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The Test of Time_Part2
Garry Kasparov
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Mục Lục
Each player was aiming for victory
A poor defence against 19 NaXc5, but 18 … Qd8 19 Rfdl does not bring any particular relief.
19 Rbl BXd5 20 Nb6 BXe4 21 BXe4 Ra7
It appears that Black does not stand so badly, but the following combinational blow puts everything in its place.
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22 Nc8!
Almost all the opponent’s pieces are under attack. 22… RXc8 fails, of course, to 23 Qf5. The most tenacious defence was 22 … Rc7 23 RXb8 Bf8, when White has a pleasant choice between 24 Rfbl and 24 NXd6 RXb8 25 Nc4.
22 … Nc6 23 NXa7 NXa7 24 Bd5
Black resigns. On 24 … Bf6 White has the decisive 25 Rb7.
Kasparov-Speelman
Queen’s Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 ND b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 Nbd2 Bb4 6 Qb3 Nc6?! 7 d5 BXd2+ 8 BXd2 Ne7 9 Bc3! Nf510 Nd2! Nd6?! 11D! 0-012 e4 eXd5 13 cXd5 (cf. SahovskiInformator No. 30/623) (see diagram).
It is hard to believe that this position has arisen from a Queen’s Indian Defence. The outcome of the opening is favourable for White: he has a powerful pawn centre, and the black knights are insecurely placed.
13 … BXfl 14 RXfl
On 14 NXfl Black could have obtained
good counter-play by the sacrifice 14 …
NfXe4 15 fXe4 NXe4, while 14 KXfl would
have interfered with a subsequent K-side pawn
Position after 13 cXd5:
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storm. But now, for example on 14 … Nb7, there comes 15 e5 Nc5 16 Qc4 Ne8 17 0-0-0 with a great advantage.
14 … a5 15 e5
The challenge has to be accepted, since after 15 a4Nb7 Q-side castling is no longer so safe.
15 … a4 16 Qc2 Qe8?
It must be assumed that 16… Re8 did not appeal to Black because of 17 Kf2 NXd5 18 eXd5 Ne3 19 Qd3 NXfl 20 RXfl with advantage to White. But this would have been the best decision, since now an oppor¬tunity appears for an interesting combi¬nation.
17 Kf2 NXd5 18 Qd3!
It transpires that Black loses a piece: 18. .. NXc3 19 eXd6. After 16 … Re8 this idea would not have worked, in view of 18 … NXc3 19 eXd6 Re2+ 20 Kgl Qg5!
18 … Qe6 19 eXd6
and White’s extra bishop assured him of a win.
Giardelli-Kasparov
English Opening
1 c4 c6
It rarely happens that the very first move requires some commentary, but here it is impossible to keep silent about 1… c6. The point is that my opponent regularly chooses one and the same plan with White: c2-c4, g2-g3, Bg2, Nc3, e2-e3 and Nge2.
2.Mf3
A minor success for Black — now this knight will not go to e2.
2… g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 Nf6 5 0-0 0-0 6 Nc3 d5
Now 7 cXd5 cXd5 8 d4 Ne4 leads to a satisfactory version for Black of the Griinfeld Defence. Therefore Giardelli directs the game along untrodden paths.
7 cXd5 cXd5 8 d3 Nc6 9 Qb3
White tries to create pressure on d5 and b7, but this rebounds in favour of Black, who exploits the queen’s early development.
9 … d4! 10 Nb5
10 Na4 is met by 10 … b6, after which the knight has no future, and Black can eliminate the pressure on the long diagonal by the manoeuvre . . . Be6-d5.
10 … a6 11 Na3
11 Qa4 is strongly met by 11 … Nd7!, forcing the knight at b5 to retreat.
11 … b5
The white knight nevertheless finds itself out of play, and the weakness of the long diagonal cannot be exploited (12 Qc2 Bb7! 13 Ne5 Nb4), so that the opening has definitely gone in Black’s favour.
12 Bf4 Be6 13 Qc2 Rc8 14 Qd2 Bd5 15 Rfcl Nd7
The preparations for battle are complete. Now White has to hurry: if Black should succeed in playing … e5, … Qe7 and .. . Nb6, his position will be strategically won.
16 Nc2 e5
The direct attempt to prevent the white knight from going to b4 by 16 . . . a5 is unsuccessful: 17 Na3 Qb6 18 Ne5!
17Bh6
17 Bg5 is weaker: 17… f6 18 Bh6 BXh6 19QXh6 Nb6! and Black’s advantage is obvious, e.g. 20 e3 dXe3 21 NXe3 BXf3 22 BXf3
Nd4.
17 … Qe7 18 BXg7 KXg7 19 e3
Since Nb4 is not possible, White brings his knight into play by another way.
19 … dXe3
19 … Qf6 would have been met by 20 e4! Be6 21 Nb4, when Black’s Q-side weaknesses may prove perceptible.
20 NXe3 BXf3 21BXf3 Nd4 22 Bg2
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At first sight the backward d3 pawn and the powerful position of the knight at d4 appear to give Black a clear advantage, but White also has his trumps: a strong bishop, the weakness of Black’s Q-side, and the possibility of exchanging knights (23 Nc2) or beginning a battle for the c-file (23 Rc3).
22 … Nc5!
Now 23 Nc2 is parried by 23 … Nce6, and 23 Rc3 by 23 … Na4. But Black has weak¬ened the defence of his e-pawn, which his opponent promptly exploits.
23 Rel h5!
The threat of Ng4 has to be excluded.
24 Racl?!
This natural move, which also contains a trap (24… Ncb3? 25 aXb3 NXb3 26Nd5!), is nevertheless not the best. 24 Nd5 Qd6 25 Racl was preferable.
24 … Rfd8!
With the threat of 25 … NXd3 26 RXc8 NXel. 25 Khl does not help, since 25 … Ncb3! now works: 26 aXb3 NXb3 27 Nd5 RXd5 28 RXc8 NXd2 29 BXd5 Qd7 30 Rc5 e4! 31 BXe4 (31 dXe4? Nf3 32 Re3 Qh3) 31 … NXe4 32 dXe4 Qd2 etc. If one adds that 25 Nd5 is not so good now in view of 25 … Qe6, it becomes clear that White has little choice.
25Rc3 Qf6
Not giving in to the provocation: 25 … b4? 26 Rc4 NXd3? 27 QXd3 Nf3+ 28 BXfi RXd3 29 RXc8, when the three pieces are undoubtedly stronger than the queen.
26Nc2
A lengthy calculation was demanded of me by an alternative continuation — 26 Reel NXd3!! In all the following variations the two black knights demonstrate miracles of mutual assistance: 27 RXc8 NXcl 28 RXd8 QXd8! (28 … Nce2+? 29 Kfl QXd8 30 BO!) 29 Kfl NXa2 30 Bd5 (30 b3 Qc7!) 30 … Nf5! 31 NXf5+ gXf5 32 Ke2 Nb4, or 27 Nd5 NXcl! 28 RXc8 RXd5! (28 … RXc8 is weaker: 29 NXf6 Nce2+ 30 Kfl Rcl+ 31 QXcl NXcl 32 Ne8+ Kf8 33 Nc7, with drawing chances) 29 BXd5 Qd6!, winning material — this position deserves a diagram.
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26b4justifies itself only after26. . .Na427 RXc8 RXc8 28 Nd5, but the simple 26 … Nce6 retains Black his advantage, e.g. 27 Nd5 NB+ 28 BXO QXO 29 RXe5 Nd4 with a dangerous attack (30 Ne7 Qf6!). Though comparatively best, 26 Nc2 does not get White out of his difficulties.
