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.

The tension builds once more in this extraordinary game. We find ourselves in the middle of a pawn race: both Black and White are aiming to advance their pawns to the other side of the board to get a new queen. It's a double-edged business. Pawns are the weakest pieces on the board, but they have the potential to become the strongest, so on their march they are suddenly accorded the status of VIPs, shielded by the most important members of their army.

This is a crucial moment in the game. On this turn a decision must be made which will have a profound effect on the course of the game. Even after studying this position for many hours I cannot say for certainty what Black's best path is - though I do have a strong intuitive feel for which move to make. Let's go through Black's major options one by one:

It is possible just to push the b-pawn again with 29...b4, but then White pushes on with 30 h6, and now Black is presented with a problem: he cannot advance the b-pawn any further because the next square is covered by White's queen. To make progress he must take time out with the queen, 30...Qd3 for instance, but that leaves the f-pawn unguarded. Black has resources even here, but I do not believe they are sufficient to hold the balance.

Next, 29...Qe2. This was suggested by Etienne Bacrot in his analysis on the previous turn. Black seeks counterplay with his queen - ...Qg4 would be the next move if, for instance, White pushed the h-pawn again. White's best response is just to capture the pawn on f4 (perhaps after first checking on f5 with the queen) 30 Bxf4, which forces the following moves: 30...Bxf4 31 Qxf4 Qxh5. The dangerous h-pawn has been snatched, but White has been able to exchange off the bishops, robbing Black's position of its dynamism (remember a few moves ago how Black played ...f4 specifically to prevent the exchange of those bishops?)

This is a very difficult position to assess. White will get nowhere by trying to attack with queen and rook as Black's king position is rock solid, so if he wants to win White must push the g-pawn down the board to try to get another queen. However, this would mean that White's king which, until this point, has been quite secure, would become exposed. And Black does still have some counterplay with the b-pawn. There is also a third move for Black: 29...Qc4, aiming to knock White's queen out of the way, clearing the path for the b-pawn. White cannot seriously consider exchanging queens as that would give Black connected passed pawns on the queenside, but he can keep playing for the attack with 30 Qf8, maintaining the pressure on the e7 pawn.

This is the most double-edged continuation of all. It could go horribly wrong for Black, but - so far - no clear method has been found for White to get the advantage.

As I see it, you have a choice between two quite different continuations: the solid 29...Qe2, leading to a position giving Black drawing chances; or a leap of faith with 29...Qc4, leading to random complications (though here I would also say that Black cannot hope for more than a draw).

See you at 2pm PST (10pm London) today in the Zone theatre chat room and I'll let you know which move I favour!

Qc4 to Kasparov's h5

With this move the b-pawn can go to b3 without being taken, because the White queen must move away from the diagonal a2-g8. If White plays 30.Qf5+ then Black can answer with Qe6.

Qc4 to Kasparov's h5

My next recommendation is 29...Qc4 because we have to prepare the way for the "b" pawn. It is the only way to play against White's "h" pawn; after 29...Qc4 White has two options: 1). Keep the queens on the board and push the pawn while trying to take advantage of Black's weakened position, or 2). Trade the queens and play the complicated ending resulting from it, while picking up the pawn on f4.

Probably, the best line for White it is the last one, when Black's "b" pawn should hold enough compensation for the loss on f4.

Qc4 to Kasparov's h5

I recommend The World to play 29...Qc4. Now I think 30.Qf8 is the best choice for the World Champion (On 30.Qf5+ Black is not afraid of the possible endgame Qe6 31.Qxe6 Kxe6) 30...Qe2 31.Qf5+ Kc7 32.Bxf4 Bxf4 33.Qxf4 Qxh5 and White is in a better position.

Today I will play my first game in the Rrench Championships 99 which takes place in Besançon, an old French town near the mountains. Joël Lautier, who just arrived from Las Vegas. is ranked No. 1 in this event. .I am ranked N°2. Unfortunately it will be difficult for me to help The World in the game against Kasparov until august 29. I hope The World will hold a good position until then. I want very much to finish the Game of the Century with The World. Good luck to The World..

In Besançon we are waiting for prestigious visitors. The 12th World Champion, Anatoly Karpov, will come here on August 27 and 28 for the closing ceremony. But a fews days before (August 23) the 13 th World Champion will preceed him. Our opponent, Garry Kasparov, will be here in person! People are saying that he will give an explosive press conference and a crushing simultaneous match demonstration.

