Famous Chess Game: Kasparov vs Topalov 1999 (Kasparov's Immortal)

[MestaVista]

1 hour!

I would stuff his king in his ass rather than waiting

[troymuaythai]

why at 23:53 Topalov move from D7 to B7? then take the queen and be up 1 pawn?

[Zenthel76]

@troymuaythai Rb7 and then...Ka1/Ka2, probably followed by Qd4+ forking king and pawn, obviously winning. why would the queen be forced to play Qb2 after Rb7+...? 

[TakoMan02]

Wow, took an hour to make a move?

[NunWithaSpudSpun]

Hey, have a look at my channel, it features an 'Epic Checkmates' series. Watch and enjoy. Subscribe if you want!

NunWithaSpudSpun

[SamuelKGB]

He pronounced the opening wrong. It's pronounced "peerts", not "perk". Not that it matters. It just bugs me....

[TheMrKlowb]

All this talk of Kasparov's opening not having a lot of theory, or him spending a lot of time on a line for the Pirc is wrong in my opinion. White's opening is the English attack used in some lines of the Najdorf, which Kasparov was undoubtedly extremely familiar with. In fact, the only difference here is that black's options for counter play are very limited compared to this same position for white, but black having the Najdorf position instead.

[jsberson]

Fianchetto is pronounced "fee-ann-TCHEH-tow", not "fee-an-KEH-tow"...

[AlanWattParrot]

@jsberson actually it's the other way round properly speaking but both are acceptable, it's a matter of taste really - Italians, linguists and purists however pronounce it w/ a hard C (fee - un -care - toe) but either way we all know what's denoted, you've made a sniper den for one of your tall pawns and placed it there xD

[ihateuutube]

the guy who made this video clearly has a very weak understanding of chess

[jimmy5390]

At 23:28 what happens if black plays queen e4 check?

[batistalift]

@jimmy5390

The pawn at f3 would take the queen. lol

[jsberson]

@jimmy5390 there's a White pawn on f3 that prevents ...Qe4+

[jsberson]

@jimmy5390 there's a White pawn on f3 that prevents ...Qe4+

[CLICk000000000000]

i like this video, keep up the good work!

[Glatzial]

I don't get it. At 20:22 why doesn't black move his rook to d8-d6 instead of bishop to a8-b7? I think is a very strong move, but I could be wrong. Ideas?

[johnonolennon88]

@Glatzial

30.Kb2 if black plays Qc4 then 31.Qb3+ Qxc3 32.cxb3#

30.Kb2 if black plays Qd4 then 31.Qxd4 Rxd4 32.Rxa6#

[Glatzial]

@johnonolennon88 10x! This makes sense :)

[havz0r]

Learn to pronounce fianchetto

[ricedill]

@bng357 Thanks for that correction! You are indeed right! Now I must admit the black King is really in a bad position :D

[TragiicMagiic]

kool vid!



[Musicownz1997]

"y'all" :D

[LOSTinTIMEvideo]

was there a rule in this tourney that allowed for a draw after repetition?

also at 23:57 after white takes rook, is there no way for a check mate using black king pawn and rook ?

[DecemberSean]

At 15:40 why doesn't black rook go to D6 and block the check of the queen?

[PROTLxONgame]

sickest nerd chills

[ricedill]

I think it's not so much about Kasparov making great moves at the end, but about Topalov screwing up badly a lot of times. At 20:12: If black moves the bishop instead of the queen to take the pawn, there is really no advantage left for Kasparov... Black won't loose his knight and could easily start a counter attack having much more material...

[bng357]

@ricedill If Bd5 instead of Qd5 then Kb2! and you can't stop Qb3 Bb3 and then cb3 #.

[NitroFrames]

At 20:59 Topalov could have won ! if he sacrificed his queen at b3 !! and then took the pawn at b3 then kasparov (whites) king cant move to a2 b2 or c2 !! then after whites move Topalov rook to d3 CHECKMATE !! black could have possibly won!!

[bng357]

@NitroFrames You're dreaming.

[om12345k]

@NitroFrames wouldn't work...when "white moves" he could avoid check mate by king c1 and then black would have sacrificed queen for nothing..

[johnonolennon88]

@NitroFrames

no - 31.... Qb3+ 32.cxb3 Kxb3 33. Qb2+ and no problem to win with white

[ComeOnYouStags]

At 21:05 why didn't Black move his rook to d1? Surely at that point White's only move to get out of check is king to b2. At that point Black moves queen to b3 = checkmate! Am I missing something here?

