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[A.J. Goldsby I] This game has already achieved
the status of a legendary win, it was voted the best game of that particular issue of the Informant. The game begins with 1.e2-e4, Shirov counters with a Sicilian. 1.e4 c5; 2.Nf3 e6; 3.d4 cxd4; 4.Nxd4 Nf6; 5.Nc3 Nc6; 6.Ndb5 d6; Black plays his QP forward one square, in order to prevent White from playing Nd6+.
7.Bf4 e5; 8.Bg5 a6; 9.Na3 b5; (… with the idea - P/b5-b4, with a fork.) An Open Sicilian has turned into
a system with an early ...e7-e6. This - in turn - has been forced (by White) into the Sveshnikov
Sicilian, the Chelyabinsk Variation ...
r1bqkb1r/5ppp/p1np1n2/1p2p1B1/4P3/N1N5/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq b6 0 10
Some of the specialists ... from the Black side of this particular opening system ... are: Carlsen, Kramnik, Topalov, Radjabov, Shirov and Gelfand.
[ A viable alternative - for Black - would be the older system of:
10.Nd5, (positional/slow) In this system rather than try and immediately push Black off the board or smash his Pawn structure, White simply inserts his Knight into the strong outpost-square on d5. This sends the message that White will slowly try to squeeze Black on the light squares and push him off the chess board.
r1bqkb1r/5ppp/p1np1n2/1p1Np1B1/4P3/N7/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 10
The first time that I saw this move played, the (then) World Champion, GM Anatoly Karpov used it (from the White side) and won some very impressive games with it.
[ White can also play more sharply, and immediately give Black doubled and isolated
10...Be7; 11.Bxf6 Bxf6; Again - we see the mostly positional concept of White removing the main defender of the d5 square - in the attempt to maintain his Knight on d5, and slowly trying to squeeze Black to death.
r1bqk2r/5ppp/p1np1b2/1p1Np3/4P3/N7/PPP2PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 12
Recapturing with the Bishop on the f6-square is the move that is played the most often and the one that generally gets the nod from the books on this system of the Sicilian.
[ The alternative of:
RR 11...gxf6!?;
12.c3,
"+/=" 12...f5; "<=>"
Both sides continue their overall development. (c3 is crucial for the first player, as he strives to avoid ...b5-b4; and the player of the White pieces also wants to keep Black's N off of the important d4-square.) 12.c3 Bb7; (Hits e4 & d5.)
Black begins to attack the key squares and prepares the maneuver of ...N/c6-e7. However, the main line today is castling on the K-side, according to a relatively new
[
Perhaps better was: (>/=) 12...0-0; -
GM I. Stohl
13.Nc2 Bg5;
14.a4 bxa4; 15.Rxa4 a5;
16.Bc4, (Hits d5.) (RR 16.b4 Ne7!; 17.Nce3, "~")
16...Rb8; 17.b3 Kh8; 18.0-0, "+/=" (W / a small edge.)
See the game: GM V. Ivanchuk - GM M.
Carlsen; /
Tal Memorial, Moscow, 2007.
[ See MCO-15, page # 341; column # 07, and all notes ... especially note (e.)
13.Nc2 Nb8!?; (Reason?) This move causes quite a shift in the computer's general eval's of the overall position. It is NOT enough to label the move as inferior (dubious), as the move is both logical - Black seeks to avoid getting doubled f-pawns; and it is not an error which Black could not recover from. However, there is a fairly substantial loss of time associated with this move, and it is this loss of tempi that allows Garry's fantastic idea to work. Therefore, I can only conclude that the "book" line, (which means Black should play his Knight to the e7-square); was a small (but important) improvement here for Black.
rn1qk2r/1b3ppp/p2p1b2/1p1Np3/4P3/2P5/PPN2PPP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 0 14
The position - above - is the one after Black's last move of 13...Nb8!?
