Svetozar Gligoric - Selected Chess Masterpieces (David McKay 1970)-5.3MB

THE CHESS CAREER OF SVETOZAR GLIGORICH 1945 1946 1946 1947 1947 1948 1949 1949 1950 1951 1951 1951 1951 1955 1956 1957 1957 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1960 1961 1961 1962 1963 1965 1966 1967 1968

Yugoslav Championship Ljubljana Yugoslav Championship Warsaw Yugoslav Championship Yugoslav Championship match against Gideon Stalberg Yugoslav Championship Mar del Plata Yugoslav Championship Bad Pyrmont (Zonal tournament) Staunton Memorial-London Hastings Yugoslav Championship Yugoslav Championship Dublin (Zonal tournament) Yugoslav Championship Dallas Yugoslav Championship Portoroz (Interzonal tournament) Yugoslav Championship Hastings Madrid Hastings Sarajevo Belgrade Eschende Copenhagen Tel Aviv Dundee Manila ·

2nd place 1st place 2nd place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st-2nd place 6)f-5� 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 2nd place 1st place 2nd-3rd place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st-2nd· place 2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place

Gligorich became an International Master in 1948, and an Inter­ national Grandmaster in 1951.

$5.95

Selected Chess Masterpieces by Svetozar Gligorich

Selected Chess Masterpieces is a col­ lection of nearly fifty of Gligorich's most outstanding chess games, selected by the Grandmaster himself. All origi­ nally appeared in

Chess Review as

"the game of the month." I. A. Horo­ witz has added an introduction. Svetozar Gligorich, a Yugoslav, has been for the past twenty years or more one of the best chessplayers in the world. He took second place in the Yugoslav Championship in 1945, be­ came an International Master in 1948, and an International Grandmaster in 1951. He still competes successfully from Manila to Dundee.

. (continued on back flap)

(continued from front flap) Selected Chess Masterpieces i s Gligorich's first book to appear origi­ nally in English.

Jacket design by Betty Binns

DAVID McKAY COMPANY, INC. New York

Selected Chess Masterpieces

SELECTED CHESS MASTERPIECES by SVETOZAR GLIGORICH INTRODUCTION BY I. A. HOROWITZ

DAVID McKAY COMPANY, INC. New York

SELECTED CHESS MASTERPIECES

COPYRIGHT

@

1970

BY I. A. JIOROWITZ

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or parts thereof, in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

LffiRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER:

71-120335

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I NTRO D U C I N G SVETOZAR G L I GO R I C H b y I . A . Horowitz For some years now, readers of Chess Review have been enter­ tained and instructed by a regular feature called "Game of the Month." These sparkling games have been presented by Svetozar Gligorich, a Yugoslav who has been for the past twenty years and more one of the best chess players in the world. Gligorich was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, February 2, 1923. His chess career in broad outline mirrors the history of Eastern Europe in our time: he learned to play chess as a boy, in spite of the handicap of dire poverty, and, just as he was about to achieve a degree of material success, all was shattered by the outbreak of the Second World War. The study of chess variations then took second place in young Gligorich's life until the defeat of the Axis Powers; when the grimmer struggle was over, and he returned to chess, he found himself in the shadow of the Soviet Union's thoroughgoing domination of that field of endeavor-an aq.a'logous position to that of his country in the political sphere. Stories of how fledgling grandmasters first learned the moves of the game have always held a certain interest, if not to their fellow players, then to the public at large. With Gligorich, the story is commonplace enough, but also important, because it reveals something about the kind of talent he brought to chess-if not the brilliant intuitive grasp of a Capablanca or a Fischer, then the high intelligence and persistence re­ flected so often in his play. When he was about twelve years old, there was a boarder in his mother's house who kept a chess set on the table in his room. Young Gligorich took great interest in this set, studying it from various angles, but, reluctant to ask any questions of its owner, concluded only that the mysterious game played with its odtlly shaped pieces must be very complicated indeed. Finally, he did inquire, and was told, as many thousands of young boys have been told before and since, that chess is an alluring but very difficult game, and that he would be better off tending to his studies than wasting his time learning to play it. He per­ sisted, however, eventually persuading the man who owned the set to teach him the moves, and then a few elementary pointers on strategy and tactics. True to the formula of this kind of story, the boy required only a few days to grasp the game sufficiently to beat his teacher. This is not, however, the story of a prodigy. Gligorich's rise to chess mastery was slow but very steady, despite the obtacles posed by his mother's disapproval (she too thought he ought to be more attentive to his schoolwork) and the poverty that prevented him from buying even the cheapest chess set. He himself made the first set he ever owned, carving it with a razor blade out of pieces of cork, and used it to play over the chess columns of the Belgrade daily newspaper. (This little anec­ dote has interesting parallels with the story of Paul Keres, who, only a

few years before, had copied out in longhand the few chess books he was able to borrow in his native Parnau, Estonia.) Gl�gorich played in his first chess tournament at the age of thir­ teen, in 1935-the championship of his junior high school-and finished second. He followed up this small success with a coup far more sub­ stantial: first place in the junior championship of Belgrade, and he reaped the first of many rewards-his picture in the same Belgrade daily news­ paper he had so often canvassed for its chess column. The picture proved useful when he needed to win the approval of his mother for the next big step in his career: his journey to the Sixteenth Yugoslav Amateur Tourna­ ment in Zagreb, which he won, ahead of forty-four other competitors, to become a Yugoslav national master at the age of eighteen. 'Vhen the war broke out in this same year-1939-all chess activity for Gligorich naturally stopped. As soon as he was old enough, he en­ listed in his country's fight for its national existence; in 1943 he joined the Yugoslav partisan anrly, and he was discharged at the end of the war with two medals andthe rank of captain. In 1945, Gligorich, newly married, returned to civilian life as a journalist; his articles, in his native Serbo-Croatian, have appeared in all of the prominent daily and weekly newspapers and magazines in Yugo­ slavia. He has, in fact, achieved �onsiderable recognition in this field; he is noted for his distinguished prose style, and an anthology of his best pieces has appeared under the title Victories and Defeats. He is presently employed by Radio Belgrade. It was as a chess player, however, that Gligorich was destined to become famous all over the world. In 1947 he achieved his first spectac­ ular success: a fine victory in the Warsaw tournament that was expected to provide an easy time for the two Soviet stars Smyslov and Boleslavsky. Gli�orich has been competing on even terms with the best of the Soviet and world players ever since; the list of his successes is so long that re­ counting them all would be tedious; a mere listing of only the highlights of his career distinguishes him as one of the most talented chess players of modern times. Gligorich's play is marked by two qualities also revealed in his annotations to the games in this book: logic and thoroughness. Of the first it may be said that Gligorich is one of the neatest of the great players, in the sense that his best ideas are executed with wonderful economv, with the strategic issues clearly and brilliantly defined. This is why, �s an annotator, he is such a good teacher; the games that follow all exhibit clear-cut strategic ideas characteristic of the highest positional standards of modern chess. His thoroughness is particularly exemplified by his careful prep­ aration of opening variations; he has long been known as one of the fore­ most opening theoreticians in the world. This is plainly reflected in the elaborate notes to the opening stages of the games in this book, but it is important to recognize that he concentrates not merely on the more or

less ephemeral fashions in tournament praxis, but on the ideas underlying the openings themselves. Gligorich, as befits a chess-playing journalist, is also a noted writer on the game: he is the author of a book on the World Championship Candidates Tournament at Bled in 1959, in which he competed, a book on the Sicilian Defense recognized as the most important study of that difficult opening, as well a.s many others in the six languages he speaks. This is the first of his books to appear originally in English, a collection of games, selected and annotated by him, the first of which appeared in Chess Review in the February 1966 issue.

THE CHESS CAR E E R OF SV ETOZAR G L I GO R I CH 1945 1946 1946 1947 1947 1948 1949 1949 1950 1951 1951 1951 1951 1955 1956 1957 1957 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1960 1961 1961 1962 1963 1965 1966 1967 1968

Yugoslav Championship Ljubljana Yugoslav Championship Warsaw Yugoslav Cha�pionship Yugoslav Championship Match against Gideon Stalberg

2nd place 1st place 2nd place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st-2nd place

Yugoslav Championship Mar del Plata Yugoslav Championship Bad Pyrmont (Zonal tournament) Staunton Memorial-London Hastings Yugoslav Championship Yugoslav Championship Dublin (Zonal tournament) Yugoslav Championship Dallas Yugoslav Championship Portoroz (Interzonal tournament) Yugoslav Championship Hastings Madrid Hastings Sarajevo Belgrade Eschende Copenhagen Tel Aviv Dnndee Manila

1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 2nd place 1st place 2nd-3rd place 1st glace 1st-2nd place 1st-2nd place 2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place

m�5J�

Gligorich became an InternatioPal Master in 1948, and an Inter­ national Grandmaster in 1951.

CO NTE NTS 1.

Variation in Agony

2.

Are the Times Changed?

3.

Spassky-the Challenger Angry Generation

4.

Gligorich-M�tanovich, Yugoslav Cham­ pionship, 1965 Korchnoy-Petrosyan, Moscow-Lenin­ grad Match, 1965 Gheorghiu-Spassky, Hastings, 1965-6 Korchnoy-Stein, USSR Championship, 1965

5. 6. 7. 8.

Botvinnik-As Usual Turning Point One of the Ex-World Champions Sicilian Fireworks Again

Botvinnik-Tolush, Moscow, 1965 Petrosyan-Spassky, World Champion­ ship Match, 1966 Smyslov-Uhlmann, Mar-del-Plata, 1966 Parma-Bogdanovich, Titovo-Uzice, 1966

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

29.

A Very Precious Win A Particular Rivalry A Danger Zone Fischer in His Prime It Should Have Happened Before Best Second Board! Attacking Instinct Not First-But May Be Best Sensation in Monaco One of Six? The Art of Feeling Young Victor-By Name Up-To-Date vVays of Winning "A Crushing Position!" Wind from the Other Side What's the Use? Man of the Year "White Spot" Spectacle! Reshevsky Is Back! Polu g ayevsky's Noteb ooks

Spassky-Fischer, Santa Monica, 1966 Larsen-Fischer, Santa Monica, 1966 Gligorich-Tringov, The Hague, 1966 Fischer-Portisch, Chess Olympics, Havana, 1966 Tahl-Botvinnik, USSR Team Champion­ ship, 1966 Panno-Brinck-Claussen, Chess Olympics, Havana, 1966 Spassky-Ghitescu, Beverwijk, 1967 Geller-Stein, USSR Championship, 1967 Fischer-Geller, Monte Carlo, 1967 Minich-Portisch, Halle, 1967 Najdorf-Geller, Moscow, 1967 Korchnoy-Ivkov, Budva, 1967 Taimanov-Larsen, Havana, 1967 Tahl-Bogdanovich, Budva, 1967 Fischer-Sofrevsky, Skopje, 1967 Fischer-Stein, Sousse, 1967 Larsen-Ivkov, Palma de Mallorca, 1967 Gligorich-Matulovich, Palma de Mallorca, 1967 Donner-Portisch, Beverwijk, 1968 Reshevsky-Geller, Sousse, 1967 Nikitin-Polugayevsky, USSR Championship, 1967

36.

The King Is More Important Larsen's Decisive Moment Second Youth of the Older Generation Beware the Devil! Fischer Abroad Belated Reward All Over Again

37.

Recovering Prestige

Wade-Uhlmann, Skopje, 1968 Matulovich-Fischer, Vinkovci, 1968 Gligorich-Damjanovich, Pula, 1968 Bobotsov-Petrosyan, Chess Olympics, Lugano, 1968 Petrosyan-Larsen, Palma de Mallorca,

38.

Korchnoy as a Prophet?

Korchnoy-Spassky, Palma de Mallorca,

39.

The End of One More Variation Fashion So Many Years of Exploration The Search for Weapons Tarrasch Rediscovered

Geller-Portisch, Wijk am Zee, 1969

30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

Spassky-Geller, Match, Sochi, 1968 Larsen-Portisch, Match, Porech, 1968 Keres-Schmidt, Bamberg, 1968

1968 1968

40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.

Rare Delight of the Spectators Portisch's Constancy

Geller-Ree, Wijk am Zee, 1969 Taimanov-Tatai, Venice, 1969 }l!nosevich-Korchnoy, Sarajevo, 1969 Petrosyan-Spassky, vVorld Championship Match, 1966 Unzicker-Planinc, Ljubljana, 1969 Portisch-Haag, Budapest, 1969

Selected Chess Masterpieces

1.

VAR IAT I O N I N AGONY

THE AUTHOR is not noted for lack of modesty and wishes to apologize

for using his own game in starting off in this department. As a new man in this magazine, however, he has no better way of introducing him­ self to the readers. In addition, as he is an active tournament player, it would be a false attitude to avoid publishing one of his games from time to time especially if it is one of general interest. Such is the game discussed here. It is from the latest Yugoslav Championship. Indeed, if the author were to yield to human weakness, he would write about his good, fighting victory against his main rival, Ivkov, in that tournament. The game with Matanovich, however, has somewhat more to annotate, a long history of one variation-a very im­ portant one. The opening is the Nimzo-Indian. The weapon belongs to Black and has been a favorite continuation of many leading masters for years, whenever Black has wished to avert the risk of a loss. In an important competition, who could reject such a sound device? Smyslov, Najdorf, Olafsson, Unzicker and, as American readers well know, Fischer have played the variation frequently. For some unknown reason, the author never d id. Unknown­ for, out of some ten important games, he has with White managed to score but one win. The solid Black position without weak points always has proved sufficient to restrain the aggressiveness of active White pieces. As one of many such examples, Najdorf-Gligorich in the Piatigorsky Tournament of 1 963 may be mentioned. As of the end of 1965, we find the Yugoslav grandmasters Parma and Matanovich among the most ardent defenders of the Nimzo-Indian. Both merit mention together ; for, after Panna's victory in the Junior World Championship with Matanovich as his guide and second, they have continued as very close friends and a kind of tandem in chess. They analyze together, prepare together and play the same variati'ons. Playing Parma first in the Yugoslav Championship, the author encountered a new problem in a known position and had to be satisfied with a draw. He knew then that, with Pa:nna and Matanovich living in the same hotel room, he would have the same problem when he met Matanovich a few rounds later. So he prepared accordingly. Titograd 1 965

5

N I MZO-I N D I A N DEF E N S E A . Matanovich

S . G l i gorich

Black

White 1 P-Q4

N-KB3

2 P-QB4

P-K3

3 N-QB3 4 P-K3

Bishops

.

0-0

•

The

Saemisch

Variation:

6

P--QR3,

BxNt 7 PxB, gives Black more counter

B-N5

chances if he uses the blockading system of Capabla.nca, and later Reshevsky, on

5 B-Q3 Two

.

P-QB4

The temptation to get the advantage of the

.

6 N-83

by N�K2 also in­

curs great danger of a dra\\';sh pos11tion.

the Kingside.

6 . . . .

P-Q4

7 0-0

This position has come up hundreds of

times. Now the moves follows.

most

precis e

order

of

N-K5 14 B-N4, R-K1 1 5 N-K5, NxN 16 PxN, Q-B2 1 7 P-B3, N-B4 (Smyslov­ O'Kelly, Havana 1965) ; but, by accurate play, Black ought to be able to maintain the balance in the endgame. After the text, removing the possi­ bility of . . . BPxP, Black's King Bishop is endangered of entrapment. So Black exchanges.

10 . 1 1 PxP .

.

•

BxN

This interpolation is necessary; White loses the Queen Pawn.

7

. . .

.

else,

QPxP

7 . . . QN-Q2 8 P-QR3, BPxP 9 QNxP� is less favorable for Black.

8

BxP

QN-Q2

The more natural developmen t by N-QB3 is currently less popular. Black aims to keep open a diagonal for his Queen Bishop from QN2, thus making the pressure of his other Bishop on the White Queen Knight more effective.

9 Q-K2

9 B-Q3 is frequen tly played. The ob-­ ject is to remove the Bishop from the potentially exposed file and to control K4. But the move also loses time.

9

•

•

•

•

P-QN3

10 P-Q5! This vital move is the most direct way to obtain a majority of forces in the center and Kingside. If While postpones this central break for a moment with 10 R-Q1, PxP 1 1 PxP, B-N2 and then 12 P-Q5, Black has the opportunity, aflter 12 . . . BxN 1 3 PxP, BxN ! to simplify and have good prospects of a draw In the endgame : e.g., Portisch-Donner, Ham­ burg 1965. Another possibility is simple develop­ ment of the plece·s : 1 0 R--Q1, PxP 1 1 P.xP, B-N2 12 B-Q2, BxQN 1 3 BxB ! [ 13 PxB, Q-B2 allows Black a good game].

11

B-R4

This move surprised White when play ­ ed by Parma a few days earlier. It was, however, the last word which Parma and Matanovich ( who prepared it espe­ cially for the championship) had to say on that variation. For the Pawn sacrifice ceased�after some study-to seem such a promis· i ng plan of active play. Examination of the move. 11 . . . N-K4, las1 t ed a rather long time. In Zagreb 1965, Portisch outplayed Matanovich by 12 PxPt, K-R1 13 PxB, B-N5 14 P-K4, Q-K2 '! 1 5 R-K1 ! BxN 1 6 PxB, NxB 1 7 QxN, R x P 1 8 B-N5 ! P-KR3 19 B-R!, P-KN 4 20 B-N3. QR-KB1 21 QR-Ql, N-K1 22 P-K5 ! RxP 23 P-K6, K-N1 2-1 R-Q7, Q-B3 2 5 B-K5, Q-N3 26 P-KH. R/1-B2 27 R-QS, Q-QB3 28 Q-K4, Re­ signs. In the same Zagreb Tournament, Parma later prepared a better line ugainst the author: 14 . . . N-R4 ! {in­ stead of 1 4 . . . Q-K2 ?) 15 B-Q5, Q-B3 ( n ote this position in the next para­ graph ) 16 Q-K3 [ not 16 BxR ? NxNt 1 7 PxN, BxP 1 8 Q-K3, P-KR3 ! a s White's King remains without cover]. NxNt 17 PxN, BxP 1 8 Q-N5, QR-B1 ! and, after 1 9 R-K1, QxQBP 20 B-KB4, NxB 21 QxN, Q-B3 22 Q-N3, B-R4 23 P-K5, Q-B4 24 B-B4, P-QN4 ! 25 P-K6, PxB 26 R-K5, Q-B3 27 P-K7, BxP, the win­ ning of the Exchange did not mean

much. So everything seemed all right for Black, until Kraidman of Israel met Ma.tanovich i n Nathanaya a few weeks later. Matanovich produced his moves rapidly ; and Kraidman, thinking he had fallen into a trap, out of desperation, tried 16 B-N5! ( compare with 16 Q-K3 i n paragraph above). That move loses a piece; but, after 16 . . . QxB 17 NxQ, BxQ 18 P-KB4 ! i t was Black who had to save the game, though a Rook up ! Mata:ijovich managed to sa1vage a draw after 18 . . . N-N3 ! and a long defense. But no one has cared to repeat that performance with Black since .

12 PxN The try "a Ia Tahl" 12 PxPt, K-R1 13 P-K4 does not work well after 13 . . . P�QN4! 14 BxP, RxP 15 P-K5, R-K2 !

12 . . . .

QxP

Parma had seen this pos.ition in the Soviet praxis .

he wins a piece by 15 N-N5 ! and 16 P-B3 [not 15 �Q5, B-N2 16 B-N5, Q-Kl 17 BxB, NxB ! ]. On 13 . . . Q-B2 14 P-K4, B-N2 15 P-K5, QR-K1 1 6 B-B4, N-R4, White wins by 17 P-K6 ! ! Even the tactical chance of 1"1 . . . NxB 18 PxPt, QxP 1 9 BxQt, KxB with the Queen sacrifice does not work because of interpolation, 20 N-K5t !

14 P-K R3 The immediate 14 P-K4 fails against 1 4 . . . B-N2 15 P-K5, BxN.

14 . . . .

Q-R4

After 14 . . . Q-K5, the Pawn goes on also by dint of 1 5 B-Q3.

15 P-K4 16 P-K5

8-N2 8xN

I t is now or never. A move later, after the Pawn is protected by the Queen Bishop, White can recapture with his Queen. Strategically, Black is lost, and his best chance is to try to exploit a weakening of the White Kingside .

17 Px8 8-84 !

Q R- K 1

18

18 P-B4 does not advance the develop. ment, and Black can obtain vital posts for his Knight and Queen.

. . . . 1 9 8-R2

18

QxRP

White disregards his Pawn minus as he has complete control of the center and also possesses the mighty Two Bishops, though one must add especially the white-bound Bishop. White liked this position at first sight. As soon as the King Pawn advances, Black's King Bishop becomes inactive and Black's Kingside without sufficient defense. So simple logic says. But the matter is not so simple a,s it seems . In the previous game vs. Parma, White played 13 P-K4, B-N2 14 P-K5, KR-K1 15 N-N5 ; but, after 15 . . B-Q4 ! he had nothing out of it.

K-R1

19

19 . . . N-R4 2 0 Q-K4, P-N3 2 1 Q-N4, QxQ 22 PxQ, N-N2 23 R-Q7 is also favorable for White. Now White em. ploys another opportunity to enter into the Pawn-minus but winning endgame.

1 3 R-Q1 The key move ! White takes the cen­ tral squares on the Queen file under control with a gain of tempo.

13 . . . .

Q-N5

It is a very important fact that, though Black may choose a "better" place for his Queen, he has no means to prevent the advance of the King Pawn. On 13 . . . Q-K2 14 P-K4 ! White wins the Exchange on 1 4 . . . QxP 15 QxQ, NxQ 1 6 B-Q5. And, on 1 4 . . . NxP,

20 Q-81 Else,

the Knight i s

QxQt lost. Now, how.

ever, Black's only active piece has dis-

appeared from the board and the seventh rank is open for penetration by Wh11 t e's Rooks.

21 KxQ

N-N 1

After 21 . . . N-R4, the Knight can­ not guard its K2 where White's King Pawn may arrive.

22 R-Q7

P-84

On 22 . . . P-B3 23 P-K6, Black can­ not prevent the decisive 24 B-Q6. Now he can, by 23 . . . P-B5.

23 P-84 24 R/1-Q1 25 R/1-Q6 26 .

.

.

•

N-K2 N-83

bring his King into play.

29 8- K N3 White plays consistently for the at­ tack rather than leave this piece out of play. He does not care for regaining material as Black has some sort of chances after 29 P-K6, K-N2 30 P-K7, KxB etc.

29 . . . . 30 8-84§

K-N2 K-R3

The same sequel follows 30 . . . K-Rl .

31 8-R4

Res i g n s

R-K2

With both White Rooks entered into the enemy's camp, centralization of Black's Knight on Q5 is futile. So Black tries to simplify a little by exchange a pair of Rooks.

26 8-QS 27 RxR

RxR N-N S

Black seeks to win a tem po for the defense. On 27 . . . N-Q5, White wins immediately by 28 P-K6.

28 8-87

P-N3

The advance of White's passed Pawn is a deadly threat . So Black tries to

T h e final pos-ition demons'trates full triumph of White's strategy.

the

ARE TH E T I M E S C H A N G E D ? 2. NLY a year ago, a lon·g reign was still being predicted for the new World Champion Tigran Petrosyan. In his cautious approach to chess competitions, he was, perhaps, not so impressive ; but he was very impressive in his unparalleled ability to foresee danger on the chess­ hoard and to avoid any risk of losing. After his match with Botvinnik, Petrosyan seemed to be virtually invincible if he wanted to be. Even Botvinnik, in spite of his iron will and energy, was exhausted by the durability of his younger rival. For Petrosyan was able, each time he needed to ensure his safety, to drain off the possibilities on the hoard and to make Botvinnik's ambitions look futile. It would be very wrong, however, to regard Petrosyan merely as a player with a passive style. No one could become Champion with­ out being able to win many, many games. Petrosyan's aggressiveness takes the form of positional masterpieces in which he creates weak points in the opponent's camp with extreme patience and exploits them with the utmost skill and determination.

Q

Nonetheless, some additJi.onal explana. tion is necessary as to the rarity of Petrosyan's defeats. He is not beaJten, because he sees so much. It is odd, but exactly like his styl�stic opposite, Tahl, Petrosyan notices a large number of tactical possibilHies on the board in a few seconds. It is thus thrut he is, together with Tahl, the best play­ er of lightning chess in the world. The present World Champr i on is a very modest man. He accepted the re­ sponsibi'lity of his title with an ease un­ known in Botvinnik's time. Thus, he went immediately to Los Angeles and showed no signs of feeling a new burden on his shoulders. He gained a first place tie in the Piatigorsky Cup Tournament, and then in Argentina, both times with Keres . Everything seemed all right until ·last year. The cancellation of the usual re­ venge match for Botvinnik encouraged a pleasant mood for Petrosyan, and he toured the Soviet Union and West Ger­ many. As he is an Armenian, he was received in Erewan as a national hero. Another year went quickly by. Tigran was equally ready to accept any attrac_ tive invitation. But, in Zagreb, he came in only third. Another tournament was arranged in Erewan to redeem his rep­ utation, but Korchnoy came in first. Though Korchnoy has had nothing to do with the official world championship,

is remarkable how he kept putting his foot into Petrosyan's pruth. The last games for Petrosyan before his mrutch

it

with Spassky this spring were against Korchnoy in the traditJional Moscow­ Leningrad match. And Petrosyan lost both of them. In the first one, which follows below, Korchnoy had the advantage, but Petro­ sy,an showed his usual skill in mak!ing his position nea.r ly impenetrable. The

crisis for the World Champion came when he gained the initiative. In the E·nd, h e was outwitted by the most suc­ cessful tournament player of 1965.

NIMZO-IN D I A N D E F E N S E V . Korch noy

T.

1 P-Q4 2 P-Q84 3 N-Q83

N-K 83 P-K3 8-N5

Petrosyan Black

'Vhite

4 P-K3 5 N-83 6 8-K2

0-0

P- 84

Is the last move played on purpos e ? Pet.rosyan himself prefers i t t o 6 B-Q3 which is more active and more frequent­ ly used. The idea is to avoid variations like 6 B-Q3, P-Q4 7 0-0, N-B3 8 P-QR3, B-R4 ! 9 BPxP, KPxP 1 0 PxP, B-KN5. White's Bishop on K2 renders such a line senseless. Many lines, after . . . P-Q4 and . . . QPxP, are the same with White's B-K2 and B-Q3. But some also there are in which the K1ng Bishop stands better on Q3.

tious approach to the game. He wants to control his KB5 and secure the K'ing­ side before taking any further step in the center. 11 . . . P-K4, h owever, is quite p' l ayable. After 12 P-K4, N-Q2, White's break by 13 P-B4 effects no worthwhile result : 13 . . BPxP 14 PxQP, NxP 15 NxN, PxN 16 QxP, N-B4 etc.

12 P-K4 13 P-N3

In this game, Petrosyan chooses some­ thing quite different for Black.

6

•

.

•

8xNt

.

On 6 . . P-QN3 7 0-0, B-N2 8 N-QR4, introduced for White by Bot­ vinnik, the Bishop stands better on K2. Probably, that is why Petrosyan plays a less promising variation with hope only of creating an impentrable position. Of course, Black has other moves at his disposal here, too.

7 Px8 8 N-Q2 !

8-N 2 P-Q3

.

13 . . . .

R-8 1

Black h a s less space and can under­ take nothing special except to try to force White to block the position even more.

14 R-82 15 P-Q5

8-R3 R-K 1

The last is a preventive move. It is difficult now for White to advance other King-sJde Pawns while he cannot feel safe on the King file. This Knight has finished its job on the Queenside and seeks a more active post.

16 . . . . 1 7 P-QR4

Q-Q2 R-K2

Black must wait. He tries to be ready for the possible opening of any new lines.

18 P-R5

As already stated, Black a.ims for a blockaded position. But White thus has a free hand to control more space.

N-83

10 P-83 1 1 N-N 3

White denies squares to Black's Queen Knight on which it could develop s· o me activity.

16 N-Q2

P-Q N 3

With the Two Bishops and a sltrong Pawn center for White, Black has no desire to open the poSiition. So White has time for slow maneuvers to prepare the ad'V'ance of the central Pawns. M e an­ while, White's Knight covers all sensi­ tive squares.

8 . • . 9 0-0

N-N 3

White's Knight observes Q4 and QR5.

I t is not necessary for White to strengthen hds grip on QN5 before m ak­ ing this break on the wing. For White benefits from dis s olving his doubled Pawns and extending the scope of his King Bishop.

18 . . . .

P-N4

Black can no longer wait passively. Because of his exposed Bishop, he would lose a Pawn.

1 9 Px N P 20 P-Q84 21 8-N 2

8xP 8-R3

(See d ia g ra m , top of next p a g e )

21

•

•

.

.

Q-K 1

Black tries t o get t h e best out o f an inferior position. He is not afraid of a weakening of this Kingside as he counts on the Queen Knight file and a more

N-K2

11 . . . . This

move

reflects

Petrosyan's

cau-

menacing action while White has no direct way of exploiting the Black weak­ ness after 22 BxN, PxB.

22 8-K 8 1 23 B-83 !

R-N 1

White sizes things u p a s Black did. It is b etter to retrui.n the Two Bishops and to prO/teet all sensitive squares on the open file while preparing later action agalinst Black's King.

23 . . . .

P-K4

Black cannot maintain the tension in the center forever. So h e makes the ex­ pected move when he i s ready for coun­ ter action if the position is opened.

24 8-Q3

8-81

Both white-bound Bishops are needed for protection of the endangered wings.

25 N-81 White starts his Knight toward its strategically best post, K3. Immediate opening of lines would mean more threats to Black, if it worked. It doesn't. For, after 2 5 P-B4 , N--N5 26 R-B3, PxP 27 PxP, Black has 27 . . . P-B4 ! 28 PxP, N-K6 ! and then stands better.

25 . . . . 26 8-82 27 N-K3

R/2-N2 P-Q R3 N-81

Black retreats this Knight to a safer place as he must reckon on an eventual N-B5 by White.

28 Q-K 8 1 2 9 R-K 1

Q-Ql or to allow opening of the King file by 30 . . . BxN. Even so, Black then has h1s counter chances. 30

.

•

•

3 2 P-B5 does not work so well cause of 32 . N-N4 !

32 • . . . 33 Q-N 2

be-

8-Q2

3 3 PxP, PxP is not so attractive a s Black's Knight m a y effectively come into play via KN4 while White has no effective means of putting pressure on Black's weak Queen Bishop Pawn.

32 .

•

.

P-83

.

Black secures his King Pawn before trying . . . B-QR5.

34 R/1 - K 8 1 T h i s move is a blow against emptiness.

3 4 R-Rl i s safer.

Q-Q1

34 . . . . Black fails, chance of 3 4 .

35 R-R 1

however. to . . B-R5.

employ

Q-K2

his

Black, feeling somewhat better than i n the earlier stage of the game, h as consequently decided to wait.

P-R3 N /1-R2

(See dia g ra m, t o p of n ext colu m n )

3 0 P-84 White decides to take act'ion. It allows Black, however, to reduce the number of pieces and so relieve his crall!P_!!_c! position . Still, it is difficult to make a correct decision as the World Cham­ pion has cleverly built a fortress very hard to penetrate. The alternative is 30 N-B5 which sets Black the choice of the pass- i ve 30 . . .

