Kasparov, Garry (2760) - Salov, Valery (2595) [A29]

URS-ch55 Moscow (14), 07.1988

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0–0 Be7 8.a3
White heads for the most challenging line (the modern approach against black’s setup).
He intends to gain space on the queenside with a “b4” advance in order to increase the
scope of his light squares bishop by further advancing the “b” pawn. Still, the practice
has shown that black has sufficient defensive resources to hold with no particular
difficulty. (This is quite normal since he has good control of the center.) The immediate
8.d3 leads after 8…Be6 9.a3 to the same position as in the game.

8...Be6 9.d3 0–0

Black simply finishes his development, waiting for white to advance “b4” and only then
will he take defensive measures. (The practice has shown that this is the best approach.)
Taking defensive measures at once on the queenside with 9...a5 leads, after 10.Be3 Nd5
11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Qa4 0–0 13.Rac1, to a position where white keeps an edge due to his
pressure on the queenside.
Heading for a central approach with 9...f5 leads, after 10.b4 Bf6 11.e4 0–0 12.exf5 Bxf5
13.Ne4 Bxe4 14.dxe4 Qxd1 15.Rxd1, to a position where white is better due to his
slightly superior pawns structure and the pair of bishops.

10.b4 Nd4
Black chooses the simple solution. He clears the “c6” square in order to place the pawn
there, closing the long diagonal and reducing the white’s bishop activity. There are other
alternatives that lead to a complex struggle.
After 10...f6 (over-defending the “e” pawn) 11.Bb2 a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nxd4
Retreating the knight is other option that leads after 13.Nd2 c6 14.bxc6 Nxc6 to a
complicated game.
13...exd4 14.Na4 Bd5 15.Nxb6 cxb6 the game is balanced. White’s better pawn structure
is offset by black’s space advantage and the weakness of the “e2” pawn. After trading the
light squares bishops, black will place his bishop on “c5” and double the rooks on the “e”
file fully equalizing. (White has no plan to improve his position.)
Starting active operations on the queenside with 10...a5 leads, after 11.b5 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6
13.bxc6 Nxc6 14.Rb1 a4, to a balanced game.

11.Bb2
Avoiding the trade of knights 11.Nd2 c6 12.Bb2 doesn’t give anything. (The game is
equal.)
The tempting 11.Nxe5 isn’t that great since after 11…Bf6 12.f4 (the knight has no square
to which it can retreat) 12…Bxe5 13.fxe5 Nb3 14.Be3
Of course not 14.Rb1 Qd4+ and black wins a piece getting a decisive advantage.
14…Nxa1 15.Qxa1 white retains some compensation for the exchange, but nothing more.
(Black has better prospects.)

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11...Nxf3+
There is no point in playing 11...Bb3 12.Qc1 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 c6 14.Ne4 since the bishop
is better placed on “e6” where it is not exposed.

12.Bxf3 c6
Black immediately closes the bishop; the game is balanced.

13.Ne4 Nd7
Black is paying attention to his opponent’s threats and covers the “c5” square, not giving
white chances to improve his game.
The careless 13...f6 allows white to gain the advantage (quite a large one) since after
14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.bxc5 he gains the pair of bishops and will open the game further after
“d4”, increasing the scope of the bishops.

14.Qc2 Bd5
Black is going ahead with the trade policy heading for a simple, equal position.

15.Nd2 Bxf3 16.Nxf3 Bd6

Black overprotects the “e5” pawn and makes room for the queen on “e7”, its best square),
in order to finish his development.

17.Nd2
Since the knight doesn’t have anything to do on “f3”, white improves its position.
Playing in the center with 17.d4 achieves nothing since after 17…Qe7 18.dxe5 Nxe5 the
game is equal.

17...Qe7 18.Ne4 Rae8

Retreating the bishop18...Bc7 isn’t that great because after 19.b5 Rac8 20.a4 white gets
an edge since he manages to expand his influence on the queenside.

19.Nxd6
Taking the bishop is white’s only hope for a future advantage. (Otherwise black simply
plays “Bb8”). His decision proves inspired since in the forthcoming endgame (later in
this game), white’s dark squares bishop will be decisive.

19…Qxd6 20.a4 f5
Since white is pressing on the queenside, black starts counter play on the kingside
preparing a “f4” advance.

21.b5
There is no point in playing 21.Rfc1 (the rook doesn’t do anything there) since after
21…Rf7 22.b5 c5 the game is equal.

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21...c5 22.e3
White takes control of the “d4” square and prepares for black’s “f4” advance. (He will
play “exf4” opening the bishop.) The weakness of the “d3” pawn is not important since
white can easily defend it.

