Garry’s Mod

Fabiano Caruana – Garry Kimovich Kasparov
Ultimate Blitz Challenge; match game 6; Saint Louis, April 29, 2016
English Opening A15

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. 0-0 0-0 5. c4 d6 6. b3 e5 7. Bb2 c5 8. e3 Nc6 9. Nc3 Bf5 10. d4 e4! Déjà vu! 11. Ne1. After 11. Ng5 Re8 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Nb5 Re7! Black’s position is promising, Webb – Kasparov, 7th European Team Chess Championship, Skara 1980. 11. ... Re8 12. Nc2 h5 13. Qd2 h4. Garry Kimovich decidedly took the initiative! 14. Ba3 b6 15. Rfd1 Bg4 16. Rdc1. White’s last moves – aiming for perspectives on the Queenside – appear quite inadequate as Black’s attack on the Kingside is too fast. So, we don’t indulge in computer analysis: as they say, blitz it’s just reflex chess! 16. ... Qd7 17. b4 Qf5 18. Bb2 Rad8 19. Nb5 Bf3 20. d5 Ne5 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Ne1 hxg3 23. fxg3. Not 23. hxg3 Ng4! with overwhelming attack. 23. ... Bh6 24. Rab1 Kg7 25. Rb3 Qh5 26. h3 Nh7! 27. g4

27. ... Bxg4! Kasparov’s mythical instinct did not betray him! 28. hxg4 Qxg4 29. Qd1 Qg3! Up as a bad surprise to Fabi: Black’s attack is irresistible. 30. Qe2 Ng5 31. Kh1 Rh8 32. Nxd6 Kg8 33. bxc5 Bf8+. It is not the fastest way to mate, but who does it care about, other than pedantic woodpushers? 34. Kg1 Nh3+ 35. Kf1 Bxd6 36. cxd6 Rf5+ 37. Nf3 Rxf3+ 0 : 1. Fantastic!

Fabiano Caruana vs. Garry Kimovich Kasparov
Photo: ChessKazakh (‏@ChessKazakh)