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COMMENTARY after Garry Kasparov's 21st move

You will have to forgive an Englishman for talking about the weather (our national pastime) but this position reminds me of a heat-wave where the temperature builds until the tension is unbearable - then the heavens open, there's thunder and lightning, the rain pours, and we all cool down again.

At the moment, in our game, we have had a few skirmishes, but over the past few moves there have been some quieter options chosen. But these moves have not dulled the position; on the contrary, they have only served to intensify the pressure. I feel that in a few moves time the storm is going to break.

Garry's last move, 21 h3, illustrates this perfectly. You might well be asking what that weedy pawn push has to do with attacking. Quite a lot. One of the ideas is that White's queen now threatens to hack off the pawn on h7, then the pawn on g6, followed by the pawn on f5...enough already!

The reason this wasn't possible on the last turn (21 Qxh7) was that Black had a deadly counter-attack with 21...Rh8 22 Qxg6 Bxh2+ - and wins! Now we can see the point of 21 h3: it prevents the Bishop capturing on h2, so Qxh7 is now a serious threat.

The question is, how does the World best meet this threat? It is impossible to move the h-pawn away as the g6 pawn could then be taken by the queen, so that leaves two possibilities: Black can counter-attack (capture something on the other side of the board); or defend the h-pawn with 21...Rh8.

Let's take a look at the counter-attacking possibilities first. Black can capture either pawn on the Queenside, but, as on the last turn, he should be wary of doing so. For instance 21...Bxb2 is a mistake as the PIN with 22 Rab1 is awkward; alternatively 21...Qxb2 can be met by 22 Qxh7, when I don't see that Black has sufficient counterplay to off-set the demolition of his Kingside.

That leaves 21...Rxa4. Now 'the storm breaks': there would follow: 22 Rxa4 Qxa4 23 Qxh7 Bxb2 24 Qxg6. A double-edged position has arisen where White has a dangerous passed h-pawn, but Black has counterplay on the queenside with his own passed b-pawn. (Incidentally a 'PASSED PAWN' is one which has no opposition pawns impeding its path through to the Queening square on the eighth rank).

Instead of the above, Black may play more solidly with 21...Rh8, simply protecting the pawn on h7. Then the tension increases as White looks for another way to try to break into Black's position. Over the past couple of days I have been examining 22 Rac1; and 22 Rfc1 was a very interesting suggestion made by one of the participants in my last Zone theatre chat. In both cases White is looking to eliminate the Knight on c6 with Rxc6, removing the defender of the pawn on e7, and so breaking through to the king. And there are other tries too, equally dangerous.

What you have to decide is this: do you think that Black's King is secure enough to withstand an assault by Garry's pieces after 21...Rh8; or should you give up the Kingside pawns in hope of counterplay on the other side of the board? It's a tough choice. In both cases one has to look deeply into both possibilities before coming to a decision.

I'll let you know what conclusions I come to tonight in the Zone theatre chat room at 2pm PST (10pm GMT). The storm is about to break - let's try not to get hit by lightning.

Ra4 to Kasparov's h3

This leads to an unclear position, but I think it is forced. We must go our way. Show courage, world. Now White can follow 22. Ra4: Qa4: 23. Qh7: Bb2: 24. Qg6: Qe4.

Rh8 to Kasparov's h3.

I think that 21...Rxa4 might offer some more for Black but I don't want to give the "h" and "g" pawns and let White have a passed pawn. Even with that it looks very attractive for Black to play 21...Rxa4 22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 Qe4 24. Qxg6 Bd4 followed by Ne5 , f5-f4 with very good play for black. Somewhat better for White might be 22.Rad1 followed by 23.Qxh7 and 24.Rfe1 trying to put the black monarch in danger. Anyway, after 21..Rh8 the most probable move for white is 22.Rad1 (how could anybody suggest 22. Ra2? or 22. Rfd1?) and here 22..f4 (h6 creates a weakness on g6) with a complicated play. I will give more information as fast as I can but not before being verified. Sice we do not know how 21...Rxa4 ends its better for us to make a safe move as 21...Rh8. keep the position complicated and look for better opportunities.

Rxa4 to Kasparov's h3

I think that 21...Rxa4 is the only reasonable way to get counter-play. Now the World Champion may play:

-22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 (23.b3 Qb4 24.Qxh7 Qxb3 25.Qxg6 Qd3 26.Re1 b5 with an unclear game) Bxb2 24.Qxg6 Qe4 with chances for both sides.

-22.Rae1 Qc4 (22...Qxb2 23.Qxh7 Ra2 24.Qg6 advantage for White) 23.Qxh7 Qe6 24.f4 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Be3 with a playable position.

