Uncompromising Chess - Beliavsky.pdf

CADOGAN CHESS BOOKS

Uncompromising Chess

CADOGAN CHESS SERIES ChiefAdvisor: Garry Kasparov Editor: Murray Chandler Russian Series Editor: Ken Neat

Uncompromising Chess

Other chess titles from Cadogan include:

Tbe Application of Cbess Theory

Paul Keres Best Games Vol.l

Yeftm Geller

Egon Varnusz

The Art of Chess Analysis

Paul Keres Best Games VoJ.2

Jan Timman

Egon Varnusz

Averbakh's Selected Games

Smyslov's

Yuri A verbakh

Vasily Smyslov

125 Selected Games

Bobby Fischer: His Approach to Chess

Sokolov's Best Games

Elie Agur

Ivan Sokolov

Chess in the Fast Lane

Studies and Games

Bill & Michael Adams

Jan Timman

Fire on Board: Shirov's Best Games

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Alexei Shirov

David Bronstein & Tom Furstenberg

The Genius of Paul Morphy

Taimanov's Best Games

Chris Ward

Mark Taimanov

Half a Century of Chess

T imman's Selected Games

Mikhail Botvinnik

Jan Timman

Tbe Life and Games of Mikhail Tal

Vasily Smyslov: Endgame Virtuoso

Mikhail Tal

Vasily Smyslov

by Alexander Belyavsky

Translated and edited by Ken Neat

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Contents

English Translation Copyright «:l 1 998 Ken Neat

First published 1 998 by Cadogan Books pic, 27-29 Berwick St, London W I V 3RF.

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British Library Cataloguing in Pu blication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

I SBN I 8 5 744 205 9

Typeset by Ken Neat, Durham

Printed in Great Britain by B PC Wheatons Ltd, Exeter

Introduction

7

Biographical Details

8

Selected Games 1972-1997

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 I3 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35

Belyavsky-Matulovic, Sombor 1 972 Belyavsky-Marjanovic, World Junior Championship, Teesside 1 973 Christiansen-Belyavsky, World Junior Championship, Teesside 1 973 Tal-Belyavsky, 42nd USSR Championship, Leningrad 1974 Spassky-Belyavsky, USSR Team Championship, Riga 1975 Belyavsky-Bronstein, Zonal Tournament, Vilnius 1 975 Belyavsky-Andersson, Cienfuegos 1976 Belyavsky-Ribli, Leningrad 1 977 Belyavsky-Petrosian, Vilnius 1978 Belyavsky-Romanishin, 46th USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1 978 Belyavsky-Taimanov, USSR Team Championship, Moscow 1 979 Belyavsky-Polugayevsky, USSR Team Championship, Moscow 1 979 Belyavsky-Kasparov, 47th USSR Championship, Minsk 1 979 Tseshkovsky-Belyavsky, USSR Championship First League, Tashkent 1 980 Rashkovsky-Belyavsky, 48th USSR Championship, Vilnius 1 9801 1 Portisch-Belyavsky, Moscow 1 981 Belyavsky-Timman, Tilburg 1 9 8 1 Belyavsky-Larsen, T ilburg 1 981 Belyavsky-Yudasin, 49th USSR Championship, Frunze 1 9 8 1 Gheorghiu-Belyavsky, Interzonal Tournament, Moscow 1 982 Belyavsky-Kasparov, Candidates Match (4th game), Moscow 1 983 Belyavsky-Geller, 50th USSR Championship, Moscow 1 983 Miles-Belyavsky, Wijk aan Zee 1 984 Psakhis-Belyavsky, European Champions Team Cup, Moscow 1 984 Belyavsky-Portisch, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1 984 Ljubojevic-Belyavsky, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1 984 Belyavsky-Dlugy, Interzonal Tournament, Tunis 1 985 Smyslov-Belyavsky, Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 1 986 Geller-Belyavsky, Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 1 986 Karpov-Belyavsky, Tilburg 1 986 Belyavsky-Bareev, 54th USSR Championship, Minsk 1 987 Belyavsky-Salov, 54th USSR Championship, Play-off (game 4) Belyavsky-Chandler, Linares 1 988 Belyavsky-Karpov, Brussels (World Cup) 1 988 Seirawan-Belyavsky, Brussels (World Cup) 1988

9 II 14 16 19 22 24 26 29 31 33 36 39 42 44 48 50 52 54 57 60 64 66 68 70 74 76 78 80 83 85 87 90

93

96

Uncompromising Chess

6

36 Khalifman-Belyavsky, 55th USSR Championship, Moscow 1988 37 Belyavsky-Petursson, Reykjavik (World Cup) 1988 38

Gulko-Belyavsky, Linares 1989

39 Belyavsky-Hjartarson, Barcelona

97 100

Foreword

102 104

40 Belyavsky-Vaganian, 56th USSR Championship, Odessa 1989

106

41 Smirin-Belyavsky, 56th USSR Championship, Odessa 1989

109

42

Belyavsky-Timman, World Team Championship, Luzern 1989

112

43

Belyavsky-Kasparaov, Linares 1990

115

44

Yusupov-Belyavsky, Munrch 1990

118

45

Dolmatov-Belyavsky, Moscow (GMA) 1990

121

In my youth 1 could sit for long hours at the chess board in complete solitude and feel

46

Nunn-Belyavsky, Amsterdam 1990

123

perfectly happy. I also liked reading. I made the acquaintance of Svetonius and Plutarch

47 Belyavsky- Vyzhmanavin, 57th USSR Championship, Leningrad 1990

'Prepare the horse for battle, but remember - victory comes from the Lord' - King Solomon.

127

fairly early, but they did not provoke in me an interest in Roman civilisation. This

48

Gelfand-Belyavsky, Linares 1991

129

occurred much later, when I had made the acquaintance of Seneca's way of thinking and

49

Belyavsky-Timman, Linares 1991

132

also the style of Sallustius Crispus. Since that time a feeling of joy arises in me on every

50 Belyavsky-Salov, Reggio Emilia 1991/2

135

occasion when, together with Gibbon and Mommsen, I can engross myself in the world

51 Belyavsky-Gelfand, Linares 1992

137

of my heroes. The disposition that arises helps me to retain my optimism, without which success in chess tournaments is improbable for any significant length of time.

52

Lautier-Belyavsky, Biel 1992

139

53

Belyavsky-Ivanchuk, Linares 1993

141

My other passion became sport, thanks to an accidental set of circumstances. After

S4

Belyavsky-Akopian, Novosibirsk 1993

144

finishing school I did not qualify for the University Law Faculty. The neighbouring

55 Romanishin-Belyavsky, Belgrade 1993

146

Sports College offered me a place without my having to pass any exam� since my

56

148

successes in chess had gained me a favourable image in the sports world, and chess was

57 Belyavsky-Shirov, Groningen 1993

152

revered then as a type of sport. True, there was no chess specialisation in the college, and

58 Korchnoi-Belyavsky, Leon 1994

155

girls gathered to watch my helpless attempts at gymnastics and swimming, in order to

59

Belyavsky-Bareev, Munich 1994

158

laugh to their hearts' content. The point was that, before entering the sports college, I had

60

Belyavsky-I.Sokolov, Groningen 1994

Kramnik-Belyavsky, Groningen 1993

159

not paid the slightest attention to physical exercise. I consider it a special favour of the

61 Karpov-Belyavsky, Linares 1995

161

immortal gods, that I went through the Sports rather than the Law Faculty, as practising

62

Belyavsky-Lobron, Dortmund 1995

165

sport has prolonged my chess career.

