Kasparov’s 24.Rxd4!! — Chess Library

Topalov’s king appears sheltered on a7. Kasparov gives up a rook on d4 to open lines, then keeps the king moving until the attack has rebuilt itself around the seventh rank.

Lesson

White to move. Main line: 24. Rxd4 cxd4 25. Re7+ Kb6 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 Qxd5 29. Ra7 Bb7 30. Rxb7

24.Rxd4!! removes the central pawn shield at the cost of a rook. After 24...cxd4, the second rook enters on e7 with check.

The queen and b-pawn then drive the king from b6 to a5 and a4. The quiet 28.Qc3 keeps the net intact even though it is not a check.

This excerpt shows why the combination is hard: the attack depends on both forcing moves and precise regrouping. The full game continues the king hunt for another fourteen moves.