[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Goldsby (edit.)"]
[ECO "B07"]
[EventDate "1999.01.20"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[Source "TaL's Chess"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.20"]

{ A.J.'s Chess Home Page http://www.geocities.com/lifemasteraj/kasp-topa1.html
 My annotation of this game is based mostly on Soltis's annotations in his
book "The 100 Best Games of The 20th Century, Ranked." But I have also
accessed dozens of other books and magazines. I have indicated what the major
sources of other material are when they are used. LM A.J. Goldsby I: } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 { The Pirc Defense. A fairly regular part
Topalov's opening repertoire. (GM Yasser Seirawan also plays it. But not many
GM's, especially those in the 'Top 25' of the world's best players use this
defence today.) } 4. Be3 $5 { A relatively new move to opening theory. 
 This move did not even appear in Master praxis until probably the 1980's. } ( { The Main Lines are: } 4. f4 { This is the Austrian Attack. (The preferred line of Bobby Fischer.) } 4... Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. e5 dxe5 8. dxe5 Nd5 9. Bd2 Bg4 {  } ( 9... Ncb4 10. Be4 c6 11. Nxd5 { (11.a3!?) } 11... cxd5 12. Bxb4 dxe4 $11 ) 10. Be4 e6 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nd4 13. Qf2 c5 14. O-O f6 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Bd3 Nh5 $13 { (unclear) (Maybe " "?)
Grigorian - Spilker; U.S.S.R. 1978. } ) ( { or } 4. Nf3 { The "Classical Line" vs. the Pirc. } 4... Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Bg4 7. Be3 Nc6 8. d5 $1 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Ne5 10. Be2 c6 11. f4 $1 Ned7 12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Qd3 Qb8 14. a3 Nc5 $5 {  } ( { or } 14... Rd8 15. Rad1 Ne8 16. b3 Nc7 17. Kh1 $14 { Malaniuk - Tseshkovsky; Kropotkin, 1995. } ) 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. e5 Nd5 17. Na4 $1 f6 18. c4 Nb6 19. Nxc5 fxe5 20. Ne6 $14 { (Maybe " ")
Hracek - Ftacnik; Yerevan Olympiad, 1996. } ) 4... Bg7 $5 { There cannot be anything wrong with simple development. (No matter what anyone
says.) (Although several annotators have questioned the move, 4...Bg7.
They pointed out that by playing the Bishop to g7, then Bishop on g7 captures
on h6 is a basically a loss of tempo. This may or may not be true. But to play
a new system as Topalov has done here is very brave. The first person to play
a new system almost never plays it perfectly.) } ( { MCO gives } 4... c6 { "Queen-side expansion is demanded, the sooner the better." - GM DeFirmian in
MCO. } 5. Qd2 { Development, and preparing Queen-side castling. } ( { GM's Ftacnik and Stohl (in their ChessBase analysis) give the line } 5. h3 $1 { ('!?') But the final position of their analysis is not convincing, indeed the
computer gives the evaluation that Black is slightly better! So I will not
reproduce it here. } ) 5... b5 { Not only gaining space, but it keeps the
White (light squared) Bishop off the potent c4-square. Black can also kick the
White Knight at c3 at an appropriate moment, preferably when the Knight has no
good retreat squares to go to. - A.J.G. } 6. f3 { Seemingly the best. } ( 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 $5 Qc7 {  } ( { or } 7... e5 $5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. h3 $14 { GM J. Nunn - GM B. Gelfand; Munich, 1991. } ) 8. O-O { The most logical. } ( { If } 8. Bh6 b4 9. Ne2 Bxh6 10. Qxh6 c5 $11 { "is equal," according
to MCO. The computers still show White to have a slight edge of about +0.35 ) } ) 8... Bb7 { ... with the plan of ...a6 and ...c5 should equalize. - GM
Nick DeFirmian in MCO. Now the move } 9. a3 $14 { and the computers still give White a slight but clear edge here. - A.J.G. } ) 6... Nbd7 7. g4 $5 {  } ( { The move } 7. Bh6 $5 { looks reasonable here. } ) ( { The continuation } 7. Nge2 b4 8. Nd1 a5 9. Nf2 $14 { also looks very playable.) } ) 7... Nb6 8. h4 $5 {  } ( { A logical line is } 8. g5 Nh5 9. d5 { "with a slight edge for White," or " " ...although MCO
fails completely to point this out. - A.J.G. } ) 8... h5 9. g5 Nfd7 10. d5 $5 Ne5 $1 11. dxc6 $5 Nbc4 12. Bxc4 Nxc4 13. Qd4 Rg8 $5 14. Nxb5 $6 { ('?') } ( { Much better was } 14. Nge2 Qa5 $11 ) 14... Qa5+ 15. Nc3 Be6 $1 { ("=" ...or "good compensation for Black.") "...allows
Black fine play for the Pawns." - GM DeFirmian in MCO. GM F. Nijboer - GM I.
