DrMAL: This lesser known Kasparov game is gem for learning technique. At transition of opening white has IDP and textbook position for active pieces whereas black pieces are quite passive. Critical square is d5 and probably plan is not to battle for it but instead exchange advantages by opening position via d5 and taking advantage of activity. Here is computer eval for reference.
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Houdini_20_x64: 28/70 2:03:52 76,907,201,260
+0.23 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Bb3 Nb4 16.Qe2 Re8 17.Rcd1
+0.20 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Rc8
Kasparov plan is hybrid of these two and probably best, 15.Nxd7! Qxd7 16.d5! gets bishop pair advantage as well. Similarly, computer gives 18.Qxd5 Qxd5 19.Bxd5 slightly more advantage but Kasparov avoids Q swap, with probably best winning chances. 18...Rfd8 was most accurate but black chose "safer" 18...Bg5 to trade pieces. Not sure where Kasparov saw 20.h4! but it was probably here. In any event 19.Bxg5 hxg5 arrives at critical position. Computer lines here are interesting for discussion.
 click for larger viewHoudini_20_x64: 33/74 11:34:20 461,921,101,330
+0.33 20.Bxc6 Qxd1 21.Rexd1 Rxc6 22.Rxc6 bxc6
+0.29 20.Be4 Qxd1 21.Rexd1 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8
+0.17 20.h4 gxh4 21.Qh5 Rce8 22.Red1 Rce8
+0.16 20.h3 Rfd8 21.Be4 Qxd1 22.Rexd1 Rxd1+
+0.16 20.Bf3 Qxd1 21.Rcxd1 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8
+0.15 20.g3 Rfd8 21.Be4 Qxd1 22.Rexd1 Rxd1+
From diagram, obvious idea is to replace Q on d1 with R but Q must protect B on d5, if it moves Qb3 or Qf3 then Nd4 attacks Q. 20.h4! gxh4 sacs pawn for Qh5, getting Q out of way (actually onto great square for h-file attack) while still protecting B. Now notice of six computer plans above there is only one that avoids Q swap, 20.h4! this was totally brilliant, best move. Computer underestimates danger of Qh5! if computed over much longer time it would probably evaluate 20.h4! as clearly best. With white R soon on fourth rank h-file can become big problem for black. Nogueiras realized danger of this and chose original idea of Rfd8 but in this position (instead of move 18) it was probably not best. After 21.hxg5 white was up pawn and in sharp position 21...Qf5 instead of 21...g6 was small error according to engine. From here Kasparov played perfectly, after 23...Rb8?! white attack was decisive. 26...Re1+ instead of 26...Qb1+ made finish even easier, game had magnificent middlegame technique. |