Test Your Chess [Paperback ed.] 1901983358, 9781901983357

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Test Your Chess

Steffen Pedersen

First published in the UK by Gambit PublicationsLt d 2000 Copyright © Gambit Publications Ltd 2000 The right of Steffen Pedersen to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent pur­ chaser. A copy of the British Library Catalog uing in Publication data is available from the British Library. ISBN 1 901983 3 5 8 DISTRIBUTION:

Worldwide (except USA): Central Books Lt d, 99 Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN. Tel +44 (0)20 8986 4 854 Fax +44 (0)20 8533 5 821 . E-mail: [email protected] USA: BHB International, Inc., 41 Monroe Turnpike, Trumbull, CT 066 11, USA. F or a ll other enquiries (incl uding a full list of all Gambit Chess titles) please contact the publishers, Gambit.Publications Ltd, 69 Masbro Rd, Kensington, London W14 OLS. F ax+44 (0)2073711477. E-mail M urray@gambitche ss. freeserve .co. uk Or visit the GAMBIT web site at http:/lwww.ganibitbooks.com Edited by Graham Burgess Typeset by Petra Nunn Printed in Great Britain by Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wilts. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

21

Gambit Publications Ltd Managing Director: GM Murray Chandler Chess Director: GM John Nunn Editorial Director: FM Graham Burgess German Editor: WFM Petra Nunn

Contents

5 6

Symbols Introduction

1

The Opening

Advantage in Development Bits and Pieces

2

The Middlegame

7 7 9

The Greek Gift

11 11

Attac k and Defence

12

The Endgame

15

3

15

Pawn Endings Opposite-Coloured Bishops

17

Rook Endings

19

How Goo d is Your Technique?

20

4 Solutions The Opening

22

for Chapters 1-3

The Middlegame The Endgame Score Tables

5

How Good is Your Chess?

22 29 40 56 58

Game 1 : Shapovalov-Sanakoev, corr. 1963-5

61

Game 2: Tal-Flesch, Lvov 1981 Game 3: Karpov-Sax, Linares 1983

68 74

Game 4: Korchnoi-Sp assky, Clermont-Ferrand 1989

80

4

TEST YOUR CHESS

Game 5: Jasnikowski-S.Pedersen, Assens I990 Game 6: lsaev-A.1imoshenko, corr. I989-9I Game 7: To palov-Kramnik, Belgrade I995

88 94 IOI

Game 8: Karpov-Cu.Hansen, Groningen I995

I07

Game 9: Lautier-Karpov, Biel I997

119

Game IO: Illescas-Arizmendi Martinez, Pamplona I997/8

I23

Game I I: Khenkin-Shabalov, Koszalin I999

I27

Game I2: Gligoric-Nevednichy, Novi Sad tt I999

13I

Game 13: S.B.Hansen-Cu.Hansen, Helsingm I999

139

Game I4: Hracek-Yusupov, Bundesliga I999/00

I44

Game I 5 : Illescas-Short, Pamplona I999/00

I48

Game I6: P.Nikolic-Leko·, Wij k aan Zee 2000

I52

Index of Players

I59

Index o f Composers

I60

Index of Openings

I60

Symbols

+ ++

# !! !

!? ?! ? ?? +±

;!;

=

+ +

-+

Ch Cht tt

check double check checkmate brilliant move good move interesting move dubious move bad move blunder White i s winning White is much better White is slightly better equal position Black is slightly better Black is much better Black is winning championship team champi onship team tournament

Wch Ech Wcht ECC Ct IZ z OL jr wom mem

rpd

corr. 1-0

lh-1/2 0-1 (n )

(D)

• • • •

world championship European championship World Team Championship European Clubs Cup candidates event interzonal event zonal event olympiad junior event women's event memorial event rapidplay game correspondence game the game e nds in a win for White the game ends in a draw the game ends in a win for Black nth match game see next diagram Guess the next move

Introduction

This book features a variety of exercises to test your assessment, decision­ making and analytical skills. The principal aim is to help you identify areas of your game that need work, and to know your areas of strength, so you can steer your games towards them . There is also an element of self-assessment. Although the conversions from points score to rating should be taken with a large pinch of salt, they should give a useful indicati on. For instance, i f you have never b eento a chess club and achieve an "IM/GM" score in the tests, you should definitely con­ sider taking your chess more serious) y! This is the first time I have written a non-openings book, so for me writing this book has been quite a challenge. I hope that players of a wide variety of strengths will find the material useful. Selecting the material, particularly for the first three chapters , was a difficult task . What would be useful? In the end, I decided on only a few themes within the chapters on the opening, middlegame and endgame. The second part of the book contains 16 games annotated in the well-known ' How Good i s Your Chess?' sty le, in wh ich you are awarded points for finding the right move s.

How to solve the tests Since there are separate guidelines for solving the ' How Good is Your Ches s?' exercises, I'll o nl y deal with the tests in the first three chapters here. Each posi­ tion should be thoro ughly analysed. There is no specific time-limit as such; you should analyse until you consider that further work will not improve your an­ swer. I recommend that you write down your analyses and thoughts on a piece of paper before turning to the solutions. While a significant proportion of the points are for finding the best move in each diagram position, there are also many more points available for seeing critical ideas further down the main lines. At the end of Chapter 4, you can write in the points you earn in each test, and see how your points total converts (very approximately) to a playing strength.

Steffen Pedersen EJJested, Denmark, September 2000

1 The Opening

The tendency among many players (ranging from ordinary club level to grandmasters) is to devote the lion's share ofth eirstudy time to working on the opening. With the help of analysis modules and computer databases, pre­ paring one's openings has become a lot easi er, simultaneously making the opening of even greater importance. Nowadays it is possible to prepare to pla y an opening line in less than an hour by rapidly skimming through a number o f games on the computer, perhaps with the aim of surprising an opponent in a tournament game. The tests contained in this chapter are not meant to see whether you have done your opening preparation well enough. Nor do they test you in a spe­ cific opening. Rather, I have chosen one subject that I have observed many club players find difficult to handle: an advantage in development. There are five test positions on that theme; then the chapter is rounded off with tests related to a number of other opening topics .

Advantage in Development There are various types of advantage that can be accumulated during the opening. Some are quite concrete but others are only temporary, and may

vanish if one doesn't follow up ener­ getically. A good example is an ad­ vantage in development. It is a type of advantage you frequently obtain but it is not always possible to exploit it if you cannot transfonn it into another type of advantage. Time is inevitably on your opponent' s side, so the way to maintain and exploit an advantage in development is by playing as energeti­ cally as possible. In the following tests, try to find the best way to exploit an advantage in development.

Test 1.1

White to move.

8

TEST YOUR CHESS

Test 1.2

Griinfeld. Bl ack has just struck in the centre but lags behind in develop­ ment. However, White must be quick to exploit this advantage. How would you continue?

Test 1.4

White to move . White's advantage in development is not much to speak of at the moment, but he may be able to develop with gain of tempo or provoke weaknesses in Black's position. Can you find a good plan for White?

Test 1.3

White to move. The game started out as a Queen's Gambit Accepted but now resembles a

White to move. White 's advantage in development is minimal in this case: essentially, he has just preserved the advantage of having moved first. However, in some positions this is enough to put Black under pressure. How can White ex­ ploit Black 's extravagancy of develop­ ing his queenside first?

9

THE OPENING

In this quiet position Black must .find a plan. Which of the following moves would you choose: 13 ...h6, 13 .. bS, 13.. ig4, 13....i.b6or13 .. ic7 '?

Test 1.5

.

Test 1.7

White to move. White has a lead in development How can he exploit this advantage?

Bits and Pieces The next section is a selection of ran­ dom tests to keep you on your guard in various types of opening positions.

Black to move. White's last move (17 .i.cl-d 2) in­ tends to neutralize the power of the f6-bishop. How should Black react?

Test 1.6

Test 1.8

Black

to move.

White to move.

JO

TEST YOUR CHESS

In this sharp Scheveningen Sicilian , Black has just played 16....i.e7-c5, with the aim of increasing the pressure on e5. How should White respond? Test

Tes t

1.10

1.9

Black to move. Test

1.11

Black to move. Black has just been surprised by 1 7 b2-b4!?, a new move. Previously, White had tried 17 .i.h5+ g6181Llxh7 wf7 19 c!Lihg5+ Wg7 20 liJxcS Wxc5 21 .i.f3 in Plaskett-Gallagher, Telford 1982, when Black should have played 21-.ll a7 with a small advantage. What is White's idea with 17 b4, and how should Black react? ·

Black to move. Both sides suffer from an isolated pawn. White is ready to target the c6pawn with, for exampl e, 17 ltc3 or 17 Itel, and could be better unless Black finds a way to disturb White in the process of his plan. How would you continue?

2 The Middlegame

The middlegame is of course a vast subject, and also the best served by traditional chess puzzle books, which require you to find a combination, or some piece of tactics. In Chapter 5 of this book, you will find 16 'How Good is Your Chess?' exercises, in which middlegame decision-making and plan­ ning feature prominently. This short chapter features exercises on two top­ ics: the famous Greek Gift idea, and various questions of Attack and De­ fence.

The Greek Gift One of the most common middlegame sacrifices is the one where White plays .i.xh7+ (or Black plays . .. .i.xh2+), generally known as the Greek Gift. Usually this sacrifice is followed by lllg 5+, and White hopes to follow up by either delivering mate or gaining a substantial amount of material. Quite often though, the sacrifice doesn't lead to direct mate and White has to work out a creative way of keeping the attack going. In this section I have chosen a list of positions where your task is to analyse and evaluate the �xh7 +sacrifice (in Test 2.4, it is Black playing ... i.xh2+ you are invited to analyse).

Test

2.1

White to move. Test

2.2

White to move.

12

Test

TEST Ya.JR CHESS

2.3

White t o move. Test

2.4

Attack and Defence Much has been written about the at­ tack in chess. It is one of the most dif­ ficult aspects of the game to handle correctly. Attacking well often in­ volves a fine blend between intuitive decision-making and accurately calculating lengthy variations. . Defence, on the other hand, can rarely be played intuitively. It requires one to determine exactly what the op­ ponent threatens and subsequently to react in the right way. In this section, there are a number of positions that feature questions of attack and defence. In each test you should analyse the position as well as you can, and again you will be awarded points for how much you have seen. Test

2.5

White to move.

White to move. White is a piece up but his rook is under attack, and there is a danger of mate on the back rank. How does White solve all his problems?

13

THE MIDDLEGAME

Test

2.6

Test

2.8

••

Black to move. Black has won an exchange but is faced by the deadly threat of White playing 24 l:d8+ followed by mate on g7. Can you find a good defence fur Black? Test

Black to move. Black has built up a menacing posi­ tion with White's king being chased into the epicentre of the auack, but is it now all going to backfire? The queen is threatened, and if it moves the bishop falls. How should Black continue?

2.7 Test

Black to move. White's last move, 40 J:r:gl-g6, was tricky. Can you find the correct de­ fence?

2.9

White to move. Black has just captured a pawn on b2. 16ltbl 'ifxdl 17 ltbxdl is feasible

TESI' YWR CHESS

14

but far from convincing. Can you see another way to continue the attack?

T est 2.10

White to move. This position is from a 6 .i.gS Naj­ dorf where White has sacrificed a whole rook for an attack, and could have arisen in Velimirovic-Ljubojevic, Yugoslav Ch (Umag) 1972, if Black's last move had been 18 ... tlld7-c5 (rather than 18 ... tllf8?). Analyse the conse­ quences of 19 tllx c5 ! .

Test 2.12

White to move. We are at the climax of an incredibly complicated game. Black's last move, 33 . .i.a3-c1, threatened mate in two but White is also only a few moves away from victory. What should be the result? .

.

T est 2.11

White to move. Black's last move, 13 ...tllf6-e8, was by many considered a brilliant de­ fence. Do you agree?

