Author: Robin Smith
Date: 12:07:11 07/28/05
Go up one level in this thread
On July 28, 2005 at 07:49:16, George Tsavdaris wrote:
>The game with the most interesting Kasparov's comments:
>
>[Event "?"]
>[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
>[Date "1999.01.20"]
>[Round "?"]
>[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
>[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
>[Result "1-0"]
>[ECO "B07"]
>[WhiteElo "2812"]
>[BlackElo "2700"]
>[Annotator "Kasparov"]
>[PlyCount "87"]
>[EventDate "1999.01.20"]
>[Source "TaL's Chess"]
>[SourceDate "1999.01.20"]
>
>1. e4 { Nothing betokened a storm
>when I made this move. Topalov who is always eager to fight no matter if he
>has Black or White, if he plays me or any other adversary answered with } d6 {
>I was sincerely surprised. Pirc-Ufimtsev Defense is not a usual one for
>Topalov, and this opening is hardly worth using in the tournaments of the
>highest category. White has too many opportunities for anybody's liking: one
>can lead an acute or a positional game, one can vary different ways of
>developing the initiative. Nevertheless, Topalov obviously counted on surprise,
>as he thought that I would play worse in a situation I was not ready for, and
>besides, he hoped to avoid my opening preparation, which he had faced before.
>} 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 { That was when I began to think. I was actually
>engrossed in thoughts on the third move, I had often played 3.f3 threatening
>with King's Indian Defense. However, this opening couldn't scare Topalov off
>as he was used to it, moreover, that was what he reckoned on. That is why I
>decided to play at sight. I went for a position I had a definite idea about
>but never met in practice and, frankly speaking, had never seriously analyzed.
> } 4. Be3 Bg7 (4... c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 Bg7) 5. Qd2 c6 { As far as I know,
>Black usually plays c6 and b5 before the move Bg7, but I don't think that this
>shift changes something seriously. } 6. f3 ({It was also possible to play} 6.
>Nf3 b5 7. Bd3 {probably it was even better, but here I have to repeat that in
>this opening both adversaries relied not on exact knowledge but on common
>sense. }) 6... b5 7. Nge2 {
>A strange move.
>} ({If White wanted to play} 7.
>Bh6 $5 {he could do it at once, leaving the e2-square free for the other
>Knight and providing an opportunity to develop the other Bishop on d3.
>Theoretically this Knight could move to h3 one day.}) { Generally speaking,
>the move 7.Nge2 has no sense, its reason is purely psychological. I remembered
>that before the game, when we discussed the strategy with Yury Dokhoian, he
>said suddenly looking through Topalov's games: "You know, Garry, he does not
>like when the opponent makes the moves he can not predict. This affects him
>strangely." That is why I played 7.Nge2 and surprised Topalov. This move does
>not contain any threats but continues the development. However, it seemed to
>me that he did not like the character of the fight, as it did not correspond
>the ideas he had before the game. } 7... Nbd7 8. Bh6 {
>
>Better late than never. It is useful to exchange the Bishop.
>} Bxh6 9. Qxh6
>{ White achieved some sort of success as Black can not castle in a shorter
>direction. However, this achievement is rather ephemeral because the King can
>hide on the Queen-side as well. White King will also castle there as a result.
>Maneuverable fight is waiting ahead and White can not count on significant
>gains. } Bb7 ({Actually, if Black shows activity} 9... Qa5 {
>then there is a move} 10. Nc1 {and then the Knight moves to b3 with tempo.
>White will manage to stabilize the game and he will devoid Black of the
>opportunity to use the diversion of the white Queen on h6. }) 10. a3 $146 {
>I did not want to castle at once, because it was not clear how to defend the
>King after Qa5 from the b4 threat. That is why White makes a wait-and-see move
>that prepares a long castling and again, on Qa5 there is a move Nc1 that
>repulses the b4 threat.} (10. O-O-O $145 Qa5 11. a3 (11. Qd2 b4 12. Nb1) 11...
