Sicilian Defense, Scheveningen Variation - English Attack

GARRY KASPAROV vs. LOEK VAN WELY
Wijk aan Zee Corus, 2000

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6
6. Be3 ....

The Scheveningen Variation - English Attack, modeled after the Yugoslav (Rauzer) Attack in the Sicilian Dragon. White castles in the queenside and a sharp game usually occurs.

6. .... e6
7. f3, b5
8. g4, h6
9. Qd2, Nbd7
10. 0-0-0, Bb7
11. h4, b4
12. Na4, d5
13. Bh3, g5
14. Bg2 ....

If 14. hxg5 hxg5, 15. Bxg5 dxe4, 16. fxe4 Bxe4, the position favors Black.

14. .... gxh4
15. Rxh4, dxe4
16. g5!! ....

Attacking simultaneously the f6 Knight and the e4 pawn.

16. .... Nd5
17. Rxe4, hxg5
18. Bxg5, Qa5
19. f4! ....

Opening the b7-g2 diagonal, which would be crucial in the impending attack.

19. .... Rh2
20. Nxe6, fxe6
21. Rxe6+, Kf7
22. Qd3 .....

 22. .... Bg7

If 22....Kxe6, then 23. Qg6+ N7f6,  24. Bxd5+ followed by 25. Qxf7+ with a devastating attack.

23. Qf5+, Kg8
24. Rxd5, Qxa4

If 24....Bxd5, 25. Bxd5 White's Bishop in the long diagonal would be very powerful.

25. Re7, Resigns

White intends to mate after 26. Qf7+ and 27. Qxg7.

Now, if 25....Rf8, 26. Qg6 Rh7, 27. Rxd7, and White sustains attack on g7.

Sicilian Defense, Fischer-Sozin Attack Flank Variation

GARRY KASPAROV vs. BORIS GELFAND
Linares, 1993

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6
6. Bc4, e6
7. Bb3, b5

The Fischer-Sozin Attack Flank Variation.

8. 0-0, Be7

Gelfand knowingly avoided the complications that may arise after 8....b4, 9. Na4 Nxe4, 10. Qg4 which favors White.

9. Qf3, Qc7
10. Qg3, 0-0
11. Bh6, Ne1
12. Rad1, Bd7
13. Nf3, b4
14. Ne2, a5
15. Nf4, Kh8

If 15....a4, 16. Nh5 g6, 17. Bxf8 ....

16. Bg5, Nf6
17. Qh4, Bb5
18. Nd4!!, Be8

If 18....Bxf1, then 19. Ndxe6 fxe6, 20. Ng6+ Kg8, 21. Bxe6+ ...., a situation which favors White.

19. Ndxe6, fxe6
20. Nxe6, Qa7
21. e5!!, dxe5
22. Nxf8, Bxf8
23. Bxf6, gxf6
24. Rd8 ....

The culminating attack.

24. .... Nd7

If 24....Qe7 the game may continue 25. Qc4 Bf7 26. Qxf7 Qxf7 27. Bxf7 Kg7 28. Bd5 and White gets material advantage.  In this variation, if after 25. Qc4 Kg7 26. Rfd1 with a tremendous attack.

25. Qg4, Resigns

Black cannot prevent mate at g8.  If 25....Bg7 then 26. Qe6 ....

Fantastic Kasparov attack!

Modern Defense, King's Pawn Fianchetto

GARRI KASPAROV vs. JONATHAN SPEELMAN
Chess World Cup, 1989

1. d4, d6
2. e4, g6
3. c4, e5
4. Nf3, exd4
5. Nxd4, Bg7
6. Nc3, Nc6
7. Be3, Nge7
8. h4 ....

Kasparov decides to attack on the king side.

8. .... h6
9. Be2, f5
10. exf5, Nxf5
11. Nxf5, Bxf5
12. Qd2, Qd7
13. 0-0 ....

Sensing that Black is also set at castling on the queen side, White castles on the king side and prepares to attack on the queen side.

13. .... 0-0-0
14. b4! ....

This little sacrifice goes a long way....

14. .... Nxb4
15. Nb5, Nc2
16. Bf3!!, d5
17. Bxd5, Nxa1

If 17....c6, then 18. Nxa7+ Kb8, 19. Bf4+ Ka8, 20. Qa5 with a mating threat.

18. Nxa7+, Kb8
19.  Qb4 ....

Now, the finale.
 

