Polugayevsky, L. - Grandmaster Performance - Pergamon 1984.pdf

:. Grandmaster' Performance

L POLOGAYEVSKY

PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS SERIES

Grandmaster Performance

PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS-SERIES General Editor:· Kenneth P. Neat Executive Editor: Martin J. Richardson

AVERBAKH,Y. Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge Comprehensive Chess Endings Volume 1 : Bishop Endings & Knight Endings Volume 2: Bishop v. Knight Endings & Rook v. Minor Piece Endings BOTVINNIK,M. M. Achieving the Aim Anatoly Karpov: His Road to the World Championship Half a Century of Chess Selected Games 1967-70 BRONSTEIN,D. & SMOLYAN, Y. Chess

in

the Eighties

ESTRIN,Y. & PANOV, V. N. Comprehensive Chess Openings GELLER,E. P. The Application of Chess Theory KARPOV,A. & GIK, Y. Chess. Kaleidoscope KARPOV, A. & ROSHAL, A. Anatoly Katpov: Chess is My Life LIVSIDTZ,A. Test Your Chess IQ, Volumes 1 & 2 NEISHTADT, Y. Catastrophe in the Opening Paul Keres Chess Master Class POLUGAYEVSKY, L. Grandmaster Performance Grandmaster Preparation SHERESHEVSKY, M. I. Endgame Strategy SMYSLOV, V.

125 Selected Games SUETIN, A. S. Modern Chess Opening Theory Three Steps to Chess Mastery TAL, M., CHEPIZHNY, V. & ROSHAL,A. Montreal 1979: Tournament of Stars VAINSTEIN, B. S. David Bronstein-Chess Improviser

Grandmaster Performance By

LYEVPOLUGAYEVSKY International Grandmaster

Translated by KENNETH P. NEAT

PERGAMON PRESS OXFORD · NEWYORK · TORONTO · SYDNEY · PARIS· FRANKFURT

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1984 K. P. Neat

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First edition 1 984

Library of Congress Cataloging

in

Publication Data

Polugayevskii, Lev. Grandmaster performance. (Pergamon Russian chess series) Includes index. 1 . Polugayevskii, Lev. 2. Chess-Collections of games. I. Neat, Kenneth P. 11. Title. Ill. Series. GV1439. P62A34

1 984

British Library Cataloguing

794.1'5

in

8 3 - 1 3 082

Publication Data

Polugayevskii, Lev. Grandmaster performance.-(Pergamon Russian chess series)

1. Polugayevskii, Lev

Chess-Collections

of games I. Title 794.1 '59

GV14339. P/

ISBN 0-08-02691 3-3 Hardcover ISBN 0-08-029749-8 Flexicover

Printed in Hungary

Contents

vi

From the author

1

Problems from the first move In search of the truth

17

From defence to attack

50

The touchstone of mastery

68

Finale of the chess symphony

117

Psychology of the chess struggle

161

Main tournament and match results

175

Index of openings

179

Index of opponents

180

V

From the Author

Some 30 years ago, when I was still a boy, I was given some advice by one of the oldest Soviet chess masters, one of Alexander Alekhine's fellow players back in the

1909 S t Peters­

burg Tournament, Pyotr Romanovsky. "If you want to play well," he said, "in the first in­ stance study games. Your own and other peoples'. Examine them from the viewpoint of the middlegame and the endgame, and only then from the viewpoint of the opening. This is more important than studying textbooks." Perhaps such advice is not indisputable, perhaps it will not appeal to everyone, but I accept­ ed and have followed this recommendation all my life.

O f course, on becoming a master, and

then a grandmaster, I had to make a detailed acquaintance with opening monographs and with endgame guides, but nevertheless the analysis of games still remains for me the most important thing. To a great extent, this is why I am now offering this collection of my own games, played over nearly a third of a century. They have been selected such that the reader should obtain as clear an impression as possible of what promises victory in chess. This is a fundamental knowledge of the openings (even if not all, but only certain ones), a mastery of the skills of attack and defence, and an ability to ·

form a strategic plan. (The following aphorism is after all true: "It is better to follow a bad plan, than to play without any plan at all".) This is the ability to play endgames, and the ability to play in critical situations, which is acquiring greater and greater significance: psychology today

is the key to the solving of many problems, including those associated with chess. But I hope that the reader will take note of, evaluate, and arm himself with the main message of the book: at whatever stage of the game the victory was gained, by whatever means it was achieved, it was always as a result of effort. Always great, and sometimes enormous. The author

is firmly convinced that without this it is impossible today to mount even half the steps of the chess staircase, leading upwards.

I consider myself to have been fairly fortunate in chess. I have scored victories in many major tournaments, and have more than once been a Candidate for the World Championship. But the greatest joy in this field of my life has nevertheless been gained from individual, quite specific games. When everything succeeds, and victory is gained, these are the happiest moments in the life of any chess player. To all readers of this book, I should like to wish as much happiness of this type as possible.

LYEV POLUGAYEVSKY

International Grandmaster

VI

Problems From the First Move

The opening has always attracted me as an essentially independent field of chess thought. Throughout my chess career I have tried to find my own approach to the handling and study of the opening. This has been a striving to 'conceive' something new, even if in my younger years my findings were not -of ve ry high quality, or were even simply dubious. This is explained by the fact that I lived in Kuibishev, where at that time chess books were not always readily available. Besides, my studies and my work left little time for a deep analysis of all the openings, and I chose for myself the more sensible path of a certain self-limitation. It cannot be said that I have been alto ­ gether happy with this. At some point I have even regretted that I have not normally played 1 e4, or, for example, the Ruy Lopez as Black. At any event, a situation arose in which, having only gone deeply into certain opening systems, I became an experimenter in them. In adopting this stance I was aided by the fact that I never liked making ten to fifteen 'book' moves during the first minute of play. I was accustomed to taking important deci­ sions from virtually the first· few moves, and wanted some sort of problems to arise immediately on the board. I do not wish to asser t that the path of the experimenter is strewn with roses. By no

means. I know of many top grandmasters who have a different, more economic, more practical approach, and there is no reason at all to condemn them for this. They prefer to make use of all the opening guides, and carefully follow all the tournament bulletins. They immediately pick up all opening inno­ vations, and, without much hesitation, they immediately employ them. There are also other players. They are sceptical about everything in the opening, and employ only that on which they have worked a great deal. It is they who determine the present-day state of opening theory, and advance it. Of course, it is a matter of individual feel­ ing, but for me personally such work and such players are closer to my heart. And one more thing : had I studied all the openings, had I played the Ruy Lopez, and the French, Caro-Kann and Alekhine's De­ fences, I am convinced of this : then there would have been no 'Polugayevsky Varia­ tion', and no innovations of twenty-five to thirty moves in length, which are given in this book and which have cast doubts on the correctness of entire systems and varia­ tions. A n ew idea has to be sought for wee ks, or even months, and sometimes costs hund­ reds of hours of work. The result makes its appearance in a single moment, in a single game, but at the same time the theory of openings takes a step forward .

1

Problems from the first move

No.

1 King' s Indian Defence

to the •rebirth' of this line. The game con­ tinued 8 Nge2 c5 9 d 5 e6 1 0 0-0 e x d 5 11 e x d5 Nbd7 12 Bc2 Re8 13 Qd2 b5 !, with gre at advant age to Black. Slightly late r, still in 1 960, this was all repeated again in a game between Poluga­ yevs ky and Geller from the USS R Team Tournament. This time White answered 7 . . . a6 with 8 d5, but after 8 . . . c5 9 d x c6 N x c6 1 0 Nge2 Ne5 Geller obtained a good game. Stein was undoubtedly familiar with all the subtleties of the line, and was the refore not averse to it all being repeated in the pres­ ent g ame.

Polugayevsky-Stein

28th USSR Championship Moscow, 1961 1 2 3 4 5 6

d4 c4 Nc3 e4 f3 Be3

Nf6 g6 Bg7 d6 0-0 b6

7 Bd3 8 Nge2 9 e5!

a6 c5

Here it is, the 'latest' innovation. Of course, all this was prepare d long beforehand in my home 'laboratory'. 9 ...

Nfd7

H ardly any better was 9 . . . d X e5 1 0 d X e5 Nfd7 1 1 Be4 Ra7 12 f4, with advan­ tage to White.

In its time this move was one of the reve ­ lations for Black in the d angerous S amisch Variation. Its idea is to advance . . . c5 and then to seize control of d4. If White does not take any urgent meas ures, Black equalizes with ease . For e xample, 7 Qd2 c5 8 Nge2 Nc6 and then 9 . . . e5. White's usual reply to 6 . . . b6 used to be 7 d5, but after 7 . . . c5 8 d x c6 N X c6 he did not gain the expected advantage. And then in the 26th USSR Championship Bran­ stein prepared against Lutikov a genuine 'Bronsteinian' innovation : 7 Bd3 ! Lutikov quickly replied 7 . . . c5, and after 8 e5 ! he lost material. It appeared that this was the end of it all, and that the variation would have to be shelved. But a year later, in the USSR Championship Semifinal in Vilnius, Gufeld employed the variation against me, and a fter 7 Bd3 played 7 . . . a6, which led

10 11 12 13 14

e x d6 0-0 Bc2 Qd2 Radl

e x d6 Nc6 Bb7 Nf6

Here we can sum up the results of the open­ ing. White h as a slight but clear positional advantage. He can set up pressure on the d-file, and in addition he has control of the important central s quares d5 and e4. Now Black chooses a plan which, although at first sight obvious, is incorrect. He should have maintained the tension in the centre and played 14 . . . Re8. 14 15 N X d4 16 b3 . • •

2

c x d4 Ne5 d5

No. 2 Polugayevsky-Tal, 1969 After this natural advance Black's position becomes critical. Here too 16 . . . Re8 was better.

This move is the point of the combination. 22 . . . g X f5 is decisively met by 23 Bxf5. 22 . . . 23 R x d5

Qf6 Rfd8

23 .. . Nb4 fails to 24 Rd4, with the threat of 25 Rh4. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

In this way White finds a vulnerable point in the black position. Nothing is achieved by 1 7 c x d5 N X d5 1 8 N X d5 Q X d5 (18 . . . B X d5 19 Nf5) 1 9 Qb4 Qc5 ! • • .

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Rc8 K x g7 Nc6

1 9 . . . Re8 is met by 20 Rfel, while after 1 9 . . . Nfd7 White has the highly unpleas­ ant 20 Nf5 + . But now he carries out a tactical operation and wins a pawn. 20 Nf5 + 21 N X d5

R X d8 Nd4 B X e4 Qe7 Kg8 Ne6 Q x f6

The exchange of queens is forced, since afte r 30 . . . Qc5 + 3 1 K h 1 Rd7 32 Ne4 and then Nd6 White's attack is irresistible. But now he realizes his material advantage.

17 Bh6!

17 18 B X g7 19 Qg5

R X d8 + Be4 Ng3 fX e4 Qf4 e5 Qf6

Kh8 N x d5

e X f6 Rf2 Nfl Rd2 N x d2 Ne4 b4 g4! c5 b X c5

Rd2 Rd1 + g5 R X d2 h6 Kh7 Kg6 Nf4 b X c5 Resigns

No. 2 Queen' s Gambit Polugayevsky-Tal

37th USSR Championship Moscow, 1969 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

22 Qh6! 3

c4 Nc3 Nf3 d4 c X d5 e4 b X c3

Nf6 e6 d5 c5 N X d5 N x c3 c x d4

Problems from the first move 8 c X d4 Bd2 10 Q X d2 11 Bc4 12 0-0 13 Rad1 14 Rfel 9

Bb4 + B X d2 + 0-0 Nc6 b6 Bb7

15 Bd3 16 d5! 17 e5!

ReS e X dS

It was with this unexpected pawn sacrifice that we associated the whole of our subse­ quent analysis. White plays for a direct attack, which it is hardly possible to parry. This very position was reached in the 5th game of the 1 969 Spass ky-Petrosian World Championship Match. With his unique sense of danger, Petrosian continued here 14 . . . ReS, thereby avoiding the main threat; although he also got into difficulties after 1 5 d5 e x d5 16 B X d5, and was unable to save the game. Many of the commentators on this game, including Mikhail Tal, recommended that in the diagram position the bishop should be driven from c4 by the immediate 14 . . . Na5, or after 14 . . . ReS 15 d5 Na5 . O f course, they were not t o know that we had analyzed this continuation in Dubna, where simultaneously with Spassky I had been preparing for my match against Alek­ sandr Zaitsev for the title of USSR Cham­ pion. Incidentally, on completing our joint analysis, Boris and I agreed that either of us had the right to employ it at the first conve­ nient opportunity. 14

. • .

17 . . . 18 Qf4

Nc4 Nb2

Tal goes into the main variation, trying to exchange off the dangerous white bishop, but what else could he have done ? On 1 S . . . h6 there follows 1 9 Qf5 g6 20 Qh3 Kg7 21 e6 fX e6 22 Nd4, whe n Black's position collapses. Equally unsatisfactory is 1 S . . . Rc6 1 9 Ng5 h6 20 Bh7 + Kh8 2 1 N X f7 + , when he loses quickly after 2 1 . . . R x f7 22 Q X f7 K X h7 23 e6 Nd6 24 Qd7, or 2 1 K X h7 22 N X d8 R X f4 23 e6. 19 B X h7 + 20 Ng5 +

Na5

The Ex-World Champion had no reason for deviating from his own recommendation. 4

K x h7 Kg6

No. 3 Portisch-P olugayevsky, 1970 The first impression is that nothing comes of White's attack, but he has at his disposal a prepared move of terrible strength.

25 26 Q X f6 27 Rd2 • • •

27 Nd6 was more energetic, but the move in the game is also good enough to win, since the threat of Nd6 is maintained.

21 h4! !

This is the point of the combination. Of course, to find the whole of the subsequent lengthy variation was possible only with prepared analysis. I think it was only here that Tal realized he was battling under une­ qual conditions, but there was already no way out. Hanging over the black king is the threat of 22 h5 + ! K X h5 23 g4 + Kg6 24 Qf5 + Kh6 25 Qh7 + K X g5 26 Qh5 + Kf4 27 Qf5 mate, and 2 1 . . . f5 fails to save Black due to 22 Rd4 !, with the same idea of 23 h5 + or 23 Qg3. His reply is therefore forced. 21

22 23 24 25

h5 + N X f7 + + Qf5 + e6!

Qf6 g X f6

27 28 R X b2 • • •

Rc6 ReS

28 . . . Bc8 was slightly the lesser evil, although it would not have affected the out­ come of the game. 29

30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Rc4 Kh6 Kh7 Kg8

Nh6 + Nf5 R X e6 Rc2 Re2 Re7 + Nh4 Ng6 + R X a7

Kh7 Rc x e6 R X e6 Rc6 Bc8 Kh8 f5 Kg8 Resigns

It goes without saying that an innovation lasting 25 moves is a rarity, but it once again emphasizes what a great return - both competitive and creative - a player can ex­ pect from searching, and from experiment­ ing. It hardly has to be said that, in itself, such a success far exceeds the disappointment from other, less successful attempts, and that it is quite capable of inspiring a player, a s the game with Tal inspired me in that USSR Championship.

No. 3 Nimzo-Indian Defence I reached this position in my analysis that morning, prior to the game. And yet 25 moves . have already been made ! Now on 25 . . . Qe7 the piquant 26 h6 ! is decisive . In addition, Black was on the threshold of severe time trouble, whereas White had spent literally only a few minutes, and most of those on the first few moves. 5

Portisch-Polugayevsky

Interzonal Tournament Palma de Mallorca, 1970 1 d4 2 c4 3 Nc3

Nf6 e6 Bb4

Problems from the first move

4 5 6 7 8 9

0-0 c5 d5 d X c4 Nc6 Ba5

e3 Bd3 Nf3 0-0 Bxc4 a3

1 3 e4 and 13 Bd2 being prevented. On 1 3 Qe2 there now follows 1 3 . . . c x d4 1 4 e X d4 N X d4 1 5 N X d4 B X d4 16 Be3 e5, when White can hope only for equality, e.g. 1 7 B X d4 e x d4 1 8 Qe5 Re8

be answered by 1 4 . . . N X e4 15 Q X e4 f5,

master carried out an original plan : 10 . . . a6

when capturing the knight leads to a repeti­

1 1 Rd 1 b5 1 2 Ba2 c4 13 Qe2 Qe8, with in­

tion of moves : 1 6 Q x c6 Bd7 1 7 Qd6 Bc7

teresting play.

1 8 Qb4 Ba5 etc. Besides, 15 . . . f5 is by no

True, after 14 Bd2 Bb6 15 Bb 1 e5 (Spassky

means obligatory, 1 5 . . . Bb7 leading to a

16 d X e5 N x e5

sharp game.

17 Ne4 ! N X e4 1 8 B X e4 Portisch retained

Therefore:

the advantage, and although he subsequently not

find

the

Now the exchange on d4 is less favourable

Since then there had been frequent dis­

for Black : 13 . . . c X d4 14 Ne2.

cussions on the theme : in general, is Larsen's

14 Qe2 ? !

plan playable ? Perhaps it is good, but it requires an im­ earlier ?

Portisch vacates the b 1 -h7 diagonal for

It was to

his stranded bishop at a2, but, as will be

this question that the present game gave a

seen, the transfer of the bishop to b1 does

convincing answer.

10 Qd3 11 Rd1 12 Ba2

c4

13 Qc2

strongest continuation,

Black's position did not inspire confidence.

provement somewhere

i s also

appear to be 1 3 Ne4 c4 14 Qc2, but this can

the first game of that match the Danish grand­

did

d3

White, the most active line for him would

because of 10 Qd3, but in

15 . . . Bb7)

..

leading to an equal ending, can hardly satisfy

Match, 1 968, this bishop retreat was consid­

recommended

.

Since 1 3 d x c5 Q x d3 14 R X d3 B X c5,

Prior to the Portisch-Larsen Candidates ered dubious

(18

possible) 19 R X d4 Qb6 20 Qd6.

not take place, so that White's plan must be

a6 b5 Bb6!

considered a failure. Incidentally, 14 e4 would still not have worked in view of 14 . .. N X d4 15 N X d4 B X d4 1 6 e5 (or

16 Be3 e5 17 Ne2 Bg4)

1 6 . .. Ng4 1 7 Qe4 B X f2+ 1 8 Kfl Qh4 1 9 h 3 (after

19

Q X a8

Bb6 20 Ne4 f5!

or

2 0 Rd2

the position of the white king is indefen­

f6

sible) 1 9 . . . Ne3+ !, when Black remains two pawns up. After the tempting 14 Bb 1 (with the threats of

15 e4 and 15 d5) White,

evidently not with­

out justification, was afraid of 14 . . . Na5, and if 1 5 e4 ( 15

15 . . . g6),

Ne4

is adequately met by

then 1 5 . . . Nb3 16 e5 N x a l .

It would therefore seem that White can Here it is, the prepared innovation ! By inten­

no longer hope for an advantage, and that

sifying the pressure on the d4 pawn, Black

he should

hinders White's normal development, both

quiet 14 Bd2 Bb7 1 5 Ne4. 6

have

restricted

himself to the

No. 3 Portisch-Polugayevsky, 1970

14

• . .

Qe8

disconcerted and parts with the exchange. I can only assume that, in his calculation of the

Thus, in comparison with the aforemen­ tioned

Portisch-Larsen

game,

the

resulting complications, Portisch committed

black

bishop stands not at a5, but at b6, which is clearly to Black's advantage, especially in the event of 15 e4 e5.

(21 .. . BXd5 22 (22 ... NXc3 is

in fact better) 23 NXd5 Qc5 24 Qg4 f6 25 Nxf6+ Kh8 26 QXg7+! KXg7 27 Nd7+

reply, and finds a different way of freeing

and 28

his imprisoned bishop at a2.

Nxc5

favours

White, but

stronger is 25 Rc1! Qd6 (25 ... Bc8

cxb3 Bb7

even

26 Qg3)

26 Rc7 Rf7 27 NXf6+ Qxf6 28 BXf6 Rxc7 29 h4! Therefore I would have continued 21 ... BXc3 22 Bxc3 Qxc3 23 Bxb7 Ra7 24

At last White makes this long-planned

Bd5 Qe5 or 24 ... Rd7, when Black's posi­

advance, especially since the position after

tion is preferable.

17 Bb2 Na5 18 Ba2 ReS and 19 ... Nc4 clearly did not appeal to Portisch. But Black

21 22 Rel • . .

is fully prepared for it, and lands a counter­ blow.

... d x e5 NxeS Bb2

the

possibilities, and White had at his disposal Now 21 ... NXd5

White avoids 15 Bb1, to which 15 ... Bb7

17 18 19 20

somewhere. Meanwhile,

RXd4!) 22 RXd4 QXd4

and 16 ... e5 looks a more than adequate

. . •

oversight

the saving move 21 Bd5!

15 b3

15 16 Bxb3 17 e4

an

diagram position contains a number of latent

Q X d4

Alas, 22 Nd5 fails to 22 ..

e5 Nxe5 Q xeS Bd4!

.

Qxe4 23

NXf6+ gXf6, when White has not the slight­ est compensation for the exchange.

22 . . . 23 e5

Rfe8

The one chance of fighting for the initia­ tive. Here too 22 Nd5 is not dangerous in view of22 ... Qxe4.

23

. . .

Qg4!

24 f3 After the exchange of queens, White has no hope of saving the ending.

24 . . . 25 g3

An accurately calculated manoeuvre, for­ cing White to declare his intentions: 21 Racl

Qf4

This weakens the king's position and

is very strongly met by 21 ... Rac8.

invites Black to fall into a simple trap. How­

21 R x d4 ?

ever, White's position is all the same lost:

White i s s o impressed b y the threats to

apart from anything else, there are no strong

his knight and his e-pawn that he becomes

points in the centre for his minor pieces. 7

Problems from the first move 25

• . •

No. 4

Qd4 +

Of course, not 25 . . . Q x f3 ? 26 Q X f3 B X f3 27 Rfl , regaining the lost material. 26 Kf1 27 Nd1

Jansa-Polugayevsky

Qe5 Bd5!

European Team Championship Skara, 1980

Forcing the exchange of bishops, or queens, since on 28 Bc2 there follows 28 . . . Bc4. 2S 29 30 31 32 33

Qe2 Bxe2 f4 Kg1 Nf2 Be3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Q X e2 Nd7 Be4 + Ne5 RadS Nd3

Forcing further simplification. 34 B X d3

Or 34 NX d3 B X d3 35 Bb3 Bf5, and there at d3. • • •

Bxd3 Rd7 Be2 ReS

Threatening 39 39 40 41 42 43 44

e6 fxe6 Nd3 Nb4 Kfl Kg1

c5 d6 e X d4 Nf6 a6 e6 Be7 0-0 Ne6 Bd7 ReS

12 Qe1

The white queen wishes to find a post either at f2 (with sights on b6), or on the K-side. But when studying this position on one occasion I had found a way of casting doubts on White's idea.

In allowing this pin, Black had made an accurate calculation of the resulting tactical 'complications. 3S f5

e4 Nf3 d4 N X d4 Ne3 Be2 0-0 f4 Kb1 Be3 a4

This position has occurred countless times in practice, including my games. The usual continuation here is 12 Nb3, to which Black replies 12 . . . Na5, but my opponent played differently.

is no defence against the rook's invasion 34 35 Ba5 36 g4 37 Rcl

Sicilian Defence

Rd5

12 13 Qg3 . . •

B X f5.

Nb4!

Now Black is able to carry out his plan in full. True, after 13 Bd3 e5 Black has a n excellent game, while o n 1 3 Qd2 h e would have continued 13 . . . e5 14 Nf5 (14 /X e5 d x e5 15 Nf5 B X/5 gives Black the initia­ tive) 14 . . . B x f5 15 e x f5 e x f4 1 6 R x f4 d5, with counter-play. To be considered was 13 Rdl ! ?, with attacking chances after 13 . . . e5 1 4 fx e5 d x e5 1 5 Nf5 N X c2 1 6 Qg3.

f X e6 ReS Rxe6 Re2 R X h2 Rb1 + !

Wbite resigns: 45 K X h 1 Be4+.

8

No. 4 Jansa-Polugayevsky, 1 980 The alternative was 1 7 Bd2, parting with one of the bishops, but then after 1 7 . . . N X d2 1 8 Q X d2 NXa4 1 9 B X b7 Bf6 ! Black for the exchange has two pawns and a good game, since 20 Bxa6 fails to 20 . . . Qb6.

17 18 Bd4

Bf6 B X d4!

• . •

Black finds a way to retain his advantage, by retaining the two . . . knights !

13

. • •

19 N X d4 20 B X e4

R x c3

It is this exchange sacrifice (which, inci­

Otherwise the white rooks simply cannot

dentally, is typical of a slightly different

come into play.

Sicilian position-with the bishop at b7)

20 21 Qb4

that constitutes Black's idea.

14 b X c3 15 Qe1

f5

Nxe4

• • •

N X e4

White was pinning great hopes on this attack, but back on his 1 8th move Black had

This makes things easy for Black. Better

planned a favourable arrangement of his

was 15 Qf3 N X c3 16 Q X b7, although even

pieces.

then Black has perfectly sufficient compen­ sation for his minimal material deficit after 1 6 . . . d5, or 1 6 . . . a5, or, perhaps strongest, 16 . . . Nbd5 17 Bgl

(17 Bd2 B/6)

17

N x e2 1 8 N x e2 Qc8.

15 16 Bf3 . • .

Nd5

White has evidently decided to try and exploit the apparently insecure position of the black knights, since the passive 16 Bd2 is well met either by 1 6 . . . Qc7, or 16 . . .

21 22 Rab1 23 Rbd1

Bh4 1 7 g3 Bf6 1 8 Bf3 Nc5, or 1 6 . . . Nc5 1 7 a5 Nf6 followed by . . . d5 and . . . Ne4. Even so, that is what he should have played.

16

• • •

Qc7 Bc8!

. • •

Nd X c3

It

transpires

that

Black

would

have

answered 23 Qb6 with 23 . . . Rf7, either

Not fearing any ghosts, the knights con­

immediately or after first exchanging on b6.

tinue their dance in the centre of the board.

23

For the moment they are defending each other, and the white rooks are deprived of

. . .

Qc3

Black aims for the endgame, in which his

the important squares b 1 and d l .

central pawns will be able to advance . This is

17 Ne2

the key factor in evaluating the given position. 9

Problems from the first move

No. 5 Queen ' s Indian Defence

24 Q x c3 If 24 Qb3, then 24 . . . Rf7 followed by

Polugayevsky-Korcbnoi

... Rc7.

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

• • •

Rde1 a5 Re3 Rfe1 Rb3 g3

N X c3 Kf7 Bd7 ReS Nd5 Rc7 Bc8

Candidates Semi-Final Match Buenos-Aires, 1980 1

2 3 4 5 6 7

For the third time Black's bishop stands on its initial square, completing a new re­ grouping and freeing the rook for active measures.

in the match. After 7 ... eXd5 8 Nd4 the

g6

6th game went 8 ... Nc6 9 cXd5 NXd4

Parrying the threat of 32 NXf5.

32 Kg1 33 Ra3

10 QXd4 c5 11

Rc4

advantage. In the 8th game, after the theo­ retical 8 ... Bc6 9 cxd5 BXd5 10 BXd5 NXd5 11 e4 Nb4 12 Nc3 Bf6 13 Nf5 Black employed the improvement 13

Nc3

• • •

34 Rd3 35 c3

extra pawn. When preparing for the decisive 12th game,

Ne4 Bd7

which I had to win at all costs, I spent many long hours studying the resulting position,

Exploiting the fact that 36 Rb3 is bad

but was unable to improve White's play.

because of 36 ... Nc5, Black brings his last

I was forced to go back, and here I managed

reserves into play, quickly concluding the

to find a completely new line in an opening

aame.

which

Ba4 Bc6 Ra4 Bd5 NcS

Re3 Nf3 Rb3 Nd4 Rb1

giving

the

opponent the

... Re8 !,

creating pressure on e4 and retaining his

The knight again heads for e4!

