The Bishop Pair Advantage

The advantage of the two bishops (when facing a bishop and knight or two knights) is a favorite of many masters. When working together, the two bishops can really dominate the chessboard.

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[Event "World Chess Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.10.03"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "unknown"]
[ECO "B01"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "unknown"]

1. e4 { B01: Scandinavian Defence } 1... d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 { Covers b5.  This move is considered a must in this line of play.  It also
gives the black Queen a back door (via d8-a5 diagonal) to escape
persecution. } 6. Ne5 Be6 { An ugly looking move.  6... Bf5 is a little more
assertive.  Apparently, black feared 7. g4 Be6 anyway. } 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. f4 { A
move typical of Kasparov's aggressive style. This move prepares for a King
side pawn storm. } 8... g6 { Controls f5.  Black is feeling a bit tight. } 9. O-O Bg7 10. Kh1 Bf5 { The Bishop finally lands where it should have started. } 11. Bc4 e6 { Consolidates d5 and defends f7. } 12. Be2 h5 13. Be3 Rd8 14. Bg1 O-O 15. Bf3 Nd5 { 15... c5 is also playable to open the center and initiate Queen side
hostilities. } 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bf2 Qc7 18. Rc1 f6 19. Nd3 Rfe8 20. b3 Nb6 21. a4 Nc8 22. c4 Qf7 23. a5 Bf8 24. cxd5 { Opening the c-file gives white
play. } 24... cxd5 25. Bh4 Nd6 26. a6 b6 { Secures c5. } 27. Ne5 { This begins a very
tricky and complex line of play. } 27... Qe6 { 27... fxe5 is probably better. The
resulting complications seem to favor black.  For example, 28. fxe5 Ne4 29.
Bxd8 Rxd8 removes two of white's strongest pieces for a black Rook. } 28. g4 hxg4 29. Nxg4 { Now 29... Ne4 30. Rc7 Re7 31. Rxe7 Qxe7 avoids many of the
problems with a white Rook on c7 that Anand faced later in the game. } 29... Bg7 30. Rc7 Ne4 { The black knight is well posted, but 30... Ra8 31. Rxg7+?! How else
does white try to maintain the initiative? 31... Kxg7 32. Nxf6 Rh8 33. Bxd4
Be4+! provides an equal game. } 31. Ne3 { White maneuvers with hopes to end
black's power on the white squares by capturing Bishop on f5. This is more
important than picking up the pawn on a7. } 31... Bh3 32. Rg1 g5 33. Bg4 Bxg4 34. Qxg4 Qxg4 35. Rxg4 Nd6 36. Bf2 Nb5 37. Rb7 Re4 38. f5 Rxg4 39. Nxg4 { A
valuable piece. } 39... Rc8 40. Rd7 Rc2 { 40... Rc3 would have kept black in the
game. } 41. Rxd5 { Black resigned. There may have followed 41... Nc7 42. Rd8+
Kf7 43. Rd7+ Kf8 44. h4 gxh4 45 Bxh4 Nxa6 46. Nxf6 Bxf6 47. Bxf6 with the
game clearly in white's favor. } 0-1