SIMPSON'S
IN-THE•STRAND
GARRY KASPAROV is not just in con- tention with his rivals of the present day, such as Anand, Kramnik and Karpov, he is also engaged in a battle with the great mas- ters of the past. Kasparov has been world champion now for almost 12 years, and his tournament results at the very highest level have been outstanding. Both of these achievements place him at the forefront of an historical competition with the greats of bygone days as to who might be considered the foremost chess champion of all time. Over the past three months Kasparov has notched up tournament successes at Las Palmas and now Linares which rival or, indeed, surpass the classic performances, Lasker in St Petersburg 1914, Lasker again in New York 1924, Capablanca, once more in New York, in 1927 and Alekhine in San Remo and Bled in 1930 and 1931.
At Linares Kasparov took some time to get under way and a shock loss to Ivanchuk seriously jeopardised his chances of first prize. Nevertheless, an extraordinary dis- play of fighting spirit, including a straight run of wins against the next five players in the tournament table, swept him to the top. In particular, Kasparov had to win a tense last-round battle against Kramnik, a formidable opponent, who had been shar- ing the lead with the champion.
Kasparov—Kramnik: Linares, February 1997; Nimzo-Indian Defence.
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bh4 4 e3 This move does not normally form part of Kasparov's repertoire. It is the old main line, particularly popular dur- ing the 1950s. Kramnik had doubtless prepared in detail against Kasparov's habitual 4 Qc2. 4 ... 0-0 5 Bd3 c5 6 Nf3 d5 7 0-0 Nc6 8 a3 Bxc3 9 bxc3 dxc4 10 Bxc4 Qc7 Black has given up the bishop pair, whilst also granting White a potentially mobile pawn centre. In compensation, though,
Past master
Raymond Keene
he is not short of a central counterpunch based on ... e5, and he enjoys free play for his pieces. 11 Bat Slightly unusual, but certainly logical. The bishop withdraws from the concealed sphere of influence of the black queen on the 'c' file. 11 ...b6 I think this is too slow. Black gains more active chances after the immediate 11 ... e5. 12 Rel e5 13 e4 Bg4 14 dxc5 A fine decision. With both sides having fractured pawns on the `c' file, Black's knights lack outposts, while White's bishop pair will soon have targets to attack. 14 ... bxc5 15 h3 RadS 16 Qe2 (Diagram) 16 ... B)d3 Kramnik is playing too rigidly for a draw by exchanges. This is quite out of his nor- mal style, which is complex and aggressive. Here, for example, maintaining the pin by 16 ... Bh5 is more combative. 17 Qxf3 Rd6 18 Bg5 h6 19 Bh4 Rfd8 20 Rabl Ne7 21 Bc4 Nc8 With the inten- tion of blocking White's ambitions in the '6' file after ...Nb6. Nevertheless, 21 ...Ng6 would have been more active. 22 Bg3 Nb6 23 Bb5 Re6 24 a4 The advance of this pawn causes Black endless trouble. 24 ...c4 25 Qe2 Rd3 26 a5 Nc8 27 Rb4 Rxc3 28 Rxc4 Rxc4 29 Qxc4 The exchange of weaknesses has left White with a SIMPSON'S % I N-THE-STRANO clear advantage. Black's knights lack obvious perspectives, while White's bishops can poten- tially sweep the board. In particular, Black's pawn on a7 is a serious long-term weakness- 2.9 Qb8 30 Qc5 Nd6 31 Bd3 Nd7 32 Qa3 NIS 33 Rbl Qc7 34 Rd Qd8 35 a6 Ng6 36 Qc5 Re7 37 f3 A valuable move, defending the e4 pawn and preparing, at some future date, to redeploy the White queen's bishop to f2, targeting a7, 37 ••• Ne8 38 Bf1 Rc7 39 Qe3 Rd7 40 Ith2 Kasparov handles the final phase with superb restrain. t. There is no particular hurry to force the decisive invasion, and White's king is much safer on la than on gl. 40 ...Re7 Kramnik pins his faith 00 passive defence but here 40 ... h5 with the plan on ... h4, to gain control of some kingside dark squares, would have offered more resistance. 41 Rc6 Kh7 42 Qcl Nc7 43 Qc3 Qd7 44 Rc5 Qd6 45 Bf2 Perfectly timed and introducing the threat of Rc6 which would win the a7 pawn. 45 ...Ne6 46 Rd5 Qb8 47 Rb5 Qd6 48 Rb7 The writing is at last on the wall. Occupation of this outpost by White's rook spells certain doom for Black's '2 pawn. 48 ...Nd4 Of course 48 ...Rxb7 49 axb7 leaves White with a winning passed pawri. 49 Qb4 Qf6 Naturally 49 ... Qxb4 50 Rxb4 does not alter anything, since White's rook could easily repenetrate to b7. The text vainly speculates on last-ditch threats against White's king, but roil White's overall strategic command of the situa- tion, nothing can legitimately be expected from, this. 50 Qc5 Nc6 Instead 50 ...Nxf3+ 51 Eco Qxf3 would be pure bluff and fails, amongst oth- ers, to 52 Qe3. 51 Be3 Not even allowing Black check on f4. 51 ...Re6 52 Bc4 Re7 53 H(1,5 Having reached this dominating square with his bishop, Kasparov could be confident that Black s stubborn resistance would now promptly col- lapse. 53 ...Nd4 54 Rxa7 Rxa7 55 Qxa7 Ne7 Stl Bc4 h5 57 Qc5 Black resigns There is no defence to the inexorable advance of White's passe,' pawn. This game was a classic textbook examPe ofthe superiority of two bishops over twoknights in an open and stable position.
Leading scores at Linares were: Kasparov 81/2, Kramnik 71/2, Adams 61/2, Topalcw 61/2, Polgar 6, Anand 51/2, Gelfand 5, Ivan- chuk 5.
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