Kotliar - Moulin, Eastern Masters, May 1992, B22
1 e4 c5 2 c3 d6 3 d4 Nf6
[An antidote to the 2 c3 system that is now used frequently. If now 4 dxc5 (with the idea 4 ... Nxe4?? 5 Qa4+ or 4 ... dxc5? 5 Qxd8+) Nc6, intending 5 cxd6 Nxe4, 5 Bd3 dxc5, or the pawn sac 5 f3 d5!]
4 Bd3 Nc6
[Black can also play 4 ... g6, avoiding the inconvenience of a later d4-d5 hitting the knight on c6. An interesting line is 4 ... g6 5 Nf3 Bg7 6 O-O O-O 7 Re1 Nc6 8 d5 Na5!?]
5 Nf3 Bg4
[5 ... g6 6 d5 is not so appetizing now for Black.]
6 d5 Bxf3
[Of course not 6 ... Ne5? 7 Nxe5 Bxd1 8 Bb5+]
7 gxf3 Ne5 8 Be2
[Kotliar preserves the 2 bishops and bases his strategy on his space advantage.]
g6 9 c4 Bg7 10 Nc3 O-O 11 f4 Ned7 12 Qd3 a6
DIAGRAM
[White's original play has given him a good game, and he is about to embark on a kingside attack. But before staking everything on a direct attack, it is imperative to deny Black the chance for Benko-Gambit-style counterplay. Clearly correct is 13 a4! and if then 13 ... Qa5, then 14 Ra3!]
13 h4? b5 14 cxb5 axb5 15 Nxb5 Ra4!
[The position has transformed, and Black has the superior practical chances.]
16 Nc3 Rb4
[It is hard to find a concrete follow-up to 16 ... Rd4 17 Qc2.]
17 a3 Rb3 18 Qc2 Rb7 19 h5 Qa5 20 hxg6 fxg6
[The correct recapture, despite the weakening of e6. Moulin now has the unusual task of combining Benko Gambit play with pressure on the f-file. But Kotliar's pawn center and control of the light squares is not to be underestimated.]
21 Kf1 Rfb8 22 Nd1
[Moving into a defensive mode. Things could have gotten wild on the sealer-sweeper 22 e5! dxe5 23 f5!]
Nb6 23 Nc3 Ra7 24 Ra2 Na4 25 Nd1 Nb6
[After all that work to get the knight to a4, he should have left it there and played 25 ... Rab7.]
26 b3 Nbd7 27 Bc4 Nh5 28 Qe2 Rf8 29 Bd2 Qc7 30 Rh4 Ra8 31 a4 Qd8 DIAGRAM
[White has built up a fantastic position. Perhaps it was time for a4-a5-a6, but Kotliar decides that the time is ripe for a positional exchange sacrifice.]
32 Rxh5 gxh5 33 Qxh5 Kh8 34 f3 Nb6 35 Bd3 Qe8 36 Qh3 Bd4 37 Nf2 c4
[Suddenly Moulin becomes very active.]
38 bxc4 Rxa4 39 Rc2 Ra1+ 40 Ke2 Na4 41 e5 h5 42 Qe6 Qf7 43 Qh6+ Kg8 44 Ne4 Qg7
[The position is unclear after 45 Qxg7+ Kxg7 46 Ng5.]
1/2 - 1/2
I had just lost to Kudrin in the penultimate round and it seemed that I had nothing left to play for but to get my entry fee back upon completing my schedule. But my opponenet in the last round, a recent arrival to the Philadelphia chess scene, had a half-point more than me and could win a major prize if he defeated me. Meanwhile, Fedorowicz, who had the same score as me, asked me if we could win anything by winning. I advised him that we couldn't, and he drew instantly with Valvo. I knew I had a long game in store, and was unable to console myself for my loss against Kudrin by going home early ...
Khmelnitsky - Rohde, Philadelphia (Atlantic Open) 1991 B26
1 e4 c5 2 c3 e6 [I have been playing the 2 c3 Sicilian myself lately and I am convinced that this is the best reply.] 3 d4 d5 4 ed ed 5 Be3 [Although this is the standard move here, it only forces Black to play a clearly good system. White's best is to play 5 Nf3 and try to steer the game into Tarrasch French channels.] c4 6 b3 cb 7 ab [White has achieved the exchange of his a-pawn for Black's c-pawn, but Black has no problems because a) his development is easy, and b) White's center is immobile - if White plays c4 then the b4 square is weakened.] Bd6 8 Bd3 Ne7 9 Qc2 Nbc6 10 Ne2 [So far it has all been very amusing, and now I should have ended the games by playing 10 ... h6, followed by castling. But I could hardly resist playing the same "joke" on my opponent.] Qc7?! 11 Na3 [Threatening the embarassing 12 Nb5, which 11 ... a6 will not prevent!] Qd8! [I know I just wasted two tempi, but I had to save the dark-squared bishop.] 12 Nb5 Bb8 [How strong is his knight on b5 anyway? It can only go back to a3, unless he weakens b4 by playing c3-c4. And after I play a7-a6, my rook on a8, the "pinnee", will be no more useless than his rook on a1, the "pinner".] 13 h4?! [Much better was 13 Ng3 threatening 14 Nh5 and if 13 ... Ng6 14 0-0 with the idea f2-f4-f5.] a6 14 Nf4 Ng6! [Effectively bullying the knight off f4.] 15 Nh5 0-0 16 f3! [The battle for king-side space begins in earnest.]
Polgar, J. - Dzindzi, NY INt. 1992 B34
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 d6 7 Be2 Nxd4 8 Qxd4 Bg7 9 Bg5 O-O 10 Qd2 Be6 11 O-O Rc8
[Also possible is 11 ... Qa5 12 f3 Rfc8, eliminating White tricks based on Nc3-d5 because a Nd5xe7+ could be answered with ... Kf8.]
12 Rad1
[Preparing 12 ... Bxc4? 13 Bxc4 Rxc4 14 e5 Ne8 15 Nd5. The straightforward 12 b3 Qa5 13 Rac1 was the alternative.]
Qa5 13 b3 a6?!
[Black would be comfortable after the precautionary 13 ... Rfe8. Then play might proceed 14 f3 a6 15 Nd5 Qxd2 16 Rxd2 Nxd5 17 exd5 Bd7 with equality.]
14 Nd5! Qxd2 15 Nxe7+ Kh8 16 Bxd2 Rce8
DIAGRAM
17 Bb4!! Rxe7
[Black seems to have play on the e-file after 17 ... Nxe4, but with 18 Bf3 Nc3 19 Rd3 Rxe7 20 Bxc3 White will exert strong pressure against the backward d-pawn. The text submits to an unpleasant endgame where White's rook + two pawns is much stronger than Black's two minors.]
18 Bxd6 Ree8 19 e5 Ng4 20 Bxf8 Rxf8 21 Bf3 Rb8 22 h3
[A nice finesse. 22 Bxb7 would have been met by 22 ... Bxe5.]
Nxe5 23 Bxb7 a5 24 Bd5 Bxd5 25 Rxd5 Nc6 26 Rfd1 Bf8 27 Rb5 Re8 28 Kf1 Kg8 29 g3 h5 30 Rdd5 Bb4 31 Rd1 Kg7 32 Rb7 Re6 33 Rb6 Nd4?
[A blunder in a bad position.]
34 Rxb4 1 - 0
The Prototype
Fritz3's breakthrough performance in tying for first with Kasparov in the Intel Express Chess Challenge blitz tournament in Munich was accomplished running on Intel's new Pentium processor. Fritz3's ability to calculate very fast got it out of trouble in numerous situations. Its game against superblitz palyer Viswanathan Anand shows in archtypical fashion how strong humans lose to computers:
1) Computer gets a silly position
2) Human builds up strong attack
3) Computer gobbles one or two pawns
4) Human fails to deliver the checkmate
5) Computer is merciless in technical endgame
One of Fritz3's most notable moves in the tournament occured in the game Lobron - Fritz3, which opened: 1 c4 e5 2 e3! Bb4?!, and Fritz3 later struggled to a draw.
B34
Fritz3 - Anand
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 5 Nb5 d6
[Arriving at a mutated form of the Pelikan Variation which has become increasingly popular. A totally different concept is 5 ... a6, the Lowenthal Variation.]
6 Be3
[White has a lot of options at this point. It is doubtful that 6 c4 leads to an advantage after 6 ... Be7 7 N1c3 a6 8 Na3 Be6 because of the potential weakness on d4 and the possibility of ... Be7-g5. On the direct 6 N1c3 a6 7 Na3 b5 8 Nd5, looking to transpose to the Pelikan after 8 ... Nf6 9 Bg5, Black has the strange idea 8 ... Nge7. A wild line is 6 Bc4 Be7 (not 6 ... Nf6? 7 Bg5) 7 O-O Nf6 8 Bg5!? planning 8 ... Nxe4 9 Bxe7 Nxe7 10 f3. The text move encourages Black to play 6 ... Nf6 (because after 6 ... Be7 7 N1c3 a6 8 Na3 there is too much pressure on the queenside due to the double threat of Nc3-d5 and Na3-c4) at a time when White can force the doubling of the f-pawns. This justifies White in moving the queen's bishop twice in a row. Note that this position could arrive via the Taimanov Variation 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nb5 d6 6 Bf4 e5 7 Be3.]