63

Zviagintsev-Belyavsky, Team Tournament, Yugoslavia 1995

167

Rome and sport, more than other factors, have formulated my attitude to the

64

Rublevsky-Belyavsky, Novosibirsk 1995

170

competitive process. I share the conviction of the Romans, that victory in battle is granted

65

Belyavsky-Azmaiparashvili, Reggio Emilia 1995/6

172

66 Belyavsky-Nikolic, Polanica Zdroj 1996

174

67 Belyavsky-Ehlvest, Yerevan Olympiad 1996

176

68

Belyavsky-Strikovic, Cacak 1996

69 Belyavsky-Khalifman, Ubeda 1997 70

Belyavsky-Illescas Cordoba, Ubeda 1997

180 182 184

71 Belyavsky-Shirov, Belgrade 1997

189

Index of Opponents

191

Index of Openings

192

by the immortal gods and is therefore outside the will of the commander. It is the same in a chess battle. Without at all pretending to resolve the philosophical question regarding the relationship between free will and predetermination, I will risk proposing that the result of a chess game depends considerably less on the efforts of a player, than is customarily thought. Therefore the task of a .chess commander reduces to trying to find the best of the possible moves, without worrying about the result. Fatigue and failure, more than other factors, influence the mood and competitiveness of a player after a game. A bottle of good wine may help to cope with fatigue, but, in order not to become dispirited by the result, you should seek inspiration from the thoughts of Seneca: 'In this life, stormy like a sea, there is one refuge: disdain future vicissitudes, stand dependably and openly, staunchly meet the blows of fortune, do not hide and do not flinch' .

Selected Games 1972-1997 At the tournament in Sombor (Yugoslavia) my youthfu l vanity was satisfied when I managed to take first place: only with great unwillingness had the organisers included me among the participants. This was my first appearance abroad in a tournament without an age restriction . Game l Belyavsky-Matulovic Sombor 1 972

Sicilian Defence B48

e4 c5 tOc6 tOo 2 exd� d4 3 W e7 tOxd� 4 tOf6 5 � e3 tOc.3 e6 6 7 f4 White exploits the fact that the black queen is at c7, so that he does not have to fear the pin on his knight that occurs in the game.

7

.i.b4?!

The opening books of that time recom­ mended 7 ... tOxd4 8 'i'xd4 (after 8 .i.xd4 B lack can take the pawn 8 . . .'i'xf4 9 e5 -

tOdS! 1 0 tOxdS exdS I I .i.e2 d6 or 9 g3 'i'c7 10 e5 tOd5 with a reasonable game) 8 ...tOg4 9 tOb5 'ilfc6, intending 1 0 tOxa7 11xa7 ! Two decades later B lack automatically tends to protect his queen by 7 ... a6, but here too 8 eS is rather unpleasant. For example, in the game Dysing-Carlsson (Stockholm 1 995) after 8 . . . tOd5 9 tOxd5 exd5 10 tOfS d6 1 1 tOxd6+ �xd6 12 exd6 'ilfxd6 13 Wd2 0-{) 1 4 G-O-Q Black again ran into difficulties. Of course, the simple 7 ... d6 is also possible. 'ilfa5 S tOdb5 9 e5! White fixes the weak d6 square and at the same time gains an obvious spatial advantage. a6 9 This leads to the exchange of B lack's b ishop. The alternative was 9 ... tOd5, when I was intending 1 0 .i.d2 tOxc3 1 1 bxc3!? (or 11 �xc3 0-{) 1 2 'ilfd2) 1 1...�e7 1 2 �d3 with advantage. 9 . . . tOe4 can be met by 1 0 Wd3 fS 1 1 exf6 tOxf6 1 2 �e2 0-{) 1 3 0-{) d5 1 4 a3 �e7 I 5 �f3 �h8 1 6 b4, again with advantage to White (Shmuter­ Saltaev, Volgograd 1 994). 10 tOd6+ 1 0 exf6 axb5 1 1 fxg7 11g8 1 2 �f2 �xc3 1 3 bxc3 Wxc3 1 4 .i.xbS also came into consideration. .i.xd6 10 ttJe4 11 'i'xd6 12 'i'd3 The tempting 1 2 b4 loses to 1 2 .. . Wa3 ! 12 tOxc.3 bxc.3 13 bS 'i'c7 14 .i.e2 1 4.. . 0-0 1 5 .i.e 5 is unpleasant for B lack.

10

Uncompromising Chess

15 16

0-{)

�b7

d4

COg6 COh8 COn �c6

earlier. After examining my games, the 6th World Champion subjected them to such scathing criticism, that when [ went out onto the street [ was so mortified that I burst out crying. After that we used to

Here the game was adjourned, but Black resigned without resuming, as there

meet from time to time, and he became more condescending towards my play. In

is no defence against �f3 and c3-c4. After 43 ... �a4 White wins by the outflanking manoeuvre 44 Jta6! Jtc6 45 Jtc8+ �d7 46

contrast to the wonderful books of pre­

.Qb7.

vious World Champions, in my opinion the three-volume set of Botvinnik's games is the first systemised work capable of giving a player a grandmaster understanding of

At that time the World Junior Champion­

the game. Botvinnik's commentaries are so

lld6 the win for White is merely a question

ship was held in a single age group of up to 20 years old, and once c'very two years. [n

instructive, that for anyone wishing to become a grandmaster, [ would recom­

of time.

contrast to the World men's Champion­

mend that in the first place they should

ship, which (before 1972) was regularly

study his works.

was a tougher defence, although after 32

16

39 40

A mistake. 22 . . . �c6 was essential, to prevent White's next move.

a4

II

Uncompromising Chess

30

llal

30 .Jtd6 was also good.

30 31 32 33

Uxa8 �f2

34

'It>e3

35 36 37 38

g3 .2.e2 h3 gxf4

.2.b6

�b7 :a8 .Qxa8 �b7 '.t>e6 h6 g5 gxf4+

�xc5 �xcS f5 The incautious 2 1 . ..COxc3? would have lost material after 22 �f3. 22 �d4 20 21

decided in matches between Soviet grand­ masters. in the barrie for the junior title

defence of the kingside pawns.

38

COe7

Teesside 1973

Sicilian Defence B9b

title. [n 1973 [ was to become the third Soviet winner.

Since the Junior Championship was being

The visit to England was preceded by a qualification tournament in Riga, where I

held in England, the local press was hoping that Tony Miles and Michael Stean would

shared first place with Sergey :-Vlakarychev

offer me worthy competition. [nitially the

and gained the right to represent the USSR in Teesside. As preparation for this

prognoses

tournament, the USSR Chess Federation

(6� out of 7), in the final tournament I lost

arranged for grandmasters. Boleslavsky and

to both the English players. However, the optimism of youth subsequently enabled

opening stage of the game, much more than participating in actual play. His

For this he needs to divert the knight to the

World Junior Championship

and Anatoly Karpov in 1969 had won this

Isaac Boleslavsky loved analysing the

position involves playing his king to d4.

Belyavsky-Marjanovic

participation, only Boris Spassky in 1955

Botvinnik to give me personal lessons. This was of undoubted benefit.

The further strengthening of White's

Game2

Soviet players traditionally found it difficult. [n the tv{enty years preceding my

were

confirmed:

after

a

confident victory in the qualification stage

me to win four games in a row, and by the last round I had caught the leader Siavoljub Marjanovic, who I still had to play.

Unfortunately,

today

I

cannot

remember which of the organisers sugges­

analyses were noted for their high quality, and books on opening theory contained

ted that we should agree a draw in our

numerous original ideas of his, disputing practical conclusions. From my contact

off with Miles. But already then the

with Boleslavsky [ derived methods of working on the openings.

maximalist aspiration in me prevailed: I decided to play for a win. And although

My first meeting with Botvinnik had taken place in his flat in Moscow two years

this game

game, in order to stage a three-way play­

does

not

rank

among

my

creative achievements, I must nevertheless

12

Uncompromising Chess

offer it to the judgement of the reader, as the one that made me Junior World Champion. e4 1 e5 2 ttJf3 d6 d4 exd4 3 4 ttJxd 4 ttJf6 5 ttJc3 a6 a4 6 Not the best move, but a perfectly possible one. Fischer used to prefer 6 �c4 here, and 6 �g5 is even more popular. 6 'fIe7 6...g6 would have transposed into the Dragon Variation, where White is denied the option of the plan with queenside castling. At the time I thought that the presence of the pawn at a4 (in reply to ... a7-a6) also favoured White after king­ side castling, since he has the possibility by a4-a5 of taking control of the weakened b6 square. on which one of his pieces may be established. 7 ttJb3 ttJbd7 �e2 g6 8 � g7 9 �

White has not obtained anything special from the opening, but on the other hand Maljanovic, on encountering some un­ accustomed problems, had already used an hour and a half on his clock.

