Uncompromising Chess - Beliavsky PDF

CADOGAN CHESS BOOKS
Uncompromising Chess
CADOGAN CHESS SERIES
ChiefAdvisor: Garry Kasparov

Editor: Murray Chandler
Russian Series Editor: Ken Neat
Other chess titles from Cadogan include:

Uncompromising Chess
Tbe Application of Cbess Theory Paul Keres Best Games Vol.l
Yeftm Geller Egon Varnusz
The Art of Chess Analysis Paul Keres Best Games VoJ.2

by
Jan Timman Egon Varnusz
Averbakh's Selected Games Smyslov's 125 Selected Games Alexander Belyavsky

Yuri A verbakh Vasily Smyslov
Bobby Fischer: His Approach to Chess Sokolov's Best Games

Elie Agur Ivan Sokolov
Chess in the Fast Lane Studies and Games Translated and edited by Ken Neat
Bill & Michael Adams Jan Timman
Fire on Board: Shirov's Best Games The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Alexei Shirov David Bronstein & Tom Furstenberg
The Genius of Paul Morphy Taimanov's Best Games

Chris Ward Mark Taimanov
Half a Century of Chess T imman's Selected Games

Mikhail Botvinnik Jan Timman
Tbe Life and Games of Mikhail Tal Vasily Smyslov: Endgame Virtuoso
Mikhail Tal Vasily Smyslov CADOGAN
chess
LONDON, NEW YORK
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English Translation Copyright :l 1 998 Ken Neat
Contents
First published 1 998 by Cadogan Books pic, 27-29 Berwick St, London W I V 3RF. Introduction 7
Biographical Details 8
Distributed in North America by The Globe Pequot Press, 6 Business Park Rd, P.O. Box
833, Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-0833, USA Selected Games 1972-1997
Belyavsky-Matulovic, Sombor 1 972 9

2 Belyavsky-Marjanovic, World Junior Championship, Teesside 1 973 II
A l l rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
3 Christiansen-Belyavsky, World Junior Championship, Teesside 1 973 14
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic
4 Tal-Belyavsky, 42nd USSR Championship, Leningrad 1974 16
tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in
5 Spassky-Belyavsky, USSR Team Championship, Riga 1975 19
writing from the publishers.
6 Belyavsky-Bronstein, Zonal Tournament, Vilnius 1 975 22
7 Belyavsky-Andersson, Cienfuegos 1976 24
8 Belyavsky-Ribli, Leningrad 1 977 26
British Library Cataloguing in Pu blication Data
9 Belyavsky-Petrosian, Vilnius 1978 29
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
10 Belyavsky-Romanishin, 46th USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1 978 31
11 Belyavsky-Taimanov, USSR Team Championship, Moscow 1 979 33
12 Belyavsky-Polugayevsky, USSR Team Championship, Moscow 1 979 36
I SBN I 8 5 744 205 9
I3 Belyavsky-Kasparov, 47th USSR Championship, Minsk 1 979 39
14 Tseshkovsky-Belyavsky, USSR Championship First League, Tashkent 1 980 42
15 Rashkovsky-Belyavsky, 48th USSR Championship, Vilnius 1 9801 1 44
16 Portisch-Belyavsky, Moscow 1 981 48
17 Belyavsky-Timman, Tilburg 1 9 8 1 50
18 Belyavsky-Larsen, T ilburg 1 981 52
19 Belyavsky-Yudasin, 49th USSR Championship, Frunze 1 9 8 1 54
20 Gheorghiu-Belyavsky, Interzonal Tournament, Moscow 1 982 57
21 Belyavsky-Kasparov, Candidates Match (4th game), Moscow 1 983 60
22 Belyavsky-Geller, 50th USSR Championship, Moscow 1 983 64
23 Miles-Belyavsky, Wijk aan Zee 1 984 66
24 Psakhis-Belyavsky, European Champions Team Cup, Moscow 1 984 68
25 Belyavsky-Portisch, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1 984 70
26 Ljubojevic-Belyavsky, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1 984 74
27 Belyavsky-Dlugy, Interzonal Tournament, Tunis 1 985 76
28 Smyslov-Belyavsky, Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 1 986 78
29 Geller-Belyavsky, Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 1 986 80
30 Karpov-Belyavsky, Tilburg 1 986 83
Typeset by Ken Neat, Durham 31 Belyavsky-Bareev, 54th USSR Championship, Minsk 1 987 85
32 Belyavsky-Salov, 54th USSR Championship, Play-off (game 4) 87
33 Belyavsky-Chandler, Linares 1 988 90
Printed in Great Britain by B PC Wheatons Ltd, Exeter 34 Belyavsky-Karpov, Brussels (World Cup) 1 988 93
35 Seirawan-Belyavsky, Brussels (World Cup) 1988 96
6 Uncompromising Chess
36 Khalifman-Belyavsky, 55th USSR Championship, Moscow 1988 97

37 Belyavsky-Petursson, Reykjavik (World Cup) 1988 100
38 Gulko-Belyavsky, Linares 1989 102 Foreword
39 Belyavsky-Hjartarson, Barcelona 104
40 Belyavsky-Vaganian, 56th USSR Championship, Odessa 1989 106
41 Smirin-Belyavsky, 56th USSR Championship, Odessa 1989 109
42 Belyavsky-Timman, World Team Championship, Luzern 1989 112 'Prepare the horse for battle, but remember - victory comes from the Lord' - King
43 Belyavsky-Kasparaov, Linares 1990 115 Solomon.
44 Yusupov-Belyavsky, Munrch 1990 118
45 Dolmatov-Belyavsky, Moscow (GMA) 1990 121 In my youth 1 could sit for long hours at the chess board in complete solitude and feel
46 Nunn-Belyavsky, Amsterdam 1990 123 perfectly happy. I also liked reading. I made the acquaintance of Svetonius and Plutarch
47 Belyavsky- Vyzhmanavin, 57th USSR Championship, Leningrad 1990 127 fairly early, but they did not provoke in me an interest in Roman civilisation. This
48 Gelfand-Belyavsky, Linares 1991 129 occurred much later, when I had made the acquaintance of Seneca's way of thinking and
49 Belyavsky-Timman, Linares 1991 132 also the style of Sallustius Crispus. Since that time a feeling of joy arises in me on every
50 Belyavsky-Salov, Reggio Emilia 1991/2 135 occasion when, together with Gibbon and Mommsen, I can engross myself in the world
51 Belyavsky-Gelfand, Linares 1992 137 of my heroes. The disposition that arises helps me to retain my optimism, without which
52 Lautier-Belyavsky, Biel 1992 139 success in chess tournaments is improbable for any significant length of time.
53 Belyavsky-Ivanchuk, Linares 1993 141 My other passion became sport, thanks to an accidental set of circumstances. After
S4 Belyavsky-Akopian, Novosibirsk 1993 144 finishing school I did not qualify for the University Law Faculty. The neighbouring
55 Romanishin-Belyavsky, Belgrade 1993 146 Sports College offered me a place without my having to pass any exam since my
56 Kramnik-Belyavsky, Groningen 1993 148 successes in chess had gained me a favourable image in the sports world, and chess was
57 Belyavsky-Shirov, Groningen 1993 152 revered then as a type of sport. True, there was no chess specialisation in the college, and
58 Korchnoi-Belyavsky, Leon 1994 155 girls gathered to watch my helpless attempts at gymnastics and swimming, in order to
59 Belyavsky-Bareev, Munich 1994 158 laugh to their hearts' content. The point was that, before entering the sports college, I had
60 Belyavsky-I.Sokolov, Groningen 1994 159 not paid the slightest attention to physical exercise. I consider it a special favour of the
61 Karpov-Belyavsky, Linares 1995 161 immortal gods, that I went through the Sports rather than the Law Faculty, as practising
62 Belyavsky-Lobron, Dortmund 1995 165 sport has prolonged my chess career.
63 Zviagintsev-Belyavsky, Team Tournament, Yugoslavia 1995 167 Rome and sport, more than other factors, have formulated my attitude to the
64 Rublevsky-Belyavsky, Novosibirsk 1995 170 competitive process. I share the conviction of the Romans, that victory in battle is granted
65 Belyavsky-Azmaiparashvili, Reggio Emilia 1995/6 172 by the immortal gods and is therefore outside the will of the commander. It is the same in
66 Belyavsky-Nikolic, Polanica Zdroj 1996 174 a chess battle. Without at all pretending to resolve the philosophical question regarding
67 Belyavsky-Ehlvest, Yerevan Olympiad 1996 176 the relationship between free will and predetermination, I will risk proposing that the
68 Belyavsky-Strikovic, Cacak 1996 180 result of a chess game depends considerably less on the efforts of a player, than is
69 Belyavsky-Khalifman, Ubeda 1997 182 customarily thought. Therefore the task of a .chess commander reduces to trying to find
70 Belyavsky-Illescas Cordoba, Ubeda 1997 184 the best of the possible moves, without worrying about the result.
71 Belyavsky-Shirov, Belgrade 1997 189 Fatigue and failure, more than other factors, influence the mood and competitiveness
of a player after a game. A bottle of good wine may help to cope with fatigue, but, in
Index of Opponents 191 order not to become dispirited by the result, you should seek inspiration from the
thoughts of Seneca:
'In this life, stormy like a sea, there is one refuge: disdain future vicissitudes, stand
Index of Openings 192
dependably and openly, staunchly meet the blows of fortune, do not hide and do not
flinch' .
Selected Games 1972-1997
At the tournament in Sombor (Yugoslavia) tOdS! 1 0 tOxdS exdS I I .i.e2 d6 or 9 g3

my youthfu l vanity was satisfied when I 'i'c7 10 e5 tOd5 with a reasonable game)
managed to take first place: only with great 8 ...tOg4 9 tOb5 'ilfc6, intending 1 0 tOxa7
unwillingness had the organisers included 11xa7 !
me among the participants. This was my Two decades later B lack automatically
first appearance abroad in a tournament tends to protect his queen by 7 ... a6, but
without an age restriction . here too 8 eS is rather unpleasant. For
example, in the game Dysing-Carlsson
Game l (Stockholm 1 995) after 8 . . . tOd5 9 tOxd5
Belyavsky-Matulovic exd5 10 tOfS d6 1 1 tOxd6+ xd6 12 exd6
Sombor 1 972 'ilfxd6 13 Wd2 0-{) 1 4 G-O-Q Black again
Sicilian Defence B48 ran into difficulties. Of course, the simple
7 ... d6 is also possible.
e4 c5 S tOdb5 'ilfa5
2 tOo tOc6 9 e5!
3 d4 exd White fixes the weak d6 square and at
4 tOxd W e7 the same time gains an obvious spatial
5 e3 tOf6 advantage.
6 tOc.3 e6 9 a6
7 f4 This leads to the exchange of B lack's
White exploits the fact that the black b ishop. The alternative was 9 ... tOd5, when
queen is at c7, so that he does not have to I was intending 1 0 .i.d2 tOxc3 1 1 bxc3!?
fear the pin on his knight that occurs in the (or 11 xc3 0-{) 1 2 'ilfd2) 1 1...e7 1 2
game. d3 with advantage. 9 . . . tOe4 can be met
by 1 0 Wd3 fS 1 1 exf6 tOxf6 1 2 e2 0-{)
1 3 0-{) d5 1 4 a3 e7 I 5 f3 h8 1 6 b4,
again with advantage to White (Shmuter
Saltaev, Volgograd 1 994).
10 tOd6+
1 0 exf6 axb5 1 1 fxg7 11g8 1 2 f2
xc3 1 3 bxc3 Wxc3 1 4 .i.xbS also came
into consideration.
10 .i.xd6
11 'i'xd6 ttJe4
12 'i'd3
The tempting 1 2 b4 loses to 1 2 .. . Wa3 !
12 tOxc.3
7 .i.b4?! 13 bxc.3 bS
The opening books of that time recom 14 .i.e2 'i'c7
mended 7 ... tOxd4 8 'i'xd4 (after 8 .i.xd4 1 4.. . 0-0 1 5 .i.e 5 is unpleasant for
B lack can take the pawn -8 . . .'i'xf4 9 e5 B lack.
10 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess II
15 0-{) b7 22 <3;n? 39 c5 COg6 earlier. After examining my games, the 6th

16 a4 A mistake. 22 . . . c6 was essential, to 40 h5 COh8 World Champion subjected them to such
prevent White's next move. 41 f8 COn scathing criticism, that when [ went out
23 b5 lld8 42 e2 c6 onto the street [ was so mortified that I
24 c4 liJb4 43 ..t>d4 burst out crying. After that we used to
25 lldl Here the game was adjourned, but meet from time to time, and he became
With the threat of Jtb6. Black resigned without resuming, as there more condescending towards my play. In
25 dS is no defence against f3 and c3-c4. After contrast to the wonderful books of pre
26 c3 COc6 43 ... a4 White wins by the outflanking vious World Champions, in my opinion the
27 Jtb6 llb8 manoeuvre 44 Jta6! Jtc6 45 Jtc8+ d7 46 three-volume set of Botvinnik's games is
28 Jtc7 nc8 .Qb7. the first systemised work capable of giving
29 cxd5 exdS a player a grandmaster understanding of
29 . ..:Ixc7 30 dxc6 .Qxc6 31 c-l e7
. At that time the World Junior Champion the game. Botvinnik's commentaries are so
was a tougher defence, although after 32 ship was held in a single age group of up to instructive, that for anyone wishing to
lld6 the win for White is merely a question 20 years old, and once c'very two years. [n become a grandmaster, [ would recom
16 COe7 of time. contrast to the World men's Champion mend that in the first place they should
This pawn sacrifice does not achieve its 30 llal ship, which (before 1972) was regularly study his works.
aim, as White finds a way of taking play 30 .Jtd6 was also good. decided in matches between Soviet grand
into an ending that is unpleasant for Black. 30 b7 masters. in the barrie for the junior title Game2
Stronger was 16 ..bxa4, when [ was intend
. 31 .2.b6 :a8 Soviet players traditionally found it Belyavsky-Marjanovic
ing 17 :tfb I, retaining the advantage. 32 Uxa8 .Qxa8 difficult. [n the tv{enty years preceding my World Junior Championship
17 axb5 axbS 33 f2 b7 participation, only Boris Spassky in 1955 Teesside 1973
18 lha8+ xa8 34 'It>e3 '.t>e6 and Anatoly Karpov in 1969 had won this Sicilian Defence B9b
19 xb5 COdS 35 g3 h6 title. [n 1973 [ was to become the third
20 c5! 36 .2.e2 g5 Soviet winner. Since the Junior Championship was being
Transposing into a favourable ending 37 h3 gxf4+ The visit to England was preceded by a held in England, the local press was hoping
from a position of strength. 38 gxf4 qualification tournament in Riga, where I that Tony Miles and Michael Stean would
20 xc5 shared first place with Sergey :-Vlakarychev offer me worthy competition. [nitially the
21 xcS f5 and gained the right to represent the USSR prognoses were confirmed: after a
The incautious 2 1 . ..COxc3? would have in Teesside. As preparation for this confident victory in the qualification stage
lost material after 22 f3. tournament, the USSR Chess Federation (6 out of 7), in the final tournament I lost
22 d4 arranged for grandmasters. Boleslavsky and to both the English players. However, the
Botvinnik to give me personal lessons. optimism of youth subsequently enabled
This was of undoubted benefit. me to win four games in a row, and by the
Isaac Boleslavsky loved analysing the last round I had caught the leader
opening stage of the game, much more Siavoljub Marjanovic, who I still had to
than participating in actual play. His play. Unfortunately, today I cannot
analyses were noted for their high quality, remember which of the organisers sugges
and books on opening theory contained ted that we should agree a draw in our
numerous original ideas of his, disputing game, in order to stage a three-way play
The further strengthening of White's practical conclusions. From my contact off with Miles. But already then the
position involves playing his king to d4. with Boleslavsky [ derived methods of maximalist aspiration in me prevailed: I
For this he needs to divert the knight to the working on the openings. decided to play for a win. And although
defence of the kingside pawns. My first meeting with Botvinnik had this game does not rank among my
38 COe7 taken place in his flat in Moscow two years creative achievements, I must nevertheless
12 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 13
offer it to the judgement of the reader, as 11 ttJd2 lOe5 29...'iWf6, when the situation becomes more (a) 37...ttJc5 38 llxe6+ ttJxe6 39 flxd6
the one that made me Junior World 12 ttJd5 comp I icated. e7 40 llb6 and wins;
Champion. If 12 h3 I was afraid of 12 ... e6. 28 fS (b) 37...ttJf2 38 flxe6+ xe6 39 bl
1 e4 e5 12 ttJxd5 28...a5!?, breaking up the white pawn with a clear advantage;
2 ttJf3 d6 13 exd5 fS chain and obtaining the c5 square for the (c) 37...11ce8 38 xe4 fxe4 (or 38...h4
3 d4 exd4 14 l::cl h5 knight, was more promising, e.g. 29 bxa5 39 xb7 llxe3 40 xa6 with good
4 ttJxd 4 ttJf6 15 h3 1::ae8 ttJc5 30 f5 (or 30 fI b2 31 lla2 'iWf6 winning chances) 39 g4 h4 40 g2 with
5 ttJc3 a6 16 f4 ttJd7 with counterplay) 30...'iWe5+ 31 f4 'iWd4 the plan off2-e2, llc3, e3 and c4-c5;
6 a4 16 ...xc2 did not work because of 17 32 fxg6 fxg6 33 'iWc2 flfB, and Black has (d) 37 ...g5 38 fxg5+ (but not 38 xe4
Not the best move, but a perfectly e l and then 18 dI. good compensation for the pawn. gxf4 39 fle I flxe4 40 lldxe4 fxe4 41 llxe4
possible one. Fischer used to prefer 6 c4 17 e3 lOc5 29 as h7 f5 42 fld4 e5 43 lld5+ e6, when the
here, and 6 g5 is even more popular. 17 ...ttJf6 was better, in passing setting a 30 f1 ttJf6 best that White can do is to repeat moves)
6 'fIe7 trap (18 ttJc4? ttJxd5! 19 'iWxd5 e6). 31 d4 ttJe4 38 ... ttJxg5 39 l1xe6+ xe6 40 llh4 !1h8
6...g6 would have transposed into the 18 ttJf3 'iWd7 32 xg7 41 e2e5 42 llxh5 llxh5 43 x.h5 d4
Dragon Variation, where White is denied 19 1:: a1 ttJe4 If 32 nfe3 White has to reckon with 44 h4 ttJe6 45 f7 ttJf4 46 <j;>g3 and White
the option of the plan with queenside 20 h2 ttJf6 32 ... h6. must win this ending.
castling. At the time I thought that the 21 c4 e6 32 xg7 38 llxe6+
presence of the pawn at a4 (in reply to 22 dxe6 'iWxe6 33 'iWd4+ 'iWf6 Missing 38 xf5! gxf5 39 .:lxc3. e.g.
... a7-a6) also favoured White after king 23 lla3 flfe8 34 llad3 'iWxd4 39 . .. h4 40 g l llce8 41 :'c2 llg8 42
side castling, since he has the possibility There was no need for Black to allow 34... l1e6, inviting White himself to .llcd2 e7 43 l1d5 when White's extra
by a4-a5 of taking control of the weakened the exchange of his bishop for the white exchange queens, would have saved at pawn in the rook ending must count.
b6 square. on which one of his pieces may knight. 23...'iWe7 24 ttJd4 e4 would have least one tempo. 38 xe6
be established. been better. 35 llxd4 f6 White still has a better ending, but it is
7 ttJb3 ttJbd7 24 ttJd4 'iWd7 And here 35...11e6 36 lle3 .:tce8 37 not easy to approach Black's weaknesses.
8 e2 g6 25 ttJxfS 'iWxfS e2 h4 38 f3 f6 would have main 39 f1 ttJe4
9 g7 26 d3 'iWe6 tained equality. 40 e2 lle7
27 llf3 l!Jd7 36 d3 lle6 41 f3 l!Jf6
37 fle3 42 g3 lld7
43 b4 f7
44 g5 g7
45 g4
I did not see any other solution to the
position. Against 45 lldI, attempting to
penetrate with the rook to e6, Black would
have replied 45... ttJe4+ 46 xe4 fxe4 47
:el d5!
45 bxg4
46 bxg4 fxg4
47 xg4 ll c 7?
White has not obtained anything special After prolonged thought Marjanovic
from the opening, but on the other hand 28 b4 wrongly avoids going into the rook ending.
Maljanovic, on encountering some un In the opponent's serious time trouble it 37 ttJc3 After 47...ttJxg4 48 xg4 f6 49 lld5
accustomed problems, had already used an was tempting to attack with 28 f5 'iWe5+ 29 This allows White a tactical opportunity e6 (49 c5 was threatened) 50 g5 llg7
hour and a half on his clock. i.f4, but Black is not bound to capture the to gain a winning material advantage. 51 lld I llg8 52 lld4 llg7 53 h6 llg8 54
10 i.e3 ()....() pawn with 29...'iWxb2. He can retreat However, other moves were no better: h7 :c8 55 xg6 llg8+ Black, despite
being a pawn down, has chances of a draw. Game 3 chances are better (Gulko-Pinski, Geneva 14 xf6
With the minor pieces still on the board, Christiansen-Belyavsky 1997). But during his golden youth Larry 15 e2 e6
White's possibilities are increased. World Junior Championship Christiansen preferred to attack. 16 xf4?!
48 f3 lld7 Teesside 1973 6 cxd4 Even so, 16 0-0-0 e5 17 g3 g5 18 h4
English Opening A40 7 tUd5 d 8 was better, trying to complicate matters
8 f4 d6 before the capture of the knight at a8. Now
c4 c5 9 ttJxd4 e5 Black can also avoid this.
2 ttJf3 g6 9 .. . e6 10 tUbS! exd5 11 xd6 <tJa6 also 16 xb2
3 d4 g7 looked interesting, but it was difficult to 17 lIdl 'i'a5+
4 e4 'i'a5+ evaluate the consequences of 12 a3. 18 ebn ebg7
9...tUf6 was also quite good.
10 tUbS exf4
11 tUbc7+ ebf8
12 ttJxa8 ttJa6
49 fS!
Now White breaks through to the e6
square.
49 tOb7+
50 <.t>f4 tOf6?
50 ...g5+ should have been played.
51 lId1 gxfS Oleg Romanishin once played this 19 h4?!
52 xfS ebn against me in a training game. One of the White should at least have picked up
53 llel! ':'c7 present-day supporters of this variation is the pawn - 19 xd6.
54 lIe6 tOg8 grandmaster D.Sennek. 19 .i.e5
55 b5+ ebg7 5 d2 13 d2 20 e3 c5
56 llxd6 lIxc4 S tOe3 d6 is more natural, when White 13 c5!? tUxcs 14 tUac7, liberating the 21 'i'b3 llxa8
57 lId7+ ebh8 has two fundamentally different plans: knight, came into consideration, although First 21 ... c6 was more accurate.
After 57...ebh6 58 g6 there is no good (a) 6 h3 tUc6 7 d5 tUd4 8 d2 tOxf3+ 9 after 14 ...xb2 Black has sufficient 22 xb7 <tJc7
defence against the mate. xf3 tOf6 10 e2 0-{) 1 1 d3 a6 12 O-Q compensation for the exchange. 23 h5
58 lIxb7 !:rd4 with somewhat the better game for White 13 tUC6 If 23 'i'b3 Black builds up the threats
59 e2 lId6 (Tukmakov-Sermek, Bled 1995); 14 tUxC6? with 23... f5.
60 e5 lIh6 (b) 6 e2 g4 7 dxc5 dxc5 8 O-Q tUc6 From the expression on Christiansen's 23 .i.xc4
61 lIb6 lIh4 9 e5! with sharp play (Mikhalchishin- face it was apparent that he was not happy Here too 23.. .f5 24 exf5 1If8! was
.
62 xa6 tOe7 Sermek, Bled 1995). with the outcome of the opening, although 'stronger, with threats to the king. The
63 b7 5 'i'b6 objectively his position is not so tragic. It capture of the pawn allows White to
Black resigns 6 tUc3 is true that 14 ()....(}-D tUxe4 15 'i'xf4 (15 escape into an endgame.
Modem pragmatists would prefer 6 'i'c2 fS 16 d3 tUac5) IS . ...i.f5 16 g4?! 24 ];tel .i.xe2+
The play in the above game was dominated c3, not avoiding an endgame: 6 ... cxd4 h5! was risky, but 14 f3 e6 15 ()....(}-D was 25 xe2 'i'b5+
by strictly competitive aims, but in the (6...tUc6 7 d5 xc3+ 8lOxc3 'i'xb2 9 tUbS possible, although even here White has to 26 'i'xb5 <tJxb5
creative sense my win over a currently can hardly appeal to Black) 7 .i.xd4 .i.xd4 fight for equality. But after the exchange of 27 hxg6 hxg6
well known American grandmaster makes 8 'i'xd4 'i'xd4 9 tUxd4 d6 10 tUc3 iOd7 1I his most active piece, White has nothing at 28 d3 a5
a better impression. tUdb5 d8 12 e2, where White's all to show for his efforts. 29 a4
Black's only problem is how to bring suggest correct solutions, only aimed at equal 'success'. I recall my games with (before this only 9 e2 had been played)
his knight to a protected square, such as cS. acquiring a material advantage, rather than Boris Spassky in 1980 and 1988 in Baden 9...b6 10 cxb6 (after 1 0 b4 bxcS II bxcS
Therefore 29 .1:!.c4 was much better, mating the enemy king. Once, in the early and Reykjavik, where I declined his offers CUe4 Black has sufficient counterplay)
although after 29 ... lla7 30 nhc1 (30 a4 eighties, he observed my fascination with a of a draw and lost. Memorable among 10...CUd7 (1 0...'i'xb6 1 1 lLla4) 1 1 d3 as
CUc7 and the knight goes to c5) 30...a4 31 computer. At that time this was a great recent examples is my game with Rustem 1 2 CUbS! 'i'xb6 13 f4 0-0 1 4 O-O!, and
g3 a3 32 f4 b2 33 ll l c2 Wf6 34 g4 e7 rarity among chess players, and so they did Dautov at Reggio Emilia in 1 996. The cost here after the poor move 1 4 ... CUa7? White
3 S gS <t>d7 36 .1:!.h2 dS 37 exdS CUd6 38 not imagine what they could be used for in of these last two rejections was the loss in gained the advantage: 15 CUc7 llb8 1 6 b4 !
tl.b4 llaS Black is still winning. chess. 1 was interested in compiling a data each case of first prize. b7 1 7 bxaS! As shown by Gelfand, better
29 CUd4 base, as 1 did not greatly trust my memory, 4 e3 e6 was 1 4 ...CUf6 ! 5 llc1 d7 1 6 'i'e2 llfc8 1 7
30 g3 and in addition 1 was aiming for a better 5 d4 d5 :tc2 lLle4 18 llfc1 f6 1 9 'i'e3. when
30 f4 was essential, and if 30 ... f6 31 systemisation of the information that I had. From the symmetric variation of the White's position is somewhat preferable.
g4. Tal, however, assumed that 1 wanted to use English Opening the game has gone into 8 d3 (}-()
30 CUb3 the computer as a playing automaton. He the symmetric variation of the Tarrasch 9 (}-() b6
31 llc6 CUc5+ said: 'Sasha, a computer does not suit you, Defence to the Queen's Gambit. Here 10 b2 cxd4
32 We3 nb8 since your strength is intuition, and Y9U White usually breaks the symmetry by 6 Black cannot continue the symmetry
33 f4 nb3+ should improve your intuition, rather than cxd5 exd5 7 e2, transposing into an with 1 0... b7?!, as after II dxcS bxc5 1 2
34 e2 CUxe4 your calculation.' The idea of computers isolated d-pawn position after 7. . . cxd4 8 cxdS cxdS 13 'i!fc2, in view of the threat of
White resigns participating in tournaments with humans CUxd4 d6 or 7...d6 8 dxc5 .\txc5, where CUa4. it is not easy to defend the hanging
was to him 'not attractive', as he liked to as compensation Black has active piece pawns.
1 974 was memorable for me winning my put it, because Tal desired that the fairy play. But Tal was an expert on this 11 exd4 b7
first gold medal as USSR Champion tales he created on the board should variation, and the fact that for the moment 12 nel
together with Mikhail Tal, to whom I was fascinate people. He had no wish to he decided to continue the symmetry was The arrangement of the rooks at c I and
to a certain extent indebted for this suc provide fascination for machines. not unjustified. d I looks more harmonious, with the queen
cess. Before the final round, the 8th World 6 a3 a6 at e2.
Champion was leading by a whole point. '1 Game 4 7 b3 12 lIc8
got carried away' was how Tal explained Tal-Belyavsky With this move Tal demonstrates that If 1 2.. .!uaS there could follow 1 3 cS.
his impulsive 1 4 CUeS, and then, having -I2nd USSR Championship he is prepared to play with hanging pawns. 13 cxdS
calmed down a little after the encounter, he Leningrad 197-1 But subsequently, perhaps influenced by White reverts to symmetry, but 13 'i'e2
added: 'This game confirms an old truth, Queen's Gambit 040 this game, he began to prefer play against came into consideration, and if 1 3 ... CUaS
that it is difficult to play a game of chess the isolated d-pawn: 7 dxc5 xc5 8 b4. 14 CUd2.
having in mind two possible results: you c4 cS For example, his game with Browne 13 exdS
are happy with a draw, and you also want 2 lLlD lLlC6 (Naestved 1 985) continued 8... d6 9 b2
to try and win. This is a rather complicated 3 lLlc3 lLlc6 0-0 1 0 cxd5 exdS II .i.e2 g4 1 2 0-0
exercise, as at some point the one excludes At this point Tal sank into thought. He llc8, and here after \3 bS?! axbS 14 CUxbS
the other, although Belyavsky played the . had expected me to choose a more xf1! IS xD .i.eS Black maintained the
second part of the game very strongly'. aggressive opening, and suddenly here is a balance. Stronger is 13 nc I! .i.b8 1 4 CUa4
Tal, more than anything, valued impro symmetric position, demonstrating peace 'i'd6 IS g3 CUe4 16 CUcS CUxcS 17 llxcS
visation at the chess board. He calculated ful intentions - almost an invitation to the llfd8 18 CUd4 with tdvantage to White
variations well, but intuition was never title of USSR Champion. But Tal would (Mikhalchishin-Stangl, Dortmund 1 992).
theless his main strength. To a great extent not have been Tal, had he not decided to 7 d6
it was this, rather than calculation, that try and beat me. Unfortunately, it is true In recent times Black more often
suggested attacking solutions. In eval that you learn only from your own prefers to develop his bishop at e7. For
uating my strong and weak points, Tal mistakes, and not from those of others. I example, the 4th game of the Gelfand
thought that, for me too, intuition at was frequently to repeat Tal's experience Kramnik match (Sanghi Nagar 1 994)
moments of intense concentration would during my subsequent career, and with continued 7...cxd4 8 exd4 e7 9 cS 14 lLleS?!
In inviting a position with an isolated is completely won for Black: 23 tUxg2 28 tUgS actor. In 1981 during the tournament in
pawn, Tal underestimates Black's resour tUh3+ 24 f l xg2+ 25 xg2 tUf4+ 26 29 tUg3 Tilburg, in the room where the participants
ces, otherwise he would have continued fJ tUxd3 27 .u.xe8 .u.xe8 28 xd4 tUe1 + White loses quickly after 29 lbxd4 analysed games that had just finished, the
the symmetry with 14 llc l. 29 g4 tUc2 30 .u.dI nd8 31 tUe2 b5! lOh3+ 30 f1 tUf4. hearing-aid that Tigran Petrosian usually
14 tUxd4! (even stronger than 31...tUxa3 32 llcl b5 29 lOxf3+ used stopped working, and so when anal
15 xh7+ tUxh7 33 c5 tUc4) 32 lld3 g6 33 nd2 tUxa3 34 30 g2 lOh4+ ysing his games he used only his hands.
16 'i'xd4 cS c3 nxd2 35 xd2 tUc2. 31 C;Ph3 'i'h6 Standing behind his historic opponent,
17 'i'd3 d4 23 .u.xel tUe6 32 'i'e4 lOg6+ Spassky began good-naturedly and jovially
18 tUe2? ! Now 23...'i'xg2+ is not so effective: 24 33 g 2 d3! imitating Tigran's typical gestures. The
All the same the d4 pawn cannot be tUxg2 tUh3+ 25 c;t(fl xg2+ 26 e2 tUf4+ 34 d4 llc4 attention of those present switched from
won, and therefore in his cramped position 27 d2 tUxd3 28 xd3 as 29 xd4 axb4 35 SLxg7 'i'f4! the chess board to the actor. Petrosian
it was more logical for White to aim for 30 axb4 xb4 31 ngI with a probable continued moving the pieces, not hearing
.
simplification: 18 tUe4 tUg5 19 tUxg5 draw. :
,, the general laughter. Finally, from the
'i'xg5 20 tUfJ with roughly equal chances. 24 nd l ? ! . : '
'
. 1.:.:';,'"
"" ;;, '
expression of the opponent sitting opposite
18 lle8 If White wants to attack this pawn, it IS .t him, he instantly realised that Spassky was
Ignoring 19 tUxf7? in view of 19 ... 'i'f6, more useful to activate the 'errant' knight:
.
.' ..
' . .
"
entertaining the spectators. He turned
while 19 '-i'f5 is parried by 19.. .f6! If 19 24 lOfJ, in order to answer 24.. Jof4 with round, burst out laughing, and spread his
tUxd4 I was again intending to play 25 'i'xd4 liJh3+ 26 fl (not 26 h I hands, saying to all with his appearance:
19 ... 'i'd5! 20 tUefJ (20 tUdfJ llxe5') 'i'xfJ!) 26..:i'b5+ 27 :te2 with a defen what else would you expect from Boris. It
20...tUgS with unpleasant pressure for the sible position. seems to me that, both at the chess board
pawn, but perhaps this would have been 24 as and in life, Spassky has always sought
better for White than the continuation 25 bxaS b xa5 some truth, great and eternal. And each
chosen in the game. time, when he has convinced himself that a
19 tUg3 'i'dS truth is not eternal and not grandiose, he
20 tUf3 tUgS Such pressure is more than White can has turned it into a laughing-stock, in order
21 b4 ffl withstand. to release his energy for a new search. That
22 tUh4 36 'i'a8 'i'g4 is how he acted both in his younger years,
The d4 pawn is still immune: 22 xd4? 37 h3 'i'xd l and now, when he has turned 60. And that
lled8. 38 xffl lOxffl is how he will also act in the future:
38...lDh4+ 39 h2 'i'G is 'cleaner', but cleverly ridiculing, creating and refuting.
the prosaic move played is also good
enough. Game 5
39 'i'dS lleI Spassky-Belyavsky
40 'i'g5+ lOg6 USSR Team Championship
White resigns Riga /975
26 lOe2? Grtinfeld Defence 088
A time trouble mistake. 26 Wd2 as In the following year, 1975, I was also
essential, although here too Black stands lucky enough to win against the 10th d4 lOf6
rather better. Now, however, White's World Champion. Unfortunately, winning 2 c4 g6
position collapses. this game against Spassky did me an ill 3 1Oc3 d5
26 'i'h5 service: in our subsequent games, when 4 cxd5 lOxd5
27 1Of3 xO Boris offered me a draw I would refuse 5 e4 lOxc3
22 .u.xel+ 28 gxO and go on to lose. 6 bxc3 g7
Both players looked at 22... 'i'xg2+!, Things are certainly no easier for White If Spassky had not been a great chess 7 c4 c5
and yet I did not realise that the endgame after 28 Will Will 29 gx.D .u.c2. player, he would have become a great 8 lOe2 0-0
9 ttJc6 Easier equality is promised by Gennady 19 fxe6 This move costs White the game. 25
10 Kuzmin's improvement 1 6 . . . e6 1 7 b3 20 d5 tta8 ttbb 1 was essential, removing the rook
At that time Spassky regularly used to ttJxb3 (after 1 7 ...b5?! 1 8 e5 Black has no 21 b6 'i'd6 from the dangerous diagonal, after which
play this variation, which brought him two compensation for the pawn) 1 8 axb3 b5, 22 lXfc l the outcome would have been far from
victories over Bobby Fischer. for example: 19 e5 ttd7 20 'i'el f6 2 1 exf6 clear.
10 cxd4 .1Lxf6 22 ttf2 e5 with equal chances 25 "d3!
11 cxd4 g4 (Dolmatov-Kuzmin, USSR 1 9 85). Now, in view of the weakness of the
12 f3 ttJ a5 17 a4 g l-a7 diagonal, it is not possible for White
Nothing is achieved by 1 7 .1Lg5 1Iid7 to exploit the undefended knight at as .
( 1 7 ... h6 18 h4 g5?! 1 9 f2 is risky for 26 tt6b4 c3
Black, as his king is exposed, and after 27 'i'b6
exchanges White gains the advantage by If 27 'i'fl there would have followed
advancing his e-pawn) 18 ..t>h I e6 19 .1Lb3 27 . . . 'i'e3+ 28 h 1 .i.xb4 29 ttxb4lXc8.
xb3 20 axb3 xe2 2 1 ihe2 xd4 22 27 .1Lxb4
nfd I e5 and Black equalises. 28 ttxb4 ttJc4
17 xe2 29 'ili'xe6+ h8
18 'i'xe2 e6 30 h4
22 :tab8! White has three pawns for a knight, but
This possibility was overlooked by this material balance is favourable only in
Spassky. B lack exploits the weakness of the endgame, and for the moment his king
the gl-a7 diagonal. It transpires that White is in danger. If 30 'i'e7?? he is mated after
13 .i.d5 cannot play 23 'i'xa6? because of 30 . . . 'i'e3+.
In what was then considered the main 23.. . .i.d4+, while 23 .i.xa5 is not good in 30
continuation, 13 d3 e6 14 d S .i.xa I IS view of 23.. .ttxb I 24 :txb I 'i'c5+ and 31 h2
1Iixa I f6, at present White has still not 25 ... 'i'xa5. 32 h3
m anaged to demonstrate an advantage, 23 'i'f2
while the problems facing Black after 1 3 Of course, not 23 'i'e3 in view of
xf7+! :z.xf7 1 4 fx.g4 J:.xfl + I S ..t>xfl 23 . . .h6! 24 'i'xh6 :xb6, when the
were learned of only 1 2 years later at the simplification is clearly in Black's favour.
match between Karpov and Kasparov in 23 ttxb6
Seville. However, in preferring a quieter 19 xe6?! 24 ttxb6 'i'aJ
alternative, Spassky was possibly guided Fighting for the initiative, Spassky goes .
not only by creative considerations, but in for an apparently promising piece sac
also by his responsibilities as leader in a rifice. Modem theory prefers 1 9 c4,
team event (he was playing on top board when Black's best is 19.. . xd4, although
for Leningrad). considerable accuracy is required for hir:n
13 d7 to equalise. For example, the game
14 lXbl a6 I.Farago-W.Schmidt (Prague Zonal Tourn
15 xb7 lXa7 ament 1 985) continued 20 ttfd 1 xe3+ 2 1 33 g3
Weaker is I S ...ttJxb7 16 lXxb7 .i.b5 1 7 'i'xe3 ttd7 22 e2 ttxd I + 2 3 lXxd 1 "c8 The only way to defend against Black's
:te l ! 'i'a5 1 8 a4 .i.xa4 1 9 'i'a l ttab8? (less accurate is 23.....c7 24 xa6 "c2 2 5 threat to set up a m ating net by 33 . . . lllfl
(better 19 ... :tac8) 20 lXebI with advantage "d4! e 5 2 6 " a l ttb8 27 .i.fl when White or 3 3 . ..111d l was with 33 ttbl , but then
to White (Dolmatov-Malisauskas, USSR stands better, Yusupov-Korchnoi, Luzem 3 3 . . . lllxg2!, and, after the forced
1 985). 1 985) 24 e5 "c2 25 ttd4 ttb8 26 h4 'Wbl + elimination of the f3 and h4 pawns, Black
16 d5 b5 27 Wf2111c 6 with chances for both sides. 2S lXcbl? drives the king into the comer and sets u p
a fresh mating construction: 34 xg2 51 n fS success in the present game, 8 d3 b7 9 13 ltJe4 'i'e7
'i'xD+ 35 h2 'i'f2+ 36 h l 'i'xh4+ 3 7 52 <j;gl e6 a3 ltJc5 1 0 'i'D followed by g2-g4-g5 14 xc5 'i'xe5
gl 'i' g5 + ! (K.Neat; not 3 7 ... 'i'g3+ 3 8 53 'Ot>g2 <j;n looks more natural. 15 l:txa6 lle8
h I l:tf2 3 9 'iWc8+ <j;g7 4 0 l:tb7+ h6 41 54 <j;g 1 CUe8 8 bxa4 16 'i'a5 d5
'i'c1+ 1.'I.f4 42 l:tb2 with counterplay) 3 8 White resigns 8 . . . b4? loses a pawn to 9 CUc6. After the exchange of White's dark
h I l:tf4 39 'i'c8+ <j;g7 40 'i'c3+ <j;h6 4 1 9 l:txa4 e6 square bishop, a weakness of his dark
l:tb2 l:tf 1 + 4 2 <j;h2 'i'g I + 43 h3 l:t e I and David Bronstein once suggested that you 10 'i'al square complex has become apparent, and
w i ns. cannot beat an equal opponent unl ess you Here is that opportunity. W ith this non it is logical that B l ack should aim to open
33 'i'xD grant him counter-chances. In our game routine manoeuvre I was hoping to exploit the position, wh ile completing his develop
34 'i'e5+ <j;g8 from the Zonal Tournament i n Vilnius I the weakness of the a6 pawn, but it also ment - in this case he has more chance of
35 'i'e6+ nn made use of his recommendation. Of a llows B l ack a chance to activate his exploiting the strength of his bishop pair.
36 1.'I.b8+ <j;g7 course, there is much to be learned from a forces, which my experienced opponent is The attempt to resolve the situation with
37 'i'e 5 + 'i'f6 player who was the first to challenge not slow to exp l o i t . 10 ttJb3! was better, the sacrifice of a second pawn, 1 6 . . .'i'xa5
38 'i'xf6+ <j;xf6 Botv innik for the title of World Champion. maintaining pressure on the queens ide 1 7 1.'I.xa5 ! (1 7 ttJxa5 d5) 1 7 ... d5 18 exd5
39 l:!. b 3 Bronstein's book with the annotated games weaknesses. (1 8 CUb6 b4 ! ) 1 8...b4 19 dxe6 xe6 20
39 l:b6+ <j;e5 40 1.'I.xa6 <j;xe4 is equa l l y of the 1953 Candidates Tournament can be 10 ltJe5 :ta4 CUd5, would have been met by the
hopeless. recommended to anyone aiming to im 11 CUe6 'i'b6! tactical counter 21 1.'I.xb4! CUxb4 22 CUd6+,
39 CUc4 prove their play. Of course, a quarter of a I n the event of 1 1 ... 'i'c7 12 xc 5 'i'xc6 when White gains the advantage.
40 1.'1.c3 CUd6 century later, the strength of his play was (12 ... dxc5 IJ ltJe5 ) \3 eJ White has an 17 'i'xc5 xc5
41 hS CUxe4 not as great as in his match with Botvinn ik. obvious advantage on the queenside. 18 exd5 exd5
42 1.'I.c6+ <j;g 5 12 CUa5 I f 18 . .CUxd5 19 ttJxd5 exd5 20 CUe5
.
43 hxg6 hxg6 Game 6 f5 21 b5+ with a dangerous i n itiative.

44 llxa6 1.'I.D Belyavsky-Bronstein 19 CUb6?!
45 as 1.'I.xg3+ Vilnius Zonal Tournament 1975 A careless move, which allows Black
46 <j;h2 lld3 Sicilian Defence B90 almost to free himself. Of course 19 CUeS!
47 l:!.a8 l:tx d 5 was stronger.
48 a6 l:ta5 1 e4 c5 19 xb6
49 a7 2 CUD d6 20 l:txb6 d4
3 d4 cxd4 21 ltJb5
4 CUxd4 ltJf6
5 CUc3 a6
6 e3 CUbd7
Against the Engl ish Attack (character
ised by the development of the bishop at
e3), with which John Nunn and Nigel 12 d7?
Short have gained numerous w i ns, the line After successfu l ly parrying the knight
usually preferred nowadays is 6 ... ltJg4 7 raid, Bronstein relaxes his gu ard and
g5 h6 8 h4 g5 9 g3 g7, the makes a move that takes away a defender
prescription of Kasparov, who before from the a6 pawn, after which White's idea
settling on it encountered many problems with the 'i'al manoeuvre achieves its aim.
after 6 . e5 and 6 ... e6.
.. Given correct play, Black's hopes of
49 ltJf6 ! 7 (4 b5 exploiting the activity of the bishop pair
The knight heads back t o win White's 8 a4! ? prove i llusory, and therefore he should 21 ltJd5?
remaining pawn. Although an unusual idea with system have reverted to prophylaxis, moving his I n aiming for counterpl ay, Black
50 g2 lla3 atic play on the queenside brought me queen out of the pin with 1 2 . . . 'i'c7. underestimates the threatened fork. After
2 1 ... 0-0! 22 !Dxd4 llfe8+ 23 f2 (23 .li.e2 3 d4 cxd4 16 rs 24 l:re8

.li.g4) 23 . . .lle4 24 c3 .l:Ixf4+ 25 !DD g 5 his 4 !Dxd4 !Df6 Lengthening the 'operational' diagonal 25 'it a h8
pieces would have been very active. 5 !Dc3 e6 for the bishop.
22 llb7! 6 .li.e2 .li.e7 16 !De5
The threat is stronger than its execu 7 f4 0-0 A fter 16 ... e5 White would have estab
tion ! I f 22 !Dd6+? <3;e7 23 !Dxc8+ llxc8 24 8 0-0 !Dc6 l ished permanent control of d5: 1 7 !Dxc6
llb7 llxc2 B lack activates his p ieces and 9 .li.e3 a6 .li.xc6 1 8 .li.d5 .
White 's lag in development tells. 10 el !D d 7 ! ? 17 fxe6 fxe6
22 !Dxf4? U l f Andersson has the reputation of 18 !Drs
B lack is strangely resigned to his fate, being one of the leading experts on the
yet 22 ... llxc2 was possible, when 23 llb8+ Scheveningen Variation, and the latent
does not achieve anything after 23 . . . 'it>e7 resources of the position are well known to
24 llxh8 .li. xb S ! But by playing 23 !Dxd4! him. Thus here he chooses a new and cun
llc8 24 g3 ! White maintains his advantage. ning plan for Black. The usual continua
23 !Dd6+ d8 tion is 10 ... c7 or 1 0 . . . !Dxd4 II .li.xd4 b S .
2 !Dxc 8 x c8 11 J:t d l lle8 26 !D fe 7 !
25 .li.a6 lle8+ This knight too is immune. If 26 . . . .li.xe7
26 d 2 ll e4 27 !Dxe7 :txe7 White mates by 28 f8+,
27 lln rs while if 26 . . . !Dxe7 there fol lows 27
28 1:b7+ d8 xf8+! J:txf8 (or 27 . . . !Dg8 28 f4 with a
29 .li. b7 !Dxg 2 strong attack) 28 llxf8+ !Dg8 29 !De7 with
30 .li.xe4 fxe4 an easy win.
31 1117 18 !Drg6 26 'i'd6
Black resigns Black prefers to give up a pawn 27 !Dxg6+ !Dxg6
immediately, if only to get rid of the pieces 28 !Df6!
S lumps in my playing strength have hanging over his position, since i f 1 8 . . . .li.c8 Now the second knigh t joins the attack,
dogged me throughout my chess career. White would have switched his attack to although later I did not exploit it in the best
The first such period came in 1 97617. the d6 pawn - 19 .ltc5. In this respect way.
However, even then there were exceptions, 1 8 ... b4 1 9 axb4 :txb4 20 !Dxd6 .li.xd6 2 1 28 l:rd8
affording creating satisfaction, including 12 .ltc4! :txd6 was no better. I f 1 8 ... 'i'c7 White I f 28 . . . gxf6 White mates by 29 xf6+
the following games against opponents White makes use of the opportun ity would have attacked with 19 'itg3 g6 g8 30 'i'17.
who were hard to beat. offered to switch his bishop to an attacking ( 1 9 ... !!Jfg6 20 h4) 20 .li.d4, threatening
At that time winning against U l f diagonal ( 1 2 ...tDa5? is not possible be- . !Dh6+.
Andersson was n o less difficult that i t i s cause of 13 .li.xe6 !), after which the f4-fS 19 tOxd6 llrs
now, but 20 years ago h e w as younger and advance becomes imminent. 20 'i'd2 llxn +
concerned with matrimonial matters, 12 !Drs 21 llxn 'i'c7
which made things easier for me. 13 v! 22 !Drs .li.rs
Ensuring the safety o f the main 23 !DdS!
Game 7 attacker. This purely Sicilian pseudo-sacrifice is
Belyavsky-Andersson 13 .li.d7 not so difficult to find. After all, Black
Cienfuegos 1976 14 'i' a b5 cannot take the knight because of mate by
Sicilian Defence B 8 5 15 .li.al llbS 24 'i'xd5+ and 2 5 'itg8.
I f 1 5 ... !Da5 1 6 f5 .li.f6, with the idea of 23 'i'c6
1 e4 c5 blocking the diagonal by . . tDc4, White
. 24 .li.d4
2 !Do d6 has the unpleasant 1 7 fxe6 fxe6 1 8 !D fS ! Now 25 .li.xe5 is threatened. 29 tDxd7?!
These events took place in time troubl e restricts the opponent's flank play, became 'i'xf6 24 'i'd5+ h8 25 lDf7+ g8 26 14 h8
and t h e exchange of White's knight leaves more popular. ltJgS+ 'it>h8 and both sides must repeat The exchange 1 4 ... .i.xO I S lDxfJ h8
him without an attack, although he does 10 bS moves) 22 llxf6 lDxf6 23 ltJxf6+ gxf6 24 16 .i.g5 merely assists White's attack.
not lose his advantage. Correct was 29 e 5 ! 1 0 . . . tt:ic6 leads to a standard type o f xh7+ f8 25 'iii h 8+ e7 26 "iig 7+ e8 15 .i. f4 tt:ib6?
"iie 7 (29 . . . tt:ixe5 is not possible because o f position, but the move played i s clearly 27 "ii xf6 f4 28 e6+ d8 with a draw It only remains for White to include h i s
3 0 'i' h 4 h 6 3 1 tt:ixd7 lDxd7 3 2 xh6+, more active. by perpetual check, S ibarevic-Ftacnik, knight in the attack with ltJe4, and B lack's
while if 29 . . . 'i'c6 White continues his 11 .i.f3 .i.b7 Banja Luka 1 983); last move does not prevent this, as,
attack with 3 0 h4) 3 0 tt:ie4 c6 3 1 tt:id6 12 eS (b) 21 'i'f5 c6 22 lld I h6, and a draw however, is also the case with 1 5 . . . lOcs 1 6
g8 32 h4, and after 3 2 . . . tt:ix.h4 it a l l ends was agreed in Belyavsky-Ribli (Tilburg b4 lDcd7 1 7 lDe4. Therefore better is
in a mating attack: 33 'i'xh4! x.h4 34 1 984) . I S . . . ltJc6 1 6 ltJxc6 .i.xc6 1 7 ltJe4 llac8 1 8
.lhe6+ Wh8 3 5 tt:if7+ Wg8 36 tt:ixd8+ W h 8 13 fxeS lOrd7 c3 "ii b 7 with a double-edged game
3 7 llxfS mate. (Kudrin-Sax, Hastings 1 983/4).
29 xd7 16 tt:ie4 tt:i8d7
30 c3 e7
31 'W g3 ?
Here too 3 1 e5 ':f8 32 'i'e3 ':xfl + 3 3
Wxfl was best, retain ing a n advan tage
thanks to the weakness of the e6 pawn.
31 eS
32 e3
Here Black lost on time, although
White has squandered the greater part o f 12 dxeS
h i s advantage. A few years later the correct method of
play in this position was suggested by
Game 8 Yegeny Errnenkov - 1 2 . . . tt:ie8. Now after 14 'i'g3
Belyavsky-Ri bli 13 .i.xb7 'i'xb7 14 f5 dxe5 1 5 "iix e5 .i. f6 F irst exchanging bishops is weaker: 1 4
Leningrad 1977 1 6 "ii e 3 ltJc6 1 7 ltJxc6 'i'xc6 1 8 fxe6 fxe6 .i.xb7 "ii x b7 1 5 "iig 3 h8! (after 1 5 . . . 17 .i. gS !
Sicilian Defence 8 84 1 9 ltJe4 'i'xc2 the position simplifies to "iic 7? ! 1 6 .i. f4 h 8 1 7 tt:ie4 lDc6 1 8 lD o This is stronger than the obvious 1 7
Black's advantage (Nevednichy-Mikhal tt:ib4 1 9 tt:if6 White has a strong attack, tt:if6, when Black can defend by 1 7 . . . .i.xf3
e4 cS ch ishin, Moscow 1 983). Klovans-Pribyl, Hungary 1 979) 1 6 .i. f4 b4 18 ':xfJ "iic 4. But now, after the exchange
2 tt:if3 d6 13 f5 dxe5 1 4 fxe6 looks more vigor 1 7 ltJce2 tt:ic6 1 8 no nac8 1 9 :d 1 tt:ic5 of dark-square bishops, White creates
3 d4 c xd 4 ous, but here 1 4 . . . .i.xfJ is possible, and and B lack has the more promising game unpleasant threats on the kingside.
-' tt:ixd4 tt:if6 now after 1 5 -tJxO fxe6 1 6 .i.g5 llxfJ 1 7 (Chiburdanidze-Gufeld, Nikolaev 1 9 8 1 ). 17 .i.xg5
5 tt:ic3 a6 :txfJ .i.xgS White does not have sufficient 14 .i. f4 ltJc6 is also played. Now after Interposing 1 7 ... .i.xe4? 1 8 .i.xe4 .i.xg5
6 .i.e2 e6 compensation for the material. 1 5 ltJxc6 .i.xc6 1 6 'i'g3 h8 1 7 tt:ie4 'i'b7! leads after 1 9 .i.xa8 'i'xeS 20 'i'xe5 tt:ixe5
7 f4 .i.e7 The alternative is 1 5 exfl+ nxfl 1 6 Black has a reasonable game (Rogovskoy 21 ltJxe6 to the loss of the exchange
8 0-{) ltJxo tt:id7 1 7 .i.g5 .i.xg5 (weaker is Sulipa, Ukraine 1 992). Sulipa gives the without any compensation.
9 hl 17 .. . .i.fS 18 ':d 1 tt:id6 1 9 ltJe4 "c6 20 following possible variation: 1 8 nae 1 ltJc5 18 ltJxg5 .i.xf3
A ft er 9 .i. e 3 Black can develop h i s ltJxd6 .i.xd6 2 1 'i'd2 when White stands 1 9 ltJxc5 .i.xc5 20 .i.g5 .i.xfl 2 1 nxo 19 nxf3 g8
second knight not a t c6 b u t a t d7, with the better, Zude-Morawietz, Germany 1 996) .i.e7! 22 :tef! .i.xg5 etc. However, 1 5 1 9 ... 'i'xeS 20 'i'h4 h6 2 1 lLlxf7+ and
idea o f attacking the e4 pawn. 18 'i'e4 ':c8 19 ltJxg5 :txf! + 20 l:txf1 xc6 .i.xc6 1 6 'i'g3 h8 1 7 ::tae 1 .i.b 7 1 8 19 . . . tt:ixeS 20 ltJdxe6 fxe6 2 1 lhfS+ U.xfS
9 'i'c7 ltJef6, and now: .i.g5 .i.xg5 1 9 'i'xg5 h 6 20 'i'h5 ltJc5 2 1 22 tt:ixe6 'i'e7 23 ltJxfS are bad for B lack.
10 'i' e l (a) 21 ltJd5 'i'c4 (not 2 l .. .llJxe4? 22 :te3 looks stronger, when White has the 20 'i'h3
After the matches between Karpov and tt:ie7+ h8 23 tt:ifl mate, but 2 1 . .. 'ifd6 is initiative (Illescas Cordoba-Kir.Georgiev, White misses an opportunity to
Kasparov, 1 0 a4, with which White possible, e.g. 22 llxf6 ltJxf6 23 ltJxf6+ Linares 1 9 88). conclude the game with an immediate
sacrificial attack: 20 lUxh7!, and if . 24 Wxe5 lUd7 calculated variations very quickly and 1 995) continued 9 ... c5 1 0 b3 (here 1 0 lld l
20 . . .'xh7 2 l lUfS ! exfS (or 2 I . . .'itxeS 22 25 We4?! therefore he was a good lightning player. is more usual) 1 0 ... f6 (or 1 0 ... cxd4 I I
'ii'h 4+ \Pg8 23 lUe7 mate) 22 'ith4+ g8 Of course after 25 'i'xe6+ Black would B ut he did not l ike bluff and he would lUxd4 xg2 12 xg2 f6 1 3 b2 d5 1 4
23 llh3 f6 24 e6!, blocking the king' s be unable to save the endgame two pawns avoid variations where for him the llfd ! ! dxc4 I S 'i'xc4 'i'c8 1 6 llac l 'i'xc4
escape, after which mate is unavoidable. down, but it is more logical to continue the evaluation was not completely clear. This 1 7 l::txc4 and White's chances are better,
20 h6 attack. However, a simpler way of doing was perhaps his only chess defect, for I Belyavsky-Portisch, Reggio Em ilia 1 987)
this was 25 llg3+ f7 26 llg7+ \Pe8 27 think that in competitions between people I 1 b2 cxd4 1 2 lUxd4 xg2 13 xg2
'i'xe6+ 'i'xe6 28 lUxe6, with further gain (but not computers) the words of Napoleon lUc6 1 4 We3 'itc8 1 5 ::tfd I l::td 8 with a
of material. are applicable: ' We must engage in battle, double-edged game.
25 h8 and then let us see' . 10 f4
With the faint hope of 26 nafI?? Later in the game Mikhalchishin
'i'xfI +! Game 9 Makarychev (Daugavpils ( 978) White
26 'i'h4 ll x f3 Belyavsky-Petrosian managed to gain an advantage by 10 lld I
27 'it x h6+ g8 Vilnius 1978 fS I I tOe I xg2 1 2 lUxg2 f6 1 3 'i'c2
28 lU x f3 'uf8 Queen 's Indian Defence E 1 9 'i'e8 1 4 b3 cS 1 5 e3.
29 Wg6+ b8 10 f6
30 ll e l l::t f6 d4 tO f6 The 10th game of the Petros ian
31 'i'e8+ lUf8 2 c4 e6 Korchnoi Match (C iocco ( 997) went
32 c3 'i'xa2 3 lUf3 b6 10 ... lUc6 I I J::t fdI dS 1 2 lUeS lUxeS 1 3
21 lUxf7 ! 33 We7 l::t fS 4 g3 b7 xeS xg2 1 4 xg2 c6 I S llac I Y2-Y2.
The approach to e 6 l ies v i a f7. 34 lUeS g8 5 g2 e 7 II l::t fd 1 lUc6
21 'itc 4 35 lU g4 6 Black's idea of piece pressure on the
I f 2 1 ...!:xf7 22 llxf7 'itxeS 23 lUc6 Black resigns 7 lUc3 4Je4 centre proves ineffective. 1 1 ... d6 came into
'itd6 (or :!3 .. .'i'xb2 24 'itxe6 'itxa l + 25 8 'itc2 lUxc3 consideration, with the idea of . . . tOd7,
llfI +) 24 'i'f] lUf6 25 ::tb7 with dangerous 1 978 began dizzily. I was fortunate enough 9 'i'x c3 . . . 'ite7 and . . . c7-cS.
threats. to win all \ 3 games at a tournament in
22 WhS! A licante (Spain). The sound of the surf
An important follow-up. The knight is helped me to sleep, and for a time I
defended, and there is no defence against believed that this was the reason for such
the threatened knight sacrifice at h6. an outstanding result. Subsequently I
22 lUxeS d iscovered that the sound of the sea helps
m e to sleep, but not to win. The last
example of this was my result at Portoroz
in July 1 997.
I made the close acquaintance of the 9th
World Champion Tigran Petrosian in 1 9 8 1 ,
when h e invited me to work together for
ten days at his home not far from Moscow.
Before this meeting I thought that skill in 9 e4 12 lUeS!
manoeuvring the pieces was the distin At that time the occupation of e4 in this After the exchange of the light-square
guishing feature of his chess style. There well known position was considered bishops Black can no longer maintain
fore an unexpected d iscovery for me was perfectly sound, but with the development control of the centre.
Petros ian 's brilliant combinational vision, of the variation, 9 . . . f5 and 9 . . . c5 began to 12 xg2
which he demonstrated in training games be considered more prom lsmg. For 13 xg2 l::tc 8
23 lUxh6+ gxb6 and in subsequent analysis. Tigran example, Belyavsky-Adams (Belgrade 14 h4 We8
15 lU g4 1i. e7 lUxf6+) 28 g l lUe4 (28 . . . lUfS 29 32 lUc 4 4Jf7 8

