CHESS

Nimzowitschian

Raymond Keene

AMoscow

s he indicated to me last week, Gary Kasparov believes his Taimanov Sicilian Gambit to be sound. He demonstrated his faith by using it again to be sure of a crushing victory in game 16 — widely considered to be the best game the two Ks

have ever contested against each other. Kasparov is known to be an Alekhine fan — but this game's strategy was pure Nitnzowitsch. Nimzo preached: 'Centra- lisation good — decentralisation bad: first restrain — then blockade — finally destroy

• • . zugzwang, square colour control . . .'. Watch out for all these in this masterpiece.

Karpov — Kasparov: Game 16, 15 October; Sicilian Defence, Taimanov Variation `Kasparov Gambit'. 1 e4 eS 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nb5 d6 6 c4 Nf6 7 N1c3 a6 8 Na3 Decentralisation. 8 . . . d5 A roar went up from the Grandmaster analysis room as this gambit was repeated. It was followed by a crash as of a fist on a table and then much shouting. It seems several Grandmas- ters had made substantial wagers that this move from game 12 was a bluff and would not be repeated. 9 cxd5 exd5 10 exd5 Nb4 11 Bet Karpov's new move wheeled out quickly after a week and a half of preparation. But after Gary's reply . . . 11 . . . Bc5! Karpov looked puzzled and sank into thought. After 11 . . . Nbxd5 White might lay claim to a small plus: 12 Nxd5 Nxd5 13 0-0 and Bf3. 12 0-0 0-0 13 Bf3 13 Bg5 Nbxd5 14 Nxd5 Qxd5 15 Bxf6 Qxdl 16 Rfxdl gxf6 is level. Karpov tries to cling to his extra pawn (as so often in this match, Kasparov is on the sacrificing side). But Kasparov's second, Dorfman, said to me: 'White cannot draw after 13 Bf3.' 13 . . . Bf5 14 Bg5 Re8 14 . . . Bd3 15 Rel Ng4 16 BxdS Nxf2 17 Bel Nh3+ is a beautiful draw, but even if that's sound, Black is already playing for more. Dorfman again: 'Gary's team prepared this line up to the 19th move.' In the above line 17 Qd2 is worth a thought. 15 Qd2 b5 16 Rad' Nd3 Not a knight, but a monstrous centralised octopus, tentacles grasping out in all directions. 17 Nabl Mean- while, White's knights stumble around. If 17 Nc2 Nxb2 18 Ne3 Bxe3 19 fxe3 Nxdl 20 Bxdl Qd7 (Suetin). 17 . . . h6 18 Bh4 b4 19 Na4 Bd6 20 Bg3 Rc8 21 b3 g5!! 22 Bxd6 Qxd6 23 g3 Nd7!! This is the most difficult move of the game. 24 Bg2 Qf6 Blockade — White has no useful moves. 25 a3 a5 26 axb4 axb4 27 Qa2 Now White is almost in zugzwang — incredible (for a world champion) on a nearly full board. 27 . . . Bg6 Maybe 27 . . Nf4 28 gxf4 Rc2 29 Nb2 Rxb2 30 fxg5 hxg5 but then 31 Qa4! (GM Suetin, Pravda correspondent). 28 d6 g4 29 Qd2 Kg7 30 f3 Qxd6 31 fxg4 Or 31 Nb2 Qd4+ 32 Khl Qxb2 33 Qxb2 Nxb2 34 Rxd7 Bd3 35 Rgl Rc2 36 fxg4 Ree2 37 Re4 Bb5 38 Rd6 (to stop . . . Bc6) 38 . . . Nd3 39 h3 Nel wins. 31 . . . Qd4+ Dark square control plus centralisation. 32 Khl Nf6 33 Rf4 Ne4 (Diagram) Further massive centralisation. Karpov was now in desperate time-trouble and Grandmasters dashed from their analysis room to crowd the press gallery. 34 Qxd3 Nf2+ 35 Rxf2 Or 35 Kgl Nh3+ 36 Khl Qxd3 37 Rxd3 Rel+ winning everything. 35 . . . Bxd3 36 Rfd2 Qe3 37 Rxd3 Rcl 38 Nb2 Qf2 39 Nd2 Rxdl+ 40 Nxdl Now, when it is much too late, White's knights fall over each other, scurrying back to

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/74 P4 P r ,

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r/ Pr r,„ 4`4--) AE /.4?

Position after 33 . . . Ne4

the centre. 40 . . . Rel+ White resigns. it is mate after 41 Nfl Rxfl+ 42 Bxfl Qxf1. The audience leapt as one to its feet and went berserk — just like the Cup Final or the Last Night of the Proms.

After 12 tries last time and this, game 16 is the first decisive world championship game I have ever seen in Moscow.

It is noticeable that when Kasparov faces problems he hunches' over the board with his hands covering his ears, his fingers pointing upwards. Coincidentally, this con- forms with the latest Soviet medical theories connecting ear massage and ear pressure with the achievement of a calm state of mind and increased concentration. An alternative explanation is that it is to cut out noise from the audience, but those who know, say that Kasparov also wears a woolly hat, pulled down over his ears, while playing training games. And, of course, there is no audience then.