Rd beg
The LI [61-nate Islay Malt.
CHESS
Special Ks
Raymond Keene
WITH the announcement of his world title defence in London in October of this year against Vladimir Kramnik, Kasparov has continued the trend that world-level players must have names starting with a X'. First it was Karpov and Korchnoi, then Karpov and Kasparov, and, after a brief interlude flirting with Nigel Short and Viswanathan Anand, a return to the correct lettering with Krarnnik. It is truly astonishing how many great play- ers' names begin with the letter 'K' — for example, Keres and Kavalek and in Russian script also Capablanca, which is transliterat- ed into a `K.' in the Cyrillic alphabet.
This week another stirring game between the two World Championship contenders, one which augurs well for the ferocity of their forthcoming contest.
Kasparov-Krumnik: Novgorod, August 1994, Sicilian Defence 1 e4 c5 2 Ne3 Ne6 3 Nge2 Nf6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 e5 6 Ndb5 d6 7 Bg5 a6 8 Na3 By a circuitous route the players have reached a main line posi- tion from the Pelikan or Sveshnikov variation of the Sicilian Defence. White's main alternative at this stage is 8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Na3 b5 10 Nd5 when Black can choose between 10 ... f5 or 10 ... Bg7. 8 ... b5 9 Nd5 BO 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 On the surface White has chosen a less trenchant course, but there is still plenty of scope for complications in future play. The chief theme of White's strategy at the moment is to dominate and blockade the light squares, in particular d5. 11 c3 0-0 12 Nc2 Rb8 13 h4 Ne7 14 Nxf6+ An interesting moment. White's domination of the d5 square had appeared absolute but now he trades in this advantage in order to break up the pawns around Black's king. It is the hallmark of a great player to avoid clinging to an advantage that, as here, has passed its sell-by date. 14 ... gxf6 15 Qd2 Bb7 16 Bd3 d5 Astonishingly, Black himself now makes a breakthrough at d5, which had been White's major strongpoint. However, Black is still hampered by the fractured nature of his kingside pawn structure. 17 exd5 Qxd5 18 0-0-0 Kasparov sacrifices his a2-pawn, but ICramnik postpones its capture until he has driven White's bishop from its aggressive diagonal, d3-h7, where it is aiming directly at the black king. 18 ... e4 19 Be2 Qxa2 The supine alternative 19 ... Qxd2+ allows 20 Rxd2 followed by Rhdl when White's control of the open d-file gives him a vastly supe- rior endgame. Over the next few moves Kasparov pours his forces into a frontal assault against the black king, while Kramnilc retreats his queen to add to his defensive resources. 20 Qh6 Qe6 21 Nd4 Qb6 22 Rh3 Kh8 Tucking his king into the corner so that the rook on f8 can also participate in the defence. 23 Bg4 Rg8 24 Ne61! The prelude to a brilliant coup. If now 24 ... fxe6 25 Qxf6+ Rg7 26 Rd7 Rg8 27 h5 Ne5 28 Rxd5 Bxd5 and 29 h6 regains the material with a fierce attack. 24 ...Rg6 25 Qf4 Re8 In post mortem analysis it was established that this was probably the losing move. After the improvement 25 ... Bd5 Black can hold on for a draw, e.g. 26 Ng5 fxg5 27 Qe5+ Rg7 28 Qxe7 f5 29 Qe5 fxg4 30 Rxd5 gxh3 31 Rd7 Rbg8 32 Rxg7 Rxg7 33 Qe8+ with a perpet- ual check draw. 26 Rd6 Nd5 A fantastically com- plicated position, with both sides disdaining to move their threatened pieces. Kasparov now
Diagram adds fuel to the flames by sacrificing his queen.
27 h5 Nxf4 28 hxg6 (Diagram) A superb finale. If Black now tries to defend with 28 ... Nd3+ White wins with 29 Rhxd3!! (not 29 Kbl Qxf2 or
29 R6xd3 ago). After 29 Rlucc13!! Black is help- less. For example, 29 ... Qx12 30 gxf7 Rf8 31 Rd8 or 29 ... exd3 30 gxf7 and, ultimately, White wins a whole piece. Or 29 Qxd6 30 gxf7 Qb8 31 fice8/Q+ Qate8 32 Rd8 also winning a piece. Finally, the most difficult variation of all, 29 Qa5 30 gxf7 Qal + 31 Kd2 Qxb2+ 32 Kel when 32 ... Rf8 or 32 ... Bc6 are both met by 33 Rd8 Qcl + 34 Bdl and Black runs out of checks.
28 ... Qxd6 29 Rxh7+ Kg8 30 gxf7+ Kxh7 31 fxe8/Q Black's king is now so exposed that fur- ther resistance is futile. 31 ... Nxe6 32 Bf5+ Kg7 33 Qg6+ Kf8 34 Qxf6+ Ke8 35 Bxe6 Qf8 Black resigns For the killing blow which Kramnik did not wish to see, see this week's puzzle Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 24 White to play and win — first move only required. This position is from the above game. What is White's killing move?
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 18 April or via e-mail 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: Rg4+ Last week's winner. Neil McEwan, Manchester.
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