[overseertl]

@ComeOnYouStags Actually, Kasparov would take the queen with pawn on c2, thus attacking king and putting checkmate.

[ComeOnYouStags]

@overseertl How did I not see that? Silly me!

[zerolord999]

@ComeOnYouStags wow your right that just made me mad i gues he wasnt thinking or was running low on time wow

[dman519]

14:42 what about Rd6?

[DecemberSean]

@dman519

@dman519

That's what I thought!!!!! Maybe I missed it!!

I'll give these guys the benefit of the doubt.

But... I would love to learn what I missed. I totally thought that. Which is maybe why I watch youtube videos instead of being a master. ha.

[dman519]

@DecemberSean well i see that afterwords white can play e5, forking the knight and rook, but it can be escaped by Nh5. After the queen retreats black can move the rook. So i'm still left puzzled.

[iliginjaili]

Great game kasparov is just brilliant. But as for the commentary, kevin could learn a lot from jerry ;)

[COMMA77777]

On 20:34 what about Rd6? instead of Bb7?

[rippedonchronic]

@COMMA77777 idk hard to say maybe he didnt want to lose protection of the other rook kasparov had a diagonal on

[COMMA77777]

@rippedonchronic thanks. The knight wouild have been pinned. Its a great game by one of the greatest chess players of all time.

[johnonolennon88]

@COMMA77777

... 20.Rd6? 21.e5! Nh5 22.exd6 Nxf4 23. dxe7 and white will win

[atomisten]

@johnonolennon88 u retarded? there is no e pawn on the board

[johnonolennon88]

@atomisten ??? There is surely a white pawn on e4

time: 14:48

[atomisten]

@johnonolennon88 ??? but u answered to a guy who asked at 20:34 time Rd6 not 14:48 time

[johnonolennon88]

@atomisten I wrote it before, there is a white pawn on e4 at 14:48

Rook to d6 is not possible, because e4-e5!

[atomisten]

@johnonolennon88 obviously there is an e pawn at 14:48 but u answered COMMA77777 that too, but comma said Rd6 at min 20:34 not at min14:48 and at min 20:34 there is no e pawn, so u misinterpreted his question

[johnonolennon88]

@atomisten

if at 20:34 move 29. ... Rd6 30.Kb2! if ... Qd4 31.Qxd4 white wins

[rippedonchronic]

incredible how then can picture so far ahead.sometimes they resign and im wtf?im pretty strong player 1800/1900 but i suck compared to this

[afiq360skatevids]

A very good analysis on the game. Appreciate the video

[calidude146]

24:00 "once topalov realized that he's playing kasparov, and kasparov has a queen, he went ahead and resigned." with that logic, he shoulda resigned a lot sooner =D

[newfsteve]

can black play b4 instead of Qe7 after white castled?

[daredevil4y]

at 20:10 why not pwning with the bishop instead of queen?

[your5starvids]

Each time you should say "centre" I hear "sinner". Your chess knowledge is very big though :D

[MAUROtele]

@your5starvids i hear the same thing lol

[exapingthebox]

Very amazing game. I appreciate the commentary because it was very easy to understand.

[rinotah]

i mean d6.

[rinotah]

what about turm d7 instead of läufer b7?

[xismxist]

at 21:00 after Qf6, black should had play rock d1, which leaves the white king to only one square: b2, and after that black forcing a queen exchanging with Qd4 - and will win the game

[ComeOnYouStags]

@xismxist I noticed that too. I wonder why he didn't.

[Russkijmedeved]

no best comment ? D: uhm , tits ?

[SUPERMARIOROCKSYES]

@Russkijmedeved It's called top comment.

[Palmen1990]

@Russkijmedeved stop doing those jokes, they arent funny anymore.

[SUPERMARIOROCKSYES]

@Palmen1990 I think they're funny.

[Palmen1990]

@SUPERMARIOROCKSYES Thats because you dont have a good sense of humour.

[SUPERMARIOROCKSYES]

@Palmen1990 Actually it's because I'm more awesome than you. Obviously.

[Palmen1990]

@SUPERMARIOROCKSYES nah dude dont lie.

[TheUniverseExists]

@Palmen1990 anymore? They were never funny. They are as stupid as the "did u record this with a potato" joke.

[SUPERMARIOROCKSYES]

@TheUniverseExists But they probably did record it with a potato. Or maybe a calculator? It's true.

[TheUniverseExists]

@SUPERMARIOROCKSYES no, it just shows that people are so spoiled these days with their High Definition, that they cannot handle 240p, or laggy videos.

[SUPERMARIOROCKSYES]

@TheUniverseExists Cool story bro.

[TheUniverseExists]

@SUPERMARIOROCKSYES Yep, want me to tell it again?

[masterkey14]

a lot of repeating of he wants to bring his knight to a5. Yeah I know al ready.

thanks anyway. have alot fun playing chess. good night.

[batistalift]

1. It's unbelievable how great Kasparovs sacrifices pieces to get his opponent in trouble.

2. Schnäuzelbärtchen.

[choipnugget]

20:25 Can someone tell me why Topalov moved his bishop instead of playing Nd6 to guard the a6 square? I can't find the line he must have seen.

[MetalMania06]

@choipnugget how the f are u going to move knight to d6, and how the f would a knight on that square guard a6?

[choipnugget]

@MetalMania06 sorry, I meant Rd6 lol

[N0lico]

@choipnugget The Rook have to guard Qd4 becouse of Kb2 - 1. ... Rd6 2.Rxa6 Rxa6 3. Kb2 and nothing can prevent 4Qb3 / cxb3 mate

[choipnugget]

@N0lico ah, thanks nolico! I never would have seen that.

[CallamKirby]

pause at 5:37 white could have gone Qg7 then Queen takes rook and it's mate

[Bankaroony]

@CallamKirby look again and think harder

[CallamKirby]

@Bankaroony Rf8?

[chibionoses]

@CallamKirby Amazing in your world that Queen can do two moves, In that case i would move to your country. Still its not Checkmate as Knight can block and play either Kf8

[N0lico]

@CallamKirby what about Rg8 ??

[vidthedon92]

GREAT ANALYSIS ! really helped bro thank you so much mannnnnn !

[xoxksa]

15:25 Why not Qd6 or Rd6?

Qd6 it's either a queen exchange or a strong move to control the center, depending on what White plays.

Rd6 would allow Rhd8 on black's next move not to mention blocking off the queen's diagonal.

[jellevancop]

I enjoyed your video. I must say, though, that you are quite repetitive at times, which somewhat hinders the rhythm of the commentary. Nice job, anyway, on a beautiful game!

[nadinehgfbfhtr]

At 20:05 1. Qc3 Qxd5 !?? , Topalov could have played 1, Qc3 Bxd5!!! If 2.Ra7 Ra8...Then

follows for black Bc3 with a threat to Qd1chk afterward black will exchange pieces. These

particular game is not Kasparov's best game because of strong counter moves of Topalov.

Black wins this game actually if played properly after 20:05. Pls comment.

[elrodtherocker]

@nadinehgfbfhtr After Qxd5, I think Kb2 wins threatenig Qb3+ Bxb3 cxb3 #.

[mluptak]

@nadinehgfbfhtr I'm very interested to see if there is anything that makes the move Bxd5 a mistake.. I really like that move in that position as well. Congrats on seeing that. Make sure you message me and let me know if your way would of won or if anybody disproves your ending. Take care man,

[nigahigaworld]

why didn't he take the queen for the queen the first time?

[Hanckepataya]

I'ma stick to football. seems more simple.

[ChessCholo]

I played a guy from Greece and at the end he was closing in on my king, but then I turned the tables on that vato: 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. e5 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. f4 a6 6. Bg2 Qe7 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Nf3 h6 9. f5 f6 10. Bf4 d6 11. e6 Qb7 12. b3 Ne7 13. Nbd2 Nxf5 14. Nc4 Bxe6 15. Qe2 Qb4+ 16. Bd2 Qb7 17. Bf4 Qf7 18. Nh4 g6 19. Nxf5 gxf5 20. Bxd6 Be7 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. O-O-O O-O 23. c3 Rad8 24. cxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxd4 cxd4 26. Rd1 c5 27. Qh5 Bxc4 28. bxc4 Qe3+ 29. Rd2 Qe1+ 30. Rd1 Qc3+ Kb1 Rb8# and I beat him ay.

[Theloanangler]

After QxN vid time: 20:54 why not 1......Rd1+, 2,Kb2, Qd4+, 3Qxd4, Rxd4

[tortoise7]

@Theloanangler what about 4. Rb6, Ra8 5. Bc8

What does black do after that?

[harismokhtar]

he sacrifice a rook..what a man..

[rocco7050]

Subbed!!

[BlackShooter194]

Pause at 1:17 now look at bishop on F move it to H5. King is trap because of bishop on F This is called Check and Mate

[WhiteSilverknight]

Hmm.. so a fantastic square for a Knight is to place it right on that corner.

[zeen957]

Nice video. Quick Question for anyone. Would Rook to D6 at 20:36 have saved the game for black? and perhaps even given him a considerable edge?

[TheCoolisimo]

@zeen957 it sure looks that way to me, i was about to ask the same question

[talstory]

Kevin I'm a fan of your site, but lately whenever I visit I get carried straight off to youtube video of kasparov's immortal game, there seems no way of getting the home page of your site, have you changed something?

[TheEverburningFathom]

Pierce - is how I prefer to pronounce Pirc

[Vinhmgk98]

At 17:43 the king can go to c8

[salchuk1]

@Vinhmgk98 No the bishop on h3 is guarding the c8 square

[jay2k361]

@Vinhmgk98 Nope! The h3 bishop would have that covered.

[mattmossop]

Why didn't black take the rook on b7 at 20:41?

[chrisdunne108]

@mattmossop if he does that then Qb3 checkmate as the black queen taking the rook removes the protection of the b3 square

[mattmossop]

@chrisdunne108 Ah right thanks... guess that's pretty obvious.

[jimmysticksblaow]

@mattmossop because Qb3#

[nicoricolime]

x3 wow! what a game :)

[MrTristandestry]

Sacrifice to infinitize potential.

[Dangilable]

at 21:07 why dsnt black play rook to D1# ?

[voltinz]

@Dangilable no#, only check

[3RDMILLENNIUMCHESS]

THE GREATEST MATCHES HAVE YET TO BE PLAYED.

[TheBlasianAsian]

@ThePeacefulPacifist Wut? O.o?

[TheNo1MovieMan]

brilliant analysis =P =P

[Devnafo]

SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME why white didn't play Qa1# at 21:09 ????????? 

checkmate in 1 move!!!

[MrMusestar]

@Devnafo

Not a checkmate. After Qa1+ black's king can capture b4.

[erickt22991]

@Devnafo if Qa1+, than Black King just take the pawn b4.

[vssia]

Imagine waiting a whole hour for the other player to move

[TheBlasianAsian]

Never lose faith, comrades! Never surrender!

[ThePeacefulPacifist]

@TheBlasianAsian Spasibo tablischeav!

[nithinbaburaj]

Awesome game !!!

[dobrygnomxx]

not tOpalov - topAlov!

[numbcore]

@akaboss69 i love how you think you just found the move that wouldve won for black. What about Kb2 threating a mate in 2 with Qb3+ Bxb3 and cxb3..seems pretty unstoppable to me

[PhyAlg]

why not black takes queen e4 check in 23:16

[Zero0blue]

@PhyAlg that turn black just made it there .. if he went to the queen then white takes king ..

[Flyer48epic]

@matthewnyc: e5

[Flyer48epic]

Yes you are missing something. Kb2 (Rxa6,Qb3,Qxb3,cxb3 mate). So black has to play Qd4, followed by Qxd4 Rxd4, Rxa6 mate. Long story short: Ra7 Rd6, Kb2 Qd4, Qxd4 Rxd4, Rxa6. Bb7 = only move.

[Vinhmgk98]

At 20:22 Kasparov couldve played Rook to e5

[smartnerd1]

MatoJelic is a way better chess guy. go check him out. it took him like 3 or 4 minutes to go over the game.

[matthewnyc]

At 15:30 black does not have one move, he can move the rook or the queen in the way to block the check. What am I missing?

[music2751]

@matthewnyc anything else will lose to e5 or qxf6

[matthewnyc]

Why not black Q takes the White Q on f4 and then take the rook?

[Martiz141]

@matthewnyc The black queen could be captured by that hanging rook

[desmurfenzijnblauw]

I was like #1000. Come at me.

[MrTVRIP]

why did you say same things over and over?

[nvl164]

"A third party" (I mean you, you and you) have a different point of view from him (Kasparov ), you're not under pressure, you're have all time in the world to think of it, nobody is perfect and so does him .

