[Event ""]
[Site "Rome"]
[Round ""]
[Date "1619"]
[White "Gioachino Greco"]
[Black "Unknown"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Chess notation is a wonderful invention -- a time machine that allows us to enjoy chess games of all eras, even those played hundreds of years ago. Here we see one of the first great chess masters, Gioachino Greco, in action. While Greco is credited with developing some gambits, his main contribution to chess was to publish witty collections of games that illustrate his theories. Greco considered the following one of his best games.}

1.e4 b6 {The Queen's Fianchetto opening. An early fianchetto by Black shows a willingness to defend against a big pawn center, picking away at it from the wings. In ceding so much territory, Black must be on constant guard against direct attacks on the King, as this game amply illustrates.}
2.d4 {The natural move. White is happy to build an advantage in space.}
2...Bb7
3.Bd3 {Greco often preferred developing his bishop to d3, rather than c4 or b5. As this game progresses, you will see that this piece is perfectly placed.}
3...f5 {Black offers a pawn to break up the enemy center.} 
4.exf5 {White accepts the pawn, and the fireworks begin.}
4...Bxg2
5.Qh5+ g6 {It is interesting that hundreds of years after this game was played, all of the moves so far are still considered "book". If you weren't aware of the date, you might believe that this game was from the Hypermodern movement of the early 20th century.}
6.fxg6 Nf6 {Black gets greedy and loses immediately. The typical continuation is 6...Bg7 7.gxh7+ Kf8 8.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 9.Qg6 (or Qg4) Bxh1 and Black has a reasonable game.}
7.gxh7+ Nxh5 {Gleefully seizing the enemy queen, but not seeing the danger.}
8.Bg6# {Even after four centuries, some games can still elicit a smile.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1790"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Captain Smith"]
[Black "Philidor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]

{The modern era of chess begins with Philidor's positional analysis of the openings. Though he died in the 18th century, his was the most widely printed book in chess history. In this historically interesting game Philidor actually demonstrates the power of a superior pawn formation, confirming his famous maxim: "Pawns are the soul of chess".} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4
Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nc3 b5 7. Bb3 a5 8. a3 Bc5 9. Nf3 d6
10. Qd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. O-O g5 {Discouraged from castling on the Queenside, White finds himself under siege on the Kingside.} 13. h3 Nd7 14.
Nh2 h5 15. g3 Ke7 {The lines are clearly drawn: Black's command of space allows him to attack at will.} 16. Kg2 d5 17. f3 Nf8 18. Ne2 Ng6 19. c3 Rag8
20. d4 Bb6 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. Nd4 Kd7 23. Rae1 h4 24. Qf2 Bc7 25. Ne2 { Passive defense seems worse here than the try 25. exd hxg 26. dxe6+ Ke8 27. Nxc6 with chances.} 25... hxg3 26. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 27. Nxg3 Nf4+ 28. Kh1 Rxh3 29.
Rg1 Rxh2+ 30. Kxh2 Rh8+ 31. Nh5 Rxh5+ 32. Kg3 Nh3+ 33. Kg4 Rh4# 0-1

[Event "Correspondence Match"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1824"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Edinburgh"]
[Black "London"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C44"]

{The first half ot the 19th century was the golden age of postal chess because players from different cities and countries could not easily compete in any other way. This game enabled Edinburgh to beat London (2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss). Newspapers carried all the moves, thus exposing the public for the first time to master chess. The Scotch Game was new, later became popular, then went out of fashion and was revived by Kasparov in the 1990s. This battle assumed epic proportions after move 32 when rooks on either side penetrated behind enemy lines. Watch for the spectacular march of White's king at the end.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 Nxd4 {Better is 3...exd4. Now White dominates the center.} 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Qxd4 Ne7 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. Qd5 Qf6
8. Nc3 Bb4 9. Bd2 d6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Qc4 {Too many queen moves. The threat of Bxc6 is easily parried. Simply 11. O-O is indicated.} 11... Bc5 12. O-O
O-O 13. Qd3 Ne5 14. Qg3 Bxb5 15. Nxb5 c6 {Driving the knight back but weakening the pawn on d6.} 16. Nc3 Nc4 17. Bg5 Qg6 18. b3 f6 19. Bc1 Qxg3
20. hxg3 Bd4 21. bxc4 Bxc3 22. Rb1 b6 23. Rd1 Rae8 {Disdaining passive resistance by 23...Rad8, the London team seeks active counterplay. Black stands better -- White's pawn structure is a shambles.} 24. Rb3 Ba5 25. f3
f5 26. exf5 Re2 {Also playable is 26...Rxf5.} 27. g4 Rxc2 28. Bf4 Rxc4 29.
Bxd6 Re8 30. Ra3 h6 31. Bc7 Re2 32. Rd8+ Kh7 {If 32...Kf7 33. Bd6 Re8 34. Rd7 with advantage.} 33. Rc8 Rc1+ {Better is 33...Rcc2 34. Kh2 Rxg2 but Black has no inkling of the astonishing sacrifice that White is planning.}
34. Kh2 Ree1 35. Kh3 Rh1+ 36. Bh2 Bc3 {Setting a trap on 37. Rxc6? Be5! 38. Rxc1 Rxh2 mate.} 37. f4 Bd2 38. g3 Ba5 {Still playing to win instead of steering for an easy draw by 38...Bxf4 39. gxf4 Rc2 40. Rxa7 R2xh2 41. Kg3 Rh3, etc.} 39. Re3 Rc2 {Winning a piece, but appearances are deceptive.} 40.
g5 Rhxh2+ 41. Kg4 h5+ 42. Kf3 Rhf2+ 43. Ke4 g6 {The only way to parry the threat of g6 and Rh8 mate.} 44. Rc7+ Kg8 45. Ke5 {Adhering to the Steinitzian precept: The king is a fighting piece -- use it!} 45... Rc5+ { Also futile is 45...Bc3 46. Rxc3 Rxc3 47. Kf6 forcing mate.} 46. Kf6 Rxf5+
47. Kxg6 Rf8 48. Rg7+ Kh8 49. Kh6 {No more than a draw is gained by 49. Ree7 Bc3.} 49... Bb4 50. Re6 Rf5 {The only way to stop the threat of mate in two. } 51. Rh7+ Kg8 52. Rg6+ Kf8 53. Rxc6 Rc5 {An exciting moment. If 53...Kg8 54. g6 h4 55. Rg7 Kh8 56. Rxa7 hxg3 57. g7 Kg8 58. Rc8 Rf8 59. gxf8/Q Bxf8 60. Rg7 Kh8 61. Rxf8 mate.} 54. Rf6+ Ke8 55. g6 Rc3 56. g4 Bf8+ 57. Rxf8+
Kxf8 58. g7+ Kf7 59. Rh8 Rc6+ 60. Kh7 {No power on earth can stop White's pawn from queening. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "62nd Match Game"]
[Date "1834"]
[Round "?"]
[White "MacDonnell, A."]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B32"]

{In a sense, the MacDonnell-La Bourdonnais encounters marked the beginning of modern chess -- a set match of serious games between recognized champions, in which all the games were recorded and published. This was the Frenchman's most famous win of the match (really a series of six matches, won by La Bourdonnais +45, =13, -27), in which we have the unusual spectacle of a mass of pawns overcoming a Queen.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 e5 5. Nxc6 {A positional error, strengthening Black's central pawns, but such niceties were little known in the 1830's.} 5... bxc6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7.
Bg5 Be7 8. Qe2 d5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Bb3 O-O 11. O-O a5 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Rd1
d4 14. c4 Qb6 15. Bc2 Bb7 16. Nd2 Rae8 17. Ne4 Bd8 18. c5 Qc6 19. f3 Be7 20.
Rac1 f5 {Not 20...Bxc5? 21.Nxc5 Qxc5 22.Bxh7+. Instead, Black offers an Exchange sacrifice to get his central pawns moving.} 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Ba4
Qh6 23. Bxe8 fxe4 24. c6 exf3 25. Rc2 {Not 25.dxc6?, as 25...Qe3+ 26.Kh1 fxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Rf2+ will lead to mate.} 25... Qe3+ 26. Kh1 Bc8 27. Bd7 f2 { Threatening 28...Qe1+ 29.Qf1 Qxd1 f1Q+.} 28. Rf1 d3 29. Rc3 Bxd7 30. cxd7 e4
31. Qc8 {In turn threatening 32.Qxf8+ and 33.d8Q.} 31... Bd8 32. Qc4 Qe1 33.
Rc1 d2 34. Qc5 Rg8 35. Rd1 e3 36. Qc3 Qxd1 37. Rxd1 e2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "21st Match Game"]
[Date "1834"]
[Round "?"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "MacDonnell, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C23"]

{The MacDonnell-La Bourdonnais encounters were, in a real sense, the beginning of modern chess -- a series of formally arranged games, all of which were preserved and published. This is one of many wild attacking games in which both sides play for mate. The final position is quite amusing.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. c3 Ne7 6. f4 exf4 {Ignoring the center; a modern player would surely have answered 6...d6.} 7. d4 Bb6 8.
Bxf4 d6 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Be3 O-O 11. h3 Re8 12. Nd2 Qe7 13. O-O-O c5 { Correctly striking back in the center, though in 1834 Black's plan was probably limited to opening a file near the White King.} 14. Kb1 cxd4 15.
cxd4 a5 16. Ngf3 Bd7 17. g4 h6 18. Rdg1 {More logical seems 18.Rdf1 followed by Rhg1; as the game goes, the Rhg1 never does very much.} 18... a4 19. g5
hxg5 20. Bxg5 a3 21. b3 Bc6 22. Rg4 Ba5 23. h4 Bxd2 24. Nxd2 Ra5 25. h5 Rxg5
{With this Exchange sacrifice Black takes control of the dark squares and obtains a strong initiative.} 26. Rxg5 Nf4 27. Qf3 Nxd3 28. d5 {White must lose material, for 28.Qxd3 Nxe4 29.Nxe4? Bxe4 wins the White Queen, and 29.Rgg1 Nf2 is not much better.} 28... Nxd5 29. Rhg1 Nc3+ 30. Ka1 Bxe4 31.
Rxg7+ Kh8 32. Qg3 {Threatening mate with 33.Rh7+, but Black's attack is still very strong.} 32... Bg6 33. hxg6 Qe1+ 34. Rxe1 {The final blunder; after 34.Nb1 White retains drawing chances} 34... Rxe1+ 35. Qxe1 Nxe1 36.
Rh7+ Kg8 37. gxf7+ Kxh7 38. f8=Q Nc2# 0-1

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "1839"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ludwig Bledow"]
[Black "von Der Lasa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C53"]

{Bledow was a math professor who founded "The Pleiades," a society that set itself the task of raising the standard of the game in Germany at a time when Paris and London were the chess centers of Europe. Morphy's great principles -- occupying the center with pawns, opening lines for attack, rapid development even at the cost of material -- already were in evidence in this early game. A unique twist is the way White exploits the weakness on f7.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 {One of the earliest defenses to the Giuoco Piano. Nowadays 4...Nf6 is preferred.} 5. d4 Bb6 {To hold the center. If 5...exd4 6. O-O dxc3 7. Nxc3 the threat of Nd5 is irksome.} 6.
O-O d6 7. a4 a5 8. Be3 Nf6 9. dxe5 {Also feasible is 9. Nbd2 to maintain tension in the center.} 9... Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Bxb6 cxb6 12. Nd2 O-O
13. Qe2 Bd7 {13...Be6 would neutralize the pressure on f7. Now White gives up a pawn to speed up his development, a dubious plan that works.} 14. Rad1
Bxa4 15. b3 Bc6 16. f4 {Opening lines is essential but Black's fortress is hard to crack.} 16... Rad8 {Also good is 16...b5! 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Rf5 Qxc3.} 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Rf5 Qd6 {Correct is 18...Qxc3 19. e5 Qd4 20. Kh1 Ne4.} 19. e5 Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Ne4 {Little relief is offered by 20...Nd5 21. e6; or 20...Rde8 22. Rdf1.} 21. Nxe4 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Bxe4 23. Rxf7 {Black overlooked this trick.} 23... Rxf7 24. Qd8+ Qf8 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. e6+ Kg8
27. e7 {The mobility of this passed pawn played a decisive role in the attack. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1843"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Pierre de Saint-Amant"]
[Black "Howard Staunton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]

{The unofficial world championship. The leading player after Labourdonnais in France was the colorful Pierre St. Amant, who served was secretary to the governor of French Guiana -- until he protested against the slave trade. Later he tried his hand as an actor, then became a successful wine merchant, and was a captain in the National Guard during the 1948 revolution. In 1851 he became the French consul to California eight years after the Englishman Howard Staunton bested him in a series of memorable matches. On a visit to London St. Amant defeated Staunton 3.5 - 2.5 for a stake of one guinea. This led to a demand for a return match just before Christmas in the same year, which was won by Staunton 13-8, marking an end to French chess supremacy. Here, in an almost symmetrical position, White's sway over the open e-file enables him to launch a combination of unusual beauty. Like so many other losers, however, St. Amant at least had the satisfaction of winning the most brilliant game.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 
3. e3 {Now considered too passive because it hems in the bishop on c1.} 
3... Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 {A slight loss of time, but the principles of positional play were still largely unknown in those days.} 
6...Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. b3 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 {Also playable is 10...Nxd5 but Black has no desire to simplify.} 11. Bb2 cxd4 12. exd4 
Bd6 {More pertinent is 12...Re8 to develop a fresh piece.} 13. Re1 a6 
14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Rc2 Rc7 16.Rce2 h6 {Black could instead contest the file by 16...Re7 either here or on the next move.} 17. h3 Qc8 18. Qd2 Nd8 
19. b4 Ne6 {Walking into a pin. Preferable is 19...b5.} 20. Bf5 Ne4 
{Staunton later suggested 20...Bf4 but Black's game is already difficult.} 
21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. d5 {Of course not 22.Bxe4? Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Rc2 winning a piece.} 22... exf3 {The last chance is 22...Bf4 23. Qd1 exf3 24. Rxe6 Qd8.} 23. Rxe6 Qd8 24. Bf6 {Shattering the enemy kingside.} 24... gxf6 
25. Rxd6 {The spectators broke out into enthusiastic applause. If 25...Qxd6 26. Qxh6 forces mate.} Kg7 {Nowadays a master would resign here since he only gets a rook in return for his queen.} 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Be4 
fxg2 28. Qf4 Rc4 29. Qg4+ Kf8 30. Qh5 Ke7 31. d6+ Kxd6 32. Bxb7 Kc7 
33. Bxa6 Rc3 34. Qb5 {White's material superiority is just too great. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1843"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Staunton, H."]
[Black "St. Amant, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]

{Howard Staunton was born in 1810. After a brief stint as an actor, he became an eminent Shakespearean scholar and then England's top player after defeating St. Amant in a series of memorable matches. Because of his plodding style, Staunton's games are not very impressive. Today he is remembered chiefly for having ducked Paul Morphy who crossed the Atlantic to challenge him to a match. Morphy described him as the author of a chess handbook and some "devilish bad games".} 1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3
d5 5. e5 Qb6 {Good alternativess are 5...f6 or d4.} 6. Bd3 Bd7 7. Bc2 Rc8 8.
O-O Nh6 9. h3 Be7 10. Kh2 f5 11. a3 a5 12. a4 {Makes little sense except to develop the knight at a3. 12. d4 right away is better.} 12... Nf7 13. d4 h6
14. Re1 g6 15. Na3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 g5 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5 Rc4
{Loss of time.} 20. Bd3 Rc8 {Not 20...Rxd4? 21. Be3.} 21. Be2 gxf4 22. Rf1 { Better is 22. Bxf4} 22... Ng5 23. Bxf4 Ne4 24. Rc1 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Kd7 26. Qe3
Bg5 27. Bd3 Rg8 28. Bxe4 dxe4 29. Bxg5 hxg5 30. Qb3 g4 31. Rd1 {Overly cautious. 31. Rxf5! offers drawing chances.} 31... gxh3 32. Qxh3 Qd8 {"The latter portion of this game is conducted with remarkable skill by both parties," commented Staunton.} 33. d5 Kc8 34. Qc3+ Kb8 35. d6 f4 36. Qc5 e3
37. Qc2 Qh4+ 38. Kg1 Rc8 39. Qe2 Rh8 {White Resigns. Clocks were not used in those days; the game lasted 9 1/2 hours; today it would take between four and five hours.} 0-1

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "1844"]
[Round "?"]
[White "F. A. Hoffmann"]
[Black "A. D. Petrov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]

{The main feature of this ancient game is the simultaneous assault by White on f7 and Black on f2, the weakest square on each side. Black's maneuvers culminate in a magnificent queen sacrifice and a relentless king hunt.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 {Nowadays 6. cxd4 is preferred.} 6... Ne4 {More energetic is the counter-thrust 6...d5.} 7. Bd5 { Looking for adventure, but violating principle by moving the same piece twice. Simply 7. cxd4 Bb4 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Nbxd2 would give White a peaceful life.} 7... Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3 {Exposes the king to some danger. Safer is 9. Ke1. But not 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. Kxe3 cxb2.} 9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 Ne7
11. Ng5 {Too eager to attack instead of thinking about his own safety. It's time to consolidate with 11. h3 to give the king an escape square on h2.}
11... Nxd5 12. Nxf7 O-O {Giving up an entire queen to control the f-file. White didn't reckon with this sacrifice!} 13. Nxd8 {There's nothing better. If 13. Nh6 gxh6 14. Qxd5 Rf7 15. Qxc5 Qg5 16. Kh3 d6 wins. Or 13. Qxd5 Rxf7 14. h3 Qg5 15. Kh2 Qf4 16. g3 Qf2 17. Qg2 Qxg2 18. Kxg2 Rf2 followed by Rxb2.} 13... Bf2+ 14. Kh3 d6+ 15. e6 Nf4+ 16. Kg4 Nxe6 {Threatening mate in two by 17...Rf4 and Rh4.} 17. g3 Nxd8+ 18. Kh4 Rf4+ 19. Kg5 Ne6+ 20. Kh5 g6+
21. Kh6 Rh4+ 22. gxh4 Be3# {A pretty king hunt.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1851"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderssen, A."]
[Black "Kieseritsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C33"]

{One of Anderssen's masterpieces, known as the "Immortal Game". Black neglects his development, and Anderssen offers both Rooks to show that two active pieces are worth a dozen sleeping at home.} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3.
Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 b5 5. Bxb5 Nf6 6. Nf3 Qh6 7. d3 Nh5 8. Nh4 Qg5 9. Nf5 c6 10.
Rg1 cxb5 11. g4 Nf6 12. h4 Qg6 13. h5 Qg5 14. Qf3 {Now threatening to trap the Black Queen with 15.Bxf4.} 14... Ng8 15. Bxf4 Qf6 16. Nc3 Bc5 17. Nd5
Qxb2 18. Bd6 {A brilliant move, the main point of which is to divert the Black Queen from the a1-h8 diagonal. Now Black cannot play 18...Bxd6? 19.Nxd6+ Kd8 20.Nxf7+ Ke8 21.Nd6+ Kd8 22.Qf8++.} 18... Qxa1+ 19. Ke2 Bxg1 { And not 19...Qxg1 20.Nxg7+ Kd8 21.Bc7++.} 20. e5 Na6 {More resistance could have been offered by 20...Ba6, but White should still win after 21.Nc7+ Kd8 22.Nxa6 Bb6 23.Qxa8.} 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Qf6+ Nxf6 23. Be7# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "1853"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderssen, A."]
[Black "Dufresne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C52"]

{White sacrifices a piece to open the central files against the uncastled Black King, and despite his seemingly adequate development and counterattacking chances, Black comes out a tempo short in one of the finest combinations on record, justly known as the "Evergreen Game".} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {The Evans Gambit, in which White sacrifices a flank pawn for rapid development and a powerful center.} 4... Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5
6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Re1 Nge7 11. Ba3 b5 {Black in turn gives up a pawn to complete his development, but White's control of the center makes it difficult for Black to coordinate his forces.} 12. Qxb5 Rb8
13. Qa4 Bb6 14. Nbd2 Bb7 15. Ne4 Qf5 16. Bxd3 Qh5 17. Nf6+ {A temporary piece sacrifice to exploit the exposed position of the Black King. But this is not without danger, as Black now obtains an open g-file for counterplay.}
17... gxf6 18. exf6 Rg8 19. Rad1 {Offering a second piece and far stronger than the defensive 19.Be4.} 19... Qxf3 20. Rxe7+ Nxe7 {Black cannot escape with 20...Kd8, in view of 21.Rxd7+! Kc8 22.Rd8+ Kxd8 [or 22...Rxd8 23.gxf3] 23.Be2+, winning.} 21. Qxd7+ Kxd7 22. Bf5+ Ke8 23. Bd7+ Kd8 24. Bxe7# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1857"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paulsen, L."]
[Black "Morphy, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]

{Paul Morphy competed in only one tournament in his short career, the 1st American Chess Congress in 1857. In the final round of this knock-out event, he defeated German master Louis Paulsen by a score of +5, =2, -1. In this game, he demonstrates both his better grasp of positional play -- Black's control of the center files makes a marked contrast to White's flailing on the flanks -- and his combinative ability, as he finishes the game with a startling and brilliant Queen sacrifice.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.
Bb5 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nxe5 Re8 {Rather than permit the "fork trick" 6...Nxe5 7.d4, Black sacrifices a Pawn for rapid development.} 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5
9. Be2 {The seemingly more logical 9.Bb3 fails to 9...Bg4 10.Qe1 [or 10.Ne2 Rxe4 winning the pinned Knight] 10...b4, and if 11.Na4 Rxe4 traps the White Queen.} 9... Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Rxe4 11. Bf3 Re6 12. c3 {If White were able to follow up with d2-d4, this would be a good move, but he can't. He should reconcile himself to 12.d3.} 12... Qd3 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Bd7
16. Ra2 Rae8 {Threatens mate with 17...Qxf1+. White's reply defends against this sacrifice, but allows another, which Paulsen can hardly be blamed for missing. Relatively best was 17.Qd1} 17. Qa6 Qxf3 18. gxf3 {Morphy took 12 minutes to decide on 17...Qxf3, an unusually long time for him. Paulsen, a notoriously slow player, thought for over an hour before capturing the Queen.} 18... Rg6+ 19. Kh1 Bh3 20. Rd1 {Black threatened 20...Bg2+ 21.Kg1 Bxf3++, and 20.Rg1 fails to 20...Rxg1+ 21.Kxg1 Re1+. The key line, which Paulsen probably missed at move 17, is 20.Qd3 [hoping to return the Queen with 20...Qxg6] 20...f5!, and White is helpless.} 20... Bg2+ 21. Kg1 Bxf3+
22. Kf1 Bg2+ 23. Kg1 Bh3+ 24. Kh1 Bxf2 25. Qf1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Re2 27. Ra1 Rh6
28. d4 Be3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "9th Match Game, Paris"]
[Date "1858"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Morphy, P."]
[Black "Anderssen, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B44"]

{A school teacher, later professor of mathematics, Adolph Anderssen had to fit this now-historic match into the Christmas holidays. In some cases, two games were played in one day. This game and many others in the series give lie to the myth that Anderssen was interested only in attacks on the King. Here he answers a sharp assault on the Sicilian - repeated by Fischer more than a century later - with equal energy. The result is a violent miniature. } 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nb5 d6 6. Bf4 e5 7. Be3 f5 { So far, a modern line. Anderssen's move is adventurous and not easy to refute.} 8. N1c3 f4 {But Nf6 was surely more logical.} 9. Nd5 fxe3 10. Nbc7+
Kf7 11. Qf3+ Nf6 12. Bc4 {A wonderful attacking move, keeping options open and threatening a variety of things.} 12... Nd4 {An aggressive try, instead of running with 12...Kg6.} 13. Nxf6+ d5 14. Bxd5+ Kg6 15. Qh5+ Kxf6 16. fxe3
{At last!} 16... Nxc2+ 17. Ke2 {The Black King is now bare on the f-file. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1858"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Morphy, P."]
[Black "Count Isouard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]

{Waiting for Anderssen to arrive from Breslau, Paul Morphy enjoyed the delights of Paris - including the Opera House. During The Marriage of Figaro he entertains his hosts with this elegant brilliancy, mating on the 17th move with his last two pieces!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 {Not yet in the Philidor Defense! After a few forced moves White gets a big jump in development.} 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 {Seems natural, but Qe7 was necessary, as this game shows.} 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Nc3 {Development, not material!} 8... c6 9. Bg5 b5 {Far too optimistic, given the congestion of the black pieces.} 10. Nxb5 cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8 13. Rxd7 { Removing another defender.} 13... Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6 {Air at last - but now Morphy shows how simple a mate can be.} 15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 16. Qb8+ Nxb8 17.
Rd8# 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1858"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Henry Bird"]
[Black "Paul Morphy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]

{In olden times the object was to win with beautiful strokes, and fans often felt cheated when good defense frustrated a brilliancy. Morphy was the father of positional play, and his style was the antithesis of romanticism. Instead of going for the quick kill, he brought out all his pieces as rapidly as possible. But close scrutiny of his 400 recorded games reveals that many of his combinations were flawed. Here, a pawn ahead with a routine win in sight, he embarks on a celebrated sacrifice that needlessly allowed Bird drawing chances.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 {Philidor's Defense -- even though there are no recorded games showing that Philidor ever played it!} 3. d4 f5
{Philidor's Counter Attack is rarely seen nowdays because its considered too risky. The strongest reply is 4. Bc4 fxe4 5. Nxe5!} 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 d5
6. Ng3 {Sharper is 6. Nxe5 dxe4 7. Qh5 g6 8. Nxg6 Nf6 9. Qe5.} 6... e4 7.
Ne5 Nf6 {Black is out of danger and getting ready to castle.} 8. Bg5 Bd6 9.
Nh5 {Too many knight moves. Better is 9. f3.} 9... O-O 10. Qd2 Qe8 11. g4 {A better fight is 11. Nxf6 gxf6 12. Bxf6! Rxf6 13. Qg5 Rg6 14. Nxg6 hxg6 15. Qxd5. The text simply gives up a pawn without sufficient compensation.}
11... Nxg4 12. Nxg4 Qxh5 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Be2 Qh3 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Be3 Rb8
17. O-O-O Rxf2 {A memorable conception -- but it should yield only a draw against best defense.} 18. Bxf2 Qa3 19. c3 Qxa2 20. b4 Qa1+ 21. Kc2 Qa4+ 22.
Kb2 {22. Kc1! would force Black to take a draw by perpetual check since 22... Bxb4? loses to 23. cxb4 Rxb4 24. Qg5!} 22... Bxb4 23. cxb4 Rxb4+ 24.
Qxb4 Qxb4+ 25. Kc2 {More suicidal tendencies. Black seems to have nothing better than perpetual check against 25. Ka2.} 25... e3 26. Bxe3 {Also hopeless is 26. Be1 Bf5 27. Bd3 Qa4 28. Kc1 Qa1 29. Kc2 Bxd3 30. Rxd3 Qa2 31. Kc1 Qg2.} 26... Bf5+ 27. Rd3 {Futile is 27. Bd3 Qc4.} 27... Qc4+ 28. Kd2
Qa2+ 29. Kd1 Qb1+ {Black now prevails on 30. Kd2 Qxh1 31. Ra3 Qxh2. The art of defense was in such a backward state that inferior tactics often succeeded in those days. White resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1861"]
[Round "?"]
[White "MacDonnell, G. A."]
[Black "Boden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C51"]

{Once dubbed the "Koh-i-Noor" of chess, this game is quite typical of the period -- a slashing attack appears out of nowhere, for defensive technique was little understood even by the best players. The winner should not be confused with La Bourdonnais' opponent, Alexander McDonnell.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. O-O d6 6. h3 Nf6 7. d3 O-O 8. Nc3 h6 9. Be3
Nxb4 10. Ne2 Nc6 11. Ng3 d5 12. Bb5 dxe4 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Nxe5 exd3 15.
cxd3 Qe8 16. Bxb6 axb6 17. f4 Nd5 18. Qh5 f6 19. Ng6 Qe3+ 20. Kh2 Rd8 21.
Rfe1 Qxd3 22. Rad1 Qc2 {The black Queen's foraging expedition has left Black far behind in development.} 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Qf7 Bxh3 {Black clears the back rank with gain of tempo in order to answer the threat of Ng3-h5 with Rd8-g8. On other moves, say 24...Bb7, White's point is 25.Rxd5 cxd5 26.Nh5 Rg8 27.Ng6+ Kh7 28.Nxf6++.} 25. Re2 Qxd1 26. Nh5 Rg8 27. Nxg8 Rxg8 28. Re8 
{Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Breslau"]
[Date "1865"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Johannes Zukertort"]
[Black "Adolf Anderssen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C60"]

{After Zukertort lost two title matches to Steinitz, a critic ascribed these setbacks to the fact that he "was not yet Zukertort in 1872" (the first time) and "was no longer Zukertort in 1886" (the second time). Here he thrashes his teacher Anderssen (often considered the world's best player when Morphy retired) after dropping the first three games. This one proved to be the turning point of the match, and it shows how notions of beauty change. Wild sacrifices that were applauded a century ago usually fail today against ruthlessly precise defense; yet Anderssen was caught off guard, succumbed in a mere dozen moves, then lost the next five games.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 {The so-called Cozio Defense to the Ruy Lopez is seldom seen today.} 4. c3 d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. O-O Ng6 {The main problem with this setup is that it takes several moves before Black can safely castle.} 7. Ng5 h6 { Virtually inviting White to sacrifice on f7. Safer is 7...Be7 8 Qh5 exd4.}
8. Nxf7 Kxf7 9. Bc4+ Ke7 {A much tougher defense is 9...Ke8 10. Qh5 Nce7 (or Qf6).} 10. Qh5 Qe8 {The same fate awaits Black on 10...Be8 11. Bg5! hxg5 12. Qxg5 Kd7 13. Qf5 Ke7 24. Qe6 mate. The only way to stave off mate is 10...d5 in order to create an escape square for the king at d6.} 11. Qg5+ hxg5 12.
Bxg5# {Thus the student surpassed his teacher. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "13th Match Game, London"]
[Date "1866"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderssen, A."]
[Black "Steinitz, W."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]

{In a see-saw match a new force emerges in the person of Wilhelm Steinitz. In this decisive game, the younger man launches a "pawn roller" against White's King, while the man famous for the "Immortal" and "Evergreen" games pursues a positional attack on the Queenside. The White King runs, but can't hide.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. h3 g6 7. Nc3
Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 c5 11. Rb1 Ne8 12. b4 cxb4 13. Rxb4 c5 14.
Ra4 {The Rook seems aggressive but is out of play.} 14... Bd7 15. Ra3 f5 16.
Qb1 Kh8 17. Qb7 a5 18. Rb1 a4 19. Qd5 Qc8 20. Rb6 Ra7 21. Kh2 f4 22. Bd2 g5
23. Qc4 Qd8 24. Rb1 Nf6 25. Kg1 Nh7 26. Kf1 h5 27. Ng1 g4 28. hxg4 hxg4 29.
f3 Qh4 {As usual in such positions, everything seems defended but the cramped defender runs out of moves.} 30. Nd1 Ng5 31. Be1 Qh2 32. d4 gxf3 33.
gxf3 Nh3 {Going after bigger stakes.} 34. Bf2 Nxg1 35. dxc5 Qh3+ 36. Ke1 { The King would be soon mated after 36. Kxg1 Rg8.} 36... Nxf3+ 37. Rxf3 Qxf3
38. Nc3 {White is a full Rook down - but there's always the h file!} 38...
dxc5 39. Bxc5 Rc7 40. Nd5 Rxc5 {Enough!} 41. Qxc5 Qxe4+ 42. Kf2 Rc8 43. Nc7
Qe3+ {White resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1869"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Matchego"]
[Black "Falkbeer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C39"]

{In playing over these games, it is best not to ask too many questions about the defenders' play -- the gap in strength between master and amateur was often enormous. Relax and enjoy the tragicomic plight of the White King, as he is driven across the board and mated with his pieces still at home.} 1.
e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nc3 {White's set up (known as the Kieseritsky Gambit) is acceptable -- he can recover either the g5 or f5 pawn -- but he should now play 6.d4, to answer 6...d6 with 7.Nd3.} 6...
d6 7. Nc4 Be7 8. d4 Nh5 9. Be2 Bxh4+ 10. Kd2 Qg5 11. Kd3 Nc6 12. a3 Bf2 13.
Nd5 Bxd4 14. Nxc7+ Kd8 15. Nd5 {15.Nxa8 is no worse than the game, but it runs into something like 15...d5 16.exd5 Bf5+ 17. Kd2 f3+ 18.Ke1 f2+ 19.Kf1 Ng3++.} 15... f5 16. Nxd6 fxe4+ 17. Kc4 Qxd5+ 18. Kxd5 Nf6+ 19. Kc4 Be6+ 20.
Kb5 a6+ 21. Ka4 b5+ 22. Nxb5 axb5+ 23. Kxb5 Ra5+ 24. Kxc6 Bd5+ 25. Kd6 Ne8#
0-1

[Event "Vienna"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1872"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Carl Hamppe"]
[Black "Philipp Meitner"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C25"]

{There seems to be a deep-rooted prejudice against draws, and complaints are frequently heard about uninspired draws in modern master competition. But if neither side makes a mistake, splitting the point is a logical result. Chess literature abounds in draws far more exciting than many a decisive outcome. Here the sheer logic of the situation forced the spirited combatants to make peace in a mere 18 moves! The Golden Treasury of Chess dubbed it "perhaps the most extraordinary game ever played" -- not the least of its virtues is the incredible journey undertaken by White's king deep into enemy terrain.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Na4 Bxf2+ {To exploit the awkward knight on the rim. More prudent is 3...Be7.} 4. Kxf2 Qh4+ {The point is that on 5. g3 Qxe4 attacks both a4 and h1.} 5. Ke3 Qf4+ 6. Kd3 d5 7. Kc3 Qxe4 8. Kb3 Na6 9. a3
{To prevent 9...Qb4 mate. Another possibility is 9. d4.} 9... Qxa4+ {A thunderbolt!} 10. Kxa4 Nc5+ 11. Kb4 a5+ 12. Kxc5 Ne7 {Threatening 13...b6 14. kb5 Bd7 mate.} 13. Bb5+ Kd8 14. Bc6 b6+ 15. Kb5 Nxc6 16. Kxc6 {But not 16. c3? Nd4 17. cxd4 Bd7 mate.} 16... Bb7+ 17. Kb5 {How many pieces can Black give away? This bishop can't be accepted in view of 17. Kxb7? Kd7 18. Qg4 Kd6 followed by Rhb8 mate.} 17... Ba6+ 18. Kc6 {Again best. If 18. Ka4? Bc4 followed by b5 mate.} 18... Bb7+ {Draw by repetition on 19. Kb5 Ba6. A fitting conclusion to one of the most remarkable king hunts in chess history.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1876"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bird, H."]
[Black "Mason"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]

{This brilliancy-prize game by Henry Edward Bird, one of England's premier players for half a century, features a speculative queen sacrifice with the unusual combination of two rooks and knights against queen, rook and knight. A delight!} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O
7. O-O h6 8. Re1 Nc6 9. Nb5 Bb4 10. c3 Ba5 11. Na3 Bg4 12. Nc2 {The continuing fight for good squares for the pieces.} 12... Qd7 13. b4 Bb6 14.
h3 Bh5 15. Ne3 Rfe8 16. b5 Ne7 17. g4 Bg6 18. Ne5 Qc8 19. a4 c6 20. bxc6
bxc6 21. Ba3 Ne4 {Black seeks exchanges, but in this case White's position grows stronger.} 22. Qc2 Ng5 23. Bxe7 Rxe7 24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. Qxg6 Nxh3+ 26.
Kh2 Nf4 27. Qf5 Ne6 {The exchange of Queens would have left Black with a poor endgame, but now there's worse...} 28. Ng2 Qc7 29. a5 Bxa5 30. Rxa5 Rf8
{If 30...Qxa5 31. Ng6! (not 31. Nxc6 Qc7+).} 31. Ra6 {A marvelous conception, especially since 31. Qc2 is safe.} 31... Rxf5 32. gxf5 Nd8 33.
Nf4 Qc8 34. Nfg6 Re8 {Prove It! says Black:} 35. Nxc6 {And he does. Yet the combination is by no means clear: 35...Nxc6 36. Rxe8+ Qxe8 37. Rxc6 keeps Rook & Knight for the Queen, but White is hardly a winner.} 35... Qc7+ 36.
Nce5 Qxc3 37. Re3 Qd2 38. Kg2 Qxd4 39. f6 gxf6 40. Rxf6 Ne6 41. Rg3 Ng5 42.
Ng4 Kg7 43. Nf4 Qe4+ 44. Kh2 {White has too many forks and pins for Black to handle - otherwise, the ending is Black's.} 44... Nh7 45. Nh5+ Kh8 46. Rxh6
Qc2 47. Nhf6 Re7 48. Kg2 d4 49. Ne5 Qc8 50. Ng6+ {A rollicking good game! Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Berlin"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1881"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Blackburne, J."]
[Black "Schwarz, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]

{Joseph Henry Blackburne was a chess professional all his life and the greatest player England produced in the 19th century. Here is his most brilliant game at his finest triumph in Berlin where he finished first ahead of Zukertort and every leading master with the exception of Steinitz, who did not participate.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 {Considered too tame today. 4. Bg5 is preferred.} 4... exd5 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. Bd3 c6 7. O-O O-O
8. Ne2 {White could first take the precaution of 8. h3.} 8... Bg4 9. Ng3 Qc7
10. Be3 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Rfe8 12. Rae1 Ne4 13. Qc1 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nxg3 15. hxg3
Bxg3 16. Kg2 {16. fxg3 Qxg3+ leads to a draw by perpetual check.} 16... Bd6
17. Rh1 Nf8 18. Rh3 g6 19. Reh1 Rad8 20. Bg5 Rd7 21. c4 {"White's design from this move in combination with the brilliant finish belongs to the finest efforts of chess genius in modern play," wrote Steinitz.} 21... dxc4
22. Bxc4 h5 {Weakens the kingside. Better is 22...Be7.} 23. Rh4 b5 24. Bb3
Ne6 25. Bf6 Nf4+ {Loses. The last hope was 25...Be7 26. Bxe6 Bxf6 27. Bxd7 Qxd7.} 26. Qxf4 Bxf4 27. Rxh5 gxh5 28. Rxh5 {Black Resigns. Mate can't be averted on h8.} 1-0

[Event "London International"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1883"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Chigorin, M."]
[Black "Zukertort, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]

{This event featured the introduction of the double-faced clock now standardized in tournament play. Russia's Mikhail Chigorin finished fourth in a field of 14 after biting the dust in the first round against Johannes Zukertort, who won with 22-4 -- three points ahead of future world champion Wilhelm Steinitz. Here White erred by relinquishing the two Bishops too soon and is punished by a sprightly combination.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. d5 {Today 6. Re1 is preferred.} 6... Nd6 7. Bxc6 { It's better to retreat with 7. Ba4 but Chigorin was known for preferring knights over Bishops.} 7... dxc6 8. dxc6 f6 {Preserving the central pawn mass.} 9. cxb7 Bxb7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Nf7 12. Qe2 f5 13. Nb3 f4 14. Bc5
e4 {The pawns advance like molten lava.} 15. Nfd4 f3 16. Qb5 Qc8 17. Rfd1
Ba6 {To stop the queen from getting back to f1.} 18. Qa4 Ng5 {Tearing White's kingside apart due to the double threat of Nh3+ or Qg4. Premature would be 18...Qg4? 19. Nxf3!} 19. Nxf3 exf3 20. Rd7 {Equally inadequate is 20. Bxe7 Nh3+. Now a king hunt begins in earest.} 20... fxg2 21. Rxe7 Nh3+
22. Kxg2 Nf4+ 23. Kf3 Qh3+ 24. Ke4 Bb7+ 25. Kd4 Ne6+ 26. Kc4 Rf4+ 27. Nd4
Nxc5 28. Kxc5 {Also futile is 28. Re8+ Kf7.} 28... Qh5+ 29. Kc4 Rxd4+ {White Resigns. His queen falls after 30. Kxd4 Qg4+.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1883"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zukertort"]
[Black "Blackburne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]

{A striking combination by Zukertort, perhaps the last of the "old school" masters. After his defeat by Steinitz in 1886, it became clear that Steinitz's positional theories had brought a new aspect to the game.} 1. c4
e6 2. e3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Be2 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. d4 Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. b3 Nbd7
9. Bb2 Qe7 10. Nb5 Ne4 11. Nxd6 cxd6 12. Nd2 Ndf6 13. f3 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 dxc4
15. Bxc4 d5 16. Bd3 Rfc8 17. Rae1 Rc7 18. e4 Rac8 19. e5 Ne8 20. f4 g6 21.
Re3 f5 22. exf6ep Nxf6 23. f5 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. fxg6 Rc2 26. gxh7+ Kh8
27. d5+ e5 {Now it seems that White must lose a piece, but the active White Rooks, the exposed position of the Black King, and the strong Bishop on b2 provide the basis for an "overloading" combination.} 28. Qb4 R8c5 {On 28...Qxb4 29.Bxe5+ Kxh7 30.Rf7+ Black will soon be mated. A typical variation is 30...Kg6 31.Rf6+ Kh5 32.Rh3+ Kg5 33.Rg3+ Kh5 34.Rf5+ Kh6 35.Bf4+ Kh7 36.Rh5++.} 29. Rf8+ Kxh7 30. Qxe4+ Kg7 31. Bxe5+ Kxf8 32. Bg7+
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "7th Match Game, New York"]
[Date "1886"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zukertort, J."]
[Black "Steinitz, W."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E57"]

{The first match recognized as a World Championship contest began badly for Steinitz. Then he settled down into a positional game that has ever since been his hallmark. The battle here, and in innumerable Queen's Gambits since, has been over the strength or weakness of the isolated queen pawn, and, later, the "hanging pawns" in the center.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e3 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3
Bd7 11. Qd3 Rc8 12. Rac1 Qa5 13. Ba2 Rfd8 14. Rfe1 Be8 15. Bb1 g6 16. Qe2
Bf8 17. Red1 Bg7 18. Ba2 Ne7 {White has failed to solve the problem of the isolated queen pawn, defending it passively, and now tries to set up the flimsy combination 20. Nd5:} 19. Qd2 Qa6 20. Bg5 Nf5 21. g4 {21. Qe1, recommended by Lasker, would hold the queen pawn because of the threat of Bxe6. The desperate text move provokes a simple combination.} 21... Nxd4 22.
Nxd4 e5 23. Nd5 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 exd4 25. Rxd4 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. Bxd5 Qe2
28. h3 h6 {White saves himself after 28 ... Bxb2 29. Qc8 Qd1+ 30 Kh2 Be5+ 31. f4 Qd2+ 32. Kg3.} 29. Bc4 {The Queen and two Bishop ending is treacherous, but after 29. Be3 Bxb2 30. Qb1 Kh2 31. Bxb7 it's still a game.}
29... Qf3 30. Qe3 Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Bc6 32. Be7 Be5+ {Finally, the rub. If 32. Qxe5 White is mated by 32...Qh1+ and 33...Qg2+, etc.} 33. f4 Bxf4+ 34. Qxf4
Qh1+ 35. Kg3 Qg1+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1889"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Blackburne, H."]
[Black "Lipschutz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]

{White allows his opponent to obtain two passed pawns on the Queenside in exchange for posting a Rook on the seventh rank. The game was adjourned at move 31, and not only Lipschutz, but the spectators -- including Steinitz -- were certain that Black must win. The combination initiated by White's 32nd move brought a rude awakening.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 b6 5.
Bg5 Be7 6. e3 Bb7 7. Rc1 Nbd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Ne4 {Black has completed his development without difficulty (White should have tried to exploit the weakened c6 square with some combination of Qa4, Bb5 and Ne5), and he now begins to take the initiative, occupying his outpost on e4.} 11.
Bf4 c5 12. Qe2 f5 13. Rfd1 c4 14. Bxe4 fxe4 15. Ne5 Nf6 16. g4 Qe8 17. Qf1
Bd6 18. h3 Rd8 19. Qg2 b5 {Black has a space advantage and chances to create a passed pawn on the Queenside, so White must try to stir something up on the g-file.} 20. Ne2 b4 21. Ng3 Nd7 22. Nxd7 Rxd7 23. Ne2 Bxf4 24. Nxf4 Rdf7
25. g5 Rf5 26. Kh1 a5 27. Rg1 Bc8 28. Qg3 Qa4 29. b3 cxb3 30. axb3 Qxb3 31.
Rc7 a4 32. g6 h6 33. Rxg7+ {Amazingly, White now has a winning attack. If 33...Kh8 34.Rh7+ Kg8 35.g7 Rg5 36.gxf8Q+ Kxf8 37.Ne6+ and wins.} 33... Kxg7
34. Nh5+ Rxh5 35. Qc7+ Kf6 36. Qd6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1889"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chigorin, M."]
[Black "Pollock"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C51"]

{Though he demonstrated many ideas well ahead of his time, Chigorin was best known in his own era as a fierce attacker. Here he makes good use of one of his favorite weapons, the Evans Gambit.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4.
b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Na5 {At the time a popular defense in this "Normal Position" of the Evans, but later it was realized that, while eliminating the Bc4 was desirable in principle, Black in his undeveloped state could not afford the time lost.} 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bf4
Nxc4 12. Qa4+ Kf7 13. Qxc4+ Be6 14. d5 Bd7 15. Ne2 Qe8 16. a4 Ne7 17. Be3
Ng6 18. Bxb6 cxb6 19. Qb4 Qe7 20. Ng3 Rac8 21. Nd4 Rc5 22. f4 Rhc8 23. Qd2
Rc4 24. Ne6 Nh4 25. Qd1 Bxe6 26. dxe6+ Kg8 {Black has eliminated the intrusive Knight at e6, but the pawn that replaces it is at least as annoying. He should have played 23...Nf8.} 27. Qg4 Ng6 28. Nf5 Qc7 29. e7
Kf7 30. Rad1 Qc5+ 31. Kh1 Rc6 32. e5 {With all the Black pieces tied down -- the Knight must shield the g7 pawn, and the Queen and Rook are tied to the defense of the d6 pawn -- White opens lines to the Black King with this pawn advance.} 32... fxe5 {No better is 32...dxe5 -- 33.Rd8 (threatening e8Q+) Nxe7 34.Qxg7+ Ke6 35.Nxe7, and there is no good defense to f4-f5 mate.} 33.
Nxd6+ Rxd6 34. fxe5+ Rf6 35. e8=Q+ Kxe8 36. Qd7+ Kf8 37. exf6 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1889"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Bauer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A03"]

{An early example of the double-Bishop sacrifice, the "chess mill" theme, and the skill of the then-young Emanuel Lasker, who only five years later would challenge Steinitz for the World Championship.} 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3.
e3 Nf6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 b6 {The flank development of his Queen Bishop fits in well with White's central formation, but Black's play is rather obliging -- he ought to have tried either for an early e6-e5, or ...c7-c5 followed by ...d5-d4.} 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Ne2 c5 10. Ng3 Qc7 11. Ne5
Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Qc6 13. Qe2 a6 14. Nh5 Nxh5 15. Bxh7+ {A bolt from a rather stormy sky. The key factors of the combination are a) the possibility of quickly bringing a Rook into the attack (19.Rf3), and b) the presence of undefended Black pieces, giving the White Queen the chance for a double attack (22.Qd7).} 15... Kxh7 16. Qxh5+ Kg8 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh7 19.
Rf3 e5 20. Rh3+ Qh6 21. Rxh6+ Kxh6 22. Qd7 {If it were not for this sting at the end of the combination, Black would have quite enough material for his Queen. Now White has a decisive material and positional advantage.} 22...
Bf6 23. Qxb7 Kg7 24. Rf1 Rab8 25. Qd7 Rfd8 26. Qg4+ Kf8 27. fxe5 Bg7 {Not 27...Bxe5 28.Qe6} 28. e6 Rb7 29. Qg6 f6 30. Rxf6+ Bxf6 31. Qxf6+ Ke8 32.
Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qg7+ Kxe6 34. Qxb7 Rd6 35. Qxa6 d4 36. exd4 cxd4 37. h4 d3 38.
Qxd3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "4th Match Game, Havana"]
[Date "1892"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Steinitz, W."]
[Black "Chigorin, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]

{Their first match here in 1889 was the bloodiest in world championship history: a single draw out of 17 games! The second time around, there were still only five draws in 23 games, but the champion retained his title only by slugging it out with the ferocious Russian.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. c3 g6 6. Nbd2 Bg7 7. Nf1 O-O 8. Ba4 Nd7 9. Ne3 Nc5 10. Bc2
Ne6 {Typical maneuvering to hold the center, but Steinitz now attacks the Kingside.} 11. h4 Ne7 12. h5 d5 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5
16. Bb3 Qc6 17. Qe2 Bd7 18. Be3 Kh8 19. O-O-O Rae8 20. Qf1 a5 21. d4 {Now the long-delayed opening of the center.} 21... exd4 22. Nxd4 Bxd4 {White's 20th move prevents 22...Nxd4: 23. Rxh7+ Kxh7 and 24. Qh1+ with mate to follow:} 23. Rxd4 Nxd4 24. Rxh7+ Kxh7 25. Qh1+ Kg7 26. Bh6+ Kf6 27. Qh4+ Ke5
28. Qxd4+ Kf5 29. Qf4# 1-0

[Event "Dresden"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1892"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Siegbert Tarrasch"]
[Black "George Marco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]

{For many years Tarrasch was considered Lasker's strongest contender for the crown. He was the chess teacher to world, and his books have stood the test of time. Here he shows the latent power in the Ruy Lopez and springs one of the deepest traps found in opening theory.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4.
d4 Bd7 5. O-O {The attempt to win a pawn backfires after 5. Bxc6 Bxc6 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Qxd8 Rxd8 8. Nxe5 Bxe4. Another approach is the Showalter Attack 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Qd3 defending e4 and preparing to castle queenside.} 5... Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O {This careless move costs a pawn. After 6...exd4 7. Nxd4 O-O Black is cramped but solid.} 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. dxe5
dxe5 10. Qxd8 Raxd8 11. Nxe5 Bxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Nd3 {Of course not 13. Rxe4? Rd1 mates. Now the pin on the e-file is fatal.} 13... f5 14. f3 Bc5+
15. Nxc5 {But not 15. Kf1 Bb6 16. fxe4 fxe4 (with check!) 17. Nf4 e3 18. g3 g5 regaining the piece.} 15... Nxc5 16. Bg5 Rd5 17. Be7 Re8 18. c4 {The final point: White holds the extra piece after 18...Nd3 19. cxd5 Nxe1 20. Rxe1 Kf7 21. Bb4. Anything else also costs Black material. Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "St. Petersburg"]
[Date "1893"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chigorin, M."]
[Black "Tarrasch, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]