Smirin; Pula, 1997. It is hard (impossible!) to believe this line
represents the apex [the absolute best] of White's play!!! } ) 5. Qd2 c6 $5 { A modern continuation. It is played with the idea for Queen-side
expansion, a concept which has gained favor in recent years. With his next move, White erects a pawn formation/attacking
position similar to the Samisch of the King's Indian and The Yugoslav Attack
of The Sicilian Dragon. (White also securely anchors his King's Pawn and
prevents intrusions into the g4-square.) } ( { Not } 5... Ng4 $5 { (Maybe '?!') and now just } 6. Bg5 { and Black only winds up losing tempo, according to GM Seirawan. } ) ( { or } 5... O-O 6. O-O-O Nc6 $6 { ('?') } ( { Maybe better is } 6... c6 ) 7. f3 e5 8. Nge2 exd4 $5 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bg5 Qd7 13. g4 $40 { ... "allows White a strong attack." - GM DeFirmian. GM Chernin - Zaichik;
Lvov, 1987. } ) 6. f3 $5 { (Maybe '!') Very
aggressive and modern. Someone just recently (late Sept, 2001 - AFTER I
posted this game on the Internet) sent me a letter from Europe. (It was in
English, so thank goodness I did not need an translator.) This individual
(who asked not to be named), was nice enough to photo-copy about 9 different
European chess magazines that contained an analysis of this game. There was a
lot of stuff in there I had not seen before. (He also sent me a fairly
comprehensive list of nearly all the magazines - in Europe and in Russia -
that had published an analysis of this game. The list was quite long. Around -
at least 20-30 different magazines.) '!' - Apparently several annotators
liked this move enough to award it an exclam. (It was also not a novelty, but
apparently may have been only a fairly recent development in Master praxis.
This may have also been the first time this system was played at this level.) } 6... b5 { Queen-side expansion. With White getting a firm grip on the
squares on the King-side, Black grabs some squares (and some space) on the
Queen-side. } 7. Nge2 $5 { Development. This is interesting, and there
is absolutely nothing wrong with this move. (There can be nothing wrong with
developing a piece!) } ( { Several annotators recommended } 7. O-O-O { with the id
ea of Bh6 next, as better. I personally don't feel its better, just different.
(The computers show little or no difference in the evaluation of these lines.) } ) 7... Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 { Probably the best. Soltis writes: "An
astute decision. Black recognizes he will not castle King-side but can benefit
from the Bishop trade by creating dark-square play in the center." } ( { Risky is } 8... O-O $6 9. h4 $40 { White will have a strong King-side attack. } ) 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 $1 { The best decision. Soltis writes: "Black has fine
counterplay after 10.0-0-0, b4 and 11...Qa5." '!' - Many annotators give
this move an exclam, as does GM Soltis. '!' - GM Ftacnik awards this move
an exclam, and then says: "The right moment for prophylaxis." } ( 10. O-O-O b4 11. Nb1 Qa5 $132 { (with counterplay) } ) 10... e5 $1 { I like this move. 
 '!' - Several annotators have given this move an exclam. Black fights for
his fair share of the center. Apparently [many] other moves have been
tried here, [in Master praxis] but have had [much] less success. } 11. O-O-O Qe7 { (Maybe '!') The safest thing to do, is if you are unsure
of the course the game might take... is to keep a powerful piece like the
Queen in the center. Here it will be the most flexible and can meet threats on
either side of the board. } ( { The continuation } 11... Qa5 $5 12. g4 b4 13. axb4 $14 { is at least slightly better for White, according to the computers.
(Maybe even " ".) } ) 12. Kb1 { (Probably '!') Almost worthy of an exclam too.
 The basic idea is that immediately attacking the King-side is pointless
if the King flees to the other side of the board. And until Black reveals more
of his intentions this is a good waiting move. Also, the White King will
be much safer here than on c1. (Generally, as a rule... in these types of
positions.) '!?' - GM Seirawan, in his magazine "Inside Chess". '!' -
(A German chess magazine gave this move an exclam.) } ( { If } 12. h4 $5 { then } 12... Qf8 $13 { (unclear) White may have the slightly better endgame. } ) 12... a6 { Protection and prevention. Black reinforces the b5-square with the
idea of a later freeing advance of ...c6-c5. (This will also release his
Bishop on b7.) } ( 12... a5 $5 ) 13. Nc1 $1 { Relocating the Knight. '!' -
Many annotators have given this move an exclam. (Ftacnik, Stohl, Ligterink &
Soltis, to name a few.) Soltis writes: "The Knight heads for a5." } ( 13. dxe5 $5 dxe5 14. g4 $5 $14 { and White has a slight edge to his having
more space, better development, and better piece co-ordination. } ) 13... O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 $1 { Unbalancing the position. '!' - Soltis gives this
move an exclam, '!' - as does the Dutch annotator in "New In Chess." ***
 Topalov, typical of his style, plays every position very aggressively -
going for the win. (Which he usually does.) I should also point out that this
is "the norm" for Topalov, a young man whom I admire and respect very much.
Regardless of who he plays, his chess is always aggressive, dynamic, and he
fights for the full point at every turn. (Topalov rarely plays dull chess,
cravenly going for a draw.) *** With the last move, Black accomplishes
several nice things: 1.) He breaks down White's center a little; 2.) He
breaks the symmetry of the position somewhat; & 3.) He prepares the freeing
advance ...d6 to ...d5. } ( { Apparently the continuation } 14... c5 $5 15. dxe5 $1 dxe5 16. g3 $1 $16 { gives White a significant edge. } ) 15. Rxd4 $1 { Very nice. And not at all obvious. This is a very subtle move. Anextremely 
subtle one. 99% of the chess players I have asked would have taken with
the Knight here. (Including several Masters!) '!' - And no one [else]
seems to notice just how unusual a move it is. (No one - other than myself -
gives this move an exclam, to the best of my knowledge.) It looks
artificial to capture with the Rook this way. But the idea is logically sound.
