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TACTICS ΙΝ ΤΗΕ

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GRUNFELD GENNADY NESIS

Tactics ίn the Grίinfeld

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Tactics ίn the Grίinfeld

GENNADY NESIS with Professor Igor Blekhtsin Trαnslαted by Μ αlcolm Gesthuysen

Β. Τ. Batsford Ltd, London

First published 1992 © Gennady Nesis, Igor Blekhtsin 1992

ISBN Ο 7134 7005 4

Βήtίsh Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. Α catalogue record for this book is available from the Βήtίsh Library

ΑΙΙ ήghts reserved. Νο part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without Ρήοr permission of the publisher

Typeset by Lasertext Ltd, Stretford, Manchester and Ρήnted ίη Great Βήtaίn by Dotesios Ltd, Trowbridge, Wilts for the publishers, Β. Τ. Batsford Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London WIH ΟΑΗ

Α BATSFORD CHESS ΒΟΟΚ Adviser: R. D. Keene GM, ΟΒΕ Technical Editor: Andrew Kinsman

Contents

Preface Introduction

1 The Ρίn Game Νο. 1 - Wilder-Kudriπ, US Ch. 1988

Game Νο. 2 - Ehlvest-Erπst, Tallinn 1989

Game Νο. 3 - Α. Larseπ-Nesis, World Corr. Cup

1974-76 Game Νο. 4 - Tal-Johaππesseπ, Riga 1959

9 11

13

2 Enticement 27 Game Νο. 5 - Yusupov-Timmaπ, Tilburg Ct (9)

1986 Game Νο. 6 - Korzov-Blekhtsiπ, Leningrad 1956

Game Νο. 7 - Spassky-Fischer, Siegen 01. 1970

Game Νο. 8 - ΜcCambήdge-Ηjartarsοπ, Grindavik

1984 Game Νο. 9 - Eiπgorπ-Gavrikov, Tallinn 1989 Game Νο. 10 - Botviππik-Yudovich, Leningrad 1933

Game Νο. 11 - Agzamov-Gulko, Sochi 1985

Game Νο. 12 - Vyzhmaπaviπ-Tukmakov,

Novosibirsk 1986

Game Νο. 13 - Lputiaπ-D. Roos, Athens 1983

3 Deflection 52 Game Νο. 14 - Glίgοήc-SmΥSlοv, Kiev 1959 Game Νο. 15 - Κhaιίfmaη-Gavήkοv, USSR Ch. 1988 Game Νο. 16 - Nesis-Konoval, USSR Corr. Ch.

1977-78 Game Νο. 17 - Novikov-Gavrikov, Tαllinn 1988 Game Νο. 18 - Furman-Jansa, Leningrαd 1970

4 Interference 67 Game Νο. 19 - Moskalenko-Ftacnik, Belgrαde 1988 Game Νο. 20 - Brenninkmeijer-Tukmakov, Lugαno

1989 Game Νο. 21 - Petrosian-Benko, Curα9tlo Ct 1962 Game Νο. 22 - Borisenko-Estrin, World Corr. Ch.

Finαl 1965-67

5 Demolition 79 Game Νο. 23 - Yusupov-Kasparov, USSR Ch. 1988 Game Νο. 24 - Rashkovsky-Anikaev, Sochi 1974 Game Νο. 25 - Naumkin-Vakhidov, USSR 1987 Game Νο. 26 - Vera-Vilela, Mαtαnzαs 1989 Game Νο. 27 - Khalifman-Lau, Rotterdαm 1988 Game Νο. 28 - Lengyel-Gipslis, Tαllinn 1975

6 Opening and Clearing Lines 96 Game Νο. 29 - Petran-Pinter, Budαpest 1972 Game Νο. 30 - Vaiser-Pein, Budαpest 1989 Game Νο. 31 - Levenfίsh-Smyslov, USSR Ch. 1949

Game Νο. 32 - Bartels-de Wit, Hollαnd 1988/89 Game Νο. 33 - Dreev-Epishin, Tαllinn 1986

Game Νο. 34 - Fang-Chiburdanidze, Phίladelphia 1989

Game Νο. 35 - Douven-Ghinda, Hamburg 1984 Game Νο. 36 - Miles-Korchnoi, Brussels 1986

7 Exploiting the Back Rank 120 Game Νο. 37 - Gligoric-Schmidt, Bath 1973 Game Νο. 38 - Razuvaev-Dvoiris, Krasnodar 1983 Game Νο. 39 - Khalifman-Khenkin, Leningrad 1989 Game Νο. 40 - Belyavsky-Kasparov, Belfort 1988

8 Combining Tactical Ideas 133 Game Νο. 41 - Furman-Smyslov, USSR Ch. 1949 Game Νο. 42 - Geller-Smyslov, Moscow 1965 Game Νο. 43 - Vyzhmanavin-Nikolenko, Moscow

1987 Game Νο. 44 - Komarov-Karasev, Leningrad 1989 Game Νο. 45 - Ubilava-Kengis, Kiev 1984 Game Νο. 46 - Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch.,

London (19) 1986 Game Νο. 47 - Petrosian-Fischer, Buenos Aires Ct

1971 Game Νο. 48 - Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch.,

Leningrad (J 1) 1986 Game Νο. 49 - Pinter-Allen, Thessaloniki οι 1988

Game Νο. 50 - Verat-Komljenovic, Lugano 1986 Game Νο. 51 - Anton-Nesis, World Corr. Cup Final

1978-80

Index of Variations 171

Preface

ΜΥ work as a trainer, coupled with many years of practical experience of playing the same opening systems ίη major corr­espondence competitions, has convinced me that when studying modern openings ίι is extremely useful Ιο identify the tactical ideas and methods which most characteήse each particular system. Αη awareness of tactical possibilities can play a very important role ίη learning an opening, since, besides greatly improving one's perception of the opening phase, tactical play is more easily grasped and much more creative than the relatively uninteresting memοήsίηg of complex variations.

The first book ίη this series was devoted to tactics ίη the King's Indian Defence. It is logical to continue this theme, new ίη chess literature, by cοηsίdeήηg tactics aήsίηg from another closed opening - the Grίinfeld Defence. The Grίinfeld differs from the majority of closed games ίη that tactical operations frequently unfold ήght from the start.

One tactical idea ίη the Grίinfeld was demonstrated as 10ng ago as the game Alekhine-Grunfeld, Vienna 1922 - one of the first times this opening was played:

1 d4 itιΙ6 2 c4 g6 3 itιc3 d5 4 .i.g5 itιe4 5 cd, as after 5 ... itιxg5 6 h4 White regains the piece. The founder of this opening chose 5 ••. itιxc3 6 bc 1Wxd5 7 itιΙ3 c5 8 e3 .i.g7 9 .i.b5+ .i.d7 10 c4 1We4 11 ο-ο .i.xb5! (an important preliminary exchange; if instead 11 ... ο-ο then 12 1Wbl 1We6 13 a4! .i.xb5 14 1Wxb5 b6 15 a5 with advantage to White: Petrosian-Filip, Bucharest 1973) 12 cb itιd7 13 .l::tcl b6, with equality.

Ιη the variation 1 d4 itιΙ6 2 c4 g6 3 itιc3 d5 4 itιΙ3 .i.g7 5 .i.g5 itιe4 6 cd itιxι5 7 itιxι5 Black wins back the pawn by means of a double attack: 7 ••• e6 8 1Wd2 ed 9 1We3+ ~Ι8 10 1Wf4 .i.f6 11 h4 c6 12 0-0-0 h6 13 itιΙ3 .i.e6, and gets a good game.

10 Preface

Α careless continuation ίη the Russian System can be punished at once by tactical means: 1 d4 ~Ι6 2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 ~Ι3 .t.g7 5 ... b3 c5? 6 cd cd 7 "'a4+!, and if 7 ... φf8 8 "'xd4 ~xd5?, then 9 .t.h6! (a diagonal ρίη), winning.

Lack of attention to tactical possibilities ίη the Grίinfeld Defence has sometimes led to the downfall of very experienced players. We quote two examples:

1 d4 ~f6 2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 .ig5 ~e4 5 .t.h4 c5 6 e3 "'a5 7 "'b3! ~c6 8 ~f3 cd 9 ed .t.g7? 10 cd ~xc3 11 bc .ixd4 12 :cl resigns (Gligoric-Langeweg, Amsterdam 1971).

1 d4 ~f6 2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 .ig5 ~e4 5 .t.h4! c5 6 e3 "'a5 7 ... b3 cd!? 8 ed .t.h6! 9 lΩf3? g5! 10 .t.g3 g4 11 lΩe5 .t.d2+ 12 φdΙ .t.xc3 13 bc f6, with a decisive advantage to Black (Yuferov­Razuvaev, Chelyabinsk 1972). Α very interesting tactical idea.

Tactical blunders ίη the opening may even be encountered ίη correspondence play:

1 d4 lΩf6 2 c4 g6 3 lΩc3 d5 4 lΩf3 .ig7 5 ... b3 dc 6 "'xc4 ο-ο 7 e4 lΩa6 8 .t.e2 c5 9 d5 e6 10 .ig5 h6 11 .t.xf6 .t.xf6 12 e5 ed 13 ~xd5 .t.g7 (or 13 ... "'a5+? 14 b4! resigns: Nesis-Meshkov, corr. 1971-72) 14 0-0-0 φh8 15 ~f4 "'e7 16 .id3 .ig4? 17 lΩxg6+ fg 18 ... xg4 c4 19 ~h4 ... f7 20 ~xg6+ resigns (Nesis­Luzganov, corr. 1971-72).

The transition from opening ιο middlegame ίη the Grίinfeld is also full of tactical ideas. Here is another example from one of my own games:

1 d4 lΩf6 2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 ~f3 .t.g7 5 ... b3 dc 6 "'xc4 ο-ο 7 e4 .t.g4 8 .t.e3 ~fd7 9 0-0-0 ~c6 10 h3 .t.xf3 11 gf lΩb6 12 ... cS e6 13 h4 f5 14 f4 fe 15 ~xe4 :f5 16 "'a3 ... d5 17 .t.d3 .t.f8 18 ... b3 ~M 19 .t.bl "'c6+ 20 ~c5 :Ιχc5+ 21 dc .t.xc5 22 "'c3 lΩa4 and White resigned (Ζveήη-Νesίs, corr. 1972).

Ιη the light ofthese instructive tactical examples, and considering the enormous ΡΟΡuΙaήtΥ of the Grίinfeld Defence amongst players of all strengths, this book should be very useful ίη helping the reader to improve his ΟΓ her game.

Ι would lίke to thank my assistant οη this book, Professor Igor Blekhtsin, Master of Sport and Doctor of Geographic Sciences.

G. Nesis May 1992

Introduction

The study of chess tactics should begin with the simplest tactical themes. Οη the other hand, the study of any opening has to involve detailed knowledge of theoretical vaήatίοηs. How is it possible to cater for both these approaches? The answer is to be found ίη this book, the second volume ίη the Tactics seήes, which is devoted to tactical solutions ίη the Grίinfeld Defence.

The main idea behind this defence is that Black gives his opponent the opportunity to form a powerful pawn centre (most notably ίη the Exchange Vaήatίοη) and then endeavours to tum this centre into a target for his pieces and pawns to attack.

Depending οη the pawn structure, many Grίinfeld systems give ήse to so-called half-open games. This makes for very sharp and tense situations from a very early stage, and it is significant that this opening has been an important weapon ίη the arsenal of many great players renowned for their love of complications: Botvinnik, Smyslov, Fischer, Korchnoi and, of course, Kasparov.

For ease ofstudy, the 51 analysed games have not been arranged conventionally according to opening system (e.g., Exchange Vaή­ation, Russian System, Closed Vaήatίοη, etc.), but by tactical theme - i.e. the ρίη, enticement, deflection, interference, demolition, the opening of lines, mate οη the back rank. It is important to realise that this classification by tactical theme is rather artificial when seen ίη the context of practical play, since ίη the course of a complicated combination many of these themes may be interwoven. Nevertheless, the classification adopted is the most natural way to approach the study of tactics systematically. Ιη addition. by analysing games illustrating a particular tactical theme we have also pointed out characteήstίc features of vaήοus schemes of development, making it possible for the reader to study specific vaήatίοηs of this very topical modem opening.

12 Ι ntroduction

Who is this book aimed at? Let us answer this question inthe words ofthe leading authοήtΥ, the chess legend Mikhail Botvinnik: ''One may recommend the GrίίnfeΙd Defence to players who like to calculate variations. Anyone who studies the basic ideas of this opening should be able to keep afloat ίη the stormy sea of vaήatίοns which nowadays are part of the GrίίnfeΙd System."

1 The Ρίn

The ρίη is extremely common ίη any game of chess. Its exploitation as a tactical device aήses as a result of the total or partial immobilisation of the pinned piece (1).

1 Β

Ι

~akogoηov-4:hekhover

Tbilisi 1937

2 :d8 :Ι8!

1Wh4+! and Black wins the white queen. Οη the other hand, many combinations show the ρίη Ιο be

illusory (2):

SiIakov-Blekhtsin Leningrad 1962

31 32 bc 33 .i.xcS

:xc4! ~d4

14 The Pin

2 W

There appears to be ηο way out of a ρίη like this! But ... 33 :el+! 34 Φι2 :gl+! White resigned

After 35 :xgl ιt::Ixf3 36 ΦΧf3 'iνf6+ White also loses the bishop.

Game Νο. 1 Wίlder-Κυdήn

US Ch. 1988 1 d4 ιt::IΙ6 2 c4 g6 3 ιt::Ic3 d5 4 cd

This exchange, played with the aim of occupying the central squares with white pawns, is a natural reaction to Black's last move and characterises the so-cal1ed Exchange Vaήatίοη.

4 ιt::IxdS 5 e4 ιt::Ixc3

The retreat of the knight to b6 is rarely seen, as this dooms Black to passive defence: 5 ... ~b6 6 J.e3 J.g7 7 h3 0-0 8 ιt::If3 c6 9 J.e2 J.e6 10 ο-ο J.c4 11 1Ifd2 ιt::I8d7 12 J.h6 (Portisch­Szabo, Hungarian Ch. 1959).

6 bc J.g7 ' 7 J.c4

It would appear that 7 J.a3 would be a strong move here, preventing the immediate stήke at the centre 7 ... c5. But by continuing 7 ... ιt::Id7! 8 ~f3 c5 9 'iνb3 ο-ο 10 J.d3 'iνc7 Black obtains the better chances, since it turns out that the bishop οη a3 is out of play. The continuation 7 ~f3, first played ίη a

The Ρί" 15

game Rubinstein-Alekb.ine, 1924, was for a 10ng time considered insufficient Ιο gain an advantage. Nevertheless, ίη recent years a formation for the white pieces with tZlf3, J:lbl and .te2, often involving the sacήfice of the pawn οη a2, has become very fashionable (see Games 8, 15,20,27,30,39 and 44).

7 ε5

The move 7 ... b6 has a poor reputation, and this was confirmed by the match Yusupov-Timman, Tilburg 1986 (see Game 5).

8 ttJe2 This move was suggested ίη 1924 by Alekhine. The idea is to

prevent the unpleasant ρίη 8 ... .tg4 (which can now be met by 9 f3).

8 ο-ο This is more flexible than the immediate 8 ... cd. Black reserves

the option of maintaining his pawn structure. 9 ο-ο ttJc6

10 .t.e3 .tg4 11 (3 ttJa5!? 12 .td3

The assessment of this position has also changed. It used Ιο be accepted that ίη the event of 12 .txf7 + (either ίη this position or without pawns οη the c-file if Black exchanges them first) White gets a position offering few prospects, which his extra pawn cannot compensate him for, particularly since it is doubled (see Game 6: Korzov-Blekhtsin).

After the Karpov-Kasparov match for the World Champion­ship ίη Seville (1987), caΡtuήηg the pawn became rather popular, as Black does certainly not always succeed ίη getting sufficient counterplay.

12 cd 13 cd .t.e6 14 :cl

Α crucial ροίηΙ ίη the game. White refrains from playing 14 d5!? (a move suggested by Sokolsky), which leads to a very sharp and complicated strugg1e. Many years of practicaI eΧΡeήence have shown that White gets plenty of attacking opportunities, but that Black's defensive resources are also considerable. After 14 ... .t.xal 15 1Wxal f6 16 .J:Ibl .td7 17 .t.h6 J:lf7 18 e5 e6!? 19 tiJf4 fe 20 1Wxe5 ed, then even 21 ttJxg6 iνί6 22 .t.g5 1Wg7 23 1Wxg7+ Φχg7 24 ttJe5 .t.f5 25 lΔxf7 .txd3 26 rωι 'iPxf7 27 J:lxd3 'iPe6

16 The Pin

28 f4 leads to a small advantage for White (Hovde-Slekys, corr. 1988).

14 .i.xa2 IfBlack declines to capture the pawn, he gets an inferior position

without any compensation. 15 1Ifa4 16 d5 17 1Ifb4 18 ιt.Ίc3

.i.e6

.i.d7 e6

The alternative is 18 .l:Σ.fd1, considered ίη Game 23 (Yusupov­Kasparov).

18 ed Spassky-Dueball, Dortmund 1973, continued: 18 ... b6 19 .i.a6

1Iff6 20 f4 ed 21 ιt.Ίxd5 with good prospects for White. 19 ιt.Ίxd5 .i.e6 20 .Ι:Σ. fdl .i.xd5 21 ed

Bareev-Lputian, Sochi 1987, continued: 21 .i.f1? ιt.Ίc6 22 1Ifc5 ιt.Ίe7 23 ed b6 24 1Ifc4 ιt.Ίf5 with a clear advantage to Black.

21 1Ifxd5?! (3)

3 W

Bold but careless. The quiet 21 ... .l:Σ.e8 22 .i.f2 .i.f8 23 1Ifa4 .i.d6 would have given Black pretty good defensive chances.

22 .i.e4! The tempting 22 .l:Σ.c5 (or 22 .i.xg6) would give White nothing,

ίη view of 22 ... 1Ifb3. Οη 22 .i.c5 there could have followed 22 ... .l:Σ.fc8 23 1Ifxa5 .l:Σ.xc5! and 24 ... .i.d4+.

22 1Ifb3 23 .i.d2!

The Pin 17

More accurate than 23 ..tc5, as ίη this case Black would get counterplay: 23 ... IHd8! 24 .Ω.Χd8+ 25 "xa5 .Ω.dΙ+ 26 'iPf2! ..td4+ (ηοΙ 26 ... .Ω.χcΙ, because of 27 "d8+, mating) 27 'iPe2 ..txc5! 28 "xc5 (after 28 .Ω.χdΙ it is mate ίη two: 28 ... "e3+) 28 ... .Ω.χcΙ 29 "xcl b5.

23 b6 24 ..txa8 .Ω.χa8

25 "e7 White has to play very actively to profit from his small

advantage. 25 ltJc4 26 ..tf4 h5 27 "e4 .Ω.c8 28 .Ω.d7 .. b5

The threat was 29 "d5.

4 W

29 .Ω.χa7

30 "e7

31 ..te3!

"c6 "c5+ (4)

White ingeniously exploits the ρίη along the file and prevents Black from consolidating his forces.

31 "xe7 32 .Ω.χe7 .Ω.ΟΟ

Νο good either was 32 ... b5, because of the simple 33 .Ω. b7. E.g. 33 ... ..tb2 34 .Ω.c2 .Ω.a8 35 .Ω.χb5 ltJxe3 36 .Ω.cχb2 .Ω.aΙ+ 37 .Ω.b1.

33 ..txb6! Again making use of the ρίη.

33 ..th6

18 The Pin

34 tte8+ 35 Ji.d4 36 ~xΙ6!

φh7

Ι6

Black resigned

Game Νο. 2 Ehlvest-Ernst Tallinn 1989

Ι d4 ll)f6 2 ιt:IΙ3 g6 3 c4 ~g7

4 ιt:Ic3 d5 5 "iFb3

This early queen sortie characterises the Russian System and was first played ίη the game Ragozin-Romanovsky, Leningrad 1932.

5 dc 6 "iFxc4 ο-ο

The immediate attempt to exploit the rather unfortunate pos­ίιίοη of the white queen with 6 ... ~e6 leads to the loss of a pawn after 7 "iFb5+ ll)c6 8 "iFxb7 ~d7 9 "iFb3.

7 e4 ~g4

This move of Smyslov's is the usual continuation ίη this position. Weaker is 7 ... ll)c6 8 ~e2 ~g4 9 d5 ~xf3 10 gf ll)e5 11 'ifb3 c6 12 f4 ll)ed7 13 dc bc 14 e5 ll)d5 15 ll)xd5 cd 16 "iFxd5 e6 17 'ifd6 llIb6 18 'ifxd8 J:l.axd8 19 ο-ο ll)d5 20 J:l.d1! with advantage Ιο White (Timman-Korchnoi, Reykjavik 1988).

8 ~e3 ll)fd7 9 'l'b3

The most natural continuation. White's queen is transferred to a convenient square from where ίι can attack the pawn οη b7.

9 ll)b6 Another possibίlity is the sharp 9 ... c5, with immediate

counterplay. 10 :dl

Preventing the freeing move ... c5. 10 ~c6

ιι d5 ~e5

12 J.e2 ~xΙ3+ 13 gf J.h5 (5)

The Pin 19

This is considered stronger than 13 ... -*.h3, as after 14 ngl the black bishop will have to retreat. But now we have reached a very well-known position.

5 W

14 84 More usual continuations here are: 14 ngl 1Wd7 15 .l:g3; or 14

h4 1Wd7 15 a4 a5 16 lΔb5; or 14 f4 ..i.xe2 15 Φχe2 (see Game 31: Levenfish-Smyslov).

14 15 .l:gl

1Wd7

Of course it would be more consistent to play 15 a5, but this would lead Ιο some advantage for Black after 15 ... lΔc8 16 1Wxb7 lΔd6 17 1Wc6 1Wh3.

15 16 f4 17 Φd2

18 iί:Ixe2

19 85 20 lΔg3!

1Wh3 1Wxh2 -*.xe2 c6 lΔd7

Black would have had quite good prospects after either 20 a6 b6 21 dc lΔc5!, or 20 1Wxb7 iί:If6.

20 cd?! Α more attractive line for Black appears to be 20 ... iί:If6 21

:hl1Wg2. 21 nhl 1Wg2 22 Φe2! (6)

Black's queen has unexpectedly fallen ίηΙο a trap, and (ο save ίι Black now has to sacrifice his knight.

22 de

20 The Pin

6 Β

23 J:xd7 e5 24 f5 'tWf3+

If 24 ... gf then 25 .*.c5 would be very nasty. 25 ΦeΙ gf 26 J:gl! (7)

Α very strong move. It turns out that, despite getting four pawns for his piece and a strong centre, Black's position is rather difficult, mainly due to the ρίη οη the g-file. The threat now is 27 /ί:Ixf5

and 28 .*.h6.

7 Β

26 f4 27 /ί:If5 fe 28 'tWxe3! 'tWxf5 29 'tWh6 'tWg6

Alas, Black has to gίve υρ his queen. 30 J:xg6 hg 31 'tWh4 .

The Pin 21

More accurate was 31 W'e3 b6 32 a6 .J:Σ.fd8 33 .J:Σ.b7. 31 b6 32 a6 e3! 33 fe e4?

Black's position is difficult, but more stubborn was 33 ... .J:Σ.fe8, although here too after 34 W'c4 and 35 W'c7 White would complete his regrouping of major pieces along the seventh rank ίη order to attack the pawn οη a7.

34 b3 b5 35 ~e2 .i.c3 36 W'e7

Now everything is clear. 36 .i.a5

:ae8 .i.c3 b4 :c8

37 38 39 40 41

:xa7 W'a3 W'cS :e7 W'd5 Black resigned

Game Νο. 3 Α. Larsen-Nesis

World Corr. Cup 1974-76 1 d4 ~Ι6

2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 dS 4 .i.f4 .i.g7 S e3

5 ~f3 is considered Ιο be a stronger continuation. S ο-ο!

Black boldly sacrifices a pawn, getting a dangerous initiative ίη return.

6 cd 7 ~xdS

8 .i.xc7

lLIxdS W'xdS .i.fS

Α relatively new continuation, practically as strong as the more thoroughly analysed 8 ... lLIa6 or 8 ... ~c6.

9 ~Ι3

Considerably stronger is 9 ~e2, as the knight can then head either for c3, strengthening the queenside, or for f4.

9 ~c6

22 The Pin

10 .a4 White is already ίη some trouble; even the quiet 10 .te2 is ηοΙ

playable, because of 10 ... .l:tac8 11 .tg3 'iFa5+ 12 /ί)d2 /ί)b4 13 0-0 .tc2! 14 'iFel /ί)d3! and Black wins the exchange (Jimenez­Simagin, Moscow 1963).

10 .l:tac8 AIso ηοΙ bad is 10 ... 'iFd7 11 .ta5 /ί)Χd4! 12 'iFxd7 /ί)Χf3+ 13

gf .txd7 with a better ending for Black (Dietze-Keres, Prague 1943).

8 Β

11 .tg3 (8)

11 eS Black is fully developed and so plays a freeing continuation.

12 .i.c4 'iFa5+ 13 'iFxa5 /ί)χa5

14 .te2 Νο better is 14 .tb5 a6 15 .ta4 b5 16 .tb3 ed 17 /ί)Χd4 .txd4

18 ed .l:tfe8+ 19 ~fl .i.c2! with advantage Ιο Black (Budo­Aronin, USSR 1949).

14 15 /ί)χd4

16 ed Α very unpleasant ρίη.

ed .i.xd4 .l:tfe8

17 .i.e5 .l:tc2 (9) The threat is 18 ... f6, and 18 .i.dl .l:txb2 19 ο-ο leads to an

advantage for Black, because of 19 ... .td3 20 .l:tel f6 21 .l:te3 fe 22 .I:t xd3 ed 23 ..if3 /ί)c6 24 .i.xc6 bc 25 .I:t xd4 .I:t xa2!

18 .i.b5 .l:te6 19 b4 Ι6

9 W

20 ba fe 21 ο-ο (10)

The Pin 23

Ιη playing this move, White supposed that the pawn οη d4 could ΩΟΙ be captured, since Black would lose the exchange. Stronger was either 21 ..td7 .l:l.e7 22 ..txf5 gf 23 ο-ο, or 21 d5 .l:!.d6 22 ο-ο.

10 Β

21 ώ!

22 ..ta4 .l:l.a6! This is the ροίηι: the active black rook offers itself up, and its

place is taken by the bishop, supported by a pawn. 23 ..txc2 ..txc2 24 .l:l.fel 'l:l'xa5

White is defenceless. 25 .l:l.e2 d3 26 .l:l.d2 b5 White resigned

24 The Pin

Game Νο. 4 Tal-Johannessen

Rigα 1959 1 d4 tl:Jf6 2 c4 c6 3 ~c3 g6 4 tl:Jf3 d5 S if4 ig7

This is a mixture of the system with if4 and the Schlechter variation. Black's set-up offers a rather solid position, but his possibilities for active play are limited.

6 e3 ο-ο

7 .i.e2 White stakes ηο claim to obtaining an early advantage. Α more

promising move is considered to be 7 1Wb3, although also ίη this case after 7 ... "'a5! 8 tl:Jd2 tl:Jbd7 9 .i.e2 J:l.e8 Black gets a comfortable game.

