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.

Having swung the knight over to BLOCKADE the pawns on the kingside, the World has achieved some temporary security. Garry must now think of a way to try to break that blockade, while at the same time holding up Black's passed b-pawn. Not an easy task.

The World Champion's last move, 39 Rd1, is cunning. He is PINNING the bishop to the king; the jargon never stops! That means the bishop is unable to move as the king would be in check from the rook. White has an immediate threat: Bxd6, winning a pawn, as Black's king is tied to defending the bishop on d4. There is also the possibility of playing Be3, exploiting the pin to exchange off Black's superb bishop on d4.

At first glance, The World has two ways to meet White's immediate threats: either 39...b2, so as to meet 40 Bxd6 with 41...b1 (Q) 42 Rxb1 Kxd6, and Black should draw. Or, 39...e5 to prevent the bishop capturing on d6.

Throughout this complex game, it has been very difficult to go by general rules, and that is the case here. The only way to decide which move is best is by accurate calculation of variations - and you will find that you cannot always rely on chess-playing computers to give you that accurate answer. In London the other day, Garry described these computers as being a bit like babies: 'You have to feed them the right things', and that for a great deal of this game the RAW analysis they have produced has been 'rubbish' - it has to be refined with a human eye. Now there is food for thought!

Join me today in the Zone theatre chat room at 2pm PST (10pm London) where I will let you know which move I favour.

Danny

e5 to kasparov's Rd1

If we stop the pawns with Ng6, Kasparov would play 40. Bxd6 and win a pawn, because after Kxd6, White can take the bishop on d4 (Rxd4). So we should attack the bishop with e6-e5 and after 40. Be3 we can follow with 40... Kc4 41. Bxd4... cxd4 42. Kg2... b2 43. Kf3... Kc3 and The World has a little hope in this unclear position.

e5 to Kasparov's Rd1

In this position The World has many options but few seem to be sufficient; one of them, the one that I like best, is 39...e5. This move eliminates White's threat of Bxd6, defends the bishop on d4 and advances another pawn. White's reply at 39...e5 may be either 40.Bf4-e3, to trade Black's powerful bishop or 40.Bc1 to keep the bishop guarding Black's "b" pawn; in both cases The World's best hope is a painful draw.

e5 to Kasparov's Rd1

I recommend The World to go for a queen's endgame after 39...e5 40.Be3... Kc4 . The other line 39...b2 40.Bxd6... b1=Q 41.Rxb1... Kxd6 42.Rxb7 looks very difficult for The World.

e5 to Kasparov's Rd1

SUMMARY

With his last move (39.Rd1), the World Champion places our powerful Bishop on d4 in a PIN, and exerts pressure on our pawn on d6 (along the d-FILE with his Rook on d1, and along the f4-d6 DIAGONAL with his Bishop on f4). I am now recommending the advance of our e-pawn to e5 (this is Black's only good move in this position), attacking White's Bishop on f4 (thus neutralizing White's pressure along the f4-d6 diagonal aimed at Black's d6-point). Depending on White's reaction to this attack on his Bishop, we will then determine the best method of how to deal with the pin on our Bishop.

ANALYSIS SECTION

There are a number of weaker (and losing) continuations for Black in this position. Let's DISPOSE of them, one by one:

A) 39...b2? White has two ways to play, both of which give him a clear winning advantage:

A1) 40.Bxd6 b1=Q (White wins after 40...Nf5 41.Ba3, or 40...Kxd6? 41.Rxd4+ Kc5 42.Rd1, etc.) 41.Rxb1 Kxd6 42.Rxb7 Ng6 43.Kg2! and White has a clear (probably winning) advantage, or;

A2) 40.Be3 b1=Q (40...e5 41.Bxd4 exd4 42.Rb1, wins for White) 41.Rxb1 Bxe3 42.Rxb7 Ng6 (42...Bxg5 loses to 43.Rb5+) 43.Rg7 Nf8 (or 43...Nh8 44.Rg8 Nf7 45.h7 Bd4 46.g6 Ng5 47.Kg2, and White wins) 44.Rg8 Nh7 45.g6 Nf6 46.h7, and White wins.

B) 39...Ng6? White wins easily after 40.Bxd6 b2 41.Ba3 Ke4 42.Rb1.

C) 39...Ke4? Unpinning in this manner fails after 40.Bxd6 Ng6, and now:

C1) 41.Kg2 Be3 (41...Bh8 42.Rb1, wins for White) 42.h7, and White wins, or;

C2) 41.Ba3 b2 (or 41...Be5 42.Rb1 Kf5 43.Rxb3 Kxg5 44.Bc1+, winning for White) 42.Rb1 Kf5 43.Bxb2 Bxb2 44.Rxb2 Kxg5 45.h7 Kh6 46.Rxb7, and White wins. Only pleasant choices for White in this variation.

D) 39...Nf5? This continuation loses to 40.h7 b2 41.Be5! b1=Q 42.Rxb1 Bxe5 43.Rb5+ Kd4 44.Rxe5, etc.

So we may conclude that 39…b2, 39…Ng6, 39…Ke4, and 39…Nf5, are all BAD (Analysis by the World Team).

E) 39...e5 - My Recommendation to my Teammates With the move e5, the World accomplishes more than a mere one-move attack on White's Bishop. Black mobilizes his passed e-pawn to generate COUNTERPLAY, and clears the e6-SQUARE - reserving an option for a MANEUVER with Kd5-e6-f5 (as circumstances allow or dictate) when the Black King can participate in the blockade of White's passed pawns. Black also remains poised to penetrate with his King to the c3- or c2-squares to assist in the advance of his own passed pawn on b3. You may ask yourself why am I now advocating the advance of our e-pawn to e5 when only two moves ago, I recommended restraint with the move 37…e6 (instead of the very weak move 37…e5?)? Circumstances have changed - previously White's Rook stood on the f-file poised to infiltrate White's position at f7 or f8. Now with White's pawns on g5 and h6 (instead of g5 and h5), and the Black Knight relocated to e7, Black's kingside blockade plan is more well defined. White's Rook is now on d1 - assigned the task of limiting the scope of Black's active Bishop, and Black does not fear an immediate dangerous incursion by the White Rook along the f-file in conjunction with White playing Bf4-c1-a3 - the idea that was so deadly against 37…e5.

So, my recommendation is 39…e5, after which the position remains in dynamic balance.