22…Rf7
Black starts an elaborate plan. He vacates “f8” for the knight in order to bring it on “g6”.
From here it defends the “e5” pawn, supports his “f4” advance, and is closer to the
kingside. (He can jump to “h4” if necessary.) Also, the rook is well placed on “f7”; it
defends the “g7” pawn (which will prove useful if the long diagonal is opened after the
“f4” advance) and can be placed on “d7” to press the “d” pawn. (The main reason for
removing the knight from “d7” is so black may press on the “d” file more easily.) The
main drawback is that it leaves the queenside undefended if play is opened). Another
equally good option would have been to make the “f4” advance at once.
After 22...f4 23.exf4 exf4 24.d4 fxg3 25.hxg3 b6 the game remains balanced, but black
probably didn’t want to open the game yet and increase the scope of white’s bishop.

23.Rfe1 Nf8
Black is going ahead with his plan, but quite possible was 23...Nf6 24.Rad1 b6 with an
equal game.

24.Qc4 Rd8 25.Rad1 b6 26.Kg2 Ng6 27.f4

Since black is well prepared for the “f4” advance, white is taking the lead. From a
positional point of view this advance has two advantages and one disadvantage. The
advantages are that it reduces black’s knight activity and opens the bishop; the
disadvantage is that it makes the “d” pawn even weaker.

27…exf4 28.exf4
Less accurate is 28.gxf4 Qe7 since black would have an edge. (White’s king is too weak
and the central pawns cannot advance.)

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28...Qd5+ 29.Kf2
Since the queens will be soon trade, white prepares for the endgame and brings the king
closer to the center. (He has an interesting plan in mind).
The immediate 29.Qxd5 isn’t that great since after 29…Rxd5 30.Kf2 Rfd7 black has
nothing to fear.

29...Rfd7 30.Rc1
White intends to sacrifice the “d” pawn (temporarily) entering into a slightly better
endgame, therefore he places the rook on the “c” file.

30…h5
Black loses his focus (probably thinking that the game will soon end up in a draw since
the position is equal) and underestimates white’s idea. This move is pointless and loses
important time. The game is about to enter the endgame stage, and advancing the pawn
loses its scope (weakening black’s kingside). He should focus on getting the most
favorable type of endgame. Generally speaking, keeping as many pawns as possible on
dark squares favors black since it reduces the influence of white’s bishop. In an endgame
where you have knight against bishop, you should place your pawns on the color of your
opponent’s bishop thereby reducing its activity. Therefore trading on “c4” strongly
suggests itself. (This also makes white’s previous move without scope). The point is that
white doesn’t have a “d4” advance at his disposal anymore.
After 30...Qxc4 31.dxc4 Nh8 (without this move, trading queens is bad since the knight
remains out of play) 32.a5 Nf7 it is only black that can hope for the advantage. Since the
knight arrives by force on “e4”, black gets good prospects. (Control over the “d” file
gives him attacking chances). Note that in this position (in contrast to the game) white’s
bishop is inactive and he cannot bring pieces to support its influence over the long
diagonal.

31.Qxd5+ Rxd5 32.d4

This is the point of white’s 30th move. He sacrifices the pawn to gain access to “c7”.
After this he is able to regain the pawn by force entering into a pleasant minor pieces

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endgame were black has real problems holding. (His queenside pawns will be a major
source of concern) and demand precise play.

32…cxd4 33.Rc7 R8d7

Covering 7th rank is forced; otherwise white simply takes the “a” pawn. (Black cannot
advance the “d” pawn further due to the weakness of the “g7” pawn).

34.Rxd7 Rxd7 35.Rd1

White recovers the pawn (“d3” is simply met with “Ke3”) getting better prospects due to
his active king and superior bishop.

35…Nf8
Black quickly brings the knight into play, heading to “c5” to attack white’s queenside
pawns.)
Getting the king closer to the center doesn’t solve his problems since after 35...Kf7
36.Rxd4 Nf8 37.Ke3 Rxd4 38.Kxd4 Ke6 39.Kc4 g6 40.a5 the vulnerability of the
queenside pawns ensures white a long-term advantage.

36.Rxd4 Rxd4
This is an inaccuracy that leaves black with a tough defense ahead. (Without the rooks he
cannot generate sufficient counter play.) He should have taken advantage of the fact that
the “d7” square is covered (by the knight) and avoided trading rooks.
After 36...Rc7 37.Ke3 Rc2 38.Rd2 Rc4 white cannot avoid the repetition of moves since
he loses material. Since this is quite easy to calculate, I assume that black (a very strong
grandmaster) was in severe time trouble so he wanted to avoid any unnecessary
complications.

