Round 1 : A Win Is Still a Win
I can’t say I’m happy with this game -
Shirov managed to equalize well and I
didn’t have real chances to win until his
blunder.
Kasparov,G (2851) - Shirov,A (2751)
[C42]
Linares 2000(1), 28.02.2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6 9.cxd5
cxd5 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bg4 12.Rb1
Nd7 13.h3 Bh5 14.Rb5 Nb6 15.c4 Bxf3
16.Qxf3 dxc4 17.Bc2 Qd7 18.a4 g6 19.Bd2
c3 20.Bxc3 Rac8 21.Be4 Rc4!
Shirov found a very strong maneuver that
equalizes the position
22.Rbb1 Rxa4 23.Bxb7 Ra3!= 24.Rfc1
I looked for more in other lines but there
was no way, e.g.: 24.Bc6 Qc7 25.Ra1 Rb3
26.Rfb1 Rxb1+ 27.Rxb1 Rc8 28.d5 Nxd5!
29.Rb7 (29.Bxd5 Qxc3 30.Qxf7+ Kh8 and
it’s only Black who can play for a win here.)
29...Qxb7 30.Bxb7 Rxc3 31.Qd1 Bf4!=]
24...Qc7! Otherwise White is better, for
instance 24...Nc4?! 25.Bc6
25.Ra1
Not better is 25.Qc6 Qxc6 26.Bxc6 Rc8
27.Ba1 Bf4 28.Rc2 with an equal position
25...Rb8 26.Be4 Rb3 27.Bd2 Bh2+ 28.Kh1
Rxf3 29.Rxc7 Rxf2 30.Kxh2 Rxd2
31.Raxa7 Nc8??
A simple way to a draw was 31...Rxd4
32.Rxf7 Rxe4 33.Rg7+ Kf8 34.Rxh7 Kg8
35.Rhg7+ Kf8 36.Rxg6 Nc4
32.Rab7 Rxb7
[On 32...Ra8 33.Rb4 wins the knight
anyway. -ed.]
33.Rxc8+ Kg7 34.Bxb7 Rxd4 35.g4 h5
36.g5 h4
After the blunder Shirov became upset; he
missed a more stubborn plan - f6, exchange
on g5, then the eventual sac of h-pawn and
it’s not very easy for the stronger side to win
this endgame. However, technically it’s
won, I remember a similar one...
37.Rc7 Rf4 38.Bc8 Rf2+ 39.Kg1 Rf4
40.Kg2 Kf8 41.Bg4 Kg7 42.Rc5 Kf8
43.Bf3 Kg7 44.Kf2 Ra4 45.Ke3 Ra3+
46.Kf4 Ra4+ 47.Ke5 Ra3 48.Bd5 Re3+
49.Kf4 Rd3 50.Bc4 Rd7 51.Rc6 Re7
52.Rf6 1-0
Round 2: A fighting draw
Alexander Khalifman (2656) – Garry
Kasparov (2851)
Linares 2000, Round 2, 29.02.2000
It was an interesting game. Objectively,
Khalifman is the weakest player here and I
had to play for a win even with Black
pieces. Actually, I managed to obtain a very
promising position but then I missed my
chances. Well, yesterday I got an extra half
point, today I pay the bill...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7
5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Na6 8.Be2 c5
9.d5 e6 10.0-0 exd5 11.exd5 Bf5 12.Be3
Qb6 13.b3 Rfe8 14.Rad1 Rad8N
Old reserves! This is an idea of GM
Magerramov - we analyzed this line in 1986,
before another match against Karpov. As for
14...Rxe3, I think it is maybe possible but
this is a completely different kind of game
and I don’t like it.
15.h3 Qa5 16.Rfe1 Nd7 17.Na4 Nb4
18.Bg5
I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Hardly
advisable is 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Bxc5 Nc2
20.b4 Qa4 21.Rf1 b6 22.Bd4 Qxb4 with a
better endgame for Black, but 18.Bd2!?
deserved attention.