Nf6 7 Bg5 Be6 8 N1c3
[The continuation 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Nd2, which avoids the tangling of the knights on the queenside, proved quite effective for White in Kengis - Rohde, Tilburg 1992.]
a6 9 Bxf6 gxf6 10 Na3
DIAGRAM
Bg7
[The modern way, maintaining the latent energy of Black's center. Anand avoids the explosive 10 ... d5 11 exd5 Bxa3 12 bxa3 Qa5, introduced in the Fischer - Petrosian Candidates Match of 1971, because it is better to engage the computer in positional rather than tactical warfare at first, because it is impossible to know the extent of Fritz3's usable theoretical knowledge, and becuase the line is not that great anyway - see a recent U.S. Championship game between A. and I. Ivanov(s).]
11 Bc4
[It is better to take it easy with 11 Bd3, with the maneuver Na3-c4-e3 in store.]
O-O 12 Bxe6 fxe6 13 Nc4 Nd4
[The knight on c4 is left functionless.]
14 Ne2 f5 15 Nxd4 exd4 16 exf5 Rxf5 17 Qe2 Qe7
DIAGRAM
18 O-O-O?
[Admirable fighting spirit, but unjustified. White's position is not as bad as it looks after 18 O-O d5 19 Nd2 e5, as it can use the c-pawn to chip away at Black's center. Now a more serious problem is the pressure on the c-file.]
Rc8 19 Rhf1!
[A good defensive move preparing to block the h6-c1 diagonal and distract Black by gaining space on the kingside. This kind of tenacious defence in blitz is a particularly strong aspect of computers.]
Rfc5 20 Na3 b5 21 Rd2 Qf6 22 Qd3
[Making sure no accident happens on the long diagonal.]
d5 23 f4 Kh8 24 g3 b4 25 Nb1 a5
[This general advance is well motivated. If the position opens up, something good has to happen for Black.]
26 Re1 a4 27 h3 Qf7 28 Kd1 Qh5+
[Finally Anand finds a target in the pawn on f4.]
29 g4 Qf7 30 Rf1 Rf8 31 Rff2 Rcc8 32 Qb5
[A foraging mission which Anand probably discounted in his calculations, as he in banking on the opening of the kingside and center now.]
Qc7 33 Qxb4 Rxf4 34 Qxa4 Rxf2 35 Rxf2 Qg3
DIAGRAM
36 Qa6!
[Irritatingly accurate tactical defence. Through judicious counterthreats, the computer retains its extra material.]
Rb8 37 Qf1!
[Fritz3 retains its extra pawn and beings to dig out, but Black is still better because of the looming central mass.]
h6 38 b3 e5 39 Rf3
[A better idea was 39 Qg2 Qh4 40 Rf5 trying to hold up the pawns. After the text, White is in big trouble.]
Qh4 40 Rf7
[Making room for the activation of White's other pieces.]
e4 41 Nd2
DIAGRAM
Qg3
[A creeping move, but the straightforward 41 ... Re8! would have been very strong. Of course, it is useless to talk about time pressure in a 5-minute game, but up to here the play has been very strong.]
42 Qf4 Qg1+ 43 Nf1 Rg8?
[Again, big problems would be posed by 43 ... Re8!]
44 Qd6
[Now White has the situation under control as 44 ... Re8 45 Qg6 accomplishes nothing, and 44 ... e3 45 Qxd5 Re8 46 Ke2 is fine. Given the new state of affairs, Anand decides to abandon the central mass and open up some more lines.]
d3! 45 Qxd5 dxc2+ 46 Kxc2 Qg2+
[The only checking square on the rank, but now the e-pawn is immobile.]
27 Nd2 Rc8+ 48 Kd1 Qh1+
[Black would be unable to grab any material on 48 ... Qg1+ 49 Rf1.]
49 Ke2 Re8 50 Qd7
[Finally the queen establishes control over the Black rook's possible attacking squares.]
Qh2+ 51 Kd1 Rg8 52 Re7!
[Accurately surrounding the e-pawn without jettisoning other pawns unnecessarily.]
Qg1+ 53 Ke2 Qg2+ 54 Ke3 Qxh3+ 55 Kxe4 Qg2+ 56 Kd3 Qa8
DIAGRAM
[Anand has been angling to pick off the a-pawn for a while. Now he is also threatening 57 ... Rd8, but Fritz3 will not let Anand revive the attack.]
57 a4!! Rd8 52 Rxg7 Rxd7+ 59 Rxd7 Qc8?
[Much better was 59 ... Qa6+ 60 Nc4 Qg6+ 61 Kc3 Qxg4 with a fascinating race in store. Now Fritz3 marches to victory.]
60 Rd4 Kg7 61 b4 Kf6 62 Ne4+ Ke5 63 Nc5 Qc6 64 Kc4 Qg2 65 Nd3+ Kf6 66 a5 Qc2+ 67 Kb5 Qc8 68 a6 Qb8+ 69 Kc4 Kg5 70 b5 Qc7+ 71 Nc5 Qf7+ 72 Kb4 Qa7 73 Rd7 Qb6 74 a7 1 - 0
CRUNCH AND COUNTERCRUNCH
In the super-tournament at Tilburg, [date], run as a double round-robin, Garry Kasparov bounded back into form, winning his first major tournament of 1991! One of the players chasing him for top honors was the 21-year-old star from India, Viswanathan Anand. The two games between Kasparov and Anand, were, without exaggeration, brutal. Both games were Sicilians which featured slashing attacks, wandering kings, and hammering blows. Both games ended on the 29th move. This brevity allows me to include both games in this column, which may have to be renamed "Crunch of the Month"!
Kasparov's efforts to popularize chess in the United States are now well recognized. But in the past few months, Kasparov has returned to a daily regimen of chess studying with his trainer, Sergei Makarychev, despite his exhausting schedule. Meanwhile, Anand has become one of the most feared players in the world. His incredible speed is both a source of strength and weakness, inducing as it does blunders in both his opponents and himself.
Recently, Kasparov visited New York and Washington, D.C, both to promote chess and to discuss the current world political situation. Kasparov was particularly anxious to prove that Anand had not outplayed him, and he showed the rapt audience both games. Those who did not follow his analysis at least enjoyed the Q & A period which followed.
