Two Pigs

Judit Polgar's defeat of Garry Kasparov nine years ago offers a nice illustration of the power of pigs. As near as I can tell, this was Kasparov's only game on the Black side of the Berlin Wall. This defense was a key weapon for Vladimir Kramnik when he captured the World Championship title from Kasparov. In the WCC match, Kramnik employed the Berlin four times, earning four draws. There were three more Kasparov -- Kramnik battles in the opening in 2001, with White's single win coming in June at Astana. In September 2002, Kasparov played the Black side against the youngest and strongest of the Polgar sisters.

Polgar,Judit (2681) -- Kasparov,Garry (2838) [C67]
RUS-The World, Moscow 2002

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 h6 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.h3 Be7 12.Ne2 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.Be3 Bf5 15.Nd4 Bh7 16.g4 Be7 17.Kg2 h5 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Kf3 Bg6 20.Rd2 hxg4+ 21.hxg4 Rh3+ 22.Kg2 Rh7 23.Kg3 f6 24.Bf4 Bxf5 25.gxf5 fxe5 26.Re1 Bd6 27.Bxe5 Kd7 28.c4 c5 29.Bxd6 cxd6 30.Re6 Rah8 31.Rexd6+ Kc8 32.R2d5 Rh3+ 33.Kg2 Rh2+ 34.Kf3 

Black to move


Black attempts to harass White's king.

34...R2h3+ 35.Ke4 b6 36.Rc6+ Kb8 37.Rd7 

The first pig is born.

Black to move


37...Rh2 38.Ke3 Rf8 39.Rcc7 

Two pigs!

Black to move


39...Rxf5 40.Rb7+ Kc8 41.Rdc7+ Kd8 42.Rxg7

Black to move


42...Kc8 1–0



There is no reason to play on. 43.Rxa7 Kb8 44.Rae7 Rf8 45.Rgf7 leaves Black in a hopeless position.