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.

It's crunch time. Garry's second passed pawn rolls up the board, joining its comrade in the march to the eighth rank. If Black isn't careful, the peasants will have their day.

Before we look into the World's options, it is worth noting again the significance of Garry's amazing move 35 Kh1. All is revealed in the following variation: 36...b2 37 g5 Nb4 38 g6 Nd3 39 h6 Nxf4 40 g7 Bxg7 41 hxg7 Kf7 42 Rxf4+ Kxg7 43 Rb4 Kf6 44 Kg2 and White wins.

Now let me try to explain! Black pushes with 36...b2, getting a step closer to the queening square. 37 g5. Garry pushes his own pawn. The b-pawn cannot move forward because of White's rook, so Black needs to bring the knight in to provide support, therefore 37...Nb4. White pushes the pawn again with 38 g6, and Black throws the knight in with 38...Nd3, threatening the bishop.

This is the critical moment. White's bishop is attacked, but, instead of moving it, he just advances a pawn again with 39 h6, and when the knight captures 39...Nxf4, the pawns shuffle on (40 g7) and White is winning. IF White's king had been standing on g2 in this variation, then Black would have captured the bishop with CHECK. White would have had to waste a move to get out of check, and Black would have been winning.

So, to avoid a check, thus gaining one move in a critical line, Garry played his king into the corner a couple of moves ago rather than to the predicted g2. Subtle and deep.

Now, let's consider Black's possible options. Not the line above, that is clear (I believe 36...b2 is simply losing). I have been considering two possible moves: 36...Nb4 or 36...Kd5.

First 36...Nb4. In my commentary two days ago, I gave the line 37 g5 Nd3 38 g6 Nxf4 39 Rxf4 b2 40 Rf1 as winning for White. On closer examination, however, I find it is not that simple. Black starts with 40...Bg7 to stop the pawns. White advances the king up the board to support the pawns: 41 Kg2, and now it all depends whether Black can set up some kind of blockade to hold a draw. Needs careful examination. However, this may all be irrelevant as 38 h6 looks better than 38 g6. In that case it isn't so easy to blockade the pawns.

Alternatively, there is 36...Kd5. It looks slightly mad to move the king away from White's advancing pawns, but if it cannot cross the line of the rook on f1 to hinder them anyway, then why not? The king might support the b-pawn, and also makes way for Black's e-pawn to advance. That's the theory anyway. This has been much discussed on the bulletin boards, but, in my opinion, it doesn't quite hang together. Perhaps you can find a way to make it work...?

To sum up, these are the options as I see them: 36...Nb4, or 36...Kd5. It's your choice. I do not exaggerate when I say that the World is fighting for its life. Make the wrong decision here and the game could be over.

See you in the Zone theatre chat room at 2pm PST (10pm London) where I will be discussing the position as well as answering more general chess questions.

Nb4 to Kasparov's g4

36....b2 is losing after 37.g5 Nb4 38.g6 Nd3 39.h6 b1Q 40.Rxb1 Nxf4 41.Re1+ Be5 42.g7 Kf7 43. Rg1 (Danny King). But I think The World can play 36....Nb4 37.g5 Nd3 38.g6?! Nxf4 39. Rxf4 b2 40. Rf1 Bg7 41.Kg2 Kd5 and now White has two possibilities: 42.Rb1 Ke6 43.Kg3 Kf5 with equality or 42.Kg3 Kc4 43.Kg4 Bh6 leaving The World better off. I think White must play 38.h6 instead of 38.g6, then it follows: 38....Nxf4 39.Rxf4 b2 40. Rf1 Be3 41.h7 Bd4 42.Kg2 with White in a better position.

b2 to Kasparov's g4.

My next recommendation is 36...b2 because we are further advancing our passed pawn forcing white's rook to play defensively. This move is combined with king's maneuver e6-f7-g8 in order to stop white's pawns from queening; I do not like the other option, of moving the king on the queenside to support the passed pawn(s) and hope to sac the knight for white's passed pawn(s) because if something goes wrong after white's 37.h6 black position would be lost immediately and without a chance.

b2 to Kasparov's g4

The World must push the pawn on b3 to b2. After Kasparov's next move, there will be many possibilities. But today, there is only one.

Kd5 to Kasparov's g4

I recommend the World plays the move 36...Kd5 (King on e6 to d5)

SUMMARY

The World Champion has played the most direct and forcing move 36.g4. I am now recommending the move 36...Kd5, ACTIVATING the Black King. Black's King vacates the e6-square (and the e-file), in preparation for e7-e5 (or perhaps e7-e6!?) followed by Nc6-e7. One idea is to generate counterplay (e7-e5-e4, and b3-b2) while coordinating our Bishop and Knight to either BLOCKADE the White passed pawns, or even possibly sacrifice a piece to KILL the White passed pawns. Additionally, Black is menacing with his advanced b-pawn (a charged particle that will cost White material when the Black King threatens a march on the LIGHT SQUARES to a2 or c2 in support of a Black pawn on b2). Once again, we have TIME to explore and refine these concepts - it is the moment for the human/computer parallel processor of the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board to kick into overdrive!

Irina /SmartChessOnline/

Check out Irina's SMART-FAQ (Up-to-date analysis and downloads by and for the World Team) /SmartChessOnline/SmartChessOnline/archive/MSNKasparov/the_game.htm

ADDENDUM

Welcome back, Etienne. Felicitations sur ta victoire dans le Championnat de la France.

My congratulations and my thanks are extended to the following (in no particular order) who contributed so brilliantly to analysis sessions both on and off the World Team Strategy Bulletin Board during the weekend. My apologies in advance for any important omissions or misspellings: "IM2429", "HC BSB", Ken Regan, Brian McCarthy, GM Chess School, Duncan Suttles, Ross Amann, "Spy49", "steni", "Oystein", Otto ter Haar, Michel Gagne, Computer Chess Team, David Koval, Giorgi Kacheishvili, and Ron Henley. Their work (and many others) towards the "World Team" concept help me to make my recommendations with confidence (and a sense of relief!). My additional "thank you" is extended to someone who wishes to remain anonymous - who cancelled his vacation in order to maintain the World Team's "SMART-FAQ".