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Classic game replay

Garry Kasparov vs R Ponomariov, 2002

This replay preserves the complete 75-ply score of Kasparov playing White across 38 numbered moves. The board can be advanced one ply at a time; the notes stick to observable board changes rather than guessing at the players’ intentions.

On this page
  1. Practice positions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Garry Kasparov
Black
R Ponomariov
Event
SuperGM
Year
2002
Result
1-0
Opening
C10 French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack

Opening reference: French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack (C10).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 55 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 15 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 35 legal choices. The source score ends after 38.Rxe6+ with the recorded result 1-0. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Practice positions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 9.Bb5 — Develop the bishop9.Bb5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 17.Qh5 — Create pressure on c517.Qh5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 20.Rh3 — Improve the rook20.Rh3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 26.Rd6 — Rook on the open d-file26.Rd6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 38.Rxe6+ — Capture with check on e638.Rxe6+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Garry Kasparov vs R Ponomariov, 2002

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.e4 to 10...Kf8

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...e6 Advance the e-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e6 d4.

  3. 2.d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 d5 e5 c5.

  4. 2...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 e5 c5 c3.

  5. 3.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from c3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 Nf6 e5 Nfd7.

  6. 3...dxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on e4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe4 Nxe4.

  7. 4.Nxe4 Recapture on e4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on e4; from e4 it reinforces the pawn on f2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe4 Nd7 Nf3 Ngf6.

  8. 4...Nd7 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to d7; from there it controls e5, c5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 Nf3 Ngf6 Nxf6+.

  9. 5.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Ngf6 Nxf6+ Nxf6.

  10. 5...Ngf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ngf6 Nxf6+ Nxf6 Bd3.

  11. 6.Nxf6+ Capture with check on f6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on f6; the move checks Black's king; from f6 it attacks Black's knight on d7 and Black's pawn on h7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6+ Nxf6 Bd3 b6.

  12. 6...Nxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's knight recaptures the knight on f6; from f6 it reinforces the pawn on h7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf6 Bd3 b6 Ne5.

  13. 7.c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c3 a6.

  14. 7...c5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c5 it attacks White's pawn on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 Be3.

  15. 8.Ne5 Create pressure on f7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to e5; from e5 it attacks Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne5 a6 Be3 cxd4.

  16. 8...Nd7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's knight on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a6 ranked higher · Nd7 Bb5.

  17. 9.Bb5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's knight on d7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 Bd6 Qg4 Kf8.

  18. 9...Bd6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's knight on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd6 Qg4 Kf8 Bf4.

  19. 10.Qg4 Create pressure on e6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on e6 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg4 Kf8 Qh5 Nxe5.

  20. 10...Kf8 Reposition the king

    Board fact: Black moves the king from e8 to f8; from f8 it reinforces the pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf8 Qh5 Nxe5 dxe5.

Middlegame · 11.O-O to 38.Rxe6+

  1. 11.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · O-O a6.

  2. 11...Nxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on e5; from e5 it attacks White's queen on g4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe5 dxe5.

  3. 12.dxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks Black's bishop on d6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Bxe5.

  4. 12...Bxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the pawn on e5; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on c3 and White's pawn on h2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe5 Rd1 Qc7 Qh4.

  5. 13.Bg5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's queen on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg5 h5.

  6. 13...Bf6 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e5 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's bishop on g5 and White's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf6 Rad1.

  7. 14.Rad1 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d1 it attacks Black's queen on d8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rad1 Qe7 Bxf6 Qxf6.

  8. 14...Qc7 Create pressure on h2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qc7 Bxf6 gxf6 Rd3.

  9. 15.Qh4 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from g4 to h4; from h4 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bxf6 ranked higher · Qh4 Bxg5 Qxg5 f6.

  10. 15...Bxg5 Exchange on g5

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on g5; from g5 it attacks White's queen on h4; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxg5 Qxg5 f6 Qh5.

  11. 16.Qxg5 Recapture on g5

    Board fact: White's queen recaptures the bishop on g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on c5 and Black's pawn on g7; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxg5.

  12. 16...f6 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f6 Qh5.

  13. 17.Qh5 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from g5 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's pawn on c5 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh5 g6 Qh6+ Kf7.

  14. 17...g6 Create pressure on h5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's queen on h5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g6 Qh6+ Kf7 f4.

  15. 18.Qh6+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h5 to h6; the move checks Black's king; from h6 it attacks Black's pawn on g6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh6+ Kf7.

  16. 18...Kf7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from f8 to f7; from there it controls e6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kf7 f4 a6 Bc4.

  17. 19.Rd3 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d1 to d3; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d4, d5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; f4 ranked higher · Rd3 a6.

  18. 19...a6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a6; from a6 it attacks White's bishop on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a6 Ba4 b5 Bc2.

  19. 20.Rh3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d3 to h3; from there it controls c3, d3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rh3 f5 Be2 Bd7.

  20. 20...Qe7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from c7 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe7 Be2.

  21. 21.Bd3 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b5 to d3; from d3 it attacks Black's pawn on a6 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 f5 Rd1 b5.

  22. 21...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f6 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Rd1.

  23. 22.g4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 b5.

  24. 22...Qf6 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qf6 Rd1.

