Annotated chess game: Tournament in Wijk aan Zee (annotated by G. Kasparov)

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ANNOTATED GAME

Tournament in Wijk aan Zee (annotated by G. Kasparov)
Kasparov, G. (2812) vs. Topalov, V. (2700)
Annotated by: Gameknot.com

(1038)
Chess opening: Pirc (B07), 150 attack

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20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1

That was when I saw the possibility of a draw. Moreover, I felt that there was a possibility to continue the game, to play without the Rook, though I could not imagine what it would lead to. However, the image of the black King on a5 comforted my heart and intuition given to every man from birth, intuition of an "attacker" (let's call it that way), told me that there would be decision and a mate net around the black King would be spun in spite of the huge material advantage of the adversary. Besides, I was whipped up by curiosity of unexplored. Will there ever be another opportunity to lure out the black King into the center of my own camp!? In the long run, Lasker's ancient game [Lasker, Edward - Sir Thomas, George. London 1912.] with a sacrifice on h7 and King's move g8-g1 was like a myth to us. Such a thing could happen only in those distant times, we assume. And suddenly, this opportunity! Topalov looked quite confident. He played

1 comment

21... d4

Alternative variation: [Certainly, after] 21... dxe4 22. fxe4 [the game is open and now the threat 23.Nd5 gives Black a lot of trouble: the black King is too weak.]

1 comment

22. Nd5

Frankly speaking, this move is not the strongest but it serves as a prologue for a further combination. Alternative variation: [White, of course, could have played] 22. Na2 [but after] Rhe8 [ or h7-h6 the game would have become very complicated. So naturally, my hand led the Knight to the center.]

22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6

# It seemed to me that Topalov was a bit surprised, as he thought that attacking resources had dried out. A check on c6 was senseless, the Knight will be beaten, the King will go to b6, and there is hardly any opportunity for White to move his Rooks toward the black King. The d4-pawn safely protects the d-rank, and there are no squares for intrusion on the e-rank. Actually, this was not quite right, and my next move, made without any hesitation, turned out to be an unpleasant surprise for Topalov.

24. Rxd4

When I made this move, I saw only the repetition of the moves and the opportunity to continue the attack, though the whole picture of the combination was not yet clear. I already saw the idea 30.. .Rd6 31.Rb6, but I still could not get rid of the thought that all lines should be checked to the very end. Maybe black will find some opportunity for defense. Topalov spent about 15 minutes thinking. I walked around the hall - rather, I fled - and at these feverish moments it seemed to me that there were very few participants and that most of the games had already been finished. My mind worked only in one direction, and one of these moments brought me the image of the whole cluster of various lines. I saw the move 37. Rd7. I don't even remember how this line was formed in my head, but I saw the whole line up to the end. I saw the journey of the black King after 36.Bf1, 37. Rd7 and I could no longer suppress my excitement, because at that same moment I realized that the move 24...Kb6 ruined the whole construction. The mere thought that I could spoil such a combination drove me crazy, and I only prayed that Topalov would capture on d4. I still was not sure that this would win, but the beauty of the combination I saw impressed me. I could not believe my own eyes when Veselin twitched abruptly and grabbed the Rook. As he explained after the game, he was exhausted by the tense fight and he thought that White would have to force a draw by the repetition of moves after the Rook was captured. He saw the main idea of the combination, but it did not occur to him that White would play without the Rook, trying to make use of the King's forward position on a4.

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24... cxd4

This move loses the game, but it is worth an exclamation mark, as great combinations cannot be created without partners. If Topalov had not taken the Rook, the game could have finished in a draw: Veselin would have had half a point more, I - half a point less. He would have win a little bit, I would have lost a little bit, but chess and chess amateurs would have lost a lot. However, Caissa was kind to me that day.. . I do not know what I was rewarded for, but the development of events became forced after the capture on d4. Alternative variation: [Maybe, if Topalov had played] 24... Kb6 [then I could have found the move] 25. Nb3 $1 [ which again makes it impossible to capture the Rook:] ([I was intending to play ] 25. b4 [as I underestimated the fact that after] Qxf4 (25... Nxd5 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. bxc5+ Kxc5 28. Nb3+ Kb6 29. Kb2 Rhd8 30. Red1 Bc6 31. f4 Kc7 $11) 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Nb3 Rd6 [Black's position is better.] ) 25... Bxd5 $1 (25... cxd4 $2 26. Qxd4+ Kc7 27. Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 Rb8 29. Re7+ $18) (25... Nxd5 $2 26. Qxf7 Rhf8 27. Qg7 Rg8 28. Qh6 Qf8 29. Rh4 $16) 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1 $11 [and White keeps equality, but not more.] Alternative variation: 24... Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Nxd5 26. Qxf7+ Nc7 27. Re6 Rd7 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 30. f4

25. Re7+

I made this move with lightening speed. And there was nothing to think about. The Rook was inviolable. Such moves are always made with pleasure, and all I have said before (that the d-rank is closed by the d4-pawn and that there are no squares for intrusion on the e-rank) turned out to be ruined. Two white Rooks sacrifice themselves, and thus, the way to the black camp is opened for White's pieces. The construction I dreamt of - Queen on b6, Knight on a5 - has suddenly come true, because of the Bishop on h3. Alternative variation: [ I have to say that] 25. Qxd4+ [did not achieve the goal because of] Qb6 26. Re7+ Nd7 [and White's attack fades away.]