26 … b4! 27 NXb4?
The decisive mistake. White should have played 27 Rc4, when after 27 … NXc2 28 RXc2 (28 QXc2 NXd3 29 RXc8 NXel) 28 … b3! (28 . .. RXd3 29 Qe2) 29 aXb3 NXb3 30
Qdl Nd4 Black has a serious advantage, but a long struggle still lies ahead.
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27 .. e4!
The triumph of domination! The black pieces control all the key squares. Against the combined attack of queen, rooks and knights, White is helpless.
28Qe3
White fails to save the game by either 28 Qf4 QXf4 29 gXf4 eXd3, or 28 Reel eXd3! 29 RXc5 (29 NXd3 NXd3 30 QXd3 Nb5) 29 … Ne2+30 Kfl NXcl 31 RXcl RXcl+ 32 QXcl d2 33 Qdl QXb2 34 Nd5 RXd5! 35 BXd5 Qb5+, with a won ending.
28 … a5! 29 Nc2
No better is 29 Reel Qb6! (30 Rc4 Nf5, or 30 Nc2 Nf5).
29 … NXd3 30 RXc8 RXc8
The simplest. In all variations Black cap¬tures the more “senior” piece.
31 QXd4
Or 31 NXd4 NXel 32 BXe4 Rc4 33 QXel QXd4 34 Bg2 Rc2.
31 … QXd4 32 NXd4 NXel
White resigns. Here too the e4 pawn is immune: 33 BXe4 Rc4.
Memorable Moments in February
A match-tournament of
Despite the friendly nature of the tourna¬ment, there was a sharp and uncompromis¬ing struggle. Especially interesting was the mini-tournament on the top board, between current World Champion Anatoly Karpov, Ex-World Champion Vasily Smyslov, and grandmasters Oleg Romanishin and Garry Kasparov. To some surprise, I managed to win this contest with four points out of six, ahead of Karpov (3V2), Smyslov (2V2) and Romanishin (2).
In these comments I should like to describe the most interesting features of the six games played by me.
Round one
A battle above the abyss
Kasparov-Romanishin
Grunfeld Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 cXd5 NXd5 5 e4 NXc3 6 bXc3 Bg7 7 Nf3 c5 8 Be3
Today the system with the development of the knight at f3 has almost completely supplanted other continuations. The plan in-volving the reinforcement of d4 and the clearing of the al-h8 diagonal, reducing to the minimum the unpleasant pressure of the bishop at g7, looks highly attractive, and for a long time Black was unable to find an effective antidote. But now, thanks to the efforts of Smejkal and other supporters of the Grunfeld Defence, a method of obtaining active play has at last been found. The most recent games had seemingly confirmed the effectiveness of this plan, the one which Romanishin now follows.
8 … Qa5 9 Qd2 Nc6
9 … 0-0 10 Rcl cXd4 11 cXd4 QXd2+ is
well met by 12 NXd2. A splendid illustration of White’s possibilities in this position is
provided by the game Karpov-Hiibner
(
10 Rcl cXd4 11 cXd4 QXd2+ 12 KXd2 0-0
For the sake of maintaining his fine pawn pair, White’s king has been caught in the centre. Obviously the next few moves should show what are greater in this decision — the advantages or the drawbacks. Here White has usually ocontinued 13 Bb5, but after 13 … f5! Black has excellent play, as for example in the game Chekhov-Romanishin (Premier League, 48th USSR Champion¬ship). I attempted to improve White’s play.
13 d5 Rd8 (see diagram overleaf) 14 Kel
The crux of White’s plan, which, incidentally, had been kept in my opening “storeroom” for about a year! The black knight is driven from c6, and the slight disharmony in the placing of the white pieces, as it seemed to me, was only a temporary phenomenon.
14 … Na5!
Position after 13 … Rd8:
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After lengthy reflection Romanishin finds an interesting possibility, and perhaps the best*. At a5 the knight undoubtedly stands badly, but on the other hand it controls c4, to where the f 1 bishop is so eager to go. Besides, after other moves White’s play would have been much easier, e.g. 14 … Ne5 15 NXe5 BXe5 16 f4 Bg7 17 Kf2, and there is no doubt about White’s advantage, or 14 … Nb4 15 Bd2, and the knight is forced to take up an unattractive post at a6 (15 . . . Na6 16 Bc4 ±). In my preparatory analysis I had rejected 14 … Na5 “on general grounds”, but at the board it transpired that everything was not so simple. The undermining moves . . . e6 and … f5 are in the air, e.g. 15 Bb5 f5! or 15 Rc7 e6 16 Bg5 Rd7.
15 Bg5! Bf6! 16 Bd2 b6
White has gained a brief respite. By luring the bishop to f6 he has forestalled the ad¬vance of the f-pawn and hindered.. . e6, but after the development of the bishop at b7 or g4 this undermining move will become a reality. Thus, for consolidation White has one tempo available. This is quite sufficient if he acts energetically!
17 Rc7!
* From the present-day viewpoint, the proviso “perhaps” in this sentence is superfluous.
f It was later found that by 15 . . . Bdll 16 Bd3 Rdc8 17 Ke2 e6 18 Bd2 eXd5! 19 eXd5 Re8+ Black obtains splendid play (Agzamov-Veingold, 1981, and Anikayev-Agzamov, 1982). The search for an advantage began to be made in other directions: 10 Rbl!?, 8 Rbll?
At first sight White shows a frivolous lack of concern for his development problems. But in the struggle for the initiative he has already embarked on a slippery path, where it is not rules that have to be reckoned with, but exceptions to them. Here Black should probably have displayed caution and played 17 … Rd7, but the temptation to punish the opponent was too great.
17 … Bg4 18 Ba6 e6!
The retribution seems imminent, but from this point the white pieces, although in a minority (without the rook at hi), display amazing resourcefulness.
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19 Ng5! Be5!
After 19 … eXd5 20 NXf7 Rd7 21 Nh6+ Kg7 22 Rc8! Black loses material.
20 RXf7!
White’s “castle in the air” unexpectedly proves to be made of highly durable material. . . .
20 … eXd5
20 … h6 21 Nf3 Bf3 22 Rf3 eXd5 23 eXd5 RXd5 24 BXh6 leads to a position where White’s extra pawn and the two bishops are more weighty factors than Black’s lead in development.
21 f4!
This pawn is destined to play a leading role in the destruction of the black king’s fortress.
21 … Bg7!
21 … Bd4 is weaker because of 22 RXh7, when the tempting 22 … Nc4 23 e5 Re8 with the threat of. . . BXe5 is parried by the unex-pected 24 h3!, and the rook at hi joins the battle without even moving from its post. For example: 24 … BXe5 25 fXe5 RXe5+ 26 KB Rf8+ 27 Kg3 NXd2 28 hXg4! RXg5 29 Rh8+ Kf7 30 Rlh7+ Ke8 31 Bb5+, mating.
22 f5!
White should have played 22 h3!h6!23 hXg4 hXg5 24 Rc7, e.g. 24 . . . Re8 (24 . . . dXe4? 25 BXa5 bXa5 26 Bc4+) 25 Kf2! RXe4 26 Bd3 Ra4(26. ..Rd4? 27RXg7+KXg7 28Bc3Nc6 29 Bb5) 27 BXg6 RXa2 28 Bf7+ Kf8 29 Kelt Nc6(29. . . Ral+30Ke2 —mate at b4 is threatened!) 30 Rh7 with the initiative, or 24. . . gXf4 25 eXd5 Be5 (25… RXd5? 26 BXa5) 26 Re7 Re8 27 RXe8+ RXe8 28 Kf2 Rd8 29 BXa5 bXa5 30 Rel with a slight advantage in the endgame.
