Ivanchuk Kasparov Linares 1991

(The annotations to this game, by V. M. Ivanchuk, are from '64' (№ 9, 1991).
The translation
from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)
Ivanchuk – Kasparov
1 round, Linares, 23rd February 1991
st
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+

In the practice of the Sicilian Defence the idea associated with the manoeuvre Bf1–b5 is
encountered much more rarely than the standard plan, with which White immediately opens the
centre, playing d2–d4. For example, the opening of one of my games, against grandmaster G.
Sosonko (played in 1989), began thus: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4.
3...Nd7
A rare continuation. More often played are 3...Bd7 or 3...Nc6.
4.d4 Ngf6 5.0–0

Unfavourable for White is 5.e5 in view of 5...Qa5+ 6.Nc3 Ne4, and Black has an excellent game.
5...cxd4
If 5...Nxe4, then 6.Qe2 Nef6 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Rd1 and then Nb1–c3, and White has good
compensation for the pawn.
6.Qxd4 a6 7.Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.Bg5

This is the correct move-order. After 8.c4 Black has time to play 8...g6 and on 9.Bg5 – 9...Bg7
with excellent prospects.
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-wqkvl-tr0
7+p+lzppzpp0
6p+-zp-sn-+0
5+-+-+-vL-0
4-+-wQP+-+0
3+-+-+N+-0
2PzPP+-zPPzP0
1tRN+-+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
8...h6
In this way Kasparov ‘forces’ White to capture the black knight and to clarify the situation. It is
another question as to how safe the black king will be in this case.
Also possible were the plans associated with ...Bd7–c6 or ...e7–e6 and ...Bf8–e7.
9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.c4 e6 11.Nc3 Rc8 12.Kh1

A useful prophylactic move. Into White's plans comes the attack with the help of the f-pawn
(sooner or later it will occur). While in this case the white king will be safer at h1.
12...h5 13.a4 h4 14.h3 Be7 15.b4

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+rwqk+-tr0
7+p+lvlp+-0
6p+-zppzp-+0
5+-+-+-+-0
4PzPPwQP+-zp0
3+-sN-+N+P0
2-+-+-zPP+0
1tR-+-+R+K0
xabcdefghy
A committal decision. After all, playing ...a6–a5 Black obtains at his disposition (after the
forced b4–b5) the excellent square c5.
But I considered that White's control over the square c6 is also of no little significance - the
light-squared bishop is ‘hobbled’. Naturally, it was possible to continue 15.Nh2, but in the
variation 15...Qc7 16.Ng4 Qxc4 17.Nxf6+ Kd8 18.Qb6+ Qc7 I did not see any real advantage.
15...a5
It was also possible not to hurry to stabilise the pawn chain, playing, for example, 15...Qc7.
16.b5 Qc7
Possibly more exact is 16...Rc5, aiming to first co-ordinate the action of the black rooks (for
example, combining their efforts on the king's flank), and only then playing ...Qd8–c7.
17.Nd2 Qc5 18.Qd3 Rg8 19.Rae1 Qg5 20.Rg1 Qf4

A poor move. Seemingly, Black wins a tempo by forcing Re1–f1 (the rook abandons an active
position). But the move Nc3–e2 (driving away the black queen) comes into White's plans, while
with the rook at f1 the advance of the e-pawn gains in strength.
21.Ref1 b6
Possibly, in his preliminary calculations Kasparov had intended to continue 21...d5. And then
in the case of 22.cxd5 Rxc3! 23.Qxc3 Bb4, as well as after 22.exd5 Bd6 23.g3 (23.Nf3 Qxc4) the
play becomes much sharper and for Black there appear good chances.
But, as is often said, chess is not draughts, and it is not obligatory to capture here. And,
continuing 22.Ne2!, White can boldly look to the future.
In my opinion, also deserving attention is 21...f5. Thus, not dangerous is 22.exf5 –

transposition to an endgame is desirable for Black. Black's pieces are also well placed after 22.Ne2
Qe5 23.f4 Qf6 or 23...Qc5.
22.Ne2 Qh6
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+r+k+r+0
7+-+lvlp+-0
6-zp-zppzp-wq0
5zpP+-+-+-0
4P+P+P+-zp0
3+-+Q+-+P0
2-+-sNNzPP+0
1+-+-+RtRK0
xabcdefghy
23.c5!?
A pawn sacrifice that suggests itself - the black queen has gone to the king's flank, and I would
have liked exploit this circumstance to begin active operations on the opposite sector of the front.
23...Rxc5?
A mistaken decision.
He ought to continue 23...dxc5. In the case of 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.f4 Bc8 26.f5 Kf8 White has a
strong initiative, but nothing real is apparent. Also possible is 24...Rd8 25.Nxb6 Bc8 with
complicated play.
24.Nc4 Kf8 25.Nxb6 Be8 26.f4 f5 27.exf5 Rxf5 28.Rc1

Occupying the open file and threatening an invasion on the 8th rank.
28...Kg7
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+l+r+0
7+-+-vlpmk-0
6-sN-zpp+-wq0
5zpP+-+r+-0
4P+-+-zP-zp0
3+-+Q+-+P0
2-+-+N+P+0
1+-tR-+-tRK0
xabcdefghy
29.g4!
At just the right time - Black does not have the possibility of capturing en passant (29...hxg3
30.Qxg3+ leads to material loss) and is forced to weaken his pawn structure still further. Moreover,
the pair of white pawns (f- and g-) take on a mobility that is dangerous for Black.
29...Rc5 30.Rxc5 dxc5 31.Nc8 Bf8

In the event of 31...Bd8 good is 32.Rc1, and in the variation 32...Qf6 33.Rxc5 Qa1+ 34.Kh2 Qe1
there follows 35.Qc3+ with the exchange of queens.
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+N+lvlr+0
7+-+-+pmk-0
6-+-+p+-wq0
5zpPzp-+-+-0
4P+-+-zPPzp0
3+-+Q+-+P0
2-+-+N+-+0
1+-+-+-tRK0
xabcdefghy
The remainder is simple: the black queen tries to break out into operational space, in order to
attack the white king (this was Kasparov's only chance), and I prevented this. White's pieces turn
out to be better co-ordinated, and moreover the extra passed pawn is 'weighty' enough. While
Black was in serious time trouble.
32.Qd8 Qg6 33.f5 Qh6 34.g5 Qh5 35.Rg4 exf5 36.Nf4 Qh8 37.Qf6+ Kh7 38.Rxh4+
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+N+lvlrwq0
7+-+-+p+k0
6-+-+-wQ-+0
5zpPzp-+pzP-0
4P+-+-sN-tR0
3+-+-+-+P0
2-+-+-+-+0
1+-+-+-+K0
xabcdefghy
Black resigned. His semi-stalemated pieces could not come to the help of his king.

Ivanchuk Kasparov Linares 1991

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Ivanchuk Kasparov Linares 1991

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(The annotations to this game, by V. M. Ivanchuk, are from '64' (№ 9, 1991).

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+

4.d4 Ngf6 5.0–0

6.Qxd4 a6 7.Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.Bg5

9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.c4 e6 11.Nc3 Rc8 12.Kh1

12...h5 13.a4 h4 14.h3 Be7 15.b4

17.Nd2 Qc5 18.Qd3 Rg8 19.Rae1 Qg5 20.Rg1 Qf4

In my opinion, also deserving attention is 21...f5. Thus, not dangerous is 22.exf5 –

24.Nc4 Kf8 25.Nxb6 Be8 26.f4 f5 27.exf5 Rxf5 28.Rc1

29...Rc5 30.Rxc5 dxc5 31.Nc8 Bf8

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