B48
Kasparov - Anand Tilburg 1991, Rd. 5 B48
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 Qc7 [There are some interesting transpositional effects to this early posting of the queen. First of all, 5 Nb5 Qb8 accomplishes nothing for White. More promising is 5 c4 which allows 5 ... Qe5?! 6 Nb5 Qe4+ 7 Be2 with a nice game for White - this is reminiscent of the Scotch Steinitz 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 ed 4 Nd4 Qh4 5 Nb5. But after 5 c4 better is the simple 5 ... e6 with possible transposition to Kamsky - I. Gurevich, New York Open 1991 (see Chess Life ____). It is also important to distinguish the different possibiilities of 4 ... Qc7 5 Nc3 e6 from 4 ... e6 Nc3 a6. On 4 ... e6 White can play the "Karpovian" 5 Nb5 d6 6 c4. And on 4 ... e6 5 Nc3 a6 White can play Sax's annoying 6 Nc6 bc 7 Bd3. But one advantage of the move order 4 ... e6 5 Nc3 a6 is that White can not so profitably get Kasparov's setup with bishops on e3 and d3 - if then 6 Be3 Nf6 7 Bd3 Black has no need to play ... Qc7 and can play 7 ... d5 or 7 ... e5.] 5 Nc3 e6 6 Be3 a6 7 Bd3 [White could still have played the more usual move order 7 Be2 Nf6 8 O-O with a main line Taimanov after 8 ... Bb4 or a Scheveningen after 8 ... d6.] Nf6 8 O-O Ne5 [A move which requires some thought. Black threatens 9 ... Neg4, forcing White to spend time defending against it. But since Black will not want to open the c-file with a later ... Nxd3, ultimately the knight will have to retreat. The real point is to get the Black bishop to c5, which cannot be accomplished immediately - 8 ... Bc5 9 Nxe6.] 9 h3 Bc5 10 Kh1 d6 11 f4 Nc6? [This move allows Kasparov's following shot because the bishop on c5 may become undefended. Most logical was 11 ... Ned7 12 Qf3 b5, as in Tal - Najdorf, Belgrade 1970. Placing the knight on g6 would be uncomfortable because Black could then never respond to White's f5 with ... e5.] 12 e5!! [A comparable situation, in which White ignores a picec on d4 in order to get in the push e4-e5 arises after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 e6 5 Nc3 a6 6 g3 Qc7 7 Bg2 Nf6 8 0-0 h6 9 Re1 Nd4 10 e5!, as in DeFirmian - Rohde, New York Open 1988.] Ne5 [A tough move to play, as it temporarily sacs a piece while leaving White with options as to how to throw it back. But Anand clearly saw the alternatives were demoralizing: 12 ... dxe5 13 Ndb5! axb5 14 Bxc5 Nd4 15 fxe5 Qxc5 16 exf6 0-0 17 Ne4 Qe5 18 Qg4 is grisly; 12 ... Nxd4 13 exf6 gxf6 14 Ne4 f5 15 Bxd4! Bxd4 16 Bb5+ axb5 17 Qxd4 0-0 18 Nf6+ Kh8 19 Ne8+ wins; 12 ... Bxd4 13 Bxd4 and now 13 ... Nxd4 14 exf6 gxf6 15 f5! or 13 ... dxe5 14 fxe5 Nd7 15 Ne4! with the amusing triad 15 ... Ndxe5 16 Bc5 and 17 Nd6+ is unstoppable, 15 ... Nxd4 16 Nd6+ wins - if 16 ... Ke7 or 16 ... Kf8 then 17 Rf7+ and 18 Qg4, or 16 ... Kd8 17 Nxf7+, and 15 ... Ncxe5 16 Qh5 with a continuing attack: 16 ... 0-0? 17 Bxe5 followed by 18 Nf6+, or 16 ... H6 17 Ng5 0-0 18 Bh7+! Kh8 19 Nxf7+ Rxf7 20 Rxf7 Kxh7 21 Raf1! threatening 22 Rxg7+ and if 21 ... Nxf7 22 Rxf7 e5 23 Qf5+.] 13 fe de 14 Bb5+! [Much better than 14 Ndb5? axb5 15 Nxb5 Qb6 which is not special.] ab [Black cannot delay the recovery of the piece. If 14 ... Bd7 15 Bxd7+ Nxd7 16 Nxe6! fxe6 17 Bg5 and Black's king is cut off, e.g. 17 ... Nb6 18 Ne4, or 17 ... Be7 18 Bxe7 Kxe7 19 Qh5. On 14 ... Kf8 15 Rf6 hurts: 15 ... gxf6 16 Bh6+ Ke7 17 Nf5+! wins, or 15 ... exd4 16 Bf4 Qe7 (16 ... Bd6 17 Nd5 Qd8 18 Bxd6+ Qxd6 19 Qh5!) 17 Ne4 axb5 18 Be5 (Kasparov) with a crushing bind - if 18 ... b6 19 Qg4 Bb7 20 Raf1. On 14 ... Ke7 15 Rxf6! wins - 15 ... gxf6 16 Nf5+, 15 ... Kxf6 16 Qg4, or 15 ... exd4 16 Bf4 Qa5 (16 ... Bd6 17 Nd5+) 17 Qh5.] 15 Ndb5 Qb6 16 Bc5 Qc5 17 Nd6+ Ke7 18 Rf6! [Only this thematic shot retains the attack.] gf 19 Nce4 Qd4 [Not 19 ... Qe3? 20 Nf5+!] 20 Qh5 Rf8 21 Rd1 [Better than 21 Qh4 Ra6 22 Nc8+ Kd7!] Qe3 22 Qh4 Qf4 23 Qe1! [A pretty switch. Now 23 ... f5 24 Qb4 is devastating.] Ra4 24 Qc3 Rd4 25 Rd4 Qf1+ [Necessary. Not 25 ... ed 26 Qc7+ Bd7 27 27 Nc8+.] 26 Kh2 ed 27 Qc5 Kd7 28 Nb5 Qf4+ 29 g3 [29 ... Qe5 30 Nf6+! Qf6 31 Qc7+ Ke8 and mate is delivered on the key d6 square.] 1 - 0
THE BARNACLE
It was said of Alekhine that to defeat him one had to outplay him "once in the opening, once in the middlegame, and once in the ending". In modern chess lingo, this type of fierce resistance is known as being a "barnacle" - literally, a "marine shellfish that clings to rocks, ship's bottoms, etc." (the Oxford Dictionary). See Chess Chow, vol. 2, issue 1, p. 1 for the etymology of the term "barnacle" as it relates to chess.
English GM William Watson convincingly won the Prague Bohemians 1992 International, a Category ___ tournament. In his game against Czech IM A. Pekarek, Watson found himself, after wild opening complications, with only 2 knights for a queen. Watson proceeded to give an object lesson in how to barnacle. His strategy consisted of 1) freezing the kingside pawns, 2) liquidating the queenside pawns, 3) avoiding piece exchanges, 4) establishing a fortress-like blockade, and 5) engaging in annoying tactical skirmishes. Pekarek, in frustration, became obsessed with breaking down the blockade, or forcing a tactical solution.
Watson - Pekarek, Prague 1992 B50
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 [3 Bb5 is considered a more viable option for the initiative against 2 ... Nc6 than 3 Bb5+ against 2 ... d6.] g6 4 0-0 Bg7 5 c3 e5 [A sharp and risky line, inviting White's following pawn sacrifice. The main line is 5 ... Nf6 6 Re1 Qb6, or 6 e5 Nd5.] 6 d4 ed 7 cd cd [Better than 7 ... Nxd4 8 Nxd4 cxd4 9 Bf4, or in this line 8 ... Bxd4 9 Nc3.] 8 Bf4 a6 [8 ... Nge7 9 Bd6 0-0 10 Nbd2 is more popular these days.] 9 Bc4 [White had many choices at this point. 9 Bd3 d6 10 Nbd2 Ne5, as in a 1972 game Meduna - Hort, is unimpressive. Interesting is 9 Qa4 Nge7 10 Bd6 0-0 11 Qa3, J. Whitehead - Zueger, Cagnes Sur Mer 1977. After the positional 9 Ba4, Black should probably accede to 9 ... Nge7 10 Bd6, as he has too many targets after 9 ... b5 10 Bb3 d6 11 a4. Watson, typically, chose the most aggressive continuation.] d6 10 Re1 [This may be too slow. Ciocaltea - Ghitescu, Romanian Champ. 1975 saw instead 10 Qb3 Qe7 11 Nbd2 Be5 12 Bg3 with decent compensation for the pawn.] Nge7 11 Ng5 [11 Nbd2 0-0 12 Nb3 Bg4, or 12 h3 b5, does not work.] 0-0 12 Qb3 [The crude-looking 12 Qf3 should be met by the cold-blooded 12 ... h6! Then 13 Nxf7 Rxf7 14 Bxd6 (not 14 Bxh6? d5!) Qxd6 is better for Black. With the text Watson embarks on a fascinating combination.] d5 13 ed [After this move, there is no turning back. If White wanted merely to recover the pawn, Black would be quite comfortable after 13 Bxd5 Na5 14 Qf3 Nxd5 15 exd5 Bf5.] Na5 DIAGRAM 14 d6!! [Hopeless was 14 Qc2 Bf5 15 Bd3 Rc8 16 Qe2 Bxd3.] Nd5! [Deserting e7 while attacking more White pieces, Pekarek has no appetite for 14 ... Nxb3 15 dxe7. If then 15 ... Nxa1 16 exd8(Q) Rxd8 Black is up the Exchange, but 17 Nxf7 Rf8 - or 17 ... b5 18 Nxd8+ bxc4 19 Re8+ Bf8 20 Bd6 - 18 Re7! contains the vicious threat 19 Ng5+ Kh8 20 Be5. But what about, after 14 ... Nxb3 15 dxe7, 15 ... Qa5! hitting the rook on e1? DIAGRAM The position is then so complicated that it is worthy of inclusion in Dvoretsky's Candidates training course. When working through the following variations, one must not only watch out for all tactical nuances, but one must also keep count of the pieces! Right now Black is up a queen for a knight. White has three tries: 1) 16 e8(Q)? loses to 16 ... Be6!! which defends f7 and the back rank and threatens mate and all of WHite's major pieces! 