N-N 5 8x N

.

31 N x N 32 P-R3

36 K-81

There is some risk in this move. For the King is safer on th e wing than in the middle· White's only chance left is P-B5 and preparation for the break by Korchnoy was P-KN5. P ossibly, thinking of a poss ' i ble escape by Black's King to the Queenside in that event and s o decided to do the same in ad­ vance.

36 . . . . 37 K-K2 38 P-BS

Q-K 1 Q-Q B1

Here White does what he could have

done before.

38 . . . .

R-N 5 !

With White's King i n the wrong place, this sacril:1ice of the Exchange seems very promising. No one can say, how_ ever, that Korchnoy did not provoke it . For he is known for his readiness to ac­ cept all that he is offered and his un­ canny ability to calculate the possible variations with unparalleled exactitude.

39 B x R

� B-N 3

Q-Q6

43 R-N 1

It is very probable that the World Champion did not realize the trap which he is in. No better is 43 . . . Q-B6 : e.g. 44 P-R4. N-B6 45 Q-B2, B-Kl 46 K-N2, B-R4 47 R-K3, Q-Q7 as White wins, not on 48 RxN, BxRt 49 KxB , Q-Q6t etc. but on 48 QxQ, NxQ 49 R-N2. Black's last chance is 4 3 . . . Q-B4,

attacking the Pawn on White's QR5 and trying to force a draw by repetition of moves. White then replies, however: 44 P-R4, N--B2 45 Q-B2 and answers 45 . QxRP by 46 Q-R7. Even then. Black can leave the position as i s and look for sa. l vation in a blocked type of position with 45 . . . N-Ql . 44 R/1-N2 4 5 P-R4

B-K 1

45 . . . .

N-86

PxB Q-84

Another idea is 40 . . . B-Kl .and . . N-Bl-Q2--B4 for positional com­ pensation for the Exchange. But Black has dreamed of something better.

This i s a move of early desperation, putting a last "hope" in the sacrifice of th e Queen. After 45 . . . N-B2 4 6 Q-B2, N-Ql 47 Q-K3 [or 47 K-N2, B-R4] , QxQ 48 RxQ, N-N2 or such, White has difficulty' making his material advantage decisive.

in

41 K-81 ! Such moves are diabolical especially when the sealed move! A natural reac­ tion is 41 P-R4 to prevent penetration by Black's pieces . But here lies the secret of Korchnoy's power: he sees far in advance that his heavy pieces will be able successfully to meet both Black's Queen and Knight in his own camp.

41 • • . • 42 R-K2 !

N-N4 Q-Q5

It is too late now to consider maneu_ verlng the Knight for pol!itional advan­ tage on the Queenside. For that is too

slow, and there is a threat of opening of lines against Black's King in such event.

N-Q5 Q-86 Px R

46 K-82 4 7 R-K3 4 8 RxQ

49 50 51 52

R-N 1 RxR K-K3 Q-QR2

RxB NxR N-Q5 P-87

Black would have a chance if his King

were safer.

53 54 55 56

K-Q2 P-85 ! P-Q6§ Q-R4

For, after 56

B-R4 PxP B-82 Res i g n s B-N6 57 Q-K8t,

K-R2, there follows 58 P-Q7.

Just an episode, or a bad sign for Petrosyan before his coming match with Spas sky ?

3.

S PASS KY-TH E C H AL L E N G E R

Many Challengers have emerged i n the history of the present World Championship program. In the opinion of this commentator, however, twenty-eight-year-old Boris Spassky is a new kind. Because of the latest modification of the system, he made his way by winning matches, not a tournament. Such an achievement may be a very usefu 1 experience for a man who tries to gain the highest title in a final competition which is also a match. As a matter of fact, Spassky of all the competitors had the hardest schedule. Yet he managed to eliminate his powerful rivals in fewer games than he could have expected, allowing for their great reputations. Something strange happened to all Spassky's opponents. Whether they were in excellent form before the decisive match or not, all-Keres, Geller and Tahl-were clearly below their usual level when they met the young Boris. The explanation must lie, it seems, in Spassky himself. Though he was not always at his best in all the games in these duels, all the three named played like depressed spirits without confidence in being able to develop, even with White, a significant initiative. The secret power of Spassky, in this commentator's opinion, is his colossal ability to adapt to meet the different styles of each opponent. Only Alekhine, and perhaps Lasker, showed such ability before. More than the mythological Janus, Spassky ' h as many faces. In his matches, he revealed three. He can play gambits, classical positions, Indian systems, defend or attack-all according to the circumstances. He is not perfect-no one is-but he has very good health, good nerves, a strong will and is able to rally at the right moment. A rather heavy smoker, he gave up smoking during the play. He confessed he felt very depressed after the series of five draws in the match with Tahl. At the same time, he says, he realized that such an aggressive player as Tahl ought to feel even more tired after those successive draws, and Spassky immediately felt better. The upshot seems to prove what he said was true, for Tahl lost the next three games. Spassky knows that everything has gone too smoothly up to now and that he will have a much harder time with Petrosyan. In an interview on BBC, Spassky stated that his personal friendship with Tahl and his profound knowledge of his rival helped him a great deal. As for the present World Champion, Spassky said that Petrosyan is an "unknown chess personality" to him. The Challenger has had three months since Hastings to change that factor. Spassky has had a steadier line of successes in the last two years than Petrosyan. Presenting one of the latter's games in the last issue, this writer had to comment on Tigran's loss. Following the same prin­ ciple--to show how the two great rivals performed on the eve of their

struggle--here is Spassky's victory over the Roumanian Champion at Hastings this year. H a st i n g s 1 965.6

to try something different this time.

N I M ZO-I N D I A N D E F E N S E F. G heorgh i u Rou m a n i a

5 P-Q R3

B. S passky Soviet U n i o n

White

Black

1 P-Q..4 2 P-QB4

N-K B3 P-K3

3 N-QB3 4 P-83

B- N 5

White's is a sharp move, very much favored by the young Roumanian Cham­ pion. Its tendency is to build up a strong Pawn center ; but its disadvantage is some loss of time and difficulty in de­ veloping the Kingside as this Pawn takes the natural square, KB3, away from the King Knight.

B-R4

Black elects the wider options. 5 . . BxNt 6 PxB, P-Q4 7 PxQP transposes into the Saemisch Variation; and, if White wants that position, he can force it by an earlier 4 P-QR3, BxNt 5 PxB, P-B4 6 P-B3, P-Q4 7 PxQP. 5 . . . PxP is also playable. After 6 PxB, PxN 7 PxP, P-Q4 8 PxP, PxP 9 B-B4, 0-0 10 P-K3, R-K1 11 Q-Q2, N-B3 12 N-K2, Q-K2 13 K-B2, B-Q2 14 N-Q4, N-KR4 15 NxN, BxN 16 Q-Q4, NxB 17 QxN, P-QR3 18 B-Q3, QR-B1 19 KR-Q1, B-Q2, a draw was agreed be­ tween Ghitescu and MatanoV'ich, Euro­ pean Team Championship, Hamburg 1965. The text, however, gives Black more counter chances.

6 P-Q5 White's push is nearly forced, for 6 PxP, BxNt enervates White's Pawn structure.

6 . . . 7 P-K4

0-0 P-Q3

R-K1 does not The immediate 7 pose more problems for White, as he has possible 8 P-Q6.

4 . . . .

P-84

The previous year at Hastings, Gheor­ gh'iu had the pleasure of playing this open'ing against Keres who replied with 4 . . . P-Q4 as he did against Tahl in the Challengers Tournament 1959 After 5 P-QR3, B-K2 6 P-K4, PxKP 7 PxP, P-K4 8 P-Q5, B-QB4 9 B-N5, 13-Q5 (against Tahl, Keres played 9 ... P-QR4-Ed.), Keres tried to compensate for his lesser space by active play of his pieces. Still, White's chances seem til be better. The game took a wild course after 10 B-Q3, P-KR3 11 B-R4, P-B3 12 KN-K2, B-N5 1 3 Q- B2, BxN/7 14 NxB, B-K6 15 N-N3, P-KN3 16 N-B1, B-Q5 17 0-0-0, QN-Q2 18 N-Q2, P-KN4 19 B-N3, N-N5 20 N-B3! B-K6t 21 K-N1. Q-N3 22 P-R3, N-B7 23 NxK P ! NxR/Q 24 RxN, NxN 25 BxN, 0-0 26 B-Q6, PxP 27 P-B5, Q-R4, and Keres becam� afraitl of 28 P-K5 and offered a draw which Gheorghiu accepted, perhaps too early. S o there is good reason for Spassky

8 B-Q2 8 B-Q3 and 9 KN-K2 i s preferable for

the faster King-side development.

8 . . . .

9 K N-K2

R-K1 P-Q R3

The position is reminiscent of a semi­ Benoni. The difference is that Black's K6.ng Bishop is actively developed o n the Queenside instead of KN2. It stands well either way.

10 N-N 3 1 1 P-N 3

P-Q N 4 !

After 11 PxKP, BxP follows 12 . . . P-Q4 !

12

PxP,

there

21 R-Q1 22 Q x 8

8xN NxKP

24 8-Q3 2 5 P-Q 85

R-K 1

With the better 25 PxP, PxP, White emerges from his difficulties with an equal game.

25 . • . . 26 QxP 27 Q-Q6

PxP R-QB1

27 Q-R7 is not effective because of . . Q-B2. White's passed Pawn is not dangerous as Black controls the open files around it.

27 . . . . 28 Q-N4 11

.

•

.

PxQP

•

Black, being better developed, tries to open the game as much as possible. 12

B PxQP

Now Pawn majorities on wings sharpens the struggle.

12 . . . . 13 B-K2

29 Q-N 1 30 R-83

P-R3 Q-Q3

An instructive position : the pass�d Pawn is not quite sufficient to compen_ saJte for White's weaknesses on QR3, KB4 and Q5 itself.

opposite

0-0 15 P- K R3

Q N-Q2 N-K4

Q-82 Q-84

14

B-Q2

Vainly, White tries to deprive the Black Knights of their KN5 so as to activate his own center Pawns. 15 K-R1 is playable.

P-85

15 . . . . 16 P-84 ·

16 PxP is melt by 16

16 . . . . 1 7 K-R1

R-QBL

8-N3t 31 8-85 The text looks normal but is not the bes t ; for, after exchange of Bishops, Black's Rooks obtain more central posts for penetration around the blockaded Queen Pawn. 31 Q-N2 with an eye toward R-N3 is preferable.

31 . . . . 32 QxB 33 Q-Q3

17 . . . . 18 Q-K 1

White defends tactically. 33 . . . RxP 34 RxR, QxR lets White push 35 P-Q6, and a passed Pawn on the seventh is very good compensation for his material disadvantage.

N /4- N 5 !

O n 18 PxN, NxNP, there is n o adequate defense against 19 . . . Q-R5.

18 . . . . 1 9 8xN 20 PxP

N-K6 8x8

Another possibility is 20 BxP, B-Q5 21 B-Q3, BxP ! 22 KN-K2 ! [not 22 Pxll because of 22 . . . Q-B1 with the dou­ ble threats on Knight and King Rook Pawn] with equal chances.

20 .

•

.

.

8-Q5

23 N x N

8x8 R-85

RxN

33 . . . .

R-Q1

Black fails immediately to find the right plan for re-inforcing his threat on the Bishop Pawn. 33 . . . R/1-K5 i s preferable as soon appears.

34 Q-Q2 35 Q-Q3

R-K5 R/1- K 1

36 Q-83 37 Q-Q3

R-85

Now we have the same position as after move 33, and Black does better.

37 . . . . 38 P-85

R/1-K5

White had an unpleasant choice, but his move is not good as it concedes the central K4 for Black's Queen.

Q-K4!

38 . . . . 39 Q-Q2 39 P-Q6 fails against 39 40 P-Q7, Q-Q3 !

39 . . . . 40 Q-Q3

. . RIK-Q5

R-K7 R/7-K5

Black can wait till adjournment determine his best way. He does.

41 Q-Q2 42 Q-Q3

R-K7 R j5-87 !

43 R-N 3 44 R x R

to

R-K8t

White has a slightly better chance in the Queen ending after 44 K-R2, RxH 45 QxR,/1, R-B6 46 Q-N4, RxR 47 QxR, QxQP. But further thought suggests 46 . . . RxP : e.g. 47 P-Q6, QxRt 48 QxQ, RxQ 49 KxR, K-Bl etc.

44 .

. 45 K-R2 46 R-K3 •

•

Q x Rt R-88 Q-N8t

47 48 49 50

K-N3 R-K8t Q-K4 Q-82

R-Q8 K-R2 R-Q5

50 . . . .

Q-K 88 !

Because o f the mating threats, White cannot now avoid material loss. A fine tactical masterpiece by Spassky !

51 P-86§ 52 Q-87

P-N 3 QxP

White has nothing R-N8t, K-R2.

53 R-K 88 54 Q-N 8 Resigns further

K-N 2 RxP

after

55

4.

..ANG RY G E N E RATI O N ..

There has been much talk of The Angry Gen­ eration. It concerns young people in certain periods of history or the arts and so on -- but not in chess. Nonetheless, the author is applying for poetic license to speak of several grandmasters of our decade and to classify them in such a group. They are far from being the same in age but are very much alike in their S . Gllgorlch fate. For various reasons, they are excluded from the official honors in the world championship, or it should be said : they have been up till now. And they settle their bills as much as they can elsewhere. They are doing really excellently, defeating so many of the best players. But that factor of anger remains. For it is always some­ one else who finds the way to the world championship - not they. Consequently, even after first place in a tournament has been secured, Fischer, Korchnoy and Stein used to try hard to win all the rest of the games. Probably, they wish to prove something in spite of their "fate." Fischer resigned from playing in FIDE competitions. Korchnoy had his bad "five minutes" just when he needed to qualify. And Stein had to retreat twice from the Challengers Round in favor of lower-placed Benko, lvkov and Portisch because he belonged to the group of Soviet grandmasters who exceeded the FIDE-set limits for qualifiers from any one country. The recent Championship of the U.S.S.R. presented another of those opportunities for Korchnoy and Stein to press their dispute with the official chess world and with their colleagues at home who had had better luck. So, when they met each other at Tallin, it was not a game, but a wild collision. Here it is. Ta l l i n 1 965 33d U S S R C h a m p i o nsh i p

with a loss in the very first round. So,

K I NG'S I N D I A N D E F E N S E V.

K o rc h n oy

White

P-Q4 2 P-QB4 1

L.

Ste i n Black

N - K B3 P-K N 3

3 N-Q B3 4 P-K4

B-N 2

This natural move ought to be some­ thing of a surprise for Stein, for Kor­ chnoy's favorite line against the Indian system is 4 P-KN3. The leader of the White forces needs to be understood. Here it was the ninth round of the championship, and Korchnoy, the tri­ umphant winner of the previous cham ­ pionship, had only an even score and needed th'e point badly. On the other side, Stein (about to be­ come the new champion quite some time lwter) had started very unusually for him

from that moment on, he was ready for any risk till the end of the great com­ petition.

4 . . • . 5 P-K B3

P-Q3

Many years ago, Korchnoy used to play this way, before he adopted the King-side fianchetto. The Saemisch Vari­ ation secures a mighty Pawn center for White but slows down the development of his Kingside.

5 . . . . 6 B-K3

0-0

The text prevents Black's assault on the center by . . . P-QB4. Now the choice is limited for Black.

6

•

.

.

•

P-K4

7 P-QS If White holds the tension in the cen ­ ter, Black gets the opportunity to open the game and to equalize quickly. In Korchnoy�Gligorich (Leningrad 1 957), after 7 KN-K2, P-B3 8 Q-Q2, PxP, White tried with 9 Bx P ! to prevent the counter stroke, . . . P-Q4. Later, in Portoroz 1958, h owever, Panno found a good line for Black with 9 . . . P-B4 ! 10 B-K3, B-K3 11 N-B4, N-B3 etc. After the text, White has more ter­ raJin, and Black ought to use his better development for a King.side counter.

7

.

. . .

N-R4 -

An old line is revived again. In the meantime, Geller's 7 . . . P-B3 has been more popular; but new diffi culties have been introduced for Black. One line for White is 8 Q-Q2, PxP 9 BPxP, P-:: QR3 [ 9 . . . N-R3 may be better] 10 0-0-0, QN-Q2 11 K-N1 and 1 2 R-BI (as played by Polugayevsky). Another is 8 B-Q3, PxP 9 BPxP, N-R3 10 KN-K2, B-Q2 1 1 0-0, N-B4 12 B-QB2, P-QR-t 1 3 P-QR3, Q-N3 14 K-R1, KR-Bl 15 R-QN1, Q-R3 16 P-QR4, Q-N3 17 K-B1, Q-Q1 18 B-Q3, N�K1 19 B-QN5, BxB 20 NxB ( Pettros­ yan.Reshevsky, Tel Aviv 1964) .

Q-Q2 9 0-0-0

8

P-K B4 N-Q2

The text is more elastiC' than 9 P-B5 10 B-B2, B-B3 11 KN-K2, B-R5 12 B-Nl! P-KN4 13 P-B5 with the bet ­ ter prospects for White ( Petrosyan-Gli­ gorir:h, Zuri ch 1 953). (See diagram, top of next col u m n)

10 B-Q3 This is h ow Korchnoy played against Uhlmann (Havana 1 963). There followed 10 . . . QN-B3 11 PxP, PxP 12 KN-K2, P-QR3 13 P-KR3, P-B5 etc. In Ivkov­ Uhlm.ann ( Zagreb 1965), White followed a similar line with an immediate 10 PxP, PxP 11 B-Q3, QN-B3 12 KN-K2, but now Uhlmann chose anothe. r plan : 12 . . .

K-R1 13 P-KR3, P-B5 14 B-KB2, B-Q2 15 K�N1, Q�K1 16 KR-K1, Q-B2 but still had to fight for equality after 17 N�K4, NxN 18 BxN, B-KB3 19 P-B5, R-KN1 20 R-N1, B-K2 21 P-B6, PxP 22 PxP, B-K3 23 Q-R5. Another alternative is 1 0 KN-K2, P�R3 11 K-N1, QN-B3 12 PxP; PxP 13 N-N3. Here, too, White gained the ad­ vantage, in the last game of the Bot. vinnik-Tahl Return Match 1 9 6 1 .

10 . . . .

Px P!

Here is something new. 10 . . . N-B4 11 B-QB2, P-B5 12 B-B2, P-QR3 13 KN-K2 is not suffioiently good, for Black never gets in . . . P-QN4 because of the White threat of P-QN4 and P-B5 ( K otov-Szabo, Zurich 1953).

1 1 NxP Recapture With t h e Pawn gives addi ­ tional King.side squares to Black's Knights. If White wan ' t s, however, to avoid exchanging Knights ( as he soon shows he . does), he saves a tem po with 11 BxP, QN-B3 12 B-QB2.

11 • . . . 1 2 B-QB2 13 N-B3

N-BS N-B3

After 13 P-KN3, NxN, White success­ fully d· e velops his K' i ngside, but the diminished number of pieces simplifies Black's problems since he has l esser ter. rain and no good squares for bolth of his Kn'i ghts. Nonetheless, it is too late now. to try to retain the advantage with such a retreating move as the text. White has not finished developing and cannot afford another loss of time. Still, Korchnoy is a rare type of fighter who is r eady for such hazards in order to make the Oflponent's practical tasks less easy.

with h1s pieces into White's camp. The particular troub.Ie fm White now is that both his Knights are out of play.

18 N-N 1

P-83

Opening the diagonals is worth more than an ot he r Pawn.

19 PxP 20 QxP

8xP Q-K 1 !

Here is the position to which Bll a ck looked in sacrificing another Pawn. Th e potential strength of his p'i eces in an open game fully compensa.te·s .

13 . . . .

P-Q N 4 ! ?

A bolt from the blue. All the more so in that Korchnoy is known as wlways glad to accept sacrifices and then de­ fend with unusual mastery. Stein"s style, however, is to strive for the ini'Uat1ve at any cost, and he feels thi s is the right moment. Sitill, 13 N/5-R4 15

KN-K2,

P-QR3 14 P-KN3, P....:QN4 16 P-B5,

21 R-K 1 White cannot develop h i s Kdngside at the cost of an Exchange by 21 N-KR3, BxP 22 N-N5, BxKR 23 RxB because of 23 . . . B-R3.

21 22 8-Q2 23 Q-Q3 23 QxP !'ails against 23

23 . . . .

R-82 8-81 . . R--K2.

P-K5

�-K1 is a sounder line with good play For Black.

14 N x P It is possible that Korchnoy h a s under­ estimated th e dangers, for, after his " n atural" reply, Black gets more than one could have expected. After an immediate 1 4 P-KN3, N/5-R-1 [ 1 4 . . . P-N5 15 N-K4 offers no clear compens·ation for the following loss of a Pawn either] 15 NxP, B-QR3 16 N-K2, Black can hardly justify his original idea in move 13. 14 PxP, of course, corresponds to Black's basic idea. He fol1ows with 14 . . . P-QR3, and even the refusal of the sacrif.ice by 15 P-N6, PxP 16 P-KN3, N/5-R4 17 KN-K2, N-Q2 is not a very promising continuation for White.

14 . . . . 15 N-Q R 3

8-QR3

It is too laJte now f o r 15 P-KN3 because of 15 . N/5xP or 15 . . . BxN 16 PxN, BxP.

15 1 6 P-K N 3 1 7 P-N3

R-N 1 N/5-R4

White is guarding against the threat of 17 P-K5 which opens the position .

17 . .

8-N2

Now, after haviug p rovoked weakening of both wings of the opponent, Black prepares to undermine the central posts which have prevented his penetrating

24 Q-83 The Queen has no good escape. Not to the King file because of 22 . . . PxP, and 22 Q-B1 puts the Queen unfavorably exposed to the Rook on the same file. So, perhaps, the s·acrifice of an Exchange may s·till be the best chance with 24 PxP, N-N5 25 N-KB3, N-B7 26 Q-K2, NxR 2 7 RxN.

24 . . . . 25 N-K R3

8-K N 2

T h e threats have become t oo serious, and White decides to give up his Queen. Two minor pieces and three Pawns, how­ ever, are n ot suffi cient compensation. On the other hand, after 25 Q-R5, R-K2, it is difficult for him to avoid material losses.

25 . .

26 PxN

N-N5

White cannot put more hope in 2 6 Q-R5, RxBP 27 N-N5, R-B4 2 8 QxP,

RxN ! 29 BxR, Q-K4 as Black menaces in two directions. Or, in that same line, i n 27 BxP, BxB 28 N-N5, R-B4 29 RxB, Q-Q2 30 Q-R6, N-B7 as Black wins the Exchange and along with it the initia­ tive. O r, again in that same line, 27 QxP, P-K6 28 B-B3, R-B2 as Black wins ma.tel"ial here, too.

8xQ N-83

26 . • . 27 NxQ •

28 P-N 5 29 N x P

N-Q2

29 BxP may be a better chance. Still, White cannot much longer survive be­ cause of his material disadvantage then either.

29 30 8-83 31 8-N2

Q-K 81 R-86 R-K 1

(See d i a g ra m , top of next colu m n )

3 2 K-N 1 Now White loses immediately. Even 32 N-B6t, however, cannot save the game either : 32 NxN 33 PxN, RxBP 3 4 BxR, BxR.

32 .

•

•

•

8xN

33 8x8 O n 3'3 RxB, Black wins the Knight on R3 after 33 . . . R-B8t, as h e soon does i n the game.

33 34 R x R 35 R-K1

Rx 8 ! R-88t Q-84 t

3 6 K-R1 37 RxR Resigns

Rx K R QxN

A great defender like Korchnoy seldom loses against such a daring attack.

5.

BOTVI N N I K-AS USUAL

There is no doubt that, among the living grandmasters, Botvinnik is the one with the greatest record on the world scene. With the ex­ ception of the two one-year intervals, when Smyslov and Tahl reigned, Botvinnik held the title of world champion for fifteen years ! As he was not yet fifty-five, it was a surprise for many when he retired from official competition for the world championship last year. It seemed that Botvinnik had changed and lost his well known ambitions. Even Tolush thought so when he had to meet Botvinnik again for the first time in thirteen years, in the recent annual Moscow-Leningrad match. Tolush asked his friend Korchnoy jokingly : "Should I frighten him?" "Better not," Korchnoy replied, "He may do that to you." How well Korchnoy knew th� ex-champion is revealed by the fact that Bot­ vinnik won both games from Tolush. In another recent Soviet team competition, Botvinnik completely outplayed Stein, opening with the King Pawn as he very seldom does. Stein literally could not breathe in the cramped position. But Botvin­ nik's age had its effect. Sometimes, he lacks the power to calculate out all the complicated, tactical variations. And so here : he lost unluckily to his younger opponent. Botvinnik suffers when he loses. It indicates that, today as well as formerly, he - as usual - loves the fight over the chessboard. His class of play has not changed : he is able to win from any of the best. The real explanation as to why he resigned from the world chmpionship program is that he does not consider himself able to endure several matches in succession. But many believe he would not hesitate to play a ( single) match with Petrosyan if given the right to a return match. · The following is a recent example of Botvinnik's style in chess, highly appreciated by the experts. Moscow 1 965 N I M ZO-I N D I A N D E F E N S E M i k h a i l Botv i n n i k White 1 P-QB4 2 N-Q B3

N-K B3 P-K3

A l exander Tol ush 3 P-Q4 4 P-K3

Black B-N 5 P-84

4 . . . 0-0 is considered more elastic, allowing Black to clarify his plans for the center later.

5 N-K2 (See d i a g r a m , to p of n ext co l u m n )

A t this moment, when Black has no retreat to K2, the text is a good possi­ bility for White to gain the advantage of the Two Bishops. Still, some prefer the normal 5 B-Q3 and 6 N-B3 for fear of simplifications allowing Black to draw. Not Botvinnik !

5 . . . .

P-Q4

Black agrees with White's plan. On 5 . . PxP 6 PxP, P-Q4, White has his

choic e of 6 P-Q1! 3 B-K2 7 P-B5 or of an immediate 7 P B 5. Either way, White acquires a favorabl e Queen-side majority.

6 P-Q R3

8x N t

O n 6 . . . BPxl', White has his choice of the line just n1 entione d or sim ply 7 PxB, PxN 8 NxP ntc.

7 Nx8

8 PxBP was a t hreat.

8PxP

8 K PxP This capture is P-B5 follows.

9 8xP 1 0 8-K3

too ;

else,

N-83

10 P-Q5 sheds the isolani but exactly that so simplifies the position as to render it rather drawish.

10 1 1 0-0

the game concluded with 12 . . . B-N2 13 B-R2, N-K2 14 B-N5, N-B4 15 P-Q5, PxP 16 Q-Q3, P-Q5 17 QxN, PxN 18 PxP, Q-B1 19 B-N1, QxQ 2 0 BxQ, N-K5, as the Soviet grandmasters agreed on a draw.

PxP necessary,

P-QR3 [ necessary to deny QN4 to Black's Queen Knight] , the position comes out the same as after the 1 1 . . . P-QN3, but with Black on the move, and he can achieve an easy equality. Thus,

0-0

12 Q-Q3 ! White takes advantage of the free play which his isolani allows him. The text is the most logical way to mobilize the heavy pieces, and Black cannot do likewise. The isolani is no weakness here as White's Q5 is well controlled by White pieces.

12 • . . • 1 3 Q R-Q1

8-N 2 N-K2

Black cannot achieve safety with 12 . . P-KR3 either. For, after 14 B-R2, N-K2 15 B-N1, White has pressure on the weakened QN1-KR 7 diagonal : e.g. 1 5 . . . N-B4 16 B-B4, and Black can­ not escape trouble.

14 8-K N 5 Now i s the time for this Bishop assume an active role i n the game.

14 14 . .

11 . .

P-Q N 3

1 1 . . . N-Q-1 i s n o t very promising as White may continue simply as in the game with, after an eventual . . . BxN and PxN, an active position and an opened, King-side file. Or he may even by 12 BxN, PxB 13 Q-N3 exert some pressure, though there are Bishops of opposite colors. It is significant that, from a Semi­ Tarrasch, the same position may be reached but with Black on the move r Taimanov-Suetin ( Copenhagen 1 9 6 5 ) i s a clear example : 1 N-KB3, P-QB4 2 P-QB4, N-QB3 3 P-Q4, PxP 4 NxP, N-B3

5 N-QB3, P-K3 6 P-K3, P-Q4 7 B-K2.

White takes the role of Black playing the Semi-Tarrasch Defense, naturally with a tempo more; but, ultimately as compared with a normal Nimzo-Indian, it turns out h e has a- tempo less. The game continued : 7 . . . B-B4 8 0-0, BxN 9 PxB, PxP 1 0 BxP, 0-0. Capturing the White Queen Pawn yields an advan­ tage i n development for White. There followed 11 B-K3, P-QN3 and, after 12

.

.

•

•

to

N-N3

. N-B4 is met by 1 5 P-Q5.

15 P-84! This move directs a new fire the known "solid" camp of Black. a fine example of how Botvinnik's tegy can work and a worthy motif copied in similar middle games.

15 . • • 16 P-85 •

upon It is stra­ to be

P-K R3 PxP

Of course, 16 PxN 17 PxN is not playable as it disrupts Black's Kingside completely. 17 8xN 18 RxP

Qx8

18 . . . .

N-85

Black snatches his last hope for coun­ terplay. The files and diagonals, opened at the right moment by White, signify serious danger for Black. Consequently, he goes wrong with either 1 8 . . . Q-K2 19 RxP, RxR 20 QxN or 18 . . . Q-Q3 1 9 QR-KB1 with tremendous pressure on the weak Black KB2. 1 8 . . . Q-B3, in order to gain a tem po, is the only alter­ native worth consideration.

19 RxQ As White's Queen has no good retreat that does not yield the initiative, he is forced to trade Queens. Forced or not, however, the exchange must lead by chess logic to a favorable endgame.

19 • . . . 20 RxP

NxQ NxP

This i s how Black has counted o n find­ ing his salvation.

21 R x R t 2 2 R-8 1 t

KxR K-K 1

So far, it may seem a l l right for Black. But White's next moves reveal that pene­ tration of the White Rook to the seventh and consequent material advantage can­ not be prevented.

23 8-K6 23

R-Q1

. B-B1 fails against 24 B-Q5.

24 P-Q5 25 R-87 26 Px8

8-81 8x8 R-Q3

This is Black's first chance to elim­ inate the dangerous passed Pawn, and 'it is necessary to seize it. Else, the threat of 27 N-Nfi and 28 N-B7t means a quick finish.

27 R x N P 28 RxP

RxP N-Q6

Black can hurry his Knight to a more active position by this threat of mate. 28 . N-B5 29 P-QR4 is less attrac­ tive.

29 P-R3 30 R-R4

N-85

With White's King-side Pawns endan­ gered, Black's Knight must be ousted from its menacing post.

30 31 N x N 32 R-R7

N-K7t RxN

33 R-Q N 7

R-K3

and s o can continue creating a passed King-side Pawn, as appears i n the final moment of the actual game .

