The analysts for the World Team in the Kasparov vs. The World are all rising young chess superstars. These are the next generation of names that will rise to the top of the chess-playing world. If you're unsure what move to play against World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, our analysts can point you in the right direction with their thoughtful responses.

'Prudent' is how I would describe the last two moves.

On its previous square, b2, the World's Bishop was unprotected, but now that it has moved to d4, it is supported by the Knight and the Queen. MINOR PIECES (that is, Bishops and Knights - yet more chess jargon) NEED SOLID PROTECTION, otherwise they will be vulnerable to short-term threats.

The Bishop has found an excellent central square, protecting the pawn on b6, but eyeing up White's pawn next to the King. That means the Rook can't roam too far, for fear of allowing a 'hit' on the f2 pawn.

With his last move 26 Qb3, Garry slams on the brakes. Instead of indulging in a mad race of passed pawns on opposite sides of the board, he has chosen to prevent Black's dangerous b-pawn from advancing. Moreover, the Queen rejoins its comrades. She was in danger of being isolated from her fellow pieces, and a divided army is a weak army.

Now the position takes on a quieter character. We are unlikely to see passed pawns being hurled down the board over the next few moves. I expect Garry to do some re-grouping first, perhaps attempting to activate his rook. He will also be looking to exchange Queens if possible, for the endings are mostly favourable for White.

What is important here is that Black should maintain a SOLID, WELL-COORDINATED POSITION. Call in to the Zone theatre chat room at 2pm PST (10 pm London) to see my specific recommendations!

Bc5 to Kasparov's Qb3

I would play 26....Bc5. This move closes the c-line and makes the King safer. Also the square d4 will be free for the Knight, and with a Knight on d4 Black can play b6-b5.

Bc5 to Kasparov's Qb3

My next recommandation is 26...Bc5. It is very hard to find a good move for Black because we have to be exact, more than ever and we have a lot of interesting possible moves. One of them is 26...f4 but here White has a very strong move with 27.Qf7 forcing Black to play 27...Be5 28.h4 d5 (28...b5 doesn't have much of a future with a White Queen on b3) 29.h5-d4 30.h6 d3 31.Qh5 d2 32.h7 Qd4 33.Rd1 Na5 (trying to defend on d2) 34.Bxe7 Kxe7 35.Rxd2 with a winning attack for white. Another interesting moves for Black are 26...Ne5 and even 26...Qe6 emerging into a complex endgame. I prefered 26...Bc5 because it creates a safe place for the black king on the "c" file, it still attacks on f2 and it liberates the d4 square for the Knight. The drawbacks are that we are not controling the long diagonal a1-h8 anymore, thus we are allowing more play for the Rook and we have to make another move in order to stop the "h" pawn. At our 26...Bc5 White has two main options: 27.Be3 trying to trade our active pieces so our attacking chances are severly diminished, or 27.h4 forcing Black's counterplay to be precise. At 27.Be3 Nd4 and\or Kc7 should be enough and at 27.h4 we have to see if 27...Nd4 is sufficient; if not we have Kc7!? followed by d5!? as an additional resource. Good Luck!

Bc5 to Kasparov's Qb3

White's threat is 27.Be3, so I recommend The World to play the prophylactic move 26...Bc5 with the idea 27.Be3 Nd4.

f4 to Kasparov's Qb3

SUMMARY

I recommend the World plays the move 26…f4 (Pawn on f5 to f4).

With 26.Qb3, the World Champion has taken prophylactic measures against Black's queenside counterplay (advance of the Black passed b-pawn). In turn, I believe it is necessary to initiate our own preventive measures against White's kingside counterplay (advance of the White passed h-pawn) with the move 26…f4.

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ANALYSIS SECTION - I RECOMMEND 26…f4

Finding no way to overpower the Black position with a straightforward advance of his passed h-pawn (i.e., a "race" of passed pawns), the World Champion has chosen the prophylactic move 26.Qb3. White takes into account Black's counterplay associated with the advance of the passed b-pawn.

Originally, I considered 26...Bc5, freeing the d4-square for the knight, to coordinate pressure against White's kingside, while preparing to advance the b-pawn - a plan that fared very well in many tactical lines initiated by White. On further reflection, I decided that I did not like the White POSITIONAL PLAN initiated by 27.Qb1!? intending to coordinate White's remaining forces (Queen, Rook, and Bishop) prior to advancing the White h-pawn. White's plan, in part, includes returning his Bishop to e3 in order to EXCHANGE our powerful Bishop. This is an insidious positional plan by Kasparov that cannot be taken lightly. Here are some sample lines that demonstrate the effectiveness of White's idea (after 27.Qb1):

A) 27...Qe6 28.Re1 Qg6 29.Be3, and White is for choice as Black's queenside counterplay cannot start.