16 d5! lU d 8 lUxf6+) 29 'itb5 lUc5 3 0 b4 'iWa6 3 1 'iWxa6 33 'i' a3 ! b5 At that time 8 g4 1i. g6 9 lUeS lUbd7 1 0
17 b5 f6 lUxa6 32 lId7 lUxb4 33 :tg7+ <;Ph8 34 34 lIxa7 f6 lUxg6 hxg6 was fashionable, and even
Tigran Petros ian was always famed for !Ixa7 with a winning endgame advantage 35 11a6 'i'e7 today it has not lost its topical ity. Here is a
his ski l l in defending cramped positions, for W h i te; 36 11a7 'itd 8 kind of roll-call of the decades:
and here he erects barriers in front of the (c) 25 . . . lI fc8 26 'iWfJ ! f5 ( B lack loses 37 lUa5 'it b6? (a) I I 1i.fl c6 (now 1 1 ... e5 is more
attacking pieces. 1 7 . . . fS would also have after 26 .. 5fl 27 !Id7 llxd7 2 8 lIxc8 l:Id8 An oversight, but Black's position IS usual) 1 2 1i.g2 c7 1 3 0-0 1i.e7 14 f4 lUb6
been answered by 1 8 h6. 29 lUxf6 xf6 30 :1c7+, or 26 .. Jlxc4 27 already hopeless. I S g5 lU fd7 1 6 g4 0-0-0 1 7 l:Ib l b8 1 8
18 h6 g6 lUxf6+ WhS 28 :ld7 :t4c7 29 l:Ixe7 !Ixe7 38 lU b7 b4 b4 lUd5 1 9 lUa4 fS with a compl icated
19 iLxc7?! 30 lUd5+) 26 . . . f5 27 'i'xb7! l:xb7 28 39 lU xeS game (Kasparov-Petrosian, Tilburg 1 98 1 );
There was no need for this l i tt l e !Ixc8+ 'l;fl 29 !Ih8 fxg4 30 .u.xh7+ W f6 Black resigns (b) I I 'itO lIb8 1 2 1i.d2 ( 1 2 1i.fl ! ? is
combination. A fter the natural 1 9 e 4 e5 2 0 J I l:Ixe7 :'xe7 32 !Ih l ':h7 33 f3 w i th also interesting) 12 . . . c5 1 3 0-0-0 b5 1 4
J1. e 3 d6 2 1 f4 White ' s spat i a l advantage good w i n n i n g chances i n t h e rook end ing. I have been playing against my compatriot 1i.e2 cxd4 I S exd4 lUb6 1 6 b I lUfdS 1 7
would have been very considerable. 25 cxd5 e5 Oleg Roman ishin for many years, from 1i.d3 ! with somewhat the better chances for
19 lIxc7 26 n b fS junior competitions to a meeting as leaders White (Larsen-Speelman, Hastings 1 990/ 1 ).
lO d6 iL x d 6 27 lUe3 n fc8 of the Ukrainian and Sloven ian teams at 8 cS
if:ie 7 'iWg5?
21 !Ixd6 28 :a the 1 996 Olympiad. From our childhood B lack al lows his opponent to transpose
22 nad l lUb7 A loss o f time. The Ex- \Vorld years we studied together in Lvov with into a favourable endgame, possibly over
23 :l 6d d5 Champion has obviously gained reasonable chess trainer Viktor Kart, who, apart from estimating the consequences of breaking
2 d3 com pensation. with his control of the c-file us, also coached grandmasters Adrian up his pawns. It was not without reason
and active e5/fS pawn phalanx, supported Mikhalchishin and Marta Litinskaya. To that Alekhine and Botvinnik, back in the
by the knight at d6. Therefore 28 .. :tfd7 this day we all maintain close relations pre-war years, preferred 8 . . . lUc6 as being
was in the spirit of the position, and if 29 with our first trainer. more reliable.
bJ e4. In the late 1 9 70s, after a series of 9 dxc5 'it xdl
29 .1i' a3! 'ite7 successes, and especially his victory in the 10 lIxd 1
The queen has to return, as 29 ... lUbS is major grandmaster tournament at Lenin
strongly met by 30 1I'b4 lUd4 3 1 d6. grad in 1 977, Romanishin was rightly
30 b3 "'1'8 considered one of the strongest p layers in
the country. Like many other of our
meetings, the one i n the 46th USSR
Championship was uncomprom ising.
Game 1 0
24 lUd 6 ! Belyavsky-Romanisbin
At the cost of a pawn the knight 46th USSR Championship
occupies the excellent blockading square Tbilisi 1978
d6, from where it takes part in the play on Queen's Gambit Accepted D22
both flanks.
Black has more problems after 1 d4 dS The game has gone from the opening
24 . . . dxc4 25 :txc4: 2 c4 dxc4 into a compl icated ending, but this by no
(a) 25 . . . l:d8? 26 lIxc7 xc7 27 lUxf6+ 3 lUn lU f6 means guarantees Black an easy l i fe. After
fl 28 'i'O :txd I 29 lUd5+ and wins; 31 'i'b2! 4 e3 1i. 4 all, apart from the queens, the remaining
g
(b) 25 ...l:I.xc4 26 xc4 lUd6 (or Switching the queen to an ideal 5 1i.xc4 e6 set of pieces is almost complete, and in
2 6 . . . l:I.d8 27 l:I.xd8+ lUxd8 28 e4 fl 29 e5 attacking position. 6 lUc3 a6 addition to control of the d-file White also
f5 30 lUf6) 2 7 'Wb4 b7+ (27 ... :td8 28 31 11 c5 7 b3 .tb5 acquires the advantage of the two bishops.
10 xf3 19 a4 bxa4 36 e4 g5 3 d4 cxd4

It is natural that Black should aim to 20 llx a4 as 37 llc7 f8 4 tDxd4 e6
spoil slightly the opponent's pawn struc 21 a3 38 fxg5 e5 5 tDc3 a6
tu re. In the event of I 0 . . . xc5 1 1 g4 .i.g6 Threatening 22 llxa5 as well as 22 39 lLlfS tDxfS And so, the Paulsen Variation -
1 2 tDe5 lLlfd7 13 lLlxg6 hxg6 14 'it'g2 lLlc6 xb4. 40 exfS llxb5 Taimanov's favourite weapon.
IS tDe4 e7 16 b3 tDb6 1 7 .i.e2 0-0 1 8 21 xa3 6 e2 tDge7
.i.b2 White's position is again somewhat 22 llxa3 7 f4 b5
preferable (Gavrikov-A.Petrosian, Vilnius White wins a pawn, as 22 . . . lla7 fails to
1 978). 23 tDd4, threatening a fork at c6.
11 gxf3 xc5 22 tDc5
12 b3 tDbd7 23 tDd4 tDce4
13 4 'it'e7 24 llxa5 g6
1 3 . . .l:Ic8 14 b2 'it'e7 is more acc urate . 25 b4 llc4
14 .i. n l:Iac8 26 b5 f8
15 g2 b4
It is useful first to push the knight back.
After IS . . .:c7 1 6 tDa4 Sl.b4 1 7 :!ld4 Black
has also to exchange his second bishop for
a knight, as 1 7 . . . .i.d6? fails to 1 8 !:txd6! With the black king cut off on the back
xd6 19 a3+, when he has great rank, the rook ending is an easy win.
problems. 41 (6 'it'e8 After the preparatory exchange of
16 llc7 42 l:Ie7+ f8 knights 7 . . .tDxd4 8 'ilfxd4 tDc6 9 'ilff2 bS
17 llbc8 43 l:Ia7 llb8 White succeeds in exploiting the weak
18 44 'it'g4 b6 ening of the dark squares on the queenside:
45 b4 'it'g8 10 .i.e3 b7 I I b6 'Wc8 12 l:Id 1 , and it
46 b5 bx g 5 is hard for Black to coordinate his forces
47 bxg5 e4 (Vilela-Lebredo, Havana 1 9 84).
27 xe4! 48 g6 8
With this exchange White brings his Black resigns There is no particular point in avoiding
king into play. the exchange of knights - 8 lLlt3 tDg6 9
27 tDxe4 Game I I 0-0 .i.e 7 1 0 e5 .i.b 7 I I .i.d3 llc 8 1 2 a3
28 g2 tDc3 Belyavsky-Taimanov tDa5 1 3 lLle4 .i. d5 1 4 tDfg5 .i.c4! and
29 lleI tDd5 USSR Team Championship Black is not worse, espec ially as after
30 lUc4 lUc4 Moscow 1979 8... tDxd4 9 'Wxd4 White has a solid initia
31 f3 llb4 Sicil ian Defence B46 tive, for example: 9 . . . .i.b7 10 5! tDc6 1 1
32 lla7 'Wf2 with advantage (Gufeld-Taimanov,
32 lla8+! rJ;g7 33 l:Ic8 would have In the late 1 9705 it was more usual for the ' Vilnius 1 975), or 9 ... 'i'c7 10 hl tDc6 II
18 b5? saved White a tempo. generation of players bom after the Second 'i'f2 .i.e7 1 2 .i.e3 0-0 1 3 lladl d6 1 4 'i'gJ
Of course there was little pleasure i n 32 l:Ib2 World War to meet their famous older with the better chances (Tal-Taimanov,
allowing the opponent enduring control of 33 lla8+ rJ;g7 colleagues in team events, rather than 4 1 st USSR Championship, Moscow 1 973).
both long diagonals, but this abrupt ad 34 llc8 tDe7?! individual ones. This and the fol lowing 8 .i.b7
vance merely extends White's possibilities. With this move Black allows his knight game were p layed in the USSR Team 9 bl
After the more modest 1 8 ... b6 1 9 a3 d6 to be shut out of the game. 34 ... 11b I was a Championship of the Union Republics. Theory considers this prophylactic king
B lack would have retained the option of tougher defence. 1 e4 c5 move to be the most consistent.
invading with his rook at c2. 3S llc2 llbl 2 lLlf3 tDc6 9 tDxd4
34 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 3S
10 if' xd4 liJc6 Taimanov. 'Belyavsky asserts his rights 24 IS 32 'lic2 'lidS
11 if'f2 i.e7 also on the queenside! ' This typical 'Sicilian' conceding of the After 32...liJxe6 33 l:tc6! White makes
12 i.e3 0-{) 16 bxc3 important e5 square is not supported by a decisive invasion.
13 l1ad l Uc8 Black is forced to make this concession. any concrete achievements, and therefore it 33 l:tc8!
If Black prepares ...liJaS-c4 by If 16 ... liJaS White has the unpleasant reply was more logical for White to strengthen By exchanging rooks White secures a
13...'i'e8, the queen becomes too passive, 17 liJd2. his position on the queenside by 24 l1c3, clear road for his passed pawns.
and, as recommended by Taimanov him 17 liJxc3 planning to double rooks. 33 'i'xe6
self, White can exploit this with 14 i.h5!? 24 liJe5! Or 33...liJxe6 34 b6 l:txc8 35 'i'xc8+
followed by f4-fS , when he gains a danger This occupation of the eS command liJd8 36 a5! and the pawns break through.
ous attack on the kingside. post costs a pawn, but in the ending after 34 l:txfS+ i.xfS
24...exf5 25 exd5 liJd6 (weak is 2S...i.xd5 35 b6 e3
26 :hf5 '1Iib7 27 tOc3 i.f7 28 i.e4 '1Iic8 36 b7 e2
29 liJd5) 26 .)ib6 llxc I 27 !1xc1 'i'e8 28 37 b8'i' liJg6
'1We6+ 'i'f7 29 !1c7 i.xd5 30 'i'xe7 if'xe7 38 'i' b b3
3 1 :'xe7 xa2 32 xa6 the connected White should have exchanged a pair of
passed pawns are highly dangerous. queens by 38 'i'bbl e l 'i' 39 'ilixel 'i'xel
25 l1xc7 'i'xc7 40 'i'xf5, after which it would be the tum
26 .)ixa6 dxe4 of the passed a-pawn. Now, however,
27 .:le I 'i'b8 Black's resources increase.
28 i.xb7 'i'xb7 38 elif'
If this position is compared with the 29 fxe6 liJd3 39 as liJf4
previous diagram, the following dif If immediately 29 ... f5, then White
ferences, favouring White, are evident: the forces the exchange of queens by 30 'i'b5!
14 a4 absence of the pawn from b5 means that 'i'xb5 31 axb5, with a clearly better
A new idea in this position. Previously there is no eventual threat of . .. b5-b4, ending.
14 D or 14 i.b6 if'e8 15 i.D was neither is there support for the manoeuvre 30 l:tc4 IS
played, but then after 14 ... liJb8, neutral of Black 's knight to c4, and in addition the 31 b5
ising e4-e5 and planning to play this knight a6 pawn has been weakened and may
to c5, Black achieves a good game. become a target.
14 b4 17 lUa5
15 liJ b l 'i' e8 Here 17...tOb4 was more appropriate.
Black parries the threat of transferring 18 i.d3 f6
the knight to c4 after 1 6 liJd2 liJa5 17 i.d3 Preventing e4-e5.
by the central counter 1 7 ... dS, but he 19 'i' e2 l:tc6
allows a reply after which White rids 20 lUa2 ! 40 'i'cc4?
himself of the eternal ' Sic ilian' target for Now it becomes clear that White has The last move in time trouble, with
attack by B lack - the c2 pawn. Possibly won the battle on the queenside. , which White virtually throws away the
best here was the earlier prescription of 20 'lic8 fruits of his preceding play. After the
I S ... liJb8!? 16 i.d3 (after 1 6 i.b6 'i'e8 17 21 b4 liJc4 COrrect 40 a6! he would have achieved a
i.dJ B lack has 1 7 . . . d5) 16...'i'aS 17 b3 22 i.g l winning position.
i.cs 18 liJd2 i.xe3 19 'i'xe3 'i'c5 with After 22 i.xc4 l:txc4 23 llxd7?! Black 31 tOf4 ? ! 40 f7?
reasonable prospects. would seize the initiative by 23 . . . l:tc2 24 Black should have centralised his By the paradoxical 40 ... h8 ! , with the
16 c4 l:td2 i.xe4. pieces more energetically - 31...'i'dS ! 32 threat of 4 1 . . . 'i' xg l +! , Black could have
' I have to admit that this move came as 22 l:tc7 l:td4 'i'b3 (not 32 ... 'i'xe6? 33 l:txd3) 33 saved the position, for example: 4 1 'i'xe6
an unpleasant surprise to me', comments 23 l:tel d5 J:[d7 i.f6 with unclear consequences. liJxe6 42 'i'e3 'lixe3 43 .i.xe3 l:i:k7 44 .i.f4
liJa6 45 gl g8 46 f2 f7 47 e3 However, things may not get as far as the .bh5 .txgS 2 6 'i'xg5 'fie6+ 2 7 f2 'fixa2 16 0-0
e6 48 d4 .td6!, and, despite the out development of the bishop at b7. 28 .tf3 liJb4 29 lld2 '1Wxb2 30 'fie3, If 1 6 . . .f5 I was planning to continue the
s ide passed pawn, the knight ending after 8 e5 dxe5 threatening c2-c3, but later I discovered attack by 1 7 .thS+ g6 1 8 liJxh7 gxhS 1 9
49 .txd6 q"xd6 may not be won. 9 fxe5 'fie7 that 26 . . . 'i'e6 is not the best move, and liJef6+ f7 20 'i'xhS+ g7 2 1 llf3, but it
41 a6 .te5 10 exf6 'fie5+ that instead 26 ... <t:leS gives Black excellent transpires that Black has a better defence -
42 'fib7+ g6 11 .te2 'fixg5 counterplay. 1 8 . . . f7 ! For example, the game Plaskett
43 'fixe5 'fixa2 12 0-0 Polugayevsky had also played Gallagher (Telford 1 982) continued 1 9
44 a7 The result of the opening duel in this 17 . . . 'i'e7, but I considered this to be liJhg5+ g7 20 ttJxcS 'fixcs 2 1 .tf3 and
Black resigns game did not wholly satisfy me, and in the weaker than 1 7 . . . h5, and I had prepared a here 2 1 . . . lla7 would have given him the
Moscow Super-Grandmaster Tournament surprise: 1 8 .th5+ g6 1 9 liJge4 ! (before better chances.
The variation that occurred in the follow of 1 9 8 1 l chose 12 'i'd3 'i'xf6 1 3 J:(fl 'i'eS this White mechanically took the rook on 17 liJxf7 !
ing game bears the name of my opponent, 14 lldl against Polugayevsky. h8) 19 ... .tg7 20 <t:ld6+ f8 2 1 'i'b6!
and although it looks highly risky for (forcing Black to restrict his own rook at
Black, Lev Polugayevsky was not afraid to a7) 2 1 . . . 'fic7 22 'fie3 .td7 23 g4 with a
employ it even against the most dangerous strong attack for White.
m asters of attack. It remains to add that in what was, alas,
to be his swan-song, Polugayevsky upheld
Game 1 2 his pet variation in a game with Wolff
Belyavsky-Polugayevsky (Groningen 1 993), which went I S liJdxbS
USSR Team Championship lld7 16 'fic4, and after 1 6 . . . .tb7! 17 llxd7
A1oscow 1979 axbS 1 8 'fic7 liJxd7 the position would
Sicilian Defence B96 have remained unclear.
12
1 e4 e5 A s Polugayevsky relates in h i s book
2 liJf3 d6 Grandmaster Achievement, he was Th is entire operation, beginning with
3 d4 exd4 Here Black employed the unsuccessful especially pleased with the discovery of 1 3 tOf3, was prepared beforehand, and
4 liJxd4 liJf6 innovation 14 ...'fic7? 1 5 .th5! g6 1 6 .tf3 this, the fourth successive move by the gives White the desired m inimal
5 <t:lcJ a6 lla 7 17 ttJc6 <t:lxc6 1 8 .txc6+ .td7, but black queen. advantage .
6 .tg5 e6 when I wrongly exchanged queens with 1 9 13 liJf3 ! 17 llxf7
7 f4 b5 'i'xd7+? ( 1 9 .txd7+ 'fixd7 20 'fie3 ! would By sacrificing a pawn, White begins an 18 llxf7 xf7
have given a decisive advantage) 1 9 ...'fixd7 energetic attack with gain of tempo. 19 .tb5+ g8
20 llxd7 llxd7 it all turned out well for . Obviously if 1 3 .. .'xf6 there follows 1 4 After 1 9 . . .g6 20 liJxcs lla7 2 1 ttJe4
Black and the game ended in a draw. ttJe4. Black must quickly evacuate his g7 (2l ...gxhS 22 <t:ld6+) 22 .tg4 liJc6 23
Of course, I was also prepared for the 'fid2 llc7 24 <t:ld6 White has a clear
main line 1 4 ... lla7 I S liJf3, as occurred in 13 .te5+ advantage.
the well-known 4th game of the Tal 14 bl 'fixf6 20 <t:lxc5 liJd7
Polugayevsky match (Alma-Ata 1 980), 15 liJe4 'fIe7 Of course, 20 ... 'fixc5?? is not possible
which continued I S .....c7 1 6 liJgS f5 1 7 16 <t:lfg5 in view of 2 1 'fid8+ 'fifB 22 .tf7+! win
"d4 hS! 1 8 llxf5 exfS 1 9 liJd5 'fid7, when After 1 6 liJeS f5 1 7 .thS+ g6 1 8 liJxg6 ning the queen. I f Black tries to complete
after 20 Wh4 .te7 2 1 fl .txgS 22 hxg6 1 9 .txg6+ fB 20 liJxcs l:h6! Black his development with 20 . . . ttJc6, then White
.txh5+ fB 23 "xg5 llxhS 24 'fixhS "f7 gains counterplay (Diaz-Vera, Havana gains a decisive attack by 2 1 .tf3 'fixc5 22
the worst was over for Black. My idea was 1 986), but 1 7 .txbS+ axbS 1 8 liJxcs is .txc6 'fixc6 23 'fid8+ f7 24 llfl + g6
to play 20 "e3+ with the possible more testing - after 1 8 ... 0-{) 1 9 b4 or 25 'fid3+ h6 26 Wh3+ g6 27 'fig3+
It is this early extended fianchetto that continuation 20 . . . .te7 2 1 liJb6 'fIc7 22 1 8 . . . 'fixcS 1 9 'fihS+ g6 20 4Jxg6 hxg6 2 1 h6 28 llf4. The move played leads to the
characterises the Polugayevsky Variation. liJxc8 "xc8 23 "xa7 <t:lc6 24 'fIe3 0-0 2S 'fixh8+ White retains some advantage. loss of the e6 pawn, and so 20 . . . lla7 came
into consideration, depriving White of the 54 bxe4 queen approaches using a pretty 'staircase'
main motif associated with h is next move. 55 bxe4 'iPxh3 manoeuvre: 67 'i'a8+ h2 68 'i'b8+ g2
56 e5 ltJb2 ! 69 'i'b7+ 'iPh2 70 c7+ g2 7 1 'i'c6+
The knight is ready to deal with the c h2 72 'i'd6+ g2 73 d5+ h2 74
pawn, for which the black h-pawn is a 'i'e5+ g2 75 'i'e4+ 'it>h2 76 'i'h4+ g2
fully worthy opponent. 77 ltJf4+ g l 78 'i'e l + 'iPh2 79 'i'f2+ and
57 c6 lOa4 mate next move (K.Neat).
58 lOf4+ 'iPg3 64 'i'g5+ h2
59 lOd5 h3 64. . .f2 65 'i'e3+ 'iPg2 66 tUf4+ leads
60 e7 h2 to mate.
61 e8'i' hl 65 h 5+ gl
62 e7+ 66 d l + h2
67 'i'x a4 'i'a1+
B l ack has gained the ma.x imum activ ity 68 c5 'i'cl +
for his forces and it is not at all easy to find 69 e4 a3+
21 lOxe6! b7 a way of realising the extra pawn. The 70 d4 'i'b2+
After :! \ . . .xe6? there follows n i. fJ reader will find playing through this 71 e4 g5
with the double threat o f xc8 and i.d5, ending highly instructive. 72 fS 'i'd2
and i f 22 . . . lOb6 White has the dec isive 2 3 40 tUe2 <tiIe7 73 a4 as
d8+ <j;; f7 24 i.h5+ g6 25 :n +. 41 '.tl e l h5! 74 e4 g3
22 f3 x f3 O n e senses the hand of a gre a t master. 75 'i'e3+ x e3
23 xf3 .:xe8 While observing the queenside, Black 76 LUxe3 f3
24 lOd4 el+ paralyses the kingside. 77 ltJg 4 e2
25 n b 4 42 '.tl d l h4! 78 e4
26 lO b3 lOf6 B l ack has i n m i n d a possible knight Black resigns
27 c3 'i' h 4 ending and the advance of his k ing. 62 'iP h 4 ?
28 lOd4 LUg4 43 b3 LUeS After conducting a bri lliant defence, As it soon transpi red, a win against Garry
29 1Of3 'i'f2 44 :d4 'iPf6 Polugayevsky goes wrong and 'ties' his Kasparov was to prove especially honour
30 h3 xn+ 45 :xe4 LUxe4 king to his queen, which costs him his able. Everyone l ikes to have in his 'service
31 llxn LUf6 46 'iPe2 e5 knight. After 62 ... 'iPf2! 63 'i'c2+ 'iPg3 it is record' a victory over a World Champion.
B lack ' s temporary activity has con At the observation post the rook has not apparent how White can strengthen his But this became clear only later, and in
cluded with a prosaic endgame, where for been replaced by the king. position. 1 979 he was just 16 years old and not
the moment h i s remaining forces are 47 d3 ltJf2+ 63 'i'd8+ 'iPg3 everyone could guess that from his second
restraining White's queens ide. 48 'iPe3 LUd l+ Other moves are no better: USSR Championship Garry would begin
32 'iPgl tte2 49 'iPd2 LUa (a) 63 ... 'iPg4 64 ltJe3+, when White's his ascent to the top. As for myself, I was
33 tta tte3 50 liJd4 f4 queen and knight combine in a decisive simply aiming for revenge after my defeat
34 ttd2 LUe4 This is where the advance of the h- attack: 64 . . . 'iPg3 65 'i'g5+ f2 66 ltJg4+ I in the previous Championship.
35 tt d 8+ 'iPf7 pawn comes in useful. g2 67 ltJe5+ fl 68 'i'c I + g2 69
36 'iPn ltJc5 51 ltJe 6+ g3 'i'c2+ 'iPg3 70 'i'd3+ f2 (or 70 ... 'iPf4 7 1 Game 1 3
37 ttd5 ltJa4 52 e3 LUd l+ 'i'e3+ 'iPf5 7 2 'i'f2+ g5 7 3 'i'g3+ 'iPf6 74 Belyavsky-Kasparov
38 ttd2 h6 53 'iPd4 xg2 'i'g6+ e7 75 'i'f7+ and mate next move) -17th USSR Championship
Now White will try to bring his king to 54 e4 7 1 liJg4+ 'iPg2 72 'i'e4+ gl 73 'i'e l + Minsk 1979
c2 to protect the b2 pawn. In a knight ending, as in a pawn ending, g2 74 ltJe3+ etc. Modem Benoni A 75
39 ltJd4 lle4! the main energy is embodied in a passed (b) 63 ... 'iPh3 64 'i'b8+ g2 65 ltJf4+
From here the rook controls both wings. pawn. gl 66 ttJe2+ g2, and now the white d4 ltJf6
2 c4 c5 (Wij k aan Zee 1 985) continued 10 . . . h6 I I 15 "b4 25 lLlc4 with unpleasant pressure on the
3 d5 e6 ..tf4 a6 1 2 a4 lLlh5 1 3 ..te3 lLld7 1 4 as 1 5 ...d4 1 6 11a4! f6 1 7 "d3 is good queenside weaknesses.
4 lLlc3 exd5 xf3 15 xf3 lLlhf6 16 ..te2 ne8 17 f3 for White. After a more restrained dev
5 cxd5 d6 lLlhS 1 8 'i'd2 'i'h4 1 9 lU2! h7 20 g4 and elopment of the queen, White drives back
6 e4 g6 White soon won. the knight, gaining a sign ificant spatial
7 e2 g7 10 tte8 advantage:
8 lLlf3 a-o In the game Belyavsky-Romanishin (a) 1 5 ... 'i'c7 1 6 g4 lLlhf6 1 7 f3 lLle5 1 8
9 a-o (Wijk aan Zee 1 985), where the moves h l .l:l.ac8 1 9 lla4 h 5 2 0 g 5 lLlh7 2 1 f4
9 ... a6 1 0 a4 were included, after 10 . . . ..tg4 with an attack (Gligoric-Miles, Hastings
1 1 f4 Black attacked the bishop with 1 973/4 ) ;
I I . .. lLlh5, but after 12 g5 f6 1 3 Jl.e3 (b) 1 5 ... 'i'e7 1 6 llac l ( 1 6 g4?! is too
xf3 14 xf3 lLlg7 15 ..tg4 .l:l.e8 16 'tic2 early in v iew of 1 6 . . . xc3 17 bxc3 lLlhf6
lLld 7 1 7 as lLleS 18 e2 llb8 19 lLlb 1 h5 1 8 gS 'i'eS ) 1 6 ... nf8 1 7 g4 lLlhf6 1 8 f4.
20 lLld2 lLlg4 2 1 xg4 hxg4 22 tCc4 16 lLlc4
White's threats looked more significant. Serious consideration should be given
In play without the participation of the to 16 .l:l.a4 lLle5 1 7 f3! lLl f4 1 8 xf4 'tixf4 22 f3 fS
a-pawns, nowadays Black prefers 10 . . . 1 9 g3 'i'f6 (or 1 9 . . . 'i'h6 20 f4 followed by 23 lLlb6 n a b8
xf3 I I ..txf3 lLle8, opening up his bishop lLlc4) 20 f4 lLld7 2 1 e5 ! dxeS 22 lLlde4 After 23 .. Jhd 8 ! 24 g5 ..txb2 25
in a new and sharp strategic situation. 'i'd8 23 f5 with a strong initiative for xd8 ..txa l 26 c7 ..td4+ 27 '1t;>g2 fxe4
11 lLld2 xe2 White (Naumkin-Minasian, Moscow 1 992). 28 fxe4 lLlf6 29 ..txd6 lLlxe4 30 c7 the
12 "xe2 lLlb5 16 lLlf4 white d-pawn looks dangerouy, but with
This system of play for White fully 13 ..te3 liJd7 Black continues the pressure on the 30 ... ..te5! (simpler than 30 . . . lLld2 3 1 .l:l.f4)
deserves to bear the name of G l igoric, ",ho If 1 3 ... d4 there can follow 14 ..txd4 dark squares and creates the threat of 31 ..txe5 :txe5 3 2 !te I !te8 B lack can
employed it for many years. cxd4 I S lLlbS 'i'b6 16 a4! with the threat of 1 7 . . . lLlxg2 !, which follows after 1 7 'tid2 e ffectively neutralise its advance.
9 g4 ttJc4. It will be apparent that, with the or 1 7 'i'd l . 24 lLlc4
At that time Kasparov had not only a inclusion of 9 . . . a6 1 0 a4, the bishop move 17 'i'f3
l iking for this pin, but also great successes to d4 would gain in strength. White played more radically in the
with it, whereas theory gave preference to 14 a4 a6 game Plaskett-Pritchett (England 1 983): 1 7
9 . . . Jle8. An interesting game with thi s 15 a5 xf4!? "xf4 1 8 g3 f6 1 9 f4 'tie 7, and
latter move w as Belyavsky-Velimirovic Such a move is usually made auto here he could have developed a dangerous
(Moscow Interzonal 1982), which con matically, but 1 5 g4 liJhf6 1 6 h3 is also initiative with the typical breakthrough 20
tinued 1 0 lLld2 a6 I I a4 lLlbd7 12 f4 c4 1 3 possible, retaining a definite advantage. e5! dxe5 2 1 f5 e4 22 d6.
h I lLlc5 1 4 e 5 dxe5 1 5 fxe5 !txe5 1 6 17 lLle5
llJxc4 !te8 1 7 g5 h6 1 8 h4 lLlce4 1 9 d 6 B lack has to exchange the opponent's
g5 20 e I e6 2 1 lLlxe4 lLlxe4 22 .i.a5 'central attacker' - the knight at c4.
xc4 23 xd8 xe2 24 d7 !te6 25 xe2 18 lLlxe5 ..txe5
and B lack resigned. However, it should be 19 g3 b5
mentioned that, without the inclusion of 20 xb5 lLlxb5
1 0 . . . a6 1 1 a4, the plan chosen by White is 21 lLla4 ..tg7 24 fxe4?
not so effective. By his exchanging operation Black has Kasparov overestimates this exchang
10 ..tf4 equalised. Here 2 1 ...lLlf6 also came into ing operation in the centre, as after the
I later became interested in the plan consideration, in order after 22 f3 lLld7 to elimination of his d-pawn he will have to
with 10 ..tg5 (Tigran Petrosian's favourite cover the weak b6 square, but he would contend with a passed e-pawn. He should
way of opposing Indian set-ups). For have had to reckon with the pawn sacrifice have restricted himself to defence with
example, the game Belyavsky-Kudrin 22 lLlb6!? .t:I.ad8 23 f3 .i.xb2 24 .l:l.ab I .i.c3 24 ... .I:I.bd8 25 .i.g5 .i.f6.
25 lOxd6 l::t e d8 33 .i.d8 lOxe6 13 b3 game against me, and after 16 . . . .i.cS+ 1 7
26 lOc4 Ihd5 34 .i.xc7 lOxc7 White's last move prepares a change i n h2 Ilxe4 1 8 1Oxe4 dxe4 1 9 .i.e3 .i.xe3 2 0
It stands to reason that i f 26 . . . exf3 35 l::t d l the central pawn structure with d4-d5 Ilxe3 lOd5 2 1 .i.xe4 ( n o t 2 1 .trxe4 because
White would have defended his passed Black resigns fol lowed by c3-c4. Th i s is especially good of 2 1 . . .lOxc3 22 '1i'xd8+ Ilxd8 with the
pawn - 27 %tad I . for him if B lack plays 1 3 . . . .i.g7, as threat of . . . l::t d 2) 2 1 . . . lOxe3 22 '1i'xd8+
27 fxe4 The year of 1 980 was one o f the m ost subsequently a l l the same he will have to Ilxd8 23 .i.xb7 as 24 .i.c6 .trd l 25 llxd l
successful i n my chess career, and was aim for counterplay on the queenside with lOxd 1 26 b4 the game was eq ual.
crowned by my second gold medal i n the . . . c7-c6, and then after dxc6 the d6 pawn However, things would have been more
USSR Championship Prem ier League. But is more likely to become a target for d i fficult for m e if White had played 1 7
before that there was victory i n the First attack . h l .
League. However, i n t h e present game White's
idea encounters a refutation. A fter the
Game 1 4 immed iate 1 3 d5 B lack gains an important
Tseshko\'SI,.-y-Belyavsky tempo: 1 3 . . . ttJb8 14 b3 c6 1 5 c4 as 1 6
USSR Championship First Leag ue lOfi (the 5th game of the A nand-Kamsky
Tashkent 1980 match, 1 994, went 1 6 dxc6 .i.xc6 1 7 cxb5
Ruy Lopez C92 .i.xb5 1 8 'Llc4 'Lla6 1 9 .i.g5 lOb4 20 lOe3
.i.e7 2 1 .i.xf6 .i.xf6 22 a3 lOxc2 23 '1i'xc2,
e e5 and after Karpov's recom mendation o f
27 d7 2 ttJD lOc6 2 3 . . . lle7 ! B l ack would have gained
After 27 ... :::r. d 3 the c5 pawn fal l s : 28 3 .i. b 5 a6 sufficient cou n terplay against the b3 pawn
!:ad I ':bd8 29 J:xd3 :'xd3 3 0 .i.xc 5 . and 4 a lO f6 by . . . !:tb7 and . . . llab8) 1 6 . . . lObd7 1 7 .i.g5
although B l ack can immediate ly restore 5 0--{) .i.e7 .i.e7 1 8 .i.e3 '1i'c7 1 9 l::te l l::t e c8 20 .i.d3
material equal ity by 30 . . . .i.d4+ 3 1 .i.xd4 6 :leI b5 bxc4 2 1 bxc4 .i.a6 22 lle2 l::t a b8 23 llec2 16 Ilxe4!
xd4 32 :'c I :lxe4, his kn ight is offside 7 .ib3 d6 '1i'b7 24 :'c3 '1i'a8 25 lOg3 .i.d8 26 1la3 For the exchange B l ack gains a pawn
and the ending is lost. For example, 3 3 8 c3 O-n :lb4 27 lOe I , and here in the game and pressure on the long dark-square
lOd6 :'b4 (or 3 3 . . . !:te2 3 4 b4 .i!b2 3 5 :lc8+ 9 h3 .i.b7 Karpov-Belyavsky (50th USSR Cham diagonal.
g7 36 l::t c 7+ h6 37 :xb7 lO f6 38 b5 A t that t i m e the Zaitsev Variation was pionship, Moscow 1 9 83) Black could have 17 .i.xe4 'Llxe4
axb5 3 9 a6 b4 40 a7 :la2 4 1 'Llc8 and 42 my main weapon against 1 e4. achieved good play with 27 . . . hS. Later in 18 .i. b2 .i.g7
:lb8) 34 :'c8+ g7 3 5 :'c 7+ f6 3 6 10 d !:te8 1 9 83 I played 1 2 . . g6 against Bronstein and 19 '1i'c2 '1i'f6
J:xb7. 11 lObd2 .i. tS Klovans at the tournament in Minsk, and 20 b4 c5
28 e5 12 .i.c2 g6 scored one and a half points from the two find it hard to explain why
Parrying the threat o f 2 9 g4. games, but even so my fee ling was that Tseshkovsky fol lowed the same course as
29 l::t a d 1 .ll b d8 12 .. g6 does not solve B lack's opening Rodriguez.
Now the e5 pawn begins advancing. It problems. 21 bxc5
could have been blocked only at the cost of 13 d5! The afore-mentioned game with
a pawn: 2 9 . . . .:xd l 3 0 l::tx d l f7 3 1 l::td 7+ This move was introduced b y m e i n a 'Rodriguez went 2 1 llab I .c6 22 .d3 llc8
'i>e6 3 2 .llx h7, but perhaps this was the game with Am.Rodriguez at the tourna 23 lle2 h6, beginn i n g the far from obvious
best chance. ment in Bogota in 1 979. It intends the manoeuvre of the queen to h8, with the
30 !:txd7 .ll x d7 following exchange sacrifice. aim of forc ing White to take on c5.
31 e6 .ll c 7 14 dxe5 lOxe5 The game continued 24 l::tc I .c7 25
After 3 1 ... !:td5 32 .ll n lOg7 3 3 :xb7 15 lOxe5 l::t x e5 llcc2 vtie7 26 .i.a3 (after 26 a3 'i>h7 Black
lOxe6 34 l::ta 7 the game is decided by the 16 1Of3 would have continued the plan indicated)
passed a-pawn. AtTi lburg 1 986 Robert HUbner 26 ....f6 27 .i.b2 'i>h7 28 vtie3 9d8 (with
32 .i.g5 lOg7 prepared the more dangerous 16 f4 for his the threat of 29 . . . <tJxc3) 29 bxcS :Xc5 3 0
ltJd4 lic7 3 1 D ltJg3 3 2 J:r.ed2 11c4 3 3 lid3 35 tLlxd5 x d5 J:r.fxc I llb8 1 7 e4! and White gained some
c8! , and Black's compensation was 36 lixd5 axb4 advantage in the endgame.
sufficient for his position to be preferred. 37 llxe4 J:r.xe4 7 d7
21 ltJxe5 38 J:r.xe4 bxc3 8 dxe5
22 J:r.e2 J:r.e8 39 lid ! 'We5 Rashkovsky' s tournament situation
23 J:r.ae I ltJe4 40 'WeI g S forces him to deviate from the theoretical 8
24 lid3 iib6 41 'Wal f6 'i'xc4 b5 9 lid3 J:r.cS, where Black has no
25 ltJd4 b5 White resigns particular problems. Besides, the exchange
26 a l on cS is also in the spirit of the Catalan
The Prem ier League of the 48th USSR Opening, as with the clearing of the centre
Championship, which commenced towards the role of the g2 bishop becomes more
the end of 1980, had an unusual finish. important.
Before the last round Artur Yusupov had
five adjourned games, and given a favour At the present time this continuation
able outcome in them, he could become has gone out of use in favour of 6 0-0 tLlc6
have champion of the country. But this did 7 tLle5 d7 8 tLla3 cxd4 9 ltJaxc-l, which I
not happen. A fter a 1 4-hour battle I chose in two games from the 1 988 World
managed to draw a difficult ending against Cup:
him and to reduce the deficit to half a (a) 9 ... c5 10 'i'b3 0-0 I I f4 'Wc8
point. Only playing for a win in the last 12 :fd l J:r.d8 13 J:r.ac l tLld5 14 tLlxf7 x.f7
round against Naum Rashkovsky gave me 1 5 tLle5+ ltJxe5 16 xeS b6, after which
chances of catching the leader. My task Black parried the attack and within a few
White is tied to the defence of the c3 was eased by the fact that my opponent too moves a draw was agreed (Belyavsky
pawn and is obliged to await further was keen to win, as in this case he would A.Sokolov, Brussels 1 988);
events, since any activity will only worsen retain his place in the next Premier League, (b) 9 .. J:tc8 10 'i'b3 ltJxeS I I ltJxe5
h i s position. But for a player of such without having to go through the d6 12 f4 c6 13 xe6+ bxc6 14 lia4 8 tLle5
aggressive style as Vitaly Tseshkovsky, qualifying competitions. However, fortune lic7 I S lixd4 and White gained an In turning to unexplored paths, I was
this is equivalent to torture, and within a smiled on me, and when in addition Artur advantage, which he was able to convert relying more on fate than on concrete
few moves he decides to transfer his lost, I for the second time won the title of into a Win (Belyavsky- Yusupov, Belfort analysis. The main continuation is con
bishop to an 'active' position, where it is in USSR Champion. On this occasion it was ( 988). sidered to be S . . . ltJaS 9 'i'c2 xcS 1 0 ltJe5
fact lost. in tandem with the rapidly progressing Lev 6 tLlc6 :tcS I I g5 (after 1 1 ltJc3 ltJc6 1 2 ltJxc4
26 J:r.e4 Psakhis. Not yet known then was Korchnoi's 0-0 1 3 :td l B lack equalises by I L . ltJd4
27 ltJc2 lie7 idea of 6 ... d7!, which he 'published' in or 1 3 ... lie7) I I . ..h6 1 2 xf6 gxf6 1 3
28 tLle3 J:r.e5 Game 1 5 his Candidates Match with Kasparov lOxd7 'i'xd7 when, despite th e weakening
29 ltJdl r6 Rasbkovsky-Belyavsky (London 1 983). After 7 lixc4 c6 8 dxcS of his pawn structure, Black retains
30 b2 lie6 48th USSR Championship ltJbd7 9 e3 dS 10 lia4 c6 1 1 'i'c4 sufficient counterplay:
31 a3 J:r.c4 Vilnius 198011 dS 1 2 lib4 lic8 1 3 ltJc3 xcS 1 4 xcS (a) 14 tLlc3 'i'c7 1 5 J:r.fd l 0-0 1 6 ltJe4
32 b4 Catalan Opening E04 'i'xcs Black achieved an excellent game. e7 1 7 'i'c3 'i'eS I S J:r.d4! g7 1 9 J:r.ad l
White should keep his bishop at b2. It i s 7 J:r.fdS 20 :txdS l:txdS 2 1 l:txd8 lixc3 22
not clear that Black is definitely winning, 1 ltJf3 tLlf6 In this same Championship I also played bxc3 xd8 23 ltJd6 and White's initiative
but any player would prefer to have the 2 c4 e6 this variation with White, but I preferred 7 compensates for the sacrificed pawn, but
black pieces. 3 g3 d5 dxcS xcS 8 0-0. My game with Balashov that is all (Polugayevsky-Kupreichik,
32 b7 4 d4 dxc4 continued 8 . . . 0-0 9 lixc4 lidS 10 ltJfd2 Moscow 19S3);
33 a3 .c7 5 .i.g2 c5 'i'xc4 I I tLlxc4 ltJd4 1 2 ltJc3 b4 1 3 e3 (b) 1 4 ltJd2 e7 I S ltJe4 'i'c7 16 f4 (1 6
34 ltJe3 as 6 "a4+ xc3 1 4 bxc3 ltJe2+ IS h I tLlxc I 1 6 l:tad I ! ? also comes into consideration)
Uncompromising Chess 47
1 6 ... f5 1 7 'l'c3 ng8 with a double-edged 14 ..taJ h5

21
game (Fominykh-Morozev ich, A lushta A standard way of attacking the 'fian
Black brings u p his reserves. 2 1 ".g5 22
1 993). chetto' pawn structure, which becomes llxd7 .1xd7 would have been inadequate
9 'iWc2 'Ox f3 + even more effective in the absence of the on account of 23 'iWc3, while the exchange
10 xf3 '1IVc8 bishop. White is forced to make an of rooks would have allowed the white
Black invites a m iddlegame with additional weakening of his king's queen to penetrate to d6.
opposite-colour bishops, where the defences. 22 llxd7
attacking side's bishop is always stronger, 15 h4
as it has no opponent.
IO".xc5 I I xb7 :b8 1 2 iLg2 .:rc8
1 3 g5 h6 14 xf6 1!t'xf6 1 5 'Od2, leavi n g
White with h i s l ight-square bishop, wou l d
have been playing into h i s hands.
11 iLe3 20 J:r. d l ?
1 1 'Od2 xc5 1 2 'Oxc4 came I nt O This obvious move proves t o be a
consideration, with pressure in the centre. mistake, but winning a pawn by 20 '1't'xc4?
11 xc5 b5 2 1 '1Ir'c2 g5 22 hxg5 h4! could also
have boomeranged on White. However,
Rashkovsky found the correct solution
later, and demonstrated it in his game with
Smirin (Nikolaev 1 983): 20 'iWc5 ! '1Ir'xc5+ 22 'Og4+!
15 'iWe4! 21 xc5. After the exchange of queens the 23 f1
B lack must hurry to occupy the key c4 pawn is weak, and Black sti l l has to 23 fxg4 is not possible in view of
posts, otherv.. ise, with his king unable to spend time developing his king's rook. The 23 . . . 11f6+ 24 g l 'iWe3+ 25 h2 'uf2+,
castle, he may have problems after the game continued 2 1 . . . J:r.c7 22 d6 .l:b7 23 but White could have defended with 23
white knight comes into play. .1a3 d7 24 J:r.d 1 + c8 25 J:r.c I .1bS 26 g I ! 'i'e3+ 24 f1 (but not 24 g2
Of course, here Rashkovsky could have b3 J:r.c7 27 .1d6 :::' c6 28 'Oa3 and White xf3+!) 24...xd7 25 lDd2 !H6 26 'ud l ,
gone into a roughly equal ending by 1 6 won a pawn. when, despite Black's pressure, there
'lixe4 'Oxe4 1 7 'Oc3, but I had n o doubts 20 a5! appears to be nothing decisive.
about his frame of m ind, especially. as 21 'WeI 23 xd7?!
12 .1xb7 there is an objective reason for White to The queen has to retrea!, as if 2 1 'lixc4 An error that v irtually throws away the
Rashkovsky is eager for a fight, hope for success - my dubious king J:r.xd I 22 'Wxc6+ d8! (after 22".:::'d 7 23 win, as White manages to 'plug' the holes
otherwise he would have restricted himself position. 'i'c8+ :'d8 24 'Wc6+ Black has to agree to in his leaky kingside. Of course the check
to 1 2 xc5 'i'xc5 13 xb7 .:rb8 14 g2 16 'Wd2 .i.c6 a draw with 24".J:r.d7, as 24 . . . 'Od7 25 'Oc3 23".'Oe3+! should have been interposed,
, which would have been much less 17 f3 'lie5 'i'd4+ 26 g2 'Wb6 27 'Wa4 f6 28 lld l but here we were already in severe time
interesting. 18 f2 leaves White with a clear advantage) 23 trouble.
12 'i'xb7 If 1 8 .i.d6 there would have followed 'i'a8+ (or 23 c5 lDd7 24 'Was+ 'i'b8 25 24 e4
13 ..txc5 ::rc8 1 8 . . . 'Wf5, threatening to p i n the bishop by 'Wxa5+ e8, and White has the problem of Defending against the threat of . . . lDe3-
It is usefu l to reduce the bishop' s scope, 1 9 . . . 11d8. how to develop his queenside) 23 ".d7! c2.
as after 1 3".h5? 1 4 'Od2! J:r.c8 15 'Oxc4 18 lld8 (but not 23".c7? 24 'Wa7+ c8 25 'Od2! 24 'Wf6
'Wd5 16 b4! Black has no compensation for The rook is transferred to a more lha l 26 lDc4 'Oe4+ 27 e3 ! when White 25 e2?
neatly turns the tables) 24 'Wb7+ (after 24 With his flag about to fall, Rashkovsky
the pawn. After the pseudo-active 1 3 " .'i'd5 functional position, where it not only
'i'x.h8 'Wd4+ 25 e3 'Og4+ 26 fxg4 'Wf6+ misses 25 g2! 'Oe5 26 'i'f2 llg6 (after
14 b4 ..tc6 15 f3 0-0-0 1 6 lDc3 the black controls the d-fiIe, but also participates in
there is a forced mate) 24".'Wc7 with a 26."lLld3 27 'Wa7! 'Oe l + 28 f2 Black has
king would have been in greater danger the defence of the king.
clear advantage to Black. to take a draw by 28".'i'xf3+ 29 e 1
than on its original square. 19 'Wb4 lld7
xe4+ etc., as i f 2 8 . . . lOc2 29 eS! and he is 11 lOd2 e5 14 as!

i n danger of losing) 27 lOd2 with 12 g5 d4 The idea of this move, which involves a
possibilities of a defence. 13 lOb3 pawn sacrifice, belongs to Yefim Geller.
15 exd4
The blockading I S lOa4 is more danger
ous for Black: I S . . . g6 (how Black should
not play is demonstrated by the game
Yusupov-Belyavsky, Montpellier 1 985,
which went IS ... g4? 16 0-0 xe2 1 7
'i'xe2 %te8 1 8 cS 'i'c7 1 9 xf6 xf6 20
lOb6 llad8 21 e4, when he had no
counterplay) 16 xf6 xf6 17 0-0 g7
1 8 cS 'i'h4 19 e4 e6 20 d3 , and here
instead of 20 ... fS 21 lOd2 %tfl 22 %tde I 19 .t f5 !
:afB 23 lOc4 fxe4 24 %txe4 gS 2S h4 20 'i'b2 'i'e5
e7 26 lOd6 11f4 27 c4, when the 21 .tb 4
25 "iWd4 ! 13 'i'd8 exchange of bishops allowed White to set 2 1 e3 can be answered by 2 1 . . . xa3 .
26 fx g 4 llf6! Recently I have also played this varia up a light-square blockade (Shneider 21 .txb4+
27 lOd2 'i'd3+ tion as White. In Madrid 1995 San Segundo Kruppa, Podolsk 1 9 89), Shneider recom 22 axb4 11fe8
28 'iti>dl a4+ played 13 . . . '1t'b6 against me, and after 1 4 mends 20 . . . h6 2 1 lOd2 g4 22 :de l 23 %txd4 .te2 !
White resigns xf6 xf6 1 5 lOd5 'i'd8 1 6 d3 g6 1 7 f4 23 g3 hS 24 gxf4 f3 2S lOxf3 Before White can consolidate, B lack
exd4 lOxd4 1 8 li)xd4 exd4 1 9 li)xf6+ 'i'xf6 'i'g4+ with a draw by perpetual check. makes use of h i s initiative to regain the
As regards the strength of the participants, 20 0-0 .td7 2 1 :d2 :ac8 22 b3 .ic6 23 15 a4 sacrificed material, remaining with a slight
the Moscow Tournament of 1 98 1 can be ':Hd I :fd8 Black gained equal chances. The a-pawn is sacrificed, but the white positional advantage.
compared with the tournaments staged in 14 .te2 knight becomes badly placed. 24 %td2 .txb3
the Soviet capital in 1 92 5 , 1 93 5 and 1 93 6 . It is useful for White to complete his 16 lOxa4 lOxd4 25 'i'xb 3 'i'a1 +
Especially memorable among m y meetings development. After 1 4 exd4 tUxd4 I S 1 6 ... !ha4 is bad because of 1 7 dS li)aS 26 'i'dl 'i'xd 1 +
with the strongest players in the world lOxd4 exd4 1 6 tUbS he has to reckon with 18 d6 .ixd6 19 lDc s . 27 %txdl %txa4
were my games with Tal and Portisch. the resource 16 . . . .tg4 ! ? 1 7 ttxd4 :le8 17 lOxd4 exd4
(threatening a ' discovered' mate) 1 8 .te3 18 b3
Game 1 6 'i'b6 1 9 .td3 .icS with sharp play (Piket If 1 8 0-0 there would have followed
Portisch-Belyavsky Van der Sterren, Lyon Zonal 1 990). 1 8 . . . aS 1 9 xf6 xf6 20 b3 .td7 with
Moscow 1981 an equal game.
Queen's Gambit 037 18 a5+
19 .td2
c4 e6 In my annotations to this game, against
2 1Oc3 d5 19 d2 I recommended 19 . . . .txaJ 20
3 d4 e7 xaS ttxa5 2 1 .txf6 .tb4+ 22 fl gxf6
4 lOn lOf6 23 :lxd4 %te8 with equal play. Later in the
5 f4 I I th game of the Korchnoi-Karpov match
6 e3 c5 (Merano 1 9 8 1 ) B lack preferred 23 ... %te5 !
7 dxc5 xc5 2 4 g4 b5 when h e gained sufficient 28 n
8 c2 lOc6 compensation for the sacrificed pawn. White should have considered 28 g3,
9 %td l a5 1 9 ... 'WfS is also interesting, when after 20 with the aim of playing his king to g2,
10 a3 e7 f4?! 'Wc2 he has the initiative. where it is more securely p laced.
28 l:[x b 4 1 9 8 1 was made a memorable year for me 10 is went wrong with 25 . . . <l;d6?, and after 26
29 f2 l:[b2 by my victory in Tilburg, where, apart 1 0 e5 is also sometimes played here, J:d I + had to give up his queen.
30 l::t h el g6 from Karpov and Korchnoi, who were although without particular success. Timman chose what he thought was a
31 n?! playing their match for the World 10 liJc6 less well studied continuation.
The primary cause of White's Championship in Merano, all the strongest 11 fxe6 fxe6 19 l:la7
subsequent difficulties. After 3 1 l:[d3 with players in the world competed. Among 12 liJxc6 bxc6 20 J:d7?!
the idea of :re3 the position would have them was the 1 8-year-old Garry Kasparov, 13 eS dxeS The correct way was shown by V iktor
been equal. who at the end of that year was to become 14 xf6 gxf6 Gavrikov, who seconded Nana Alexandria
31 liJh5 USSR Champion for the first time. Before 15 liJe4 e7 in her match for the Ladies World Cham
32 g3 liJg7 the l ast round, Petros ian, Timman and I 16 e2 hS pionship in 1 98 1 against Maya Chiburdan
33 nd7 liJe6 were leading. Tigran, as was his habit, 17 nb 3 'i'a4 idze. The 5th game went 20 . . . l:lf7! (the
34 lled l agreed a quick draw, since he used to 18 liJxf6+ x f6 rook hurries to the aid of the king, also
consider that a tournament should be won 19 c4 covering the bishop) 2 1 'i'd6 e7 22
before the last round. Timman and I battled 'Wxe5 (22 'i'b8 came into consideration,
it our in what was then a fashionable although here too B lack stands wel l after
variation of the Sicilian Defence, which 22 . . . l:lxfl + 23 xf1 O-O! 24 llg3+ f7)
was soon to lose its attraction. 22 . . . l:lxf1 + 23 xf1 .cth 7 24 l::t b 8 (after 24
d3 .cth6 25 'i'c7 'i'xa2 ! 26 'i'xc8+ f7
Game 1 7 B lack has the better chances, in view of
Belyavsky-Timman White's back rank weakness) 24 . . .':O>d7 25
Ti/burg 1981 'i'd4+ d6 26 'iWa7+ d8 27 l:[xc8+ c8
Sicilian Defence B97 28 'i'xh7 c5+, and B lack stood better.
e4 c5
2 liJf3 d6
34 liJd4! 3 d4 cxd4
I f 34 ... 8f4 there would have followed 4 liJxd4 f6 By his piece sacrifice White has
35 ::'d8 ::'bxe2 36 gxf4 with an easy draw. 5 tOc3 a6 exposed the enemy king, and it is not easy
Now, however, White is obliged either to 6 g5 e6 for B lack to defend it without losing
allow the invasion of his 2nd rank by both 7 f4 'i'b6 material. I already had some experience of
rooks, or to sacrifice the exchange by 3 5 8 'Wd2 'i'xb2 playing this position. Early that year, i n the
l:[xb7 ::'xb7 3 6 :!xd4 l:[b2, which also fails 9 .ct b l 'Wa3 compelltlon for four USSR teams,
to save the game. Mikhalchishin played 1 9 ... c5 against me,
35 l:[ lxd4 :rexe2 and after 20 0--0 'Wd7 2 1 'i'xd7+ xd7 22
36 l:[xb7 l:[f2+ :rxf6 <lJe7 23 l:tg6 :lad8 24 l:te3 e8 2 5
37 gl l:[g2+ l:tg5 l:td2 26 l:tgxe5 h e lost in the endgame. 21 'We3
38 hl l:[xh2+ A year earlier, in a tournament in Tash From here the queen controls the
39 gl l:[bg2+ kent, Plato nov played 19 . . . h4+, and after important dark squares. Timman decides to
40 n l:[c2 20 g3 e7 2 1 0--0 l:ta7 22 l:lb8 l:lc7 23 return the piece so as to activate his queen.
41 gl l:[hg2+ 'Wd3 c5+ 24 <lJh I <lJe7 25 'i'D l:te8 26 21 "xa2
42 n J:gf2+ 'i'f6+ d6 27 xh5 l:tce7 28 J:d l + d4 22 l:lxf6 'Wal+
Now if 43 g I there follows 43 . . . l:lxD 29 d4+ exd4 30 'i'xd4+ <l;c7 3 1 'Wb6+ 23 .tn .ctg7
44 g4 l1a3 45 J:b 1 l:la4, winning White's we agreed a draw. But when here in B lack could have put up a tougher
remaining pawns. Tilburg, HUbner risked defending the same defence with 23 ... 'i'd4, pinning his hopes
White resigns. way, he encountered 25 "e4, promptly on saving the endgame, although his
numerous pawns islands would have been same idea (the second occasion was three but after 10 xh7 It:lxh7 I I 'i'e2 e6 12 The point of the sacrifice i s to disrupt
easy prey for the white pieces. years later). d2 e7 1 3 0-0-() 'i'b6 1 4 It:leS l:td8 I S the coordination of B lack's queen and
24 l:rb8 e7 1 e4 c6 l:rhe l 0--0 1 6 It:lg6! (the 198 1 theme!) knight, as after 2 1 . . . dxd5 22 'i'xe5 gxh6
25 l:rf2 'i'd4 2 d4 d5 16 . . . l:rfe8 17 It:lxe7+ .t!.xe7 1 8 It:lfS l:ree8 (22 . . . f6 23 'i'xe6+ .t!.f7 24 h7+) 23 l:txh6
26 'i'D e4 3 It:lc3 dxe4 19 It:ld6 White gained a positional advan f6 24 'i'xe6+ .t!.f7 25 It:lh5 White has a
27 'i'f4 llg4 4 It:lxe4 fS tage, which he converted into a win. winning attack . But, unfortunately, B lack
I f 27 ....l:I.d8 White wins by 28 'i'c7+ 5 It:lg3 g6 10 'i'xd3 It:lgf6 is not obliged to take the rook, and the
'i'd7 29 'i'e5. 6 h4 h6 11 f4 e6 prosaic 2 1 ... .t!.xd5 22 cxd5 'i'xd5 23 hxg7
7 It:lfJ It:ld7 At that time Black was not averse to xg7 proved sufficient only for a draw.
castling on the kings ide. Nowadays he When we concluded peace, we had in m ind
prefers to hide his king on the opposite a pretty variation that remained off-stage:
side, and he prepares to castle long with 24 It:lh5+! g6! 25 It:lf4+! gxf4 26 Wh5+
the manoeuvre 1 1 ... 'i'a5+ 12 d2 'i'c7. f6 27 'i'h4+ f5 28 'i'h5+, and B lack
12 has to settle for a draw, as after 28 . . . e4
The most critical plan. After 1 2 0--0 29 'i'e2+ d4 30 :d 1 + c5 3 1 .t!.xd5+
e7 I J c4 0--0 14 l:tfe l l:re8 I S l:!.ad l it is xdS 32 'i'd2+ he loses material, since
easier for Black to gain counterplay. Thus both his rook and knight are unprotected.
Renet-Tukmakov (Budapest 1 996) con !4 .t!.be! a4?
tinued I s . . . 'i'aS 16 a3 bs! 17 c5 lt:ld5 with
sharp play. 15 . . .'i'b6 is also good.
12 e7
28 'i'c7+ 'i'd7? 13 lfJe5 as?!
28 . . . d7 was a tougher defence, 8 b5 At the Moscow super-Tournament of
although after 29 :xh8 'i'xh8 30 ':d2 'i'd8 Nowadays this move is made without grandmasters in 1 98 1 , Tal played 13 ... 0--0
(30 . . . 'i'c8 3 1 Wd6+ e8 32 :'b2 and thinking, but before the 1 966 Petrosian against me, and since the subsequent play
White wins) 3 1 We5 :'g8 32 'i'c5+ White Spassky World Chanlpionship Match it was marked by such a pretty creative
stands clearly better: Blac k ' s king is still was thought that the advance of the pawn discovery, I cannot deny myself the
exposed and all his pawns are weak. to h5 would merely cause White additional pleasure of showing it to the reader: 1 4
29 l:rxc8 'i'xc7 problems over its defence. Spassky linked 'i'e2 'i'aS I S b l l:rad8 1 6 c4 It:lxe5 17
Or 29 . . ..:xc8 30 :f7+. this move with the idea of playing the dxe5 lDd7 1 8 .t!.d2 g5 ! 19 xg5 hxg5 20
30 l:rxc7+ d6 knight to e5, and was able to show that, h6 It:lxe5 ! (20...'i'xe5? loses to 21 h7+
31 l:ta7 e3 after its exchange, the pawns at eS and h5, . h8 22 .t!.xd7! 'i'xe2 23 .t!.xd8) 2 1 .t!.dS ! ! 15 It:lg6!
32 l:te2 .t!.e4 blockading Black's kingside, secure White Compared with our game in 1 984,
33 l:rxa6 c5 an enduring territorial advantage. And al mentioned in the note to B lack's 9th move,
34 l:raJ though Botvinnik, following with a certain this move looks even more effective.
Black resigns jealousy the play of his successor, remar White is threatening not only the capture
ked: 'Not much progress has been made [n of the rook, but also the leap of his other
Game 1 8 chess, if thirty years of research has knight to 5, as occurs in the game. Black
Belyavsky-Larsen resulted in a pawn being moved from h4 to cannot accept the offer in view of 1 5 ... fxg6
Tilburg 198 1 h5', the superior path had been paved. 16 'i'xg6+ f8 1 7 .t!.xe6 'i'e8 18 .t!.de I
Caro-Kann Defence B 19 8 h7 'i'xg6 1 9 hxg6 b4 (if 1 9 ...:te8 there
9 d3 xd3 follows 20 .t!.xe7) 20 It:lf5 ! and now:
My game with Bent Larsen was also Three years later in the USSR v. Rest of (a) 20...xe l 2 1 d6+ g8 22 It:le7+
memorable. It rarely happens that one i s the World Match (London 1984) Larsen f8 23 It:lxc6+ g8 24 It:le7+ f8 25
able t o beat a n opponent twice using the experimented against me with 9 . lDgf6?!,
.. It:lf5+ g8 26 .t!.e7 and by the m ate threat
at g7 White regains the sacrificed material 19 h3 ! for Black. Since 1 970, when Zhidkov
with interest; Threatening 20 ttJxh6! gxh6 2 1 nxe6+! , surprised me with 14 . . . g6, and I found the
(b) 20 . . . 11e8 2 1 llxe8+ lLlxe8 22 c3 and there i s n o longer any defence. refutation 1 5 b4! which casts doubts on the
.li.a5 23 lle7 and wins; 19 fxg6 exchange sacrifice, this idea has been
(c) 20 . . . 'ii7g 8 21 Si.d6 (or 21 lle7 .li.xe7 20 J::r. x e6+ f7 avoided by theoreticians, and the game that
22 llxe7) 2 1 .. . .li.xd6 22 llxd6, again with 21 hxg6+ xc6 found its way into the books was
devastating thrcats; 22 nel+ lLle5 Belyavsky-Ubilava, played in the 1 978
(d) 20 ... lLldS 2 1 Si.d2 .li.xd2+ 22 xd2 23 .li.xe5 USSR Cup, where after IS . . . ttJd5 16 .li.c4
bS 23 lle7 lLlxe7 24 llxe7 a7 (or Black resigns .li.h6+ 1 7 J::r.d 2 "'a3+ 1 8 .li.b2 "'xb4 1 9
24 . . . lLlf6 25 l::t f 7+ e8 26 lLlxg7+ d8 27 .li.xd5 White won a piece, as i f 1 9 ...... xd2+
lLle6+ ..t>e8 2 8 lLlc7+) 25 J::r. f7+ e8 26 The rather widely analysed variation of the 20 'i'xd2 .li.xd2+ 2 1 xd2 exd5 he has 22
lLlxg7+ d8 27 lLle6+ e8 28 f4, and. S icil ian Defence that occurred in my game e6 llg8 23 exd7+ xd7 24 .li.d4 a6 25
with Black's forces virtually stalemated, he with a representative of the new generation d3 lle8 26 llb I b5 2 7 lla I J::r.a 8 28 g4,
has no defence against the victorious of Leningrad players, Leonid Yudasin, the Nowadays this i s a l l well establ ished, and in this ending the bishop is worth more
advance of the white pawns. winner of the Qualification Tournament but in the previous USSR Championship than the three pawns.
15 lLld5 for the USSR Championship. reminded me (Vilnius 19801 1 ) grandmaster Gennady 13 bS
I S ... a3 would have set more problems: of an old story. kading to the amusing Kuzmin, the author of many interesting For some time 1 3 .li.xf6 gxf6 14 ttJe4
(a) 16 tLlxh8 axb2+ 1 7 ..t> b l ( 1 7 Wxb2 thought that sometimes it is ignorance that opening ideas, surprised me with 7 ... lLlg4, was considered the strongest, but the game
':a3 ! ) 17 . . . :'a3 1 8 lLlxf7 "'a8 19 '1i'g6 ttJf8 leads to progress. A decade earlier. in a although after 8 h3 lLlge5 9 .li.e3 ttJxd4 1 0 Dolmatov-Ruderfer (Moscow 1 98 1 ) dis
20 ttJd6+ d7 2 1 lLlc4 'i'a6, when it is game with Zhidkov from the Ukrainian xd4 ttJc6 I I 'i'd2 g 6 1 2 .li.c4 llc8 1 3 pelled this il lusion: 14 . . . !ld8! I S ttJxf6+
B lack who is attacking; Championship. in the main l i ne of this .li.b3 'i'a5 1 4 .li.h6 xh6 I S xh6 .li.e6 1 6 e7 and Black is not worse, as 1 6 'iWh4
(b) 16 b3 lLldS 1 7 lLlf5 ! exfS (forced in variation I encountered a new idea that had 0-0 it transpired that it was not easy for can be met by 1 6 . . . !lxd l + 1 7 xd l d8.
view of the mate threat at g7) 1 8 ttJxe7 j ust been publ ished in the most recent issue Black to castle. Of the modem searchings in this posi
ttJxe7 ( 1 8 ... ttJxf4 19 ttJg6+ ttJe6 20 ttJxh8) of the 64 newspaper (with its help Elzi bar 8 lLlxd4 tion, Judith Polgar's idea of 13 .li.c4 ! m ust
1 9 .li.d6 tOes 20 dxe5, and i f 20 . . . 0-0 2 1 Ubi lava had just won a game with Black). 9 xd4 a5 be mentioned. Her game with Groszpeter
e6, winning material. Watching my torment, as I ' fell asleep' for 10 f4 e6 (Hungarian Championship 1 99 1 ) con
16 lLlCS! .li. f8 ? a good hour, many of the already 'erudite' 11 eS dxeS tinued 13 . . . ttJd7 14 llhe I h6 15 .li.d2 'iWc5
1 6 ... exf5 was more tenacious, trying to participants were chuckling, anticipating 12 fxeS 16 f4 g5 17 fl .li.g7 1 8 h4 ttJxe5 1 9
defend as indicated in the previous note. the development of events. Fortunately, I .li.b3 0-0 2 0 hxg5 hxg5 2 1 e2 ttJg6 22
17 .li.d6 J::r.g 8 had not read that issue of 64 and I h5 and White built up decisive threats.
I f 17 ...fxg6 White mates by 1 8 ttJxg7+! discovered a refutation. 13 ttJd5
18 c4 ttJb4 14 lLlxdS
Game 1 9 Weaker is 14 .li.xc6+ bxc6 1 5 lLle4?!
Belyavsky-Yudasin ( I S a3 is better) 15 xa2 1 6 c4 h6 1 7
...
49th USSR Championship .li.d2 c5 1 8 d3 lLlb6 with advantage to