2) 16 exf8(Q)+ Bxf8 17 Bxf7+ Kg7 18 Re5 Nc5 leaves White with a rook and a knight for the queen but Black strongly threatens 19 ... Bd6 and 19 ... h6. White can try to improve this with 17 Re5! (instead of 17 Bxf7+) Nc5 18 Nxf7. But then Black is beautiful after 18 ... b5! 19 Bd5 Bb7. 3) 16 Bxf7+ (best) attempts to drive Black's king into the corner so as to win with a variation such as 16 ... Kh8 17 Re5! Nc5 18 e8(Q) and White is a piece ahead. But Black plays 16 ... Rxf7! 17 e8(Q)+ Rf8, and with even material Black is attacking White's major pieces. DIAGRAM After 18 axb3! Qxa1, if 19 Bd6?! Black can draw with 19 ... Rxe8? 20 Rxe8+ Bf8 21 Rxf8+ Kg7 22 Rf7+ Kg8 (not 22 ... Kh6?? 23 h4 Qxb1+ 24 Kh2 Kh5 25 Rxh7+ Kg4 26 f3+ Kf5 27 Rf7 mate) but 19 ... Bf5! 20 Qe2 d3! is strong, so White is better off playing 19 Qe4 or 19 Qe2!?] 15 Bd5?! [Caught up in the excitement of the previous variations, White continues with a speculative queen sacrifice. Better was 15 Qf3! after which Black might take either bishop: 15 ... Nxc4? 16 Qxd5 Nb6 17 Qb3 h6 (the threat was 18 Re7) 18 Nxf7!! Rxf7 19 Re7 Qf8 20 Nd2! and Black has big problems; 15 ... Nxf4! 16 Bxf7+! (not 16 Nxf7 Qf6!) Kh8 (16 ... Rxf7 17 Nxf7 Kxf7 18 Re7+ Kg8 19 Qf4 Bf5 - 19 ... Qf8? 20 Qe4 - 20 g4 Nc6 with rough equality) 17 Qxf4 Nc4 (or 17 ... h6 18 Ne6) 18 Qg3 with a complex game.] Nb3 16 ab Bf6! [Stopping a later Re7.] 17 h4 h6 18 Ne4 Bg7 19 g3 [The combination has not worked out, and White is down material. The barnacle phase begins.] Be6 [The only way to break White's hold on the center. Black is now hoping for 20 Bxe6 fxe6 21 Nc5? e5.] 20 Bb7 Rab8 21 Ba6 Bb3 [21 ... Rxb3? 22 Nc5 Rxb2 23 Nxe6 fxe6 24 Bc4 would be messy.] 22 Nbd2 Bd5 23 Rac1 Qa5 24 Bf1 Rb2 25 Bg2 [Winning back control of the center, with the threat 26 Rc5 Qa2 27 Rxd5.] Be4 26 Ne4 d3 [Of course, Black has to expand sooner or later, but now the d-pawn may require defence.] 27 Red1 Rc2 28 Rb1 f5 [The knight on e4 was very irritating.] 29 Nd2 Rd8 30 Rb7 Qc5 31 Rc7 [Now both sides have protected passed rooks.] Qd4 32 Re1 [Preventing any exchange with 32 ... Be5.] g5 [To eliminate White's d-pawn and stop seventh rank counterplay.] 33 hg hg 34 Bg5 Rd6 35 Rb7 Rd7 36 Re8+ Kh7 37 Be3 Qd6 38 Rb5 [There has been only one exchange of pieces in the last 20 moves.] Qg6 39 Ra8 Rc1+? [Correct was 39 ... Qh5 preventing White from getting his bishop to h3 and meeting 40 Rxf5? with 40 ... Rc1+. If 40 Rb1 Rdc7 41 Nf3 Bh6 is strong, and 40 Nf3 d2 is curtains. White must try 40 Raa5!! with bizarre complications after 40 ... Rxd2 41 Rxf5 Qd1+ 42 Kh2.] 40 Kh2 Rd1 [On 40 ... Rdc7, threatening 41 ... Qh5+ 42 Bh3 Rh1+, 41 Rxf5 is possible.] 41 Nf3 Bf6 [If 41 ... d2 42 Ng5+ Qxg5 43 Bxg5 Rh1+ 44 Bxh1 d1(Q) White is OK with a rook, bishop, and pawn for the queen. But after the text it will become impossible to hold the f5 point.] 42 Bh3 Qh5 43 Kg2 d2 44 Bd2 Rfd2 45 Nd2 Qe2? [He had to play 45 ... Rxd2, with a potential draw after 46 Bxf5+ Kh6 47 Ra6 Qg5 48 Rbb6 Rxf2+ 49 Kxf2 Qxf5+, etc.] 46 Bf5+ Kh6 47 Ra7! [A winning shot, as 47 ... Be7 loses to 48 Rb6+ Kg5 49 Nf3+ Kf5 50 Ra5+ Ke4 51 Re5+.] Qb5 48 Rh7+ Kg5 49 Nf3+ Kf5 50 Rh5+ Kg6 51 Rb5 [White has converted his sudden initiative into a simple endgame win. Rc1 52 Rb6 Kg7 53 Rb7+ Kg8 54 g4 Rc2 55 Kg3 Bb2 56 Nh4 Bd4 57 f3 Bf2+ 58 Kh3 Rc3 59 Nf5! Rf3+ 60 Kg2 Rf4 61 Ne7+ Kg7 62 Nd5+ 1 - 0
Crowd-Pleaser
Before the opening ceremony of the Reshevsky Memorial, hosted by Milbank, Tweed in New York City from July 13 - 24, the arbiters had set up the tables, name tags and flags at random, of course not knowing who would play who until the drawing of lots. These "pairings" proved to be startlingly psychic, as only two names had to be switched after the real match-ups were determined! A ripple went through the audience when it became clear that Judit Polgar had selected the lottery number that forced her to play (as "predicted") her sister Zsuzsa in the first round.
Judit essayed a relatively new attacking continuation in the 3 Bb5 Sicilian. Zsuzsa parried with a continuation which gains space at the cost of perilously slow kingside development. While Judit commenced a direct assault against Zsuzsa's uncastled king, Zsuzsa was able to centralize and create some threats of her own. Neither side could back down from the confrontation, and the position seemed to take on its own momentum.
J. Polgar - Zsu. Polgar, Rd 1, Reshevsky Mmemorial
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5
[Avoiding Zsuzsa's expertise in the Sveshnikov and Taimanov variations. Judit also plays the Taimanov as Black, although she exclusively uses the 2 ... e6 move order.]
e6 4 O-O Nge7
[This is the standard follow-up to 3 ... e6.]
5 c3!
[A strong move which has been long overlooked. The idea is to develop a Ruy Lopez pawn center with d2-d4 and let the bishop drop back to c2; Black's awkwardly placed minors might then give her problems. The old move is 5 b3, trying to utilize the long diagonal. Then Black's best is probably 5 ... Nd4! 6 Nxd4 cxd4 7 Bb2 a6! (Better than 7 ... Nc6 8 c3 Bc5 9 Qh5.) 8 Bd3 Nc6 with equality. A sharper alternative, inviting White to complete her plan, is, after 5 b3, 5 ... a6 6 Bxc6 Nxc6 7 Bb2 b5 8 d4 cxd4 9 Nxd4 Bb7 or 9 ... Qf6!?]
a6 6 Ba4 b5
[A radical way to stop d2-d4 is 6 ... c4!? as tried in Psakhis - Rohde from the 6th round of this event. One of the ideas is illustrated by 7 Qe2 b5 8 Bc2 Ng6 9 b3 Bc5! 10 bxc4 Nf4, etc. In the game Psakhis played the uninspiring 7 d4 cxd3 8 Qxd3, obtaining little. More dangerous would have been 7 Bc2! followed by 8 b3.]
7 Bc2 d5 8 e5
DIAGRAM
[White plans on getting a nice Advance French with d2-d4 next where Black's ... a6 and ... b5 are irrelevant compared to White's secure center and kingside space advantage. Zsuzsa correctly prevents this possibility.]
d4 9 Be4 Nd5
[Perhaps Black can dispense with this and simply play 9 ... g6. Now White develops irritating pressure.]
10 a4 Rb8 11 axb5 axb5 12 Qc2 h6 13 cxd4 Nxd4 14 Nxd4 cxd4 15 d3 Bb7 16 Qe2 g6!
[Seemingly risky, but White would be very happy after 16 ... Be7 17 Nd2. The text provides needed counterplay against the e-pawn.]
17 Nd2 Bg7 18 Nb3!
[Eyeing c5 and a5. It would be tough to make forward progress on the mundane 18 Nf3 Qb6.]
Bxe5!
[Typical of Zsuzsa's practical style: she eliminates her positional disadvantage, figuring she has better equity in a tactical battle.]
19 Bxg6
[Of course not 19 Nc5? Bxh2+. The text is the beginning of a campaign to break down the e6 square.]
Qd6 20 f4
DIAGRAM
Nxf4
[Again seeking the most complicated route. But Black's position would finally have been cohesive after the judicious retreat 20 ... Bg7. Then after 21 Be4 an interesting positional problem arises. Black doesn't want to allow f4-f5, so she should play 21 ... f5 22 Bf3 O-O 23 Bd2 Rfe8, after which she is ready for e6-e5. The point is that the Black pawn on f5 stops White from sealing the e-file with her bishop on e4.]
