CHESS

Double Dutch

Raymond Keene

By the halfway stage of the two world championship semi-finals in London both Karpov and Timman, on the score at least, are justifying their pre-match status as favourites. The run of play, certainly in the clash between the two Russians, has been less clear-cut. The first Yusupov-Karpov game finally ended with honours even, though Yusupov's refusal to grab various draws on offer indicated that he was not going to be intimidated by his colossal minus score against the ex-champion from earlier games. In the second game, Karpov conducted the opening with all the strategic expertise of a player who has never heard of Nimzowitsch's classic tex- tbook, My System. In consequence, Yusu- pov built up a brilliant attacking formation, but at the crucial moment he faltered, and Karpov escaped demolition by a whisker. The third game was a strange, fluctuating affair, which ended in tragedy for Yusu- pov. An enterprising opening by Yusupov was neatly refuted by Karpov, but in time trouble he utterly lost his nerve and per- mitted Yusupov to transpose into an end- game which must have been very close to a win. Then, just before the close of play, Yusupov committed one of the worst blunders I have ever seen. The poor fellow was left to seal his move, facing the ruins of a once excellent position. Of course, he resigned without resuming. Many players would have been shattered psychologically by this depressing experience, but to his credit, though playing with the black

pieces, Yusupov came out fighting in game four, and it was Karpov, once again, who had to struggle for the draw.

1 2 3 4 Karpov

1/2

I/2

11/2

Yusupov

1/2

1/2

0 1/2

In the other semi-final, where our own John Speelman faces the Dutch Grandmas- ter Jan Timman, Dutch fans must be asking themselves why Timman has not already clinched the contest in his favour. In the first two games, Speelman played with uncharacteristic pusillanimity, draw- ing game one, though only after shedding two pawns, and losing game two after a series of horrid blunders. For game three Speelman reverted to type, which, in my opinion, he should have done right from the start. In games three, four and five, Speelman was probably objectively lost at some point, but at least these were all red-blooded battles, with Speelman giving as good as he got, and coming close to victory himself at various stages. The fifth game was particularly fascinating, a truly Speelmanic effort.

1 2 3 4 5 6 Speelman

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0

V2 lh 1/2 1/2

Timman

1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2

Timman-Speelman: Game 5, Dutch Defence.

1 d4 f5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 g6 4 Nh3 Bg7 5 0-0 0-0 6 c4 Nc6 7 Nc3 e6 Black's defence has been truly weird, not to say unsound. The main point has been to throw Timman out of his prepared openings and, perhaps, to make him feel over- confident. 8 d5 Ne5 9 b3 Nf7 10 Ba3 Re8 11 Rel e5 White's next move is a powerful thrust which cuts the black army in two. 12 d6 c6 13 b4 b6 Timman should now have considered 14 Nb5 followed by Nc7. 14 e4 fxe4 15 Nxe4 Nxe4 16 Be4 Qf6 17 b5 White appears to have the initiative, but after this move the tide begins to turn. Perhaps stronger is the pawn sacrifice 17 c5 Qe6 18 Bg2, offering the a2 pawn to maintain White's central wedge. 17 ... Bb7 18 Qd3 Qe6 19 Kg2 Rabb 20 f3 c5 21 Rfdl Bxe4 22 fxe4 a6 At last Black begins to develop threatening activity. 23 bxa6 Ra8 24 Rc2 Rxa6 25 Bel Rea8 26 a3 h6 27 Nf2 Rc8 28 Qe2 Rc6 Speelman is seduced by the possibility of surrounding White's far-flung pawn on d6. Stronger, however, is 28 ... Nd81 planning ... Nc6 and ... Nd4 with a dominating position. After the text, White gains substantial counterplay. 29 Rd5 Rxd6 30 Ndl h5 Unfor- tuntely, 30 ... Rxd5 fails to 31 cxd5 opening up an attack against the black rook on a6. The move chosen is also a mistake. Black is prepar- ing to trade off his bishop, which is restricted by his pawns. In fact, this is a risky course, since the bishop is a valuable defender of the black king. 31 Nc3 Bh6 32 Bxh6 Nxh6 33 Rxd6 Qxd6 34 Rd2 Qc6 35 Nd5 Kg7 36 Qf3 Ra8 37 R12 Rb8 38 h3 Qe6 39 Qe3 Ng8 40 Qg5 Qd6 41 a4 Ra8 Timman now finds a neat sacrifice but it would have been more difficult for Black to defend after the restrained 42 Rb2. 42 Nxb6 Ra6 impossible is 42 Qxb6 43 QxeS-f Kh6 when 44 Qh8+ is murderous. 43 Nd5 Rxa4 Draw agreed. The position still looks dangerous for Black, e.g. 44 g4 hxg4 45 h4 when 45 ... Rxc4 fails to 46 Ne3. However, as Speelman pointed out, Black has

an adequate resource in 45 Ra3 46 h5 Rf3!