Kasparov in action
After seeing an old TV show produced during Belgrade 1989 tournament, I decided to show excerpt from the last round’s Garry Kasparov - Predrag Nikolic. Our main strategical topic is exchange. By the way, this was the first tournament where Kasparov broke magical border of 2800 elo points.
In the starting position white has better pawn structure because black pawns d5, f7 and h6 are weak. White pieces are also better placed, holding higher dynamic potential. There are certain short-term limitations, Ra1 has to defend a3 pawn and Ne2 has to cover nasty Rc3 check. We will see how Kasparov solved these slight problems convincingly. On the other hand, black pieces are rather passive, Rg8 is out of play, Nb6 is fairly limited (thanks to b3 pawn!). The black’s only active soldier is Rc6, controlling c-file and 6-th rank.
27. Rhc1!!
Fantastic multi-purpose move! It might look odd because white is moving rook away from semi-open h-file, but h6 pawn is heavily protected at the moment and siege would only be waste of time. With Rhc1 white is trading opponent’s only active piece, at the same time correcting his own slackness. Ne2 will be free to move (no need to guard c3 anymore) and weak a3 pawn will be temporarily sacrificed to activate Ra1.
Avoiding the trade is not possible, because on 27… Rcg6 white has powerful Nh5, threatening Nf6 fork, and next g3. On 27… Rgg6, very strong is 28. Nd4 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 with next Nb5 and Rc7.
27… Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Bxa3 29. Ra1 Bc5 30. Nf5!
Also possible but not so clear was 30. Rxa7 Nc4! with mate threat with Nd2. If 31. Ra2 Ne3 is paralyzing white’s play because it controls key squares f5 and g2. The only line is forced 31. Rxb7 Kc6 32. bxc4 Kxb7 33. cxd5.
30. Nf5! is much stronger because not only that knight is sitting nice there but it also takes away Ne3 possibility for black. Now if 30… Rg6 31. Rxa7 Nc4 white has calm 32. Ra2 with next g4 and black is forced to retreat.
30… Ra8
Better than 30… a6 where white wins tempo after 31. Nxh6 Rf8 32. Rc1 for f5 and Nd4. With Ra8, black wants to go for some sort of counterplay after future a5-a4.
31. Nxh6 Ke6
It was necessary to prevent f5! Now white has to cover e5 pawn before further advancing.
32. g4 a5 33. Rc1!
If Kasparov was ready to trade pair of rooks on move 27, doesn’t mean he has to accept it again! Nikolic’s idea was to push a4 and trade pair of rooks hoping to tie down white’s minor pieces with later b-pawn advance. White rook is imposing dangerous threats and it’s logical to avoid it’s trade for passive opponent. Black can’t step back with bishop because of Nd4-Nb5-Rc7.
33… Nd7 34. Nc3!
Time for the other knight to join the battle. Nc3 is controlling weak squares a4 and b5 and attacks on d5 pawn. 34… d4 is bad in view of 35. Ne4 with devastating effects.
34… Ra6 35. Re1!
Time to prepare f5.
35… d4 36. f5 Ke7 37. Nd5 Kf8 38. e6 fxe6 39. fxe6 Nb8 40. Nf5 Nc6 41. g5 and black resigned because he can’t do anything against g-pawn. 41. e7 was winning a piece and also nice line was 41. Rh1 Ne5 42. Ke4 Ng6 (42… Re6 43. Nc7) 43. Nf4
See also Exchange Sacrifice