3 The Endgame

With chess-players of all levels, the amount of interest in the endgame var­ ies greatly from player to player. Some consider it absolutely essential lo have thorough endgame knowledge. Others find it just a waste of time, with a "I am not getting to the endgame anyway" attitude. My opinion is that Lhe endgame is indeed very important. I find it very annoying to waste a hard-earned advantage by poor end­ game play, but also equally pleasing 10 be able to survive inferior endings, most likely after struggling the whole game. This is a book of exercises, not of lessons, so I have limited myself to sections on the following subjects: • Pawn Endings • Opposite-Coloured Bishops Rook Endings How Good is Your Technique? In each section you will find a num­ ber of tests. Analyse the positions as thoroughly as possible. You will be awarded points according to how well you solve the tests. •

•

Pawn Endings Test 3.1

White to move. Black is slightly better due to his 2 vs 1 majority on the queenside and the possibility of White's d-pawn becom­ ing weak. White decided to bail out with 35 ttcJ+ ttxcJ+ 36 �xc3. Ana­ lyse the resulting pawn ending.

TEST YOUR CHESS

16

Test 3.2

require assistance

from the black king.

Can you find the correct p lan for Black?

Test3.4

White to move. White can create an outside passed pawn, but is this going to be enough to win? White to move.

Test 3.3

This looks like it should be a rela­ tively simp le en ding but it does in­ volve a little subtlety. Can y ou find a way for White to draw?

Test 3.5

Black to move. Black has a

3 vs 1 majority on the

queenside. It is clear that White is somewhat handicappe d by his dou­ bled f-pawns but can Black make use of his queenside majority ? This would

White to move.

THE ENDGAME This 1956 study b y Chekhover con­ tains a few surprising turns. Appar­ ently it seems that White has little chance of saving the position, as Black can simply walk his king up to the white h-pawn and create a protected passed pawn by means of ... c6 and ... d5. But is it really that simple? Test

3.6

17

trickier than they appear at first sight. The two most important elements of opposite-coloured bishops are the blockade and passed pawns. With the two sides operating on dif­ ferent colours, a blockade is often un­ breakable, and hence the defending side can sometimes hold endings two or more pawns down. In tum, the at­ tacking side may need to sacrifice ma­ terial (pawns or even the bishop) to create a second passed pawn, so as to overload the enemy bishop. Two widely-separated passed pawns gener­ ally cause a bishop more trouble than pawns that are closer together, since the bishop will then need to operate along two diagonals at the same time. In the following tests, you are in­ vited to analyse the positions as thor­ oughly as possible. You aregiven points for how well you solve the positions. Test 3.7

White t o move. This position was used by Fine in 194 1 to show the strength of the pro­ tected passed pawn. Fine originally thought that White was winning easily but this met with criticism from some theoreticians. White is indeed winning but it is not as easy as Fine thought. Your task is to analyse the position, but be careful to do this as accurately as possible. You will also get points for finding the best defence for Black.

Opposite-Coloured Bishops Endings with opposite-coloured bish­ ops are often drawish by nature but

White to move. Black is two pawns up, but will this be enough to ensure the win?

TEST YOUR CHESS

18

Test 3.10

Test 3.8

Black to move. With the white pawns so close to­ gether, it really should be posSible to

Black to move. Black is one pawn up but is this go­ ing to be enough?

set up a blockade, should n ' t i t ?

Test 3.11 Test 3.9

Black to move. Black to move. If his king were a little closer, it would be a simple task for Black to

It is imperative for Black to prevent White's king from coming to e7,

b-

draw this position, but h ow does he

rifice his

cope with

advance the other one.

d7-d8.. ?

the threat of White playing

be-­

cause White would then be able to sac­ or d-pawn in order to

There are two 84 .. .i.b7

possible defences for Black,

.

THE ENDGAME and 84 ... Wd8. Analyse and assess the consequences of both.

Rook Endings Of all types of ending, rook endings occur most frequently in practice, yet they are also very often misplayed. In this section I have chosen to concen­ trate exclusively on endings where one side is one pawn or more up. Rook endings have a well-known drawish tendency, and an extra pawn is no guarantee of victory.

19

how the game concluded: 41 .".ld3 42 Wh3 lle3 43 �h4 �g7 44 WgS .lel 45 J:l'.c7 .le2 46 .le7 .la2 47 f5 gxf5 48 e6 h4 49 lhf7+ �g8 50 �f6 1-0. Can

you improve on Black's play and con­ sequently do better than Kasparov? (You may play through this sequence, but should not move the pieces other­ wise.)

Test 3.13

Test 3.12

Black to move. We begin with a fairly topical exam­ ple. The position arose in the second game of the KasparovChess Grand Prix final between Piket and Kaspa­ rov. After exerting pressure through­ out the game, Piket had lo content himself with the above ending. The ending is drawn but White can try to move his king up to g5 and try to engi­ neer breaks such as e6 or f5. Here is

Black to move. Black is two pawns up but White's c-pawn gives him strong counterplay. White hopes that he will be able to swap his c-pawn for Black's a- and b­ pawns, thus reaching a drawn 2 vs 1 ending on the kingside. How can Black avoid this?

20

TEsr YOUR CHESS

Test 3.14

How Good is Your Technique? Nothing is more annoying than having a material advantage and failing to convert it into victozy. I have selected three exercises, where the common theme is that the superior side can win, but there are some technical difficul­ ties that must be overcome. Test 3.16

White to move. This is a typical 4 vs 3 endgame wi th a passed a-pawn. Is this one just a dead draw? Test 3.15

White to move. Wi th two extra pawns the win does not appear to be a problem, but watch out, as sometimes Black can even sac­ rifice his bishop to reach a theoreti­ cally drawn position with knight and pawn vs bare king where White is unable to win a tempo with his knight White to move. White"s rook is actively placed to cope with mack's c-pawn but White's king must stay sheltered from rook checks. How should White defend?

THE ENDGAME

Testl.17

White to move.

21

Test 3.18

White t o move.

Why shouldn't the rook just out­

This wou ld be an easy win for

class lhe pawns? They are already al­

White if Black instead had a dark­

most blockad ed.

squared bishop. However, with th e h8-comer b eing o f the opposite colour to the bishop, there are some stalemate ideas that White should watch out for.

4 Solutions for Chapters 1-3

The Opening Advanta1e in Development Test 1.1 Zlotnik - Gik Dubna 1968

White has a large lead in develop­ ment but there is a clear danger of this fading unless he can engineer a quick attack.

13 c!Oxd6

3 points i r this was your choice. White immediately exploits the poor coordination between Black's pieces. Obviously the d6-pawn is a weakness but, for example, 13/bf3 or 13 /bb3(1 point for each) would be much less convincing. Black need not bother about the pawn and would simply con­ tinue 13.../bc6. Black's firm control of e5 makes his position solid enough to withstand the temporary pressure.

13 'l'xd6 14 lllxe6 .••

Add 2 more points if this was your idea.

14 'l'xe6?! •••

This is an unsuccessful attempt to escape with three pieces for the queen. 14... 'itb6 can be met by 15 /bc7 or 15 /bg5. 14... i.e5 is objectively best; then White must play accurately to maintain

an advantage. 5 points if you intended to reply 15 'ff xd6 (15 /bg5 'ff xdl 16 .C:axdl �g7 is not at all convincing) 15... .i.xd6 16 /bd8! (this is much more accurate than 16 /bg5, when Black holds on with 16.../bc6! ) 16... .i.e6 (now 16 .../bc6 is met by 17 /bxc6 bxc6 18 .C:xf7) 17 he6! fxe6 18 :tad! .i.e7 19 /bxe6! /bc6 20 Ad7 with excellent compensation for the piece. After the text-move, the win is straightforward: 15 •d8+ .i.f8 16 Axf7! �xf7 17 9'xc8 •xc4 18 �bc4 + Wg7 19 9'd4 +

1-0 Maximum: 10 points.

Test 1.2 Kalinin - Jonkman Haarlem 1996

11Dh4! 5 points. The b5-pawn is Black's prime concern. Moving it would terri­ bly weaken the queenside, and in par­ ticular the c4-square. The text-move offers to exchange the light-squared bishops, a deal that is definitely worth­ while for White, since Black will then be unable to maintain his pawn on b5. or the alternatives, 1 /bel (1 point) is similar but not quite as aggressive, and 1 /ba3 allows Black to maintain the pawn on b5, viz. l... 'ff b 7 2 /bh4 /bd5 t.

SOWTIONS FOR CHAPTERS

1 �s •••

Understandably, Black attempts to avoid moving the b-pawn but now White exploits his lead in development with a series of energetic moves. Ob­ jectively, l ....i.xg2 2l0xg21Wc6 3 llla3 b4 4 ll:i c4, with an edge for White, is best. 2�c3! .. b7?! 2 ...b4 3 ll:ixdS .i.xdS 4 .i.xdS • xdS is Black's best try. Then S 'tWxdS exdS is fine for Black but White can keep an advantage with S •a4 or 5 1Wc2 fol­ lowed by lll g2-e3.

J�dS exdS

3... .i.xdS 4 .i.xdS exdS S lilts gives Black similar problems to those in the game. 4 �rs g6 s tt:lb.6 .i.'7 6 e4! With Black's king caught in the middle of the board, White is eager to open the centre. 6."c4 7 � .i.f8 This is not a very good move, but it is not easy to suggest an alternative. 7 ... dxe4 is probably best but can be strongly answered by 8 .i.xe4 .i.xe4 9 Ael , when after the further moves 9.. .fS 10 dxe4 fxe4 11 'tW d6 ll:i eS 12 •e6+ • e7 13 • cs+ • d8 14 1Wb7 ! White is much better. 8 •cl f6 9 exdS .i.xdS 10 :et+

J.e7 11 .i.xdS •xdS 12 dxc4 bxc4 13 ll:ig4 •cs 14 �:xf6+ �6 ts 1Vxt'6 :rs 16 J.eJ! � 17 .i.d2 ! A final finesse, leading to a win­ ning king and pawn ending.

17.....cS 18 lhe7+ •xe7 19 •xe7+ xf6 28 llfl+ J.f5 29 llh4 libs doesn't look convincing) 27... llhS 28 'ifxh 8 'i'xe4 29 'itg 7+ �h5 30 'itxf7+ 'i'g6 31 'ifd5 'i'g5 32 n J.f5 33 'ifd6 J.e4 34 g4+ ¢>h4 35 f8'i' Lf'8 36 'i'xf'S 'ifd2+ 37 llfl 'i'e3 and it seems that White has to settle for a perpetual. .

18M.�e7 1 9 •xg7 A final 5 points if you reached the conclusion that this is White's best. White has a dangerous attack, for ex­ ample after 19...dxc3 20 f5! ?.

Maximum: 25 points.

Test 2.2 Liss - Tsesarsky Kfa r Saba rpd 1997 In this case, the sacrifice is actually a straigh tforward win:

22 �xh7+! 'hh7 23 i!Llg5+ ¢>g6

23 ... ¢>g8 24 'i'h5 J.e4 25 IOxe4 will not save Black. White threatens

31

simply to return the knight to g5. Tsesarsky gives 25...:cs (25 g6 26 'ifh6 J.g 7 27 'if h3 +-) 26 IOg5 J.f6 27 'ifh7+ Wf8 and now 28 :Xf6 or 28 � would be the most straightfor­ v.iard. ..•

24 fue6! The most clear-cut. 5 points if this was your choice. 24 'i'g4?? would be the usual fol­ low-up, but then Black has 24 J.xh2+ 25 '1Phl 'i'g3!, offering a more than fa­ vourable queen exchange. 24 'ifc2+ is also good though. 5 points for this too, if you saw the line 24... f5 25 �e6 'i'c8 26 /0xf8+ 'i'xf8 27 g4!, when White wins. .•.

24.. .fxe6 25 •g4+ �h7 26 Lt'8 .hb2+ 27 �hl ..e5 28 ltdd8 l-O Maximum: 5 points.

Test 2.3 Stambulin

-

Volkov

Krasnoda r 1 996 Though tempting and almost irre­ sistible, 23 J.xh7+ is not White's best move, as it only leads to a draw. For example, after 23 IOg5 White would have a large advantage. Nevertheless, the game continued .•.

