Ehlvest vs. Kasparov

Ehlvest vs. Kasparov

Reykjavic (World Cup) 1988

English Opening

 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e5 3 Nf3 Nc6 4 e3 Bb4 5 Qc2 0-0 6 d3 6 Nd5 is a more critical continuation. 6…Re8 7 Bd2 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 d5 9 cxd5 Nxd5 10 Be2

After 10 Be2

A type of reversed Sicilian Scheveningen has been reach, although with one pair of minor pieces removed. As so often happens with reversed openings, White has no problem gaining equality, but playing for an advantage proves more difficult. 10…Bf5 10…Qd6 is also adequate for equality. 11 Rd1 White takes time out to counter the possibility of …Nxb4. After 11 e4 Nf4!? (11…Nxc3 12 bxc3 Bg4 13 0-0 Na5 is roughly level, Taimanov-Kuzmin, USSR Ch, Leningrad 1974) 12 exf5 Nd4 13 Bxd4 exd4 14 Ng1 (14 0-0 Rxe2 15 Qb3 Qd5 favours Black) 14…Qd5 15 0-0-0 Qxa2 the position is unclear. 11 0-0 is playable and probably safest, because 11…Ndb4 12 Bxb4 Nxb4 13 Qc3 Nxd3 14 Rfd1 e4 15 Ne1 is just dead equal. 11…a5 12 0-0 Qe7 13 a3 13 e4 leads to nothing after 13…Ndb4! 14 Qb1 Bg4. 13…a4

After 13...a4

14 Be1?! White would like to improve the position of his pieces by Nd2-e4, but it is not so easy to achieve this; for example, 14 Nd2 Nxc3 (14…Nd4 is less effective as 15 exd4 exd4 16 Bf3 dxc3 17 Bxd5 cxd2 18 Bxb7 is fine for White) 15 Qxc3 Nd4 and Black is slightly better. However, nothing good come from the text-book. Although White preserves his two bishops, he delays his development by severs moves. 14 Rfe1 is best; White improves the position of his rooks and waits to see Black’s plan before committing himself. 14…Bg6 Black easily sidesteps the threat of 15 e4. 15 Qc4 15 Nd2 is still bad, this time because of 15…Nf4. 15…Red8 16 Nd2?

After 16 Nd2?

White thinks the time is ripe to reposition his knight, but he runs into a tactical storm. 16 d4 Nb6 (or e4 18 Nd2 Qg5 straight away) 17 Qc3 e4 18 Nd2 Qg5 19 Nc4 Nd5 20 Qc1 Re8 would have restricted Black to an edge.  16…Nd4! A typical Kasparov move.  17 exd4 White must accept as 17 Bf3 Nb6 18 Qc3 Nb5 followed by …Bxd3 wins for Black. 17…Nf4 18 Bf3 Rxd4

After 18...Rxd4

19 Qb5 after this White’s queen is trapped, but even 19 Qa2 (19 Qc3 Bxd3 20 g3 Ne2+ 21 Bxe2 Bxe2 is also very good for Black) 19…Bxd3 20 Bxb7 Rad8 is very bad for White, e.g. 21 Ra1 (in order to recapture on f1 whit the knight; 21 Bf3 Bxf1 22 Kxf1 e4 23 Be2 Qg5 wins for Black) 21…Qd7 (threatening 22…c6) 22 Nf3 Qb5! 23 Nxd4 exd4 24 Bd2 Bxf1 25 Rxf1 Ne2+ 26 Kh1 Ng3+ 27 hxg3 Qxf1+ 28 Kh2 Qxf2 and the black d-pawn will be decisive. 19…c6 20 Bxc6 Or 20 Qb6 Ra6 and there is no escape. 20…bxc6 21 Qxc6 Qd8 The imminent loss of the d3-pawn is at least of White’s worries. The congested mass of white pieces means that he will be hard-pressed to avoid the immediate loss of the exchange after …Bxd3. 22 Nf3 Rd6

After 22...Rd6

White’s difficulties with his queen  are not over and now Black gains time by chasing is around. 23 Qb5  23 Qb7 loses to 23…Rb6. 23…Rd5 23…Bxd3 24 Qxe5 is less clear. 24 Qb4 Or 24 Qb7 Bxd3 25 Bc3 Bxf1 26 Nxe5 Ne2+ (but not 26…Rxd1?? 27 Qxf7+ Kh8 28 Ng6+ and White mates)  27 Kh1 Nxc3 28 Qxf7+ Kh8, winning for Black. 24…e4

After 24...e4

Even stronger than 24…Bxd3.  25 Bc3 25 Nd2 loses after 25…Qh4! 26 g3 (26 Nxe4 Ne2+ 27 Kh1 Qxh2+! 28 Kxh2 Rh5#) 26…Qh3 27 gxh4 Rh5 forcing mate. If 25 Rd2, then 25…Nxd3 finishes White off. 25…Ne2+ 0-1

Source from:

GAMBIT: John Nunn’s 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (Pages 77 - 78)

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