
7. Be3. This move, first introduced into
ALA A tournament play by Gligoric, was origin¬

[a (a Si. A A ally part of Kasparov's repertoire with

White, but he has since changed to 7.
\ am 0-0. Why has the World. Champion lost
interest in the move? Perhaps it is
EdL_&lJ
a b e d e f g h
because of a variation with which he
himself surprised the chess world in

103
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

Madrid 1988. Our model game was hoping to trap the bishop by . . . h4, but
played in the USSR v 'Rest of the World' after 11. h4 with the threat of hxg5 and
Rapid Chess Match on which we com¬ Rxh5 the move is refuted. Black's plan
mented in Chapter 2. must involve the active move . . . f5
which also threatens to trap the bishop
J Speelman - G Kasparov whilst opening the diagonal for his KB.
(Madrid, 1988) Unfortunately, he cannot immediately
1. c4 96 play this in view of White's pressure on
2. e4 Bg7 e5 e.g. 10. ... f5? 11. exf5 exd4 (even
3. d4 d6 worse is 11... . Bxf5? 12. h3 winning a
4. Nc3 Nf6 pawn or, after 12. . . . exd4 13. hxg4, a
5. Nf3 0-0 piece) 12. Nxd4 Nh6 13. c5! dxc5 14.
6. Be2 e5 Qb3+ Kh8 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. fxe6 b6 17.
7. Be3 Ng4 Bf3 c6 18. 0-0 followed by Rfel and
Since pressure down the h8-a1 diagonal, Radi with a clear advantage to White.
on d4 in particular, is one of the main That is why the loose knight on g4 must
aims of this defence, the knight move be moved.
drives the bishop away from control of 10. . . . Nh6
this point, only to find that Black is then Preparing . . . f5 e.g. 11. 0-0 f5 12. exf5
compelled to block the vital diagonal g4! (to drive away a piece controlling d4)
himself temporarily by having to play . . . 13. Nel (13. Nh4? exd4 14. Nb5 Bf6!) 13.
f6. . . . exd4 followed by . . . Nf5. If 11. d5
8. Bg5 f6 then again 11.... f5.
9 Bh4 g5 11. h3
10. Bg3 A cunning move preventing the key
We always see the same mistake 10. . . . move . . . g4 in the above variation and
h5? being made by Black in this position, thus branding 11. ... f5 as premature
after 12. exf5 Nxf5 13. dxe5 Nxg3 (or
else a pawn is lost) 14. fxg3 Bxe5 (14. . . .
a b c d ef g h dxe5? 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Nxg5) 15. Nxe5
8
main 1- # dxe5 16. Oxd8 Rxd8 17. Ne4 h6 18. h4

A Am : v;. . with advantage to White. However, 11.

7
£A h3 loses time which Kasparov uses for a
6
A A little combination.
11. . . . Nc6
5
A A 12. d5 Nd4!
A new move instead of the normal . . .
4
AAA m Ne7.
3
SI &£ 13. Nxd4
14. Qxd4
exd4

W]
2
AA i A iA A It would be bad to play 14. Nb5 f5 15.
exf5 Nxf5 16. Bh2 c6 etc.
1
A abode
m& 1]
f g h
14. . . .
15. Qd2
f5
f4

104
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

The likeable English

grandmaster Jon
Speelman managed
to qualify for the
current World
Championship cycle
.along with Nigel
Short whom he beat
in the quarter-finals.

16. Bh2 via gl and d4. We can see how easy it is

Black now has excellent compensation for Black to go wrong by quoting the
for the pawn in the shape of the e5 variation 17. . . . Ne5? 18. Bgl ch
square and White's offside QB. (otherwise White himself plays c5 and
16. . . . Nf7 Bd4 when Black has nothing for his
Let us linger for a while to consider the pawn) 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. 0-0-0 Rf6 21
natural 17. f3 to activate his passive QB c5! and White stands better. Instead of
the automatic and tempting 17. . . . Ne5,
Black needs to take active measures
a b c d ef g h against Bg1-d4 with 17. . . . c5! and now:
r~”fTi
X k E1# (i) 18. Bgl Ne5 19. Bf2 Bd7 when
White's QB is still passively placed
AA A 4 AA and Black is poised to attack. For
example, if White now castles short,
A Black plays . , hh and . . g4, whilst,

A £ if he castles long, . . . a6 and . . . b5

launches a similar attack on the Q
A AA side.
(ii) 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. 0-0-0 Qa5 when
A the d6 pawn is guarded by the knight

AA W I A iA s on f7 and Black can continue his

attack with . . . Be6 and . . . Rab8-b4.

E a b c d
& _EEl
e f g h
17. h4
18. hxg5
h6
hxg5

105
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

19. g3 f3! 27. Kal Rab8

20. Bxf3 By his sacrifice of three pawns, Kasparov
Otherwise . . . g4 will bury White's QB. has crippled his opponent’s K side, but
20. . . . Ne5 Speelman finds a clever use for his
21. Be2 g4 otherwise redundant KR.
22. Bgl c5 28. Rh5 Qxh5
Now, after 23. 0-00 Black can launch a 29. Qxe6+ Kh8
massive attack with . . . a6, . . . Bd7, . . . 30. Qe7
b5, . . . Qa5 and . . . RfbS with White's KR White’s idea must not be underestimated,
and QB mere spectators. since he has enough material for the
23. dxc6 bxc6 exchange and, after an exchange of
24. 0-0-0 queens by 31. Qh4 Qxh4 32. gxh4, his
Hoping for counterplay down the'd' file. QB could come into play via h2. If 30. . . .
24. . . . Be6 Bf6 to prevent this, then 31. Qxa7 picks
25. Qxd6 Qg5+ up yet another pawn.
26. Kbl Qg6 30. . . . Nf3!
Preventing Qh4 and planning to switch
his queen to a5 with pressure on c3.

3□m
a bcdefgh

1 31. Bxf3 Rxf3

Revealing that 32. Qh4 now fails to 32....
Qxh4 33. gxh4 Rxc3! 34. bxc3 Bxc3
A A mate.

A SLt m 32. Na4 Re8

m 33. Qxa7 Qe5!