10

i.e3

()....()

11 ttJd2 lOe5 12 ttJd5 If 12 h3 I was afraid of 12 ... �e6. ttJxd5 12 �fS exd5 13 l::cl h5 14 1::ae8 h3 15 f4 16 ttJd7 16 ...�xc2 did not work because of 17 �e l and then 18 �dI. 17 e3 lOc5 17 ...ttJf6 was better, in passing setting a trap (18 ttJc4? ttJxd5! 19 'iWxd5 �e6). 'iWd7 18 ttJf3 19 1:: a1 ttJe4 ttJf6 20 �h2 e6 c4 21 dxe6 'iWxe6 22 flfe8 lla3 23 There was no need for Black to allow the exchange of his bishop for the white knight. 23...'iWe7 24 ttJd4 �e4 would have been better. 'iWd7 ttJd4 24 'iWxfS 25 ttJxfS �d3 'iWe6 26 l!Jd7 27 llf3

28 b4 In the opponent's serious time trouble it was tempting to attack with 28 f5 'iWe5+ 29 i.f4, but Black is not bound to capture the pawn with 29...'iWxb2. He can retreat

Uncompromising Chess

29...'iWf6, when the situation becomes more comp I icated. 28 fS 28...a5!?, breaking up the white pawn chain and obtaining the c5 square for the knight, was more promising, e.g. 29 bxa5 ttJc5 30 f5 (or 30 �fI �b2 31 lla2 'iWf6 with counterplay) 30...'iWe5+ 31 �f4 'iWd4 32 fxg6 fxg6 33 'iWc2 flfB, and Black has good compensation for the pawn. 29 as �h7 �f1 30 ttJf6 31 �d4 ttJe4 32 �xg7 If 32 nfe3 White has to reckon with 32 ... �h6. 32 �xg7 33 'iWf6 'iWd4+ 34 llad3 'iWxd4 34... l1e6, inviting White himself to exchange queens, would have saved at least one tempo. 35 llxd4 �f6 And here 35...11e6 36 lle3 .:tce8 37 �e2 h4 38 �f3 �f6 would have main­ tained equality. �d3 36 lle6 fle3 37

ttJc3 37 This allows White a tactical opportunity to gain a winning material advantage. However, other moves were no better:

13

(a) 37...ttJc5 38 llxe6+ ttJxe6 39 flxd6 �e7 40 llb6 and wins; (b) 37...ttJf2 38 flxe6+ �xe6 39 �bl with a clear advantage; (c) 37...11ce8 38 �xe4 fxe4 (or 38...h4 39 �xb7 llxe3 40 �xa6 with good winning chances) 39 g4 h4 40 �g2 with the plan of�f2-e2, llc3, �e3 and c4-c5; (d) 37 ...g5 38 fxg5+ (but not 38 �xe4 gxf4 39 fle I flxe4 40 lldxe4 fxe4 41 llxe4 �f5 42 fld4 �e5 43 lld5+ �e6, when the best that White can do is to repeat moves) 38 ... ttJxg5 39 l1xe6+ �xe6 40 llh4 !1h8 41 �e2�e5 42 llxh5 llxh5 43 �x.h5 �d4 44 h4 ttJe6 45 �f7 ttJf4 46 g3 and White must win this ending. llxe6+ 38 Missing 38 �xf5! gxf5 39 .:lxc3. e.g. 39 . .. h4 40 �g l llce8 41 :'c2 llg8 42 .llcd2 �e7 43 l1d5 when White's extra pawn in the rook ending must count. �xe6 38 White still has a better ending, but it is not easy to approach Black's weaknesses. ttJe4 �f1 39 lle7 40 �e2 l!Jf6 41 �f3 lld7 42 �g3 �f7 43 �b4 44 �g5 � g7 45 g4 I did not see any other solution to the position. Against 45 lldI, attempting to penetrate with the rook to e6, Black would have replied 45... ttJe4+ 46 �xe4 fxe4 47 :el d5! 45 bxg4 46 bxg4 fxg4 47 �xg4 ll c 7? After prolonged thought Marjanovic wrongly avoids going into the rook ending. After 47...ttJxg4 48 �xg4 �f6 49 lld5 �e6 (49 c5 was threatened) 50 �g5 llg7 51 lld I llg8 52 lld4 llg7 53 �h6 llg8 54 �h7 :c8 55 �xg6 llg8+ Black, despite

14

Uncompromising Chess

being a pawn down, has chances of a draw. With the minor pieces still on the board, White's possibilities are increased. �f3 48 lld7

Uncompromising Chess

Game 3 Christiansen-Belyavsky World Junior Championship Teesside 1973

English Opening A40

c4 2 3 4

49 fS! Now White breaks through to the e6 square. 49 tOb7+ 50 f4 tOf6? 50 ...g5+ should have been played. gxfS 51 lId1 ebn 52 �xfS ':'c7 llel! 53 54 lIe6 tOg8 ebg7 55 �b5+ lIxc4 llxd6 56 57 lId7+ ebh8 After 57...ebh6 58 �g6 there is no good defence against the mate. lIxb7 58 !:rd4 59 �e2 lId6 60 �e5 lIh6 lIb6 61 lIh4 � xa6 62 tOe7 �b7 63 Black resigns The play in the above game was dominated by strictly competitive aims, but in the creative sense my win over a currently well known American grandmaster makes a better impression.

ttJf3 d4 e4

c5 g6 �g7 'i'a5+

Oleg Romanishin once played this against me in a training game. One of the present-day supporters of this variation is grandmaster D.Sennek. 5 �d2 S tOe3 d6 is more natural, when White has two fundamentally different plans: (a) 6 h3 tUc6 7 d5 tUd4 8 �d2 tOxf3+ 9 �xf3 tOf6 10 �e2 0-{) 1 1 �d3 a6 12 O-Q with somewhat the better game for White (Tukmakov-Sermek, Bled 1995); (b) 6 �e2 �g4 7 dxc5 dxc5 8 O-Q tUc6 9 e5! with sharp play (Mikhalchishin. Sermek, Bled 1995).

5 'i'b6 6 tUc3 Modem pragmatists would prefer 6 �c3, not avoiding an endgame: 6 ... cxd4 (6...tUc6 7 d5 �xc3+ 8lOxc3 'i'xb2 9 tUbS can hardly appeal to Black) 7 .i.xd4 .i.xd4 8 'i'xd4 'i'xd4 9 tUxd4 d6 10 tUc3 iOd7 1I tUdb5 �d8 12 �e2, where White's

chances are better (Gulko-Pinski, Geneva 1997). But during his golden youth Larry Christiansen preferred to attack. 6 cxd4 7 tUd5 �d 8

�f4 8 d6 9 ttJxd4 e5 9 .. . e6 10 tUbS! exd5 11 �xd6 xfl were learned of only 1 2 years later at the match between Karpov and Kasparov in Seville. However, in preferring a quieter alternative, Spassky was possibly guided not only by creative considerations, but also by his responsibilities as leader in a team event (he was playing on top board for Leningrad). 13 �d7 a6 lXbl 14 �xb7 lXa7 15 Weaker is I S ...ttJxb7 16 lXxb7 .i.b5 1 7 :te l ! 'i'a5 1 8 a4 .i.xa4 1 9 'i'a l ttab8? (better 19 ... :tac8) 20 lXebI with advantage to White (Dolmatov-Malisauskas, USSR 1 985). �b5 �d5 16

Easier equality is promised by Gennady Kuzmin's improvement 1 6 . . . e6 1 7 �b3 ttJxb3 (after 1 7 ...�b5?! 1 8 e5 Black has no compensation for the pawn) 1 8 axb3 �b5, for example: 19 e5 ttd7 20 'i'el f6 2 1 exf6 .1Lxf6 22 ttf2 e5 with equal chances (Dolmatov-Kuzmin, USSR 1 9 85). a4 17 Nothing is achieved by 1 7 .1Lg5 1Iid7 ( 1 7 ... h6 18 �h4 g5?! 1 9 �f2 is risky for Black, as his king is exposed, and after exchanges White gains the advantage by advancing his e-pawn) 18 ..t>h I e6 19 .1Lb3 �xb3 20 axb3 �xe2 2 1 ihe2 �xd4 22 nfd I e5 and Black equalises. 17 �xe2 18 'i'xe2 e6

�xe6?! 19 Fighting for the initiative, Spassky goes . in for an apparently promising piece sac­ rifice. Modem theory prefers 1 9 �c4, when Black's best is 19.. . �xd4, although considerable accuracy is required for hir:n to equalise. For example, the game I.Farago-W.Schmidt (Prague Zonal Tourn­ ament 1 985) continued 20 ttfd 1 �xe3+ 2 1 'i'xe3 ttd7 22 �e2 ttxd I + 2 3 lXxd 1 "c8 (less accurate is 23.....c7 24 �xa6 "c2 2 5 "d4! e 5 2 6 " a l ttb8 27 .i.fl when White stands better, Yusupov-Korchnoi, Luzem 1 985) 24 e5 "c2 25 ttd4 ttb8 26 h4 'Wbl + 27 Wf2111c 6 with chances for both sides.