So stop asking why he did this, why didn't he do that :P .

[Yatsuhiko]

Aw the horse things disappeared near the end what gives? With out the sea biscuit this game is boring

Plus the pawn guys look like snowmen :D

[ramin688]

the rook in h8 was born to do reserve,wht a waste!!!!

[lesuntzu]

Btw the most comprehensive analysis of this game available on the web is probably the one by GM Yasser Seirawan on the ChessCafé web site. There is an amazing analysis of what happened between moves 25 and 30 that truly reveals why this game is immortal.

[TEDOVSKY]

@FaustSnake Whatever. All i ask is that you keep playing chess for fun and i wish you a very long and happy life.

Gotta end our chats now. (Got chess to study!)

Bye.

[TEDOVSKY]

@FaustSnake I DO win tournaments. All top grandmasters study about 8-10 hours a day. I'm one of them, so you ARE right i am obsessed, but to beat the best players in the world who are also obsessed one has to be obsessed too. Don't ask me for my name as you wouldn't believe me.(Tedovsky is my youtube name) I AM however very very happy to hear that you play chess for fun and in a way i miss that aspect of the noble game very much. The last time i played chess for fun was when i was 7 years old.

[TEDOVSKY]

@FaustSnake Sad? It was a labour of love, and with 2000+ top quality games in my head plus 5000 endings i can now hold my own with fritz at top setting in 3-minute blitz games. Can you?

[persianney]

Instead of 31... Kxa3

31....Rd1+

32 Kb2 Ra8!

33 Qb6 Qd4+

34 QxQ Rxd4

35 Rxf7 +=

[TEDOVSKY]

Got a friend who luckily got to play kasparov along with 24 other payers in france a few years ago. My friend knew his openings very well and studied his head off prior to the day. On the day of the simul he lost quickly which surprised me as he knows his openings very very well When i asked him the reason for his quick loss he explained that the SIGHT of gary kasparov, the "monster from baku" on the other side of the board completely unhinged him and he blundered early in the middle-game.

[TEDOVSKY]

AFTER STUDYING 2000 GAMES FROM ALL THE WORLD CHAMPIONS IN A STUDY LASTING 8 YEARS I AM OF THE OPINION THAT KASPAROV IS THE GREATEST CHESS PLAYER OF ALL TIME, . . .JUST! FOLLOWED VERY CLOSELY BY FISCHER.

[3agles4life1]

Great game nd liked the commentary

[matthiasbrendel]

This is an amusing, and quite silly game, nothing more. So many times Topalov took something which was not necessary and so many variations not thought through. Like Rd6 and Rd1 check above. I think Kasparov only had luck in the end.

[irrationalproject]

At 23:40, wouldn't it have been better to move the rook out of the way (and not capture the bishop)? Then black would still have two rooks, and white would have a queen and a bishop (instead of a rook for black and a queen for white), which is better for black, in my humble opinion. It might have been over anyway (since he was playing Kasparov), but the move I proposed would have increased his chances slightly... Or am I missing something?

[rohmann000]

@irrationalproject There is Qc1#.

[TheDogsDevils]

at 19:10 why not interpose the queen check with black's queen

[iliginjaili]

it's scary how good the GMs are....the way that they can spot a continuation that leads to mate from one minor change in a pieces position is ridiculous!

[russiananil]

hi sir kasparov

[iamverynicesir]

This game is definitely pretty good, but I do hold Fisher v. Byrne as one of my all time favorites with the Queen sacrifice.

[BKKaye]

More Chess Tips: click my name.

[spriteofbones]

After Qf4+, I don't understand the decision to evade the check with Ka7.

Wasn't Qc7 a better move by Topalov?

Exchanging Queens would alleviate the pressure. Taking back with the black King would gain a second control upon the infamous c6 square and centralise the King. Exchanging upon f4 square would let white with a broken pawn structure on the K-side. Last but not least, Qc7 would put the black Queen off the d line where a pin is about to happen as we see in the game course.

[mycatrox]

@spriteofbones Kasparov would just take the free knight on f6.

[spriteofbones]

@mycatrox

Spot on my friend... i just made a tool out of myself...

Obvious things are sometimes the ones you just won't notice.

[thechris312]

instead of bishop to b7 to protect the pawn on a6 at 20:35 wouldn't rook to d6 be better? as topalov's bishop is still protected and so is the pawn or am i missing something?