White wants to send the Knight on b3 to a5, so this move actually saves White
several tempo! } ( { Perfectly playable was } 15. Nxd4 $14 { when White retains a small, but steady advantage. } ) 15... c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 $1 { Preparation. '!' - Soltis gives this move an exclam. (As do a
couple of other annotators.) Apparently it is far superior to Black's MANY
reasonable alternatives, such as 16...Rhe8. It also prepares the very
energetic advance of ...d6-d5. This move, IF left unpunished, would have
virtually freed Black's game and equalized completely. } ( { If } 16... Rhe8 $5 { then } 17. Na5 $14 { Maybe " ". } ) 17. g3 { (Maybe '!') Very innovative. '!'
- GM Ftacnik. A very unusual deployment of the White King's Bishop for
this type of position. But Garry is a very creative and imaginative player.
(Even though the game started off as a Pirc, we now have a Sicilian-type Pawn
Structure.) '!' - Many annotators have given this move an exclam. (Such as
France's chess magazine, "Les Eschechs".) } ( { An average player would probably play the move } 17. Be2 { in this position. } ) 17... Kb8 18. Na5 { The Knight reaches the prized square. Some people have
praised this move, others have questioned it. '?!' - Stohl and Ftacnik
give it a dubious in ChessBase. But the move looks logical and it is the
first choice of many computer analysis engines. So it is VERY difficult to
agree with Ftacnik's assessment. Certainly this is the destination square
White had wanted to play this piece to for a very long time. (Completion of a
plan means a lot in chess!) } ( { White could have played } 18. Be2 $5 ) ( { or } 18. Bh3 $1 ) 18... Ba8 { A humble retreat. Black does not want to trade his
[long-range] Bishop for the [in-fighting] Knight. (It would also weaken key
light squares leading to his King!) } 19. Bh3 d5 $1 { Break-out! 
 '!' - GM Soltis gives this move an exclam. The reward is for Black
apparently realizing he must play ...d5; even though there are some risks
involved. Soltis writes: "Black appears to stand well and White could have
easily end up with a bad-Bishop Middlegame. (20.exd5 Nfxd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 etc.)"
 '!' - GM Seirawan. } ( 19... b4 $6 20. axb4 cxb4 21. Na2 Qe5 22. Qf4 $5 $16 { (Maybe "+-") White's advantage here is very large here, nearly decisive. } ) 20. Qf4+ $1 { The fireworks begin. '!' - No one else praises this move.
[This was true at the time I wrote it. But apparently several magazines,
editors, and annotators felt this was good enough to receive an exclam. But I
was not aware of this. (See the note after White's 6th move.)] But the
idea of the Queen check, followed by moving the King's Rook to the center file
is clearly the best plan. White had MANY reasonable move alternatives here.
(Actually White had over a dozen reasonable alternatives here!) } ( { White could have played } 20. Qg5 $5 $14 ) ( { A "normal" Master might play } 20. exd5 Nbxd5 21. Nxd5 Rxd5 ( 21... Nxd5 $5 { - GM Soltis. } ) 22. Rhe1 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Qe5 $5 24. Bg2 $14 { White has a slight edge. } ) ( { or White could have played } 20. Rhe1 $14 ) 20... Ka7 { Forced. (Poor Black!) 
 Christiansen discussed this position, (in his book, "Storming The Barricades")
at some length at this point. GM Larry Christiansen writes: "Kasparov devises a
brilliant way to stabilize his position and throw some amazing tricks... -
worthy of Siegfried & Roy! - at his opponent. Kasparov has seen certain mating
possibilities are made possible by Black's slightly shaky King position." } ( { Not } 20... Qd6 $4 21. e5 $18 { and White wins a piece. } ) 21. Rhe1 $1 { Centralization and preparation. The best, according to GM
Christiansen. Soltis did NOT give this move an exclam, although it does
deserve one. '!' - (Several other annotators did award this move an
exclam.) "This move (21.Rhe1!) strengthens his e4-point and completes the
mobilization of White's forces." - GM Christiansen. } ( 21. exd5 $5 Nbxd5 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Qc1 $11 { ... only leads to equality. } ) 21... d4 { ('!?') Thi
s move is pretty much forced. '!' - Several annotators chose to give this
move an exclam, because Black had so many ways to go wrong. (I will avoid the
temptation.) GM Andy Soltis writes: "Playing for the advantage. (22.Ne2
Nc4!) Old man hindsight would later say that 21...dxe4 22. fxe4, and Nd5 was
too risky." } ( 21... dxe4 $6 22. fxe4 Rhe8 23. Nd5 Nbxd5 24. exd5 Qd6 ( 24... Qxe1 $2 25. Qc7+ Bb7 $8 26. Qxb7# ) 25. Rxe8 Nxe8 26. Qxf7+ $16 { Variation by GM Christiansen. } ) 22. Nd5 $3 { Inspiration. (Plus a Pawn sack.)