2 3 �xh7+?! �xh7 24 /0g5+ ¢>h6 l point if you saw that this is the only move. Others can be dismissed fairly easily: a) 24...lPgS 25 'i'h5 Jbdl+ 26 �! :d2+ 27 lPg3 :d3+ 28 Wh4 and Black can only postpone being mated for one more move. b) 24...¢>g6 25 'i'e4+ 'itoh5 (25 . . i5 would be Black's usual attempt to

TEST

32

YOUR CHESS

escape with this type of. move-order, but as e6 is not protected it doesn't work: 26 exf6+ Wxf6 27 11fxe6#) 26 'W'h7+ Wg4 27 :n and mate in two.

25l::t d3

How else is White going to swing over the heavy artillezy?

25 .. .l::txd3 ? This is the crucial mistake. 5 points for seeing that ifBlack plays 25 ...g6! White must content himself with a draw. After 26 l::th3+ Wg7, White's problem is that Black quickly comes to the d-file, and hence Whlte is one move short of making the attack work White can force a draw with, for ex­ ample, 27 l::th7+ Wg8 28 lDxe6 'l'd7 29l::tg7+¢>h830l::th7+ Wg831l::tg7+, etc., but cannot achieve more than

that 26 'W'xd3

Now White is winning. The game concluded:

defeat, and the correct outcome should be a draw:

21 ... .txhl+! This move is definitely Black's best chance. He could play for an attack with 21.....d6!? as well, as suggested by Wedberg, but !believe White should be able to defend in that case.

22 �h2 IOg4+ 23 *gl

Forced. 23 Wg3 loses immediately to 23 .....g5, and 23 Wh3 1if g5 24 l::t h l 1iff5 ! isn't much better.

23 1Wh4 24 l::tfel e3? •••

This is the right idea, but at the wrong time. Black can' t afford to leave his rook hanging. 5 points if you saw the correct way for Black to pro­ ceed, viz. 24 ...l::txa4! (D). Note that in­ stead 24 ...1ifh2+? 25 Wfl l::t d3 is insufficient, in view of 26l::t x e41if hl+ 27 We2 l::txc3 28 bxc3 11fxa1 29 ll xg4, when White wins.

26 ..fS 27 exf6 J:h.8 28 1Llxe6 Wd7 29Wh3+ •

29 fxg7 is even simpler.

29-*g6 30 l::tgS+ �6 31 11ff5 + *e7 32 l::tx g7+ *d6 33 l::txd7+ hd7 34 11ff6 l::tc 8 35 �S+ *c7 36 Wg7 IOb8 � WeS+ *c6 38 'l'e4+ 1-0 Maximum: 6 points.

w

Test 2.4 Zhan1 Pen1xian1 - Pen1 Xiaomin Beijing 1997 Wedberg, in his comments to the game in ChessBase Magaiine, consid­ ered the sacrifice incorrect in this case. On closer inspection it looks more like White must play accurately to avoid

It is surprisingly difficult to defend against the threat of Black playing ...l::te8and ...e3. A couple of attempts: a) After 25 b3!?Black has two ideas that should both make at least a draw:

SOWTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 1-3 al) 25 ...e3 and now: al l ) 26 Le3 Wh2+ 27 Wfl and then 27 Whl+ 28We2 Wxg2 29 :e7 •xt2+ 30¢>dl Wf l+ 31 ¢>d2 Wf4+ is Ill least a perpetual check for Black, hut 27 1Zf'4! is much stronger. Then. for example, Black wins after 28 :e4 1th 1+ 29 we2 Lf2+ 30 ¢>d3 Wxg2 al 2) 26 fxe3 Wh2+ 27 ¢>fl :es 28 hxa4 lhe3 makes a draw by perpetual check: 29 Wf2 Whl+ 30 Wgl lll h2+ ] I Wt'2 lbg4+. a2) 25 ...:eS!? (now in the event of 26 bxa4?, 26 ...e3! wins for Black) 26 1td2 e3 27 Le3 (27 fxe3? Wh2+ 28 ..tin 1Zf4+! -+) 27 ...Wh2+ (27 ...:Xe3 28 fxe3 Wh2+ 29 Wfl is far from con­ vincing) 28 Wfl lbxe3+ 29 fxe3 :g4 JO Wf2:Xe3! 31 Wxe3 Wxg2+ 32 Wel llc4 33 'it'xe4 Wxe4+ 34 Wd2 Wxd5+, d3 Wxg2 30 We I :ds gives Black a ter­ rific attack. .•.

27 -.i.t+ 28 �el Wxg2 29 Wbl l.Llxe3 30 �xe3 l:le8+ 31 �d3 Wg6+ 32 �d2 lb:f2+ 33 �dl Wg4+ 34 �cl 'i'f4+ 35 �dl Wf3+ 0-1 •••

After 36 W ei comes 36 ... Wxc3+!.

Maximum: IO points.

TEST

34

YOUR CHESS

Attac k and Defence

Test 2.7 Chi1 orin - Tarrasch Sr Petersburg (2) 1 893

Test 2.5 Alekhine - Verlinsky Odessa 1918 24 .dl !

3 points if you found this amazing defence. With one stroke White pro­ tects his rook on d6, avoids being back-rank mated and attacks the black bishop ! Incidentally, 24 /Og6+ (1 point) i s also feasible but then White has to content himself with being only a pawn or two up after 24 ...hxg6 25 •h3+ Wg8 26 'l'e6+. After the much stronger text-move, the game ended:

24 . . .'i'aS 25 W'xe2 •xeS 26 ld5 1-0 Maximum: 3 points.

Test 2.6 Chi1 orin - Walbrodt Hastings 1 895 23 . . . W'd6!

3 point s if you found this, the only move. Other moves allow White an easy win, e.g. 23 ...g5? 24 fxg6 J.xe4 25 .ldS+ :es 26 gxh7+ Wf7 27 1i'g7+ We6 28 Wd7#.

24 Ld6 cxd6 White's vulnerable back rank costs him a piece. 25 .i.e3 lbe4 26 J.fl Black is winning, but Chigorin luck­ ily escaped with a draw after a further 25 moves. The simplest would now have been 26 ....le2!, when after 27 h4 l:td2, Black plays . ...lee2 next

Maximum: 3 points.

40 l:tg6 indeed creates significant problems. If, for example, 40 ...'l'f7??, there comes 41 :g7. Black's choice in the game was only marginally better: 40 . ..'l'xg6?? 41 'l'xf8+ J.g8 42 J.h5 ! We6? (42 ...'l'g5 would only prolong the game fora few moves: 4 3 h 4 1i'f4+ 44 Wg2 +-) 43 1kg7# (1-0). However, correct is . ..

40 .. id2! When defending it is often worth looking for counterattacks. Here it costs Black a piece but the b-pawn en­ sures some payback. 5 point s if you found 40 ...J.d2 !.

41 Lf6 Or 41 9xd2 hxg6 and Black is win­

ning.

41. ...i.xh6 42 Lh6 b3 Here comes Black's trump card. The pawn cost s White a piece.

43 .i.dl b2

3 further points if you saw up to here . Black wins back the piece and looks well on top.

44 .i.c2 :cs 45 Ld6 Lc2 46 :dS+ .i.gs 47 :bs According to Chigorin White can hold this position This is quite hard t o believe when Black h as two very fast pawns on the queenside, but he might actually be right! The ending is trick­ ier than it looks at first sight At any rate, White is certainly right to avoid 47 IOe7? Wg7 48 :Xg8+ Wf7, when Black is definitely winning.

47 . . .aS

SOLUTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 1-3 After 47 .:xn+ 4S Wg3 :d2 49 �'\116 Wg7 50 fugS a5 51 l'Oe7 a4 52 �)1'5+ Wf7 White can defend by 53 �'\d6+ followed by 54 l!Jc4. _

4S �g2! a4 49 �e3 llcl

49 ... lld2 also comes into consider­ ation but White has good chances of holding the position after 50 l!Jc4 :Xd3 5 1 fub2 :b3 52 JhgS+! WxgS 5 3 lLlxa4.

SO lh b2 a3 51 II.cl l:al 52 1.0t'S!

A final 7 points if you managed to i;cc aD the way up to here. The text­ move is White's only chance. Other uttcmpts lose: a) 52 l!Jd5 a2 threatens 53 . . . l:tgl+, und if 53 Wf3, 53 . . . .i.f7 sets up the idea of playing 54. . . .i.h5+. Then Black wins after 54 :cs+ Wg7 55 :as l:tgl ! (a clever manoeuvre to win the rook) 56 ll.xa2 .i.h5+ 57 We3 l:tel+ 5S Wd2 l:le2+. b) 52 lLJc4 a2 53 Wf3 Wg7 (now on 5 3 .. .i.f7, White has 54 fue5) 54 l:b2 .in 55 l!Jxe5 l:tbl and Black is win­ ning. .

52.* al 53 II.cs 11. gl+ 54 *xgl ol'I'+ SS irg2 Wa7! 56 .:es Wd7 57 11.xeS •xd3 SS �g3

Here Tarrasch believed that Black should win, while Chigorin was more optimistic about White's chances and thought that White had reasonable drawing chances. I agree with Chi­ gorin : I don't quite see how Black is ever making progress.

Maximum: 1 5 points.

Test 2.8 Polu1 aevsky - Nezhmetdinov RSFSR Ch (Sochi) 1 958

35

Actually, the fun is only just begin­ ning:

24 ll.xf4! ! . ..

5 points. This is a truly remarkable move. The idea needed to have been foreseen several moves in advance, which makes it only the more impres­ sive. White's king is now chased fur­ ther up the board, but the sacrifice involves a whole queen.

25 11.xhl White has to accept the queen Cap­ turing the rook can quickly be dis­ missed : a) 25 gxf4 .i.xf4+ 26 lLJxf4 lLJxc2+ -+. b) 25 lilxf4 l!Jxc2+ is more or less the same.

25M.ltf3++ 26 *d4 .i.g7! ! A further 5 points for this amaz­ ingly cool move, which couldn't em­ phasize better that there is no way back for the white king. The mating ideas are plentiful but this is probably the most exact Another solution could be 26 ... c5+ 27 dxc6 b5 ! (2 points if you only had this idea in mind). Black threatens mate in one, and to avoid it White has to give back large amounts of material: 2S .i.d 3 l'Oexc6+ 29 Wc3 .i.g7+ 30 d3

Due to Black's 32nd move, which crippled the f-pawns, White is not able to create (or threaten to create) a passed pawn and hence he can only wait.

36 b4 •••

This is the simplest. Now White's king must stay in the square of the a­ pawn and Black's king will be able to advance undisturbed up the board. 36...Wd6 also wins: 37 Wc3 Wd5 38 a3 We6 39 Wd3 Wd6 40 Wc3 Wd5 4 1 Wd3 b4 42 axb4 cxb4 4 3 Wc2 Wc4 44 Wb2 a3+ 45 Wa2 Wc3 -+. '37 *c4 *d6 37 ...We6 is also good.

38 hS

Black also wins easily after 38 Wd3 Wd5 39 Wd2 Wd4 40 Wc2 c4, etc.

38 �e6 39 *d3 *1°6 40 *c4 *is 41 *d3 b3 42 axb3 axb3 43 *c3 c4 44 *b2 e4 •••

A final 3 points if you had seen this, the decisive part of Black's plan (it is not necessary to have the exact move­ order worked out; the idea is good enough). Obviously, Black cannot just go for the f-pawn. but now White's pawns are split, and Black can in the end win all of them in return for his e­ and g-pawns.

4S fxe4 ¢>xg4 46 eS *xhS 47 f4 *16

42

TEST YOUR CHESS

There follows 48 .. Wf5 and ...g5, when t he white pawns are liquidated, and Black wins. .

Maximum: IO points.