18...Nc2 19.Bxd8 Qxd8 20.Rf1
Still dubious is 20.Nxc5 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 Nb6
22.Qb5 Re7 23.Bc4 (23.g4 Bc8 24.Rd1 Qd6
and the further h7-h5 should destroy White’s
K-side) 23...Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 Bc3! with a
threat a7-a6 25.Nxb7 Qe7 and White loses a
piece.
20...Nd4?!
A critical moment. Much better is 20...Na3!
21.Qc1 Rxe2 22.Qxa3 Be4 and after
exchange on f3 Black has a very dangerous
attack, e.g.: 23.Rfe1 (23.b4 cxb4 24.Qxb4
Bxf3 25.gxf3 Ne5) 23...Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rxe1+
25.Rxe1 Qg5+ 26.Kf1 Qxd5 27.Re8+ Bf8
21.Nxd4 Bxd4 22.Rxd4!
Well played. I considered 22.b4 Re4
23.bxc5 Qh4 with attack.
22...cxd4 23.Bg4=
[23.Rd1? a6!]
23...Bxg4 24.hxg4 Re4 25.f3 Ne5 26.Qb4
Nd3
I thought about 26...Re2 27.Qxd4 Qf6 but
White can play 28.Qd1! (Not 28.Qxa7 Nd3
with attack) 28...Rxa2 29.Nc3 grabbing the
initiative. That is why I had to repeat moves.
27.Qc4 Ne5 28.Qb4 Nd3 29.Qc4 1/2-1/2
Round 3: Another draw with
Kramnik
Garry Kasparov (2851) – Vladimir
Kramnik (2758)
Linares 2000(3), 01.03.2000
Kramnik managed to spot my tiredness after
the exhausting Grand Prix. I think his
novelty 10...b6 is almost dubious but I had
to spend too much time in order to find a
correct plan. The advantage of my
opponent’s position was in absence of trivial
weaknesses while my pawn structure looked
corrupted (in case we pass to the endgame).
I was aware of the upcoming time trouble so
that I decided not to complicate the position
too much.
Another draw with Kramnik...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4
9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 b6
As mentioned, this is a risky continuation.
White gets a good position which is rich of
various opportunities.
11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.cxd5 Qxd5
14.Re1 Bb7 15.Bd3
Now White is going to play c3-c4 and d4-
d5. However, Kramnik found an interesting
idea that made me spend a lot of time.
15...Rae8! 16.Qc2
I spent a lot of time calculating 16.c4 Qh5
17.d5 Bd6! and finally I rejected the idea - it
was dangerous to accept the knight sac.
Deeper analysis is needed here.
Another possible line was 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.c4
Qh5 18.Bxd6 cxd6 19.d5 Ne5 20.Nxe5
Qxd1 21.Raxd1 Rxe5 22.Rxe5 dxe5 23.a4
with further a4-a5: the endgame is slightly
better for White.
16...h6
After 16...Qh5 17.Rb1! White is better.
17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Be4 Qd8?!
I felt the move was dubious and it really is,
as shown below. Better is just 18...Qd7 ; or
18...Qh5 19.Ne5 Bd6 (19...Nxe5 20.Bxb7
Ng4 21.Bf4 Bd6 22.Bxd6 cxd6 23.h3 Nf6
24.Qa4) 20.Bf3 Qh4 (20...Nxd4 21.cxd4
Bxf3 22.gxf3 f6 23.Ng6+) 21.Nxf7+ Kg8
22.Nxh6+ Kh8=, White has to force draw
with perpetual check.
19.Bb2
Too slow. I made this move after another
long series of calculations. White still has a
wide range of choices but taking in account
the time trouble, I preferred a quiet
continuation. However, looks like I had to
choose 19.Qa4!? After the game Kramnik
mentioned he had intended to play 19...Qa8.
As for me, I was concerned more with
19...a6 20.Bxc6 b5 but now I consider that
after 21.Bxb5 axb5 22.Qxb5 Bxf3 23.gxf3
Bd6 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Be3 Re6 26.Qh5
White is definitely better.)
And in case of 19...Qa8 White is winning in
a spectacular way! 20.d5 Na5 21.Bxh6!!