A 4 A _a b c
“4 ¥
d e f g h

A 8

A5 1 Ai * A 7

A
y* B a 6

abode f g h w 5

£)j 4 4 A IA
4
Black eyes the e4 pawn. To reveal the -
danger to White, let us assume it is
Black to move: 21... . Nf7 {opening up
_i A]A 3

the long black diagonal) 28. Qxc6 Bxc3 AA IT A 2

A 1
29. bxc3 Rac8 30. Qa6 (he cannot
maintain protection by 30. Qb7 which A abode
LA fgh
would lose the queen) 30. . . . Qxe4+
31. Kal Qxhl. That is why White's king
now moves away from a possible check A tremendously powerful move. If White
from e4. now guards e4 with his rook, we have

106
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

34. Rel Ra3! (threatening 35. . . . Rxa4 not only on account of his playing strength
36. Qxa4 Qxb2 mate) 35. Re2 Rd8! 36. but also as a personality. He was affec¬
Nc3 Rxc3 and it is all over. tionately nicknamed 'Old Fritz’, and for
34. Qb6 Qxe4 hours, even nights, could regale his
35. Qb4 Qc2 companions with witty chess anecdotes.
36. Rbl Rd3 No one ever thought ill of this lovable
37. Qc5 character, even when as an inveterate
Or 37. a3 (a flight-square for his king!) 37. smoker he continually dropped cigarette
. . . Rdl 38. Rxdl (38. Nc3 Bxc3 39. bxc3 ash all over the chess-board!
Rxbl + 40. Qxbl Qxbl + 41, Kxbl Rel +) Samisch also made significant contribu¬
38. . , , Qxdl + 39. Ka2 Qxgl winning. tions to chess theory, the most important
37. . . . Re2 one being the f3 system against the
38. Qh5+ Kg8 King's Indian Defence, named after him.
39. Qxg4 Qxb1 + ! The set-up is unassuming but solid,
0-1 establishing a 'white wall' which is diffi¬
(40. Kxbl Rdl mate) cult to break down except by powerful
tactical measures such as those used by
Kasparov in our two model games. In his
D The Samisch System
very early years, in fact, he experienced
Friedrich Samisch was the first German some difficulties as Black against this
grandmaster after World War II. He was system and was unfaithful to his first-
a most welcome guest at tournaments love for a while, resorting to Queen's

107
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

Gambits and Grunfelds before returning a c e r n

to the King's Indian with positive ideas
for combatting the Samisch. In particular, 1 £A s E#
he discovered an effective way of smash¬
ing the f3/e4/d5 pawn chain, as our next
A4 A MA
two examples demonstrate. A m 4 A.
J Timman - G Kasparov A A!
(World Cup, Reykjavik 1988)
1. d4 Nf6
A
£ ——
2, c4 ge m£ £ A
3. Nc3
4. e4
Bg7
d6 A S A A
5. f3
Friedrich Samisch introduced this move
aa b c
w sfe
d e f
s
g h
a
in the twenties. White protects the e4
pawn and prepares to develop his bishop
on the natural e3 square, having prevented White accepts the gambit. After 9. dxc6
. . . Ng4. It can also form the basis of a bxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxc6 11. Nge2 Na5 12.
dangerous K side pawn storm in certain Bd3 Be6 followed by . . . Nc4 or . . d5
situations, with White castling long. Black cannot complain.
5. . . . 0-0 9. . , . cxd5
6. Be3 e5 10. exd5
7. d5 Or 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. exdb Bb7 and
Although the systematic 7. Nge2 has White cannot defend his 'd' pawn by
never been refuted, the experts view it normal means e.g. 12. Bc47? Qh4+
with some suspicion and few master winning the bishop; or 12. Qb3 Nd7 13.
games have been played with it recently
White shuts in his KB and Black can
rapidly obtain counterplay on the Q side
by . . . c6, . . . a6 and . . . b5 (see
Supplementary Material game Milos -
Vogt).
7. . . . c6
Black attacks the pawn chain.
8. Bd3
(see diagram above)
For the alternative 8. Gd2 see our
second model game.
8. . . . b5!
This gambit is not new but Kasparov
improves dramatically on existing theory
in this game (see move 10),
9. cxb5

m
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

Ne2 Bh6 14. Bxh6 Qh4+ 15. g3 Qxh6 a b c d e f g h

and, in conjunction with . . . Nc5 and/or
, . . Qe3, Black has very active play. 1 A *!#
10. . . . e4!
(see previous diagram)
▲ 4 A£A
This second pawn sacrifice opens up A A
vital lines for Black's pieces, especially
his KB. A 4
In
11. Nxe4
Informant 46 Kasparov gives the
£
following alternatives:
(i) 11. fxe4 Ng4 12. Qd2 (12. Bf4 Qb6 % 0
13. Qd2 f5 with an attack) 12. . . . f5 A ££ A0
13. Nf3 Nxe3 (13. . . . Bxc3? 14. bxc3
fxe4 15. Bxe4 Re8 16. 0-0 Rxe4 17. I
abode f g h
Bd4) 14. Qxe3 f4 15. Qf2 Nd7 16. 0-0
Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 with good com¬ If 18. Bc4 Nb6 threatening . ,Rd8and.
pensation (. . . g5-g4, . . . Qg5 and a K Bf8
side attack. 18. . . . Be6
(ii) 11. Bxe4 Nxe4 12. fxe4 (12. Nxe4
Bxb2) 12. . . . Qh4+ 13. Kd2 (13. g3
Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxe4 15. Qf3 Bf5)
h
13. . . . Nd7 14. Nf3 Qg4 15. Qe2 Re8
and again Black's active play gives
z r*"
lx®
him enough compensation. A A£A
11... . Nxd5
What has happened to White's proud
dI w!A
pawn centre? A44
12. Bg5 Qa5 +
13. Qd2 Qxd2+
14. Bxd2
Or 14. Kxd2 Be6 followed by . . . Nd7
A
with active play (Kasparov).
14. . . . Rxb2
A £1 LA m
15. Rbl Bg7 a a
16. Ne2 Nd7 abode f g h
(see diagram above)
White is on the horns of a dilemma: What is Black's compensation for the
should he take on d6 or complete his pawn? First of all, his centralised knights
development? Kasparov recommends control vital squares on the third and
17. Kf2 Ne5 18. Bc2 Nc4 19. Rbdl and fourth ranks and can only be dislodged
Bb3 with unclear play. by pieces. This immediately restricts the
17. Nxd6 Nc5 activity of White's pieces which are
18. Bc2 having to defend weak points such as c3,

109
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

d3 and e3. Secondly, the black bishops Kasparov's moves, like those of all
dominate the a1-h8 and a2-g8 diagonals, strong players, remind one of icebergs
with the QB latently threatening the a2 whose greatest danger to shipping
pawn, In short, White's position is not to resides in the nine-tenths hidden
be envied . . . beneath the surface. This seemingly
19. Ne4 Rac8 innocent pawn move signifies in fact the
20.0-0 Nxe4 beginning of the end, as we shall see.
21. Bxe4 f5 The first point is that 27. Be3 Nd5!
22. Bd3? 28. Kf2? (to avoid 28. Bf2 Nc3 or 28. Bd2
By insisting on clinging to his pawn, Rc2 29. Rdl Bd4+ 30. Kfl Ne3+) allows
come what may, White now faces serious 28. . . . Nxe3 29. Kxe3 Bd4+ 30. Kf4
problems. He had to simplify, even if this (30 Kd2 Bc3 + + wins a rook) 30. . . . g5+
meant giving back the pawn e.g. 22. 31. Kg3 f4 mate! The second point,
Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Rbcl (23. a4 Rc2 24. Rfdl revealed in the game only in a sub¬
Re8 25. Nf4 Ba2 26. Rbcl Bb3) 23. . . . variation, is that White's QB is in danger
Bxa2 24. Be3, although the ending still of being trapped.
favours Black with his bishop pair 27. Bh4 Nd5
(Kasparov). Threatening . . . Nc3.
22. . . . Nb6 28. Bdl
Activating his QB and threatening . . . Hoping to play this luckless bishop to b3.
Rfd8 as well as the a2 pawn. 28. . . . Bd4+!
23. Ncl Rfd8 [It is interesting that Black could now win
24. Bg5 Rd7 the exchange immediately by 28. . ., Bc3
25. Rel Kf7 but only at the cost of allowing White the
Threatening . . . Rxcl winning two pieces two bishops, so Kasparov plays an even
for the rook. better move which does not win the
26. Be2 h6! exchange until both of White's bishops
are off the board! The point is that, if
abode f g h White tries to avoid this by 29, Kh 1 ? the

8 i £1 8
hidden trap is sprung with 29. . . . g5 30.
Bg3 f4 31, Nb3 Bb6, a line given by
7 4 X #£ 7 Kasparov],
29. Bf2 Bxf2+
6
m £ KA 6 30. Kxf2
31. Bb3 Bxb3
Nc3

5
A A 5
Not of course 31... . Nxbl ?? 32. Bxe6+.
4 H 4 32. Rxb3 Ndl +
Black's constant pressure has borne fruit
3
A 3 and White is forced to concede the
exchange which is practically equivalent
2
A £ _:Qj A1 2
to resignation.

1
a 5 E Jm
abode f g h
1
33. Rxdl
34. Nd3
35. Ke3
Rxdl
Rd2 l

110
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

Or 35. Kg3 Rcc2 36. Nel (36. Nf4 g5) 36. b4 Nb6 13. Nb3 intending Na5 and a later
. . . Rxa2 followed by . . . Re2 winning a4.
easily. 11... Nh5
35. . . . Rxg2?! This time the attack on White's centre
According to Kasparoiv, 35. . . . Rxa2 comes via ... f5.
would have been far simpler. 12. Bd3 f5
36. Ra3 Re8+ 13. N1e2 Ndf6
37. Kd4 Re7 Now if White castles long, Black will
38. Ne5+ Kf6 attack by . . . b5, . , . Bd7, , . , b4, , , . Qa5
39. Nc6 and . . . Rfc8, whereas castling K side will
Or 39. Ra6+ Re6 (Kasparov). lead to an attack by 14. ... f4 15. Bf2 g5
39. . . . Rd7 i (threatening . . . g4) 16. h3 Nd7 planning
40. Kc4 Rc2+ . . . Nhf6_h5 and . . . g4.
41. Kb4 Rxh2 14. exf5 gxf5
42. Ra6 Kg5 15. Ng3
43. a4 h5
44. Rxa7 Rxa7
45. Nxa7 h4
0-1
After 46. Kc3 Re2 47. b6 Re8 or 46. b6
Rb2 + 47. Ka5 Rxb6 48. Kxb6 h3, Black's
pawn queens (Kasparov).

F Gheorghiu - G Kasparov
(Olympiad, Thessaloniki 1988)
1. d4 (Mf6
2. c4 96
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. e4 d6
5. f3 0-0
6. Be3 e5
7. d5 c6
8. Qd2
Hoping to gain an innportant tempo if All this is known theory, as is the
Black now tries the s ame gambit as in continuation 15. ... f4? 16. Nxh5 fxe3
the previous game e.g. 8. . . . b5? 1 9. 17. Nxf6+ winning a pawn, or here
dxc6 bxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxc6 11. Rdl already 16. . . . Nxh5 17. Bf2 with advantage to
applying pressure on 1the d6 pawn. White in view of his strong-point on e4.
8. . . . cxd5 Kasparov now uses the same idea we
9. cxd5 Nbd7 saw in his game with Speelman: he
10. Nge2 a6 sacrifices a pawn on e4, thus denying
11. Ncl the square to any white pieces, then
The aim of this move is not only to free plays . . . f4 creating his own strong-point
his KB but to answer 11.... b5 with 12. on e5.

Ill
 THE KING'S INDIAN AS BLACK

15. . . . e4! 28. . . . Qf6

16. Nxh5 29. Qd2 Rc5
Or 16. fxe4 f4! 17. Bxf4 (17. Nxh5 Nxh5 30. Ncl?
18. Bf2 Bg4 transposing to the game} Time-trouble. 30. Rcl Bxh3 31. Rxc5
17. . . . Nxf4 18. Qxf4 Nxe4 19. Qcl dxc5 was good for Black, but the passive
(19. Qxe4 Re8) 19... . Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qf6 text move is hopeless.
21. Ne4 Qe5 with a powerful attack ( . . . 30. - . . Bf4
Bf5 and . . . Rae8). 31. Qb4 Bb5
16. . . . Nxh5 32. Nb3 Bd3+
17. fxe4 33. Kal Rc2
White cannot allow the catastrophic 17. 34. Rbl
Bc2 f4 18. Bd4 e3 followed by . . . Qh4+. Or 34. Qd4 Be5! 35. Qxd3 Rxb2! fol¬
17. . . . f4 lowed by a deadly discovered check.
18. Bf2 Bg4 34. . . . Be5
19. h3 Bd7 35. Ncl Bxb2+
Now White can hardly castle K side in 36. Qxb2 Qxb2+f
the face of an attack by . . . Be5, . . Kh8 37. Rxb2 Rxc1 +
and . . . Rg8. 38. Rbl Rxbl mate
20. 0-0-0 Be5
21. Kbl Qf6 Supplementary Material
22. Be2 Ng3 G Milos - L Vogt
23. Bxg3 fxg3 (Havana, 1988)
24. Bf3 Rac8 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
25. Ne2 Qg6?! $ f3 0-0 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2 Nbd7
According to Kasparov, 25. . . . Rc5! was 9. 0-0-0 a6 10. Kbl b5 11. Ncl Qe7 12.
even stronger e.g. 26. Rcl (26. Nd4 Rfc8 dxe5 dxe5 13. Qd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Bb7
with the idea of. . . Bxd4 and . . . Rcl + !■) 15. Nb3 Rfc8 16: Na5 Rab8 17. cxb5
26. . . . Rfc8 27. Rxc5 Rxc5, as he gives axb5 18. Nxb7 Rxb7 19. Be2 Bf8 20. Rd2
in Informant 46. Bc5 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. Rcl Rbc7 23. Ndl
26. Rcl Rxc1 + Ne6 24. Nf2 Nd7 25. Nd3 c5 26. Bf 1 Nd4
27 Qxcl 27. Net c 4 28. f4 Ne6 29. fxe5 Nxe5 30.
Or 27. Nxcl Rxf3 28. gxf3 g2 29. Rgl Nf3 Ng4 31. Rel b4 32. h3 Nf6 33. Ne5
Bxh3 30. Ne2 Bh2 winning back the c3 34. Rf2 Kg7 35. Bd3 Nc5 36. Bc2 Re8
exchange. 37. Nf3 Nfxe4 38. Rfe2 f5 39. g4 Kf6 40.
27. . . . Rc8 gxf5 gxf5 41. Rfl Nd2+ 42. Rxd2 cxd2
28. Qe3? 43. Nxd2 Re5 44. b3 Rce7 45. Rf4 Rd5
He should play 28. Qd2 Qf6 when Black 46. Nc4 Rel + 0-1
is a little better, according to Kasparov.