Not

Qd3!? d6 12 a4 a6 13 Na3 b5

14 Bf4 b4 15 Nc4, and White gained a slight

33 ... Ra4 was threatened.

36 37 38 39 40

Nf6 b6 e6 Bb7 Be7 0-0

The third time this move had been tried

31 Rd1

33

Nf3 c4 g3 Bg2 0-0 d4 d5

had

apparently

been

thoroughly

studied. Yet another demonstration of the inexhaustible nature of chess!

7

. • .

e x dS

(see diagram next column) slightest

8 Nb4! !

chance, e.g. 40 ... RXa5 41 c4, although even here Black's advantage is undisputed.

41 b3

In this way White reaches the desired variations, while avoiding 8 ... Bc6, and also 8 ... Nc6.

White sealed this move, but resigned with­ out resuming play.

8 10

• • •

c6

No. 5 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 980

White regains his piece, and the opponent's dark squares on the K-side are irreparably weakened.

After 8 . . . Ne4 9 c x d5 B X h4 10 B x e4 Bf6 1 1 Qc2 g6 12 Nc3 White obtains an attractive position. 9 c x d5 10 Nf5

13

N X d5

Black should probably have tried 1 3 .. . Ba6, so that after 14 Re 1 the white rook should be less actively placed than in the game. But here too White has a strong initiative, e.g. 14 . . . B X b4 15 Qd4 + f6 1 6 Q X b4 c5 1 7 Qc3 Nbc6 1 8 e5 !

This position had frequently occurred in the 8 Nd4 c6 variation, although there White usually continued 10 e4 followed by 11 Nc3. But here the vulnerable position of the white knight dictates that it should immediately move to f5. Black decides to try and cast doubts on this. 10

• . .

14 Qd4 + 15 Q X b4 16 Qd2 17 Bb2

Bc5

Vacating e7 for the knight, from where it will dislodge its white opponent from its active position.As will be seen, White is able to refute this plan. Later, at the Malta Olympiad, two other continuations were tried. But both after 1 0 ...Nc7 1 1 e4 d5 12 Nc3 Bf6 1 3 e x d5 c x d5 14 Bf4 Nba6 1 5 Re 1 (Kasparov-Marjanovic), and after 10 ... Nf6 1 1 e4 d5 12 Nc3 d X e4 13 N X e4 with the threat of Bg5 (Poluga­ yevsky-Stean went 13 Bg5 ?! h6, when Black parried the attack) White has a serious initiative for the pawn. 11 e4

2

f6 c5 Nbc6

The check at h6 is unnecessary, since there is no point in driving the black king out of the firing line. White's overall plan consists of organizing the e4-e5 breakthrough, after which it will all be over. Realizing this, Black tries by tactical means to hinder or at least delay it. 17 . . . 18 Rd1 19 Na3

Ba6 Ne5

White is not afraid of this sideways de­ velopment, since the knight and the black bishop mutually restrict each other. Mean­ while, the threat of f2-f4 hangs over Black like the sword of Damocles.

Ne7

(see diagram next column) 12 N X g7! 13 b4

B X b4

19 . . . 20 Qe3!

K X g7

11

N7c6

Problems from the first move This modest move, over which

I thought

won more quickly by 27 Re1 Qe6

20 f4 Nd3 21 e5 NXb2 22 QXb2 Nd4 23

(27 . . . Qg4 28 Qf6 + Kg8 29 Qh8 + Kf7 30 Q X h7+ and mate next move, o r 27 . . . Be6 28 Qf6 + Kg8 29 Qg5+ Kf7 30 f5 and wins) 28 Qc7+

BXa8 QXa8, and thus acts like a proverbial

Ke8 29 Q X c6 + , winning an important pawn

cold shower.

in comparison with the game.

for more than half an hour, prevents Black from confusing matters in variations such as

20 . . .

But I had worked out beforehand the

Qe7

variations after 26 ... Kg6, and with time

On 20 . . . Nb4 White had prepared the

trouble approaching

I did not want to be

murderous 21 Rd6!, with the threat ofRad1,

diverted by a search for additional possibili­

and after 21 ... Nbd3

ties.

(21 . . . Ned3 loses 22 Qg5 + ) 22 f4 NXb2 (or 22 . . . Ng4 23 Qf3) 23 fXe5 Black is lost.

immediately to

21 f4

Nc4

Of course, there was little cheer in retreat­

Kg8 Kf7 Qe6

Black has to give up his queen, since

ing to f7 or g6, but nevertheless this would

29 ... Be6 fails to 30 f5.

have been the lesser evil.

22 N X c4 23 e5 24 B x c6

27 Qf6 + 28 Qg5 + 29 Re1

30 31 32 33

B x c4 r x e5 d X c6

Qg7 + R X e6 + Bf6 Bg5

Ke8 B x e6 Bf7

The end position of White's combination. Of course, 34 QXh7 followed by the advance of the pawns would also have won, but, by threatening 34 Qe5 + , for the sake of comfort he intends in addition to win the exchange.

33 34 35 36

... Bb6 Q X h7 B X f8

Kd7 c4 c5

There was absolutely no reason to be in a hurry with this; 36 g4 or 36 h4 would have

25 Rd7! !

concluded matters within a few moves. I was

An explosive move. With his few remain­

let down by my nerves in this important game, the last in 'normal time'.

ing forces White begins a direct attack, which is merely strengthened by the presence

36 37 Qg7 38 Qe5 + 39 g4 • • •

of opposite-coloured bishops.

25 26 Q X e5 + • • .

Q X d7 Kf7

R X f8 Ke7 Kd7

Correct was 26 . .. Kg6, which would have

And here White should have restricted

transposed into the game after 27 Qg5 +

the rook by 39 Qf6, or advanced the pawn

Kf7 28 Qf6+. But now White could have

after the preparatory 39 Qg7 Ke7. 12

No. 5 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 980

39 40 Qf6 41 g5 • • •

ReS BdS Re2

The only chance of exploiting the passed c4 pawn. 49 . . . Ra2 would have been most simply met by 50 Qf6 + and 5 1 Qc3, followed by the advance of the K-side pawns.

50 h5 51 Qf6 +

c3

Again White solves all his problems by checks.

51

Be6

• • •

Or 5 1 . . . Kc7 52 Qg7 + ! Kc6 {52 . . . Kc8 53 Qf8 + ) 53 h6, when 52 . . . c2 loses to

In this position the game was adjourned. Black has activated his pieces, but a queen

53 Qg6 + . But now too White is able to ex­ ploit the fact that the black bishop is not very actively placed.

by the move sealed by White, and 42 g6. Moreover, in my analysis I was able to find

a fairly clear-cut winning procedure. 42 h4 Obviously 42

c2 Rh3

52 Kf2 53 Qb2 54 Kg2

is a queen, and there are two ways to win:

Completing the encirclement : after 54 .. . .

b5

RXh5 55 Q x c2 the white pawns are un­ stoppable.

R X a2 loses quickly to

54

43 h5. Therefore Black attempts to advance his pawn to b4 and follow it up with .. . c3

Bf5

• • •

The last chance.

or . . . b3. By a series of checks White fore­ stalls this possibility.

43 44 45 46 47 48

Qf5 + Qf8 + Qc8 + Qd8 + Qa8 + Qf8 +

Kd6 Kc6 Kd6 Kc6 Kd6

Having made several 'prophylactic anti­ time-trouble' moves, White sets about imple­ menting his plan.

48 49 a3!

• • •

55 Qf6 + ! Kc6

White queen

55 56 Q X £5 57 Qe5 + • . •

and 4 9 . . . c 3 b y 5 0 Qf6+.

2*

• • •

transposes his

pawns

into being

advanced.

The black pawns are now halted, since 49 . . . a5 is met by 50 Qa8 + and 5 1 Q X a5 ,

49

simply

ending,

Re3 13

Kc7 cl = Q

a

won

further

Problems from the first move Vacating f5 for the king. The rest is ob-

work, suddenly my heart literally skipped a beat : I had seized on an absolutely new idea . . . In the match it was not required, and the piece of paper with my analysis stayed with me for more than four years !

VlOUS.

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

... K X h3 a x b4 h6 Kg4 Kf5 Kf6 h7! Qe3+ Q x b3 Ke7 Qc4+ Qb4+ Qe4+ Kf7 g6 Qe5 +

Kb6 b4 c X b4 Qh1+ Qd1+ Qc2+ b3 Q x h7 Kc6 Qh8+ Qh4 Kb6 Kc6 Kb5 a5 Qg4 Resigns

11 e X f6

If White plays 1 1 g3, he has to reckon both with 1 1 . . . b4 12 Ne4 N X e4 13 B X d8 K X d8 (experts on the variation have doubts about the conclusion of theory, that all this favours White), and 1 1 . . . Qa5 . But now after 1 1 . . . Qb6 12 g3 White transposes into the main line, where he has the advantage. Therefore Black first plays 11 . . . 12 g3!

Bb7

Nevertheless ! 12 . . . 13 d5

No. 6 Queen' s Gambit

c5 Nb6

Polugayevsky-Torre

Moscow, 1981 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

d4 c4 Nf3 Nc3 Bg5 e4 e5 Bh4 N X g5 B X g5

d5 c6 Nf6 e6 d x c4 b5 h6 g5 h X g5 Nbd7

This position had frequently been the sub­ ject of theoretical analyses, and had been tested in practice, with Black maintaining approximate equality.

This is essentially the initial position of the Botvinnik Variation. For roughly two weeks, at the risk of wasting precious time, I ana­ lyzed it when preparing for my match with Henrique Mecking. The risk justified itself. One sleepless night, totally engrossed in the

14 d X e6 15 R X dl 16 e7

Q X d1 + B x h1 a6

Obviously Black has no time for 1 6 . . . Bh6, in view of 1 7 N X b5 Rc8 1 8 Nc7 + . 14

No . 6 Polugayevsky-Torre, 1 98 1 that the position was analyzed a s far as move 30 of the present game). Had White retreated with 19 Nb 1 , Black would have been alright, whereas now the knight has available the d 1 square, from where it can immediately aim for the centre. 19 . . .

After 19 . . . b X c3 20 R X b6 c X b2 (if 20 . . . c2 21 Kd2 Kd7 22 B X c4 Be4, White wins even by the seemingly paradox­ ical 23 R X a6!) 2 1 B X c4 followed by R X b2 Black loses due to the weakness of f7 and the amazing helplessness of his rooks. More­ over, after placing his rook on the d-file, White can even exchange bishops and play a unique 'three-rook' ending ! After lengthy thought the Philippine grandmaster finds the best chance.

What i s White to do ? My analysis, and also the game Belyavsky-Bagirov from the Match Tournament of Four USSR teams, Moscow, 1981, showed that after 17 e X f8 =Q + K X f8 1 8 Rd6 Rb8 19 Be3 Rh5 White has good compensation for the ex­ change, but perhaps not more, since he has constantly to reckon with the possible ad­ vance of Black's Q-side pawns. 17 b4! ! 18 f4! !

Rb8

20 Nd1 21 f X g5

Bb6

B x g5 Nd5

Preventing Ne3, and simultaneously pre­ paring to give up the knight for the e- and f-pawns. 22 B X c4 23 fX e7 24 Rf6!

N x e7 K x e7

It is much more important to prevent the rook at h8 from coming into play, than to go after the a-pawn. 24 . . . 25 Ne3

Having given up a rook, White has no intention of regaining the lost material, but contents himself with the fact that the rook at h8 is not destined to come into play for some time. 18 . . . 19 Rd6!

Rbf8

25 Nf2 followed by Nd3 is also quite good, but I did not like the fact that, after the capture on c5, the white pieces do not defend one another, and in certain cases can be left 'hanging' . Therefore, instead of the c5 pawn, White attacks the important d5 and f5 squares.

b4

25 26 R x a6

This too is the result of that same home preparation (jumping ahead, I have to admit 15

Be4

Problems from the first move Now, with the e-file securely blocked and the black rook unable to come into play from e8, White re-establishes material equal­ ity, maintaining a highly significant posi­ tional advantage and excellent winning chances. 26 27 Rf6 • • •

A mistake, which could have cancelled out all White's achievements. He could have won by the simple 34 h6 followed by 35 h7 and the advance of the king into the centre. In addition, Black would be unable to keep his king at d5, since he would be threatened with 36 g6, and if 36 . . . fX g6 37 Bb3 + and 38 Bg8.

Rbd8

34 35 g4

• • •

27 h5 suggests itself, but at the board I re­ frained from making this committing ad­ vance, due to the possibility after 27 . . . Rg8 28 g6 of Black giving up the exchange by 28 . . . fX g6 29 B X g8 R X g8, when, al­ though White is a pawn up, it may prove no easy matter to realize it. Therefore the game continues in positional vein. 27 28 Rf4 29 h5 • • •

In time trouble Black fails to take the excellent chance granted him by White-35 . . . d3 ! ! (with the bishop at c2 this move would not have been possible). Now on 36 g6 fx g6 37 h x g6 he retreats his king to f6, while after 36 Kd2 Kd4 ! 37 g6 fX g6 38 h X g6 Rf2 + (or 36 h6 Kf4 37 B X /7 Ke3 !) he has powerful counter-play, and it is White who has to think in terms of saving the game.

Rd6 Rd4

Now 29 . . . Rg8 is no longer possible; and Black tries to disentangle himself. 29 30 31 32 33 34

• • •

Nd5 + R X d4 Bb3 B x c2 Bb3 + ?

Ke5 Kf4?

35 g6

Ke3

On 36 . . . d3 White has 37 Kd2, while after 36 . . . fX g6 37 h X g6 the pawn reaches the queening square. But in the game too. Black is not able to create a counter-attack using mating threats.

Bd3 Kd6 c X d4 Bc2 K X d5

36 g7 37 Kfl

Rc8

38 h6 is also good enough. 37 38 Kg2 39 b6 . . •

d3 Kf4

In this hopeless position Black lost on time. This innovation is perhaps the best that I have managed to find during the whole of my chess career.

16

In Search of the Truth

Truly great chess players are universal. The

enormous pleasure. I myself like carrying

genius of combinations, Alexander Alekhine,

out a swift attack, but - based on certain

could win an intricate, technically complex

positional principles. It is important that

ending, while that deep strategist Mikhail

the integral nature of strategy and attack

Botvinnik played some wonderful attacks.

should be retained, and that a combination

And yet even at a very high level we find

should lead to a determination of the truth

players who are definitely one-sided. More­

in the chess position.

over, this leaning is normally in the direction

There is also one more factor which ex­

of tactics. I have met many masters who have

plains

why

attacks

occur

comparatively

possessed a sharp tactical vision, and whose

rarely in my games. Since childhood I have

play is aimed only 'at the king'. They burn

been playing the Sicilian Defence, in which

their boats behind them, not even considering

it is necessary to have a very subtle feel for

the possibility of their attack breaking down,

the opponent's attacking possibilities, and

and very often take the liberty of bluffing.

at the same time for one's own defensive re­

Such reckless play has never appealed

sources. So that even in an offensive position

to me. Just as it has never appealed to me

I see many ways of parrying an attack, and

to make a sacrifice, merely to take the oppo­

my interest in it wanes. Although I realize

nent off the normal path, to disturb his

that it is highly probable that a less ex­

equilibrium. I will admit that such an ap­

perienced opponent will not find these de­

proach has a certain justification, and that

fensive subtleties.

sometimes the effect of a surprise can be very

But to give in to such a temptation would

strong. But in principle this is an erroneous path, and in confirmation

mean acting contrary to my basic convic­

I can cite the

tions. And I endeavour not to do this.

words of Capablanca, who said that excessive boldness, like excessive timidity, are con­ tradictory to the essence of chess.

No. 7

All my life I have been aiming in chess for the truth, and have tried to play clean, correct chess. And if

Polugayevsky-Lutikov

I sense at heart that

an attack or combination is dubious, I will not go in for it. And

Semifinal 25th USSR Championship Sverdlovsk, 1958

I will not debase myself,

just so that some spectator should later say: 'See how brilliantly he attacked!'

1 d4 2 c4 3 Nf3

This does not mean, of course, that a beautiful

combination does not give

Queen' s Gambit

me

17

Nf6 e6 c5

In search of the truth

·

4 5 6 7 s 9 10 11 12

e3 Nc3 Bd3 0--0 B x c4 Qe2 a4 e X d4 Bb3

Be7 0--0 dS d X c4 Nbd7 a6 c X d4 Nb6

20 BXd5 B X g5 (20 . e x d5 21 B X e7 Q x e7 22 Ng6 + ) 21 B x b7. .

19 Rh3

Preventing 1 9 . . . Nfd5, which is met by 20 Qh5 . Now White intends to continue 20 Qf3 followed by Qg3 and Qh4, a man­ oeuvre which Black should have prevented by 19 . . . Bc6. 19 20 Qf3 • . .

• • •

Bd7 Be8

21 Ne4

NhS

21 . . . N x e4 fails to 22 R X h7 + K X h7 23 Qh3 + and 24 Qh6 mate .

Better was 13 Bc6 or the immediate 13 . .. Nbd5, so as to answer 14 Rdl with 14 . . . Nb4. 14 Rd1 15 Rd3

g6? Rg8

Mter weakening his K-side, it is unlikely that Black can save the game. Here are some sample variations : (a) 20 . . . Nfd5 21 N X g6 + fX g6 22 Q X f8 + B X f8 23 B X d8. (b) 20 . . . Ng8 21 N X g6 + fX g6 22 Q X f8 B X g5 23 Q X b4. (c) 20 . . . Nh5 21 Bh6 Rg8 22 Q x f7 ! Bf8 23 Q x e6. (d) 20 . . . Bc6 21 Qg3 Nh5 22 R X h5 g X h5 23 Bh6 Bf6 24 B X f8 Q X f8 25 Ng6 + h X g6 26 Q x c7. The move in the game also meets with a refutation.

In this complicated and interesting posi­ tion White will build up a piece attack on the king, whereas Black will aim for active play in the centre and on the Q-side . 12 13 NeS

.

NbdS

Now White succeeds in switching his rook to the K-side, exploiting the fact that on 15 . .. Nb4 there follows 16 Rg3, when 1 6 . . . Q X d4 fails to 1 7 Bh6. 15 16 Rg3 17 BgS 18 Rd1 • • •

ReS Kh8 Nb4 Rc7

22 Q X f7!

Preparing 1 9 Nfd5, which was not possible immediately due to 1 9 N x d5 N X d5

This spectacular move is the quickest way to win. 18

No. 8 Polugayevsky-Suetin, 1 958 22

• • •

Bc6

11

• • •

Bf6

There was no longer any defence. Thus on 22 . . . BXg5 there would have followed simply 23 N Xg5 , when 23 . . . Q Xg5 allows 24 Q x c7. If instead 22 . . . BXf7, the following variation is possible : 23 N X f7+ Kg7 24 NXd8 RXd8 25 g4 Nf6 26 Bh6 + Kh8 27 Ng5, and wins. 23 Q x e6

24 d5 25 26 27 28 29

B X e7 Qd6 Nf6 Q x f6 + d6

Rg7 Bd7 R x e7 Qe8 N x £6 Rg7 Resigns

Suetin also made this move instantly, so that it had obviously been prepared before­ hand. In the Tal-Boleslavsky game Black would not have equalized, if (after 11 . . . B X/5 12 Bd3! e4! ? 13 Jx e4 Qe7 14 e xj5 Q X e3 + 15 Qe2 Qg3+ 16 Kd2 Nc7) instead of 1 7 Qh2 Tal had played 17 Nf3 !, e. g. 1 7 . . . ReS 1 8 Ne4 Qf4+ 19 Qe3, with advantage to White. Suetin's last move is an attempt to improve Black's play, but the further course of the game shows that the innovation is not able to alter the evalua­ tion of the position as difficult for Black.

Apart from 30 Nf7 +, mate in two is also threatened : 30 R Xh7+ KXh7 31 Qh4.

No. 8 King ' s Indian Defence Polugayevsky-8uetin

25th USSR Championship Riga, 1958 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

d4 c4 Nc3 e4 f3 Be3 d5 g4 h4 g x £5 e x f5

12 Bd3!

After 40 minutes' thought White finds the correct plan. He is not afraid to sacrifice a pawn in the interests of completing his development as quickly as possible, and of building up an attack on the black king.

Nf6 g6 Bg7 d6 0-0 e5 c5 Ne8 f5 g X f5

12 13 Qe2 • . •

Ng7 B X h4 +

A mistake, after which i t i s unlikely that White's attack can be parried. Better was 13 . . . NXf5 (13 . . . B X/5 14 Ne4) 14 BXf5 BXf5, although even then after 1 5 0-0--0 White retains an obvious advantage.

The two players made these first 1 1 moves instantly, aiming for a position reached in the 3rd round game between Tal and Bole­ slavsky.

14 Kd2 15 Ne4 16 Nh3

19

B x f5 Be7 b5

In search of the truth Black tries to create complications on the opposite wing, but his counter-play is too late . 17 Rag1 18 Bc2

The concluding move, which is immedi­ ately decisive. 27 . . . 28 Qf5

b X c4 Qa5 +

No.

After 1 8 . . . Na6 White has an interesting win: 19 Qg2 Bg6 20 Nhg5 B X g5 21 N X g5

Qa5+ 22 Kcl c3 (22 . . . Nb4 23 R X h7! NX c2 24 R X g7 + KXg7 25 Ne6 + , win­ ning) 23 R X h7 ! cxb2 + 24 Kb l Nb4 25 R X g7 + K X g7 (25 . . . Kh8 26 Nf7+ ! R X/7 27 Qh3 + KXg7 28 Qh6 + ) 26 Ne6+ , and wins. 19 Nc3 K x c2 21 Bh6 22 Kb1 20

9 Queen' s Gambit

Polugayevsky-Khasin

28th USSR Championship Moscow, 1961 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

B X c2 Na6 Nb4 + Rf7

On 22 . . . Bf6 there would have followed 23 B X g7 B X g7 24 Qg2 Qc7 25 Ng5 Qe7 26 Ne6 Rf7 27 Qh3, when Black's position is hopeless. 23 Ng5 24 R X g5

Rh8 Resigns

d4 Nf3 c4 Nc3 c X d5 e3 Bd3 0-0

d5 Nf6 e6 c5 N X d5 Nc6 Be7 c X d4

Present-day theory rightly gives preference here to 8 . . . 0-0, deferring the relieving of the central tension to a more propitious moment.

B X g5 Rb8

9 10 11 12

e x d4 Re1 Bg5 Qe2!

0-0

Nf6 b6

It transpires that, since the d-pawn is immune (12 . . . NX d4 ? 13 NX d4 Q X d4 14 Radl Qc5 15 B X/6 B X/6 16 Qe4, with a double attack on h7 and aS), White is able to deploy his pieces in the best way possible. 12 13 Rad1 14 Bb1 15 Ne5 . • •

25 B X g7!

R X g7

On 25 . . . Nd3 White has the decisive 26 RXh7 !

26 R X g7 + 2 7 Qe4!

Bb7 Nb4 Rc8 Nbd5

The play of both sides is natural, but never­ theless Black's last move seems to me not altogether good. He should not have given

K x g7

20

No. 9 Polugayevsky-Khasin, 1 961 The only way of avoiding loss of material.

the white queen immediate access to d3, but should have let White waste a tempo on a2a3. To be considered was 1 5 . . . Qd6. In 'justification', it might be said that Black was sticking firmly to his plan, and was not suspecting that White might have prepared a trap. 16 Qd3 17 b X c3

24 N X f6 +

O n 24 Rd2 there would have followed 24 . . . Bg5. 24 . . . 25 Rc1

N X c3 Qd5

g X f6 Kg7

This was the position Black was aiming for. Now after 1 8 f3 g6 he has everything in order, since the b 1 -h7 diagonal is securely blocked, and the white queen is unable to switch to the K-side. But White too was aiming for this position. 18 Qb3!

R X c3

26 d5!

This break enables White to expose the black king, and to bring his queen into play with great effect. 26 27 28 Z9 30

19 f3 !

The trap snaps shut ! Of the two threats against h7 and the bishop at b7 (by Be4), only one can be parried. 19 20 21 22 23

• • •

B X f6 Be4 R X e4 Nd7

e X d5 Kb8 Rfc8 Kg8

In making this move, White calculated that he did not have to fear the advance of the d-pawn, since he continues his pursuit of the king.

b6 B X f6 Q X e4 B x e4

30 31 b4!

• • •

d4

This is the whole point !

Concluding the combination begun six moves earlier. Material is level, but there will be numerous targets to attack in the black position. 23 . . .

... Qg4 + Qd4 Q X f6 + Q X h6

31 32 b5

• • •

d3 R3c5

Parrying the threat of 33 Qg5 + and 34 h6.

Bc2

33 Re1

21

Rd8

In search of the truth On the intended 34 Re4 there would now have followed 34 . . . d2 35 Rg4 + Bg6 36 hXg6 d 1 = Q + 37 Kh2 Qd6 + 38 Kh3 fX g6 39 R X g6 + Q X g6 40 Q X g6 + Kf8, when White, as a minimum, would have had to spend time and effort on analysis and an adjournment. But the position of the rook at d8 gives him a decisive tempo. Resigns

34 Qf6

There is no defence against 35 h6.

(b) 29 . . . e x f3 30 B X h6 f2 (if 30 . . . Qa6., then 31 R X/3 Q x c4 32 Q X c4 R X c4 33 Kg2, and the black knight on the edge of the board has no move) 3 1 Kg2. 30 f6!

This is the whole point ! White lures the bishop onto an unprotected square, at the same time gaining control of f5 . The position of the black king immediately becomes crit­ ical. 30 31 Bc3 • • •

No. lO

29th USSR Championship Baku, 1961

32 B X f6 + 33 R X f3 34 Rf5

With his last move (28 . . . e4) Black took a gamble, obviously overrating his position. The al-h8 diagonal, on which his king stands, should not have been opened, although this factor can be exploited only by means of a combinational blow.

Kg8 Ng5 Nb7

35 Raft

With little time on the clock, White makes a natural move, and makes things more diffi­ cult for himself. 35 Bc3 ! was in the spirit of the position, retaining the bishop for the attack. In this case White wins quickly, since Black has no satisfactory defence against the two threats of 36 R X h5 and 36 R X f7 K X f7 37 Q X h7 + , for example : (a) 35 . . . h4 36 R X f7 Nf8 37 Rafl h X g3 38 h X g3 R X g3 39 Qh2 ! Qh3 (39 . . . Rh3

29 Bd2!

This is the prologue ! • • •

e X f3

Here it is not easy to offer any good advice; since after 31 . . . Bg7 32 B X g7 + K X g7 33 Nh4 the different in strength between the white and the black knight is striking.

Polugayevsky-Vasyukov

29

B X f6

Bg7

The following two lines allow White to win a pawn : (a) 29 . . . B X d2 30 N X d2 e3 (30 . . . Qe8 31 Rae1) 3 1 Qc3 + . 22

No. 1 1 Polugayevsky-Maslov, 1 963 40 R X/8 + , or 39 . . . R x cJ 40 Qg2 + ) 40

54 55 56 57

Rg7 + R X g7 41 Q X h3 Rh7 42 Rgl + Kf7 43 Q X h7 + N X h7 44 Rg7 + . (b) 35 . . . Ng5 36 Rafl Qe8 (36 . . . h4 loses immediately to 37 Rlf4) 37 Re i (37 Rlf4 is also good) 37 . . . Qd7 38 Bd2 Nh7 (38 . . . Ne4 39 R X e4 Q X/5 40 Re8 + ) 39 R X h5 . 35 . . 36 R x f6 37 R X d6 .

Rc6 Qg2 Rf4 Qfl

Polugayevsky-Maslov

N x f6 Rg7 h4

USSR Spartakiad Moscow, 1963 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Qh3 Qg4 Qdl + Qd2

After 41 . . . Q X fl + 42 R X fl h X g3 43 Rgl the rook ending is obviously hopeless for Black. 42 R X h4 43 Rch6 44 Re6!