A) 21...gxh6 22.Qd4+ Kg8 (22...f6 23.Qe3)
23.Bc2;
B) 21...Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Bxg7+
Kxg7 24.Qg4+ Kh7 25.Re5 with decisive
attack in all these lines
19...Bf6 20.c4 Na5 21.Bxb7 Nxb7 1/2-1/2
Round 4: Surprise, an Easy
Win vs Anand
Anand,V (2766) - Kasparov,G (2851)
[B92]
Linares 2000 (4), 03.03.2000
I’m used to considering Anand as my main
rival. Playing with the black pieces, I was
prepared for a tough battle, but unexpectedly
I managed to win this game rather quickly.
Anand didn’t create any problems for me in
the opening and his successive errors
(21.h3? and 23.gxf3?) caused a collapse of
White’s position.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 Be6
9.f4 Qc7 10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 Nbd7 12.c4
0-0 13.Kh1 Rfe8 14.Be3 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bf8
16.Rc1 Qb6 17.Rc2 g6 18.Bf3
[It was possible to enter an equal endgame:
18.Qd4 Qxd4 19.Nxd4 Rac8, but probably
Anand intended to be more aggressive.]
18...Rac8 [18...Bg7 may look more natural,
but I wanted to prevent a pawn sac with c4-
c5: 19.c5 dxc5 (19...Nxc5 20.Bxd6 Qxd6
21.Nxc5) 20.Nd2 unclear]
19.Nc1 Ne5 20.b3 h5 21.h3?
Weakening the K-side. White could hold the
position after 21.Nd3 Qd4 22.Be2 (22.Nxe5
Qxf4) 22...Nfg4 23.Bxg4 Nxg4 24.Qf3=
21...Bg7 22.Ne2 [Now it’s too late for
22.Nd3 Qd4 23.Be2 Ne4 and Black is
better] 22...Nxf3 [I also analyzed 22...Neg4
23.hxg4 hxg4 24.Ng3 gxf3 25.gxf3, but I
didn’t like the further possibility of Bg5 and
Ne4 grabbing the initiative, e.g. 25...Qc5
26.Bg5 Nxd5 27.Ne4] 23.gxf3?
This is a decisive error. After 23.Rxf3 Qc5
24.Nc3 Ne4 or 24...b5 Black is still better,
but the position is not lost immediately, as in
the game.
23...Qc5 24.Rc1
[No better is 24.Nc3 b5 25.Bg5 bxc4
26.Bxf6 cxb3 27.Bxg7 bxc2 28.Qd4 Qxd4
29.Bxd4 Rc4 30.Bf6 Re3-+]
24...b5 25.Qd2 bxc4 26.bxc4 h4! The black
knight goes to g3! 27.Bg5 Nh5 28.Bxh4
Rb8! 29.Ng1
[More stubborn is 29.Rc2 Qc8 30.Ng1 Qf5,
but Black still dominates the board. White
has nothing to do but wait for a decisive
blow.]
29...Rb2 30.Rc2 Qxc4 31.Rxc4 Rxd2 32.f4
Rxd5 0-1
Round 5: Leko Accepts a No-
Win Proposition
Garry Kasparov (2851) - Peter Leko
(2725)
Linares 2000 (5), 04.03.2000
Leko’s choice of opening line is typical. For
Black to enter into an endgame of the kind
we had in this game means to accept two
possible results only -- draw or loss. I can
hardly imagine any other player here in
Linares who’d go into this endgame
willingly!
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5
5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.Be2
According to the recent theory of the
Grunfeld, Black has some problems after
7...a6. White can choose between 8.e5 and
8.Be2 -- both continuations are promising,
but the first one requires excellent form.
8...b5 9.Qb3 c5 10.dxc5 Bb7 11.0-0 Nxe4
12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Bg5 Nc6 14.Qe3 Qd5
15.Rad1 Qe6
Leko is going to exchange queens. As
mentioned above, the endgame is slightly
better for White, while Black has no chance
to take the initiative.
