Handicap

Raymond Keene

Korchnoi's recent form has been so poor that it is no longer a surprise when he loses to a player theoretically his inferior. It is, however, a sensation when the former

challenger for the world title has his posi- tion reduced to rubble after a mere 12 moves, as happened in a recent club match in Holland. Ironically, before the game, a bumbling, but well-meaning, arbiter con- gratulated Korchnoi on the release of his son, quite unaware that the wretched youth had been called up again. There can be no doubt that the continued incarceration of his family is exerting a baleful effect on Korchnoi's play, which is, evidently, the desired effect.

Sosonko — Korchnoi: Bergen aan Zee, May 1982; Grunfeld Defence.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Qb3 Sosonko is the world's leading expert on this variation, and has beaten Timman with it in their last two encounters with the Grunfeld. Korchnoi was obviously aware of this, but had an innova- tion in mind to improve Black's prospects. 5 ... dxc4 6 Qxc4 Nc6 7 e4 Bg4 8 Be3 Bxf3 9 gxf3 e5? Korchnoi's new idea, or perhaps that of one of his seconds, not used in Merano. Unfortunately, it looks unsound. 10 dxe5 NxeS 11 Qb5 + Nfd7 12 0-0-0 (Diagram) By the simplest of means

Position after 12 0-0-0.

Black's interpretation of the opening has been completely refuted. He is fixed in a disastrous pin of the d7 N, which can be augmented by such moves as f4 and Bh3, and meanwhile, his Q-side pawns are at White's mercy. 12 ... c6 13 Qxb7 Qc8 By now, Korchnoi had virtually no time left, a clear signal that his opening had horribly misfired. It is a tribute to his defensive skill that he lasts another 23 moves. 14 Qxc8 + Rxc8 15 f4 Ng4 16 Bh3 h5 17 e5 After 17 Rxd7 Kxd7 18 f3 Black can fight with 18 ... f5 19 fxg4 hxg4. 17 Rc7 18 Ne4 Ke7 19 Bd2 15 20 f3 Ngxe5 This `desperado' is his best chance. 21 fxeS fxe4 22 Bg5 + Ke8 With his K stuck in the centre, a prey to White's rampant bishops, Black's cause is ob- viously a lost one. 23 f4 Nc5 24 Rd6 Bf8 25 Rd8 + More forcing than 25 Rxg6. 25 Kf7 26 Rhdl Rh7 26 ... Nd3 + is a slightly better chance. 27 e6 + Kg8 The pawn is immune: 27 ... Nxe6 28 Bxe6+ Kxe6 29 Rxf8. 28 Fixf8 + Kxf8 29 Rd8 + Kg7 30 e7 Rxe7 Otherwise the pawn promotes. 31 Bxe7 Nd3 + 32 Kd2 Nxf4 33 Bfl Kh6 34 Rd7 e3 + 35 Kel Avoiding the final trap: 35 Kxe3 Rxe7 + 36 Rxe7 Nd5 + . 35 ... Rh8 36 h4 Black resigns, in view of the imminent Bg5 +

Chess as a spectator sport in London is being given a further boost by an open-air blitz tournament. This will be on Saturday,

19 June, outside the National Film Theatre Restaurant on the South Bank, starting at 2.00 pm. The tournament is sponsored by Chess, Sutton Coldfield, who publish a lively magazine, as well as supplying all forms of chess goods by mail order. Last

year's winner was John Nunn, so a strong and exciting field is expected. To round off, a miniature from a tourna-

ment in Madrid, just won by Jon Tisdall. C. Garcia — Taulbut: Madrid, May 1982; Two

Knights' Defence.

1 e4 e5 2 N13 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 0-0 Nxe.4 6 Rel d5 7 Nc3 An unusual move, the main merit of which is shock value. 7 ... dxc4 8 Rxe4 N+

9 Nxd4 15 10 Bh6!? Kf7?! 11 Qh5 + g6 12 xc°

Position after

12 Nxc6.

(Diagram) bxc6? He has to play 12 ... gx11:' Q13 Bd6 14 h4 Be6 15 Rxe6 Black resigns. 1 Kxe6 16 Qxc6 leaves him defenceless to Rel 13 Eml • im in I no°111.1.111---'