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Kasparov vs Ivanchuk: The Central Break

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Garry Kasparov turns an English Opening into a direct contest over e4. Once the centre opens, a check on d5 lets him exchange queens on favourable terms.

On this page
  1. Critical decisions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Garry Kasparov
Black
Vassily Ivanchuk
Event
URS-ch55
Year
1988
Result
1-0
Opening
A29 English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line

Opening reference: English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line (A29).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 27 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 1 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 31 legal choices. The source score ends after 24.f6 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.

Critical decisions

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. 7.Ng5 — Move 7 — Ng5, immediate pressure7.Ng5 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.g4 — Move 14 — g4!, the pawn storm14.g4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 17.Bd5+ — Move 17 — Bd5+ and the queen trade17.Bd5+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 23.Re7 — Moves 23-24 — Re7 and f623.Re7 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.

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Garry Kasparov vs Vassily Ivanchuk, 1988

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.c4 to 10...d5

  1. 1.c4 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c4.

  2. 1...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 d4.

  3. 2.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  4. 2...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 g3.

  5. 3.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Nc6 g3 d5.

  6. 3...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d3 d5 cxd5.

  7. 4.g3 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g3; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g3 d5 cxd5 Nxd5.

  8. 4...Bb4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to b4; from b4 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb4 Bg2 Bxc3 bxc3.

  9. 5.Bg2 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bg2 O-O Nh4 Bxc3.

  10. 5...O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: Black castles kingside, moving the king to g8 and the rook to f8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O Nd5.

  11. 6.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: Ranked first · O-O.

  12. 6...e4 Create pressure on f3

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e5 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's knight on f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 Ng5 Bxc3 bxc3.

  13. 7.Ng5 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on e4 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng5 Bxc3 bxc3 Re8.

    Move 7 — Ng5, immediate pressure7.Ng5 attacks the advanced e4-pawn. Ivanchuk first damages White's structure with 7...Bxc3 8.bxc3, then protects e4 with 8...Re8.
  14. 7...Bxc3 Exchange on c3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on c3; from c3 it attacks White's pawn on b2 and White's pawn on d2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc3 bxc3 Re8 Qc2.

  15. 8.bxc3 Recapture on c3

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the bishop on c3; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc3 Re8.

  16. 8...Re8 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to e8; from there it controls e4, e5 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re8 Qc2 d5 cxd5.

  17. 9.f3 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f3; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f3.

  18. 9...exf3 Exchange on f3

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on f3; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; from f3 it attacks White's bishop on g2 and White's pawn on e2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf3 Nxf3.

  19. 10.Nxf3 Recapture on f3

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on f3; from f3 it reinforces the pawn on d2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxf3 h6 Nh4 d6.

  20. 10...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 c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 d4 h6 cxd5.

Middlegame · 11.d4 to 24.f6

  1. 11.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 Ne4 Qc2 dxc4.

  2. 11...Ne4 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's pawn on c3 and White's pawn on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4 Qc2 dxc4 Nh4.

  3. 12.Qc2 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 Be6.

  4. 12...dxc4 Exchange on c4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on c4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxc4 Rb1.

  5. 13.Rb1 Rook on the semi-open b-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to b1; the rook now works on a semi-open b-file; from b1 it attacks Black's pawn on b7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb1 f5.

  6. 13...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Bf4 Ne7 Nd2.

  7. 14.g4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g3 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g4 fxg4 Ne5 Nxe5.

    Move 14 — g4!, the pawn stormAfter 13...f5 supports e4, 14.g4 challenges that pawn chain. The exchange 14...Qe7 15.gxf5 opens the g-file and gives White an f-pawn that can advance.
  8. 14...Qe7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e7; from there it controls e4, e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qe7.

  9. 15.gxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · gxf5 Bxf5.

  10. 15...Nd6 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e4 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Bxf5 ranked higher · Nd6 Ng5.

  11. 16.Ng5 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to g5; from g5 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng5 Kh8 e4 h6.

  12. 16...Qxe2 Exchange on e2

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on e2; from e2 it attacks White's queen on c2 and White's rook on f1; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe2 Bd5+ Kh8 Qxe2.

  13. 17.Bd5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from g2 to d5; the move checks Black's king; from d5 it attacks Black's knight on c6 and Black's pawn on c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd5+ Kh8 Qxe2 Rxe2.

    Move 17 — Bd5+ and the queen tradeBlack has just taken White's e2-pawn with 16...Qxe2. 17.Bd5+ inserts a check before 18.Qxe2; Black chooses 17...Kh8, and White's queen captures Black's on the next move.
  14. 17...Kh8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh8 Qxe2 Rxe2 Bf4.

  15. 18.Qxe2 Exchange on e2

    Board fact: White's queen takes the queen on e2; from e2 it attacks Black's rook on e8 and Black's pawn on c4; white is ahead by 8 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe2 Rxe2 Bf4 h6.

  16. 18...Rxe2 Recapture on e2

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the queen on e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e2 it attacks White's pawn on a2 and White's pawn on h2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe2 Bf4.

  17. 19.Bf4 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to f4; from f4 it attacks Black's knight on d6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bf4 h6 Bxd6 hxg5.

  18. 19...Nd8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c6 to d8; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; h6 ranked higher · Nd8 Rbe1 Rxe1 Rxe1.

  19. 20.Bxd6 Exchange on d6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on d6; from d6 it attacks Black's pawn on c7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd6 h6 Bxc7 hxg5.

  20. 20...cxd6 Recapture on d6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on d6; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h6 ranked higher · cxd6 Rfe1 Rxe1+ Rxe1.

  21. 21.Rbe1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's rook on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rbe1 Rxe1 Rxe1 Bd7.

  22. 21...Rxe1 Exchange on e1

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the rook on e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks White's rook on f1; black is ahead by 6 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe1 Rxe1 Bd7 Re7.

  23. 22.Rxe1 Recapture on e1

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it reinforces the king on g1; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe1 Bd7 Re7 Ne6.

  24. 22...Bd7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be6 ranked higher · Bd7 Re7 Ne6 Nf7+.

  25. 23.Re7 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e7; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e7 it attacks Black's bishop on d7 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re7 Nc6 Rxd7 Rf8.

    Moves 23-24 — Re7 and f623.Re7 attacks along the seventh rank and 24.f6 threatens f7 while also attacking the g7-pawn. The recorded score ends after 24.f6.
  26. 23...Bc6 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from d7 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's bishop on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Nc6 ranked higher · Bc6 f6 Nf7 Nxf7+.

  27. 24.f6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f5 to f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f6 Nf7 Nxf7+ Kg8.

PGN

[Event "URS-ch55"] [Site "?"] [Date "1988.??.??"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Result "1-0"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 exf3 10. Nxf3 d5 11. d4 Ne4 12. Qc2 dxc4 13. Rb1 f5 14. g4 Qe7 15. gxf5 Nd6 16. Ng5 Qxe2 17. Bd5+ Kh8 18. Qxe2 Rxe2 19. Bf4 Nd8 20. Bxd6 cxd6 21. Rbe1 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Bd7 23. Re7 Bc6 24. f6 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 sha256:90307f49182ef7386c933788112c9faa5a9d889a26c820a102bfa3ebead3763b and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Kasparov, Garry"; Black="Ivanchuk, Vassily"; Event="URS-ch55"; Date="1988.07.??"; Result="1-0". 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 or a substitute for the authored notes. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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