16.Bh6 Bf5 17.Bxg7 Qxe3 18.fxe3 Kxg7
19.a3 Rfd8 20.b4 Bc2 21.Rxd8 Rxd8
22.Rc1 Be4
[I set a trap with 22.Rc1, but Leko avoided
it. Bad is 22...Bd3 23.Nd4 Rxd4 24.exd4
Bxe2 25.d5 Nd4 26.c6 Bg4 27.Re1! Ne2+
28.Rxe2 Bxe2 29.h3+-]
23.Kf2 Kf6 24.g4
[Maybe White had a little bit more after
24.Rd1 Rxd1 25.Bxd1 a5 26.bxa5 Nxa5
27.Nd4]
24...h6 25.h4 Ke6!
[Leko plays very precisely. Much worse is
25...g5 26.hxg5+ hxg5 27.Nd4 Nxd4
28.exd4 Rxd4 29.Ke3 Ke5 30.c6 Rd8 31.a4]
26.Rd1 Bxf3 27.Rxd8
[Another try was 27.Kxf3 Ne5+, but the
position is still equal.]
27...Bxe2 28.Rc8 Kd7 29.Rxc6 Kxc6
30.Kxe2
I saw that this endgame was drawn, but I
didn’t have better alternatives to test Leko’s
technique. Anyway, he passed the test
successfully...
30...f6 31.Kd3 e6 32.Kd4 g5 33.h5 Kd7
34.e4 Kc6 35.e5 f5 36.gxf5 exf5 37.e6 f4
38.Ke4 Kc7
1/2-1/2
Round 6: A Doubtfull
Experiment
Shirov,A (2751) - Kasparov,G (2851)
[B90]
Linares 2000 (6), 05.03.2000
This is a very complicated game and more
analysis is required here. My experiment in
the opening was very doubtful, but Shirov
didn’t find the best plan. By the end of the
game I could try to play for a win; however,
lack of time didn’t give me this opportunity.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bc1 Nf6 8.f3 Qb6
9.Nb3 e6 10.Qe2 Nc6 11.Be3 Qc7 12.0-0-0
b5 13.g4 Ne5?!
During the game I decided to test this move.
I have to admit it was a doubtful try.
14.g5 Nfd7 15.f4 Nc4 16.Bd4
Now White is definitely better and Black
has to play precisely. My next move was
very important.
16...Ndb6! 17.h4 Bb7
[17...b4 could be parried with a typical sac:
18.Nd5 exd5 19.exd5+ and White’s attack is
dangerous.]
18.h5 e5 19.Nd5
[19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Bxb6 Qxb6 21.Qg4 Bc8 is
good for Black.]
19...Bxd5 20.exd5 Be7 21.Bxb6
Otherwise, Nb6-a4.
21...Qxb6 22.Rh3!
Taking control over e3.
22...0-0 23.Qe4
[I used a lot of time before castling because
I suddenly discovered a very strong move
for White: 23.Qe1! The only reply now is
23...f5 (23...Rae8 24.Bd3 with a dangerous
attack)24.h6 g6 25.Bxc4 bxc4 26.Na5 and
White is better. I didn’t find any alternative,
so I was getting ready for an uneasy defense.
Luckily, my opponent gave me some
counterplay.]
23...Qf2!
My queen went to disturb the coordination
of White’s pieces.
24.Rf3 Qh4 25.Bd3 g6 26.Rg1
[Shirov missed my next move. Anyway, in
case of 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.Nd2 Qxh5, Black
holds the position and grabs the initiative.]
26...exf4 27.hxg6
[27.Qxe7? Rae8-+]
27...hxg6 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Qxc4
[Worse is 29.Nd4 Rae8 30.Ne6 (30.Qxf4
Bxg5) 30...Bxg5 31.Rxg5 (31.Kb1 Qh6)
31...Rxe6]
29...Bxg5 30.Nd4 Rae8?!