 '!' - (Only '!', according to Ftacnik.) Most GM's guard their pawns
very jealously. (And do not want to give them away.) (The computer, after
analyzing virtually all night, will NOT consider this move in its top 3
choices! And I tested over a dozen strong programs in this position.) 
 Kasparov instead opens lines to the Black King. '!' - Soltis only gives
this move one exclamation point, but I think that is far too stingy. Garry
must have had to calculate close to 10 moves ahead here! } ( 22. Na2 $5 $13 { (unclear) } ) 22... Nbxd5 { Interesting. '?!' - (DeFirmian, in MCO-14,
gives this a dubious appellation, but offers no alternatives.) This is
very strange, as this move looks 100% forced (Black's Queen is attacked after
White played the move 22.Nd5. This would seem to limit the number of responses
that Black could reasonably play.) and all other alternatives lose VERY
quickly. The computer, after analyzing for over 20 minutes, gives this
position (after the move 22...Nbxd5) an evaluation of equal. After
analyzing this position for over an hour (see the continuations just below) I
have come to the only possible conclusion that DeFirmian made a mistake in
giving this move a dubious appellation. - A.J.G. (Perhaps this was an
"editorial mistake," and the dubious appellation was meant for Black's 24th
move?) } ( { The computer gives the line: Junior 6.0: } 22... Nfxd5 $2 { ('??') } 23. exd5 { The computer rates this position as completely winning (+2.48/14 +-).
Now to analyze a little further: } 23... Qd6 $8 { Forced. } ( { Not } 23... Qf8 $4 24. Qc7+ Bb7 25. Qxb7# ) 24. Qxf7+ { Again, this is forced. } 24... Nd7 $8 { And now } ( { Not } 24... Kb8 $6 25. Re6 Qc7 26. Re7 $18 ) 25. Re7 $18 { White wins a piece, with an easily won game. } ) ( { I also looked at } 22... g5 $4 23. Nxe7 gxf4 24. Nec6+ $18 { wins the exchange for White, with an easily won game for White. } ) 23. exd5 Qd6 { This seems forced. (Black's Queen was attacked.) Soltis writes:
"Now 24.Qxd6 Rxd6; or 24.Nc6+ lead to bad endgames." 
Kasparov said he had prepared his next move when he analyzed 20.Qf4+. } ( { Not } 23... Nxd5 $4 24. Rxe7+ $18 { winning for White. } ) 24. Rxd4 $3 { (Maybe '!!!') Shocking, incredible, ...and PURE GENIUS! (What
else can you say?) ________________________________________ http://www.
geocities.com/lifemasteraj/best_moves.html Garry Kasparov's 24.Rxd4!!
(Maybe even a TRIPLE or Quadruple exclam!) This is from the game, G.
Kasparov-V. Topalov; Wijk aan Zee, 1999. A really brilliant move from
maybe the greatest game of chess ever played. Indeed, when I first saw this
move, I thought it was a mis-print. (Or a blunder!) A truly great move from
maybe the best game of chess ever played. A must-see for any chess fan. 
 (Garry sacks one Rook, then promptly offers the other Rook... for a King hunt
that takes nearly 20 moves for White to track down... and finish off Black's
King. This makes this combination one of the longest ones ever played over the
board!) (I rate this as the greatest game of chess ever played!) - A.
J. Goldsby ________________________________________ When I first went
over this game, I thought this move was a misprint! One of the most
shocking moves in all of chess literature. It looks like a typo - indeed I
thought it was when I first went over this game. '!' - Virtually every
annotator gives at least one exclam to this move. '!!' - (Around 10
annotators in books and in various magazines, give this move two exclams.) 
 '!!' - (GM's Ftacnik and Stohl both give it 2.) '!' - Soltis only gives
this move one exclamation point, but I think that is far, far too stingy.
Especially as this may be one of the most brilliant moves - in maybe the most
amazing game of chess ever played!! FM G. Burgess (In his book, "Chess
Highlights of the 20th Century.") picks up the game with White's 24th move. 
 '!' - Burgess also awards one exclam to the move, 24.Rxd4! *** '!!!'
One of the best books of all time (in my book, anyway) is "The World's Great
Chess Games" by the late, great GM Ruben Fine. I feel quite sure he would have
been enthralled with this move and given it a triple exclam, as he did for
just a handful of other moves in that book. *** GM Christiansen 
writes: "This terrific shot was a basis of the strengthening move 24.Rhe1.
White saves his position by finding mating patterns that utilize to the degree
his apparently disjointed forces. His seemingly randomly placed Knight and
Bishop cooperate in creating mating-nets out of thin air." (From his book
"Storming The Barricades".) '!!' - GM Seirawan. '!!' - GM DeFirmian, in
MCO. } ( { Plausible was } 24. Nc6+ { This move is the first choice of MOST computer programs/analysis engines. } 24... Bxc6 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. dxc6 Rxc6 27. Re7+ $11 { with a pretty level game. - A.J.G. } ) 24... cxd4 $5 { (Maybe '?!') Aggressive,
but maybe not the best defense. (But Topalov thought close to an hour before
playing this move.) '?' - GM Christiansen. '?' - FM Burgess. '?' - GM
Seirawan. '?' - GM Ftacnik. Personally I feel it is unfair to criticize
this move too harshly. I have studied many of the games of Topalov. He is a
fighter who avoids draws and level positions, and he may have still been
striving for a win here. There can be no doubt that 24...Kb6! is superior to
what was played in the game. But the move (...Kb6) looks very risky and
Topalov may have had a hard time considering that move. It also goes against
the natural instinct that good players have to keep your King safe. (The old
rule, "Never let your King go 'a-wandering' with a lot of pieces still on the
board," is good advice.) (Also Topalov may have still been trying to win.) 
