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 ....

King's Indian Defense of Bobby Fischer

THOMASON vs. BOBBY FISCHER
King's Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3, Bg7
4. e4, d6
5. Nf3, 0-0
6. Bd3, Bg4
7. 0-0, Nc6
8. Be3, Nd7
9. Be2, Bxf3
10. Bxf3, e5
11. d5, Ne7

All prior moves are standard lines for King's Indian Defense.  Black's last move is a preparation for the eventual f5! which is aimed at dismantling White's central pawn structure.

12. Be2 ....

White also prepares for f4.

12. .... f5!
13. f4, h6
14. Bd3, Kh7
15. Qe2, fxe4!
16. Nxe4, Nf5!

The reason for Black's 15th move.  He is seeking a good post for his Knight.

17. Bd2, exf4
18. Bxf4, Ne5
19. Bc2, Nd4!

Excellent horsemanship.  The two knights are working in tandem to render White's Bishop Pair ineffective.

20. Qd2 ....

White has no choice.  If 20. Qf2, the game proceeds as in move 21.

20. .... Nxc4!
21. Qf2, Rxf4!!

Excellent play!  if White declines the offer, another piece (Bishop) will go down.

22. Qxf4, Ne2+
23. Kh1, Nxf4

White resigns.  He has lost his Queen.

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.

King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation Yates Defense

FLORIN GHEORGHIU vs. LUBOMIR KAVALEK
IBM 1969
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation Yates Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, Bg7
4. e4, d6
5. f3 ....

The Saemisch Variation.  Instead of the usual f4, White chooses to solidify support of the e4-pawn.

5. .... 0-0
6. Be3, Nc6

The Yates Defense, which invites White to push forward the d-pawn thus opening the long diagonal for Black's Bishop.

7. Nge2, Rb8
8. Qd2, Re8
9. Rd1, a6
10. Nc1, e5
11. dxe5, Nxe5
12. Be2, b5
13. cxb5, axb5
14. Bxb5, Nxe4!!

A brilliant surprise move, with the objective of weakening White's central position.

15. fxe4, Rxb5!!

One cannot help but wonder at Black's foresight....

16. Nxb5, Nc4!
17. Qf2, Rxe4!!

Effectively pinning the Bishop. White has no choice but to give up the piece. If 18. Rd3, then 18....Qe1 putting additional pressure on e3 while attacking the Knight at b5.

18. 0-0, Nxe3
19. Qxf7+, Kh8
20. Qxc7, Qxc7
21. Nxc7, Nxd1
22. Rxd1, Bd4+
23. Kf1? ....

White might have fared better had he placed the King at h1. The text move limited the movement of his own Rook.

23. .... Bg4
24. Rd2, Be3
25. Rc2, Rd4
(0:1)

White resigns, as he cannot prevent mate at d1. If 26. g3, then Black still wins with 26....Rd1+, 27. Kg2 Rg1 mate.

Castle Early Or You'll Be Sorry

Sometimes a player becomes so engrossed in his opening play that he forgets to castle. Such delay could be costly. The following game effectively demonstrates this important aspect of chess play.  See also The Importance of Castling.

PALAU vs. TE KOLSTE
London, 1927

King's Indian Defense

1. Nf3, Nf6
2. d4, g6
3. Nc3, d5
4. Bf4, Nh5

Black attempts to exchange a Knight for a Bishop. While this has theoretical basis, the move provokes a weakness in Black's pawn structure. Instead, 4....c6 or 4.....Bg7 should have been played.

5. Be5! ....

Some players may see this move as a waste of time, but it is instrumental in creating the weakness as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

5. .... f6
6. Bg3, Nxg3
7. hxg3 ....

The open h-file is advantageous to White.

7. .... Bg7
8. e3, c6
9. Bd3, e5?

Not having castled yet, this move is ill-timed.

10. Rxh7!!, Kf7?

If Black replies with 10....Rxh7, then White gains material with 11. Bxg6.

