Throwback Thursday: Kasparov’s immortal

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
3/11/2021 – Right around the turn of the century, one of the most dominating players in history showed his strength by winning the traditional Wijk aan Zee tournament three years in a row. Not only that — in his first appearance in Wijk, in 1999, Garry Kasparov defeated Veselin Topalov in what is now known as his ‘immortal game’.

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Three out of three

Garry KasparovGarry Kasparov reigned as world chess champion from 1985 until 2000, five years before his early retirement in 2005. Despite having lost the world title against Vladimir Kramnik, however, he continued to win elite tournaments until the day he quit competitive chess. His two-decade dominance was an impressive showing of talent, determination and intense preparation.

The man from Baku, now devoted to politics and writing, achieved his highest-ever live rating in March 2000, shortly after getting his second straight victory at the traditional tournament in Wijk aan Zee. In fact, the former world champion only played three times in Wijk, and he won the event every single time he participated — from 1999 to 2001.

Kasparov’s record in Wijk is jaw-dropping — he scored 19 wins, 19 draws and lost only once during his three appearances. The only player to defeat him at the small coastal Dutch town was Ivan Sokolov, who obtained a memorable attacking win from the white side of a Nimzo-Indian Defence in round 9 of the 1999 edition.

 
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1.d4       Wells. Ftacnik. McShane Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Wells: 'Ivan has written both a book and a monograph on 4 Qc2, but is also increasingly branching out in this direction. ' 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 '!?' Wells. 9...dxc4 Wells 10.Bxc4 Qc7 11.Bd3 e5 12.Qc2 is a more common route to the position we encounter at move 12. The move order in the game reflects a prevailing belief that 10 cxd5 does not offer white any clear route to a plus. 10.Qc2 10.cxd5 Wells exd5 11.a4 Re8 12.Ba3 c4 13.Bc2 Ne4 14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.Nd2 Re8! is looking pretty resilient at the moment. Black has good chances of maintaining his light-square blockade. 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 e5 12.Bd3 Re8 12...Bg4 McShane: is also possible, and after 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.f3 with the two bishops White is a little better. 13.e4 '!?' Wells. Wells: 'Ivan Sokolov has been very productive of interesting ideas for white in the Nimzo-Indian with both 4.Qc2 and latterly 4.e3. Here however his talent has been for some admirable archaelogical digging. The text move was popular in the 1950s and to some extent the 60s too, before dying out, as is often the case for no particularly convincing reason. The main line ' 13.dxe5 Wells Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.f3 leads to heavily analysed structures. 13...exd4 13...c4 14.Bxc4 exd4 15.cxd4 Na5 15...Rxe4!? 16.Bd3 16.Ng5? Nxd4 17.Qa2 Qxc4 18.Qxc4 Ne2+ 16...Re7 17.Bg5 17.d5 Nxd5 17...Ne5 18.Nxe5 Qxc2 19.Bxc2 Rxe5 20.d6 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Bg5 17...Bg4 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Bxh7+ Kg7 20.Be4 Rh8 20...Rae8! 21.g3 f5 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Ne5 Bh3 24.Rfe1± 1-0 Nor,I-Seidl,J/Graz 1998/EXT 99/[Wells] (35) 16.Bd3 Qxc2 17.Bxc2 Nxe4 should be about equal, but isn't really Kaparov's style. He heads straight for the tactics. Wells: 'is given as '+/=' by Ivan Sokolov. ' 17...Nxe4 Wells: is given as '+/=' by Ivan Sokolov. 18.Re1 Nd6 19.Bf4 Nac4 20.Bb3 Bf5 21.Ne5 Be6 22.Nd3 Rad8 23.Nc5 Bc8 23...Bd5?? 24.Bxd6+- 24.Bxc4 Nxc4 25.Bc7 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Rf8 27.d5 Nxa3 27...b6!? 28.d6 Nb5 29.Re7 a5 29...b6!? 30.Bb8 a4 31.Nxa4 Be6 32.Rxb7 Bd5 33.Rb6 Nd4 34.h3 h5 35.Nc5 Ne6 36.Na6 Rc8 37.Bc7 Kf8 38.d7 Ra8 39.Rxe6 fxe6 40.d8Q+ Rxd8 41.Bxd8 1-0 Rogers,I-Solomon,S/Sydney 1999 (41) 14.cxd4 Bg4 15.e5 15.Qxc5 Nxe4 15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 Qd7 17.Be3 17.d5 Ne5 18.Be2 Qh3 19.Qe3 Nxd5 20.exd5 Ng6 21.Qg5 Rxe2 17...Nxe4 17...Nxe4 Wells 18.Bxe4 Rxe4 19.fxe4 Qg4+= is one route to early peace. The text leads to a rather forcing sequence resulting in a very sharp position due to the vulnerability of both sides' kings. 