>b4 12. axb4 (12. Nb1)) 10... e5 { Topalov, after thinking for 11 minutes,
>decided to strengthen the position in the center and to prepare to castle long.
>Black had alternative plans, but this one looked most logical. } 11. O-O-O
>Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 { It was probably possible to castle at once, but Topalov
>defends his King from the potential threat of d5 just to be on the safe side.
>I doubt that this threat was that real, but Black found this move desirable.
> } ({White did not have a lot of opportunities either; he had to unravel the
>tangle of his pieces. That was why I decided to transfer the Knight to b3,
>taking advantage of the fact that now Black's attempt to play actively with
>a7-a5 would be repulsed:} 12... a5 $6 13. Nc1 b4 14. dxe5 $1 dxe5 (14... Ng8
>15. Qg7 Qxe5 16. Qxe5+ dxe5 17. Na4 $16) 15. Na4 bxa3 16. b3 $16) 13. Nc1 O-O-O
>14. Nb3 { The development of both sides is coming to its end. However, Black
>has to show some enterprise, as he is under some pressure. If White develops
>with g3, Bh3, and Rhe1, then it won't be easy for Black. Black's King is
>slightly weakened and, of course, he should have considered playing c6-c5, but
>then White would have a choice: close the position by playing d5, or even to
>exchange. It is probably more promising to close the center. White's
>space advantage lets him push for an attack. Then I hoped to make use of
>Black's weaknesses on the Queen-side. It was possible to move the Queen from
>h6 to b6 or to a7. This was an absurd thought: it flashed across my mind and
>immediately disappeared, but subconsciously I formed the idea that the Queen
>on b6 together with the Knight on a5 could make a lot of trouble, especially
>if the white Bishop appears on h3. This did affect the calculation of
>variations, but, the mere fact that such an idea surfaced served as a prologue
>to a wonderful combination. } exd4 $1 { A very good decision: relief in the
>center. Taking advantage of the fact that White is a bit backward in
>development, Black does not hesitate to open the game and relies on the
>possibility that active pieces will compensate for the weakened position of
>the King. } 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 $1 { A good move. Black prepares d6-d5,
>and I had to think hard for 10 minutes. Now we already have dim contours
>of a combination. I still could not imagine how it would look like but I
>realized that the moves g3 and Bh3 could not be bad. } 17. g3 { Now the Bisho
>p will move to h3, the Queen will return to f4, the Knight will go to a5, and
>the blow will take place somewhere in that area. At that moment, however, I
>did not know exactly what this blow would be like. Nevertheless, the idea to
>dispose the pieces in such a way already reigned over my mind. } ({
>What does White do next? Let's say if} 17. a4 $6 {
>then Black gets a good position after} b4 18. a5 bxc3 19. axb6 Nd7) ({
>And in case of} 17. Na5 d5 18. Nxb7 (18. g3 d4) 18... Kxb7 19. exd5 Nbxd5 20.
>Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Bd3 f5 22. Rhe1 Qc7 23. Bf1 c4 {we have a complicated position
>with mutual chances. Of course, the black King is out in the open, but the
>white Bishop is hemmed in by the pawns. Black is sound in the center, and it
>is most likely that the position is in a state of dynamic balance. }) 17...
>Kb8 {
>Topalov thinks that he has some time and can calmly prepare for d6-d5.
>
>} 18. Na5 ({It is important to say that if White had not played the Knight to
>a5 on the 18th move but immediately played} 18. Bh3 {
>then the white Knight would not have reached the a5-square after Nb3.
>}) 18...
>Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 { So, both sides have fulfilled what was planned: White has
>finished the development and Black has played d6-d5. Though, generally
>speaking, there was such an opportunity and it was possible to play Rhe1, but
>that would have been another game. I tried to systematically fulfill the plan
>that I expected to end in a sacrifice. The move 24.Rxd4 was already clear
>in my mind, though I had not yet realized the possibility of a draw by
>repetition of moves. I just saw the outline of an attack. } 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21.
