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 the last turn The World gave up its extra pawn, a pawn that had already made good progress towards the queening square. What exactly is going on?

This is a bold and clever sacrifice. Black has no winning chances - that was clear the moment the ending was reached 25 moves ago - so the b-pawn can be given up with a clear conscience. It is all about saving the draw, and this is a good way of going about it.

With his last move, Garry Kasparov had to capture the b-pawn - it would have been too dangerous to allow its march to continue - but, in so doing, he has allowed his queen to be deflected from an excellent position where it was shielding his king from checks. This gives The World the opportunity to bring its queen into a better position from where it can hassle White's king, and so slow the advance of the dangerous g-pawn.

In such endings, the position of the queen can make the difference between a win and a draw. The queen is the most powerful piece on the board, but if it does not get into a position where it can demonstrate that power, then its value is diminished.

The World must now seize the chance to play the queen to a better position, beginning with a check to gain some time. There are only two available: 55...Qf1+ or 55...Qf3+.

Before deciding which one to play, ask yourself where queens perform best...

Good luck!

Danny

Qf3+ to Kasparov's Qxb4

I suggest 55...Qf3+ This is the only good Queen move in this position - and it also supports the pawn in its advance toward promotion. But if we moved 55...Qf1+?! then the Queen would not have such a good range, and also this move would not support the pawn.

Qf3+ to Kasparov's Qxb4

Now that White's queen has taken The World's pawn on b4 and is unable to protect its King for a while, The World should start giving checks right away with 55...Qf3+ The most likely way for The World to achieve a draw against the World Champion is by using the method of perpetual check.

Qf3+ to Kasparov's Qxb4

The normal move is queen check on f3 55...Qf3+

Qf3+ to Kasparov’s Qxb4

I recommend the World plays the move 55...Qf3+ (Queen on d1 to f3 with check)

SUMMARY It was necessary for White to accept our pawn sacrifice, but in doing so White's Queen is diverted from its CENTRALIZED and active post on f4. We must make use of the opportunity to ACTIVATE our Queen with TEMPO - therefore 55...Qf3+.

Don't forget to visit the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board! /bbs/kasparov-team/index.asp

ANALYSIS After, 55...Qf3+, we can expect the continuation 56.Kg7, where White is inconvenienced by once again finding his King blocking the advance of his own pawn. White cannot profit from avoiding 56.Kg7 by instead playing 56.Ke7, as after 56...Qe3+ (targeting the g-pawn) 57.Kf6 Qf3+, the position would repeat itself.

After 56.Kg7, it is worthwhile pausing to examine Black's possibilities. The SMART-FAQ highlights two principal continuations at this point, and their relative merits require careful consideration in the short time we have left to confirm our future course. After 56.Kg7, Black can play:

A) 56...Qe3!? - delaying the advance of his d-pawn, and taking control of the d4-square. This move is quite logical, and should undergo the systematic process of CONCRETE ANALYSIS. If we decide that 56...Qe3!? does not meet our standards or expectations, we will instead play the principled move:

B) 56...d5 - as I alluded to in my previous analysis report. Examine the position after 56...d5. It is ALMOST the same as the position we might have obtained after 52...Kc1 53.Qe4 b4 54.Qxb4 Qf3+ 55.Kg7 d5 - with the exception that Black's King is on a1, and not on c1 as in this particular 52...Kc1 variation. In that particular 52...Kc1 situation, we would have met 56.g6 with 56...d4 57.Qxd4 with an immediate DRAW, and we were safe in the knowledge that White had no useful Queen check (instead of 56.g6) that would improve his position.

Therefore, after 56...d5 in the present, we are playing a SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT version of that particular 52...Kc1 defense (having given our opponent an additional option by playing Kb1-b2-a1 instead of Kc1-b1). This comparison is very important - it reveals to us White's additional options and (incidentally) the genesis of the b5-b4 pawn sacrifice idea (a simple application of our own accumulated knowledge).

After 56...d5 in our current analysis, White has the option of 57.Qd4+ (Check! Remember our King is on a1 and not c1). This must be considered a critical continuation as it crosses Black's immediate plans to advance his d-pawn further and also the plan to sacrifice this last pawn to reach a simple Theoretical Draw, i.e., if White were instead to play 57.g6, we would be VERY HAPPY to play 57...d4! with an equal game (as even surrendering the pawn with check to 58.Qxd4+ is an immediate Theoretical DRAW). It is because of this move by White (57.Qd4+) it becomes worthwhile examining 56...Qe3!? as an option for Black.

The critical continuation after 57.Qd4+ appears to be 57...Kb1 58.g6 Qe4 59.Qg1+ (59.Qxe4 dxe4, is a draw) 59...Ka2, for example: 60.Qf2+ Ka1 61.Kf6 (or 61.Kf7, or 61.Kh6) when Black must play 61...d4 (in the short-term this pawn on d4 will be pivotal to an important strategic objective - the closing of the a1-h8 diagonal and the opening of the h1-a8 diagonal), freeing up the d5-square and therefore a host of central light squares for use by the Black Queen. In fact, these positions after 61...d4 are deceptive - they are not at all simple, and with an opponent determined to make life as difficult as possible for us, we should not expect things to be simple. I believe Black is OK with accurate play - many variations will need to subjected to very deep human analysis, perhaps to as many as 20 or even 30 moves deep. Our defense is based on delivering PERPETUAL CHECK to the White King or SACRIFICING our d-pawn at an opportune moment to obtain a Theoretical Draw. If White allows his King to be driven in front of his pawn after the pawn reaches g7, Black will be able to play d4-d3 and draw by means of "simultaneous queening" or by forcing White to capture the runaway d-pawn (resulting in a Theoretical Draw). Our immediate task as a Team is, in my opinion, to play 55...Qf3+ and to thoroughly investigate the options of 56...Qe3!? and 56...d5 (after 56.Kg7). I believe our goal is in reach, but as always it requires a high degree of technical precision and deliberation in our play. We will be making yet another important decision on our next move.

Special thanks to "IM2429", IM Ken Regan, and GM Ron Henley and their keen eyes for danger.