The Luck of the Strong

Garry Kimovich Kasparov – Hikaru Nakamura

6th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 8, 2023

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Position #488

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 Nc6 4. e3 b6 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. Ne3 e6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. h3 Rfe8 13. Bd3 Bd6 14. Qb1 h6 15. b4 Qb8 16. Qb3 Bf4 17. Qb2 Bxd2 18. Qxd2 Qd6 19. b5 Na5 20. Ne5 Nc4 21. Nxc4 dxc4 22. Rxc4 Rcd8 23. Rc2 Be6 24. Rd1 Bd5 25. Bf1 Re7 26. Qc1 Red7 27. Qe3 Qb4 28. Rdc1 Be6 29. Rc8 Qxd4 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. a3 Ra4 33. Rc3 Kf8 34. f3 Ke7 35. Kf2 g5 36. Rd3 Rc4 37. Ke3 f5 38. g3 Rc1 39. Be2 Rc2

40. f4 gxf4+ 41. gxf4 Bc4. 41. ... Rxe2+ 42. Kxe2 Bc4 43. Ke3 Bxd3 44. Kxd3 Kd6 is, if possible, an easier draw.
42. Rd2 Rxd2 43. Kxd2 Bxe2 44. Kxe2 Kd6 45. Kd3 Kc5

46. Kc3!! The key of Kasparov’s defence, for if, instead, 46. a4?? then 46. ... Kd5! 47. h4 h5−+ with a zugzwang.
46. ... Kxb5 47. Kd4. And that’s the point. In spite of Black’s Pawn minus, the Pawn ending is drawn.
47. ... Ka4 48. Ke5 b5 49. Kxf5 Kxa3

50. Ke5! But not 50. Kg6?? because the Black Pawn would queen with check.
50. ... b4 51. f5 b3 52. f6 b2 53. f7 b1=Q 54. f8=Q+ Qb4 55. Qxh6 ½ : ½.

Kasparov managed to grab a draw out of the jaws of Nakamura. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.