16.Bxe4 Rxe4 17.Ng5 17.Ne5 Be6 18.Be3= 17...Rxd4 17...Re7 18.Qc2 g6 19.Ne4 Bf5 20.Nf6+ Kg7 21.Qd2 Kxf6 22.d5 Rd8 23.Bb2+ Ne5 24.f4 Qc5+ 18.Bb2 Rd3 15.dxc5 McShane Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd4 is not good news for White 15...Bxf3 16.exf6 Nxd4 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.fxg7+ Kxg7 19.Bb2 Rad8 '[]' McShane. McShane: 'With the c-pawn pinned, White was threatening Bxd4+' 19...Qe5 20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.gxf3 Rh8 22.Qe4 Qg5+ 23.Kh1 Rxh7 24.Qxd4+ f6 25.Qd6± 20.gxf3 20.Rfc1 Rh8 20...Re2 21.Bxd4+ Rxd4 22.Qc3 22.Qxc5 Rd1+ 23.Rxd1 Qxc5-+ 22...Qf4 23.Qxf3 Qxf3 24.gxf3 Kxh7 25.Rxc5 Rdd2 21.Qxc5 Qxc5 22.Rxc5 Kxh7 23.Bxd4 Rhg8 24.Be5 Rxg2+ 25.Kf1 Rg6 26.Rc3 Bg2+ 27.Ke2 Re8 28.Re3 1/2-1/2 Langeweg,K-Kuijpers,F/ Leeuwarden NK 1980 (28) Rc6 20.Bf5!? Wells might be a safe option for a minimal edge Re2 20...Rh8 21.h3 21.Bxd4+ Rxd4 22.Qc3 Bd5 23.Rfe1 and white's king is somewhat the safer, although black's pieces are well centralised and it may not amount to too much. 20...Rh8 21.Kh1 Rxh7 Ftacnik: 'Only Kasparov could answer the question, why he refrained from the more promising idea 21...Kf8!?' Wells: 'The problem with this is that by his next couple of moves white is able to gain time to both cover h2 and to mount a dangerous counter-attack on the g-file. If we can detect a reason why white once gave up this interesting line, it might be due to the alternative ' 21...Kf8 22.Qe4 22.Bxd4 Rxd4 23.f4 Rxf4 22...f5! 22...f6 23.Bxd4 23.Qh4 Rxh7 23...Qg7 24.Bxd4 Rxd4 25.Qh3 Rd7 26.Qf5 Rxh7 27.Qxc5+ Qe7 24.Qxf6+ Ke8 25.Rfe1+ Kd7 26.h4 Rf8 27.Re7+ 27.Qg5 Qf4-+ 27...Rxe7 28.Qxf8 0-1 Endzelins-Bouwmeester/Eu-Echecs Jub T /FS 1984 (44) 23...Rxd4 24.Qg6 Rxh7 25.Qxf6+ Qf7 26.Qxf7+ Rxf7 27.Rac1 c4 0-1 Vladimirov-Lisitsin/Moscow semi-finals 1955 (33) 23.Qh4 Rxh7 24.Qf6+ Ke8 25.Rfe1+ 25.Qg6+ Qf7 26.Rfe1+ Kf8 25...Kd7 26.Re5 Kc8 26...Rdh8 27.Bxd4 Rxh2+ 28.Kg1 Rh1+ 29.Kg2 R8h2+ 30.Kg3 Rh3+ 31.Kf4 Rh4+ 32.Kxf5 Rh5+ 33.Ke4 R1h4+ 34.f4+- 27.Bxd4 cxd4 28.Qxf5+ Kb8 0-1 Marks, I-Tenev Teno,P/cr EU/M/GT 1988 (39) 22.Rg1+ Kh8 23.Rg3 23.Bxd4+ Rxd4 24.Rg3 b6 25.Rag1 Qc8 26.Qe2 f6 27.Qf1 Rdh4 28.R1g2 Rd4 29.Qg1 Rd8 30.Rg6 23...Qe5 24.Rag1 McShane: 'Here White threatens Qxh7+ and Rh3 mate. ' Rh4?± '?' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The first independent move is very unfortunate, it seems that black's position instantly becomes hopeless.' 24...Qh5 25.R1g2 f6 25...b6 26.Rg4± 26.Qg6 26.Qc4 Qf7 27.Qxf7 '!' Wells. Wells: 'I.Sokolov' 27.Qxc5! Wells I.Sokolov Ne2 28.Qg5 Rd1+ 28...Nxg3+ 29.fxg3 Rd6 30.Rc2 29.Rg1 Nxg3+ 30.fxg3 Rd6 31.Rc1 Rh5 32.Qf4± 27...Rxf7 28.f4 b5 28...Rd6?!= 29.Rh3+ Rh7 30.Rhg3 Re7 31.Rh3+ Rh7 32.Rhg3 1/2-1/2 Porath,Y-Stahlberg,G/Amsterdam 1954 (32) 26.Qd1 Re7 27.Qg1 b5 28.Rg8+ Rxg8 29.Rxg8+ Kh7 30.Qg4 Qxg4 31.Rxg4 Rd7 31...Nxf3 32.Bxf6 Rd7 26...Qxg6 27.Rxg6 f5 28.R2g5 Rf8 29.Rd6 Rg7 30.Rxd4 cxd4 31.Bxd4 Rff7 32.h4 Kh7 33.Bxg7 Rxg7 34.Rxf5 Kh6= 25.Qc1?= '!' McShane. McShane: 'The position appears to be in the balance: Black has a healthier queenside in return for his weaker king position. But it is the weaker king that counts when Sokolov powers through on the g-file. Kasparov can't do a thing to challenge the white rooks, as his own rooks aren't working together.' 25.f4!± Qh5 25...Qd6 26.Qf5 Qc6+ 27.f3 Qh6 28.R3g2 b6 28...Qxf4 29.Qxc5+- 29.Qxf7+- 26.R1g2 26.Bxd4+ cxd4 27.R3g2 Qf3 26.f3! Qh6 26...Rh3 27.Rxh3 Qxh3 28.Qe4 f6 28...Qe6 29.Qxb7± 29.Qxb7 Qd7 30.Qe4± 27.Qg2 Qf8 28.Rg7 Rh6 29.Qg5 Rg6 29...Rh3 30.Qf6+- 30.Rxg6 fxg6 31.Qxg6+- 26...Re8 27.Qd2 Qd5 28.Rg5 Qe4 28...f5! 29.Rxf5 Qxf5 30.Bxd4+ Kh7 30...cxd4 31.Qxd4++- 31.Be5 Rg4 32.Rg3 Rxg3 33.hxg3 29.Rxc5 Qe1+ 30.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 31.Rg1+- 25...Kh7??+- 25...Qh5! 26.R3g2 26.R1g2 Re8 27.Qg1 Qe5 28.Rg8+ Rxg8 29.Rxg8+ Kh7 30.Ra8! 30.Rf8 Ftacnik Qg7 31.Qb1+! Kh6 32.Bc1+ Kh5 33.Be3+- 30...Qf4 31.Qg8+ Kh6 32.Qh8+ Kg6 33.Qg8+ Kh6= 26...f6 26...b6 27.Qe3 Qd5 28.Qe7 Rh6 29.Rg3 Kh7 30.Rg7+ Kh8 31.Rxf7 Rxh2+ 32.Kxh2 Qh5+ 33.Kg3 Rg8+ 34.Kf4 Qxf3+ 35.Ke5!+- 27.Qe3 Re8 28.Bxd4 cxd4 29.Qb3 Qh7 30.Qa4 Ra8 31.Re1 Qf7 32.Qb4 32.Re4 Rxe4 33.fxe4 Rd8 34.Qa5! b6 35.Qf5 Rg8 36.Qh3+ Qh7 37.Rxg8+ Kxg8 38.Qc8+ 38.Qxh7+ Kxh7 39.Kg2 b5 40.Kf3 a5 41.Ke2 b4 42.a4= 42.axb4 axb4 43.Kd3 b3 44.f4 Kg6 45.Kd2 Kh5 46.h3= 38...Kg7 39.Qd7+ Kg6 40.Qxd4 Qh3 32...Rd8 33.Re7 Qd5 34.Qxb7 Qxb7 35.Rxb7 d3 36.Rg1 d2 37.Rd1 Rc4 38.Rbb1= 26.Qb1+ '!' McShane. Kh8 26...f5 27.Bxd4 cxd4 27...Rdxd4 28.Qxb7++- 27...Qxd4 28.Qxf5+ Kh8 29.Rh3+- 28.Qxb7+ Kh8 29.Qf7!+- 27.Qf1 Qe6 28.Qg2 McShane: ' White has the unmeetable threat of Rg8+ followed by mate.' Ftacnik: 'The pressure along the g-file is simply too strong.' 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Sokolov,I2610Kasparov,G28121–01999E59Hoogovens9