Frunze 1981 Black (Petrushin-Yudasin, USSR 1 98 1 ).
Sicilian Defence B 6 1 14 .li.xb5
15 ttJc3
1 e4 c5 Before this White had unsuccessfully
2 ttJO ttJc6 tried the tempting 1 5 xa7, which is
3 d4 cxd4 parried by 15 . . . .li.b4!
4 lLlxd4 lLlr6 12 .tc6 15 .li.c6?
5 ttJc3 d6 At one time the exchange sacrifice The lesson was not wasted, for two
6 .li. g5 .li.d7 12 ... 11xc3 13 .li.d2 9xa2 14 .i.xc3 was rounds later Yudasin demonstrated the
7 9d2 nc8 considered a radical method of counterplay correct solution in this game with
Dolmatov: 1 5 . . . c5 1 6 'ifg4 b4! 1 7 No better is 29 ...nhf8 30 nc3+ 'itd4 3 1 nxg7+ 64 f6 nc7 65 'ilid5+ 'ita7 66 as)
xb5 xb5 1 8 'ife4 ()....{) and Black 'ife7! nn + 3 2 'iPd2 nf2+ 33 'ite I with 60 c8+ Ilxc8 61 dxc8'ii + a7 62 as
successfully solved his opening problems. mate at e3, or 29 ... 'ifxa2 30 'ilic7+ b5 3 1 bxa5 63 'ifc5+ a6 64 d6+ b7 65
xb7+ 'itc5 32 nc3+ 'itd4 3 3 'ii b4+ etc., d5+ 'ita6 66 'ifd3+ 'iPb7 67 'ifb5+ and
but now the attack concludes with the wins.
transition into an easily won ending.
30 nc3+ xc3+ In 1 982 I qualified for the World Cham
31 bxc3 'iPxc3 pionship Candidates cycle by taking
32 'ifxd5 b5 second place in the Interzonal Tournament
33 'itdl as in Moscow. Before the last round five
34 'ite2 a4 participants were contending for the sole
35 e3 'iPb4 remaining place, since Garry Kasparov had
36 d6+ 'iPa5 already qualified. Since it seemed probable
26 Ilfe ! ! d5 37 'ikc7 b4 to me that at least one of my rivals would
Comparatively best. 26 ... '1l'xa2 27 l!e5+ 38 e4 'ita6 win, I decided to play for a win with Black
.td5 (visiting the white king's residence 39 e5 n h 5+ against Florin Gheorghiu. Two years
16 Ilhfl ! b4 by 27.. .a4 28 c7 'ifa 1 + 29 Wc2 .tb3+ 40 'ite6 nh6+ earlier a sim i lar situation with the same
17 e4 d5 30 c3 resembles a help-mate) 28 r:.exd5+ 41 dS nb5+ opponent had arisen in Baden (Austria),
It transpires that now 1 7 . . . ()....{) is not exd5 29 l:rxd5+ xd5 30 xdS+ b6 3 I 42 d4 nhh8 only with the significant difference that a
possible because of 1 8 f6+ Wh8 1 9 'ifh4. d6+ Wb5 32 g4 would have led to a 43 'itc4 ndg8 draw then did not satisfy Florin, as it could
18 d6+ xd6 similar ending to that in the game. 44 'itb4 have left him outside the prize list. In
19 exd6 f6 27 Ilxd5+! exd5 Moscow he no longer had any corres
28 ne5 ponding stimulus, and was satisfied with a
An amusing picture, where White draw. The difference in my opponent's
threatens a linear mate in the centre of the motivation in these tournaments influenced
board. my choice of opening. In Baden I granted
However, there was also a false trail: 28 him the opportunity to play actively and
nd I d4! 29 a4+ (or 29 t1xd4 'ife 1 + 3 0 c2 chose the Queen's Gambit. In Moscow, by
nc8+ 3 1 dxc8='if nxc8+ 32 Wb3 nc3+! offering a more uncompromising gambit, I
33 bxc3 'iib l+) 29 ... 'iixa4 30 nxd4 J:c8+ myself took on all the risk.
3 1 dxc8'if (or 3 1 Wb 1 'ifc2+ 32 a2 ncs
33 d8'ii nxd8 34 'ifxd8 a6 35 'ilif6+ b6 Game 20
36 'iifl + 'itb7 37 'if 0+ 'ita6) 3 1 ... :.xc8+ Gbeorghiu-Belyavsky
32 'itb I 'iic2+ 33 'ita2 nc5 34 'ilid7+ a6
Interzonal Tourna ent
35 na4+ na5 36 t1xa5+ 'iPxaS 37 'ilixb7 Black resigns, as the winning proce Moscow 1 982
20 xf6! gxf6 'ilia4+, and in all these lines the game ends dure for White, although lengthy, is quite Benko Gambit AS8
21 'ifxf6 'iPd7 in a draw by perpetual check. straightforward, for example: 44 ... ng4+ 45
22 'ife7+ 'itc6 28 'iPc4 'ita3 ngg8 (45 ...J:d4 46 'ilic3) 46 'itxa4 d4 f6
23 d7! 29 ne3! nf8 47 b3 :fg8 48 a4 :f8 49 c3 :fg8 2 c4 c5
The inclusion of 23 nf7 'itb6 24 d7 It was still possible to throw away the 50 'itd3 :f8 5 1 'ite4 :fg8 52 'ite5 :f8 53 3 dS b5
leads only to a draw: 24 . . . nxc2+! 2 5 win: 29 ne4+ d3 30 nb4 t1hfB 3 1 'ilig3+ 'ite6 l:rfg8 54 g4 hxg3 55 hxg3 :f8 4 cxb5 a6
'itxc2 'ifa4+ 26 'iPd2 'ilid4+. 'ite2 32 'ilig4+ 'itfl 33 'ilid l + f2 3 4 (5s...a5 5 6 'ilic4) 56 g4 :fg8 57 g5 :a8 S bxa6
23 ncd8 'ilid4+ 'itfl 35 'ili d 1 + an d White h as to be (57 ...'ita5 58 'ilic4 t1xg5 59 'ilic3+) 58 g6 Ten years later, playing White in
24 c4! xc4 content with perpetual check. t1hg8 59 g7 :xg7 (59 ... :gd8 60 'iPe7 :g8 Tilburg against Michael Adams, I chose 5
2S 'ilid6+ 'itbS 29 b6 6 1 'l'c4+ 'itb7 62 'l'xg8 :xg8 63 d8'1' e3 and after 5 . . . axb5 6 .i.xbS 'l'a5+ 7 3
b7 8 e4 ! lUxe4 9 lUge2 g6 1 0 0-0 lUd6 after 14 11e I 11a7 1 5 f4 ttJe8 1 6 lUn lUb6 17 b5! 31 f3 nxaS
1 1 a4 ! g7 1 2 g5 h6 1 3 f4 0-0 1 4 17 xg7 ttJxg7 IS ttJc3 ttJfS 1 9 g4 lUg7 20 18 a4 a6 32 l:txa5 'i'xaS
xd6! exd6 1 5 f4 f5 1 6 g4! White's attack e4 White gained the advantage in the 19 ttJf3 lOxf3 + 33 l:tc4 lOf6
bore fruit. centre and held the initiative. 20 'tixf3 nb4 34 b4!
5 xa6 12 nel 'i'a8 Black switches his attention to the b3 Tactics can also be of service to
13 e4 ttb8 pawn. strategy when one is playing for a draw.
14 c3 21 h4 nab7 34 cxb4
22 11e3 'i'b8 35 'tid 2 lOd7
23 .!:ra3 lOe8 36 l:txb4 l:tc8
The knight is aiming for eS, from where 37 l:tb2 'tia4
it will control the weakened l i ght squares. 38 11a2 'i'c4
24 .Q.fl xn
25 <bxfl lOf6
26 g2 h5
27 a5 lOg 4
28 .ll c 3 11a7
It is also possible to take on a6 with the

kn ight: 5 . . . g6 6 b3 g7 7 b2 ()....() 8 g3 d6
9 g2 ttJxa6 1 0 ttJc3 b 7 II e4 e6 1 2 For the sacrificed pawn B lack exerts
ttJge2?I ( 1 2 dxe6 fxe6 1 3 ttJge2 i s better) strong pressure on the a- and b- files. and
1 2 . . . exdS \ 3 exd5 ttJb4 14 a3 0.fxd5, and White has to concern h imsel f over the
B lack regained his pawn while retaining defence 'of his a2 pawn . An important
the InitIatIve (Ravi-Hebden, British feature of the position i s the d i fference in 39 lOb4?
Championship 1 9 89). the structure of the pawn chains, which is This position, which at first sight looks
6 g3 c learly in Black's favour. almost equal, is by no means drawn: the
To me the fol lowing plan seems more 14 lOe8 exposed position of the white king gives
promising: 6 ttJc3 d6 7 e4 .Q.xfl 8 <bxfl g6 Probably B lack could also have trans B lack hopes of an attack. Therefore
9 g3 .Q.g7 10 g2 ()....() 1 1 lUG lUbd7 1 2 ferred his knight to e5 without exchanging 29 'i'e2 White's desire to transfer his knight, which
h3. Belyavsky-Leko (Caeak 1 996) contin bishops, as if 14 ... ttJeS ! ? it is unfavourable Now B lack regains h i s pawn, while can take part in the defence of his king, to
ued 1 2 . . .' ''a5 1 3 :re i .::t fb8 1 4 e5 dxe5 1 5 to reply 15 xeS dxe5, when he transfers retaining all the advantages of his position. the pretty, but useless c6 square, is faulty.
lUxeS ttJxeS 1 6 !1xeS !1b7 1 7 'tifJ ttJeS ! ? his remaining knight to the comfortable 29 .llc2 'i'a8 3 0 11ca2 was the alternative: Correct was 39 lOn, preventing the
1 8 i:e 2 ttJd6 1 9 ttJe4 ttJxe4 2 0 'i'xe4, square d6. After 1 5 f4 lOd3 1 6 !1e3 c4 (a) 30 . . . lUe5 3 1 'i'e2 'i'b8 32 lUd3 invasion of the black pieces.
although after 20 . . . 'tia6! it turned out that Black has the i nitiative, while 1 5 lUf4 nxb3 33 lUxeS dxeS 34 'i'c2, and Black 39 l:tb8!
B lack was close to achieving a draw. h6! is also good for him. regains his pawn, but in a version favour 40 l:tb2
6 g6 15 xg7 lUxg7 able to White; A second time trouble illusion. Now
7 b3 g7 16 lUd2 lOeS (b) 30 ... ttJf6 3 1 ne2 nxa5 32 11xaS White can escape from the pin only at too
8 .Q.b2 d6 17 lUr4 'i'xa5, and Black retains the advantage, as high a price. He should have brought h i s
9 g2 The .ev iction' of the knight by 1 7 f4 33 eS dxeS 34 l:txeS, breaking open the knight back with 4 0 lOd3 l:tb3 4 1 lO c I
10 ttJh3 lUbd7 0.d3 1 8 :'e3 aids Black's queens ide play centre to attack the e7 pawn, can be met by (weaker is 4 1 lOe l lOe5) 4 1 ..J:tb l (after
11 0-0 na7 after 18 . . . b5 ! If 1 9 a4 a6 the weakness 34 . . . 'i'd8, and if 3 S 'i'e3 'i'd6! , winning a 4 1 ... nc3 42 ttJe2 nd3 43 'i'c2 White can
In the game Plachetka-Nun (Czech at a2 is replaced by one at b3, while after pawn. defend) 42 11c2 'i'bS 43 'i'e2 'i'b6 44 'i'n
Championship 1 986) B lack preferred 1 9 fl ttJb4 20 xbS l:tx.bS 2 1 a4 he can 29 'i'a8 lOc5 ! , and although B lack has achieved a
1 1 . . .'i'b6 12 'i'd2 nfb8 1 3 c3 'i'd8, but undermine the centre by 2 1 . . . f5 ! 30 lOd3 nb8 great deal, White can stil l hold on.
40 lUeS! dubious variation of the Queen's Gambit, continued 1 3 . . . xc3 1 4 bxc3 c7 1 5 lUeS f5 1 8 'Wh5 f6 1 9 l:tac I b5 2 0 l:tc8 [xeS
and seeking my chances as White. Against lUxd7 lUxd7 1 6 b5 d5 ( 1 6 ... h6 is more 2 1 'i!fg5+ f7 22 .2.e2 1 -0 .
a player who was beginning his ascent to circumspect) 1 7 'ii'g4 f5 1 8 h3 h6 19 c4
the top, such tactics proved inadequate. .hg2 20 'ii'xg2 hxg5 2 1 'i!fxg5 lIf6 22 lId3
They justified themselves only once. lUf8 23 llg3 f7 24 c;.hl f4 2S llgg 1 ll f5
26 'ii' g4 lUh7 27 llae I lld8 28 d5 e5 with a
Game 2 1 double-edged game.
Belyavsky-Kas p arov 1 2 g5 xc3 13 bxc3 'i!fc7 is also
Candidates Match (Ith game) possible, when White can offer a pawn
Moscow 1983 sacrifice with 14 d3, and in the event o f
Nimzo-Indian Defence E54 its acceptance by 1 4 . . . xc3 h i s initiative
is very dangerous: IS lUeS 'i!f as 16 'i!f e3
d4 lUf6 'l'dS 17 'i!fh3 h6 1 8 c4 d6 1 9 f4 'i!fe7
2 c4 e6 20 lld3 lUxeS 21 dxe5 lUe4 22 xh6
Zugzwang! I f 41 f2? Black wins by 3 lUc3 .1L b4 (AzmaiparashviliFarago, Albena 1 984).
4 1 . .. llxb4 ! White has to move his knight 4 e3 0--0 Probably safer is 1 4 ... h6 I 5 d2 llfe8 1 6 14 'i!fc7
to the distant periphery, from where it does S d3 c5 :e l llac8 1 7 llac l 'i!fd6 1 8 a4 lled8 1 9 The white bishops are trained
not return. 6 lUn dS .1a6 'i'd5 with a defensible position threateningly at Black's kingside, and after
41 lUa2 llxb2 7 0-4l dxc4 (1Ilescas CordobaMagem Badals, Terrasa the inevitable d4-d5 they are ready to
42 xb2 d3 8 xc4 cxd4 1 990 ) . destroy it. Therefore it is important to find
43 f2 a3! 9 exd4 b6 12 bxc3 'ii'c 7 a square for the queen from where it is able
44 . . . lUxD is threatened, so that White 10 'i!fe2 13 .2.d3 to come to the aid of its king.
has to weaken his position still further. Here White can also include 1 0 .2.g5 White has a wide choice. All possible The best known game at that time was
44 f4 lUg4 lUbd7, and then I I '1Ir'e2 b7 12 .::r ae I ::c8 developments of the bishops at b2, d2, b3 Tukmakov-Fuchs (Zinnowitz 1 967), where
45 'i!fd2? 13 lUeS. and d3 have occurred in practice, and it is after 14 ... 'i!fb4 I S a4 lle8 16 as 'i!fd6 1 7 d 5
This loses quickly, but after 4 5 'i!fe 2 10 .1Lb7 no wonder that I thought for a good half lUbd7 Black achieved a good game. B u t all
lUf6 B lack is threatening to take on e4. 11 lld l hour. is not so simple. More v igorous is I S dS!
45 lUe3+ 13 'Wxc3 xd5 (not 1 5 ... lUxd5 1 6 lUgS, and if
46 f2 Now if 1 3 ...lUbd7 White has 1 4 c4 16 ... h6 17 'We5 lUf6 1 8 h 7+ h8 1 9
Or 46 gl lUc4 4 7 'i!f f2 'i!fd3 . : fe8 1 5 b2 with an attacking position, 'i!fxf6!) 1 6 .2.xf6 gxf6 1 7 lUd4! (if
46 lUc4 but Euwe's recommendation of 13 ... lUd5 immediately 1 7 'We3 'Wg4, but now the
47 e2 lUb2! came into consideration, when 1 4 'We4 bishop sacr i fice at h7 is threatened) 1 7 . . . fS
The knight is trapped! If 48 lUc I there lUf6 can lead to a repetition of position, 1 8 'We3 ! ( 1 8 .2.xf5 exfS 19 lUxfS 'We4 is
follows 48 . . . c5+. White resigns. while if 1 4 c4 Black plays 1 4 . . . lUf4, less clear) 1 8 .. . lUc6 1 9 .2.xfS with a strong
exchanging one of the white bishops, only attack.
The I nterzonal Tournament used up much not 14 ...1Uc3 IS .2.xh7+ h8 ( 1 5 ...xh7 Kasparov chooses a more natural
of my strength, and at my first Olymp iad 16 'Wd3+ lUe4 1 7 lUg5+ g8 1 8 lUxe4, 'square for his queen, but also of interest is
in 1 982 I felt the onset of another creative winning a pawn) 1 6 'Wd3 lUxd l 1 7 lUes, the more active plan of defence employed
slump. Therefore, instead of preparing when if 17 ... lUxf2 18 xf2 f6 White has in the game Michenka-Mikhalchishin
openings fo r my match with Kasparov, I 1 9 lUg6+ xh7 20 lUe7+, forc ing mate. (Karvina 1987), which continued 14 . . .'Wc6
began 1 983 with a trip to the hills, to 11 .2.xc3 14 .2.b2 IS d5 exdS 1 6 lUd4 'i'e8 1 7 'WD 'We5
recharge my emotional batteries by going 1 1 ...lUbd7 is considered more flexible, In the game Hmadi-Vadasz (Budapest ( 1 7 .. .lUe4 1 8 lUf5 f6 19 llac I 1Uc6 is also
skiing. This explains the tedious strategy in when one of White's aggressive plans 1 995) White successfully tried 14 .2.g5 interesting) 1 8 lleI lUe4 19 l:te2 fS 2 0 lUb5
my match with Kasparov, which consisted involves 12 S l:tc8 1 3 .2.g5. The game 'i'a5? ! ( 1 4 . . . lUbd7 I S l:tacl 'WaS was 'i'e7 2 1 .i.a3 'i'f6 2 2 .2.b2 'i'f7 with sharp
in playing for draws with Black in a highly Skembris-Belyavsky (Haifa 1 9 89) essential) 1 5 .2.xf6 gxf6 16 d5 .2.xd5 1 7 play.
15 d5! xd5 'i'g3+ <t>h8 2 1 'i'h4 f5 22 'i'f6+ <t>g8 2 3 lOxh4 2 5 lOgS fxg5 26 'i'xd6 White wins With the threat of f2-f4, which did not
After I S . ..tbxd5 1 6 lOgS White tDxf5 exf5 2 4 'i'xf5 llfd8 2 5 'i'xh7+ <t>f8 material) 24 'i'h5, when 24 ... lOg7 2 5 'i'h6 work immediately because o f 3 0 . . . tDD+.
launches a strong attack: 26 %te l tDe7 (26...e6 27 llxe6) 27 'i'h6+ leads to a draw, while after 24 . . . 'i'e6 30 llc4
(a) 16 ... g6 17 lOxh7 lId8 ( 1 7 . . . ..txh 7 <t>g8 (27 . . ...te8 28 b5+) 28 llxe7 and White retains some compensation for his After 30 ... l:td8, preventing 3 1 f4 in
1 8 '1Wh5+ and mates) 1 8 '1Wg4 with strong White wins; material deficit. view of 3 1 . . .tDD+! , White would have
threats against Black's weakened kingside; (b) 1 9 ... tl.fd8 20 b5 'i'b7 21 'i'g3+ 22 tl.h4 'i'rs continued 3 1 g4, for example 3 1 . . .'i'g8 3 2
(b) 16 ... lOf4 1 7 xh7+ 'it>h8 1 8 'i'g4 f6 f8 22 xc6 xc6 23 '1Wf4! f5 (no better 23 tl.xd5 tD e5 l:t h 6 'i'g5 33 f4 lOxg4+ 3 4 hxg4 'i'xg4 3 5
1 9 1Oxe6 tDxe6 20 .!i..g6 tDgS 2 1 gac l 'i'e7 is 23...g7 24 '1Wg4+ 'iPf8 25 tDxc6, All these events took place in serious tDe3 ! "g7 3 6 lOg4 f5 (otherwise 3 7 'i'f5
22 'i'h5+ ..tg8 23 h4 with an obvious 23 . . .r.t>e7 24 tl.xc6 llxd4 25 llc7+, or time trouble, and therefore it is not surpris with a complete bind) 3 7 'i'xf5 'i'b2+ (or
advantage; 23 . ..xg2 24 lOxe6+!) 24 lle l .ilxd4 ing that Kasparov plays solidly. The alter 37 ... 11d2+ 38 h3 'i'c3+ 39 'it>h4) 38 h3
(c) 1 6 ... h6 1 7 'i'h5 e5 (if 1 7 . . . tDf4 1 8 (24 ... .!i..e4 25 lOxe6+ fxe6 26 tl.c7) 25 native was to interpose 23 ... 'i'b I + 24 lOe I , 'i'c3+ 39 h4 "e I + 40 <t>g5 1:g8+ 4 1
'i'xh6!, forcing mate) 1 8 xeS 'i'xeS 1 9 'i'xd4 when White is the exchange up with when after 24 . . . h8 2 5 tl.dh5 nfe8 26 ..tf6 l:tg6+ 42 l:txg6 hxg6 43 'i'c8+ h7 44
h7+ o;t>h8 20 tDxt7+ t:.xt7 2 1 'i'xeS an attack. llxh7+ 'i'xh7 27 llxh7+ xh7 28 'i'h3 + ..txt7, forcing mate.
xh7 :!2 :'xd5 with a winning material 19 'i'd6! g8 29 'i'g4+ f8 30 tDc2, or 24. . .,:[g8 25 31 'i'a8+ 'i'g8
advantage. Kasparov removes his queen from th e :rd3 (25 :tdh5 is also possible) White 32 'i'xa7 llxh4
16 .!i.. x f6 gxf6 p i n and places it o n a better square. After continues his attack. 33 tDxh4 'i'g5
17 'fie3! <t>g7 1 9 ... 'i'd7 White wins by 20 ''i' f4 ! tDe7 2 1 24 h3 llfe8 34 'i'a8+ g7
18 :tacl tDc6 'i'gH 'it>h8 (2 1 ...tDg6 allows 22 xd5) 2 2 Or24 . . . tDxD+ 25 gxD 'i'b l + 26 h2 35 'i'e4
Black must maintain control of e5, as if 'i'h3 f5 2 3 tDg5. h8 27 'i'd4 'i'g6 28 ng4 'i'h6 29 :th5
1 8 ... 'ib7 there follows 19 tDeS ! tDd7 (after 20 xd5 and White wins.
19 ... fxe5 20 'i'g5+ 'it>h8 2 1 'i'h6 White After 20 :'xc6? 'ilr'xc6 21 .:Ixd5 exd5 22 25 tDd4 'i'g6
forces mate) 20 .!LJg4 f5 2 1 '1I'h6+ g8 22 tDd4 Black defends by 22 . . . 'i'a4! 23 c2 26 'i'f4 llad 8
tDf6+ <tJxf6 23 '111' g5+ ::th8 2 'lj'xf6+ <t>g8 'i'e8. 27 tDfS+ h8
2 5 :'c3 , when a possible tin ish would be 20 exd5 28 llxd8 llxdS
25 . . . :'fc8 26 1:a3 a6 27 JLe2 ':c2 2 8 :rg3+ 21 :tc4 29 'i'e4
q;,f8 29 h5 :ac8 30 ':g7 l:.l2c7 3 1 llxh7
and wins.
35 h5?
The ending is clearly better for White,
but after this move the game quickly
concludes. Black should have defended
with 3 5...ltJg6 3 6 ttJfS+ g8 3 7 g3 .d2 3 8
'i'a8+ ltJf8, when for the moment he can
still hold on.
21 .d7? 29 l:tc8? 36 tDfS+ g6
A mistake, which again leaves Black on The final and decisive m istake. 37 tDe7+ h6
19 e4? the verge of defeat. Correct was 2 1 . ..tDe7! 29 .... g8 3 0 ttJe7 (30 f4 ltJg6 3 1 'i'c6 38 f4
The correct decision was 1 9 lOd4! , after 22 l:tg4+ (after 22 l:th4 tDf5 23 llg4+ h8 l:tdl+ 32 h2 .d8 favours B lack) Black resigns
which it is not easy for Black to defend: 24 'i'd3 l:i}e7 the attack is parried) 30 ....g7 3 1 ltJf5 "f8 32 lOe7 "g7 would
(a) 19 .. :11>7 (this allows the enemy 22 ... h8 23 'i'h6 tDf5 (after 23 ...l:tg8 24 have enabled Black to hold the position. My first experience as a World Champion
queen to make a decisive invasion) 20 tDg5 ! l:txg5 2 5 l:txg5 or 23...ltJg6 24 :h4! 30 h2 ! ship Candidate had proved unsuccessful,
and in the 50th USSR Championship exd4 ttJge7 13 i.g2 0-0 also comes into 11 f3 0-0
Premier League I was in poor form . consideration, with roughly equal chances) Also after l l ...h6 1 2 d3 the black
I I ttJd4 0.bc6 12 ttJxe6 fxe6 13 g2 0-0 king cannot feel secure:
Game 22 1 4 0-0 0.g6 1 5 g5 e7 1 6 h 5 ! (best, (a) 12 . . . 'iiia 5 1 3 0.ge2 b5 14 0.c l ! 'WdS
Belyavsky-Geller otherwise after 1 6 xe7 'ikxe7 1 7 h5 0.h4 I S ltjb3 0-0 16 0.e2 as (Botvinnik
50th USSR Championship 1 8 i.h I llad8 1 9 f4 d4 White could find Spassky, Leiden 1 970), and here White
Moscow 1983 himself in a difficult position) 1 6 ... xg5 could have gained a decisive advantage by
Quee n ' s Gambit D3 1 1 7 hxg6 hxg6 1 8 f4 i.e7 19 ttJxd5, and 1 7 l'lc l a4 1 S 0.c5 0.xc5 1 9 dxc5 0.d7 20
here after the poor move 1 9 . . . exd5? 20 b I ! (Botvinnik);
1 d4 dS xd5+ h7 2 1 1H2! I came under a strong (b) 12 ... c5 13 ltjge2 llcS 14 fl 0-0 I S
2 c4 e6 attack, although in the end things turned g5! hxg5 1 6 i.xg5 l'lfeS 1 7 'iii'e I and after
3 0.c3 i.e7 out a l l right. After the better 1 9 ... g5! 20 transferring his queen to the kings ide
Th is bishop development, which was 0.xe7+ xe7 Black can hold the position. White developed an unpleasant initiative
fash ionable at that time (and also later), As for the pawn capture 8 . . . i.xh-t. it is 9 hS (Knaak-Geller, Moscow 1 982).
has the aim of avoiding the Carlsbad considered dangerous - after 9 tIIb3 ! Black White seizes space on the kingside; 12 i.d3 cS
Variation 3 . . . 0.f6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 g5 . has problems over the defence of his b Black's counterplay involves attacking the 13 0.ge2
4 cxdS exdS pawn: 9 . . . b6 (9 . . . .1c8 1 0 e4 is good for centre with . . . c6-c5.
5 i. f4 c6 White) 10 .!OO e7 I I i.xb8 ;:[xbS 12
6 e3 i. rs tlJe5 .:rc8 13 'iiia-t b5 14 '1!fxa7. At that time
7 g4 Botvinnik also 'gave his blessing' to I I
Th is pawn attack was first employed by ttJe5. and this was confirmed nearly a
Botvinnik in his match with Petrosian i n quarter of a century later in the game
1 963. Along with it, 7 ttJge2 .!Od7 8 tlJg3 Gulko-Lputian (Glendale 1 994), which
has often been played i n recent times. continued I I . . . ttJf6 12 g5 0.fd7 1 3 g6
7 i.e6 0.xe5 14 .lxe5 .lf6 1 5 J:xh7 0-0 16 g3
7 . . . i.g6 is sometimes chosen, but after fxg6 17 lh2 f7' I S 0-0-0 ':hS?!
8 h4 Black again has to worry about his ( 1 8 ...ttJd7! 19 e4 i.e7 followed by . . . 0.f6
bishop, as 8 . . . xh4 9 'b3 b6 1 0 0.0 e 7 is stronger, although here too White stands
I I 0.e5 is risky for h im, and after 8 . . . h5 9 better - Gulko) 1 9 l1xhs 'Wxh8 20 e4! '1th5
g5 i.d6 10 'ti'0 0.e7 I I 0.ge2 or 8 ... h6 9 21 lle l ! with a strong attack for WhIte. 13 l'lac8?!
0.0 (9 h5 is also good) 9 ... 0.d7 10 .1d3 As for Yefim Geller, he evidently took 9 'Wb6 An inaccuracy. I t was essential to halt
xd3 I I 'iiix d3 0.gf6 1 2 lIg I 'iiia 5 13 tlJd2 an optimistic view of Black's possibilities, . The 2 1 st game of the 1 9S5 Kasparov the g-pawn by 1 3 ... h6 14 fl <1Jh7, as now
0.f8 14 0 0.e6 15 e5 he is seriously and six months before our game he was Karpov match went 9 ... ttJh6 1 0 i.e2 0.b6 White could have played 14 g5 ltje8 ' 1 5
cramped (Knaak-Raicevic, Athens 1992). able to hold his own in a very sharp clash I I l'lc I i.d6?! (Kasparov considers 'Wc2 f5 1 6 gxf6 lZXixf6 1 7 d2!? with an
8 h4 with Vaiser (Sochi 1 982), which after 1 1 ... ttJc4 1 2 xc4 dxc4 1 3 xh6 gxh6 to attack on the kingside, for example:
Now many players make this move 8...xh4 9 'Wb3 g5 I 0 e5 f6 I I h2 be better) 1 2 ttJh3 i.xf4 1 3 ttJxf4 d7 1 4 1 7. . .c4 IS i.g6 hxg6 1 9. hxg6 .i.fS 20
(however, 8 h3 is also played), but it took i.xg4 12 'Wxb7 'We7! 13 'WxaS 'Wxe3+ 1 4 l'lg l ! g 5 (or 1 4 .. :i'h4 1 5 g 5 ttJf5 1 6 llg4! 'WxfS ltje4+ 21 fxe4 l'lxf5 22 exf5 with
Botvinnik himself seven years after his i.e2 i.xf2+ 1 5 fl i.h4 1 6 'Wxb8+ f7 'i'h l + 17 d2 with advantage to White) more than sufficient compensation for the
match with Petrosian before he first em 1 7 ttJd I xe2+ IS ttJxe2 ended in a draw. 1 5 hxg6 hxg6 16 d2! 'We7 1 7 b3 ! g5 I S queen.
ployed it i n his final tournament (Leiden 8 0.d7 ttJd3 (}..{)....Q 1 9 l'lh I f6 20 'Wg I ltjf7 2 1 14 fl
1 970) against the then World Champion A few years later I tried to uphold 'Wg3 'Wd6 22 'Wxd6 ttJxd6 23 f3 with an A familiar idea: for the moment the
Boris Spassky. By advancing his pawns on B lack's position using the new idea 8 ...cS. obvious advantage in the endgame, since rook is needed at h i .
the kingside, White as though warns the The game Flear-Belyavsky (Szirak Inter play against the weakened squares c5 and 14 cxd4
black king of the dangers that await it zonal 1 987) continued 9 dxc5 .i.xcs 1 0 f5 is possible. Now if 14 ... h6 White could have
there. ttJge2 0.e7 ( 1 0...ltjc6 I I It)d4 .i.xd4 12 10 l'lbl 0.gf6 attacked a la Knaak' - 1 5 g5 !

15 exd4 21 llJf6 2 5 'i'hS+ e 7 w i t h a great advantage to

Black's problem is that both his knights After 2 1 . . . tiJc7 22 tiJg3 .txg3 23 <bxg3 B lack.
are restricted (by the d4 and f3 pawns), and White will make use of the e5 square, e . g. 13 lld8
since the pawn structure is qu ite stable he 23..."i!fd7 24 lle2 b5 25 b3 tiJd6 26 f4 In the present game this move was
has no counterplay. A l l he can do is to try llceS 27 llhe I with strong pressure. employed for the first time. Before this
at the appropriate moment to cover the b 1 - 22 tiJg3 .txg3 13 ... f5 had been played.
h 7 diagonal by . . . fl-f5. I n the meantime, 23 llxe6 fxg4 14 'i'c2?
White w i l l try to develop an attack against 24 xg3 llJe4+ On encountering a surprise, M i les
the black king. 25 tiJxe4 llxf3+ c hooses one of the worst possible contin
15 d6 26 "i!fxf3 gxf3 uations, allowing Black to carry out a
16 "i!fd2 tiJe8 27 tiJg5 tiJd 6 pawn offensive in the centre. Of course, 1 4
17 g2 d8 I f 27 . . . h6 White wins by the same .td3?? i s not possible because o f 1 4 . . . f5 ,
18 llbel tiJb6 manoeuvre as in the gam e . trapping the queen. When I prepared
19 bl tiJc4 28 xh7+ f8 11 lld2 1 3 . . . 11dS I also considered the possibil ity
2G "i!fd3 CS?! 29 :tn For a period this move replaced the of 14 g4. In one of my oId notebooks there
Black resigns earlier I I tiJd2 (cf. game 1 6, Portisch is the following variation: 1 4 . . . llxd2 I S
Be lyavsky, Moscow 1 9 S I ), but the present tiJxd2 e5 1 6 .tg3 .t e6 1 7 .i.d3 g6 I S e2
Botv i nnik in his time, based mainly on his game demonstrated the equalising :tdS 19 'i'f3 ( i f 1 9 :td 1 f5 20 'i'g2 f4 2 1
own experience, asserted that the best possibilities available to B lack. exf4 .i.xg4+ 22 f3 tiJd4+ with a very
creative age of a chess player is from 32- 11 tiJe4! strong attack) 19 . . .'i'b6 20 b4 :ld4! 2 1 h 3
3 7. But in recent years chess has The idea of this move belongs to 'i' d S with a n overwhelming advantage.
undoubtedly become younger, so that at Murray Chandler. By sacrificing a pawn In the game Meduna-Velikov (Tmava
the indicated age it is almost time to retire. Black hopes to exploit the drawbacks of 1 9S4) White played 14 .te2, and after
In 1 9S4 I reached 3 0 and it was a good keeping the white king in the centre. 1 4 . . . e5 I S b4! 'i'xa3 1 6 :txd8+ tiJxdS 1 7
year for me. 12 tiJxe4 dxe4 0-0 'i'xb4 I S fue5 he obtained the better
13 'i'xe4 game. However, Black could have first
Game 2 3 played 1 4 . . . :lxd2 1 5 tiJxd2 and only then
Miles-Belyavsky 1 5 . . . e5 16 .i.g3 .i.e6 1 7 'i'c2 lldS, with
A n active response t o t h e line-up of Wijk an Zee 1 984 more than sufficient compensation for the
White's queen and bishop. However, this Queen's Gambit 037 pawn in view of White's d ifficulty in
move removes the support of the e6 freeing his king.
bishop, without parrying the threats on the 1 c4 e6 14 e5
b I -h7 diagonal. 20 . . . g6 was stronger, and 2 tiJc3 d5 15 .tg3
now the direct attack 2 1 hxg6 fxg6 22 3 d4 tiJf6 If 1 5 .i.g5 I had prepared 1 5 . . . f6 1 6
llxh7 is parried by the counter-sacrifice 4 tiJf3 .te7 .th4 e4 1 7 'i'xe4 .t f5 w ith decisive
22 . . . .tf5! 23 gxf5 7 24 fxg6+ g7, 5 .tf4 threats.
and if 2 5 llh I .txf4 26 llh7+ gS 2 7 6 e3 c5 15 e4
llhS+ g7, when Wh ite has t o b e satisfied 7 dxeS .txc5 16 'i'xe4 .tCS
with a draw by 2 S llh7+, as 2S llxf8? fai l s 8 'Wc2 tiJe6 17 'Wf4 1:txd2
to 2S . . . 'i'g5+. 9 a3 'i'a5 In my oId notes I discovered what I was 18 tiJxd2 lld8
21 c1! 10 lldl intending to p lay in reply to 1 3 tiJd4 - 19 e4 .tg4!
White is threatening 22 tiJg3 with a In recent times 10 ()-{}-{) has become 1 3 . . . e5 14 tiJxc6 bxc6 IS 'Wxe4 11d8 1 6 b4 Depriving the king of the e2 square.
discovered attack on the bishop at e6, and more usual (cf. Game 4S, Gelfand .i.xb4 1 7 axb4 'Wa l + I S e2 .i.g4+ 19 f3 Black threatens . . . .tg5, and 20 h4 is met
it is not easy for Black to protect Belyavsky, Linares 1 99 1 ). exf4 20 fxg4 1:txd2+ 2 1 d2 lldS+ 22 by the decisive 20 . . . .tb4.
simultaneously the bishop and the f5 pawn. 10 .te7 .i.dJ fxe3+ 23 e3 'Wxh l 24 'Wxh7+ f8 20 cS
The other main moves are 8 e2 and 8 (c) 16 . . . J::.c 8! 17 h7+ (here 1 7 c4 uncastled king comes under the fire of a l l
d3 . d xc4 1 8 J::. xd8 J::.exd8 19 ttJd2 can be the black pieces.
answered by 19 . . . bS) 1 7 . . .h8 1 8 fS 17 l:te6
ttJe6. Wh ite cannot prevent . . . xc3, when 1 7. . . l:te7 is more accurate.
he is forced to recapture with the pawn, 18 0-0 l:td6
and B lack gains excellent play by doubling 19 'i'e5 J::. d 7
rooks on the c-file (Belyavsky-Kramnik, 20 ttJd4 '-g5!
Belgrade 1 997). 21 '-xg5 bxg5
12 c5! 22 f3
13 dxc5 ttJd7 If 22 f4 I was intending 22 . . . gxf4 23
14 ttJxd5 J::.xf4 g6 24 h4 g7 with equal chances.
If 14 cxb6 I was planning to p l ay 22 g6
14 . . . ttJcS with the possible continuation I S 23 f2 JLb7
There is no other defence. Black ' s 'i'b4 JLe7 1 6 'i'd4 ttJe6 1 7 'i'd2 'i'xb6 1 8 24 ttJb5 l:te7
subsequent moves are also spectacular, but bS !red8 1 9 (}...() d4 20 ttJxd4 ttJxd4 2 1 25 e4 ..t>g7
obvious enough. 8 b7 exd4 JL f6, regaining the d4 pawn and 26 J::. b l J::. b 8
20 ttJ b4 ! 9 x f6 xf6 obtaining sufficient compensation for 27 ttJxa7? !
21 o gS! 10 cx d 5 exd5 White's slight material advantage. This pawn exchange i s unfavourable for
22 axb-t 'i'al+ 11 l:1d l ne8 14 ttJxc5 White, as the opening of the a-file gives
23 e2 gxf4 12 a3 15 'i'a2 him problems over the defence of his aJ
24 xf4 e6 For a time this move of Korchnoi re pawn. After 27 ttJd6 c6 28 JL b 5 the
25 eS Wcl placed the main continuation 1 2 d3 c5 1 3 game is level.
26 c3 g5 dxc5 ttJd7 1 4 c6 (after 1 4 cxb6 ttJcS I S 27 xe4
White resigns 'i'c2 'i'xb6 Black threatens . . . d5-d4, and 28 ttJbS f5
1 6 (}...() al lows 1 6 . . . JLxc3 1 7 'i'xc3 ttJxd3
The following game proved highly 1 8 ':xd3 a6) I Lxc6 1 5 ttJc5 1 6
important for my team i n the European 'i'c2. More recently [ have had experience
Champions Cup of 1 984. of this position for both sides:
(a) 1 6...b7?! 1 7 JLc4! dxc4 1 8 llxd8
Game 24 J::.axd8 19 ttJd2 a6 20 ttJce4 ttJxe4 2 1
Psakhis-Belyavsky ttJxe4 xb2 22 'i'xb2 J::.xe4 2 3 'i'aJ JLb5
European Champions Team Cup 24 'i'xa7 c3 25 'i'xb6 J::.d 5 26 'Wb7 with a '
Moscow 1984 clear advantage to White (Lautier-Bel
Queen's Gambit D58 yavsky, Dortmund 1 995); 15 .i.xb2!
(b) 16 . . ..e7 17 b5 xb5 1 8 ttJxb5 16 .xb2
d4 ttJf6 J::.e d8 1 9 ttJbd4 ttJe6 20 'Wb3 J::. a c8 21 J::.d2 White cannot exploit the resulting pin
2 ttJO d5 J::.c 4! 22 'i'd l ttJxd4 23 ttJxd4 .i.xd4 24 on the d-file. 16 .i.c4?! would be met by
, .3 ' c4 e6 J::.xd4 Xhd4 25 .xd4 'i'e4 26 l:tc l .xd4 1 6 . . . b5!, and if 17 .i.xb5? .a5+. 29 h3?
4 ttJcJ e7 27 exd4 J::.e8 28 f1 J::.e4 29 l:tc8+ h7 3 0 16 .i.xd5 Now the initiative definitely passes to
5 g5 0-0 J::.c7 a5 3 1 J::.xf7 l1xd4 3 2 >e2 l:tb4 3 3 b3 17 .i.e2 Black. It was essential to activate the
6 e3 b6 a 4 3 4 J::. O axb3 3 5 axb3 g5 3 6 h3 g 6 3 7 Black also has no problems after 1 7 rooks: 29 l:td6 g4 30 l:thd l ! (weaker is 3 0
7 b4 b6 d2 d4 38 c2 J::.b S 3 9 g4 h 5 4 0 d2 .i.b5 l:te6 1 8 l:td6 1 9 .e5 ttJe4 ttJc3 g3+! 3 1 g3 l:te3 3 2 l:tc I llJb3 3 3
8 .-b3 hxg4 4 1 hxg4 g7 42 e2 l:tb4 and a followed by 20 . . . b7. f2 l:the8 with advantage to Black)
A popular continuation in the Tartak draw was agreed (Kir.Georgiev-Belyav 1 7 .i.c4? would be a blunder, as after 30. . . l:txh2 3 1 ttJd4, although here too
ower-Makogonov-Bondarevsky Variat ion . sky, Belgrade 1 997); 1 7 . . . .i.xc4 1 8 l:txd8 l:taxd8 White's Black's position is somewhat preferable.
29 na8 given to me. But it was not only this that After 6 b3 ltJc6 the main continuation 7 bS d7
30 nd6 l%as was unexpected. Also unexpected was the for White is 7 It:le2 fS 8 ltJbc3 e6 9 aJ, 8 ltJf3 e6
31 c4 need to move the pieces with my right preventing . . . ltJb4. Here for a certain time
I f 3 1 nxb6 there would have followed hand, since my ' working' left hand, after Black used to play 9 ... e7 10 ().....() 'i'd7,
3 1 . . . nxe2+ 32 e2 d3+ 33 c;t>f2 xb 5 . an unfortunate game of football, ended up the best known game being Kamsky
31 e6 in plaster. Possibly out of sympathy for the Magem Badals (Madrid 1 994): 1 1 a2
32 e2 ' invalid', my first five opponents lost to ()..-Q.-{) 1 2 e3 f6 1 3 exf6 xf6 14 'i'e l
After 32 xe6 ::Ixb5 33 c4 llb2+ 3 4 me. My team col leagues did not need any ltJxd4 1 5 ltJxd4 xd4 1 6 xd4 'i'xd4 1 7
c;t>g3 lle3 the black rooks break through such 'stimulus', and in the end our result xe6+ xe6 1 8 'i'xe6+ 'i'd7 1 9 'i'b3 a6
with decisive effect into the enemy rear exceeded all expectations: the USSR team 20 l:tac I llhe8 with double-edged play. In
(3 5 . . . ltJe4+ is threatened). finished ahead of its nearest rivals by four 1 997 at SI. Petersburg, Korchnoi improved
32 d7 whole points. Black's play in his game with Epishin:
33 ltJd4 !ha3 Our main rivals in those years - the 9 ... 'i'd7!? 1 0 ().....() Q-...{)....{) I I e3 f6 12 exf6
34 nxb6 !la 2 Hungarian team - were defeated in the gxf6 1 3 ne I (l did not know this game,
35 nd6 third round by 40 . and in the European Team Championship
No better was 3 5 .l::r h b 1 :'d2 36 :d6 at Pula 1 997 I played against Korchnoi 1 3 9 ().....() ltJe7
!lexe2+. Game 2 5 ltJa4 h 5 1 4 nc l h4 1 5 ltJc5 xc5 1 6 ::Ixc5 I f 9 . . . ltJb4 there can follow 1 0 e2
35 b5 BelyavskJ'-Portisch c;t>b8 17 c2 ltJe7 1 8 ltJf4 ::Ihg8, when e 7 I I aJ li:l4dS 1 2 ltJe4 c6 1 3 'i'c2 h6
36 nd S Thessaloniki Olympiad 198-1 Black developed an unpleasant initiative) 1 4 d3 a6 1 5 It:lc5 xc5 1 6 dxc5 ltJd7 1 7
Queen 's Gambit Accepted 020 13 ... 4.Ja5 14 f4?! e5 ! I S e3 hS 1 6 %:.c l :'eI CDe7 1 8 e4 with a cramped position
ltJbc4 with some advantage to Black. for Black (Gavrikov-Lukas, Biel 1 995).
1 d4 d5 6 d3 It:lc6 7 e3 may be more 10 d3 c6
2 c4 d xc4 promising: 11 tOgS ! ?
3 e4 ltJf6 (a) 7 ... ltJb4 8 e4 c6 9 ltJc3, when the With the threat of a n attack b y 'i'h5,
At that time 3 ... eS was more often game Belyavsky-Yakovich (Sochi 1 986) White transfers his knight to e4, at the
played, but Portisch gives preference to continued 9 . . . e6 10 ltJge2 li:l4dS II ().....() same time provoking a weakening of
this move, of which he had made a close 'i'd7 1 2 ltJg3?! f 5 ! 1 3 exf6 exf6 1 4 lle l Black's kingside. However, accurate play
study. 0-0-0 I S d2 ltJc4 with very unclear is also required of B lack after II aJ. For
4 eS ltJdS play, but 12 ltJc I !? came into consider example, in the game Razuvaev-Fominykh
5 xc4 ltJc6 ation, with the idea of ltJd3-cS ; (Stacy Smokovec 1 990) after the unfor
Nowadays 5 ... ltJb6, which restricts (b) 7...e6 8 ltJc3 'i'd7 9 ltJf3 Q-...{)....{) is tunate flank manoeuvre I I . . . ltJg6 1 2 e3
White's possibilities, is more often played: the plan usually carried out nowadays. For e7 13 :tc l ltJh4?! 1 4 It:lxh4 xh4 I S
36 ltJb3 ! example, the game Kir.Georgiev-Green 'i'g4 g6 1 6 h6 e7 1 7 %:.fd l 'i'd7 1 8
Now 37 g3 is the only way for White feld (Burgas 1 994) continued 10 ().....() g4 'i'f4 f8 1 9 'i'f6 B lack ended up in a
to escape from the pin, but then follows the I I h3 h5 1 2 aJ (Greenfeld recommends difficult situation.
forcing variation 3 7 . . . ltJxd4 3 8 xb5 12 e6!? 'i'xe6 1 3 ltJg5 xd l 1 4 ltJxe6 fxe6 11 b6
ltJf5+ 3 9 h2 ltJh4 40 f 1 l:te I 1 5 1:taxd l with compensation for the pawn) Black cannot play 1 1 ... 'i'xd4? because
(threatening . . . l:taa l ) 4 1 g3 l:txf l 42 12 ... e6 1 3 1k l b8 14 b4 f5! 1 5 exf6 gxf6 of 1 2 ltJxf7! ( l 2 . . . xf7 1 3 g6+).
l:txf l :'xg2 mate. White resigns. 16 ltJe4? 'i'g7 and B lack gained the 12 'i'bS g6?
advantage. Stronger, as shown by Green After stopping for a second beside our
In November 1 984 Anatoly Karpov and feld, was 1 6 b5 ltJxd4 1 7 xd4 'i'xd4 1 8 board, Rafael Vaganian later quite
Garry Kasparov were sti l l engaged in thei r ltJxd4 xd I 1 9 ltJxe6 l:txd3 20 l:tfxd I reasonably remarked: ' I don't understand
World Championship Match i n Moscow, l:txd 1+ 2 1 llxd I xa3 22 ltJe4, although how Black could have failed to sacrifice
and therefore the role of leading the USSR here too White faces a battle for a draw. the exchange by 1 2 ... hxg5 1 3 'i'xh8
Team at the Olympiad in Thessaloniki was 6 ltJc3 ltJb6 'i'xd4' .
21 '1Ir'h4 f6 35 li)cs lle7 session, in order to find a way to realise

22 xh6 xh6 36 li)b3 White's advantage.
23 'i'xh6 'tt'g7 In time trouble I should not have forced 41 c6
B lack practically forces th e exchange of matters. After 36 a3 and the preparation of 42 g3 lla8
queens (if 24 '1Ir'h3 fxe5 25 dxe5 Ilxd 1 + 26 the g-pawn's advance it wo u l d have been No better is 42 . . . 11h8 43 h4 lla8 44
Ilxd I 'tt'xe5 27 'tt'h 6 'tt' f6 with equal more difficult for Black to defend. lDxb3 llb8 45 lDc5 llxb2 46 lDd7 and 48
chances) but, as I am a pawn up, I am quite 36 a4 lDf6, evicting the bishop from its best base
happy with this. 37 li)d4 b4 at d5.
24 '1Ir'xg7+ 'it>xg7 38 li)c6 43 lDxb3 llal
25 f3 Ilf7 Here too 38 a3 was stronger, and after 44 lDd4 llxb2
26 lDe2 fxeS 38 . . . b3 39 lIc ! ! xg2 40 lDb5 White 45 llc2 llb6
Black has to stabil ise the pawn breaks through to the queenside weak 46 h3 lla6
structure, as if 26 . JUd7?! 27 lDf4 cj;f7
. nesses: 40 . . . c6 41 li)d6+ f8 42 Ilc4 lla7 47 llc3 lla2
13 lDge4! g7 White forces a favourable rook ending 43 lIb4 c5 44 llb8+ g7 45 llc8. But, After 47 . . . g2 48 lDf3 ! Black cannot
If 1 3 . '1Ifxd4 Black has to reckon with
. . with 28 d5 ! , when he breaks through to the understandably, it is not easy to decide on go into the rook ending.
14 lDf6+ Wd8 1 5 ..-e2, with the terrible c7 pawn: 28 . . . ..txd5 29 :xd 5 ! J:xd5 30 such manoeuvres in time trouble. 48 lD f3 ! llg2
threat of 1 6 .:.!d I . lLlxd5. 38 b3 After 48 ... c5 White wins with 49 lDg5+
14 'tt' g4 lDrs 27 dxe5 !Hd7 39 axb3 axb3 followed by 50 llxc5.
15 e3 lDd5 28 llxd7+ Ihd7 40 lIc3 lle8 49 lDg5+ e7
16 lDxd5 'tt' x d5 29 lle2 'it>f7 50 d4 lld2+
17 lDc3 '1Ir'd7 51 eS llal
After 1 7 ... '1Ir'a5 1 8 aJ with the threat o r 52 h4 lla5+
b2-b4 the queen is unable to find an y peace . 53 b6 llal
18 llfd l lld8
19 llac1
Later, instead of this pawn sacrifice,
Portisch suggested the solid 19. . '1Ir'e7 .
followed by .. J:d7 and .. :ilfd8.
41 lOd4?!
Black is practically obliged to observe This untimely haste was to force my
passively the development of events, as opponent to make the sealed move. After
after 29 ...lld l + 30 f2 and e3 with the 4 1 lDb4! the game might well not have
threat of lDd4 the rook is forced to return.' been resumed, but at this point our team 54 lDh7!
30 f2 lld5 was leading 3-, and it appeared that the After the knight reaches f6, from where
31 f4 lld7 ' fork' of the c7 and b3 pawns would it both supports the passed h-pawn and
32 lDc3 as complete the 'whitewash' of the Hungarian attacks the bishop, it becomes clear that the
33 e3 b5?! team. However, in analysis it transpired end is near.
20 ..txfS! gxfS 33 ... b6 is sounder, when I was that 4 1 . . .c6 is possible, when 42 lOxc6 fails 54 llbl+
After 20 .. exf5 2 1 -.n3 Black would
. intending to play 34 g3 followed by lDe2- to 42 . . lle8 43 4 llxc3+ 44 bxc3 b2. A
. 55 c7 llb5
have to reckon with the threat of d4-d5 d4. fair amount of work had to be done in the No better is 55 ... c5 56 llxc5 llb7+ 57
(e.g. 2 1 . g5 22 d5 !).
. . 34 lDa4! ..td5 two-hour break before the adjournment c8 llb3 58 lDf6 llxg3 59 llc7+ f8 60
h 5 J:rh3 6 1 tOxdS exdS 62 d8, when the present game. Even so, it takes too much 15 'i'b5 20 'Wg4 'Wa5+
advance of the e-pawn is decisive. time, although subsequently the advance of Winning another pawn by 15 'Wxf7? d4 21 ..t>f2 CUde3
56 tOf6 c5 the h-pawn was used as an end in itself. 16 ttd3 tth8 involved the risk of losing the 22 'W b3 'Wd5!
57 tOxd 5+ exd5 The main continuation here is 12 'i'd3 . queen.
58 Wc6 d4 12 d7 15 d4
59 l:.a3 13 tth3 A normal idea i n this variation: Black is
Black resigns Th is direct way of e l iminating the c3 cramped, and the d5 square i s vacated for
pawn suffers a fiasco. The old-fashioned his pieces.
With everything turning out well for me at 1 3 '1!t'd3 CUfS 1 4 lIb l is stronger. Here are 16 ttd3
the Olympiad, there was no reason not to some exam ples: If 16 nh3 I was intending 1 6 . . . d3 ! ? 1 7
throw caution to the winds in a double (a) 14 . . 0-0-0 15 hS d4 1 6 l':t g l CUh6')!
. ttxd3 tOcd4! 1 8 tOxd4 CUxd4 with an
edged variation of the french Defence. ( 1 6 . . . f6 ! ? comes into consideration) 1 7 attack.
CUxd4 CUxd4 1 8 'i'xd4 b6 1 9 :::t b 3 Jlg3 20 16 CUce7
Game 26 d3 tOf5 21 W'b4 b8 22 !rxc3 c6 23 17 .ib2
Lj uboj evic-Belyavsky 'tfc4 :::t c S 24 'i'xc6 'i'xc6 2 5 llxc6 :lxc6 White should have considered 17 .id2,
Thessaloniki Olympiad 1 98-1 26 f2 Jlg8? ! 27 g4 and the white pawns maintaining control o f e3, which is where
French Dc!fence C 1 8 began to advance (Djurhuus-lohannessen, the knight is aiming for. After the direct Now, after the inevitable invasion of
Norwegian Championship 1 996). 26 . . . :::t g4 1 7 . . . b5 possible was 1 8 'i'xf7 ng6 1 9 the queen, the fate of the white king will be
e4 e6 27 :::t h I ttcB was stronger, with only a .ib4 .ixd3 2 0 cxd3 with compensation for sealed.
2 d4 d5 slight advantage to White; the exchange, but Black could have 23 tOxd4 tOxd4
3 tOc3 b4 (b) 14 ... CUa5 1 5 h5 0--0-0 1 6 :g l 4Jc4 increased his initiative by 1 7 . . . tthS 1 8 'i'fJ Now White has several possi bilities,
4 e5 c5 1 7 g4 'i'c5 1 8 'i'xc3 a5 with chances for .ic6 19 'i'f2 .ie4. but none is satisfactory:
5 a3 xc3+ both sides ( Djurhuus-Antonsen, Torshavn (a) 24 nxd4 'tftJ+ 25 We I CUg4!
6 bxc3 CUe7 1 996). threatening mate;
7 W'g4 W'c7 13 (b) 24 .1xd4 'i'tJ+ 25 We I (or 25 g l
8 W'xg7 ttg8 ttxd4 26 ttxd4 Jlg8) 25 ... llxd4! 26 ttxd4
9 W'xb7 cxd4 CUg4! with a mating attack;
10 tOe2 CU bc6 (c) 24 llxe3 CUfS 25 lld3 W'cS+ 26 e l
11 f4 dxc3 (or 26 ..t>e2 llxd3 27 cxd3 'We3+)
26 . . . 11xd3 27 cxd3 'We3+ 28 ..t> d l 'Wf2 29
e2 lld8 with a decisive attack.
There only remains the continuation i n
the game . . .
24 ..t>xe3
25 ..t>d2
17 tOd5! 26 ..t>c3
18 ncl The dS square is like a transit base for
18 .1xd4? leads to the exchange o f this the black pieces.
14 ttxc3? bishop after 1 8 . . . CUxf4 ! 1 9 lOld"4 lOxd4, 27 ttxd4 l:txd4
Now the white queen is cut off from the which exposes the dark squares in White's A fter the capture with the queen, the
centre of events. It was not yet too late to position. But it is already hard to offer him king would have hidden at a2. But now 2 8
return with 14 Wd3, although the time good advice: 18 Wo .1c6 19 Wf2 lOde3 ..t>b3 i s met b y 2 8 . . . Jld2 (preventing ..t>a2
12 b4 wasted on the rook manoeuvre is very allows Black to begin a decisive invasion. and threatening ...id5+) 29 .ic4 b5 30
.
This idea of attacking the c3 pawn with significant. 18 .ic6 .id3 .id5+ 3 1 ..t>b4 ..t>b7 32 .ixb5 ..t>b6 33
the king's rook was first tried in the 14 19 g3 nb8 ..t>a4 Wc5 34 Wf1 a6 and wins.
28 d3 .ll h d8 Game 27 0-0 llJc6 the chances are equal This was prepared beforehand. The idea
29 hS .!l8dS Belyavsky-DIugy (Tukmakov-Miles, BieI I 995). of the move is to mobilise the kingside as
Interzonal Tournament 9 e3 is stronger: quickly as possible. 1 0 g3 is quite
Tunis 1985 (a) 9...e7? 10 lUd2 axb5 1 1 .!lxa8 effectively met by 10 . . . 'i'd5 11 i.g2
Queen's Gambit Accepted D24 lUxa8 12 lUxb5 and Wh ite gains the '1!fxe6+.
advantage (Chemin-Miles, Biel 1 995); 10 'ilidS
d4 dS (b) 9 . . . b4 10 lUd2 axb 5 I I l:Xxa8 11 'i'xe6
2 c4 dxc4 lUxa8 12 '1!fg4 ( insufficient is 1 2 lUxc4
3 lUn lU f6 xc3+ 1 3 bxc3 bxc4 14 '1!fa4+ lUd7! 1 5
4 lUc3 a6 '1!fxa8 llJb6 - Kramnik) 1 2 . . <,P fS 1 3 lUxb5
.
5 e4 bS lUb6 1 4 lUc3 lUc6 (Kramniks's suggestion

