Kasparov changes strategy

By Our Chess Correspondent

CHENNAI, OCT. 21. Defending champion Garry Kasparov has shown his third choice opening with the black pieces in four games against challenger and fellow Russian Vladimir Kramnik in game eight which got underway at the Riverside Television Studios in London on Saturday.

After having problems in even games where he had black, Kasparov shifted his strategy in the opening to the Nimzo- Indian defence, another sound opening choice for black against the queen pawn opening.

After seven games, Kramnik is leading 4-3 and eight games excluding the one in progress is still to come. It is a 16- match series with Kramnik requiring 8.5 points for the world title and Kasparov eight points to keep his title. Kasparov has been champion since 1985 and has never lost a match to a human.

It is an opening they have played in many games with Kramnik having the black side. Kasparov's choice is quite a surprise. The match situation is demanding and his team may be working on another standby choice too. The 4.Qc2 variation is white's best line and Kramnik opted for it. Kasparov played quick and followed the main line.

After an early exchange of queens, Kasparov showed how well he had prepared for the first time in the match. After 15...Rfd8 by Kasparov a new position arose. Commentator at the venue, Nigel Short preferred to call this ``virgin territory''.

``Looks like a very good novelty from Gazza's camp for a change,'' said Peter Svidler, World No. 14 from St. Petersburg who is hosting his chat show on the Internet Chess Club.

Kasparov's opening choice and an aggressive 18th move enhanced his chances of activity for his pieces in exchange for a pawn advantage. Later, Kramnik did not take a pawn and instead decided to catch up on his development of his pieces. After move 21 a draw is being predicted, but white's good pawn structure and black's activity may be the factors that could swing the game either way.

It will be of interest that the Nimzo-Indian defence was the opening where Kramnik was asked to see when he worked as second for Kasparov in the match against Anand in New York, 1995. In Frankfurt 1998, Kramnik told this newspaper that Kasparov's research in the Nimzo-Indian was vast but not always accurate.

The possibility of another long game is bright with Kramnik's queen side pawn majority being one factor for him to keep playing for victory number two.

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