Test 3.4 .Astrtim

-

Shulman

Gothenburg 1999

The game continued:

SO hS! ? 50 f4! ¢>c5 51 f5 gxf5+ 52 'itrg5! (but not 52 Wxf5'? b4, when Black wins: 53 h5 b3 54 h6 b2 55 h7· b l ..+or 53 'itre4 b3 54 ¢>d3 'itrb4) draws imme­ diately: 52 . ..b4 (52 ...'itrd5 53 h5 We6 54 h6 Wf7 55 ¢>xf5 b4 56 ¢>e4 =) 53 h5 b3 54 h6 b2 55 h7 b l .. 56 hS.. =. I should also mention that after 50 Wg5 Wc4, White should avoid 51 W xg6'?, which loses to 51...b4 5 2 h5 b3 53 h6 b2 54 h7 b l •+ 55 ¢>g7 ..g l + 56 Wf7 ..h2! (Black should of course keep his hands off the f-pawn ) 57 �g7 •g2+ 5S wn ..h3 59 �g7 ..g4+ 60 ¢>f7 ..h5+ 61 ¢>g7 ..g5+ 62 ttf7 ..h6 63 WgS ..g6+ 64 WhS 'iif7 65 f4 •rs#. Instead White draws by 51 f4! b4 52 f5 gxf5 53 h5!, which is similar to the analysis of 50 f4!.

SO gxhS+ S l �hS .•.

51 Wg5'? h 4! 52 'itrxh4 Wc5 wins for Black .

Sl wcs S2 f 4 *d6 53 *h6! •••

This is the tricky part. White just holds with this but 53 Wg6'? loses to 53 ... b4 54 f5 b3 55 f6 b2 56 f7 bl •+ 57 ¢>g7 'iWgl + 5S *f6 •n+ 59 ¢>g7 We7, etc.

S3 b4 S4 fS �es SS *g6 b3 S6 f6 b2 S7 f1 bl•+ 91 'iir i;1 Vb7 � 'itig8 ••

Or 59 ¢>hS.

S9... 1td5 60 *g7 Again 60 WhS also holds.

60... 1td7 61 *h8! White avoids the last pitfall. 61 WgS'?'? i s a blunder due to 61. ..Wf6 62 rs•+ Wg6, 'When White is being mated! Now it is a simple draw. It is inter­ esting that Black cannot win even though his king is so close. The game concluded:

61 .....e7 62 *g8 •gs+ 63 *h7 tit6 64 *g8 ..g6+ 6S Wh8 •d6 66 *g7 'i'd7 67 *hs �s 68 rs•+ *g6 69 •gs+ *h6 70 'i'e6+ Vxe6 1/J •/J .•

5 points for either of the solutions but clearly 50 f4! Wc5 51 f5 gxf5+ 52 Wg5! is the simplest . The game con­ tinuation makes the t ask more com pli­ cated but of course leads to the same result

Maximum: 5 points.

Test 3.5

Chek hov er, 1 956

l *e4 There is little point in waiting.

1 c6 .•

This is required to stop W d5.

2 *1s dS 3 *es d4 4 *e4 *g7 s *d3 5 points for working out step 1 of White's defence, i.e. provoking ...d5d4. White would l�e if he tried to de­ fend his h-pawn. For example, after 5 Wf 4 Wg6 6 ¢>g4 ¢>h6 7 a3 Wg6 s h5+ ¢>h6 9 a4 d3 10 Wf'3 ¢>xh5 11 ¢>e3 Wg4 12 Wxd3 Wf3 White' s king is

SOLUTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 1-3 shouldered away from the defence of the c-pawn. This is a constant theme throughout this ending.

s ... *h6!? This is quite sneaky. Black can also try 5 ... Wg6, when 6 Wc2 Wf5 7 h5 Wg5 8 Wb3 leads to the same position as in our main line (at move 9). This was the move-order Chekhover had in mind when he constructed the study but Sinar pointed out the slightly trick­ ier move-order in the main line.

6 ¢>c2 *1:6 7 *bl! As we shall see, it is essential that White's king is on b3 when Black takes the h-pawn : only in this way can White make his stalemate idea work. It is interesting that this is the only move that holds for White, for after 7 Wb3? 'ifth5 Black wins : a) After 8 W c2 Wxh4 9 Wb3 White will not achieve the stalemate, be­ cause Black replies 9 . . . d3 10 Wc3 (10 Wa4 d 2 11 Wa5 d l 'I' 12 a4 is unfortu­ nately a move too late) 10 . . .Wg3 1 1 h2 W'xfS is better for Black, and 30 W'd6 is no good either, due to 30 ...1ib l+ 3 1 ¢>h2 W'b8. ftl+ 30 • • • •

31 �h2 1 point. •xf5 31 Black can keep a small advantage with 3 1 . .. 1W b8+ 32 g3 W'e8 33 tt'd6 f6. -·

• • • •

32 •xr8 1 point. ..xh5+ 32 If 32 . . . 1ixf2, 33 :g4 W'f6 34 :r4 W'eS 35 ..xf7 W'xe3 36 W'c7 is very good for White due to the threats of 37 :g4 a nd 37 :f7. ·-

• • • •

33 �gl 1 point.

How GOOD IS YOUR CHESS? a4

33 • • • •

34 Vo 2 points. The queen is ideally placed on cS, where it attacks the bishop and the d5-pawn, and keeps an eye on the a-pawn. 1 point for 34 ..d6 or 34 Wb4. 1Vg6 34 • • • •

35 f3 1 point. A further inaccuracy by White . 3S e4 ! (3 points) is much stron­ ger. The point is that Black cannot capture the pawn, due to 36 l:td6. 35 1We6 3S . ...b1+ 36 �h2 ..b8+ is a better defence, and maintains equal chances. •••

• • • •

36 � (D)

3 points. The e4 idea is less attrac­ tive here: 36 e4 a3 ! and then Black can answer 37 exdS with 37 .. . �xdS ! , as 38 :xdS ..el+ 3 9 �h2 •h4+ is a perpet­ ual.

BS

37 ••7

1 point. Even stronger is 37 :b4 ! (3 points), and if 37 ... a 3, then simply 38 :td4! wins the pawn. 1We6 37 • • • •

38 .a6

2 points. Also 2 points for 3 8 1t'b8 or repeating the position by 38 Wes .

�e8

38 • • • •

39 1Wd3+ 2 points. So, White's manoeuvre has actually paid off but 38 . . ...f6 would have been a tougher defence. • 16

39 • • • •

40 Ld5 1 point.

1Wxd3

40 • • • •

4 1 Ld3 1 point.

�b5

41 • • • •

42 lld5 2 points. 42 l:tc3 and 42 l:td8 (both 2 points) are also worth considering.

42

�c4 • • • •

43 LS 2 points. The main idea is of course to get behind the a-pawn. �b3

43 • • • •

44 e4 2 points. 44 g4 ( 1 point) is another option but then it would be very diffi­ cult for White to make progress after 44 .. .gS.

36 • • • •

44

•••

g6

TEST YOUR CHESS

86

51 :a.1

• • • •

45 f4 2 points. 45

2 points.

51 • • • •

52 Ac7 2 points. Also 2 points for S2 Ae7.

• • • •

46 *&3 3 points. An excellent idea. 46 �c.2 • • • •

47 e5 1 point.

47

52

�bJ • • • •

53 f5 3 points. This is the only way to make progress. 53 gxf5 S 3 ... gS+ S4 �3 is also winning for White. Bl ack can only move his bishop back and forth, as ... *g7 is al­ ways met by e6, so White starts with g4. Then in reply to . . . h4, the king walks to d4, and the bishop soon ends up lacking space. ...

• • • •

48 *h4 2 points.

48

�eti

h5

�e4 (DJ

•••

• • • •

54 .lc8 1 point.

�e6

54 • • • •

55 .ld8 2 points. SS Ae8 and SS Ab8 are equally good - 2 points for either.

* 16

55 • • • •

56 .lg8+ 2 points. 56

• • • •

49 g3 1 point.

49

*h6

•••

If 49 . . .�c2, then SO *gS �dl S l Aa7 �b3 S 2 fS gxf.5 S 3 *xh.5 wins. • • • •

50 La4

• • • •

*h6

57 58 .lxh5+

�fS

••.

57 Ag5 1 point. • • • •

1 point.

50

*h7

• • • •

1 point. Add 2 points if you had in­ tended to win this pawn immediately with SS Ah8+ *g7 S6 AxhS .

How GOOD JS YOUR CHESS?

87

61 How would you continue in the event of6l...f4+ (D) ?

58

-·

• • • •

s9 mas ro>

2 points.

w 8

59

* 17 59 . . . f6 60 exf6 *xf6 6 1 lh6+ *es 62 *gS is also a win for White. •••

• • • •

60 l:te8

62 g4 ! (3 points) is conect (but not 62 J:lxe6+? fxe6 63 gxf4 *h 71 wilh a theoretical draw). Then 62 .. id7 (or 62 . . f3 63 :xe6+ fxe6 64 *g3 +-) 63 :g8+ *h6 64 :d8 i.e6 6S *h4, with the idea of :d4, is a simple win.. .

2 points. The simplest.

• • • •

62 :g&+

�g6

60

2 points.

• • • •

61 �hJ

1-0

2 points. White has to get his king around to f4.

After 62 . . .* hS, White plays *hl· gl-f2-e3-f4, followed by :gSxfS.

Evaluation scheme 90- 105

International Master or Grandmaster (2400+)

76-89

FIDE Master or National Master (2200.2400)

6 1-75

Internationally Rated Player (2000-2200)

46-60

Strong Club Player ( 1 800-2000)

26-45

Average Club Player ( 1 400. 1 800)

0-25

Lower Club or Social Player (below 1400)

TEST YWR CHESS

88

13

Game s I could n't resist the temptation to in­ clude one of my own games. I have al­ ways had a special feeling for this one, if only for the amusing endgame. At the time, I didn' t even have an Elo rat­ ing but today it still ranks among my very best games. You are Black, and we begin after White's 1 4 th move.

h6

.••

This move is primarily aimed at preventing White's most logical set-up, viz. 14 1fd2, which would now drop a pawn in view of 14 . . . gS.

14 �b3 (D)

Jasnikowski - S. Pedersen Assens 1990 King's Indian

1 d4 �f6 2 c4 g6 3 �f3 i.g7 4 g3 0-0 5 i.g2 d6 6 � �bcl7 7 0-0 eS 8 e4 :es 9 h3 exd4 10 IOxd4 � 11 :et aS 12 :bt c6 13 .i.f4 It is worth making a few comments on the opening. This is the critical point for Black, where he has to decide upon a plan. The d6-pawn is often a big concern, and it has prompted moves such as 13 . . . i.f8, which I don't like for the simple reason that it i s very passive. 1 3... �hS is a more logical way of solving the problem. Then after 14 i.e3, Black can play 14 ... .!LJf6 (invit­ ing a draw by repetition), but White can simply defend his e4-pawn with 1 S 1fc2. If Black is not interested in a draw he should play 1 4. . . 1fc7 but his position remains slightly disadvanta­ geous. l 3 . . . a4 is the move seen most frequently. Black prevents 14 .!LJb3 and may be toying with ideas of play­ ing . . . a3 to provoke a further weaken­ ing of the h8-al diagonal. All the same I prefer White after 14 1fd2.

• • • •

14

a4

•••

2 points. l 4 ... .!LJxb3 (2 points) is the main alternative and is safer, but 1 5 axb3 and I S 1fxb 3 both look slightly better for White. With the text-move, Black seeks a more complicated posi­ tion where the doubled c-pawns (par­ ticularly the cS-pawn) could be weak, but if White fails to exert enough pres­ sure, Black can also claim improved control of the centre.

15 IOxcS • • • •

15 1 point.

dxc5

16 1i'c2 As White has a space advantage in the centre and on the kingside, he un­ derstandably intends to keep the queens on the board , but 1 6 i.d6! is a

HOW GOOD IS YOUR CHESS? better way of doing it. Jf White could obtain a set-up with pawns on e5 and f4, he could certainly count on an ad· vantage. The e4-square could then be utilized as a springboard for either a knight or a bishop. Black would then have a difficult choice between 16 ...a3, l6 . . . 1i'a5 and 16 . . . i.e6.

2 points. Black finishes his devel­ opment. Black cannot step up the pres­ sure against e4, so e6 is definitely the right square for the bishop. Take 1 bo­ nus point if you have noticed that a possible e5 advance by White is al­ ways met by . . . i.f5.

20 �4 • • • •

• • • •

16

...