>Rhe1 { That was when I saw the possibility of a draw. Moreover, I felt that
>there was a possibility to continue the game, to play without the Rook, though
>I could not imagine what it would lead to. However, the image of the black
>King on a5 comforted my heart and intuition given to every man from birth,
>intuition of an "attacker" (let's call it that way), told me that there would
>be decision and a mate net around the black King would be spun in spite of the
>huge material advantage of the adversary. Besides, I was whipped up by
>curiosity of unexplored. Will there ever be another opportunity to lure out
>the black King into the center of my own camp!? In the long run, Lasker's
>ancient game [Lasker, Edward - Sir Thomas, George. London 1912.] with a
>sacrifice on h7 and King's move g8-g1 was like a myth to us. Such a thing
>could happen only in those distant times, we assume. And suddenly, this
>opportunity! Topalov looked quite confident. He played } d4 ({Certainly, after
>} 21... dxe4 $2 22. fxe4 {the game is open and now the threat 23.Nd5 gives
>Black a lot of trouble: the black King is too weak. }) 22. Nd5 { Frankly spea
>king, this move is not the strongest but it serves as a prologue for a further
>combination. } ({White, of course, could have played} 22. Na2 {but after} Rhe8
>{or h7-h6 the game would have become very complicated. So naturally, my hand
>led the Knight to the center. }) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 {# (White to move)
> It seemed to me that Topalov was a bit surprised, as he thought that
>attacking resources had dried out. A check on c6 was senseless, the Knight
>will be beaten, the King will go to b6, and there is hardly any opportunity
>for White to move his Rooks toward the black King. The d4-pawn safely protects
>the d-rank, and there are no squares for intrusion on the e-rank. Actually,
>this was not quite right, and my next move, made without any hesitation,
>turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for Topalov. } 24. Rxd4 $3 { When I m
>ade this move, I saw only the repetition of the moves and the opportunity to
>continue the attack, though the whole picture of the combination was not yet
>clear. I already saw the idea 30...Rd6 31.Rb6, but I still could not get rid
>of the thought that all lines should be checked to the very end. Maybe black
>will find some opportunity for defense. Topalov spent about 15 minutes
>thinking. I walked around the hall - rather, I fled - and at these
>feverish moments it seemed to me that there were very few participants and
>that most of the games had already been finished. My mind worked only in one
>direction, and one of these moments brought me the image of the whole cluster
>of various lines. I saw the move 37.Rd7. I don't even remember how this line
>was formed in my head, but I saw the whole line up to the end. I saw the
>journey of the black King after 36.Bf1, 37.Rd7 and I could no longer suppress
>my excitement, because at that same moment I realized that the move 24...Kb6
>ruined the whole construction. The mere thought that I could spoil such a
>combination drove me crazy, and I only prayed that Topalov would capture on d4.
>I still was not sure that this would win, but the beauty of the combination I
>saw impressed me. I could not believe my own eyes when Veselin twitched
>abruptly and grabbed the Rook. As he explained after the game, he was
>exhausted by the tense fight and he thought that White would have to force a
>draw by the repetition of moves after the Rook was captured. He saw the main
>idea of the combination, but it did not occur to him that White would play
>without the Rook, trying to make use of the King's forward position on a4. }
>cxd4 $6 { This move loses the game, but it is worth an exclamation mark, as
>great combinations cannot be created without partners. If Topalov had not
>taken the Rook, the game could have finished in a draw: Veselin would have had
>half a point more, I - half a point less. He would have win a little bit, I
>would have lost a little bit, but chess and chess amateurs would have lost a
>lot. However, Caissa was kind to me that day... I do not know what I was
>rewarded for, but the development of events became forced after the capture on
>d4. } ({Maybe, if Topalov had played} 24... Kb6 $1 {
>then I could have found the move} 25. Nb3 $1 {
>which again makes it impossible to capture the Rook:} ({I was intending to play
>} 25. b4 {as I underestimated the fact that after} Qxf4 (25... Nxd5 26. Qxd6+
>Rxd6 27. bxc5+ Kxc5 28. Nb3+ Kb6 29. Kb2 Rhd8 30. Red1 Bc6 31. f4 Kc7 $11) 26.
>Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Nb3 Rd6 {
>Black's position is better.
>}) 25... Bxd5 $1 (25... cxd4 $2 26. Qxd4+ Kc7 27.
>Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 Rb8 29. Re7+ $18) (25... Nxd5 $2 26. Qxf7 Rhf8 27. Qg7 Rg8 28.
>Qh6 Qf8 29. Rh4 $16) 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1 $11 {
>and White keeps equality, but not more.
>}) (24... Bxd5 $6 25. Rxd5 Nxd5 26.
>Qxf7+ Nc7 27. Re6 Rd7 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 30. f4) 25. Re7+ $1 {
>I made this move with lightening speed. And there was nothing to think about.
>The Rook was inviolable. Such moves are always made with pleasure, and all I
>have said before (that the d-rank is closed by the d4-pawn and that there are
>no squares for intrusion on the e-rank) turned out to be ruined. Two white
>Rooks sacrifice themselves, and thus, the way to the black camp is opened for
>White's pieces. The construction I dreamt of - Queen on b6, Knight on a5 - has
>suddenly come true, because of the Bishop on h3. } ({I have to say that} 25.
>Qxd4+ $2 {did not achieve the goal because of} Qb6 26. Re7+ Nd7 {
>and White's attack fades away.}) 25... Kb6 ({If Black moves} 25... Kb8 $2 26.
>Qxd4 $1 {then after
>} Nd7 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 28. c4 $1 Qxe7 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+
>Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ $1 Bxc6 33. Nxc6 {Black loses by force.}) 26. Qxd4+
>Kxa5 ({Some of the participants, including Anand, asserted that the move} 26...
>Qc5 {saved the game. However, after} 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Be6 $3 {White closed
>the rank but left the opportunity to vary threats and to force Black into a
>desperate position. For example} Bxd5 (28... Rhe8 29. b4 $1 $18) 29. b4 $1 Ba8
>30. Qxf7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qxf3 32. Bf5 {would be the simplest way, as all the
>lines are closed and mate threats become inevitable. }) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 {
>I made the last move without hesitations. Frankly speaking, I could not make
>myself think as I strove for the end. I already saw it, and it seemed to me
>that it was the way to finish the game, that Black could not avoid it, and
>that there were no other defenses. Veselin gave me time when he was thinking
>himself, but I could not make myself look for another opportunity. My hopes
>were in vain! However, it is difficult to judge. It seems to me that the
>beauty of this combination is not inferior to a side line. Though in order to
>be objective from the point of view of chess truth, it would be stronger to
>play 28.Ra7!} (28. Ra7 $1 {This move was found by Lubomir Kavalek, probably
>with the help of a computer, as it is impossible to look through all the lines
>independently. Nevertheless, the idea found by Kavalek provided the
>opportunity to realize all problem motives in a clearer way, keeping Black
>from using new defensive resources. Such resources could appear in the game as
>played, though, frankly speaking, they were not enough. } {
>
>The strongest move, as in the game itself, is} Bb7 ({
>So, after 28.Ra7! both captures on d5 lose quickly:
>} 28... Nxd5 29. Rxa6+ $3
>Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 $18 {# (Black to move) and we
>approached the position when there was no defense from the threat of Queen's
>self-sacrifice on b3. Black can not attract another piece to control the a2-g8
>diagonal, as the white Bishop controls the e6-square.} (32. --)) ({
>The Bishop's capture on d5 also loses:} 28... Bxd5 29. Qc3 Rhe8 30. Kb2 Re2 {
>Black linked the c2-pawn and defended from the Qb3 threat. And here the Queen
>suddenly changes its route-} 31. Qc7 $1 {
>threatening with a mate from a5. And after} Qxc7 32. Rxa6+ {the King turns out
>to be mated by the white Rook. A wonderful scheme of mating pieces! }) 29.