6 eS tiJdS of I4 ... h5 ! ? is i nte rest i n g : 1 5 '1!fe4 d7 1 6
7 a4 lUxc4 c6 1 7 '1!fc2 llJxc4 1 8 xc4 xg2
1 9 .!lg i d5) 1 5 e2 h5 1 6 'i!fe4 b7 1 7
0-0 g6 1 8 fJ g7 1 9 '1!ff4 e7 2 0 .!ld l
Threatening 30 . . . :xd3+. It is interest a8 2 1 d 5 ! with an en du rin g advantage for
ing that, after its journey into black terri Wh ite, since it is not easy for Black to
tory, the powerfu l white queen is unable to bring his rook at h8 into play (Kram nik
come to the aid of its own king: 30 '1!fn Korchnoi, Budapest 1 996).
=txd3+ 3 1 cxd3 =tc5+ 3 2 b 3 :b5+. 8 bx c3 b7
30 a4 .Ilc5+ This allows eS-e6, freezing Black's 12 .!leI
31 <,Pb3 dS+ k ingside. More subtle is 8 . . .'i!fd5 9 g3, and At the cost of two pawns \Vh ite has
32 <,Pa3 .Ilxd3+ now: gained a significant lead in development
33 cxd3 llxcl (a) 9 ... e6 10 g2 '1!fb7 I I 0-0 d5, and detained the black king in the centre,
White resigns when White carries out the thematic 12 e6! wh ich for 1 9th century romantics would be
xe6 13 llJg5 dS 1 4 xdS '1!fxdS 1 5 sufficient to capture it. However, even with
I n 1 98 5 I had to break my trad ition of This position seems simi lar to that in axb5 axbS 1 6 :Ixa8 '1!fxa8 1 7 dS, with the modem improvement in defensive
participating i n USSR C h ampionships. The the Slav Gambit reached after I d4 dS 2 c4 compensation for the sacrificed pawns; technique, such positions are not easy to
52nd Championship was also a World c6 3 lUfJ lUf6 4 llJc3 dxc4 5 e4 b5 6 eS (b) 9...b7 10 g2 'i'd7 I I e6 'i'xe6+ defend. For the moment 1 3 lUgS fxgS 1 4
Championship Zonal Tournament, and lUdS 7 a4. However, there is an important 12 e3 'i'c8 13 dS lUd7 1 4 0-0 lUf6 1 5 .i.hS+ i s threatened.
therefore it would not have been ri gh t to d i fference. In the Slav Gambit B lack can lUeS e6 1 6 dxe6 fxe6 1 7 g5 d6 1 8 12 'i'd7
'influence the battle for the qualifying reply 7 ... e6 8 axbS lUxc3 9 bxc3 cxbS 1 0 xf6 O-O ! and Black held the position 1 2. ..'i'dS?! 1 3 lUh4 with the threat of
places. At the Interzonal stage I took part tLJgS b7, whereas here 7 . . . e6 involves a (Belyavsky-Illescas, Linares 1 995). .i.fJ is unpleasant for Black.
i n the one in Tunis, where the entire pawn sacrifice. And i f . . . b 7 is then 9 e6 f6 13 liJh4
tournament was spent in rivalry with Artur played, this bishop no longer controls the .
The capture 9 .. fxe6 is considered risky, 1 3 liJd2 came into consideration,
Yusupov. Unfortunately, last rounds have e6 square, and White can exploit this by and perhaps for this reason it occurs very aiming for the e4 square.
not always turned out well for me - it is the pawn sacrifice eS-e6, with the idea' of rarely. For example, the game Bronstein 13 g6
too difficult to win 'to order' with B l ack, ' freezing' Black's kingside development. Chikovani (USSR 1 967) continued 1 0 14 g4 f5
and on this occasion I lost my sense o f 7 fuc3 lUgS 'i'dS I I 'i'g4 'i'fS 1 2 'i'g3 e S 1 3 Is .i.n lUc6
measure and was defeated b y Morovic, In recent times Black has often given 'i'xeS 'i'xe5+ 1 4 dxeS lUd7 I S lUe6 .!lc8 16 .i.gS h6? !
which left me in second place. u p retaining his extra pawn, using Miles's 16 axb5 axbS 17 lla7 with the initiative for It is not easy to withstand the pressure
At the Candidates Tournament i n prescription of 7 . ..e 6 8 axbS liJb6, clearing White. of the pieces impending over the kingside,
Montpellier I was off form, and in the end the situation on the queens ide. Now in the 1 0 .i.e2 'i'dS I I lUg5 'i'xg2 12 llfl IS but after the more solid 1 6 . f7 I would
. .
I finished half a point short of qual ifying event of 9 gS i.e7 1 0 .i.xe7 "'xe7 I I also interesting. also have attacked as in the game - 1 7 d5
for the next stage. bxa6 llxa6 1 2 l:txa6 i.xa6 1 3 i.e2 (}....O 1 4 10 e2! lUd8 1 8 l:ta2. For example: 1 8 . . . h6 19 i.f4
g7 (or 1 9 . . . g5 20 e5 J:th7 2 1 <tJxf5 ! In the Spring of 1 986 I played badly in the gain in strength i f the white queen moves 10 0--0--{)
'i'xf5 22 g4 'i'd3 23 J:td2 'i'g6 24 h5 53 rd USSR Championship in Kiev, but on away from there, as occurs in the game. There is no way back: 1 0 'i'd2? ttJb3.
winning the queen) 20 hS! gxh5 2 1 the other hand at the end of the year I Before this game S ... h6 6 xf6 xf6 7 e4 10 bS!
'i'xh5+ <t>g8 22 <tJxf5 and White wins managed to win for the second time i n had been played, when 7 . . c5 is again
. With this pawn sacrifice Black seizes
quickly. Tilburg. Between these main tournaments I good, with double-edged play. the initiative.
played wel l at the Chigorin Memorial 6 dxcS 11 ttJgS?!
Tournament in Sochi, where I shared 1 st- I spent more time looking at 6 d 5 , I was expecting I I cxb5 a6 1 2 b6 'lWxb6
3rd places and won for the first time which would have led to complicated play. 1 3 f3 Ub8 1 4 'lWd2 ( \ 4 Ud2 is also good)
against the 7th Champion of the World. For example, Anastasian-Vasyukov (Novi 1 4 . 0-0 I S e3 with roughly equal chances.
. .
Sad 1 988) continued 6 . . . d6 7 h4! ttJbd7 8 11 b7

Game 28 ttJh3 ttJe5 9 e3 ttJe4 1 0 ttJxe4 fxe4 I I f4 Developing and preparing an escape
Smyslov-Belyavsky 'lWb6 12 ':c l as 1 3 e2 'i'b4 with double route for the king. White's idea would
Chigorin Memorial Tournament edged play. The more modest 6 ttJf3 cxd4 have been justified only after 1 1 ... b4 1 2
Sochi 1986 7 ttJxd4 ttJc6 8 e3 is also possible. 'lWg7 :tf8 1 3 ttJd5 ttJxd5 1 4 ttJxh7 ttJe6 I S
Dutch Defence A85 6 tUa6 'i'xg6+.
6 .. .'i'a5 is not possible in view of 7 12 'i'g7
d4 fS xf6 ! xf6 8 ttJd5 'i'xd2+ 9 c;t>xd2, and if White ' implements' his idea, but also
2 c4 ttJf6 9 . . . xb2 10 ':b l e5 I I ttJf3. after 12 cxb5 the play would have gone in
17 dS <tJeS 3 <tJc3 7 b6 my favou r : 12 . . . ttJce4 13 ttJcxe4 xe4 1 4
If 1 7 .. . hxg5 there follows 1 8 ttJxg6 :h6 The classical continuation here is 3 7 ttJh3 ! ? ttJxc5 8 f3 0-0 9 e3 d6 1 0 e2 ttJxe4 ttJxe4 etc.
(if 1 8 ...<tJd8 White wins by 19 ttJe5 'lWd6 ttJf3, but Smyslov has a different plan. came into consideration. 12 ': 1'8
20 h5+) 19 dxc6 ''i' xd l 20 cxb7! 'i"xe l + 3 g6 7 xh6
2 1 :'xe I :b8 (2 1 ...:td8 22 ':d I ) 22 axb5 4 i gS g7 After 7 . .. 0-0 8 xg7 xg7 9 h4 Black
axb5 (22 . . . :xg6 fails to 23 ic6+! :'xc6 24 5 'i'd2 comes under an attack.
bxc6 g7 25 :ta l xc3 26 :xa6, or here 8 'i'xb6 ttJxcS
25 .. Jld8 26 g3 xc3 2 7 ':xa6 ':d l + 2 8 9 ttJh3?!
<,Pg2 :I b I 29 J:ra8+ 'itf7 30 b8'lW ':xb8 3 I The winning of the h7 pawn requires
Uxb8 and White's material advantage too m uc h time, which B lack promptly
should eventually tell) 23 :ta I :lxb7 24 exploits. 9 f3 'i'aS 10 0-0--{) looks more
':a8+ c;t>f7 25 ttJe5+ and White wins. logical, and if 1 0 . . . b5 I I cxb5 a6 1 2 e4!
18 ':xeS hxgS with double-edged play.
19 ttJxg6 'lWd6?! 9 'i'aS
19 . . ..:.h6 20 <tJxf8 (20 h5 O-O--{)
20 ... c;t>xf8 is a tougher defence, although
here too after 2 1 'lWd2 White has a strong 13 tDxh7?
attack. Now White falls hopelessly behind in
20 <tJxb8 'i'xeS development and B l ack does not need to
21 d6! 5 cS! castle. After the attempt to get at the king
Not only attacking the bishop, but also White is clearly planning to castle by \3 e4 b4 14 e5 bxc3 I S exf6 :txf6 1 6
threatening mate (2 1 ... xf3 22 d7+ d8 queenside and to exchange the dark-square ttJxh7 it would have sl ipped away with
23 tUf7 mate). Black no longer has any b ishops, and after the routine S . . . O-O 6 16 . . ()....{}-{) ! ( 1 7 ttJxf6 'i'xa2). White
.
defence. h6 d6 7 ttJf3 c6 8 h4 h is attack can should have decided on 1 3 ttJxbS :c8 (but
21 ':d8 become very dangerous. Therefore Black not 1 3 ... 'i'xa2?? 1 4 ttJc7+ d 8 I S llJce6+),
22 h5+ forestal ls him by beginning a counterattack although Black still has the in itiative.
Black resigns on the queenside. which will particularly 13 ttJxh7
14 ..wxh7 b4 match in Copenhagen in the summer of 8 c3 U-{) ttJe6 20 h4 White's position is nevertheless
Paying no attention to 1 5 'ii'xg6+. 1 997 was no accident and not an isolated 9 h3 lle8 better;
15 ttJd5 .1xd5 phenomenon: it is sufficient to recall his 10 d4 .1 b7 (b) I S ttJ n d5 1 6 .1g5 dxe4 1 7 ltxe4
16 Ihd5 d6 success at the recent Keres Memorial in 11 ttJbd2 .1f8 .1e7 1 8 lIe2 exd4 1 9 ttJxd4 f8 20 lId2
17 bl b3 Tallinn. It would appear that he has already 12 .1e2 ttJb8 ..wc7 2 1 .1f5 c5 22 ttJO ttJe5 23 ttJxe5
18 axb3 llb8 surpassed the great Emanuel Lasker. The Breyer Variation served me lIxe5 24 ttJe3 and White retains the
White's bishop and king's rook have no This chess longevity is explained by a faithfully right up to the 1 990s, when in initiative (Anand-Belyavsky, Linares
way of coming into the game. special disposition, which has always been competitive interests I had to switch to the 1 992).
19 ..wxg6+ d7 inherent in Smyslov, or at least as long as Archangelsk Variation. 13 ttJbd7
20 ltx fS 1It'e1+ we have been acquainted. Smyslov never 13 b3 14 d5
21 c2 ttJxb3 hurries, because together with Ecclesiastes The alternative plan 1 4 .1b2 g6 I S a4
he realised long ago that 'All is vanity and .1g7 1 6 .1d3 c6 1 7 ..wc2 lIc8 leads to no
vexation of spirit'. I have heard this phrase less complicated play (Korchnoi-Portisch,
come from his lips many times, only not i n Belgrade 1 970).
a pessimistic interpretation, b u t in the fully 14 c6
optimistic sense that one should not worry 15 c4 ..we7
regarding temporary misfortunes and con B lack can also consider 1 5 . . . a5 1 6 a4
flicts. One should calmly go about one's bxc4 1 7 bxc4 ttJc5 1 8 ttJb 1 .1 a6 1 9 ttJaJ
business, wholly trusting to Providence, ..wc7 20 .1d2 lIeb8 when he has a good
the work of which we are not capable of game (Sigurjonsson-Ornstein, Reykjavik
understanding, let alone of changing any 1 984).
thing in its predestination. Life is a price 16 ttJn
less gift, which should be used joyfully, If 1 6 a4 there can follow 16 . . . bxc4 1 7
carefully, and with love for him who gran The classic ' Spanish' plan, involving bxc4 lIec8 1 8 1Ia2 a5 1 9 ttJb3 .1a6 20
W hite resigns ted it. This is how the 7th World Cham manoeuvring the knight to g3 , is con <iJfd2 <iJb6 21 ttJxa5 cxd5 22 cxd5 <iJbxd5
pion feels, how he lives and how he wins. sidered later, in the game with Sm irin with double-edged play (Kr.Georgiev-Van
Of course, a victory over Smyslov (No.4 I ) . The continuation chosen here, der Sterren, Plovdiv 1 983).
would have been more meritorious in To engage in a discussion on the Ruy preparing pressure against Black's queen 16 lIee8
1 954, but at that time I had other interests, Lopez with Yefim Gel ler, one of the side, is also fairly unpleasant. 17 ttJe3 cxd5?!
as I had not yet celebrated my first greatest specialists on the opening, was In passing I should mention that An unsuccessful innovation, to which
birthday. I have managed to win only this equivalent to crossing a m ine-field. perhaps the most difficult problems I had Geller, a profound expert on Spanish
one game against him, although I have had to face in the Breyer Variation were after structures, finds the correct solution. B lack
numerous promising positions. Resource Game 29 1 3 a4 <iJbd7 14 .1d3. For example, after is unable to exploit the c-file. A few years
fulness in the defence of difficult positions Geller-BeJyavsky the committing 1 4 ... b4 1 5 as d5 1 6 exd5 later against Ljubojevic (Reykjavik 1 99 1 ) I
- this is the feature of Smyslov's play that Chigorin Memorial Tournament exd4 1 7 Le8 1i'xe8 1 8 c4 ttJcs 19 ttJb3 chose 1 7 ... g6 and after 1 8 liJh2! hS?! 1 9
time has not affected. Sochi 1 986 <iJxb3 20 1i'xb3 c6 2 1 .1g5 cxd5 22 .1xf6 ttJh n a 5 20 d2 .1g7 2 1 lIc I bxc4 22
My meetings at the chess board with Ruy Lopez C95 dxc4 23 .1xc4 gxf6 24 ttJxd4 White ob bxc4 <iJcs 23 'i'o 'i'd8 24 <iJg3 I also
Smyslov began when his best years were tains the better pawn structure (Khalifman ended up in a difficult s ituation. 18 ... bxc4
already long past. It was nearly 25 years e4 e5 Belyavsky, 5 7th USSR Championship, 1 9 bxc4 cxdS 20 cxdS as 2 1 .1d2 .1a6 22
since he had been contesting the World 2 <iJo ltJc6 Leningrad 1 990). lIc I <iJcs was stronger, although here too
Championship. This makes all the more 3 .1bS a6 14 ... c6 is more solid: after 23 ttJeg4 White's position is
amazing his competitive achievements i n 4 a4 ttJr6 (a) 15 b3 g6 1 6 1i'c2 .1g7 1 7 .1b2 ttJhS preferable.
tournam ents now, when h e i s already over 5 e7 1 8 n , and although in my game with 18 cxdS a5
77 years old. The best result among all the 6 lIe! bS Karpov (Biel 1 992) I could have played 19 .idl b4
participants in the Veterans v. Ladies 7 .1b3 d6 more actively with 1 8 . . . ttJf4!?, after 1 9 g3 1 9 ... ttJcS is more circumspect.
invasion of his queen) 27 e2 xe4 28 39 (6 l:txf2 ()....{) 12 nab l a5 1 3 a3 lLlg7 1 4 b4 axb4 I S

xd6 'i'xe2 29 nxe2 lLlc3 30 'i'xfS With the idea of 40 xf2 'i'a2+ 4 1 e3 axb4 Black failed to equalise (Dreev
lLlxe2+ 3 1 f1 lLlxd6 32 'i'e6+ after which 'i'xb3+ 42 d2 'i'c3+ 43 d I b3. Belyavsky, Reggio Emilia 1 995/6).
White would have retained the advantage. White resigns. 9 a-o ne8
26 5 10 'i' c2 lLlf8
27 f3 e7 My victory i n the double-round tourna 11 h3 e6
28 f2 ? ! ment in Tilburg was memorable both for In later years against Karpov I defended
After the conceding of t h i s important my starting ' handicap' (I began with two the continuation I \ .. g6 1 2 xf6 xf6 1 3
.
d iagonal, Black's counterplay assumes real defeats) and for my close rivalry with b4 e6 1 4 nfd l a6. Black's idea i s to gain
proportions. 28 h I h4 29 n d I came Ljubojevic, who I managed to beat twice. I counterplay against W hite's kingside,
into consideration, when 29 . . f4 30 g I
. was also able to inflict the only defeat on which has been weakened by the advance
favours White. Anatoly Karpov, although not without his of the pawn to h 3 . The point is that, i n
28 g5 help, as at one point I was very dubiously order t o support t h e advance o f his b-pawn,
20 a3 ! c5 29 ex5 placed. White has to take control of c5 (otherwise
21 axb4 axb4 This allows Black to exchange his 'bad' after b4-b5 there may fol low . . c6-c5), but
.
It transpires that it is unfavourable for bishop. 29 fI was more logical. Game 30 then the absence of the knight from' f3
Black to play 2 1 . . cxe4 22 bxa5 c3 23
. 29 xd 2 ! Karpov-BeIyavsky al lows the black knight to attack the h3
xc3 'i'xc3 24 c4 xd5 (24.. .xd5 25 30 xd 2 xd 5 Tilburg 1 986 pawn from gS. The game Karpov
e4) 25 b6! 'i'xc2 26 'i' xc2 !::X c 2 2 7 31 lLle4 xe4 Queen's Gambit D3 5 Belyavsky (Linares 1 99 1 ) continued I S
xa8 xa8 28 nec I , when the a-pawn 32 xe4 f6 fl 'i'd6 (also interesting is I S . lLlg7 ! ?,
..
w i l l cost him a piece. But now White's 33 xdS+ lLlxdS d4 d5 with the idea of advancing the g- and h
knight occupies the key c4 square. 34 'i'd l 2 c4 e6 pawns) 1 6 a3, and here, instead of the
22 nxa8 llxa8 The immediate 34 'i'c I was more 3 c3 lLlf6 incorrect 16 ... d8? 17 e4! with advantage
23 'i'b l ! 'i'b6 accurate. 4 cxd5 exd5 to White, 1 6 . . . gS would have
24 c4 'i'b5 34 l:ta2 5 g5 e7 maintained the balance.
25 e3 e8? ! 35 'i'e! 6 e3 c6 12 r4
25 ... fd7!?, with the same idea, was 7 d3 b d7
more logical. 8 lLlo
35 'i'a6! have also played this position with

36 'i'g5 b6 White. For example, the game B elyavsky
26 fd2 37 Wg6?! 8 Yusupov (50th USSR Championship,
After the game Geller suggested the An empty threat. 37 Wg4 was better. have also played the plan with the Moscow 1 983) continued 12 a3 lLl6d7 1 3
better 26 d I ! fS (with his knight at d7 37 lLlC4 exchange of the light-square bishops, but xe7 Wxe7 1 4 b4 lLl g6 1 5 nfc i Wf6 1 6
B lack could play 26 . . . 'i'a6 followed by the 38 We8+ b7 after 8 ...lLlf8 9 'i'c2 lDe6 I 0 h4 g6 I I ()....{) 'i'd i .irs 1 7 b 5 .ixd3 1 8 Wxd3 .!bb6 1 9
bxc6 bxc6 20 lO b I ! with advantage to tOeS, depriving the opponent of any hopes 5 tOn c6
White. on the kings ide. 6 0-0 d6
12 d6 19 tOh4! 7 f4
13 xd6 20 tOb3 'ii'g S
After 13 tOeS Black underm ines the 21 h2
knight's base with 1 3 . . oll c 8 fol l owed by This is not prophylaxis, but a h int at a
1 4 . . . cS. possible opening at an appropriate moment
13 ifxd6 of a 'second front' by f2-f4.
14 a3 ife7 ? ! 21 rIe7
T o o passive. 1 4 . . . a S ! ? 1 5 tOa4 t06d7 1 6 22 tOe5 e8
tOcs b6 1 7 tOxe6 fxe6 1 8 e4 e5 came into 23 Ilel g6
consideration, with reasonable counterplay. 24 rIac1 hS
15 b4 llaeS
16 1:trc1 t06d7 31 rIxe5!
Here Black had a choice between this 32 ifxeS
. manoeuvre on the kingside and . . . tOe8-d6 White also loses after 32 dxcS d4+ 33
after the preparatory 1 6 . . . rIed8. c6 dxc3 34 cxb7 ifxc 1. In the Dutch ' Stonewall' since the time
17 tOe2 32 'i'xd3 of Botvinnik White has aimed for the ex
The knight is aiming for f4, which 33 'i'c3 'i'e2+ change of the dark-square bishops, after
Black cannot allow, and he has to divert 34 gl tOe6 which it is easier for him to exploit the
his fS knight away from the potential route 35 rIel tOxd4 weakness of the eS square for knight man
fS-e6-gS in order to ful fi l defensive 36 bl lObS oeuvres. White used to carry out this plan
functions. Now if 37 lhe2 B lack interposes by b2-b3 and a3 . Black then:fore began
17 tOg6 3 7 . . . d4+! Wbite resigns. developing his bishop not at e7, but at d6,
18 tOg3 tOdfS in order to prevent by . . . 'i'e7.
25 b5? The 54th USSR Championship of 1 987 In the present game I considered it
Here this standard move involves an was sim ul taneously a World Champion feasible to allow a worsening of my pawn
oversight. With the prophylactic retreat 25 ship Zonal Tournament. Here, for the third structure for the sake of weakening the
fl ! White would have defended his g2 time, I shared first place, on this occasion dark squares in the opponent's position.
and retained the better chances, as there is with Valery Salov. In contrast to previous White's subsequent plan is to play his
no way for Black to oppose the plan with Championships, in the event of a tie the knight to e5, and in the event of its
b4-bS. regulations provided for an additional exchange to capture on e5 with the d
25 tOxg2! match. Salov played badly and I won with pawn, vacating d4 for the second knIght.
This is not a sacrifice, but a simple a score of 3- 1 . However, this plan must be carried out
exchange of knights, after which several energetically, without allowing Black to
targets for attack are created on the Game 3 1 gain counterplay with . . . g7-gS.
kingside. Belyavsky-Bareev An example is provided by the game
26 'it>xg2 b4 54th USSR Championship Belyavsky-Van der Wiel (Amsterdam
19 tOd2 27 bxc6 bxg3 Minsk 1 987 1 990): 7 ... .1xf4 8 gxf4 0-0 9 e3 tObd7 1 0
This allows B lack to activate his forces 28 fxg3 rIxe3 Dutch Defence A90 tOeS tOxeS (this exchange assists White's
somewhat. Up till here White has conduc 29 rIxe3 "xe3 plan; 10 ... 4 1 1 f3 tOd6 12 cS tOn is
ted the game very consistently, forcing 30 cxb7 xb7 1 d4 f5 more flexible, although after 13 tOe3 and
Black into passive prophylaxis, and the 31 -.c3 2 c4 tOf6 tOe2 White's chances are better) 1 1 dxeS !
logical completion of the manoeuvre tOc3- An oversight, but White's position is 3 g3 e6 tOd7 (after l l ...tOe4 1 2 b4 'i'b6 1 3 a3 as
e2-g3 was 19 tOfS ! "d7 20 g4 tOe7 2 1 also unenviable after 3 1 'ifb2 tOe6! 4 .i.gl d5 1 4 cS "a7 1 5 f3 or 13 ...dxc4 14 .1xe4
S6 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess S7
fxe4 I S lOd2 White gains the advantage) pawn is lost) 1 2 ltJbS 'tid7 1 3 ,*c7! nc8 17 h3! If 26 ...trxg3 27 'ifxg3 'iffB White has
1 2 1Od2 '*e7 1 3 trc 1 trdS 1 4 ,*c2 1OfB I S 14 'tixd7! ltJbxd7 1 5 ltJd6 trc7 1 6 trfc l With this unobtrusive move White either 28 ltJg6+, winning the exchange, or
lOb3 ltJg6 1 6 cxdS exdS 1 7 ltJd4 (the ..tc6 1 7 !1c2 with advantage to White. begins a highly aggressive plan of an 28 ..tG (with the threat of 29 'iWh4),
culmination of the plan). 10 lOa6 attack on the king. continuing the attack.
11 tracl ..tb7 17 tree8 27 trxg8+ ltJxg8
12 exdS exd5 18 g4 g6 28 'ifg3 ..tbS
13 lObS ,*e7 Defending the f5 pawn, as after 29 'ifh4 lOf6
14 'i'a.t lOe8 I S ...lUe8 19 gxf5 exfS 2 0 trxcs i.xc8 2 1 Black also l oses after 29 . . . 11g7 30 llxg7
After 14 .. J:tfc8 I S lUes lOe8 16 !1xc8 tDe5 B lack's dS pawn is weak. Changing xg7 3 1 'i'g5+.
!1xc8 1 7 ltJxa7 a pawn is lost. the pawn structure by 1 8 ... fxg4 19 hxg4 is 30 i.f7!
15 ne3 lOee7 unfavourable for the e6 pawn, since the Black resigns. There is no defence
16 tDxe7 bishop may join the attack on it from h3. against 3 1 ltJg6+.
1 6 .!:t fe ! could have led to interesting Even so, this should have been preferred,
com p l ications: 1 6 . . . l!f'e8 (after 1 6 . . . :lfc8 as after the move played White is able to Game 32
1 7 ltJxa7! White wins at least a pawn. as i f carry out his planned attack. Belyavsky-Salov
1 7 . . . .:.xa7 1 8 ':'xc7 :txc7 1 9 J:.xe7 tixc7? 19 gxfS gxfS j.Jth USSR Championship 1987
he has 20 'tie8 mate) 1 7 :xc7 ltJxc7 1 8 20 ltJe5 lOe8 Play-Off (game 4)
1 7 . . . ltJh4 I S h3 g5 19 h I ! g4 (also :xc7 c6 ! 1 9 'i'a6 ( 1 9 ':'xc6 'i'txc6 leads 21 trg3+ h8 Dutch Defence A90
inadequate is 19 . . . gxf4 20 exf4 c;t>h8 2 1 to an unc lear situation, where White has 22 h2 lOf6
':'g l ) 20 = g l h5 2 1 f1 J:If8 2 2 G 1:.f7 2 3 three m inor pieces against Black's two 23 trg1 .l:[e7 d4 fS
'\lin tDg6 24 d 3 c;t> g 7 2 S b 4 ! as (or rooks) 1 9 . . . xbS 20 'i'b7 '*g6 2 1 ttJe5 With this clever move B lack wants to 2 c4 ltJf6
2S . . . 'iI'xM 26 e6 !lf6 27 xfS) 26 ,*c2 'i'f6 22 xd5 :rfb8 (best - if 22 . . . :ab8 23 include his bishop in the defence of the 3 g3 e6
tLlh4 27 b5 with a clear advantage. xe6+ h8 24 ltJf7+ g8 25 ttJd8+ kingside. 23 . . .a6 24 'itb4 wins quickly for 4 i.g2 b4+
7 0-0 White wins, while after 22 . . . exdS 23 White - 24 . . . lOg4+ 25 trxg4 'tixb4 26 Before this last game of the match
8 xd6 'iYxd6 'tixd5+ h 8 24 '1txbS he has ample com 1Of7 mate. was leading 2- 1 , and so Salov deviates
9 'tie2 b6 pensation for the exchange) 23 ..txe6+! 24 O e6 from the theoretical paths in favour of a
'tixe6 24 trxg7+ f8 25 :f7+, and Black 25 'tib3 less wel l-studied continuation.
must agree to a draw by 25 . . . g8 26 After 25 ltJxc6 'tie8 26 'ifaJ trxc6 27 S ..td2
1:.g7+, as after 25 . . ':O'e8 26 'tiG White ' s 'ife3 'iff7 it is easier for Black to defend. More aggressive is 5 lOd2 ()....{) 6 ltJgD
threats are too strong, despite him being a 25 trg8 b6 7 ltJe5 ltJe4 8 ()....{) i.xd2 9 i.xd2 i.b7
rook down (K.Neat). 26 i.hS 1 0 i.e! We7 I I b3 with advantage to
16 tDxe7 White (Gelfand-Epishin, W ijk aan Zee
1 992).
5 ..te7
6 ltJo
After the premature advance 6 d5 eS 7
liJG d6 8 cS ()....{) 9 0-0 lObd7 B lack does
not stand worse.
6 ?!
10 1Oa3! 7 ?!
After the 'natural' 1 0 ltJbd2 i.b7 I I White returns the compliment. Black's
%:tac l lObd7 1 2 %:t fd I %:tac8 1 3 'tia4 S avoidance of 6 ... d6 or 6 ... dS could have
Black gains counterplay with . . . c6-cS. But been exploited by the energetic 7 dS! exdS
now i f 10 ... ..tb7 there follows I I cxdS ! 8 cxdS ltJxd5 9 3 c6 1 0 ltJd4.
cxdS ( l l . ..exdS is not possible, as the f5 26 7 c6
17 liJbS 22 .txd6! 31 l:td8!

This combinational blow crowns Every exchange not only reduces
White's central strategy. I have to adm it Black's chances of counterplay, but also
that I had planned in advance 22 'iWe8, with brings me closer to victory in the match.
the idea o f answering 2 2 ... dxe5 with 23 31 g4
liJe7+, but then I noticed a defence - 32 l:txfS+ lhfS
22 . . . 'iWh6! 23 i.f4 'iWe6. 33 fxg4 fxg3
22 .td7 34 bxg3 'iWe6
After 22 ... i.xd6 2 3 'iWe8+ .tfS 24 35 l:t n ! l:te8
liJe7+ h8 25 liJxc8 (not 25 .ud8? i.d7 ! ) Black retains his rook, as otherwise the
the threats o f 2 6 l:t d 7 and 26 lld8 are queen + knight duo would not allow their
highly unpleasant. opponents any chances.
23 'iWf4 .:re8 36 l:trs 'iWe3+
8 'itb3 24 .txfS .:rexfS To avoid the worst Black has to
8 if'c2 can be met by 8 . . . dS 9 .uc l liJe4 The pawn is rega ined, and Black's Salov has not yet lost hope of somehow exchange the queens (36 ... h6 37 'iW(4).
1 0 e l tLld7 I I liJbd2 d6 1 2 b4 g5 (not queenside remains undeveloped. using his light-square bishop. After 37 'iWxe3 l:txe3
12 . . ..1xb-l 13 liJxe4 xe l 14 ttJeg5 , win 17 ::' f7 24 .. :tfxf8 B lack has to reckon with 25
. 38 f2 lle6
n i ng material) 1 3 b5 g4 with a sharp gam e . 18 CiJc7 .:t b8 liJf6+ l:txf6 26 l:txd7, while if 24 . . .xfS 39 lLld5 g7
8 g5 d5 9 liJbd2 liJbd7 1 0 '1lt'c2 19 liJ xd 5 f8 White has the unpleasant 25 'iWd6+ g8 26 The rook ending after 39 . . . .txd5 40
( i ntending cxd5) is i nteresti ng, e.g. 1 0 . . . h6 20 '1lt'a4 liJf4 'iWg5 27 h4 'iWg4 28 h2 with the l:txd5 l:tb6 41 b3 l:tb4 42 f3 is hopeless.
I I xf6 .1Lxf6 ( 1 1 ...liJxf6 1 2 liJe5) 1 2 I f 20 d4 Black plays 2 0 . . . b6 2 1 'ific7 threat of f2-D . 40 liJf4
cxdS cxd5 ( 1 2 . . .exd5 1 3 '1lt'xf5 .txd4? 1 4 .:ta8, and the queen has to retreat without 25 l:td2 i.c6 The alternative plan was 40 D g6
'1lt'e6+) 1 3 =fc l b 6 1 4 e 3 .tb7 1 5 liJe l and having achieved anyth ing. 26 f3 4 1 e4.
White has a slight advantage. 20 a6 This dispels any i llusions that the black 40 l:te4
8 liJa6 21 e5 bishop may have had. 41 g5 .td7
The development of the knight at d 7 2 1 liJb6! was simpler, and if 2 1 . . . i.c5 26 'iWg6 42 lld5 i.c6
after S ... d5 9 .t f4 liJbd7 i s more natural. 22 liJxd7 .txd7 23 ':xd7 'Ilfxe2 24 :xfl 27 liJc3 'iWf6 43 l:td6 l:te5
9 liJc3 'iWe8 fl 25 '1it'f4 ! .1a7 26 :e I '1lt'g4 27 'iWc7+ 28 l:td6 'iWe7 44 lQe6+
10 dS!? g8 28 .:re7 with a crush ing attack. 29 l:tfdl g5
1 0 liJe5 !? d6 I I liJd3 fol lowed b y e2-e4 21 d6 How otherwise can the bishop be
also looks quite good. activated?
10 liJcs 30 'iWd4 f4
11 'iW c2 'iWhS
12 l:tadl exdS
The immediate 1 2 ... liJce4 is stronger,
but in this case too after 1 3 dxe6 dxe6 1 4
f4 White has a c lear advantage.
13 cxd5 liJce4
14 liJd4 liJxc3
After 1 4 . . .ttJxd2 1 5 .uxd2 g6 1 6 e3 c 5
1 7 d6 i.d8 1 8 lLldb5 Black's position i s
much worse, aggravated b y the fact that h i s 44 g8
bishop a t c 8 is shut in. 44 ... fl is bad because of 45 liJd8+
15 .i.xc3 lLlxd5 There is nothing better. After 2 1 . ..b5 22 e7 46 truc.c6+.
16 .i.xdS+ cxd5 'iWf4 l:tb7 23 llc l Black stands badly. 45 lLld4 i.e4
I f 45 ... d5 46 liJf3 ! xf3 47 exD be mentioned that ' sandwiched' between xc3 1 1 tLlxc6 (or 1 I bxc3 hxg5 12 liJxe6
.l:%.xg5 48 .l:%.d8+ f7 49 .l:%.d7+ with a won the World Cup was the very strong 5 5th 'i'xd I + 1 3 'i'xd 1 xe6 1 4 exf6 gxf6 1 5
rook ending. USSR Championship i n Moscow, which I 'i' f3 e7 with compensation for the queen,
46 .l:%.e6 .l:%.xe6 ended with a 50% score. Conquest-Van der Sterren, Dortmund
47 liJxe6 d 5 1 988) 1 1 ...d7 1 2 'i'a3 ! bxc6 1 3 xf6
48 liJc5 f7 Game 33 xb2+ 1 4 'i'xb2 gxf6 1 5 i..xc4 'i'b6
49 '.Pe3 xa2 Belyavsky-Chaodler ( 1 5 ... fxe5 16 .l:%.he l ) 1 6 exf6 'i'xb2+ 1 7
50 liJxb7 d5 Linares 1988 <;Pxb2 .l:%.g8 1 8 c3 ! .l:%.g6! 1 9 .l:%.d2 .l:%.xf6 20
51 liJc5 c4 Queen's Gambit D39 .l:%.b I c5 2 1 f3 a6! 22 .l:%.b6 b5 with equal
52 liJd3 e6 chances (Azmaiparashvili-Chernin, Dort
53 '.Pd4 b 5 d4 liJC6 mund 1 990).
54 e4 d6 2 liJf3 d5 10 hxg5
55 liJC4 e8 3 c4 dxc4 11 fxg7 .l:%.g8
56 e5+ c6 4 liJc3 e6 9 h6 12 liJe 4
57 e6 d6 5 e4 b4 Black tries to eliminate the pin. A very
58 '.Pe4 c5 6 g5 c5 sharp variation with the sacrifice of a piece
The pawn ending after 58 . . . g6+ 5 9 7 e5 is also played: 9 ... d7 1 0 tLle4 e7 (the
liJxg6 hxg6 6 0 e7 ! rj;;x e7 6 1 rj;; e5 i s easily At that time this variation was only j ust queen sacrifice 10 . . . tLlxe4 I I xd8 :Ixd8
won for White. coming into fashion. Nowadays I prefer 7 is hardly correct, as after 12 tLlxd4 liJxf2
59 'ito>e5 'ito>c4 xc4 cxd4 8 tLlxd4 xc3+ (Anan d ' s 13 !tJxc6 liJxd I 14 'i'xb4 xc6 1 5 xc4
60 liJd5 a5 experiment 8 ... d7 after 9 O-D tLlc6 1 0 Black is unable to castle) I I exf6 gxf6 1 2
61 liJC6 g6 :r c I h6 I I f4 0-0 1 2 e5 fib8 1 3 g3 h4 !:c8 (or 1 2 ... liJb4 1 3 'i'xb4! xb4 1 4
62 liJxh7! liJxe5 1 4 t.e l i.. d6 1 5 liJdb5! tLlxc4 1 6 tLlxf6+ f8 1 5 llxd4 with sufficient
The final touch (62 . . . xh7 63 f6 d6 left him in great difficulties in his compensation for the queen) 13 b I ttJa5
e4 64 e7 c6 65 g6). Black resigns. game with Kramnik from Dos Hermanas 14 W'c2 e5 1 5 tLlxd4 (White is practical ly
1 997) 9 bxc3 'i'a5 I 0 xf6 gxf6 (risky is forced to return the piece) 1 5 . . . exd4 1 6
In 1 988 I played in five Category 1 5 10 . . . 'i'xc3+ I I f1 gxf6 1 2 .l:%.c l 'W'b4?! 1 3 llxd4 'i'b6 and i n this sharp position B lack
tournaments, which by present-day stan xe6! ttJc6 1 4 liJxc6! bxc6 1 5 xc8 .!:%.xc8 has sufficient counter-chances: This irrational position has not occurred
dards would correspond to FIDE Category 16 h4! when B lack has a difficult ending, (a) 17 lld5 e6 1 8 'i'a4+ liJc6 1 9 as rarely as might be expected. Here it
1 7- 1 8. After the Christmas tournament i n Ribli-Belyavsky, Barcelona 1 989) I I xc4 'i'b4 20 'i'xb4 tLlxb4 2 1 b5+ f8 would have been easy to run into a
Reggio Emilia I played successfully i n i..b5+ d7 1 2 fib3 a6 1 3 e2 ltJc6 1 4 O-D with an equal ending (Khalifman-Ribli, surprise, for exam ple in the almost un
Linares, where I finished second to t h e 'i'c7 1 5 :rad l .l:%.c8 1 6 'i'a3 ! lUa5 1 7 .l:%.dJ Groningen 1 993); explored 1 2 h4 d7. On the other hand, I
brill iantly performing Jan Tirnman. B u t the 'i'c5 1 8 'i'c l !:g8 1 9 'i'h6 e7 20 :rfd 1 (b) 17 .l:%.xd7 xd7 1 8 e2 e8 1 9 also did not want to simplify the game with
main event was of course the start of the :Ic7 (or 20 . . . a4 2 1 e6! with a decisive 'i'c3 (weaker i s 1 9 g4? .l:%.d8! 20 .l:%.e l f8 12 liJxd4 xc3 1 3 bxc3 'i' as 14 "xc4 ( 1 4
World Cup with the participation of all the attack) 21 'i'xh7 llgc8 22 e5t fxe5 23 2 1 'i'cl h5 when Black goes onto the of ttJxc6 "xc3+ 1 5 b I d7 1 6 .!:%.xd7 d7
leading grandmasters, and i n one o f its 'i'h4+ e8 24 e6! 1 -0 (Belyavsi)y fensive, V.lvanov-Dragomaretsky, Russia 1 7 ttJa5+ e7 1 8 xc4 f6 19 .l:%.c l 'i'e5
tournaments, in Reykjavik, I was close to Lukacs, Austria 1 997). 1 996) 1 9 ....I:%.c6 2 0 .l:%.d l .l:%.e6 2 1 f3 .l:%.g8 is probably all right for B lack) 1 4 ... i.. d 7 1 5
achieving one of the best results of m y 7 cxd4 22 :rd5 llxe4 23 xe4 .l:%.g4 24 'i'xa5 .l:%.xe4 liJb5 .l:%.xg7 1 6 'i'c5 Q..-O-() 1 7 i..c4 fib6 1 8
career. For this a l l I needed t o d o was 7 ... h6 also comes into consideration. with equal chances (Goldin-Gelfand, 'i'xb6 axb6 1 9 .l:%.he I tLle7 20 h 3 i.. x b5 2 1
accept the draw offered in the last round by 8 'i'a4+ Vilnius 1 988); :rxd8+ xd8 22 i.. x b5 liJd5, when Black
Spassky, but u n fortunately the lesson with If 8 liJxd4 there can follow 8 . . . ..aS 9 (c) 17 .l:%.d6 .l:%.c6 1 8 .i.xf6 :rxd6! 1 9 equalises (Nikolic-Belyavsky, Brussels
the same opponent from Baden 1 980 had exf6 xc3+ 1 0 bxc3 'i'xg5 I I fxg7 "xg7 xh8 .if5! and 20 liJxd6+? loses to 1 988). Therefore I decided to be the first to
not been learned. The result was a defeat, with double-edged play. 20 . . . 'i'xd6. change course, by employing a recom
and, instead of a shared first place with 8 ttJc6 10 exf6 mendation of Tukmakov.
Kasparov, I finished second. It should also 9 G-O-O Very sharp play results from 1 0 liJxd4 12 i..e 7
The psychological move has its effect. 15 lDxc6 bxc6 29 Wd7+ c5 all preoccupied with S a4 and i f S . . . d7 9
My opponent immediately aims to play After 1 5 . . . Wc7? 1 6 lDxe7 'i'f4+ 1 7 11d2 30 Wxa7 Wxc4 c6 1 0 g5.
sol idly, since after the obvious 1 2 ... d7 ! ? .)txa4 I S lDxgS f5 19 .Ilxh4 'fi'xh4 20 8 bS
1 3 lDxd4 e7 h e d id not care for 1 4 lDxc6 lDd6+ d7 2 1 lDxf5+ B lack loses. 9 'fi'c2 b 7
bxc6 (after 14 .. :c7? 1 5 lDxe7 xa4 1 6 16 'fi'xc4 1:txg7 10 d2
lDxgS B lack risks losing: 1 6 . . . Wf4+ 1 7 17 Wd4 11g8
lld2 f5 I S g3 'i' fJ 1 9 lDgf6+ <J; f7 2 0 18 .Ilh3!
lDxgs+ or 1 6. . .xd I 1 7 lDgf6+ <J;e7 I S
xd I ) I S h4 when the position opens up
to White's advantage.
However, after the optimistic 1 2 . . .d3 ! ?
the consequences seem totally unclear. For
example, in the event of 1 3 xd3?1 cxd3
14 :txd3 lIfe7 ! White does not appear to
have sufficient compensation for the piece.
13 hot gxh4 Black could have resigned at this point.
Now after 1 3 . . . d7 1 4 hxg5 'tIrc7 1 5 30 f4
'i'xc4 (weaker is 1 5 lDf6+?! xf6 1 6 gxf6 31 a4 ll eb4
'i'f4+ 1 7 b I 'i'xf6 I S 'i'xc4 e5 when 32 'fi'e7+ c4 With the idea of preventing the
B lack has the advantage) 1 5 . . 'i'fH 1 6
. 33 xe6+ d 3 thematic . . . c7-c5 by the pin a5. The
lDfd2 0-0-0 1 7 g3 e5 I S f4 '+i'xg7 1 9 White has a clear advantage. The black 34 c l e2 bishop is more often developed at a more
lDb3 <J;bS 20 <J;b I ncS 2 1 lDec5 :gdS 22 king is unable to find a secure shelter, and 35 'fi'xh4 llxb2 active position, but here too Black has
g 2 B lack is again not guaranteed pace. at the same time 19 :hd3 is threatened. 36 c4+ el sufficient counterplay. Typicaf are two
14 lD x d 4 18 .Ilb8 37 0+ llf2 games of mine with U l f A ndersson, where
19 We5 llb7 Black resigns I was the defend ing side:
20 a6 :tb6 (a) 10 f4 lDc6 I I .Ild l lDb4 12 'fi'c l
B lack accepts the inevitable. If he The winner of the Brussels World Cup llcS 13 lDc3 lDbd5 1 4 e3 'fi'd6! I S lDxdS
concedes the b-tiIe by 20 . . J::tc 7, then 2 1 Tournament, Anatoly Karpov, lost only lDxd5 1 6 g5 c5 and Black solved his
llb3, and i n view of the threat o f 2 2 llxd7 one game. opening problems (Andersson-Belyavsky,
:xd7 23 .IlbS he is forced to open up his Debrecen 1 992);
k ing: 2 1 . . . f6 22 'fi'h5+ f8 2 3 lDc5 xcS Game 34 (b) 10 gS lDbd7 I I xf6 lDxf6 1 2
(23 .. :ii'e8 24 :tbS Wxb8 25 11xd7) 24 Belyavsky-lCarpov lDbd2 llcS 1 3 lDb3 c 5 1 4 dxcS e4 I S
Wxc5+ 2'LWe7 (or 24 . . . f7 25 'ii'h 5+ Brussels (World Cup) 1988 'i'c3 .i.d S 1 6 llfd 1 liJe4 1 7 'i'e I 'ii'c 7 with
f8 26 Wxh4) 25 llb8+ e8 26 'ii'h 5, Catalan Opening E05 an equal game (Andersson-Belyavsky,
when White retains a dangerous attack. Ubeda 1 997).
21 llhd3! f5 1 d4 lDf6 10 lDc6

Black also loses after 2 1 .. ..Ilxa6 2 2 2 c4 e6 It would appear that Karpov had
14 d7 llxd7 .xd7 23 'WbS+ d 8 24 lDf6+. 3 g3 d5 prepared this variation for his first match
This move is somehow fated. Now 22 .llxd7 'Wxd7 4 .i.g2 .i. e7 with Kasparov. Also quite acceptable in
Chandler ends up in a d ifficult situation. 23 .llx d7 xd7 5 lDo 0-{) this situation is 1 0 . . . e4 I I 'ii'c l , with the
He should have taken the chance offered to 24 lDr6+ xf6 6 0-{) dxc4 possible continuations:
go into an ending: 14 ... Wc7 IS lDxc6 25 'i'xf6 llg4 7 'i'c2 a6 (a) 1 1 ... lDbd7 1 2 aS llc8 13 lDc3
'Wxc6 16 Wxc6+ bxc6 17 lDd6+ xd6 1 8 26 'i'17+ d6 8 'i'xc4 .i. b 7 (or \ 3 ... .i.a8 14 a4 llb8 I S axb5 axbS
.llxd6, and although White's position i s 27 .i.c8 .llc4+ At that time everyone regained the 1 6 b4 .i.d6 1 7 'i'c2 'We7 1 8 llab 1 eS 1 9 e4
better, Black retains practical chances. 28 bl .lle 4 pawn immediately, whereas now they are g6! 20 llfe I c6 and B lack maintained the
balance, B e lyavsky-Vaganian, Brussels post, but instead prefer 1 3 tObd2 with the after 2 4 b6 exd5 25 exd5 iLxd5 2 6 iLxd5 After 38 . . . lLlxb7? 39 lLlxd8 lLlxd8 40 c7
1 988) 14 a4 b4 ! ? I S lba2 'ilt'e8 1 6 ..ixb4 c 5 idea 0 f tOb3 . llxd5 he retains equal chances. 23 . . .exd5 the pawn slips through.
1 7 dxc5 lbxcs 1 8 'i' d I lld8 1 9 c2 ..ie4 13 iLd6 24 exdS iLxdS 2S tOg6+ fxg6 26 '1i'xe7+ 39 c7 lte8
20 'i'c4 ..idS 2 1 'i'f4 ..id6 22 'i'e3 lbb3 In view of a poss i ble e3-e4, 1 3 . . .iL e 7 is >g8 was also possible. 40 c8'i'
with sufficient counterplay for B lack sounder. 24 W'xb8 lIxb8 40 J:l.b8 would have won immediately.
(Belyavsky-Speelman, Am sterdam 1 9 89); 14 tObd2 ne8 25 tOb3 ..ixb4 40 ltxe8
(b) 1 1 ... ..tb7 1 2 ..i f4 lbd5 13 lbc3 15 b4 as! 26 J:l.eel exd5 41 ..ixc8 lLld6
lbxf4 14 'i'xf4 c 5 I S dxcS ..ixc5 1 6 Battling for the dark squares ( 1 6 bxa5 27 exd5 iLa3 42 J:l.b8 <l;e7
llac I ! ? ( 1 6 llfd I '1i'b6 1 7 lbe5 is also c5!). 28 lIdl iLd6 43 lteI+ f6
satisfactory) 16 ... '1i'e7 17 .:t fd l !la7 16 e4 iLe7 29 tOe6 iLxe6 44 iLe6 lIa3
( 1 7 ... lbc6 ! ?), and here instead of 1 8 tOe4 1 6 ... tOd7 is also possible. A fter 29 ... ltc8 30 tObd4 b4 3 1 tObS the 45 > g2 lIa7
..ixe4 19 'iWxe4 lIc7, which eased Black ' s 17 ltabl axb4 passed d-pawn becomes mobile, but on the 46 iLd5 ttJrs
defence i n t h e game Piket- Karpov (Dort 18 axb4 lta8 other hand now it is transformed into a 47 lle6+ 'iPg7
mund 1 99 5 ), White should have included 19 llfc1 lIa4 passed c-pawn. 48 lte6 iLe7
1 8 a4 ! b4 19 tOe4 J(.xe4 20 'i'xe4, 20 '1i'e3 '1i'a8 30 dxe6 tOe8 49 h4
maintaining a prom ising position. The obvious move, but 20 ... tOd7 ! ? also 31 tOd4 b4 The pawn at g6 is a clear target. B lack
11 e3 tOb4 came into consideration, controlling e 5 . 32 tOrs iLe5 has no counterplay and can only wait.
12 ..ixb4 xb4 21 tO eS lld8 33 J:l.d7 lIa7 49 lla5
13 a3 Black sacrifices a pawn, counting on 34 J:l.b7 50 iLe4 lta7
the activity of his pieces, especially as Otherwise White will play his rook to
2 1 . . Jlc8 al lows 22 tOd3 ! fo llowed by tOcS . b7.
22 'i'xe7 f8
23 d5
A couple of months later in the 5 5 th 34 ltd8?

USSR Championship, I p layed this varia It was essential to play 34 ... ltaxb7 3 5
tion as Black against Rafael Vaganian, cxb7 g6! (but not 3 5 . . .t2ld6 3 6 J:l.c l tOxfS 51 bS! lLld6
who slightly transformed the position: 1 3 37 llxcS lOd6 3 8 llaS ! when White wins), 52 bxg6 bxg6
lId 1 lIc8 1 4 a3 iLd6 1 5 b4, but after The only chance o f exploiting the when the position is still far from clear. 53 ltxb4 llat
I S . . . aS ! 1 6 bxaS lIa8 1 7 d2 lIa6! 1 8 a4 active, although insecure position of the Now, however, we have a situation demon 54 i.d3 g5
b4 1 9 tOe 1 iLxg2 20 tOxg2 a8 2 1 c2 queen is this breakthrough in the centre. strating the strength of the attacking side ' s 55 ltd4 lLlf7
tOe4 22 tOe 1 tOgS! (forc ing a weakening Unexpectedly it achieves its aim. opposite-colour bishop, coordinating well 56 lId7 llet
of the light squares) 23 h4 tOe4 24 tOd2 23 'i'b8?! with the rooks. 57 iLe4 >f8
tOc3 I was able to create some threats and By exchanging queens, Black concedes 35 lId lIaS 58 iLxf7 >xf7
in the end to win. control of the c-fiIe and condemns himself 36 .i.b3! g6 59 >f3 e8
However, perhaps White should not to a gruelling defence. But the queen could 37 lLlb6 lLld6 60 lta7
drive the bishop from what is not its best have been harassed by 23 ... lta7 !?, when 38 lLlxf7! lLlxf7 Black resigns
Game 3 5 At that time White also used to play 9 The black k i n g makes way for its
Sci rawan-Belyavsky 'i'a4 ncs 1 0 0-0 (the acceptance of the queen.
Brussels (World Cup) 1 988 pawn sacrifice by 1 0 xc6 nxc6 I I 'i'xa7 19 nel ?
S lav Defence 0 1 4 is dangerous in view of I I . . . 'i'cS) 1 0 . . . a6 Yasser overlooks the main threat, and
I I xc6 nxc6 1 2 ruc I e7 1 3 lOd I b5 1 4 hopes to run away with h is king after
d4 dS bJ nc4 (weaker i s 1 4 . . . 'ilfb6 I S a4! 0-0 1 9 ... 'ilfg8 20 fl followed by e2. It was
2 c4 c6 1 6 ::I.xc6 'i'xc6 1 7 axbS axbS I S !%.a7 ncs essential to play 19 fJ gxfJ 20 'ilfxfJ ,
3 lOc3 lO r6 1 9 'Wc3 ! and White gained the advantage, although even then after 20 . . . 'i'gS Black's
4 exd5 exdS S h i rov-Komarov, USSR 1 985) I S tiJd2 attack is pretty unpleasant.
5 r4 lOe6 ::I.xc l ! 1 6 nxc l 0-0 1 7 'ilfc3 b4! I S 'lifc6 19 nbS
6 e3 f5 d3 19 'i'b7 lOf6 20 l':c7 d6 2 1 xd6 With the calmness of an assassin B lack
7 lOO e6 'i'xd6 2 2 f4 'i'd8! and Black maintained prepares a mating set-up on the h-file,
8 b5 the balance (Kramnik-Rubl evsky, U S S R since if 20 fl h e has 20 . . . 'i' as ! , and after
[n this same tournament U l f Andersson 1 990). 12 gS! 2 1 e2? White is mated by 2 1 . . . 'i'bS+ 22
played S lOeS against me, but after 9 e7 13 g3 b5 d2 'i'd3 .
S . . . lOxe5 9 xeS lOd7 Wh ite cannot count 10 xc6? ' 14 b3 g4 20 'i'd2 e4!
on any advantage. After the passive 1 0 h3 0-0 I I ::I.c I ':'cS The uniform advance of the pawns by 21 fl
8 lOd7 12 :e I 'i'b6 1 3 ':::' e 2 lOf6 B lack easily 1 4 ... h4 1 5 h2 g4 achieves its aim only i n After 2 1 lOc3 White could have held
The Exchange Variation of the S lav equalises (Andersson-Belyavsky, Belfort t h e event of 1 6 hxg4 xg4 1 7 'ilfe2 h3 , but out somewhat longer, but the pattern o f the
Defence is not as hamlless as it appears at World Cup 1 985), but 1 0 nc I comes into after 16 lOeS ! ttJxe5 I 7 xeS :rgS I S hxg4 attack is the same: 2 1 . . . '1ifhs 22 fl fJ !
first sight. [f Black continues the symmetry consideration. xg4 1 9 f3 h3 20 l':f2 B lack ' s attack 23 lOe2 :rh I + 24 109 I '1ifh5 25 e4 nxg I +
with S ... b4, hoping for a draw, then after 10 bxe6 comes to a halt. 26 xg l ::I.h8.
9 lOe5 ! 'i'a5 10 xc6+ bxc6 I I 0-0 xc3 11 ::rcl 15 hxg4 hxg4 21 ol
1 2 bxc3 he runs into difficulties. [t is The outward 'calm' of the position is 16 lOeS White resigns
sufficient to recall the famous I I th game deceptive. White's attention i s focused on If 1 6 lOh2 the simp lest is 1 6 . . . lOf6
of the Botvinnik- Tal Return Match of the queens ide and he wants by simple (after the tempting 1 6 ... h4 White has 1 7 Game 36
1 96 1 , where Tal incautiously took the means to attack B lack's weaknesses and in d6) 1 7 lOc5 xcS I S dxcS lOe4 1 9 Khalifman-Belyavsky
pawn 1 2 . . .'1ihc3?, and after 13 'ilfc I ! particular to block the pos s i b i l i ty o f lOxg4 'ilfg5 with a winning attack for B lack 55th USSR Championship
'ilfxc l 1 4 ::I.fxc l 0-0 I S f3 h6 1 6 lOxc6 the . . . c6-cS. B u t Black in t u m h a s a veiled ( i f 20 f4 xg4) . Moscow1 988
symmetry concluded with an attack on the plan of a pawn offensive on the k i ngside. 16 lOxe5 Ruy Lopez C9 1
a7 pawn. For the moment it is premature - he must 17 .i.xe5 f6
wait for the knight to move to a4, 18 .i.g3 fi! 1 e4 e5
otherv.ise there can follow a counter-break 2 lDo lOc6
in the centre, which is dangerous for h i m 3 b5 a6
with his uncastled king. For example: 4 a4 lDf6
I l . . .gS?! 1 2 g3 h5 1 3 h3 g4 14 hxg4 5 0-0 e7
hxg4 1 5 ttJd2 and White opens the position 6 ne1 b5
after e3-e4. 7 b3 d6
11 :re8 8 c3 0-0
12 lOa4? 9 d4
Incautiously moving the knight away This variation also occurs occasionally
from the centre. 12 lOeS seems best, i n my games with White.
although then after 1 2 . . . lOxeS 1 3 xe5 f6 9 .i.g4
1 4 .tgJ cS B lack gets rid o f his weak c6 10 dS lDaS
9 0-0 pawn. Now, however, the m in e explodes! 11 .tel
e3 <t:Jb5 22 c2 llc8 23 J:l.xa6 J:l.xc3 24 22 ... a5 with the idea of ...bS-b4 Black xd5 22 'jjxe5?! xb3 23 axb3 lld5 24
lla8 and White has the advantage (Roman would have gained reasonable counterplay. 'jje3 llc7 25 <t:Jxe6 llxc3 Black has fine
ishin-Geller, Yerevan 1975); 15 b4 counterplay. Understandably, Khalifman
After IS ttJf1 <t:Jc4 16 <t:Jg3 g6 the game aims for more.
is equal. 21 ttJxe6 'i'xe6
15 <t:Jb7 22 g5
White also stands slightly better after Also good is 22 e3 llb7 23 l:.adl h6
15...<t:Jc4 16 <t:Jxc4 bxc4 17 g5. 24 lld2 followed by lled I.
16 <t:Jfl <t:Jd8 22 h6
Interesting developments occurred in 23 xf6 xf6
the game Van der Wiel-I.Sokolov (Han The queen has to remain in the pin,
inge 1989): 16 ....ue8 17 <t:Jg3 h6?! (17...g6 since after 23...'i'xf6 24 exdS xdS 25
looks sounder, although after 18 g5 'i'd8 'i'xeS xb3 26 axb3 'i'xeS 27 ttxeS f6
11 'i'e8 19 a4 <t:Jd7 20 axb5 axb5 21 .uxa8 'i'xa8 28 J:.cS Black simply loses a pawn.
This move was first played by Oleg 22 xe7 .uxe7 23 b3 White is better) 18 24 ttadl ttad7
Romanishin. The point of it is that after 12 <t:Jh4! liJxe4 19 .uxe4 xe4 20 xe4 25 ttd3 'jje8
h3 the bishop can retreat to d7, which is (b) 16...<t:Je8?! 17 a4 bxa4 18 g3 g6 xh4 21 <t:JfS d5 22 'jjg4 .1g5 23 xg5 26 ttJh5 >!fie7
not good after 11...c6 12 h3 d7? because 19 h6 <t:Jg7 20 xa4 <t:Jxa4 21 :xa4 'lWb6 hxgS 24 'i'xg5 g6 25 <t:Jh6+ f8 26 xg6! Even for the sake of a pawn there was
of 13 ttJxeS! dxeS 14 d6. 22 b4 .ufc8 23 Uea I f5 24 d2! with and White created dangerous threats. no point in Black spoiling his pawn
Nevertheless the energetic attack on the advantage (Tseshkovsky-Belyavsky, 46th 17 <t:Jg3 <t:Je6 structure: 26...dxe4 27 <t:Jxf6+ gxf6 28
centre by II ... c6 occurs more often: 12 h3 USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1978); 18 b3 .ud8 ttg3+ h8 29 'l'hs 'jjiB 30 c2 with an
.1xD (after 12...h5 13 dxc6 ttJxc6 14 (c) 16 ...g6 17 h6 lle8 and here in 19 'We2 attacking position for White.
g5 6 15 ttJbd2 :1ad8 16 b3 <t:Jd7 17 Belyavsky-Ljubojevic (Linares 1988) 18 19 <t:Jg5!? 1:37 20 <t:Jxe6 fxe6 leads to 27 'jjg 4?!
e3 'i'c7 18 <t:Jf1 <t:las 19 gJ g6 20 a4 a4!? came into consideration; unclear play. Khalifman overrates his position. He
White has the initiative, Belyavsky (d) 16...'Wc7 17 a4 (the thematic attack) 19 lla7 should have accepted the pawn sacrifice by
G.Kuzmin, 46th USSR Championship, 17...bxa4 (weak is 17...b4? 18 as!, when 20 <t:Jg5 27 exdS xd5 28 <t:Jxf6+ >!fixf6 29 >!fixeS
Tbilisi 1978) 13 'i'xD cxdS 14 exd5 <tJc4 White gains the advantage) 18 ltJe3 g6 19 20 .id2!? followed by a2-a4 came into 'jjxeS 30 ttxeS xb3 31 ttxd7 ttxd7 32
(Black transfers his knight to a more prom xa4 <t:Jxa4 20 Uxa4 and again White is consideration. axb3, although the rook ending after
ising position; in Belyavsky-Razuvaev, better (Nijboer-Nikolic, Ter Apel 1996), 32 ...ttd l + 33 h2 llbl 34 tte8+ h7 35
Frunze 1979, after 14...'i'c7 IS <t:Jd2 b4 16 but 17....ufc8!? comes into consideration, :a8 :xb3 36 ttxa6 ttxc3 37 ttb6 would
<t:Je4 <t:Jd7 17 <t:Jg3 g6 18 <t:JfS f6 19 a4 when Black appears to retain counterplay. hardly have promised more than a draw.
bxc3 20 <t:Jh6+ g7 21 <t:Jg4 White 12 h3 d7 27 dxe4
developed a strong attack) 15 ttJd2 <t:Jb6 13 <t:Jbd2 c6 28 ttg3 ttd3!
(weaker is 15...<t:Jxd2 16 xd2 'jjc7 17 a4 14 dxc6 xc6 29 llee3?
b4 18 a5! bxc3 19 xc3 with advantage to I decided to avoid the proven 14...'jjx c6 White should have reconciled himself
White, Romanishin-Nikolic, Yugoslavia IS <t:Jf1 tOe4, which in principle is sounder. to equality: 29 c2 llxg3 30 'i'xgJ lld2 31

1991) 16 ttJf1! After this pawn sacrifice, Here are some modem examples: xe4 xe4 32 ttxe4.
'canonised' by Romanishin in 1975, Black (a) 16 d3 .uac8 17 'i' e2 llfe8 18 <t:JgJ 29 llxe3
has definite problems associated with the h6! 19 b3 <t:Jb6 20 d2.i.iB 21 .uacl 'jjc 7 30 fxe3 h8!
absence of his light-square bishop, and 22 <t:Jh2 d5! with equal chances (Yudasin After this it becomes clear that White's
accurate play is required (see diagram): Van der Sterren, Biel Interzonal 1993); attacking forces have been tied up on the
(a) 16 ...<t:Jbxd5?! 17 <t:Jg3 ttJc7 18 a4! (b) 16 <t:Jg3 :fc8 17 'jje2 l:ab8 18 .i.d3 20 dS kingside: 31 'jjiS lld6 32 >!fic8+ h7 33
(by combining play on both flanks, White liJb6 19 .i.e3 lOa4 20 llad I tOes 21 b I This breakthrough is a classic solution 'jjxa6 g6 34 <t:Jxf6+ 'jjxf6, and it is not
sets his opponent the most problems) g6 22 'jjd2 and here in the game lPolgar to the 'Spanish torture'. In the event of the apparent how the rook can be brought into
18 ... bxa4 19 xa4 l:.b8 20 b4 <t:Jfe8 21 I.Sokolov (Madrid 1994) by playing acceptance of the pawn sacrifice 21 exdS play.
3 ttJxe5 d6 18 ... f6 19 'i'hS h6 20 .i.xh6 axb5 2 1