White continues to intensify the pressure, and Romanishin, short of time, makes a fatal mistake.
22 … dXe4?
After the better 22 … gXf5! I was intending to continue 23 h3! Bh5 24 RXg7+ KXg7 25 Ne6+ Kf6 26 eXf5! (26 NXd8 is weaker: 26…RXd827eXf5Nc4!28g4Re8+!29Kdl Bf7), after which the activity of the white pieces more than compensates for Black’s material advantage, e.g. 26 … Re8 27 g4 Bf7 28 Bc3+ Ke7 29 Nc7.
As was correctly pointed out by a reader of the magazine Shakhmaty v SSSR, 27 … RXe6+!28fXe6 Bg6 would have got Black out of his difficulties.
23 BXa5 bXa5
The desperate 23 … e3 meets with a straightforward refutation: 24 RXg7+! KXg7 25 Bc3+ Kh6 26 Nf7+ Kh5 27 NXd8 RXd8 28 Be2 etc.
24Bc4
Now both 24 … Rac8 25 Rc7+ and 24 … Rd4 25 RXa7+ RXc4 26 RXa8+ Bf8 27 Ne6 are bad for Black, but in time trouble Romanishin finds an amazing resource.
24 … Bc3+! 25 Kf2 e3+! 26 Kg3
Not 26 KXe3 because of 26 … Bd2+.
26 … Be5+ 27 KXg4
The c4 bishop cannot be preserved: 27 Kh4? leads only to a draw after 27 … Rd4 28 RXa7+ RXc4 29 RXa8+ Kg7 30 Ra7+ Kg8!
27 … Rd4+ 28 Kh3 RXc4
Black appears to have beaten off the attack, but the f-pawn has not yet had its say.
29 f6
Now White’s mating threats can be elim¬inated only at the cost of the bishop, since 29 … Rc7 30 RXc7 BXc7 31 f7+ Kh8 32 Ne6 Bd6 33 Rel is quite hopeless for Black.
29 … BXf6 30 RXf6 Re8 31 Rel
At this the line could have been drawn, but …. the miracles have not yet finished!
31 … e2 32 Kg3
32 Re6 is simpler.
32 … Ra4 33 Kf2 RXa2 34 Ne6 a4 35 Rbl?
White has not yet cooled down after the battle, and he continues to be obsessed by mating finishes. There was a straightforward win by 35 Nd4, immediately picking up the e2 pawn, e.g. 35 … a3 36 RXe2 RaXe2 37 NXe2 a2 38 Ra6, or 35 … Kg7 36 Rf3 etc.
35 … a3 36 Rb7 el=Q++
36 … Rb2 is more accurate. White’s illusions of mating finishes melt into thin air, whereas the a- and e-pawns constitute a realforce. For the moment White has a draw — 37 Rg7+ Kh8 38 Re7 Rbb8 39 RXa7 Ra8 40RXa8 RXa8 41 Nd4 a2 42 Nb3 Rb8 43 Ra6.
37 KXel RXg2 38 Rg7+ Kh8 39 Rgf7 h5?
With his flag hanging, Black clears the way for his king, not having time to notice that misfortune will strike it from the g5 and h6 squares. 39 … h6 was simpler.
40 Kfl RXh2?
All of a sudden the mating threats are transformed into reality. And only one move separated Black from safety — 40. . . a2! After 41 RXa7 he could calmly have decided that 41… Rb2? would lose: 42 Ng5! Re7 43 Rf8+ Kg7 44 Ne6+ Kh6 45 Rh8+, or 42 … Rbl 43 KB al=Q 44 Rh7+ Kg8 45 RXg6+ Kf8 46 Rf7 mate, whereas 41 … RXh2 42 RXg6 al=Q+ 43 RXal Rhl+ 44 Rgl leads to a draw. Although here the word “calmly” is perhaps inappropriate….
41 RXg6!
It remains for Black to convince himself of the tragic consequences of the last few time trouble moves. 41 … a2 fails to save the game after 42 Rh6+. Romanishin gives up his rook, but this merely delays for a couple of moves the inevitable finish.
41 … RXe6 42 RXe6 Kg8 43 RXa7
Black resigns.
A win procured in a struggle such as this undoubtedly inspired me.
Round two
The effect of surprise
Smyslov-Kasparov
(English Opening)
1Nf3 c5 2c4 Nf6 3g3 b6 4Bg2 Bb7 5 0-6 Nc3 Be7 7 b3 0-0 8 Bb2 d6 9 e3 Nbd710 d4 a6 11 Qe2 Ne4 12 Rfdl
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The diagram position promises a protracted struggle. This makes all the more surprising the metamorphoses which occur on the board within a short space of time.
12 … Qb8!?
The simple 12 … Qc7 followed by … Ndf6, maintaining control over e4 and d5, would have given Black a good game. Instead of this he allows White to carry out a combi¬nation leading to the win of the exchange.
13NXe4 BXe414 Ne5! BXg215 NXd7 Qb7 16 NXf8 Bf3 17 Qd3 RXf8 18 Rd2
White should probably have considered 18 d5, but why return the exchange when there is no immediate danger apparent? However, a move later White reverts to this idea, but it can no longer be realized.
18 … f5!
A critical position, and an important one for evaluating the exchange sacrifice. Objectively the situation favours White, but to demonstrate this, very energetic play is required of him. On reaching this position in my preliminary calculations, I thought that it would not be easy for Smyslov to switch from unhurried manoeuvring to specific, “calculating” play.
Here White should have opened a “second front”-19 a3l’followed by dXc5 and b3-b4. In this case Black would have been unable to transfer all his pieces so quickly for the attack on the king.
19 Rel?!
18 … f5 opened for the black queen the brilliant prospect of transferring via e8 to h5.
At first sight 19 Rel seriously hinders this manoeuvre. For example, 19 … Qa8 is unpleasantly met by 20 dXc5 bXc5 21 b4! cXb4 22 c5!, when White advantageously opens up the position. On 19 . . . Qc8 White was intending 20 e4 fXe4 21 RXe4 BXe4 22 QXe4, returning the exchange and in doing so obtaining a solid advantage. But nevertheless. …
19 … Qc8!
It transpires that after 20 e4 fXe4 21 RXe4 the black queen has a shorter path towards the white king’s residence, namely 21 … Bg5!* 22 Rde2 e5! with the threat of. .. Qh3. Dismayed at such a turn of events, Smyslov makes two weak moves in succession, after which Black’s attack becomes irresistible.
After 20 e4 fXe4 21 RXe4 Bg5 there was a probable draw by 22 Re3! BXe3 23 fXe3 and 24Rf2.
20 Qc3? Rf6 21 a3?!Qe8†
Now that Black’s threats are clearly seen, it becomes apparent that for parrying them the white pieces are badly placed. The awkward placing of the white rooks deprives the king of its last hope of escaping from the burning house. Whereas the efficiency of the white
* Or 21 … e5l 22 Re3 e4 23 RXe4! Qh3 24 QX/3 RX/3 25 RXe7 and White does not risk losing, but that is all — 25 …Rf7 26 Re8+ RfS 27 Re7.
