CHESS
Peter's plan
Raymond Keene
SLeningrad
t Petersburg was founded in 1703 by the Russian Czar Peter Veliki (The Great). Faced with nothing but swampy marshland (which still makes Metro construction here about twice as expensive as in Moscow) Peter created a vital port which also served as a bulwark against the attacks of maraud- ing Swedes. Nowadays, the Swedes have been replaced by drunken Finns who come to Leningrad to escape punitive alcohol prices and get even more drunk. At night the bridges are raised (on the Tower Bridge principle) to let large ships pass through. The Leningrad Hotel itself is on one such island, and if the chess fraternity here move into town at night there is a distinct danger of being cut off by the nocturnal raising of drawbridges. When war with Germany broke out in 1914 the city's name was briefly Russified to Petro- grad, but only a few years later, and for obvious reasons, it was again changed to its current style.
Considering the terrible battering Leningrad took from the German blockade during the second world war it is surprising that any ancient Leningraders are left, but last week we met Mr Alexander Pirov gathering mushrooms in the grounds of Czar Peter's summer palace. With his long white beard, Mr Pirov looked just like photographs of the old Tolstoy. He claimed to be (and certainly looked) 100 years and eight months old. This means he would have been born during the inaugural world championship match in 1886, when Steinitz defeated Zukertort to become the first world champion.
After a draw in game 15, Kasparov went further ahead on Monday with a brilliant win in game 16, Karpov resigning at the end of the five-hour session after Kaspar- ov's 41st move. This put Kasparov in the lead by 91/2 points to 61/2, needing only 21/2 points from the remaining eight games to retain his title of world champion. Here is Kasparov's win in game 14: Kasparov-Karpov: Game 14, Ruy Lopez. 1 e4 For only the second time in the match. 1. . e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be? 6 Rel b5 7 Bb3 d6 8 c3 0-09 h3 Bb7 10 d4 Re8 11 Nbd2 Bf8 12 a4 116 13 Bc2 exd4 An indication of the greater theoretical awareness which Karpov has developed for this match. In game 9 of their 1985 clash he chose the considerably more pedestrian 13 . . Nb8 14 Bd3 c6 and was subjected to a long and gruelling defence. 14 cxd4 NI34 15 Bbl c5 16 d5 Nd7 17 Ra3 If 17 Nfl f5! 18 exf5 Nf6 with excellent counterplay for Black in de Firmian-Beliavsky, Tunis 1985. 17
. . . c4 18 axb5 If 18 Nd4 Ne5 19 axb5 Qb6! with active chances for the pawn — Sokolov-Psakhis, Volgograd 1985. 18 . . . axb5 19 Nd4 Rxa3 20 bx23 Nd3 21 Bxd3 cxd3 22 Bb2 Karpov had clearly been expecting White to snatch the b5 pawn. Now he fell into long thought. 22. . . Qá5 23 Nf5 Ne5 If 23 . g6 24 Nb3 Qa4 25 Qxd3! gxf5 26 Qg3+ Kh7 27 0f3 with a tremendous attack for the piece. 24 Bxe5 dxe5 25 Nb3 Qb6 After 25 . . . Qxa3 26 Qxd3 Black's queen is uncomfortably placed. 26 Qxd3 Ra8 27 Rd g6 28 Ne3 Bxa3 Better would be 28 . . Rxa3. 29 Position after 31 Rd
Ra1 Ra4 30 Ng4 Bt8 31 Rd 1 (Diagram) Qd6? A blunder which loses by force. But if 31. . . f6 32 d6!! Qxd6 33 Qxb5 Rb4 34 0e8! with a winning attack. 32 Nc5 Rc4 33 Rxc4 bxc4 34 Nxb7 cxd3 35 Nxd6 Bxd6 36 Kfl Kg7 37 f3 f5 38 Nf2 d2 39 Ke2 Bb4 40 Nd3 Bc3 41 Nc5 (sealed move) and Karpov resigned without resuming. Speaking from Moscow, Botvinnik said: 'A wonderful game. Kasparov played perfectly'. If 41 . . . Kf6 42 Nb3 Kg5 43 Nxd2 Kf4 44 Kd3 Bb4 45 Nc4 wins. In other lines Black is condemned to a long and ultimately hopeless defence.
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