4 ttJf3 liJxe 4 'i'g6 does not look any better, but by
5 d4 d5 precise defence Black may be able to hold
6 d3 d6 on: 2 l...l:tf7 22 l:te l l:te7 23 l:te6!
7 (}-{) 24 Whl (after 24 xh2 'i'c7+ 25 g3 l:txe6
8 c4 c6 26 'i'h7+ f8 27 'i'h8+ e7 the black
king escapes) 24...ttJd5 25 .i.fS f8 26
'i'h7 gxh627 'i'h8+ f7 28 'i'h7+ f8 29
'i'h8+ with a draw by perpetual check.
Petursson decides to part with his
queen, but in the resulting open position
the white queen is able to combat the black
pieces with ease.
31 c2 g6 17 c2! 18 axbS
32 ttJxf6 "xf6 This retreat with the threat of a4-aS was 19 .i.xd8 l:tfxd8
33 xe4 h5! underestimated by Petursson, who prompt 20 'i'hS g6
34 f3 'i'xf3 ly goes wrong, hurrying to drive away the 21 'i'xbS c7
35 gxf3 rook. Perhaps he had reckoned only on 17 22 a4 l:txd4
3S xtJ e4 36 e2 l:td2 is equally e4 'i'd7 18 a4 nab8, when 19 ngS? does 23 'i'c5 l:td7
hopeless. 9 cxd5 not work because of 19...f6!
35 xe4 9 ttJc3 ttJxc3 to bxc3 dxc4 II xc4 xg6 fxgS!, while if 19 fS Black
36 fxe4 l:tc8 g4 gives the play a different direction, defends by 19 ... 'i'c620 e4 'i'd7.
37 :t g5 llxc3 with Black having piece play against the 17 a6?
38 f2 .l:tc4 potential 'hanging' pawns. 9 lle 1 is also This game immediately came under the
39 a3 llxe4 played. scrutiny of the experts, who fervently tried
40 f3 ll h 4 9 cxdS to defend Black's position. In Kudrin
41 l:txe5 llxb3+ 10 ttJc3 ttJxc3 Machado (Thessaloniki Olympiad 1988)
42 g 2 llh4 11 bxc3 g4 Black played 17...l:tb8 18 a4 a6, and after
43 ne8+ g7 12 h3 hS 19 g5 'i'c7 20 xh7+ xh7 21 'i'h5+
44 na8 .l:te4 13 :tbl ttJd7 g8 22 f6 h2+! 23 h I he missed a
White resigns 14 l:tbS chance to parry the attack by 23 ... 'i'f4 !
More subtle than 14 a4 b6 IS l:tbS. In my notes to the present game I
At the World Cup Tournament in Reyk 14 ttJb6 recommended 17...'i'd7 18 a4. The 24 g3!
javik, in a topical variation of the Petroff 15 c4 simplest way to equalise was demonstrated This quiet move emphasises that
Defence I was able to pose an opening Before this I S a4 used to be played. by Akopian in his game with Topalov Black's hopes are in vain, as the a-pawn is
problem, which Black was able to solve Modem chess is often a battle of prepared (Madrid 1997): 18 ... g6! immune: 24...ttJxa4? 25 .i.xa4 l:txa4 26
only later. variations, but sometimes they can xc3 l:tac8 2 1 .i.e4 l:tc4 22 l:tfb I l:tfc8 23 'i'bS.
boomerang. This is what happened in the l:tSb3 liru4 24 .i.d2 l:txd4 25 .i.e3 l:txe4 24 l:te8
Game 37 present game. 26'i'xe4liJc3 27 l:txc3 v,-v,. 25 as l:teS
Belyavsky-PeturssoD 15 .i.xf3 18 gS! 26 'i'b4 ttJdS
Reykjavik (World Cup) 1988 Petursson is the first to deviate from the Now if 18...'i'c7 there follows 19 .i.f6! 27 'i'xb7 l:tde7
Petroff Defence C42 familiar path 15...c4 16l:txd5 .i.h2+ 17 .i.h2+ (after 19... axbS White mates by 20 28 a6 .i.b6
liJxh2 'i'xd5 18 .l.xc4 'i'xc4 19 "xh5, .i.xh7+ Wxh7 21 'i'hs+ g8 22 'i'gS g6 29 Wc8+ Wg7
1 e4 e5 where White is nevertheless slightly better. 23 'i'h6) 20 Wh I 'i'f4 2 1 l:txb6 gxf6 22 30 Wxc4 l:tc7
2 ttJO ttJf6 16 'i'xo dxc4 'i'hS h623 g3, winning the bishop. 31 'i'a4 l:tel
32 b3 lOc3 this point of view the game Kasparov 19 e7

33 W'b 4 a7 Short is very instructive (cf. note to
34 c4 llc2 Black's 11th move).
35 d3 lld2?
An oversight, but Black also loses
material after, for example, 35 ... lla2 36
'1:iid6 b8 37 'i'b6 llc8 38 'i'b7 1:[f8 39
lle1 d6 40 'i'c6 b4 41 lIe8 lIxe8 42
'tlt'xe8 d6 43 c4 lIa I+ 44 g2.
36 'i'f4
Black resigns
Early in 1989 a creative crisis again bega n

to show, and this made itself felt at the 12 g4?
tournaments in Linares and Barcelona. White should not have pushed the 20 <LIf4?
And although I managed to win in Amster bishop back to e6, where it defends the d5 White prevents 20... d7 in view of 21
dam, a loss in the last round of the 56th 8 lOf6 pawn, allowing Black to transfer his king's lOd3 followed by <LIe5+, but allows a
USSR Championship thoroughly spoiled 9 f.3 c5!? knight to the queenside. 12 b5! (Kas simple tactical blow. 20 llheI was better.
my mood. Unfortunately, my forebodings This standard positional reaction to fl parov) was correct. Black would evidently 20 xg4!
were born out at the Christmas Tourna O is also appropriate here. have had to play 12 ... 'i'a5, with the idea of 21 fxg4
ment in Reggio Emilia, where I played Also possible is 9 . . . O-Q 10 <LIge2 <LIbd7 castling queenside, but here too it is not The alternative was 21 llhe I e6 22
extremely badly. 11 g4 e6 12 <LIg3 c5 13 lldl?! cxd4 14 easy to defend: 13 g7 llg8 14 xf6 lOd3 f6 23 <LIxb4 'i'xb4 and now:
exd4 <LIe8! with some advantage to Black xf6 15 <LIxd5 h4+ 16 g3 'i'xd2+ 17 (a) 24 <LIxd5 'i'xd2 (Black would
Game 38 (Howell-Diaz, Frunze 1989). Howell xd2 0-0-{) 18 xc6 bxc6 19 gxh4 lIxd5 prefer to keep the queens on, but unfor
Gu\ko-Be\yavsky recommends 13 0-0-{) cxd4 14 exd4 <LIe8 20 <LIe2 with advantage to White. tunately 24... llxc I +? 25 1Ii'xc 1 lOxd5 loses
Linares 1989 15 b1 llc8 with a complicated game. 12 e6 to 26 'i'c8+) 25 xd2 llxcl + 26 xcl
Queen's Gambit D31 10 h6 13 b5 <LIxd5 27 llxe6+ d7, or
In the afore-mentioned game Petrosian 13 lLlli3 with the idea of <LIf4 seems (b) 24 g7 llg8 25 xf6 f7 26 e5
1 c4 e6 played 10 b5+ <LIc6 11 dxc5 xc5 12 stronger to me. (26 "f4? f5+) 26 ... lOa4 27 <Z\e4 (27
2 <LIc3 d5 lOa4 e7 13 h6 d7 14 xc6 xc6 15 13 lOd7 1Ii'f4+ f5+ 28 al <LIxc3 29 'ii'h6 g5 30
3 d4 .i.e7 tOe3 c5 16 0-0-{) 'i'e7 17 h4 and gained 14 (H)-() 'ii'h5+ g6 and wins) 27 ... 1Ii'xd2 28 <LIxd2
4 cxd5 exd5 the advantage. If 14lOge2 there can follow 14 ... h4+ lOc3+ 29 b2 llgc8, and in each case
5 f4 c6 10 cxd4 15 fl g5!? (15...'i'f6 16 f4) 16 g7 Black emerges with somewhat the better
6 'i'c2 g6 If 1O...tOe6 there can follow I I dxc5 d4 llg8 17 e5 <L\dxe5 18 dxe5 'i'c7 with a ending (K.Neat).
7 e3 f5 12 exd4 "xd4 13 "xd4 xd4 14 0-0--0 double-edged game. 21 xc3
8 'i'd2! with an advantage to White in the 14 ll e8 22 "d3
An original positional idea, employed endgame. IS <LIge2 a6 22 1:[xc3 loses a rook to 22 .....e4+.
by Tigran Petrosian in a game with me 11 exd4 c6 16 xe6 22 d7!
(USSR Team Cup, Kislovodsk 1982). The game Kasparov-Short (Thessa After 16 d3 b5 17 b1 'i'aS it IS The king moves to a safer post.
White avoids the exchange of bishops and loniki Olympiad 1988) went II...a6 12 g4! Black who goes onto the offensive. 23 <LIe2 b4
prepares the advance of his kingside e6 13 ge2 <LIbd7?! 14 .i.g2 and White 16 llxc6 If 23...llhc8 there can follow 24 lOxc3
pawns, aiming to restrict the f6 knight and gained the advantage. Kasparov gives 17 'iPbl b6 lhc3 25 llxc3 lhc3 26 "xc3 "e4+ 27
f5 bishop. Sometimes he succeeds in 13...tOe6 14 g2 f8 15 O-Q .i.xh6 16 18 b3 .i.b4 b2 "xh I 28 f4, when Black hardly has
preventing Black from castling and then "xh6 'Wb6 17 lladl (or 1 7 "g7 'iPe7) 19 llc1 any winning chances.
launches an attack against the king. From 17.. . 0-0--0 as being best for Black. 19 'Wd3 is more flexible. 24 lbc6 c6
104 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess \05
25 llfl! 34 .ta3 5 c4 .tg7 of the queenside pawns, where the place

Attacking the f7 pawn and the f6 35 lldl tLlc6 6 .te3 tLlf6 for his knight is at cS. The result is that
square. 36 'Wg3 7 llJc3 d6 White's hands are freed for strengthening
25 tLlc8? Mate follows after 36 'WxdS 'i'xg4 37 8 .te2 his position on the queenside by preparing
In aiming to allow his king to go to b6, 11ft 'i'fS+ 38 al 'i'c2. 9 ()....{) .td7 the advance of his pawn to b4 after the
Black allows his opponent to activate his 36 llJb4 10 'Wd2 possible series of moves b2-b3, al-aJ and
bishop, which leads to equal chances. 37 tO d3 llab l .
Essential was 2S ...11e8 26 llJc1 f6 27 'i'f3 After 37 'i'g2 the black rook penetrates The question arises: what if Black had
tLld7 28 tLld3 .taJ with the threat of a on the c-file: 37 . . .11c8 38 'i'e2 .llc2. continued his plan and played I S...llJcs ?
queen invasion at e4. 37 llJxd3 Then the immediate 1 6 llh3 leads only to a
26 .tg7 lle8 38 llxd3 lln+ draw after 16 ... hS 17 llxhS gxhS 18
27 .te5 b6 39 c2 ll c1 + 'i'gS+. In reply to 1 6 .tfI there can follow
Not 27... .td6? 2811f6 c7 29 'i'f3. 40 d2 llal 16 ...f6 17 b3 llf7 18 11bl eS 1 9 aJ (if 19
28 'Wf3 'Wd7 41 e3 'i'c8 lld I the d6 pawn can be defended by
29 'W xf7 lle7 41 ...11xal 42 llc3 'i'bS 43 .tb8+ a8 1 9 ...11d7) 1 9...f5 20 exfS gxfS 21 b4 f4
30 'Wf3 a7 44 llc8 lle2+ 45 f4 'i'd7 was also good with chances for both sides. Objectively,
31 b3 lle8 enough to win. therefore, the plan of an attack by I S lle3
42 'i'g2 is better replaced by the more utilitarian 15
.tfl llJcs 16 b3, with the idea of llabI , al
Black's plan is to exchange minor aJ and b3-b4.
pieces, leaving White with his light-square
bishop. He will then restrict the queens ide
pawns by ... a7-aS, leaving White with no
active plan. However, this involves
exchanging the dark-square bishops, which
weakens the position of the black king, and
there is a temptation to begin an attack
against it. For this White needs to switch
his rook to h3.
10 tLlxd4
32 tLlf4? 11 .txd4 .tc6
Gulko is indeed unlucky with this 42 b5! 12 .td3 a5
manoeuvre. He should have consolidated 43 f4 llfl+! 13 llfe1 tLld7
his position with 32 'Wd3. Now Black Inviting the king into the black 14 .txg7 xg7 16 lldl
deftly by-passes the centralised bishop at rearguard: 44 gS .tcI +. Wbite resigllS. All is going according to plan, with White should "have refrained from this
eS, which is striking at thin air. Black exchanging pieces, and White move , until it was clear where the rook
32 IUS! Game 39 clearing the way for his rook. I think that would be most useful. The immediate 16
33 llel Belyavsky-HjartarsoD Hjartarson can hardly have guessed .tfI was better.
Things are also difficult for White after Barcelona (World Cup) 1989 White's cunning intentions, and for the 16 'Wb6
33 'Wd3 .taJ 34lDg2 'Wc6, when 35 tLle3? Sicilian Defence B38 moment he continues with his idea. 17 !Od5 .txd5
loses to 35. . . llxfl + 36 'Wxfl 'Wc3. 15 lle3 tLlf6?! 18 exdS llfeS
33 tOe7 1 e4 cS After this it can be said that White's 19 .tfl!
34 h4 2 tOf3 tLlc6 plan has justified itself: although he has Creating the option of playing the rook
Or 34 'We3 .taJ 35 lldl tLlc6 followed 3 d4 cxd4 insufficient force for an attack on the king, from e3 to b3.
by .. . llJb4. 4 tLlxd4 g6 the opponent too has given up the blockade 19 'Wb4
20 'i'd4 a4 This leads to the loss of the queen. demonstrated in the game Azmaiparash 0-0 'i'e7 with equal chances) 14...g5 15
However, also after 23...'i'c5 24 'i'h4! vili-Ricardi (Yerevan Olympiad 1996), f2 cxd4 16 'i'xd4 i.d71 17 0-0 (or 17
axb3 25 llbxb3 lOe5 26 l:1h3 h5 27 l:1bg3 where after I I xdS <tJxc3 12 xc7 lOdS 0--0-0 tLlc6 I S 'i'd2 lOa5 19 ebbl i.a420
f8 28 'i'g5 e6 29 dxe6 l:txe6 30 l:1xh5! 13 f4 ttJxf4 14exf4 .ttfdS I 5 b5! l:1ac8 l:1de I llcS and ... lOc4 with counterplay)
gxh5 31 'i'g8+ e7 32 'i'xa8 lOg4 33 (or 15... a6 16 xd7 llxd7 17 lOe2 a5 I S 17...ttJc6 18 'i'd2 iDe5 with chances for
'i'xb7+ f8 34 l:1f3 White would have d2) 16 lOe2 lOf6 17 d2 White gained both sides (Am.Rodriguez-Polugayevsky,
gained a material advantage. an enduring endgame advantage. Palma de Mallorca 1989).
24 b4 'i'a2 10 cxd5 The preparatory 12...'i'e7 is also satis
25 'i'd!! Now 10 e3 lObd7 is usually included, factory: 13 .i.f2 c5 14 i.b5 .i.c6! 15 i.e2
Now Black is unable to defend against and only then I I cxd5, e.g. I I ... lOxd5 12 d7 160-0 (16 tLlf4? is not good in view
26 'i'c I followed by l:te2 or l:1a3. xdS ttJxc3 13 h4 ttJd5 14 f2 f5 15 of 16... g5 17 lOd3 cxd4 18 'i'xd4 ttJc6 and
25 a3 b5 c6 16 a4 e5! 17 iDe2 llaeS I S 0--0-0 ... d5-d4) 16...xh3 17 gxh3 lObd7 18
26 l:1c3 (if I S 0--0 Timman was intending h I ttJh5 19.ttg I lOdf6 (Gulko-Chandler,
Black resigns 18 ... exd4 19 ttJxd4 ttJxe3 20 l:1fe I f4 21 Hastings 19S9/90.
21 b3 xc6 xc6 22 ttJxc6 lOe5 with equal 13 i.e2 c5
White wrongly avoids the natural 2 I The strong 56th USSR Championship was chances) 18...e4 19 lOc3 lO7f6 20 l:1he I The most logical reply. At the European
llde I f8 22 g4. It would not have been to be one of the last, although of course the :lc8 21 ttJxd5 cxd5+ 22 ebd2 c6. The Team Championship (Haifa 1989) Green
easy for Black to defend against the attack participants had no suspicion of this. I held game is equal (Lautier-Timman, Wijk aan feld tried to clear the position against me
on his king: 22 ... 'i'c5 23 'i'f4 b5 24 llf3! the lead until the final round, but after a Zee ml8 1994). with 13...ttJe4?! 14 i.xdS lOxc3 15 xc7
with the threat of g4-g5, or 22...lla5 23 g5 defeat with White at the hands of Vladimir 10 exd5 l:1xe3 (or 15...lOxe2 16 xe2 l:1ac8 17
l:!.xd5 24 'Wxf6 exf6 25 llxe8+ g7 26 Tukmakov, first place was taken by Rafael 11 e3 l:1e8 l:1ac l ) 16 bxc3 l:1ae8 17 lOf4 a6 (the
gxf6+ xf6 27 cxd5. Vaganian. Some moral consolation was 12 ttJh3 situation is not eased by 17...g5 I S f2
21 g8 provided by my win over the new USSR An innovation, which provoked a lively gxf4 19 i.b5) IS f2 llxe2+ (after
Black could have gone into an Champion. discussion. Before this 12 f2 had been 18...xe2 19 l:1he I l:1xc3 20 i.d6 llc6 21
endgame: 21...axb3 22 llxb3 'i'c5 23 played. b4 White retains the advantage) 19
'i'xc5 dxc5 24 .ttxb7 l::txa2 25 lle I f8 26 Game 40 ttJxe2 l:1xe2+ 20 g3 and finished up in a
llc7 !la5 27 g3 h5, where White never Belyavsky-Vaganian difficult ending.
theless retains the advantage. Possibly 56th USSR Championship 14 0-0 'i'e7
therefore Hjartarson was hoping to extract Odessa 1989
more from the position. Nimzo-Indian Defence E32
22 llbl lOd7
23 a3! 'i'xa3? 1 d4 lOf6
2 c4 e6
3 lOc3 b4
4 'i'c2 0-0
S a3 xc3+
6 'i'xc3 b6
7 gS b7
8 f3 b6 12 liJbd7
9 b4 dS Vaganian's first try proved unsuccess
Pushing back the bishop by S ... h6 is ful. He hit upon the right track only at the
important, as after S... d5 9 e3 ttJbd7 10 end of the year. It transpired that the And here after 14...ttJe415 fxe4'ii'xh4
cxdS Black is practically obliged to weakened e3/f3 pawn structure is better 16 e5 ttJf8 17 l:1f4 'i'e7 IS l:1afl White
recapture with the pawn 10... exdS, since attacked immediately by 12...c5 13 .i.b5 creates dangerous threats on the f-file
the drawbacks of 10 ... tUxd5?! were .i.c6 14.i.e2 (or 14a4a6 15 .i.e2 tLlbd7 16 ( I S ... f6 19 .i.b5 fxe5 20 J:tf7).
!O8 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 109
In the event of 14 ...c4 White prepares a 22 tOe2 a6 23 d3 tOfe4 have proved Game 41 11 tObd2 b7
breakthrough in the centre: 1S b3 bS 16 unjustified, and the weakening of his Smirin-Belyavsky 12 e2 l:te8
bxc4 bxc4 (or 16 ...dxc4 17 cl) 17 d l kingside quickly provokes a crisis. 56th USSR Championship 13 tOn
c6 I 8 c2 Ub8 19 tOf2. 22 tUfe4 Odessa 1989 White follows the standard path. For a
15 jLrz llac8 If 22...lL'lce4 23 fxe4 dxe4 24 'iWb2 gxf4 Ruy Lopez C95 discussion of the alternatives, see Game
16 Ufel cxd4 Black loses because of the pin 2S h4! 29.
Rafael goes in for a position with an r1;g7 26 exf4 e3 27 'iWe5. This game was one of the last in which I 13
isolated pawn, but problems over its He encounters similar problems after was successful with the Breyer Variation. 14 tOg3 g6
defence force Black subsequently to 22...gxf4 23 bxcS bxc5 (also insufficient is 1 e4 e5
weaken his position. Later, at the World 23 ... xcS 24 a4 c3 2S xc3 nxc3 26 2 tOo tOe6
Team Championship (Luzern 1989) exf4 followed by J:e7) 24 h4! fxe3 3 b5 a6
Am.Rodriguez played 16...tLlfB against me, (24...d6 25 e4) 25 lhe3 d6 26 l:rde I 4 a4 tOr6
but after 17 f l .!tJe6 18 d2 tLlh7 19 a6 27 .1xa6 xa6 28 ne7 <i;g7 29 f4 5 e7
tOf4! ned8 (no better is 19 ..tLlxf4 20 exf4
. with an obvious advantage to White. .
6 l:tel b5
'iWd7 21 dxc5 bxcS 22 b4) 20 ':!ad llL'lf6 21 If he retreats 22 ...lLle6 23 lL'le2 a6, then 7 .i.b3 d6
d3 d6 22 lL'le2 he also failed to solve after 24 a4 followed by lUg3-fS the 8 c3
his opening problems. weakening of the light squares tells. 9 h3 tOb8
17 xd4 tOeS 23 fxe4 tO x e4
18 na d l tOe6 24 b2
The attempt to gain control of the c-file
looks tempting: 18...c6 19 b4 lL'le6 20
b2 a4 21 .:td2 :red8, but this weakens 15 g5
the defence of the d5 pawn, which White But here Smirin avoids the main contin
can exploit by 22 tOf4 lL'lxf4 23 exf4 'ii'd6 uations. The one that has provoked the
(or 23 ...c7 24 a6 na8 25 bS and then most discussion is IS a4 c5 16 d5 c4 17
nd4) 24 d3 ne8 (24...xf4? loses to 25 g5 h6 18 e3 tOc5 19 'ifd2 h5:
g3 g5 26 :eS) 25 l:e5 with advantage. (a) 20 ll'lg5 i.h6 21 f4 (or 21 ne2 'ife7
19 'ii'd2 tOeS 22 l:tae1 h4 23 tOfI tOhS 24 g3 hxg3 2S
20 b5 ned8 fxg3 f6 26 g4, and here in Nunn
21 tOr4 g5 Belyavsky, Szirak Interzonal 1987, Black
The idea of this strange move (which could have obtained the better game by
characterises the Breyer variation) is not 26 . . .ll'lf4 27 i.xf4 xg5 28 i.xg5 fxg5 29
24 tUxf2? completely stupid. With his last move 9 h3 nf2 nfS 30 ll'lh2 nf4) 21...h4 22 XeS
Allowing White to interpose his next White prevented ...g4 in the event of 9 l:txe5 23 ll'lO xe3+ 24 'i'xe3 ll'lxd5 25
move, after which Black loses quickly. d4, but did not create any immediate 'i'd4 (better is the immediate 25 'i'd2 ll'lf6
However, after 24...gxf4 25 exf4 'ic7,26 threat. Meanwhile Black plans to relocate 26 ll'lxe5 dxe5 27 tUfl xe4 28 xe4
d4 'ixf4 (or 26...'ic2 27 al and d3 ) his knight from c6 to d7 to free his c-pawn ll'lfxe4 29 'i'xd8+ nxd8 with an equal
27 nfl 'ig5 28 l:to White doubles rooks and to allow his bishop to put pressure on game) 25... ll'le6 26 'i'd2 ll'ldf4 27 ll'lxe5
and then plays his bishop to d3, again with the e4 pawn from b7. Still, it is a defensive 'i'g5! and Black's chances are better
a winning advantage. rather than an offensive conception, and I (Nunn-Belyavsky, Linares 1988);
25 ll'lh5 ll'lb3+ switched to it from the Zaitsev Variation (b) 20 i.g5 e7 U-i.h6 fS (or
26 gxh3 IS mainly to avoid the possible repetition of 21...ll'lh7 22 na3 l:tb8/23 l:teal c8 24
27 e4! dxe4 moves that White has available after axb5 axbS 25 l:ta7 b7? [hoping to
22 b4! 28 i.d7 9...1b7 10 d4l:te8 I I ll'lg5l:tfS 12 tOO. exchange all the rooks on the a-file, but
Black's hopes of a counterattack after Black resigns 10 d4 tObd7 25...i.d7, covering the b5 pawn, was
110 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess I II
correct) 26 'ii'e3 and White gained the 'ii'xh6 'itf6 21 a4 he experienced some After 23lUe4lUc4 24 lUxf6+ xf6 2S J:re6, when White wins, while after
advantage, Adams-Salov, Wijk aan Zee difficulties. hS White clearly lacks the support of his 26...h8 the king comes under attack by
1991) 22 gS e7 23 lIa3 llb8 24 h6 18 h4 queen, and at the same time Black retains the white cavalry: 27 i-xe8 lUxe8
c8 25 axbS axb5 26 e3, and here in The alternative is 18 a4. the possibility of continuing his attack: (27...'ii'cS is better, but after 28 lle2 llxe2
Kir.Georgiev-Belyavsky (Haifa 1989) 18 d5 2S.. .'g8! 26 hxg6 fxg6 27 J:rxe8+ J:rxe8 29 4:lgxe2 4:lxe8 30 4:ld4 White gains
Black should have played 26 ...lUfd7 with A t the time this was considered an 28 xg6 J:rd8 29 e3 (or 291t'c2 J:rxd2 30 counterplay) 28 J:rxeS xeS 29 4:lg6+ g7
an acceptable game. innovation, but this move is always in the h7+ <i?h8 31 'itg6 g7) 29...i.gS 30 30 lUhS+ <i?h7 31 lUxe5+, and Black is
15 b3 is often played, and in a game air, as it satisfies completely the demands hS xf4 31 O xe3 and wins. forced to exchange queens in an unfavour
with the 14-year-old ludith Polgar (Mun of the classical rule: the most effective 23 J:rad8?! able situation: 31... 'ii'e4 32 'ii'xe4+ xe4
ich 1991) I successfully tried IS...dS!? counter to a flank attack is play in the In intensely dynamic positions the 33 J:re I b7 34 4:lg4 etc.
centre. value of every move is exceptionally high, 27 i.xe8 lUxeS
19 exdS and although this is a logical move, it 28 'ii'cl?
The direct continuation of the anack by allows White a respite and the chance to After subtly exploiting the inaccuracy
19 h5 dxe4 20 hxg6+ fxg6 21 xe4 exd4 neutralise Black's threats on the long 23 ...z:ad8?!, White misses an opportunity
22 4:legS+? does not succeed: 22... hxgS 23 diagonal. Meanwhile, the more concrete to fully activate his queen by 28 'ii'fS! 4:ld6
4:lxgS+ <i?g8 24 xg6 J:txe 1+ 25 'ii'xe I 23...<i?g8!, with the idea of pushing away 29 'ii'e6+ in order to go into an ending:
ciJf8 26 f7+ <;PhS 27 0 4:l6h7 and Black the knight by ...g6-g5, would have left 29...lUdf7 30 'i'xc6 xc6 31 lle2,
parries the threats. White on the verge of defeat: 24 hxg6 fxg6 although it is favourable to Black. Moving
19 exd4 25 b3+ (2S 0 xO+ 26 gxO 'itxO 27 the queen creates a geometric motif for the
b3+ <i?h7 does not help) 2S...ciJc4 26 0 opponent's attack. After all, the rook is not
gS 27llJfhS ciJxhS 28 ciJxhS i-e5, and if 29 bound to retreat.
i-xg5 Black WinS immediately by
29... 'ii'g6.
There followed 16 exdS (after 16 g5 24 hxg6+ fxg6
h6! 17 xf6 'ii'xf6 18 exdS exd4 or 16
dxeSlUxeS 17 lUxe5 ':xe5 18 f4 llxe4 19
lUxe4 dxe4 Black gains good counterplay)
16...lUxd5 17 dxe5lUxc3 18 'ti d3 dS 19
gS 'tic8 20 'tid4 g7 21 f5!? gxfS 22
xf5 lle6 23 'ith4 f8 24 d4 c5 with an
active game for Black.
IS...i-g7 16 d5 ciJb6 is also possible,
planning to undermine the centre, for 20 lill:d 4?
example 17 e3 J:rc8 18 'ite2 c6 19 c4 But here White should have ventured
cxd5 20 cxdS lUbxd5! 21 exd5 ciJxdS 22 the pawn sacrifice 20 hS!? dxc3 21 xc3 28 J:rxf2!
i-e4!? 1Oc3 23 xb7 ciJxe2+ 24lUxe2 dS! xdS 22 4:lh4 4:lf8 23 4:lhfS!? gxf5 24 29 <;t>xf2 4:ld3+
with a double-edged game (Kamsky-Van 4:lxf5, when he builds up the threats. Now, 30 lUxd3 'itxg2+
der Sterren, Wijk aan Zee mJ2 1994). however, Black takes the initiative, seizing 25 'itbl! 31 <;t>e3 4:ld6!
15 h6 the opportunity to launch a counterattack Now the queen succeeds in coming to I foresaw this 'quiet' move when I was
16 d2 g7 against the enemy king along the long the aid of its king. calculating the combination. The 0 square
17 'itcl h7 diagonal. 25 J:rxd2 has to be defended, since mate by
Avoiding the exchange of the dark 20 4Je5! 26 i.xg6+ g8 32...4:lc4+ 33 <;t>f4 'WO is threatened, and
square bishops. A few rounds earlier 21 4:le6 'itxd5 Here I had to overcome my fright and if 32 'Wdl there follows a new 'quiet'
Georgadze played 17...hS against Smirin, 22 lUf4 'itc6 find the only move. Of course, 26...4:lxg6 move 32... f6! with the threat of
and after 18 .i.h6 lUh7 19 'itd2 xh6 20 23 h5 fails to 27 'tixg6+ <;t>h8 28 4:15 J:rg8 29 33....i.g5+ 34 d4 'itdS mate, and after a
parting check White has to give up his have been included) 14 ...ltJxe4! 15 xd8 (b) II l:td I e7 12 ltJe2 'Dc6 13 'Dg3 12 f4 ll e8
queen (33 g4+ g5+ or 33 b3+ ltJxc3 16 e7 l:!.fe8 17 h4 g5 18 g3 ltJd4! 14 d3 (or 14 'Dh5 llfd8! 15 d3 12 ...exd5 looks more logical. With the
'Dc4+). That only leaves the move in the ltJa4 19 f5 llcd8 20 ltJe4 <bg7 21 b3 lId6) 14......e6 15 0--0 lLld7 16 'Df5! and committing move in the game, Timman
game. 'Db2 22 ltJd2 (in time trouble White starts White's chances are better (L.Hansen throws down a challenge, realising that
32 llO 'Dc4+ to go wrong; 22 llabI 'Dd3 23 lLlxd6 cxd6 Steinbacher, Ostende 1991). there is little risk involved after the modest
33 <bf4 'i'd5 24 xd3 was sounder) 22 ...b5! 23 llfcl?? 10 d5 lLlbd7 13 e2 ltJf8 14 'i'd2 lLlg6 15 g3 e5 16
34 <bg4 c8+ (23 c5 was essential, although after The exchanging operation 10...lLlxe4 II 0--0 il.c8, when Black has reasonable
35 <bh4 'i'd8+ 23... dxc5! 24 tUbl c4 25 :r1xb2 c3 only xd8 'Dxc3 is also possible: counterplay, while after 13 dxe6 fxe6
The impression is that Black is setting White has problems) 23 ...bxc4 24 bxc4 (a) 12 il.e7 lIe8 \3 il.xd6 exd5+ 14 White is practically forced to accept the
up the pieces for a new game. exd4 0-1. d2ltJa4 15 b3 dxc4 16 xb8 cxb3, when sacrifice of the d6 pawn (since he cannot
36 <bh5 'i'e8+ Against the more restrained develop Black has more than sufficient compen allow the central break ...d6-d5) and then
37 <bh4 'i'e7+ ment S c3 d6 9 f3 ltJbd7 10ltJh3 Black can sation for the piece, and after for example it would seem that the bishop cannot
38 Wb5 'De3 play energetically on the queenside: 17 c7 he can continue the sacrificial escape.
White resigns 10 ...cS II dxcS bxc5 12 e2 'tYb6 13 0--0 theme: 17 ... :tad8+! 18 xd8 llxd8+ 19 However, I thought that it would not be
d5 14 lIadl c6 IS ltJf2 h6 16 h4 a4 e3 (or 19 el ltJc3) 19...b2 20 llb l ltJc3 easy to get at the bishop and, despite the
In the first five rounds of the 1989 World 171Id2 b3 ISltJg4 (or 18 cxd5 exd5 19 and wins; dangers of the situation, I was able to
Team Championship in Luzcm, I played d I c4) IS ...ltJxg4 19 fxg4 :'ab8' with (b) 12 il.h4 ltJa4 13 b3 ltJc3 14 <bd2 extract benefits from its position.
for the USSR on top board. A game that a good game for Black (Kasparov-Karpov, ltJxd5 15 cxdS xd5 16 <bc3 'Dc6 17 :td I 13 dxe6 fxe6
sticks in my memory is the one with Tim Las Palmas 1996). ltJd4 18 'De2 ltJxe2+ 19 xe2 with a rare 14 xd6 e5
man, where in order to try and win I risked type of endgame which is nevertheless n 15 a-o-o lle6
taking a seemingly 'poisoned' pawn. favour of White. 16 e2 c8
11 ltJ b3 b6 Of course, not 16 ...lLle8 17 xe5
. llxe5
Game 42 Events took an interesting course in the 18 :txd7.
Belyavsky-Timman game Salov-Granda Zuniga (Amsterdam 17 lld3 ! 'De8
World Team Championship 1995): II...exd5 12 cxd5 lle8 13 e2?! 18 llbdl 'i'c6
Luzern 1989 (Salov recommends 13 b5!? ltJxd5 14
Nimzo-Indian Defence E32 'i'd2 c8! IS O-O-Q ltJc7 with chances for
both sides) 13 ...h6 14 f4 e7 15 d2
1 d4 'Df6 ltJhS! 160--0 f5! 17 bS fxe4 18 fxe4 a6!
2 c4 e6 19 c6 xc6 20 dxc6 ltJes 21 :tad I llac8,
3 'Dc3 b4 and here White could have maintained the
4 c2 balance by 22 "'e2.
5 a3 xc3+ 8 d6
6 xc3 b6 9 e4 c5
7 g5 b7 9 ...eS 10 dxeS (if 10 dS Black has the .
8 f3 interesting reply 10 ... c6 II lLlh3 bS)
'
Sometimes this idea of occupying the 10...dxeS is also played:
centre is implemented by playing the (a) 11 'tixeS ltJc6 12 il.xf6 (after 12
knight to f2: 8 'Dh3 d6 9 f3 h6 I0 h4 'tif4 'i'd4 \3 il.xf6 gxf6 14 'i'd2 'tieS 15 19 b4!
'Dbd7 II lLlf2. In this variation I played an ()....()....Q llfd8 16 'i'e l llxdl+ 17 'tixdl lld8 With this move White is able to
interesting game with Mozetic (Belgrade 18 'tie I f5 or 12 'i'c3 ltJxe4 \3 i.xd8 maintain the position of his bishop, if of
1993): 11...llc8! (by defending the c7 lLlxc3 14 il.xc7 .l:tfe8+ 15 d2ltJa4 16 b4 course he is not agreeable to a draw after
pawn, this prevents e2-e4 for the moment llac8 Black has good play) 12...ltJxe5 13 19 c7 lLlef6 20 d6 (after the exchange
because of the reply ... 'Dxe4) 12 e4 e5 13 i.xd8 J:taxd8 with compensation for the of rooks 20 lld6? llxd6 21 il.xd6 lle8 22
i.d3 i.a6! 14 O--O?! (14 llc l should first pawn; b4 lle6 23 b5 'tic8 24 'tid2 'De8 25 i.c7
114 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess liS
ltJdf6 the trap snaps shut) 20 ...ltJeS 21 a2 'i'xdl 31 "fixeS). Black is obliged to 1990 was memorable for my victories in which Black would easily advance . .. d6-
iLc7. play on a pawn down. three tournaments (Munich, Amsterdam dS and seize the initiative.
19 cxb4 26 ltJb5 and the USSR Championship), but in 14 axb5
The bishop has to be released, as after 27 cxb6 'i'xb6 Linares I did not play so well. 15 b4 c5
19...ltJxd6 20 b5 "fic7 21 "fid2 the over 28 al a4 16 ltJc2
loading on the d-file goes into action: 29 "fib4 Game 43 After 16 bxc5 b4 17ltJa4 'i'a5 18 ltJb6
21. ..ltJxe4 22 Uxd7ltJxd2 23 lhc7ltJb3+ Avoiding a little trap: 29 'i'xa4 ltJc3 30 Belyavsky-Kasparov dxc5 19 tLlxc8 cxd4 20 ltJe7+ >h8 21
24 q;,b2 ltJd4 25 iLd3 e4 26ltJf4 lleeS 27 'i'xa6? 'i'b3. Linares 1990 1Lxd4l:rfd8 Black seizes the initiative.
llxb7 exd3 2S .llxd3, and if Black risks 29 llb8 King's Indian Defence ES4 16 cxb4
regaining the pawn by 2S...g5 29 ltJd5 17 ltJxb4 1Le6
lle2+ 30 q;,cI llxg2 31 lle3, he comes d4 ltJf6 18 0-0
under a dangerous attack. But this implies 2 c4 g6 After the obvious 18 f4 there follows
an admission that Black's compensation 3 ltJc3 iLg7 18 ... tLlc4 191Lxc4 1Lxc4 20 tLlc6 'i'eS 21
for the sacrificed pawn is not so obvious. 4 e4 d6 tLlxb8 b4 with a strong attack for Black.
20 1Lxb4 ltJdf6 5 f3 0-0 Attempts to win the bS or d6 pawn do not
21 "fib3 a5 6 1Le3 ltJc6 come to anything, so White takes his king
22 1Lc3 1La6 7 "fid2 a6 into safety, retaining both the threats to the
23 ll3d2 ll c S 8 tLl ge2 l:rb8 pawns, as well as the possibility of a
24 Wbl 9 ltJcl e5 blockade at d5.
10 ltJb3 exd4 18 "fia5
11 tLlxd4 ltJe5
12 lldl c6
30 f4! 13 1Le2 b5!
White creates a passed pawn, as
30...exf4 31 tLlxf4 llxe4? is not possible
because of the pin 321Ld3.
30 'i'c7
31 fxe5 l:rxe5
32 l:rcl 'i'e7
33 'i'xe7
White does not allow his opponent the
slightest illusions by accepting the
24 h7 ? ! exchange sacrifice with 33 1Lxe5. The
Black wants to capture the c4 pawn ending is absolutely won, as the e-pawn is 19 'i'xd6!
when it is most convenient for him, but free to advance. By the invasion at d5 White could have
this does not work out. He should have 33 nxe 7 gone into a drawn ending: 19 tLlbd5 lbxd5
agreed to an inferior ending: 24...iLxc4 25 34 eS liJd7 As Kasparov mentioned later, he had 20 tLlxd5 .xd2 21 llxd2 ltJc4 22 1Lxc4
iLxc4 'i'xc4 26 'i'xc4 llxc4 27 1Lb2, 35 e6 ltJf8 prepared this variation for one of his bxc4 23 llc I 1Lxd5 24 l:rxd5 c3 25 1Ld4
where White can attack the weakness at e5 36 ltJ f4 gS matches. Annotating our game in llfcS 261Lxg7 xg7 27 nd3 c2 28 llb3,
after playing his knight to d3. After 36...ltJxe6 37 1Ld3+ gS 3S lnformalor, the World Champion rated but I was wholly caught up in the excite
25 1Lb2 tt:ld6?! tt:lxe6l:rxe6 39 1Lc4 the pin is decisive. very highly the play of both opponents, ment of the struggle.
26 c5! 37 ltJd 5 nxe6 attaching exclamation marks to most of the The capture of the d6 pawn is based on
Now it transpires that after 26...1Lxe2 38 ltJf6+ g6 moves in the range 13-22. tactics: 19... nfd8? 20 1Lb6!, while if
27 .xe6 hd I 28 nxd6 'i'xc5 29 nxd1 39 1Lh5+ 14 cxb5 19...11fc8? White does not take on e5, but
White emerges a piece up (29 ... 'i'c2+ 30 Black resigns White must prevent ... b5-b4, after plays 20 ltJcd5.
19 tlJc4 Kasparov's games always demand very 28 c3 in my best state I am ill-suited for training
20 .i.xc4 bxc4 complicated calculations, so that by this 29 l:tb4 .i.xa2 work. for the reason that I am able to
This is stronger than 20 ....i.xc4? when point. not surprisingly. both players were 30 l:tc1 c2 generate serious chess ideas only when I
Kasparov gives 21 .t!.fe1 '1i'aJ 22 tlJc6 rather tired, and the World Champion 31 'iii>f2 h5! achieve a high degree of concentration.
'1i'xc3 23 d4 with advantage to White. commits an inaccuracy in a comparatively 32 'iii>e2 .i.e6 and for me this is possible only during a
21 tlJc6 simple situation. A year later Loginov 33 'iii>d2 l:td6+ tournament game. But if it is borne in mind
If 21 :tb1 White has to reckon with (Azov 1991) found against me a simpler that for the greater part of 1993 I was in a
21 ... 'i'a3 22 '1i'd2 nxb4 (after 22...tlJg4 23 way to equalise: 26....:la8 27 tlJcs nxa2 28 state of depressed mental activity (the
d4 White maintains some advantage) 23 .t!.f2 .t!.a7 29 tlJxe6+ fxe6 30 .t!.e2 f6 31 situation improved only after this match),
.i.cS lIb2! 24 '1i'e3 (24 'ilfd4 'i'aS favours .lle4 lIa6 32 llde1 lIc6 33 f2 c3 34 .llc I for this reason I could not be useful to
Black, K.Neat) 24...tlJg4 2S xa3 tlJxe3 tlJe 7 3S h4 tlJdS. and it proved impossible Kasparov even to a moderate degree. On
(after 2S.. J:txg2+ 26 Wxg2 tlJxe3+ 27 Wf2 to breach Black's position. the other hand. the benefit that I gained
tlJxfl 28 .QxfS ..txfS 29 lIc 1 tlJxh2 30 27 tlJb6 .t!.c6 from the contact with him. supported by a
c;tw>g2 e5 31 a4 Black's knight is out of significant fee, put me in his debt, since I
play and the passed a-pawn is a danger) 26 do not consider myself to be an ungrateful
.i.xb2 .'(fl 27 .t!.xfl (or 27 xfl :tb8 28 person.
.i.c1 lhb1 :! 9 tlJxb1 c3 30 a4 .1c4+ 3 1 Strictly speaking, when preparing for
e1 c2 32 tlJaJ c3+ 33 f2 .1b3 34 games Kasparov does not need purely
e2 b4 35 Wd3 xaJ 36 .1l.xaJ xa4 chess helpers, since he himself generates
with a drawn ending) 27... fS, when Black 34 'iii>xc2? nearly all the opening ideas. and his critical
has compensation for the pawn. A blunder in time trouble, after which evaluation of these ideas is of an extremely
21 '1i'xc3 White ends up in a lost position. 34 We2 high level. Rather what he needs is an
22 d4 would have maintained the balance. attentive listener, capable of understanding
34 tlJe3+ his thoughts. asking reasonable questions,
35 'iii>b2 tlJxg2 and, in so doing, not resorting to flattery.
After 3S...l:td2+? 36 'iii>c3 l:txg2 White In brief, the main function of the trainer is
28 llbl? is saved by 37 l:tb2. to maintain in Kasparov a high degree of
White should have played 28 a4 c3! 36 c4 l:td3? creative activity.
(if Black regains the exchange by An answering mistake in time trouble, After his match with Short. Kasparov
28 ...tlJe3. after 29 ttJc3 he runs into after which the game quickly ends in a decided to optimise his budget of preparing
difficulties, as after the possible exchange draw. 36.. J:dS! 37 tlJb6 l:td2+ 38 l:tc2
. for competitions under the item 'payments
of rooks the passed a-pawn becomes l:txc2+ 39 c2 ltJel+ 40 'iii>dl tlJxD 41 to trainers'. This was undoubtedly a sen
dangerous) 29 lld3! c2 30 llc3 lla6 31 llb2 gS would have led to a won position. sible step, in the light of what I have said.
ttJcs l:txa2 32 l:tcl ttJd4 33 'iii>f2 .t!.b2 37 tlJe5 l:te3 At the same time he lost his taste for
(intending ...l:tb I) 34 ttJd3! (with the idea 38 l:te4 f6 philanthropic activities, which to a great
after 34..Jtbl of winning the pawn by 3S 39 l:txe3 ttJxe3 extent were hi s efforts at collecting funds
22 tlJxe4! J:3xc2; 34 e3 .t!.bl 3S ttJd3 .i.f5 36 d4 40 d3 .i.d5 for the PCA (professional Chess Asso
After White's 19th move both players .i.xd3 leads to a draw) 34...J:b8! 3S e3 41 ttJe1 ciation), since a significant part of these
had to anticipate this position and to assess ttJfS+ 36 d2 tlJd4 37 tlJc5 ttJb3+ 38 Draw agreed found their way to Kramnik, Anand, Ivan
the consequences of the subsequent tactical ttJxb3 xb3. Here Oleg Stetsko found a chuk and certain other grandmasters, each
duel. way to win after 39 l:td3! f6 (or 39 ...i.a4
. It is hard for me to speak impartially about of whom preferred to spend his time
23 xc3 tlJxd6 40 lld4 .i.b3 41 'iii>c3 with the threat of 42 Kasparov. In 1993 he invited me to be one studying chess, leaving the function of
24 .i.x g7 x g7 J:b4) 40 l:td4 'iii>e5 41 l:te4+ d5 42 c3 of his seconds for his World Championship prize fund collector to the World Cham
25 tlJxb8 tlJrs c5 43 l:teS+ d6 44 :a5 hS 45 l:ta3, and Match with Nigel Short. The help that I pion. However, Garry's passion for public
26 tlJd7 J:c8 the c2 pawn is lost. rendered him was insignificant, since even activities is too deep, and I think that
1 18 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 1 19
when, sometime early in the next m i llen 6 0-{) 0-{) Here in the game Barlov-Abramovic 13 .i..f6
n ium, he considers that he cannot achieve 7 d5 (Yugoslavia 1 994) Black incautiously I f 1 3 ... l:t.e8 White attacks with 1 4 'i'g4.
anything more in chess, we will see him in A sharp variation with a pawn sacrifice, played I S . . . lOdS?, and after 1 6 i.h6! he 14 lOd6
the higher echelons of executive power in which began to be practised in the 1 980s, found himself in difficulties. A committing move, since now White
Russia. and has not yet received a definitive 1 5 ... xf5 is better, when Pigusov has to reckon with the threat of . . . g7-g5 .
Kasparov ' s chess talent outshines all assessment. As compensation White gains Tiviakov, Lee Cup 1 997) continued 1 6 Although he regains his pawn, he is forced
the champions that preceded him. His active piece play. The main continuation is 'WxfS g6 1 7 'W D lOe6 1 8 i.h6 lOd4 1 9 to exchange his active pieces. 1 4 'Wg4!?
mental stam ina enables him to maintain his 7 lOc3. 'Wg2 11e8 2 0 e3 a6 2 1 lOe2 l:t.a7 2 2 lOxd4 came into consideration, making way for
quality of play for seven hours, which 7 exd5 xd4 23 xd4 'Wxd4 24 xc6 l:t.xe l + 2 5 the rook ( 1 5 l:t.ad I ).
makes his practical strength enonnous, 8 lOh4 e6 l:t.xe 1 tLlxc6 2 6 'Wxc6 >g7 with a n equal 14 e8
although by this criterion Karpov in his 9 exd5 lOxdS position. 15 exdS
best years could wel l be considered his I also used to play this variation with 11 dS White cannot build up the pressure with
equal. However, as regards his ability to White, until that memorable game with One of the latest attempts was 1 1 ... lOe6 I S l:t.c l ? because of 1 5 . . . gS! 16 lOxc8
work between toumaments, he signifi Boris Spassky at Baden 1 980, where my 1 2 e4 d6 13 f4 liJd7 14 i.e3 ( 1 4 lOxd6 gxf4, when he loses a piece.
cantly surpasses Karpo\', as well as all the rejection of his draw offer virtually cost i.a6 IS l:t.e l lOdeS) 1 4 . . . lOf6 I S l:t.f2 d5! 15 x c3 !
other grandmasters known to me. me first prize. The continuation was 1 6 exd5 cxd5 1 7 lOxdS xd5 18 xd5 16 bxe3 lOxdS
Karpov is superior to Kasparov only in 9 . . . cxd5 1 0 4Jc3 4Ja6 I I f5 tLJc7 12 f4 lOxd5 19 'Wxd5 l:t.e8 20 :rd I SLf8 2 1 lOd6 17 xdS exd5
one sense: he is a game player by nature. c5 1 3 :tc I c6 1 4 lOa4 g6 1 5 lOxcs i.xd6 22 'Wxd6 'Wc8 (or 22 ... 'Wxd6 23 18 'WxdS e6
[n the majority of mind games he requires bxc5 1 6 SLxc7 'fxc7 1 7 tDe7+ g7 1 8 l:t.xd6 lled8 24 l:t.fd I >f8 25 f5 'i;e7 26
the m inimum time to understand the al tLlxd5 xd5 1 9 SLxd5 :rab8 and B lack :r6d2) 23 f5 with slightly the better chan
gorithm, 'W hether it be cards, board games, achieved a reasonable position. It is true ces for White (Salov-Adams, Madrid 1 996).
or games such as Monopoly. On one that the plan chosen by Spassky does not 12 e4 lOba6
occasion in 1 990 in Amsterdam, a director promise more than equality, but I 13 i.f4
of a pension bank remarked that Karpov continued playing for a win, overstepped Also possible is 1 3 exd5 lOxd5 1 4
wou l d make a first-rate banker. Who the mark, and lost. lOxd5 cxd5 I S i.f4 lOcs ( l S . . .lOc7 also
knows, perhaps he will yet become one. 10 lOrs lOe7 comes into consideration) 16 xdS i.xdS
Kramnik will not make a banker, but 1 7 W'xdS with equal chances (Bukic-lelen,
perhaps he w i l l become a worthy opponent Yugoslav Championship 1 98 1 ).
to Kasparov, and possibly his successor on In the game Romanishin-Orlov (Bel
the chess throne. Kasparov was one of the grade 1988) White tried 13 l:t.e I , and after
first to draw attention to the 1 6-year-old 1 3 . . . dxe4? he could have gained the ad
Kramnik's amazingly subtle sense of vantage by 1 4 lOxe4 lOd5 I S 'Wg4, when a Here we can take stock. White has not
position, and predicted that he would soon possible variation is 1 5 ... g6 ( l 5 ... f6 loses achieved anything from the opening; more
be competing for the supreme chess title. to 1 6 ttJed6!) 1 6 h6 l:t.e8 1 7 lOed6 xd6 over, the h l -a8 diagonal and his queenside
1 8 lhe8+ W'xe8 1 9 lOxd6 W'e7 20 lOxb7 pawns have been weakened. C learly the
Game 44 W'xb7 21 W'd4 f5 22 l:t.c l lbc5 (or 22 ... l:t.e8 m iddlegame is more promising for Black.
Yusupov-Belyavsky 23 lhc6 l:t.e 1 + 24 i.f1 ) 23 b4 lOe6 (or Even so, by centralising his heavy pieces
Munich 1990 23 ... tDe4 24 l:t.xc6 lOxb4 2 5 'Wc4+) 24 W'e5 with 19 'Wd4 (not forgetting about the
Queen's Indian Defence E 1 7 l:t.e8 25 bS W'f7 26 bxc6 lOec7 27 W'd6. weakness at c3) and 20 l:t.fe l , White would
11 lOc3 Instead of 1 3 . . . dxe4 B lack should have held firm. However, Yusupov was
1 d4 lOf6 In some later games there occ urred I I consider 13 ...i.f6 14 e5 i.e7 I S 'Wg4 g6 still under the illusion of his former
2 c4 e6 e4 d5 1 2 l:t.e l dxe4 1 3 'i'g4 (after I 3 he4 16 lOxe7+ 'i'xe7 1 7 i.g5 'i'b4! 18 'i'D (or initiative, and he makes his next move
3 lOo b6 .i.. f6 1 4 W'g4 >h8! Black has the better 1 8 'WhJ hS ! with the idea of ... .i.. c 8) based on his tournament position (at the
4 g3 i.b7 chances, Cummings-Timoshchenko, Brati 1 8 ... lOe6 19 .i.. h 6 l:t.fe8 with a complicated time Artur was lagging behind), and not on
5 i. g2 i.e7 slava 1996) 1 3 ... .1f6 1 4 lbc3 .i..c 8 I S he4. game (Orlov). the demands of the position. This is a
1 20 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 121
m istake which practically everyone makes: 28 h4 'ike7 had to play for a win. And although, as This makes the position more tense,
I do not know anyone who is fortunate After winning material it is useful to they say in Poland, an old love will not be although it may not be better than 1 0 e3,
enough to b above such temptation. consolidate your forces. The queen has it forgotten, in 1 990 I had to expand my as played in Ljubojevic-Belyavsky (Reggio
19 'i'h5? 'i'd7 sights set on the long light-square Spanish repertoire and take up the sharp Emilia 1 99 1 ): 1 0 . . . 0-0 I I ttJbd2 h6 12 h3
20 llfel ttJc5 diagonal. Archangelsk Variation - the tried and ttJd7 1 3 iLlfI ! ? (or 1 3 d5 llb8 14 a4 exd4
21 lle3 29 <Ji>g2 lld5 tested weapon of my friend and trainer 1 5 cxd4 iLlb4 1 6 xb7 llxb7 1 7 as a7
If 2 1 llad I ? there would have followed 30 'i'g4 'ikb7 Mikha1chishin. Adrian had achieved excel 1 8 d5 iLld3 with counterplay for B lack)
2 1 . . . g4, and 22 'i'g5 xd 1 23 ttJfS does 31 <Ji>h2 lld l lent results with it, and his ' first aid' soon I 3 . . .ttJe7 14 iLlg3 c5 1 5 lle2?! ( 1 5 iLlh4! ?
not work because of 23 . . . f6. 32 lle4 came in useful. In order to reach the final would have maintained some initiative)
21 llad8 Now White's pieces are crowded of the World Cup, in the qualification 1 5 . . .'ii'c7 I 6 lld2 ttJf6 1 7 c2 11ad8 with a
22 llael together and are in one another's way, but tournament I needed to win with Black in good game for Black.
This leads to the loss of a pawn. things are also bad for him after 32 :t.xd I the last round against grandmaster I f 10 'i'd3 there can follow 10 . . . h6 I I
S tronger was 22 ttJe4, which after the lhd I 33 fif5 a5 . Dolmatov. iLlbd2 0-0 1 2 d5 (or 1 2 ttJfI exd4 1 3 cxd4
exchange of knights would have allowed 32 hS! iLlb4 14 'i'c3 c S ! with counterplay)
White to central ise his dark-.square bishop Tying the queen to the rook. Game 4S 12 ...iLle7 1 3 ttJfl c6 14 dxc6 xc6 I S ttJg3
at d4. 33 'tffS lln D o l m atov-Bely avsky 'i'c7 16 e3 llad8 with complicated play
22 fia4 Not only in order to invade, but also as Moscow (GMA) 1990 (Szalanczy-Mikhalchishin, Budapest 1 990).
23 a3 a defence against 34 g4, on which there Ruy Lopez C78 10 h6
Hoping after 23 ...'i'xa3 24 !Db5 'i'a4 2 S follows 34 . . . :dd l 35 :g3 :xf2+. 11 h4 g5
ttJd4 to gain at least some compensation. 34 d4 lld5 e4 eS A committing move, but without get
23 lld7 35 lleS llxe5 2 ttJO ttJc6 ting rid of the pin Black cannot solve his
36 xe S lle1 3 b5 a6 opening problems. As shown by the Uk
37 <Ji>g2 ll d 1 4 a4 ttJf6 rainian player Bondarets, he need not fear
38 'li' h2 lld5 5 bS 1 2 xg5 hxg5 1 3 iLlxgS in view of 1 3 . . .
39 <Ji>g2 lla5 6 b3 b7 .Ilf8. At various stages of the Archangelsk
This extended fianchetto characterises Variation 's development, Black has tried
the variation that in its time was analysed both 1 1 . .. O-Q and I \ ...'ii'd7 followed by
in detail by Archangelsk players. 12 . . . 0--0-0, but in the resulting sharp play
7 ltel c5 White's chances were nevertheless better.
8 c3 d6 12 g3
9 d4 b6 12 ...'ii'e7 with the idea of . . . h6-hS is
also interesting.
A weakness is a pennanent feature, and