• • •

ReS KJ8

R X e6 Ke8 Qcl + Qb2 +

7

Qb6 R X f7

Now comes the concluding mating attack. 50 51 52 53

Qa8 + QdS + Re4 + Qa8 +

d5 g6 Bg7 e5 Ne7 0-0

• • •

d X e4

Black immediately relieves the tension. The alternative was 7 . . . Nc6 8 e x d5 (now or on the next move White is obliged to concede the centre) 8 . . . N X d5 9 Re l , when White begins a n attack o n the e-pawn, but Black reinforces it and has a comfortable game.

Mter 47 . . . Q x c4 48 Qc6 + Black is mated. 48 Kh3 49 e X f7 +

Nf3 g3 Bg2 0-0 d3 Nbd2 e4

The position reached is essentially one from the King's Indian Defence with colours re­ versed and an extra tempo for White. Such set-ups used to occur in my games, and do even now sometimes. In this way White does not gain an opening advantage, but on the other hand it leads to a complicated strategic struggle, where the players have to solve all the problems directly at the board.

The most exact move, suppressing Black's counter-play. 44 45 d X e6 46 Qf3 47 Kg2

K16 Ke7 Kd6 Resigns

No. 1 1 Reti Opening

The last chance - complicating matters in the opponent's time trouble, but White finds the best moves. 38 39 40 41

Rg4 + Qh8 + Re4 + Qe5 +

8 d X e4 9 b3

Kd7 Ke7

b6

White could also have tried the immediate 9 Nc4 and then used his bishop on the cl-h6

KJ8 Kg7 23

In search of the truth diagonal, but he thought that it would be more promisingly placed at b2. 9

• • .

aS

The natural reaction - advancing the a-pawn to exploit the slight weakening of the opponent's Q-side.

15 h5

10 Bb2

Nowadays I would probably have first hindered Black's plan by playing 10 a4, or else 10 a3 with the idea of meeting 10 . . . a4 with 1 1 b4, and only then developed the bishop. After the move in the game Black has not the slightest difficulty. 10 11 Qe2 12 Nc4 • • •

Vacating the a-file for the possible invasion of the rook after the exchange on b3. The alternative plan was 14 . . . a x b3 1 5 a X b3 h6 with the idea of placing the queen at e6, but Black rejected it, evidently because of 1 6 Kh2, when after 17 Bh3 the white rook on the d-file may make itself felt.

Nbc6 a4 Ba6

Qa6 ?

Excessively optimistic, and inconsistent with his previous play. The queen not only moves away from the centre, not only de­ prives itself of the possibility of influencing events on the K -side, but also blocks the a-ffie for its own rook. After the correct 15 . . . a X b3 16 a x b3 Ra2 the black rook would have begun to play on White's nerves. 16 h X g6 17 Ng5!

h X g6

This is the consequence of Black's 1 5th move. Disregarding the Q-side, and in par­ ticular the defence of c4, White makes for the opposing king. He already threatens 1 8 Qg4 followed by Qh4. 17

18 Qg4 19 b X c4 20 Qb4

The only possible plan in this position. White counters Black's Q-side activity with an attack on the K-side. A typical procedure in such positions is the mutual breaking up of the pawn chains at their weakest points. . • .

• • •

N x c4 B x c4 Rfe8

Prudently defending the e6 square, but it is already too late.

Qc8

(see diagram next column) 21 f4!

'Just in case' White strengthens his control over d4, although the immediate 14 h5 was also possible. 14

Na5

Black should have attempted to hold the position by 1 7 . . . Rfd8, although even then after 1 8 Qg4 and f2-f4 White has a strong initiative.

13 h4!

13 14 Rad1

• • •

Of course, in such a situation there is no need to pay any attention to the rook at fl . 21

Bb5

24

• • .

Qb5

No. 1 1 Polugayevsky-Maslov, 1 963 An unusually picturesque position. White has two rooks and two minor pieces en prise. The essence of the combination has already been indicated. It should be mentioned that 25 Ne6 + B x e6 26 B X e6 fails to 26 . . . Qc5 + ! 27 Kg2 (27 Khl R X d1 28 R X dl Q X c2) 27 . . . R X d1 28 B Xf6 Rd2 + , when both 29 Kf3 and 29 Kh1 allow 29 . . . Qh5 + , exchanging queens. 25 Be6 can met by 25 . . . Qc5 + 26 Kh2 (26 Khl R X d1 27 R X dlfX e5) 26 . B x fl !, when White has no time for 27 B X f6 in view of the threat of 27 . . . Q X c2 + . First 25 R X d8 R X d8 and now 26 Ne6 + B x e6 27 B x e6 is also parried by 27 . . . Qc5 + 28 Kh1 (28 Kh2 Rd2 + 29 Kh3 Jx e5 30 jx e5 + Rf2) 28 . . . Qc6, with attacks on e4 and e6. All that has been said is as though to justify the exclamation marks attached to White's move. But the question marks have been given because this move is not the strongest. Here too it should have been preceded by 25 B X f6, and if 25 . . . B X f6 - 26 Rd5 ! ! (not 26 Ne6 + ? B X e6 27 B X e6 Bg7) with a decisive attack, e . g. 26 . . . B x d5 27 e x d5 Bd4 + (27 . . . B x g5 28 Be6, with inevitable mate) 28 Kh2 ! Qe2+ 29 Khl , and Black has no defence. In certain variations Black can 'buy off' White with his queen, but this does not affect the outcome of the game. After the text move Black had an amazing defensive resource, which at the board he failed to find. .

Winning the exchange by 2 1 . . . B X fl 22 BXfl would deprive Black of his last defence of f7. 22 B X e5 23 Qh7 + 24 Bh3

f6 Kf8

White is too engrossed in his overall plan, and carries out an intended tactical blow one move later than he should have done. Imme­ diately decisive was 24 BXf6 B X f6 25 Rd5 ! !, blocking out the bishop from f7. After 25 . . . B X d5 26 e x d5 B X g5 27 fX g5 + Nf5 28 R X f5 + g X f5 29 g6 Re l + 30 Kh2 Ke8 31 g7 it is all over. True, he now threatens both 25 Be6, and 25 Ne6 + B X e6 26 B X e6 followed by 27 B X f6. On 25 . . . Qc6 he wins by 26 Bd7, but Black finds the only possible defence. 24

• • •

Rad8!

25

• . .

.

N X d5

After 25 . . . B X d5 26 e X d5 Qc5 + 27 Rf2 there is no satisfactory defence against the threats of 28 Ne6 + and 28 B X f6, since on 27 . . . N X d5 White wins by 28 Be6 Ne7 (28 . . . /X e5 29 Qg8 + Ke7 30 Q X g7+ Kd6 31 Q x e5 + Ke7 32 B x d5 + ) 29 B x f6 Rd l + 30 Kg2 Qc6 + 3 1 Nf3. 25 Rd5! ! ? ?

26 Be6

25

In search of the truth This was what White intended when mak­ ing his 25th move. He threatens mate in two moves - 27 Qg8 + and 28 Qf7 mate, and if 26 . . . Ne7 then 27 B X f6. An interesting continuation of the attack would have been 26 Q X g6, but after 26 . . . Re7 ! I could not see any clear-cut winning variation, either during the game, or after a lengthy subsequent analysis. The countless continuations for White and for Black in this position would suffice for a long article, but there is probably no point in giving them. I will mention the important thing : Black's defence is based on the captures . . . fxg5 and . . . B X fl in the event of the f-file being opened, and also on the intermediate queen check at c5, which is useful in certain cases.

Qg8 + Ke7 28 Q X g7 + Kd8 29 B X f6 + N X f6 30 Q X f6 + Kc8 3 1 B X d7 + Q X d7 Here for the moment he is a pawn up, but the position remains double-edged, with Black threatening to capture on a2 or to play his queen to g4, and so on. 27 N X e6 + 28 Nd4!

Ke7

The queen is attacked, and - most impor­ tant - the diagonal along which it might check the white king is blocked. 28 29 Q x g7 + 30 Q x g6 + 31 Rf2 . •

•

QcS Ke8 Ke7

3 1 e X d5 was also good enough. 31 32 Qe6 + 33 f x e5 + • . .

rxes Kf8

I n view of the inevitable mate in three moves, Black resigned.

No. 12 Griinfeld Defence 26

. .

.

R X e6

Black fails to seize that chance about which I have already spoken. White's 'audacity' in leaving all his pieces en prise could have been countered by the unexpected 26 . . . Rd7 ! !, by which Black opens an escape square for his king at d8. After the most natu­ ral 27 e x d5 there follows 27 . . . fXe5 ! (27 . . . B Xf1 loses to 28 Qg8 + Ke7 29 Q Xg7 + Kd8 30 B X/6 + Kc8 31 B X d7 + Q X d7 32 Q x d7 + and 33 K X/1), when White has nothing. It would seem that White would have had to restrict himself to 27 Rf2, retaining his former threats but giving Black a tempo for defence, or else gone in for the variation 27

Polugayevsky-Padevsky

Havana Olympiad, 1966 1 2 3 4 5 6

d4 c4 Nc3 c x ds g3 Bg2

Nf6 g6 dS N X dS Bg7 Nb6

Black more often plays 6 . . . N X c3, not wasting a tempo on retreat, although there is also the original idea of 6 . . . Be6. 7 e3 8 Nge2

26

0-0 eS

No. 12 Polugayevsky-Padevsky, 1 966 at any moment will begin an attack on the cS pawn. But Black has a tactical defence.

The alternative plan is to undermine White's centre by . . . cS, but in this game Black is aiming for a Q-side pawn majority.

17 18 B X b4 19 NcdS 20 N X dS . . •

9 0-0 10 N X d4

e X d4 a6

An unexpected decision, but not without point. Black plans . . . cS, and for this he first deprives the white knights of the square b5. The standard 10 . . . c6 leaves White with the freer game. 11 b3 12 Nde2

Nb4 c x b4 N x dS R X dS!

This is the basis of Black's defence. White retains a positional advantage, it is true, but there is little material remaining on the board, and the bishops are of opposite colour . . .

c5 Qe7

21 B X d5 22 e4 23 Q x fl

After 12 . . . Q X d 1 13 R X d 1 followed by Ba3 and Racl White obviously has a good game . But the drawback to the move played is that Black's queen ends up in a pin.

Bd3 B X fl Bc3

Black blocks the c-ille, but it would per­ haps have been better to leave it open and play 23 . . . Qd7, preparing 24 . . . Rc8. In this case, incidentally, 24 Rc4 Rc8 25 R X b4 would have failed to 25 . . . bS, when . the white rook is trapped.

13 Ba3

The routine 13 Bb2 would have allowed Black to advance . . . c4 without hindrance.

24 h4 25 Kg2 26 Qd3

ReS ReS bS

Had Black sensed the danger, he would not have allowed the advance of the enemy rook's pawn, but would himself have played 26 . . . hS. In this case White would have had to continue his attack by sending for­ ward his f-pawn.

13 . . .

27 28 29 30

Bg4!

Probably best. Black plans active counter­ play. 14 15 16 17

Rcl h3 Qe1 Nf4

Be5 Q x cS Qc7

The culmination of White's strategic plan. In spite o f the exchange .of rooks, his ad­ vantage has increased considerably; since the pawn wedge at h6 creates the precon­ ditions for various mating threats against the black king, while here the opposite-coloured bishops merely strengthen the attack.

Nc6 Rfd8 BfS

White appears to have an undisputed ad­ vantage. He has gained control of d5 and 3

h5 R X c5 Qf3 h6!

27

In search of the truth 30

• • •

Bd6 ?

42 Qg7 + 43 Q X d7 + 44 f4

Dismayed by the course of events the Bulgarian grandmaster allows White to �arry out a winning combination. 30 . . . Qd7 was essential, depriving the white queen of g4. In this case White would have continued 3 1 Qe3, clearing the way for his f-pawn.

No . 1 3

Ke6 K X d7 Resigns

English Opening

Polugayevsky-Rossetto

Lugano Olympiad, 1968 c4 2 Nc3 3 g3 4 Nf3 1

31 32 33 34 35

e5! B X f7 + ! Qa8 + Qd5 + Q x e5

One of the sharpest variations of the English Opening. Right from the first few moves Black aims for a hand-to-hand fight in the centre. However, tournament practice has shown that the system chosen by Black has a serious drawback : exploiting his lead in development, White can undermine his opponent's central pawns.

B x e5 Q x f7 Qf8 Qf7

5 Nd4 6 c x d5 7 Nb3

White is effectively a pawn up, and the enemy king is still badly placed. These factors are sufficient for a win. 35 . . . 36 Kh2

7

Qb7 + Qd7

g4 Kg3 f3 Kh3

Nc6

In the game Polugayevsky-Jongsma (Amsterdam, 1 970) Black played 8 . . Bf5, but after 9 d3 ! e X d3 10 0-0 ! Nc6 1 1 Bg5 White gained the advantage. .

a5 Qd3 + Qd7

9 0-0

Of course, White could have played 9 d3, but he rightly considered that the operation which his opponent now undertakes would be to White's advantage.

Black is in zugzwang, and has only moves with his pawns. When these run out it will all be over. 40 . . . 41 Kg3

d5 Qb6 c x d5

. . . a5 is also to be considered. 8 Bg2

The only way of parrying the mating threats at e8 and g7. But . . . 37 38 39 40

e5 Nf6 c6 e4

a4 Kf7

9 10 d3! 11 Be3! . • .

There is nothing else. 28

a5 a4

No. 13 Polugayevsky-Rossetto, 1968 White sacrifices a piece, but in return ob­ tains three pawns and a powerful centre. 1 1 .. . d4 12 Nxd4 Nxd4 13 d X e4 is bad for Black, and therefore his reply is forced. Qb4

11 . . .

18 Nc7 + Ke7 1 9 N X a8 Bd7 (19 . . Ba7 is also unclear) would hardly have satisfied White. However, he would also have had other; more effective continuations : the quiet 16 B X c5 Q X c5 1 7 Rac l , or the sharp 16 Nb5. .

1 6 Bb6

An important zwischenzug, forcing the black queen to occupy an unfavourable square. 16 17 Bd4 18 Nb5 • • •

12 d X e4 13 a3!

The point of White's 1 6th move becomes clear : since 18 . .. Qa5 is unpleasantly met by 19 d6 Bd8 20 Qe3 + , Black is forced to castle.

a X b3

18 19 Nc7

Only in this way can White demonstrate the correctness of his plan. In the event of 13 exd5 Na5 ! 1 4 a x b3 Ra6 ! Black can hold the onslaught. 13 . . .

Qa6 Ned7

• • .

0-0 Qa4

Black thought that the worst was over; but he was in for a disappointment.

Qa5

On 13 . . . Qd6 White had prepared 14 N X d5 ! and 15 Bf4, with a very strong attack. 14 e x d5 15 Q X b3

Ne5

White hastens to re-establish material equality (three pawns for a piece), but 1 5 Bd4 !, preparing the advance o f the central pawns, looks more energetic. After 15 . . . Bd6 White could have chosen between 16 Q X b3 with the threat of 1 7 Nb5, and 1 6 e4 followed by 17 f4. 15 . .

.

20 Qc3!

White had worked out this subtle queen manoeuvre beforehand. Black cannot save his rook : 20 ... Rb8 ? 2 1 b3, and the queen is trapped . Black's position has become critical, but nevertheless he should have tried to give up his rook for as high a price as possible-20 ... Ra7. Dismayed by the

Be7 ?

Now White's initiative develops unchecked. The only correct move was 15 . . . Bc5 ! Black was apparently afraid of 16 Qb5 + , but the variation 16 .. . Q X b5 1 7 Nxb5 B X e3 3*

29

In search of the truth

6 Nc3 7 Be2 S 0-0

unexpected turn of events, Rossetto makes a further mistake .

20 21 N X aS 22 e4 23 Rfe1 • • .

Bd6? Q X aS ReS

Black delays

... f4 Q X d4 Rac1

Modern Benoni (after King's (after

Be5 B X d4 + Qa6

which

Indian

9 e x d5),

9 c X d5),

position

or to a

favouring

White

and for the moment makes

at a convenient moment Black will release Na6 10 Re 1 Nc7 1 1 a4 b6, and now : (a) 12 Bfl Rb8 1 3 h3 a6 14 Nf3 e X d5 1 5 c x d5

(15 e x d5

is slightly better) 15 . . .

b5, and Black has a good game, Geller­

when Black can resign.

Suetin, Kislovodsk, 1 972.

h5 NfS N6h7 g5

(b) 12 Rb 1 Rb8 13 b3 a6 14 Bb2 e X d5

15 c x d5 b5 1 6 a X b5 a X b5 1 7 Bfl Ng4 ! , with an excellent position, Smyslov-Polu­ gayevsky,

USSR

Spartakiad,

9 d x e6 10 Bf4

Attempting somehow to confuse matters.

30 Kh2

d5,

the tension in the centre. For example, 9 Nd2

was the natural 26 e5 ! Ng4 27 h3 Nh6 28 g4,

... h3 e5 Rc7 .

on

useful moves. If White does not prevent it,

Of course, this is good enough, but stronger

26 27 2S 29

capturing

would lead either to the main line of the

23 Rae l and 24 f4 is more consistent.

23 24 25 26

0-0 e6 ReS

Qh6

Riga,

1 975 .

B x e6 Nc6

Black is prepared to sacrifice a pawn, and

And without waiting for a reply, Black

hopes for compensation in the form of good

stopped the clocks. White was preparing to

piece play. Moreover, in many cases his idea

conclude the game by 3 1 e6 ! , e . g. 3 1 . . .

is fully justified.

fX e6 32 d X e6, when Black loses after 32

11 B X d6

. . . B x e6 33 f5 or 32 . . . N x e6 33 Bd5,

Nd4

R X e6 is most convincingly

The alternative is 1 1 . . . Qa5, vacating d8

met by 33 R X c8 ! R X e 1 34 Bd5 + Re6 35 f5 .

in order to set up pressure on the d-file. How­

while 32 . . .

ever, as was shown by the game Ivkov-Torre (Rio Interzonal,

No . 14

1 979) - with the slight

King' s Indian Defence

difference that there the black pawn was

Polugayevsky-Bilek

ferring the knight to b3 with gain of tempo,

at h6 - after 12 Nd2, with the idea of trans­ while also attacking the c5 pawn, Black fails to equalize : 12 . . . RedS

( 12 . . . Rad8 can be met by 13 e5 Nd7 14 f4 f6 15 Nb3 Qb6 16 Nd5 B X d5 17 Q X d5+ , with advantage to White)

Busum, 1969 1 2 3 4 5

c4 Nf3 d4 d5 e4

c5

g6 Bg7 d6 Nf6

1 3 Bf4 Ne8 14 Nd5 !, and by returning the pawn White obtains a good attacking posi­ tion. However, White also has the better game after the move played . 30

No. 14 Polugayevs ky-Bilek, 1 969

12 e5 13 Rei

Nd7

that the immediate capture o f the pawn would give him good play.

16 B x c5

b6

1 6 . . . Na5 was also to be considered.

17 N x e5 Necessary, since on 1 7 Be3 Black wins the c-pawn by 1 7 . . . Na5 .

17

• .

B x e5

.

But here Black misses the interesting pos­ sibility of 17 . . . Na5 !, after which 1 8 Ne7 + can be quietly met by 1 8 . . . Kh8, while

A poor move, which allows Black to escape

the sacrifice of a piece for three pawns- 1 8

from all his difficulties . 13 N X d4 was correct.

B X b6 a x b6

At the board I avoided this continuation because of 13 . . . c X d4 14 Q X d4 N X e5

IS Be3 19 Qb5

1 5 B X e5 Q X d4 1 6 B X d4 B X d4 17 Rac 1 Rad8 1 8 b3 B X c3 19 R X c3 Rd2 20 Bf3 R x a2 2 1 B X b7 Rb8 22 Bc6 Ra3, when, as was confirmed by the later game Uhlmann­ Schmidt (Polanica Zdroj, 1 975), Black re­ gains his pawn with an equal ending. But

Na5 B X d5 ? !

been tried.

20 e x d5 21 h3 22 Racl

question as to whether or not

it is sufficient. • • •

B X d5)

This hands White the initiative . The im­

has some compensation for the pawn, it is

13

(19 Qg3

mediate 19 . . . Qh4 20 g3 Qe4 should have

after 14 Nb5 N X e 5 15 c5, although Black an open

1 9 Q X b6

1 9 . . . B X e5 is in his favour.

Qb4 Qf6 RedS

If 22 . . . B X b2, then 23 R X c8 R X c8

Ne6!

24 d6 (with the threat of

A brilliant reply ! Now the e5 pawn is

25 Bg5

and

26 d7),

and now :

attacked, and Black can intensify the pressure

(a) 24 . . . Be5 25 d7 Rd8 26 Rcl .

on it by playing his bishop to g4. It is there­

(b) 24 . . . Bd4 25 d7 Rd8 26 Bf3 B X e3

fore quite clear that White has not a shade

27 R x e3 Kg7 28 Re8, and Black's position

of an advantage. He should have recognized

is hopeless due to his knight being cut off.

this and clarified the situation by 14 Bfl Bg4

(see diagram next column)

1 5 h3 B X f3 16 Q X f3 . But in search o f a n opening advantage

23 d6!

he oversteps the mark, and risks ending up in an inferior position.

14 Nd5 15 Qb3 The simple 15

A

ReS Nd x e5

piquant

situation.

white pawn places itself

The

undefended

en prise

to three

black pieces, in order to give the white­

b6 16 Rad 1 Bg4 was

squared bishop more scope. The first piece

perfectly possible, but Black rightly assumed

to feel this is the black knight. 31

In search of the truth 39 Bg3 Rd7 40 Bc6 Rc7 41 b5 Re6 42 Rd8, and Black cannot avoid loss of material. Of course, this long variation is by no means obligatory. Thus the simple 26 Bh6 (with the threat of

27 B X b7) looks very (26 . . . Bg7 27 Bg5 f6

strong, and if 26 . . . f6

28 Bh4 and Bg3, and White has an over­ whelming position), then 27 Rcd 1 Qb8 28 B x b7 R X b7 29 f4, with a very strong attack. The move in the game allows White to carry out an accurately calculated tactical

23

• • .

Q X d6

blow.

Both 23 . . . B X d6 24 Bg5 and 23

26 Bg5

f6

27 R x e5!

R x e5

B X b2 24 Bg5 Qf5 25 B X d8 are unsatis­ factory.

24 b4 25 Bf3

Nb7

The white bishops are operating at full power, whereas with the board full of pieces the black knight does not have a single move, and Black has only two ways of defending it.

25

• • •

Qb8

Better was 25 . . . Re7, although here too White has several good continuations. I will give only one, a combinational one : 26 Bg5 f6

27 . . . Q x e5 28 Q x e5 R x e5 29 B X f6

(26 . . . Bf6 loses a piece to 27 R X e7 Q X e7 28 B X/6) 27 R X e5 ! R X e5 (27 . . . Q X e5 28 Q x e5 R X e5 29 B X/6) 28 Qc4 + Qe6 (or 28 . . . Kg7 29 Bf4 Rd7 30 Qc8 Qel-30 . . . Nd8 is met by 3 1 B X e5 fxe5 32 Rd 1 -31 B x e5 fX e5 32 Bg4 Rd8 33 Rc7) 29 B X f6 Re 1 + 30 K.h2 Q x c4 (on 30 . . . Rd7 White would have continued 31 Qc8+ Kf7 32 R X e1, and if 30 . . . Rd6 31 Qc7!! Rd7 32 R X el) 3 1 R X c4 Rd7 (after 31 . . . Nd6 White wins by 32 Rd4 Rd7 33 Bg4) 32 Bg4 ! Rd6 33 Rc8 + Kf7 34 Bh4 ! h5 (otherwise the threat of 35 Rc7 + cannot be parried) 35 Bf3 Rd7 (no better is 35 . . . Rd4 36 Rc7 + Ke6 37 Re7 + , o r 36 . . . Kf8 37 B/6 Rd6 38 Bel) 36 Bc6 Nd6 37 Ra8 (this is stronger than 37 B X d8 NX c8 38 B x c8 Re4) 37 . . . Rc7 38 Bd5 + Kg7

is equally hopeless.

28 Qc4 + 29 Qc7 +

Kg7 Kg8

Or 29 . . . Q x c7 30 R x c7 + Kg8 3 1 B X f6 Re l + 32 Kh2 Rd6, when either 33 Be7 Rde6 34 Bd5 or 33 Bc3 is sufficient.

30 B X f6! 31 Kh2 32 Bd5 + !

Rel + R x ct

The triumph of the two bishops. Black resigned, not wishing to be prettily mated after 32 . . . Kf8 33 Bg7 + Ke8 34 Bf7 mate, or to lose material after 32 33 Q X b8 + . 32

...

R X d5

No. 15 Polugayevs ky-Pfleger, 1969

No. 1 5

Queen's Gambit

10 11 Nd2 12 Nc4

Qb6

• • •

Polugayevsky-POeger

Ludwigsburg, 1969

Ba6

Q b4

Black overlooks

a

tactical blow,

after

which his position becomes hopeless. The

1 2 3 4 5 6

c4 g3 Bg2 Nf3 � c x d5

lesser evil was 12 . . . BXc4 13 Qxc4 0-0,

e6 Nf6 d5

although here too after 14 a3 a5 15 e4 Ne7

c5

has a very real advantage.

16 Bg5 with the threat of 17 Rac l , White

Nc6 N x d5

At this point the outline of the Tarrasch Defence begins to take shape-both players have reached it by a roundabout way. With this in mind, 6 . . . exd5 was sounder, trans­ posing into the normal position with an iso­ lated pawn. It later transpires that Black's move is linked with a plan of creating active - too active! - counter-play.

7 d4 s N x d4

c x d4 Bc5 ?

13 Nd6 + !

Ke7

Capturing the knight would have

Continuing the same aggressive policy.

lost

material.

But as Bogoljubov wrote some fifty years ago :

14 Bd2!

'If at such an early stage of the game Black could get away with seizing the initiative, the

An important

Queen's Gambit would be removed from At c5 the black bishop comes under attack

which Black

14 Ne4 ?! Bd4 he could have hoped for some

by the white pieces, and it should have been

counter-play.

developed at e7, after first hindering the har­

14

monious development of the white pieces by 8 . . . Qb6.

9 N x c6 10 Qc2

zwischenzug,

had not taken into account, whereas after

the modern opening repertoire.'

• • •

Qb6

Totally bad is 14 . . . Qd4 15 e3 Qe5

b X c6

1 6 N x f7.

15 Nc4

Qb5

Of course, White would also have had a slight advantage in the endgame after 10 e4

It is understandable that Black should not

Nb4 11 QXd8+ KXd8 12 Rd l+ Ke7 l 3

want now, in an inferior situation, to ex­

Nc3, but with the queens o n the weakness

change on c4, leaving White with the two

at c6 and the position of the black king in the

bishops, play on the c-file, and . . . with the

centre are more vulnerable.

black king in the centre. 33

In search of the truth

16 b3 17 Rac1 18 Rfd1

No. 1 6

Rac8 Bb4 Qb8

English Opening

Polugayevsky-Gheorghiu

The rook at h8 cannot move, being tied

Palma de Mallorca, 1972

to the defence of the h-pawn. Therefore Black prepares by a mass exchange of minor pieces to safeguard his king to some extent, while defending the d6 square against in­ vasion. But . . . The time for the decisive offensive has arrived.

1 2 3 4 5

c5 Nf6 d5 N x d5 Nc6

c4 Nf3 Nc3 c x d5 g3

We have here the English Opening in pure form, so to speak, the variation being con­ sidered favourable for White. Theory has a high regard for 5 . . . g6 followed by the fianchetto of the black-squared bishop.

6 Bg2 7 d3 But here after 7

Nc7 e5 g6 8 Be3 Ne6 9 0-0

Bg7 10 Na4 Ncd4 1 1 Rc l White has time

19 20 21 22

e4! Q X d2 R x c4 Qg5

to create pressure on c5, which is highly un­

B x d2 B X c4 Nf6

pleasant for his opponent.