†Here there is no time for this. There were still chances of a defence after 21 dXc5 bXc5 22 Qd3 e5 23 b4l, or even 21 Qd3, admitting his mistake but forcing Black to reckon with e3-e4.
queen and bishop battery (and indeed the white army as a whole) is close to zero, within a few moves, by concerted action, the black pieces will smash through the white king’s shelter.
22 dXc5 Qh5
With the blatant threat of… QXh2+.
23 h4 Qg4 24 Kh2 bXc5
Black does not hurry.
25 Rhl Rg6 26 Kgl BXh4 27 Qa5
After 27 RXd6 BXg3 White has nothing more than a few harmless checks.
27 … h6
The simplest. White resigns.
Round three
A long-awaited meeting
And so, a meeting with the No. 1 player in the world. For any chess player, in my opinion, a game with a World Champion is an opportunity really to test himself and his powers. Therefore I arrived for the game in a state of extreme concentration, ready for a difficult struggle.
Kasparov-Karpov
Petroffs Defence
1.e4
In recent times I have rarely played this move, and in my preparations I thought that a little surprise in my first meeting with the World Champion would not do any harm. But there was also a surprise awaiting me….
1 … e5 2 Nf3 Nf6
Nowadays Petroffs Defence has unexpectedly become very popular. In this opening Black sets himself a limited task: by simplifying the position, to prepare to counter his opponent’s activity.
3 NXe5 d6 4 Nf3 NXe4 5 d4 Be7 6 Bd3 d5 7 0-0 Nc6 8 Rel Bf5
Not long ago 8 … Bg4 was considered obligatory, when after 9 c4 Nf6 10 cXd5 NXd5 11 Nc3 a position arises with the better chances for White. The idea of the move in the game, which was successfully employed by Hiibner in his match against Adorjan (1980), is to provoke the maximum degree of simplification, exploiting the fact that the direct 9 c4 Nb4 10 cXd5? does not work due to 10 … NXf2!
9Nbd2
After prolonged thought I decided to follow the path taken by Adorjan. 9 Nc3 or 9 a3 promises White little.
A good dozen games played in 1982-1983 (including three between Karpov and Portisch) showed that after 9 c4Nb4 lOBfl! White seizes the initiative.
9 … NXd2 10 QXd2 BXd3 11 QXd3 0-0 12 c3 Qd7 13 Bf4
White has gained a minimal advantage thanks to the more active placing of his pieces. Can he extract anything significant from the position, or will Black fully equal¬ize? — this is the question to be decided in the next few moves. At any rate, after 13 … Rfe8 14 h3 a6 15 Re3 Bd6 16 Ng5 g6 17 BXd6 RXe3 18 QXe3 QXd6 19 Rel Hiibner failed to gain clear equality, although in the end the game concluded in a draw. The World Champion improves Black’s play.
13 … a6 14 Re3 Rae8 15 Rael Bd8!
Defending the c-pawn, Black intends to begin exchanging operations on the e-file.
16 h3 RXe3 17 RXe3
17 QXe3 does not achieve anything due to
17 … Qf5!
17 … f6
The direct 17 … Re8 does not solve all Black’s problems in view of 18 Qf5! Re6 19 h4, and then, for example, 19 … g6 20 Qh3 Qe8 21 RXe6 QXe6 22 QXe6 fXe6 23 Ng5! with advantage to White.
18 Re2 Rf7
18 … Ne7 is possibly more precise. I was
intending to continue 19 b3 c6 (19 … Qf5
20 QXf5 NXf5 21 g4!) 20 c4 Qf5 21 Qe3!, maintaining the tension.
19 Nd2!
Preventing the exchange of rooks, since the ending after 19 … Re7 20 Nb3 RXe2 21QXe2 Be7 22 Qg4! QXg4 23 hXg4 Bd6 24 BXd6 cXd6 can hardly satisfy Black, although his drawing chances are considerable.
19 … Be7 20 Nfl
Black has covered c5, and so the knight changes course. From e3 it will be attacking the d5 pawn.
20 … Bf8 21 Qf3 Re7?
Now White’s advantage assumes real pro¬portions. The correct 21 … Nd8 22 Ne3 c6 would have maintained the status quo of this position: the game is almost level, but White has more active possibilities. For example:
23 Bg3 Ne6 24 h4 Re7 25 Rd2, or 23 … Re7 24 Rd2 Re4?! 25 c4! Nf7 (25 … Ne6 26 cXd5 cXd5 27 Qf5) 26 cXd5 cXd5 27 Qh5!
22 Ne3 Nd8
Forced. There is no other defence against the threat of 23 Kfl, winning a pawn.
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23 BXc7! QXc7 24 NXd5 Qd6
Black is doomed to a gruelling defence after 24 … RXe2 25 NXc7 Rel+ 26 Kh2 Bd6+ 27 g3 BXc7 28 Qf5!
25 NXe7+ BXe7
By a simple combination White has gained an appreciable advantage, thanks mainly to the poor placing of the black pieces. It should have been consolidated by energetic play, not allowing Black time to regroup. Instead I chose a tempting but incorrect path, after which the game gradually became level.
26 Qe4 Bf8 27 Qe8?!
27 c4! was correct, immediately setting inmotion White’s main strength — his c- and
d-pawns. In this case Black’s defence would have entailed considerable difficulties, e.g.27 … b6 (27… Nc6 28 Qe6+ QXe6 29 RXe6 NXd4 30 Rb6) 28 g3 Nf7 29 Kg2 g6 30 Rc2! f5 31 Qf4 Qc6+ 32 Qf3 etc.
27… g6 28 a4?! Kg7 29 b4?! Qc7 30 Re3 Nf7 31 Qe6 Qd8
Depriving the white queen of an excellent post at d5.
32 a5 h5!
After halting the white pawns, Karpov begins methodically improving the placing of his pieces. As I was in slight time trouble, I repeated moves to try and save time, but the favourable moment had already been missed.
33 Qe4 Qd7 34 Qe6 Qd8 35 Kfl
The last try for an advantage was 35 Rel, when 35 … Nh6 is bad because of 36 Qb6! Qd5 37 c4! QXc4 38 QXb7+ Nf7 39 b5! But after 35 … Bd6 there appears to be no way of strengthening the position, e.g. 36 c4 BXb4 37RblQXa5 38c5Qb5!39Rb3a5 40Rf3Qc6 41 RXf6 QXe6 42 RXe6 with a probable draw. 35 … Qc7! is even simpler.
35 … Nh6 36 g4
If one is forced to make such moves. . . . But I very much did not want to allow the black knight to go to f5. Now, in view of the open position of the white king, Black is prac¬tically safeguarded against defeat. However, White too has not yet overstepped the mark.
36 … hXg4 37 hXg4 Nf7 38 Ke2
It will be quieter for the king in the centre, behind his pawn barrier, than on the exposed K-side.
38 … Ng5 39 Qb6 Qd7 40 Kd3 Bd6 41 Kc2
Here a draw was agreed on my proposal. It is plainly obvious just how much Black has improved the placing of his pieces over the last ten moves. But White’s position is solid enough, and at b2 or b3 his king will feel safe. It would be too risky for Black to play 41 … Bf4 42 Re2 Qd5?! 43 Re7+ KM 44 QXb7, when the white king succeeds in hiding from the checks, and the armada of white pawns looks imposing.
Round four
Experiences leave their mark
In my second game with Romanishin, my play was very much affected by my experiences in the meeting with the World Champion.