7 c5 It looks more logical to play 7 ... dc! 8 .i.xc4 tl:Jbd7, and now

if 9 h3 then 9 ... c5. 8 dc 1WaS 9 ο-ο

"Modesty is a virtue," is Tal's comment οη this move. The point is that after 9 cd Black would be able to exploit the ρίη and get an advantage by opening up the long diagonal, which is a typical manoeuvre ίη such positions: 9 ... tl:Jxd5 10 1Wxd5 ixc3+ 11 Φf1 ixb2.

9 dc 10 .i.xc4 1WxcS 11 tl:JeS tl:Jbd7?! (11)

Black has refrained from playing the natural move 11 ... tl:Jc6, fearing 12 tl:Ja4 1Wa5 13 tl:Jxc6 bc with an isolated pawn. But this was certainly the continuation he should have chosen, as ίη this case he would have had plenty of play for his pieces. It appeared that 11 ... tl:Jbd7 would force the exchange of White's active knight, after which Black would have had a quite excellent position. It was hard to imagine that White would capture οη f7.

12 .i.xf7+! Αη intuitive but entirely correct sacήfice. It is justified to a large

. extent by the position of the black knight οη d7, which hampers

II W

the deνelopment of Black's queenside. 12 J:[xf7 13 ltJxf7 ΦχΙ7

14 1Wb3+ ΦΙ8 15 J:[acl

The Pin 25

Ιι turns out that Black has considerable problems, as the white knight threatens ιο carry out a raid (ltJc3-b5-c7-e6). So Black's reply looks natural.

15 a6 16 J:[fdl 1Wa5 17 1Wc4!

Α νery important moνe. White once again highlights the extremely unfortunate position of the knight stuck οη d7. Black cannot play 17 ... ιtlc5 because of 18 b4, and after 17 ... ιtI b6 White wins with 18 J:[d8+.

17 1Wf5 18 h3

White is calmly ΡreΡaήng to play g2-g4. 18 ιtle8

19 ιtld5 1We6 10 1Wb4 b5 (12)

Black takes away the square c4 from the white rook, so that ίι cannot be transferred ιο e4.

21 J:[c6! Deflection of the queen. Οη 21 ... 1Wxc6 there would follow 22

1Wxe7+ Φg8 23 1Wxe8+ and 24 ltJe7+. 21 1Wf7 22 ιtlc7 ιtI xc7 23 J:[ xc7 1W e6

26 The Pin

12 W

24 .l:tdcl /ί)Μ (13) And now the black queen is enticed into a ρίη.

13 W

25 .l:txe7! 26 .l:txe6+ 27 -*.d6+

/ί)d5

/ί)χΜ

Black resigned

2 Enticement

The procedure ίη combinations of this type is clear: by means of a sacrifice the active side forces an opposing piece to occupy an unfavourable position (Koblenz).

Enticement is encountered ίη practice very frequently. Here is a very simple example (ίη its purest form) (14):

14 Β

Ditzler-Petursson Lugano 1989

37 :f1+! And Black won (38 Φχf1 ~e3+).

1 2 3 4 5

Game Νο. 5 Yusupov-Timman

Tilburg Ct (9) 1986 d4 ~Ι6 c4 g6 ~c3 d5 cd ~xd5 e4 ~xc3

28 Enticement

6 bc jlg7 7 jlc4 b6?

Strange as ίι may seem, this was the move οη which Timman placed his hopes ίη his last two games with Black ίη this Candidates Semi-Final, but both times he suffered total disaster.

8 Wf3!

Simple and convincing. Now Black essentially has οηlΥ one move, since 8 ... e6 would lead Ιο a very unpleasant position for him after 9 e5 c6 10 .1a3 (or 10 h4).

8 ο-ο 9 tDe2

Ιη the 7th game of the match Yusupov played 9 e5, and after the ingenious 9 ... .1a6 didn't even consider accepting the exchange sacrifice, but replίed 10 .1d5! There followed: 10 ... c6 11 .1b3 Wc7 12 h4 c5 13 h5 cd 14 cd gh 15 .l:l.xh5! .1b7 16 Wd3 .l:l.d8 17 1IVxh7+ Φf8 18 tDe2 .l:l.xd4 19 .1h6 resigns - mate is unavoidable.

This continuation would appear to be so strong that it is hardly necessary for White Ιο look for anything better. But, fearing some prepared improvement from his opponent, Yusupov decided to try another track.

9 tDc6 10 h4

White boldly goes ίη for complίcations, but objectively stronger was 10 .1g5.

10 .!i)a5 11 .1d3 e5 12 .1a3 .l:l.e8 13 h5 1IVd7!

Black has solved his opening problems satίsfactοήlΥ, getting quite good counterplay.

14 .l:l.dl 1IVa4?! Of course, more sound was 14 ... 1IVg4 with an equal ending,

but the position ίη the match oblίged Timman Ιο play for a win.

15 .1cl ό?

Α quite incomprehensible move. If Black wished Ιο take the pawn οη a2 with his queen, he should have done so at once and then quickly retreated after 16 d5.

16 d5 1IVxa2? (15)

Enticement 29

Black has become complacent and has overlooked his opponent's very interesting tactical riposte.

15 W

17 .th6! The black bishop is enticed onto the h-file, which is about Ιο

be opened up. 17 .th8

It would have been better for Black Ιο play 17 ... .txh6, although after 18 hg fg 19 :ι.Χh6 :ι.f8 20 "'g3 his position would ηοΙ have been easy.

18 .tb5 :ι.d8

19 .tg5 ... b3 Played ίη the hope of buying himself out of trouble at the cost

of at least the exchange, but now ίι is time for a spectacular conclusion.

20 hg

16 W

fg (16)

30 Enticement

21 : xh7! wxh7 22 Wf7+ J.g7 23 J.f6 :g8 24 J.e8! Black resigned

Mate is inevitable. Black could ηοΙ even save himself with 24 ... J.f5, as White would then play 25 ef :axe8 26 Wxg6+ wh8 27 Wh6 mate.

GameNo.6 Korzov-Blekhtsin Leningrαd 1956

1 d4 ltJf6 2 c4 g6 3 ltJc3 d5 4 cd ltJxd5 5 e4 ltJxc3 6 bc J.g7 7 J.c4 c5 8 ltJe2 cd

Practice has shown that Black should ηοΙ hurry Ιο exchange pawns.

9 cd ltJc6 10 J.e3 ο-ο 11 0-0 J.g4 12 f3 ltJa5 13 J.xf7+ :xf7 14 fg (17)

17 Β

Over thirty years ago, when this game was played, theory assessed this position unequivocally as better for Black. Βυι the

Enticement 31

1987 Karpov-Kasparov match ίη Seville changed this assessment. Now fortunes vary (with or without pawns οη the c-file), but White more and more often manages to exploit the advantages of his position. E.g. (without the exchange of c-pawns) 13 ... ':xf1 + 14 ΦΧf1 .d6 15 e5 .d5 16 .*.f2 :d8 17 .c2 .c4 18 "iνb2 ..th6 19 h4 :f8 20 g5 .d3 21 .bl! "e3 22 "el ..tg7 23 ~g1 "e4 24 tQg3! "xh4 25 tQe4 with a winning position for White (Karpov-Timman, Rotterdam 1989).

14 :xfi+ 15 φχπ

Worse is 15 "xf1 tQc4 16 .f3 .. b6 17 ..tf2 .. b2 with a clear advantage Ιο Black.

15 .. d7 16 h3 b5

Firmly taking control of the c4-square. 17 .d3 :d8 18 :el tQc4 19 ..tf2 ..txd4!

Black makes use of a ρίη οη the d-file and intends to get a SUΡeήοr position after 20 tQxd4 e5 21 :d1 .. f7 22 .. f3 ed. But the different move order adopted by White turns out to be disastrous.

18 Β

20 :dl (18)

20 ..txf2!! 21 .xd7 lί)e3+!

Enticing the white king into another check. 22 φχί2 lί)xdl+

23 .xdl :xdl Whi te resigned

32 Enticement

Game Νο. 7 Spassky-Fischer Siegen 01. 1970

1 d4 lίIΙ6

2 c4 g6 3 lίIc3 d5 4 cd lίIxd5

5 e4 lίIxc3

6 bc .t.g7 7 ic4 c5 8 lίIe2 lίIOO

9 .t.e3 0-0 10 ο-ο flc7 11 :cl

Nothing is to be gained from playing 11 dc, because of 11 ... lίIe5 12 .t.b3 lίIg4! '13 .t.f4 flxc5 14 fld5 flxd5 15 ed lίIe5 with an excellent position for Black.

11 IΣd8 12 h3

Just one of the numerous possible lines. The most common continuation is 12 f4, which often leads to great complications. E.g. 12 ... .t.g4 13 f5 gf 14 h3 cd 15 cd .t.h5 16 g4! fg 17 lίIf4 .t.g6 18 flxg4 with an attack for White. The point of White's move ίη the game is that he prevents ... .t.g4 prior to playing f2-f4. However, this does show his plan to be rather slow.

12 b6 13 Ι4 e6 14 flel lίIa5

14 ... .t.b7 occurred ίη Gligοήc-SmΥSlοv (Game 14). 15.id3 Ι5 16 g4!? (19)

With this move White begins an immediate attack against the pawn οη f5 - even at the cost of substantially weakening his kingside.

16 fe Stronger was 16 ... .t.b7! 17 lίIg3 fld7! 18 gf cd 19 fe flxe6 20

. f5 fld6 with aπ excellent game for Black. 17 .ixe4 .ib7 18 lίIK3 lίIc4 19 .ixb7

19 Β

Enticement 33

Forced. Retreating the bishop would haνe led to a clear adνantage for Black: 19 if2 ixe4 20 'it'xe4 lί:\d2 21 'it'xe6+ φh8 22 :fd1 lbf3+.

19 20 .tf2 21 'it'e2

'it'xb7 'it'c6 cd

It appears more accurate was 21 .. , b5 at once. 22 cd b5 23 lbe4!

Λη ingenious pawn sacrifice, which eνidently Black should ηοΙ haνe accepted.

23 .txd4 More accurate was 23 ... :f8 24 lbc5 rΣae8 25 ie3 'it'd5, with

pressure οη the light squares.

20 Β

24 lbg5 (20)

24 -'.xf2+? The resultant weakening of Black's kingside is Ιοο high a price

34 Enticement

Ιο pay for retaining his extra pawn. The continuation 24 ... ,i,f6 25 .xe6+ .xe6 26 tLJxe6 :d2 would have led to an equal ending.

25 :xf2 :d6 26 :el 'iWb6

It was still ηοΙ too late to play 26 ... :d2, with mass exchanges.

21 W

27 tLJe4 :d4 28 tLJf6+ φh8

29 .xe6 :d6 (21)

Very annoying for Black here was the fact that the tactical operation 29 ... :dl!? would not have worked, because of 30 .f7!! E.g. 30 .. , :xel + 31 φg2 tLJe3+ 32 φf3 (but ηοΙ 32 φg3, as then Black would have 32 ... tLJf5+! 33 gf 'iWe3+ and 34 ... 'iWe7).

Instead of the move played, Black should have exchanged queens and gone into a somewhat ίηfeήοr ending.

3O.e4 :f8 Black would have had greater chances of saving the game after

30 ... :ad8 31 g5 :d2 32 :e2 :xe2 33 .xe2 .e3! 34 .xe3 : d 1 + 35 Φ g2 tLJxe3 + 36 φf3 tLJf5.

31 g5 :d2 32:α .c7 33 : xd2 tLJxd2 34 'iWd4 :d8

The threat was 35 tLJe8+, winning the queen. 35 tLJd5+ Φι8 36 :f2 tLJc4 37 :e2 :d6

Νο better was 37 .... b6 because of 38 :e8+, deflecting the rook.

38 :e8+

22 W

~Ι7 (22)

39 :Ι8+ Black resigned

Enticement 35

The king is enticed onto f8, and after 40 1Ifh8+ Black loses his queen.

Game Νο. 8 McCambridge-Hjartarson

Grindαvik 1984 1 d4 lί:\Ι6

2 c4 g6 3 lί:\c3 d5 4 cd lί:\xd5 5 lί:\Ι3 .tg7 6 e4 lί:\xc3

7 bc c5 8 :bl ο-ο 9 .te2 lί:\c6

Ιη recent years a rather fashionable continuation has been 9 ... cd 10 cd 1Ifa5+ (see Games 15, 30 and 44).

10 d5 lί:\e5 The dubious 10 ... .txc3+ is considered ϊη Game 20 (Brennink-

meijer-Tukmakov). 11 12 13

liJxe5 1Ifd2 Ι4

.txe5 e6 .th8

Why such a long retreat for the bishop? This became clear after Black's 15th move. 13 ... .tg7 is analysed ϊη Game 39 (Khalifman­Khenkin).

36 Enticement

23 W

14 c4 15 e5

:e8 Ι6 (23)

ΙΙ Black's bishop were now οη g7 instead of h8, an extremely effective continuation for White would be 16 d6 fe 17 j,b2! ef 18 j,xg7 φχg7 19 ο-ο, and now 19 ... e5 is ηο good because of 20 d7! 1rxd7 21 1rxd7 j,xd7 22 .l:Σxb7, when the ρίη along the seventh rank is decisive.

But now ίη the analogous vaήatίοn 16 d6? fe 17 j,b2 ef 18 j,xh8 ΦΧh8 19 ο-ο Black could calmly reply 19 ... e5.

But the position of the bishop οη h8 does have its defects, and this is underlίned by White's bήl1ίant next move.

16 IS!! Αη astonishing position: the opposing pawns have got involved

ίη hand-to-hand fighting. Black now played the best move; ίη the event of 16 ... ef or 16

... ed, then 17 e6 would have led to a clear advantage for White, and 16 ... fe 17 fe would be rather bad for Black.

16 gf 17 .l:Σb3!

Now the position of Black's king gives him seήοus cause for concern.

17 'Ae7 18 d6 Άι7 19 ef 'iVxf6 20 j,b2

White's active play has led to Black's pieces being placed very awkwardly.

20 e5 (24)

24 W

21 .i.xe5! Enticement of the queen onto the e-file.

21 1Ii'xeS 22 .ι:te3! 1Ii'e6

Enticement 37

Οη 22 ... 1Ii'al + there follows 23 Φf2 1Ii'xhl 24 .ι:te8+ Φf7 25 J.h5+ .ι:tg6 26 J.xg6+ hg 27 .ι:txh8, and Black is defenceless.

23 .ι:t xe6 J.xe6 24 1Ii'e3 .ι:te8

2S 1Ii'xCS .ι:txι2! (25)

25 W

26 d7! ΙΣ xe2+ Not 26 ... J.xd7, because of 27 1Ii'd5+ and 28 1Wxg2.

27 φχe2 .i.xd7 + 28 φd2 .i.e6 29 Wlc7 .i.d4 30 ΙΣ bl .i.b6 31 Wlg3+ Φf7

32 Wlh4

38 Enticement

White has transferred his queen Ιο the kingside, and now he proceeds Ιο achieve a decisive advantage.

32 '::d8+ 33 Φc2 .::d4 34 W'xh7+ φΙ6

35 W'h8+ φΙ7 36 W'h7+ φΙ6 37 '::xb6!

White has finally decided Ιο get rid of the strong bishop, and now the rest ίΒ clear.

37 38 39 40 41 42 43

Φd3 h4 W'h6+ h5 W'g6+ h6

'::xc4+ ab '::a4 ΦΙ7

Ι4

Φe7

And White won. This game was awarded the distinction of 'Best Theoretical Novelty' ίη InjΌrmαtοr 37.

Game Νο. 9 Eingorn-Gavrikov

Tallinn 1989 1 d4 ~Ι6

2 c4 ι6 3 ~c3 d5 4 ~Ι3 ~ι7 5 W'b3 dc 6 W'xc4 ο-ο 7 ~Ι4 ~a6

The idea behind this move is Ιο prepare to undermine White's centre with 8 ... c5.

8 e4 c5 9 dc!

More usual ίΒ 9 d5. 9 W'a5 (26)

The strongest move here is considered Ιο be the gambit continuation 9 ... ~e6. Krasenkov-Mikhalchishin, Moscow 1989, continued: 10 W'b5 ~d7?! (more promising ίΒ 10 ... '::c8 1 Ι .::dl W'e8 12 W'xb7 lQxc5 13 W'xa7 lΔfxe4 14 ~xe4 ~xe4 with definite

Enticement 39

compensation for the pawn) 11 'iWxb7 ~xc5 12 'iWb4 nc8 13 e5 a5 14 'iWa3! with an unquestionable advantage for White.

10 e5! The tame 10 'iWb5 led Ιο a quick draw ίη the game Sosonko­

Korchnoi, Haninge 1988: 10 ... 'iWxb5 11 ~xb5 llJxc5 12 e5 ~fe4 13 ~xe4.

10 ~d7

11 a3! 'iWxc5 12 ~d5 ne8 13 nd1 h6 14 h3 g5?! (27)

27 w

Black's premature activity is logically refuted. 15 'iWxc5! lLIdxc5 16 ~e3 e6 17 llJf6+ iLxf6 18 ef tUe4 19 h4!

40 Enticement

This move casts doubt οη Black's whole strategy. The reply 19 ... g4 would not help Black, because of 20 lί:Ie5 lί:Ixf6 21 .i.b5 J: f8 22 .i.xh6 and he loses the exchange.

19 lί:IxΙ6 20 hg lί:Iι4

The natural 20 ... hg would not be any better: 21 .i.xg5 lί:Id5 22 .i.b5 J:f8 23 .i.xa6 ba 24 J:xd5! f6 (οη 24 ... ed there would follow 25 .i.f6 with mate) 25 J:c5 fg 26 J:xg5+ Φf7 27 lί:Ie5+ Φf6 28 f4, winning quickly.

28 W

21 gh 22 fe 23 g4 24 gS 2S b4

26 g6+!

lί:Ixe3

f6 lί:IcS

ΦΙ7 lί:Ie4 (28)

Enticing the black king onto g6 ϊη order to ρϊη the active knight οη e4 and then exchange it - this is the shortest route to victory. It is cuήοus that so many pieces are still οη their initial squares!

26 Φχι6

27 .i.d3 fS 28 .i.xe4 fe 29 h7 J:h8 30 lί:IeS+ Φf6 31 J:hS aS 32 bS b6 33 Φe2

The white king has finally moved, and the threat is 34 J:f1+. 33 :Ιχh7

34 :ι n + Black resigned

Game Νο. 10 Botvinnik-Yudovich

Leningrad 1933 1 c4 ι!ϊ:ΙΙ6

2 d4 g6 3 ι!ϊ:Ic3 d5 4 ι!ϊ:ΙΙ3 J.g7 5 1Wb3 c6

Enticement 41

This continuation is considered Ιο be passive, but White needs Ιο play very forcefully to get an advantage.

6 cd ι!ϊ:Ixd5

After 6 ... cd the continuation 7 J.g5! e6 8 e3 ο-ο 9 J.d3 ι!ϊ:Ic6

10 h3 b6 11 ι!ϊ:Ie5 leads to a lasting initiative for White. 7 J.d2

Also ηοΙ bad is 7 e4 ι!ϊ:Ixc3 8 bc. 7 ο-ο

8 e4 ι!ϊ:Ib6?

Ιη this position the retreat Ιο b6 - characteήstίc of many Grίinfeld vaήatίοns - is unsuccessful, as the knight will be unable to take an active part ίη the game. More natural is 8 ... ι!ϊ:Ixc3.

9 :dl! Αη indirect defence: Black loses after 9 ... J.xd4, because of

10 J.h6 J.xc3+ 11 1Wxc3. 9 ι!ϊ:I8d7

With the hope of playing 10 ... e5. ΒυΙ now Black has lost the possibility of exchanging his light-squared bishop for its active counterpart. This could have been achieved with the manoeuvre ... J.e6-c4.

10 84 a5 Unfortunately Black has to play this, otherwise the knight ση

b6 would have ηο retreat-squares after 11 a5. 11 J.e3

Highlighting the unfortunate position ofthe knight ση b6, owing to which Black's entire queenside is congealed.

11 Wic7 Ι2 J.e2 Wid6 Ι3 ι!ϊ:Ia2!

Preventing the queen from coming Ιο b4. Ι3 e6 Ι4 ο-ο h6 (29)

42 Enticement

29 W

The idea behind Black's last move is quite understandable: to prepare Ιο play ... f5, ίη order Ιο get ήd of the white pawn οη e4 and give the ill-fated knight οη b6 a comfortable post ίη the centre οη the square d5. After an immediate 14 ... f5 there would have followed 15 lί:\g5 :e8 16 f3!, maintaining the pawn οη e4.

15 :cl Ιη his notes Ιο this game Botvinnik expressed great disappoint­

ment that he hadn't played 15 lί:\e5!!, when the black pieces would have been completely paralysed.

15 Ι5 16 lί:\c3

Now 16 lί:\e5 was ηο good, because of 16 ... f4. 16 Φh7

17 :fdl fe The threat was 18 d5 cd 19 e5! (an excellent example of

deflection), when the knight οη b6 is lost. 18 lί:\xe4 ΊlfM?

This activity is rather untimely. The modest retreat of the queen Ιο e7 would have left Black with chances of organising a defence.

19 Ίlfc2 Ίlfxa4

20 b3 Ίlfa3 21 lί:\h4! Ίlfe7

But now it is too late. 22 lZ)xg6!

The first enticement. Also good was 22 lί:\g5+ hg 23 lί:\xg6. 22 φχg6

23 .i.h5+!! (30) Black resigned This enticement leads to mate: 23 ... ΦΧh5 (23 ... φh7 24

lί:\f6+ + and 25 Ίlfh7 mate) 24 lZ)g3+ Φh4 25 Ίlfe4+.

30 Β

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 ιι

12

Enticement 43

Game Νο. 11 Agzamov-Gulko

Sochi 1985 d4 ~f6 c4 g6 ~c3 d5 .tf4 .tg7 e3 c5 dc .a5 J:[cl ~e4

cd ~xc3 1fd2 1fxa2 bc 1fa5 .tc4 ~d7

~Ι3

Ιη a later chapter we shall discuss Petrosian-Fischer (Game 47), which continued: 12 lDe2 ~e5 13 .ta2, and now 13 ...• xc5 would have led to equality.

12 ι!Lιxc5 (31) Ιη our ορίηίοη 12 '" 1fxc5 is preferable.

13 .te5 ο-ο!

The first inaccuracy. Better was 13 ... f6 14 .td4 e5 15 de .txe6 16 J.xe6 ι!Lιxe6 17 ο-ο ο-ο, when the game is practically level.

14 0-0 f6? Α very careless move. Black should simply have exchanged

bishops with 14 ... .txe5 and, after 15 /ί:}χe5 ι!Lιe4 16 1fd4 ~d6

44 Enticement

31 W

17 :al f/c7, obtained a slightly inferior but perfectly acceptable position.

15 :.1

32 W

16 -tc7!

f/d8 (32)

Αη excellent example of enticement into a discovered check! Black cannot play 16 ... f/xc7 because of 17 d6+.

16 f/d7 17 d6+

But not 17 f/d4? lbe6! 18 de f/xc7. 17 e6 18 lbd4 f/f7

PIaying 18 ... Φh8 would not have helped, because of the continuation 19 :a5 lbe420 f/c2.

19 :.5 b6 (33) 20 :xc5!

White avoids another Httle trap: 20 .t.xb6? lbe4! 20 bc

Enticement 45

21 It!b3 lrd7 22 lrd3

Ιη order, after 22 ... lrc6, Ιο play 23 .tb5 lrd5 24 lrxd5 ed 25 It!xc5.

22 :d8 23 1re4 Black resigned

Game Νο. 12 Vyzhmanavin-Tukmakov

Novosibirsk 1986 1 d4 It!f6 2 c4 g6 3 It!c3 d5 4 .tg5

White is trying ιο get his opponent to concede the centre. This move was first played ίη the game Alekhine-Grίinfeld, Vienna 1922, ίη which Black found the strongest reply: 4 ... lt!e4!

4 1t!e4 5 .tf4

White cannot reckon οη getting an advantage with a move like this. The strongest move is considered to be Taimanov's 5 .th4!, which makes it difficult for Black to move his e-pawn.

5 It!xc3 6 bc dc

More often 6 ... .tg7 is played here, with a possible continu­ation: 7 e3 c5 8 It!f3 ο-ο 9 cd lrxd5 10 .te2 cd 11 cd .a5+, giving a position with equal chances.

7 e3

46 Enticement

Κ. Grigorian-Tukmakov, USSR Ch. 1971, continued: 7 g3 Ji.e6 8 J:I. bl b6 9 ι!LJf3 Ji.g7 10 h4 h6 11 e4 ι!LJd7 12 'ifa4 with an equal game.

34 W

7 8 J:l.bl 8 ι!LJΙ3

10 ι!LJg5?!

Ji.e6 b6 Ji.g7 (34)

Preferable was 1 Ο ι!LJe5. 10 Ji.d5 11 e4 h6!

Οη 11 ... Ji.b7 White gets the advantage after 12 Ji.xc4 e6 13 Ji.xe6! fe 14 ι!LJxe6; very good for White here would be 12 ... ο-ο 13 h4 h6 14 h5! hg 15 hg e6 16 'ifh5 fg 17 Ji.xe6+ J:l.f7 18 'ifxg6 'iff6 19 Ji.xf7+ 'ifxf7 20 J:l.h8+!

35 W

12 ed hg 13 Ji.e5 Ji.xe5 14 de ι!LJd7 (35)

Enticement 47

15 e6?! Instead of this active and natura1 move White should have

preferred the modest 15 1We2 (but ηοΙ 15 1Ifd4 :h4! 16 g4 f6 17 ef ef).

15 16 ..ιχc4

This move is a consequence of White's having assessed the position inaccurately. Correct was 16 ef+ llJxf7 17 1Ifd4.

16 llJxc4 17 1Ifa4+ φΙ8

18 1Ifxc4 :h4 19 1Ifd3 1Ifd6 20 ef :d8 21 :dl 1Ife5+ 22 ΦΠ 1Ife4

Ιι turns out that, although material is equal and both sides have weak pawns, Black has a definite advantage, thanks to the considerably greater activity of his pieces.

23 1Ifd2 :Ι4?

More effective was 23 ... c6 24 1Ifxg5 1Ifc4+ 25 φgΙ :xd5 26 1Ifcl11fxc3.

24 h4!? gh Οη 24 ... :xh4 there would follow 25 :xh4 gh 26 1:el!, when

White is quite aΙήght. 25 ΦgΙ g5 26 :h3 c6 27 c4

More stubborn was 27 J:Σd3.

27 28 1Ifb2 29 :c3 30 :el

1IFxc4 ΦχΙ7

:xd5!

With a three-pawn deficit White is attempting to get at least some sort of counterplay.

30 1IFd4 31 1IFe2?! 1IFxc3 32 1IFxe7+ Φg8

33 :e6 Hoping for a rniracle - e.g.: 33 ... :f7 35 :g6+ :g7 35 :xg7+

1IFxg7 36 1IFe8+ φh7 37 1Wh5+ with perpetual check. But now comes an exceptionally beautiful tactical finish.

48 Enticement

36 Β

33 :dl+ 34 φh2 (36)

34 White resigned

If the white king is enticed onto h3, then it is 35 ... :hl mate, and ίη the event of 35 gh White is mated οη the second rank: 35 ... :xf2 mate.

Game Νο. 13 Lputian-D. Roos

Athens 1983 Ι d4 ~f6 2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 ~Ι3 J..g7 5 J..g5

Αη interesting continuation, although one which has a repu­tation for being harmless.

5 ~e4

6 cd White also gets ηο advantage after 6 J..h4 ~xc3 7 bc c5 8 e3

~c6.