The 1999 edition was memorable for a number of reasons. It was the last time the event ran under the name “Hoogovens Tournament”, which had been used since 1968; it was Kasparov’s first-ever participation; and Kasparov won with the highest-ever score achieved when the tournament was played as a 14-player round robin (the same 10/13 score was achieved by Browne and Seirawan in 1980, by Korchnoi and Beliavsky in 1984 and by Carlsen in 2013).

Not only that. At least three players have fond memories of the event’s penultimate edition of the 20th century — Sokolov, for his victory over Kasparov; Alex Yermolinksy, who wrote a piece about his memorable win over Veselin Topalov amid a not-so-great overall performance; and Kasparov, who got to play what is now known as his ‘immortal game’.


Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol.1 and 2

These DVDs are about Understanding Middlegame Strategies. In the first DVD dynamic decisions involving pawns are discussed. The second DVD deals with decision making process concerning practical play.


The game

Kasparov arrived in Wijk after not having played a single classical tournament in over ten months. He had played for the last time in Linares 1998, which ran from February 22 until March 8 — the Hoogovens Tournament kicked off on January 16, 1999.

In Linares, a 7-player double round robin, Kasparov had won one game and drawn the rest. Vishy Anand, rated 2770 at the time (55 points behind Kasparov’s 2825), had won the tournament with an impressive 7½/12. Moreover, the Indian star had a good year and closed the rating gap to 31 points going into the tournament in Wijk. Some pundits even considered Anand to be the favourite.

Vishy Anand, Anatoly Karpov

Vishy Anand facing Anatoly Karpov in the final of the 1998 FIDE World Championship knockout tournament — Karpov won 5:3

Anand and Kasparov were sharing the lead with 2½ points each after three rounds. It was in round 4 that the Russian defeated Topalov in splendid fashion. (In the end, Kasparov would win the tournament merely a half point ahead of his Indian colleague.)

Out of a Pirc Defence, both Kasparov and Topalov castled queenside. In a tense position, Topalov advanced in the centre:

 
Kasparov vs. Topalov (1999)
Position after 19.Bh3

After 19...d5, Kasparov could have exchanged everything on d5, getting a quieter but still fighting position. The world champion, however, went for 20.Qf4+ Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4

When the Russian chose not to go for exchanges in the centre, he had most likely already decided to play the trying 22.Nd5 instead of 22.Na2 or 22.Ne2. The game continued 22...Nbxd5 23.exd5 Qd6

And then came the shocking two-move sequence that would be celebrated by commentators for years to come:

 
Position after 23...Qd6

Kasparov unleashed 24.Rxd4, and Topalov bravely took the bait with 24...cxd4 — surely the Bulgarian considered the safer 24...Kb6, which is the best move according to the engines, but he is not one to shy away from a tactical skirmish.

And then...

 
Position after 24...cxd4

25.Re7, when the rook cannot be captured due to 25...Qxe7 26.Qxd4+ Kb8 27.Qb6+ Bb7 28.Nc6+ Ka8 29.Qa7#. 