Romanishin-Kasparov
English Opening
1Nf3 g6 2d4 Bg7 3g3 Nf6 4Bg2 0-0 5c4 c5 6 0-0 cXd4 7 NXd4 Nc6 8 Nc3 NXd4 9 QXd4 d610 Qd3 a6 11 Be3 Bd7 12 Bd4 Bc613 e4 Re8 14 Rfel Rc8 15 Radl Qa5 16 a3
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Black’s position is inferior, and his situation is aggravated by the spectre of approaching time trouble. I nevertheless decided to go in for a lengthy forcing variation, which, in my opinion, should have led to favourable simplification.
16 … b5* 17 cXb5 aXb5 18 e5 dXe5 19 BXc6 eXd4
Black has no compensation for the pawn after 19 … RXc6 20 RXe5 Rd8 21 QXb5! (21 RXb5? Qa6!) 21 … QXb5 22 NXb5.
20 BXe8 dXc3f 21 Bd7†
An improvement by Romanishin, which forced me to look at the position from a dif¬ferent viewpoint. Alas, for a reappraisal of the values there was almost no time left….
21 … Rd8?
This leads by force to a difficult ending, whereas the superior 21… Rc4! would have allowed Black to hope for “success” (i.e. a
* Evidently the correct decision. Had White managed to play 17 b4 (17. . .QXa3? 18Ral), Black would have been doomed to passivity.
† In the hope of 21 QXb5 QXb5 22 BXb5 cXb2 23 a4 e6 and … Nd5, or 21 BXb5 cXb2 22 Qb3 Qa7! (stronger than 22… e6 23QXb2 Nd5 24Qb3Rc3 25 Qbl RXa3 26Bc4) 23Bc4(23QXb2Ne4 24Qe2Nc3 25Qc2Qb7 26Bd7 Rd8) 23 … Ng4 24 BXf7+ Kf8 25 Qf3 QXf2+ 26 QXf2 NXf2 27 KXf2 KXf7, and Black has nothing to fear.
draw), e.g. 22 bXc3 RXc3 23 QXb5 QXa3 24 Qb8+ Bf8 25 Bh3 Kg7.
Black can also hold on after 22 b3 c2! 23 bXc4 cXdl=Q 24 QXdl (24 RXdl bXc4 25 QXc4 QXa3) 24 … NXd7 25 RXe7 Nf6! 26 Qb3 Bf8! 27 Re5 Bd6 28 RXb5 Qel+ 29 Kg2 Qe4+ 30 Qf3 BXa3.
22 QXb5 Qc7 23 bXc3‡ RXd7 24 RXd7 QXd7 25 QXd7 NXd7 26 RXe7 Nb6! 27 Rb7 Na4 28 Rb8+ Bf8 29 c4 Kg7 30 Kg2 Bd6?
Now, exploiting the hanging position of the black minor pieces, White succeeds in advancing his pawns.
After the correct 30 . . .
31 Ra8 Nb2§ 32 a4! NXc4 33 a5 Ne5?
This time trouble mistake merely accelerates Black’s defeat. By giving up his knight for the a-pawn he could have prolonged the resistance, but theoretically this ending is hopeless.
34 Rc8!
Now there is no defence against the advance of the a-pawn. Black resigns.
‡23 Bh3 is stronger, when White’s material advantage should decide the game (23. . . RXdl 24 RXdl c2 25 Rcl Bh6 26 f4 Qa7+ 27 Khl Qe3 28 Qfl, or 23 . . . Rb8 24 RXe7! c2 25Rcl Qd8 26 Qe2 RXb2 27 Ra7Nd5 28 Rd7! Qa8 29 RXc2 Nc3 30 Qc4).
§ If 31. . . Nb6, then 32 Ra6 NXc4 33 Rc6 or 32 . . . Bc5 33 a4.
Round five
In the style of my opponent
Kasparov-Smyslov
Ruy Lopez
Evidently taking account of the fact that I would be aiming for a win after my defeat in the previous round, Smyslov chose a risky plan in the positional sense, trying to provoke me into premature activity. But I succeeded in fixing Black’s weaknesses, and by the 20th move I had gained a solid advantage.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 g6 5 d4 eXd4 6c3!?Bg7?!7cXd4b5 8Bc2d69d5Ne5 10 NXe5 dXe5 11 a4 Bd7 12 Be3 Nf6 13 0-0 0-0 14 Qd2 Ne8 15 Bc5 Nd616 aXb5 BXb517 Rel Qd7 18 Nc3 Rfb8 19 b4 Bf8
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White does not hurry, but with each move he slightly improves the placing of his pieces.
20 … Qe7 21 Qe3 Qf6?!
This seemingly active move proves to be a serious inaccuracy. At d7 the queen was excellently placed, and there was no point in moving it from there.
22 Bd3!
After the exchange of the b5 bishop the weakness at a6 will begin to tell.
22 … BXd3* 23 QXd3 Nb5?
23 … Nb7 is more tenacious.
24 NXb5 aXb5
24 … RXb5? is obviously bad because of 25 QXb5! etc.
25 RXa8 RXa8 26 QXb5 Qa6 27 QXa6 RXa6 28 g4!
The most clear-cut way to win.
28 … Bd6 29 b5! Ra8 30 BXd6 cXd6 31 b6 Rb8 32 Rbl
A rook behind a passed pawn often decides the outcome of a game.
32… Kf8 33 Kfl Ke7 34 Ke2 g5 35 Kd3 Kd7 36 Kc4 Rc8+ 37 Kb5 Rc2 38 Ral!
Securing the post for the white king.
38 … Rb2+ 39 Ka6
Black resigns.
Round six
Each player was aiming for victory
Karpov-Kasparov
English Opening
1c4 Nf6 2Nc3 c5 3Nf3 e6 4g3b6 5Bg2 Bb7 6 0-0 Be7 7 d4 cXd4 8 QXd4 d6 9 Bg5 a6 10 BXf6 BXf6 11 Qf4 0-0 12 Rfdl Be7 13 Ne4 BXe4 14 QXe4 Ra7 15 Nd4 Qc8 16 b3 Re8 17 a4 Qc5 18 Ra2 Bf6 19 Rad2 Rc7 20 Qbl Be7 21 b4 Qh5 22 Rc2 Rec8
After a manoeuvring battle, a position of dynamic equilibrium has arisen. Thinking that his c4 pawn will be immune, White begins an erroneous combination.
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23 b5? aXb5 24 aXb5† RXc4!
Black boldly takes the pawn, not fearing 25Nc6. Indeed, 25 … RXc2 26NXe7+ Kh8! (26 … Kf8? 27 NXc8 QXe2 28 Rfl RXc8 29 QXh7) 27 Bf3! Qe5! (27 … Qc5? 28 NXc8 QXc8 29Bc6Rc5 30RXd6NXc6 31 Qd3!) 28 NXc8 RXc8 leaves him a pawn up with winning chances.
25 RXc4 RXc4 26 Qa2 Qc5 27 Qa8! RXd4 28 QXb8+ Bf8 29 Ral
With my 28th move I declined the offer of a draw, but on the very next move I went wrong.
29 … d5?
Now White is assured of a draw. Black could have won by 29 … h6!, e.g. 30 Ra8 Rdl+ 31 Bfl d5 32 Qe8 d4 33 Ra7 Qf5 34Kg2 d3! 35 Ra8 (35 eXd3 Rd2) 35 … Qe4+! 36 0 (36 Kh3 Qb4!) 36… dXe2 37 QXf8+ Kh7, or
* The queen should have been returned to the defence of the Q-side -22… Qd8 and then . . . Qd7 (or… Qe8).