6 ~xg5

7 ~xg5 e6 8 ίwd2 ed

Seemingly more accurate is 8 ... h6, when after 9 ~h3 ed White does not succeed ίη getting an advantage. Οη 10 ~f4 there fol1ows 10 ... ο-ο! 11 g3 ~c6 12 e3 ~e7 with equal chances, and

Enticement 49

ίη the event of 10 'iVe3+ φf8 11 lt!f4 Black has the strong reply 11 ... c5!, with rather better prospects.

37 W

9 1I'e3+ φΙ8 10 1Ι'Ι4 .Η6 11 h4 Φι7?! (37)

Α sound continuation here is considered Ιο be 11 ... c6 12 0-0-0 h6 13 lt!f3 .i.e6 with an equal position. After 11 ... h6 a temporary Ρίece-sacήfice is possible: 12 lt!xd5?! .i.xg5 13 \i'e5 :h7 14 hg lt!c6 15 1I'e4, but after 15 ... .i.f5 16 1I'f3 lt!xd4 17 1I'a3+ φg7 White's initiative evaporates.

12 e4! de 13 0-0-0

This idea was first adopted ίη the game Dίinhaupt-Post,

corr. 1967. AIso interesting is 13 .i.c4!? (see Game 34: Fang­Chiburdanidze).

13 h6 14 lt!gxe4 .i.e6 15 d5 .i.f5 16 lt!xf6 'iVxf6 17 g4

Of course, ηοΙ 17 1I'xc7 lt!a6 18 1I'xb7 :hc8, with a strong attack for Black.

17 .i.d7 18 1I'g3 :e8 19 g5 'iVe5 20 gh+ ΦΧh6 21 Ι4

50 Enticement

Despite his poor pawn structure, White does not fear the exchange of queens, having foreseen a continuation of his attack οη the enemy king.

21 22 .xe3 23 h5

"l'e3+ :xe3 tLJa6?

One should never respond to an attack so quietly. Better was 23 ... gh 24 .i.e2 :h3 25 :xh3 .i.xh3 26 :hl .i.d7 27 J:[xh5+ ςj;;g7.

38 W

24 hg+ 25 .i.d3+

26 d6! The threat is 27 tLJd5+.

~xg6

φΙ6 (38)

26 tLlb4 27 tLle4+ ςj;;Ι5 (39)

Black has ηο choice: if 27 ... ςj;;g7 then 28 :dgl + 'iPf8 29 :h8 mate, and if 27 ... cRe6 then 28 :h6+ and White wins the bishop οη d7.

39 W

Enticement 51

28 :h5+ The black king is enticed ίηΙο more checks.

28 ΦχΙ4

29 :0+ :(3 30 :h4+ φe3

31 :el+! One more enticement: after 31 '" φχd3 White has the very

pretty 32 ltJc5 mate. 31 Φd4

32 lLId2+ Φc5 33 ]% c4+ Black resigned

After 33 ... Φχd6 the decisive finish would be 34 :d4+ Φc5 35 lLIb3+ φc6 36 J.e4+.

3 Deflection

Deflection is an extremely common tactical device. Deflection sacrifices are usually employed when it is essential to divert an enemy piece (more rarely severa1 pieces) or pawn, and it is not possible to do this by 'peaceful' means. Αη instructive example of a deflection sacήfice is the conclusion

of the following game (40):

24

Miken8s-Bronstein USSR Ch. 1965

.ι:ΣΧ83!!

Α move of rare beauty! It is because of wondrous moves like this that we love chess!

Black puts his rook three times en prise, but any capture leads to mate. Οη 2 .l:Σxa3 or 2 1Wxa3 there follows 2 ... 1Wel+ with mate next move. And 2 ba offers ηο escape, because of 2 ... 1Wxal + 3 .l:Σbl .l:Σel+! (the so-called 'X-ray', when a piece exerts its influence 'through' an opposing piece).

Here the idea of deflection is combined with the tactical motif of exploiting the weakness of the back rank.

Deflection 53

Deflection is also frequently combined with a tactical motif that is already familiar - enticement.

Game Νο. 14 Glίgοήc-SmΥSlοv

Kiev 1959 1 d4 it:\f6 2 c4 g6 3 it:\c3 d5 4 cd it:\xd5 5 e4 it:\xc3 6 Ικ: J.g7 7 J.c4 cS 8 it:\e2 ο-ο 9 ο-ο it:\c6

10 J.e3 'fIc7 Another very common continuation is 10 . " it:\a5 11 J.d3 b6.

11 :cl :d8 12 h3 b6 13 Ι4 e6 14 'fIel J.b7

More often 14 ... it:\a5 is played here (see Game 7: Spassky­Fischer).

15 'fIf2 Interesting complications would arise after 15 Ι5 it:\a5 16 ,td3

(16 fe it:\xc4 17 :xf7 'fIc8) 16 ... ef 17 ef :e8, and now not 18 'fIf2 because οΙ 18 ... c4 19 J.bl 'fie7, winning a piece.

15 it:\a5 16 J.d3 Ι5!

With this thematic move Black deprives White's centre οΙ mobility, and he attempts to take control οΙ the Hght squares.

17 eS? It is strange that such a brilliant strategίst as Glίgoric should

fall ίη with Black's plan. More logical was 17 ~g3 or 17 'fif3. 17 c4 (41) 18 J.c2 it:\c6!

The knight is heading for d5. 19 g4 fΔe7

20 ~h2 'fic6

54 Deftection

41 W

21 ~ι3 22 a4 23 :bl

b5 a6 :.b8!

ΡreΡaήng to seize the b-file. 24 ... d2 b. 25 :al

It would seem that White's idea has finally succeeded, but Black has seen more deeply into the position.

42 Β

25 "'a8! 26 "'xa4 "c7 27 :.2 :b6 28 gf ef 29 "'cl ~d5 30 ~e2 a5 31 "'c2 (42)

31 :b3! Αη excellent exchange sacrifice, which fits naturally into Black's

strategy of occupying the light squares with his pieces. 32 "'xb3 cb

De.flection 55

33 :a4 .tf8 Nothing was to be gained from 33 ... lΔxc3, because of 34 .!ί:\χc3

1W xc3 35 .td2. Now, however, it turns out that White has ηο useful moves.

34 .tb2 .!ί:\e3! Α spectacularly effective thrust. If White were to capture the

knight, the white queen would be deflected from the g2-square and Black would play the double attack 35 ... "c6, threatening mate and the rook οη a4.

35 :faI .!ί:\c4

36 .!ί:\g3 Hardly any better was 36 .Ω.χc4 "xc4 37 :xa5, because of 37

... .te7 with the threat of another deflection - 38 ... .th4! 36 .te7 37.!ί:\fΙ "c6 (43)

43 W

38 .Ω.χc4

Hoping for 38 ... "xc4 39 .!ί:\e3 "c7 40 c4, when White has chances of saving the game. But it is already too late.

38 "hl+ 39 lt:Ig3 h5 White resigned

The threat is 40 ... h4 mate. Οη 40 "l'h2 there follows 40 ... .. f3 mate, and οη 40 "e2 then 40 ... "iVg1+ with mate next move.

Game Νο. 15 Khalifman-Gavrikov

USSR Ch. 1988 1 d4 lL!f6

56 Deflection

2 c4 g6 3 ltJc3 dS 4 ltJf3 ~g7

5 cd ltJxdS 6 e4 ltJxc3 7 bc c5 8 Abl 0-0 9 ~e2 cd

Α popular alternative is 9 ... b6 (see Game 27: Khalίfman­Lau).

10 cd "a5+ 11 ~d2 "xa2 12 ο-ο ltJd7

Α rare continuation. The main move here is 12 ... b6; Khalif­man-Epishin, Vilnius 1988, continued: 13 "cl ~b7 14 ~c4 "a4 15 ~b5 "a2 16 Ael! Ac8 17 .. dl e6 18 "e2 ltJc6 19 "e3 e5 20 d5 ltJd4 21 ltJxd4 ed 22 .. f4 and White obtained a promising position. Another possibility is the immediate retreat ofthe queen-12 ... "e6 (see Game 44: Komarov-Karasev). Α controversial continuation is 12 ... ~g4; after 13 ~g5 "e6 14 d5 "xe4 15 .. d2 f6 the position is sharp and unclear (Sakaev-Bukhman, USSR 1989); apparently more accurate here is simply 13 Axb7.

44 W

13 ~M ltJb6 (44)

14 "d3!? Making use of the fact that the black queen is out of play,

White continues to turn the screw. Another possible move, 14 ;'xe7, forces events ίη the centre but does not gίve White any

Deflection 57

advantage: 14 ... ':e8 15 .*.c5 ':xe4 16 -*.d3 .:e8 17 ':al 1Wb2 18 .:bl .a2.

Riemersma-Conquest, Dordrecht 1988, continued instead: 14 -*.b5 -*.d7 15 -*.xd7 ILIxd7 with an equal game.

14 .:e8 Ιη a later game Τukmakοv-Gavήkοv, Moscow 1989, Gavήkοv

chose 14 ... .te6; White played IS d5? (instead of the natural IS ':al) and after 15 ... ILIxd5! 16 ed -*.f5 17 .e3 .t.xbl Black won quickly.

15 ILIg5! Exploiting the unfortunate position of the enemy queen, White

creates the threat of 16 ':a1. The tactical basis of this move can be seen ίη the following variation: 15 ... .txd4 16 .tdl! .:d8 (16 ... -*.e6 17 .xd4 .xbl 18 ILIxe6 fe 19 -*.c3, or 16 ...• c4 17 .f3 and 18 -*.b3) 17 -*.b3 -*.xf2+ (if 17 ...• xf2+ then 18 ~hl!) 18 ~hl ':xd3 19 -*.xa2, winning.

15 .te6 16 d5 -*.d7

Black was unable to exploit the position of the white queen οη the d-file with 16 ... ':ad8, ίη view of 17 de f6 18 .h3 fg 19 -*.b5.

17 .f3 f5! This looks very ήskΥ, but ίη fact it is the οηlΥ possible defence.

The more 'accurate' 17 ... .tf6 would have led to immediate defeat after 18 -*.xe7!; also bad was 17 ... f6 18 .:al .c2 19 ':fcl .b220 -*.c3 .b3 21 ':cbl .c2 22 ':b2.

18 -*.d3 .*.f6 Provoking White to sacrifice a piece. Mter other continuations,

such as 18 ... h6 19 lLIe6! -*.xe6 20 de .xe6 21 ef, or 18 ... .:f8 19 -*.xe7 fe 20 .xe4 -*.f5 21 .f3, White would get an advantage 'free of charge'.

19 ef! .*.xg5 20 fg .xd5

Black chooses the correct move for the umpteenth time ίη this game. Weaker was 20 ... .:f8? 21 .h5 h6 22 h4! .t.f4 (22 ... • xd5 23 hg .xg5 24 .xg5 hg 25 .t.xe7) 23 .*.xe7 "l'xd5 24.xd5 llIxd5 25 -*.xf8, followed by 26 ':xb7.

21 -*.e4 1We6 (45) 22 .td2!!

Α bήlΙίant and totally unexpected move. White clears the b-file with tempo so as to allow his rook Ιο get ήd of the knight οη b6.

58 Deflection

45 W

Οη the other hand, 22 "h5?! h6 23 (4 "xe4 24 fg would not have worked, because of 24 ..... e3+.

22 hg! After 22 ... J.xd2 23 ':xb6 ab 24 J.d5 J.h6 25 "f5! Black

would have lost. But now the game continues along relatively quiet lines.

23 J.xg5 24 J.xc6 25 .. h3 26 J.e3?

J.c6 "xc6 .. d5

Stronger was 26 .. h6 .. f7 27 J.e3 when White regains the pawn, retaining a significant advantage. Ιη this case it would have been very hard for Black to hold ουΙ

26 lLJc4 27 .. g4 Φg7!

This is the point: Black has solved his defensive problems satίsfactοήlΥ, and therefore οη the next move the players agreed to a draw.

28 J.d4+ Drawagreed

Game Νο. 16 Nesis-KoDoval

USSR Corr. Ch. 1977-78 1 d4 lLJf6 2 c4 g6 3 lLJc3 d5 4 lLJf3 J.g7 5 .. b3 dc 6 "xc4 ο-ο 7 e4 a6

Deflection 59

Α continuation worked out by a group of Hungarian players. 8 1I'b3

The strongest reply. The natural response would be 8 a4, but this doesn't prevent the continuation 8 ... b5; after 9 1I'b3 (9 ab?? ab) there follows 9 '" c5! 10 dc .te6 11 1I'a3 b4! 11 "l'xb4 tZlc6 with a dangerous initiative for the sacrificed pawns; e.g. 13 1I'a3 .:ι b8 14 .ib5 ab 15 ab 1I'd3! 16 .td2 tDxe4 17 bc tZlxc3 and Black wins (Pyzhkov-Lukin, Leningrad 1969).

Black also does ηοΙ hesitate Ιο make sacrifices ίη the event of 8 .1f4. Ivkov-Ree, Wijk aan Zee 1971, continued: 8 ... b5! 9 1I'xc7 1I'xc7 10 .ixc7 .ib7 11 e5 tDd5 12 tDxd5 .ixd5 13 .1e2 .:ιc8 14 .ia5 tDc6 15 .1c3 b4 16 .td2 f6, and Black had enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

8 b5 9 .1e2

The most testing continuation is 9 e5, when 9 ... .1e6 is bad because of 10 ef! .1xb3 11 fg Φχg7 12 ab tZlc6 13 .1e3, and White's three minor pieces are stronger than Black's queen.

9 c5 10 dc .1b7

This move has a good reputation. Weaker is 10 ... 1I'c7 11 .1e3 tDbd7 12 ο-ο .1b7, because of 13 lIacl tZlxc5 14 11'b4 tZle6 15 tZld5, when White has a considerable advantage (Barczay-Gipslis, Dubna 1976).

ιι e5 12 .1e3!

46 W

tZld7 (46) e6

It turns out that after the natural capture 12 ... lL!xe5 13 tDxe5 .txe5 White plays the simple 14 .:ιdΙ with a clear advantage.

60 Deftection

13 a4 li:Ic6! Black has successfully developed his pieces, and now White has

to play very accurately. 14 ab ab 15 :dl!

The natural 15 :xa8 .xa8 16 li:Ixb5 would have led, after 16 ... ιtΊxe5, to a position οffeήng Black quite good counter-chances.

15 b4? More accurate was 15 ... Ίle7 at once.

47 W

16 ο-ο! Ίle7

17 -*.g5 ιtΊxc5 (47)

It appears that Black's position iS quite ίη order: οη 18 -*.xe7 ιtΊxb3 19 -*.xf8 there follows 19 ... bc 20 -*.xg7 c2!, after which ίι turns out that White cannot play 21 :cl ιtΊxcl 22 :xcl φχg7 23 :xc2 :al+ 24 -*.rι, because of 24 ... -*.a6 25 ιtΊd2 ιtΊd4. Here too, the idea of deflection can be seen.

18 Ίlxb4! Ίlxg5 Quite unpleasant for Black was 18 ... ιtΊxb4 19 -*.xe7 :fc8 20

ιtΊb5.

19 Ίlxc5 ΊιΙ5

20 -*.d3 Ίlh5 21 :fel :a5 22 -*.b5

It turns out that Black's advantage of the two bishops is illusory, and he has ηο compensation for the 10ss of the pawn, since his pieces are so badly coordinated.

22 ιtΊa7

23 Μ! :a3

Dejlection 61

24 -*.e2! .l:ιc8

25 Wie7 .*.xeS? Ιη an already difficult position Black overlooks the white

knight's retreat. 26 ~xe5

27 ~bl! 'iWxe5 Black resigned

Game Νο. 17 Νοvίkοv-Gavήkοv

Tallinn 1988 1 d4 llIf6 2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 -*.Ι4 -*.g7 5 e3 c6 6 ~Ι3 0-0 7 -*.d3

This move is chosen quite often, as are 7 1Irb3, 7 .l:ιcl, 7 h3 and 7 -*.e2.

7 .*.e6 It is doubtful whether this continuation is any stronger than 7

... .*.g4, or 7 ... dc 8 -*.xc4 llId5. 8 c5?

This is definitely ηοΙ ίη the spirit of the position. The natural move is 8 llIg5, when White has a solid advantage.

48 W

8 -*.g4 9 IIfb3 -*.xf3

10 IIfxb7 -*.xg2? (48)

62 Deftection

More logical was 10 ... ~ bd7 11 gf e5!, and Black seizes the initiative after either 12 .i.xe5 lbxe5 13 de ~d7!, or 12 .i.g3 : b8.

11 :g11 Α courtesy ίη reply. Correct was 11 1Wxa8 .i.xhl 12 1Wxa7 with

winning chances for White. 11 ~M7

Returning Ιο the correct plan. 12 :xg2 e5! 13 .i.g3

It would be bad Ιο play 13 .i.xe5 ~xe5 14 de, because of 14 ... ~d7, but 13 .i.g5 was worth cοηsίdeήηg.

13 ~h5

Black is prepared Ιο lose time ίη order to get ήd of his 'Indian' bishop's opponent!

14 1Wxc6 ~xι3

15 hg? Common sense would suggest that ίι was essential Ιο play 15

:xg3. The move played improves White's pawn structure, but this cannot possibly compensate him for vοluηtaήlΥ shutting his rook out of the game, as subsequent events prove.

49 Β

15 ed 16 ed .i.xd4 17 1Wxd5 ~xc5

18 .i.c4 (49)

18 ~d3+!! It tums out that the black knight cannot be captured, since the

white bishop dare ηοΙ abandon its queen: ίη this case the other

Deflection 63

defender of the queen - the knight οη c3 - would be eliminated with check.

50 W

19 φΠ

20 l2Jb5 21 "'xd4

l2Jxb2 l2Jxc4 l2Jd2+! (50)

Oh dear, that miserable rook οη g2! What's more, White cannot play 22 φgΙ because of 22 ... l2Jf3+, after which the white king will be hunted down.

22 Φe2

23 ΦΧd2

White resigned

.l:Σe8+

"'a5+

Οη 24 l2Jc3 there follows 24 ... .l:Σad8 25 "'xd8 .l:Σxd8+ 26 φc2 .l:Σc8.

Game Νο. 18 Furman-Jansa Leningrαd 1970

1 d4 lLIf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3

This system involving the fianchetto of White's king's bishop is not considered dangerous for Black, but he needs to play extremely energetically.

3 Lg7 4 ~ι2 d5 5 cd ιt:Ixd5

6 l2Jf3

64 Deflection

The most solid move. Other frequeot possibilίties are 6 e4 aod 6 ItIc3.

6 ο-ο 7 0-0 lQb6

Also worthy of coosideratioo is 7 ... c5, which was fashiooable ίο the 1950s aod 1960s. However, after 8 dc ltIa6 9 ItIg5 (Najdorf's move) 9 ... ItIdb4 10 ItIc3 Black has oot always maoaged to achieve equalίty.

8 1tIc3 lQc6 9 e3

The immediate 9 d5 does oot give White aoy advaotage after 9 ... ltIa5 10 e4 c6 11 .Ω.eΙ .Ω.e8! 12 .*.g5 h6 13 .*.f4 cd 14 ed ltIac4 15 1Ircl g5 with an excellent game for Black.

9 .Ω.e8 Play becomes sharp after 9 ... e5. Vaganian-Kasparov, Barce­

lona 1989, contioued: 10 d5 ltIa5 (possibly 10 ... ltIe7 is better) 11 e4 c6 12 .*.g5! f6 13 .*.e3 cd 14 ed .*.g4 15 .*.c5 with a better position for White.

10 ltIel Worth cοnsίdeήοg is the modest cootiouation 10 1Ire2. But 10

d5 can hardly lead to ao advantage for White; e.g. 10 ... ltIa5 11 ItId4 .*.d7 12 b3 c5 13 dc ItIxc6 14 ItIxc6 .*.xc6 15 .*.xc6 'it'xdl 16 .Ω.χdΙ bc 17 .*.b2 a5 with a draw (Ljubojevic-Kasparov, Barcelona 1989).

10 eS 11 dS ltIaS 12 e4 c6 (51)

Α more attractive line for Black appears to be 12 ... ltIac4 13 b3 ItId6 14 ItIc2 f5.

51 W

De.flection 65

13 lZIc2 cd 14 ed lZIac4 15 b3 lZId6 16 ~b2

White has finally completed his development. His trump card is the passed pawn οη d5, supported by his minor pieces.

16 e4 This active move also has its negative side, as ίι weakens Black's

central squares rather too much. Quieter was 16 ... ~d7. 17 .l:Σbl lZId7 18 lZIe3 (5 19 lZIe2!

The exchange of dark-squared bishops is a major strategic achievement for White.

19 ~xb2

20 .Ι:Σ xb2 lZIe5 21 .l:Σc2 ~d7

22 lZIf4 iff6 23 ifd2 g5? (52)

Again, activity that is quite unjustified!

52 W

24 ltJe6 It tums out that Black cannot play 24 ... ixe6 25 de ifxe6

because of the simple 26 ltJd5, threatening 27 lΔc7 and 27 W'xg5+. 24 (4

25 1IVb4 lΔdf7

26 gf gf (53) 27 ixe4!

This move flows logically from all of White's previous play.

66 Deflection

53 W

27 fe 28 fe "e7 29 %Σι2+ φh8 30 1Wd4

Α quite hοrήfic ρίη: the threat is 31 %Σχf7 followed by mate; and 30 ... .i.xe6 31 de 1Wxe6 does not help, because of 32 .i.d5. Black has only one move.

30 31 lίJxf8

32 %Σι3

.ΙΗ8! %Σχf8

Evading the threat of 32 ... .i.h3.

54 Β

32 %Σe8 (54)

33 .i.xh7! ΦΧh7 34 %Σχf7+!

Black is now faced with an unpleasant choice: either his queen will be deflected away from the h4-square, or his knight will be removed from the diagonal, opening a path for the white queen to go to g7. Ιη either case there would be a mating finish. So, Black resigned.

4 Interference

Combinations οη the theme of interference are played ίη order to disrupt the interaction of the opposing pieces or to deΡήve them of the possibility of controlling certain squares.

The aim is to break the physical connection between the enerny pieces. Quite often this is done ίη order to cut pieces off frorn the defence of their king. Αη exampIe is a vaήatίοη from the foIlowing game (55):

55 W

Κ. Grigorian-Belyavsky Vilnius 1975

Οη 22 1Ifb1 Black wouId play 22 ... nc4!!

[η practice, interference is frequently encountered together with the idea of deflection (56):

68 1 nterJerence

56 W

40

1 2 3 4 S

Κhaήtοnοv-Ρetrushίn

:d8+ Black resigned

Game Νο. 19 Moskalenko-Ftacnik

Belgrade 1988 d4 lLJf6 c4 g6 lLJc3 dS cd lLJxdS .i.d2

White can scarcely hope to gain an opening advantage with a move Iike this, but a certain degree of accuracy is required from Black.

S .i.g7 6 e4 lLJb6

Also not bad is 6 ... lLJxc3 7 .i.xc3 ο-ο. 7 .i.e3 ο-ο

8 ί4 White gains nothing from 8 lLJf3 .i.g4 (Simagin-Zagorovsky,

USSR 1954); and after 8 h3 one possibility is 8 ... f5! 9 ef .i.xf5 10 lLJf3 lLJc6 11 1Wb3?! + φh8 120-0-0 a5 13 lLJe5 a4 (Anastasian­Neverov, Tbilisi 1989), so that after 14lLJf7+ .l:l.xf7 15 1Wxf7 Black can play 15 ... 9d7 16 a3 (preparing Ιο retreat the queen Ιο a2) 16 ... lLJa5, with the threat of 17 ... lLJ b3 +.

8 lt\c6 It doesn't look bad for Black Ιο continue 8 ... a5 9 h4 a4 10

lnterJerence 69

:cl lbc6 11 d5 lba5 12 .td4 .txd4 13 .xd4 c6, when he has counterplay (Moskalenko-Rogulj, Belgrade 1988).

57 Β

9 d5 lba5 10 .td4 (57)

10 11 .txe5 12 fe

e5! .txe5 .h4+

Βήηgίηg about a weakening of White's pawn structure. 13 g3 .e7 14 .d4 :d8

With the threat of .,. lΔc6. 15 b4 (58)

With this move White not οηlΥ attacks the knight οη a5 but also covers the square c5. Consequently 15 ... lΔc6 is bad for Black, because of 16 'Wc5. But Black can now take the opportunity Ιο play an interference move.

58 Β

70Interference

15 ~ac4

16 -*.xc4 Black would get a good position after 16 ~f3 -*.g4 17 -*.xc4

.i.xf3 18 ο-ο irxb4 19 .ι:txf3 'ilt'xc4 20 ire3 ~d7 21 irf4 'ilt'd4+ 22 ~hl .ι:tf8 (Moskalenko-Zakic, Belgrade 1988).

16 irxM 17 ~e2 irxc4 18 0-0 'ilt'xd4+ 19 ~xd4 c6!

Storιn clouds are gatheήng over White's position. 20 e6! fe 21 ~xOO .i.xe6 22 de .ι:td3 23 .ι:tacl

It looked tempting to play 23 .ι:tf7, ίη order οη 23 ... .ι:txc3 to play 24 :'af1 followed by 25 e7, but Black would reply 23 ... .ι:tf8!

23 .ι:tΙ8

24 a4 .ι:td6 Οη 24 ... .ι:txf1+ White would reply 25 .ι:txf1! (but not 25 ~xf1

~c4) 25 ... ~c8 (the knight cannot be captured, because of 26 e7) 26 ~e2 and White has somewhat better chances.

25 :'xf8+ φχΙ8

26 .ι:tbl .ι:txOO

27 a5 ~c4

28 :'xb7 ~xa5

29 :'xa7 ~c4

30 .ι:txh7 ~d2!

Alas, White does not have the move 31 :'Μ, because of 31 ... ~f3+.

31 .ι:tc7 Drawagreed

Game Νο. 20 Brenninkmeijer-Tukmakov

Lugαno 1989 1 d4 ~Ι6

2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 d5 4 ~Ι3 .i.g7 5 cd ~xd5

6 e4 ~xc3

Ι nterference 71

7 bc c5 8 :bl 0-0 9 J.e2 .!l)c6

10 d5 -*.xc3+?! There aren't many daredeνils prepared to risk taking this

poisoned pawn. Usually Black plays 10 ... .!l)e5 (see Games 8 and 39).

BrenninkmeUer-Ftacnik, Groningen 1988, continued: 11 ιtJxe5 -*.xe5 12 lΙΜ2 -*.g7 (ηοι allowing White Ιο play f4 with tempo, as occurred ίη the games mentioned above) 13 ο-ο b6 14 Ι4 e6 15 d6 e5 16 fe -*.b7 17 1IVd3?! (evidently 17 1IVf4 is stronger) 17 ... -*.xe5 18 J.f4 1IVf6! 19 "'g3 -*.xf4 20 :xf4, and now 20 ... 1IVe6! leads Ιο a sharp position with somewhat better chances for Black.

11 -*.d2 -*.xd2+ 12 1IVxd2 .!l)a5 13 h4

W orth considering was 13 1IVh6. 13 f6?!

Better was 13 ... J.g4 14 1IVh6 -*.xf3 (but not 14 ... Ι6 because of 15 .!l)g5!).

59 W

14 h5 g5 (59)

IS ιtJxι5 e5 The knight cannot be taken: 15 ... fg 16 1IVxg5+ φh8 (Black

can also ηοΙ survive after 16 ... ΦΙ7, because of 17 h6 φe8 18 -*.b5+ -*.d7 19 1IVh5+ :f7 20 e5!) 17 h6 :η 18 -*.h5 1IVg8 19 1IVe5+ :Ι6 20 g4 .!l)c4 21 1IVc3 .!l)d6 22 f3, followed by 23 e5.