21 Bxf7+ Ke7
[Not 21 ... Kxf7? 22 Bxf4 Bxf4 23 Rxf4+ Qxf4 24 Rf1 and the White queen and knight combo will be deadly.]
22 Bxf4 Bxf4 23 Rxf4!
[Judit breaks through on e6 after all, at the cost of the Exchange. At first, White's threats seem overwhelming, but she has to watch out for potential queen exchanges and threats on the long diagonal.]
Qxf4 24 Qxe6+ Kf8 25 Re1 Qg5
[In turn, each sister threatens total destruction.]
26 g3
DIAGRAM
Rd8!!
[The threat was 27 Re5, and 26 ... Kg7 would not have helped. But the text prepares the vicious sequence 27 Re5 Bc8! and wins! Note also that if White tries instead 27 Rf1, then 27 ... Kg7 is strong as 28 ... Qe3+ is coming.]
27 Bg6 Bd5 28 Nxd4!!
[Amazingly, on 28 Rf1+? Kg7 29 Rf7+ Kg8 White has overreached. But now, with her queen in a hlding pattern (i.e., still hovering on e6), 28 ... Rg8 is refuted by 29 Rf1+ Kg7 30 Nf5+ Kh8 31 Qe5+. So Black must exchange.]
Bxe6 29 Nxe6+ Kg8 30 Nxg5 hxg5 31 Re5
[Judit has 2 pawns for the Exchange, and intends to clean out her opponent's remaining pawns. Zsuzsa scrambles for counterplay.]
Rc8 32 d4 Rc1+ 33 Kg2 Rd1
[The arrival of the rook on the seventh rank ensures the draw.]
34 Rxg5 Rd2+ 35 Kf3 Rhxh2 36 Bd3+ Kf7 37 Ke3 Rxb2 38 Bxb5 Kf6 39 Rc5 Rb3+ 40 Bd3 Rh1 41 Rf5+ Ke6 42 Rf3 Kd5 43 Rf5+ Kd6 44 Rf6+ Kd5 1/2 - 1/2
EXCITING FINISH
Going into the 10th and final game of the Candidates Match between Nigel Short and Anatoly Karpov, Karpov needed to win as Black to avoid losing the match. Since the Sicilian may be the only defense against e4 that prevents White from obtaining a risk-free position, Karpov had to venture it. Some players in Short's position, needing only a draw to win the match, might have essayed a quiet or drawish system. Indeed, how to draw as White against the Sicilian is a subject that I have been wrestling with for some time. But Short made no attempt to duck out, and instead engaged Karpov in an opposite-sides-castling battle.
The line of the Richter-Rauzer which Karpov selected concedes doubled pawns on the kingside but ensures a complex middlegame. The only problem was that Short obtained a great position. He threw his kingside pawns forward menacingly, and stymied Karpov's queenside play. When Karpov tried to break in the center, Short sacked a pawn to disorganize Karpov's forces. When Karpov rushed to defend the kingside, Short invaded the queenside, winning material. Suddenly, Karpov freed his game with a desperate and brilliant combination. At the critical moment, however, he misfired, and Short was home free.
B63
Short - Karpov, Candidates, B63
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4
[Resisting the temptation to play the "safe" 3 Bb5 which , for example, I used to secure a draw as White against Benjamin to make a GM norm in the 1987 New York Open.]
cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 Bg5
[The signal move of the Richter-Rauzer, essentially committing White to an opposite sides castling situation. 6 Be2 would have led, after 6 ... g6 to the Classical Dragon, after 6 ... e6 to the Scheveningen, or 6 ... e5 to the Boleslavsky.]
e6 7 Qd2 Be7
[The leading American exponent of this system is D. Gurevich. The other main lines are 7 ... a6 8 O-O-O h6 (popularized by Dlugy), and 7 ... a6 8 O-O-O Bd7 (as played the Zaltzman variation).]
8 O-O-O O-O
DIAGRAM
9 Nb3
[The main line is 9 f4 h6 10 Bh4 (Not 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12 Qxd6 Qb6 with good play) e5 with tremendous complications. The text 9 Nb3 is recommended by Nunn in his classic Beating the Sicilian, and was once played by Karpov against Kasparov! That game, from the ____ World Championship, continued with Kasparov innovating 9 ... a5 10 a4 d5, and after 11 exd5 Nxd5 Black soon equalized. Later, however, Vitolinsh and Tal discovered 11 Bb5! which has scored well for White. Note that after 9 ... a5, in contrast to the game, 10 Bxf6 would not be good because of 10 ... Bxf6! 11 Qxd6 Qxd6 12 Rxd6 a4.]
a6 10 Bxf6 gxf6
[Karpov has obtained a very double-edged position, where White can not play to keep the draw in hand for fear of simply losing the initiative. With his next move, Short commences a general and fearless kingside advance. A good alternative plan was demonstrated in Adams - Frias, London 1990: 11 Qh6 Kh8 12 Qh5! (to inhibit ... Rg8) Qe8 13 f4 Rg8 14 Bd3 Rg7 15 g4 b5 16 h4 b4 17 Ne2 e5 18 f5 and White has slightly better chances. And in Vitolinsh - Smirin, USSR championship 1989, wild complications ensued after 11 f4 b5 12 Bd3 Kh8 13 Rhe1 Rg8 14 Nd5!? exd5 15 exd5 Ne5!? 16 fxe5 fxe5 17 Kb1 Bg4 18 Be2, and though Black's position has some nice features, again White is more comfortable.]
11 h4 Kh8
[Black can also try dispensing with this standard precautionary move. In Jansa - Sax, Biel Interzonal 1985 play continued 11 ... b5 12 g4 b4 13 Ne2 a5 14 Nbd4 Ne5 15 g5 (a pawn sacrifice which Black ignores) a4 16 Ng3 b3. Black seems to have gotten there first but White took twice on b3 (17 axb3 axb3 18 Nxb3) and later prevailed. Sax was so impressed that he then tried the White side of this line, against Van der Wiel, in Brussels 1985. Van der Wiel diverged with 14 ... Nxd4 15 Nxd4 Bb7 16 g5 f5. After 17 Rg1 White was planning a vicious attack: for example 17 ... Bxe4 18 h5, etc. But Black found 17 ... f4! shutting off White's queen's access, and after 18 h5 e5 the players agreed to a draw, in view of 19 Nf5 Bxe4 20 Nxe7+ Qxe7 21 Qxd6, etc.]
12 g4 b5
[In several games Black has tried first 12 ... Rg8 here. Campora - Zueger, Dubai Olympiad 1986 continuted 13 g5 (White is always willing to sac a pawn to open the h-file) fxg5 14 hxg5 e5 15 f4 Rg7 (Not 15 ... exf4? 16 Rxh7+!) 16 Kb1 exf4 17 Qxf4 Ne5 18 Bh3 Bxg5 with an unclear position. In Judasin - Aseev, USSR 1987, after 12 ... Rg8 13 g5, Black played 13 ... b5 14 f4 Bb7 15 Kb1 b4 16 Ne2 a5 17 Bg2 a4 18 Nbd4 Na5, and White started munching with 19 Qxb4 d5 20 Qxa4 and somehow survived.]
13 g5 b4
DIAGRAM
14 Na4!
[Although the knight is a potential target here, it is also quite annoying. Moreover, it stops the advance of the a-pawn. Karpov may have been surprised by this placement.]
Rg8 15 f4
[Only Black would be helped by 15 gxf6 Bf8! and if 16 Qf4 Rg6.]
Rb8 16 Kb1
[Now 16 gxf6 would lead to an unclear situation after 16 ... Bxf6 17 Qxd6 Qe8, as White's pieces seem disorganized.]
Bf8 17 Be2 e5
[It is easy to be suspicious about this move in light of what later transpired, but Black's position was already difficult. On 17 ... Bd7 18 Nac5 Be8! 19 Nxa6 Rb6 gives compensation, but instead White plays 18 gxf6! Qxf6 19 e5, or 18 ... Na5 19 Nac5. And 17 ... f5 18 exf5 exf5 19 h5 is dangerous.]
18 f5!
[Short is willing to sacrifice a pawn to deny Karpov the use of the e5 square, open the h-file, and cut the board in half, so as to concentrate threats on one side or the other.]
fxg5 19 hxg5 Rxg5
[Black is too passive after 19 ... Qxg5 20 Qd5 Nd8 21 Na5! and 22 Nc4.]
DIAGRAM
20 Qe3!
[Preparing the re-entry of the knight via b6. Since Be2-c4-d5 is in the air, Karpov allows Na4-b6 and hurries to prepare counterplay.]
Qf6 21 Nb6 Ne7
[Of course, Nb6-d5 had to be stopped also.]
22 Nxc8 Rxc8 23 Bxa6 Rd8 24 Qb6 Ng8
[Karpov must have had this position in mind when he played 20 ... Qf6. 25 ... d6-d5 is in the air.]
