Garry Kasparov - Maxim Dlugy

World Blitz Championship, 1988
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4

White transposes the game into the King's Indian

3... d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 Bg4!?

Avoiding the main lines after 6... e5.

7. Be3 Nbd7 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 c6 10. O-O a6 11. Rc1
It seems more natural to play 11. Qd2 leaving all options for the rooks open.

11... e5! 12. d5
If White did not advance with his d-pawn, Black would also have great play: 12. Qd2 exd4 13. Bxd4 Qe7 14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Be2 Qe6 =
12... c5

Now the rook on c1 is on the wrong square.

13. a3 Ne8 14. b4 Qc7 15. Qb3 b6!?

Hinting that this pawn will be used to recapture on c5.

16. bxc5

Hoping for play on the b-file...

16... dxc5!

Now Black's true intentions are clear. The passed d-pawn is well blockaded, and a black knight at d6 supports both the ...b5 and ...f5 breaks.

17. h4?!

Perhaps not the greatest move, but it's an interesting blitz reflex! Perhaps from wanting to gain a bit of clock time to study the position, White tries to create a distraction.

17... Nd6 18. h5 f5!

Of course, Black has no objection to the h-file opening, and continues with his plan.

19. hxg6 hxg6 20. g3 b5!?

Maxim seizes the opportunity to mix things up before the World Champion has a chance to play a4 and think about the position.

Objectively better seems 20... Rab8 21. a4 Nf6 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Rb1 e4 with a pleasant position for Black.

21. cxb5 f4! 22. Bd2 c4 23. Qb4 a5!
Backing out of the pawn sacrifice was not so good: 23... fxg3 24. fxg3 axb5 25. Be3 and White is on top.

24. Qb1 Nc5

Black gave a pawn but now his knights become very active. In blitz, the horse is a very dangerous animal.

25. b6

Again, Garry's reflex is to create distracting counterplay.

25... Qf7
Even Maxim is not perfect: better was 25... Qd8! 26. Nb5? Nb3! -+ showing the power of the knight.

26. Nb5!

Objectively, this natural move is excellent...

White could first defend his bishop: 26. Rc2 Nb3 27. Rb2 with the threat to win the knight for his rook.

26... Nxb5 27. Qxb5 Nb3 28. Bg4

The only defense.

28... Qe7 29. Rcd1?
Oops. Garry misses the chance for 29. d6! Qf7 30. Rxc4! Nxd2 31. Rc7 Qf6 32. Qd5+ winning.

29... fxg3 30. Be6+ Kh8 31. Kg2?

The losing move. White's first intention to mate Black's king becomes the last.

Instead, 31. fxg3 Rxf1+ 32. Kxf1 Qxa3 would leave the game in an unclear state.

31... Qh4!

What a joy to play this move! At one stroke, Black converts the h-file from a potential liability to a big asset, and White's position collapses.

32. fxg3
Even worse was 32. Rh1 Rxf2+ 33. Kg1 giving Black the choice between the immediately decisive 33...Rh2 and the thematic continuation 33... Qxh1+ 34. Kxh1 Nd4 winning easily.

32... Qxe4+ 33. Kg1 Nd4 34. Qd7 Nf3+ 35. Rxf3 Qxf3 0-1