8 Nd2

A rarely-played continuation. Of course,

By the threats of 23 e5 and 23 Q X g7 White

Black had to parry the threat of 9 B X c6 +

gains time to switch his queen to the a3-f8

b X c6 10 Nc4, but a more natural way of

diagonal, after which he will be able to attack

doing this was by the usual 8 . . . Bd7. True,

with an 'extra' rook (Black's king's rook can­

it should be pointed out that in this case

not come into play !).

22 . . 23 Qc5 + •

24 e5

Qd7

the pawn sacrifice 9 0-0 Be7 10 Nc4 0-0

Kf8

1 1 B X c6 B x c6 12 N x e5 Be8 (which was

Kg8 Ne8

first played in Espig-Polugayevsky, Sochi, 1 975), does not, as later transpired, give Black full equality, while after 10 . . . f6 1 1 f4 ! (Ree-Polugayevsky, Amsterdam, 1972) White

Or 24 . . . Nd5 25 B X d5 e x d5 26 R X d5 .

has the advantage, since in the event of 1 1

2 5 Rd7

. . . b5 he has 12 Ne3 e X f4 1 3 g X f4 0-0 14 Ned5, when the weaknesses in Black's

With the threat of 26 Qe7.

25 . . . 26 B x c6

position become appreciable.

Rc7 Resigns

9 0-0 34

No. 1 6 Polugayevs ky-Gheorghiu,

1 972

Also promising was the immediate 9 Nc4

he continues playing on both wings, which

followed by 10 Qa4, renewing the threat of

in principle is always promising for the side with the initiative . Of course, an accurate

B X c6.

9

evaluation of the resulting position was re­

b6

• • •

quired, and time confirmed the correctness

Black hurries to solve the problem of his white-squared

bishop,

which

is

of White's plan.

perfectly

14 15 R X f4 16 a x b6 17 NdS • • •

logical. After 9 . . . Be7 10 Nc4 f6 1 1 f4 (or

11 Qa4,

as in Timman-Hort, Montreal,

1 979*) he has a mass of trouble over the development of his Q-side .

10 Nc4 11 a4!

Increasing the tempo of the offensive, and

f6

not allowing the opponent a respite. After all, White must constantly remember : if Black

Although this weakens b4, it forces Black

had, for example, castled, he would be per­

in the event of 1 1 . . . Bb7 to reckon with

fectly alright.

the advance a4-a5-a6. Besides, in this way

17

White prepares operations over the entire

• • •

13 B X f4

Bd8

Qd6 1 9 N x c8 R X c8 20 Ra6 Black is bound

Be7

hand and foot.

e x f4 Ne6

Practically forced, since 13

• . •

Necessary, since after 1 7 . . . b5 1 8 Ncb6

front, and not only on the K-side.

11 12 f4

N X f4 Rb8 a X b6

.

18 Re4 + !

. . 0-0 allows

1 4 B X c7 Q X c7 15 Nd5, winning material.

This was the position White was aiming for when he made his 1 4th move. The rook feels fine in the centre of the board, and

14 aS!

creates excellent preconditions for all kinds of combinational blows.

Very timely and very strong. By giving up

18

o ne of his bishops, White makes prompt use of his lead in development. Moreover, * Cf. Polugayevsky's notes to this game in

1979, Tournament of Stars, (Translator's note).

. • •

Kf7

On 1 8 . . . Kf8 White was intending 1 9 Nf4 Qc7

Montreal

20 Re6 ! Nd4 2 1 Nd5 ! , with a n over­

whelming position. After the move played

Pergamon Press, 1 980

Black has hoping to be able to put up a 35

In search of the truth successful defence, since his king's rook is

Taking e8 away from the black rook, and

ready to come into play, his king does not

beginning to switch the attack to the black

appear to be threatened, and 19 Qb3 is bad

king. White now threatens 25 Ra8 with

because of 19 . . . Nd4. And even so

a 'mortal' pin along the 8th rank, and on 24 . . . Bb7 he has a forced win by 25 B X b7

Nd4

19 Qb3!

Q X b7 26 Nd6 Qe7 27 Qf5 + Kh6 28 Qh3 +

Now 1 9 . . . Kf8 would have enabled Black

Kg5 29 Qh4 + Kg6 30 Qg4 + Kh6 3 1 Nf5

to avoid the combination in the game, but

mate.

would have left him under severe pressure

24 . . . 25 QdS

after 20 Qb5. It should be noted, incident­ ally,

that

White's

'central

striker'-his

Qc7

knight at d5-would have remained immune under the protection of the Re4/Bg2 battery.

20 R X d4

c X d4

The triumph of centralization. Simulta­ neously the black king's retreat is cut off, and - most important - the knight's invasion at d6 is assured, since on 25 . . . Be7 White

21 Nb4!

had prepared 26 Bf3 ! (with the threat of

This is the point of White's combination. Black

could

have

parried

the

27 Qh5

plausible

is unsatisfactory, as is 26 . . . f5 27 Ne5 +

21 Nd X b6 by playing his king to g6 or e8,

Kf6 28 Qf7 +

when the tempo of White's attack is sharply unable

simultaneously

to

block

met by 27 Rfl ! (with the threat of 28 Be4 +

the

Kh6 29'Qf7), and

a2-g8 diagonal and defend his c6 square.

21

No better is 2 1

. ..

Qe8 32 Qf4 + , mating.

Ke8 22 Nc6 Rb7

25 . . .

23 Ra8, when White has no need to hurry

against the black king. The only way to

Qc7

continue resisting was by 25 . . . Qc5, al­ though even then 26 Ra8 leads to gain of

Forced in view of the threat of 23 N4e5 +

23 N X b8 24 QbS

ReS

Now White builds up irresistible threats

over regaining the sacrificed exchange.

22 Nc6

if 27 . . . Bc5, then 28 Be4 +

Kh6 29 Rf5 ! B x f5 30 Q x f5 Qf7 3 1 Ne5

Kg6

• • •

K X e5 29 Q X g7 + . There

only remains 26 . . . h5, which is strongly

reduced . But now it transpires that Black is

mate), when 26 . . . Qc5 27 N X b6

material.

Q X b8

26 Nd6 36

ReS

No. 1 7 Balashov-Polugayevsky, 1973 26 . . . R X e2 loses to 27 Be4 + R X e4

pared before castling, by playing 9 h3 im­

28 Q X e4 + f5 29 Qe8 + .

27 Be4 + 28 Qg8!

mediately.

Kh5 f5

allowed mate in two .

squares; but on 1 1 a3 there would have fol­ lowed 1 1 . . . Nc5.

of 32 Rf4 mate by 32 . . . g5, but then comes 33 Kg2 and mate by h2-h3 . • • •

b5 Bb7

This leads to a weakening of the black

fX e4 Kg4

The final finesse. Black can parry the threat

31 32 Qg6 +

9 10 h3 11 g4

• • •

The capture of the knight would have

29 Nf7 30 Q X h7 + 31 Rf1

game. Nowadays the g3-g4 advance is pre­

11

• • •

b4

Preventing White from carrying out his planned regrouping.

Rf5 Rg5

12 Nd5 13 e x dS

N X dS 0-0

If 32 . . . Bg5, then 33 R X f5 Qcl + 34 Kg2 B X f5 35 h3 mate .

33 Q x e4 + 34 Qh7 + 35 Qh4 mate

Kh5 Kg4

It is not often that a game against a grand­ master ends in mate !

No.

17

Sicilian Defence It is clear that Black has no difficulties .

Balashov-Polugayevsky

Rather the opposite : he can hope for the better game, since the position of the white

Tallinn, 1973

king may well become uneasy.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

e4 Nf3 d4 N X d4 Nc3 g3 Nde2 Bg2 0-0

c5 d6 c x d4 Nf6 a6 e5 Nbd7 Be7

14 c4 White has to hurry with this move, before Black has time to place his rook at c8.

14

• • •

b X c3

Black aims for an open game. On the other hand, 14 . . . Bg5 had other virtues : it would have enabled him to control the

I have reached this position several times, with Black usually obtaining a comfortable 37

black squares, and was objectively stronger.

15 N X c3

aS

In search of the truth After this the attack develops rapidly.

Now the exchange of the black-squared bishops no longer works. On 15 . . . Bg5

It is difficult for White to find a defence

16 Ne4 B x c 1 Black has to reckon with the

against the numerous threats .

intermediate capture

17 N X d6. The text

16 Re1

Qf6

24 Be4 25 Qc2

move secures c5 for his knight.

Nc5

Or 25 Rc2 Rac8 26 Qa4 Rc4 !

g6

25 . . . 26 Kg2

16 . . . ReS is interesting, with the idea after 17 Be3 of reverting to the old plan of 17 . . . Bg5 .

26 Qd2 is better.

17 Be3 18 Na4

Rc8

Rab8 Rb4

26 . . . 27 Rh1

The only possibility. If Black should man­

All the black pieces are wonderfully co­

age to play . . . Bg5, White's weaknesses

ordinated, literally cutting through White's

will quickly make themselves felt. 18 19 Q x a4 . • .

position

both

along

the

diagonals

(the

bishops), and along the files and ranks (the

N x a4 Ra8!

queen and rooks). There are combinations in the air. Thus, for example, 28 f3 is met by

Black plans to return his bishop to the

the tactical blow 28 . . . R X e4 ! 29 Q X e4

c8-h3 diagonal, in order to advance . . . f5.

Bd3 ! 30 g5 B X g5 31 B X g5 Q X g5 + 32 Qg4

After all, sooner or later he will have to lift

Q x g4 + 33 fX g4 Be4 + , when Black has

the blockade of e4.

excellent winning chances in the rook ending.

20 Racl

28 Rh3 So as to answer 28 . . . Rc4 with the un­

Essential was 20 Qb5 Ba6 21 Qc6, prepar­ ing the exchange of queens. White decides

expected 29 Rf3 !, relieving the situation.

to carry out this manoeuvre at a more con­

28 . . .

venient moment, and, as often happens in

Now 29 Rf3 allows 29 . . . Bf4 and 30

such cases, loses time.

20 . . . 21 QbS

Bg5

Qg5, with a decisive attack.

f5!

29 b3 30 R x e3

B x e3

30 . . .

R x e4!

Only now did White begin to sense the uneasiness of his position. 21

g X f5 Bc8

22 Qc6 B X f5 23 Bb6 Qb8 did not appeal to him, but perhaps this was in fact the lesser evil.

21 22 Qc6 • • .

Ba6 fX g4

Now on 23 Bb6 Black has a choice between 23 . . . Qc8, retaining his extra pawn, and 23 . . . Qb8 24 h X g4 Bg5 .

23 h X g4

Bh4! 38

.

. •

No. 1 8 Polugayevsky-Vasyukov , 1974 on the centre (to this end 2 Bg5 is also played).

Removing the bishop which is defending f3 .

In addition, 3 e4 is threatened, gaining all the advantages of the Staunton Gambit,

31 R x e4

but . . . for free !

3 1 Q x e4 loses quickly to 3 1 . . . Q X f2 + 3 2 Kh1

2 3 Bg5 • • •

(32 Kh3 Rf4) 32 . . . Qh4 + 3 3 Kg 1

Rf4.

31

followed by Bd3 and Qf3, forcing Black to think of how to defend his pawn mass.

Of course, Black also wins after 3 1 Qf3 + 32 Kgl Bd3 3 3 Re3 Q X g4 + 3 4 Rg3 Q x g3 +

c6

If 3 . . . Nf6, then 4 B X f6 e X f6 5 e3

Bd3

. . .

d5

4 e3

g6

35 fx g3 B X c2 36 R x c2 Rf3

37 Rc6 R X g3 + 38 Kf2 Rd3 R X d6 Kg7

Black tries to prepare the development of

40 Ke2 Rd4, but the way chosen is more

his king's knight, but this is not so easy

efficient, and is more quickly decisive .

to do. The move slightly weakens the K-side,

32 Q X d3 33 Kh1 34 Rc8 + 35 Rc7 + 36 g5 + 37 Rc2 38 Qd2 + 39 Qg2 40 Rc4 + White resigns

and White promptly exploits this.

Q X f2 + Rf3 Kg7 Kf6 K x gs Qg3 KfS K x e4 K X dS

5 h4

b6

Black simply cannot allow the further advance of the h-pawn.

6 Bf4 7 Nf3

Nd7

The immediate 7 g4 was also to be con­ sidered.

7 8 Ne5 • . •

No. 1 8 Dutch Defence

Ngf6 Rg8

The exchange on e5 clearly favours White.

Polugayevsky-Vasyukov

9 Bd3

Leningrad, 1974

Not the best move ! 9 f3 suggests itself, preventing the black knight from going to

1 d4 2 Nc3

f5

e4 or g4, then Qd2, 0-0--0 , and the prepara­ tion of e3-e4. But now Black resourcefully unravels his

It is not often that one has to comment

position.

on the 2nd move in a game ! I can only say that, although it has occurred several times

(see diagram next column)

in practice (an interesting thought is whether

9 10 B x es 11 Bg3 12 Be2

or not there is in fact a move which has

• • •

never ever been played ? !), a theory of this continuation essentially does not exist. The idea of the move is to set up piece pressure 39

N x es Ng4! e5!

In search of the truth 1 8 0-0-0 would have been careless here in view of 1 8 . . . B x c3 19 Q x c3 f4.

18 19 b4 20 Ne2 21 Qc3! • • •

f X g4 Bc7 Be6

With the by no means obvious idea of controlling c5, and possibly invading there with the queen. For example, 21 . . . 0-0-0 22 Qc5 Q x c5 23 d X c5, and the white knight Since 12 d x e5 is simply met by 12 . .

obtains an excellent post at d4. Even so,

.

Bg7, and after 12 B x e5 N x e5 13 d x e5

Black should have gone in for this continua­

Bg7 14 f4 Qb6 he has counter-chances, it

tion, or else tried to complicate matters by

must be considered that he has fully equalized .

2 1 . . . B X g3 22 N X g3 a5.

White has to begin all over again !

12 13 Qd2 . . •

21 . . .

e4 Bb4

Bb6 ? !

The c 5 square i s now defended, but the bishop at g3 dominates the position.

A dubious decision, allowing White sub­ sequently to expand on the Q-side. After the natural 13

. . . Bd6 Black can count

on equalizing.

14 a3 15 Bf4!

Ba5

A very subtle move. In this closed position

White sacrifices a tempo, in order to 'force' Black to persist with his unwillingness to exchange the black-squared bishops. Because

22 Rb1!

only 1 5 . . . Bc7 enables him to maintain

Reminding Black that after Q-side cast­

the balance, other ways of defending the h6 pawn being in White's favour.

15 16 h X g5 17 Bg3 18 B x g4 • • •

ling his king might come under an attack by a3-a4 and b4-b5. But perhaps the king would

g5 h X g5 Qe7

have found it quieter there than on the K-side after Black's next move ? !

22 23 Rh7 + 24 Rh6 • • •

At just the right time. White controls the h-file, he will soon force the exchange of black-squared bishops, and his remaining

Kf7 Rg7

White has complete control of the h-file, and in addition he threatens 25 Be5 .

knight will be able to demonstrate its superi­

24 25 Kd2

ority over the opponent's white-squared bish­

. • •

op, blocked in by its own pawns. Besides, 40

Kg8

No. 19 Polugayevsky-Larsen, 1978 Here 25 Be5 is parried by 25 . . 25 . 26 Rbb1 27 R X b6 2S Qa1! • •

.

play, each player ha d t o pass two ( !) time controls : he was allowed an hour and a half for thirty moves and a further hour for the next twenty . . . Two time scrambles, the one more terrible than the other, with the first being guaranteed in practically every game. That is why in this game there is liveliness, an attack, and sacrifices. But it is lacking in that depth which gives a player creative satisfaction . . .

Rh7.

Rh7 R X b6 Bf5

The queen heads for h l , and the threats become decisive. 2S 29 Be5 • • •

Bb7 Bc7

1 2 3 4 5

How Black must have regretted that he did not exchange bishops earlier ! 30 31 32 33 34

Bf6 B x gs Qb1 a x h4 Qb4

Qf7 aS a X b4 Ra4 g3

6 Nc3 7 Bg2 S O-O

Qd7 RaS

... Nb5 Qg3 + Bg7 + Rd6

Bb7 0-0 Na6

Yes, the d-file is blocked, but on the other hand the c-file has been cleared with gain of tempo !

Now this too is good, and the knight joins the attack. 37 3S 39 40 41

e6 Nf6 b6 Bb4 + Be7

This variation is more often played without the check at b4. By luring the white bishop to d2, Black hinders the thematic advance d4-d5 . But . . .

Of the possible captures on g3, two are bad. But the third is good, and in addition there is something more decisive. 35 Rf6 36 Bb6 37 N X g3

d4 c4 Nf3 g3 Bd2

9 Rcl

ReS BdS KbS KgS Resigns

ReS

Earlier in the same tournament Larsen played 9 . . . c5 against Ogaard, but after 10 d5 e X d5 1 1 Nh4 g6 he had an inferior position. 10 Qa4

No. 19 Queen' s Indian Defence Polugayevsky-Larsen

Reykjavik, 1978 This game occupies a special place in my 30 years of chess practice . The reason : the

more than unusual tournament schedule. During the normal two and a half hours of 41

In search of the truth To be considered was 10 a3, preparing a Q-side pawn offensive. The text move is not one of my best, and in a game with a nor­ mal time control I would have been unlikely to make it, since Black gains the opportunity to initiate favourable complications . 10 . . .

Forced, in view of the threat of 25 B X g7 B X g7 26 Qg5 . 25 g4 26 a x b3 27 g5

a X b3 Ne5 g6

28 g x f6!

Nf7

Qc8

The 'Sword of Damocles' time factor was also hanging over my opponent, otherwise he would undoubtedly have preferred the sharp 10 . . . c5, and if 1 1 d5 e X d5 12 Nh4, then 12 . . . Nb4, when 13 a3 can be met by 13 . . . Bc6 14 Qd 1 d4. 11 12 13 14 15 16

Ne1 N X g2 d5 c x d5 e4 Qc2

B x g2 c5 e x d5 Nc7 b5 d6

This leads to a typical and . . . difficult position, since White's strong pawn centre allows him to develop a K-side attack, where­ as Black's pawn phalanx on the opposite wing is less dangerous. Better was 16 . . . c4, reserving the c5 square for his minor pieces . 17 Nd1 18 Nde3

Qa6 Bf8

Rac8 Nd7

... Khl Qd2 Nf5

b4 ReS

30 . . . g X f5 loses to 3 1 Rg1 + Kh8 32 Qg2, but in any other case White was threatening to bring up his forces for a sac­ rifice on g6. Rg1 B x es N x g6 R X g6 + Rcg1

Ne8 d x es h x g6 Kh7

The remainder of the game was unneces­ sary.

The bishop is maintained on the long black-squared diagonal, and the concentra­ tion of White's pieces on the K-side is about to become threatening. 21 22 23 24

29 Ngh4! 30 Bb2

31 32 33 34 35

The a2 pawn is obviously immune. 19 f3 20 Bc3 21 b3

The knight could not be taken because of the decisive queen check at g5, and Black is no longer able to hold the position.

35 . . . 36 Qe1 37 N X h6

Qb6 a5 a4 f6

c4 Bh6 Q X g1 +

O r 3 7 . . . N x h6 38 R X h6 + , mating. 38 R X gl

42

Resigns

No. 20 Chikovani-Polugayevsky, 1978 Chikovani 'believed' me, and not without reason. On 12 Qc2 Black had prepared 12 . . . Ndb4 13 B X h7 + Kh8 14 Qb1 (14 Qe4 Bb7!) 1 4 . . . d x e5 ! 15 d X e5 g6 1 6 B x g6 fX g6 17 Q X g6 Qd3, when his queen comes to the defence of his king, and in this position the extra piece is much stronger than the three pawns. Therefore White tries a different means of attack, but here too he will constantly be aware of his knight being 'under arrest'.

No. 20 Sicilian Defence Cbikovani-Polugayevsky

USSR Cup, 1st League Mogilev, 1978 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

e4 c3 e5 d4 Nf3 c x d4 Bc4 0-0 Qe2 Na3

c5 Nf6 Nd5 c x d4 Nc6 d6 e6 Be7 0-0

12 . . . 13 Bb6 14 Rad1

It later transpires that the rook has noth­ ing to do on the d-:file, and that 14 Rae 1 , defending the outpost a t e5, would have been preferable.

My opponent had several times been suc­ cessful with this move. Without blocking the path of his black-squared bishop, White intends to play his knight to c4 (of course, when it becomes free). But it seemed rather unnatural to me, and at the board I was able to cast doubts on it. 10 . . . 11 Bd3

g6 Re8

14 . 15 Qg4 16 d X e5 17 Rde1 • •

Bb7 d X e5 Qc7

An admission of his inaccuracy, since after 1 7 Rfe 1 Rad8 (with the threat of 18 . . . Ndb4) Black renews the pressure on e5.

a6 b5 !

17 . . . 18 b4

Rad8

Black also has an excellent game after the more cautious 1 8 Bbl . 18 19 Be4 . . •

Ndb4 Nd3

The a2 pawn is not worth considering. The consequences of this move had to be worked out exactly, since 12 Qc2 is possible with a double attack on c6 and h7.

20 B X d3 21 b5

Without the white-squared bishop this attack is not dangerous, and Black makes

12 Qe4 4

R X d3

43

In search of the truth the

final

preparations

for

his

counter­

offensive . Life would be rather easier for White if, instead of a3, his knight were at, say, c3 .

21 22 Nc2

Red8

29 . . . 30 Kg2

Bh2 + !

It is obvious that after 30 K X h2 Q X f2 + 3 1 Kh3

(31 Qg2 Qh4 + )

31

. . .

Q X f3 +

Black has many pleasant ways to win.

22 23 g X f3 . . •

30 . . . 31 Qe7

R X f3!

h6 Bc7!

This very fine bishop manoeuvre destroys the co-ordination of the white forces, and

F orced : 23 Q X f3 Nd4.

maintains its white-square colleague in its

23 24 25 26

... Bf4 B X e5 Rd1

N x e5 Bd6 B x e5

menacing attacking position. Now 32 Rd7 is simply met by 32 . . . Qf5, when 33 R X c7 allows mate in two.

32 Qf8 + 33 Qh8 + 34 Rd4

Played in the hope of exploiting the weak­ ness of the back rank, since after 26 Ne3

Kf6 Kg5

B X b2 material is level but Black has a totally 'Everybody back !'

won position. In the game Black could have avoided the exchange of rooks, but he ac­

34 . . . 35 Kf1 36 Ke1 37 Kd2 38 Kd3 39 Ke3 40 R X f4 White resigns

curately calculated all its consequences.

26 27 28 29

... R X d1 Rd8 + Qg5

R X d1 Q X c2 Kg7

29 h X g6, with the idea of 29 . . . h X g6 30 Qh4, does not work since Black has 29 . . . Q X g6 But now White threatens both 30 h6 .

mate and 30 Q X e 5 + . . .

44

Qf5 B X f3 Qb1 + Q X b2 + Be2 + Bf4 + Q X h8

No. 21 Polugayevsky-Romanishin, 1 978

No.

21 Slav Defence

12 13 14 15 16

Polugayevsky-Romanishin

44th USSR Championship Tbilisi, 1978 1 2 3 4

d4 Nf3 c4 Nc3

b- and c-files White sets up strong pressure

d5 Nf6 d X c4 c6

on the Q-side, which more than compensates for the sacrificed pawn.

16 . . .

f6

Preventing the invasion of the knight at e5.

ishin unawares, and instead of the sharp and

Nf4

17 e4

critical 4 . . . a6 5 e4 b5 he chooses the Slav

It would have been better to retreat the

Defence, which, it would appear, he has never

knight to e7, since now White gains extra

played before, and in recent years - definite­

tempi for his attack.

ly not ! Thus Black has to do battle on •foreign territory' .

a4 e3 B x c4 0-0 Qe2 Bd3 b X c3

B X d3 NdS b6 ReS

All this is well known. Along the half-open

White's last move seemingly took Roman­

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Qc2 Q X d3 Rb1 Ba3 Rfc1

18 Qe3 19 b4

Bf5 e6 Bb4 0-0 Ne4 B x c3 N x c3

Ng6 h5

Unsatisfactory is 1 9 . . . e5 20 h5 Nh4 2 1 h6, when Black's K-side i s irreparably weak­ ened, but the move played is also highly dubious. The lesser evil was 1 9

. . .

Nh8

followed by . . . Nf7.

20 e5 This looks very tempting, but White could also have continued more solidly with, say, 20 Rb2, and if 20 . . . e5, then 21 Rd2 e X d4 22 N x d4.

20

. • .

After this

f5

White's attack develops un­

checked. Black evidently assumed that White would have to worry about the defence of his h-pawn, but he should have tried 20 . . . fxe5. Here we see the result of playing an unfa­

Now nothing is achieved by 2 1 Qe4 Qf6 22

miliar opening. Black chooses a dubious vari­

d X e5 Qf5, so I was intending to sacrifice

ation, where in return for a pawn he has to

a further pawn - 2 1 d X e5 ! N X h4 22 N X h4

conduct a gruelling defence . Back in the good

Q x h4 23 Rb4 ! Qd8 24 Rd4. White has a

old days this line was abandoned as inferior,

threatening initiative, and his quen is aim­

and in the present game, of course, Black did

ing for g5, but at least Black would have

not have anything new to offer . . .

known what he was suffering for.

4*

45

In search of the truth game by 36 h5 Rad8 (36 . . . d2 37 Qg6 + Kh8 38 Qh6 + Kg8 39 Q X d2 Kf7 40 Qg5) 37 h6 Rd7 38 Qg6 + .

21 Bd6! Blocking the queen's path to d5, and after 2 1 . . . N X h4 22 Ng5 Ng6 23 f4 with the

29 R X g7 +

threat of 24 Qf3 (in reserve there is also

24 B X b8 R X b8 25 R X c6)

it is unlikely that

This also wins, o f course, but simpler was

White's attack can be parried.

21 22 Ng5 23 N X f7 24 Qf4 • • •

29 Rg6 Qf7 30 Rcg3 Rd7 3 1 Q X h5. If 29 . . .

Nh8 Nf7 K X f7

f4, then 30 Q X f4 Qf7 3 1 Qh6, and again the g7 point collapses.

29 30 Rg3 • • •

White clears the 3rd rank for switching his

Black tries to avoid the above variations,

rooks to the K-side.

24 25 Rb3 26 Rg3 • • •

which arise after 30 . . .

Kg8 Qd7 Na6

31 32 33 34

ment, but the knight is unable to partici­ pate in the defence of his king.

c5

34

e x d5

Black cannot maintain e6 : 34 . . . Nc7 35 Qf6 + Kg 8 39 h5 Kh7 40 d7 , and White wins .

Rad8

35 36 37 38 39 40 41

After 28 . . . c X d4 29 R X g7 + Q X g7 30 Rg3 Q X g3 3 1 fX g3 d3 32 Qg6 + Kh8 33 Q x h5 + Kg7 34 Qg5 + Kf7

(34 . . . Kh7

loses more quickly to

when against

35 Be7 !,

37 B/6 there is no satisfactory Qf6 + Kg8 White concludes the

and

defence) 35

• • •

B X c7 R X c7 36 Qg6 + Kf8 37 d6 Rg7 38

g7 is indefensible.

36 Qh5 +

R X g7 Rd8 ReS

the advance of White's e-pawn.

Crossing as though over a bridge, the

• • •

R X g7 + Q X h5 Qh6 d5!

The most energetic. The way is cleared for

rooks assemble for the decisive attack. Black's

28

Q X g3 3 1 fx g3

c x d4.

Black has finally completed his develop­

27 Qh6 28 Rcc3

Q X g7 Rd7

46

e6 e7 B x e7 Qg5 + h5 b6 Qf6 +

Nc7 Re x e7 R X e7 Kf8 c4 c3 Resigns

No. 22 Polugayevsky-Petrosian, 1 98 1

No. 22 Queen' s Indian Defence

pleasant game. But even so, I think that that is how Black should continue. Of course,

Polugayevsky-Petrosian

his rook stands rather better at dS than at eS,

Moscow, 1981

which White now acquires on the K-side.

but this is a slight consolation for the freedom Meanwhile, 13 . . . Nc6 would have forced

1 2 3 4 5

Nf6 b6 Bb7 e6

Nf3 c4 Nc3 d4 a3

White to concern himself over the defence of d4, and would to a certain extent have curtailed his activity.