Now Black's Rook, after 32 . . . K-B1, must take a less active post than on the fourth rank. The first consideration is to cut Black's King off from play.

32 . . . .

K-81

Black's King approaches the corner to assume the only useful task which it can perform on the back rank. It is fatal to allow an ending w ith two connected, passed Pawns on one side against one Black Pawn on the other. Was Black lost after 32 R-R7 ? Keres­ Botvinnik ( World Championship 1 9 4 8 ) offers a similar example, b u t with Black as the stronger side : White, K on KN3,

R on Q7, Pawns on QR3 and KR3 against Black, K on KN2, R on KB2, Pawns on QR3, KN 4 and KRa. According to that example, Tolush has practical chances for a draw by keeping his Rook on his fourth rank. He can start with 32 . . . P-R4 ! 33 R-R7, R-K4 34 K-B2, R-KN4 ! Or by 34 . . . K-Bl 35 K-N3, R-N4t but not 35 . . . K-N1 '? 36 R-R6, P-N-1 37 K-R4. White's King must not be al­ lowed painless access to KR4. Still, with Rook Pawn against Knight Pawn on the Queenside, White stands better there

and so can continue creating a passed King-side Pawn, as appears in the final moment of the actual game.

33 R-Q N 7

R-K3

Now Black's Rook, after 3 2 . . . K-B1, must take a less active post than on the fourth rank. 33 R-QN7 fails against 3 4 R-KR7.

34 K-82 36 K-N 3 36 K-83

R-83t R-N 3t K-N 1

37 P-N 3

R-Q83

38 K-N 4

K-R1

There is still time for 36 . P-R4 to get better prospects for a draw. Black's Rook eventually gains the more advanced fourth rank and works on the weak Knight Pawn if White fails to create a passed Pawn at the opportune moment. Now White's King gets to KR4. 37 . . . P-R4 again creates a position with some chances of saving the endgame unless White plays absolutely accurately. The King i s worse off i n the corner, and 38 . . . R-N3t at least fends off White's King for the moment.

39 K-85

39 K-R4, 4 0 P-N4 and 41 K-R5 works

to much the same effect.

39

•

•

•

•

R-B4t

With Black's King i n the corner, he cannot try 39 . . . R-B6 40 P-N4, RxKRP 41 K-N6. Nor does 40 . . . R-B3 avail as White wins the endgame after 41 R-K7 and 42 R-K6.

40 K-N6 41 K-R5

R-B 3t K-N 1

Here the game was adjourned, and Black resigned. The reason ? After 42 P-N4, R-Q3 43 P-KR4, R-QB3 4 4 P-R4, R-Q3 4 5 R-QR7, R-QB3 46 P-N5, PxP 47 P:xP, K-Bl 48 R-R6 ! [with threat of 49 P-R5 ] , R-B5 49 K-R6, R-R5t 50 K-N6, R-KN5 51 RxP, RxP 52 R-N8t, K-K2 53 K-RG, R-KR5t 54 K-N7, White has attained a theoretically winning position.

6.

A_S

TURN I N G POI NT

was expected by many, the match for the World Championship , drifted for long without any great excitement. The character of the games seemed somehow influenced by a tacit, mutual agreement by both Tigran Petrosyan, the Champion, and Boris Spassky, the Challenger, that risk ought not he a recognized weapon in the tactics of a good match, especially on such an extraordinary occasion. Consequently, the players strove for completely solid positions when Black and tried to exploit minute advantages with White. In that atmosphere, superficially quiet hut suhficially fraught with nervous ten­ sion, both rivals temporarily evinced technical deficiencies, uncommon for them and thus failed to tum better positions into decisions. In the seventh game, however, Spassky, who had started poorly, felt encouraged by his initiative in the later few games and so pressed in a position in which he had nothing. As a result, he al1 owed a weak­ ness in the center which presented Petrosyan with a wonderful oppor­ tunity to produce a masterpiece of execution. Though thus put at a disadvantage in the standing, the Challenger tried twice more to maintain his cautious approach to the match as the Champion always did. Nothing occurred, and there was no change for the better. So Spassky decided to make the tenth game the turning point in the general climate of the match. He lost once more to the more ex­ perienced Petrosyan. But the temperature was abruptly raised in the great struggle. And that change may well favor the known fighter, Spassky, who certainly can no longer prefer quiescence. Here is that exciting game which brought the "change of weather."* _,_

Game 1 0 K I N G' S I N D I A N D E F E N S E Boris S passky

T i gran Petrosyan

Chal lenger

Champion

Black

White

1 N-K B3 For the first time in the match, the Champion desei'ts his favorite first move, 1 P-QB4. Does he intend a Reti for a change ? In any evenlt, Black has something different i n mind. 1 . . . . 2 P-K N 3

N-KB3 P-K N 3

B-N2

3 P-QB4 4 B-N 2

0-0

N-83

5 0-0

A very significant moment. If the Chal­ lenger looks for safety, as he has done •

Apparently,

very

G l igorich

soon after Game 1 0.

wrote

this

piece

For we have ob­

served no really notable change of weather in

the match since

Game 10.-E d .

before, he ha.s 5 . . . P-QB4 or 5 . . . P-QB3 and 6 . . . P--Q4 tending to more or less symmeltrical posit'i ons in the cen­ ter. Instead, Black chooses a sharper line with dangers for both sides. H is worth noting that, in their time, Bron­ stein, Smyslov and Tahl adopted the King's Indian againsit BotV'innik when their matches reached the critical point.

6 N-83

P-Q3

Spassky refuses the psychological offer for him to play 6 . . . P-K4. That move only lim'its his choice of plans. And White probably answers \\ith 7 P-Q4, in any even't.

7 P-Q4

P-Q R3

Black's intention is to play 8 . . . R-N1 and 9 . . . P-QN4. It is a known sys. tem, applied for the first time in the World Championship matches i n Game 3, Botvinnik-Smyslov 1957.

8 P-Q5 White responds, as did Botvinnik, to meelt the intended wing action and to obtain more terrain in the center.

8 . . . . 9 N-Q2

N-Q R4 P-84

The text is necessary to anticipate 10 P-QN4 and s o save the Queen Knight.

Other times, other purposes. Smyslov ( Black) played as here when leading in his match with Botvinnik. Spassky, a point behind, is striving for the inltia. tive and puts his Knight op the rim in order to develop immediate action. I t may be thrut Smyslov felt, i n his match, it was the psychological time to try to rout his opponenrt. Spassky certainly has felt it is time to ·start something.

10 Q-82 In either case, with Botvinnik or with Peltrosyan, White's policy is to secure his left flank first, then to try i n the future to prove that the isolated Black Knight, which cannot join the other pieces when the main fight develops in the center, is strategically useless.

more space in the endangered central zone. 10 . . . P-K3 i!:l less effective. White can then even let Black trade on Q5, recapture with his Bishop Pawn and

enjoy the enhanced importance more centrally posted pieces.

of his

1 1 P-N 3 Here Botvinnik played 11 P-QR3 ; and, after 1 1 . . . P-N3 12 P-QN4, N-N2, his game with Smyslov soon resolved itself as quite drawish. 11 PxP e.p. is also quite playable. For, after 11 . . . BxP 12 P-N3, P-Q4 13 PxP, NxQP 14 B-N2, N-QB3 15 NxN, BxN 16 QBxB, KxB 1 7 Q-N2t, K-N1 18 N-K4, BxN 19 BxB, White retains a small but lasting advantage (Korchnoy­ Kuzmin, Tallin 1965 ) . With h i s text, Petrosyan indicates h e is more ambitious and consistent in his aim of proving the uselessness of the Knight on QR4.

N-N5

11 . . . .

Here Black clears the w a y f o r his King Bishop Pawn. 11 . . . N-K1 does the same thing as in Larsen-Gligorich ( Dallas 1957) . But the text is more active. The annotator made tue same move several years ago in Sarajevo against Portisch in a very similar position de. riving from the Yugoslav Variation : 1 P-Q4, N-KB3 2 P-QB4, P-KN3 3 P-KN3, B-N2 4 B-N2, 0-0 5 N-QB3, P-Q3 6 N-KB3, P-QB4 7 0-0, N-B3 8 P-Q5, N-QR4 9 N-Q2, P-K4 ! and so on, with only the difference that Black's Queen Rook Pawn is unmoved and his Pawn soon after on QN3 so Black was some. what favored ( as compared to this game) in that his Knight can come back into play Via QN2.

From that point of view, White's next move is certainly superior to any even. tual 12 P-QR3, P-N3 13 P-QN4, N -N2 which helps Black solve his main stra. tegical problem.

12 P-K4

10

•

•

•

.

P-K4

The usual line here i s l 0 . . . R-N1 and 1 1 P-N3, P-QN 4 12 B-N2 ; but Black does not want the usual lines, just now. The text has been less frequently played but embodies good sense, too, to gain

Both players welcome the impending collision in the center. Black's pieces are more active, but White counts on his having one more on the Kings'i de, thanks to that Knight on QR4, and so the dan. gerous opening of the position will pay off.

12 . . . .

P-84

( See diagra m , top of next page)

13 PxP White does not permit .

.

.

P-B5 as

the proper time. White hasn't sufficient compensation after 16 PxN, BxR 1 7 PxP, B-Q5t 18 K-R1, BxP 19 NxP.

16 . . . . 1 7 8xP

PxP

As White has to protect his QB4, the text is his only good Pawn recapture.

17 . . . .

8x8

Black h a s t o r i d himself of h i s weak King Bishop Pawn, which shuts off his Rook and his Queen Bishop, and 17 . . . N-K4 18 B-K2, P-B5 works out less ef­ fectively because of 19 RxP.

18 Qx8 in the then blocked position, that Knight on the rim will have time to find a bet­ ter post.

13 . . . .

PxP

Black does better with this weak Pawn on B4 than by 13 . . . BxP which gives White the central K4 for his Knights. Also, Black can build threats with the mobile center Pawns.

1 4 N-Q1 White hastens to mobilize all his pieces. 1 4 B-N2, keeping the long diag­ onal covered firs�•. is more cautious.

14 . . . .

Black throws his idle Knight. B-Q5 of course PxB 17 P-QN4. i ng more space

P-N4 in some employment for 1 4 . . . P-K5 15 B-N2, loses a piece : 1 6 BxB, But 1 4 . . . P-B5 gain­ is worth considering.

N-K4

19 8-K2 Now White defends his QB4 and Q3 while clearing the file for his R ook. Both players have had this position in mind.

19

•

.

•

•

P-85 !

S ooner or later, this move is a must. If White gets in N-K3-N2-B4 , there is little hope for Black to survive his posi­ tional weaknesses. He can fi rst play 19 . . . R-R2 20 N-K3, P-B5 ; but, after 21 PxP, RxP 22 K-R1, White's chance;:; are even better.

20 N PxP 20 RxP, RxR 2 1 PxR, N-N3 22 N-K4, Q-K2 ! was not attractive for White.

15 P-83 ! ? Again, 1 5 B-N2 is safer ; but, appar­ ently, White wants to provoke further action by Black.

15 . . . .

P-K5

Black does n ot miss the opportunity to clear the central K4 for his Knight.

20 . .

1 6 8-N 2 Though the World Champion is fond of sacrificing the Exchange, this is not

8-R6

The text looks ' very effective but is , a serious mis take. I n order to gain a de­ cisive tempo, Black has overlooked the fact that, by th e ' sacrifice of the Ex­ change, White gal\n s the most precious time for counter attack. By the safe 20 . . . RxP ! Black succeeds i n the most important factor, to bring h i s strongest piece, t h e Queen, i n t o action. That factor more than compensates for the absence of the Queen Knigh t : e.g. 21 N-K3, Q-NH 22 K-R1, RxRt 2 3 N/3xR, B-N5 ! 24 N-K4, Q - B 5 2 5 N/l-N3, B-B6t 26 Bxll, QxBt etc. or 2 1 RxR.

Q-N4t 22 K-R1, QxR 23 N-QB3, Q-Q5 ! with very good counterplay or 23 Q-B3, B-N5 to much the same effect.

21 N-K 3 ! As a matter o f fact, White h a s no other choice. 21 R-B2, RxP ! is quite bad for him.

21

.

.

.

BxR

•

21 . . . RxP is no longer good. For, after 22 RxR, Q-N4t 23 R-N4 ! BxR 2 4 NxB, NxN 2 5 BxN, QxBt 26 K-R1, it i s Black's King which falls under a dis­ astrous attack. Still, Black need not tak� the Exchange : after 2 1 . . . N-N3 22 R-B3 ! Q-R5 ! 23 P-B5, N-K4 2 � R-N 3 t .

K-B2 ! Black has hidden chances o f sur­ viving, and more than that.

Now, after the text, two minor pieces will be fighting one Black Rook in ef­ fect, and around Black's exposed King, and that situation ought to be decisive.

22 R x B

N-N 3

22 . . . N-Q2 offers better chances, although, after 23 B-N4 , N-KB3 24 B-K6t, W hite retains a very strong. ini­ tiative.

23 B-N4 !

NxKBP

After 2 3 . . . Q-B3 2 4 B-K6t, K-R1 25 QxQt , RxQ 26 P-B5, N-K4 27 N-K4 ,

25 B-K6t 25 . . . K-B1 QxPt also loses.

26 N-K4 26

.

R-82 26

Q-R8t,

K-K2

Q-R5

.

. R/1-R2 27 N-KB5 brings on mating threats.

27 N x Q P

Q-N4t

On 27 . . . Q-K8t, White wins easily, too : 28 K-N2, QxN 29 BxRt, K-B1 30 Q-R8t, K-K2 31 N-B5t, KxB 32 QxPt and 33 NxQ or 3 1 K-Q2 32 B-K6t.

28 K- R 1 29 BxR t

R/1-R2 RxB

3 0 Q-RBt

R es i g n s

Black loses too much ma:terial. 23 . . . P-R3, however, giving the King an addi­ tional flight squ3 re is the last chanc2 for a more successful defense. ( See d i a g r a m , top of n e xt col u m n )

24 RxN Elegant

and

simple.

The

last

good

piece which defends the King is gone.

24 . . . .

RxR

24 . . . Q-N4 25 R-K4, QR-K1 [not 25 . . . P-R4 26 K-R 1 ] 26 K-R1 ! RxR 27 NxR,

QxN 28 B-K6t, R-B2 29 BxRt KxB 30 NxPt doesn't save the game either.

27

7.

O N E OF TH E EX-WORLD C H A M P I O N S

We i n Europe have not been seeing much of Vassily Smyslov re­ cently. During the last two chess seasons, he toured Latin America on occasions, taking first prize wherever he appeared-in Argentina, Cuba and Chile. In the meanwhile, he lost, surprisingly easily, his first match in the Challengers Round, as though willing to rid himself of the official competitions as soon as possible. He had expected to meet Mikhail Botvinnik. Instead, however, came Yefim Geller, probably the most unpleasant opponent for him. For Geller won from him in a match for the title of Soviet Champion many years ago by five draws and one loss at a time when Smyslov was at his best and looked almost invincible. Geller is smaller in height but very strong physically (he used to be a very good basket-ball player) , and Smyslov chose a queer method of preparing to meet him over the chessboard this second and even more unfortunate time : the tall and calm Smyslov took lessons in boxing. But, as is known, in vain. Among the greatest chessplayers, some we know who are completely devoted to chess and only to chess, but others have side vocations or at least hobbies at the same time. Certainly, Smyslov belongs to the latter group. There is an impression that he wanted to be an opera singer more than anything else but his unusual talents transformed him into a chess champion. He has no other profession than chess ; yet he remains nonetheless divided within himself. There is something strange about Smyslov's personality. He is apt to take a short draw, even with White, as he did with Samuel Reshevsky in the latest Mar del Plata Tournament. But he wins other times by making his usual simple moves ( is that so easy? ) when he feels the moment is ripe for it. One might think he is lazy ; yet he is the one among the contemporary grandmasters who has produced the greatest number of basic new ideas and variations in the Ruy Lopez, French, Caro-Kann, Queen's Gambit Accepted, Slav, Nimzo-lndian, Gruenfeld, English and even the irregular openings. Here is a recent and fine example of Smyslov's style and wonderful, geniuslike intuition fot keeping the balance or gaining the initiative. M a r d e l P l ata 1 966 FRENCH DEFENSE Vassily Smyslov Sov i et U n i o n

Wo lfgang U h lm a n n East Germany Black

White

1 P-K4

P-K3

2 P-Q4 3 N-QB3

P-Q4

More than Botvinnik, the East German Grandmaster adheres to the French. So the opening i s no surprise for White.

Because of his sharp style, Uhlmann has had several very fine results i n the strongest tournaments. So many prefer the safer 3 N-Q2 i n order to avoid Uhlmann's analysis. But not Smyslov who cares more for principles than for the preparatory work of an opponent. After all, Smyslov fought Botvinnik in the same way i n his match for the high. est title.

3 . . . . 4 P-K5

B-N 5 N-K2

Black essays a finesse to make his opponent think longer. 4 . . . P-QB4 is played more frequently, but the text is more elastic ('itt may come to the same thing as . . . P�QB4 or to something else) as Black does not yet reveal llis Queen-Slide plans.

5 P-Q R3 6 Px8

8xNf P-Q84

9 Q-Q2 In avoiding the chance of exchanging Queen'S, by 9 B-Q2, White pays a dear price, forfeiting the best diagonals : for his Queen, Q2-KN5 by which it may eventually strike the opponent's senS!f.tive flan k ; and for his Queen Bishop, QR3KB8 which counts as this Bishop is very important now with no Black rival on black squares.

9

•

•

•

•

Q N-83

BxP as, after Black cannot J'!i:sk 9 10 PxP, the Queen-side pin becomes very unpleasant. If Black means to take, he has first to blockade by . . . P-B5. But he then loses much time and allows White a free hand to strike more ef­ fectively on the Kingside.

10 8-K2

This is the position which has arisen many times between Botvinnik ( BJ,ack) and the ten-years younger Smyslov in their long rivalry S'ince 1941. In their theoretical dispute, Botvinnik, finally, gave up and turned to the Caro-Kann in their third match for the t:Jitle. So there is no reason to expect Smyslov to rej ect that posdtion for White here. Uhlmann can choose something else, like 6 . . . P�N3. But he dislikes slow lines and prefers to repeat his favorite variation. Thus, Uhlmann has taken over Botvinnik's flag in the French. Withou!t lasting success this time, however, as he is meeting an equally stubborn and more able opponent.

The text saves a tem p o as compared to 10 B-Q3 if Black intends the block­ ading . . . P-B5 and castling Queenside. White is also reacy for the ending after 10 . . . PxP 11 PxP, QxQt 12 BxQ, N-B4 13 B-B3 ! R-QB1 14 K�2 as he controls the vital (for Black's Knight) QR5 and so retains a sure advantage on the Queenside.

10

•

•

R-Q 8 1

T h e text poses, or tries to, a difficult dilemma for White. 11 0-0 puts his King far from action in the endgame : 11 . . . PxP 12 PxP, QxQ 13 BxQ, N-B4 14 P-B3 (what else ? ) , N-R4, and Black has a good game. A similar line applies to 11 B-R3.

7 N-83 7 Q-N4 is another and more aggressive choice. Still, after the Queen has left its wing in order to destroy the foe's Kings.ide, Wh.dte has to reckon with some backwardness in development and the partial disappearance of his own cen­ tral Pawns : e.g. 7 . . . Q-B2 8 QxNP, R-N1 9 QxRP, PxP 10 N-K2, QN-B3 1 1 P-B4, B-Q2 12 Q-Q3, PxP, and Black has the initiative for his Pawn. Smyslov has a;lways preferred the sound line as play­ ed in this game.

7 . . . . 8 P-Q R4

B-Q2

The text is essential in this sort of position. White prevents the blockade of his Queenside and obtains QRS for his White Bishop. After 8 . . . B-R5, White does not breathe so easily.

8 . . . .

Q-R4

1 1 PxP ! An unexpected move but one character­ istic of Smyslov's deep and logical style. As a matter of fact, it seems to be the only solution. For White cannot well con­ tinue with simple development as he has done till now. He will lose his cen­ tral King Pawn, true, but gets active play for his pieces, a more than suffi­ cient compenswtion.

It takes Uhlmann some time to realize that he does not stand better for having destroyed White's center.

11 . . ·. 1 2 0-0

.

N-N 3 0-0

It is more convenient for Black to cap­

ture immediately before White can post his pieces so favorably as he does i n the game. But, after 12 . . . KNxP 1 3 NxN, NxN 14 Q-N5, N-N3, Black finds 1 5 P-QB4 ! very unpleasant. 1 5 . . . PxP

White "fixes" Black's Queen-s·ide Pawns which will be in constant danger

in the later part of the endgame. He has also foreclosed at the proper moment on th e Black possibility of . . . N-QR4.

18 . . . .

P-K4

Black's main hope lies in his mob-ile Pawn center, and he uses his only coun­ ter chance at the first opportunity.

fails as 1 6 P-B6 ! wins a piece. Thus, the text, though somewhat less than ade­ quate, is necessary.

13 Q-K3

Q-82

Black has no other choice than to lose some tempi i n order to reca11ture a Pawn.

19 K R-N 1 20 R-Q1 21 8-N4

N-Q 1 8-83

Using threats on different points, White gradually posts all his minor pieces aggressively.

21 . . 22 Q R-N 1 •

14 N-Q4 Now White achieves his aim of activat­ ing his minor pieces to enter into a more favorable endgame despite Black's better central Pawns.

14

.

•

•

.

QxP

Again, the text i s more or less forced. 1 4 . . . KNxP 1 5 N-N5 is unpleasant for Black and so is 1 4 . . . QNxP 15 N-N5, BxN 16 PxB as 1 6 . . . QxP fails against 17 QxQ, RxQ 1 8 B-R3 winning the Exchange. Also, White was threaten­ ing to retain his Pawn by 1 5 P-KB4 .

1 5 N-N 5 16 8xQ

QxQ

White has the better game owing to his Two Bishops with their wide range of activ-ity an d to his Knight which will from Q6 limit the movement of the Black pieces.

16

.

•

•

.

P-Q R3

Black has to weaken his Queenside to meet the threat of first 1 7 KR-N l , then 18 N-Q6. Now Black gets i n . . . R-B2 i n time to defend his weak point, QN2, and his Queen Knight is freed from de­ fending his Queen Rook Pawn.

1 7 N-Q6 18 P-R5

R-82

•

N-K3

One of the Rooks does belong on QN1, bUJt it is preferable to get 22 P-N3 in first, allowing the Klng luft.

22 • . • 23 P-N3 24 8-R3 •

N-K2 P-84 P-K N 3

Black errs in feeling safe. So he misses the opportunity of building counterplay by 24 . . . P-KN4 ! . (If White had play­ ed 22 P-N3, this chance wouldn't have come u p . ) T h e next move makes Black realize how difficult his position is.

25 P-K 84 ! Uhlmann sees the menace of having his Pawn center, upon the elasticity of which he so counts, blockaded.

25 . . . .

P-Q5

Black tries h i s last tactical possibility. He can expect nothing good of 25 . . . P-K5 as White opens the position for his active pieces by 26 B-KB1 and 27 P-B4.

26 PxQP 27 8-82

N-Q4 PxQP

On 27 . . . N-B6 28 BPxP, B-Q t 29 B-N2, Black wins the Exchange and loses the game as he cannot stop the

crowa of connected White Pawns in the center. RxR 31 R-K1 Nx8 28 8xQP N-K5 32 K x R R-K2 29 RxN 8xN 33 N x N N-86 30 K-82 34 P-83 White is ahead b y only a doubled Pawn and still the ending is won for him. For Black's Pawns are fixed on the color of the White Bishop and so his Queenside is desperately weak.

34

•

. . .

Unfortunately, 34 . it fails against 35 RxB.

35 R-QBt 36 R-Q7t

R-83 R-QB1 is out;

K-N 2 R-82

36 . . . K-N1 37 R-QB7 is nat promising for Black, either.

37 RxRt 38 K-Q2 39 P-84

KxR K-K3

White must deny Q5 to Black.

Black is obliged to safeguard his Queenside and tries this attack on his opponent's Pawns as his last chance. If he leaves his King be and moves his Bishop along the long diagonal, then White may exchange Bishops via KB3. Or, if Black then leaves his Bishop on QB3 and moves his King back and forth on K6 and KB6, White's Bishop moves to Q5 at the proper moment taking one vital square from Black's King. And, with the Bishops gone, the Pawn ending is won. For, with Kings on Q4 and QB3 for White and Black respectively, White can also gain a zugzwang position with apprqpriate King-side Pawn moves : e.g. 1 P-KR3, P-KR3 2 P-N4, PxP 3 PxP, P-R4 4 P-B5 ! P-R5 5 PxP, P-R6 6 P-N7 P-R7 7 P-NS ( Q ) , P-RS ( Q) 8 Q-B8 mate or 1 . . . P-KR1 2 P-KR4, K-B2 3 K-Q5, K-Q2 4 P-B6t, PxPt 5 K-K5, K-K26 P-B5, etc.

;

40 41 42 43

K-K3 K-Q4 K-K 5 K-86 44 K-N7 45 KxP

K-83 K..,.Q2 B-86 K-83 KxP 8-R4

46 8-81

47 8-N2 48 8xP 49 B-88 50 8-Q7 51 P-R3

K-N5 KxRP K-N 3 P-R4 K-84 8-86

Else, 52 P-N4 traps the Bishop.

52 KxP 53 8xP 54 8-N 1

B-83 P-R5 P-R6

55 P-85 56 8-R2 57 P-R4

B-K5 B-Q6 K-Q5

. BxQBP 58 BxB, KxB 59 On 57 P-B6, the ensuing Queen ending is also a loss for Black.

39

•

.

•

.

K-Q2

58 P-R5 59 P-N4 60 K-N 7

K-K4 K-85 Resi g n s

8.

S I C I L I A N F I R EWORKS AGAI N

Appearances are lately that Black's sufferings in the Sicilian Defense will never cease. Long, long ago, Dr. Tarrasch prophetically claimed that Black's 1 . . . P-QB4 does nothing for the proper development of the pieces. Then came Najdorf who invented 5 . . . P-QR3 which does even less-except most likely to make the late Dr. Tarrasch turn in his grave. Nonetheless, not only Najdorf, but Fischer, Polugayevsky and many others, including this commentator, adopted the new variation with extreme devotion. It seems that our age is not a suitable one for thinkers, and the com­ petitors in chess adapt themselves to the atomic era in which they live. The tournament lions of our times need the points and they choose the practical solutions which offer the best chances to garner those points. True values require decades to be properly evaluated. Still, there is a feeling that the day of the "last j udgment" on some lines of the Sicilian is now approaching. Thus, the forgotten wise words are re­ membered again. Thus spake Tarrash ( about the " Sicilian) : The Black Pawns in the center will outnumber the White, but White's attacking chances should prevail over that ( for he has more forces and space in the battle) . If that j udgment was ever true after 1 . . . P-QB4, it ought to be even more so after the added waste of time with 5 . . . P-QR3. Here is the most recent example of a short but deadly fireworks pre­ pared for Black. The game was played in the first international tour­ "' nament in Titovo Uzice this summer. There is a prior history, however, as the same game was played six months earlier in the Yugoslav Cham­ pionship but interrupted at move 18 by mutual agreement on a draw. Each time the leader of the White men was the same, and the continuation of that theoretical, or rather philosophical dispute is exposed herewith. SICI LIAN DEFENSE R. Bogdanovich

B . Parma

Yugoslav i a

Yugoslavia

Black

White

1 P-K4 2 N-K B3

P-QB4 P-Q3

3 P-Q4 4 NxP 5 N-Q B3

PxP N-K B3 P-Q R3

Black's intention is to secure the bet. ter hold on the center by . . . P-K4. On the immediate 5 . . . P-K4 6 B-N5t, exchanging this Bishop favors White as he gets easier control over the vital cen. ter square, Q5. The text, introduced by Najdorf many years ago, first denies QN5 to White. ( See d i a g r a m , to p of next c o l u m n )

6 B-K N 5 Here i s a g ood developing move and one of the sharp, acti've lines wh'ich

make life difficult for Black. Immediate­ ly, there i•s no longer any thought of . . . P-K4, for the Kn1ght which then covers the hole on White's Q 5 is pinned.

6

•

•

•

•

P-K3

This is the logical way of avoiding King-side weakening and at the same time controlling that Q5. Another choice is 6 . . . QN-Q2, but it makes Black's Queen-s'ide development even slower and, after 7 B-QB4, Q-R4 [ else, the threat of sacrifice on K6 is much more dangerous for Black] 8 Q--Q2, P-K3 9 0-0-0, P-N 4 10 B-N3, B-N2 [not 10 . . . P-N5 1 1 N-Q5 ! N x P 12 QxP, QxQ 1 3 N-B7 mate ! ] 1 1 KR-K1, White has harmoniously de­ veloped p'ieces and glorious attacking chances.

7 P-84 Now White's center becomes mobile with threat of P-K5 or some times P-B5.

7 .

B-K2

Bronstein's artistic heart would suffer at some points 'in this game. For the noted Soviet Grandmaster wou1d regret not being able to try in this one game all the continuations the outcome of which he'd be eager to see. Some day, surely, Bronstein will suggest a reform whereby a tournament game will be play­ ed out on several chess boards simul­ taneously. Bogdanovic'h has no reason for such complaints here. The sharp alternative is 7 . . . Q-N3 with regard less for proper development than for the weak black squares in White's camp. And Bogdanovich tried that against the same opponent in the Yugoslav Championship in Titograd, only to lose : 8 Q-Q2, QxP 9 R-N1, 'Q-R6 1 0 BxN [ see another con­ tinuation in rthe next paragraph ] , PxB 11 B-K2, B-N2 12 0-0, P-B4 1 3 KR--Q1, 0-0 [Parma desired, but Bogdanovich did not, to repeat Parma's endgame with Fischer from Havana 196 5 : 13 . N-B3 14 NxN, BxN 15 Q-K3, PxN 16 R-N3, Q-B4 17 QxQ, PxQ 1 8 RxB, PxP 19 RxP, B-Q2 20 R-K5, P-KB4 21 P-N4, etc.] 14 PxP, N-B3 15 NxN, PxN 16

P-B6 ! BxP 17 N-K4, B-KN2 18 R-N3, Q-R5 19 NxP, P-QB4 20 K-R1, R-R2 21 R-KN3, K-R1 22 P-B5, and White's tremendous pressure on the exposed Black King decided the issue. Nor do Black's troubles after 7 . . . Q-N3 lie solely in that line. On 10 P-K5 [instead of 10 BxN] , PxP 11 PxP, KN--Q2 12 B-QB4, he has no good answer. Whether he trie·s 12 . . . B-K2 1 3 BxP ! BxB 14 0- 0 ! 0-0 15 QxB, P-KR3 ( Fischer's innovation) and runs into 1 5 Q-R5 ! or 12 . . . B-N5 1 3 R-N3, Q-R-1 14 0-0, 0-0 and runs into Robert Byrne's invention in the latest U. S. Championship, 15 B-B6 ! his prospects are gloomy. One of the many recent " Sicilian victims," Larry Evans, suggest­ ed an improvement on his 15 . . . PxB against Byrne, namely, 15 . . . NxB ; but, after 16 PxN, R-Q1 17 RxB, QxR 18 Q-N5, P-KN3, White has a very strong positional pressure for the Exchange and it is up to him to find the right plan for the decisive attack. So it certainly seems better for Black to stay with the sounder line as in this game from Titovo Uzice than to try for further acrobatics with his undeveloped Queen side.

8 Q-83 8 Q-Q2 is incorrect, allowing simplifi­ cation by 8 . . . P-KR3 9 B-R4, NxP ! with White':> Queen under attack.

8 . . . .

Q-82

Black prepares to fianchetto his Queen Bishop, which did not work before be­ cause of the intermediate move, P-K5, and also tightens his control of his K4 at the same time.

9 0-0-0

Q N-Q2

Black's King Knight needs further sup­ port, and it is still too early for . . . P-N4 ; for, on 10 BxN, Black needs to keep his Queen Pawn protected.

10 P-K N 4

This struggle for control of space was introduced in this commentator's game with Fischer in the Challengers Tourna­ ment of 1959.

10 . . . 11 8xN

•

P-N4

White clears the road for his Pawn mass and incidentally destroys one of Black's Knights which, together with his Queeri Bishop, can otherwise exercise stronger pressure on White's King Pawn.

11 .

.

.

•

Nx8

1 1 . .• . BxB with intent t o simplify after 12 P-N5, BxN is refuted by 12 BxP ! PxB 13 N/4xNP followed by 14 NxPt and 15 P-K5. The only alternative is 11 . . . PxB, but Kholmov-Bronstein in one of the recent USSR Champion­ ships shows that White's attack com­ bined with P-B5, as in this commenta­ tor's second game with Fischer in 1959, is a dangerous one.

12 P-N 5 1 3 P-85 !

N-Q2

The usual continuation has been 1 3 P-QR3 t o secure White's Knight on QB3. Lately, however, 13 . . . R-QN1, rather than . . . B-N2, has been found almost playable for Black, who did reach equal­ ity in some games ( e.g. Ivkov-Donner Beverwijk 1966) ; 14 B-R3, N-B4 [sacri­ fice on K6 was threatened] 1 5 KR-N1, P-N5 16 PxP, RxP 1 7 P-B5. Parma prefers to avoid weakening the White King field and tries to conserve one important tem p o for attack on the other wing.

BxP 18 N-K6 mate ! The only alternative left to Black is 13 . . . BxPt 1 4 K-N1 but, after that, Black cannot, with his King Bishop ex­ posed, hold control of White's center N-K4 15 Q-R5 fol­ squares : e.g. 14 . . lowed by 16 PxP.

14 P-86 1 5 PxP 16 8-R3

This p·osition is certainly more favor­ able for White than that after 13 P-QR3, R-QN1 14 B-R3, N-B4 15 KR-Nl , P-N5 16 PxP, RxP 17 P-B5. For White has not here permitted the opening of the Knight file on his King and has kept almost the same advantages with gain of time. Black is backward in develop­ ment and has difficulty in connect.ing his Rooks. His only hope is to make his position impenetrable-but is that worth playing? The wish for counterplay has developed strange tastes in us today !

16

•

•

.

.

13

.

•

.

.

N-84

B-Q2

Black is even denied use of the active fianchetto as he must cover White's diagonal, KR3-QB8 : 1 6 . . . B-QN2 17 Q-R5, 0-0-0 18 N-Q5, etc. And 1 6 . . . P-N5 17 QN-K2 [sacrifice on Q5 is not yet good enough as Black's King escapes via Q 1 and QB1] leads only to further opening of the weak Black King posi­ tion after White properly prepares P-QB3.

17 Q-R5 18 Q x 8 P Black protects his King Pawn as much as possible, for it denies the strongest post, Q5, to 'white's Knight. Thus, 13 . . . N-K4 14 Q-N3 is a weaker line for Black because of the threat of 15 B-R3. And there is no time for 13 . . . P-N5 in view of 14 PxP, PxN 15 PxPt and 16 N-K6 mate or 1 4 . . . BxPt 1 5 K-N1, PxN 16 QxPt, K-Q1 17 P-K7r !

PxP 8-81

0-0-0

This position was reached in Parma­ Buljovchick in Titograd 1965. White agreed to a draw thinking he had nothing better than to repeat moves after 18 . . . B-R3t 19 K-N1, QR-B1 20 Q-K7, R-K1 21 Q-B7.

18 1 9 K-N 1 20 Q-R 5 !

8-R3t Q R-81

Of course, like everyone else, Parma

was puzzled that, after so much improve­ ment position-wise, he had to take a draw. So, the day before this game, he looked more closely into this position and decided some sacrifices must work.

20 . . . .

RxP

Everything looks fine now, but .

.

21 P- K5 ! . . . This, and it's only the first blow, opens the Queen file and the long diag ­ onal, KR1-QR8, and means the introduc­ tion of the next sacrifice.

21 . . .

N-N6t, QxN 26 QxRt.

23 N-Q5 24 QxP

Q-82 BxB

25 N x R 2 6 R-Q6 !

N-R5

All Black's moves were more or less forced and, though he has two minor p·i eces for a Rook, his posHion, with his K ing exposed, is hopeless.

B-N 2 Q-N 2

26 . . . . 27 K R-Q1 Vainly,.. Black tries Queen Rook Pawn.

to

protect

his

PxP

What else ?

28 Q-R5 22 N x K P !

BxN

Black's Rook of course cannot recap­ ture as his King Bishop hangs ; and, after 22 . . . NxN 23 N-Q5, Q-Ql 24 QxP, White either gets the Exchange on 2 4 . . . B-'N2 25 BxN ! BxB 2 6 NxR, QxN 27 QxQ, BxQ 28 R-Q6, R-Kl 29 R-Kl or wins as well on 2 4 . . . R-N3 25

The text move does win, but 28 N-K8 ! BxQ 29 R-Q8 mate ! is simpler and more effective.

28 . . . . 29 Q-N4t 30 N-Q7t

B-N7 K-N 1 K-R1

31 32 33 34

Qx K B QxP RxPt QxBt

R-QB1 B-K5 QxR Resigns

The game won the second brilliancy prize.

9.

A V E RY PRE C I OU S WI N

The AVRO Tournament in Holland in 1938 is well remembered for its greatness. There eight of the world's best players met in a double-round robin. The tournament in Dallas in 1957 was another attempt to repeat the extremely attractive idea for the world of chess. And now chess fans throughout the world are happy to have such a com­ petition established as a tradition in the Piatigorsky Cup Tournament. Thanks to the young fighters like Fischer, Larsen and Spassky, the second Piatigorsky Tournament was even more exciting than the first one in 1963. But the merit properly goes to all, young and old, for it is more a matter of class than age. This commentator had difficulty in deciding which game of the many from Santa Monica to present in this column. Then he decided that, in a very precious tournament, the most precious win ought to be the choice. Which game was that? Though it is hard to believe, it was the game played so early as Round 8, and not one from the last rounds. Who could dream, how­ ever, that, after Fischer's third successive loss, which is given here, and after he had placed at the bottom with Ivkov, that the United States Champion would still surge ahead to be the main rival of the tourna­ ment winner? It is just this victory of Spassky over Fischer in the first half of the tournament which gave the winner the decisive advantage in points so that he, only slightly, outreached Fischer's tremendous progress in the second half of the great race. Here is the game, worth the highest prestige and some thousands of dollars. Santa Monica 1 966

feats. 1

G RU E N F E L D D E F E N S E Robert

Boris S passky

J.

U n ited States

Sov i et U n io n

Black

White

1 P-Q4

ever

Spassky met,

nent

with

sharp

as White, an oppo. repertory,

he

pre­

ferred the closed games, instead of his tainly, in •

a

favorite Spassky

1 P-K4. This time cer­ expected Fischer to be

wild mood after two successive de-

The

•

N-KB3 P-K N 3 P-Q4

•

successful

Defense,

against

Fischer

Botvinnik

at

Zlatni Piasci 1962, and, as Black, almost

The tournament winner chose specific

usual

•

Witth the Gruenfeld was

won that game, too.*

4 PxP

tactics for the Piatigorsky Cup. When­ a

•

2 P-QB4 3 N-QB3

F isch e r

International

Team

Tournament,

Varna, Bulgaria. Fischer also made his first immortal game with the Gruenfeld against Donald Byrne. New York 19'57. Hans Kmoch has observed that he reserves the Gruenfeld for his attempts at Games of the Century-Ed,

If

there

GruenfeJ.d, destroys

is

any

this

Black's

refutation

ought

to

of

be it;

the

for

it

Pawn center. B u t the

modern conception that the center may be effectively controlled by p-ieces from a distance, and not only by Pawns on the spot, makes the opening quite play. able. The text here has rather a pyscholog. ical meaning. White clears up the posi­ tion immediately and, if Black presses too hard for counter chalices,

there is

good strategical hope tha;t the central­ ized White Pawns and pieces may pre­ va;il and gain the advanta.ge at'ter all.

4 . . . . 5 P-K4

NxP NxN

The text i s obviously the best. 5 N-N3 loses time and offers White easy and comfortable play.

6 Px N 7 8-Q84

8-N 2

7 B-R3 amounts to a small self-trap. For, at'ter 7 . . . P-N3 or 7 . . . N-Q2, Black gets in . . . P-QB4 anyway and .shuts the hasty White Queen Bishop out of play.

7 8 N-K2 •

.

•

•

P-Q84

KB3 i s the more ideal post for the Knigh't, but the point of this line is to ·avoid having it pinned by . . . B-N5. The support of White's Queen Pawn is very important.

8 . . . 9 8-K 3 •

N-83

Black can welcome 9 P-Q5 a s he :un­ dermines the center later by . . . P-K3.

9 . . . . 10 0-0

0-0 Q-82

pressure.

1 1 R-81

It is obvious that both Spassky and Fischer know thaJt game, and Black here has some improvement i n mind, perhaps by blocking the Kings'ide by a timely . . . P-KB4. So Spassky, despite Gel­ ler's success, chooses another line.

12 Q-K 1 ! The text saves an important tempo in comparison with this commentator's game vs. Smyslov, Kiev 1 9 59 [cf. page 276, September 1959 ] . There he played 12 P-KR3 and, after 12 . . . P-N3 1 3 P-B4, P-K3 U Q-K1, B-N2 1 5 Q-B2, N-R4 1 6 B-Q3, P-B4 17 P-K5, P-B5 18 B-B2, N-B3 19 P-N4, N-K2 20 K-R2, Q-B3 21 N-N3, P-QN4, Black achieved a clear strategical advantage.

12 . . . . 1 3 P-84 1 4 8-Q3

What was to be expected has happen­ ed. Black doesn't want to simplify by 10 . . . PxP 1 1 PxP, B-N5 12 P-B3, N-R4 1 3 B-Q3, B-K3 and to strive just to keep the balance. Another line to complicate by keeping tension in the center is 10 . . . N-R4 11 B-Q3, P-N3. Bronstein-Korchnoy, Belgrade 1964 illustrated the strength of White's centralized pieces after 12 Q -R4 ( Spa,ssky himself tried 1 2 R-B1 vs. Stein, Moscow 1964 ) , P-K4 13 QR-Q1, B-Q2 14 Q-R3, KPxP ( 1 4 . . . Q-B2 is more solid) 1 5 PxP, PxP 16 BxP, BxB 1 7 NxB, B-N5 1 8 B-K2, BxB 19 NxB, Q-K1 20 N-B3, P-B3 21 N-Q5, R-B2 2 2 KR-K1, Q-KB1 23 Q__:KN3 with s-trong

R-Q1

So far, the game is quite identical with the fifth game of the match, Gel­ ler-Smyslov in the Challengers Round of the World Championship Program, Mos·cow 1965. There White continued with 1 2 P-B4, P-K3 13 K-R1, P-N3 14 P-B5, N-R4 15 B-Q3, KPxP 1 6 KPxP, B-N2 17 Q-Q2, R-K1 1 8 N-N3, Q-B3 19 R-KB2, QR-Q1 20 B-KR6, B-KR1 2 1 Q-B4 ! R-Q2 22 N-K4, P-B5 23 B-B2, QR-K2 24 QR-Bl, RxN 25 BPxP, P-B3 26 Q-N5 ! Q-Q2 27 K-N1 ! ! and won very elegantly.

P-K3 N-R4 P-84

Fischer consistently follows the basic idea for this kind of position. Now the game approaches the crisis when the moment will be ripe to decide in whose favor the game will turn.

15 R-Q1 16 Q-82

P-N 3 PxQP

The text amounts to a very important strategical gain for White. Because of the threat of. QPxBP, Black allows the

centralization of the previously passive White Queen Bishop.

17 8xP This Bishop now emerges to swap off m a c k's strong Bishop and so remo ve its protection from Black's King.

17 1 8 Px8 1 9 N-N3

8x8 8-N2

The point of the combination. White breaks through with gain of a tem po.

22 . . . .

Q-82

The alternative with 22 . . . PxP is hopeless for Blac k : 23 NxBP, R--K1 ( the threat is 24 Q-N3t, Q-N3 25 N-K7t ) 24 Q-Q·1, Q-N3 25 B-B4t, NxB 26 QxNt, K-R1 27 R-Q7.

23 8xP 23 NxP of course is met by 23 RxB.

23 . . . . 24 RxR

The c rucial dispute goes on. White to doesn't concede central squares Black's pieces without obtaining sub­ stantial compensation in several weak points on Black's Kingside.

19 . . . .

Q-82

19 . . . PxP 20 NxP grants White his goal as just mentioned. So Black tries to maintain the blockaded position to deprive White's minor pieces of activity. With his next move, White finds the suitable reply against such efforts by his opponent.

RxR R-K B 1

Black defends i n t h e b e s t p-ossible way. He is lost after 24 . . . BxB 2 5 NxB, QxP 2 6 N-B6 t ! K-N2 27 R-Q7t ! KxN 2g Q-Q4t e.g. 28 . . . Q-K4 29 R-Q6t or 28 . . . K-N4 29 P-R4t , K-R3 30 Q-N7t, K-R4 31 QxPt, K-N5 32 R-Q4t, K-N6 33 Q-QB7t, etc. A nd, in this line, 2 6 . . . K-R1 27 QxQ, PxQ 2 8 R-Q7 runs into a mate.

25 8-N 1 26 Q-82

Q-83 K-R1

27 PxP 28 Q-Q2

PxP

28 QxP of course loses to 2 8 Q-B7t followed by mate. But, with the text and sequel, White takes over cen­ tral squares with a gain of tem po.

28 . . . . 29 R-K 8 1 30 Q-Q4t

K-N2 Q-K 2

30 . . . .

R-83

20 P-Q5 There is no other way to penetrate. By offering a Pawn, White provides work for his idle pieces and starts an attack along the diagonal, Q3-R7, against the weakened Black Kingside.

20 20

8PxP . KPxP is m et by 2 1 PxBP.

21 PxP

22 P-85 !

Qx K P

It doesn't seem appetizing to consider 30 . . . K-R3 31 RxR, QxR. Nonethe­ less, it seems this is the moment when Black misses his better chance. For, if the same ending comes about and White plays P-KR4 to fix Black's weak Pawn on KN3, Black can then play . P-KN4 reducing the material on that wing. On the other hand, there is no clear way for White to exploit Black's exposed King by keeping Queens on the board as there is always the threat

of .

.

. Q-QB4.

3 1 N-K4 31 B-K4, N-B3 leads to a draw. This way, Black's Knight remains on the edge of the board.

8xN

31 . . . .

Q-84

32 8 x 8

.Black has no other way to free him­ self of the pin and takes on an un­ favorable ending as the best solution left to him. 32 . . . P-QN 4 33 RxR costs him a Pawn, and 32 . . . P-K N 4 fails against 33 R-B5.

RxRt

33 QxQ

To play with Rooks on the board i& not pleasant either after 33 PxQ 3 4 R-B1, P-B5 35 R-B3.

34 K x R 3 5 P-KR4

PxQ

Now Black's weak Knight Pawn is fixed, and Black's King confined to the wing. Meanwhile, the Queenside has be­ come even more vulnerable after the exchange of Queens and separatlon of Black's Pawns. White's King aims to penetrate there.

N-85 N -K4

35 • • 36 K-K2 •

•

37 K-K3 38 K-84? 39 K-K3

K-83 N-82

White takes his King move back as it is to his favor to let the King-side Pawns be exchanged. ( See d i a g r a m , top of n ext co l u m n )

39

•

•

•

•

P-N4

This decision is not to be recommend-

ed jus't before the time control. Black observes that White missed his chance for 38 B-B2 and 39 K-K4 and so doesn't want to reperut the position by 3 9 . N-K4. But his text trades one evil for another; for this Knight will now be bound to the Kingside because of the passed White Rook Pawn. He has much better chances in 3 9 . . N-R3 40 K-Q3 ( 40 K-B4, N-B 2 ) , N-B4 41 K-B4, NxP ( n ot 41 . . . N-Q3t 4 2 K-Q5 as then the Pawn ending is in White's favor) 42 KxP, K-K4 with some pros­ pects of saving the game.

40 P-R5 41 K-Q3 42 8-R8

N-R3 K-K4 K-Q3

43 K-84

44 P-R4 45 P-R5

P-N S N-N1

The existence o f t h e Queen Rook Pawns on the board decides the out­ come of the game.

45 . • . • 46 8-K4 47 K-N S

N-R3 P-N 6 N-N1

48 8-N 1 49 K-R6 50 8-R2

N-R3 K-83 Resigns

1 0.

A PART I C U LAR RIVALRY

THOUGH

Fischer was quite successful in Havana last year and in the U. S. Championship, still he was not nearly so impressive as he had proved to be previously. The slight decline in his form seems easily explained by his two-year absence from tournament play. In the mean time, Larsen of Denmark scored several impressive results in the presence of Soviet grandmasters. His tie for first in Amsterdam 1964 evoked some recollection of Fischer's triumph in the 1961 Interzonal Tournament. Then Larsen won easily from Ivkov in their match, came very close to winning against Tahl and did win from Geller again this year. The unofficial conclusion, so to speak, of the series was his triumph in Le Havre this year, two points ahead of Polugayevsky. All these results gave some basis to the rumors that­ not Fischer--but Larsen was the main danger from the West to the Soviet chess hegemony. In consequence, there was a special atmosphere in the second Piatigorsky Cup Tournament : quite apart from the general run for first place, there was a particular rivalry between Fischer and Larsen. Both players proved their worth in this great tournament : Larsen was the one whom Spassky had to watch in the beginning ; and then, suddenly, Fischer became another man and made his sensational series of victories in the second half of the competition. In Fischer's efforts to overtake Spassky, one of the main obstacles was his game, with Black, against Larsen, who was pursuing the same objective. It was obvious that there would be no peace even with Bishops of different color. Here then is that game. Fischer must have been double pleased to win it because of his unexpected loss with White against Larsen in the first half of the tournament. Santa M on ica 1 966 ( Round 1 5 )

will be taken by surprise again.

K I N G'S I N D I A N D E F E N S E Bent Larsen

Robert J . Fischer U n ited States

Denmark

Black

White 1 P-Q4

2 P-QB4 3 N-QB3

N - K B3 P-K N 3 B-N2

4 P-K4 5 B-K2 6 B-N5

P-Q3 0-0

The more natural move is 6 N-KB3, on the recommendation of Emanuel Lasker that the Knights ought to be de­ veloped first, and Larsen has frequently adopted that line. This time he varies, employing the seldom-played Bronstein Variation which aims to prevent . . . P-K4. Why the new tactics ? Najdorf won easily against Fischer with the same move in the first half of the tournament. But it is hard to expect that Fischer

6

•

.

•

•

P-84

This is the correct answer in the cen­ ter when White's Bishop is exposed on KN5. 6 . . P-K4 does not work be­ cause of 7 PxP, PxP 8 QxQ, RxQ 9 N-Q5.

7 P-Q5 The only amb'itious re�ly. On 7 N-B3, PxP 8 NxP, White cannot maintain that Knight in the center without loss of tim e ; and, on 7 PxP, Black has 7 . . . Q-R4 with threat of 8 . . . NxP and the attack on his diagonal QR4-K8. P-K 3 7 . . . . A s in h i s previous g'ame with Najdorf, Fischer aims to transpose to the Semi­ Benoni. Another line frequently played is 7 . . . P-QR3 8 P-QR4 [White avoids 8 N-B3, P-N4 9 PxP, PxP 10 BxP, NxKP! 1 1 NxN, Q-R4t 12 N-B3, BxNt 13 PxB, QxB ] , Q-R4 [the meaning of this move is to force White to occupy his Q2 with another piece thus barring it to his King Knight which belongs there] 9 B-Q2, P-K3 1 0 N-B3, PxP 11 BPxP. PorHsch­ Gligorich (Hungary vs. Yugoslavia 1966) ran 1 1 . . . B-N5 1 2 0-0, Q-B2 13 P-R3, BxN 1 4 BxB, QN-Q2 1 5 P-QN3, KR-K1 16 Q-B2, P-B5 17 P-QN4, QR-B1 18 QR-K 1 ? N-K4 19 B-K2, N/3-Q2 20 R-B1, N-Q6 ! 21 BxN, PxB 22 QxP, N/2-K4 23 Q-N1, N-B5 24 B-K1, Q-K2 25 Q-N3, Q-N4 26 R-B2, Q-B5 with the better game for Black in return for his Pawn. This same game was partially re­ peated in Petros­ yan-lvkov (Rd. 4 ) Portisch­ in and Ivkov (Rd. 6) in Santa Monica. Ivkov played 11 . . . R-K1 12 0-0, Q-B2 13 Q-B2, B-N5. Petrosyan tried 14 P-QN3 , QN-Q2 1 5 P-KR3, BxN- 1 6 BxB, P-B5 17 P-QN4, R-K2 18 KR-K1, QR-K1 19 QR-B1, P-R3 2 0 , P-R5, Q-N1 21 Q-N1, K-R1 22 N-R4, N-K4 23 B-K2, N/4-Q2 24 B-KB3, and there followed a draw by re�tition of moves. Portisch played immediately ( from the last line) 14 P-R3, BxN 15 BxB, QN-Q2 16 P-R5, R-K2 17 R-R4, R/1-K1 1 8 B-K2, P-R3 1- 9 K-R2, P-N4 20 B-N4, NxBt 21 PxN, B-K4t 22 P-N3, N-B3 23 P-B3, Q-Q2 24 R/4-R1, but White ob­ tained no better than a draw in thi� game either. Fischer �refers not to make any early Queen excursion, and th,is game cer­ tainly justifies his plan.

8 N-83 9 B-R4

P-K R3

Black has held back exchanging Pawns to reply to 9 B-B4 with 9 . . . P-K4.

9 . . . . 10 BPxP 1 1 B-N 3

11

•

•

•

•

PxP P-K N 4

N-R4

At the right moment, the right reply. White's Bishop attacking the most sen. sitive Black Queen Pawn must be elim­ inated. Against Najdorf in Round 7, Fischer was misled into 1 1 . . . P-N4, ho�ing for 12 BxNP, NxK P ! He became positionally lost, however, after 12 N-Q2 ! P-R3 13 0-0, R-K1 14 Q-B2, Q-K2 15 KR-K1, QN-Q2 16 P-QR4, P-QN5 17 N-Q1, N-K4 18 N-K3, N-N3 19 N/3-B4, N-B5 20 BxN, PxB 21 P-K5 ! PxP 22 B-B3.

1 2 N-Q2 13 R Px N

NxB N-Q2

Now Black has reached the typical position from the Semi-Benoni. The trans�osition of moves has been in Black's favor. For, on the usual order: 1 P-Q4, N-KB3 2 P-QB4, P-QB4 3 P-Q5, P-K3 4 N-QB3, PxP 5 PxP, P-Q3 6 P-K4, P-KN3 7 N-B3, B-N2 8 B-KN5, P-KR3 9 B-R4, P-KN4 10 B-N3, N-:R4, White has the un�leasant interpolation, 11 B-N5t, K-B1 ; and, after 12 B-K2,

NxB 13 RPxN, P-R3 14 P-R4, N-Q2 1 5 N-Q2, N-K4 16 Q-B2, R-N1 1 7 P-R5, B-B3 18 N-Q1, P-N 4 19 PxP e.p. RxP 20 N-K3, White has gradually increased his a d v a n t a g e ( Uhlmann-Padevski, Zagreb 1965) .

14 N-84 Not having finished his development, White is not prepared for the strateg­ ically very favorable exchange of the white - bound Bishops. 14 B-N4, N-K4 1 5 BxB_, RxB confers t oo much space and a strong pressure on Black.

14 • • . . 1 5 N-K3

Q-K2 N-83

16 Q-82 1 7 8-N 5

24 . . • . 2 5 K Px 8

8xN

Here is White's idea : to get K4 a s a ·J,J ost for his other Knight, but the price is too dear. Black's Queen-side Pawn majority has value ; White's King-side none. Black's Bishop is mightier than White's. And last bu't not least, White's will not be able to remain in the center.

25

N-K4

R-K 1 R-Q1

Of course not 17 . . B-Q2 as Black can almost resign when White's Knight takes over KB5 eternally. The Black Queen Bishop's protection of that hole is vital.

18 8-K2 White can meet the threat of 18 P-R3 and . . . P-QN4 by 18 P-R4, but he must also guard against 1 8 . N-N5 with the threat of trading off his strong Knight on K3.

18 . . . .

R-K 1

This is a cunning move which tempts White to declare his intentions. It is almost certain that Black does not want to draw by repetition ; but here he still has time to change his mind, and White hasn't.

26 N-K4 Here the threat of 27 P-B6, BxP 28 RxP would be very effective is White's Bishop could stay on the diagonal, QN5-K8, so that 26 . . . N-Q2 would be met by 27 BxN. As such is not the case, White's whole plan fails. Nor does the immediate 26 P-B6, QxP 27 N-K4 work in view of 27 Q-N3.

26 2 7 8-K2 .

19 P-83 Thus, Black has achieved a weaken­ ing of black squares in White's camp. With his next Knight maneuver, he in­ creases his control over black squares. White has no advantag e ; and, if the leader of the White men were not La.r­ sen, he could calmly make a peaceful offer with 19 B-N5 and so tempt Black in his turn.

19 • • • • 20 P-K N 4

N-R2 N-81

21 P-R4 22 K-81

N-N3 R-N 1

Cautiously, Black creates no weaken­ ing · of his Queen-side Pawn structure till he is certain of being able to ad­ vance there effectively.

23 8-N 5 24 N-85

R-Q1

White has lost patience. By selling his Queen Bishop for this dangerous Knight and closed the hole on his KB4, Black has his hands free to devise his own plans. 24 P-KN3 and moving his King to safer quarters is more advis­ able for White here.

.

.

•

P-R 3

Here we see that White has n o time for 27 P-B6, BxP 28 RxP because of 28 B-N2 .

27 28 R-K 1 29 N-83

N-Q2 N-83

If this Knight disappears, so does White's hope of having e ven one piece pot�ntially stronger than the opponent's counterpart.

29 . . . .

Q-Q2

In contrast to White's moves, every one of Black's has a firm purpose. Now the threat of making Black's Queen-side majority mobile by 30 . . . P-N4 forces White to create another weakness.

30 P-R5 3 1 K-82 32 R-R 1 Black now controls more

R-K 1 Q-82 P-85 space

and

opens a diagonal on White's King.

33 K-N 3 Or 33 R-QR4, P-N4 34 PxP e.p. QxPt.

Black undertakes to destroy the pro­ tective Pawn chain. The pin by 35 Q-K2 can be met by 36 K-B2.

36 B-81 White is lost. 36 PxP, NxRPt 37 K-N4 [ or 37 K-B2, Q-B 4 ] , BxN 38 PxB, N-B3t is hopeless for White : 39 K-N3, N-K5t or 39 KxP, Q-K2.

33 . . . .

R-K6

Now Black starts the decisive pene­ tration around White's exposed Ki.ng.

34 Q-Q2 35 K R-K1

R/1-K 1 P-R4

36 37 38 39

. . . . RxR K-R3 P-K N 3

NxNP RxR Q-K2 BxN

40 41 42 43

Px B R-K1 RxR QxQ

Rx K B P R-K6 QxR

Here the game was adjourned, Black sealed the obvious move.

43 . . • . Res i g n s

N xQ

and

1 1.

A DANGER ZO N E

There i s a general belief that the zonal tournaments represent the easiest step by far for strong grandmasters in cycles of competitions for the individual world championship. It seems logical, indeed ; for there are more "outsiders" than in the Interzonal Tournament or the Chal­ lengers Hound. But the uncertainties and temptations are often no whit smaller for the favorites in the zonal competitions. Regard, for example, Spassky's progress toward his match with the �rorld Champion. In 1958, he was eliminated by losing the better game against Tahl in the last round of the Soviet Championship ; in 1963, he was never so much in doubt as in the Soviet Zonal in which he started poorly and emerged as victor only at the very end, among six other dangerous rivals; after that, everything ran more smoothly for Spassky. Or take lvkov, for another instance. He later entered the Chal­ lengers Round ; but, in the zonal round, he had actually to fight out an elimination match with Robatsch for third place. The author of these lines might exaggerate in that he felt very safe in the European Zone 1 Tournament, held recently in The Hague. But there is a very good spiritual which applied before the end of that event: "No one knows the trouble I've seen." He incurred too many draws with lower-placing participants, which had to be compensated by wins against the strong competitors. Here is one of those victories, against the Bulgarian Grand­ master who won the European Zone � Tournament three years ago. The real reason for presenting the game, however, is its theoretical in­ terest as to certain aspects of the popular King's Indian Defense. E u ro pean Zone 1 Tournament

7 B-K3

The H ague 1 966 K I N G'S I N D I A N D E F E N S E Svetozar G l i g o r i c h

G e o r g i Tri n g ov B u l garia

Yugoslavia

Black

White

N - K B3 P-K N 3

1 P-Q4

2 P-QB4

3 N-QB3 4 P-K4 5 N-83

B-N2 P-Q3

There are many different lines against the King's Indian. Here White "follows" in general the simple recommendation of Emanuel Lasker that Knights ought to be developed before Bishops. 5 . . . .

6 B-K2

0-0

Now the King Knight is secured against eventual pinning and the King Bishop stands ready to take control of King-side space supported by the Queen.

6 .

.

•

•

P-K4

White may direct his attention to Queen-side chances by 7 P-Q5 or retain tension i n the center also by 7 0-0. The text is Reshevsky's favorite method of play, and the position which arises deserves considerable discussion. White's

first aim

is

harmonious

de-

ployment or the minor pieces and, if not exposed, the Queen Bishop is ideal· ly situated, affecting both wings. Why does White disclose his plans so early? After 7 0-0, N-B3 8 B-K3, R-K1 9 P-Q5, Black can simplify by 9 . . . N-Q5 ! 10 NxN, PxN 11 BxP, NxKP. After the text, that line is barred as White has con­ served a tempo by postponing castling and so Black has no Rook tactically situated on the King file. Another point is seen by comparison with 7 0-0, PxP [instead of the more frequent 7 . . . N-B3 or 7 . . . QN-Q2] 8 NxP, R-K1 9 P-B3, P-B3 with a Saemisch-like variation but one in which White is too late for 10 B-K3 as that is met by 10 . . . P-Q4. S o White has to think of some other, perhaps less effi­ cient plan.

