modern_chess_brilliancies_-larry_evans.pdf

uH'odern �hess mrilliancies

u1fodern �hess

$rilliancies

Parry &ans

Hypermodern Press San Francisco

Great Literature Series

Modern Chess Brilliancies Copyright© 1970, 1994 by Larry Evans. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Published by Hypermodern Press, a division of Master Piece Development, Inc., San Francisco, California Great Literature Series

Series Editor: Eric Schiller Cover art by William Cone Book design and typography by M.L. Rantala for Sisu Solutions Computer data entry by Skip Shipman and Bill Haines Proofreading by John Hall and James Eade Production coordinator: Hal Bogner Set in Garamond, Stone Sans, Author, and LinaresDiagram

ISBN: 1-886040-1 1-7 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 70-1 16505

Printed in the USA by Jostens Printing, Visalia, California 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

�ontents IJT? �2

Introduction to Algebraic Edition

Introduction 3

� Tal Larsen

6th Match Game, 1965 Alekhine' s Defense 15

2 Gurgenidze Tal

USSR Championship, 1961 Benoni Defense 17

3 Gligoric Matulovic

Mallorca, 1967 Benoni Defense 19

4 Evans Berger

Amsterdam Interzonal, 1964 Caro-Kann Defense 23

5 Bakulin Bronstein

USSR Championship, 1964 Caro-Kann Defense 25

6 Tal Fuster

Portoroz, 1958 Caro-Kann Defense 27

7 Trappl Perez

Oberhausen, 1961 Caro-Kann Defense 29

8 Tal Portisch

2nd Match Game, 1965 Caro-Kann Defense 3 1

9 Tal Smyslov

Candidates Tournament, 1959 Caro-Kann Defense 33

�0 Botvinnik Portisch

Monaco, 1968 English Opening 36

�� Smyslov Liberson

Riga, 1968 English Opening 38

�2 Fischer Celle

California, 1964 Evans Gambit 41

�3 Ivkov Portisch

Bled, 1961 French Defense 44

-14 Tal-Donner French Defense 47

Beverwijk, 1968

-15 Fischer-Tal French Defence 50

Leipzig Olympics, 1960

-16 Gheorghiu-Uhlmann French Defense 52

Sofia, 1967

-11 Fischer-Miagmarsuren French Defense 54

Sousse Interzonal, 1967

-18 Fischer-U .Geller French Defense 57

Natanya, 1968

-19 Rossolimo--Reissman Giuoco Piano 59

Puerto Rico, 1967

20 Pachman-Uhlmann Gruenfeld Defense 61

Havana Olympics, 1966

2-1 Geller-Smyslov Gruenfeld Defense 63

I st Match Game, 1965

22 Reshevsky-Seidman Gruenfeld Defense 66

U.S. Championship, 1968

23 R. Byrne-Fischer Gruenfeld Defense 69


24 Spassky-Bronstein King's Gambit 72

USSR Championship, 1960

25 Bronstein-Tal King's Gambit 74

Riga, 1968

26 Letelier-Fischer King's Indian 80

Leipzig Olympics, 1960 Defense

21 Gligoric-Fischer King's Indian 82

Bled, 1961 Defense

28 Pomar-Szabo King's Indian 85

Beverwijk, 1967 Defense

29 Kavalek-Matulovic King's Indian 88

Bucharest, 1966 Defense

30 Vladimirov-Doda King's Indian 90

Leningrad, 1967 Defense

3-1 Bobotsov-Tal King's Indian 93 Varna, 1958 Defense

-

32 Saidy-Bednarsky King's Indian 95

Tel Aviv, 1964 Defense

33 Nikolic-Fischer King's Indian 98

Vinkovci, 1968 Defense

34 Kozomara-R.Byme King's Indian 100

Sarajevo, 1967 Defense

35 Polugayevsky-Petrosian Nimzo-lndian 103

USSR Championship, 1960 Defense

36 Addison-Sigurjonsson Nimzo-lndian 105

Reykjavik, 1968 Defense

31 Pomar-Johansson Nimzo-lndian 107

Havana Olympics, 1966 Defense

38 Donner-Portisch Nimzo-lndian 109

Beverwijk, 1968 Defense

39 Evans-Bisguier

U.S. Championship, 1959 Petrov Defense 112

40 Konovalov-Mordkovic Philidor Defense 116

USSR, 1958

4-f Tseshkovsky-Lutikov Philidor Defense 118

USSR Championship, 1969

42 Padevsky-Matanovich Pirc-Robatsch 121

Havana Olympics, 1966 Defense

43 Sorokin-Duborik Pirc-Robatsch 125

USSR Postal Game, 1968 Defense

44 Fischer-Benko Pirc-Robatsch 128

U.S. Championship, 1964 Defense

45 Zuckerman-Benko Pirc-Robatsch 130

U.S. Championship, 1968 Defense

46 Smejkal-Smyslov Pirc-Robatsch 133

Hastings, 1968-69 Defense

47 Foguelman-Bronstein Queen's Gambit 135

Amsterdam Interzonal, 1964 Accepted

48 Reshevsky-Fischer Queen's Gambit 137

5th Match Game, 1961 Declined

49 Keres-, Y. Geller Queen's Gambit 141

8th Match Game, 1965 Declined

50 A verbach-Estrin Queen's Gambit 143

Moscow Championship, 1964 Declined

5" Szabo-Sigurjonsson Queen's Gambit 145

Reykjavik, 1968 Declined

52 Larsen-Matanovic Queen's Gambit 148

Zagreb, 1965 Declined

53 D. Byme-Bisguier Queen's Gambit 151

U.S. Championship, 1967 Declined

54 Tal-Hecht Queen's Indian 153

V ama Olympics, 1962 Defense

55 Benko-Horowitz Reti Opening 156


56 Fischer-Stein Ruy Lopez 159

Sousse Interzonal, 1967

57 Tal-Gligoric Ruy Lopez 163

1st Match Game, 1968

58 lvkov-Donner

Havana, 1965 Ruy Lopez 166

59 Tal-Keres

Moscow, 1967 Ruy Lopez 168

60 Gufeld-Kavalek Ruy Lopez 170

Marianske Lazne, 1962

6" Tal-Nievergelt Sicilian Defense 173

Zurich, 1959

62 Tal-D. Mohrlok Sicilian Defense 176

V ama Olympics, 1962

63 Tal-Larsen Sicilian Defense 180

1Oth Match Game, 1965

64 Velimirovic-Nikolic

Belgrade, 1964 Sicilian I)efense 183

65 Velimirovic-Sofrevsky Sicilian Defense 185

Yugoslav Championship, 1966

66 Medina-Pomar Sicilian Defense 187

Malaga, 1969

67 Tal-Bolbochan Sicilian Defense 190

Havana Olympics, 1966

68 Hennings Moehring

East German Championship, 1967 Sicilian Defense 193

69 Fischer Y. Geller

Skopje, 1967 Sicilian Defense 195

70 Fischer Dely

Skopje, 1967 Sicilian Defense 197

7-1 Fischer Benko

Candidates Tournament, 1959 Sicilian Defense 198

72 O'Kelly Penrose

V ama Olympics, 1962 Sicilian Defense 201

73 Lutikov Klavins

USSR Team Championship, 1962 Sicilian Defense 204

74 Koehler Evans

U.S. National Open, 1968 Sicilian Defense 206

75 Tal Olafsson

Bled, 1961 Sicilian Defense 209

76 Stein Portisch

Stockholm Interzonal, 1962 Sicilian Defense 212

77 Bogdanovic-Suetin

Yugoslavia v. USSR Match, 1967 Sicilian Defense 214

78 Spassky-Suetin

Moscow, 1967 Sicilian Defense 216

79 Nyezhmetdinov Tal

USSR Championship, 1961 Sicilian Defense 219

80 Evans Blackstone

Santa Monica, 1965 Sicilian Defense 222

8-1 Tal Petrosian

Candidates' Tournament, 1959 Sicilian Defense 225

82 Tal Polugayevsky


83 Parma-Szabo

Solingen, 1968 Sicilian Defense 229

84 Tal Gligoric

Moscow, 1963 Sicilian Defense 232

85 Kholmov Bronstein


86 Gligoric Bobotsov

Hastings, 1959-60 Sicilian Defense 237

87 Gaspariantz Eidlin

USSR, 1961 Sicilian Defense 239

88 R.Byme Evans

U.S. Championship, 1966 Sicilian Defense 242

89 Fischer Najdorf

V ama Olympics, 1962 Sicilian Defense 245

90 Fischer Bolbochan

Stockholm, 1962 Sicilian Defense 247

9-1 Fischer Larsen

Portoroz, 1958 Sicilian Defense 249

92 Evans Zuckerman

U.S. Championship, 1967 Sicilian Defense 252

93 Littlewood Botvinnik

Hastings, 1961-62 Sicilian Defense 255

94 Larsen Petrosian

Piatigorsky Cup, California, 1966 Sicilian Defense 257

95 Spassky Ciric Student Team Championship, Sicilian Defense 260 Czechoslovakia, 1962

96 Gurgenidze Lein


97 Suetin Taimanov

Leningrad, 1967 Sicilian Defense 267

98 Spassky Y. Geller

6th Match Game, 1968 Sicilian Defense 270

99 Bilek-Gheorghiu

Bucharest, 1968 Sicilian Defense \,/273

-100 Estrin Berliner World Correspondence

Two Knights

Championship, 1968 Defense

274

-10-1 Karaklaic Traikovic Two Knights

Yugoslavia, 1968 Defense 280

Alphabetical List of Contestants 285

#ntroduction to the Algebraic Edition

Hai!Tbe Unknown!

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.-Keats

� amazing thing about chess is that just one game can make you famous. Even if you lose.

Great games live forever. Even the loser can bask in the reflected glory of negative immortality. Today William Ewart Napier is remembered chiefly for a brilliant loss to Emanuel Lasker in 1904. Napier considered it the best game he ever played.

When Gary Kasparov won the crown in 1985, many fans greeted his brilliant touch as a welcome relief from the dry positional style of Anatoly Karpov, who had held the title for ten years-like a boa constrictor squeezing the life out of his opponents. Yet we tend to forget that Karpov snared some 20 brilliancy prizes in the course of his career; he taught us that the fatal blow often comes after patiently stalking your prey.

In 1980 at an obscure tournament in San Miguel, Argentina, an unknown named Gustavo Mahia created a gem destined for the anthologies. His victim was grandmaster Miguel Quinteros, once an aide to Bobby Fischer (who reviewed this manuscript in 1969 before it went to press when he was a guest at my home in Reno). Mahia was only 19 when he uncorked this brilliancy, but he was never heard from again. In the words of Gray's Elegy, "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air. "

The first 15 moves followed Byrne-Evans (Game 88, but White there played 12.Bc4 instead of 1 2.Be2) where this writer was stunned by 15.Bf6!a shot heard around the world.

2 Modem Chess Brilliancies I '..1 ) � --. <, :>

I grabbed the Bishop by 15 . . . gxf6? and lost. The notes recommend 15 . . . Nxf6! 16 exf6 Rd8, the defense Quinteros selected but clearly both sides are still treading in treacherous waters. The game continued: 17.fxg7 Rxd4? (simply 17 . . . Bc5! refutes the attack) 18.Qh6 Qe5 19.Ne4! Qxe4 20.Bh5 Rd7 2l .Rd3 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 Bd4 23.Rg3 Nc6 24.Bg6!! Qxg6 (if 24 . . . fxg6 25.Rf8 mate; or 24 . . . hxg6 25.Qh8 mate.) 25.Rxg6 Ne7 26.Rxf7! Kxf7 27.g8=Q+ Nxg8 28.Qxh7+ Ke8 29.Rxg8 mate.

White's fantastic Bishop sacrifice on move 24 elevates the game to greatness. A thunderbolt that shatters the enemy on the spot is always wondrous to behold.

These 101 games don't all contain something so dramatic, nor do they still qualify as "modern," but they stand the test of time. Here's hoping this book helps you create your own masterpieces.

Larry Evans September 1994

#ntroduction

A win by an unsound combination, however showy, fills me with artistic horror.-Steinitz

�dern chess had its inception in the great international tournament at London 1851, where already Staunton was complaining that championship matches were dragging endlessly and threatening public interest in professional competition:

When a player, upon system, consumes hours over moves when minutes might suffice and depends, not upon out-maneuvering, but out-sitting his antagonist, patience ceases to be a virtue . . .

Consequently Staunton proposed a sandglass to delimit each separate move. Crude mechanical clocks were introduced officially at Paris 1867, and players were fined for overstepping the time limit. The twentieth century opened with the now familiar double-faced push-button clock, heralding an equally significant development: allotting each side two hours for the first forty moves (or some such equivalent) and punishing noncompliance with an outright forfeit of the game instead of merely a fine. The clock had an obvious effect on not only the popularity but also the quality of chess; modern tournaments would be inconceivable without it.

The brilliancy prize is an institution which has survived intact. Traditionally after each major event an august body of critics selects those games with the greatest aesthetic appeal, as manifested by original, striking, intentional and successful combinations. At Carlsbad 1907 Cohn was awarded a brilliancy prize against Tchigorin "for a beautiful combination starting from an extraordinary deep pawn sacrifice. " Yet Cohn conceded later (presumably with the award tucked safely in his pocket) that he had not intended to sacrifice the pawn-he had lost it, and the loss had forced him to play energetically to compensate for his material inferiority. Needless to say, the victims received no share of the swag, even when the board was "showered with golden pieces" (Lewitzky-Marshall, Breslau 1912). Their lot is negative immortality.

3

4 Modern Chess Brilliancies

The convulsive combination that destroys the enemy on the spot is easily understood by duffer and grandmaster alike. In his classic work 1be Art of Sacrifice, Spielmann wrote: "The beauty of a chess game is assessed, and not without good reason, according to the sacrifices it contains. " This pretty much expresses the feeling of the ages. But one problem has persistently plagued the judges: must a combination, to merit the crown, be correct in all variations and be able to withstand the most rigorous postmortem analysis? Historically the answer has been yes, although many a red-faced jury has seen its selection posthumously exploded. The recipient of the award is concerned only that his brainchild worked over the board. What is often overlooked, however, is the performance of the loser, without whose unwilling cooperation no masterpiece is possible. This consideration raised its specter at Majorca 1968, where one of the judges reported:

After a long and heated discussion . . . nobody could remember a drawn game ever having won a brilliancy prize. The question was: which of the players was responsible for the "brilliancy," and if it was sound, why did he not win the game? On the other hand, if the "brilliancy" was sound but served only to save a lost game, should that player receive an award despite his having reached a lost position? An uproarious discussion (rather, melee) followed. [The editor, Chess Life, April 1969, p.144]

When the smoke cleared it was decided the two players would share the prize jointly with still another game. (In my opinion, neither game deserved it, but that is beside the point; somebody had to get the award simply because it was available.)

Since a brilliancy is essentially an accident, it is not feasible to start any given game with the conscious intention of creating one. The opponent, the tension, the ticking of the dock-above all, the opportunity-must be present. Because combinations cannot always be calculated with precision and often are subject to surprising hazards, a master must have implicit faith in his own judgment. With typical candor, Najdorf confessed: "When I play chess, I hardly ever calculate the play in detail. I rely very much on an intuitive sense which tells me what are the right moves to look for. "

Many cliff-hangers are fraught with uncertainty until the very last move, and it is impossible to be sure of one's ground at all times. Game 69 is a good example of a calculated risk that boomeranged. Players who strive to keep the draw in hand (which is the modern tendency) are not held in such high esteem as the gamblers whose games are filled with thunderbolts, errors, flashes of insight, tension and luck. As Reti observed, "The pleasures to be derived from a chess combination lie in the feeling that a human mind is behind the game, dominating the inanimate pieces . . . and giving them the breath of life."

Larry Evans 5

Indeed, how are bold and risky ventures to be assessed? That they work against inferior defense is no reason to reward them; and that they fail does not necessarily mean they are incorrect. It seems to me that an unclear sacrifice, apart from its beauty, should be evaluated by two criteria: (a) it should contain no obvious flaw; (b) it should serve the end for which it is intended even if it produces only a draw. Of course, the sacrifice must not be a wild trap based solely on the hope that the defender will overlook the refutation and go astray: there should always be an acceptable line available in case the right defense is found. It is unlikely that any master will employ such a wild weapon if he sees the hole in it, unless he is prompted by sheer desperation. Such an exigency is aptly termed a "swindle," and chess literature is replete with these saving resources. The following example is typical; several magazines dubbed it "the swindle of the century."

Evans-Reshevsky United States Championship 1964

Black to move

Black is a knight ahead and can win as he pleases. The simplest is 48 . . . Qf6 49.Rd8 (of course the knight cannot be captured because of 50 . . . Qxh4+) Ng6, etc. I was toying with the idea of resigning but was curious to see if Reshevsky would snap at the bait.

48 . . . 49.Qg8+!

Qxg3?? Kxg8

Still unsuspecting, Reshevsky had no inkling of my plot. The queen was captured as a formality, a last "spite check," and my opponent started to rise from his seat as he captured it. He actually thought I was reaching across the board to shake his hand, the customary accompanying gesture of resignation.

50.Rxg7+! Draw!!

The point is that Black must either capture the Rook (resulting in stalemate) or submit to perpetual check after 50 . . . Kf8 5l .Rf7+ Ke8 52.Re7+ etc.


This kind of fiasco could cause any player to lose his composure. Reshevsky merely paled and laughed wryly, then directed an audible reproach to himself ("Stupid!"); but otherwise there was no departure from his usual aplomb.

While it qualifies for nothing but a booby prize, I am proud of this Houdini-type escape. It has all the earmarks of surprise, originality, ingenuity and desperation. Despite its beautiful finish, the entire game does not belong in an anthology, because too much of its preceding play was erratic. Yet White's concluding coup adheres to the classical definition of a "combination"-a forced series of moves involving sacrifice.

A combination is a blend of ideas-pins, forks, discovered checks, double attacks-which endow the pieces with magical powers.--Chernev

Combinations have always been the most intriguing aspect of chess. The master looks for them, the public applauds them, the critics praise them. It is because combinations are possible that chess is more than a lifeless mathematical exercise. They are the poetry of the game; they are to chess what melody is to music. They represent the triumph of mind over matter.-Fine

Anderssen and Morphy, whose combinations have almost without exception withstood a century of criticism, loom as the towering masters of a swashbuckling era filled with naive delight in the sacrifice as an end in itself. Even young Steinitz reveled in the fiery excitement of combinations, admitting that he "did not play with the object of winning directly, but to sacrifice a piece. " Later in his career Steinitz discovered what we now know, that positional play is the best possible preparation for releasing accumulated energy in the explosion of a combination. But in those days the romantics were so enraptured with aesthetics that they almost felt cheated when good defense frustrated a brilliancy. The sacrifice was a ritual act by which mighty paladins revealed their superiority; it was understandable, and even expected, that their benighted opponents would take umbrage"What, you dare to sacrifice against me? I will show you that your puny offer can't be correct. I will devour everything and you shall lose miserably!" In The Chess Sacrifice, Vukovic remarks that "mature technique has long since blown away such ideas; now the content of the position is weighed objectively and not arrogantly."

When Anderssen was reproached by his admirers for not exhibiting his customary flair in his match against Morphy (1858), he replied:

No, Morphy won't let me. He always plays the very best move . . . He who plays Morphy must abandon all hope of

Larry Evans 7

catching him in a trap, no matter how cunningly laid, but must assume that it is so clear to Morphy that there can be no question of a false step.

This magnanimous tribute failed to credit Morphy's revolutionary new approach, because Anderssen himself did not fully appreciate why he had lost! It is noteworthy that he displays a certain uneasiness in dismissing his own attacks as mere "traps. " Morphy's attacks always flowed from the position organically, while Anderssen's were more often inspirations of the moment. Morphy knew not only how to attack but also when; and that is why he won.

A sample of the kind of game which must have delighted our forebears is found in Greco's manuscript (1625), a compilation of scintillating finishes to which the best defenses rarely were taken into consideration. It is easy to fathom the primitive appeal of these fairy tales: one side goes all out for mate, while the other gathers as much booty as possible-morality plays illustrating the age-old conflict between riches and honor.

l.e4 e5 2.f4 f5 ·� fAi I] • ::r.'4- fr.';B". '::r.·� � 3.exf5 Qh4+ i�:ti� � i� 4.g3 Qe7

�-��'� 5.Qh5+ Kd8 6.fxe5 Qxe5+

��

��

��

��

7.Be2 Nf6 ��

��

��

��

�P.; '��P.; ·�� .• ,�� 8.Qf3 d5 .ft i� .ft i��t •

9.g4 h5 ��{)��{} . � �- �: � . �- � 10.h3 hxg4 ll.hxg4 Rxhl Position after 18 . . . Nf2; a 12.Qxhl Qg3+ piquant smothered mate. 13.Kdl Nxg4 Look at White's queen-side 14.Qxd5+ Bd7 pieces: they are already set

15.Nf3 Nf2+ up for the next game; his

16.Kel Nd3+ king is glutted with wealth,

17.Kdl Qel+ yet be must die.

18.Nxel Nf2 mate

8 Modem Chess Brilliancies

The principles of chess were still being discovered in the nineteenth century. In 1866 Steinitz, in his own words, "committed the crime" of wresting the unofficial title from Anderssen, who promptly conceded that his conqueror was even better than Morphy. Yet so bitter was the enmity toward Steinitz's style of play that even after he had held the world championship for twenty years, a self-appointed committee of three amateurs declared that "Morphy could have given Steinitz pawn and move." A New York Times critic referred to him condescendingly as a "persevering student." And another critic noted that Steinitz's two match victories over Zukertort were attributable to the sad fact that "Zukertort was not yet Zukertort in 1872, and was no longer Zukertort in 1886." Because his defensive play was so devastatingly accurate, Steinitz was maligned for "taking the beauty out of chess . " To his enemies he attributed anti-Semitism. As I observed in New Ideas in Chess:

Steinitz was the first to realize the necessity of evaluating a position-then acting on that evaluation. This objectivity forbade him from entering a speculative combination and then trusting to luck. It occurred to him that the master should not seek winning combinations unless he can first prove to himself that he holds an advantage. Thus, when his opponent went contrary to the objective demands of the position, Steinitz felt morally impelled to punish this crime. Steinitz himself made no attempt to win in the early stages of the game, as Morphy had done, because he was convinced that this was possible only after his opponent had made an error and not before. So he sought out of the openings minute advantages which gradually added up to one big winning combination. In an age where playing to win from the very start was considered the only honorable course, such a doctrine was assured a scornful reception.

Steinitz held the title until 1894. During this reign he was so anxious to vanquish those who scorned his system that his style became provocative. The purpose of his eccentric moves was to provoke his adversaries into playing for a win and thus overreaching themselves when the position really did not justify such an attempt. He fought on the chessboard and in the chess columns, tirelessly applying his "editorial birch rod." In a fascinating study, Tbe Psychology of the Chess Player, Fine wrote:

The gratification derived from being king of the chess world gradually led to a kind of Messiah complex in him. He almost literally felt called upon to rescue the lost chess players from the wilderness . . . Once he was the champion, he was the father, and he had to beat off the attacks by the sons. Accordingly his style underwent a radical transformation, and he became an invincible defensive player. But just as he had pushed the attack to extremes, he pushed the defense in the

Larry Evans 9

same way. He would get into the most fantastically lopsided positions, from which only his genius helped him to escape.

I linger on Steinitz because his influence still permeates modern chess. His teachings were elaborated and carried forward by Dr. Tarrasch and by Emanuel Lasker ("I who vanquished Steinitz must see to it that his great achievement, his theories, should find justice, and I must avenge the wrongs he suffered"). The credo of the classical school was expressed by Lasker, who kept a grip on the title until 1921 .

The delight in gambits is a sign of chess youth . . . In very much the same way as the young man, on reaching his manhoood years, lays aside the Indian stories and tales of adventure, and turns to the psychological novel, we with maturing experience leave off gambit playing and become interested in the less vivacious but withal more forceful maneuvers of the position player.

While Tarrasch was squabbling with the hypermoderns over such academic questions as control versus occupation of the center, Lasker was exploring new psychological dimensions:

By some ardent enthusiasts Chess has been elevated into a science or an art. It is neither; but its principal characteristic seems to be-what human nature mostly delights in-a fight.

It was obvious to Lasker that when evenly matched opponents play correctly, the games seldom have any fighting content and frequently end in draws:

Balanced positions with best play on either side must lead again and again to balanced positions.

To this mathematician it was both a theorem and an ethical demand that with best play the perfect game must end in a draw; the problem was how to introduce a dynamic imbalance. There is no chance to win without a fight, and there can be no fight without upsetting the balance-even if this involves dubious moves that rattle one's opponent. "It is no easy matter," despaired a contemporary, "to reply correctly to Lasker's bad moves. "

Lasker felt that chess is a struggle of total involvement in which the dominant personality, the rounded individual and not necessarily the better player, is bound to triumph. He was a great fighter who was thoroughly at home in both open and closed positions, freely strewing tactical complications into a game that was really strategical in essence. It is noteworthy that he accepted an invitation to teach chess in the U.S.S.R. during the midthirties, thereby leaving his imprint on the postwar dynamic Russian school.

By the time Alekhine and Capablanca dominated the scene, the age of innocence was over. Sophisticated technique was the order of the day. At


Carlsbad 1929 Rubinstein extracted a win from such a "hopelessly drawn" rook-and-pawn ending that the editors of the tournament book united in the assertion that had it happened three hundred years ago he would have been burned at the stake for being in league with evil spirits!

Obviously a rise in the quality of defense necessitated a corresponding adjustment in the standard of attack. In modern chess most of the beauty resides in the annotations; brilliancies exist chiefly as grace notes, unheard melodies, because the enemy anticipates and thwarts them with appropriate rejoinders. Despite Lasker's injunction to shun "the ragtime and vaudeville of chess," the public grew increasingly restive with inchworm gambits and grubby pawn-snatching. The hypermoderns were reproached with being dull and colorless once their novelty wore off. The average player is not equipped with the patience or ability to appreciate this subtle brand of chess, the slow jockeying for position in which all the action seems to take place beneath the surface. Nothing happens, no slam-bang attacks, no flimflam-yet somehow the technicians emerge triumphant. Naturally, chess seems duller when masters are closely matched. Naturally, the brilliancies of yore are impossible when an opponent refuses to stumble into the silly pitfalls which render them possible. But the aesthetic grasp of many chess fans often does not extend beyond the flashy smothered mate or the tawdry stroke. To the uninitiated, some of the most hard-fought struggles seem devoid of all bravura. This is comparable to the jazz buff's announcing that Bach bores him.

Alekhine and Tal are the two geniuses of attack in this century. Their games are characterized by sheer will and pulsating nervous energy-a legacy of masterpieces imbued with artistry, originality, imagination and brilliance. Both were obsessed with chess. Both explored lines of fantasy which their contemporaries rejected. Tal did not hesitate to express his attitude toward the game:

I like to grasp the initiative and not give my opponent peace of mind. I will not hide the fact that I love to hear the spectators react after a sacrifice of a piece or pawn. I don't think that there is anything bad in such a feeling; no artist or musician is indifferent to the reactions of the public.

Victor Korchnoi amassed a crushing plus score against his compatriot, even though he never rose to the same heights as Tal. Famous for counterattacking with ferocious energy, Korchnoi revealed a different temperament than Tal:

I like to coax my opponents into attacking, to let them taste the joy of the initiative, so that they may get carried away, become careless, and sacrifice material.

One can detect here a clear echo of Steinitz. Tal's brilliancies (any successful brilliancy, for that matter) can be summoned into existence only after

Larry Evans 11

the opponent has erred. Perhaps Korchnoi's superlative sangfroid enabled him to detect subtle flaws without succumbing to nervousness. He stated in a recent interview:

I am not a fan of Tal's. Several months ago I said that Tal is a stereotyped, mechanical player, and people attacked me. Tal has always been a player with wonderful energy, he played with great effort. But his opponents could not always match him in their efforts. I was one of the rare players who could. Do you remember the Candidates' Tournament of 1959 and the way he beat Smyslov? [see Game 9.1 It was his golden era. I think he knows better chess today, he understands it better. But his health is not good, and he cannot endure those terrible nervous struggles.

There can be no doubt that Tal's luck in sacrifice is to be classed as the luck of the strong. He generally loosed his salvo in a rough setting when his opponent, pressed for time, would flounder in a sea of variations. What operated in Tal's favor was a factor which might be called sacrificial shock. Dr. Tarrasch observed long ago that an unexpected sacrifice gives rise to an element of shock, which precludes calm and clear thought. This unsettling effect explains many blunders committed by the defender when he finds himself in unfamiliar terrain. Korchnoi, apparently, was spurred to his keenest efforts by such a sacrifice; it invigorated him. Today's sacrificial luck can be ascribed mostly to time pressure, which was never the case in the previous century. (For a discussion of the clock, see Game 25, note at move 40.)

When Tal was reproached for launching an unsound sacrifice which "luckily" succeeded (see Game 61), he retorted:

I did not see at what point I was dead lost; and concerning the other accusations of the wise critics, I console myself with pleasure that the chess fan, the spectator, and the reader are happy only when the grandmaster risks, rather than just "pushes wood."

Fischer, on the other hand, will have little truck with such psychological ploys. He grimly insists on soundness and is almost apologetic when he deviates (see Game 90, note at move 25)- "Ironically, I wouldn't have been awarded the brilliancy prize had I chosen the best line here. They don't give medals for endgame technique!"

Most players don't care how they win so long as they win. Nevertheless, there are two distinct styles: the tactician seeks a knockout; the strategist is content to win on points. Top honors nowadays generally go to the latter, the stolid grinders like Smyslov, Petrosian, Karpov, and Spassky. Their manner engenders no seething or turbulence; it is slow-paced and usually evolves from positions which seem drab, stodgy, and drawish. Their efforts are stylish rather than sensational, abounding with smooth

12 Modem Chess Brilliancies

power. One often feels that they win by boring their opponents to death. Chernev comments:

Petrosian's play is like no other great master past or present . . . you get the impression that he regards a king-side attack as a primitive attempt to force a win . . . Very often he seems to be . . . maneuvering his pieces back to the first rank, or even into a corner of the board.

Commenting admiringly on one of Petrosian's defense coups (see Game 6, note at move 10), Fischer writes:

This super-refinement reduces all of White's attacking prospects. Petrosian has a knack of snuffing out such dreams twenty moves before they even enter his opponent's head.

Most grandmasters are gifted with Petrosian's prophylactic instinct, and they have no intention of contenting themselves with negative immortality. The last decade consequently has yielded a slender harvest of golden brilliancies. The tyranny of the point system has fostered an attitude of safety first and a spate of grandmaster draws. The routine, the plodding, the necessity to squeeze out points in order to finish in the money or earn a higher title-all these factors argue against taking risks. Keres, for one, fears that this situation may lead to the death of creative chess:

. . . the point is the king. As the participants are of uneven strength, every leading Grandmaster will plan his "simple mathematics" where to get the necessary points. And, of course, it is not reasonable to take a risk against any of the rivals when points can be obtained more easily from the weaker opponents. Only if the mathematics does not go according to plan may it become necessary to "bite" some of the rivals . . . But in these tournaments, only a few players are really interested in coming first. One needs his ten points, another nine, a third seven, etc., in order to get their corresponding titles. Here again, mathematics dominates. But what about the tournament, the games, the fight for leadership, the dying art of chess?

The chess pro on the tournament circuit earns his crust of bread, to be sure, but his burning ambition is to create a handful of masterpieces. It is a tribute that he still is able to forge fresh material despite adverse conditions and the reams of analysis to which all phases of the game, particularly the opening, have been subjected. There is even talk of two world championships--one for machines, the other for humans. In The Royal Game, Stefan Zweig sums up the agony and ecstasy of the chess master:

It stands to reason that so unusual a game, one touched with genius, must create out of itself fitting matadors. This I always knew, but what was difficult and almost impossible to

Larry Evans 13

conceive of was the life of a mentally alert person whose world contracts to a narrow, black-and-white, one-way street; who seeks ultimate triumphs in the to-and-fro, forward-andbackward movement of thirty-two pieces; a being who, by a new opening in which the knight is preferred to the pawn, apprehends greatness and the immortality that goes with ca-sual mention in a chess handbook--of a man of spirit who, escaping madness, can unremittingly devote all of his mental energy during ten, twenty, thirty, forty years to the ludicrous effort to corner a wooden king on a wooden board!

It should be made clear at the outset that the present collection consists solely of personal favorites. Many official brilliancies have been excluded and so have traps, on the grounds that undoubtedly they will wend their way into appropriate anthologies. My major task was weeding out brilliancies which require too much cooperation from the loser; when one side falters too often, the over-all quality of the game is spoiled. I have tried to skim the cream of tournament chess, the best games of the world's best, and the reader can be assured that each effort has outstanding merit. They are arranged by opening, the period is mainly the sixties, with nothing prior to 1958. If there is an important omission or a gross oversight it is due simply to the fact that one person scarcely can keep abreast of the vast and accumulating body of chess literature.

It should be noted that of these 101 games, White wins 74, Black wins 21 , and six are drawn-a glaring confirmation of the advantage of the first move. Brilliancies by Black are relatively rare, because it is difficult for the second player to snatch the initiative unless White has obliged with several ugly errors, thus spoiling the game for this anthologist. As for draws, both masters must contribute their best to create an immortal game and it makes no difference to me if the result is decisive or not.

To the best of my ability the annotations are crisp and objective without laying claim to being exhaustive. Whenever feasible, I have let the actual combatants speak for themselves. These games are approached impartially without regard for the outcome, although in each instance it is necessary to suggest a vital improvement for the victim since, after all, it was his initial error which spawned the brilliancy. Often it is no easy matter to identify that culprit known as "the losing move." The critic, in tranquillity, can contribute a valuable persp�ctive, provided that he is willing to work as hard on the game as the contestants did. All too frequently, however, he remains merely a friendly guide to the complexities of master play who first cites the MCO* column for the game under review, then remains silent until White is a rook ahead and, finally, points out how Black could have held out longer.

Botvinnik, Keres, and Fischer are the few among irreproachable

"The chessplayer's bible, Modern Chess Openings, by Evans & Korn (1965)


annotators who are self-critical at all times and aim to instruct rather than merely exhibit their prowess. It has been argued that only those who actually played the game in question should annotate it, because they are the only ones who really know what that game is all about. But even the generally trustworthy comments of the emotion-laden participants should be taken with a grain of salt. The mighty Alekhine, on more than one occasion, was not above "editing" some of his game scores so that they conformed with what he deemed to be a more appropriate finish. All too often, alas, notes are copied indiscriminately from "authoritative" sources, thereby relaying the original errors. Spielmann pointed out a long time ago:

Many chessplayers . . . are loath to admit subsequently that at a critical point they were guided by instinct, and some have been known to demonstrate how uncommonly far ahead and with what accuracy they had made their calculations. It strikes me as poverty-stricken rather than heroic.

To the serious student, demolishing faulty annotations is not only a sport but also an excellent way to improve. Another book could be devoted to this subject alone.

An astute reader may question the inclusion of several thwarted brilliancies such as Games 42, 57, 72, 93, 95. Strictly speaking, these belong in a volume dedicated to great defenses. In my opinion, each major tournament should present an award for the best defense as well as for a brilliancy. At any rate, chess remains one of the last bulwarks of the individual in this machine age. There is still scope for imagination and fantasy before the computer overtakes it. It is my hope that you will enjoy these 101 exciting struggles as much as I did. These great games of the sixties offer a modest oasis in a troubled world.

Larry Evans August 1969

Tal-Larsen 6th Match Game, 1 965

Alekhine's Defense

�has an uncanny knack for infusing life into prosaic settings. His brinksmanship pays off when Black loses his way in a welter of fantastic variations.

l.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3

Many modern masters distrust the Four Pawns Attack with 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4, after which White has his center to defend.

4... d.xe5 5.Nxe5 e6

Earlier, in their fourth match game, Larsen scored a psychological success with 5 . . . Nd7!? "daring" Tal to sacrifice 6.Nxf7 (he should have). Instead White chose the tame 6.Bc4 and actually got the worst of it.

One of Larsen's later innovations is 5 . . . g6!

6.Qf3 Qf6 7.Qg3 h6 8.Nc3 Nb4 9.Bb5+ c6

10.Ba4 Nd7 11.0-0 Nxe5 12.d.xe5 Qg6 13.Qf3 Qf5

Larsen reckons that the doubled pawns cannot be exploited in the ending, and he also knows how Tal hates to exchange queens. Naturally not 13 . . . Nxc2 14.Bxc6+.

14.Qe2 Be7 15.a3 Nd5 16.Nb5!?

Nine out of ten masters would settle for the safer 16.Bd2. What character-

15


izes Tal's style is a disdain for the obvious. Even if there are a thousand good reasons for rejecting a given move, the alert tactician is ready to consider it and he often gains an advantage in an unexpected manner.

16 ... cxb5 The "bluff' must be accepted since 16 . . . 0-0? 17.Nd4 Qh7 18.c4 followed by Bc2 would allow White a commanding position.

17.Qxb5+ Kd8 18.c4 Qxe5?

A world of fantasy arises after 18 . . . Nf4 19.Rd1 + Kc7 20.Rd7+ Bxd7 21 .Qxd7+ Kb8 22.Qxe7 Qxe5 23.Be3 Ng6 24.Qxf7 Qf6 25.Be8! Qe7 26.Qxg6 Rxe8 27.Bc5 Qd7 28.Bd6+ Kc8 29.c5 and Tal remarks that the bishop on d6 is more powerful than the hemmed-in rook. The right defense is 18 . . . Nb6! 19.Qa5 Kc7 20.c5 Kb8 2 1 .cxb6 axb6 22.Qb5 Ra5 with at least equal chances.

19.cxd5 Bd6 20.g3 Qxd5 21.Qe2 Ke7 22.Rdl Qa5 23.Qg4 Qf5 24.Qc4

Lany Evans 17

Not 24.Qxg7? Be5. White is a pawn behind, but he has ample compensation in view of Black's exposed king.

24... Qc5 This defense doesn't work, but the question is whether Black has anything significantly better. If 24 . . . Bc5 25.Be3! Bxe3 26.Qc7+ Kf6 27.fxe3 wins.

The most reasonable try at consolidation looks like 24 . . . Rd8 but after 25.Be3, Black still can't develop his Queen-side. 25 . . . Bd7 is refuted by 26.Rxd6! and 25 . . . b6 26.Qc6 Ba6 27.Rxd6! puts an end to all resistance.

25.Qd3 Qd5 26.Qc3 Be5

Not 26 . . . Qe5 27.Bf4. Now Black is hoping for a repetition of moves with 27.Qb4+ Bd6, etc.

27.Qel Qc5 28.Bd2 Kf6 29.Racl Qb6 30.Be3 Qa6

There is no respite. 30 . . . Qxb2 loses to 31 .f4 Bb8 32.Bd4+. 3l.Qb4

Now the threat is 32.Bb5. 31 . . . 32.Bxb5 33.f4 34.Bc6

b5 Qb7 Bb8 Resigns

His rooks stayed at home all game.

2 Gurgenidze-Tal

USSR Championship, 1 961 Benoni Defense

$ack's victory did much to popularize the Hromadka System by revealing its double-edged potential. After a careless move by White, Tal uncorks a sparkling attack.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5

I H Modern Chess Brilliancies

3.Nf3 is occasionally played to steer the game into positional channels more to White's taste. After 3 . . . cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6, Black has no worries. Also without bite is 3.dxc5 e6 4.Nf3 Bxc5 transposing into a reverse Queen's Gambit Accepted.

3 . . . e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 ReS

10.Nd2 More flexible is 10.Qc2 Na6 l l .Bf4 Nb4 12 .Qbl Qe7 13.Rel!

10. . . Na6 11.Re1

If l l .f4 (or l l .f3 Nd7 12.Nc4 Ne5=) Nc7 12.Bf3 Nd7 13.a4 Rb8 14.Nc4 Nb6= (Steinmeyer-Evans U .S. Championship 1964) .

11.. . Nc7 12.a4

12.Bfl is more consistent. The text should be played only after Black threatens . . . b5.

12... b6 13.Qc2 Ng4 14.h3?

Meets with drastic punishment. Correct is 14.Nc4. 14. . . Nxf2! 15.Kxf2 Qh4+ 16.Kfl. Bd4 17.Nd1

17. . . Qxh3!

Larry Evans 19

18.Bf3 Of course not 18.gxh3 Bxh3 mate. The text allows the king access to e2. But a series of quiet moves now decides the issue.

18. . . Qh2 19.Ne3

A better try is 19.Nc4 followed by Be3. 19. . . f5 20.Ndc4 fxe4 21.Bxe4 Ba6

Piling on the pressure. White is a piece up, but his men are uncoordinated and his king is exposed.

22.Bf3 23.Ra3 24.Bd2

This collapses the house of cards. 25.Bxd5+

Re5 Rae8 Nxd5

Rxd5 The rook is immune because of Qhl mate.

26.Ke2 Bxe3 27 .Rxe3 Bxc4+

Resigns After 28.Qxc4 Qxg2+ 29.Kdl Qxd2 mate.

Gligoric-Matulovic Mallorca, 1 96 7 Benoni Defense

$ack seems to be overcoming his opening difficulties when a sudden positional sacrifice immobilizes him. Keep your eye on White's center pawns!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5

To compel White to make an early decision in the center. 3.d5 g6

Usually 3 . . . e6 is played first. Now the opening could also be classified as a King's Indian Defense.

ll l Modern Chess Brilliancies

For 6.f4 see Games 28--30.

4.Nc3 Bg7 s.e4 d6 6.Nf3

6... 0-0 7.Be2 e6 8.0-0 exdS 9.cxdS Bg4

Black prepares to part with the two bishops as the price for relieving his cramp. There are two main alternatives:

A. 9 . . . Na6 10.Nd2 Nc7 l l .f3 (Unsound is l l .f4 Re8 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Nc4 b5 14.Na5 Bd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Rxe5 17.Bf4 Rf5! 18.g3 b4 Zinser-Evans, Venice 1967) Nc7 1 2.a4 b6 13.Nc4 Ba6 14.Rb1 (or 14.Na3 or 14.Bg5) with double-edged play (Gligoric-Lobigas, Manila 1968).

B. 9 . . . Re8 10.Nd2 b6?! 1 1 .f3 Ba6 1 2.Bxa6 Nxa6 1 3.Nc4 Qd7 14.a4 R. Byrne-Evans, U.S. Championship 1964. And now 14 . . . Nb4 1 5.Bf4 Bf8 leaves Black with a passive game, since his knight has been deprived of e8 to defend the d6 pawn.

10.h3 Also playable is 10.Bf4 a6 1 1 .a4 Qe7 12.Qc2!? Nbd7 13.Rfe1 c4!= (PachmanKaplan, Puerto Rico 1968).

10 . . . ll.Bxf3 12.Bf4

Bxf3 Nbd7 Ne8

Again we see why it is sometimes important for Black to abstain from . . . Re8 too early in this variation.

13.Qd2 a6

14.BgS! "A remarkable idea. Almost all masters play 14.a4 automatically in this type

Lany Evans 21

of position to delay the Black queenside advance. But if this advance comes later, it then has greater force because White has weakened his position"-Larsen.

14. . . Bf6 15.Bh6 Bg7 16.Bg5 Bf6

As the theoretical underdog Black would naturally be content with a dJ'aW. He cannot move his queen in view of 17.Be7. And White keeps the edge on 16 . . . f6 17.Bh4 b5 18.Bg4.

17.Bxf6 Nexf6 18.Rfel ReS

A loss of time. Black should play 18 . . . b5! while the getting is good. It is not wise to commit this rook before the best post for it has been established.

19.Bdl! b5 20.Bc2 c4

The difference now is that White's pieces are all on the right squares to undertake action in the center by f2-f4.

21.f4 22.Na4 23.axb3 24.Bd3 25.Kh2 26.Nxc5 27.Racl

b4 b3 cxb3 Qc7 Nc5 Qxc5

White cannot capture the a6 pawn because his e4 pawn hangs at the end. Black now seems to have succeeded in obtaining an adequate grip on the dark squares. His main lookout is preventing e4-e5.

27. . . Qa7 27 . . . Qd4 is met by 28.Rc4.

28.Rc4 28.Rc6 is met by . . . Qd4. Not 28.Qc3 Nd7 29.Qxb3 Nc5 30.Qc2 Nxd3 31.Qxd3 Qf2 regaining a pawn.

28 . . . 29.Recl

Nd7

Now White's threat is 30.Qc3. Again 29.Rc6 meets with the pesky . . . Qd4. 29. . . Nc5


Although this provokes a stunning refutation, it is difficult to suggest anything better.

30.Rxc5! The natural 30.Bbl f6! might give Black time to consolidate.

30. . . dxc5 31.d6 Qb6?

Black should get his counterplay started with 3l . .a5 and . . a4; he might be able to make a fight of it.

A little too late.

32.Bc4 Ra7 33.e5 a5

34.Qd5 a4 35.d7 Rf8 36.Rdl Raa8

Now Black's further loss of time is apparent. The next blow smashes his blockade to smithereens.

37.e61 fxe6 The beauty part is 37 . . . Qxe6 38.Qxa8!.

38.Qe5 Kf7 39.Rd6 Qc7

Readers who cannot stand the sight of blood had better cover their eyes. 40.Bxe6+ Ke7 4l.d8=Q+

Of course 4l .Bc4+ Kd8 42.Qg5+ also mates. 41. . . Rfxd8 42.Bc4+ Resigns

Evans-Berger Amsterdam Interzonal, 1 964

Caro-Kan nDefense

Lany Evans 23

�te's speculative knight sacrifice does not yield any immediate dividends. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Black's uncastled king will find no haven, though he strives mightily to do so.

l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 d.xe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.h4

This weakening of the pawn structure is compensated by the subsequent control of space. The alternative 7.Bd3 e6 8.0-0 Ngf6 9.Rel Be7 10.c4 0-0 1 l .b3 Qa5 12.Bxg6 hxg6 13.Qe2 gives White a slight pull (Evans-Benko, U.S. Championship 1962).

7 ... 8.h5 9.Bd3

10.Qxd3 ll.Bd2 12.0-0-0 13.Kbl

h6 Bh7 Bxd3 Qc7 Ngf6 e6

13.c4 Bd6 14.Ne4 Bf4! allows simplifications.

13... c5 Before undertaking action in the center Black should castle long, either here or on the next move. If 13 . . . Bd6 14.Ne4 Bf4 15.Be1 followed by g3 maintains the tension.

14.c4 15.Nxd4

cxd4? a6

Black had intended 15 . . . Ne5 but after 16.Qe2 Nxc4 17.Nxe6 Nxd2+ 18.Rxd2 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ Qe7 (or 19 . . . Be7 20.Nf5 Kf8 2l .Rcl wins.) 20.Qc4 (threatening Re2) Black's king cannot escape the central crossfire.

.!•1 Modern Chess Brilliancies

Black must submit to 15 . . . 0-0-0 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Ne4! Nxe4 18.Qxe4 but his defensive task is extremely difficult-e.g., 18 . . . a6 (or 18 . . . Nf6 19.Qe3 a6 20.Na7+ Kc7 21 .Ba5+ b6 22.Rxd8 wins) 19.Bf4 e5 20.Rxd7! Rxd7 21 .Bxe5 Qa8 22.Nc7 (or 22.Qf5) Rxc7 23.Qf5+ Kb8 (if 23 . . . Rd7 24.Rd1 wins.) 24.Qxf7 mops up.

t6.Nxe6! fxe6 17.Qg6+ Kd8 18.Rhel

After this quiet developing move, Gibraltar crumbles.

18. . . Kc8 Giving up a second pawn1to gain a sanctuary for the king. On 18 . . . e5 (or 18 . . . Qxc4 19.Bc3) 19.Bc3- Kc8 20.f4! is powerful.

19.Rxe6 b6 20.Qf5!

Another quiet move, intending Bf4.

20. . . Kb7 21.Bf4 Qc5

Loses, but so does 21 . . . Qc8 22.Ne4 Ka7 (if 22 . . . Nxe4 23.Qxe4+ Ka7 24.Rc6!) 23.Nxf6 Nxf6 24.Rxf6! gxf6 25.Rd7+, etc.

22.Rxf6! Resigns If 22 . . . Nxf6 23.Rd7+ Kc6 24.Rc7+ mate.

5 Bakulin-Bronstein

USSR Championship, 1 964 Caro-Kann Defense

Larry Evans 25

�ack's patient strategic buildup is rewarded when he gets the op-portunity to splurge a rook and a bishop. The finish is artistic and original.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 d.xe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6

The alternative 5 . . . exf6 gives Black a lifeless position wherein all he can look forward to is a draw. The text is double-edged, anticipating eventual use of the open g-file in return for the ugly pawn structure.

6.Be3 Bf5 7.Qd2 e6 8.Ne2 Nd7 9.Ng3 Bg6

10.Be2 White's knight is not particularly well-placed. More consistent is 10.h4 h5 l l .Bd3 followed by queen-side castling.

10. . . Qc7 11.0-0

A courageous but risky decision. White anticipates Black's castling long and hopes to use his queen-side pawns as battering rams. His own king, however, will be equally vulnerable. Safer is 1 1 .0-0-0.

11.. . h5 12.Rfd1 h4 13.Nfl h3 14.g3 0-0-0 15.c4

More clean-cut is 15.b4 e5 16.c4. Now Black can establish a blockade.

15. . . c5 16.d5 e5 17.Rac1 f5

.l(J Modern Chess Brilliancies

18.b4 Bd6

Stronger than 18 . . . cxb4 19.c5. While White seems to have reached his maximum Black still has the dynamic break . . . f4.

19.f3? The cause of White's future trouble. More active is 19.f4, though already he has lost his precious initiative.

19 . . . 20.Bf2 21.Khl 22.Rel

f4 Rde8 Rhg8 e4

Now it is clear that Black has all the play. The threat of . . . e3 compels White's reply, after which his game is strategically lost.

23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.bxc5 Qxc5 25.Bdl Bc7! 26.gxf4

Hoping to answer 26 . . . Bb6 with 27.Ng3. 26. . . e3! 27.Qe2

The pawn is poisoned: 27.Rxe3 (or 27.Nxe3 Bxf4 28.Rc3 Re5 and the pin is unbearable.) Rxe3 28.Qxe3 Qxe3 29.Nxe3 Bxf4 30.Rc3 Re8 wins.

27. . . Bd3! 28.Qxd3 Rgl +!

29.Kxgl e2+ 30.Ne3

On 30.Khl Qf2 3l .Qf5+ Kb8 32.Qxh3 Rg8 wins.

30.. . Rxe3 31.Qf5+ Re6+ 32.Khl Qf2

Resigns

6 Tai-Fuster

Portoroz, 1 958 Caro-Kann Defense

Larry Evans 27

� is one of the games with which Tal burst upon the world chess scene. Spectacularly sacrificing a bishop for only two pawns, he succeeds in pinning Black's king in the center while mounting an attack.

l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+

To avoid simplifications Spassky later revived 6.Ng3, but the retreat only loses a tempo and places the knight on a dubious post.

6... Nxf6 7.Bc4 Bf5

A mistake is 7 . . . Bg4? 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Ne5+, etc.

LH Modern Chess Brilliancies

8.Qe2 e6 9.Bg5 Be7

10.0-0-0 h6 The refinement 10 . . . Bg4! 1 1 .h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nd5! 13 .Bxe7 Qxe7 snuffs out White's budding initiative (Fischer-Petrosian, Bled 1961).

ll.Bh4 Ne4 More sensible is 1 1 . . .Nd5. The text gives White an opportunity to complicate, although he holds the edge in any case.

12.g4! Surprising and effective. Of course White had to reckon with 12 . . . Bxh4 13.gxf5 (on 13.Nxh4 Bh7 is sufficient) Nxf2 14.fxe6 0-0 15.exf7+ with ample compensation for the loss of the exchange.

12... Bh7 13.Bg3 Nxg3 14.fxg3! Qc7 15.Ne5 Bd6 16.h4 f6?

Unfortunately 16 . . . 0-0-0 fails against 17.Nxf7! Qxf7 18.Bxe6+. And on 16.0-0 17 .g5 pursues the attack.

But Black should seek some relief with 16 . . . Bxe5 17.dxe5 Rd8 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8. The reduction of material would give drawing chances.

17.Bxe6! Naturally! Black was hoping for 17.Nf3 0-0-0.