16 lΔf3 b6 17 lΔh4! :f7 (60)

721nterJerence

60 W

If Black had attempted Ιο get the knight οη a5 ίηΙο play with 17 ... lΔb7, White would have transferred his rook οη bl to the kingside, getting a very strong attack: 18 .l:b3 .l:f7 19 .l:g3+ .l:g7 20 "iWe3 "iWe7 21 lΔg6! "iWf7 22 lΔxe5 fe 23 h6 .l:xg3 24 "iWxg3+ φf8 25 "iWxe5.

18 f4 .. d6 Οη 18 ... lΔb7 White would have played 19 f5! lΔd6 20 "iWe3,

followed by the breakthrough g2-g4-g5. 19 ο-ο ε4

20 "e3 .i.d7 21 h6!

With the threat of 22 .. g3+ φh8 23 fe. 21 .l:e7 22 .l:f2

White prepares Ιο double rooks οη the f-file. 22 ef 23 .l:xf4 .l:e5 24 .Ι: bfl "xd5

Playing 24 ... .l:f8 would be ηο better, ίη view of 25 .i.g4 .i.xg4 26 .l:xg4+ φh8 27 .. g3, followed by 28 .l:g7 and 29 .l:xh7+ (or 29 lΔg6+).

The οηlΥ move. 25 .Ι: xf6 1Vc5

26 "iWxc5 27 .l:f7 28 .l:e7 29 .i.h5!

:xc5 .i.e6 :c6 (61)

With a whole batch of threats: 30 .i.e8, 30 :xe6 and 30 .i.g6.

61 W

29 φh8!

30 .i.e8 Interference οη the back rank.

30 ..t.g8 31 .i.xc6

Interference 73

Sufficient Ιο win, but more effective was 31 .lΣf8! .lΣxh6 32 lZ\f5 .lΣg6 33 .lΣxh7+ ΦΧh7 34 .i.xg6+ φχg6 35 .lΣxa8.

31 lZ\xc6 32 .lΣc7 lZ\d4 33 lZ\f5 lZ\b5 34 .lΣe7 c3 35 a4 lZ\a3 36 lZ\d6 c2 37 .lΣc7 .i.e6 38 .ΙΣ c3 .ΙΣ d8 39 e5 Black resigned

Game Νο. 21 Petrosίan-Benko

Curacao Ct 1962 1 d4 lZ\f6 2 c4 g6 3 lZ\c3 d5 4 ..t.f4 ..i.g7 5 lOf3

White refraίns from playing e2-e3 for the time being, ίη order Ιο have the opportunity ίη some vaήatίοηs of occupying the central square d4 with his king's knight without delay, and also

74 Ι nterference

so as not to cut off his dark-squared bishop from the defence of his queenside.

5 ο-ο Αη interesting continuation is 5 ... c5!? (see Game 33: Dreev­

Epishin). 6 :cl

White does not accept the pawn sacrifice - 6 cd lίJxd5 7 lίJxd5 1Wxd5 8 .t.xc7 - which after 8 ... lίJc6 9 e3 .t.g4 leads Ιο a sharp position not without some advantage for Black.

6 cS 7 dc dc

More common is 7 .. , .t.e6, a move introduced into practice by Botvinnik; all the same, after 8 lίJd4 lίJc6 9 lίJxe6 fe 10 e3 1Wa5 11 .t.e2 White's position is Ιο be preferred. The continuation 7 ... .t.e6 8 lίJg5 is considered ίη Game 22 (Βοrίsenkο-Εstήη).

8 e4 This move leads Ιο very interesting complications. Α solid but

minimal advantage to White results after 8 1Wxd8 .ΙΣ xd8 9 e3 lίJa6 10 c6! bc 11 .t.xc4.

8 1WaS White also has somewhat better chances ίη the event of 8 ...

1Wxdl+ 9 .lΣxdl lίJa6 10 c6! 9 e5 .lΣd8!

Οη 9 ... lίJh5 White would play 10 .t.e3 and maintain his pawn οη c5.

10 .t.d2 The continuation 10 1Wa4 1Wxa4 11 lίJxa4 lίJd5 12 .t.g3 b5

would give Black the better chances. 10 lίJg4

11 .t.xc4 1WxcS CaΡtuήηg with 11 ... lίJxe5 would be bad for Black, because of

12 lίJxe5 .t.xe5 13 lίJd5 1Wxc5 14 .t.b3 1Wd6 15 .t.b4 with advantage to White, and οη 11 ... lίJxf2? 12 ΦΧf2 1Wxc5+ White would win with 13 .t.e3!

12 lίJe4 1Wb6 (62) 13 .t.xf7+!

Αη unexpected tactical blow which is the prelude Ιο an interest­ing combination.

13 ΦχΙ7

14 .lΣxc8 :xc8

62 W

63 W

15 ιt:IΙι5+ 16 1IVxg4

~ι8 1IVc6 (63)

Interference 75

And finally, one more tactical blow οη the theme of interference. 17 ιt:Id6!

Now Black cannot take the knight with 17 ... ed, because of the vaήatίοη 18 1Ife6+ ~h8 19 ιt:If7+ φg8 20 ιt:Ih6+ φh8 21 1IVg8+ .J:I.xg8 22 ιt:If7 mate - a classical smothered mate. Neverthe­less, this whole seήes of tactical operations was unable to secure vic~ory for White, as Black had sufficient defensive resources.

17 1IVd7! 18 1IVxd7

Οη 1811fh4 h6 19 ιt:Ixc8 hg 20 1IVc4+ Black has the strong move 20 ... e6! (he would lose after 20 ... Φ h8, because of 21 h4 g4 22 h5, and 00 20 ... φf8 there would follow 21 ιt:Ixe7! φχe7 22 .i.b4+ φd8 23 e6 and 24 e7+) and after 21 ιt:Id6 ~c6 Black maintaios the equilibrium.

76 Interference

18 19 ltIxc8 20 Ι4

64 W

ltIxd7 ':xc8 ':c2 (64)

It turns out that Black has obtained entirely adequate compen­sation for the pawn.

21 Φe2

Α cunning lίttle move: after 21 ... J:l.xb2 White would occupY the open file with 22 J:l.cl and get attacking chances.

21 J.h6! 22 lίJΙ3 J:I. xb2

But not 22 ... J.xf4 23 Φd3. 23 g3 gS! Drawagreed

Α short game, but full of interest.

Game Νο. 22 Βοrίseπkο-Εstήπ

World Corr. Ch. Finαl 1965-67 1 d4 lίJΙ6

2 c4 g6 3 lίJc3 dS 4 lίJΙ3 J.g7 S J.f4 ο-ο

6 J:l.cl cS 7 dc J.e6!?

AIso played here is 7 ... dc (see Game 21: Petrosian-Benko). 8 lίJg5?

Interference 77

The strongest continuation is 8 lt!d4!, when 8 ... ΙOc6 9 i2:1xe6 fe 10 e3 1Ira5 11 .i.e2leads to an advantage for White. Botvinnik­Gιίgοήc, Tel Ανίν 1964, saw lt!g5 played one move later: 8 e3 lt!c6 9 lt!g5, but after 9 ... .i.g4! 10 f3 e5! 11 .i.g3 d4 12 fg dc 13 1Irxd8 .!Σ fxd8 14 .!Σ xc3 h6 15 lί:\f3 ΙOe4 Black had the better chances.

8 d4! Black takes advantage of the white knight's departure from the

centre. 9 lt!b5 lt!h5!

Ιη this way Black Ρarήes the threat of lt!c7.

65 Β

10 ΙOxe6 fe 11 .i.c7 1Irc8 12 g4!? (65)

As Botvinnik observed, White is making heroic efforts to try to rescue his position. As a result of the opening of the f-file the square f2 became vulnerable, and therefore White takes steps to retain his dark-squared bishop by providing a retreat-square for it οη g3. But White does not succeed ίη solving his main problem -his king is stuck ίη the centre.

12 a6 But not 12 ... ΙOf6, because of 13 .i.e5!

13 gb ab 14 .i.g3 1Irc6!

White is ίη a dilemma: should he deΡήνe himself of the opportunity to castle, or weaken his positίon with the move 15 f3?

15 .!ΣιΙ bc 16 .!Σχc4 .!ΣΧθ2

78 Interference

17 Lh3 ':xb2 18 hg ι!ί:Ja6!

Instead of the natural 18 ... hg Black brings yet another piece into play.

19 gh+ φh8

20 ':c2 Alas, White could not play 20 ':xd4 because of 20 ... 1Fxc5! 21

':d71Fb4+.

66 Β

20 21 22

1Fxc2 1Fg6 (66)

':xc2 ι!ί:Jxc5

Αη amazing position! Material is completely level and White has the advantage of the two bishops; White also threatens the tactical trick 23 Le5. Yet White did not even manage to make one more move ίη this game!

22 ι!ί:Je4!

White resigned Black has covered the diagonal bl-h7. White would lose after

23 Φf1, ίη view of 23 ... ι!ί:Jd2+ with mate next move, and οη 23 Lf4 there would follow 23 ... 1Fc3+ 24 φf1 1Fxh3+ 25 ':g2 1Fxh7 with a decisive advantage for Black.

5 Demolition

This tactical device is encountered most often when it is essential to deΡήve the enemy king of its pawn cover, or to seize control of an important square ίη the heart of the opponent's position.

Ιη order to destroy the defence, sacrifices of pieces or pawns may be empIoyed:

67 W

Lieb-Kunsztowicz West Germany 1974

22 ~xι6! hg 23 ιtJxι6 .. f6 24 .. h5! "xal + 25 <i>g2 .. f6 (if 25 ..... g7 then 26 lQxe7+ <i>f8 27 "f3+) 26 ιtJe5+ <i>f8, and now White was abIe to conclude his 'sacrificial symphony' by playing 27 "h7!! "xg5 28 ιtJd7+ ~xd7 29 .. f7 mate.

Game Νο. 23 Yusupov-Kasparov

USSR Ch. 1988 Ι d4 ιtJΙ6

2 c4 ι6

80 Demolition

3 lΔε3 dS 4 cd lΔxdS

5 e4 lΔxε3

6 bc ~'i1 7 ~c4 cS 8 lΔe2 lΔOO

9 ~e3 0-0 10 ο-ο ~g4

11 (3 ltJaS 12 ~d3

Yusupov declines the invitation Ιο play 12 ~xf7+, which leads Ιο a variation which ίη 1987 was thoroughly investigated ίη the Karpov-Kasparov World Championship Match ίη Seville. The theoretical battle ίη that match showed some advantage for White overall, and it would be interesting to know what Kasparov had prepared for this game. But Yusupov chose a different path.

12 cd 13 cd ~e6

14 :cl Α well-known and ίη recent years fashionable variation.

14 .txa2 15 9ι4 .te6 16 d5 .td7 17 9Μ e6 18 :fdl

Ιη Game 1 (Wi1der-Kudrin) White played 18 ltJc3.

68 Β

18 ed 19 ed :e8 20 .tf2 (68)

Demolition 81

Α critical position. White has deveIoped his pieces successfuIly and is ready Ιο proceed Ιο active operations ίη the centre and οη the queenside. But BIack decided to seize the initiative, disregarding the weakening of his position.

20 21 lDd4 22 lDc6!?

b5!? lDc4

Here White couId have won back the pawn with 22 .txc4, but then he wouId have lost any chances of gaining an advantage.

22 .txc6 23 dc (69)

69 Β

23 lDb2! This makes the game even sharper.

24 .txb5 lDxd1 25 c7 'it'd5!?

Yet another bold move. The vaήatίοη 25 ... 'it'c8 26 .txe8 lDc3 27 .: xc3 .txc3 28 .txf7 + 'itxf7 29 'it'xc3 did ηοΙ suit Black, since the insecure position of his king would have caused him problems.

26 .txe8 lDxf2 27 c8('it') ':xc8 28 ':xc8 (70)

It would seem that White has achieved everything he wanted, but Black has a surprise ίη store for him.

28 lDh3+! This knight really deserves a medal. Having covered virtually

the whole board, eliminating White's rook and bishop οη the way, ίι finally sacrifices itself at the most critical moment. White has Ιο

82 Demo/ition

70 Β

take ίι, ίη view of the follbwing beautiful variation: 29 Φf1 'ifd3+ 30 ΦeΙ 'ife3+ 31 ΦdΙ lί:If2+ 32 Φc2 'ifd3+ 33 ΦcΙ 'ifdl mate.

29 gh 'ifdl+ 30 Φg2 'ife2+ 32 φιι Draw agreed

The white king is unable to shield itself from perpetual check.

Game Νο. 24 Rashkovsky-Anikaev

Sochi 1974 Ι d4 lί:IΙ6

2 c4 g6 3 lί:Ic3 dS 4 cd lί:IxdS

5 e4 lί:Ixc3

6 bc cS 7 .*.c4 .*.g7 8 lί:Ie2 lί:Ic6

9 .ie3 ο-ο 10 ο-ο flc7 11 :cl :d8 12 fld2

This continuation, introduced into practice by Vaganian, has become rather popular. White prepares Ιο exert piece pressure οη the kingside, while at the same time taking care Ιο stabilise his centre. With this plan White does not weaken the position of his king, and so Black is deΡήved of counterplay οη that side of the board. Now Black's thoughts will involve play ίη the centre and

Demolition 83

οη the queenside, although of course he will first wish to counter White's plans οη the other front.

12 'iWaS The most usual reply. Black intends, after playing ... 00, Ιο

bring about an exchange of queens and so insure himself against various unpleasant threats οη the kingside, which would be possible with queens οη the board.

Other continuations do ηοΙ promise Black anything better. E.g. 12 '" a6 13 j,h6 .i.h8 14 a4 .!LIa5 15 j,a2! j,d7 16 .!LIf4 e6 17 e5 (Rashkovsky-Kupreichik, Moscow 1974), or 12 ... ~e5 13 j,b3 ~g4 14 j,f4 e5 15 j,g3 j,h6 16 j,xe5 'iWxe5 17 'iWxh6 'iWxe4 18 j,xf7+! with a decisive attack for White (Muratov­Kremenetsky, Moscow Ch. 1974).

13 'iWb2 White declines Ιο exchange queens and shifts the battle Ιο the

queenside. Αη alternative is the most popular continuation - 13 J:ιfdl - ίη which White continues Ιο concentrate his forces ίη the centre but does not give up the possibίlity of active play οη the kingside.

13 b6 Black would be ίη trouble after 13 ... 'iWb6? because of 14 'iWa3!

14 dc White would achieve nothing after 14 j,d5 j,b7 15 J:l.fdl e6

16 j,b3 cd 17 cd J:l.ac8, or 14 j,b5 .i.d7 15 dc bc 16 .txc5 .!LIe5 17 .txd7 J:I. xd7 18 j,b4 'iWc7! And ίη the event of the active continuation 14 f4 Black has the better chances after 14 ... j,a6 15 'iWb3 j,xc4 16 'iWxc4 'iWa3! 17 dc .!LIa5 (Muratov-Balashov, Moscow Ch. 1974).

71 W

14 bc (71)

84 Demolition

Stronger is 14 ... /ί}e5! 15 .*.d5 :xd5 16 ed /ί}d3 17 .. b3 /ί}χcΙ 18 :xcl bc 19 d6 ed 20 .. d5 :b8 21 "xd6 :b2! and Black takes the initiative (Podtserov-Vitolins, USSR 1976).

15 .. b5! .*.d7 16 "xc5 "c7

Better, perhaps, was 16 ... "xc5 17 .*.xc5 :ac8. 17 :fdl e6 18 .*.Ι4 .*.e5 19 .*.xe5 "xe5 20 "e3!

It now becomes clear that Black has ηο compensation for the loss of the pawn.

20 "c7 21 /ί}d4 /ί}a5

22 .*.b3 /ί}b7 23 /ί}Ι3 /ί}c5

24 .. h6! Having successfulIy regrouped his pieces, White chooses a

tactical continuation to capitalise οη his advantage. 24 /ί}Χe4

25 : d4! .*.c6 26 :c4

The threat is 27 .*.a4 or 27 /ί}d4; if 26 ..... b7 then 27 /ί}e5 is unpleasant.

72 W

27 :xe4! 28 /ί}ι5 29 /ί}Χh7

30 ιt:Ip

.. b6 (72)

.*.xe4

.. b7 "e7 .. b7 (73)

73 W

Demolition 85

It iS interesting to observe how White has, lίterally within a few moves, totally destroyed Black's kingside.

31 lί:JxOO! Black resigned.

Game Νο. 25 Ν aumkin-Vakhidov

USSR 1987 1 d4 lί:Jf6

2 ε4 g6 3 lί:Jε) d5 4 cd lί:Jxd5 5 e4 lί:Jxε3

6 bc ;'g7 7 ;'c4 c5 8 lί:Je2 lί:Jc6

9 ;'e3 ο-ο 10 ο-ο 'WIc7 11 %ΣεΙ %Σd8

12 ;.f4 The idea behind this move is that Black's queen is oblίged to

move aside, since after 12 ... e5 White would reply 13 ~g5 and then 14 d5, with an advantage.

12 'WId7 13 d5

White gets ηο advantage after 13 dc .e8 14 ;.dS ;'d7. But an alternative worth considering is 13 ;'b5; after 13 ... a6 14 ;'xc6 .xc6 15 d5 .e8 16 c4 White has more space. Game 29 (Petran-Pinter) developed roughly along these lίnes (after 13 'WIb3 'WIe8, and only then 14 ~b5).

86 Demolition

13 ~a5 14 .i.d3 b5 (74)

The nature of the game would be rather different ίη the event of 14 ... e5 15 .i.e3 c4 16 .tc2 'IIe7 17 1Μ2, with a complicated position. More rarely seen is 14 ... b6 (see Game 43: Vyzhmanavin­Nikolenko).

74 W

15 .i.g5 White gets ηο advantage after 15 :bl a6 16 1fcl e5 17 .i.g5

f6 18 .i.e3 c4 19 .i.c2 lLIb7 (Hort-Adorjan, Wijk aan Zee 1972). 15 {6

16.i.e3 e6 17 lLIf4 ed 18 ed .i.b7 19 :c2!?

At first sight a rather strange move, associated with the transfer of the rook to d2. Of course, White cannot play 19 .i.xc5 because of 19 ... .i.h6! 20 .i.e3 .i.xf4 21 .i.xf4 1It'xd5, winning a piece. The most 10gίca1 move, 19 : bl, would lead to a good game for Black after 19 ... a6 20 c4!? lLIxc4 21 .i.xc4 bc. White would gain nothing by playing 19 .i.e4?! ίη view of 19 ... :ac8!, when ίη' reply to 20 lLIe6? Black can play 20 ... "xe6! 21 de :xdl 22 :fxdl .i.xe4 23 .i.xc5 lLIc6 (but not 23 ... :xc5 24 :d8+ and 25 e7).

19 .l:tac8 It would not be good for Black to play 19 ... g5?, because of

20 .h5! gf 21 .i.xh7+ ~f8 22 ..txc5+; also bad was 19 ... .i.xd5 20 :d2!

Demolition 87

20 .ι:d2 fS 21 'ilt'c2 .te5 22 .ι:fdl 'ilt'd6

The pawn οη d5 cannot be taken: if 22 ... .txf4 23 .i.xf4 .txd5 then 24 .tg5 is unpleasant, and ίη the event of 23 ... 'ilt'xd5 White wins with 24 .tfl!

23.!iJe6 f4?! (75) This abrupt attempt to make the game still sharper comes υρ

against an interesting refutation.

75 W

24 .txc5 .: xc5 25 .*.xg6!! .:d7?

More stubborn was 25 ... 'ilt'd7, although even ίη this case White would maintain a big advantage after 26 .!iJxd8 'ilt'xd8 27 d6 'ilt'g5 28 .te4. Totally bad for Black would be 25 .,. hg 26 'ilt'xg6+ Φh8 27 .ι:d3.

26 .!iJxc5 'ii'xc5 27 'ii'f5 'ii'd6 28 .*.e8 ':e7 29 .*.xb5 .*.xc3 30 ':e2

White's lead ίη material is not great, but the awkward positions of Black's pieces - ίη particular, the insecure position of his king -gίve White quite a straightforward opportunity Ιο turn his advantage into a win.

30 31 ..t.xe2

':xe2 ..t.e5 (76)

88 Demolition

76 W

32 J.d3! .xdS 33 34 35 36 37 38

.xb7+ Φf8

.b6+ Φe7

.g5+ J.f6 .l:tel+ φd7

J.f5+ Φc7

.xf4+ Black resigned

Game Νο. 26 Vera-Vilela

Mαtαnzαs 1989 1 d4 /ί:If6

2 c4 g6 3 /ί:Ic3 dS 4 cd /ί:Ixd5 5 e4 /ί:Ixc3 6 bcJ.g7 7 J.c4 cS 8 /ί:Ie2 /ί:ιΟΟ

9 J.e3 ο-ο 10 .l:tcl!?

The normal and natural move is 10 ο-ο. Sometimes 10 .I:t bl is played, when Black can equalise most simply with 10 ... /ί:Ia5 11 J.d3 cd 12 cd b6 13 ο-ο e6 14 .a4 J.b7 15 .l:tfdl .l:tc8 (Korchnoi­Kasparov, Reykjavik 1988).

10 11 cd 12 ΦΠ

cd .a5+ .l:td8!? (77)

Demolition 89

Α move which had ηοι been played previously. Usually 12 ... .i.d7 13 h4 leads Ιο tense positions. E.g. 13 ... :. ac8 14 h5 e5 15 hg hg 16 d5; or 13 ... h5 14 iίJf4 φh7 15 .ί.e2 :'ac8 16 g4 e5 17 iίJh3 ed 18 .ί.d2 "xa2 (Balogh-Honfi, Hungary 1966); also interesting is 13 ... :'fc8 14 h5 ~d8 15 hg hg 16 .i.d2 "a4 17 .i.b3 "a6 (Nogueiras-Ljubojevic, Barcelona 1989).

77 W

13 h4 h6 Stronger, evidently, is 13 ... h5.

14 .. b3 e6 15 e5!?

White gains nothing from 15 d5 iίJe5 16 de iίJxc4 17 ef+ ΦΧf7 18 'ifxc4+ .i.e6 19 'ifc7+ 'ifxc720 :'xc7+ Φg8.

15 'ifb4 16 'ifc2 .i.d7

After 16 ... iίJa5 17 .i.d3 .i.d7 18 :'bl! "a3 19 'ifd2 White would succeed ίη creating unpleasant threats οη the kingside.

78 W

17 h5 g5 18 'ife4 iίJe7

19 .i.d3 iίJf5 (78)

90 Demolition

20 .i.xg5! bg 21 h6 .tr8?

From severa1 possible moves Black chooses by πο means the best. Also weak was 21 ... .i.c6, because of 22 .Ω.χc6 bc 23 hg Φχg7 24 g4; but a better option was the simple 21 ... IΩxh6, when after 22 .Ω.χh6 -*.xh6 23 .h7+ Φf8 24 1IIxh6+ Φe8 2S 1IIxg5 1IIe7 Black has sufficient defensive resources. Also interesting was 21 ... 1IId2!? 22 hg .i.c6 23 .g4 (if 23 .Ω.χc6 then 23 ... 1IIdl mate) 23 ... .Ω.χd424 1IIhS Φχg7 25 1IIh7+ Φf8 26 1IIh8+ Φe7 27 1IIf6+ Φd7 28 1IIf7 + lΩe7 with aπ unclear position.

22 g4 :ac8 23 ':xc8 .Ω.χc8

24 gf ef Ιπ the event of 24 ... .i.c6 White would have concluded his

mating attack: 25 1IIg4 .i.xhl 26 1IIxg5+ Φh8 27 1IIf6+ Φg8 28 h7+.

25 1IIe3 If 2S ... 1IIe7 then 26 .Ω.h5.

.i.e7 (79)

79 W

26 e6! -*.c6 Νο better was 26 ... fe, because of 27 1IIe5 Φf7 28 1IIg7+ Φe8

29 h7. {6 Black resigned

GameNo.27 Khalifman-Lau Rotterdαm 1988

1 d4 ~f6

2 c4 ι6

Demolition 91

3 ltιc3 d5 4 ltιΙ3 J.g7 5 cd ltιxd5 6 e4 ltιxc3

7 bc c5 8 :bl 0-0 9 J.e2 b6

10 ο-ο J.b7 11 1Wd3 J.a6 12 1We3 1Wc8

Salov-1. Sokolov, Haifa 1989, continued: 12 ... cd 13 cd 1Ird7 14 d5 (worth cοnsίdeήng is 14 ..ta3!? :e8 15 :fcl J.xe2 16 1Wxe2 1Wa4 17 1Wd3 ltιc6 18 d5 ltιe5 19 ltιxe5 ..txe5 20 g3! :ad8 21 :b4 'ifa5 22 :bc4 f5?! 23 1Wb3! ..td6 24 J.b2 fe 25 :xe4 with serious tactical threats: Nesis-Soltau, 10th corr. 01. 1988/91) 14 ... ..txe2 15 1Wxe2 1Wa4 16 ..tg5 :e8 17 :fcl with a marked advantage Ιο White.

80 W

13 dS! 14 'iνxe2

J.xe2 J.xc3? (80)

Theory recommends 14 ... c4, which, however, is hardly sufficient Ιο equalise. But with the move played Black vοluntaήlΥ shuts his bishop ουΙ οί the game. Απ extra pawn is very little compensation for this.

15 e5 1Irf5 16 :b3 J.aS

Of course, 16 ... J.d4 was better. How pecu1iar that Black should tum his celebrated 'Indian' bishop ίηιο a big pawn!

17 lLIh4 1Ird7 (81)

92 Demolition

81 W

18 ..,h6 '-xd5 Capitulation, but after 18 ... :d8 19 e6 '-xd5 20 ef+ '-xf7 21

:f3, or 19 ... .-d6 20 ef+ Φχf7 21 J:ιf3+ Φg8 22 '-b2, it is time for Black to resign.

19 "'xf8 20 :d3 21 :d8+

82 W

22 ~f5+!

ιlί>xf8 .-b7 Φι7 (82)

The most forceful method - White destroys the black king's pawn cover.

22 gf 23.-e3 '-c6 24 '-g5+ '-16 26 .xe7 Black resigned

There is ηο satisfactory defence against 26 .f8 mate.

Game Νο. 28 Lengyel-Gipslis

Tαllinn 1975 1 ιtJΙ3 ιtJΙ6

2 c4 g6 3 g3 ~g7 4 ~g2 ο-ο

5 0-0 d5 6 d4

Demolition 93

White sets Black greater problems by first playing 6 cd (see Game 18: Furman-Jansa).

6 dc 7 ιtJa3 c3

Black also gets quite a good game after 7 ... ιtJc6. 8 bc c5 9 ιtJc4

More accurate is 9 ιtJe5, preventing the black knight from coming ιο c6.

9 ιtJOO

10 ~b2 ~oo

11 ιtJfe5 ιtJxe5

Worthy of consideration was 11 ... ~d5!, immediately occupy-ing the light squares.

12 13 14

15

ιtJxe5

~xd5 c4

d5?

~d5 Vxd5 vd6 (83)

Such activity is ηοι justified. It would have been more prudent ιο play 15 e3. Βυι now Black easily takes control of the central files.

83 W

94 Demolition

15 16 de 17 1IVc2 18 Φg2

19 .J:I.fe1 20 f3?

e6! 'Ixe6 Afe8! Ae7 Aae8

Αη unjustified weakening of the kingside. 20 ~h5!