25... Kb6

Alternative variation: [If Black moves] 25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 $1 [then after] Nd7 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 28. c4 $1 Qxe7 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ $1 Bxc6 33. Nxc6 [Black loses by force.]

5 comments

26. Qxd4+ Kxa5

Alternative variation: [ Some of the participants, including Anand, asserted that the move] 26... Qc5 [ saved the game. However, after] 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Be6 [White closed the rank but left the opportunity to vary threats and to force Black into a desperate position. For example] Bxd5 (28... Rhe8 29. b4 $1 $18) 29. b4 $1 Ba8 30. Qxf7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qxf3 32. Bf5 [would be the simplest way, as all the lines are closed and mate threats become inevitable.]

27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3

I made the last move without hesitations. Frankly speaking, I could not make myself think as I strove for the end. I already saw it, and it seemed to me that it was the way to finish the game, that Black could not avoid it, and that there were no other defenses. Veselin gave me time when he was thinking himself, but I could not make myself look for another opportunity. My hopes were in vain! However, it is difficult to judge. It seems to me that the beauty of this combination is not inferior to a side line. Though in order to be objective from the point of view of chess truth, it would be stronger to play 28.Ra7! Alternative variation: 28. Ra7 [This move was found by Lubomir Kavalek, probably with the help of a computer, as it is impossible to look through all the lines independently. Nevertheless, the idea found by Kavalek provided the opportunity to realize all problem motives in a clearer way, keeping Black from using new defensive resources. Such resources could appear in the game as played, though, frankly speaking, they were not enough.] [ The strongest move, as in the game itself, is] Bb7 ([ So, after 28.Ra7! both captures on d5 lose quickly:] 28... Nxd5 29. Rxa6+ $3 Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 $18 [# and we approached the position when there was no defense from the threat of Queen's self-sacrifice on b3. Black can not attract another piece to control the a2-g8 diagonal, as the white Bishop controls the e6-square.] (32. --)) ([ The Bishop's capture on d5 also loses:] 28... Bxd5 29. Qc3 Rhe8 30. Kb2 Re2 [ Black linked the c2-pawn and defended from the Qb3 threat. And here the Queen suddenly changes its route-] 31. Qc7 $1 [ threatening with a mate from a5. And after] Qxc7 32. Rxa6+ [the King turns out to be mated by the white Rook. A wonderful scheme of mating pieces!]) 29. Rxb7 [The continuation after] Qxd5 ([After] 29... Nxd5 [ White finds a new mating construction] 30. Bd7 $1 [threatening with Bxb5+ to expose the black King and to mate it again wi

28... Qxd5

Here, Topalov had less than half an hour, I had 32 minutes. Alternative variation: [ It would be even weaker to play] 28... Bxd5 [because of] 29. Kb2 [ with inevitable mate.]

3 comments

29. Ra7 Bb7 30. Rxb7

Alternative variation: [ White refuses the last opportunity to force a perpetual checkmate playing] 30. Qc7 [I was sure that White would achieve more.] Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qd4+ 32. Kb1 $11 It is important that there is no checkmate on d1, because the white King suddenly goes to a2 and it turns out that the threat Qb3 can be also supported by the King from the a2-square. That is why the black Queen has to be on d5 (one has to understand this very important moment), in order to control the b3-square and to be able to play Qd4 if the white King is on b2. Therefore, the Rook should be on d8. It leaves enough opportunities for most various problem motives that are more vivid in this particular line. Both adversaries saw the line and Topalov, having spent some of his precious minutes, played

