Hikaru Nakamura – Garry Kimovich Kasparov
7th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Saint Louis, October 29, 2024
nrqknbbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRQKNBBR w HAha - 0 1
Position #238
1. f4 f5 2. b4 b5 3. a4 a6 4. a5 Nf6 5. Ba7 Rb7 6. Bd4 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 c6 9. Nb3 d6 10. Nf3 Bd5 11. 0-0 0-0 12. d3 Nc7 13. Bb6 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Ncd5 15. c4 Nxb6 16. axb6 bxc4! 17. Qxc4+ d5 18. Qxa6 Qb8 19. Nc5 Rxb6 20. Qa4. Nakamura shows he isn’t interested in a draw by repetition, although perhaps he ought to have.
19. ... Qd6. 19. ... e5!? was also interesting, but probably Kasparov didn’t like allowing the White Knight to penetrate e6.
21. d4? Bad judgment. White should have broken up Black’s centre by 21. e4! so as to force a general liquidation and secure something near equality.
19. ... Qd6. 19. ... e5!? was also interesting, but probably Kasparov didn’t like allowing the White Knight to penetrate e6.
21. d4? Bad judgment. White should have broken up Black’s centre by 21. e4! so as to force a general liquidation and secure something near equality.
21. ... Ng4!? Stronger seems to be 21. ... Ne4! threatening both ... Bg7xd4+ and ... Ne4-d2 or ... Ne4-c3 at the same time.
22. Rfd1 Ne3 23. Rd3 Nc4 24. Kf2 Rbb8 25. e3 Ra8 26. Qb3 Rfb8 27. Rc1 Ra3 28. Qxa3 Nxa3 29. Rxa3 Rxb4 30. Ra8+ Kf7 31. Be2 Bf6. Now 31. ... Rxd4? doesn’t work due to 32. Nb7 followed by the check at d8.
32. Ra6? A tactical slip which could and should cost White the game. 32. Rca1 was called for, and would make White’s fortress a hard nut to crack.
22. Rfd1 Ne3 23. Rd3 Nc4 24. Kf2 Rbb8 25. e3 Ra8 26. Qb3 Rfb8 27. Rc1 Ra3 28. Qxa3 Nxa3 29. Rxa3 Rxb4 30. Ra8+ Kf7 31. Be2 Bf6. Now 31. ... Rxd4? doesn’t work due to 32. Nb7 followed by the check at d8.
32. Ra6? A tactical slip which could and should cost White the game. 32. Rca1 was called for, and would make White’s fortress a hard nut to crack.
32. ... Rxd4! 33. exd4. The point is that now Black can reply to 33. Nb7 with 33. ... Qb8! taking home what he did work for.
33. ... Bxd4+ 34. Kg2 Bxc5 35. Bf3 Kg7 36. Rc2 h6 37. Ra5 Bb6 38. Ra6 Bc5 39. Ra5 Bb6 40. Ra6 Bc5 ½–½. Maybe not enough time? 40. ... Qb4! 41. Rxc6 Qd2+ 42. Kh3 Bg1 43. Rxg6+ Kf8 44. Bg2 Qe2! was completely winning for Black.
33. ... Bxd4+ 34. Kg2 Bxc5 35. Bf3 Kg7 36. Rc2 h6 37. Ra5 Bb6 38. Ra6 Bc5 39. Ra5 Bb6 40. Ra6 Bc5 ½–½. Maybe not enough time? 40. ... Qb4! 41. Rxc6 Qd2+ 42. Kh3 Bg1 43. Rxg6+ Kf8 44. Bg2 Qe2! was completely winning for Black.
Kasparov still showed flashes of his old brilliance, but his hand ultimately ran out of time. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club. |
No comments:
Post a Comment