The tempting 20 ... llId7 would have led to an equal position after 21 t'Δxd7! 1IVxe2+ 22 "xe2 .J:I.xe2+ 23 Φf1! .J:I.xe1+ 24 .J:I.xe1 .J:I.xe1+ 25 ΦχeΙ -*.xb2 26 llIxc5.

21 f4' The only move, since 21ll1d3 10ses to 21 ... 1IVxe2+.

21 f6 22 llId3 .. c6+?

Stronger was 22 ... 1IVg4 23 Φf2 (if 23 llIf2 then 23 ... .J:I.xe2) 23 ... 1IVh3 when White's position would be difficult.

84 W

23 Φf2 ne3 24 .tc1 %Σ 3e4 25 e3 1IVe6 (84)

26 llIe5! White makes use of the tactical idea of interference ίη order to

transfer his knight ιο the kingside. He could not play 26 llIb2 because of 26 ..... h3 27 ΦgΙ llIxg3 28 hg 1IVxg3+ 29 φf1

.J:I.xf4+! 26 'iff5

With the extremely unpleasant threat of 27 ... .J:I.xf4+.

Demolition 95

27 ι!L!f3 g5 28 'it'b3 'it'h3 29 J:ιKl g4

Chasing away the main defender. Now οη 30 ι!L!h4 there would follow 30 ... ~xf4 31 gf 'it'xh4+ (or 31 ef J:ιe2 mate).

30 ι!L!el f5 Finally the dark-squared bishop is also brought into the attack.

31 J:ιbl .td4! If White takes the bishop it is mate ίη one.

32 ι!L!c2 (85)

85 Β

32 ι!L!xf4!

33 gf And, not waiting for his opponent's reply,

White resigned There could have followed: 33 ... 'it'xh2+ 34 Φf1 J:ιxf4+ 35 ef

'iνf2 mate.

6 Opening and Clearing Lines

Situations frequently arise during a game when it is essential to open a file, a rank, ΟΓ a diagonal. But this procedure may be hindered either by enemy pieces (or pawns) ΟΓ one's own. Ιη such cases the attacker should 'make every effort to clear the lines ίη question, and he should not hesitate to make sacrifices ίη the process (86):

86 W

Radevich-Donskikh USSR 1972

White has two bishops, but his position looks alarming becau~e of the passive positions of his light-squared bishop and rook. H~ would lose after 1 .*.c2, because of 1 ... :a2 2 :cl (or 2 .*.dl :d2) 2 ... lLJe2. The only chance to save the game consists ίη opening a diagonal ίη order to make use of the power of the two bishops:

1 .*.xe4! :xn 2 .*.f5!! and a draw was agreed, since after the rook moves away from f1 White will give perpetual check οη the squares e6 and f5.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12

Opening and Clearing Lines 97

GameNO.29 Petr8n-Pinter Budapest 1972

d4 lΔΙ6

c4 g6 lΔc3 d5 cd lΔxd5

e4 lΔxc3

bc c5 ~c4 ~g7

lΔe2 lΔc6

~e3 0-0 ο-ο 'fIc7 .l:l.cl .l:l.d8 ~Ι4

Just one ofthe numerous continuations adopted ίη this position (others include 'fId2, 'fIel, f4, h3 and 'fIa4). The idea is that Black's queen is now forced to move, since after 12 ... e5 White would play 13 ~g5 and 14 d5.

12 'fId7 13 'fIb3

Here too, White has quite a number of possibilities. Worthy of consideration is 13 d5 lΔa5 14 ~d3 e5 15 ~e3. Another move frequently played is 13 dc, although ίη this case Black generally equalίses easily or even obtains a better position. E.g. 13 ... 'fIe8 14 ~d5 ~d7 15 -.d2 e6 16 ~b3 lΔe5! 17 ~xe5 ~xe5 18 f4 ~b5 19 'fIe3 .tg7 20 .l:l.fdl 'fIc6!

With his move ίη the game (exploiting the weakness of the f7-square) White tries to strengthen his position ίη the centre and obtain a spatial advantage, which must make Black's defence more difficult.

13 'fIe8 (87) Also ίη this position 13 ... e5 is bad, becuase of 14 ~g5! Οη

the other hand, the simple 13 ... .l:l.f8 is possible. 14 ~b5! 86?

Better was 14 ... ~d7, and also worthy of consideration was 14 ... cd 15 cd ~xd4. Ιη the complications arising after 16 ~c7 ~e6! (16 ... .l:l.d7? 17 1:txc6! bc 18 ~xc6) 17 'fIa4 ~b2! 18 .l:l.c2 (18 .l:l.xc6 bc 19 ~xc6 .td7!) 18 ... .l:l.dc8 19 ~g3 ~g7 Black has sufficient defensive resources.

98 Opening and Clearing Lines

87 W

15 ixc6 Ί'χc6

16 d5 Ί'b5 17 c4! Ί'χb3

18 ab .td7 19 ι!L!c3

Black's theoretical advantage of the two bishops is not relevant ίη this particular situation. After 19 ... b5 White would play 20 e5 and Black's dark-squared bishop would be shut out of the game.

19 ixc3 20 ':xc3 aS 21 ih6 .:dc8 22 Ι4

There are ηο queens οη the board and few pieces remain. Nevertheless, White launches a pawn-storm.

88 W

22 a4 23 ba ':xa4 24 fS bS? (88)

Opening αΜ Cleαring Lines 99

Black does ηοΙ sense the danger. More accurate was 24 ... f6, although here Ιοο 25 e5 fe (ηοΙ 25 ... .i.xf5 because οΙ 26 JΣ xf5! gf 27 .l:tg3+ φh8 28 d6 ed 29 ef) 26 Ι6 ef 27 JΣxf6 would be rather unpleasant.

25 e5! The pawn οη Ι5 cannot be taken; οη 25 ... ..t.xf5 there could

follow: 26 JΣxΙ5 gf 27 .l:tg3+ φh8 28 d6! ed 29 ed JΣal + 30 φf2 .J:I.dl 31 Ag7+ φg8 32 ..t.d4+ ~Ι8 33 d7 JΣd8 34 ..t.xc5+.

25 .l:txc4 26 .l:txc4 bc 27 e6 ..t.e8

Νοι 27 ... ..t.b5 or 27 ... ..t.a4, because οΙ 28 fg fg 29 JΣΙ7 JΣe8 30 ..t.g7 and 31 ..t.c3.

28 Ιδ! JΣc7

Better was 28 ... ef 29 JΣxΙ6 c3 30 e7 JΣc7. 29 JΣal! fe (89)

89 W

30 f7+!! Black resigned Black would now be forced either Ιο 'open υρ' the back rank

or Ιο venture οηΙο the open f-file with his king. Ιη either case, mate would be inevitable.

1 2 3 4

Game Νο. 30 Vaiser-Pein

Budαpest 1989 d4 lLJfδ

c4 ιδ lLJc3 d5 cd lLJxd5

100 Opening αnd Cleαring Lines

5 e4 6 bc 7 ~Ι3 8 :bl 9 .te2

10 cd 11 .td2 12 ο-ο

~xc3

.tg7 c5 ο-ο

cd 'iνa5+

'iνxa2

b6 Here we should also note such continuations as 12 .. , ~d7

(Game 15: Khalifman-Gavrikov) and 12 ... 'iνe6 (Game 44: Komarov-Karasev).

90 W

13 'iνcl 'iνe6 (90)

14 .tc4! 'iνxe4

If 14 ... 'iνd7 then 15 ~e5 is unpleasant: Black cannot play 15 ... 'iνxd4 because of 16 ~xf7.

15 .l:tel 'iνb7

16.tb4 .te6 After 16 ... ~c6 there would follow 17 .td5 .td7 18 .l:txe7.

17 .l:txe6! fe 18 ~g5 ~c6

More stubborn was 18 ... Φh8 19 'iνe3 ~c6. But then White would have the very effective 20 ~xh7!, initiating interesti~g tactics: 20 ... 'iPxh7 (but not 20 ... ~xd4 because of 21 ~g5) 21 'iνh3+ .i.h6 22 .i.d2 g5 23 .txg5 1:tf6 24 .td3+ 'iPg7 25 .txf6+ ef 26 'iνxe6 "iWc8! 27 'iνd5! ~e7 28 "e4 'iPf8 29 .l:tel 'iνe8 30 .tb5 'iνd8 31 "iWe6 .tg7 32 .tc4 1i'e8 33 h4 with the idea of advancing the h-pawn still further (Pein-Michaelsen, Ramat Hasharon 1988).

19 lbxe6 'ith8 20 -*.c3 .i.f6 21 'iνh6 .l:tg8 (91)

91 W

22 :el!

Opening and Cleαring Lines 101

White brings yet another piece into the attack: the threat is 23 1:ιe3 and 24 1t'xh7+.

22 :g7 It would not have helped to play 22 ... b5, because of 23 :e3

:g7 24 :h3 :ag8 25 ~f4 when there is ηο defence against 26 0xg6+.

23 g4! It turns out that the bishop οη (6 is also rather uncomfortable.

23 ~a5

24 .td3 White avoids a trap: 24 .txa5 ba 25 g5 1t'b4!

24 1t'c6 25 .taI :(7 26 g5 .tg7 (92)

Played ίη the hope of 27 ~xg7 1t'f3, but with his last few moves White has been preparing for a decisive opening of diagonals.

92 W

102 Opening αnd C1eαring Lines

27 d5! 28 .txg7+ 29 .txg6

'l'xd5 Φχ8

Black resigned

Gaιne Νο. 31 Leven6sh-Smyslov

USSR Ch. 1949 1 d4 ιtιΙ6 2 c4 χ6

3 ~c3 d5 4 ιtιΙ3 .tg7 5 'l'b3 dc 6 'l'xc4 0-0 7 e4 ιtιfd7

Subsequently it was acknowledged that the most correct move order is first 7 ... .tg4 and οηlΥ then 8 ... ιtιfd7, since ίι is ηοι essential ίη all vaήatίοηs Ιο transfer the knight ιο b6.

8 .te3 ιtιb6 9 'l'b3 ιΩΟΟ

10 :dl Worthy of consideration is the immediate 10 d5, when after 10

... lDe5 11 lDxe5 .i.xe5 12 :dl it is not easy for Black to get an active game.

10 .tg4 Now the game has transposed Ιο the most popular continuation

ίη the Smyslov Vaήatίοη. 11 d5 lDe5 12 .t.e2 lDxf3+ 13 gf .th5 (93)

The best retreat for the bishop. If 13 ... .td7 then 14 h4, and after 13 ... .th3 White plays 14 .l:g1, with the following possible continuations: 14 ... 'l'd6 15 f4 c6 16 a4! .tc8 17 a5 lDd7 18 do 'l'xc6 19 lDd5! with a clear advantage to White (Szabo-KotoY, Moscow vs Budapest 1949), or 14 ... Ίt'c8 15 f4 .td7 16 f5 c6 17 d6 ed 18 :xd6 with a strong attack for White.

14 f4! Now White's strategίc plan is becoming clear. Having left his

king ίη the centre, he is begίnning a pawn-storm οη the kingside and ΡreΡaήηg Ιο transfer his major pieces across. AIso of interest is the continuation 14 .l:g1; after 14 ... 'l'd7 15 :g3 c6 16 dc

93 W

Opening αnd Cleαring Lines 103

1Iνxc6 17 ιt:\b5! ιt:\c8 18 :d5 White's advantage takes οη very real proportions (Portisch-Gheorghiu, Manila 1974).

The continuation 14 h411νd7 15 a4 is associated with the sacrifice of a pawn. As Levenfish pointed out, after 15 .,. ixc3+ 16 1Iνxc3 ιt:\xa4 17 1Iνd4 f6 18 f4 ixe2 19 Φχe2 ιt:\b6 20 h5! the position is double-edged, wίth chances for both sides.

14 a4 was dealt with ίη Game 2 (Ehlvest-Ernst). 14 ixe2 15 ιt:\xe2 1Iνc8

Worth considering was a pawn-sacrίfice: 15 ... c6!? 16 dc 1Iνc7 17 cb 1Iνxb7 18 ιt:\c3 1Iνa6!

16 :c1 This is a loss of time. Stronger was 16 f5 at once.

16 c6 17 Ι5! ιt:\d7?

Α passive reply. Black should have decided οη the double-edged 17 ... gf 18 id4 ixd4 19 ιt:\xd4 fe 20 dc bc, with chances of defending successfully.

18 :g1 With the unpleasant threat of 19 fg hg 20 J:Σxg6! fg 21 dc+ and

22 cb, when White wins mateήal. Therefore the black king moves off the dangerous diagonal.

18 φh8

19 fg hg Οη 19 ... fg White would play the manoeuvre tί)e2-f4-e6, with

οι deCΊsive advantage. 20 id4

White is ΡrίmaήΙΥ aiming to get rίd of the bishop οη g7 - the only piece guarding the enemy king.

104 Opening and Clearing Lines

20 ~Ι6

21 .l:tc3 ΒΥ sacrifiCΊng a pawn and then a rook, White buίlds υρ an

irresistible attack.

94 W

21 ~xe4 (94)

22 .l:txg6! Ιη this way White opens a diagonal.

22 fg 23 .l:th3+ ~ι8 24 dc+ e6 2S cb 1Ifc6 26 ba(1If) .l:txa8 27 J-xg7 ~xι7

28 1Ife3! As a result of a11 this, White has not οηlΥ regained his sacήficed

mateήaΙ but has won a pawn, and his dangerous attack continues. Black cannot reply 28 ... .l:th8, because of 29 1Ifd4+. 80 Black's reply is forced.

28 lbf6 29 lLJd4 1Ifhl+ 30 Φe2 1fdS 31 lLJxe6+ ~ι8 (95)

If 31 ... ~f7 then 32 lLJg5+ φg8 33 1Ifb3, resulting ίη a won ending. But now comes a spectacular finale!

32 .l:th8+! If the black king is enticed onto h8, it is mate ίη two (33 1Ifh6+).

95 W

Opening and Clearing Lines 105

32 ΦΙ7

33 Φι5+ Φg7 34 1:1. xa8 Black resigned

After 34 ... "iWxa8 there follows 35 "iWe7 + and 36 "iWxf6.

Game Νο. 32 Bartels-de Wit

Holland 1988/89 1 d4 ~Ι6

2 c4 ι6 3 ~c3 d5 4 .i.f4 .i.g7 5 e3 ο-ο 6 I:I.cl

Α move first played ίη the game Capablanca-Reshevsky, AVRO 1938.

6 c5 7 dc ~a6!?

After 7 ... dc? 8 "iWxd8 I:I.xd8 9 .i.xc4 Black loses a pawn; ίη Game 49: Pinter-Allen, Black played 7 ... 1i'a5!? Worthy of consideration is 7 ... -te6 8 ~f3 ~c6 9 .i.e2 ~e4.

8 cd ~xc5

9 -te5?! This move had not been played before; a more sound continu­

ation is eνidently 9 .i.c4 ~fe4 10 lLιge2 "iWb6 11 ο-ο. 9 .i.f5

Weaker is 9 ... 'iWb6 10 .1d4! 10 Ι3?

Such lack of attention to development cannot go unpunished.

106 Opening and Clearing Lines

10 Black is ready to open diagonals and files! Now 11 .i.d4 ηο 10nger has any effect, ίη view of 11 ... :fd8;

οη 12 e4 there follows 12 ... /l:jxd5! 13 /l:jxd5 :xd5 14 ed .i.xd4 when if White takes the bishop he 10ses his queen - 15 'irxd4 /l:jd3+. Νο better is 13 .i.xc5 .i.xc3+ 14 :xc3, ίη view of 14 ... /l:jxc3! 15 .i.xb6 JΣxd1+ 16 ciIf2 ab.

96 Β

11 e4 (96)

11 12 fe?

/l:jcxe4!

Stronger was 12 /l:jxe4 /l:jxe4 (if 12 ... .i.xe4 then 13 fe /l:jxe4 is bad for White, but he can save himself with 13 .i.d4!) 13 fe .i.xe5 14 ef and White retains defensive resources, a1though Black's attack is extremely powerful - e.g. 14 ... .i.d4 or 14 ... :ac8.

12 /l:jxe4 But not 12 ." /l:jg4 13 .i.g3.

13 /l:jxe4 .i.xeS White's small mateήaΙ advantage can ίη ηο way compensate

for his colossallack of development. 14 'ire2

White would lose at once after 14 .i.d3 'ire3+. 14 .i.xb2 IS :c4 (97) 15 16 lΔd2

17 lΔxc4

:ac8! :xc4

It would have been very bad Ιο play 17 'irxc4 JΣc8 18 'irb3 JΣcl+ 19 ciIe2 'ira6+ 20 cke3 JΣc3+ 21 'irxc3 'irb6+!

Opening and Clearing Lines 107

97 Β

17 ..tc3+ 18 lLId2

If 18 Φd1 then 18 ..... b1 mate. 18 :d8!

Α picturesque position. Black brings one more piece ίnΙο the attack and prepares Ιο inflict a decisive blow.

19 lLIf3 :xd5 20 "xe7 (98)

Black was threatening to advance his e-pawn.

98 Β

20 ..te6! Now the white queen is cut off behind enemy lines.

21 ..te2 1fe3 Whi te resigned

Loss of material is inevitable. E.g. 22 φf1 ..txd2 23 ..tc4 J:[ f5 24 ..txe6 :xf3+.

108 Opening and C/earing Lines

Game Νο. 33 Dreev-Epishin

Tallinn 1986 1 d4 l2Jf6 2 lί:If3 g6 3 c4 ~ι7 4 lί:Ic3 dS 5 .tf4 cS!?

This move was for many years considered premature, but it was rehabilίtated ίη the game Κ. Gήgοήaη-Tseshkovsky, USSR Ch. 1977.

6 dc .a5 7 cd l2Jxd5

After 7 ... lί:Ie4 White should play 8 .td2! (but not 8 '-a4+? '-xa4 9 lί:Ixa4, because of 9 ... .td7!) 8 .,. lί:Ixd2 9 '-xd2 '-xc5 10 J:tcl.

99 Β

8 '-xd5 ~xc3+ 9 .td2 (99)

Now the natural 9 ... .txd2+ 10 '-xd2 '-xc5 leads to a clear advantage for White after 11 J:tcl .-f5 12 l2Jd4! .-d7 13 .-h6 lί:Ic6 14 lί:Ixc6 bc 15 '-g7 (Timman-J. Littlewood, Hol1and vs England 1969), but Tseshkovsky's move from the game mentioned above significantly changed the assessment of this variation.

9 .te6! 10 '-xb7

Ιη the event of 10 ~xc3 '-xc3+ 11 .-d2 '-xc5 White cannot reckon οη an opening advantage.

10 .txd2+

Opening αnd Cleαring Lines 109

11 ιt)xd2 ο-ο!

Now not 12 'irxa8 because of 12 ... .l:Σd8 13 .l:Σdl .ί.d5.

12 e4 (100) Κ. Gήgοήan-ΤseshkοvskΥ continued: 12 b4 'ira4 13 e4 (13

lWxa8 lDc6!) 13 ... lDd7 14 'irb5 lWa3 15 c6 lDf6 16 .ί.e2 and now, according to analysis by Belyavsky, Black could have got a dangerous initiative by playing 16 ... 'irc3 17 .l:Σdl .l:Σfd8 18 f3 a5!

Ιη playing 12 e4 White has figuήng ίη the event of 12 ... lDd7 to continue 13 c6 lDb6 (or 13 ... lDf6 14 lWb5) 14 lWa6. But Black finds an excellent reply.

Ι()()

Β

12 lDc6!! It turns out that after 13 lWxc6 there would follow 13 ... .l:Σad8

14 .l:Σdl .l:Σxd2 15 .l:Σxd2 .l:Σd8. 13 lWa6 14 'irb5 IS lDc4 16 ,i,e2

lWxc5 lWd6 lWd4

The black knight can still not be captured. After 16 'irxc6 there could follow 16 ... 1:tac8 17 lWa6 .l:Σxc4 18 ,i,xc4 ,i,xc4 19 lWa3 1Wxe4+ 20 lWe3 lWxg2.

16 .l:Σfca Black does not hurry to regain his pawn. The point is that 16

... lWxe4 17 ιt)d2! would lead Ιο simplification. 17 ο-ο .l:Σab8

18 lWa4 1W"e4 The time has finally come for the pawn οη e4 to go.

19 1:tfel lDd4!

110 Opening αnd Cleαring Lines

Black declίnes to win two pieces for a rook by playing 19 ... :b4 20 .a6 :xc4 21 .i.xc4 .xc4 22 .xc4 .i.xc4, feelίng, not without reason, that he can extract more from this position.

101 W

20.i.n .f4!! (lOl)

Α picturesque position. After this quiet and very 'economical' move White is defenceless.

21 b3 :c5 22 .xa7 :h5 23 b3 (102)

And now comes the decisive blow.

102 Β

23 :xh3! Οη the immediate 24 gh there follows 24 ... ~f3+ 25 ~g2

.i.xh3+ 26 ~xh3 .h4+ 27 <kg2 .g4+ 28 ~hl .gl mate. 24 .xb8+ .xb8 25 gh ~Ι3+

26 <kg2 .i.d5 White resigned

Opening αnd Cleαring Lines 111

Game Νο. 34 Fang-Chiburdanidze

Philadelphia 1989 1 d4 ~Ι6

2 c4 g6 3 ~c3 dS 4 ~Ι3 j.g7 5 j.gS ~e4

6 cd ~xp

7 ~xι5 e6 Interesting here is Korchnoi's idea - 7 ... c6 (see Game 50:

Verat-Komljenovic). After 8 dc ο-ο 9 ~f3 (9 cb j.xb7 10 e3 is dangerous for White, because of 10 ... e5!) 9 ... ltIxc6 10 e3 .a5 a complicated position is reached ίη which Black has definite compensation for the pawn.

103 W

8 .d2 ed (103)

Αη interesting variation is 8 ... j.h6!? 9 f4 (it is difficult to assess the position after 9 h4 f6 10 de fg 11 d5) 9 ... ed 10 .e3+ Φf8 11 .e5! (White achieves nothing with 11 g3 c6 12 j.h3 j.xh3 13 ~xh3 ~d7 140-0-0 ltIb6 15 .f3 .e7: Smyslov-Gulko, Hastings 1988/89) 11 '" f6 12 ~e6+ (12 .xd5 .xd5 13 ~xd5 fg 14 ltIxc7 ~a6 15 ~xa8 gf leads to aπ unclear position) 12 ... -txe6 13 .xe6 c6 14 g3 .e7 15 .xe7+ Φχe7 16 e4! de 17 ~xe4 ~d7 18 j.g2 f5 19 ~c3 with advantage to White (Dieks-Olthof, Holland 1987).

9 .e3+ ΦΙ8 10 .14

112 Opening αnd Cleαring Lines

Bilek-Banas, Tmava 1989, cootinued: 10 lt!f3 c6 11 .. d2 "e7 12 e3 Le6 13 .i.e2 lt!d7 14 ο-ο f5 15 lt!el .i.f6 16 f4 φg7 17 lt!f3 with a draw; sharp play aήses after 10 h4!? c6 11 0-0-0 lt!d7 12 h5 h6 13 lt!f3 g5 14 g3 b5 15 lΔe5 lt!xe5 16 de (Stempin­Thorsteins, Polanica Zdroj 1987).

10 .i.f6 AIso possible is 10 .. , .. f6 11 'iFxf6 .i.xf6 12 lt!f3 (but not 12

lt!xd5? .i.xg5 13 lt!xc7 lt!c6! 14 lt!xa8 lt!xd4 15 φdΙ ~g7! with a very strong attack for Black) 12 ... .i.e6 13 :ι.cΙ c6 14 e3 lt!d7 15 .i.e2 φg7 16 ο-ο with a small advantage to White.

104 W

11 h4 Φι7?! (104)

It seems odd, but this move is encountered quite often, despite the fact that other moves give Black a sound positioo. E.g. 11 ... c6 12 0-0-0 h6 13 lt!f3 .i.e6 14 e4 lt!bd7, or 11 ... h6 12 lt!f3 (White gains nothing from 12 lt!xd5, because of 12 ... .i.xg5 13 "e5 :ι.h7 14 hg lt!c6 15 "e4 .i.f5 16 .. f3 lt!xd4 17 .. a3+ φg7!) 12 .. , ~g7.

12 e4! de It would oot be good to play 12 ... h6, ίο view of 13 lt!xf7!

~xf7 14 e5. 13 .i.c4!?

Beginning with the game Dunhaupt-Post, corr. 1967, White has achieved a number of vίctοήes with the move 13 0-0-0. E.g. 13 ... h6 14 lt!gxe4 .i.e6 15 d5 .i.f5 16 lt!xf6 1Ifxf6 17 g4 (Game 13: Lputyan-D. Roos). But Black can play 13 ... "d6!, and after 14 "xd6 cd 15 lt!gxe4 lt!c6 (Hort-Miles, Mootilla Μοήles 1978) it is oot easy for White to demonstrate any advantage.

13 :fS

Opening αnd CΙeαring Lines 113

Taking the pawn with 13 ... "tWxd4 leads Ιο an ίηfeήοr ending: 14 h5! h6 15 "tWxc7 ~d7 16 :dl ':'c8 17 'ifxc8 1fxdl+ 18 lί:Ixdl .txc8 19 lί:Ixf7 gh 20 lί:Id6 (Murshed-Conquest, Blackpool 1988).

14 0-0-0 lί:Id7

15 lί:Icxe4 h6 (105) Better was 15 ... c6, although here too Black's position is ηοΙ

easyafter 16 g4.

105 W

16 g4! It turns ουΙ that White's knight οη g5 cannot be taken: 16 ...

hg 17 hg .te7 18 ':'h2, followed by doubling rooks οη the h-file. 16 lί:IM 17 lί:Ixί7 lί:Ixc4

18 lί:Ixd8 ~ι5 19 lί:Ixι5 Black resigned

After 19 ... ':'xf4 20 lί:Ige6+ Black loses a rook.

Game Νο. 25 Douven-Ghinda Η amburg 1984

1 d4 lί:IΙ6

2 lί:Iί3 g6 3 c4 ~ι7 4 lί:Ic3 d5 5 ~g5 lί:Ie4

6 ~M Α move which does ηοΙ allow White Ιο reckon οη an opening

advantage.

114 Opening and Clearing Lines

6 .!ί:Ixc3

The usual continuation. AIso possible is the immedίate 6 ... c5 7 cd .!ί:Ixc3 8 bc 1Wxd5 9 e3 cd 10 cd .!ί:Ic6 11 -*.e2 ο-ο 12 ο-ο e5 13 de 1Wa5 with a good game for Black (Ftacnik-Adorjan, Sochi 1977).

7 bc dc 8 e3 bS!? 9 84 c6

10 -*.e2 Black gets a better position after 10 ab cb 11 .!ί:Ie5 -*.b7 12 1Wbl

1Wb6 13 1Wb4 Ι6 14 .l:l.a5 .!ί:Ic6 15 .!ί:Ixc6 -*.xc6 16 d5 -*.xd5 17 .l:l.xb5 a5! (Pytel-Smejkal, Dortmund 1977).

106 W

10 86 11 .!ί:Id2 ο-ο

12 -*.r3 .1:1.87 13 ο-ο h6 (106)

14 1Wcl Worthy οί consideration was 14 .!ί:Ie4, with a possible 14 ...