{By WWI anybody who read chess books understood the principles of chess either directly or indirectly because of Tarrasch's untiring efforts. His gospel was attack, but this game demonstrates that he was also capable of producing defensive masterpieces.} 1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Nf3 { White is aiming for what is known today as a reverse King's Indian formation. A good alternative is 4. f4.} 4... Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. d3 Nf6 7. O-O
O-O 8. Nc3 a6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bf4 b5 11. Rfe1 d4 {More logical is 11...Bb7 to keep the center fluid.} 12. Nd1 Nd7 13. Kh1 Re8 14. Rg1 e5 15. Bd2 Nf8 16.
Ne1 Ne6 17. f4 Bb7 18. f5 Ng5 19. Nf2 {Tarrasch suggested 19. h4 Nh7 20. Nf3 striving for g4-5.} 19... Rc8 20. Qh5 Nh7 21. Nf3 c4 22. Bf1 cxd3 {The first capture. Both sides now proceed to attack on opposite wings.} 23. cxd3 Ng5
24. Bxg5 Bxg5 25. Ng4 Kf8 26. Be2 Bf6 27. h4 Qd6 28. Nfh2 Ne7 29. Raf1 { Stronger is 29. Nxf6 Qxf6 27. Raf1 (threatening Ng4 which would immediately would be refuted by 27.Ng4? Qxf5!} 29... Ng8 30. Bd1 Rc7 31. Bb3 Rec8 32.
Nf2 Bd8 33. Qe2 a5 34. Nf3 a4 35. Bd1 Bc6 {"The beginning of a fine maneuver which makes it possible for the Rooks to penetrate to the 7th rank" -- Tarrasch.} 36. g4 f6 37. Nh3 Be8 38. Qh2 Bf7 39. a3 Bb3 40. Nf2 Bxd1 41.
Nxd1 Rc2 42. Qg3 b4 43. axb4 Qa6 44. Nf2 Rxb2 45. g5 hxg5 46. hxg5 Rcc2 47.
Ng4 Qd6 48. gxf6 {The winning maneuver is 48. Qh3! Qc7 49. Qh8! Qf7 50. Ra1! Rxb4 51. gxf6 gxf6 52. Nh4!} 48... Bxf6 49. Qh3 a3 {The best defense is to ignore the attack!} 50. Nxf6 Qxf6 51. Rg6 a2 52. Rxf6+ {The losing move. White has at least a draw with 52. Ng5! Ke7 53. Rxf6 gxf6 54. Qh7+ Kd6 55. Qxg8.} 52... gxf6 53. Rd1 Rb1 54. Qf1 Rcb2 55. Nd2 Rxd1 56. Qxd1 Rxd2 57.
Qc1 Rxd3 58. Kg2 Rc3 59. Qa1 Rc2+ 60. Kf3 d3 61. Qd1 {Or 61. Ke3 d2 62. Ke2 Rc1.} 61... Rb2 62. Qa4 d2 {White Resigns. A titanic tussle.} 0-1

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1894"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]

{Although Lasker won the title by 12-7, the old lion showed his teeth in this game by demonstrating that the absence of Queens does not necessarily diminish the action. With singleness of purpose, Steinitz sacrifices a pawn to break up the hostile pawn mass and dominate the open d-file. Noteworthy is the superiority of the bishop over a knight in the ensuing endgame.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 c5 { More accurate is 7...Bd7! to meet 8. Bf4 with O-O-O. For 7...Bd6 see Lasker-Capablanca, St. Petersburg 1914.} 8. Ne2 Bd7 9. Nbc3 {Instead of this routine developing move 9. b3! poses Black more problems} 9... O-O-O 10. Bf4
Bc6 11. O-O Nf6 12. f3 Be7 13. Ng3 g6 14. Rfe1 Nd7 15. Nd1 Nb6 16. Nf1 {All this regrouping behind the lines demonstrates that White lacks a good plan.}
16... Rd7 17. Be3 Rhd8 18. b3 c4 {This pawn sacrifice eliminates Black's only weakness and wrecks White's queenside pawns.} 19. Bxb6 cxb6 20. bxc4
Bb4 21. c3 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 Rd3 23. Rc1 a5 24. Nde3 f5 25. exf5 {Leads to trouble by opening lines for the two Bishops. Necessary is 25. Nd5 right away.} 25... gxf5 26. h3 {Perhaps Lasker intended 26. Nxf5 Rxf3! 27. Ne7 Bxe7 28. gxf3 but saw too late that Bxf3 29. Kg1 Bc5 30. Ne3 Rd2 is crushing.} 26... Rg8 {In addition to oblique pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal, Black now exerts vertical pressure on the g-file. Again if 27. Nxf5? Rxf3! 28. gxf3 Bxf3 29. Kh2 Bg1 mate.} 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. cxd5 Rxd5 29. Red1 Rxd1
30. Rxd1 f4 {This pawn paralyzes the adverse knight as well as White's kingside pawns. If now 30. Nh2 h5; or 30. Nd2 Rd8.} 31. Kh2 Re8 32. a4 Kc7
33. h4 Kc6 34. c4 Bb4 35. Kh3 Re1 36. Rxe1 Bxe1 {Masterly liquidation. Black holds all the trumps with the more active bishop and king.} 37. Kg4 Kc5 38.
Kxf4 Kxc4 39. Ke4 {Also hopeless is 39. h5 b5 40. axb5 a4 and the pawn queens.} 39... Bxh4 40. g3 Bd8 41. Ne3+ Kb4 42. Kd3 Kxa4 43. Kc2 Kb4 44. f4
Kc5 45. f5 Kd6 46. g4 b5 47. Nd1 Ke5 48. Nc3 b4 49. Na4 Kd4 50. Nb2 b5 51.
Kb3 Be7 52. g5 a4+ 53. Nxa4 bxa4+ 54. Kxa4 Ke5 55. Kb3 Kxf5 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "7th Match Game, New York"]
[Date "1894"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Steinitz, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C62"]

{Lasker comes to the New World and seizes the championship. This game, famous for the deadly error on move 34 by Black, began a run of five straight wins by Lasker in his inimitable style of smoke and mirrors.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Nc3 Nge7 {A discredited defense that would lend to further weaknesses after 6. Bg5, but Lasker prefers simple development.} 6. Be3 Ng6 7. Qd2 Be7 {This commits Black to Kingside Castling, after which White's attack is obvious. 7...a6 had to be tried at once.} 8. O-O-O a6 9. Be2 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bf6 12. Qd2 Bc6 13.
Nd5 O-O 14. g4 Re8 15. g5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 {An unnecessary sacrifice, when exd5 is positionally crushing.} 16... Re5 17. Qd2 Bxg5 18. f4 Rxe4 19. fxg5 Qe7
20. Rdf1 Rxe3 21. Bc4 Nh8 22. h4 c6 23. g6 {Lasker is now swimming, down two pawns and pitching a third. After 23...hxg6 24. h5 not d5 25. hxg6 dxc4? 26. Rxh8+ and mate in five, but simply 24...gxh5.} 23... d5 24. gxh7+ Kxh7 25.
Bd3+ Kg8 26. h5 Re8 27. h6 g6 28. h7+ Kg7 29. Kb1 Qe5 30. a3 c5 31. Qf2 c4
32. Qh4 f6 33. Bf5 Kf7 {The Bishop can be taken here, because Black is one move ahead of the following line after 34. Qh6+, and 34. Rhg1+ Ng6 is adequate.} 34. Rhg1 gxf5 {Now this is fatal. Simply 34...d4 should win, as 35. Qh6 is met by Rg3.} 35. Qh5+ Ke7 36. Rg8 Kd6 37. Rxf5 Qe6 38. Rxe8 Qxe8
39. Rxf6+ Kc5 40. Qh6 Re7 41. Qh2 {Cat and mouse.} 41... Qd7 42. Qg1+ d4 43.
Qg5+ Qd5 44. Rf5 Qxf5 45. Qxf5+ Kd6 46. Qf6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1895"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pillsbury, H."]
[Black "Tarrasch, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]

{The story of Harry Nelson Pillsbury is remarkable. In 1895 he traveled to Europe to compete in his first international tournament -- and won, ahead of names like Lasker, Tarrasch and Chigorin. Though a frequent and successful tournament player, he never obtained the match for the world championship he sought, and his early death in 1906 deprived the world of one of its greatest players. Among other things, Pillsbury showed the worth of the Queen's Gambit in an era when anything other than 1.e4 e5 was often dubbed "Irregular".} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Rc1 O-O
7. e3 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. O-O c5 11. Re1 c4 {At the time it was thought that Black's Queenside pawn majority should give him the advantage -- given time, he will advance his b and c pawns and create a passed pawn on the c-file. But Pillsbury shows that White's active pieces are of greater import.} 12. Bb1 a6 13. Ne5 b5 14. f4 Re8 15. Qf3 Nf8 16. Ne2 Ne4 17. Bxe7
Rxe7 18. Bxe4 dxe4 {White does not object to exchanging a few pieces, for the Black Bb7 cannot easily participate in the defense of the Kingside.} 19.
Qg3 f6 20. Ng4 Kh8 21. f5 Qd7 22. Rf1 Rd8 23. Rf4 Qd6 {White has steadily strengthened his position while Black temporized.} 24. Qh4 Rde8 25. Nc3 Bd5
26. Nf2 Qc6 27. Rf1 b4 28. Ne2 Qa4 {It seems that Black's strategy has succeeded, for he must now obtain a passed pawn on the Queenside. But all the White pieces are poised for an attack on the Black King.} 29. Ng4 Nd7 { Not 29...Qxa2? 30.Nxf6! and wins.} 30. R4f2 Kg8 {And now if 30...Qxa2 31.Nf4 Bf7 32.Ng6+ Bxg6 33.fxg6 h6 34.Nxh6 gxh6 35.Qxh6+ Kg8 36.Rf5 wins.} 31. Nc1
c3 32. b3 Qc6 33. h3 a5 34. Nh2 a4 35. g4 axb3 36. axb3 Ra8 37. g5 Ra3 38.
Ng4 Bxb3 39. Rg2 Kh8 40. gxf6 gxf6 41. Nxb3 Rxb3 42. Nh6 {Threatening Rg8++. } 42... Rg7 43. Rxg7 Kxg7 44. Qg3+ Kxh6 {Forced, as 44...Kf8 45.Qg8+ picks off the Rb3.} 45. Kh1 {A quiet but deadly move -- Black is helpless against the threat to close the mating net with 46.Rg1.} 45... Qd5 46. Rg1 Qxf5 47.
Qh4+ Qh5 48. Qf4+ Qg5 49. Rxg5 fxg5 50. Qd6+ Kh5 51. Qxd7 c2 52. Qxh7# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1895"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Steinitz, W."]
[Black "von Bardeleben"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]

{Steinitz was definitely past his best in 1895, but as he himself said, "I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if he puts it in my mouth". The choleric von Bardeleben left the room after move 25 and permitted his time to expire, whereupon Steinitz demonstrated to the onlookers a brilliant 10-move mating combination.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 d5 {A rare alternative to 7...Nxe4 8.O-O, when Black may choose between 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 d5 [9...Bxc3 10.Qb3 has been known to be very good for White since the time of Greco] and the speculative Moller Attack, 8...Bxc3 9.d5, now thought to lead to a draw with best play.} 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxd5 Bxd5 12. Nxd5
Qxd5 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 {Black still hopes to connect his Rooks by castling, but he will be unable to shake off the pressure on the central files. A slightly better try was 13...Kxe7 14.Re1+ Kf8.} 14. Re1 f6 15. Qe2 Qd7 16. Rac1 c6 { Allowing a powerful pawn sacrifice. Better was 16...Kf7, and if 17.Qxe7+ Qxe7 18.Rxe7+ Kxe7 19.Rxc7+, the ending is by no means clear, though White will have enough pawns for the Exchange.} 17. d5 {A fine move -- the d5 square, which Black has been using for his pieces, will be occupied by a Black pawn, the d4 square is made accessible to White, and the c-file will be opened.} 17... cxd5 18. Nd4 Kf7 19. Ne6 Rhc8 20. Qg4 g6 21. Ng5+ Ke8 22.
Rxe7+ {Of course the Rook cannot be captured by the Queen (22...Qxe7 23.Rxc8+) and 22...Kxe7 leads to 23.Re1+ Kd6 24.Qb4+ Kc7 25.Ne6+ Kb8 26.Qf4+. But after Black's next move, every White piece is en prise, and mate is threatened on c1...} 22... Kf8 23. Rf7+ Kg8 {No better is 24...Kf8 25.Nxh7+} 24. Rg7+ Kh8 25. Rxh7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1895"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Chigorin, M."]
[Black "Pillsbury, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C30"]

{Chigorin's had an outstanding result with second prize at this landmark event which assembled 22 leading masters of the day for the first time. His first round game against a newcomer from America making his European debut was an epic struggle where the caliber of both attack and defense is sensational. After this loss, nobody dared to dream that Pillsbury would finish first.} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 {A well know trap is 4. fxe5 dxe5 5. Nxe5? Qh4+ and wins.} 4... Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. d3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3
8. Qxf3 Nd4 9. Qg3 {More complex than the tame retreat 9. Qd1.} 9... Nxc2+ { Safer and sounder is 9...exf4! 10. Qxg7 Rf8 11. Kd1 Qe7 12. Rf1 Rg8!} 10.
Kd1 Nxa1 11. Qxg7 Kd7 {All standard at the time. Not 11...Rf8? 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Rf1 Be7 14. Bg5 and wins.} 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Rf1 Be7 14. Qxf7 {Lasker claimed that 14. Bg5 was stronger, an opinion that has been debated for decades.} 14... Kc8 15. Bg5 Rf8 16. Qe6+ Kb8 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Qxe5 Nd7 19.
Qh5 Nb6 {Lasker recommends instead 19...Bf8 20. Bg5 Be7 which draws as the best course. But both sides are playing to win!} 20. Bd5 a6 {Chigorin noted that Black must fight for a draw in the ending 20...Nxd5 21. Qxd5!} 21. Kd2
Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Rg8 23. g4 Bb4+ {Fine recommends 23...Bc5 instead. And Lasker pointed out that 23...Bg5+ 24. Bxg5 25. Qxg5 Nb3+ 26. axb3 Rxg5 27. Rf7 is in White's favor.} 24. Nxb4 Qd4 25. Nc2 Nxc2 26. Kxc2 Rg6 {New Russian analysis claims that 26...Ka7 27. Rf3 c5 is even stronger for Black.} 27.
Bd2 Rd6 28. Rf3 Qa4+ 29. Kc1 Qxa2 30. Bc3 Rc6 31. Qxh7 b5 32. Qe7 Qb3 33.
Kd2 a5 34. Rf5 Kb7 {If 34...b4 35. Rb5+ Ka7 36. Bd4+ Ka6 37. Rc5 wins.} 35.
Rc5 Raa6 36. g5 Rxc5 37. Qxc5 Rc6 38. Qd5 Qa4 {The ending is hopeless for Black after the queen swap, but now White's passed pawns decide the issue anyway.} 39. g6 b4 40. g7 bxc3+ 41. bxc3 Qa3 42. g8=Q Qxc3+ 43. Ke2 Qc2+ 44.
Kf3 Qd1+ 45. Kg3 Qg1+ 46. Kh4 Qf2+ 47. Kh5 Qf3+ 48. Qg4 Qf6 49. Qgf5 Qh6+
50. Kg4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Vienna"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1895"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bernhard Fleissig"]
[Black "Carl Schlechter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]

{Mild-mannered Schlechter was known as the drawing master but was always a feared opponent -- and the only one to nearly dethrone Lasker in their 1910 match for the world championship, which ended in a 5-5 tie. This brilliant game influenced the Hastings tournament committee to invite the youngster of 21, who then had no more than local prominence, to take part in the greatest event of that era. Schlechter finished a respectable ninth in a field of 22. } 1. b4 {Dubbed the "orangoutang opening" by Tartakower when it surfaced again at the mighty tournament in New York 1924.} 1... e6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. a3
c5 4. b5 d5 5. d4 {Feeble. 5. e3 is indicated.} 5... Qa5+ {Forcing White to subject himself to a dangerous pin in order to guard the pawn on b5.} 6. Nc3
Ne4 7. Qd3 cxd4 8. Qxd4 Bc5 {Beginning an immortal combination.} 9. Qxg7
Bxf2+ 10. Kd1 d4 {Shattering any illusion that White is safe -- with the amusing point of 11. Nxe4 Qe1 mate!} 11. Qxh8+ Ke7 12. Qxc8 {If 12. Nf3 then ...dxc3.} 12... dxc3 13. Bc1 Nd7 {This deflection sacrifice entombs the White queen far from the action.} 14. Qxa8 {Cooperating by snatching more material but 14. Qc4 was necessary.} 14... Qxb5 15. Bf4 Qd5+ 16. Kc1 Be3+ { This extraordinary move prepares another extraordinary sacrifice.} 17. Bxe3
Nf2 {For if 18. Bxf2 Qd2 19. Kb1 Qd1 20. Ka2 Qxc2 mate. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "St. Petersburg"]
[Date "1896"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pillsbury, H."]
[Black "Lasker, Em."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]

{Lasker scores a brilliant combinative victory over arch-rival Pillsbury. The players castle on opposite wings, but White loses time with his prematurely developed Queen -- time which Black uses to make a truly profound Rook sacrifice.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bg5 cxd4
6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Qh4 {Better is 7.Bxf6, which Pillsbury played with success against Lasker at Cambridge Springs 1905.} 7... Be7 8. O-O-O Qa5 9. e3 Bd7
10. Kb1 h6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nd4 O-O 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Qh5 {Aiming at a Kingside attack with f2-f4 and g2-g4, but the Queen would be better posted for defensive purposes at f4 or g3.} 14... Nxd4 15. exd4 Be6 16. f4 Rac8 17.
f5 Rxc3 18. fxe6 {Better than 18.bxc3 Qxc3 19.fxe6 Qb4+ 20.Kc2 [or 20.Ka1 Rc8 21.Qg4 Rc2] 20...Rc8+ 21.Kd3 Qxd4+ 22.Ke2 Rc2+ 23.Kf3 Rf2+ 24.Kg3 Qe3+ 25.Qf3 Be5+ 26.Kg4 h5+ and wins.} 18... Ra3 19. exf7+ {Also insufficient are I) 19.bxa3 Qb6+ 20.Ka1 Bxd4+ 21.Rxd4 Qxd4+ 22.Kb1 fxe6 23.Be2 Qe4+ 24.Ka1 Rf2 25.Re1 Qd4+ 26. Kb1 Qd2 and wins; II) 19.e7 Re8 20.bxa3 Qb6+ 21.Kc2 Rc8+ 22. Kd2 Bxd4 23.e8Q+ Rxe8 24.Bd3 Qa5+ 25.Kc1 Rc8+ 26.Bc2 Rxc2+ 27.Kxc2 Qc3+. } 19... Rxf7 20. bxa3 Qb6+ 21. Bb5 {Forced, as 21.Kc2 loses to 21...Rc7+ 22.Kd2 Qxd4+ 23.Ke1 Qc3+ 24.Rd2 Re7+ 25.Be2 Bg5.} 21... Qxb5+ 22. Ka1 Rc7
23. Rd2 Rc4 24. Rhd1 Rc3 25. Qf5 Qc4 26. Kb2 Rxa3 27. Qe6+ Kh7 28. Kxa3 {A bit more tenacious was 28.Kb1, but Black is still winning after 28...Bxd4 29.Qf5+ g6 30.Qf7+ Bg7 31.Qxb7 Ra4.} 28... Qc3+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "2nd Match Game, Moscow"]
[Date "1896"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Steinitz, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C64"]

{A preview of Russian hegemony in chess a half-century later: Moscow is the venue for Lasker's easy "return match" victory. The mating combination in this game is spectacular, as if Lasker felt that winning was not enough.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Nge7 5. O-O Ng6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb6 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. a4 a6 10. Bc4 h6 11. h3 d6 12. Be3 Nce7 13. Re1 c6 14. Qb3 Bc7
15. Nd2 Rb8 16. Rac1 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bd3 Kh8 19. Ne2 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5
21. Bxf5 Rxf5 22. Ng3 Rf8 23. Qe6 Qc8 24. Qxc8 Rfxc8 25. Nb3 Kg8 26. Ne4 Kf7
27. g3 Ke8 28. Re2 {In an unclear position the e-file proves to be White's strength.} 28... Kd7 29. Rce1 Bb6 30. Bf4 Bc7 31. h4 h5 {If 31... Nxf4 32. Nf6+! followed by 33. Rxe7 (+).} 32. Bg5 Bd8 33. g4 hxg4 34. h5 Nf8 35.
Nec5+ dxc5 36. Nxc5+ Kd6 {36...Kc7 avoids mate but is a hopeless endgame after 37. Bxe7.} 37. Bf4+ Kd5 38. Re5+ Kc4 39. Rc1+ Kxd4 40. Nb3+ Kd3 41.
Re3# 1-0

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1896"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Wilhelm Steinitz"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]

{Lasker is the great apostle of common sense in chess. Faced with the dilemma of keeping an extra pawn with an edge or keeping an extra piece with an agonizing defense, he unhesitatingly renounces the greater material possession. Steinitz relaxes when the smoke clears and throws away a likely draw in an opposite colored bishop ending. Finally he falls prey to a positional paralysis known as Zugzwang.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4.
c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 {Sacrificing a pawn. Tamer and safer is 7. Bd2 Bxd2 8. Nxd2.} 7... Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 {The main line of the Giuoco Piano is 9. d5 to keep Black cramped, but the line has been defanged and is rarely seen in modern master practice.} 9... d5 10. Ba3 {This sacrifice is unsound, but what else is there? Black stands well after 10. Bd3 O-O safely retaining the extra pawn.} 10... dxc4 11. Re1 Be6 {Returning the piece without a fight. Lasker senses danger and quickly rejects 11...f5 12. Nd2 Kf7 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rxe4 with a dangerous attack. Even if Black has a decent defense, Lasker won't play into a prepared variation.} 12. Rxe4
Qd5 13. Qe2 O-O-O 14. Ne5 Rhe8 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Re1 Rg8 17. Re5 b6 18. Bc1
g5 {Returning the pawn to open lines on the g-file for an attack. The wrong way to capture would be 19. Bxg5? h6!} 19. Rxg5 Rxg5 20. Bxg5 Rg8 21. f4 Bd5
22. g3 Kb7 {Material is even and White should be able to hold a draw.} 23.
h3 Qb5 24. Kh2 Rg6 25. Qc2 f6 26. Bh4 Bc6 27. g4 Qd5 {Regrouping to create mating threats on the long diagonal.} 28. Qf2 {Leads to trouble. Much better is 28. f5.} 28... h5 29. g5 fxg5 30. Bxg5 {30. fxg5 was the last chance to fight for a draw. Now White is reduced to marking time.} 30... h4 31. Rf1 { If 31. Rg1? Rxg5! 32. fxg5 Qd6 wins.} 31... Rg8 32. Qd2 a5 33. a4 Re8 34. f5
Rg8 {White is in zugzwang -- any move loses material.} 35. Re1 Qxf5 36. Re5
Qf3 37. d5 Qg3+ 38. Kh1 Qxe5 39. dxc6+ Kxc6 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1898"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tarrasch, S."]
[Black "Marco, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{Siegbert Tarrasch was the great explicator of Steinitz's theories, but the dogmatic certainty with which he expounded them in the end provoked the Hypermodern reaction of the 1920's. Tarrasch ignored those aspects of Steinitz not congenial to his style (e.g. defense of cramped positions), but in the exploitation of a space advantage and the use of active pieces he had few peers.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Bd3 Nf6
{The usual move is 6...d5, maintaining the Knight at e4. Black's choice leads to a solid but rather cramped position, not a happy choice against Tarrasch.} 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 {A player with a space advantage should avoid exchanges [contrariwise, a player with a cramped position should seek to free himself by exchanging pieces], and so White prevents the exchange of the Bc8.} 8... Be6 9. c4 c6 10. Ng5 Na6 11. Nc3 Nc7 12. f4 h6 13. Nf3 {There would be little point in capturing the Be6, as White will soon play f4-f5 and g2-g4, leaving the Bishop with hardly any moves.} 13... Qc8 14. Qc2 Rb8
{Instead, 14...d5 15.c5 b6 16.b4 a5 17.Na4 leads to a different but not a much better pawn structure.} 15. f5 Bd7 16. Bf4 b5 17. b3 c5 18. d5 b4 19.
Ne2 a5 20. g4 {White has the initiative, and so his pawn advances support an attack, while Black's pawn on h6 only invites the opening of a file by a later g4-g5.} 20... Nh7 21. h4 Qd8 22. Bg3 a4 {At last Black succeeds in opening a line for counterattack, but his pieces lack sufficient mobility to support the Rook.} 23. Kh1 Ra8 24. Rae1 Ne8 25. Nf4 Bf6 26. Ne6 {The decisive breakthrough. The Knight cannot be captured safely, e.g. I) 26...Bxe6 27.fxe6 g6 28.exf7+ Rxf7 29.Bxg6 Re7 30.Rxe7 Qxe7 31.Re1, with a huge advantage to White.} 26... axb3 27. axb3 Qb6 28. Nxf8 Kxf8 29. g5 hxg5
30. hxg5 Nxg5 {Or 30...Bxg5 31.f6 g6 32.Bxg6 fxg6 33.Qxg6 and Black must lose a piece.} 31. Qh2 Kg8 32. Nxg5 Bxg5 33. f6 g6 34. Bxg6 {Black Resigns.}
1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1899"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Blackburne, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C62"]

{Blackburne was basically a tactician who usually came to grief against the leading masters because of his positional faults. But even in his later years he remained a feared competitor; at age 57 he uncorked a beautiful victory over the world champion.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5.
d5 {Locking the center is dubious. Better is 5. O-O.} 5... Nb8 6. Bd3 Be7 7.
Nc3 Nf6 8. Ne2 c6 9. c4 Na6 10. Ng3 Nc5 11. Bc2 b5 {Mixing it up. Safer is 11...O-O but Blackburne stakes everything on an attack.} 12. b4 Nb7 13. dxc6
Bxc6 14. cxb5 Bxb5 15. a4 Bd7 16. O-O g6 17. h3 h5 {Going on the offensive while neglecting the safety of his own king.} 18. Be3 a5 19. b5 Rc8 20. Rc1
Nc5 21. Nd2 h4 22. Ne2 g5 23. Bxg5 {White's game is so strong that he can simply ignore this offer and continue with 23. f3 Nh5 24. Nc3.} 23... Rg8
24. Bxh4 Bxh3 25. Bg3 Be6 {Black has well-posted knights and open files for the sacrificed pawn.} 26. Re1 Ng4 27. Nf1 Bg5 28. Rb1 Rh8 29. Nc3 {Intending to meet 29...Qf6 with 30. f3.} 29... Bf4 30. Nd5 Qg5 31. f3 Rh1+ 32. Kxh1
Bxg3 33. Nxg3 {If 33. fxg4 Qh4+ 34. Kg1 Bf3 mate.} 33... Nf2+ 34. Kg1 Nxd1
35. Nf5 Bxf5 36. exf5 Qd2 {White is a queen down and resigned in a few moves.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1899"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Janowski, D."]
[Black "Pillsbury, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{The flamboyant David Janowski had two disastrous runs at the world championship - scoring a single victory in the matches with Lasker. Yet he left his mark on the game in his insistence on the power of the two Bishops. Here he deftly dispatches the American, Harry Nelson Pillsbury, with a characteristic Bishop move.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4 4. Nxe5 O-O 5.
Be2 d6 6. Nf3 Bxc3 7. dxc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nd7 9. Re1 Ndf6 10. Bd3 Nc5 11. Bg5 { This pin has a long-term consequence of either cramping Black's development or forcing a pawn weakness.} 11... h6 12. Bh4 Bg4 13. h3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Bxf3
15. Qxf3 g5 16. Bg3 Nd7 17. Qf5 {White now has a space advantage because of the weakened Black pawns. 17. Qxb7 Rb8 would have been a poor transaction.}
17... Kg7 18. Rad1 Re8 19. f4 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Nf8 21. h4 Qd7 22. Qd3 gxh4 23.
Bxh4 Ng6 24. Bf2 f5 {Trying to lock the position.} 25. c4 Kh7 26. Qf3 Rg8
27. Kh2 b6 28. g3 a5 29. Qd5 Rf8 30. Bd4 {The last two centralizing moves put White in command.} 30... Qf7 31. Qc6 Rg8 32. Qd5 Rf8 33. a4 {White can wait for exchanges, holding the King file.} 33... h5 34. b3 h4 35. Qf3 Kh6
36. gxh4 Rg8 37. Rg1 Nf8 {The pawn cannot be recaptured, but Black counts on repositioning his knight.} 38. Rg5 Ne6 39. Bf6 {A well-planned exchange sacrifice. Now 39 ... Nxg5 is met by 40. fxg5+ and 41. Qxf5+.} 39... Ng7 40.
Qd5 Qe8 41. Qg2 Qf7 42. Bxg7+ Rxg7 43. Rxg7 Qxg7 44. Qg5+ Kh7 45. Qxf5+ Kh8
46. Qh5+ Kg8 47. Qg5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1900"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pillsbury, H."]
[Black "Marco, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]

{Harry Nelson Pillsbury's record is perhaps less well known than it should be; his illness and premature death in 1906 deprived the world of the match against Lasker he had long sought. Here he scores another fine victory with the Queen's Gambit, as Marco thinks to improve on the Pillsbury-Tarrasch game from Hastings 1895.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O
6. Nf3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. f4 c5 11. O-O c4 {The same faulty strategy adopted by Tarrasch. The strength of White's Kingside attack was not properly understood in 1900.} 12. Bc2 a6 13. Qf3 b5 14. Qh3 { Threatening 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Bf5 and 17.Bxf6.} 14... g6 15. f5 b4 16. fxg6
hxg6 {Not 16...bxc3? 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Rxf6 fxg6 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20. Rxg6++.} 17.
Qh4 bxc3 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Rxf6 a5 20. Raf1 Ra6 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Rxf8+ { Black resigns, as he will soon be mated after 22...Bxf8 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.Qh8+ Kf7 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Qxd7.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1900"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall, F."]
[Black "Burn, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]

{In his autobiography, Marshall, perhaps tongue in cheek, attributes his victory in this game to the fact that it didn't last long enough for Burn to light his pipe...} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3
b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. h4 {White now threatens the well known sacrifice 11. Bxh7+ Kxh7 12. Ng5+, and if 12... Bxg5 13. hxg5+} 10...
g6 11. h5 Re8 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Qc2 Nd7 14. Bxg6 fxg6 15. Qxg6+ Bg7 16. Ng5
Qf6 17. Rh8+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Munich"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1900"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alexander Halprin"]
[Black "Harry Nelson Pillsbury"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]

{More proof that draws need not be dull. Running neck and neck with Schlechter and Maroczy for first prize, Pillsbury was slated to face one of the weaker players next. His main rivals showed Halprin some novel and intricate analysis against Pillsbury's favorite defense to the Ruy Lopez. White merely rattled off the moves that had been shown to him the night before, while the American had to thread his way through an unfamiliar minefield.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 { Starts his homework. The usual line is 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5.} 6... Nxb5
7. a4 d6 8. e6 fxe6 9. axb5 Ne7 10. Nc3 Ng6 11. Ng5 {Black must not be given time to castle into safety.} 11... Be7 12. Qh5 Bxg5 13. Bxg5 Qd7 14. b6 cxb6
15. Nd5 {The threat of Nxb6 practically forces Black to capture the knight, giving White an open e-file while the other rook is coming into the game via a3. Black's outlook looks grim.} 15... exd5 16. Rfe1+ Kf8 {Better than 16...Kf7 17. Re7 when Black's material advantage is offset by his vulnerable king.} 17. Ra3 {With the dire threat of 18. Rf3 Kg8 19. Re7! Qc6 20. Rf8! Kxf8 21. Qf3 Kg8 22. Qf7 mate.} 17... Ne5 18. Rxe5 dxe5 19. Rf3+ Kg8 20. Bh6
Qe7 {Black is walking a tightrope. He rejects 20...gxh6 21. Rg3 Kf8 22. Qxe5 Rg8 23. Qf6! Qf7 24. Qd8, etc. Or 20...Qe6 21. Qg5 Qd7 22. Bxg7! Qxg7 23. Qd8 and mate next. Now he is hoping for 21. Rg3 Be6!} 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rg3+
Kf8 23. Rf3+ Kg7 24. Rg3+ Kf8 {Both sides must be content with perpetual check. A glorious battle.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1901"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Juan Corzo"]
[Black "Jose Capablanca"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C25"]

{Nobody has to be a child prodigy like Capablanca to enjoy playing chess -- but it sure helps. At age 13 he narrowly won a famous 13-game match against Cuba's top player. The boy wonder took only five minutes on this clean victory and introduced a new move that has stood the test of time.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. h4 g4 6. Ng5 h6 7. Nxf7 Kxf7 8. d4 { White's knight sacrifice is known as the Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit. Inferior is 8. Qxg4? Nf6 9. Qxf4 Bd6 when Black gains the initiative. On 9. Bc4 d5 10. Bxd5 Ke8 Black's king is secure.} 8... d5 9. exd5 {In game six Corzo drew with 10. Be2. Nowadays, 9. Bxf4 opening the f-file is considered more promising. On 9. Nxd5 f3 10. gxf3 Nge7 11. Bc4 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Kg7 13. Bf4 Be7 White lacks compensation for the sacrificed piece.} 9... Qe7+ 10. Kf2 g3+
11. Kg1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Qc5 13. Ne2 Qb6 {Capa's new move, a prepared variation, which has held the field ever since. The old line was 13...Bg4 14. Be3 fxe3 15. Qxg4.} 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. Nd4 Bc5 16. c3 Ra4 17. Be2 Bxd4+
18. cxd4 Rxd4 19. b3 {19. Bh5 Kg7 20. b3 would offer slightly more resistance.} 19... Nf6 20. Bb2 Rd2 21. Bh5+ Nxh5 22. Bxh8 f3 23. gxf3 Nf4
24. Be5 Rg2+ 25. Kf1 Rf2+ 26. Ke1 Nd3+ {Spectators were convinced that a new Morphy had arisen, but their enthusiasm was cut short a few months later when Capa lost both of his games to Corzo in the Cuban National Championship. Of course, Capablanca more than made up for it twenty years later, winning the World Championship from Lasker. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Cuban Championship Match"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "1902"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Corzo, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]

{At age 12 Capablanca won this set match with Juan Corzo. Reinfeld in THE IMMORTAL GAMES OF CAPABLANCA notes that this game with the Cuban champion "is perhaps the most remarkable of Capablanca's career: the arduous jockeying for position in the middle game, the delightful and carefully calculated Queen sacrifice and the ensuing accurate endgame play -- are all worked out with a skill which is astonishing in one so young".} 1. d4 d5 2.
Nf3 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. b3 {Unusual. In MY CHESS CAREER Capa wrote: "I began to play with the conviction that my adversary was superior to me; he knew all the openings, and I knew none...he had the experience and all the tricks that go along with it, while I was a novice. The first two games were quickly won by him, but something in the third, which was a draw, showed me that he had his weaknesses and gave me the necessary courage and confidence. From there on, he did not win a game, but only scored five more draws before I won the four required.} 4... e6 5. Bb2 Nf6 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd6 8. Bd3
O-O 9. O-O Nh5 {Simply 9...Bd7 is called for instead.} 10. g3 f5 11. Ne5
Nf6 12. f4 {Preferable is 12. a3.} 12... Bxe5 13. fxe5 Ng4 {More logical is 13...Ne4 to centralize the knight.} 14. Qe2 Qb6 15. Nf3 Bd7 {Stronger is 15...Nb4 first to strive for opposite colored Bishops.} 16. a3 Kh8 17. h3
Nh6 18. Qf2 Nf7 19. Kg2 g5 {Weakens the kingside. More logica is 19...Rac8.}
20. g4 Ne7 21. Qe3 Rg8 22. Rae1 Ng6 23. gxf5 Nf4+ 24. Kh2 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 exf5
26. c4 {Forcing open the long diagonal.} 26... Qe6 27. cxd5 Qxd5 28. e6 Bb5
29. Qxb5 {Capa gets carried away by his youthful spirit. A simpler win is 29. Qd2 Bxf1 30. exf7 Qxf7 31. d5+.} 29... Qxb5 30. d5+ Rg7 31. exf7 h6 32.
Nd4 Qxf1 {There is nothing better.} 33. Rxf1 Rxf7 34. Rxf5 Rxf5 35. Nxf5+
Kh7 36. Ne7 {The fireworks are over and White prepares for the victorious advance of the d-pawn.} 36... Rf8 37. Kg2 h5 38. d6 g4 39. hxg4 hxg4 40. Be5
Kh6 41. d7 Rd8 42. Ng8+ Rxg8 {If 42...Kg6 43. Nf6 Kf7 44. Bc7 wins.} 43. Bf6
Kg6 44. d8=Q Rxd8 45. Bxd8 b5 46. Kf2 Kf5 47. Ke3 Ke5 48. Kd3 Kd5 49. Kc3 g3
50. Bh4 g2 51. Bf2 a5 52. b4 Ke4 {Hoping for 53. bxa5? Kd5 with a book draw! } 53. Bb6 Kd5 54. Kd3 Kc6 55. Bg1 Kd5 56. Bh2 Kc6 57. Kd4 a4 58. Ke5 Kb6 59.
Kd5 Ka6 60. Kc5 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pillsbury, H."]
[Black "Lasker, Em."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]

{Pillsbury was already suffering from the illness that would snatch him away in another two years. Yet Pillsbury drives to victory in this landmark tournament by beating the world champion in a variation he lost with eight years earlier. The attack on the Black King caught in the center is the finest in the literature of the game.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3
c5 5. Bg5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Bxf6 {The improvement on 7.Qh4, as played at St. Petersburg, 1896 against the same opponent. (See Classic Game number 23.)} 7... gxf6 8. Qh4 dxc4 9. Rd1 Bd7 10. e3 Ne5 11. Nxe5 fxe5 12. Qxc4 Qb6
13. Be2 Qxb2 {The famous "poisoned pawn" lures Lasker from simple development.} 14. O-O Rc8 15. Qd3 Rc7 16. Ne4 Be7 17. Nd6+ Kf8 18. Nc4 Qb5
19. f4 {In spite of Black's compact position this line-opening thrust wins quickly. Best now was 19...e5, giving back the pawn to close lines.} 19...
exf4 20. Qd4 f6 21. Qxf4 Qc5 22. Ne5 Be8 23. Ng4 f5 24. Qh6+ Kf7 25. Bc4 {A thunderbolt, made possible by the potential fork at e5.} 25... Rc6 26. Rxf5+
Qxf5 27. Rf1 Qxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Bd7 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. Ne5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1904"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Schlechter, C."]
[Black "Marco, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]

{The post-Steinitz era was thought by many to be a time of dull play in comparison to the previous century, culminating in Capablanca's prediction of a "draw death". But the greatest masters of the period were still able to rise above the uniformity of style and produce such sprightly games as the following.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Rc1 a6 8. c5 b5 9. b4 c6 10. Bd3 a5 11. a3 Re8 12. O-O Nh5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14.
Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxh7+ Kf8 16. Qxh5 Nc4 17. Bd3 Qf6 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. b5 Bd7 20.
bxc6 Bxc6 21. Rb1 g6 22. Qh6+ Ke7 23. Rb6 Kd7 24. Qh3 Qg5 25. Rfb1 Rh8 26.
Qf3 f5 27. Rxc6 Kxc6 28. Nxd5 {The second sacrifice cannot be accepted -- 28...exd5 29.Rb6+ Kc7 30.Qxd5 and Black will be mated, e.g. 30...Rhb8 31.Qd6+ Kc8 32.Rc6+ Kb7 33.Qc7++.} 28... Rab8 29. Nf4+ Kd7 30. Rb7+ Rxb7 31.
Qxb7+ Ke8 32. c6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Napier, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B34"]

{It is not often that a player will name one of his losses as the best game he ever played, but such was the case with William Napier's celebrated game against Emanuel Lasker. In many ways this game is archetypal of Lasker's play; it rarely mattered to him whether he stood better or worse, but only whether the tension could be maintained.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4.
d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 d6 7. h3 {The usual plans for White in this "Dragon" variation are Be2 followed by Kingside castling and a central advance with f2-f4, or f2-f3 followed by O-O-O and a pawn attack on the Kingside with h2-h4-h5. Instead White chooses to advance his Kingside pawns before securing his King, and Black correctly responds by opening the center.} 7... Nf6 8. g4 O-O 9. g5 Ne8 10. h4 Nc7 11. f4 e5 12. Nde2 d5 { Logical, but safer was the preparatory 12...Bg4. The text leads to unfathomable complications, which at first glance -- and even second and third -- seem to favor Black.} 13. exd5 Nd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd5 {A strong intermediate move; after 15.Nxd5 exd4 Black recovers all of his material with advantage.} 15. Nf5 Nxc3 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Ne7+ Kh8 {It is remarkable how long the Black Knight remains untouched at c3. Now neither 18.Nxc8 nor 18.bxc3 exf4 19.Bd4 Bxd4 20.cxd4 Re8 are satisfactory for White.} 18. h5 { With the sudden threat of 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Nxg6+ Kg8 21.Bc4+ Nd5 22.Bxd5+ Rxd5 23.Ne7+.} 18... Re8 19. Bc5 gxh5 {Preventing the threat described above. White still does not wish to take the Nc3, for after 20.bxc3 Bf8 21.Bb5 Rxe7 22.Bxe7 Bxe7 Black would have more than enough for the Exchange. } 20. Bc4 exf4 21. Bxf7 Ne4 {A very fine conception, which might well have succeeded against a lesser player than Lasker.} 22. Bxe8 Bxb2 23. Rb1 Bc3+
24. Kf1 Bg4 {Despite his extra Rook, White's position is none too happy -- Black threatens Rxe8, Nxc5, Nd2+ and Ng3+. But now Lasker returns all the material to retake the initiative, and soon proves that the Black King is less safe than the White.} 25. Bxh5 Bxh5 26. Rxh5 Ng3+ 27. Kg2 Nxh5 28. Rxb7
a5 29. Rb3 Bg7 30. Rh3 Ng3 31. Kf3 {The once exposed White King becomes a strong attacking piece, and the Black f4 pawn cannot be held, as 31...Be5 is met by 32.Ng6+.} 31... Ra6 32. Kxf4 Ne2+ 33. Kf5 Nc3 34. a3 Na4 35. Be3 { There is no good defense to the threat of g5-g6.} 35... Bf8 36. Bd4+ Bg7 37.
g6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Lodz"]
[Site "Poland"]
[Date "1907"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rotlevi, G."]
[Black "Rubinstein, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]

{Akiba Rubinstein deserved a title match but never got one. Had he faced Lasker in 1910 (instead of Schlechter) he might well have realized his life's ambition. His most famous brilliancy has been reprinted in numerous anthologies.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 {Considered too passive because it hems in the bishop.} 3... c5 4. c4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. dxc5 {Only helps Black develop. Better is 6. Bd3 or a3.} 6... Bxc5 7. a3 a6 8. b4 Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O
10. Qd2 {Losing more time. Either here or on the next move more logical is 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2.} 10... Qe7 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Rd8 14.
Qe2 Bb7 15. O-O Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. f4 {Sadly weakening the kingside.}
17... Bc7 18. e4 {Another display of suicidal tendencies. 18. Rad1 is indicated.} 18... Rac8 19. e5 Bb6+ 20. Kh1 Ng4 21. Be4 Qh4 22. g3 {If 22. h3 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Ne3 is fatal.} 22... Rxc3 23. gxh4 Rd2 24. Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25. Qg2
Rh3 {White Resigns in the face of ...Rxh2 mate.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1909"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall, F."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]

{Frank Marshall, victor at Cambridge Springs, 1904, wrote that he thought this Cuban student would be a pushover. But the U.S. Championship was on the line, and the match was contested in several cities around New York. Marshall's lone victory came at Scranton, Pennsylvania, game seven. He took only 45 minutes to contrive an elegant finish.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Ne4 {The Lasker Defense, which is revived from time to time, hopes to simplify the position.} 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Bd3 {More usual is 7. cxd5, gaining a pawn majority in the center at once.} 7... Nxc3 8. bxc3 Nd7
9. Nf3 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qb3 Nf6 12. a4 c5 {Black can now hold the center with c6, but has underestimated the intent of 12. a4.} 13. Qa3 b6 14.
a5 Bb7 15. O-O Qc7 16. Rfb1 Nd7 17. Bf5 Rfd8 {This loses a pawn. Black had to return the knight to f6.} 18. Bxd7 Qxd7 19. a6 Bc6 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. Qxc5
Rab8 {Black has allowed Ne5 just to set up this trap.} 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. Ne5
Qf5 24. f4 {The King is quite safe at f2 and g3.} 24... Rb6 {So that 25. Nxc6 allows perpetual check by 25...Rb1+ 26. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 27. Kg3 Qg6+, etc.}
25. Qxb6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "St. Petersburg"]
[Date "1909"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, A."]
[Black "Lasker, Em."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]

{In this and a famous win over Capablanca, the enigmatic Polish émigré uses the same maneuver, Qc1, at a crucial point. Rubinstein parries the World Champion's tactical diversions and wins a fine endgame.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6
3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8. e3 Be7 9. Bb5 Bd7
10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nxd5 {The win of the pawn is temporary, but this time Lasker's opponent has seen a little deeper.} 11... Bxd4 12. exd4 Qg5 13.
Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Ne3 O-O-O {Now 14...Bxg2 15. Rg1 Qa5+ 16. Qd2 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Be4! 18. Rxg7? Bg6. But 18. Re1 would keep the initiative. Lasker chooses to complicate.} 15. O-O Rhe8 16. Rc1 Rxe3 17. Rxc6+ bxc6 18. Qc1 {A celebrated "in-between" move that gains an endgame advantage.} 18... Rxd4 19. fxe3 Rd7
{A pawn must go.} 20. Qxc6+ Kd8 21. Rf4 f5 22. Qc5 Qe7 23. Qxe7+ Kxe7 24.
Rxf5 Rd1+ 25. Kf2 Rd2+ 26. Kf3 Rxb2 27. Ra5 Rb7 28. Ra6 {Black is doomed to passive play while the White King and pawns advance.} 28... Kf8 29. e4 Rc7
30. h4 Kf7 31. g4 Kf8 32. Kf4 Ke7 33. h5 h6 34. Kf5 Kf7 35. e5 Rb7 36. Rd6
Ke7 37. Ra6 Kf7 38. Rd6 Kf8 39. Rc6 Kf7 40. a3 {Finally, a waiting move decides. The Black Rook has only one "Safe" square, e7, which allows 41. e6+, and after a King move comes 41. Kg6. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Paris"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1909"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frederic Lazard"]
[Black "Amadee Gibaud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]

{These two Frenchman are famous for the supposedly shortest decisive tournament game ever between two masters, in 1921 (l. d4 Nf6 2. Nd2 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. h3?? Ne3! and White resigns as he must either drop his queen or get mated) -- yet it never really happened! This game, however, is real. "After we have paid our dutiful respects to such frigid virtues as calculation, foresight, self control and the like, we always come back to the thought that speculative attack is the lifeblood of chess. In this game, at any rate, White pawn sacrifice on spec yields rich dividends." -- Fred Reinfeld} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4 exd4 5. c3 Nf6 {Here 5...dxc3 6. Nxc3 would transpose into a Scotch Gambit.} 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8.
O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 {A more popular alternative is 9...Ne5.} 10. Re1 Ne7 11.
Rxe4 d6 12. g4 {Aptly named the Bayonet Attack. Better is 12. Bg5.} 12... h6
{After 12...O-O! 14. g5 Be5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Rxe5 regains the pawn but White is saddled with several pawn weaknesses.} 13. h4 Kf8 14. h5 {To stop ...Ng6.} 14... g5 15. Nd4 c6 {Its dangerous to start operations before safeguarding the king. Correct is 15...Kg7 16. Qf3 Re8 when White doesnt have enough for the sacrificed pawn.} 16. Qf3 Nxd5 {Instead of going after more material 16...Kg7 is essential.} 17. Bd2 Nc7 {Necessary now is 17...Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Be6.} 18. Rae1 d5 19. Bb4+ Kg7 {Black expects to win a piece, but now comes a whole series of hammer blows.} 20. Re7 dxc4 {No better is 20...Bxe7 21. Rxe7 Rf8 22. Bc3!! Qxe7 23. Nf5 Kh7 24. Nxe7.} 21.
Nxc6 Qd3 {Mate ensues after 21...bxc3 22. Qxf6! Kxf6 23. Bc3.} 22. Rxf7+
Kxf7 23. Re7+ Kg8 24. Qxf6 Rh7 25. Re8+ {If 25...Nxe8 26. Qf8 mate. This glorious battle received a brilliancy prize. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "2nd Match Game, Paris"]
[Date "1909"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Janowski, D."]
[Black "Lasker, Em."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C49"]

{With seven wins against one loss in this ten-game match Lasker solidified his throne. In hindsight, these one-sided matches look like sandbagging by Lasker. But, Janowski was always a dangerous opponent, and in this game seemed to be crowding his adversary out - until Lasker's Knight on move 24 takes off on a decisive journey.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4
5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Ne7 9. Bc4 Ng6 10. Nh4 Nf4 11. Bxf4
exf4 12. Nf3 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Rb1 b6 15. Qd2 Bxf3 {The disrupted Kingside is seldom worth the open g file in this opening.} 16. gxf3 Nh5 17. Kh2 Qf6
18. Rg1 Rae8 19. d4 Kh8 20. Rb5 Qh6 21. Rbg5 f6 22. R5g4 g6 23. Bd3 Re7 24.
c4 {White appears to be in complete control, but now the Knight dances into action.} 24... Ng7 25. c3 {The best hope was 25. d5, when the Knight will be shut out for some time.} 25... Ne6 26. Bf1 f5 27. R4g2 Rf6 28. Bd3 g5 29.
Rh1 {It's mate after 29. exf5 Qxh3+ 30. Kxh3 Rh6+ 31. Kg4 Rh4++} 29... g4
30. Be2 Ng5 31. fxg4 f3 32. Rg3 fxe2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "10th Match Game, Berlin"]
[Date "1910"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Schlechter, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]