19. ....  Qxd5

Black has no choice but to sacrifice his Queen.  If 19....b6, then 20. Bxb6 cxb6, 21. Qxb6+ and mate next move.

If 19....c6, then 20. Bf4+ Ka8, 21. Qa3 with a devastating attack.

White clearly wins at this point, but Black fights on.

20. cxd5, Nc2
21. Qa5, Nxe3
22. fxe3, Rhe8
23. Nb5, Rxd5
24. Qxc7+, Ka8
25. Qa5+, Resigns

Queen's Indian Defense, Classical Variation - Polugayevsky Gambit

GARRY KASPAROV vs. SLAVOLJUB MARJANOVIC
Malta 1980

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nf3, b6
4. g3, Bb7
5. Bg2, Be7
6. 0-0, 0-0
7. d5!, exd5
8. Nh4 ....

The Polugayevsky Gambit.  White sacrifices a pawn to secure the f5 location for the King's Knight.

8. .... c6
9. cxd5, Nxd5
10. Nf5!, Nc7
11. Nc3, d5
12. e4! ....

This sharp move intends to weaken Black's central pawn structure.

12. .... Bf6
13. exd5, cxd5
14. Bf4, Nba6
15. Re1 ....

Taking control of the e-file.

15. .... Qd7
16. Bh3, Kh8

Black avoids the disastrous Nh6+.

17. Ne4!!, Bxb2
18. Ng5, Qc6?

Black intends to threaten mate at h1, but only manages to displace the Queen.

19. Ne7, Qf6
20. Nxh7 ....

The Knight cannot be taken because 21. Qh5+ threatens mate.

20. .... Qd4
21. Qh5, g6
22. Qh4, Bxa1
23. Nf6 dis chk, Resigns

After 23....Kg7, there are several ways of mating Black.  One line is 24. Qh6+ Kxf6, 25. Bg5 mate.

Another line is 24. Bh6+ Kh8 (or Kh7), 25. Bxf8 mate.

Benoni Defense, Taimanov Variation

BORIS GULKO vs. VLADIMIR SAVON
Lvovzt, 1978

The Benoni Defense is a very aggressive opening that white can play against white's initial 1. d4. From this first move, Black must have multiple things that he can throw at white to give him a good chance to win

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, c5
3. d5 .....

The Benoni Defense.

3. .... e6
4. Nc3, exd5
5. cxd5, d6
6. e4, g6
7. f4, Bg7
8. Bb5+ ....

The Taimanov Variation of the Benoni.

8. .... Nfd7
9. a4, 0-0
10. Nf3, Na6
11. 0-0, Nc7
12. Bd3, a6
13. Qe1, Rb8
14. e5, Nb6
15. f5!, dxe5
16. fxg6, fxg6
17. Bg5, Qd6
18. Qh4, N7xd5
19. Rad1, c4
20. Nxd5, cxd3

If 20....Nxd5, then 21. Bxc4 with a good game for White.

21. Ne7+, Kh8
22. Nxe5, Bf5

If 22.....Qxe5, then 23. Nxg6 double-check.

23. Rxf5!! ....

White takes advantage of weakness at g6 square.

23. .... Bxe5

If 23.....gxf5 or Rxf5, then 24. N5xg6 and white wins.

24. Rxe5!! ....

A surprise move.  The Rook cannot be taken because of White's threat Nxg6 double-check.

24. .... Rf7

Black resigns anyway.  There is no defense against 25. Rxd3.  Black's Queen would leave the d6 square and White initiates a mating attack with Bf6+.

Kasparov's King's Indian

GARRY KASPAROV vs. JOHN NUNN
Luzern, 1962

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, c5
4. d5, exd5
5. cxd5, d6
6. e4, g6
7. f4, Bg7
8. Bb5+, Nfd7
9. a4! ....

Strengthens the queen side against pawn attack (i.e. 9....a6, 10. Be2 b5, 12. a3 b4!).

9. .... Na6
10. Nf3, Nb4
11. 0-0, a6?!
12. Bxd7+!, Bxd7
13. f5! ....

13. .... 0-0

If 13....gxf5, 14. Bg5 Bf6, 15. Bf4 0-0, 16. e5! dxe5, 17. Nxe5 ... and White has the advantage.

14. Bg5, f6
15. Bf4, gxf5?

If Black decides to protect the d6 pawn by 15...Qe7, then White may respond 16. Re1! ...