Black's best reply is 10....e4, though White still wins with 11. Rxg7 exd3, 12. Qxd3 Bf5, 13. e4 Kf8 (if 13....dxe4, 14. Qc4 wins), 14. exf5 Rh1+, 15. Kd2 Rxa1, 16. Rxb7 Kg8, 17. fxg6 etc.

11. Bxg6+ ....

The fireworks begin.

11. .... Kxg6
12. Nxe5!! ....

Outstanding! If 12.....Kxh7, 13. Qh5+ Kg8, 14. Qf7+ Kh7, 15. 0-0-0 and mate follows.

12. .... fxe5
13. Qh5+, Kf6
14. Qxe5+, Kf7

If 14....Kg6, 15. Qxg7+ Kf5, 16. g4+ Ke6, 17. Qe5 mate.

15. Qxg7+, Resigns

If 15....Ke6, then 16. Qe5 mate. Nothing short of elegant!

Play for Attack

An old chess adage says "An attack is the best defense." Some players are determined to play for an attack at all cost, and such style almost always pays dividends. The following game is interestingly such a masterpiece.

MARSHALL vs. BURN
Ostend, 1907
King's Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. Nf3, d6
3. Bf4, Nbd7
4. e3, g6
5. Bd3, Bg7
6. Nbd2, 0-0
7. h4!? ....

Such dubious move might be regarded with horror by modern chess theorists, but Marshall is determined in his attack.

7. .... Re8
8. h5!?, Nxh5
9. Rxh5!?, gxh5
10. Bxh7!? ....

10. .... Kxh7?

Black now loses the game because he allowed his King to be exposed to attack. He would have fared better if he moved 10....Kf8! and would give White a difficult time to recover his lost pieces.

11. Ng5+, Kg6

Not 11....Kg8 because of 12. Qxh5 Nf6, 13. Qxf7+ Kh8, 14. 0-0-0, and then Rh1+.

12. Ndf3 ....

Threatening 13. Qd3+ f5, 14. Nh4+ etc.

12. .... e5
13. Nh4+, Kf6

Of course not 13....Kh6, 14. Nxf7+ winning the Queen.

14. Nh7+, Ke7
15. Nf5+, Ke6
16. Nxg7+, Ke7
17. Nf5+, Ke6
18. d5+, Kxf5
19. Qxh5+, Ke4
20. 0-0-0, Resigns

White threatens 21. f3 mate. The only way to prevent this is to capture White's Bishop with 20....exf4, but then comes another bolt of lightning: 21. Rd4 mate.

An entertaining yet instructive piece of game.

King's Indian Defense

The King's Indian Defense was already discussed in previous postings. It is a hypermodern opening, where Black deliberately allows White control of the centre with his pawns, with the view to subsequently challenging it with the moves ...e5 or ...c5. It is a dynamic opening, exceptionally complex, and a favourite of players such as former world champions Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, and Mikhail Tal.

RENE LETELIER MARTNER vs. ROBERT JAMES FISCHER
Liepzig Olympiad Prelim 1960

King's Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, Bg7
4. e4, 0-0

The normal continuation is 4....d6.  Fischer decided to complicate the opening in order to break loose White's central pawn structure.

5. e5, Ne8
6. f4, d6
7. Be3, c5
8. dxc5, Nc6
9. cxd6, exd6
10. Ne4, Bf5
11. Ng3, Be6
12. Nf3, Qc7
13. Qb1?? ....

An odd move. It does not help White in any way. It even imprisoned his own Rook!

13. .... dxe5
14. f5 ....

Black's position is unassailable after 14. fxe5 Nxe5, 15. Nxe5 Bxe5.

14. .... e4!!
15. fxe6, exf3
16. gxf3, f5
17. f4, Nf6
18. Be2, Rfe8!
19. Kf2, Rxe6
20. Re1, Rae8
21. Bf3, Rxe3!!

22. Rxe3, Rxe3
23. Kxe3, Qxf4+!!
White resigns (0:1).

White loses if he takes the Queen (24. Kxf4 Bh6+ mate).

If 24. Kf2, then 24....Nd4, 25. Qd1 Ng4+, 26. Kg2 Ne3 double-check, and Black wins.