25 Na5!?
[Stalking the rook on d8 ... Simpler was 25 Qxb4.]
d5 26 Nc6 Rd6 27 exd5 Ne7 28 Qxb4?
DIAGRAM
[Correct was 28 Qc5 untangling and keeping an eye on g1. Then 28 ... Nxf5 29 Bd3 and Black is in bad shape. But after the text Karpov embarks on a very unusual combination in which he sacs a piece and then converts his pinned rook into a battery:]
Nxd5 29 Rxd5
[Probably better, although very unclear, was 29 Qh4 h6 30 Bb5.]
Qg7?
[Threatening 30 ... Rg1+ and 30 ... Rxd5. A pretty move, but as Seirawan points out, he should have played 29 ... Rxd5! Then after 30 Qxf8+ Rg8 31 Qe7 (to answer 31 ... Qxc6 with 32 Qxf7; if 31 Qb4 Qxc6 32 Qh4 h6 33 f6 Rg6 34 Bd3 Qxf6!) Black has the stunning 31 ... Qh6!! 32 Re1 Qxc6.]
30 Rxd6 Rg1+ 31 Rd1 Rxd1+ 32 Rxd1 Bxb4 33 Nxb4 Qg4
[The sting at the tail end of the combination, which, however, works only to the extent of picking up the pawn on f5, as Short scrambles away from the double attack on his rook and knight, and simultaneously makes luft, preserving his 3 pieces vs. the queen material edge.]
34 Rd8+ Kg7 35 a3 Qxf5 36 Rd1 h5 37 Re1 Qe6?
[Time trouble becomes a factor. Short's last move was designed to control the e4 square next with 38 Bb7, and Karpov reacts to that. Although White was probably winning in any event, there was no excuse not to play 37 ... h4, just to see if the h-pawn can do any damage.]
38 Bb7 f5 39 Bd5 Qf6
[Better was 39 ... Qd6.]
40 c4 e4 41 c5
[Time pressure is over, and the c-pawn will score a touchdown after 41 ... h4 42 c6 Qd8 43 Be6 or 42 ... Qe7 43 Na6. 1 - 0
Tate - Ashley, NY Open Rd. 9
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 a6 8 O-O-O h6
[The popular "Dlugy Variation" of the Richter-Rauzer.]
9 Be3 Qc7
[Another line is the immediate 9 ... Nxd4 followed by 10 ... b5.]
10 f3 Rb8
[This unusual move reserves options, lends strength to ... b5-b4, and avoids problems concerning the sensitive b6 square.]
11 g4 Ne5
DIAGRAM
[A very provocative move. The centralized White knight on d4 is no longer "marked", and White is tempted by ideas of f3-f4 and e4-e5. On the other hand, the knight pressurizes the White pawns, and aims for c4. If White stops to defend the h-pawn with 12 h3, then 12 ... b5 13 f4 Nc4 14 Bxc4 bxc4 brings the rook on b8 to life.]
12 f4!
[Sidetracking the Black knight and getting his own attack started.]
Nexg4 13 Bg1
[It seems that 13 e5 Nxe3 14 Qxe3 dxe5 15 fxe5 Nd7 is not good enough. Now 14 h3 is threatened.]
e5
[Of course not the passive 13 ... h5? 14 h3 Nh6 15 e5, etc. Very interesting was I. Gurevich's suggestion 13 ... b5! Then 14 h3 b4 is good for Black, so White probably has to stop for 14 a3.]
DIAGRAM
14 Bb5+!!?
[Another wild line is 14 Nf3! exf4 15 e5 dxe5 16 Bb5+ with 16 ... Bd7 17 Bb6, or 16 ... axb5 17 Nxb5 Qd7 (not 17 ... Qe7 18 Bc5) Qa5 and continuing complications.]
axb5 15 Ndxb5 Qd8
[Better was 15 ... Qc6, but Ashley wanted to avoid the irritant 16 Na7.]
16 Bc5
[Not good enough was 16 h3 exf4 17 hxg4 Bxg4.]
d5!
[This defuses the pressure on d6.]
17 Ba7 Ra8
DIAGRAM
18 Nxd5?
[Tate finally overcombines. Later he recommended 18 Rhe1 to stop ... Rxa7 followed by ... Bc5, but Black can reply 18 ... Bb4! 19 h3 O-O! Instead, now was a good moment for 18 h3! Rxa7 19 Nxa7 Bc5 20 hxg4 Bxa7 21 g5 Ng4 22 Nxd5 and Black is in trouble.]
Nxd5 19 Qxd5 Qxd5 20 Nc7+ Kd7 21 Nxa8 Qd6!
[Cleaner than the also possible 21 ... Qxd1+ 22 Rxd1+ Kc6 23 Rd8 b5! 24 Rxc8+ Kb7.]
22 Bb8 Kc6 23 Bxd6 Bxd6 24 Rd3!
[A good way to create chances in this lost ending.]
b5 Rhd1 Bc5 26 Rd8 Rxd8 27 Rxd8 Bb7 28 h3 Nf2?
[The crusher was 28 ... exf4! 29 hxg4 f3 30 Kd2 f2 31 Ke2 b4.]
29 fxe5 Nxh3 30 c3 Nf2 31 b4 Be7 32 Rb8 Bg5+ 33 Kc2 h5?
[Overlooking White's threat. 33 ... Bxa8 was still convincing. After White's next, he is back in it, and we need Pal Benko to figure out what is going on.]
34 a4! Bxa8 35 axb5+ Kd7 36 Rxa8 Bf4 37 Rf8 Ke7 38 Rh8 h4 39 Rxh4 g5 40 Rh8 Bxe5 41 Rg8 f6 42 b6 Kf7 43 Ra8 g4 44 Ra1 g3 45 Rg1 Nxe4 46 c4 Ke6 47 Kd3 f5 48 Ke3 Ng5 49 c5 f4+ 50 Kd3 f3 51 Re1 f2 52 Rxe5+ Kxe5 53 Ke2 Nf3 54 b7 Nd4+ 55 Kf1 Nc6 56 b5 Nb8 57 c6 Kd6 1/2 - 1/2
B77
Ivanovic - Miroslav Markovic, Podgorica 1992
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 O-O 8 Qd2 Nc6 9 Bc4 Bd7
( 9 ... Nd7 10 h4 Nb6 11 Bb3 Na5 12 Qd3 Nxb3 13 axb3 d5 14 Ndb5 a6 ( 14 ... Be6) 15 Bxb6 Qxb6 16 Nxd5 Qd8 17 Nbc3 b5 18 O-O-O e6 19 Nb4 Qa5 20 Nca2 Bb7 21 Qd7 Rab8 22 Kb1 Rfd8 23 Qe7 Qb6 Santo-Roman - Sosonko Cannes 1992)
10 h4 Ne5 11 Bb3 b5 ( 11 ... Rc8) 12 h5 (12 Ndxb5 Qb8 13 Nd4 Rc8 14 h5 Nc4 15 Bxc4 Rxc4) Nc4 13 Bxc4 bxc4 14 Bh6 Qa5 ( 14 ... Qb6! 15 hg6 fg6 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 17 Qh6+ Kf7 18 O-O-O Rab8 19 b3 Qa5 20 Kb2 Rfc8) 15 Bxg7 Kxg7 16 hg6 fg6 17 O-O-O Rab8 18 g4 Kg8 19 Nf5 gxf5 (Bxf5 gxf5 Qb4 21 Qh6 Qb2 22 Kd2 Qb6)
The Slush Pile
Players often seek to revitalize previously discarded lines both for their surprise value and for creative reasons, much as a literary editor might sift through old submissions (a "slush pile") in search of an overlooked jewel. In the game between U.S. Junior Champion Boris Kreiman and his Canadian counterpart Alexander Lesiege from the Enhance International held at the Marshall CC in October, Lesiege played a line which had been relegated to the junk heap ever since Fischer - Tal, ________ 19__. In that game, Tal dangerously snatched a center pawn, and though he later won the game, this was generally attributed to his magical or hypnotic abilities.
Kreiman - Lesiege
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Bc4
[Nigel Short's dramatic near wins in the 6 Bc4 Najdorf against Kasparov have really bolstered the variation. Here, however, Black has played not the Najdorf 5 ... a6 but the Scheveningen 5 ... e6. One of the advantages of this move order is that Black can quickly park the queen's knight on c5 via a6, while developing the kingside. Because the knight never passes through d7, White does not get the chance to sac on e6. E.g., 6 ... Be7
7 O-O O-O 8 Bb3 (8 f4 d5) Na6!, etc.]
a6 7 Bb3 b5
[Against Short, Kasparov continually resorted to the unusual 7 ... Nbd7.] ***{CHECK ACCURACY OF THIS}
8 f4
[Lately 8 O-O Be7 9 Qf3 has become more popular. A classic "Najdorfhead" battle was DeFirmian - Browne, U.S. Championship 1989, which continued 9 ... Qc7 10 Qg3 Nc6 11 Nxc6 Qxc6 12 Re1 O-O 13 Bh6 Ne8 14 Nd5 Bd8, and Nick introduced Danny Olim's 15 Re3 DIAGRAM which sets the trap 15 ... Bb7 16 Rc3 Qd7 17 Rc7!! Note that after 8 O-O Bb7 9 Re1 is uncomfortable for Black because 9 ... Be7 is crushed by 10 Bxe6.]