.!ί:Id7 15 ab cb 16 .!ί:Id6 g5 17 .!ί:Ixb5 ab 18 .l:l.xa7 gh 19 1Wal b420 1Wa4 bc 21 1Wxc4 1Wb6 22 .l:l.a3 e5 23 .l:l.fal ed and approximate equality (analysis by Gu1l.<:o and Ghinda).

14 f5 15 .l:l.dl .l:l.d7?

The natural 15 ... -*.e6!, followed by 16 ... -*.d5, looks good. 16 -*.g3 -*.b7 17 1Wb2?

Stronger was simply 17 ab! ab (not 17 ... cb, because οί 18 -*.xb7 IΣxb7 19 -*.xb8 1Wxb8 20 .l:l.xa6) 18 1Wa3 and now after the thematic

Opening αnd Clearing Lines 115

18 ... e5 there follows 19 J.xe5 .ixe5 20·de :xd2 21 :xd2 ... xd2 22 :dl 1Wc223 'ifb6! when it is not clear how Black can defend.

17 1Wc8 18 Wb4 (107)

It looked better to play 18 h4.

107 Β

18 c5! 19 Wbl

Οη 19 dc there would follow 19 ... J.xf3 20 lΔxf3 lΔc621 'ifa3 b4.

19 cd 20 cd J.xf3 21 lΔxf3 :b7 22 ab ab 23 'ifb4 φh7

24 :dcl lΔOO

25 'ifcS (108) White overlooks his opponent's elegant tactical tήck, involving

the opening of one more diagonal.

108 Β

116 Opening αΜ Clearing Lines

25 lbxd4! 26 ed "'xcS 27 dc .i.xal

Now οπ 28 :xal Black plays 28 ... f4, and so, having played 28 c6, White resigned, ηοΙ waiting for his opponent's reply.

Game Νο. 36 Miles-Korchnoi Brussels 1986

Ι d4 lbf6 2 c4 g6 3 lbc3 d5 4 lbf3 .i.g7 5 e3 ο-ο

6 b4 Αη idea introduced ίηΙο practice by Makogonov ίη 1951. With

this move White not only aims to prevent the pawn thrust ... c5 but also prepares an offensive οπ the queenside. But advancing a flank pawn at such an early stage - with development still incomplete - allows Black Ιο create active counterplay.

6 b6! This is considered the strongest continuation, but also qώte

good is 6 ... ιtJe4, which allows Black Ιο equalίse without difficulty: 7 .i.b2 c6 8 .i.e2 ιtJxc3 9 .i.xc3 .i.g4 10 ... b3 dc 11 "'xc4 ιtJbd7.

7 .i.b2 Other continuations also do ηοΙ cause Black any trouble. E.g.

7 .i.a3 c5 8 bc bc 9 .i.xc5 ιtJa6 10 .i.a3 1I'a5 11 .i.b2 :b8 and Black gets a strong attack for the sacrificed pawn; or 7 ... b3 c5 8 cd cb 9 "'xb4 ιtJxd5 10 ιtJxd5 "'xd5 11 "'xe7 ιtJc6 12 ... g5 .i.f5 with a menacing initiative for Black.

7 cS 8 bc bc 9 dc?

Α move with a dubious reputation; the best continuation is 9 :cl!, when 9 ... cd 10 lt!xd4 .i.b7 11 1I'b3 ιtJc6 12 "'xb7 ιtJxd4 leads ιο equality. White gains nothing from 9 ιtJxd5 lbxd5 10 cd "'xd5 11 .i.e2 lbc6 12 ο-ο (Kholmov-Savon, USSR Ch. 1966/67), ίη view ο! the strong reply 12 ., . .: b8!

9 ιtJa6

Opening and Cleαring Lines 117

AIso quite good for Black is 9 ... lί:Ie4, or 9 ...• a5 10 cd lilxd5 11 .lΣc1 lbxc3 12 .. d2 .:d8 13 ιϊ:Id4 "xa2.

10 c6 (109) Bad was 10 lί:Ixd5? ιϊ:Ixd5 11 -*.xg7, because of 11 ... lί:Ixe3! 12

fe .. a5+!

109 Β

10 lί:Ie4 11 lί:Id4

White has greater difficulties after 11 .lΣc1 .ΙΣ b8 12 -*.a1 lί:Ixc3

13 .t.xc3 .t.xc3+ 14 .lΣxc3 "a5. 11 .lΣb8

12 "cl "a5 13 Ι3 lί:Iac5 14 lί:Ib3

White atternpts to exchange rninor pieces ίη order at least to reduce the pressure. The tempting 14 φf2 (avoiding 14 ... lί:Ia4) would not help, because of 14 ... lί:IM 15 .. d2 lί:Ibd3+ 16 .t.xd3 1:1xb2!

14 15 φf2

16 ab 17 1:1a2

.. b4 lί:Ixb3

"xb3

Α rnove like this is only played through necessity. 17 d4!

Α decisive opening of diagonals. 18 ed .t.xd4+ 19 φg3 (J 10)

Ιη the event of 19 Φe1 then 19 ... lί:IM is decisive.

118 Opening αnd Cleαring Lines

110 Β

19 .i.e5+! It turns out that after 20 Ι4 the ρίη 00 the third rank is decisive:

20 ... .i.xc3 21 "xc3 "xc3 22 .i.xc3 J:tb3 23 J:tc2 1Db4 24 J:tcl lDa2; ηο better was 20 ΦΙ2, because of 20 ... "xa2! 21 lDxa2 J:txb2+ 22 .i.e2 .i.d4+ 23 φf1 J:txa2.

20 Φh4 f6 It is hard Ιο believe that this game could last for another 20

moves! 21 .. d2 lDc7 22 .i.al 1De6 23 lDd5 gS+ 24 Φh5 lDg7+ 25 φh6 lDf5+ 26 Φh5 .. bl (111)

Threatening mate ίη two: 27 ... lDg7+ (or 27 ... lDg3+) and 28 ... "g6 mate.

111 W

27 ..i.d3! 28 ..i.xe5 29 h3 30 Φχι5

Opening αnd Cleαring Lines 119

'iWxhl fe ~ι7+

Οη 30 Φh6 Black would play 30 .. , ..i.xh3. 30 'iWh2 31 'iWel .ι:tf6!

The win is not easy, even with an extra rook! Now after 32 ιQxf6+ Black would take the knight also with

check - 31 ... gf+, and then the following vaήatίοη would even be possible: 33 Φχf6 .f4+ 34 Φe7 .. f8 mate.

32 .txh7 + ΦΧb7 33 'iWh4+ Φι8 34 lLIxf6+ ef+

Black's big lead ίη material does eventually tell. 35 Φι6 ..i.f5+ 36 <i'xf6 .ι:tf8+ 37 Φe7 'iWgl 38 'iWf2 'iWcl 39 Φd6 'iWxc4 40 c7 .ι:tf6+ White resigned

7 Exploiting the Back Rank

The main motif revolving around mating combinations οη the back rank is its vulnerabίlity. This usually shows υρ when the. king has ηο escape-hole and when the back rank is inadequately defended - as a result either of backward development or of the defenders being too remote from the theatre of operations. Αη additional factor ίη tactics οη the back rank is often the presence of a well-advanced pawn with the potential to promote into a piece (112):

112 W

Alekhine-Nestor Trinidad 1939

1 :tc8! :txc8 Νοι 1 ... 'iVxd7, because of 2 'iVf8+! - the 'X-ray"

2 'iVe7!! Black resigned There is ηο defence against 3 1Wxe6 or 3 d8('iV)+.

Game Νο. 37 Gligoric-Schmidt

Bath 1973 1 d4 ltJf6 2 c4 g6

Exploiting the Back Rank 121

3 ltJc3 d5 4 cd ltJxd5 5 e4 ltJxc3 6 bc ~ι7 7 ..tc4 c5 8 ltJe2 0-0 9 ο-ο ltJc6

10 ~e3 cd 11 cd ltJa5?!

Α retum to an old line? Black declίnes to play the usual intermediate manoeuvre 11 ... ..tg4, introduced into practice by Tolush as long ago as 1944.

12 ~d3 ltJc6

Of course, after 12 ... ~e6 13 d5! ~xal 14 1Wxal White has a very strong attack. E.g. 14 ... f6 15 ~h6 :e8 16 lLIf4 ~d7 17 e5 a6 18 e6 ..tb5 19 ..txg6! hg 20 1Wbl Ι5 21 1Wal, leading to mate. The idea of the move played is to provoke 13 d5, after which Black gets an excellent position with 13 ... ltJe5!

13 ..tb5! But this is the point: White gains a tempo.

13 ~ι4 14 f3 ~d7 15 :bl lLIa5 16 ~d3

White's fourth move with this bishop, and again a good one: the black knight remains out of play.

16 :c8 17 d5 b6 18 ~θ6 :c7 19 1Wd3

Taking away the square c4 from the black knight. 19 ltJb7 20 ..tf4 ltJd6 21 e5?!

The prelude to a bold queen sacrifice; but this whole combination was far from necessary. The quiet 21 : bcl would have guaranteed White a lasting advantage, as ίι would have been very difficult for Black Ιο get any counterplay.

21 ..tf5 (113)

122 Exploiting the Bαck Rαnk

113 W

22 ed Otherwise Black may seize the initiative, as, for example, after

22 1Wb3 ~b7! 22 23 dc 24 .i.xd3

.i.xd3 1Wxd5

Νοι 24 :bdl because of 24 ... 1Wc5+.

114 W

24 1Wxd3 (114)

25 :bdl! White does ηοΙ mind giving up his knight as well, ίη order Ιο

ρenetrate onto the eighth rank. 25 1Wxe2 26 :td8

As Gligoric himself later observed, at the cost of great 10ss of mateήal White has obtained as much as he possibly can, but he still does not have a winning position. Such are the consequences of his impulsive 21st move.

Exploiting the Back Rαnk 123

26 e5? The very first mistake ίη this new situation tums out to be

decisive. Black vοluntaήlΥ shuts his bishop out οί the game. Instead he should have played 26 ... _c4 27 :cl 8'xf428 :xf8+ (28 c8(8') .*.d4+) 28 ... .*.xf8 29 c8(_) _d6, when he would have had excellent drawing chances.

27 .*.d2 Now it becomes clear that Black has merely facilitated the

transfer of the white bishop to a good position.

115 W

27 _a6 28.*.Μ _c4 (115)

Now White does not have the move :cl, but there are other possibilities.

29 .*.xf8 _xc7 30 .*.xe7+!

The white bishop is performing miracles. 30 :t.f8 31 :xf8+ Φι? 32 :e8!

The interaction of the white pieces is quite superb. 32 _d7 33 .*.f8+ ΦΙ6 34 :a8 _d4+ 35 ΦhΙ vd3 36 :gl

Whi1e's big lead ίη mateήaΙ must tell. 36 _a6 37 83 _b7

124 Exploiting the Back Rank

38 :d8 39 :gdl 40 :8d7 41 :xa7

hS φgS

.. c6 ί6, and Black resigned

Game Νο. 38 Razuvaev-Dvoiris Krasnodar 1983

Ι d4 ltJf6 2 c4 g6 3 ltJc3 dS 4 cd ltJxdS 5 e4 ltJxc3 6 bc J..g7 7 ltJf3 cS 8 J..e3

Α quiet developing move. White is, as it were, inviting Black to go into an ending after 8 '" "a5 9 .. d2 cd 10 cd .. xd2+.

8 "aS 9 .. d2 ltJc6

The transition Ιο an ending would ηοΙ present Black with any particular difficulties. Οη the other hand, the move ίο the game leads Ιο sharp complίcations.

10 :bl ο-ο

Black is ready Ιο sacrifice his queen. 11 :bS cd (116)

116 W

12 'l:xa5 13 'ifxe3

Exploiting the Back Rank 125

de lDxa5

Many theoreticians and commentators have supposed that Black has sufficient compensation for his sacήficed mateήal. But even SO, a queen is a queen!

14 lDd4 15 .*.e2 16 ο-ο

b6 .*.b7

White develops his pieces ίη the simplest fashion. 16 .l:fc8

One of Black's trumps is the half-open c-file. 17 Ι4 .l:c5

Of course, stronger was 17 ... lDc4, after which ίι would have been entirely possible Ιο repeat moves: 18 'ifd3 lDb2 19 'ifd2 lDc4 20 'ifd3 lDb2.

18 e5 .l:ac8 19 .l:cl lDc4

Now this manoeuvre is ηοΙ so effective, since the white queen has greater freedom of movement.

117 W

20 1Wh3 e6 (117)

21 lDxe6! White seizes the initiative and forces Black οηΙο the defensive.

21 fe 22 'ifxe6+ φh8 23 .l:dl lDe3 24 .l:d7 .*.d5 25 'ife7 lDf5

126 Exploiting the Bαck Rank

It would seem that Black has done everything correctly: he has successfully deployed his minor pieces, taking away squares οη the sixth and seventh ranks from the white queen. But he has not managed to prevent the occupation of the eighth rank.

118 Β

26 :d8+ .tg8 27 "ire8! (118)

The black bishops are completely tied υρ and unable to take an active part ίη the game.

27 :xd8 28 "irxd8 :d5 29 "ire8 g5

This loses by force, but Black's position was already very difficult: οη 29 ... liJh6 White would have played 30 h4!, depriving the black pieces of useful moves.

30 .tc4 :dl+ 31 φΙ2 fΔe7

32 Ι5 fΔd5 33 g4 Black resigned

His pieces are paralysed and he is ίη Zugzwαng.

Game Νο. 39 Khalifman-Khenkίn

Leningrad 1989 1 d4 lί:IΙ6 2 c4 ι6 3 fΔΙ3 .tg7 4 liJc3 d5 5 cd lί:Ixd5

6 e4 lί:Ixc3

Exploiting the Bαck Rαnk 127

7 bc c5 8 .l:tbl ο-ο 9 -'.e2

Αι the time when this game was played, this formation for White was making the most seήοus claim Ιο be a refutation of the GrϋnfeΙd Defence.

9 ~c6 10 d5 ~e5

There aren't many players who would wish Ιο capture the pawn οη c3 (even with check!). After 10 ... -'.xc3+ 11 -'.d2 -'.xd2+ 12 'ifxd2 ~a5 13 h4 Black has very ροοτ prospects (see Game 20: Brenninkmeijer-Tukmakov).

11 ~xe5 -'.xe5 12 'ifd2 b6 13 Ι4 -'.g7

Ιη Game 8 (ΜcCambήdge-Ηjartarsοη) Black played 13 ... -'.h8.

14 c4 e6 Νοι long before this game was played Ftacnik had chosen 14

. .. e5 ίη two encounters, but without managing Ιο equalise: Epishin-Ftacnik, Belgrade 1988, continued: 15 ο-ο ef 16 'ifxf4 -'.d4+ 17 -'.e3 -'.xe3+ 18 'ifxe3 'ife7 19 'iff4 (a still stronger continuation was pointed out by Epishin: 19 e5! .l:te8 20 e6 fe 21 -'.f3) 19 .,. f6 20 a4! with better play for White; the game Gelfand­Ftacnik, Debrecen 1989, also favoured White: 15 ο-ο f5 16 -'.b2 'ifd6 17 'ifc3 1:e8.

15 -'.b2 16 1:xb2 17 18 19

e5 ο-ο

..tf3 20 1:el

-'.xb2 1:e8 ..tb7 ed Ι6

fe (119) Kudzhma-Khenkin, Kramatorsk 1988, continued 21 .l:txe5?!

'iff6, leading Ιο a position where it is White who may have problems.

21 fe! 'ifc7 22 ..txd5+ ..txc15 23 'ifxcl5+ ~g7 24 e6 J:Σad8 25 1IFf3 J:Σe7

128 Exploiting the Bαck Rαnk

119 W

Black had the opportunity of blockading the pawn with 25 ... iie7, but this would not have changed the overall situation: after 26 : be2 White's position would undoubtedly be superior.

26 :f2 iid6 27 iif6+ Φι8 28 iig5!

This very precise move casts doubt οη Black's formation. The point is that the immediate 28 h4 :de8 would compel White to content himself with a draw: 29 iif7+ φh8 30 iif6+. But now οη 28 ... :de8 White would play 29 iid5!

28 <t;g7 29 iif6+ <t;g8 30 iig5 <t;g7 31 h4!

Having repeated moves ίη time-trouble, White launches a strong offensive.

31 :de8 32 iid5 :d8 33 iig5 :de8 34:d2 iic6?

Allowing the white queen to get an excellent position, and giving White the opportunity to prepare a very powerful tactical blow. Black should have played 34 ... iic7, when 35 h5 :Ιχe6 36 :xe6 :xe6 37 h6+ <t;f8 38 :d8+ <t;f7 39 iid5 iig3 wouId have led to an unclear position.

35 iie5+ Φι8 (120)

120 W

36 nd7!

Exploiting the Bαck Rαnk 129

Now Black's pieces are completely tied down and the game will be over ίη a few more moves. It would be bad for Black Ιο play 36 ... nxd7 37 ed nd8, ίη view of 38 'ife8+.

36 bS 37 cb 'ifxbS 38 hS 'ifb6 39 nxe7 nxe7 40 h6!

This robs the black king of an important square.

121 W

40 c4+ 41 ΦhΙ 'ifd8 42 J:ιbl nc7 (121)

43 'iff4! White is ηο longer bearing down οη the g7-square, but he

creates the irresistible threat of e6-e7. Ιη attempting Ιο eliminate this danger, Black allows another elegant blow.

130 Exploiting the Back Rank

The spectacular 43 1Wd5 was tempting, but after 43 ... :c8 Black would have repelled the main threats.

43 gS 44 1WxgS+ Black resigned

After the black queen is deflected from the defence of the back rank, it will be mate.

Game Νο. 40 Belyavsky-Kasparov

Belfort 1988 1 d4 iί:If6 2 c4 g6 3 ι!i)c3 dS 4 ι!i)Ι3 j.g7 5 1Wb3 dc 6 1Wxc4 0-0 7 e4 iί:Ia6

For notes οη this variation, see Game 46: Karpov-Kasparov. 8 j.e2 cS 9 d5 e6

10 j.gS Usually White plays 10 ο-ο here (as ίη Karpov-Kasparov). The

tempting 10 d6 achieves nothing, because of 10 ... e5! 11 ι!i)xe5

1Wxd6. 10 ed

Frequently seen ίη practice is 10 ... h6. After 11 j.xf6 j.xf6 12 e5 ed 13 ι!i)xd5 j.g7 14 :dl Black must play accurately ίη order to maintaίn the equilibrium: 14 ... 1Wa5+ 15 φf1 j.e6 16 ι!i)e7+ 'iPh7 17 1We4 1Wb4! 18 j.d3 1Wxe4 19 j.xe4 :ad8. It is curious that the natural move 17 ... :fd8 leads to immediate disaster: 18 ι!i)g5+!! hg 19 h4 g4 20 h5 ':xdl+ 21 j.xdl j.h6 22 hg+ 'iPg7 23 :xh6! <ϊPxh6 24 1Wf4+! (Evenatov-Gurvic, corr. 1969-70).

11 ι!i)xd5 ie6 12 0-6-0

Weaker is 12 :dl, since Black can reply 12 ... 1Wa5+, and then repetition is possible: 13 id2 W'd8 14 j.g5 1Wa5+ etc.

12 ixdS 13 :xd5 (122)

White also maintains some advantage after 13 ed. The central

Exploiting the Bαck Rαnk 131

passed pawn. supported by the rook and two bishops, would pose serious problems for Black.

122 Β

13 .. b6 14 ~xf6 "xf6

Black has decided to take advantage of the opportunity to transfer his queen to a better square.

15 e5 .. f5 16 ~d3 "c8 17 J:(dl?

Analysis later showed that White could have achieved a con­siderable advantage with 17 J:(d6! E.g. 17 .,' ιtJb4 18 ~e4 J:(b8 19 a3 ιtJc6 20 e6; or 17 ... b5 18 .. h4 c4 19 ~e4,

123 W

17 b5 18 .. h4 ιtJM (123)

White had been aiming for this position. having the following tactical operation ίη mind.

19 ~xι6?! fg

132 Exploiting the Bαck Rank

It wou1d be bad for Black Ιο play 19 ... hg, ίη view οί 20 ιt:Ig5 ':e821 ':d7.

20 .:d7 One gets the impression that White's tactical play has been

entirely correct. After the natural 20 ... ιt:Ic6 there would follow 21 .: ld6 .: b8 22 ιt:Ig5 h6 23 1Ifxh6!! .i.xh6 24 ':xg6+ φh8 25 .:h7 mate. Black would achieve nothing by sacήficίηg theexchange with 20 ... ':xf3. Nevertheless Black does have a bήΙΙίaηt

refutation. 20 21 ':e7

'i'e8! .i.h6+!

The οηlΥ move, but one which, οη first impression, seems οηlΥ Ιο aggravate Black's position.

124 Β

22 φbl (124)

22 ':d8! 23 .:d6 1Ifc6!!

This is the point: the weakness οί White's back rank is decisive nonetheless.

24 a3 25 ed 26 ab 27 1Ife4 White resigned

':xd6 'ifxd6 cb b3!

Οη 28 1Ife6+ 1Ifxe6 29 ':xe6 there follows simply 29 ... ':c8 (again threatening mate) 30 ':el %Σc2 31 ιt:Id4 ':xf2 32 ιt:Ixb3 .i.g7 and White loses a lot οί pawns.

8 Combining Tactical Ideas

Ιη practical play one only rarely comes across examples where one tactical idea is seen ίη isolation from all the others. More often than ηοΙ, the struggle over the board throws up positions where the vaήοus tactical motifs which we have discussed are seen simultaneously. Ιη this chapter we consider these cases.

Game Νο. 41 Furman-Smyslov USSR Ch. 1949

1 d4 lί)Ι6

2 c4 g6 3 lί)c3 d5 4 cd lί)xd5

5 e4 lί)xc3

6 bc c5 7 ~c4 ~g7

8 lί)e2 cd 9 cd lί)c6

10 ~e3 ο-ο 11 ο-ο Μ?!

Α move which is rarely adopted, but White needs to play very forcefully to refute ίι

12 %lcl .tb7 13 .tb5!

Αη excellent manoeuvre: White wishes to oust the black knight from the square c6, so that Black cannot play .,. lί)e5 ίη reply to d5.

13 %lc8 14 1Wa4 lί)a5

The knight has Ιο move away, since οη 14 ... 'iWd6 there would follow 15 e5 1Wd7 16 d5! 1Wxd5 17 lί)f4! 1Wd7 18 :fdl "ti'e8 19 lί)d5

134 Combining Tαcticαl ldeαs

~h8 20 IίJb4, when White wins a piece. 15 d5

White has carried ουΙ his plan and now controls the key central squares.

15 'i'd6 16 .td2!

White prevents the undermining move 16 ... e6, which could now be met by 17 .t b4.

16 J:l.xcl Ι5

125 W

17 J:[xcl 18 .td7!

19 .tc3!

'i'e5 (125)

Α far from obvious pawn sacrifice, thanks Ιο which White succeeds ηοΙ only ίη weakening Black's kingside but also ίη

nipping all Black's activity ίη the bud. 19 "ii'xe4 20 .te6+ ~h8

21 .txg7+ <otxg7 22 .a3. "ii'h4 23 J:[c7 <oth8

Playing 23 ... J:[e8 would ηοΙ help, because of 24 g3 "ii'f6 25 IίJf4 ~h8 26 h4, when Black has ηο useful moves.

24 ':xe7 .f6 25 J:[ c7 .ta6 26 IίJΙ4

With the most unpleasant threat of 27 IίJxg6+ hg (27 ...• xg6 28 .xf8+) 28 .h3+.

26 27 J:[cl 28 J:[c3

"iVa)+ "iVg7

Combining Tacticαl ldeαs 135

Again the threat is 29 ltJxg6+ hg 30 .l:h3+.

126 Β

28 .l:d8 29 "it"b2!! (126)

Α brilliant move. The white queen lurks ready to attack. and again the threat is 30 ltJxg6+. but this time with other ideas: οη 30 ... "it"xg6 there would now follow 31 .l:c7+ (or 31 .l:c8+).

29 ltJc4 The οηlΥ defence.

30 ltJxg6+ This move has finally happened.

30 "it"xg6 31 .l:xc4+ 'iig7 32 "it"xg7+ φχg7

33 .l:c7+ φf6

34 f4 .td3 35 .l:xa7 .te4 36 h3 h5 37 .l:a6

As a result of his spectacular attack White has reached an endgame with two extra pawns, and he won ση move 55.

This game was awarded a brilliancy prize and was published ίη all the chess journals.

Game Νο. 42 Geller-Smyslov

Moscow Ct 1965 1 d4 ltJf6 2 c4 g6

/36 Combining Tactίcal ldeas

3 llΊc3 d5 4 cd llΊxd5

5 e4 llΊxc3

6 bc J.g7 7 J.c4 c5 8 llΊe2 ο-ο 9 ο-ο llΊc6

10 .te3 'fic7 11 .:ιcΙ .:ιd8

12 (4 e6 Theoretically the most sound reply is 12 ... J.g4, when 13 f5

gf 14 h3 leads Ιο interesting compHcations; the curious sacrifice 14 .txf7+?! has also been played, but Black gets an advantage after 14 ... ΦΧf7 15 'fib3+ e6 16 llΊf4 'fid7 17 ef llΊa5 18 'fixe6+ (ίι would be a mistake Ιο play 18 fe+ J.xe6 19 llΊxe6, because of 19 ... Φg8, when White remains a piece down) 18 ... 'fixe6 19 llΊxe6 cd! 20 llΊxd8+ .:ιΧd8 21 cd llΊc6!

13 φhΙ

White achieves nothing with 13 g4; by continuing 13 ... b6 14 'fiel llΊa5 15 J.d3 f5 16 gf ef 17 ef gf 18 'fih4 J.b7 Black gets an excellent game (Toth-Riblί, 1967). White cannot hope for an advantage either after 13 .:ιf3 llΊa5 14 .td3 c4 15 .tc2 f5! 16 1IVel 'fie7! (preventing 17 'fih4).

13 b6? (127) Of course, ίι is extremely risky for Black Ιο allow the white

f-pawn Ιο advance. More natural and logical was 13 ... llΊa5 14 J.d3 f5, οη the lines of Game 14: Gligoric-Smysloν.

127 W

14 (5 llΊa5

Combining Tactical Ideas 137

It turns out that 14 ... ef 15 -*.g5 .Ι:Η8 16 d5, followed by 17 d6, is unpIeasant for Black.

15 -*.d3 16 ef 17 1Wd2

ef .t.b7

Less promising for White is 17 -*.g5 .l:!.e8 18 ιDf4 cd 19 cd 'i'd6 20 'i'g4, because of 20 ... :tac8 21 :tcel 'i'xd4 22 fg hg 23 h4 ltJc4 (Razuvaev-Haag, Polanica Zdroj 1972).

17 :te8 18 ltJg3 1Wc6 19 :tf2 :tad8

The tempting 19 ... .l:!.xe3 20 1Wxe3 cd 21 1Wf4 (but not 21 cd .i.xd4!) 21 ... dc would lead to an advantage for White after 22 f6 -*.f8 23 ltJf5! (with the unpleasant threat of 24 ltJh6+).

20 -*.h6 .t.h8 21 1Wf4 :td7 22 ltJe4 c4

Αη unfortunate move; Black removes the pawn tension ίη the centre and also deprives the miserable knight οη a5 of its last chance to get into the game. More promising was 22 ... 1Wc7 23 .l:!.e1 -*.xe4 (but not 23 ... 1Wxf4 because of 24 ltJf6+) 24 :txe4 :txe4 25 1Wxe4 :td8.

