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CHESS
Wijk aan Zee
Raymond Keene
IT is extraordinary the extent to which Holland supports chess. Many of the greatest games in the history of chess have been played in Holland, which can boast one world champion in the person of Dr Max Euwe, who also went on to become president of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and Dutch sponsors continue to provide top-quality events. One of the best is the annual tournament at Wijk aan Zee which, interestingly, is now in fact paid for by British Steel which recently acquired the local Hoogovens steelworks that was the chess Maecenas of the area. Would that British Steel were to replicate this generosity for chess in the UK!
This year's tournament at Wijk aan Zee is a sparkling affair which boasts Kasparov, Anand and Kramnik in the lists as well as, perhaps in deference to the sponsor, the two British grandmasters Nigel Short and Michael Adams. The tournament is still in progress but here are two of the more dra- matic games.
At the halfway stage Kasparov and ICiamnik were neck and neck, with Anand in hot pursuit. Kasparov missed a win in his game with Anand, and was also held to a draw by both British grandmasters. Indeed, Adams won a pawn and came close to winning his game against the champion.
Kramnik–Short: Wijk aan Zee 2000; Queen's Gambit Declined
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 e4 e6 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 Avoiding Short's favourite defence which occurs after 5 Bg5 0-0 6 e3 h6 7 Bh4 b6, as seen in this column on 15 January. 5 ...0-0 6 e3 c5 7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 cxd5 A sharp alternative is 8 Qc2 with the intention of castling queenside. 1Cramnik's selec- tion is meant to be less dangerous but he suc- ceeds in imbuing it with more than a drop of poi-
son. 8 ...Nxd5 9 Nxd5 exd5 10 a3 To avoid annoying checks on b4. 10 ...Nc6 11 Bd3 Introducing the threat of Bxh7+ followed by 0c2+ winning a pawn. Black must now take measures to defend against this menace. 11 ...Be7 I once reached this position as White against the Peruvian grandmaster Orestes Rodriguez (Indonesia 1982). Rodriguez played instead 11 ...Bb6 which looks stronger since it facilitates Black's task of resolving the central tension by means of ... d4. 12 0-0 Bf6 13 Qb3 Black already has problems with his pawns on d5 and b7. Short's counter-plan is to give up d5 in the hope of regaining White's pawn on b2. 13
• Qb6 14 Qxd5 Rd8 15 Qe4 g6 16 Bg5 An annoying tactic for if the planned 16 ...Bf5 then 17 Qh4 Bxg5 18 Nxg5 with lethal threats. 16 ▪ Qxb2 17 Bc4 Thus White eliminates the possi- ble attacks against his own pieces and concen- trates his forces for an onslaught against the black king. 17 ...Kg7 18 Qh4 h5 Black appears to have constructed a solid defence but White's next move comes as a terri- ble surprise. 19 Bxf7 Bxg5 If 19 RC 20 Rabl Qc3 21 Rfcl when Black's queen can no longer defend the bishop on f6. 20 Nxg5 Qf6 21 e4 Rd4 22 Rael With an extra pawn, better development and Black's king's fortifications in tatters White has an easy win in prospect. 22 ...Bd7 23 14 Rf8 24 Ba2 Qd6 25 Khl Qxa3 This at least restores material balance but White is given time to build up huge pressure against the black pawn on g6, the final cornerstone of the black king's defences. 26 Bbl Qe7 27 Qg3 Kh6 28 Nf3 Rb4 29 Nh4 Be8 30 e5 Rxbl Desperation in view of the threats against g6. 31 Rxbl Nd4 32 Qg5+ Black resigns A neat final trick which wins further material, e.g. 32 ... Qxg5 33 fxg5 + Kg7 34 Rxb7 + and White wins easily.
Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. .13 White to play and win — first move only required. This position is a variation from the game Anand–Korchnoi, Wijk aan Zee 2000. Black had already resigned this game but here is a possible finish. How does White win at once?
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 1 February or via e-mail to vanessa@speetator.co.uk or by fax on 0171 242 0603. The winner will be the first correct 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: Qxd7 Last week's winner: Mr D. Davis, Derbyshire.
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