chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Veselin Topalov vs Garry Kasparov
"On Topa Things" (game of the day Sep-03-2006)
Euwe Memorial (1996), Amsterdam NED, rd 1, Mar-22
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B90)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 23 times; par: 115 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 41 more Topalov/Kasparov games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can step through the moves by clicking the < and > buttons, but it's much easier to simply use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Sep-11-07  chessarmenia: Probably,if i was topalov, id just simply play 65.Qxd6
Sep-11-07  RookFile: 65. Qxd6 Bxd6 66. Kxd6 f4 and both sides get a queen. I'm sure a tablebase probably shows white winning anyway, but it might be a bit problematic.
Mar-19-08  Alex Patkowski: This game is amazing!
Sep-06-08  The Rocket: This game shows how unatural moves like ra6 often are bad ones...

Of course there are exeptions but I have often found that the most natural moves is often the strongest one.

Nov-24-08  nthan: ý am sure that If Topalov did not play 28:Rfd1 he could win easier...This was a big false...
Dec-05-08  Abdooss: Short found the novelty 12..d5! prior to his 1993 World Championship Match against Kasparov. He dared not play it as White, as he feared Kasparov's legendary & fearsome preparation. Alas! Kasparov's Novelties were great but he is still Human. Topalov vs Short, 1996 Short played Sicilian Najdorf in later rounds after Toplaov defeated Kasparov in this line Topalov vs Kasparov, 1996
Feb-16-09  whiteshark: a foretaste...
Feb-23-09  NARC: Has anyone tried 8 Bxc6, 9 Nxe6
followed by 10 0-0 intending 11 b4?
Jan-26-10  elohah: 12...Qb6! Why did Kasparov not play
this?

What IS the answer??

Feb-11-10  zanshin: If <12...Qb6>, then <13.Qxf7+> causes problems. If Black tries to capture the Knight on d4, then Re1 is strong.
May-05-10  genie9: if 12... Qb6,then 13 Why did kasparov not play this? Garry Kasparov VS Veselin topalov 1999 in Netherlands
Feb-28-11  tonsillolith: I would give Topolov credit for his great play in the game, but he's guilty of plagiarism, as he didn't cite Fischer vs Taimanov, 1971 as the source whence he lifted the queenside pawn position.
Jun-16-11  NARC: Oops. In my previous comment I meant 8. Bxe6 instead of 8.Bxc6, which looks more like a white bishop behaving like a drunken knight.

Has anyone tried 8 Bxc6, 9 Nxe6
followed by 10 0-0 intending 11 b4?

I know it is not koscher to think like this.

Aug-27-11  ToTheDeath: The amazing king's knight took the route g1-f3-d4-c6-d8-f7-g5 and then back to f7 once more before giving up his life!
Sep-02-11  hedgeh0g: Was it really all worth it just to "win" a pawn in the opening?
Sep-02-11  Meister326: That knight sure hopped around a lot!

Was it really Kasparov playing Black and not White? He didn't look too happy defending.

Aug-08-12  kia0708: What Topalov is doing here to Kasparov is just unbelievable. Immortal game.

Today it is hard to imagine that Topalov was so fuc**ng BRILLIANT.

Aug-09-12  Savarkar 22: Kasparov doesn't resign for a long time even though the game was lost a lot earlier.....this shows he really is a Tiger. It's ok he lost this game against Topa....he's a human afterall. Anyways, well played Topalov....! This game was so heavy on tactics right from start...Incredible!
Nov-20-12  Cemoblanca: 14.Nc6!! What a move! The knight starts a nice tango trip with Kaspy! :D

15.Bd5! Safe!

16.Bg5!! Wow!

17.Nd8!! An unorthodox way to attack the pawn on f7! ;)

20.Ng5!! Rg7 (If 20...fxg5?? 21.f6! & later f7+, etc.)

23...Kxf7 Well, the tango trip came finally to a lucky end, but now its time for Cha-Cha-Cha! :D

25.Rad1! Kaspy's pieces aren't well connected, otherwise he had good fighting (Hmmm...hard to say drawing) chances!

48.Kf5! - It's in the game! ;)

Very entertaming game! ;) Surely 1 of his best performances!

Dec-06-14  bucefaloss: Hmm 12. ... d5 13. Re1 Bc5 14. Rxe4 Bxd4 15. Kh1 (no Se3) 0-0 16. Rg4! Good for white.
Jan-31-15  welhelm1982: That drunk knight drives across the board like acrazy there wasn't any officer or some thing he mases all things
Jan-31-15  thegoodanarchist: I didn't even know this game existed until today! What a gem played by Topalov against the then-champion.

thanks to <welhelm1982> for commenting on it today so it showed in the recent kibitzing section and therefore I could stumble onto it.

Jul-08-15  kia0708: WHAT A GAME !!!

Topalov brilliantly outplayed the great Kasparov.

Dec-28-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: Interestingly enough, Kasparov had already some experience with this whole variation:

TV viewers vs Kasparov, 1991.

Oct-05-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: 17. Nd8 is such a aesthetically pleasing move.
Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 4)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC