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SIMPSON'S

IN-THE•STRAND

CHESS

SIMPSON'S

IN•THE-STRAND

Cometh the hour

Raymond Keene

IN 1990, in a review for the British Chess Magazine of British successes in the chess sphere over the previous decade, I drew attention to one serious weakness in our national chess environment, namely the lack of a sponsor for the British champion- ship. In former times, in spite of a notable lack of impact on the international scene, British chess was, at least, served well by the strength of its national championship. In the 1950s and 1960, for example, all the best players did compete. In recent years, though, that trend was reversed. The lack of sponsorship meant that prizes and expense money dwindled to virtually zero and the top players stayed away in droves.

This year, however, the breach has been magnificently filled by the firm of City accountants, Smith & Williamson. A splen- did £10,000 first prize has attracted almost every active English grandmaster. The result is that this year's British champion- ship is probably the strongest ever held.

It is always fascinating to observe moments of history, those occasions on which an established great master initially crosses mental swords with a prodigy who hopes to take his place in future years. At Hove such a game occurred when Michael Adams, currently ranked British number one, faced 13-year-old Luke McShane, who has recently confirmed his international master title and is widely regarded as England's brightest hope for a future assault on the world championship.

Adams–McShane: Smith & Williamson British Championship 1997; Sicilian Defence.

1 e4 c5 2 c3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Bd3 cxd4 5 cxd4 g6 Adams favours offbeat weapons against the Sicilian Defence. In any case, it is good strategy to avoid long theoretical variations against young players, who tend to be heavily booked up on the latest analytical bombshell. 6 Nf3 Bg7 7 h3 e5 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 0-0 And not 9 Nxe5 on account of 9 ... Qa5 +. 9 ...Nc6 10 Nc3 0-0 11 Be3 Nh5 An attempt to improve on 11 Be6 12 Bb5 Na5 13 Qe2 a6 14 Bd3 Nc6 15 Rfdl with a slight edge to White as in Adams–Gelfand, Candidates Match, Wijk aan Zee 1994. 12 Bc4 Fastening immediately onto the weakness creat- ed by Black's last move, namely the pawn at f7. By failing to move his bishop to e6, Black has allowed White's king's bishop to develop great force. 12 ...Nf4 The immediate 12 ... Na5 deserves consideration. 13 Qxd8 Rxd8 14 Ng5 Be6 14 ... Rf8 15 Bc5 is humiliating, therefore Black must accept a permanent wound in his pawn structure. 15 Nxe6 Nxe6 16 Racl The alter- native is 16 Bxe6 but there is no hurry. 16 ... Ncd4 17 Rfdl Rac8 18 Bxe6 fxe6 (Diagram)

Otherwise he loses the pawn on a7. McShane hopes, by capturing with the pawn, to add a mea-

sure of defence to his central light squares, whilst maintaining a strong knight on d4. How- ever, elite experience has demonstrated that such positions are indefensible for Black in the long run. 19 Kfl Rd7 20 Ne2 Rcd8 21 Bg5 RIB 22 Rd3 h6 23 Be3 g5 24 Rdc3 Rfd8 25 Rc8 Fine technique by White. Trading one pair of rooks diminishes Black's possible tactical counterplay. 25 ...Rxc8 26 Rxc8+ Kf7 27 Ncl Nb5 28 f3 b6 29 Ke2 Nd6 30 Rc6 Ke7 31 a4 Black's queenside pawns, fixed on the same colour square as White's bishop, now present a further target. 31 • Rb7 32 Nd3 Kd7 33 Rc2 Rc7 34 Rxc7+ Kxc7 35 b3 Nf7 36 Kd2 Bf8 37 Kc3 Kc6 38 Nb2 Bd6 39 Nc4 It is instructive to observe White's light- squared manoeuvres, with each step gradually improving the perspectives of his knight. 39 ...Bc7 40 Kd3 Bd8 41 Bd2 Bel 42 Bc3 Bd6 43 Nxd6 The time has come to eliminate one Black defender. Even after this exchange White remains with the superior minor piece. 43 ▪ Kxd6 44 Bb4+ Kc6 45 Kc4 (Diagram) White's Position after 45 Kc4 threats are now overwhelming, including pene- tration of Black's camp by means of Bf8. In des- peration Black tries a final piece of bluff to deter White's entry. 45 Nd6+ 46 Bxd6 Kxd6 47 Kb5 Kc7 48 Ka6 Kb8 49 g4 Ka8 50 b4 Kb8 51 a5 bxa5 52 KxaS Kc7 53 Ka6 Black resigns Black must play 53 Kb8 when 54 b5 Ka8 55 b6 axb6 56 Kxb6 Kb8 57 Kc6 Kc8 58 Kd6 leads to a dead- ly harvest of Black's pawns. A superbly con- trolled strategic game in the style of Petrosian.