{This game has ignited intense controversies, both from its shrouded history and its play. For many years it was believed that Schlechter, ahead by a point in the final game, had only to draw to win the world championship. Why did he, the "drawing master," suddenly decide to play for a win? Later research has shown that the match terms forced the challenger to win by two points, and this fact entered into Fischer's controversy with FIDE over the defense of his title in 1973. At a critical stage, Schlechter misses the winning maneuver and becomes only a footnote in chess championship history.}
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Qc2 Na6 8. a3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 b4 11. Na4 bxa3 12. bxa3 Bb7 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Ne5 Nh5
15. g4 {Lasker suddenly changes the complexion of the game, which might have been placid after the natural 15. O-O.} 15... Bxe5 16. gxh5 Bg7 17. hxg6
hxg6 18. Qc4 Bc8 {Asking for 19. Bxg6 Be6 20. Bxf7+ Bxf7 21. Qxa6 Bd5, winning back a pawn with a commanding position.} 19. Rg1 Qa5+ 20. Bd2 Qd5
21. Rc1 Bb7 22. Qc2 Qh5 23. Bxg6 {Relying on the simple combination 23...fxg6 24. Qb3+ and 25. Qxb7. But 23. Bc4 e6 24. Qe4 was positionally stronger.} 23... Qxh2 24. Rf1 fxg6 25. Qb3+ Rf7 26. Qxb7 Raf8 {The refutation: if now 27. Qxa6 Rxf2 28. Rxf2 Rxf2! 29. Qe8+ Kh7 30. Qg4 Rxd2 31. Qf3 Rg2! and wins.} 27. Qb3 Kh8 28. f4 g5 {It's now a dog fight.} 29.
Qd3 gxf4 30. exf4 Qh4+ 31. Ke2 Qh2+ 32. Rf2 Qh5+ 33. Rf3 Nc7 {With the knight finally in play Black has everything to hope for.} 34. Rxc6 Nb5 35.
Rc4 Rxf4 {With the World Championship in his grasp, Schlechter becomes brilliant, when the methodical 35...Rd8 36. Be3 e5! would have capped an orgy of pins. Now Lasker escapes, and saves his crown.} 36. Bxf4 Rxf4 37.
Rc8+ Bf8 38. Kf2 Qh2+ 39. Ke1 Qh1+ {The game is drawn if Black can force the exchange of Rook and Queen at f3 39...Qh4+, etc. But Black had to win to gain the title.} 40. Rf1 {Now if 40... Rxf1+, etc. White saves his Queen pawn.} 40... Qh4+ 41. Kd2 Rxf1 42. Qxf1 Qxd4+ 43. Qd3 {Now the White King enters the battle if 43...Qxd3+ 44. Kxd3 Kg7 45. Nc5 Kf7 46. a4 Sd6 47. Ra8. } 43... Qf2+ 44. Kd1 Nd6 45. Rc5 Bh6 46. Rd5 Kg8 47. Nc5 Qg1+ 48. Kc2 Qc1+
49. Kb3 Bg7 50. Ne6 Qb2+ 51. Ka4 Kf7 {The sad reality. After everything else 52. Qg6 wins immediately. Now, however, Black is simply ground down.} 52.
Nxg7 Qxg7 53. Qb3 Ke8 54. Qb8+ Kf7 55. Qxa7 Qg4+ 56. Qd4 Qd7+ 57. Kb3 Qb7+
58. Ka2 Qc6 59. Qd3 Ke6 60. Rg5 Kd7 61. Re5 Qg2+ 62. Re2 Qg4 63. Rd2 Qa4 64.
Qf5+ Kc7 65. Qc2+ Qxc2+ 66. Rxc2+ Kb6 67. Rd2 Nc8 68. Kb3 Kc6 69. Rc2+ Kb7
70. Kb4 Na7 71. Kc5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "5th Match Game, Berlin"]
[Date "1910"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Janowski, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]

{Janowski obtains his famous bishop pair and has Lasker struggling to survive the opening. At a crucial moment, however, he backs away from a promising Queen sacrifice, and Lasker swiftly turns the tables.} 1. d4 d5 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Be6 6. e4 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nc6 8. Be3 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Qa5+ 10. Nc3 O-O-O 11. a3 Nh6 12. b4 Qe5 13. Ncb5 Nf5 {Lasker has been outplayed in his haste to attack the enemy King. Now he hatches a plot. } 14. Rc1 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Qxe3+ 16. Be2 Be7 {Janowski's famous bishop pair sweep the board, but Lasker dares his opponent to be brilliant.} 17. Rc3
Bh4+ {The Queen sacrifice 17...Qxc3+ 18. Nxc3 Nxd4 would have left the White king dangerously exposed. Now Lasker swarms back.} 18. g3 Qe4 19. O-O Bf6
20. Rxf6 gxf6 21. Bf3 Qe5 22. Nxa7+ Kc7 23. Naxc6 bxc6 24. Rxc6+ Kb8 25.
Rb6+ Kc8 26. Qc1+ Kd7 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Rb7+ Ke8 29. Bc6+ {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1910"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carl Schlechter"]
[Black "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C66"]

{Lasker saw chess, above all, as a struggle. Strength of character and iron nerves enabled him to occupy the throne for 25 years, from 1894-1921, longer than anyone else. Here he saved his title on a 5-5 tie after losing game five but came from behind to win a drawn position in the final game (see Lasker-Schlechter, game 10). Eight other games were drawn. The outcome might have been very different had Lasker lost this game. He was outplayed, but desperate ingenuity rescued what looked like a hopeless endgame two pawns down (also see his miraculous save against Edward Lasker at New York 1924). A vivid demonstration of mind over matter.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Re1 exd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bxc6 { Relinquishing the two Bishops to wreck Black's pawn structure.} 9... bxc6
10. Bg5 Re8 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bh4 Nh7 {To ease the cramp by swapping Bishops. A mistake would be 11...Ng4? 12. Bxe7 Qxe713. Nxc6! Bxc6 14. Qxg4 snaring a pawn.} 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rad1 Nf8 15. h3 Ng6 16. Qg3 Qg5 {Once again seeking to relieve pressure by exchanges.} 17. Qxg5 hxg5 18. f3 f6 19. Kf2 Kf7 20.
Nde2 a5 21. b3 Reb8 22. Nc1 Be6 23. Nd3 c5 24. Nb2 Ne5 {After 24...c4 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 cxb3 axb3 Black's a-pawn would become vulnerable.} 25. Nd5
Rb7 26. Re3 Nc6 27. Rc3 g6 28. a4 f5 29. Ne3 Re8 30. Nec4 Ra7 {Rightly abstaining from 30...fxe4? 31. Rxd6!} 31. Re1 Bxc4 32. Nxc4 Kf6 33. Ne3 Ne5
34. exf5 gxf5 35. g3 Rh8 36. f4 gxf4 37. Nd5+ Kf7 38. Nxf4 {White now has a concrete advantage due to his passed h-pawn.} 38... Rb7 39. Kg2 c4 {Weary of defending, Lasker seeks counterplay on the b-file.} 40. bxc4 Rb4 41. c5 Rxa4
42. cxd6 cxd6 43. Rc7+ Kf6 44. Nd5+ Kg5 45. h4+ Kh6 46. Ne7 Rf8 47. Rd1 Rf7
{Trying to hold the pawn is useless. If 45...Nc4 48. Kf2 threatens Rd4.} 48.
Rxd6+ Kh7 49. Re6 Ng6 50. Rxg6 Rxe7 51. Rgc6 Rxc7 52. Rxc7+ Kg6 53. Rc6+ Kf7
{53. c4 Ra3 54. Ra6 is the best winning chance.} 54. Kf3 Re4 {Pitching a second pawn to prevent c4 followed by Kf4. Inadequate is 54...Ra1 55. Ra6 a4 56. Kf4 Rf1 57. Kg5 Rf3 48. Rxa4 Rxg3 49. Kxf5 and wins.} 55. Rc5 Kf6 56.
Rxa5 Rc4 57. Ra6+ Ke5 58. Ra5+ Kf6 59. Ra6+ Ke5 60. Ra5+ Kf6 61. Ra2 { Finally the rook is forced to a passive post to defend the pawn on c2.}
61... Ke5 62. Rb2 Rc3+ 63. Kg2 Kf6 64. Kh3 Rc6 {Avoiding the trap 64...f4? 65. Rb3 Rxc2 66. Rf3 and wins.} 65. Rb8 {Giving back one pawn to make inroads.} 65... Rxc2 66. Rb6+ Kg7 67. h5 Rc4 {Cutting off the King.} 68. h6+
Kh7 69. Rf6 Ra4 {A draw, where grace under pressure rescued Lasker from the brink of defeat. The ability to save bad games is equally as important as the skill to win won games.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1910"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reti, R."]
[Black "Tartakower, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]

{Most likely the most famous miniature of all time. The finale is striking and elegant.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Qd3 {Nowadays 5. Nxf6+ is virtually automatic.} 5... e5 {It's risky to open the position before completing development. Safer is 5...Nbd7.} 6. dxe5 Qa5+ 7. Bd2 Qxe5
8. O-O-O Nxe4 {If 8...Qxe4 9. Re1 pins the queen. The best way to survive is 8...Be7.} 9. Qd8+ Kxd8 10. Bg5+ {Black Resigns. Mate ensues after 10...Ke8 (or 10...Kc7 11. Bd8) 11. Rd8.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1911"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Molina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]

{A famous example of the Bishop sacrifice at h7. The usual feature of this game is that the sacrifice does not lead directly to mate, but rather to a sustained initiative from which Black is unable to recover.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxe7 Nxe7 9.
Bd3 c5 {In principle this is the correct reaction, challenging White's central pawn, but Black cannot afford to open lines when behind in development. Capablanca had no equal in demonstrating the advantage in such "simple" positions.} 10. O-O O-O 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg6 { The only move -- 13...Kh6 14.Nxf7+ wins the Queen (the Rf8 is overloaded), and 13...Kg8 14.Qh5 is a winning attack, e.g. 14.Re8 15. Qxf7+ Kh8 16.Rad1 and Rd1-d4-h4.} 14. Qg4 f5 {Again best. Capablanca points out that 14... e5 would lose to 15.Ne6+ Kf6 16.f4 e4 17.Qg5+ Kd7 19.Rfd1+ Nd3 20.Nxe4 Kc6 21.Rxd3 Qxd3 22. Rc1+ Kb6 23.Qc7+, followed by mate in five moves.} 15. Qg3
Kh6 16. Qh4+ Kg6 17. Qh7+ Kf6 18. e4 Ng6 19. exf5 exf5 20. Rad1 Nd3 21. Qh3
Ndf4 22. Qg3 Qc7 23. Rfe1 Ne2+ {A blunder, but other moves are little better -- 23.Be6 24.Rxe6+ Nxe6 25.Nd5++, or 23...Bd7 24.Nd5+ Nxd5 25.Nh7+ Kf7 26.Qxc7 Nxc7 27.Rxd7+ Kg8 28.Nxf8, with a winning endgame.} 24. Rxe2 Qxg3
25. Nh7+ Kf7 26. hxg3 Rh8 27. Ng5+ Kf6 28. f4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "San Sebastian"]
[Date "1911"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D33"]

{Rubinstein earned his reputation as an endgame specialist with games like this. (See also Classic Game number 36). To outplay Capablanca, even a pawn up, required the highest artistry.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5
5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 Be6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O Rc8 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Ng5 Nf6 11. Nxe6
fxe6 12. Bh3 {The beginning of an unusual attack on Black's weak center.}
12... Qe7 13. Bg5 O-O {13...Rcd8 was necessary.} 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Nxd5 Qh6
{Black's reposte - but White has seen further.} 16. Kg2 Rcd8 17. Qc1 exd5 { If the Queens are exchanged, Bxe6+ holds the knight.} 18. Qxc5 Qd2 19. Qb5
Nd4 20. Qd3 Qxd3 {White not only holds the pawns but forces the queen exchange.} 21. exd3 Rfe8 22. Bg4 Rd6 23. Rfe1 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Rb6 25. Re5 {An active solution to Black's pressure.} 25... Rxb2 26. Rxd5 Nc6 27. Be6+ Kf8
28. Rf5+ Ke8 29. Bf7+ Kd7 30. Bc4 a6 {Otherwise 31. Rb5 exchanges rooks with an overpowering endgame.} 31. Rf7+ Kd6 32. Rxg7 b5 33. Bg8 a5 34. Rxh7 a4
35. h4 b4 {Out of nowhere Capablanca has conjured up a drawing line: if White loses a spot in the b-file for his Rook, Rxa2 followed by b3 wins!}
36. Rh6+ Kc5 37. Rh5+ Kb6 38. Bd5 {For the above reason, 38. Bc4 was essential.} 38... b3 {Capablanca misses 38...Rxa2! When White must find 39. Bc4! Rc2 40. Rb5+ Kc7 41. Bg8 to keep chances for a win.} 39. axb3 a3 40.
Bxc6 Rxb3 {40...a2 is met by 41. Rb5+ Ka6 42. Rb8!} 41. Bd5 a2 42. Rh6+ 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1911"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Ed."]
[Black "Thomas, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]

{The noted chess author Edward Lasker should not be confused with his distant cousin Emanuel. The young German player visited a London chess club in 1912 and was invited to play a game with the club champion Sir George Thomas. The result was a brilliancy which has graced the anthologies ever since.} 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 {White meets Black's Dutch Defense with an attempt to open the game with e2-e4. The most logical response to the placement of the White Knight on c3 is d7-d5, adopting a "Stonewall" formation, but this is not to everyone's taste.} 4... Be7 5.
Bxf6 Bxf6 6. e4 fxe4 7. Nxe4 b6 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. Ne5 O-O {So that if 11.Nxf6+ gxf6, the Queen defends the h7 pawn. With four pieces attacking the Black King and only the Nf6 defending, it seems that there should be a combination, and indeed there is.} 10. Qh5 Qe7 11. Qxh7+ Kxh7 12. Nxf6+ Kh6
{Or 12...Kh8 13.Ng6++. From now on, all Black's moves are forced.} 13. Neg4+
Kg5 14. h4+ Kf4 15. g3+ Kf3 16. Be2+ Kg2 17. Rh2+ Kg1 18. Kd2# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "San Sebastian"]
[Date "1911"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Bernstein, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]

{The young Capablanca was admitted to this event, intended to be limited to those who had taken at least two third prizes in international tournaments, only at the insistence of Frank Marshall, who Capa had beaten in a match two years before. The Cuban won the event convincingly, losing only one game to Rubinstein. Ossip Bernstein had been one of the most vocal opponents of Capablanca's admission to the tournament, and by chance they met in the first round.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Be7 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bxc6+
bxc6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 {Black has adopted the Steinitz Defense to the Ruy Lopez, in which he obtains a cramped but solid position. The doubled Black c-pawn deprives White of the use of the d5 square, and Black may hope for counterplay on the b-file. On the whole, White stands slightly better.}
9. Bg5 O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. Bh4 Nh7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 {In a cramped position, it is generally a good idea to exchange a few pieces to obtain greater freedom of movement.} 13. Qd3 Rab8 14. b3 Ng5 {In the days when this defense was popular, it was more common for Black to regroup with ...Rfe8, Nh7-f8-g6, eyeing the e5 square.} 15. Rad1 Qe5 16. Qe3 Ne6 17. Nce2 Qa5 18. Nf5 Nc5 { The threat against the a2-pawn proves not to be a real one, for after 18...Qxa2 19.Qc3 (threatening to trap the Queen with 20.Ra1) Qa6, White would obtain a strong attack with something like 20.Nf4 f6 21.Qg3 g5 22.Ng6 Rf7 23.Nxh6+ Kg7 24.Nxf7 Kxg6 25.Nxd6 cxd6 26.Rxd6 Rb7 27.e5.} 19. Ned4 Kh7
{To meet the threat of 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Ne7+ and 22.Nxc6. The a2 pawn still cannot be captured in view of 19...Qxa2 20.Ra1 Qb7 21.Reb1.} 20. g4 Rbe8 21.
f3 Ne6 22. Ne2 Qxa2 {Seeing no direct threat, Black thinks that it is time to capture the a-pawn, but 22...Qb6 would have minimized White's advantage.}
23. Neg3 Qxc2 {The only chance of defense was 23...f6, to defend the g7 pawn with ...Rf7.} 24. Rc1 Qb2 25. Nh5 Rh8 {Other moves are no better. Two variations given by Capablanca are 25...g5 26.e5 f6 27.Qd3, and 25...g6 26.Qxh6+ Kg8 27.e5 gxh5 28.gxh5, and there is no answer to the threat of Re1-e2-g2+.} 26. Re2 Qe5 27. f4 Qb5 28. Nfxg7 Nc5 {Losing quickly. Capablanca expected 28...Nxg7, though White is still winning after 29.Nf6+ Kg6 30.Nxd7 f6 31.e5 Kf7 32.Nxf6 Re7 33.Ne4.} 29. Nxe8 Bxe8 30. Qc3 f6 31.
Nxf6+ Kg6 32. Nh5 Rg8 33. f5+ Kg5 34. Qe3+ Kh4 35. Qg3+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "San Sebastian"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1912"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, A."]
[Black "Spielmann, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A85"]

{Spielmann was noted for his tactical ability. In his book THE ART OF SACRIFICE, he wrote: "The beauty of a game of chess is usually assessed, and not without good reason, according to the sacrifices it contains". He classified this as a King hunt.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 Nf6 5.
g3 O-O 6. Bg2 d6 7. a3 {Too slow. Better is 7. Nf3 immediately.} 7... Bxc3
8. Bxc3 Nbd7 9. Qc2 c5 10. dxc5 {Only helps Black free his game. Better is 10. Nf3.} 10... Nxc5 11. Nf3 Nce4 12. O-O Bd7 13. Rfd1 {The wrong Rook. Better is 13. Rad1.} 13... Rc8 14. Bxf6 {Unpleasantly forced. Not 14. Nd2? Nxf2! 15. Kxf2 Ng4+ 16. Kf3 Bc6+ wins. This sacrifice would be impossible with the rook still on f1.} 14... Qxf6 15. Qb3 Rc7 16. Ne1 Nc5 17. Qb4 f4
18. Nd3 fxg3 19. fxg3 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Qf2+ 21. Kh1 Bc6 22. e4 {Forced. If 22. Bxc6 Qxe2 is decisive.} 22... Rcf7 23. Re1 a5 24. Qc3 Qc5 25. b4 Bxe4 {"The hostile King is forced into the open. I could not calculate the combination more exactly, and I had to rely entirely on my conviction that favorable variations would occur as a matter of course" -- Spielmann.} 26. Rxe4 {If 26. Bxe4 Rf1+ 27. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 28. Kg2 Rg1+ 29. Kf3 Qh5+ 30. Ke3 Qxh2 and Spielmann noted, "He who would not boldly undertake to win such a position with Black will never go far in the domain of the sacrifice."} 26... Rf1+
27. Bxf1 Rxf1+ 28. Kg2 Qf2+ 29. Kh3 Rh1 {Black is a Rook down, but drives the King to the fourth rank. Such an attack must get home!" -- Spielmann}
30. Rf3 Qxh2+ 31. Kg4 Qh5+ 32. Kf4 Qh6+ 33. Kg4 g5 {Threatening ...Qh5 mate. } 34. Rxe6 Qxe6+ 35. Rf5 {Also hopeless is 35. Kxg5 h6+ 36. Kf4 Re1.} 35...
h6 36. Qd3 Kg7 37. Kf3 Rf1+ 38. Qxf1 Qxf5+ 39. Kg2 Qxf1+ 40. Kxf1 axb4 41.
axb4 Kf6 42. Kf2 h5 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "San Sebastian"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1912"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spielmann, R."]
[Black "Tarrasch, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C80"]

{Tarrasch was noted for his exemplary handling of the two Bishops. Here is a striking example.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 { "This I hold to be the best -- and completely satisfactory -- defense to the Ruy Lopez" -- Tarrasch. Half a century later Korchnoi revived it with some success.} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. a4 {"This move that once seemed to strong almost deserves a "?" for after it White has difficulty equalizing" -- Tarrasch. Nowadays 8. dxe5 is routine.} 8... Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. Nc3 Nxc3
11. bxc3 c5 12. axb5 Be7 13. Qf3 {Tarrasch suggests 13. cxd4 c4 14. Ba4 O-O 15. bxa6 Rxa6 16. c3 to make an escape square for the bishop on c2.} 13...
Be6 14. Rxa6 O-O 15. cxd4 c4 16. Ba2 {Not 16. Ba4? Qd7! snaring a piece.}
16... Rxa6 17. bxa6 Qa5 18. Bb1 c3 {Hemming in the bishop once and for all.}
19. Qg3 Rc8 20. f4 Bf5 21. Re1 Bf6 22. Kh1 h6 {Not 22...Qxa6 23. Qxc3! due to the back rank mate.} 23. h3 Rb8 24. Be3 Qxa6 25. Rd1 Qa1 26. Qe1 Be4 27.
Kh2 Be7 28. Qf1 f5 29. Re1 Bh4 {White's Bishops are locked behind a wall of pawns and he is now forced to weaken his kingside.} 30. g3 Be7 31. Bf2 Bd6
32. Rc1 Kh7 33. Re1 Rb6 34. Rc1 Ba3 35. Re1 Qb2 36. Qe2 Rb4 37. Rg1 Rb6 { White is reduced to marking time while Black devises a way to penetrate.}
38. Re1 Qb5 39. Qh5 Qxb1 40. Rxb1 Rxb1 41. g4 Bc1 {White Resigns in view of 42. Kg3 g6 43. Qh4 Bxf4+! 44. Kxf4 g5+.} 0-1

[Event "Vilna"]
[Site "Russia"]
[Date "1912"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ossip Bernstein"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]

{For many years before the first world war Rubinstein was considered the leading contender, but he never got a title match. Here he champions what has since become known as the Rubinstein Variation of the Four Knights Game. A remarkable feature of this game is that he gives up two pawns without any immediate return and yet comes within an ace of victory.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 {This move, which seems to violate principle by moving the same piece twice, took a lot of steam out of White's system. The text had been tried at least twice before (in Elson-Delmar, Philadelphia 1875 and Maroczy-Marshall, Monte Carlo 1902) and Rubinstein fashioned it into a sound defensive weapon.} 5. Bc4 Bc5 {True to the spirit of the variation, Black offers a pawn for rapid development.} 6. Nxe5 Qe7 7. Nf3 { Deficient would be 7. Nxf7 d5; or 7. Bxf7 Kf8 8. f4 d6.} 7... d5 8. Bxd5 Bg4
{A troublesome pin, much better than 8...Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Qxe4 10. Ne3 Bg4 11. d3.} 9. d3 c6 10. Bb3 Nd7 11. Bg5 Qd6 {Also feasible is 11...Nxf3 12. gxf3 Qxg5 13. fxg4 Ne5.} 12. Nb1 Qg6 13. Be3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qg2 15. Kd2 {It seems as if only a miracle can save White now, but he manages to get his king to safety and hang onto his extra pawn.} 15... Nxf3+ 16. Kc1 Rd8 17. h3 Bxe3+
18. fxe3 Nde5 {Bringing more force into the fray. Black finds a way to molest the enemy king even in his new stronghold.} 19. Qf1 Qg5 20. Qe2 Nd4
21. Qd2 {White must allow a draw by repetition. Not 21. Qf2 Nxb3 22. axb3 Rxd3.} 21... Ndf3 22. Qe2 Nd4 {A curious draw where Black never had time to castle. Rubinstein won this double round robin ahead of his worthy rival by a half point and beat a budding Alekhine, who was then 20, in both of their encounters.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Biarritz"]
[Date "1912"]
[Round "?"]
[White "David Janowsky"]
[Black "Frank Marshall"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]

{A surprising queen sacrifice punishes White for his sins in the opening. "One ideal was always with me: to play the most interesting and beautiful chess of which I was capable. From 1900 to 1925 Janowsky and I must have played something like 100 serious games. This is the most sparkling of the lot" -- Marshall.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6.
Bd3 Bd6 {More aggressive than the customary 6...Be7.} 7. c4 {Premature. Better is 7. O-O Bg4 8. c4 O-O?! 9. cxd5 f5 10. Nc3 as in Spielmann-Marshall, Hamburg 1910.} 7... Bb4+ 8. Kf1 {This has little to recommend it, but if 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. O-O Bxd2! 10. Bxd2 Bg4 gives Black fine play.} 8... O-O 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Nc3 {This harmless-looking move proves fatal. Better is 11. Be3.} 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Qxf3 {Some of Marshall's most sensational moves look like typographical errors.} 13. cxb4
{He dare not capture the queen since 13. gxf3? Bh3 14. Kg1 Re1 mates.} 13...
Nc6 14. Bb2 {As so often happens, White is a victim of sacrificial shock. Better is 14. h3. Now comes a second shock.} 14... Nxb4 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16.
gxf3 {Accepting the challenge. If 16. Qc4 Bh3! is unpleasant.} 16... Bh3+
17. Kg1 Nxc2 18. Bxc2 Re2 19. Rc1 Rae8 {No rest for the weary. White is a piece down and the Queens are gone, but his attack is still in full swing.}
20. Bc3 R8e3 {Ingenious -- but 20...Rxc3! 21. Rxc3 Re6! is a quicker finish.}
21. Bb4 {No better is 21. fxe3 Rg2 22. Kf1 Rxc2 23. Kg1 Rg2 24. Kf1 Rxb2 with a winning tactic known as a "windmill".} 21... Rxf3 {Now White is helpless. If 22. Re1 Rfxf2 23. Rxe2 Rf1 mate.} 22. Bd1 Rf6 {Elegant to the end. If 23. Bxe2 Rg6 forces mate. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Breslau"]
[Date "1912"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Levitzky, S."]
[Black "Marshall, F."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]

{Though he was not quite the equal of Lasker or Capablanca, Frank Marshall was for many years one of the top half-dozen players in the world, and a formidable tournament competitor. His aggressive attitude, combinational flair and imagination produced an amazing number of brilliant games like this one. It is said that after the startling conclusion, the spectators showered the board with gold coins.} 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 {A double-edged system which Marshall long played with success, for he had no aversion to accepting a positional weakness for tactical chances.} 4. Nf3
Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bg5 O-O 9. dxc5 Be6 10. Nd4 Bxc5
11. Nxe6 {A dubious idea; Black obtains strong central pawns and open f-file, and White will never have time to exploit the potentially weak e6 pawn.} 11... fxe6 12. Bg4 Qd6 13. Bh3 Rae8 14. Qd2 {Now Black obtains a clear advantage. The defensive 14.a3 was certainly better.} 14... Bb4 15.
Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Rad1 {White had to meet the threats of both ...Nf6-e5 and ...d5-d4, but now Black's Rooks become very active.} 16... Qc5 17. Qe2 { Embarking on what he believes to be an exchanging combination, but Marshall has seen further. Better was 17.a3 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.bxc3, though Black now stands clearly better in the endgame.} 17... Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Rxd5
Nd4 20. Qh5 {White had seen this far -- on 20.Qe5? Nf3+! 21.gxf3 Rg6+ wins, but now if 20...g6 21.Qe5 is playable. However ...} 20... Ref8 21. Re5 { Perhaps White had planned 21.Rc5, overlooking 21... Rxf2! (22.Rxf2 Qe1+, or 22.g3 Ne2+ 23.Kh1 Rxf1+).} 21... Rh6 22. Qg5 {On 22.Qg4, 22...Nf3+, discovering on the undefended Re5 would win routinely.} 22... Rxh3 23. Rc5 
{Not 23.gxh3? Nf3+. Now White hopes for something like 23...Qb4 24.Rc7 g6 25.Qe5, but Black finishes the game elegantly.} 23... Qg3 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "St. Petersburg"]
[Date "1914"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Black "Tarrasch, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]

{Tarrasch was the great explicator of Steinitz's theories, though he provoked the "Hypermodern" reaction through his dogmatism and rejection of those aspects of the game not congenial to his own style. In the use of a space advantage and active pieces he had few peers, and here he gives another example of the double-bishop sacrifice, as in Lasker-Bauer.} 1. d4
d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 b6 9.
Nbd2 Bb7 10. Rc1 Qe7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nh4 g6 13. Nhf3 Rad8 14. dxc5 bxc5
15. Bb5 Ne4 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Qc2 Nxd2 18. Nxd2 d4 19. exd4 Bxh2+ 20. Kxh2
Qh4+ 21. Kg1 Bxg2 22. f3 {If 22.Kxg2 Qg4+ 23.Kh2 Rd5 and 24...Rh5++.} 22...
Rfe8 23. Ne4 Qh1+ 24. Kf2 Bxf1 25. d5 {The White Queen is lost on 25.Rxf1 Qh2+, and 25.Nf6+ Kf8 26.Nxe8 Qg2+ 27.Ke3 Rxe8+ 28.Kf4 g5+ 29.Kf5 Qxc2+ 30.Rxc2 Bd3+ leaves Black with an extra Rook.} 25... f5 26. Qc3 Qg2+ 27. Ke3
Rxe4+ 28. fxe4 f4+ 29. Kxf4 Rf8+ 30. Ke5 Qh2+ 31. Ke6 Re8+ 32. Kd7 Bb5# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "St. Petersburg"]
[Date "1914"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C68"]

{At the end of the first half of this double-round tournament, Capablanca stood a point and a half ahead of his nearest rivals Lasker and Tarrasch. When he met Lasker again in the seventh of the ten final rounds, even a draw would virtually assure the Cuban of first place. But Lasker, the great chess psychologist, adopted an opening in which Black might indeed try for the advantage, but could not readily obtain a draw. The result was a great victory over a great opponent.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6
5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 {A surprising choice in a "must-win" situation, for the Exchange Variation is generally considered to allow Black equality. But the equality is of a dynamic nature, as Black must use his two Bishops to counterbalance White's Kingside pawn majority, and the sort play in which Capablanca excelled -- gradual simplification to a technical endgame -- will not do, for each exchange of pieces brings White closer to a won King-and-pawn ending.} 7... Bd6 8. Nc3 Ne7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Re8 11. Nb3
f6 12. f5 {A move that could be made only by an inexperienced player -- or a very strong one. White accepts a permanently backward e-pawn and weakens the e5 square, but he cramps the Black position and will obtain the e6 square for a Knight and the h2-b8 diagonal for his Bishop.} 12... b6 13. Bf4 Bb7
14. Bxd6 {Again a surprise decision, undoubling Black's pawns. White has calculated that the Knight he will post at e6 will prevent Black from coordinating his pieces, and the White Rooks will threaten to penetrate on both sides of the board.} 14... cxd6 15. Nd4 Rad8 16. Ne6 Rd7 17. Rad1 Nc8
18. Rf2 b5 19. Rfd2 Rde7 20. b4 Kf7 21. a3 Ba8 {In hindsight, Black should play here 21...Rxe6 22.fxe6+ Kxe6, with a pawn for the Exchange and a solid position. But it is not easy to make such a decision in a seemingly tenable position.} 22. Kf2 Ra7 23. g4 h6 24. Rd3 a5 25. h4 {Preparing to open a line for his Rooks with g4-g5.} 25... axb4 26. axb4 Rae7 27. Kf3 Rg8 28. Kf4 g6
29. Rg3 g5+ 30. Kf3 Nb6 {On 30...gxh4 31.Rh3 White recovers the pawn with advantage, but now he must avoid 31.Rxd6 Nc4 32.Rd1 Ne5+ 33.Ke2 gxh4, and Black stands well with his centrally posted Knight.} 31. hxg5 hxg5 32. Rh3
Rd7 33. Kg3 Ke8 34. Rdh1 Bb7 35. e5 {A fine move, capping White's strategic play with a tactical blow. Now the e5 square will be occupied by a Black pawn, and White will use e4 as a pivot point for his Knight.} 35... dxe5 36.
Ne4 Nd5 37. N6c5 Bc8 {And not 37...Re7 38.Nxb7 Rxb7 39.Nd6+, picking off a Rook.} 38. Nxd7 Bxd7 39. Rh7 Rf8 40. Ra1 Kd8 41. Ra8+ Bc8 42. Nc5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Mannheim"]
[Date "1914"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spielmann, R."]
[Black "Flamberg, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C29"]

{Rudolph Spielmann was in many ways a man out of his proper time. Dubbed "the last knight of the King's Gambit," he sought a return to the swashbuckling style of Morphy and Anderssen.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5
4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2 Nc5 7. d4 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Qh4+ 9. g3 Qxd4 10.
Be3 Qxe5 11. O-O-O c6 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Rxd5 Qe6 {No better is 13...Qe4 14.Bb5+ Nc6 15.Bxc5 Qxf3 16.Re1+.} 14. Bc4 Qe4 15. Bxc5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "1918"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, A."]
[Black "Vidmar, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]

{During the second and third decades of the century, dissatisfaction grew with the correct but colorless play of the post-Steinitz era, in which masters scored against opponents who had not assimilated the "new" principles of positional play but generally drew with one another. One of the attempts to enliven Black's play was the Budapest Gambit, a sharp pawn sacrifice upset of the mighty Rubinstein.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4.
Bf4 {In this way White can keep the pawn, but he must play very accurately. Alternatives are the aggressive 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4, and 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2, returning the pawn for a slight positional advantage, which most players nowadays prefer.} 4... Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 {Also good is 6.Nbd2, but White must avoid the trap 6...Qe7 7.a3 Ngxe5 8.axb4? [8.e3 is correct] Nd3++.} 6... Qe7 7. Qd5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qa3 9. Rc1 f6 10. exf6 {If 10.e6 dxe6 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qxg4, Black recovers the piece with 12...e5.} 10... Nxf6 11.
Qd2 d6 12. Nd4 O-O 13. e3 {Surprisingly, this turns out to be a fatal error. White must prevent the entry of the Knight into e4 with 13.f3, when Black's compensation for the pawn is unclear.} 13... Nxd4 14. cxd4 Ne4 15. Qc2 Qa5+
16. Ke2 {Not much better was 16.Kd1, in view of 16...Bf5 17.Bd3 Nxf2+.}
16... Rxf4 17. exf4 Bf5 18. Qb2 Re8 19. Kf3 Nd2+ 20. Kg3 Ne4+ 21. Kh4 {Had White repeated moves with 21.Kf3, Black would have resorted to the winning line 21...h5 22.h3 h4, closing the mating net.} 21... Re6 22. Be2 Rh6+ 23.
Bh5 Rxh5+ 24. Kxh5 Bg6+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1918"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Janowski, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]

{During the First World War, only a handful of tournaments were held, and those in the United States without most of Europe's great players. Capablanca performed almost flawlessly during this period, earning the nickname "The Chess Machine". Here is a splendid example of a brilliancy prize game that is largely positional.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5
Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nbd2 {Usual here is 6. Nc3.} 6... Be7 7. Bd3 dxc4 {Allowing the knight to develop strongly, there was no reason to reduce the central tension.} 8. Nxc4 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. Rc1 b6 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Nd5 13. Nd6
Bc6 14. Ne4 f5 {Shutting the b1-h7 diagonal, but at the cost of long lasting positional weakness.} 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Ned2 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5
19. Nf3 Qe7 20. Nd4 {As Black cannot stand the pin Bc4 after Bd7, the following exchange is forced.} 20... cxd4 21. Rxc6 Nb4 22. Bc4+ Kh8 23. Re6
d3 24. Rxd3 Qc5 25. Rd4 b5 26. Bxb5 Nxa2 27. Bc4 Nb4 28. Qh5 {All of a sudden, the Black king is in trouble.} 28... g6 29. Rxg6 Rad8 30. Rg7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1918"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Marshall, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]

{Marshall launches a fierce counterattack by means of a subtle opening novelty (now known as the Marshall Gambit), but Capa's chess instinct enables him to thread his way through the pitfalls.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 {Marshall's innovation, sacrificing a pawn for a strong attack.} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5
Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. h3 Ng4 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. d4 Nxf2 16. Re2 Bg4
17. hxg4 Bh2+ 18. Kf1 Bg3 19. Rxf2 Qh1+ 20. Ke2 Bxf2 21. Bd2 Bh4 22. Qh3
Rae8+ 23. Kd3 Qf1+ 24. Kc2 Bf2 25. Qf3 Qg1 26. Bd5 c5 27. dxc5 Bxc5 28. b4
Bd6 {Or 28...Be3 29.Bxe3 Rxe3 30.Nd2 Qxa1 31.Qxe3, and White should win with his material advantage.} 29. a4 a5 30. axb5 axb4 31. Ra6 bxc3 32. Nxc3 Bb4
33. b6 Bxc3 34. Bxc3 h6 35. b7 Re3 36. Qxf7+ Rxf7 37. b8=Q+ Kh7 38. Rxh6+
Kxh6 39. Qh8+ Kg6 40. Qh5# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1921"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Sterk, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]

{Alekhine considered this game very characteristic of his style -- maneuvers on the Queenside divert the Black pieces, setting the stage for a surprising mating attack with threats on both sides of the board.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6
3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e3 Bd6 6. Nb5 Be7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bd3 dxc4
10. Bxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. O-O b6 13. e4 Bb7 14. Bg5 Qc8 15. Qe2 Bb4 16.
Bd3 Bxc3 17. Rfc1 Nxe4 {The main variation Alekhine analyzed was 17... Nc5 18.Rxc3 Bxe4 19.Bxf6 Bxd3 20. qe3 gxf6 21. b4 Bg6 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.Rxc5, with good chances for the Pawn.} 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Nc5 20. Qe2 Ba5 21. Rab1
Qa6 22. Rc4 Na4 23. Bf6 {Now if 23...h5 24.Rg4 Qxe2 25.Rxg7+ Kh8 26. Ng5, and there is no defense to 26.Rh7+ and 27.Rh8++.} 23... Rfc8 24. Qe5 {The main idea is 24...Qxc4 25.Qg5 Kf8 26.Qxg7+ Ke8 27.Qg8+ Kd7 28.Ne5+ Kc7 29.Qf7+ and 30.Nxc4.} 24... Rc5 25. Qg3 g6 26. Rxa4 Qd3 27. Rf1 Rac8 28. Rd4
Qf5 29. Qf4 Qc2 30. Qh6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "1921"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Jose Capablanca"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D61"]

{This is generally considered the finest game of the match and the one most characteristic of the Cuban's style. After Capa won the world title effortlessly by the score of 9-5, he wrote: "The one outstanding feature of the match -- the one most critics overlook -- is that not once did Lasker have a won game". Capablanca's claim was challenged by Gyula Breyer, a Hungarian master who claimed Lasker probably missed a win in this game on move 17. Capa's book on the match doesn't mention it, and the debate over whether White could have won still rages to this day.}
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7.
Qc2 c5 {Ultra sharp. Safer is the stodgy 7...c6.} 8. Rd1 {Once popular but risky is 8. O-O-O which could expose the king to danger.} 8... Qa5 9. Bd3 
{Threatening Bxh7. Better is 9. cxd5. Game 7 was eventually drawn after 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Bd3 Nf6.} 9... h6 10. Bh4 cxd4 {Releasing tension in the center and isolating White's d-pawn. A satisfactory alternative is 10...dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nb6 12. Be2 Bd7 18. O-O Rac8.} 11. exd4
dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. O-O Rac8 {At Moscow 1935, Capa varied here against Stahlberg with 14...Bc6 but stood worse after 15. Ne5 Bd5 16. Nxd5 Nbxd5 17. Qe2 Rad8 18. f4! Ne8 19. Bxe7 Nxe7 20. f5! Nxf5 21. Nxf7!} 
15. Ne5 Bb5 {This much-admired move is actually inexact since it loses a tempo by driving the rook to a better square. Better is 15...Bc6 at once.} 
16. Rfe1 Nbd5 {White got a winning attack in Euwe-Landau, Noordwijk 1938, after 16...Bc4 17. Bxc4 Nxc4 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nd7 Rfd8 20. Nxf6 gxf6 21. Rd3. But this move could lead to trouble. Safer is 16...Rc7.} 17. Bxd5 
{This famous position appeared all over the world because of Gyula Breyer's sensational analysis giving White the nod after 17. Bxf6! Bxf6 (not 17...Nxf6? 18. Ng6! Rfe8 19. Rxe6!) 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. f4! Bxf4 20. Qf5 Bg5 21. Qxd5 a6 22. a4 Rcd8 23. Qxb7 Bxa4 24. b4 Qf5 25. Nxa4 Qxf5 26. Nc5.} 
17... Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Qb3 Bc6 {Also okay is 19...Ba6.} 20. Nxc6 bxc6 
21. Re5 Qb6 22. Qc2 Rfd8 23. Ne2 {Too passive. 23. Na4 leads to equal chances.} 23... Rd5 24. Rxd5 cxd5 25. Qd2 Nf5 26. b3 h5 27. h3 {Lasker's last chance to draw was 27. Ng3! Nxg3 28. hxg3. Now Capa dominates the c-file and grinds him down with his renowned endgame technique.} 27... h4 
28. Qd3 Rc6 29. Kf1 g6 30. Qb1 {Losing even more ground. 30. Qd2 was better.} 30...Qb4 31. Kg1 {31. Qb2 offers more resistance.} 31...a5 32. Qb2
a4 {Instructive. This advance eliminates the remaining weakness in Black's pawn structure and saddles White with another isolated pawn.} 33. Qd2 Qxd2
34. Rxd2 axb3 35. axb3 Rb6 36. Rd3 Ra6 37. g4 hxg3ep 38. fxg3 Ra2 39. Nc3
Rc2 40. Nd1 Ne7 41. Nc3 Rc1+ 42. Kf2 Nc6 {Material is even, but White's isolated pawns are too weak to hold.} 43. Nd1 Rb1 44. Ke2 Rxb3 {Picking up the pawn and the point. The trick is 45. Rxb3 Nxd4+ followed by Nxb3. Lasker now puts up a good fight but to no avail.} 45. Ke3 Rb4 46. Nc3 Ne7
47. Ne2 Nf5+ 48. Kf2 g5 49. g4 Nd6 50. Ng1 Ne4+ 51. Kf1 Rb1+ 52. Kg2 Rb2+
53. Kf1 Rf2+ 54. Ke1 Ra2 55. Kf1 Kg7 {55...f6 was quicker, but White is reduced to total passivity and must sit back to await his inevitable doom.} 
56. Re3 Kg6 57. Rd3 f6 58.Re3 Kf7 59. Rd3 Ke7 60. Re3 Kd6 61. Rd3 Rf2+ 
62. Ke1 Rg2 63. Kf1 Ra2 64. Re3 e5 65. Rd3 exd4 66. Rxd4 Kc5 67. Rd1 d4 
68. Rc1+ Kd5 {If 69. Rd1 Ng3+ 70. Ke1 Rg2 snares a piece. This is generally considered the finest game of the match and the one most characteristic of Capa's style. Lasker described the logic of the Cuban's play from move 24 as "enchanting". White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Vienna"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1922"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Grunfeld, E."]
[Black "Bogoljubow, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]

{Austria's Ernst Grunfeld was a great theoretician who possessed an encylopedic knowledge of the openings. A prominent star in the 1920s, he later became too content with colorless draws. Here is one his finest early efforts.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 b5 {The Blumenfeld Counter Gambit achieved popularity in this tournament.} 5. Bg5 h6 { Saemisch-Spielmann, Teplitz-Schonau 1922, equalized after 5...bxc4 6. e4 Qa5+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. Bxc4 Nxc3 9. Qd2 Qb4!} 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Nc3 b4 {Also in White's favor is 7...bxc4 8. e4 d6 9. Bxc4 e5 10. Qa4+.} 8. Nb5 Na6 9. e4
Qxb2 {Too risky. Safer is 9...e5.} 10. Bd3 Qf6 11. e5 Qd8 12. dxe6 {The star move, much stronger than 12. d6 Bb7. Now Black gets mated on 12...fxe6 13. Bg6+ Ke7 14. Qd6.} 12... dxe6 13. Be4 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Rb8 15. Bc6+ Ke7 16.
Nxa7 g5 {A last gasp.} 17. Bb5 Bg7 18. Nc6+ Kf8 19. Rd8# {A powerful positional masterpiece by Grunfeld, who successfully combined theory and practice.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1922"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Yates, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D64"]

{An extreme example of the "weak square complex". Alekhine so thoroughly dominates the dark squares that in the end even his King can march across the board to complete the mating net.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3
Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11.
Ne4 f5 {Black's 9th and 10th moves constitute the so-called "Capablanca freeing maneuver", with which Black hopes to exchange a few pieces and gain time to develop his "problem Bishop" at c8. Black's last move leads to trouble, for he thus weakens the squares d6/e5/f6 in which the dark-squared Bishops will soon be exchanged.} 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Ned2 b5 {Trying to secure a square for the Bc8, but the open file which results will fall to White's control, and and c5 joins the list of weak dark squares.} 14. Bxd5 cxd5 15.
O-O a5 16. Nb3 a4 17. Nc5 Nxc5 18. Qxc5 Qxc5 19. Rxc5 b4 {With the exchange of Queens, Black's chance for counterplay has vanished, and his weak queenside pawns will force him to become even more passive.} 20. Rfc1 Ba6
21. Ne5 Reb8 {Now on 21...Rec8 22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Nc6 threatens both Ne7+ and Nxb4.} 22. f3 b3 23. a3 h6 24. Kf2 Kh7 25. h4 Rf8 26. Kg3 Rfb8
27. Rc7 {White prepares to double Rooks on the 7th rank, with the incidental threat of 28.Nd7 and 29.Nc5.} 27... Bb5 28. R1c5 Ba6 29. R5c6 Re8 30. Kf4
Kg8 31. h5 Bf1 32. g3 Ba6 33. Rf7 Kh7 34. Rcc7 Rg8 35. Nd7 Kh8 36. Nf6 Rgf8
37. Rxg7 {A piece sacrifice which prepares the final mating combination.}
37... Rxf6 38. Ke5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Hauptturnier B, 22nd German Chess Congress"]
[Site "Bad Oeynhausen"]
[Date "1922"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Emmerich, ?."]
[Black "Moritz, ?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D08"]

{"Black had a win but he didn't see it, played something else and lost. He probably regretted it the rest of his life," says Gene Hackman, starring as a weary private eye who tinkers with a pocket set during stakeouts in NIGHT MOVES, a 1975 movie. Chapter One of the novel by Alan Sharp identifies the game: "Back to the wall, in danger of defeat, Moritz had a Queen sacrifice leading to an exquisite mate by means of three little knight moves, prancing in interlocking checks, driving the king into the pit. In the heat of something now lost, Moritz had missed it, played defensively and lost."} 1.
d4 d5 2. c4 e5 {The rarely seen Albin Counter Gambit.} 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6
5. Nbd2 f6 6. exf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Bg4 8. Bg2 O-O-O {Black gave up a pawn for rapid development.} 9. O-O Nge7 10. Qb3 {A good alternative is 10. a3 to enforce b4.} 10... Ng6 11. a4 Bb4 12. a5 {Pitching a pawn to open lines. Better is 12. h3.} 12... Bxa5 13. Qa4 Rhe8 14. Nb3 Rxe2 15. Nxa5 Bxf3 16.
Bh3+ Rd7 17. Qb5 {Stronger is 17. Nxb7!} 17... Nce5 18. Bxd7+ {Also playable is 18. Bg5!} 18... Nxd7 19. Ra3 Re5 20. Qb3 Nh4 21. Bf4 Qg6 22. Bxe5 Nxe5
23. Qb5 Qh5 24. Qc5 Nhg6 25. Qb5 {If 23. Qxd4 Qh3 wins outright.} 25... Nf4
26. Re1 {The last hope was 26. Rfa1.} 26... Bd5 {Missing a forced mate by 26...Qxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Ng4+ 28. Kg1 Nh3 29. Kf1 Nh2 mate -- the killer knight moves.} 27. cxd5 Nh3+ 28. Kf1 {Black Resigns -- his attack ran out of steam. } 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1922"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bogolyubov, E."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A90"]

{A remarkable game, in which Black gradually takes control of the whole board. A recurring combinative theme is the strength of an advanced passed pawn, which may create mating threats or sneak through to its Queening square.} 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Nxd2 {A better piece formation for White is 6. Qxd2 followed by 7.Nc3} 6... Nc6 7.
Ngf3 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. Qb3 Kh8 10. Qc3 e5 {Black obtains parity in the center by means of a tactical trick -- 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nxe5? Nxe5 13.Qxe5 Qxd2.}
11. e3 a5 12. b3 Qe8 13. a3 Qh5 14. h4 {The e5 pawn still cannot be taken -- 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Qxe5 Ng4 wins the Queen. 14.b4 is also bad, as 14...e4 forces 15.Ne1, breaking the connection of the two Rooks and allowing 15...axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1 17.Qxal Nxb4.} 14... Ng4 15. Ng5 Bd7 16. f3 Nf6 17.
f4 e4 18. Rfd1 {Better was 16.d5. Now Black consolidates his advantage in the center and on the Kingside.} 18... h6 19. Nh3 d5 20. Nf1 Ne7 {Black would like to exchange his d5 pawn for the White one on c4, obtaining the fine square d5 for his Knight, and he prepares...a5-a4 22.b4 dxc4. White prevents this, but at the cost of a different concession.} 21. a4 Nc6 22.
Rd2 Nb4 23. Bh1 Qe8 {The main threat of this move can be seen in the game. The other defenses, about equally bad, are 24.cxd5 (giving Black the Queenside). White prefers to sacrifice a pawn.} 24. Rg2 dxc4 25. bxc4 Bxa4
26. Nf2 Bd7 27. Nd2 b5 28. Nd1 Nd3 29. Rxa5 b4 30. Rxa8 {On 30.Qa1 Rxa5 31.Qxa5 Qa8 32.Qxa8 Rxa8 the Black Rook, Bishop and Knight will escort the b-pawn in, while the White Bh1 is quite out of play. Instead, White plays an exchanging combination, but his opponent has seen further.} 30... bxc3 31.
Rxe8 c2 {Surprisingly, Black gets a new Queen, for the pawn cannot be stopped.} 32. Rxf8+ Kh7 33. Nf2 c1=Q+ 34. Nf1 Ne1 {Threatening 35...Nf3++.}
35. Rh2 Qxc4 36. Rb8 Bb5 37. Rxb5 Qxb5 38. g4 Nf3+ 39. Bxf3 exf3 40. gxf5
Qe2 {Now White is reduced to pawn moves, for if 41.Rh3 Ng4 42.Nxg4 Qg2++, or 41.Nh3 Ng4! 42. Rxe2 fxe2, and the pawn will promote.} 41. d5 Kg8 42. h5 Kh7
43. e4 Nxe4 44. Nxe4 Qxe4 45. d6 cxd6 46. f6 gxf6 47. Rd2 Qe2 {Forcing an easily won King and pawn ending.} 48. Rxe2 fxe2 49. Kf2 exf1=Q+ 50. Kxf1 Kg7
51. Kf2 Kf7 52. Ke3 Ke6 53. Ke4 d5+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Teplitz-Schonau"]
[Date "1922"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Maroczy, G."]
[Black "Tartakower, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A85"]