  25. 23.Rd1 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to d1; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd1 b5 Be2 Ra7.

  26. 23...b5 Advance the b-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from b7 to b5; from there it controls c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · b5 Bc2.

  27. 24.Be2 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from d3 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Be2 e5 Rhd3 fxg4.

  28. 24...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e6 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Rhd3 fxg4 Rd6.

  29. 25.Rhd3 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h3 to d3; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from there it controls d4, d5 and c3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; g5 ranked higher · Rhd3 fxg4 Rd6 Qf4.

  30. 25...Ra7 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to a7; from a7 it reinforces the pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; fxg4 ranked higher · Ra7 Rd6.

  31. 26.Rd6 Rook on the open d-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from d3 to d6; the rook now occupies the open d-file; from d6 it attacks Black's queen on f6 and Black's pawn on a6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rd6 Qg7 Qd2 Re8.

  32. 26...Qg7 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from f6 to g7; from g7 it attacks White's queen on h6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg7 Qd2 Be6 gxf5.

  33. 27.Qe3 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h6 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on c5 and Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe3 Rc7 gxf5 gxf5+.

  34. 27...Rc7 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a7 to c7; from there it controls c5 and c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rc7 Bf3.

  35. 28.a4 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from a2 to a4; from a4 it attacks Black's pawn on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Rf8 axb5 axb5.

  36. 28...e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e5 to e4; from there it controls d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 axb5 axb5 Bxb5.

  37. 29.axb5 Exchange on b5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on b5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the b-file; from b5 it attacks Black's pawn on a6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · axb5 axb5 Bxb5 Qe5.

  38. 29...axb5 Recapture on b5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on b5; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · axb5.

  39. 30.Bxb5 Recapture on b5

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the pawn on b5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxb5 Qe5 R1d5 f4.

  40. 30...Qe5 Create pressure on d6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from g7 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's rook on d6 and White's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5 R1d5 f4 Qc1.

  41. 31.Qg5 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e3 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on f5 and Black's pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; R1d5 ranked higher · Qg5.

  42. 31...Qe7 Create pressure on g5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e5 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's queen on g5 and White's rook on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; e3 ranked higher · Qe7 Qh6 Be6 Ra6.

  43. 32.Qh6 Create pressure on g6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from g5 to h6; from h6 it attacks Black's pawn on g6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh6 c4 R1d4 Be6.

  44. 32...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from there it controls d5, c4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Be6 Ra6 Qf8 Qf4.

  45. 33.Qf4 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h6 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's pawn on e4 and Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ra6 ranked higher · Qf4 Rhc8.

  46. 33...Bc8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e6 to c8; from there it controls e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rhc8 ranked higher · Bc8 gxf5 Bxf5 Rd7.

  47. 34.Qh6 Create pressure on g6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f4 to h6; from h6 it attacks Black's pawn on g6 and Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; gxf5 ranked higher · Qh6 c4 R1d4 Be6.

  48. 34...Be6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to e6; from there it controls d5, c4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be6 Bc6 Qf6 Bd5.

  49. 35.gxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; from f5 it attacks Black's bishop on e6 and Black's pawn on g6; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · gxf5 gxf5 Kh1 Qf6.

  50. 35...gxf5 Recapture on f5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the pawn on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f5 it reinforces the pawn on e4; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf5 Kh1.

  51. 36.Be2 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from b5 to e2; from there it controls c4, d3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be2.

  52. 36...Qf6 Create pressure on h6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on h6 and White's pawn on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rg8+ ranked higher · Qf6 Bh5+ Ke7 Rxe6+.

  53. 37.Bh5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e2 to h5; the move checks Black's king; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bh5+ Ke7 Rxe6+ Kxe6.

  54. 37...Ke7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from f7 to e7; from e7 it attacks White's rook on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ke7 Rxe6+ Kxe6 Rd6+.

  55. 38.Rxe6+ Capture with check on e6

    Board fact: White's rook takes the bishop on e6; the move checks Black's king; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e6 it attacks Black's queen on f6 and Black's pawn on e4; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe6+ Kxe6 Rd6+ Kxd6.

PGN

[Event "SuperGM"] [Site "?"] [Date "2002.??.??"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Ponomariov,R"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 c5 8. Ne5 Nd7 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Qg4 Kf8 11. O-O Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Qh4 Bxg5 16. Qxg5 f6 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh6+ Kf7 19. Rd3 a6 20. Rh3 Qe7 21. Bd3 f5 22. g4 Qf6 23. Rd1 b5 24. Be2 e5 25. Rhd3 Ra7 26. Rd6 Qg7 27. Qe3 Rc7 28. a4 e4 29. axb5 axb5 30. Bxb5 Qe5 31. Qg5 Qe7 32. Qh6 Be6 33. Qf4 Bc8 34. Qh6 Be6 35. gxf5 gxf5 36. Be2 Qf6 37. Bh5+ Ke7 38. Rxe6+ 1-0

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:dd39343828cbda7e5e8d8926b20307093814c6c992a7c65b0217c6dbe8654327 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Kasparov, Garry"; Black="Ponomariov, Ruslan"; Event="Linares 19th"; Date="2002.03.09"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: black Ponomariov, Ruslan → Ponomariov,R; event Linares 19th → SuperGM. LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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