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CHESS

Gridlock

Raymond Keene

THE Linares tournament did little to resolve a series of vexed questions in the chess com- munity. Kasparov, widely recognised as the real world champion, did not dominate, while Khalifman, the FIDE (World Chess Federation) cardboard cut-out version, dis- appointed the world body's numerous detractors by turning in a perfectly respectable performance. Anand nearly blew his reputation as the most likely challenger for a challenge match against Kasparov, but a last-minute victory enabled him to achieve an acceptable result. In general, the even- ness of the field was the most striking factor.

Anand-Shirov: Linares 2000; Petroff Defence 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nxe5 Beginners often fall for the trap here 3 ... Nxe4 4 Qe2 Nf6 5 Nc6+ win- ning at once. In fact after 4 Qe2 Black can fight with 4 ... Qe7 5 Qxe4 d6 6 d4 dxe5 7 dxe5 Nc6. Although it is not completely obvious that Black has anything for his pawn, this variation does have the merit of avoiding instant loss. 3 ... d6 4 NE3 Nxe4 5 d4 d5 6 Bd3 Bd6 7 0-0 0-0 8 c4 c6 The position is almost symmetrical but White can normally gain a slight edge by pressing on the light squares against d5 and e4. 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 Nc3 Nxc3 11 bxc3 Bg4 12 Rbl Nd7 12 ... b6 is pusillanimous and weakens Black's queenside too much. The text plans to meet 12 ... Rxb7 with 13 Nb6 when White's rook is trapped. 13 h3

Diagram 1

Bh5 14 Rb5 Nb6 15 c4 Bxf3 16 Qxf3 dxc4 17 Bc2 White has sacrificed a pawn but now enjoys numerous threats both on the king's flank and on the opposite side of the board where the b7-pawn is threatened. 17 ... Qd7 18 a4 g6 (Diagram 1) In their game from round one (Kasparov-Shirov) the world champion tried 19 Bd2 in this position. He went on to win but Shirov should have been in no serious danger. Here Anand tries to improve. 19 Be3 RacS 20 Rfbl c3 21 a5 Nc4 22 Rxb7 Qe6 23 Rai White appears to be making all the running but now he feels constrained to make a defensive move against the threats of ... Nxa5 and ... Na3. Black's passed c-pawn is certainly beginning to look dangerous. 23 ... Bb8 24 Bb3 Qd6 25 g3 Nxe3 26 Bxf7+ Kh8 27 Qxe3 Qf6 28 Be6 Rce8 29 d5 The upshot of the complications is that White has won a pawn and to a certain extent denuded the black king. However, White's bishop is currently inactive, his passed pawn less well advanced than that of his adversary and he has his own troubles on the f2-square. 29 ... Be5 30 Ra2 Bd4 31 Qel Qf3 32 Kh2

White had probably now been expecting 32

Bxf2 33 Qe5+ Rf6 34 Qc7 Bgl + (34 ... Rf7 is also possible which would be met by 35 Qe5 +) 35 Kxgl Qfl + 36 Kh2 Rf2+ with a draw by per- petual check. However, Shirov now uncorks a horrible surprise. 32 ... QxdS 33 Bxd5 Rxel 34 Kg2 Bxf2 Another hammerblow. If now 35 Rxf2 Rxf2+ 36 Kxf2 c2 when Black wins the endgame. 35 Rf7 Rxf7 36 Bxf7 Bc5 37 Bb3 Kg7 38 Rc2 Bd4 39 a6 Kf6 40 Ra2 Ke5 41 h4 Ke4 White resigns White is so tied down he cannot stop Black's c-pawn from advancing.

Linares Final Crosstable

1 2 3 4 5 6

1. Kasparov ** 1212 1212 1212 112 Ph 6 2. Kramnik ** Y2Y2 112 Y2 Y2 1Y: 6 3. Leko 1212 1212 ** 120 1212 Y2Y2 412 4. Khalifman 1272 OY, Y21 ** 720 Y2Y2 4/2 5. Anand OY2 YhI2 Y2Y ** 072472 6. Shirov OY, OY: Y2Y2 Y2Y2 172 ** 412 Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 20 White to play and win — first move only required. This position is a variation from the game Anand-Khalifman, Linares 2000. How can White finish the game immediately?

Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 21 March or via e-mail to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first cor- rect answer drawn out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of a bottle of Ardbeg Malt Whisky.

Last week's solution: Rab7 Last week's winner: David Jupe, Berkshire.