Chess
World's end
Raymond Keene
In spite of a late rally by the international team, the Russians took overall victory by the score of 21-19 in their match against the World in London's Docklands last week. In fact, it was Yasser Seirawan who somewhat let the side down, since he lost both his games to Beliaysky. This led to the joke that the USA lost 0-2 to the USSR but the rest of the world drew. Humour apart, it is a mighty achievement by the Soviet Union to have taken on and defeated such opposition and even to have increased their slender lead by one point from the Belgrade match in 1970.
Public attendence was outstanding and we were particularly glad to welcome Brian Walden, Milos Forman and Mikhail Baryshnikov, all of whom are chess en- thusiasts. They saw some excellent chess, including this forceful effort by the ever- alert Kasparov against the victor of Sara- jevo and Bugojno. The notes to the game are based on Gary Kasparov's own com- ments, dictated to me in his characteristical-
ly animated and rapid-fire style in a car on the way to Heathrow airport.
Kasparov (USSR) — Timman (Holland, World Team): London Docklands, June 1984; Queen's Gambit Declined.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bg5 0-0 6 e3 h6 Significantly, Timman adopts the solid Tartakower Defence, one of Black's most respected lines. It is a Karpov favourite and therefore likely to figure prominently in theoretical duels in the forthcoming Kasparov- Karpov world title contest. 7 Bxf6 Bxf6 8 Qc2!? Kasparov has in the past achieved success with 8 Qd2, which also plans the aggressive 0-0-0. One example is 8 . . . c6 9 h4 Nd7 10 g4 Re8 11 0-0-0 with a fierce attack (Kasparov-Dtir, Graz 1981). However, recent games indicate that Black can equalise with 8 Qd2 Nc6 9 0-0-0 dxc4 10 Bxc4 e5 or even 8 Qd2 c5 9 cxd5 cxd4 10 Nxd4 exd5 11 Bb5 Bd7 12 0-0 Bxb5 13 Ndxb5 a6 14 Nd4 Nc6! 8 c5 The natural reaction to free his position. 9 dxc5 Qa5 10 cxd5 Hereabouts, Kasparov was relying on his knowledge of games by Lerner from last year's USSR championship semi-final,
Position after 14 . . . Nc6
games of which Timman was conspicuously unaware! 10 . . . exd5 11 0-0-0 Be6 12 NxdS Rc8 13 Kbl Bxd5 Or 13 . . Rxc5 14 b4! 14 Rxd5 Nc6 (Diagram) 15 Bc4 Nb4 If 15 . Ne7 still 16 Qd2! 16 Qd2 Pinning Black's N and thus retaining his material edge. 16 ... Rxc5 17 RxcS Qxc5 18 Rel Qb6? The losing move. Black was probably rely- ing on his threats against b2, and thus White's K, to compensate for the invasion of his position by White's Q. But Kasparov has accurately calculated that these are illusory, hence the defensive 18 . . Qe7! would have been superior. 19 Qd7 Rf8 It looks inviting to strike out with 19 . . . Nxa2, but then White has this beautiful win, cunningly utilising his control of key light squares: 20 Rc2! Rd8 21 Qxf7+ Kh7 22 Kxa2 Qa5 + 23 Kbl Rdl + 24 Rcl Qd5 + 25 e4! Qxe4 + 26 Ka2 Rxc I 27 Qg8 + Kg6 28 Bf7 + Kf5 29 Qh7 + Kf4 30 g3 + Kxf3 31 Bh5 + . What a line to see! If, in this, Black varies with 20 . . . Nc3 + then 21 Kcl Ne4 22 Bxf7 + Kh8 23 Ne5!! Rd8 (23 . . . Bxe5 24 Rc8 + leads to mate) 24 Ng6 + Kh7 25 Qf5 is decisive. 20 Qb5 Qd6 21 e4 Nc6 22 Bd5 a6 The best defence is 22 . . Ne5. If 22 . . . Nd4, hoping to exchange Ns and virtually guarantee a draw, then White has 23 Qd3! Nxf3 24 Bxf7 + ! or 23 . . . Qb6 24 e5 Nxf3 25 exf6 Ne5 26 Qf5 Qxf6 27 Qxf6 gxf6 28 Bxb7 with a winn- ing ending. 23 Qxb7 Ne5 24 Rc8 RxcS Once again, light squares come to the rescue. If 24 . . . Nxf3? 25 Qxf7+ wins. 25 Qxc8 + Kh7 26 Qc2 Kg8 26 . . . Nxf3?? 27 e5 + wins. 27 Nd2 g5 28 a3 Kg7 29 Nf1 Qb6 30 Ng3 Kg6 With two extra pawns the remainder is a formality for White. 31 Ka2 h5 32 Qc8 h4 33 Qg8 + Bg7 34 Nh5 Black resigns. 34 . KxhS 35 Qxg7 is hopeless.
Next week's article will cover details of Kasparov's historic satellite simul, beamed from Limehouse Studios in Docklands direct to New York.
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