<28.e4

Giving the d5-knight the boot from its dominating central perch. The audience was thrilled with this razor-sharp battle of thrust and parry.

Most of us felt that Kasparov was still cashing in on his earlier play when we were shocked into stunned silence. The players had shaken hands! Since the position still offered plenty of opportunity, we could only speculate that Kasparov must have chickened out and offered a draw!! Indeed, he had.

A storm of protests erupted from the audience. The viewers had paid their money to see two great chess minds battle it out and they were denied the second half of a great show. I was too stunned for words; I apologized to my audience and waited for the post-game commentary by Anand. (Black gives the post-game press conference in the event of a draw, otherwise it is the winner’s job.)

Anand explained that he had no intention of offering a draw himself, but was happy to accept Kasparov’s offer! He admitted that he was very uncertain about the evaluation of the final position, and had made what he considered a prudent decision.

Australian GM Ian Rogers shot out the brutally frank question, “Isn’t the audience being ripped off?” Staggered, Anand managed to offer the opinion that the game had already been exciting enough.

Thus ended one of the least satisfying games in the annals of championship chess. Cowardice by Kasparov? In this writer’s view, yes!

Certainly, the final position will be debated for months, perhaps years, to come. Is White winning? I can’t say with certainty, but White holds an advantage. The disgruntled audience wanted an answer, now!

GMs Walter Browne and Maxim Dlugy played a ten-minute game from the final position. Browne, playing White, quickly gained a winning position after 28...Nb4 29.dxc5+ Kxc5 30. Rc1+ Kb6 31.Re7 Rd8+ 32.Ke2 a3 33.Rc3! a2 34.Rxe6+ Kb7 35.Re7+ Kb6 36.Re6+ (Walter repeated moves to prove that White is taking no risks by playing on) 36...Kb7 37.Ra3 Rd4 38.Ra5 Rxe4+ 39.Kd2 Rd4+ 40.Kc3 Rc4+ 41.Kb3 and White was winning. In time trouble, Walter missed the trick 41...Nd5 42.Rg6? Rb4+ 43.Kxa2 Nc3+ 44.Ka3 Rb1! and now Black was winning! The game was drawn in a time scramble, but Walter had proven his point. White had an advantage.

After the game, Anand and Kasparov shared their thoughts with one another. Anand had intended 28...Nc7 (?) 29. dxc5+ Kc6 30.Kc3 (threatening Ra1-d1-d6+) 30...Rd8 31.Re7, but Black would be in Zugzwang and the compulsion to move would prove fatal. Clearly, Black’s best is 28...Nb4 and, although Browne’s treatment in a 10-minute game isn’t the final word, the verdict is clear: in practical play, White’s chances must be better.

9 c3 is still theory's main line, even though everyone uses 9 Nbd2 nowadays pretty much.

10...Nxb3 11 Nxb3 is better for white, since d4 is heavily controlled.

11 Bxe6 Nxe6 12 cxd4 Ncxd4 is fine for black.

11...Qxg5 12 Qf3 0-0-0! (...Bd7 13 Bd5 with white advantage) 13 Bxe6+ fxe6 14 Qxc6 Qxe5 15 b4! with a small advantage.

14...Qxd1 15 Bxd1 Be7 16 Be3 Nd3 17 Bb3 Kf7 and white has a small advantage.

27 e4 looks best, kicking the knight immediately.

Besides, how can we criticize Kasparov for drawing this game? It's because of its unclear end Anand repeated this line optimistically in game 10, and we know what happened there. Kasparov analyzed it inside out and crushed Anand as nobody crushed him before. Given the bigger picture, this game served Kasparov rather well in the match.

I think what he says reveals more about Seirawan than about Kasparov...

<Kasparov must have chickened out and offered a draw!! Indeed, he had>

<Cowardice by Kasparov? In this writer’s view, yes!>

<Kasparov damaging his reputation with a weak-kneed draw offer>