 I should also point out that to see THE WIN, Black would have to calculate
nearly TWENTY moves ahead!! I think this might be asking a bit much? Many
strong computer modules [analysis engines] (Such as Crafty and Comet.) think
for many minutes, and then give the evaluation of "-+". This means that they
consider this position as WINNING for BLACK!!!! (White now has a forced win!) 
 White to move, what move would you play? } ( { Several GM's have pointed out that the best defense was probably:
 
#1.) } 24... Kb6 { Easily the best move here. "After this move, I didn't see a
(real) advantage for White." - GM Kasparov. } 25. Nb3 $1 { "Other tries don't come close." - GM Christiansen. } ( { If } 25. b4 Qxf4 { and "Black is alive." - Soltis. Or } 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 $11 ) 25... Bxd5 { This looks like the best move. } ( { or } 25... cxd4 $2 $18 26. Qxd4+ Kc7 27. Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 Rb8 29. Re7+ $3 Qxe7 30. Nxa6+ $18 { and White wins. } ) ( { or } 25... g5 $5 $15 { - Soltis. } ) 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 { "Level," according to FM Burgess. } 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1 a5 $1 $15 { "And Black has a small edge due to his greater control of space." - GM
Christiansen. (I should probably hold my tongue, but I cannot. If the game
had ended this way... who would have remembered it?) } ) ( { #2.) } 24... Nxd5 25. Qxf7+ Kb6 $2 ( 25... Kb8 $8 ) 26. Re6 $18 { Variation by GM Soltis. } ) ( { #3.) Not } 24... Qxf4 $2 25. Rxf4 $18 {  } ) ( { #4.) Several annotators have given the move } 24... Bxd5 $5 { as Black's best defense. } 25. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 $8 {  } ( { Not } 25... Qxf4 $2 26. Rxd8 $1 Qc7 27. Rxh8 Qxa5 28. Re7+ Kb6 29. Rxf7 $16 { (Probably "+-") } ) 26. Qxf7+ Nc7 $8 { (Forced.) } 27. Re6 $1 ( 27. Re7 $2 Kb6 $19 ) 27... Rd7 $1 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 30. f4 $13 { (unclear) (Maybe " "?) ...
"followed by Bg2, was very promising for White." - GM Soltis. (I can find
no clear-cut win, even though I spent any hours analyzing this variation. - A.
J.G.) ..."when White has a pawn and annoying pressure for the exchange." -
GM Christiansen. } ) 25. Re7+ $3 { A very shocking move. Also the linchpin of Garry's attacking ideas. 
 '!!' - Soltis also awards TWO exclams to this move... and justly so. It is
so shocking, it even looks like an error. '!' - (Dozens of other
annotators also give this move at least one exclam.) FM Burgess does not
even bother to give this move one exclam. (Apparently the appreciation of
beauty and the realization of chess as a form of art does not live in his soul.
) '!!' - GM Christiansen also gives White's 25th move TWO exclams. 
 '!!' - GM Seirawan also awards this move a double exclam. '!!' - GM Stohl
gives the move (White's 25th move, Re7+) two exclamation points also. '!'
- (As does GM Ftacnik.) '!' - GM DeFirmian, in MCO, only awards this move
one exclam. :( } ( { Of course, not } 25. Qxd4+ $2 Qb6 $19 ) 25... Kb6 $8 { Again, this may be forced. (Actually this IS forced. Any other move would
lead to an immediate loss for Black.) } ( { The following two variations are by GM Kasparov.
 
#1.) } 25... Qxe7 $6 { (Maybe '?') Soltis gives this move a question mark. (Seirawan gives it 2
question marks.) } 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 $8 { The square, c8 is guarded by the White Bishop on h3. } 29. Qa7# {  } ) ( { #2.) } 25... Kb8 $6 { (Maybe '?') Soltis does NOT give this move a question mark. -
How strange! (Several annotators - such as Seirawan in the magazine "Inside
Chess," - do award 25...Kb8 a question mark.) } 26. Qxd4 Nd7 { This looks like it is forced. } ( 26... Qxe7 $2 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# { - A.J.G. } ) ( { Not } 26... Rd7 $4 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 $6 28. Qxh8+ $18 ) 27. Bxd7 $1 Bxd5 28. c4 $1 Qxe7 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ $1 $18 { and White wins. - GM Kasparov in Informant 74/110. 
 Now we pursue this line to its logical conclusion: } 32... Bxc6 33. Nxc6 { and now } 33... Rd7 $8 { This appears forced. } ( { Not } 33... Qb7 $4 34. Qa5+ Qa6 35. Qxa6# ) 34. Nxe7 Rxe7 35. Qxb5 $18 { - GM Seirawan. } ) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 $5 { Is this forced? Unfortunately (for Black!) this move looks forced. 