{A marvelous intuitive sacrifice. When offering the Rook at move 17, Tartakower's judgment told him that White would have no way to secure his King or obtain a counterattack, so that Black would be able to bring up the reserves at leisure.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. a3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6.
Bd3 d5 7. Nf3 c6 8. O-O Ne4 {The "Stonewall" system of the Dutch Defense. Black hopes to use his strongly posted Knight at e4 to support an attack on the White King.} 9. Qc2 Bd6 10. b3 Nd7 11. Bb2 Rf6 12. Rfe1 Rh6 13. g3 Qf6
14. Bf1 g5 15. Rad1 g4 16. Nxe4 {Opens the file for Black, but 16.Nd2 Nxf2 17. Kxf2 Rxh2+ 18.Bg2 Bxg3+ is crushing.} 16... fxe4 17. Nd2 Rxh2 18. Kxh2
Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 Nf6 20. Re2 Qxg3 21. Nb1 Nh5 22. Qd2 Bd7 23. Rf2 Qh4+ 24. Kg1
Bg3 25. Bc3 {White must return some of the material, for if 25.Rg2 Rf8 26.Qe2 Rf3 27.Bc3 Bd6 28.Be1 g3 29.Nd2 Qg4, followed by Nh5-g7-f5, Black has a winning attack.} 25... Bxf2+ 26. Qxf2 g3 27. Qg2 Rf8 28. Be1 Rxf1+ 29.
Kxf1 e5 30. Kg1 Bg4 31. Bxg3 {White cannot survive 31.Rd2 exd4 32.exd4 Bf3.}
31... Nxg3 32. Re1 Nf5 33. Qf2 Qg5 34. dxe5 Bf3+ 35. Kf1 Ng3+ {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "Vienna"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1922"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Siegbert Tarrasch"]
[Black "Richard Reti"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]

{A problem-like finish caps this magnificent contest. The most impressive feature is the relentless march of White's king from g1 to f7 to mate his luckless adversary.} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 {Also playable is 3...dxe4. Weaker is 3...d4 4. Ne2 c5 5. d3.} 4. exd5 cxd5 5. d4 Bg4 6. h3
Bxf3 {White wrests the initiative on 6...Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5.} 7. Qxf3 e6
8. Bd3 Nc6 9. Be3 Be7 {Black's solid setup is hard to crack. But not 9...Qb6 10. O-O Qxb2? (or 10...Nxd4 11. Qf4 Bc5 12. Na4) 11. Nb5 with the double threat of Rfb1 and/or Nc7.} 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 a6 12. Ne2 b5 13. Bf4 Qb6 14.
c3 Na5 15. Rad1 Nc4 16. Bc1 Qc6 {More logical is 16...a5 right away.} 17.
Ng3 a5 18. Rfe1 b4 {No need to stop for 18...Rfe8 to prevent 20. Nf5.} 19.
axb4 axb4 20. Nf5 exf5 {Leads to a severe weakening of the dark squares on the kingside. Simply 20...Bd8 is indicated.} 21. Rxe7 bxc3 22. bxc3 g6 23.
Bh6 Nb2 {Trading a good knight for an ineffectual Bishop. Better is 23...Rfe8.} 24. Rb1 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Rfb8 {A tougher defense is 25...Rfe8. Now White gets a bind.} 26. Rxb8+ Rxb8 27. Qg3 Rd8 28. Qe5 Ra8 {Black is all tied up and running out of good moves.} 29. Rc7 Qe6 30. Qxe6 fxe6 31. Rg7+
Kh8 32. Re7 Kg8 33. f3 {There's no rush. 33. Rxe6 Kf7 gives Black counterplay.} 33... Ne8 34. Kh2 Nd6 35. Rg7+ Kh8 36. Rd7 Nb5 37. Kg3 Nxc3
38. Kf4 {Black's extra pawn is trivial. He is helpless against the incursion of White's King on the dark squares.} 38... Nb5 39. Ke5 Re8 40. Kf6 {Black can't breathe. If 40...Kg8 41. Rg7 Kh8 42. Rb7 Nd6 43. Rd7 Nb5 44. Kf7 Rg8 45. Rd8! Rxd8 46. Bg7 mate. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Carlsbad"]
[Site "Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1923"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Yates, F."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E62"]

{Frederick Yates was England's outstanding representative after Blackburne was no longer on the scene. Here is his most celebrated victory which earned him a brilliancy prize.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6
6. Nf3 Nc6 7. d5 Nb8 {A hypermodern idea. Black lures the pawns forward in the hope of undermining them later. Also playable is 7...Na5 8. Nd2 c5.} 8.
e4 Nbd7 9. O-O a5 10. Be3 {Better is 10. h3.} 10... Ng4 11. Bd4 Nge5 12.
Nxe5 Nxe5 {Better is 12. Nd2. Exchanges ease Black's cramp.} 13. c5 dxc5 14.
Bxc5 b6 15. Bd4 Ba6 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Bf1 {Not 17. f4? Nd3! 18. Bxg7 Qc5+ wins.} 17... Bxf1 18. Rxf1 c5 {Hoping for 19. dxc6? Qxd4! 20. Qxd4 Nf3+} 19.
Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Qb3 Rab8 21. Qb5 {A strategical error. Correct is 21. Rad1.}
21... f5 22. Rae1 f4 23. Qd7 Rbd8 24. gxf4 Qxf4 25. Qe6+ {The pawn is immune: 25. Qxe7? Qg4+ 26. Kh1 Qf3+ 27. Kg1 Rde8 28. Qd7 Re5 and wins.}
25... Kh8 26. f3 Qg5+ 27. Kh1 Rd6 28. Qh3 Be5 29. Re2 Rdf6 30. Nd1 Rf4 31.
Ne3 Rh4 32. Qe6 Qh5 33. Ng4 Rxg4 {Launching a long combination.} 34. fxg4
Rxf1+ 35. Kg2 Qxh2+ 36. Kxf1 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Bd4+ 38. Kg3 Qg1+ 39. Kh3 Qf1+ 40.
Rg2 Qh1+ 41. Kg3 Qe1+ 42. Kh3 g5 {The threat of Qh4 mate wins material.} 43.
Rc2 Qf1+ 44. Kh2 Qg1+ 45. Kh3 Qh1+ 46. Kg3 Qd1 47. Rc3 Qg1+ 48. Kh3 Qf1+ 49.
Kg3 Bf2+ 50. Kf3 Bg1+ {White Resigns without waiting for 51. Kg3 Qf2+ 52. Kh3 Qh2 mate.} 0-1

[Event "Copenhagen"]
[Site "Denmark"]
[Date "1923"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saemisch, F."]
[Black "Nimzovich, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E18"]

{Aron Nimzowitsch was the greatest player of the hypermodern school. His wizardry was most evident in closed positions when he found moves that were often termed "mysterious". This classic became known as the "Immortal Zugzwang Game".} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3
O-O 7. O-O d5 {This standard Q's Indian Defense was radically new in 1923. Today 7...Ne4 is considered best.} 8. Ne5 c6 9. cxd5 {Only helps Black solidify his center. Better is 9. e4 or b3.} 9... cxd5 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rc1 b5
12. Qb3 {Another positional misjudgment. 12. Nd3 leads to an even game.}
12... Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Kh2 Nh5 16. Bd2 f5 17. Qd1 {A tacit admission that Qb3 was wrong.} 17... b4 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Rg1 Bd6 20. e4 {The losing move. 20. e3 still makes a fight of it.} 20... fxe4 21. Qxh5 Rxf2 22.
Qg5 Raf8 23. Kh1 R8f5 24. Qe3 Bd3 25. Rce1 {To prevent ...Re2.} 25... h6 { White Resigns. 25...h6 is one of the most remarkable winning moves on record. There is no direct threat, but almost anything White does will eventually lose material -- though he is not technically in "zugzwang". Here are a few possibilities: (A) 26. g4 R5f3! 27. Bxf3 Rh2 mate. (B) 26. a3 a5 27. axb4 axb4 28. b3 Kh7 and White faces the same predicament. (C) 26. b3 a5 and White has still run out of good moves.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Carlsbad, Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1923"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Grunfeld, E."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D64"]

{Another superb Alekhine combination, as he outplays opening expert Grunfeld in the middlegame.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6.
e3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 a6 9. a3 h6 10. Bh4 Re8 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13.
Ba2 c5 14. Rd1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Qb6 16. Bb1 Bb7 17. O-O Rac8 18. Qd2 Ne5 19.
Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Qc2 g6 21. Qe2 Nc4 22. Be4 Bg7 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 24. Rc1 e5 25.
Nb3 e4 26. Nd4 Red8 27. Rfd1 Ne5 28. Na2 Nd3 29. Rxc8 Qxc8 30. f3 Rxd4 31.
fxe4 {Black wins on 31.exd4 Bxd4+ 32.Kf1 Nf4 33.Qxe4 Qc4+ 34.Ke1 Nxg2+ 35.Kd2 Be3+. White hopes to escape with the text move, as Black has two pieces "en prise".} 31... Nf4 32. exf4 Qc4 33. Qxc4 Rxd1+ 34. Qf1 Bd4+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Mahrisch-Ostrau"]
[Date "1923"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, A."]
[Black "Hromadka"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C30"]

{Rubinstein's lucid play demonstrates the positional basis of the King's Gambit, as his diversionary threats on the open f-file prove a prelude to the decisive combinative blow against the Black King on the other flank.} 1.
e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 {Black may decline the King's Gambit in this manner, for 3.fxe5? loses horribly to 3...Qh4+ 4.g3 Qxe4+ and 5...Qxh1.} 3. Nf3 d6 4.
Nc3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. d3 Bg4 {This old variation has the effect of preventing White from castling, but more in accordance with the position was challenging White's powerful Bishop with 6...Be6.} 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nd4 9.
Qg3 Qe7 {Capturing the Rook with 9...Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 Nxa1 yields White an overwhelming attack, e.g. 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Qxg7 Rf8 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Rf1 etc.}
10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Kd1 c6 12. a4 Rg8 13. Rf1 h6 14. Ne2 O-O-O {Black hopes to secure his King on the Queenside, but White will combine action on the f-file and the g1-a7 diagonal via the "pivot point" f2.} 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16.
c3 Bb6 17. a5 Bc7 18. Be3 Kb8 19. Kc2 {With his last move, Black threatened to exploit the pin on the d-file with ...Nxe4; this was not on before because of Qg4+.} 19... Ka8 20. Rf3 {Preparing 21.Qf2, when he would threaten both Bxa7 and Bxh6.} 20... Nd5 {A clever move, enabling the Knight to reach the "outpost" square f4. The tactical point is 21.exd5? cxd5 22.Ba2 e4 23.Bf4 exf3 24.Bxc7 Rc8, and with the threat of ...Qe2+ Black has a strong attack.} 21. Bg1 Nf4 22. Qf2 Bb8 23. g3 {Clearing the f-file. Black had not feared this move, for he thought that his reply would lead to the exchange of the important Bg1, breaking the attack, but Rubinstein has seen farther.} 23... Nxh3 24. Rxf7 Qd6 25. Qb6 {A startling move. White threatens 26.Qxb7++, and the Queen cannot be taken in view of 25...axb6 26.axb6+ Ba7 27.Rxa7+ Kb8 28.Rfxb7+ Kc8 29.Ba6, with unavoidable mate.} 25... Rd7 26. Bc5
{The point of the combination; the Black Queen has few flight squares, and after 26...Qc7 27.Qxc7 Rcx7 28.Rxc7 Bxc7 29.Bxg8 White picks off the undefended Rook on g8.} 26... Rxf7 27. Bxd6 Rf2+ 28. Qxf2 Nxf2 29. Bc5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Carlsbad"]
[Site "Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1923"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Richard Reti"]
[Black "Karel Treybal"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E19"]

{When Reti popularized the hypermodern opening named after him (1. Nf3), he had some profound positional concepts in mind such as controlling the center from the wings instead of occupying it with pawns. But when confronted with such admirable tacticians as Dr. Treybal, the game became as wild as anything arising out of the King's Gambit.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4.
Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 d5 {Black occupies the center with pawns in a classical style. Meanwhile, Reti tries to undermine it from the wings, a typical hypermodern strategy.} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 {Also feasible is 8...Qxd5 to avoid the isolated pawn. If then 9. d3 O-O 10. Be3 Qh5 is roughly equal.} 9. d4 c4 {Black boldly aims for a queenside pawn majority at the expense of giving White control of the center.} 10. b3 O-O 11. bxc4 dxc4
12. d5 Nb4 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. f4 Bf5 15. e4 f6 16. a3 {The game now takes a critical turn. Black reckoned on 16. exf5 fxe5 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Bf4 Qxf5 19. d6 Qc5 20. Kh1 Rfd8 21. d7 Nd3 22. Bxb7 Rxd7! threatening not only Rxb7 but Nf2 as well.} 16... Bc5+ 17. Kh1 fxe5 18. axb4 Bd4 {The only way to save one of the Bishops.} 19. exf5 Bxa1 20. d6 Qd7 21. fxe5 Rxf5 22. Rxf5 Qxf5
23. Bf4 Bxe5 24. Bxb7 {On 24. Qd5 Kh8 the bishop on e5 is immune owing to the mate threat on the back rank by Qb1.} 24... Bxf4 25. Bxa8 Bxd6 {The bishop is again untouchable owing to Qf1 mate.} 26. Qd5+ Qxd5+ 27. Bxd5+ Kf8
28. Bxc4 Bxb4 29. Kg2 Ke7 {Another great fighting draw. Black can't make progress despite his extra pawn, owing to opposite colored Bishops.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Carlsbad"]
[Site "Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1923"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Richard Reti"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]

{Chess would not have advanced to the healthy eclecticism which characterizes it today were it not for the hypermoderns. In the 1920s Reti consistently won high prizes, though he never reached the pinnacle before his untimely death at age 40. Here is a game of immense historical importance, which demonstrated the value of his new opening (1.Nf3) against one of the oldtimers. Curiously, Reti demolishes Black's pawn center in order to occupy it with his own pawns!} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 
d4 {This pawn becomes weak. Better is 4...c6 to bolster the center.} 5. d3 
Bg7 6. b4 {Undermining support for Black's advanced d-pawn.} 6... O-O 
7. Nbd2 {Since Black has occupied the center with a pawn, White proceeds to undermine and destroy it.} 7...c5 {Giving up a pawn in order to reinforce the center after 8. bxc5 Nc6 9. Nb3 e5. But 7...Re8 intending e5 is better.} 
8. Nb3 cxb4 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. Nbxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 {The outcome of the opening is curious. White stands better because he can occupy the center with pawns, leading to a hypermodern paradox: If you occupy the center immediately, the pawns may become weak. This suggests that occupation itself is not the culprit -- just premature occupation.} 11... b6 12. a3 Bb7 13. Bb2 bxa3 
14. Rxa3 Qc7 15. Qa1 {Kmoch wrote: "One may confidently assert that Reti did not discover this move, he invented it!"} 15... Ne8 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 17. O-O 
{"At last! The older masters were often horrified by the lack of precautions that hypermoderns took to defend their king" -- Reuben Fine. Of course not 17. Rxa7? Rxa7 18. Qxa7 Ra8 trapping the Queen.} 17... Ne6 18. Rb1 Bc6 
19. d4 Be4 20. Rd1 {White stands better because, curiously, he is now able to occupy the center with pawns! Now 20...Qxc4 loses to 21. Nd2.} 20...a5 
{20...Qxc4? 21. Nd2 costs Black a piece.} 21. d5 Nc5 22. Nd4 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 
Rfd8 24. Nc6 Rd6 25.Re3 Re8 26. Qe5 f6 27. Qb2 e5 {Reti provoked this advance by Black. Now White's Knight cannot be dislodged and his next step is to focus on the weak b-pawn.} 28. Qb5 Kf7 29. Rb1 Nd7 30. f3 Rc8 {Hoping to free his game with Nb8.} 31. Rd3 e4 {A desperate gasp for air. If 31...Nb8 then 32. c5 wins.} 32. fxe4 Ne5 33. Qxb6 {Vindicating White's entire strategy.} 33... Nxc6 34. c5 Rd7 35. dxc6 Rxd3 36. Qxc7+ Rxc7
37. exd3 Rxc6 38. Rb7+ Ke8 39. d4 Ra6 40. Rb6 {The quickest path to victory. After 40...Rxb6 41. cxb6 Kd7 42. e5 a4 43. e6 Kxe6 44. b7 White queens first.} 40... Ra8 41. Rxf6 a4 42. Rf2 a3 43. Ra2 Kd7 44. d5 g5 45. Kf3 Ra4
46. Ke3 h5 47. h4 gxh4 48. gxh4 Ke7 49. Kf4 Kd7 50. Kf5 {One of the earliest triumphs of hypermodernism. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1924"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Lasker, Em."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]

{This magnificent fighting game took place three years after Lasker lost the title to Capablanca. Lasker won first prize by scoring 80% in this double round robin, but Capa had the satisfaction of posting 1 1/2 out of two in their individual encounters here.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5
5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Be7 {7...Bd6 is less cramping.} 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O
{White should stop for 9. h3 to provide an escape square for his bishop on h2.} 9... Nh5 10. Be5 f5 {More consistent is 10...f6.} 11. Rc1 Nf6 12. Bxf6
gxf6 {Doubled pawns are a weakness, but this prevents White from controlling e5 and opens the g-file for counterplay.} 13. Nh4 Kh8 14. f4 Rg8 15. Rf3 Bd7
16. Rh3 {Pointless.} 16... Be8 17. a3 Rg7 18. Rg3 Rxg3 19. hxg3 Rc8 20. Kf2
Na5 21. Qf3 {Better is 21. Qe2 right away.} 21... Nc4 22. Qe2 Nd6 23. Rh1
Ne4+ {Correct is 23...Bf7! and if 24. g4 Ne4+ 25. Bxe4 fxe4 so that White's Queen can't penetrate the kingside.} 24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Qg4 f5 26. Nxf5 {A promising sacrifice netting 3 pawns for the piece.} 26... exf5 27. Qxf5 h5
28. g4 Rc6 29. g5 {An error. Alekhine showed that 29. Nxd5 would have won.}
29... Kg8 {Returning the favor. Lasker gives 29...Rd6! 30. g4 Kg8 as the proper defense.} 30. Nxd5 Bf7 31. Nxe7+ Qxe7 32. g4 hxg4 {Overlooking an easy draw by 32...Rc2+ 33. Kg3 Re2 34. g6 h4+! but Black is still playing to win.} 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34. Rh6 Bg8 {Simpler is 34...Rxh6.} 35. Qf5+ Kg7 36. Rxc6
bxc6 37. Kg3 Qe6 {The losing move. Alekhine pointed out 37...Bf7! still draws; if 38. Qxg4 c5.} 38. Kxg4 Qxf5+ 39. Kxf5 Bd5 40. b4 a6 41. Kg4 Bc4
42. f5 Bb3 43. Kf4 Bc2 44. Ke5 Kf7 45. a4 Kg7 {Three passed pawns are decisive after 45...Bxa4 46. Kxe4.} 46. d5 Bxa4 47. d6 c5 48. bxc5 Bc6 49.
Ke6 a5 50. f6+ {Black Resigns in view of 50...Kf8 51. g6 a4 52. g7+ Kg8 53. f7+ Kxg7 54. Ke7 and f8=Q coming next.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1924"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Emanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Edward Lasker"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C99"]

{Emanuel Lasker's greatest triumph after he was dethroned came at age 55, in this famous double round-robin with 11 stars. Undefeated, he won by a margin of 1.5 points ahead of runner-up Capablanca (who took the title from him in 1921) and four points ahead of Alekhine (who took the title from Capa in 1927). The advantage changed hands when he persisted in trying to win a drawn position against his namesake Edward Lasker (no relation). White's narrow escape with a Knight against rook and pawn added a new chapter to endgame theory.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 {Black tries to hold e5 at all costs in this closed defense to the Ruy Lopez.} 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13.
cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Rfc8 15. Re2 Nh5 {A dubious pawn sacrifice.} 16. dxe5 dxe5
17. Nxe5 Bxh3 18. Nxf7 {Known to the trade as a desperado sacrifice. The Knight sells itself for as much material as possible. Now 18...Bxg2 is refuted by 19. Qd5.} 18... Be6 19. Ng5 Bc4 20. Bd3 Rd8 21. Rc2 {Pin and counter-pin!} 21... Nf4 22. Bxf4 {Much stronger is 22. Bxc4 followed by Qg4. } 22... Qxf4 23. Nh3 Qe5 24. Bxc4+ Nxc4 25. Qe2 Rd4 26. f3 Rad8 {White is a pawn up but Black's control of the d-file gives him some compensation in the form of a bind.} 27. Rac1 Bc5 28. Kh1 Bb4 29. b3 Nd2 30. Ne3 {Gives Black an opportunity to turn the tables. Simply 30. Nh2 leaves the enemy Knight stranded on d2.} 30... Ba3 {"I had no more time left to figure through 30...Nxe4! 31. fxe4 Rxe4 32. Rc8 Re8! which would have won a solid pawn and the game," noted Edward Lasker.} 31. Rd1 Bb4 32. a3 Ba5 33. b4 Bc7 {Hoping for 34. Ng4? Nxe4! But White has an effective rejoinder.} 34. f4 Nxe4 35.
Kh2 Rxd1 36. Nxd1 {But not 36. fxe5? Bxe5 37. g3 R1d2.} 36... Qe7 37. Rxc7 { Spoiling the fruits of his labor. Instead 37. N1f2! Rd4 38. Qe3 Bb6 39. Re2 snares a piece.} 37... Qxc7 38. Qxe4 Qc4 {Certainly not 38...Rxd1?? 39. Qe8 mate. White now tries desperately to win by keeping Queens on the board.}
39. Qe7 Qc8 40. Ndf2 h6 41. Qa7 Qe6 42. Qb7 Qd5 43. Qb6 {Exchanging Queens leads to a draw and if 43. Qxa6 Ra8 regains the pawn.} 43... Rd6 44. Qe3 Re6
45. Qc3 Qc4 46. Qf3 Qc6 47. Qd3 Rd6 48. Qb3+ Qd5 49. Qb1 Re6 {White's rejection of a draw by repetition allowed Black to steadily improve his position.} 50. Ng4 Re2 51. Nxh6+ {51. Ngf2 would hold the balance. In persistently avoiding the draw, White comes dangerously close to losing.}
51... gxh6 52. Qg6+ Kf8 53. Qxh6+ Ke8 54. Qg6+ Kd8 55. Qg3 Re8 56. Qf2 Rg8
57. Qc2 {Here 57. Qb6 would force a draw, but White is still striving for more.} 57... Qd6 58. Qc3 Kd7 59. Qf3 Kc7 60. Qe4 Rg7 61. Qf5 Re7 62. Ng5 { Trying to activate the Knight proves fruitless. 62. Qc2 Kd8 63. Qc3 would still maintain parity.. Now White drops his a-pawn.} 62... Re3 63. Ne4 Qe7
64. Nf6 Kb8 {The point is 65. Nd5? Qh4 wins. Now Black is playing for a win. } 65. g3 Rxa3 66. Kh3 Ra1 67. Nd5 Rh1+ 68. Kg2 Qh7 69. Qxh7 Rxh7 70. Kf3 Kb7
71. g4 Kc6 72. Ke4 Rh8 {Threatening 73...Re8 74. Kd4 Rd8 pinning the knight. Alekhine recommends 72...Rd7 instead.} 73. Ne3 Re8+ 74. Kd4 Rd8+ 75. Ke4 a5
{Creating a passed pawn before White's pawns advance too far.} 76. bxa5 b4
77. a6 Kc5 78. a7 b3 79. Nd1 Ra8 80. g5 Rxa7 81. g6 Rd7 82. Nb2 Rd2 83. Kf3
{The point of White's brilliant defense. If 83...Rxb2? 84. g7 queens.} 83...
Rd8 84. Ke4 Rd2 85. Kf3 Rd8 86. Ke4 Kd6 87. Kd4 Rc8 88. g7 Ke7 89. g8=Q Rxg8
90. Kc4 Rg3 91. Na4 Kf6 92. Kb4 Kf5 {Oddly enough, Black cannot win despite his material advantage. This position was previously unknown to theory and later became famous as the Lasker Draw.} 93. Nb2 Ke4 94. Na4 Kd4 95. Nb2 Rf3
96. Na4 Re3 97. Nb2 Ke4 98. Na4 Kf3 99. Ka3 Ke4 100. Kb4 Kd4 101. Nb2 Rh3
102. Na4 Kd3 {Giving up the pawn to break the blockade. But rook vs. Knight without pawns on the board is a well-known book draw with best defense.}
103. Kxb3 Kd4+ {Draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1924"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Richard Reti"]
[Black "Jose Capablanca"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A15"]

{In this elite event, Capa started slowly with four draws before losing to Reti -- the first tournament game he had lost in eight years. It created a sensation. Although Capa's debacle was due solely to a miscalculation, this game brought the unorthodox theories of the hypermoderns to the attention of the public. Far from being discouraged by such a bad start, Capa showed his mettle by winning 10 and drawing 5 in the remaining 15 rounds to finish second behind Lasker.} 1. Nf3 {The Reti Opening is named in honor of the founder of the Hypermodern school which held, in opposition to classical theory, that the center could be controlled from the wings rather than by directly occupying it with pawns.} 1...Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b4 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 
5. g3 b6 {Capablanca treats the opening simply as well as soundly and, after a few moves, attaints a perfectly even position. -- Alekhine.} 6. Bg2 Bb7 
7. O-O d6 8. d3 {It's somewhat odd to see both sides fianchetto all their Bishops. Here Reti sticks too closely to his hypermodern principles by not occupying the center directly with 8. d4.} 8... Nbd7 9. Nbd2 e5 10. Qc2 Re8 
11. Rfd1 a5 12. a3 h6 13. Nf1 c5 14. b5 Nf8 15. e3 Qc7 {Preparing to break with d5 but White beats him to it.} 16. d4 {Finally advancing the pawn with greater impact than would have been the case on move 8.} 16...Be4 17. Qc3 
{More accurate is 17. Qc1 right away.} 17... exd4 18. exd4 N6d7 {A miscalculation. After 18...Ne6! 19. dxc5 dxc5 19. Qc1 it's an even game.} 
19. Qd2 cxd4 {A miscalculation. Simply 19...Rad8 avoids the worst.} 
20. Bxd4 Qxc4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qb2+ Kg8 23. Rxd6 Qc5 {Also inadequate is 23...Nc5 24. Ne3.} 24. Rad1 Ra7 25. Ne3 Qh5 {The center is liquidated but White controls more space and dominates the d-file. It's all over in a few moves.} 26. Nd4 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Qe5 {Nothing works. If 27...Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qxd1 29. Nf5! wins.} 28. Nc4 Qc5 29.Nc6 Rc7 30. Ne3 Ne5 31. R1d5 {Trapping the Queen. A great personal triumph for Reti as well as a vindication for his theories in general. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1924"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Richard Reti"]
[Black "Efim Bogoljubov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]

{While his victory over Capablanca was a personal triumph for Reti, this win against Bogoljubov in the same event is one of the finest games on record. White's delayed occuption of the center, combined with subtle positional maneuvers, leads to a problem-like twist. His effort was awarded the very first brilliancy prize given in a tournament.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 {A flexible reply that doesn't commit Black to any course of action.} 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 { Occupying the center in a classical style. Another good reply is 3...b6.} 
4.Bg2 Bd6 5. O-O O-O {On 5...dxc4 6. Qa4+ regains the pawn.} 6. b3 Re8 
7. Bb2 {This double fianchetto was a hallmark of the Hypermoderns, who were also known as "chess cubists".} Nbd7 8. d4 {Less forceful is 8. d3.} 8...
c6 9. Nbd2 Ne4 {Leads to trouble by opening lines before Black has completed his development. More steadfast is 9...b6 followed by Bb7.} 10. Nxe4 dxe4
11. Ne5 f5 {The only way to save the e-pawn, but it weakens the kingside. Also inadequate is 11...Nf6 12. Qc2.} 12. f3 exf3 13. Bxf3 Qc7 {A lesser evil would be 13...Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bc5 15. Kg2 Bd7.} 14. Nxd7 Bxd7 15. e4 e5 
{Struggling to free himself.} 16. c5 Bf8 17. Qc2 exd4 18. exf5 Rad8 {Hoping for 19. Bxd4 Bxf5. Instead White launches a decisive assault.} 19. Bh5 Re5
20. Bxd4 Rxf5 {Allows a brilliant finish but 20...Rd5 21. Rad1 is equally bad.} 21. Rxf5 Bxf5 22. Qxf5 Rxd4 23. Rf1 Rd8 {Of no avail is 23...Qe7 24. Bf7 Kh8 25. Bd5! g6 26. Qxf8 winning a piece.} 24. Bf7+ Kh8 25. Be8 {Black will get mated and resigns. A beautiful final touch.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1925"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Torre, C."]
[Black "Lasker, Em."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]

{Carlos Torre burst on the chess scene when he moved from his native Mexico to New Orleans and then New York in the 1920s. In this game, played on his 21st birthday, he sweeps the seventh rank with an unusual discovered-check combination. Tragically, his career was cut short in a few years because of illness. This celebrated game is his birthday gift to posterity.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Be7 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 Nbd7 8. Bd3 b6
9. Nc4 Bb7 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 Rfe8 13. Rad1 Nf8 14. Bc1 Nd5
15. Ng5 b5 16. Na3 b4 17. cxb4 Nxb4 {White's opening is less than elegant, but he works up some threats.} 18. Qh5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Qa5 21.
b4 Qf5 {Better was 21... Qd5 22. Rg3 h6 when the Queen controls c4.} 22. Rg3
h6 23. Nc4 Qd5 {Still hoping to profit from the pin, but 23... hxg5 24. Nxd6 leads to an equal game.} 24. Ne3 Qb5 {Now the pin backfires.} 25. Bf6 Qxh5
26. Rxg7+ Kh8 27. Rxf7+ Kg8 28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rxb7+ Kg8 30. Rg7+ Kh8 31. Rg5+
Kh7 32. Rxh5 Kg6 33. Rh3 Kxf6 {After the carnage, White emerges three pawns up.} 34. Rxh6+ Kg5 35. Rh3 Reb8 36. Rg3+ Kf6 37. Rf3+ Kg6 38. a3 a5 39. bxa5
Rxa5 40. Nc4 Rd5 41. Rf4 Nd7 42. Rxe6+ Kg5 43. g3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "1925"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reti, R."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]

{Reti was one of the leaders of the "Hypermodern" movement, a group of masters who rebelled against the dogmatism of Tarrasch (who claimed that the center must be occupied by pawns) and demonstrated the power of counterattack against an immobile center. Here, Reti obtains a fine strategic position from his opening experiment, but is ensnared by Alekhine in a whirlwind of combinations. This is an incredibly complicated game where everything is suspended in mid-air. Master-magician Alekhine pulls the strings, finding one stroke after another, each more powerful than the last, so that his harassed opponent is given no breathing space.} 1. g3 e5 2. Nf3 
e4 3. Nd4 d5 4. d3 exd3 5.Qxd3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nxd2 O-O 
{Black occupies the center with a pawn, White strikes at it from the wings. Chances are roughly even.} 9. c4 Na6 10. cxd5 Nb4 11. Qc4 Nbxd5 12. N2b3 c6 
{Now White has pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal and the c-file; the Knight on d4 aims at c6, where they intersect, and the Nb3 can move to c5, attacking b7. Black must play very energetically to maintain the balance.} 13. O-O Re8 
14. Rfd1 Bg4 15. Rd2 Qc8 16. Nc5 Bh3 17. Bf3 {White correctly declines the pawn sacrifice, for Black wins in 17.Bxh3 Qxh3 18.Nxb7 Ng4 19.Nf3 Nde3 20.fxe3 Nxe3 21.Qxf7+ Kh8 [not 21...Kxf7 22.Ng5+ and 23.Nxh3] 22.Nh4 Rf8, and if 23.Qb3 Rf1+ mates.} 17... Bg4 18. Bg2 Bh3 19.Bf3 Bg4 20. Bh1 
{Naturally White does not want to agree to a draw, or change his powerful Bishop. But the position of the B on h1 allows Black a hidden combinational idea at move 26.} 20... h5 21. b4 a6 22. Rc1 h4 23. a4 hxg3 24. hxg3 Qc7 25. 
b5 {Instead Alekhine recommends 25.e4 Nb6 26.Qb3, but White did not wish to block the diagonal of his Bishop, and Black's threat is far from obvious.}
25... axb5 26. axb5 Re3 {One of Alekhine's most surprising combinations.} 
27. Nf3 {The Rook cannot be taken because of 27.fxe3 Qxg3+ 28.Bg2 Nxe3, and Black threatened 27...Rxg3+ with the same idea. But a better defense, according to Alekhine, was 27.Bf3 Bxf3 28.gxf3 cxb5 29.Nxb5 Qa5, though Black is still somewhat better; 30.Rxd5? fails to 30...Re1+ 31.Rxe1 Qxe1+ and 32...Ra1.} 27... cxb5 28. Qxb5 Nc3 29. Qxb7 Qxb7 30. Nxb7 Nxe2+ 31. Kh2 {An amazing position -- with so many pieces of both color "en prise" it seems difficult to say even who has the advantage. But with his next move, Alekhine embarks on a 12-move combination that ends in the capture of the stranded Knight on b7.} 31... Ne4 {A crazy setting where everything seems to be hanging. Yet Black will trap the Knight at b7 after 12 more forced moves.} 
32. Rc4 {Not 32.fx3? Nxd2 winning the Exchange.} 32... Nxf2 33. Bg2 Be6 34. 
Rcc2 Ng4+ 35. Kh3 Ne5+ 36. Kh2 Rxf3 37. Rxe2 Ng4+ 38. Kh3 Ne3+ 39. Kh2 Nxc2 
40. Bxf3 Nd4 {If 41.Re3 Nxf3+ 42.Rxf3 Bd5, winning a piece.} 41. Rf2 Nxf3+ 
42. Rxf3 Bd5 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "1926"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Johner, P."]
[Black "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E50"]

{Nimzowitsch's maneuvers puzzled his contemporaries, and this game is a case in point (Qd7-f5-h7). The justification lies in the importance of the Black pawn on e4, which cramps the White position. It must be "overprotected," and any pieces engaged in such activity find themselves well-posted for later attack.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O
Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6 9. Nd2 b6 10. Nb3 e5 11. f4 e4 12. Be2 Qd7 13. h3 Ne7 14.
Qe1 h5 15. Bd2 Qf5 16. Kh2 Qh7 17. a4 Nf5 18. g3 a5 19. Rg1 Nh6 20. Bf1 Bd7
21. Bc1 Rac8 22. d5 Kh8 23. Nd2 Rg8 24. Bg2 g5 25. Nf1 Rg7 26. Ra2 Nf5 27.
Bh1 Rcg8 28. Qd1 gxf4 29. exf4 Bc8 30. Qb3 Ba6 31. Re2 {Or 31.Bd2 Rg6 32.Be1 Ng4+ 33.hxg4 hxg4+ 34.Kg2 Bxc4 35.Qxc4 e3, and the threat of 36...Qh3++ forces 36.Nxe3 Nxe3+, winning the Queen.} 31... Nh4 32. Re3 Bc8 33. Qc2 Bxh3
34. Bxe4 Bf5 35. Bxf5 Nxf5 36. Re2 h4 37. Rgg2 hxg3+ 38. Kg1 Qh3 39. Ne3 Nh4
40. Kf1 Re8 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Berlin"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1926"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Colle, E."]
[Black "Gruenfeld, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]

{The Belgian master Edgar Colle is remembered mostly for the opening named after him -- the Colle System. Here is one of his most famous brilliancies.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 {The Colle System proper arises after 3...d5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3.} 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 c5 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 cxd4 8. exd4 d6 9. Bb2
Nbd7 10. c4 O-O 11. Rc1 Re8 12. Re1 Qc7 {The start of a hypermodern maneuver to shift the queen to a8! More relevant is 12...Rc8.} 13. Qe2 Rac8 14. Nf1
Qb8 15. Ng3 Qa8 16. Ng5 g6 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Qxe6+ Kg7 19. d5 Nc5 20. Nf5+
Kf8 21. Qe3 gxf5 22. Qh6+ Kf7 23. Bxf5 Bxd5 24. Rxe7+ Rxe7 25. Qxf6+ Ke8 26.
Qh8+ Kf7 27. Bxc8 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Dresden"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1926"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Black "Rubinstein, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]

{Before 1920 Akiba Rubinstein was considered Lasker's most likely challenger, yet he never got a shot at the title. The Old Guard seemed baffled by Nimzowitsch's mysterious moves; here is another triumph of his new ideas.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 {Simpler is 5...Nxc3 but Rubinstein probably figured 6. d3 was necessary because classical dogma taught that the king shouldn't move in the opening. White's next comes as a shock.} 6. Bc4 e6 {Now he sees that 6...Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 only aids White.} 7. O-O N8c6 8. d3 Nd4 9. Nxd4 cxd4 10. Ne2 a6 11. Ng3
Bd6 12. f4 O-O 13. Qf3 Kh8 14. Bd2 f5 15. Rae1 Nc6 16. Re2 Qc7 17. exf5 exf5
{Since White controls the e-file, most players would continue automatically with 18. Rfe1. Instead Nimzo has an inspiration and embarks on a long journey with his knight.} 18. Nh1 Bd7 19. Nf2 Rae8 20. Rfe1 Rxe2 21. Rxe2
Nd8 {A necessary contortion since 21...Re8 is met by 22. Qd5.} 22. Nh3 Bc6
23. Qh5 g6 24. Qh4 Kg7 25. Qf2 Bc5 26. b4 Bb6 27. Qh4 {Back to the old stand now that Black's Bishops have been diverted to the queenside.} 27... Re8 28.
Re5 Nf7 {If 28...h6 29. g4! refreshes the attack.} 29. Bxf7 Qxf7 30. Ng5 Qg8
31. Rxe8 Bxe8 32. Qe1 {"Black is lost. In spite of the scanty material a mating attack is in the air" -- Nimzowitsch.} 32... Bc6 33. Qe7+ Kh8 34. b5
Qg7 {On 34...axb5 35. Bb4 infiltrates with Bd6 next. If 34...Bd8 35. Nf7+ caps the triumphant journey from h1 to g5.} 35. Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. bxc6 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "New York International"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1927"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca, J."]
[Black "Spielmann, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]

{Few people predicted that Capa would lose his title to Alekhine in 1927. Shortly before their match in Buenos Aires, Capa won this event 2 1.2 points ahead of Alekhine -- the pinnacle of the great Cuban's career. This game which demonstrates his proverbial simplicity was awarded the first brilliancy prize.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nd7 4. Nc3 Ngf6 5. Bg5 Bb4 6.
cxd5 exd5 7. Qa4 {Inexact. The best course is simply 7. e3 c5 8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Qc2 c4 10. Bf5.} 7... Bxc3+ {Correct is 7...c5! and if 8. dxc5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qc7!} 8. bxc3 O-O 9. e3 c5 {Intensifies Black's problems. More prudent is 9...c6.} 10. Bd3 c4 11. Bc2 Qe7 12. O-O a6 13. Rfe1 Qe6 {Black strives to prevent e4 at all cost.} 14. Nd2 b5 15. Qa5 Ne4 {Stops e4 yet meets with other problems. On 15...Bb7 16. f3! followed by e4 creates a central steamroller.} 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. a4 Qd5 18. axb5 Qxg5 19. Bxe4 Rb8 {The trouble with 19...Ra7 is 20. b6! Qxa5 21. bxa7! But now the a-pawn proves deadly.} 20. bxa6 Rb5 21. Qc7 Nb6 22. a7 Bh3 23. Reb1 Rxb1+ 24. Rxb1 f5 25.
Bf3 f4 26. exf4 {Black Resigns. A flawless performance by Capablanca.} 1-0

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1927"]
[Round "34"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D51"]

{From the point of view of sheer technique, many critics consider this the finest game of Alekhine's career. It clinched the title for him -- and Capa never got a rematch.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 {The Q's Gambit Declined was a workhorse in this match.} 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne4 {An attempt to improve on 11. Rc1 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 as in their 5th match game.} 11... N5f6 12. Ng3 c5 13. O-O
Nb6 {A tad more accurate is 13...cxd4 14. Nxd4 Ne5.} 14. Ba2 cxd4 15. Nxd4
g6 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. e4 e5 19. Nf3 Kg7 20. h3 h6 {Losing time. Preferable is 20...Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8 with a likely draw in sight.} 21. Qd2 { The threat of Qa5 poses many problems.} 21... Be6 {This mistake costs the point, match and set. Em. Lasker pointed out a saving resource with 21...Na4! and if 22. Qa5 Nxb2 23. Qxa7 Ra8.} 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 23. Qa5 Nc4 24.
Qxa7 Nxb2 {The best try. If 24...b5 25. b3.} 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Qxb7 Nc4 27.
Qb4 Ra8 {White is a pawn up but faces enormous problems in converting it into victory.} 28. Ra1 Qc6 29. a4 Nxe4 30. Nxe5 Qd6 31. Qxc4 Qxe5 32. Re1
Nd6 33. Qc1 Qf6 34. Ne4 Nxe4 35. Rxe4 Rb8 {The endgame is almost a facsimile of those reached in the 1st and 21st games of this match.} 36. Re2 Ra8 37.
Ra2 {Rooks belong BEHIND passed pawns.} 37... Ra5 38. Qc7 Qa6 39. Qc3+ Kh7
40. Rd2 {Black now must either allow the pawn to advance or face mating threats. If 40...Rxa4? 41. Rd8 wins outright.} 40... Qb6 41. Rd7 Qb1+ 42.
Kh2 Qb8+ 43. g3 Rf5 44. Qd4 Qe8 45. Rd5 {Avoiding the trap of 45. Rd8? Rxf2+! 45...Rxd5 46. Qxd5 wins, so Black opts to keep rooks on the board.}
45... Rf3 46. h4 Qh8 47. Qb6 {Not 47. Qxh8+ Kxh8 48. a5 Ra3 draws.} 47...
Qc3 48. Kg2 Rf6 49. Qd4 {Forcing a swap in a way that prevents Black's rook from getting behind the passed pawn. The rest is a matter of technique.}
49... Qxd4 50. Rxd4 Kg7 51. a5 Ra6 52. Rd5 Rc6 53. Rd4 Ra6 54. Ra4 Kf6 55.
Kf3 Ke5 56. Ke3 h5 57. Kd3 Kd5 58. Kc3 Kc5 59. Ra2 Kb5 60. Rb2+ Kc5 61. Ra2
Kb5 62. Kd4 Rd6+ 63. Ke5 Re6+ 64. Kf4 Ka6 {Black's king and rook have switches places. Now all the decisive action takes place on the kingside.}
65. Kg5 Re5+ 66. Kh6 Rf5 67. f4 Rc5 68. Ra3 Rc7 69. Kg7 Rd7 70. f5 gxf5 71.
Kh6 f4 72. gxf4 Rd5 73. Kg7 Rf5 74. Ra4 Kb5 75. Re4 Ka6 {Also hopeless is 75...Kxa5 76. Re5+.} 76. Kh6 Rxa5 77. Re5 Ra1 78. Kxh5 Rg1 79. Rg5 Rh1 80.
Rf5 Kb6 81. Rxf7 Kc6 82. Re7 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "1928"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flohr, S."]
[Black "Lustig"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]

{In the 1930's, Salo Flohr was the most successful tournament player after Alekhine. Here he systematically demolishes the Black King's position, sacrificing a piece for each pawn, and slaughters the denuded monarch. This game was included by Hans Kmoch in his classic "Pawn Power in Chess" to illustrate the "sweeper-sealer" -- White's 23rd move simultaneously frees a square for his pieces and denies one to Black by forcing him to occupy it with a pawn.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Qe2 Be7 6. c3 b5
7. Bb3 d6 8. h3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. O-O O-O 12. d5 c4 13. Be3 Bd7
14. Ne1 Nb7 15. Nd2 Rfe8 16. g4 g6 17. f4 {An important decision -- White gives up the e5-square, but opens lines for his pieces at a time when Black is cramped and cannot readily post a Knight there.} 17... exf4 18. Rxf4 Rf8
19. Rf2 Ne8 20. Nef3 Nd8 21. Raf1 f6 22. Bh6 Ng7 23. e5 {At the cost of a pawn, White opens the b1-h7 diagonal for his Bishop, obtains the e4 square for his Knight, deprives Black of the e4 square and open e-file, and makes a passed pawn. If Black now plays 23...fxe5, then after 24.Ng5 Nb7 25.Nde4 Rxf2 26.Qxf2 White has a winning attack on the f-file -- 26...Rf8? 27.Qxf8+! Bxf8 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.Nf7++.} 23... dxe5 24. Ne4 Nf7 {Also poor is 24...f5, e.g. 25.d6 Bxd6 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.Rd1 Qe7 28.Nxe5.} 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Nh4 Nd6
{No better is 26...f5 27.Nxg6! hxg6 28.gxf5 Bxf5 29.Rxf5 gxf5 30.Qg2+ Kh7 31.Rxf5, and if 31...Rg8 32.Rh5+ Nh6 33. Nf6+.} 27. Nxf6 Bxf6 {Not 27...Rxf6 28.Qxe5 Qd8 29.g5.} 28. g5 Ne8 29. Nxg6 hxg6 30. Bxg6 Kxg6 31. Qe4+ Kg7 32.
Qh4 Kg8 {There is no defense, despite Black's huge material advantage -- 32...Rh8 33.gxf6+ Kg8 34.f7+.} 33. gxf6 Nxf6 34. Qg5+ Kh8 {Or 34...Kf7 35.Rxf6+ Ke7 36.Re6++.} 35. Rxf6 Qc5+ 36. Kh2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Berlin"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1928"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Richard Reti"]
[Black "Jose Capablanca"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C74"]

{The Siesta Variation as an antidote to the Ruy Lopez was born this year, and Capa used it to take revenge for the defeat inflicted on him by Reti at New York 1924. Here Reti rejects a drawing line early on, only to watch his king subjected to withering crossfire.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
d6 5. c3 f5 {The Siesta Variation creates a crisis in the center. If 6. exf5 Bxf5 6. d4 e5 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Nh4 Be6 Black is okay, as in an earlier Steiner-Capablanca game at Budapest 1928.} 6. d4 fxe4 7. Ng5 {A draw is virtually forced after 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8. Qh5 Ke7! 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Bg5 Nf6 11. dxe5 Qd5! 12. Bh4 Ke6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qe8 Kf5 15. Qh5, etc.} 7... exd4 8.
Nxe4 Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Qxd4 {A heedless capture. Chances are roughly equal after 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qh5 g6 12. Qd5.} 10... b5 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 {Now White has three pieces en prise!} 12. Qd5 bxa4 13. Bh6 Qd7 {Creating an escape square for the king on d8. A terrible mistake would be 13...Bd7?? 14. Qh5 mate.} 14. O-O Bb7 15. Bg7 O-O-O 16. Bxh8 Ne5 17. Qd1 {Equally hopeless is 17. Qd4 Nf3! 18. gxf3 Rg8 19. Kh1 Bxf3 mate.} 17... Bf3 18. gxf3 {What else? If 18. Qd4 Rg8 19. g3 Qh3 is fatal.} 18... Qh3 {Another hammer blow. The double threat of 19...Rg8 or Nxf3 cannot be parried. White resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1929"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spielmann, R."]
[Black "Honlinger, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]

{This game is chock full of surprises. In his book "The Art of Sacrifice" Spielmann refers to it as an example of the mating sacrifice.} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Ng3 {Nowdays 5. Nxf6+ is an automatic response.} 5... e6 6. Nf3 c5 7. Bd3 Nc6 {If 7...cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4?? 9. Bb5+ wins the Queen.} 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. a3 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. b4 Be7 12. Bb2 Qc7 { Loss of time. Correct is 12...Bb7 right away.} 13. b5 Na5 14. Ne5 Bb7 15.
Ng4 Qd8 {Spielmann suggested 15...Qf4 as a better defense.} 16. Ne3 Nd5 { Removing a defender from the kingside. 16...Rc8 was essential.} 17. Qh5 g6
18. Ng4 Bf6 {Of course not 18...gxh5? 19. Nh6 mate.} 19. Nxf6+ Nxf6 20. Qh6
Rc8 21. Rad1 Qe7 22. Rfe1 Ne8 23. Nf5 Qc5 {Also inadequate is 23...gxf5 24. Bxf5 f6 25. Bxe6+.} 24. Re5 Bd5 25. Ne7+ {Black Resigns, thus avoiding the pretty finish 25...Qxe7 26. Qxh7+! Kxh7 27. Rh5+ Kg8 28. Rh8 mate.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "1930"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stahlberg, G."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E23"]