17. . . fxe5 18.dxe5 Be7

Not 18 . . . Bxe5 19.Rhe1 Bd6 20.Bd7+! . 19.Rhfl Rf8 20.Rxf8+ Bxf8 21.Qf3 Qe7

Larry Evans 29

Apparently Black has secured a measure of safety, intending to free himself with . . . Rd8.

22.Qb3! Rb8 To fend off the threat of Rd7. 22 . . . Rd8 is refuted by 23.Bf7+! Qxf7 24.Rxd8+ Ke7 25.Rd7+. It's all over now anyway.

23.Bd7+ 24.Rxd7 2S.Qf7+ 26.e6+

Qxd7 Kxd7 Be7 Kd8

26 . . . Kd6 meets with 27.Qf4+ Kc5 followed by 28.Qxb8.

27.Qxg7 Resigns The bishop has no refuge: 27 . . . Be4 28.Qh8+ Kc7 29.Qe5+ et cetera.

7 Trappi-Perez

Oberhausen, 1 961 Caro-Kann Defense

�ny of the teams at this event contained young players who were given their first international trials. The nineteen-year-old Czech, Trapp!, walked off with the brilliancy prize.

l.e4 2.d4 3.Nc3 4.Nxe4 S.Bc4

c6 dS dxe4 Nd7

After 5.Qe2!? Black must avoid 5 . . . Ngf6? 6.Nd6 mate with which Keres once won a tournament game and Alekhine defeated four players in consultation.

s . . . e6 Somewhat inconsistent, since the theme of this defense is to leave the c8-h3 diagonal unclogged. Stronger is 5 . . . Ngf6 6.Ng5 Nd5! (again fighting to defer . . . e6 until after the c8 bishop has been developed); 7.Nlf3 h6 8.Ne4 N7b6 9.Bb3 (better is 9.Bd3) Bf5 10.Ng3 Bh7 1 1 .0-0 e6= (Fischer-Portisch Stockholm 1962).

6.Qe2 Ngf6


7.Ng5 Nb6 8.Bb3 h6

Naturally not 8 . . . Qxd4? 9.Nlf3 followed by Ne5.

9.N5f3 c5 10.d.xc5 Bxc5?

This obvious recapture allows Black's pieces to become entangled on the queen-side; and he can neither defend his own king properly, nor mount a quick enough counter-attack. More systematic is 10 . . . Nbd7 (Petrosian) to recapture with the knight and to control e4 as an outpost.

ll.Bd2 0-0 12.Ne5 Nbd5 13.Ngf3 b6 14.0-0-0 Qc7 15.g4! aS 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 a4

Both attacks are fast, but White's comes first. 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Rhgl a3

19 . . . f6 fails against 20.Bh6. 20.Rxd5!

Eliminating the main defender of Black's king, and clearing f6 for the bishop. There is also another deeper and very pretty point.

io. . . axb2+ 21.Kbl Qa7

If 21 . . . exd5 22.Bf6 g6 23.Qd3 Re8 (meeting 24.Rxg6+) 24.Nxg6 wins. 22.Qc4 exd5

23.Bf6! Jettisoning the queen for just one tempo.

Larry Evans 31

23 . . . dxc4 Also insufficient is 23 . . . g6 24.Qxd5 Be6 25.Rxg6+! fxg6 (forced) 26.Qxe6+ Rf7 (forced) 27.Ng5 Qxa2+ 28.Qxa2 Rxa2 29.Ngxf7 with a winning endgame.

24.Rxg7+ Kh8 25.Rg5+ Resigns

Black gets mated-25 . . . Kh7 26.Rh5+ Kg8 27.Rh8+ mate.

8 Tai-Portisch

2nd Match Game, 1 965 Caro-Kann Defense

� engrossing psychological study. Tal's combination is good for no more than a draw, but Portisch misjudges the position and plays for a win, thereby succumbing to a bit of wizardry.

l.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bg4

White's avoidance of d4 is not accidental and is designed to exclude normal development, 4 . . . Bf5 which could now be met with 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Ne5 Bh7 8.Qh5 g6 9.Bc4! e6 10.Qe2 (threatening Nxf7), with a beautiful game.

5.h3 6.Qxf3 7.d4 8.Bd3 9.Qxe4

Bxf3 Nd7 Ngf6 Nxe4 e6

More forcing is 9 . . . Nf6, which would compel White to place his queen on an awkward square (e3, f4, or h4) to defend his d4 pawn, or to offer a gambit with 10.Qe2?!

10.0-0 Be7 ll.c3 Nf6 12.Qh4 Nd5

12 . . . 0-0 looks perfectly safe.

13.Qg4 Bf6

:S2 Modern Chess Brilliancies

14.Re1 Qb6 15.c4!?

Perhaps too forcing. Simpler is 15 .a3. 15... Nb4

After 15 . . . Ne7 16.Be3 (16.d5 cxd5 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Be4 Bd4 20.Re2 Rd8 denies White anything for his pawn) Qxb2 17.Rab1 Qc3 18.Qe2 White has play for the pawn.

16.Rxe6+ A logical consequence; otherwise the d4 pawn falls without compensation.

A tense moment.

16... fxe6 17.Qxe6+

17. .. Km? A difficult decision, not undertaken lightly. But Black should have allowed the draw with 17 . . . Kd8 18.Qd6+ Ke8 19.Qe6+ (there is nothing better) etc. However, Portisch decides to play for a win.

Tal's genius consist of confronting his opponents with tempting ways to go wrong. He gives a beautiful winning line after 17 . . . Be7 18.Bg6+! hxg6 (18 . . . Kd8 19.Bf5 Qc7 20.Bf4 Qc8 21 .Qe4+-) 19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Re1 Qd7 21 .Qxg6+ followed by Rxe7.

18.Bf4 Rd8 19.c5

Ever accurate. Not 19.Re1? c5! .

19... Nxd3 And not 19 . . . Qa5? 20.Re1 Nxd3 21 .Bd6+ Rxd6 22.Qe8+ mate.

20.cxb6 Nxf4 21.Qg4 Nd5

Larry Evans 33

Fischer suggests 21 . . .g5 as a better chance. But not 2l . . .Rxd4? 22.Qc8+ Rd8 23.Qxd8+! Bxd8 24.bxa7.

22.bxa7 Ke7

Portisch gives as correct 22 . . . g6. Were it not for White's tiny pawn on a7, he would be lost materially. Even so, it is hard to see how he can capitalize on it. Black's king seems headed for refuge via d6 and c7.

23.b4! Ra8 If 23 . . . Nxb4 24.Rbl Rxd4 25.Qe2+ Kd6 26.a3 with Rxb7 next.

24.Rel+ Kd6? Correct is 24 . . . Kd8 25 .Re6 (25.b5 Rxa7 26.Qe6 Kc7 27.Rcl Rd8 28.bxc6 b6 also holds) Kc7 26.b5 Rhc8---Fischer.

25.b5! Rxa7 A blunder, but he's lost anyway. If 25 . . . Kc7 (or 25 . . . Rhd8 26.b6! Nxb6 27.Rbl) 26.Rbl Rhd8 27.b6+ Nxb6 28.Qg3+ Rd6 29.Rxb6 Rxa7 30.Rb4 and White should win-Fischer.

26.Re6+ Kc7 27 .Rxf6! Resigns

On 27 . . . gxf6 28.Qg7+ is decisive.

9 Tai-Smyslov

Candidates Tou rnament, 1 959 Caro-Kann Defense

f!l:e "magician from Riga" conjures rabbits from his hat to create a game for the ages. Each time Black is on the verge of consolidating, Tal


unleashes another surprise. l.e4 c6 2.d3 d5

It is better to foil White's passive setup with 2 . . . e5 or 2 . . . g6. 3.Nd2 e5 4.Ngf3 Nd7 5.d4 dxe4

White's last is open to the theoretical objection that it allows a premature clarification in the center. Black could ease the pressure with 5 . . . exd4! 6.Nxd4 dxe4 7.Nxe4 Nc5.

6.Nxe4 exd4 Tal opines that the active 6 . . . f5 7.Ng3 e4 8.Ng5 is too dangerous for Black.

7.Qxd4 7.Qe2 Bb4+ 8.c3 dxc3 9.bxc3 Be7 10.Nd6+ Kf8 does not offer enough compensation for the pawn.

7 . • .

8.Bg5 9.0-0-0

10.Nd6 ll.Bc4

Ngf6 Be7 0-0 Qa5 b5

The stage is set for sharp tactics with the kings aligned on opposing wings. The text is Black's most active chance. He is hoping for 12 .Bb3? c5, followed by . . . c4.

Inferior is 1 1 . . .Bxd6 1 2.Qxd6 Ne4 13.Qf4 Nxg5 14.Nxg5 Nf6 15 .Rhel . Also risky is 1 1 . . .Nb6 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.Nxf7 Kxf7 14.Rhe1 Nbd5 1 5.Qe5!.

12.Bd2! Qa6? Probably the losing move. It must be remembered, however, that Smyslov might have been playing for a win here with Black-and it takes two to create a brilliancy. The simplest is 1 2 . . . Qa4 13.Nxc8 Raxc8 14.Bb3 Qxd4 with only a slight disadvantage in the endgame. 12 . . . Qb6 (or 1 2 . . . Qc7) 13.Nf5 Bc5 14.Qh4! leads to variations similar to that in the note to Black's next move.

Lany Evans 35

13.Nf5! Black was relying on the retreat of the attacked bishop, which would give him time for . . . c5.

13 . . . Bd8

Again everything seems to be in order. Bad would have been 13 . . . Bc5 14.Qh4 bxc4 15.Bc3! Qxa2 16.Rxd7! Bxd7 17.Nh6+ Kh8 18.Qxf6!.

14.Qh4! bxc4 Black would not survive long by 14 . . . Ne5 15.Nh6+! gxh6 16.Bxh6 Ng6 17.Rxd8!

15.Qg5 Nh5 If 15 . . . g6 (Or 15 . . . Ne8? 16.Qxd8 wins) 16.Nh6+ Kg7 17.Bc3 Qxa2 18.Rhe1 ! and Black cannot meet the threat of Ng4.

16.Nh6+ Kh8 17.Qxh5 Qxa2

Again after 17 . . . gxh6 18.Qxh6 White has too many threats-e.g., 18 . . . Rg8 (18 . . . c5 19.Bc3+ f6 20.Ng5 wins) 19.Bc3+ f6 20.Rhe1 c5 21.Ng5 Rxg5 22.Qxg5 and the threat of ReS+ is devastating.

18.Bc3 Nf6 19.Q:xt7

\C . Modern Chess Brilliancies

1\ remarkable concept. Black cannot avoid material loss. Of course, the queen cannot be taken, because of Rxd8+.

19. . . Qat+ 20.Kd2 Rxf7 21.Nxf7+ KgS 22.Rxal Kxf7 23.Ne5+ Ke6 24.Nxc6 Ne4+ 25.Ke3 Bb6+ 26.Bd4 Resigns

When the great Smyslov loses in twenty-six moves, that is chess history.

Botvinnik-Portisch Monaco, 1 968

Engl ish Opening

:Ydotvinnik is noted for his strategic depth; his games rarely feature brilliancies. Here, however, when given the opportunity, he demonstrates that he is always alert to all the dormant tactical implications.

l.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Be6

Another try is 5 . . . Ne7 6.Nf3 Nbc6 7.d3 Nf5 8.0-0 Be7 9.a3 Be6 10.b4 a6 l l .Bb2 f6 1 2.e3 0-0 13.Qc2 Qd7 (Pachman-Cobo, Havana 1964).

6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Nb6

The main drawback is that Black is essaying a well-known variation of the Sicilian a move down; the entire approach is suspect.

8.d3 Be7 9.a3 a5

This restraining maneuver was supposed to be an improvement, but it turns out to be just another weakness. Black might strive for more activity with 9 . . . f5 10.b4 Bf6.

10.Be3 0-0

11.Na4 Nxa4 If 1 1 . . .Nd5 12.Bc5� 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Rc1 etc.

12.Qxa4 BdS 13.Rfc1 ReS

Lany Evans 37

Portisch himself queries this lackluster developing move, but fails to give a satisfactory alternative. After 13 . @ 14.Qb5 Bf6 (15.Qxb7? Nd4 )Black's game looks playable but shaky.

14.Rc2 Bm 1S.Rac1 NbS

White's control of the c-file is extremely annoying, and Black hopes to neutralize it with . . . c6 on the next move. The text however is an error of judgment. Necessary is 15 . . . e4 16.dxe4 Bxe4 17.Rd2 Qf6 �Rc4! despite the fact that White keeps the initiative.

Ajedrez considers@ . . h6 16.Nd2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Nd4 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rxc7 Rxe2 20.Ne4 Rxb2 2l .Rd7 with a distinct White advantage.

16.Rxc7! Falling for the "trap," Botvinnik initiates a deep and well-calculated combination.

16.. . Bc6 17 .R1xc6 bxc6

All according to plan. Black has gained an exchange and White's rook is in trouble.

1S.Rxf7!

1S.. . h6

The rook is immune-18 . . . K.xf7? 19.Qc4+ Kg6�g5 Qf6 2l .Be4+ Kh5 22.Bf3+ Kg6 23.Bh5+ Kxh5 24.Qh4+ Kg6 25.Qxh7+, mate.

Had Black seen what was in store he would have tried® . . Re7. 19.Rb7 QcS


20.Qc4+ Kh8 Black can avoid the holocaust with 20 . . . Qe6 2l .Nxe5 Qxc4 22.Nxc4 a4 but with strong diagonals for his bishops, and two pawns for the exchange, White should win the ending.

21.Nh4! 22.Ng6+ 23.Be4 24.Nxe5+

Qxb7 Kh7 Bd6 g6

Forced. If 24 . . . Kh8 25.Nf7+ wins the house.

25.Bxg6+ Kg7 26.Bxh6+! Resigns

Neat to the end. If 26 . . . Kxh6 27.Qh4+ Kg7 28.Qh7+ Kf6 29.Ng4+ Ke6 30.Qxb7 wins. No better is � . . Kf6 27.Qf4+ Ke6 28.Bf7+ Ke7 29.Qg5+, mate. Finally if® . . Kh8 27.Nrl+ Kg8 28.Nxd6+ , etc.

This game was voted the best game of 1968 by the Chess Informant jury of eight grandmasters.

Smyslov-Liberson Riga, 1 968

English Opening

(' �y best game in ten years, " said former World Champion Smyslov. White's queen sacrifice is very deep and has many fine points, an unexpected bonus for his positional superiority.

l.c4 e5

2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Rb1 d6 6.b4 a6

Larry Evans 39

Better is 6 . . . f5 immediately so as not to create a queen-side target. EvansSpassky, Lugano Olympics 1968 continued: 7.d3 Nf6 8.b5 Ne7 9.e4 0-0 10.Nge2 a6=.

7.e3 f5 8.Nge2 Nf6 9.d3 0-0

10.0-0 Bd7 ll.a4 Rb8 12.b5 axb5 13.axb5 Ne7 14.Ba3

"To prevent the advance of Black's c-pawn." If now 13 . . . c5 15.bxc6 and Black's pawn weaknesses will be readily exploited"-Smyslov.

14. . . Be6 15.Qb3 b6 16.d4 e4 17.d5 Bf7 18.Nd4 Qd7 19.Bb2

"According to the great teachers of the past-Anderssen, Lasker, Alekhinebefore one attacks, every piece must be on its best square. Since the bishop has served its purpose on a3, it is moved to its best attacking post"Smyslov.

19 . . . g5 If 19 . . . Ra8 20.Ra1 followed by 21 .Ra6, and if Black then exchanges rooks, White will have a dangerous passed pawn. White's next is to prevent . . .f4.

20.Nce2 Kh8 21.Ra1 Ng6 22.f4 exf3 e.p. 23.Rxf3 Ne7 24.Nc6 Rbe8 25.Ned4 Nfxd51?

Black's f5 pawn is difficult to defend; the text is his best practical chance to end his slow strangulation.

26.cxd5 Bxd5


27.Nxf5! Black had expected 27.Qc2 Bxf3 28.Bxf3 Ng6 with good counterchances.

27. .. Rxf5 The queen cannot be accepted. 27 . . . Bxb3 28.Bxg7+ Kg8 29.Ncxe7+ Rxe7 30.Bxf8 Kxf8 3l .Ra8+ Kf7 (Not 31 . . . Re8 32.Nxd6+) 32.Nd4+ followed by 33.Nxb3 wins.

Also bad is 27 . . . Nxf5 28.Qxd5 Bxb2 29.Rafl with great advantage. 28.Bxg7+ Kg8

If 28 . . . Kxg7 29.Qc3+ Kg8 30.Rxf5 Qxf5 3l .Rfl Qe6 32.Rf6! and Black cannot avoid material loss.

29.Rxf5! Bxb3 30.Rxg5 Ng6

Best. Not 30 . . . h6 3l .Nxe7+ Rxe7 32.Ra8+ Re8 33.Bxh6+ Kh7 34.Rg7+.etc. 31.Bh6 Qe6

Time to take stock. White has only a rook and bishop for the queen, but Black's queen will be subjected to unrelenting harassment.

32.h4! Qxe3+ 33.Kh2 Qc3

The threat was 34.Rxg6+. 34.Rfl Bc4 35.Rf2

Larry Evans 41

But not 35.Rcl? Qxcl 36.Rxg6+ hxg6 37.Bxcl Bxb5 with Black on top. 35.. . Qel 36.Rgf5 Bxb5

"The best practical chance"-Smyslov 37.Bd2 Qbl

The queen is almost more trouble than it's worth; it has to be constantly protected and is inefficient both for defense and attack.

38.Bd5+ Kh8 If 38 . . . Kg7 39.Rf7+ Kh8 40.Bc3+ Ne5 4l .Nxe5 dxe5 42.Rxc7 with a won ending.

39.Bc3+ 40.Nxe5 41.Rxe5

Ne5 d.xe5 Resigns

Fischer-Celle California, 1 964

Evans Gambit

� is one of ten clock games played simultaneously at Davis College. Continuing with restraint and circumspection, Fischer builds up an irresistible attack culminating in a sacrificial orgy.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4?!

The Evans Gambit still makes for enterprising chess despite the fact that it was exhaustively analyzed last century.

4 . . . 5.c3

Bxb4 Be7

5 . . . Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.0-0 Bb6 is the famous Lasker Defense which put this gambit out of commission. The text is also good.

6.d4 d6?


Correct is 6 . . . Na5! 7.Nxe5 Nxc4 8.Nxc4 d5. 7 .d.xeS NxeS

On 7 0 0 .dxe5 (70 0 . Na5? 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Qd5+ regains the piece with an extra pawn) 8.Qb3 Na5 9.Bxf7+ Kf8 10.Qa4 wins a pawn.

S.NxeS d.xeS 9.QhS!

White gets nothing after 9.Qb3 Be6!.

9... g6 lO.QxeS Nf6 ll.Ba3 Rf8 12.0-0 Ng4

12 0 0 .Nd7 followed by 0 0 .Nb6 is better, but the text is hard to refute. 13.Qg3 Bxa3 14.Nxa3 Qe7 lS.BbS+!

The only way to retain the initiative. If 15 .Nc2 Qe5. And 15 .Nb5 is disarmed by 0 0 .Ne5.

15. . . c6 Not 15 . . . Bd7? 16.Qxc7 (16.Qxg4? c6).

t6.Nc4!

16. .. Qe6! Fischer gives 16o o . cxb5 17.Nd6+ Kd8 18.Rfd1 Bd7 19.Nxb7+ Kc8 20.Nd6+ Kd8 21 .Rd4 Ne5 22.Radl Kc7 23.f4 Ng4 24.h3 Nf6 25.f5 Kb6 26.Qe3 Kc7 (26 . . . Ka6 27.a4) 27.Rc4+! bxc4 28.Qc5+ Bc6 29.Nb5+ wins.

17.Rad1! White's attack is blunted after 17.Qc7 Qd7! 18.Nd6+ Ke7 19.Nxc8+ Raxc8 20.Qxd7+ Kxd7, etc.

17. . . cxbS 18.Qc7! Bd7

19.Nd6+ Ke7 20.NfS+!

Larry Evans 43

"The attack needs fresh fuel. Material is not what counts now, but open lines. Black is forced to capture against his will. 20 . . . Ke8 is out because of 21 .Ng7+, and 20 . . . Kf6 21 .Rd6 gxf5 22.Qxd7! wins outright"-Fischer.

20. . . gxfS 21.exfS Rac8

The best try. 2l . . .Qxf5 22.Qd6+ Kd8 (22 . . . Ke8 23.Rfel+ Be6 24.Qd7+, mate) 23.Qxf8+ Kc7 24.Qxa8 wins.

22.Rxd7+! Qxd7 23.f6+! Nxf6 24.Rel+

"Note the amusing piece configuration. All Black's pieces are stepping on each other's toes"-Fischer.

24 . . . 2S.Rxe4+ 26.Qxd7 27.Qg4

Ne4 Kf6 Rfd8 Resigns

Fischer chided himself for missing 27.Qe7+ with mate in four. Fortunately his non-master opponent offered a good enough fight to make this game worthy of publication.


· lvkov-Portisch Bled, 1 961

French Defense

� queens disappear after a sharp theoretical continuation. White's attack continues to rage, however, and a storm descends.

l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7

One of Botvinnik's opening contributions, initiating a sharper fight than the older 6 . . . Ne7 7.Qg4 Nf5 8.Bd3 h5.

7.Qg4 7.Nf3 is tamer but perhaps more dependable in the long run. The question is whether this excursion with the queen is or is not premature.

7... f5 Nowadays Black prefers to reserve this square for his pieces. 7 . . . Ne7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Kd1 Nbc6 l l .Nf3 dxc3 12.Ng5 Nxe5 13.f4 Rxg5 14.fxg5 N5g6 15.Be2 (better is 15 .h4 e5 16.h5 Nf8 17.Bb5+) e5 16.Rf1 Be6 17.Bb5+ Kd8! with advantage (Matulovic-Tatai, Venice 1969).

Inferior is 7 . . . f6 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Qg3 Qf7 10.dxc5 Nge7 1 1 .Bd3 fxe5 12.Nxe5 Smyslov-Botvinnik, 20th Match game 1957

8.Qg3 Ne7 8 . . . cxd4 9.cxd4 Ne7 10.Ne2 9.0-0 l l .c3 solves White's problems. The famous Reshevsky-Botvinnik encounter, Moscow 1948, continued: 8 . . . cxd4 9.cxd4 Ne7 10.Bd2 0-0 1 1 .Bd3 b6 12.Ne2 Ba6 13.Nf4 Qd7 14.Bxa6 (if 14.Bb4 Rf7 15 .Nh5 Kh8 is correct) 14 . . . Nxa6 15.Qd3 NbS 16.h4 with a White pull.

9.Qxg7 Rg8 10.Qxh7 cxd4

Larry Evans 45

ll.Kdl Tal's idea, in order to develop the knight at f3, where it is more aggressively placed than after l l .Ne2. Opinions are divided as to White's best. R. Byrne-Botvinnik, Monte Carlo 1968 went l l .Ne2 Nbc6 12 .f4 Bd7 13.Qh3 dxc3 14.Qxc3 0-0-0 1 5.g3 (Stronger is 15 .Bb2 Be8 16.0-0-0 Bh5 17.Rd2) Be8 16.Bg2 Bh5 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Rfl Kb8=.

11.. . Bd7 "Black's theme is clear. He scorches his king-side earth in return for powerful pressure on the other wing and in the center"-Byrne. GligoricPetrosian, Candidates Tournament 1959, continued: 1 1 . . . Nbc6 (not l l . . . Qxc3 1 2.Rbl d3 13.Bxd3 Qxe5 14.Qh5+) 12.Nf3 Nxe5 13.Bg5! N5g6 (13 . . . Nxf3? 14.Bb5+) and now Euwe suggests 14.Bf6! followed by h4-h5.

12.Qh5+ Kd8

Varying from Tal-Botvinnik, 1st Match Game 1960: 1 2 . . . Ng6 13.Ne2 d3 14.cxd3 Ba4+ (better is 14 . . . Nc6) 15.Kel Qxe5 16.Bg5! Nc6 17.d4 Qc7 18.h4! e5 19.Rh3 with advantage.

13.Ne2 Ba4 Lands Black in brackish waters, since the bishop is needed where it has been standing, to defend the e-pawn. Correct is 13 . . . dxc3 14.f4 Qc5 1 5.Qf3 d4! and if anything the complications favor Black At its best the Winawer French is actually a dynamic countergambit.

14.Nf4 Qxe5 14 . . . Qxc3 15.Ra2 Bd7 16.Qf7 Qc6 17.h4 is powerful.

15.Qfi Bd7 Has the gain of a pawn justified this loss of time?

t6.Bd3 Qd6 17.Rel!?

Disdaining a safe advantage with the prosaic 17.cxd4 and deciding upon a genuine risk


17. . . e5? Portisch overestimates his influence in the center and underestimates White's coming sacrificial attack. His chance lay in 17 . . . Nbc6 18.Nxe6+ Bxe6 19.Rxe6 Qxh2 after which double-edged play may develop-e.g., 20.Bxf5 Nxf5 2l .Qxg8+ Kd7 22.Qxa8 Kxe6, etc.

18.a4! Having opted for the oversharp 17.Re1 , White must now tread the sacrificial road. The threat is Ba3.

18. . . Be8

Relatively best. If 18 . . . Nbc6 (or 18 . . . exf4? 19.Ba3) 19.Ba3 Qh6 20.Nxd5! Nxd5 2l .Qxg8+ Kc7 22.Qxd5 wins.

19.Qe6! "That White also retains a winning attack after the exchange of queens gives his conception particular subtlety"-Vukovic.

19. . . Qxe6 20.Nxe6+ Kd7

Had he foreseen the sequel, Black might have gone to c8 directly. 2l .cxd4 Rxg2 (Not 21 . . .e4 22.Bfl) offers some slim hopes.

21.Nc5+ Kc8 22.Rxe5 Nbc6 23.Re2 Rxg2 24.Bxf5+ Kd8

Not 24 . . . Nxf5? 25.Rxe8+. No help either is 24 . . . Kc7? 25.Bf4+ Kb6 26.Rb1 + Kxc5 27.Rb5+ Kc4 28.Bd3+ Kxc3 29.Bd2+ mate.

25.Nxb7+ Kc7 26.Bf4+!

26. . . Ne5 Disagreeably forced. On 26 . . . Kxb7 27.Rb1 + Ka6 28.Bd3+ Ka5 29.Bc7+ Kxa4 30.Ral+, mate.

27.Rxe5 Nxf5 28.Re7+! Kc6 29.Rc7+ Kb6 30.Rbl+ Ka6 31.Rc6+! Resigns

On 31 . . . Bxc6 32.Nc5+ Ka5 33.Bc7+ mate.

Tal-Donner Beverwijk, 1 968 F rench Defense

Larry Evans 47

�inarily, because of the barricaded pawn structure, it is difficult to launch an attack in this variation. Tal succeeds in confining Black's king to the center, then proceeds to open lines with wild abandon.

l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7

White has reinforced his center at the cost of a doubled c3 pawn, and Black hastens to exert pressure along the semi-open file. Black has a recent idea in mind indicated by his next two moves--exchanging the bishop on c8, the "problem child. "

7.Nf3 b6 8.a4 Ba6 9.Bxa6

9.Bb5+ Bxb5 10.axb5 a5 1 1 .0-0 Ne7 (Stein-R. Byrne, Sousse 1967) will hold for Black if properly defended.

9... Nxa6 10.Qe2 NbS

Bad is 10 . . . cxd4 1 1 .Qb5+! Kd8 (or 1 1 . . .Kf8 12.Ba3+) 12.Qxa6 Qxc3+ 13.Ke2 Qxa1 14.Bg5+ winning the queen.

ll.a5!? White tries to open up the game before his opponent can catch up in development. 1 1 .0-0 is the tamer alternative.

4H Modern Chess Brilliancies

11.. . bxaS 1 1 . . .cxd4 1 2.0-0! is unclear, but White's attacking prospects remain bright.

12.Ba3 Nd7?1 It is essential to prepare for castling by 12 . . . Ne7 then on 13.dxc5 (If 13.Bxc5 Nd7) Nbc6 maintains a blockade.

13.dxcS Ne7 14.c6!

A clearance sacrifice, quite thematic, which opens the bishop's diagonal and hems the Black king in the center.

14 .. . 15.0-0

Qxc6 Qxc3

The purpose is not so much to gain another pawn as to prevent Nd4.

16.Rfd1 Nc6 Tal feels that 16 . . . Qc4 17.Qd2 Nc6 may be somewhat better; in that event White can continue his attack with 18.Bd6 followed by 19.Ra3

17.Bd6 Qc4 18.Qe3 Qe4 19.Qb3 Nb6

Preventing Qb7. With two extra pawns, Black's position looks cozy. White's initiative seems to have come to a standstill and Black's king is ready to go to d7 with a measure of safety.

20.c4! Offering yet another pawn in order to effect a breach.

20 Qxc4 Or 20 . . . dxc4 (20 . . . Nxc4? 2l .Qb7) 2l .Qb5 Rc8 (the threat was Rd4) 22.Rxa5 followed by 23.Rxa7 with an irresistible attack.

21.Qa3 Qa6 22.Rac1 ReS

Larry Evans 49

Black could organize a better defense with 22 . . . Nc4 immediately.

23.Nd2! Not only discouraging . . . Nc4, but threatening 24.Nb3-<:5 as well.

23. . . f6 It is hard to concede that Black's solid position is already lost. On 23 . . . Nd4 24.Rxc8+ (or would Tal have played his post-mortem suggestion of 24.Khl!?) Qxc8 25.Qxa5 Qc2 gives strong counterplay.

24.exf6 gxf6 2S.Qf3 Kd7?

Tal says 25 . . . Nd7 is relatively better. But 25 . . . f5 is also difficult to refute.

26.Qxf6!

26 . . . Rhe8 26 . . . Kxd6 loses to 27.Ne4+ Kc7 28.Nc5 Qe2 29.Qg7+.

27.Ne4 Clearer than 27.Qf7+ Ne7 (27 . . . Kxd6 28.Ne4+ mates quickly) 28.Rel Kd8 29.Qxe6 Qb7.

27. . . Ne7 Also hopeless is 27 . . . Qe2 28.Rel .

28.NcS+ RxcS 29.BxcS Nc4

Black is lost no matter what he does.

30.Bxe7 Resigns The point is 30 . . . Rxe7 31 .Rxd5+! etc. Again one is left with the impression that Black could have considerably improved his defense somewhere along the way; but that does not detract from Tal's courageous performance.

SO Modern Chess Brilliancies

Fischer-Tal Leipzig Olympics, 1 960

French Defence

dy meeting between these two antagonists arouses interest, and this one could have gone either way. After a seesaw struggle, it settles in perpetual check-a valid, if frustrating result.

l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5

This reply has never been a popular alternative to 5 . . . Bxc3+; but it has never been refuted either.

6.b4 cxd4 Also playable is 6 . . . cxb4 7.Nb5 Nc6 (7 . . . bxa3+ 8.c3 gives White a strong attack.) 8.Nf3 a6 9.Nd6+ KfS 10.Bd3 b3+ 1 l .Kf1 Bc7 (Boleslavsky-Katalimov, USSR Championship Preliminaries).

7.Qg4 Sharper than 7.Nb5 (Not 7.Qxd4 Bc7 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Qg4? Nxe5 10.Qxg7 Nxf3+ 1 l .gxf3 Qf6 12 .Bh6 Qe5+ -Keres) Bc7 8.f4 Ne7 9.Nf3 Bd7!= (SmyslovBotvinnik, 3rd Match Game 1954).

7.. . Ne7 8.bxa5

An interesting gamelet was Zuckerman-Barsukov, Washington,D.C. 1962: 8.Nb5 Bc7 9.Qxg7 Rg8 10.Qxh7 Bxe5 (better is 10 . . . a6 l l .Nxc7+ Qxc7 12.Ne2 Bd7!) l l .Nf3 Rh8 12 .Qd3 Bf6 13.Bf4 Na6 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Ne5! with a winning position.

8. . . dxc3 9.Qxg7 Rg8

10.Qxh7 Nbc6 10 . . . Nd7 1 l .Nf3 Nf8 12.Qd3 Qxa5 13.h4! is given by theory as good for White (Smyslov-Botvinnik, 9th Match Game 1954).

11.Nf3 Qc7

Larry Evans 51

Probably the best line is 11 . . . Qxa5 12 .Rb1 Qc7 13.Bf4 Bd7 14.Bg3 0-0-0 (Damjanovich-Udovchich, Yugoslav Championship Preliminaries 1963).

12.Bb51 Bd7 White's h-pawn heads for a touchdown after 12 . . . Rxg2 13.Kf1 ! Rg8 14.Rg1! Rxgl+ 15.Kxg1

13.0-0 0-0-0 If 13 . . . Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15 .Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.Qd3! (Fischer) keeps White on top; for if 16 . . . Qe4? 17.Qxe4 dxe4 18.f3! wins a pawn.

14.Bg5? Underestimating Black's reply. Fischer claims a win with 14.Bxc6! Bxc6 (or 14 . . . Nxc6 15.Re1 followed by Bg5 and h4) 15 .Qxf7 d4 16.Qxe6+ Bd7 (if 16 . . . Kb8 17.Ng5) 17.Qxe7 Rxg2+ 18.Kxg2 Bh3+ 19.Kxh3 Qxe7 20.Bg5 with a decisive material advantage as soon as White consolidates.

14.. . Nxe5! 15.Nxe5

Black survives after 15.Bxd7+ Rxd7 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.Bxe7 Rh8! 18.Rae1 Rxh7 19.Rxe5 Rxe7, etc.

15... Bxb5

Playing for a win. After 1 5 . . . Qxe5 16.Bxe7 Rh8 17.Rfe1 ! (17.Rae1? loses to Qb8) Qxel+ 18.Rxe1 Rxh7 19.Bxd8 Kxd8 20.Bxd7 Kxd7 2l .Re3! bails White out-Fischer.

16.Nxt7 Leads to an exciting draw. White could have maintained some tension with 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Rfel.

16 . . . 17.Nxd8 18.Nxe6

Bxfl Rxg5 Rxg2+


19.Khll Not the hasty 19.Kxfl? Rxh2 20.Qf7 Rhl + 2l.Kg2 Qh2+ 22.Kf3 Qh3+ and Black wins.

19... QeS White saves everything after 19 . . . Qc4 20.Qxe7 Rg8 2 l .Nf4! (21 . . . Qxf4? 22.Qe6+ Kc7 23.Qxg8 Qf3+ 24.Kgl).

20.Rxfl Qxe6 A prudent decision. 20 . . . Rg6 2l .Qxe7 Rxe6 22.Qf8+ ReS 23.Qf3 is in White's favor.

21.Kxg2 Qg4+ Draw

In view of his material deficit Black must take the perpetual check after 22.Khl Qf3+, etc.

�6 Gheorghiu-Uhlmann

Sofia, 1 96 7 French Defense

A quiet opening gives rise to some splendid tactics. White's positional sacrifice of the exchange is fully justified, and the final twist is simply delicious.

l.e4 e6 2.d3 dS 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Be7

S.g3 cS 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.0-0 0-0 8.Rel

Larry Evans 53

Experience has shown that White should avoid 8.c3, which presents a queen-side target. This is a well-known position, wherein each side will attack on the opposite wing; chances are equal.

8... bS 9.es Nd7

lO.Nfl aS ll.h4 b4 12.Bf4 a4 13.a3

An attempt to improve on the customary 13.N1h2 a3 14.b3 Na7! where Black's counterplay against the weakened dark squares may prove adequate.

13 . . . 14.bxa3 1S.Ne3

bxa3 Ba6 Nd4

Two alternatives which merit consideration are 1 5 . . . Nb6 and 1 5 . . .f6.

16.c4 Nb3!? Stronger is 16 . . . dxc4 and if 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Bxa8 dxe3 19. Bf3 exf2+ gives Black very active play. On 16 . . . dxc4 17.Nxc4 Nb3 is tenable.

17.cxdS Nxal 18.Qxal exdS 19.NxdS Bxd3?

19 . . . Nb6 is much safer. Now Black cannot recover.

20.e6 Nf6 Weak is 20 . . . fxe6 2l .Nc7 Rxf4 22.Nxe6!.

21.Nxe7+ 22.NeS 23.Nc6!

Qxe7 Bg6

Much better than 23.Bxa8 Rxa8, after which White has no clear-cut win.

23. . . Qb7 The only square. Not 23 . . . Qe8? 24.e7.

24.Bd6 Very forceful. Now the threat is Ne7+.

24. . . Be4 Allows a pretty finish. After 24 . . . Kh8 25.Bxf8 Rxf8 26.e7 Re8 27.Qe5 it's


just a matter of time before White's e-pawn wins material.

25.Rxe4! 26.Bxf8

Qxc6 Rxf8 (and Black Resigns)

26 . . . Nxe4 would have allowed 27.Qxg7+ mate.

It has now become apparent that White emerges a piece ahead after 27.Qxf6! Qxe4 (or 27 . . . gxf6 28.Rg4+ Kh8 29.Bxc6) 28.Qxf7+! Rxf7 29.exf7+ Kxf7 30.Bxe4, etc.

Fischer-Miagmarsuren Sousse Interzonal, 1 96 7

French Defense

�ack is so intent on breaking through on the queen-side that he forgets about his king. Fischer's concluding queen sacrifice is captivating and perfectly timed.

l.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Ngf3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0

White's quiet buildup delays the sharp hand-to-hand battle until the middle game, and then operations take place behind closed lines. Black and White will attack on opposite wings. The question is: Who comes first?

8.e5 Nd7 9.Re1 b5

10.Nfl b4 ll.h4 a5 12.Bf4 a4 13.a3

Larry Evans 55

"Believe it or not, I actually spent more time on this innocuous push (fifteen minutes) than on any other move in the game! I didn't want to allow Black to get in . . . a3, thereby creating 'holes' (weak squares) on c3 and a3. On the other hand, by stopping to meet his positional threat I am forced to postpone my own schemes for at least one move. Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck"-Fischer.

13... bxa3 14.bxa3 Na5

This decentralization may be inadvisable. Black might try 14 . . . Nd4 or 14 . . . Ba6 as in the previous game.

15.Ne3 Ba6 16.Bh3

Permanently discouraging the freeing maneuver . . .f6.

16... d4 17.Nfl

Fischer is a law unto himself. He abstains from the natural 17.Ng4 because this knight is headed for e4 instead. On the other hand, Black has secured d5 for his knight.

17... Nb6 18.Ng5

18 ... Nd5? Black is too intent on occupying his new outpost. Instead 18 . . . h6! 19.Ne4 c4 gives reasonable counterplay. It is remarkable that such an obvious move leads to trouble.

';6 Modern Chess Brilliancies

19.Bd2! Bxg5 19 . . . c4 was still a better try. But not 19 . . . h6? 20.Nxe6 fxe6 2l.Bxe6+ Kh8 22.Bxa5 Qxa5 23.Bxd5 gaining two buttons.

20.Bxg5 Qd7 21.Qh5

"Make way for the heavy artillery"-Fischer.

21.. . Rfc8 Black might try taking the precaution of 21 . . . Kh8.

22.Nd2 Nc3? Ruinous. Black should proceed 22 . . . c4 with counterplay.

23.Bf6!

With all Black's pieces clustered on the other wing, his king is ripe for mayhem.

23. . . Qe8 Forced. Not 23 . . . gxf6 24.exf6 Kh8 25.Nf3 Nd5 (or 25 . . . Rg8. 26.Ne5) 26.Ng5 Nxf6 27.Qh6 Qe7 28.Bf5! and wins.

24.Ne4 25.Qg5 26.Rxe4 27.h5

g6 Nxe4 c4 cxd3

White avoids the cheap trap of 27.Rxd4? cxd3 28.cxd3 Nb3.

28.Rh4! Ra7 To defend the second rank. Not 28 . . . dxc2 29.hxg6 cl =Q+ 30.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 31 .Kh2 fxg6 32.Rxh7! wins.

29.Bg2! A subtle move, miraculously timed. Its sly purpose soon becomes apparent.

29. . . dxc2

Larry Evans 57

Overlooking the main point. The only defense is 29 . . . Qf8; but White still wins with 30.Be4! dxc2 31 .hxg6 fxg6 32.Bxg6! hxg6 33.Rh8+ Kf7 34.Rh7+! (more convincing than 34.Rxf8+ Rxf8) Ke8 35.Rxa7 Bd3 36.Rxa5 and an extra rook should do the trick.

30.Qh6 Qf8 31.Qxh7+! Resigns

Black gets mated after 31 . . . Kxh7 32.hxg6+ Kxg6 (32 . . . Kg8 33.Rh8+ mate) 33.Be4.

Fischer-U. Geller Natanya, 1 968 French Defense

f¥:cher is renowned for defeating weaker opponents with flair. Here is another example of his forceful style against token resistance.

l.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Ngf3 0-0 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Rel Qc7 9.e5 Nd7

10.Qe2 b5 ll.h4 a5

This formation has become almost a ritual , and it has not been determined whether Black can break through on the queen-side in time to frustrate White's imminent attack.

12.Nfl Nd4!? An interesting idea which enables Black to utilize the semiopen c-file at the cost of doubled pawns. More customary is 12 . . . b4.

13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Bf4 Ra6 15.Nh2!

Abstaining from the tempting 1 5.Bxd5!? Bb4 16.Rebl ! (not 16.Recl? exd5


17.e6 Rxe6 18.Qxe6 Qxf4 19.Qxd7 Qxcl) exd5 17.e6 Bd6 18.exd7 Bxd7 with equal chances.

IS... Rc6 16.Racl Ba6?

The bishop has a dismal future here. Correct is 16 . . . Qb6, which would prevent White's combination.

17.BxdS! exdS Perhaps Black should settle for 17 . . . Rc5 18.Be4 Rc8 19.Nf3 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Qxc2 21 .Nxd4 Qxe2 22.Rxe2 Nc5 with counterplay for the pawn.

18.e6 Qd8 18 . . . Bd6 19.Bxd6 Rxd6 20.exd7 Qxd7 2 1 .Nf3 mops up.

19.exd7 Re6 20.Qg4 fS

20 . . . Qxd7? would allow 21 .Be5.

2l.QhS Qxd7 22.Nf3 g6 23.Qh6 Bf6 24.Rxe6 Qxe6

Black seems to have emerged tolerably well from the staggering blows. Now he is hoping for 25.Re1? Qxe1 +! 26.Nxe1 Bg7 27.Qg5 Bf6 when White must take the draw by repetition.

2S.BeSI A neat twist. White will capture the king file next move after eliminating the defensive bishop.

2S... BxeS 26.Rel f4

The only hope. If 26 . . . Bg7 27.Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.Rxe6 wins the loose pawns.

27.RxeS Qd7 28.hS fx:g3

Larry Evans 59

29.hxg6! gxf2+ White's control of the dark squares is already decisive. Black's bishop is no more than an overgrown pawn. 29 . . . Rxf3 loses to 30.Re8+! Qxe8 3l .Qxh7+ Kf8 32.g7+, etc.

30.Kxf2 hxg6 31.Qxg6+ Qg7

Again Black is hoping for a break after 32.Qxa6? Qxe5.

32.Rg5! Now 32 . . . Qxg6 33.Rxg6+ picks up the stranded bishop.

32. . . Rf7 (and Resigns) He sees that simply 33.Qh6 wins his queen.

Rossolimo-Reissman Puerto Rico, 1 967

Giuoco Piano

�elegant finale is reminiscent of Marshall's famous win over Lewitsky (Breslau 1912) where the spectators were so delighted that they reportedly showered the board with gold pieces.

1.e4 2.Nf3 3.Bc4 4.c3 5.d4 6.cxd4 7.Bd2

e5 Nc6 Bc5 Nf6 exd4 Bb4+

7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 Ne5 10.bxc3 Nxc4 l l .Qd4 0-0 permits Black to emerge unscarred.

7... Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5

10.Qb3 Nce7 Not quite sound is 10 . . . 0-0?! 1 1 .Bxd5 Na5 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.Qc3 Re7+ 14.Ne5, etc.

11.0-0 c6


12.Rfel 0-0 13.a4 b6

An ill-advised attempt to improve on the main line with 13 . . . Qb6.

14.Ne5 Bb7 15.a5 ReS 16.Ne4 Qc7

Black must try 16 . . . Rc7 to allow the bishop a retreat to c8.

17.a6 BaS 18.Qh3 Nf4 19.Qg4 Ned5 20.Ra3!

A fine idea. This rook, which is now inactive, will swing over to the kingside.

20. . . Ne6 Black's predicament is already critical. 20 . . .f6 fails to 21.Bxd5+ Nxd5 22.Qe6+ Kh8 23.Ng6+ hxg6 24.Rh3 mate.

The best chance is 20 . . . c5.

21.Bxd5 cxd5 22.Nf6+ KhS 23.Qg6!

A sizzler. Black has no defense anymore.

23. . . Qc2 If 23 . . . fxg6 24.Nxg6+ hxg6 25 .Rh3 mate. Black can last a few moves by giving up his queen for two knights-23 . . . gxf6 24.Qxf6+ Ng7 25.Rg3 Rg8 26.Nxf7+ Qxf7 27.Qxf7. The text evokes a beautiful point.

24.Rh3! Resigns Again if 24 . . . Qxg6 (on 24 . . . Ng5 25.Qxg5 resumes the threat of Qg6) 25.Nxg6+ fxg6 26.Rxh7 mate.

20 Pachman-Uhlmann

Havana Olympics, 1 966 Gruenfeld Defense

Larry Evans 61

�!mann is a specialist in this defense, and Pachman is one of the world's leading opening theoreticians. Their clash gives off uncommon sparks, notably after White bravely sacrifices the exchange.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5

The sharpest way to proceed against this sturdy defense. The alternatives are not known to give White any advantage.

4... Nxd5 5.e4 6.bxc3

Nxc3 Bg7

At one time this was branded an error. Reuben Fine said that Black had to play 6 . . . c5 first, so as to prevent the reply 7.Ba3. This reflected the advanced state of theory in 1940.

7.Bc4 Against Korchnoi at Buenos Aires 1960, I implemented the aforementioned "wisdom" and ended up fighting for a draw after 7.Ba3 (never again!) Nd7! 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qb3 0-0 10.Bd3 Qc7 1 1 .0-0 Rb8, etc.

Also toothless is Fine's other recommendation 7.f4 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Kf2 0-0 10.Qb3 cxd4 l l .cxd4 Nd7 and if now 12.h3? Nc5!.

7... 0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6

More usual is 8 . . . c5. The idea of the text is to defer this blow at the center until Black has completed his development with . . . b6, . . . Bb7, . . . Na5; etc. , so that he will then be able to maintain his pawn on c5 instead of being compelled to exchange it for the d-pawn.

9.0-0 b6 10.Be3 Bb7 ll.Rcl e6


12.Bd3 Qd7 13.Qd2 Na5 14.c4 f5

This disadvantage of Black's setup now becomes apparent; he has great difficulty getting in the thematic . . . c5-so he assails the center from another direction.

15.f3 Nc6 16.Bbl Na5 17.Rfdl Qa4

Black is bankrupt of ideas and decides to play for a draw. A reasonable alternative is 17 . . . Ba6.

18.Nc3 He should try 18.Nf4 immediately since the same position is reached on move 20 anyway.

18. . . Qd7 Kmoch recommends 18 . . . Qxc4 19.Nd5 (if 19.Ne2 Qa4 20.Rxc7 Nc4 2l .Bc2 Qxa2 22.Nc3 Qa6 holds) exd5 20.Rxc4 Nxc4 2l .Qe2 Nxe3 22.Qxe3 dxe4 23.fxe4 fxe4 24.Bxe4 Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Rae8 with little chance for White to make headway despite his small material edge.

19.Ne2 Qa4 20.Nf4

Spurning the proffered repetition. Usually Pachman is more agreeable.

20. . . Nxc4? It is always interesting to observe a player's reaction when his offer of a draw is refused. After 20 . . . Rfe8 the game could go either way. The text gives White a chance to speculate-at least it looked like speculation at the time.

21.Rxc4! Qxc4 22.Rcl Qa4 23.Nxe6 Rf7

To return material with 23 . . . fxe4 was to be considered.

24.Nxg7 Kxg7

Lany Evans 63

24 . . . Rxg7 loses more slowly after 25.exf5 gxf5 26.Bxf5 Bxf3 27.Be6+ Kh8 28.Bg5! Rf8 29.Rfl ! .

25.exf5 26.Bf4 27.Be5+ 28.Qf4 29.g4 30.gxf5+ 31.Qg3+

If 31 . . .Kh7 32.Bxf5+ Rxf5 33.Qg7 mate.

gxf5 h6 Kg6 Bc8 h5 Bxf5 Resigns

Y. Geller-Smyslov 1 st Match Game, 1 965

Gruenfeld Defense

� way Smyslov is dispatched may have demoralized him at the outset; he lost the match 51/z -21/z . Geller makes it all look so easy, winding up with a neat queen sacrifice.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6

3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6

The main alternative is 9 . . . cxd4 10.cxd4 Nc6 l l .Be3 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 Cl3.Bxf7+ wins a pawn, but is frowned upon because Black gets strong counterplay) Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6; this sacrifice of the exchange was introduced by Bronstein, and it has never been completely solved.

10.Be3 Qc7 Indirectly menacing the c4-bishop and freeing d8 for the rook to attack White's d-pawn.

Another popular variation is 10 . . . Na5 l l .Bd3 b6 1 2.Rc1! (weaker is 12 .dxc5 bxc5 13.Bxc5 Qc7) Bb7 13.d5 c4 14.Bc2 Qd7 15.Nd4 with the freer game (Portisch-Uhlmann Zagreb 1965).

ll.Rcl Rd8 12.f4

Spassky-Fischer, Piatigorsky Cup 1966, continued: 12.Qe1 e6 l3.f4 Na5 14.Bd3 f5 15.Rdl b6 16.Qf2 cxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.cxd4 Bb7 19.Ng3 and now with 19 . . . Qg7! (instead of . . . Qf7 20.d5!) Black could have obtained the better chances.

12. . . e6 After 12 . . . Na5 13.Bd3 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15 .Bxf5 gxf5 16.Ng3 Black's kingside is exposed (Ivkov-Jimenez Havana 1965).

The crucial line is 12 . . . Bg4 13.f5 gxf5 14.Bxf7+! Kh8! (unclear is 14 . . . Kxt7 15 .Qb3+ e6 16.Nf4 Qd7 17.exf5 Na5! Spassky-Shiskin USSR Championship preliminaries 1959) 15.exf5 cxd4 16.cxd4 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Bxd4 and shortly drawn (Shiskin-Bondarevsky USSR Championship preliminaries 1960).

13.Khl b6

Larry Evans 65

In retrospect Black's troubles may be traced to this lackluster response. Safer is 13 . . . Na5 14.Bd3 f5. White now seizes the opportunity to prevent this defense.

14.f5! Na5? Inconsistent. Black has two other options which must be examined with great care:

A . 1 4 . . . exf5 1 5 . Bg5 Rf8 16.Ng3 fxe4 17.Nxe4 with good attacking chances.

B. 14 . . . Ne5! 15.Bf4 Qe7 16.Bb3 Ba6 with promising counterplay.

15.Bd3 exf5 16.exf5 Bb7 17.Qd2 ReS 18.Ng3 Qc6 19.Rf2 Rad8

Black's game does not look bad, but he lost several tempi regrouping his forces; White has achieved steady development without wasting any moves. Simagin gives 19 . . . Rxe3!? 20. Qxe3 cxd4 2 l . cxd4 Bxd4 22.Qd2 Qxcl+ 23.Qxc1 Bxf2 24.Qh6 Bd4 (if 24 . . . Bc5 25.Nh5! gxh5 26.f6) 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Qxg6+ Kh8 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Qg4+ Kh7 30.Qxd4 and wins.

20.Bh6 Bh8 21.Qf4 Rd7 22.Ne4 c4

On 22 . . . Qc7 (22 . . . Rxe4? 23.Bxe4 Qxe4 24.Qb8+) 23.Re1 ! Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Rxe4 25.Qxe4 maintains the grip. But the text releases the tension in the center, upon which Black's counterplay is based.

23.Bc2 Rde7 24.Rcfl! Rxe4

25.fxg61

' '' ' ,,, , ,, .,., c .lwss IJrilliancies

This z tl 'lscbenzug is deadly. It cannot be met by 25 . . . Rxf4 because of lCl .HXIl7 mate! But after 25.Bxe4? Rxe4, Black could muster up saving resources.

25... f6 26.Qg5!