From this point on, Topalov found the most challenging continuations at every turn, with Kasparov stubbornly keeping up his attack with carefully calculated manoeuvres. For example, on move 36:

 
Position after 35...Kd1

Apparently, the black king has found safety on d1 — of all squares. But here Kasparov found the only winning move, 36.Bf1. Black cannot take the bishop due to mate after 36...Qxf1 37.Qc2+ Ke1 38.Re7+, while after Topalov’s 36...Rd2 the world champion found the killer 37.Rd7, pinning the rook!

 
Position after 37.Rd7

37...Rxd7 38.Bxc4 bxc4 39.Qxh8 and resignation came five moves later.

It takes two players to create such a masterpiece, so Topalov deserves a lot of credit for his brave performance against the best in the world.

You can replay the game with expert analysis by GM Igor Štohl and/or watch the video uploaded by GM Daniel King to his popular Power Play Chess YouTube channel:

 
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1.e4       My comments to this fantastic game will be limited to some moments of interest, which I haven't seen highlighted before in the earlier published sources (Internet, various magazines etc.) d6 Topalov is a Sicilian player, but against Kasparov he prefers to spring a slight surprise on his well prepared opponent as soon as possible. 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Pirc is a somewhat rare opening in Gary's practice and he often used to react with 3.f3!? e.g. e5 4.d5 c6 5.c4 Qb6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Nge2 0-0 8.Ng3 cxd5 9.Na4! Qc7 10.cxd5 Bd7 11.Be3 Rc8 12.Nc3 Na6 13.Be2 Bd8 14.0-0 Qa5 15.Kh1 Nc5 16.Bd2 Ne8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf6 19.Bg4 Qd8 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.Qf3 Rc7 22.Nf5 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Na4 24.Qg3 Nxc3 25.Rae1 f6 26.Bxd6 Nxd6 27.Nxd6 Kasparov,G-Wahls,M/GER-Kasparov/1992/ But the Bulgarian was probably well prepared for a fight in the Saemisch, after all he is King's Indian expert. 3...g6 4.Be3 Bg7?! A major exponent of the 4.Be3 line GM Vlastimil Jansa would be dissatisfied with this move, as later Black will have to lose a tempo capturing on h6. 4...Ng4?! 5.Bg5 is also not ideal, as it rather loses than gains time. 4...c6!? has the best reputation. 5.h3! Black's most reasonable alternative is Less dangerous is ≤5.Qd2 Nbd7 6.Bd3 b5 7.Nf3 e5!? 5...Nbd7 ≤5...b5?! 6.e5! dxe5 6...Nfd7 7.exd6 exd6 8.d5 b4 9.dxc6 bxc3 10.cxd7+ Nxd7 11.b3 Be7 12.Bh6 Bb7 13.Nf3 Qa5 14.Be2 g5 15.Bg7 Rg8 16.Bd4 h5 17.Qd3 g4 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.Bxc3 Qd5 20.Qxd5 Bxd5 21.Nd4 Rc8 22.Bb4 Bxg2 23.Rg1 Ba8 24.Rxg4 Rh8 25.0-0-0+- Sokolov,A-Zakharevich,I/ Elista/1995/ 7.dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.Rxd1 Nfd7 9.f4 Bg7 10.Nf3 f6 11.e6 Nf8 12.Nxb5 Nxe6 13.Nxa7 Bb7 14.Bc4 Nc7 15.Kf2 Nd5 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Rxa2 19.Rb5 0-0 20.Rd1 Nc6 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Rc8 23.Rd2+- Jansa,V-Schlosser,M/Muenster/1992/ ≤5...Bg7?! 6.f4! [+]() 0-0 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.e5 Nh5 9.Ne2 Bh8 10.g4 Ng7 11.Bg2 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nb6 13.Bh6 Be6 14.0-0 Qd7 15.Nf4 Bd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qe2 Rad8 18.Rae1 Nc7 19.c3 Nce6 20.Nd2 Qc7 21.Ne4 a5 22.Rf2 b5 23.Ref1 Qb6 24.Kh1 Jansa,V-Hoi,C/Gausdal/ 1991/ 6.f4 e5 7.Qf3!? Black's main problem is to break up effectively the strong pawn cahin e4,f5, so deserving attention is b5!? 7...Qa5 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.f5 b5 10...gxf5?! 11.Qxf5! b5 12.Nge2 b4 13.Nb1 Nb6 14.Qf2 Na4 15.0-0 Be6 16.b3 Nb2 17.Ng3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qb5 19.Nd2 Rd8 20.Bg5 Movsesian, S-Ftacnik,L/Hamburg op/1997/ 11.Nge2 ≤11.g4?! b4 12.Nd1 gxf5! 