{A brilliancy prize game, in which White's seemingly well-founded maneuvers on the Queenside are refuted by the opening of a file near the White King. For the serious student, it is notable that Black's combination centers on the apparently impregnable f3 pawn, at the intersection of the forces on the f-file and a8-h1 diagonal.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {The Nimzo-Indian Defense, popularized by Aron Nimzowitsch, seeks to exert indirect pressure on the light squares d5 and e4, and preserves the option of doubling White's c-pawn. The formation adopted by White avoids the latter danger, but permits Black an advantage in development.} 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2
Nxc5 8. Qc2 f5 {Controlling e4, and preparing [after ...O-O] to open the f-file.} 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 O-O 11. b4 Ne4 12. e3 b6 13. Bd3 {Preserving the dark squared Bishop with 13.Bb2 would lose additional time; one variation given by Alekhine is 13...Bb7 14.Bd3 Qe7 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Qxe4 Nxb4! 17.Qxb7 Nd3+, with advantage to Black.} 13... Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Bb7 15.
O-O Ne7 16. Be2 Qe8 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. a4 {Losing too much time, as it turns out that White will be unable to do much with the open a-file. Better was 18.Qe5 f4 19.Qc7 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 fxe3 21.fxe3 Nf5, with an unclear position. The attack Black now launches is very instructive.} 18... f4 19. a5 fxe3 20.
Qxe3 Nf5 21. Qc3 d6 {A defensive measure against the coming entry of the White Rook at a7 -- now he defends with ...Rd8-d7.} 22. axb6 axb6 23. Ne1 e5
{Securing the d4 square for the Black Knight; Black correctly concludes that White will never have time to exploit the weakened light squares.} 24. Ra7
Nd4 25. Qe3 Rd7 26. Ra2 Rdf7 27. f3 Rf4 28. Bd3 Qh5 29. Bf1 Qg5 30. Rf2 h6 { Simple, but very strong. Black now threatens 31...Rxf3 32.Qxg5 Rxf2, winning a Rook because of the mate threat, and if 31.Qd2 Black reaches a won King and pawn ending with 31...Bxf3 32.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 33.Rxf3 Rxf3 34.Qxg5 Rxf1+ 36. Kxf1 hxg5 37.Ke2 Kf7 38.Kf3 Ke6 39.Ke4 b5!, and the connected passed pawns will win easily. White's next move fails to defend against the threat.} 31.
Kh1 Rxf3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Olympics"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "1930"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stahlberg, G."]
[Black "Kashdan, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E23"]

{Kashdan was America's leading player in the early 1930s until the advent of Fine and Reshevsky. He was nicknamed "The Little Capablanca" because of his technical mastery. Here is his best game on top board against Sweden in the world team championship.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5
Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8. Qc2 O-O 9. e4 {An instructive error. Correct is 9. a3.} 9... Qf6 10. O-O-O b6 {But not 10...Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Qf4+ 12. Nd2 Qxf2? 13. b4! winning a piece. The text creates an escape square for the Knight on b7.} 11. Bd3 a5 12. Kb1 Qg6 13. Rhg1 Ba6 14. Be3 Nxd3 15. Qxd3
Bxc3 16. bxc3 d5 17. exd5 Qxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Bxc4 19. Rd2 Bxd5 20. Bxb6 Rfb8 21.
Rb2 a4 22. Bc7 {No better is 22. Bc5 a3! 23. Rxb8+ Rxb8+ 24. Ka1 Rb2.} 22...
Rc8 23. Bf4 Na5 24. Rc1 Be4+ 25. Ka1 Nb3+ {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1930"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sultan Khan Mir"]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]

{It is rare when an unknown beats a former World Champion; rarer still when the unknown has only recently learned European moves! Khan flashed across the chess scene in the early '30s when his "master" brought him to England from India - and then he returned to oblivion. But not before outplaying some of the world's greatest.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Bb7 4. Nc3 e6 5. a3
d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd3 Ne4 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Qc2 f5 12.
Nb5 {The Indian prodigy eschews castling for an immediate foray - setting the tone for the rest of the game.} 12... Bd6 {Better was 12...a6! When 13 Qxc7 axb5 14 Qxb7 Ndc5 15 bxc5 Nxc5 16 Qc7 Nxd3+ wins.} 13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. h4
Rc8 15. Qb3 Qe7 16. Nd2 Ndf6 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Be2 Rc6 19. g4 {The Kingside now belongs to White.} 19... Rfc8 20. g5 Ne8 21. Bg4 {The d-pawn can wait. White forces the action.} 21... Rc1+ 22. Kd2 R8c2+ 23. Qxc2 Rxc2+ 24. Kxc2
Qc7+ 25. Kd2 Qc4 26. Be2 Qb3 27. Rab1 Kf7 {Black's initiative has run out of gas, and White's rooks slowly take over the board.} 28. Rhc1 Ke7 29. Rc3 Qa4
30. b4 Qd7 {Otherwise, 31. b5 imprisons the Queen.} 31. Rbc1 a6 32. Rg1 Qa4
33. Rgc1 Qd7 34. h5 Kd8 35. R1c2 Qh3 36. Kc1 Qh4 37. Kb2 Qh3 38. Rc1 Qh4 39.
R3c2 Qh3 40. a4 Qh4 41. Ka3 Qh3 42. Bg3 {Now everything is in order for the final assault.} 42... Qf5 43. Bh4 g6 {44. ... Qh3? 44. g6+ Qxh4 45. gxh4}
44. h6 Qd7 45. b5 a5 46. Bg3 Qf5 47. Bf4 Qh3 48. Kb2 Qg2 49. Kb1 Qh3 {The pawn is still immune because the Queen would be lost after 49... Qxf2 50. Bh5 Qh4 51. Rh2.} 50. Ka1 Qg2 51. Kb2 Qh3 {White has "triangulated" his King to achieve this position with his move.} 52. Rg1 Bc8 {The Queen is trapped after the threatened 53. Bg4 and 54. f3.} 53. Rc6 {At last, the breakthrough.} 53... Qh4 54. Rgc1 Bg4 55. Bf1 Qh5 {The Queen is trapped after 55...Qxf2+ 56. R6c2.} 56. Re1 {Infinite patience, to keep the Queen penned up.} 56... Qh1 57. Rec1 Qh5 58. Kc3 {To make progress the King has to guard e2.} 58... Qh4 59. Bg3 Qxg5 60. Kd2 Qf5 61. Rxb6 Ke7 62. Rb7+ Ke6 63.
b6 Nf6 64. Bb5 Qf3 65. Rb8 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "San Remo"]
[Date "1930"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Nimzowitsch. A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C17"]

{In the years following his match with Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine dominated the international chess scene. He was not satisfied with winning a tournament by a small margin, but played every game with a fierce will to win. San Remo 1930, was one of his greatest triumphs, as he won by a margin of 3 1/2 points, and would not agree to draws even in the final rounds. Here his artful use of pins reduces Nimzowitsch, who finished second, to virtual Zugzwang in only 30 seconds.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2
Ne7 6. Nb5 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 O-O 8. c3 b6 {Black tries to solve the problems of his "bad" Bishop at once, but better was 8...Nf5, preventing Nd6+ and exerting pressure on the d4 pawn.} 9. f4 Ba6 10. Nf3 Qd7 11. a4 Nbc6 12. b4
cxb4 13. cxb4 Bb7 14. Nd6 f5 {After this strategic error, Black's game becomes critical. The immediate danger lay on the Queenside, and after 14...a5 15.Bb5 axb4 16.O-O White's initiative would be far less than in the game.} 15. a5 Nc8 {The alternative 15...bxa5 16.b5 and 17.Rxa5 is obviously very good for White.} 16. Nxb7 Qxb7 17. a6 Qf7 {Not 17...Qe7 18.Bb5 Nxb4? 19.Rb1, trapping the Knight.} 18. Bb5 N8e7 19. O-O h6 20. Rfc1 Rfc8 21. Rc2
Qe8 {Black cannot simplify with 21...Nd8 22.Rac1 Rxc2 23.Rxc2 Rc8 24.Rxc8 Nxc8 25.Qc3!, followed by 26.Qc7, and the Queenside pawns cannot be defended.} 22. Rac1 Rab8 23. Qe3 Rc7 24. Rc3 Qd7 {A desperate attempt to hold his position together on the c-file -- Black will bring his King to d8 to give traditional support to the Rc7.} 25. R1c2 Kf8 26. Qc1 Rbc8 27. Ba4 { Threatening to win a piece with 28.b5. Black must surrender the b6 pawn to gain time to bring his King to the defense, but he will soon find himself with no good move.} 27... b5 28. Bxb5 Ke8 29. Ba4 Kd8 30. h4 {Black resigns. For after a few irrelevant pawn moves, Black will have to make a move, say ...Qe8, which removes a defender of c7, and b4-b5 will win at once.} 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1930"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flohr, S."]
[Black "Rellstab, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]

{Although Flohr was not admitted to the Masters Section of this traditional chess festival (won by Euwe), he ran away with the Premier Reserve Section by posting an extraordinary 7 wins and 2 draws. Here is the prettiest game of the entire congress.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2
Nc7 {Simpler is 5...Nxc3.} 6. b3 e5 7. Bb2 Be7 8. Rc1 O-O {A Sicilian Defense with colors reversed. A better idea is 8...f6 9. Na4 Ne6.} 9. Na4
Nd7 10. Nf3 f6 11. Qc2 Ne6 {No longer effective with the other Knight on d7. But if 11...Rb8 12. d4! is quite strong.} 12. Nh4 Nb6 {More consistent is 12...Re8 or Rb8.} 13. Nf5 Nxa4 14. bxa4 Rb8 15. f4 exf4 16. gxf4 Re8 {If 16...Nxf4 17. Qc4+ Ne6 18. Bd5 Kf7 White can regain the pawn by 19. Nxg7 or continue the attack with Rg1.} 17. Rg1 Bf8 {The losing move. 17...Kh8 was necessary.} 18. Bc6 Nd4 {Relatively best now is 18...Kh8 19. Bxe8 Qxe8.} 19.
Nh6+ Kh8 20. Nf7+ Kg8 21. Nh6+ {Gaining time on the clock by repeating moves.} 21... Kh8 22. Nf7+ Kg8 23. Qc4 Rxe2+ 24. Qxe2 Nxe2 25. Nxd8 Nxg1 { Also inadequate is 25...bxc6 26. Kxe2 Rxb2 27. Rb1 Rxa2 28. Rb8.} 26. Bd5+
Kh8 27. Nf7+ Kg8 28. Kf2 Nh3+ 29. Kg3 b5 {Desperation. The Knight is trapped.} 30. axb5 Bb7 31. Bc4 a6 32. a4 axb5 33. axb5 Nxf4 34. Kxf4 h5 35.
Rg1 Kh7 36. Bxf6 {Black Resigns. On 36...gxf6 37. Bd3+ leads to mate.} 1-0

[Event "Bled"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1931"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kashdan, I."]
[Black "Bogoljubov, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D75"]

{"When I am White, I win because I am White. When I am Black, I win because I am Bogoljubov," said the man Alekhine used as a punching bag in two title matches (1929 and 1934). The following game was described by Fine as "the finest positional victory of Bogoljubov's career".} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. g3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. O-O Nc6
10. e3 {It's a bad sign when such a tame move is necessary.} 10... Qa5 11.
Qb3 Rb8 12. Nd2 {Drifting. Better was 12. Ba3 immediately.} 12... Qc7 13.
Ba3 b6 14. dxc5 Ba6 15. Rfd1 bxc5 16. Qd5 {The losing move. 16. Qc2 was necessary.} 16... Nb4 {If 17. cxb4 Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Rfd8 wins.} 17. Qb3 Nd3 18.
Qc2 Qa5 19. Nb1 c4 {Inviting 20. Bxe7? Rb2 trapping the Queen.} 20. Bc1 Rb6
21. Na3 {Asphyxiated, White gives up a pawn for counterplay.} 21... Bxc3 22.
Rb1 Rxb1 23. Nxb1 Be1 24. f4 Bf2+ 25. Kh1 Qh5 {Switching to the other wing is crushing.} 26. Nd2 Bxg3 27. Nf3 Bxh2 28. Nxh2 Qxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Nf2+ {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Bled"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1931"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Geza Maroczy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D66"]

{The scene of Alekhine's greatest triumph. His heroic figure loomed large as he took undisputed first with 15 wins and 11 draws in a strong field that included most top players of the day. This sprightly victory is typical of his enterprising style. He sacrifices a pawn to drive the enemy king from its lair, and the Hungarian champion goes astray in the complications.} 1.
d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O {A standard position in the Queen's Gambit Declined.} 8. Rc1 c6 9. Bd3 a6 10.
O-O {Another idea is 10. a3 in order to create a retreat for the bishop in case of 10...dxc4 11. Bxc4 b5 12. Ba2.} 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 c5 {"It is rather risky to delay the development of the queenside. Instead 11...b5 followed by Bb7 and c5 was still a fairly good alternative". -- Alekhine.}
12. a4 Qa5 13. Qe2 cxd4 14. exd4 Nb6 15. Bd3 {"Practically leaving the a-pawn to its fate. For the moment, it is true, it cannot well be taken because of 16. Ne4! with a very strong attack; but it remains weak almost until the dramatic end" -- Alekhine.} 15... Bd7 16. Ne5 Rfd8 17. f4 {A sharp attempt to attack at any cost. Alekhine later suggested the simple 17. Qf3 as a better way to exploit White's spatial advantage.} 17... Be8 18. Ng4
Rxd4 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Ne4 Rad8 {The correct defense is 21...f5 22. Nf6 Kg7 with an uncertain result. Now White cleverly protects his bishop indirectly without losing any time.} 22. Nxf6+ Kf8 23. Nh7+ Ke7
24. f5 R8d6 {Seems to hold everything. But not 24...Rxd3? 25. f6 Kd7 26. Qxd3.} 25. b4 Qxb4 {Also inadequate is 25...Rxb4 26. Qh5! e5! 27. f6 Kd8 28. Qxh6.} 26. Qe5 Nd7 27. Qh8 Rxd3 {No better is 27...Qb6 28. a5! Qxa5 29. Rc8. } 28. f6+ {The quietus. If 28...Kd8 29. Qxe8! Kxe8 30. Rc8 mate. Or 28...Nxf6 20. Qxf6. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Stockholm"]
[Site "Sweden"]
[Date "1931"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spielmann, R."]
[Black "Stoltz, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C06"]

{Stoltz, one of Sweden's leading players, was brilliant but erratic. His famous game features a speculative queen sacrifice against an avid attacker. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Qb6 8.
Nf3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 f6 11. Nf4 {Spielmann, as usual, plunges ahead. Safer is 11. exf6 followed by g3 and Kg2, a maneuver called "castling by hand".} 11... fxe5 12. Nxe6 e4 13. Bf4 exf3 {A surprising queen sacrifice.} 14. Bc7 Nf6 15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Bxb6 Bg4 17. g3 Bh3+ 18. Kg1 Kxg7
19. Bc7 {It's not clear that Black has enough compensation for the queen on 19. Bc5! Bg2 20. Bf1.} 19... Rhe8 20. Be5 {Also inadequate is 20. Qxf3 Nxd4 21. Qf4 Re4! 22. Qg5+ Kf7.} 20... Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rxe5 {Black has only two minor pieces for the queen but the threat of Rae8 is deadly. If 22. a3 Re1+ wins.} 22. Qb3 Bc5 23. Bf5 {No better is 23. Qxb7+ Re7 24. Qxa8 Ng4! 25. Rf1 Nxf2! 26. Rxf2 Re1. Or 23. Bf1 Bxf2+! 24. Kxf2 Ne4+ is also decisive.} 23...
Bxf5 24. Qxb7+ Kg6 25. Qxa8 Re2 26. h4 {Despite his extra material, there is no defense. If 26. Rf1 Bh3! 27. Qc6 Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Re1 mates.} 26... Bxf2+
27. Kf1 Bd3 28. h5+ Kg5 {White Resigns. If 29. Rd1 Rd2 mate.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Match, Linz"]
[Date "1932"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spielmann, R."]
[Black "Eliskases, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]

{One of history's greatest attacking players, Rudolph Spielmann, throws everything at the rising star Erich Eliskases of Austria. A Queen sacrifice caps a brilliant defense.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 b5
6. e5 Bb7 7. Be2 Ne7 8. Ne4 Nd5 9. O-O Nd7 10. Nfg5 Be7 11. f4 g6 12. f5 { The Spielmann style, and it almost works.} 12... exf5 {There's a spectacular mate after 12...gxf5 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Bh5+ Kf8 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. Qg4+! fxg4 22. Bf7++} 13. e6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qb6 15. a4 {15. Rxf5 c5! 16 g7+ Kd8 leaves too many pieces hanging.} 15... fxe4 16. a5 Qa6 17. Qc2 N7f6 18. Rxf6 {A piece down, White offers the exchange.} 18... Bxf6 {The Knight must guard the fork at c7. But the Black Queen is still lost.} 19. Qxe4 Kf7 20. Nc5
Rae8 21. Qf3 Rxe2 22. Nxa6 {Not 22. Qxe2 Bxd4+ and 23...Bxc5.} 22... Re1+
23. Kf2 Rhe8 24. Nc5 Bc8 25. b4 Kg8 26. Bb2 R1e3 27. Qd1 c3 {Now a pawn decides.} 28. Bc1 c2 29. Qxc2 Re2+ 30. Qxe2 Bxd4+ 31. Be3 Rxe3 32. Qf1 Ra3+
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Cambridge"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1932"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Philip Milner-Barry"]
[Black "C.H.O.D. Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C34"]

{After their halcyon days at Cambridge, both of England's leading players worked to crack Nazi codes during WW2. This donnybrook features threats, counter threats, sacrifices and counter sacrifices. This Pierce Gambit, a throwback to the 19th century, is fraught with danger for both sides.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 {There is nothing better than this classic defense that holds the pawn.} 5. d4 g4 {Accepting the challenge. 5...d6 (or Bg7) 6. d5 is in considered in White's favor.} 6. Bc4 gxf3 7. O-O
d5 8. exd5 Bg4 9. Re1+ {Better is 9. Qe1. Bold but insufficient is 9. dxc6 f2 10. Rxf2 Bxd1 11. cxb7 Bg4 12. Bb5 Bd7.} 9... Nge7 10. gxf3 {Sharper is 10. Ne4 Bg7 11. gxf3.} 10... Bh3 11. Bxf4 Rg8+ 12. Bg3 Na5 13. Bb5+ c6 14.
Ne4 {Hoping for 14...cxb5? 15. Nf6 mate. But simply 14. dxc6 is the best chance.} 14... Bg7 15. Kh1 {Now White's "attack" comes to a standstill after 15. dxc6 Qxd4 forcing an exchange of Queens. Also bad is 15. Nd6? Qxd6! 16. Bxd6 Bxd4 17. Kh1 Bg2 mate.} 15... Qxd5 16. c4 Qd7 {Black defends with extreme care by not opening more lines after 16...Qxd4 17. Qe2.} 17. d5 Kf8
{Better than 17...cxb5 18. d6.} 18. d6 Nf5 19. Nc5 Nxg3+ 20. hxg3 Qf5 21. d7
Bd4 {This ingenious reply stymies the double threat of d8/Q or Qd6 mate.}
22. Nxb7 {Desperately trying to mix it up. If 22...Nxb7 23. Bxc6 threatens both Re8 and Qxd4.} 22... Qh5 {Ignoring diversions on the other flank, Black threatens Bf1 mate. It's all over now.} 23. Re8+ Rxe8 24. dxe8=Q+ Kxe8 25.
Qe2+ Kf8 26. Nxa5 Bg4+ {White resigns, just in time to avoid getting mated after 26. Kg2 Qh3.} 0-1

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1933"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Flohr, S."]
[Black "Botvinnik, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]

{In the early 1930s Salo Flohr was considered the most likely challenger for Alekhine, and his drawn match against Botvinnik was considered a triumph for Soviet chess. Flohr became averse to risk, too often content to settle for draws. His mastery of the endgame was legendary, as in this classic two-bishop finale.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Na6 6.
a3 {Flohr's improvement on 6. g3 in their second match game.} 6... Bxc3+ 7.
Qxc3 Nxc5 8. f3 d6 9. e4 e5 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Ne2 Be6 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Nc3 Rfc8
14. Be2 a6 15. Rc1 Ncd7 16. Qd2 Qb8 {Not 16...Bxc4? 17. Nd5.} 17. Nd5 Bxd5 { Now White gets a bind. Better is 17...Kf8.} 18. cxd5 Rxc1+ 19. Qxc1 Qd8 20.
O-O Rc8 21. Qd2 Qc7 22. Rc1 Qxc1+ 23. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 24. Bxc1 Kf8 {Despite the advantage of two Bishops vs. two knights, it requires tremendous technique to convert this into a win due to the balanced pawn structure.} 25. Kf2 Ke7
26. Be3 Kd8 27. Ke1 Kc7 28. Kd2 Nc5 29. b4 Ncd7 30. g3 Nb6 31. Kc2 Nbd7 {A better defense was 31...Na4! 32. Kb3 b5 when the active Knight blocks the advance of the queenside pawns.} 32. a4 Nb6 33. a5 Nbd7 34. Bc1 Kd8 35. Bb2
Ne8 36. Kd2 Nc7 {More active is 36...g6 followed by Ng7 and f5.} 37. Ke3 Ke7
38. Bf1 Ne8 39. h4 Nc7 40. Bh3 Ne8 {The first adjournment.} 41. f4 f6 42.
Bf5 g6 {If 42...h6 43. Kf3 followed by Kg4-h5-g6.} 43. Bh3 h6 44. Bc1 Ng7
45. fxe5 dxe5 {Ugly but forced. If 45...Nxe5 46 Bc8; or 45...fxe5 46. Kf3 h5 47. Bg5+ Ke8 48. Bh6 snares a piece.} 46. Kf3 h5 47. Be3 Kd6 48. Bh6 Ne8 49.
g4 {Opening lines so the two Bishops can penetrate.} 49... hxg4+ 50. Bxg4
Nc7 {The last chance to resist lay in 50...Ke7!} 51. Be3 Nb5 52. Ke2 Nc7 53.
Kd3 f5 54. exf5 gxf5 55. Bxf5 Nxd5 56. Bd2 N7f6 57. Kc4 Kc6 58. Bg6 b5+ 59.
Kd3 Ne7 60. Be4+ {The sealed move before the second adjournment. Now White's passed h-pawn is a decisive factor.} 60... Ned5 61. Bg5 Nh5 62. Bf3 Ng3 63.
Bd2 Kd6 64. Bg4 Nf6 65. Bc8 Kc6 66. Be1 {More accurate than 68. Bxa6 Nf5.}
66... e4+ 67. Kd4 Ngh5 68. Bf5 Kd6 69. Bd2 {Black Resigns. After Bxe4 Black is helpless.} 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1934"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lilienthal, A."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E24"]

{Hungary's Andre Lilienthal, a regular on the tournament circuit in the 1930s, went to Russia in 1935 and became a Soviet citizen. His most celebrated victory over the mighty Capablanca featured a startling queen sacrifice.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 {The Saemisch Variation was in vogue but has since fallen into disfavor. White forces an exchange saddling him with doubled pawns but in return gets the two Bishops. Is it worth it?} 4... Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 b6 {Nowadays 5...c5 is preferred.} 6. f3 d5 7.
Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Ba6 9. e4 Bxc4 {Avoiding complications that arise from 9...g5 10. Bg3 dxe4 11. Be5 Nbd7 12. Qa4! Bb7 13. c5!} 10. Bxc4 dxc4 11. Qa4+ Qd7
12. Qxc4 Qc6 13. Qd3 Nbd7 14. Ne2 Rd8 {Aimed at stopping 15. c4? Ne5 but walking into a pin is troublesome.} 15. O-O a5 16. Qc2 Qc4 17. f4 {Renews the initiative. Black would welcome 17. e5 Nd5 18. Bxd8 Kxd8.} 17... Rc8 { More loss of time. Black should castle to get his king out of the center before it's too late.} 18. f5 e5 {Courting more danger. Relatively best is 18...O-O.} 19. dxe5 Qxe4 {The last chance to fight back is 19...Ng4!} 20.
exf6 {This surprising riposte is crushing. White gets only a minor piece for the queen, but his attack is brutal.} 20... Qxc2 21. fxg7 Rg8 22. Nd4 Qe4
23. Rae1 Nc5 {No better is 23...Qe5 24. f6!} 24. Rxe4+ Nxe4 25. Re1 Rxg7 26.
Rxe4+ {Black Resigns. If 26...Kf8 27. Be7+ Kg8 28. Bf6. This game was published around the world.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1935"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reshevsky, S."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]

{The American prodigy rose to the championship-contender rank with games like this in the 1930s. Here he strangles the former World Champion with adroit positional play, then makes a long King march to prepare the final combination.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3
Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 c5 {Motivated by White's threat to castle queenside, this advance is riskier than 8...c6.} 9. Nf3 c4 10. Bf5 Re8 11. O-O g6 12.
Bh3 Nf8 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. b3 Qa5 {The Queen's pawn is lost if 15...cxb3, so Black goes swimming in troubled waters.} 16. b4 Qd8 {16...Qxb4 17. Rb1 followed by 18. Rxb7 is decisive positionally.} 17. Qa4 a6 18. b5
Re6 19. Rab1 Rb8 20. Rb2 Be7 21. bxa6 Rxa6 22. Qc2 Ne6 23. Rfb1 Ra7 24. a4
Nc7 25. Ne5 Qe8 {White has no immediate breakthrough, but he keeps up the pressure:} 26. f4 f6 27. Ng4 Qd7 28. h3 Kg7 29. Nf2 Ba3 30. Ra2 Bd6 31. Nfd1
f5 32. Nb5 Ra5 33. Nxc7 Bxc7 34. Nc3 {Now the Knight again attacks Black's weak White squares.} 34... Qe6 35. Qf2 b6 36. Qf3 Rd8 37. Rab2 Qe7 { Defending the d-pawn indirectly: if 38. Rb5 Rxb5 39. Rxb5 Qa3 40. Nxd5 c3!}
38. Rb4 Rd7 39. Kh1 Bd8 40. g4 {The break comes in the Kingside.} 40... fxg4
41. hxg4 Qd6 42. Kg1 Bc7 43. Kf2 Rf7 {White intends to hide his King on the Queenside, but this move forces White to first lock up that wing.} 44. g5
Bd8 45. Ke2 Bxg5 {Patient defense with 45...Qe6 was better. Now Reshevsky forces a tactical win.} 46. Rxb6 Qa3 47. Kd2 Be7 48. Rb7 Rxa4 49. Qxd5 {The Rook is immune because of 49. Nxa4 Qd3+, but Black is now defenseless.}
49... Ra5 50. Qxc4 Rh5 51. Kd3 Qa8 52. Qe6 Qa3 53. R1b3 Qa1 54. Rxe7 Qf1+
55. Kd2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "26th Match Game, Zandvoort"]
[Date "1935"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Euwe, M."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A90"]

{The "Pearl of Zandvoort" was undoubtedly the most striking game of the 1935 world championship match, in which Max Euwe unexpectedly took the title from Alekhine. When White sacrifices a piece for three central pawns, Black must play for counterattack, but his own King proves to be too exposed.} 1. d4 e6
2. c4 f5 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. O-O b6 9.
Qc2 Bb7 10. Ne5 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 {White correctly refuses the Exchange sacrifice, for after 11.Bxb7 Nxe2+ 12. Kg2 Nxd4 13.Qd3 Nbc6 Black has more than enough compensation.} 11... Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Qc8 13. d5 d6 14. Nd3 e5 15.
Kh1 c6 16. Qb3 Kh8 17. f4 e4 18. Nb4 c5 19. Nc2 Nd7 20. Ne3 Bf6 21. Nxf5
Bxc3 22. Nxd6 Qb8 23. Nxe4 Bf6 24. Nd2 g5 25. e4 gxf4 26. gxf4 Bd4 27. e5
Qe8 28. e6 Rg8 29. Nf3 Qg6 30. Rg1 Bxg1 31. Rxg1 Qf6 32. Ng5 Rg7 {There is nothing better, since 32...h6 loses to 33.Nf7+ Kh7 34.Qd3+ Rg6 35.Ne5 Nxe5 36.fxe5 Qg7 37.d6, and the pawns cannot be stopped.} 33. exd7 Rxd7 34. Qe3
Re7 35. Ne6 Rf8 36. Qe5 Qxe5 37. fxe5 Rf5 38. Re1 h6 39. Nd8 Rf2 40. e6 Rd2
41. Nc6 Re8 42. e7 b5 43. Nd8 Kg7 44. Nb7 Kf6 45. Re6+ Kg5 46. Nd6 Rxe7 47.
Ne4+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "1935"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Glucksberg"]
[Black "Najdorf, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A85"]

{Polish-Argentinean Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf has had a long and remarkable career. Never lacking in self-confidence, he declared in 1947 that he would soon become world champion. Though his natural ability was perhaps the equal of that of any player in the world, he lacked the discipline and persistence required in the age of Botvinnik to reach the highest level. In this game, sometimes called the "Polish Immortal," Black strips bare the enemy King, finally sacrificing four pieces to drive it into mating net.} 1. d4 f5 2. c4
Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. e3 c6 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Ne2 Nbd7 9. Ng5 { Hoping to gain time by the attack on the e6 pawn to play 10.f4, blocking the dangerous Bd6. Black reacts energetically.} 9... Bxh2+ 10. Kh1 {Or 10.Kxh2 Ng4+, recovering the piece with advantage. Now rather than retreat, the Bishop Black continues his attack.} 10... Ng4 11. f4 Qe8 12. g3 Qh5 13. Kg2
Bg1 14. Nxg1 Qh2+ 15. Kf3 e5 {The decisive breakthrough -- now the c8-Bishop joins the attack. Without this move, it would not be so clear that Black has enough for the piece.} 16. dxe5 Ndxe5+ 17. fxe5 Nxe5+ 18. Kf4 Ng6+ 19. Kf3
f4 20. exf4 Bg4+ 21. Kxg4 Ne5+ 22. fxe5 h5# 0-1

[Event "Olympics"]
[Site "Warsaw"]
[Date "1935"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Winter, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B29"]

{Paul Keres was a young unknown when he represented Estonia at the world team championship. This swashbuckling gambit against England's William Winter made him famous.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 {Better is 4...Nxc3 followed by d5.} 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 d6 7. Bg5 Qa5+ 8. c3 cxd4 { Hoping for 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qf4 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Qc7!} 9. Bd3 dxc3 10. O-O cxb2
{Too greedy. Black should defend with 10...Nc6 11. Re1 Be6.} 11. Rb1 dxe5
12. Nxe5 Bd6 13. Nxf7 {This sacrifice rips Black wide open.} 13... Kxf7 14.
Qh5+ g6 {What else? If 14...Kf8 15. Rfe1 Bd7 16. Re3 threatens Rf3+} 15.
Bxg6+ hxg6 16. Qxh8 Bf5 17. Rfe1 Be4 18. Rxe4 dxe4 19. Qf6+ {Black Resigns. Mate is coming after 19...Kg8 20. Qxg6+ Kf8 21. Qxd6+ Kf6 22. Qf6+} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Nottingham"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Tartakower, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A55"]

{Future World Champion Botvinnik wins a brilliancy prize game against the imaginative but erratic Tartakower. The attack beginning at move 20 is notable for the manner in which White closes the mating net with a series of "quiet" (non-checking) moves.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 Nbd7 4. g3 e5 5.
Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 Qc7 9. h3 Re8 10. Be3 Nf8 11. Rc1 h6 12.
d5 Bd7 13. Nd2 g5 14. f4 gxf4 15. gxf4 Kg7 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. c5 cxd5 18.
Nxd5 Qc6 19. Nc4 Ng6 20. Nd6 Be6 21. Nxe7 Nxe7 22. Rxf6 Kxf6 23. Qh5 Ng6 24.
Nf5 {Taking away the flight square e7 from the Black King, with the threat of 25.Qxh6 and 26.Bg5++. The Knight is immune, as 24...Bxf5 25.exf5 both attacks the Ng6 and discovers an attack on the Qc6.} 24... Rg8 25. Qxh6 Bxa2
26. Rd1 Rad8 27. Qg5+ Ke6 28. Rxd8 f6 29. Rxg8 Nf4 30. Qg7 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fine, R."]
[Black "Grunfeld, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]

{Reuben Fine was one of the strongest players in the world in the 1930's. His best result was undoubtedly his first place tie with Paul Keres in the great AVRO tournament of 1938, in a field of the eight best players in the world. Unfortunately, he gave up serious play after World War II to pursue a career in psychoanalysis. Here he defeats opening theoretician Ernst Grunfeld at his own game, refuting a system then considered favorable for Black.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 {The Vienna variation, thought at the time to be a strong answer to White's "inaccurate" move order.} 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 cxd4 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. Ne4 Be7
11. exf6 gxf6 12. Bh4 Nb4 {Previous analysis ended at this point, claiming, a win for Black as White must lose his Queen (13.Qa3 Nd3+), but Fine's next move proves this to be incorrect. Better was 12...Rc8, when Black has three pawns for the piece and the position is far from clear.} 13. Qxb4 Bxb4 14.
Nxf6+ Kf8 15. Rxd4 {Now White wins a third piece for the Queen and maintains a strong attack.} 15... Qa5 16. Nxd7+ Ke8 {The Black King is stuck in the center, for 16...Kg7 17.Bf6+ Kg6 18.Nfe5+ wins at once.} 17. Nf6+ Kf8 18.
Bxc4 Rc8 19. Kb1 h5 20. Rhd1 Be7 21. Nd7+ Ke8 22. Bg3 Rg8 23. h3 Rg7 24. a3
b5 25. Bb3 b4 26. axb4 Bxb4 27. Be5 Rxg2 28. Rxb4 {The initial move of the new combination that will leave White with a decisive material advantage in the endgame.} 28... Qxb4 29. Nf6+ Ke7 30. Rd7+ Kf8 31. Bd6+ Qxd6 32. Rxd6
Rxf2 33. Rd3 Ke7 34. Nxh5 Rf1+ 35. Bd1 {Avoiding the trap 35.Ka2? Rc5!, winning a piece.} 35... Rg8 36. Nd4 e5 37. Nc6+ Ke6 38. Ka2 Rxd1 39. Rxd1
Rg5 {Now White must be a bit careful, as the Black King is actively posted and the connected passed pawns could become dangerous. But White is still winning.} 40. Nf4+ exf4 41. Nd4+ Kf6 {Not 41...Ke5? 42.Nf3+} 42. Rf1 Ra5+
43. Kb1 Ra4 44. Nf3 Re4 45. Re1 Re6 46. Rxe6+ fxe6 47. Kc2 e5 48. Kd3 Kf5
49. Nd2 Kg5 50. Ke4 Kh4 51. Kxe5 Kxh3 52. Kxf4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B72"]

{This first encounter between a past and future world champion is brief but exciting. It illustrates how a flank thrust is best parried by a counter-thrust in the center. The normal balance of position is maintained through all the various complications.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 {"On another occasion I would probably have played 3. b4, a sacrifice for which White has to my mind sufficient strategical reasons. But playing for the first time with the Soviet Champion, for whose play I have the greatest appreciation, I did not like the idea of being accused of overweening confidence, undue boldness (and this independent of the result of the game) or of such things as under-estimating, bluster, etc". -- Alekhine.} 3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Nb3 Be6 {Fischer recommends 8...O-O first, and if 9. f4 a5! 10. a4 Be6 11.g4 N b4! and the Knight cannot be dislodged by a3.} 9. f4 O-O 10. g4 {The usual continuation is 10. O-O Na5. This thrust permits White to force a quick draw -- but no more.} 10... d5 11. f5 { Sharper than 11. e5 d4! 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nxg4 14. Qd3 a6 15. O-O-O with about even chances, as in Levenfish-Botvinnik, Moscow 1936.} 11... Bc8
12. exd5 Nb4 13. d6 {"Doubtless the best move. If instead 13. fxg6 hxg6 14. Bf3 Nxg4 15. Bxg4 Bxg4 16. Qxg4 Nxc2 17. Ke2 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qxd5 with rook and three awns for two minor pieces" -- Alekhine.} 13... Qxd6
{Of course not 13...exd6? 14. g5 Ne8 16. f6 entombing the Bishop.} 14. Bc5 { Black is in no danger after 14. Qxd6 exd6 15. O-O-O gxf5.} 14... Qf4 {Again the only move. If 14...Qxd1 15. Rxd1! Nc6 (not 15...Nxc2? 16. Kd2) 16. g5 gives White a distinct advantage.} 15. Rf1 Qxh2 16. Bxb4 Nxg4 {Black, already a piece down, must give up another one in order to force perpetual check.} 17. Bxg4 {Compulsory acceptance since 17. Bc5 Qg3 18. Bf2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qxc3 20. Qd2 Qxd2 21. Kxd2 Nxf2 22. Rxf2 Bxf5 gives Black 4 pawns for the piece.} 17... Qg3+ 18. Rf2 {Otherwise 18. Kd2? Bh6 19. Ke2 Qe3 mate.}
18... Qg1+ 19. Rf1 Qg3+ 20. Rf2 Qg1+ {Draw agreed. "A short but sharp and well-played game" -- Alekhine.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zandvoort"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Euwe, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]

{Max Euwe held the World Championship for only a year -- his good sportsmanship in granting his rival so early a rematch was widely admired at the time -- and he has always been overshadowed by the towering figures of Alekhine and Botvinnik. But at his peak he was a very strong player indeed, and his best games are models of logic and precision. Here he thoroughly outplays Paul Keres, whose nervous attempt to break open the position is calmly refuted.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 {White's loss of a tempo is not so important in such a closed position, but the defense of the e5 pawn will cause him some headaches. More usual is 4.c3.}
6. Qf4 f5 7. Bd3 Nge7 8. O-O Ng6 9. Qg3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. a3 Nb8 {Hoping to bring the Knight to e4 via d7 and c5. White tries to prevent this by posting a Knight on b3.} 12. Nbd2 a5 13. Nb3 Na6 14. a4 Nb4 15. Nfd4 Bd7 16.
Bb5 Nc6 17. c4 {Hoping to center, but this doesn't work out. Correct was the quiet 17.c3, with about even chances.} 17... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bc5 19. Qd3 Bxb5
20. Nxb5 {The combination 20.Nxe6? loses two pieces for a Rook after 20...Bxc4 21.Qg3 Qb6.} 20... Qh4 21. Qf1 {The problem with 17.c4 is now apparent -- 21.Qg3 is answered by 21...Qxc4 22.Nc7 Bxf2+.} 21... Rad8 22.
Be3 d4 23. Bd2 d3 24. b3 {On 24.Bxa5 Black could sacrifice the Exchange -- 24...d2 25.Red1 Nxe5 26. Bxd8 Rxd8 27.h3 f4, and Black's attack can hardly be resisted.} 24... f4 25. Re4 Rf5 {Now Black combines threats against the White King with a flanking action against the e5-pawn.} 26. Rae1 Rh5 27. h3
Rg5 28. Nd6 Qxh3 29. Bxf4 Nxf4 30. Rxf4 Qg3 31. Rfe4 Rh5 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Black "Jose Capablanca"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]

{Sponsored by the state, the Soviet Union dominated chess after WWII -- but it didn't happen overnight. A remarkable series of international tournaments in the 1930s proved to be a harbinger of things to come. Here Botvinnik took first, despite losing to runner-up Capablanca in time pressure. The first 37 moves show Botvinnik at his best -- the next two at his worst. Later that year he and Capa shared first at the great Nottingham tournament in England, ahead of the era's other leading players.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4.
Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. b3 Nc6 {More flexible is 6...Be7 7. Bb2 d5.} 7. Bb2 Be7
8. Nc3 O-O {On 8...d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. d4 White controls the center.} 9. d4
Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Qc7 {After 12...Bc5 13. Qd3 d5 the resulting isolated pawn is very weak.} 13. e4 Rad8 {The wrong rook! More tenacious is 13...Rfd8.} 14. Rad1 Qb7 15. f3 Ne8 {The failure to play d6 leads to trouble.} 16. Rd2 f5 17. Rfd1 Bg5 18. Rd3 Bf6 19. e5 Be7 20. Qf2
Rf7 {Black's backward pawn on d7 deprives him of counterplay. Capa later suggested 20...g5!?} 21. Qd2 Bb4 22. a3 Bf8 23. Ne2 Nc7 24. Nf4 g6 25. h4 b5
{Opening lines helps White invade. But if 25...Qc8 26. a4 tightens the screws.} 26. cxb5 Qxb5 27. Rc1 Qb7 28. Rxc7 {Good enough but 28. Qa5 d5 29. exd6 Bxd6 30. Be5 is even stronger.} 28... Qxc7 29. Nxe6 dxe6 30. Rxd8 f4
31. g4 Qe7 32. Kh3 Qb7 33. Qd3 Kg7 34. b4 a5 35. b5 a4 36. g5 Bc5 37. Rd6 { Black is busted. But in severe time pressure, with only a few moves to go before reaching adjournment on move 40 more sensible is, simply 37. Kg2 avoiding complications.} 37... Bxd6 38. exd6+ Kf8 39. Bf6 {Tosses away the win. After 39. Qc3! Ke8 40. Qc6 Rd7 41. Be5 Black is all tied up.} 39... Ke8
40. Be7 {Ruins everything. White can still hold after 40. Kg2 Kd7 41. Qc4.}
40... Rf5 41. Qc3 Kd7 42. b6 Qc6 43. Qg7 {Also inadequate is 43. Qxc6 Kxc6 44. b7 Rb5.} 43... Qxf3+ 44. Kh2 Qg3+ 45. Kh1 Qxh4+ 46. Kg1 Qe1+ 47. Kh2 Kc6
48. Qb2 Rd5 49. Qc2+ Kb5 {White resigns, as he runs out of checks after 50. Qb2 Ka6.} 0-1

[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Fine, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]

{An exciting draw. In his memoirs Fine writes: "Many players look with boredom on a drawn game. They want blood, and not enough flows if neither side wins. Yet frequently the skill required in holding off an attacking opponent is much greater than that needed to beat a weak defense. This is one of the most difficult games I ever played. Out of a seemingly innocuous opening the Russian grandmaster suddenly built up a most ominous attack, and it required very exact calculation to hold him off".} 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4
3. Na3 c5 4. Nxc4 Nc6 5. b3 {"I have always felt that White gets the worst of it here. Probably best is 5. Nce5 (Keres-Fine, Semmering-Baden 1937) which forced an early draw" -- Fine.} 5... f6 6. Bb2 e5 7. g3 Nge7 8. Bg2
Nd5 {An inaccuracy. Better is 8...Nf5.} 9. O-O Be7 10. Nh4 O-O 11. Qb1 Rf7
12. Nf5 {If 12. Be4 g6 is tenable.} 12... Be6 13. f4 exf4 14. gxf4 Nb6 {"The most difficult move I was called on to make. White has emerged with a strong attack. Given enough time he can double on the g-file with all kinds of threats; Black must simplify as quickly as possible" -- Fine.} 15. Be4 Bxc4
16. bxc4 Nxc4 17. Bc3 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Bxh7+ Kf8 20. Bb4 d3 { "Sacrificing a meaningless pawn for the sake of clarification. If instead 20...Qb6? 21. Bxe7+ Rxe7 22. Qd3! Nd6 23. Qh3! with a powerful attack" -- Fine.} 21. Bxe7+ Rxe7 22. Qxd3 Qxd3 23. exd3 Nb6 24. Be4 Rd8 25. Rac1 Nd5
26. a3 Red7 {"The smoke has cleared. White's extra pawn has no meaning. The rest requires little comment" -- Fine.} 27. Kg2 b6 28. Kf3 Nc7 29. Ke3 Na6
30. Rc3 Nc5 31. Rf2 Rd4 32. f5 Ra4 33. Rg2 Rad4 34. Rf2 Ra4 35. Rg2 Rad4 36.
Rc4 R4d6 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1936"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Fine, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]

{Fine describes it as "the best game I ever lost" in his memoirs. "I held out well until move 28 when a choice between two Knight moves arose. Later analysis showed that one would have won; the other, which I picked, lost. In spite of my mistake I have always admired the originality and ingenuity which Alekhine displayed in his conduct of the attack".} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10.
d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nf1 {Theory recommends 12. h3 to prevent Black's reply.} 12... Bg4 13. Ne3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 cxd4 15. Nf5 dxc3 16. Qxc3 Rfc8 { Forced but good. Black now holds the pawn.} 17. Qg3 Bf8 18. Bd3 Nc6 19. Bg5
Ne8 20. Rac1 Qb7 21. a3 g6 22. Nh6+ Bxh6 23. Bxh6 Nd4 24. Rcd1 b4 25. f4
exf4 26. Qxf4 bxa3 27. bxa3 Rc3 28. Qf2 Ne6 {"A seemingly innocuous move which tosses victory away. Correct is 28...Nc6! when Black's defense is impregnable, e.g. 29. Bb1 Ne5 30. Ba2 Rac8 and White has no real continuation. Time pressure was beginning to add to my other worries here" -- Fine.} 29. a4 Rac8 30. Rf1 R3c7 {"The defense has become too difficult. If 30...Nc5 31. Bb1 Nxa4 32. Ba2 R3c7 33. Rb1 Qa7 34. Bxf7+! Rxf7 35. Qxa7 and wins, for if 35...Rxa7 36. Rf8 mate.} 31. Rb1 Qc6 32. a5 Nc5 {"Perhaps the best chance was to give up the exchange with 32...Qc5 33. Be3 Qxa5 34. Bb6 Qe5" -- Fine.} 33. Bc4 Qd7 34. Qa2 Nxe4 {Desperation. But if 34...Ne6 35. Bxe6 Qxe6 36. Qxe6 fxe6 37. Rf8 mate.} 35. Rxf7 Qxf7 36. Bxf7+ Rxf7 37.
Qe6 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "1937"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Hromadka, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]

{Hromadka pioneered the system of defense now known as the Modern Benoni, though it did not achieve real respectability until Tal took it up twenty years later. Here Keres demonstrates the danger of exchanging the Bg7: even if Black wins material in the process, his King position is not easy to defend.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 d6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. e4 a6
8. a4 Re8 9. Nge2 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. cxd5 Nbd7 {By transposition, we have arrived at a position from the Modern Benoni Defense. White will strive for f2-f4 and e4-e5 in conjunction with a Kingside attack; Black seeks tactical counter chances against b2 and e4.} 12. h3 Rb8 13. a5 Ne5 {Proves a loss time; he should play 13...b5 14. axb6ep Rxb6 at once.} 14. f4 Ned7 {He apparently intended 14...Nc4 15.Qa4 b5, but after 16.axb6ep Nxb6 17.Qc2, White would have two extra moves in comparison with the position that could have arisen from the last note.} 15. g4 b5 16. axb6ep Qxb6 17. g5 Nh5 18.
Bf3 Bd4+ {Black had counted on this, as 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20. Na4 Qb4 21.Bxh5 gxh5, despite Black's pawn weaknesses, gives him strong counterplay against the e4-pawn. But White's subtle reply refutes the idea.} 19. Kg2 Ng7 20. Ra4
{Black has been forced to block the Bishop's only retreat, and now White forces its exchange for a Knight.} 20... Bxc3 21. Nxc3 f5 22. Re1 Qd8 23. b3
Qb6 {White prepares to take control of the a1-h8 diagonal, but Black can make a few threats against the b3 pawn.} 24. exf5 Rxe1 25. Qxe1 gxf5 26. Ra2
Nf8 {Both players conclude that Black cannot spare the time to capture the b3 pawn, for White's threat of h3-h4-h5-h6 is very dangerous.} 27. Re2 Qd8
28. h4 Rxb3 29. h5 Bd7 30. h6 Ne8 31. Bh5 Ng6 32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Re7 a5 34.
Nd1 Nc7 35. Qe2 {A simpler way to win was 35.Rg7+ Kh8 36.Qe7 Qxe7 37.Rxe7, winning a piece. But in Black's time trouble, White plays for mate.} 35...
Nxd5 {A tougher defense was 36...Nb5, but White is still winning after 36.Rg7+ Kh8 37.Bb2 Nd4 38.Bxd4 cxd4 39.Rxg6, and the d6 pawn will fall as well (39...Bc8 40.Rxd6 Qxd6 41.Qe8+ mates).} 36. h7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "5th Match Game, Amsterdam"]
[Date "1937"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Euwe, M."]
[Black "Alekhine, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]

{Although Alekhine regained the World Championship handily in 1937, the mathematician Dr. Max Euwe was a worthy rival, producing masterpieces like this in a losing cause. A slight opening advantage leads to a crisp middlegame with a Bishop trapped in an open board.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3.
Nf3 a6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O c5 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bb3 Be7 { White's 8th move prepared a spot for the bishop, if 9...c4 10. Bc2 Nb4 11. Bb1.} 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. e4 b4 12. e5 {Opening up the position favors the one with open lines.} 12... bxc3 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Qc4 Qb6 15. Qxc3 Nd4 {Black's position hangs by a thread - moves like this can only mask the inherent weaknesses.} 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Ba4+ Ke7 18. Be3 Bxc3 19. Bxb6 Be5 20. Rad1
Kf8 21. f4 {The Bishop has no haven from the marauding Rooks.} 21... Bxb2
22. Rf3 Bb7 {If 22...f5 23. Rb3 Bf6 24. Bc6 wins the Rook.} 23. Rb3 Ba3 24.
Rxa3 Rg8 25. Rg3 Rxg3 26. hxg3 Bd5 27. Bb3 Bxb3 28. axb3 Ke8 29. b4 Rb8 30.
Bc5 Rc8 31. Ra1 Rc6 32. Kf2 f5 33. Ke3 f6 34. Kd4 Kf7 35. Kc4 Kg6 36. Rd1
Kh5 37. Rd6 Rxd6 38. Bxd6 Kg4 39. Be7 Kxg3 40. Bxf6 Kxf4 41. Kc5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "7th Olympiad"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1937"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paul Keres"]
[Black "Samuel Reshevsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]