7 . . . .

PxP

This is one of the logical replies. Black opens the file on which so many White pieces lie exposed. A provocative answer i s 7 . . . N-N5 ; but, after 8 B-N5, P-KB3 9 B-R4, Black does not gain anything in time as his King Knight is exposed and also blocks his King-side Pawns which are to ad­ vance. 9 B-QB1 is also playable i n this line as White's temporarily retarded de: velopment may be compensated by a. quick return of the Queen Bishop into play. An example with 9 B-R4 is Gligorich­ Lee from the same zonal tournament : 9 . . . Q-K1 ? [9 . . . Q-Q2 is better so as to make the King Bishop Pawn more mobile] 10 0-0, N-B3 1 1 P-Q5, N-K2 12 N-Q2, N-R3 13 P-B3, P-KB4 14 B-B2, P-QR3 15 P-B5, and Black i s in serious trouble on the Queenside without suffi­ cient counterplay on the other wing. Also, there was another Gligorich­ Tringov game (Titovo Uzice 1 9 6 6 ) with the continuation 7 . . . QN-Q2 8 0-0, N-N5 9 B-N5, P-KB3 10 B-R4, N-R3 1 1 P-Q5, N-B2 1 2 N-K1, P-QB4 1 3 N-Q3, N-N3 14 P-QN3, Q-B2 15 P-B3, P-B4 16 P-QR4, P-N4 17 B-K1, P-B5 18 P-R5, N-Q2 1 9 P-QN4 ; and, as that line fav­ ored White, Black chooses another, more solid line here. Finally, 7 . . . N-B3 is playable ; but, after 8 P-Q5, N-K2 9 N-Q2, White at­ tains his desired regrouping of his pieces (Gligorich-Kraidman, Tel Aviv 1966 ) . Fischer also tried 7 . . . N-B3 i n the Piatigorsky Cup Tournament, but Re­ shevsky as

White reverted to the old

line 8 0-0, R-K1 known from his match with Najdorf.

NxP 9 P-83

8

R-K1 P-83

10 Q-Q2 White has had the privilege of re­ fusing to c·a stle on his seventh move i n . that he c a n protect h i s Queen Bishop i n time.

10 . . . • 1 1 K Px P

P-Q4

White h a s no better reply.

11 . . . . 12 0-0

PxP

Now White's King is much safer tha•1 after 1 2 0-0-0 as was played i n a sim­ ilar position in Danielsson-Gligorich (Gothenburg 1953-4) in which White adopted the Saemisch Variation : 1 P-Q4, N-KB3 2 P-QB4, P-KN3 3 N-QB3, B -N2 4 P-K4, P-Q3 5 P-B3, 0-0 6 B-K3, P-K4 7 KN-K2, P-B3 8 Q-Q2, PxP 9 NxP, P-Q4 1 0 KPxP, PxP (position shown ln small diagram below) 1 1 0-0-0.

12

•

.

.

•

N-83

Clearing off the center with 12 PxP is probably more solid as i n Glig­ orich-Fischer ( Interzonal 1 9 6 2 ) and Re­ shevsky-Gligorlch (Piatigorsky 1963) w i t h t h e continuation : 1 3 QR-Q1 [ not immediately 13 BxP ? RxB 14 QxH, N-N5 ] , P-QR3 14 BxP, P-QN4 1 5 B-N3, B-N2 1 6 P-QR4 ! [more active than 1 6 N-B2 as played in Stockholm 1962 ] , PxP ! [ 16 . . . P-N5 17 N-K4 favors White] 17 BxRP, QN-Q2 18 N-N3, Q-K2 [in Mar del Plata 1966, Bolbochan tried the more passive 18 . . . Q-B1 against Reshevsky but had a loss after 19 N-R5, R-K4 2 0 P-QN4, B-BJ 21 B-KB4, BxNP 2 2 BxR, NxB 23 NxB, BxN 24 Q-K3] 19 KR-K1 [ had Reshevsky any improve­ ment in mind in Mar del Plata ? ] , Q-N5 ! 20 Q-KB2, R-K4 21 N-B1, R-K2 22 R-Q4, Q-R4 23 N-N3, Q-KB4 2 4 KR-QJ , N-KB1

with a. draw agreed upon as Black has successfully met all threats.

13 P-85

16 N-K6 ! On 16 N-B 5, Q-B1 17 NxB, QxN, the Black Queen can serve to protect the weak black squares.

16 . . . .

Q-Q3

The sacrifice of this Queen does not offer sufficient compensation.

17 N x 8 1 8 N-N 5

KxN

White strengthens his control of the black squares with a gain of tem po.

18 • . . . 19 K R- K 1 2 0 8-8 1

Q-K4 P-Q R 3

20 B-N3 i s m e t by 20 . . . Q-K6t. This seems the most unpleasant reply for Black now. White secures the cen­ tralized position for his pieces and gains a Queen-side majority. Let's c o m p a r e this po!'ition with Bronstein - G I i g ­ orich ( P o r t o r o z 1958 ) , a Saemisch l i k e Danielsson­ Gli gorich ( see note after 12 0-0) b ut with 11 B-K2, Before 11 B - K2 P-B5. 12 N-B3 Now White has not yet castled , and mack's Rook is still on KBl. Blaek ha� more prospects of fighting for th e im­ portant blockading square, White's Q 4 , b y means o f 12 . . . N-K1 than in the text game.

13 . . . .

8-Q2

Here 13 . . . RxB 1 4 QxB, N-N5 fails again s t the interpolation, 15 NxN.

14 Q R-Q 1

20 . . . .

Q-R4

· The Queen has no other square : e.g. 20 . . . Q-N1 21 B-N3 ; but now Black's strongest piece i s out of play.

21 N-Q4 Best. White does not care for recap­ turing his Pawn, as that involves the danger of a draw, but for attack on the black squares on which Black i s desper­ ately weak without his King Bishop.

21 . . . . 22 N x N

P-R3

White removes t h e only Black piece which guards black squares.

8xN

22 . . . .

22 . . . PxN i s even worse because of the weak blocked Queen-side Pawns.

23 8-Q4 Black puts possible.

24 Rx R 26 R-K1

R- K3 up

the

only

resistanee

PxR R- K 1

Q-K2

14 . . . Q-R4 leads to the same thing.

15 8-82

QxP

In difficulties because of White's strong Queen-side pressure, Bla' O n

14 P-K R3 The text looks natural in allowing an additional escape square for the Bishop. nut it w i l l entail ma ny worries later for White's King. Still, White's only other !'lwire was to wa i t passively. 14 . . . . 15 N-K5

N/5-83 N-N 3 !

I t i s important for Black t o retain at least one Knight on the board for later attack on the Kingside.

8x8 Q N-Q2

16 8-N 5

With the disappearance of the white­ bound Bishops, Black has an easy time developing and gets a good game. For Black's Knights contest for his white squares, K5 and QB5, more readily with one less piece of the opponent's to op­ pose them. 1 1 8-R6 With this intermediate move, White tries vainly to disorganize Black's pieces and to postpone the threat of . . . N-K5 by which Black can increase his control of terrain. 11 . . . .

N-N5

11 . . . B-B1 is less ambitious. Black aims to provoke a White Pawn move to make possible later the opening of a file on the Kingside. 1 2 8-84 1 3 0-0

0-0

R-K1

White's pressure on the Queen Bishop

White's pieces do not feel secure where they are, and White insists on diminish­ ing the number on the board, especially so for this Bishop which incurs the dis­ advantage of being on squares of the same color as those of his central Pawns. N-K5 16 . . . . Qx8 1 7 8x8 1 8 Q-82 The Pawn was tabu : 18 NxN, PxN 19 QxP ? ? P-B3 costs White a piece. Also, 18 NxN, PxN 19 Q-N3, N-Q4 offers Black better chances with an increased possi­ bility of a King-side attack. N-Q3 18 . . . . Black continues his policy of keeping at least one Knight on the board. N/N-85 1 9 N-R4 If a Knight trade must be, it is better for Black to have the centrally posted W h i te Knight go.

20 N x N

21 N-85 22 QR-81

NxN N-Q3 Q-N4!

P-83 R-N2

28 N-K5 29 N-83

Here is the first sign of what Black wants. While White has to meander with­ out firm purpose, Black increases the pressure on the Kingside, thanks to his better control of terrain there.

23 Q-Q1

P-K R4

Black prevents 24 Q-N4.

24 K-R1 White prepares in advance to meet the threat of 24 . N-B4 and 25 . . . N-R5 with 26 R-KN1 thus avoiding any weakening of his Pawn structure. But the unnatural move simply indicates. White's increased difficulties i n a "draw­ ish" position. For instance, the preven­ tive maneuver "a Ia Petrosyan" with 24 KR-Kl, N-B4 25 R-K2, N-R5 26 Q-Bl does not work against 26 . . . N-B6t 2 7 K-Rl, NxP. So White has already mis­ takenly prepared his pieces for defense and wasted too much time with his Queen, instead of putting his King Rook on Kl first.

24 . . . .

R-K2 !

With this simple and excellent move, the Rook becomes mighty on the second rank for any and all purposes.

25 N-Q3

N-K5

25 . . . Q-B4 at once is better. But Black's re-action seems most natural at first. He establishes the base for his Knight while White's attempts to ap­ proach and protect its monarch.

26 N-BS This move amounts to a tactical offer of a • draw which White cannot resist making.

26 . . 27 N-Q3

N-Q3 Q-84!

Now Black comes in with this move, creating new dangers for White's King in the possible advance of Pawns and decisive opening of files.

Black's plan is obvious, and a killer : P-KN4-5.

R-K1

30 N-R2

While White largely marks time, Black calmly musters his last reserves for action.

31 K-N 1 The King feels better here now, but no effective method for defense by the other pieces has been found.

N-K5 Q-K3

31 . . . . 32 Q-83 33 K R-Q1 The text is inadequate ; at least, serves some goal.

33 . . . .

33

KR-Kl,

P-K N4 !

This effective sacrifice o f a Pawn is designed to speed up the attack and open as many files as possible.

34 Qx R P White has little choice because o f the threat of 14 . . P-N5 15 PxP, PxP and 1 6 . . . P-N6.

34 . . . .

P-K B4 !

N o w a similar threat is created, with time to be gained from the exposed posi­ tion of White's Queen. And Black al­ ready has the open King Rook file on which to work.

35 R-K1 Here White, too late, admits his mis­ take and relocates this Rook.

35 • . . 3 6 PxP

•

P-N5

This capture is forced as otherwise 36 . . R-R2 traps White's Queen.

36 . . . . 37 P-83

Px P

Again, White has nothing else ; the position is lost, i n any event.

but

37 . . . . 38 N x P

PxP

Now White loses quickly; but, on 38 QxBP, R-KBl and 39 . . . R-B7, he also loses soon enough. 38 . . . . R-R2 Q-81 39 Q-K5 40 Q-84 The Queen has no other free square ! 40 . . . . R- 8 1 R-84! 4 1 Q-K5 Resi g n s

37.

R ECOVERI N G PREST IGE

Though there is nothing wrong with Petrosyan's personal scores against the most successful of today's tournament players, his failure to take first place in any international competitions has created the im­ pression that the World Champion could not retain that title if put to another trial. His triumph over Botvinnik looked like the beginning of another era ; but his victory over Spassky more like an episode. There are several rivals, both within and outside the Soviet Union, who are, in public opinion, considered able to defeat or at least to be extremely dangerous to the World Champion if given the opportunity to meet him in a match. Such are the constant winners of strong tourna­ ments, like Spassky, Korchnoy, Fischer, Larsen and perhaps even For­ tisch and some others who have scored firsts while Petrosyan, under the special handicap of his peculiar style, has not. As a matter of fact, Petrosyan has won two top-class tournaments, in effect, in his well deserved best results on first board in the two Olympiads, Havana 1966 and Lugano 1968. But chess devotees are a hard sort to be persuaded and, since they did not see an encounter between Fischer and Petrosyan in Havana nor any between Larsen and Petrosyan in Lugano, Petrosyan's excellent p�rformances there lacked due applause. It seems to be Petrosyan's bad luck not to impress the chess world as much as he should or could. Recently, in Palma de Mallorca, he won well against several grandmasters but secured only fourth prize. Also, everyone remembers Petrosyan's two defeats at the hands of Larsen in Santa Monica ; but few know that the score is now 6-3 {no draws ! ) in favor of Petrosyan. Here is the champion's latest game against the very dangerous fighter from Denmark. ·

3 . . . .

Pa l ma de M a l l o rca 1 968

P-Q N 3

Q U E E N 'S I N D I A N D E F E N S E T i g ran Petrosyan Soviet U n i o n

Bent Larsen Denmark Black

White

1 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 3 N-KB3

N-KB3 P-K3

This move might mean one of a num­ ber of things. For some, it is partly a future offer of a draw, a sign of a placid mood. As will be seen soon, here i t is something else, and not only an escape from the crucial lines of the Nimzo-In­ dian (many masters have a profound be­ lief in the soundness of that defense for Black ) . Petrosyan wants simply to avoid Larsen's favorite line in which he feels very much at home and to give th'e game another course in which the situation will be the opposite.

4 P-Q R 3 ! Petrosyan has used this idea before, but only after 4 N-B3, B-N2. The idea looks at first like a loss of tempo because it does not pay to avoid the Black . . . B-QN5 at such a dear price i n the open­ ing. But, though the move 4 P-QR3 looks

inferior to the usual, developing 4 P-KN3, it embodies an ambitious plan which goes straight for the refutation of Black's early fianchetto. White can do so only by P-Q5 ; but, after 4 P-Q5, B-N2 5 N-B3, B-N5, he no longer has sufficient control over his Q5 and has to give up the fight for the center. The text pre­ pares the realizati-on of that plan, and Black must do something immediately against the advance, P-Q5, lest he fall into a cramped position. It is obvious that, with this early preparatory move, Petrosyan aims to direct the game only along the line which he has used against the Queen's Indian. 4 N-B3 permits 4 . . . B-N5 also, and White is not eager at this time for such lines as 5 B-N5 or 5 P-K3 which others practice, too. 4

•

.

.

.

P-84 !

Now Black shows his teeth even a s White d-Id with the preceding move. The position is going to be a new one from now ·on for both sides, and different from anything played before. With the text, the fighter in Larsen simply ignores his opponent's intentions.

victory after 19 . . . P-N3 20 Q-KN4, P­ KR4 21 Q-R3, P-B4 22 B-B4, RxRt 23 RxR, K-B2 24 P-K4 ! Q-B5 25 R-K1, Q-N5 26 PxP ! QxB 27 PxNPt, K-K1 28 P-N7, P-K4 29 QxPt, K-Q2 30 R-Q1t, B-Q3 31 BxP, N-Q5 32 NxN, Resigns USSR XXVIII ( Petrosyan-Smyslov, Championship 196 1 ) .

5 P�Q5 ! White makes the consequent reply. If Larsen was relying on Petrosyan's aver­ sion for the kind of position which is to arise, he was wrong and ought to have remembered Petrosyan's excellent vic­ tory against Schmid's Semi-Benoni at Zurich 1961. Also, 5 P-K3 is a partial admission by White of a lost tem po on his fourth move. And treatment of the position a Ia English by 5 N-B3, PxP 6 NxP, B-N2 7 KN-N5 does not work well because of 7 . . . P-Q3 8 B-B4 ? P-K4 9 B-N5, P-QR3 with the retreat for White's King Knight blocked by the Pawn on QR3.

5 . . . . 6 Px P 7 N-83

Px P P-N3 8-K N 2

O n e is reminded o f a well known posi­ tion from the Semi-Benoni. But there is an interpolated move for each side, not quite germane to the system. And these add a new fire in the theoretical dispute : which move is more useful ( or more use­ less) i n this situation : White's P-QR3 or . . . P-QN3 ?

8 8-N 5

And, indeed, he has no encouraging ex­ amples on which to draw after the nor­ mal 4 . . . B-N2 5 N-B3, P-Q4 [ else 5 P-Q5] 6 PxP, NxP 7 P-K3, B-K2 8 B-N5t, P-B3 9 B-Q3, and 1) 9 . . . N-Q2 10 0-0, P-B4 11 P-K4, NxN 12 PxN, 0-0 13 B-KB4, N-B3 1 4 Q-K2, R-B1 15 P-QR4, PxP 16 PxP, R-B6 17 KR-K1, Q-R1 18 B-N5, P-KR3 19 B-R4, R-K1 20 N-K5, Q-Q1 21 QR-Q1, R-KB1 Drawn [ too soon as White has the advantage] ( Petrosyan-Szabo, Por­ toroz Interzonal 1958) : 2) 9 . . . P-QB4 10 NxN, QxN 11 PxP, QxP? 12 B-Q2, N-B3 13 R-B1, Q-Q3 14 Q-B2, R-QB1 15 0-0 ! P-KR3 16 KR-Q1, 0-0 17 B-B3, Q-N1 18 Q-R4 ! KR-Q1 19 Q-K4 with an attack which brought

Botvinnik influence? He used t o play this solid, developing move against Tahl. Petrosyan took some time to decide on it. The alternative 8 P-K4 is not suffi­ ciently attractive as Black can castle [8 . . . P-Q3 9 B-N5t is convenient for White] and then prepare for pressure on White's King Pawn as 9 P-K5, N-N5 is premature.

8 . . . .

0-0

Black eyes the trap after the enter­ lll"ising 9 P-K4, R-K1 10 N-Q2 [10 P-K5, P-Q3] with 10 . . . NxP ! ! Still, after the text, White gains the tempo to consol­ idate the position of his Queen Bishop which is annoying for Black. So 8 . . . P-KR3 9 B-R4, P-Q3 10 P-K3, P-KN4 1f B-N3, N-R4 12 B-N5t, K-B1 ! ? is worth attention. ( See d i a g ram, top of next page)

9 P-K3 Petrosyan would not be his veritable self if he did not see all the threats and

cramped position. Black's stratel'!:y here will fail .ts soon as the Queen Pawn is protected by P-K4-and that will not be long as White will now provide addi­ tional cover on his King file.

12 8-K2 13 P-K 4

N-82

White has spent two tem p i with that Pawn ; but, in the meanwhile, Dlack's pieces have moved rather ineffectually and White has been building an ideal structure against the Semi-Benoni system.

13

traps after 9 P-K4. Consequently, he waits patiently till every thing is suitably prepared for the decisive advance in the center.

9 . . . .

P-Q3

Now is not the time for 9 . . . P-KR3 10 B-R4, P-KN4 11 B-N3, N-R4 because of 12 B-Q6. And, with his next move, White makes his Queen Bishop secure.

10 N-Q2 1 1 8-R4

P-K R 3

.

.

•

.

P-Q N 4

T h i s is usually a thematic m o v e which actuates the Queen-side Pawn majority. But it is of lesser effect now as Black has s p ent two tem p i on this advance and White's Queen Rook Pawn is a good pro­ tector of the position of his Queen.

1 4 0-0 14 NxP, NxN 15 BxN is of no use as 15 . . . R-N1 regains the Pawn for Black. Nor is 14 BxP, NxB 15 NxN, B-R3 to be recommended either.

14 . . . .

Q-Q2

The Queen evades the pin as there i s a constant threat of P-B4 a n d P-K5.

15 Q-82 An instructive approach to the task : before taking action, White mobilizes all the rest of his pieces into the crucial area of the board.

15 • . . . 1 6 K R-K1

R-K 1

This choice of Rooks is excellent; the other Rook may be needt:>d to support the Queen Pawn.

16 . . . .

8-N2

The time has come to think of the advantages and disadvantages of those interpolated, Queen-side moves. The White Pawn on QR3 guards QN4 against the possible advance of Black's Pawn majority on that side. Black's Pawn on QN3 has opened a diagonal for the Queen Bishop which diverts it from the other, more useful direction.

11 . . . .

N-R3

This move corresponds to the sharp style of Larsen who seeks an immediate counter chance i n attacking the White Queen Pawn. But his plan does not suit the true soul of the position. The text would be possible even with a Pawn on QN2, and there is but one method to make good the wasted tempo with . . . P-QN3 ; that is by 11 . . . B-R3 to dimin­ ish the number of pieces and so . make life easier for Black who has the more

Now the only visible method of dimin­ ishing the danger of the central break by P-K5 is to put under fire the Pawn on Q5.

1 7 P-K R3 The text is not negligible : it takes a square from Black's King Knight and

prepares P-B4.

17

.

.

•

•

P-Q R3

Energetic advance of the Pawns is the only counter chance left : 17 . . . P-B5 18 P-B4, P-QR4 19 B-B3, N-R3 ; but, after 20 P-QR4 ! N-N5 21 Q-N1, N-Q6 22 PxP ! White retains his advantage in the complications, too. Now, however, Black will be too slow to re-act against the central break by P-K5 after a few moves.

18 P-84

P-85

Black has lost one tempo and the last opportunity for action on this side.

19 8-83

penetration of White's pieces into the enemy camp. 21

•

.

•

.

22 N/2-K4

PxP Q-84

The deadly menace w a s 23 N-B5, 24 NxB and 25 P-Q6. White's following move creates a similar threat in respect to Q6. The end is near.

23 Q-B2 24 8xR 25 Q-N6

Q R-Q1 RxB Q-B1

P-K R4

Black's King Knight lies exposed to attack by White's center Pawns but can­ not be moved yet, by 19 . . . N-R2, be­ cause of 20 B-N4. N-R2 � QR-Q1

26 N-BS White offers Black no chance for the sacrifice : 26 N-Q6, RxN 27 QxR, N-Kl.

26

.

. . .

P-K5

Black resorts to desperation tactics. Neither 26 . . . N-R1 27 Q-R7 nor 26 . . . B-B1 27 P-Q6, BxB 28 PxN, RxR 29 RxR, BxR 30 Q-N8 avails.

Here

21 P-K5!

Here is the typical blow which means the full triumph of White's strategy in such a system. The central files and diagonals will be open for the decisive

27 Qx 8 28 QxQ 29 P-Q6

PxB RxQ 8-81

30 N-N7 31 P-Q7 32 R x N

N-K3 R-N 1 Resigns

Black's position has been completely destroyed.

38.

KORC H N OY AS A PROPH ET?

Spassky, who must have on his mind the up-coming match with Petrosyan, simply did not seem to care much about the first prize at Palma de Mallorca. And his rival for first, Korchnoy, had been winning consistently, anyhow. So, when Spassky was due to meet Korchnoy in the fifteenth round, he had good reasons to hope for a quick draw and behav­ ed as though he did, revealing his pacific attitude in the early stage of the gaJll e . A draw would have suited the leader of the tournament, main­ taining his same safe distance in points ahead of second-placed Spassky. And also Korchnoy had been almost chummy with Spassky since losing that final challengers match-as if he were pleased at being freed of his wearying ambitions and pursuit of the world title. Korchnoy, nevertheless, surprised by refusing the amicable offer. In risking a loss, he could be jeopardizing his grip on first place. But a con­ stant feeling of being depreciated, transposed into eagerness to win all the time, was stronger in him than any other motive that day, as indeed in most any other during this tournament. Doubtless, also, he recalled how he had been outclassed by Spassky in their match ( for which he blames the Soviet Chess Club which had deprived him of his second, grandmaster Furman, and likewise his bad luck in his "best played" second game of that unfortunate duel ) . Consequentty, he fought on ; and his will power secured him the full point and the only defeat for Spassky. Then came the moment for the kind side of Korchnoy's usually dour, fighting nature to be exposed. He tried to console Spassky with the re­ minder that the same sort of incident had happened to Petrosyan on the eve of his first match with Spassky, a match which ended successfully for the World Champion. Thus, Spassky's loss to "prophetically minded" Korchnoy should be understood, he was indicating, a "good sign" for the Challenger this time. Three years ago, this department presented Petrosyan's cited loss. So, following that "tradition," here is Spassky's last lost game to that same opponent of the eve of the second Petrosyan­ Spassky match. Whether this game is an omen, we shall know in a few months now. Spassky himself, however, does not seem to rely at all on Korchnoy'6 dictum : "First lose to me, then you'll win the title." Instead of merely resting the last three months before that match, Spassky is devoting the time to a hard study of the openings, the stage to which he had pa:id insufficient attention in the previous match. He is, perhaps, aware of what Smyslov can confirm : life does not offer a chance, thrice. Pa lma de M a l lorca 1 968

3 N-KB3

Q U E E N 'S I N D I A N D E F E N S E Vi ktor Korchnoy

Boris Spassky

Black

White

1 P-Q4

2 P-QB4

N-KB3

P7K3

If the commentator were not so well acquainted with Korchnoy's play, he would remark here : "The text Is less enterprising than 3 N-QB3." Whatever Korchnoy does, however, seems to be aggressive. Here th� move can be taken

to mean only that he will not let Spassky play as Spassky wishes.

3 . . . .

P-Q N 3

This move amounts t o a psycholog· ical trick : Spassky is playing what Korchnoy himself uses as Black.

After 6 QN-Q2, P-B4 7 P-QR3 ! ? BxNt 8 QxB, PxP 9 QxP, N-B3 (Uhlma.nn-Por­ tisch, Moscow 1967 and Uhlmann-Parma, Skopje 1968 ) , Black has very good coun­ terplay thanks to his quick development.

4 P-K N 3

6

4

.

•

.

•

B-N2

The "more active" alternative 4 B-R3 has become less attractive since the game, Uhlmann-Keres (Moscow 1967 ) , in which White obtained a strong initiative for a temporary Pawn sacri­ fice : 5 QN-Q2, P-B4 6 P-K4 ! PxP 7 P-K5, N-N1 8 B-N2, N-QB3 9 0-0. For­ tisch has tried 4 . . . B-N5t leaving the decision as to where to post the Queen Bishop for later.

5 B-N2

B-N5t

The text was employed by Alekhine also. Here it gives an impression of an attempt to simplify the play. Hence, the succeeding Black move presents a small puzzle. Usually, the continuation is 5 . . . B­ K2 6 0-0, 0-0 7 N-B3 [the gambit idea., 7 P-Q5 ! ? PxP 8 N-Q4, B-B3 9 PxP, BxP 10 BxB, NxB 11 P-K4, N-N5 12 N-B3 is unclear (Uhlmann-Filip, Moscow 1967) and Uhlma.nn-Pa.devski (Monte Carlo 1968 ) ] , N-K5 8 Q-B2, NxN 9 QxN. Here the most up-to-date line is 9 . . . P-QB4 as played by Korchnoy himself. The nor­ mal sequel is 10 R-Ql, P-Q3. Against Tal, Korchnoy tried 10 . . . B-KB3 11 Q-Q3 ! with the better prospects; and, in Najdorf-Keres (Moscow 1967 ) , there sim­ ply followed 10 . . . PxP 11 NxP, Bx:B 12 KxB, Q-B1 13 Q-B3, N-B3 with chances of equalizing. But Gheorghiu­ Korchnoy (Palma. de Ma.llorca. 1968) : 11 P-N3, B-KB3 12 B-N2, Q-K2 13 Q-Q2, R-Q1 offers a. tense fight.

6 B-Q2

•

•

.

•

P-QR4

This move, with White's Kingside de­ veloped and Black's belated action in the center, makes little sense. It is valid in the Bogolyubov Variation : 3 . . . B-N5t 4 B-Q2, P-QR4 (Gllgorich-Ta.l, 6th game of the 1968 match) . Black's careless loss of time here annoyed Korchnoy pecul­ iarly: after the game, h e commented : "I wanted to show Boris that he cannot play me as he pleases." Doubtless, he was painfully reminded o{ his recent match with Spassky. A normal reply is 6 . . . BxB t ; but it seems that Spassky was not prepared psychologically for the position which has arisen. Maybe, he expected the Nim­ zo-lndian with a fight or the Queen's In­ dian with a draw and was put off his game by this puzzling mixture of both guesses.

7 0-0

BxB

Here Black quickly admits his mis­ take. For 8 B-B4 follows otherwise, leav­ ing Black's King Bishop quite misplaced.

8 QxB 9 N-83

0-0 N-K5

This simplification is necessary. For White wants to control his K4 by 10 Q-B2, and Black can hardly try . . . 9 . . . P-Q4 as then his Queenside, with tha.t needless 6 . . . P-QR4, presents weaknesses. 10 N x N 1 1 N-R4

BxN

Observe the grandmaster's correct judgment. He is playing for a win but does not avoid another trade of pieces. For his main chance lies in being able to increase the pressure on the center

files. And now he w1ll have that chance. It is particularly instructive to note how the motif of capturing space in the cen­ ter becomes even more effective because of the unsound formation of Black's Pawns on the Queenside after that errant ·Sixth move. 11 • • • • 1 2 NxB 1 3 Q R-Q1

BxB P-Q3 N-Q2

As White has two heavy pieces on the Queen file, Black cannot dream of try­ ing to undermine the center by . . . P­ QB4. 13 . . . N-B3 looks more active in thwt it allows Black to meet 14 P-K4 with 14 . . . P-K4. But then White can be unpleasant simply by playing 14 P-Q5, ' instead.

14 P-K4 White has a free hand in the center, and it is difficult for Black t o build up any counterplay.

progress in his activity.

1 9 N-R3 P-Q83 The otherwise logical 19 . . . P-KB4 fails because, after 20 PxP, RxP 21 N-N5, White is threatening both 22 NxP and 2 2 Q-B2 with a double attack o n Queen Rook Pawn and on the Rook on KB4. 20 Q-82

P-QN4

The text lets White obtain direct tar­ gets and, in the end, material advantage. But Black simply cannot wait longer, and 20 . . . P-Q4 21 BPxP, BPxP 22 P-K5, R-QBl 23 Q-Q2 is not promising, either. 21 PxP PxP 22 R-Q81 Here White finally gets control of the Queen Bishop file, after all; but 22 Q-Q2, P-N5 23 N-B4, R-R3 24 P-K5 ! is also very effective.

22 .

•

•

•

P-N5

One weakness provokes another. But Black has no choice as, after 22 . . . R/4-Rl 23 Q-B6, White wins material immediately.

23 N-84 24 Q-Q2

R-R3

Now Black is definitely in trouble. (After 24 P-K5, P-N6 25 Q-Q2 ! he could have been even more so.) Now h e has to do something about th e threat of 2 5 P-K5.

14 . . . .

Q-N 1

With no attractive choice, Black tries a rather artificial action on the Queen­ side. The passive alternative is to wait with 14 . . . Q-K2 and . . . QR-Ql ; but that offers little prospect of escaping the looming difficulties.

1 5 Q-K2 The text enables Black to get in 15 . . . P-QN4 ; and Black's next move in­ sists on that program but nonetheless makes his Queen Rook Pawn weak at the same time.

15 . . . . 1 6 N-K3

P-R5 Q-N2

Here Black misses his one moment to obtain more active play than in the game by 16 . . . P-QN4 17 PxP, R-R4. Prob­ ably, h e refrains because then 17 R-BI creates great pressure on the Queen Bishop file.

17 N-82 1 8 K R.- K 1

K R- K 1 R-R4

Black has accomplished no subst��: ntial

24 . . . .

P-Q4

Under that dangerous threat, Black loses patience and offers a Pawn in hope of some positional compensation. It is true, though, that, after 24 . . . P-N6 25 P-K5, PxKP 26 PxKP, Q-Q4 27 QxQ, PxQ 28 N-Q6, h e also stands badly.