13.gxf5 b3+ 14.Nc3 bxc2 15.Nge2 Rb8 16.Bc1 Rg8 17.Bxc2 Bf8 18.b3 Ba6 19.Bd2 Bb4 20.a3 Nh5 21.Qxh5 Bxe2 22.Nxe2 Bxd2+ Kharlov,A-Labok,V/Podolsk/ 1992/ 8.0-0-0 8.Bd3 Bb7 8...b4 9.Nce2 Qe7 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.f5 gxf5 12.Qxf5 12.exf5?! Bb7 13.g4 Nd5 14.Bf2 e4 15.Qg3 e3 16.Be1 Bg7 17.g5 Be5 18.Qg4 h5 19.Qg2 0-0-0 20.Nf3 Nf4 21.Nxf4 Bxf4 22.Be2 c5 23.h4 Ne5 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Kb1 Nxf3 0-1,Wagener,C-Andersen,J/Szeged/1994/ 12...Qe6!?∞ <=> 5.Qd2 c6 6.f3 More consistent and preferred by Jansa is 6.Bh6!? as White can sometimes effectively play f4 later on. Bxh6 7.Qxh6 Qa5 7...b5 8.e5! b4 9.exf6 bxc3 10.bxc3 exf6 11.Bd3 Qe7+ 12.Ne2 Qf8 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfe1 f5 16.c4 Nd7 17.Rab1 Nb6 18.Qa5 Be6 19.Nf4 Qf6 20.c5 dxc5 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Qxc5± Jansa,V-Gazik,I/CSR-chT/1992/ 8.Bd3 c5!? 8...b5 9.Nf3 b4 10.Ne2 Ba6 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Ng3 Bxd3 13.cxd3 Rg8 14.Qd2 Rb8 15.a3 Qb5 16.axb4 Qxb4 17.Qxb4 Rxb4 18.Rfc1 Nb8 19.Rxa7 Rxb2 20.e5! עe8,Van der Wiel,J-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Wijk aan Zee/1993/ Rather passive is 8...Nbd7 9.Nf3 e5 10.0-0 exd4 11.Nxd4 Qh5 12.Qd2 0-0 13.Be2 Qe5 14.f4 Qe7 15.Bf3 Nb6 16.Rae1 Rd8 17.b3 c5 18.Nde2 Bd7 19.Ng3 Bc6 20.a4± (),[+]Adams,M-Nogueiras,J/Buenos Aires/1991/ 9.Nge2 ≤9.Nf3 Bg4!∞ 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nc6!? Unplayable is 10...Qb6? 11.0-0-0 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.e5! dxe5 14.Ne4 Be6 15.Qg7 0-0-0 16.Nxf6 exf6 17.Qxf6 Rhe8 18.Rhe1 Bg4 19.f3 e4 20.Rxe4 Rxe4 21.Ba6+ Qxa6 22.Rxd8+ Kb7 23.Qxf7+ Kb6 24.fxe4 1-0,Jansa,V-Hoffmann,H/BL2-O 9697/ 1997/ 11.Nb3 Qb6 12.Nd5 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.f3 0-0-0 14.Rhe1 Kb8 15.Bf1 Rc8 16.Qe3 Qxe3+ 17.Rxe3 g5 18.g3 h5 19.f4 h4 20.Bb5 Ng4 21.Re2 hxg3 22.hxg3 Rh3 Kroeze,F-Beim,V/Leeuwarden/1994/ 12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Nb4!? 13...Ne5 14.0-0 Bd7 15.Be2 0-0-0 16.a4 Kb8 17.a5 Qc7 18.c4 Bg4 19.Bxg4 Nxg4 20.Qf4 Ne5 21.Ra4 g5 22.Qd4 h5 23.Rc1 h4 24.Qe3 h3 25.g3 e6 26.Nd4 Qc5 27.Rc3 Ng4 28.Qd2 e5 29.Nb3 Qc8 30.c5 Hamdouchi,H-Chabanon,J/ FRA-chT/1998/ 6...b5 7.Nge2 White has various possibilities here. Not too promising is the old line 7.0-0-0 Qa5 8.Kb1 Nbd7 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 Nb6 11.Nh3 Bxh3! 12.Qxh3 Na4! Ultra-sharp is 7.g4 h5!? 7...Nbd7 8.g5 Nfd7 9.f4 Nb6∞ 7...Nbd7 8.Bh6 Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Bb7 Black should strive for immediate counterplay. 9...e5!? 10.a3 and forcing a central exchange costs Black precious time, e.g. Too soft is ≤10.dxe5?! dxe5 11.Nc1 Bb7 12.Nd3 Qe7 13.g3 0-0-0 14.b4 a5 15.a3 Kc7 16.Be2 axb4 17.axb4 Ra8= Kristensen,B-Hansen,C/Vejle/1994/ 10...Qa5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nc1 Bb7 13.b4! Qb6 14.Nb3 9...Qa5 10.Nc1 b4 10...Qb6 11.Nb3 a5 12.a4 b4 13.Nd1 Ba6 14.Ne3 Bxf1 15.Rxf1 Qa6 15...c5!? 16.Nc4 Qa6 17.Nbxa5 cxd4 18.Qd2 16.Kf2 Rc8 17.Kg1 c5 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nc4 Qa6 21.b3 Ncd7 22.Nb5 Ne5 23.Ne3 Qb6 24.Kh1 Rc5 25.Rad1 Rg8 26.Rd2 g5 27.Nxd6+ Qxd6 28.Rxd6 Rg6 29.Rxf6 1-0,Moroz-Janda/ Decin/1998/ 11.Nb3 Qh5 12.Qxh5 Nxh5 13.Nd1 a5 14.a3 Bb7 15.axb4 axb4 16.Rxa8+ Bxa8 17.Nf2 0-0 18.Nd3 c5 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.Nbxc5 Nxc5 21.Nxc5 Rc8 22.Nd3 Rxc2 23.Kd1 b3 24.Be2 Bb7 25.Re1 f5 26.exf5 gxf5 27.Nb4! Rantanen,Y-Jamieson,R/Haifa olm/1976/ 10.a3! The right moment for prophylaxis ≤10.0-0-0?! Qa5 Gary tries to achieve a better version of 10.Nc1 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nb3 a6 13.0-0-0 Qc7!? 14.Qg7 Rf8 14...Rg8? 15.Rxd7+- 15.g3 0-0-0 16.Bh3 Kb8 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Qxh7 a5 19.Kb1 a4 20.Nc1 a3 21.b3 b4 22.N3e2 c5 23.Qh6 f5!? Moroz,A-Yurasov, A/Simferopol/1991/ 10...e5 10...a5 11.Nd1 b4 12.Ng3!? As Black's K will have to castle <<, he doesn't want to weaken his position here any further. 11.0-0-0 Qe7 Black wants to get his K to safety as soon as possible. But interesting was 11...a6!? 12.Kb1 12.f4 Ng4 13.Qg7 Qf6= nikam nevedie a po 12...Qc7 /\ (Covers a5.) 