[ The following continuation was almost certainly a small improvement over the course of the actual game: ( An alternative was: 14.Nxf6+ gxf6; 15.Bd3, "+/=" - Garry Kasparov & Houdini. )
14...Bg5; 15.Nxe7
Bxe7; 16.Nd5 0-0;
17.Be2, "+/="
See the contest of:
Now just about all the engines choose Nce3 here. However, I like the text move, as it is very active, and puts Black's position under immediate duress. 14.a4!? bxa4; 15.Rxa4, This is certainly both good and playable ... I only wish to point out that it is not the top choice of many chess engines.
rn1qk2r/1b3ppp/p2p1b2/3Np3/R3P3/2P5/1PN2PPP/3QKB1R b Kkq - 0 15
White does have a fun position here, with lots of tactical threats.
[ RR 15.Nce3, "+/=" - Fritz 13 ]
Black's next move is solid, indeed it is the first choice of most of the chess engines. 15...Nd7; 16.Rb4!?N, (N = NOVELTY / A new move for master-level praxis.) (16.Rb4! - GM Igor Stohl.)
r2qk2r/1b1n1ppp/p2p1b2/3Np3/1R2P3/2P5/1PN2PPP/3QKB1R b Kkq - 0 16
Apparently, this was a new move at the time that Kasparov played it, and probably the whole reason that he wanted to play this line. Statistically speaking, this play has scored well. However, according to the chess engines, it is not any better than the other lines, Nce3 is the choice of nearly all the strong chess engines here.
[ All of the following moves are playable and do well for White, yielding at least a solid edge:
16...Nc5!?; (Knight outpost?)
This is a very logical move ... to which Kasparov appends the dubious appellation.
r2qk2r/1b3ppp/p2p1b2/2nNp3/1R2P3/2P5/1PN2PPP/3QKB1R w Kkq - 0 17
As this move does not cause a dramatic rise in the overall scores of the chess engines, and it is also a reasonable move, I cannot agree with Kasparov's harsh grading of Shirov's play at this point.
[ >/= 16...Ra7!, "=" (- Fritz & Houdini) ]
17.Rxb7!?, ('!!' - GM G. Kasparov.) This is simply one of the most astounding moves of the 20th century of master-level praxis.
r2qk2r/1R3ppp/p2p1b2/2nNp3/4P3/2P5/1PN2PPP/3QKB1R b Kkq - 0 17
Kasparov generously awarded himself two exclams for this play, (See Informant # 61.); however, as the engines do not agree with this decision today, (03/2014); and the fact that there is no forced win from this point, I would have to say that Rxb7 was not White's best move in this particular position.
It IS a grand conception, and Black's Knight on b7 will be completely out of play for a long, long time. However, (in the long run); the sacrifice should have been good for Let me also say - if computers ever improve to the point that they are flawless - and a forced win is discovered ... then the move of 17.Rxb7, would deserve three ... or even four exclamation points. (However, this has not happened, so the designation of '!?" is as fair and as objective as I could possibly be at this singular point in time.)
[ Objectively, it was probably better for White to play:
>/= 17.Nce3!, "+/="
(w / advantage).
Of course, Black must recapture. 17...Nxb7[]; 18.b4!, (Possibly - '!!') White spurns material gain in order to keep the Black steed (on the b7-square) out of play. The engines (all) want to play 18.Ncb4, angling for active play and possibly winning the a6-Pawn, but Garry's move is much deeper and more in the spirit of his bold exchange sacrifice.
[ Not as good would be: </=
18.Ncb4!? Nc5; 19.Qf3
Rc8; "=/+"
18...Bg5; (Restriction.) The point of this move is Shirov was trying to prevent Ne3-c4. Predictably, Garry is not so easily deterred, his Knight now finds a new route to the desired destination.
19.Na3! 0-0; 20.Nc4 a5!; (20...a5! - GM I. Stohl)
r2q1rk1/1n3ppp/3p4/p2Np1b1/1PN1P3/2P5/5PPP/3QKB1R w K - 0 21
Damsky notes that, in this position, if Black played ...f7-f5!?; he is simply aiding his opponent, and helping White's LSB get into the game in a very effective manner.