Again the queen could not be captured, this time because Rf8 mates.

26. . . Qd7 27.Kgl

Equally good is 27.gxh7+ Kxh7 28.Qh5. The text also wins.

27. .. Bg7 28.Rxf6! Rg4

Or 28 . . . Bxf6 29.Qxf6 hxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kh8 31 .Bg5 R4e6 32.Bf6+ Rxf6 33.Rxf6 wins-apparently the point of White's moving his king back to gl (preventing mate on the first rank).

29.gxh7+ 30.Bxg7+ 31.Qxg4

On 3l . . .Qxg4 32.Rf8+ forces mate.

Kh8 Qxg7 Resigns

22 Reshevsky-Seidman

U . S . Championship, 1 968 Gruenfeld Defense

f¥:cing stout resistance, White transports a minimal advantage into the endgame. He sacrifices a knight for two pawns in a startling setting, demonstrating once more the full fury of the two bishops.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.Rcl

This system was popularized by the gifted Hungarian grandmaster Lajos Portisch. It is quiet and positional, yielding White a shaded advantage at best. Petrosian also betrays a fondness for it.

More vigorous than 6 . . . c6.

6.. . c5

7.dxc5 Be6 8.e3 Qa5 9.Nd4 Nc6

10.Nxe6

Larry Evans 67

If 10.Nb3 Qd8 1 l . Nd4!? (better is 1 l . cxd5) Nxd4 1 2.exd4 dxc4 13.Be5 b6 14.Nb5 Ne8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7= (Panno-Benko, Hollywood 1963).

10. . . fxe6 ll.Qa4 Qxc5 12.Qb5 Qxb5 13.cxb5 NbS

More forceful is 13 . . . Na5 as in Portisch-Evans, Havana 1964. Portisch told me later that he had been unable to find an essential improvement after 14.Be2 Rac8 15.0-0 Nc4 16.b3 Nd2 17.Rfd1 Nde4 18.Na4 g5 19.Bc7 Ne8 20.Ba5 Rxcl 2l .Rxcl Rxf2 22.Bg4 Rxa2 23.Bxe6+ Kf8 24.Bxd5 N8d6 with rough equality.

14.Bd3 Nbd7 15.Ke2 e5 t6.Bg3 e4 17.Bbl Rac8 18.Na4 Ng4 19.Rhdl e6 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.f3

Unproductive is 21 .h3 (2l .Bxe4? Rc4 wins a piece) Nh6, followed by either . . . Nf5 or . . . Be5 with a comfortable position.

21. . . exf3+ 22.gxf3 Nge5 23.e4 dxe4 24.Bxe4 b6 25.Rd6

The tempting 25.f4 Nf6 26.Bb7 Rc2+ 27.Rd2 Rxd2+ 28.Kxd2 Ned7 produces only even chances.

25... Nf8 Reshevsky gives 25 . . . Kf7 26.f4 Rc4 (if 26 . . . Nf6 27.Bb7 Rc2+ 28.Kd1 wins) 27.Nc3 Nf6 28.Bc2 Ned7 29.Bb3 Rb4 30.f5! gxf5 3l .Bxe6+ Ke7 32.Bxf5 Rxb2+ 33.Kf3 Nc5 34.Rc6 "with a strategically won position. " Black can still offer some resistance with 34 . . . Nh5 35.Rc7+ Ke8.

26.b3 g5?

Judging from a casual inspection, Black's worries are over. White's reply now is so startling that Seidman can almost be forgiven for having overlooked it.

27.Nxb61 A bolt from the blue. While the game was in progress it was not clear that this sacrifice was entirely sound. Later analysis, however, revealed it to be so.

27. . . axb6 28.Rxb6 h5 29.Ra6

Reshevsky suggests 29.a4 as stronger.

29. . . h4 30.Bf2 Neg6 31.Ra8?

Again stronger was 31 .Rc6, cutting off Black's rook.

31... Rxa8? A much better try is 31 . . . Nf4+ 32.Kd2 Rxa8 33.Bxa8 Nh3 34.Ba7 Be5 35.Ke2 Bxh2 36.Kfl and White's pawns would have prevailed, but not without a struggle-Reshevsky.

32.Bxa8 Be5 33.Bgl Nf4+ 34.Kfl Nd7 35.a4 Bc7 36.Bc6 NbS 37.Be4 Nd5 38.Bxd5! exd5 39.b4!

The winning move. Insufficient is 38.b6 Bd6 40.a5 Kf7 41 .b7 Ke6 42. Ba7

Larry Evans 69

Kd7 43.b4 Kc6. It is imperative to advance the a-pawn, and in order to effect this advance White's b-pawn has to be at b4-Reshevsky.

39 . . . Kf7 40.a5 Nd7 4t.b6 Bd8 42.b7 NbS 43.Ba7 Bc7 44.b5 Nd7 45.a6 Bxh2 46.b8=Q Resigns

23 R. Byrne-Fischer

U. S. Championship, 1 964 Gruenfeld Defense

(' �er White's 1 1th move I should adjudicate his position as slightly superior, and at worst completely safe. To turn this into a mating position in 1 1 more moves is more witchcraft than chess" (K.F. Kirby editor of the South African Chess Quarterly).

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2

Byrne-Fischer, U.S. Championship 1963 continued 4.d5 b5 5.dxc6 bxc4 6.cxd7+ Nbxd7 7.Bg2 Rb8 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0=.

4... d5

'I 1 Mudern Chess Brilliancies

5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.e3

Or 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Ne5 Bf5 9.0-0 Ne4 10.Qb3 Nc6 l l .Qxd5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Qxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 with a draw shortly (Benko-Fischer, U.S. Championship 1963).

7 . . . 0-0 8.Nge2 Nc6 9.0-0 b6

10.b3 Ba6 ll.Ba3 ReS 12.Qd2 e5!

Apparently risky, because it weakens the d-pawn, but the only way to introduce a dynamic imbalance. After the "natural" 1 2 . . . e6 a draw would be the most likely result of the symmetrical formation.

13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Rfdl?

Strangely enough, this automatic developing move leads to difficulties. Fischer gives 14.Rad1 Qc8! 15 .Bb2 (not 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Rd8 17.f4 Rxd5! 18.Qxd5 Bb7!) Qf5 and Black keeps a slight initiative.

14. . . Nd3! 15.Qc2

There is hardly any other defense to . . . Ne4. If 15 .Nf4 Ne4! 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rab1 Rc8 18.Nxd3 Bc3! 19.Qe2 Bxd3 20.Qg4 f5 21 .Qh3 Bxb1 22.Rxd8 Rexd8 23.Bfl Rd1 24.Kg2 Bd3! 25.Bxd3 exd3 wins-Fischer.

15... Nxf2! 16.Kxf2 Ng4+ 17.Kg1 Nxe3 18.Qd2

White is expecting 18 . . . Nxd1 19.Rxd1 with advantage.

Lany Evans 71

18 . . . Nxg2! "This dazzling move came as the shocker. It is obvious now that Black is going all out for a mating attack, but what is almost uncanny is that, with all his pieces so well developed, White should be so utterly helpless against it"-R. Byrne.

19.Kxg2 20.Nxd4 21.Kfl

Resigns

d4! Bb7+ Qd7!

"The culminating combination is of such depth that, at the very moment at which I resigned, both grandmasters who were commenting on the play for the spectators in a separate room believed that I had a won game"Byrne.

It is a pity White did not continue 22.Qf2 Qh3+ 23.Kgl Rel +! 24.Rxel Bxd4 and mate follows at his g2. Also hopeless is 22.Nbd5 Qh3+ 23.Kgl Bh6 followed by . . . Be3.

"The Byrne game was quite fabulous, and I cannot call to mind anything to parallel it. . . . Quite honestly, I do not see the man who can stop Bobby at this time," Mr. Kirby concluded.

Fischer termed White's resignation a "bitter disappointment. " He was expressing the natural desire to have his beautiful combination lodged in the text rather than in the notes; that way the final position would require no explanations.

.! Modern Chess Brilliancies

24 Spassky-Bronstein

USSR Championship, 1 960 King's Gambit

�te's offer of a rook is simply stunning and so is the follow-up, a throwback to the last century. Fischer was ecstatic about this game-possibly it influenced him in naming Spassky one of the ten greatest players of all time.

l.e4 2.f4

eS

This opening alone is cause for surprise in modern tournaments. Ironically, Bronstein himself was the one who revived it in the late forties.

2.. . exf4 3.Nf3 dS

The famous encounter Spassky-Fischer, Mar Del Plata 1960 continued 3 . . . g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.d4 d6 7.Nd3 Nxe4 8.Bxf4 Bg7 and Black, with an extra pawn, has every reason to be content-although in this contest he eventually blundered and lost.

Spassky-Kholmov, U.S.S.R Championship playoff 1963 went 3 . . . Be7 4.Nc3 Nf6 (4 . . . Bh4+ 5.Ke2 has features of an old Steinitz gambit) 5.e5 Ng4 6.d4 Ne3 7.Bxe3 fxe3 8.Bc4 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qd3 regaining the pawn with freer development.

4.exdS Bd6 4 . . . Nf6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 Nxc6 was Hartston-Spassky Hastings 1965-66.

S.Nc3 Ne7 With the possibility of retaining the gambit pawn by . . . Ng6. If 5 . . . Nf6 White best proceeds with 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Qxe7+ Kxe7 9.Bc4 with an edge. This modern way of treating the King's Gambit would have created an uproar last century, because how can you attack without Queens?

6.d4 0-0 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.0-0 h6

Spassky recommends 8 . . . Nf6 9.Ne5 Nexd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 1 1 .Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Qf6 "with not bad play for Black." Also possible is 8 . . . Ng6 9.Ne4 Nf6

10.Nxd6 Qxd6 l l .c4 Bg4.

9.Ne4! Nxd5 10.c4 Ne3 ll.Bxe3 fxe3 12.c5 Be7

Larry Evans 73

If 12 . . . Bf4 13.g3 Bg5 (or 13 . . . f5 14.Nc3 Bg5 15.h4 Be7 16.Nd5 with a strong attack) 14.Nfxg5 hxg5 1 5.Qh5 with a winning attack.

13.Bc2 ReS The position is difficult to assess after 1 3 . . . Nf6 14.Qd3 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 g6 16.Qxe3 Kg7

14.Qd3 e2 15.Nd6!?

A Rubinstein or a Capablanca would have played 1 5.Rf2 and the game would run a normal course after 1 5 . . . Nf8.

Spassky gambled everything on one trap. He admits that he was carried away with the concept, but Bronstein had left himself with only twenty minutes for the next 26 moves.

15 . . . Nf8 Correct is 15 . . . exf1=Q+ 16.Rxf1 Bxd6 17.Qh7+ Kf8 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.Qh8+ Ke7 20.Re1+ Ne5 2l.Qxg7 Rg8 22.Qxh6 Qb6 23.Kh1 Be6 24.dxe5 d5 25.Qf6+ Kd7 after which the king reaches safety with a probable draw in sight.

16.Nxf7! exfl=Q+ 17.Rxfl Bf5

Not 17 . . . Kxf7? 18.Ne5+ Kg8 19.Qh7+ Nxh7 20.Bb3+ and mates. The only defense is 17 . . . Qd5 18.Bb3 Qxb3 (if 18 . . . Qxf7 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qc4+ Kg6 2 l .Qg8! Bf6 22.Nh4+ Bxh4 23.Qf7+ Kh7 24.Qxe8 with the Black pieces badly congested) 19.Qxb3 (if 19.axb3 Kxf7 is safe) Be6 20.Nxh6+ gxh6 2l .Qe3 White keeps the initiative, but the outcome of the game is in doubt.

18.Qxf5 Qd7


If 21 . . . Ne6 22.Qg4.

19.Qf4 20.N3e5 21.Bb3

Bf6 Qe7 Bxe5

22.Nxe5+ Kh7 23.Qe4+ Resigns

On 23 . . . Kh8 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25 .Ng6+ is decisive.

25 Bronstein-Tal

Riga, 1 968 King's Gambit

8.citement in the tournament hall-Bronstein is playing the King's Gambit! But he must be mad to risk it against Tal, the greatest living combinative genius in the world!

l.e4 e5 2.f4

The success of Fischer and Spassky with this swashbuckling gambit speaks for reviving little known opening variations, particularly against opponents who can be thrown off balance by sharp tactics. Wildness may be wisdom.

2... d5 The gambit seems to have a magical effect on the second player, who employs the sound Falkbeer Counter Gambit instead of aiming for outright refutation with 2 . . . exf4. Fischer-Wade, Vinkovci 1968 continued: 2 . . . Nf6 3.fxe5 Nxe4 4.Nf3 Ng5 5.d4 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Qh4+ 7.Qf2 Qxf2+ 8.Kxf2. Black lost an ending he should have held, bearing out the judgment I pronounced in Modern Chess Openings (lOth ed.) : "Today it is played with a view to obtaining a positional advantage, even if it means an early exchange of Queens, and the question of whether this is an opening of the future or of the past still remains. "

3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4

This is one of the oldest and best continuations. The reader will find both 5.Qe2 and 5.Nd2 rather thoroughly analyzed in the opening manuals.

5.. . Nxe4

6.Nf3 Bc5

Larry Evans 75

Several books still quote a musty Tartakower analysis giving 6 . . . Bb4+? 7.c3 Bc5 overlooking 8.Qa4+! which wins a piece!

7.Qe2 Bf5 Best. The text move was introduced by Dr. Tarrasch against Spielmann at Mahrisch-Ostrau 1923. The idea is that after 8.g4? 0-0 9.gxf5 Re8 gives Black a strong attack for the sacrificed piece.

The alternatives 7 . . . f5 8.Be3 or 7 . . . Qxd5 8.Nfd2!, or 7 . . . Bf2+; 8.Kdl Qxd5+ ; 9.Nfd2! all confer an advantage on White.

8.Nc3 Qe7 9.Be3

9 . . . Nxc3? Keres writes: "The books do not approve, and since Tal, as we see, has no improvement in mind, we may repeat the question mark which theory gives this move. Here we see the advantages for the player who chooses opening variations which are not popular at the moment. In our time, almost every master makes a thorough study of opening schemes that are popular and often used in modern tournaments. These variations are often prolonged deep into the middle game, with almost every possibility already analyzed at home. This way players have little to create over the board, they just repeat home analysis. Now if such a theory-oriented player encounters new situations in the over-the-board games, he often does not find the right line, because he is not accustomed to making decisions in unfamiliar positions. He is often willing to accept a quiet line, a 'not-tolose' technique, in order to have time to study the situation at home for the next game. Thus we see that the importance of opening preparation in home analysis is often overestimated and the ability of the chess master to solve these problems at the chessboard is not adequately cultivated.

"I certainly do not want to place Tal in this company of players who cannot find the right way in comparatively unknown positions. But the

1 , Mutlem Chess Brilliancies

lact is that even a Tal can be misled. . . . It would be a pity if, in modern tournaments, the game of chess actually began with the middle game!''

Best for Black is now considered to be 9 . . . Bxe3 10.Qxe3 Nxc3 l l .Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.bxc3 Bxc2 (or 12 . . . Be4).

10.Bxc5 ll.Bxe7 12.Ba3

Nxe2 Nxf4

Also good is 12.Bg5 (or 12.d6) Nxd5 13.0-0-0.

12... Nd7? Also out of the question is 12 . . . Bxc2? 13.Rcl Nd3+ 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.Rxc7 etc.

Already the major work, Tartakower's Die Hypermoderne Schachpartie (1924) points out 1 2 . . . Nxd5 13.0-0-0 with White better, but after the recommended 13 . . . Be6 Black can return his extra pawn and complete his development in the process.

13.0-0-0 Be4 Keres on this, writes: "Here Tal suddenly got upset and thought about his reply for almost an hour. Only now has he noticed that the intended 13 . . . 0-0-0 loses a piece after 14.Rd4 followed by 15.g4-a surprising point! But if Black cannot castle, then his previous move makes no sense and he encounters great difficulties.

"There is no adequate defense against the many threats such as 14.Rd4, 14.Re1 +, 14.Nd4, etc. The text is an attempt to get away with a somewhat acceptable game. "

14.Ng5 "White had many strong continuations here, such as 14.Rd4 f5; and 14 . . . Bxf3 15.gxf3; and 14.Re1 f5 15.Ng5, etc. The text is not bad either, but it somehow complicates matters" (Keres).

14. . . Bxd5

Lany Evans 77

15.g31? "The most surprising move, typically Bronstein! Few players would have considered a move like this here, especially as White has a lot of other promising continuations. Very strong would have been simply 14.Rel+!! and only after 15 . . . Kd8 or 1 5 . . . Be6 may White continue with 15.g3!, etc.

"When I asked Bronstein after the game why he did not play simply 15.Re1 first, he looked at me as if I could not understand anything about the position and then said: 'I could not miss the opportunitY to play a move like 15.g3 against Tal, which I may never repeat in my whole life!'

"That's Bronstein. Now I am glad he played 15.g3, which leads to very interesting complications"-Keres.

15 . . . 16.gxf4

Bxh1 c5!

Now Tal begins to find some fine defensive moves. After 16 . . . 0-0-0 17.Bh3 Bc6 18.Nxf7 White would regain his material with a bind.

17.Bc4 Black gets some counterplay on 17.Rel+ Kf8 18.Bc4 Bc6 19.Nxf7 b5!.

17. . . Bc6 18.Nxf7

If 18.Bf7+ Ke7! 19.Re 1 + Kd6.

18 . . . b5! "This saves the Exchange as 19.Nxh8 bxc4 would leave White with a trapped knight on h8. Now we can see that the beautiful move 15.g3 did not make White's task any easier"-Keres.

19.Nd6+ Ke7 20.Nxb5

"White still has a nice game. With his two bishops, a good pawn for the Exchange and Black's exposed king, his chances are a little superior, but by no means should his possibilities be overestimated.

"But everybody knows how difficult it is to adapt to new circumstances when situations take a sudden change. Having obtained some chances to save a lost game Tal cannot find the right way to defend himself and again a lost position"-Keres.

20. .. Rh.f8? "He should have simplified the situation here by 20 . . . Bxb5! 2l .Bxb5 Rhd8 Although White would remain with two bishops and a pawn for rook and knight, Black's position would be by no means hopeless; and with careful defense he would have good chances to save the game" (Keres).

21.Nd4!

"Tal must have overlooked this strong reply. He cannot protect the bishop as 21 . . . Rf6 is met by 22.Nxc6+ Rxc6 23.Bd5 and 21 . . . Rac8 is met by 22.Nxc6+ Rxc6 23.Bb5 (or even 23.Re1 + ) . A nice mate would have followed 21 . . . Bb7 22.Re1 + Kd6 23.Nb5+ Kc6 24.Re6+ mate"-Keres.

21... Bg2 22.Ne6 Rf5

On 22 . . . Rf6 23.Nxc5 is enough for a winning advantage.

23.Rgl "Both players have already used a lot of time for the complicated first part of the game and are now forced to play almost move on move. This explains the inaccuracies of the second part. Very strong here was 23.b4! as the pawn could not be captured and White would have won a pawn with continuing pressure"-Keres.

23. . . Be4 24.Nc7

"It is good tactics in time trouble to make moves the opponent does not expect. But here 24.Rxg7+ Kd6 25.Rxd7+ Kxd7 26.Nxc5+ RxcS 27.Bxc5 gave a rather simple win. Of course, the text is not bad either"-Keres.

24. . . Rd8 25.Rxg7+ Kf6

"Better was 25 . . . Kd6 26.Nb5+ Kc6 27.Nxa7+ Kb6 28.Be6 Rxf4! with complications. But White can play, of course, 26.Ne6 Re8 27.Nd4 Rxf4 28.Nb5+ etc . , winning the a-pawn under advantageous circumstances. After the text, White could still have taken a Pawn without risk by 26.Rxh7, but-the time. "-Keres.

26.Rf7+ Kg6 27.Re7 Nf6 28.Ne6 ReS

"On 28 . . . ReS the maneuver 29. Rg7+ Kh6 30.Rg1 threatening 31 .Ng7 or

Lany Evans 79

31 .Bxc5 or 31 .Nxc5 is very annoying. Now White takes time to activate his queen bishop"-Keres.

29.b3 RhS 30.NgS BdS

"Black is lost of course. It makes no sense to criticize both sides for their play in time trouble, here anything can happen! "-Keres.

31.Bd3+ Kh6 32.Bb2 c4 33.BfS c3 34.Bxc8 cxb2+ 3S.Kxb2 Rxh2 36.Rxa7 Rf2

"That must have been something for the spectators! Black simply does not have the time to resign"-Keres.

37.Ra4 38.Rd4 39.a4 40.aS

Kg6 hS h4 Bg2

"Who comes first? It seems to me that modern masters and grandmasters do not use their time in the best way. What good is it to have a fine first part of the game, when often the second part is spoiled by 'lightning chess' by time trouble? I think it would be better to have a less deeply played first part, in order to have the time to play the second part in at least an acceptable manner"-Keres.

I wonder whether a solution to the problem of compelling players to distribute their time more equitably would be to have two time controls (after each 20 moves) instead of only one control at the end of the customary move 40. There can be no doubt that this innovation would revolutionize master chess, which many authorities fear is in danger of being played out. If such a reform were instituted, would it merely encourage players to memorize the openings even more deeply? Would time-pressure play an even greater role, thereby enhancing the human element (which I believe is desirable)? Hopefully, the experiment would produce a brisker pace in opening play, accentuating the now neglected middle game and ending.

4t.a6 NhS 42.Bb7 Nxf4

"They do not even notice that it is already the 42nd move"-Keres,

43.Rxf4 Resigns "A game with points to win new friends for our game of chess"-Keres.

11 1 1 Mutlc•n1 c'hess Brilliancies

26 Letelier-Fischer

Leipzig Olympics, 1 960 King's I ndian Defense

�te overextends his center in his hunt for material and neglects to safeguard his rear. His hapless monarch, unable to castle, is soon forced to abdicate.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 0-0 5.e5

White should resist this invitation and continue his development serenely with 5.Nf3 or 5.f3.

5 . . . 6.f4 7.Be3

Ne8 d6

7.Nf3 dxe5 8.dxe5 leads to a better foothold in the center.

7... c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.cxd6

Overly aggressive. Safer is 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Be2

9... exd6 10.Ne4

A further violation of principle by moving a developed man twice. More realistic is 10.Nf3.

10 . . . Bf5 Naturally Black pursues rapid development at any price.

ll.Ng3? The only chance lay in the consistent l l .Nxd6 Nxd6 12.Qxd6 Qxd6 13.exd6 Bxb2 14.Rdl Nb4! 15 .Kf2 Nxa2 16.Ne2 aS-Fischer. White could still offer resistance in this endgame.

11... Be6 12.Nf3

Larry Evans 81

Now White would gladly disgorge his pawn in order to consolidate.

12... Qc7 Also good is 1 2 . . . dxe5 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Bc5 exf4. But Black justifiably seeks more out of the middle game.

13.Qb1 One contortion leads to another.

On 13.Qc2 (or 13.Be2 dxe5 14.Bc5 Qa5+ 15.b4 Nxb4 16.Bxf8 Kxf8! 17.0-0 exf4 18.Ne4 Bf5) dxe5 14.f5 gxf5 15.Nxf5 Nb4 16.Qb3 Bxf5 17.Qxb4 Nf6 18.Qc5 Qb8 (threatening . . . Ng4--Fischer).

13. . . d.xe5 14.f5 e4!

Black opens lines for a quick kill.

15.fxe6 No better is 15.Qxe4 gxf5 16.Nxf5? Qa5+ winning a piece.

15... exf3 16.gxf3 f5

The pawn on e6 can be ignored in favor of the attack.

17.f4 Nf6 18.Be2 Rfe8 19.Kf2 Rxe6

Black has regained the pawn with an overwhelming position. The finish is elegant.

20.Re1 21.Bf3 22.Rxe3 23.Kxe3

Rae8 Rxe3! Rxe3 Qxf4+!

A likely continuation is 24.Kf2 (or 24.Kxf4 Bh6+ mate) Ng4+ 25.Kg2 Ne3+ 26.Kf2 Nd4 27.Qh1 Ng4+ 28.Kf1 Nxf3 etc.

The moral: Abstain from complications before having completed your development. Get your King out of the center!

2 7 Gligoric-Fischer

Bled, 1 961 King's Indian Defense

£ draw has the charm of perfection. The timing and ingenuity displayed by both players produce a harmonious flow of movement, remarkable in its aesthetic appeal.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5

Larsen-Fischer, Monaco 1967, continued 8.Be3 ReS! 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8 Nxd8 (right is 10 . . . Rxd8! l l .Bg5 Rf8!) 1 1 .Nb5 Ne6 12.Ng5 Re7 13.Rfe1 b6=.

8... Ne7 9.Nel Nd7

10.Nd3

Larry Evans 83

The older 10.f3 f5 1 1 .Be3 f4 1 2.Bf2 g5 gives Black a strong attack.

10. . . f5 ll.exf5

The best line against Larsen's 1 1 .Bd2 is c5! 12.f3 f4! .

11... Nxf5 More viable is 1 1 . . . gxf5 12.f4 Ng6. After the text Black's grip on d4 compensates for White's control of e4.

12.f3 Nf6 The alternative is 12 . . . Nd4.

13.Nf2 Nd4 14.Nfe4 Nh5 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.g3 h6

Inferior is 16 . . . c5? 17.Nb5! Nxb5 18.cxb5 with a bind (Tal-Gligoric, Bled 1961).

17.Be3 c5! Launching an intricate pawn sacrifice. After 17 . . . Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 g5 19.c5 White would have a comfortable space advantage.

Not 19 . . . Be5? 20.f4, etc.

18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Nb5 a6

20.Nbxd6

Apparently Black has lost a pawn without any return.

20. . . d3! And now he gives up a second pawn to open the diagonal for his g7 bishop. A fine concept.

21.Qxd3 21.Bxd3 Bd4+ 22.Kh1 Nxg3+ 23.Nxg3 Qxd6 24.Qc2 Bh3 affords Black

H·l Modern Chess Brilliancies

adequate counterplay.

21 . . . Bd4+ 22.Kg2

After 22.Khl Nxg3+ 23.Nxg3 Qxd6 White retains his extra pawn, but his weak squares would provide Black with even chances. Another possibility is 22.Rf2!? to try for an advantage.

22... Nxg3!

Black had to visualize this resource and determine its absolute soundness when he embarked on his combination on move 17.

23.Nxc8 Unclear is 23.Nxg3 (not 23.hxg3?? Qh3 mate) Qxd6 24.Rabl where White's extra pawn is offset by his weakened king-side.

Gligoric takes a cleaner course, virtually assuring a draw.

23. . . Nxfl 24.Nb6 Qc7

Blow for blow. Black now threatens mate in two.

2S.Rxfl Qxb6 26.b4!

Now it is White, behind in material, who finds the saving clause.

26.. . Qxb4 Too precarious is 26 . . . cxb4 27.c5! Bxc5 28.Nxc5 Qxc5 29.Qxg6+ and wins.

27.Rbl QaS 28.NxcS

Black comes out on top after 28.Rxb7 Rf7. 28. .. QxcS 29.Qxg6+ Bg7 30.Rxb7 Qd4 31.Bd3 Rf4

32.Qe6+ 33.Qg6

Kh8 Draw

Neither side dares disturb the surface tension.

28

Larry Evans 85

Pomar-Szabo Beverwijk, 1 967

King's Indian Defense

� important theoretical contest overturned the evaluation that the variation is in White's favor. Black is not given the opportunity to score a flashy point, but it hardly detracts from the muted charm of his perfor-mance.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 S.Be2 0-0 6.f4

The pendulum has swung. Once considered the scourge of the King's Indian, the Four pawns Attack has now been shorn of its terror.

6. . . cS 7.dS e6 8.Nf3 exdS 9.cxdS

The insipid 9.exd5 is drawish.

9 . . . ReS Keres-Spassky, lOth Match Game 1965, went 9 . . . b5 10.e5 dxe5 l l .fxe5 Ng4 12 .Bf4! Nd7 13.e6 with dangerous threats.

10.Nd2 For the spicy 10.e5!? see Game 30.

10. . . a6 10 . . . c4 l l . Bf3 (better is l l .a4) Nbd7 1 2.0-0 b5 is Pomar-Fischer, Havana Olympiad 1966.

ll.a4 12.Bxg4

Ng4 Qh4+

, , ·"""''"' 1'/lr •.1.1 /lr/11/t.mcies

13.g3 Qxg4 14.Qxg4

I I I I L'resting is 14.0-0 Bd4+! 15.Kh 1 Qh3! 16.Nf3 Bg4 17.Qd3 Nd7! 18.Bd2 l lxf3+! 19.Qxf3 fS 20.exf5 gxfS 21 .Rfe1 Nf6 and White's d5-pawn is a source 1 >f infection (Kerr-Evans, Washington 1969).

14. . . Bxg4 15.Kf2 Bd4+

Better than 15 . . . f5 16.h3 fxe4 17.Nc4! Bf3 18.Re1 Bf8 19.Nb6 Ra7 20.a5 Nc6!? (White gets a bind after 20 . . . Bg7 21 .Nca4 Rd8 22.Be3 Nd7 23.Rabl) 2 1 . dxc6 bxc6 22.Nc4 Rb7 with insufficient compensation for the piece (Zaitsev-Priyodovsky, U.S.S.R 1965).

16.Kg2 17.h3 18.bxc3 19.Re1 20.Re3 21.Ba3

Nd7 Bxc3 Be2 Bd3 c4

A critical position, important for the judgment of the whole variation, and the subject of an article by Zaitsev in which he concluded that White's chances were favorable. The key move which he considered was 21 . . .fS 22.e5 Nb6 (22 . . . dxeS 23.fxe5 RxeS 24.Rxe5 NxeS 25 .Re1 Nf7 26.Be7! Re8 27.Kf2 is difficult for Black) 23.Bxd6 Nxd5 24.Rxd3! cxd3 25.c4 and all the winning chances are with Wpite after he fixes the queen-side with a5 and cS, then wins the d-pawn.

21... Nb6! It is questionable whether this is a prepared variation, even though it was well known that Pomar is fond of the White side. Such moves are usually found in the heat of battle.

22.Bxd6 Nxd5 23.Reel?

Larry Evans 87

White places too much reliance on his next move. The only interesting course is 23.Rxd3 cxd3 24.c4 (24.exd5? Re2+) 24 . . . Nc3 25.Kf3 b5! 26.cxb5 axb5 27 .aS with a stiff fight.

23. . . Nxc3 24.Be5 Rxe5! 25.fxe5 ReS 26.Ra3

There is no time for 26.Kf3 b5 27.Ra3 b4, etc.

26.. . Ne2 27.Kf2 c3 28.Nb3

Willy-nilly White should try his luck in the rook-and-pawn ending resulting from 28.Rxe2 Bxe2 29.Kxe2 c2! 30.Nb3 Rc3 3l .Ra2 (forced) 31 . . .Rxb3 32.Rxc2, although 32 . . . Rxg3 (or . . . Rb4) win. The actual game is even worse for White.

28 . . . 29.Ncl

c2

29.Rxe2 would transpose into the previous note.

29. . . Nxcl 30.Rxcl Bxe4 31.Ke3 Rc4 32.a5 h5 33.Kd2 Rc5

Picking up a third pawn for the exchange, after which White might as well surrender.

34.Rel Rxe5 35.Kcl f5 36.Rb3 Rxa5 37.Rxe4 fxe4 38.Rxb7 Ra3 39.g4 h4 40.Rb6 Kf7 41.Kxc2 Rxh3 42.g5 Rg3

� Resigns A good illustration of the "creative evolution," which makes up the judgment of a variation. The middle game and ending flowed harmoniously from the opening. Theory now decrees that White should abstain from this unless he has an improvement-the burden of proof has alternated.

1 1 . I I• "It 'I'll (:bess Brilliancies

29 Kavalek-Matulovic

Bucharest, 1 966 King's Indian Defense

�ack's aggressive formation boomerangs when he runs into a surprising rook sacrifice. What is remarkable is that his position appears perfectly safe one move earlier.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 d6 4.Nc3 g6 5.e4 Bg7 6.f4 0-0 7.Bd3 e6 S.dxe6

The game has transposed into the Four Pawns Attack, and the text is an improvement on 8.Nf3 exd5 9.cxd5 Qb6

8.. . fxe6 An alternative is 8 . . . Bxe6 9.f5 Bd7 10.Nf3 gxf5 l l .exf5 Re8+ 12.Ne2 Bc6 13.0-0 Nbd7 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 Qb6=.

9.Nge2 Nc6 10.0-0 Nd4 ll.Ng3 NeS

More consistent is 1 1 . . . a6, striving for rapid expansion with . . . b5.

12.Be3 Qh4!? Risky. Again 12 . . . Nc7 followed by . . . a6 is thematic.

13.f5!? exf5 14.Qd2! f4

Less clear is 14 . . .fxe4 15.Bg5 Qg4 16.Bxe4. White's initiative compensates for his pawn, but Black has numerous resources.

15.Bxf4 Ne6 16.Be3 Rxfl+ 17.Rxfl Bd7?

Correct is 17 . . . Nf6 immediately, threatening . . . Ng4.

18.Nd5 Nf6

Larry Evans 89

Overlooking White's combination, but the position is already difficult. If 18 . . . Bc6 19.Qf2 is hard to meet.

19.Rxf6! Bxf6 20.Nf5! gxf5 21.g3! Bc3

Forced. On 21 . . . Qh3? 22.Nxf6+ Kf7 23.Bfl! wins the queen.

22.bxc3 Qd8 Black has averted immediate disaster, but his exposed king is now the target.

23.exf5 No better is 23 . . . Nf8 24.Bg5 Qa5 25.Bf6.

24.Bg5 25.Nf6+ 26.Nxd7 27.Nf6 28.Nxh5 29.Bf6+ 30.Be4 31.Qxd6 32.Bd5+

Ng7

Qf8 Kh8 Qf7 Nh5 Qxh5 Kg8 h6 ReS Resigns

')0 Modern Chess Brilliancies

30 Vladimirov-Doda

Leningrad, 1 96 7 King's I ndian Defense

�te's ultrasharp opening variation has all the tang of home cooking. Black quite properly nibbles at the dish, as befits a polite guest; his mistake is accepting a second helping.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 cS 3.dS g6

More forcing is 3 . . . e6 (or 3 . . . e5) which is characteristic of the Benoni Defense.

4.Nc3 d6 s.e4 Bg7 6.f4 0-0 7.Nf3 e6 8.Be2 exdS 9.cxdS

An interesting gambit is 9.e5!? dxe5 10.fxe5 Ng4 l l . Bg5 Qa5 12.dxe6 Nxe5 13.0-0 (Nei-Westerinen, Helsinki 1966). Black should be able to defend successfully.

9 . . . ReS Earlier in my career I learned to avoid 9 . . . b5!? 10.Bxb5 Nxe4 1 l .Nxe4 Qa5+ 1 2.Kf2 Qxb5 13.Nxd6 where Black had to fight hard for a draw (Wood-Evans, Hastings 1949-50).

lO.eS!? Suggested by Keres, this involves a risky pawn sacrifice. It is questionable whether White can undertake such action before having castled; yet after 10.Nd2 Black obtains a satisfactory position without special difficulty.

10. . . dxeS Black rises to the occasion. Also playable perhaps is 10 . . . Nfd7 1 l . exd6 a6 12.a4 Nf6 13.0-0 Bg4 14.Ne5 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Qxd6 (Lehmann-Toran Munich 1954).

ll.fxe5

Larry Evans 91

1 l .Nxe5 Nbd7 merely hastens Black's development, but it does not seem to have been tested yet.

11.. . Ng4 12.Bg5

An attempt to improve on 12.e6!? (or 12 .Bf4 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.0-0) fxe6 13.0-0 exd5! with a sharp struggle and mutual chances.

12... Qb6 13.0-0 Nxe5

Averting the pitfall 13 . . . c4+? 14.Kh1 Nf2+ 15.Rxf2 Qxf2 16.Ne4 Qb6 17.Nd6 Rf8 18.Be7 Nd7 19.Nxc4-regaining material with a clear advantage.

14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Bc4 Qxb21?

A bold choice. Kupka-Zaitsev, Prague versus Moscow, 1968, continued 15 . . . Bf5 (not 15 . . . Qb4 16.Qf3 Bf5 17.g4! Qxc4 18.gxf5 f6 19.fxg6! hxg6 20.Bxf6 Rf8 2l .Qg2 Qd4+ 22.Kh1 Rxf6 23.Rxf6 Bxf6 24.Qxg6+ Bg7 25.Qe8+ Kh7 26.Rg1) 16.Nb5 (if 16.Bb5 Bd7 17.Qf3 f5) Nd7 17.a4 f6! 18.Bh6 Bd4+ 19.Kh1 a5 20.Rxf5 gxf5 2 l .Bd3 Be3 and Black is better.

16.d6 A logical extension of White's idea to utilize the open f-file. Black's problems are now more easily solved in analysis than over the board.

16.. . Bf5 Kholmov gives 16 . . . Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 (17 . . . Rxe6 18.Qf3 f5 19.Qd5 Kf7 20.Rab1!) 18.Qf3 Nc6 (18 . . . Nd7 19.Qf7+ Kh8 20.Qxd7 Qxc3 2l .Rad1 Rf8 22.Qxe6 Rxf1 + 23.Rxf1 Bd4+ 24.Kh1 Qd3 25.Bf6+ Bxf6 26.Qxf6+ Kg8 27.Qf7+ Kh8 28.d7 with an easy win) 19.Qf7+ Kh8 20.Bf6+ Bxf6 2l .Qxf6+ Kg8 22.Rab1 Qd2 23.Qf7+ Kh8 24.Rxb7 Qh6 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Ne4! with a winning attack.

17.Bxt7+1? First 17.Rxf5! seems more accurate, the point being that 17 . . . gxf5

'll Modern Chess Brilliancies

I H. Bxf7+! forces a transposition into the game without allowing Black the option pointed out in the next note. And if 17 . . . Qxc3 18.Bxf7+ Kg7 19.Rf3 Qd4+! (Not 19 . . . Qxa1 20.Qxa1 Bxa1 2l.Bxe8 Nc6 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.d7 wins.) 20.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 2l.Kf1 Rf8 22.Re1! Nc6! (not 22 . . . Rxf7 23.Rxf7+ Kxf7 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Re8+ Kf7 26.d7) 23.Bd5! with a dangerous initiative for the pawn.

17. . . Kxf7 lS.RxfS+! gxfS?

No better is 18 . . . Kg8 19.Qd5+ Kh8 20.Re1 Bd4+ 2l.Qxd4+!.

Kholmov opines that, after the text, "White's attack becomes irresistible. The quiet retreat 18 . . . Kg7 places before White a hardly solvable problem: his rook is left hanging in the air, as is the entire queen-side. " But complications still arise from 19.d7 (Not 19.Rf3 Bxc3 20.Rb1 Qxb1! 2l .Qxb1 Rel+) Nxd7 20.Qxd7+ Kh8 2l .Rxe5 Qxal+ 22.Qd1 (Not 22.Kf2? Rf8+ and . . . Qxc3 next) Qxd1 + 23.Nxd1 Rxe5 24.Bf6+ Kg8 25.BxeS Re8 and Black's rook and two pawns probably must triumph over the two minor pieces.

19.QhS+ Kf8

Kholmov gives 19 . . . Kg7? 20.Bh6+ Kf6 2 l .Rf1 Bd4+ (or 21 . . . Qc2 22.Nd5+! Ke6 23.Qxe8+ Kxd5 24.d7! Nxd7 25.Qxd7+ Kc4 26.Rcl) 22.Kh1 Re5 23.Qg5+ Kf7 24.Qg7+ Ke8 25.Nd5! Nd7 26.Qg8+ Nf8 27.Nf6+! mates.

20.Rfl! Bd4+ 21.Khl Re6 22.RxfS+ Bf6 23.Bh6+ Kg8

Apparently Black's king is secure, and Black now seeks salvation in the mate threat on the first rank.

24.QgS+! Kf7 If 24 . . . Kh8 (of course not 24 . . . Bxg5 25.Rf8 mate ) 2S. Bg7+! Kg8 (25 . . . Bxg7 26.Qd8+ mates) 26.Bxf6+ Kf8 27.Bg7+ Ke8 28.Rf8+ Kd7 2<J.Qd8+ Kc6 30.Qc7 mate.

Larry Evans 93

25.Rxf6+! White cannot afford to stop checking without getting mated himself!

25... Rxf6 26.Qg7+ Ke6 27.Qe7+ Resings

He does not care to take his king for a stroll with 27 . . . Kf5 28.Qe4 mate.

Bobotsov-Tal Varna, 1 958


�t a blow to tradition! Black sacrifices his queen, revolutionizing the whole evaluation of this variation; it is amazing how his attack gains momentum with each move.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.Qd2 a6 9.0-0-0 Qa5

lO.Kbl b5!? This sets the stage for Black's next by ignoring the threat of Nd5. More prudent is 10 . . . Re8 1 1 . Nc1 (Evans-Mednis, U.S. Championship 1964) 1 1 . . . Rb8 with a cramped but solid position.

ll.Nd5 It is better to interpolate 1 1 .dxc5! dxc5 (also possible is l l . . . b4) 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxa5 Nxe3 14.Rc1 (difficult is 14.Rxd7 Bxd7 15.Nc3 Rfc8) Nxc4 15.Rxc4 bxc4 16.Nc3 Rb8 (16 . . . Ne5 17.Be2 Be6 18.Rd1 Rab8 19.Kcl Rfc8 is unclear-Saidy-Marovich, Malaga 1969) 17.Bxc4 Ne5 18.Be2 Be6 with tricky play, as in the original game with this variation (ZamikhovskyNyezhmetdinov, U.S.S.R. 1956).

11.. . Nxd5! The logical consequence. Bad is l l . . . Qd8 12.dxc5.

()4 Modern Chess Brilliancies

12.Qxa5 Nxe3

Here is the outcome of Black's speculation. He has two knights for the queen and hopes to use the latent power of his g7 bishop for an attack against White's b2. White should be able to exploit his material advantage but how? The theorists are still in disagreement about who stands better: probably the better player!

13.Rcl This variation was tested again in Beyen-Klompus, correspondence game, 1968, which continued: 13.Rd3 Nxc4 14.Qel Rb8 15 .h4 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nc5 17.Rdl Na4 18.Bxc4 (if 18.b3 Na3+ 19.Kcl Be6!) bxc4 19.b3 cxb3 20.axb3 Be6 21 .Qa5 Bxb3 22.Rd2 Rfc8 23.Nxb3 Nc5 24.Rc2 Rxb3+ 25.Ka2 Rb5 26.Qa3 Rcb8 27.f4 Rb4 28.e5 Ra4 29.Qxa4 Nxa4 30.e6 fxe6 White resigns.

13... Nxc4 14.Rxc4?

It is questionable whether White should so willingly return material and open the b-file in the bargain.

The sturdiest defense is 14.Qel cxd4 15.Nf4.

14. . . bxc4 15.Nc1 Rb8 16.Bxc4 Nb6 17.Bb3

A little better is 17.Be2. It is clear however, that Black already has ample compensation for the queen, which is a helpless spectator.

17.. . Bxd4 18.Qd2 Bg7 19.Ne2 c4 20.Bc2 c3!

Of course. Black opens lines. 21 .Nxc3 Nc4 would allow an immediate finish.

Larry Evans 95

21.Qd3 cxb2 22.Nd4 Bd7 23.Rdl RfcS 24.Bb3 Na4 25.Bxa4 Bxa4 26.Nb3 Rc3 27.Qxa6 Bxb3 28.axb3 RbcS

Anything wins now. Even 28 . . . Rcc8 followed by . . . Ra8 and . . . Ral+.

29.Qa3 White would love to play 29.Kxb2 if it didn't lose the queen by 29 . . . Rc3c6+.

29. . . Ret+ 30.Rxcl Rxcl+

Resigns

32 Saidy-Bednarsky

Tel Aviv, 1 964 King's I ndian Defense

�te's intricate combination was launched because he believed his position to be inferior. Saidy criticizes himself, yet his sacrifice turns out to be even sounder than its author's faith in it.

l.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.e4 d6

5.f3 c6 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 b5

Black's anti-Saemisch system was introduced by Robert Byrne. Instead of passively waiting for White to mount an attack, Black launches an immediate queen-side diversion.

8.Bd3 On 8.0-0-0 Qa5! solves Black's opening problems.

8. . . Nbd7 9.Nge2 0-0

10.0-0 bxc4 A good alternative is 10 . . . e5.

ll.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Bb3 a5 13.Na4 Ba6 14.Rfc1 Nfd7 15.Rc2

"White's Saemisch Attack seems to have established a satisfactory sway in the center. The Black c6 pawn is backward, but capturing it by 15.Rxc6 would give Black strong play via 15 . . . Bb5 16.Nxb6 Nxb6 and 17 . . . a4. But now White's serenity is destroyed by the text move"-Saidy.

15... c5!? "Keres queries this move. Nevertheless, in my considered opinion, it is impeccable. At this point I pondered for forty valuable minutes, appalled by the disjointed position of my own pieces and the fact Black has so swiftly freed his position. 16.dxc5 Nxa4 17.Bxa4 Nxc5 gives Black a fine game. I must admit now that, had I seen a quiet way to retain an edge, no brilliancy would have been hatched (with such a long gestation period)"Saidy.

Larry Evans 97

16.Nxc5! Keres also reward this with a pure "!" adding, "The combination is original and easily overlooked." ("Perhaps it should have been" was Saidy's pessimistic evaluation). Without it, however, Black gets a fine position after 16.dxc5 Nxa4 17.Bxa4 Nxc5.

16 . . . 17.dxc5

dxc5 a4

Sturdier is 17 . . . Nc8 18.Rd1 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Qc7 with a hard fight in the offing.

18.Bxf7+ Rxfi 19.cxb6 Bxe2

Keres considers this "the best practical chance," but Saidy was pessimistic about the reply 19 . . . a3. Keres gives 20.Rd1 axb2 (20 . . . Bxe2 21 .Qxe2 axb2 22.b7 Rb8 23.Qb5 with good play) 21 .Nc3. He concludes that after winning the b-pawn White would have three pawns for the piece and certainly no reason to complain.

20.Qxe2 "Played automatically-why waste precious time on the obvious? But, as I never suspected until reading Keres' notes, 20.b7! gives White the advantage"-Saidy. A possible continuation is 20 . . . Rb8 2 1 . Rac1 Ba6 22.Rc8 Rf8 23.Rxd8 Rfxd8 24.Rc7 Nf8 25.Qa5 Bxb7 26.Qxa4 Bxb2 27.Ba7! wins material.

20 . . . 21.Rdl

Nxb6 Qb8?

The decisive error in a flawed contest. Instead of an uphill battle, White now has an easy win. Correct is 21 . . . Nd7! 22.Rcd2 e6 and if 23.Qb5 Qb8 saves the piece.

22.Qb5 Nc8

' Ill Mutlc •l ' l l ( .'III 'SS llrilllwlcies

I l iad\ I 'O I I I I tul saw lhl' knight by 22 . . . Rf6 23.Rc6 Rxc6 24.Qxc6, etc.

23.Rd8+ Rf8 24.Qd5+ Resigns

Bl'Gtuse after 24 . . . Kh8 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Bd4+ Black must surrender either his king or most of his material. The errors generated by tension make this fight all the more instructive. As Keres puts it:"I hope Dr. Saidy does not mind if I do not agree with his rather pessimistic opinion. Although not a model performance, I nevertheless like this game and the original combination very much . . . I think most chess fans do too. "

33 Nikolic-Fischer

Vinkovci, 1 968 King's I ndian Defense

�her's games are characterized by a relentless search for the sharpest continuation. In a placid setting he unexpectedly offers a piece, forging a mating net which is not apparent for another half dozen moves.

l.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 e5 4.Bg2 d6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Nge2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.d4 ReS 9.Rbl

The system is passive and yields the initiative; it is not considered honorable to play for a draw with the White pieces but a draw could be achieved by 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 l l .b3, etc.

9... e4 10.b4 Bf5 ll.h3

White should avoid making new weaknesses and proceed immediately with l l .b5.

11 . . . 12.Nf4

h5 Nbd7

13.a4 Nf8 14.c5

Larry Evans 99

A strategic error, which permits Black to close the center. More dynamic is 14.b5 to open lines.

14 . . . 15.b5 16.Bd2 17.Rb2

d5 N8h7 Ng5

One of those "mysterious" rook moves, because Black was threatening 17 .. Nf3+ 18. Bxf3 exf3 19.Rb2 g5 trapping the knight.

17.. . Qd7 18.Kh2 Bh6 19.a5

Consistent if nothing else. Had White seen what was in store, he might have tried 19.Rh 1 , followed by a flight of his king to the queen-side. Fischer thought a long time here. 19 . . . h4 poses no immediate threat, but it's not a bad move. Another possibility is 19 . . . Nf3+ 20.Bxf3 exf3 21 .Qxf3 Bxf4 22.gxf4 cxb5 and Black regains his pawn with a good game because 23.Nxb5 is refuted by 23 . . . Bd3. But neither of these lines is sufficiently forcing to suit his taste.

19. . . Bg4!

20.hxg4 This elegant offer cannot be refused.

Fischer gives 20.Qb3 Nf3+ 2 1 .Bxf3 Bxf3 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Qb7 Qf5 24.Qxc6 Bxf4 25.gxf4 Ng4+ 26.Kg3 h4+ 27.Kxh4 Kg7 28.Qxd5 Rh8+ 29.Kg3 Rxh3+ 30.Kxh3 Ne5+ and mates shortly.

20. . . hxg4! The ventilated h-file will prove White's undoing.

21.Rh1


The only chance. A weird defensive try is 21 .Bhl Nf3+ 22.Kg2 Bxf4 23.exf4 Qf5 24.Rgl Qh5 25.Kfl Qh2 26.Bxf3 exf3 27.Be3 R.xe3 28.fxe3 Qxb2 winsFischer.

21... Nf3+ 22.Bxf3 gxf3 23.Kgl Bxf4 24.exf4 Kg7! 25.f5 RhS 26.Bh6+

A desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable.

26. . . Rxh6 27.Rxh6 Kxh6 28.Qd2+

There was a pretty finish after 28.a6 Qxf5 29.axb7 Rh8 30.bxc6 Kg7 31 .b8=Q Rhl + 32.Kxhl Qh3+ 33.Kgl Qxg2 mate-Fischer.

28. . . g5 29.bxc6 Qxf5 30.Ndl Qh3 31.Ne3 Kg6

Resigns There is no longer any defense to the long awaited . . . Rh8.

Kozomara-R. Byrne Sarajevo, 1 96 7


( � opponent was so impressed by the piece sacrifice that the first thing he asked me after the game was whether it was prepared analysis. Not only was it not prepared analysis, it was not even prepared on my previous move! It was a dear case of shooting from the hip . "-R. Byrne.

l.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.b4

Santasiere's Folly Deferred!

4 . . . 0-0

5.Bb2 6.e3 7.Be2 8.0-0

d6 Nbd7 e5

Larry Evans 101

After 8.dxe5 Ng4 Black recovers the pawn with a comfortable position.

8. . . e4 9.Nfd2 ReS

10.Nc3 NfS ll.a4 h5 12.a5 N8h7

"It is often difficult to decide, in cases of attacks on opposite wings, what, if any, defensive measures one ought to take time out for. Perhaps I should have played 1 2 . . . a6; but in the face of White's sweeping pawn avalanche, defensive moves usually turn out to create more weaknesses than they shield. "-Byrne.

l3.a6 b6 "White has scored first-Black's queenside pawns have the well-ventilated look of Swiss cheese. But Black is prepared to return the compliment by . . . Ng5 and h4-h3 and the attempt to halt Black by h3 would only invite a dangerous sacrifice. "-Byrne

14.f4 15.Bxf3

exf3 Bg4

"I considered this so essential as to be obvious, but my opponent told me later that in a previous game 1 5 . . . Rb8 was chosen and he scored quickly against it"-Byrne.

16.h3 Anticipating a useful clarification. If this move is no good, then White's position is difficult indeed.

16. . . Bh6!

Black rejects the obvious 16 . . . Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Ng5 18.Qf4 Ne6 19.Qf2.

I l l .' Mutlr'l'll c .'/lr•ss /lrlllltlllc/I'S

17.hxg4 I f i l ll' sanlfice is declined by 17.Rel Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Ng) develops pressure :tHainsl the e-pawn.