2 points. 17 .i.d.2

..aS

• • • •

17

89

..a6 (D)

!Od7

20

2 points. 20. . . 1i'a7 and 20. . . i.f8 are both inferior ways of protecting the c5-pawn. Nor does 20 . . . b6 come into consideration because it seriously weakens the c6-pawn. 21 .i.cJ 2 bonus points if you had prepared to meet 21 f4 with 2 1 . . .b 5 . Then after 22 cxb5 cxb5 23 IOxc5 (23 lLJc3 b4 24 IOd5 i.xd5 25 exd5 Ld8 looks roughly equal) 23 . . .:ecs 24 b4, Black regains his pawn with 24 . . . �xc5 25 bxc5 i.d4+ but he can also play more aggressively with 24 . . . 1i'a3 . • • • •

21 2 points. This is an excellent square for the queen. It steps away from pos· sible threats and simultaneously al· tacks the c4-pawn. Take another 2 points if this was part of your plan when you played 16 .. .'ii'aS .

18 bJ • • • •

18

axbJ

1 point.

2 points. 2 1 . . . b5 is positionally un· desirable at this stage due to 22 i.xg7 �xg7 23 cxb5 , which forces 23 .. .'ii'xb5 , since 23 . . .cxb5? 24 IOxc5 just leaves White a pawn up. Hence, it is hard to suggest decent altematives. 2 1 . . . Lc8, to prepare ... b5, would be met by 22 :al ! , when Black's queen is far from ideally placed. 22 •xcJ • • • •

22

19 axbJ • • • •

19

.bcJ

•••

i.e6

2 points. A queen exchange would definitely help Black, so this move is very natural. Another good idea is

90

TEST YWR CHESS

22 . . . W'a7 (2 points), which prepares . . . bS by protecting the cS-pawn. 23 '6'e3 • • • •

23 *h' 1 point. It is unclear whether the king is really better on h7 than on g7; hence 23 ... *g7 a lso receives 1 point. 23 . . . hS is, however, a serious weaken­ ing of the kingside and should not be considered. 24 lledl

win a piece. On the other hand, moves like 26. . . f6 or 26 . . . lZe7 just look too slow.

21 rs What would be your reply to 2 7 flf2

(D) ?

• • • •

24 3 points. This move is a very impor­ tant part of Black's plan. Indeed, White's last move was probably too slow and should have been substituted by 24 f4 !, when White has reasonable attacking chances to outweigh the im­ minent disappearance of his entire queenside. This causes us to look fur­ ther back, and question whether it is really necessary for Black to protect his h-pawn. It doesn 't seem to be: after 23 . . . W'b4 ! (instead of 23 .. . �h7), 24 W'xh6 bS ! 25 cxbS cxbS 26 �b2 W'xb3 looks very good for Black. You can add 4 points if this had been your in­ tention. 25 f4 • • • •

25 b5 2 points. No question, Black needs to get on with it. Otherwise he'll be crushed on the kingside.

26 �bl

In fact, Black can do little to avoid the loss of a piece but he can collect many pawns along the way while keeping his position solid: 27 . . . J:l.xb 3 ! 2 8 fS �eS ! 2 9 fxe6 J:l.xe6 ( 4 points i f this was your idea). Actually, despite being down on material, Black's posi­ tion looks very promising. The eS­ knight is very strong, and Black can easily cover his f-pawn with . . .*g7 if required (in fact, this suggests that Black should have played ...*g7 rather than . . . *h7 earlier on ! ) , and Black will obtain some dangerous pawns on the queenside. Furthermore, the pin of the b2-knight is very irritating for White.

• • • •

• • • •

lla3 3 points. This looks too logical to be trashed but it does allow White to

27 llxb3 2 points. 27. . . j,xfS? is a serious er­ ror due to 28 W't'2 !, intending to meet

26

91

How GOOD JS YOUR CHESS? 2S . . . i.e6 with 29 :xd7 ! .i.xd7 30 'ilfxf7+ �hS 3 1 :d l ! , whe n White wins.

28 tt'f4

B

We already know lhe reply to 2S 'ilff2. • • • •

gxf5

28

2 points. This is the obvious contin­ uation but it appears that the amazing 2S . . . :xb2 ( 1 point) might be just about feasible, but only a draw for Black at best. After 29 fxe6 /0e5 ! (the point; White cannot take the knight) 30 exf7 :rs 3 1 :bc l Black has two moves, of which only one looks suffi­ cient for a draw: a) 3 l . . .:xg2+ 32 �xg2 'illb2+ 33 1t'd2 ! (if the king retreats, Black just takes on f7 with go od play, and 33 1ft'2 'ilfxt'2 + 34 Wxf2 :Xf7+ followed by 35 .. ./Oxc4 is also fine for Black) 33 . . . 'ilfxd2+ 34 :xd2 /0xc4 35 eS ! (35 :d7 Wg7 36 :c7 :xf7 37 J:.xc6 /0e5 3S :b6 /Od3 39 :c3 :t'2+ 40 Wgl ltf3 4 1 :xbS :xg3+ 42 �fl :e3 43 :bb 3 :e 1+ 44 Wg2 /Of4+ 45 �f2 :xe4 should be a draw) 35 . . . J:xf7 (al­ ternatively, 35 . . ./0xd2 36 e6 Wg7 37 e7 �xf7 3 S exfS1t'+ �fS 39 J:xcS) 36 e6 :rs 37 J:d7+ WgS 3S J:c7 and here White has reasonable winning chances. b) 3 1 . .. /0xc4 ! 32 eS :xg2+ 3 3 Wxg2 ..b2+ 3 4 *hl /OxeS and Black should make a draw.

29 exf5

During the game this came as a nasty surprise to me. Fortunately, in time-trouble, I managed to recover well. • • • •

30

4 points. This seems to be more or less the only defensive plan. The queen can now come to the king's aid via g7.

31 tfxh6+ • • • •

31

1 point.

30 ltd6 (D)

*g8

.••

1 point - I'm feeling generous ! In fact, the reverse order of moves, i.e . 3 0. . .�gS (instead of 3 0. . .1t'c3), might have been more accurate. Then 3 1 'ilfxh6 could even have been met b y 3 1 . .. :xb2 or 3 1 ... J:xg3 ! ? . Take 5 points if you chose 30 . . .WgS. However, there is nothing at all wrong with the move­ order chosen.

32 1Wg5+ On 32 J:xd7, 32 ... 1t'xg3 would have been very strong . • • • •

• • • •

29

1Wc3

•••

.i.xc4

32

•••

ft'g7

2 points. Black should not play 32 . . . �fS. He might then be able to

TEST YWR CHESS

92

survive 3 3 f6 �xffi ! , while even 3 3 lbd7 �dS ! 34 � h2! 1Vc2 ! doesn ' t look very clear. However, White has at least a draw in the last line, and Black should really be looking for more at this point.

over the next few moves and take up the action again with Bla ck's 42nd move . . .

37 �hl bxc4 3 8 J:bb7 :h.2+ 39 �gl :bg.2+ 40 �hl :J.2+ 41 �gl :eg.2+ 4.2 �fi (D)

33 1txg7+ • • • •

33 1 point. 34 Ld7 •••

�xg7 B

• • • •

34

:e.2

2 points. 35 g4 (D)

B • • • •

4.2

• • • •

35

:g3

•••

3 points. Black has far fewer win­ ning chances after 35 ... J:bxb2 (1 point) 36 :xb2 :Xb2 37 gS.

36 /Oxc4

3 points. Black's king is going to use the white pawns as a shield against checks from the white rooks. Black's last move wasn ' t really necessary, though, as Black can also deliver that check if required. 42 .. . �h6 (3 points) is equally good. 43 Lf7+ • • • •

�g5 43 1 point. 4 3 . . .�eS ( 1 point) is also good. ...

44 f6

• • • •

:gxg.2+ 36 2 points. Black has managed to double rooks on the 7th rank. In this case it is a nice insurance of at least half a point. We will run smoothly • ••

�6

...

• • • •

�4

44 2 points.

45 :a7 • • • •

45

...

c3 (D)

How

2 points. 45 . .:c2 (2 points) is even more accurate . You can add the given points if you had intended some sort of rook move before playing . . ¢>f4, e.g. 44 . :c2 or 4 4 . lifl+.

* * * *

.

.

.

.

.

93

GOOD IS YOUR CHESS?

46

c4

.••

2 points. 47 lta3 * * * *

.

47 ...

l:tcl

2 points. This is the simplest and would indeed have been on move 45 and 46 too. You can add up the given points if you had intended other win­ ning plans. At this stage, for example, 47 . . . :d2 48 J:xd2 cxd2 would also win.

48 *gl * * * *

*g3

48 ...

1 point. Again, Black can win in other ways, but with this Black forces mate in a maximum of 4 more moves.

46 ltt'd7

0-1

Evaluation scheme 55-67

International Master or Grandmaster (24oo+)

48-54

FIDE Master or National Master (2200-2400)

40-47

Internationally Rated Player (2000-2200)

30-39

Strong Club Player ( 1 800-2000)

2 1-29

Average Club Player ( 1400- 1 800)

0 20

Lower Club or Social Player (below 1400)

-

94

TEST YOUR CHESS

Game 6 The following game is a typical Sicil­ ian Naj dorf with lots of complica­ tions. It is a game where Black takes great risks in his attempts to win and is rewarded in the end. We begin from the diagram after White's 1 1 th move.

lsaev - A. Timoshe nko corr. 1 989-91 Sicilian Najdorf

1 e4 cS 2 lilf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 lbxd4 lbt'6 5 �3 a6 6 .i.g5 e6 7 f4 lilbd7 8 •r3 •c7 9 0-0-0 .i.e7 10 .i.d3 h6 11 i.h4 (D)

• • • •

g5 2 poi nts. This possibili ty is the main idea behind playing . . . h6, though 1 1 . . .lbcS (2 points) is also playable. With 1 1 . . .g5 Bla ck sacrifices a pawn to obtain excellent control over the central e5- square. This is a very im­ portant positional idea in this line of the N ajdorf.

11

...

l l . . .b5 is a very natural move, which is not totally refuted, but White gets a promising attacking position with 12 e5 ! i.b7 1 3 lbxe6! fxe6 1 4 i.g6+. The attack is worth a piece.

12 e5 12 fxgS has been more popular in practice but the general consensus is that Black is doing fine in this particu­ lar version of the Browne S ystem. • • • •

12

gxh4 2 points. Rather ruthlessly I am not giving any points for 12 .. . dxeS. This has been played very little and con­ vincing analysis of it remains to be published but my feeling is that 1 3 lbxe6 fxe6 1 4 i.g6+ �d8 1 5 fxg5 i s too dangerous for Black. A few lines to support this view: a) 1 5 ... lbh7 16 .f7! ? hxg5 17 i.g3 lbhf6 18 •xe6 •c6 19 •xe5 looks very good for White. He already has two pawns for the knight and Black's king has no prospects of escapi ng. b) 1S . . . lbe8 is probably a better chance and was tried in Sakharov­ Gasanov, USSR 1980. White played 1 6 lbe4 and the game was drawn in 23 moves. My first idea was 16 •g4 •cs 17 i.xe8 :xe8 18 g6 ! , which looks quite dangerous for Black but when I looked up the game in Informator. I found that Kasparov and S akharov gave 16 •hs with the idea 16 ... lbg7? 17 .xh6 ! ! , wi nning for White, while 16 . . .trcS 17 i.xe8 :xe8 18 gxh6 gives White a pawn more compared to my first intention. However, Black might have 16 .. .'tfc4 ! ?, when it is rather un­ clear what happens after 17 g3 ! ?, but it ...