>Rxb7 {The continuation after} Qxd5 ({After} 29... Nxd5 {
>White finds a new mating construction} 30. Bd7 $1 {threatening with Bxb5+ to
>expose the black King and to mate it again with the Rook, and after} Rxd7 {
>White varies the threats by the move} 31. Qb2 {
>threatening with a mate on from b3. The only move is} Nxb4 {and then} 32. Rxd7
>{attacks the Queen again. And there is a mate from b4 after} Qxd7 {
>} (32...
>Qc5 33. Rd4 {threatens to capture on b4 and on h8. And after} Rc8 {White plays}
>34. Qb3+ Ka5 35. axb4+ {and Black suffers crucial material losses.})) 30. Rb6
>a5 {
>} ({In case of} 30... Ra8 {White restores the material balance after} 31.
>Qxf6 {and continues the crucial attack} a5 32. Bf1 Rhb8 33. Rd6 {
>driving away the black Queen and the white Queen comes back and mates.}) {
>It seems that after} 31. Ra6 {Black can defend himself playing} Ra8 {
>but then a sudden change of a mating construction follows:} 32. Qe3 $3 {
>Right here, as after} Rxa6 {goes} 33. Kb2 {
>(which threatens mate on a3), and after} axb4 34. axb4 {
>the a3-square is open for a new mating construction.} {The only defense is}
>Qa2+ ({A capture on b4} 34... Kxb4 {postpones the mate by one more move.} 35.
>Qc3+ Ka4 36. Qa3# {checkmate.}) 35. Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36. Kb2 {Black has rather good
>material - two Rooks for the Queen - but White continues the attack and there
>is no escape from it:} Rc6 37. Bf1 {threatening with a mate from a3.} Ra8 38.
>Qe7+ Ka5 39. Qb7 {A mate threat on b5 results in the win of the Rook.
>}) 28...
>Qxd5 {
>Here, Topalov had less than half an hour, I had 32 minutes.
>} ({
>It would be even weaker to play} 28... Bxd5 {because of} 29. Kb2 $1 {
>with inevitable mate.}) 29. Ra7 $1 Bb7 30. Rxb7 ({
>White refuses the last opportunity to force a perpetual checkmate playing} 30.
>Qc7 {I was sure that White would achieve more.
>} Qd1+ $145 31. Kb2 Qd4+ 32.
>Kb1 $11) { It is important that there is no checkmate on d1, because the
>white King suddenly goes to a2 and it turns out that the threat Qb3 can be
>also supported by the King from the a2-square. That is why the black Queen
>has to be on d5 (one has to understand this very important moment), in order
>to control the b3-square and to be able to play Qd4 if the white King is on b2.
>Therefore, the Rook should be on d8. It leaves enough opportunities for most
>various problem motives that are more vivid in this particular line. Both
>adversaries saw the line and Topalov, having spent some of his precious
>minutes, played } 30... Qc4 { This is the most natural defense, and I
>counted on it, too. Moreover, this is the defense that leads to the most
>effective mating end that I had no rest from for the last 15-20 minutes, ever
>since its image mysteriously arose in my mind. Actually, Black had two other
>defenses, and each of them could have ruined the delicate conception that I
>had in mind. } ({The first one was} 30... Rhe8 {the move Topalov showed on
>the next day before the round started. Thus he drove me into a tight corner in
>my game with Reinderman, where I was deep in thought calculating various lines
>after 30...Rhe8 and, not being able to find the way out. I was very careless
>in the opening, making two slips and mixing everything up. Fortunately, I
>rethought quickly, got rid of all these fixed ideas and nightmares and played
>a marvelous game. However, Topalov's idea was not likely to live a long life,
>because everyone was interested in this game and the statement that the move
>Rhe8 could refute White's brilliant composition must have caused inward
>protest. So, at the end of the round, Lichterink proudly showed a brilliant
>victory for White.} {
>
>Thus, White plays} 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1 $3 {Objecting
>to ...Qc4, White creates a quiet threat Rd6, which is crucial in the case of
>Nd7.} ({It is important to note that the move} 32. Be6 {
>which suggests itself, does not achieve the goal:} Rxe6 33. Rxe6 {And Black,
>course, can not capture the rook on e6, as after Kb2 there is no defense from
>the mate, but plays} Qc4 {
>This is the very counter-sacrifice that I told you about.} {
>White has to beat c4:} 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 {and then} 36. Rxf7 Re8 {
>Black starts a counter-attack and, strange as it may seem, keeps good chances
>to win the ending. White cannot allow such exchanges and, as we can see,
>the c4-square is now crucial. Black could change the defense, playing 30...
