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.

Well done, World Team! You have forced a slight concession from the World Champion: the Knight has been forced away from its strong central position.

As I suspected, the World Team coaches were united in their choice on the last move: 9...Bg7. And no wonder. The Bishop hits a great diagonal and if Garry hadn't retreated, the Knight on d4 would have been the victim of a nasty tactical shot.

Incidentally, instead of 10 Nde2, it would not have been desirable for white to exchange Knights on c6: Black would have recaptured with the pawn,increasing his control over the centre, and opening up the b-file for a Rook. Remember, as a general rule, the more centre pawns you have, the better. Although such tiny positional gains might seem insignificant, long-term it could be the deciding factor in the game. This is how most modern day victories are achieved, by the accruing of small positional advantages, and rarely with a quick thud and crash through to the King. To win this game the world needs patience!

Now, let's take a look at the options available to black here. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been emphasizing the need to get DEVELOPED bring out all your pieces) and CASTLED (to get the King out of the middle) before attempting anything rash. Here, looking at my database of previous master games, the vast majority of black players have castled before doing anything else.

There remains, however, an interesting option, much discussed on the Bulletin Boards, which goes against these classical principles (I don't want to mention it in case none of the coaches nominate the move!). All I am going to say about it is this: consider the situation with the utmost care before you decide to plunge into the mire of complications.

Patience World! Patience!

Qe6 to Kasparov's Nde2

My reply to Garry's 10th move is 10...Qe6 (queen from d7 to e6). At first I considered 10...0-0 or 10...Rc8, which are the moves most often played in this position. Black's chances are not too good. But when I went into the Microsoft chat room, where Irina is very active, I saw that she was discussing a novelty, 10...Qe6. I found this move very interesting, and analysed a number of continuations with the program "Hiarcs 7.32". The variations look more promising for Black. So I decided to go for 10...Qe6. I hope that this time for once The World will side with the girls.

0-0 to Kasparov's Nde2

Otherwise we would have to move the Queen to castle on the other side and this wouldn't be a good place for her. White probably has a slight advantage in this position, but we should be fine.

0-0 to Kasparov's Nde2

We need to complete our development by castling Kingside.

Qe6 to Kasparov's Nde2

I highly recommend that the World plays the NEW MOVE 10...Qe6 (queen on d7 to e6).

"WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TODAY?" Let's take a long hard look at our OPTIONS at this important and CRITICAL moment in the game.

THE OLD MOVE 10...0-0 (Conservatism Reigns?) Theory considers the usual move at this stage to be 10...0-0 (kingside castling). Difficult middlegames usually follow, for example: 11.f3 a6 12.a4 Rfc8 13.b3 Qd8 14.Kh1, etc, when White already has a SLIGHT ADVANTAGE and an enduring INITIATIVE. If you choose 10...0-0, you will certainly risk playing into the very sharp teeth of Kasparov's vaunted OPENING PREPARATION. I am advising AGAINST playing this move (and playing into Garry's hands) because I think we have a serious alternative in 10...Qe6!? at our disposal (see below).

THE WEAK MOVE 10...Na5?! (Imaginative but Lacking - "Knights on the Rim are Dim") Experimenting last week, I tried to make the unusual idea of 10...Na5?! work. I was happy with 11.Qd3 (known) 11...Qc6! 12.b3 Nxe4! (novelty) which is promising for Black. Unfortunately, I was unable to resolve all of Black's problems after 11.b3! (novelty), for example: 11...a6 (11...Nxe4?! 12.Nxe4 Bxa1 13.Bxd2 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bg7 15.Bc3! is good for White) 12.a4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxa1 14.Bd2 Nxb3 15.Qxb3 Bg7 (or 15...Be5 16.N2c3! leads to White's advantage) 16.Nf4, which favors White. 10...Na5?! should DEFINITELY be DISCARDED.

THE NEW MOVE 10...Qe6!? (A New Path in the Sicilian Labyrinth!?) Last week, during the World Open in Philadelphia, I showed the THEORETICAL NOVELTY 10...Qe6!? to my trainers GM GIORGI KACHEISHVILI and GM RON HENLEY (the latter via phone). I had been looking at various options for Black in the eventuality that "The World" played 6...Nf6 7.0-0 g6, instead of 6...g6. I had based this idea on an old game of GM Jan Smejkal's that I had seen in my database.

