CHESS
Nunn event
Raymond Keene
The GLC Chess Challenge is producing some truly fascinating chess. Murray Chandler and Jim Plaskett have been involved in some particularly exciting games. John Nunn, on the other hand, though usually a dynamic fighter, is having rather a peaceful tournament. The excep- tion was the following game: Nunn-Plaskett: Petroff Defence. 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nxe5 d6 4 Nf3 Nxe4 5 d3 Nf6 6 d4 Be7 7 Be2 0-0 8 0-0 Bf5 9 c4 Re8 10 Nc3 Bf8 11 Rel Ne4 12 Nxe4 Bxe4 13 Bg5 Be7 14 Bxe7 Rxe7 15 Bd3 Bxf3 16 Qxf3 Nc6 17 Qf4 Qd7 18 Re4 RaeS 19 Rael Rxe4 20 Rxe4 Nb4 Plaskett had turned down an offer of a draw from Nunn. In fact the position is quite level and Black should exchange rooks. This error permits an attractive finale. 21 QfS! Re6 if 21 . . . Qxf5 22 Rxe8 mate or 21 . . . Qd8 22 Qxh7+ Kxh7 23 Rxe8 discovered check wins. 22 d5 Nxd3 23 dxe6 fxe6 24 Qxe6+ Qxe6 25 Rxe6 ICf7 26 Re2 Black resigns.
Notes on the following game between Polugayevksy and Hear are based on the excellent bulletin issued daily at the tournament which continues at the Great Eastern Hotel, Liverpool Street, until 27 March. Polugayevsky-Flear: Slav Defence. 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 NI6 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 c6 5 Bg5 The Anti-Meran, the sharpest variation of the Slav, was deeply investigated by Botvinnik; under his influence it has long been a regular topic of theoretical debate, especially in Soviet tourna- ments. 5 . . . dxc4 6 e4 b5 7 e,5 h6 8 Bh4 g5 9 Nxg5 hxg5 10 BxgS Be7 11 exf6 Bxf6 12 Bxf6 Qxf6 13 g3 Bb7 14 Bg2 Na6! 15 a4! 0-0-0 15 . . . b4 16 Ne4 (16 Nb5?! 0-0-0! 17 Nxa7+ Kc7 is good for Black) 16 . . . Qe7 17 Rcl or 17 Qe2 leaves Black's pawns ripe for picking. 16 axb5 cxb5 17 Bxb7+ Kxb7 18 Nxb5 Qf5! Probably the
Position after 20 . . . Qc6
best, hoping for 19 Nc3?! Nc5! 20 0-0 Nb3xd4 with a terrific attack, but Polugayevsky's prepa- ration usually foresees such counterstrokes — he is not interested. in retreat. 19 Qa4! Qe4+ 20 Kd2 Qc6 (Diagram) If 20 . . . Rxd4+ 21 Nxd4 Qxd4+ 22 Kc1 wins at once. Though the open lines now appear to present significant chances, e.g. 21 Rhcl Rh5!, there is a third, quiet yet crushing surprise. 21 b3!! Interesting 21 . . . cb 22 Rhb1! Rxh2 23 Rxb3 Rxf2+ 24 Kel ! and the checks soon run out. 21 . . . Qb6 22 bxc4 Rxd4+ 23 Ke2 Delicate footwork. If the king goes to the c-file 23 . . . Rxc4+ and . . . Rc8 snatches the initiative, while on the next move White avoids 24 Kfl so as not to block in his king's rook. 23 . . . Re4+ 24 Kf3 f5 24 . . . Re5 is obvious and looks strong. Not so obvious — but much stronger — is the reply 25 Nd4! Black resorts to desperate ingenuity. 25 Rhbl Rf4+ 26 gxf4 Q6+ 27 Ke2 Qe4+ 28 Kdl! Accurate to the end, 28 Kd2 Qxf4+! is only a draw. 28 . . . Rd8+ 29 Nd6+ Kc7 30 Qa5+ Kxd6 31 Qxd8 + Black resigns.
After six rounds the leader in the tournament is Murray Chandler with 41/2 points, followed by Flear with 4 points.
The tournament bulletin is available at a cost of £6, post included, from the British Chess Federation, 9a Grand Parade, St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex.
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