My Favourite Kasparov Games IM Lawrence Trent

Question 1. Black to play. Mate in 2!

Question 2. Black to play. Black has very few pieces left but they can work some magic here. Can you?

Question 3. Black to play. Black's imaginative assault deserves a nice finishing touch...

Question 4. White to play. White doesn't have many pieces with which to attack - you'll have to work some magic here :)

Question 5. Black to play. What incredible resource does Black have here?

Question 6. White to play. Black has just played Kh8. White has a way to finish his development and prove that the King isn't safe on h8!

Question 7. White to play. Black is a piece up, but his King is badly exposed. How did Kasparov continue the attack?

Question 8. White to play. Once again, maximum activity of all the pieces is what's called for...

Question 9. White to play. All you need is one move - and it all becomes pretty clear...

Question 10. Black to play. Here, on move 40, Black could have started a decisive attack. Do you see how?

My Favourite Kasparov

Games

The Solutions.

1 1...Qxh3+ 2.Rh2 Qf1#

2 1...Rg3! followed by either 2...Rxh3# or 2...Rg1#

3 44...Rg1+! 45.Nxg1 Rd1+ 46.Kg2 Rxg1#

4 1.Qf6! Bxe5 2.Rxe5 and Black has to give up his Queen.

5 1...Qxf2+!! 2. Kxf2 (If 2.Rxf2 then Rc1+ 3.Rf1 Bc5+ 4.Kh1 Rxf1#) 2...Bc5+ 3.Kg3 and Rxh7.

6 20.b3! fulfils both objectives nicely - finishing development and making the Black King nervous :)

7 28.Qg4 - A very important point here - bring all your pieces into the attack.

8 33.f4 - One tiny move - and the f-pawn, the Rook on c3, and the Bishop on b1 join the attack. Magic :)

9 35.Qxg7+ Ke8 36.Qxg8+ Kd7 37.Qxf7+ Qe7 (37... Kc8 38. Qxb7#) 38.Qxe7+ Kc8 39.Qxb7+ Kd8 40. Bc6! and inevitable checkmate.

10 After 40... Be5! nobody could have survived - not Kasparov, not Houdini :)