17 . . . 18.Rf2

Bxe3+

White does better to seek counterplay with 18.Kh2 Ne4! 19.g3 Nxd2 20.Bxa8 Nxfl + 2l .Qxfl Qxa8 22.gxh5 followed by Nd5.

18. . . Nxg4 19.Bxg4 Qh4 20.Qf3?

The most demanding defense is 20.Nde4 hxg4 2l .Qd3 (on 2l .Qel Bxd4 22.Rdl c5 23.g3 Qe7 24.Qfl f5 25.Nd2 Qe3 wins) Bxf2+ 22.Nxf2 g3 23.Nh3 Ng5 24.Ne2 (Byrne considers only 24.Qfl Re6 25.Nd5 Nxh3+ 26.gxh3 Rae8) Nxh3+ 25.gxh3 Qxh3 26.Qxg3 Qxg3+ (if 26 . . . Qe6? 27.Nf4 Qxc4? 28.Nxg6!) 27.Nxg3 Re3 with advantage, but there's plenty of play left.

20. . . Ng5 White turns the tables after 20 . . . hxg4? 2l .Qxf7+ Kh8 22.Ndl! threatening d5+ .

21.Qxe3 Rxe3 22.Nd5

With three minor pieces for the queen, White seems to have fair prospects. But now comes an efficient finish.

22. . . hxg4 23.Nxe3 Qg3 24.Re2 Nh3+ 25.Kfl

Byrne gives 25.Khl Nf4 26.Rael Nxe2 27.Rxe2 Re8 28.Ndfl Qf4 29.Kgl Qe4 winning.

25... Nf4

26.Ne4 27.d5 28.Nf6+ 29.Rd2 30.Kel 31.Nfl 32.Kdl

Qh4 f5 Kf7 g3 Qhl+ Nxg2+

Larry Evans 103

The rest needs no comment. On 32.Rxg2 (or 32.Ke2 Nf4+ 33.Ke3 g2) Qxg2 33.Bd4 Rh8 followed by Rhl.

32 . . . 33.Kc2 34.Kb3 35.Ka3 36.Rxc2 37.Rhl 38.Kxb2

Resigns

Qxfl+ Ne3+ Qxc4+ Nc2+ Qxc2 Qxb2+ Kxf6

35 Polugayevsky-Petrosian USSR Championship, 1 960

Nimzo-l ndian Defense

�osian gets caught in the opening and is slaughtered by a twentysix-year old unknown, who seven years later captured the coveted Soviet crown. White prosecutes his attack with great elan.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b6 9.Qe2

It is hard for White to squeeze anything tangible out of this solid defense. Just for the record he has a half dozen plausible moves here; which is best is still an open question and provides a field day for the theorists. 9.Qd3

1 1 1 1 .II I It ie ,,., c1wss /Jrtlliancies

. 1 1 1d 1 J .a .� are the most frequently seen alternatives. At the Piatigorsky Cup I %j, where Black's system proved itself, Gligoric and Reshevsky tried l). Bd3 against Najdorf. The first game continued 9 . . . Bb7 (the second game went 9 . . . Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 1 1 .Qa4 Qc8 1 2.Nb5 cxd4 13.Nbxd4 Qb7 14.a3 Be7 15.b4 Rfc8 and Black overcame his temporary cramp to draw) 10.a3 cxd4 l l .exd4 Be7 1 2.Re1 Nbd7 13.Bc2 a6 14.Qd3 ReS 15.Bg5 g6 and White could not exploit his slight initiative.

9 . . . lO.Rdl

Bb7 Nbd7

Usual now is 10 . . . cxd4 ll .exd4 Nbd7 to provide the bishop with a retreat to e7.

ll.d5 Bxc3 12.dxe6 Ba5 13.exd7 Qc7?

The innocent-looking offender. Correct is 13 . . . Qe7 14.e4 Rad8 15.Bg5 Qxe4 16.Qxe4 Bxe4 17.Bxf6 gxf6 and Black can hold (Najdorf-Smyslov, Havana 1962).

t4.e4 Nxd7 If 14 . . . Bxe4 (or 14 . . . Nxe4 15.Ng5! is uncommonly strong) 15.Bg5 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nxd7 17.Bf4! Qc8 (if 17 . . . Ne5 18.Qg3 wins a piece) 18.Bd6 leaves Black in a hopeless tangle.

15.Ng5!

15. . . Rad8

Meets with a stunning refutation, but so does 15 . . . Ne5 16.Bf4 Rae8 17.Qh5 h6 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.Bxe5 Rxe5 20.Qxf7+! (if 20.Bxf7+? Kf8 saves the day) Qxf7 21 .Rd8+ Kh7 22.Bxf7 and White's material preponderance must tell.

t6.Bxf7+1 Rxf7 17.Ne6! Qc8 18.Nxd8 Ba6

The only hope, since on 18 . . . Qxd8 19.e5 decides.

19.Qe3 Re7 20.Qb3+ c4 21.Qa3 Nc5

Larry Evans 105

Black is in a sorry way. If 21 . . . Rxe4 (21 . . . Qxd8? 22.Bg5)22.Qd6 Qxd8 23.Qd5+! wins the rook (not 23.Qxd7 Re1 + ) .

22.Be3 Rxe4 23.Bxc5 Qxc5 24.Qf3! Resigns

24 . . . Re7 25.Ne6 Rxe6 26.Rd8+ mates. Black never saw daylight.

36 Addison-Sigurjonsson

Reykjavik, 1 968 Nimzo-lndian Defense

�ack tries an opening novelty, but White goes one better. Addison's sprightly bishop sacrifice on move 15 is followed by equally energetic tactics.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Qe7 9.a3 Ba5

10.Bd3 Geller recommends 10.Bd2 followed by l l .Rcl

10. . . a6? This loses much of its point with White's bishop placed on d3. Better is 10 . . . Nc6.

ll.e4! cxd4

I I H ' ,1/or/r 'I'll Owss /Jrilliancies

12.e5 dxc3? The best defense is 1 2 . . . Nd5 13.Bxh7+!? Kxh7 14.Ng5+ Kg8 15.Qh5 Qxg5 16.Bxg5 dxc3 17.Bf6 Bd8!.

13.exf6 gxf6 Of course not 13 . . . Qxf6? 14.Bg5 14.Bg5.

14.Qa4! Nc6 15.Bxh7+!

Strangely enough this is forced.

15... Kh8

White scores a beautiful victory after 15 . . . Kxh7 16.Qh4+ Kg7 (forced) 17.Qg4+! Kh7 18.Qh3+! Kg7 (again not 18 . . . Kg8 19.Bh6) 19.Bh6+ Kg6 20.Nh4+! Kh7 (20 . . . Kxh6 2l .Nf5+ compels mate) 2l .Nf5 exf5 22.Bxf8+ followed by 23.Bxe7 with a decisive material edge. Quite a curious triangulation of the queen!

16.Be4! Devastatingly accurate. Black can defend after the obvious 16.Qh4 f5 17.Bg5 f6.

16. . . b5 Also bad is 16 . . . Bc7 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Qh4+ Kg8 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.Bh6 Rg8 21 .Qh5.

17.Qd1 Rd.S 18.Nd4!

A clearance sacrifice to give the queen access to h5.

18. . . Qc5 19.Bxc6 Rxd4 20.Qf3 Ra7 21.Qxf6+ Kh7 22.Be3 Bb6 23.Rad1 e5

24.Bh6 Rg4 25.Be4+ Resigns

Lany Evans 107

One last try would have been 25 . . . Rg6 (or 25 . . . Kg8 26.Rd8+) 26.Qg7 mate!

Pomar-Johansson Havana Olympics, 1 966 Nimzo-l ndian Defense

�te lays a diabolical trap of uncommon beauty. It succeeds be-cause he sees one move further than his opponent.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3

This reply has been fashionable for twenty years. Earlier 4.Qc2 was the vogue and before that 4.Qb3. Occasionally sharper tries are 4.a3, 4.f3, and Spassky's 4.Bg5 .

4.. . 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.a3

More usual is 7.0-0. After the text White has difficulty castling. 7.. . Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qc7 9.Qc2

Not 9.cxd5? cxd4 with a deadly check looming on c3. 9... dxc4

10.Bxc4 cxd4 Better is 10 . . . b6! so that if 1 1 .0-0 cxd4 1 2.cxd4 Ba6.

ll.cxd4 b6 If l l . . .b5 12.Bd3 Qxc2 13.Bxc2 slightly favors White because of his two bishops in the ensuing endgame.

12.Qd3 Bb7 13.Bd2 ReS

I OH Motll'rn Chess Brilliancies

14.Rc1 Be4 15.Qe2 Qb7 16.0-0

Finally! Delayed castling is also a trademark of Petrosian. Black's right move now is 16 . . . h6.

16. . . a6 17.Ng51 Bxg2

More prudent is 17 . . . Nbd7 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qf3 Rc7 (if 20.Bxe6? Ndf6 wins a piece).

18.Bxe61 Bxfl? After 18 . . . fxe6! (not 18 . . . Rxcl 19.Bxf7+ Qxf7 20.Rxc1!) 19.Rxc8+ Qxc8 20.Kxg2 h6 White has only a minimal edge.

19.Qf31 The demonic ultra point. Black cannot reply 19 . . . Qxf3 because 20.Rxc8+ mates.

19. . . Bg2 Inadequate, but so is 19 . . . Nc6 20.Nxf7!

20.Qxb7 Bxb7 21.Bxc8 Bd5

On 21 . . . Bc6, White has the choice of 22.Rxc6 Nxc6 23.Bb7 winning two pieces for a rook-or, even sharper 22.e4! h6 23.d5 Be8 24.e5 Nxd5 25.Bb7, etc.

22.e4! Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Re11 f5

Forced. On 24 . . . Bc6 25.Bb7! wins. 25.Be6+ Kh8

If 25 . . . Kf8 26.Bb4+ Ke8 27.Bxf5 wins.

26.Bxf5 27.d5

Bc6 Resigns

After . . . Bb5 28.Re7 followed by 29.Bc3 cannot be met.

38 Donner-Portisch

Beverwijk, 1 968 Nimzo-l ndian Defense

Larry Evans 109

9.s rare that a grandmaster is doomed to heavy material losses already on the thirteenth move. Here is the spectacle: a sudden refutation of a recognized line and an early mating attack.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 0-0

Taking the long diagonal under immediate control by 5 . . . b6 is desirable, but Black is in difficulty after 6.Nge2 cxd4 7.exd4 Bb7 8.0-0 Be7 (On 8 . . . d5 9.cxd5 gives good prospects) 9.d5! (O'Kelly-Portisch Majorca 1967).

6.Nf3 b6 It is more customary to contest the center with 6 . . . d5.

7.d5! The logical reply, bottling up the center in order to cramp Black's game. An alternative is 7.0-0 Bb7 8.Na4 cxd4 9.exd4 Qc7! 10.a3 Be7 1 1 .Nc3 d5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Ne5 Nd7 15.Bf4= (Gligoric-Smyslov Majorca 1967).

7 . . . Bb7 This doesn't help break White's grip. 7 . . . b5 offers more practical chances. But not 7 . . . exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5? 9.Bxh7+ Kxh7 10.Qxd5 Nc6 1 1 .Qh5+ Kg8 12.Ng5 with a mating net.

s_e4


8 . . . b5!? Sounder is 8 . . . exd5 9.cxd5 ReS 10.0-0! Bxc3 (Perhaps 10 . . . d6 must be played with a slight disadvantage in space) l l .bxc3 Nxe4!? 12 .Bxe4 Rxe4 13.Ng5 Re5 14.Qh5 h6 15.Qxf7+ Kh8 (Evans-Pachman, Venice 1967) 16.f4! Rxd5 17.c4! gives White a winning attack.

9.e5! Wasting no time in displacing the lone defender of Black's king.

9... bxc4 lO.Bbl!

Black can live after 10.exf6 cxd3 1 1 .fxg7 Kxg7. Donner holds his bishop to search out Black's king presently.

10. . . Nxd5? Not dreaming of a disastrous attack so early, Black acts half-asleep. His best chance is 10 . . . Bxd5 (if 10 . . . exd5 1 1 .Bg5!) 11 .Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Qa5 13.exf6 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ (not 15 . . . Qxal? 16.0-0) 16.Kxd2 and Black can fight on with three pawns for his piece.

ll.Bxh7+! This stock combination is almost as old as chess itself.

11 . . . Kxh7 Forced. Of no avail is 1 1 . . . Kh8 12.Ng5 g6 13.Qg4 Kg7 14.Qh4 Rh8 15.Nxe6+ fxe6 16.Qh6+.

12.Ng5+

12... Kg8

Larry Evans 1 1 1

Taken by surprise, Black prepares to concede his queen without much of a fight. But he loses anyway after 12 . . . Kg6 13.h4! Nxc3 14.Qg4 Ne4+ 15.Kf1 Nxg5 16.hxg5 Rh8 17.Rh6+! gxh6 18.gxh6+ Kh7 19.Qg7+ mate.

13.Qh5 Qxg5 Now the rest is mere technique; but otherwise 13 . . . Re8 14.Qxf7+ Kh8 15 .Qh5+ Kg8 16.Qh7+ leads to an easy mate.

14.Bxg5 Nxc3 15.a3 Ne4+

Black continues his desperate resistance: 15 . . . BaS 16.Bd2 is even worse. 16.axb4 Nc6 17.Be3 Nxb4 18.0-0 Nc2 19.Rac1 Nxe3 20.fxe3 Bd5 21.Rf4 f5 22.exf6 Rxf6 23.Rcfl Raf8 24.Rxf6 Nxf6 25.Qe5 Ne4 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Qb8+ Kf7 28.Qxa7 Bc6 29.h4 Kg6 30.g4 Kh6 31.Qb8 Kh7 32.Qf8 Nf6 33.g5 Ne4

1 1 2 Modern Chess Brilliancies

Black's minor pieces cannot do much. If 33 . . . Nh5 34.Qt7 Ng3 35.g6+ Kh6 36.Qf4+ wins a piece.

34.Qf7 Resigns

39 Evans-Bisguier

U . S. Championship, 1 959 Petrov Defense

� excursion into a forgotten branch of an almost forgotten defense. On move 6 Black plays with the recklessness of an angry bull charging against a locomotive.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6

The Petrov is theoretically sound but strategically limited; despite its drawish reputation it has never been too popular. The counterattack on White's epawn averts pitfalls of the Giuoco Piano, the Ruy Lopez and enterprising systems for White.

3.Nxe5 The old fashioned 3.Nc3 Bb4 leads to the so-called Petrov Three Knights Defense, while 3 . . . Nc6 produces the Four Knights Game, which was already considered too conservative to be a lethal weapon fifty years ago.

Steinitz opined that the only way for White to gain an advantage is 3.d4. Fischer adopted it against German at Stockholm 1962, where play continued: 3 . . . exd4 4.e5 Ne4 S.Qe2 (5.Qxd4 d5=) NcS? (critical and unclear is 5 . . . Bb4+ 6.Kdl dS 7.exd6 e.p.fS 8.Ng5 0-0! 9.Nxe4 fxe4 10.Qc4+ Kh8 l l .Qxb4 Nc6) 6.Nxd4 Nc6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Nc3 Rb8 9.f4 Be7 10.Qf2 with advantage.

3 . . . d6 Necessary. A standard trap is 3 . . . Nxe4? 4.Qe2 dS 5.d3, etc.

4.Nf3 Nxe4 This position was also reached for the first time in modern world championship history in the thirteenth and fifteenth games of the Spassky-Petrosian match 1969, and Black achieved his objective by scoring rather short draws in both.

Larry Evans 1 13

5.c4 Playable but rather harmless, this offbeat move was introduced by Dr. Kaufmann of Vienna in the 1890s. White wishes to avoid his opponent's prepared analysis after the usual 5 .d4, and to steer the game into original channels.

Spassky played 5.Qe2 when confronted with Petrosian's "surprise," which amounted to a tacit admission that he could find nothing better in the main lines either. The fifteenth game continued 5 . . . Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Be7 9.Nc3 c6 10.0-0-0 Na6 1 1 .Rhe1 (the supposed improvement over 1 l .Ne4 of the thirteenth game) l l . . . Nc7 12.Bfl Ne6 13.Bd2 Bd7 14.d4 h6 15 .Bd3 d5 16.h3 Rd8 17.a3 0-0 18.Be3 Bc8 19.Nh4 Rfe8 draw.

5.. . d5 Also good is 5 . . . Be7 6.Nc3 (6.d4 0-0 7.Bd3 d5 8.0-0 Nc6=) Nxc3 7.dxc3 Nc6 8.Bf4 Bg4 with even chances (Teichman-Marshall, San Sebastian 1911).

6.Nc3 Bc5? Here Black is seized by a severe attack of daydreaming. He provokes White's next gain of tempo in order to win a pawn, but he has no hold in the center, his king is not yet castled and he is behind in development. Correct is 6 .. Nf6.

7.d4 Bb4 8.Qb3 c5 9.Bd3 Qa5

10.0-0! "White uses his advantage energetically and with classic simplicity"-Kmoch.

10. . . Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc3

1 1 4 Modern Chess Brilliancies

Black not only attacks a rook, he also prevents a check on the king file. But it is the setting for a debacle. It is instructive how White now maintains his initiative until the very end. Black can never recover from the loss of time initiated with his reckless sixth move. Indeed, one of the major theo

. retical problems facing the second player is how to combine aggression with soundness. This dilemma led me some time ago to formulate Evans' Law: "White, by virtue of his first move, is allowed one minor blunder per game; for Black a slip is fatal. " To this precept might be added another: "When you're not winning, you're losing. " It is a strange fact that when one side fails to maintain the initiative, the other seizes it.

12.Bb2 The main point of the pawn sacrifice.

12 . . . 13.Rael+

Bxb2

The point of the point. Black must move his king (not 13 . . . Be6? 14.cxd5) which in turn entails the absence of his a8 rook in the sequel.

13. .. Kf8 14.Qxb2 cxd4 15.cxd5 Nd7

Trying desperately to catch up in development. Not 15 . . . Qxd5? 16.Qb4+ Kg8 17.Re8 mate.

16.Qxd4 Nf6 17.Qe5 Qc5 18.Ng5 Bd7

This meets the threat of Nxh7+ and frees the aS-rook. Superficially, Black's only problem is the disastrous placement of his king.

19.Ne4! Nxe4 19 . . . Qxd5? loses a piece to 20.Nxf6.

20.Rxe4 ReS 21.Qf4 Qxd5 22.Rfel! Rxe4

Unwise would be 22 . . . Qxd3? 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Qb4+. 23.Bxe4 Qe6

Larry Evans 1 1 5

After 23 . . . Qc5 24.Qb8+ Be8 25.Bxb7 Qb5 26.Qd6+ Kg8 27.Qd8 wins. 24.Qb8+ Be8 25.Qxa7 b6

Black has defended sensibly, but his game is lost. Only 25 . . . g6 offers some fighting chances. Then White's most convincing win is 26.Qxb7 Qxa2 27.Qb4+ (27.Bd5 Qa3! 28.g3 Qd6 holds) Kg7 (not 27 . . . Kg8? 28.Bxg6) 28.Qd4+ f6 29.Bd5 Qa3 30.Ral Qd6 31 .Ra7+ Kf8 32.g3! and the threat of 33.Rb7-b6 immobilizes Black-e.g., 32 . . . Bc6 33.Rf7+ Ke8 34.Bxc6+! (not 34.Qe4+! Qe5) Qxc6 35.Rxf6 Qcl + 36.Kg2, etc.

26.Qa3+ Qe7 26 . . . Kg8 27.B�h7+ leads to a hopeless ending.

27 .Bc6! Resigns Black was hoping for 27.Qxe7+ Kxe7 28.Bxh7, with drawing chances.

If 27 . . . Qxa3 28.Rxe8 mate!

1 16 Modern Chess Brilliancies

40 Konovalov-Mordkovic

USSR I 1 958 Phi l idor Defense

�te's gambit on move seven in a theoretical backwater has never received much attention. Rising to the occasion, Black makes it an oldfashioned slugfest.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6

An erstwhile favorite of Alekhine, this defense has been shunned because it leads to cramped positions which, according to Tarrasch, "bear the germs of defeat. "

3.d4 Nf6 Nothing new under the sun? Tal-Larsen, 1st Match Game 1969 went: 3 . . . exd4 4.Nxd4 g6!? 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Re8 9.f3 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 1 l .e5 Nd5! 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bg5! Qd7 14.Qxd5 Rb8 15.Bf6 Bxf6 16.exf6 Qe6 and Black managed to draw.

4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.d.xe5

For the quiet 6.0-0 see the next game. Without this preparatory exchange, the sacrifice on f7 is not to be recommended-e.g. , 6.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 7.Ng5+ Kg8 8.Ne6 Qe8 9.Nxc7 Qg6 10.Nxa8 Qxg2 l l .Rfl exd4! 12.Qxd4 (Black got a victorious attack in Rabinovich-Ilyin-Zhenevsky, Moscow 1922 after 1 2.Qe2 dxc3 13.Qc4+ d5 14.Qxc8+ Kf7) Ne5! 13.f4 Nfg4! with a winning attack (Heidenfeld-Wolpert, Johannesburg 1955).

6... d.xe5 White maintains his grip on 6 . . . Nxe5 7.Be2 0-0 H.Nd4! followed by f4.

7.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 8.Ng5+

8... Kg8

Lany Evans 1 1 7

Another critical variation is 8 . . . Kg6 9.h4 (9.Ne6 Qg8 10.Nxc7 Rb8) h5 10.f4 exf4 l l .Ne2 Bd6 12.e5! (12.Bxf4 Ne5 gives Black a clear advantage) Nxe5 13.Nxf4+ Kh6 and it is not clear how White can make progress (14.Nf7+ Nxf7 15.Ne6+ wins the queen but is insufficient).

9.Ne6 Qe8 10.Nxc7 Qg6 ll.Nxa8 Qxg2 12.Rfl Nc5 13.f3!?

An attempt to improve on 13.Qe2 Bh3 14.Be3 Qxfl+ 15.Qxfl Bxfl 16.Kxfl Kf7 17.Nc7 with the better ending.

Now come the fireworks. 13... Ng4!

14.Qe2 Bh4+ 15.Kd2

15.Kdl Nf2+ 16.Rxf2 Bxf2 17.Be3 Qgl+ 18.Kd2 Bxe3+ 19.Qxe3 Qxal 20.Qxc5 Kf7 21 .Qc7+ would lead to a draw.

15. . . Nf2 16.Nc7

Not 16.Qc4+?Be6 17.Qxc5 Nxe4+ winning the queen. Also inadequate is 16.Rxf2 (or 16.Ndl Nfxe4+! 17.fxe4 Nxe4+ 18.Ke3 Bg5+! 19.Kd3 Nc5+ wins) Bxf2 17.Ndl Qg5+ 18.Ne3 Bxe3+ 19.Qxe3 Qd8+ 20.Kel b6 and the stranded knight cannot be extricated.

16. . . Bh3

I I H Modern Chess Brilliancies

17.Rxf2

Simplification is a wise decision. Fantastic complications arise after 17. Qc4+ Ne6 18.Nxe6 Nxe4+ 19.Kdl (too risky is 19.Ke3 Nd6! 20.Qd5 Nf5+) Nxc3+ 20.bxc3 Qxfl + 2l .Qxfl Bxfl and Black has all the winning prospects.

17. . . Bxf2 18.Ndl

Not 18.Qc4+ Kf8 19.Ne2 Qxf3 and wins.

18. . . Bel+! Draw

A perpetual occurs after 19.Kxel Qgl+ 20.Kd2 Qd4+.

Tseshkovsky-lutikov USSR Championship, 1 969

Phi lidor Defense

�ack attempts a refutation of a refutation which can be found in the books, but one more refutation restores the original judgment. Plus ra change, plus Ia meme chose.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6

Nimzovich's move forces White to spend a tempo defending his e4-pawn, thus lessening his attacking chances.

The Hanham Variation, 3 . . . Nd7, commits Black too soon and involves

Larry Evans 119

him in difficulties after 4.Bc4 c6 (necessary) 5.0-0 Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 (I won a quick game against Joyner in the 1956 Canadian Open Championship after 6 . . . Nxe5? 7.Nxe5 dxe5 8.Qh5 g6 9.Qxe5) 7.Ng5! Bxg5 8.Qh5 g6 9.Qxg5 Qxg5 10.Bxg5 with two Bishops in a superior endgame.

4.Nc3 Weaker is the once popular 4.dxe5 which simplifies Black's problems in the center after 4 . . . Nxe4. Sokolsky's 5 .Nbd2 leads to nothing because of 5 . . . Nxd2 6.Bxd2 Be7! 7.exd6 Qxd6 8.Bc3 0-0 9.Qxd6 Bxd6 10.0-0-0 Bg4 1 l .Be2 Re8 12.Rhe1 Nc6 with a very drawish setting (Boleslavsky-Keres, Moscow 1962).

4 . • • Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.a4 c6 8.Qe2 exd4

Obviously, Lutikov is veering for a prepared variation since he already used this against Smyslov at the Tchigorin Memorial 1960. That game continued 8 . . . a5 9.h3 exd4 (9 . . . Qc7 maintains the tension.) 10.Nxd4 Nc5 1 l .Rd1 Qc7 12.Bf4 with a free and easy game for White. As shall be seen, he has good reason for not wishing White to play h3 before entering the following.

9.Nxd4

9 . . . Nxe41? Without this follow-up Black's previous move abandoning the center loses much of its point.

10.Nxe4 After 10.Qxe4 d5 l l .Bxd5 (l l .Nxd5? cxd5 12.Qxd5 Nb6 wins a piece!) Nf6 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.Qd3 Ng4 with a good attack for the pawn.

10. . . d5 ll.Nf5!

I .W Modern Chess Brilliancies

Ulack undoubtedly had some improvement in mind over Suetin-Gusev, Tula 1950, which went l l .Ba2 dxe4 1 2.Rd1 Bf6 13.Nf5! Qc7 14.Qxe4 Nc5 15 .Qf3 Be5 16.Bg5! with a clear advantage.

The noted opening authority Bernard Zuckerman commented that the text "seems to be a new move." This tempts one to wonder whether Modern Chess Openings (lOth ed.) is ahead of its time, since this exact sequence up to move 12 can be found there on page 1 15. Annotators have access to such sophisticated opening material that they frequently overlook sources available at home!

11 . . . dxc4 This must have been the innovation Lutikov was itching to spring. In case of 1 1 . . . dxe4 White does not have to retreat his bishop as in the previous note, and would thus have one extra tempo for the attack. Undesirable as that may be, Black has no choice now. An old Keres analysis runs 1 1 . . . dxe4 1 2.Qxe4 Bf6 13.Nh6+! gxh6 14 .Bd3 Re8 15.Qxh7+ Kf8 16.Bxh6+ Ke7 17.Rfe1 + Kd6 18.Bf4+ Be5 19.Qxf7 but Black by no means should be counted out.

12.Bh6! Probably anticipated by Black in his pregame analysis, but strong nevertheless.

12 . . . Nf6 This is the tricky resource Black was relying on. Suddenly, White is faced with an unexpected obstacle. A blunder would be 12 . . . Bf6? 13 .Bxg7! Bxg7 14.Qg4.

The justification of White's last shows up after 12 . . . gxh6 1 3.Qg4+ Bg5 14.Nxh6+ Kg7 15 .Nxg5! (15.Nf5+ Kg6 16.f4 h5 gives Black chances for a successful defense) Kxh6 16.Qh4+ Kg6 17.Qxh7+ Kxg5 18.f4+ Kf6 19.Qh6+ with a terrific attack.

13.Neg3!

Larry Evans 121

The refutation of the refutation. Unclear is 13.Rad1 Bxf5! (not 13 . . . Qc7 14.N4g3) 14.Rxd8 Raxd8 15.Nxf6+ (or 1 5.Ng3 Be6) Bxf6; Black has good compensation for the Queen.

The simple yet elegant retreat is precisely the kind of move one is prone to overlook in home analysis. With one stroke White protects his knight on f5 and renews the attack on both the Bishop and g-pawn.

13. . . Bxf5 14.Nxf5 gxh6 15.Nxe7+ Kg7 t6.Nf5+ Kg6 17.Ne7+ Kg7

Obviously White is repeating moves to gain time on the clock. 18.Qe5! Qb8?

The threat was not only 19.Rad1-d6 but also 19.Ra3-g3+. Understandably, Black is anxious to dislodge White's queen from its dominating post; however he could offer sturdier resistance with 18 . . . ReS 19.Rfe1 Qb8, frustrating the maneuver which now follows.

19.Nf5+ 20.Nd6 21.Rfel 22.Radl

Kg6 Kg7 Rd8 Rd7

Shaken by the turn of events, Black can do nothing but wait and see how his opponent applies the finishing touch.

23.Rd4 Qc7 24.Rg4+ Resigns

In view of 24 . . . Kf8 25.Qxf6.

42 Padevsky-Ma· tanovic Havana Olympics, 1 966

Pirc-Robatsch Defense

�te gets an extremely dangerous mating attack at the cost of a pawn. The defender returns the pawn in an original way, then assumes the initiative himself and concludes with beautifully sharp tactics.

l.e4 d6


2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e5 Nfd7

Black finds himself in an inferior ending if he tries to avoid the following wild attack by 6 . . . dxe5 7.dxe5 Qxd1 + 8.Kxd1 Rd8+ 9.Ke1 Nd5 10.Nxd5 Rxd5 1 l .Bc4 Rd8 12.Ng5 (Bronstein-Vasiukov USSR Championship, 1966).

7.h4 The only consistent follow-up, launching great complications of theoretical importance.

7.. . c5 8.h5 cxd4 9.Qxd4

Still not fully explored is the piece sacrifice 9.hxg6!? as in the next game.

9... dxe5 10.Qf2

All part of the master plan. White pitches a pawn in order to switch his queen to the h-file. 10.fxe5 Nxe5! ll .Qh4 is also difficult, but Black has an out with ll . . . Bf5! .

10. . . e4!

Matanovic's new idea is a vast improvement over 10 . . . exf4 1 1 .hxg6 hxg6 12.Bxf4 Nf6 13.Qh4 when White's attack already has gathered too much momentum. Or 10 . . . e6 1 l .hxg6 fxg6 1 2.Qg3 exf4 13.Bxf4 Qa5 14.Bd2 Nf6 15.Bc4 Nc6 16.0-0-0 and again Black's prospects are sorry. There are several points to the text. A. If 1 l .Nxe4 Qb6 1 2.Qh4 Qa5+! 13.c3 Qxh5 14.Qxh5 gxh5, and Black's problems are over. B. Black can now return his Knight to f6 without being driven way by fxe5. C. The diagonal for White's c1-bishop is temporarily blocked, hindering its participation in the attack.

11.Ng5 12.hxg6 13.Qh4

Nf6 hxg6 Qd4!

Larry Evans 123

A vital link in Black's defensive scheme. He can now answer 14.Nh7 (or 14.Ncxe4) by 14 . . . Rd8. For example, 14.Ncxd4 Rd8 15.Bd3 Nc6 16.a3 Bf5 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Bxf5 Qxd5 with a positional advantage.

14.Nb5 Qb6 15.Bc4

After 15.Nxe4 Re8! Black staves off mate (16.Nxf6+? exf6+ ), and White's forces remain disjointed.

15... Bg4 16.f5!?

Throwing caution to the winds in order to get his cl-bishop into the fray. Successful or not, it is the only consistent continuation. 16.Nxe4 is more prudent; yet after Nbd7 17.Nf2 Be6 Black has snatched the initiative.

16.. . gxf5 17.Nh7 Nbd7

This exchange sacrifice puts the attack to rout.

18.Nxf8 Nxf8 19.Nc3

Sad but true, White can only retreat. On 19.Bh6 Nh5 20.Bxg7 Qe3+ 2l .Kfl Ng3+ wins the queen.

19... ReS 20.Bb3 e6 21.Qf2

The attack repulsed, White hurries to exchange queens before Black starts his counteroffensive. The endgame, nevertheless, is lost.

21... Qxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Ng6 23.Be3

An amusing line is 23.g3 Bf3 24.Rel Ng4+ 25.Kfl Bd4 threatening . . . Nh2 mate!

23. .. f4 24.Bxa7 e3+ 25.Bxe3

Hoping to resist in a long ending with rook and pawn for two minor pieces. 25.Kgl Nh5 26.Kh2 Be5 is even less appealing.

25. . . Rxc3!

1 2· 1 Modern Chess Brilliancies

26.bxc3 On 26.Bxf4 Ne4+ 27.Kfl Rxb3 28.axb3 Nxf4 Black would gather four minor pieces for two rooks and pawn-a decisive advantage.

26. . . Ne4+ 27.Kgl fxe3 28.Bc4 Bxc3 29.Rbl Nd2 30.Rxb7 Nxc4 31.Rc7 e2 32.Kf2 Bd4+

Winning a whole rook. 32 . . . el=Q+ 33.Rxel Bxel + 34.Kxel would present some technical difficulties owing to White's a-pawn.

33.Kg3 Ne3 Again 33 . . . Be5+ 34.Kxg4 Bxc7 35.Kf3 would allow resistance. The text menaces 34 . . . Nfl +.

34.Rc8+ Kg7 35.Rel Be5+ 36.Kf2 Ndl+ 37.Kgl Bg3 38.Rxe2 Bxe2

Resigns "Some like it hot," was the title one annotator gave this minor masterpiece. It represents the triumph of the counterattack. ·

Sorokin-Duborik USSR (Postal Game) , 1 968


d.hough correspondence chess take place far from the hurly-burly of the tournament arena, it is not lacking in tension, and many theoretical novelties are rigorously tested there. Here are some fireworks!

l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e5

Less sharp, but quite playable is 6.Bd3. A lovely miniature which made the rounds of all the world chess publications was Baretich-Pirc, Yugoslav Championship 1968, which continued: 6 . . . Nc6 7.Be3 e5 8.fxe5 dxeS 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nxe5!? Nxd5! l l .Bxd4 Nf4 12.Bfl? Ne6 13 .Nxg6!? Bxd4! 14.Nxf8 Qh4+ 15 .Kd2? Qf4+ 16.Kd3 Qe3+ 17.Kc4 Bxc3 18.bxc3 bS+ 19.Kxb5 Rb8+ White resigns. Also see games 44 and 45.

6... Nfd7 7.h4 c5 8.h5 cxd4 9.hxg6 dxc3

10.gxt7+ Rxf7 ll.Bc4

Stronger than l l .NgS? cxb2 12.Bc4 NxeS 13.Qh5 Qa5+ 14.Kf1 dS! 1 5.Bxb2 Rxf4+ 16.Nf3 dxc4 17.Qxh7+ Kf8 and Black won (Bykhovsky-Bebchuk, USSR 1966).

11 . . . e6 Although it requires testing, White gets a strong attack after 1 1 . . . Nf8 12.Ng5 e6 13 .Nxf7 Kxf7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15 .Bd3 h6 16.g4.

12.Ng5 After 12.Bxe6? (or 12.Qxd5? Qb6) NxeS! is adequate.

12... Nxe5! Returning a piece to destroy the center.

13.fxe5? Already White goes astray in the theoretical complications. He should play 13.Qh5 immediately. Best, then, is 13 . . . h6! 03 . . . Qa5 14.fxe5 transposes into the actual game) 14.fxe5 hxg5 15.Qh7+ Kf8 16.Qh8+! Bxh8 17.Rxh8+ Kg7 18.Rxd8 Nc6 19.Rxd6 Nxe5 and there is no reason why Black should stand worse in this ending.

13... Qa5? Sets everything right again. Black could win with 13 . . . cxb2 14.Qh5 Qxg5!.

14.Qh5 The queen will return twice more to this square, and each time with new threats!

14. . . Qxe5+ If 14 . . . cxb2+ 15.Kd1 bxcl=Q+ 16.Rxcl Re7 (or 16 . . . Rf2 17.Qe8+) 17.Qxh7+ Kf8 18.Qg6 wins.

15.Be2 Rf5 Worse is 15 . . . Rf6 16.Qxh7+ Kf8 17.b3 Nc6 18.Qd3 with the threat of 19.Nh7+ or 19.Ne4 or 19.Ba3.

16.g4 cxb2 An attempt to switch to the counterattack with 16 . . . Qg3+ 17.Kd1 Rd5+ 18.Bd3 Rxd3+ is exquisitely refuted by 19.Ke2! and the king slips out, while Black has no defense to the mating threats.

17 .gxf5 Qa5+ The only move. On 17 . . . Qxf5 (or 17 . . . bxc1=Q 18.Rxcl Qxf5 19.Bd3 wins) 18.Bxb2 Bxb2 19.Bd3 is decisive.

18.Kd1 19.Bd3 20.Qxh1

Qd5+ Qxh1+ bxa1=Q

Larry l:'t'UIIS I J.7

Black has found an ingenious defense. Now White is at the crossroads: to play for a win a rook down or to take a probable draw with 21 .Qxh7+ Kf8 22.Qg6 Ke7 23.Qf7+ Kd8 24.Nxe6+ Bxe6 25.fxe6 Qf6 26.Qxb7 Qxe6 27.Bg5+ Bf6 28.Bxf6+ Qxf6 29.Qxa8.

21.Qh5! The difficulty in selecting this move is that Black has a great number of ways to defend himself.

21... Qf6 22.fxe6 Nc6

Sorokin considers the alternatives A. 22 . . . Qe7 23.Bxh7+ Kf8 24.Bf5 Nc6 25.Ba3 Nd8 26.Ne4 Be5 27.Bxd6 Bxd6 28.Qh8+ mate, B. 22 . . . Bxe6 (or 22 . . . h6 23.Bb2!) 23.Qe8+ Bf8 24.Bxh7+ Kg7 (24 . . . Kh8 25.Bb2) 25.Nxe6+ Kxh7 26.Nxf8+ Kg7 27.Ne6+ Kh7 28.Ng5+ Kg7 29.Be3 and Black is in zugzwang---e.g., 29 . . . Qg6 30.Qe7+.

23.e7! Bg4+ If 23 . . . Nxe7 (or 23.Qxe7 24.Bc4) 24.Bb2! wins.

24.Qxg4 d5 24 . . . Ne5 is more tenacious: but 25.Bxh7+ Kh8 26.Qh3 still demolishes the defense.

25.Qh5 Resigns If 25 . . . Qxe7 26.Bxh7+ Kf8 27.Ba3! Qxa3 28.Qf7+ mate.

Fischer-Benko U. S. Championship, 1 964


dthough Benko exhibits some suicidal tendencies in the management of his defense, White's nineteenth move is worth the price of admission. The opening is critically important, since Black has no clear cut way to equalize.

l.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Bg4

Black's path is thorny. Fischer-Perez, Havana 1965 , continued 6 . . . Nc6 7.e5 dxeS 8.fxe5 NdS 9.Nxd5 QxdS 10.c3 Bg4 1 l .Qe2 with a pull.

7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.Be3 e5

10.dxe5 dxe5 ll.f5 gxf5

Bednarsky-Kraidman, Tel Aviv Olympics 1964, featured an important theoretical duel after 1 l . . . Nd4 12 .Qf2 gxfS 13.exf5 bS 14.0-0 cS 15 .Ne4 c4 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Be4 Rad8 18.c3 Rfe8 19.Kh1 Kh8 20.Rae1 b4 2 l .cxd4 exd4 22.Bcl d3 23.b3! Bh6 (not 23 . . . c3? 24.Bxd3!) 24.Bxh6 Qxh6 25.Bf3 Rxe1 26.Qxe1 c3 27.Qe7! Qd6 28.Qxf7 c2 29.Be4 Qh6 30.Qe7, and White prevailed shortly.

12.Qxf5 Nd4 13.Qf2

On 13.Qxe5 Ng4 yields Black counterplay. White is consistently striving for domination of the semi-open f-file.

13. . . Ne8 14.0-0

A worthy alternative is 12.0-0-0 Nd6 15.Ne2 dislodging Black's well-posted knight.

14. . . Nd6 15.Qg3 Kh8

Larry Evans 129

Black enters an inferior ending after 15 . . .f5 16.Bh6 Qf6 17.Qxg7+ Qxg7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.exf5 N6xf5 20.Rae1 Rae8 21 .Ne4.

16.Qg4 To prevent the freeing maneuver with . . . f5.

16. . . c6

More active is 16 . . . c5! followed by . . . b5.

17.Qh5 Qe8?

Either 17 . . . Ne6 or 17 . . . c5 is now essential. 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rf6!

On 19.e5 f5! holds for Black.

19. .. Kg8 On 19 . . . Bxf6 (or . . . dxc3) 20.e5 compels mate.

20.e5 h6 21.Ne2!

But not 21 .Rxd6 Qxe5! with chances for survival.

21... Resigns If 21 . . .NbS (or 21 . . .Bxf6 22.Qxh6) 22.Qf5 wins.


45 Zuckerman-Benko

U. S. Championship, 1 968 Pirc-Robatsch Defense

$ack pursues a known variation disastrously far, and his first original move gets him into trouble! Just when it looks as though he may escape with a draw, two twists seal his fate.

l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4

The most aggressive continuation aimed at establishing a strong center which is difficult to assail.

4.. . Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0

Zuckerman-Benko, U.S. Championship 1967 continued 5 . . . c5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.e5 Ng4 8.e6 (weak is 8.Ng5 Bxb5 9.Qxg4 Bd7 10.e6 Bxe6!) Bxb5 9.exf7+ Kd7 10.Nxb5 Qa5+ l l .Nc3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Nc6 with chances for both sides.

6.Bd3 6.Be2 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 gives Black a good game.

6... Na6!? Inferior is 6 . . . c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.e5 Nd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qe2.

The text move has an interesting history. Valvo saw it in a game played in a New York City park. He then showed it to Benko, who proceeded to employ it in a match game against Bisguier. Although it was not successful, it became popular. 6 . . :Nbd7 is also playable: 7.e5 Ne8 8.Ne4 c5, with some counterplay.

7.0-0 Also strong is 7.e5 dxe5 (7 . . . NeB 8.0-0 c5 9.Be3 is favorable for White) 8.dxe5 (or 8.fxe5 Nd5) Nd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qe2.

7... c5 Black is now prepared to retake with his a6 knight if White is obliging enough to capture on c5.

Lany Evans 131

S.d5 Better than 8.e5? Ng4! 9.h3 cxd4 10.Ne4 Ne3 1 l .Bxe3 dxe3 12 .Qe2 Qb6 with clear advantage (Janosevich-Benko, Belgrade 1964).

8. . . Nc7 9.a4 a6

lO.Qel Bd7 ll.a5 Bb5

To gain some freedom by exchanging pieces. 1 1 . . .e6 is met by 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.e5.

12.Qh4 13.cxd3

Bxd3 e6

White's attack is already assuming proportions, but perhaps Black can continue to ignore it with 1 3 . . . Rb8 followed by . . . b6 with thematic counterplay along the b-file.

14.f5!

Zuckerman observed that "this move came as a disagreeable surprise-my opponent was visibly disturbed." White, of course, was merely reeling off prepared analysis and had consumed virtually no time on his clock, illustrating once more the importance of opening knowledge. Is this chess, the reader may ask, where homework takes precedence over natural ability?

14 . . . exd5 In case of 14 . . . gxf5 1 5.Bg5 would prove very strong.

15.exd5 Ncxd5 This leads to difficulties. So does 15 . . . Nfxd5 16.Bg5 f6 (16 . . . Bf6 17.Ne4)

17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Qc4!. Gligoric-Larsen, Beverwijk 1967, arrived at this same position after numerous transpositions. The Danish grandmaster exercised more caution with 15 . . . Nd7 16.Bg5 f6 17.Bd2 g5 18.Qg3 Ne5 but White still retained an advantage with 19.d4.


16.Bg5! Stronger than 16.fxg6 Nxc3! 17.gxh7+ (17.bxc3 fxg6 18.Ng5 Qd7) 17 . . . Nxh7 etc.

Also wrong is 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bg5 Bf6! 18.Bxf6 Qxf6!. 16. . . Nxc3

White still gets a strong attack against 16 . . . Qd7 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.dxe4 followed by f6.

17.bxc3 gxf5? A panicky decision under fire. Imperative is 17 . . . h6 (not 17 . . . d5 18.Rab1! intending Rb6) 18.Bxh6 Nh7 with chances for survival.

18.Ra4! Threatening simply 19.Rf4 with Rxf5 next.

18. . . Qd7 Black is under the impression that White will have no better than a perpetual check, but the position is already lost in any case. Also unsatisfactory is 18 . . . h6 19.Bxh6 Ng4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 (forced) 21 .Rxg4+ (the quiet 21 .Qg3 also does the trick) 21 . . . fxg4 22.Qxg4+ Kh6 23.Qf4+ Kg7 24.Nh4 with a winning attack.

19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Qxf6

20. . . Qxa4 21.Nh4!

A rude shock. Black was braced for 21 .Qg5+ and 22.Qf6+ with a perpetual. Now he must give up his queen to avoid mate. Therefore-

21. . . Resigns

46 Smejkai-Smyslov Hastings, 1 968-69


Lany Evans 133

�rnament winner Smyslov's only loss, against a promising young Czech player. Black makes one inadvertent move, and the roof caves in.

l.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c3

An unpretentious system aimed at bolstering the center.

3.. . d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.Nf3 0-0

The game has the earmarks of an Alekhine's Defense, where White has abstained from driving the knight away with c4. Black has nothing to fear-yet!

7.Bc4 c6 8.a4 Na6 9.0-0 Nac7

lO.Qel f6 A handy defensive move which not only assails White's central pawn wedge but also prevents the maneuver Qh4 and Ng5.

The threat was . . . Nxf4.

ll.Qh4 Be6 12.Na3

12. . . Qd7 13.Bd2 b5 14.Bd3 Nb6 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Rael a6?

Underestimating White's attack. Better is 16 . . . dxe5 17.fxe5 a6 with a difficult game for both sides.

17.exd6 exd6

18.Rxe6! Qxe6 No help is 18 . . . Nxe6 19.f5.

19.f5 g5 More resistance might be offered by 19 . . . gxf5 20.g4 Qf7 21 .Bxf5 h6 Smyslov, however, is still shaken by White's eighteenth move.

20.Nxg51 fxg5 21.Bxg5 Qd7 22.f6 Bh8

For the nonce Black has succeeded in staving off mate and holding on to his extra rook. But White's next squelches all hope.

23.Bf5 Ne6 After 23 . . . Qf7 24.Qg3 threatens a devastating discovered check.

24.Qg4 Kt7 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qg4 Kt7

" 27.Bxh71 Ke8 Forced. If 27 . . . Nxg5 28.Qh5+ Ke6 29.Bf5+ wins. White lost nothing by repeating moves and gaining time on the clock.

28.f7+ Rxf7 29.Bg6 Nd8

If 29 . . . Nxg5 30.Qxg5 regains the sacrificed material with dividends.

30.Qh5 Intensifying the pin and hitting the bishop as well.

30.. . Qe6

Larry Evans 135

A desperate attempt to make room for the king at d7. 30 . . . Bg7 loses to 3l .Bxd8.

31.Qxh8+ 32.Bxf7

Kd7 Resigns

After 32 . . . Nxf7 33.Qg7 Black must lose a piece.

Foguelman-Bronstein Amsterdam Interzonal, 1 964

Queen's Gambit Accepted

$ack's speculative pawn sacrifice in the opening pays dividends when White allows his queen to be cut off from the scene of action. Such gambles, however, rarely succeed against precise defense.

l.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6

Usually Black proceeds with 3 . . . a6 first, for reasons apparent in the note to Black's seventh move.

4.e3 Bg4!? More customary is 4 . . . e6 5 .Bxc4 c5. An interesting switch to the Grunfeld is possible with Smyslov's 4 . . . g6 5.Bxc4 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 (more active is 6 . . . c5 7.dxc5 Qc7) 7.Nc3 Nfd7 8.e4! Nb6 9.Be2 Bg4 10.Be3 Nc6 11 .d5 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Ne5 13.Be2 with initiative (Portisch-Gheorghiu, Havana 1966).

5.Bxc4 e6 6.Qb3

The acid test. Weaker is 5 .h3 Bh5 7.Nc3 a6 8.g4 Bg6 9.Ne5 Nfd7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 1 l .Qf3 Nc6 12.Bd2 Nb6= (Borisenko-Lutikov, USSR Championship 1968).

6... Bxf3 7.gxf3 c5!?

Had Black interpolated 3 . . . a6, he could now defend his b-pawn with either 7 . . . b5 or 7 . . . Ra7. Not appetizing is 7 . . . Qc8 (or 7 . . . b6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.d5

I :IC1 Modern Gbess Brilliancies

exd5 10.Nxd5 0-0 l l .Nxe7+) 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.e4 Nb6 10.Be2 Be7 1 l .Be3 0-0 12.Rc1 Qd7 13.0-0 with two bishops and a dominating center (EvansSimms, Hollywood 1954).

8.Qxb7 Nbd7

Should Black get away with this gambit? Admittedly White's king-side is busted and his queen has been plunged out of play; but he has the two bishops, and a pawn is a pawn is a pawn. Clearly Bronstein, since he is the stronger player, is "Laskerizing"-selecting a doubtful variation in order to mix it up. While playable, this capture only serves to develop Black's f8-bishop with a gain of time. More aggressive is 9.Rg1!

9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.f4 0-0 11.0-0?

An inaccuracy. Much safer is 1 l .Nc3 to prevent Black's next. 11.. . Nd5!

Now White's queen is barred from returning to the king-side. 12.Rd1

But this gives Black just the tempo he needs, justifying his speculative variation. Necessary is 12 .Bxd5 (or even 1 2.Nc3) Rb8 13.Qa6 exd5 14.Qe2 returning the queen where it is needed.

12 . . . 13.Qc6 14.Nc3

Rb8 Qh4

Not 14.Qxd7 Qg4+ 15.Kf1 Qxd1+. This theme also lingers in the sequence. 14. . . Rb6!

Equally convincing is 14 . . . Ne5! 1 5.fxe5 (or 15 .Qxc5 Rbc8) Nxc3 and if 16.bxc3 Qg4+ again picks up the rook with check.

15.Qxd7 Nxf4!

Larry Evans 137

16.Ne2 There is nothing better. If 16.Bfl (16.exf4? Qxf2+ 17.Khl Qf3 mate) 16 . . . Qg4+ 17.Khl Qf3+ 18.Kgl e5! and the threat of 19 . . . Rg6+ compels White to return the piece with 19.Ne2 Nxe2+ 20.Bxe2 Rg6+ 2l .Kfl Qhl+ mate.

16. . . Nh3+ 17.Kg2 Nxf2 18.Rd4

Again forced. If 18.Ng3 Nxdl 19.Qxdl Qxc4 wins. 18. . . Ng4 19.Rf4

If 19.Rxg4 Qxg4+ 20.Ng3 Qxc4 wins material.

On 22.Bxf4 Qf2 mate.

19. . . Qxh2+ 20.Kfl Bxe3 21.Bd5 Bxf4

Resigns

48 Reshevsky-Fischer

5th Match Game, 1 961 Queen's Gambit Decl ined

�pure excitement, it is difficult to match the "desperado" combinations which predominate in the middle game. Reshevsky emerges with the better of it, but the clock then proves to be his undoing.

l.d4 2.c4 3.Nc3 4.cxd5

Nf6 e6 d5 Nxd5

Of course 4 . . . exdS leading to the well-known Exchange Variation is a satisfactory alternative. But it "leads to the kind of wood pushing that always bored me"-Fischer.

5.Nf3 c5 6.e3 Nc6 7.Bd3 Be7

Another plan is 7 . . . cxd4 8.exd4 g6 9.h4!? (or 9.0-0 Bg7 10.Be4) h6. S.0-0 0-0 9.a3 cxd4

10.exd4 Nf6 R. Byrne-Bisguier, U.S. Championship 1964 continued 10 . . . Bd7 l l .Qc2 g6 12.Bh6 Re8 13.Ne4 Rc8 14.Qe2 fS 15 .Nc3 Bf6=.

ll.Bc2 More flexible is l l .Be3 followed by Qe2 and Radl.

11.. . b6 12.Qd3 Bb7 13.Bg5 g6 14.Rfel ReS 15.h4 ReS 16.Racl Nd5 17.Ne4 f5!?

Triggering incredible complications.

1S.Nc3 Bxg5 19.Nxg5!

Black had expected 19.hxg5 Nxc3 20.bxc3 NaS! threatening . . . Bxf3 and . . . QxgS.

19 . . . 20.Qe3 21.Nb51

Nf4 Qxd4 Qxe3

Best. Fischer gives 21 . . .QdS 22.Qxf4 QxbS 23.Nxe6 Qxb2 24.Qh6! with an irresistible attack.