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qg7 Ke7!? 12.Kb1 a6 13.Nc1! 0-0-0 14.Nb3 exd4!? Topalov realizes the danger, connected with Na5 followed by a timely d5-> and decides to open up the position and fight. 14...c5?! 15.d5± 15.Rxd4 15.Nxd4 c5 16.Nb3 -15.Rd4 15...c5 16.Rd1 Nb6 /\d5 16...Ne5 17.Be2 d5? 18.f4 /\e5+/- 17.g3 Kb8 17...d5!? 18.Bh3+ 18.Qf4 d4 19.Bh3+ Nfd7∞ 18...Kb8 19.exd5 19.Qf4+ Ka7! /\ 20.Nxc5? Nh5 21.Qe3 d4! 19...Nbxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 20...Rxd5 21.Qf4+!? Qe5 22.Qxe5+ Rxe5 23.Rd6 21.Na5 18.Na5?! Kasparov already envisages the rich combinational possibilities, but this very natural move is probably objectively not the best. 18.Bh3!? /\Rhe1 d5 19.exd5 -17...d5!? Deserving attention is also 18.Qf4 Ka7 18...Ka8 19.Na5 19.g4!? /\Bb5 and Black can't play 19.Bxb5 Nh5 20.Qh4!? Qxh4 21.gxh4 axb5 22.Nxb5+ Kb8 23.Nxd6 f5 24.Nxc5 Bd5!?∞ 19...d5? 20.Nxc5!± 18...Ba8 19.Bh3 d5 20.Qf4+ Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4 Ftacnik: 'Black has achieved impressive success, but his position is a bit dangerous. Kasparov unleashes phantastic combination.' Opening the position is suicide, after 21...dxe4 22.fxe4 /\Nd5 Nxe4 22...Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Nxe4 24.Rd7+!+- 23.Nxe4 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Bxe4 25.Re1 Re8 26.Rxe4! Qxe4 27.Qc7+ Ka8 28.Nc6+- 22.Nd5 '!' Ftacnik. Nbxd5 22...Nfxd5? 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Qxf7++- 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Rxd4!       24.Qxd6? Rxd6 25.b4 cxb4 26.axb4 Nxd5 24.Nc6+ Bxc6 25.dxc6 Qxf4 26.Re7+ 26.gxf4 Nd5!? 26...Kb6 27.gxf4 Nd5 28.Rxf7 Rdf8 24...cxd4? Ftacnik: 'It should be noted, that 24...Kb6! would most certainly save the game for black, but we would be robbed of some fascinating lines. ' 24...Kb6!= 24...Bxd5!? 25.Rxd5! Nxd5 25...Qxf4 26.Rxd8 Qh6 26...Qc7 27.Rxh8 Qxa5 28.Re7++- 27.Re7+ Kb6 28.b4!+- 26.Qxf7+ Nc7 27.Re6 Rd7 27...Qd1+ 28.Ka2 Rd7 29.Re7± 28.Rxd6 Rxf7 29.Nc6+ Ka8 30.f4 25.Re7+‼ The real point of the combination. 25.Qxd4+? Qb6! 26.Re7+ Nd7 27.Rxd7+ 27.Qc3 Qg1+ 27...Rxd7 28.Qxh8 Rxd5-+ 25...Kb6 25...Qxe7? 26.Qxd4++- 25...Kb8 26.Qxd4 Nd7 27.Bxd7 Bxd5 28.c4!+- 26.Qxd4+ Kxa5 26...Qc5 27.Qxf6+ Qd6 28.Be6‼ Bxd5 29.b4+- 27.b4+ Ka4 28.Qc3!? This shows Kasparov's combination was more intuitive, than arithmetically exact. Ftacnik: 'It seems, that white could have won more easily with the help of a fine move 28.Ra7!!' A simpler and even more beautiful win was found by (I think) Kavalek: 28.Ra7! /\ Bb7 28...Nxd5 Ftacnik 29.Rxa6+‼ Qxa6 30.Qb2 Nc3+ 31.Qxc3 Bd5 32.Kb2 Qe6 33.Bxe6 fxe6 34.Qb3+! Bxb3 35.cxb3# 29.Rxb7 Qxd5 29...Nxd5 30.Bd7‼ Ra8 30...Rxd7 31.Qb2 Nc3+ 32.Qxc3 Qd1+ 33.Kb2 Rd3 34.Ra7!+- 31.Bxb5+ axb5 32.Ra7+ Qa6 33.Qxd5 Qxa7 34.Qb3# 30.Rb6!+- 30.Rb6 Ra8 30...a5 31.Ra6 Ra8 32.Qe3‼ Rxa6 32...Rhe8 33.Rxa8 Rxa8 34.Kb2+- 33.Kb2 axb4 34.axb4 Kxb4 35.Qc3+ Ka4 36.Qa3# 31.Qxf6 a5 32.Bf1+- 28...Qxd5 29.Ra7 Bb7 30.Rxb7 30.Qc7? Qd1+= 30...Qc4 30...Rhe8 31.Rb6 31.Ra7? Rd6 32.Kb2 Qe5-+ 31...Ra8 32.Bf1‼+- /\Rd6 31.Qxf6 Kxa3 Now White wins by force. 31...Rd1+ 32.Kb2 Ra8 32...Qd4+ 33.Qxd4 Rxd4 34.Rxf7 Rd6 35.Re7 /\Be6 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 33...a5 34.Bd7! Rd5 35.Qe3 axb4 36.Ra7++- 34.Qxd4 Rxd4 35.Rxf7 a5 36.Be6 axb4 37.Bb3+ Ka5 38.axb4+ Rxb4 38...Kb6 39.Rxh7 and with 3 pawns for the exchange White gradually wins. 39.c3± _|_R 32.Qxa6+ Kxb4 33.c3+! Kxc3 33...Kb3 34.Qa2+ Kxc3 35.Qb2+ Kd3 36.Re7!+- 34.Qa1+ Kd2 34...Kb4 35.Qb2+ Ka5 35...Qb3 36.Rxb5+ 36.Qa3+ Qa4 37.Ra7++- 35.Qb2+ Kd1 35...Ke3? 36.Re7+ 35...Ke1 36.Re7+ Kd1 37.Bf1!+- is the same as in the game. 36.Bf1! Rd2 37.Rd7! Ftacnik: 'The final trick, but white is completely right, the game is finally over.' Rxd7 38.Bxc4 bxc4 39.Qxh8 Rd3 39...Rb7+ 40.Ka2 Kc2 41.Qd4+- 40.Qa8 c3 41.Qa4+ Ke1 41...Kd2 42.Qc2+ 42.f4 f5 43.Kc1 Rd2 44.Qa7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2812Topalov,V27001–01999B07Hoogovens4