[It was very difficult to calculate everything
here. Now I think that better is 30...Rfe8
31.Qf1 Bf6! When I was analyzing this line,
I didn’t like 32.Ne6!? (32.Nf5 Bxb2+
33.Kb1 Qh5-+) The following lines are
possible here:
A) 32...fxe6? 33.Rxg6+ Kf7 (33...Bg7
34.Rh3) 34.Rxf6+ with a decisive attack;
B) 32...Bxb2+ 33.Kxb2 Qf6+ 34.c3 and
White continues to attack;
C) 32...Be5 33.Nxf4 (33.Ng5 Qh8)
33...Bxf4+ 34.Rxf4 Re1+ 35.Qxe1 Qxf4+
36.Qd2=
D) 32...Rab8! 33.c3 Be5 34.Nxf4 Bxf4+
35.Rxf4 Re1+ 36.Qxe1 Qxf4+ with the
better endgame for Black but, of course, it is
still quite playable.]
After 30...Rae8 White has fewer problems.
31.Qf1 Re3
[31...Bf6!?]
32.Rh1 Qg4
[Better for White is 32...Rfe8 33.Rxh4 Re1+
34.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 35.Kd2 Bxh4 36.Rxf4 Rh1
37.Nf3]
33.Rg1 Qh4 34.Rh1 Qg4 35.Rg1 Qh5
36.Rh1 Qg4
[An alternative was 36...Bh4 37.Rxf4
(37.Rxe3 fxe3 38.Nf3 e2 39.Qxe2 Bg5+)
37...Rfe8 38.Nf3 Bg3 39.Rxh5 Bxf4 40.Kd1
(40.Kb1 Rxf3) 40...gxh5 41.Qh3 and White
is at least not worse. ]
1/2-1/2
Round 7: Sometimes a Winnig
Position Doesn’t Win
Kasparov,G (2851) - Khalifman,A (2656)
C17
Linares 2000 (7), 07.03.2000
Today I feel really sad. The beginning was
good: I used a creative novelty 7.Qg4 (I’ve
seen this move at home, but I can’t say it
was deeply analyzed). Then we went into a
complicated middlegame with chances for
both sides. Khalifman played precisely -- he
forced a queen exchange, and the endgame
was almost equal, but his following moves
were not perfect and I managed to obtain a
big positional advantage. Alas, to have a
technically won position doesn’t mean to
win...
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5
6.Bd2 Nc6 7.Qg4 Kf8 8.dxc5 Nxe5 9.Qg3
Ng6 10.0-0-0 Nf6 11.f3 Bd7 12.Nge2 Bc7
12...Rc8 13.Nd4 13.Qf2 b6 14.Be3 Ne7
15.g4 bxc5 16.Bxc5 Bb6 17.h4 Bxc5
18.Qxc5 Qb6 19.Qxb6 axb6 20.Bh3 Ne8
Up to here, my adversary played quite well
and obtained an almost equal position. Now
20...h6!? deserved attention (21.f4 h5!).
With 20...Ne8, he began a series of
inaccuracies and Black became significantly
worse.
21.f4 h5
21...Nd6 was probably better.
22.g5 g6 23.Nd4 Kg7
Better is the immediate 23...Nc6
24.Nf3 Nc7 25.Ne5 Rhd8 26.Ne2 Nc6
27.Nd4 Nxd4 28.Rxd4 Be8 29.Rhd1?
A wrong plan. Correct is 29.Bf1! and then
the rook joins the play via Rh1-h3-c3. I
think that Black can’t do much against this
plan.
29...Rdc8 30.Bf1 Kf8
I still had time to admit the error and to
rearrange the pieces with Rd1-e1-e3...
31.Rb4 b5 32.Rbd4 Na6 33.Bd3 Nc5
34.Kd2 Nb7 35.Ra1 Ra7 36.Re1 Nd6
Now the position is equal.
37.c3 Nc4+ 38.Kc1 Na5 39.Bc2 Nc6
40.Nxc6 Bxc6 41.Kd2 Bd7
There is no way to win. I spent a lot of time
looking for something relevant, but Black
holds the position in all lines. The idea f4-f5
is not worthy; it can be even dangerous for
White.
