RdbeCi The U kimate Islay Malt.
CHESS
London calling
Raymond Keene
MOVES are afoot to create a real World Championship match in London in October. The money has already been raised to pit Kasparov in a 16-game chal- lenge match with classical chess time-limits against one of his nearest rivals. Kasparov has not played a match since he brushed aside Anand's attempt in New York 1995. Since then the field has been pretty much left clear to the FIDE (World Chess Federation) version of the championship. Lacking Kasparov, though, this always had a hollow ring to it and FIDE's two champi- ons, Karpov and Khalifman, are nowhere in sight at the top of current ranking lists.
Approaches were initially made to Anand to challenge Kasparov again in this millen- nial year, but he seemed less swayed by the prospect of a $2 million prize fund than by his own personal score against Kasparov at classical chess, which reveals a nine-game deficit since Anand last scored a win. With no definitive response from the Indian grandmaster, the most likely challenger is the Russian Vladimir Kramnik who has proved on more than one occasion that he is capable of holding his own in games against Kasparov. This week's game is a particularly bloodthirsty example.
Kasparov–Kramnik: Seville, May 1996; Semi-Slav Defence 1d4d52c4c63Nc3Nf64Nf3e65e3Nbd76 Bd3 dxc4 7 Bxc4 b5 8 Bd3 Bbl 9 0-0 a6 10 e4 c5 11 d5 c4 12 Bc2 Qc7 This position has become extremely popular in modern grandmaster circles. The situation is unbalanced, both sides have chances and Black can sometimes inflame matters further by castling queenside. White's normal choice here is 13 dxe6 fxe6 13 Nd4 Nc5 14 b4 cxb3 15 axb3 b4 16 Na4 Ncxe4 (Diagram 1) 17 Bxe4 Now is the time to open up the centre with 17 dxe6 Rd8 18 exf7+ Kxf7 19 Be3 as in the game Yakovich–Sorokin, Calcutta 1991. 17 ...Nxe4 18
Diagram 1
dxe6 Bd6 19 exf7+ Qxf7 20 13 Qh5 The threats against h2 give White no time to capture Black's knight. White must now start thinking seriously about defence. 21 g3 0-0 Adding fuel to the flames. Conversely, White must now capture Black's knight, before it sacrifices itself on g3 and annihilates White's king's protection. 22 fxe4 Qh3 23 Nf3 For his piece Black has no material com- pensation whatsoever, but he does possess a rag- ing attack against the white king based on the menacing diagonal onslaught from his bishop pair. At this moment White should consider 23 Rxf8+ Rxf8 24 Qe2 Bxg3 25 Nf5. 23 ... Bxg3 Of course 24 hxg3 Qxg3+ 25 Khl Bxe4 leads to a deadly pin on the long white diagonal. 24 Nc5 Rxf3 White's next move appears to be forced and I doubt whether Kasparov took long to play it. Naturally 25 Qxf3 fails to 25 ... Qxh2 mate but the subtle 25 Ra2!! may still save White. For example, 25 ... Rxf1+ 26 Qxfl Qxfl+ 27 Kxf1 Rc8 (forced to save the bishop) 28 Be3 Bf4 (again forced) and now White's best appears to be 29 Nxb7 Bxe3 30 Rxa6 meeting 30 ... Rc3 with 31 Nd6 g6 32 e5 with excellent counterchances. White's b-pawn is doomed but the passed e-pawn could become strong. Having missed this, Kasparov is in dire straits. 25 Rxf3 Qxh2+ 26 im Bc6 27 Bg5 Bb5+ 28 Nd3 Re8 29 Ra2 At long last, having rejected the concept on two earlier occasions, Kasparov realises that the key to defending this position is to erect some kind of defensive system along his second rank. However, by now this palliative measure is really too late to save him. 29 ... Qhl+ See this week's puzzle. 30 Ke2 Rxe4+ 31 Kd2 Qg2+ 32 Kcl Qxa2 33 Rxg3 Qal+ 34 Kc2 Qc3+ 35 Kbl Rd4 White resigns Black's concentration of force against his king has become too powerful. For example, 36 Bf6 Bxd3+ 37 Ka2 Bbl+ 38 Qxbl Rd2+ 39 Qb2 Rxb2+ and mate follows. A great win against a great opponent, only slightly marred by Black's failure to locate the faster mate on move 29.
Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 22 Black to play and win — first move only required. This position is from the above game. Although Kramnik now won quickly, he actually overlooked a forced mate in this position. What is the key first move?
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 4 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: Qxf8 + Last week's winner: E.F. Bradford, North Yorkshire.
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