 Soltis writes: "This is the kind of a game that you need two [chess] sets to
appreciate: One to follow the actual course of play and another to examine the
dazzling 'might-have-been' variations." } ( { Soltis gives the following main line } 26... Qc5 $5 { ('?' Seirawan.) } 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 {  } ( 27... Kxa5 $4 28. b4+ { which wins Black's Queen. } ) 28. Be6 $3 { (Maybe '!!!') An amazing move, based on the fact that if Pawn captures Bishop
(?), then Rook takes Pawn on e6; and White wins the Black Queen. (The Bishop
also gains access to the a2-g8 diagonal.) Another amazing and little known
fact is that BOTH Kasparov and Topalov saw this move at the board! (This was
reported in a London Newspaper.) } ( 28. Qxf7 $5 $14 ) 28... Bxd5 { This looks relatively forced. } ( 28... Kxa5 29. b4+ Ka4 30. Qc3 Bxd5 31. Kb2 $1 $18 { - FM Burgess. } ) 29. b4 $3 Bc6 { Forced, to guard d4 and give Black another square for his King. } ( { The alternatives were not pretty:
A.) } 29... Ba8 $5 30. Qxf7 $18 { I think Soltis stops here. } 30... Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qxf3 { (31...Qd4+ 32.Ka2 +-) } 32. Bf5 $1 $18 { - GM Kasparov in "Informator 74/110." } ) ( { B.) } 29... Rhe8 $4 30. Qd4+ Qc5 31. Qxc5# { This variation shows the threat Black had to address.) } ) 30. Qxf7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qxf3 { This looks forced. } ( 31... Qd4+ 32. Ka2 $18 ) 32. Rc7 $1 { (Maybe '!!') } 32... Qxf7 33. Rxc6+ Ka7 34. Bxf7 $18 { ..."and wins." - GM
Soltis. (Apparently Soltis stole this line from Seirawan, ...and did not give
any credit as to where the line originated from!) "White has achieved a
winning ending." - GM Seirawan. } ) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 $5 { (Probably '!')
Nice. Tightening the noose. "Mate is threatened on b3." - Soltis. } ( { GM Lubosh Kavalek (in his column for a Washington D.C. newspaper) probably
found a big improvement. The best moveis } 28. Ra7 $3 { Now play could proceed } 28... Nxd5 { (We now return to Kavalek's main analysis line, after 28.Ra7!! Nxd5.) } ( 28... Bb7 { - FM Burgess gives this as the primary winning line. } 29. Rxb7 Qxd5 { "Best," according to Christiansen. } ( { If } 29... Rhe8 30. Bf1 $3 { More fireworks. (The threat is now Bxb5+, followed by a winning check on a7.) } 30... Re1+ 31. Kb2 Rxf1 {  } ( { If } 31... Nxd5 $4 32. Bxb5+ axb5 33. Ra7+ Qa6 34. Rxa6# ) 32. Qc3 Rb1+ 33. Kxb1 Qxd5 34. Ra7 $1 Rd6 35. Kb2 { ... "and White mates soon." - GM Kavalek. Also reprinted in GM
Seirawan's magazine "Inside Chess." } ) 30. Rb6 $1 a5 31. Ra6 $1 Ra8 32. Qe3 $1 { '!!' - GM Seirawan. } 32... Rxa6 33. Kb2 $1 { Burgess stops
here and says: "...and Black suffers ruinous losses." - FM Burgess. 
 Continuing, we get } 33... axb4 34. axb4 Qa2+ { "Best," according to Christiansen. } ( { Not } 34... Kxb4 $2 35. Qc3+ Ka4 36. Qa3# ) 35. Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36. Kb2 Rc6 37. Bf1 Ra8 $8 ( { Not } 37... Re8 $2 38. Qa3# ) 38. Qe7+ Ka5 39. Qb7 $18 { "... winning at least a full Rook." - GM Christiansen. } ) ( { or } 28... Bxd5 29. Qc3 Rhe8 {  } ( { or } 29... Ra8 $5 30. Kb2 $3 Rxa7 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3# ) ( { or Black could play } 29... Bc4 30. Kb2 Ra8 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3# ) 30. Kb2 Re2 31. Qc7 $1 Qxc7 32. Rxa6+ Qa5 { Variation by
- GM Christiansen. (Who may have gotten part of his analysis from GM Kavalek's
newspaper column.) This line was also printed in GM Seirawan's magazine
"Inside Chess". } ) 29. Bd7 $1 { '!!' - GM Seirawan. } ( { or } 29. Rxa6+ $5 { ('!') "Exclam," says Burgess. } 29... Qxa6 30. Qb2 $1 $18 { Burgess stops here, apparently concluding that White is winning. } 30... Nc3+ { (There is no other way to prevent Qb3#.) } 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 $1 $18 { The computer says it is a forced mate in 5. (Black has to } 32... Qf6 { to prevent 33.Qb3+ Bxd5 34. axb3#.) } ) 29... Rxd7 {  } ( { or } 29... Rc8 $5 30. Qd3 Nc3+ 31. Kb2 Qf6 32. Qd4 $3 Nd1+ 33. Kc1 $1 $18 { Yet another incredible variation with a double exclam move in the line. } ) 30. Qb2 $1 $18 { The GM stops here and concludes that Black is helpless to
prevent Qb3 without giving back copious amounts of material. Main variation
by GM Kavalek. 