42.Rb4 Rca8 43.Bd3 Ra5 44.Re3 Bc6
45.Rd4 Bd7 46.Rb4 Bc6 47.Bc2 Bd7
48.Bb3 Bc6 49.Rd4 R5a7 50.Bc2 Bd7
51.Bd1 Bc6 52.Bf3 Ra4 53.Bd1 R4a7
54.Bb3 Ra5 55.Re5 Rd8
1/2-1/2
Round 8: A Good Opening, but
a Terrible Mistake Creates a
Tough Game
Vladimir Kramnik (2758) – Garry
Kasparov (2851)
Linares 2000 (8), 08.03.2000
The game was tough, and I have to blame
myself for the serious difficulties that I
faced in the middlegame. Actually, the
opening was quite good for me -- I managed
to avoid all kinds of problems and obtained
a promising position, but a horrible error
(15...Be7?) spoiled everything.
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.d4 dxc4
5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxc4 Bc6 7.dxc5 Bd5!
If 7...e6 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Be3, and White is
better.
8.Qa4+ Bc6 9.Qc4 Bd5 10.Qc2 e6 11.Bg2
Be4 12.Qc4 Bd5 13.Qh4 Bxc5 14.Nc3 Bc6
15.0-0 Be7?
This move deserves three question marks.
The simple 15...Nbd7 was logical and
strong. For instance, in case of 16.b4 Be7
17.Bg5 (17.b5 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nd5-+) 17...0-
0, Black is slightly better.
16.Rd1 Qa5
This is the only move. It’s too late for
16...Nbd7 17.Ne5 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qc7
19.Nxd7 Qc6+ 20.f3 Nxd7 21.Bg5, and
White has a big advantage.
17.Bd2 Nbd7 18.g4
This gives me some counterplay. If I were
White, I’d just play 18.Rac1 and wait for
Black’s reaction. Then e2-e4 is possible.
18...h6 19.Qg3 Qa6 20.h4 Qc4 21.Bf4 Qb4
Interesting was 21...g5 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Be5
(I considered I had an attack after 23.Nxg5
e5 24.Bxe5 Nxe5 25.Qxe5 Qxg4 26.Qg3 Qh5
(26...Qxg3 is also good)) 23...Bxf3 (23...Rg8
24.Bd4 is unpleasant for Black) 24.Bxf3
Nxe5 25.Qxe5 Qc5 26.Qxc5 Bxc5 27.Rac1
Rd8 28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.Bxb7 Rh4 with a
drawish endgame. However, I didn’t have
enough time to calculate all this in detail and
I rejected the idea of g7-g5.
22.a3
22.Rab1 can still be parried with 22...g5!?
22...Qxb2 23.Nd4 g5
Bad is 23...Bxg2 24.Rdb1 Ne4 25.Rxb2
Nxg3 26.Kxg2 Bf6 27.Rd1 e5 28.Bxg3 exd4
29.Nd5+-
24.Nxc6
In case of 24.Bc1!? Qxa1 25.Nb3 gxh4
26.Qh3 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 Qxc1 28.Rxc1 Rg8,
Black had sufficient compensation.
24...gxf4 25.Qd3 bxc6 26.Bxc6
Unclear is 26.Rdb1 Ne5 27.Qd4 Now Black
can face problems, for example: 27...Qc2
28.Qxe5 0-0 29.Ne4 Nxe4 30.Bxe4 Qc5
31.Qxf4 Bxh4 32.Qxh6 The line should be
analyzed in detail.
26...0-0 27.Bxa8 Ne5 28.Qd4 Rxa8
29.Qxe5
Not better is 29.Rab1 Nc6 30.Qc4 Na5
31.Qb5 Qxa3
29...Rc8 30.Rac1 Nd5
Maybe it sounds strange, but I think there is
no danger for Black here.
31.Nxd5
Black still holds the position after 31.Rb1
Qxc3 32.Rxd5 Qh3 33.Rd3 Qxg4+ 34.Kf1
Qxh4 35.Qe4 Rc4 36.Qg2+ Qg5, and the
endgame is equal.
31...Qxe5 32.Nxe7+ Kg7
More precise is 32...Kh7 33.Nxc8 Qxe2
34.Nd6 Qxg4+ 35.Kf1 f3 36.Nxf7 Qxh4
37.Ke1 Qe4+ However, 32...Kg7 is
sufficient for a draw.