22.fxe3 23.Kxg2 24.Be4!

Nxg2 Nd4+

Larry Evans 139

"I can still hear the audience gasping with each blow, thinking each of us had overlooked it in turn 'Fischer is winning!' 'Reshevsky is winning!' The true state of affairs will crystalize in a matter of moves."-Fischer.

24. . . Bxe4+ 25.Nxe4 Nxb5 26.Nf6+

White wins the exchange, but on f6 instead of d6! 26. . . Kf7 27.Nxe8 Rxe8 28.a4!

Inaccurate is 28.Redl Re7! and the knight clambers into the game via c7-d5.

28. . . Nd6 29.Rc7+ Kf6!

Black needs his rook and can ill afford 29 . . . Re7 30.Recl .

30.Recl! To maintain control of the c-file. On 30.Rxa7 Rc8!.

30. . . h6 31.Rxa7 Ne4 32.Ra6 RdS! 33.Rc2

The only way to keep winning chances. Fischer gives 33.Rxb6 Rd2+ 34.Kgl g5 35 .hxg5+ hxg5 36.Rcc6 g4 37.Rxe6+ Kg5 38.Rh6 f4= .

33. . . Rd3 34.Rxb6 Rxe3 35.a5 f4 36.Rf2?

Short of time, Reshevsky returns his material advantage and banks on his

1 · 1 1 I Modern Chess Brilliancies

queen-side pawns. But he should allow a draw with 36.a6! f3+ 37.Kfl Rd3, etc.

36. . . Nxf2 37.Kxf2

White is a pawn down but his queen-side pawns look dangerous. Indeed, how can Black get his rook back in time to stop them?

37. . . ReS! 38.b4 Re31 39.a6 Ra3

Now White is stymied and Black is ready to mobilize his king-side pawns. 40.Rc6?

The only hope is 40.b5, but this was the last move of the time control and White had to rely on instinct rather than calculation.

40.. . gS 4t.hxgS+ hxgS 42.bS g4 43.Rc8

Against 43.Rcl Fischer gives g3+ 44.Kgl Ra2! 45.Rbl f3 46.b6 Rg2+ 47.Kfl Rh2! 48.Kel Rhl+ 49.Kd2 Rxbl 50.a7 f2 5l .a8=Q fl l=Q and wins, since White has no perpetual.

43... KfS 44.b6 g3+ 4S.Kel

Or 45.Kg2 Ra2+ 46.Kgl f3 with a mating net. 45. . . Rat+ 46.Ke2 g2 47.Rf8+ Ke4 48.Rxf4+ Kxf4 49.b7 gl=Q

Larry Evans 141

Sharper is 49 . . . Ke4! 50.b8=Q Ra2+ 5 1 .K-any gl=Q+ mate! The text also wins-by a hair.

50.b8=Q+ Kf5 51.Qf8+ Ke4 52.Qa8+

If 52.Qf3+ Ke5 53.Qc3+ Qd4 54.Qg3+ Kd5 55.Qf3+ Qe4+ leads to the same fate.

52 . . . 53.Qd8+ 54.Qd3+ 55.Qc3+ 56.Qd2+ 57.Qb2+

Resigns

Kd4 Kc4 Kc5 Kd6 Ke5 Kf5

After 58.Qb5+ Kf6 59.Qb2+ e5 White no longer has any checks and Black's material superiority holds sway.

49 Keres-Y. Geller

8th Match Game, 1 965 Queen's Gambit Declined

f!i:e hallmark of the artist is simplicity. Keres' deceptively effortless attack comes like a storm out of a still blue sky.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5

The semi-Tarrasch Defense. Black recaptures with his knight, to avoid an isolated d-pawn. A good example of the type of play that results is PetrosianSpassky, 18th Match Game 1969 5 . . . exd5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 l l .Be3 ReS 12 .Rcl Bf8 13.Nb3 Be6 14.Nb5 Bg4 1 5.h3 Bf5 16.N5d4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Bd7 18.Qb3 Qa5 and it proved impossible for White to capitalize on his slight positional advantage.

6.e3

1 · 1 .! /1 /ot/('1'1/ (:/.Jess llrilliancies

(u:·i Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ permits Black to simplify, yet has been revived by Spassky.

6. . . Nc6 7.Bc4

Introduced by Botvinnik against Alekhine AVR.O. 1938.

7.. . Nxc3 This exchange tends to give White's center a momentary stability. An alternative is 7 . . . cxd4 8.exd4 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 as in the aforementioned game; now 10 . . . a6 (instead of Alekhine's 10 . . . b6) should equalize.

8.bxc3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0

10.e4 b6 ll.Bb2 Bb7 12.Qe2 Na5 13.Bd3 ReS 14.Radl cxd4

Opening the game rebounds to White's favor. Better is 14 . . . Qc7 awaiting further developments.

15.cxd4 Bb4 Threatening 16 . . . Bc3. One way now for White to maintain the tension is 16.Qe3 Bc3 17.Ba3. Keres chooses a more direct approach.

16.d5! exd5 On 16 . . . Qe7 17.Nd4 intensifies the pressure. (17 . . . exd5? 18.Nf5)

17.exd5 Qe7? To meet the threat of 28.Qe4. The obvious stopper is 17 . . . Bc3 (not 17 . . . Re8 18.Ne5! with the added attraction of Qh5) 18.Bxc3 Rxc3 19.Rfel . White's control of the central files is clear, but not decisive.

18.Ne5 f6 If 18 . . . Bd6 19.Qh5 g6 (or 19 . . . h6 20.Qf5; or 19 . . .f5 20.Bxf5 Bxe5? 21 .Bxh7+ mates) 20.Ng4! f6 (forced) 21 .Qh4!.

19.Qh5 20.Nxg6! 21.Bxg6

g6 hxg6

Larry Evans 143

White's major threat is to strengthen his attack with 22.Rd4 (or d3).

Loses quickly. 21. . . Qg7

21 . . . Rc7 22.d6! Bxd6 23.Rd3 leaves Black's defenses in tangles. And 21 . . .Ba6 allows White the option of 22.Bf5 or 22.d6.

Another try is 21 . . .Nc4 22.Rd3 Nxb2 23.Rg3 Qg7 but 24.Bh7+ Kh8 25.Bf5+ mates in three.

22.Rd3 Bd6 23.f4 Qh8 24.Qg4 Bc5+ 25.Khl Rc7 26.Bh7+!

In such positions combinations come of themselves. 26. . . Kf7 27.Qe6+ Kg7 28.Rg3+ Resigns

50 Averbach-Estrin

Moscow Championship, 1 964 Queen's Gambit Declined

�pared variations play an increasing role in modern competition. Here the novelty is White's ninth move, which poses problems.

l.d4 d5

2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 dxc4

The Vienna Variation gives rise to tricky complications. 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4

The main line is 7.e5 cxd4 8.Qa4+ Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bd7 10.Ne4 Be7 1 1 .exf6 gxf6 12.Bh4 Rc8 13.Kb1 Na5 14.Qc2, where White's piece outweighs Black's pawns (Fine-Euwe, A.V.R.O. 1938).

7 ... 8.Nxd4

cxd4 Qc7

Meets with a stunning rebuff. Alternatives are 8 . . . Bxc3+ or 8 . . . Nbd7 or 8 . . . Qa5 9.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ l l .Kf1 Qxc4+ 12.Kg1 0-0 13.Qg4 g6 14.Qf4 Nd7 1 5.e5 Nxf6 16.exf6 Kh8 17.Rc1 e5! 18.Qh6 Qxc1 + 19.Qxcl exd4 20.h4 Bf5 draw agreed (Trifunovich-Gligoric, Mar Del Plata 1953).

9.Qb3! Bxc3+ On 9 . . . Nxe4 10.Qxb4 Nxg5 1 1 .0-0 White threatens 12.h4 trapping the knight, as well as 1 2.Ncb5. And after 9 . . . Qc5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 1 1 .0-0 Qxd4 12.Qxb4 Nc6 13.Qb3 White stands better-e.g. , 13 . . . Na5 (or 1 3 . . . 0-0 14.Rad1) 14.Bb5+.

10.Qxc3 Nxe4?

Underestimating White's fatal reply. No better is 10 . . . Nbd7 1 1 .Nb5 Qc6 1 2.Qa3!. The best chance is 10 . . . Qe5.

ll.Nb51 Qc5 12.Qxg7 Rf8 13.Bh6 Qxf2+

13 . . . Nd7 14.Rcl a6 (14 . . . Qxf2+ would lead to the game) is a better defensive try.

14.Kdl Nd7 15.Rel Nef6 t6.Bxe6 Qxb2

16 . . . fxe6 allows mate in two. 17.Rcl Resigns

Larry Evans 145

17 . . . fxe6 still allows mate in two. And 17 . . . Qxb5 18.Bc4+ wins the queen. Finally, if 17 . . . Kd8, 18.Bxd7 wins. Piquant.

Szabo-Sigurjonsson Reykjavik, 1 968

Queen's Gambit Declined

d.leeping beauty. Black's pieces spring to life after the prick of his twenty-first move, which spectacularly opens diagonals for his hemmed-in bishops.

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6

Diverting the game from a Slav Defense into the Gambit Declined, which has the drawback of bottling up Black's c8-bishop. The alternative 4 . . . dxc4 is also playable.

5.e3 White would probably prefer to develop his bishop with 5.Bg5 first, but this could get messy after 5 . . . dxc4 (or 5 . . . h6!) 6.e4 bS 7.e5 h6 leading to

I · I (> Modern Chess Brilliancies

wcll-kn<>wn complications. 5 . . . 6.Bd3 7.Bxc4 8.Be2

Nbd7 dxc4 b5

And now play has transposed into the Meran Variation. More customary is 8.Bd3, but White has a twist in mind.

8... Bb7 9.a3

This is it. After b4, White hopes to render Black's c1-bishop lifeless, even if he must neglect the center temporarily to do so.

9... a6 9 . . . Bd6 seems more natural, with the idea of meeting 10.b4 with . . . aS (thus saving a tempo). However, Black's strategy is to permit White to achieve a bind on the queen-side and counterpunch in the center.

10.b4 Bd6 Szabo-Wade, Haifa 19S8, continued: 10 . . . aS 1 1 .Rb1 axb4 12 .axb4 NdS 13.NxdS exdS 14.0-0 Bd6 1 S.Bd3 0-0 16.Qc2 h6=.

11.0-0 0-0 12.Bd2

Too passive. Correct is 12.e4 eS 13.BgS. 12... Qe7 13.Qc2 e5 14.Rae1

White's pieces are awkwardly placed. He must be alert to the threat of . . . aS as well as to a break in the center. His entire opening concept is dubious.

14 . . . Rac8 14 . . . aS also merits consideration.

15.Ng5 h6 16.Nge4 Bb8 17.Ng3

More active is 17 .f4!? exd4 18.exd4 Qd8 but White did not care to isolate his d-pawn in such a fashion.

17 . . . 18.Nf5 19.dxe5?

Rfe8 Qe6

Ill-conceived and relinquishing his absolute control over Black's cS. Necessary is 19.f4.

19. . . Nxe5 20.Nd4 Qd7 21.Nb3

Larry Evans 147

Apparently all is well. White seems to have retained his grip on c5. 21.. . c5!

This surprising stroke refutes White's earlier strategy.

Not 24.gxf3? Qh3.

22.Nxc5 Rxc5! 23.bxc5 Nf3+! 24.Bxf3

24. . . Bxf3 25.Ne2

Forced. Again if 25.gxf3? Qh3 26.f4 Ng4 mates. 25. . . Ne41 26.Ng3

Best. If 26.Bcl Ng5! 27.Nf4 Qg4 is decisive. Also on 26.Nd4 Bxh2+! 27.Kxh2 Bxg2! 28.Kxg2 Qg4+ 29.Kh2 Re5 is the finishing touch.

26. . . Nxd2 27.gxf3

Of no avail is 27.Rdl Bxdl 28.Rxdl Rd8. 27.. . Nxf3+ 28.Kg2 Qc6! 29.e4 Nxel+ 30.Rxel Bxg3 31.hxg3 Re5

This timely simplification nets a pawn and the outcome no longer is in doubt.

32.Rdl Rxc5 33.Rd8+ Kh7


34.Qe2 35.Rd4 36.Rxc4 37.Qxc4 38.Kf3 39.exf5 40.Ke4

f5 Rc4 Qxc4 bxc4 g5 h5 c3

Resigns When he stops the passed pawn with 41 .Kd3, Black simply creates another one after 41 . . . h4.

52 Larsen-Mantanovic

Zagreb, 1 965 Queen's Gambit Decl ined

� serene game is typical of modern chess. Black holds his own until an oversight leads to a shattering denouement.

l.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 Nbd7 7.Nbd2

By transposition, a Catalan System. Some masters prefer 7.Nc3 which would lead to sharp complications after dxc4 8.e4 c5 9.d5 exd5 10.e5, etc.

7.. . c6 Solid. But 7 . . . b6 at once is preferable, to profit from White's last, which exerted no pressure on d5.

8.b3 9.Bb2

b6 Bb7

lO.Rcl ReS ll.e3 dxc4

This position also occurred in Keres-Ragozin, U.S.S.R. Championship 1947, where Black opted for 11 . . . Rc7 with the idea of . . . Qa8 followed by . . . Rfc8 and . . . c5.

12.Nxc4 c5 13.Qe2 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Nc5 t6.Rfel

Larry Evans 149

More natural seems 16.Rfdl . White has a slight advantage in space, but the game has an essentially drawish character due to the symmetrical pawn formation (2 versus 2 on the queen-side, 4 versus 4 on the king-side) .

16. . . Qd5+ 17.f3 Rfd8 1S.e4 Qb7 19.Ne5 BiB 20.Rc2 ReS

Black may be lulled into a false sense of security by the absence of any direct threat. Better is 20 . . . a5 to ease the pressure. But not 20 . . . Nfd7 21 .Nec6 Rxc6? 22.Nxc6 Qxc6 23.b4 winning the exchange.

21.Recl Nfd7 22.Ng4

Black has virtually equalized; only by moves like this can White maintain his edge.

22... Na6 23.a3 NabS 24.Rc4 a6 25.Qc2 Rxc4 26.Qxc4 b5 27.Qc3

White has won the stmggle for control of the c-file, but it is doubtful that this has any great significance. After 27.Qc7 Qxc7 28.Rxc7 Bd6 a draw could be agreed upon.

27. . . b4

I 'iO Modern Chess Brilliancies

28.axb4 Bxb4 More prudent is 28 . . . Qxb4. Black slowly drifts into trouble.

29.Qe3 Be7 Not 29 . . . Rc8? 30.Qg5! with an attack out of the blue-e. g., 30 . . . Rxcl (or 30 . . . f6 3l .Nh6+ Kh8 32.Nxe6!) 3 l .Nxe6! Rc2+ 32.Kh3 Bf8 33.Nh6+ Kh8 34.Qxg7 mates.

30.Rc4 Planning to resume control of the file with the rook in front of the queen. It is understandable that Black busies himself with this positional threat, overlooking the combinative point which it contains.

30. . . ReS? Tired of prolonged defense, Black misses the right move 30 . . . Nf6.

31.Nxe6! "This is one of the most difficult two-move combinations ever seen in a practical game; not only because 31 . . . fxe6 32.Qc3 would win, but because of the alternative variation, which actually comes about" (Chess, a British magazine).

31... Rxc4 32.Nh6+! Resigns

Mate is unavoidable after 32 . . . gxh6 (or 32 . . . Kh8 33.Bxg7 mate) 33.Qxh6.

53 D. Byrne-Bisguier

U. S. Championship, 1 96 7 Queen's Gambit Declined

Larry Evans 151

('('�en you don't know what to do, wait for your opponent to get an idea, " advised the wily Dr. Tarrasch; "it's sure to be bad!" Here White's fixation with winning a pinned piece proves to be his undoing.

l.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Nf3 dS 4.Bg2 Be7 S.d4 0-0 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.cxd5

Black's stodgy setup has led by transposition into the Catalan System. Better is 7.b3, since the text frees Black's "problem child," his c8-bishop.

7.. . exdS 8.Nc3 c6 9.Qc2 ReS

10.a3 a5 And now the game has assumed the characteristics of the Exchange Variation.

ll.Bg5 Nb6 12.Radl Nc4 13.Ne5!?

White should now strive for e4 by playing 13.Rfel first. 13... Nd6

Perfectly good is 13 . . . Nxe5 14.dxe5 Ng4 15.Bf4 g5 16.Bcl Nxe5 17.e4 d4. 14.f3 Nd7 15.Bf4?

More consistent is 15 .Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nxd7 Qe3+ 17.Rf2 Bxd7 18.Rd3 Qe7 (18 . . . Bf5 19.Rxe3 Bxc2 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21 .e4) 19.e4 with chances for initiative.

15 . . . Nxe5

I "i l MudC'rn Chess Brilliancies

16.dxe5 Qb6+ 17.Khl Nc4 18.Na4 Qb5 19.e4 dxe4 20.Rfel

The die is cast. White prepares the seemingly devastating threat of Bfl . 20. . . Be6

More forcing is 20 . . . exf3 2l .Bfl Be6 transposing into the game. 2l.Bfl

Consistent. The consequences of 2l .Rxe4 Nxa3 22.bxa3 Bb3 are ramified, but seem to favor Black.

21... exf3 22.Re4

Winning the knight, but now Black's counterplay begins in earnest. 22.Rd4 would have been met by . . . f2.

22... Rad8! 23.Rbl

Not 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Bxc4 Bxc4 25 .Rxc4 Qxc4! (the saving clause) 26.Qxc4 Rdl mates.

23. . . g5 24.Rxc4

The point is 24.Bcl Nxa3! wins. 24. . . gxf4 25.gxf4

There is no hope after 25.Rxf4 Qxe5. 25... Qd5!

Avoiding the snare 25 . . . Bxc4? 26.Bxc4 Rd2 27.Qe4 Qxa4 28.Bxf7+ winning the queen.

26.Nb6 Qd2 27.Qe4 Qf2 28.Rc2

To prevent . . . Rd2, but now he loses the knight. 28. . . Qxb6 29.Bd3 Rxd3 30.Qxd3 Bd5 31.h3 Kh.S 32.Rfl Rg8

Larry Evans 153

Black's two bishops are just too powerful. White could resign here.

33.Rcf2 Rg3 34.Kh2 Rg2+ 35.Rxg2 fxg2 36.Rgl Qxgl +! Resigns

Of course 37.Kxgl Bc5+ leads to mate.

54 Tai-Hecht

Varna Olympics, 1 962 Queen's Indian Defense

�er fantasy! Tal keeps finding an array of bewildering and unpre-dictable moves. His opponent finally drops from sheer exhaustion.

l.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+

Also played frequently is 7 . . . g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 with chances for both sides.

8.bxc3 9.Nd2

10.{3 ll.e4 12.Bd3

d6 e5 Qe7 Nbd7 Nf8

I 'I I " '' "''''''' r :h, ·.�s /tr/11/undes

1 1 1 1 1 ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1� . . . �'i and . . . Ng6 with the initiative. 13.c5!?

l l h rasharp. If now 13 . . . g5 14.Bb5+ ! c6 15.cxd6 Qxd6 16.Nc4 transforms the position drastically. A steadier course is 13.Nfl .

13. . . dxc5 On 13 . . . bxc5! Tal said he was considering 14.d5, with control of c4 and b5, and possibilities of exploiting the open b-file. This is extremely unclear.

14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Qa4+

Surprising moves follow each other with increasing regularity. Tal is determined to keep the initiative come hell or high water.

15... c6 Tal said that on the better 15 . . . N8d7 he intended 16.Qc2-the two bishops plus the mobile center would be compensation for the pawn. But his assessment is too optimistic.

16.0-0 Ng6 If 16 . . . Qxc3 17.Nc4 (or 17.Ba6) Qxd3 18.Rad1 b5 19.Rxd3 bxa4 20.Nd6+ Ke7 2l .Nf5+! puts Black's king in a vise.

17.Nc4 Tal had an acute problem choosing the best order of moves. On 17.Bg3 Qe7 18.Nc4 b5 follows.

17. . . Qe6 18.e5 b5 19.exf6!

An unexpected queen sacrifice--only the beginning. 19.. . bxa4

If 19 . . . 0-0, Tal considered 20.Rael strongest, as after 20 . . . Qxe1 (If 20 . . . Qd5 21 .Qc2 Nxh4 22.Ne5 leads to a powerful attack.) 2l .Rxel bxa4 22.Bxg6

Larry Evans 1 55

fxg6 23.Re7, Black cannot go in for 23 . . . Rf7,because of 24.Nd6! . 20.fxg7 RgS

Now how is Tal to continue? 2l .Rael? 2l.Bf5!

With only a bishop as material compensation for the queen, White gives that away as well!

21 . . . Nxh4 Black goes rightly about his business and captures everything in sight. If 21 . . .Qxc4 22.Rfel+ Qe6 23.Rxe6+! fxe6 24.Bxg6+ Kd7 25.Rdl+ Kc7 26.Bg3+ with a decisive attack-e.g. , 26 . . . Kc8 (or 26 . . . Kb6 27.Rbl + leading to mate) 27.Bf7! . If 2l . . .Qxf5 22.Nd6+ Kd7 23.Nxf5 defends the bishop and keeps the initiative.

22.Bxe6 Ba6! 22 . . . fxe6 23.Nd6+ Ke7 24.Nxb7 Rxg7 25.g3 leaves Black's pawns scattered and weak.

23.Nd6+ Ke7 24.Bc4

White saves his piece in the nick of time. Incredible. 24. . . Rxg7 25.g3 Kxd6 26.Bxa6 Nf5?

It is a pity that after defending so well Black falters in the absence of a threat. After 26 . . . Rb8 he could hardly lose; his extra pawn, though weak and doubled, is a safety factor.

27.Rabl 2S.Rfdl+ 29.Rel+ 30.Kf2

f6 Ke7 Kd6 c4

Returning the pawn in order to squirm out of a potential mating net.

31.g4 Ne7 32.Rb7 RagS 33.Bxc4 Nd5 34.Bxd5 cxd5 35.Rb4 ReS 36.Rxa4 Rxc3 37.Ra6+ Kc5

37 . . . Rc6 38.Rxc6+ Kxc6 39.Re6+ with 40.Rxf6 next wins.

1 ' •1 • 11/url!'m Chess Brilliancies

38.Rxf6 h5 39.h3 hxg4 40.hxg4 Rh7 41.g5 Rh5 42.Rf5 Rc2+

The sealed move. White's connected pawns are decisive. 43.Kg3 Kc4 44.Ree5 d4 45.g6 Rhl 46.Rc5+ Kd3 47.Rxc2 Kxc2 48 . .Kf4 Rgl 49.Rg5 Resigns

55 Benko-Horowitz

U. S. Championship, 1 968 Reti Opening

�ack single-mindedly pursues a consistent strategical idea-the exploitation of White's weak square b3. This obsession proves to be his downfall, since White's beautiful tactics prevail on the other wing.

l.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3 Nf6 4.g3 e6

Larry Evans I 'i7

A similar position arose in Reti-Emanuel Lasker, New York 1924, where Black chose the more enterprising 4 . . . Bf5.

Black, of course, rejects 4 . . . Bg4 5.Bg2 Bxf3 6.Bxf3 dxc4 7.bxc4 Qd4 8.Qb3 Qxa1 9.Qxb7 Kd8 (forced) 10.0-0, etc.

The text is extremely passive. 4 . . . g6 comes into consideration. 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Bb2 0-0 7.0-0 a5 8.a3 c5!?

An obvious loss of time, since the pawn has taken two moves to reach a square it could have reached in one. But Black has a plan to exploit the supposed weakness on White's b3; he manages to do so, but at heavy cost.

Better is 8 . . . Nbd7. But not 8 . . . a4 9.b4 dxc4 10.Ne5, regaining the pawn favorably.

9.cxd5 exd5 10.d4 Na6

A strange place for the knight, but consistent. 10 . . . b6 is more flexible. ll.Nc3 Bf5

In a roundabout way the opening has transposed into a sort of Tarrasch Defense to the queen's Gambit, with the difference that Black's b8 knight is on a6 instead of c6.

12.Ne5! cxd4 13.Qxd4 Nc5

Apparently White has fallen into a trap and left his b3 pawn vulnerable. If he is obliged to retreat with 14.Qd1 Black would have every reason to be satisfied with his game after 14 . . . Qb6 1 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Rad8.

14.Nxd5! Nxb3 15.Qf4!

I .,H Mud£'rrl Chess Brilliancies

Interesting but insufficient is 1 5.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Qf4 Nxal 17.Qxf5 Nb3 18.Ng4 Nxg4! 19.Qxg4 g6 20.Qf4 Rfe8 2l .Bd5 a4-Benko.

15... Nxd5? Black's last chance to avoid the combination is 15 . . . Bc2 16.Nxe7+ (16.Radl!? Bxdl 17.Rxdl Kh8! holds) 16 . . . Qxe7 17.Rael Rfd8 with fair chances of survival.

16.Qxf5 17.Nxf71

Nxa1

The killer. After this unexpected sortie, Black has no valid defense. He was hoping for 17.Rdl Ne3! .

17 . . . QcS 17 . . . Nc7 is refuted by 18.Be4! (bringing the fianchettoed bishop to the center to strengthen the kingside attack is an Alekhine trademark and appears in a number of his famous games) 18 . . . Ra6 19.Qh5! Rh6 20.Qxh6! with a convincing advantage.

17 . . . Rxf7 18.Bxd5 is equally hopeless, so Black decides to die with his boots on.

18.Nh6+! KhS 19.Qxd5 Nc2

Not that it matters at this point, but 19 . . . Qe8 20.Rxa1 would have thwarted the primitive sequel.

20.Qg8+! Resigns The banal smothered mate after 20 . . . Rxg8 2l .Nf7+ mate.

Larry Evans 159

56 Fischer-Stein

Sousse Interzonal, 1 96 7 Ruy Lopez

A violent clash of wills between the American and Soviet Champions. Fischer's prosecution of the attack is crowned by the brilliant offer of a bishop, which is declined, carrying the struggle into the endgame.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Rel b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3

The attempt to dispense with this prophylactic move, which prepares d4 by preventing the pin on g4 has not fared too well. Fischer-Korchnoi, Stockholm 1962 went 9.d4 Bg4 10.Be3 exd4 (also good is 10 . . . d5) 1 1 .cxd4 Na5 12.Bc2 Nc4 (also playable is 12 . . . c5) 13.Bcl c5 14.b3 Na5 15.d5 Nd7 16.Nbd2 Bf6 and Black's queen-side counterplay is sufficient.

9... Bb7 An unusual sideline. The better known sequence is 9 . . . Na5 10.Bc2 c5, etc. The text possibly commits the bishop prematurely.

10.d4 Na5 ll.Bc2 Nc4 12.b3 Nb6 13.Nbd2 Nbd7

More active is 13 . . . exd4 14.cxd4 c5. 14.b4!

Prevents . . . c5 and prepares a dominating buildup with 15 .Bb2 followed by c4.

14. . . exd4 15.cxd4 as t6.bxa5 c5

I c,o Modern Chess Brilliancies

Inferior is 16 . . . Rxa5 17.d5! c5 1S.dxc6 e.p. Bxc6 19.Nd4 after which White has a target against the isolated b-pawn.

17.e5 dxe5 It is hard to say whether Black would do better with 17 . . . NeS in order to liquidate both White's center pawns.

18.dxe5 19.Ne4

Nd5 Nb4!

Not 19 . . . Rxa5 20.Neg5! h6 2l .Qd3 g6 22.Ne6! wins-Fischer.

"The idea is to force the bishop to retreat and thereby hem in White's a 1-rook"-Fischer.

20.Bbl Rxa5 21.Qe2

Inc

.

re�ng the pressure. Not 2l .e6 fxe6 22.Neg5? (22.Nfg5 Bd5 23.Nxh7 Rf5! �5! holds) 22 . . . Bxf3 23.Nxf3 Bf6 wins-Fischer.

21... Nb6? Stein commits the strategical error of so pressing on the queen-side as to allow White to become entrenched on the opposite wing. Black should take time out to safeguard his king-side with 21 . . .ReS followed by . . . NfS. (Unfortunately Black's King lives there.)

22.Nfg5 Bxe4 Fischer gives 22 . . . g6 (or 22 . . . h6 23.Nh7! ReS 24.Nhf6+! Bxf6 25.Nxf6� 26.exf6 winning the exchange) 23.e6! f5 24.Nf7 followed by Bb2 with a crushing attack.

23.Qxe4 g6 24.Qh4 h5 25.Qg3 Nc4 26.Nf3?

Keres recommends 26.Nxf7!? Rxf7 27.Bxg6, but Black might hold after 27 . . . Rg7 2S.Bh6@

Larry Evans 161

More forcing is Fischer's suggestion 26.e6! f5 27.Nf3 transposing into the actual game. The point becomes apparent in the note to Black's move 28.

26. . . Kg7

Keres again recommends 26 . . . Nd3 27.Bxd3 (not 27.Rdl Nxcl! and White has nothing) 27 . . . Qxd3; but again Fischer points out that after 28.Bg5! White penetrates decisively on the weak dark squares.

27.Qf4 RhS 28.e6!

"This blow rocks the remnants of the tower around the Black king"Gligoric.) Most commentators were impressed by this stmggle, and it was voted the best game of 1967 by the jury of the prestigious Chess Informant.

28. . . f5? Fischer maintains that Black could offer stiffer resistance with 28 . . . Bf6! 29.exf7 Bxal 30.f8=Q+! Qxf8 3l .Qc7+ Kg8 32.Bxg6 Nd5 33.Qb7 Nf6 34.Bf4 Rh7! 35.Bxh7+ Nxh7 36.Qd5+ Qf7 37.Qxf7+ Kxf7 38.Rxal with an extra pawn-but a tough ending to win.

29.Bxf5!

29. .. QfS The only reasonable way to decline the offer. R. Byrne points out that 29 . . . Bd6 is refuted by 30.e7! Bxf4 (or 30 . . . Bxe7 3l .Qg3 Ra6 32.Ng5) 3 l .exd8=Q Rxd8 32.Bxf4 gxf5 33.Bc7! wins.

On 29 . . . gxf5 White wins rapidly with 30.Qg3+ Kh7 (30 . . . Kf8 3l .Qg6 Qe8 32.Bh6+) 3l .Ng5+! Bxg5 32.Bxg5 Qd3 33.Qc7+ Kg6 34.Qf7+! Kxg5 35.Qg7+ Kf4 36.Radl !-Fischer.

30.Be4? In the heat of battle White misses the clincher 30.Nh4! Bxh4 3 l .Qxh4 Qxf5 32.Qe7+ Kg8 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qc7+ Kg8 35.e7, etc.

I (J2 Modern Chess Brilliancies

30. . . Qxf4 31.Bxf4 ReS?

A better try is 31 . . .Rxa2, but Black was in extreme time trouble. Now White wins material and the rest, though still difficult, enters the realm of technique.

32.Radl Ra6 33.Rd7 Rxe6 34.Ng5 Rf6

Also lost is 34 . . . Ra6 35 .Bbl Kf6 36.Ne4+ Kf7 37.Nxc5. 35.Bf3! Rxf4 36.Ne6+ Kf6 37.Nxf4 Ne5 38.Rb7 Bd6 39.Kfl Nc2

Also insufficient is 39 . . . Nxf3 40.Rxe8 Nd2+ 41 .Ke2 Bxf4 42.Rf8+ Kg5 43.Rxf4 Kxf4 44.Kxd2.

40.Re4 Nd4 41.Rb6 Rd8 42.Nd5+ Kf5 43.Ne3+ Ke6 44.Be2 Kd7 45.Bxb5+ Nxb5 46.Rxb5 Kc6 47.a4 Bc7 48.Ke2 g5 49.g3 Ra8 50.Rb2 Rf8 51.f4 gxf4 52.gxf4 Nf7 53.Re6+ Nd6

If 53 . . . Bd6 54.Rf6! puts an end to all resistance. 54.f5 Ra8 55.Rd2 Rxa4 56.f6 Resigns

Larry Evans 163

5 7 Tai-Giigoric

1 st Match Game, 1 968 Ruy Lopez

�s still dangerous, although he has lost a lot of his old fire. Here he tries to land a roundhouse blow but is frustrated by a ruthlessly precise defense.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 h6

This and the following were introduced by Smyslov. Black's idea is to hold the center by . . . Re8 and . . . Bf8, while preventing the reply Ng5.

10.d4 ReS ll.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Nfl Bb7 13.Ng3 Na5 14.Bc2 Nc4 15.a4

This idea was adopted in the 1st Match Game, Evans-Lombardy, 1962. An alternative is 15 .Bd3 Nb6 16.Bd2 awaiting developments.

15... d5 16.b3

After 16.exd5 exd4, Black draws without difficulty (Stein-Spassky, Amsterdam 1964).

16 . . . 17.Nxe4 18.Bxe4

dxe4 Nxe4

Stein-Reshevsky, Los Angeles 1968, went: 18.Rxe4!? Bxe4! (18 . . . f5? 19.Rel e4 20.bxc4 exf3 2 l .axb5 with a great advantage) 19.Bxe4 Nb6 20.Bxa8

I 64 Modern Chess Brilliancies

Nxa8 21 .axb5 axb5 22.Be3 exd4 23.Nxd4 Qd5 and the game was shortly drawn.

18... Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Qd5 20.Rg4

A wild try for the advantage. On 20.Rel Na5 21 .axb5 Nxb3 22.Rxa6 exd4! equalizes.

20. . . Na5 21.Bxh6 Nxb3

22.Ra3!? Mixing it up. The 5th match game was quickly drawn after 22.Rbl bxa4 23.Nxe5 Qe6! 24.Qf3 c5, etc.

22. . . bxa4 The rook is untouchable-22 . . . Bxa3? 23.Rxg7+ Kh8 24.Ng5 Re7 25.Qh5 wins. But 22 . . . Nc5 23.axb5 f5 merits consideration.

23.Rxa4 Rab8 24.Rxa6

Not the best. After the game Gligoric suggested 24.Qfl , and Tal thought that 24.Be3 was right.

24. . . exd4 Possibly stronger is 24 . . . Ra8.

25.cxd4? After 25.Nxd4 Nxd4 26.Qxd4 Qxd4 27.cxd4 White is a pawn ahead in the ending, but Tal thought there were too many technical difficulties to force a win; however, that was the path he should have taken.

25... c5 Much stronger is 25 . . . Ra8! when White must address himself to the threat of . . . Ral as well as . . . c5 and . . .f5.

26.Be3 Rb4

27.Rg5 Qb7 28.Rh6! Nxd4

Larry Evans 165

Simpler was 28 . . . g6; White then must sacrifice a rook on g6 to obtain a draw.

29.Nxd4 Rbl 30.Bcl Qb2

Finally Black starts playing for the win. On 30 . . . cxd4 31 .Qh5! Rxcl + 32.Kh2 Bd6+ 33.Rxd6 Qc7 34.Qh6! retains the edge.

31.Qh5? A faulty combination, which nearly succeeds. Correct is 31 .Nb3 Qe2 (31 . . . Qxb3 allows 32.Qh5!) 32.Qd5, with a keen struggle.

31... Qxcl+ 32.Kh2 Bd6+ 33.Rxd6 Qf4+ 34.Rg3 Qxd6 35.Nf5

White's attack looks formidable. Alas, fortune does not always favor the brave.

35... Reel! This is what Tal must have overlooked. The mate threat compels White to engage in unfavorable simplifications.

36.Qxf7+ 37.Nxd6+ 38.Rg6+ 39.Nf5 40.Ne3+

Kxf7 Ke6 Kd5 Rb7 Rxe3!

Very pretty. Black eliminates all technical problems. 41.fxe3 Rc7 42.Kg3 c4


43.Kf4 c3 44.e4+ Kc4 45.Ra6 c2 46.Ral Kd3

Resigns

58 lvkov-Donner

Havana, 1 965 Ruy Lopez

(' � is the kind of game that I always admire: a new idea in the opening, an excellent conception of the middle game and, finally, a spectacular king-side attack involving some sacrifices"-Rossolimo.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4

After a long interment the Open Defense has achieved sporadic popularity. One reason is that the Closed Variation has been analyzed to death.

6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Qe2 Nc5

lO.Rdl Nxb3 ll.cxb31?

An original idea, good for surprise value. A thwarted brilliancy with important theoretical implications occurred in Rogoff-Tarjan, U.S. Junior Championship 1968, after the usual 1 1 .axb3 Qc8 1 2.c4 dxc4 13.bxc4 Bxc4 14.Qe4 Nb4 15.Na3 Bb3 16.Nxb5!? Rb8 (an improvement over 16 . . . Bxd1 17.Nxc7+ Qxc7 18.Qxa8+ Kd7 19.Bg5 Gipslis-Haag, Asztalos Memorial 1964) 17.Nd6+ cxd6 18.exd6+ Qe6 19.d7+ Kd8 20.Bg5+ f6 21 .Qf4 Qb6! (and not 21 . . .Rb7? 22.Nd4!) with Black on top.

11.. . Be7

Larry Evans 167

Perhaps Black should regroup with 11 . . . NbS 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nc3 c6.

12.Nc3 0-0 13.Be3 Na5 14.Racl Nb7 15.Ne4 Bg4

Black's problem is the inability to enforce . . . c5. If 15 . . . Rc8 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.Bxc5 c6 18.Nd4 is too powerful.

16.h3 Bxf3 Weak is 16 . . . Bf5 17.Ng3 Bg6 18.Qd2 Be4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qc2, etc.

17.Qxf3 c6?

Black was hoping for 18.Rxc6? Qe8 winning a piece. However he should hasten to simplify with 17 . . . dxe4 18.Rxd8 exf3 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.Rxc7 Bd6! 21 .exd6 Nxd6 22.gxf3 Nf5 23.a4 g6 24.Rb7 Nxe3 25.fxe3 Rc8 26.axb5 axb5 27.Rxb5 Rc2, with a theoretically drawn ending.

18.Ng3 18.. . ReS 19.Nf5 g6?

The last chance to defend was with 18 . . . Kh8 20.Qg3 Rg8; although White has a firm grip there would be no immediate way to win. The text allows a brilliant conclusion.

20.Rxd5! Qe8 Hopeless, as is 20 . . . cxd5 21 .Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Nxe7+.

He's had enough. 21.Bh6 Resigns


59 Tal-Keres

Moscow, 1 96 7 Ruy Lopez

(1}espite the firm advocacy of Tarrasch and Euwe, the Open Defense has never enjoyed a wide following. Here Black uncorks an improvement that gives him a won game before Tal can even get the pieces out.

l.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.BbS a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 S.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 bS 7.Bb3 dS

It is not advisable for Black to vary from the ordained sequence. Trifunovic tried to rehabilitate 7 . . . exd4 against Fischer at Bled 1961 and met with a rebuff after 8.Re1 d5 9.Nc3 Be6 10.Nxe4 dxe4 1 l .Rxe4 Be7 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nxd4 0-0 14.Qg4 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Qc8 16.Re4 Rf6 17.Be3. Black's neurotic e6-pawn could not be cured.

S.dxeS Be6 9.Qe2 Be7

10.c3 0-0 ll.Bc2?

Bronstein has had some success with this rare attempt to dislodge the knight, avoiding simplifications of the usual l l .Nbd2.

11.. . Qd7! A pawn sacrifice originally recommended by Dr. Euwe.

After 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Bd5 there is no good way for White to keep his pawn. If 14.Rd1 (or 14.Qe2 Bxf3 15.gxf3!? Qf5 16.f4 f6 with advantage) 14 . . . Bxe4 15.Rxd7 Rad8 16.Rxd8 Rxd8 17.Nbd2 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Nxe5 and White is badly off.

12.Rdl fS 13.Nbd2

Black obtains great activity after 13.exf6 e.p. Nxf6 14.Ng5 Bg4 15.f3 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 Rae8.

13. . . Kh8!

Larry Evans 169

Anchoring the knight on e4. The game reaches its climax right here. White's last two moves were to eliminate the powerfully posted knight; but the text all but refutes this strategy and sets his game tumbling downhill.

14.Nb3 If 14.Nxe4 fxe4 1 5.Bxe4 dxe4! 16.Rxd7 exf3 17.Qdl Bxd7 18.Qxd7 Rad8 and White must remain a piece down after returning the queen. With Black's king still on g8, he could have broken up this combination by 19.Qe6+ and 20.Be3.

14. . . Bf7! This move may look quiet, but it is deadly, since White must now cope with the vicious pin . . . Bh5.

15.Nbd4 1 5.Nfd4 Nxe5 16.f3 Bh5 17.Qel c5 leaves White busted.

15... Bh5 16.Nxf5!?

A desperate attempt to fish in troubled waters. The passive 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Qd3 Qg6! leaves White all tied up; but he still has a chance to live after 18.Rel f4 19.Nd2.

16. . . Qxf5 17.Rxd5 Bg6

Not only defending the knight but threatening the brutal . . . Nxc3.

18.Qe3 Rad8 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 c5! 22.d5

It's all over after 22.f3 cxd4! 23.Qel (23.Qxe4 Qc8!) 23 . . . d3 24.fxe4 Qxe4 25.Qxe4 Bxe4 26.Bbl d2.


22... Qxe5 23.f3 Bg5! 24.f4 Qxd5 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.fxg5

Finally White has reestablished material equality-at the cost of his king. The next few moves are forced.

26. . . Qdl+ 27.Kf2 Qc2+ 28.Qe2 Rf8+ 29.Kel Qa4 30.b3

There is no defense, but the longest go at it is 30.Bd2 Qd4 31.Be3 Qb4+ 32.Bd2 (or 32.Qd2 Qc4 33.Bf2 Bxg2 34.Qe2 Qb4+ 35.Qd2 Re8+ 36.Be3 Qf4 wins) 32 . . . Qxb2 33.Rcl, and the end is not long in coming.

30. . . Qd4 Resigns

On 31 .Bb2 Qgl + 32.Kd2 Rd8+ 33.Kc3 Qd4 mate. A pleasing and forceful Black effort.

60 Gufeld-Kavalek

Marianske Lazne, 1 962 Ruy Lopez

� combines unusual theoretical value with a setting unique in the annals of chess history-bishop and pawns slaying two rooks!

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 f5!?

Larry Evans 171

Riskier but more aggressive than 4 . . . Nge7 5.0-0 Bb6 6.d4, etc.

5.d4 fxe4 5 . . . exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.Nxc3 offers White good perspectives, but has not been tested sufficiently in modern play.

6.Ng5 Probably best is 6.dxc5 exf3 7.Qxf3. Unclear is 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nxe5 Bd6 8.0-0 Qh4.

6... Bb6 One of the shortest master games on record is Vasiukov-Giterman, U.S.S.R. Championship Preliminaries 1960: 6 . . . Be7 7.dxe5 Nxe5? 8.Ne6! Resigns!

7.d5 Barden suggests 7.Nxe4. There is nothing wrong with the text either.

7. . . e3! 8.Ne4

Better than 8.dxc6 bxc6 9.Bxe3 Bxe3 10.Ne4 Qh4 1 1 .Bd3 Bb6 1 2.Nbd2 d5 (Trappl-Rhiha, Prague 1962).

8... Qh4 Possibly stronger is Bondarevsky's suggestion 8 . . . Nf6 9.dxc6 bxc6.

9.Qf3 Nf6 Not 9 . . . exf2+ 10.Kf1 Nd8? 1 1 .Bg5 winning the queen.

10.Nxf6+ gxf6 ll.dxc6

This is White's last chance to avoid complications with 11 .Bxe3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 Ne7.

11.. . exf2+


12.Kd1 White might try to pick off the bone in his throat on f2, if possible, but 12.Kfl dxc6 13.Be2 Rg8! 14.Be3 (weaker is 14.Qh5+ Qxh5 15.Bxh5+ Ke7 16.Nd2 Bh3! 17.Bf3 Rad8 with a bind) 14 . . . Bg4 15.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Bxe2 17.Kxe2 Rxg2+ 18.Kf3 Rxb2 gives Black four pawns for the piece with a continuing initiative.

12 . . . 13.Be2 14.Qh5+ 15.Bxh5+ 16.b3

d.xc6 Be6 Qxh5 Ke7

This doesn't work, but it is already difficult for White to organize his forces efficiently. An alternative is 16.Nd2 followed by Ke2 although Black still remains for choice.

16 . . . Bd5 17.Ba3+ Ke6 18.Bg4+ f5 19.Bh3 Rhg8 20.Nd2 Bxg2 21.Bxg2 Rxg2 22.Rfl

If 22 .Nc4 (22.Ke2? fl=Q+) 22 . . . Rgl+ 23.Ke2 RagS 24.Nxb6 Rxhl ! 25.Rxhl Rgl wins.

22 . . . Rd8 23.Ke2 Rxd2+! 24.Kxd2 e4 25.Bf8 f4 26.b4 Rg5! 27.Bc5 Rxc5! 28.bxc5 Bxc5

Lany Evans 173

Black still has all eight pawns after twenty-eight moves! White is helpless against the pawn steamroller. The setting is so rare it deserves a picture.

29.Rabl Kf5 30.Rb4 f3 31.Rd4 Bxd4 32.cxd4 Kf4 33.Rxf2 e3+ 34.Kel exf2+ 35.Kxf2

And White lost by overstepping the time limit.

6� Tai-Nievergelt

Zurich, 1 959 Sici l ian Defense

[J'l,ather than yield the initiative, Tal embarks on a typically speculative sacrifice. One surprise follows another until Black cracks under the pressure.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6

Larsen has experimented with 6 . . . Bd7. 7.Qd2 h6

Tal-R.Byrne, Havana Olympics 1966, continued 7 . . . a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f4 Be7 10.Nf3 b5 l l .Bxf6 gxf6 1 2.f5! Qa5 (12 . . . b4 13.Ne2 e5 is probably necessary) 13 .Kbl 0-0-0 14.g3 Kb8 15.Bh3 with lasting pressure.

8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.0-0-0 a6

10.f4 Bd7 ll.Be2

Superficial. Much more forceful is l l .g3 followed by Bh3 and f5 as in the above-quoted game.


11.. . hS 12.Kbl Qb6 13.Nb3 0-0-0 14.Rhfl Be7 1S.Rf3

The rook hopes to find employment on the third rank, where it is free to shuttle to either wing. The immediate threat is Rh3.

ts... Rdgs t6.Bfl Kb8 17.Rd3 Bc8 18.a3 h4 19.Qel Rg4 20.Nd5!?

The first of several unexpected ripostes. Black is forced to capture, but the resulting position is by no means unfavorable for him.

20. . . exdS 21.exd5 NeS 22.fxe5 fxeS

The net result is that Black has straightened out his pawns and opened diagonals for his two bishops. White must attack now or sustain the disadvantage.

Safer is 23 . . . Ka8. 23.Na5 Bd8

24.Nc6+! Ka8 Not 24 . . . bxc6 25.Rb3 winning the queen.

2S.Rb3 Qc7 An error is 25 . . . QcS? 26.Nxe5! dxeS 27.Rc3, and 28.Rxc8+ next.

26.Rc3!? Tal writes: "After 26.Nxd8 Qxd8 White has no attack, and Black would be

Larry Evans 175

in a better position. Therefore I decided to sacrifice a piece. Because of this sacrifice I was criticized considerably, and heard: 'It was incorrect' . . . 'Tal was lucky' . . . 'It was a bluff. ' . . . 'Tal was dead lost.'- but I did not see at what point I was dead lost; and concerning other accusations of the wise critics, I console myself with pleasure that the chess fan, the spectator, and the reader are happy only when the grandmaster risks, rather than just 'pushes wood'."

26. . . bxc6 27.Rxc6 Qb7 28.Rxd6

Black gets too much for the queen after 28.Bxa6 Qxa6 29.Rxa6+ Bxa6. So White decides to capture a second pawn and keep up the pressure.

28. . . Ra4? Stronger is 28 . . . Qe7 29.Rc6 Bb7 30.d6 Qd7 3l .Rc3 e4.

29.Rd3 Bc7 30.Rf6 Bd8

If 30 . . . e4 3l .Rc3 Be5 32.Rfc6 Bxc3 33.Qxc3 Rd8 34.Rc7 Qb8 (not 34 . . . Rxa3? 35.Qc5) 35.Qc6+ Bb7 36.Rxb7 Qxb7 37.Qxa4 Qxd5 38.Qxa6+ Kb8 and White has at least a draw by perpetual.

31.Rc6 e4 After 31 . . .ReS! White has no immediately decisive continuation.

Not 32 . . . Qd7? 33.Qc3!

32.Rb3 Ba5

33.Qe3 Qa7

34.Qh6! The final bolt. Had Tal not risked, such a complex setting would not have arisen. Of course the queen is immune, because of 35.Rxc8+.

34.. . Rd8 35.Bxa6 Bd2


36.Qf6 Qd7 37.Bxc8

On 37 . . . Rxc8 38.Ra6+ is fatal. A startling climax.

62 Tal-D. Mohrlok

Varna Olympics, 1 962 Sicilian Defense

(' � was the only game I played in 1962 which I felt satisfied about," Tal has said. Yet like many of his vintage brilliancies it has a murky quality and one cannot help wonder how he would have fared had his nemesis, Korchnoi, defended.

l.e4 2.Nf3 3.d4 4.Nxd4 5.Nc3 6.Bg5

c5 Nc6 cxd4 Nf6 d6

The once feared but now seldom seen Rauzer Variation. When Tal played this against Larsen, 6th Match Game, 1969, his opponent wrote: "A pleasant surprise! " How fashions change! 6.Bc4 is all the rage now.

6.. . e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.Nb3

"This 9.Nb3 gives a more interesting game than 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Qa5 1 1 .e5 which usually results in an early draw"-Tal. To avoid the prospect Tal varied with 1 1 .Bc4 in the above-quoted game and Larsen equalized with 1 l . . . Bd712.Kb1 Bc6 13.Rhfl h6 14.Bh4 Qh5!

9... Qb6 9 . . . a6!? 10.Bxf6 gxf6 (11 . . . Bd7) or 10.Bxf6 11 .Qxd6 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qf6 13.Qg3 with advantage-Tal-Kramer, Varna Olympics 1962) 1 1 .Be2 Kh8 1 2.Bh5 Bd7 13.f4 b5 is double-edged (Tal-Larsen, 4th Match Game 1969).

10.f3 a6

Larry Evans 177

"Preferable to l l . . . Rd8 1 l .Be3 Qc7 1 2.Qf2 (holding up Black's queenside advance because of 12 . . . a6? 13.Bb6) 12 . . . Nd7 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.g4! and White's attack with the g-pawn and h-pawn proceeds very fast"-Tal.

ll.g4 "If 1 l .Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Qxd6 Bg5+ with a good attack; I don't like to win such pawns"-Tal.

11.. . Rd8 12.Be3 Qc7 13.gS

"If here 13.Qf2 Nd7 and in contrast to the note to Black's tenth, White does not have the strong Nb5 available"-Tal.

13 • • •

14.h4 tS.g6!?

Nd7 bS

ts. . . fxg6 "I had played this pawn sacrifice in previous games," Tal has written, "and Mohrlok was obviously prepared for it, for he replied very quickly." In a radio game with Stoltz in 1960, Black went 15 . . . Nc5 16.gxf7+ Kxf7 17.Bh3 Na4 18.f4 Nb4 19.f5! e5 20.Nxa4 Nxa2+ 2l .Kb1 bxa4 22.Na5!, and White won.

"In a practice game a few years ago my chess trainer Koblentz took with the h-pawn here but then White quickly breaks through along the along the h-file with 15 . . . hxg6 16.h5 gxh5 17.Rxh5 Nf6 18.Rh1 d5 19.e5! Nxe5 20.Qh2 Kf8 21 .Qh8+! (I actually played 2l .Bf4 Bd6 22.Qh8+ when Black could have got away with 22 . . . Ke7!) Ng8 22.Bf4 Bd6 23.Rh7."

t6.hS gxhS 17.RxhS Nf6 18.RgS

"White wants to switch the attack between the h and g-files according to

1 7H Modern Chess Brilliancies

Black's defense; so he posts one rook on each file, with the queen supporting from behind"-Tal. Now 18 . . . b4! 19.Na4 Rb8 has the merit of denying the Knight later access to d5.

18. . . NeS 19.Qg2 Bf8

"Up to here, everything has followed a game between Spassky and Boleslavsky in the 1958 Soviet Championship. I couldn't remember this game while playing, and afterward asked Spassky for the continuation; he didn't know either! "-Tal.

