The story behind the game
In game sixteen of the 1985 world championship in Moscow, Kasparov’s active pieces made White’s extra central pawn difficult to enjoy. Study the knight’s influence and how the rooks acquire open lines. The tactical finish grows from restrictions imposed much earlier.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Evaluate an outpost by the squares it controls and the exchanges needed to challenge it.
- An extra pawn can be outweighed by passive pieces and blocked development.
- Prepare pawn expansion with active pieces that can use the resulting lines.
- Look for tactical links between threats instead of considering each threatened piece in isolation.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
Kasparov’s 16…Nd3 installs a knight deep in White’s position, attacking b2 and f2. The knight matters because of the targets and squares it controls. White has an extra central pawn, yet must still solve awkward coordination problems. The saved analysis also supports other Black moves; the lesson is to compare activity with material rather than assume an outpost is the only good plan. Check how White can challenge the knight before calling it permanent.
The historical 21…g5 gains kingside space while Black’s pieces keep White under pressure. A pawn move does two jobs: it controls new squares and leaves others behind. Black’s central activity makes expansion practical, but White still has possible exchanges and defensive moves. Compare the candidate lines to see how Black’s rook, bishop and knights cooperate after the pawn advances; do not credit the pawn move with an attack that the pieces cannot support.
With 28…g4, Kasparov continues the kingside expansion while White’s d6-pawn remains a concrete target. The saved analysis supports several Black plans, including a different pawn advance and piece improvements. In the game, Black keeps pressing the kingside and later captures the d6-pawn with the queen. The useful habit is to connect play on both fronts: evaluate the passed pawn, king safety and active pieces together rather than choosing a move solely because it looks aggressive.
Kasparov plays 33…Ne4. Capturing the other knight allows …Nf2+, forking the king and queen. The knight jumps from f6 to e4. In the recorded sequence, Qxd3 is met by …Nf2+, Rxf2 and …Bxd3. Follow which attacker arrives after each capture: the bishop on g6 is part of the combination too. This is a coordination exercise, not simply a rule to leave attacked pieces hanging. Compare White’s alternative replies in the saved lines.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 16: A knight inside the position
Black’s knight is on b4. Which central jump attacks b2 and controls the entry squares c1 and e1? In the game: Nd3. Kasparov’s 16…Nd3 installs a knight deep in White’s position, attacking b2 and f2. The knight matters because of the targets and squares it controls. White has an extra central pawn, yet must still solve awkward coordination problems. The saved analysis also supports other Black moves; the lesson is to compare activity with material rather than assume an outpost is the only good plan. Check how White can challenge the knight before calling it permanent.
Engine-supported alternatives
Qd6 · -0.54 · depth 17
Nd3 d6 Qxd6 Bxf6 Qxf6 Bxa8 Rxa8 b4 Nxb4 Nd5 Nxd5 Qxd5 · -0.44 · depth 16
h6 Qf4 Bg6 Bxf6 Qxf6 Qxf6 gxf6 Nab1 Nd3 b3 Rac8 Bg4 · -0.39 · depth 16
Move 21: Support activity with space
Black’s pieces are active and the knight remains on d3. Which kingside pawn advance gains space and prepares further pressure? In the game: g5. The historical 21…g5 gains kingside space while Black’s pieces keep White under pressure. A pawn move does two jobs: it controls new squares and leaves others behind. Black’s central activity makes expansion practical, but White still has possible exchanges and defensive moves. Compare the candidate lines to see how Black’s rook, bishop and knights cooperate after the pawn advances; do not credit the pawn move with an attack that the pieces cannot support.
Engine-supported alternatives
g5 h3 Ne4 Bxe4 Bxe4 Bxd6 Qxd6 Nb2 Nf4 Nc4 Qg6 d6 · -1.66 · depth 18
Be5 h3 · -1.50 · depth 18
a5 Nb2 Nxb2 Qxb2 Rc2 Qd4 Bc5 Qh4 Rxa2 d6 Rc2 h3 · -1.39 · depth 17
Move 28: Push the pressure forward
White has pushed the passed pawn to d6. Can Black continue kingside counterplay without losing track of that pawn? In the game: g4. With 28…g4, Kasparov continues the kingside expansion while White’s d6-pawn remains a concrete target. The saved analysis supports several Black plans, including a different pawn advance and piece improvements. In the game, Black keeps pressing the kingside and later captures the d6-pawn with the queen. The useful habit is to connect play on both fronts: evaluate the passed pawn, king safety and active pieces together rather than choosing a move solely because it looks aggressive.
Engine-supported alternatives
h5 Qd2 Re6 Qa2 g4 h4 Qd4 Kh2 Rxd6 Nd2 N7e5 Nc4 · -2.74 · depth 19
Kg7 Qd2 Qxd6 Nb2 N7c5 Nxd3 Nxd3 Rfe1 Rxe1+ Rxe1 Qc5 Rf1 · -2.42 · depth 19
Re6 Nd2 Re2 Qb1 Rxf2 Qxd3 Bxd3 Rxf2 Qe5 Nf1 Ba6 Bd5 · -2.41 · depth 19
g4 h3 h5 h4 Kg7 Bb7 Rcd8 Bg2 Qd4 Rd2 N7e5 Nb2 · -2.52 · depth 21
Move 33: Make two knights work together
Black’s knight on d3 is attacked by White’s queen. How can the other knight create a tactical answer to that capture? In the game: Ne4. Kasparov plays 33…Ne4. Capturing the other knight allows …Nf2+, forking the king and queen. The knight jumps from f6 to e4. In the recorded sequence, Qxd3 is met by …Nf2+, Rxf2 and …Bxd3. Follow which attacker arrives after each capture: the bishop on g6 is part of the combination too. This is a coordination exercise, not simply a rule to leave attacked pieces hanging. Compare White’s alternative replies in the saved lines.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ne4 Qxd3 Nf2+ Rxf2 Bxd3 Rfd2 Qe3 Rxd3 Rc1 Rd7 Rxd1+ Rxd1 · -5.08 · depth 19
Qe5 Rdf1 Ne4 Qxd3 Nf2+ R1xf2 Bxd3 h4 Qe1+ Kh2 Bg6 h5 · -4.25 · depth 18
Qa7 Rxf6 Kxf6 Rf1+ Kg7 h4 Qd4 h5 Be4 g5 Rcd8 gxh6+ · -4.17 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
In game sixteen of the 1985 world championship in Moscow, Kasparov’s active pieces made White’s extra central pawn difficult to enjoy. Study the knight’s influence and how the rooks acquire open lines. The tactical finish grows from restrictions imposed much earlier.
Look a little deeper
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 12–245. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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