112
8 Black Against Other Systems

In the arena where Kasparov fights his

A Bird's Opening
battles, openings such as 1. f4, 1. b4, 1. b3
etc. are in fact only played occasionally. The Englishman Henry E Bird (1830—
However, the average club player fre¬ 1908), one of the first professional chess¬
quently meets these and other less players of the nineteenth century 'Roman¬
common openings and, as many partici¬ tic Era', had few tournament successes.
pants at the author's coaching sessions However, he is well-known on two
have affirmed, they do find problems counts: firstly because in the New York
dealing with them. It is normal to hear 1876 tournament he won the first Best
statements such as: 'So and so always Game Prize in chess history for his game
plays a peculiar opening system, the name against Mason, and secondly because of
of which escapes me at the moment, his adoption of 1. f4 which still bears his
and I'm never sure what's best to play name.
against it.' That is why we thought it Until now, Kasparov has only met
appropriate to include this chapter. this opening once and even this was
Since, as White, Kasparov exclusively in abnormal circumstances, in a simul¬
uses standard opening moves (usually 1. taneous game played when he was
d4, as we have pointed out), we see him twelve years old against an International
as Black in our four model games facing Master, later to become a Grandmaster,
Bird's Opening (1, f4), the Queen's Pawn Oleg Romanishin. This was in fact the
Opening, the Double Fianchetto Opening only game he lost!
and (perhaps the most commonly played
of the four) the universal King's Indian O Romanishin - G Kasparov
Attack. Advocates of the Sokolsky (1. b4) (Leningrad, 1975 - Simultaneous Exhibi¬
and the Grob (1. g4) openings can tion)
breathe a sigh of relief: so far Kasparov 1. f4 d5
has not been called upon to 'refute' 2. Nf3 Nf6
these! 3. e3 Bg4
If we appear to be a little more 4. b3
verbose in this chapter, it is not verbal in Bird's Opening, the development of
diarrhoea on our part but rather because White's QB on b2, controlling the key e5
in these particular openings the two square, plays a leading role. The histori¬
sides tend to develop their forces quietly cally important game Lasker - Bauer,
behind their lines, without any immedi¬ played a century ago in 1889, was a
ate tactical clash in the centre {e.g. 1. g3, successful illustration of this idea. The
2. Bg2, 3. Nf3, 4. 0-0 5. d3, 6. Nbd2), World Champion of 1894 to 1921 was at
which necessarily entails more explana¬ that time only twenty years old but
tion of general strategic plans than already a very strong player.
presentation of concrete variations. We give the game here for comparative

113
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

purposes but it is also a splendid effort, 4. . . . Nbd7

containing the famous two bishops sacri¬ 5. Bb2 c6!
fice which was later to see many emu¬
lators. 1. f4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2
Be7 5. Bd3 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. Nc3 Nbd7
8. 0-0 0-0 9. Ne2 c5 10. Ng3 Qc7 11. Ne5
Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Qc6 13. Qe2 a6 14. Nh5
Nxh5.

A position for the reader to remember.

All Black's moves are played to challenge
the control of e5: the purpose of. . . Bg4
is to remove White's Kl\l, then the ON
going to d7 and the queen to c7 com¬
plete the preparations for playing . . . e5
himself! All these moves are logical but
15. Bxh7+11 Kxh7 16. Qxh5+ Kg8 17. why . . . c6 rather than . . . c5? The point
Bxg71! Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh7 19. Rf3 e5. is that, once Black has played . . . Bxf3
He must give up his queen to prevent and White has recaptured with his
mate, but White has planned to regain bishop, if . . . c5 had been played White
some material. 20. Rh3+ Gh6 21. Rxh6+ could increase the scope of this bishop
Kxh6 22. Qd7! Bf6 23. Qxb7 Kg7 24. Rfl by playing c4. Hence the importance of
Rab8 25. Qd7 Rfd8 26. Gg4 + Kf8 27. setting up the b7/c6/d5 barrier.
fxe5 Bg7 Or 71.-.. Bxe5 28. Qe6. 28. e6 6. Be2 Qc7
Rb7 29. Qg6 f6 30. Rxf6+ Bxf6 31. 7. 0-0
Qxf6+ Ke8 32. Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qg7 + 1-0 After this move Black can carry out the
Historical duels such as this form part of above-mentioned plan in exemplary
the 'home-work' of any aspiring master. fashion. Let us briefly examine the alter¬
In our model game. Kasparov reveals 'a native 7. Ne5 Bxe2 8. Gxe2 e6 9. 0-0
note-worthy positional maturity for a Bd6. Now White's only means of control¬
twelve year old' (Botvinnik). He strategi¬ ling e5 is by the ugly 10. d4 when Black
cally gears his sef-up to counter White's can immediately occupy the 'hole'
control over the key e5 square. created on e4 by . . . Ne4 followed by . . .

114
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

Ndf6. If here 10. Nxd7 Black cunningly such cases, Romanishin decides to com¬
answers 10 . . . Kxd7! e.g. plicate matters in the hope of provoking
(i) 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. d3 Rag8 13. Nd2 an error from the twelve year old. Little
h5 with active play on the K side. did he know . . .
Black's king is safe enough in the 9. d3? Bd6
centre and can always carry out 10. g3 0-0-0
'artificial castling' by . . . Kc8-b8 if 11. c4
need be. Black welcomes the opening of the 'd'
(ii) 11. d4 secures e5 but after 11. . . file, so the more modest 11. Nd2 was
Ne4 12. Nd2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 f5 preferable.
followed by . . . Rag8 and . . . g5. 11... . dxc4
Black stands well. 12. bxc4 h5!
(iii) 11. d3 continues development but In view of the ideal placing of his queen
after 11. . . . e5 Black cannot and bishop. Black can easily attack
complain. White's weakened K side by . . . h4 and a
7. . . . Bxf3 later . . . g5.
8. Bxf3 e5 13. Qc2 h4
14. Nc3 hxg3
a b cd e fg h 15. hxg3 exf4
16. exf4 g5M
8
X #A X 8
Now, after 17. fxg5 Bxg3! 18. gxf6 Rh2!
7
X1 4 AAA 7 Black wins e.g.