16. Bxd6, Bxa4
17. Rxa4, Qxd6
18. Nh4!, fxe4
19. Nf5, Qd7

If 19...Qe5, then 20. Qg5! ... and White's attack will be overwhelming.

20. Nxe4, Kh8

If 20....Rae8, then 21. Qg4 Kh8, 22. Nxc5! ...

21. Nxc5, Resigns

Black's position becomes hopeless after 21....Qxd5, 22. Qxd5 Nxd5, 23. Ne6 ....

Evans Gambit

GARRY KASPAROV vs. VISWANATHAN ANAND
Riga, 1995

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Bc5
4. b4 ....

The Evans Gambit, the purpose of which is the control of d4.

4. .... Bxb4
5. c3, Be7
6. d4, Na5
7. Be2!? ....

White would rather not part with the Bishop rather than gain a pawn by 7. Nxe5 Nxc4  (not 7....f6, 8. Bf7+ Kf8, 9. Bxg8 fxe5, 10. Bb3 ...), 8. Nxc4 ....

7. .... exd4

Black gains a piece after 7....Nf6, 8. dxe5 Nxe4, 9. Qa4 ....

8. Qxd4, Nf6?!
9. e5, Nc6
10. Qh4, Nd5
11. Qg3, g6

If 11.....0-0, then 12. Bh6 ....

12. 0-0, Nb6
13. c4, d6

If 13.....d6, then 14. cxd5 Qxd5, 15. Nc3 ....

14. Rd1, Nd7

If 14.....Be6, then 15. c5!! ....

15. Bh6, Ncxe5
16. Nxe5, Nxe5
17. Nc3 ....

White does not desire the outcome after 17. Bg7 Bf6, 18. Bxh8 Bxh8, 19. Nc3 b6.  Black, with his Bishop Pair, gains equality.

17. .... f6
18. c5!, Nf7
19. cxd6, cxd6
20. Qe3!, Nxh6
21. Qxh6, Bf8
22. Qe3+, Kf7
23. Nd5, Be6?!
24. Nf4!, Qe7
25. Re1!!, Resigns

White's pressure on the center would be too much for Black to handle, i.e. 25....d5, 26. Bf3.   If 25....Bh6, then 26. Bc4.

Any attempt by Black to remove the beleaguered Bishop would also prove futile. If 25....Bd7 or Bf5, then 26. Bc4+ Ke8 27. Qxe7+ Bxe7 28. Nd5 and White gains a Bishop.

Subtle yet elegant!

The Power of Two Bishops

Garry Kasparov demonstrates for us the power of the Bishop Pair.  Two Bishops working in tandem constitute one of mightiest forces in chess.

G. KASPAROV vs. J. SPEELMAN
Barcelona, 1989

1. d4, d6
2. e4, g6
3. c4, e5

An attempt by Black to destroy White's central pawn structure.

4. Nf3, exd4
5. Nxd4, Bg7
6. Nc3, Nc6
7. Be3, Nge7
8. h4!?, h6
9. Be2, f5
10. exf5, Nxf5
11. Nxf5, Bxf5
12. Qd2, Qd7
13. 0-0, 0-0-0
14. b4!, Nxb4?!

Black took the poisoned pawn.  Now the fight tension is increased.

15. Nb5!, Nc2

Black does not like 15....Bxa1, 16. Qxb4 Bg7, 17. Nxa7+....

16. Bf3! d5
17. Bxd5, Nxa1
18. Nxa7+, Kb8
19. Qb4! ....

Now, White threatens mate at b7.

19. .... Qxd5

Black has no choice.  If 19....b6, then 20. Bxb6 cxb6, 21. Qxb6+ with a mating attack.  If 19....c6, then 20. Bxc6 Qf7, 21. Bf4+ Ka8, 22. Qa5! and mate next move.

20. cxd5, Nc2
21. Qa5, Nxe3
22. fxe3, Rhe8
23. Nb5, Rxd5

If 23....Re7, then 24. d6! Rxd6, 25. Nxd6 cxd6, 26. Qd8+ and White's attack becomes overwhelming.

24. Qxc7+ Ka8
25. Qa5+, Resigns

Black loses after 25....Kb8, 26. Qa7+ Kc8, 27. Qa8+ Kd7, 28. Qxb7+ Ke6, 29. Qc6+ and White captures either Rook.

Kasparov's Might

Garry Kasparov proved once again that he can demolish an opponent in a short time.  The following game is a fine example.