† White did not play 23 b5, in order here (on “coming to his senses”) to take on b5 with the knight. Then 24 … Rd7! would have given Black simply the better position (weaknesses at a4 and c4).
30 Bfl Rb4 31 Ra8 d5 32 Qe8 Rbl 33 Rc8 (33 Ra7 Qcl!) 33 … Qb4 34 Kg2 d4! 35 Rc7 Qel 36 QXf7+ Kh7 37 QXf8 QXfl+ 38 KO Rb3+ 39 Kg4 QXe2+ 40 Kh3 Qe5.
Of course, White can avoid forcing vari¬ations: 30 Qe8Rc4 31 Bc6 (not 31 Ra8Rcl+ 32 Bfl Qd5! 33 QX/8+ Kh7 34 f3 Qdl) 31 . . . Rcl+ 32 RXcl QXcl+ 33 Kg2 d5 34 e3 with real drawing chances.
30 Bfl Rc4 31Ra8 Rcl 32Qe8 d4 33Ra7 Qf5 34 Ra8 Qc5
Draw? No, the fervour of the struggle had now completely seized both players.
35 g4?
This looks tempting, since it deprives the black queen of the f5 square and creates the threat of Ra7. But this weakening of his king’s position could have proved fatal for White.
35 … Qd6?
In the time scramble Black makes a mistake in reply. He could have won by moving his queen to the other side — 35 …Qb4!, e.g. 36 Ra7 d3! 37 QXf7+ Kh8 38 Qf3 d2. More tenacious is 36 h3! h6! 37 Kg2, when 37 … Qel gives only a draw: 38 QXf8+ Kh7 39 Qh8+! (39 QXf7? QXfl+ 40 Kg3 Rc3+ 41 e3 RXe3+) 39 … Kg6 40 Rg8 QXfl+ 41 Kg3 Qgl+ 42 KO Qhl+ (42 … Rc3+ 43 e3) 43 Kg3. But 37 … Rc7! leaves Black with excellent winning chances.
36 Rd8 Qb4 37 Rd7 h6
Here 37 … d3 is no longer effective, because of 38 QXf7+ Kh8 39 RXd3 QXg4+ 40Rg3(40…Qf5=).
38 QXf7+ Kh7 39 g5
39 QXe6 would also have led to a draw:
39.. .Qel40Qe4+Kh841Qg2QXe2 42Rd8 RXfl+ or 42 RXd4 Bc5.
39 … Qbl! 40 g6+
The more cunning 40 Kg2 would not have achieved anything in view of 40 … Qe4+! 41 f3 Qf5 42 QXf5+ eXf5 43 gXh6 KXh6 44 RXd4 Bc5 45 Rd5 f4.
40 … QXg6+ 41 QXg6+ KXg6
Drawn.
Lucky or Unlucky?
The Moscow International Grandmaster Tournament (1981) was my first serious test in big-time chess, and therefore on the whole I was satisfied with my score. My fortunes during the tournament were variable, and I should like to examine in detail the games which had the most important influence on my final result.
Belyavsky-Kasparov
Kings Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 Be3 Nc6
These moves were made in rapid tempo: Belyavsky always chooses the Samisch Variation, and for the moment I prefer the line with 6 … Nc6. But over his next two moves Belyavsky spent more than 40 minutes.
7 Qd2 a6 8 Nge2 Re8?!
It is unlikely that this continuation has any advantages over the usual 8 … Rb8, but I wanted to take the game away from the well-trodden paths.
9Ncl
9 h4 would have led to sharper play.
9 … e5 10 d5 Nd4 11 Nle2
White wishes to exchange the d4 knight in the most convenient way possible, but this affords Black additional chances. I would have preferred 11 Nb3, when Black has to choose between the dubious pawn sacrifice 11 … c5 12 dXc6 bXc6 13 NXd4 eXd4 14 BXd4 d5, and an inferior game after 11 … NXb3 12 aXb3 c5 13 g4!
11 … c5 12 dXc6 NXc6!
This continuation, which is pointless with the white knight at b3, is logical here, since it is hard for White quickly to exploit the defects in the black position due to his lack of development. Thus the routine 13 Rdl allows Black to develop comfortably— 13 … Be6 14 Ncl Rc8.
13 Nd5! (see diagram)
The most energetic continuation, and one which sets Black a difficult choice: he can either defend against the threat of Bb6, thereby maintaining material equality, or he can try to exploit White’s lack of development, for which he must be prepared to sacrifice material. At this point I set a personal record for the time spent over one move — one hour eight minutes! I needed this length
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of time to convince myself of the hopelessness of passive defence after 13 … NXd5 14 cXd5Ne7 15Nc3 or 13 … Nd7 14 b4!, and to decide on the exchange sacrifice.
13 … b5! 14 Bb6
It would probably have been better to decline the Greek gift, and, in view of Black’s approaching time trouble, follow a positional course. For example: 14 Nec3 Nd4 15 Bd3 (dangerous is 15 NXf6+ BXf6 16 cXb5 aXb5 17 NXb5? Nb3*). But in this case Black has a good game. Not wishing to agree to the loss of his opening advantage, Belyavsky goes for the win of the exchange, reckoning that Black’s activity will only be temporary.
14 … Qd7 15 Nc7 Rb8 16 NXe8 QXe8
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Here Belyavsky thought for a long time.
* Black also has good compensation for the exchange after 17 BXb5 Bh4+! (17 . . . Nb3?! 18 Qdl NXal 19 BXe8) 18 B/2 BXf2+ 19 QXJ2 NXb5 20 NXb5 Ba6.
On closer examination it all turned out to be not so simple: White has a wide choice of continuations which seem good, but only at first sight. A detailed penetration into the maze of variations discloses Black’s enormous resources. Here are a few possibilities:
(1) 17 c5. In this case, apart from the second exchange sacrifice 17 … Nd7 18 Bc7 dXc5 19 BXb8 NdXb8, Black also has the unpleasant 17 . . . Rb7! (with the threat of…Bf8). After 18 QXd6 Bf8 19 Qd2 (19 QXf6? Be7, and the queen is trapped) 19 …Be6 20Nc3 Rd7 21 Qf2 b4 his active piece play atleast compensates for the sacrificed exchange.
(2) 17 Bc7 Rb7 18 BXd6 bXc4 19 Ba3 (19Nc3? Rd7 20 BXc4 Qd8 21 Rdl Ne8) 19…Be6 20 Nc3 Rd7 21 Qf2 Bh6 22 Rdl Nd4, with a strong attack on the white king, which is caught in the centre.
(3) 17 cXb5. I think that this is White’s strongest continuation, although even here17…RXb6 18 bXc6d5! gives Black counter-play. In addition, Black has an interesting possibility associated with the placing of his queen and the white king on the same file: 17 … aXb5 18 Be3 d5! 19 eXd5 Nd4 20 Nc3 (or 20 BXd4 eXd4 21 QXd4 Bf5, and the black-squared bishop is much stronger than the rook and two pawns) 20 … b4 21 Ne4 NXd5, with active play.
In an attempt to avoid all the dangers, White decides in the first instance to evacu¬ate his king from the centre, but during this time Black wins a pawn and activates his pieces.