19 20 21 22

d5 �b6 lXfc l

fxe6 tta8 'i'd6

22 :tab8! This possibility was overlooked by Spassky. B lack exploits the weakness of the gl-a7 diagonal. It transpires that White cannot play 23 'i'xa6? because of 23.. . .i.d4+, while 23 .i.xa5 is not good in view of 23.. .ttxb I 24 :txb I 'i'c5+ and 25 ... 'i'xa5. 23 'i'f2 Of course, not 23 'i'e3 in view of 23 . . .�h6! 24 'i'xh6 :xb6, when the simplification is clearly in Black's favour. 23 ttxb6 24 'i'aJ ttxb6

2S

lXcbl?

21

This move costs White the game. 25 ttbb 1 was essential, removing the rook from the dangerous diagonal, after which the outcome would have been far from clear. "d3! 25 Now, in view of the weakness of the g l-a7 diagonal, it is not possible for White to exploit the undefended knight at as . �c3 26 tt6b4 'i'b6 27 If 27 'i'fl there would have followed 27 . . . 'i'e3+ 28 �h 1 .i.xb4 29 ttxb4lXc8. 27 .1Lxb4 28 ttxb4 ttJc4 'ili'xe6+ 29 �h8 h4 30 White has three pawns for a knight, but this material balance is favourable only in the endgame, and for the moment his king is in danger. If 30 'i'e7?? he is mated after 30 . . . 'i'e3+. 30 31 �h2 �h3 32

33 g3 The only way to defend against Black's threat to set up a m ating net by 33 . . . lllfl or 3 3 . ..111d l was with 33 ttbl , but then 3 3 . . . lllxg2!, and, after the forced elimination of the f3 and h4 pawns, Black drives the king into the comer and sets u p

22

Uncompromising Chess

a fresh mating construction: 34 �xg2 'i'xD+ 35 �h2 'i'f2+ 36 �h l 'i'xh4+ 3 7 �gl 'i' g5 + ! (K.Neat; not 3 7 ... 'i'g3+ 3 8 � h I l:tf2 3 9 'iWc8+ dl White resigns

As regards the strength of the participants, the Moscow Tournament of 1 98 1 can be compared with the tournaments staged in the Soviet capital in 1 92 5 , 1 93 5 and 1 93 6 . Especially memorable among m y meetings with the strongest players in the world were my games with Tal and Portisch. Game 1 6 Portisch-Belyavsky Moscow 1981

Queen's Gambit 037

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

c4 1Oc3 d4 lOn �f4 e3 dxc5 �c2 %td l a3

e6 d5 �e7 lOf6 �

c5 �xc5 lOc6 �a5 � e7

11 12 13

Uncompromising Chess

lOd2 �g5 lOb3

e5 d4

'i'd8 13 Recently I have also played this varia­ tion as White. In Madrid 1995 San Segundo played 13 . . . '1t'b6 against me, and after 1 4 �xf6 �xf6 1 5 lOd5 'i'd8 1 6 �d3 g6 1 7 exd4 lOxd4 1 8 li)xd4 exd4 1 9 li)xf6+ 'i'xf6 20 0-0 .td7 2 1 :d2 :ac8 22 b3 .ic6 23 ':Hd I :fd8 Black gained equal chances. 14 .te2 It is useful for White to complete his development. After 1 4 exd4 tUxd4 I S lOxd4 exd4 1 6 tUbS he has to reckon with the resource 16 . . . .tg4 ! ? 1 7 ttxd4 :le8 (threatening a ' discovered' mate) 1 8 .te3 'i'b6 1 9 .td3 .icS with sharp play (Piket­ Van der Sterren, Lyon Zonal 1 990).

14 as! The idea of this move, which involves a pawn sacrifice, belongs to Yefim Geller. 15 exd4 The blockading I S lOa4 is more danger­ ous for Black: I S . . . g6 (how Black should not play is demonstrated by the game Yusupov-Belyavsky, Montpellier 1 985, which went IS ... �g4? 16 0-0 �xe2 1 7 'i'xe2 %te8 1 8 cS 'i'c7 1 9 �xf6 �xf6 20 lOb6 llad8 21 e4, when he had no counterplay) 16 �xf6 �xf6 17 0-0 �g7 1 8 cS 'i'h4 19 e4 �e6 20 �d3 , and here instead of 20 ... fS 21 lOd2 %tfl 22 %tde I :afB 23 lOc4 fxe4 24 %txe4 �gS 2S h4 �e7 26 lOd6 11f4 27 �c4, when the exchange of bishops allowed White to set up a light-square blockade (Shneider­ Kruppa, Podolsk 1 9 89), Shneider recom­ mends 20 . . . �h6 2 1 lOd2 �g4 22 :de l �f4 23 g3 �hS 24 gxf4 �f3 2S lOxf3 'i'g4+ with a draw by perpetual check. 15 a4 The a-pawn is sacrificed, but the white knight becomes badly placed. 16 lOxd4 lOxa4 1 6 ... !ha4 is bad because of 1 7 dS li)aS 18 d6 .ixd6 19 lDc s . 17 lOxd4 exd4 b3 18 If 1 8 0-0 there would have followed 1 8 . . . �aS 1 9 �xf6 �xf6 20 b3 .td7 with an equal game. 18 �a5+ 19 .td2 In my annotations to this game, against 19 �d2 I recommended 19 . . . .txaJ 20 �xaS ttxa5 2 1 .txf6 .tb4+ 22 �fl gxf6 23 :lxd4 %te8 with equal play. Later in the I I th game of the Korchnoi-Karpov match (Merano 1 9 8 1 ) B lack preferred 23 ... %te5 ! 2 4 g4 b5 when h e gained sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 1 9 ... 'WfS is also interesting, when after 20 �f4?! 'Wc2 he has the initiative.

49

.t f5 ! 19 'i'e5 20 'i'b2 .tb 4 21 2 1 �e3 can be answered by 2 1 . . . �xa3 . 21 .txb4+ 11fe8 axb4 22 %txd4 .te2 ! 23 Before White can consolidate, B lack makes use of h i s initiative to regain the sacrificed material, remaining with a slight positional advantage. 24 %td2 .txb3 'i'a1 + 'i'xb 3 25 'i'dl 'i'xd 1 + 26 %txa4 %txdl 27

28 n White should have considered 28 g3, with the aim of playing his king to g2, where it is more securely p laced.

50

Uncompromising Chess

Uncompromising Chess

28 l:[x b 4 �f2 29 l:[b2 l::t h el 30 g6 �n?! 31 of White's cause The primary subsequent difficulties. After 3 1 l:[d3 with the idea of :re3 the position would have been equal. 31 liJh5 32 liJg7 g3 33 nd7 liJe6 34 lled l

1 9 8 1 was made a memorable year for me by my victory in Tilburg, where, apart from Karpov and Korchnoi, who were playing their match for the World Championship in Merano, all the strongest players in the world competed. Among them was the 1 8-year-old Garry Kasparov, who at the end of that year was to become USSR Champion for the first time. Before the l ast round, Petros ian, Timman and I were leading. Tigran, as was his habit, agreed a quick draw, since he used to consider that a tournament should be won before the last round. Timman and I battled it our in what was then a fashionable variation of the Sicilian Defence, which was soon to lose its attraction.