Following this line to its logical conclusion, we get } ( { or } 30. Rxd7 $5 Qxd7 31. Qb2 Nc3+ 32. Qxc3 Qd5 33. Kb2 $18 ) 30... Nxb4 { Black must do something to stop Qb3 mate. } ( { or } 30... Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Qd1+ 32. Kb2 Qd4 { (Black is helpless against mate threats at a6 and b3.) } 33. Rxa6# ) 31. Rxd7 Qc5 32. Rd4 Qe7 33. axb4 Qe3 34. Rd6 Bb7 ( { or } 34... a5 35. c3 $18 ) 35. c3 Qe1+ 36. Ka2 $18 { Black is in a mating web, and has to
play [massive] "give-away" to prevent mate. - A.J.G. } ) 28... Qxd5 { This looks
forced too. "Black must somehow prevent mates along both the a-file, and
also schemes involving Kb2 and Qb3+." - GM Christiansen. Soltis does NOT give White's next move an exclam, but '!' -
Burgess does! '!' - GM Mike Adams, annotating this game for a British
chess magazine, also awarded this move an exclamation point. } ( { Definitely not } 28... Bxd5 $4 29. Kb2 Qe5 $8 30. Rxe5 Rhe8 31. Qb3+ { ('!') } 31... Bxb3 32. cxb3# ) 29. Ra7 $1 Bb7 { This also may be forced. "Black must return some of his
enormous bounty to avoid mate, but..." - GM Christiansen. } ( { Black should not play } 29... Rhe8 $2 30. Kb2 $1 ( 30. Rxa6# ) 30... Rd6 31. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 32. cxb3# { This mating web is what Black must struggle to prevent. } ) 30. Rxb7 $1 Qc4 { (Maybe '!?') The struggle continues. Many people
claimed there was a better defense here, but this was never proven. '(?)'
- Seirawan gives this move a question mark in parenthesis, but that is too
harsh. (I have analyzed this position to a completely forced win for White. So
to criticize any Black move is rather pointless.) } ( { Some of the alternatives here are: 
 
#1.) } 30... Qxb7 $4 31. Qb3# {  } ) ( { #2.) } 30... Rd6 $5 31. Rb6 $3 Rxb6 { Forced? } ( { Black could also try } 31... Ra8 32. Rxd6 Qc4 { (Not 32...Qxd6?? 33.Qb3#) } 33. Qxf6 $18 ) ( 31... Qc4 32. Rxd6 $1 $18 ) 32. Kb2 Re8 33. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 34. cxb3# { An amazing mate, White's lone Bishop on the far side of the board is not even
in the game. Black is ahead in playing points almost 15 points, but loses the
game. What is also noteworthy is that the mate is accomplished with only... a
King and three White Pawns! } ) ( { #3.) } 30... Rhe8 $1 { - GM Topalov (shortly after the game). } 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1 $3 { - IM Gert Ligterink. } 32... Re1+ { This seems to be forced. 
(We now return to the main analysis line of 30.Rhe8.) } ( { Some of the alternatives are: } 32... Nd7 33. Rd6 Re1+ 34. Kb2 $1 ( { Not } 34. Qxe1 $4 Qxd6 $19 ) 34... Qe5 ( 34... Re3 35. Qxe3 Qe5+ 36. Qxe5 Nxe5 37. f4 Nc4+ 38. Bxc4 bxc4 ( { or } 38... a5 39. Bb3# ) ) 35. Rd4 $1 $18 { White is wi
nning easily. Black will have to play 'give-away' to prevent - Qb3+ (...with
mate to follow). } ) ( 32... Re6 $2 33. Rxe6 Qxe6 34. Kb2 $18 {  } ) ( 32... Rec8 33. Qxc8 $1 Qd1+ 34. Ka2 Qd5+ 35. Bc4 $1 Qxc4+ ( { or } 35... bxc4 36. Rxa6+ Kb5 37. Qxa8 $18 ) 36. Qxc4 bxc4 37. Rxf6 $18 {  } ) ( 32... Nh5 33. Rd6 $1 Re1+ 34. Kb2 Qe5 35. Rd4 Qxd4 36. Qxd4 Rxf1 37. Qd3 $18 {  } ) 33. Qxe1 Nd7 34. Rb7 $3 Qxb7 {  } ( { If } 34... Ne5 { then } 35. Qc3 Qxf3 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Be4 $1 Qc4 38. Qxe5 $18 ) 35. Qd1 $3 Kxa3 36. c3 $1 { Soltis stops here and remarks that White is mating Black. } 36... h5 37. Qc1+ Ka4 38. Qc2+ Ka3 39. Qa2# { This line of analysis by GM Andrew Soltis.