I believe this new move, 10...Qe6, is a DYNAMIC and PRACTICAL SOLUTION to Black's opening play. Below you will find a sample of what I believe are the most important variations. White has two ways (11.Qb3 or 11.Nd5) to meet the SIMULTANEOUS attack on his c- and e-pawns (there is no compensation for White if he jettisons his c-pawn with 11.f3 Qxc4). I am pleased that 10...Qe6 has also earned the important and independent ENDORSEMENT from the strong Russian GMs ALEXANDER KHALIFMAN and KONSTANTIN SAKAEV of the Grandmaster Chess School (/kasparov-world.html) - a fine chess academy in Russia. Some of the key positions from the analysis of 10...Qe6 given below have been illustrated at the Barnet Chess Club web-site (/bcc/) - one of the best educational chess sites on the Web. WORLD TEAM - take note! We have many wonderful resources to draw upon in our battle with Garry - use them all!

The following is based on analysis I have already posted to the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board (/bbs/kasparov-team/index.asp), during the last few days.

THE LINE 10...Qe6!? 11.Qb3 (White Queen Sortie) If White plays 11.Qb3, Black has two ideas: A) 11...Rc8 (alternative 1 which seems less active for Black) and now:

A1) 12.Ng3 0-0 (12...Nd7!? with the idea 13.Qxb7 Nc5) 13.Qxb7 Qxc4, with an edge for Black.

A2) 12.f3 0-0 13.Nf4 Qd7, with perhaps a small edge for Black.

A3) 12.Qxb7 0-0, for example:

A3a) 13.Nb5 Qxc4, with a clear advantage Black. A3b) 13.Qb5 Nxe4 14.Nf4 Qe5 15.Qxe5 dxe5, with the following possibilities:

A3b1) 16.Nxe4 exf4 17.Bxf4 Bxb2, equal. A3b2) 16.Nxg6 Nxc3! 17.Nxf8 Ne2+ 18.Kh1 Kxf8, is good for Black. A3b3) 16.Nfd5 Nxc3 17.Nxc3 Nb4 18.b3 (18.Be3 Rxc4 19.Bxa7 Ra8 20.Be3 e4, favors Black) 18...e4!? (18...Rfd8 is equal) 19.Bd2 Rfd8 (19...f5 is at least equal for Black, and possibly the strongest) 20.Nxe4 Bxa1 21.Bxb4 (21.Rxa1 Nd3 is good for Black) 21...Bf6 22.Nxf6+ exf6, is good for Black.

A3c) 13.Qa6!? Nxe4 14.Nf4 Qf5 15.Ncd5 Qd7, with level chances.

B) 11...0-0! (alternative 2 - even better than 11...Rc8, as this leads to a stronger placement of the Black rooks) 12.Qxb7 (otherwise it seems difficult to justify 11.Qb3) 12...Rfc8 13.Qa6, and now:

B1) 13...Nxe4 14.Nf4 (14.Nxe4 Qxe4 is good for Black) 14...Qf5 15.Ncd5 Qd7, with an edge for Black.

B2) 13...Nb8!? (what a funny move!) 14.Qb7 Nc6! renewing the attack on c4 and enticing White to a DRAW by repetition!

In summary, Black's chances seem good after 10...Qe6 11.Qb3. White's queen is unhappy on b3.

THE LINE 10...Qe6!? 11.Nd5 Qxe4! 12.Nc7+ Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4 (Introduction) If White plays 11.Nd5 then 11...Qxe4! (very forcing) 12.Nc7+ (12.Re1 is best met with 12...0-0) 12...Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4 14.Nb6+!? (the horse on a8 was headed for the glue factory anyway. An anonymous poster on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board called "Mid_Sized" has suggested 14.b3!? which can transpose to the "Kastner Line" after 14...Qh4 15.Nb6+ axb6 - see below - although 14...Qa6!? 15.Bb2 Rxa8 seems possible to me) 14...axb6, leaves Black with TWO pawns for the Exchange - i.e., DYNAMIC MATERIAL EQUALITY. After 15.Be3, Black is well-placed after 15...Ra8 (making use of the HALF-OPEN a-FILE) or 15...Nd5! (CENTRALIZATION!). It is somewhat amusing that the White c- and e-pawns which constituted the KEY elements of the Maroczy Bind formation so carefully constructed by Garry are both ELIMINATED in this sequence. At minimum, I believe Black has EQUALIZED after 15...Nd5 in this variation. As always, we should look at some variations to give ourselves more understanding of the position.