Ra4 to Kasparov's h3

I recommend the World plays the move 21...Rxa4 (Rook on a8 captures pawn on a4)

SUMMARY The World Champion has played the prophylactic 21.h3 (safeguarding his h2-point, and directed against our plan of h7-h6 - ejecting the White bishop - followed by Qb4-h4 (TEMPO on h2) and Qh4-f6, securing the g6-point). At this moment in the game I consider there to be three CANDIDATE MOVES worth consideration (namely 21...Rh8, 21...f4, and 21...Rxa4). In my Analysis Section, I will indicate my reasons for recommending 21...Rxa4 to my teammates.

ANALYSIS SECTION In my opinion, Black has a choice of three moves after Kasparov's 21.h3.

A) THE "PASSIVE" 21...Rh8 This was a continuation that I was working on with a number of players (including NM Brian McCarthy) while I was 'lurking' on the BBS. I have to say I really don't like the idea of passive play initiated with 21...Rh8.

With 21...Rh8, Black defends his threatened h-pawn (tying down material worth five points to cater to a unit worth only 1 point!). After White's strongest continuation 22.Rad1, there follows 22...Qxb2 23.Rfe1,

I view this position as a "Kasparov-Kill" position. White has centralized his ROOKS to bring maximum pressure to bear on the d- and e-files. Indeed it is not easy to find a logical continuation for Black in this position.

After 23...Qc3 24.f4 Bd4+ 25.Kh1, White's INITIATIVE reaches dangerous proportions, for example:

A1) 25...Bf6 26.Qe6+ Kc7 27.Rxd6! (27.Rc1 also looks good) 27...Bxg5 28.Rd7+ Kb8 29.fxg5, and White has a clear advantage, or;

A2) 25...Be3 26.Re2, and again White is clearly better, as he plans to DOUBLE ROOKS on the e-file.

In my opinion 21...Rh8?! is dubious, and is asking for exactly the kind of trouble the World Champion knows how to provide.

B) THE "STRANGE" 21...f4 Why would I consider this move "strange"? After all, one of the ideas behind 20...Be5 is to embarrass the White Bishop on g5 with h7-h6, and/or f5-f4 at an opportune moment. In the critical line, Black temporarily sacrifices a pawn to reach a tenable ending, with reasonable drawing chances with precise play.

After 21.h3 f4!? 22.Qxh7 Qf5 (after 23...Bxb2 24.Rfe1 Qf5 25.Qxf5 gxf5 26.Rab1 Bd4 27.Bxf4 Rxa4, Black may be able to hold the ending, but I believe it is Black who must prove the draw), 24.Qxf5+ gxf5, White has two ways to defend his b-pawn:

B1) 25.Ra2 Nd4 26.h4 (if 26.f3 - with the idea of retrieving the Bishop with Bg5-h4-f2 - then 26...Rh8 27.Rd1 Ne6, when White is forced to play 28.h4 anyway. After 28...Bd4+ 29.Kf1 Bc5 30.b3 Nxg5 31.hxg5 Rg8 32.Rb2 Rxg5 33.b4 Be3 34.Rc2, White holds a tiny edge) 26...Ne6 27.Rc1 (The continuations 27.b4 Nxg5 28.hxg5 Rg8 29.Rc1 Rxg5, and 27.Rd1 Nxg5 28.hxg5 Rg8 29.b4 Rxg5, also leave White with a little endgame edge, while 27.b3 Nxg5 28.hxg5 Rg8 29.Rc1 Rxg5 transposes) 27...Nxg5 28.hxg5 Rg8 29.b3 Rxg5 30.f3 Bd4+ 31.Kf1 e5, with perhaps a small White edge.

B2) 25.Rfb1 Nd4, and now:

B2a) 26.f3 (again the idea Bg5-h4-f2) 26...Nc2 27.Ra2 Nb4 28.Ra3 Nc2 29.Rb3 (29.Ra2 Nb4 30.Ra3 Nc2 would be a draw by repetition) 29...Rxa4 30.Kf1 (not 30.Rxb6?? Bd4+, Black wins) 30...Ne3+ 31.Ke2 Ra6 32.g4 d5 33.Rd3 Ke6, and the position is a little unclear.