95

HOW GOOD IS YOUR CHESS ?

certainly makes a point for my 16 ..g4 idea. All in all, I would rather not be Black. 13 exf6 • • • •

13 1 point. Also 1 point for the equally playable but far less popular recapture 13 . . . .i.xf6 ! ?. There is something to be said for and against both moves. The text-move is the more aesthetically pleasing, but is also a little slow, while 13 . . . .i.xf6 gains a tempo, because White has to respond to the attack on the d4-knight, and the d7-knight can later come to cS. 14 f5 It is clear that Black has the better long-term prospects . Not only is he a pawn up but he also has the bishop­ pair and a central pawn majority. White must go for quick activity.

an edge in Grabarczyk-Kempinski, Polanica Zdmj 1999. b) 16 . . . :c8 ! ? (2 points) is another interesting idea, suggesting that Black benefits from the exchanges following 17 .i.xb7 .i.c6 l S .i.xc6+ •xc6 1 9 'W'xc6+ :xc6, when the posi tion i s roughly equal. c) 16 . . . :gs ( 1 point) has simi lar intentions but here White should prob· ably avoid taking on b7 and instead continue 17 IOdS . d) It is worth pointing out that 16 . . . 0-0-0 looks dubious in view of 1 7 lbd s IOxdS l S .i.xdS .i.gS + 19 �bl .i.c6 20 /Oc3, as played i n Stean­ Szmetan, Haifa OL 1976. White has a clear advantage due to his much better knight versus the dark-squared bishop - a common Sicilian them e.

• • • •

14 e5 1 point. Black cannot really allow White to capture on e6 and hence keeps the position closed. 15 �de2 ...

• • • •

15 .i.d7 1 poi nt; there i s also 1 bonus point if this was one your ideas in playing 13 . . . /0xf6. 16 .i.e4 • • • •

16 .i.c6 (D) 2 points. I n fact, Black has many sensible options at this point: a) 16 . . . tt:lxe4 (2 points) 17 /Oxe4 .i.c6 lS I02c3 :cs 19 We2 :gs 20 : h el .i.xe4 21 •xe4 'W'c6 gave Black

17 �dS • • • •

17 2 points. 18 .i.xdS

.i.xd5

• • • •

18

l:tc8

TEST YCXJR CHESS

96

3 points. AB is so often the case in these Sici li ans, Black should play ac­ tively. Quite often the king is not un­ safe i n the centre, and sometimes Black even keeps this as an asset in the endgame. 1 8 . . . 0-0 looks a bit risky but might be feasible and so deserves 1 point. Attempting to castle queenside with, for example, 18 ... lilxdS (1 point) 19 :xdS J.g5+ 20 �bl 0-0-0, is also possible, although White then retai ns an advantage with 21 •e4 ! . Also 1 point if you chose to play this i n the order 1 7 . . . lilxd5 1 8 J.xd5 �xd5, but it makes sense to keep the knight on f6 ID blockade the f-pawn. 19 lilc3 • • • •

bS 19 2 points. This is in the spirit of the previous move. Again 19 . . . lilxd5 ( 1 point) i s possible. 20 .i.b3 What would you have played in the event of 20 JJ,7 ( D) ?

B

no reward for this. 20. . . e4 (2 poi nts) is a better try. The position arising after 2 1 J.xe4 b4 22 ltxi5 lilxd5 23 l:xdS .tf6 i s roughly equal. However, 3 points for the promising exchange sacrifice 20 . . . 0-0 ! . After 2 1 J.xc8 l:xc8 22 'li'e2, Bl ack plays 22 . . .1rc6 and threatens 23 . . . b4. White should reply 23 J:he l but 23 . .. b4 24 lile4 dS 25 lilxf6+ J.xf6 seems to gi ve Bl ack good compensation, at least. • • • •

•c6 20 ... 2 points. Black keeps fighting for the cenlral d5- and e4-squares, and of course wouldn't mind exchanges. 21 •e2 • • • •

21 2 points. 22 lildS

JZ18

• • • •

22 aS 3 points. Having given up the right to castle it is absolutely essential to keep up the pressure. With the text­ move, Black aims to provoke a weak­ ness in the white king positi on. 23 lilxf6+ 2 bonus points if you had consid­ ered 23 J:d3 and were ready to meet this simply with 23 . . . b4 ! . • • • •

23 1 poi nt. 24 .tdS

hf6

• • • •

20 . . . l:b8 2 1 .txa6 •cs is one idea but 22 .txb5+ ! is good for Whi te, so

24 ft6 2 points. 24 . . . 'li'c5 is possible but less accurate, as White can then move his bishop away from d 5, by which he

How

GOOD IS YOUR CHESS?

threatens itd S. In that case B lack has lo move the queen from cS anyway. .25 lld3 • • • •

:1s 2s 2 points. This is a good move, which prevents a possible 'ifhS, but perhaps is not entirely necessary. 25 .. .¢>e7 (2 points) is equally good. 26 ¢>bl • • • •

26 ¢>1'8 2 poi nts. Black finally thinks about king safety but it is not strictly re­ quired . Also 2 points if you intended . . .¢>f8 on your last move, and 2 points as well for 25 . . .b4 or 26 . . . b4 .

27 c3

• • • •

b4

27 2 points. 28 c4 • • • •

28

97

29 �xe4 • • • •

:es 29 3 points. 29 . . .J:xc4 (1 point) is also possible as 30 J:hd l can be met by 30 . . . J:d4 but we are not looking for ex­ changes ! 30 lldS Black was threatening . . . llxfS. • • • •

30 ... h3 4 points. My fir st reaction was to ask if this is really necessary. Apart from setting a little trap, it is not clear how this improves Black's position. But as we shall see, it is much cleverer than it appears at this stage. 31 g3 2 bonus points if you had seen that White couldn't play 3 1 gxh3 on ac· count of 3 1 . . .l:gl + 32 llxgl 1i'xgl + 33 ¢>c2 (33 lld l llxe4 -+) 33 ... 1i'al with a winning attack for Black .

e4 (D)

• • • •

b3 31 2 points. Also 2 points if you wanted to play this on the previous move but the inclusion of 30. . . h3 3 1 g3 makes Black's attack a lot more dangerous. Moreover, this time White has to ac­ cept the sacrifice. •••

32 axb3 2 bonus points for seeing 32 a 3 ? lh.e4 ! 33 1i'xe4 1i'f2, when White can­ not protect the b2-pawn. • • • •

32 a4 3 po ints. 32 . . .1i'xb3 ( 1 point) is much less clear i n view of 3 3 llb5 1i'a4 34 tfc2, when White defends. 33 b4 •••

4 points. An excellent idea: Black gives the pawn back in order to open the h8-al diagonal.

98

TEST YOUR CHESS

With this move White refuses lo have the a- or b-file opened immedi­ ately, and hence it seems a fairly sensi­ ble choice. However, White can also consider counter-attackin g with 3 3 ttd3 ! ? (D).

and 3S . . . :tb8 36 :tbS :txbS 37 cxbS axb3 38 1i'xb3 :txfS , which seems lo be a draw after 39 b6 :tf2 40 b7 :txb2+ 4 1 1i'xb2 tt xd3+ 42 �a2 1i'c4+ 4 3 ttb3 tte2+ 4 4 � bl ( not 4 4 � a 3? 1i'a6+ 4S tta4 .i.b2+ 46� xb2 1i'xb7+ followed by 47 . . . 1i'xh l -+) 44 ... 1We4+ 4S �a2 tte2+ c) 33 ...:tg4 34 :txd6 1i'a7 ! is Black's best try for more than a draw but after 3S :txf6 :tgxe4 36 :td 1 ! While i s soon building up threats of hi s own. There­ fore Black must be quick. A few at­ tempts: c l ) 36 . . . axb3 37 ttxb3 :tb8 38 ttd3 :te3 3 9 1i'd6+ �g8 40 :txh6 and now Black's best is lo force a draw with 40. . . :Xb2+ 41 �xb2 1i'b7+ 42 1i'b6 1i'g2+ 43 �bl 1i'e4+ 44 �al 1i'a8+ 4S �bl 1i'e4+, etc. White can­ not escape checks on g2, e4 and a8. c2) 36 ... :te l 37 :txh6 ( best; 37 :td 6 :txd l + 3 8 1i'xd l axb3 i s danger· ous for White since 39 1i'xb3 loses the h-pawn after 39 . . . 1i'gl + 40 :tdl ttxh2, whereafter Black has the better pros­ pects) 37 . . . 1i'g l 38 1i'd6+ �g8 39 :tg6+ with a draw. =.

This produces an incredibly com­ plex position as then Black must also think about how to respond to the threat of 34 :txd6. Of course, Black can remove that worry by playing 3 3 . . . .i.eS, but then the bishop severely restricts Black's own possibilities by interfering with the rook on e 8. White stands well after 34 :tbS. From the di­ agram Black has three interesting op­ tions al his disposal but he achieves a draw at most: a) 33 . . .axb3 34 :txd6 tta7 ! 3S :txf6 tta2+ 36 � c l ttal + 37 tt bl 1i'a7 ! is probably a draw. White can repeal the position with 38 ttd3 but other moves look loo risky. b) 33 . . .1i'f2 34 1i'c2 We3 is interest­ i ng. After 3S .i.d3, Black has a choice between 3S . . . axb3 36 1i'xb3 1i'f3, which doesn't look very convincing,

• • • •

a3 4 poi nts. Another surprising pawn­ thrust. Does n't this just help White support the b-pawn if he captures the pawn? Wel l, yes, but the h 8·al diago­ nal is opened , though it is not immedi­ ately clear how this can be exploited. 34 bxa3

33

...

• • • •

:g4 (D) 34 3 points. Add 2 bonus points if you had planned this on your last move.

HOW GOOD IS YOUR CHESS?

Actually, this idea was also tempting on Black' s last move but 33 . . .llg4 (in­ stead of 33 . . . a3 ! ) is less clear due to 34 •xg4 'ifxb4 35 'ife2 llxe4 36 •d2 :xc4 37 'i'xh6+ �e7 38 'i'd2, when I don ' t see anything clear-cut for Black. Another try is 33 . . . h5 (2 points), in­ tending the . . . llg4 idea without actu­ ally sacrificing a rook. White should then respond with 34 'i'c2 or 34 'i'd3. The latter could lead to a rather un­ clear rook end ing after 34 . . . llg4 3 5 :xd6 'i'xb4 3 6 llxf6 llgxe4 3 7 Vd6+ •xd6 38 llxd6 llxc4. Returning to the actual game, 34 . . . Va7 (1 point) was an alternative, threatening the a3-pawn and possibly 35 . . . Ve7 .

35 'i'xg4 • • • •

35 2 points. 36 �c2

'i' f2

•••

bonus points i f you had seen this idea when playing 34 . . ..l:tg4 ! ! . In an over­ the-board situation (or indeed, a corre­ spondence game) it would be impera­ tive to have such a move planned when executing the 34th move. There are a couple of other tries, which both re­ quire vigilant play from White: a) 36 . . . 'i'e 3? is best met not by 37 J:txd6? 'i'xa3 38 .l:txf6 'i'xb4+ 39 �c l ff a3+ 40�d 1 Val+ 4 1 �d2 'ifa5 + 42 �c l 'i'a3+ 43 �di 'i'a l + 44 �d2 1"a5+, which is no more than a draw for White. With a substantial amount of material in the bag, White can af­ ford to play 37 J:td3 ! •e5 38 'i'd4 ! , with a winning position. b) 36 . . . J:te I + (2 points) is the best alternative. Then 37 J:txe l ? 'i'xe l + al­ lows Black to escape with a draw after 38 J:td l 'i'c3 39 �cl �g5+ 40 �bl .i.f6 41 �cl , etc . , while Black would even take the full point in the event of the careless 38 �a2?? •c3. However, 37 J:td l J:txhl 38 J:txhl 'i'e3 39 'i'f4 ! (39 'i'xh3? is at least a draw for Black: 39 . . .�e7 ! 40 Vg2 ! •xa3 4 1 •e2+ �d8 42 �di 'i'a l + 43 �c2 •c3+ 44 �bl Val +, etc.) 39 . . . Vc3 40 'i'xh6+ �e7 4 1 �cl •xa3+ 42 �d2 •c3+ 43 �e2 Vxc2+ 44 'i'd2 Vxc4+ 45 'i'd3 ffa2+ 46 �el leaves White an ex­ change up, even though it will be very hard to exploit this after 46 . . . �e5 ! ?. 37 :as • • • •

37 • • • •

36 J:te3 4 points. This is the only move that j ustifies Bl ack's rook sacrifice. Take 3

99

4 points. 38 :dl (D) • • • •

TEST YOUR CHESS

100

42 �f2 J.d4+ with a draw by perpet­ ual check after 43 �el J.c3+. White could have defended better, though, and if we go back a few moves we have 37 1i'f4 ! , which gives Black no time to play . . . ii'g2, as in the game. Black must content himself with a drawn endgame after 37 . . . Axa3 ! 38 :la5 llb3+ 3 9 � c l J. g5 40 1i'xg5 hxg5 41 J.xb3 ii'f3 42 Ad i ii'xb3. 39 �cl • • • •

.i.b2+

39 2 points. 40 �bl ...