37.Bxd4 Ne6
Black has many defensive resources, so choosing one isn’t that easy. This is another
inaccuracy that allows white to increase his winning chances. (Black could hold later on
with accurate defense). Black is heading for an active defense. The knight heads for “c5”
to attack the queenside pawns. Still, by doing this he leaves his king relatively passive
compared to white’s king which is almost to the center. Therefore getting the king out at
once was the right alternative, although it leads to a passive defense.
After 37...Kf7 38.Ke3 g6 39.a5 Nd7 (the point of black’s play is that he defends the “b”
pawn with the knight leaving coverage of the “e6“ and “d6” squares to the king) 40.Kd3
Ke6 41.Kc4 Kd6 white cannot make further progress. (Black will simply play “Kd6-e6”.)

38.Ke3 Kf7
Of course, the king’s endgame is lost since white’s king is too active.

39.Be5 Nc5
Black is going ahead with his plan (which looks tempting) and attack’s the “a” pawn.
This is the right decision since it’s too late to bring the king to the center.
After 39...Ke7 40.Kd3

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 The tempting 40.Bb8 is bad since after 40…Kd7 41.Bxa7 Kc7 42.a5 (otherwise
the bishop is lost) 42...bxa5 black is off the hook.
40...g6 41.Kc4 white has a large advantage. We can see how badly placed the knight is
on “e6”. (White’s king enters “d5” by force).

40.Kd4

40…Nxa4
This tempting move is black’s final inaccuracy. (After this the endgame is lost). The main
drawback of the move is that it does not stick with the original plan: playing actively.
After a forced line, black enters into a passive position (where his knight is poorly placed
on the edge of the board) since he cannot generate counter play by attacking white’s “b”
pawn. He should have left white with the “a” pawn (which is easier to attack) and moved
the king quickly to the center. (As you will see, the “g” pawn is indirectly defended).
After 40...Ke6 41.Bb8
Taking the pawn by 41.Bxg7 achieves nothing since after 41…Nxa4 42.Be5 Nc5
43.Bb8 a6 44.bxa6 Nxa6 black can easily hold even without the “b” pawn. (In
order to create a passed pawn on the kingside, white has to trade all the pawns.)
41...a5 (the point is that black leaves white with the weak “a” pawn) 42.bxa6 Nxa6
43.Ba7 Nc5 44.Bxb6 Nxa4 the endgame is equal since white cannot trap the knight.

41.Bb8 Ke6 42.Bxa7

After this white’s winning plan is quite simple: he will attack the knight picking up the
“b” pawn. Sadly for him, black is defenseless.

42…g6
Bringing the king to the queenside with 42...Kd7 doesn’t work since after 43.Bb8 Ke6
(black can’t afford to allow “Ke5”) 44.Kc4 Nc5 45.Bc7 Nd7 46.Kd4 black is lost since he
doesn’t have the “d6” square at his disposal. (White’s king enters the queenside by force
after “Kd5-c6”, winning the “b” pawn.)

43.Kc4 h4
Black tries to get some counter play on the kingside but it’s not sufficient.

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44.gxh4
This is forced (and sufficient) since allowing the pawn to advance further gives black
good counter play due to the weakness of the “h2” pawn.

44…Nb2+ 45.Kc3 Na4+ 46.Kb4 Nc5 47.Bxb6 Nd3+ 48.Kc4 Nxf4

Although black still has a passed pawn too, this doesn’t give any counter play. This is an
example of why the bishop is typically stronger than the knight in the endgame in open
positions with passed pawns on both sides. With the bishop you can support your passed
pawn and restrain the opponent’s at the same time, while the knight’s use is limited to
either supporting your passed pawn or restraining your opponent’s.

49.Bf2
Another way to win would have been with 49.Be3 since after 49…Nd5 50.Ba7 Nf6 51.b6
Ne4 52.Kd4 Nd6 53.Bb8 black can defend against both threats (moving the king to the
queenside to support the passed pawn or to the kingside winning the pawns).

49...Nh3
The immediate 49...Kd7 also loses since after 50.Bg3 Ne6 51.Be5 black cannot prevent
the “Kd5” threat. Note that one of the main factors in this endgame is that black cannot
trade the minor pieces since the king’s endgame is lost after a “h5” advance.

50.Ba7 Kd7 51.Kd5 Nf4+ 52.Ke5 Nh5 53.Bc5 f4

After 53...Kc8 54.Ke6 white easily wins by picking up the kingside pawns with “Kf7”.

54.Bf2 Ke7 55.Ke4 Ke6 56.Bd4 Kd6 57.Kf3 Kd5 58.b6

Since “Kg4-g5” will follow after the forced “Kc6”, black resigned.

1–0