33.Rxc8 Qxe2 34.Rg8+ Kf6 35.Rd7 Qe1+
36.Kg2 Qe4+ 37.Kh2 Qc2! 38.Kg2 Qe4+
39.Kh2 Qc2 40.g5+ hxg5 41.Rxg5 Qxf2+
1/2-1/2
Round 9: A Blunder That’s
Not Bad
Peter Leko (2725) – Garry Kasparov
(2851)
Linares 2000, 09.03.2000
Serious troubles today, but nothing much
after all.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5
9.Bg3 Bg7 10.h3 Ne5 11.f3 Nbc6 12.Bf2
Be6 13.Qd2 Qa5 14.Nb3 Bxb3 15.cxb3
Nb4
This is necessary -- after 15...0-0 16.0-0-0
White is better.
16.a3 Ng6 17.Rd1 Nc6 18.Nd5
White could also keep an edge with 18.b4
Qe5 19.Qe3
18...Qxd2+
Otherwise, 19.Qxa5 Nxa5 20.Bb6! and then
21.Nc7 with a big advantage.
19.Rxd2 0-0?!
Better is 19...Rc8 20.Nb6 Rc7 21.b4 Nce5
22.Kd1 and the position is almost equal.
20.b4
Probably more precise is 20.Nb6 Rad8 21.b4
20...b5!?
Black overlooked the next move, but
fortunately, the oversight wasn’t that bad.
21.Nc7 Rab8 22.Nxa6 Rb7 23.Rd5?
A bad move. Much stronger is 23.Rc2 Nd4
(The best chance for Black may be
23...Nge5!?) 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 25.Kd1 Nf4
26.Nc7 Bxb2 27.Rxb2 (27.Nxb5 Rxb5
28.Bxb5 Bxa3 and Black would have to
defend the endgame.) 27...Rxc7 28.Bxb5
Rfc8 29.Kd2 Nxg2 -- this is playable, but
White is still better. In the game, Black
grabs the initiative and equalizes.
23...Na7 24.Bxa7 Rxa7 25.Bxb5 Bxb2
I could draw after 25...Rc8 26.0-0 Rc2. In
case of 27.Rf2 Rc1+ 28.Kh2 Be5+ 29.g3 h5,
Black is even slightly better.
26.0-0 Bxa3 27.Rb1 Rc8 28.Bf1 Bc1
29.Rb3 Bf4 30.Rd1?!
Necessary was 30.b5 Rc1 31.b6 Rxa6 32.b7
Raa1 33.b8Q+ Kg7 34.Qb5 Rxf1+ 35.Qxf1
Bh2+ 36.Kxh2 Rxf1, though Black has a
kind of fortress here and the endgame is
likely to be drawn. However, after 30.Rd1?!
Black can be sure that he is at least not
worse.
30...e6 31.b5 Rb7 32.Nb4 h5 33.Kf2 h4
34.Ra3 Rc5 35.Be2 Ne5 36.Rb1 Kg7
37.Rab3 Bg3+
1/2-1/2
Round 10: Anand Risk`s Paid
Off
Kasparov,G (2851) - Anand,V (2766) C42
Linares 2000, 10.03.2000
I was surprised when Anand again used
Kramnik’s idea 10...b6 in the Petroff. This
line gives many possibilities to White, while
Black has to defend precisely in order just to
hold the position. Well, this time Anand did
it -- but wasn’t it too risky?
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4
9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 b6 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3
Nc6 13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.Re1 Bb7 15.Bd3
Rae8 16.c4 Qd8
In my Express Analysis of the first game
with Kramnik (round 3), I mentioned that
here Black had an interesting chance to sac a
piece: 16...Qh5 17.d5 Bd6!? - My further
conclusion (several days later) was that
Black can’t do this due to 16...Qh5 17.d5
Bd6 18.dxc6 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Bxc6 20.Be2!
Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Qxh2+ 22.Kf1 Qh1+ 23.Ke2
Qh4 24.g4 h5 25.Be3 hxg4 26.Bd5 and
Black’s attack is over while White is up a
piece. (In this case, three pawns is not
sufficient compensation.)
