Chess
Edging forward
David Goodman
With draws in the sixth and seventh games, the score in the Kasparov- Smyslov match now stands at 41/2-21/2. The seventh game finished after 13 moves and lasted only 56 minutes. As in the third game, Smyslov played the Cambridge Spr- ings Defence, though Kasparov varied from the previous encounter at move 7 and allowed an early exchange of queens. Kasparov is said to be disappointed with his play in games 5 and 6, and may be taking it easy at the board to allow himself extra time to prepare new ideas. He is also showing his satisfaction with a 2 point lead at the halfway stage, possibly forcing the careful Smyslov into taking risks if he is to cut back the deficit.
Kasparov's only real problem so far has been with the Tarrasch Defence. Smyslov stifled many of Black's dynamic chances in game 2 and Kasparov has not tried it since. One of the most interesting encounters of the match so far took place in game 5.
Kasparov — Smyslov: Candidates final, 3rd game, Vilnius 1984; Queens Gambit Slav — Anti Meran.
1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 c6 4 Nc3 e6 5 113g5 dxc4 6 e4 b5 7 e5 h6 8 Bh4 g5 9 Nxg5 hxg5 10 Itxg5 Bel For the first time in his career, Smyslov chooses the sharp variation of the Slav, but diverges from the long main line 10 ... Nbd7 11 exf6 Bb7 12 g3 c5 13 d5 Qb6 which Kasparov has analysed very deeply. 11 exf6 Bxf6 12 Bxf6 Qxf6 13 g3 In Batsford Chess Openings Kasparov himself recommends 13 Be2 as better for White but ob- viously felt Smyslov was ready for that. 13 ... Na6 14 Bg2 Bb7 15 Ne4 Kasparov declines Smyslov's pawn offer. If 15 Nxb5 0-0-0 16 Nc3 Rxd4 and Black is very active in the centre. 15 Qe7 16 0-0 0-0-0 17 a4 Kb8 18 Qd2 b4 19 Racl Black seems to be in trouble. His c-pawn is falling and his minor pieces are inactive; however, Smyslov manages to drum up dynamic counterplay against White's isolated d-pawn. 19
e5 20 Fixed f5 21 Ng5 c5 22 Bxb7 Qxb7 23
Position after 24 .. . Ka8
Qe3 exd4 24 Qe5 + Ka8 (Diagram) 25 Neel
Reliable sources in Vilnius said Kasparov felt that 25 Qxf5 creating three passed pawns on the, kingside might well have won. 25 Qh7 26 ha Rhe8 27 Qe2 Rd6 28 Qf3 + Qb7 Despite serious time trouble Smyslov manages to hold his pasi" tion and although the c-pawn falls, Black is able to create sufficient chances by advancing ft! d-pawn. 29 Qxb7 + Kxb7 30 Nxc5 + Nxc5 . Rxc5 d3 32 Rdl Re7 33 Rb5 + Ka6 34 Rxb4 d235 Kf1 Rde6 Threatening 36 ... Rd l +.36 Kg2 Rd6 Draw agreed.
Meanwhile, world champion Anat01Y Karpov has been making the news la another area. Karpov, who in 1981 Was awarded the Order of Lenin after retaina the world title, is currently chairman of the Soviet Peace Committee and Soviet WeeklY reports Karpov addressing a Soviet peace conference earlier in the year. It is clear ilia. t Karpov maintains a high public profile in fields other than chess, especially when compared to his predecessors.
As for other news, Kasparov and Sweden's Pia Cramling have been awarded the chess Oscars, chosen by leading chess journalists around the world. This is the second time in succession Kasparov has outpolled the world champion. And now, short of a major reversal in Vilnius, it looks as if Kasparov is going to get a crack at Kai' pov's world title.
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