38 ll b-3t 2 points. Accuracy is needed until the end. The immediate 37 . . . J:b3+ (in­ stead of 37 . . .ii'g2 ! ) would have thrown away the win. After 38 � l . Black has nothing better than 38 ... ii' e3+ 39 �d 1 Jld3+ 40 J.xd3 ii'xd3+ 4 1 �el J.c3+ • ••

• • • •

J.d4+ 40 2 points. White is mated in two more moves. 0-1

Evaluation scheme 70-84

International Master or Grandmaster (2400+)

56-69

FID E Master or National Master (2200-2400)

41-55

Internationally Rated Player (2000-2200)

26-40

Strong Club Player ( 1 800-2000)

16-25

Average Club Player ( 1400- 1 800)

0- 15

Lower Club or Social Player (below 1400)

How GOOD IS Game 7 When launching an attack, intuition often counts above all. If you d on't feel it is right, then you can be sure that it is not going to work. ln this game, Kramnik, as Black gets an unexpected chance to turn in an amazing attack. You are Black, and we begin after W hite's 1 0th move:

Topalov

-

Kram nik

Belgrade 1995 Sicilian, Sozin Attack

YOUR CHES S?

101

exchanging on d 3 before White at­ tacks the knight. 1 1 .i.cl • • • •

11 g6 2 points. 1 1 ...'1Vb6 is also feasible but since it does not really threaten anything, White simply castles. 1 1 . . .e6 (1 point) would be another set-up but then l believe Black could just as well have played it on the previous move and kept White guessing about which knight will go to g4. The more radical 1 1 . .dS 1 ? (2 points) looks very interesting too. This is not just because it contains a little trap in 12 O-O dxe4 1 3 lltlxe4? 11tlxe4 14 .i.xe4 Wes, with a double- attack on the bishop and the h2-pawn, but more per­ tinently because Black has generally solved his problems in such position if he can implement this thrust. White's best appears to be 12 lltlb3 ( 1 2 exdS lltlxdS is not a problem for Black) 12 ...'1Vb6 1 3 We21 dxe4 1 4 lltlxe4 lltlxe4 15 .i.xe4, when White 's lead in devel­ opment might promise him a little something. 12 �b3 .

1 e4 c5 2 �3 �c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 �d4 � S /(k3 d6 6 .i.c4 Vb6 7 �bS a6 8 .i.e3 ..aS 9 �4 bs 10 .i.d3 (D)

• • • •

• • • •

10 bg4 2 points. At the time this was a new move. Other sensible ideas are 10 g6, 10 ... e6 and 10 ... lltlfg4 1 ?. Also 2 points if you chose any of those moves. 10 ... lltlxd3+ gets 1 point. This is not a bad move but there is no point in •••

.•

12 2 points. T his is much better than 12 . . .'1Vc7 ?1 1 3 f4 1 , when a subsequent h3 will drive Black's knight back to h6. 13 •e2 • • • •

13 .i.g7 2 points. 13 ... lltleS (1 point) is in­ consistent, though natural i f one fears White's idea of playing f4 and h3 to

TEST YOUR CHESS

102

kick the knight back. White obtains a small advantage after 14 .i.e3 ...d8 1 5 f4 �xd3+ 1 6 cxd3 .i.g7 1 7 0-0. 14 f4 • • • •

�h5 (D) 14 3 points. White would be much better if he got time for h3 as the knight would then become offside if it had to retreat lo h6. The attempt to play . . . �h5 only in reply to h3 fails, because after, for example, 14 . . . .i.e6 15 h3 �h5 White plays 16 ... f3! with a very large advantage.

17 .i.a5 • • • •

17 1 point. 18 g3

'irh4+

• • • •

18 lLlxg 3 1 point. 19 �7+ 1 9 hxg3 1 ? •xg3+ 20 �d2 exd5 21 .l:lafl ! (2 1 exd5+ i s less accurate, be­ cause Black can then play 2 1 . . .�d7! 22 ltafl .l:le8 =i=) is an interesting idea, intending to trap Black's queen with .l:lf3. Black is forced to reply 2 l . . �f6 22 exd5+ �f8, when White definitely has play for the pawn . .

• • • •

19 1 point. 20 hxg3 •••

�e7

• • • •

20 'tltxg3+ 2 points. Black would not have ade­ quate compensation after 20. . .Wxh l + 2 1 �d2 •h3 22 �xa8 •xg3 2 3 J:r.fl . 21 �dl • • • •

15 tbd5 • • • •

15 1 point. 16 .i.d2

...d8

• • • •

e6 16 3 points. Deduct 5 points if you mis sed White 's threat of 17 .i. a 5 . 1 6 .. . b 6 (1 point) parries the threat but also weakens the queenside substan­ tially. After 17 0-0-0 White has a large advantage.

21 m+ 2 points . The last 5 moves or s o have been more or less forced. Black has to follow up energetically to demonstrate enough compensation for the sacri­ ficed material and therefore there is no time to think about saving the rook on a8 first. 22 �d2 • • • •

22 1 point. 23 �xa8 (D)

�xhl

HOW GOOD IS YOUR CHESS?

This may be too greedy and it is possible that White should simply play 23 Jlxh 1 . Black then has a choice be­ t ween 23 . . .1ixf4+ 24 �d I Jlb8, which allows White to force a repetition with 25 .i.d2 W'g3 26 .i.el W'f4 27 .i.d2, or 23 ... Jlb8, which, on the other hand, might be risky. White can try ei ther 24 :n or 24 lWfl .

103

27 .i. h6+ 3 poi nts. Add 1 more point if you wanted to play . . . .i.h6+ on move 25. However, adding two moves with a repetition such as . . .1rh2-f4 -h2 is of­ ten a good practical decision. 28 �c3 •••

• • • •

28 ... 9eS+ 2 points. Also 2 points for 28 .. ..i.g7+ or 28 .. .'l'xe2 29 .i.xe2 tlJ g3. 29 �b4 • • • •

'LJg3

29 1 point.

30 9el • • • •

.i. g7 3 points. 30 . . . 1rxb2 (1 point) allows White a little breathing room with 3 1 Jlbl 1re5 3 2 'LJb6. 31 �b6 This is probably a mistake. The most tenacious defence is 31 l:tbl ! . The point i s that 3 1 . . ..i.d7 i s met by 32 �a3 !, which threatens 33 .i. c 3 . The position is then very messy. The end­ game after 32 . . .'LJxe4 33 1rxe4 1rxe4 34 .i.xe4 :Xa8 35 .i.xb7 Jla7 36 .i.f3 d5 is hard to assess but could be good for White. However, I have been some· what seduced by the idea 32 . . . Jlxa8 33 .i.c3 1rb5 ! ? (there are other moves but this is fun) 34 .i.xb5 axbS+ 35 tlJa5 (35 .i.a5 is met by 35 . . .'LJh5 ! ? fol­ lowed by . . . b6, or . . . Jla6 and . . . b6 if re­ quired) 35 ....i.xc3 36 bxc3 (or 36 1i'xc3 'LJxe4 37 1rel 'LJf6 and Black will win the knight on a5, due to the threat of . . . b6) 36 . . . Jlxa5+ 37 �b2 'LJh5 with an unclear posi tion. This is

30 .

• • • •

23 •:xr4+ 2 points. Another option is to bring back the knight with 23 ...'LJf2 (1 point) . 24 9e3 ...

• • • •

24 . . ft2+ 2 points. 24 . . ..i.h6 ! ? (1 point) 25 'i'xf4 .i.xf4 + 26 �e2 tlJg3+ 27 �f3 tlJh5, with an edge for Black, is an­ other possibility. 25 9e2 .

• • • •

25 . 1 point. 26 9e3 27 9e2

9f4+

. .

9b2+ • • • •

..

104

TEST

YOUR

all lots of fun but totally unclear. I think, objectively, Black should simply get his pawns moving with 3 1 . . .fS ! . Then, for example, 3 2 exf5 Wxe l+ 33 llxel gxfS 34 lhb6 hS looks very good for Bl ack. • • • •

31 dS 4 points. Of course, with White's king so exposed Black should aim to open the position. 3 1 . . .fS (1 point) has totally different ambitions, as Black then aims for a slightly better ending after 32 exfS W xel+ 33 :XeJ lhxfS . 3.2 �a4 What would you have played after 32 exd5 (D) ? . ••

CHESS

40 c89+ (40 i.xc4 9d6+ 4 1 �as 9xc7+ -+) 40. . . i.xc8 41 i.xc4 9d6+ 42 �as 9c7+ 43 �b4 Wb6+ 44 �a3 Wd6+ 4S ffb4 (4S �a4 i.d7+ 46 �as i.f6 -+) 4S . . . i.xb2+ -+. b) 3S a4 is therefore the only way to parry the threat, but to no avail. Bur­ gess gives 3S . . . i.eS ! in The Mammoth Boole of the World's Greatest Chess Games, and continues 36 lhxd7 (36 lh c4 llc8+ 37 �b4 bS also wins for Black) 36 . . .�xd7 with a win for Black. For example, after 37 �b6 (37 dxe6+ fxe6 only postpones things) 37 . . . i.d4+ 38 lhcS+ i.xcS 39 �xcS llc8+, White is being mated. • • • •

3.2 3 points. 33 ltlxd7 •••

i.d7+

• • • •

bS+

33 2 points. 34 �b4 • • • •

�xd7

34 ... 1 point. 35 i.b6 • • • •

35 9xb.2 1 point. This is actual ly slightly inaccurate. 3S . . .dxe4 (2 points) is good, but the best continuation is 3S . . .lhxe4 ! (3 points). Then after 36 i.xe4 Black plays 36 . . .9xb2 ! ! (2 bonus points if this was your idea) with a winning at­ tack: a) 37 J:.bl llc8 ! 38 i.cS i.c3+ ! 39 9xc3 as+ , winning. b) 3 7 i.xdS exdS 38 llbl llc8 ! and Black wins. •••

3 2 . . .9d6+ 33 �c4 (33 � a 4 i.d7+! 34 lhxd7 b S+ 3S i.xbS axbS+ 36 �xbS Wxd7+ and 33 lhcS i.d 4 both lose instantly for White) 33 . . .9f4+ 34 �cS i.d7 ! , with the sneaky idea of 3S . . . Wd6+ 36 �c4 i.bS#, is very slrong. S points if you saw this far. White can then try; a) 3S lhc4 llc8 + 36 c,i>b4 bS 37 i. c7 llxc7 38 d 6+ �f8 39 dxc7 bxc4

How GOOD IS YOUR c) 37 c4 bxc4 ! (this is the simplest even though there are probably other wins too) 3 S ltbl i.f8+ 39 i.c5 i.xc5+ 40 �xc5 ltcS+ 41 �b6 'l'a3, and wins. Actually, lhe . . .ltlxe4 idea could also have been played earlier in the game . Take 2 points if you had intended 32 . . .ltlxe4! ?. White's best is then 33 i.xe4 (33 'l'b4+ itld6 is good for Black), but Black is clearly on top af­ ter 33 . . . i.d7+! 34 itlxd7 b5+ 35 �b4 �xd7 36 ltlc5+ �c6 37 c3 i.fS 3S i.d3 i.xc5+ 39 �b3 �bet 40 ltxel g5. Black has four healthy pawns for the piece and White's bishop on a5 is completely out of play.