1 comment

30... Qc4

This is the most natural defense, and I counted on it, too. Moreover, this is the defense that leads to the most effective mating end that I had no rest from for the last 15-20 minutes, ever since its image mysteriously arose in my mind. Actually, Black had two other defenses, and each of them could have ruined the delicate conception that I had in mind. Alternative variation: [ The first one was] 30... Rhe8 [the move Topalov showed on the next day before the round started. Thus he drove me into a tight corner in my game with Reinderman, where I was deep in thought calculating various lines after 30... Rhe8 and, not being able to find the way out. I was very careless in the opening, making two slips and mixing everything up. Fortunately, I rethought quickly, got rid of all these fixed ideas and nightmares and played a marvelous game. However, Topalov's idea was not likely to live a long life, because everyone was interested in this game and the statement that the move Rhe8 could refute White's brilliant composition must have caused inward protest. So, at the end of the round, Ligterink proudly showed a brilliant victory for White.] [Thus, White plays] 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1 [Objecting to .. .Qc4, White creates a quiet threat Rd6, which is crucial in the case of Nd7.] ( [It is important to note that the move] 32. Be6 [ which suggests itself, does not achieve the goal:] Rxe6 33. Rxe6 [And Black, course, can not capture the rook on e6, as after Kb2 there is no defense from the mate, but plays] Qc4 [ This is the very counter-sacrifice that I told you about.] [ White has to beat c4:] 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 [and then] 36. Rxf7 Re8 [ Black starts a counter-attack and, strange as it may seem, keeps good chances to win the ending. White cannot allow such exchanges and, as we can see, the c4-square is now crucial. Black could change the defense, playing 30... Rhe8. In this case one Rook would defend the a6-pawn from a8, and the move Kb2 faces Qe5. The Rook controls the

31. Qxf6 Kxa3

Topalov still erred in thinking that White had nothing better than 32.Qxa6 Kxb4 and 33.Bd7. Really, White has no other possibilities as the King is under mate himself. Alternative variation: [Black misses the best defense that let him continue the resistance in the ending playing] 31... Rd1+ [And then] 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 $1 [threatening a mate from a5.] Qd4+ ([ At] 33... a5 34. Bd7 [is decisive]) 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 [ Technically, it is the most complicated decision.] ([I planned to play 35.Bd7. Analysis showed that this was also enough for the victory. White tries to dominate, to press the black pieces, and he prepares to move the King-side pawns, taking advantage of the fact that the Rook should be on a8. Black tries to defend himself from Bb5+ and not to let the Bishop go to b3. Nevertheless, he does not succeed. After] 35. Bd7 $5 Rd2 36. Bc6 f5 37. Rb6 Ra7 38. Be8 Rd4 39. f4 [Black is nearly stalemated.] Rc4 40. Bf7 Rxb4+ 41. axb4 Rxf7 42. c3 [After] Ra7 [the only way is to play] 43. Re6 a5 44. Re1 [and we come across a new mating construction. This time it is a front checkmate from a1; the Rook mates the black King on the a-rank.]) [Black must play] 35... a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ [and it turns out that the Rook can not capture on b4 because after c3 this Rook is trapped and the ending is technically won. Then after] Kb6 (38... Rxb4 39. c3) 39. Rxh7 Rc8 40. h4 [White has to win this position without much trouble. The Bishop and three pawns are much stronger than the Rook. White's disposition is marvelous and his victory is a point of time. However, the continuation 35.Bd7 was more effective, and I counted on it during the game because, frankly speaking, I did not see that after 38. axb4+ Rxb4 the move 39.c3 trapped the Rook.] Nevertheless, Topalov took on a3 with the King, and the line I dreamt of came true! Once again, tried to check the lines, and, afraid to believe my own eyes, I made sure that what I had thought of for so long

32. Qxa6+ Kxb4

1 comment

33. c3+

Probably, that was when Topalov realized everything. Of course, he saw the move 36...Rd2 and then, as it often happens to chess players, he immediately saw 37.Rd7. Black has no choice, he has to take with the King on c3.

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33... Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2

Alternative variation: [There is no way back:] 34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Ka5 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37. Ra7+ [winning the Queen.]

35. Qb2+ Kd1

The black King has made the way to his Calvary - from e8 to d1 - across the whole chessboard! And when it seems that he has reached a quiet harbor (White has no more checkmates), the Bishop, which was on h3 and did nothing but shot in the emptiness and defended the e6 square, made his move. Alternative variation: [Another change of mating constructions! In fact, we should not forget another opportunity: in stead of 35...Kd1] 35... Ke3 [can be played, then the continuation would be] 36. Re7+ Kxf3 37. Qg2#

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36. Bf1

# White attacked the Queen who can not escape: if he retreats along the c-rank the move 37.Qe2 and a checkmate would follow, and retreat to e6 will cause a mate from c1. Alternative variation: [ This is one more of the innumerable mating finals. Thus, after] 36. Bf1 [ the Bishop is also inviolable, as after] Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ [- I don't know who would like such a mate. This is a trifle in comparison with all we had before.]

2 comments

36... Rd2

Black makes a counterblow and for another second it seems that the worst is left behind, because White seems to have no more resources. Alternative variation: 36... Qc5 37. Qe2# Alternative variation: 36... Qe6 37. Qc1# With one more second to rest, Black will announce checkmate to the white King himself. But this is where the white Rook enters.

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