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Current analysis

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Kasparov has played Nxe4

After Qxe4, Kasparov has 3 interesting alternatives:-

18 Re1

18 Qb3 

18 Ra3

Let us explore each of these alternatives

18 Re1

This move gains a tempo by attacking our Queen. However we can safely move our queen to the central square d4:-

Kasparov could now play Qf3

We can now play the simple King retreat move Ke8

"Crafty" assesses this position as minimal advantage for White.

18 Qb3

The World seems less afraid of this move now, than previously- without the moves a4 by White and Ra8 by Black! Yes, 2 pawns are double attacked. However, Black has 2 very interesting moves here, which we need to explore:-

18 ... Nd4

18 ... Bd4

Let us explore each of these in turn:-

18 ... Nd4

There is a cunning trap which Kasparov will not fall for, after Qxb6, we have the resource Ra6! :-

Now, after Qb4:-

We have the nice check, winning the queen:-

This leaves Kasparov therefore to the move Qxf7:-

Here we have a couple of interesting choices:-

19... Nc2

19... Bf6

19... Nc2

Here Kasparov has the strong move Bd2! This seems the most critical move.

If now NxR then Re1, Qh4, and Kasparov has 22 g3 and also 22 Qd5! Lets look at the Qd5 first and then come back to 22 g3 :-

22 Qd5

The World could be in serious trouble in this position. 

Crafty analysis seems to think however that after Rf8, Qxb7+ Ke8, Black is okay?! :-

For example after g3 here Qf6, Qxb6, we have the excellent decoy move Nb3:-

There is also the dangerous and cunning 24 Qc6+ to consider :-

This has the sneaky idea of Kf7 Qd5+ Ke8, Qb5+ to take our knight stranded on a1 in the most favourable way possible.

Here, things start to hot up tactically. There are 2 key choices here, Bd4 and Qd4. 

27 ...Qd4 seems the more solid and playable of the two, for example 28 Bc3 Qc5 29 Qxc5 dxc5 30 Bg7 Kxg7 31 Re1 Kf6 with a level rook and pawn ending !! :-

(Okay, this is boring, but we should challenge Kasparov to another game with the White pieces after settling for a draw with Black!)

27... Bd4 does not seem as promising as Qd4, for example Be3:-

Here, we are losing, e.g. if we try to mix up with Rf4:-

Kasparov can play the calm g3!! 

knowing that he can create a strong passed 'a' pawn. E.g.:-  30.. Be3 31 Qxf4! Qxf4 32 gxf4 Bxf4, 33 b4!!

Earlier attempts at refutation 18..Nd4 19 Qf7 line

22 g3

This is an interesting alternative to 22 Qd5. Play might proceed 22...Qf6 23 Qd5 Kc8! :-

Here now, if Bc3 (suggested by Francis Monkman in the posting forum), we have the crafty retreat Qf8:-

This could lead after  25 Bxg7 Qxg7 26 Rc1+ Kb8 27 Qb5 Qd4! 28 Rxa1 Ka7! :-

with a good position for black. Kasparov does have the scary looking a5 here, but after the calm Rf8 axb6+ Kb8, Rf1 

Our position as black is ok!

(31 Ra8+ Kxa8 32 Qa5+ Kb8 33 Qa7+ Kc8 34 Qa8+ Kd7 35 Qxf8, Qxb2 is fine too for Black :-

)

Bd2 needs to be further analysed, as it seems to be the main line!

Other 20th move alternatives (not so critical)

If Kasparov replies 20 Rb1, then there is the stunning Knight move Ne1:-

which gives Black a big advantage!, e.g. f3 Qe2 Rf2 Bd4! :-

Qxg7

Kasparov has the legal move Qxg7, and after Nxa1 :-

The World is more than fine!

19... Bf6

This is an interesting pawn sacrifice which gives a messy position!

18 ... Bd4

Here if Kasparov takes the f7 pawn (The delayed Barnet chess club gambit!), We have Ne5, Qb3:-

And now, we have the two aggressive choices of Nd3 and Ng4. 

After 20...Ng4, Kasparov has the solid Bd2 move:-

Crafty gives this position as better for White.

After 20...Nd3, Kasparov has simply Qb5+ Kd8, then again the solid Bd2 move with advantage to White:-

(Unfortunately this Barnet chess club gambit delayed variation, the Black rook on a8 instead of at h8 cannot move to f8 to further attack the vulnerable f2 pawn!)

18 Ra3

Kasparov's a4 move, not only restricted the activity of our black rook on a8, and the move b5 by us, but also had the advantage of creating the resource Ra3. Ra3 allows the White rook to swing into the position from the side as illustrated above.

This move needs to be analysed

Conclusions

At this present stage of Barnet chess club top player analysis, 18...Nd4! seems to be a favorite reply to 17...Qxe4 18 Qb3. However after Qxf7 Nc2, the critical move seems to be Bd2!

The move 18 Re1 does not seem to carry too much sting. 18 Ra3 needs to be further analysed.

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