(Although it is not clear how much of this analysis he "borrowed" from GM
Seirawan in the magazine "Inside Chess".) } ) ( { #4.) or } 30... Ne4 31. fxe4 Qc4 32. Ra7 $1 Rd1+ 33. Kb2 Qxc3+ 34. Kxc3 Rd6 35. e5 Rb6 36. Kb2 Re8 37. Bg2 Rd8 $8 ( 37... Rxe5 38. Bb7 Re3 ( { Definetely not } 38... Ree6 $4 39. Bd5 Re3 40. Bb3+ Rxb3+ 41. cxb3# ) 39. Bxa6 Rxa3 40. Bc8+ Kxb4 41. Rxa3 $18 ) 38. Bb7 Rd7 39. Bc6 $1 Rd8 $8 ( { or } 39... Rxa7 $4 40. Bd5 Rd7 41. Bb3# ) 40. Bb7 $18 { ... "with c4 to follow, is also a win for White." - FM Burgess.
(This line may have originated with GM Kasparov.) } ) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 $5 { What else can Black do? '?' - GM Christiansen. '?' - GM Seirawan. (I
personally think this is a little too harsh.) (Black may not have yet seen
the knock-out blow. The end is still many moves away and there are several
pretty and surprising moves yet to find.) } ( { Soltis gives the line } 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 {  } ( { If } 32... Qd4+ 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. Rxf7 $16 { (Maybe "+-") } ) 33. Qb6 Qd4+ { GM Soltis stops here. } 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 { Burgess stops here, and says, ..."winning more prosaically." - FM
Burgess. This line was also printed in Seirawan's magazine "Inside Chess". } 35... Rd6 $8 { This looks forced. 
(Returning to the main analysis line after 35...Rd6.) } ( { The alternatives are: } 35... h5 $4 36. Be6 $18 ) ( 35... a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Kb6 $8 { Forced. } ( { Not } 38... Rxb4 $2 39. c3 { and the Rook is trapped. } ) 39. Rxh7 $14 { (Maybe " ") ..."with a winning ending." - GM Christiansen. } ) 36. Rxh7 $14 { "A very de
ceiving position. Materially, Black is not doing so badly. But if White's
light-squared Bishop ever gains one of the diagonals leading to the Black King.
.." - A.J.G. } ) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ $3 { It rains beautiful moves. '!'
- Soltis only awards this move one exclamation point. But this is such an
amazing move, I think it fully deserves two. '!' - (Many other annotators
also give this move an exclam. Including the South American magazine I was
recently sent.) White attacks Black's King, but further exposes his own
royal leader. '!' - Burgess also only gives White's 33rd move one exclam. 
 "33.Bd7 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 Rc8! and Black is still fighting." - GM Christiansen.
 '!!' - GM Seirawan also gives this move TWO exclamation points. '!!'
- GM Arnold Denker also gives this move TWO exclams. [See the magazine
"Chess Life". May, 1999.] '!' - GM DeFirmian. '!' - GM Christiansen. } ( { I have showed this game (and position) dozens and dozens times to friends and
students. Most strong players want to play themove } 33. Bd7 $5 $14 { (Maybe '!') This looks winning. } ) 33... Kxc3 $8 { Very clearly, this is forced. } ( { Not } 33... Qxc3 $2 34. Qxb5+ Ka3 35. Ra7+ Qa5 36. Rxa5# ) 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 $3 { Incredible. How many
brilliant moves can one man play? Soltis writes: "A fine concluding blow.
The Bishop cannot be taken because of because of 37.Qc2+ and 38.Re7+." '!'
- Soltis gives this move only one exclam. But the move is so pretty and
surprising, I think it fully deserves two exclamation points. '!' -
Burgess also gives White's 36th move one exclam. '!!' - GM Christiansen 
gives White's 36th move... TWO exclamation points! "The attack reaches its
climax. Black must yield his Queen to avoid mate." - GM Christiansen. 
 '!!' - GM Seirawan also awards White's 36th move two exclams! '!!' - GM
Joel Lautier in a French chess magazine. '!' - GM DeFirmian. (MCO-14) 
 '!!' - (After posting this game on the Internet, an avid reader scanned a
Spanish Magazine from South America and sent me this game as a text attachment
to an e-mail. I am not sure who the annotator was, but they also awarded this
move [36.Bf1] two exclams.) } ( { Not } 36. Re7 $4 Qd3+ 37. Ka1 Ra8+ $19 { (One of my beginner students suggested 36.Re7 to try to threaten mate.
The problem is the White King is too exposed for this to work.) } ) 36... Rd2 $8 { Forced. (Not much choice here.) } ( 36... Qxf1 $6 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ Qe2 39. Qxe2# ) 37. Rd7 $1 { (Maybe '!!') Yet one more tactical shot. '!' -
Soltis also awards this move only one exclam. '!' - FM Burgess, in his
excellent book "Chess Highlights of The 20th Century," also awards this move
an exclamation point. '!' - As does GM Christiansen in his book. '!!'
- Seirawan awards White's 37th move [Rd7] TWO exclams. '!' - "The final
trick, but white is completely right - the game is finally over." - GM Ftacnik.
 '!' - GM DeFirmian, in MCO-14, awards this move one exclam and stops here
and concludes that White is winning. } ( { If } 37. Bxc4 Rxb2+ 38. Kxb2 bxc4 39. Kc3 f5 40. Kxc4 $11 ) 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 { The end.
"Black can resign." - GM Soltis. 
(The game concluded:) } 39... Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 { Black Resigns. } ( 44. Qa7 { (If } 44... Rxh2 45. Qg1+ { wins the Rook.) } ) 1-0