1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7
6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5
According to
general belief this variation was first played in Meran 1924, by
Rubinstein against Grünfeld. But the line had been played
before. It was Rubinstein’s classic treatment in this
tournament that earned its reputation.
11.d5 c4 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bc2 Qc7 14.Nd4
The other variation 14.Ng5 is nowadays considered
satisfactory for Black. After 14... 14...Nc5 15.e5 Qxe5
(15...Qc6?! 16.f3 Nfd7 17.Nxh7! Nxe5 18.Nxf8 Rxf8 19.Qd4 Ncd3
20.Ne4±) 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Qxd6 Bxd6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Bxc5 Bxc5
21.Nxe6 Rfc8 Black should be able to retain the balance of the
position. 22.Nxc5 Rxc5 23.Re7 Rb8 =
14...Nc5 15.Be3 e5!
Not 15...0-0-0?! 16.Qe2 e5 17.Ndxb5! axb5 18.Nxb5
Qf7 19.Rfc1 threatening 20.b3 would lead to a debacle for Black.
The game Graf-Bagaturov, Kavala 1997, continued: 19...Ba6 20.b4 Bxb5
21.bxc5 Bc6 22.Rab1‚ and White soon won. (1-0, 30 moves)
16.Nf3
The variation 16.Nf5 is innocuous. Indeed,
after 16...Ncxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 (17...Bxe4? 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Qd5!+-)
18.a4 Rd8 19.Qe2 Qc6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra7 Rd7 it is White who has to
worry about equality.
16...Be7
Not 16...Ncxe4? 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Re1 Bd6 19.Bxe4 Bxe4
20.Ng5 Bd3 21.Qh5+ g6 22.Qf3 and White has the initiative.
17.Ng5
17...0-0! 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nxf8 Rxf8
With terrific pressure on the f-file.
21.Nd5!?
Ambitious play. After the exchange on d5 White
has his own trump card with the passed pawn on d5. Moreover,
the bishop on c2 becomes active.
After 21.Qe2 Black plays 21...Qe6
with the idea of ..Ng4, Bd4. He has enough compensation for
the exchange according to Kasparov. This line is the safest
for White.
The alternative 21.a4 Bxf2+22.Kh1Bd4 23.axb5 axb5
24.Qe2 is held unclear by Kasparov and Nikitin. But I do not
agree. The option of a2-a4 can be held in reserve without losing
a pawn and weakening the kingside.
21...Bxd5 22.exd5 Bxf2+ 23.Kh1
23.Rxf2?? Ng4-+
23...e4! 24.Qe2
Kasparov offers 24.d6 e3 25.Bf5! (25.d7 g6 26.a4
Rd8 27.axb5 axb5 28.Qf3 Rxd7 29.Rfd1 Re7-+) 25...g6 26.Bh3 Kg7 27.d7
Nh5. But after 28.Qd5 Nf4 29.Qe5+ Kh6 30.Qe7 Qd8
Black has
the upper hand according to Nikitin.
24...e3 25.Rfd1?
The wrong Rook. He is needed on the f-file.
White can fight for a draw with 25.Rad1!, although
after 25...Qd6 26.Bf5
Kh8 27.Rxf2 exf2 28.Qxf2 Re8! (28...Ng4 29.Qh4 Rxf5 30.Qxg4 Qxd5
31.h4 h5 32.Rxd5 Rf1+ 33.Kh2 hxg4 34.a4 b4 35.Rd4=) the d-pawn is
lost and Black has winning chances.
25...Qd6 26.a4
26.b3 c3 27.Bf5 g6 28.Be6+ Kg7 29.Rac1 Ne4
26...g6!
Limiting the scope of the Bishop and also providing
a bridgehead for the Black Knight on h5.
27.axb5 axb5 28.g3 Nh5!
Not 28...Qe5 29.d6 Nh5 30.d7 Nxg3+ 31.hxg3 Qxg3
How does White guard against the mating threat? 32.Bf5!
Analysis Diagram: after
32.Bf5!
32...Qh4+ 33.Kg2 Qg3+ =
29.Qg4 Bxg3! 30.hxg3
30.Qe6+ Qxe6 31.dxe6 Bh4!
Analysis Diagram: after 31...Bh4!
A cold-blooded move found by the computer after the
game. (Kasparov had only planned 31...e2 32.hxg3 Nxg3+ 33.Kg2 exd1Q
34.Bxd1 Nf5-+) 32.Rg1 e2 33.Be4 Kg7-+;
After 30.Rg1 Kasparov intended to play 30...Bxh2
31.Qxh5 Bxg1 32.Rxg1 Kg7. After 33.Qg4 Rf2 34.Qe6 Qxe6 35.dxe6
Rxc2-+ it is all over. He admits that he missed the more
forceful move 32...Rf1! in this line. He also calculated
31.Bxg6 hxg6 32.Qxg6 + Qxg6 33.Rxg6+Kh7 34.Re6 Bf4 and Black wins.
But the computer came up with a refinement, 30..Bf2!
Now the idea of 31.Bxg6 does not work at all on
account of the mating threat on h2. After 31.Qh5 Bxg1 32.Rxg1
Black wins with the same move 32...Rf1!
The whole analysis bears testimony to Kasparov's
candour and his ceaseless search for truth over the board.
30...Nxg3+ 31.Kg2
31.Kg1 e2 32.Re1 Qc5+ 33.Kg2 Qf2+ 34.Kh3 Nh5 35.Qe6+
Kg7-+
31...Rf2+ 32.Kh3 Nf5!
The pretty move 32...Rh2+??
Analysis Diagram: after
32...Rh2+??
...loses to 33.Kxh2 Nf1+ 34.Kg2 Qh2+ 35.Kf3 Qf2+
36.Ke4+- ''Unfortunately, beauty is not always functional.''
-Kasparov.
33.Rh1 h5! 34.Qxg6+
34.Qg5 Rf3+ 35.Kg2 Rg3+ -+
34...Qxg6 35.Rhg1 Qxg1 36.Rxg1+ Kf7 0-1
