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Garry Kasparov vs Vladimir Kramnik
"Vlad the Impaled" (game of the day Jan-09-2012)
Novgorod (1994), Novgorod RUS, rd 4, Aug-??
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan. Sveshnikov Variation Chelyabinsk Variation (B33)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 7 OF 7 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Oct-28-15  Reavvan: oh im sorry i didn't see your answer nerwal,thank you nerwal
Nov-25-15  PJs Studio: Poetic that 35...Qf8 loses instantly. I suspect Kramnik spent his time calculating 35...Qe7 36.Qe5! Bc6 (because something like 36...e3 runs head first into 37.Qb8+! Qd8 38.Bf7+ Ke7 39.Qxb7) 37.g4 and black is going to lose the ending soon.
Jan-23-16  Timi Timov: "Vlad the impaled"? Come on, a bit more respect!
Sep-05-16  kishore4u: Superb!!
Apr-29-17  BerkErdemoglu: Excuse me for my ignorance, but why did Kramnik play Qf8?
Apr-29-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: <BerkErdemoglu> Have you already studied the comment above by <PJs Studio> on Nov-25-15?
May-29-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: The mighty Kasparov presents this game at the very start of "Garry Kasparov's Chess Challenge" (Cadogan Chess, London, 1994, translated and edited by Ken Neat) which is a wonderful collection of sharp and instructive combinations from 1994 in test format. If World Champion Kasparov or any of the fine people from Cadogan Chess Books ever visit here, I hope they let this post stand to help teach juniors and students, then perhaps allow the site to incorporate his insightful annotations into the gamescore someday:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 0-0 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. h4!? Ne7 14. Nxf6+ <The most natural continuation - by breaking up the opponent's pawns, White aims for active play on the kingside.> gxf6 15. Qd2 <15. Bd3 is probably stronger, as played in the game Kasparov vs Lautier, 1994 at the Olympiad in Moscow. Sooner or later Black will have to open the centre with ... d6-d5, and then in the sharp piece play White's chances are better.> Bb7 16. Bd3 d5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. 0-0-0! <White sacrifices his a2 pawn, unequivocally declaring his intentions of attacking the black king.> e4 < 18 ... Qxa2 19. Qh6 e4 20. Be2 would have transposed.> 19. Be2 Qxa2 <Black accepts the challenge, rather than have to endure a difficult defense in the endgame after the exchange of queens.> 20. Qh6 Qe6 <20 ... f5 21. Qg5+ Ng6 22. h5 f6 23. Qxf5 is bad for Black.> 21. Nd4 Qb6 22. Rh3 <In such positions matters are usually decided by a piece attack. White had an alternative in 22. g4!? Kh8 23. Nf5 Nxf5 24. gxf5. It appears that Black is lost, for example, 24 ... Rbd8 25. Rd7!! Bc8 26. Bh5!! Bxd7 27. Bg6 and wins, but the cool 24 ... Rfd8! 25. Bh5 e3! 26. Rhg1 Rxd1+ 27. Bxd1 Rg8 would enable him to maintain a shaky equality.> Kh8 23. Bg4 Rg8


click for larger view

<The position demands decisive action of White - his pieces are active, and he has the initiative. It is clear that the defence of the f6 pawn by the queen from b6 must be blocked, but which piece should be placed at e6, bishop or knight?> 24. Ne6? <The wrong choice. 24. Be6! was stronger, and after the only move 24 ... Rg6! 25. Qf4 Black would face difficult problems. He loses after 25 ... Bc8 26. h5 Rg7 27. Qxf6 Ng8 28. Qe5!, or 25 ... Rf8 26. h5 Rg7 27. Qxf6 Ng8 28. Qe5. The strongest is the paradoxical 25 ... fxe6 26. Qxb8+ Rg8 27. Qh2 e5, with sufficient compensation for the exchange.> Rg6 <The universal defensive move.> 25. Qf4 Re8? <In severe time trouble (Black had only about two minutes left on his clock) Kramnik goes wrong. The correct 25 ... Bd5! would have obliged White after 26. Bh5 Bxe6 27. Bxg6 Nxg6 (27 ... hxg6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Qxe7 Bxh3 30. gxh3 Qxf2 31. Qxe4 with a draw) 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Re3 to seek equality in a complicated situation.> 26. Rd6 Nd5! <After 26 ... Qa5 White would have won by 27. h5 Rxg4 (or 27 ... Qa1+ 28. Kc2 Qa4+ 29. Kb1 Rxg4 30. Qxf6+ Kg8 31. Ng5!) 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Ng5! Qa1+ 30. Kc2 Qa4+ 31. Kb1 Qb3 32. h6 Rxg5 33. Qxg5+ Ng6 34. Qf6 Kf8 35. Rd7.>


click for larger view

27. h5!! <A brilliant attacking resource. The queen sacrifice enables White to gain a decisive advantage.> Nxf4 28. hxg6 Qxd6 <White would also have won easily after 28 ... Rxe6 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. gxf7+ Kf8 31. Rh8+ Kxf7 32. Bxe6+ Nxe6 33. Rxb6.> 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. gxf7+ Kxh7 31. fxe8=Q Nxe6 32. Bf5+ Kg7 33. Qg6+ Kf8 34. Qxf6+ Ke8 35. Bxe6 <The combinational storm has abated, and the resulting ending is a prosaic win for White.> Qf8 <A blunder in time trouble, of course, but equally after 35 ... e3 36. fxe3 Bxg2 37. Bf7+ Kd7 38. Be8+ Kc7 39. Qg7+ Kd8 40. Qxg2 Kxe8 41. Qe4+ White would have easily won the pawn ending following the exchange of queens.> 36. Bd7+ Black Resigns.