20.Be2 "Mohrlok had played very rapidly up to here, but now thought for twenty minutes; so I guessed that 20.Be2 must be a new move. Afterward he told me that he had expected 20.Bd4, but then comes 20 . . . h6! 2l .Rg3 Nh5 22.Rh3 Nf4 winning the exchange"-Tal.

20. . . Nc4 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Nd4

"I looked at 22.Rg1, but it's good only if Black overlooks the trick of 23.Bb6. With 22 . . Rb8 23.Na5 (threatening Nc6) 23 . . . Kh8!, Black halts the attack, after which White's g1-rook is misplaced on the g-file"-Tal.

22. . . RbS

"If 22 . . . e5 White can choose between the simple and positional 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.Rxf5 and the sacrificial 23.Rh1 exd4 24.Bxd4 Qf7 25.Qh2! "-Tal

23.Rhl Rb7 24.Rh6!

"The strongest move in the game. White's main idea is to play f4-f5 to create a knight outpost at d5, or alternatively to go f4 and e5 to drive Black's knight from the protection of his h-pawn"-Tal.

24. . . Kfi

Larry Evans 179

"The main variation I calculated was 24 . . . g6 (apparently a logical way of enabling Black's queen and rook to defend his second rank) 25.Rhxg6+! hxg6 26.Rxg6+ Kf7 (if 26 . . . Kh8 27.Rxf6 Qh7 28.Nxe6 with two pawns for the exchange and a continuing attack) 27.Qg5 Nh7 (27 . . . Qe7? 28.Nc6) 28.Qh5! Nf6 29.Rxf6+! Kxf6 30.Nf5! ! and despite his huge material plus of two rooks for a minor piece, Black is helpless. The immediate threat is 3l .Bg5+ Ke5 32.f4 mate. If 30 . . . exf5 3l .Nd5+ mates after 31 . . .Ke5 32.f4+! Kxe4 33.Qhl-or 31 . . .Ke6 32.Qxf5 mate-ie 31 . . .Kg7 32.Bd4+. Again, if 30 . . . e5 3l .Nd5+ Ke6 32.Nd4+! (White is not satisfied with winning the Queen) 32 . . . Kd7 (32 . . . exd4 33.Qf5 mate) 33.Qf7+ mates.

"Another possibility is 24 . . . Qf7 25.Nc6 (or at once 25.e5) 25 . . . Re8 26.e5! N-moves 27.Ne4 and the attack is overwhelming."-Tal.

25.Rh4 "The threat of f4 and e5 has become stronger, since after the knight moves Black's h-pawn is en prise"-Tal.

25. . . Qb6 Tal makes no comment on this move and Black's task is by no means easy. If 25 . . . h6 26.Rg6 Ke8 (26 . . . e5 27.Nf5 Bxf5 28.exf5 d5 29.Bxh6 gxh6 30.Rxf6+! Kxf6 3l .Qg6+ Ke7 32.Qe6 mate) 27.f4 Black is curiously tied up, despite his extra pawn.

26.Ndl "The knight goes on the defense, but only temporarily; Black's queen has to move again"-Tal.

26. . . Qc7 27.f4 h6 28.Rg6 ReS

"If 28 . . . e5 29.Nf5 Bxf5 30.exf5 and White returns to the attack against d5 with his remaining knight"-Tal.

Black's only chance is 28 . . . Ke8 though 29.f5 e5 30.Ne6 Bxe6 31 .fxe6 but (threatening Rxf6) continues the attack with full force.

29.f5 e5 30.Nc3

"30.Rxf6+ is less exact: 30 . . . gxf6 3l .Qg6+ Ke7 32.Nc3 Kd8 and Black escapes"-Tal.

30 . . . Qd8 "There is nothing to be done. If 30 . . . exd4 3 l .Rxf6+ gxf6 32.Nd5 threatens both the queen and 33.Qg6 mate"-Tal.

31.Nc6 Resigns After the queen moves, 32,Rxf6+ wins.


63 Tal-larsen

1 Oth Match Game, 1 965 Sicilian Defense

�n the saddle! His reckless and profound knight sacrifice triggers a ferocious struggle; the soundness of the ploy baffles analysts to this day.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3

In the eighth game of the match Tal adopted the positional 6.g3; although he got some slight pressure, Larsen managed to draw without too much effort.

6... Nf6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 0-0

Since White obviously intends queenside castling, it is possible that Black should prepare to follow his example with 8 . . . Bd7, . . . a6, . . . Qc7, etc.

9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Ndb5

Although temporarily displacing Black's queen, this move should not alter the position in any significant way, since the knight will be driven back at once. It does, however, tempt Larsen to save a tempo by not bothering to return his Queen to c7 and it then plays its part in preparing the combination which wins the game.

10 . . . ll.g4 12.Nd4 13.Bxd4

Qb8 a6 Nxd4 b5

Exciting tactics ensue after 13 . . . eS 14.g5 exd4 (14 . . . Bg4 15.Qg3 Bxd1 16.gxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 exd4 18.Nxf6+ Kh8 19.Rgl wins) 15.gxf6 dxc3 (or 15 . . . Bxf6 16.Nd5 Bd8 17.f5 and White's attack should prevail) 16.fxe7 cxb2+ 17.Kbl Re8 18.e5! Rxe7 19.exd6 Rd7 20.Qe4! and Black is helpless.

14.g5 Nd7 15.Bd3 b4 16.Nd5!

Larry Evans 181

"The lightning bolt that shatters open a veritable Pandora's box of combinative havoc"-Robert Byrne.

This sacrifice is so electrifying that it deserves a diagram. 16... exd5

The way to refute a sacrifice begins by accepting it; an old maxim, but true nonetheless. Black cannot decline by 16 . . . Bd8 because 17.Nf6+! gxf6 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Rhgl+ Kh8 20.e5 Bg7 2l .Rxg7! Kxg7 22.Qg4+ Kh8 23.Rgl and mate next.

17.exd5 f5 It is very hard to decide on the best defense--even in post-mortem analysis. In fact, one of Black's problems is that he has so many plausible replies! For example 17 . . . Re8 loses outright to 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.g6 fxg6 2l .Qxg6, etc.

Perhaps 17 . . . g6 is the sturdiest try. It has the drawback of allowing White to pry open the h-file by h4-h5; but in the time it takes to do that, Black might be able to mobilize his queenside pieces for defense.

18.Rdel Rt7 If 18 . . . Bd8 then 19.Qh5 sets up the menace of a bishop sacrifice on g7. Tal gives 19 . . . Nc5 20.Bxg7! Nxd3+ 2l .Khl . However, as R. Byrne points out Black's strongest is 2 1 . . .Qc7! (not the acquiescent 2 1 . . .Nxel 22.g6! Kxg7 23.Qxh7+ Kf6 24.g7 ReS 25.Rgl! Ng2! 26.g8=Q Rxg8 27.Qxg8 wins) 22.Bxf8 Nxel 23.Rxel Qf7! 24.Qxf7+ Kxf7 25.Bxd6 a5 and, with White's three pawns balanced by Black's piece, the ending will be no walkaway for either side.

19.h4 Bb7


All things considered, Larsen has defended reasonably, and the contest could still go either way.

20.Bxf5 Picking up a second pawn for the piece. Perhaps 20.h5 is stronger.

20... Rxf5 21.Rxe7 Ne5?

This returns the piece. A tougher resistance is offered by 21 . . .Rf7 22.Rxf7 Kxf7, but after 23.Rel , White's attack has by no means abated.

22.Qe4 Qf8 22 . . . Rf7 now fails against 23.Rxf7 Nxf7 24.g6 hxg6 25.Qxg6 Qf8 26.Rgl.

23.fxe5 Rf4 Better was 23 . . . Qxe7 24.Qxf5 Bxd5, which at least denies White a strong passed pawn in the center.

24.Qe3 Rf3 Finally Black weakens irretrievably in this colossal struggle of nerves. This was his last chance to put up a fight with 24 . . . Bxd5 25.exd6 Rxd4 26.Qxd4 Bxhl 27.Qxb4----even though White's three pawns and dominating position outweigh the piece, the issue is still somewhat in doubt.

Black also had the choice of 24 . . . Bxhl 25.Rxg7+ Qxg7 26.Bxg7 Rfl+ 27.Kd2 Kxg7 obtaining two rooks and bishop for the queen. Despite this material advantage, White smartly forces a win here by 28.d7 Rff8 29.h5! Kf7 (29 . . . Rad8 30.Qe7+ Kg8 31 .h6) 30.Qe5 Rad8 3l .Qf6+ Kg8 32.Qe6+ Rf7 33.g6.

25.Qe2 26.Qxf3 27.Rel 28.Rxe5 29.Qf4 30.Qe4

Qxe7 dxe5 Rd8 Qd6 Rf8 b3

A pretty finish.

31.axb3 32.Kd2 33.c3 34.Bc5 35.Re8+ 36.Qe6+ 37.Qfi!

Rfl+ Qb4+ Qd6 Qxc5 Rf8 Kh8 Resigns

64 · Velimirovic-Nikolic

Belgrade, 1 964 Sicilian Defense

Larry Evans 183

d germinal game which brought young Velimirovic and his novel attack to the attention of the chess world. White sacrifices a rook and knight in order to rip open the position, an exhibition of daring and ingenuity.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 0-0

Fischer-Pascual, Philippines 1967, continued: 8 . . . a6 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bb3 Bd7 1 l .g4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 (stronger is 12.Rxd4) 12 . . . e5 13.g5 exd4 14.gxf6 dxc3 1 5.fxe7 cxb2+ 16.Kb1, and now 16 . . . Be6 would have equalized.

9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bb3 a6 ll.g4 Nxd4

l l . . . Na5 is more stubborn. 12.Rxd4!

Velimirovic--Gajovich in Belgrade 1966 featured a curious finish: 12.Bxd4 b5? (12 . . . e5 is quite sufficient) 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Nc5 15.Rhg1 Bb7 16.Bf6! b4 17.Qh6! Black Resigns.


12... b5

Tal gives a crucial variation: 12 . . . e5 13.Rc4! Qd8 14.g5 Ne8 15.Rxc8!? Rxc8 16.h4 Nc7 17.h5 with a terrific attack.

13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Ne5?

A time consuming maneuver. It is better to try to remove the b3-bishop by 14 . . . Nc5.

15.f4 Nc6 16.Rd3 Nb4 17.Rd2 Rd8 18.f5 g6 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Qh4

More precise is 20.Qdl, preparing h4-h5. 20. . . Nc6

Black's game already is seriously compromised. For example, the plausible 20 . . . Bb7 is speedily refuted by 21 .Bd4 e5 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Bxf7+! Kxf7 24.Qh7+ Ke8 25.Qxg6+ Kf8 26.Rfl + and mates.

21.Qg3 Ne5 22.h4 Bb7 23.h5 b4 24.hxg6! Nxg6

Not 24 . . . bxc3 25.Rh8+! K.xh8 26.Qh4+ Kg7 27.Qh7+ mates. 25.Rdh2! bxc3 26.Bd4! e5 27 .Rh8+ Nxh8 28.g6!

White's forceful maneuvers have all been based on the power of his b3-bishop (which his opponent should have taken pains to eliminate long

ago). Black no longer has any defense.

28. . . Bf6 29.gxf7+ Kf8 30.Rh7! Nxf7

Larry Evans 185

Of no avail is 30 . . . Qxf7 31 .Bxf7 Nxf7 32.Qg6 Bg5+ 33.Kdl Rd7 34.Qg7+ Ke8 35 .Qg8+ Ke7 36.Rxf7+ Ke6 37.Qg6+ Bf6 38.Qxf6, mate.

31.Qg6 Bg5+ If 31 . . .d5 (or 31 . . .Rd7 32.Qxf6 wins) 32.Bc5+ Ke8 33.Ba4+ Rd7 34.Qxf7+ Kd8 35.Qf8, mate.

32.Kbl 33.Qg7+ 34.Qg8+

Rd7 Ke8 Resigns

65 Velimirovic-Sofrevsky

Yugoslav Championship, 1 966 Sici l ian Defense

�e sacrifices for the sake of rapid development are common in many sharp variations of the Sicilian, but White's innovation here was so unexpected that it sent the theoreticians scurrying back to the drawing board.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Be7 8.Qe2

This system is largely Velimirovic's contribution to opening theory. 8... a6 9.0-0-0 Qc7

10.Bb3 Na5 ll.g4 b5

Naturally, Black keeps the option of queenside castling open as long as possible.


12.g5 Nxb3+ Not 12 . . . Nd7? 13.Bxe6 f:xe6 14.Nxe6 Qc6 15.Nxg7+ with a stock attack. The second player must always be alert to this possibility.

13.axb3 Nd7 14.Nf5!

The only try for an advantage, otherwise Black's solid position coupled with the two bishops would be assessed as favorable. The Trojan Horse must be accepted. If 14 . . . Bf8 (or 14 . . . b4; see game 66) 15.Bd4! exf5 16.exf5+ Kd8 17.Rhe1 Qa5 18.Nd5 wins.

14 .. . 15.Nd5

exf5 Qd8

Velimirovic gives 15 . . . Qb7 (not 15 . . . Qa5 16.exf5 Bb7 17.Nxe7 Kxe7 18.Bb6+) 16.exf5 Ne5 17.f4 Bxf5 18.fxe5 Be4 19.exd6 Bxd5 20.Bc5! Bxh1 2l .d7+ Qxd7 22.Rxd7 Kxd7 23.Qxe7+ Kc6 24.Qd6+ and mates.

16.exf5

16 ... 0-0? The only defense is 16 . . . Bb7! 17.f6! (17.Rhe1 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 0-0 19.f6 Nxf6! was drawn Hindle-Hamann, Vrnjacka Banja 1967) 17 . . . gxf6 18.Rhe1 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Rg8! (not 19 . . . 0-0 20.gxf6 Bxf6 2l .Rgl+ Kh8 22.Rh5 Bg7 23.Rxg7! Kxg7 24.Qg4+ Kh8 25.Qf5 Nf6 26.Bd4 wins) 20.h4 (20.gxf6 is better) 20 . . . Rc8 and White's attack, not conducted forcefully enough, subsided (GheorghiuHamman, Vrnjacka Banja 1967).

This illustrates the growing importance of prepared analysis. In great secrecy players vivisect whole variations at home. The last word, however, still has not been uttered on this remarkable line. It will be tested further in tournaments and correspondence until laid to rest by a footnote in the next edition of Modern Chess Openings.

17.f6 gxf6 Unfortunately, there is no way to return the piece gracefully. If 17 . . . Nxf6

Larry Evans 187

18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Bb6 Qd7 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21 .Rhgl+ yields a winning attack.

18.Bd4 Ne5 19.gxf6 Bxf6 20.Rhgl + Bg7 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 f6 23.Ne7+ Kf7

A prettier finish is 23 . . . Kh8 24.Rxd8 fxe5 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Rg8+ mate. 24.Qh5+ Resigns

66 Medina-Pomar

Malaga, 1 969 Sici l ian Defense

d testimony to the infinite richness of chess. Black's refinement on move 14, designed to deny the attack of the previous game, spawns a host of new complications.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3

The scant experience with 4.dxc5 Nxe4 5.cxd6 e6 6.Qd3 Nxd6 7.Nc3 indicates White holds the edge.

4 . . . 5.Nxd4 6.Bc4

cxd4 Nc6 Qc7

6 . . . Bd7 7.Bb3 g6 produces a last-minute switch to the Dragon Variation. Black's setup is quite flexible.

7.Bb3 a6

And so Black, unwillingly it seems, is dragged back into this well-known theoretical sequence.

8.Be3 9.Qe2

10.0-0-0 ll.g4

e6 Be7 Na5 Nxb3+


12.axb3 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Nf5 b4

Apparently Pomar has no taste for 14 . . . exf5 1 5.Nd5 as in the preceding encounter. But his medicine may turn out to be even more bitter.

15.Nxg7+!? An imaginative gamble. The prudent course 1 5.Nxe7 bxc3 16.Nxc8 Rxc8 (not 16 . . . cxb2+ 17.Kxb2 Rxc8 18.Rd2) gives Black some counterplay despite the abysmal weakness of his d-pawn.

15. . . Kf8 16.Qh5!

Now Black can capture either knight-he has to choose between two equally attractive moves-this is the insidious start of time pressure. White is playing va banque and need not trouble himself with these niceties. If there is an outright refutation, of course, he will pay the penalty. But if the defense should prove unclear and tortuous, then White will be aided by the relentless ticking of the clock.

16. . . Kxg7 The complications are monstrous.

After 16 . . . bxc3 17.Qh6! Qa5 07 . . . Kg8? 18.Nh5 Bf8 19.Nf6+ Nxf6 20.gxf6 Bxh6 21 .Bxh6 forces mate) 18.bxc3 Kg8 19.Nh5 Bf8 20.Nf6+ Nxf6 21 .gxf6! Bxh6 22.Bxh6 Qh5 (forced) 23.Rhg1 + Qg6 24.h4 Bb7 25.h5 (25 .f3 d5 is easier for Black) 25 . . . Bxe4 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Bg7 Rh2 28.Rxd6 Rxf2 29.Rd4! forces 29 . . . Bf3 (29 . . . Rxc2+? 30.Kd1 Bf5 31 .Rh1 wins) 30.Rf4! followed by Rxf3 and Rh1 wins.

17.Bd4+ Again "the lady or the tiger. "

17 . . . Ne5 An alternative is 17 . . . Kg8 (17 . . . e5? 18.Nd5) 18.Bxh8 Kxh8 19.Ne2 09.Qxf7? Ne5!) Bb7. The game could still go either way, but Black's chances are not worse.

18.f4! Saving the knight with 18.Na4 would lose all the momentum of the attack after 18 . . . Bb7 followed by Rc8.

18 . . . 19.Bxc3

bxc3 Bb7?

No better is 19 . . . Kg8 20.fxe5 dxe5 21 .Rhf1 Bf8 22.Bxe5! .

Saidy says that Black can hope to weather the storm by returning the piece with 19 . . . h6 20.fxe5 Bxg5+ 21 .Kb1 dxe5, but 22.h4! (instead of his

Lany Evans 189

22.Rhg1 f6 23.h4 Qf7) 22 . . . Bf4 23.Rhfl f6 24.Rxf4 exf4 25 .Rg1+ Kf8 26.Bb4+ wins.

And 19 . . . Rf8 20.fxe5 dxe5 2 l .Rd3 is difficult to meet.

Ivkov suggests simply 19 . . . Ra7, but 20.fxe5 dxe5 2l .Rhfl keeps the embers glowing.

If desperate measures are needed, the answer is 19 . . . Qxc3! 20.bxc3 Ng6 with three pieces for the queen. If 2l .Rhfl (or 2 l .Qh6+ Kg8 22.Rhf1 Bf8 23.Qh5 h6 24.f5 hxg5 25.Qxg5? Bh6) 21 . . .h6! repulses the attack.

20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Rd7! Qxd7

21 . . .Qc5 22.Rxb7 Qe3+ 23.Kb1 Qxe4 24.Rf1 wins. 22.Qh6+ Kg8 23.Bxe5 f6

Even worse is 23 . . . Bf8 24.Qf6. 24.gxf6 Bc5

Or 24 . . . Bf8 25.Rg1 + Kf7 26.Qh5 mate. 25.Qg7+! 26.fxg7

Rarely does one pawn win two rooks!

26 . . . 27.gxh8=Q 28.Bxh8 29.Rfl+

Qxg7

Kf7 Rxh8 Bxe4

With an exchange and a pawn ahead, White won easily in twenty-five more moves; for the record they were:

29. . . Bf5 30.Be5 Be3+ 3l.Kbl Kg6 32.Bf4 Bd4 33.Rel Kh5 34.Kcl Kg4 35.Be5 Bf2 36.Rfl Be3+ 37.Kdl Bc5 38.Rf4+ Kh3 39.Rf3+ Kg2 40.Rg3+ Kf2 41.Kd2 h5 42.Rg8 a5

190

(finally)

Modern Chess Brilliancies

43.c4

43 . . . h4 44.Rc8 Be3+ 4S.Kc3 Ke2 46.b4 Bd2+ 47.Kb3 Bxb4 48.cS Be4 49.c6 Ke3 SO.Ka4 BdS Sl.KbS Ke4 S2.Bf6 h3 S3.Rd8 Ke3 S4.RxdS Resigns

67 Tai-Bolbochan

Havana Olympics, 1 966 Sicilian Defense

9n a position replete with attacking themes we expect Tal to prevail, but the unique twist he gives the task each time is truly marvelous. The "quiet" maneuver at White's twenty-fifth turn is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

l.e4 cS "It is more advisable to try 1 . . . e5 against Tal, but Bolbochan is a hardheaded opponent who steps aside for no one"-R. Byrne.

2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 S.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4

The system with 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 has met with the solid rebuff 8 . . . e5! 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.fxe5 dxe5 1 l .Bc4 0-0 12.0-0 Ng4!= (R. Byrne-Panno, Havana Olympics 1966).

7 . . . Be7

8.Qe2 0-0 9.Bb3

Once Black castles . . . Nxe4 becomes a threat.

9... a6

Larry Evans 191

The immediate 9 . . . Na5 is the right way to get into the fight.

10.0-0-0 Qa5 Once again it is better to leave this square free for the knight. 10 . . . Qc7 is preferable.

ll.Kb1 ReS More active is 1 1 . . . Bd7 and . . . b5. Black mistakenly supposes that the breakthrough will come with f4-f5 and braces himself against that.

12.Rhg1 Bd7 13.g4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bc6 15.g5 Nd7 16.Rd3 g6

Necessary to parry the threat of Rh3 and Qh5. The disadvantage of 16 . . . Nf8 is its abysmal passivity.

17.h4 "The prospect of an open h-file is enough to make White's mouth water!"-R. Byrne.

17. .. Nc5 18.h5!

Daring Black to capture the rook which would allow White's bishops to rake the kingside.

18. . . Nxb3 The kind offer is declined for the sake of removing one of the two lethal bishops. The principle variation is 18 . . . Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Bxg5 09 . . . e5 20.hxg6 hxg6 2l .Qf3! Rf8 22.Qh3 exd4 23.Rh1 mates) 20.hxg6 fxg6 2l .e5 Bd8


22.Rxg6+ hxg6 23.Qxg6+ Kf8 24.Be3 Qxe5 25.Bh6+ Ke7 26.Qh7+ Kf6 27.Bg7+ Kg5 28.Qh6+ Kf5 29.Qh3+ Kg6 30.Bxe5 dxe5 31 .Bxe6---and Black, a pawn down with an exposed king, must lose-R. Byrne.

19.axb3 eS 20.Be3 Qc7 21.Bd2 Rad8 22.Rhl Bf8 23.Qg4 bS 24.Qh4 b4

Julio Bolbochan is a very stubborn, indefatigable defender, and he has managed to prime a promising counterattack.

2S.Ndl! "It is amazing that White can spare the time for this knight maneuver"-R. Byrne.

2S... dS 26.Ne3! dxe4 27.Ng4!

The knight's mission is revealed. Not now 27 . . . exd3 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.hxg6 dxc2+ 30.Kcl fxg6 3l .Qxh7+ mates.

27. . . fS 27 . . . Bg7 also fails against 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.Bxb4 with the winning

threat of 30.hxg6 fxg6 3 1 .Qxh7+ Kf7 32.Nh6+. 28.Nf6+ Kf7 29.hxg6+ Ke6

Also bad is 29 . . . hxg6 30.Qh7+ Bg7 31 .Qxg7+! Kxg7 32.Rh7+ Kf8 33.Bxb4+ Re7 34.Rxe7, emerging a full rook ahead.

30.Nxe8 Rxe8 31.gxh7

It seems as though White would like to leave his rook en prise forever.

Finally.

31.. . Bg7 32.Rdh3

32. . . Bd5 33.Qh5 Kd7 34.Qxe8+ Resigns

Larry Evans 193

Brilliant to the very end. On 34 . . . Kxe8 35.h8=Q+ Bxh8 36.Rxh8+ Ke7 37.Bxb4+ 37.Bxb4+ nets a rook.

68 Hennings-Moehring

East German Championship, 1 967 Sicilian Defense

�s amazing how much hot water a master can wade into in the first dozen moves. Black's defensive setup undergoes another mauling, even though every one of his moves is plausible.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4

Since the bishop "bites on granite," this move was considered inferior before Fischer rehabilitated it. Black must institute active countermeasures.

7 .. . Be7 7 . . . Nxe4 8.Nxe4 d5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bd3 dxe4 l l .Bxe4 gives White the better pawn structure. The text is sound yet passive. 7 . . . a6 is more flexible.

8.Qe2 This entire system is so recent that it is not covered in the lOth edition of MC0 (1965).

8 . . . 0-0 While not an error here, castling generally should be delayed in favor of rapid queenside action.

9.0-0-0 Qc7


10.Bb3 a6 Now 10 . . . Na5 is indicated.

ll.g4 b5 12.g5 Nxd4

An emergency measure, since 12 . . . Nd7? 13.Nd5! exd5 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Bxd5 gains material.

13.Bxd4 Nd7 14.Rhg1 Nc5?

If such a natural move can lead to trouble, then Black is already walking a tightrope. After 14 . . . Bb7 a hard fight would still lie ahead.

The Deutsche Schachzeitung gives an interesting variation: 14 . . . b4 1 5.Nd5! exd5 16.Bxd5 Bb7 17.g6 Ne5 (if 17 . . . hxg6 18.Rxg6! Bf6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Rxf6 wins) 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Qh5 h6 20.gxf7+ Kh8 2l .Rg6 Bg5+ 22.Rxg5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Qxf7 24.Qxf7 Rxf7 25.Rxe5 Rxf2 26.d6 ReS 27.c3 bxc3 28.d7! wins.

15.Qh5 b4 Black can hardly be blamed for overlooking White's rejoinder. But he still loses after 1 5 . . . Nd7 16.g6! hxg6 17.Rxg6.

1 5 . . . g6 16.Qh6 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 f6 is barely tenable. 16.Bf6!

This elegant coup threatens the still more elegant 17.Qh6!.

16... ReS 17.Rg3

Now the threat is 18.Rh3 h6 19.gxh6 Bxf6 20.hxg7 Bxg7 2l .Rd1g1 Kf8 22.Rxg7.

17 . . . 18.Rh3 19.Kb1

bxc3 cxb2+ Bxf6

20.gxf6 Kf8 21.e5 Ne4

Larry Evans 195

On 21 . . . dxe5 22. fxg7+ Ke7 23. Qg5+ f6 24. g8=Q also wins. 22.fxg7+ 23.Qh4+ 24.Qxe4 25.g8=Q 26.Rxh7+

Ke7 f6 d5 Rxg8 Resigns

69 Fischer-Y. Geller

Skopje, 1 96 7 Sici l ian Defense

�flawed masterpiece. Fischer's ultra-sharp attack meets with a stun-ning refutation after a momentary lapse.

l.e4 2.Nf3 3.d4 4.Nxd4 5.Nc3 6.Bc4 7.Be3

c5 d6 cxd4 Nf6 Nc6 e6 Be7

Black should start rapid action on the queenside with 7 . . . a6 8.Bb3 Qc7 9.Qe2 b5 10.0-0-0 Na5 (or . . . Bb7).

8.Bb3 0-0 9.Qe2 Qa5

An attempt to improve on the customary 9 . . . a6 10.0-0-0 Qc7 1 l .g4.

10.0-0-0 Nxd4 ll.Bxd4 Bd7 12.Kbl Bc6

Fischer-Sofrevsky, Skopje 1967, continued 12 . . . Rad8 13.Qe3 b6 (if 13 . . . b5!? 14.a3! is safest) 14.Bxf6 gxf6 (Black should reconcile himself to 14 . . . Bxf6 15.Rxd6 Bc8) 15.Nd5! Rfe8 (if 1 5 . . . exd5 16.Rxd5 Qa6 17.Rh5! uncorks a winning attack) 16.Nxe7+ (16.Qh6! is an even quicker kill) 16 . . . Rxe7 17.Rxd6 Rc8 18.Qf4 Be8 19.Qxf6, and Black Resigns.

13.f4 Rad8


14.Rhfl Also good is 14.f5 (or 14.g4) 14 . . . exf5 15.exf5 Rfe8 16.Qf2 with lasting pressure.

14. .. b5 15.f5!

The die is cast. The more prudent 15.a3 would lose a tempo, which is not to Fischer's taste.

15 . . . b4 16.fxe6 bxc3 17.exf7+ Kh8 18.Rf5! Qb4 19.Qfl!

Fischer says this was the hardest move to find ( 45 minutes). Black must meet the threat of 20.Rxf6.

19. . . Nxe4 Who can quarrel with success? Objectively better is 19 . . . Ng4 20.Bxc3 Qb7 21 .Qf4 but White has three pawns for a piece and an attack still brewing.

20.a3? A pity that White loses his way in the labyrinth. Fischer gives 20.Qf4! as the winning move, with the following substantiation: 20 . . . cxb2 (or 20 . . . Nd2+ 21 .Rxd2 cxd2 22.c3!! Qxb3 23.Bxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qg4+ Kh8 25.Qd4+ mates) 21 .Rh5! Nc3+ (if 21 . . .Bf6 22.Qf5 h6 23.Rxh6+! gxh6 24.Qg6! forcing mate) 22.Kxb2 Nxd1 + (again on 22 . . . Rxf7 23.Qxf7 Nxd1 + 24.Kb1! Qxd4 25.Rxh7+! Kxh7 26.Qh5+ mate) 23.Kc1 Rxf7 24.Bxf7! (menacing Rxh7+) 24 . . . Bd7 25.Bxg7+ winning Biack's queen.

20 . . . 21.Qf4

Qb7 Ba41

Turnabout is fair play. Now White's attack has boomeranged.

22.Qg4 Bf6!

Larry Evans 197

23.Rxf6 Bxb3! Resigns

On 24.Rf4 (or 24.cxb3 Nxf6) Ba2+! 25.Kxa2 Qxb2+ mate.

70 Fischer-Dely Skopje, 1 96 7

Sicilian Defense

d crisp miniature. Black tries to solve his opening problems super-ficially, and ends up receiving two fatal jolts.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 a6 8.f4 Qa5

Also interesting is 8 . . . Na5 9.f5! Nxb3 10.axb3 Be7 1 l .Qf3 0-0 12.Be3 Bd7 13.g4 e5 14.Nde2 with good attacking prospects (Fischer-Bielicki, Mar Del Plata 1960).

9.0-0 Nxd4 A better solution is 9 . . . d5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 1 1 .f5 with a slight initiative, but nothing serious.

10.Qxd4 d5 Naively attempting to free his game with . . . Bc5. The lesser evil is 10 . . . Qc5 l l .Qxc5 dxc5, although White has an endgame advantage after 12.a4.

ll.Be3 Nxe4 Better but far from good is 1 1 . . . dxe4 12 .Nxe4 Be7 13.Nd6+, etc. Fischer gives ll . . . Ng4 12.Kh1! Nxe3 13.Qxe3 dxe4 14.Qxe4! Be7 15.Rael g6 16.Nd5! Bd8 17.Qe5 0-0 18.Ne7+ wins.

12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.f5!


No rest for the weary. The obvious recapture with 13.Qxe4 would give Black time for 13 . . . g6.

13 ... Qb4 Fischer gives 13 . . . exf5 14.g4! Be6 (if 14 . . . Qb4 1 5.Ba4+! b5 16.Qd5) 15.gxf5 Bxb3 16.axb3 Qb4 17.Ra4 Qxd4 18.Rxd4 Be7 19.Rxe4 Kf8 20.f6! Bxf6 21 .Rxf6! gxf6 22.Bh6+ and mates.

14.fxe6 Bxe6? Overlooking the concluding combination. 14 . . . fxi6 is the only hope of survival.

15.Bxe6

16.Rxf8+1 17.Qa4+1

fxe6

Qxf8 Resigns

Mate or heavy material loss is unavoidable: 17 . . . b5 18.Qxe4 Rd8 19.Qc6+ Rd7 20.Rd1 Qe7 21 .Bb6! and the threat of Qc8+ is devastating.

Fischer-Benko Candidates Tou rnament, 1 959

Sicilian Defense

& an equal position Black conunits an inexactitude which ordinarily might go unpunished. He sidesteps some beautiful losing variations but gets crushed nonetheless.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6

3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Qb6

A roguish way to throw White off balance. 7.Nde2

Larry Evans 199

Probably White should pursue rapid development with 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.0-0. Fischer also got very little against Saidy in the 1967 U.S. Championship with 7.Nb3 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 0-0, etc.

7.. . e6 8.0-0

Better is 8.Bb3 to reserve the option of castling long. Now Black has no trouble equalizing.

8... Be7 9.Bb3 0-0

lO.Khl If 10.Be3 Qc7 1 1 .f4 Ng4!. The text prepares a retreat for the bishop at gl .

10. . . Na5 ll.Bg5 Qc5

"A finesse aimed at provoking 12 .Be3 Qc7 after which White's initiative is blunted"-Fischer.

12.f4 b5 13.Ng3 b4?

Strangely enough, Black never gets another chance to capture the bishop. Correct is 13 . . . Nxb3 14.axb3 Bb7 15 .Nh5 Kh8, with even chances.

14.e5! dxe5 If 14 . . . bxc3 (or 14 . . . Nxb3 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Bh6 threatens Qg4+) 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Ne4 Qf5 18.Nxd6 Qg6 19.Rf3 Kh8 20.Rg3 Qh6 21 .Qg4 (threatening Qg8!+) 21 . . .Qg6 22.Qh4 wins-Fischer.

15.Bxf6 gxf6 Also bad is 15 . . . Bxf6 16.Nce4 Qe7 (if 16 . . . Qd4 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Rad1 Qxb2 20.Nh5 Rg8 21 .Qxg8+! Kxg8 22.Rd8+ mate) 17.Nh5! Kh8 18.Nexf6 gxf6 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.Nf6 (threatening Qh5) wins-Fischer.

Best is 1 5 . . . bxc3 16.Ne4 Qb4 17.Qg4 Bxf6 18.Nxf6+ Kh8 19.Qh4 h6 20.Ng4 cxb2, with defensive possibilities despite the threat of Nxh6.

16.Nce4


16. . . Qd4 It is too late for Black to save himself, but he could have made White look better by succumbing with 16 . . . Qc7 17.Nh5! f5 18.Nhf6+ Kg7 19.Qh5 Bxf6 (not 19 . . . h6 20.Rf3 Rh8 2l .Rg3+ Kf8 22.Qxh6+!) 20.Nxf6 h6 (or 20 . . . Rh8 2l .Qg5+ Kf8 22.Qh6+ Ke7 23.Qh4 Kf8 24.Nxh7+) 2l .Rf3! Rh8 22.Ne8+! Rxe8 23.Rg3+ Kf8 24.Qxh6+ Ke7 25 .Qh4+ Kd6 (if 25 . . . Kf8 26.Rh3! Qd8 27.Qh6+ Ke7 28.Qg5+ Kd6 29.Rd3+ wins the queen) 26.Rd3+ Kc6 (if 26 . . . Kc5 27.Ba4! threatens Qc2+) 27.Ba4+ Kb7 28.Bxe8, winning the exchange, while Black still remains all tied up-Fischer.

17.Qh5 Nxb3 No better is 17 . . . exf4 18.Nf5! exf5 19.Rxf4 Qxe4 20.Rxe4 fxe4 2l .Qxa5.

18.Qh6!

18. . . exf4 On 18 . . . f5 19.c3! bxc3 20.bxc3 20.bxc3 followed by Nh5 forces mate.

19.Nh5 f5 20.Rad1 Qe5 21.Nef6+ Bxf6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qxf6 Nc5

24.Qg5+ 25.Qe7 26.Qxc5 27.Rxfl

Kh8 Ba6 Bxfl Resigns

72 O'Kelly-Penrose

Varna Olympics, 1 962 Sicilian Defense

Larry Evans 201

�ack's superlative defensive play is rewarded. The final position, although drawn, is one of the most unusual on record.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6

This old move has achieved new popularity after having been considered inferior on account of 5 .Nb5 d6 6.Bf4, forcing Black to play . . . e5 and thus be saddled with a hole on his d5. However, this hole is compensated by White's loss of time with his Knight maneuver which violates the principle "Don't move the same piece twice in the opening. "

5.Nc3 After 5 .c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 White cannot prevent . . . d5 followed by simplifying exchanges.

5 . . . Qc7 Black refrains from 5 . . . d6 to afford his f8 bishop a freer sphere of activity on b4,c5, or d6, as circumstances demand.

6.Be2 6.Be3 allows more choice.

6 . . . a6 7.0-0

If 7.a3 b5 8.Nxc6 dxc6, with a satisfactory position. 7.. . Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Nxc6


The pressure against his e-pawn compels White to simplify--or to speculate with 9.Na4!? (see next game).

9... bxc6 10.Bd3

Now the drawback of having developed the bishop to e2 can be seen more clearly-White loses a tempo. 10.Qd4 c5 l l .Qc4 Bb7 12 .Bf3 Qe5! 13.Bd2 0-0 is slightly better for Black (Gligoric-Taimanov, Buenos Aires 1960).

10 . . . d5 Also playable is 10 . . . e5 l l .f4 d6.

11.exd5 cxd5 12.Bd4 Be7

Best. If 12 . . . Bd6 (not 12 . . . Qf4? 13.g3! Qxd4?? 14.Bb5+) 13.Rel! Bxh2+ 14.Khl leaves Black desperately behind in development.

13.Re1 0-0 Castling into it "sans peur ni reproche"-O'Kelly.

14.Qf3 Bb7 15.Re3 Rfe8 16.Rae1 Rad8 17.Qh3

White is preparing a massive attack and only timely countermeasures will save his opponent.

17 . . . Ne4! The only move, since if 17 . . . g6 18.Rf3 Ne4 19.Qxh7+! Kxh7 20.Rh3+ Kg8 21 .Rh8+ mate.

18.Qh5! Insufficient is 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rg3+ Kh8 20.Qh6 Rg8, etc.

Also inadequate is 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Qxc2 with good counterplay.

The key defense arises after 18.f3 f5! 19.fxe4 dxe4, regaining the piece with advantage.

18.. . Bf6!

Larry Evans 203

Again the only move, but a sufficient one; the redoubtable bishop on d4 is eliminated. 18 . . . g6? would permit the stock mate starting with 19.Qxh7+. And 18 . . . f5 loses to 19.Rh3 h6 20.Bxg7 Ng5 21 .Qg6!.

19.Nxe4 White has nothing better than a draw after 19.Rxe4 dxe4 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21 .Bxe4 f5-Penrose.

19. . . Bxd4 20.Qxh7+!

"This sacrifice leads only to a draw as I had seen when making it; but I entertained two hopes at that moment; that Black would not accept it, or that, despite everything, there might yet prove to be a winning line"O'Kelly.

"White must go in for the sacrifice since if 20.Ng5 h6 21 .Rh3 Qf4 and Black has the initiative. "-Penrose.

20. . . Kxh7 Black does not fear ghosts. Not 20 . . . Kf8? 21 .Ng3 Bxe3 22.Rxe3 Ke7 23.Qxg7 with a virulent attack taking shape.

21.Nf6+ Kh6 22.Rh3+ Kg5 23.Nh7+ Kg4!

Not 23 . . . Kf4! 24.Rh4 mate. 24.Be2+ Kf4 25.Bd3

White has nothing better than to repeat moves, since if 25.Rh4+ Ke5 and the king escapes. 25.Bh5? is refuted by 25 . . . Bxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Qxc2+ 27.Kg1 Qxh7! .

25... Kg4


26.Be2+ Kf4 27.Bd3 Kg41

27 . . . Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Qc5+ 29.Kfl Qe7 30.Rf3+ gives White at least a draw.

Draw This draw is more fascinating than many a decisive game, and it is hard to believe that White has nothing better than a repetition after 28.Be2+ Kf4 29.Bd3 etc.

If 28.Kfl (threatening 29.f3+) 28 . . . Bxf2! 29.Kxf2 Qf4+ is the saving clause.

73 Lutikov-Kiavins

USSR Team Championship, 1 962 Sicilian Defense

$ack is stalked unrelentingly after one rather minor slip in the opening. The result is a textbook model on the strength of the initiative.

l.e4 cS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 S.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.a3 bS 8.Nxc6

The alternative 8.Be2 Bb7 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Ne7! 1 1 .0-0 Nc6 12.Qd2 Be7

Larry Evans 205

13.Rad1 d6 renders only an equal game, where Black's delaying the customary . . . Nf6 shows itself to advantage.

8. . . Qxc6 Gligoric-Darga, Sarajevo 1962, continued: 8 . . . dxc6 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 c5 l l .f4 Be7 12.Bf3 Nf6 13.e5 Rd8 14.Qe1 Nd5=.

9.Be2 Bb7 10.Bf3 Qc7 ll.e5 ReS 12.0-0 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 d6

If 13 . . . Qxe5 14.Qb7 regains the pawn advantageously. 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.Bd4 Bxh2+?

Snapping at the bait. Black can maintain parity with 1 5 . . . Nf6 16.h3 (if 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qxf6 Bxh2+ 18.Kh1 Be5) 16 . . . Be7.

16.Khl Be5 17.Nd5! Qb8

Not 17 . . . exd5? 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Rfe1 winning the queen. The next few moves are forced.

18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Nb6 Rd8 20:Radl Rxdl 21.Rxdl f5 22.Nd7 Qe4 23.Qg3 Qe2 24.Qb8+ Kf7 25.Ne5+ Kf6

Black's king seems to have reached safety with some nasty threats of his own. However, he still has no time to draw a free breath-as the sequence shows.


26.Qf8+! 27.Qxg7+ 28.Qg3+

Kxe5 Nf6 Ke4

No avail is 28 . . . f4 29.Qg5+ Ke4 30.f3+ Ke3 3l .Qc5+ mate. 29.f3+ Ke3 30.Rel f4 31.Rxe2+ 32.Qxf4

Kxe2 Resigns

Koehler-Evans U. S. National Open, 1 968

Sicilian Defense

�er a brief theoretical skirmish, Black essays the speculative sacrifice of an exchange, proving once again that even in well-trodden paths ingenuity will out. A remarkable endgame blooms after only fifteen moves.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3

Should White try for the more ambitious Maroczy Bind? After 5 .Nb5 d6 6.c4 (6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Bg5!? is Bronstein's idea) 6 . . . Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Be7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 b6 1 l . Be3 Bb7 1 2.Rcl Ne5 13.Qd4 Ned7 (Reshevsky-Matulovic, Sousse lnterzonal 1967) 14.Rfd1 keeps a slight spatial advantage which is difficult to exploit.

5.. . a6 6.Be3 Qc7 7.Be2 Nf6 8.0-0

It is debatable whether White should stop for 8.a3. Definitely inferior, however is 8.f4 Bb4 9.0-0!? Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4 ll .Bd3 d5 1 2.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Bd4 0-0 14.Qh5 f6 and Black's extra pawn tells in the long run (FormanekBenko, U.S. National Open 1968).

8... Bb4 9.Na4

Sharpest. 9.Nxc6 bxc6 is easy for Black. 9... Bd6

Black has a selter of interesting choices here. 9 . . . Nxe4 10.Nxc6 Qxc6 1 1 .Nb6 Rb8 12.Bf3 f5 13.Bxe4 fxe4 14.Qh5+ offers unclear attacking prospects.

Portisch tried the novelty 9 . . . Be7!? against the Brazilian prodigy Mecking at the Souss.e Interzonal 1967, and play continued: 10.Nxc6 bxc6 ll .Nb6 Rb8 1 2.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.e5 Nd5 and now Matulovic's 14.Bc1! Bc5 15 .c4 Ne7 16.b3 maintains the advantage.

At the U.S.S.R. Championship 1966, Lepeshkin-Furman, Black tried the queer-looking 9 . . . Ne7!? 10.c4 Nxe4 1 1 .Bf3 Nc5 (but not 1 1 . . . Nf6 12.c5!) 12.a3 Nxa4 13.axb4 Nxb2 14.Nxe6 dxe6 15.Qd4 0-0 16.Qxb2 and now . . . Nf5 followed by . . . Bd7 would have given him a comfortable position.

I won a nice game against Garcia at the Havana Olympics 1966 with 9 . . . 0-0!? 10.Nxc6 dxc6 1 1 .c4? (correct is 1 1 .Bb6! Qf4 12.Bd3) 1 1 . . . Bd6 12.Bb6 (too late) 12 . . . Bxh2+- 13.Kh1 Qf4 14.g3 Qh6 15.Kg2 e5! 16.Rh1 Qh3+ 17.Kf3 Bg4+ 18.Ke3 Qh6+ 19.Kd3 Rfd8+ 20.Bxd8 Rxd8+ 21 .Kc2 Rxd1 22.Raxd1 g6 23.f3 Qe3 24.Rxh2 Bxf3 25.Nc3 Bxe4+ 26.Nxe4 Nxe4 27.Rg2 Nf2 28.Rxf2 Qxf2 White Resigns.

10.g3 Again considered theoretically sharpest. Duller is 10.Nxc6 bxc6 1 1 .Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.Bxa6 Ra8 14.Bd3 Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 Bf4 16.Qd2 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Qe5= (Kotz-Taimanov, U.S.S.R. Championship 1962).

10. . . b5 The first salvo. More usual is 10 . . . Nxe4 1 1 .Nxc6 Qxc6 (ll . . .dxc6 1 2.Qd4 f5 13.Bh5+) 12.Nb6 Rb8 13.Bf3 f5 14.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Qh5+ again with unclear attacking chances. The point of the text becomes apparent after Black's twelfth move.

ll.Nxc6? A slight transposition which proves harmful. Correct is 11 .Nb6! upon which


I intended l l . . . Qxb6 (necessaty may be l l . . . Rb8 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.a4!) 12.Nxb5 (later, while analyzing with me, Fischer suggested 12.Nxe6! followed by Nxg7+ with a terrific and probably winning attack) 12 . . . Bc5 13.Bxc5 Qxc5 14.Nc7+ Ke7 and black shortly wins two pieces for a rook.

11.. . Qxc6 12.Nb6 Bb7!

The real point. White keeps the upper hand after 12 . . . Rb8 13.Nxc8 Rxc8 14.Bd3. The next few moves are forced.

13.Nxa8 14.Bf3 15.Qxf3

Now the contest begins in earnest. 16.Nb6

Qxe4 Qxf3 Bxf3

Rejecting 16.a4 Bxa8 17.axb5 Ke7 18.bxa6 h5! when Black's initiative outweighs White's queenside pawns.

16. . . h5!

Black has a pawn for the exchange, and his minor pieces are stationed magnificently. The immediate threat is . . . h4. Even so, his combination contains an element of risk, since White has a multitude of defenses which could not be examined thoroughly over the board.

17.h4 Not 17.h3 h4 18.g4 Nxg4! 19.hxg4 h3 followed by h2+ and mate. Perhaps White should tty either 17.a4 or 17.c4.

17... Ng4 18.a4

If 18.Nc8 Be5 19.Bc5 g5! 20.Nd6+ Bxd6 21 .Bxd6 gxh4 22.gxh4 e5 followed by . . . Rg8 wins.

18. . . Ke7 19.axb5 axb5

Larry Evans 209

20.b4 Koehler suggested 20.c4, but Black stays on top with Nxe3 21 .fxe3 Bc6 22.cxb5 Bxb5 23.Rfcl Bxg3 24.Rc5 Bc6 25.Ra7 Bb8!.

20. . . Nxe3 21.fxe3 Bc6 22.c4 Bxg3 23.cxb5 Bxb5 24.Rfcl Rb8 25.Nc8+ Kf6 26.Na7 Bxh4 27.Rc7 Bg3 28.Nxb5 Bxc7

More efficient than 28 . . . Rxb5 29.Rxd7 h4 30.Raa7 with drawing chances.

29.Nxc7 Rxb4 30.Ne8+ Ke7! 31.Ra8

If 31 .Nxg7 Rg4+ wins the stray knight. 31.. . h4 32.Kf2 g5

The rest is a visit to the butcher shop. The knight is no match for four pawns.

33.Ng7 34.Kf3 35.Nh5 36.e4 37.Ke3 38.Nxf4 39.Kxf4 40.Rh8

Resigns

Rb2+ f5 e5 g4+ f4+ exf4+ g3 Rh2

75 Tai-Oiafsson

Bled, 1 961 Sicilian Defense


clock on his side and luck-the luck of the strong. Indeed, how many players in the world would have found the refutation over the board?

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.a3 Nf6 8.f4 d6

Transposing into the cramped but solid Scheveningen Variation. This is a crucial moment; Black's move here determines the character of the game. Against Yanofsky, at Stockholm 1962, Olafsson decided to simplify with 8 . . . Nxd4 9.Qxd4 (would Tal have chosen the speculative 9.Bxd4!? Qxf4 10.g3 Qc7 1 1 .e5 Nd5 12.Ne4?) Ng4 10.Bd2 QcS 1 1 .Qxc5 Bxc5 12.Nd1 d6 13.Be2 Nf6 14.Nc3 Bd4=.

9.Qf3 Be7 An alternative is 9 . . . e5 (inferior is 9 . . . Nxd4 10.Bxd4 e5 1 1 .f:x:e5 dxe5 12.Qg3!) 10.Nxc6 bxc6 1 1 .fxe5 dxe5 (or Taimanov's 1 1 . . . Ng4!?) 12.Bc4 Rb8 13.Rbl.

10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 Bd7 12.Rael b5 13.Qg3 Kh8 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.e5 Ng8

Black has a faulty idea of bringing this knight to fS via h6. Natural and better is 15 . . . Ne8. White would have still have attacking prospects, to be sure, but it would be hard to crash through, since Black's kingside contains no organic weaknesses.

16.Qh3 Nh6 17.f5!?

In the tournament book Tal himself says he should have played 1 5.Kh1 instead of this premature sacrifice. He spent 40 minutes on this move which was still not sufficient to analyze completely all the possibilities arising from it. He was therefore depending upon his intuition and luck. This attitude is not unique. Najdorf, for example, confesses: "Often I sacrifice intuitively, without fully seeing the possible continuation."

17. . . Nxf5 18.Rxf5

There is no turning back. Bad is 18.Bxf5 exf5 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Rxf5 Bd7.

18. . . exf5 19.Bxf5 g6 20.Bd4

Lany Evans 211

This is the point of Tal's combination, but unfortunately i t is not correct.

20. . . Kg8? In his calculations Tal most feared 20 . . . Qd8! since he saw: 2 1 .e6+ Bf6 22.Qh4 fxe6 23.Rx:e6, the fine reply 23 . . . Be5!, whereupon 24.Rxe5 (or 24.Re7 Qxe7) 24 . . . Qxh4 25.Re4+ Qf6 loses for White.

But then he found 20 . . . Qd8 2 1 .exd6+ Bf6 22.Qh4 which he assessed as favorable, counting on either 22 . . . Bxd4+? 23.Qxd4+ Kg8 24.Be4 Re8 25.Rdl or 22 . . . Kg7 23.Bd7! Bxd7 24.Nd5 Bxd4+ 25.Qxd4+ Kh6 26.Re7 with at least a draw. Two months later, however, some Moscow amateurs found the simple resource 22 . . . Bg7! which forces simplification and causes the collapse of Tal's whole combinational buildup.

21.e6 Bg5 If 21 . . . f6 22.Bxg6! hxg6 23.Qh6 Bd8 (or 23 . . . Be8 24.Nd5 and Nf4 next) 24.e7 Qxe7 25.Rxe7 Bxe7 26.Qxg6+ Kh8 27.g4! with a winning attack.

22.exf7+ Rxf7 23.Bxg6 Rg7

Black could offer more resistance with 23 . . . Rf6. The plausible 23 . . . Re7 is met by 24.Rfl . One possibility is 24 . . . Rf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Qf5+ Kg8 27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.Qxd5+ Kf8 29.Qa8+ mates.

24.Qe6+ 25.Be8! 26.Bxc6 27.Ne4 28.Qg6

Kh8 h6 Qxc6 ReS

Even simpler is 28.Qf7 RegS 29.Nxg5 hxg5 30.Qh5+ mate.

28. . . Ree7


29.h4 30.Bxg7+ 3l.Qxd6 32.Nxd6 33.Re8+ 34.Nt7+ 35.Rxg8+ 36.Nxh6+ 37.Nf5 38.b3

Qd5 Rxg7 Qxd6 Bxh4 Rg8 Kg7 Kxg8 Kh7 Bg5 Black lost on time.

Commentators are fond of saying at this point, "A typical Tal game."