17 Be3?! bXc4 18 Nc3 Be6 19 Be2
The tempting 19 Nd5 would have left Black with a wide choice, e.g. 19 … BXd5 20 eXd5 Nd4 21 BXc4 Nf5 22 0-0 e4, or 19 … BXd5 20 eXd5 c3!? 21 bXc3 Nd4 22 Bc4 Qc8, or 19. . .NXd5!?20eXd5e421dXe6QXe6-for the rook Black has only two pawns, but his pawn avalanche in the centre and White’s lack of development make the position unclear.
Even so White should have chosen the critical 19 Nd5, since 19 Be2 completely hands Black the initiative.
19 … Nd4 20 0-0 d5 21 eXd5 NXd5 22 NXd5 BXd5
The battle has clearly gone in favour of Black, who for the exchange has a pawn and the much more active pieces. Especially troublesome for White is the knight at d4, which is not easily driven from its powerful position (23 f4? NXe2+ 24 QXe2 eXf4 25 RXf4 RXb2).
23 Rf2 h5
On the first 23 moves the two players used up nearly all their time, and now each had about ten minutes left on his clock. It is this that explains the subsequent uneven play and mistakes.
24 Rcl Qe6 25 Bfl h4?!
The plan involving the advance of the h-pawn looks tempting (especially in time trouble), but 25… Nf5 was preferable, when Black retains all the advantages of his position.
26 Rel Qc6
Here too 26 … Nf5 should have been chosen.
27Bh6?
It was here that White had a good opportunity to drive back the knight and obtain equal chances: 27 f4! NT5 28 fXe5 NXe3 (28 … BXe5 29 RXf5 gXf5 30 Bd4 BXd4 31 QXd4 Qb6 32 Re8+ Kh7 33 Rh8+ Kg6 34 Rg8+ with perpetual check) 29 RXe3 (Black retains an obvious advantage after 29 QXe3 Bf8! 30 Khl Bc5 31 Qd2 BXf2 32 QXf2 h3!) 29… Bh6 30 e6! Qc5 (30.. . BXe6 31 RXe6!) 31 eXf7+ BXf7 32 Re8+ RXe8 (not 32 … BXe8 33 QXh6 RXb2 because of 34 BXc4+) 33 QXh6 Re4 34 Qd2 with a draw. But to calculate these variations, with only four minutes for 14 moves, was certainly not easy.
27 … Bh8 28 f4?
Now this active move leads to a catastrophe. 28 h3 was better, defending against the threat of . . . h3, although even then Black’s advantage is obvious.
28 … e4 29 Rdl Be6 30 f5
After 30 Bg5 Nf5 the black pawn advances unhindered to e3, making further resistance by White a hopeless matter. In order somehow to co-ordinate his pieces, White sacri fices a pawn, but he is unable to change the course of events.
30 … NXf5 31 Qf4 Re8 32 Rfd2
Now the stray bishop is lost, but 32 Bg5 Qc5! could not have satisfied White.
32 … Qc5+ 33 Khl Be5 34 Qg5 Kh7
Here the game could have been concluded, but the two players had left. … one minute between them!
35 Rd8 RXd8 36 RXd8 Qf2
36 … NXh6 was of course simpler.
37 Rdl NXh6
37 . .. e3 was much stronger, but the move played does not spoil anything.
38 QXe5 e3 39 Qc3
In any case there is no defence against the numerous threats, e.g. 39 h3 Nf5 40 Kh2Ng3.
39 … h3 40 Qel Ng4
40 … e2! would have been a more spectacular conclusion. Now the time control was
at last reached, and White resigned. The variation 41 Rcl Bd5 42 QXf2 eXf2 followed by the unavoidable … Ne3 and . .. hXg2 mate is convincing enough.
Kasparov-Gheorghiu
In the position below, taking account of the neutralizing effect of opposite-coloured bishops, the Rumanian grandmaster offered a draw. But in fact the opposite-coloured bishops combined with Black’s positional defects merely aggravate his difficulties.
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Therefore, in spite of my shortness of time (roughly seven minutes for 13 moves), I decided to continue playing.
28 Qe5 Rf7
28 … Qf7 was probably more accurate, retaining control of the c-file. In this case White has a choice between 29 RXc7 RXc7 30f4 with the threat of f4-f5, and the quiet 29
Rc3 RXc3 30 bXc3, when he retains all the advantages of his position.
29 g4
This looks risky, but in fact it is perfectly justified. By advancing his K-side pawns, White prepares the ground for transposing into an ending.
29 … Rc6 30 f4?!
But he should not have been in a hurry with this advance, and should have preferred the modest 30 f3 followed by h2-h4-h5.
30 … Qd7 31 h4 Qc7?!
The powerful queen/bishop battery in the centre of the board so frightens Gheorghiu, that he aims at any price for the exchange of queens, not taking into account the diffi¬culties of the coming endgame. It was here that he should have played actively with 31 … Qe7, reminding White that his king has become too exposed over the last few moves. In the variation 32 RXc6 BXc6 33 g5 Rf5 34 Qe3 hXg5 35 hXg5 Qf7 Black has counter-play sufficient for a draw.
32 RXc6 QXe5 33 BXe5 BXc6 34 Rcl Bb7 35 h5
The resulting ending is much more diffi¬cult for Black than might appear at first sight. White’s pieces are much more active, and he has a vice-like grip on Black’s K-side. Realizing that passive waiting will lead to defeat, Gheorghiu tries to play actively before the time control.
35 … Rf8
If Black can challenge on the c-file he will be all right, but White is on the alert!
36 Rc7 Rf7 37 Rc3!
Now 37 .. . Rf8 is met by 38 Ra3, tying the black rook to the defence of the Q-side pawns. Therefore Black decides to undermine White’s pawn wedge.
37 … Kh7 38 Kf2 g6 39 hXg6+?
This natural move, made in time trouble, loses White the greater part of his advantage. After 39 Ke3! gXh5 40 gXh5 Black’s king would have remained trapped, and his rook and bishop would have been forced to guard the white rook’s invasion squares. The winning plan is simple: White places his pawns at a4 and b5 and his king at d4, after which Rc7 transposes into a won ending with opposite-coloured bishops. After 39 hXg6+? the strategically correct plan of a K-side bind proves to be an unrealizable dream.
39 … KXg6 40 Ra3 Bc6
In this position I made a “weak move”. Instead of adjourning the game and seeking ways of strengthening my position, I offered a draw, which Gheorghiu joyfully accepted. I find it difficult to explain my decision. It was probably provoked by the nervous tension during the game and especially in time trouble. But during the course of the tournament, as I observed how grandmasters seek the slightest chances in “dead drawn” positions, I constantly regretted such a hasty offer of a draw.
After 41 Rc3 Bb7 White had two roughly equivalent plans at his disposal:
(a) 42 Ke3 h5 43 gXh5+ KXh5 44 Rcl Kg6 45Rgl+Kh746Kd4Ba647Rg2!(not allowing the bishop across to the K-side — 43 e3 Be2!) followed by e2-e3, b2-b3 and a2-a4, choosing a convenient moment to invade (Rc2-c8, orBd6 and Ke5).
(b) 42Kg3h543g5Ba644e3and, exploiting the fact that the opponent is tied down (he is forced to guard the invasion squares on the c-file, to prevent the decisive transference of the white rook to h8 or g8), White can continue to improve his position by advancing his Q-side pawns. It is hard to assert that White’s advantage would have been sufficient for victory, but at any rate (with not the slightest risk involved!) he should have continued playing.
