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www.ardhes.corn
London calling
Raymond Keene
THE $2 million match for the world chess championship between the world's top two ranked players is now under way at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. For the first two games more than three million view- ers logged on to watch the in-game audio commentary by grandmasters Daniel King, Chris Ward, Jon Speelman and the reigning British Champion Julian Hodgson. The web coverage displays frequently updated pictures of the players in action plus instant graphics of the board situation, so it is a hybrid between enhanced radio and quasi television.
On the subject of television, my criticism of the BBC at the match launch for failing to cover a championship being played out on its own doorstep (the first such failure for 28 years!) seems to have struck a chord. Dominic Lawson took up the cudgels on the dumbing down of television with relish in his column in the Sunday Telegraph, while cruel jibes abounded such as 'Greg Dyke [whom I had accused of being the grand imperial panjandrum of dumbing down] probably thinks dim sum is a pro- gramme hosted by Magnus Magnusson'.
As it was, game one was a sophisticated affair, caviare to the general, which saw Kramnik gain the moral victory of a smooth draw with the black pieces.
Kasparov–Kramnik: Braingames World Chess Championship 2000; Ruy Lopez 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 The so-called Berlin Defence whereby Black accepts an inferior pawn structure in exchange for the trade of queens. It was popular a hundred years ago and is now enjoying a modest renaissance among the world elite where it is seen as a solid, albeit unambitious, opening which creates good chances of nullifying White's opening move initiative. 4 0-0 Nxe4 5 d4 Nd6 6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 dxe5 Nf5 8 Qxd8+ Kxd8 Black has an inferior pawn structure but the exchange of queens has simplified the position and eased his defensive task. 9 Nc3 Bd7 This move appeared to surprise Kasparov who conceded after the game that he had not expected Black's opening. 10 b3 h6 11 Bbl Kc8 12 h3 The immediate 12 Radl has been preferred by the world number three Alexei Shirov in a recent game played in Poland. 12 b6 13 Radl By this stage Kasparov had taken more than an hour while Kramnik had taken only a few minutes. 13 ... Ne7 Black would like to complete development with 13 . . . Be7 but this would allow White to exchange knights with 14 g4 Nh4 15 Nxh4 Bxh4 when he has good chances to utilise his pawn majority on the king's wing. Although the knight move appears retrograde, Black's priority is to keep the f5-square firmly under control. 14 Net The commentary room sug- gested that 14 Nh4 might be worth consideration. It prevents ... Ng6 and if Black kicks the knight away with 14 ... g5 White simply retreats with 15 Nf3 and a hole has been created on f6. 14 ... Ng6 15 Nel After this move Kramnik had his first long think of the game. It was suggested that 15 Nel was a strong move which had been overlooked by Kramnik and his team in their preparations. It may be true that this move was not considered but subsequent play indicates that it is not terribly frightening. 15 ... h5 (Diagram) 16 Nd3 If 16 f4 Nh4 (to stop f5 by blockading the f5-square) 17 Rxd7 Kxd7 18 f5 Bc5+ 19 Kh2 g6 (Otherwise the knight on h4 is stranded) 20 e6+ fxe6 21 13x118 Rxh8 and White has nothing special to show for the pawn. 16 ... c5 17 c4 a5 18 a4 h4 19 Nc3 19 Nef4 Nxf4 20 Nxf4 was suggested by grandmaster Jonathan Speelman who considered that it must be at least slightly better for White. 19 ... Be6 20 Nd5 Kh7 21 Ne3 Rh5 22 Bc3 Re8 Avoiding the trap 22 ... Rd8 for which see this week's puzzle. 23 Rd2 Kc8 24 f4 Ne7 25 Nf2 Ni5 Draw agreed In the final position Black has an absolute blockade over the f5-square which means that White can make no progress. Kranmilc won game two and therefore leads by 1''2 to 112.
Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 49 White to play and win — first move only required. This week's puzzle is a variation taken from the above game. In the game Kramnik preferred to place his queen's rook on e8 and not d8. Can you see why??
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 17 October or via email to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first cor- rect answer drawn out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of a bottle of Ardbeg Malt Whisky.
Last week's solution: Qxh6 + Last week's winner: J. Kinsman, Manchester.
The solution given to last week's puzzle was incorrect. The correct answer was 1 Rg7.
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