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.

Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Romanishin Attack

MISO CEBALO vs. VISWANATHAN ANAND
7th Corsica Open, 2003

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. NF3, b6
4. Nc3, Bb7
5. a3, d5
6. cxd5, Nxd5
7. Bd2 ....

The Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Romanishin Attack.  The move prepares for a Queenside castling.

7. .... Nd7
8. Nxd5, Bxd5
9. Qc2, Rc8
10. e4,Bb7
11. 0-0-0, Be7
12. Kb1, 0-0
13. Bc3, c5
14. d5, exd5
15. exd5, c4!
16. h4, Re8
17. Be2, Rc5
18. Ng5, Nf8

Protects the h7 pawn and adds pressure on d5.

19. Bf3, Bxg5
20. hxg5, Qxg5
21. Bb4, Rxd5

22. Rxd5, Bxd5
23. Rh5?? ...

To an untrained eye, this may look like a good move, winning an extra piece.  But Black's reply shows this to be a blunder.  White's best chance to equalize is 23. Bxf8 Kxf8, 24. Qxh7 f6, 25. Qh3 Be6, 26. Qh8+ Ke7, 27. Qh2 Qe5, 28. Qh4 Kd6, 29. Ka1 Kc7, 30. Qh7 Qg5, with a clear (but not yet decisive) Black advantage.

23. .... Qxh5!!

White resigns.  If 24. Bxh5, then 24..... Be4, 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 leaves Black with material advantage.  Impressive victory for Vishy Anand.

Victor Korchnoi

Korchnoi is a four times USSR chess champion (1960, 1962-63, 1964-65, 1970), two times winner of the interzonal tournaments for world championship, winner of two Candidates Tournaments (1977, 1980) and five time European champion. Victor Korchnoi played three matches with Anatoly Karpov for the World Chess Championship (two official matches in 1978 and 1981, and the 1974 Candidates' Final which later won Karpov the title by forfeit against Bobby Fischer). He also became a six time Chess Olympiad winner as a member of the Soviet team.

VICTOR KORCHNOI vs. ANATOLI KARPOV
Moscow, 1974
Queen's Indian Defense, Anti-Queen's Indian System

1. d4, Nf6
2. Nf3, e6
3. g3, b6
4. Bg2, Bb7
5. c4, Be7
6. Nc3 ....

The Anti-Queen's Indian System, which seeks to control the d5 square.

6. .... 0-0
7. Qc2, c5
8. d5, exd5
9. Ng5 ....

Part of the Anti-Queen's Indian System, the move threatens mate at h7 while attacking the d5 pawn.

9. .... Nc6
10. Nxd5 ....

If 10. cxd5 then Black drives the White Queen away by 10....Nd4. The text allows White to maintain pressure.

10. .... g6

Black eliminates the threat, but White maintains pressure at the center.

11. Qd2, Nxd5
12. Bxd5 ....

White maintains the pin on the b7 Bishop.

12. .... Rb8
13. Nxh7!!, Re8

Of course not 13....Kxh7 because of 14. Qh6+ Kg8; 15. Qxg6+... with a devastating attack.

14. Qh6, Ne5
15. Ng5, Bxg5
16. Bxg5, Qxg5
17. Qxg5, Bxd5
18. 0-0 ....

Black hoped for 18. cxd5 Nf3 double check! But Korchnoi saw the plan. Without the Queen, Black has already lost the game. The succeeding moves have become irrelevant.

18. .... Bxc4
19. f4, Resigns

Queen's Indian Defense

BORIS SPASSKY vs. MIKHAIL TAL
Montreal 1979

Queen's Indian Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nf3, b6
4. e3, Bb7
5. Bd3, d5
6. b3, Bd6
7. 0-0, 0-0
8. Bb2, Nbd7
9. Nbd2, Qe7
10. Rc1, Rad8
11. Qc2, c5
12. cxd5, exd5
13. dxc5, bxc5
14. Qc3, Rfe8
15. Rfd1, d4
16. exd4, cxd4
17. Qa5 ....

If 17. Nxd4 then 17....Bxh2, 18. Kxh2 Ng4+, 19. Kg1 Qh4 with good attacking chances.

If 17. Qxd4, then 17....Ne4, 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 also with good attacking possibilities.

17. .... Ne5
18. Nxe5, Bxe5
19. Nc4, Rd5
20. Qd2, Bxh2+
21. Kxh2, Rh5+
22. Kg1, Ng4
White resigns.

Black intends to place his Queen at h4, then mate next move.

If 23. g3, then Black mates by 23....Rh1+.

If 23. f3, then Black replies with 23....Rh1+; 24. Kxh1 Qh4+, 25. Kg1 Qh2+, 26. Kf1 Qh1 mate.