6
i 4 6 a b c d e f 9 h

5
AA 5 8 v:
A* 8

4
A 4 7
¥A m4 A 7

3
2 1A 3 6
A . 3 6

2
A 2A A1 2 5 5

1
1 a w ia & 1 4
2 4

a b c d e f g h 3
51"A IX 3

The opening phase is over and Black is

2
A 1w X 2

well placed. White must now settle for

small crumbs and play 9 fxe5 Nxe5 10.
1
M
a b c d e
as
f h
1

Nc3 Bd6 (threatening . . . Nxf3+ and . . . _9

Bxh2+) 11. Be2 when he can perhaps
maintain the equilibrium. (i) 19. Bg2 Qb6+ 20. 1Rf2 Bxf2+ 21.
However, we must not forget that Qxf2 (21. Kxh2 Qc7+ mates in a few
such a continuation is hardly appealing to moves) 21 . . . Rg8M and . . . Rxg2+
a simultaneous player! As is usual in wins.
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

(ii) 19. Qb3 (preventing ... Qb6+ but...) 26. Racl Nd7
19. . . . Bel M 20. Ne4 Rg8+ mating. 27. Bal f5
So Romanishin hopes to stem the flow Black can now win prosaically by . . .
of Black's powerful attack by giving up fxg4+ (if 28. gxf5 Rg3+) or by a mating
the f4 pawn and trying to block the 'g' file attack as in the game.
and the h2-b8 diagonal.
17. Ne4 Nxe4
18. dxe4
Or 18. Bxh8 Nxg3 19. Bc3 Nxfl and . . .
Bxf4 with two extra pawns plus the
initiative.
18. . . . Rhg8
19. e5 Bc5+
20. Kg2 gxf4
21. g4 Nxe5
22. Qf5+ Qd7!
23. Qxd7+
If 23. Qxe5 Rxg4+ wins.
23. . . . Nxd7
Now threatening . . . f5 and . . , fxg4.
24. Kh3 Nb6
25. Bf6 Rd3 Final mating position

116
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

28. Kh4 Be7+ 3. . . . d5

29. Kh5 Rg5 + 4. Bf4 Bg7
30. Kh6 Not fearing 5. Nb5 Na6 followed by . . .
Or 30. Kh4 Rxg4+ etc. c6 driving away the knight. For the
30. . . . Rd6+ alternative 5 Qd2 see the Supplement¬
31. Kh7 Nf8+ ary Material game Yusupov - Kasparov.
32. Kh8 Rh6 mate 5. e3 0-0
6. Be2 Bg4
Once again, Kasparov begins the unlikely-
B Queen's Pawn Opening looking plan of taking over control of e5,
How does one play against a system in using a method similar to the one tried
which White advances his 'd' pawn but against Romamshin. We say 'unlikely'
does not follow it up with c4? Club- because at the moment this square is
players often ask me this question, controlled three times by White and not
especially those who are normally patient even once by Black! The f3 knight will
with their fellow man but in this case first be eliminated and White can hardly
become annoyed when faced as Black prevent this by 7. Ne5? Bxe2 8. Qxe2
with such a solid set-up. Nh5! 9. Bg3 (9. Bg5?? f6) 9. . . . Nxg3 10.
At the end of 1988, in a match with the hxg3 f6 11. Nf3 e5 when Black has a
exiled Czech grandmaster Vlastimir Hort strong centre plus the two bishops.
in Cologne, the World Champion provided 7. h3
an impressive example of an active Perhaps White should castle here, since
strategy for Black in this line. The match he can always play h3 later.
formed part of a publicity week sponsored 7. . . . Bxf3
to the tune of 300,000 Deutschmarks and 8. Bxf3 c6
consisted of three games in which each 9. 0-0 Nbd7
player had one hour only to complete his 10. Qd2 Re8
moves, with the winner receiving a
limousine. Kasparov duly won the match
a b c d e f g h
with 2V2-V2 points and gave us in the
very first game a splendid solution to the 8
A w & # 8
problem: Black to play and win against
the Queen's Pawn Opening.
7
AA %A A £A 7

V Hort - G Kasparov
6
Ja 4A 6

(First Match Game, Cologne 1988) 5

A 5
1. d4
2. (Mf3
Nf6
g€
4
j A 1, 4

3. Nc3
White is hoping to transpose into the Pirc
3
d A M, ijA 3

defence after 3, . . . Bg7 4. e4 d6 but

is disappointed. Sometimes 3. Bg5 is
2
A1 Am AA 2

played here, as in the Supplementary

Material game Torre - Kasparov.
1
a
a b c d e
a
f 9 h
1

117
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

We can now clearly see the resemblance Be5! much good, but the active 26. c4
to the Romanishin game: the f3 knight would have still offered chances of
has gone, the c6/d5 set-up restricts survival e.g. 26. . . . Qh4 27. cxd5 Rh6
White's KB and Black is aiming for . . . 28. Ng3; or 26. . . . dxc4 27. bxc4.
e5. This is another key position to 26. . . . Qg5
remember. With the deadly threat of. . . Gh5 and . . .
11. Rfdl Rh6 mating down the 'h' file. Perhaps
The move 11. e4 is worth a second Hort had originally intended to defend by
glance but after 11. . . . dxe4 12. Nxe4 27. Nh2 Qh5 28. Qfl Rh6 30. Qg2 but
Nxe4 13. Bxe4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 Black this loses the c3 pawn.
stands well. The game move is directed 27. Kg2 Qh5
against 11.... e5 when 12. dxe5 Nxe5 28. f4 gxf3+
13. Bxe5 Rxe5 14. e4! and 15. exd5 29. Kf2 Qhl
exploits the pin on the'd' file. 30. Rd2 Qg2+
11. . . . Qb6! 31. Kel
Leaving the'd' file and planning , . . e5
which White cannot prevent. a b c d e f g h

jl a
12. a4 a5
8 i
Not of course 12. . . . Qxb2?? 13. Rdbl #
13. Ne2 e5 7
A Ai.
14. dxe5 Nxe5
15. Bxe5
16. Nd4
Rxe5
Ne4
6
A i
5 '
17. Bxe4 Rxe4 A
18. c3
Hort has held the central position and
4
A
prevented any break-through in this 3
A A m1 A A
sector, but Black now uses his spatial
advantage to launch a K side attack.
2
a m
18. . . .
19. Rabl
Rae8
h5
Planning . . . g5-g4. For better or for
1
a
ab c d
sm
e f g h

worse. White should now try 20. b4 to

mix things on the Q side. Hort, already in 31. . . . Rxe3+!
time-trouble, opts for a passive defence 32. Qxe3
with its inevitable consequences. Or 32. Nxe3 Qgl + 33. Qfl Rxe3+ wins.
20. b3 Qc7 32. . . . Rxe3 +
21. Nf3 Qe7 33. Nxe3 Qg1 +
22. Qd3 g5 34. Nfl Bxc3
23. Nd2 Re6 35. Rbb2
24. Nfl 94 The spectators in Cologne were wonder¬
25. hxg4 hxg4 ing why Hort had not resigned by now
26. g3? against a player such as Kasparov. Per¬
A time-trouble error. Nor was 26. Ng3 haps he was still counting on the time