Qc4 to Kasparov's h5

SUMMARY

With 29…Qc4, Black opposes the Queens - for if White acquiesces to an exchange with 30.Qxc4, Black's queenside pawn structure is repaired and enhanced in value after 30…bxc4. Therefore White is far more likely to avoid an exchange of Queens in this position before he continues with his plan of advancing the White h-pawn. Our analysis on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board suggests that White's most critical responses to 29…Qc4 are 30.Qf5+ and 30.Qf8. The analysis section provides some more details for 29…Qc4 (and other candidate moves for Black).

ANALYSIS

After 29.h5, three CANDIDATE MOVES for Black have captivated our attention on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board, namely 29…b4, 29…Qe2, and 29…Qc4. The work presented here represents a collaborative effort by many World Team members both on and off the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board.

The Variation 29…b4

After 29...b4 30.h6 Qc2 (or 30...Qd3), White can play 31.Bxf4, virtually forcing the following line of play: 31…Nd8 32.Qh5 Bxf4 33.h7 Be5 34.Qxe5 dxe5 35.h8=Q Nc6.

In my opinion, this endgame without Bishops offers Black fewer prospects for counterplay, and Black can easily drift into a position where the Black b-pawns are blockaded and the White g-pawn proves unstoppable. This is an inferior version of an endgame derived from the 28.h4 b5 29.h5 Qe2 30.Qf5+ Kc7 31.Bxf4 Bxf4 32.Qxf4 Qxh5 variant - Black's pawn structure is worse in this situation.

The Variation 29…Qe2

After 29…Qe2, play may proceed 30.Bxf4 Bxf4 31.Qxf4 Qxh5 (as indicated by GM Bacrot), or 30.Qf5+ Kc7 31.Bxf4 Bxf4 32.Qxf4 Qxh5.

Also this endgame, following an exchange of Bishops offers Black fewer prospects for counterplay, and Black must be wary of the long-term potential of the White g-pawn. It should be noted that in such positions the Black Knight will be hard pressed to both assist in the advance of Black's b-pawns and cooperate in a defense against the advance of White's g-pawn.

In the lines with 29…b4 and 29…Qe2, Black's Bishop soon departs the board. I do not believe we should so willingly allow the exchange of Black's powerful Bishop. As GM Ilya Gurevich noted, the strategic aim of 26…f4 was to cross White's plans to exchange off this "monster".

The Variation 29…Qc4 - My recommendation to my teammates

After 29...Qc4, White can play 30.Qf8.

[If 30.Qf5+ Qe6 31.Qxe6+ (alternatives are ineffective) 31…Kxe6, with an endgame that has been analyzed to a draw with correct play by Black. Instead 30.Qxc4 bxc4 favors Black. If 30.Qg6, then 30…b4 31.h6 b3 32.h7 b2 33.Qf5+ e6 34.Qf7+ Kc8, transposes to a satisfactory variant from 30.Qf8, as analyzed on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board - see later note]

After 30.Qf8, play may continue 30...b4 31.h6

[If 31.Qa8 Kc7 32.h6 b3! and Black is better; If 31.Qf5+?! Qe6 32.Qxe6+ Kxe6, Black is a tempo up on the endgame resulting from 30.Qf5+ Qe6 31.Qxe6+ Kxe6, which is at least a draw]

31…b3, and now:

A) 32.h7 Qc2, or 32...b2!? leads to a satisfactory position for Black.

B) 32.Qf5+ e6 33.Qf7+ Kc8, and now:

B1) 34.h7 b2 with balanced chances - a position which may also arise from 30.Qg6 (see above).

B2) 34.Qe8+ Kc7 35.Qf7+ (35.h7 b2 36.Qg6 Nd4 37.Re1 Qc2! is good for Black) 35...Kb6 36.Qg6 Nd4 37.h7 Ne2+ 38.Kh2 f3+, when the complications will reduce to a level position.

B3) 34.Bf6 b2 35.Qg8+ Kc7 36.Qh7+ Kb8 37.Bxe5 Nxe5, which analysis has shown leads to a draw.

After 29…Qc4 30.Qf8 b4 31.h6 b3 32.Qf5+ e6, play continues to be lively and balanced. Further details on these variations (and others) which include exhaustive analysis by the World Team can be reviewed in the FAQ.

Therefore my recommendation is 29…Qc4.