DIAGRAM
b4?!
[The old main line is 8 ... Be7 9 O-O O-O 10 e5 dxe5 11 fxe5 Nfd7 12 Qh5 Nc6! 13 Nxc6 Qb6+. In this line Black can also try 9 ... Bb7 with the idea 10 e5 dxe5 11 fxe5 Bc5 12 Be3 Bxd4! (stronger than 12 ... Nc6 13 exf6 Bxd4 14 Qe1) 13 Bxd4 Nc6 with equality. Then 10 Be3, threatening 11 Bxe6 fe 12 Nxe6, as there will be no check on b6, has gotten good results, although Black came out on top in Borkowski - Wojtkiewicz, Poland 1989 after 10 ... b4 (not 10 ... Nxe4 11 f5 e5 12 Ne6) 11 e5 (interesting is 11 Na4 O-O 12 Bxe6) bc 12 ef Bxf6 13 Ba4+ Nd7 14 f5 O-O! Note that this is a rare opening in which the e-pawn always seems to be poisoned; in most openings a center pawn is worth a little trouble.]
9 Na4 Nxe4
[A diligent ChessBase search of over 200,000 games failed to turn up a single game since Fischer-Tal where Black has dared to take this pawn!]
10 O-O Bb7
[Is this the home-cooked preparation? in My 60 Memorable Games, 10 ... g6, which Tal played, was pronounced the only move, although Fischer proceeded with 11 f5! gxf5 12 Nxf5! with a very strong attack, which he later misplayed.]
11 f5 e5 12 Ne6
DIAGRAM
[All according to the Fischer recipe.]
Qe7
[Fairly gruesome is 12 ... fxe6 13 Qh5+ Kd7 14 fxe6+ Kc8 15 Be3; let's spare the details. Lesiege's idea is based on the premise that 12 Ne6 was a passive sacrifice that need not be accepted immediately.]
13 Nb6
[White may still have a strong attack after this, but another good method was the cautious and prosaic 13 Nxf8! After 13 ... Kxf8 (13 ... Rxf8 runs into 14 Nb6 and 15 Ba4+) 14 Nb6, Black is experiencing a lot of difficulties and only has one pawn to show for it; 14 ... Ra7 15 Be3 and the experiment has flopped. Instead, Kreiman opts to continue the direct assault.]
fe6 14 fe Nf6 15 Bg5?!
[Since grabbing the Exchange on a8 would not restore material equality, Kreiman correctly presses on, but the game shows that the text was inaccurate, as it is not easy to increase meaningful pressure on f6. More incisive was 15 Be3!, as after 15 ... Nc6 the quiet 16 c3! leaves Black in a quandary facing an eventual Nb6-d5 and Rf1-f7, e.g. 16 ... Qc7 17 Rxf6 gxf6 18 Qh5+ and 19 Nd5. Also, the dubious-looking 15 ... Ra7 gets flattened by 16 Nd7 Ra8 17 Nxf6+ gxf6 18 Qh5+ Kd8 19 Bb6+! Kc8 20 Rxf6 Rg8 21 Rf7. Black's best after 15 Be3 may be 15 ... Qc7, trying to get 16 ... Be7 in. Again, 16 c3 looks simple and strong. Not quite good enough would be 16 Rxf6 gxf6 17 Qh5+ Kd8 18 Nc4 looking for 18 ... Qe7 19 Bb6+ Kc8 20 Nxd6+!, because Black has 18 ... Qc6!]
Ra7 16 Qe2
[Covering g2 and connecting the rooks. Another idea was to open a second front with 16 c3.]
Qc7! 17 Nd7!
DIAGRAM
Be7!
[Leseige has carefully planned his emergence from the bind. He avoids opening lines for his opponent with 17 ... Nbxd7 18 exd7+ Qxd7 (or 18 ... Kxd7 19 Rxf6 gxf6 20 Qg4+) 19 Rxf6 gxf6 20 Qh5+. By leaving the e6 pawn on the board, Black preserves the option of playing Rh8-g8. Thus, after 18 Nxf6+ gxf6 19 Bxf6 Bxf6 20 Rxf6 Rg8, Black is doing very well.]
18 Be3!
[On the consistent 18 Nxf6+ gxf6 19 Rxf6 Rg8! 20 Qh5+ Kd8 21 Raf1, keeping the drumbeat of the attack moving, a real downer is 21 ... Qc6, exploiting White's overloaded pieces. Then 22 Rf8+ is calmly met by 22 ... Kc7, and it's over.]
Be4
[The unique double defense to the twin menaces of 19 Bxa7 or 19 Rxf6 followed by 20 Qh5+ and 21 Bb6: now the Black queen guards the rook and the bishop guards the g6 square.]
19 Bxa7 Qxa7+ 20 Kh1 d5
DIAGRAM
21 Nxb8
[A more irritating way for White to handle the position was 21 Ba4! Nbxd7+ 22 exd7+ Kd8 (or the bizarre 22 ... Kf7 23 Qh5+ Ke6 23 Qh3+ Kd6) 23 c4, and despite Black's material advantage, it is not clear he stands better.]
Qxb8 22 Ba4+ Kf8 23 Qh5
[Kreiman was dissatisfied with the situation after 23 Qxa6 g6.]
Bg6 24 Qg5 Kg8 25 Bb3 Be4 26 c4 bc 27 bc h6 28 Qh4 Qb7
[Understandably setting up the diagonal battery, but it was better to preoccupy the White queen with 28 ... Qd6 29 Qh3 Kh7 followed by Rh8-c8 and Black assumes firm control.]
29 Rae1 Kh7 30 Qg3 Qc7 31 c4
[Breaking up the Black center was an important achievement.]
dc 32 Rc1 Bg6 33 Rc4 Qd6 34 Rd1 Qb6
[Of course not 34 ... Qxe6?? 35 Rc7 but 34 ... Qb8 was still possible.]
35 Qe5 Rf8 36 h3 Rd8
[The rook hasn't served a useful purpose all game, so he dispenses with it.]
37 Rcd4 Rd4 38 Qd4 Bc5 39 Qd8 Qb4!
[With the queens off, Black would have no winning chances. WIth them on, Black can blockade e7 and possibly work up a dark square attack.]
40 Qd2 Qh4
DIAGRAM
41 Bc2
[Knight incursions were threatened on e4 and g4.]
Ne4! 42 Be4 Be4 43 Kh2
[The only other defence of h3, 43 Qc3, loses to 43 ... Qf2.]
Qf6 44 Rc1
[A better try was 44 Re1! and if 44 ... Qe5+ 45 g3 (not 45 Kh1 Bd6).]
Bf2!
[Now Black is angling to get his queen to g3.]
45 Kh1 Qf5 46 Rc3 Ba7! 47 e7
[White is lost anyway after 47 Qe2 Qxe6.
