This is the amazing story of a scary chess game for Kasparov, who was unable to win against a nine-year-old girl (a child Goltseva)!

I’m sure you have seen Kasparov beating everyone around. Not even computers have been the exception. You can see, for example, when Kasparov Sacrificed the Queen and the Computer BROKE DOWN. But the chess game of Kasparov trying to take down the scary defense of this girl child is something off the charts.

Today, in the International Day of the Girl Child, we’re going to take a look at this really interesting game, played between the former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, playing White, against a nine-year-old girl, Ekaterina Goltseva. As you may have guessed, I wouldn’t show you this game if Kasparov just won, right? Therefore, there’s going to be something interesting here.

The Scary Girl Child Faces Kasparov with a Caro-Kann Defense

Goltseva didn’t choose one of the best openings for Black against 1.e4, but she surely chose the best she had to stop Kasparov, even though she was only a little child.

Kasparov played 3.e5, going for the Advanced Variation of the Caro-Kann Defense, which is a more positional line which leads to closed positions and maneuvering game. Probably, Kasparov thought that usually kids aren’t that good with strategic play, and he was going to outplay his young opponent.

Na6 – The Knight on the Edge?

Black plays Na6. At first, it looks like just a beginner move. Normally, it is not recommended to put your knights on the edge of the board but, in this case, it actually makes some sense because if the knight was placed to d7, then it would block the bishop. Therefore, developing the knight here leaves this open diagonal for the bishop and, because of that, it makes some sense.

Restricting the Opponent’s Piece

Kasparov developed his knight to e2 because, if the knight goes to f3 instead, then the bishop can be developed to g4 and, even if Black has to trade the bishop for the knight; in this case, it’s fine as otherwise the bishop can become really passive. That’s why he developed his knight to e2.

In case Black tries to play Bg4, White can always play f3 and kick it away. Instead, Goltseva played h5, which gives some squares for either the bishop or the knight to be developed in a weird way, but still, somehow, the overall Black’s setup makes sense.

An Awkward Move Makes Sense

Black plays Ne6. At first sight, Ne6 looks like yet another mistake. Black is playing several moves with the same piece in the opening, while a bunch of other pieces are still inactive. Nevertheless, this move makes sense.

White’s normal plan here would be to push the pawn forward to f4, followed with pawn to f5, destroying Black’s position on the kingside. But, in this particular case, the knight will continue its weird journey from b8 all the way to g7. It makes perfect sense as the knight helps Black to finally play Bf5, not only solving the problem of the light-squared bishop, but also blocking White’s pawn from moving forward. In this case, Black is again doing fine. That’s why Kasparov did not play pawn to f4.

By the way, have you seen the shortest chess game in Kasparov’s career? Well, you have to know that it happened when Kasparov was a child too and you can see it here.

Kasparov’s Evil Move

Kasparov played Re1, an evil move. It looks like another development move by White, just putting the rook to a slightly more active square, but in fact it sets a hidden trap!

If Black just plays any move, such as castling, then White has the breakthrough pawn to e6, which completely destroys Black’s position. The idea here is that after Black recaptures the pawn, White can now grab the other pawn on g6. Now after fxe6, Rxe6, it’s killing.

Now Black has a bunch of weaknesses in the center and on the kingside, and Kasparov would definitely win a position like that.

Another Hidden Threat!

Kasparov plays Qb3, attacking the pawn on b7, which is the most obvious threat; but he’s got another hidden idea. After Black played Qb6, Kasparov moved his queen to the a3-square, and from here, it prevents Black’s king from castling; another subtle and great maneuver by Kasparov.

Great Move by the Scary Little Girl Goltseva to Kick away Kasparov’s Queen

The girl child shows why her defensive technique proves to be scary for Kasparov. She is not worried about retreating a piece, if that could make Kasparov retreats too.

Here Black played another great move, Bh6. The bishop is going to go all the way back from f4 to f8, so that it can kick away White’s queen from the a3-square and, after that, Black’s king can finally castle. The bishop on f4 was doing nothing; it was attacking White’s pawns which are already protected.

The Pawn Break

If you want to learn how pawn breaks work, study the lesson Theory of Pawn Breaks Explained!

Kasparov is tripling his heavy pieces to put as much pressure as possible along the a-file. Black goes Qb7, and now White takes on b5. That is the right time to do that because now they cannot capture with a pawn. Ideally, Black would wish to do that, so that she has no weaknesses; but in this case, that would just lose simply due to Rxa7, winning the rook.

Great Defensive Move by the Child!

This bishop is one of the best weapons for the girl child to combat Kasparov and his scary pieces.

Black played Bg5. She actually noticed that because there is no White’s knight on the f3-square, the g5-square is not controlled anymore, the bishop can be relocated to a better square, d8, and to kick away White’s rook from a5. Kasparov probably regretted for having moved the knight here to g1 too early.

The Position Remains Imbalanced

Perhaps Black was afraid that White will eventually prepare the g4 breakthrough, and she decided to trade the queens off. Kasparov took with the f-pawn. He’s still actually trying to keep the position a little bit more imbalanced, so that he still has the chance to break through and to win the game.

Kasparov Offered a Draw to the Child

Kasparov actually offered a draw, and Black agreed. There is no real way for White to break through, apart from throwing the pawn to h5. But, after an exchange, White still has nothing to do afterwards. There’s no way for White to make any progress, and if White tries pushing too hard and plays pawn to g6, then, in fact, even White may appear in trouble because Black still has the rook against a minor piece. Therefore, opening up the lines here may be dangerous for Kasparov. Realizing that, he just offered a draw, and it was accepted.

Final Quiz for You

Now here’s the final quiz for you. This is another game played by Kasparov, playing White against Nigel Short. It’s White to move, and we can see a similar pawn structure; but, in this case, White found the way to break through, and your task is to find the winning move right here. Write it in the comments below.

9 Year Old’s Defense Technique Is Scary! Kasparov vs Goltseva Child

Enjoy the full video lesson and also download the PGN file below to study in depth the scary defense technique which this girl child used against Kasparov.