118
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

Rxel Qd7 25. Nfl h5 26. g3 h4 27. Ne3

Ge6 28. Qe2 Re4 29. gxh4 Bc3 30. Rdl
Rxh4 31. Qf3 Bd4 32. Ng2 Rh3 33. Qd5
Qf6 34. Ne3 Rf3 35. Khl Rxf2 36. Ng4
Qf3+37. Qxf3 Rxf3 38. Rel Ra3 39.
Re8+ Kg7 40. Rb8 Rxa4 41. Rxb6 Rxc4
42. Ra6 Rb4 0-1

A Yusupov - G Kasparov
(World Cup, Belfort 1988)
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7
5. Qd2 Ne4 6. Nxe4 dxe4 7. Ne5 Be6 8.
e3 Nd7 9. Nc4 0-0 10. Be2 Bxc4 11. Bxc4
e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bb3 a5 14. a4 Nd7
15. 0-0-0 Nc5 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Bg5
Re8 18. Rd5 Bf8 19. Rhdl Nxb3+ 20.
cxb3 Bd6 21 Bf6 Re6 22. Bc3 b6 (Black
has equalised but no more. The following
pawn sacrifice is incorrect; Yusupov
overestimates his chances on the 'h' file)
Grandmaster Vtastimil Hort. 23. g4? Bxh2 24. Rhl Bd6 25. Rh3 f6 26.
Kdl Rf8 27. Ke2 Rf7 28. Rhl f5 29. gxf5
element, but after the next move he Rxf5 30. Rxf5 gxf5 31. Rh5 f4 32. exf4
decides to throw in the towel. Bxf4 33. Rf5 Bd6 34. Bd4 h6 35. Ke3 Kh7
35. . . . Qg2! 36. Rf7+ Kg6 37. Rg7+ Kf5 38. Rf7 +
0-1 Kg4 39. Rg7+ Kh3 40. Rh7 Kh4 41. Rg7
There is, of course, no problem about h5 42. f4 exf3+ 43. Kxf3 c5 44 Bc3 Kh3
winning for Black but this neat move 45. Rf7 Be7 46. Rf5 h4 47. Be5 Bd6 48.
immediately clinches matters. The threat Rf6 Rxe5 49. Rxd6 Rf5+ 50. Ke2 Rf4 51.
is 33. . . .Qe2 mate and after 33. Kdl Rxb6 Kg3 52. Rg6+ Rg4 53. Rf6 Re4+
Qxfl + 34. Kc2 Bxd2 35. Kxd2 f2 when 54. Kd3 Rf4 55. Rg6+ Rg4 56. Rc6 h3
the two queens should be enough to 57. Rxc5 h2 58. Rcl Kg2 59. Rc2+ Kh3
mate White before the flag falls . . . 60. Rcl Rg3+ 0-1

Supplementary Material
C The Double Fianchetto
E Torre - G Kasparov
Opening
(Olympiad, Thessaloniki 1988)
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 d5 5. White players who want to play safe
Nbd2 Nbd7 6. e3 0-0 7. b4 c6 8. Be2 Re8 sometimes choose this 'double-hole'
9. 0-0 e5 10, a4 h6 11. Bh4 a5 12. b5 c5 system, as it is sometimes sarcastically
13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Rxe5 15. Bxf6 called. In the Hypermodern spirit. White
Bxf6 16. Rcl b6 17. Bg4 Bb7 18. Bf3 develops his bishops on b2 and g2
Qe7 19. c4 Rd8 20. Qc2 d4 21. Bxb7 before he decides the precise action to
Qxb7 22. exd4 Rxd4 23. Reel Rxel 24. take in the centre. This of course gives

119
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

Black a free hand to choose what central a b c d ef g h

FT"
pawn
for . .
structure he would like. Some opt
. c6 and . . . d5, others for . . . e6
8 X aw X: #
and . . . d5, and the King's Indian player
usually goes in for. . . Nf6, . . . g6 and . . .
7A A A AA
Bg7. 6 4 A mA
1 A
For the last ten years, Kasparov has
not met this system and perhaps our
5 _
following impressive model game, played 4 A
in the 1980 European Team Champion¬
ship at Skara, is the reason. For the first 3 A ft ft A
time, the seventeen year old’ Kasparov
was playing for the USSR team. In
his game against England, he had to
2 A
1
£k A A 2 m
play Simon Webb, himself one of the iff
a b c d e f g h
young hopes of English chess, who
decided against a career as a profes¬ 9. e3
sional chess-player and became a com¬ After 9. d3 Black plays . . . Bf5 and . . .
puter expert instead; we seldom hear of Qd7 threatening . . . Bh3.
him nowadays. [Simon has since per¬ 9. . . . Bf5
formed creditably in correspondence Black loses a pawn after 9. . . . e4? 10.
chess for England.] Ng5.
10. d4(?)
S Webb - G Kasparov The mathematician and later computer
(Skara, 1930) programmer, Webb, is proceeding with
1. Nf3 Nf6 strict logic: as Black's knight on f6 is
2. g3 96 blocking the long black diagonal for his
3. b3 Bg7 KB, the d4 square has one fewer black
4. Bb2 c5 piece to control it, so White plays the
5. c4 d6 move that would not have been possible
6. Bg2 e5 against Botvinnik's system of defence.
7. 0-0 0-0 Flowever, logic is only one element in
8. Nc3 Nc6 the game of chess; creative imagination,
White has fianchettoed both his bishops, good physical condition, nerves - all play
using only the 'c' pawn for central control, an important part, as do psychological
whereas Black has set up a central pawn factors. Mainly from the latter aspect,
structure a la Kasparov. His mentor 10. d4 was the wrong choice of move for
Botvinnik used to play such a system but a double-fianchetto positional player
with his KN on e7 to leave open the reluctant to 'mix it' in tactical complica¬
option of . . . f5. The knight on f6 is more tions. Safer was 10. d3 when Black
aggressively posted and supports a pos¬ continues with . . . Qd7 and . . . Bh3. [To
sible . . . e4. It is all a matter of persona) be fair to Simon, this view somewhat
choice and style, since in both cases the misjudges his temperament; the fact
knight is watching the d5 'hole'. that he was an excellent exponent of the

