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.

On this turn, you, as part of The World Team, must make one of the most crucial decisions of the game so far.

I will do my best to explain the options available so you can make an informed choice. I hope you will bear with me, it is rather complex...

Garry Kasparov has just advanced his king to attack the knight on g6. This leaves the World with these options:

(1) Move the knight (but where to?);

(2) advance the d-pawn;

(3) promote the b-pawn.

In order to determine the best option, we have to calculate each variation accurately, assess the resulting position, then compare all three possibilities. There is no substitute for a systematic appraisal. If you would like to skip straight to my conclusions, then go ahead (lazy!) For the rest of you, let's go to work:

(1) MOVE THE KNIGHT

Checking White's king with the knight would be incorrect, for instance, 47...Nh4+ 48 Kf6, and the h-pawn rolls through faster than Black's pawns. So the only possible option is 47...Nh8, and the following line represents best play for both sides: 48 g6 d2 49 g7 d1(Q) 50 Rxd1 Kxd1 51 gxh8(Q) b1(Q)+ .

Queening with check is a lucky stroke for Black! With the pawn on h7, almost at the point of turning into a new queen, White is obviously better in this queen endgame, but the World would still have drawing chances with a possible 'perpetual check'.

(2) ADVANCE THE D-PAWN

With the following the line the most likely: 47...d2 48 Kxg6 d1(Q) 49 Rxd1 Kxd1 50 h8(Q) b1(Q)+.

Another queen ending, but this time White has a g-pawn, and only on the 5th rank, so, for The World, not as dangerous as the far-advanced h-pawn in the previous variation. However, the g-pawn is able to cover White's king from checks.

(3) PROMOTE THE B-PAWN

With the following line forced after, 47...b1(Q) 48 Rxb1 Kxb1 49 Kxg6 d2 50 h8(Q) d1(Q).

Once again, both sides have raced to get a queen. This is very similar to the variation in (2), with the difference that Black's king stands on b1 rather than d1. Does that make a difference? Yes, a slight, but subtle one. In these queen endings, one of White's tactics is to exchange queens using a check, and in the middle of the board (variation 2) the king is more vulnerable to this crafty idea.

Phew! All three options lead to queen endings where The World is fighting for a draw, but it is very difficult to say for certain which offers the BEST drawing chances. Let me sum up the choices before us, and on that basis I will give you my opinion, at the very least.

CONCLUSION

Moving the knight to h8 (option 1) leads to a queen and pawn ending where White has a far advanced pawn on h7. Promoting the b-pawn (option 3) leads to a queen and pawn ending with a White pawn on g5. This is a slightly superior version of option 2, so that one can be discarded at this stage.

The choice is left between option 1 and option 3. I have to say that I would not enjoy defending against a White pawn on the 7th rank, ready to become a queen if I were to make just one mistake. Playing chess is stressful enough without an executioner's axe hanging over one's head. Moreover, a few moves ago, Garry could have forced option 3, but decided not to - he must have believed his winning chances were insufficient.

Therefore, option 3, 47...b1(Q), would be my choice.

It is going to be a long, hard, struggle to draw this game but, World, hang on in there!

Danny

b1=Q to Kasparov's Kf5

I would play 47...b1(Q) Now we have a difficult Queen end game with bether chances for white. It follows 48.R:b1 K:b1 49.K:g6 d2 50.h8 (Q) d1(Q) I think our King and Queen have a bether position as the variant 47...d2 48.K:g6 d1(Q) 49.R:d1 K:d1 50.H8(Q) b1(Q)+ 51.Kh8 and now the white King has a better position for his B-Pawn.

b1=Q to Kasparov's Kf5

Right now The World should consider getting a queen with 47...b2-b1=Q, since White's king is too far away to get to the "d3" pawn in time. With 47...b2-b1=Q the game will follow three forced consecutive moves: 48.Rxb1... Kxb1 49.Kxg6 ...d2 50.h8=Q.. d1=Q where The World's position may be slightly inferior, but its chances to force a draw are undeniable.

b1=Q to Kasparov's Kf5

Now The World has two equal possibilities: 47...b1=Q or 47...d2. Regardless of which one, the same position will arise: 47...b1=Q 48.Rxb1... Kxb1 49.Kxg6... d2 50.h8=Q... d1=Q. I consider this queens endgame to be better for White, despite his being down a pawn, because he has advanced his "g" pawn. But The World's chances to draw are not bad.