Qf1+ 48 Kh2 Bf2 0 - 1
B93
Anand - Kasparov Tilburg 1991, Rd. 12 B93
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 f4 e6 [A critical line against the 6 f4 system is 6 ... e5 7 Nf3 Nbd7 with variations such as 8 Bc4 b5, or 8 a4 d5!?] 7 Bd3 Nbd7 8 O-O Qb6 [This move may be overly sharp but Black is passively placed after 8 ... Be7 9 Kh1. If 8 ... Qb6 is no good, Black would probably have to ditch 7 ... Nbd7 also and play 7 ... Nc6 instead.] 9 Be3 Qb2 10 Ndb5! ab 11 Nb5 Ra5 [In DeFirmian - Gheorghiu, Lone Pine 1980 11 ... Qb4 worked out badly after 12 Nc7+ Ke7 13 Nxa8 Qa5 14 e5. Even worse would be 12 ... Kd8 13 Nxa8 Qa5 14 Nb6! Nxb6 15 Qe1!] 12 Rb1 Rb5! [The point. 12 ... Qxa2 13 Nc3 Qa3 14 Rb3 was impossible.] 13 Rb2 Rb2 [So far Black has a rook and two minors for the queen but White's next will recover an Exchange.] 14 Qa1 Rb6 [Forget about 14 ... Rb4? 15 Qc3.] 15 Bb6 Nb6 [The key position. Black has 3 pieces for the queen, and if he can stabilize by getting a knight to c5 or by taking advantage of White's weak dark squares, then he will have a good game. 16 Qc3! [Anand targets the uncoordinated queenside minors.] Be7 17 Rb1 [Accurate. 17 Qc7 leads nowhere after 17 ... Nfd7 18 Rb1 0-0 19 Rb6? Bd8!] Nfd7 [Forced. 17 ... Bd8 18 Qd4 would be deflating.] 18 Qg7 Bf6 19 Qh6 [White's payoff has been the capture of the g-pawn and it was time to reevaluate the position. Black has activated the dark-squared bishop but still has problems with his knights. Kasparov said he should have played 19 ... Rg8 which stops White's plan g4-g5. But then 20 Bb5 still seems strong.] Ke7 20 Bb5 [Best was 20 g4! (Kasparov) Then 20 ... Rg8 21 g5 Bg7 22 Qh4 (Not 22 Qxh7?? Bd4+ and 23 ... Rh8) with a big advantage.] Rg8? [Also bad was 20 ... Nc5? 21 e5 dxe5 22 fxe5 Bxe5 23 Qg5+. Now was the moment to stabilize with 20 ... e5! (Kasparov) White cannot allow Black to post the bishop at e5, so he must play 21 f5. Then 21 ... Nc5 hits the e-pawn and Black has time to organize a coherent defence. Note that 20 ... Bd4+ 21 Kh1 e5 fails to 22 Qh4+ Nf6 23 c3!] 21 Rd1 e5 [It was too late for 21 ... Nc5 22 e5 dxe5 23 fxe5 Bxe5 24 Qh4+ Bf6 25 Qb4 (Ftacnik)] 22 f5 Nc5? [23 Qd2 was the threat, and Ftacnik's recommendation 22 ... Na8 does not help. The best try was 22 ... Rd8 23 g4 Nc5! (Black is helpless after 23 ... Rg8 24 h3 as 24 ... d5? 25 exd5 Bg5 26 Qxh7 Nf6 loses to 27 d6+ and White again threatens 25 Qd2) 24 g5 Nxe4 25 gxf6+ Nxf6 with a bizarre situation where Black has only two knights for the queen but some counterplay (Kasparov).] 23 Rd6! [Now Anand mops up incisively.] Bg5 [Black falls apart on 23 ... Kxd6 24 Qxf6+] 24 Qh7 Ne4 25 Rb6 25 Rd8 26 Bd3 [Shutting down all counterplay.] 26 Be3+ 27 Kf1 Bb6 28 Be4 Rd4 29 c3 1 - 0
ICE COLD DEFENSE
A rule of thumb is that, in the World Open, one needs to score 7 out of 9 to get into the winner's circle. This year, that score was good for a seven-way tie for second place and $1943. One of the last-round pairings between players with 6 points was Ferdinand Hellers vs. Igor Ivanov.
The players entered one of the most complicated subvariations of the Najdorf. Hellers proceeded to sacrifice a bishop in a frontal assault against Ivanov's uncastled king. But Ivanov was unfazed, and insisted on defending actively. Soon Hellers sacked, or lost, an additional Exchange. In any case, the attack seemed to be breaking through.
But the unflappable Ivanov threw back the extra rook in order to get the queens off the board. Suddenly, Hellers was up a pawn. But his pieces were woefully unprepared for the pawn race which ensued.
Hellers, F. - Ivanov, I, World Open 1992 B97
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5
[Hellers selects the sharpest continuation, probably because Ivanov is known more as a natural player than as a theoretician.] e6 7 f4 Qc7
[Less often played than 7 ... Qb6 (the Poisoned Pawn), 7 ... Be7 (the main line), or 7 ... b5 (the Polugaevsky) but just as complicated. Kasparov's adoption of 7 ... Qc7 has led to a renewed investigation of systems which dispense with the early ... Be7.]
8 Qf3
[A solid alternative is 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Be2. At Tilburg 1989, Ivanchuk and Ljubojevic both tried 8 Qe2!? against Kasparov, but Black's position was reasonable after 8 ... Nc6! 9 O-O-O Nxd4 10 Rxd4 Be7.]
Nbd7
[Generally considered a little too risky is 8 ... b5 in view of 9 f5! or 9 O-O-O b4 (more reliable is 9 ... Bb7) 10 e5 Bb7 11 Ncb5 Qb8 12 Qh3!]
9 O-O-O b5
[Black could still have transposed back to the main line with 9 ... Be7 10 g4, etc.]
10 Bxb5
[It is reasonable to seek a sacrificial solution before Black gets ... Bb7 in. But out of control would be 10 e5 Bb7 11 Qh3 dxe5 12 Nxe6: after 12 ... fxe6 13 Qxe6+ Be7 14 Nxb5!? axb5 15 Bxb5 O-O-O! Black is fine.]
axb5 11 e5
[It does not seem to matter whether White plays this move or Nxb5 first.]
Bb7 12 Ndxb5 Qb6!
[In Korsunskij - Konovalov, USSR 1977, Black lost after 12 ... Qc8 13 Qe2 dxe5 14 fxe5 Nd5 15 Ne4 Qc6? (forced was 15 ... Ra6) 16 Rxd5! The text keeps the queen active.]
13 Qe2 h6!!
[Better than 13 ... dxe5 14 fxe5 Nd5 15 Ne4 (not 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 Rxd5?! exd5 17 e6 Nf6!) Be7 16 Ned6+ Kf8 17 Bxe7+ Kxe7 18 Rhf1.]
14 Bxf6
[A tough decision. On 14 exf6 hxg5 15 fxg7 Bxg7 the active dark-squared bishop is more consequent than the loss of the d-pawn. In this line, White can try, after 14 exf6 hxg5, 15 f5, but then the cold-blooded 15 ... Nxf6! 16 fxe6 Be7 holds.]
gxf6 15 Nxd6+ Bxd6 16 Rxd6 Qb4! 17 Qd2
[The pressure on the f-pawn was quite inconvenient for White. Hellers chooses the only line which maintains the initiative. If instead 17 Rhd1, then Black obtains nasty threats with 17 ... Qxf4+ 18 Kb1 Nxe5! 19 Qb5+ Bc6 20 Rxc6 O-O.]
17 Qd2 Nb6 18 a3
[Not 18 Rd1 O-O and 19 a3 can be met by 19 ... Rxa3.]
Qa5 19 Qd4 Nc8 20 exf6!?
[A tempting combination, and the rook was in trouble anyway. Probably better was 20 Rd7! Bc6 21 Rd1 O-O! (not the greedy 21 ... Bxd7? 22 Qxd7+ Kf8 23 exf6 Na7 24 Rd3!! Rh7 25 Rg3 Qd8 - 25 ... Qc5 26 b4 - 26 Qb7) 22 Rd8 with a complex position.]
Nxd6 21 Qxd6 Qd8 22 Qb4 Bc6
[Keeping the knight out of e4 and b5 as long as possible.]
23 Qc5
[Designed to set up a pin on the bishop, and activate his knight. Now 23 ... Ra6? and 23 ... Qc7? both lose to 24 Nb5.]
Rc8 24 Rd1 Qxf6 25 Nb5
[The vicious check on d6 is coming - 25 ... Qe7 26 Nd6+ Kf8 27 Qc3 wins.]
Qxf4+ 26 Kb1 Qg5!!
[Black can afford to give back the whole rook, as in the ending his rook on h8 will become a monster!]
27 Nd6+ Kf8 28 Qxg5
[White will be a pawn up after this, but his pieces will be disorganized in the coming battle of majorities. 28 Qc3 would recover the material without activating Black's remaining rook, although White's queenside pawn structure will be ruined, and after 28 ... Qg7 (not 28 ... Ke7 29 Qb4) 29 Nxc8 Qxc3 30 bxc3 Bxg2 Black stands better.]
hxg5 29 Nxc8 Rxh2 30 g3 f5 31 Nd6 g4
[A classic example of the superiority of the bishop over the knight when pawns are on opposite sides of the board. Ivanov plans to either sac the f-pawn to free the g-pawn, or to win the g-pawn with his rook.]
32 Re1 f4! 33 gxf4 g3 34 Nc4 g2 35 Ne3 Rh3!
[It is critical to retain rooks on the board, so that Black's more active pieces can win the White f-pawn and restrain the queenside pawns. Pointless would be 35 ... Rh1? 36 Nxg2 Bxg2 37 Rxh1 Bxh1 38 c4, etc.]
36 Nxg2 Bxg2 37 Kc1
[He was never threatening the e-pawn: 37 Rxe6?? Rh1+ 38 Ka2 Bd5+.]
Kf7 38 Rd1 Rh4 39 Rd4 Kf6 40 a4
[Finally White tries to get his pawns moving, but it is much too late.]
Kf5 41 a5 e5 42 Rd2 Rh1+ 43 Rd1 exf4 44 Rxh1 Bxh1 45 Kd2 Kg4 0 - 1