36 exd5 36 .i.xb 5 + ! ? axb5 37 .xg3 J:cS 38 :I.fl ! wouldn ' t change the result, but it does demand great accuracy from B lack. For instance, 3S . . . �eS ? ! 39 'i'f3 ! f5 40 exf5 'l'xa2 41 �xb5 ltc3 (4 t . . .•as 42 ltla5 parries the .. .'.c6+ lhreat) 42 ef2 ltxc2 43 •e3 lte2 44 W'h3 ltb2 45 ltf3 gives White counter­ play. However, 3S . . . f5 ! 39 exd5 'l'xc2 40 dxe6+ �eS ! wins for Black. Bur­ gess gives 41 :l.c l .i.fS+ 42 e7 i.xe7+ 43 .i.c5 •e4+! 44 �xb5 'it'c6+ 45 �b4 W'b6+, when Black regains the piece, keeping two extra pawns. • • • •

36

:cs

...

2 points. 36 . . . i.fS+ 37 i.c5 i.xc5+ 3S 'iPxc5 ltcS+ 39 �b6 is tempting but not very convincing, and 36 . . . exd5 37 i.xb5 +! gives White an improved ver­ sion of lhe note to White's 361h move.

37 �e8 (D) 5 points. Without doubt the most difficult move of the game. The natural 37 . . . fxe6 is wrong due to 38 .i.xb5+! �e7 ( 3 S . . . axb5 39 ltd l + �7 40 exg3 and suddenly it is Black who is under attack) 39 i.c5 +! :Xc5 40 �xc5 •a3+ (40.. .tt'xc2+ 41 �b6 axb5 42 ltcl •d3 43 ltc6 is very good for White) 4 1 �b6 axb5 42 ltd 1 with a dangerous at­ tack for White. 37 . . . �c6 (2 points) is better but White seems to force a draw with 3 S .i.xb5+! axb5 3 9 .i.c5 ltle2 ! 40 •h t + �c7 4 1 'it'd5 ! 'l'c3+ 4 2 �a3 'it'b2+ 4 3 �b4 •c3+. ••.

38 i.cS White's best chance was 3S i.xb5+! axb5 3 9 exf7++ �xf7 40 'l' xg3, when 40 . . . 'it'c3+ ! 4 l .xc3 i.xc3+ 42 �xb5 .i.xal 43 ltlxal h5 leads to a complex ending that favours Black. Kramnik gives 44 ltlb3 as White's best, after which 44 . . . h4 ! 45 itld4 g5 !? 46 itlf3 'it.>g6 is a little better for Black.

� dxe6+ • • • •

lOS

CHESS?

• • • •

38

•••

.i.c3+

TEsr YOUR CHESS

106

40 *xb5

2 points. 39 •xc3

• • • •

• • • •

39

-

1 point.

a5+

•xc3

40 1 point. 0-1

Evaluation scheme 55-68

International Master or Grandmaster (2400+)

48 -54

FIDE Master or National Master (2200-2400)

40-47

Internationally Rated Player (2000-2200)

30-39

Strong Club Player ( 1 800-2000)

2 1 -29

Average Oub Player (1400- 1 800)

-5-20

Lower Club or Social Player (below 1400)

How GOOD IS YOUR CHESS?

Game s Ex-World Champion Anatoly Karpov is a renowned positional player with a superb flair for thinking prophylacti­ cally. This game is full of small nu­ ances desi gned to prevent Black's counterplay. You are to play White, and we take up the action after Black's 10th move.

Karpov - Cu. Hansen Groningen 1995 Ki ng's Indian

1 d4 c!tlf6 2 c4 g6 3 ll:ic3 .i.g7 4 e4 d6 5 13 0-0 6 .i.e3 l2Jc6 7 ll:ige2 a6 8 •d2 lb8 9 il:icl e5 1 0 d5 il:id4 (D)

• • • •

11 il:ile2 2 points. Black's pl an is to support his d4-knight with . . . cS, so White should immediately challenge the d4knight. White should definitely avoid 11 i.xd4, even though this does cut across Black's . . . cs idea, since the dark squares will become too vulnerable.

107

After l l . . . exd4, 12 'i'xd4? is not an option in view o f 12. . .ll:ixe4, so the knight must retreat, after which it is generally agreed that Black's lead in development and superiority on the dark squares give him an advantage, even at the possible cost of a pawn. The most logi cal alternative to the text-move is 1 1 �b3 (2 points) but here, apart from sacrifici ng a pawn with 1 1 . .. cS 12 dxc6 bxc6 ! ? (transpos­ ing to a line given in the next note). Black has a safe reply in l l . . .�xb3 12 axb3 cS. 11 ... ll:ixe2 This i s Black's most solid option. A more complicated position arises after 1 1 . . .cS ! ? 12 dxc6. Black can then try 12 . . . bxc6 1 3 �xd4 exd4 14 i. xd4, when several factors provide compen­ sation for the pawn. With White's knight on e2, 12 . . . �xc6 i s another idea. This looks very anti-positional but Black hopes to generate activity by . . . i.e6 and . . . bS. Note that this is only a serious option because White's knight is less well placed o n e2 than on b 3. Hence, Karpov 's choice of 1 1 � 1 e2 rather than 1 1 �b3 should prob­ ably be understood in the context of Black playing l 1 . . .�xb3 followed by 12 . . . cS in the case of White playing 1 1 �b3 . • • • •

12 .i.xe2 1 poi nt. Other moves don't really help White's development and there­ fore don't make much sense. 12 ll:ih5 • • • •

13 0-0-0

TEST YOUR CHESS

108

3 points. 1 3 g4 is a rather dubious idea: after 13 . . . lC! f4 14 .i.d4 exf4 15 'i'xf4 White has won a pawn but is ter­ ribly weak on the dark squares. An­ other option is 1 3 0-0 but in this type of position the king is safer on the queenside, even though Black seems to be lined up for an attack, having al­ ready made the preparatory moves . . . J:b8 and . . .a6. 13 f5

2 points. Now that Black's queen­ side play has been halted, White looks for play on the kingside, and needs to chase the knight back to make progress. 16 • • • •

17 .i.e2 (D)

• • • •

14 *bl 2 points . A typically 'lazy' move but also very ' Karpovian' . Karpov is the kind of player who likes to be solid and flexible, and hence does not yet want to reveal his plans. Still, this move may be a slight signal that he wants to play on the queenside. Very reasonable alternatives are 14 cS and 14 g3 (2 po in ts for both - also 2 points if you intended one of those on your last move). 14 c!2Jt'4 Another set-up for Black is to play . . ..i.d7 and . . . 'i'e7, perhaps aiming for . . . bS at some stage. •••

• • • •

15 .i.n 2 points. White should definitely preserve the bishop-pair even though this bishop doe sn't look very good for the moment. The bishop-pair is often a strong long-term asset and I'm sure al­ most any titled player would play this move without much hesitation. b6 15 Stopping cS. '"

• • • •

16 g3

3 points. Karpov steadily plays to solidify his own position and deny his opponent any more space than necessary. 17 c!2Jf6 After 1 7 . . .fxe4 , 1 8 fxe4 .i.h3 would be quite OK for Black because he needn't fear 1 9 .i.xhS, hence White wouldn' t easily get to the f-file. The problem with this idea is of course that White replies 18 lC!xe4 and keeps a promising edge. •••

• • • •

1 8 .i.gS 3 points. More typically 'Karpov­ ian' prophylaxis. In retreating the knight to f6, Black was planning an exchange on e4 (or two if White cap­ tures with the knight) followed by

How GOOD IS YOUR CHES S?

. . ..i.h 3 , not allowing White to take control of the f-file. Now 1 8 . . . fite4 is met by 1 9 �xe4, and White is willing to exchange his dark-squared bishop for the f6-knight in order to maintain a knight on e4 or engage in a promising opposite-coloured bishop position, i . e . if Black plays . .. .i.f5xe4 and White re­ plies .i.d3xe4. Another type of posi­ tion would occur after 18 exf 5 gxf5 1 9 f4 ( 2 points). The same points are available if you intended this idea on move 1 7 . In that case White attacks Black' s position more aggressively but also gives Black more freedom. An­ other attempt to prevent B lack's plan is 18 h4 but even though it is not to­ tally ridiculous (it would even be quite good if Black embarked on the care­ less 18 . . . fxe4, when White is much betterafter 19 �xe4), Black does have the strong reply 1 8 . . .�h5 ! , when the move of the h-pawn has weakened White's position more than it has done good, for g4 at some stage would al­ low B lack control of the f4 -square. Meanwhile, Black is ready to play . . . f4 himself: for instance, 1 9 l:ld g l f4 ! gives Black a good position. •ea 1s • • • •

19 .i.d3 2 points. 19 h3 or 19 h4 is again met by 1 9 . . .�h5 ! . White can instead play to prevent exchanges on e4 by the interesting 19 :ldfl (2 points). The point of this move becomes clear in the event of 19 .. .fxe4 20 .i.xf6 ! exf3 2 1 .i.xg7 fxe2 22 l:xfs+. fxe4 19 ...

109

• • • •

20 .!Dxe4 2 points. 20 • • • •

21 .i.xe4 (DJ 2 points. I have already explained the necessity for not taking back on e4 with the pawn, because Black plays . . . .i.h3 and stops almost all White's active possibilities by denying White control of the f-file.

21

.i.f5 • • • •

22 •e2 4 points. This fine little move se­ cures White an edge. The key word to understand is 'flexibility ' . The posi­ tion of the queen is simply improved. 22 l:lhfl (2 points) is another sensible idea. .i.xe4+ 22 • • • •

23 fxe4 2 points. With most of the minor pieces exchanged off, there is no point any more in maintaining a piece on e4,

TEST YOUR CHESS

110

&'! White ' s f-pawn is only going to be left as a weakness. 23 Wf7 * * * *

24 m.n 2 points. 24 •••

from defending that pawn and hence opens the possibility of postponing the rook exchange. 27 h6 (D) •••

* * * *

Wd7 (D)

So, wasn't Black's last move just a waste of tempo? Not at all, because if Black didn ' t threaten to occupy the f­ file, White could consider keeping the rooks on the board. This also explains why 22 1te2 was more accurate than, for example, 22 J:lhfl . * * * *

25 g4 2 points. Note how White begins placing his pawns on light squares. 25 lbf1 * * * *

26 lbf1 1 point. 26 * * * *

27 h3 2 points. By sensibly overprotecting the g4-pawn, White frees his queen

28 lhf8+ 3 points . This is much more accurate than 28 .i.h4, after which 28 . J:tf4 ! solves most of Black's problem s. White wou ld have to play 29 .i.g3 in order to get rid of the rook before Black lakes control of the f-file with . . . 1tf7, but then 29 . .J:txn 30 1txfl 'ftf7 is OK foe Black since the bishop ending is no more than a draw now that Black hasn't been committed to playing . . . gS. This is an important key to understanding the position: White hopes to provoke . . . gS, which i n a pos­ sible bishop ending would give White a further target on the kingside, while Black in turn attempts to avoid this and would rather contemplate the idea of exchanging a pawn with . . . h 5xg4. hf8 28 ..

.

* * * *

29 .i.d2 (D)

How

Ill

GOOD IS YOUR CHESS ?

4 points. This is more accurate than 29 .i.h4, which is met by 29 . . . .i.e7, when Whi te has little chance of ob­ taining a real advantage.

B -

2 points. 32

hxg4 * * * *

33 •xg4 1 point. Although White has quite a pleasant ending after this, 33 hxg4 (2 points) is more awkward for Black. 33 ..xg4 * * * *

34 hxg4 1 point. 34

�7

• • • •

35 a4

3 points.

�e 8

35 • • • •

36 as 2 points. 36

* * * *

30 cS 3 points . White could not have made this breakthrough if he had played 29 .i.e3 (add 1 point if that was your choice) because Black would reply 29 .. 'l'a4 ! , covering a6 and threaten­ ing to take the e4-pawn with check. Perhaps Bla ck should have prevented the cS thrust by 29 . . a5 but it is under­ standable that Hansen was reluctant to place another pawn on a dark square . chcS 30 .. Now the eS-pawn becomes weak but it would have been worse to allow White a passed a-pawn with 30 . . . bxcS .

37 axb6 2 points. 37 38 .i.c3 2 points. 38 ...

.

* * * *

31 1fxa6 1 point. 31 * * * *

32 1i'e2

h5

cxb6

• • • •

.

.

�d7 • • • •

w

.i.d6 (D)

TEST Y