Portisch-Kasparov
(See diagram overleaf). After a lively skirmish White has managed to win a pawn while maintaining a solid position. But the somewhat insecure position of the white king gives Black chances of counter-play. Therefore it is a matter of activity first and foremost!
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26 … Nh5! 27 Qc6
This seems strong, since it leads to new material gains, but the growing activity of the black pieces fully compensates for these losses. After the more cautious 27 Qb3, by energetic play Black can again eliminate the danger of defeat, e.g. 27 QXb3 28 NXb3 f5! 29 Nd2 Rc8!
27 … Rb8 28 QXd6
Of the two possibilities, Portisch chooses the more risky. Now the black pieces move into threatening positions almost by force. After 28 Rbl QXbl+ 29 NXbl RXbl+ 30 Kg2 Rb2+ 31 Kfl Be5 White is of course in no danger, but the black pieces are so successful in combining defence with threats to the white king that White’s winning chances are reduced to the minimum*. Portisch un¬doubtedly wants to achieve more.
28 … Be5 29 Qd7
Little would have been changed by 29 Qc6 Qa3!, when the threat of… Rb2 (after the preliminary 30 … Kg7) is pretty unpleasant.
29 … Qd4 30 Qg4 Rb2
Now 31 Nfl is bad in view of 31 … Qd3!, with numerous threats. White could have gone into a drawn ending, by giving up the exchange: 31 QXh5 QXgl+ 32 KXgl gXh5. But Portisch parries the first onslaught, while retaining his material advantage.
31 Rdl! Qd3 32 Qc8+ Kg7 33 Qc4 Qa3 34 Qe2
* For example, 32 Qe8+ Kgl 33 Bel Rbl+ 34 Ke2 Nf4+ 35Kd2Rb2+ 36KclNd3+ 37KdlNf2+ 38KelNd3+ 39 Kfl Rbl+! 40 Ke2 Nf4+ with perpetual check.
White has managed to defend everything (34… Nf4 is not possible because of 35 BXf4 BXf4 36 Nc4!), but after 34 … Qa2! 35 Be3 Nf4 36 Qflf (36 Qc4? RXd2! 37 QXa2 RXdl+ 38 Bgl Bd4) 36… Rc2! his pieces would have been completely tied up.
34 … Qa4?! 35 Rbl! Ra2 36 Be3
Realizing that the activity of his pieces is fading, in the time scramble Black finds the best chance — he switches his queen to the Reside.
36 … Qd7! 37 Qf2
The threat of… Qh3, in itself unpleasant, appears doubly dangerous in time trouble. Therefore Portisch decides to exchange off the bishop at e5, as Black’s most dangerous piece. But even after this exchange the ac¬tivity of Black’s pieces safeguards him against any great difficulties. 37 Qfl was hardly any more promising, e.g. 37 … Qe7! 38 Qf2 (28 f4? Bc3 39 Qd3 BXd2 40 BXd2 RXd2!) 38… Qf6, and there appears to be no way for White to improve his position.
37 … Qh3 38 f4?!
The immediate 38 Bd4 was more accurate. Portisch was afraid of 38 … Ng3+ 39 Kgl Ne2+, overlooking that he had the simple reply 39 QXg3! On 38 Bd41 was intending to continue 38 … BXd4 39 QXd4+ Kh7, when the difference in the position of the white pawn (compared with the game) does not affect the result.
38 … Bc3 39 Bd4+ BXd4
39 … f6 is weaker in view of 40 Qf3!
40 QXd4+ Kh7
With his last move before the time control Black withdraws his king to a safe square. After this he is obliged to force a draw, whereas 40 … f6!? would have set White some difficult problems, e.g. 41 Qf2 Qd3 42 Rdl Qc2 43 QD NXf4! 44 d6 Ra3! 45 Qfl Rd3 and wins, or 41 Qb4 Ng3+ 42 Kgl Ne2+ 43 Khl RXd2! 44 Qe7+ Kh6 45 Qf8+ Kh5 46 Qh8+ Kg4 etc. The only move to save White is 41 Qc5! Now 41… NXf4 is not possible in view of 42 Qc7+, while 41 … Ng3+ 42 Kgl Ne2+ 43 Khl RXd2 does not work because of
† 36 Qf2, with the threat ofBd4, is parried by the simple 36… Kg8 (37 Bd4? Qa4).
44 Rb7+ Kh6 45 Qf8+ Kh5 46 Rh7+. Therefore Black would have had to be satisfied with perpetual check.
41 Rgl!
41 Qf2 is much weaker in view of 41 … Nf6! 42 Qf3 Qh4, when White has difficulties.
41 … Kg8!
The most clear-cut solution. White is unable to prevent Black’s drawing combination.
42d6 RXd2! 43 QXd2 QO+ 44 Qg2 Ng3+! 44 hXg3 Qh5+ 46 Qh2 Qf3+ 47 Rg2 Qdl+
A rare perpetual check mechanism for a practical game.
Kasparov-Andersson
In the opening Black sacrificed the exchange, counting on his play on the black squares. I gradually managed to neutralize Black’s activity and to seize the c-file, after which the result of the game was no longer in doubt. Black’s only saving chance lay in creating threats to the white king with his queen and black-squared bishop.
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These hopes could have been nipped in the bud by 39 h4!Qh6 (39. . .Qd2 40Rl c2) 40 g3. Instead of this White makes a “sound” time trouble move.
39 Rlc2 h4!
Andersson does not miss his chance, and creates a strong point at g3.
40 Bg4 Kh6
In this position the game was adjourned, and White sealed his next move. Analysis showed that to win White would have to overcome a number of technical difficulties.
41 Khl b6
Black tries to activate his rook, but White, of course, does not allow this.
42Ra7
The tempting 42 Bd7 does not give a decisive advantage. After 42 … BXd7 43 RXd7 f6! 44 Rcc7 Rh8 45 QXb6 Qf4 46 Qgl QXe4 the activity of Black’s pieces gives him good counter-chances.
42 … Bg3 43 Qd2!
The start of a manoeuvre which, in my opinion, leads White most quickly to his goal.
43 … Bf4 44 Qd4! Be5 45 Qgl!
Strangely enough, it is from this square that the white queen causes Black the most trouble. Since the exchange of queens is hopeless for Black, his bishop is forced to remain at e5 in anticipation of the threat of Qcl. For the same reason … Qf4 is bad. For the moment, therefore, Black makes a useful move, removing his pawn from attack.
45 … a5 46 Qcl! Bf4 47 Qal Be5 48 Qgl
White has given his opponent the move, and it transpires that, in spite of the abundance of possibilities, it is hard to find one which does not weaken the position.
48 … aXb4* 49 aXb4 Bf4 50 Qal Be5 51 Qa3!
White successfully exploits the vacated a3 square.
51… Kg7 52 Rf2 Bf6 53 Qd3! Qe5 54 Be6!
After restricting to the maximum the mobility of the black pieces, White begins the decisive offensive.
54… Kg8 55 Qf3 Kg7 56 Qf4 Qd4 57 Rfl b5
Black is forced to make this move, and now his bishop at e8 is completely shut in.
58 Bg4!
58 Rc7 would have given Black the active possibility 58 … Ra8! (59 QXd6? Be5 60 Qc5 Rail).
58 … Rd8!
58 … QXa7 59 QXf6+ Kg8 60 QXd6 leaves Black with no chance.
59Rc7
If now 59 … Ra8, White can confidently
* 48…Bf4 is well met by 49 b5! (49… BXb5 50RXf7) and a3-a4, shutting in the bishop at e8.
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