CHESS
Genghis can't
Raymond Keene
MONGOLIAN BATTLEFIELD tactics have traditionally been noted more for energy than for sophistication. So it proved in the first-round match between England and Mongolia in the Moscow Olympiad. The subtle English grandmasters over- whelmed the Golden Horde by the con- vincing score of 4-0. In the course of this massacre, which would have had Temujin and Hulagu turning in their graves, Michael Adams created a masterpiece.
Adams (England) — Tumurhuyag (Mongo- lia): Moscow Olympiad 1994; Ruy Lopez.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 b5 6 Bb3 Bb7 7 d3 One of the achievements in the theoretical domain of last year's world champi- onship match between Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short was to demonstrate the venom con- cealed in lines of the Lopez where White plays the restrained d3, instead of the immediate d4. 7
Bc5 8 a4 0-0 9 Nc3 b4 10 Ne2 d5 A character- istic Mongolian solution, energetic but unre- fined. Although this thrust appears to free Black's game at a stroke, he is left with imper- ceptible weaknesses on the light squares. 11 exd5 Nxd5 12 a5 Guarding against possible sacrifices based on ... Na5 combined with ...b3, which would be designed to shut White's light-squared bishop out of the game. 12 ... Kh8 13 c3 Be7 14 Bc4 Qd7 15 Rel Rfd8 16 Bd2 Rab8 17 Ng3 After careful manoeuvring, White now displays his full hand. The plan is to assault Black's 'e' pawn and then use White's concentrated force on the king's flank to drive directly against the black monarch. 17 ...f6 18 h4 Bfli 19 h5 One sacrificial concept now looms powerfully, namely Nh4-g6+ to pin down the black king, followed by Qh5. Naturaily, in all this the menacing white bishop on c4 plays a key role. 19 ... Nce7 20 d4 This comes at the maximally annoying moment for Black, since 20 ... exd4 permits 21 Nxd4 fol- lowed by an invasion at e6. The counter chosen by Black allows White to carry out his thematic plan. 20 ... Nf5 21 Nxf5 Qxf5 22 Nh4 Qd7 23 Ng6+ In many ways a standard sacrifice to expose the black king, but in the course of the succeeding play, Adams embellishes it with many fine and original points. 23 ...lixg6 24 hxg6 Bd6 25 Qh5+ Kg8 26 dxe5 Bxe5 Still hop- ing to resist. The supine 26 ...fice5 allows 27 Bg5 cutting off the escape route of the black king. 27 Rxe5!! (Diagram) White is not deterred. This fresh sacrifice leads to Black's instant demise. 27
Position after 27 Rze5!!
fxe5 28 Bg5 Qe6 29 Be711 The final point, sealing the black king's tomb. Checkmate ensues on 29 ... Qxe7 30 Qh7+ K18 31 Qh8. Black resigns.
Sadly, England',s triumph of the first round was not repeated in rounds two, three and four. The weak link in the English team turned out to be Dr John Nunn, who lost against both Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Meanwhile, Judit Polgar has set a record by becoming the first female player to play on top board in the so-called `men's Olympiad', rather than in the parallel women's competition. It is a sign of the current proliferation of strong players that she was defeated by an unknown Pole.
Kuczynski (Poland) — Polgar (Hungary): Moscow Olympiad 1994; Sicilian Defence.
1 e4 c5 2 NI3 e6 3 Nc3 a6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 Qc7 6 Be2 b5 7 0-0 Bb7 8 Rel Bc5 This move is dubi- ous. The more normal 8 ...Nc6 is playable for Black. 9 Bf3 d6 10 Nb3 Putting the finger on the deficiency in Black's opening play, namely the premature exposure of her king's bishop. If now 10 ...Bb6 then 11 Bf4 c5 12 Nd5 Bxd5 when White has the pleasant choice between 13 QUI" and 13 exd5, in both cases with a clear advan. tage. In the latter case, after 13 exd5 Black could even lose immediately after the continuation 13 ...Nf6 14 Bxe5 dxe5 15 d6 Qa7 16 Rxe5 + with devastating attack. 10 ...Nd7 11 e5 This break In the centre is based on White's lead in develop. ment and gives him a clear advantage. 11 ..•dxe5 Opening the position in this fashion plays right into White's hands. Black had to try the solid, but passive, 11 ... d5. However, that would not have been in Polgar's active style. Note thait Black cannot play 11 ... Nxe5 on account of 11 Bxb7 Qxb7 13 Nxc5 winning a piece. 12 Bxh,f, Qxb7 13 Nxc5 Nxc5 14 Rxc5 Rd8 15 0e2 Ni' The decisive error. The last chance to defend IS 15 ... Qc6. 16 Rg5 g6 17 a4 h6 18 Rg3 b4 19N Qc6 20 Rd3 Ngf6 This natural move loses bY force but it is not easy to see an alternative for Black. 21 Nxf6+ Nxf6 22 Rxd8+ Kxd8 23 Q03 Ke7 24 Bd2 (Diagram) The 'la' pawn cannot now
Position after 24 Bd2
be defended, as 24 ...Qb6 loses to 25 Bel ...a5 25 Qxa5 The rest is easy for White.Ag Rb8 26 Bxb4+ Ke8 27 Ba3 Nd5 28 Qa7 14" 29 c3 g5 30 g3 h5 31 Rdl Ra8 32 Qd4 Rsa4 336 Qh8+ Kd7 34 Qsh5 1635 Qf7+ Kc8 36 Rel 37 Qf8+ Kb7 38 Qf7+ Kc8 39 h3 Rb6 40 Q18,44. Kb7 41 Rdl Qc4 42 Qf7+ Kc8 43 Qg6 Kb/ Qd3 Qxd3 45 Rxd3 Rb3 46 Kfl f5 47 Ke2 Nb6 48 Rd4 Black resigns.
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