Description:
With the white pieces, Kasparov employs a somewhat strange move order from the English Opening that becomes the white side of a King’s Indian Defense. Carlsen chooses the sharp Gligoric System with 7. …exd4, 8. …c6, and 9. …Re8 — to which Kasparov responds with the Taimanov Variation with 10. Bf2, 11. exd5, and 12. c5 — leading to a very double-edged position in which black must play very actively to maintain the balance due to his long-term positional disadvantage with the weak, isolated d5 pawn. After 17. Rad1, black’s position is visibly difficult as he lacks coordination and his previous activity now looks very superficial. With 22. d7! Kasparov blasts open the position and forces the win of substantial material — leading to Carlsen’s resignation down a piece on 32. Re3
Unfortunately Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen only met a handful of times at the chess board – however luckily these games were very interesting and hard-fought. Kasparov played a mini 2-game match at the Reykjavik Rapid in 2004 with Carlsen, when the 41 year-old Kasparov was rated 2830 and the 13 year-old Carlsen was rated 2485. Although Kasparov ended up winning the mini-match 1.5-.5, the games featured an exceptionally high level of fighting chess and it was clear that Carlsen was up to the task of playing with the former World Chess Champion. I find it fascinating that Carlsen’s style as a rising chess prodigy was marked by wild tactics and insanely precise calculation, because in 2012 as Carlsen is the #1 rated player in the world by a long shot – he has considerably modified his style to be less tactical and more positional. Simply put – Carlsen has evolved his play to remain in control at all times and take very few chances. He is the master of positions with small winning chances and no chances to lose. In the below historical encounter, Kasparov thoroughly trounced a poorly thought plan from Carlsen – making the chess prodigy’s play appear downright superficial. In the next video of this series, I will be covering a game where Carlsen nearly beat Kasparov with a very impressive display of tactics and forcing play.