FURTHER ANALYSIS IN THE COMPLEX LINE 10...Qe6!? 11.Nd5 Qxe4! 12.Nc7+ Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4, after 14.Nb6+!? axb6

White plays 15.Be3:

A) 15...Ra8 16.Nc3 b5!? 17.a3 Ke8 (with the plan of d6-d5!) 18.Bg5 (18.Rc1 b4 19.Ne2 Qa2! destroys White's queenside) 18...Ne4 19.Nd5

(Is White coming around for second helpings with Nd5-c7+!? Instead 19.Nxe4 Qxe4 20.Re1 Qf5, with advantage to Black, as the tactics after 21.Bxe7 Nxe7 22.Qxd6, are in Black's favor, for example: 22...Qd7 23.Qxd7+ Kxd7 24.Rad1+ Ke8 25.Rd5 Bxb2 26.Rxb5 Bxa3 27.Rxb7 Bd6, and Black has a material advantage and excellent winning chances, as he can attack without risk.)

And now after 19.Nd5, Black has the interesting 19...Nxg5!?

A1) 20.Nb6 Qf4 21.Nxa8 Nh3+!? (this is how they play chess in Latvia!), with:

A1a) 22.Kh1 Nxf2+ 23.Rxf2 (23.Kg1 Bd4, wins for Black) 23...Qxf2 24.Nc7+ Kd7 25.Nxb5 Bxb2 26.Rb1 Be5 27.Qa4 Qf5, and Black is clearly better. A1b) 22.gxh3 Be5! 23.Kg2 Qxh2+ 24.Kf3 Qxh3+ 25.Ke2 Nd4+ 26.Ke1 Nf3+ 27.Ke2 Nd4+, with a DRAW by perpetual check. Instead, White should play:

A2) 20.Nc7+! (Isn't that so funny? Same fork, different knight and different rook!) 20...Kd8! 21.Nxa8 Bxb2 22.Rb1 Bxa3 23.Nb6 Qc5 24.Qd3 (24.Qd5 Qxd5 25.Nxd5 b4, is good for Black) 24...Nd4 25.Ra1 Nc2 26.Ra2, and now:

A2a) 26...Nb4? loses to the beautiful 27.Qxa3 Nxa2 28.Qa7!! and White wins (but not 28.Qxa2? Qxb6, and it is Black who wins). Better for Black is:

A2b) 26...Qxb6! 27.Rxc2 (27.Rxa3? Nxa3 28.Qxa3, and Black wins) 27...Bc5 28.Ra1, with an UNCLEAR position - Black has a BISHOP + KNIGHT + FOUR PAWNS versus TWO ROOKS.

However, more SOLID for Black than the picturesque 19...Nxg5!? is 19...Rd8 20.Rc1 Qd4, with level chances, as Black need not fear an exchange of queens.

In summary 15...Ra8 is very sharp, and TACTICAL in nature.

Instead of 15...Ra8, a move which is more in keeping with my own personal style is 15...Nd5! (likely best) - a move which is more STRATEGICAL in nature, as the Black knight becomes CENTRALIZED. For example:

16.Qd2 Nxe3, and now:

A) 17.fxe3?! Ra8 18.a3 (18.b3 Qb4 19.Qxb4 Nxb4 20.Nd4 f5, is good for Black) 18...Ra5! and Black has an edge.

B) 17.Qxe3 Qc5 18.Qb3 (18.Qf3 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Bf6 20.Qb3 d5 21.Qxb6 Qxb6 22.Rxb6 Kc7 23.Rfb1 Rb8, and White has not equalized) 18...e6 19.Rac1 Qb4 20.Qf3 Ke7 21.a3 Qb5, with an edge for Black.

White plays 15.b3!?: (The "Kastner Line")

FM Jeff Kastner has suggested the move 15.b3!? on the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board - this is a very logical idea where White recovers a tempo against the Black queen for a possible future development of the White bishop on b2. His analysis continues 15...Qh4 (threatening 16...Ng4 and a double attack on h2 and a1) 16.h3 Ne4 17.Rb1 Ra8 18.a4. This position is unclear and very volatile. For example: 18...e6 19.Bb2 (or 19.Be3 Nc5, is unclear) 19...Bxb2 20.Rxb2 Rd8, with an unclear position and a battle between Black's ability to control the center with his knights and central pawns and White's efforts to activate his rooks ensues.

White plays 15.Nc3: (Improving the White knight!?)

15.Nc3 b5!? and now:

A1) 16.Be3 Rd8 17.Rc1 b4 18.Na4 Qb5 19.Nc5+ Ke8, with an edge for Black.