Video analysis by GM Daniel King


Final standings - Hoogovens 1999

Hoogovens 1999


All games - Hoogovens 1999

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.Qc2 Na6!? Putting a N on the edge of the board is often a bad idea because it has few potential good squares to go to. However there are a lot of exceptions from this rule. In the Exchange-variation of the Queens Gambit blacks Nb8 in many lines end up on e6 via the manouvre Nb8-d7-f8-e6. However after the text move it might get to the same square by Nb8-a6-c7-e6. And there is another - more obvious - idea with the textmove. Black wants to play Na6-b4 to force Qc2 away and thereby making it possible to develop Bc8 to the ideal square f5. It is often difficult for black to develop the white-squared B in a good way in this opening. 7.e3 7.a3!? This is whites alternative stopping Na6-b4 but the question is how useful this move is after Na6-c7-e6 7...Nb4 8.Qd2 Bf5 9.Rc1 Black has solved the problem with Bc8. Now white is threatening 10.a3 Sa6 11.Lxa6+/- so black has to think about what to to with his Nb4 a5 10.a3 Na6 11.Nge2 White has to try and win some tempi by attacking Bf5. If he develops normally with Nf3 and Be2 black has no problems. h6 11...Be7 12.Ng3 Bg6= is supposed to be quite reasonable for black 12.Bf4 12.Bh4?! Be7 13.Ng3 Bh7 12...Nd7 12...Be7 13.Ng3 Bh7 14.Bd3 and because Ng3 will soon have access to the square f5 white has chances of an advantage 13.Ng3 Be6 14.e4 White was not rearly ready for this advance - but the threat of g7-g5 was to strong. Nb6 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Qxd5! 16...Bxd5 17.Qe3+ Qe7 18.Nf5 Qxe3+ 19.Nxe3 17.Bc4 Qxg2 18.Qe3 0-0-0! 19.Bxe6+ fxe6 20.Qxe6+ Rd7 21.Qe8+ Rd8 22.Qe6+ Whites Ks-position is just as open as blacks so draw. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2812Ivanchuk,V2714½–½1999D36Hoogovens1
Piket,J2609Sokolov,I2610½–½1999D97Hoogovens1
Reinderman,D2540Anand,V27800–11999B87Hoogovens1
Shirov,A2726Kasimdzhanov,R2595½–½1999B49Hoogovens1
Topalov,V2700Timman,J26491–01999A20Hoogovens1
Van Wely,L2636Kramnik,V2751½–½1999D17Hoogovens1
Yermolinsky,A2597Svidler,P2713½–½1999D85Hoogovens1
Anand,V2784Piket,J26091–01999C96Hoogovens2
Ivanchuk,V2714Kasimdzhanov,R2595½–½1999B80Hoogovens2
Kasparov,G2812Van Wely,L26361–01999B33Hoogovens2
Kramnik,V2751Yermolinsky,A25971–01999E32Hoogovens2
Sokolov,I2610Shirov,A27260–11999D93Hoogovens2
Svidler,P2713Topalov,V2700½–½1999B35Hoogovens2
Timman,J2649Reinderman,D25421–01999B31Hoogovens2
Kasimdzhanov,R2595Sokolov,I2610½–½1999A29Hoogovens3
Piket,J2609Timman,J26491–01999A40Hoogovens3
Reinderman,D2542Svidler,P2713½–½1999B57Hoogovens3
Shirov,A2726Anand,V2784½–½1999B49Hoogovens3
Topalov,V2700Kramnik,V2751½–½1999C67Hoogovens3
Van Wely,L2636Ivanchuk,V2714½–½1999E97Hoogovens3
Yermolinsky,A2597Kasparov,G28120–11999D85Hoogovens3
Anand,V2784Kasimdzhanov,R25951–01999B47Hoogovens4
Ivanchuk,V2714Sokolov,I26101–01999A33Hoogovens4
Kasparov,G2812Topalov,V27001–01999B07Hoogovens4
Kramnik,V2751Reinderman,D2542½–½1999A42Hoogovens4
Svidler,P2713Piket,J2609½–½1999C95Hoogovens4
Timman,J2649Shirov,A2726½–½1999D85Hoogovens4
Van Wely,L2636Yermolinsky,A25971–01999E11Hoogovens4