for the moment B lack has to complete the
mobilisation of his forces.
24 ttJfS xfS
25 'ii'x fS ttJe6 Zugzwang!
26 e5 40 c4 llc5
With the faint hope of 26...'ii'xa3? 2 7 White resigns
lle4 and lth4 with a counterattack, but
Black has no reason to hUrry. At that time in the Breyer Variation of the
26 ltfd8 Ruy Lopez I was increasingly having to
27 ltD 'ii'xa3 solve difficult problems, especially when I 10 .l.gS
The critical position of the variation. The logical follow-up to the previous 22 !Drs xrs 41 b3 l:tb4
White is at the cross-roads. How can he move. After 16 4.Jb3 B lack carries out his 23 exrs bxc3 Wbite resigns
exploit the pawn weaknesses on both idea of 16 . . .h8, . . . llg8 and . . . liJf4, 24 bxc3
wings? The first idea that suggests itself is probing the weak point g2. Now B lack has the prospect of an Once, when reviewing the latest informa
the elimination o f the central pawn tension 16 4.Jxg3 outside passed pawn on the queenside, tion, I came across a game played with the
by 13 dxeS liJxeS 14 liJxe5 dxe5, trans 17 h xg3 which to a cenain extent restricts White's Archangelsk Variation, in which I was not
posing into a stable structure where these The attempt to achieve more by 1 7 play. an expert, where I discovered the idea of a
weaknesses should te ll. However, this is axb5 axb5 1 8 'ifixb5 exd4 1 9 xc6 xc6 24 l:txe 1+ piece sacri fice which seemed wonh trying.
not so, and i n Van der Wiel-Be lyavsky 20 'lIt'xc6 dxcJ 2 1 bxcJ allows B lack to 25 llxel g7 [ told my colleague Mikhalchishin about
(Am sterdam 1 990) after 1 5 'lifO ne8 1 6 attack on the kingside after 2 1 . . . 4.Jh5 with 26 4.Jh2 this.
liJd2 e7 1 7 h3 liJd7 1 8 liJfl '1Wf6 1 9 liJh2 the threat of . . . g5-g4. 26 g4 came into consideration. Adrian, who was one of the leading
'iih o 20 liJxO g7 2 1 ad I lle7 Black 17 exd4 26 h5 experts on the A rchange lsk Variation but
achieved a completely level endgame. 18 axb5 axb5 27 g4 h4 had given up playing it, became convinced
I n the game Prandstetter- Mikhalch ishin 19 xc6 28 4.Jf3 l:ta8 of the effectiveness of this new idea, and
(Donmund 1 990) White tried attacking the 19 'i'xbS dxc3 20 bxc3 4.Ja 7 21 Z:xa7 29 d2 l:ta4 as a result expressed the desire to return to
g-pawn by 13 h4, but a fter I J . . . g4 14 liJh2 xd5 22 :aa l a8 would have given 30 4.Jh2 his old love. B ut I was the one who had the
hS 1 5 'ftc I ( I S 'lifd2 ! ? 'i'h7 1 6 .!iJa3 ! ? 'ifie7 B lack a good gam e. Equally hopeless is 3 0 xg5+ xg5 J I fortune to carry it out first.
came into consideration, with a com p l i 19 xc6 4.JxgS g4 32 4.Je4 d5 33 liJd2 h3 .
cated game) 1 5 . . .'.t> h 7 16 'i'g5 :g8! Blac k 20 4.Jxd4 30 l:tc4 Game 46
developed a dangerous attack. 20 cxd4? g4 21 e5 tlfg6 would have led 31 l:tcl a5 Nunn-Belyavsky
Dolmatov takes a different path, but i t to loss of material. 32 e3 Amsterdam 1 990
turns out that it too has its minuses. 20 d7 Ruy Lopez C 7 8
13 'lIf d 3 21 4.J2f3?
The queen suppons the pawn centre, This defence of f2 leaves the knights e4 e5
but in so doing it comes within range of overloaded. 21 :e2 ' was stronger. Now 2 liJf3 liJc6
B lack ' s king's knight. Under the influence B lack firmly seizes the initiative. 3 b5 a6
of this game, Dolmatov later experimented 4 a4 4.Jf6
against Zak (Tel Aviv 1 99 1 ) with 13 'lIfd2, 5 b5
but here too after 1 3 . . . liJh5 1 4 a4 liJxg3 I 5 6 b3 b7
hxg3 '1l'f6 1 6 dS exd4! B lack solved his 7 c3
problems. It was in this branch of the variation
13 4.Jh5 that a surprise awaited Nunn. The English
14 4.Jbd2 'i'f6 grandmaster, wel l known for his opening
The game Cladouras-Mikhalch ish i n erudition, had of course no suspicion of
( B udapest 1 990) continued 1 4 . . .liJxg3 1 5 32 d5! this.
hxg3 'ifif6 1 6 d5 g4 1 7 liJh4 .:lae8 with a Defending the rook. The c3 pawn will 7 liJ.le4
compl icated game, not run away. 8 d4 liJaS
15 d5 33 e8 xc3 Black has also tried 8. ..e7 9 .e2 dS
A subtle manoeuvre. Now in the event 34 d7 e5 10 dxe5, but now after 1 0 . . . 4.Ja5 1 I c2
of IS . . .4.JN'l! 16 xf4 gxf4 with the idea 21 b4! 35 l:tdl xb2+ c5 12 4.Jbd2 liJxd2 13 xd2 o!tJc4 14 .i.f4
of an attack on the g- file (after .. .' h8 and Black immediately emphasises the 36 xb2 c6 are not easy
(}--{) I S b3 4.Jb6 1 6 e6! things
. . . :g8) \Vhite successfully counterattacks drawbacks to White's previous move by 37 l:tel l:txg4 for him (Kindermann-Nikolic, Munich
on the queenside with 1 7 a4. striking on the flank where j u st now the 38 g3 bxg3+ 1 990). He also has problems after I O . . .
15 llae8 opponent was attacking, since 22 cxb4? is 39 fxg3 l:tb4 I I l:td I , e.g. I I . . . ttJaS 1 2 .i.c2 .c8 1 3
16 a4 not possible because o f 22 . . . g4. 40 g2 l:tb2+ 4.Jbd2 g4 1 4 h 3 g6 I S liJxe4 dxe4 1 6
lLld2 .!lad8 1 7 J::re I f5 1 8 exf6 'ii'xf6 1 9 lild2 (}-{H) 1 6 'ii'e2 with the idea of lilxe4 i t i s not apparent how White can develop 'i'e2 lUc2 22 'i'xe4 'ii'c3 23 l:tb3 'i'c5 24
lLlxe4 fr'c6 20 e3 lLlc4 2 1 d4 lLlxb2 22 and a2-a4) 1 3 . . . {}-{H) 1 4 D d4' 1 5 cxd4 his queenside. l:tg l l:tfe8 25 'ii'c 4 White gains the
"'g4 with an attack for White (Kalegin cxd4 with slightly the better chances for 17 hl advantage.
Ibragimov, Russia 1 997). Black (Zapata-Milos, Recife 1 99 1 ); Nunn prefers to remove h i s king from 18 e3
(b) 1 1 . .. .ltd6 1 2 lUf5 (after 1 2 D Black the pin immediately. It stands to reason There is no time to prevent . . . b5-b4,
can force a draw by 1 2 . . . .ltxh2 + 1 3 xh2 that later this position was subjected to a since if 1 8 a3? there follows 1 8 . . . e3 !
fr'h4+ 1 4 <tt;>g I 'ill' f2 + or attack with serious analysis. When in the last, decisive Simplifying by 1 8 lUd2 xd4 1 9 cxd4
12 . . . fr'h4) 1 2 . . . 0-0 1 3 lLld2 tIeS 14 lLlxe-l ' round of the 57th USSR Championship 'i'xd4 20 lUb3 'ii'x d I 2 1 l:txd I e3 is also no
dxe4 1 5 'tifg4 'i'f6 1 6 gS g6, and hert! (Len ingrad 1 990) I again chose the Arch better.
in the game Sadvakasov-V . I vanov (Russia angelsk Variation, my opponent Semion 18 lUxe3
1 996) White should have played 1 7 Ihe4 ' Dvoiris was well prepared: 1 7 .!lxe4 fr'd5. 19 llxe3 b4
ixe4 1 8 ixe4 h5 1 9 'i'h4 '1'ie6 20 D , 20 tiJd2 bxc3?!
although evt!n here after 2 0 . . . ::::' a c8 Black's A careless move, which allows White
chances are better. adroitly to block the c-pawn with his
10 lLlc-l knights. After 20 ...xd4 21 cxd4 li'xd4 22
11 .ltxe4 .ltxe4 lUf1 fr'e5 it would have been much more
12 .!leI d5 difficult for him to hold the position.
9 c2 13 lLlxd4 21 ttJ2b3 c2
White commences a forcing l ine. 9 22 'i'd2 b6
lLlxe5 has also been played: 9 . . . lLlxb3 1 0 22 ... !:rc8 ! ? also came into consideration,
fr'xb3 'iii f6 I I f3 ( I I c4 'i'e6! or I I tLld2 .I. . 1. X but I did not want to give up the pin.
can also be considered) 1 1 . .. c5 1 1 !LJg4' i .l ' 23 !:rc3
(after 12 lid I !LJe6 13 a4 d6 14 'i'e2 c5 '
B lack ' s chances are better, Anand
Mikhalch ishin, Moscow GMA 1 9 89) 1 8 .:r.h4 (after 18 'i'D lUeS ! 19 'i'fS
1 2 ... lLlxb3 13 lLlxf6 + gxf6 (at Linares 1 99 2 :ae8 20 lUd2 b4 2 1 !:rh4 g6 22 lUe4!
I f1 ippantly played 13 ...<tt;>e 7?? against xd4+ 23 cxd4 li'xd4+ Black has a good
Ivanchuk, and got away with a sl ight fright game, Hellers-Shirov, Stockholm 1 990)
after 14 axb3 xf6, after discovering to 1 8 ... !tad8 (with the idea of . . . bS-b4) 1 9
my surprise in later analysis that after 1 4 'i'd3 fS 2 0 g5 !:rde8 2 1 lUd2 lUeS 22 li'f1
g5 ! tiJxa I W h ite has a forced mate: I 5 f4 23 h I (nevertheless it transpires that
!:re l + -;t1d6 1 6 f4+ c6 1 7 dS+ c5 1 8 13 c5! White cannot manage without this move,
b4+ c4 1 9 !LJa3+ xc3 20 lLle4+ xb4 It was this discovery that I discussed as if 23 !:rxf4 !:rxf4 Black gains the
2 1 :Ib I + a3 22 lLlc3 ! and 23 c l mate) with Mikhalchishin. It turns out that advantage after both 24 xf4 xd4+ 25
1 4 :e l + e7 15 axb3 d6 16 f4 d7 1 7 Black's position is sustained by this piece cxd4 li'xd4+ 26 h I l:t8 27 g3 g5, and 24
lLld2 a5 1 8 lLlf1 d5 1 9 c4! with the better sacrifice: he is able to exploit the fact that li'xf4 lilg6 25 'i'g4 hS 26 'ii'x.h 5 xd4+ 27 Here I though for a long time over how
ending for White (Wolff-Tal, San Fran White's queen 's knight is undeveloped. h l xc3 28 l:tf1 l:te6) 23 ... lUg6 24 l:th5 to exploit the pin on the d-file, but I failed
cisco 1 990). Before this Black used to play 1 3 ... d6 1 4 xd4 25 cxd4 h6 26 'i'd3 'ii'f5 2 7 3+ to find anything decisive. For example,
9 exd4 D li'h4, sacri ficing a piece, but not !:rf7 28 lUD l:te3 with a complicated game, 23 ... 'i'd5 succeeds only after the
10 b4 obtaining any real attack. which finally ended in a draw. immediate capture of the pawn: 24 tLlxc2?
The most popular move at that time, 14 bxc5 xcS 17 l:te8 'i'xd2 25 lUxd2 a5 or 24 l:txc2? e3 25
After 10 :e I ? ! d5 1 1 lLlxd4 Black obtains 15 f3 According to analysis by Zadrim, after Wd3 !:rad8 26 lld l xd4 27 lLlxd4 (27
active counterplay: 16 fxe4 dxe4 1 7 ... b4 1 8 lUd2 xd4 1 9 cxd4 'ii'xd4 20 'ii'xd4 loses immediately to 27 . . . e2 ! )
(a) l l .. .c5 12 lUf5 'ii'd 7 1 3 lUe3 (Mi los The outcome of the opening is this: !:rb l ! lile3 (20 ... lUxd2 21 'i'xd2 'ii'xd2 22 27. . .h5 28 'We2 ( 2 8 h3 Wxd4 29 Wxd4
recommends 13 f3 ! 'ii'xf5 14 fxe4 dxe4 1 5 B lack has only one pawn for the piece, but xd2 fS 23 xb4 also favours White) 2 1 l:txd4 30 l:txd4 e2 leads to a rook ending
Uncompromising Chess 127
would have led t o a heavy piece ending 4 d2

with Black a pawn up) 2 8 .. Jle4 29 llc4 would have been easier to block the a
with all the pawns on one flank. have not felt well d is posed to the
llg4 30 Ir.a4 (or 30 h3 l:txg2 3 1 'iWxg2 pawn: 29 'Wd2! 'Wxd2 3 0 lIxd2 a4 3 1 tZ:la l
move 4 tZ:ld2 since the time of my game
'iWxc4 32 'i'e4 e2 and wins) 30 ... 'tWe4, Ir.c8 32 tZ:le2.
with Makarychev (47th USSR Champion
when White's pieces are completely pin 29 a4
ship, Minsk 1 979), where after 4 . . . c5 5 a3
ned and the infiltration of the black pieces 30 tZ:lc1 a3
xd2+ 6 'ti'xd2 cxd4 7 ll:\o b5 8 cxb5
is merely a question of time. But by first Reminding White that his back rank is
b7 9 'i'xd4 'i'a5+ 1 0 'i'b4 'i'xb4+ I I
playing 24 tZ:le2, White unravels his forces also weak: 3 1 tZ:la2? 'tWb 1 + 3 2 'Wg i 'ti'xg l +
after 24 . . . 'ilf'xd2 25 tZ:lxd2 .!lac8 26 tZ:lc4, 33 xg l lld8 and wins. axb4 a6 Black achieved a good game.
and then picks up the pawn. 31 b3 'iWbl 4 e7
B lack also does not have time for 32 'tWgl Ir.d8 Black tries to disrupt the development
2 3 ... 11a7, strengthening the pin: 24 l'lxc2 3 2 ... llc8 was also possible. of the white pieces: for example, now
lld7 25 llc4 ! ? as 26 a4 e3 27 'tWc3 e2 2 8 33 tZ:lcb3 a2 White is unable to fianchetto his queen's
lle l 'i'f6 2 9 'li fJ ,*xfJ (29 .. JIxd4 3 0 34 Ir.d l 'tWb2 bishop .
'tWxf6 lld I fails to 3 1 'tir'h4) 3 0 gxfJ and 35 'tWel g6 4 . . . cS is sometimes played here, in
White eliminates the e-pawn wh ile How long can the tension be analogy with the similar variation of .the
. retaining his extra piece. maintained? But in this respect 3S ... h6 was 38 l:txd4! Queen's Indian Defence, where instead of
23 e3 more accurate, threatening to capture on 39 tZ:lxd4? 3 g3 White has played 3 ll:\ O . But, as
24 llxe3 llxe3 d4. After the immediate 3 S ... xd4 3 6 The last of a series of errors, which can shown by the game Belyavsky-Grosar
25 'tWxe3 a5 :xd4 (not 3 6 tZ:lxd4? h6 and 36 . . . :xd4) be explained only by severe time trouble. (Portoroz 1 996), there is a sign i ficant
26 a4 '*d7 36 . .. .l:tf8 3 7 lld3 'ir'b I White consolidates After 39 lle I ! lle4 40 llxe4 'tWxe4 4 1 difference: 5 xb4 cxb4 6 g2 0--0 7 e4!
27 llci 'tWxa4 w ith 3 8 'iWd I . 'Wxb6 'tWb l + 42 h2 a l 'tW 43 'Wd8+ the (White develops his knight at e2, where it
After 27 . .. llc8 Black feels the weakness 36 'tWe7? queen ending should again be a draw. controls d4 from an invulnerable position)
of his back rank: 28 '*h3 ! 'tf'd8 29 'i'd3 White m isses a good chance with 3 6 39 xd4 7 . . .d6 8 tZ:le2 e5 9 0--0 ll:\c6 1 0 a3 bxa3 I I
'Wf6 30 h3 , and all the same White picks lld2 ! : 40 'Wf4 'i'xn +! tZ:lxa3 as 1 2 'i'd2 b6 1 3 llfd I a6 1 4 b3
up the c2 pawn. But now he has another (a) 3 6 . .. 'tWb 1 3 7 lld l 'Wb2 3 8 lld2 'tWaJ White resigns :e8 1 5 ll:\c2 'i'c7 1 6 ll:\e3 g6 1 7 tZ:lf5 c8
passed pawn on the a-file, which gives him 39 'tWa l Ir.a8 40 :1c2 d8 4 1 ttJc 1 'tWe3 , 1 8 '1lI'gS xf5 1 9 exfS <tJg7 20 fxg6 hxg6
hopes. and after, say, 42 tZ:lce2 f6 43 :1xa2 llxa2 In my 1 4th and last USSR Championsh ip 2 1 ll:\c3 tZ:lxd4 22 'i'xf6+ 1 -0.
28 llxc2 'W b 4 44 'iWxa2 xd4 45 tZ:lxd4 'Wxd4 Black's i n 1 990 I was leading before the last round. 5 g2 d5
pawn advantage is insufficient for a win in After a draw with Sem ion Dvoiris I was 6 ll:\f3 0-0
the queen ending; caught by three other players, but on the 7 0-0 c6
(b) 36 . . . 'Wc3 37 tZ:lfS ! llf8 38 ttJe7+ tie-break the title of USSR Champion went
h8 39 ttJd5 'Wxb3 40 'Wa l + f6 4 1 tZ:lxb6. to me. This was for the fourth time.
'iWxb6 42 'Wxa2, and again Black has no
real winning chances. Game 47
36 'Wc3 ?! Belyavsky-Vyzhmanavin
A mistake in reply. Black could have 5 7th USSR Championship
regained his piece by 3 6 ... llxd4 37 'We8+ Leningrad 1990
g7 38 'We5+ h6, when his king escapes Catalan Opening E l l
from the checks, whereas now White
finally is able to approach the next d4 tZ:lf6
queening candidate. 2 c4 e6
29 lld2? 37 lln 'Wc4 3 g3 b4+
Fortunately for me, my opponent, who 38 'Wf6 With this check Black lures the bishop
was in rather bad time trouble, leaves the 38 'We2 'Wa4 39 Ir.a l xd4 40 lilid4 to d2, as he assumes that it is less well On the other hand, Black too is obliged
queens on, whereas after their exchange it llxd4 4 1 :txa2 lld l + 42 h2 'Wf4+ 43 g3 placed there than at c I . to choose the closed variation, since after
128 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 1 29
7 ... dxc4 8 'i'c2 a6 9 'i'xc4 b5 1 0 'i'c2 12 exdS! Black tries by tactical means to use the At Linares 1 99 1 I finished third, but after
White has the threat of a5 - i.e. he is This interposItion also comes under strength of his d-pawn, whereas trickery this my results began to deteriorate. The
simply a tempo up on the main variation. typical 'Catalan' ideas, as White succeeds such as 22 ... a6 23 xd8 'jIxe6 24 tl.xe6 depth of the slump came at Reggio Emilia,
8 r4 in clearing the long diagonal. For example: lUxd8 25 lUc7 lUxe6 26 lLIxe6 %:rf5 27 b4 where I scored only one and a half points.
8 'i'c2 is the alternative: 12 ... lLIg6 13 d6 lLIxf4 14 dxe7 lLIh3+ I S would have led to the loss of this pawn.
(a) 8 . . . b6 9 tl.d l a6 10 b3 lLIbd7 I I <ot;>h l 'jIxe7 1 6 xa8 b7+ 1 7 xb7 23 i.xd8 xf2 + Game 48
a4 c5 1 2 lLIa3 i.b7 \ 3 cxd5 i.xd5 1 4 lLIb5 'jIxb 7+ 1 8 f3 fol lowed by <ot;>g2, and Black 24 g2 'i'xd8 Gelfand-Belyavsky
a6 1 5 lUc3 i.xf3 16 i.xf3 cxd4 with a has no compensation for the exchange. 25 nn d2 Linares 1991
double-edged game (Belyavsky-Yusupov, 12 b7 26 ncd 1 lLId4 Queen's Gambit D37
55th USSR Championship, Moscow 1 988); 13 dxeS xdS
(b) 8 . . . lUbd7 9 :!ld l b6 10 i. f4 i.b7 I I 14 i.xdS exdS 1 lUf3 d5
lLIc3 llc8 1 2 lLIe5 lLIh5 1 3 e3 lLIhf6 1 4 IS lLIc3 d4 2 d4 lUf6
h3 b5 1 5 lLIxd7 lUxd7 1 6 c 5 and White has 16 lLIb5 lLIc6 3 c4 e6
the better chances ( Belyavsky-Yusupov, I7 :!leI 'tj'd7 4 lUc3 e7
Ubeda 1 988). 18 tl.e 1 .!lad8 S i. f4
8 b6 Preparing the further advance of the d 6 e3 c5
9 lUeS lLIrd 7 ? ! pawn, which did not work immediately 7 dxcS xcS
Hardly a good idea. After all, as yet the because of 1 8 ... d3 19 lUd6, when 8 'jIc2
standard 9 ... i.b7 followed by 1 0 . . . lLIbd7 19 . . . lLIxe5? fails to 20 i.xe5 i.xd6 2 1 At Belgrade 1 993, Vladimir Kramnik
has in no way been discredited. The 'jIxd3 J:.ad8 22 !lcd I with a winning pin. played 8 a3 lLIc6 9 llc I against me, but
removal of the control of e4 allows White However, the initiative is still with White. after 9 . . . d4 1 0 lLIxd4 e5 I I lLIb3 i.xa3 1 2
to open the h l -a8 diagonal and to convert bxa3 exf4 1 3 'jIxd8 :!lxd8 1 4 exf4 i.e6
his main 'Catalan' trump - the strength of 27 lUxd4 Black gained good compensation for the
the bishop at g2. Unfortunately for B lack, this is quite pawn.
10 cxdS cxdS sufficient to neutralise his initiative. If 8 lUc6
11 e4 instead White concerns himself with 9 aJ 'jIaS
blocking the long diagonal by 27 'i'e4?,
then after 27 . . . !le8 28 lLId6 ':xe4 29 lLIf7+
g8 30 lLIxd8 e3 3 1 lLIb7 !le6 his knight
cannot escape, and the d2 pawn becomes a
real force.
27 'i'xd4
28 'i'e2 'i'd5+
29 b3 'i'f5+
19 'i'b3! 30 'i'g4 'i'dS
The threat of . . . d4-d3 is parri ed by the 31 'i'e2 'i'f5+
counter-threat of e5-e6. 32 g4 'i'f6
19 b8 33 'i'e4
20 e6 It was still possible for White to lose:
11 lLIxe5 It now transpires that the d4 pawn is 33 ':xd2?? 'jIh6+ 34 g2 'i'c6+ 3 5 h3 Since the variation where White castles
After 1 l ...b7 1 2 exd5 xdS 1 3 xd5 relying on the shaky support of the knight llf3+. queenside is considered dangerous for
exd5 1 4 ttJc3 lLIf6 1 5 a4 the c6 square is at c6. 33 g8 Black, 9 ... e7 comes into consideration,
seriously weakened and it is not easy for 20 fxe6 Here Black lost on time, but his when after I 0 he gains an important
Black to complete his development. But 21 'i'xe6 c5 position is hopeless, as after 34 g2 White tempo to launch a counter-attack on the c
now he is left with a weak isolated d-pawn. 22 c7 d3 picks up the d2 pawn. file by 1 0 ... d7, since i f I I cxd5? lLIxd5
1 2 lUxd5 exd5 1 3 .!lxd5 .!lc8 with a clear f6 is probably 20 . . . h6, but of course this 'Wb6 1 7 !tc I lUe4 with dangerous threats; xe4! dxe4 1 9 11xd8+ llxd8 20 d4 !txc3
advantage. does not solve all B lack ' s problems. (c) 14 lUc3 xa3 ! 1 5 bxa3 'i'xa3 1 6 2 1 bxc3 .txfl 22 !txfl lUc6 23 c2 he
10 a.--o-() Instead of 12 . . . a6? ! , more vigorous is 'Wb2 .!lab8 1 7 xb8 llxb8 1 8 lUb5 'i'a5 again has the better chances, e.g. 23 . . . e5
This variation was devised by grand 12 . . . eS, as played in the game Van Wely and B lack regains his piece with a 24 c5 lld5 25 b4 as 26 c4.
masters Mikhail Gurevich and Grigorj Short (Wijk aan Zee 1 997), which continuing attack. 18 xc3 xb5
Kaidanov. continued 13 g5 exf4 14 gxf6 xf6 1 5 Wh ite also cannot be satisfied with 1 3 19 xb5
10 d7 lUd5 lUe7 1 6 lUxf6+ gxf6 1 7 .!lhg l + h8 cxd5 b4! , when he comes under a fierce Of course, not 1 9 b4 a4!
I n later games of m ine there were some 18 e4 b5 19 d5 lUxd5 20 exd5 b4 2 1 attack after both 14 dxc6 xc6 I S axb4 19 llxb5
amusing developments in the alternative axb4 "iWa I + 22 q;,d2 a6 23 'i'c6 !td8 24 xb4 1 6 e2 .txc3 1 7 bxc3 e4 1 8 !td3 20 h4
variation 10 ... e7 1 1 g4 . The following '1t>c3 ! b7 25 'i'xa6 xa6, and B lack :lab8+, and 1 4 lUa4 f8 I S dxc6 xc6.
year in Linares I played against Gelfand maintained the balance. The inclusion of 13 g5 lUh5 and now 1 4
1 1 ... dxc4 12 xc4 a6?! 1 3 g5 lUh5 1 4 11 g4 cxb5 runs into 1 4 . . . lUxf4 ! (not 1 4. . .lUe7?
d6 xd6 I S llxd6 lUe5 1 6 e2 lUxo 1 7 This may not be the best move. I I 1 5 e5 a6 1 6 b4 'Wxa3 1 7 bxc5 axb5 1 8
xO 'iWxg5 1 8 lUe4 "iWf5 1 9 xhS "iWxh5 q;,b I I ?, as played against me by Chemin in 'i'b2, when White parries the threats,
20 llg l . a quick-play game (Aubervilliers 1 996). retaining his extra piece) 1 5 exf4 (both 1 5
not only moves the king to a safer square, bxc6 xc6 1 6 exf4 d4 1 7 lUe4 xa3 and
but also threatens the d5 pawn (it is not 1 5 'Wa4 d4! also favour B lack) 1 5 . . .lUe7 1 6
possible to win it immediately: I I cxd5 lUeS e8, when Black gains the
lUxd5 1 2 lUxd5 exd5 13 .l:xd5? xe3+). advantage.
11 !tfc8 13 lUe 7
12 '1t>bl 14 lUd2
White threatens a fork, and defends
against the threat of 14 ... xa3, on which The situation appears to have clarified,
there follows I S lUbJ 'i'b4 16 lld4. But 1 4 but the apparent simplic ity is deceptive.
eS ! ? and 1 4 !tc I ! ? are also interesting. White's king is less securely covered, and
14 'i'd8! he has to reckon with the possible man
15 lUb3 oeuvre of the knight to c4, from where it
15 e2 was simpler, completing his attacks the a3 and b2 pawns. White hopes
Here Boris offered a draw, which I development, but White was hoping after by the advance of his h-pawn to lengthen
accepted. However, this game was 'con I S ... b6 to develop his bishops more the a l -h8 diagonal for h i s bishop, but even
tinued' at the 1 996 Olympiad. Vladim ir actively by 16 d3 lUg6 17 g5. so I was more afraid of 20 f4! ? with the
Akopian did not offer a draw, and I However, disillusionment awaits him. idea of f4-f5.
decided to prevent the threatened check at 15 lUe4! 20 .!le8? !
f6 by 20 ... f5, after which I was consider Attacking the c3 knight, which i s Too slow. After 2 0. . .lOe8! th e knight
ably surprised by the reply 2 1 lUf6+! It 12 b5! covering the queen. Now if 1 6 lUxe4 there could have gone via b6 or d6 to c4 with
turned out this move had been analysed i n 13 exb5 follows 1 6 . . . xe3 1 7 xc8 !txc8 1 8 dangerous threats: 2 1 h 5 lUd6 22 h6 ltJc4
one o f the issues of New in Chess, which I After 1 3 lUxb5 a6 ( 1 3 ...liJe7 ! is also xe3 dxe4 with advantage to B lack, while 23 a l (23 'Wxh7+ does not work:
had not seen. The game continued good - Ftacnik) White is drawn into forc if 1 6 e5 Black diverts the bishop with 23 . . .xh7 24 hxg7+ g6 25 llh8 liJxb2
2 1 . . J 1xf6 22 c7 h6 23 .!ld8+ !tf8 24 ing play, where Black' s attack develops of 1 6 . . . d6 ! 1 7 xd6 liJxd6, gaining the 26 xb2 :'xb2+ 27 xb2 f6+) 23 . . . g6
.!lxf8+ xf8 25 !td 1 d7 26 !txd7 b5 27 its own accord: advantage. 24 d3 :tab8 2 5 f4 'iii'b 6 . Things are even
b I .!le8. and when Akopian failed to find (a) 14 c7 llxc7 1 5 lUxc7 'Wxc7 1 6 16 lUxeS llxcS worse for White after 2 1 'Wa4 liJd6 22 'Wd4
the best continuation 2 8 !tf7+ g8 29 cxd5 6!? 1 7 dxc6 xc6 with the threat 17 .i.e5 lUxc3+ f6 23 g5 e5 24 'Wg4 f5 25 'irg3 lOe4 26
d7 !tf8 30 !te7, and played instead 28 of . . . O and . . . e4; The simplest. If 1 7 ... lUg6 1 8 d4 xe5 6.
e5? !te7, I managed to escape from the (b) 14 liJbd4 lUxd4 1 5 lOxd4 ( 1 5 exd4 lUxc3+ 1 9 bxc3 llcc8 20 f4 and White 21 h5 d6
vice. The best defence against the check at xa3 16 bxa3 xa3) 1 5...a4 1 6 'ird2 stands better, while after 17 ...xb5 1 8 22 'Wa4?!
A mistake in reply. Gelfand did not l ike Game 49 c 5 ! b4 1 2 lUa4 d 5 ! with a complicated Dolmatov played the spectacular
22 h6 tixa3 23 hxg7 lUg6 24 lld3 'i'a6! Belyavsky-Timman game), I chose the simplest one, not often 23 . . .11xfS ! (instead of 23 . . . .i.x(5) 24 exfS
with the threat of . . . lla5, when Black' s Linares 1 9 9 1 seen in grandmaster play. .i.xf5, when White cannot hold out against
attack gets there first: 25 'i!i'e2 llb3 2 6 llc I King's Indian Defence E86 10 b5 the pawn avalanche. The logical comple
llcb8! or 25 'i'd l e5 26 g5 d4 ! 27 'i'h5 A race typical of this variation now tion of White' s opening idea was 1 8 g5!
Wxg7 etc., but in defending the a3 pawn 1 d4 lUf6 commences. The blockading 1 0 ... h5 is un tUxh5 and only now 19 lLlg3 with a dan
White removes a defender from the b2 2 c4 g6 favourable in view of I I dxe5 dxe5 (after gerous attack, e.g. 1 9 . . . fS 20 lLlxh5 gxh5
pawn. The simplest was 22 Wa l l , with less 3 lU c3 g7 l l ...lUxe5 1 2 lUf4 the d6 pawn is a serious 2 1 c4+ h8 22 llxhS 'i'g7 23 llch2 etc.
predictable consequences. 4 e4 d6 weakness) 12 lUa4 ( 1 2 b l followed by
22 'i'b8! 5 f3 0--{) lUc l is also good) 1 2 ... 'i'e7 1 3 c5, fixing
23 es 'i'b7 6 e3 e5 the weak b6 and d6 squares in B lack's
2.. gs?! 7 lUgc2 c6 position.
The im med iate 24 :tc I was better, 8 'i'd2 ttJbd7 11 h5 "as
although after 24 . . . lUc6 25 h6 f6 26 JLc3 9 It is well known that after 1 1 ... lUxh5 1 2
llb8 B lack's initiative is very dangerous. The alternative here is 9 dS. For h6 with the threat of g2-g4 White i s the
2.. lUc6 exam ple, the game Timman-Kasparov first to get at the enemy king. Now the
25 llcl (Am sterdam 1 996) continued 9 . . . cxdS 1 0 queen is attacking the a2 pawn, but it is
cxd5 a6 I I g4 h5 1 2 h 3 lUh7 1 3 :g l ! h4 unsupported, and White's threats on the
14 tOc l :;h8 I S -Db3 f6 1 6 g5 e7 1 7 kingside are more real. 1 1 . . . lUb6 looks
0--0--0 f6 with complicated play. more logical.
9 a6 12 h6 xh6!
It is useful to divert the queen from the 15 lLlb6
centre. After 1 2 . . . b4 I J lUb I ..-xa2 14 lUg3 It also looks good to include this knight
exd4 I S xg7 xg7 ( 1 5 ... lUc5 is not in the attack via c5, which can be vacated
dangerous: 1 6 "h6 lUb3+ 1 7 c2 lUa l + by 1 S ... exd4. Now in the event of 1 6 llxd4
1 8 d2 'i'xb2+ 1 9 e I lUc2+ 20 f2 lLlcs 1 7 llxd6 lUb3+ 1 8 c2 lLla l + 1 9
tOe3+ 21 g I tiJfg4 22 fxg4 lUxg4 23 c I lLlb3+ Black gives perpetual check.
xd4 "xd4+ 24 .::I.xd4 lUxh6 25 hxg6 The attack 1 6 'i'g5 looks more
with a decisive material advantage) 1 6 dangerous:
"xd4 the queen controls the situation: (a) 1 6 ... 1L1c5 (this knight raid proves
25 d"! 16 . . . a5 1 7 "xd6 c5 18 hxg6 fxg6 1 9 e5 unsuccessful) 1 7 "xf6 lLlb3+ 1 8 c2
26 xd4 llb8 with an obvious advantage to White. 1Lla 1 + 1 9 d2 'i'xb2+ 20 e l lUc2+ 2 1
27 c3 ll:c:b2+ 13 "xh6 b4 f2 lLle3+ 22 lld2 'i'b3 2 3 .i.d3 and wins
28 a! .::I. b6 14 lU b ! 'i'xa2 (but not 23 h6? lLlg4+!);
29 g6 Black prepares a flank attack. 9 .....a5?! 15 lUg3 (b) 16 ... 1L1e8 1 7 lLlf5 ttJcs and White
After 29 "c2 'i'a6 30 a2 Black wins I 0 b 1 bS is premature in view of 1 1 cxbS Two years later, after Kasparov had breaks through Black's defences by 1 8
by 30 . . . l:b4! 3 1 g6 hxg6 32 hxg6 (or 32 cxbS 12 tUdS ! ? "xd2 1 3 ttJe7+ h8 1 4 neutralised the plan associated with this 1Lle7+ g7 1 9 hxg6 lLlb3+ 2 0 c2 lLla l +
h6 .::I.a 4 33 h7+ h8 3 4 xg7+ xg7) :xd2 b7, and here in Meulders-Minero move, I found another continuation 1 5 2 1 d3 'i'b3+ 22 lLlc3 fxg6 23 llxh7+;
32 . . ..::I.a4 33 gxf7+ xf7 34 "g6+ xg6 (Novi Sad Olympiad 1 990) White could :d2, which I employed against Dolmatov (c) 16 ... :e8 1 7 lLlf5 lLlc5! and after
35 .::I. c g l + f5 . have gained the advantage by 1 5 d S ! llae8 (Novosibirsk 1 993). The game continued vacating an escape path for his king, Black
29 .::I.a 6 (weaker is 1 5 ... a6 1 6 1Dc3 ttJc5 1 7 b4) 1 6 I S . . . 'i'xc4+ 16 l:c2 "e6 1 7 g4 'i'e7 and holds the position: 1 8 'i'xf6 (or 1 8 lLlxd4
30 gxf7+ x f7 ttJc6 with the idea o f tUa5 (Meulders). here I could not refrain from 1 8 lUg3?!, lLlfd7 with chances for both sides)
31 'i'f4+ g8 10 h4 when after 18 ...exd4 1 9 g5 lUg4! 20 fxg4 1 8 ... .i.xf5 1 9 h6 lLlb3+ 20 c2 1Lla1 +, and
32 "d6 lUd4! Of the numerous continuations (of lUeS 2 1 hxg6 fxg6 22 lUf5 gxf5 23 gxfS I if White persists with 2 1 d3?, after
White resigns which the most common is I 0 b I bS I I would have been virtually lost, had 2 1 . . . 'i'b3+ 22 ttJc3 f8 he risks losing.
16 c5! lUc4 21 'i'g5 33 tDd2 g7 Game 50

17 lld2 Here also it was not too late for 2 1 34 lLle4 BelYllvsky-Salov
c4 ! Reggio Emilia 199112
21 'lWd8 English Opening A30
22 dxe5 lLld7
23 'i'h6 g5! 1 tDf3 tD f6
24 tDrs xfS 2 c4 e6
25 exfS f6 3 tDc3 b6
26 c.H h8 4 g3 c5
27 e6 5 i.g2 i.b7
6 0--{) tDc6
7 e4
The other method of development is 7
d4 lLlxd4 8 tDxd4 i.xg2 9 xg2 cxd4 1 0
'i'xd4 'i'c 8.
17 tD x d 2? 34 7 d6
Winning the exchange proves to be the In time trouble Timman misses the 8 d4 cxd4
decisive m istake, as Black 's attack peters chance for 34 . . . c5, as White cannot play 3 5 9 tDxd4 ncB
out, whereas White ' s is still to come. tUxc5? :rcS 3 6 :!.d5? :txc5+. But after 3 5 Less flexible is 9 ... tDxd4 10 'iW xd4 e7
17 . . .tDa5 was essential. as played in the ':d l ! tDd7 3 6 c2 as (or 3 6 . . . c4 3 7 !la l I I b3 0-0 12 a3 'i'b8 1 3 J:lfd I !ld8 1 4
game Belyavsky-Kasparov (Linares 1 99 3 ), !la8 38 :!.a5) 37 b3 ':a8 3 S a4 f7 3 9 !:ac l i.c6 1 5 h 3 a6 1 6 i.b4 'i' b7 I 7 '1Ike3
which after I S cxd6 lUb3+ 1 9 c2 tUa 1 + ': e I and tDd2 h e breaks through on the e b5 1 8 cxb5 axbS 1 9 ':'c2 f8 20 ::Icd2
20 c l 8b3+ 2 1 c2 tDa l + 22 c l file. with advantage to White (Vagan ian
ended in a draw by perpetual check. Can one want any more for the 35 tDc5 lla8 Hellers. New York 1 990).
18 lLlxd2 'i'a1+ exchange? 35 ... aS loses immediately - 36 lLle6
19 tDbl e6 27 tDe5 !lb8 37 d7.
20 cxd6?! 28 :!.d 1 tDxc4 But now too, after the capture of the
White m isses a chance t o break up t h e By giving up a piece: 28 ... lla7 29 e7 b-pa ....n . the end is close.
opponent's k i n g position b y the divertin g llxe7 30 dxe7 'lWxe7 3 1 lLld2 lId8 32 b3 36 llxb4 lla7
2 0 i.c4 ! , exploiting the fact that Black lLlxc4 33 lLlxc4 :xd I + 3 4 'it>xd I g8 37 .lld 4 <t;e8
cannot take the bishop w ith 20 ... i.xc4? Black could have forestalled the pawn 38 <t;c2 as
because of 2 1 tDf5 gxfS 22 'i'g5+ hS 23 invasion. B ut not for long: after 35 tDd2 39 <t;c3 <t;d8
'lWxf6+. and tDe4 he is doomed. 40 lLle6+ <t;d7
However, defending the e6 bishop i s 29 e7 'lWe8 41 lLlc5+ <t;d8
also inadequate: After the 'exchange' of queens 42 lle4 h6
(a) 20 ... llae8 2 1 cxd6 a5 22 d7 lle7 29 ... tDe3 ? 30 exd8'i' :r.axd8 3 1 lle l furs 43 b3 lla8
(22...xc4 23 tD f5) 23 tDf5 xf5 24 exf5 32 x..f8 + .llxf8 the d-pawn has the final 44 g3 llb8
llxd7 (B lack also loses after 24 . . . exd4 2 5 word: 33 d7 tDd6 34 lle6 tDb7 35 tDd2 45 llxe5! 10 tDxc6
hxg6 'lWxfS 2 6 'lWx..f8+) 25 hxg6 'lWdS 2 6 <t;g7 36 tDe4 llf7 37 h6+ <t;xh6 (37 ... <t;g6 The quickest way to win is by creating The exchange of knights makes it easier
dxe5 with a winning position; 38 llxc6) 3 s lLlcs tDxc5 39 d8'IW. another passed pawn. for White to put pressure on the weakness
(b) 20 ... llfeS 2 1 cxd6 'lWa5 (or 30 'IW xf8+ 'lWxf8 45 fxe5 at d6.
2 l ...xc4 22 lLlfS gxfS 23 g5+ f8 24 31 exf8'IW+ llxf8 46 (6 e8 Apart from the plan in the game, also
'lWxf6) 22 tDfS ! xf5 23 exfS exd4 24 32 l:td4 lUeS 47 d7+ <t;d8 interesting is 1 0 b3 i.e7 1 1 a4 0-0 1 2
hxg6 with a quick win. If 32 . . .tDe3 White has the decisive 3 3 48 <t;d3 lla8 tDxc6 xc6 1 3 a3 'IWd 7 1 4 ll e 1 llfd8 1 5
20 1l5 d7 l:td8 3 4 lle4. Black resigns 'lWe2 'lWb7 1 6 tDbS 'lWb8 1 7 e S lLle8 1 8
i.xc6 :'xc6 1 9 llad 1 with advantage to 20 'i'b4 lOcs 28 J:[n i.xe3 43 'i'f6 h5
White (polulyakhov-Arseniev, USSR 1 989). 21 fibS 'i'd8! 29 J:[cel i.gS 44 llg6 'Was+
10 i.xc6 A clever retreat, with the idea of Better is 29 ...gS 3 0 bl fS with 45 h3 'Wb7
11 i. f4 i. e7 exchanging the dark-square bishops at g5, counterplay. Now, however, Black is no 46 l:th6+
12 e2 leaving White with a light-square bishop, longer able to play . . . f7-fS. Black resigns
13 nfd 1 'i'c7 running up against the dS pawn, after 30 bl ! d7
14 llac l 'tt' b8 which the advantage of the knight will tell. 31 i.e4 f6 Game 5 1
A favourable consequence for White of 22 fic6 gS! The possibility of . . . f7-f5 has been Belyavsky-Gelfand
the exchange on c6 is that 1 4 .. .llfd8? can 23 i.e3 x f6 blocked, and in the event of the active Linares 1992
be met by I S ll)dS ! , so B lack is forced to 24 as 3 1 ... hS 32 i.fS b7 (32...d8 33 g6 and Slav Defence D 1 0
remove his queen from the 'X-ray' action White could have avoided the exchange wins) 33 i.h7+ Cit>g7 34 fifS f6 35 i.g6
of the rook, although the knight advance sacrifice by 24 i.xc5 bxc5 25 ':'e I and ':'h8 36 i.e8 the attack on the king is 1 d4 d5
remains a threat. fought for control of the c-filc, b u t after decisive. 2 c4 c6
25 . . . i.d4 26 h3 ':xe l + 27 :'xe l 'i'f6 :: 8 32 fS g7 3 lUc3 e5
:e2 .:r.b8 the opposite-colour bishops 33 .bg4 At that time White had not yet found a
favour Black. After the fall of this pawn Black has no clear-cut way to gain an advantage in the
compensation for the exchange. Winawer Gambit.
33 i.d2 4 dxe5 d4
34 i.e6+ 'it>h8 5 lUe4 'Wa5+
35 J:[e2 i.c3 6 lUd2
36 1:1f4 i.eS When this game was played, Kasparov
37 J:[h4 lUxe6 had not yet demonstrated the virtues of 6
38 dxe6 ne8 xd2. This occurred in his game with
39 fS 'i'g8 Nikolic at the 1 992 Olympiad in Manila:
40 c;t>g2 l:te7 6 . . . 'WxeS 7 lUg3 'Wd6 8 lUD lUf6 9 'i'c2
40 ... :xe6 is met by 4 1 l:txh7+. But now i.e7 (9 ... xe6 1 0 lUe4 ! ) 1 0 (}...()....{) ()....{) I I
15 lUd5 comes an explosion. e3 dxe3 1 2 fxe3 'Wc7 1 3 xc3 xg4? 14
This looks spectacular, but in view o f i.d3 lObd7 IS f5 xxfS (or 1 5 ....:tad8 16
t h e reply i t would have been preferable to i.xg4 lUxg4 1 7 xxg7 lOxe3 1 8 'Wd2!
put pressure on the d6 pawn - 1 5 lUb 5 24 l:txe3 ! xg7 19 'Wxe3 with advantage to White)
l:tfd8 (after I S ...i.xbS?! 1 6 cxbS l:txc l 1 7 25 fxe3 bxaS 1 6 lUxfS llfe8 1 7 lUxg7! xg7 1 8 'WfS
thc I .:tc8 1 8 :c6 White exploits the weak 26 i' bS g4 lUf8 1 9 h4! h6 and here, as shown by
c6 square) 1 6 e5 dxeS 1 7 !:.xd8+ i.xd8 ( i f 27 hl Kasparov, 20 'Wg4+! lUg6 (20 ...h8 2 1
1 7 . . ..:txd8 1 8 i.xeS 7 1 9 i.xc6 'Wxc6 First 27 J:[fl is more accurate, and only lUgS! i.d8 22 llxd8!) 2 1 h 5 'i'b6 2 2 hxg6
20 ti:Jxa7 'Wa4 2 1 ti:JbS 'Wxa2 22 i.c7 i f 2 7 . . . .i.gS 28 h l . 'i'xe3+ 23 b l fxg6 24 'Wh4 would have .
White creates an outside passed b-pawn) 27 xg5?! led to a quick win.
1 8 i.xeS 'Was 1 9 i.xc6 J:[xc6 20 lUd6, and Evidently tired after his brilliant Subsequently the stronger 1 3 ... lUa6 was
White retains s lightly the better chances. strategic play, Salov hurries to regain the played, but after 1 4 a3 lUg4 (or 1 4 ...lUc5
15 exd5 e3 pawn. He could have achieved the same 1 5 b4 lUcd7 1 6 liJf5 lle8 1 7 cS b5 1 8 g4!
16 exd5 i.a4 aim by 27 ... .i.e5 ! with the threat of an with the initiative for White, Krasenkov
17 b3 J:[ce8! attack on the kingside, for example: 28 :fl 41 l:txe5! fxe5 Yanofsky, Hastings 1 99213) 1 5 J:[e l xf6
After 1 7 ...J:[fe8 1 8 bxa4 lUd7 19 i.h3 fS 29 'i'b l 'WgS 30 J:[f2 (or 30 l:tce l h S ! ) Black also has a lost position after 1 6 i.d4! g6 1 7 .i.d3 J:[e8 1 8 b 1 xd7 1 9
the pin on this rook is unpleasant. 30 . . .'i'xe3, and now after 3 1 J:[cfl lOdJ 3 2 4 l ...dxeS 42 'i'xf6+ 'i'g7 43 'WfS followed ti:Je4 White still has the better chances
18 bxa4 liJd7 J:[xfS l:txfS 33 l:txfS B lack has perpetual by J:[g4. (Marin-Cosma, Bucharest 1 994).
19 'Wd2 'Wc 7 check by 33 . . . lUf2+. 42 l:tg4 l:tg7 6 lUh6
1 99 1 ) continued 12 0-0 .i.xd2 13 'i'xd2 2 tUo <7Jc6

xd2 1 4 tUxd2 tUd7 I S tUo as with equal 3 d4
chances. Thanks to the efforts of Kasparov, in
10 .i.f5 recent years the Scotch Game has begun to
1 0 ... tUd7 runs into I I e6. However, at rival the Ruy Lopez i n popularity.
f5 the bishop has no future, and with 3 exd4
10 ... tUa6 ! ? I I g2 .i.e6 1 2 0-0 exd2 1 3 4 tUxd4 <7Jf6
xd2 b6+ B lack could have hoped for 5 tUxc6 bxc6
more. 6 e5 tUe 4
11 g2 c5?! A very rare continuation, counting on
Black should have been satisfied with the effect of surprise. And although it
I l . . . tUd7 12 tUd4 exd2+ (weaker is worked in this game, I nevertheless cannot
12 ... tUxe5 13 tUxf5 tUxc4 14 'i'c2 exd2+ recommend this move for serious play.
Gelfand chooses a sharp vanatlon, 1 5 .i.xd2 tUxd2 1 6 xc6+) 1 3 xd2 'xeS 20 .i.h3! The main continuation is 6 .. .'e7.
originally recommended by Euwe. 6 ... tUd7 14 .i.c3, although it is by no means easy Now it is the tum of the other bishop.
is considered sounder, although B lack has for him to develop further. 20 b6+
to reckon with 7 e6 fxe6 8 g3 , for example : 21 c5 c7
8 . . . tUeS 9 'i'c2 tUf6 1 0 g2 e7 I I tUh3 22 .i.e6+ h8
tUf7 1 2 0-0 eS 13 f4 ! with the in itiative for
White (Timman-Nikolic, Manila Olympiad
1 992), or 8 ... tUgf6 9 g2 eS 10 tUgf3 .i.e 7
I I 0-0 c7 1 2 b3 0-0 1 3 b2, and here i n
the game H.Olafsson-Hertneck (Man i l a
O lympiad 1 992) B lack should have played
1 3 . . . lle8, which would have led to an
unc lear position.
6 . . . g4 has also been played. For
example, the game Epishin-Shabalov 7 'i'd4?!
(Tilburg 1 993) continued 7 h3 hS 8 g4 After this the knight move proves justi
.i.g6 9 tUgf} hS! 10 .i.g2 hxg4 I I tUxd4 12 b4 xb4 fied, as the advanced position of the queen
( I I hxg4 lWl I + 12 xh l tUh6 ! favours 13 ax b4 xal aids the development of the fS bishop with
B lack) 1 1 . . . tUd7 1 2 e6 tUeS 1 3 exf7+ xf7 14 I}-{)! exd2 23 llxf6! tUd7 gain of tempo. 7 'iff} is a more natural way
1 4 ttJ4b3 c7 I S ttJe4 tUxc4 1 6 g5 ! .i.dS 15 'iFxd2 After 23 ... 'i'xe7 24 llxg6 hxg6 25 'i'd4 of attacking the knight, although here too
with equal chances, but perhaps Black Now it is clear that the exchange is too White mates from the other side. Black has his arguments. For example, the
could have tried for more with 1 5 . . . l::td 8 ! ? small a price for White's initiative. 24 llxg6! game Kamsky-Korchnoi (Buenos Aires
7 tUgO <7Jrs 15 I}-{) There is no defence. 24 . . . hxg6 25 'i'd4 1 993) continued 7 . . . tUgS 8 'iFgJ tDe6 9
8 g3 <7Je3 16 b2 a6 tUf6 is met by the decisive 26 'i'xf6. .i.d3 d6!? (9 ... d5 is the alternative) 1 0 0--0
After 8 ... ttJd7 9 e6 fxe6 1 0 .i.h3 tUf6 I I 17 <7Jg5 .i. g6 Black resigns. g6 I I ttJc3 dxe5 1 2 'i'xe5 g7 1 3 'i'e4 0--0
c2 White takes the initiative. 18 e6! f6 1 4 'i'xc6 l::tb 8 1 5 'i'a4 a6, and in view of
9 fxe3 dxe3 Otherwise there is no way of opposing Game 52 Black's powerful activity, White decided
10 a3 White's dark-square bishop, for example: Lautier-Belyavsky to return the pawn by 1 6 e3 llxb2 1 7
Preventing the bishop from going to b4. 1 8 .. 'i'xc4 19 exf7+ .i.xf7 20 llf4 "'5 2 1
.
Biel 1992 'i'a3 llb8 1 8 llad I 'iVh4 1 9 lOd5 .i. b7 , after
The usual continuation here is 1 0 .i.g2 llxf7 llxf7 (2 1 . .."'6+ 2 2 .i.d4) 2 2 'l'd8+ Scotch Game C45 which the game became equal.
exd2+ I I .i.xd2 .i.b4. For example, the l::t fS 23 'iFe7. After the quiet development 7 .i.e3
game Seirawan-C.Hansen (Wijk an Zee 19 e7 l::te 8 1 e4 e5 Black carries out the 'prescribed' 7 . . . dS.
The game Timman-Korchnoi (Sarajevo The material gain resulting from 28 cl 13+ I began my first tournament of 1 993 i n
1 984) continued 8 exd6 cxd6 9 d3 liJf6 Black's initiative may be insignificant, but 29 bl 'ii' xe7 Linares with wins over Ivanchuk and
1 0 0-{) Jt.e7 1 1 c4 0-{) 1 2 !Dc3 e6 1 3 White is still undeveloped. 30 'ii'e3 e8 Anand, but I was unable to cope with
lle 1 d S with equal chance s . 16 'ii' rz 'i'h6+ 31 f2 f5 growing fatigue and lost several games.
However, White can consider the mod 17 d l f4 32 c4 lld8
est 7 liJd2 !DcS (after 7 ... liJxd2 8 xd2 d6 18 'ii'f3 c6 32 ... h4 33 'ii'h 6 lld8 34 a3 lld I + 3 S Game 53
9 Jt.c3 he stands better) 8 liJO d5 9 exd6 Now in amazing fash ion White some <lo>a2 llxa l + 36 xa l d7 37 'ii'd2+ c8 Be1yavsky-Ivanchuk
cxd6 (9 ... xd6 !?) 10 e2 e7 I I 0-0 0-0 how defends, although the avalanche of 38 a6+ b8 would have won more L inares 1993
1 2 !Dd4! d7 1 3 O 'i'b6 1 4 b3 f6 1 5 kingside pawns is not easy to stop. quickly. Queen's Gambit D36
e3 when he has the better chances More vigorous would have been 33 a3 h4
(Mi lyutin-Bezgodov, Krasnodar 1 996). 1 8.. .'i'g5 19 ..1e2 (risky is 19 'tlhd5+ ebh8, 34 a2 e6 d4 liJf6
7 f5 when Black is threatening . . . .2.g.H) 35 'ii'e 4 xc4+ 2 c4 e6
8 f3 ? ! 1 9 . . .the S . 36 'ii'xc4 h3 3 lLlf3 d5
B lack simply ignores th is move. White 19 Jt. d 2 g5 37 ..1h4 'i'd7 4 lLlc3 liJbd7
should have played 8 exf6. 20 -tJc3 g4 38 lld l Ivanchuk agrees to the Carlsbad
8 c5 21 'i'g2 'i!ih4 Variation, which, it seems to me, does not
9 'ii'c4 d5 22 ..1 e l 'tr' g 5 suit his active style too well .
Now after 1 0 exd6 D+ I I e2 -tJxd6 23 ' b l g3 5 cxd5 exd 5
1 2 '1!Vxc6+ ..1d7 the position of the white 24 d3 6 g5 e7
king is unenviable. 7 e3 c6
10 '1!Va4 ().....{) ! 8 'ifc2 ().....{)
A l l this is the consequence of 8 f P I With Black I have sometimes employed
While the white queen has been rush ing the plan with an attempt to exchange the
around the board, Black has been l ight-square bishops: 8 ... liJf8 9 d3 !De6
energetically developing. The capture of 1 0 h4 g6 1 1 0-{) lLlg7 and B lack is ready
the knight I I fxe4 fxe4 is unsatisfactory for . . . ..1f5 . In the game Hort-Belyavsky
for White. (Munich 1 99 1 ) White prevented this by 1 1
11 'ii' xc6 'i'b4+ h3 !Dg7 1 2 g4 e6 1 3 (H)-() liJd7 1 4 ..1g3
12 g3 !Dxg3 38 g l'ii' 0-0 I S b l llc8 1 6 3 b5 1 7 llc l , and
13 bxg3 'ii'xg3+ Denying White the satisfaction of gained an advantage.
14 d2 'ii'x f3! giving an 'epaulette mate': 3 8 ... 'ii'x d l ?? 3 9 9 d3 lle8
15 'ii'xc5 'ii' x h l 'ii'e6. 10 h3
24 bS 39 llxd7 xd7 A prophylactic move with the aim of
Black wants to win with every comfort, 40 e6+ e7 preserving the dark-square bishop from
but pushing his already advanced pawn 41 e7 }:te8 exchange in the event of 1 0 . . . h6 1 1 f4
pair was quite sufficient: 24 .. . ..1g4+ 2 5 42 exf8'i' llxfS !Dh5, and also of keeping the opponent
c l 0+ 26 b l (or 26 d2 'ifh5 27 43 'i'b4 'ifg8+ guessing about which side White is going
'ifxh5 ..1xh5 28 ..1e3 f2 29 f1 g2) 44 b3 llf7 to castle.
26 ... ..1f5 27 'i'xo g2. 45 ..1n 'i'g6 10 !DfS
2S !Dxd5 g2 46 'i'c4 b7 11 r4
Here too 25 .. .g4+ 26 c l 0+ was 47 ..1g3 as A common plan, but also interesting is
effective: 27 b 1 'i'xe5, or 27 ..1d2 'i'xe5 48 ..1n h2 the sharp 1 1 (H)-()!?, with which I had to
28 liJe3 e6. 49 'i'c5 e8 contend in the 1 989 European Team
26 liJe7+ f7 50 'i'e4 hl'i' Championship: 1 1 . . . ..1e6 1 2 g4 }:te8 1 3
27 'i'gl g4+ Wbite resigns b l e5?! (essential was 1 3 ...liJe4! with
reasonable counterplay) 1 4 dxc5 llxc5 1 5 Ivanchuk avoids. By retreating his kni ght, 28 'ii' f4 l:te8
lUd4 b6 1 6 'i'b3 ! and White gained a B lack prevents lUeS , and plans a poss ible 29 12 g5
great advantage (Hort- Belyavsky, Haifa exchange of l ight-square bishops by 30 'ii'13 h5
1 989). . . . f7-g6 (after . . . f7-f6). 31 as
13 llabl ttJb6
Now after 1 8 . . . 'i'xb4 1 9 lUc5 'i'a5 20

