[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Linares ESP"]
[Date "2002.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Hathaway, Mark"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]

1. e4 { At this point in the tournament Shirov has drawn with everyone but Adams and has beaten Ivanchuk (3rd-5th place finish) , but lost (with Black) to Anand, Adams and Vallejo Pons (3rd-5th and 6th place finishers) . This is an odd sort of result except that each and every one of these contestants is very strong. One gets the sense Shirov is trying to figure out how to beat the top players and this tournament was (for Shirov) as much for experimentation as anything; or maybe he's just in a bit of a slump. } 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 { Already this is a surprise. I can't recall the last time Kasparov played this. Here are some of his "surprises" from the tournament: round 1 as Black against Vallejo Pons' English Opening he played 2...e5; round 8 as White against Vallejo Pons' Sicilian Defense he played c2-c4 to establish a Maroczy Bind; round 7 against Shirov's Sicilian Defense he played 3. Bb5 and, now in this Sicilian Defense game against Shirov he has played 2...Nc6. } 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 { I don't recall ever seeing Kasparov play this. And, why would he play such a double-edged opening when all he needs is a draw to win the tournament. He risks a lot with this choice because a loss here and a win by Ponomariov would give Ponomariov a tie for first with Kasparov. } ( 5... d6 { would certainly be more expected, as it easily leads into a Scheveningen Variation, Kasparov's favorite } ) 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bxb5 { This isn't unknown, but it is uncommon. There aren't so many players who wish to enter into a tactical melee this quickly. The strategic idea is that White's bishop isn't very good and this way it gives it's life to make Na3 very good and to open some lines to Ke8, so it will never find a safe haven. } ( 11. c3 { Anand-Ivanchuk, round 5, 1/2-1/2 in 49 moves } ) 11... axb5 12. Nxb5 { threat: Nc7+ } 12... Ra4 13. b4 Qh4 { Black enters the attack vs. counterattack situation and makes room at d8 for Black's king to move around a bit. The center is clogged up, so he plays with Ra4 and Qh4 on the wings. } ( 13... Nxb4 $4 14. c3 $16 ) 14. O-O Rg8 { White might like to think his king is safe behind the pawns, but there's room for Black to play on that wing and the g-file is open. It's still anybody's game. } ( 14... Qxe4 $4 15. Nf6+ $18 ) 15. f4 { I like this move. It makes Rf1 active and opens the second rank, so White can defend Pg2 more easily. Besides, there's no rule only Black can play on the king-side. Black's pawns block the center pretty well, so play on either or both wings is mandatory. } 15... Kd8 { This ugly-duckling move allows Qh4 to move without Nd5-f6+ picking up Rg8. } 16. c3 Ra6 { If you'd shown me this game without telling me who was playing I might have guessed Shirov, as he plays this Bxb5 variation occasionally, but I'd never have guessed Kasparov would play this variation. I'm not saying it's bad (I don't know about that) , just that it doesn't seem to be his usual style. } 17. a4 fxe4 18. f5 Bb7 19. Ra2 e3 { This isn't exactly "playing in the center" so much as getting out of the way of Bb7, so he can play on the wing at g2. } 20. Nxe3 ( { Now might be the time to make a breakthrough to get at Kd8. } 20. Nxd6 Bxd6 21. b5 Ra7 22. bxc6 Bxc6 23. Nb4 ) 20... Qe4 21. Re1 ( 21. Nxd6 $4 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Bxd6 ( 22... Kc7 $4 23. Nxb7 Kxb7 24. Qd7+ ) 23. Qxd6+ Kc8 $19 ) ( 21. Re2 ) 21... Nxb4 { After this all the offense is Black's. } 22. cxb4 Bh6 23. Kh1 Bxe3 24. Qe2 Rc6 { Be3 is poison because Black would exchange queens and then play ...Rc8-c1+, mating. } 25. a5 Qxb4 26. Nxd6 ( 26. Qxe3 Qxb5 ) 26... Rxd6 27. Qxe3 Qd4 28. Qc1 Qd5 { Black pieces are perfect for offense at d2 and along the d-file AND he defends Kd8 and against the advance of Pa5 very well. White has no hope. I don't know the opening theory of this game, but it appears to me Kasparov out-dueled Shirov in his own "pet" line. Bravo! This tops a fine tournament victory as well. } 0-1