I don’t know whether Anand intended to
play 16...Qh5 -- if so, he rejected the idea
during the game (he spent quite a long time
before the next move).
17.d5 Nb8
Bad is 17...Na5 18.Bd2 threatening 19.Bxa5
bxa5 20.Qb1
18.Qc2
This move looks strong, but there is a better
one. Kramnik joined us when we were
analyzing this position post-mortem and
neither of them could find a sufficient
defense after 18.Ne5! For instance, 18.Ne5
A) 18...Nd7 19.Qh5 g6 (19...Nf6 20.Qh4 g6
21.Bb2 Nxd5 22.Ng4 h5 23.Qxh5 gxh5
24.Nh6#) 20.Nxg6 fxg6 21.Bxg6 Nf6
(21...hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.Re4+-) 22.Qh6
hxg6 23.Qxg6+ Kh8 24.Bb2+-;
B) 18...Bf6 19.Bb2 Nd7 20.Nxd7 Rxe1+
21.Qxe1 Bxb2 22.Nxf8 Bxa1 23.Nxh7 and
Black doesn’t have compensation for the
pawn.
18...g6!
Anand demonstrates good defensive
technique. Other continuations are much
worse:
A) 18...Bf6 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 (19...Qxe8
20.Rb1 h6 21.Bf4) 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Rb1 g6
22.Bxg6 fxg6 23.Qxg6 Qe7 24.Bd2 Rf8
25.Bb4+-;
B) 18...h6 19.Bb2 Bf6 20.Ne5 and the
position is similar to what happened in the
game but Black weakened his K-side.
19.Ne5
19.Bh6 Bf6=
19...Bf6!
White has a decisive attack after 19...Nd7
20.Ng4 h5 21.Nh6+ Kg7 22.Nxf7 Rxf7
23.Bxg6 Nf6 24.Bh6+
20.Bb2 Nd7 21.f4 Bg7!
Worse is 21...Nc5 22.Be2
22.Qf2 Nc5
Interesting is 22...c6, but it looks like it is
too dangerous, e.g.: 22...c6 23.d6
(23.Nxc6?! Bxc6 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.dxc6 Nc5
26.Be2 Qf6 and Black is O.K.) 23...Nc5
24.Rad1 f6 25.Nxg6 Nxd3 (25...hxg6
26.Bxg6 Rxe1+ 27.Qxe1 f5 28.Qe7 Qxe7
29.dxe7 Bxb2 30.Rd8+-) 26.Ne7+ , and
White has a decisive advantage.
23.Bc2 Qd6 24.Re3 f6
24...c6 still requires analysis. I was
calculating 24...c6 25.Rae1!? cxd5 26.Nxf7
Kxf7 27.f5 Bxb2 (27...Rxe3 28.fxg6+ Kg8
29.gxh7+ Kh8 30.Bxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qxe3 d4
32.h8Q+ Rxh8 33.Qg5+) 28.Rxe8 g5, and
Black apparently solved his problems.
Perhaps, 24.Rd1! is stronger.
25.Ng4 Rxe3 26.Qxe3 Bc8 27.f5?!
Again illusions force me to make a dubious
move! Necessary was 27.h3 Bxg4 28.hxg4
Rf7 29.Re1 Bf8 and the position is
unpleasant for Black, but the probability of a
draw is high.
27...Bxf5 28.Bxf5 gxf5 29.Nf2
When I played 27.f5?! I missed that after
29.Nh6+ Bxh6 30.Qxh6 Ne4! White doesn’t
have any chance for attack.
29...Ne4
Another try is 29...Nd7 30.Qf3 Ne5 31.Qxf5
Nxc4 32.Ne4 Qe7 33.Bd4 and White has
compensation for a pawn.
30.Nxe4
I offered a draw and Anand accepted. A
possible continuation is 30.Nxe4 fxe4
31.Qxe4 f5 32.Qc2 Qc5+ 33.Kh1 Bxb2
34.Qxb2 Qxc4 35.Qe5 Qc5 36.Qg3+=
1/2-1/2