14 Qe2

Rd8

15 h4! 16 Be3

Nc6

Against the Ex-World Champion-his own favourite

weapon :

5

a3

commences

the

•Petrosian Variation' in the Queen's Indian Defence . In the Moscow Tournament both Kasparov and Timman also played it against him.

5 6 7 8 9

. • .

c x d5 e3 Bb5 + Bd3

d5 N X d5 Be7 c6 N x c3

The most accurate . After 9 . . . c5 Black has to reckon with 10 N X d5 Q X d5 1 1 d X c5 B X c5 12 Bb5 + , which after 12

As a result the d-pawn is defended by the

. . . Ke7

bishop, and not the rook, which may possibly

gave White the more comfortable position

find work on the f-file.

in, for example, Gheorghiu-Karpov (Mos­

16

cow, 1 9 S 1 ) .

10 b X c3 11 0-0

• • •

Bf6

Black is wrong to force the opponent to

c5 0-0

advance his e-pawn with gain of tempo, since this is part of White's plan. The weaken­

In my game with Portisch (Moscow, 1 9 S 1 )

ing of the d5 square is less significant, and

I deferred castling with Black, so a s to avoid

therefore 16 . . . Rd7 should have been con­

the enforced weakening of the K-side, and

sidered.

first played . . . Nc6 and . . . ReS. The Ex­

17 e5 18 h5

World Champion handles this position rather differently.

12 Qc2 13 e4

Bg7

The resulting position is similar to one

g6 Qc7

reached in the main line of the Grtinfeld Defence . But I think that here White has a

In the game Kasparov-Petrosian (from

couple of extra tempi, and his knight stands

the same Moscow Tournament) after 13 . . .

better at f3 than at e2, so that his advantage

Nc6 1 4 Bh6 ReS 1 5 Rfd 1 White had the more

is undisputed . 47

In search of the truth

18 . . . 19 h X g6

Rd7

An unusual decision, based on an accurate determination of relative piece values : the

Immediately clarifying the position, al­ though 19 Rad l was also possible, threaten­

white knight is stronger here than the static bishop at d5.

ing Ng5 X h7 in some cases.

19 20 Rad1 21 c x d4 . • .

25

h X g6 c x d4 Qd8

25 . . . e x f5 was perhaps slightly better, that White's attack can be parried : he threat­

on a possible exchange sacrifice on d4. White

ens Qh7 + followed by Nh3 and Bh6, as well as Nh7 with the idea of Bg5 .

naturally prevents this.

26 Qb5 27 Qh7 + 28 Nh3

Ne7

A mistake . 22 . . . Rb8 was absolutely neces­ sary, at least for the moment preventing the knight from going to g5 .

23 Ng5 24 Qg4!

g X f5

although even then after 26 Qh3 it is unlikely

It transpires that Black is basing his defence

22 Be4

• . •

f6 Kf8

By retreating, White advances ! The immedi­ ate threat is 29 Bh6. Black's reply is forced.

Nf5

28 29 e x f6 30 Bg5 31 Nf4 • . .

It turns out that the d-pawn is immune-24 . . . B X e4 25 N X e4 N X d4 26 B X d4 R X d4

Qe7 Q x f6 Qf7

27 R X d4 Q X d4 28 Nf6 + , and meanwhile White's attack gathers pace .

24

• .

Bd5

Black defends e6, since on 24 . . . Rb8, for example, there could have followed 25 Qh3, and if 25 . . . N X e3, then 26 Qh7 + Kf8 27 N X e6 + fX e6 28 f X e 3 + , with an immedi­ ate win.

Black's position is lost, and he attempts somehow to relieve the situation.

31 . . . 32 Qh6 +

Bf6 Ke7

On 32 . . . Bg7 there would have followed 33 Qh4 and then Rd3-g3 . But the king cannot escape.

25 B X f5!

33 Rc1! 48

No. 22 Polugayevsky-Petrosian, 1 98 1 The plausible 3 3 Ng6 + would have compli­ cated matters. But now Black's king is not

change, after which the outcome of the game is definitely decided .

only cut off from the Q-side, but he also has

40 41 N X d7 + 42 f3

to meet the specific threat of 34 N X dS +

• • •

R X dS 3 5 B X f6 + Q X f6 36 Rc7 + .

Rad8

33 34 Rfel • • •

Black is in complete

White's plan is clear : to place his king at e3

zugzwang,

and it is by

no means of his own free will that he decides

. • •

Q X g5 + Ng6 + Ne5 + Ng6 + Ne5 + Q X f6 +

and his rook at h l .

42 43 Kf2 • • •

to part with the exchange .

34 35 36 37 38 39 40

K x £6 R X d7

B X g5 Qf6 Kf7

b5 Rb7

Blocking the c-file by 43 . . . Bc4 would merely have prolonged the game.

Ke7 Kf7 Ke7

44 Rbl 45 Rc7 46 f4

By repeating moves White has gained time

Rb6 Ra6

In view of inevitable mate - 46 . . . Kg6

on the clock, and now he picks up the ex-

49

47 Rch7 and 48 Rlh6 mate -:- Black resigned

• .

From Defence to Attack

There are basically two types of defenders .

goalkeeper, and a single mistake can mean

One is, so to speak, the prophylactic defender.

a goal.

By preventive measures he creates a certain

But on the other hand, defence - and in the

exclusion zone, and is ready to accept a direct

first instance, active defence - can teach

attack, after preparing for it beforehand.

a great deal. The ability to await the con­

I belong to the defenders of a different type.

venient moment for a counter-blow, or to

In the language of chess they say to their

find counter-play on the opposite wing, or to

opponents :

that

sacrifice a pawn, the exchange, or even the

instead of a zonal defence you will encounter

queen, in order to change the character of

active counter-play.'

the struggle and to go onto the offensive .

'Attack,

but

remember

It stands to reason that chess life sometimes

It seems to me no accident that all the World

dictates its own will. On occasion I have had

Champions - from Steinitz to Karpov -

to conduct a

have been, apart from anything else, outstand­

difficult,

gruelling,

passive,

'trench warfare' type of defence, but in princi­

ing masters of defence .

ple, when I am attacked I prefer to have a plan

And, in addition, defending cultivates good

of counter-measures, often based on a veiled

competitive qualities . Because, like no other

tactical blow.

aspect of the battle, defending demands of a

It has to be said that in general the defen­

player coolness, composure, and the ability to avoid panic.

sive resources in chess are very great. How many times have we seen how seemingly hopeless positions have been saved by one or two unexpected and surprising moves. More­

No. 23 Queen' s Gambit Accepted

over, to find them one requires fantasy no less than that needed in searching for the most brilliant combination.

Portisch-Polugayevsky

So that defence is an excellent field for the development of one's purely chess and

Hungary v. RSFSR Budapest, 1963

purely human character. Yes, the role of the defender is difficult and responsible . The skil­

1 d4 c4 3 Nf3 4 Qa4 + 5 Q X c4 6 Nbd2

ful chess attacker always has ways of deviat­ ing, such as transposing into a reasonable

2

endgame, etc. But in defence one sometimes has to make a series of difficult moves in order to hold the position. To make a comparison with football : the defender in chess is the 50

d5 d x c4 Nf6 c6 Bg4 Nbd7

No . 23 Portisch-Polugayevsky, 1 963

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Bc8 ! !

20 Rae1

e6 Bd6 0-0 Bc7 e5 ReS e x d4 Ne5 aS

g3 Bg2 0-0 Qc2 b3 Bb2 e4 N X d4 b4

With this one move Black simultaneously kills several birds : the bishop defends the b-pawn, intends in certain cases to make a sortie to a6, and - most important - makes it possible to answer 21 e5 with 21 . . . Nd7 !

Nb2!

21 Ndb3

The black knight displays enviable vivacity ! Black has played the opening badly and

Having avoided expulsion, it has now pen­

ended up in a difficult position. White has

etrated

a pawn majority in the centre, and at any

although it has moved away from the centre,

into

the

enemy

rear.

Moreover,

moment the knight at e5 will be pushed back.

it is nevertheless fulfilling some important

It is therefore all the more interesting to

functions :

follow how Black succeeds in creating coun­

ensuring the invasion of the queen at d3 .

ter-chances .

guarding

the

dl

square

and

22 Kh1

16 f4

Had White sensed the danger, for the

An inaccuracy, provoked by White's desire

impudent knight he would have given up the

to evict the opponent's minor pieces from

pride of his position - his black-squared

the centre as soon as possible . Better was

bishop : 22 B X b2 a X b2 23 Q X b2, although

16 h3 Bc8 (16 . . .

17 f4

allows White after

Black gains good compensation in the form

to trap the bishop at a convenient

of the two bishops and pressure on the a-file .

Bh5

moment by g3-g4 and f4-f5) 17 b X a5 B X a5

22

1 8 N2b3 Bb6 1 9 Khl , preparing f2-f4 and

... N2b3 NcS Bc3

B x cS !

A new surprise. Now on 2 3 N X c5 there

gaining an advantage.

16 17 18 19

. . •

follows 23 . . . b6 24 Nb3 Ba6 - this is where

Bb6 a4! a3! Nc4

the strength of Black's 20th move is seen.

23 b X cS

Qd3

The triumph of Black's resourceful defence . He has seized the initiative, and account must

Black's first achievement : his knight has not

be taken of the fact that White was absolutely

retreated, but advanced. 51

From defence to attack unprepared for such a metamorphosis on the

begin pursuing the a2 pawn) 3 1 . . . B X e2

board.

32 N x es R x es 33 B X f6 N X e4 34 B X e4 R X e4 35 Rc3, and the position is obviously

24 .Rf2

drawish.

Mter 24 Q X d3 N X d3 25 Re3 Nb2 there

28 29 30 31 32

is the threat of 26 . . . Nd5 .

.24 25 Rd2 26 R x c2 27 Ree2

Ng4 Q X c2 Nd3 Be6

• • •

• •

.

h3 B x f6 Bd4 f5

N x cS Nf6 R X a5 Na6 Ra4

Black sticks to his main 'code of conduct' in this game : to answer blow with counter­

It is the minor pieces that are the heroes

blow.

of Black's army in this game !

33 34 35 36

fX e6 e x f7 + Rc3 R x a3

R X d4 K x f7 RedS! Rd3

The material balance has been restored . but at the same time the position has sharple simplified in favour of Black. His knight is clearly superior to the bishop, his rook is mors active, and his king is closer to the centre, The sum of all these factors is a strong basiy for victory.

28 Na5

37 38 39 40 41 42

White is obviously disconcerted, and he decides to give up a pawn. Indeed, he certainly has difficult problems. Thus bad is 28 Nc1

Bc4 29 Red2 Ne3, or 28 Ba 1 Nb4 29 Rc3 RedS, or 28 h3 Nf6 29 f5

30 R X cl Bc4 pawn) 29

(29 Ncl NX cl

leads to the loss of the a2

. . . B X b3 30 a x b3 by

determined

action

comparatively best position, after which the knight gains scope to carry out its destructive

White

work.

could have held the position : 28 Nd4 ! Bc4

28 . . . NX c5 29 NX e6 NX e6, in return

43 Bd1

for the pawn White has the two bishops and

44 Bb3 45 Re3

(after

R X d3 Ke6 Ra3 g6 NcS Ke7!

Forcing the white bishop to abandon its

N X c5 3 1

B X f6 g X f6 32 R X c5 a2. However,

R X d3 Kh2 e5 Be4 Bc2 Kg2

the prospect of a successful attack on the a3 pawn) 29 h3 Nf6 30 Nf5 ! (this active move is

Nd3 Ncl h6

Also possible was 45 . . . N X a2, or 45 . . .

White's main trump) 30 . . . N X c5 (nothing

N X b3. Here all roads lead to Rome

30 . . . Nb2 31 Rei) 3 1 N X g7 (less convincing and clear is 31 B X/6 B X e2 32 Bd4 Bd3 33 R X c5 B X e4, when Black can is achieved by

46 h4 47 a X b3 52

N X b3 Ke6

No. 24 Polugayevsky-Torre, 1 976

48 Kf3 49 Kf4 50 Re4 51 Re3 52 Kf3 53 g4 Wbite resigns

Ra5 RbS c5 Rb4 + Rd4 g5

Too impulsively played; and, a s will shortly be seen, without penetrating deeply into the essence of the position. Highly interesting was 14 . . . c6 ! ?, when 1 5 d x c6

dX c5 16 dX c6 Q x d2 +

and

can be answered by 1 5 . . . Qa5, with the threat of 1 6 . . . Nb3 + .

15 c X b5

No.

(15 B X c5 17 . . . b x c6)

a6

24 King's Indian Defence Polugayevsky-Torre

Interzonal Tournament Manila, 1976 1 2 3 4 5

d4 e4 c4 Nc3 h3

g6 Bg7 d6 Nf6 16 b4!

I do not consider Makogonov's Variation to be stronger than the Samisch Variation. But in this game I wanted to surprise my opponent, a great lover of the King's Indian Defence.

Black has several continuations

leading to a good game. Torre chooses the plan of rapidly advancing . . . f5.

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

• • •

Be3 dS Nf3 g4 g X f5 e x f5 Rgl Qd2

0-0 eS Nbd7 Ne8 fS g X fS Nc5 B X fS Kh8

In this position the pawn move in front of the king is the most logical. It transpires that Black is forced to part with his knight, since after 1 6 . . . Ne4 1 7 N x e4 B X e4 1 8 Ng5 or 1 6 . . . Nd3 + 1 7 B x d3 B x d3 1 8 Q x d3 R x f3

1 9 b X a6 h e stands badly.

During the game it seemed to me that Torre quite simply overlooked this outwardly risky move by White .

16 17 18 19 20

a X b5 b4 RaS Qa8 Nf6

• • •

b X c5 Nb5 Bc4 Q x b4

Nothing is achieved by 20 2 1 B x a2 Q x a2 22 Qb2

A standard position has been reached, in

. ..

R X a2

(22 Na3

is also

good) 22 . . . Qc4 + 23 Nc3 . Now one gains

which success depends on who is the first

the

to create threats.

completely won, but Black's threats are not

impression

that

White's

position

is

exhausted, and White has to display ex­

14 0-0-0

bS ? !

treme composure, 53

caution and accuracy.

From defence to attack Thus, for example, 21 N x c7 would be an­

ing for the fact that, with the 'curtain about

swered by 21 . . . Rb8 !

to fall', it was possible to find counter­ chances so original, that during a subsequent

21 R X g7!

joint analysis one of the other players called

This counter-sacrifice reduces Black's at­ tacking potential by one unit, and a highly significant one.

21 22 Nh4 23 c x d6

K X g7 Be4 R x a2

• • •

After 23

. . .

c X d6 24 Rg1 +

them 'miraculous' .

2 6 Rg1 + 27 Q X d6!

In this critical situation White takes the only correct decision : to head into the storm. The white king does not sit and await its Kh8 25

Q X d6 things are totally bad for Black, so Torre decides to throw in the exchange as

fate, but travels around the board, energetic­ ally battling for its existence.

27 28 Kd1 29 Ke2 • • •

well.

24 B x a2

Kh8

Q x a2

Rc8 + Qa1 +

It unexpectedly transpires that the awk­ wardly placed knight at a3 is operating as a 'central defender', controlling the c2 square .

29 30 Bd2 • • •

Qb2 +

30

. • .

N X d5

25 Na3 ? White is a piece up, and he only had to play 25 Qb2 Qc4 + 26 Kd2, when the game would have been settled. His blunder can be explained both by the great effort involved in calculating the preceding variations, and perhaps by a premature subconscious relax­ ation. I assumed that there was no defence

After this White easily parries the threats,

against 26 Qb2, and completely overlooked

but what should Black have played ? Later,

the opening of the c-file .

25 . . .

in an analysis with a group of players from the tournament, someone suggested 30 . . .

c x d6

Bd3 + , supposedly leading to a win for Black.

Here I saw that I was threatened with the

At the board, while Torre was thinking, I

deadly 26 . . . Rc8 + . In just a few minutes,

had seen that it would be bad to play 3 1

with time trouble looming up, I had to make

K X d3 Qd4 + 3 2 Ke2 Ne4 3 3 Be3 Qb2 + ,

a hurried readjustment. The game is interest-

when Black wins, and had therefore intended 54

N o . 25 Polugayevs ky-Adorjan , 1 976

No . 25

3 1 Kf3 Ne4 32 Qe 7 N x d2 + 33 Kg2. I n

English Opening

the analysis it was suggested a t this point that the return of the knight - 33 . . . Ne4 -

Polugayevsky-Adorjan

would be decisive, but Ljubomir Ljubojevic,

Sochi, 1976

who was standing alongside, qu ick as light­

1 2 3 4

ning suggested 34 Nc2 ! !, and I saw to my joy that my intuition had not let me down dur­ ing the game . Indeed, after this sacrifice t he knight can be taken by three( ! !) black pieces - White

wins.

c4 e4 d4 d x e5

g6 e5 Nf6

Now 34 . . . Q X c2

parries the threat of 35 Kh2, but on the other

It is difficult to explain why I played this .

ha nd it removes a defence from e5, so that

Against

Tal

(4 1 s t

USSR

Championship,

35 Q x e5 + Kg8 36 Kh2 + is decisive. Mter

Moscow, 1 973) and in certain other games I

34 . . . B X c2, for an instant the f2 square is

chose the normal 4 Nf3, but here, as is usual

out of the black queen's field of view, so

in such tournaments , I wanted to experiment.

that White wins by 35 Kh2 Rg8 36 R x g8 +

4 5 Qd5

K X g8 3 7 Nf5, with inevitable mate . But particular aesthetic pleasure is afforded by

the

variation

34

. . .

Rg8 +

N x e4 Bb4 +

• • •

35 Kh2

R X gl 36 Qf8 + ! Rg8 37 Ng6 + h X g6 38 Qh6 mate . How inexhaustible chess is !

31 Rg4 The white rook also takes on defensive functions.

31 . . . 32 Ke3

Nf4 +

In this game the king is not afraid of a ny­ thing, and looks after itself quite well.

32 33 34 35 36

. • •

K x e4 Kf3 B x c3 Kg2

It was only when Adorjan made this move

Nd5 + Qd4 + Rc3 + Qd3 + Nf4 +

that I remembered I had examined it at home, and had concluded that White's position was diffic ul t . But when I played 4 d X e5 , I completely forgot about this, and expected play to follow the Gheorghiu-Ribli game

We now have a classic illustration of the

from the Manila I nterzonal, namely : 5 . . . f5

Russian proverb : 'One soldier on the battle­

6 e X f6 N x f6 7 Qd l , when White retains a

field is not a warrio r . '

37 38 39 40 41 42

R X f4 Nf3 B x e5 + Rg4 + Rg7 + R x h7

microscopic advantage .

Q x d6 Q X a3 Kg8 Kf7 Ke6 Resigns

6 Nd2

f5

It now tra nspires that the queen's ea rly development

has

rebounded ,

e .g.

7

Nf3

c6 8 Qd3 Qb6, and White is in some difficulty. 55

From defence to attack He therefore has to continue his dangerous

18 Q x a6 is bad because of 18 . . . Nf4.

queen walk.

18 19 0-0 20 N2f3 • • •

7 e x f6

N X f6

Here, incidentally, the thought occurred to me : it was just as well that I was White, and

Thus White has easily concluded his devel­

that my loss of time was partly compensated

opment, while retaining his extra pawn.

by the right of the 1st move . Only for this

20

reason was it still possible to hold on.

8 Qd3 9 Be2

c5

have simply answered 21 Qc2.

21 Nb5 22 Q X bS

White a respite and allows him to drive away

N X b5 Bd7

Generally speaking, Black drives the queen

the enemy bishop. More active was 9 . . . d5,

to where it wants to go, but I personally

when White may have no way of staying

find it difficult to give any better recommen­

out of danger.

a3 Ngf3 c x dS Qc4

• • •

In the event of 20 . . . Ba6 White would

0-0 ReS

A plausible move, which, however, gives

10 11 12 13

Bc8 Nac7

dation.

Bf8 d5 Bf5 b5

23 Qc4

But this move surprised me . Why, instead of a

favourable

positional path- 1 3

...

Q X d5 1 4 0-0 Nbd7, choose a violent one ?

14 Q X b5 15 Qb3

c6 Na6

To have compensation for the sacrificed pawn, Black must achieve full co-ordination of his pieces. But if he is forced to develop

23

his knight at a6, this is a bad sign. 16 d6 +

• • •

Rab8

Mter the game Adorjan suggested that

NdS

23 . . . a6 would have been stronger, but then by 24 Qc2 Bb5 25 Bc4 White consolidates

My opponent later admitted that White's

his position.

last move came as a surprise, and he now offered a draw. But did I have the right to

24 Ng5 !

avoid a struggle in such a position ? !

This move all but wins the game immedi­

17 Qc4

ately. The counter-combination 24 . .

.

R x e2

The best of the numerous queen moves in

25 Q X e2 Bb5 fails to 26 Qf3, meanwhile

this game. The pin is maintained, the bishop

White threatens 25 Bf3 and 25 Rd 1 , and only

at e2 defended, and the knight at a6 attacked.

a miracle allows Black to continue resisting.

17 18 Nd4 • • •

24 25 Bf3

Q X d6

• • •

56

h6

No. 25 Polugayevsky-Adorjan, 1 9 76 For a long time I looked for something

I must admit to being pleased with this

else, more decisive, but failed to find it, e.g. :

move. White cannot exchange rooks, since

(a) 25 Rd l Bb5 26 R x d5 R x e2 !

then he is unable to avoid perpetual check.

(b) 25 Bf4 Q X f4 26 Q X d5 + Kh8 27 Bc4

34

Bg7 28 Nf7 + Kh7 29 Q X d7 Q X c4 30 Nd6 Qe6.

ReS

• • •

Black had to play 34 . . . Qa4, when for

(c) 25 Ne4 Qc6.

the last time he would have retained drawing

I therefore had to be patient.

chances.

25 26 27 28 29

• • •

B x d5 + B x e6 + Qa4 Bd2

h X g5 Be6 Q x e6 g4

35 Bal The queen is at last free, and now takes part in the concluding attack. If 35 . . . Ra8, then 36 Qd2 followed by Qg5, or 36 Qe 1 threatening 37 Qe5 . Black deprives the queen of these two squares, but uncovers a third .

But this is an inaccuracy on my part. Correct was 29 Be3, and

if 29

35 36 Qd8 37 Qb4!

. . . R X b2 30

Rael. It has to be admitted that Adorjan exploits this chance excellently, and creates counter-play apparently out of nothing.

29 30 Q x a7 • • •

This defence, with the simultaneous threat of Qh8 + , was of course envisaged before­

Qe4

hand . Bad, naturally, is 37 h X g3 R X g3 !

37 I was sensible to avoid the exchange of

Or 37

queens, but the same cannot be said about

• . •

. . . g X f2 + 38 R X f2 R X f2 39

Qh8 + Kf7 40 Qh7 + Ke8 41 Re 1 + Kd8 42

30 b4.

Qh4 + and 43 Q x f2

30 31 Qa5 32 Rael 33 Bc3! • • •

Re2 g3

. • •

Qc6! R X b2 Re4! Rb3

.

38 K X h2

R x a3

On 38 . . . Bd6 + 39 Kgl Rg3 there would have followed 40 Qh8 + Kf7 41 fX g3 + .

39 Qh8 + 40 Reel 41 Rbl

Kf7 Raa2

Here the game was adjourned, and the position had to be analyzed in detail. After the best move 41 . . . Be7 White wins by 42 Kg1 Qe4 43 Rb8 Ke6 44 Qg8 + Kd6 45 Bc3, when there are so many threats that they cannot all be parried. 41 . . . Ra8 is met by 42 Rb7 + Ke8 43 Bg7 (43 . . . Q x b7 Q X/8 +

Kd7 45 Rdl +

etc.). The move

sealed by Black lost even more quickly.

34 Rcl ! 57

44

From defence to attack

41 42 43 44 45 46

R X f2 R X f2 Ke8 Kd8 Kd7 Resigns

• . .

R x f2 + Rb7 + Qe5 + Rb8 + Qe8 +

9 10 K x g2

B X g2 Qb8

The bishop's place at b7 is taken by the queen. This could also have been achieved by 10 . . . Qc8, but the move played creates a possible threat of . . . c5, when the knight's position at e5 may prove shaky.

No. 26 Queen' s Indian Defence

ll e4

Timman-Polugayevsky

Wijk 1 2 3 4 5

aan

Forced, since 1 1 . . . c5 can be met by 12 Bf4, and

Zee, 1979

the exchange .

12 Qf3

An essential link in Black's plan, who must . . . b5. In general, it should be noted that the position is highly dynamic and flexible,

fact the move pursues an idea which will be

even though the centre is in White's posses­

explained a little later.

sion. But he fails to find a plan and makes a mistake.

6 Bd2

.

•

Meanwhile,

his knight was

not

altogether well placed at e5, and if Timman had sensed this he would have immediately

6 Nbd2 is also quite good.

•

c6

aim for the pawn break . . . d5, or possibly

Formally Black loses a tempo, but in

6 7 Nc3 8 0-0

if 12 . . . d6, then 1 3 Nc6 Qc7 14

N x e7 + Q X e7 1 5 d X c5, when Black loses

Nf6 e6 b6 Bb7 Bb4 +

d4 c4 Nf3 g3 Bg2

Qb7

retreated it to d3. In this case White would have

Be7 0-0 Na6

been threatening e4-e5,

and would

have had a slight spatial advantage . But . . .

13 Rfe1

Black's plan becomes clear. Now in the

An unfortunate move, which gives Black

event of the natural 9 Rc 1 he replies 9 . . . c5,

the tactical opportunity to exchange his in­

and the bishop which was decoyed to d2

sufficiently active knight at a6 for White's

prevents White from advancing to d5 (be­

centralized knight. Better, as already men­

cause of

tioned, was 13 Nd3 or 13 Rad l .

10

.

.

.

e X d5 11 Nh4 Nc7).

13 . . .

9 Ne5

Nb4

Threatening to win the exchange by 14

The idea of immediately exchanging the

Nc2.

white-squared bishops deserves serious con­

14 Racl 15 Nd3 16 Q X d3

sideration, since in certain variations the undefended knight at a6 is a factor. In prac­ tice 9 Qa4 has also been played . 58

d6 N x d3 a6!

. • •

No. 26 Timman-Polugayevsky ,

1 979

23 Qf3 f5, and White unexpectedly risks coming under an attack.

21 d X e6 22 f3

fX e6

22 B X d6 is obviously bad because of 22 . . . Rd8 .

22 . . . 23 Red1

Rd8

To be considered was 23 Rcd 1 , when White Five black pawns stand on the 6th rank, and each is ready to take a step forward ! Another original position has been reached in this seemingly well studied opening. Rather than wait to see which black pawn will undermine his centre, White himself crosses the demarcation line .

17 d5 18 c x d5

is better prepared for possible breaks in the centre .

23 . . . 24 b3 25 Ne2

Nd7 Rcc8

24 Be3 is better. Now Black seizes the initiative .

c x d5

25 26 Qb1

On 1 8 e x d5 Black would have continued 1 8 . . . b5 !

Nc5 b4

Consolidating the position of the knight,

18 19 a3 ? ! • • .

which is carrying out numerous functions,

b5

including the defence of the e-pawn.

Preparing to answer 19 . . . e5 with the manoeuvre Na2-b4-c6. But Black is by no means obliged to relieve the pawn tension in the centre, and therefore it was better to play immediately 19 d X e6 fXe6 20 f3, followed by directing the knight via e2 to d4 or f4.

19 The

• • •

Rac8

position must be considered com­

pletely level, so that the opening battle has essentially been won by Black.

20 Bf4

Now on 27 a4 White had to reckon with 27 . . . d5, when 28 e5 could be met by 28 . . .