23 -*.c2 :tde7 24 .l:!.cfl!

The prelude to a beautiful attack; not so clear was 24 fg hg 25 -*.g5 f5 26 -*.xe7 :txe7 27 1Wb8+ Φg7.

128 W

24 :txe4 (128)

25 fg!!

138 Combining Tactical Ideas

Α bήΙΙίaηt combination. Οη 25 ... :xf4 White plays 26 gh mate, and if 25 ... 'ifxg6 then 26 'ifxf7+ "xf7 27 :xf7 with the threat of 28 1:ιf8+, and the οηlΥ defence 27 ... :e1 allows the immediate 28 .txh7 mate.

25 f6 (129)

129 W

26 1Wg5!! Another bήΙΙίaηt move. The threat is 27 g7, and Black cannot

play 26 ... fg because of 27 :f8+ :xf828 :xf8 mate. 26 'ifd7 27 φgΙ

Taking advantage ofthe fact that Black is totally helpless, White eliminates any possibility of being mated οη the back rank.

27 .tg7 28 :xf6 J:tg4

Νο better was 28 ... .txf6 29 'ifxf6 hg 30 'ifxg6+ φh8 31 .tg5 :4e6 32 .tf6+ :xf6 33 :xf6.

29 gh+ ~h8 30 .txg7 + W'xg7 31 'ifxg4! Black resigned

Οη 31 ... 'ifxg4 there would follow 32 :f8+ :xf8 33 :xf8+ φg7 34 h8('if) mate.

Game Νο. 43 Vyzhmanavin-Nikolenko

Moscow 1987 1 d4 ι!ίΊΙ6

2 c4 g6

Combining Tactical Ι deαs 139

3 lί:Ic3 dS 4 cd lί:Ixd5

5 e4 lί:Ixc3

6 bc ~g7

7 ~c4 c5 8 lί:Ie2 ο-ο 9 ο-ο lί:Ic6

10 ~e3 'fic7 11 :cI J:rd8 12 ~f4

Ιη recent years this move has become the most popular (see Game 25: Naumkin-Vakhidov).

12 'fid7 13 d5 lί:IB5

14 -*.d3 b6

14 ... b5 occurred ίη Game 25 (Naumkin-Vakhidov).

15 -*.g5!?

Another way of fighting for the advantage is 15 c4 e5 16 -*.d2 lί:Ib7 17 a4 lί:Id6 18 lί:Ic3.

15 h6 16 ~e3 e6

Ιη the event of 16 ... e5 White plays 17 c4 ~a6 18 'fid2 ~h7 19 f4 with attacking chances.

17 c4 -*.a6 18 lί:If4

White is 'insisting' that Black move his e-pawn. 18 e5 19 lί:Ie2 lί:Ib7

20 'fid2 h5 21 -*.h6

Worthy of consideration was 21 f4. 21 -*.f6?

After 21 ... f6 22 -*.xg7 ~xg7 23 f4 iIe7 Black would have maintained the equilίbrium.

22 (4

23 (5

24 fg 25 J:rxf6! 26 :0

lί:Id6

iIe7 fg (130) 'fixf6 'fih4

140 Combining Tαcticαlldeαs

130 W

Οη 26 ... "W/e7 White plays 27 .tg5 "W/h7 (if 27 ... lIg7 then 28 .tf6) 28 .txd8 :xd8 29 "W/g5 with a considerable advantage.

27 lίIg3?

White wrongly rejects the forced variation 27 .tg5 lίIxe4 28 .txd8! "W/xh2+! 29 ΦΧh2 lίIxd2 30 J:td1 e4 31 .tc2 lίIxc4 32 .tg5 lίIa3 33 .txe4! .txe2 34 :e1, as a result of which he would have had good winning chances, despite his two-pawn deficit.

27 lίIΙ7?! (131) And now Black misses a draw: 27 ... .txc4! 28 .tg5 "W/g4

29 :f6 .txd3 30 .ι:ι.χg6+ φf7 31 ':f6+ φg8, when White has nothing more than perpetual check.

131 W

28 .ι:ι. χΙ7! φχΙ7

29 .tgS "W/g4 30 .te2 "W/d7 31 "W/c3! :e8 (132)

The impression is that White's attack has been stifled. So he decides not to confine himself just to a double eχchange-sacήfice

Combining Tαcticalldeas 141

and, ίη order to keep the fire of the attack going, throws another piece into it!

132 W

32 .txh5!! gh 33 'iVf3+ Φg8 34 lί::Ixh5 :Ι8

35 'iVg3 Φh7

If 35 ... Φf7 then 36 'iVxe5 is unpleasant. 36 'iV h4 Φ g6?

Better was 36 ... Φg8, when after 37 'iVg3 Φh7 38 lί::If6+ .l:ιxf6

39 .txf6 'iVf7 the game ends ίη perpetual check. 37 .te7! ΔΙ7

It would appear that Black's game is now quite ίη order and that White has nothing better than 38 'iVg5+ Φh7 39 lί::If6+ Δχf6 40 .txf6 'iVf7 41 .h4+ with perpetual check. But Black is ίη for a horrible surprise.

133 Β

38 lί::IΙ6!! (l33)Black resigned

142 Combining Tacticαl Ideαs

Α quite brilliant finish! The following variation is exceptionally beautiful: 38 ... 'fIxe7 39 'fIh5+ ΦΧf6 (or 39 ... Φg7 40 'fIh7+) 40 'fIh6 mate. It would be ηο better to play 38 ... .I:1xf6, because of 39 Wxf6+ Φh7 40 'fIf7+ Φh641 h4.

Game Νο. 44 Komarov-Karasev Leningrαd 1989

1 d4 lLIf6 2 c4 g6 3 lLIc3 d5 4 cd lLIxd5 5 e4 lLIxc3 6 bc .*.g7 7 lLIf3 c5 8 .I:1bl ο-ο 9 .*.e2 cd

10 cd 'W'a5+ For comments οη this fashionable gambit continuation see the

notes to Games 15 and 30. 11 .*.d2 12 ο-ο

13 'fIc2

'fIxa2 'fIe6

This looks more solid than 13 ΙOg5. 13 'W'c6 14 'fId3!

Α move suggested by Khalifman and adopted for the first time ίη this game.

14 b6 15 d5 'fId7

Ιη the first fifteen moves Black has made five with his queen! 16 .I:1fcl1

Α much more unpleasant move for Black seems to be 16 'fIa3!, threatening 17 .I:1xb6 and also taking aim at the pawn οη e7. Besides, this continuation would not have allowed the freeing move 16 ... .*.a6.

16 17 'ife3 18 Wxe2

.*.a6

.*.xe2 a5?! (134)

Combining Tactical 1deαs 143

Having exchanged his 'weak' bishop, Black has gained ίη confidence and is ready Ιο force the action. Now after the natural 19 J:txb6 Black plays 19 ... a4, and if 20 i.c3 then 20 ... ':c8!' But, as subsequent events show, a stronger continuation was 18 ... 1Vb7 19 i.f4 ~a6, when White would not have adequate compensation for the pawn.

134 W

/35 W

19 .i.c3 20 ':xc3 21 1Ve3!

22 W'h6!

.i.xc3 a4 ':c8 (135)

It tums out that 22 . " J:txc3 would be bad, because of 23 ll\g5 e624 .. x:h7+ ~f8 25 1i'h8+ φe7 26 1Vx:c3 with attacking chances for White.

22 (6 23 .1:1. xc8+ 'iFxc8 24 ~d4 1V(8

144 Combining Tactical Ideas

Ιι is unlikely that 24 ... Φh8 25 lLIe6 W'g8 was any better, as after 26 W'f4 a very complicated position would have arisen.

25 W'cl W'e8 Νοι 25 ... a3? 26 lLIe6 'iFe8 27 lLIc7; Black would get a difficult

endgame after 25 ... lLId7 26 lLIe6 :'c8 (ηο better would be 26 ... W'f7 27 W'c6 :'a7 28 W'c8+ lLIf8 29 :'xb6) 27 lLIxf8 :'xcl+ 28 :'xcl ΦΧf8 29 f3.

26 27 28

.!be6 :'xb6 'ifh6

lLIa6 a3!

After 28 W'xa3 Black would have the reply 28 ... lLIc5, practically equalising by exploiting the fact that the back rank is undefended.

28 W'f7 29 1Wcl

Α reρetition of moves ιο gain time. 29 W'e8

Black would lose after 29 ... a2, because of 30 :'xa6 :'xa6 31 W'c8+.

30 :'bl! :.b8 Ιη the event of 30 ... a2 31 :al tι\b4 32 tι\c7 W'c8 33 lLIxa8

W'xcl+ 34 :'xcllL1c2 35 f4 al(W') 36 %lxal tι\xal 37 Φf2 White's advantage is decisive.

31 :'al W'a4? (136) Perhaps the best line for Black was 31 ... W'b5 32 :'xa3 W'bl

33 :'al, when he would have had to go ίηΙΟ a rather unattractive ending. With his move ίη the game Black defends the pawn οη a3 (οη 32 :'xa3 he can play 32 ... 1Wxa3), but he overlooks an elementary tactical trick.

136 W

32 'it'h6 33 'it'xh7+ 34 'it'g8+ 35 'iFxb8!

Combining Tαcticalldeαs 145

rJ;f7 rJ;e8 rJ;d7 Black resigned

Game Νο. 45 Ubilava-Kengis

Kiev 1984 Ι d4 tZIf6 2 c4 g6 3 tZIc3 d5 4 tZIf3 ;'g7 5 'it'a4+

The main idea behind this move is that after 5 ... c6 or 5 '" tZIc6 it is difficult for Black to play the freeing advance of his c-pawn which is so characteήstίc of the GrϋηfeΙd Defence.

5 ;.d7! The best continuation, after which Black gets good chances Ιο

create counterplay. Now Black can transpose to the main lines of the Russian System, ίη some cases exploiting his extra tempo.

6 'it'b3 dc W orthy of consideration is 6 ... ;'c6, which prevents the central

e4-advance but gives White a freer game: 7 ;.f4 dc 8 'it'xc4 ο-ο 9 e3 tZIbd7 10 ;'e2 e6 11 ο-ο tZIb6 12 'iFb3.

7 'it'xc4 It would be bad to play 7 'it'xb7 because of 7 ... tZIc6!; after 8

;.f4 :b8 9 'it'xc'} 'it'xc7 10 ;'xc7 :xb2 11 e3 ο-ο 12 .l:l.c1 :c8 13 ;'g3 tZIb4 Black has an undoubted advantage.

137 Β

7 ο-ο 8 ε4 (137)

146 Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs

8 b5!? Α fundamental decision: by playing 8 ... .1g4 Black could havc

transposed Ιο the Smyslov ν ariation, but he attempts Ιο make use of the tempo gained when he moved his bishop Ιο d7.

9 1Wb3 White has decided ηοΙ to take ήsks, since ίη the event of 9

lDxb5 lfjxe4 10 lDxc7 lDc6 11 lDxa8 'l'a5+ 12 .1d2 lDxd2 13 lDxd2 lDxd4 Black's initiative is Ιοο dangerous.

9 c5! 10 dc

Here too the capture of the pawn οη b5 would not be very promising for White: 10 .1xb5 .txb5 11 lDxb5 (11 'l'xb5 cd 12 1Wb7 dc 13 1Wxa8 'l'b6 would be quite bad) 11 ... lDxe4 12 ο-ο cd 13 1Wc4 llId6 14 'l'd5 llId7 15 lDbxd4 lDb6 16 1Wb3 lDbc4 17 .Ω.dΙ 'l'd7 (Anikaev-Malishauskas, Klaipeda 1983). Another possibility is 10 e5?!, when 10 ... lDg4 11 .txb5 cd 12 lDxd4 .1xb5 13 lDdxb5 a6 14 lDa3 1Wd4! leads Ιο an advantage for Black (Hίibner­Kasparov, Brussels 1986).

10 lDa6 11 e5 lDg4!

Moiseev-Honfi, Moscow 1970, continued: 11 ... lDxc5 12 'l'b4 lDa6 13 ... d4 with an inferior position for Black.

12 h3 Tempting was 12 e6?!, but 12 ... .txe6! 13 "'xb5 lDc7 would

lead to an advantage for Black. 12 13 lL!xe5 14 .te3

lDxe5 .txe5

Again 14 .txb5 would not be good, as Black would play 14 ... .1xc3+ 15 bc lDxc5 16 1Wc4 .txb5, after which the white king gets stuck ίη the centre.

14 .Ω.c8

15 .Ω.dΙ lL!xc5 16 "'a3?! (138)

It was necessary Ιο play 16 ... d5 .td6 17 .1xb5 .txb5 18 .1xc5 (but ηοΙ 18 lL!xb5 1Wa5+ 19 lbc3 ... a6) 18 ... .Ω.χc5 19 "'xc5 .txc5 20 .Ω.Χd8 .Ω.χd8 21 lL!xb5 .tb4+ 22 lL!c3 with equality.

16 lL!a4! 17 lL!xb5

Interesting play could have aήsen ίη the event of 17 .1xb5:

138 Β

Combining Tacticalldeas 147

either the 'quiet' 17 ... ~xc3 18 J:l.xd7 ~xb5 19 JΣ.xd8 ~xa3 20 J:l.xc8 JΣ.xc8 21 ba J:l.c2 with a better ending for Black, οι an enterprising queen sacήfice: 17 ... ..txc3+!? 18 bc ..txb5 19 J:l.xd8 J:I. fxd8 20 ..td4 a6!, resulting ίη a position ίη which ίι is ηοΙ clear how White can repel the threat of 21 ... J:l.xd4 and 22 ... :Ιc3.

139 Β

17 ~xb2

18 J:l.d5 (139)

18 J:l.c2! This threatens 19 ... ..txb5, with a real threat of mate οη dl;

after 19 .,b3 rather unpleasant for White would be 19 ... "a5+ 20 ..td2 J:l.xd2! 21 J:l.xd2 ..tf422 "irxb2 J.xb5 with a big advantage for Black.

19 ~d4 ..txd4 20 J:l.xd4 "c7 21 ..te2?

Αη oversight ίη an inferior position. Only with the following sequence ofmoves could White have staved offimmediate defeat: 21 ..ta6! e5 22 ..th6! J:l.e8 23 J:l.xd7 1i'xd7 24 ο-ο.

148 Combining Tαcticαl 1deαs

21 e5 22 1:td6

Practically forced. 22 23 24 25

J:txe2+! ""xe2 .i.b5+ ""f3 ll\c4 1i'c5 (140)

140 Β

25 Whi te resigned

e4+!

If 26 <bxe4 or 26 <be2 then 26 ... ll\xd6+, and if 26 <bg3 or 26 <bf4, then 26 ... 1i'xd6+. Νο use either was 26 <bg4, because of 26 ... ll\xe3+ 27 1i'xe3 1i'xd6.

Game Νο. 46 Karpov-Kasparov

World Ch., Leningrαd (19) 1986 1 d4 li)f6 2 c4 g6 3 li)c3 d5 4 li)f3 .i.g7 5 1Wb3 dc 6 1i'xc4 ο-ο

7 e4 li)a6 This move was introduced ίηΙο practice by Ragozin ίη 1935.

The main idea is to prepare to undermine Whίte's pawn centre with ... c5, but the principaI defect is the awkward position of the knight οη a6.

Combining Tαcticalldeas 149

8 .t.e2 c5 9 d5

AIso quite good is 9 dc.

141 W

9 10 ο-ο

ιι ed 12 .t.f4 13 :tadl

e6 ed .i.f5 :te8 lί:Ie4 (141)

Α νery interesting position, foreshadowing sharp piece play where much will depend οη whether White can make use of his trump - his central passed pawn. Practice has shown that if White plays passiνely then Black can easily seize the initiatiνe. E.g. 14 J.e3 tί)d6 15 'iVa4 tί)c7 16 .i.d3 J.xd3 17 :'xd3 b5 (Dubinin­Smrcka, corr. 1970/72).

14 tί)b5!

Ιη order to secure control of the square d6 White sacrifices his pawn οη b2, which, howeνer, Black sensibly declines Ιο capture, as 15 d6 would hardly be νery pleasant for him.

14 'iVf6 15 J.d3 tί)M?!

Black rejects the quiet 15 ... .i.d7 16 .i.e5 1Ifb6 17 1Ifxe4 .txb5 18 .i.xb5 1Ifxb5 19 d6, with a roughly equal position, and instead hurls himself ίπΙο an abyss of endless complίcations.

16 tί)c7 tί)xd3

17 tί)xe8 :t xe8 18 1Ifxd3!

Οη 18 :txd3 Black had prepared 18 ... lί:Ixf2! 19 :Ιχf2 .txd3 20 1Ifxd3 1Ifxf4, with an adνantage.

150 Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs

18 'i'xb2 (142) The impression is that Black has completely seized the initiative:

his active bishops, supported by his other pieces, control virtually the entire board. He threatens both 19 ... ~c3 and 19 ... ~g3, and the pawn οη a2 is hanging.

142 W

19 JΣde1!!

Α completely unexpected move, based primarily οη the pinning motif. Ιη his notes Ιο this game Gufeld even gives this move three exclamation marks!

19 "ifb4 After 19 ~f6 20 JΣxe8+ ~xe8 21 "ife3 Black has real

problems. 20 ~d2 "ifa4

The black queen now defends the rook οπ e8, and so the knight οη e4 is free Ιο move.

21 "ifc4! The tempting 21 ~xe4 JΣxe4 22 JΣxe4 ..txe4 23 "ifd2 would

have led Ιο a complicated position after 23 ... c4. 21 "ifxc4 22 ~xc4 ..tc3 23 ~d2!

At first sight this move could be taken for a blunder. 23 ..txd2 24 ..txd2 ..td7! (143)

What is White Ιο do now? The bishop is hanging and, moreover, there is the threat οί 25 ... ..tb5. Surely this means that Black's idea has succeeded?

143 W

2S .i.f4!

Combining Tαcticalldeαs 151

This is the ροίηι It transpires that after the 'planned' 25 '" .i.b5 26 f3 .ixfl 27 φχη ιtJf6 28 J:Σxe8+ ιtJxe8 White can play 29 .i.e5!!, and the d-pawn cannot be held back: 29 ... f6 would ηοΙ help, because of 30 d6 fe 31 d7.

2S .i.bS 26 f3 gS!

Black finds one more interesting tactical possibility, with the aim of driving the white bishop away from the diagonal h2-b8.

27 .i.xg5! .i.xfl It turns out that after 27 ... ιtJxg5 White can play 28 J:Σxe8+

.ixe8 29 h4!, when the black knight has ηο retreat-squares. 28 φχπ ιtJd6

29 .i.e7 ιtJc8

Νο use either was 29 .,. ιtJc4 30 d6 ιtJb6 31 J:Σbl! (with the threat of 32 J:Σxb6) 31 ... ιtJd7 32 J:Σxb7.

30 .i.xc5 J:Σd8 31 J:Σe5 f6 32:fS b6 33 .id4 ιtJe7

34 .i.xf6 J:Σ xdS 3S J:Σg5+!

Even ίη this winning position White has to play very accurately. Instead of exchanging οη d5 and allowing the black knight Ιο attack the bishop οη (6 with gain of tempo, White forces Black Ιο lose a tempo by exchanging οη g5 himself (he cannot play 35 . " φf7 because of 36 .ixe7).

35 36 .ixg5

J:Σxg5

ιtJcti

152 Combining Tαcticαlldeαs

37 Φe2 Ι;;ΙΙ7

38 Φd3 Ι;;ΙΟΟ

39 Φc4 ~e5+

40 Φd4 ~c6+

41 ~c4 Black resigned Αη exceptionally interesting game, full of the most varied tactical

ideas.

Game Νο. 47 Petrosian-Fischer

Buenos Aires Ct 1971 1 d4 ~Ι6 2 c4 g6 3 lί:!c3 d5 4 .*.f4 j,g7 5 e3

More precise is 5 lί:!f3 (see Game 21: Petrosian-Benko). 5 c5

The move 5 ... ο-ο is associated with a well-analysed sacrifice of the pawn οη c7, ίη return for which Black as a rule gets a dangerous initiative, see Game 3 (Α. Larsen-Nesis).

6 dc Winning a pawn with 6 .*.xb8 J:txb8 7 'ifa4+ .td7 8 'ifxa7 is

hardly worth considering. After 8 ... cd 9 'ifxd4 ο-ο! 10 cd 'ifa5! 11 'ifd2 b5 12 .*.d3 b4 13 lί:!ce2 1Ifxd5 Black gets more than adequate compensation (Donner-Gheorghiu, Amsterdam 1969).

6 'ii'a5 7 :cl

Α manoeuvre which is typical of such positions. White defends his knight οη c3 and prepares ιο attack Black's queen after it captures the pawn οη c5. White has πο better move: 7 'ifb3 dc 8 j,xc4 ο-ο 9 lί:!f3 ~e4 leads Ιο an equal middlegame; after 7 'ifa4+ 'ifxa4 8 lί:!xa4 lί:!e4 Black has quite good prospects ίη the endgame. The continuation 7 cd lί:!xd5 8 'ifxd5 .txc3+ 9 bc 'ifxc3+ 10 ~e2 'ifxal 11 .*.e5 'ifbl! 12 .txh8 .*.e6 13 'ifd3 'ifxa2+ leads to wild complications.

7 lZΊe4!

The strongest reply. Ιπ the event of 7 ... ο-ο 8 cd :d8 White obtains an advantage with 9 j,c4!; an alternative is 7 ... dc 8 .txc4 ο-ο 9 lί:!f3 ~c6 or 9 ... 'i'xc5 (see Game 48: Karpov­Kasparov).

Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs 153

8 cd tbxc3 9 1Wd2 'iFxa2

10 bc 'iFa5! The exchange of queens (10 ... 'iFxd2+ 11 ΦΧd2) would lead

after 11 ... ιt)d7 12 .tb5 Ιο a difficult position for Black. 11 J.c4

The continuation 11 e4 1Wxc5 12 .te3 and 13 .td4 appears strong, but Black has the reply 11 ... ιt)d7!

11 tbd7 12 .!l:Ie2

12 ιt)f3 was considered ίη Game 11 (Agzamov-Gulko). 12 .!l:Ie5

Better is 12 ... 1Wxc5. AIso worth cοηsίdeήηg is 12 ... ιt)xc5.

The telex game van Scheltinga-Mikhalchishin, 1978, continued: 13 f3 b5 14 .ta2 ο-ο 15 ο-ο, and after 15 ... e5 16 .tg5 f6 17 .th4 .td7 18 e4 :ac8 19 .tf2 :fd8 Black got a good game.

13 .ta2 .tf5? Α strange move for Fischer to play, since ίι is totally unnecessary.

He should have played simply 13 ... 1Wxc5. 14 .txe5!

Ιη this particular situation such an exchange is very strong. 14 .txe5 15 .!l:Id4!

Now Black is ίη an unpleasant dilemma: either to remain a pawn down, or Ιο allow the doubling of his pawns οη the f-file.

15 1Wxc5 This is what comes of dithering - Black could have taken this

pawn three moves ago. 16 ιt)xΙ5 gf 17 ο-ο

It turns out that the black king stuck ίη the centre is rather uncomfortable; besides, the pawn οη f5 is weak.

17 1Wa5?! (144) Another strange move; Black voluntarίly shifts his queen from

its excellent position ίη the centre Ιο the edge of the board. Worth considering was 17 ... f4!, when after 18 ef .td6 Black could have castled queenside.

18 1Wc2! Ι4

19 c4! The correct reaction Ιο Black's 17th move.

154 Combining Tαcticαl 1deαs

144 W

19 fe 20 c5!

The key move ofthe whole game: White begins a forceful attack. 20 'ifd2

Bad for Black would be 20 ... ef+ 21 'ifxf2 ο-ο 22 .ibl. 21 'ifa4+ Φf8 22 ':cdl

White is ready Ιο sacrifice the exchange: 22 ... e2 23 ':xd2 .ixh2+ 24 wxh2 ef('if), after which he would get a decisive attack with 25 d6. Also quite good would be the quiet 25 ':c2.

22 'ife2 (145)

145 W

23 d6!? Afterwards Petrosian recommended 23 g3!, totally depriving

Black of any counterplay. Βυι now he had ιο contend with the possibility of 23 ... .ixh2+ 24 ΦΧh2 'ifh5+ 25 ΦgΙ e2 26 de+ Φg7. After 27 ':d5! (ηοι 27 .:d3 because of 27 '" 'ilfhl+!! 28 ΦΧhΙ ef('iIf)+) White would have had a strong attack, but there would stilI have been a long struggle ahead.

Combining Tactical Ι deas 155

23 1Ii'h5 24 (4! e2

Black has to go ίη for winning the exchange, since 24 ... .tf6 25 :td5 would be utterly hopeless.

25 fe ed(W) 26 :txdl 1Ii'xe5 27 :tf1! (6

Somewhat better was 27 ... f5, although ίη this case the variation 28 1Ii'b3 e6 29 1Ii'xb7 'iWxc5+ 30 'iPhl J:te8 31 d7 J:td8 32 .txe6 would ηοΙ have offered Black many chances.

28 'iWb3 φg7

Black would also have 10st after 28 ... e6, because of the simple 29 'iWxb7.

29 'iWf7 + 'ith6 30 de (146)

146 Β

30 (5

There was already ηο way to save the game. E.g. 30 ... :t hg8 31 .tbl :tg6 32 .txg6 hg 33 1Ii'f8+, or 30 ... :tag8 31 .tbl, threatening 32 .!:ιχf6.

31 J:txf5 'ifd4+ 32 φhΙ Black resigned

Game Νο. 48 Karpov-Kasparov

World Ch., London (J 1) 1986 1 d4 tΔf6

2 c4 g6 3 tΔc3 d5 4 .tf4 .tg7

156 Combining Tαcticαl ldeαs

5 e3 c5 6 dc 'ifa5 7 Itcl dc 8 .i.xc4 0-0 9 lZIf3 'ifxc5

Some theoretical opening manuals say that 9 ... lZIc6 is more accurate, and that only after 10 ο-ο should Black play 10 ... 'iWxc5. This different move order allows Black to avoid the variations involving 10 lZIb5 - if White had played this οη his next move, he would have threatened both 11 .i.xf7 + and 11 lZIc7. Βυι Black can ίη fact repel both threats with 10 ... 'ifb4+ 11 'ifd2 'ifxd2+ 12 lZIxd2 lZIa6 13 .te5 .i.d7 14 ο-ο .tfc8 (de Castro­Gligoric, Manίla 1973).

10 .tb3 lZIc6 11 ο-ο 'ifa5

The outwardly more active 1 Ι ... 'iWh5 has also been played. After 12 h3 e5 13 .i.h2 .l:Σd8 14 lZId2 White gets a small advantage (Larsen-Tal, Cand. match 1965).

12 h3 As Vasyukov observes, this is a move prompted by more than

one consideration. Firstly, White secures a firm base οη h2 for his bishop ίη case Black launches a pawn offensive ίη the centre with ... e5; secondly, this is a useful move to prevent the possible ... .tg4, which would be extremely unpleasant ίη some variations.

12 .i.f5 13 'iWe2

Ιη the 9th game of this match Karpov played 13 lZId4, but after 13 ... .td7 he did ηοΙ obtain any advantage.

13 lZIe4 14 lZId5

Αη energetic move, creating the threat of 15 .i.c7. After an exchange ofknights Black would have had ηο difficulties: 14lZ1xe4 .i.xe4 15 lZId2 .i.d5 16 .txd5 'iWxd5.

14 e5 (147) 15 .l:Σxc6!