10 is 1 0 e5 is also sometimes played here, although without particular success. 10 liJc6 11 fxe6 fxe6 12 liJxc6 bxc6 13 eS dxeS 14 �xf6 gxf6 15 liJe4 � e7 16 � e2 hS nb 3 'i'a4 17 18 � x f6 liJxf6+ c4 19

Game 1 7 Belyavsky-Timman Ti/burg 1981

Sicilian Defence B97

34 liJd4! I f 34 ... 8f4 there would have followed 35 ::'d8 ::'bxe2 36 gxf4 with an easy draw. Now, however, White is obliged either to allow the invasion of his 2nd rank by both rooks, or to sacrifice the exchange by 3 5 l:[xb7 ::'xb7 3 6 :!xd4 l:[b2, which also fails to save the game. l:[ lxd4 35 :rexe2 l:[xb7 36 l:[f2+ �gl 37 l:[g2+ �hl 38 l:[xh2+ �gl 39 l:[bg2+

�n 40 l:[c2 �gl 41 l:[hg2+ J:gf2+ �n 42 Now if 43 �g I there follows 43 . . . l:lxD 44 g4 l1a3 45 J:b 1 l:la4, winning White's remaining pawns. White resigns.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

e4 liJf3 d4 liJxd4 tOc3 � g5 f4 'Wd2 .ct b l

c5 d6 cxd4 �f6 a6 e6

'i'b6 'i'xb2 'Wa3

By his piece sacrifice White has exposed the enemy king, and it is not easy for B lack to defend it without losing material. I already had some experience of playing this position. Early that year, i n the compelltlon for four USSR teams, Mikhalchishin played 1 9 ... c5 against me, and after 20 0--0 'Wd7 2 1 'i'xd7+ �xd7 22 :rxf6 b l ( 1 7 Wxb2 ':a3 ! ) 17 . . . :'a3 1 8 lLlxf7 "'a8 19 '1i'g6 ttJf8 20 ttJd6+ �d7 2 1 lLlc4 'i'a6, when it is B lack who is attacking; (b) 16 b3 lLldS 1 7 lLlf5 ! exfS (forced in view of the mate threat at g7) 1 8 ttJxe7 ttJxe7 ( 1 8 ... ttJxf4 19 ttJg6+ ttJe6 20 ttJxh8) 1 9 .li.d6 tOes 20 dxe5, and i f 20 . . . 0-0 2 1 e6, winning material. 16 lLlCS! .li. f8 ? 1 6 ... exf5 was more tenacious, trying to defend as indicated in the previous note. J::r.g 8 17 .li.d6 I f 17 ...fxg6 White mates by 1 8 ttJxg7+! 18 c4 ttJb4

19 �h3 ! Threatening 20 ttJxh6! gxh6 2 1 nxe6+! , and there i s n o longer any defence. 19 fxg6 J::r. x e6+ � f7 20 21 hxg6+ �xc6 22 nel+ lLle5 .li.xe5 23 Black resigns The rather widely analysed variation of the S icil ian Defence that occurred in my game with a representative of the new generation of Leningrad players, Leonid Yudasin, the winner of the Qualification Tournament for the USSR Championship. reminded me of an old story. kading to the amusing thought that sometimes it is ignorance that leads to progress. A decade earlier. in a game with Zhidkov from the Ukrainian Championship. in the main l i ne of this variation I encountered a new idea that had j ust been publ ished in the most recent issue of the 64 newspaper (with its help Elzi bar Ubi lava had just won a game with Black). Watching my torment, as I ' fell asleep' for a good hour, many of the already 'erudite' participants were chuckling, anticipating the development of events. Fortunately, I had not read that issue of 64 and I discovered a refutation.

Nowadays this i s a l l well establ ished, but in the previous USSR Championship (Vilnius 19801 1 ) grandmaster Gennady Kuzmin, the author of many interesting opening ideas, surprised me with 7 ... lLlg4, although after 8 h3 lLlge5 9 .li.e3 ttJxd4 1 0 �xd4 ttJc6 I I 'i'd2 g 6 1 2 .li.c4 llc8 1 3 .li.b3 'i'a5 1 4 .li.h6 �xh6 I S �xh6 .li.e6 1 6 0-0 it transpired that it was not easy for Black to castle. 8 � lLlxd4 9 �xd4 �a5 10 f4 e6 11 eS dxeS 12 fxeS

Game 1 9

49th USSR Championship Frunze 1981

Sicilian Defence B 6 1 e4 ttJO d4 lLlxd4 ttJc3 .li. g5 9d2

c5 ttJc6 cxd4 lLlr6 d6 .li.d7 nc8

for Black. Since 1 970, when Zhidkov surprised me with 14 . . . g6, and I found the refutation 1 5 b4! which casts doubts on the exchange sacrifice, this idea has been avoided by theoreticians, and the game that found its way into the books was Belyavsky-Ubilava, played in the 1 978 USSR Cup, where after IS . . . ttJd5 16 .li.c4 .li.h6+ 1 7 J::r.d 2 "'a3+ 1 8 .li.b2 "'xb4 1 9 .li.xd5 White won a piece, as i f 1 9 ...... xd2+ 20 'i'xd2 .li.xd2+ 2 1 �xd2 exd5 he has 22 e6 llg8 23 exd7+ �xd7 24 .li.d4 a6 25 �d3 lle8 26 llb I b5 2 7 lla I J::r.a 8 28 g4, and in this ending the bishop is worth more than the three pawns. 13 � bS For some time 1 3 .li.xf6 gxf6 14 ttJe4 was considered the strongest, but the game Dolmatov-Ruderfer (Moscow 1 98 1 ) dis­ pelled this il lusion: 14 . . . !ld8! I S ttJxf6+ �e7 and Black is not worse, as 1 6 'iWh4 can be met by 1 6 . . . !lxd l + 1 7 �xd l �d8. Of the modem searchings in this posi­ tion, Judith Polgar's idea of 13 .li.c4 ! m ust be mentioned. Her game with Groszpeter (Hungarian Championship 1 99 1 ) con­ tinued 13 . . . ttJd7 14 llhe I h6 15 .li.d2 'iWc5 16 �f4 g5 17 �fl .li.g7 1 8 h4 ttJxe5 1 9 .li.b3 0-0 2 0 hxg5 hxg5 2 1 �e2 ttJg6 22 �h5 and White built up decisive threats. 13 ttJd5 14 lLlxdS Weaker is 14 .li.xc6+ bxc6 1 5 lLle4?! ( I S a3 is better) 15 �xa2 1 6 c4 h6 1 7 .li.d2 c5 1 8 � d3 lLlb6 with advantage to Black (Petrushin-Yudasin, USSR 1 98 1 ). 14 .li.xb5 15 ttJc3 Before this White had unsuccessfully tried the tempting 1 5 �xa7, which is parried by 15 . . . .li.b4! 15 .li.c6? The lesson was not wasted, for two rounds later Yudasin demonstrated the correct solution in this game with ...

Belyavsky-Yudasin

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

55

Uncompromising Chess

12 .tc6 At one time the exchange sacrifice 12 ... 11xc3 13 .li.d2 9xa2 14 .i.xc3 was considered a radical method of counterplay

56

Uncompromising Chess

Dolmatov: 1 5 . . . �c5 1 6 'ifg4 �b4! 1 7 �xb5 �xb5 1 8 'ife4 ()....{) and Black successfully solved his opening problems.