>Rhe8. In this case one Rook would defend the a6-pawn from a8, and the move Kb2
>faces Qe5. The Rook controls the e5-square, and the Queen is ready to move to
>c4. That is why the key move is 32.Bf1!!} (36... --)) { Lichterink, most
>likely with the help of computer, found a unique defense. This is a
>counter-sacrifice that faces a marvelous, though probably also computer,
>denial. This is} 32... Re1+ {(after 32.Bf1)} (32... Nd7 33. Rd6 $1 Rec8 34. Qb2
>) ({If} 32... Re6 {then White simply makes an exchange on e6} 33. Rxe6 fxe6 {
>and plays} 34. Kb2) ({If} 32... Red8 {White plays} 33. Rc6 {
>and creates a threat Rc5, now we have Rd6 anyway after} Nd7 {
>as the d-rank is closed.} ({And after} 33... Nh5 {we can, for instance, play}
>34. Rc5 Rac8 35. Kb2 {And there is no way out again!}) 34. Rd6 {
>}) 33. Qxe1
>Nd7 {White Rook is captured, but the most important thing is that the black
>Knight tries to go to b6.} {
>However, after 33...Nd7 White makes a diverting Rook-sacrifice -} 34. Rb7 $1 ({
>and after} 34. Qc3 Nxb6 35. Kb2 {this Knight checks the King from c4,} Nc4+ {
>after} 36. Ka2 {he checks the King from d2,} Nd2+ {
>controls the b3-square, and suddenly Black wins.} (36... --)) {And after} 34...
>Qxb7 {there is that very computerlike ending:} ({
>It is necessary to beat the Rook, as after} 34... Ne5 35. Qc3 Qxf3 {
>the easiest way to the victory would be} 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Be4) 35. Qd1 Kxa3 36.
>c3 {and the white Queen mates in a stair-like way Qc1-c2-a2. Checkmate is
>inevitable! I do not know if it is possible to find this line during a
>game, but the beauty of the combination is absolutely irresistible. In essence,
>we deal with a problem of changing mates, which, as far as I can remember,
>have never been practiced by serious chess players. Such interchange of mates
>is characteristic only of special chess problems. }) ({
>Black has another counter-opportunity: he can make a sudden Knight-sacrifice}
>30... Ne4 $1 {and after} 31. fxe4 Qc4 {the idea becomes clear - if White
>follows the line of the game absent-mindedly, then after the move Bf1 in the
>very end of the line, Black will capture on e4 with check. The difference is
>that the white pawn moves from f3 to e4 and now this square is clear for the
>black Queen. } {After 31...Qc4 the right move would be} 32. Ra7 {
>as it threatens with a mate on a6 again.} ({
>Of course, White does not have to play} 32. Qf6 {though after} Kxa3 33. Qxa6+
>Kxb4 34. Bd7 {he is not at risk. The game, however, would end in a draw}) ({
>The move} 32. Qe3 $2 {is not promising either. Black plays} Rc8 {
>which is the same counter-sacrifice} 33. Bxc8 Rxc8 {
>approaching to the counter-attack:} 34. Qc1 Qd4 $1 {
>- the best way. And White has accept a draw.