Rc4

d4, with a positionally justified pawn sacri­

But this is wrong. Much simpler was 20 . . .

fice and

counter-play on the d-file.

The

e5, when on 2 1 Bg5 White has to reckon

double-edged 27 . . . g5 28 Be3 g4 was also

with 21 . . . N X d5, while after 21 Be3 Bd8

possible . Therefore the most justified was

22 Na2, with the idea of manoeuvring the

27 a x b4 Q x b4 28 Rc4, and if 28 . . . Q X b3

knight to c6, Black replies 22 . . . Ba5 ! If

29 Q X b3 N x b3, then 29 B x d6 Rc2 30

instead 21 Bd2, then 21 . . . Nd7 22 Na2 Nc5

B X e7, with a probable draw.

5

59

From defence to attack But White failed to sense the danger, and,

The best practical chance. After 35 Ra l

hoping to regain the pawn, played

Rc2 + 36 Kh3 Bc3 37 e7 Kf7 38 e x f8 Q+

27 Be3 ?

K X f8 39 Ne6 +

wins by 40 . . . R X h2 + 4 1 K X h2 B X a 1 42 Nb3 Bc3 and . . . a5-a4.

A mistake, since the black pawn at a3 becomes very strong.

35 36 e7 37 R X d5 . • •

27 28 b4

. • •

b X a3 Nd7!

Rd8 R x d5!

After 37 e8 = Q R X d 1 White does not

After 28 . . . Na4 ? 29 Qb3 the advantage

have even a single check.

would obviously pass to White .

29 Qb3 30 Nf4 ?

=

Kf7 40 Nd4 Black

Nf8

37 38 39 40 41

30 Q X a3 was essential, agreeing after 30 . . . d5 31 e x d5 B X b4 to a slightly inferior, but defensible position. But White assumed

• • •

e8 = Q Bd2 ReS Re2

al = Q Qa2 + B X d2 Bb4 + Qd5

that his position was still preferable, and it was only after

30

• • •

d5

that he realized he had lost the battle.

31 e x d5 32 Q X b4 Or 32 Qa2 Qb2 + 33 Q X b2 a X b2 34 Rb 1 Rc2 + . Black's material advantage, and, more im­

32 33 d x e6

portant, the inadequately defended position of the white king, are bound to lead to a win. But even so, with his next move White should

The lesser evil was first 33 R X c8 R X c8

not have given himself an extra weakness

and only then 34 d X e6, definitely leading

at g3 .

to the game continuation. Because now Black could have won immediately by 33 . . . a2,

42 h4 ? 43 Re4

and if 34 R X d8 R X c l 35 Bd4 Rd l . But he had already made up his mind to attain a position planned beforehand, and so missed

With his sealed move Black begins to set

this additional possibility.

33 34 R X dl 35 Nd5 • • •

a5 Bd6

his sights on the opponent's king. His plan also includes - after suitable preparation -

R X d1 a2

bringing his knight into play, after which the attack will become irresistible. And it should 60

No. 27 Griinfeld-Polugayevsky, 1979 be borne in mind that the exchange of queens will also conclude the game immediately.

No. 27 Sicilian Defence

b6

Griinfeld-Polugayevsky

With the idea of . . . Kh7.

Interzonal Tournament Riga, 1979

44 Re2

45 g4

So as to free himself from worries over his g3 pawn, and to obtain at least some kind of counter-chances by h4-h5 . But the weakness of the b8-h2 diagonal is now especially marked . 45 46 b5 46 Kg3 • • •

Qd4 Bc5

If 47 Qa8, defending f3, then 47 . . . Qgl + 48 Kh3 Bf2, winning. 47 48 Kf4 49 Ke4 • • •

Qgl + Bd6 + Qc5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

e4 Nf3 d4 N X d4 Nc3 Bg5 f4 e5 r x e5 Qe2 0-0-0 N x c6 Qd3

c5 d6 c x d4 Nf6 a6 e6 b5 d x e5 Qc7 Nfd7 Nc6 Q x c6 h6 !

The most accurate. 50 . . . Qc4 + is threat­ ened, and if 50 Qa4 Qe5 + 5 1 Kd3 Qd4 + , winning the key f3 pawn. 50 Qa8 51 Ke3 52 Kd2

Qc4 + Bc5 +

The white king has been finally driven into the open field, and the pursuit of it now concludes. 52 53 54 55 56

• • •

Kdl Kd2 Kdl Kd2

In this apparently risky line, to which theory has given the name of the 'Polugayev­ sky Variation', how many times has Black succeeded in finding additional resources. Opening guides, including the fundamental Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, give only two lines here : (a) 1 3 . . . Bb4 14 Be2 Rb8 1 5 Ne4 0-0 1 6 Nf6 + ! N X f6 1 7 B X f6 Bb7 1 8 Qh3 ! , with a winning attack for White (Kelece­ vic-Bucan, Yugoslav Championship, 1971). (b) 1 3 . . . Bc5 14 Be2 Qc7 1 5 Ne4 0-0 (15 . . . Q x e5 is bad because of 16 Rh/1,

Qa2 + Qbl + Qb2 + Qb3 +

If 56 Rc2, then 56 . . . Qb l + 57 Kd2 Bb4 + 58 Kd3 Qd l + . 56 57 Kcl White resigns • • •

5*

Bb4 + Qd3

61

From defence to attack with the threat of

16 Qg3 Kh8 1 7 Bf4,

course, my opponent's pos1t10n cannot be

and White has an obvious advantage (Tom­

considered bad or even inferior : after all,

son-Kovacevic, USSR v. Yugoslavia, 1 96 1 ) .

White has not done anything 'unlawful' .

In

Bf4)

(Pergamon

Grandmaster Preparation

It was simply that the resulting situation gave

Press, 1 9 8 1 ) I consider 13 . . . Bb7 14 Be2,

great

again with advantage to White. The idea of

exact and lengthy calculation, and I was

Black's move in the present game is that in

hoping for success.

some cases he has counter-play with . . . g5. and

certain

demanded

deep,

only

White accepts the challenge, which, more­ over, he is unable to decline. After 1 8 Nb l

during my night-time preparations for this

the initiative is with Black, while the 'attack­

game with my trainer Oleg Averkin.

ing' 1 8 Na4 simply loses to 1 8 . . . N x a4

White

indirectly

were

fantasy,

polished up before the tournament and . . .

14 Bb4 15 Be2 16 Rbe1

details

to

18 Nb5!

I hit upon this idea a long time ago, but the subtleties

scope

19 Q X e6 + f X e6 20 Bh5 + Qf7 21 B X f7 +

Bb7 Qc7

K X f7 22 Rd7 + Kg6 23 R X b7 Bc5, when for the piece White has no compensation. But now it appears that things are bad for

defends

his

Black, and that he must reconcile himself

e-pawn.

The alternative was to try an immediate

to

attack on f7 by 16 Rhfl or 16 Bh5 .

1 8 . . . Qa5 19 Nd6 + B X d6 20 e X d6, since

16

. . .

an

obviously

inferior

position

after

1 8 . . . a x b5 19 B X b5 + Bc6 20 Qf3 ! leads

Nc5

to mate after 20 . . . B X b5 21 Q x a8 + , or 20 . . . Rc8 2 1 B X c6 + Q x c6 22 Q X c6 +

1 6 . . . N x e5 is bad : 1 7 Qg3 g5 1 8 B X b5 + a x b5 1 9 N X b5 followed by capturing on e5.

R X c6 23 Rd8 mate. But after checking the

17 Qb3

variations

once

again, Black nevertheless followed the second 'ruinous' path.

18 . . . 19 B X b5 + 20 Qf3

17

• . .

a x b5! Bc6 Nb3 + ! !

b4! ?

Perhaps it would have been more prudent to choose the less risky 17 . . . Rc8, but I felt an inclination to go in for complications. Especially since at the board I had found

This fine intermediate move into a triple

a totally unexpected move, which would set

attack was planned by Black when he made

White incredibly difficult problems. No, of

his 1 7th move . It came as a complete sur62

No. 27 Griinfeld-Polugayevsky, 1 979 prise to Griinfeld, who, in spite of prolonged

h5, and Black wins. For Black in turn, after

thought, promptly committed the decisive

32 Qd8 + Kg7 33 Qf6 + Kg8 34 Qd8 the attempt by 34 . . . Bf8 to avoid perpetual

mistake .

check is risky.

21 Kbl ?

Thus the complications provoked by Black, with 'correct play', could have led only to

This loses and . . . leaves behind the scenes

a draw. But what a mockery was made of

a mass of interesting variations, which I had

this term many years ago by Mikhail Chi­

been considering for roughly an hour.

gorin ! The resulting position was full of

It stands to reason that neither 21 Q X b3 ?

life - and for this reason alone it had every

B X b5, nor 2 1 c x b3 B X b5 + is playable.

right to exist. I need hardly remind the reader

Therefore, by the method of elimination,

how difficult it was at the board to calculate

White was bound to choose

21

a x b3 !,

all these - and many other - variations,

when my calculation continued 21 . . . Ra l +

and correctly weigh up the chances of the

22 Kd2 Qd7 + 23 Ke3 ! (not 23 Ke2 B X b5 + )

two sides.

2 3 . . . Bc5 + 24 Kf4 g5 + 2 5 Kg3 ! R X d l !

21

(if 25 . . g X h4 + ?, then 26 Kh3! R X dl 27 B X c6! R X el 28 B X d7+ , and White .

has the advantage wherever the king moves :

28 . . . KX d7 29 Qb7+ and 30 Qb8+ , or 28 . . . Ke7 29 Qf6 + , or 28 . . . Kf8 29 Qf6 Rh7 30 B X e6), and since after 26 R x d l ? ! gXh4 +

Bd4 things are bad for White, he has to

Na5

Now Black keeps his extra piece, although the battle is not yet over.

22 Rd4!

27 Kh3 B X f3 28 R X d7 Be2 !

29 Rb7 + B X b5 30 Rb8 + Ke7 3 1 R x h8

. . .

The best chance, threatening both Rc4; and the doubling of rooks on the d-file.

choose between capturing on c6 with queen

22 23 Redl! • • •

or bishop :

Rc8! gS!

(a) 26 Q X c6 Rd3 + ! 27 c x d3 g X h4 + 28 K x h4 Q x c6 29 B X c6 + Ke7, and White

Both sides are accurate in exploiting their

is two pawns up, but his pawn formation

chances, simply Black has more of them . . .

is irreparably spoiled,

and the opposite­

24 B x c6 +

coloured bishops guarantee Black a draw. (b) 26 B X c6 R X e l 27 B X d7 + Kf8 (with the threat of 28 . . . Re3) 28 Qf6 Re3 +

After 24 Rd7 Q X d7 2 5 R X d7 Black wins

29 Kg4 (29 Kf2 ? loses to 29 . . . R X e5+ 30 Kg3 Re3 + 31 Kf2 Re4+ 32 Kg3 Bd6 + 33 Kh3 R X h4 mate) 29 . . . Re4 + 30 Kh3

both by 25 . . . K X d7 26 Q x f7 + Be7 27

R X h4 +

26 Rc7 +

B X c6 + N x c6, with the threats of 28

3 1 Kg3 Rh7, and both players

. •

Bc6 2 7 R X c8 + Kd7 2 8 Ra8

B x b5.

must be satisfied with a draw. It is dangerous for White to continue, e.g. 32. B X e6, in

24 25 26 27 28

view of 32 . . . Rf4 33 Qd8 + Kg7 34 Bg4 (the only way of parrying simultaneously the two threats of 34 . . . /X e6 and

.

g X h4 and 28 . . . Rf8, and by 25 . . . B X f3

34 . . . Bf2 +

35 Kh3 Rh4 mate) 34 . . . Rh8 ! 35 Qd7 (d5, d3, d2, d l , c7, a5) 35 . . . Bf2 + 36 Kh3

63

Qd3 Bel

Q x c6 Be7 0-0

B x b4

B X b4

R X b4

Nc4

• • .

From defence to attack decisive was 38 . . . Rc7 and 39 . . . Rcd7, when the rooks invade.

39 c5! Now d6 is inaccessible to the rook, and the knight is attacked . . .

Nd5 Nf4 Rd1 +

39 40 Rc4 41 Qb2 • • •

41

. . .

Q x b2 + 42 K x b2 Nd3 +

and

Here we can take stock, and it is depressing

43 . . . Ne5 would have won easily, but I was

for White. In the middlegame his passed

vexed, and wanted without fail to conclude

pawns will not go far.

the game with an attack on the king.

29 b3 A trap in Black's time trouble . If now 29 . . . Na3 + 30 Kb2 N x c2 (30 . . . Q X c2 +

31

KX a3), then 3 1

Rc4. However, i t is

unlikely that White could have kept his e-pawn.

N x e5 Qc3 Nc6

• . .

Qf8 Qd8 Nd3 Qd5 Ne5

The black pieces have achieved maximum against the numerous threats.

In time trouble I overlooked the elegant . . .

Ka2 Rfc3 Rc2 Qc3 Ka3

activity, and there is no longer any defence

29 30 Qe2 31 Re4

31

42 43 44 45 46

Rfd8 ! ,

which after 32

R X d8 +

R X d8 33 R X e5 Rd2 34 Rc5 ! Qd4 ! wins

51

Rd3 Kg7 Rd1 Ra6! Rd4

and

52

.

. •

Rd X a4 + .

and if 35 c3 Qg 1 + .

Rd3 Rb3 c4 a4

Rb4 Rb8 + Qb4 Ka2

Threatening

immediately by the threat of 35 . . . Rc l +

32 33 34 35

47 48 49 50

51 Rb6 Qa5 Nb4 Rfd8

5 1 c6, opening the way for the white queen to f8, would not have achieved anything, since the black king would have hidden from the checks at h5 or h4, while White's would have remained undefended. The game could

Forced, in view of the threat of 35

have been prolonged slightly by 5 1 a5, but

Rd 1 + .

35 36 37 38

... Rf3 Kb2 Kb1

even then Black wins by 5 1

Qf5 Qg6 Qg7 + Rc6 ? !

. . .

Nc6 52

Qc3 + e5 53 Rb5 Nd4 54 Rb6 R X b6 55 c x b6 N x c2.

51 52 Q X d4 53 R x a6 Wbite resigns • • •

With his flag about t o fall, Black carries out inexactly a correct plan. Immediately 64

Rd4! Q X d4 Qd3

No. 28 Polugayevsky-Braga, 1 982

No. 28 Catalan Opening

a win, it is not difficult to appreciate my state of mind at this point. I had to summon up literally all my strength, in order to find a plan that was even slightly acceptable.

Polugayevsky-Braga

Mar del Plata, 1982 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

c4 g3 Bg2 d4 Nf3 0-0 Qc2 a4 Q x c4

11 Qa2!

After the natural 1 1 Qd3 b4 12 Nd 1 Be4 Black has straightforward play with an advantage. The point of the move played is to remove the queen from the firing line.

e6 Nf6 d5 Be7 0-0 d x c4 a6 Bd7 Bc6

11

12 Nd1 13 b3

Bd5

The queen is out of danger, but the ini­ tiative-alas-is on the side of the opponent. 13 . . . 14 d X c5

c5

Necessary, since 14 Ne3 can be met by 14 . . . c X d4 1 5 N X d5 N X d5 1 6 N X d4 Nc3 1 7 Qd2 Ra7, or even 1 7 . . . Q X d4. 14

. • •

Ne4

Played with the striving typical of youth - and the Argentinian master F. Braga is still young - to try and 'finish off' the oppo­ nent immediately. More solid and sensible looks 14 . . . Ndb7 followed by . . . N X c5, maintaining the pressure. After the text move White succeeds m finding some counter­ play.

10 Nc3 ?

15 Ne3 16 Qd2

The saddest thing is that I not only knew all the consequences of this incorrect move, but had even pointed out them out myself in the notes to one of my games . . . . . •

b4

The developing 1 1 . . . Nbd7 is also good.

This position has occurred dozens of times in practice, including my games. Moreover, I prefer playing it with White, and have con­ tinued here either 10 Bg5 or 10 Bf4. And suddenly I mechanically picked up the wrong piece ! . . .

10

. • .

Nc3 Be4

It transpires that on 16 . . . B X b3 White would not have played 1 7 Nd4 in view of 1 7 . . . Bd5 or 1 7 . . . Q X d4, but 1 7 Bb2 !, when the position is roughly equal. For ex­ ample, 1 7 . . . Bf6 (or 17 . . . Q X d2 18 NX d2 NX e2+ 19 Kh1 Bd5 20 NX d5 e X d5 21 B X d5) 1 8 Ng4 ! Q X d2 1 9 N X f6 + g X f6 20 N X d2 N X e2 + 2 1 Kh1 Bd5 22

b5!

Black's position immediately becomes pre­ ferable. And if account is taken of the fact that my tournament position demanded only 65

From defence to attack B X dS e x dS 23 B X f6. Of course, a draw did not suit me, but then in a superior position my opponent was not thinking of one either.

B x c5

17 Re1

17

. . .

Na5 Rad8

Not 24 . . . N X b3 ? 25 Rab l .

Bc5 ?

25 Nc2

Over-hasty. Black could still have retained some advantage by

23 24 Qe4

Nd7

For the second time the black bishop goes

1 8 Bb2

to c5, and for the second time it is a mistake.

N x cs 19 B X c3 b x c3 20 Q x c3 Rc8, when

After the correct 25

he has more than sufficient compensation for

. . .

Bc3 26 R X d8

R X d8 27 Rb l Black would still have had

the pawn.

chances of fighting for a draw.

18 Bb2

Nc6

19 B X c3! 20 Q X c3 21 Qc4!

b X c3 Bb4 B X f3

But now White begins a counter-attack by combinational means .

26 b4! 27 Kg2 28 a5!

B X f2 + Nb3

Had Black accepted the exchange sacrifice by 2 1

.

B X e 1 , he would have lost material

The point of the manoeuvre begun by

after 22 Q x e4 Bc3 23 Rc 1 , to say nothing

White : the black queen loses control of d8,

about White's splendid attacking prospects

and the weakness of the back rank soon

on the K-side.

becomes a decisive factor.

.

.

22 Red1! After 22

.

.

.

Qb6

28 29 R X d8 30 Rb1 31 Rd1 • • •

Bd5 23 N x d5 e x d5 24 B X d5

Black loses at least two pawns.

Qa7 R X d8 Nd2

23 B X f3 The threat of 32 Qb7 renders Black's

Thus White has a minimal material advan­

position lost. The finish was :

tage, but for the moment the extra pawn does not play any particular role, while the presence

a

drawing

of opposite-coloured

factor.

bishops

31 32 e3 33 Qc6 • • •

is

66

Bg1 Qe7

No. 28 Polugayevsky-Braga, 1 982 Stronger than 33 R X d2 R X d2 + 34 K X gl .

33

. . .

34

Qf6

Or 33 . . . Rd6 34 Qc3 Qd8 35 Be2 and ,

Black loses a piece.

34 K X gl

.

. . Q X f3 is met by 35 R X d2, and

34 . . . N X f3 + by 35 Q x f3.

h5

67

35 Bg2

Nb3

36 R X d8 +

Q x d8

37 Qa8

Resigns

The Touchstone of Mastery

These games I have assigned to the category of positional strategy. In contrast to the ex­ amples where there was a swift attack on the enemy king or a plan of defence in depth, here I used positional means to solve concrete problems. Problems, such as the exploitation of some weakness, the activity of the pieces or a spatial advantage, the creation of a fa­ vourable pawn formation, the transforming of one type of advantage into another, and so on. In practice I have made use of many dif­ ferent strategic ideas, such as the creation of open lines on the Q-side for counter-play, or the exploitation of a bad enemy piece (for example, the bishop at g7 in the Siimisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence). Or the strategic device of transposing from the opening into a favourable endgame, especially if it should lead to my favourite ending with the advantage of the two bishops. A large place in my practice has been

from this even than from some spectacular combination. And although I am regarded as a 'concrete' player, which is in principle true, I frankly do not care for play where, for example, the king's rook is first placed at d l , and is then moved back to el. Nowadays, it is true, such play is considered flexible and spontaneous, a variation in semi-tones. Per­ haps it is sometimes alright, for there are numerous players who successfully employ such methods. But what can I do : to me personally, such a style, such a 'method of trial and error', does not appeal. A com­ plete, logical plan of positional strategy has always laid and will lie at the basis of chess. This is the touchstone on which chess mastery is both whetted and tested.

No. 29 Sicilian Defence Boleslavsky-Polugayevsky

occupied by the strategic problems of posi­ tions with an isolated pawn. I have played both against it, setting up a blockade and aiming for the endgame, and 'for it', exploit­ ing the spatial advantage to take the initiative on the K-side. And in all these cases I have learned from the games of the chess greats, whom I have always considered great autho­ rities in the field of positional strategy. Their games are notable for the steadfast carrying out of a plan, and their play never gives the impression of being 'jerky'.

23rd USSR Championship Leningrad, 1956 l e4 2 3 4 5 6

Nf3 d4 N X d4 Nc3 g3

c5 Nc6 c X d4 Nf6 d6

Boleslavsky had played this against me in the Semifinal of the previous USSR Championship (Gorky, 1 954), the game con-

If I should succeed in carrying out a com­

plete strategic plan, I gain more satisfaction 68

No . 29 B oleslavsky-Polugayevsky, 1 956

14 15 e X d5

tinuing 6 . . . Bg4 7 f3 Bd7 8 Be3 e5 9 Nde2

• • •

Be6 10 Nd5 B X d5 1 1 e x d5 Qa5 + 12 Nc3 Nb8 1 3 Bg2 Be7 14 0-0 0-0 1 5 f4, with

On 1 5 N x d5 there could have followed

slightly the better game for White . On this

15 . . . e6 1 6 Ne3 Qe7 and then 17 . . . Rfd8.

occasion the encounter develops along differ­ ent lines.

15 16 c3 17 Re1 • • .

6 7 8 9 10 11

• • •

Nde2 Bg2 0-0 h3 Nd5

g6 Bg7 0-0 Bd7 ReS

Qb6 Rfe8 Qa6

Black takes control of the important a6-fl diagonal, frees the path of the b-pawn, and, finally, prevents the development of the white queen at b3 in view of . . . Ba4.

This move is a part of the system chosen by

18 a4

White . In the event of the exchange on d5, he will aim after e X d5 for the set-up b2-b3

Qa5 !

White had apparently not considered this

and c2--c4, with Q-side pressure . In the present

move . Now there is no good defence against

game Black manages to prevent this .

11 . . . 12 Nd4

N X d5

19 . . . b5.

Ne5

19 Ne2 20 b4 21 aS

Of course, not 12 b3 N X d5 1 3 e X d5 Nf3 + .

b5 Qc7

2 1 a x b5 was bad because of 2 1 . . . B X b5 22 Nd4 Q X c3.

21 22 Be3 • • .

Bf5 Nd3

On 22 . . . Nc4 there would have followed 23 Bd4.

23 Rfl 24 Qb3 12

• . •

Bad was 24 Qc 1 Na4, winning a pawn.

Nc6!

24

This forces White to return his knight to e2, since 1 3 . . . N x d5 and 14 . . . N x d4

• • •

Nc4

Now White cannot play 25 Bd4 due to

is threatened.

13 Ne2 14 Nef4

Nb2

25 . . . Nd2.

Ne5

25 Bf4

With White, Boleslavsky naturally avoids

Qd7

(see diagram next column)

the repetition of moves, but after this Black

26 Kh2

is the first to seize the initiative.

69

The touchstone of mastery With the time scramble over, Black sealed his next move. In spite of his inaccurate play, he has retained an advantage sufficient to win.

41 42 Qd2 43 Qb4 44 Qd6 • • •

Rc4 Rc2 Qc4

If 44 Q X c4, then 44 . . . b X c4 followed by 45 . . . Rc8, when the advance of the c-pawn is irresistible .

Or 26 g4 Bd3 27 Rfe l Ne5 28 Bg3 B X e2 29 R X e2 Nf3 + 30 B X f3 R X c3 and then 31

. . . R X f3, when Black wins a pawn.

26 27 Rfel 28 Nd4 . • .

Bd3 Ne5

28 B X e5 was more tenacious.

28 . . . 29 Qdl

Bc4

If 29 Qb l , then 29 . . . Nd3 30 Re3 N X f4

44

3 1 g X f4 e5 32 d X e6 fx e6 with a won posi­ tion for Black.

29 30 31 32 33

• • •

Re3 c x d4 Qd2 B X d5

• • •

Qa2!

This decisively strengthens Black's position.

Nd3 B X d4 N X b4 N x d5 B X d5

The main threat is of course 45 . . . R X f2; after which the white king is in a mating net.

45 46 47 48 49

Thus Black has won two pawns, and it is only the presence of opposite-coloured bish­

Rfl b4 Rat B X d6 Bb4

Q X a5 Qd8 Q X d6 Rd8

ops that slightly complicates the win.

34 Rael

On 49 Bc5 Black was intending 49 . . . Rb8 !

Rc7

50 R X a7 b4 5 1 Bd6 Rb5 52 Rd7 Rc8 .

34 . . . Rc4 was stronger.

49 so Bc5 51 B x a7 52 Ra5 53 Rel 54 Ra3 55 Rbl White resigns • • •

35 36 37 38 39 40 41

g4 Kg3 Qb4 B X d6 Bc5 Bd6 Be5

Qc8 Rc2 Qb7 e6

Qc7 Qc6

70

Rc4 b4 Ra8 Rc6 b3 b2 Rc7

No. 30 Polugayevsky-Spassky, 1 959

No. 30 Nimzo-Indian Defence

Two rounds later Taimanov played 7 Ne4 against me, and after 8 Bd2 Nc6 9 N x e4 d X e4 1 0 B X b4 N X b4 was clearly not averse

Polugayevsky-Spassky

to repeating the game Saidy-Padevsky (Var­

26th USSR Championship Tbilisi, 1959

na, 1 958), where there followed 1 1 Qa4 + Nc6, with a complicated game . But I employ­ ed an innovation - 1 1 Nc3 !, and after 1 1 . . .

1 2 3 4 5

d4 c4 Nc3 e3 Nge2

Nf6 e6 Bb4 c5

Q X d4 1 2 Q X d4 Nc2 + 1 3 Kd2 N X d4 14 N X e4 I retained an enduring advantage in the ending, and won.

White avoids the well-studied variations resulting from 5 Nf3 and 6 Bd3, in favour of a less analyzed continuation.

5 ... 6 e x d4 7 c5

Ba5

8 a3

It is difficult to say which is better, the retreat to a5 or the exchange on c3. Spassky decides to retain his black-squared bishop for his planned counter . . . e5.

c x d4 d5

9 b4 10 g3

Bc7

It is with this move that White's hopes

In this way White reduces somewhat the

are associated. He creates a pawn majority

activity of the bishop at c7. In addition, he

on the Q-side, while in return, of course,

prepares the development of his bishop at

allowing his opponent active possibilities in

g2, which after

e5 will be very active.

the centre.

e5 Bg4

10 11 Bg2 • • •

Probably the strongest continuation. In the event of 1 1

.

.

.

e x d4 12 Nb5 White's advan­

tage is undisputed.

12 f3 Practically forced. After 12 h3 Bf5 13 g4 Bg6 the black pieces are very actively placed.

7 ...

12 . . . 13 0-0 14 Nb5

Nc6

In the well-known game Averbakh-Panno (Portoroz, 1958) Black played differently :

Bf5 0-0

Probably not the best. To be considered

7 . . . Ne4 8 Bd2 N X d2 9 Q X d2 b6 10 a3

was 14 Bg5 h6 15 B X f6 g X f6 1 6 f4 !, with

B X c3 1 1 N x c3 b X c5 12 Bb5 + Bd7 1 3 d x c5

an advantage.

a5, with good counter-play. But White is not

14 15 d X e5

obliged to check with his bishop at b5, and

• • .

can play 12 d x c5 immediately.

71

Bb8 N x e5

The touchstone of mastery 27 N x c7 28 R x n 29 Rd1

Considerably stronger than the capture with the bishop, on which there follows 16 Nbd4.

