US deadlock
Raymond Keene
THERE is much discussion on the chess- orientated chat groups as to whether Vice- President Al Gore would make a good chessplayer. The general consensus is that he would, but he might experience difficul- ty recognising checkmate. For example, opponent plays move which gives check- mate and Gore reacts as follows: 'Yes, but what about my passed pawn on the a-file; also I have a strong knight and you're weak on the light squares. I demand a recount.' This sort of thing would tend not to go down well in chess tournaments where clear-cut outcomes at the end of the game (win, draw, loss) are highly desirable.
That said, this year's US Championship ended in a tie between three grandmasters, only resolved in a subsequent play-off which left Joel Benjamin as the new US champion. In many ways, though, the hero of the competition was grandmaster Yasser Seirawan. He narrowly failed to carry off the title but that was not his main claim to distinction. In fact, the US chess federation had abandoned the entire idea of a cham- pionship this year due to lack of funds. Seirawan rode to the rescue, not only locat- ing a sponsor for this year's event but securing the US Championship for a decade. The notes to the following game are based on those of the loser.
Seirawan–Gulkm: US Championship, Seattle 2000; English Opening 1 Nf3 CS 2 c4 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nb5 d6 6 I114 e5 7 Bg3 Nh6 A good plan for Black. 7 .. N16 gives White a good game after 8 Bh4. 8 Nd2 Be7 9 e3 0-0 10 Be2 f5 11 f3 f4 12 exf4 exf4 13 Bf2 Bh4 140-0 Bx12+ 15 Rxf2 a6 16 Nc3 Nf5 17 Nde4 Be6 18 Qd2 Qh4 (Diagram) 19 Nd5 White is not tempted by the weak pawn on d6. After 19 Nxd6 Rad8 20 c5 R16 White can lose the more important pawn on the h-file. 19
Bxd5 20 Qxd5+ Kh8 21 Bfl White again rejects the pawn. 21 Nxd6 Nxd6 22 Qxd6 R16 23 Qc7 Rh6 24 h3 Rd8 gives Black strong pressure. Instead White stabilises his position with a series of excellent moves. 21 ... Rad8 22 Rd2 Qe7 23 Rd l Ne3 Black had planned 23 Qc7 here but changed his mind as 24 c5 eliminates Black's dominance of the dark squares. 24 Qg5 Qc7 25 Qh4 h6 26 Nc3 Qa5 27 Qf2 Rfe8 28 b3 Nb4 29 g3 Qf5 It was probably better to break in the centre with 29 ... d5. Instead Black plays for complica- tions. 30 a3 fxg3 31 lixg3 Nxfl 32 Rxf1 Nd3 33 g4 This is excellent defence from White. After 33 0d4 Nc5 34 b4 Nb3 35 Qd3 Qe5 36 Rg2 Nc4 Black keeps a strong initiative. 33 ... Qg6 34 Qg3 Ne5 35 Nd5 R18 36 Rg2 b5 37 f4 Qf7 Black should have taken the pawn here with 37 bxc4 which leads to an unclear position. 38
Rff2. With both sides short of time, mistakes creep in. Much better here was 38 Rdl. 38
bxc4 39 bxc4 Nxc4 40 Qd3 RcS 41 g5 This move gives White a strong attack. 41 ... Rc5 42 gxh6 gxh6 43 Qh3 h5 Here Black had been plan- ning 43 ... Kh7 — see this week's puzzle. 44 Nc3 Re8 45 f5 Ne3 46 Rg5 Rg8 47 Qxe3 Here White misses a good chance with 47 Rfg2 Nxg2 (47 Rxg5 48 Rxg5 Rxf5 49 Qxe3 RxgS + 50 Qxg5 and White should win) 48 Rxh5+ Kg7 49 Rh7+ 1(18 50 Rxr7+ Kxf7 51 Qh5+ 1(16 52 Ne4+ win- ning. 47 Rxg5+ 48 Qxg5 Rxc3 49 Rg2 Kh7 50 f6 Rc4 Black should have played SO R13 when 51 Rh2 is impossible because of 51 Qa7+. 51 Qf5+ Ith6 52 Qg5+ Kh7 53 Rh2 c5 54 Rxh5+ Black resigns
The scores in the final crosstable were: Benjamin, Shabalov, Seirawan, 6Y2; Gurevich and ICaidanov, 6; De Firmian, Christiansen and Ivanov, 5y,; Gulko, Serper, Fedorowicz and Yermolinsky, 4Y2. Benjamin won the tie- break.
White to play and win — first move only. required. This week's puzzle is a variation from the above game. Rather than weaken- ing himself with . . . h5, as in the game, Black can try the solid-looking . . . Kh7. However, Seirawan had a brilliant refuta- tion prepared. Can you see it?
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 5 December or via email to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first cor- rect 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: Rc6 Last week's winner: Graham Baker, Suffolk.
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