llb3 White makes short work of the
opponent's queenside.
18 llc7
11 e6 19 ttJc5 <t)bd7 31 h4?
Until White has castled, it is premature For White it is easy to continue his 20 f4 f6 Ivanchuk, in time trouble, maintains
to play I I 0 0 .d6 1 2 xd6 'tlxd6, as then queenside play by means of the wel l-tested 21 fS f7 course. However, the threat o f 3 2 . . . hS is
he has a choice over which side to castle. r minority pawn attack. the aim of which is 22 'i'm easily parried, and the white knight again
had to contend with this when playing this after b4-b5 and the exchange on c6 to give With 22 as White could have denied appears at cS, this time winning material,
variation as B lack. At the Montpe l l i er the opponent a weak pawn . At the same the opponent any play on the queens ide. and also the as pawn becomes a real force.
Candidates Tournament in 1 9 8 5 , Kev i n time it is not easy for B lack to approach Now, however, Black is able to free Therefore Black should have attacked it
Spraggett played 13 0-0, and after the enemy king. himself. and at the same time h indered the knight
1 3 . ..'i'e7 1 4 11ab l ttJe4 1 5 b4 f5 16 ttJa4 The plan with the exchange of l ight 22 as manoeuvre. It is true that 3 1 ... lla8 (with
llad8 1 7 bS lld6 1 8 bxc6 =xc6 19 'ltd I square bishops takes time: 13 .. . f6 1 4 b4 23 lUxd 7 l:txd7 the idea of 32 l:ta I bS) is ineffective, i n
b6! I took control of the c-file and grad f7 1 5 .:tfc I g6 and White's attack on 24 bxa5 view of 32 lUa4! l:txa5 3 3 ttJ c S ::'c7 3 4
ually outplayed my opponent. In the 5 5 t h the queenside gets there first: 16 bS ttJb6 24 bS can be met by 24 . . . c S . l:txb7 with advantage t o White, but by
USSR Championship (Moscow 1 988) 17 bxc6 bxc6 1 8 lUd2 l:tc8 19 xg6 <t)xg6 24 l:txa5 playing 3 1 . . . 'Wd8 32 l:txb7 (if 32 ::'a3 an
Vyacheslav Eingorn chose 1 3 O-O--O !?, t o 20 g3 cS 2 1 dxcS xc5 22 'iib 3 (Flear 25 l:tb6 'i'a3 attack on the e3 pawn by 32 . . . l:tde7 is
which r made the unfortunate reply Bartels, Guernsey 1 990). Flear considers 26 l:t fb l ! possible) J2 ... l:txb7 33 l:txb7 'i'xa5 Black
l L . b6?! 1 4 g4 b7 I S g5 ttJe4 16 xe4 I S ... .ttc 8 to be best, but here too after 1 6 With the h e l p of tactics ( 2 6. . . 'i'xc3? could have held on.
dxe4 1 7 lUd2 c5 1 8 dS and White dev 'i'b3 bS 1 7 a4 a6 1 8 as White has an loses the queen to 27 l:t6b3) Wh ite 32 lDa4 'i'd8
eloped an unpleasant initiative. 1 3 0 0 .e6 enduring initiative. intensifies the pressure on the queenside 33 lDcS l:tde7
would have been stronger. 14 b4 d6 and tries to make up for his omission, but 34 lUxb7 'i'c7
In the game Be lyavsky-Ivanov ic 15 xd6 'ii' x d6 the b7 pawn is easier to defend than the 35 n Wg7
(Cetinje 1 993) there fol lowed 1 1 . . .'!tJe6 1 2 16 a4 a6 standard Carlsbad weakness at c6. Even with his flag about to fall, Black
e5 g6 1 3 0-0--0 lUg7 1 4 g4 as 1 5 gJ Possibly Black should have played 26 l:ta8! tries through inertia to carry out his idea of
a4 1 6 ttJeS ttJd7 1 7 W b I 'ii'a 5 1 8 f3 with a 1 6 . . . ttJbd7, in order to answer 1 7 bS with After the weakening of White's . . . h S . More cunning was 3 S .. .'i'h2, not
great advantage to White. 1 7 " . cS , as now the knight at b6 is pressure, somehow imperceptibly a releasing the white king, although this
12 ()....() lU6d7 unprotected. weakness has appeared in his position - wou l d not have saved h i m .
1 2 . . . d6 would have led to a position 17 lUd2 l:te7 the e3 pawn. It is in order to attack it that 36 Wgl Wh6
from the game Karpov-Belyavsky (Tilburg Here too 1 7 ... lUbd7 was sti l l possible. the rook returns. 37 a6 bS
1 986), which for understandable reasons 18 liJb3! 27 l:t6b3 'i'e7 38 'ii' 12 liJd7
39 11c1 13 tHe l ! ? 1 5 ... Q--O..-{) 1 6 QJxfl i.xfl 1 7 'JiIxe4 or 'i'xb l .!Db5 ! with advantage to Black)
Black resigns Before this game only 1 3 11 fc I had 1 5 ... QJef6 1 6 i.xe6!? fxe6 1 7 QJxg6 hxg6 1 9. . . i.xb I 20 'i'xb I 'i'xa5 and in view of
been played, as it was considered essential 1 8 'lWxe6+, but I S . . . QJdf6!? comes into the threat of . . . c5-c4 Wh ite has to part
At a critical point of the tournament i n to defend the c-pawn. consideration) 1 6 dxe5 'JiIb6 (further with another piece. But now this exchang
Novosibirsk, in a wel l known position I 13 ' pawn-grabbing' is too dangerous: ing manoeuvre would leave White with
was able to employ an innovation that On encountering a surprise, Akopian 1 6 ... 't'ixe5 1 7 i.d3 f5 1 8 i.xe4 fxe4 1 9 two pieces for a rook.
subsequently found many fol lowers. avoids taking the second pawn. In some llad I ) 1 7 't'if4, and here, instead o f the 17 (6
later games Black took the pawn with losing 1 7 ... 'JiId4?? 1 8 't'ih4, essential was
Game 5 4 1 3 ... QJxc3, although at first time it looks 1 7 . . . Q--O..-{) 1 8 11xe4 i.xe4 1 9 'i'xe4 'i'd4
Belyavsky-Akopian very dangerous. It so happened that the 20 J:[e l (after 20 'JiIxd4 J:[xd4 2 1 11c ) 11hd8
Novosibirsk 1993 discussion of this topic was ' carried over' 22 i.d6 Black again gives back the
S lav Defence D 1 8 to the Munich tournament of 1 994, where exchange: 22 . . . 118xd6 23 exd6 d7 with a
the games played ended in White ' s favour, similar ending) 20 ... 'i'xe4 2 1 J:[xe4 11d I +
d4 dS although defensive resources for B l ack 22 i.fl J:hd8 23 i.d6 ll8xd6 24 exd6
2 c4 c6 were also found. Let us consider them: 'i1.Jd7. According to Bareev this ending is
3 QJf3 QJf6 sl ightly better for White, but I find it hard
QJc3 dxc to agree, e.g. 25 f3 xd6 26 f2 as 27
5 a4 i. f5 .i.e2 llb I 2S lld4+ e7 29 e3 b5 30
6 e3 e6 dJ :b2 31 :e4 b4 32 c4 d6 and it is
7 i.xc 4 i.b4 White who is fighting for equal ity.
8 (}...O QJbd7 Therefore 1 3 . . . QJxc3 may be a serious 18 11al ? !
9 'i'e2 i.g6 problem for him. Moving the rook out of 'X-ray' range
10 e4 In the game HUbner-Hertneck Black of the bishop allows Black a certain
This pawn sacrifice for the sake o f declined the sacrifice: 13 ... c5 14 d5 eS respite. White should have eliminated the
preventing B lack from castling kingside (HUbner recommends 14 ... Q--O..-{) ! ? I S opponent's active pieces, beginning with
has long been a standard idea, but I had dxe6 fxe6 1 6 QJh4 QJxc3 1 7 'i'xe6 with an the bishop - I S QJh4! Now B lack is unable
also prepared a second sacrifice. unclear game) I S i.d3, and here, as to consolidate his position by I S . . . QJd6
10 i. x c3 suggested by HUbner, essential was because of 1 9 QJxg6 hxg6 20 11ed I ! (in my
I n recent times B lack has preferred to HUbner-Belyavsky continued 14 'ii'b 2 1 5 . . . QJef6 ! ? ) 6 ttJxeS Q--O..-{) 1 7 ttJxd7 calculations I had underestimated this
decline the sacrifice by 1 0 ... i. h 5 . QJe4 (weak is 14 ... QJxa4? 15 'i'b3 ! , when :txd7 I S c4 with only slightly the better move). Now White threatens 2 1 dxc5
11 bxc3 QJxe4 after 1 5 . . . QJab6 or 1 5 . . . QJdb6 the bishop chances for Wh ite. QJxc5 22 bxc5 'ii'x c5 23 llxd6! , diverting
12 i. a3 'JiIc7 sacrifice 16 i.xe6 fxe6 1 7 'i'xe6+ is 14 'i'b2 11he8 the defender of the b7 pawn, and after
decisive; 1 4 .. . QJd5?! is als o inadequate 15 as 20 . . . l1e7 2 1 dxcS lOxc5 22 'i'b4! the
because of I S i.xd5! cxd5 16 'i'b4 ttJb6 1 7 Depriving the knight of the b6 square, queen is lost.
llacl QJc4 I S ltJe5 llc8 1 9 lOxc4 dxc4 20 as after 1 5 ... 'ii'xa5 1 6 i.b4 'ii'b6 1 7 'i'c I Therefore there only remains 1 8 . . .lOxc3
llxc4 and wins) IS as QJdf6 (other moves the threat of i.aS is unavoidable. 1 9 'ii'xc3 exd4 20 'ii'b 3 i.xb I 2 1 llxb I ,
leave White with the advantage: 1 5 ... tOd 6 15 e5 after which Black has a whole series of
16 i.xe6, 1 5 . .. 0--0-0 1 6 a6, I S ... QJef6 1 6 16 llab l positional problems: the c5 and d4 pawns
QJe5, o r 1 5 . . .a6 1 6 QJe5) 1 6 ttJe5 a6 1 7 Now the knight is tied t o its insecure are paralysed, his queen is tied to the
J:[ac I J:[dS 1 8 i.xa6 bxa6 1 9 QJxc6 ttJg4 20 post at e4, as 1 6 ... ttJef6? loses to 1 7 i.d6. defence of the b7 pawn, and at the same
QJeS 'i'xaS 2 1 lOxg4 'i'b5, and here White 16 c5 time g2-g3 and i.h3 is threatened.
should have gone into an only s lightly 17 i. fl ! Strangely enough, the best here is 2 1 . . .b6
better ending by 22 'i'xb5+ axb5 23 llc7. There was a false trail - the activ e 1 7 22 ltJf5 lbes 23 axb6 axb6 24 .i.a6+ b8,
In the game Lutz-Bareev White chose i.dS?! QJd6 1 8 dxeS QJxeS 1 9 QJxe5 (no although after 25 lOxg7 llg8? a line
14 'i'e3 QJe4 1 5 lbes QJxe5 (risky is better is 1 9 llxeS llxeS 20 QJxe5 i.xb I 2 1 leading to mate is possible: 26 lbe6 .c6
27 'iWxb6+ 'iWxb6 28 Uxb6+ q;a7 29 llb7+ 36 lld6 2 d4 d5 2 1 'iWxd4 'iWxd4 22 cxd4 with an equal
a6 3 0 lDxcs+ q;aS 3 1 .i.b4 mate. 3 tt::le 3 .i.b4 ending.
18 tDd6 4 .i.d3 dxe4 17 'iWf6
19 lDd2 b8 5 .i.xe4 tt::l f6 18 tDd 4 .i.d 7
20 llec1 6 .i.g5 19 c3
The usual continuation here is 6 f3 or 1 9 trfe 1 trae8 2 0 lle3 came into
6 d3. consideration.
6 tt::l b d7 19 trae8
7 tt::lge2 20 'iWa4 a6
7 d3 !? came into consideration. 21 lUb3 .i.e8
7 b6 22 'iWb4 lle7
8 .i.xf6 lDxf6 23 lDa5?
9 .i.f3 ()....{) White does not sense the danger. The
10 ()....{) e6 knight stands better at b3 than at a5, as is
36 lDg8 11 tt::le4 lDxe4 confirmed by the course of the game. 23
Black cannot simultaneously defend the 12 .i.xe4 trfe I trfe8 24 tre3 was correct, aiming for
b 7 and a6 pawns that are covering h is king. exchanges.
He parries the attack from the centre (J:e7-
20 a8? b 7), but is powerless against the attack
It was essential to defend the c 5 pa\vn from the flank.
again - 20 .. . :tc8. 37 llal llfB
21 lDb3 e4 38 e4 Itb2
22 .i.xd6 '1fxd 6 39 c5 tt::le 7
23 .i.xe4 a6 40 llxa6+ q;b8
24 n! 41 tra7 tt::le 6
The productivity of this bishop is 42 trd7
simply amazing, and, in v iew of its desire Black resigns
to occupy the long diagonal, Black had to
play the prophylactic 24 . . . .i.e4. But he I was more successful at the tournament in
overlooks this resource. Belgrade, where everyth ing seemed to 12 .i.d6!
24 lle 8 work out wel l and after an interval of three Black prepares . . . e6-eS and in passing 23 g5!
25 lDd2 lle6 years I took first place. Although in the he threatens . . . .i.xh2+. B lack carries out an operation aimed at
26 g3 .i. f7 penultimate round Vladimir Kramnik was 13 'iWd3 fS! restricting the white bishop. The
27 llebl llb8 confident that in his game with me he 14 f3 e5 immediate threat is 24 ... g4 25 .i.e2
28 lla4 exd4 would wipe out my lead, fate had decreed 15 dxe5 .i.xe5 .i.xh2+.
29 llxd4 'iWe7 that I would win the tournament. Our game 16 'iWe4+ q;b7 24 g3 g4
30 'iWb4 tt::le 5 ended in a draw, and in L'le last round the 17 lladl 25 .i.g2 r4
31 f4 tt::lg4 gap increased to one and a half points. 17 c3 'iWf6 1 8 tt::ld 4 is better, as Black is 26 llfe! e5!
32 lleI lle 5 not able to exploit the defects of the Having restricted the bishop, B lack also
33 g2 tDb6 Game 5 5 isolated pawn, for example: 1 8 . . . .i.xd4 1 9 sets about restricting the knight.
34 'iWb6! Romanisbin-Belyavsky cxd4 .1e6 2 0 d 5 .i.f7 (nothing i s achieved 27 'iWa4
It is not often that one is able to Belgrade 1993 by 20 . . . cxdS 2 1 .i.xd5 trac8 22 'iWb3 .i.xd5 The queen sacrifice 27 'iWxc5 fxg3 28
strengthen an attack by exchanging queens. French Defence C I S 23 "i'xd5 'iWxb2 24 llab l with an equal hxg3 (28 fxgJ b6 29 'iWxe7+ 'iWxe7 3 0 lUc6
34 'iWxb6 game) 2 1 'iWb3 with roughly equal chances, 'iWc5+) 28 ... b 6 29 'iWxe7+ 'iWxe7 3 0 lUc6
35 axb6 llb 5 1 e4 e6 or 18 ... .i.d7 19 trae 1 trae8 20 tre3 .i.xd4 'iWc5 is inadequate:
(a) 3 1 lDxe5 xf2+ 32 h 1 (32 h2 3S xh2 'ifh4+ 39 g2 'ifh3 mate 3 lDf3 lDc6 11 d6!
l:tf5) 32 . . .''xg3, when Black must win; (Ftacnik). 4 d3 d5 A good quality ' Scheveningen' move.
(b) 3 1 l:txe5 xf2+ 32 h2 llf3 3 3 35 xg4 5 cxd5 lDxd5 In this specific position it is new, but from
l:te7+ g6 34 l:td6+ h5 35 l:te5+ f5 , 36 xg4 b6 6 e3 the viewpoint of experts on this variation it
when B lack captures the g 3 pawn, where 37 lD n ttg7 6 e4 is also played. Tal-Chemin (Sochi is a natural one, since the bishop defends
by he not only safeguards his king but even 38 e4 1 986) continued 6 . . . lDxc3 7 bxc3 c5 S the c7 pawn and assists the attack on the
enables it to take part in the attack, e.g. 3 6 e2 0--0 9 0-0 hS 1 0 ttb I ttbS I I lDxe5 kingside, by making way for the queen.
h I 'i'xg3 37 xf3 xf3+ 3 8 'iPg l h4 lDxe5 1 2 d4 .i.d6 1 3 dxe5 xe5 14 c2 12 b4
and wins (K.Neat). with some advantage to White, but 6 ...lDb6 A natural move, but not an accurate
27 g7 is possibly more logical for B lack. one. After 1 2 lDc5 Black is forced to play
28 lDb3 b6 6 e7 12 . . . c8, as after 12 ... xc5 13 xc5 f6
7 e2 14 c2 and the fianchetto of the dark
8 e6 square bishop, the queen becomes vulner
9 a3 f5 able to its attack.
White has developed his forces as in the 12 f6
Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian 13 b2
Defence, where he effectively has an extra Now after 1 3 lDc5 xc5 14 bxc5 l:taeS
tempo. Apart from the move played, also 1 5 l:tb I cS Black has everything in order.
possible is 9 ...a5 I 0 c2 f5 I I lDa4, when 13 l:tae8
38 x g3 ! experience has shown that Black has a 14 lDc5
Now this wins. comfortable game: After this B lack's position is preferable,
39 lD xg3 llxg3 (a) 1 1 . .. 'ife8 12 d2 g6 13 lDc5 and therefore it would have been better to
40 e5+ llg7 xc5 14 'ifxc5 e4 1 5 lDe I lDe5 1 6 f4 lDd7 return the knight by 14 lDc3, with roughly
41 lln h4 17 'i'c2 lD7f6 and Black gained a great equal chances.
B lack has prevented the knight from If immediately 4 1 .. .'ifh3 , then White advantage (Nei-Tal, Moscow 1 979); 14 c8
going to c4, and since from b3 it needs forces a draw by 42 .::txf2 .::txf2 43 e8+ (b) 1 1 . ..hS 1 2 b3 d6 1 3 b2 'ife7 15 'ifc4
some time to come into play, he is able to l:tgS 44 'ife5+. with the more pleasant position (Ubilava This appears to lose a tempo. In the
develop his attack on the kings ide quite 42 e2 'ifb3 Razuvaev, Moscow GMA 1 9 89). spirit of the Sicilian, I S .::t fe I followed by
comfortably. White resigns 10 'ifc2 h8 fl looks more logical.
29 bl b5 Any true Scheveningen player makes 15 lDb6
30 lDd2 f3 In my starting series of four 'wins in the this move almost without thinking. 16 'ifc2 'ifh6 .
31 n h4 PCA tournament in Groningen, the games . 11 lDa4 White's fighting intentions could have
32 lle4 hxg3 with Kramnik and Shirov are particularly been tested by 1 6...lDd5, but the move
33 fxg3 memorable for me. In the first I was able to played is more energetic.
Or 33 hxg3 tthS+ 34 g l 'iff5 with the make use of motifs from a famous study by 17 .::trdl ?
threat of . . . 'ifh5. Lasker, and in the second I surprised my By now the position demands more
33 b8 opponent with an original opening idea. . concrete play. Black is threatening . . . e5-
3 3 ...ttd8 is simpler, when it not easy for e4, and therefore 17 e4 is again more in the
White to escape from the pin. Game 5 6 spirit of the Sicilian: 1 7 . . . fxe4 can be met
34 .i.d3 C2 Kramnik-Belyavsky by either I S dxe4 or I S lDxe4, while if
34 ...xg3? would be premature: 3 5 Groningen 1993 17 ... f4 White has 1 8 b5 lDd8 1 9 d4.
l:txe7 'ifxe7 36 hxg3 f2 37 g2. English Opening A2S 17 lDd5
35 l:txg4 18 'ifc4?
If 3 5 l:te2 there follows a mating attack: 1 c4 e5 Kramnik overlooks B lack's inter
3 5 ... .i.b7+ 36 .i e4 tth7 37 .i.xb7 ttxh2+ 2 lDc3 lLlf6 mediate 1 9th move. I S g3 was more
[ 50 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 151
circumspect, blocking the action of Black's difficult for White t o defend h i s h-pawn, but activated his rook by 59 llb8 ! , taking
queen and bishop against the h2 pawn. since if 35 h3? d8 and Black has a play into an ending with f- and h-pawns.
winning pin.
34 i.xf6 gxf6
43 b5
This move should have been prepared
18 tDxe3 by -I3 .. J:tc5 ! , restricting the enemy knight. 59 llg3+
19 fxe3 e4! Now, however, its activity forces Black to 60 f2 g4
I f 19 ... 'Wxe3+ 20 f1 e4 there follows 3S tiJd4! go into a less ' productive' rook ending. 61 ll b l
2 1 .i.c 1 , trapping the queen. As a result of Black's mistake on the 44 tDd5 llc5 In the pawn race 6 1 a 4 h 3 6 2 a s :tg2+
20 dxe4 fxe4 3 3 rd move, White has gained drawing 45 tDb4! llg5+ 63 fl f4 64 a6 f3 65 a7 h2 it is Black
21 tDxe4 'i'xe3+ chances. 46 f4 i.xg2 who wins.
22 tDf2 'i'xe2 3S 47 l4a6 h5 61 h3
23 'i'xe2 llxe2 It is risky to win a pawn by 35 ... 1Lxh2 48 llxa7+ g6 62 llb8 llg2+
24 i.c3 g8! 36 g3 :td 8 37 6' because of the 49 tDd3 1Ln 63 n lld2
After 24 ... i.x.h 2+?' 2 5 xh2 llxf2 26 imprisonment of the bishop, for example: 50 e3 1Lxd3 63 ... lla2 is more accurate.
bS White would have acquired definite 37 . . . lld6 38 -tJef4 e4 39 tUb2 :xd l 40 Black is forced to exchange the 64 gl f4
counterplay. tUxd I c5 4 1 bxc5 bxc5 -12 lLle3 with the rampaging knight, but now there is the 65 llg8+ f3
Following the win of a pawn, Black threat of winning the bishop by tDg4 or prospect of the notorious rook ending with 66 llh8 lldl+
shows discretion i n consolidating h i s lLlfl . f- and h-pawns, known for its drawing 67 b2 fl
forces, and keeps this idea in reserve. 36 lLlb5 lld8 tendencies. 68 a4
25 n lle3 37 lOxd6+ llxd6 51 xd3 llg2 In rook endings a reduction in the
26 llacl tDe7 38 :tel c5 52 lla5 llxb2 activity of the rook may be irreparable. In
26 . . . a6 carne into consideration, main This move could have led to the 53 llxb5 f5 the given situation this is not crucial, but
taining the knight at its observation post creation of a weak c-pawn. 38 ... llc6 was If Black wins the a-pawn: 5 3 ... llh3+ 54 after 68 llxh3 f3 69 llh8 lld3 70 a4 e2
c6. stronger, practically forcing the exchange e2 llxa3 55 f2, the king succeeds in 7 1 llfB lle3 ! 72 as lle7 73 a6 f2 B lack
27 l4e1 tDd5 of rooks. blocking the pawns and a theoretically would have won more quickly.
28 lUe3 tDxe3+ 39 tDf4 llc6 drawn position is reached. 68 13
29 gl lle8 40 bxc5 l4xc5 54 l4bl h4 69 as n
29 ... liJd5 also carne into consideration. 41 lld l 55 e3 llg2 70 a6 l4al
30 i.d4 tDd5 4 1 llxc5 bxc5 42 g3 looks more logical, 56 f3 llg3+ 71 lla8 f2
31 l4dl b6 with the threat of attacking the c5 pawn 57 r4 llg4+ 72 a7 lla6!
32 ttJd3 b7 after e3-d3. 58 f3 g5 73 hl
33 f2 lOf6? 41 l4c2+ 59 llal ? I f 73 xh3 Black would have won with
In the spirit of the position was 42 g3 i.c6 Here the rook is passively placed. the help of the idea from Lasker's study:
33 .. lLlf4 ! 34 lOxf4 i.xf4 when it i s
. 43 lld6 White should not have held on to his pawn, 73 . . . g l 74 llg8+ h [ 75 llfB lla3+ 76
h4 g2 77 ng8+ c;t>h2 7 8 nf8 lla4+ 7 9 7 .tf4 e5 game Sideif-Zade-Yurtaev (USSR 1 9 80). Before this 1 9 fl had been played.
h5 c;t>g3 80 llg8+ <;t>h3 8 1 llf8 lla5+ 8 2 8 .tg5 a6 White retreated: 1 5 'i'd 1, and after For example, the game Magem-Zs.Polgar
h 6 <;t>g3 83 ng8+ <;t>h4 84 .!lf8 lla6+, and 9 lLla3 b5 1 5 . . ..txd5 1 6 exd5 CDe7 1 7 c3 g7 1 8 h4 (Madrid 1 992) continued 1 9 . . . 11g5 20
the a7 pawn is lost. 10 .txf6 gxf6 llg6 1 9 ltJc2 e4 a double-edged position ltJf6+ e7 (after 20 ... 'i'xf6 2 1 .tc6+! e7
11 lLld5 fS was reached. I should mention that it is 22 'i'xf6+ xf6 23 .txa8 Black has no
risky to play 1 5 'i'xh7? !, when that inde compensation for the exchange) 2 1 'iih 8
fatigable analyst Andrei Lilienthal CDd2+ 22 g2 lLlxe4 (weak is 22 ... d5? 23
recommends 1 5 . . . 'i' a5+ 1 6 c3 xd5 1 7 tUxg4 dxe4 24 'i'f6+ e8 2 5 'i'c6+ e7
exdS ltJe7 with the threats o f . . . lLlxdS and 26 CDe3 .tg7 27 llad I 1%c8 28 'i'b7+ f8
. . . b5-b4. 29 llxd2 and wins, or 23 ... lLlxe4 24 CDxeS
'i'd6 2S tUf3 with a clear advantage to
White) 23 tUxe4 llg6 24 'i'h4+ d7 25
'i'xd8+ llxd8 26 f3 .te6 27 llhd I c7
with compensation for the exchange.
73 h2
74 llb8 The Sveshnikov Variation, in which a
White also loses after 74 xh2 llh6+ year earlier at the European Team Chanl
75 g3 g l 76 llf8 .=g6+ 77 h4 :ta6. pionship (Debrecen 1 992) against Adams I
74 llxa7 played as B lack 1 1 . . . .tg7 1 2 c3 f5 1 3 exf5
75 nb1+ <;t>e2 .txfS 1 4 ltJc2 0-0 1 5 CDce3 .1e6 1 6 d3
76 llb2+ e3 f5 1 7 'i'h5 e4 1 8 .tc2 !iJe7 19 .tb3 !iJxd5 15 c3!
77 llb3+ e4 20 tUxd5 a5 with a roughly equal game. Risky is 15 O-O--Q , after which Black's
78 llb4+ d3 12 .td3 .te6 attack develops of its own accord:
79 nbl nn 13 'i'h5 I S . . . nc8! 1 6 b l fxe4 1 7 .txe4 b4!
80 lln e2 With 13 0-0 it seems to me that White 15 fxe4 19 lOg5+
81 nxf2+ determines the position of his king too 16 .txe4 .tg4 By the method of elimination it can be
The last chance. Suppose Black were to early, and it is easier for Black to plan his 17 'i'xh 7 established that none of the other checks is
play 8 1 .. .%:xf2? with stalemate? play. For example: 13 . . . .txd5 14 exd5 The pawn sacrifice has to be accepted, dangerous.
81 xf2 tUe 7 15 c3 'i'd7 16 'iWh5 .!lg8 1 7 .!lad I .!l g6 as bad is 1 7 'iWh4? CDf3+ 1 8 .txf3 'i'xh4 1 9 20 f3 lOxe4
White resigns 1 8 .1b I .1g7 1 9 tUc2 f4! 20 tUb4 :h6 2 1 gxh4 .txf3 2 0 tUf6+ d8 2 1 tUxg8 .txh I 21 fxg4 'iic 8
'i'e2 f8 and after playing his king to h8 with advantage to Black. 22 'i'e3!
Game 57 followed by .. .l:tg8 Black achieved a 17 1%g7 Bringing back the queen is the best way
Belyavsky-Shirov promising position. 18 'i'h6 of consolidating the position arid
Groningen 1993 13 1%g8 Janis Klovans recommends 1 8 'i'h8 supporting the centralised knight. The
Sicilian Defence B33 The fashionable trend. Earlier Black ltJf3+ 1 9 e2 ltJg5+ 20 f3 with a attempt to defend the g4 pawn ends in
more often played 1 3 . . . f4, with very complicated game. fiasco: 22 h3? :xg4 23 'iWh7 'iic 5. Also
1 e4 c5 modest results. 18 lLlf3+ unsatisfactory is 22 d3 'iixg4 23 :ae 1
2 lLlf3 e6 14 g3 tiJd4 19 e2! 'i'f3+ 24 c2 nxg3 25 'ii'e 3 1%g2+ 26 c 1
3 d4 cxd4 This is regarded as the main This was not home preparation, as (or 26 b l CDd2+ 27 a l 'i'xd5)
4 lOxd4 lLlf6 continuation, although the author of the certain commentators thought. This 26 ... 'i'xe3+ 27 CDxe3 h6 when B lack has
5 lLlc3 lLlc 6 variation, Yevgeny Sveshnikov, recom unexpected idea occurred to me during the a won position.
6 lOdb5 d6 mends 1 4 ... 1%g5!?, which was tested in the game. 22 'i'xg4+
1 54 Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess I SS
After 22 ... 11xg4?! White has a pleasant 28 ll n 31 lOde3 .tI.ad7 5 1 .tI.xfl! .tI.xfl 52 h7 J:tf8 5 3 g5 q;e7 54 g6
choice between 23 'i'o and 23 lUb6. 29 ll h fl 32 f3! f6 55 lUe6 the pawns are unstoppable;
23 'lif3 'iY'xf3+ 29 lUc7+?! llxc7 30 g5 is not good, The white monarch is as though (b) 47 ... d4 48 lUg7+ q;e7 49 h7 J:tb8 5 0
24 xf3 fS as after 30 ... i.g7! the white king may laughing at his adversaries (32 . . .11xf5+? 3 3 g5 ! (after SO lUf5+ f6 ! 5 1 lUxd4+ g7
25 lUc2 indeed be in danger. In this respect 29 lUxf5 xf5 3 4 e3+). 52 lUc6 .tI.e8 B lack has drawing chances)
25 c4 is also interesting, but for the .tI.ae I xd5 3 0 'it>xg5 i.e7+ 3 1 lUxe7+ 32 d5 50 ... lOe4 5 1 g6 lUg5 (White wins after
moment I did not want to break up the .tI.xe7 32 g4! is better, but perhaps the 33 g4 i.c5 5 l ...lUxf2 52 lUf5+ f6 53 g7, or 5 1 .. .lUf6
flexible b2/c3 pawn structure, which soundest is 29 lUfe3 lUe4 30 .tIhfl fol 34 h4 lUf6 52 lUf5+ e6 53 lUh6 e4 54 lOg8 llxg8 5 5
supports a possible a2-a4. lowed by c;t;>h3 . Then 30 . . . lUf2+ does not Otherwise . . . d5-d4 cannot be played. .tIxf6+) 5 2 .tI.fl+ lUxfl 5 3 lOf5+ f6 5 4 g7
25 q;n work because of 3 1 .:hf2 and 32 lUc7+. 35 lldel b4 llb2+ 55 g3 lOh6 56 g8'1i lOxg8 5 7
26 lUce3 29 lUe4 36 lle2 bxc3 hxg8 xf5 5 8 'iY' fl + and wins.
30 .tI.ad l ?! 37 bxc3 i.xe3 46 lLlxc3
30 lUfe3 was correct, when after Possibly it would have been stronger to 47 g6 lld7?
30 . . . lUf2+? 3 1 .tI.xf2 ':xf2 32 lUc7+ d7 activate the rook first by 3 7 ... .tI.b7. Shirov in tum goes wrong, and the
33 lUxa8 :Ixh2 34 ':fl h6 35 lUb6+ \t;c6 38 .llxe3 lUe4 game now concludes quickly. After the
36 lUed5 !1xb2 37 ': f7 Black has no 39 g2 .tI.c7? ! correct 47 ... lLle4 48 g7 lUf6! Black could
compensation for the piece, and indeed he The second rook would have operated have held on: 49 h3 ttJg8 1 50 h 5 .tI.c7,
has to give up his rook to avoid mate, e.g. better on this square after the preparatory and if 5 I g4 llc I ! when the rook assists
3 7 . . . b4 38 llc7+ b5 39 c4+ <t>a5 40 c 5 39 ... ':b7. Now White fills the ' void' . the knight from the rear.
b 3 4 1 lUc4+ b5 4 2 lUxb2 bxa2 4 3 lDc3+. 40 .ll b l ! .tI.b7 48 g7 n
At the same time the pair of connected After all B lack has to give in, as he 49 h5 g8
passed pawns on the g- and h- files is a cannot al low the check at b6. 50 h6 h7
weighty factor in the endgame, and it only 41 l:b3 lUd2 51 lUe3
remains for White to consolidate the posit 42 .llxb7 .tI.xb7 Black resigns
26 e6 ? ! ion of his king: 30 . . . !1h7 3 1 .llad l i.h6 32 43 .lle2 lObI
Shirov is unable to refrain from a very q;O, or 3 0 ... .tIaa7 3 1 h3 i.h6 3 2 c;g2. 43 . . .lUe4 44 c4 is unpleasant for Black. The anguish from my failure in the peA
sharp pawn sacrifice, after which the end 30 .tI.aa7 44 .tI.c2 lUa.3 tournament was great, but I did not then
game is in my favour. Sounder was 30 . . . .tI.d8, with the idea of evicting the 45 .ll f2 lUbl know that the main unpleasantness lay
26 ... lUf6! 27 a4 lUxd5 28 lUxd5 e6 29 knight from d5 and playing . . . d6-d5, can ahead. The 1 994 Linares Tournament
.tI.hd 1 :b8 with a resilient enough position. be met by 3 1 h4 lUf6+ 32 lDxf6 ':xf6 3 3 concluded for me with nine defeats and a
For example, if 30 lUb4 there can fol low h5, and if 33 . . . d5 34 .tI.de I , winning loss of 35 rating points. The impression
3 0 . . .a5 3 1 lUc6 .tI.b6 32 axb5 .tI.xb5 33 .tI.d2 material through the threat of 3 5 lUd4+. from such a ' promising' beginning was
':c7 34 ':xa5 .tI.xa5 35 lUxa5 d5, when the somewhat smoothed by successful per
sol id central pawn phalanx gives reason formances at tournaments in Leon (Spain)
able compensation for the pawn. If 30 b4 and Munich, but I only managed to defer
there fol lows 30 . . . a5 ! 3 1 blCaS bxa4 3 2 the creative crisis, and not avoid it.
llxa4 .tI.b2 and after 3 3 a6? .tI.xh2 the white
king unexpectedly comes under attack. Game 58
27 lUxfS Korchnoi-Belyavsky
With the obvious idea of 27 .. .'>PxfS 2 8 Leon 1994
lUe3+ q;e6 2 9 q;xe4. Queen's Gambit D45
27 lUg 5+ 46 g5?
28 q;g4 46 h 5 lUxc3 47 h6 was stronger: In the race for first place with Ljubomir
The king boldly steps into a discovered (a) 47...lbe4 48 lbg7+ q;d6 (or Ljubojevic this game proved decisive, as
check, but here this is not dangerous. 48...e7 49 J:tfS) 49 J:tf8 lbg5 50 .tI.f5 lUfl his game with Korchnoi ended in a draw.
1 e4 e6 xc3 1 7 xc3 llc8 1 8 b4 d3 , when 22 llxc3 At the age of 66 Viktor Korchnoi has
2 d4 d5 B lack wins material) 1 5 . . . e6 1 6 liJf4 nc8 22 xc3 1:e3 maintained an amazing chess strength, as I
3 e3 tef6 with active play for the pawn. As Korchnoi 23 al experienced last summer at the European
4 tee3 e6 later mentioned, he did not like 14 .5te2 White loses after 2 3 d2? llxfJ+ 2 4 Team Championship (Pula 1 997). I n
5 teD tebd7 g4 1 5 fJ .5th5 16 0-0 -IJkc7 1 7 h3 .5tg6 1 8 gxfJ xfJ+ 25 'Ot>g l c 6 . In order t o bring contrast t o Smyslov, whose emotional
6 'i'e2 d6 JLd3 liJh5 when Black has the initiative on his rook into p lay, he has to part with his balance helps him to retain his compet
7 b3 the kingside. queens ide pawns. itiveness, the basis of Korchnoi ' s longevity
7 SLe2 or 7 SLd3 causes Black more 14 a5 23 1:xb3 lies in his passionate love for and devotion
problems. Threatening 1 5 . . . f5. 24 f2 xa4 to chess. Viktor did not grasp the secrets of
7 (}-t) 15 '1!fd l b4 25 1:e1 f6 chess with such ease as Karpov, but that
8 SLb2 e5 16 llel d 7 After opening an escape square for his which he mastered, he mastered pro
9 exd 5 exd5 Now if 16 ... f5 there can follow 1 7 g4, king, Black is threatening to win the queen foundly and for ever. He had to work a
10 dxe5 texe5 but 1 6 . . . e6 ! ? also came into consider by 26 . . JIb2+. White parries this, but then great deal, and he absorbed many ideas,
11 JLe2 texD+ ation. comes an attack on the f3 and g2 pawns. evaluations and methods of working, both
12 SLxD 17 a3 26 c l c6 from his adversary of the 1 960s Tigran
A difficult decision, but how I S 27 'it'f4 h5 Petrosian, and from the fundamental
1 7 . . J lac8 to be averted? O f course, 1 7 28 h4 lla3 approach of Boleslavsky and Geller. For
xb7? is not possible - 1 7 . . . xc3 1 8 29 g3 1:a2 me he will always be a symbol of those
JLxc3 'it'b5+, winning a piece. 30 c3 f7 happy times, when chess ideas were
17 xc3 generated in the analysis of games, and
18 .Ihe3 people aimed to clarify causes and
After 1 8 xc3 xaJ 1 9 xb7 :ab8 20 generalisations. Now, however, they aim to
!la l e7 2 1 fJ liJe4 22 xe4 xe4 classify games in their chess database and
White may also have problems on the h 1 - to check with Fritz or Rebel whether or not
a 8 diagonal. there is a m istake in their calculations on
18 liJd5 the 4th half move. The elements of
19 xd5 research and art are being increasingly
19 .l::.c 5? loses to 19 . . . b5+, and i f 20 excluded, and chess is losing those of its
12 d4! 'Ot>g l lle l +. supporters for whom the competitive
It is well known that Korchnoi likes 19 'Wxd5 element is not the main attraction.
accepting pawn offers. 20 a4 1:ae8 In an interview more than 1 5 years ago,
13 exd4? 21 D Karpov called Korchnoi 'a spent force ' . He
After this White is deprived of the right 31 'WlS evidently based this on the fact that Viktor
to castle and the coordination of his pieces This loses immediately, but after 3 1 is upset by defeats and does not spare his
is disrupted. 'Ot>h2 'Wg6 3 2 d2 Black wins by nervous energy, the reserves of which are
It was correct for him not to take the 32 . . . xf3 (32 .. .'Wd3 33 e3 a5 is also not unlimited. But he underestimated
pawn, but to sacrifice one h imself: 13 liJe4 good), for example Korchnoi's strength of character and his
liJxe4 14 xe4 dxe3 1 5 0-0 ext2+ 1 6 (a) 33 gxfJ 'it'd3 3 4 'Ot>g3 1:xd2 35 1:e8+ devotion to chess. In his competitive
'it'xt2, with active play in compensation. 'Ot>h7 36 1:e4 "c2 3 7 'it'f5+ h6 38 'it'f4+ qualities Viktor Korchnoi (I flatter myself
13 1:e8+ 'Ot>g6 39 'Wb8 h7 40 1:e8 'Wg6+, or with the thought that this also applies to
14 n (b) 33 'it'xf3 1:xd2 34 'ii'xb7 1:xd4 35 me) resembles a Russian doll : however
In my database I discovered a lighting 'Wb8+ 'Ot>h7 36 1:e8 1:xh4+ 3 7 g l 'it'd3 much it is pushed about, it always ends u p
game Seirawan-Speelman (Roquebrune 38 :11 8+ g6 39 "e8+ 'Ot>gS. o n its feet. Or, if y o u would like another
1 992), which continued 1 4 liJe2 b4+ 1 5 31 'it'e7+ comparison - the staunch tin soldier from
fl (no better i s 1 5 c3 f5 ! 1 6 'it'd2 White resigns the tales of Hans Christian Andersen.
ISS Uncompromising Chess Uncompromising Chess 1 59
After failing on one occasion to win a equalise. But by following Miroslav Filip's 14 .l:tc4
game after blockading an isolated pawn, recommendation of 1 4 lOd3 ! b6 1 5 b4 15 g3 .l:tfc8
Bent Larsen remarked: 'An isolated pawn .ll feS 1 6 xe7 Ihe7+ 1 7 'iPd2 White 16 b l !
should not be blockaded, but won .' My would have retained slightly the better
game with Bareev is an ill ustration of chances.
Larsen 's idea. 9 lOxe2 xc5
10 lilb3 .ltb6
Game 59 11 f4 lLlgf6
BelyavskJ'-Bareev The game Sa."<-Andersson (Polanica
Munich 1 994 Zdroj 1 993) continued 1 1 . .. lLle7 12 0-0
French Defence COS tUc5 1 3 lilxcS xc5 1 4 lilc3 0-0-0 1 5
:lad I !ld7 1 6 :lfe l b4 1 7 d2 '12- '.1, .
e4 e6 Bareev prefers a more active development
2 d-' dS of his knight. 19 li:JdS
3 4J d 2 cS 12 20 li:Jbxd4 .l:txg2
-' ex d S exdS 13 :lac8 21 li:Jxe6 b xc 6
5 .lt bS+ d 7 16 d4 22 .l:the! li:J7f6
6 'i'e2+ 'i'e7 After this the white knight at c3 23 li:Jh4
Of course, this move has the right to develops incredible energy. Now Black can avoid the loss of the
exist, but 6 . . . .lte7 is nevertheless more The alternative was 1 6 ... lilf8, and if 1 7 second exchange only by 23 . . . .l:tf2 24
interesting. However, when preparing for a :the I ( 1 7 e5 4JSd7 I S d4 blockades xf2 xf2, but after 25 li:JfS xe I 26
game with Yevgeny Bareev one always the d-pawn, but White was wanting to win e I f8 27 .l:tc I the c6 pawn is lost.
has to be ready for a psychological battle. it) 17 . . . d4 (Black has no time for the Black resigns.
In our game a few months earlier, at the prophylactic 1 7 ... a6, as I S e5 wins the
1 993 Groningen Tournament, after the d-pawn after I S . . . lOsd7 1 9 lilxd5, while if Game 60
inclusion of 5 4JgO 4Jf6 he successfully 17 ...tOe6 White defends h is c2 pawn with Belyavsky-I.Sokolov
blocked the check 6 b5+ .ltd7 7 .e2+ I S :e2, renewing the threat of tOxd5, after Groningen 1 994
with 7 . . . .lte7. After S dxc5 0-{) 9 4Jb3 which B lack's defence is very difficult) I S Griinfeld Defence DSS
':eS 10 e3 a6 I I d3 as 1 2 a4 4Jg4 1 3 lilb5 ':xc2 1 9 tOd6 .l:t8c6 20 105 .l:t6c4 2 1
0-{) 4Ja6 1 4 xa6 ( 1 4 .ltd4 was stronger) A fairly typical position with an li:Jd2 .l:txd2 (in the similar position reached d4 li:Jf6
14 ...:lxa6 1 5 :fd l 4Jxe3 1 6 fxe3 cS! 1 7 ' isolani' has arisen. In the game Balashov in the game, Black does not have this 2 e4 g6
:::txd5 e6 I did not achieve anything sig Korchnoi (Gennany 1 9S0), where resource, as the white rook is sti l l at h I ) 22 3 ltJc3 d5
nificant. Therefore Yevgeny had grounds 13 . . ..l:tfc8 was played, Yuri Balashov did .l:txd2 a5 23 :cl .l:txc l + 24 'iPxc l xd2+ 4 cxd5 ltJxd5
for assuming that [ had prepared an not heed Larsen's recommendation and 25 d2, and White quickly regains h is 5 e4 ltJxc3
improvement, and so he changes course. blockaded the d5 pawn with the usual 1 4 pawn, after which the ending is slightly in 6 bxc3 g7
7 xd7+ tUxd7 li:Jbd4, but after 1 4 . . . g6 I S g4 a6 1 6 g3 h is favour, although B lack should be able 7 ltJf3 c5
8 dxc5 .xe2+ .l:te8 1 7 b3 :lacS 1 8 b2 li:Je5 the game to hold the draw (K.Neat). 8 .l:tbl
B lack should not have developed the soon ended in a draw. 17 lObS .l:txe2 9 e2 "as?!
white pieces without necessity. S ... 4Jxc5 As for me, I was in agreement with 18 lOd6 .l:t8e6 Nowadays the main problems that
was better, as for example in the 1 6th Larsen. 19 li:J CS ! White encounters in his attempt to gain an
game of the Karpov-Korchnoi World 14 li:Jc3! What a knight! B lack is unable to advantage come in the variation 9 ...cxd4
Championship Match (Bagiuo 1 975), This move demanded deep and precise defend against the forks at e7 and d4. Thus 10 cxd4 .a5+ I I d2 'i'xa2. Things are
where after 9 tUb3 .xe2+ 10 lOxe2 lOxb3 calculation, but then Larsen did not say if 19 ....l:t6c4 there follows 20 tt:Jd2 .l:tc5 2 1 also not totally clear after 9 .. .ltJc6.
I I axb3 c5 1 2 d2 1Oe7 1 3 lOf4 0-{) 1 4 that the isolated pawn could be won li:Jxd4, while the move in the game loses 10 .xc3
0-{) .l:tfdS I S tUd3 b6 B lack managed to without any effort. the exchange. 11 d2
.)1.b4 B lack can exchange queens by f3 (or 3 2 .)1.d8 .)1.d6 3 3 'iVe8+ .)1.f8) 23 .t d 3
1 4 . . . 'iVa4 I S 'iVxa4 .)1.xa4, for which I d id 32 ... .!:t6c7 with a great material advantage Black resigns
not feel inclined, although after 1 6 .)1.xe7 for Black.
l:[c8 1 7 eS ctJc6 1 8 d6 .)1.c2 1 9 .)1.a6 the But all this is from the realms of In the competitive sense 1 995 was one of
initiative remains with White (Gelfand intuition, and common sense suggested to the worst years in my chess career. The fal l
Itkis, USSR 1 983). me the more realistic 1 6 1:1c7 'iWd6 1 7 .)1.a5 in my rating from 2650 t o 26 1 5 signified
14 .)1.a4 with prospects of an initiative. the end of invitations to all-play-all tourna
15 'iVbl as? 16 .!:tc4 ments and a turning to 'general work' in
Threatening to win the bishop by 1 7 open events. And even my supporters
.)1.c l . thought that I would not pick up again.
16 .)1.c6 A characteristic feature of my
17 1:1b6 'iVd6 performances at that time was a reasonable
If 17 ... eS White can continue to build start, and then fatigue and a slump at the
The best continuation is I I d5 a5 1 2 up the threats by 1 8 'iVc2 llc8 1 9 h4. finish. It seemed that this would also
.)1.g5, e.g. 1 2 . . . Ile8 1 3 .)1.b 5 ! 'Lld7 1 4 e 5 a6 18 'iVc 1 .!:tc8 happen in Linares, where I had to with
I S .l1.xd7 .hd7 16 xb7 .)1.b5 ( 1 6 ... .)1.g4 19 eS stand the pressure of the leading group,
1 7 :xe7 1.xeS 1 8 :!.xe8+ ':xe8 1 9 d6 also including Anatoly Karpov, who was
favours White) 17 :Xe I f6 1 8 .)1.h4 with the fighting for first prize. Usually I have lost
better chances for White (Kopyonkin to him on account of m istakes committed
Konopka, Zalakaros 1 994). in the last hour of play. But on this
11 'iVaJ occasion, after a gruel ling defence (the
12 .)1. d 7 Black radically parries the threat of 1 6 result of careless play in the opening),
1 2 . . . ctJc6 i s stronger. .1b4, trapping his queen, but this frees the where I had literally to balance on a knife
13 .!:txb 7 b6 square for the white rook. 1 5 . . . toc6 1 6 edge, Karpov was the first to tire.
Th is turns out to be psychologically the h4 llab8! 1 7 :Xxc6 :xb7 1 8 xb7 xc6
correct decision. I had the experience of 19 xc6 1ha2 20 'i'b5 :c8 2 1 .)1.d3 h5 Game 6 1
my game with Tukmakov in the 50th looks sounder, with roughly equal chances. Karpov-Belyavsky
USSR Championship, where after 13 dxcS I S . . . .)1.c6 can lead to more forcing play, L inares 1995
.)1.c6 14 .)1.b5 ctJa6 I S 1:1fc l toc7 16 :b3 and now if 16 b4 White has to reckon Queen's Gambit D42
'iVxb3 17 'iVxb3 toxbS B lack gained with the queen sacrifice 1 6 . . . fixc I + 1 7 19 tic7
reasonable counter-chances. In our analy tixc l .)1.xb7 1 8 .)1.xe7 .!:tc8 ( 1 8 . . . .!:te8? 1 9 The pawn cannot be taken by 1 c4 c6
sis after the game we came to the conclu fic7 .)1.xe4 is weaker, as White is able to . 19 ... .txeS? 20 lDxeS fixeS because of the 2 e4 dS
sion that "\ihite should take the b7 pawn. create dangerous threats to the enemy king: loss of a piece after 2 1 .tf3 fic7 22 .txc6 3 exdS cxdS
13 cxd4 20 .)1.c4 CiJc6 2 1 .)1.f6 .!:tf8 22 xg7 xg7 'Wxb6 23 .txa8 lhc4 24 fixc4 I + 2 5 4 d4 tof6
In the game Miniboeck-Konopka (Eger 23 togS .!:tac8 24 fif4 .)1.f5 25 g4 .)1.d7 2 6 'Wfl fixa2 26 fie 1 . S lDc3
1 985) 13 ... .)1.c6 was played, and after 1 4 ctJxf7 d3 2 7 'Wh6+ f6 28 g 5 + e7 2 9 20 llb2 lDd7?! An amusing situation. This is a classic
.!:tb3?! Black defended successfully with a fig7 d 2 3 0 fif6+) 1 9 fif4 ctJd7, and in the This last chance for Black to complete position from the Panov-Botvinnik Attack .
manoeuvre of his light-square bishop: resulting clash the more numerous black his development results in a dead ly pin, but We have as though exchanged roles, since
14 . . . .)1.a4 1 5 .!:txaJ .)1.xc2 1 6 dxc5 .)1.xe4. pieces have the better chances. I hope that after 20 ... fid7 2 1 lDxd4 .txeS 22 .!:txb8 ! in recent times Karpov has been playing
Of course, 14 .!:tc7 cxd4 I S .!:te l would I will not tire the reader by examining a loss of material is again inevitable: the Caro-Kann as Black.
have set him more difficult problems, i n possible development of events: 20 h4 llc3 22 . . . .)1.xb8 23 lDxc6 .td6 24 .th6 e6 (or S e6
particular over how t o develop h i s knight. 2 1 h5 lle8 22 fid6 ctJcS 23 h6 lDxe4 24 24 ... f6 25 .tg4 e6 26 fic3 f5 27 lDe7+) 25 6 .)1.e7
14 .!:tel fid7 .)1.c6 2S fixa7 .)1.xh6 26 COxd4 .!:tc l + 'Wc3 .tf8 26 lDe7+ fixe7 27 .!:txc8. 7 cxd5 lDxd5
For the sacrificed pawn White has 2 7 h2 .tf4+ 2 8 g3 COxg3 2 9 COxc6 21 .!:tbc2 lDxe5 8 .td3 0-0
domination of the b- and c-fiIes. After 1 4 ctJxe2+ 30 g2 .!:txc6 3 1 'ii'd 7 .!:tecS 3 2 22 toxeS 'i'xeS 9 0-0 toc6
10 lI e l lOC6 After I I . . . h6 B lack's attention should (a) 1 6 . . . lOxdS 1 7 xh6 gxh6 1 8 'i'xh6 19 lOd5
11 g5 have automatically switched from h7 to the fS 19 "'g6+ h8 20 xfS ! exfS 2 1 lOgS 20 g3 a6
h6 pawn (he has to watch for a possible with irresistible threats; 21 'i'd2 lIc8
bishop sacrifice), and so his first thought (b) 1 6 . . . exdS 1 7 xh6 gxh6 1 8 'i'xh6 22 a2 g8
should have been to play his bishop to fS lOe4 (or 1 8...g4 1 9 .!:teS lOe4 20 xe4 23 lIac1 lOC6
after 1 3 . . .:re8. Now he is unable to do this, dxe4 2 1 lOgS) 1 9 .t1xe4 dxe4 20 xe4 fS 24 lOc3 f8
and White firmly seizes the in itiative. 2 1 "'g6+ q;,h8 22 lOeS J:[fS 23 xa8 with At last the bishop has reached 'The
14 'i'd2 a great material advantage; Promised Land ' .
(c) 1 6 ... 'i'xd5 1 7 xh6 gxh6 1 8 .!:te5
....b3 1 9 'i'xh6 and wins.

16 'i'd3
To disclose the dynamic possibilities in
the position it is also interesting to
exam ine 1 6 dS!?, a typical breakthrough in
such situations. The capture of the pawn
11 h6!? clearly involves a great risk:
By transposition of moves, this position (a) 16 . . . exd5? 1 7 xh6 gxh6 1 8 '1i'xh6
can be reached not only from the Panov fS 1 9 ::'xe8 'i'xe8 20 'i'xf6, or
Botv i nnik Attack, but also via the Tarrasch (b) 16 . . .lOxdS 17 lOxdS 'i'xdS 1 8 'i'c2
Defence Deferred to the Queen's Gambit f6 19 'i'h7+ fS 20 e4 'i'd7 2 1 .!:ted l
(as classified in ECO). A fter I I gS the 'i'c7 22 the ! b7 23 lOd4 etc.
routine reply is considered to be 1 1 ... lOb4, 14 lIe8 However, after 16 ... lOaS White's 25 d5
aiming for the maximum control of dS, but Black has to hastily ' patch up the chances are not so clear: This game is a good illustration of the
then in a number of variations Black has to holes ' . After the natural 1 4 . . . b7 White (a) 17 xh6 is most simply parried by possibilities in positions with an isolated
keep a close look out for attacks on h7, carries out the bishop sacrifice and 17 ... lOb3 1 8 'i'gS fS 1 9 .:ta2 exdS; pawn. As soon as a piece moves from the
such as 1 2 b l b6 13 aJ lObd5 14 "'d3 g6 develops a dangerous attack: 1 5 lOes (the (b) 17 a2 (this quiet move is more blockading square, the idea of the pawn
1 5 h6 :re8 1 6 lOe5. Karpov himself immediate 1 5 xh6 xf3 1 6 xg7 is also promising) 17 . . . exdS 18 lOxdS e6 1 9 breakthrough arises. The only question is,
prefers 1 1 ... b6 in this position. For possible) I S ... lle8 1 6 xh6 gxh6 17 J:[e3 lOxe7+ 1:txe7 (after 1 9 ... 'i'xe7 2 0 xh6 what dividends does it give? Whereas on
example, his game with Ivanovic in their lOh7 1 8 aJ and now: gxh6 21 '1ixh6 White has dangerous the 1 6th move White had definite grounds
training match in Bijelo Polje 1 99 6 (a) 1 8 ... f6 1 9 .i.xh7+ xh7 20 :h3 threats) 20 'i'xd8+ :'xd8 2 1 d2 with a for the advance of the pawn, here an
continued 1 2 'i'e2 b7 1 3 :ad l lOb4 1 4 f8 2 1 lOg4 lOdS 22 lOxh6 g7 23 llg3+ slight endgame advantage. unfortunate moment is chosen. After 2S
b I llc8 1 5 lOe5 lObd5 (weaker is (or 23 '1ie2) 23 . . . h7 24 'i'c2+ fS 2 S . 16 b7 h4! Black is practically forced to weaken
IS . . . lOfd5 1 6 d2) 16 'It'd3 g6 1 7 h6 lOxfS and wins; 17 lOe4 f8! his kingside: 25 . . . g5 26 g3, and now
.!:te8 18 'tWh3 fS 19 g5 e7 20 h6 (b) 1 8 ...lOd5 1 9 1Ig3+ lOgS 20 h4 f6 2 1 Useful prophylaxis against the after 26...g7 27 lIcd I White is still
fS 2 1 d2 ! ? lOxc3 22 bxc3 b S ! with 'i'c2 fxeS 22 'i'h7+ fS 23 "xh6+ t7 2 4 imminent check at h7. threatening d4-d5, while the pin of the
counterplay for B lack. g6+ g8 2 S :txg5, forcing mate; 18 d2 pawn by 26 ... g4 27 lOe5 "xd4 is highly
My radical attempt to solve thi s (c) 1 8 ... lOc6 19 xh7+ xh7 20 "d3+ A fter I 8 lOxf6 xf6 19 '1ih 7 B lack can risky: 28 "c2 g7 (28 .....c5 fails to 29
problem turned out, strangely enough, to g7 (or 20 ... f5 2 1 lOxc6 xc6 22 :txe6 pick up the d4 pawn, whereas now it is lOe4) 29 lOe2 xe2 30 lOxc6 :txc6 3 1
be an innovation - in the all-knowing d7 23 'i'xf5+ h8 24 lIxh6+) 2 1 :g3+ indirectly defended: 1 8 ...lOxe4 1 9 'i'xe4 'i'xc6 'i'xb2 3 2 lIc2 and White gains a
Chess Base I did not find this move. g5 ( 2 l ...fS 22 'i'h7) 22 lOxc6 xc6 23 f6 20 'i'h7 lOxd4? 2 1 b4+ and White material advantage. Now, however, the
12 e3 h4 f6 24 hxgS hxg'S 2 5 f4 lIh8 26 fxg5 f5 wins. position is simplified, and for the first time
If 1 2 h4 B lack can exchange bishops: 27 lIe I with a clear advantage. 18 as after my error on move 1 3 I was able to
12 . . . lOh5 13 xe7 lOxe7 1 4 lOe5 lOf6. 15 a3! lOc6 19 r4! breathe a sigh of relief.
12 lOb4 The only move. After I S ... lObdS 1 6 The result of this bishop manoeuvre is a 25 exd5
13 bl b6? liJxdS B lack i s lost: weakening of Black's queenside. 26 lIxe8 "xe8
27 4Jxd5 ttJxd5 46 cl 4Jb3+ 53 lDe4 e7 54 h4 .i.b2 55 4Jg5 f6 56 piece after 1 3 lUxgS '1ixgS 1 4 f4) 1 3 0-{)
28 xd5 4Je7! ttJe4 c8 57 g3 .i.h3 58 e3 .i.a3 59 .i.c4 with the better chances. I O . lOf6 I I i.e2
..
29 a2 llxcl+ .i.c8 60 e2 .i.b4 61 d3 i.b7 62 e3 lUc6 transposes into a position from

30 'i'xc1 b7! .i.a3 63 4Jc3 i.c5+ 64 e2 f8 65 4Jd5 Kir.Georgiev-Damaso (Yerevan Olympiad
The worst is over for B lack, who has g7 66 4Jf4 b6 67 4Je6 i.a3 68 4Jf4 g5 1 996), which continued 1 2 b4 lOe7 1 3
nothing to fear. 69 4Jd5 .i.xd5 70 .i.xd5 Draw agreed i.b2 lOg6 1 4 0-{) '1ie7 I S llfe l and White
31 4Je5 d5 retained a solid initiative. But 1 0 ... lDd6
32 bl ttJc6 The low level of my play in 1 995 is followed by . . . cS was possibly stronger.
33 'i'd2 'iWe6 typified by my game with Lobron, which I 9 i.b7
34 4Jd3 'i' fS had to win twice. 10 f3 lOd6!
35 'i'd ! 4Jd4 The alternative is IO .. tLlf6 1 1 lOc3 c5
.
36 ttJf4 Game 62 12 d5 h8 1 3 e4 fxe4 14 g5 exd5 1 5

BeIyavsky-Lobron cxd5 exfJ 1 6 O--O--D d6, and here in the
Dortmund 1995 game Azmaiparashvili-Adams (Madrid
47 c2?! N imzo-Indian Defence E32 1 996) White could have retained the
48 d3 ? ! advantage by 1 7 lOe4 d6 1 7 lOe4 f2 (or
Karpov cannot reconc ile himself to the 1 d4 4Jf6 I 7 . . . lObd7 1 8 lOxd6) 1 8 .i.c4 '1ie7 1 9
repetition of moves, and he exceeds the 2 c4 e6 i.xf6 gxf6 2 0 llhfl lDd7 (if 2 0. . .f5 2 1
bounds of risk. Now it is [ who am no lon 3 tLlc3 i.b4 '1ic3+ g8 22 '1ig3+ h8 23 '1ixd6) 2 1
ger agreeable to a draw, although Black's 4 '1ic2 llxf2 Ir.ae8 22 lOg3 with a strong initiative.
chances are only sl ightly preferab le. 5 a3 i.xc3+ I O ...'1ih4+? is not good: 1 1 g3 '1ih5 1 2
48 tOfS! 6 '1ixc3 4Je4 i.g2 lOg5 1 3 lDf4, and 1 3 . . . tDxfJ+ does
49 b3 i.d7 7 '1ic2 fS not work because of 1 4 f2 '1ig4 1 5 h3.
50 a4 b5 8 e3 b6 11 d2 c5?!
50 ... tLlxg3 5 1 hxg3 h5 was more 9 4Je2? Here 1 1 ... '1ih4+ would now have been
36 b3! accurate, weakening White 's pawns. good. Since White cannot block the check
With the approach of the first time con 51 lUe2 tLlxg3 either with his knight ( 1 2 lOg3 f4 1 3 exf4
trol, the situation has changed radically, 52 lOxg3 f8 lOf5), or with his pawn ( 1 2 g3 '1ih5 1 3
although, objectively speaking, the i.g2 .i.xfJ 1 4 lDf4 '1ig4), h e has to play 1 2
resulting ending is drawn. d l , after which Black's position i s better,
37 xfS xd l since it is not easy for White to coordinate
38 d3 b3 his forces.
39 n g6 12 dxc5! bxc5
40 e1 g7 13 0-6-{) 4Jc6
41 d2 a4 14 lDC4 1ie7
42 c4 4Jb3+ 15 .i.c3 :n
For the moment the b2 pawn is 16 .i.e2
attacked, so the threat of 4Jxg6 is The immediate 1 6 :g l was stronger,
immaterial and Black can pennit himself a A new and not altogether successful preparing an attack on the g-file.
l ittle activity, but objectively simpler and idea in the given position; this is usually 16 as
sounder was 42 ...4Jf5 43 b3 c6 44 d5 played after 9 .i.d3. If White is planning to 17 "d2 4Jc8
.i.xd5 45 4Jxd5 4Jxg3 46 hxgJ d4 etc. Also after 52 ... b5 53 axb5 .i.xb5+ 5 4 push away the knight from e4, he should 18 :hgl lDb4?
43 c2 lDd4+ .i.c4 .i.c6 5 S ttJe4 f8 5 6 fJ White's consider 9 lOh3 .i.b7 1 0 fJ, when Spectacular, but White is not obliged to
44 bl ttJb3 pieces are sufficiently wel l centralised to 1 0 . . . '1ih4+?! is unfavourable for Black: 1 1 take the knight. I S . 4Jb6 with the idea of
. .
45 d5 tiJd2 + hold the position. gJ '1ih5 1 2 .i.g2 lOf6 ( l 2 ...lDg5? loses a 1 9. . . 4Ja4 was stronger.
19 Wbl .i.xc4 Wf8 46 .i.b5 <j;;e 7 47 .i.d7 <j;;d 8 (or 51 b5 <j;;c5