[ RR 20...Ra7!?; - Fritz 13. ]
21.Bd3 axb4; 22.cxb4 Qb8;
Black is hard pressed to find a way to gain any real activity; or find a plan that would lead to meaningful play for all of his pieces.
23.h4!, (Space, time, etc.)
Garry knows how to control a position, no matter what the material balance may be.
rq3rk1/1n3ppp/3p4/3Np1b1/1PN1P2P/3B4/5PP1/3QK2R b K h3 0 23
"Facing Black with a dilemma, whether to immobilize his own knight after
23...Bd8; 24.g3, Qa7;
25.0-0, (...)
[ RR 23.Ncb6, "~" - Fritz 13. ]
23...Bh6!; (Covering e3.) "23...Bh6?" - GM Igor Stohl The computer thinks that ...Bd8; is a better move. However, with two active White Knights ready to jump into Black's position, Shirov has to play actively to avoid a complete disaster.
[ Just one sample line ...
24.Ncb6 Ra2; 25.0-0 Rd2?!;
Black plays his Rook into the heart of the White position. It is easy to see how Shirov could play such a move, as (at first glance) it may appear that Black is winning.
1q3rk1/1n3ppp/1N1p3b/3Np3/1P2P2P/3B4/3r1PP1/3Q1RK1 w - - 0 26
Strangely, Garry Kasparov does not comment on this move, however Igor Stohl does correctly label Black's 25th move as inferior.
[ Better was: >/= 25...Qd8!; - GM Igor Stohl & Fritz 13. ]
Now Garry had 26.Qb1! which just might be a completely forced win for White, however, Garry missed it and Shirov was almost able to get a playable position. 26.Qf3!? Qa7; (Activity.) Thus far, both players have played some excellent, hard-hitting chess.
5rk1/qn3ppp/1N1p3b/3Np3/1P2P2P/3B1Q2/3r1PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 27
This is a critical position, and Garry had to find the most accurate way to proceed from this point in the game.
27.Nd7!?, (Not the best.) White attacks the Rook on f8 and thinks (maybe) later to play a Knight to the b6-square, causing a general disruption in the rear areas of Black's army.
However, this inaccurate play ... possibly deserving a full question mark, (but given the dubious grading by Iakov Damsky and also GM Igor Stohl) ... ... ...
[ Correct was: >/=
27.Bb5!, "+/=" (With an
advantage.)
27...Nd8?; (Really bad!) Shirov - perhaps tiring of this piece never having any meaningful play - has the sudden inspiration to try and quickly get in ... Ne6-d4.
However, this was incorrect and if Shirov thought that he could reach equality by returning the exchange, he was dead wrong!
[ >/= 27...Ra8; "~" (unclear) ]
Probably, Garry was tickled at this point in the encounter. 28.Nxf8 Kxf8; 29.b5!,
Garry seems to be ignoring any of Shirov's threats and concentrating only on his own plans and devices.
3n1k2/q4ppp/3p3b/1P1Np3/4P2P/3B1Q2/3r1PP1/5RK1 b - - 0 29
"And again the Black Knight is crippled ..." - Iakov Damsky "Material is equal again, and as White has fully retained all of his positional advantages, Black is lost." - GM Igor Stohl
[ Perhaps Shirov only expected:
</= 29.Bb1? Ne6;
"<=>"
29...Qa3!?; (Pin and win?) Black was already in trouble, and I am sure that Shirov sensed this.
Nonetheless, the play of 29...Qd4; was superior to what was played in the game, after
29...Qa3;
the "eval's" more than double ...
[ Black should have played: >/= RR 29...Qd4[]; 30.Be2!, '±' ("+/") (- Fritz and Houdini.) ]
Shirov may have overlooked Garry's next move ... (which - in some lines - threaten a quick checkmate). 30.Qf5! Ke8[]; (Forced.) Black did not have much choice in this position, perhaps Shirov was already beginning to see the beginning of the end.
[ Much worse was:
31.Bc4, (Out of Dodge.) Damsky remarks that if the BQ were on d4 in this position, White would not have been able to play this move.