{After an opening inaccuracy, Reshevsky struggles to obtain equality. He manages to beat back the first wave of attack but his positional weaknesses still remain. The second wave of attack, when it comes, proves irresistible. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 Na5 {A more accurate sequence is 8...O-O 9. h3 Na5. After the text White can save time by dispensing with h3.} 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. a4 b4 { Weakens the queenside but if 11...Bd7? 12. axb5 axb5 13. b4 snares a piece.}
12. cxb4 cxb4 13. h3 {Unnecessary. Better is 13. Nbd2 at once.} 13... O-O
14. Nbd2 Be6 {More to the point than 14...Bd7 15. Nf1 Rfc8 16. Ne3 as in Keres-Tylor, Margate 1937.} 15. Nf1 Rfc8 16. Ne3 g6 {More active than 16...Ne8 17. b3 f6 18. Bb2 Bf8 19. Bd3 as in Keres-Berg, Kemeri 1937.} 17.
b3 Nh5 18. Bb2 Bf6 19. Rc1 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qd7 21. Rb1 Rc5 22. Ndf5 Bxf5 { "After the exchange of bishops, Black remains in a most dubious position, since both his Knights are badly placed on the edge of the board and also have no point of support in the center. Much better chances are offered here by the quiet protection of d6 by 22...Be5! after which White would not find it easy to increase his initiative. Black could, however, hardly have attained full equality. White could then play, for instance, 23. Bd4! For the rest, Black cannot well accept the piece sacrifice, since after 22...gxf5 23. exf5! Bxf5 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Qg4 Ng7 26. Bxf6 would win". -- Keres} 23. exf5 Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Re8 25. Bd3 {"The first inaccuracy, which allows Black the opportunity of activating his pieces. Much stronger here was 25. Qg4 Qe7 26. Qd4! and Black would experience difficulties in protecting his d-pawn". -- Keres} 25... Qc6 26. Qg4 Qb6 {After beating back the first wave of attack, Reshevsky should try 26...Rc3 27. Bf1 Re4. Passive defense proves futile.} 27. Rbe2 Rce5 28. fxg6 hxg6 29. Bxg6 fxg6 30. Qxg6+
Kh8 {Immediately fatal. So is 30...Ng7 13. Nf5! Qc7 14. Nxg7 Qxg7 15. Qxe8! Necessary is 30...Kf8! 31. Nd5! Qd8 but White should still win with 32. Rxe5 Rxe5 33. Rxe5 dxe5 34. Qf5 Kg8 35.Qxe5!} 31. Nf5 R8e6 32. Qxh5+ Kg8 33. Qg5+
Kf8 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Nxd6+ {Black resigns, as he loses a whole rook after 35...Qxd6 36.Rxe5 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 Kd8 38 Rxa5.} 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1937"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paul Keres"]
[Black "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C71"]

{Alekhine suffers one of the shortest defeats in his career after leaving his king in the center too long. Even world champions cannot violate basic principles, and this incisive victory, coupled with a tie for first, firmly established young Keres (then 21) as a leading contender for the title.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c4 {"Alekhine was fond of using this variation and employed it in some important games, achieving a number of fine successes with it. So, since my opponent was very well acquainted with the opening I decided to try this move, which was seldom played, and from the positional aspect scarcely compares with the usual 5. c3". -- Keres}
5... Bd7 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 {More exact is 7...exd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. O-O Nf6 as in Unzicker-Keres, Hastings 1954.} 8. Be3 Nf6 {This inaccuracy allows White to grasp the initiative. Better is 8...Nge7 or exd4. } 9. dxe5 dxe5 {Better to relieve the cramp by 9...Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5. After the next move Black's inability to castle becomes a real drawback.} 10. Bc5
Nh5 11. Nd5 Nf4 12. Nxf4 exf4 13. e5 {Later it was discovered that simply 13. O-O! Qf6 14. Bd4! maintains the advantage without any risk.} 13... g5 { "Alekhine thought a long time before making this move and eventually came to the conclusion that accepting the pawn sacrifice would imperil his game too much. Later a joint analysis led us to conclude that 13...Nxe5 14. Qe2 f6 15. O-O-O c6 is tenable". -- Keres} 14. Qd5 Bf8 {Black observes the danger and desists from the intended 14...g4 15. e6! Bxe6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Qxc6 Bd7 18. Qe4 Be6 19. Rd1 and wins.} 15. Bxf8 Rxf8 16. O-O-O Qe7 {Again, if 17...g4 18. e6 fxe6 19. Qh5 wins. "With the text move Alekhine sets a cunning trap and hopes thus to escape from the noose himself". -- Keres} 17.
Bxc6 {Prevents Black from castling. He was hoping for 17. Nxg5 O-O-O.} 17...
Bxc6 18. Qd3 Bd7 {Offering a pawn to get the king to safety. No better is 18...h6 19. e6! fxe6 20. Ne5 Rg8 21. Qh3 Qf6 22. Rfe1.} 19. Nxg5 O-O-O 20.
Nf3 {A prudent retreat. If 20. Nxh7 Bg4 21. Qe4 Bxd1 22. Nxf8 Ba4! 23. Nh7 Qd7 with counterplay.} 20... f6 21. exf6 Rxf6 {The last hope was 21...Qxf6! "It is interesting to observe that Alekhine was afraid of a possible 22. Qxh7 as he said after the game. I, on the other hand, would have contented myself with 22. Qd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 having regard to the fact that my time on the clock was by now rather restricted". -- Keres} 22. Rhe1 Qb4 {A final error in a lost position. But on 22...Qg7 23. Qd4 (threatening Qa7 or Ne5) the win would not be in doubt.} 23. Qxd7+ {Black resigns. If 23...Rxd7 24. Re8 mates.} 1-0

[Event "AVRO"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1938"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Capablanca, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E49"]

{Ranks among the great masterpieces. Botvinnik finished third behind Fine and Keres but ahead of Alekhine, Capablanca, Euwe and Flohr at this double round event sponsored by a Dutch radio station that ushered in the new generation.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 d5 5. a3 {An original idea at a time when 5. Nf3 was routine.} 5... Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Ne2 b6 10. O-O Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Bb2 {Botvinnik pointed out that 12. Qd3 is more accurate.} 12... Qd7 13. a4 {A neccessary preparation for 13. Qd3 which, if played immediately, would be met by Qa4!} 13... Rfe8
14. Qd3 c4 {Botvinnik recommended 14...Qb7 to keep it fluid.} 15. Qc2 Nb8
16. Rae1 Nc6 {Stronger is 16...Nh5! 17. h3 f5 to restrain e4 once and for all.} 17. Ng3 Na5 18. f3 Nb3 19. e4 Qxa4 {Winning a pawn but diverting the queen from the action on the other wing.} 20. e5 Nd7 21. Qf2 g6 22. f4 f5
23. exf6ep Nxf6 24. f5 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re8 26. Re6 Rxe6 {Inadequate is 26...Kf7 27. Rxf6+ Kxf6 28. fxg6+ Kxg6 29. Qf5+ Kg7 30. Nh5+ Kh6 31. h4 Rg8 32. g4 Qc6 33. Ba3!} 27. fxe6 Kg7 28. Qf4 Qe8 29. Qe5 Qe7 {29...h6 was the last chance to resist. Now Botvinnik unleashes a sacrificial flurry.} 30.
Ba3 Qxa3 31. Nh5+ gxh5 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 34. e7 Qc1+ 35. Kf2 Qc2+
36. Kg3 Qd3+ 37. Kh4 Qe4+ 38. Kxh5 Qe2+ 39. Kh4 Qe4+ 40. g4 Qe1+ 41. Kh5 { Black Resigns -- he has run out of checks and has no defense against Qf8 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1938"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Eero Book"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]

{Another splendid combination by Alekhine, the master-magician who pulls all the strings and sacrifices a rook without any obvious follow-up or immediate return. In the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Black must be careful not to advance his queenside pawns too fast or he may face a punishing breakthrough in the center -- which happened here!} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5.
Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 {Usually 6...a6 is played right away before deciding whether this Knight belongs on c6 or d7.} 7. Qe2 a6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bb3 b4 { Either 8...Bxe7 or cxd4 first is more prudent.} 10. d5 Na5 {If 10...exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Rd1 regains the piece advantageously.} 11. Ba4+ Bd7 12. dxe6
fxe6 13. Rd1 {A remarkable combination based on intuition that could not be analyzed to the very end.} 13... bxc3 14. Rxd7 Nxd7 15. Ne5 Ra7 16. bxc3 {A full rook down, White calmly stops to recapture the pawn. The forcing 15. Qh5 g6 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Qxh8 Kf7 is good for Black.} 16... Ke7 {The best defense is 16...Be7! 17. Qh5 g6 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Qxh8 Bf8. White has only two pawns for the piece while Black is still tied up, and the outcome would remain in doubt.} 17. e4 Nf6 18. Bg5 Qc7 19. Bf4 Qb6 {No better is 19...Qb7 20. Qe3! Kd8 21. Qd3 Kc8 22. Rb1 Qxe4 23. Nf7! Qxd3 24. Rb8 mate. The amazing thing is that Black has no good defense even though he is a full rook ahead.} 20. Rd1 g6 21. Bg5 Bg7 22. Nd7 Rxd7 {If 22...Qb7 23. e5 also wins.} 23. Rxd7+ Kf8 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. e5 {On 25...Qb1 26. Rd1 Qf5 27. exf6 Qxf6 28. Qxa6 is lethal. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "AVRO"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1938"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fine, R."]
[Black "Botvinnik, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C17"]

{The pinnacle of Reuben Fine's career was sharing first with Keres ahead of Alekhine, Capablanca, Euwe and Flohr to determine a challenger for Alekhine's title. But WWII intervened and Fine, unable to make a living from chess, became a psychoanalyst. Here he had the satisfaction of demolishing a future world champion with a prepared variation.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. dxc5 {"This is the prepared move. Unlike Euwe, I make it a rule not to analyze such lines too profoundly before the game because it is most essential to be able to meet whatever surprises come up over the board and not everything can be foreseen" -- Fine.} 5... Ne7 6. Nf3 Nbc6 7. Bd3 d4
8. a3 Ba5 9. b4 Nxb4 10. axb4 Bxb4 11. Bb5+ Nc6 {"The fatal error. Necessary was 11...Bd7 12. Qxd4 Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3 Bxb5 14. Nd4 with about equal chances" -- Fine.} 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Ra4 Bxc3+ 14. Bd2 {"Suddenly Black discovers that he is lost. The Bishop is hopelessly shut out, and it is only a question of time before White's superior development makes itself felt" -- Fine.} 14... f6 15. O-O O-O 16. Bxc3 dxc3 17. Qe1 a5 18. Qxc3 Ba6 19. Rfa1
Bb5 {"Hoping for 20. Rxa5 which would bring some freedom to the Black pieces" -- Fine.} 20. Rd4 Qe7 21. Rd6 a4 22. Qe3 Ra7 23. Nd2 a3 24. c4 Ba4
25. exf6 Qxf6 26. Rxa3 Re8 27. h3 Raa8 28. Nf3 Qb2 29. Ne5 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qf5
31. Qg3 {Black Resigns. "There are too many threats on all sides. The most immediate one is 31. Rd7 Re7 32. Rxa4! Rxa4 33. Rd8+" -- Fine.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1938"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fine, R."]
[Black "Flohr, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C17"]

{The American Grandmaster, prolific author, and psychiatrist Reuben Fine has produced many sparkling games like this: sharp tactical play springing right out of the opening.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2 Ne7 6. Nf3
Nf5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Bd3 Nh4 {Black has lost time with this Knight's wandering.} 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 h6 11. Na4 Bf8 {If 11...Be7 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Qg4.} 12. Rc1 Bd7 13. Nxh4 Qxh4 14. c4 dxc4 15. Rxc4 Qd8 16. Qh5 {White now controls the action across the board, answering 16...b5 with 27. Rf4.} 16...
Ne7 17. Rd4 g6 18. Qf3 Qc7 19. Nc3 Nf5 20. Nb5 Qb6 21. Rxd7 {A familiar theme: not only is the Black King in trouble - the White Bishops are in control.} 21... Kxd7 22. g4 Nh4 23. Qxf7+ Be7 24. Bb4 Rae8 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 26.
Qf6 a6 27. Rd1 axb5 28. Be4+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1939"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pleci"]
[Black "Endzelins"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]

{A lesser-known masterpiece from the last prewar Olympiad. With a flurry of sacrifices, White demonstrates that an advantage in development remains of decisive importance even after the exchange of Queens.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Nxc5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bg5+ f6 9.
O-O-O+ Ke8 10. Bb5+ Kf7 11. Rd8 Be7 {Instead, 11...fxg5 loses at once to 12.Ne5+ Ke7 13.Re8++, while 11...Nxe4 12.Ne5+ Ke7 13. Re8+ Kd6 14.Nf7+ Kc5 15.Nxh8 Kxb5 16.Rxf8 leaves White with a material advantage, and he retains his dominating Rook on the 8th rank.} 12. Ne5+ fxe5 13. Nd6+ Kg6 {The Knight still cannot be captured, for if 13...Bxd6 14.Be8+ Kf8 15.Bg6++.} 14. Bxe7
Nxe7 15. Rxh8 a6 16. Be2 e4 17. f4 b5 18. Re8 Kf6 19. Rf8+ Kg6 20. h4 Bb7
21. h5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "8th Olympiad"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1939"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ernst Rojahn"]
[Black "Moshe Czerniak"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B00"]

{A great fighting draw -- wild, woolly, madcap. Czerniak was born in Poland but remained in Argentina along with several other European masters when this world team championship ended at the outbreak of World War II. In 1950 he settled in Israel, won the national championship and then represented his adopted country in nine consecutive Olympiads.} 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5
4. g4 {This stab used to be considered unthinkable because it weakens the pawn structure. Now it is a standard weapon in White's arsenal.} 4... Bg6 { An alternative is 4...Bd7 to prevent 5. e6.} 5. Nh3 e6 6. Nf4 Be4 7. Rg1 Nh6
8. Be3 Be7 9. Nd2 Bh4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Bg2 Qe7 12. Bxe4 {Why the rush to capture this pawn? Simply 12. c3 is better.} 12... Nxe5 13. g5 {Not 13. dxe5 Qb4+ followed by Qxe4.} 13... Nc4 {Better than 13...Bxg5? 14. Rxg5 Qxg5 15. dxe5.} 14. gxh6 Nxe3 15. hxg7 {Leads to fireworks. Instead 15. Qd3! gives White a clear advantage.} 15... Bxf2+ 16. Ke2 Rg8 17. Qd3 Bxg1 {Expecting 18. Rxg1 Nd5! and all is well.} 18. Qb5+ c6 19. Bxc6+ Kd8 20. Bxb7 Nxc2 21.
Qa5+ Qc7 22. Nxe6+ fxe6 23. Qg5+ Qe7 {All roads lead to Rome. If 23...Ke8 24. Qh5. Or 23...Kd7 24. Qb5.} 24. Qa5+ {Any attempt by Black to escape perpetual check is disastrous. For example, 24...Ke8 25. Bc6 Kf7 26. Rf1 Kxg7 27. Rxg1 Kh8 28. Qe5 Rg7 29. Bxa8. Or 24...Kd7 25. Qb5 Kc7 26. Rc1 Bxd4 27. Rxc2 Kb8 28. Rc8! Rxc8 29. Bxc8 Kxf8 30. g8/Q!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1940"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Reuben Fine"]
[Black "Samuel Reshevsky"]
[Result "1/2"]

{Reuben Fine (1914-1993) was America's greatest international star in the 1930s, sharing first with Keres at AVRO 1938 ahead of Alekhine, Botvinnik, Capablanca, Euwe, Flohr and Reshevsky (his chief rival on the domestic scene). Fans spoke of a "jinx" when referring to Fine's inability to convert winning positions into a win against "Sammy" or ever to win the U.S. Championship. Here Reshevsky again nosed him out for the title by snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat. "Unemployed from 1939 to 1941, Fine saw that a future dedicated to chess was bleak at best, and he obeyed the dictates of common sense, returning to school in the mid 1940s and earning a psychology doctorate in 1948 from U.C.L.A. I believe that in American events, Fine often found himself wondering why he was playing chess for pennies and let his mind wander". -- Denker and Parr in "The Bobby Fischer I Knew And Other Stories".} 

1.e4 e5 
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bc4 Nf6
4.Ng5 d5
5.exd5 Na5
6.Bb5+ c6
7.dxc6 bxc6
8.Be2 h6
9.Nf3 e4
10.Ne5 Bd6
11.f4 {An old question is whether Black has enough compensation for the pawn. If 11. Ng4 Nxg4 12. Bxg4 Qh4! 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Qe2 O-O 15. Nc3 Rce8 gives Black good counterplay.} 
11...Qc7
12.O-O O-O
13.Nc3 {Making no attempt to hold the pawn with 13. d4 exd3ep 14. Nxd3 c5.}
13...Bxe5
14.fxe5 Qxe5
15.d4 exd3
16.Qxd3 Ng4
17.Bf4 {A brave decision to sacrifice the Exchange. 17.Rf4 or Bxg4 are feasible alternatives.}
17...Qc5+ 
18.Kh1 Nf2+
19.Rxf2 Qxf2
20.Rf1 Qh4 
21.Qd6 Bg4
22.Ba6 Bc8 {Reshevsky led by a half point and only needed a draw to regain the title of U.S. champion. He would be delighted to repeat moves after 23. Be2 Bg4.}
23.Bd3 Be6? {? - The main drawback of Black's game is the Knight stranded on a5. Black has nothing to fear from 23...Qd8 24.Qxd8 Rxd8 25. Bc7 Nb7 26. Bxd8 Nxd8 with an even ending.} 
24.Qb4 Qh5 
25.Bc7 Nc4
26.Bxc4 Qh4
27.Bf4 {The simplest winning line is 27. b3! keeping two pieces for a Rook.}
27...Bxc4 
28.Qxc4 g5 
29.g3 Qg4 {Hoping to snare a piece with the pin. If now 30.Ne4 Qe6 31. Qxe6 fxe6 sets up another pin along the f-file.}
30.Qxc6 gxf4 
31.Rxf4 {Equally good is 31. Qxh6 fxg3 32. Rf4 g2+ 33. Kg1 Qg6.}
31...Qe6 
32.Qf3 f5
33.Qd5 Rae8 
34.Kg2 Qxd5+ 
35.Nxd5 Re2+ 
36.Rf2 Rxf2+ 
37.Kxf2 Kf7
38.c4 a5
39.b3 Re8 
40.a3 Rc8 {White's victory has become problematic because the rook is so active.}
41.Nc3 {If 41. Ke3 a4! busts up White's connected pawns.}
41...Ke6
42.Ke3 Ke5 
43.Kd3 Rb8 
44.Nb5 Rd8+
45.Kc2 h5 
46.b4 axb4
47.axb4 h4
48.c5 hxg3
49.hxg3 Kd5 {Not 49...Rb8? 50. c6! Rxb5 51. c7 and queens.}
50.Kd3? {Tosses away winning chances. Correct is 50. Nd6! A possible variation is 50...Ke6 51.b5 Rg8 52.b6 Rxg3 53.b7 Rg8 54. Nc8 and the pawn queens.}
50...Rg8 
51.Nc3+ Kc6
52.Ne2 Rg4
53.Kc3 Kd5 
54.Nf4+ Kc6 
55.Kc4 {The last try but it's not enough to win.}
55...Rxg3
56.b5+ Kd7 
57.Kd5 Rg1 
58.Nd3 Rd1 
59.Kc4 Rb1
60.Nf4 Rb2
61.Nd5 Rb1 
62.Nb6+ Kc7 {Draw by Agreement. Another hard-fought duel between the two greatest rivals in American chess. Once again Fine let his nemesis escape.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York State Championship"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1941"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reshevsky, S."]
[Black "Fine, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E49"]

{This event began in 1878 and is probably the longest running ANNUAL event in the world. The rivalry between America's two leading players was legendary; here's how Fine himself described this seesaw battle: "Although we played on a par with the best of that time our own games displayed a fantastic series of blunders. Either he rescued a lost position against me, or I did against him. Nor were these subtle mistakes; many of them were so obvious that the rankest amateur could have seen them. Each wanted to beat the other, yet unconsciously each was reluctant to do so".} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Ne2
b6 10. O-O Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Qd3 {An improvement on 12. Bb2 (see Botvinnik-Capablanca, AVRO 1938.} 12... Qc8 13. Bb2 cxd4 {"I had counted on the opening of the c-file to give me adequate counterplay, but this hope proved illusory. Consequently the coldblooded 13...c4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Ng3 Ne4! was preferable" -- Fine.} 14. cxd4 Nc7 15. Rfc1 Qd7 16. f3 Rfe8 17. Ng3
Ne6 18. Re1 {Not 18. e4? dxe4 19. fxe4 Nc5! snaring the e-pawn.} 18... Rac8
19. Rad1 Qa4 20. Rd2 Qc4 21. Qb1 Qb3 {"I was still under the impression that the counter- action along the c-file was adequate. Since it is not, I should have tried 21...Red8 when it is still quite difficult for White to advance his e-pawn" -- Fine.} 22. Nf5 Rc7 23. e4 Rec8 24. Rd3 Qa4 {But not 24...Qc2? 25. Qxc2 Rxc2 26. Ne7+ and Nxc8.} 25. e5 Ne8 26. Ne3 Qb5 27. Rd2 Qb3 28. Rd3
Qb5 29. Rd2 Qa5 {Black should repeat moves with 29...Qb3.} 30. Qd1 Qb5 31.
g3 g6 32. f4 f5 33. Qf3 Rd8 34. g4 N8g7 35. gxf5 Nxf5 36. Ng4 Rf7 37. Nf6+
Kh8 38. Rc1 Rxf6 {Otherwise Black has no constructive plan.} 39. exf6 Rf8
40. Re1 Rxf6 41. a4 {The sealed move -- to clear a3 for the Bishop. Now 41...Qxa4 42. Qxd5 is obviously bad for Black.} 41... Qd7 42. Rf2 Nc7 43.
Rc2 Rf7 44. Rec1 Ne8 45. Ba3 Nf6 {"Missing the point to White's last move. After 45...Kg7 46. Qe2 Nf6 47. Qe5 Nh4 was probably still tenable for Black" -- Fine.} 46. Rc8+ Kg7 47. Bf8+ Kg8 {On 47...Rxf8 48. R8c7 pins the Queen.}
48. Bd6+ {Missing 48. Qxd5! which is decisive. The Queen can't be captured because Bh6 mates.} 48... Ne8 49. Be5 Ne7 50. Ra8 Nc6 51. h3 Nxe5 52. dxe5
Qxa4 53. Rcc8 Rf8 54. e6 Kg7 55. e7 Rxf4 56. Qd3 Rf5 57. Rc2 Qh4 {Missing a chance to win by 57...Qa1+ 58. Kh2 Qe5+ 59. Qg3 Qxe7. Now the comedy of errors continues.} 58. Re2 {White in turn can win by 58. Rxe8! Rg5+ 59. Kh2 Qf4+ 60. Kh1 Rg3 61. Rg8+} 58... Rg5+ 59. Rg2 Rxg2+ 60. Kxg2 Qxe7 61. Qxd5 { Draw. On 61...Qe2+ 62. Kg1 Qe1+ 63. Kg2 compels Black to take perpetual check. "This may have been the most important game of chess played in the Western hemisphere in 1941" -- Chess Life, June 1999} 1/2-1/2

[Event "USSR Absolute Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1941"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Botvinnik, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E35"]

{A charming miniature. Botvinnik with Black crushes the Estonian in 22 moves after Keres castles too soon on the wrong wing.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3
Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 {Also good is 5...Qxd5 but Botvinnik has something new in mind.} 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. O-O-O {Meets with a drastic refutation. Better is 8. e3 or simply dxc5.} 8... Bxc3 {Improving on 8...O-O? 9. dxc5 Bxc3 10. Qxc3 with advantage -- Mikenas-Botvinnik, USSR Championship 1940.} 9. Qxc3 g5 10. Bg3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qa4 {Awkward but perhaps necessary to safeguard White's king is 12. Qe3+!? Be6 13. Kb1.}
12... Bf5 13. e3 Rc8 14. Bd3 Qd7 {Breaking the pin leaves the enemyking with pitiful few defenders.} 15. Kb1 Bxd3+ 16. Rxd3 Qf5 17. e4 Nxe4 18. Ka1 O-O
19. Rd1 b5 20. Qxb5 Nd4 21. Qd3 Nc2+ 22. Kb1 Nb4 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Prague"]
[Site "Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1942"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Klaus Junge"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E03"]

{Going into the last round, Junge led by a half point and needed only a draw to take first prize. Alekhine launched a far-sighted but risky pawn sacrifice that paved the way for a spectacular and unexpected rook sacrifice. This dramatic game was used in "Knight of the Id," a play by Richard Laurie about Alekhine's last days, when he was shunned by the chess world as a Nazi collaborator after the war. Speaking of this game, the fictional Alekhine says: "There is a moment in chess when your opponent knows he is lost. He knows he can do nothing to save himself. All moves lose. It is not checkmate. It is before checkmate. Everything he can do is wrong. There are no good moves. All moves lose. It is a very terrible spot to be in, but it is fun to watch him squirm. He stares at the board, but it does not change. Nothing can be changed and there is no hope. He is a mouse and I am the cat. I watch him very closely as he suffers. When the game is over, I will feel sympathy for him, but not now. Now I watch him twist and turn and tear himself to ribbons. His agonies are mine".} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 {In an earlier game at another Nazi-sponsored tournament in Munich 1942 between the same players (with colors reversed), Alekhine chose the more usual plan 5...Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6.}
6. Bg2 a6 7. Qxc4 b5 {White's best reply is 8. Qc2 immediately.} 8. Qc6 Rb8
{Slightly better is 8...Ra7 in order later to cross over to d7 after ...c5.}
9. O-O Bb7 10. Qc2 c5 11. a4 {White has nothing after 11. dxc5 Bxc5 so Alekhine sacrifice a pawn to seek the initiative.} 11... Bxf3 {Spurning b4 and acepting the offer.} 12. Bxf3 cxd4 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rd1 Qb6 {If 14...Bc5 15. Bf4 e5 (or 15...Rc8 16. Bb7) 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Qxc5 Nxf3 18. exf3 White is winning.} 15. Nd2 e5 {Black should strive to castle as quickly as possible by 15...Be7.} 16. Nb3 Nc5 {Neglecting the safety of his King. White still would be hard-put to justify his pawn sacrifice after 16...Be7! 17. e3 dxe3 18. Bxe3 Qe6.} 17. Nxc5 Bxc5 {If 17...Qxc5 18. Bc6 Nd7 (or 18...Kd8 19. Qxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxb5!) 19. Qxc5 Bxc5 20. Ra5 regains the pawn advantageously.} 18. Ra6 {A bolt from the blue.} 18... Qxa6 19. Qxc5 Qe6 {If 19...Nd7 20. Bc6 f6 21. Qd6 is crushing.} 20. Bc6+ Nd7 21. Bxd7+ Kxd7 { Forced. If 21...Qxd7 22. Qxe5 Qe7 23. Qxb8 picks up the Rook.} 22. Qa7+ Kc6
{Loses by force After 22...Kd6. It is unclear whether White has anything better than a draw by perpetual check.} 23. Bd2 Rhc8 24. e4 Qb3 25. Ra1 b4 { Trying in vain to create an escape square for the king on b5.} 26. Ra6+ Kb5
27. Ra5+ Kc6 28. Qc5+ Kd7 29. Ra7+ {Black resigns, as he gets mated on 29...Ke6 30. Qe7. A German soldier, Junge was killed in action at age 21, just before the war ended in 1945.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Championship"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1943"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vassily Smyslov"]
[Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C82"]

{Chess flourished in the Soviet Union despite the bloodiest war in its history. The intense rivalry between two of its leading players extended to more than 100 games and three title matches in the course of their long careers. In this early encounter, Botvinnik varies on move 11 from a variation made famous two years later in the 1945 USSR-USA Radio Match (see Smyslov-Reshevsky). Smyslov obtained a material advantage of two pieces for a rook and then patiently suffered while untangling his pieces from the back rank.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {The Open Defense has withstood the test of time.} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9.
c3 Bc5 {More usual is 9...Be7 leaving c5 free for the knight. Botvinnik has a surprise in mind which had not appeared in any Soviet tournaments.} 10.
Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2 {Black can be criticized for trying to seize the initiative so early, but it is not easy for White to solve all the problems that will face him. Reinforcing the Knight by 11...f5 is probably the best plan (see the aforementioned Smyslov-Reshevsky game.} 12. Rxf2 f6 13. exf6
Qxf6 14. Qf1 Bg4 15. Kh1 {Leads to a prolonged defensive task. Preferable is 15. Qd3! Qf5 16. Qxf5 Bxf5 17. Bb3 Rad8 18. Nf1 Bxf2 19. Kxf2 with a favorable ending.} 15... Bxf2 16. Qxf2 Rae8 17. Qg3 Ne5 18. Bd1 { "Overprotecting f3. White now has to withstand a powerful onslaught by the excellently placed black pieces before he is able to untangle his group of pieces on the bank rank". --Smyslov.} 18... Nd3 {Smyslov recommends 18...h5 as more active, and if 19. h4 Nd3 20. Kh2 c5 21. Nf1 with a tense struggle ahead.} 19. h3 Bh5 20. Bc2 Nf4 21. Ng1 {"White prevents the intrusion of the rook at e2 and at the same time carries out a regrouping of his minor pieces". -- Smyslov.} 21... c5 22. Ndf3 Ne2 23. Nxe2 Rxe2 24. Bd1 Re6 {If 24...Bxf3 25. gxf3 Re6 26. Bd2 followed by f4 and Bf3 frees White's position.} 25. Bd2 h6 26. Kh2 Re4 {It's still a hard game after 26...Bg6. White now gains a decisive advantage.} 27. Ng5 hxg5 28. Bxh5 Re5 29. Bf3 Qe7
30. a4 Kh7 {Allowing White's rook comes into play but 30...b4 fails to 31. cxb4 cxb4 32. Bxb4! Qxb4 33. Qxe5} 31. axb5 axb5 32. Ra7 Qd6 33. Bg4 {Too hasty is 34. Bxg5? Rxf3! 35. gxf3 Re2.} 33... Rd8 34. Kh1 {In time trouble, White overlooks 34. Bf4! right away.} 34... d4 35. cxd4 cxd4 36. Bf4 Re1+ { Not 35...gxf4 37. Bf5! Rxf5 38. Qxg7 mate.} 37. Qxe1 Qxf4 38. Rd7 Rxd7 39.
Bxd7 d3 40. Bg4 {White's extra piece is decisive. Also sufficient is 40. Bxb5.} 40... d2 41. Qe2 b4 42. Qd3+ g6 43. Kg1 Kh6 44. b3 Kg7 45. Bf3 Qf7
46. Kf2 Qe6 47. Qe3 Qd6 48. Bd1 Qd5 49. g4 Kh7 50. Ke2 {Black could have resigned long ago. After a spite check by 50...Qg2 51. Kd3 it's all over. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "13th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1944"]
[Round "5"]
[White "David Bronstein"]
[Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{David conquers Goliath! 20-year-old Bronstein was 15th in his first try for the Russian championship, then the strongest series of tournaments in the world. Soviet tournaments thrived despite WWII. Were it not for this victory over the winner and future world champion, his performance (15th in a field of 18) would have gone unnoticed. This tense encounter features a sharp opening and a difficult ending that should have been drawn but Botvinnik tried too hard to win. In 1951 they drew a title match 12-12.} 1. e4 e5 {A departure from Botvinnik's habitual French Defense with 1...e6.}
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9.
h3 Be6 {The usual continuation is 9...Na5. 10. Bc2 c5. The text is a result of Botvinnik's search to rehabilate forgotten moves.} 10. d4 {Better than 10. Bc2 d5! 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Qh5 14. Nc3 Rad8 with a satisfactory position, as in Yates-Duras, Bradford 1911.} 10... Bxb3 11.
Qxb3 exd4 12. Nxd4 {Improving on Spielmann-Schlechter, Prague 1906, where Black got a good game after 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Na5 16. Qc2 Nc4 17. Nd2 Qd7 18. Nxc4 bxc4 19. f4 f5!} 12... Nxd4 13. cxd4 c5 14.
dxc5 dxc5 15. e5 Nd7 {In a later round Lilienthal tried 15...Ne8 16. Qg3 Qb6.} 16. a4 c4 17. Qg3 Re8 18. Rd1 Bh4 {More prudent is 18...Qc7 19. Bf4 Qc6.} 19. Qg4 {Misjudging Black's reply. The critical line is 19. Qf4! Qe7 20. g3 Nxe5 21. gxh4 Nd3 with unclear prospects. Now Black gets a better endgame.} 19... Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Nxe5 21. Rxd8 Nxg4+ 22. hxg4 Raxd8 {White's development is backward. Black stands better with a rook and two pawns for bishop and knight.} 23. axb5 axb5 24.Bd2 Rd3 25. Ra5 Rb3 26. Bc1 {This retreat is necessary. Not 26. Bc3? b4 27. Bd4 c3.} 26... f6 27. Ra3 Rd3 
28. Rxd3 cxd3 29. Be3 Re4 30. Kf3 Rb4 31. Bc1 g5 32. g3 Rc4 33. Be3 h5 
{Banking on his long experience, Botvinnik embarks on a faulty plan and spurns a draw by repetition with 33...Rb4 34. Bc1 Rc4 35. Be3 Rb4, etc.} 
34. gxh5 g4+ 35. Kf2 Rc2+ 36. Nd2 Rxb2 37. Bf4 Ra2 38.Ke3 {Once Black succeeds in winning the d-pawn and blocking the b-pawn the two pieces will win easily.} 38... Ra3 39. Kd4 Kf7 40. Ke4 b4 41. Kd4 Ra5 42. h6 Rb5 43. 
Kc4 Rb6 44. Kc5 {Avoiding 44. Nb3 Rc6! 45. Kxb4 Rc2 drawing.} 44... Rb7 
45. Nb3 {The point. Black no longer has a check on the c-file.} 45... Kg6 
46. Kc4 Rb6 47. Nc5 Kh7 48. Kb3 d2 49. Bxd2 Rd6 50. Bf4 Rd1 51.Ne4 
{Skirting the last trap. Not 51. Kxb4 Rd4 52. Kc3 Rxf4! and wins.} 
51...Kg6 52. Nf2 Rb1+ 53. Kc2 Ra1 54. Kb2 Ra3 55. Nxg4 Rc3 56. Ne3 Rd3 57. Nc2
Rd1 58. Nxb4 {Completing the winning process outlined at move 38.} 58... Kf5
59. Nc6 Rd7 60. Kc3 Ke4 61. Kc4 Kf5 62. Nd4+ Ke4 {"There was no need for the king to be so active. After 62...Kg6 it is still not clear how White can win. After Botvinnik's mistake in this simple endgame, White wins in two moves with a short but nice combination" -- Bronstein.} 63. Ne6 Kf5 64. Nf8
{Finally reeling in a big fish. If 64...Rf7 65. Bd6 followed by h7 nets the Rook. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Boston"]
[Date "1944"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reshevsky, S."]
[Black "Vasconcellos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]

{By no means a typical game by Reshevsky, a player noted for dour maneuvering and resourceful defense. The explanation: Reshevsky had clinched first place in the U.S. Open with a round to spare, and was determined to have fun in his last game. When Black wastes time capturing the worthless b2 pawn, White sacrifices a Knight to rip open the center and checkmates the defenseless Black King.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Nd7 5. Nf3 Bxc5
6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Bf4 Qc7 {Hoping to win the e5 pawn. Safer was 8...Be7 followed by 9...O-O, but not 8...O-O? 9.Bxh7+! Kxh7 10.Ng5+ with a winning attack.} 9. Nc3 a6 {Black cannot win a pawn with 9...Ndxe5? 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 because of 11.Qh5! [11...Bd6 12.Nb5].} 10. Re1 Qb6 {Pointless; he should play 10...Nb6 followed by ...Bd7 and ...O-O-O.} 11. Bg3 Qxb2 { Consistent, but fatal.} 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Rb1 Qa3 14. e6 Nf6 {White also has a strong attack after 14...fxe6 15.Ng5 Nf8 16.Qf3 Nd8 17.Qxd5.} 15. exf7+
Kxf7 16. Bh4 Nb4 {It is logical to eliminate the Bd3, but surrendering control of the e5 square quickly proves fatal. A better try was 16...Be7.}
17. Ne5+ Kf8 {Black avoids 17...Kg8 because of the variation 18.Bxf6 Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Qxd3 20.Nxd3 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 gxf6 22.Re7 with a winning ending, but the text leads to a far worse debacle.} 18. Bxf6 Nxd3 {Forced -- if 18...gxf6 19.Qh5! fxe5 20.Rxe5 Bd7 21.Qf3+ Kg7 22.Rg5+, etc.} 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7
20. Rxb7+ Be7 {The third sacrifice cannot be accepted -- 20...Bxb7 21.Qg4+ Kf6 22.Qf3+ Ke7 23.Qf7+ Kd6 24.Qd7++. Also insufficient is 20...Kh6 21.Nf7+ Kg7 22.Nxh8+ Kxh8 23.Re8+ Bf8 24.Qa1+ Nb2 25.Qxb2+! Qxb2 26.Rxf8++.} 21. Qh5
Rf8 {Or 21...Bxb7 22.Qf7+ Kh6 23.Ng4+ Kg5 24.Qg7+ Kf5 25.Nh6+ Kf4 26.Qg3++.}
22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Ng6+ hxg6 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Rbxe7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "USA-USSR Radio Match, New York/Moscow"]
[Date "1945"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Denker, A."]
[Black "Botvinnik, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]

{The U.S. had dominated international team competition in the 1930's and this postwar match was expected to be one-sided. So it proved, but in the other direction, as the Soviet team won 15-1/2 to 4-1/2. This was the first-board encounter between the U.S. and Soviet champions.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5
10. Bxg5 Nbd7 {A novelty in 1945, this is now known as the Botvinnik System, or the Anti-Meran Gambit.} 11. exf6 Bb7 12. Be2 Qb6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. a4 b4
15. Ne4 c5 16. Qb1 Qc7 17. Ng3 cxd4 18. Bxc4 Qc6 19. f3 d3 20. Qc1 Bc5+ 21.
Kh1 Qd6 22. Qf4 {Also insufficient is 22.Bf4, e.g. 22... Rxh2+ 23.Kxh2 Rh8+ 24.Nh5 Rxh5+ 25.Kg3 e5 26.Be3 e4+ 27.f4 Qxf6 28.Kf2 Qxf4+, and wins.} 22...
Rxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Rh8+ 24. Qh4 Rxh4+ 25. Bxh4 Qf4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "USA-USSR Radio Match"]
[Site "New York & Moscow"]
[Date "1945"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov, V."]
[Black "Reshevsky, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C82"]

{Throughout the 1930s the United States was a dominant force in world chess. American teams led by Reshevsky and Fine won gold medals at four straight Olympiads. The first important sporting event after WWII and one that marked the beginning of Soviet chess supremacy was a ten board match in September 1945 where moves were transmitted by short wave radio. Each player faced his opponent twice and the result was totally unexpected. Reshevsky lost both his games to a future world champion as the USSR crushed the USA 15.5 - 4.5. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {Nowadays the Open Defense to the Ruy Lopez is less popular than 5...Be7.} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5
8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 f5 {Safer is 11...Nxd2. The Dilworth Attack 11...Nxf2!? 12. Rxf2 f6 13. exf6 is considered better for White.} 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Nfd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. cxd4 f4 16. f3 Ng3 17.
hxg3 fxg3 18. Qd3 Bf5 19. Qxf5 Rxf5 20. Bxf5 Qh4 21. Bh3 Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 Qxe5
23. Bd2 Qxb2 {Fine wrote: "We radioed for the time consumed by the other team. Reshevsky, who had taken about an hour and a half for the first 23 moves, found to his dismay that Smyslov had used exactly one minute! The whole variation we later discovered had been published in the June issue of their official chess magazine. Foreign material always took a long time to reach our shores and during the war the delay of course was much worse than ever before".} 24. Bf4 c5 {Two intriguing alternatives are 24...d4 or c6.}
25. Be6+ Kh8 26. Bxd5 Rd8 27. Rad1 c4 28. Bxg3 c3 29. Be5 b4 30. Bb3 Rd2 31.
f4 h5 32. Rb1 Rf2 33. Rfe1 Qd2 34. Rbd1 Qb2 35. Rd8+ Kh7 36. Bg8+ Kg6 37.
Rd6+ Kf5 38. Be6+ Kg6 39. Bd5+ Kh7 40. Be4+ Kg8 41. Bg6 {If 41...Rd2 42. Red1 threatening Rd8+ is curtains. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow vs. Prague Match"]
[Site "Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1946"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kottnauer, C."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E67"]

{Abounds in delightful tactics! Fighting an uphill battle, White finds moves that are just short of winning by force. The endgame has all the pungency of a composed problem.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O Nbd7 6.
d4 e5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. d5 {Closing the center is inferior to 8. e4 or b3. Bronstein did much to popularize the King's Indian Defense; in this team match his individual score with it was 4-0.} 8... a5 9. e4 Nc5 10. Ne1 Nfd7
11. Be3 f5 12. Qd2 b6 13. Nc2 Ba6 14. Na3 Nf6 15. f3 Qe7 16. exf5 gxf5 17.
Rae1 h5 18. Nab5 Nh7 19. Bh3 Rae8 20. Qc2 Bc8 21. Na7 {Better is 21. a3 Qf7 22. b4 Nb7. The text prepares an unclear pawn sacrifice.} 21... Bd7 22. Nc6
Qf7 23. b3 Bxc6 24. dxc6 Ne6 25. Nd5 Nd8 26. a3 Nxc6 27. b4 axb4 28. axb4
Nd8 {Careful! Not 28...Nd4? 29. Bxd4 exd4 30. Bxf5!} 29. Ra1 f4 30. Ra7 Ng5
31. Bc8 Nde6 {A possible draw could result after 31...fxe3 32. Rxc7 Nxf3+ 33. Kh1 Nd4 34. R1xf7 Rxf7 35. Qg6 e2 36. Nf6+.} 32. Bxe6 Nxe6 33. Bxb6 Ra8
34. Rxa8 Rxa8 35. Bf2 fxg3 {Even stronger is 35...Ra3!} 36. Bxg3 Nd4 37. Qg2
c6 38. Nb6 Ra6 39. c5 Ra2 40. Qh3 d5 41. Kh1 Ra3 42. f4 e4 43. Nc8 e3 44.
Nd6 Qg6 45. b5 Nxb5 {Leads to a difficult but favorable ending. Inferior is 45...cxb5 46. f5 Qg4 47. Qg2.} 46. f5 Qg4 47. Qxg4 hxg4 48. Nxb5 cxb5 49. f6
Bf8 {Simpler is 49...e2 50. Re1 Bxf6 51. Rxe2 Rc3.} 50. f7+ Kh7 51. c6 b4
52. Rc1 Ra8 53. c7 Rc8 54. Rd1 b3 55. Rxd5 {Loses quickly. More resistance is offered by 55. Kg2 b2 56. Kf1 Kg6 57. Ke2 Kxf7 58. Kxe3 though Black's extra pawn should prevail in the long run.} 55... e2 56. Rb5 Rxc7 57. Rxb3
Rc1+ 58. Kg2 Bc5 {White Resigns. A problem-like finish caps a hard game. On 59. h3 Rg1+ 60. Kh2 Rxg3! wins; or 59. Bf2 Bxf2 60. f8=Q Rg1+ 61. Kxf2 e8=Q mate.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "1946"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zita, F."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]

{The long-term impact of the post-war Soviet masters lies in their exploration of unbalanced positions -- how much piece activity is worth a structural weakness? This period saw a renaissance of the King's Indian Defense, in which Black accepts a space disadvantage for tactical counter-chances.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 Nbd7 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2
Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 Re8 9. Bb2 c6 10. e4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Qb6 12. Qd2 Nc5 13.
Rfe1 a5 14. Rab1 a4 15. Ba1 axb3 16. axb3 Ng4 17. h3 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Nxf2 {Now Black wins back the pinned Knight on d4 after 19.Kxf2 Nxb3, and 19.Qxf2 Nd3 is even worse.} 19. Re3 Nxh3+ 20. Kh2 Nf2 21. Rf3 Ncxe4 22. Qf4 Ng4+ 23. Kh1
f5 24. Nxe4 Rxe4 25. Qxd6 Rxd4 26. Qb8 Rd8 27. Ra8 Be5 28. Qa7 Qb4 29. Qa2
Qf8 30. Bh3 Qh6 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Championship"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1946"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bronstein, D."]
[Black "Kamishov, M."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B56"]

{One of the scrappiest draws on record. The action begins on move 15 and never lets up; later both sides have pawns poised on the 7th rank before four Queens make a dramatic entrance.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nde2 {An experiment that does not justify losing a tempo.} 6... e6 7. g3 a6 8. Bg2 Qc7 9. O-O Be7 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 b5 12. a3
{12. Qd2 immediately is better.} 12... Rd8 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Rad1 Rac8 15. h3
d5 {After 50 minutes of thought. Instead simply 15...b4 is sufficient for an advantage.} 16. exd5 b4 17. Qe3 bxc3 {Leads to immense complications. "I would prefer 17...exd5 with subsequent play against White's numerous weaknesses" -- Bronstein.} 18. dxc6 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 cxb2 20. cxb7 Rd8 21.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Nc3 Bxa3 23. Nb1 Qd1+ {If 23...Bd6 24. Qd4 picks up the b-pawn.} 24. Kh2 Bd6 25. Nc3 Qxc2 26. Qd4 {Throws away a win by 26. Qb6! Bf8 27. Qd8!} 26... Nd5 27. Bxd5 {If 27. Nxd5 exd5 28. Qxd5 Qc7 29. Be4 leads to a probable draw.} 27... exd5 28. Qb6 Bxg3+ 29. Kxg3 Qxc3+ 30. Kg2 h6 { Finally Black finds the right moment to make luft.} 31. b8=Q+ Kh7 32. Q6d8
b1=Q 33. Qg8+ Kg6 34. Qd6+ Qf6 35. Qxf6+ Kxf6 36. Qd8+ Ke6 {Black could retain winning chances with 36...Kg6 37. Qxd5 Qf5 38. Qd6+ Qe6.} 37. Qe8+
Kd6 38. Qd8+ Ke6 39. Qe8+ Kd6 40. Qd8+ Kc6 41. Qe8+ {Draw. If Black tries too hard to escape the perpetual by 41...Kb6 42. Qd8+ Kc5 43. Qe7+ Kd4?? 44. Qe3 mates.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Odessa"]
[Date "1946"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geller, E."]
[Black "Kogan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]

{Even at the beginning of his career, it was evident that Efim Geller was a player of great potential. He correctly assesses the myriad tactical possibilities as Black and White attack on opposite wings, and drives the Black King across the board with a relentless attack.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 {White surrenders the two Bishops to obtain a slight advantage in development. Nowadays 6...bxc6 is more popular.} 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. Rad1 O-O 11. Rfe1 Qc7 12.
h3 b5 13. Nh2 Rfd8 14. Rd3 a5 15. Rf3 b4 16. Rxf6 bxc3 17. Ng4 h5 18. Bh6 { Three White pieces are en prise, but none can be taken -- 18...gxf6 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Qxf6, 18...gxh6 19.Nxh6+ Kh7 20.Rxf7+, or 18...hxg4 19.Rg6 e5 20.Rxg7+ Kh8 21.Qd1 and Black will not last long.} 18... e5 19. Qe3 hxg4 20.
Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Rf5 Be8 23. Rh5 f6 24. Rh4 Qc8 25. Qh8+ Kf7 26.
Rh7+ Ke6 27. Qg7 Kd7 {There is nothing better -- 27...Qc7 28.Qxg4+ mates.}
28. Re3 cxb2 29. Qxe7+ Kc6 30. Rc3+ Kb6 31. Rxc8 b1=Q+ 32. Kh2 Rd7 33. Qxe8
Rxh7 34. Qc6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Radio Match: England vs. USSR"]
[Site "London and Moscow"]
[Date "1946"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alexander, C."]
[Black "Botvinnik, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]

{In a series of radio matches with other nations, the USSR proved it was the strongest chess power after WWII. Alexander was a mathematician who worked with Alan Turing on breaking German codes during the war. On top board he produced a stirring upset against the future world champion.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4
d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 {Provocative. More usual is 7...Nf5 8. Bd3 h5.} 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qa5 10. Rb1 Qxc3+ 11.
Bd2 Qc7 {More consistent is 11...Qxa3.} 12. f4 Nbc6 13. Nf3 Bd7 14. Ng5 Rxg5
{The best try. If 14...Rf8 15. h4 is too strong.} 15. fxg5 O-O-O 16. Qxf7
Qxe5+ 17. Kd1 Nf5 18. g6 Ne3+ 19. Kc1 Qe4 20. Bd3 Qxg2 21. Re1 Ne5 { Botvinnik maintained that 21...Nc4 would hold, but subsequent analysis showed that 22. Bxc4 dxc4 23. Qf6! Qxh2 24. Bg5 Qg3 25. Kb2! Qc3+ 26. Ka2 Qxc2+ 27. Rb2 still wins.} 22. Qf4 Nf3 23. Re2 Qh3 24. Bxe3 e5 25. Qf7 dxe3
26. g7 Qg4 27. h3 Qg1+ 28. Kb2 Qg3 29. Bg6 Nd4 30. g8=Q Rxg8 31. Qxg8+ Kc7
32. Qh7 Kd6 {The complications are over and the rest is easy. On 32...Nxe2 33. Bf5 does the trick.} 33. Bd3 e4 34. Qh6+ Kc7 35. Rxe3 Qe5 36. Ka2 Nf5
37. Qg5 Be6 38. Be2 d4+ 39. Reb3 b5 40. Qd2 d3 41. Bg4 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "Marshall Club Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1946"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Pilnick, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]

{A number of America's most promising young players cut their teeth at the world famous Marshall chess club at 23 West 10 Street in Manhattan. This brilliancy brought 14-year-old Larry Evans to the attention of the chess fraternity.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Bxf6 {Better is 5. e5. It's not customary to relinquish the two Bishops without provocation, but White chose this little- known variation because his standing in the tournament forced him to try to win at all cost.} 5... Bxf6 6. e5 Be7 7. Qg4
O-O {Black has nothing to fear from castling into it. He has made no weaknesses, lost no tempi and therefore goes about completing his development in the calm assurance that premature attacks should be repulsed. And he is right.} 8. O-O-O c5 9. h4 cxd4 10. Nce2 Nc6 11. f4 Qa5 12. Kb1 d3
{The pawn was indefensible in any event, so White is forced to accept regain it by blocking d3 for his Bishop. Not 13. Rxd3? Qe1+ 14. Nc1 Qxf1.} 13. cxd3
Bd7 14. Rh3 Rac8 {Leads to trouble. 14...f5! would bring the attack to an abrupt standstill. However, Pilnick becomes too intent on his own counterattack.} 15. Rg3 g6 16. d4 b5 17. h5 Nb4 {Inducing a weakness. Now the race is to get there "fustest with the mostest".} 18. a3 Nc6 19. hxg6
fxg6 20. Nc3 {To untangle the pieces. White already had to envisage the sacrifice of his Queen on move 24.} 20... b4 21. Bd3 {Whenever possible make a threat with gain of time. Now 21...bxc3? is refuted by 24. Bxg6.} 21...
Be8 22. Nf3 bxa3 {The defense with 22...Rf5 fails owing to 23. Bxf5 exf5 24. Qxf5. And 22...bxc3 23. Qxe6+ Bf7 24. Bxg6! is similar to the game.} 23.
Qxe6+ Bf7 24. Bxg6 axb2 {Admirable nonchalance. Accepting the Queen also loses to 24...Bxe6 25. Bxh7+ Kh8 (if 25...Kf7 26. Bg6+ Kg7 27. Be8+! Kh8 28. Rh1 mates) 26. Rh1! Rxf4 27. Bc2+ Bh4 28. Nxh4.} 25. Bxh7+ Kh8 26. Qh6 Qa1+
{Black is left with only a few spite checks.} 27. Kc2 b1=Q+ 28. Rxb1 Nb4+
29. Kd1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1947"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bronstein, D."]
[Black "Levenfish, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]