Here we can sum up. White obviously has a marked advantage, since the d5 pawn is attacked, and he has the d4 square at his disposal, while the white b- and c-pawns are threatening to advance. Black could have defended his pawn by 29 . . . Rd8, to which White was intending to reply 30 Qd4, retain­ ing a positional advantage.

16 Ned4

This too is probably not the best. 16 Bf4 is more logical, aiming for the exchange of black-squared bishops. 16 17 18 19 20

• • •

Re1 Nc3 Rb1 a x b4

Bd3 Bc4 a5 a x b4 Nd3

29 . . . 30 Qd4 31 N x ds

Too hasty. Black has achieved satisfactory counter-play, and should have completed his development by 20 . . . Re8. Now White gains a clear advantage . 21 22 23 24

Re3 R X cl Qd2 Bfl!

. • •

Kf8 Qf5

The start of a little combination, based on the following continuation : 3 1 . . . Rd8 32 c6 !, when the following lines are possible : (a) 32 . . . b x c6 33 Qc5 + Kg8 34 Ne7 + . (b) 32 . . . b6 (it was this move that Spassky had considered possible in his preliminary calculations) 33 Q x b6 R X d5 34 Qb8 + Ne8 35 Re i . (c) 32 . . . R X d5 33 c X b7 R X d4 34 b 8 = Q + Ne8 35 R X d4 Qb l + 3 6 Kf2 Qb2 + 37 Ke3, and the white king hides from the checks. All the continuations given are clearly in White's favour, but Black has a stronger reply : 32 . . . Q x d5 ! 33 Q x d5 N X d5 34 c x b7 Rb8 35 R x d5 R X b7, when analysis shows that Black has better chances of draw­ ing than White has of winning. E .g. 36 b5

N x c1 Qd7 Bc7

Eliminating a well-placed black piece, after which the weakness of the d5 pawn becomes apparent. 24 25 R X e8 + 26 Ndb5!

Q x c7 Qe5

Rfe8 R x e8 Bxn

O n 2 6 . . . Be5 there could have followed 27 B x c4 d X c4 28 Q X d7 N x d7 29 Ne4.

72

No. 3 1 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 966 Ke7 37 Kf2 Ke6 38 Rc5 Kd6 39 Rh5 g6 40 R X h7 Ke6 with a draw, or 36 Rd4 Ra 7 ! , with the threat of posting the rook behind the passed b-pawn. Thus it can be concluded that Black was correct in allowing White to capture on d5, but that he should definitely have replied 3 1 . . . Rd8. White, on the other hand, was wrong to be tempted by the combinational possibility 3 1 N x d5, and by continuing 3 1 Kg2, followed by 32 Rd2 and 33 b5, he could have maintained a considerable positional advantage. But Spassky took me 'at my word' 31

. . •

37 38 c6

Kg7

• • •

Once again threatening 39 Qd4 + . 38 39 Qc5

Kb6

• . •

Now the exchange of queens by 40 Qcl + is threatened . 39 40 c7 41 Qf8 + • • •

g5 Re2 Resigns

Mter 41 . . . Kg6 White wins by 42 Rd6 + f6 43 R X f6 + .

N x d5 ?

This move is the decisive mistake . 32 Q X d5

No. 3 1 English Opening

Qc2

Here the exchange of queens-32 . . . Q X d 5 and now 3 3 . . . Re 1 + 34 Kf2 Rb 1-does not give Black any serious chances of saving the game : the white king heads for b5, and this is decisive. Spassky hopes after 32 . . . Qc2 to invade on the 2nd rank with his rook . 33 Qd6 + ! 34 Qd3

Po1ugayevsky-Korcbooi

Sochi, 1966 1 c4 2 Nc3 3 Nf3

Kg8

By this move order White avoids the Nimzo-Indian Defence .

Without the preliminary check at d6, this move would have been impossible, in view of the familiar combination . . . Re 1 + and on R X e 1- . . . Q X d3. But now in this case Black would be mated by the rook at e8. 34 35 Qe4! • • •

3 4 Qb3 • • •

• • •

·

Bb4

A promising continuation, in my opinion, although in practice 4 a3 B X c3 5 b X c3 is more common.

Qb2

4 5 6 7 8

Winning a second pawn. 35 36 Q X b7 37 Qb6

e6 Nf6

Kf8 g6

• • •

a3 g3 Bg2 0-0

c5 Ba5 Nc6 d5 B X c3

Black is right to part with his bishop, which has little in the way of prospects. 8 . . . d4 is weaker due to 9 Na4.

The only defence, but an adequate one, against the threat of 37 . . . Re2, on which there now follows 38 Qd8 + Kg7 39 Qd4 + . 73

The touchstone of mastery 9 Q X c3 10 Qc2 11 d3

d4

Unattractive is 17 . . . fXe5 18 g X h5, when White acquires excellent chances on the g-file, a factor which is strengthened by the post for his bishop at e4.

a5 0-0

An inaccuracy. The logical l l . . . e5 would have enabled Black to complete his develop­ ment unhindered, and to begin active play in the centre. But now White temporarily stops this advance.

• • •

c x d4

It is now clear that the plan begun by Black on his 14th move has suffered a fiasco. White's long-range bishops plus the half-open central file are decisive trumps in this posi­ tion. On top of everything else, it is not easy for Black to solve the problem of unfreezing his Q-side. White's following manoeuvre emphasizes even more his positional advan­ tage.

Not only preventing 12 . . . e5, but also preparing the exchange of knights, after which the important Q-side break b2-b4 is facilitated. 13 NeS

a4

19 e x d4 20 f4

12 Bf4

12

18 Bg3

Qe7 N x es

14 B x eS

20

• • •

QcS

21

Bel! 22 Bb4

Rd8

23 Qf2

Rb8

24 Qh4

Qf7

Q c7

Forced. 24 . . . f5 is bad in view of 25 Be7 ReS 26 Bf6, with the threat of 27 Be5. 25 Rael

14

• • •

b6

NhS

Korchnoi begins a seemingly very tempting operation aimed at surrounding White's bishop, but this 'sideways' move is not in the spirit of the position. White is excellently developed, and it is not surprising that he finds an adequate antidote. 15 e3

f6

26 fS

16 Qe2

This breakthrough is the natural conse­ quence of the co-ordination of all the white pieces. Black now loses after 26 . . . e x f5 27 Re7, or 26 . . . g X f5 27 g X f5 e x f5 (27 . . NX/5 28 R X/51 e X/5 29 Qg3+ ,

An important zwischenzug, forcing Black to weaken still further his K-side. 16

• • •

17 g4

g6 Ng7

.

74

No. 32 Polugayevsky-Gheorghiu, 1968 or 27 . . . e5 28 R X e5) 28 Be7 ReS (28 . . . Rd7 29 Qg3) 29 Bd6. 26 27 fX e6 28 Q h6 29 R X f4 . • •

9

g5 N x e6 Nf4

• . .

11 a3

g X f4 B X g4

No. 32

Be7

The bishop's journey has cost Black dearly. In comparison with similar variations of the Queen's Gambit Accepted, he has lost two tempi, and this renders his position difficult.

No better is 30 . . . Be6, when White wins either by the spectacular 3 1 R x e6, or by the prosaic 3 1 Bd6. 31 Bd5

0-0 Nf6

10 . . . B X c3 1 1 b x c3 Na5 should have been considered, when I was intending to continue 12 Bb3 N X b3 13 a X b3 and 14 c4 with advantage. Even so, this was the lesser evil for Black.

This decides the game. Loss of material is inevitable for Black. 29 30 Q X f4

• • •

10 0-0

12 Rd1

Resigns

Bd7

The bishop has to be developed at d7, since 12 . . . b6 13 d5 ! allows White an over­ whelming advantage.

Queen's Gambit

13 Ba2

Rc8

Polugayevsky-Gheorghiu

Skopje, 1968 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c4 Nc3 Nf3 d4 c x d5 e3 Bc4

Nf6 e6 d5 c5 N X d5 Nc6 c x d4 14 Bg5

I consider that 7 . . . N X c3 is more in the spirit of the position. 8 e X d4

Routine is a dangerous enemy. In the given situation the standard development of the bishop is by no means the best, and White essentially loses the greater part of his advan­ tage. As will be seen later, I committed an oversight. Meanwhile, by playing 14 Bb1 , White would have set his opponent difficult problems, e.g. 14 . . . g6 (there appears to be no other defence against 15 d5) 15 Bh6 Re8 16 Ne5 Bf8 17 Bg5, or, also pretty strong, 15 Ba2, preparing 16 Bf4.

Bb4

And this activity is unjustified. 8 . . . Be? is more natural. 9 Qd3

9 Qc2 was tempting, setting in passing the trap 9 . . . N X c3 10 b X c3 N X d4 ? 1 1 N X d4 Q x d4 12 Qa4 + , but White rejected it be­ cause of the simple 9 . . . Nb6. 6

75

The touchstone of mastery 14 15 Bb1 .

•

.

Nd5

22 d5 with 22 . . . Qf6 23 d X c6 B X c6, with chances of a successful defence . 21

1 5 Ne4 was to be considered . 15 . . . 16 Bh6

g6 N x c3

I overlooked this intermediate exchange, and reckoned only with 16 . . . ReS, when 1 7 Ne4 would have given White excellent chances. 17 b X c3 1S Ba2

ReS Bf6

• • •

21 . . . Qe7 is more circumspect. Black had apparently reckoned only with 22 c4, on which he was intending 22 . . . e5. 22 Nd2

Only this combinational blow allows White to sustain his fading initiative. Now both 19 . . . B X e5 20 d X e5 N X e5 21 Qd4, and 19 . . . N x e5 20 d X e5 B X e5 21 Q x d7 Qh4 22 f4 B X c3 23 Bg5 are unattractive for Black. 19 . . . 20 B x g7 21 Nf3

e5 ?

Black's position has improved, but he again makes a mistake which this time is irrepar­ able . The emotional Rumanian grandmaster does not enjoy a painstaking defence. The variation 22 . . . Qf5 23 Ne4 RedS 24 Qe3 followed by 25 c4 did not appeal to him, and he tries at any price to escape from the positional squeeze. With his last move Black was hoping to lure his opponent into a net, but as a result he himself became entangled. He should have continued coolly 22 . . . RedS 23 Ne4 BcS, preparing for the advance of the enemy pawns in the centre. 23 Nc4 24 d X e5

19 Ne5!

Qa5

Qc7

Only not 24 N x e5 N X e5 25 d X e5 Bf5, when Black has everything in order. But now 24 . . . N X e5 fails to 25 Qd4 ! This reply was overlooked in his preliminary calculations by Black, who had reckoned only with 25 N X e5 R X e5 ! 26 Q X d7 ? Rei + . As a result, Black's position is lost. 24 25 26 27 28 29

Bg7 K X g7

I had initially pinned my hopes on the sacrifice 21 N X f7, but at the last moment I had to reject it with a heavy heart. The main variation is highly convincing : 21 . . . K X f7 22 d5 e X d5 23 Q X d5 + Be6 24 Qf3 + Qf6 25 Rd7 + Re7 26 B x e6 + K x e6 27 Rd6 + , or 22 . . . Ne5 23 d X e6 + B x e6 24 B x e6 + K X e6 25 Qh3 + . But, alas, Black can answer

... Re1 Qg3 Nd6 B x e6 Rabl!

Bg4 RedS Be6 Re7 f X e6

This deprives Black of any chances m­ volved with playing his queen to a5. 29 30 Rbd1 31 Rd3 • • •

76

b6 Red7 Ne7

No. 33 Polugayevsky-Gligoric, 1 969 This accelerates Black's defeat, which, it is true, was by now inevitable, since White was threatening both the advance of his h-pawn, and the doubling of rooks on the d-file . 32 Qg5

Rf8

Covering f6 by 32 . . . Ng8 also loses after 33 Red 1 , with the same threat as is carried out in the game .

The main continuation in this positiOn. In the event of 6 . . . d6 Black has to reckon with 7 Bf4 e5 8 Bg5 a6 9 Na3, when the result­ ing formation (which after a possible sub­ sequent e2-e4 is similar to the Chelyabinsk Variation of the Sicilian Defence) is, in my opinion, favourable for White . If instead Black chooses 6 . . . d5, instead of accepting the pawn sacrifice by 7 c X d5 N x d5 8 N X d5 e X d5 9 Q X d5 Bb4 + ! 1 0 Bd2 Be6 with a dangerous initiative for Black, White can gain a clear advantage by 7 Bf4 ! e5 8 c X d5 e x f4 9 d x c6 b X c6 10 Q X d8 + K X d8 1 1 0-0-0 + Bd7 12 Nd6, Bilek-Jansa, Harrachov, 1 966. 7 Bf4

33 Ne8 + ! Black resigned in v1ew of the vanat10n 33 . . . R X e8 34 Qf6 + Kg8 35 Q X e6 + and 36 R X d7.

No. 33 English Opening Polugayevsky-Gligoric

In a game with Kholmov, 33rd USSR Championship, Tallinn, 1 965, I tried 7 Bg5, but after 7 . . . 0-0 8 e3 a6 9 Nd6 Qa5 10 B X f6 g X f6 1 1 Qd2 Qe5 12 Rd 1 Rd8 13 Be2 Kf8 14 0-0 Ke7 White's slight advantage was insufficient for a win. The text move is more energetic. An inter­ esting fact is that I myself had to battle against it five(!) times in my Candidates Semifinal Match with Korchnoi, Buenos Aires, 1 980. Jumping ahead, I might point out that I was able to find a complete solution to Black's defensive problems.

Belgrade, 1969 1 2 3 4 5

c4 Nf3 Nc3 d4 N x d4

7 ...

c5 Nf6 Nc6 c X d4 e6

Possibly the long-standing leader of Yugo­ slav chess did not want to follow the game Polugayevsky-Ivkov (No . 52), played a little earlier in the same tournament, and he chooses different set-up. 6 Ndb5 6*

Bb4

8 Bd6

77

0-0

The touchstone of mastery

In the first and fifth games of the afore­ mentioned match White continued 8 Bc7

how he can neutralize the mounting pressure on the d-file.

Qe7, and now 9 Bd6. In this way he gains a tempo, but after 9 . . . B X d6 10 Q x d6

12 c x b5 13 Nd X b5 14 0-0

(10

NX d6 looks tempting, since Black does not have the usual counter-play with . . Qb6; nevertheless, 10 . . . Ne8 gets him out of his difficulties, since 11 Ncb5 a6 12 NX e8 a X b5 13 Nc7 Ra4! 14 c x b5 Qb4+ 15 Qd2 Nd4 is

a x b5 Ba6 Rfb8

.

unfavourable to White) 10 . . . Qd8 ! it trans­ pires that the blockading position of the white queen is highly insecure, and in each

Of course, the king's rook would have also been useful on the d-file, but after 14 . . . Rab8 Black would have lost his control of the a-file.

15 a4

case Black gained sufficient counter-play :

Of course, this weakens b4, but on the

(a) 1 1 g3 a6 12 Na3 Qb6 13 Rb l Qb4 1 4

other hand the protected knight at b5 para­

Q x b4 N x b4 1 5 Bg2 d5 1 6 c x d5 e x d5 1 7 Rd l Be6 1 8 0-0 Rfd8 (1st game). (b) 1 1 0-0-0 (a sharper try) 1 1 . . . a6 12 Nd4 Ne8

(12 . . . NX d4 13 R X d4 b5 also

looks satisfactory, trying to emphasize imme­ diately the vulnerable position of the white king) 1 3 N x c6 b x c6 14 Qd6 1 5 c5 d5 16 f4 Nf6 1 7 e4 a5 ! 1 8 g3 Ba6 (5th game). Perhaps for this reason, in the later games of the match White played as in the present game.

8 ... 9 N X d6

lyzes all Black's counter-play.

15 16 Rcl • • •

With the unpleasant threat of 1 7 N X d5 .

16 17 18 19 20

• • •

Qd2 Rfdl Qc2 Bf3!

Ne7, but then White's Q-side pawns would

but incorrect plan. Black must battle for the d6 square, and in accordance with this aim are both 9 . . . Ne8 (as in the 7th and 9th games of the aforementioned match), and

9 . . Qb6 10 Qd2 Ne8, as in the 13th game.

have advanced.

21 22 23 24

e X d4 Ne4 B x e4 B X h7 +

.

After exchanging the white knight, Black . . . d6 with a satisfactory

position.

10 e3

a6

10 . . . Qb4 1 1 Qd2 Ne8 can be met by 12 Ncb5, when 12 . . . a6 is bad in view of 13 N X e8 a x b5 14 Nc7.

11 Be2

Qb6 Rd8 e5 Bb7 d4

The centre could have been held by 20 . . .

B X d6 Qa5

This move is part of an apparently active.

then advances

d5

b5

By this pawn sacrifice Black tries to compli­ cate matters. Otherwise it is not apparent

25 Qc7! 78

e x d4 N X e4 Nb4 Kh8

No. 34 Polugayevsky-Browne, 1971 This reply, which was envisaged before­

No. 34

King's Indian Defence

hand by White, enables him to retain his material advantage. Thanks to the bishop at

Polugayevsky-Browne

b7 being undefended, the threat of . . . g6 is

Mar del Plata, 1971

neutralized.

25 26 R X c7 • . •

26

Q X c7 Bc6

l 2 3 4 5 6

B X g2 27 K X g2 K X h7 fails to

28 Rc4 !

27 Bbl

c4 Nc3 e4 d4 Be2 Nf3

Nf6 g6 d6 Bg7 0-0

I knew that Browne usually played the

Simultaneously defending the 1 st rank, and

King's Indian Defence with . . . c5 . Why did

preparing to exploit the weakness of the 8th

he play it in its 'pure' form ? Perhaps he was

rank.

expecting 6 Bg5 ? 'Just in case', for purely

27 28 Nd6! • • .

R X a4

psychological reasons, I chose the continua­ tion in the game.

6 7 d5

28 R X d4 ? would have lost to 28 . . . Re8 ! ,

• • •

but now the game is essentially decided :

e5 Ndb7

.apart from a material advantage, White also gains an attack.

28 29 N X f7 30 h4 • • •

Since Browne had avoided 7 . . . a5, which at that time was considered strongest, I

Kg8 Rd5

sensed that he might be unfamiliar with the subtleties of the variation in question.

8 0-0 9 Qc2 10 Bg5 11 Be3

White's king obtains an escape square, and his knight-the g5 square.

30 31 Ng5 • • •

d3 Be8

Again avoiding the main line : 1 1 . . . Ng4

32 Rc4

12 B x c5 d x c5 13 h3 Nf6 14 N x e5 N x d5 15 c x d5 B x e5 16 f4 Bd4 + . Lack of knowl­

Simplifying and winning a third pawn.

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

. • .

b3 R X b4 R X bl R X dl Kh2 Rb7 Rb6

Nc5 a5 h6 b6

edge ? It is difficult to say. But after the game

d2 Rat R X bl dl= Q + R X dl + g6 Bc6 Resigns

Browne remarked that he would not play

this variation any more. A strategic struggle in a blocked position is not to his taste, his preference being for a sharp tactical battle.

12 Nd2

Ne8

(see diagram next column) 79

The touchstone of mastery White's plan is to place his knight at e3 and prepare either b3-b4 or g2-g4. Such positions have often occurred, and were successfully handled, for example, by Re­ shevsky. 20 . . . 21 Ne3 22 Bc3

Qe8 Qg6

White does not want his bishop at d4 to be 'hanging', since he has the following queen manoeuvre in mind .

White's plan is clear : to begin an attack on the Q-side with a2-a3 and b2-b4. Black's thoughts are directed towards the K -side, and in this sense the move played is logical.

22 23

• • •

Rg8

Qe1!

13 f3

White chances plan, exploiting a certain feature of the position. 13 a3 did not appeal to me because of 13 . . . f5, and if now 14 b4, then 14 . . . Na6 with the threats of 15 . . . f4 and 1 5 . . . a x b4, while after 14 f3 f4 1 5 Bf2 a4 1 6 B X c5 b X c5 1 7 N X a4 g5 Black gains some attacking chances for the pawn. 13 14 e x f5 15 f4 • • •

f5 g X f5

Played not so much with defensive inten­ tions, but rather in anticipation of an attack. In view of the weakness of the h5 square, the white queen at h4 will restrict the black pieces.

Exploiting the fact that the black knight is at e8, and not d7, so that it cannot reach e5. 15 16 Nb3 • . •

23 24 Qh4 25 h3 • • .

e4 N X b3

With the idea after Kh2 and Rg1 of playing g2-g4. Black therefore exchanges queens, and goes into an inferior ending.

Forced, since otherwise the white knight goes to d4. 17 a X b3 18 Qd2 19 Bd4

Bh8 Raf8

Bd7 Nf6 Kh7

25 26 Q X g3 27 Kf2 • . •

Qg3 R X g3 Rgg8

Doubling rooks on the g-file would have left Black's Q-side completely undefended.

Black vacates the g-file for his heavy pieces : he has no other counter-play.

28 b4

20 Nd1 80

a x b4

No. 34 Polugayevsky-Browne , 1971 It is impossible to prevent the opening of the a-file : 28 . . . a4 can be met by 29 b5 Ra8 30 Bd 1 , if there is nothing better.

Ra8

29 B X b4 Black also had 29

...

Ne8, but after

30 Bc3 B X c3 31 b X c3 White invades down the a-file with his rooks.

30 Bc3

h5

Black is forced to wait, and takes pro­ The point o f the combination. Now 37 . . .

phylactic measures (for example, against

Rf8 was essential, but in time trouble Black

g2-g4). 31 g3 32 Rgl

falls into the trap.

Kg6

37 38 Bd2

Kg5

• . .

A quiet move, forcing Black in time trouble to find the one continuation which will get

With his small army White unexpectedly

him out of his immediate difficulties . But . . .

mounts an assault on the black king. The

32

. . •

game can no longer be saved, although White

Kh6 ?

has to avoid some 'false trails'.

Essential was 3 2 . . . Kf7 , and if 3 3 B X f6,

38 39 N x g4 + 40 Nh6 +

Black gains sufficient counter-play for the pawn. But how could he have taken such

Now nothing 1s achieved either by 41

a committing decision in a matter of mo­

Nf7 +

ments ? . . .

33 R X a8 34 g4

R x a8

Mter 35

...

Therefore :

41 Bc3 + 42 Ke2!

fX g4 B x g4

Kf4

Threatening both 43 Nf7, and 43 Rfl + .

42

N X g4 + 36 B X g4 Black

Ra4

• . .

This move was sealed by Black. The game

loses a piece due to the rook check on the

concluded :

h-file. 35 . . . h X g4 was interesting, but then

43 Rfl + Kg3 44 B X f6 B X f6 45 R X f6 R X c4 46 Nf5 + Kg4 47 Ne3 + Kg5 48 Rf7

comes 36 f5 with numerous threats.

36 B X g4

K X c4 43 N X h8

mates !) 41 . . . N X d5 + 42 c x d5 K x d5 .

White switches onto combinational lines,

• • •

Kd4 42 Bc3 +

N X d5, nor by 41 Ke3 (threatening two

which quickly proves successful. 34 35 h X g4

Ra2 K x f5 Ke5

• • •

then after 33 . . . B x f6 34 B X h5 + Ke7

(this is much

h X g4

more

convincing than 48

N X c4 ? ! K x f6 49 Ke3 b5 and 50 . . . Ke5)

48 Rb4 49 Ndl Rb5 50 R X c7 R x d5 51 Nc3 Rd4 52 Ke3 Rb4 53 Rg7 + Kf5 54 Rg2 Ke5 55 Rd2 Rc4 56 Rd5 + Ke6 57 Rb5 Kd7

(see diagram next column)

• • •

37 f5 ! 81

The touchstone of mastery

58 R X b6 Kc7 59 Nd5 + Kd7 60 b3 Rc6 61 Rb7 + Ke6 62 Kd4 Rcl 63 Re7 + Kf5 64 Ne3 + Kf4 65 R X e4 + Kf3 66 Re7 Rb1 67 Kc3 Re1 68 Nf5 Resigns.

shown that Black does not gain complete equality. For example, 9 . . . Nc5 10 f3 Nh7 1 1 h4 h5 12 0-0--0 f5 13 e x f5, and Black is obliged to continue the battle for e4 by 13

. . . g X f5, since 13

...

B x f5

15 g4

h x g4 1 5 fx g4 gave White a strong attack

No. 35 King' s Indian Defence

in

Portisch-Gligoric

(Ljubljana/Portoroz,

1975).

Polugayevsky-Donner

9 10 Qc2

Nc5 b5

• . .

Amsterdam, 1970 1 2 3 4 5 6

c4 Nc3 e4 d4 Be2 Bg5

Later it was established that 10 . .

Nf6 g6 d6 Bg7 0-0

c x d5

12 c x d5 Leipzig, 1 975).

c6 ! is

(Farago-Uhlmann,

c6 Na6

12 . . . Nbd7 was better, since on the edge

This simple system is not without venom.

of the board the black knight is badly placed .

times, with invariable success. • . .

g5 !

11 f3 12 b4

In the same tournament I employed it several

6

.

preferable, with counter-play after 1 1 h5

13 a3 14 c x d5 15 Nh3

b6

The alternative is 6 . . . c5 7 d5 e6, opening the centre and aiming for counter-play on the

Objectively speaking,

e-file .

c x d5 Bd7

there

were

more

grounds for 1 5 Bd3 and Nge2.

7 Be3 8 d5

e5 Nbd7

15

. • •

Qb8

Illogical. Black shuts his main piece out of the game . He should have commenced action o n the K-side : 15 . . . Ne8 or 15 . . . Nh 7, preparing 16 . . . f5 .

16 Nf2 17 Nd3 18 0-0

b5 Nc7 Qb7

This merely helps White, whose knight now heads with great effect for a5.

19 20 21 22

9 h4 A double-edged move. The quiet 9 Qd2 was possible, when subsequent practice has 82

Net Qd2 Nb3 Na5

Rac8 Na8 Nb6 Qb8

No. 35 Polugayevsky-Donner, 1970

As a result of the manoeuvring struggle White has gained a positional advantage. Black's pieces are cramped, and are forced to defend his weaknesses on the Q-side. 23 24 25 26

Rfcl Rc2 Racl Bfl!

B x c6 34 d X c6 R x c6 35 Nd5, when the white pieces come very strongly into play. For example, 35 . . . Qb7 36 R X c6 R x c6 37 R X c6 Q X c6 38 Qa2, with numerous threats.

Rc7 Rfc8 a6

33 34 Na5 35 Nc6

Again gaining time for thought and . .

This move has a double aim. Firstly, White intends to cramp Black still more by 27 Qf2, and in addition the white bishop has is sights set on h3. In the event of the ex­ change of bishops, the knight will obtain an excellent post at c6. 26 27 28 29

... Qf2 Qd2 Qf2

g3! Kh2 Bh3 Nc6!

.

36 Na7!

In this unusual way White seizes control of the c-file. 36 37 Nd1 38 R x c2 39 Nc6 • . •

Ne8 Na8 Nb6 Na8

Re8 R X c2 Be7 Bf6

Better nevertheless was 39 . . . Bd8, al­ though after 40 N x d8 R X d8 41 Bfl White's advantage is undisputed.

Having repeated the position with the aim of avoiding time trouble, White goes into action. 30 31 32 33

Qb7 Qb8 Qb7

40 Na5 41 Ba7 42 Nc6

Bf8 Ng7 f5

Qb8 Qd8

This time the knight's invasion at c6 forces Black to exchange it, and the resulting passed pawn decides the game.

(see diagram next column)

42 43 d X c6 . • •

Having weakened Black's position on the K-side, White chooses a favourable moment to invade with his knight. Bad now is 33 . . .

B x c6 f4

All the same Black cannot prevent the white knight from going to d5.

83

The touchstone of mastery 44 45 46 47

Nc3 Nd5 Q X g3 Qg2

7 8 e4

Kh7 fX g3 + B X h4 Bg5

. •

d6

8 e3 seems more flexible, with the possi­ bility of Bd3-e4.

On 47 . . . Ne6 White wins most easily by 48 B X e6 R X e6 49 Qh3 . 48 c7 49 R X c7

.