B) 27...Qxb1 28.Rxb1 d5 (with the idea e7-e5, followed by Kd7-e6) 29.h4! e5 30.h5 Ke6 31.Kf1 Kf7 (after 31...d4 32.Rb3 Kf7 33.Rf3 f4 34.Rh3, White has ACTIVATED his rook and stands better) 32.Ke2 b5 33.Be3, and White has an advantage.

C) 27...Qd5!? 28.Rd1 Qe6 29.Re1 Qd5 30.Be3, and White is for choice. He has coordinated his forces, held up Black's b-pawn counterplay, and can prepare to advance his h-pawn.

However, there is a certain harmony in chess - White took a time-out from his own kingside aspirations by taking PREVENTIVE MEASURES against Black's dangerous b-pawn. In turn, I believe it is now necessary to take prophylactic measures against White's strength - by devaluing his kingside PAWN STRUCTURE. I believe this can be achieved with the move 26...f4!? (my thanks to Peter Spiriev, whose analysis formed a key element of my own findings).

The move 26...f4!? prevents the immediate return of the White Bishop to e3, where it would hope to exchange our "tower of power" on d4. I have looked at three CANDIDATE MOVES and possible continuations for White:

A) 27.Qf7 Be5 28.h4 (28.Qb3 Bd4 would simply repeat the position, while the self-imposed weakening with 28.f3?! would allow 28...Qe3+ 29.Kh1 b5, and Black has excellent counterplay with his b-pawn) 28...b5 29.h5 Qc4! with good play for Black - Spiriev.

B) 27.Qb1 is unlikely as after 27...Bxf2+! Black can just about force a draw, and I do not see Kasparov accepting such an outcome under such circumstances: 28.Kh1 (28.Rxf2? loses to 28…Qxb1+; 28.Kxf2? Qe3 mate) 28...Qxb1 29.Rxb1 e5 30.h4 Ke6 31.Rf1 Bg3, forcing White to "perpetual" the Black pawns after 32.Rb1 (32.h5 Kf5 33.h6 Kg6 34.Kg1 Nd4, wins for Black) 32...Bf2 33.Rf1 Bg3 (Black can try to play for more with 33...Bd4) 34.Rb1 Bf2, with repetition.

C) 27.Qd1 f3! (this timely advance degrades White's pawn structure, and somehow seems consistent with the course set by 18...f5), and now:

C1) 28.gxf3 Qf5 29.Be3 (if 29.h4?! Qh3! with good play for Black, for example: 30.f4 Qg3+ 31.Kh1 Bxf2 32.Rxf2 Qxf2 33.Qg4+ e6 34.h5 Nd4, and Black has a clear plus, illustrated with the variation 35.Bf6 Nf3 36.Qg7+ Kc6 37.Qg2 Qe1+, and mate next move) 29...Bxe3 30.fxe3 Qxh3, with level chances - Spiriev.

C2) 28.Qxf3 Qxf3 29.gxf3 b5 30.Rb1 b4, and Black is OK. Play may continue 31.Bd2 Bc3 32.Bxc3 bxc3 33.Rxb7+ Ke6 34.Rb1 (34.Rb3 loses to 34…Nd4) 34...Nd4 35.Kf1 (35.Kg2 Kd5 36.Rc1 Kc4, and Black wins) 35...Kd5, and Black's CENTRALIZED King and Knight combine with the powerful passed c-pawn to hold the balance. For example, after 36.Rc1 Kc4 37.h4 Nf5 38.h5 Kd3 39.Rd1+ (not 39.Ke1 c2 40.Ra1 Kc3! and Black wins) 39...Kc4 40.Rc1 (Black wins after 40.Ke2 c2 41.Rc1 Kc3) 40...Kd3, with a draw.

C3) 28.g4 appears too loosening. After 28...Qe5 29.Bh4 Qh8 30.Bg3 Qxh3 31.Qxf3 b5, Black has good counterplay.

C4) 28.Re1 is the most critical continuation. After 28...Qf5, I believe Black has good play, for example:

C4a) 29.h4? loses to 29…fxg2, because of the weakness of f2.

C4b) Similarly 29.Bxe7? loses to 29…fxg2.

C4c) 29.Bh4 fxg2 30.Qg4 Qxg4 31.hxg4 b5 (31...Ne5 32.Kxg2, favors White) 32.Kxg2 b4, when Black is probably slightly better, as in this endgame his b-pawn is already advancing and meanwhile he must contend with a less dangerous g-pawn.

C4d) 29.Be3 Bc3!? 30.Qb1 (after 30.Rf1 fxg2 31.Kxg2 b5, Black has good counterplay, while after 30.Bd2 Bxd2 31.Qxd2 fxg2, Black is OK) 30...Qe5!? with good play for Black, for example: 31.Qxb6 (not 31.Bd2? Qg7! winning for Black) 31...Bxe1 32.Qxb7+ Ke6 33.Qxc6 fxg2 34.Kxg2, with equal chances.

So, I recommend 26…f4.

Irina /SmartChessOnline/

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