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We now have the following position:-
c4 by Kasparov is a logical move, with Kasparov planning to blockade our pawns on the dark squares. Because he has exchanged his light squared bishop, there is no drawback of it being imprisoned by white pawns!
We have the following main alternatives:-
5... Qg4
5... e5
5... Nc6
Let us explore each of our options in turn:-
5... Qg4
The position stats of 5..Qg4 from ChessLab are:-
| White won | Black won | Draw |
|---|---|---|
| 47% | 23% | 28% |
5... Qg4 would be a very risky move to play against Kasparov! Garry could just castle, and let us take the e pawn with his queen, because he would have a strong initiative for the sacrificed pawn. For example in the following position, White can play d4!
Let us hope that not many of us are using material grabbing computers to influence our decision! With our black king still stuck on e8 in the above diagram, we really don't want to be on the receiving end of a Kasparov attack!
5... e5
Position statistics
| White won | Black won | Draw |
|---|---|---|
| 38% | 33% | 28% |
This move is a radical way of trying to discourage Kasparov from playing d4 later. However it compromises our pawn structure and leaves a hole on d5. It also imprisons to an extent our dark squared bishop.
However there is a plan of fianchettoing the dark squared bishop and playing the kings knight to e7 to reach a kind of kings indian type formation. E.g. if the following moves were played:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 e5 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d3 g6 8.Nd5 Bg7 9.0–0 Nge7 10.Re1 0–0
The following illustrated plans would be available for both sides:-
We could exploit the fact that we have clamped down on Whites central liberating advance d4, and perhaps think about playing moves like f5 later. Note: in the above illustrative position, h6 immediately would be an embaressing blunder because of Bxh6! Bxh6 Nf6+
5... Nc6
This looks to be the most logical move at our disposal, because it puts the knight in touch with the central d4 square, strengthening our grip on the dark squares in the centre. This logical move not surprisingly has the most number of games at the excellent Chesslab site.
Position statistics
| White won | Black won | Draw |
|---|---|---|
| 29% | 22% | 48% |
Example games of these three key
candidate moves (use combo to select)
Conclusion:
Barnet chess club recommends:- 5 ...Nc6
A simple but effective move. It does not make pawn structure commitments, as 5.. e5 would. It also does not entail having to play against a gambit with 5... Qg4, where white has the possibility of sacrificing the e pawn.
Note: Kasparov and Shirov have had a very exciting game in this line! which ended in a draw.
1/7/99
Kasparov has played Nc3 which is the same as what Shirov played against him in the above game link!