<two minutes> Yikes.

Thanks to World Champion Garry Kasparov and the fine people at Cadogan Chess Books for this highly instructive attacking game.

Happy Memorial Day!

Oct-04-17  Whitehat1963: Wow!! I may have seen this before. I imagine I have, but it’s still breathtaking anyway.
Nov-04-17  notyetagm: Game Collection: NOTYETAGM'S ABSOLUTE FAVORITE GAMES
Aug-24-19  agb2002: I know this game. Interestingly, 27.Rxb6 Nxf4 28.Nxf4 Rxg4 29.Nh5 looks advantageous for White due to the double threat Rxb7 and Nxf6 but the simple 29... Bc8, aiming at the rook on h3, achieves some kind of dynamic equality: 30.Nxf6 Rxg2 31.Rg3 Rxg3 32.Nxe8 Rf3 33.Nd6 etc.
Aug-24-19  1stboard: Nice text move by white 36 Bd7+ ( !! )

Can someone run thru " Fritz or Stockfish " if black plays 35 Bc6 does it hold the posistion? ( yes black is still a pawn down )

Aug-24-19  mel gibson: That's beyond my skills.
Wow - those guys are human computers.
Stockfish 10 follows their exact moves
from 27 to 35!

27. h5

(27. h5 (h4-h5 ♘d5xf4 h5xg6 ♕b6xd6 ♖h3xh7+ ♔h8-g8 g6xf7+ ♔g8xh7 f7xe8♕ ♘f4xe6 ♗g4-f5+ ♔h7-g7 ♕e8-g6+ ♔g7-f8 ♕g6xf6+ ♔f8-e8 ♗f5xe6 ♗b7-a8 g2-g4 ♕d6-d3 ♗e6-f7+ ♔e8-d7 g4-g5 ♗a8-c6 ♗f7-e6+ ♔d7-c7 ♕f6-f4+ ♕d3-d6 ♕f4-f5 ♕d6-d3 ♗e6-b3 ♕d3-f1+ ♗b3-d1 ♔c7-b6 ♕f5-f6 ♕f1-g1 ♔c1-c2 ♔b6-c7 g5-g6 e4-e3 ♕f6-e7+ ♗c6-d7 ♕e7-e5+ ♔c7-c8 ♕e5-c5+ ♔c8-d8 ♕c5-b6+ ♔d8-c8 ♕b6xa6+ ♔c8-c7 ♕a6-a7+ ♔c7-c8 ♕a7-c5+ ♔c8-d8 ♕c5-b6+ ♔d8-c8 f2xe3 ♗d7-f5+ ♔c2-d2 ♕g1xg6 ♕b6xb5 ♕g6-d6+ ♔d2-c1 ♗f5-d7 ♕b5-c4+ ♔c8-d8 ♗d1-e2 ♔d8-e7 ♕c4-e4+ ♔e7-d8 ♕e4-a8+ ♔d8-e7 ♕a8-a7) +3.95/44 310)

score for White +3.95 depth 44.

Then Black makes a blunder & plays
35... Q-f8

Black should have played
35... B-a8.

but following the blunder 35... Q-f8.

36. Bd7+

(36. Bd7+ (♗e6-d7+ ♔e8xd7
♕f6xf8 ♗b7-d5 ♕f8-g7+ ♔d7-d6 ♕g7-a7 a6-a5 ♕a7xa5 ♗d5-c4 ♕a5-d8+ ♔d6-e6 ♕d8-b6+ ♔e6-f7 ♕b6-c6 ♗c4-f1 ♕c6xe4 ♗f1-c4 ♕e4-e3 ♗c4-b3 ♕e3-f4+ ♔f7-g6 ♕f4-e4+ ♔g6-f6 g2-g4 ♗b3-c4 ♕e4-f5+ ♔f6-g7 g4-g5 ♔g7-g8 ♕f5-f3 ♗c4-b3 ♕f3-f6 ♗b3-c4 ♕f6-e7 b5-b4 ♕e7-e8+ ♔g8-g7 ♕e8-e5+ ♔g7-g6 ♕e5-e4+ ♔g6xg5 ♕e4xc4 b4-b3 ♕c4-b5+ ♔g5-g6 ♕b5xb3 ♔g6-f5 ♕b3-d5+ ♔f5-g4 ♕d5-e4+ ♔g4-g5 ♕e4-e7+ ♔g5-f5 ♕e7-d7+ ♔f5-f6) +73.87/43 366)

score for White +73.87 depth 43

Aug-24-19  devere: 27.h5!! is an amazing move. This game gives a good insight into just how talented Kasparov was at his peak.
Aug-24-19  thegoodanarchist: Three pieces hanging, including the queen, and we get a pawn move! LOL

