However, iIf White had a better position at move 24, it is only because of black's weaker move at move 22 (Nd7) and not because of any inherent strength in declining the sacrifice with Qe3. Komodo gives:

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Analysis by Komodo32 3 32bit (depth=24):

1. = (0.24): 22...Bd6 23.0-0-0 Nd3+ 24.Bxd3 Bxf4 25.Qxf4 cxd3 26.Rxd3 Qc7 27.Qg4 Rde8 28.Rd2 Kb7 29.Kb1 Rh6 30.Re2 Qf7 31.Rhe1 Na5 32.Rf1 Rf6 33.Rxf6 gxf6 34.Qh5 Qd7 35.Qg6 Nc4 36.Nh5 f5 37.Nf4

22 ... Bd6 is a much better move for black than 22 ... Nd7. In fact, Nd7 is not even one of Komodo's top 6 in move preferences at black's move 22.

The sacrifice 21 ... Ngxe5 creates a very unbalanced position. In exchange for the piece, black receives 2 pawns and an initiative. White's pieces are "entangled," and if he is able to "untangle" from this, of course with his additional material he'll be better. The trick is to get White "untangled." I do not agree that White's defense is "impenetrable." Black's asset is an advanced 4-3 queen-side pawn majority which it can throw at a White king that has to keep moving towards the queenside. In the Komodo line above, this can create a c-pawn which black can push to c2, and its promotion creates some significant defensive issues for White. This Komodo line:

24.Bg4 Be3 25.Qg2 d4 26.Ne4 Kb8 27.a4 bxa4 28.Nd6 Bg5 29.Ra3 Bh4+ 30.Kd1 Rhf8 31.Bf3 Be7 32.Rf1 Rxd6 33.exd6 Bxd6 34.Rxa4 dxc3 35.Kc1 Qe3+ 36.Kb1 Qd3+ 37.Ka2 c2 38.Rxa6 Qb3+ 39.Ka1 Rxf3

is quite fun to work through, because there are quite a few tactics in here where black has to keep sacrificing to keep the initiative.

Right on.

<Here Radjabov, 15 years old, ends Kasparov's 6 year undefeated streak at Linares and 7 seven straight years undefeated streak with the white pieces.>

An astounding tidbit.

<Kasparov's behavior was understandable, but, still, inappropriate for a person of his position. What is really shocking is not his behavior, but the fact that he had been so easily ticked off about the fact that the chess journalists voted this as the best game of Linares. Imagine, a person who has such a strong psychology being so easily intimidated by the fact that a teenager defeated him! However, I do agree with him that voting this game for the beauty prize is very condescending to Kasparov. He just shouldn't have made such an outburst at the award ceremony.>

Agree - he was right and wrong. Except chess history will remember him in the wrong.

<It is in the nature of champions that they take losing very badly as a rule. Kasparov is only human and had an off day at the office. He uncharacteristically went into his shell when challenged and then made a blunder (Rdf1?) against a 15 year old rising star, and then the assembled journalists deemed the game the "most beautiful" of the tourney. Is there any wonder he felt insulted, disrespected and probably humiliated? I think he had every right to be infuriated, it would have felt like everyone was spitefully crowing that he fell after going so long undefeated with white, and not through a brilliancy but through an error by him. This was a fascinating game but it's no Byrne v Fischer. The whole episode, and many of the comments here, smack of the Tall Poppy Syndrome. I'm sure Kasparov regretted his tirade later, but he deserves a little more understanding. He was, in fact, insulted.>

Very insightful. Also 29 ... Qg6! is easy to miss.

<"I'm ashamed of my behavior during those 10 minutes, it was over the top. I was tired and upset and I can apologize. But [Ian] Rogers and Leontxo [Garcia] should also be ashamed. What they did was a blow to classical chess. Is Makropoulos right? Is chess all about blunders now? Linares is supposed to be about classical chess. If that game can be given a beauty prize then classical chess is dead." "If it had been a prize for most memorable game then I would have handed it to Radjabov myself! It was the first time I lost to someone born after I won my title! I didn't say anything when the prize went to my losses to Ivanchuk in 1991 and 1997. My loss to Kramnik in 1994 also got the prize, but all right, that was a spectacular game."> - Kasparov

In fact, Kramnik told me last night (without being asked) that he thought it was fine that the prize went to Radjabov.">

* agadmator explains:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* Letsplaychess.com explains: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

* The Post-Mortem: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...

Nobody wants to face danger or contemplate an unclear attack when having a notably lousy position. Especially if there's a sense it might reasonably even get worse from there.

in this game, believe there is no way Kasparov was close to being happy with his position around moves 15, 16, 17 or so. He's probably straining to find a way to gain some sort of initiative while at the same time fix his defects. While also kicking himself for getting into this position out of the opening.

Then he gets hit with a sac. One that does offer some compensation. Kasparov has an interesting choice. Accept the sac, have maybe a winning material advantage but face serious initiative in a lousy position. Basically playing to hold on and eventually simplifying to let the material decide. Or decline the sac and play for the initiative but from a weak position. Basically play with an all or nothing feeling.