Chess
Impressive
Raymond Keene
Moscow The most startling performance in the Moscow Interzonal so far has been that of the Cuban Grandmaster, Guillermo Gar- cia. After 10 of the scheduled 13 rounds the position is: Beliaysky 61/2 (and one adjourn- ed); Garcia and Tal 61/2; Kasparov and Andersson 6 (and one adjourned); and Geller 6. Nobody else has even a remote chance for the two qualifying spots.
Garcia shot into the lead with 5 1/2/6, but then had to go through the mill of con- secutive Soviet Grandmasters. He held Geller with difficulty, drew easily with Kasparov, but then went down to Beliav- sky. It is still an impressive showing for one not highly rated at the start.
Competition at the top has been extreme- ly fierce with many decisive games or very sharp draws. Curiously, Kasparov is the only undefeated player, yet in his games with Tal, Beliaysky and Andersson, he ran insane risks, sacrificing a total of five pawns and two pieces for vague compensa- tion. The games have provided a theoreti- cian's paradise and the openings here have proved much more combative than at Toluca or Las Palmas.
Here is the exciting conclusion from Kasparov v Beliaysky. The fighting spirit of the Russians amongst themselves has been outstanding.
Position after Black's 27th move We all wondered whether Kasparov had sufficient for his pawn, but now the storm broke: 28 Ne5xg6 fxg6 29 Bxg6 Bf7 If 29 . . . Nf6 White has time for Nf5 followed by Rg3 winning. 30 Bxh5 Bxh5 If 30 ... Qxd2 31 Rg3 + Bg7 32 Qe5 and wins. 31 Rg3 + Kf7 32 Qe4 Qxd2 33 Qf5 + Ke7 34 Re3 + Qxe3 Not 34 . . . Kd6? 35 Re6 +
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winning. 35 fxe3 Rdl + 36 K2 Rd5 37 Qc8 1(17 38 g4 Bd6 + 39 Kg2 Bg6 40 Nxg6 Kxg6 Adjourn- ed and agreed drawn without resumption. White gives perpetual check with 41 Qg8 + Kf6 42 Qh8 + Kg6 43 Qg8 + since it is too dangerous for Black to abandon the h6 pawn.
Beliaysky Tal: Round 7, Caro Kann Opening. 1 e4 c6 2 c4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 cxd5 Nf6 5 Nc3 NxdS 6 Nf3 Nxc3 More solid is 6 ... e6 or 6 ... Nc6. 7 bxc3 g6 8 h4!? Typical of the ag- gressive style of the Russians in this event.
8 h6 9 d4 Bg7 10 Be2 Nc6 11 0-0 0-0 12 Bf4 Bg4 13 Rbl Qd7 14 Qd2 Kh7 15 d5 Bxf3 16 Bxf3 Ne5 17 Be2 Rfc8 A somewhat unnatural move which depletes his K-side defence, but after 17 ... Rac8 18 Qe3 is strong. However, 17 ... b6 comes into consideration, to be followed by Rac8. 18 h5 An excellent move which breaks up the pawns around the Black king. 18 ... gxh5 19 c4 b6 Not 19 ... Nxc4 20 Bxc4 Rxc4 21 Qd3 + . 20 Rb3 Ng6 21 Rh3 e5 22 dxe6ep Oxen If 22 ... Qxd2 23 Bxd2 fxe6 24 Bd3 is dangerous. 23 Bd3 Rd8 24 Rxh5 Qg4 25 Rd5 Rxd5 26 cxd5 f5 27 Be3 Rd8 28 Bc2 Bey Tal tries for K-side counterplay in the face of White's Bishop-pair and strong passed pawn. 29 f3 Qc4 30 Bxf5 RxdS If 30 ... Bh2 + 31 Kf2 Bg3 + 32 Kxg3 Qh4 mate, but 31 Kxh2 Qxfl 32 Bxg6 + Kxg6 33 Qc2 + wins for White. 31 Qf2 Bd4 A better chance is 31 ... Bh2 + 32 Kxh2 RxfS. 32 Be4 Bxe3 33 Qxe3 Rd7 34 Rcl Qxa2 The losing move, played in time trouble, but there is no tru- ly satisfactory reply to the threat of Rc6. 35 Bxg6 + Kxg6 36 Rc6 + Kf7 37 Qf4 + Ke8 38 Qe5 + kd8 39 Qh8 + Black resigns. 39 ... Ke7 40 Qf6 + Ke8 41 Rc8 + .
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