Reminds me of one of Alexander Alekhine 's annotations:

<This little pawn threatens by its further advance to set on fire the black King's residence - and cannot possibly be stopped from that dark design.>

Alekhine vs Weenink, 1931 (kibitz #1)

Aug-24-19  RandomVisitor: After the proposed improvement for black 25...Bd5

Note that in comments above provided by <tpstar> "The mighty Kasparov presents this game at the very start of "Garry Kasparov's Chess Challenge" (Cadogan Chess, London, 1994, translated and edited by Ken Neat)" 25...Bd5 is only seen as a draw, with the proposed line 26. Bh5 Bxe6 27. Bxg6 Nxg6 (27 ... hxg6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Qxe7 Bxh3 30. gxh3 Qxf2 31. Qxe4 with a draw) 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 <29. Re3>. Stockfish would likely follow 29.Re3 with 29...b4 with black advantage.


click for larger view

Stockfish_19062709_x64_modern:

54/78 3:51:11 -1.50 26.Nd4 b4 27.cxb4 Ba8 28.Bf5 Nd5 29.Qd2 Qc7+ 30.Nc2 Nxb4 31.Bxg6 hxg6 32.Rb3 Nd3+ 33.Rxd3 exd3 34.Qxd3 Bxg2 35.Qd6 Rc8 36.Qxc7 Rxc7 37.Rd8+ Kg7 38.Kd2 Rc5 39.Ne3 Be4 40.Rd6 f5 41.Nd1 Bb7 42.Rb6 Rc7 43.b4 Be4 44.Ke3 Re7 45.Kf4 Rd7 46.Nc3 Bg2 47.Rxa6 Rd4+ 48.Ke3 Rxb4 49.Ra4 f4+ 50.Kd3 Rxa4 51.Nxa4 Kf6 52.Nc5 Kf5 53.Kd4 Bf1 54.Nd7 Be2 55.Ne5 f6 56.Nd7 Bb5 57.Nc5

54/94 3:51:11 -1.87 <26.Bh5 Bxe6 27.Bxg6 Nxg6 28.Qxf6+ Kg8 29.h5> Bxh3 30.Rd6 Qc5 31.hxg6 hxg6 32.gxh3 b4 33.Rd7 Qc4 34.Kd2 Rc8 35.Qd4 Qxd4+ 36.cxd4 b3 37.Ke3 Rc2 38.d5 Rxb2 39.Rd8+ Kg7 40.d6 Rb1 41.Rb8 Rd1 42.Rxb3 Rxd6 43.Kxe4 Re6+ 44.Kf4 a5 45.Ra3 Rf6+ 46.Kg3 Rf5 47.Re3 a4 48.Ra3 Ra5 49.Kf4 Kf6 50.Ke3 Ke6 51.Kd3 Kd5 52.Kc2 Kc4 53.Kb2 Rb5+ 54.Ka2 Rf5 55.Rxa4+ Kd3 56.Kb3 Rxf2 57.Ra7 Rf1 58.Rd7+ Ke3 59.Re7+ Kd4 60.h4 f5

Aug-24-19  Articalplayer: What a finish!
Aug-24-19  ewan14: Incredible game.
I have seen the future of chess and his name is .....
Aug-24-19  cunctatorg: Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
Sep-19-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  Clement Fraud: It might be the case that Garry Kasparov has - over the years - played down the disadvantage it would have given his position if Kramnik had found the correct defense (on move 25). One fact which is not in dispute, however, is that Vladimir never again attempted to play the Sveshnikov Variation against Kasparov (following this game); and furthermore, he never attempted a Sicilian Defense during his challenge for the world championship in 2000.
Mar-15-20  ewan14: Incredible
Nov-11-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  kingscrusher: We all paid the price of this game with endless Berlin walls in World championship matches :)
Nov-12-20  SChesshevsky: Not sure if Kasparov invented it but this game seems to be an early try at the Sveshnikov ...Rb8 then h4 then Nxf6 gxf6 idea. Something that really changed the dynamic. An idea that looks to give some more potential for white against the king. Old line after ...Rb8 seemingly slower with Be2, Qd3, 0-0 ideas.

Of course black came up with counters. One is after h4 ...g6 and then tuck with...Bg7. I'm not 100% convinced it equalizes but Carlsen seems to approve.

W So vs Carlsen, 2019

J K Duda vs Carlsen, 2019

Here's video of Duda game with great commentary by Leko:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KI...

Nov-23-21  SebasJT: Hello! You can watch a video of this chess game here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iiw...

Sep-11-22  Kristijanf: 27. h5 one of the greatest moves ever
Sep-10-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Pk21: What is written in "Garry Kasparov's Chess Challenge" (Cadogan Chess, London, 1994, translated and edited by Ken Neat) is interesting, remarkable and correct. Analyzing the position with SF16, it seems that beyond 24.Be6, there are two other moves better than 24.Ne6: 24.Bf5 to 24.Nf5. Very rich position and game indeed
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