16

Ilhfl ! � b4 �d5 �e4 It transpires that now 1 7 . . . ()....{) is not possible because of 1 8 �f6+ Wh8 1 9 'ifh4. �xd6 �d6+ 18 19 exd6 f6 17

�xf6! 20 gxf6 'ifxf6 21 'iPd7 22 'ife7+ 'itc6 d7! 23 The inclusion of 23 nf7 'itb6 24 d7 leads only to a draw: 24 . . . nxc2+! 2 5 'itxc2 'ifa4+ 26 'iPd2 'ilid4+. ncd8 23 24 c4! �xc4 'itbS 'ilid6+ 2S

26 Ilfe ! ! �d5 Comparatively best. 26 ... '1l'xa2 27 l!e5+ .td5 (visiting the white king's residence by 27.. .�a4 28 �c7 'ifa 1 + 29 Wc2 .tb3+ 30 �c3 resembles a help-mate) 28 r:.exd5+ exd5 29 l:rxd5+ �xd5 30 �xdS+ �b6 3 I �d6+ Wb5 32 g4 would have led to a similar ending to that in the game. Ilxd5+! 27 exd5 28 ne5 An amusing picture, where White threatens a linear mate in the centre of the board. However, there was also a false trail: 28 nd I d4! 29 a4+ (or 29 t1xd4 'ife 1 + 3 0 �c2 nc8+ 3 1 dxc8='if nxc8+ 32 Wb3 nc3+! 33 bxc3 'iib l+) 29 ... 'iixa4 30 nxd4 J:c8+ 3 1 dxc8'if (or 3 1 Wb 1 'ifc2+ 32 �a2 ncs 33 d8'ii nxd8 34 'ifxd8 �a6 35 'ilif6+ b6 36 'iifl + 'itb7 37 'if 0+ 'ita6) 3 1 ... :.xc8+ 32 'itb I 'iic2+ 33 'ita2 nc5 34 'ilid7+ �a6 35 na4+ na5 36 t1xa5+ 'iPxaS 37 'ilixb7 'ilia4+, and in all these lines the game ends in a draw by perpetual check. 28 'iPc4 29 ne3! It was still possible to throw away the win: 29 ne4+ �d3 30 nb4 t1hfB 3 1 'ilig3+ 'ite2 32 'ilig4+ 'itfl 33 'ilid l + �f2 3 4 'ilid4+ 'itfl 35 'ili d 1 + an d White h as to be content with perpetual check. b6 29

57

Uncompromising Chess

No better is 29 ...nhf8 30 nc3+ 'itd4 3 1 'ife7! nn + 3 2 'iPd2 nf2+ 33 'ite I with mate at e3, or 29 ... 'ifxa2 30 'ilic7+ �b5 3 1 �xb7+ 'itc5 32 nc3+ 'itd4 3 3 'ii b4+ etc., but now the attack concludes with the transition into an easily won ending. 30 nc3+ �xc3+ 31 bxc3 'iPxc3 32 b5 'ifxd5 33 'itdl as 34 'ite2 a4 35 �e3 'iPb4 36 �d6+ 'iPa5 37 'ikc7 b4 38 �e4 'ita6 39 �e5 n h 5+ 40 'ite6 nh6+ 41 �dS nb5+ 42 �d4 nhh8 43 'itc4 ndg8 44 'itb4

nxg7+ 64 �f6 nc7 65 'ilid5+ 'ita7 66 as) 60 �c8+ Ilxc8 61 dxc8'ii + �a7 62 as bxa5 63 'ifc5+ �a6 64 �d6+ �b7 65 �d5+ 'ita6 66 'ifd3+ 'iPb7 67 'ifb5+ and wins. In 1 982 I qualified for the World Cham­ pionship Candidates cycle by taking second place in the Interzonal Tournament in Moscow. Before the last round five participants were contending for the sole remaining place, since Garry Kasparov had already qualified. Since it seemed probable to me that at least one of my rivals would win, I decided to play for a win with Black against Florin Gheorghiu. Two years earlier a sim i lar situation with the same opponent had arisen in Baden (Austria), only with the significant difference that a draw then did not satisfy Florin, as it could have left him outside the prize list. In Moscow he no longer had any corres­ ponding stimulus, and was satisfied with a draw. The difference in my opponent's motivation in these tournaments influenced my choice of opening. In Baden I granted him the opportunity to play actively and chose the Queen's Gambit. In Moscow, by offering a more uncompromising gambit, I myself took on all the risk. Game 20 Gbeorghiu-Belyavsky

Black resigns, as the winning proce­ dure for White, although lengthy, is quite straightforward, for example: 44 ... ng4+ 45 'ita3 ngg8 (45 ...J:d4 46 'ilic3) 46 'itxa4 nf8 47 �b3 :fg8 48 a4 :f8 49 �c3 :fg8 50 'itd3 :f8 5 1 'ite4 :fg8 52 'ite5 :f8 53 'ite6 l:rfg8 54 g4 hxg3 55 hxg3 :f8 (5s...�a5 5 6 'ilic4) 56 g4 :fg8 57 g5 :a8 (57 ...'ita5 58 'ilic4 t1xg5 59 'ilic3+) 58 g6 t1hg8 59 g7 :xg7 (59 ... :gd8 60 'iPe7 :g8 6 1 'l'c4+ 'itb7 62 'l'xg8 :xg8 63 d8'1'

�

Interzonal Tourna ent Moscow 1 982

Benko Gambit AS8 �f6 d4 c5 c4 2 dS 3 b5 a6 cxb5 4 S bxa6 Ten years later, playing White in Tilburg against Michael Adams, I chose 5 e3 and after 5 . . . axb5 6 .i.xbS 'l'a5+ 7 �3

58

Uncompromising Chess

�b7 8 e4 ! lUxe4 9 lUge2 g6 1 0 0-0 lUd6 1 1 a4 ! �g7 1 2 �g5 h6 1 3 � f4 0-0 1 4 �xd6! exd6 1 5 f4 f5 1 6 g4! White's attack bore fruit. 5 � xa6

It is also possible to take on a6 with the kn ight: 5 . . . g6 6 b3 �g7 7 �b2 ()....() 8 g3 d6 9 �g2 ttJxa6 1 0 ttJc3 �b 7 II e4 e6 1 2 ttJge2?I ( 1 2 dxe6 fxe6 1 3 ttJge2 i s better) 1 2 . . . exdS \ 3 exd5 ttJb4 14 a3 0.fxd5, and B lack regained his pawn while retaining the InitIatIve (Ravi-Hebden, British Championship 1 9 89). 6 g3 To me the fol lowing plan seems more promising: 6 ttJc3 d6 7 e4 .Q.xfl 8 h8 1 8 'i'g4 f6 1 9 1Oxe6 tDxe6 20 .!i..g6 tDgS 2 1 gac l 'i'e7 22 'i'h5+ ..tg8 23 h4 with an obvious advantage; (c) 1 6 ... h6 1 7 'i'h5 e5 (if 1 7 . . . tDf4 1 8 'i'xh6!, forcing mate) 1 8 �xeS 'i'xeS 1 9 �h7+ o;t>h8 20 tDxt7+ t:.xt7 2 1 'i'xeS �xh7 :!2 :'xd5 with a winning material advantage. .!i.. x f6 16 gxf6 17 18

'fie3! :tacl

g7 tDc6

Black must maintain control of e5, as if 1 8 ... 'i·b7 there follows 19 tDeS ! tDd7 (after 19 ... fxe5 20 'i'g5+ 'it>h8 2 1 'i'h6 White forces mate) 20 .!LJg4 f5 2 1 '1I'h6+ �g8 22 tDf6+ f7 .

13 lDge4! �g7 If 1 3 . '1Ifxd4 Black has to reckon with 14 lDf6+ Wd8 1 5 ..-e2, with the terrible threat of 1 6 .:.!d I . 14 'tt' g4 lDrs �e3 15 lDd5 16 lDxd5 'tt' x d5 17 lDc3 '1Ir'd7 After 1 7 ... '1Ir'a5 1 8 aJ with the threat o r b2-b4 the queen is unable to find an y peace llfd l lld8 18 � llac1 19 Later, instead of this pawn sacrifice, Portisch suggested the solid 19. . '1Ir'e7 followed by .. J:d7 and .. :ilfd8. .

.

35 lle7 li)cs 36 li)b3 In time trouble I should not have forced matters. After 36 a3 and the preparation of the g-pawn's advance it wo u l d have been more difficult for Black to defend. 36 a4 b4 37 li)d4 38 li)c6 Here too 38 a3 was stronger, and after 38 . . . b3 39 lIc ! ! �xg2 40 lDb5 White breaks through to the queenside weak­ nesses: 40 . . . c6 41 li)d6+ �f8 42 Ilc4 lla7 43 lIb4 c5 44 llb8+ �g7 45 llc8. But, understandably, it is not easy to decide on such manoeuvres in time trouble. b3 38 axb3 axb3 39 lle8 lIc3 40

.