[ </= 31.Bb1? Ne6!; 32.b6, "~" ]
31...Rc2; (hmmm) According to Fritz, Black had to play 31...Qc5; (or even 31...Qa5); although White would still retain the clearly superior overall game.
[ Black also loses after the following line here: ( </= 32...Qxc4??; 33.Qh8+ Kd7; 34.Nb6+, ('+-') )
33.Be2! Rxd5;
(Forced?!?)
( Even worse would be: </= 33...Rd2?; 34.Qg8+ Kd7;
34.exd5 Qxd5;
35.Ra1 Qd4;
36.Ra8 Ke7;
37.Qg8 Qb6;
38.Bc4, '+-'
(decisive)
32.Qxh7 Rxc4!?; (A groan.) This looks like suicide ... (The machine prefers the move, 32...Kd7; here.).
Now Black is losing a whole Rook to a simple Knight fork, but it is not clear if (or how) Shirov could have avoided such a fiasco.
33.Qg8+ Kd7[]; (Forced.) Haha, this is Black's ONLY legal move!
34.Nb6+ Ke7; 35.Nxc4 Qc5; (Nearly trapping the WN.) Now the White Knight has no real escape square.
3n2Q1/4kpp1/3p3b/1Pq1p3/2N1P2P/8/5PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 36
Perhaps Shirov ... maybe already in time pressure ... has begun to think that he might be clawing his way back into the game. If Black did believe he was getting back into the game, then White's next move must have been a real shock. 36.Ra1!, (Surprise!) Suddenly, it is the insecure situation of Shirov's King that is the most important facet of this position.
[ Much worse was:
</= 36.Ne3?
Bxe3; 37.fxe3
Qxe3+; 38.Kh2
Qxe4;
36...Qd4; 37.Ra3!?, (hmmm) With this rook play, White tries to avoid any threats to his own King.
3n2Q1/4kpp1/3p3b/1P2p3/2NqP2P/R7/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 37
Garry was under the illusion that this was White's best move. Damsky, probably just aping G.K., awards this move an exclam. However, ALL the engines agree that that Ra8! was the superior play for White in this position!!
[ Much better was: >/= 37.Ra8! Ne6!; 38.g3!, "+-" - Houdini 3.0 & Fritz 13. ]
37...Bc1!?; (Attacking the White Rook.) Knowing Shirov, he was already in time trouble, or he had already given up on his position when he played this Bishop sortie.
However, it is a really horrible move, the scores (with some engines) literally will more than triple after this terribly errant play by Black.
[ A little better was: >/= 37...Bf4[]; 38.Ne3!, '+-' although White was still winning (fairly easily). ]
38.Ne3, "+/-" (Or '+-') Black Resigns. (38.Ne3! - GM G. Kasparov ... >/= 38.Nxd6!, - Houdini.) Of course, if Shirov takes the Rook on a3, then Nf5+ wins Black's Queen. ( Garry Kasparov awards his last move an exclamation mark as well, however, this seems just a little superfluous to me! {A.J.G.} Naturally, Damsky mimics Kasparov, but only because he is incapable of any original thought patterns. )
3n2Q1/4kpp1/3p4/1P2p3/3qP2P/R3N3/5PP1/2b3K1 b - - 0 38
A great game of chess to be sure, and one that has some really extraordinary ideas contained in it. Yet ... in the final analysis ... it was the poor play of Shirov, and not the brilliance of GM Garry Kasparov, that caused Black's downfall in this historic encounter. BIBLIOGRAPHY: *************************************************************** #1.) Informant # 61. (Game #178. ---> The Informant is from the same people that brings you ECO.) #2.) "Chess Brilliancy," (250 Historic Games From the Masters.); by Iakov Damsky. (Game # 116, page # 162.) #3.) Garry Kasparov's Greatest Chess Games, Volume II - by Igor Stohl (Game # 80, page # 42.) ---> I also have seen this game in many other sources, (like opening books); I cannot possibly quote all of them.
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2014. All rights reserved.
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