16 Stein-Portisch

Stockholm I nterzonal, 1 962 Sici l ian Defense

$ack overlooks a sparkling twist, and one careless move costs him the game. Remarkable.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6

It should be noted that Black's order of moves is quite deliberate. The forcing 4 . . . Nc6 allows White to set up a Maroczy Bind after 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4, which many players using the Taimanov Variation would rather not face.

5.Bd3 Spassky employed this against Petrosian in their title match, 1969. 5 .Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3, etc. allows a transposition into the main line. The point is 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 equalizes rather readily (if 7.e5 Ne4 8.Qg4 Nxc3 9.a3 Bf8 10.bxc3 Qa5 or . . . d6).

White does not seem to have any powerful waiting move here.

5.. . Nf6 6.0-0

Of course not 6.e5? Qa5+ followed by Qxe5.

6... Qc7

7.Nd2 Nc6 More flexible is 7 . . . d6, reserving d7 for the b8 knight.

8.Nxc6 bxc6

Larry Evans 213

8 . . . dxc6 9.f4 Bc5+ 10.Kh1 still gives White attacking possibilities. 9.f4 Bc5+

lO.Khl d6 More consistent is 10 . . . d5-but that's another story.

ll.Nf3 e5 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Nh4 0-0 14.Nf5 Be6 15.Qe2 a5 t6.Bc4 Kh8 17.Bg5 Nd7

Virtually forced. Not 17 . . . Ne8 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qc4! exf5 20.Qxc5, etc. 18.Radl Nb6?

White gets a lucky break. After 18 . . . Bxf5 19.exf5 (19.Rxf5 f6 20.Bc1 Nb6 gives White nothing) 19 . . . f6 White would retain a slight advantage, but whether it's enough to win would remain to be seen.

19.Nxg71 Bxc4 Forced. On 19 . . . Nxc4 (or 19 . . . Kxg7 20.Bf6+ Kg8 21 .Qh5) the reply is the same as the game.

20.Bf6! Be7

There's nothing else. Black is itching to play 20 . . . Bxe2 but he can't because of 2l .Nf5+ Kg8 22.Nh6+ mate. Also futile is 20 . . . Nd7 2l .Rxd7! .

21.Qf3 Resigns If 21 . . . Bxf6 22.Qxf6 Nd7 23.Rxd7 finis.


77 Bogdanovic-Suetin

Yugoslavia v. USSR Match, 1 96 7 Sicilian Defense

�ow and counterblow-a violent struggle of wills from start to finish. Striving to avoid a draw, and exhausted by complications, Black falls into a deadly snare.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4 a6 7.Be3 b5

The popularity of the Taimanov System is due largely to the great latitude it offers the second player. Here Black neglects his kingside development to start a diversion on the other wing.

8.Nxc6 9.Be2

Qxc6 Ba3!

An ingenious innovation designed to improve on 9 . . . b4 10.Bf3! bxc3 l l .e5 cxb2 12.Rbl Qc3+ 13.Bd2 Qa3 14.Bxa8 winning material.

10.Bd4 Bxb2 ll.Nxb5 Bxal 12.Bxal axb5

If 12 . . . Kf8 13.Nd6 yields a strong bind.

13.Bxg7 14.0-0 15.Bd3 16.Kh1 17.Bxh8

Qxe4 Rxa2 Qe3+ Bb7 Nh6

Larry Evans 215

17 . . . Ne7 looks better, but the text gives the knight access to g4. 18.Bxb5 Bd5 19.Rf3

An irresponsible annotator recommended 19.Bd3?, threatening Qh5. However, Black wins neatly by 19 . . . Qh3! 20.Qe2 Ng4.

19. . . Qc5 Black seems justified in playing for the win. He spurns 19 . . . Ng4 20.Rxe3 Nf2+ 2l .Kgl Nxdl 22.Rd3 Rxc2 23.Rxdl Rxg2+ 24.Kfl Rxh2 with a draw in view.

20.c4 Bc6 Still not 20 . . . Bxf3?? 2l .Qxd7+ mates . . 20 . . . Ng4 looks good though.

21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.Qb1 Re2?

Still with an eye on the main chance. After 22 . . . Ra8 23.h3 f5, Black has a comfortable game.

23.Qb8+ Ke7

24.Bf6+! Satan never sleeps. Now White has a mate in three.

24. . . Kxf6 25.Qd8+ Resigns

If 25 . . . Kf5 26.Qg5+ Ke4 27.Qe5 mate.


18 Spassky-Suetin

Moscow, 1 967 SiCil ian Defense

do object lesson in how to sustain the initiative. Each time Black is on the verge of equalizing, Spassky finds an ingenious way to prevent it.

3 . . . e5 is also playable.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e6

4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Nb3

A dubious attempt to improve on either 7.a3 or 7.Bd3. 7... Nf6 8.f4 Bb4 9.Bd3 0-0

Black's reply lacks vitality. Much better is 9 . . . d5 10.e5 d4! l l .Nxd4 Nd5. 10.0-0 Bxc3

Better is 10 . . . d5. Unless provoked, Black should not give up his good bishop just to double the c-pawn.

ll.bxc3 d6 In accordance with classical theory, Black attempts to keep the center closed in order to minimize the scope of White's two bishops. More forcing, however, is l l . . .d5 12.e5 Nd7 (not 1 2 . . . Nd7 13,Bxe4 dxe4 14.Nc5) followed by an eventual . . . f5.

12.Rf3 13.f5 14.Rg3!

14 . . . dxe4 would be met by 15 .Bh6.

e5 d5 Kh8

15.exd5 Ne7 15 . . . Nxd5 allows the powerful stroke 16.Qh5 Nxe3 17.f6 g6 18.Qh6 Rg8 19.Rxe3 Qd8 20.Ne4 Qf8 21 .Qh4 with a bind.

16.Bc5 17.Qg4 18.Rh3 19.Qg5

Nfxd5 Rg8 Nf6 Ned5

Virtually forced. Not 19 . . . b6? 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21 .Rxh7+!. 20.Rfl. b6 21.Be4! Bb7?

Black could ease the pressure somewhat with 21 . . .bxc5 22.Bxd5 Rb8 (but not 22 . . . Nxd5? 23.Rxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qh5 mate).

22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Be7! Qc6

No rest for the weary. 23 . . . Qxe7? is impossible, because of 24.Rxh7+. 24.Rh6!

The threat of 25.Rxf6 compels Black's reply, which in turn lands him in a difficult ending.

24. . . Ne4 25.Rxc6 Nxg5 26.Rd6!

Again Black is allowed no breathing space. After 26.Rxb6 Ne4, Black would regain the pawn. The text forces him to relinquish drawing chances arising from opposite colored bishops.

26. . . Bxb3 27.axb3 Ne4 28.Rxb6 Nxc3 29.f6

Material is even, but White has managed to preserve his initiative despite the disappearance of queens.

29... Rge8 The ending is lost after 29 . . . Nd5 30.Rb7 gxf6 3l .Bxf6+ Nxf6 32.Rxf6 Rg7


33.Rfxf7 Rxf7 34.Rxf7 Rc8 35.Rf2 followed by Kfl, etc. 30.fxg7+ Kxg7 3l.Rb7 Ne2+ 32.Khl Nf4 33.g3 Ng6

If 33 . . . Ne6 34.Bd6 (not 34.Bf6+ Kg8 35.Bxe5? Nc5) 34 . . . Nd8 35.Rd7 e4 36.Bc7 wins at least a pawn.

34.Bd6 35.c4 36.g4 37.c5 38.h3 39.Kg2 40.Bf4+ 4t.Rb6!

Nh8 Kg6 Re6 Kg5 e4 e3 Kg6

This insures the win of a pawn and with it the game. Note the power of the bishop contrasted with the immobile knight.

41... e2 42.Rel ReS 43.b4 a5 44.Rxe2 axb4 45.Rexe6+ fxe6 46.Be5

Good technique. 46.Rxe6+ Kf7 47.Re5 Ng6 48.Rf5+ Ke6 puts Black back in the ball game.

46 . . . 47.Rxe6+ 48.Rb6 49.hxg4 50.Bxh8 51.Rxb4 52.Rc4

h5 Kf7 hxg4 Ke7 Rxh8 Ke6 Kd5

Larry Evans 219

Black plays on because he is hoping for a miracle. At Havana 1952, one of my first great international tournaments, I learned at first hand the full meaning of Tartakower's dictum that "you can't win by resigning." The Dutch master Prins was a piece down against one of the Cuban lesser lights, his position was obviously hopeless, but he insisted on adjourning the game. When I asked Prins why he didn't resign immediately, he replied that anything can happen. His opponent died of a heart attack after winning the adjournment!. Such drastic solutions to the problem of saving a lost game do not readily present themselves. Nor does such a stubborn attitude endear a master to his colleagues.

53.Rcl Rg8 54.Kg3 Kc6 55.Kf4 Rftl+ 56.Ke5 Rg8 57.Kf5 Rf8+ 58.Ke6 Rg8 59.Rgl Resigns

White's smooth transition from a superior middle game to a won ending illustrates once again that a chess game is an organic whole.

19 Nyezhmetdinov-Tal

USSR Championship, 1 961 Sicilian Defense

�alls prey to some of his own dazzling tricks. It is a unique experi-ence to see him on the receiving end, and his opponent never lets up.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2

This tame developing move now seems old-fashioned.

6... a6 7.0-0 Qc7


8.f4 Nbd7 9.g4!?

It is clear that White's intentions are anything but tame. Objectively better is 9.Bf3, but it is a sound psychological ploy to play aggressively against opponents who like to attack.

9... b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.Bf3 Nc5?

The knight is misplaced here. Correct is 1 1 . . . h6! (12.g5? hxg5 13.fxg5 d5) followed possibly by 0-0-0. Black must remove his king from the danger zone before undertaking counteraction in the center.

12.Qe2 e5 13.Nf5 g6 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.Nh6!

The knight is curiously well posted, mainly because of the pressure exerted against f7. Not the least of its merits is the prevention of castling.

15... Ne6 16.Bg2 Bg7

The text anticipates meeting 17.g5 with . . . Bh6. No better is 16 . . . Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5 Bxh6 19.exf6+ Kf8 20.Qe7+ winning a piece.

16 . . . Nd4 doesn't work because of 17.Qf2 Bxh6 18.Qxf6, etc. Perhaps Black should try 16 . . . Bxh6 17.Bxh6 Nd4 18.Qd1 Qb6 (if 19.Kh1 0-0-0) with unclear complications.

17.Rxf6! This sacrifice is far from obvious and requires some intricate tactics to justify it. But not 17.g5? Bxh6.

17 . . . 18.Nd5

Bxf6 Qd8

Larry Evans 221

Black rejects 1S . . . Bxd5 19.exd5 Nd4 20.Qf2, because of the dual threats d6 and Qxf6----e .g. , 20 . . . Qb6 21 .Be3! or 20 . . . Qd6 21 .g5.

19.Qf2 Nf4 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.e5!

If 21 . . .Bxd5 (or 21 . . .Bg7 22.Nf6+! Bxf6 23.exf6, with Rel + to follow) 22.exf6 Be6 23.Bc6+ KfS 24.Qc5+ mates.

The question is whether 21 . . . Bh4 holds. White appears to have nothing better than 22.Nf6+ (if 22.Qc5 ReS) 22 . . . Qxf6 23.exf6 Bxf2+ 24.Kxf2 Bxg2 (24 . . . 0-0-0 fails to 25.Bxb7+ Kxb7 26.Nxf7 Rd2+ 27.Kel) 25.Rel+ KfS 26.Kxg2 ReS 27.Rdl with a winning bind.

Possibly Black was hoping to save himself after 21 .Qxf4 Bxd5 22.exd5 Qb6+ 23.Khl 0-0-0 24.Nxf7 Bxb2 25.Rbl RhfS 26.Rxb2 Rd7, etc.

21... Bxe5 22.Rel f6 23.Nxf6+! Qxf6 24.Qd4!

Each blow is more powerful than the last.

24.. . Kf8

The point appears after 24 . . . Bxg2 25.Rxe5+ KfS 26.Rf5! .

If 25 . . . RdS 26.ReS+. 25.Rxe5 Qd8

26.Rf5+! 27.Qxh8+ 28.Qg7+ 29.gxf5+

gxf5 Ke7 Ke6 Resigns


80 Evans-Blackstone Santa Monica, 1 965

Sicilian Defense

Donnybrook in which neither side is afforded the luxury of castling. Noteworthy is the knight's tour to the edge of the board-a� one of the most curious winning moves in chess history!

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6

White was rather expecting 6 . . . e5 instead of this belated transposition into the Scheveningen.

7.f4 Qc7 8.Bf3 Bd7

This game is already out of the books. Now White is tempted to exploit the fact that Black's f6-knight cannot retreat to d7.

9.g4 h6 This is generally a good reaction, since Black gets control of the h-file after the inevitable g5.

10.g5 ll.fxg5 12.Be3

hxg5 Ng8

Perhaps White ought to speculate on 12.g6!? fxg6 13.Bg4 although he has no clear-cut continuation after 13 . . . Qc8 followed by . . . Nf6. After the text Black hastens to sink his knight on e5.

12 . . . 13.h4 14.Nb3

Better is 14.Qe2 followed by 0-0-0. 14 . . . 15.h5

Ne7 Nbc6

Ng6 Nge5

16.Be2 b5 17.Qd2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Nd4 Ne5 20.Qg2

After 20.0-0-0 Rb8, White's king is not entirely secure.

20. . . Rb81

Larry Evans 223

This compels both sides to forgo castling and is the best practical chance. On 20 . . . 0-0-0 21 .0-0-0, the board belongs to White, and g6, properly timed will smash Black's pawn structure.

Black has two bishops, a dominating Knight on e5 and pressure on the b-file; White, on the other hand, will seek to mobilize his forces along the f-file and swap off the Knight. It is interesting to see how tactics are wedded to these strategical concepts in this double-edged sequence. White's immediate problem is how to defend his b-pawn. He rejects 21 .0-0-0 Qb7 22.b3 a5, because Black's attack comes first.

21.Rbl Qa5 22.Ke2

Black was threatening . . . Rxb2. 22 . . . 23.Nf3 24.Nxe5 25.Qf3 26.Bf4 27.Rhdl 28.Rd2

Kd8 Bc6 Qxe5 Rb7 Qc5 Rd7 Be7

The game is rapidly approaching its climax. The apparently strong 28 . . . d5 is refuted by 29.Be3! d4? 30.Bxd4 Rxd4 3l .Rxd4+ Qxd4 32.Rdl.

29.Rbdl Bxg5


Losing patience. Safer is 29 . . . Kc8 30.Be3 Qe5. 30.Bxd6 Qb6?

The best chance is 20 . . . Qa5 3l .Rd4 Bf6 32.Rxc4 Bb5 33.Nxb5 Qxb5 34.b3 Qxh5 35.Qxh5 Rxh5 36.Rc6 a5 37.Ra6 Kc8 38.Rb6 Rb7 39.Rc6+ Kd7 40.Ra6 with some winning prospects.

3l.Bf4 Bxf4 32.Qxf4 Ke8

Not 32 . . . Rxh5? 33.Rxd7+ Bxd7 34.Rxd7+ Kxd7 35.Qxf7+ and 36.Qxh5 next.

Not 33 . . . Qxb2? 34.Rbl. 33.Qe5 Rh7

34.Rxd7 Bxd7 35.Nd5! Qc6

Better is 35 . . . Qb7 but 36.Ne3 keeps the advantage. 36.Qb8+ Qc8

Forced. If 36 . . . Bc8 37.Nb6 Qxe4+ 38.Kd2 White escapes the perpetual and wins the bishop.

37.Nc7+ Kd8 Again forced. If 37 . . . Kf8 (37 . . . Ke7 38.Qb4+) 38.Qxc8+ Bxc8 39.Rd8+ cleans up.

38.Nxa6 Rxh5 39.Qb6+ Ke7 40.Qd6+ Ke8 41.Nc7+ Kd8 42.Na8! Resigns

The threat of 43.Qf8 mate or 43.Nb6 is horrendous.

Tai-Petrosian Candidates' Tou rnament, 1 959

Sici l ian Defense

Larr)! l:'l•rl/ 1.\ .��·,

d genius of attack versus a genius of defense. The outcome is a stupendous draw marked by mutual give-and-take.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 6.Bg5 7.Bc4 8.Qd2 9.0-0

a6 Nbd7 Qa5 e6

Also sharp is 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bb3 Bb7 ll .Rhe1 Nc5 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qf4 Be7 14.Qg4! with advantage (Stein-Tal, U.S.S.R. Championship 1962).

9.. . h6 10.Bh4 g5!?

Safer is 10o o .Be7 1 l .Rad1 Ne5 12.Be2 (or 12.Bb3 Ng6 13.Bg3 Nh5) and now either 0 0 .b5 or 0 0 . g5 produces a stiff fight.

ll.Bg3 Nh5 12.Bxe6!

Where there's a will there's a way. Gufeld-Petrosian, U.S.S.R., 1959, went 12.Rad1 Ne5 13.Bb3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 g4, with good play.

12. . . fxe6 13.Nxe6 Nxg3 14.fxg3 Ne5 15.Rxf8+!

The only way to refresh the attack. Not 15.Nxf8 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Rxf8. 15.. . Rxf8 16.Qxd6 Rf6

But not 16 . . . Bxe6? 17.Qxe6+ Kd8 18.Rd1 + Kc7 19.Qd6+ 19.Qd6+ wins.


17.Nc7+? White falters at the crucial moment. The correct continuation is 17.Qc7! b6 (on 17 . . . Qb4 18.Nd5) 18.Ng7+ Kf8 19.Nh5! and White regains his material or mates.

17 . . . 18.Rfl 19.Kxfl

Kf7 Rxfl+ Nc4!

Energetic. If Black stops to protect his rook, then 20.Nc3d5 exposes his king to hideous threats.

20.Qxh6

Again White finds a way to nourish his attack. Now 20 . . . Qxc7? 21 .Qh7+ wins the queen. And if 20 . . . Ra7 2l .N3d5 is unpleasant.

20. . . QcS! 21.Nxa8

On 2l .N3d5 Ne3+ forces simplifications. 21 . . . 22.Ke2 23.Kd3

Nd2+ Bg4+

Or 23.Kxd2 Qd4+ 24.Kel leads to the same result.

23. . . Qc4+ 24.Ke3 Qc5+

A mistake would be 24 . . . Nfl + 25.Kf2. Draw

82 Tai-Polugayevsky

USSR Championship, 1 959 Sici l ian Defense

Larry /itJUIIS .l!.7

�ack survives a ferocious attack and seems well on his way to drawing after forcing the exchange of queens. However, he is beguiled by this calm setting and underestimates the extent of Tal's initiative.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 6.Bg5 7.Bc4 8.Qd2 9.0·0

a6 Nbd7 Qa5 e6 Be7

9 . . . b5 allows 10.Bd5! exd5 1 1 .Nc6 Qb6 12 .exd5 Ne5 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4 with advantage (Mnatsakian-Zurakhov, U.S.S.R. Championship Preliminaries 1959).

lO.Radl Nc5 Safer is 10 . . . h6 1 1 .Bh4 Ne5 12 .Be2 (or 12.Bb3 Ng6 13.Bg3 Nh5=) g5 13.Bg3 b5 14.a3 Bb7 15.f4 gxf4 16.Rxf4 Ng6 17.Rff1 Qb6 18.Kh1 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Bh5 d5 with an extra pawn (Olafsson-Evans, Buenos Aires 1960).

ll.Rfel Bd7 12.a3 Qc7

If 12 . . . Nfxe4 13.Nxe4 Qxd2 14.Bxd2 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 d5 16.Bxd5 exd5 17.Re2 Kf8 18.Bb4 Bxb4 19.axb4, with a superior ending.

13.b4 Na4 Unsatisfactory is 13 . . . b5 (or 13 . . . Ncxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 Qxc4 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.Nf5+ wins) 14.Ndxb5! axb5 15.Nxb5 Bxb5 16.Bxb5+ Ncd7 17.e5!.


Not 14 . . . Qxc4? 15 .Nb6. 14.Nxa4 Bxa4

15.Bxe6! A stock sacrifice in an unusual setting.

15... fxe6 16.Nxe6 Qxc2

How is White to sustain his attack? 17.Qxc2 Bxc2 18.Rcl Ba4 19.Nc7+ Kf7 20.Nxa8 Rxa8 21 .Rc7 Bc6 22.e5 dxe5 23.Rxe5 ReS (threatening . . . Nd5) is obviously in Black's favor.

17.Qd4 Kf7 18.Rc1 Qa2 19.e5! dxe5

An understandable attempt to simplify since 19 . . . Qxe6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21 .Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Qd5+ Kf8 23.Re6 keeps up the pressure.

Else 21 .Kh1 Bc6.

20.Qxe5 Qxf2+! 21.Kxf2

21... Ng4+ 22.Kg1 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Bxg5 24.Nxg5+ Kg6

If 24 . . . Kf6 25.Rcc5! Rhe8 26.Ne4+ Kg6 27.Rg5+ Kf7 28.Nd6+ wins material. 25.Ne6 Rhe8?

Plausible but disastrous. The only chance is 25 . . . Rac8 (in order to prevent Rc7 and gain time for . . . h6) 26. Rf1 can be met by 26 . . . Bb5!. The text loses a tempo.

26.Re3 Rac8 Too late now. White's rook has fatal access to g3.

27.Rfl Bb5

Larry Evans 229

28.Rg3+ Kh6 29.Nxg7 Rf8 30.Rel Rf6 31.h3 Rc2 32.Re5 Rcl+ 33.Kh2 Resigns

A good illustration of lulling an opponent into a false sense of security.

83 Parma-Szabo Solingen, 1 968 Sicilian Defense

�ack provokes a familiar sacrifice for the sake of refuting it. The result is a stinging loss which reconfirms the judgment that he is ill-advised to tamper with the standard order of moves in this variation.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7

7 . . . Be7 or 7 . . . h6 are the most solid continuations; 7 . . . Qb6 and 7 . . . b5 are sharper and still unrefuted tries. Because of the sifting sands of theol]', the Najdorf Variation is a risky but promising way of playing for a win nowadays.


8.Bc4 bSI? This works no better here than it ever has, but there is no easy way to discourage the pending sacrifice on e6. An alternative is 8 . . . Qa5.

9.Bxe6! The exclamation is not for originality, but merely to indicate its great strength. After 9.Bb3 Bb7, Black can hold his own.

9... fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qb6?

10 . . . Qa5! 1 1 .Nxf8 (1 1 .0-0!?) 1 l . . .Rxf8 12.Qxd6 is unclear. But not 10 . . . Qe7 1 1 .Nd5! Qxe6 12.Nc7+ Kf7 13.Nxe6 Kxe6 14.Qd4 Bb7 1 5.0-0-0 with a dangerous attack before Black consolidates.

ll.NdS 12.QxdS

NxdS Qe3+

The point is 12 . . . Bb7? 13.Nc7+ Qxc7 14.Qe6+ mates. 13.Kfl Nb6 14.Nc7+ Kd7 1S.Qf7+ Kc6 16.Nxa8

More pertinent is 16.Nd5! Qxe4 17.Qc7+ Kxd5 18.Rd1 + Ke6 19.Re1 Qxe1 + 20.Kxe1 h6 (or 20 . . . Nd5 21 .Qc6, followed by Kf2 and Rel+) 2l .f5+! Kd5 22.Qxb6 hxg5 23.Kf2 Rh4 24.Rd1 + Ke5 25.Qc6 Rb8 26.Qe8+ Black resigns (Mantanovic-Gufeld, Yugoslavia vs. U.S.S.R. , 1969).

16... Nxa8 17.QdS+ Kc7

A moment of truth. This position was known to theory, which awarded a plus to White after 18.Qxa8 but this judgment is hazardous-e.g. , 18 . . . Be6 (not 18 . . . Bh3? 19.e5!) 19.b3 d5 (threatening . . . Bc5) 20.Qd8+ Kb7 2 1 .Re1 Qd2 22.f5 Qxc2 23.fxe6 Qd3+ 24.Re2 Qdl+ 25.Re1 Qd3+, and White must be content with a draw.

Lany Evans 231

18.Rel! Here is Parma's new move. He forgoes the win of the knight in order to consolidate, while he retains rook and two pawns for two pieces. White can force favorable simplifications before the enemy can activate his pieces.

18. . . Qa7 19.e5 d.xe5 20.Qxe5+ Kb7 21.Be7! Nc7 22.Qd6! Bxe7 23.Rxe7 Qb6 24.Qxb6+ Kxb6 25.Rxg7 Nd5?

Black could put up a whopping fight with 25 . . . Ne6! 26.Rf7 Rd8. 26.g3 Ne3+ 27.Kf2 Ng4+

If 27 . . . Nxc2 28.Rdl keeps the Knight locked up while the kingside pawns advance. After the text, White must avoid 28.Kf3? because of . . . Re8.

28.Ke2 Bb7 29.Rel Nxh2 30.Kf2

30. . . Rd8 30 . . . h5 31 .Re6+ Bc6 32.Rgg6 Ng4+ 33.Ke2 Rc8 34.f5 is no better.

31.Re6+ Bc6 32.g4 Rd2+ 33.Re2 Rd6 34.f5 Rd4 35.Kg3 Nfl+ 36.Kh4 Nd2 37.f6 Nf3+ 38.Kg3 h5


39.gxh5 40.f7 4l.f8=Q

Rdl Nd4 Resigns

84 Tai-Giigoric

Moscow, 1 963 Sici l ian Defense

�ce Gligoric himself is one of the arch exponents of the White side, it is interesting to see how he conducts the defense. Tal, however, on move fifteen introduces a piece sacrifice which takes everyone by surprise.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 6.Bg5 7.f4 8.Qf3 9.0-0-0

10.g4 ll.Bxf6

a6 e6 Be7 Qc7 Nbd7 b5

Fischer (as Black) writes: "Gligoric and I have a standing feud with this position, which we've reached no less than three times. I've lost twice and drawn once." Bernstein-Fischer U.S. Championship 1958, continued: 1 1 .Bg2 Bb7 1 2.Rhe1 (better is 1 2.a3) 12 . . . b4 13.Nd5!? exd5 14.exd5 Kf8 15 .Nf5 ReS and Black (for a change) won.

11 . . . 12.g5 13.a3

Nxf6 Nd7

Careless is 13.Bh3? b4! 14.Nce2 Bb7 and Black already assumes the initiative with and early . . . d5 (Smyslov-Fischer, Candidates' Tournament 1959).

13. . . Bb7 13 . . . Rb8 is a sharper alternative.

14.Bh3

Sherwin-Fischer, U.S. Championship 1960 continued: 14.h4 d5 I 'i . l 'Xd"l

Nb6 16.f5 Nxd5 17.fxe6 0-0-0 18.Bg2 Nxc3 19.Qxb7+ Qxb7 20.Bxh7+ Kxhl 2l .bxc3 Bxa3+ 22.Kb1 fxe6 23.Nxe6 Rc8, and was drawn shortly.

14. . . 0-0-0 15.Bxe6!?

Possibly a prepared variation. Gligoric-Fischer, Candidates' Tournament 1959, went 1 5.f5!? Bxg5+ 16.Kb1 e5 17.Ndxb5 axb5 18.Nxb5, and now Fischer gives 18 . . . Qb6! (instead of his . . . Qc5) 19.Nxd6+ Kc7 20.Nxf7 Bf6 as roughly equal (Gligoric-Fischer, Candidates' Tournament 1959).

15... fxe6 16.Nxe6 Qc4?

Flustered, Gligoric finds a second best move. Here the queen is maladjusted. It would have been interesting to follow the course of the game after Keres' recommendation 16 . . . Qb6!

17.Nd5 18.exd5

Bxd5 Kb7

To meet the threat of b3, winning the queen. Wrong is 18 . . . Nc5 19.b3 Qe4 20.Qc3! with the double threat of 21 .Rhe1 or b4.

Slightly better seems 18 . . . Kb8 19.b3 Qc8, and if 20.Nd4 Ka8 holds. 19.b3 Qc8

20.Rd3! Nb6 21.Rc3 Qd7 22.Rc7+ Qxc7 23.Nxc7 Kxc7 24.Qc3+ Kb8 25.Qxg7 Nc8

Black would be all right materially if it weren't for the pawn deficit. As it is, he can offer only token resistance.

26.Re1 Rdg8


On 26 . . . Rhg8 27.Qxh7 Rh8 28.Rxe7 is good enough to win. 27.Qd4 Bd8 28.Re6 Rf8 29.h4 h6 30.g6 Rhg8 31.h5 Rf5 32.Qe4 Rxh5 33.Re8 Rxe8 34.Qxe8 Bf6 35.c4 bxc4 36.bxc4 Rh3 37.Kd2 Bc3+ 38.Kc2 Bd4 39.f5 Rxa3 40.c5 dxc5 41.d6 Ra2+ 42.Kd3 Ra3+ 43.Kc4 Resigns

85 Kholmov-Bronstein

USSR Championship, 1 965 Sicilian Defense

�te's sacrifices are so startling that one is left with the impression he stumbled into them by accident. Actually, his concept is incredibly profound.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3

Eschewing 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3, etc. as in games 95 and 96. 3... d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6

The Najdorf Variation, by transposition. The fancy footwork is over.

6.Bg5 e6

7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7

This accurate reply prevents Bc4. 9.0-0-0 Nbd7

10.g4 b5 ll.Bxf6 gxf6 12.f5

Larry Evans 235

Ceding control of e5 in order to exert pressure on e6. Gligoric-Fischer, Zurich, 1959 continued: 12.Bg2 Bb7 13.Rhe1 0-0-0 14.a3 Nb6=.

An exciting draw in Padevsky-Evans, Havana Olympics 1966, resulted from 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Kb1 Nc5 14.f5 b4 15 .Nce2 d5 16.fxe6 dxe4 17.exf7+ Kf8 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Nxe4 20.Ne6+ Kxf7 21 .Nxc7 Ra7 22.Rd4, etc.

12... Ne5 13.Qh3 0-0

Fischer introduced this move against Gligoric at the Candidates' Tournament 1959. Black's game collapses after 13 . . . Bd7 14.g5! fxg5 (14 . . . exf5 15 .Nd5) 15 .fxe6 fxe6 16.Nxe6.

14.g5 In the aforementioned game Gligoric proceeded with the more strategical 14.Nce2 in order to increase the pressure against e6. After 14 . . . Kh8 15.Nf4 Rg8 16.Rg1 d5 17.fxe6 dxe4 18.Nd5 Qc5 Black's position hung by a hair.

14. . . b4? An error which meets with a stunning refutation. Correct is 14 . . . fxg5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Nxe6 Qd7 17.Nd5 Qxe6 18.Qxe6+ Bxe6 19.Nxe7+ Kf7 and Black has at least equal chances in the resulting endgame.

15.gxf6 Bxf6 16.Rgl+ Kh8 17.Qh6 Qe7

18.Nc6!


The shocker. When playing over this game for the first time, I remember thinking it was a misprint!

18. . . Nxc6 19.e5!

Now it is dear that White is fighting to dear the e4 square for his knight.

Kholmov gives:

19. . . Bg5+

A. 19 . . . Nxe5 (worse is 19 . . . dxe5 20.Ne4 Bg5+ 2 l .Nxg5 f6 22.Nxh7!) 20.Ne4 Nd7 (Black does best to take his chances with the inferior ending resulting from 20 . . . Ng6 2l .Nxf6 Qxf6 22.fxg6 Qg7! 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.gxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rxd6) 2l .Rxd6 exf5 22.Rxf6 Rg8 23.Rxg8+ Kxg8 24.Rxf5 Nf8 25.Nf6+ Kh8 26.Re5! Be6 27.Rg5 mates.

B. 19 . . . Bxe5 20.f6 Bxf6 2 l .Bd3 Bg5+ 22.Rxg5 f5 (if 22 . . . f6 23.Rg3 bxc3 24.Bxh7 wins) 23.Rdg1 Ra7 24.Ne2 Ne5 25.Nf4 25.Nf4 and the threat of Nh5 and Rg7 compels Black's resignation (if 25 . . . Rc7 26.Bxf5! exf5 27.Nd5 wins).

20.Rxg5 21.exd6 22.Rg3 23.Bc4 24.Kb1

25.Rdg1

f6 Qf7 bxc3 cxb2+ Nd8

Permitting Black to continue his resistance. More efficient is 25.d7! Bxd7 26.Rxd7, etc.

25 . . . Ra7 26.d7 Rxd7 27.fxe6 Nxe6 28.Bxe6 Rdl+! 29.Rxd1 Bxe6

30.Kxb2 Rb8+ 31.Kal Bxa2

Lany Evans 237

3 l . . .Bf5 offers more fight, but White's material preponderance would still tell in the long run.

32.Rgd3 33.Kxa2 34.Rb3

Qe7 Qe6+ Resigns

86 G l igoric-Bobotsov

Hastings, 1 959-60 Sicil ian Defense

dn important theoretical game which is important to an understanding of this variation. Today it looks like old hat, but Gligoric's queen sacrifice was a trail blazer.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7

For 9 . . . g5!? see Game 87. The text is more natural. 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 ll.Bd3

1 l .Be2 may set Black more long range problems. Bednarsky-Evans, Lugano Olympics 1968, continued: 1 l . . .g5 (if 1 1 . . .0-0 12.g4 is unpleasant to meet; and if 1 l . . . b5 12.e5! Bb7 13.exf6! Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxf6 15.Bxf6 Rc8 16.Bxg7 Rh7 17.Bh5! Rxg7 18.Nxe6 Qc4 19.Rhe1! Rxg2-Klavins-Tal, Riga 1959; now 20.Rd4! Qc6 2l .Bf3! gives White a clear advantage) 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe3 Nh7 14.Nf3 hxg5!? (14 . . . Nxf3 15 .gxf3 hxg5 is probably necessary) 15 .Bg3 (stronger is 15 .Nxg5! Ng6 16.g3) 15 . . . Bd7 16.Qd4 f6 with a solid position for Black.


11... b5? Black can obtain active play with 1 1 . . .g5! 12.fxg5 Ne5, etc.

12.e5! Bb7 13.Nxe6! fxe6 14.Bg6+ Kf8

On 14 . . . Kd8 1 5.Qh3! (or 15.exf6! Bxf3 16.fxe7+ Kc8 17.gxf3 Kb7 18.Rhe1) 15 . . . dxe5 16.Qxe6 keeps up the pressure.

A queen sacrifice to boot.

15.exf6!

15... Bxf3 Black's king is loose after 15 . . . Bxf6 16.Qh3.

t6.fxe7+ Kg8 17.gxf3 Nf6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.e8=Q+ Rxe8 20.Bxe8 d5

A later game went 20 . . . Kf8! 21 .Bh5 Rg8 22.f5 b4! 23.Ne4 Rg2 24.Nd2 Qa5 25.Kb1 Rxd2! 26.Rxd2 b3 27.axb3 Qxd2 28.fxe6 Ke7 29.Bf7 f5 30.Rg1 Qxh2 31 .Rg7 Qe5 and a draw was agreed. This line may rescue Black.

21.Rd4 With a rook and two pieces for the queen, White can't miss. Sharper is 2l .f5 Qf4+ 22.Kb1 Qxf5 23.Bg6!

21. . . Kh7 22.Bh5 Qc5 23.Rhdl ReS 24.Rld2 f5 25.Ne2 Kg7 26.Kbl Kf6 27.a3 a5 28.Ng3 b4

29.a4 Qc6 30.b3 Qc3

Lany Evans 239

The only reason Black doesn't resign is the awkward position of the bishop, which he hopes to keep permanently out of play. It's only a matter of time, however, before White breaks through on the g- or e-file.

31.R4d3 Qc5 32.Re2 Qgl+ 33.Kb2 Rc3 34.Rdd2 d4

A little better is 34 . . . Rc8 to prevent the bishop escaping to e8.

Or 37 . . . Qd4 38.Ne2.

35.Rg2 Qe3 36.Be8 d3 37.cxd3 Qel

38.Rc2 39.Bb5

Rxd3 Rc3

White forces mate after 39 . . . Rdl 40.Nh5+ Kf7 41 .Rg7+ Kf8 42.Rc8+ Rd8 43.Rxd8 mate.

40.Bc4 Rxc2+ 41.Rxc2 e5 42.fxe5+ Qxe5+ 43.Ka2 f4 44.Ne4+ Kg6 45.Rg2+ Kh5 46.Nf2 Qe8 47.Bd3 Kh4 48.Rg4+ Kh5 49.Bg6+ Resigns

8 7 Gaspariantz-Eidlin

USSR, 1 961 Sici l ian Defense

�e two unknowns enrich the theory of the notorious Goteborg Variation, which came into being one day at the Swedish Interzonal in 1955, when three Argentinians (Najdorf, Panna, and Pilnik) suffered ter-


rible defeats with their secret weapon at the hands of three Soviet stars (Keres, Geller and Spassky, respectively).

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g51?

A remarkable concept that typifies the modern approach to the opening. Black voluntarily smashes open his king-side to obtain domination over his e5 square. It is even more remarkable that as the result of many key games with this sharp variation, theory now regards it as drawish! 9 . . . Qc7 is the prescription for maintaining the tension nowadays.

10.fxg5 Nfd7 10 . . . hxg5 l l .Bxg5 Nbd7 does not yield enough for the pawn.

ll.Nxe6!? This is also the move those three Soviet players chose on that fateful day when confronted with Black's surprise. White might also try l l .Qh5 (or l l .Bg3 Ne5 12.Qh5 Bxg5) Ne5 (not 1 1 . . . Bxg5? 12.Bxg5 Qxg5 13.Nxe6! Qxh5 14.Ng7+) 12.Bf2 Bxg5 13.h4 Bf6 14.0-0-0 with a double-edged game.

11... fxe6 12.Qh5+ K.f8 13.Bb5!

The purpose of this brilliant thrust is to clear the way for 0-0, while the bishop is also able to eliminate, on d7 or c6, a knight which plays a vital part in many variations.

Larry Evans 241

13 . . . Rh7! The original intention was 13 . . . Ne5 with which Panno defended against Geller. White whipped up a winning attack with 14.Bg3! Bxg5 (14 . . . Rh7! is necessary now) 1 5.0-0+ Ke7 16.Bxe5 Qb6+ 17.Khl dxe5 18.Qf7+, etc. After witnessing this slaughter in the same round, Najdorf and Pilnik promptly switched to 13 . . . Kg7. But they fared no better after 14.0-0 Ne5 1 5.Bg3 Ng6 16.gxh6+ Rxh6 17.Rf7+ Kxf7 18.Qxh6 axb5 19.Rf1+. etc.

14.0-0+ A good illustration of the creative evolution in opening theory. At the time this game was played it was well known that 14.Qg6 gave White nothing after 14 . . . Rf7 15.Qxh6+ Kg8 16.Qg6+ Rg7 17.Qxe6+ Kh8 18.Bxd7 Nxd7 19.0-0-0 Ne5 20.Qd5 Bg4 2l .Rdfl (Gligoric-Fischer, Portoroz 1958), and now 2 l . . .Rc8 (instead of 2l . . .Bxg5+ 22.Bxg5 Qxg5+ 23.Kb1 Qe7 24.Qd2=) would give Black a plus.

14 . . . 15.g6 16.Qxh6

Kg8 Rg7

White might give his opponent an extra chance to go wrong by trying 16.Rf7 first. Then 16 . . . Bg5? (16 . . . Bxh4! 17.Qxh6 transposes to the text) 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Raf1 Ne5 19.Bxg5! hxg5 20.Rxg7+ Kxg7 21 .Qh7+ mate.

16. . . Bxh4 17.Rt7

Although White is two pieces down, this position was no stranger to theory. The analysis which has been lavished on it shows that White gets at least a draw after 17 . . . Rxf7 18.gxf7+ Kxf7 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Qh8+ Kf7 21 .Qh7+ Kf8. But he can try for more with 22.e5 followed by Rf1 + and Ne4.

17. . . Qf6 If the aforementioned dangers can be avoided by giving up the queen, this simplifies matters considerably for Black.

18.Rxf6 Bxf6 19.Be2 Ne5

At last the key square is occupied. 20.Bh5 Bd7 21.Rfl Be7

With a rook and two minor pieces for the queen, Black is in good shapeparticularly if he can pick up the g-pawn after . . . Be8.

22.Rf7!


By applying the same maneuver again White just keeps his attack alive. 22. . . Nxf7

The new sacrifice must be accepted. Not 22 . . . Bf8 23.Rxf8+ K.xf8 24.Qh8+ Rg8 25.g7+ wins.

23.g:xt7+ Rxf7 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7 25.Qh5+ Draw

After 25 . . . Kg7 26.Qg4+ Kf8 27.Qh5! Black must submit to a perpetual check unless he wishes to lose by 27 . . . Bf6? 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.e5! followed by 30.Qxb7.

88 R. Byrne-Evans

U. S. Championship, 1 966 Sicilian Defense

� well might qualify as the most brilliant game by an American in modern times. 15 .Bf6!? was the shot heard around the world.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.Nc3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6

Larry Evans 243

8.Qd2!? The soundness of this sacrifice has eluded the best chess minds for over a decade. The pendulum favored first White, then Black, then White, then Black. . . It is known affectionately as the "Poisoned Pawn Variation."

Black can force an equal endgame after 8.Nb3 Qe3+! 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Bxe2 Nbd7 1 l .Bf3 Ra7 1 2.0-0-0 b5 13.Na5 h6 14.Bh4 Rc7, etc.

8... Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3

10.e5 Rehabilitating one of the discarded approaches. The "latest wisdom" in the line is 10.f5 Nc6 l l .Nxc6 bxc6 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.e5! Nd5 (Black barely escaped in Kavalek-Fischer, Sousse Interzonal 1967, after 13 . . . dxe5 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Be2 h5 17.c4 f5 18.Rb3 Qa4 19.0-0!? fxe4 20.Qc3 Qxa2! 2l .Bd1 Rf8 22.Bxh5+ Kd8 23.Rdl+ Bd7 24.Qe3 Qa5! 25 .Rb7 Bc5 26.Rdxd7+ Kc8 27.Rbc7+ Draw) 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Be2 dxe5 16.0-0 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Rf8 18.c4 Rxf1 + 19.Rxf1 Bb7 (Fischer-Geller, Monte Carlo 1967); . and now 20.Qc2 (or 20.Bd1) gives a promising attack.

10.. . dxe5 ll.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Bc4 Bb4

Fischer later introduced 1 2 . . . Qa5! into master play. 13.Rb3 Qa5 14.0-0 0-0 15.Bf6!? gx:f6?

Loses by force. Correct is 15 . . . Nxf6 16.exf6 Rd8 17.Rxb4 Qxb4 18.Qg5 g6 19.Rf4 Qf8 (Zuckerman beat Byrne in the 1967 U.S. Championship with 19 . . . Rxd4 20.Qh6 Qf8 2l .Qxf8+ Kxf8 22.Rxd4 Nc6) 20.Rh4 b5 2l .Bd3 b4 22.Bxg6! hxg6 23.Rh6 Rxd4 24.Rxg6+ with a draw by perpetual check (Hartston-Mecking, Hastings 1966-67).

16.Qh6! Black was hoping to muster up defenses after 16.exf6 Kh8 17.Qh6 Rg8, but 18.Bd3 Nf8 19.Nf3 Bxc3 20.Rxc3 Qxc3 21 .h4! renders Black helpless against the threat of Ng5, according to O'Kelly.

16 . . . 17.Nf5! 18.Ne4!

Qxe5 exf5


An orgy of clearance sacrifices designed to free the third rank for the rook. 18. . . Bd2

A valiant try. If 18 . . . Qxe4 (or 18 . . . fxe4 19.Rh3) 19.Rg3+ Qg4 20.Rxg4+ fxg4 21 .Bd3 wins.

Also unsatisfactory is 18 . . . Re8 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.Nxf6+ Qx£6 21 .Qxf6 Be6 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Rg3+ Ng6 24.Rxg6+ forcing mate shortly.

19.Nxd2 Qd4+ 20.Khl Ne5 21.Rg3+ Ng4

21 . . .Ng6 loses outright to 22.Rh3. Also bad is 21 . . .Qg4 22.Qxf6. 22.h3 Qe5 23.Rf4 Qel+ 24.Nfl Qxg3 25.Rxg4+ Qxg4 26.hxg4 Nd7 27.Ng3 Kh8 28.Bd3

Even quicker is 28.Nxf5 Rg8 29.Bxf7 Rxg4 30.Be8 threatening Bxd7. Black now prolongs the game, in desperation, until the time control.

28. . . Rg8 29.Bxf5 Rg6 30.Bxg6 fxg6 31.Ne4 b5 32.g5 Bb7 33.Nxf6 Nf8 34.Qh2 Bc8 35.Qe5 Ne6 36.Nd7+ Resigns

The only thing he is left with here is the will to live.

89 Fischer-Najdorf

Varna Olympics, 1 962 Sici l ian Defense

Larry Evans 245

� originator of the Najdorf Variation encounters some surprising and effective tactics. After only 24 moves he is bound hand and foot, the victim of Fischer's supreme artistry.

l.e4 2.Nf3 3.d4 4.Nxd4 5.Nc3 6.h3

c5 d6 cxd4 Nf6 a6

A recommendation of Weaver Adams-the first surprise. 6.Bc4 used to be Fischer's pet recipe, and he still resorts to it from time to time with success. It was rehabilitated by Short against Kasparov in their 1993 world title match.

6 .. . b5 White's last was specifically directed against the characteristic 6 . . . e5 of the Najdorf Variation; after 7.Nde2! Be7 8.g4 0-0 9.Ng3, White has a comfortable edge.

7.Nd5!? Bb7? Black's troubles begin here. A better try is 7 . . . Nxe4 8. Qf3 Nc5 9. b4 e6 (on 9 . . . Nb7 10. Qc3! is hard to meet) 10. bxc5 exd5 1 1 . Qxd5 Ra7 and it's still a hard game.

8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.c4! bxc4

More prudent is 9 . . . Bxe4. By accepting the pawn sacrifice Black subjects himself to tremendous pressure.

10.Bxc4 11.0-0 12.Rel!

Bxe4 d5

A difficult move to find, but the only way to retain the initiative.

12... e5 Fischer gives 12 . . . dxc4 13.Rxe4 Qd5 14.Qf3 e6 as relatively best.


13.Qa4+! Nd7 If 13 . . . Qd7 14.Bb5! axb5 15.Qxa8 Bd6 16.Rxe4! dxe4 17.Qxe4 followed by Nf5 with a bind.

14.Rxe4! dxe4 14 . . . dxc4 leads to the same type of cramp, except that Black lacks any material compensation for it.

15.Nf5 Bc5 t6.Ng7+ Ke7 17.Nf5+ Ke8

Now Black has lost the option of castling and his defensive task is hopeless.

18.Be3! Bxe3 19.fxe3 Qb6 20.Rdl

Eschewing 20.Bxf7+ Kd8 21 .Rdl Qb5. White just keeps piling up the pressure.

20.. . Ra7 21.Rd6! Qd8

Also futile is 21 . . .Qxb2 (or 21 . . .Qc7 22.Rxf6) 22.Bxf7+! Kd8 23.Qa5+ Kc8 (if 23 . . . Rc7 24.Be6 initiates another fatal pin) 24.Ne7+ Kb8 25.Nc6+ Ka8 26.Nxa7, ect.

22.Qb3 Qc7 Or 22 . . . Rf8 23.Ng7+ Ke7 24.Qa3! puts Black in a straitjacket.

On 23 . . . Kf8 24.Bh5. 23.Bxf7+ Kd8

24.Be6 Resigns The grand old master has no appetite to continue. If 24 . . . Rb7 25.Qa4 Qc8 26.Qa5+ Ke8 27.Qxa6 Kd8 28.Bxd7 Rxd7 29.Rxd7+ Qxd7 30.Qxf6+ Kc7 31 .Qxe5+ Kb6 32.Qxh8.

90 Fischer-Bolbochan

Stockholm, 1 962 Sicilian Defense

f!/'Jurdened with a bad bishop against a good knight, Black defends with extreme care but is gradually forced to retreat behind his own lines.Fischer's invasion on the weak squares is a model of accuracy, culminating in a keen combination.

l.e4 2.Nf3 3.d4 4.Nxd4 5.Nc3 6.h3

c5 d6 cxd4 Nf6 a6 Nc6

If now 6 . . . e5 7.Nde2 Be6 8.g4 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Bg2. 7.g4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 e5 9.Qd3 Be7

More accurate is 9 . . . Be6! so as to retreat the f6-knight to d7 without hemming in this bishop.

10.g5 Nd7 ll.Be3 Nc5?

l l . . .Bxg5 12.Bxg5 Qxg5 13.Qxd6 Qe7 14.Qxe7+ Kxe7 15.Nd5+ Kf8 16.0-0-0 g6 holds White to a minimal endgame edge.

12.Qd2 Be6 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.f3 ReS 15.Kbl Nd7

Regrouping. The knight has no future on c5, so Black tries to post it on b6 where it can leap to c4.

16.h4 17.Bh3 18.Rxh3 19.Bxb6! 20.Nd5

b5 Bxh3 Nb6 Qxb6 Qd8

24H Modern Chess Brilliancies

21.f4 White has a strategically won game because of his domination of d5 with the knight. But not the hasty 21 .Nxe7+? Qxe7 22.Qxd6 Rfd8 and Black wins. White has a positional advantage and Black's kingside is in a state of siege. It is instructive how White works with threats on both sides of the board in order to augment his superiority.

21... exf4 22.Qxf4 Qd7 23.Qf5 RedS 24.Ra3 Qa7 25.Rc3

Unconvincing is 25.Nf6+ (not 25.Nb4 d5! 26.Nc6 dxe4!) 25 . . . Bxf6 26.gxf6 g6 27.Qg5 Kh8.

Objectively best is 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 26.Rxa6 Rfe8 27.a4! "But I was hoping to win in the middle game. Ironically I wouldn't have been awarded the brilliancy prize had I chosen the best line here. They don't give medals for endgame technique"-Fischer.

25 ... 26.Qg4 27.Qf3 28.Rc7

Black is being forced to the wall.

g6 Qd7 Qe6 Rde8

29.Nf4 Qe5 30.Rd5 Qh8 31.a3 h6

Black has defended a difficult position rather well. On 31 . . . f6, Fischer gives 32.Qb3! Rt7 33.Rxd6 fxg5 34.hxg5 Qe5 35.Rf6! Rf8 36.Rxf7 Rxf7 37.Rc8+ Bf8 38.Ne6 wins.

32.gxh6 33.h5

Qxh6 Bg5

34.hxg6 fxg6

On 34 . . . Bxf4 35.gxf7+ Rxf7 36.Rxf7 Kxf7 37.Rh5! is the quietus. 35.Qb3!

Less clear is 35.Rxg5!? Qxg5 36.Qb3+ d5 37.Nxd5 Kh8!. 35.. . Rxf4

What else? If 35 . . . Kh8 (or 35 . . . Bxf4 36.Rh5+ wins the queen) 36.Nxg6+ Qxg6 37.Rxg5 Rfl + (or 37 . . . Qxg5 38.Qh3+ mates) 38.Ka2 Qxg5 39.Qh3+ Kg8 40.Qh7+ Kf8 41 .Qh8+ Qg8 42.Qh6+ mates.

36.Re5+ Kf8 37 .Rxe8+ Resigns

37 . . . Kxe8 38.Qe6+ Kf8 39.Qc8+ mates.

Fischer-Larsen Portoroz, 1 958 Sicilian Defense

f¥:cher slays the Dragon variation after an ill-advised attempt on the part of his opponent to complicate. The result is an object lesson in how to mount an assault against the fianchettoed king.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6

2"i0 Modern Chess Brilliancies

6.Be3 7.f3 8.Qd2 9.Bc4

Bg7 0-0 Nc6 Nxd4

Since this game, Black has tried many ways to neutralize the Yugoslav attack. 9 . . . Bd7 and Donald Byrne's 9 . . . a5 lead to ultrasharp play; the fate of the Dragon Variation rests upon the success of these two moves, if the text does not hold.

10.Bxd4 Be6 ll.Bb3 Qa5 12.0-0-0 b5

On 12 . . . Bxb3 13.cxb3!, Black's counterattack is stymied. 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5

Probably stronger is the plan to obtain pressure along the e-file and abandon the attack: 15.exd5 Qb5 16.Rhe1 a5 17.Qe2! (Tal-Larsen, Zurich 1959).

