Chess

Final spurt

Raymond Keene

Two weeks ago I published Karpov's loss • to Ljubojevic from the super- tournament at Turin. It seemed then that the world champion was heading for another mediocre performance, along the lines of his setback at Mar del Plata earlier in the year. Nevertheless, Karpov succeeded in staging a rally and, aided by good for- tune, he eventually tied for first place with Ulf Andersson, the same result as in the Phillips and Drew tournament at London in April.

Turin Tournament, June 1982

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pts

1 Karpov XX 1/21/2 11/2 01 1/21/2 1/21/2 1/2(1)7 Andersson 1/21/2 XX 1/21/2 1/21/2 1/21/2 11/2 1/2(1)7

3 Portisch 01/2 1/21/2 XX 1/21 01/2 1/21 1/2(1)61/2 Ljubojevic 10 1/21/2 1/20 XX 11/2 1/21/2 1/2(1)671/2

5 Spassky 1/21/2 1/21/2 11/2 01/2 XX 1/2 1/2 OW 6

6 Kavalek 1'1 01/2 1/20 1/21/2 1/2 1/2 XX 1/2(1)51/2

7 Hubner 1/2(0) 1/2(0)1/2(0) 1/2(0)1(0) 1/2(0) XX 31/2/6

(Games in brackets lost by default.)

In comparison with Kasparov's dominating form at Bugojno Karpov's re-

cent tournaments have been unimpressive. In fact, the games he won at both London and Turin have been limited almost solely to those where he has had White against the Sicilian. Paradoxically, Karpov's over- whelming defeat of Korchnoi at Merano may have undermined his desire to succeed. fie has certainly displayed some notable feats of willpower in his last two tour- naments, but only to recover from situa- tions where he has fallen behind. Kasparov, on the other hand, has devoted his energies to capturing first prize by the widest possi- ble margin.

The table reveals the kind of luck from which Karpov benefited. First of all, there were very few decisive games, so Karpov did not have to over-strain in order to catch up.

Then the early leader, Hubner, withdrew due to illness and defaulted all of his games in the second cycle. Withdrawal symptoms have, unfortunately, become all too prevalent with the talented German, and it looks as if his nerves or health will prevent him from reaching the very top.

Here. is the game in which Karpov simultaneously gained his revenge and caught up to the joint lead.

Karpov — Ljubojevic: Turin 1982; Sicilian Defence.

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 cxd4 5 Nxd4 a6 6 Be2 e6 The main lines of the Najdorf commence

after 6 ... e5. The text transposes to the Scheven•1 ingen variation. 7 f4 Qc7 8 0-0 b5?! A dubious move, condemned as 'suspiciously early' in Frit' chett's standard work on this opening. 8 ... Bel is correct. 9 Bf3 Also dangerous for Black is 9 e9) e.g. 9 ... dxe5 10 fxe5 Nfd7 11 BxbS axb5 12 Q0 Nb6 13 Ndxb5 with a highly promising'attack. 9

Bbl 10 e5 Again this disruptive thrust. 10 .. • dxe5 11 fxe5 Nfd7 12 Bf4 b4?! Adhering to his

harebrained course. 12.... Nc6 or q2 Be7' i5 considerably safer. 13 Ne4 NxeS Winning a pawn, but Black's N is in a terrible pin, and he has ne

development. 14 Khl To forestall Nxf3 with

Position after 23 h4

check. 14 ... Be7 15 Ng5 BxgS 16 Bxb7 Qxb7 11' Bxe5 0-0 18 Qg4 Qe7 If 18 ... Bh6 19 Nxe6! fxe6 20 Qxe6 + wins or 19 ... Qd7 20 Bxg7 Qxe6 21 Qxe6 fxe6 22 Bxh6. 19 Qg3 Threatening Bd6. 19 Rc8 20 Bd6 Qd7 He must continue to attack White's B, otherwise he loses to Qxg5. 21 Radl 16 22 BxbS Raxb8 23 h4 (Diagram) Bxh4 Or 23 . • ; Bh6 24 Nf5. 24 Qxh4 Rc4 25 Qg3 RbcS 26 NI' Qa7 27 Nd6 R4c5 28 Qh3 Black resigns. Of course not 28 Nxc8? Rh5 + , but White's 28th move prevents ... Rh5 + and adds the threat 171 29Qxe6+ .