>}) ({
>A capture on c4 gives Black chances to win and leads to a complicated ending:}
>32. Qxc4 $6 bxc4 33. Kb2 {The best move is} f5 {and after} 34. exf5 {
>Black has to play} c3+ {and give an intermediate checkmate} ({as after} 34...
>Rd6 35. fxg6 c3+ {White plays} 36. Ka2 hxg6 37. Bf1 {
>and we come across mating constructions once again: either Bc4-Bb3, or Bb5-Ra7.
>}) {However, after} 35. Kxc3 Kxa3 36. f6 Rd6 37. f7 Rc6+ 38. Kd4 Rxc2 39. Bf1 {
>White has some chances to win. Maybe he will win the ending because of a
>strong pawn and the opportunity to push the King to g7. However, White didn't
>start this combination to win the ending. Fortunately, a detailed analysis
>shows that White has a better opportunity. }) {And after} 32... Rd1+ ({
>Now after} 32... Ra8 {White wins playing} 33. Qe3 {in order to play Kb2 after}
>Rxa7 (33... --)) 33. Kb2 Qxc3+ 34. Kxc3 Rd6 {we come to an ending, but this
>ending if different from the previous one. The black King is still threatened
>with a mate. The pawn has not yet left the b5-square and White can continue
>forcing threats, in spite of the disappearance of the Queens:} 35. e5 Rb6 36.
>Kb2 Re8 ({where else? if} 36... Rd8 {then} 37. Bd7) 37. Bg2 $1 {Thus, after}
>Rd8 {Black controls the d5-square, and then} ({in order to play} 37... Rxe5 38.
>Bb7 {and then} Re7 39. Bd5 {and suddenly the Bishop gets at b3. As we know,
>the result would be just as if the Queen were there.} (39. --)) 38. Bb7 Rd7 39.
>Bc6 $3 {# (Black to move)
>
> Now after} Rd2 ({And after} 39... Rd8 40. Bd7 {
>we receive the position in question. Black is paralyzed and can do nothing but
>wait for a disgraceful end.}) {the move} 40. Be8 {will decide.
>}) ({Of course,
>} 30... Rd6 31. Rb6 $1 {is an effective variant, but not very complicated. The
>black Rook on d6 can not do two things simultaneously: defend the a6-pawn and
>control the d4-square, as Black has to play Qd4 after Kb2. } Rxb6 $145 32. Kb2
>Qd4 33. Qxd4 Nd7 34. Qd3 Nc5 35. Qb3+ Nxb3 36. cxb3#) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 { Topalov
>still erred in thinking that White had nothing better than 32.Qxa6 Kxb4 and 33.
>Bd7. Really, White has no other possibilities as the King is under mate
>himself. } ({Black misses the best defense that let him continue the
>resistance in the ending playing} 31... Rd1+ $1 {And then} 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6
>$1 {threatening a mate from a5.} Qd4+ ({At} 33... a5 34. Bd7 {is decisive}) 34.
>Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 {Technically, it is the most complicated decision.
>
>} ({
>I planned to play 35.Bd7. Analysis showed that this was also enough for the
>victory. White tries to dominate, to press the black pieces, and he prepares
>to move the King-side pawns, taking advantage of the fact that the Rook should
>be on a8. Black tries to defend himself from Bb5+ and not to let the Bishop go
>to b3. Nevertheless, he does not succeed. After} 35. Bd7 $5 Rd2 36. Bc6 f5
>37. Rb6 Ra7 38. Be8 Rd4 39. f4 {Black is nearly stalemated.} Rc4 40. Bf7 Rxb4+
>41. axb4 Rxf7 42. c3 {After} Ra7 {the only way is to play} 43. Re6 a5 44. Re1 {
>and we come across a new mating construction. This time it is a frontcheckmate
>from a1; the Rook mates the black King on the a-rank.}) {
>
>Black must play}
>35... a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ {and it turns out that the Rook
>can not capture on b4 because after c3 this Rook is trapped and the ending is
>technically won. Then after} Kb6 (38... Rxb4 39. c3) 39. Rxh7 Rc8 40. h4 {
>White has to win this position without much trouble. The Bishop and three
>pawns are much stronger than the Rook. White's disposition is marvelous and
>his victory is a point of time. However, the continuation 35.Bd7 was more
>effective, and I counted on it during the game because, frankly speaking, I
>did not see that after 38.axb4+ Rxb4 the move 39.c3 trapped the Rook.}) {
>Nevertheless, Topalov took on a3 with the King, and the line I dreamt of
>came true! Once again, tried to check the lines, and, afraid to believe
>my own eyes, I made sure that what I had thought of for so long was just about
>to happen. It seemed to go on for ages, but in fact, it took not more than two
>minutes. Then followed } 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 {# (White to move)
>} 33. c3+ $1 {
>Probably, that was when Topalov realized everything. Of course, he saw the
>move 36...Rd2 and then, as it often happens to chess players, he immediately
>saw 37.Rd7. Black has no choice, he has to take with the King on c3. } Kxc3
>34. Qa1+ Kd2 ({There is no way back:} 34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Ka5 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37.
