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Kasparov vs Topalov, 1999

Kasparov’s 24.Rxd4 starts a forced chase that walks Topalov’s king from a7 to d1. The game is the modern king-hunt score people still replay when they want to see calculation held for twenty moves.

White
Garry Kasparov
Black
Veselin Topalov
Event
Hoogovens, Wijk aan Zee
Year
1999
Result
1-0

Critical position

Kasparov vs Topalov, 1999, after ply 46♝♜♜♚♟♟♟♛♞♟♘♟♟♙♟♕♙♙♙♗♙♙♙♔♖♖abcdefgh12345678

After 23... Qd6. White to move.

Take over as White vs Maia

Step through

Position after 23... Qd6♝♜♜♚♟♟♟♛♞♟♘♟♟♙♟♕♙♙♙♗♙♙♙♔♖♖abcdefgh12345678

23... Qd6

Annotated score

  1. 1. e4 (best) d6 (good)

  2. 2. d4 (best) Nf6 (best)

  3. 3. Nc3 (best) g6 (excellent)

  4. 4. Be3 (excellent) Bg7 (best)

  5. 5. Qd2 (best) c6 (best)

  6. 6. f3 (best) b5 (best)

  7. 7. Nge2 (excellent) Nbd7 (best)

  8. 8. Bh6 (excellent) Bxh6 (best)

  9. 9. Qxh6 (best) Bb7 (excellent)

  10. 10. a3 (excellent) e5 (best)

  11. 11. O-O-O (good) Qe7 (best)

  12. 12. Kb1 (excellent) a6 (good)

  13. 13. Nc1 (excellent) O-O-O (best)

  14. 14. Nb3 (excellent) exd4 (best)

  15. 15. Rxd4 (best) c5 (best)

  16. 16. Rd1 (excellent) Nb6 (excellent)

  17. 17. g3 (excellent) Kb8 (inaccuracy)

  18. 18. Na5 (good) Ba8 (good)

  19. 19. Bh3 (excellent) d5 (inaccuracy)

  20. 20. Qf4+ (inaccuracy) Ka7 (best)

  21. 21. Rhe1 (best) d4 (best)

  22. 22. Nd5 (best) Nbxd5 (best)

  23. 23. exd5 (best) Qd6 (best)

  24. 24. Rxd4 (best) cxd4 (mistake)

    Rxd4: 24.Rxd4 is the offer. Taking it leaves the black king on an open board.

  25. 25. Re7+ (inaccuracy) Kb6 (good)

    Re7+: 25.Re7+ begins the walk. Every check takes a square away.

  26. 26. Qxd4+ (inaccuracy) Kxa5 (best)

  27. 27. b4+ (mistake) Ka4 (mistake)

    b4+: 27.b4+ keeps the king on the a-file, where the queen can join.

  28. 28. Qc3 (mistake) Qxd5 (blunder)

  29. 29. Ra7 (mistake) Bb7 (best)

  30. 30. Rxb7 (best) Qc4 (best)

  31. 31. Qxf6 (good) Kxa3 (excellent)

  32. 32. Qxa6+ (good) Kxb4 (best)

  33. 33. c3+ (mistake) Kxc3 (best)

  34. 34. Qa1+ (best) Kd2 (best)

  35. 35. Qb2+ (good) Kd1 (blunder)

  36. 36. Bf1 (best) Rd2 (best)

    Bf1: 36.Bf1 is quiet: the bishop waits for the rook to land on d2.

  37. 37. Rd7 (best) Rxd7 (mistake)

  38. 38. Bxc4 (best) bxc4 (good)

  39. 39. Qxh8 (best) Rd3 (good)

  40. 40. Qa8 (excellent) c3 (inaccuracy)

  41. 41. Qa4+ (best) Ke1 (best)

  42. 42. f4 (excellent) f5 (inaccuracy)

  43. 43. Kc1 (best) Rd2 (best)

  44. 44. Qa7 (inaccuracy)

    Qa7: 44.Qa7 ends it. The king never found a hole.