{After Black misses a chance to equalize, his king becomes a target in the center. Thereafter Bronstein prosecutes the attack with vigor and elegance.}
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 {The Meran Variation. A good alternative is 5...Bd6.} 6. Bxc4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 b5 8. Bd3 {Weaker is 8. Bb3 b4 9. Ne2 Ba6.} 8... a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Ne4 {A novelty at the time. The main line is 11. Nxb5.} 11... Nd5 12. O-O Bb7 {Black never recovers from this error of judgment. 12...Be7 leads to equality.} 13. Bg5
Qb8 {Now 13...Be7 is refuted by 14. Nd6+.} 14. a4 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16.
axb5 a5 17. f4 Qb8 18. f5 Qe5 {White's attack still rages after 18...exf5 19. Rxf5 Bb4 20. Qf3.} 19. b6 Bd6 20. Nxd6+ Qxd6 21. fxe6 f6 {If 21...Qxe6 22. Re1 Ne3 23. Bb5+ Kf8 24. Qxd4 wins.} 22. Qh5+ Kd8 23. Bh4 Qxe6 24. Rae1
Ne3 25. Qc5 Qd5 26. Qc7+ Ke8 27. Qxg7 Rf8 {If 27...Rg8 28. Bb5+! wins.} 28.
Bb5+ Bc6 29. Bxc6+ Qxc6 30. Bxf6 Rf7 31. Qg8+ Rf8 32. Qg5 Kd7 33. Rf2 {More accurate is 33. Qg7+ but it makes no difference.} 33... Qxb6 34. Qg7+ Kc6
35. Bxd4 Rxf2 36. Bxe3 Qxb2 37. Rc1+ Kb5 38. Qb7+ Ka4 39. Rc4+ Ka3 40. Bc1 { Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "2nd USA Junior Championship"]
[Site "Cleveland"]
[Date "1947"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Warner, ?."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]

{"Evans uncorks a move, his 18th, which has all the earmarks of precocious youth. It is brash, impudent -- and inspired! It is typical of the talent of the 15-year-old prodigy who played it" -- Irving Chernev.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. c3 {Weak -- because in order to regain the pawn White must part with the two Bishops. Better is the usual 6. Re1.} 6... Nxe4 7. Re1 Nc5 8. Nxe5 {Relatively better is 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nxe5.} 8... Nxe5 9. Rxe5 Nxa4 10. Qxa4 O-O 11. d4 d5 12. Qb3 {Losing time instead of developing the queenside with 12. Nd2.} 12... Bd6 13. Re1 {A fatal pin arises after 13. Rxd5? Be6.} 13... Qh4 14. g3 {Weakens the light squares. But Black's attack gathers even more momentum after 14. h3 Bxh3.}
14... Qh5 15. c4 {The best chance is 15. Be3.} 15... dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bh3 17.
Qb3 {17. Nc3 is the best try. If 17...c6 (or 17...Qf3 18. Qd5) 18. Qd3 holds everything.} 17... Rfe8 18. Rd1 {Everything is bad. If 18. Bd2 Rxe1+ 19. Bxe1 Qe2 wins.} 18... Re3 {18...Qe2 also wins but this is more stunning.}
19. fxe3 {The point is 19. Bxe3 Qf3 forces mate; if 19. Qc2 Re2 also wins.}
19... Qe2 20. Qxb7 Qxd1+ 21. Kf2 Qf1# {It's mate!} 0-1

[Event "Moscow vs. Budapest Match"]
[Site "Hungary"]
[Date "1949"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bronstein, D."]
[Black "Szily, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]

{White sacrifices a central pawn to obtain rapid development. Later Black's Queen is a helpless observer of the spectacle taking place on the opposite wing.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 { Accepting the challenge. Bronstein-Kotov, 1948 USSR Championship led to equality after 6...Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Nf6 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Nf3 O-O.} 7. Bxb4
Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Na6 {Safer than 8...Qxg2 9. Bf3 Qg6 10. Ne2.} 9. Bc3 f6 10. Qd6
{Stronger than 10. Nf3 Ne7 11. O-O O-O allowing Black's king haven.} 10...
Bd7 11. O-O-O O-O-O 12. Qg3 Qg6 {Stronger is 12...e5! 13. Qxg7 (or 13. Bd3 Qf4+) Bf5! with equal chances.} 13. Qe3 b6 {Relatively better is 13...c5.}
14. Nh3 Qh6 15. f4 Ne7 16. g4 e5 {The best hope was 16...c5.} 17. Bd2 { Decisive. Now 18. Qa3 is threatened.} 17... Nc5 18. Qa3 e4 19. Nf2 Kb7 20.
f5 Qh4 21. Be3 Nd3+ 22. Nxd3 exd3 23. Rxd3 Nxf5 24. Rhd1 {Black Resigns -- he runs out of checks after 24...Nxe3 25. Rxd7+ Rxd7 26. Rxd7+ Kc8 27. Qxa7 Qe1+ 28. Bd1.} 1-0

[Event "Leningrad Junior Championship"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1949"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Boris Spassky"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]

{Fame came to a future world champion at age 12 when this sprightly miniature was published in chess magazines around the world. Unlike many juniors, young Boris preferred 1. d4 before he discovered 1. e4 but this early game already showed his talent for attack.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3
Nf6 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 {White got no advantage in Spassky-Nikolaevsky, USSR 1963 after 7. a4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Be3 O-O.} 7... b5 8. Bb3 Nc6 9. Nc3 cxd4 {Dangerous but playable. 9...c4 leads to double-edged play where Black's queenside majority offsets White's control of the center.} 10. Rd1 Bb7 {Tempting fate. 10...d3 (or Be7) blunts White's initiative.} 11. exd4 Nb4 {Seems to prevent d5 but White crashes through anyway with a classic clearance sacrifice. Safer is 11...Be7.} 12.
d5 Nbxd5 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 {15...exd5 holds out longer.} 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Nd4 Kf8 {More tenacious is 17...Qd7 18. Re1 Kf8.}
18. Nf5 h5 {Black's pawn structure is a shambles. He hopes to resist in the ending after 19. Nxe7 but Spassky finishes off in style.} 19. Rxd5 Qxd5 20.
Qxe7+ Kg8 21. Qxf6 {Black cannot parry two mortal threats. If 21...Rh7 (to stop Qg7 mate) 22. Ne7 Kf8 23. Nxd5 snares the Queen. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Dubrovnik Olympic"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1950"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Opsahl, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]

{18-year-old Evans was the overall high scorer with 90% in a field of 14 nations when the world team championship resumed after WWII. Every one of the 81 moves is a lesson in this game from USA vs. Norway, which Chernev described as "a symphony of heavenly length". CHESS REVIEW added: "The classic minority attack is the main theme; interwoven in the magic pattern is a glorious knight's tour and a very instructive rook and pawn ending".}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Qc2 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5
8. Nf3 c6 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Rab1 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. b4 {The minority attack has been played thousands of times. Basically White's plan is to weaken the opposing queenside pawn majority by using his two pawns as a battering ram to create a weakness on c6.} 13... a6 14. a4 Nxc3 {An unmotivated swap. More active is 14...Ng6 followed by f5 to create counterplay on the kingside.} 15. Qxc3 Bg4 16. Nd2 {Pointless is 16. Ne5 Bh5 followed by f6 driving the Knight back.} 16... Qg5 17. Rfc1 Re6 18. b5 axb5
19. axb5 Bh3 20. g3 Rae8 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Bf1 {Easy does it! White has achieved his objective of weakening the base of the pawn chain but the hasty 22. Rb6? Rxe3! 23. fxe3 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Qf2 25. Rg1 (or 25. Bf1 Re2) 25...Re1 forces mate.} 22... Bxf1 23. Nxf1 Ng6 24. Rb6 Ne7 {Black's attack has backfired and he is saddled with a target on c6.} 25. Qb4 h5 26. Rb8 Rxb8
27. Qxb8+ Kh7 28. Qf4 Qxf4 {Weak. Black should never exchange Queens unless his back is to the wall. Correct is 28...Qg6.} 29. gxf4 g6 30. Nd2 Rd6 31.
Kf1 Kg7 32. Ra1 Rd7 33. Nb3 Rb7 34. Nc5 Rb2 35. Ra7 Kf6 36. Ra6 Rb1+ 37. Kg2
Rb2 38. Ra7 Rb1 39. Rc7 Ra1 {Better is 39...Rb2 to prevent White from playing f3 in the future (see note to move 45.)} 40. Nd3 Ke6 {The best defense is 40...Ra6. White now discovers an amazing forced win based on a magical mystery knight's tour.} 41. Nc5+ Kf6 42. Nd7+ Ke6 43. Nf8+ Kf6 { Never 43...Kd6? 44. Rd7 mate!} 44. Nh7+ Ke6 45. Ng5+ Kd6 {The point of the circular maneuver becomes clear after 45...Kf6 46. f3! with the deadly threat of e4-e5. This would not be possible with Black's rook on b2 (note to move 39.)} 46. Rb7 f6 {Or 46...f5 47. Nh7!+ Ke6 48. Nf8+! Kf6 49. Nxg6! Kf6 50. Nxg6! returning counter-clockwise to gain a pawn.} 47. Nh7 Ke6 48. Nf8+
Kf7 49. Nxg6 Kxg6 50. Rxe7 {White is a pawn ahead, true, but the ending is still difficult because of his doubled pawns.} 50... Kf5 51. Rc7 Rc1 52. Rc8
Kg6 53. Kg3 Rc2 54. h4 Kf5 55. Rh8 Kg6 56. f5+ Kxf5 57. Rxh5+ Kg6 58. Rh8 { The first phase of the ending is over. White dissolved his doubled pawn and created a passed h-pawn.} 58... Kf5 59. Rg8 Rc1 60. Kg2 Ra1 61. h5 Ra7 62.
Rg3 Rh7 63. Rh3 {Rooks belong BEHIND passed pawns!} 63... Kg5 64. Kf3 Rh6 { Although White can't retain the extra pawn, he continually threatens to enter a winning king and pawn ending by using a "sword of Damocles" motif whereby the h-pawn is held over Black's head to make further inroads. If 64...Rxh5 65. Rxh5+ Kxh5 66. Kf4 transposes into the game.} 65. Rh1 Kf5 66.
Kg3 Kg5 {On 66...Rh8 67. h6! transposes into the game.} 67. Rh4 Kf5 68. Rf4+
Kg5 69. Rg4+ Kf5 {Again 69...Kxh5 70. Rh4+ Kxh5 71. Rh4+ forces a rook swap and leads to a won king and pawn finale.} 70. Kh4 Rh8 71. Rg7 Ra8 72. h6 Ra1
{Trying to get behind the passed pawn instead of remaining passive.} 73. Rg3
Rh1+ 74. Rh3 Rg1 75. Rf3+ {The hasty 75. h7? Rg4+ 76. Kh5 Rg4+ only draws.}
75... Kg6 76. Rg3+ Rxg3 77. Kxg3 Kxh6 78. Kg4 Kg6 79. Kf4 Kg7 {Zugzwang. If 79...f5 80. Ke5 also wins. Black would like to pass but can't!} 80. Kf5 Kf7
81. f3 {White has the opposition and invade either at g6 or e6. E.g. 81...Ke7 82. Kg6 Ke6 83. f4 f5 (or 83...Ke7 84. f5) 84. Kg5. Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "USSR Championship Semi-Finals"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "1950"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Efim Geller"]
[Black "Josef Vatnikov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B88"]

{It's impossible to lose without making a mistake, but sometimes it's not easy to figure out exactly where this mistake occurred. Even after White found a refutation to this line over the board, Black's ninth move, placing his Knight on the rim, continued to be adopted in other games!} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 {The Sozin Attack became a favorite of Fischer in the 1960s.} 6... e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Bb3 {A precautionary retreat before taking action in the center. Other tries are 9. a3 Qc7 10. Ba2 a6 or 9. f4? d5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Be2 Re8 and Black stands well.} 9... Na5 {"This maneuver is not without its advantages since: 1. Black exchanges the bishop at b3; 2. The bishop reaches b7 a move earlier in comparison with ...a6 and b5. Even so, the diversion of the Knight to the edge of the board causes serious doubts," noted Botvinnik. Fischer-Spassky, 4th match game 1972, continued 9...a6! 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 d5 12. a3 Bb7 13. Qd3 a5! 14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Nxb5 Nc5 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Kh1g5 and Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.} 10. f4 b6 {The capture is now essential by 10...Nxb3 11. axb3 a6.} 11. e5 {Improving on 11. Qf3 Bb7 12. g4 Rc8 13. g5 (Padevsky-Botvinnik, Leipzig Olympiad 1960). Now 13...Rxc3! would be good for Black (14. gxf6 Rxe3!).} 11... Ne8 {The lesser evil is 11...dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 (if 12...Nd7! 13. Rxf7! Rxf7 14. Nxe6 wins) 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qf3.} 12. f5 dxe5 {No time for 12...Nxb3 13. Nc6! Qc7 14. Nxe7 Qxe7 15. f6! Or 12...exf5 13. e6 Nxb3 14. Nc6 Qc7 15. Nd5.} 13. fxe6 f6
{In Bilek-Petrosian, 1961 European Team Championship, Black won a sensational game after 13...Nxb3 14. Nc6 Qd6 15. Nd5? (correct is 15. Qxd6! Bxd6 13. axb3 Bxe6 17. Nxa7) Bh4! 16. exf7 Rxf7 17. Rxf7 Nxa1! 18. Qf1 Bf6 19. Nxf6 Nxf6 and wins.} 14. Nf5 Nxb3 15. Nd5 Nd4 16. Ndxe7+ Kh8 17. Ng6+ { Ouch! On 17...hxg6 18. e7! ends further resistance. Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E45"]

{For many years FIDE rules gave Soviet champions two big advantages: draw odds in a limited 24 game match and a rematch clause if they lost. In his first defense since gaining the crown in 1948, Botvinnik held it on a 12-12 tie. Though he remained a strong competitor, Bronstein never could earn another challenge.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ba6 {The immediate attack on c4 takes the sting out of White's setup.} 6. a3 Be7 7.
Ng3 d5 8. cxd5 Bxf1 9. Nxf1 exd5 10. Ng3 Qd7 {White has gained nothing out of the opening, and his bishop is hemmed in to boot.} 11. Qf3 Nc6 12. O-O g6
13. Bd2 O-O 14. Nce2 {More logical is 14. b4 to pressure the queenside.}
14... h5 15. Rfc1 h4 16. Nf1 Ne4 17. Nf4 a5 18. Rc2 Bd8 {Neutralizing the pressure on c7 for good.} 19. Be1 Ne7 20. Qe2 {After this White is reduced to passivity. The best chance is 20. Nd2.} 20... Nd6 21. f3 g5 22. Nd3 Qe6
23. a4 Ng6 24. h3 f5 25. Bc3 Bf6 26. Re1 Rae8 27. Qd1 Rf7 28. b3 Rfe7 29.
Bb2 f4 {Inviting 30. exf4 Qxe1! 31. Nxe1 Rxe1 with a bind.} 30. Ne5 Bxe5 31.
dxe5 Nf7 32. exf4 Nxf4 33. Nh2 c5 34. Ng4 d4 35. Nf6+ {Fatal. The only hope was 35. Bc1.} 35... Qxf6 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Wertheim Memorial"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Euwe, M."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E19"]

{19-year-old Evans outplays the former world champion by creating a pawn storm on the queenside as White's Knight on h5 plays no role in the action, iIllustrating the maxim that "knight on the rim equals trim".} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9.
Qxc3 f5 10. Ne1 {More active tries are 10. b3 or Be3.} 10... Bxg2 11. Nxg2
Bf6 12. Be3 d6 13. Qc2 Qc8 14. Nf4 c6 15. Qb3 {Too many Queens moves. Better is 15. Rad1.} 15... g5 16. Nh5 {This misplaced Knight is the source of future grief. Better is 16. Ng2 c5 17. Rad1.} 16... Be7 17. c5 d5 18. cxb6
axb6 19. f3 {No better is 19. Qxb6 Nd7 20. Qb3 Qe8 21. g4 fxg4.} 19... Nd7
20. g4 Qa6 21. Qc2 Qc4 22. Qxc4 {An error of judgment since White now faces an uphill battle in the ending. Relatively better is 22. Rfc1.} 22... dxc4
23. f4 fxg4 24. fxg5 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 b5 26. Kg2 {Going the wrong way. Better is 26. Ke1.} 26... Nb6 27. Kg3 b4 28. Kxg4 b3 29. d5 {Desperation. But if 29. a3 c3 30. bxc3 Nc4 is strong.} 29... Nxd5 30. Bd4 bxa2 31. Nf6+ Bxf6 32.
gxf6 Nb4 33. Kf4 Kf7 {There's no rush to play Nc2.} 34. Be5 Nc2 35. Rd1 a1=Q
36. Rd7+ Ke8 37. Re7+ Kf8 38. Rxh7 Qf1+ 39. Kg3 Qf5 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "19th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Black "Efim Geller"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]

{"Every player has games which are especially memorable. I include this one: my first ever meeting at the board with the leader of the Soviet Chess School. Whether or not to give perpetual check was what Botvinnik had to decide on his 26th move. The position was level, but this was not the dynamic equilibrium of a middlegame where one can hope to tip the scales in one's own favor, but equilibrium which demanded an accurate evaluation of the coming endgame". -- Geller} 1. d4 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nf3 Nc6 { 4...c5 is also possible and then 5. Qa4 followed by Qxc4 transposes into the Catalan Opening. White should now continue with 5. Qa4 anyway.} 5. Nc3 e5 6.
Nxe5 {Best. If 6. d5 Nb4 7. e4 (not 7. Nxe5 Bf5) Bg4! 8. Qa4 Qd7!} 6... Nxe5
7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 Ne4 9. Bg2 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 Nc5 11. Be3 Be6 12. Nc3 {Rash would be 12. Bxc5 Bxc5 13. Bxb7 Rb8 14. Bc6 Ke7 when for the pawn Black has the two Bishops and strong pressure.} 12... O-O-O 13. f4 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Na4 { Instead of clinging to the two bishops, Black seeks to control d5 and rapidly advance his queenside pawns.} 15. Rc1 Bd5 16. Bh3+ Kb8 17. Rg1 Rhe8
18. Kf2 Be4 {An inaccuracy which lets White equalize. Correct is 18...b5! right away.} 19. Rgd1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Nxc3 21. Rc1 Nxa2 22. Ra1 Nb4 23. Bxa7+
Ka8 24. Bb6+ Kb8 {Trying to avoid the perpetual check by 24...Na6 25. Bxc7 is too risky.} 25. Ba7+ Ka8 26. Be3+ {Mistaken judgment. White should take the repetition with 26. Bb6. Now he regains the pawn but loses the initiative.} 26... Na6 27. Ra4 Bd5 28. Bd7 Rd8 29. Bb5 Be6 30. Bxa6 {Even worse is 30. Bxc4 Bxc4 31. Rxc4 b5.} 30... bxa6 31. Rxa6+ Kb7 32. Ra5 Rd1
33. Rc5 Rh1 34. Kg2 {"The king is lured onto a white square since 34. h4 h5 firmly blockades the kingside" -- Geller} 34... Ra1 35. Rb5+ Kc6 36. Rc5+
Kd7 37. f5 {White goes totally on the defensive because he does not like the looks of 37. Bd4 Ra2 38. Kf3 h5.} 37... Bxf5 38. Rxc4 Ra2 39. g4 Be6 40.
Rd4+ Kc8 41. Kf3 Ra5 {The sealed move. The game was adjourned here.} 42. g5
{Not 42. Kf4 c5 43. Rd2 Ra4 picking up the pawn on g4.} 42... c5 {If 42...Rxe5 43. Rh4 Bf5 44. Bd4 gives White good counterplay.} 43. Rh4 c4 44.
Rxh7 g6 45. Rh8+ Kc7 46. Rd8 Bd5+ {A great stroke. Both 46...Kxd8 47. Bb6 or 46...Rxe5 47. Bf4 lead to an obvious draw.} 47. Kf2 c3 48. Rd6 c2 49. h4 { Essential was 49. Bc1 but White was short of time.} 49... Bc4 50. Rd4 Ba6
51. Rf4 Rxe5 52. Rxf7+ Kc6 53. Rf6+ Kd5 54. Rxa6 {The last hope was 54. Bf4 Re4 55. Bc1 Rxe2 56. Kf3 Re1 57. Bd2 Bd3. 58. h5 gxh5 59. Rh6.} 54... Rxe3
55. Ra1 Rc3 56. Rc1 Kc4 57. Ke1 Kb3 58. Kd2 Kb2 {White has no more good moves. If 59. e4 Rd3.} 59. Rxc2+ Rxc2+ 60. Kd3 Kb3 61. Ke4 Rc4+ 62. Ke5 Kb4
{White resigns. 0-1} 0-1

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "6"]
[White "David Bronstein"]
[Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B63"]

{A heartreaking loss for Bronstein, who never got another crack at the title. He started with four draws and a win, but this debacle in the next game almost broke his spirit. Bronstein attributed his final blunder on move 57 to a slip of the hand: "Time trouble was over and I started thinking about the opening, immersing myself in all the details of Black's 8th move for a full 45 minutes. Then I accidentally touched my king and had to move it". Botvinnik retained his title on a 5-5 tie with 14 draws in this 24-game title match.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6
7. Qd2 h6 {After this Black must accept doubled pawns. Safer is 7...Be7.} 8.
Bxf6 gxf6 {Forced. Not 8...Qxf6? 9. Ndb5. The question is whether Black's two Bishops compensate for his doubled pawns.} 9. O-O-O a6 10. f4 Bd7 11.
Kb1 Be7 12. Be2 {In many lines this bishop is headed for h5. Another plan is 12. g3 followed by Bh3 and f5 in order to break up Black's compact pawn mass in the center and exert more pressure on e6, which guards the key d5 square. } 12... Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qa5 14. Rhf1 h5 {Creates a new weakness but stops Bh5 once and for all.} 15. Rf3 Qc5 {A mistake would be 15...O-O-O? 16. b4 Qc7 17. Nd5! exd5 18. Rf3 pinning the Queen.} 16. Qd2 Bc6 17. Re3 Qa5 18. Bf3
O-O-O 19. Qd3 {Now Nd5 is a serious threat. But if 19. Nd5 Qxd2 20. Nxe7 Kd7 21. Rxd2 Kxe7 equalizes.} 19... Rd7 20. h4 Kb8 21. a3 Bd8 22. Ka2 Qc5 { Botvinnik defends tenaciously. Of course not 22...Bb6? 23. b4.} 23. Re2 a5
24. a4 Bb6 25. b3 Rc8 26. Qc4 Qxc4 27. bxc4 Rh8 {The next phase revolves around White's attempt to win the pawn on h5.} 28. Kb3 Rdd8 29. Rd3 Bg1 30.
Red2 Kc7 31. Ne2 Bf2 32. Rd1 Bc5 33. Ng3 Rdg8 34. Ne2 {Playing to win. If 34. Nxh5 Bxe4 35. Nxf6 Bxd3 36. Nxg8 Bg6 37. Ne7 Rxh4 38. Nxg6 fxg6 equalizes.} 34... Rh7 35. f5 e5 36. Nc3 Bd4 37. Rxd4 exd4 38. Rxd4 Rhg7 39.
Ne2 Rxg2 {Returning the Exchange before White gets in Nf4.} 40. Bxg2 Rxg2
41. Nf4 Rg3+ 42. Kb2 Rg4 43. Nxh5 Rxh4 44. Nxf6 Kb6 {Giving up another pawn in order to dominate the weak dark squares. But not 44...Bxa4 45. c5!} 45.
Rxd6 Kc5 46. e5 Rd4 {46...Rf4 47. Nd7 Bxd7 48. Rxd7 Rxf5 49. Rxb7 Rxe5 also draws.} 47. Rxd4 Kxd4 48. Ng4 Bxa4 49. e6 fxe6 50. f6 {Another drawing line is 50. fxe6 Kxc4 51. e7 Bc6 52. Nf6 a4 53. e8=Q Bxe8 54. Nxe8 a3 55. Kxa3 Kc3.} 50... Be8 51. Kb3 e5 52. c3+ Ke4 53. Nh6 Kf4 54. f7 Bxf7 55. Nxf7 e4
56. Nd8 e3 57. Kc2 {Bronstein's famous slip of the hand. Instead 57. Ne6 Kf3 58. c5 e2 59. Nd4 Kf2 60. Nxe2 Kxe2 61. Ka4 Kd3 leads to an easy draw.}
57... Kg3 {A dramatic turnaround. This sublety forces a new Queen. Critics noted that Bronstein's weak endgame play in this match cost him the crown. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mengarini, A."]
[Black "Reshevsky, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B71"]

{Veteran Samuel Reshevsky won every national championship in which he had competed until he was runner-up to 19-year-old Larry Evans, the youngest player to win title up to Bobby Fischer. Ariel Mengarini (a psychiatrist by profession) finished midway in a field of 12 yet posted this stunning upset over Reshevsky.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 {After all the jousting, a standard Dragon Sicilian.} 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be2 Qb6 8. Be3 { Riskier than 8. Nb3.} 8... Bg7 {More prudent is 8...Bd7. 8...Qxb2 is also playable but fraught with danger.} 9. e5 Nd7 {Avoiding the trap of 9...dxe5? 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Bb5.} 10. Nf5 Qxb2 11. Nxg7+ Kf8 12. Bd2 Nd4 13. O-O Qxc2
14. Qe1 Kxg7 15. f5 {Throwing caution to the winds to exploit Black's misplaced Queen. Now Reshevsky gobbles a third pawn.} 15... dxe5 {There's nothing wrong with 15...Nxe5. If 16. fxg6 hxg6 17. Rc1 Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Qd3 holds.} 16. Bc4 Qb2 {The Queen becomes a target here, but on 16...Nxf5 17. Rf2 (threatening Bh6+) is strong.} 17. fxg6 Nf6 18. gxf7 Be6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6
20. Rb1 Qa3 21. Rxb7 Rhf8 22. Kh1 Rxf7 23. Qxe5 Rd8 24. Qxe6 Rxd2 25. Ne4
Qe3 {If 25...Re2 26. Qf5! is crushing.} 26. Rxe7 Rd7 27. Qxf7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Odessa Team Championship"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Efim Geller"]
[Black "Efim Kogan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]

{"The romance of chess held an irresistible attraction for me. I did not yet understand the strict logicality of the laws of chess strategy, which I frequently broke for the sake of cavalier attacks on the enemy King. I was often punished but I did not complain since the emotional satisfaction from a successful brilliant attack accompanied by a cascade of sacrifices more than compensated for any isolated misfortunes". -- Geller.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {Good for surprise, but now almost completely supplanted by 4. Nxd4.} 4... Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 {Also satisfactory is 6...bxc6.} 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. Rad1 O-O 11. Rfe1 Qc7 12.
h3 {The gain of a pawn by 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Rfc8 is completely without danger for Black.} 12... Rfd8 13. Nh2 {"Black has completed his final preparations, and his offensive in the center and on the queenside promises to be highly formidable. But I was lured by the mirage of my intended attack. Today I would probably play 13. a3 so as to answer b5 with 14. e5 dxe5 15. Qxe5" -- Geller.} 13... b5 14. Rd3 {"Typical romanticism! Black has no weaknesses, and it is clear that White's attack should simply not succeed" -- Geller.} 14... a5 15. Rf3 b4 16. Rxf6 {The only consistent continuation.White is in a bad way after 16. Nd1 e5 17. Qd3 d5.} 16... bxc3 {The correct defense is 16...gxf6! 17. Ng4 e5 18. Qc4 bxc3! 19. Nh6 Kh8 20. Nxf7 Kg7 21. Bh6 Kg6 22. Re2 d5 and the attack comes to a standstill.} 17. Ng4 h5 18. Bh6 e5 {Not 18...hxg4 19. Rg6! Now an extraordinary position is reached where White's queen, rook, bishop and Knight are menaced; in addition the pawn on c3 is not far from queening!}
19. Qe3 hxg4 {But not 19...gxf6? 20. Qf3!} 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Black is still trying to win. He should allow a draw by 20...Bxf6! 21. Bxf6 Kf8! 22. Qg5 cxb2 23. Qg7 Ke8 24. Qg8 Kd7 15. Qxg4 with perpetual check.} 21. Qh6+ Kg8
22. Rf5 Be8 23. Rh5 f6 24. Rh4 {Threatening 25. Qh7 Kf8 26. Rxg4 when mate is inevitable.} 24... Qc8 25. Qh8+ Kf7 26. Rh7+ Ke6 27. Qg7 Kd7 28. Re3 { This decisive intermediate move brings more force to bear against Black's hapless King.} 28... cxb2 29. Qxe7+ Kc6 30. Rc3+ Kb6 31. Rxc8 b1=Q+ {Black is not saved even by the appearance of a new Queen with check.} 32. Kh2 Rd7
33. Qxe8 Rxh7 34. Qc6+ {It's mate after 34...Ka7 35. Rxa8. Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR Championship, Moscow"]
[Date "1951"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Taimanov, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]

{In a critical last-round game, Keres selects an old-fashioned opening setup in which judgment and experience are more important than preparation, and he converts his space advantage into a slashing attack on the poorly defended Black King.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7.
d4 {White's move order was chosen in order to avoid the Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian Defenses, in which Taimanov was a great expert.} 7... Bb7 8.
Bd3 dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 Nc6 {Black chooses to give his opponent the so-called "hanging pawns" on c4 and d4, which may become weak in the endgame -- but which may also advance powerfully in the middlegame.}
12. Qe2 Re8 {Avoiding a little trap -- 12...Nxd4? 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Nd5! Qc5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Qh4, and to avoid mate Black must play 17...f5, losing a piece.} 13. Rfd1 Rc8 14. Rac1 Qd6 15. Bb1 Qf4 16. d5 exd5 17. cxd5
Nb8 18. Rd4 Qd6 19. Rcd1 Bf8 20. Ne4 {White exchanges several defenders of the Black King. White's space advantage and control of the center allow his other forces to join the battle quickly, while Black cannot say the same.}
20... Nxe4 21. Rxe4 Rxe4 22. Qxe4 Qh6 {A slightly better defense was 22...g6, but White would still have a strong attack after 23.Qd4 f6 24.h4 Nd7 25.h5.} 23. Ng5 Bd6 {Not 23....g6? 24.Nxf7 Kxf7 Qe6++. Now White disdains the win of the h7 pawn, seeking bigger game.} 24. h4 Nd7 25. Qf5
Nf6 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Nxf7 Qc1 {After 27...Kxf7, White would obtain a winning ending with 28.Qd7+ Kg8 29.Qxd6 Rc1 30.Qb8+ Bc8 31.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 32.Kh2 Qxb1 33.Qxc8+ Kf7 34.d6, and the pawn cannot be stopped.} 28. Qxh7+ Kf8 29.
Nxd6 Qxd1+ 30. Kh2 Qxd5 31. Nxb7 Qe5+ 32. g3 Rc7 33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. h5 Rxb7
35. Qh7+ Ke6 36. Qxb7 Qxh5+ 37. Kg2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Offhand Game"]
[Site "San Francisco"]
[Date "1952"]
[Round "0"]
[White "George Koltanowski"]
[Black "Humphrey Bogart"]
[Result "1-0"]

{George (Kolty) Koltanowski, the greatest showman and promoter that chess ever knew, died at age 96 in 2000. A diamond cutter by trade, he left Belgium before the second World War and created a daily chess column that ran without interruption for 52 years in The San Francisco Chronicle. Though his tournament results were modest, he wrote more than a dozen chess books and made headlines in 1937 by taking on 34 opponents at once without sight of the board to set a blindfold record with 24 wins and 10 draws. He even took on the Chessmaster development team at the age of 94 in five simultaneous games, easily winning all of them. He was a tireless exhibitor and raconteur who entertained fans with his speciality, the Knight's Tour. Spectators posted random words and phone numbers in the 64 squares of a giant chessboard. Kolty memorized the hodgepodge in seconds and, while blindfolded, called out the path required for a Knight to touch every square on the board as he recalled these scraps of information in order. "I don't know how he does it," said his wife. "He can't even remember to bring home a loaf of bread from the supermarket". "Pawns are like buttons," Kolty often said. "Lose too many and the pants fall down by themselves". In his newspaper office he played without sight of the board against movie star and chess expert Humphrey Bogart, who lost by a mere pawn.}

1.e4 e6 
2.d4 d5 
3.exd5 exd5 
4.Bd3 Nf6 
5.Ne2 Bg4 {It's too soon to know whether the bishop belongs here. Better is 5...Bd6 to prepare castling.} 
6.O-O Bd6 
7.f3 Be6 
8.Bf4 O-O
9.Nd2 Nc6 {More flexible is 9...Re8 before deciding where to post the knight.} 
10.c3 Ne7 
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 
12.f4 c5?! {?! - Overly aggressive. More prudent is 12...Bf5 13. Nf3 Rae8.}
13.Nf3 {Less accurate than 13. dxc5 Qxc5+ 14. Nd4.} 
13...Nf5 {Stronger is 13...b6 in order to recapture on c5 with a pawn and keep control of d4. Even 13...c4 14. Bc2 Bf5 minimizes White's initiative.}
14.Qd2 Ne4 
15.Qc1 Rac8?! {?! - A waste of time. Again 15...b6 is indicated.}
16.dxc5 Qxc5+
17.Ned4 Nxd4
18.Nxd4 Rc7
19.f5 Bd7
20.Bxe4 dxe4 
21.Qf4 Re8
22.Rae1 Re5? {Gives up a pawn without a fight and leads to a hopeless ending. The last chance to avoid material loss is 22...Bb5! 23. Rf2 Bd3.} 
23.Rxe4 Rxe4
24.Qxe4 Bc6 
25.Qe3 {Black has managed to stave off the immediate mating threats but cannot overcome the lethal disadvantage of being a pawn down. Since Kolty is blindfolded, however, there is always a chance he will overlook something. Indeed, he is starting to drift. Sharper is 25. Qf4 Re7 26. f6 Re2 27. Qb8+ Re8 28.Qg3.}
25...Re7 
26.Qg3 Re8
27.f6 g6
28.Qh4? {The Queen is already on a strong outpost and should stay there. Simply 28.Re1 is indicated to challenge the e-file.}
28...h5? {Bogart in turn misses his main chance. 28...Re2! 29.Rf2 Re1+ 30.Rf1 Re2 draws.}
29.Re1 Rxe1+
30.Qxe1 Qd6
31.Nxc6 Qxc6 
32.Qe7 Qc8
33.h3 Qc6 
34.b4 Qxc3
35.Qe8+ Kh7
36.Qxf7+ Kh6
37.Qe7 Qc1+ {Comes close to drawing -- but not quite.}
38.Kf2 Qf4+
39.Ke2 Qc4+ 
40.Kf3 Kg5? {Making it easy. The best try is 40...h4! forcing White to find a move like 41. Qe4! in order to win. If 40...Qf1+ 41. Kg3 h4+ 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Kf2 Black eventually will run out of checks.}
41.f7+ {Black resigns. Bogart once worked in a chess stall at Coney Island and was arguably the strongest player in the Hollywood community.} 1-0

[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "Hungary"]
[Date "1952"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Erno Gereben"]
[Black "Efim Geller"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]

{Geller was awarded a brilliancy prize for this, as he first sacrificed a bishop, and then both of his rooks on the altar of attack. Such generous offerings are not excessive when in pursuit of the enemy King -- all is repaid in the event of success.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 Nc6 7. g4 {A serious loss of time. 7. Be3 is indicated.}
7... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 e5 9. Qd3 Be7 10. Bg2 Be6 11. b3 {Further neglect of the law of rapid development. More consistent is 11. f4..} 11... O-O 12. Bb2 b5
13. O-O-O {Castling into it. Better is 13. O-O even though the kingside has already been weakened by premature pawn advances.} 13... b4 14. Ne2 {Black's attack also progresses on 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nd7.} 14... a5 15. f4 Nd7
16. f5 Nc5 17. Qf3 a4 {17...Bd7 is fine but this is much more vigorous. Now if 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Qg3 Bh4 20. Qh2 Rf2 21. Rhe1 Bg5 wins quickly for Black.} 18. h4 axb3 19. axb3 Ra2 {Decisive penetration on the open file. Black's attack almost plays itself.} 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Qg3 Qa5 22. c4 Rxb2
23. Kxb2 Qa3+ 24. Kb1 Ra8 25. Nc1 Qa1+ 26. Kc2 Ra2+ {The final sacrifice gets everything back in spades.} 27. Nxa2 Qxa2+ 28. Kc1 Nxb3+ 29. Qxb3 Qxb3
{White's King is stripped bare and it's just a matter of time before black gets his bishop into the game.} 30. Rd2 Qc3+ 31. Rc2 Qe3+ 32. Kb2 Qa3+ 33.
Kb1 b3 34. Rb2 Qb4 35. g5 Bd8 36. Rc1 Bb6 37. Bh3 Kf7 38. h5 Bd4 39. g6+
hxg6 40. hxg6+ Ke7 {White resigns. Hopeless is 41. Rf1 Bxb2 42. Rf7 Ke8 43. Kxb2 Qxc4.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zurich"]
[Date "1953"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Smyslov, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]

{This was a game of great sporting importance: Keres desperately needed a win to retain any hope of overhauling the tournament leader Smyslov. White finds an aggressive and original means of bringing both Rooks into the attack, but Black's careful defense and central counterattack carry the day. Smyslov went on to win the tournament, and the right to challenge Botvinnik for the world championship in 1954.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 Be7
5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. d4 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Rc1 Rc8
{The strategic point of the next few moves will be whether or not Black plays ...d5xc4. This would open a diagonal for his Bb7 and give him pressure against the d4 pawn, but would allow White a mobile pawn center c4/d4. Black postpones the decision.} 12. Re1 Nb4 13. Bf1 Ne4 14. a3 Nxc3 15. Rxc3 { Preparing the transfer of the Rook to the Kingside. Obviously bad was 15.Bxc3? Na2.} 15... Nc6 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 {Now both White Rooks are active, and Black must play with great care.} 17... Bf6 18. Rh5 g6 19. Rch3
dxc4 {Smyslov thought a long time on this move, the more so as there is no forced mate to be seen, but in the end chose the positionally based counterattack in the center. His judgment was correct, for though a forced win is not evident, White would have a strong attack after 19...gxh5 20.Qxh5 Re8 21.a4!, threatening to cut off the Black King's escape with Ba3, e.g. 21...Qd6 22.c5 bxc5 23.Qh6 Bg7 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.dxc5.} 20. Rxh7 {Keres persists in playing for a win. He could still make a draw with 20.Qg4 c3 21.Bxc3 Rxc3 22.Rxc3 Qxd4 23.Qxd4 Bxd4 24.Rc7 gxh5 25.Rxb7.} 20... c3 21.
Qc1 {Obviously bad for White are 21.Bxc3? Rxc3 22.Rxc3 Kxh7 and 21.Bc1 Qxd4. Keres finds a way to keep the attack going a bit longer.} 21... Qxd4 {But not 21...cxb2? 22.Qh6 Qxd4 23.Rh8+ Bxh8 24.Qh7++.} 22. Qh6 Rfd8 23. Bc1 Bg7
24. Qg5 Qf6 25. Qg4 c2 26. Be2 Rd4 27. f4 Rd1+ 28. Bxd1 Qd4+ {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "USA-USSR Match"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1954"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Taimanov, M."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]

{A Soviet team came to New York at the height of the Cold War. America lost badly, but one of its few bright spots was Evans' plus score in his four game set with Taimanov, whose prepared variation met with a shocking rejoinder.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O {Inviting 5. e5 Ne8 6. d4 d6 putting White's advanced center under pressure.} 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7.
O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bd2 g5 13. Rc1 Rf6 14.
c5 {Better is 14. b4 h5 when both sides race to attack each other on opposite wings.} 14... Nxc5 15. Nxc5 dxc5 16. Na4 b6 17. b4 cxb4 18. Bxb4
Bf8 19. Rxc7 {More consistent is 19. Qb3.} 19... Nf5 {A bolt from the blue! White hoped for 19...Qxc7? 20. d6 Qd8 21. dxe7 Bxe7 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Qd5+ and Qxa8.} 20. Bxf8 Qxc7 21. Ba3 Ne3 22. Qc1 Qg7 23. Rf2 Bd7 24. Nc3 g4 25.
Bb2 g3 26. hxg3 Qxg3 27. Bf1 Rc8 {27...Rh6 also wins.} 28. Qe1 b5 29. Ne2
Qh4 30. g3 fxg3 31. Nxg3 Nxf1 {Another winning path is 31...Qxg3 32. Rg2 Qxg2+ 33. Bxg2 Nxg2 34. Kxg2 Rc2+.} 32. Nf5 Rg6+ 33. Kxf1 Qh1+ 34. Ke2 Rc2+
35. Kd1 Qxe1+ 36. Kxe1 Rg1+ {White Resigns. When Taimanov went to have a drink at the bar, he was heard to mutter, "What did that little boy do to me?"} 0-1

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1954"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Black "Vassily Smyslov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]

{World champion Botvinnik defended his title on a 12-12 tie against Bronstein in 1951 and Smyslov in 1954. In this fighting game, Smyslov springs a surprise as early as move 11 in a main variation of the King's Indian Defense. In the ensuing complications Botvinnik defends with extreme care, but one slip proves to be his undoing. Smyslov caps his attack with a neat Queen sacrifice.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6.
Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. Be3 {A move rendered dubious by this seminal game. Simply 9. h3 is indicated.} 9... Ng4 10. Bg5 Qb6 11. h3 exd4 {"A highly unpleasant surprise, leading to great tactical complications". -- Smyslov.} 12. Na4 Qa6 13. hxg4 b5 14. Nxd4 {Black stands well on 14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Nxd4 bxa4 16. e5 Bb7; or 14. Be7 Re8 15. Bxd6 bxa4 16. Nxd4 Ne5.}
14... bxa4 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. e5 Qxc4 17. Bxa8 Nxe5 {"Black has excellent play for the Exchange, since the white pieces are disunited and can easily come under attack. If 18. Qxd6 Qxg4 with dangerous threats on the kingside, while after 18. Be7 Bxg4 19. Qd5 Re8 20. Bxd6 Rd8 21. Qxc4 Nxc4 one of the attacked Bishops is lost". --Smyslov} 18. Rc1 Qb4 19. a3 Qxb2 20. Qxa4 Bb7
21. Rb1 {"For a number of moves White has been defending carefully, but here he fails to find the best reply. After 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Rc3! h6 23. Bf4 Nf3 24. Rxf3 Qxf3 25. Bxd6 Rd8 26. Bc5 the game is almost level. The move played meets with a convincing refutation" -- Smyslov.} 21... Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Bxa8 23.
Rxb2 Nxg5+ 24. Kh2 Nf3+ 25. Kh3 Bxb2 {It's all over but the shouting. Black has three minor pieces for the Queen and a continuing attack.} 26. Qxa7 Be4
27. a4 Kg7 28. Rd1 Be5 29. Qe7 Rc8 {Black's rook comes into play and quickly decides the issue.} 30. a5 Rc2 31. Kg2 Nd4+ 32. Kf1 Bf3 33. Rb1 Nc6 {On 34. Qc7 Bd4 is lethal. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "12th Match Game, Moscow"]
[Date "1954"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Smyslov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]

{This see-saw match reached a turning point in this game midway through. With both kings under fire, Botvinnik drops the poison with 31. f7+, a combination worthy of a composed problem. The match was drawn, but it was clear that the title was vulnerable.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3
dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Nh4 O-O 10. f3 {Botvinnik plays to create a strong pawn center.} 10... Bg6 11. e4 e5 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13.
Be3 Qe7 14. Qe2 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17. Kh1 g5 18. g3 {If White is able to start a Kingside pawn-roller he would have fine attacking chances.} 18... Rad8 19. Ba2 Rfe8 20. Rad1 Nf8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. e5 Nd5 23.
Nxd5 cxd5 24. Qd2 Ne6 25. f4 gxf4 26. gxf4 Qc6 {Smyslov places the Queen on the long white diagonal, hoping to attack himself. He is never able to do this however, so 26...Qd4 playing for the endgame is better.} 27. f5 Nc5 28.
Qg5 Rd7 29. Rg1 f6 30. exf6 Ne4 {This looks strong, but Botvinnik has a shot.} 31. f7+ Rxf7 32. Qd8+ Kh7 33. Bxd5 Nf2+ 34. Kg2 Qf6 {Black has no choice, but the endgame with an extra bishop is an easy win for Botvinnik.}
35. Qxf6 Rxf6 36. Kxf2 Rxf5+ 37. Bf3 Rf4 38. Rg4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Goteburg"]
[Date "1955"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bronstein"]
[Black "Keres"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E41"]

{In this Brilliancy Prize game David Bronstein shows that his drawn match for the World Championship in 1951 was no fluke. Bronstein is famous for his innovative attacking combinations.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5
5. Bd3 b6 6. Ne2 Bb7 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4 O-O 9. d5 {This makes a claim to Black's territory. If Black plays 9...exd5 10 cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 then 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13 Qxd5 is strong.} 9... h6 10. Bc2 Na6 {The Knight is misplaced here.} 11. Nb5 {The start of Bronstein's sacrifices. He threatens 12 a3 Be7 13 d6 winning the bishop, so Black is forced to capture pawns while White attacks the King.} 11... exd5 12. a3 Be7 13. Ng3 dxc4 14. Bxh6
gxh6 15. Qd2 {Black must now deal with the terrible threat of 15. Qxh6, 16. Nf5 and 17. Qg7. Keres finds a defense by giving back his extra material.}
15... Nh7 16. Qxh6 f5 17. Nxf5 Rxf5 18. Bxf5 Nf8 19. Rad1 {Material is roughly equal, but White's control of the center and attacking chances make for a decisive advantage.} 19... Bg5 20. Qh5 Qf6 21. Nd6 Bc6 22. Qg4 Kh8 23.
Be4 Bh6 24. Bxc6 dxc6 25. Qxc4 Nc5 26. b4 Nce6 27. Qxc6 {Bronstein has gained a decisive material advantage as well. The rest is just technique.}
27... Rb8 28. Ne4 Qg6 29. Rd6 Bg7 30. f4 Qg4 31. h3 Qe2 32. Ng3 Qe3+ 33. Kh2
Nd4 34. Qd5 Rc8 35. Nh5 Ne2 36. Nxg7 Qg3+ 37. Kh1 Nxf4 {Or 37...Qxg7 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Qxe2.} 38. Qf3 Ne2 39. Rh6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1956"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Byrne, D."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]

{Known as "the game of the century" until that title was usurped by a later Fischer brilliancy, this game saw the 13-year-old Bobby Fischer defeat one of the strongest American players with a startling Queen sacrifice that many players would not even have considered. It was already clear that Fischer was far ahead of his contemporaries, and he would soon overtake even the resilient Reshevsky.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. Bf4 d5 { Transposing into the Grunfeld Defense, in which Black permits White to form a large pawn center in hopes of counterattacking against it.} 6. Qb3 dxc4 7.
Qxc4 c6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4 11. Bg5 {Neglecting his Kingside development will soon bring White into difficulties; better was 11.Be2.}
11... Na4 {The first surprise. Now 12.Nxa4 Nxe4 13.Qb4 (or 13.Qxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxe7 Rfe8) Nxg5 14.Nxg5 Bxd1 15.Kxd1 Bxd4 would be winning for Black.}
12. Qa3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxe4 14. Bxe7 Qb6 15. Bc4 {Instead, 15.Bxf8 Bxf8 gives Black too much for the Exchange, e.g. 16.Qc1 Nxc3 17.Qxc3? Bb4.} 15... Nxc3
16. Bc5 Rfe8+ 17. Kf1 Be6 {What is striking about this combination is that it is comprised of several seemingly unrelated variations, all of which work perfectly. In addition to the text, there is 18.Bxe6 Qb5+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Ng3+ 21.Kg1 Qf1+ 22.Rxf1 Ne2++, and 18.Qxc3 Qxc5 19.dxc5 Bxc3 20.Bxe6 Rxe6 with an extra pawn in the endgame (21.Rd7 Rae8 22.g3 R6e7).} 18. Bxb6 Bxc4+
19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nxd4+ 21. Kg1 {Black wins at once on 21.Rd3 axb6 22.Qc3 Nxf3 (Qxc4 Re1++).} 21... Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nc3+ 23. Kg1 axb6 24. Qb4 Ra4 { Obtaining a decisive material advantage, since after 25.Qd6 Nxd1 26.Qxd1 Rxa2 there is no defense to 27...Ra1.} 25. Qxb6 Nxd1 26. h3 Rxa2 27. Kh2
Nxf2 28. Re1 Rxe1 29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Nxe1 Bd5 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Qb8 b5 33. h4 h5
34. Ne5 Kg7 35. Kg1 Bc5+ 36. Kf1 Ng3+ 37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kd1 Bb3+ 39. Kc1 Ne2+
40. Kb1 Nc3+ 41. Kc1 Rc2# 0-1

[Event "12th Olympiad"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1956"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bent Larsen"]
[Black "Svetozar Gligoric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]