A2) 16.a3 Rd8 17.Be3 (17.Bg5 Ne4 18.Nxe4 Qxe4, is equal) 17...Ke8 18.Rc1 b4, and Black has an edge

A3) 16.Bg5 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Qxe4, and now the following possibilies:

A3a) 18.Qb3 Qc4 19.Qh3+ (19.Qxc4? bxc4 is obviously fantastic for Black) 19...Qe6, as Black should welcome the ending after 20.Qxe6+?! Kxe6.

A3b) 18.Re1 Qf5 19.Be3 h5!? with a nice position for Black.

THE LINE 10...Qe6!? 11.Nd5 0-0?! (11...Qxe4! is STRONGER) After 11.Nd5 don't be misled by 11...0-0?! (weak) - the idea is to enable the king to be shielded on the kingside and to maintain the integrity of Black's queenside pawns after 12.Nc7 Qxe4 13.Nxa8 Rxa8, and White's c-pawn is too weak to maintain. Unfortunately, in this LESS forcing line, White can play 12.f3! SECURING the e4-point and returning to the business of BUILDING the White position. Therefore, after 11.Nd5, the move 11...0-0?! is INFERIOR to 11...Qxe4!

In summary, Black's chances appear good after 10...Qe6 11.Nd5 Qxe4.

THE LINE 10...Qe6!? 11.Nf4?! (Hidden Resources for Black - "Parting With the Lady") Finally, after 10...Qe6, what if Black tries (in gambit-style) the move 11.Nf4?! Here Black can calmly play 11...Qxc4, and here is a sample variation: 12.Nfd5 0-0 13.b3 Qc5, and if 14.Be3 (14.Na4 Qa5 15.Bd2 Qd8 maintains an EXTRA PAWN for Black), Black has the beautiful QUEEN SACRIFICE 14...Nxd5!! and now:

A) 15.Nxd5 Qa3 16.Rc1 (16.Bc1 Qa6! 17.Nc7 Qa5 18.Nxa8 Bxa1 19.Bd2 Qxa2, and Black wins, for example: 20.Qxa1 Qxa1 21.Rxa1 Rxa8, or 20.Nc7 Bg7 when in each case, Black has two EXTRA pawns) 16...Qxa2 17.Rxc6 bxc6 18.Nxe7+ Kh8, is winning for Black;

B) 15.exd5 Qxc3 16.Rc1 Qb2 17.Rc2 (17.dxc6 bxc6 is good for Black) 17...Qa3 18.dxc6 bxc6, with a clear plus for Black;

C) 15.Bxc5 Nxc3 16.Qe1 dxc5 17.Rc1 Nxa2 18.Rxc5 Rfd8, with a clear advantage for Black - three minor pieces and a pawn (a MATERIAL ADVANTAGE) - plus lots of BOARD CONTROL in return for the queen.

In summary, Black stands well after 10...Qe6 11.Nf4?!

YOUR MISSION - SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT I have not found any refutation of 10...Qe6!? - nor have a number of well-known grandmasters (see above) - the move appears to create a dynamic situation (unclear in some lines). The move 10...Qe6!? certainly leads to more ENERGETIC and TENSE chess than the mundane 10...0-0. However you decide to vote, I think many of you might agree with me that the discourse that has taken place on the Microsoft World Team Strategy Bulletin Board over the last few days has been fun and educational. Our time has arrived to try and set the Champion NEW and perhaps unexpected problems to solve. Let's put the weight of THE WORLD on Garry's shoulders and PLAY 10...Qe6!? and TAKE THE BATTLE to the World Champion! I believe 10...Qe6 is a wonderful way to celebrate this HISTORIC chess event.

REFERENCES (with thanks to "Barry" for his help)

(A post on 10...Qe6 11.Nd5 Qxe4 12.Nc7+ Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4 14.Nb6+ axb6) /bbs/kasparov-team/posts/jj/6327.asp

(A post on 10...Qe6 11.Nd5 and brief comparison to 10...0-0) /bbs/kasparov-team/posts/pf/6229.asp

(Another post on 10...Qe6 11.Qb3) /bbs/kasparov-team/posts/uf/6234.asp

(A post on 10...Qe6 11.Qb3) /bbs/kasparov-team/posts/bs/5877.asp

(A post on 10...Qe6 11.Nf4?! and 11.Nd5) /bbs/kasparov-team/posts/pq/5839.asp

(GM Ron Henley's comments) /bbs/kasparov-team/posts/bc/6137.asp

(The Russian GM Chess School site with 10...Qe6 comments.) /english/kasworld/sici13.html

(UK's Barnet Chess Club) /bcc/ then click on "Kasparov vs. World" and then on "Current Analysis".