15.. . Rac8? In a higher sense, the losing move. Correct is 15 . . . Nxd5! 16.Bxg7 (Fischer said he intended 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Qxb4 keeping the game alive) 16 . . . Nc3+! 17.bxc3 (17.Bxc3 bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.bxc3 Rfc8 renders White's pawn useless) 17 . . . Rab8! 18.cxb4 Qxb4+! 19.Qxb4 Rxb4+ 20.Bb2 Rfb8 with equality.

16.Bb3! Now this bishop exerts a watchful eye on the kingside.

16. . . Rc7 17.h4 Qb5

If Black tries to slow down the attack with 17 . . . h5, Fischer gives 18.g4! hxg4 19.h5J gxh5 20.f:xg4 Nxe4 2l .Qe3 Nf6 22.gxh5 e5 23.h6 and wins.

18.h5! Rfc8 Again Fischer gives 18 . . . gxh5 19.g4! hxg4 20.fxg4 Nxe4 21 .Qh2 Ng5 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Rd5 Rc5 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Rxg5+ Rxg5 26.Qxh7 mate.

19.hxg6 hxg6 20.g4

But not the impetuous 20.Bxf6? Bxf6 21 .Qh6 e6! when Black not only defends everything, but threatens . . . Qe5 as well.

20. . . a5 21.g5 Nh5

21 . . . Ne8 doesn't work either after 22.Bxg7 Nxg7 23.Rh6! e6 24.Qh2 Nh5

25.Bxe6 fxe6 26.Rxg6+ Ng7 27.Rhl , etc.

22.Rxh5! "I've made this sacrifice so often, I feel like applying for a patent"-Fischer.

22. . . gxh5 Fischer gives 22 . . . Bxd4 23.Qxd4 gxh5 24.g6 Qe5 (if 24 . . . e6 25 .Qxd6) 25.gxf7+ Kh7 26.Qd3! (intending f4).

23.g6 e5 No better is 23 . . . e6 24.gxf7+ Kxf7 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Rgl + Kh7 27.Qg2 Qe5 28.Qg6+ Kh8 29.Rg5, etc.

24.gxf7+ Kf8 25.Be3 d5

The best try. If 25 . . . a4 26.Qxd6+ Re7 27.Qd8+! Rxd8 28.Rxd8+ Re8 29.Bc5+ is decisive.

26.exd5 27.d6 28.Bg5 29.Bxf6 30.d7 31.Qd6+

31 .Qh6+ forces mate in three. 31 . . .

Rxf7 Rf6 Qb7 Bxf6 Rd8

Resigns

2'i2 Modern Chess Brilliancies

92 Evans-Zuckerman

U. S. Championship, 1 96 7 Sicilian Defense

�ckerman is a player noted for his exhaustive book knowledge, and in New York circles he is often referred to as "Zuckerbook. " He displays a rare piece of bad judgment in the opening by gobbling a tainted pawnthe dose is lethal.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Nc6 7.f3

This setup is practically the only feared one against the Dragon; and it can be safely stated that if a reliable antidote were found the Dragon would enjoy a greater following. It has just begun to emerge after desuetude.

7.. . Bg7 8.Qd2 0-0

The attempt to postpone (or avoid) castling with 8 . . . Bd7 and 9 . . . ReS has been found wanting, since Black's king is not secure in the center and he is minus the services of his h8-rook.

9.0-0-0 Zuckerman writes: "In my opinion Evans plays 9.0-0-0 because he hopes that Black will reply 9 . . . d5, after which White can be a pawn ahead, and everyone knows how Evans like to have a pawn in his pocket. I don't think he believes 9.0-0-0 is objectively superior. The main ideas behind 9.Bc4 in this position are: (1) control of d5 (preventing . . . d5); (2) attack on Black's king position (f7); (3) safeguarding White's queen-side position after Bb3. "

Actually the answer is quite simple. I knew that Zuckerman would not invite this line unless he had a prepared variation up his sleeve. Since he was braced for 9.Bc4, I decided to adopt an unfashionable move in order to make him play in my ball park. I also knew that he was familiar with a

Larry Evans 2')�

game that I had won from Padevsky at Havana 1964 in which I had flown in the face of theory by accepting the pawn after 9 . . . d5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 l l .exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Qc5. Perhaps, therefore, he would be hoodwinked into an inferior reply, thinking that I was in possession of some pet recipe.

Not l l . . . Qa5? 12.Nd5!.

9 . . . 10.Bxd4 ll.Kbl

Nxd4 Be6 Qc7

Again Zuckerman writes: "It is interesting to note that some annotators, because I lost the game against Evans, criticized this move, but all the alternatives they suggested were much weaker. One of the main ideas behind 11 . . . Qc7 is the later transfer of the queen to a5, after . . . Rfc8, without allowing Nd5. "

12.h4 12 . . . 13.h5

Rfc8 Nxh5?

Opening the h-file proves fatal. Correct is 13 . . . Qa5! 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.a3 (15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 Qxd2 17.Nxf6+ Kg7!=) 15 . . . Rab8 16.g4 b5 17.Nd5 (otherwise Black's attack comes first) 17 . . . Qxd2 18.Rxd2 (not 18.Nxe7+ Kf8) 18 . . . Nxd5? 19.exd5 Bxd5! 20.Bxg7 Bxf3 21 .Rh3 Bxg4 22.Rg3 Kxg7 23.Rxg4 ReS 24.Re4 Rb7 25.b4 Rh5 26.Kb2 Draw! (Evans-Zuckerman, U.S. Championship 1970).

14.Bxg7 15.g4 t6.Qh6+ 17.e5!

This is the twist that Black overlooked.

Kxg7 Nf6 Kg8

17. . . dxe5 18.g5 Nh5 19.Bd3!

19.Rxh5 gxh5 20.Bd3 also works.


19... e4 There is no valid defense to the threat of Rxh5. If 19 . . . f5 20.Rxh5 gxh5 2l .Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Qxf5, etc.

20.Rxh5 gxh5 21.Nxe4

Black can hold out longer after 2l .Bxe4 Qe5 22.Bxh7+ Kh8 23.Be4+ Kg8 24.Bxb7 Rcb8 25.Bxa8 Qxc3 26 .Rd8+! .

21... Qf4 22.Nf6+ exf6 23.Bxh7+ Kh8 24.Bf5+ Kg8 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Qh8+ Resigns

Etiquette dictates that a chessmaster not play on until mate-26 . . . Ke7 27.gxf6!.

93 littlewood-Botvinnik

Hastings, 1 961 -62 Sicilian Defense

Larry Evans 255

�te launches a blitz attack against his renowned opponent which narrowly fails due to a very fine saving clause. As Botvinnik remarked at the time, it seemed that White had a 50-50 chance of success.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a6 8.Bc4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7

10.Qd2 Nbd7 Black's queenside operations are designed to discourage White from castling on that wing, and he keeps his king in the center as long as possible until White declares himself. Reshevsky against Bisguier, 2nd Match Game 1957, tried the more pretentious 10 . . . h5 and got the worst of it after 1 1 .a4 b4 12.Na2 a5 13.c3.

11.0-0-0 12.Kb1 13.cxb3

Nc5 Nxb3

Capturing away from the center is frowned upon, because the resulting pawn configuration gives Black a won king-and-pawn ending, if he can exchange all the pieces-a big if White grants this concession in order to maintain his initiative. After 13.axb3 Qc7 followed by . . . 0-0-0, Black's opening problems are over, and he has the two bishops as well. By contrast, after the text, Black dare not castle long, because of the open c-file.

13... 0-0 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 b4 16.e5!?


This looks promising but meets with a stinging refutation. Objectively best is 16.Na4 e5 17.Nc2 a5 18.Ne3, with absolute control of d5. White would then renounce his aggressive intentions and gang up on the d-file by doubling rooks.

16. . . Nd7 17.h4

17.exd6 e5! 18.h4 produces variations similar to the game. 17.. . bxc3 18.h5 dxe5

Barden relates: "A dramatic moment. Here there was hubbub among the spectators, who had the vision of a new Saint George arising to slay the Continental dragons (Littlewood had defeated Gligoric in the previous round). Even many of the other masters were taken in, and gathered round White's position, which was viewed with a mixture of amazement and envy. As Botvinnik sat calmly at the board-and even adjusted his tiewhile Littlewood's head remained buried in his hands, doubts began to arise. "

Most grandmasters are poker-faced, but now and again one can observe certain mannerisms which may be interpreted as the external signs of an inner reaction to an unexpected turn. Fischer will rise, circle the playing room, then rush back to his seat while his opponent is still pondering his next move. Petrosian will lean back after a sacrifice and hum a gentle tune. Gligoric will raise his eyebrows a bit, while others toy with a pencil, smile, massage their temples, sway in their chairs, etc. Only Botvinnik and Keres sit completely unmoved, without a telltale batting of the eye.

19.hxg6 Nf6 20.bxc3

White is desperate now. He intended 20.Nf5, but saw the catch after . . . c2+! (the key to Black's survival) 21 .Kxc2 Qc8+, followed by Qxf5 .

Larry Evans 257

Also inadequate is the plausible try 20.g4 exd4 21 .g5 c2+! (again) 22.K:xc2 Qc7+ 23.Kbl fxg6 24.gxf6 exf6 and White has nothing to show for his piece.

20 . . . 21.gxh7+ 22.Rxd4

exd4 Kh8

A better alternative was "Resigns. " 22 . . . 23.Qe3 24.Qd2 25.Kal 26.Rcl 27.Qxa2 28.Rxd8

Qa5 Nd5 Nxc3+ Rad8 Qxa2+ Nxa2 Rxd8

An antibrilliancy. Resigns

94 Larsen-Petrosian

Piatigorsky Cup, California, 1 966 Sicilian Defense

P.rsen's concluding queen sacrifice is merely the frosting on the cake. What is remarkable is the way he ties the world champion up in knots-and makes it look simple.

l.e4 2.Nf3 3.d4 4.Nxd4 5.Be3

c5 Nc6 cxd4 g6 Bg7

Allowing the dread Maroczy Bind, which could still be averted by 5 . . . Nf6 6.Nc3 d6, etc. But Petrosian has a predilection for cramped positions.

6.c4 Nf6 This game is so convincing that one is left with the impression that Black does better with the thematic 6 . . . Nh6 7.Nc3 0-0 followed by . . . f5 .

7.Nc3 Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4


9.Qd1 Ne6 Theory gives White the nod after 9 . . . e5 10.Nb5! 0-0 1 1 .Qd2 (but not l l .Nxd4 exd4 12.Bxd4 Qa5+ 13.Ke2 Re8).

10.Qd2 d6 ll.Be2 Bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rad1!

An essential improvement which reduces Black to passivity. Now 14.c5 is threatened. Keres-Petrosian, Candidates Tournament 1959, continued: 13.Rac1 Bc6 14.f3 Nc5 15.Rfd1 a5 16.b3, with only a slight spatial edge.

13. . . Bc6 14.Nd5 ReS

"This move I do not understand. Why not 14 . . . Nc5 1 5.f3 a5? I intended 16.Rfe1 followed by Bfl , but it would not be easy to attack the solid Black position." -Larsen.

15.f4 Nc7 16.f5 Na6 17.Bg4

"A difficult decision-and probably wrong"-Larsen. Stronger is 17.b4! Nb8 18.b5.

17. . . Nc5 18.fxg6 hxg6

White maintains his advantage without any need for material sacrifice after 18 . . . fxg6 19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.Be6+ Kh8 21 .Rf7.

"Now I had the fixed idea of luring my opponent forward, giving him the possibility of attack in order, if the attack did not lead to success, to leave him no better off than when he began"-Petrosian.

19.Qf2 Rf8 20.e5!

Larry Evans 259

Rather than win the queen, White sacrifices a pawn! He refuses to break up his fulminant attack for the sake of dubious material gain after 21 .Bxc5 dxc5 21 .Nf6+ Bxf6 22.Rxd8 Raxd8 "This White can never win, and he might lose"-Larsen.

20. . . Bxe5 21.Qh4 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Ne6?

"The world champion overlooks my twenty-fifth move. He was probably a little depressed and dissatisfied with his position, and too quickly grasped what looked like a safe draw . . . . In my opinion Black's best chance was 22 . . . e6 23.Qxd8 Rfxd8 24.Rxe5 dxe5 25.Bxc5. I did not like it very much, since it seemed to me that Black would get good counterplay, but now I believe that White would have winning chances-e.g., 25 . . . f5 26.Bdl Rd2 27.Bb3! Rad8 (27 . . . Rxb2 28.Rdl) 28.Rel Rxb2 29.Ba3 Rbd2 30.Bcl R2d3 31 .Bg5"-Larsen.

23.Rf3 Threatening the murderous 24.Rh3. Black has only one chance-to play for a draw by repetition.

23. . . Bf6 24.Qh6 Bg7

Hoping for 25.Qh4 Bf6, etc. But now comes the stroke that shatters all illusions.

25.Qxg6! Nf4 After 25 . . . fxg6 White wins as in the game with 26.Bxe6+ And on 25 . . . Nc7 26.Qxg7+! Kxg7 27.Rg5+ Kh8 28.Rh3+ mate . .

26.Rxf4 fxg6 27.Be6+ Rf7

"27 . . . Kh7 28.Rh4+ Bh6 29.Bxh6 g5 30.Rxg5 Qb6+ is a very funny variation, since it shows that without the c-pawn the whole thing would have been


incorrect! Of course there follows 3l .c5! . After 29 . . . RfS in this variation, White plays 30.Rxf5 gxfS 3l .Bf7! eS 32.Rh3, and the mating threat Bf8 decides. "-Larsen.

28.Rxf7 Kh8 28 . . . BeS staves off mate, but after 29.Rf5+ and 30.Rfxe5 White wins easily with two bishops versus rook in the ending.

29.Rg5 b5

"Black secures an exit for his queen which has not done any work yet. Well, it is very late"-Larsen.

30.Rg3 Resigns "My sense of self-criticism is probably not strong enough. I really do not blame myself for that mistake on move 17"-Larsen.

95 Spassky-Ciric

Student Team Championship, Czechoslovakia, 1 962 Sici l ian Defense

rri-ood defense can be just as exciting as attack. Not convinced? Fol-low Spassky's thoughts in the days before he became World Champion.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6!?

For 4 . . . Nxc3 See Game 96.White gets the edge after 4 . . . Nc7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4! Nc6 7.Qe4.

5.Nxd5 The eccentric S .Ne4 has also been tried. The text is the only attempt at a refutation.

5... exd5 6.d4 Nc6

If 6 . . . d6 7.Bb5+! Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.c4 dxc4 lO.dS a6 l l .Ba4 bS 12.dxc6 bxa4 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Qxa4 with advantage (Prins-Wtikovsky, Munich Olympics 1958).

7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 Qb6

/.tll"l)' /:'1'1/1/S 2(l )

The most aggressive choice in this risky variation. On 8 . . . d6 9.�xdCl <JhCl either 10.Bc4 Bxf2+ 1 1 .Ke2, or 10.Be3! Bxe3 1 1 .fxe3 Qxe3+ 12 . lk2 Bd1 13.Qg5 is in White's favor.

9.Bc4! 10.Ke2 ll.Rfl 12.Ng5

Bxf2+ 0-0 Bc5 Nxe5!?

12 . . . Nd4+ 13.Kd1 Ne6 14.c3 d6 15.b4 Bxb4! 16.cxb4 dxe5 is also complicated. (Bulyovchich-Minic, Yugoslav Championship 1962).

The idea behind this sacrifice is to swiftly mobilize his forces while White's king is stranded in the middle of the board. It nearly works. "This is a surprise indeed! . . . Needless to say, I was far from a state of tranquillity at that moment. It isn't much of a pleasure coping with a special analysis, carefully thought out in a calm atmosphere at home. Even if this analysis has a slight inaccuracy, finding the latter during a vital game, where time for thinking over moves is limited, isn't easy at all. No wonder I pondered over my reply for exactly an hour before finally making up my mind"Spassky.

13.Qxe5 "This was unquestionably the most crucial moment of the game. By accepting the sacrifice I, thereby, had to live up to this bold challenge. A continuation of 13.Nxf7 Nxf7 14.Rxf7 Qe6+ 15.Qxe6 (a sharp reply of 15.Be3 also merited attention) gave me a somewhat better ending and a guarantee against all unpleasantness.

"I would feel more constrained if I were to play this game now. First of all, I would take into consideration the circumstance that I was playing in a team competition and on board Number 1 at that, meaning that this contest would be of great psychological as well as sporting significance. Very often the 'duel' between the team leaders serves as a kind of barometer showing the combat spirit of the whole team. Naturally, in this case,


one should take the least possible risk, or practically no risk at all.

"I would also take into account that the issue of who would receive the gold medals largely depended on the match between our teams. In the event of a victory, the Yugoslav students would be in a very strong position to capture the top laurels.

"It was possible this sense of responsibility for the success of our team that would now force me (naturally, if I could not find a clear-cut plan of action after 13.Qxe5) to select a calm continuation: 13.Nxf7 and, thereby, avoid a rather risky opening board debate with a well-prepared rival.

"But I must admit that at that time I was far from such reasoning. I was engrossed by the situation, and it even seemed to me that I was obliged to accept the challenge. I, of course, was aware of all the dangers this decision entailed. If 'calm' Ciric sacrifices a piece, it means that he has analyzed in detail all possible continuations. And yet intuition prompted me to think that my opponent's scheme was not correct. It was precisely intuition that guided my judgment and made me work intensively for a whole hour until I finally fathomed the position.

"I think that, even if I failed to solve all the problems on the board to the end at that time, I still would not have made a reply of 13.Nxf7 with a transition to a somewhat better ending. A decision of this kind at that time would have been equal to my backing out of the fight, equal to the recognition of my helplessness in the face of my adversary's design.

·

"I accepted the Yugoslav player's challenge not so much because I had figured out all variants, but more because my intuition told me that I was right. This confidence, in the long run, helped me overcome an unexpected obstacle encountered in this game."-Spassky.

13... d5 14.Qxd5!

"Studying the variants arising after 14.Bxd5 took up most of my time. It was clear to me that Black's reply to such a move would be 14 . . . Bg4+. How should White play then?

"In the beginning, I regarded the possibility of moving my King back to el ; 15 .Ke1 Rad8 16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Bxe8 (I rejected 17.Qxe8 in view of 17 . . . Rxe8+ 18.Bxe8 Qc7 as, despite his matgerial advantage, White finds it hard to prove that he has real chances of winning), 17 . . . Qa5+! convinced me that, in this event, the picture looks sad for White. Indeed, the aSQueen check is fatal for me. If, for instance, 18.c3, the reply can be 18 . . . Bf2+; whereas a decisive continuation to 18.Qc3 can be 18 . . . Rxe8+ 19.Kd2 Bb4.

"Instead of making a retreat 15.Ke1 , I began studying 1 5.Rf3, but I did

t.art:v lit1fllts .!(1,1

not like the continuation 15 . . . Qb5+ 16.c4 Rae8!. In the event now ol' 17. Nl•(J, the continuation can b e 17 . . . fxe6 18.Bxe6+ Bxe6 19.Rxf8+ BxfH 20.Qxh'i Bxc4+, and Black wins.

"Giving up 15.Rf3, I concentrated my thoughts on variants springing up in case of 15 .Kd3. But here, too, after 15 . . . Rae8 16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Bxe8 Rxf1 a completely unclear position would arise. And, lastly, I , in general, did not consider a reply of 15.Kd2 at all, because I realized that it would also permit Black to build up quite unpleasant threats.

"Therefore, 14.Bxd5 did not seem convinging to me, and I switched my attention over to 14.Qxd5. Studying the variants connected with this move, I did not discover any particular danger for White, because, in the event of 14 . . . Bg4+ White had an excellent reply of 15.Rf3. Should Black now continue with 15 . . . Bg1 , the next moves would be 16.Kf1 Bxf3 17.Qxf3, and White fends off the attack and retains his material advantage. A continuation of 15 . . . Rad8 16.Qe4 Bxf3+ 17.gxf3 g6 would be a little better, but this would probably give Black only practical chances of salvation.

"It is truly remarkable the way a chess player's brain works diring a game! I arrived at 14.Qxd5, having rejected Bxd5. Why, then, did I study 14.Bxd5 first? Was it because it looked like a more natural reply than 14.Qxd5?"-Spassky.

14. . . ReS+ 15.Kf3

Stronger than 15.Ne4 Be6 16.Qxc5 Qxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc4+ 18.Kf2 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Rac8=.

15... Qf6+ 16.Kg3

It would be wrong to play 16.Bf4? in view of 16 . . . Re3+. 16. . . Bd6+

17.Rf4!


"Evidently this reply was overlooked by my rival in the analysis he made at home. He probably reckoned only on 17.Bf4 after which 17 . . . Re3+ would bring him a victory"-Spassky.

17. . . Be6 "It is impossible to see how Black can keep up the dying flame of attack, because the danger to the f7 spot is most unpleasant"-Spassky.

The decisive blow.

18.Nxe6 Rxe6 19.Qxd6!

19 . . . 20.Rg4

Qg6+ Re3+

After 20 . . . Rxd6 2l .Rxg6 Rxg6+ 22.K.f2 it becomes only a matter of time before the power of the two bishops against a rook will be felt.

21.Bxe3 Qxd6+ 22.Kf2 ReS 23.Rf4 Re7 24.Bb3 Qe5 25.Re1 g5 26.Rf3 Kg7 27.Rd1 f6 28.Kg1 g4 29.Bd4 Resigns

"We found out after the match that the variant with the piece sacrifice had been prepared by the Yugoslavs, especially for the contest with the Soviet players. The main expert was Minic, who finally persuaded mistrustful Ciric to employ this 'secret weapon. ' But the surprise, as you can see, had both its merits and demerits. "-Spassky.

96 Gurgenidze-Lein

USSR Championship, 1 96 7 Sicilian Defense

&erything proceeds serenely until White's totally unexpected knight sacrifice on move 1 1 . Black must decline, but he never recovers from the disruption.

1.e4 c5

2.Nf3 3.e5 4.Nc3 5.dxc3

Nf6 Nd5 Nxc3

The capture away from the center violates principle, but allows for rapid development. "Before the ending the gods have placed the middlegamc," wrote Dr. Tarrasch. After 5.bxc3 d5, Black's game is easier.

5... Qc7 Black plans to mobilize his queen-side and perhaps castle there, but as the game goes he never gets a chance. Nimzovich opined that 5 . . . d5 is best, but then White retains his initiative with 6.exd6 Qxd6 (or 6 . . . exd6 7.Bc4 Be7 8.Bf4 0-0 9.Qd2!) 7.Be3! Nc6 8.Bd3 e5 9.Ng5 Be7 10.Qh5 (ParmaKozomara, Yugoslav Championship 1962).

Nimzovich once played 5 . . . b6? overlooking that White can win with 6.e6! f6 (or 6 . . . fxe6 7.Ne5!) 7.Ne5!, and Black cannot withstand the double threat of Qf3 or Qh5 (Votochek-Pachman, Prague 1944)

6.Bf4 Nc6 7.Bc4 e6 8.0-0 b6 9.Rel

Overprotecting the e-pawn in order to free the knight. 9... f5

If Black continues his development with 9 . . . Bb7 he must reckon with 10.Ng5 and if 10 . . . f5 (to deprive the knight of e4) l l .exf6 e.p.! Qxf4 1 2.f7+ Ke7 (or 12 . . . Kd8 13.Nxe6+) 13.Bxe6! wins.

The right course is 9 . . . h6 followed by . . . Bb7 and . . . 0-0-0. 10.Nh4 g6?

The final error. Necessary is 10 . . . Ne7 after which White would find it by no means easy to exploit his initiative. If 1 l .Qd6, 1 1 . . . Nd5! equalizes.

ll.Nxf5!


Now the result of the game is practically decided. 11... Na5

The only defense. After l l . . . Bb7 1 2.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.exd6 Black not only is a pawn behind, but is tied up as well. There are two ways to accept the offer and both are bad:

A. l l . . .exf5 12.e6 d6 (12 . . . Qxf4 13.exd7+ Kd8 14.Re8+) 13.e7! Bxe7 14.Bxd6 Qd7 15.Qd5 Rf8 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Qxa8 wins.

B. l l . . . gxf5 12.Qh5+ Kd8 13.Radl followed irremediably by 14.Bxe6, and Black's king will be caught in a crippling crossfire.

12.Bd5! The prettiest and most effective way of continuing the attack. Also sufficient is 12.Nd6+ (or 12.Ne3) Bxd6 13.exd6 Qc6 14.Bfl .

12. . . Bb7

1 2 . . . exd5 loses to 13.Nd6+ Kd8 14.Qxd5 with myriad threats.

13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 Qc8

On any other queen move comes 15.Bxe6. For instance 14 . . . Qd8 15.Bxe6 dxe6 16.Rxe6+ Kf7 17.Re7+ Kg8 18.Bh6.

15.Bh6! Now Black's king is hemmed in the center, and victory is only a drop away.

15 . . . 16.Qf3 17.Qxd5 18.Rad1

Rg8 Bxd5 Nc6

With the new and unpleasant threat of 19.Rxe6+. 18. . . Nd8 19.Qg5 Nc6 20.Qf6 g5 21.Re5

Enough is enough. Of no help is 21 . . .Qd8 22.Rxe6+.

9 7 Suetin-Taimanov

Leningrad, 1 967 Sicilian Defense

dcolossal struggle. Black staggers out of a beautiful combination bloody but unbowed, then falters in the quiet aftermath.

l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c3

A legitimate attempt to profit from Black's last. White hopes to establish a pawn mass in the center.

3 . . . d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 cxd4 9.cxd4 0-0

10.Nc3 Finally White gains the tempo which Taimanov has been trying to deny him. But Black is already safely castled, and can afford the slight loss of time.

10 . . . ll.Rcl 12.Qd2

Qd6 Nbd7 Nb6

12 . . . b5 is more active, but Taimanov has another idea in mind. 13.Bf4 QdS 14.Ne5 Nfd5 15.Bg3 Bd7 16.f4 Bb5!

When cramped, exchange pieces.

17.Rf3 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 ReS 19.Rcfl Bb4

Too slow. 19 . . . Nxc3 20.bxc3 Na4 21 .Be1 h5 produces the necessary


counterplay. 19 . . . f5, although it weakens the e-pawn, also comes into consideration.

20.Ne4 Ne7 21.a3 Bd6 22.Bh4 f6

22 . . . Nbd5 would prevent the following combination; but in that event the consequences of 23.f5 are ramified.

23.Nxf6+! Rxf6 Not 23 . . . gxf6 24.Rg3+ Ng6 (24 . . . Kh8 25.Qg4 Nf5 26.Qg8+! Rxg8 27.Nf7+ mate) 25.Nxg6 hxg6 26.Rxg6+ Kf7 27.Qh5 with a firm mating web.

24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Rg3+ Kf8 26.Qg4 Bxe5

Not 26 . . . fxe5 27.fxe5+ Ke8 (27 . . . Nf5 28.Rxf5+! exf5 29.Qg8+ mates) 28.Qh5+ Kd7 29.exd6 Kxd6 30.Qe5+ Kd7 3l .Rg7, etc.

27.fxe5 f5 28.Rxf5+!

28. .. Ke8! Forced. On 28 . . . exf5 (28 . . . Nxf5? 29.Qg8+ Ke7 30.Qxh7+ wins) 29.Qg7+ Ke8 30.e6 Qd5 (on 30 . . . Rei + White simply strolls his king to d3) 31 .Qh8+ Ng8 32.Rxg8+ Ke7 33.Qg7+ Kd6 34.Rxc8 Nxc8 35.Qd7+ mate.

29.Rfl Kd7 30.Rb3 Rc6?

A pity that after having survived the worst Black does not offer the sturdiest resistance with 30 . . . Rc4; after 3l .Rf6 Nf5 he's still alive (32.Rxf5 exf5 33.Qxf5+ Kc7 34.Qf7+ Kb8 35 .Rxb6 Rcl + wins).

31.d5! Nbxd5 3 1 . . . Nexd5 32.Qg7+ Ne7 33.Rdl + Nbd5 34.Rxb7+ leads to a similar end.

32.Rxb7+ Kc8

33.Rb3 Qa5 34.h3 Qd2 35.Kh2 Kc7

Lany Evans 269

Black is making a brave struggle to consolidate, and it is not clear yet that he must lose. 35 . . . Ne3 was impossible because of 36.Rf8+ Kc7 37.Qg7 N3f5 38.Rxf5, etc. Another try that fails is 35 . . . Qc2 36.Rf8+ Kc7 37.Rfb8 Nb6 38.R8xb6! Rxb6 39.Rc3+, etc. All things considered, 35 . . . Ng6 is the best practical chance.

36.Rt7 Qc2 37.Rc3! Rxc3

It's all over after 37 . . . Nxc3? 38.Rxe7+ Kd8 39.Qg7. 38.bxc3 Kd7 39.c4 h5

If 39 . . . Ne3 40.Qd4+ wins. 40.Qh4 41.Qf2

On 41 . . .Nc7 the simplest win is 42.Qf6. 42.Rxe7+ 43.Qxe3 44.Qd4 45.c5

Qg6 Ne3

Kxe7 Qf5 a5 Resigns


98 Spassky-Y. Geller

6th Match Game, 1 968 Sici l ian Defense

9?assky's lopsided score of 31/z - 1/z with the "closed" system in this match did much to revive its popularity. Black is defeated with apparent ease when his queenside counterplay proves ineffectual.

l.e4 c5 2.Nc3

Tchigorin employed this variation with great success at the turn of the century, and it was later adopted by Mieses and Smyslov. White's plan is to control his d5 and hinder 0 0 .d5, which means that it will be difficult for either player to open the center. Thus, the variation is known as "closed," because the struggle is confined to the wings and generally flares up in the middle game.

2 . . . d6 It is sharper for Black to keep an eye on his d4 with an immediate 2 0 0 .Nc6 followed by 3 0 0 .g6, etc. If Black continues with 0 0 .e6 and o o . Nge7 he may ber able to advance his d-pawn to d5 in one move.

3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.f4

The most elastic continuation, reserving f3 or h3 for the knight. The older moves were 6.Nge2 and 6.Be3.

6... Nf6 For 6 o o .e5 see next game. A more viable system is 6 0 0 .e6 followed by . . . Nge7 and an eventual . . .f5. Only after this crushing defeat did Geller switch to that plan in the last game of this match.

7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 RbS 9.h3

In their second match game, Spassky tried 9.Nh4 Nd4 10.f5 b5 l l .Bg5 b4 and now he played the somewhat strange 12.Nbl , after which Black's chances were better.

Lany Evans 271

The opening is over and the two sides develop strategies characteristic of such formations. Black has sufficient control of the center and prepares to advance his pawns on the queenside, where he has more space; White strives to develop activity on the other wing, where his prospects are better.

9 . . . b5 10.a3

A novel treatment. White, in order to exchange a potential weakness and open the a-file, invites the opening of lines on the wing his opponent is pressing.

10 . . . ll.Be3 12.axb4 13.Ne2

a5 b4 axb4 Bb7

The bishop remains inactive for the rest of the game and does not help in defending the King. Better is 13 . . . Ne8 14.Rb1 Nc7 15 .f5 Nb5 (ReshevskyKorchnoi, Match 1968).

14.b3! Until now play has followed the fourth match game, in which Spassky tried 14.Qd2. The point of the text is that the pawn will not be under fire when Black's rook arrives at a2; it also hinders . . . c4.

14. . . Ra8 15.Rc1 Ra2 16.g4 Qa8

Once again, as in the fourth game, Geller brings his queen to this flank in search of counterplay.

17.Qe1 Qa6 18.Qf2

Not 18.Qh4? Nxe4! . Now Black might try 18 . . . Nd7! with equal chances.


18 ... 19.f5 20.fxg6

Na7 Nb5 hxg6?

After 20 . . . fxg6 2l .Nf4 Bc8 22.Ng5 White's positional advantage, in view of the hole at e6 would be obvious; however, 22 . . . Nc7 would stem the attack which Spassky gets now.

21.Ng5 22.Qh4 23.Rxf61 24.Qh7+

Na3 ReS exf6 Kf8

The fever seems to have subsided, and it appears that there will be a lull. But the next blow dispels Black's illusions of safety.

25.Nxf7! Rxc2 Black already lacks the power to offer meaningful resistance. If 25 . . . Kxf7 (or 25 . . . Rc7 26.Nh6) 26.Bh6 Rg8 27.Nf4 d5 28.exd5 f5 29.Ne6 wins.

26.Bh6 Rxcl + 27.Nxcl Kxf7

No better is 27 . . . Bxh6 28.Nxh6 Ke8 29.Qxg6+ Kd7 30.Qf7+ Kc6 3l .e5+, etc.

28.Qxg7+ Ke8 29.g51 f5

A last gasp. Mate is unavoidable after 29 . . . fxg5 30.Bxg5.

30.Qxg6+ Kd7 31.Qf7+ Kc6 32.exf5+ Resigns

On 32 . . . Kb6 33.Qxb7+ Qxb7 34.Bxb7 Kxb7 35.f6, and the pawns cannot be stopped.

99 Bilek-G heorghiu

Bucharest, 1 968 Sicilian Defense

Larry Evans 273

9!w.om is castling too early so drastically punished. White's energetic combination gives some measure of the potential of his hitherto unfashionable system.

l.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.f4 e5

The text is recommended in Gligoric's books on the Sicilian, but he does not consider White's reply.

7.Nh3 Nge7 8.0-0 0-0

The right plan is 8 . . . exf4! as in Bilek-Evans, Lugano Olympics 1968, which continued 9.Nxf4 0-0 10.Nfd5 Nxd5 l l .Nxd5 Be6 12 .Nf4 Bd7 13.c3 b5 with equal chances, although Black's queenside counterplay carried the day. (I was not familiar with this game at the time, but instinct told me castling was premature.)

9.f5! gxf5 Necessary is 9 . . . f6 either here or on the next move.

10.exf5 Bxf5?


ll.Rxf5! Nxf5 12.Be4 Nfd4

1 2 . . . Nfe7 is refuted by 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Ng5. The hardest resistance, however, is offered by 1 2 . . . Nxg3! 13.hxg3 f5.

13.Qh5 ReS 13 . . . f5 14.Bd5+ Kh8 15.Ng5 h6 16.Qg6! hxg5 17.Qh5+ Bh6 18.Qxh6+ mate.

14.Qxh7+ Kf8 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.Nd5 Re6 17.Rfl Nxc2 18.Bg6!

The finishing touch. Black's king cannot escape from its tight wedge. 18 . . . Rxg6 19.Qxg6 makes it hopeless for Black.

18. . . N2d4 19.Bh6 Resigns

19 . . . Rxg6 20.Qxg6 Bxh6 2l .Qxh6+ mates next.

�00 Estrin-Berliner

World Correspondence Championship, 1 968 Two Knights Defense

�le the opening duel is of great importance to theory, the endgame is no less worthwhile. World Correspondence Champion Berliner's handling of the entire game is impeccable, and his notes are unusually instmctive.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5

Larry Evans 275

Condemned by Dr. Tarrasch as "a duffer move," this sortie is nevertheless a logical way to exert pressure against f7. It has withstood numerous attempts at refutation, and probably will survive this setback as well (see note to White's 8th).

"When I found out that International Master ]. Estrin of the Soviet Union was among the finalists of the World Individual Correspondence Chess Championship, one thought that immediately came to mind was that he plays the Two Knights Defense from the White side. This was of special interest to me since I used to play this opening a long time ago, but stopped playing it shortly after a catastrophic loss against Larry Friedman in 1946, in a game which cost me the U. S. Junior Championship. , Although I made some opening mistakes in that game, I became convinced that the whole 4.Ng5 variation was unsound. However, this conviction was not borne out by anything one could find in opening books or by any other analysis at hand. However, the conviction was strong enough that even though I did not know what color I was ultimately to get vs. Estrin, I determined to begin some research on this pesky problem.

"When the tournament pairings were announced about two weeks before the start of play, I was delighted to learn that I had Black in the game in question. My work then began in earnest. The result of this effort is shown in the game and notes below. Since Black never has worse than a draw after White's fourth move, this line logically refutes the whole 4.Ng5 variation unless some improvement for White over the notes here published is sound. In addition to making this important theoretical contribution, I gained a valuable point in the tournament"-Berliner.

4... d5 5.exd5 b5

Ulvestad's Variation. The usual 5 . . . Na5 (on 5 . . . Nxd5 6.d4! is best) 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 favors White.

6.Bfl


6.Bxb5 Qxd5 7.Bxc6+ Qxc6 8.0-0 Bb7 is thought to give Black equal chances. 6... Nd4

Transposing to Fritz's variation (5 . . . Nd4 immediately). Unsound is 6 . . . Nxd5 7.Bxb5 Bb7 8.d4! , etc.

7.c3 8.Ne4

NxdS

Theory gives this as best, but a reassessment seems to be in order. Very exciting but dubious is 8.Nxf7!? Kxf7 9.cxd4 exd4 10.Qf3+ Nf6! l l .Qxa8 Bc5 12.Bxb5 ReS+ with a stinging attack.

Right is 8.cxd4! Qxg5 9.Bxb5+ Kd8 10.Qf3! e4 1 l .Qxe4 (not 1 l .Qxf7? Bd6) 1 l . . .Bd6 1 2.0-0 Bb7 13.d3? (necessary is 13.Re1 ! c6 14.Bfl, a critical line which may serve to rehabiliate White's fourth move), as>jn FischerUnknown, simultaneous exhibition, Montreal 1964. Now Black could have pulled off a neat win with 13 . . . Bxh2+! 14.Kxh2 Nf4! 1 5.Bxf4 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Bxe4, etc.

8 . . . Qh4! "This move is condemned in every opening book despite its natural appearance and its function in helping to keep White off balance. The recommended move is 8 . . . Ne6, which leads to equal positions.

This in itself is enough to censure the whole variation for White. The game Berliner-Friedman, 1946 went: 8 . . . Ne6 9.Bxb5+ Bd7 10.Qa4? Ndf4 1 l .Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.Qxd7+ Kxd7 13.g3!? Nd3+ 14.Ke2 Nxcl+ 1 5.Rxc1 f5! , and the knight is lost!

9.Ng3 Bg4 lO.f3 e4!

"This is the new move that turns the tables on existing theory. Book is 10 . . . Nf5 1 l .Bxb5+ Kd8 12.0-0! Bc5+ 13.d4! and White wins. "-Berliner.

The element of surprise is much less effective in postal chess than it is over the board, so it is important that an innovation be sound. Therefore, when

Larry Evans 277

novelties are employed successfully the opening books must take note. llcxd4

l l .fxg4 is still met by Black's next. 11.. . Bd6 12.Bxb5+

Not 1 2.fxg4? Bxg3+ 13 .hxg3 Qxg3+ 14.Ke2 Nf4+ mate. 12... Kd8 13.0-0!

"On 13.Kf2 f5 yields an overwhelming attack, and 13.fxg4 Bxg3+ 14.hxg3 Qxhl+ 1 5.Bfl Nb4! 16.Nc3 Re8 followed by . . . Qgl hardly merits serious consideration by White"-Berliner.

13 . . . 14.Rxf3! 15.Be2?

exf3 Rb8!

"After this natural move White is lost by force. 15 .Bc6 Nb4 is not attractive either. Best is 15 .Bfl! Re8 16.Nc3 c6! 17.d3! Nxc3! 18.bxc3 Rb5, with an attack good for at least a draw--e,g, 19.Be2! Rh5! 20.Nxh5 Qxh2+ 21 .Kf2 Qh4+, etc. The next fourteen moves are forced for both sides. "-Berliner.

15... Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qxd4+ 17 .Kh1 Bxg31 18.hxg3 Rb6 19.d3 Ne3 20.Bxe3 Qxe3 21.Bg4! h5!

Black must be careful not to get side tracked with 21 . . . Rh6+ 22.Bh3. Now White must prevent the opening of the h-file.

22.Bh3 g5 23.Nd2 g4 24.Nc4 Qxg3 25.Nxb6 gxh3 26.Qf3 hxg2+ 27.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 28.Kxg2 cxb6!

Black violates principle by capturing away from the center. After 28 . . . axb6? 29.a4-a5 forces a draw. Now the queenside pawns cannot be liquidated.

29.Rfl Ke7 30.Rel+

"Now Black must assess how to win this position. The Black rook and hpawn appear ideally placed, but if White can successfully attack Black's


queenside pawns with his rook, Black will be unable to win. On close examination one discovers that Black must win this endgame on the queenside, where he can concentrate all his forces while using his kingside pawns as decoys"-Berliner.

30. . . Kd6! 31.Rfl ReS!

"One of the best moves I have ever made. The point is that instead of tying down the rook to defend the weak kingside pawns, Black gives up one of them in order to reach a passed-pawn situation in which Black has the outside h-pawn versus the worthless White center pawn. The rest of the game will be played on the queenside, while the White king is unable to join the fight there"-Berliner.

32.Rxf7 Rc7! "One of the points; of course, the king-and-pawn ending will be lost for White"-Berliner.

33.Rf2 Ke5!

34.a4? "This makes things easy by voluntarily weakening his queenside pawns

in the hope of exchanging one of them. The very difficult variations I had to calculate when making my 31st move were: 34.Kg3! Kd4 35.Kh4 Kxd3 36.Kxh5 Rc2! and now:

I: 37.Rf3+ Kd2!

A. 38.b4 Rc3! 39.Rf2+ Kel ! 40.Rh2 Ra3! 4l .Kg5 Ra4 42.Rb2 Kdl and wins.

B. 38.b3! Kcl ! 39.a4 Rb2! ! 40.a5 (else Black plays . . . a5) 40 . . . b5 4 l .a6 b4 42.Kg4 Kc2 43.Rf7 Rxb3 44.Rxa7 Ra3 45.Rb7 b3 46.a7 b2 and wins.

C. 38.Ra3 a5 39.Rb3 Rc5+ 40.Kg4 b5 4l .Kf4 Kc2 42.Ke4 Kbl 43.Kd4 Rh5 44.Ra3 a4! 45.Kc3 Rh4! and wins.

Larry Evans 279

II: 37.Rf7 Rc5+ 38.Kg4 Ra5 39.Rf3+! Kd2!! 40.a3 Kc2 41 .Rf2+ Kb3 42.Kf4 Rb5! 43.Ke4 Ka2 44.Rf7 a6! 45.Ra7 Ra5! 46.Rb7 b5 and wins.

"These variations could hardly be more exquisite in a composed study. Lines IB and II especially are worthy of close study. "-Berliner.

It is unfortunate that one of these lines did not crop up in the actual game; but it is not likely that Black would have been able to calculate so deeply had this been a tournament with the clock ticking. The accuracy of his analysis resembles the kind of work that goes into dissecting adjourned positions in general. (For a detailed discussion of this subject see the chapter on "Midnight Oil" in my Chess Catechism.) This kind of perfection is possible in postal chess, but the element of direct human tension is lacking when days or even weeks elapse between moves.

34.. . Kd4 35.a5 Kxd3 36.Rf3+ Kc2! 37.b4

37.axb6 axb6 38.Rf6 Rb7 is an easy win. 37 . . . b5!

Rc4 Rxb4

No better is 40.Ra7 Ra4.

38.a6 39.Rf7 40.Rb7

40 . . . 4t.Kf3 42.Rxa7

Resigns

Rg4+ b4 b3

The b-pawn cannot be stopped after 43.Rc7+ Kbl 44.Rc5 Ra4. The sacrifice of a pawn to produce a winning position of rook and two pawns versus rook and two pawns on the same side facing each other is an extraordinary concept (initiated with 31 . . .ReS). Every move of this contest merits further study.


Karaklaic-Traikovic Yugoslavia, 1 968

Two Knights Defense

�te is caught flat-footed by a neat opening innovation. Although he manages to survive to the endgame, he cannot recover from the initial shock.

l.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4

Theory still has arrived at no verdict after 4.Ng5 d5. The text is more natural, because the first player strives to profit from the early opening of lines.

4... exd4 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5

A definite improvement over 7 . . . Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.f3 Nc5 l l .f4 Ne4, where Black can indeed hold his own, but with fewer active chances than the text.

8.Be3 White must avoid the trap 8.Nxc6? Bxf2+ 9.Kf1 Qh4! 10.Nd4+ c6 1 l .Nf3 Ng3+ 12.Kxf2 Ne4+! 13.Ke3 Qf2+ 14.Kd3 Bf5.

8... 0-01 This continuation improves on 7 . . . Bd7.

9.Nxc6!? More prudent is 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.0-0 Ba6 l l .Rel .

Other tries for an advantage after 9.Bxc6 bxc6 fail-e.g., 10.f3 Bxd4! 1 l .Qxd4 (not 1 l .Bxd4 Qh4+ 1 2.g3 Nxg3 13.Bf2 Qb4+) l l . . . c5 1 2.Qa4 (or 12.Qd3 Qh4+) 1 2 . . . d4, with active counterplay.

9... bxc6 10.Bxc5 ll.Bxc6

Nxc5 Ba61

This fine sacrifice contains a remarkable hidden point. 12.Qxd5?

/.11 1'1'1 • 1:'1 'Ill 1.1 /.H I

No better is 12.Nc3 d4! 13.Nb5 Bxb5 14.Bxb5 Rb8 regaining the pawn with advantage.

The crucial variation is 12.Bxa8 Qg5! 13.Bxd5 03.Qxd5 transposes into the game) Qxe5+ 14.Kd2 Qxd5+ 15.Kcl Qxg2 16.Nc3 where White remains the exchange ahead and his king reaches safety after b3.

12... Qg5! 13.Bxa8

Forced. If 13.Nc3? Rad8 14.Qxc5 Qd2+ mate. 13. . . Qcl+ 14.Qd1 Qxb2 15.f4 Qxa1

A blemish. Even stronger is 1 5 . . . Rxa8 16.Nd2 Rd8. 16.Bd5 Qb2 17.Kf2 Ne6! 18.Bxe6

Not 18.Kg3 Rd8. After the text White consolidates, but Black regains his pawn and remains with an overwhelming position.

18... fxe6 19.Kg3

Equally bad is 19.g3 Qxe5 20.Rel Qc5+.

19.. . Qxa2 20.Qd2 Bb7 21.Nc3 Qc4 22.Rb1 BaS 23.Ne2

23.Ral runs into 23 . . . Rxf4! 24.Qxf4 Qxc3+ and . . . Qxal next.


23. . . Qe4 24.Rgl g5!

This causes White's carefully contrived structure to collapse. 25.h4 gxf4+ 26.Nxf4 Qxe5 27.Rfl a5 28.Rf2

White is all tied up and a pawn down as well.

Not 28.Rel Qg7+ 29.Kh2 Rxf4! 30.Qxf4 Qxg2+ mate. 28. . . a4 29.Re2 Be4! 30.Qe3 Qg7+ 31.Kh2 Qg4 32.Nxe6

This almost gets White out of trouble. 32.g3 loses to . . . e5. 32. . . Qxe6 33.Qxe4 Qxe4 34.Rxe4 Ra8

White has fought hard to reestablish material equality, only to land in a hopeless rook-and-pawn ending. The finale is curious.

35.Rel a3 36.Ral a2 37.Kg3 Kf7 38.Kf4 Ke6 39.c4

If White tries to deny Black's king access to d5 with 39.Ke4 then 39 . . . Ra4+ 40.Kd3 Kf5 followed by . . . Kg4 proves decisive.

39. . . Kd6 40.Ke4 Kc5

41.Kd3 Kb4 42.Kc2 Rg8

Resigns If 43.Rgl Rxg2+ forces a new queen.

Larry Evans 283

Larry Evans 285

�phabetical list of contestants (numbers refer to games)

Addison Bolbochan Duborik Sigurjonsson 36 Fischer 90 Sorokin 43

Averbach Tal 67

Eidlin Estrin 50 Botvinnik Gaspariantz 87

Baku lin Littlewood 93

Estrin Portisch 10 Bronstein 5 Averbach 50

Bronstein Berliner 100 Bednarsky Bakulin 5

Saidy 32 Foguelman 47 Evans

Benko Kholmov 85 Berger 4

Fischer 44, 71 Spassky 24 Bisguier 39 Tal 25 Blackstone 80

Horowitz 55 Byrne, R. 88 Zuckerman 45 Byrne, D. Koehler 74

Berger Bisguier 53 Zuckerman 92

Evans 4 Byrne, R. Fischer

Berliner Evans 88 Benko 44, 71

Estrin 100 Fischer 23 Bolbochan 90 Kozomara 34 Byrne, R. 23

Bilek Celle

Celie 12 Gheorghiu 99 Dely 70

Fischer 12 Geller, U. 18 Bisguier

Ciric Geller, Y. 69 Byrne, D. 53

Spassky 95 Gligoric 27 Evans 39 Larsen 91

Blackstone Dely Letelier 26

Evans 80 Fischer 70 Miagmarsuren 17 Najdorf 89

Bobotsov Doda Nikolic 33

Gligoric 86 Vladimirov 30 Reshevsky 48

Tal 31 Donner Stein 56 Tal 15

Bogdanovic Ivkov 58

Suetin 77 Portisch 38 Foguelman Tal 14 Bronstein 47


Fuster Karaklaic Matanovic Tal 6 Traikovic 101 Larsen 52

Gaspariantz Kavalek Padevsky 42

Eidlin 87 Gufeld 60 Matulovic

U. Geller Matulovic 29 Kavalek 29

Fischer 18 Keres Gligoric 3

Geller, Y. Geller, Y. 49 Medina

Fischer 69 Tal 59 Pomar 66

Keres 49 Kholmov Miagmarsuren Smyslov 21 Bronstein 85 Fischer 17 Spassky 98

Klavins Moehring Gheorghiu Lutikov 73 Hennings 68

Bilek 99 Uhlmann 16 Koehler Mohrlok, D.

Evans 74 Tal 62 Gligoric

Bobotsov 86 Konovalov Mordkovic

Fischer 27 Mordkovic 40 Konovalov 40

Matulovic 3 Kozomara Najdorf Tal 57, 84 Byrne, R. 34 Fischer 89

Gufeld Kavalek 60

Larsen Nyezhme!dinov Fischer 91 Tal 79/

Gurgenidze Matanovic 52

Lein 96 Petrosian 94 Nievergelt

Tal 2 Tal l , 63 Tal 61

Hecht Lein Nikolic

Tal 54 Gurgenidze 96 Fischer 33 Velimirovic 64

Letelier Hennings Moehring 68 Fischer 26 O'Kelly

Penrose 72 Liberson Horowitz

Benko 55 Smyslov 11 Olafsson Tal 75

Ivkov Littlewood

Donner 58 Botvinnik 93 Pachman

Portisch 13 Lutikov Uhlmann 20

Johansson Klavins 73 Padevsky

Pomar 37 Tseshkovsky 41 Matanovic 42

Lany Evans 287

Parma Sigurjonsson Tal Szabo 83 Addison 36 Bobotsov 31

Szabo 51 Bolbochan 67 Penrose Bronstein 25

O'Kelly 72 Smejkal Donner 14

Perez Smyslov 46 Fischer 15

Trapp! 7 Smyslov Fuster 6

Geller, Y. 21 Gligoric 57, 84 Petrosian Liberson 1 1 Gurgenidze 2

Larsen 94 Smejkal 46 Hecht 54 Polugayevsky 35 Tal 9 Keres 59 Tal 81 Larsen 1, 63

Polugayevsky Sofrevsky Mohrlok, D. 62

Velimirovic 65 Nyezhmetdinov 79 Petrosian 35 Nievergelt 61 Tal 82 Sorokin Olafsson 75

Po mar Duborik 43 Petrosian 81

Johansson 37 Spassky Polugayevsky 82 Portisch 8

Medina 66 Bronstein 24 Smyslov 9 Szabo 28 Ciric 95

Portisch Geller, Y. 98 Traikovic Suetin 78 Karaklaic 101

Botvinnik 10 Donner 38 Stein Trappl Ivkov 13 Fischer 56 Perez 7 Stein 76 Portisch 76 Tal 8 Tseshkovsky

Sue tin Lutikov 41 Reissman Bogdanovic 77

Rossolimo 19 Spassky 78 Uhlmann

Reshevsky Taimanov 97 Gheorghiu 16

Pachman 20 Fischer 48 Szabo Seidman 22 Parma 83 Velimirovic

Pomar 28 Nikolic 64 Rosso limo Sigurjonsson 51 Sofrevsky 65

Reissman 19 Vladimirov Taimanov

Saidy Suetin 97 Doda 30 Bednarsky 32

Zuckerman Seidman Benko 45

Reshevsky 22 Evans 92

modern_chess_brilliancies_-larry_evans.pdf

Documents

benoni defense

petrov defense

carokann defense

geller french defense

taldonner french defense

alekhine s defense

bobotsovtal kings indian

gligoricfischer kings