Kasimdzhanov,R2595Timman,J26490–11999A29Hoogovens5
Piket,J2609Kramnik,V2751½–½1999D58Hoogovens5
Reinderman,D2542Kasparov,G28120–11999B88Hoogovens5
Shirov,A2726Svidler,P2713½–½1999B90Hoogovens5
Sokolov,I2610Anand,V2784½–½1999D27Hoogovens5
Topalov,V2700Van Wely,L26361–01999B33Hoogovens5
Yermolinsky,A2597Ivanchuk,V2714½–½1999E94Hoogovens5
Ivanchuk,V2714Anand,V2784½–½1999A29Hoogovens6
Kasparov,G2812Piket,J26091–01999C43Hoogovens6
Kramnik,V2751Shirov,A27261–01999D85Hoogovens6
Svidler,P2713Kasimdzhanov,R25951–01999B43Hoogovens6
Timman,J2649Sokolov,I2610½–½1999A06Hoogovens6
Van Wely,L2636Reinderman,D25421–01999B38Hoogovens6
Yermolinsky,A2597Topalov,V27001–01999E97Hoogovens6
Anand,V2784Timman,J26491–01999C67Hoogovens7
Kasimdzhanov,R2595Kramnik,V2751½–½1999D58Hoogovens7
Piket,J2609Van Wely,L2636½–½1999E81Hoogovens7
Reinderman,D2542Yermolinsky,A2597½–½1999D27Hoogovens7
Shirov,A2726Kasparov,G28120–11999B90Hoogovens7
Sokolov,I2610Svidler,P2713½–½1999D91Hoogovens7
Topalov,V2700Ivanchuk,V2714½–½1999B80Hoogovens7
Ivanchuk,V2714Timman,J26490–11999C89Hoogovens8
Kasparov,G2812Kasimdzhanov,R25951–01999D72Hoogovens8
Kramnik,V2751Sokolov,I2610½–½1999D87Hoogovens8
Svidler,P2710Anand,V2780½–½1999B19Hoogovens8
Topalov,V2700Reinderman,D25421–01999B38Hoogovens8
Van Wely,L2636Shirov,A2726½–½1999D85Hoogovens8
Yermolinsky,A2597Piket,J2609½–½1999E52Hoogovens8
Anand,V2784Kramnik,V2751½–½1999C42Hoogovens9
Kasimdzhanov,R2595Van Wely,L26361–01999D47Hoogovens9
Piket,J2609Topalov,V27001–01999A58Hoogovens9
Reinderman,D2542Ivanchuk,V27140–11999B46Hoogovens9
Shirov,A2725Yermolinsky,A25951–01999B12Hoogovens9
Sokolov,I2610Kasparov,G28121–01999E59Hoogovens9
Timman,J2649Svidler,P2713½–½1999D91Hoogovens9
Ivanchuk,V2714Svidler,P2713½–½1999A29Hoogovens10
Kasparov,G2812Anand,V2784½–½1999D27Hoogovens10
Kramnik,V2751Timman,J26491–01999A34Hoogovens10
Reinderman,D2542Piket,J2609½–½1999C68Hoogovens10
Topalov,V2700Shirov,A2726½–½1999C11Hoogovens10
Van Wely,L2636Sokolov,I26100–11999E20Hoogovens10
Yermolinsky,A2595Kasimdzhanov,R2595½–½1999E71Hoogovens10
Anand,V2784Van Wely,L26361–01999B35Hoogovens11
Kasimdzhanov,R2595Topalov,V2700½–½1999B53Hoogovens11
Piket,J2609Ivanchuk,V27141–01999E99Hoogovens11
Shirov,A2726Reinderman,D25421–01999B46Hoogovens11
Sokolov,I2610Yermolinsky,A25971–01999D55Hoogovens11
Svidler,P2713Kramnik,V2751½–½1999B33Hoogovens11
Timman,J2649Kasparov,G2812½–½1999B81Hoogovens11
Ivanchuk,V2714Kramnik,V2751½–½1999C42Hoogovens12
Kasparov,G2812Svidler,P27131–01999D97Hoogovens12
Piket,J2609Shirov,A2726½–½1999A34Hoogovens12
Reinderman,D2542Kasimdzhanov,R2595½–½1999C42Hoogovens12
Topalov,V2700Sokolov,I2610½–½1999C67Hoogovens12
Van Wely,L2636Timman,J26490–11999A17Hoogovens12
Yermolinsky,A2597Anand,V2784½–½1999D27Hoogovens12
Anand,V2784Topalov,V27001–01999B90Hoogovens13
Kasimdzhanov,R2595Piket,J2609½–½1999C54Hoogovens13
Kramnik,V2751Kasparov,G2812½–½1999D49Hoogovens13
Shirov,A2726Ivanchuk,V2714½–½1999B77Hoogovens13
Sokolov,I2610Reinderman,D2542½–½1999E76Hoogovens13
Svidler,P2713Van Wely,L2636½–½1999B78Hoogovens13
Timman,J2649Yermolinsky,A25971–01999B50Hoogovens13

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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