8 ... 9 d5

Nd7

White should not have determined the pawn formation in the centre so prematurely. In trying to restrict one enemy bishop, he opens a diagonal for the other. To be considered was 9 Be2 or 9 Nb5.

N x c7 Resigns

No. 36 Queen' s Indian Defence Nezhmetdinov-Polugayevsky

Kislovodsk, 1972 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d4 c4 Nf3 Nc3 Bg5 B X f6 a3

Nf6 e6 b6 Bb7 h6 Q X f6 9 10 11 12 13

After 7 e3 Black obtained a comfortable game in Vaisman-Gheorghiu (Bucharest, 1967) : 7 . . . Bb4 8 Be2 B X c3 + 9 b X c3 < c6 .

g5 .

his bishop of the need to defend t h e g5 p awn so as to withd raw i t a nd v aca te f6 fo r his Black

• .

therefore

attempts

to

relieve

2 4 R X c8

B x c8

.

since after 2 4 . . . R X c8 the 25

knight. But it i s too late .

18 Qd2

Black is forced to concede the open c-file.

f5 break­

th rough is decisive .

Bg7

25 Rcl 26 Rc7

(see diagram next column)

Or. 26 . . Qg6) 27

g3 Ba6

(with

The only way to continue resisting was by

the t h r eat of ·wins by 28 Qc6. while in the event of 26 . . . g X f2 + 2 7 Kfl

1 9 . . . g4 20 r\e 1 h5, preventing fo r some

the white king finds itself an excellent shelter

19 b4!

f4?

28

100

. h5 27 Qc2

. . . Qd8 White

No. 43 Bagirov-Polugayevsky, 1 977 behind the black pawn, and in addition

White chooses a set-up which often occurs

(28 . . Q X/4 loses a piece to 29 Q X/4) 29 Bf3 Qh3 + 30 Ke 1 followed by Qc2-g6.

- with colours reversed - in the Tarrasch

there is the threat of 28 B X f2 Qg4

27 28 29 30

fX g3 R X a7 b4 Bf2

.

Defence Deferred. But there is a significant difference here : while for Black the achieve­ ment of an equal game must be considered an

Q X g3 Bc8 Kh8

achievement, the same cannot be said of the 'achievement' of an equal game for White .

10

• • •

Be5

Now White merely has to exchange queens, when his Q-side pawns can calmly advance.

30 Or 30

.

• •

.

.

•

Qg4

Q X f4 3 1 Q X f4 R X f4 32 Ra8

Rf8 33 B X b6 etc.

31 32 33 34 35 36

Rc7 Qe3 Qf3 Bh4 Bg5 Qd3

b5 Rg8 Qf5 d4 Qg6 Resigns

11 N x c6 A poor reply, which merely strengthens Black's centre and also presents him with

No. 43 Queen' s Gambit

the b-:fi1e. In the spirit of the variation was 1 1 Nce2 Qd6 12 g3 Bh3 13 Bg2 B X g2 1 4

Bagirov-Polugayevsky

K X g2, with a n equal position (A. Zaitsev­ Polugayevsky, USSR Championship Play-Off

45th USSR Championship Leningrad, 1977 1 2 3 4 5 6

d4 c4 Nf3 N X d4 Nc3 e3

Match, 1 969).

11 12 Bd2 . • •

Nf6 c5 c x d4 Nc6 e6

Preferable was 12 Qd2 followed by the fi.anchetto of the black-squared bishop.

A passive continuation, allowing Black an easy game . More critical is 6 g3 or 6 Ndb5.

6 7 8 9 10

... c x d5 Be2 0-0 Bf3

b X c6

d5 e x d5 B d6 0-0

12 . . . 13 g3 14 Bg2

Qd6 Bh3

White's position is already slightly inferior� and the exchange of white-squared bishops, as it seems to me, favours Black here . At any rate, after the opening of the centre planned by Black the weakness of the white squares will become more appreciable.

101

The touchstone of mastery 14 15 K x g2 16 f4 •

.

•

B x g2 cS

Had White sensed just how dangerous his position was, he might possibly have tried to obtain some counter-play at the cost of a pawn-21 b3 Qa6 22 Rc2 N x c3 23 R x c3 Q x a2 + 24 Qf2.

White's desire to clarify the situation is understandable, especially since the 16 . . . d4 break was already threatened. But the text move hopelessly weakens e4, conceding it to the black knight, and also White's entire K-side. The lesser evil was 16 Qf3, defending the long white-squared diagonal. 16 17 B X c3 18 Qf3 . . •

21 22 e x d4 23 Bel • • .

d4 c X d4 Qa6

With two threats-24 . . . d3 and 24 Q x a2. White finds the best counter-chance . 24 Qb3!

B x c3 Ne4

h5!

On 24 . . . d3 Black would have had to reckon with the invasion by the white rook on the 7th rank - 25 Rc7, and if 25 . . . Re6, then 26 R x d3 R X d3 27 Q X d3. Therefore he begins combined play, linking breaks on the K-side ( . . . h4) and in the centre ( . . . d3) with pressure on the weakened white squares.

Rfe8

Black's advantage has taken real shape. It comprises pressure on the e-file, the pos­ sibility of creating a passed pawn in the centre by . . . d4, and also the excellent co-ordina­ tion of his queen and knight.

25 Qc4 19 Rfdl

Trying for an endgame . 25 Rc7 would have been unpleasantly met by 25 . . . Qe2 + 26 Kg l and now 26 . . . Re6. 25 26 Qc6 . • .

Qb7 Qe7!

26 . . . Qb8 is weaker, not due to 27 Qc7 ? Qa8 28 Qc6 ReS and wins, but due to 27 Ba5. But now the black queen escapes from the pursuit, which has not brought White any particular joy. 27 BaS 19

•

.

•

Qb6!

A highly unpleasant move for White. He was evidently expecting the routine 19 . . . Rad8, which would have allowed him to play 20 Be5 and 21 b3 . But now 20 b3 is im­ possible, and the d-pawn is immune due to 20 . . . N x c3 21 b x c3 Qb2 + . 20 Racl 21 Rc2

Rad8

27 Qc4 was bad due to 27 . . . d3 ! 28 R x d3 Nd6, with a double attack on White's queen and bishop. 27 28 Qc7 29 Qc4 . • •

Rd6 Qe6 RdS!

Again the pursuit of the queen has not achieved anything, whereas the . . . h4 break is now a reality.

102

No. 44 Polugayevsky-Smyslov, 1979 30 Bb4 31 Ba3

No. 44 Bogoljubov Defence

a5!

This retreat to the edge of the board is forced, since on 3 1 Be l h4 32 R X d4 Black wins by 32 . . . h3 + 33 Kgl Nd6, while if 32 Re2, then after 32 . . . h3 + 33 Kgl Qg4 ! 34 R X e4 (or 34 Rdd2 Rdd8 !, winning) 34 . . . R X e4 35 Q X d5 Qe2 36 QdS + ReS White can resign. 31 32 Qc6 • • .

h4

The d-pawn is still 'poisoned' : 32 R X d4 h3 + , and White loses both after 33 Kf3 Ng5 + , and after 33 Kgl Nd6 34 B X d6 (34 Q X d5 Qel mate) 34 . . . Qe3 + 35 Rf2 R X d4. 32 33 Kg1 .

•

•

Polugayevsky-Smyslov

USSR Spartakiad Moscow, 1979 1 2 3 4

d4 c4 Nf3 Bd2

The culmination of Black's strategic plan. The outcome of the game is decided. R x e6 Kh7

• • •

Ree5 d2 Nc3

e5

e X d4

Black is wrong to give up the centre. Preferable was S . . . 0-0, and if 9 a3 B x c3 10 B X c3 Ne4. Therefore White had decided beforehand that on S . . . 0-0 he would con­ tinue as in the game. 9 N X d4 10 Qc2

1 03

Nbd7

At just the right time . White avoids the exchange of bishops, and wishes in due course to leave the bishop at b4 'out of work'. Or - to gain the advantage of the two bishops. 8

On 36 Kfl there could have followed 36 . . . N X g3 + 37 h X g3 d2 3S Rc2 h2 39 Kg2 Re l . 36 37 Rc4 38 b4 White resigns

d6

Black chooses a plan which is more typical of Old Indian set-ups. I consider the system with . . . b6 and . . . Bb7 to be more logical, in order to neutralize the pressure of White's fianchettoed bishop. 6 Bg2 7 0-0 8 Nc3

34 Q x e6 35 ReS + 36 f5

a5

Black exploits the fact that, for the moment, it is unfavourable for White to exchange on b4, since then the rook at aS comes into play. The drawback to the move is that it does nothing to promote Black's development. 5 g3

h3 + d3

Nf6 e6 Bb4 +

0-0

The touchstone of mastery The difference in strength between the bishops at g2 and c8 is obvious, as is White's advantage. 10

. • •

Ne5

This tactical rejoinder evidently escaped Black's attention. The hanging position of Black's pieces immediately becomes apparent, and in addition he is finally forced to 'open up' . 11 Bg5!

18 19 R x e4 . • •

The c4 pawn is immune, since after 1 1 . . . N X c4 12 Nd5 Black is in trouble . The play now takes on a forcing nature. 11 12 13 14 15

• . .

B X f6 Nd5 N X b4 c5

b6 Q X f6 Qd8 a x b4

T he pos1t10n now becomes open, and White's lead in development acquires even greater significance. The d-file is opened, and a white rook will soon appear on it, while also important is that the b4 pawn finds itself 'surrounded'. 15 16 Rfdl 17 e4 • • •

Of course, Black's position was very diffi­ cult, but it now becomes hopeless due to the pin on the e-file. Preferable was 19 . . . Qf6, agreeing after 20 Qb3 to the loss of the b4 pawn. But my opponent pins his hopes on a trap, into which White, after calculating slightly further, readily 'falls'. 20 Rae1 21 b3!

Qd7 B X h3

21 . . . Bf5 is met by 22 N X f5 Q x f5 23 f4, and 21 . . . Bh5 by 22 R X e5 .

c6 d5

22 B X h3

Black cannot maintain his fortifications, so he switches to tactics, by which he hopes to solve his defensive problems . 17 • • •

d X e4 ReS

Bg4

(see diagram next column) 18 Re1 !

1 04

Q X d4

No. 45 Polugayevsky-Larsen, 1 979 This is what Black had in mind, rightly thinking that after 23 R X d4 Nf3 + he would be alright : 24 Khl R x e l + 25 Kg2 N x d4 26 Qd2 Re4. 23 Bg2! !

This was the reply that White had pre ­ pared . He now wins a piece.

24 f4

Qd5 R x a2

26

25 r x e5 Qc3

Rd8

27 e6

fx e6

28 Rg4

Qd7

23

• . •

b3

29 Q x b3

RaS

30 Qc3

Rda8

31 Kh2

eS

32 Rge4

Resigns

This position was 'twice new' for me, as it were. Firstly, Larsen had never played this against me (and we have met at the board dozens of times). Secondly - and this is the important thing ! - this was the very first time that it had occurred in any of my games. Therefore I s i mply did not know that, on the basis of the game Gligoric-Green (Hastings, 1 96 1), theory considers the strongest to be 9 Qc2 B x f3 10 g x f3 Qa5 1 1 0-0 Be7 12 Kh 1 Nb4 1 3 Qe2 h6 14 f4 Qh5 1 5 f3 gS 1 6 e5 Nfd5 1 7 B x d5 ! e x d5 1 8 f5, with advantage to White. After the game it transpired that it was precisely this variation in which Larsen was trying to catch me, having prepared some improvement . So that in this game I was helped by my own . . . 'illiteracy', which, however, should in n o way be given as a rea­ son for not studyin g theory . . . But there is nothing new under the sun ! The move played by White had also occurred before ! 9

• . •

10 g X f3

No . 45 Slav Defence

1 1 Rg1

1 Nf3

Nf6

2 c4

c6

3 d4

dS

4 Nc3

d x c4

5

a4

l'o;a6

6 e4

Bg4

7 B x c4

e6

8 Be3

Provocative play, to put in mildly. The game Geruscl-Hort (Halle, 1967) went 12 0-0-0 ! ? Qc7 1 3 Na2 aS 14 Qb3 0-0 1 5 Rg5 Nf6 16 Rdgl g6 1 7 N X b4 Q X b4 18 Q X b4 a X b4 1 9 b3 RadS 20 Rd 1 Rfe8, with equality. 12 . . .

9 Qd3

BM

g6

This could haw been deferred in favour Qc7, with the idea of castling Q-side . of 12 . . .

(see diagram next column)

8 0-0 would also have been perfe ctly natura l . 8 . . .

Nc7 NbS

12 Ke2 ? !

Polugayevsky-Larsen

Interzonal Tournament Riga, 1979

B x f3

13 d5 ! ?

The logica l continuation of the pla n . If left undisturbed, Black could have prepared 1 05

The touchstone of mastery Now the white a-pawn, supported by the two bishops, threatens a rapid advance, whereas the black h-pawn has no such pros­ pects.

19 20 a5

• • •

BeS Nf4 +

Black is unable to exchange bishops by 20 . . . Bd4 - 21 Rd 1 e5 22 Bb6 !

21 Kf1 22 Nd1!

0--0-0 and then exploited the weakening of White's K-side and the position of his king. 13

Forced, since on 22 . . . Bd4 White wins

Bd6 ?

• . •

by 23 Bb8 and a5-a6, while if 22 . . . B X b2, then 23 N X b2 R x b2 24 Be3 e5 25 a6.

White's risky tactics justify themselves. Essential was 13 . . . e x d5 1 4 e x d5 Qe7 (with the threat of

Rd2 Na8

23 Be3

Rd7

15 . . Nf4 + ), gaining .

a tempo for castling Q-side - 15 Kf1 0-0-0,

Black's temporary activity has petered out

after which Black's chances in this very sharp

(23 . . . Rc2 ? 24 Bb3), and his game goes

position would be preferable .

rapidly downhill.

14 d x c6 1S Qd4!

24 a6 25 Nc3

b X c6

In this way Black prevents Na4-b6, ex­

A highly important interposition. The im­ mediate 1 5 Rgd 1 was weaker in view of 1 5 . . . Nf4 +

Kf8 g5

changing the blockading knight at a8 .

1 6 B x f4 B X f4, when Black's

26 Na4

bishop is markedly stronger than its white

Bd4

opponent.

15

• . •

0--0?

After this so natural move Black's position becomes very difficult. Essential was 15 . . . e5 1 6 Qd2 Qe7 with a complicated game, al­ though the bishop at c4 would gain signif­ icantly in strength, whereas the black bishop would join the ranks of the 'bad'.

16 Rgd1

B X h2

No better is 16 . . . Be7 1 7 Q X d8 RfX d8

27 Rd1!

1 8 R X d8 + B X d8 1 9 Rd 1 , with the threats

The start of an elegant combination, cal­

of 19 B x a7 and the invasion of the rook.

17 Q X d8 18 R X d8 + 19 B x a7

RfX d8 R X d8

culated by White right to the end of the game .

27 28 Nc5 • • •

106

e5 Rd8

No. 46 Polugayevsky-Ljubojevic, 1980 Tempting counter-play such as 28 . . . Rd6 29 Nb3 Rh6 fails to 30 Kg1 Nh3 + 3 1 Kg2 Nf< d4 Be7 0-0 a6 Nc6

In this way Black aims to exchange a pair of minor pieces. The usual move is 1 1 . . . Nbd7, creating a flexible formation in the spirit of 'Andersson's 6th rank' - the Swedish grandmaster's favourite pawn 'hedgehog' on the 6th rank. 12 N x c6

B x c6

13 Qd3!

This idea occurred in a similar position in the last game of my match with Mecking in 1 977 (there the moves Khl and . . . Qd7 had been included). Exploiting the battery of queen + bishop along the b 1 -h7 diagonal, White creates the threat of 14 Nd5 ! 13 . . .

g6

An' enforced weakening of the long black diagonal.

e6 Nf6 b6 Bb7

14 a4

Prophylaxis against Black's intended b5 .

Romanishin's patent. The bishop is trans­ ferred to c2, and the openmg frequently 12*

. .

Bc2 d4 N x d4 0-0 b3 Bb2

1 73

14 . . . 15 f4

Qc7 Rad8

Psychology of the chess struggle White vacates e4 for his knight, and thus forces the opponent into making further weakenings, since 22 . . . Nf6 is unpleasantly met by 23 Qe5 . On 22 . . . Qb4 White had prepared 23 Bc6 !, and now : (a) 23 . . . B X d6 24 B x d7 B X d7 (24 . . . R X d7 25 Nd5, and wins) 25 R X d6 Q X d6 26 Ne4 followed by the inevitable 27 Nf6 + . (b) 23 . . . Q X b3 24 Ne4, and f6 is again indefensible : 24 . . . Bg7 25 B X g7 K X g7 26 Rd3 Qb4 27 B x d7 B x d7 28 Nf6 !, and the knight is immune-28 . . . K X f6 ? ? 29 Qe5 mate .

The correct place for the rooks is at d8 and e8. In this way Black both prevents e4-e5, and himself aims for . . . d5. 16 Qe2 17 Rad1 18 Kh1

Rfe8 Bb7 QcS ?

Black's vigilance wavers, and White's cen­ tral breakthrough gains markedly in strength, since he is able to exploit the e4 square for his minor pieces with gain of tempo . Black should have continued 1 8 . . . Nd7, recon­ ciling himself to the exposure of the a 1 -h8 diagonal. Of course, in this case too White has a positional advantage and chances on the K-side, but for the moment there would at least have been nothing concrete in view. 19 e5

22

23 b4!

A knock-out blow from the other side . 23 24 NdS! . • .

Bc8

22 Bf3

25 Nc7

Nb8

If 25 . . . B X d6, the simplest is 26 N X e6 Qb4 (26 . . . Nf8 27 NX c5 R X e2 28 B x e2) 27 Bd5 .

Bf8

Only here did Black notice that 2 1 B X d 6 i s answered by the little combination 22 B X g6 h X g6 23 Ne4. Therefore he has to 'sound the retreat'.

Q X b4 QcS

24 . . . e x d5 25 B X d5 + leads to mate, while on 24 . . . Q X a4 White had prepared 25 Ra 1 Qb3 26 Ra3.

There is nothing better, since the d6 pawn is also lost after 20 . . . B x e4 21 N X e4. 21 e x d6

fS

Nd7

This essentially loses the game . Petrosian overlooks a tactical blow, but in other varia­ tions too things are difficult for Black. Thus 1 9 . . . d x e5 20 fX e5 allows White an attack on the f-file, while after 19 . . . Nh5 20 Be4 ! (20 Ne4 is also good) 20 . . . Qc7 (if 20 . . . BcB, then 21 g4 Ng7 22 Bg2 with a big ad­ vantage, while 20 . . . d5 is very strongly met by 21 c X d5 e x d5 22 b4! Q x b4 23 NX d5 B X d5 24 B X d5, when Black loses after both 24 . . . R X d5 25 R X d5 NX/4 26 Qf3, and 24 . . . NX/4 25 B X/7 + KX/7 26 e6 + KgB 27 Qe5, mating) 2 1 g4 Ng7 22 Qg2 Bc8 23 f5 White has a murderous attack. 20 Be4!

. • •

26 N x es 27 Qd3

R x e8 Resigns

White is the exchange up, and in addition 28 Qc3 is threatened .

1 74

Main Tournament and Match Results

Lyev Abramovich Polugayevsky, born 20 November 1 934 in Mogilyev. International grand­ master, Honoured USSR Master of Sport, holder of the 'Peoples' Friendship' award.

Year

I

I

Event

1 953

RSFSR Championship, Saratov

1 954

RSFSR Championship, Rostov-on-Don USSR Master and Candidate Master Tournament, Leningrad USSR Championship -!-Final, Gorky

Result

I

Place

10-!/ 1 5

2

9-!/ 1 7

4-7

12/15 7-!/20

2 1 5-16

1 955

RSFSR Championship, Leningrad USSR Championship -!-Final, Moscow

1 2-!/ 19 1 1 /1 8

2-3 4-5

1 956

23rd USSR Championship, Leningrad World Student Team Championship, Upsala (board 2) USSR Championship -!-Final, Tbilisi

1 0-!/ 1 7 1-!/4 1 0-!/1 9

5-7

1 95 7

World Student Team Championship, Reykjavik (board 3) USSR Championship -!-Final, Sverdlovsk

8-9

8 /9 12/19

2-3

10-!/ 1 8 10/15 12/19

5-6 3 2-4

1958

25th USSR Championship, Riga USSR Championship -!-Final, Yerevan/Baku RSFSR Championship, Sochi

1 959

26th USSR Championship, Tbilisi RSFSR Championship (USSR Championship !-Final) Voronyezh Marianske Lazne

1 1/19

6

1 1 /1 7 1 1-!/ 1 5

3 1

27th USSR Championship, Leningrad Central Chess Club International Tournament, M oscow USSR Championship !-Final, Vilnius

1 1-!/1 9 5/1 1 12/ 1 7

5 6 1 -3

1960

1 75

I

Main tournament and match results

Year 1961

I I I

/ Result

Event

!

' 28th USSR Championship, Moscow European Team Championship, Oberhausen (board 9) RSFSR Championship (USSR Championship f-Final), Omsk Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Rostov-on-Don 29th USSR Championship, Baku

1 0!/1 9 6t /9

Place 7-8

12t/ 1 9 6t/1 1 14/20

4 2

1 1t/ 1 5 1 6/2 1

1 2-3

Bt/1 9

1

Bad Libenstein Chigorin Memorial Tournament , Sochi USSR Championship !-Final, Moscow 3 1st USSR Championship, Leningrad

1 0t/ 1 5 8t/1 1 1 1 /15 1 1 /19

1 -2 1 7-8

1 964

Sarajevo

l Of/ 1 5

1 -2

1 965

USSR Trade Union Championship Budapest 33 rd USSR Championship , Tbilisi

9-! / 1 5 1 1/15 13-!/19

2 ! 1-3 : i 2 I

1 966

Beverwijk Le Havre Chigorin Memorial Tournament , Sochi Havana Olympiad (2nd reserve) 34th USSR Championship, Tbilisi

l lt/ 1 5 7/1 1 1 1 /15 1 1 / 14 1 0!/20

1 2-3 2

12/ 1 9 10/13 8/1 1

4 1 -2 1-2 3

1 962

1 963

Mar del Plat a Havana 'Burevestnik' Championship (USSR Championship !-Final), Yalta

'

I

i I

8-9

1 967

Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana 35th USSR Championship, Kharkov Moscow

1 968

Skopje Lugano Olympiad (1st reserve) 36th USSR Championship, Alma-Ata

13/19 1 0!/ 13 1 2!/1 9

1 -2

Match for the title of USSR Champion with A. Zaitsev, Vladimir Busum 37th USSR Championship , Moscow Belgrade

3t-2t 1 0!/ 1 5 14/22 10/15

2 1 -2 1 -4 ;

1 969

1 76

Main tournament and match results

Year

I

I

Event

Result

I

Place

Match for the title of USSR Champion with Petrosian , Moscow 'Match of the Century', Belgrade (board 4) v. Hort European Team Championship, Kapfenberg (board 3) Amsterdam Siegen Olympiad (board 4) Interzonal Tournament, Palma de Mallorca

1!-3! 1!-2! 5/7 1 1!/ 1 5 9/12 13/23

9-10

1971

Mar del Plata 39th USSR Championship, Leningrad

13/15 1 1!/21

1 7-8

1972

Amsterdam Kislovodsk

12/ 1 5 1 1 / 14

1 1

1 973

Tallinn Hilversum Interzonal Tournament, Petropolis Match-Tournament v. Portisch & Geller, Portoroz 41st USSR Championship

10!/ 1 5 6/ 1 4 1 1tf 1 7 3!/8 10!/ 1 7

2 5-7 2-4 2 2-6

Candidates t-Final Match v. Karpov, Moscow Las Palmas Solingen Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 42nd USSR Championship, Leningrad

2!-5! 9!/ 1 5 10/14 1 1 /1 5 10!/1 5

4-7 1 -2 1 3-4

1975

Budapest Mantilla Manila 43rd USSR Championship, Yerevan

10!/ 1 5 6/9 6/10 8!/ 1 5

1 -2 1 -2 2-5 6-8

1976

Vinkovci Interzonal Tournament, Manila Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 44th USSR Championship, Moscow

10/15 12!/ 1 9 10/ 1 5 10!/ 1 7

3-4 2-3 1 -2 3-4

6!-5! 3!/4 4!-8! 9/1 5

3-4

1 970

1 974

1 977

Candidates t -Final Match v. Mecking, Lucerne European Team Championship, Moscow (board 3) Candidates !-Final Match v. Korchnoi, Evian 45th USSR Championship, Leningrad

1 -2

_I

1 77

Main tournament and match results

Year 1 978

I

I Result I Place

Event Reykjavik Lone Pine Buenos Aires Olympiad (board 3) 46th USSR Championship, Tbilisi

11;/ 1 3 1 /9 8 /1 1 1 0/ 1 7

7 2

71; / 1 1 1 1-!/ 1 7

1 2

3

1 979

Wijk aan Zee Interzona1 Tournament, Riga

1 980

European Team Championship, Skara (board 4) Candidates i--Final Match v. Tal, Alma-Ata Bugojno Candidates !-Final Match v. Korchnoi, Buenos Aires Malta Olympiad (board 2)

4-! / 1 5!-2t 51;/ 1 1 6!-7t 3/ 1

4 6

1 98 1

Moscow Amsterdam Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi

7-! / 1 3 41; /1 1 10/1 5

2-4 10 2

1 982

Mar del Plata Bugojno Interzonal Tournament, Toluca Lucerne Olympiad (board 3) Manila

11;/13 8 /13 11; / 1 3 6/9 7/9

3-4 2-3 4-7

50th USSR Championship, Moscow European Team Championship, Plovdiv (board 2) Tilburg

8t/ 1 5 3t/6 5 tf l l

3-4

1 983

1 78

-

1 -2

�8

1

Index of Openings (numbers refer to games)

Bogoljubov Defence

Dutch Defence

Queen's Gambit 58

18

English Opening Griinfeld Defence

Queen's Indian Defence

12 1 , 8 , 1 4, 24, 34, 35, 49, 5 1 ,

Reti Opening Sicilian

3, 30, 39, 48

1 79

23 5, 19, 22, 26, 36, 47, 63

1 1 , 61

Defence

Slav Defence

56

Nimzo-Indian Defence

40

2, 6, 7, 9, 1 5, 32, 37, 38, 43, 5 7,

Queen's Gambit Accepted

1 3, 1 6, 25, 3 1 , 3 3 , 46, 64

King's lndian Defence 53, 62 Modern Defence

Old Indian Defence

56

28, 42, 60

Catalan Opening

4, 1 7 , 20, 27, 29, 41 , 52, 54, 55

21, 45

Index of Opponents (numbers refer to games)

Adorjan

Larsen

25

Averbakh

1 9, 45

Lutikov

Bagirov 43 Balashov 17, 59

Donner Espig

Nezhmetdinov

Planinc 54 Portisch 3, 23, 6 1 Psakhis 47

20

35

Reshevsky Rodriguez

40

Geller 5 1 Gheorghiu 1 6, 3 2 , 55 Gligoric 3 3 Grigorian 5 7 Griinfeld 27 52

Jansa

4

Kagan

60 49

Romanishin Rossetto

lvkov

36

Padevsky 1 2 Petrosian 22, 64 Pfleger 1 5

41

Chikovani

7

Maslov 1 1 Mecking 58

Bellon 62 Bilek 1 4 Boleslavsky 2 9 Braga 2 8 Browne 3 4 Byrne

46

Lj ubojevic

50

Saidy

21

13

38

Seirawan 4 8 Smyslov 44 Spassky 30 Stein 1 Suetin 8 Tal 2, 39 Timman 26, 63 Torre 6, 24

56

Keres 3 7 Khasin 9 Korchnoi 5, 3 1 , 42

1 80

Uhlmann

53

Vasyukov

1 0, 1 8

Grandmaster Perfonnance