G. KASPAROV vs. S. MARJANOVICH
Malta, 1980
King's Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nf3, b6
4. g3, Bb7
5. Bg2, Be7
6. 0-0, 0-0
7. d5! ....

White intends to post his Knight at f5, and he can only do that if the e6 pawn is eliminated.

7. .... exd5
8. Nh4!, c6

The c4 pawn cannot be taken because of the Bishop's pin on d5.

9. cxd5, Nxd5
10. Nf5, Nc7
11. Nc3!, d5
12. e4, Bf6
13. exd5! ....

White dismantles Black's pawn structure.  Connected pawns at the center poses a serious threat.

13. .... cxd5
14. Bf4, Nba6
15. Re1, Qd7?

A bad place for the Queen, as will be shown by Black's next move.

16. Bh3!, Kh8

Black prevents a double-check. The move also immobilizes White's Knight because of a pin by Black's Queen, threatening Qxh3.

17. Ne4! ....

Fantastic!  The move threatens 18. Nxf6.

17. .... Bxb2
18. Ng5! ....

Effectively removing White's pin on f5.  Now White threatens 20. Nxg7.

18. .... Qc6
19. Ne7, Qf6
20. Nxh7! ....

If the Knight is taken, as in 20.... Kxh7, White threatens mate by 21. Qh5+!

20. .... Qd4
21. Qh5, g6
22. Qh4, Bxa1
23. Nf6+, Resigns

Black realizes futility after 23... Kg7, 24. Qh6+ Kxf6, 25. Bg5 mate.

English Opening: King's English, Four Knights Variation

GARRY KASPAROV vs. VASSILY IVANCHUK
Moscow 1988

English Opening: King's English, Four Knights Variation

1. c4, Nf6
2. Nc3, e5
3. Nf3, Nc6

Not 3....e4 because White replies 4. Ng4 Qe7, 5. Qc2... and White takes the pawn.

4. g3, Bb4
5. Bg2, 0-0
6. 0-0, e4
7. Ng5, Bxc3
8. bxc3, Re8
9. f3, exf3
10. Nxf3, d5
11. d4, Ne4
12. Qc2, dxc4
13. Rb1, f5
14. g4, Qe7

If 14....fxg4 White replies 15. Ne5 Nxe5, 16. Qxe4!....

15. gxf5, Nd6
16. Ng5, Qxe2
17. Bd5+, Kh8
18. Qxe2, Rxe2
19. Bf4, Nd8
20. Bxd6, cxd6
21. Rbe1, Rxe1
22. Rxe1, Bd7
23. Re7, Bc6
24. f6, Resigns

If 24....gxf6, then White mates next move by 25. Rxh7.

If 24....Bxd5, then 25. Re8+ Bg8, 26. f7 Nxf7, 27. Nxf7 mate.  Superb play!

Garry Kasparov

Every chess player living today knows Garry Kasparov.  He is the first world champion to have an official website.  Just go there in order to see some of the games he played.  The following game, which he played against Adams in 2005, stands out in unique brilliancy.

MICHAEL ADAMS vs. GARRY KASPAROV
XXII Torneo Ciudad de Linares, 2005

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6

The Najdorf Variation of Sicilian Defense.  Black's fifth move (a6) aims to deny White the b5 square to his knight and light-squared Bishop while maintaining flexibility in development.

6. Be3, e6
7. Be2, Qc7
8. Qd2 ....

White prepares for Queen-side castling.

8. .... b5
9. a3, Bb7
10. f3, Nc6
11. 0-0-0, b4
12. axb4, Nxb4
13. g4, Be7
14. g5, Nd7
15. h4, Nc5!

Black prepares for Queen-side attack.

16. Kb1, Rb8!
17. h5, 0-0
18. g6, Bf6
19. Rdg1, Ba8

Black opens the b-file...

20. Bg5, Be5
21. gxh7+, Kxh7
22. Nb3, Nxc2

23. Nxc5 ....

If 23. Qxc2 then 23. .... Rxb3 which is good for Black.

23. .... Na3+
24. Ka2, Qxc5
25. Na4, Nc2!!
26. Kb1 ....

If 26. Nxc5, then 26. .... Rxb2 mate.

26. .... Qa3!!
(0:1)

White resigns.  If 27. Qxc2, then 27. ... Rfc8+, 28. Qd1 Rxb2+ and mate next move.