73

session, in order to find a way to realise White's advantage. c6 41 42 g3 lla8 No better is 42 . . . 11h8 43 h4 lla8 44 lDxb3 llb8 45 lDc5 llxb2 46 lDd7 and 48 lDf6, evicting the bishop from its best base at d5. llal lDxb3 43 44 lDd4 llxb2 llb6 llc2 45 lla6 h3 46 lla2 llc3 47 After 47 . . . �g2 48 lDf3 ! Black cannot go into the rook ending. 48 lD f3 ! llg2 After 48 ... c5 White wins with 49 lDg5+ followed by 50 llxc5. �e7 49 lDg5+ lld2+ �d4 50 51 llal �eS 52 lla5+ h4 �b6 llal 53

.

20 ..txfS! gxfS After 20 .. exf5 2 1 -.n3 Black would have to reckon with the threat of d4-d5 (e.g. 2 1 . g5 22 d5 !). .

.

.

Black is practically obliged to observe passively the development of events, as after 29 ...lld l + 30 �f2 and �e3 with the threat of lDd4 the rook is forced to return.' 30 �f2 lld5 31 f4 lld7 32 lDc3 as 33 b5?! �e3 33 ... b6 is sounder, when I was intending to play 34 g3 followed by lDe2d4. 34 lDa4! ..td5

41 lOd4?! This untimely haste was to force my opponent to make the sealed move. After 4 1 lDb4! the game might well not have been resumed, but at this point our team was leading 3-�, and it appeared that the ' fork' of the c7 and b3 pawns would complete the 'whitewash' of the Hungarian team. However, in analysis it transpired that 4 1 . . .c6 is possible, when 42 lOxc6 fails to 42 . . lle8 43 �4 llxc3+ 44 bxc3 b2. A fair amount of work had to be done in the two-hour break before the adjournment .

54 lDh7! After the knight reaches f6, from where it both supports the passed h-pawn and attacks the bishop, it becomes clear that the end is near. llbl+ 54 55 �c7 llb5 No better is 55 ... c5 56 llxc5 llb7+ 57 �c8 llb3 58 lDf6 llxg3 59 llc7+ �f8 60

74

h 5 J:rh3 6 1 tOxdS exdS 62 �d8, when the advance of the e-pawn is decisive. 56 c5 tOf6

57 58 59

tOxd 5+ Wc6

exd5 d4

l:.a3 Black resigns

With everything turning out well for me at the Olympiad, there was no reason not to throw caution to the winds in a double­ edged variation of the french Defence. Game 26

Lj uboj evic-Belyavsky Thessaloniki Olympiad 1 98-1

French Dc!fence C 1 8

e4 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

d4

tOc3 e5 a3

bxc3 W'g4 W'xg7 W'xb7 tOe2 f4

e6 d5 � b4 c5 �xc3+ CUe7 W'c7 ttg8 cxd4 CU bc6 dxc3

75

Uncompromising Chess

Uncompromising Chess

present game. Even so, it takes too much time, although subsequently the advance of the h-pawn was used as an end in itself. The main continuation here is 12 'i'd3 .

12 13

�d7 tth3

Th is direct way of e l iminating the c3 pawn suffers a fiasco. The old-fashioned 1 3 '1!t'd3 CUfS 1 4 lIb l is stronger. Here are some exam ples: (a) 14 . . 0-0-0 15 hS d4 1 6 l':t g l CUh6')! ( 1 6 . . . f6 ! ? comes into consideration) 1 7 CUxd4 CUxd4 1 8 'i'xd4 b6 1 9 :::t b 3 Jlg3 20 �d3 tOf5 21 W'b4 �b8 22 !rxc3 �c6 23 'tfc4 :::t c S 24 'i'xc6 'i'xc6 2 5 llxc6 :lxc6 26 �f2 Jlg8? ! 27 g4 and the white pawns began to advance (Djurhuus-lohannessen, Norwegian Championship 1 996). 26 . . . :::t g4 27 :::t h I ttcB was stronger, with only a .

slight advantage to White; (b) 14 ... CUa5 1 5 h5 0--0-0 1 6 :g l 4Jc4 1 7 g4 'i'c5 1 8 'i'xc3 a5 with chances for both sides ( Djurhuus-Antonsen, Torshavn 1 996).

15

'i'b5

Winning another pawn by 15 'Wxf7? d4 16 ttd3 tth8 involved the risk of losing the queen.

20 21 22

'Wg4 ..t>f2 'W b3

'Wa5+ CUde3 'Wd5!

d4

15

A normal idea i n this variation: Black is cramped, and the d5 square i s vacated for his pieces. ttd3 16 If 16 nh3 I was intending 1 6 . . . d3 ! ? 1 7 ttxd3 tOcd4! 1 8 tOxd4 CUxd4 with an attack. CUce7 16

17

.ib2

White should have considered 17 .id2, maintaining control o f e3, which is where the knight is aiming for. After the direct 1 7 . . . �b5 possible was 1 8 'i'xf7 ng6 1 9 .ib4 .ixd3 2 0 cxd3 with compensation for the exchange, but Black could have increased his initiative by 1 7 . . . tthS 1 8 'i'fJ .ic6 19 'i'f2 .ie4.

Now, after the inevitable invasion of the queen, the fate of the white king will be sealed.

23

tOxd4

tOxd4

Now White has several possi bilities, but none is satisfactory: (a) 24 nxd4 'tftJ+ 25 We I CUg4! threatening mate; (b) 24 .1xd4 'i'tJ+ 25 We I (or 25 �g l

13

ttxd4 26 ttxd4 Jlg8) 25 ... llxd4! 26 ttxd4 CUg4! with a mating attack; (c) 24 llxe3 CUfS 25 lld3 W'cS+ 26 �e l (or 26 ..t>e2 llxd3 27 cxd3 'We3+) 26 . . . 11xd3 27 cxd3 'We3+ 28 ..t> d l 'Wf2 29 �e2 lld8 with a decisive attack. There only remains the continuation i n the game . . .

17 18 14

12

b4

This idea of attacking the c3 pawn with the king's rook was first tried in the

ttxc3?

Now the white queen is cut off from the centre of events. It was not yet too late to return with 14 Wd3, although the time wasted on the rook manoeuvre is very

significant. 14

tOd5! ncl

18 .1xd4? leads to the exchange o f this bishop after 1 8 . . . CUxf4 ! 1 9 lOld"4 lOxd4, which exposes the dark squares in White's position. But it is already hard to offer him good advice: 18 Wo .1c6 19 Wf2 lOde3 allows Black to begin a decisive invasion.

18 19

g3

.ic6 nb8

24 25 26

..t>xe3 ..t>d2 ..t>c3

The dS square is like a transit base for the black pieces.

27

ttxd4

l:txd4

A fter the capture with the queen, the king would have hidden at a2. But now 2 8 ..t>b3 i s met b y 2 8 . . . Jld2 (preventing ..t>a2 and threatening ...id5+) 29 .ic4 b5 30 .

.id3 .id5+ 3 1 ..t>b4 ..t>b7 32 .ixb5 ..t>b6 33 ..t>a4 Wc5 34 Wf1 a6 and wins.

76

Uncompromising Chess

28 29

�d3 hS

.ll h d8 .!l8dS

Game 27 Belyavsky-DIugy Interzonal Tournament Tunis 1985

Queen's Gambit Accepted D24

2 3 4 5 6

7

d4 c4

dS dxc4

lUn lUc3

lU f6 a6

e4 eS a4

bS tiJdS

Threatening 30 . . . :xd3+. It is interest­ ing that, after its journey into black terri­ tory, the powerfu l white queen is unable to come to the aid of its own king: 30 '1!fn =txd3+ 3 1 cxd3 =tc5+ 3 2 � b 3 :b5+.

