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Garry Kasparov vs Nigel Short
Sarajevo (1999), Sarajevo BIH, rd 3, May-19
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation. English Hybrid (E20)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Given 16 times; par: 61 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
May-23-03  Pterodactylus: Is Kasparov's attack here sound? I can't find a convincing continuation for white if black plays 30… Bc6. Also after 32… Rc8 black is crushed, whereas 32… Bxg6 seems to keep the game alive. I think white’s best try is then 33.a4.
May-23-03
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: 30...Bc6 seems to be a very good move. It neutralizes possible Qh7+ as after Qxh7 gxh7++ Kh8 the field g8 is protected by Rook at a8 and it also attacks Bishop e4 disrupting white's initiative. Continuations like 31.Rh5 Qg7, 31.Bc2 Qg7 or 31.Bxc6 bxc6 don't look very promising for white.
May-15-05  notyetagm: Igor Stohl's analysis claims that 30 ... ♗c6! ends the White attack and wins for Black.
May-22-09  Makiavel: 30...B*g6 31.R*g6 R*g6 32.Q*g6+ and white still have good options threatning the pawn on e6 and the other one on b7 in case they exchange queens...the finale is for white as kaspy will be up a pawn and after Kg1 the rook is on his way to the king side with Rh1
Dec-20-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Domdaniel: No ending is necessary. White wins at once with 40...Kg5 41.Rg7+ Rg6 42.Qh4#
Jan-01-12  Beancounter: If my uncle was my aunt she would be called Carol not Bob. The point is Short didn't play Bc6. It's relatively straightforward to find a saving move in a sacrificial game when the clock is not ticking and you are not sitting opposite 'the man'; an entirely different thing when you are under pressure.
Jan-12-12  Capacorn: I was just looking at this game on Youtube. IM David Pruess analyses it in his tribute to Kasparov, "the greatest chess player ever." David points out 30...Bc6 as the correct move. I'm with Beancounter on this one. There really aren't too many perfectly played games in chess history. What's most important to someone like myself are the spectacular and instructive ideas behind these brilliant moves. This game is a terrific example of Garry's style of play.
Feb-07-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: 10..Nb6 was a new idea looking for counterplay on the queenside before White activates his bishops; 10..e5 is more often played. After Kasparov sacrificed a pawn with 15 c4!? to lure Black's queen to an awkward square Short bravely provoked Kasparov to sacrifice a bishop with 17..h6!?; 17..Bd7 was an alternative. Kasparov provided the following beautiful attacking variation: 21..Ng6 22 h4..Nc4 23 h5..Nge5 24 Rxc4..Nxc4 25 Qf6..Kh7 26 h6..Rg8 27 Qxf7+..Kh8 28 Qf6+..Kh7 29 e5..Nd2 30 Nd6..Bd7 31 Rxb7..Qd1+ 32 Kh2..Qh5+ 33 Bh3..Nf3+ 34 Kg2..Nh4+ 35 Qxh4!..Qxh4 36 Rxd7+..Kxh6 37 Bf5!..Qb4? 38 Rh7+..Kg5 39 Bc2 with a mating net. Kasparov thought that the best way to continue the attack would have been 25 Rb3! with the idea of g4 and Rh3 although even here with best defense the game would have been drawn. Objectively, Kasparov should have taken the perpetual with 26 Rxg6+ but instead gambled with 26 h5?. Kasparov's decision to keep more pieces on the board with 30 hxg?! would have backfired had Short found 30..Bc6! or later 32..Rd8!: ie 32..Rd8 33 Rh5..Bxg6 34 Bxg6..Qxg6 35 Rh8+..Kg7 36 Rxd8..Qxb1+ 37 Kg3..Qh7 with insufficient compensation for the piece. Instead, in time pressure, Short spoiled his previous fine defensive efforts.
Feb-08-13  morfishine: Stunning game, despite the improvement 30...Bc6
Jul-25-16  andrea volponi: 17...Ad7-Tfc1 Da4-Cd6 Da3!=
Mar-23-17  clement41: Considering the way white conducted the game + the virtually forced combination starting at white's 33rd, this game is simply dazzling!

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