B2b) 26.h4 (More logical) 26...Ne6 27.Ra3 Rg8 28.Rb3 (28.Rd3 Nxg5 29.hxg5 Rxg5, is equal according to Pete Rihaczek) 28...Nxg5 29.hxg5 Bd4 30.Rd1 e5, when Black must take into account, the transition to a ROOK ENDING after 31.Rxd4!? exd4 32.Rxb6 Kc7 33.Rb4 f3 34.gxf3 Rxg5+ 35.Kf1 d3, when Black will lose his d-pawn, but the doubled f-pawns could preclude any serious winning chances for White.The move 21...f4!? is interesting, but does not pose White any major problems to solve. In my opinion it is Black who must play with technical precision to hold the worse side of a draw, so I don't recommend this line of play for Black.

THE "ACTIVE" 21...Rxa4 - MY RECOMMENDATION TO MY TEAMMATES

C1) "THE PAWN RACE ENDGAME" I have been studying this continuation for quite a while - nearly a week and, and the BBS has generated interesting dialog concerning this move and its goals (including postings by Ross Amman, GMC_Witali, and others). Here are my findings with 21...Rxa4, with the conclusions that prompted me to recommend this move to my teammates.

Any assessment of the merits of 21...Rxa4 must begin with an examination of the endgame arising from the sequence 22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 Bxb2 24.Qxg6 Qe4. What has happened? The two sides have voluntarily exchanged pawns (White's a- and b-pawns for Black's g- and h-pawns). The complexion of the game has changed dramatically, as the battle has changed from one of White pressuring Black's king through the center to one which is now a battle of PASSED PAWNS (White's h-pawn versus Black's b-pawn). Both sides will strive to increase the value of their passed pawns by safely advancing them to PROMOTION on the eighth rank, while also playing to control and impede the passed pawn of the enemy. In most critical lines of this endgame, I believe Black obtains sufficient play by combining his own threats to promote a pawn with COUNTERPLAY directed at the White King. I have focussed my attention on three candidate moves for White (25.Qf7, 25.h4, and 25.Qg8), during my studies with my trainers GMs Giorgi Kacheishvili and Ron Henley. The most critical lines involve White trying to force home his h-pawn, with Black countering with the advance of his b-pawn:

C1a) 25.Qf7 (GM Alvarez) 25...d5 26.h4 Bd4, we transpose to Variation C1b2 (25.h4 Bd4 26.Qf7 d5).

C1b) 25.h4 Bd4! and now:

C1b1) 26.h5 Ne5 27.Qh7 (27.Qg7? loses immediately to 27...Ng4) 27...Ng4 (threatening 28...Nxf2 and 28...Qe5) 28.Bh4 (instead 28.Bxe7 Qxe7 29.Qxf5+ Qe6, is good for Black) 28...Qe5 29.Rd1 Bc5! and Black has a strong attack. Note here that the natural impulse is to play 29...Qh2+, but after 30.Kf1 Qxh4 31.Qxf5+ e6 32.Qf7+ Kc6 33.Rxd4 Nh2+ 34.Kg1 Qxd4 35.Kxh2, the QUEEN ENDING is unclear.

C1b2) 26.Qf7 d5 (preventing White from playing Qf7-b3 to stuff Black's b-pawn), and now:

C1b2a) The White simplification plan of Rf1-d1, and Bg5-e3 doesn't work, for example: 27.Rd1 b5 28.Be3 b4 (better than the lackluster 28...Bxe3) 29.Bxd4 Nxd4 30.f3 Qe3+ 31.Kh1 Kd6!? 32.Qg8 b3 33.Qd8+ Kc6 34.Qc8+ Kb6, and I prefer Black's chances.C1b2b) After 27.h5 b5, the race begins: 28.h6 b4 29.h7 b3, and now:

C1b2b1) Bad is 30.Qh5? b2 31.Qd1 f4! 32.Qb1 Bxf2+! 33.Kh1 Qxb1 34.Rxb1 Bd4 35.Bxf4 Na5 36.Be3 Bh8, and Black is winning because of the threat of 37...Nc4, followed by Nc4-a3, or Nc4-d2 as circumstances allow. For example after 37.Bc5 Nc4 38.Bb4 to prevent Nc4-a3 or Nc4-d2, the ACTIVE, CENTRALIZED Black King plays a winning role with 38...Kc6, threatening 39...Kb5 dislodging the overworked White Bishop from its defensive post.

C1b2b2) 30.Be3 Be5 31.Rd1 (Instead 31.Bh6 b2 32.Bg7 b1=Q, is winning for Black, for example 33.h8=Q Qxf1+! 34.Kxf1 Qb1+ 35.Ke2 Nd4+ 36.Ke3 Qc1+ 37.Kd3 Qc2+ 38.Ke3 Qe2 mate) 31...Kd6 32.Qg6+ Kc7 33.g4 Qf3 34.Rf1 Qh3 35.Qh5 Bh2+ 36.Kh1 Qxf1+ 37.Kxh2 b2 38.Qxf5 (38.h8=Q b1=Q, wins for Black) 38...b1=Q 39.Qxb1 Qxb1 40.h8=Q Qe4, and Black has a clear advantage in the endgame (EXTRA PAWN).