30 31 32 33

a4 .Ilc5+ f7 25 ttJe5+ and White wins. 18 ':xeS hxgS 'lWd6?! 19 ttJxg6 19 . . ..:.h6 20 xf8 is a tougher defence, although here too after 2 1 'lWd2 White has a strong attack. 20 g3 1:xd2 35 1:e8+ 'Ot>h7 36 1:e4 "c2 3 7 'it'f5+ �h6 38 'it'f4+ 'Ot>g6 39 'Wb8 �h7 40 1:e8 'Wg6+, or (b) 33 'it'xf3 1:xd2 34 'ii'xb7 1:xd4 35 'Wb8+ 'Ot>h7 36 1:e8 1:xh4+ 3 7 �g l 'it'd3 38 :11 8+ �g6 39 "e8+ 'Ot>gS. 31 'it'e7+

White resigns

1 57

At the age of 66 Viktor Korchnoi has maintained an amazing chess strength, as I experienced last summer at the European Team Championship (Pula 1 997). I n contrast t o Smyslov, whose emotional balance helps him to retain his compet­ itiveness, the basis of Korchnoi ' s longevity lies in his passionate love for and devotion to chess. Viktor did not grasp the secrets of chess with such ease as Karpov, but that which he mastered, he mastered pro­ foundly and for ever. He had to work a great deal, and he absorbed many ideas, evaluations and methods of working, both from his adversary of the 1 960s Tigran Petrosian, and from the fundamental approach of Boleslavsky and Geller. For me he will always be a symbol of those happy times, when chess ideas were generated in the analysis of games, and people aimed to clarify causes and generalisations. Now, however, they aim to classify games in their chess database and to check with Fritz or Rebel whether or not there is a m istake in their calculations on the 4th half move. The elements of research and art are being increasingly excluded, and chess is losing those of its supporters for whom the competitive element is not the main attraction. In an interview more than 1 5 years ago, Karpov called Korchnoi 'a spent force ' . He evidently based this on the fact that Viktor is upset by defeats and does not spare his nervous energy, the reserves of which are not unlimited. But he underestimated Korchnoi's strength of character and his devotion to chess. In his competitive qualities Viktor Korchnoi (I flatter myself with the thought that this also applies to me) resembles a Russian doll : however much it is pushed about, it always ends u p o n its feet. Or, if y o u would like another comparison - the staunch tin soldier from the tales of Hans Christian Andersen.

ISS

Uncompromising Chess

After failing on one occasion to win a game after blockading an isolated pawn, Bent Larsen remarked: 'An isolated pawn should not be blockaded, but won .' My game with Bareev is an ill ustration of Larsen 's idea. Game 59 BelyavskJ'-Bareev Munich 1 994

French Defence COS 2 3 -'

5

e4

e6

d-' 4J d 2 ex d S .lt bS+

dS cS exdS �d 7

'i'e2+ 6 'i'e7 Of course, this move has the right to exist, but 6 . . . .lte7 is nevertheless more interesting. However, when preparing for a game with Yevgeny Bareev one always has to be ready for a psychological battle. In our game a few months earlier, at the 1 993 Groningen Tournament, after the inclusion of 5 4JgO 4Jf6 he successfully blocked the check 6 �b5+ .ltd7 7 .e2+ with 7 . . . .lte7. After S dxc5 0-{) 9 4Jb3 ':eS 10 �e3 a6 I I �d3 as 1 2 a4 4Jg4 1 3 0-{) 4Ja6 1 4 �xa6 ( 1 4 .ltd4 was stronger) 14 ...:lxa6 1 5 :fd l 4Jxe3 1 6 fxe3 �cS! 1 7 :::txd5 �e6 I did not achieve anything sig­ nificant. Therefore Yevgeny had grounds for assuming that [ had prepared an improvement, and so he changes course. 7 8

�xd7+ dxc5

tUxd7 .xe2+

B lack should not have developed the white pieces without necessity. S ... 4Jxc5 was better, as for example in the 1 6th game of the Karpov-Korchnoi World Championship Match (Bagiuo 1 975), where after 9 tUb3 .xe2+ 10 lOxe2 lOxb3 I I axb3 �c5 1 2 �d2 1Oe7 1 3 lOf4 0-{) 1 4 0-{) .l:tfdS I S tUd3 �b6 B lack managed to

equalise. But by following Miroslav Filip's recommendation of 1 4 lOd3 ! �b6 1 5 �b4 .ll feS 1 6 �xe7 Ihe7+ 1 7 'iPd2 White would have retained slightly the better chances. �xc5 9 lOxe2 10 11

lilb3

14 15 16

� g3

.l:tc4 .l:tfc8

�b l !

.ltb6

�f4 lLlgf6 The game Sa."!fie7

Wb4

Now White manages to drive away the queen and retain control of the central files. 20 21 22 23 24

lLle3 l%c4 Ite2 lDc3 Itdl

g6 Wd2 >!fid4 �g7

�

Slav Defence D I S 1 2 3 4

5

d4 c4 ll\f3 ll\c3 a4

dS c6

ll\f6 a6

White has tried in various ways to d isclose the drawbacks to Black's last move, but in the majority of cases without success. At the 1 996 Yerevan Olympiad against Shirov I played 5 lDe5 ll\bd7 6 i. f4

5 6 7 8

g3 i.g2

e6 dxc4 cS

�

After the exchange of queens 8 dxc5 Wxd I + 9 ll\xd I it is easier for Black to defend: 9 . . . ll\c6 (9 ...i.xc5 1 0 i.e3 i.b4+ I I i.d2 ll\c6 is also possible) 1 0 tOe3 i.xcS I I ll\xc4 �e7 12 ()....{) ll\d5 ! 1 3 lDfe5

24

'ifb4?

1 86

Uncompromising Chess

The domination of the white pieces is so great that obviously Black is simply bound to seek the exchange of queens. But on which square? After 24 . . .. b6 the black pieces are badly coord inated: 25 'i'xb6 ttJxb6 ( i f 25 .. Jlxb6 \Vhite builds u p the pressure with 26 ttJc4 lla6 27 ttJd6 ttJb6 28 ttJcb 5 a 4 29 ;Xc7 � d 7 3 0 ll x b 7 �xb5 3 1 ttJxb5 ttJc4 3 2 llc 1 and regains the pawn in a favourable situation) 26 liJb5 a4 27 lUd6 . Now 2 8 ttJxc8 is threatened, 27 . . . .:1a5 2 8 llc7 is good for White, and after 27 . . .a 3 2 8 bxa3 llxa3 2 9 llc5 he maintains a sl ight advantage. 24 .. :'i'c5 looks better: 25 ttJcd5 ( i f 2 5 ttJa4 �xc7 26 ;Xxc7 B lack has 2 6 . . . b5 27 tDc3 b4 28 ttJa4 lle6 29 �h3 llee8 30 �xd7 �xd7 31 lldxd7 ttJxd7 32 llxd7 lld8 3J lla7 lla8 34 llxa8 �:Xa8 35 ttJc4 Wf6, when in this ending the rook is quite active: 36 b3 We6 37 e4 f5 3 8 0 :d8 3 9 ttJc5+ �f6 40 �f2 ll d I ) 2 5 . . .lOxd5 2 6 lOxd5 'ifixc7 2 7 lOxc7 ( 2 7 llxc7 llc6 2 8 llxc6 bxc6 29 1Oe7 ttJb8 3 0 ttJxc8 llxc8 3 I lla I ttJd7 32 llxaS llc7 leads to further simplification; Black has good drawing chances, although his position is somewhat unpleasant) 27 . . .llb6 28 lldc I ttJf6 29 ttJa8 lla6 30 :'xc8 llxa8 3 1 �xb7 and Whi te regains h is pawn, retaining a positional advantage. However, White can play in the same way as after 24 ...'ilfb6 - 2 5 ttJcdS lOxd5 26 1Oxd5 'i'xc7 2 7 liJxc7.

25 26

lOcd5 tDxd5

28

28 29

tDe7

Loss of material for B lack is inevitable.

llcd2

lla8 e4?

This accelerates Black's defeat. ..t'h6 30 '1tc3+

31 32

lld4 ttJxc8?!

'tIfb5

Of course, this also wins the game, but after 32 llxe4 f6 33 :Id5 'lWb6 3 4 ttJxc8 l:axc8 3S :Ih4+