chess

As Garry Kasparov readies himself for his title match against Viswanathan Anand - which begins in New York in less than two weeks' time - he must be wondering what surprises the young Indian has prepared for him.

Against both 1.e4 and 1.d4 Anand seems ready to play anything. Kasparov has fared better against him with 1.d4, which will probably be his main weapon. But that will be what he is expecting, so it might be better to... oh, never mind, forget it. Let's just wait and enjoy the games. In the meantime, here is some 1995 vintage Kasparov:

White: Kasparov Black: Vaganyan

Novgorod 1995 - Queen's Gambit

1.d4 e6 2.c4 e5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.h4!?

A vigorous deviation from the usual 11.g4.

11...dxc4 12.Bxc4 b6 13.Ng5 Ba6 14.Nce4

No messing around. The threat is Nxf6+ and Qxh7 mate.

14...g6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.Kb1 Qb7 19.h5 Rac8 20.hxg6!! Nb4 21.gxh7+ Kh8 22.Be5+ f6 23.Nxf6! Bxf6

Spoiling the fun of 23...Nxc2 24.Ng4+ Bf6 25.Nxf6 and White wins.

24. Bxf6+ resigns.

24...Rxf6 25.axb4! Rxc2 26.Rd8+ is fatal.