Regarding my match against Grandmaster Beliavsky, my score was 3.5 to 2.5, losing the second game and playing five draws. I lost my chance for a comeback when I was up a pawn in the fourth game.

b1=Q to Kasparov's Kf5

I recommend the World plays the move 47…b1=Q (Pawn on b2 to b1 with promotion to a Queen)

SUMMARY After we promote our b-pawn with 47...b1=Q(!) White is forced to sacrifice his Rook for Black's new Queen with 48.Rxb1. The game should logically continue with 48…Kxb1 49.Kxg6 d2 50.h8=Q d1=Q, when we arrive at an endgame referred to as "Endgame D" in the World Team's SMART-FAQ. In this endgame, Black has a MATERIAL ADVANTAGE, but White's advanced g-pawn gives him enough COMPENSATION for his pawn deficit. Note that without Black pawns on the board, this position would be a theoretical draw - and so we must keep it in mind that in many circumstances it will be quite acceptable and correct for us to SACRIFICE our pawns to reach a theoretically drawn Q + P versus Q ending. That's right! We will literally dump the excess baggage (our pawns) to secure an increasingly OPEN board upon which our Queen can more readily give PERPETUAL CHECK to the World Champion's King - this idea forms a key element in Black's defensive strategy. In the game situation, White will seek to shelter his King from checks delivered by the Black Queen, while trying to advance his g-pawn further towards the g8 promotion-square. Also, in this endgame, Black has the important possibility of creating serious COUNTERPLAY with the advance of his d-pawn (and/or sometimes his b-pawn) - the threat to advance our own passed pawns can become the very catalyst required to make White eliminate our pawns while they are in transit, thus reducing the position to one that is theoretically drawn. Meantime, Black must be wary of attempts by White to improve the positioning and coordination of his King and Queen in order to shepherd the White g-pawn forward. Each and every move in this endgame must be played with the highest degree of technical precision. In the Analysis Section, I will demonstrate why I believe that alternative moves to 47...b1=Q are inferior. Remember: To vote for 47…b1=Q, you must use the drop-down menu located above the "Register Your Move" button ("b2 b1 Queen").

ANALYSIS SECTION Black has three main alternatives to "Endgame D" by playing different moves at move 47. However, I am NOT recommending these alternatives, as I think they are INFERIOR for Black. For example:

"ENDGAME G") After 47…Nh8(?) 48.g6 d2 49.g7 d1=Q 50.Rxd1 Kxd1 51.gxh8=Q b1=Q+, we arrive at the Queen ending known as "ENDGAME G" in the SMART-FAQ. After, the forced continuation 52.Ke6 Qe4+ 53.Kd7! Qa4+ 54.Kc7 d5, White has the strong move 55.Qg7! which allows him to return his Queen to the action, and analysis shows that White obtains a clear and probably winning advantage in the endgame (kudos to Peter Karrer). The very recent analytical findings in this particular endgame could have easily been missed if a process (for example, like some ideas that were discussed on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board) for "speeding up" the game had been introduced. This experience should serve as a warning to those who might feel impatient or who are lulled into a false sense of security by the at-first-glance "simplicity" or "boring nature" of the position! In chess, you must ALWAYS be on your guard, and we must strive to maintain our SENSE OF DANGER.

"ENDGAME PSEUDO-D") After 47…d2(?!) 48.Kxg6 b1=Q (Queening the b-pawn first) 49.h8=Q! (This is better than 49.Rxb1 Kxb1 50.h8=Q d1=Q, which transposes directly to Endgame D) 49...d1=Q 50.Rxd1 Qxd1 - we have Endgame "Pseudo-D" which is similar to Endgame D, except that Black's King stands on c2 instead of b1, and I believe the Black King is placed WORSE on c2 than on b1 as the Black King is more exposed and it can hinder the Black Queen's mobility.

"ENDGAME E") Alternatively, after 47…d2(?!) 48.Kxg6 d1=Q (Queening the d-pawn first) 49.Rxd1 Kxd1 50.h8=Q b1=Q+, gives the Queen ending known as "ENDGAME E" in the SMART-FAQ. My appraisal of this endgame for this analysis report is more subjective. I think at best this endgame would represent an inferior version of Endgame D, as the Black King looks more exposed on d1 and is further from the "distant" a1-corner. Based on my own study of Q + P vs. Q endings, it feels right to me for the Black King to be located in the area of the a1-corner (distancing itself from the White g-pawn).

In summary, I do NOT recommend the moves 47…Nh8? or 47…d2?! - in my opinion these moves represent nugatory choices for Black.

Analysis by the World Team.

Therefore, I am recommending the World Team plays the move 47…b1=Q, leading directly to the ending known as "Endgame D" on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board. In my opinion, this endgame represents Black's most desirable battleground on which to demonstrate equality. (Communicated in part from Erevan, Armenia)