25 PxP 26 Qx P

QxP N-83

Recapturing the Pawn fails : 26 QxP 27 KR-Ql, Q-R2 28 N-Q6, R-Nl 29 R-B8t, RxR 30 NxR, and White wins.

27 Q-85 Here 27

.·

P-R3

. . Q-Rl is much better as

it is more difficult for White to exploit his material advantage with Queens on the board.

28 QxQ

NxQ

39

29 P-QR3 ! White's excellent move deprives the Black men of QN 4 and fixes the Black Queen Rook Pawn. And the strong re­ sistance one would expect for B l ack by means of counter attacks on the weak White Pawn on QN2 and Q4 never materializes. Hence, this game is very in­ structive for its technical aspects, too.

29

•

•

•

•

30 R-82 31 K-81 32 N-K5

R-N1 P-N4 K-N2 R/3-N3

33 34 35 36 37

R/1-K2 R/3-N2 K-K1 P-R4 N-Q3 K-83 N-85 R-R2 R-84 R/1-QR1

White's first task has been completed. Because of the enforced passivity of Black's pieces, he has not had to worry over his own weak Pawns. The attack on the Black Queen Rook Pawn has dicta.ted the actions. 38 N-K4t 39 N-83

K-N3

0

.

0

.

N-K2

Once again, Black has no good reply. 39 . . . NxN loses to 4 0 PxN and 41 R-N4. And, on 39 . . . R-R4 40 R-K6, R-QNl 41 NxN, PxN 42 R-B6t, White prevails with 42 . . . P-B3 43 R/5-K& or 42 . . . K-N2 43 R-B7, RxP 44 R-KBO.

40 K-Q2 41 K-81

N-84 R-Q1

This, the sealed move, gives away the Queen Rook Pawn. Otherwise, White's other Rook proceeds to the Queenside via K5 and wins that Pawn, anyway. 42 RxRP 43 N x R 44 R-K3 45 P-R3 46 PxP

RxR NxQP K-84 P-R5 PxP

47 P-N4 48 N-83 49 N-K2 50 RxN 51 P-N5 52 P-N6

White wins of course on 52 53 P-N7, R-QN6 54 R-N2, etc. 53 R-N2 54 P-N7 5 5 K-Q2

P-K4 K-K3 NxNt P-84 R-QR1 K-Q3 .

.

•

RxP

K-83 R-Q N 1 Resigns

For 55 . . . RxP 56 RxR, K:x:R 57 K-Q3, K-B3 58 K-B4, P-B5 59 P-B3 or 58 • . . P-K5 59 K-Q4 is hopeless for Black.

39.

TH E E N D OF O N E M OR E VARIAT I O N

WHEN

Black tries t o maintain the same space i n the center a s White and so limit White's further progress toward his own camp, we speak of the "classical defense." In this style, Black meets 1 P-Q4 with 1 . . P-Q4 and l P-K4 with 1 . . . P-K4. For a while, Capablanca believed that it is a rather simple task for Black to keep the balance and, during the period of his invincibility, prophesied that one day recurrent draws would kill the game of chess. We are now almost in the seventies, but no such danger yet appears in spite of the tremendous growth of knowledge of the openings. Actually, Botvinnik, disappointed over the inadequate ability of human beings, ]ooks to the invention of a computer which may better memorize and col­ late all world experience in chess. So far, however, the "best moves" have not been defined for either side-with the exception that Fischer knows the best initial move for White. And it is true that the King Pawn has been an especially dan­ gerous weapon in the hands of Keres, the young Smyslov and young Boleslavsky, and later Tal, Spassky, Fischer and Stein. So much so that it has become a philosophical problem as to whether Black can d e­ fend at all successfully. After having practiced the sha rp lines of the Sicilian, French and the like for years, many grandmasters are tending to return to classical methods for Black in the Ruy Lopez. They are getting tired of taking too many risks and now strive for safety and solid tournament results in­ stead. The best thinkers� with Smyslov in the fore, have found a num­ ber of interesting systems ; but, strangely enough, the greater part of these lines have been refuted by White, sooner or later. So the question of what Black ought to play is again becoming cogent. The game for this month will not help to obtain the answer. .

Wljk am Zee 1969 RUY LOPEZ Yeflim Geller

Lajos Portisch

Soviet U nion

H u ngary

Black

White 1 P-K4

P-K4

It is characteristic of many experts on King Pawn openings to choose no other move for Black. Keres, Unzicker and many others have maintained such an opinion clear to today, Smyslov, Spassky, a.nd but lately PorUsc'h, join that group whenever they feel "moments of respon­ sibility."

·

2 N-K83 3 B-N5 4 B-R4 5 0-0

N-Q83 P-QR3 N-83 B-K2

6 R-K1 7 8-N3 8 P-83 9 P-KR3

P-QN4 P-Q3

0-0 N-Q2

The text has been successfully employ­ ed by Averbakh in recent Soviet tourna­ ments. Its purpose is to improve the position of Black's minor pieces and especially to strengthen his grip on the center as the main fight will soon center

on his crucial K4. Usually, Portisch prefers Breyer's 9 . . . N-N1 and certainly did not count here on Geller's preparations. In Moscow 1967, he tried 9 . . . P-KR3 and was de­ feated surprisingly quickly by Geller. 10 P-Q4

8-83

A Keres idea is the activation of the Queen·side Pawn mass by 10 . . . N-R4 11 B-B2, P-QB4 12 QN-Q2, BPxP 13 PxP, N-QB3 which gives more play for Black's minor pieces. After 14 N-N3, P-QR4 15 B-K3 [15 B-Q3 is less clear] , however, White maintains the tension in the center, and the initiative as well.

temporarily and blocks his QR4 since 11 . . . N-N3 allows White to exert pressure with 12 P-R5, N-Q2 13 B-Q5. On 11 . . . N-N3, White also has pressure after 12 PxNP, PxNP 13 RxR, NxR 14 N-R3, P-N5 15 N-B4. The simple prophylactic 11 • . . R-Nl changes the position greatly but i n White's favor. For, after 12 PxNP, PxNP, Black no longer has R4 for his Knight, and White continues 13 B-K3 while Black has difficulty in finishing his de­ velopment. The only alternative left 'Seems to be 11 . . , B-N2 ; but, after 12 P-Q5 ! that Bishop is not well posted for the posi­ tional struggle to follow and so Black will have troubles on the Queenside. (Note tha,t White obtains nothing from 12 PxNP, PxNP 13 RxR, QxR 14 N-R3, P-N5 15 N-B4, PxP 16 PxP, N-R4 ! (Matulovich-Gligorich, Yugoslav Cham­ pionship 1965) . 12 8-82

N-N3

Black has to protect his Queen Rook because of the threat : 13 PxNP, PxNP 14 P-QN4. Black can try to prevent White's en­ suing move in the game by 10 . . . N-N3. But White obviously stands better · after 11 B-K3, R-N1 12 PxP, NxP 13 NxN, PxN 14 Q-R5, Q-Q3 1 6 N-Q2 (Tal-Darga, Munich Olympics 1958 ) . The move played b y Portisch i s a logi­ cal consequence of the idea of activating Black's passive King Bishop and of securing a central Pawn on his K4 as a firm barrier against White's efforts to penetrate there. 1 1 P-QR4 Only this move can maintain the initiative. "Normal" development by 1 1 QN-Q2 inflicts a hanging Queen Pawn on White. 11 B-K3 makes little sense versus 11 . . . N-R4. 11 P-Q5 is prema­ ture because 11 . . . N-R4 12 B-B2, P-B3 13 PxP, N-N3 very efficiently activates the backward Black Queen Bishop Pawn. And 11 B-Q5 accomplishes nothing at all after 11 . . . B-N2 and 12 . . . N-N3. With the text, White is probing the Black Queen-side weaknesses. The re­ grouping of the Black minor pieces has taken up the time which really was needed for consolidating Black's Pawn structure there. 11

-

•

•

•

N-R4

Black covers the Rook file though only

13 P-QN4! Before the last Hoogoven Tournament began, former world champion Botvinnik gave the surprising statement to the Dutch press that he considers Geller to be the best player in the world and that his only drawback is his lack of Spas­ sky's "realistic approach." This unexpected blow is one of Gel­ ler's inventions, first tried against Matanovich in Skopje 1968. As Portisch was there, he must know of the move and its repetition here must be attri­ buted to a poor judgment of the coming position by the Hungarian grandmaster. At first glance, it seems illogical to drive Black's problem Knight to his QB5. In truth, however, Black will be unable to retain a firm hold on that square, and

White is gaining plenty of space with no loss of time. Also, it ought to be added that 13 PxNP, PxNP 14 QN-Q2, P-B4 allows Black sufficient means to hold the bal­ ance as in Tal-Averbakh in one of Soviet championships. 13

•

•

•

•

N/4-85

In ·that Geller-Matanov1ch game, Black, fearin-g the loss of a Pawn as he realized the Knight would lack sup­ port on B5, played 13 . . . N-B3 ; but he had only difficulties after 14 PxNP, PxNP 15 RxR, NxR 16 P-Q5, N-R2 17 B-K3, N-N3 18 N-R3. 14 P-R5

N-Q2

This position is critical and hu come about almost by force. 15 N-R3 This is the natural, deveLoping con­ tinuation. In Fischer-Matanovlch (Vinkovci 1968 ) , White was successful with a sharper llne : 15 B-N3, PxP 16 PxP, P-B4 17 B-B 4 ! PxNP 18 QN-Q2, P-Q4 19 PxP, NxP 20 B-Q6 ! NxB 21 QxN; R-K1 22 B-B7 ! RxRt 23 RxR, QxB 24 R-K8t, N-B1 25 QxP, B-K2 26 RxKB, Q-Q1 27 N-K5, N-N3 28 N-B6, Q-B1 29 Q-B5 ! P-QR4 30 R-B7, Q-K1 31 P-Q6, �2 32 N-K7t, K-R1 33 P-Q5, P-R5 34 N-N1, N-B1 35 N-R3, P-B3 36 R-N7, Q-R4 37 NxP, P-R6 38 NxP, Q-Q8t 39 K-R2, Q-Q7 40 Q-K3, Q-R4 41 N-B4, Q-R3 42 Q-QN3, B-R5 43 Q-N4, N-Q2 44 N-N2, Resigns. That was a very fine victory in which two doubled, central Pawns proved in collaboration with other pieces, to be stronger than Black's two connected, passed Pawns on the Queenside. There were, however, too many com­ plications in that game, and it is quite probable tha..t Portisch knew of the game and had found · at home some improve­ ment for Black. 15 .

•

•

•

NxN

P-N3

1 6 8xN

Black was obliged to trade off his strong Knight, though it may be said from another aspect that shedding a piece in a cramped position may have favored him. His main trouble, however, is a permanent one : he ·cannot play . . . P-QB4 and, without that move, he 1s doomed to a passive role in the center. With the text, he aims to improve the position of his KJ.ng Bishop, then open the way for his King Bishop Pawn. 17 Q-Q3 1 8 Q R-Q1

8-K N 2 8-N2

19 8-N3 20 8-81

K-R1

Black has been trying to prepare some counter threats, but in vain. White has posted his pieces on the best squares, and Black can do nothing in the ce�ter. 20 . . . P-KB4 fails against 21 N-N5. And, with White's heavy pieces already on the center files, Black can move none of his other Pawns either. This position is an entirely logical con­ sequence of the preceding moves, and the result is obviously unfavorable for BLack as White has a clear advantage in both space and development. It is curious that Geller has refuted another important variation in the Ruy Lopez also with a move of the Queen Knight Pawn. The following line of Smyslov's was a very solid weapon for years until after 1 P-K4, P-K4 2 N-KB3, N-QB3 3 B-N5, P-QR3 4 B-R4, N-B3 6 0-0, B-K2 6 R-K1, P-QN4 7 B-N3, P-Q3 8 P-B3, 0-0 9 P-KR3, N-QR4 10 B-B2, P-B4 11 P-Q4, Q-B2 12 QN-Q2, B-Q2 13 N-B1, KR-K1, Geller discovered the quiet 14 P-QN3 ! which makes it dif­ ficult for Black to solve the problem of his divagating Knight on the edge of the board.

20

•

•

•

•

21 P-Q5 1

Q-K1

White blocks the position as he has a clea..r plan of action for the Queenside while Bla..ck ·cannot do anything without

weakening his position. 21

•

.

•

•

N-83

Here Black realizes that 21 . . . P-KB4 still falls against 22 N-N5 - 20 . . . Q-K2 immediately would have made sense.

22 P-84 23 8x P

B-Q2 31 R-84 . P-KB4 fails against 32 B-B6, Q-K3. 8x8 Qx8 R/1-Q81 R-N2 34 R-86

31 . . R-R2 33 32 33

PxP Q-K2

23 . . . N-R4 is playable since, after 24 P-N5, PxP 25 BxP, P-QB3 26 PxP, BxP, Black can hold the position one way or another. After the text, the strategic task becomes simple for White.

The situation is extremely difficult for Black. On the passive 34 . . . R/2-R2 35 Q-B4, he has no good conti nuation. So he allows penetration of White Rooks to the seventh and thus enters upon a hopeless position also. RxP 34 . . . . 35 Rx8 P Q-N4 35 . . . Q-Kl 36 R/l-B6 is equally bad for Black.

24 8-K N S I

White vacates the Queen Bishop file for his Rooks and also gets rid of one potentially active Black piece. 24 • • • • K R-Q N 1 P-R3 25 R-Q81

26 8 x N I

27 B-N 3

Qx8

White's pressure o n th e Bishop file will give him a decisive advantage. 27 • • • • 28 8-R4

Q-Q1 8-Q8 1

29 B-86

30 8-R4

B-N2 B-Q 8 1

36 QxQ 37 RxP

PxQ Rx K P

38 R/1-87 39 P-N3

B-81 P-N4

Black tries to prevent the Knight from penetrating but only prevents 40 N-R4.

40 N-R2 � N-N4 42 Px R

K-N1 RxN Resigns

So Black did keep out the Knight but at too great a cost.

40.

FAS H I O N

JN one thing especially, the human race differs from the rest of the living world of our planet: nature, since it is functional, would be un­ able to give any meaning to that factor which influences human lives so much : fashion. Over centuries, decades and even years, the most intelli­ gent creatures earth have constantly been changing, and very often for no apparent reason, their style of haircut, dresses, furniture, homes and ways of life. It could be easy to explain this constant change if it always brought an improvement, progress. But it does not. Nonetheless, the tide of fashion penetrates equally into all intellectual spheres, into all kinds of arts and even, in a special way, into our game of chess. ) It would be difficult to prove that any opening is better than others. Nevertheless, during certain stretches of time, some openings or opening variations are played ; and some are not-just as if some systems alone were good ones; and the rest refuted. One can remember, for instance, the Fifties when it was almost impossible to find one decent Caro-Kann in the grandmasters' praxis­ and the first years of the Sixties when there was a flood of them after Botvinnik's two matches with Tal. Any new fashion in chess, though, does have some sense. It dis­ covers the holes existing in our know ledge or memory of the openings and it inflicts surprise on the opponent. One opening as "the best weap­ on" cannot last too long, of course; and, consequently, a change in taste is logical. Lately, there has been a tendency to try "irregular" openings. On 1 P-K4, Botvinnik, Smyslov and others have preferred to mislead opponents by the early fianchetto of the King Bishop for Black . The following game, however, demonstrates how White can outwit Black very effectively simply by contriving to oppose the Reti System more favorably with colors reversed. on

W i j k am Zee 1 969 PIRC DEFENSE Y ef i m Gel ler

H . Ree

S ovi et U n i o n

H o l la nd Black

White

1 N-KB3

P-K N 3

O f recent years, Geller's favorite first move has again become P-K4, and the young Dutch master probably expected it and so prepared the fianchetto. Strangely enough, however, it works well against any initial White move,

2 P-K4 This move could just as well have been played first as White now returns t o his favorite King Pawn opening. The only

difference is that Whi'te, having blocked his King Bishop Pawn, is limited as to his choice of developing systems. As a matter of fact, Geller may not have cared much. For, after 1 P-K4, P-KN3 2 P-Q4, P-Q3 3 P-KB4, N-KB3 4 N-QB3, B-N2 5 N-B3, Pal Benko as Black tried a new attempt in two games of the same Hoogoven Tournament: 5 . . . P-B4 6 PxP, Q-R4 7 B-Q3, QxBP 8 Q-K2, 0-0 9 B-K3, Q-QR4 10 0-0, with unclear consequences : 1) 10 . . . N-B3 11 P-KR3, B-Q2 12 P-QR3, KR-B1 13 Q-B2, B-K1 14 P-B5 with the initiative for White (Olafsson­ Benko, 3d round ) ; " 2) 10 . . •. QN-Q2 11 P-KR3, P-QR3 12 Q-B2, P- K4 13 PxP, PxP 14 Q-R4, P-QN4

15 B-R6, B-N2 16 N-N5 [ th e pcsitlon Is very reminiscent of the Najdorf Variation after 1 P-K4, P�B4 2 N-KB3, P-Q3 3 P-Q4, PxP 4 NxP, N-KB3 5 N-QB3, P-QR3 6 P-B4, Q-B2 7 B-Q3, P-KN3 8 N-B3, QN-Q2 9 0-0, B-N2 10 Q-K1, P-K4 11 K-R1, 0-0 12 Q--R4, P-QN4 13 PxP, PxP 14 B-R6, B-N2 15 N-N5 ; isn't i t ? ] , Q-N5 17 P�R3. Q-K2 18 P-KN4, KR-K1 19 R-B2, BxB 20 QxB, Q-B1 21 Q-R4, P-R3 22 N-B3, N-R2 23 QR-KB1, P-B3 ( Ree--B enko, 5th round ) , and Black consolidated his position and gained the advantage with 24 P-R4, P-N5 25 B-B4t, K-N2 26 N-Q5, QR-B1 ?:! P-N3, BxN 28 BxB, R-B6.

•

8-N 2

3 P-Q4

P-Q3

2

•

•

•

This system was applied in six games of the Hoogoven Tournament this year. Its popularity derives from i.ts elasticity in attacking White's c enter In any of several different ways and in provoking an extremely sharp fight. Black can try to strike with . . . P-QB4 or . . • P-K4 or even to play . . . P-Q4 and then, after P-K5, to exchange his Queen BiSihop for White's King Knight to render White's Q4 and K5 more susceptible to attack. In illustration, here are tw o ddea games : 1) 1 P-Q4, P-KN3 2 P-K4, P-QB3 3 ' P-KB4, P-Q4 4 P-K5, P-QB4 ! ? 5 PxP ! N-QB3 6 N-KB3, B-N5 7 B-K2, P-K3, 8 B-K3, N-R3 9 P-B3, N-B4 10 B-B2, P-KR4 11 QN�2. B-R3 ! 12 Q-R4 ! P-KN4 13 P-KR3 ! BxN 14 NxB, PxP 15 N--Q4 with a clear advantage for White (Gli· gorich-Botvinnik, Hamburg 1965) ; 2) 1 P-K4, P-Q3 2 P--Q4, N-KB3 3 N-QB3, P-KN3 4 N-B3, B-N2 5 B-QB4, P-B3 6 B--N3, 0-0 7 Q-K2, B--N5 ! 8 P-KR3, BxN 9 QxB, P-K3 ! 10 B-N5, P-KR3 11 B--R 4, QN-Q2 12 0--0-0 ? Q-R4 13 Q-K2, P-QN4 14 P-KB4, P-N5 15 N-N1, P-Q4 1 6 N-Q2, P-B4 ! with a

strong initiative for Black ( M edina-Bot­ vinnik, Palma de Mallorca 1967 ) . A t any mte, i t i s difficult to name th e defense properly. The Yugoslav grand­ master Pirc pmcticed it with the initial moves, 1 P-K4, P-Q3 [an improvement on tJhe Alekhine Defense ! ] 2 P-Q4, N-KB3 3 N-QB3, P-KN3. Some call 1t Robatsch as the Austrian grandmaster played 1 . . . P-KN3 immediately on 1 P-K4. The Russians call it, for their own reasons, by the name of Ufimtsev. 4 P-QB3 !

Lets think with colors reversed ! After 1 N-KB3, P-Q4 2 P-KN3, P-QB3 3 B-N2, N-KB3 4 0-0, Black would be happy if he were able to play . . . P-K4. With the solid move .in the game, which strength­ ens his center and restricts the activity of Black's King Bishop, Geller obtains ex­ actly such a position with a tem po more, as White. White could not try to transpose into a King's Indian very w ell with 4 P-QB4 as his Queen Pawn would be exposed to an early attack by Black. Nor does he obtain anything special with the modest, developing 4 B-K2 ei­ ther. On 4 . . . N-KB3, there may follow : 1) 5 QN-Q2, 0-0 6 0-0, N-B3 7 P-Q5, N-N1 8 B-B4, P-B3 9 R-K1, QN-Q2 10 Q-K2, N-N3 11 PxP, PxP 12 B-R6, KN­ Q2 13 N-N3, BxB 14 QxB, Q-B1 Drawn ( K eres-Olafsson, Rd. 13, of this same tournament ) . 2 ) 5 N-B3, 0-0 6 0-0, B-N5 7 B--K3, N-B3 ; and 8 P-KR3, BxN 9 BxB, N-Q2 10 Q-Q2, N-N3 11 B-K2, P-K4 12 PxP, PxP 13 QxQ, QRxQ 14 B-B5, KR-K1 1 5 B-N5, R-K3 16 QR-Q1, N-Q5 with an initiative for Black [Chirich-Botvinnlk, Rd. 7 ] ; or 8 Q-Q2, P-K4 [8 . . . N-Q2 is playable] 9 P-Q5, N-K2 10 P-QR4 ! N-Kl 11 P-R5, P-QR3 12 R-R3, B-Q2 1 3 P-KN3, P-KB4 14 N-KN5, P-R3 15 N-K6, BxN 16 PxB, K-R2 17 PxP, NxP 18 N-Q5, N-B3 19 P-QB4, P-B3 20 B-N6, Q-B1

21 N-B7, R-QN1 22 R-Q3, and, in the complications, White completely out­ played his opponent (Benko--Ostojich, 4th Rd. ) .

4 . . . .

P-Q83

Another possibility here is 4 . . . P-N3 ! 5 QN-Q2, P-K4 6 PxP, PxP 7 B-B4, Q-K2 8 P-QR4, N-KB3 9 P-R5, 0-0 10 0-0, B-N2 11 R-K1, QN-Q2 1 2 Q-B2, P-KR3 13 P-QN4, P-R3 14 B-R3, P-QN4 15 B-KB1 � N-K1 16 P-B4, P-QB3 17 QR-Q1, N-B2 18 N-N3, N-K3 19 P-B5

the Ruy Lopez. 8 . . . . 9 8-81

Q-82 P-K4

Black cannot afford to let White take even more space in the center and so he has to oppose in this manner.

with some pressure for White ( Gligorich­ Minich, Skopje 1968 ) . The text leaves Black's Q 3 weakened 5 QN-Q2

N-83

1 0 P-QR4

A n immediSJte 10 N-B4 wastes time dn view of 10 . . . P-QN4. So White is trying to secure his QB4 as an outpoi!t. 10 . . . . 11 P-R5

6 8-K2

Were White's King Bishop Pawn on B4, he could think more of 6 P-K5 as in Smejkal-Smyslov (Hastings 1969 ) : 1 P-K4, P-KN3 2 P-Q4, B-N2 3 P-QB3, P-Q3 4 P-KB4, N-KB3 5 P-K5 ! N-Q4 6 N-B3, 0-0 7 B-B4, P-QB3 8 P-QR4, N-R3 9 0-0, QN-B2 10 Q-K1, P-B3 11 Q-R4, B-K3 12 N-R3, Q-Q2 13 B-Q2, P-QN4 14 B-Q3, N-N3 15 RPxP, PxNP 16 QR-KI where, after 16 . . . P-QR3 ? White obtained a decisive attack with 17 PxQP, PxP 18 RxB ! QxR 19 P-B5, P-N4 20 NxKNP ! PxN 21 QBxP, Q-Q2 22 P-B6, B-R1 23 B-B5, N-K3 24 Q-N4, K-B2 25 Q-R5 t, K-N1 26 Q-N4, K-B2 27 BxP, K-K1 28 P-B7t, RxP 29 B-N6, N-Q1 3 0 Q-R5, Q-K3 31 QxBt, K-Q2 3 2 BxR, Re­

signs. 6 . . . . 7 0-0 8 R-K1

0-0

QN-Q2

White's plan of d evelopment reminds one much of the · Ruy Lopez except that the activity of his King Bishop and Queen Knight are concentrated more toward the Queenside, and with good reason. For Black has built up a very solid position on the other wing faster than he can suc­ ceed i n doing in the Closed Variation of

R-K1 R-N 1

In order to finish the development of his Queenside, Black aims to make his Queen Knight Pawn mobile without hav­ i ng to spoil his Plawn structure. With the central position almost sym­ metrical, Black hopes to equalize soon. For the more active position of White's Pawn gives him only one advantage, for the moment, the possibility of activating his Queen Knight via QB4. And mack hopes that his counter pressure on the King file will prevent any infiltration by White. 12 N-84 !

Here is the k ey move of Geller's Rtra­ tegic idea. He seems to have left his King Pawn insufficiently guarded. But this is the only correct road to maintain the in· itiative. For, after the preventive 1 2 PxP, PxP 13 N-B4, N-B4 ! White cannot expect much.

12

•

.

.

.

P-Q N 4

Against 1 2 . . . P:x: P , W h i t e Is ready with 13 B-B4 ! with deadly pressure on the diagonal housing Black's Queen and Rook : 13 . . NxP 14 NxP !

1 3 PxP e.p. 14 PxP

Px N P

Now 'tJhe time tis ripe f1or the penetra· tion by White's pieces.

14 . • . . 1 5 Q-Q6 !

Px P Q-N2

Black does no relish an endgame, for his Queen has been the best guardian of his sensitive squares.

16 Q-R3 17 N-Q6

Q-82 R-81

17 . . . B-B1 fails of course as, on l 8 NxR, Black's Queen is attacked. 18 8-Q84

P-Q N 4

Black's position h a s become v�ry diffi· cult. 18 . . . N-B4 fails against 19 NxBP ! RxN 20 N-N5. With the text, Black hopeF to force simplification with 19 NxB, RxN as any retreat of White's Bishop loses to 19 . . . P-N5.

19 8x Pt l Black has not taken into account this

kind of sacrlflce. As a matter of fact, the combination Is simple, and the sacrifice must be avoided : 19 . . . RxB 20 NxR, KxN 21 N-N5t, and White wins on any retreat of Black's King: 21 . . . K-Kl 22 N-K6 ; or 21 . . . K-N1 22 Q-N3t, with ma;ting threats.

19 • • • 20 Nx8

•

K-R1 Rx8

21 N-N 5 1 22 N-Q6

R-81 N-N3

The position is restgnable; and, with his next moves, White does his best to evoke such a decision from his opponent. 23 B-K3 ! Black has some chance after 23 N-K6, Q-Q2 24 NxR, BxN since the other White Knight has no good retreat. 23 . . . . 24 8xN

P-N5 Qx8

O n 24 . . . RxB, White gets a decisive advantage by 25 Q-R7.

25 N/6-87t 26 Q-N 3 1

K-N 1 Resigns

There are odd irresistible threats : 26 . . . PxP 27 N-R6:j:, K-R1 28 Q-N8 t , NxQ and there will be one Knight left to mate on B 7 ; or 26 . . . P-R4 27 NxP§, K-R1 28 NxNP mate!

41 .

SO MANY YEARS OF EXPLORAT I O N

A GRANDMASTER i s supposed t o have a profound understanding of

the laws of chess. For a single position, however, on the chessboard, one can devote years and decades of exploration without becoming cer­ tain of its true nature. It is one of the fascinating sides of the game--th at so many "big brains" put so much energy and time into it­ with such a little result. A very good example of this facet of chess isJthe so-called Mar del Plata Variation. The name of that line in the King's Indian may not be quite justified. For the initial seventh move for Black was first tried by Soviet master Aronin in 1952 and immediately adopted by Bronstein as well. But your commentator had the honor to disclose the most natural scheme of development of Black's forces in Mar del Plata in 1953, and the system has survived that way up to today. The man whose "destiny" it has been to put the whole idea to most serious trial is grandmaster Taimanov. A pianist by profession, he here tried to find the right tune for White over many, many years. He was fascinated by White's strong positional pressure on the Queenside, as was Bronstein over Black's possibility for attacking on the opposite wing. Taimanov played Aronin, Bronstein, Najdorf and many others. He tried this and that. He even refuted one of his own lines in Havana 1967 when Pachman was daring enough to use Taimanov's ideas as White. Then, after seventeen years of deep reflection and general practice, his own and that of many others, Taimanov came to the conclusion that White's King Knight simply should be placed somewhere else! Here is Taimanov's most recent discovery. Venice 1 969 S. Tatai

Mark Talmanov

Italy

Soviet U nion

Bl81Ck

White

1 P-Q4

2 P-Q84 3 N-Q83

N-KBS P-K N 3 B-N2

4 5 6 7

P-K4 N-83 B-K2

o-o

P-Q3

0-0

P-K4

Of late, White has often played 7 P­ Q5 to avoid the Mar del Plata. 7 . . . . N-83 Here ls Aronln's move. After 7 QN-Q2 8 R-K1, White develops more easily and holds a positional advantage (GUgorlch-Tal, Leipzig 1960 ) . Now the pressure on White's Q4 obligates him to declare his intention in the center.· 8 P-Q5

On 8 B-K3, R-K1 ! [Najdorf's idea] 9 PxP, PxP 10 QxQ, RxQ! 11 B-N5, R-Q2 ! Black equalizes easily (Pomar-Gllgorich, Lugano and Palm.a de Mallorca 1968 ) .

8 . . . .

N-K2

9 N-Q2! This is a very sharp position because such a Pawn structure very clearly di­ v.Ides the spheres of influence for both sides. Black's Knight stands awkwardly for the moment on K2 but enables Black easily to realize the capture of space on the Kingside with . . . P-KB4. So It Is why White has to be very careful as to how best develop his counter-initiative on the other wing.