Bobby Fischer

 Robert James "Bobby" Fischer (born March 9, 1943), won the World Chess Championship on September 1, 1972 and lost the title when he failed to defend it on April 3, 1975. He is considered to be one of the most gifted chess players of all time and, despite his prolonged absence from competitive play, is still among the best known of all chess players.

"I am the best player in the world and I am here to prove it." - Bobby Fischer 

Not to be outdone, Fischer has his own Immortal Game.  This game was awarded the 1st Brilliancy Prize in the U.S. Chess Championship (1963-1964), and is considered one of the best games Fischer has ever played.

ROBERT BYRNE vs. BOBBY FISCHER

King's Indian Defense, Fianchetto Variation

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. g3, c6
4. Bg2, d5
5. cxd5 ....

Qb3 creates more tension. - Fischer

5. .... cxd5
6. Nc3, Bg7
7. e3, 0-0
8. Nge2, Nc6
9. 0-0, b6
10. b3 .....

White intends to develop his own Bishop at a3.

10. .... Ba6
11. Ba3, Re8
12. Qd2, e5
13. dxe5, Nxe5
14. Rfd1 ....

Fischer thinks that 14. Rad1 is more superior.

14. .... Nd3!!
15. Qc2 ....

White plans to capture the Knight by 19. Rxd3.

15. .... Nxf2!!
16. Kxf2, Ng4+
17. Kg1, Nxe3
18. Qd2 ....

Adding pressure on the d4 pawn.

18. .... Nxg2!!!

This dazzling move came as a shocker.  At this point, two grandmasters who were commenting on the play for the spectators in a separate room believed White had a won game.

19. Kxg2, d4!
20. Nxd4, Bb7+!!
21. Kf1 ....

If 21. Kg1, then 21. .... Re1+, 22. Rxe1 or 22. Qxe1 Bxd4+!! and the power of two Bishops comes into play.

21. .... Qd7 !!

White resigns, for he will lose his Queen after 22. Qf2 Qh3+, 23. Kg1 Re1+!!, 24. Rxe1 Bxd4.

The King's Indian Defense

From the Indian Games Openings, the King's Indian Defense is one of the most popular. Being relatively easy to play,  it is based on solid principles of development and counter attack and at the same time the complexity of the positions which arise, create spectacular combination and attacks. If White has four pawns at the center of the board during the opening, the variation is called the Four Pawns Attack.

In the King's Indian Defense, White masses his pawns to the center.  Black first develops its pieces, then tries to break White's center by means of various pawn advances.

SZUKSTA vs. TAL
Uppala, 1958
King's Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, Bg7
4. e4, d6

Black's game can easily become seriously cramped unless he is prepared to take vigorous measures.

5. f3, 0-0
6. Be3, e5
7. N1e2, c6

White can now maintain a fine game with Qd2 followed by 0-0-0.

8. Qb3? .....

This foolhardy move was played to restraint Black from freeing his game with ....d5.

8. ..... exd4
9. Nxd4, d5!
10. cxd5, cxd5
11. exd5, Re8

The first point of Black's Pawn sacrifice.  But the best is yet to be.

12. Kf2 .....

12. ..... Nc6

Beautiful play.

13. dxc6, Rxe3

This is what Black has been leading up to.  It is clear that 14. Kxe3 will not do because of 14. ..... Bh6+, 15. f4 Bxf4+ with a winning attack for Black.

After 14. cxb7 Qxd4!, the continuation might be 15. bxc8+  (not bxa8/Q  Re8 dis ch, 16. Kg3  Nh5 mate)  Rxc8.  Now Black should win, as may be seen from the following variations: 16. Qa4 Rxf3 dis ch, 17. Kxf3 Rxc3+ winning White's Queen -- or 16. Kg3  Nh5+, 17. Kh3 Qd7+ with mate in the offing.

14. Rd1, Ng4+
15. fxg4, Bxd4
16. Rxd4, Qxd4
17. Qd5, Re2+

An exquisite resource.

18. Kxe2, Bxg4+
19. Ke1, Re8+
20. Be2, Rxe2

White resigns as he is about to lose his Queen.