Α move which had ηοΙ been played before - previously White had usually chosen 15 .i.h2 here, achieving very little after 15 ... .l:Σfe8 16 .l:Σfel J:ad8. If Black were ιο capture the rook here, a very unclear position would result after 15 ... bc 16 lZIe7+ ~h8 17 lZIxc6 .te6! Kasparov chooses ιο capture the bishop instead.

Combining Tαcticαl Ι deαs 157

147 W

15 ef 16 'JJ.c7 .i.e6!

Αη essential move. Black safeguards his bishop against exchange ίη many variations and also reduces the pressure against the pawn οη f7. The natural 16 ... fe would have led to serious difficulties for Black after 17 "ifxe3 J.xb2 18 'JJ.xb7.

17 "ife1!? Αη unexpected and, more importantly, very unpleasant move.

Now after the exchange of queens (17 ... 1Wxe1 18 'JJ.xe1) Black would have very little with which ιο defend himself, and after the retreat of the black queen from a5, the rook οη c7 would ηο longer be attacked. Much weaker was 17 'JJ.xb7, because of 17 ... lί:Id6 (but not 17 ... J.xd5 18 'JJ.b5) 18 lί:Ie7+ ~h8 19 lί:Ic6 "ifc5 20 'JJ.c7 "ifb6, but Karpov gives 17 lί:Ie7+ ~h8 18 'JJ.fcl! as better for White.

17 "ifb5 18 tDe7+ ~h8 19 J.xe6 fe (148)

Worse was 19 ... "ifb6, when White could have continued 20 lί:Id5 "ifxe6 21 tDxf4 _xa2 22 _b4 with a considerable advantage.

148 W

158 Combining Tαctical Ideas

20 9bl! White transfers his queen onto the diagonal bl-h7 ίη order Ιο

create threats against the black king, and at the same time he drives the knight away from the centre.

20 ~gS!

21 ~M

The g6-square is under tremendous pressure. 21 ~xh3+

Black now initiates great complications, but worth considering was 21 ... fe. Ιη this case White would have had perpetual check with 22 ~hxg6+ hg 23 ~xg6+ 'itg8 24 ~e7 +, but he could not have been certain of anything better.

22 'ith2! The only move. White would be mated after 22 gh 9g5+ 23

~g2 f3.

149 W

22 9hS (149)

Αη exceptionally interesting position. The time has come to sacήfice one of the knights οη g6 - but which one?

23 lί:\exg6+?! The alternative would have been more promising: 23 lί:\hxg6+

hg 24 9xg6, and now after 24 ... ge5 good for White would be either 25 9g4 or the simple 25 'ίPxh3; ίη the event of 24 ... J:tf5 White would have transposed to an ending with winning chances: 25 9xh5 :xh5 26 ~g6+ φh7 27 gh φχg6 28 :gl+. Best for Black was 24 ...• h7! (pointed out by Polugayevsky), with an unclear position after the following possible variation: 25 9xh7+ 'iPxh7 26 'ίPxh3 fe 27 :hl :f6.

Combining Tαcticαlldeαs 159

23 hg 24 1IVxg6 1IVe5!

The impression is that ίι is White who has the greater dίfficώties: his rook οη c7 is en prise and he is a piece down. Nevertheless, his defensive resources are not exhausted.

25 :Ι7! :xf7 26 1IVxf7 lt:\g5!

Now Black forces a slίghtly better ending, whereas 26 ... fe+ 27 f4 would ha ve led Ιο an advantage for White.

27 lt:\g6+ Φh7

28 lt:\xe5 lt:\xf7 29 lt:\xf7 Φι6

Black forces 30 lt:\d6. 30 lt:\d6 fe 31 lt:\c4

Because of the threat of 31 ... ~e5+ White cannot reply 31 fe. 31 ef 32 :xf2 b5 33 lt:\e3 a5 34 Φι3 a4 35 :c2 :Ι8

Black has a slightly better position, but ίι is οοι so good that he cao have serious thoughts of wiooiog.

36 Φι4 ~d4 37 :e2 ~xe3

38 :xe3 :Ι2

39 b3 The simplest. Now a draw is inevitable.

39 :xg2+ 40 ΦΙ3 :xa2 41 ba Draw agreed

Game Νο. 49 Pinter-Allen

Thessαloniki 01. 1988 1 d4 lt:\f6 2 c4 g6 3 lt:\c3 d5 4 ~Ι4 ~g7

5 e3 ο-ο

160 Combining Tαcticαl ldeαs

6 J:tcl c5 7 dc .a5!?

Interesting is 7 ... ~a6 (see Game 32: Bartels-de Wit). As we have already observed ίη notes to other positions, the move 7 ... .te6 gives Black an excellent game. The bad reputation of the move 7 ... dc was confirmed by the game Pinter-A. Schneider, Budapest 1979: 8 .xd8 J:txd8 9 .txc4 ι!ί:Ifd7 10 .tc7! J:te8 11 ι!ί:Ia4 .te5 12 .txe5 ι!ί:Ixe5 13 ι!ί:If3 ~xc4 14 J:l.xc4 .te6 15 J:I. b4 .td5 16 ~c3 .tc6 17 J:tc4 with a technically won position for White.

8 cd J:td8 The continuation 8 ... ι!ί:Ie4 is not good enough, because of 9

.c2! ι!ί:Ixc5 10 e4 ι!ί:Iba6 11 ι!ί:If3 b5 12 ι!ί:Id2 f5 13 e5 .tb7 14 .te2 b4 15 ι!ί:Ic4, and now 15 ...• d8 16 ι!ί:Ia4 .txd5 17 ι!ί:Ixc5 ι!ί:Ixc5 18 ι!ί:Ie3 .te6 19 ο-ο leads to a considerable advantage for White (Portisch-Sax, Budapest 1972).

9 .tc4 The best move. Ιη the event of 9 .d2 ι!ί:Ixd5 10 .tc7 .xc7 11

ι!ί:Ixd5 J:txd5! 12 W"xd5 .te6 13 W"d2 ι!ί:Ic6 Black has a very strong attack (Tolush-Botvinnik, Leningrad 1939).

9 .te6 10 e4!

Theoretical manuals recommend 10 b4, which after 10 ...• xb4 11 .b3 .xb3 12 .txb3 leads to a somewhat better ending for White (Black cannot play 12 ... ι!ί:Ixd5 13 ι!ί:Ixd5 .txd5, because of 14 J:tdl e6 15 e4 when he would lose a piece).

Interesting is Botvinnik's suggestion 10 we2!? After 10 ... 9xc5 11 .tb3 .tg4+ (οη 11 ... b5 12 ι!ί:If3 b4 White plays 13 de!) 12 ι!ί:If3 e6 13 h3 .txf3+ 14 wxf3 White keeps his extra pawn. Instead of 13 h3, worth cοnsίdeήng is the queen-sacrifice 13 de! J:txdl 14 ef+ φf8 15 J:thxdl with a strong attack.

10 ι!ί:Ixe4

11 ι!ί:Ie2 (150) 11 ι!ί:Ixf2?!

Αη interesting move, which had not been adopted Ρήοr to this game. Preferable was 11 ... ι!ί:Ixc5 12 ο-ο .td7 13 .tg5 b5 14 .td3 J:te8.

12 9a4!1 Of course, 12 wxf2 W"xc5+ was bad for White, but worth

cοnsίdeήng was 12 9b3 ι!ί:Ixhl 13 de .xc5 14 ef+ φh8 15 ι!ί:Ie4!

Combining Tαcticαl 1deαs 161

150 Β

12 1i'xa4 White would gain an advantage after either 12 ... ~xc3+ 13

lbxc3 1i'xc5 14 1i'b5! 1i'xb5 15 lbxb5 lbxhl 16 de, ΟΓ 12 ... 1i'xc5 13 de lbxhl 14 ef+ 'όPf8 15 lbe4!

13 lbxa4 lbxhl 14 de fe?!

Stronger was 14 '" lbc6 15 ef+ Φf8 16 Φf1 lbd4 17 'όPgl lbxe2+ 18 ~xe2 .CI.d4, although here too after 19 .CI.c4 .CI.ad8 20 g3! .CI.xc4 21 ~xc4 .CI.d4 22 b3 .CI.dl+ 23 'όPg2 .i.d4 24 c6! bc 25 lbc5! ~g7 (Black cannot take the knight, because of 26 ~h6 mate) 26 .te6 Black would have a tough time ahead.

151 W

15 φο! .CI.f8 16 ΦgΙ lbf2! (151)

17 ~e3!

This is the point: the black knight cannot go anywhere from f2; e.g. 17 '" lbg4 18 .txe6+, ΟΓ 17 ... lbe4 18 .txe6+ Φh8 19 .td5.

162 Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs

17 18 .*.xf2 19 ΦΧh2

20 Φι3!

.*.e5

.*.xh2+ :xf2

Now the game has reached the stage where White can set about tuming his advantage ίηΙο a win.

20 21 lί:Iac3

22 lί:IΙ4

23 24 25

lί:IxOO+

lί:Ie4

:hl

:Ι6

Φι7 lί:IOO φh8

:Ι5 lί:Id8

Black attempts Ιο chase the enemy knight away. 26 lί:Id4 :Ι8

27 lί:Iι5 h5 28 :el e6 29 .*.xe6 lί:IxOO

30 lί:Idxe6 : ae8 31 :dl :Ι6

32 :d6 h4+ 33 ΦΧh4 :Ι2

Α desperate attempt Ιο free himself, but it is already too late. White has a mating attack.

34 :d7 35 :h7+ 36 :g7+ 37 lί:IΙ7 mate.

:xg2 Φι8 φh8

Game Νο. 50 Verat-Komljenovic

Lugαno 1986 1 d4 lί:IΙ6 2 c4 g6 3 lί:IΙ3 .*.g7 4 lί:Ic3 d5 5 .*.g5 lί:Ie4

6 cd lί:Ixι5 7 lί:Ixι5 c6!? (152)

Αη idea of Korchnoi's which leads to a sharp and interesting contest. The traditional 7 ... e6 was encountered ίη Games 13 and 34.

152 W

8 dc

Combining Tαcticalldeαs 163

Black has ηο difficulties after 8 llIf3 cd 9 e3 ο-ο 10 ie2 .!lIc6 11 ο-ο e6 12 J:tcl ile7 (Petrosian-Korchnoi, USSR Ch. 1973).

8 llIxc6 Black cannot take the pawn οη d4 either with the queen or

with the bishop, because of 9 "iWb3 with a double attack against b7 and f7, but worthy of consideration is 8 ... ο-ο, when 9 cb ixb7 10 e3 is dangerous ίη view of 10 ... e5! with a very promising position for Black.

9 e3 Οη 9 d5 Black plays 9 ... e6! nevertheless, and after 10 dc ilxg5

11 cb ixb7 he gets a dangerous initiative. 9 eS

10 dS ilxgS 11 dc ο-ο 12 h4

White attempts Ιο exploit the unfortunate position of the black queen.

12 "iWe7 13 llIdS ild6 14 c7 (153) 14 e4?

Black hurries ιο open the diagonal for his bishop, but ίι would have been more ίη the spirit of this position for Black Ιο have prepared the move ... ie6 with 14 ... φh8! (οη the immediate 14 ... i.e6 Black loses his queen after 15 llIf6+), when play could have developed as follows: 15 e4 i.e6 16 :cl i.xd5 17 ed (but ηοΙ 17 "iWxd5? 'l'b4+) 17 ... .l:Σac8, or 15 ic4 .ie6 16 .l:Σcl .l:Σac8

17 ο-ο ixd5 18 ixd5 .l:Σxc7 - ίη both cases with equality.

164 Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs

153 Β

15 .i.c4 .i.xb2 After 15 ... 'iWc5 16 'iWc2 b5 17 .i.b3 'iWxc2 18 .i.xc2 :e8 19

0-0-0 .i.b7 20 φbΙ :ac8 21 h5! :e5 22 .i.b3 .i.xd5 23 :xd5 :xc7 24 IIxe5 .i.xe5 25 :h4 White wins a pawn (Hίibner­Ftacnik, Biel 1984).

16 :bl .i.e5 17 ο-ο b6 18 'iWc2 .i.g4

Α position has arisen ίη which Black is unable to utilise the advantage of the two bishops. Ιη fact he has serious problems ίη developing his light-squared bishop: after 18 ... .i.b7 an unpleasant reply is 19 :fdl!

19 :bcl :ae8 20 .i.b3 .i.g7

Αη attempt by Black to develop activity with 20 ... .i.h2+ 21 φhΙ 'iWe5 would be stopped by 22 f4! ef 23 gf.

154 W

21 'iWc6 'iWe5 22 lLIf4 g5? 23 hg 'iWxg5 (154)

Combining Tαct:icαl Ideαs 165

24 .txf7+!! With the help of a tactical trick White entices the black king

into the centre of the board. 24 25 1Fc4+ 26 JHdl!

<j;xf7 Φί6

The rook οη d 1 could not be captured, because of the very simple deflection 27 c8(1F)! 11xc8 28 .e6 mate.

27 1Fa6 .a5

155 Β

28 :d6+ Φe7 29 1Fb7 (155)

29 ΦΧd6? Better was 29 ... .ic8, although also ίη this case Black's position

after 30 1Fc6 would have been very difficult. 30 11c6+ <j;e5 31 c8(1F) : xc8 32 .xg7+ <j;f5 33 .xh7+ <j;e5 34 1i'g7+ <j;f5 35 1i'g6+ cote5 36 1: 00+ Black resigned

It is mate next move.

Game Νο. 51 Anton-Nesis

World Corr. Cup Finαl 1978-80 1 d4 ~ί6

2 c4 g6

166 Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs

3 lί:Ic3 d5 4 lί:Iί3 ~ι7 5 e3 ο-ο 6 -*.e2 dc 7 -*.xc4 c5 8 d5 lί:Ie8

This move is recommended by many authors, but it is extremely rare ίη practice. Transferring the knight to the square d6 deserves greater attention, particularly since the usual 8 ... e6 does not give Black full equality after 9 de 'ifxdl + 10 ΦΧdΙ -*.xe6 11 -*.e6 fe 12 Φe2. E.g. 12 ... lί:Ic6 (better is 12 ... lί:Id5) 13 J:tdl J:tad8 14 J:txd8 J:txd8 15 lί:Ig5 J:te8 16 lί:Ige4 with advantage to White (Petrosian-Botvinnik, World Ch. 1963).

9 e4 The most natural reaction. AIso played here is 9 ο-ο lί:Id6 10

-*.e2. The Encyclopαediα of Chess Openings recommendation 10 -*.b3 needs to be tested further ίη practice; Nesis-Remenyuk, corr. 1974, continued: 10 ... b5! 11 e4 -*.g4 12 h3 -*.xf3 13 'ifxf3 lί:Id7 14 'ife2 'ifb6! 15 -*.c2 b4 16 lί:Idl c4 17 -*.e3 -*.d4 and Black seized the initiative.

9 lί:Id6

10 -*.d3 e5 11 ο-ο

The capture 11 de gives Black a comfortable game: 11 ... -*.xe6 12 ο-ο lί:Ic6 13 -*.g5 'ifd7 14 'ifd2 lί:Id4 (Nask-Nesis, corr. 1976).

11 c4 12 -*.c2 b5 13 a3 lί:Id7

14 -*.e3 a5 Black's initiative οη the queenside is becoming menacing. His

light-squared bishop is hoping to threaten an attack from the square a6, thereby ΡreΡaήng the breakthrough ... b4.

14 a4 This looks entirely logical. White's plans include the exchange

of his opponent's strong blockading knight. However, as the course of the game shows, it was essential for White to stop the black pawns by playing 15 b4.

15 b4 16 lί:Ib5 1ί:Jb6!

Α difficult move to find. The cornerstone of Black's position is

Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs 167

the pawn οη c4, and he has to maintain it at any cost. 17 'iVe2

Black's positional exchange-sacrifice would have been entirely justified: 17 ~c5 lί:Ixb5 18 -*.xf8 .t.xf8 19 ab .t.g4 20 h3 "'xf3 21 'iVxf3 ~c5 followed by 22 ... .t.d4, when it would have been difficult for White to oppose the surge of the black pawn arrnada οη the queenside. So White declines to win material and takes aim against the pawn οη c4, around which decisive events unfold.

17 .t.a6 18 lί:Id2 (156)

Continuing his strategy. After 18 ~c5 -*.xb5 19 ab the exchange­sacrifice would still be possible: 19 ... lί:Ixb5 20 -*.xf8 'iVxf8, when Black's grouping of pieces οη the queenside looks very threatening.

156 Β

18 -*.xb5 Α critical point ίη the game. Here Black had many moves to

choose from. E.g. 18 ... 'iVb8 (with the idea of .I:Hc8) 19 .t.xb6 'iVxb6 20 lί:Ixc4 lί:Ixc4 21 'iVxc4 :fc8 22 'iVd3 -*.f8,or 18 ... b3 19 .tdl c3 20 bc (20 lί:Ixb3 lί:Ixa4!) 20 ... lί:Ixa4 (20 ... b2 21 :bl) 21 c4 lί:Ixb5 (if 21 ... ~xb5 then 22 -*.xb3!) 22 :xa4 (Black gets the advantage after 22 cb lί:Ic3 23 'iVd3 b2) 22 ... lί:Ic3 23 'iVd3 lί:Ixa4 24 'iVxb3 'iVc7 25 'iVxa4 :fc8 26 c5! (here it is White who sacrifices the exchange; after the slower 26 -*.b3 Black would manage to blockade the dangerous enemy pawns with 26 ... .tf8) 26 ... .txfl 27 φχη -*.f8 28 d6, and despite Black's big lead ίη material it is not easy to assess this very unusual position.

19 ab :c8! Black can οηlΥ fight for an advantage by maintaining his pawn

οη c4. After the natural 19 ... lί:Ixb5 20 lί:Ixc4 (weaker would be

168 Combining Tαcticαlldeαs

20 J.xb6 .. xb6 21 iί:Jxc4 "c5, and Black establίshes a knight οη d4) 20 ... ιQxc4 21 "xc4 his initiative evaporates.

20 IΣxa5 lt)xd5 The tempting 20 ... c3 would be refuted by 21 lΣa6!

21 lΣa4 lt)xe3 22 fe b3 23 J.bl

After 23 ~d1 Black would have had an interesting opportunity Ιο maintain his pawn οη c4: 23 ... "c7 24 b6 "c5 25 b7 IΣc7, since the whit-e b-pawn is doomed anyway. But after the move played the bishop is out of play for a long time.

23 .. b6 24 lΣa6 .. c5 25 IΣxd6

This sacήfice of the exchange for a pawn looks like the best practical chance. Otherwise White would simply be a pawn down, and the attempt Ιο eliminate the c-pawn with a ρίη would ηοΙ work: 25 IΣc1 IΣfd8 26 lί:Ixb3 "xb5.

25 "xd6 26 lί:Ixc4 "c5 27 lί:IB5

This is the move οη which White had been pinning his hopes. The pawn οη b3 is attacked, and after 27 ..... b4 White plays 28 lί:Ic6, when ίι is ηοΙ clear how Black can decline Ιο repeat moves (by 28 ... "c5 29 lί:Ia5) whilst still retaining any advantage.

27 .ib6 28 lΣel lΣa8!

Only with this move was ίι possible Ιο refute White's idea. Inadequate was 28 ... IΣfd8, ίη view of 29 lί:Ic6 IΣd7 30 .id3 lΣa8 31 .ic4 lΣa4 32 .id5, when the white pieces unexpectedly become very active. Now, however, ίι turns out that even winning the pawn οη b3 does ηοΙ put an end Ιο White's troubles. E.g. 29 lί:Ixb3 .. b4 30 lί:Icl (with the idea of transferring the knight via the route lί:Icl-a2-c3) 30 '" lΣa5! 31 lί:Ia2 "xb5 32 "xb5 IΣxb5.

29 lί:IOO lΣal

30 .. d3 The pawn οη b3 is again under threat, but the white queen is

performing Ιοο many duties at once, and this overloading is decisive.

30 .ixe3+ (157)

Combining Tactical Ideαs 169

White now has a choice of four possibilities, συΙ none of these is very pleasant. E.g. 31 :xe3 %txb1 + 32 Wxb1 "'xe3+ 33 ~f1 f5 34 lt)e7+ ~f7 35 lΔd5 1Wxe4 and Black wins. Or 31 1Wxe3 "'xe3+ 32 :xe3 :xb1+ 33 Φf2 :xb2+ 34 ~g3 f6 (with the threat of ... :f7-b7, taking away White's only hope) 35 :c3 (after 35 b6 the black pawn gets there first: 35 ... : c2! 36 lΔa5 b2 37 : b3 :Ιc3+; this is a rare situation when the passed pawns, having as it were passed each other by, hurry towards their goal along the same file) 35 ... :f7 36 lt)a5 :a7 37 lΔc6 (37 lΔxb3 :a3) 37 ... : b7 and Black wins. Ιη this variation the other retreat of the king does not help, as the black pawn again reaches the finishing­line first: 34 ~f1 [5 35 b6 fe+ 36 c;Pe1 :bl+ 37 ~d2 b2 38 :b3 :cl 39 b7 b1(1W).

White chooses what appears to be a more reliable continuation, but he is ίη for a surprise.

157 W

31 ~hl 1Wc2! The decisive blow is οη the theme of 'the weakness of the back

rank" 32 1Wxe3

If 32 lΔxe5 then 'all roads lead to Rome" E.g. 32 ... :e8 33 1Wxe3 :xb1 (33 ... "'xb1 also wins) 34 lΔf3 :xe4!, or 34 lΔd3 1Wxd3.

32 :xbl 33 h3 :xel+ 34 "'xel "Wxb2 35 ~h2 "Wc2 36 lΔe7+ ~g7

37 ... h4

170 Combining Tαcticαl Ideαs

Α final trap: 37 ... b2? 38 ~f5+! gf 39 .g5+ with perpetual check.

37 (6 38 .g4 b2 39 .d7 :f7

Now an attempt Ιο win the rook leads Ιο mate: 40 .d8 .xe4 41 .g8+ Φh6 42 .xf7 .f4+. so White resigned.

Index of Variations

(Numbers refer Ιο pαge numbers)

1) Exchange Variation 1 d4 t'Δf6 2 c4 g6 3 t'Δc3 d5 4 cd t'Δxd5

5 .i.d2 68 5 e4 t'Δxc3 6 bc .i.g7

a) 7 t'Δf3 c5 8 .i.e3 124

b) 7 .i.c4

8 .: b 1 ο-ο 9 .i.e2 t'Δc6 10 d5 t'Δe5 11 t'Δxe5 .i.xe5 12 1i'd2 b6 13 f4 .i.h8 35

13 ο ο ο .i.g7 126 10 ο ο ο .i.xc3+ 70

9000b690 9 ο ο ο cd 10 cd 1i'a5+ 11 .i.d2 1i'xa2

12 ο-ο t'Δd7 55 12 ο ο ο b6 99 12ooo1i'e6 142

7 000 b6 27 7 ο ο ο c5 8 t'Δe2 t'Δc6 9 .i.e3 ο-ο 10 ':cl 88

10 .1e3 cd 11 cd t'Δa5 120 11 000 b6 133 11 ο ο ο .i.g4 12 f3 t'Δa5

13 .i.xf7 + 30 10 ο ο ο 1i'c7 11 ':cl :d8 12 h3 b6 13 f4 e6 14 "i'el t'Δa5 32 13 f4 e6 14 ο ο ο .1b7 53

121i'd2 82 12 f4 136 12 .i.f4 1i'd7

172lndex

13 d5 lί)a5 14 .*.d3 b5 85 14 ... b6 139

13 'ifb3 97 10 ... .*.g4 11 f3 lLIa5 12 .i.d3 cd 13 cd .*.e6 14 :cl .*.xa2 15 'ifa4 .*.e6 16 d5 .i.d7 17'ifb4 e618lί)c3 14

18 :fdl 79

2) RUSSΊan System 1 d4 lLIf6 2 c4 g6 3 lLIc3 d5 4 lLIf3 .*.g7 5 'ifb3

5 ... c6 41 5 ... dc 6 'ifxc4 ο-ο 7 .*.f4 lLIa6 38

3) 4 .i.f4 Systems

7 e4 a6 8 'ifb3 b5 9 .i.e2 c5 58 7 ... lLIa6 8 .*.e2 c5 9 d5 e6 10 .*.g5 130

10 ο-ο 148 7 ... .*.g4 8 .*.e3 lί)fd7 9 'ifb3 lί)b6 10 :dl lLIc6

11 d5 lLIe5 12 .*.e2 lLIxf3+ 13 gf .*.h5 14 a4 18 14 f4 102

Ι d4 lί)f6 2 c4 g6 3 lLIc3 d5 4 .*.f4 .*.g7 5 e3

5 ... c5 6 dc 'ifa5 7 :cl dc 155 7 ... lLIe4 8 cd lLIxc3 9 'ifd2 'ifxa2 10 bc 'ifa5

1 Ι .*.c4 lί)d7 12 lί)e2 43 12 lLIf3 152

5 ... ο-ο 6 :cl c5 7 dc lί)a6 105 7 ... 'ifa5 159

6 cd lί)xd5 7 lLIxd5 'ifxd5 8 .*.xc7 .i.f5 21

4) 5 .*.Ι4 Systems Ι d4 lί)f6 2 c4 g6 3 lί)c3 d5 4 lί)f3 .i.g7 5 .*.f4

5 ... c6 6 e3 ο-ο 7 .*.e2 24 7.*.d3 17

5 ... c5 108 5 ... ο-ο 6 :cl c5 7 dc dc 73

7 ... .i.e6 76

Index 173

5) 5 .*.g5 SY5tems Ι d4 lί'}f6 2 c4 g6 3 llJc3 d5 4 llJf3 .*.g7 5 .tg5 ~e4

6.*.h4 113 6 cd lί'}xg5 7 llJxg5 c6 162

7 ... e6 8 lΙΜ2 ed 9 'i'e3+ φf8 10 _f4 .tf6 11 h4 rJJg7 Ι 2 e4 de 13 0-0-0 48

13 .tc4 111

6) Fianchetto System Ι d4 llJf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 .tg7 4 .*.g2 d5

5 llJf3 ο-ο 6 ο-ο dc 93 5 cd llJxd5 6 llJf3 ο-ο 7 ο-ο lί'}b6 8 lί'}c3 llJc6 9 e3 IΣe8 63

7) Other Systems Ι d4 llJf6 2 c4 g6 3 llJc3 d5

4.*.g5 45 4 llJf3.*.g7 5 1Va4+ 145

5 e3 ο-ο 6 b4 116 6 .*.e2 165

Tactics in the Grίinfeld

The Grίinfeld Defence is an excellent choice for counter· attacking players, whether they be club standard or World Champions. This innovative book οη one of Gary Κasparov's and Bobby Fischer's favourite openings will help you to:

• Carry out successful mating attacks • Recognise tactical opportunities • Dcvclop an initiative • Sacrifιce to win!

Gennady Nesis is a former joint World Champion at correspondence chess. He is one ofthe most active chess theoreticians ίη the Soviet υnίοn, where chess training is developed to the highest level. Nesis is also the author of Exchanging to Win in the Endgame, Tactical Chess Exchanges, and Tactics in the King's Indian, aIl available from Batsford.

Exchanging to Win in the Endgame, Gennady Nesis' first book, was enthusiastically received by the chess press:

Άη original and highly perceptive contribution to chess thinking' Daily Telegraph

'This is the most entertaining book οη chess Ι have come across ίη years' Doncaster Free Press

ISBN 0-7

111 9 78071