The first idea which came to Talma.nov was 9 N-K1 and he so played in his in· ltla.l game with Aron.ln (Mosoow 1952) . Aronln led the attack erroneously and lost. But Bronstein wrote: "Watching that game, I was surprised that White allows the advance of Black's Pawn to KB5 as that always gives in positions of that type a. very strong attack against the White King. Even now, I think White's strategic plan is all wrong." His opinion was confirmed in Mar del Plata the next year when Black used the most efficient plan for the first time in Najdorf-Gllgorich : 9 N-K1, N---Q2 10 N-Q3, P-KB4 11 P-B3 [11 PxP, NxP! does not offer too much ] , P�B5 12 B---Q 2, P-KN4 13 P---QN4, N-KB3 14 P-B5, P-KR4 15 N-B2, N-N3 ! 16 R-B1, R-B2 ! 17 PxP, PxP 18 P---QR4, B-B1 ! 19 P-R5, R-N2 20 P-R3, K-R1 21 N-N5, P-N5 .22 BPxP, PxP 23 PxP, P-R3 24 N---QR3, B---Q2 25 N-B4, R-B1 26 N-N6, RxR 27 BxR, B-K1 28 B-R3, B-B2 29 Q-B2, N-R5 with decisive, King-side pressure. In the same tournament and elsewhere in 1953, White tried to speed up his posi­ tional attack on the Queenside with 9 N-K1, N-Q2 10 B-Ka, P-KB4 11 P-B3, P-B5 12 B-B2, P-KN4 13 N---Q3 , N-KB3 14 P-B5, N-N3 15 R-B1, R-B2, but with· out success (See small diagram) : 1) 16 Q-N3, P­ N5 ! 17 PxP, N:xNP 18 BxN, BxB 19 QxP, P-B6 with a vecy dangerous at­ taCk (Eliska.ses-Gll· gorich; Mar del Pla­ ta 1953) ; 2) 16 PxP, PxP 17 N-N5, P-N5 18 Q­ Q2, and Black missed the strongest move, 18 . . . P-N6 ! instead having to fight [successfully] for a. draw with an­ other continuation (Na.jdorf-Trifunovlch, Mar del Plata 1953) ; 3) 16 R-B2, B-B1 17 PxP, PxP 18 Q---Q2, P-N5 19 KR-B1, P-N6 ! 20 PxP, PxP 21 BxP, N-R4 22 B-R2, B-K2 23 N-N1, B---Q 2 24 Q-K1, B-N4 25 N---Q2, B-K6t 26 K-R1, Q-N4 with a winning attack (Taimanov-Najdorf, Zurich 1953 ) . There were many similar attempts for White; • but the fact remained that Black was leading his action against the op· ponent's King • whereby he could br:f.ng Two games between Larry Evans and Taimanov in the USSR-USA Match of 1964 can be counted in the history of this open­ Ing, •

off grea.ter ma;terla.l sacrifices than White oould afford in his Queen-side attack. Safer, but not too ambitious was the continuation : [continue from the first diagram plus 9 N-Kl, N---Q 2 ] 10 P-B3, P-KB4 11 P-KN4 ! So Talmanov came to the conclusion not to waste time on any preventive move on the Klngside. But then he him­ self found the simplest refutation of his own idea: [continue from first diagram] 9 P---QN4 ! N-R4 10 P-N3, P-KB4 11 N-KN5 N-KB3 12 P-B3, P-B5 ! 13 P-N5, P-R3 14 N-K6, BxN 15 PxB, BPxP 16 RPxP, Q-B1 ! 17 N---Q 5, QxP 18 NxP, Q-R6 19 NxR, Qxpt, and Black had a draw by perpetual check (Pachman­ Taimanov, Havana 1967 ) . So, after seventeen years of hard think· ing over the board, Taimanov has de­ cided that the best move must be an­ other route for White's King Knlght; hence, that 9 N---Q2 ! After an immediate 9 P--:QN4, N-R4, White has ' to spend a tempo on 10 P­ KN3 ; but now a similar idea will be reaLized with a gain of time and the White King Knight will be able to ex· ercise stronger activity from QB4 or QN3 than in the line with 9 N-K1. Indeed, 9 N---Q2 ! was played before. 9

•

.

•

•

B-R3

Suetin has recommended the text. The disappearance of the black-bound Bishops ought to favor the weak spots on the Black Queenside. The text has its draw­ backs though : it throws away some preci us time and also makes Black's Kingside more sensitive to any White counter on that wing. Another possibility is 9 . . . P-B4 try­ ing to block ·the Queenside a.s much as possible. But it does not agree with the principle not to touch the side on which one feels weaker.

�

A serious alternative is the standard llne, 9 . . . N---Q 2 10 P---QN4, P-KB4 (see small diagram) : 1) 11 N-N3, N­ KB3 12 Q---Q 3 , P-B5 [: . . P.xP is play­ able] 13 P-B5, P­ KN4 14 P-B3 (Udov· ohich-BulaJt, Bel­ grade 1960) but 14 . . . P-N5 looks ra.tlh­ er promising; 2) 11 P-B3, N-KB3 12 P-B5, P-B5 13 N-B4, P-KN4 14 B-R3, N-K1 15 P-N5, and White has more initla.tive (Levlt­ Zhuhovitsky, Rostov-on-Don 1962) .

In Shamkovich-Nezhmetdinov (Baku 1961 ) , Black tried 9 . . . N-K1 the better to protect his Queenside. After 10 P-QN4, P-KB4 11 P-B3, P-B5 12 P-B5, P-KN4 13 N-B4, R-B2, there were chances for both sides.

10 P-QN4

P-QR4 The text allows an open fight on the wing on which Black ought better to keep quiet. In a later game, Gligorich­ Vukich (Sarajevo 1969 ) , Black played 10 . , . N-K1 [10 . . . N-Q2 is playable, too] 11 P-B5, P-KB4 ; but, after 12 KP:x:P! [on 12 N-B4, B:x:B 13 R:x:B, P:x:KP 14 QN:x:P, N-B4, White has less potent threats than with his Knight still on K4 ] , P:x:KBP [ 1 2 . . . NxBP 1 3 N/2-K4 i s more favorable for White] 13 N-B4, BxB 14 R:x:B, N-N3 15 B-R5 ! Q-K2 16 BxN, P:x:B 17 P-B4, P:x:KBP 18 RxP ! P:x:P 19 PxP, QxPt 20 K-R1, Q-K2 21 Q-Q2 ! N-Q3 22 NxN, PxN 23 R-K1, Q-B3 24 R-B3, B-Q2 25 N-K4, White had decisive pressure for the sacrificed Pawn. 1 1 PxP 12 N-N3 13 Qx8

17 P-K5 1 8 Qx K P

PxP P-83

This move is a part of Black's plan to curb White's initiative.

19 Q-84 20 N-N5

P-NS

WJUte is trying hard not to ponent live in peace. 20 • • • • 21 8-Q3 22 N-Q2

whole

let

hJs �

N-84 N/4-Q3

RxP 8x8

13 NxR, B-N7 offers White nothing.

13 . . . • 1 4 P-QR4

the black squares, on the Kingside and in the center as well.

R-R1

White is in no hurry to play 14 P-KB4 ; for, after 14 . . . P:x:P 15 Q:x:P, Black can answer 15 . . . N-Q2 16 P-B5 ! N-K4 ! maintaining the balance somehow. Black does not feel safe on either wing, and that ·is why White captures space on the Queenside in the meantime.

22

•

•

•

B-RS

•

Black parries the threat of 23 N-K4 which brea.ks the blockade m the center with decisive effeot since White has a passed Pawn and much more space. Hence, Black has to trade his Bishop for one of White's Knights. 22 . . . P-B4 creates dangerous holes for White's pieces on his K5 and KN5.

23 P-R4 Now White tries to create new weak­ nesses in ·th e . opponent's camp, along the diagonal of the White Bishop.

23 • • • • 24 RPx8

8xN Rx R

25 Rx R 26 P-P5 27 Q-1 1 3

White defends and atta.cks at time.

27 • • • • 28 N-K4

14

.

.

•

•

P-84

Black is trying to secure his position on one wing at least; but White gains a new motif by which to break through on the other side.

15 P-K 84 16 QxP

PxP N-K1

Black has no other choice on_ account of th e weakness of his Q3, but he hopes to succeed in blocking the position on

K-N2 Q-K2

N-K82 N-K4

the same

29 Px P

30 R-R6

PxP

'Black has partially achieved what he wanted but has permanent worries be­ cause of his weak KN3 and QN3 and White's more act:J,ve pieces.

N-Q3

30 . . . .

And here is his first serious mistake. He has to play 30 . . . Q-QB2.

31 N x N 3 2 8xPI

QxN ·

N-82

Bla�k blundered away a Pawn perhaps because h e realized too late that 32 . . •

NxP fails against 33 R-R7t. The end· game arrives by force. NxQ 33 QxQ

34 8-Q3 3 5 K-82

R-Q N 1 P-84

Black thus obtains precious space for his King, and a new weakness. After the passive 35 . . . K-B2 36 K-B3, K-K2 37 K-B4, K-B2 38 R-R7t, R-N2 39 R-R8 ! White builds up new threa.ts to pene­ trate with his King. 36 K-83 37 K-84

K-83 R-N 1

Another blunder � n a difficult position. Black is hoping for 38 RxP, R-N5t 39 K-B3, K-K4 with oounterplay. 38 8x P I

Once more, and with th e same Bishop! After 3 8 . . . NxB 39 Rxpt, White wins easily. I n the text, Black's King remains passive, a decisive factor. Nx8P 4 3 R-86 38 . • • . NxP 39 8-Q3 N-Q3 44 K-K5 ! R-Q1 40 RxP K-K2 45 R-85 N-Q3 41 P-N4 P-85 46 R-87f K-81 42 8-85 P-86 47 B-K6 1 Resigns

42.

T H E S EARC H FOR WEAPO N S

The late Dr. Vidmar had good reason t o regard the past with nostalgia, naming it "the golden chess times." The great ones of that era, with an appreciably lesser burden of competition on their backs, could afford to defend some principles, to create their theories or even to evolve a definite philosophy in chess. Nowadays, thousands and thousands of important tournament games are neing played every year; and, paradoxically enough, in the forest of lines and improving moves, the noble ambition of seeking "the final truth" has had to be replaced by a pragmatic approach to the problem. Not "how one should play," but "how one can win" has become the task imposed by this day. It is strange that broadened experience has influenced chess practice in such a way. But, for any of the contempor· ary grandmasters, that outcome is quite natural. For the number of strong opponents and of major tournaments has increased immensely, too. So long as any system brings in points, one cannot sneer at it. Thus, Larsen often prefers to open with 1 P-QN3 ; and Korchnoy would use any of the openings in order to make it more difficult for his oppo­ nent to produce forty good moves in two and a half hours. Considering the present knowledge of all crucial lines, there are not many surprises left. Among the few possible and if played on a shrewdly chosen occasion, Alekhine's Defense could be one. Sarajevo 1 969 A L E KH I N E DEFENSE D ragolj ub J a n osevich Yugoslavia

V i ctor K o rc h n oy Soviet U n io n

Black

White 1 P-K4

N - K B3

This "anti-dogmatic" reply may be two centuries old ; but Alekhine had the merit to be the first, before Lasker, Retl and others, to give it official recognition in modern master praotice. Although there is no known refutation of Black's idea of provoking a premature advance of White's center Pawns, the de­ fense is seldom played today. That is one QR4, P-QR4 7 P-Q4, P-Q3 8 PxQP, QxP more reason for it to become a favorite 9 N-B3, PxP 10 N-N5, Q-B4 ! 1 1 B-R3. weapon of Korchnoy, Larsen, Hort and Q-K4t 12 Q-K2, QxQt 13 NxQ, N-R3 14 other international competitors. KNxP, P-K4, Black had the strategically superior position for the endgame. 2 P-K5 N-Q4 A playable possibility is to improve ( See d i agram, next col u m n ) the development with 3 N-QB3. On the 3 P-Q4 normal 3 . . . NxN and then 4 QPxN, Mestrovich-Janosevich (Sarajevo 1969 ) Black came out again with better chances displayed a naive attempt to snare I n the endgame in Sarapu-Hort ( Sousse Black's Knight: 3 P-QB4, N-N3 4 P-QN3 1967 ) : 4 . . . P-Q3 5 N-B3, PxP ! 6 QxQt, [ 4 P-B5, N-Q4 5 N-QB3, NxN and 6 . . . KxQ 7 NxP, K-K1 8 B-QB4, P--K3 9 P-Q3 gains equality] , P-N3 5 Q-B3 ? ! P-B4, N-Q2 10 NxN, BxN 11 B-K3, B-Q3 Naive because, after 5 . . . P-QB4 6 P- 12 0-0, K-K2 13 QR-K1, KR-Kl.

Recapturing toward the center in this Une, however, changes the complexion of th e hors e : 4 NPxN, P-Q3 5 P-KB4, N-B3 [5 . . . PxP 6 PxP, B-B4 is simpler] 6 N-B3, PxP 7 PxP, Q-Q4 8 P-Q4, B-N5 9 B-K2, P-K3 10 0-0, B-K2 11 N-N5, BxB 12 QxB left White with the pressure in Bilek-Larsen (Soussa 1967 ) . And there is a n original Larsen at· tempt with 4 . . . P-QN3 5 P-KB4, B-N2 6 N-B3, P-K3 7 P-Q4, P-Q3 8 B-Q3, B­ K2 9 0-0, N-B3 10 Q-K1 [more aggres· sive than 10 Q-K2, Q-Q2 11 PxP, QxP 12 N-K5, 0-0 13 P-QR4, NxN 14 BPxN, Q-Q4 15 R-B4, P-QB4 16 B-K3, QR-B1 17 QR-KB1, PxP 18 PxP, R-B6 19 B-K4, Q-Q2 20 BxPt, KxB 21 Q-R5t, K-N1 Drawn (Padevski-Larsen, Lugano 1968 ) ] , Q-Q2 11 PxP, QxP 1 2 N-N5, P-KR3 13 N-K4, Q-Q2 14 P-B5, 0-0-0 15 PxP, QxP 16 Q-B2, NxP 17 N-N3 which was won by White ( R. Byrne-Larsen, Monte Carlo 1968) but in which one suspeots Black can improve his game somewhere. 3 . . . . P-Q3 4 N-KB3

NxP, Black had a strong attack and Pawns for the sacrificed piece ( Suttles­ Korchnoy, Soussa 1967 ) . And, after 7 . . . 0-0 instead, White was outplayed i n Gipslis-Larsen (Sousse 1967) : 8 B-K2, N-B3 9 N-B3, B-N5 10 P-QN3, B-B3 11 0-0, P-Q4 ! 12 P-B5, N-B1 13 P-QN4, N/1-K2 14 P-N5, N-R4 15 P-KR3, BxN 16 BxB, P-B3 17 Q-Q3, N-B5 18 B-B4, N-KN3 19 B-R2, B-N4 20 PxP, PxP. Also on 6 N-KB3 in this line, Black captured the initiative with 6 . . . B-K2 7 B-K2, 0-0 8 0-0, B-B3 9 N-B3, R-K1 10 P-KR3, N-B3 11 B-B4, B-B4 12 R-B1, P-KR3 13 P-QN3, R-K2 14 Q-Q2, Q-Q2 15 KR-Q1, QR-K1 16 B-B1, P-N4 ! 17 B-N3, B-- K5 18 NxB, RxN 19 B-Q3, R/5K2 20 B-N1, B-N2 21 R-K1, RxRt 22 RxR, RxRt 23 QxR, P-B4 ( Matanovich­ Larsen, Palma de Mallorca 1968 ) .

This is the up-to-date continuation. Hort once was asked by an expert friend after his win as Black in Skopje 1968 : "What would you play against the Four Pawns Attack ?" Hort replied : "I do not know ; but who plays that?" As a matter of fact, White seldom tries 4 P-QB4, N-N3 5 P-B4, PxP 6 BPxP, N-B3 7 B-K3, B-B4 8 N-QB3, P-K3 9 B-K2, B-K2 10 N-B3, 0-0 11 0-0 as Black has prospects of equalizing with 11 . . . P-B3 ! Indeed, i n Letzelter-Hort (Monte Carlo 1968 ) , Black had the bet­ ter game after 12 N-KR4 ! ? PxP 13 NxB, PxN 14 P-q_5, N-Q5 15 BxN, PxB 16 QxP, N-Q2 17 Q-Q2, B-B4t 18 K-R1, Q-R5. And, in Matanovich-Allan (Lugano 196 8 ) , Black saved the draw in the endgame after 12 PxP, BxP 13 Q-Q2, Q-Q2 14 QR-Q1, QR-Q1 15. P-KR3, Q-K1 16 Q-K1, R-Q2 17 Q-N3, Q-N3 18 QxQ, BxQ 19 R-Q2, KR-Q1 20 P-B5, N-Q4 21 NxN, PxN 22 B-QN5, R-K2 23 BxN, PxB 24 B-B4, B-K5 25 N-K5, R-K3. And, from this same line but with 13 _ . . Q-K2 1 4 QR-Q1, QR-Q1 15 Q-B1, K-R1 16 K-R1, R-Q2 17 R-Q2, KR-Q1 18 KR-Q1, B-N5, Black had no problems ( Kostro-Gheor­ ghiu, Lugano 1968 ) . Nor does a n early exchange variation with 4 P-QB4, N-N3 5 PxP, KPxP fright­ en Black either. On 6 N-.Q B3, B-K2 7 B-K3, N-B3 8 R-)U ! ? 0-0 9 P-KR4 ! ? B-B3 10 P-KN4, R-Kl 11 B-K2, BxNP ! 12 BxB, NxBP 13 N-Q5, NxB 14. NxN,

4

.

.

.

•

B-N5

Here Black has a playable, though less consequent, continuation i n 4 . . . P-KN3. I n Janosevich-Gheorghiu (Skopje 1968 ) , White secured excellent chances for the Exchange : 5 B-K2, B-N2 6 P-QB4, N-N3 7 PxP, BPxP 8 N-B3, B-N5 9 B-K3, N-B3 10 P-QN3, 0-0 11 0-0, P-Q4 12 P-B5, N-B1 13 P-QN4, P-QR3 14 R-N1, BxN 15 BxB, P-K3 16 P-QR4, N/1-K2 17 P-N5, PxP 18 PxP, N-R4 19 B-N5, P-KR3 20 BxN, QxB 21 Q-Q3, Q-N4 22 R-N4, N-B 5 ? 23 RxN ! PxR 24 QxP. And, in Parma-Gheorghiu (Skopje 1968 ) , a d raw was agreed after 5 B-QB4, N-N3 6 B-N3, B-N2 7 N-N5, P-Q4 8 0-0, 0-0 9 R-K1, N-B3 10 P-·QB3, P-B3 ! 11 PxP, PxP 12 N-K6, BxN 13 RxB, Q-Q2 14 R-K1, QR-K1 15 RxR, RxR. White ex­ pended too much time in obtaining the Two Bishops_ 5 B-K2 6 P-QB4

P-K3

This game was played in Round 4 and gives an example of the exact, yet elastic treatment to be expected from Korchnoy_ Warned by it, White ( Matulovich-Janos-

evich in Round 1) tried 6 Q-0, B-K2 7 P-KR3, B-R4 8 P-QB4, N-N3 9 PxP,_ PxP 10 QN-Q2 ! the better to support his Knight a.nd control of the vital Q4 and K5. Then, after 10 . . . N-B3 11 P-QN3, 0-0 12 B-N2, P-QR4 13 P-QR3, P-Q4 14 P-B5, N-Q2 15 B-B3, BxN 16 NxB, P-K4 17 P-QN4 ! PxNP 18 PxNP, Black had to worry over equalizing. He tried 18 . . . PxP 19 NxP, B-B3 20 Q-Q2, BxN 21 BxB, Q-R5 22 B-B3, BxR 23 RxR, N-B3 ; and, it may be, he missed somewhere in there the saving of half a point. 6 . • • 7 PxP

•

N-N 3 PxP

8-K2

8 0-0 9 8-K3

9 QN-Q2 is more cautious here. But White is blindly f-ollowing the recommen· dation of theory. He hopes for 9 . . . B-B3 10 N-B3, N-B3 11 P-QN3, P-Q4 12 .P-B5, N-Q2 13 P-N4 ! NxP 14 R-N1, N-B3 15 RxP, BxN [ not 15 . . . NxBP 16 PxN, BxQN 17 Q-R4, Q-B1 18 B-QN5 winning] 16 BxB, NxBP 17 NxP ! with a surprisingly favorable outcome for White. 9 . . . .

0-0

Simple and strong. Now the 10 QN-Q2 to support White's King Knight is met by 10 . . . P-B4. So White has to settle for a standard method of development with insufficient control of the vital cen­ ter squares. 10 N-83

P-Q4 !

Herewith, Black immobilizes White's Queen Pawn and makes it the main weakness of White's position. 11 P-85 1 2 8x8

8x N ! N-85

Already, Black almost stands better. Hts Pawn center is firm and limits the activity of White's minor pieces. And White's center is a target for attack.

13 P-QN4 White is losing his sense of direction, g-oing for "all or nothing" and relying on his Queen-side majority. As it proves readily possible for Black to render that immobile, White ought rather to consider trying to hold the balance with 13 B-K2, NxB [ 13 . . . NxP 14 Q-N3 is not attrac­ tive for Black] 14 PxN, P-QN3 15 P-QN4, PxP 16 NPxP. P-QR3 13 . . . • 1 4 Q-N3 This mistake gives Black a lasting ini­ tiative. The Queen is badly posted here, and there is still time enough for 14 B-K2. B-N4 ! 14 • • • •

Black is shooting to set up an unpro­ tected White Queen Pawn. 15 K R-K1 1 6 QR-Q1

N-83 P-Q N 3 !

This blow is decisive positionally. Black th·reatens 17 . . . PxP and 18 . . . R-Nl. White cannot stand tha.t, a.nd his whole strategy is defeated. - 17 PxP 1 8 B-K2

N/5xP 8-83

19 P-QR3

20 8-K 8 1

2 1 N-K2

P-N3 Q-K2

21 N-R4, NxN 22 QxN looks more nat­ ural; but, after 22 . . . Q-N2 [intending 23 . . . Q-N3] 23 P-N5, PxP 24 QxP, KR-N1, Black has a great advantage. 21

•

•

•

•

22 K-R1

K R-81 P-Q R4 !

23 P-N5 24 Q-R2 25 8-Q2

P-R5 N-R4

Now White has three weak Pawns, all on the Queenside, a.nd his position logi­ cally is lost. 25 • • • • 26 B-N4 27 Q-N 1

N-N6 Q-Q2 N-85

27 . . . QxP at once is met effectively by 28 N-B3 and 29 B-N5, etc. 28 R-Q3

White's pieces instead of mutually col­ laborating are in complete disarray.

28 • • • • 29 N-83

QxP Q-N2

30 N x R P 31 N-85

NxQP Q-R2

White continues merely on inertia. The position is ripe for resigna.tion. 32 N-N3 33 R-K 83

N-N4 N/4xP

34 Q-R2

35 P-R4 Reaigna

B-N2 N-K4

43.

TARRASCH R E D I S COV ERED

There is no bad opening-if it is well played. There are periods, however, in which certain systems are disregarded. They lapse because of an opinion established more on an impression from one or several games than on any deep judgment. The tendency of chess minds to lean upon the experiences of others is a natural or, Jet's say, practical response to the enormous welter of possible ideas. But those experiences also constitute a convenient field in which the best thinkers can find precious weapons in moments of great necessity. So it is not accidental that the world championship matches have led to altered attitudes on opening developments. Botvinnik neutralized Tal's aggressiveness with the till then little recognized Caro-Kann De­ fense. Petrosyan discouraged Botvinnik's ambitious approach with the not so popular Queen's Gambit Accepted. And now, after the experi­ ence in the first match, Spassky built his strongest defenses with Black against a surprised Petrosyan mostly with the rather discarded Tarrasch Defense. No wonder that already, since April, that is, many participants in international tournaments (including this commentator) have had to meet the same problems as Petrosyan. The following game is an example of the Tarrasch, as played in the World Championship match, which has encouraged other defenders of · the Black pieces to adopt the new "Spassky" style. True, this game ended as a draw (the first ever presented in this column) and thus is not the most impressive choice. But, in it, the opening was treated more accurately than in the other games of_ the match. And so it illustrates best how Black exploits the bases in the center offered by his isolated Pawn, even though he does not enjoy the advantage of the Two Bishops. M oscow 1 969

time when h e was leading. In such a situation, otherwise, he would employ some more modest variation in the Queen's Gambit Declined.

E i g hteenth M atch Game TAR RASCH D E F E N S E T i g ra n Petrosya n Cha m p i o n

B o r i s S passky Challenger Black

White

1 P-QB4 With this move, Petrosyan has often invited and evoked from the Challenger his favorite, double-edged reply, 1 "P-K4. But not in this match.

1 • • • • 2 P-Q4 3 N-QB3

P-K3 P-Q4 P-QB4!

This last move was a surprise in the second game of the match, but not now. Still, the new World Champion adopted the Tarrasch Defense here for the first

4 B Px P 5 N-83 6 P- K N 3

K Px P N-QB3

This. the Rubinstein Variation is a kind of Gruenfeld Defense reversed (with a tempo up) and naturally more enter· prising than 6 P-K3, N-B3 7 B-K2, PxP ! 8 NxP, B-Q3 9 0-0, 0-0 10 N-B3, P-QR3 1 1 P-QN3, R-K1 12 B-N2, B-KN5 13 R-B1, R-QB1 14 P-KR3, B-R4 15 N­ KR4, B-N3 ! 16 NxB, RPxN 17 Q-Q3, P­ Q5 ! 18 PxP, NxP 19 B-B3, NxBt Drawn (Larsen-Gligorich, Palma de Mallorca 1968 ) . Larsen later (in the same tour­ nament) tried to improve against Gheor­ ghiu with 13 P-KR3, B-R4 14 N-R4 and

succeeded somehow after 14 . . . BxB 1 5 NxB, B-K4 16 Q-N1, N-K5 1 7 N-KB3, BxB 1 8 QxB, Q-B3 19 QxQ, NxQ 20 KR­ Q1, QR-B1 with a slightly better end­ game for WhHe.

6 . . . . 7 B-N2

N-83 B- K2

It i s rather premature to try to get rid of the isolated Pawn by 7 . . . PxP 8 NxP, Q-N3 9 NxN, PxN 10 0-0, B-K2 11 N-R4 [ or 11 P-K4 as in one game be­ tween Gligorich and Keres ] , Q-N4 1 2 B-K3, 0-0 13 R-QB1, B-KN5 1 4 P-B3, B-K3 15 B-B5 with strong pressure for White on the Queen Bishop file.

A similar choice i s 8 . . . B-QB4 9 N-N3, B-QN5 10 0-0, BxN 11 PxB, 0-0 12 B-N5 with advantage for White (Rubinstein-Marshall, Breslau 1 9 12 ) . 8 0-0 9 B-N 5

pal is maintained by the classical con­ tinuation : 9 . . . PxP 1 0 NxP, Q-N3 11 NxN, PxN as in that case White's Queen Bishop cannot remain on its proper diag­ onal. For a long time, the following line was very fashionable : 9 PxP, BxP [ the gam­ bit answer: 9 . . . P-Q5 10 N-QR4, is not sound enough] 10 N-QR4 [10 B-N5 is inferior : 10 . . . P-Q5 11 N-K4, B-K2 12 NxNt, BxN 13 BxB, QxB 14 Q-R4, B-K3 15 Q-N5, QR-N1 (Capablanca­ Lasker, 9th game of the 1921 match ) ] , B-K2 [ 10 . . . B-N3, although playable, is less adequate than after the inter­ polated moves : 9 B-N5, B-K3 1 0 PxP, BxP and s o on, because of 1 1 NxB, PxN 12 B-K3] 11 B-K3 [a similar line i s 11 N-Q4, B-Q2 1 2 NxN, BxN 13 B-K3, Q-R4 14 N-B3, N-K5 15 B-Q4, B-N5 16 Q-Q3 ( Szabo-Stoltz , Zandaam 1946) with little strategical difference from the present game] , N-K5 1 2 R-B 1, Q-R4 13 N-Q4, B-Q2 whereupon Levenfish analyses 14 BxN, PxB 1 5 N-N3, QxN 16 QxB, QxP 17 QxP, QR-N1 1 8 QxN, QxN 19 BxP, R-N5 with equality-but matters are not _so clear after 19 QxP. If so, then in this l ine, 10 . . . B-N3 should s till b e Black's best choice.

0-0

This is the quickest method of creat­ ing threats on Black's center Pawns. Of course, this Bishop can stay more safely on its long diagonal; but after 9 P-N3, N-K5 10 B-N2, B-B3, Black has the up­ per hand. Other moves with this Bishop are less effective : 1) 9 B-K3, N-KN5 1 0 B-B4, B-K3 1 1 PxP, BxP 12 Q-B2 [or 12 N-K1, B-Q5 ! 13 N-Q3, N-B3 with a good game for Black (Flohr-Lasker, Moscow 1935 ) ] , P-KR3 1 3 QR-Q1, R-B1 1 4 Q-N1, Q-N3 15 P-K3, KR-Q1 16 P-KR3, N-B3 17 N-QR4, Q-R4 18 NxB, QxN 19 N-K5, N-K5 20 NxN, QxN with a solid position for Black (Larsen-Sarapu, Sousse 1967 ) ; 2) 9 B-B4, B-K3 10 R-Bl, R-B1 11 PxP, llxP 12 N-QR4, B-N3 13 P-QR3, N-K5 14 P-QN4, Q-B3 1 5 Q-Q3 ! B-B2 1 6 BxB, RxB 17 P-N5, N-K4 18 NxN, RxR 19 RxR, QxN 20 P-B4 ! whereafter, in order not to let White's Rook penetrate to the seventh rank, Black had to yield a Pawn after 20 Q-N1 21 BxN, PxB 22 QxP, R-K1 23 Q-Q4 (Korchnoy-Keres, Curacao 1 9 6 2 ) -but the matter of princi-

9 . .

Px P !

The text was played i n Spassky-Kor­ chnoy (24th USSR Championship) in which Black saved a draw ; but credit still goes to Spassky for the present re­ habilitation of the line. By increasing the tension in the center, Black is able to chase White's Queen Bishop from its active position. Earlier, 9 . . . B-K3 was routine. But, after 10 R-B1 , R-B1 1 1 PxP, BxP 12 BxN ! Black is obliged to create a seri­ ous weakening with 12 . . . PxB, and White has exploited his positional advan­ tage ( Gligorich-Sarapu, Sou sse 1967 ) . In this last line, the immediate 1 0 PxP, BxP is less dangerous for Black. For 11

N-QR4, B-N3 ! 12 NxB, PxN 13 N-Q4, P-R3 14 B-B4, Q-Q2 ! 15 P-QR3, B-R6 16 Q-Q3, KR-K1 17 KR-K1, BxB 1 8 KxB, R-K5 19 N-B3, QR-K1 giyes him a clear initiative ( Tal-Keres, Challengers Tour­ nament, Yugoslavia 1959 ) . And , after 1 1 BxN, QxB 1 2 NxP, Q x P 13 N-B7, QR­ Q 1 14 Q-B1 ! QxQ 15 QRxQ, P-QN3 16 NxB, PxN 17 R-B4, N-Q5, White has not sufficient advantage to achieve more than a draw (Petrosyan-Spassky, 1 6 th galhe of this match ) .

1 0 NxP

P- K R 3 !

Both sides have achieved some sort of goal. Black has minimized the threats on his isolated Pawn. And White has in· creased the activity of his King Bishop without loss of time, as i n the Gruen­ feld Defense with colors reversed. Earlier, Dr. Euwe recommended 10 . . . NxN [10 . . . Q-N3 11 NxN, PxN 12 N-R4, Q-N4 13 Q-B2, B-K3 14 KR-B1, KR-B1 15 N-B5 is bad for Black ( P olu­ gayevski-Khasin, 1961 USSR Champion­ ship) ] 1 1 QxN, B-K3, but the simplifica· tion is not very promising for Black : 12 QR-B1, Q-R4 13 P-QR3, KR-Q1 14 Q-Q3 ! etc. ( Fiohr-Euwe, 11th game of the 1932 match ) .