>Ra7+ {winning the Queen.
>}) 35. Qb2+ Kd1 { The black King has made the way
>to his Calvary - from e8 to d1 - across the whole chessboard! And when it
>seems that he has reached a quiet harbor (White has no more checkmates), the
>Bishop, which was on h3 and did nothing but shot in the emptiness and defended
>the e6 square, made his move. } ({Another change of mating constructions! In
>fact, we should not forget another opportunity: in stead of 35...Kd1} 35... Ke3
>{can be played, then the continuation would be} 36. Re7+ Kxf3 37. Qg2#) 36. Bf1
>$1 {# (Black to move) White attacked the Queen who can not escape: if he
>retreats along the c-rank the move 37.Qe2 and a checkmate would follow, and
>retreat to e6 will cause a mate from c1. } ({
>This is one more of the innumerable mating finals. Thus, after} 36. Bf1 {
>the Bishop is also inviolable, as after} Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ {- I don't
>know who would like such a mate. This is a trifle in comparison with all we
>had before. }) 36... Rd2 { Black makes a counterblow and for another second
>it seems that the worst is left behind, because White seems to have no more
>resources.} (36... Qc5 37. Qe2#) (36... Qe6 37. Qc1#) { With one more second
>to rest, Black will announce checkmate to the white King himself. But this is
>where the white Rook enters. } 37. Rd7 $1 {# (Black to move) The
>weakness of the a1-h8 diagonal is the most important element of this
>combination. Usually everything depends on such trifles. If only the black
>Rook had been on g8, there would have been no combination at all... And after
>37.Rd7 Black has nothing else to hope for. However, Topalov still continued
>the fight mechanically. Black has to take the Rook on d7. } Rxd7 $1 38. Bxc4
>bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 { This moves gives the illusion of activity. If Black
>suddenly takes on h7, then after c3 he will queen the black pawn. But we did
>not play draughts, it was not obligatory to capture, and now the Queen could
>show her true strength. } 40. Qa8 {
>Moving closer to the battlefield.
>} c3
>41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 { And thus Black is deprived of the last hope to get a
>position of "the Rook against the Queen" that demands a certain accuracy from
>the strongest side, if playing a computer. And still, as practice has proved,
>a weaker side in the battle of two chess players is not able to resist, as it
>is nearly impossible to make a "computer move" that would take the Rook away
>from the King. However, it is not necessary to know all these nuances. White
>keeps a lot of pawns so that Black could hope to win them sometime. } f5 43.
>Kc1 {
>Neutralizes any Black's hope connected with c-pawn.
>} Rd2 44. Qa7 {
>The Queen starts attacking black pawns, and the h2-pawn is inviolablebecause of
>Qg1+. Topalov resigned and this wonderful game was over.} 1-0
Kasparov's comment that after 25. Nb3 Bxd5 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1
"White keeps equality, but not more." seems to be incorrect; black appears to
retain significant pressure.
-Robin
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