Kasparov back in action

IM Malcolm Pein September 19, 2023

GARRY Kasparov made a rare return to the board earlier this month at the Saint Louis Chess Club and led after the first day of the 2023 Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX (Chess960 or Fischer Random).
The 13th world champion scored excellent victories over Wesley So and Ray Robson and drew with Hikaru Nakamura to end the day
in clear first place with 2.5/3. Thereafter, the 13th world champion faded and ended eighth in the 10-player all-play-all, as
Sam Sevian emerged the surprise winner, scoring 7/10 to finish a point clear and take home the $37,500 first prize. So shared second with Levon Aronian and Sam Shankland on 6/9 with Caruana on 5.5. Nakamura scored 4.

W So – G Kasparov starting position:

1.e4 e5 2.b3 (2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.d3 was possible)
2...d6 (Kasparov tries to limit the mobility of So’s pieces and increase that of his own)
3.Bb2 Ne7 4.Ne3 f5! 5.exf5 Nxf5 6.0–0–0 g5! (Inhibiting f2-f4)
7.g3 Nd4 8.c3? (8.f4 was best. This is every bit as bad as it looks. The king is weakened and the bishop on b2 blocked)
8...Nf5 (8...N4e6! clamps down on f2-f4)
9.Be4 Nc6 10.f4 Nxe3 11.Qxe3 gxf4 12.gxf4 Bg4 13.Rde1 0–0–0

14.h3 (14.fxe5 Bxe5 15.Bxh7 Qh5 is fine for Black)
14...exf4 15.Qd3? (White has reasonable chances after 15.Rxf4 and if 15…Rxf4 16.Qxf4 Bd7 17.Qh4 when 17…Bf6!? 18.Qxf6 d5 is interesting)
15...Be6 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Nf3 Kb7 18.Qe4 Be5 19.Qb4+ Ka8 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Rxe5 Qd7 22.c4??

How did Kasparov win material?

©Telegraph Media Group Limited 2023