C1c) 25.Qg8 (as suggested by GM Chess School, is logical, as from g8, to the White queen keeps contact with the White h-pawn's QUEENING SQUARE on h8, threatens to return to the queenside with Qg8-b3 to impede the advance of Black's b-pawn, and can also initiate counterplay against Black's weak b7-pawn). Therefore, Black continues with 25...d5 keep the White Queen from returning to b3. GM Chess School now gives the continuation 26.Rd1 Bd4 27.Qa8 Kc7 28.Qe8 b5, as unclear, but it seems White must be careful, for example, after 29.h4 b4 30.h5 b3, White is in some trouble.

There is an earlier word that must be mentioned about this endgame. "GMC_Witali" noted that after 22.Rxa4 Qxa4, White can play 23.b3!? The idea of this move is to prevent Black's Queen from reaching the e4-square to defend the f5-pawn. However, he demonstrated that after 23...Qb4 24.Qxh7 Qxb3 25.Qxg6 Nd4, Black had good counterplay, and very good chances.

From this examination, I concluded that the endgame after 21...Rxa4 22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 Bxb2 24.Qxg6 Qe4 offers Black good counterchances and prospects for good play. But this not the end of the story. We must not forget that 22.Rxa4 is by no means forced for White! White can play (after 21...Rxa4), the following moves declining the exchange of Rooks: 22.Rad1, 22.Rae1, and 22.Rac1.

C2) WHITE DECLINES THE ROOK EXCHANGE ("THE ROOK ON a1 SIDESTEP") C2a) The least effective way of declining an exchange of Rooks is 22.Rab1. After 22...Qc4! 23.Qxh7 Qe6 24.Rfe1 f4, Black has an excellent position.C2b) Another ineffective way of declining the exchange of Rooks is 22.Rad1, when Black has 22...Qc4! 23.Qxh7 Qe6 24.Rfe1 (24.f4 Bxb2 25.Rfe1 Re4, is good for Black) 24...Re4 (Black can also play 24...f4) 25.Rxe4 (25.f4?? loses to 25...Bd4+) 25...fxe4, and Black is better. C2c) 22.Rae1 Qc4! (This is the best way to secure the vital g6-point, while maintaining central harmony amongst the Black forces. It would be wrong to play 22...Qxb2, when after 23.Qxh7, Black's pieces become disjointed. We have a responsibility to maintain the cohesion of our well-coordinated pieces!) 23.Qxh7 Qe6, and Black has a nice game, for example: 24.f4 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Be3! 26.Rf3 Re4.

C2d) After 22.Rac1, Black can play 22...Bxb2 (Black can also consider 22...f4!? and perhaps the tempting 22...Bf4 to exchange material), and now:

C2d1) 23.Rxc6 bxc6 (Black can consider 23...Kxc6!? as a winning attempt) 24.Qxe7+ Kc8 25.Qe8+ Kb7 26.Qd7+ Ka6 27.Qxc6 Qe4 28.Qxd6 Rc4 29.Be3 Qc6, and although Black has an extra pawn, the chances are about equal.C2d2) 23.Rce1 Bc3 24.Rxe7+ Nxe7 25.Qxe7+ Kc6 26.Qe8+ Kc5 27.Qc8+ Kb5 28.Qe8+ Kc4 29.Qe6+ Kb5 30.Qe8+ Kc4, with a draw.

C2d3) 23.Rb1 Qd4 24.Qxh7 Qg7 25.Qxg7 Bxg7 26.Rxb6 Nd8! and the game is equal.D) OTHER WHITE CANDIDATE MOVES AFTER 21...Rxa4D1) White can play 22.f4. This is dealt with swiftly and surely with 22...Rxa1 23.Rxa1 Qxb2, and Black is winning.D2) Finally, there is the deflection motif 22.Bd2!? After 22...Qc4! 23.Qxh7 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 Qd3 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.bxc3 Qxc3 27.Ra8, Black has at least a draw with 27...Qc1+ 28.Kh2 Qf4+, etc.

So then! 21...Rxa4 is my recommendation to my teammates. I believe that this active move represents the best interpretation of Black's position. Let's continue taking the fight to the World Champion!

Irina /SmartChessOnline/