120
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

Benko System reveals that he was by no balance each other out, with both d6 and
means averse to a tactical encounter, d3 inviting an enemy knight to take up
even of the Kasparov kind! In this parti¬ residence. The 'd' file occupied at the
cular instance, it seems more than likely moment by White is of little importance
that it was his positional judgement here, since the key entry squares d7 and
regarding the strength of the'd' file that d8 are not available to the white rook
was 'at fault here.] and, if need be, Black can always chal¬
10. . . . e4 lenge the file by . . . Rd7. Perhaps one of
11. Ng5 the most important factors is that Black
After 11. Nh4 Bg4! (threatening . . . g5) has a piece more in play, White's h3
forces 12. f3 exf3 weakening White's e3 knight merely spectating at the moment.
pawn. The natural repositioning of this knight by
11. . . . Re8 Kfl, Ngl and Ne2 is not easy to carry
12. dxc5 out, since the immediate Kfl and Ngl
If 12. d5 Nb4 (not 12_Ne5 losing the would allow . . . Ng4! winning a pawn
e4 pawn) followed by . . . Nd3. because of the . . . Nxh2 + zwischenzug.
12. . . . dxc5 18. Nd6 Bg4
13. Nb5 19. Rd2
Intending Nd6 Guarding his QB and thus threatening to
13. . . . Re7 regroup by Kfl and Ngl. How does
To answer 13. Nd6 with 13. . . . Rd7. Kasparov react to this? By exchanging
14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 White's well-placed pieces and thereby
15. Radi Rxdl exposing all the more the plight of the h3
16. Rxdl h6 knight.
17. Nh3 g5 19. . . . Ne8
The opening stage is over and Black 20. Bxg7 Kxg7
stands well. Strong and weak squares 21. Kfl Nxd6
22. Rxd6 Nb4
23. a3
a b c de fg h Or 23. Rd2 Rd7l 24. Rxd7 Bxd7 25. a4

# (25, a3 Nc2 26. a4 Nal winning a pawn)

25. . . . Nc2 followed by . . . Nal against
A E k4 which White's pieces are helpless.
23. . . . Nd3
4 4 J£ With the rooks on the board Black cannot

ft£ £4
go pawn-hunting with the knight, since

£ r
23. . . . Nc2 24. Rd2 Nxa3 25. Ra2 is fine
TVT-
A for White.
24. Ngl Ncl
A A [A- ft 25. h3 Bc8

A 4 __ f
114 A
A white pawn must fall, since
answered by 26. . . . Be6! 27.
26. b4 is
bxc5 (27.

abode f
m9 h
Bxe4 Bxc4+ loses a piece)
Bxc4+ followed by . . . Nd3+.
21... .
Nor does

121
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

insects that come within reach of its fast-

moving sticky tongue. The King's Indian
Attack (sometimes called 'King's Indian
Reversed') reminds one of the chameleon
because in principle its g3, Bg2, Nf3, d3,
Nbd2, e4 set-up can be played against
practically anything but then adapted
to suit changing circumstances. For ex¬
ample, the game may begin 1. Nf3 d5 2.
g3 e6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. 0-0 Be7 with Black
now expecting either 5. d4 or 5. c4,
transposing into the Catalan or Reti,
but suddenly meeting 5. d3 and the
'chameleon' is with him! In fact, more
often than not, the opening arises after
1. e4 against the Sicilian, French or Caro-
Kann Defences, as in our model game,
of 27. . . . Nxb3! winning a pawn by . . . so needs to be known by most Black
Nd2+ after both Bd5 and Bd3. players. Fortunately, there are a number
26. Ne2 Nxb3 of promising defences to the system,
26. Nc3 Be6 one of which we present here by courtesy
28. Bxe4 Na5 of Kasparov in his game against Yugo¬
He prefers to capture on c4 with the slavia's top player.
knight.
29. Bd5 Nxc4 L Ljubojevic - G Kasparov
30. Bxc4 Bxc4+ (Niksic, 1983)
31. Kel Be6 1. e4 c5
32. e4 2. Nf3 e6
Or 32. h4 gxh4 33. gxh4 Kg6 and . . . Kh5 3. d3 Nc6
winning the 'h' pawn. 4. g3 d5
32. . . . Bxh3 5. Nbd2 96
33. f4 gxf4 6. Bg2 Bg7
34. gxf4 Rd7 7. 0-0 Nge7
35. e5 Rxd6 The same position can be reached from
36. exd6 f6 the French Defence via 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5
37. Nd5 Kf7 3. Nd2 c5 4. g3 etc. This is another
38. Nc7 Bd7 diagram to remember, since both sides
0-1 have set up their optimal starting posi¬
tions: White has reached the universal
placing of his pieces we mentioned, and
D The King's Indian Attack
Black has laid out his game in a flexible
The chameleon camouflages itself by manner which prepares him for most
changing colour, not only to escape its contingencies, as we shall see, Note the
enemies but also to prey on unsuspecting placing of the KN on e7 rather than on f6

122
 black against other systems

a b c d e f g h (after Rel and Nfl) without playing c3

which can create a possible weakness
I JLm # 1 on d3, as we shall see.

A k 4k A 8. Rel
White's standard plan of attack is to play
4 T k e5 and h4, transfer his QN to g4 via fl
and h2 (or e3) and post his QB on g5 to
mk exploit the weakness of f6. This takes
time, of course, but can prove highly
A dangerous if Black merely attacks on the

A AA Q side by . . . b5-b4, . . . a5-a4, , . . Ba6,

without taking more specific meaures to
A’ A Aiffl A% 1 counter White's aggressive set-up. It is

E a b
&m 1 &
c d e f g h
interesting to see how Kasparov tackles
the defensive problem, beginning with
his next key move.
8. . . . h6!
where it would not only restrict the This prevents Bg5 and prepares to
scope of his KB and be exposed to a later answer 9. e5 with 9. . . . g5! followed by
e5 but would also not form part of the . . Ng6 winning the e5 pawn. Note that
subtle and effective plan that Kasparov . . . g5 also stops White's QB going to f4
has in mind. The g7 bishop makes it in lines such as 9. Nfl g5, which explains
difficult for White to develop his QB White's next move.

Grandmaster
Ljubomir Ljubojevic,
Yugoslavia's No 1
player, is among the
1unpredictables' in
chess, with brilliant
tournament victories
closely followed by
complete disasters.

123
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

9. h4 b6! pressure down the'd' file if necessary.

a b c d e f g h Note that Black is still deliberately delay¬

XWAm#
ing castling, so as not to give White a
8 8
clear-cut object of attack.
7
A 4AA 7 12. Nb3?!
A bad idea that gradually leads to White's
6
A4 A A A 6 disadvantage. Kasparov mentions two

5 AA 5
better continuations: 12. e5 Ba6 13. Nfl
b5 and 12. exd5 exd5 13. Nfl d4 14. c4
4
A 2 4 Bf5 with unclear play. In the second one,
Black's long-term plan is . . . 0-0, . . . Nb4
3
H A £5 2 3 (attacking d3), . . . Nec6 (preventing
Ne5), . . . Re7 and . . . Rfe8.
2
A 2 A12 A A 2
12. . . . d4
1
L
a A w fi m 1
13. cxd4
According to Kasparov, 13, e5 dxc3 14.
bxc3 Rd7 15. d4 Nd5 was preferable for
This deep move needs some explanation, White, although Black has more of the
since it is more than a mere aid to play after 16. Bb2 cxd4 17, cxd4 0-0 with
development. Once again, 10, e5 is . . . Nb4, . . . Ba6, . . . Qa8 and . . . Rc8.
prevented, but in a far less obvious way. 13. . . . cxd4
Black then plays 10. . . . Qc7 11. Qe2
when 11. . . . c4H exploits the pin on the
a b c d e f g h
f1-a6 diagonal, giving us:
(i) 12. dxc4 Ba6 (the point) 13. a3 (or 13. 8
AM x: 8
b3 Nb4 14. Nfl dxc4) 13. . . Na5 and
Black stands well.
7
X 4AA 7