1 1 8- K 3 Obviously, 1 1 BxN, B x B offers White no promise; and 11 B-B4 does not prevent 11 . . . Q-N3 as pointed out one note above. The reply in the game is the only good choice.

match) is even less prom1smg; but 14 B-Q4 (as in Gligorich-Bajec cited in the next note) deserves attention] , Q-Q2 15 B-B5, QR-B1 16 BxB, QxB 17 P-K3, KR-Q1 leaves Black no difficulties wi'th his good development ( 4 th game of this match) ; 2) 12 Q-R4 ! N-QR4 13 QR-Q 1, N-B5 14 B-Bl, Q-Bl 15 Q-B2, R-Ql 16 P-N3, N-K4 [ 16 . . . N-QR4 is better] 17 B-N2 [at last, White has placed his pieces har­ moniously] , Q-Q2 18 P-B3 ! with advan­ tage for White ( 1 2th game of this match ) .

1 2 R-8 1

B-K3 (Gligorich-A. Zaitsev, Busum 196 9 ) , White missed 13 NxB, PxN 14 B-Q2 which gains a comfortable advantage; 2 ) 12 . . . N-K4 13 R-B2 ! ? [ White wishes to re-organize the pieces as i n the 12th game of this match] , B-QN5 ! [another good idea for activating the pieces to the utmost] 14 B-B4, N-N3 15 B-B1, P-QR3 16 P-N3, Q-Q3 ! 17 B-N2, P-KR4 with very good coun:terplay for Black (Gli­ gorich-Polugayevski, Busum 1969 ) .

1 3 N-N3

11 . .

8-81

Black's last two moves seem very logi­ cal. He has organized an effective pres­ sure on the King file while there has been no time to determine the most suit­ able place for his Queen Bishop. Other moves are less consequen t : 1 ) 12 : . . B-KN5 1 3 N-N3, B-K3 14 B-Q4 ! [an interesting idea for activating the pieces in the center and neutralizing the opponent's pressure on the King file] , N-K5 15 P-K3, B-KB4 16 NxN, PxN 17 B-QB3, R-B1 18 P-KR3 with a definite advantage for White ( Giigorich-Bajec, Ljubljana 1969 ) . Here, after 18 . . . QxQ 1 9 KRxQ, KR-Q l ? 20 P-KN4, B-N3 21 N-Q2, Black lost a Pawn. On 12 . . .

8-K 3

R-K 1 !

The text was played in Busum by Polugayevski a bit before Petrosyan and Spassky m et for this game in Moscow. In the earlier games, Spassky had tried the Jess precise 1 1 . . . B-KN5 and had to lose a tempo to post his Queen Bishop properly : 1) 12 N-N3, B-K3 13 R-B 1, R-K1 1 4 R-K1 [ 1 4 N-N5, Q-Q2 15 N/5-Q4, B-KR6 16 NxN, PxN (as in Game 2 of this

14 N-NS White uses the blockading square as a base for this Knight. Tal had the

isolated Pawn in the first game of his match with Larsen in Holland, and the Danish grandmas,ter employed a similar plan but did not achieve much. So Lar­ sen then concluded that blockading the isolated Pawn was "old-fashioned" and that it would be necessary not to . block­ ade but to capture i t ! After this game, it is c l ea r thwt White has to look for a more efficient method of fighting the isola;ted Pawn. 14 B-Q4 may be playable as in the Gligorlch­ Bajec game cited above.

14 . . . . 1 5 P- K R3 16 Nj5-Q4

8- K N 5 8-84

White would prefer 16 N/3-Q4 with a direct threa;t on Black's Queen Pawn after 16 . . . NxN 17 BxN and 18 N-B3. But Black may answer 16 . . . B-Q2. Then, after 17 N-QB3, B-B1, the posi­ tion to nearly where i't was a few moves before.

NxN 8-Q2 Q-R4

16 17 NxN 18 Q-N 3

Black's Queen Knight Pawn is indi­ rectly defended. Now White has no tar­ gets for any successful attack, and Black with more space under control, Is al­ ready in a more favorable situation. 19 P-Q R3 20 Q-Q3

8-Q3 Q-Q1

21 K R-Q1 22 8-Q2

Q-K2

Because of the threat of 22 . . . BxNP, White has to begin to retreat his forces. His game has become passive.

22 . . . . 2 3 8-K 1

N-K5 8- K4!

8xN 8-83 Q-K 4 !

24 Q-N 3 25 R x 8 26 P- K R4

White h a s t h e T w o Bishops a n d n o isolated Paw n , b u t the advantage be· longs to Black. Spassky 's conception is instructive.

27 Q-K3 Now

Q-83

Black

is

thr�tening

Rx8 Px R

30 8-83 31 R-Q1 32 R-Q6

32 QxQRP loses to 32 . . . P-K6 !

32 . . . .

P-83

33 R-Q4

P-R3

35 P-R4 36 K-N 1

Q-84 R-K 1

K-82 R-K4

37 R-Q6 38 P-N3 39 8-K 1

R-K84 Q-R6

Although the move is not necessary, White wants to have 40 Q-Q4 at his disposal in the event of 39 . . . R-B6 � see next note ) .

Q-N 5 Q-R6

39 . . . . 40 8-83 41 8-Q4

Now the time trouble is over, and White realizes that there is no danger in 41 . . . R-B6 42 PxR, PxP because he then has 43 Q-K6t with a drawish end­ game resulting with Bishops of opposite colors.

41 . . . . 42 8-83

P-K R4 K-N 1

43 R-QSt

44 R-Q6

K-R2 Q-N5

With Black's King on R2, the 44 . . . R-B6 stroke fails against 45 PxR, PxP 46 Q-Q3t and 47 Q-Bl. Now Black tries for chances on the opposi,te wing, vainly.

45 P-�5

28

NxNP, and White has begun thinking or holding a draw.

28 8xN 29 RxR

Q-N 5

3 4 K-R2

Black may b e eyeing 35 . . . B-N4, but White is not going to allow that. And Black's adva.ntage is not sufficient to ob­ tain more than the half-point. Both sides are now in time trouble.

46 P-Q N 4 4 7 8-Q4 48 8-85 49 8-Q4 50 8-85 51 Q-Q2

Q-N 3 Q-82 Q-85 R-K4 R-K 84 Q-87 Q-N6

52 53 54 55 56 57 58

Q-Q1 Q-Q2 Q-Q1 Q-Q4 Q-84 Q-K6 RxQ

Q-N7 Q-RBt Q-K4 Q-K1 B-N4 QxQ R-Q4

Black of course would welcome RxKP, R-Q8t 60 K-R2, B-B3, etc. 59 R-Q6 D rawn

59

44.

RAR E D E L I G HT OF TH E S P E CTATORS

The excitement of the public in Ljubljana was understandable as its young representative made his way through a strong international tournament which included ten grandmasters. For it seldom happens that, in these days of high professionalism and of greater numbers of experienced and knowing competitors, a master of mediocre results in national championships can create much of a surprise. But, during the first Vidmar Memorial, it was almost the rule that 25-year-old Albin Planinc each day defeated another grandmaster. And the enthusiastic crowd kept cramming the tournament room. Planinc's special gift, illus­ trated hitherto principally by brilliancy prizes in various competitions, was garnering precious full points ; and every one was aware of and elated over his idea of going for "all or nothing." The climax was in the last round when Planinc twice refused a peaceful offer by Gheorghiu. The Roumanian grandmaster claimed, possibly correctly, that he had a winni:n.g game ; but Planinc's fighting spirit brought on time trouble for Gheorghiu and first prize for the little known master. '"Who is Plan inc?" wrote an astonished acquaintance from West Germany to this commentator. A superficial answer is : a very tall, very slim and very quiet young man with large glasses which hide the expression of his face. Planinc interrupted his schooling because of financial straits, tried in vain for a while to be a chess professional and settled lately for a modest position in a bicycle factory. But more can be told from the following game. Lj u b ljana 1 969 R U Y L O P EZ Wolfgang U nzicker

A l b i n Plan i nc Y ugoslavia

West Germany

Black

White 1 P-K4 2 N-K B3

P-K4 N-QB3

3 B-N5 4 B-R4 5 0-0

P-Q R3 N-83 P-QN4

The text is considered premature as Black's King Pawn is not yet threatened, but I?Ianinc has his own ideas and likes to try something different from others. 6 B-N 3

B-N2

Here Planinc ignores the entire theo­ retical praxis : 6 . . . B-B4, 6 . . . P-Q3, 6 . . . NxP and 6 . . . B-K2, and, instead, builds up counter pressure on White's King Pawn. ( S e e d i a g r a m , next co l u m n )

7 P-Q3

The books say that, after 6 . . . B-K2 7 P-Q4, NxQP 8 BxPt, KxB 9 NxPt and 1 0 QxN, Black has no satisfactory play.

In a similar try ( R obatsch-Planinc in an earlier round of this tournament ) with 6 . . . B-N2 instead o f t h e "theoreti­ cal continuation, 7 P-Q4, NxQP 8 BxPt, KxB 9 NxPt, K-Nl 10 QxN, P-B4 11 Q-Q1, Q-Kl 12 N-N4, NxN 13 QxN, QxP 14 QxQ, BxQ found White in difficulties. It is clear that neither 7 P-QR4, B-K2 nor 7 P-B3, NxP 8 R-Kl, N-B4 9 B-Q5,

B-K2 10 NxP, NxN 11 BxB, N/K-Q6 ! 12 BxR, NxR 13 QxN, QxB 14 Q-K2, 0-0 15 P-Q4, N-K3 16 N--Q2, R-Kl (Lutikov-Planinc, USSR vs Yugoslavia, Skopje 1969, 1st round) gives White any hope of refuting Black's plan of develop­ ment. Unzicker's move Is solld but rather .nodest, wasting a tempo b efore the nec­ essary advance in the center. The only ambitious alternative is 7 R-Kl. Then, on 7 . . . B-K2 (the Une Yugoslav master Trajkovich used with a different order of moves : 5 . . . B-K2 6 R-Kl, P-QN4 7 B-N3, B-N2 ) , Black has tactical possibilities for a Pawn with 8 P-B3, P-Q4 ! ? 9 PxP, NxP 10 NxP, NxN 11 RxN, N-B5. The position looks dangerous for Black after 12 P-Q4, NxP ; but White must find something mors than the mere draw by 13 B-N5, P-KB3 14 BxP, PxB 15 Q-R5t and the perpetual after 15 . . . K-Q2. It is not known Lt Planinc has some other idea for Black in such a Une. 7 . . • • 8 P-83 9 R-K 1

The of the using but in

8-K2

0-0

P-RS

text illustrates the fresh approach winner of the tournament. He is a scheme invented by Smyslov, a new and more favorable version. 10 QN-Q2 R-K1 1 1 P-Q4

It is not ideal to move a Pawn twice in the opening. But White realizes that, after 11 N-Bl, B-KBl 12 N-N3, Black wi,th his King Pawn strengthened can easily strike in the center with 12 . . . P-Q4. So the only ambitious choice for White is f-or immediate pressure on ·the center. 11

•

•

•

•

8-K 81 !

Black continues to think originally. It is typical of his s tyle to economize to the utmost. He does not fear 12 PxP, QNxP as he then has strong pressure on White's King Pawn. The position is very reminiscent of the line used by this commentator in Moscow 1967, Sousse 1967 and i n Belgrad 1968 against Tal, but with the difference that White lacks a useful P-KR3 and Black threatens to hit the center with . . . P-Q4 with a gain of tem po. 12 P-Q5

Unzicker, the player of twenty pressed by any mitted after the

leading West German years, is not easily im­ opponent. But he ad­ game that he could not

concentrate well and, though an expert on the Ruy, simply overlooked his oppo­ nent's next move. Now Black can destroy the White cen­ ter. So 12 P-QR3, retaining the tension, is better as happened in a later game (Lutikov-Planinc, USSR vs Yugoslavia, Skopje 1969, 3d round ) . There Black de­ cided after 10ne reflection to sacrifice a Pawn with 12 . . . P-Q4 ! ? instead of playing the more solid 12 . . . P-Q3. After 13 PxQP, KNxP 14 PxP, N-B5, h e found an equally inventive rival i n Luti­ kov who replied : 15 R-K4, N-Q6 16 P-K6, PxP 17 Q-K2 ! and Black had great difficulties after 17 . . . B-B4 [ or 17 . . . N-B4 18 B-B2 ! ] 18 RxP, RxR 19 QxPt, K-Rl 20 N-K4, N-R4 ! 21 N/B-N5 ! 12 .

.

•

•

N-Q R4

White had reckoned wrongly that this Knight must retreat. 13 8-82 14 PxP

P-83 !

14 P-QN4, N-B5 15 NxN, PxN sets up similar consequences. 14 • . • • 1 5 N-81

8xP Q-82

Black keeps conserving tem p i . 1 6 N-N3

P-Q4

Now Black proceeds to transform his advantage i n time to one in space. 17 Q-K2 18 N-Q2

Q R-Q1

White is trying by artificial means to maintain control of the center. After 18 PxP, Black's King Pawn is tabu because

of the pin on the King file. 18

Black White's merely mass of

•

•

•

.

P-N3

gradually limits the activity - of pieces. 18 . . . P-Q5 19 PxP diminishes the pressure of his King-side Pawns.

19 N/2-81 20 N-K3 21 Q x N

N-85 NxN

O n e Knight less was a wish for the defending White side, but his difficulties grow with the increasing mobility of Black's center Pawns. 21 • • • • 22 N x P

PxP N-Q4

23 Q-N3 R-K3 24 B-N3 P-841 25 Q-R3 The Black attack is very energetic, and White lacks good posts for his re­ treating pieces. Q-K2 25 . . . . 27 N-81 Q-83 26 N-N3 Rj3-K1 28 Q-N3 K-R2 29 B-Q2

At last, White can finish developing. But his chances are not improved as Black has meanwhile been increasing his control on the Kingside, up to the crLtical point. 29 P-K5 30 N-K3

39 8-82 40 N-83

8-84 N-N3

Here the game was adjourned, and White sealed his move. He has in mind the opponent's killing threat, 4 1 N-B5. Q-83 41 N-Q4 P-K N 5 42 P-Q N 3 Here is t h e start o f the final blows directed against the lonely King. 43 PxP 44 8-R3 45 R-Q2

PxP P-N 6 !

This move represents an attempt at a King escape via Q 1 ; for, after 45 BxB, Pxpt 46 KxP, Q-R5t 47 K-N1, RxPt, the White King is in a mating net.

30

.

.

.

•

N-K2

White's pieces are under terrible pres­ sure by Black's Pawns. So Black re-acts naturally to avoid diminishing the num­ ber of pieces on the board. 30 . . . P-B5 does not avail in view of 31 NxN. 31 Q R-Q1

P-N4

Again, 31 . . . P-B5 allows an answer: 34 N-N4. Now, however, White can wait no longer: his Queen is in peril. 32 Q-87

Still, the Queen does not sit well here either, far from the King which needs protection and from other pieces as well. 32 . . . . 33 Q-N 6 34 Q-R5

34 QxRP loses to 34 34 . . . . 35 N-N4 36 P-K R3

R-Q2 N-81

R-R2. P-85 Q-84

In the Ruy, this move usually occurs early i n the game. 36 37 N-R2 38 8-81

P-K R4 8-QN2 R-N2

This Rook now becomes very important i n the attack.

45 . .

.

46 Px8

.

8xN !

The Roo� must remain on the second rank to guard against 46 . . . PxPt as mentioned in the previous note. 46 . . . . 47 Q-83

Q-R3 P-N 5 !

Now White has the choice o f deserting his vital KB3 or of losing a piece. 48 8x N P 49 Q-83

N-Q4 Nx8

50 8xPt 51 P-Q5 Resigns

K-R 1 NxQP

White is a piece down with no com­ pensation and, besides, there is the threat of 52 . . . Q-R7t 53 K-B1, Q-R8t 54 K-K2, RxBt 55 QxR, N-B6t.

45.

NOW,

PORTI SCH'S CONSTAN CY

as the new cycle of FIDE competitions to determine the Chal-

lenger next to meet the World Champion is starting, the Hungarian grandmaster, Lajos Portisch, is approaching the best age for peak per­ formances in chess ( according to general data obtained by Professor Elo and other investigators ) . Portisch 's first prizes won in Skopje in 1968 and in Amsterdam this year may be confirmation. Although Bent Larsen ranks only a little above Portisch on the rating scale of the best grandmasters, Pm1isch-very strangely-has never been regarded popularly as an equally dangerous contender for the highest title. That Portisch has an extremely high level of results, even on the average, has passed unnoticed as has the fact that he has incurred no real failures. How does he obtain such results? The truth is that the Hungarian grandmaster is probably today a kind of world champion in hard, sys­ tematic study of our complex game and is usually fully prepared for anything which may come at him across the board. He works eight hours a day, with no days off. His colleague, Istvan Bilek, has con­ fessed that, after one such session together with Portisch, he felt dizzy and wanted to d�part. Portisch was very surprised and asked : "How can you go home when we are just getting to a proper understanding of this variation?" Larsen had guessed at Portisch's zest for always hunting up the best moves. So, in their match last year, he avoided the possibility of ever entering upon a critical position which they had previously played. Another, more naive master, however, had the bad luck to take on just such a position a year later. this position came up three times in the Portisch-Larsen match last year.

Budapest 1969 H ungarian Championsh i p

10 Q-Q3

N I MZO-I N DIAN D E F E N S E Lajos Portisch

Ervin Haag

Black

White 1 P-Q4 2 P-QB4

P-QR3

N-KB3 P-K3

3 N-QB3 4 P-K3

B-N 5 P-84

As the text cuts off the Black King Bishop's retreat, it is possible to play for the Two Bishops by 5 N-K2 and 6 P-QR3. Hence, many prefer 4 . . . 0-0. Portisch, as White, however, wants the standard position, anyhow, as he is well prepared for it.

5 B-Q3 6 N-83

P-Q4 0-0

7 0-0 8 BxB P 9 P-QR3

QPxP N-83 B-R4

Black hopes, by keeping pressure on White's Queen Knight and Queen Pawn, to develop his Queenside faster than White. The llne was played before : Lar­ sen revived the method for Black and

11 R-Q1

The endgame with 11 PxP, QxQ 12 DxQ, BxN 13 PxB, N-QR4 14 R-Nl, B-Q2 lost its attractiveness (Taimanov-Lar­ sen, Havana 1967, see page 328, Novem­ ber 1967) after the improvement, 14 . . •

R-Q 1 ! Drawn ! (Gligorich-Larsen, Sousse 1967 ) . White can attempt to render th e posi­ tion -of Black's King Bishop futile by 11 N-K4. But, after 11 . . . P-QN4 12 N:x:Nt, QxN 13 Q-K4, B-N2 14 �3, P-N3 16 PxP, N-N5 ! 16 Q-K5 ! Q:x:Q 17 N:x:Q, NxB 18 NxN, KR-Q1 19 N-K5, B-B2 20 N-B3, P-QR4 ! 21 N-Q4, R-Q4 22 P-B6 [on 22 NxNP, B-K4, Black's active pieces secure the balance despite his material Inferi­ ority] , B-B1 23 B-Q2, P-K4 24 N-B3, B-N5 25 P-K4, R-Q3 26 B-K3, RxP, Black recaptured the Pawn with full equality and a draw was agreed (Gll­ gorich-Unzicker, Ljubljana 1969 ) . 11 P-QR4, B-Q2 12 P:x:P [ 1 2 R-Q1 and, if 12 . . . Q-K2, 13 P-Q5, N-QN5 14 P-Q6 may be better] offers nothing after 12 . . . Q-K2 13 P-K4, Q:x:P 14 B-K3, Q-R4 15 B-B4, QR-B1 16 QR-B1, KR­ Q1 (3d game of Portisch-Larsen match, p�J,ge 254, August 1968 ) as Black has harmoniously developed with no weak spots in his position. 11 . • • • 1 2 B-R2

12

·

•

•

•

•

P-QN4

P-85

Of the possible continuations here, this is the sharpest. It enhances the power of White's Pawn center in return for temporarily disrupting the activation of his Queenside pieces. Larsen tried this in his first match game with Portlsch and, knowing Portisch's propensity for finding improvements, did not repeat It in that match. The Hungarian Interna­ tional master Haag Is bold enough to tempt his great opponent to show what he has In store. In Game 7 of that match (page 270, September 1968 ) , Larsen was clever enough to dodge Portisch's possible Im­ provement by the solid 12 . . . B-N2 (also played In the match, Najdorf-Reshevsky,

San Salvador 1952, page 209, July 1952) 13 PxP, BxN 14 Q-B2, Q-K2 15 QxB, KR-Ql [ 15 . . . N-K5 16 Q-B2� NxQBP is less precise as 17 P--K4 favors White ( Reshevsky-Damjanovich, Natanya 1969 ) ] 16 B-Q2, N-K5 1 7 Q-B2, NxQBP 18 B-K1, N-R5 [ or 18 . . . P-K4 ? 19 Q-B5 (Gligorich-Larsen, Dundee, 1967 ) ] , keep­ ing the balance. A new problem for White lies In 12 . . . B-N3 (Portisch-Olafsson, Hoog­ oven 19�9. page 191, June 1969 ) which retains the tension in the center. White replied 13 Q-B2 in order to meet 13 . . . PxP by 14 NxNP ! but, after 13 . . . P-B5, he tried vainly to prepare P-K4 by 14 N-K2 and reached an inferior position after 14 . . . Q-B2 ! 15 N-N3 [15 P-K4 fails against 15 . . . . P-K4 16 P-Q5, N-Q5 17 NxN, P:x:N 18 NxP, Q-K4 regaining the Pawn with a good game] , B-N2 16 B:-Q2, QR-Q1 as Black has more freedom of action after 17 . . . P-K4. 13 Q-K2

Q-K1

This, Larsen's key move justifies the risk of the previous 1 2 . . . P-B5. The more natural 13 . . . Q-K2 fails against 14 P-K4, P-K4 15 N-Q5 !

14 B-Q2

The usefulness of this good developing move ls 1ndtcatec1 by another line : 14 B-N1, P-K4 15 P-Q5, BxN 16 PxB [here 16 BxB would post White's Queen Bishop ideally], N-QR4 17 P-K4, N-N6 18 R-R2, NxB 19 RxN, B-N5 with an easy game for Black (Gligorich-Tal, 8th match game 1968, page 234, August 1968) . Here it may be noted, also, that Black, with his Queen in security, is ready to meet the main threat of 14 P-K4 with 14 . . . P-K4 15 P-Q5, N-Q5 ! 16 NxN, PxN 17 RxP, Q-K4 ! [17 . . . B-N3 18 B-K3, N-N5 gives White opportunity for the dangerous sacrifice 19 P-K5 ! ] 18 B-K3, N-N5 19 P-B4, Q-N1 ! 20 QR-Q1, B-N3 with plenty of counterplay (Gll­ gorich-Gheorghiu, Skopje 1968 ) .

This is why the preventive 14 P-KR3 has also been tried. After 14 . . . P-K4, however [White has a clear advantage after the less energetic 14 . . . B-N2 15 P-K4, P-K4 16 P-Q5, N-Q5 17 NxN, PxN 18 RxP, BxN 19 PxB, NxQP 20 B-Q2, P-B4 21 R-K1 (Ivkov-Wade, Vinkovci 1968 ) ], 15 P-Q5, N-Q1 16 P-K4, N-N2 17 B-N1, N-Q2 18 B-B2, N-Q3, Black h ad sufficient counter chances (Reshev· sky-Larsen, Lugano 1968 ) . 14 . 8-N 3 •

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•

Here 14 . . . P-K4 permits 15 P-Q5, N-Q1 16 N-K4 with unpleasant conse­ quences.

RxB ! KxB 24 Q-H5t, K-N1 25 QxNP with a mating net; or 22 . . . B-Q1 23 RxB ! QxR 24 B-B5 ! or 22 . . . B-R4 23 BxB [ on 23 B-B6, Black stops the killing threat of 24 Q-R5 by 23 . . . B-Q1 ! while 24 B-B5, BxKB 25 QxB, PxN 26 BxPt, KxB 27 QxNPt offers only a draw ] , NxB 24 B-B2 with advantage for White. Px P 15 . • . . 8-N2 16 8xP 1 7 8- K1 Now P-K4 and P-K5 is a constant threat as Black's King is in disaster if left without its sole defending piece. P-K4 17 .

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•

This manner of meeting the threat of White's advance in the center is un­ satisfactory as seen in this game. But the question is if Black's position is good at all. 17 . . . R-Q1 to maintain pressure on White';; Queen Pawn is met by 18 B-B2 which also sets Black serious prob­ lems. Nor is' 17 . . . N-QR4 18 B-B2, R-B1 19 P-K4 any better either. N-QR4 18 P-Q5 1 9 8-82

This is the crucial position from the first game of the Portisch-Larsen match in Porec, and never repeated. Portisch has had to wait ever since that spring of 1968 to disclose what he had in mind to try next against another, much more important rival. The pressure on White's Queen Pawn prevents 15 P-K4. 15 P-Q N 3 !

Here is Portisch's essential improve­ ment : he breaks the chain of Black Pawns and activates his King Bishop. In Game 1 of the Portisch-Larsen match ( page 252, August 1968 ) , White played 15 B-N1, and Black replied with the premature 15 . . . P-K4 [15 . . . B-N2 and, if 16 P-QR4, then 16 . . . N-QR4 is correct] . In the sequel, 16 PxP, NxP 17 N-K4 ! N/3xN 18 BxN, N-B3 [else, the Exchange is lost] 19 N-N5, P-R3 [ 19 . . . P-B4 20 B-Q5t, K-R1 21 B-N4 also loses the Exchange] , White went wrong with 20 Q-R5? B-Q1. He could instead have continued the attack w ith 20 Q-B3 ! B­ Q2 [20 . . . B-N2 21 Q-B 5 ! P-N3 22 Q-R3, PxN 23 B-B3, N-Q5 24 RxN ! BxR 25 BxB, P-B3 26 BxB wins for White] 21 B-R7t ! K-R1 22 B-B3 with great difficulties for Black : 22 . . . N--K4 23 BxN, QxB 24 QxR ! or 22 . . . P-B3 23 RxB, QxR 24 B-B5; or 22 . . . PxN 23

19

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N-85

The text provokes White's textual con­ tinuation. 19 . . . R-Ql, if it obliges White to shut off his King Bishop by 20 P-K4, offers a better chance; but White has 20 N-N5, P-KR3 [or 20 . . N-B5 21 P-QR4 as In the game] 21 N/5-K4, NxN 22 NxN with threat of the Exchange�wln­ ning 23 B-N4. .

20 P-QR4 P-K5 In a bad position, Black is seeking complications. On 23 . . N-Q3, White replies with 21 QR-Nl. 21 N-Q4 22 Px P

N-Q3 8x N An attempt to save the Pawn. 23 Rx8 NxNP This is what Black desi:ed, a rather

blo.cked position with no material disad­ vantage as on 24 NxN, QxN. But there is a disagreeable tactical surprise hidden i n the position.

A decisive blow. 2 4 . . . NxR loses to 25 NxNt, P:x:N 26 Q-N4t, K-Rl 27 B-B3 and the consequent mating attack. The rest of the game is hopeless for Black. 29 8-R 5 ! P-R5 Q-K4 24 • • • • 30 P-R3 N-86 Qx N 25 N x N t 3 1 R-K 1 R-84 2 6 R/4-Q1 K R-81 32 Q-Q4 ! P-N3 QxQ 27 Q-Q3 33 PxQ R-N4 P- K R4 28 8-N3 34 P-Q6 ! White employs his advantage sharply. NxP . . . • 39 K-R2 Rx8/6 40 8-86 N-K3 P-Q7 8-83 K-R2 41 Q R-81 P-QS ( Q ) t RxQ 42 P-R4 P-N4 8xR B-N4 43 PxP K-N3 38 8xP N-K7t 44 R-K5 Resigns

34 35 36 37 24 Nx P l

I N D EX TO . PLAYERS Bobotsov, 36

Panno, 1 4

Bogdanovich, 8, 22

Parma, 8

Botvinnik, 5, 13

Petrosyan, 2, 6, 36, 37� 43

Brinck-Claussen, 14

Planinc, 44

Damjanovich, 35

Polugayevsky, 29

Donner, 27

Portisch, 12, 18, 27, 31, 39, 45

Fischer, 9, 1 0, 12, 17, 23, 24, 34

Ree, 40

Geller, 16, 17, 19, 28, 30, 39, 40

Reshevsky, 28

Gheorghiu, 3

Schmidt, 32

Ghitescu, 15

Smyslov, 7

Gligorich, 1, 1 1, 26, 35

Sofrevsky, 23 Spassky, 3, 6, 9, 15, 30, 38, 43

Haag, 45

lvkov, 20, 25

Stein, 4, 16, 24

Janosevich, 42

Tahl, 13, 22

Keres, 32

Taimanov, 21, 4 1

Korchnoy, 2, 4, 20, 38, 42

Tatai, 4 1

Larsen, 10, 21, 25, 31, 37

Tolush, 5

Matanovich, 1

Tringov, 1 1

Matulovich, 26, 34

Uhlmann, 7 , 33

Minich, 18

Unzicker, 44

Najdorf, 1 9

Wade, 33

Nikitin, 29

I N D EX TO O P E N I N GS Alekhine's Defense, 42 Benoni Defense, 15, 26 Caro-Kann Defense, 13

Nimzo-Indian Defense, 1, 2, 3, 5, 21, 27, 35, 45 Pirc Defense, 40

English Opening, 25

Queen's Gambit Declined, 14, 20, 36

French Defense, 7, 33

Queen's Indian Defense, 37, 38, 43

Giucco Piano, 18

Ruy Lopez, 12, 24, 39, 44

Grunfeld Defense, 9

Sicilian Defense, 8, 16, 17, 22, 23, 30, 32, 34

�ing's Indian Defense, 4, 6, 10, 1 1, 19, 28, 29, 4 1

Vienna Game, 3 1

Tarrasch Defense, 43

THE CHESS CAREER OF SVETOZAR GLIGORICH 1945 1946 1946 1947 1947 1948 1949 1949 1950 1951 1951 1951 1951 1955 1956 1957 1957 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1960 1961 1961 1962 1963 1965 1966 1967 1968

Yugoslav Championship Ljubljana Yugoslav Championship Warsaw Yugoslav Championship Yugoslav Championship match against Gideon Stalberg Yugoslav Championship Mar del Plata Yugoslav Championship Bad Pyrmont (Zonal tournament) Staunton Memorial-London Hastings Yugoslav Championship Yugoslav Championship Dublin (Zonal tournament) Yugoslav Championship Dallas Yugoslav Championship Portoroz (Interzonal tournament) Yugoslav Championship Hastings Madrid Hastings Sarajevo Belgrade Eschende Copenhagen Tel Aviv Dundee Manila ·

2nd place 1st place 2nd place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st-2nd place 6)f-5� 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 2nd place 1st place 2nd-3rd place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st-2nd· place 2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place 1st place 1st place 1st-2nd place

Gligorich became an International Master in 1948, and an Inter­ national Grandmaster in 1951.