Not 1 9 axb4? axb4 20 .i.e5 because of 47 . . . 4Jxd7 48 exd7 <j;;x d7 49 Wb3, and 52 <j;;a 5!
20 . . . d6 21 .i.xd6 b3 22 Wb I .i.e4+! 23 White wins easily with his outside passed Now both sides promote: 52 . . . d4 5 3 b6
fxe4 a7 etc. pawn, e.g. 49 . . . d5 50 <;Pc3 <;Pc6 5 1 <;Pd4 d3 54 b7 d2 55 b8W d l , but after 56
19 e5 <;Pd6 52 h4 h5 53 b4 c6 54 b5+ xb5 5 5 'ifc8+ <j;;d 5 57 d8+ the black queen I S
20 4Jd 5 .i. x d S <;pxd5) 48 a3 <3;c7 4 9 a4 4Jd5 (or lost. Therefore Black resigned.
21 exdS 4J b 6 49 ... 4Jg4 50 b4 4Jxh2 5 1 b5 4Jg4 52 <j;; a5
22 e4 d6 4Je5 53 b6+ <j;; b7 54 e7) 50 <j;; a 5 b7 5 1 I like the chess atmosphere in Yugoslavia.
23 llgO 'ii' e8 b4 4Je7 5 2 b5 a7 5 3 .i.c6 4Jc8 54 b6+ Although the country is recovering from
Planning the queen raid e8-a4-b3-a2. <t>b8 5 5 b7 'De7 56 <;Pb6 d5 57 .i.b5 d4 5 8 the effects of the war, it will soon rival
.i.d3 h 6 59 h4 and White wins. Spain in the quantity and quality of
tournaments staged, because here they
have the best chess enthusiasts and many
32 J:te 1 + potential sponsors. For the last few years I
Hoping for a time trouble m iracle, have been playing regularly for the
especially as 32 . . . d8 is parried by 33 Agrouniverzal club (Zemun) in team
.i. f6. competitions.
33 .i.xel xel +
34 a2 b3+ Game 63
35 xb3 e4+ Zviagi n tsev-Belyavsky
36 <j;;a 2? ! Team Tournament
Lobron was not so m istaken. In time Yugoslavia 1995
trouble I failed to find the more decisive 36 King's Indian Defence E92
24 f4! .i.xc4 'ii'd I + 37 c3 4Ja4+ 38 b4.
Not so much for the sake of an attack, 36 aS+ 43 'ii' e8+ f8 d4 4Jf6
as a defence against the invasion of the 37 <j;; b l 'ii' e 1 + 44 'ii'e 6+ f7 2 c4 g6
queen. 38 <j;; a2 aS+ 45 xf7+ <j;; x f7 3 lfJc3 .i.g7
24 exf4 39 bl el+ 46 .i.xe4 <j;;e6 4 e4 d6
25 llxf4 'ii' a 4? 40 'ii' e l ? ! 47 b4 eS 5 lfJo
An empty threat; 2 5 ... fxe4 should have Here too the perpetual check could 48 .i.xdS <j;; x d 5 6 .i.e2 eS
been played. have been avoided by 40 <j;; c 2 e2+ 4 1 7 dS as
26 ll O <j;;c 3 'ii'd 3+ (4 I ...'ii'e 1 + 4 2 .d2) 4 2 <j;; b4 . 8 h3
Now i f 26 ... b3 there follows 2 7 40 'ii' e4+
.i.xb4. 41 <j;; a2 .xfS
26 lle8 42 We3!
27 lldO llxe4 It appears that Lobron has emerged
28 llxfS llxfS unscathed from the time scramble, but now
29 llxfS .e8 the exchange of queens is forced, and both
In view of the threat of 3 0 .g5, the types of ending are lost.
queen has to return. If Black persists with 42 4JxdS
29 . . . 'ii'b 3, then 30 axb4 4Ja4 (or 30 . . . axb4 Black prefers to maintain material
3 1 'ii'g 5) 3 1 .i.xg7 and wins. equality. In the minor piece ending he
30 'ii'g 5 lIe7 would have had to part with a pawn after
31 axb4 axb4 42 ... lD<i7 43 We6+ .xe6 44 dxe6, but he 49 <j;; b3 <j;;d 4
32 i.b5! could have resisted longer: 44 . . . lfJf6 45 50 <j;;a4 d5
A favourite variation with Zviagintsev, diagonal, if B lack carries out the standard 15 trcl 'i'e7 ! ?
which he has successfully employed in plan: 9 . . . f5?! 1 0 exfS gxfS 1 1 lUgS ! f6 A difficult choice. I was happy with the
several games. White prepares a retreat for 1 2 g4. However, I was not intending to outcome of the opening battle. Now if 1 6
his bishop at e3, which is unfavourable play this. After all, the aim of weakening g2 fS 1 7 exfS lLlf4 ! the knight comes
after 8 g5 h6 9 e3 liJg4. In addition, in the kingside has been achieved, and now it into play more effectively.
the plan with queens ide castling the pawn is possible to switch to the queenside. 16 c5 cxd5
at h3 assists the attack with g2-g4. It is not Therefore I was intending 9 ... lUa6 17 cxd6 '1!fd8
easy for Black to find an antidote. For followed by . . . c7-c6, which is very White 's attack achieves its aim only in
example, in the event of queenside play he appropriate should White castle queens ide. the event of 1 7 . . .ii'xd6? 18 cS 'i'f6 1 9
may run into difficulties, as shown by the 9 f4 lLlxaS! llxaS 20 xb4.
game Polulyakhov-Belyavsky (lgalo 10 n a6 18 xd5
1 994): S ... liJa6 9 g5 liJc5 10 lLld2 c6 I I 11 g3 h5 After 1 8 exdS b6 19 bS trb8 20 xd7
0-0 'i'e8 ( 1 1 .. .d7 and 1 2 . . . 'i'bS is better, 12 b3 '1i'xd7 2 1 lUbS lUf6 22 trc7 'i'fS the
although this does not change the A fter 12 e2 Boleslavsky's old idea initiative passes to B lack. 29 xe5
evaluation) 1 2 b3 d7 13 aJ cxdS 14 cxd5 (from his game with Szabo, Budapest 18 lUxd5 Stronger was 29 ... b6 30 lUb3 (if 3 0
bS I S b4 axb4 16 axb4 liJa4 1 7 traJ (White 1 950) looked tempting: 1 2 . . . 0c5 1 3 .lixh5 19 'i'xd5 lLlf6 lLld3 there follows 30 . . . bS 3 1 'i'd4 l:[d8 3 2
also has the advantage after 1 7 liJxa4 bxa4 lUd3 + 14 'it>fl gxh5 1 5 'i'xh5 fS, but 20 'i'd3 xa4 'i'c3 xe4) 30 ... d 7 3 1 l:[xhS trxg3+ 3 2
I S '1Ifc2 b5 1 9 xbS 'i'xb5 20 ::: fb I unfortunately White can avoid it by 1 3 21 lUcs Wt2 trg6 33 f4 e6 34 'i'dJ ( 3 4 'i'c3
:tfcS 2 1 'i'd 1 llc3 22 'i'f1 '1!fd3 23 '1!fxd3 lUb3 ! with a good game. Therefore 1 was Zviagintsev m ust evidently have f8) 34 ... l:[d8 3 5 'i'e3 'i'bs, winning the
trxd3 24 b5) I 7 ... lLlxc3 1 8 trxc3 hS 1 9 intending 1 2 . . .lLlf6 (fol lowed by . . . c7-c6), overlooked my 22nd move, otherwise he b2 pawn and obtaining two connected
trc7 lLlh7 20 e3 and White stands better. when White is not able to open the h-file would have preferred 2 1 g2 xb3 22 passed pawns on the queenside.
In a previous game with Zviagintsev ( 1 3 h4 h5). 'i'xb3 'i'xd6 23 0-0. 30 g4 bxg4
(Budva 1 995) I avoided the pin on my 12 c6 21 c6 31 b4 l:[d8
knight by 8 ... lLlfd7, after which my 12 ... fS was the alternative. 22 g2 'i'b8! 32 hS l:[gd6
opponent launched an offensive on the 13 e3 d7 Unexpectedly it transpires that the d6 33 'i'e2 Wh8
kingside: 9 h4! fS 1 0 hS liJf6 (1 0 .. .f4 I I 14 84 pawn is doomed. If 23 0-0 there follows 34 'i'xg4 f6?
hxg6 hxg6 1 2 g3 gS 1 3 lLlh2 favours In view of the threat of . . . as-a4 White 23 . . . trd8 24 trfd l f8, while if 23 gS
White) I I hxg6 hxg6 1 2 g5 lLla6 1 3 lLld2 has to weaken his queens ide. h6 24 xf6 xf6, intending . . . l:[d8 and
lLlc5 1 4 liJb3 b6 1 5 xc5 bxcS 1 6 exfS ! 14 b4 . . . e7.
xfS (things are no easier after 1 6 ... gxf5 On the agenda now is I S . . . fS, when 23 f4 lUb5
1 7 h5! with the threat of g6) 1 7 g4 after 16 exfS Black recaptures 1 6 . . . xfS, 24 f3 l:[d8
d7 1 8 ,*"d3 'i'e8, and here after 19 'i'hJ? with the threat of . . . c2. 25 xh5 l:[xd6
I was able to break out with 19 . . . e4 ! , but 26 'i'c4 gxbS
by 1 9 liJe4! White would have retained the 27 'i'e8
advantage. The black queen has shown
8 liJh5 considerable mobility. It participated in the
The idea of this move is to provoke g2- preparation of . . . f7-fS, then in the
g3, after which kingside castling for White besieging of the d6 pawn, and finally it has
will become problematic. come to the defence of the kingside,
9 lUd2 creating in passing a threat of winning the There was no need to engage in
The first pleasant symptom. This retreat exchange. White could have answered the prophylaxis. After the simple 34 ... b6 (I
would look much better with the bishop at direct 27 ... trg6 with 28 fS ! trxg3+ 29 t2 was unlucky with this move) 3 5 b3 (or
e3 . More critical was 9 g3, when h4 30 trg l , gaining counterplay. 3 S g5 bxc5 3 6 ..i.xd8 l:txd8) 3 5 ....i.xe4
Zviagintsev's other main idea is revealed - 28 fxe5 l:[g6 36 l:[xeS 'i'xeS 37 .i.f4 'i'g7 3 8 'i'xg7+
exploiting the weakening of the b l -h7 29 l:[13 Wxg7 39 .i.xd6 l:txd6 Black wins easily.
35 f4 '1tg8? 47 l:tc8+ at the kingside, and Black ' s defence i s not llxd8+ .i.xd8 2 1 lLleS, where Black has
I should have boldly played for mate Not 47 lhe7 llxe7 48 llxf6? Uf7 with a at all easy. weak pawns at a4 and b6.
with 3 5 . ..d4+ 36 h2 xc5 37 lUxeS won pawn ending. At the Reggio Emilia Tournament of 13 'tifh5
'i'xe4, when White suffers further losses: 47 g7 1 99 1/2 Kasparov played 9 ll'le4 against 14 ll'lfgS 'tifh6
(a) 38 h6 llg8 39 xg8+ c;t>xg8 40 48 tIM lle8 Anand, but after 9 . . . b6! 1 0 ll'lxc5 'tifxc5 1 1 15 bl axb3
lIg I + ..t>h 3 4 1 xd6 'i'h4 mate; 49 llc7+ 116e7 e3 c7 1 2 d4 b7 1 3 0-0-0 ( i f 1 3 16 axb3
(b) 38 :l.5c2 llg8 39 'i'xg8+ c;t>xg8 40 50 llc6 g5 0-0 ll'lc5 with an equal game) 1 3 . . . ll'lc5 ! 1 4
xd6 h4+ 4 1 g I 'tifd4+. W hite resigns e5 ( 1 4 xf6 'tiff4+ 1 5 b l gxf6 ! ?)
36 'tifxg8+ llxg8+ 14 ... ll'lxd3+ 1 5 l:txd3 'tifc4 1 6 lOd4 ( 1 6
37 Wf2 xf4 Game 64 ll'ld2 'tifg4! ) 1 6...e4 1 7 lle3 'tifxa2! Black
38 llx f4 b6 Rublevsky-Belyavsky gained good counterplay.
39 ltJb3 e8 Novosibirsk 1 995 9 as?!
40 llc4 xh5 French Defence C07 A loss of time. It would have been
41 ltJd 4 g6 better for Black to complete his
42 ltJ13 lle8 e4 e6 development with 9 ... b6 1 0 b2 b7.
43 ltJh4 g8 2 d4 d5 10 b2 b6
44 llc7 3 ttJd2 c5 11 b7
4 exd5 ff xd5
5 dxc5 xc5
6 ltJ g13 ltJf6 16 .ia3!
7 d3 Black seizes the initiative and he should
Th is move was introduced by get his attack in first.
Kasparov. Before that 7 c4 was played. 17 llJxf6+?
7 0-0 A rare instance of a grandmaster
8 'tife2 ll'lbd7 calculating a long variation that transposes
into an endgame, but 'on the way' over
looking a mate to his own king. 1 7 .id4
was essential, when I was intending to
continue the pressure with 1 7 . . . ll'ld5 ! , not
fearing 1 8 ll'lxh7 in view of I S . . . llfc8 with
44 llde6 ! 12 llbel the threat of 19 . . . b4.
W inning a third pawn by 44 . . . xe4 4 5 A good move, but not the best. I was 17 fuf6
:g4+ would have allowed White a strong afraid of 1 2 g4 ! with the threat o f 1 3 g5 18 .i.xf6 tr'xf6
initiative. Thus after 45 . . . f8 the white ll'lh5 1 4 e4, while after 1 2 ... tr'd6 1 3 g5 19 .i.xh7+ b8
rooks take charge of the seventh rank: 4 6 ll'ldS 1 4 fie4 White would have developed 20 fibS
llgg7 :ee6 (weaker is 46 ... :e5 4 7 ltJO a dangerous attack. Here White considered only 20 ... 'i'h6
xO 48 O llde6 49 llcf7+ e8 50 12 a4 2 1 tr'xh6 gxh6 22 e4, but. . .
llb7) 47 llcf7+ e8 48 lla7 dS 49 ltJfS 13 ll'le4? 20 tr'b2 mate!
lld2+ 50 g l cS and Black is balancing Evidently the best position for the Again a natural move is not the best.
on a knife-edge. 4 5 . . .h8 is sounder, but knight with this structure, as after 8 ... lOc6 White should have forced an endgame by I started 1 996 at the Christmas Tournament
then comes 46 llxe4! l::txe4 47 llc8+ g7 9 ll'le4 .i.e7 1 0 0-0 White's chances are 1 3 .ie4! ll'lxe4 1 4 ll'lxe4 tr'xe4 1 5 tr'xe4 in Reggio Emil ia, where I played more
48 ltJf5+ g6 49 11Jxd6 l:td4 50 ll'lc4 b5 5 1 better. .ixe4 16 llxe4 llfd8 1 7 b4! (after 1 7 l:txa4 cautiously than in the previous year's
ll'lxa5 :td2+ with a probable draw. 9 b3 llxa4 1 8 bxa4 f6 Black's king approaches tournaments. I was leading before the last
45 ll'lxg6 bxg6 An interesting plan. After the fianchetto the centre, and he has nothing to fear) round and, despite a solid series of draws, I
46 13 l:t8e7 the white bishops are threateningly aimed 1 7 ....i.e 7 I S lled4 ll'lf6 1 9 llxd8+ l:txd8 20 should nevertheless have made one more,
by accepting the offer of Rustem Dautov. game P iket-Kasparov (Amsterdam 1 995), B lack forestalls d5-d6 and actively deploys 19 el lOdb4
Then I would have finished first, rather which continued 1 2 .l:[d l fS 1 3 d6 h6 1 4 his forces . However, it seems to me that 20 a3
than fourth. f4 lOd7 1 5 .l:[d2 1Ob4 1 6 'i'b3 e6 1 7 White is not obl iged to defend h is b2
c4 lOb6 I S xe6 nxe6 1 9 lOa4! (here pawn.
Game 6 5 Karpov played 1 9 a3, and after 19 . . . lOd3 !
Belyavsky-Azmaiparashvili 20 g3 c4 Black achieved an excellent
Reggio Emilia 1 995/6 game) 19 ... .l:[e4 2 0 g3 ! lOc4 2 1 lOxc S ! ,
Griinfeld Defence D97 and in the subsequent play Piket succeeded
in outplaying the World Champion.
d4 lOf6 12 e3 .l:[eS
2 c4 g6 13 .tIad l 'iif b 6
3 lO e3 d5 B lack attacks the b2 pawn and brings
4 lOn g7 his queen out to an active position. Now,
5 'Wb3 apart from the move played, White has two
Zurab Azmai parashvili had then only other possibilities: the practically untested
j ust begun including the Griinfeld Defence 1 4 lOa4 and the more common 1 4 b3: 20 lOc2
in his reperto ire, and I thought that the 14 lOa4 'iifb4 ( i ntending . . . '1!ixc4 fol Black aims to penetrate with his knight
Botvinnik Variation would be more lowed by . . . c2; after 14 . . . 'iif a5 1 5 lOxcs 14 d6!? to d4 (after which the d6 pawn is weak
appropriate than fashionable continuations. B lack is virtually obliged to make the An old idea, but with a new ened), and prevents White from controlling
5 dxe4 exchange sacri fice I S . . . .l:[xe3, which after implication. After the opening of the a2-gS this square with his bishop from e3 .
6 'i'xc4 ().4) 1 6 lOxb 7 'i'b6 1 7 fxe3 looks somewhat diagonal, it transpires that the f7 square is 20 . . . lOc6 would have been met by 2 1 e3,
7 e4 lOa6 speculative) 1 5 b3 lOe4 1 6 lOd2 1:acS inadequately defended, for which it is fu lly not fearing 2 1 . . . xc4 22 xc4 xb2 in
8 e2 e5 (after 1 6 ... lOd6?! 17 'i'c l d4 I S xa6 worth giv ing up the b2 pawn. view of 23 xh6 (weaker is 23 1Oc7 1Oxc7
9 d5 e6 ':'xe3 1 9 a3 ! 'WaS 20 xb7 1Oxb7 2 1 lOc4 However, the acceptance of the sac 24 dxc7 .l:[dcS, when 25 .l:[d7 is not
10 ().4) exd5 White stood clearly better in Ree-Miralles, rifice by 1 4 . . . 'i'xb2 is dangerous, not possible because of 25 . . . lOe5). Here B lack
11 exd5 Cannes 1 992) 1 7 lOxe4 .l:[xe4 I S 'Wxb4 because of the obvious 1 5 :tb I ? ! xb I 1 6 still has to solve the problem of activating
lOxb4 with counterplay for B lack, as after ::'xb I bS ! , after which Black takes the his knight at a6, whereas White can now
1 9 f3? llxe3 20 fxe3 bS he stands better. initiative ( 1 7 'iifx bS iixc3 I S 'iifxa6 .l:[xe3 ! attack on the kings ide, for example:
14 b3 is more natural, when the or 1 7 .l:[xb2 bxc4 1 8 xc4 lOe4), but i n 23 ....l:[d7 24 f4 (24 .l:[fe I also looks good,
tempting exchange sacrifice 1 4 ... llxe3 1 5 view o f 1 5 lOgS ! .l:[fS 1 6 f3 ! h6 1 7 1Oge4 but after 24 . . . .l:[c8 and 25 . . . lOabS B lack
fxe3 lOg4 1 6 lOa4 would appear to favour lOxe4 1 8 tDxe4 with a strong initiative that brings his second knight into play)
White: fully compensates for the pawn. 24 ... lOd4 25 g4 with the threat of f4-fS.
(a) 1 6 ... 'i'd6 1 7 e4 d7 I S eS lOxeS I 9 14 e6 21 lOa5 .l:[ d 7
'i'f4 with a strong initiative; 15 'i'b5 h6 22 r4!
(b) 1 6 ... 'i'a5 1 7 e4 ttJe3 I S 'Wd3 lUxd l Preventing lOg5. The start of strictly concrete play.
1 9 exfS 1Oc3 20 lOxc3 'Wxc3 2 1 'i'xc3 16 lOe5! White defends h i s pawn and threatens 23
xc3 22 .l:[c I with a clear endgame W ith this move White not only supports .l:[d2. If 22 ... lOd4 there follows 23 lOxd4
advantage; his passed pawn, but also threatens to play xd4 24 b5, and the role of the passed
(c) 1 6 ...'i'f6 1 7 e4 1Oe3 I S 'Wbs and all his bishop to 0 , from where it attacks the d-pawn sharply increases. B lack cannot
11 B lack's pieces are hanging; b7 pawn and deprives the f6 knight o f observe with indifference the course of
The alternative 1 1 . . J:teS, which was (d) 1 6 . . . 'i'dS 17 e4 d7 I S e5 important central squares. The tactical events, although the signs were that my
tested in 1 9 S7 in the Karpov-Kasparov I S ...lUxeS 19 'i'f4 again with a strong justification for it is 1 6 ... xa2 1 7 1Oxg6. opponent was content with their
match in Seville, has recently been in itiative. 16 .l:[edS development.
experiencing something of a crisis. Th i s However, a more solid reply to 14 b3 17 lOe4 'i'xb5 22 g5
was especially s o after the 'sensational ' looks to be 1 4 . . . .l:[ad S ! ? 1 5 iOa4 'i'a5, when IS lOxb5 lOd5 23 .i.g3 f5
24 .td3 ltJd4 But before this I had to take part in open bxc6 bxc6 I S 'i'a4 ltJgS 1 6 'i'xc6 ltJh3+ 1 7
25 lIfe 1 events. This caused immediate problems "' h i .tg4 ( 1 7 ... ltJxf2+ does not work: 1 8
In v iew of the threat of 26 ltJxd4 cxd4 with my opening repertoire, since m y play lIxf2 l:txf2 1 9 'iixa8 l:txg2 20 lIb8) 1 8 f4
27 nxe6, B lack does not have time to play with Black was largely aimed at m a i n e6 1 9 lIb7 l:tf7 2 0 l:txfl f7 2 1 cxdS lIc8
2S . . . f4 . taining the balance. This is not a bad idea 22 dxe6+ .txe6 23 'i'a4 I-D.
25 in all-play-all tournaments of even 14 bxe6 bxe6
composition, but with it one can hard ly 15 a3 llf7
expect to score wins in open tournaments, 16 '1Wa4 e5
where the rating d i fference of opponents White is clearly ahead in the develop
can be as much as SOO points. I was ment of h is i nitiative. Black decides that a
obliged to try and master something new, pawn sacrifice is the l east of the various
although in practice it turned out than. evils, as after 16 . . . .td7 1 7 1Ib7 c5? 1 8 'i'a5
even with my oId repertoire, it was his losses are even heavier.
possible to win from both equal and simple 9 ltJe4 17 dxe5 .txe5
positions. 10 ltJxe4 18 'i' xe6 lle8
I began the Rubinstein Memorial ' White changes the pawn structure, 19 '1Wa4
Tournament with seven draws. but then I assuming that all the play will be White removes his queen from the
managed to win three out of my rem a i n i ng transferred to the queenside, and that Black 'gaze' of the rook at c8, as after 1 9 .tb2
four games, which brought me first prize. will be unable to create counterplay on the .txb2 20 lIxb2 ltJe6 he cannot play 2 1
26 .te5! kingside. 'i'xd5? because o f 2 1 . . . lld7, winning the
Dispe l l i ng Black's i l l usions. Game 66 10 fxe4 knight.
26 JLxe5 Belyaysky-Nikolie 11 ltJd2 d5 19 ltJe6?!
27 lIxe5 b6 Polanica Uroj 1 996 After 1 l . . ..txd4 12 ltJxe4 .tg7 13 .tb2 Black is a pawn down and has no
28 lIdel Dutch Defence A80 White achieves the weakening o f a whole particular compensation, but even so he
T h e game is decided, a s W h i t e sweeps complex of dark squares in the opponent's should not have exchanged his e4 pawn for
away the barriers on the e-file. I f 2 8 . . . bxa5 d4 f5 position. the one at a2.
there fol lows 29 8xd4 cxd4 30 ':xe6 8c5 The main opening in N iko l i c ' s 12 b5 ltJc7 20 cxd5 'i'xd5
3 1 .txfS ! .!Oxe6 32 .txe6+ e8 33 .td5+ repertoire is t h e Nimzo-Ind ian Defence. 13 e3 21 ltJxe4 'i'xa2
and 34 .txa8. His choice of the Dutch Defence ind icates 22 'i'b3 l:te2
28 e4 his intention of playing for a win.
29 ltJxc4 ltJxb 5 2 e4 ltJf6
The alternative 29 . . . ltJc5 30 ltJxd4 3 g3 g6
ltJxd3 3 1 :xe6 ltJxe I 32 ltJe5+ was no 4 .tg2 .tg7
better. 5 ltJo 0-0
30 l:txe6 ltJd4 6 0-0 d6
31 l:te7+ l:txe7 7 ltJc3 ltJa6
32 dxe7 ltJe6 8 l:tbl c6
33 e8'i'+ 9 b4
Black resigns A com parati v e ly new plan invo l ving an
attack on the queenside. For a long time it
I began 1 996 with a rating of 26 1 0, so that was considered almost obl igatory in this
there was little expectation of inv itations to position to put pressure on the centre by 9 13
high category tournaments. The exception d5 .td7 1 0 bJ, followed by 'smoking out' 1 J . .ltJe6 seems more energetic, but a
. 23 .*.d6!
was the tournament in Polanica Zdroj , to the g7 bishop from the weakened long game ROder-Beim ( 1 996) revealed that this White forces mass exchanges, after
which I was inv ited by Andrei Filipowicz. dia gona l. continuation also has its drawbacks: 1 4 which the game enters the technical phase.
23 ... .ixe4 24 'iixa2 llxa2 25 .ixe4 xd6 The Rubinstein Variation, characterised 11 c3 ()....{)
26 .id5 leads to an unusual position, by this exchange in the centre, is nowadays 12 .a.el
where Black cannot escape even by giving a universal reply. Many ' French' players
back his extra piece. consider it to be the most efficient way of
23 'iix b3 playing for equality, especially as in recent
24 llxb3 xd6 years the Winawer Variation 3 lUc3 b4
25 lUxd6 lId7 has been experiencing something of a
26 lUxfS gxfS crisis.
27 llbS llcs 4 tUxe4 lUd7
28 llxcs lUxeS 5 lUf3 lUgf6
29 lleI lUd3 6 lUxf6+
30 lla l After 6 .2.gS h6 White also has to
The exchange of rooks after 30 .tId I exchange his bishop : 7 xf6 lUxf6 8
lUc5 would favour Black. lUxf6+ 'iWxf6, although after 9 b5+ c6 1 0 23 lUfS+! gxfS
30 g7 .id3 he retains the advantage of the first 24 llxcS 'iixcs
31 .a.a5 g6 move. 12 .a.e8 25 'iig5+ f8
32 .ib3 un 6 lUxf6 12 .. 4JdS was better, as B lack need not
. 26 'iix f6 g8
33 .in lUe l 7 .id3 fear 1 3 'iih S g6 1 4 'iWh6 lUxe3 1 5 llxe3 Alas, this is B l ack's only move, as he
33 ... lUb4 34 :'a4 lU d 5 3 S .ic4 : d 7 3 6 A fter 7 gS h6 8 i(.h4 Black can again 'ii f6, while after 1 3 .2.d2 .ixd4 1 4 cxd4 cannot play 26 ... fxg4 27 lle5 'iWd6 28 llf5 !
.ixd5 llxdS 3 7 fha7 leads t o the loss of a play 8 . . . cS. .id7 he gives White an isolated pawn and with inevitable mate. B ut now the game
second pa\n and a hopeless rook ending. 7 c5 retains equal chances. goes by force into an ending, where White
34 .ie2 .tIc7 8 ()....{) 13 lUb5 .ixe3 effectively has an extra pawn on the
35 .a.al lUc2 With 8 dxc5 1.xcs 9 "e2 'fic7, 14 .a.xe3 'iie7 queens ide with the prospect of becom ing a
36 .a.c 1 .a.c6 assisting Black's development, White can Black had to reckon with the threat of passed pawn.
37 bS 1Ic3 hardly count on an advantage: lUd6. 27 gxfS 'iix fS
38 b l ! (a) 1 0 0-0 0-0 I I .igS (or I I lUeS b6 15 'ii f3 a6 28 'iix fS exfS
This move emphasises the strength of 1 2 .2.f4 .2.b7 1 3 .tIad l :rfd8 14 .2.g3 d6 16 lUd4 g6 29 llxe8+ .ixe8
the pin, whereas after 3 8 .ia4 lUd4 3 9 w ith equal chances) I I ...b6 12 lUeS .2.b7 17 .a.ael lld8 30 .idS b6
lhc3 4Je2+ Black would have freed 1 3 .ixf6 gxf6 1 4 .ixh7+ 7 1 5 'iWh5+ 18 .ic4 g7
himself. Black resigns. y:'-Y2 (Ivanchuk-Karpov, Las Palmas 19 'iWr4
1 996); It would have been better to restrain
A Siovenian passport, in contrast to a (b) 10 .2.d2 0-0 I I 0-{}-{) b6 12 lUeS slightly the development of Black's queen
Ukrainian one, allows one to travel around .ib7 1 3 f4 tLlds 14 b l f6 1 5 lUf3 tLlxf4 side with the useful prophylactic move 1 9
the world without a visa. For a chess 1 6 .ixf4 'i'xf4 1 7 'i'xe6+ h8 1 8 .a.hfl .ib3 !
professional this is a great help, as it saves Y2-Y2 (Topalov-Nogueiras, Yerevan Olym 19 .id7
a mass of time. piad 1996). 20 g4 llac8
8 cxd4 21 .i b3 lle8
Game 67 9 lUxd4 .ics 21 ... .a.c5 was better, preventing the
Belyavsky-Eblvest 10 .ie3 development o f White's initiative on the
Yerevan Olympiad 1996 It is strange that, even in such a well kingside.
French Defence C03 studied variation, there is room for an 22 lleS llcS?
innovation in the fonn of such a logical And this move merely creates the 31 f4?
1 d4 e6 move ( I I lUxe6 is threatened). Earlier 1 0 motifs for a straightforward combination. Unfortunately, at this point I did not yet
2 e4 dS lUb3 was played. The queen should have been moved out of appreciate all the subtleties of the resulting
3 1lJd2 dxe4 10 .ib6 the line of the rooks - 22 . 'iid 6.
. . ending and I made it easier for Black to
defend his f-pawn. After 3 1 q.,g2 q.,g7 3 2 White's positional advantage is Zugzwang. In order not to allow the 70 g4 d7 71 f5 .lte8 72 .ltg8 c6 73
<bD f6 33 'it>f4 the black king is tied to obvious. The c-pawn guarantees his king further advance of the white king, B lack .lth7 c5 74 .ltg6 .ltd7 75 Wh5 Wd6 76
the defence of the f5 pawn, and White is access to the kingside weaknesses, but first has to give up his f5 pawn. xh6 e7 77 g7, reaching the same
completely free to exploit h is potential he must deal with the f5 pawn. It can be 55 .ltb5 winning position as in the game;
passed pawn on the c-file. won if he is able to post his bishop at e6, After 55 ....lth7 56 .ltf7 the black bishop (b) 68...c7! 69 h5 .ltxh3 70 .ltd5
31 has no moves. d7 7 1 xh6 We7 72 'itJg6 .ltc8 73 .lte4
Wf8 king at d5, and pawn at h3. But how can he
32 <3;c7 divert the black king away from the e6 56 .ltxfS .It f7+ .lth3 74 c6 (or 74 b7 .lte6 75 c6 .ltd5 76
33 as square? 57 Wd4 a8 .lte6) 74 ... .ltfl 75 .lt f5 d6 76 xf6
34 'it>d6 <3;c3! Now White begins implementing the xc6 77 e7 c7 78 .lte6 .ltd3 and B lack
49
35 b3 f6 Such moves give satisfaction. It seems second part of h is plan - h i s king heads for gains a draw.
36 a3 h6 that the king should be going to the right, h4 in order to attack the kings ide pawns. 67 .lth5 .lte4
37 But wil l it be able to approach right up to 68 .lt g6 .lt e2
e4 hS and in fact it goes to the left. White sets
38 b axb4 about i m p lementing the first part of h i s them? 69 .lt fS c6
a x b 57 c6 70 .ltg4 .ltd3
39 dl plan - im proving a s much a s possible the
O 58 .lte4+ e7 71 h5 xe5
g2 a4 plac ing of his king and b i shop.
1 59 e3 .lte6 72 xh6 d 4
fl c8 43 ' c6
42 d3 g6! Wb4 We7 60 .lt g2 .ltf7
50
A fter describing a c ircle (e8-h5-d l -a4- A fter 5 0 .. .'>Pd5 White conti nues 5 I 61 f2 .lt g6
e8), the bishop occupies a modest square, .ltb3+ Wc6 (or 5 1 . . . <;/;>e4 52 c6 e8 53 c 7 62 g3 Wd7
but the best one for defending the f5 pawn. d7 54 c;> c 5 xf4 5 5 Wd6 .ltc8 5 6 .lte6 63 .ltd 5 e7
After 42 . . . d7 43 e3 rJ;e7 44 c2 .ltc8 a6 57 Wc5 We5 58 Wb6 Wd6 59 .ltxfS 64 g4 Wd7
4 5 Wf2 rJ;;> f7 46 <3;g3 'itJg6 the battle of the h5 60 h4, and B lack is in =ug='wang) 52 65 h4 e7
kings con c l udes with a breakthrough by e6, with play simi lar to that in the game. 66 .ltn
the passed pawn 47 c 5 .
- 51 h3!
43 .lte2 We6 Another imperceptible but i mportant
44 a4+ <3;d6 subtlety - the bishop must be deprived of
45 e5+ bxc5+ the g4 square.
46 bxe5+ 'l;c7 51 c6
47 .ltb3 .ltb5 52 .lt b3 We7
48 .ltc2 .ltg6 73 .ltd7!
53 .lte6 Wc6
After 48 ... .ltg4? 49 d5 the bishop i s 54 There was still a chance of only
e4 c7
o u t of the game. 55 d5 drawing in the event of the incautious. 73
f5?, after which Black just succeeds in
catching the h-pawn: 73 . . . e5 74 g6
.lte4 75 h4 f4 76 .lth3 g3 77 h5 3
78 h6 g4 .
66 .ltf7? 73 e4
It is better to keep the bishop at g6. 74 f5 ! e5
Correct, therefore, is 66 ...d8 ( i f 66 ... d7 75 h4! d6
White has the winning manoeuvre 67 .lth5 After 75 ... .ltxf5 76 .ltxf5 xf5 77 h5
e4 68 .ltg4+, when the king approaches White's pawn is the first to queen.
the h6 pawn) 67 .lth5 .lt f5 68 .ltf7, and 76 .lte6 q;e7
now: 77 q;g7 .lt e2
(a) 68...e7 69 .ltd5 (after 69 .lth5 78 .ltf7
d8 Black holds the position) 69 . . . .ltg6 Black resigns
At the tournament in Cacak, as in Polanica varied situations. But what else can be 19 d6 "d8
Zdroj, I managed to win and to improve suggested for Black? Chemin-Mark 20 tDd5
my rating. With one round to go Peter Tseitlin (Beer Sheva 1 992) continued The white pieces arrive in the centre, as
Leko and Zoltan Almasi were level with I l ...c4 1 2 c2 h6 1 3 i.e3 bd7 14 0--0 if in accordance with a timetable.
me, but in the last round I was the only one b6 (or 1 4 ... cS I S eS with the initiative) 20 e4
to win. I S l:le I liJcs 1 6 as ! liJfd7 (if 1 6 ... bS Black
has to reckon with 1 7 eS liJhS 1 8 e6) 1 7
Game 68 "d2 'iPh7 1 8 axb6 "xb6 1 9 a4 with a
Belyavsky-Strikovic positional advantage for White. Chemin's
Cacak 1 996 recommendation of l l ...h6!? 12 i.e3
King's Indian Defence E7 1 xe4 1 3 xe4 fS, with a complicated
game, deserves a practical testing.
1 d4 It:'lf6 12 000000{)!
2 c4 g6 7 dS a6?! White sacrifices a pawn, although the
3 c3 g7 In such situations this move is better simple 1 2 '!!fc 2 is also possible, for if
4 e4 d6 not included. Those who l ike sharp play 12 ... xe4 1 3 liJxe4 fS 1 4 fd2 fxe4 I 5
5 b3 usually decide on 7 ... b5 without prepara xe4 and Black stil l has not solved all his
Grandmaster Alexander Chemin, with tion. The ' moderates' prefer 7 ... e6. problems.
whom I worked a great deal in 1 996 and 8 a4 e6 12 "xb2 White is two pawns down, and he has
1 997, advised me to take up the 8 .. .'aS can be met by 9 d2 e6 1 0 13 Uc1 liJbd7 to make a choice: should he win the
Makogonov Variation, with which he i.d3 .:re8 I I ge2 c7 1 2 0--0 exdS 1 3 14 liJd2 "b6 exchange by 2 1 c7 d7 22 ltJ.xa8 "xa8,
h imself had achieved impressive results. exd5 bd7 ( \ 3 . . . b6!? Dokhoian) 1 4 f4
00000 15 liJc4 'Wc 7 or a piece by 2 1 d7 xd7 22 xf6+ xf6
And although I am not really convinced b6, and here in the game Dokhoian 16 f4 23 i.xf6 "xf6 24 "xd7 :re7 25 'WdS
that with a move such as S h3 one can Skembris (Yugoslavia 1 994) White could White has succeeded in posting his "d4+? However, in neither case does he
count on an advantage against the King's have retained the better chances by 1 5 g4 ! ? knight at c4, where it actively supports the gain a clear advantage, since his main
Indian Defence, my results have exceeded 9 i.d3 ex d S advance e4-eS and restricts Black's trump, the pin on the f6 knight, is sold for
all expectations. 10 exd5 Ue8 possibilities by attacking the d6 pawn. This too low a price. In order exploit the pin
5 0-0 11 f3 gives h im more then sufficient with maximum effectiveness, the sacrifice
6 g5 compensation for the pawn. of a third pawn is required.
With 5 h3 White has prepared a retreat 16 b6 21 'i'b3!
for his bishop at e3, and now he tries for The start of an offensive manoeuvre;
even more: if B lack plays 6 ... h6, then 7 White creates threats to the f7 pawn.
e3 followed by 8 "d2 gains a tempo by 21 e6
the attack on the h6 pawn. 22 d7! xd7
6 cS After 22 ... :f8 White again has almost a
In our game a few rounds earlier, forced win: 23 liJxf6+ .1xf6 24 .1xe6 fxe6
Paunovic played against me 6 ...c6 7 f3 25 "xe6+ 'iPg7 26 :XcS .1xg5 27 fxgS
h6 8 e3 eS 9 d5 cxdS 1 0 cxd5 a6 I I d2 l:txfI+ 28 'it>xfl "f8+ 29 'i'f6+ 'iix f6+ 3 0
bd7 12 e2 liJe8 13 0--0 fS 14 exfS gxf6+ 'iPxf6 3 1 :e8.
gxfS, but after 1 5 f4 ! exf4 1 6 xf4 eS 23 l:lcd 1 ! l:le6
(as is often the case i n such situations, 24 f5
chasing the b2 pawn is too risky: 11 "b6 This wins, but 24 tDxf6+ would have
1 6 .....b6+ 17 'iPh I "xb2 1 8 l:lc\ .1xc3 1 9 A committing move, since on numerous been simpler: 24... :xf6 25 'i'xb7 l:lb6 26
1Dc4 'i'b4 20 a3 ! ) 1 7 b3 'iPh8 1 8 "d2 occasions the attack on the b2 pawn has 17 eS! tDxc4 i.xf7+ 'iPf8 27 'i'xd7, and 27 . . . .1d4+ can
'i'f6 19 4 he failed to equalise. been 'welcomed' by White in the most 18 xe4 dxe5 be met by 28 :xd4.
24 gxfS having evidently discovered some 11 lDe8 22 b5! f4

25 lhfS deficiencies in my handling of the After the game Viktor Korchnoi I f 22 ... lDxe4 there fol lows 23 lDxe4
Makogonov Variation, which I had been inquired why B lack had not played fxe4 24 lDa7.
employing in recent tournaments. 1 1 ...'i'e8 (with the idea of . . . a5-a4), and if 23 d2 f3
3 lDc3 g7 I 2 b4 lDcxe4 ! ? 13 lDcxe4 lDxe4 1 4 lDxe4 24 g4
4 e4 d6 f5 1 5 lDc3 axb4 1 6 axb4 l:(xa I I 7 xa I e4 24 gxfJ ! was the clearest way to win, as
S h3 with unpleasant threats. All this is so, but if it leaves Black with no counterplay at all,
Evoking pleasant memories of C acak 1 6 lDb5 ! is interposed, then B lack does not for example: 24 ... lDh5 25 tUa7 lr'f7 26
1 996. After all, my last success had been have sufficient compensation for the 'i'xc8 'i'xf3 27 llh2 tUef6 28 e2 and
associated with this continuation. sacri ficed piece. wins (K.Neat).
S 0-0 12 b4 axb4 24 tUxg4
6 iLgS lDbd7 13 axb4 th a I A forced sacrifice.
At the Vidmar Memorial Tournament 14 'i'xal tUa6
(Porloroz 1 997) Zdenko Kozul played 15 'i'a3 fS
6 ... lDa6 against me. The game continued 7 16 tUb3 tUb8?
Now White obtains the maximum price JidJ e5 8 dS e8 9 g4 c6 1 0 ge2 c5 Probably the decisive mistake. 16 ... b6! ?
for the pin on the f6 kn ight. I I c2 cxdS 1 2 cxd5 as \J a3 a4, and was correct, not fearing 1 7 c 5 bxc5 1 8
25 e3 here, instead of 1 4 tDg3 as played. 1 4 '1j'd2 bxc5 xc5 1 9 tUxc5 dxc5 20 i.xc5 d6
26 tDxf6+ l:(xf6 should have been preferred. retaining some 2 I i.dJ when White has only a minimal
27 l:( fd S ! advantage for White. advantage. The move played opens the
The final stroke, completing the 7 tUf3 eS 'sluices' for the white pieces.
manoeuvre begun with 2 1 b3. 8 dS h6 17 c5 lDd7
27 b5 9 e3 tUe5 18 tUa5 lDdf6
28 l:(xd7 'it'e8 10 tUd2 as
29 axbS axbS
30 xbS e2 2S tUa7
31 xe2 After 25 hxg4 'i'xg4 26 ltJe7 Black
Black resigns plays 26 ... tUf6 27 ll'lxc8 ll'lxe4, retaining
This game, the last I played in 1 996, possibilities of an attack. But instead of
was one of the best in my chess career. White's last move, better was 25 tUa.s lr'e7
26 "xc8 tUxf2 27 f2 (or 27 l:(h2)
[ ended 1 996 with an increase in my rating 27 ... 'i'h4+ 28 'it>e3 lDf6 29 "e6, when
of 45 points. This gave hopes that I would Black's attack is not worth the two
again be invited to tournaments with the sacrificed pieces.
strongest players in the world participating. 25
26 hxg4
Game 69 19 e6! bxc6?! 27 ll'le6
Belyavsky-Kbalifman 11 a3 ! Careless. 1 9 ... b6 was a tougher defence, 28 'i'd8? !
Ubeda 1997 I 1 e2 would transpose into another although after 20 lDb7 "e7 2 1 "a8 f4 22 The immediate 28 d l was simpler.
King's Indian Defence E7 I variation of the King's Indian Defence, d2 h8 23 "xc8 tUg7 24 tUd8 l:Cx.d8 25 28 f6
which after my game with Sher (Bern 'iib 7 White still has the advantage. 29 'i'b8
1 d4 ll'lf6 1 995) did not particularly appeal to me. 1 1 20 lDxc6 "d7 After 29 l:txh6+ g8 3 0 'i'b8 ll'lg7 3 1
2 e4 g6 a3 is the prelude to a more thematic plan: 21 "a8 b7 'fia7 lDhS the white rook could have been
The first surprise. Khalifman avoids his White immediately begins preparing the Defending against the threatened trapped.
favourite Benko Gambit 2 ... c5 3 d5 b5, c4-c5 breakthrough. capture on c8. 29 h5
30 "a7 i.g7 dxc4 7 ll\xc4 bS 8 ll\eS i.b7 9 e4 e6 1 0 0 ll\d4! 14 e3 ! ll\xe3 I S fxe3 ll\fS 1 6 b4! 14 lDa4
31 c;i;>dl ll\f6 c5 1 1 ll\xd7, and here my opponent imp i.a7 1 7 l%ad I f6 1 8 i.xb7 i.xb7 19 l%d7+ 15 lDxe3
32 c2 roved with I I . . . lLlxd7! (in a previous gan1e e8 20 l%xb7 fxeS 2 1 g4 ll\xe3 22 ll\d6+ 16 >!fid6!
32 i.d3, defending the e4 pawn, is also with Korchnoi, Vienna 1 996, he played Y>-Y> (Bareev-Shirov, Groningen 1 993). Playing to restrict the black pieces,
good. 1 l . .. ..xd7), and Black stood better. 8 cxd4 whereas if 1 6 lLlxc4 B lack has 1 6 . . . Wb4.
Recently, in a blindfold game at 9 ll\xd4 16 >!fibS
Monaco 1 997, Anand tried against Shirov 17 Itfc 1 a5
an old idea of Tukmakov: 5 i.gS ll\e4 6 18 lDxe4 ? !
i.f4 ll\xc3 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 g3 b5 9 SLg2 With this move White risks losing all
i.b7 1 0 ll\eS f6 I I lLlxc4 (Black' s his opening gains. 1 8 ttxc4 was stronger,
problems arise from the fact that i t is very controlling the important b4 square.
di fficult to develop his knight and bring his 18 Ita6
king to safety) 1 1 . . . gS! (in this way Black Black misses an advantageous chance
gains a tempo, as after 1 2 i.xb8 bxc4 he to exchange queens: 1 8 ...'i'b4 1 9 'i'xb4
recaptures on b8, simultaneously protec a.xb4 20 lLlab6 l%xa I 2 1 Itxa I lLlxb6 22
ting the bishop at b7; Tukmakov-Bagirov, lLlxb6 i.e6 23 i.xb7 Itb8 with a
USSR 1 983, went 1 1 . . .bxc4 1 2 l'tb l e5 1 3 favourable ending. The attempt to avoid
':'xb7 exf4 1 4 'i'a4 'i'c8 1 5 ttb6 5td6 1 6 the exchange 1 9 "c7? lLle8 20 Wd8 lLld6
32 ll\ xe4 ? "xc4 We7 1 7 ()....{) .tIa7 1 8 :fb l :d8 1 9 21 We7 lLlxc4 does not succeed, and after
In time trouble Black overlooks gxf4 with compensation for the material) 9 'i'c7 22 Wxb4 axb4 23 ttxc4 ItaS 24 Itac I bS
White ' s concluding move. 1 2 i.e3 bxc4 13 h4, and although Anand A new move. The game Kamsky 25 l%xc8 bxa4 White remams a pawn
33 ll\x e4 i.fS?! won this game I am not convinced that Bareev (Linares 1 994) continued 9 ... i.cS down.
33 ... 'i'xd5 was more tenacious, when White's compensation is sufficient. 1 0 i.e3 >!fie7 I I ll\c2 ()....{) 1 2 as ll\c6 1 3 19 >!fie7 Wb4
White has the winning manoeuvre 3 4 ll\a4 i.xe3 1 4 ll\xe3 l%d8 I S 'i'e I ll\d4 1 6 Now White manages to drive away the
ll\g5+ h 8 3 5 ll\e7 "xb5 3 6 ll\xg6+ g8 ll\b6 .l:I.b8 with roughly equal chances. queen and retain control of the central
37 'i'a2+ d5 38 "xd5+! 10 as ll\bd7 files.
34 i.d3 'i'xds 11 ll\c2 i. cs 20 lLle3 g6
35 ll\e7 12 i.f4 21 l%c4 Wd2
Black resigns It is useful to provoke a weakening of 22 Ite2 >!fid4
the dS square. 23 lDc3 g7
Game 7 0 12 e5 24 Itdl
Belyavsky-lllescas Cordoba 13 i.e3
Ubeda 1997
Slav Defence D I S
1 d4 dS
2 c4 c6 5 e6
3 ll\f3 ll\f6 6 g3 dxc4
4 ll\c3 a6 7 i.g2 cS
5 a4 8
White has tried in various ways to After the exchange of queens 8 dxc5
d isclose the drawbacks to Black's last Wxd I + 9 ll\xd I it is easier for Black to
move, but in the majority of cases without defend: 9 . . . ll\c6 (9 ...i.xc5 1 0 i.e3 i.b4+
success. At the 1 996 Yerevan Olympiad I I i.d2 ll\c6 is also possible) 1 0 tOe3
against Shirov I played 5 lDe5 ll\bd7 6 i. f4 i.xcS I I ll\xc4 e7 12 ()....{) ll\d5 ! 1 3 lDfe5 24 'ifb4?
The domination of the white pieces is Belgrade should have encouraged a more 7 0 b4
so great that obviously Black is simply aggressive opening: before the last round 8 e4
bound to seek the exchange of queens. But he was two points ahead of me, and a win
on which square? would have assured him of first place;
After 24 . . .. b6 the black pieces are (3) Recently in the King's Indian I have
badly coord inated: 25 'i'xb6 ttJxb6 ( i f been choosing the variation 1 d4 lOf6 2 c4
25 .. Jlxb6 \Vhite builds u p the pressure g6 3 lOc3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 h3 6 g5. I
with 26 ttJc4 lla6 27 ttJd6 ttJb6 28 ttJcb 5 myself do not believe that with 5 h3 White
a 4 29 ;Xc7 d 7 3 0 ll x b 7 xb5 3 1 ttJxb5 can count on an advantage, and I think that
ttJc4 3 2 llc 1 and regains the pawn in a Shirov is not afraid of this set-up, which is
favourable situation) 26 liJb5 a4 27 lUd6 . aimed at less experienced experts on the
Now 2 8 ttJxc8 is threatened, 27 . . . .:1a5 2 8 opening.
llc7 is good for White, and after 27 . . .a 3 2 8 My very first move (usually I choose I
bxa3 llxa3 2 9 llc5 he maintains a sl ight 28 lla8 d4) showed that the 5 h3, 6 g5 variation
advantage. 29 llcd2 e4? in the King's Indian was not to be. For me
24 .. :'i'c5 looks better: 25 ttJcd5 ( i f 2 5 This accelerates Black's defeat. it remains a mystery: whether Shirov had 8 . x e4
ttJa4 xc7 26 ;Xxc7 B lack has 2 6 . . . b5 27 30 '1tc3+ ..t'h6 prepared for the variation stated, and on This sacrifice is quite in accordance
tDc3 b4 28 ttJa4 lle6 29 h3 llee8 30 31 lld4 'tIfb5 seeing that I had prepared something else, with common sense: Black gains at least
xd7 xd7 31 lldxd7 ttJxd7 32 llxd7 32 ttJxc8?! decided to play the Slav Defence, or three pawns for the piece and exposes the
lld8 3J lla7 lla8 34 llxa8 :Xa8 35 ttJc4 Of course, this also wins the game, but whether the decision to play the variation white king to an attack.
Wf6, when in this ending the rook is quite after 32 llxe4 f6 33 :Id5 'lWb6 3 4 ttJxc8 that occurred in the game had been taken 9 fxe4
active: 36 b3 We6 37 e4 f5 3 8 0 :d8 3 9 l:axc8 3S :Ih4+ <1;g7 36 l:txd7+ White beforehand. If one assumes the latter, this My attempt at a counter-sacri fice
ttJc5+ f6 40 f2 ll d I ) 2 5 . . .lOxd5 2 6 would have developed a mating attack. signified that he was happy with a draw. twenty years ago did not succeed: 9 lOxfl
lOxd5 'ifixc7 2 7 lOxc7 ( 2 7 llxc7 llc6 2 8 32 llaxc8 1 d5 xfl 1 0 fxe4 ttJxe4 I I 'ilfh5+ g6 1 2 .0+
llxc6 bxc6 29 1Oe7 ttJb8 3 0 ttJxc8 llxc8 3 I 33 'i'e3+ g7 2 d4 c6 ttJf6 \ 3 d2 xc3 14 bxc3 '1i'd5 1 5 'tIfg3
lla I ttJd7 32 llxaS llc7 leads to further 34 llxd7 ll c l + 3 c4 ttJf6 lObd7 16 e2 liJe4 1 7 ().-4r g8 1 8 e3
simplification; Black has good drawing 35 l:td 1 nxd l+ 4 1Oc3 dxc4 liJxd2 19 'i'xd2 g7 20 'i'f4 eS with ad
chances, although his position is somewhat 36 llxd l .xb2 A surprise. In recent times Shirov has vantage to Black (Belyavsky-Peresypkin,
unpleasant) 27 . . .llb6 28 lldc I ttJf6 29 ttJa8 37 'i'xe4 b5 successful ly upheld 4 ... a6, for example in USSR 1 977).
lla6 30 :'xc8 llxa8 3 1 xb7 and Whi te 38 ll b l his game with me at the 1 996 Yerevan 9 lOxe4
regains h is pawn, retaining a positional Black resigns Olympiad. The Botvinnik Variation also 10 d2
advantage. However, White can play in the occurs more often in his games than It has long been known that after 1 0
same way as after 24 ...'ilfb6 - 2 5 ttJcdS Game 7 1 4 . . . dxc4. '1'0 'iWxd4 I I 'iWxf7+ d8 1 2 g5+ ttJxg5
lOxd5 26 1Oxd5 'i'xc7 2 7 liJxc7. Belyavsky--Sbirov 5 a4 f5 13 'iWxg7 xc3+ 1 4 bxc3 "xc3+ 1 5 e2
25 lOcd5 lOxd5 Belgrade 1997 6 lOe5 "c2+ the game ends in a draw by
26 tDxd5 'ilfb3 Slav Defence 0 1 7 A more pretentious move than the perpetual check.
26 . . . 'i'd6 was the last opportunity to alternative 6 e3. Exploiting the absence of 10 "xd4
exchange the queens, but after 27 l:tdc 1 1 lOo the black pawn from the centre, White 11 lOxe4 "xe4+
'i'xc7 28 l:txc7 l:ta8 (if 28 . . . l:tc6 29 l:t I xc6 After studying the games of Shirov that wants to seize space by f2-0 and e2-e4, During the game I thought that S hirov
bxc6 3 0 tOe7 lOb6 3 1 lOxc6 with a c lear I have on my database, I was justified in assuming that the slowness of this plan had prepared an improvement in the less
advantage) 29 tOe7 liJb6 30 ll l cS White expecting the King's Indian Defence for will be compensated by the fact that the popular branch 1 1 . .xd2+ 1 2 ttJxd2
.
retains the initiative. three reasons: pawn goes to e4 with gain of tempo, 'i'xe5+ 1 3 e2 bS 14 This line has
.
27 l:td3 'i'a4 ( 1 ) In 1 997 Shirov had played the forcing Black to spend time on moving his been explored less, and therefore the
28 tDe7 King's Indian more often than the Slav; bishop at f5 . possibility of a surprise is more likely.
Loss of material for B lack is inevitable. (2) My poor play at the tournament in 6 e6 12 'We2 xd2+
13 x d2 'iifdS+ lhc2 lllxc2 2 6 .xc2 .eS 2 7 h 3 l:I.d8 2 8 Later in the same tournament Salov In the event of 1 6 ... l:I.ab8 White plays
l:I. d l l:I.xd l + 29 'Wxd l g 6 3 0 .d3 b4 3 1 against IIIescas p layed 20 d2, removing 1 7 l:I.d I , since the d I square is defended by
.i.d I h5, which B lack can probably hold. his king to the safe wing, after which, by the queen, and after . . . lll b4+ he does not
14 li:la6 forcing the advance of B lack' s pawn to eS, have to defend h i s rook with the king.
15 lllxc4 0-0 he prevented him from setting up a 17 bl lllb4
In 1 997 Khalifman thought up a new fortress: 20 ... 0-0 2 1 'We5 l:I.ac8 22 .i.e2 18 e2 l:I.ad8
idea for B lack: 1 5 ... b5 1 6 axb5 lbb4+ 1 7 .rr. fd8 23 l:I.c I lllb6+ 24 e I l:I.d5 25 'We3 19 l:I.cl .g5?!
c 3 ( 1 7 b3? ! cxbS 1 8 xb4 bxc4 1 9 l:I.bS 26 l:I.c2 g6 27 g4 l:I.ccS 28 l:I.d2 llld S This proves to be a waste of time, since
'ii'xc4 l:I.b8+ 2 0 a3 .a5+, and with the 29 'iife 5 l:I.b3 3 0 h4 h6 3 1 f2 as 32 f3 the threat of 20 . . . 'i'g6 can be parried.
loss of the b2 pawn White also loses l:I.d3 33 l:I.e2 l:I.b3 34 'Wd6 lll b4 35 e4 19 ... l:I.d4 was better.
chances of winning, Bareev-Khalifman, llld 3 + 36 f1 .ll e5 37 'Wc7 lIcs 38 'Wd8+ 20 'i'g4!
U beda 1 997) 17 ... cxbS, g7 39 1i'd4+ e5 40 'Wd6 llbbS 4 1 .i.xd3 Now if 2o ...ifh6 there follows 21 lIa3
and IIIescas resigned. with the idea of l:I.h3, while after 20 ... 'iif f6
16 'iif fJ 2 1 l:1.f1 the queen is driven back to e7.
This position has occurred in numerous 20 'iifc5
games. I have played it with both White 21 l:I.33 lld4
and B lack, and I can say that ( do not like 22 'i'hS 'iifd5?
it with either colour: in the space of one Even so, 22 ... 'WxhS was better, al-
m inute both players make 13 moves, on though White definitely has an advantage.
Vv'h ich, if this position were occurring for 23 'iifx d5 exd5
the first time, two hours each would not 24 tUd6 b6
suffice since, if White is relying only on 25 ne3
common sense, it is hard for him to give up
four pawns for a bishop and in so doing
send his king off on a hazardous journey.
Nevertheless, it turns out that one pawn is in order after 1 8 lllb6 'iif c5 + 19 b3
regained immediately, and the three tUc6 ! (with the threat of . . . li:ld4+) to gain a
remaining pawns do not fully compensate draw by perpetual check with 20 .xbS A new move. Previously only 1 6 .e5
for the piece in the event of the queens .e3+ 2 1 c2 (2 1 .i.d3 O-O ! ) 2 1 ...f2+ 22 had been played, against which Milov
being exchanged. Therefore Black tries b3 .e3+ (Shirov-Khalifrnan, Ter-Ape! devised the good move 1 6 . . . l:I.ab8, both
either to avoid the exchange of queens, in 1 997). with the possible idea of . . . b7-bS. and
order to attack the white king, or else he The correct way to play in the d iagram defending the b7 pawn in the event of an
seeks a version of the endgame where the position 'was demonstrated at Dos endgame.
three pawns are not weaker than White ' s Herrnanas 1 997. Topalov p l ayed 1 8 l:I.d l !, After 1 6 . . . llab8 White has to play 1 7
piece. Sometimes he succeeds, but more with the idea after 1 8 ...c5 1 9 .e5 llld 5+ e2, if he does not want to agree to a draw
often he is obliged to endure difficulties i n 20 l:I.xdS ! 'i'xdS 2 1 llld 6+ f8 22 .xd5 after 1 7 l:I.d I lbb4+ 1 8 c I lba2+. In a The white rook penetrates onto the 7th
the endgame. exd5 23 xb5 of gaining the advantage. recent game Mikhalevski-Milov after 1 7 rank and Black begins to have problems
14 c2 Anand's imagination suggested to him the llc I f6 1 8 .xd5 cxd5 1 9 lbd6 llfd8 20 over the defence of his king, since all four
The alternative is 1 4 c3. B lack can try heroic decision 1 8 ... bxc4!? 1 9 llxd5 lllb S l:I.dc8+ 2 1 b I l:I.xc I + 22 xc I lbc5 white pieces join the attack.
to exploit the impudence of the white king lllx d5+. Here Topalov went wrong and 23 e2 a6 24 llld4 f7 25 as l:I.c8 26 b I 25 g6
by 14 . . . b5 15 l:I.d l 'i'c5 16 axb5 cxb5 1 7 Anand's heroism was rewarded: 20 c2 llle4 27 lllb 3 f5 28 f3 lllf6 29 llc I 26 l:I.e7 a6
.e4 0--0 1 8 c2 as 1 9 .xa8 .xe5 20 0--0 21 .e4 llfc 8 22 h4 :rcS 23 l:I.h3 l:I.ac8 llxc l + 30 c l liJd7 3 1 llld4 e7 32 b4 27 l:I.O f5
'i'b7 .c5 21 .e4 lbc6 22 .i.e2 lllb4+ 23 24 l:I.a3 as 25 c l h S ! , and Topalov was d6 3 3 d2 g6 Black managed to hold 28 g4! lld8
b I c 3 24 l:I.c 1, although here too matters forced to admit that having a queen for a on. After 28 ... fxg4 29 li:lf7 the threat o f
conclude in an ending after 24 . . . c2+ 2 5 rook is sometimes insufficient for a win. 16 'i'c5 lllh 6+ i s decisive. 28 . . . f4 is also not good
1 90 Uncompromising Chess
i n view of 29 g5, when the threat of .tg4- 33 .txa6 llxa4 Index of Opponents
e6 creates irresistible threats to the king. 34 liJxg4 llxa6
Black also fails to save the game after 35 .llxf4+
28 .. Jlf6 29 Ild7 Ild2 30 .td l or 29 .. .lle6
30 gxf5 !lxe2 3 1 f6 with the i rresistible
Akopian 1 44 Miles 66
threat of lId8.
Andersson 24
Azmaiparashvili 1 72 Nikolic 1 74
Nunn 1 23
Bareev 85, 1 58
Bronstein 22 Petros ian 29
Petursson 1 00
Chandler 90 Polugayevsky 3 6
Christiansen 1 4 Portisch 4 8 , 7 0
Psakhis 6 8
D1ugy 76
Dolmatov 1 2 1 Rashkovsky 44
Here we can take stock: Black's two
Ribli 26
pawns do not compensate for the piece.
Ehlvest 1 76 Romanishin 3 1 , 1 46
For White it only remains to make the time
Rublevsky 1 70
29 Ile6 fxg4 control at move forty before the fall of his
Gelfand 1 29, 1 37
30 liJe8! flag.
Geller 64, 80 Salov 87, 1 3 5
Threatening 3 1 lIe7, 32 Ilg7+ and 3 3 35 We7
Gheorghiu 57 Seirawan 96
:t f8 mate. 36 liJeS
Gulko 1 02 Shirov 1 52, 1 86
30 tUd3 36 ::'ff6 is more accurate.
Sm irin 1 09
A fter 30 .. Jle4 3 1 liJf6+ f7 32 Ilxe4 36 lld6
Hjartarson 1 04 Smyslov 78
dxe4 33 liJd5+ White wins another piece. 37 .!:c7+ We6
Sokolov, 1. 1 59
31 liJf6+ W f7 38 liJd3
I\lescas Cordoba 1 84 Spassky 1 9
32 .lhc6 liJf4 Black resigns
Ivanchuk 1 4 1 Strikovic 1 80
Karpov 83, 93, 1 6 1 Taimanov 33

Kasparov 39, 60, 1 1 5 Tal 1 6
Khalifman 97, 1 82 Timman 50, 1 1 2, 1 32
Korchnoi 1 5 5 Tseshkovsky 42
Kramnik 1 48
Vaganian 1 06
Larsen 52 Vyzhmanavin 1 23
Lautier 1 39
Ljubojevic 74 Yudasin 54
Lobron 1 6 5 Yusupov 1 1 8
Marjanovic I I Zviagintsev 1 67
Matulovic 9
Index of Openings
Benko Gambit A 5 8 - 57
Caro-Kann Defence B 19 - 52
Catalan Opening E04 - 44; E05 - 93 ; E l l - 1 27
Dutch Defence A80 - 1 74; A85 - 78; A90 - 85, 87
English Opening A28 - 1 48; A30 - 1 3 5 ; A40 - 1 4
French Defence C03 - 1 76 ; C07 - 1 70; C08 - 1 5 8; C I S - 1 46; C I 8 - 74
GIiinfeld Defence D85 - 1 59; D88 - 1 9; D97 - 1 72
King's Indian Defence E7 1 - 1 80, 1 82 ; E84 - 1 1 5 ; E86 - 1 3 2 ; En - 1 67
Modem Benoni A 75 - 39
Nimzo-Indian Defence E32 - 1 06, 1 1 2, 1 65; E54 - 60
Petroff Defence C42 - 1 00
Queen's Gambit 03 1 - 64, \ 02; D35 - 83 ; 036 - 1 4 1 ; 037 - 48, 66, 1 29; 039 - 9
D40 - 1 6 ; D42 - 1 6 1 ; D45 - 1 5 5 ; D58 - 68
Queen's Gambit Accepted D20 - 70; D22 - 3 1 ; D24 - 76
Queen's Indian Defence E I 7 - 1 1 8 ; E I 9 - 29
Ruy Lopez C78 - 1 2 1 , 1 23 ; C9 1 - 97; C92 - 42; C95 - 80, 1 09
Scotch Game C45 - 1 39
Sicilian Defence B 3 3 - 1 52 ; B38 - 1 04; B46 - 3 3 ; B48 - 9; B6 1 - 54; B 8 4 - 26;

B85 - 24; B90 - 1 1 , 22; B96 - 36; B97 - 50
Slav Defence D I O - 1 37; D I 4 - 96; D I 5 - 1 84; 0 1 7 - 1 86; D 1 8 - 144

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CADOGAN CHESS BOOKS

ChiefAdvisor: Garry Kasparov

Other chess titles from Cadogan include:

The Art of Chess Analysis Paul Keres Best Games VoJ.2

Averbakh's Selected Games Smyslov's 125 Selected Games Alexander Belyavsky

Bobby Fischer: His Approach to Chess Sokolov's Best Games

Fire on Board: Shirov's Best Games The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Genius of Paul Morphy Taimanov's Best Games

Half a Century of Chess T imman's Selected Games

Cadogan Books pic, 27-29 Berwick St. London, W I V 3RF

Belyavsky-Matulovic, Sombor 1 972 9

36 Khalifman-Belyavsky, 55th USSR Championship, Moscow 1988 97

At the tournament in Sombor (Yugoslavia) tOdS! 1 0 tOxdS exdS I I .i.e2 d6 or 9 g3

15 0-{) b7 22 <3;n? 39 c5 COg6 earlier. After examining my games, the 6th

43 hxg6 hxg6 Game 6 f5 21 b5+ with a dangerous i n itiative.

2 1 ... 0-0! 22 !Dxd4 llfe8+ 23 f2 (23 .li.e2 3 d4 cxd4 16 rs 24 l:re8

15 lU g4 1i. e7 lUxf6+) 28 g l lUe4 (28 . . . lUfS 29 32 lUc 4 4Jf7 8

10 xf3 19 a4 bxa4 36 e4 g5 3 d4 cxd4

1 6 ... f5 1 7 'l'c3 ng8 with a double-edged 14 ..taJ h5

xe4+ etc., as i f 2 8 . . . lOc2 29 eS! and he is 11 lOd2 e5 14 as!

49th USSR Championship .li.d2 c5 1 8 d3 lLlb6 with advantage to

It is also possible to take on a6 with the

15 exd4 21 llJf6 2 5 'i'hS+ e 7 w i t h a great advantage to

21 '1Ir'h4 f6 35 li)cs lle7 session, in order to find a way to realise

followed by .. J:d7 and .. :ilfd8.

5 e4 bS lUb6 1 4 lUc3 lUc6 (Kramniks's suggestion

Sad 1 988) continued 6 . . . d6 7 h4! ttJbd7 8 11 b7

invasion of his queen) 27 e2 xe4 28 39 (6 l:txf2 ()....{) 12 nab l a5 1 3 a3 lLlg7 1 4 b4 axb4 I S

35 'i'a6! have also played this position with

17 liJbS 22 .txd6! 31 l:td8!

A couple of months later in the 5 5 th 34 ltd8?

3 ttJxe5 d6 18 ... f6 19 'i'hS h6 20 .i.xh6 axb5 2 1

32 b3 lOc3 this point of view the game Kasparov 19 e7

Early in 1989 a creative crisis again bega n

25 llfl! 34 .ta3 5 c4 .tg7 of the queenside pawns, where the place

A weakness is a pennanent feature, and

would have led t o a heavy piece ending 4 d2

16 c5! lUc4 21 'i'g5 33 tDd2 g7 Game 50

1 99 1 ) continued 12 0-0 .i.xd2 13 'i'xd2 2 tUo <7Jc6

Now after 1 8 . . . 'i'xb4 1 9 lUc5 'i'a5 20

29 a2 llxcl+ .i.c8 60 e2 .i.b4 61 d3 i.b7 62 e3 lUc6 transposes into a position from

36 ttJf4 Game 62 12 d5 h8 1 3 e4 fxe4 14 g5 exd5 1 5

19 Wbl .i.xc4 Wf8 46 .i.b5 <j;;e 7 47 .i.d7 <j;;d 8 (or 51 b5 <j;;c5

24 gxfS having evidently discovered some 11 lDe8 22 b5! f4

Karpov 83, 93, 1 6 1 Taimanov 33

Catalan Opening E04 - 44; E05 - 93 ; E l l - 1 27

Dutch Defence A80 - 1 74; A85 - 78; A90 - 85, 87

English Opening A28 - 1 48; A30 - 1 3 5 ; A40 - 1 4

French Defence C03 - 1 76 ; C07 - 1 70; C08 - 1 5 8; C I S - 1 46; C I 8 - 74

GIiinfeld Defence D85 - 1 59; D88 - 1 9; D97 - 1 72

King's Indian Defence E7 1 - 1 80, 1 82 ; E84 - 1 1 5 ; E86 - 1 3 2 ; En - 1 67

Nimzo-Indian Defence E32 - 1 06, 1 1 2, 1 65; E54 - 60

Petroff Defence C42 - 1 00

Queen's Gambit Accepted D20 - 70; D22 - 3 1 ; D24 - 76

Queen's Indian Defence E I 7 - 1 1 8 ; E I 9 - 29

Ruy Lopez C78 - 1 2 1 , 1 23 ; C9 1 - 97; C92 - 42; C95 - 80, 1 09

Scotch Game C45 - 1 39

Sicilian Defence B 3 3 - 1 52 ; B38 - 1 04; B46 - 3 3 ; B48 - 9; B6 1 - 54; B 8 4 - 26;

Slav Defence D I O - 1 37; D I 4 - 96; D I 5 - 1 84; 0 1 7 - 1 86; D 1 8 - 144

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