(ii) 12. d4 c3 (without this possibility

Black's plan would be futile) 13. bxc3
6 A 4] A AA 6

Nab 14. Bb2 Bd7 followed by . . . 0-0

and . . . Rfc8 with excellent com¬
5
A 5

pensation for the pawn. White's QB

4
A A2 A
4

is wretchedly placed. 3
A 22 A
3
10. c3
Now 10, . . . Ba6 11. Qa4! Bxd3?? fails to 2
2 2A f 2
12. exd5 Qxd5 (both 12. . . , Nxd5 and
12. . . . exd5 lose a piece to 13. Qxc6-i-)
13. Nd4 winning.
1
w
a b
I wm s
c d e f g h
1

10. . . . a5
Planning to answer 11. e5 with 11.... a4 14. Bd2?
and 12... Ba6 (Kasparov). It is easy to find bad moves in bad
11. a4 Ra7! positions. Kasparov gives as White's last
The rook moves away from the danger¬ chance 14. e5 Ba6 15. Re4 Rd7 16. Bf4.
ous h1-a8 diagonal and is ready to exert Black can then continue 16. . . 0-0 17.

124
 BLACK AGAINST OTHER SYSTEMS

Rcl Nb4 18. Rxd4 Nf5! 19. Rxd7 Qxd7 Rg7 (the rook on a7 again makes its
with very active play for the pawn which presence felt!) fully exploiting the 'g' file.
Black can always recover. We can now 22. gxh6(?)
see how Kasparov drove home his Hastens the end but perhaps this is
advantage psychologically what White wants.
14. . . . e5 22. . . . Bxh6
15. Ncl Be6 23. Nfl Rg7
16. Re2 0-0 24. Rf2 Be3
17. Bel 25. b3
White is hoping to manoeuvre his KN to After 25. Nxe3 dxe3 26. Rf 1 Qg5 27. Ne2
c4 after b3 and Nd2, a good strategic Nf4, Black's attack would be equally
concept if he had the time to carry it out. unstoppable. With this move White is
17... f5 hoping to defend along the second rank
18. Nd2 and is happy to settle for the loss of the
After 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Nd2 Nb4, moves exchange. However, Kasparov is far more
like . . . e4 and . . . f4 would be in the air. interested in mate than material gain.
18. . . . f4 25... . Nf4!
Threatening 19. . . . fxg3 20. fxg3 Bg4. 0-1
19. f3
Or 19. gxf4 exf4 20. Nf3 Ne5 with
advantage to Black (Kasparov).
19. . . . fxg3
20. Bxg3 g5
21. hxg5

A suitable position with which to end this

book. White is tied hand and foot. After
26. Ra2 Rxg3 27. Nxg3 Qg5, the knight
cannot move because of 28. . . . Gxg2
mate and 28. Kh2 Gh4+ wins. A pleas¬
Far stronger than 21. . . . hxg5, since ant note to finish on is the variation 26.
Black wants to recapture on g5 with his Kh2 Rxg3! 27. Kxg3 Nh5+ 28. Kh2
queen, to be followed by . . . Bf6 and . . . Qh4+ 29. Kgl Bxf2 mate!

125
 Index

Adorjan . .42 Gheorghiu ..Ill

Agdestein. 19 Goldin ..43
Akopian . .67,85 Gunawan ..68
Alenkin . 93 Gurevic ..39, 45, 48, 67
Andersson. .14, 95
Assmann. 47 Haag ..100
Astrom . 84 Hjartarson ..37,42,85
Hort. .117
Badzarani . .72 Hubner . .30,31
47 15'
Bareev . .33
Barichev . .33 lonescu . .95
15 .80
Bauer ..113
Beliavsky..14, 25, 74 Jakovic . .33
Botterill ..100
85 .42
Kalinin ..31
Campora . .10 Karolyi . 25
Ceskovsky . 79 Karpov ..19,35,42,80
Christiansen . .32,42 Khalifman ..57, 59, 68
Chernin . 68 Kochiev ...-..100
Chiburdanidse . 66 Korchnoi ..31,42,99
Clemance. 15 Korzubov ..79
Conquest 25 Kotronias..84
Kouatly . 54
Danailov . .96 Kuijpers . .. .. 53
Dolmatov . .25 Kupreichik ..69

Ehlvest. .35 Larsen . .31,71

Lasker . .113
Farago . .68 Lau. .57, 59, 95
Flear. .32,34 Le Blancq . .100
Franke . .25 Lerner . 19
Franzoni . 45 Levitt .... 53
Ljubojevic. 80
Gavrikov . .69 Lobron . 19
Geller . .60 Lputian ..68,69
Georgiev . .45 Lukacs ..54

126
 INDEX

Mainka . .89 Schmidt . .34

McDonald . 67 Schmittdiel. .95
Milos . .112 Seirawan . 19
Mohr . 42 Shabalov . .85
Mokry . 34 Short . .16,48, 93
Morrison . 66 Srnirin . .62
Sokolov . .48,80
Natsis. .55 Spassky . .90
.35 31 48 104
.25, 43 72
.15 72
Norwood . .53 Sveshnikov. .93
Nunn . .50, 67 Szalanczi . .54
Sznapik . .68
Olafsson . .34, 89
Oil . .43 42
Orr . .14 .19
Torre . .21,119
Pein. .60 Trepp . .. . 69
.60 21
Perenyi. .54
Petrosian. . 15 Uhlmann . .67
Petursson. .31,54
Piket. .31,35 Vaiser..60
Polugayevski . .39 Van der Wiel. 26
Portisch. .14 Van't Hof. 31
Preissman . .35 Vidarsson . 89
Pribyl . 59 Vilela . 47
Prie . .90 Vladimirov . .35, 48
Psakhis . .90 Vogt . .112
Vukic . 66
Quillan. .85 Vyshmanavin. 42

Rodriguez. .47 Watson . .68

Romanishin . .60 Webb . .120
Winants . .68
Saidy . .15
Sandler . 54 Yudasin . .79
Sarapu. 79 Yuferov . .99
Sariego . 95 Yurtaev . .92
Savchenko . 54 Yusupov . .60, 100, 119
Sax. 41
Scheeren . .68 Zlochevsky . .33

127
Other Chess, Bridge and Games Books Published by The Crowood Press Ltd

The Backgammon Handbook, Heykin/Fischer

Beginning Bridge, Hiron

The Book of Extraordinary Chess Problems, Addison

Bridge for improvers, Stubbings

Chess Combination as a Fine Art, Golz/Keres

Chess Mechanics of the Mind, Pfleger

Chess Openings, Basman

Chess Tactics, Littlewood

The C3 Sicilian, Lane

An Introduction to Chess, Taulbut

Spike's Chess Primer, Ellison

The Vulture and Associated Opening Systems, Bucker

Winning Endgames, Kosten