{Larsen was virtually unknown when he represented Denmark on first board in this world team championship, but he earned his grandmaster title by virtue of a sensational 77.8%, the best score of any other top board. Here is an instructive illustration of how to convert an advantage from one phase of the game to the next. When the fireworks are over, White wins an even King and pawn ending because he can create an outside passed pawn.} 1. Nf3 c5 2.
e4 d6 {A quick transposition from the Reti Opening to a Sicilian Defense.}
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 {Creates a backward pawn on d6 but gains a tempo by attacking the knight. This system was considered too ugly to be playable before 1940.} 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 {A quiet line aimed at increasing the pressure on d5.} 9... Nbd7 10. a4 b6 {A bit more accurate is 10...h6 inviting 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Bc4 Be6!} 11. Bc4 Bb7 12. Qe2
Qc7 13. Rfd1 Rfc8 14. Nd2 h6 {If now 15. Bh4 g5! is okay for Black.} 15.
Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Bb3 Bc6 17. Nc4 Nxe4 {A freeing combination that should equalize.} 18. Nxe4 d5 19. a5 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Rf8 {If 20...Bxe4 21. Qxe4 b5 22. Qf5! increases the pressure on f7.} 21. axb6 Qxb6 22. Nd6 Bb5 23. Nxb5
axb5 24. Qd5 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Bc5 {After defending well, Black begins to go astray. Correct is 25...Qc5!} 26. Ra8 Bxf2+ {The losing move. The best chance is 26...Rxa8 27. Qxa8 Bf8 28. Qd5 Qa7. Another possibility is 26...Qc7 27. Rxf8 Kxf8. Now a series of forced exchanges converts White's initiative from the midgame into a won ending.} 27. Kf1 Qf6 28. Qxf7+ Qxf7
29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Kxf2 {A neat simplification. Now White can create an outside pawn on the queenside and penetrate with his King on the other wing.} 31... Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Ke4 b4 {Passive defense also fails. If 33...Ke6 34. c3 Kd6 35. b3 Ke6 36. h4 h5 37. c4 gxc4 38. bxc4 Kd6 39. g3 g6 40. c5! Kxc5 41. Kxe5 with Kf6 coming next.} 34. c3 b3 35. c4 g6 36. g4
h5 37. gxh5 gxh5 38. h4 Kc6 {Black has run out of good moves. If 38...Kc5 39. Kxe5 Kxc4 40. Ke4! gains the opposition and eventually captures the pawn on b3.} 39. Kxe5 Kc5 40. Kf5 Kd4 41. Kf4 Kc5 42. Ke5 Kxc4 43. Ke4 Kc5 44.
Kd3 Kd5 45. Kc3 Ke4 46. Kxb3 Kf5 47. Kc3 {Black resigns. "White queens first. I still consider this one of my most beautiful games" -- Larsen. The finale could have been 47...Kg4 48. b4 Kxh4 49. b5 Kg4 50. b6 h4 51. b7 h3 52. b8=Q h2 53. Qb7.} 1-0

[Event "Dallas"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1957"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Najdorf, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]

{A prime example of asphyxiation. At the end material is even but Black resigns because all good moves have been snuffed out.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6
3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. e4 d6 {A Sicilian Defense by transposition.} 6. c3
e5 7. d3 Nh6 {More natural is 7...Nge7 towards the center.} 8. Ne1 O-O 9. f4
exf4 10. Bxf4 Ng4 11. Na3 Nge5 12. Kh1 Qb6 13. Qd2 Be6 {Both sides have staked out their prospects: White on the kingside, Black on the queenside.}
14. Nec2 Qa6 15. d4 Nc4 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Rf2 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rfe8 19. Bh6 Qa5
{Hopine for a swap to break the attack. A good alternative is 19...Bh8.} 20.
Qf4 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Nxd4 22. Qxd6 Rad8 23. Qf6 Qe5 24. Bg5 Qxf6 25. Bxf6 Rd6
26. Rd1 Nf5 27. Rxd6 Nxd6 28. Rd2 Nc8 29. b3 Be6 {Centralizing looks natural but a better chance to hold is 29...Ba6. Now White's two Bishops sweep the board.} 30. e5 b6 31. Bc6 Rf8 32. Kg2 h6 33. Kf3 Kh7 34. Bd7 {Black Resigns. Disgusted, Najdorf throws in the towel without waiting for disaster. If 34...Bxd7 35. Rxd7 g5 (or 35...Kg8 36. e6 fxe6 37. Rg7+ Kh8 38. Rxg6+) 36. e6 Kg6 37. e7 Re8 38. Rd8 Nxe7 39. Rxe8 Kxf6 40. Ke4 wins in the long run.}
1-0

[Event "Varna"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bobotsov, M."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E81"]

{A blow to tradition! Black's Queen sacrifice revolutionized the whole evaluation of this opening, and it's amazing how his attack gains momentum with each move.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5
7. Be3 Nbd7 8. Qd2 a6 9. O-O-O Qa5 10. Kb1 b5 {Setting the stage for a Queen sacrifice by ignoring the threat of Nd5. Cramped but solid is 10...Re8 11. Nc1 (Evans- Mednis, USA Championship 1964) and now 11...Rb8 is correct.} 11.
Nd5 {Nowadays most players interpolate 11. dxc5 dxc5 first.} 11... Nxd5 {A shocker! Inferior is 11...Qd8 12. dxc5.} 12. Qxa5 Nxe3 {Black has two Knights for the Queen and hopes to use the latent power of his g7 bishop for an attack against b2. White should be able to exploit his material advantage, but how? Theorists still disagree about who stands better. Probably the better player!} 13. Rc1 Nxc4 14. Rxc4 {White is too willing to return material and open the b-file in the bargain. Sturdier is 14. Qe1 exd4 15. Nf4.} 14... bxc4 15. Nc1 Rb8 16. Bxc4 Nb6 17. Bb3 {A trifle better is 17. Be2 but Black already has enough compensation for the queen, which is a helpless spectator.} 17... Bxd4 18. Qd2 Bg7 19. Ne2 c4 20. Bc2 c3 {Opening more lines. If 21. Nxc3 Nc4 wins outright.} 21. Qd3 cxb2 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Rd1
Rfc8 24. Bb3 Na4 25. Bxa4 Bxa4 26. Nb3 Rc3 27. Qxa6 Bxb3 28. axb3 Rbc8 29.
Qa3 Rc1+ 30. Rxc1 Rxc1+ {It's mate next move, so White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "25th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "10"]
[White "David Bronstein"]
[Black "Boris Spassky"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E54"]

{On his road to the world championship, Spassky, like his Russian rivals, honed his talent in strong Soviet championships. Meanwhile, Bronstein, after tying a title match in 1951, never again reached the heights because he sought beauty at the expense of practical results. His predilection for outlandish ideas and eccentric maneuvers produced many memorable games, but he frequently paid a price for his overflowing imagination. Here, for example, he goes out on a limb by misplacing his rook on the rim -- an idea that meets with a drastic refutation.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3
c5 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4 b6 {This variation of the Nimzo-Indian became fashionable at Zurich 1953. Bronstein's tournament book is considered one of the gems of chess literature.} 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 cxd4
11. Rxd4 {A dubious idea. Simply 11. Nxd4 or exd4 is called for.} 11... Qe7
12. Bd2 Nbd7 13. Be1 e5 14. Rh4 {One bad move leads to another. White should concede the error of his ways and retreat to d1.} 14... e4 15. Nd4 Ne5 16.
Nf5 {Trying to justify his eccentric maneuvers. Better is 16. Bb3.} 16...
Qc5 17. Na4 Qa5 18. Ne7+ Kh8 19. Bb3 Bxe1 20. Qxe1 Nf3+ {The finishing touch. White must lose his misplaced Rook.} 21. gxf3 Qg5+ 22. Kh1 Qxh4 23.
Qg1 Qh5 {Black's material superiority is decisive and the Knight on e7 is stranded.} 24. Rc1 Qxf3+ 25. Qg2 Rad8 26. Qxf3 exf3 27. Rc7 Rd2 28. Rxb7
Rxf2 {Elegant to the end. White's back rank is vulnerable. If 29. Kg1 Rg2 30. Kf1 Ng4 is the quietus.} 29. h3 Ne4 30. Nf5 Rg2 {White resigns. It's mate next with Nf2.} 0-1

[Event "25th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Boris Spassky"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E26"]

{This crucial last round encounter decided first place. "On move 23 I offered a draw. Spassky decided that he could without risk continue the struggle, and perhaps he was right. In any case, it was I who committed the first mistake after which he seized the initiative. He conducted the middle game superbly and at adjournment my position gave serious call for alarm. When the game resumed, I considered that it should finish as a draw. For a long time I maintained the equilibrium, though it is true I had to find a number of difficult moves. The strength of one of these was evidently underestimated by Spassky who by inertia continued playing for a win in a now level position. Suddenly the advantage changed hands and my counter-attack became irresistible". -- Tal} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. a3 {The Saemisch Variation is a surprising departure from Spassky's pet 4. Bg5.} 4... Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bd3 e5 {Varying from the theoretically recommended 7...O-O 8. Ne2 b6 9. e4 Ne8.} 8. Ne2 e4 9. Bb1 b6
10. Ng3 Ba6 11. f3 {Unclear is 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bxc4 13. f3. And if 11. Qa4 Na5 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Rc8! regains the pawn.} 11... Bxc4 {White gets a dangerous initiative after 11...exf3 12. Qxf3 Bxc4 13. Nf5 O-O 14. e4.} 12. Nf5 O-O 13. Nd6 Bd3 14. Bxd3 exd3 15. Qxd3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Ne8 { Putting the question to the knight: either swap or retreat!} 17. Nf5 d5 18.
a4 Nd6 19. Nxd6 {Too risky is 19. Ba3 Nxf5 20. Bxf8? Qg5.} 19... Qxd6 20.
Ba3 Nb4 21. Qb3 a5 22. O-O Rfc8 23. Rac1 Qe6 {White refused a draw here.}
24. Bxb4 axb4 25. Kf2 Qd6 26. h3 {Better is 26. Kg1 Qe6 with equality. Now Black can grab the initiative with 26...h5!} 26... Kf8 27. Rc2 Rxc2+ 28.
Qxc2 g6 29. Rc1 Qd7 30. Qc6 Qxc6 31. Rxc6 Ra6 {"More accurate was 31...Rxa4 32. Rxb6 Ke7 bringing the King over towards the Rook. Most probably the game would then have been drawn, whereas now the struggle flairs up with renewed vigor". -- Tal.} 32. a5 b3 33. axb6 b2 34. b7 b1=Q 35. Rc8+ Kg7 36. b8=Q Ra2+
{"It is amusing that the two pawns have queened on the same file. Black now gives the first check, but this is not very important". -- Tal.} 37. Kg3 Qe1+
38. Kh2 Qxe3 39. Rg8+ Kf6 {Black's task would be easier after 39...Kh6 40. Qf8 Kh5 41. Qxf7 Rxg2! 42. Kxg2 Qd2 with perpetual check.} 40. Qd6+ Qe6 41.
Qf4+ Qf5 42. Qd6+ Qe6 43. Qg3 Qe3 44. h4 Re2 {"Weaker is the tempting 44...Ra1 45. Qd6 Qe6 46. Qf4! Qf5 47. Qh6". -- Tal.} 45. Qd6+ Qe6 46. Qf4+ { The sealed move, and the game was adjourned.} 46... Qf5 47. Qh6 Ke7 48. Qf8+
Kf6 49. Qg7+ Ke7 50. Ra8 Qd7 {Forced to stop the threat of Ra7.} 51. Qf8+
Kf6 52. Ra6+ Re6 53. Qh8+ Ke7 54. Ra8 Re1 55. Kg3 h5 {Preparing a refuge for the King on f4.} 56. Kf2 Re6 57. Rc8 Rd6 58. Qf8+ Kf6 59. Re8 Re6 60. Qh8+
Kf5 61. Qh6 Kf6 {Not 61...Rxe8? 62. Qg5 Ke6 63. Qe5 mate.} 62. Qh8+ Kf5 63.
Rd8 Qc6 64. Rc8 {White should settle for a draw by 64. Kg3 since his attack has petered out, but he tries too hard to win and loses.} 64... Qa6 65. Kg3
Qd6+ 66. Kh3 Re1 67. g3 Rg1 68. f4 Re1 {"Threatening to transfer the Queen to e6 and then penetrate into the enemy camp. The only defense was 69. Re8 Rxe8 70. Qxe8 Qe6 but this gives Black a clear advantage". -- Tal.} 69. Rc2
Qe6 70. Rf2 Rh1+ 71. Kg2 Qe4+ 72. Rf3 Kg4 73. Qc8+ f5 {On 74. Qc3 Rf1 75. Kxf1 Qxf3 76. Qxf3 Kxf3 wins the King and pawn ending. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "25th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yuri Averbakh"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A76"]

{Vintage Tal. A sharp Benoni Defense, a piece sacrifice, a stupendous finishing touch. Later it was discovered that Tal's combination was dubious, but it worked over-the-board!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5.
cxd5 {Theory condemns 5. Nxd5 Nxd5 6. Qxd5 Nc6 because the Queen will be driven away from d5 with loss of time.} 5... d6 6. e4 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 {"The characteristic position of this popular variation has been reached. Black creates a weakness on d6 and allows White to seize the center. In return he obtains counterplay associated with his pawn majority on the queenside. An important role is played by the bishop on g7 which exerts strong pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal". -- Tal.} 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 {An alternative is 9...Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nbd7.} 10. Qc2 {More usual is 10. Nd2 aiming to post this Knight eventually on c4.} 10... Na6 11. Bf4 Nb4 12. Qb1 Nxe4 {A typical Tal gamble. More prudent is 12...Nh5 or Qe7.} 13. Nxe4 Bf5 14. Nfd2
Nxd5 15. Bxd6 {Already a decisive error. Later analysis showed that White gets an advantage in all variations after 11. Bg3! Qe7 12. Bf3 Rad8 17. Re1! Now Black regains his piece and remains a pawn ahead.} 15... Nf6 16.
Bf3 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Qxd6 19. Qc2 Re7 {"The technical stage begins. With opposite-colored Bishops it is very difficult to realize the extra pawn on the queenside, and therefore Black decides to build up an attack on White's King using the open e-file and the possibility of his bishop occupying an active post at d4" -- Tal.} 20. Bf3 Rae8 21. Rad1 Bd4
22. a4 b6 23. b3 Re5 24. Rd2 h5 25. Re2 Rxe2 26. Bxe2 h4 {White has eased his defensive task by exchaning a rook but storm clouds are gathering on the kingside.} 27. Kh1 {27. h3 looks better.} 27... Qf4 28. g3 Qf6 29. Qd1 Rd8
30. Bg4 Bxf2 31. Qe2 {Seems to win the pinned Bishop. Also futile is 31. Qf3 Qxf3 32. Bxf3 hxg3 33. hxg3 Rd2.} 31... Rd2 {This neat trick saves the bishop and decides the game. If 32. Qxd2 Qc6 mates.} 32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. gxh4
Qd4 34. Bh3 Qd3 35. Bg2 {Or 35. Qe5 Kh7 36. Qf4 Qd5! 37. Bg2 Qxg2 38. Kxg2 Be3 39. Kh1 Bxf4 40. Rxf4 Kg7 leaves White a pawn behind in a hopeless ending.} 35... Rd1 {If 36. Qb5 Rxf1 37. Bxf1 Qe4 38. Bg2 Qxh4 wins a second pawn. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Black "Nezhmetdinov, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A53"]

{Black drives the White King into a mating net in the center of the board with an amazing intuitive Queen sacrifice. The game is far more impressive than similar examples from the 19th century, for White's defense is by no means weak.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e4 exd4 5. Qxd4 {White trades time for space, and Black must play energetically to prevent his opponent from consolidating.} 5... Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. Bd3 Ng4 10.
Nge2 Qh4 11. Ng3 Nge5 12. O-O f5 13. f3 Bh6 14. Qd1 f4 15. Nge2 g5 16. Nd5
g4 {Now White must take drastic measures to meet the threat of 17...g3 18,h3 Bxh3, with a winning attack.} 17. g3 fxg3 18. hxg3 Qh3 19. f4 {Now White has calculated that he can survive 19...Nf3+ 20.Kf2 Qh2+ 21.Ke3, with the powerful counter-threat 22.Rh1.} 19... Be6 20. Bc2 {Of course not 20.fxe5? Be3+.} 20... Rf7 21. Kf2 Qh2+ 22. Ke3 Bxd5 23. cxd5 Nb4 24. Rh1 {It seems that Black has overextended himself, but ...} 24... Rxf4 25. Rxh2 {The alternatives are clearly bad -- 25.Nxf4 Nxc2+, 25.gxf4 Bxf4+ 26.Nxf4 Nxc2+, and 25.Bxe5 Rf3+ 26.Kd4 Qf2+. But has Black really enough for his Queen?}
25... Rf3+ 26. Kd4 Bg7 27. a4 {He must meet the threat of 27...b5 followed by 28...Nec6++.} 27... c5+ 28. dxc6ep bxc6 29. Bd3 {Now the threat was 29...c5++.} 29... Nexd3+ 30. Kc4 d5+ 31. exd5 cxd5+ 32. Kb5 Rb8+ {The entry of the last piece into the attack is immediately decisive.} 33. Ka5 Nc6+ 
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tolush, A."]
[Black "Taimanov, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B65"]

{Alexander Tolush was one of those players who, though not quite of top rank, produced an amazing number of brilliant and original games in his career. In this game, the players attack on opposite wings, and it seems that Black's attack is quite as strong as White's. But Tolush nonchalantly sacrifices the exchange to eliminate Black's best attacking piece, and threads his way through a maze of complications to take that point.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 {White's system is known as the Richter-Rauzer Attack. He prepares to eliminate Black's important defensive Nf6, and his plan usually entails castling Queenside and advancing his Kingside pawns.} 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4
h6 11. Bh4 Qa5 12. Qg1 {Preparing g2-g4-g5 to open lines against the King; he is also ready to answer 12...e5 with 13.f5.} 12... Bd7 13. g4 {White does not win a piece with 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5, as Black plays not 14...Qxe5 15.Bxf6 but 14...Bc5 15.Bf2 Bxf2 16.Qxf2 Qxe5. But now this is a real threat.} 13... Bc6 14. Be1 Qc7 15. Bd3 d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. h4 b5
19. Bg3 b4 20. Ne2 Bd5 {White's attack seems to have bogged down [he cannot yet open a file with 21.g5 because of 21...h5], but his next move gives the game a new aspect.} 21. Rxd5 exd5 22. Qd1 Rfd8 {Too passive -- he should try to regain the initiative with 22...Bc5 23.Qxd5 Be3+ 24.Kb1 Rad8 25.Qxe4 Rd2 26.Nc1 Rc8, and the position remains unclear; 27.c3? is answered by 27...Rxb2+!.} 23. Nd4 Qc4 24. Kb1 Bc5 25. Bf2 a5 26. g5 h5 27. e6 {A strong move -- White lures away the f7 pawn to permit g5-g6, closing the net around the Black King.} 27... fxe6 28. g6 a4 {The last chance was 28...Bxd4 29.Bxd4 e3, and after 30.Re1 [30.Bxe3 Qe4 eliminates the dangerous pawn at g6] 30...a4 31.Rxe3 the outcome remains in doubt.} 29. Nxe6 d4 {On 29...Bxf2 30.Qxh5 the King has no escape.} 30. f5 d3 31. Bxc5 b3 {Desperately trying to complicate matters. On 31...Qxc2+ 32.Qxc2 dxc2+ 33.Kxc2 Rd5 34.Bd4 White should win routinely.} 32. cxb3 {Simpler was 32.cxd3 Qxd3+ 33.Qxd3 Rxd3 34.Re1. Tolush continues to play for the attack, and sets off another round of fierce complications.} 32... axb3 33. axb3 Qa6 34. Ba3 d2 35. Nxd8 {But not 35.Qxh5?, when 35...Qd3+ 36.Ka2 Rxa3+! even wins for Black!} 35... Qd3+
36. Ka2 e3 37. Rh2 {Still not 37.Qxh5? since after 37...Rxa3+ 38.Kxa3 Qd6+ the White King will be unable to escape the checks.} 37... Qxd8 {And now 37...Rb8 fails to 38.f6! gxf6 39.Nc6 Qxb3+ 40.Qxb3 Rxb3 41.Ne7+ [of course not 41.Kxb3? d1Q+] Kh8 42.g7+ Kxg7 43.Nf5+ and 44.Nxe3, with a winning ending. Now White goes over to the attack again.} 38. f6 gxf6 39. Qxh5 Ra7
40. Rh1 Qd3 41. Qc5 Rxa3+ 42. Qxa3 d1=Q 43. Rxd1 Qxd1 44. Qe7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Portoroz"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Larsen, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]

{After an ill-advised attempt by Larsen to complicate the game, Fischer slays the Dragon. It's an object lesson in how to mount an assault against a fianchettoed King position by prying open the h-file.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Nxd4 { Since then Black has sought many ways to neutralize the Yugoslav Attack. More popular now is 9...Bd7.} 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Bb3 Qa5 12. O-O-O b5 13. Kb1
b4 {The counterattack is stymied on 12...Bxb3 13. cxb3!} 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
Bxd5 {It's better to seek pressure along the e-file and abandon the attack by 15. exd5 Qb5 16. Rhel a5 17. Qe2! (Tal- Larsen, Zurich 1959).} 15... Rac8
{In a higher sense the, losing move. Correct is 15...Nxd5! 16. Bxg7 (or 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Qxb4) 16... Nc3+!} 16. Bb3 {Now the bishop exerts a watchful eye on the kingside and can't be dislodged.} 16... Rc7 17. h4 Qb5 {Fischer gives 17...h5 18. g4! hxg4 19. h5! gxh5 20. fxg4 Nxe4 21. Qe3 Nf6 22. gxh5 e5 23. h6 and wins.} 18. h5 Rfc8 {Again if 18...gxh5 19. g4! is strong.} 19.
hxg6 hxg6 20. g4 a5 21. g5 Nh5 {21...Ne8 doesn't work either after 22. Bxg7 Nxg7 23. Rh6! e6 24. Qh2 Nh5 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Rxg6+ Ng7 27. Rh1.} 22. Rxh5
{"I've made this sacrifice so often, I feel like applying for a patent" -- Fischer.} 22... gxh5 23. g6 e5 24. gxf7+ Kf8 25. Be3 d5 {The best try. If 25...a4 26. Qxd6+ Re7 27. Qd8+! Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Re8 29. Bc5+ spells finis.}
26. exd5 Rxf7 27. d6 Rf6 28. Bg5 Qb7 29. Bxf6 Bxf6 30. d7 Rd8 31. Qd6+ 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "25th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Efim Geller"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]

{On his path to the world championship, Tal established his credentials by taking first in the powerful Soviet national championship with 9 wins, 3 losses, 7 draws in a field of 20. "In the present game I wanted to try a dubious idea involving an immediate flank blow, but I did not obtain an advantage". --Tal Blow follows counter-blow until Geller, after a brilliant defense, finally stumbles and loses his way in a welter of complications.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.
c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Bb7 12. b4 {"12. Nbd2 is not dangerous for Black. White must evidently block the center with 12. d5".-- Tal} 12... cxb4
13. cxb4 Nc4 14. Nbd2 d5 15. exd5 exd4 {"Stronger perhaps was 15...Nxd5" -- Tal.} 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Qxd4 Bxb4 18. Rb1 {"Thanks to this move White is able to keep his initiative alive, whereas moves by the other rook would let it die away". -- Tal} 18... Bxe1 {18...Nxd5 fails to 19. Bxh7! Kxh7 20. Ng5 Kg8 21. Qh4 Nf6 22. Rxb4 threatening Rxb7 and/or Bb2.} 19. Rxb7 Re8 { "Although objectively this may be the strongest move, 19...Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 would have dampened White's aggressive intentions". -- Tal} 20. d6 Qc8
21. Bg5 {"Also possible was 21. Rc7 Qe6 22. Bg5 Nd5 23. Rc5 Nc3 with a completely unclear position". -- Tal} 21... Re2 {Splendid! Not 21...Qxb7 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qh4 with a terrific attack.} 22. Rc7 Qe6 23. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 24.
Kh2 Rd8 {"The only move in view of the threat of Re7. 24...Nd7 fails to 25. Ba4". -- Tal} 25. Bxf6 gxf6 {"An unexpected blunder which distorts the logical course of the game. Necessary was 25...Qxf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. d7 with an interesting ending. Black would probably have had to give back the Exchange by 27...Kg7 28. Bf5 Re5 29. Rc8 Rxf5 30. Rxd8 Rd5 when White cannot realize his minimal advantage. Now, however, it is all over". -- Tal} 26.
Re7 Qxd6+ {If 26...Qxe7 27. Qg4 does the trick.} 27. Qxd6 Rxd6 28. Rxe1 Rd2
29. Rc1 Rxf2 30. Be4 Rxa2 31. Rxc4 a5 32. Rc8+ Kg7 33. Rc7 {If 33...Rd2 (to stop the threat of Bd5) 34. Ra7 Rd4 35. Bc2 effectively ends all resistance. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Portoroz"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Fuster, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{This is one of the games with which Tal burst upon the world chess scene. Spectacularly sacrificing a bishop for only two pawns, he succeeds in pinning Black's King to the center while mounting an attack.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4
d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ {6. Ng3 has been tried to avoid simplifications, but the retreat costs a tempo and places the Knight on a dubious post.} 6... Nxf6 7. Bc4 Bf5 {A mistake is 7...Bg4? 8. Bxf7+! Kxf7 9. Ne5+.} 8. Qe2 e6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. O-O-O h6 {The refinement 10...Bg4! 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nd5! 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 snuffs out White's budding initiative (Fischer- Petrosian, Bled 1961.)} 11. Bh4 Ne4 12. g4 { Surprisingly effective. Of course White had to reckon with 12...Bxh4 15. gxf5 Nxf2 16. fxe6 O-O 15. exf7+ with ample compensation for losing the exchange.} 12... Bh7 13. Bg3 Nxg3 14. fxg3 Qc7 15. Ne5 Bd6 16. h4 f6 {Black should seek some relief with 16...Bxe5 17. dxe5 Rd8 since the reduction of material offers drawing chances. Now he is hoping for 17. Nf3 O-O. No such luck.} 17. Bxe6 fxe5 18. dxe5 Be7 {Not 18...Bxe5 19. Rhe1 Bd6 20. Bd7+!} 19.
Rhf1 Rf8 20. Rxf8+ Bxf8 21. Qf3 Qe7 22. Qb3 Rb8 {To fend off the threat of Rd7. 22...Rd8 is refuted by 23. Bf7+! Qxf7 24. Rxd8+ Ke7 25. Rd7+. It's all over now anyway.} 23. Bd7+ Qxd7 24. Rxd7 Kxd7 25. Qf7+ Be7 26. e6+ Kd8 27.
Qxg7 {The bishop has no refuge. If 27...Be4 28. Qh8+ Kc7 29. Qe5+ followed by Qxe4 does the trick. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1958"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Samuel Reshevsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B35"]

{Its no longer possible for a master just to sit down and play a tournament game. To achieve good results, preparation is half the battle. Fischer used to ransack obscure chess periodicals for opening novelties whose true worth was overlooked; here he bags Reshevsky's Queen in a dozen moves with a trap he found between two unknowns in a Russian chess magazine.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Na5 { Carelessly abandoning the center. Safer is 8...d6. Black probably was expecting 9. O-O Nxb3 10. axb3 d5!} 9. e5 Ne8 {The lesser evil is 9...Nxb3 10. exf6 Nxa1 11. fxg7 Nxc2 12. Nxc2 Kxg7. Now the roof caves in.} 10. Bxf7+
Kxf7 {Or 10...Rxf7 meets with the same stunning reply.} 11. Ne6 dxe6 { Forced. If 11...Kxe6 12. Qd5 Kf5 13. g4 Kxg4 14. Rg1 Kh4 15. Bg5 Kh5 16. Qd1 mates.} 12. Qxd8 Nc6 {For all intents and purposes the game is over, because Black only has two minor pieces for the Queen. Reshevsky's stubborn resistance just delays the inevitable and the rest requires no comment.} 13.
Qd2 Bxe5 14. O-O Nd6 15. Bf4 Nc4 16. Qe2 Bxf4 17. Qxc4 Kg7 18. Ne4 Bc7 19.
Nc5 Rf6 20. c3 e5 21. Rad1 Nd8 22. Nd7 Rc6 23. Qh4 Re6 24. Nc5 Rf6 25. Ne4
Rf4 26. Qxe7+ Rf7 27. Qa3 Nc6 28. Nd6 Bxd6 29. Rxd6 Bf5 30. b4 Rff8 31. b5
Nd8 32. Rd5 Nf7 33. Rc5 a6 34. b6 Be4 35. Re1 Bc6 36. Rxc6 bxc6 37. b7 Rab8
38. Qxa6 Nd8 39. Rb1 Rf7 40. h3 Rfxb7 41. Rxb7+ Rxb7 42. Qa8 {If 42...Rd7 43. a4 costs Black more material. White's winning technique was efficient and instructive. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates' Tournament"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Petrosian, T."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B94"]

{A genius of attack versus a genius of defense. The outcome is a stupendous draw marked by mutual give-and-take.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qa5 8. Qd2 e6 9. O-O {Sharper is 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. Rhe1 Nc5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qf4 Be7 14. Qg4! (Stein-Tal, USSR Championship 1962).} 9... h6 10. Bh4 g5 {Safer is 10...Be7.} 11. Bg3
Nh5 12. Bxe6 {Where there's a will there's a way to sacrifice. Gufeld-Petrosian, USSR 1959, went 12. Rad1 Ne5 13. Bb3 Nxg3 14. hxg3 g4 with good counterplay.} 12... fxe6 13. Nxe6 Nxg3 14. fxg3 Ne5 15. Rxf8+ {The only way to refresh the attack. Not 15. Nxf8 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 Rxf8.} 15... Rxf8 16.
Qxd6 Rf6 17. Nc7+ {Faltering at the critical moment. Correct is 17. Qc7! b6 18. Ng7+ Kf8 19. Nh5! regaining material.} 17... Kf7 18. Rf1 Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1
Nc4 {Energetic defense. If Black stops to protect his rook by 19...Ra7 20. Nc3d5 creates hideous threats to his King.} 20. Qxh6 Qc5 21. Nxa8 {On 21. Ned5 Ne3+ forces simplifications.} 21... Nd2+ 22. Ke2 Bg4+ 23. Kd3 Qc4+ 24.
Ke3 Qc5+ {If 25. Kxd2 Qd4+ 26. Ke1 leads to the same result. Draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "26th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B94"]

{Polugaevsky survives a ferocious attack and seems well on his way to recovery. However, after swapping queens, he is beguiled by the calm setting and underestimates the force of Tal's initiative .} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qa5 8. Qd2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10.
Rad1 Nc5 {Safer is 10...h6 11. Bh4 Ne5 12. Be2 g5 13. Bg3 b5 14. a3 Bb7 (Olafsson-Evans, Buenos Aires 1960).} 11. Rfe1 Bd7 12. a3 Qc7 13. b4 Na4 14.
Nxa4 Bxa4 15. Bxe6 {A stock sacrifice in an unusual setting.} 15... fxe6 16.
Nxe6 Qxc2 {Now how can White sustain his attack? 17. Qxc2 Bxc2 18. Rc1 Ba4 19. Nc7+ Kf7 20. Nxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc7 Bc6 22. e5 dxe5 23. Rxe5 Re8 (threatening Nd5) is in Black's favor.} 17. Qd4 Kf7 18. Rc1 Qa2 19. e5 dxe5 20. Qxe5
Qxf2+ {White must capture in view of 21. Kh1 Bc6.} 21. Kxf2 Ng4+ 22. Kg1
Nxe5 23. Rxe5 Bxg5 24. Nxg5+ Kg6 25. Ne6 Rhe8 {Plausible but disastrous. The best chance to draw is 25...Rac8. The text loses a vital tempo.} 26. Re3
Rac8 27. Rf1 Bb5 28. Rg3+ Kh6 29. Nxg7 Rf8 30. Re1 Rf6 31. h3 Rc2 32. Re5
Rc1+ 33. Kh2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Zurich"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Nievergelt, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]

{The magician from Riga embarks on a typically speculative sacrifice to maintain the initiative. One surprise follows another until Black finally cracks under the strain.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 h6 {Tal-R.Byrne, Havana Olympics 1966, continued 7...a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. f5! and now 12...b4! 13. Ne2 e5 is better than Byrne's 12...Qa5 13. Kb1 O-O-O 14. g3 Kb8 15. Bh3 with lasting pressure.} 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. O-O-O a6 10. f4 Bd7 11. Be2 {More forceful is 11. g3 followed by Bh3 and f5 as in the above-quoted game.}
11... h5 12. Kb1 Qb6 13. Nb3 O-O-O 14. Rhf1 Be7 15. Rf3 {The rook hopes to find employment on the third rank where it can shuttle to either wing.}
15... Rdg8 16. Bf1 Kb8 17. Rd3 Bc8 18. a3 h4 19. Qe1 Rg4 20. Nd5 {The first of several surprises. Black is forced to capture, but the result is by no means unfavorable for him.} 20... exd5 21. exd5 Ne5 22. fxe5 fxe5 {The net result is that Black straightened out his doubled pawns and opened diagonals for his Bishops. White must attack now or perish in the long run.} 23. Na5
Bd8 {Safer is 23...Ka8.} 24. Nc6+ Ka8 {Not 24...bxc6 25. Rb3 pinning the Queen.} 25. Rb3 Qc7 26. Rc3 {Tal notes: "After 26. Nxd8 Qxd8 White has no attack, and Black would be better. Therefore I decided to sacrifice a piece. Because of this I was criticized considerably, and heard: 'It was incorrect...Tal was lucky...It was a bluff...Tal was dead lost' -- but I did not see at what point I was dead lost, and concerning other accusations of the wise critics, I console myself with pleasure that chess fans, spectators and readers are happy only when grandmasters risk rather than just push wood".} 26... bxc6 27. Rxc6 Qb7 28. Rxd6 {Black gets too much for the Queen on 28. Bxa6 Qxa6 29. Rxa6+ Bxa6 and so decides to capture a second pawn to step up the pressure.} 28... Ra4 {Stronger is 28...Qe7 29. Rc6 Bb7 30. d6 Qd7 31. Rc3 e4.} 29. Rd3 Bc7 30. Rf6 Bd8 31. Rc6 e4 {After 31...Re8! White has no immediately decisive blow.} 32. Rb3 Ba5 33. Qe3 Qa7 34. Qh6 {The final jolt. Had Tal not taken risks, such a complex setting would not have occurred. Of course the Queen is immune because of Rxc8+.} 34... Rd8 35.
Bxa6 Bd2 36. Qf6 Qd7 37. Bxc8 {On 37...Rxc8 38. Ra6+ is fatal. A startling climax. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Bled"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Benko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]

{A vintage Fischer brilliancy, as he makes the demolition of a top Grandmaster look easy with a precisely calculated Kingside attack.} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 {The Sozin Attack, long a favorite of Fischer's.} 6... Qb6 7. Nde2 e6 8. O-O Be7 9. Bb3 O-O 10. Kh1
Na5 11. Bg5 Qc5 12. f4 b5 13. Ng3 b4 {Better was 13...Nxb3 14.axb3 b4. After the text Black is in trouble.} 14. e5 dxe5 {More or less forced -- 14...bxc3 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Ne4! Qf5 18.Nxd6 Qg6 19.Rf3 Kh8 20.Rg3 Qh6 21.Qg4, threatening 22.Qg8+ and 23.Nxf7++.} 15. Bxf6 gxf6 {Slightly better was 15...bxc3, but White still has a strong attack after 16.Ne4 Qb4 17.Qg4 Bxf6 18.Nxf6+ Kh8 19.Qh4 h6 20.Ng4.} 16. Nce4 Qd4 17. Qh5 Nxb3 {Also insufficient are: I) 17...Kh8 18.Qh6 Rg8 19.Nxf6 Rg7 20.Nh5 and II) 17...exf4 18.Nf5! exf5 19.Rxf4 Qxe4 (else 20.Rh4 will mate) 20.Rxe4 fxe4 21.Qxa5.} 18. Qh6 exf4 {Or 18...f5 19.c3!, and after the Queen leaves the a1-h8 diagonal Nh5 will mate.} 19. Nh5 f5 20. Rad1 Qe5 21. Nef6+ Bxf6 22.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qxf6 {Now White wins routinely.} 23... Nc5 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25.
Qe7 Ba6 26. Qxc5 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kholmov, R."]
[Black "Keres, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]

{When Black adopts a provocative defense that leaves his pieces scattered, White essays a long-term piece sacrifice to confine the Black King to the central files. The game is particularly impressive because of several variations in which White had to judge that his initiative would persist even after the exchange of Queens.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. e5 Ng4
5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O g6 7. Re1 Bg7 8. h3 Nh6 9. Nc3 b6 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4
c5 {If Black can consolidate and complete his development, he will stand well with his two Bishops, so White must act at once.} 12. Nc6 Qd7 {Black discovers that he cannot exchange Queens -- 12...Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Bb7 14.Nb5! Bxc6 15.Nc7+ Kf8 16.Nxa8, and he cannot recapture because of the mate threat at d8.} 13. Nxe7 Kxe7 {There were many defenses to consider. The obvious 13...Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Kxe7 works poorly after 15.Bg5+! Ke6 16.Rd6+ Kf5 17.f4; the threat is 18.Bxh6 and 19.Rf6++, and 17...Ng8 allows 18.g4++, while 17...Be6 runs into 18.Ne2 Ke4 19.Ng3+ Ke3 20.Re1++. There remains only 17...Bxe5, surrendering material after 18.Rd5 f6 19.Bxh6. Slightly better than the game was 13...Qxe7, but Black is still in trouble after 14. Nd5 Qd8 15.Nf6+ Bxf6 [or 15....Ke7 16.Bg5] 16.exf6+.} 14. Bxh6 Bxh6 15. Qf3 Bg7 16.
Nd5+ Kd8 {Other moves also have their drawbacks -- 16...Ke8 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.exf6+ and 19.Qxa8, or 16...Kf8 17.e6 Qb7 18.e7+ Ke8 19.Qf6! Qxd5 20.Qxg7 Qd4 21.Re5.} 17. Rad1 Bb7 18. Qb3 Bc6 {There is no escape -- 18...Kc8 is answered by 19.Nxb6+ and 18...Ke8 by 19.Nf6+.} 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. Qxf7 Bxe5
21. Rxd7+ Bxd7 22. Rxe5 Kc7 23. Re7 Rad8 24. a4 g5 25. Qd5 Rhe8 26. Rxh7 g4
27. a5 gxh3 28. axb6+ Kxb6 29. Rxd7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Bisguier, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{Bisguier plays with the recklessness of an angry bull charging a locomotive in this rare sideline of the Petrov Defense. The final move alone is worth the price of admission.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 {Another try for advantage is 5. d4 exd4 5. e5 Ne4 6. Qe2!? (Fischer-German, Stockholm 1962 instead of 7. Qxd4 d5.} 3... d6 {Necessary. A standard trap is 3...Nxe4? 4. Qe2 d5 5. d3 Qe7 6. dxe4 Qxe5 7. exd5 gaining a pawn.} 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4 { Playable but rather harmless, this offbeat alternative to 5. d4 was introduced by Dr. Kaufmann of Vienna in the 1890s. Also the endgame after 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Be7 is rather drawish (Spassky - Petrosian, 15th match game 1969).} 5... d5 6. Nc3 Bc5 {Black provokes White's next gain of tempo in order to win a pawn, but he has no hold on the center, his King is not yet castled, and his development lags. Safer is 5...Nf6.} 7. d4 Bb4 8. Qb3 c5 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. O-O {"White uses his advantage energetically and with classic simplicity" -- Hans Kmoch.} 10... Nxc3 11.
bxc3 Bxc3 {Not only attacking a rook but also preventing a check on the King file. But it is the setting for a debacle.} 12. Bb2 Bxb2 13. Rae1+ {A vital in-between-move. The point is that Black must nove his king, thus forfeiting the right to castle.} 13... Kf8 14. Qxb2 cxd4 15. cxd5 Nd7 {Trying desperately to catch up in development. Not 15...Qxd5? 16. Qb4+ Kg8 17. Re8 mate.} 16. Qxd4 Nf6 17. Qe5 Qc5 18. Ng5 Bd7 19. Ne4 Nxe4 {19...Qxd5? loses a piece to 20. Nxf6.} 20. Rxe4 Re8 21. Qf4 Qxd5 22. Rfe1 Rxe4 {Unwise is 22...Qxd3? 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 24. Qb4+.} 23. Bxe4 Qe6 24. Qb8+ Be8 25. Qxa7 b6 {Black defended sensibly but can't recover from his faulty opening. Only 25...g6 offers some fighting chances but White is still on top after 26. Qxb7 Qxa2 27. Qb4+ Kg7 28. Qd4+.} 26. Qa3+ Qe7 {Also futile is 26...Kg8 27. Bxh7+ and Rxe6 next.} 27. Bc6 {The point is 27...Qxa3 28. Rxe8 mate. Black was hoping for drawing chances after 27. Qxe7+ Kxe7 28. Bxh7+. Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Bled"]
[Date "1959"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Smyslov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]

{Throughout the 1950's it seemed that the duel between Botvinnik and Smyslov would continue until the years took their toll on the older player. It was then that Tal arrived on the scene, and his imagination, daring and calculating ability brought him to the World Championship in 1960. In this game from the 1959 Candidates' Tournament, he downs Smyslov with a sustained initiative and a flurry of combinations.} 1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 4.
Ngf3 Nd7 5. d4 {Despite the seeming loss of time, White in this variation of the Caro-Kann forces open the center before Black has completed his development.} 5... dxe4 6. Nxe4 exd4 7. Qxd4 Ngf6 8. Bg5 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O
10. Nd6 Qa5 11. Bc4 b5 12. Bd2 Qa6 13. Nf5 Bd8 14. Qh4 bxc4 15. Qg5 Nh5 { Black is in serious trouble -- after 15...g6 16.Bc3 White has many threats, starting with 17.Qh6 gxf5 18.Rxd7 Bxd7 19.Ng5, with unavoidable mate.} 16.
Nh6+ Kh8 17. Qxh5 Qxa2 18. Bc3 Nf6 19. Qxf7 Qa1+ {Not 19...Rxf7 20.Rxd8+ Ng8 21.Rxg8++.} 20. Kd2 Rxf7 {Even worse is 20...Qxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rxf7 22.Nxf7+ Kg8 23.Nxd8, and White is a piece ahead.} 21. Nxf7+ Kg8 22. Rxa1 Kxf7 23. Ne5+
Ke6 24. Nxc6 Ne4+ 25. Ke3 Bb6+ 26. Bd4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Leipzig Olympics"]
[Site "East Germany"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Letelier, R."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]

{In a hunt for material, Letelier overextends his center but neglects to safeguard his rear. His hapless monarch, unable to castle, is soon forced to abdicate.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. e5 {Now White has his center to defend. He should resist this temptation and pursue orderly development with 5. Nf3 or f3.} 5... Ne8 6. f4 d6 7. Be3 {7. Nf3 dxe5 8. dxe5 leads to a better foothold in the center.} 7... c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd6
{Overly aggressive. Safer is 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. Be2.} 9... exd6 10. Ne4 {A further violation of principle by moving the same piece twice. More realistic is 10. Nf3.} 10... Bf5 11. Ng3 {"The only chance lay in the consistent 11. Nxd6 Nxd6 12. Qxd6 Qxd6 13. exd6 Bxb2 14. Rd1 Nb4! 15. Kf2 Nxa2 16. Ne2 a5" -- Fischer.} 11... Be6 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. Qb1 {One contortion leads to another.} 13... dxe5 14. f5 e4 {Opening lines for a quick kill.}
15. fxe6 exf3 16. gxf3 f5 17. f4 Nf6 18. Be2 Rfe8 19. Kf2 Rxe6 {Regaining the pawn with an overwhelming position. The finish is elegant.} 20. Re1 Rae8
21. Bf3 Rxe3 22. Rxe3 Rxe3 23. Kxe3 Qxf4+ {Inviting 23. Kxf4 Bh6 mate. If 23. Kf2 Ng4+ 24. Kg2 Ne3+ 26. Kf2 Nd4 27. Qh1 Ng4+ 28. Kf1 Nxf3 is lethal. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E69"]

{By mixing it up with his famous opponent and launching wild sacrifices, Tal won the title 12.5 - 8.5. This game is typical. At a critical moment Botvinnik goes astray when posed with problems that are hard to solve over the board.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7.
O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 Qb6 10. d5 {Locking the center to avoid surprises.}
10... cxd5 11. cxd5 Nc5 12. Ne1 {12. Re1 is a better try for an advantage.}
12... Bd7 13. Nd3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Rfc8 {Already Black has achieved easy equality.} 15. Rb1 Nh5 16. Be3 Qb4 17. Qe2 Rc4 18. Rfc1 Rac8 19. Kh2 f5 20.
exf5 Bxf5 21. Ra1 Nf4 {Typical Tal. He prefers to sacrifice a piece rather than retreat by 21...Nf6.} 22. gxf4 exf4 23. Bd2 Qxb2 24. Rab1 f3 25. Rxb2 { The losing move. Subsequent analysis showed that White can win with 25. Bxf3! Bxb1 26. Rxb1 Qc2 27. Be4! Rxe4 28. Nxe4 Qxb1 29. Nxd6 Rf8 30. Qe6+.}
25... fxe2 26. Rb3 Rd4 27. Be1 {No better is 27. Be3 Rxc3 28. Rbxc3 Rd1.}
27... Be5+ 28. Kg1 Bf4 {A quicker win is 28...Rxc3! 29. Rbxc3 Rd1 30. Rc4 Bb2.} 29. Nxe2 Rxc1 30. Nxd4 Rxe1+ 31. Bf1 Be4 {Black's extra pawn is now decisive.} 32. Ne2 Be5 33. f4 Bf6 34. Rxb7 Bxd5 {Now if 35. Rxa7? Rxe2 36. Bxe2 Bd4+ and Bxa7 wins.} 35. Rc7 Bxa2 36. Rxa7 Bc4 37. Ra8+ Kf7 38. Ra7+
Ke6 39. Ra3 d5 40. Kf2 Bh4+ 41. Kg2 Kd6 42. Ng3 Bxg3 43. Bxc4 dxc4 44. Kxg3
Kd5 45. Ra7 c3 46. Rc7 Kd4 47. Rd7+ {...and White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E69"]

{Tal was famous for making intuitive sacrifices that were hard to refute but not completely sound. This strategy helped him wrest the title from Botvinnik in their first title match. When critics upbraided Tal, he replied: "Extraordinarily tense, full-blooded struggles that are absolutely without any mistakes are only to be found in distant interplanetary chess tournaments".} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7
7. O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 {This move is generally considered necessary to prevent the bishop from getting harassed by ...Ng4 after it gets to e3. For 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 Qb6 see Botvinnik-Smyslov, 1954.} 9... Qb6 10. d5 cxd5
11. cxd5 Nc5 12. Ne1 Bd7 13. Nd3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Rfc8 {"A critical position. I took a long time to choose which plan to use. A detailed analysis proved that 14...Ne8 14. Be3 Qd8 is worth consideration. White cannot create any real threat on the queenside and Black carries out ...f5 without any trouble".-- Tal.} 15. Rb1 {Subsequently, the position of the rook gives Black a very important tempo. Instead Tal suggests 15. Qe2.} 15... Nh5 16. Be3 Qb4
17. Qe2 Rc4 18. Rfc1 Rac8 19. Kh2 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Ra1 Nf4 {"In my opinion the arguments which this move raised were completely pointless. All the other continuations are bad, and if the Knight sacrifice is incorrect, then a question mark should be placed after Black's 17th move". -- Tal.} 22.
gxf4 exf4 23. Bd2 {Another critical line is 23. a3 Qb3 24. Bxa7 Be5. "It is possible that subsequently there will be found a way to strengthen White's defense, but I am sure the double-edged Knight sacrifice on f4 appeared to be a correct decision". -- Tal.} 23... Qxb2 24. Rab1 f3 25. Rxb2 {Botvinnik finally buckles under the strain. After 25. Bxf3 Bxb1 26. Rxb1 Qc2 27. Rc1 (later it was found that 27. Be4!! Rxe4 28. Nxe4!! Qxb1 29. Nxd6 Rf8 30. Qe6 gives White a better ending) Qb2 (if 27...Qf5 28. Bg4 Qe5 29. Qxe5 Bxe5 30. f4 Rxc3 31. Bxc8 wins) 28. Rc1 draws by repetition.} 25... fxe2 26. Rb3 Rd4
27. Be1 Be5+ 28. Kg1 Bf4 {Missing a quick win by 28...Rxc3! 29. Rbxc3 Rd1.}
29. Nxe2 Rxc1 30. Nxd4 Rxe1+ 31. Bf1 Be4 32. Ne2 {Not 32. Rxb7 Bd3. With two active Bishops and an extra pawn, Black's win should be a matter of proper technique.} 32... Be5 33. f4 Bf6 34. Rxb7 Bxd5 {Inviting 35. Rxa7? Rxe2! 36. Bxe2 Bd4 37. Kf1 Bxa7.} 35. Rc7 Bxa2 36. Rxa7 Bc4 {Now not 36...Rxe2? 37. Ra8! Kg7 38. Bxe2.} 37. Ra8+ Kf7 38. Ra7+ Ke6 39. Ra3 d5 {There's no rush. White has some drawing chances after 39...Bxe2 40. Re3 Kf5 41. Rxe2.} 40.
Kf2 Bh4+ 41. Kg2 Kd6 42. Ng3 Bxg3 43. Bxc4 dxc4 44. Kxg3 Kd5 45. Ra7 c3 46.
Rc7 Kd4 {The game was adjourned and Botvinnik saw no way to save it, so he resigned.} 0-1

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugayevsky, L."]
[Black "Petrosian, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E54"]

{Petrosian gets caught in the opening and is slaughtered by a 22- year-unknown, who captured the coveted Soviet crown seven years later. Polugayevsky prosecutes his attack with great elan.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4 b6 9. Qe2 {It's hard to squeeze anything tangible out of this solid defense. Just for the record White has a half dozen plausible moves: 9. Qd3 and a3 are most frequently seen.} 9... Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7 {More usual is 10...cxd4 11. cxd4 Nbd7 to provide a retreat for the bishop at e7.} 11. d5 Bxc3 12. dxe6 Ba5
13. exd7 Qc7 {An innocent-looking offender. Correct is 13...Qe7 14. e4 Rad8 15. Bg5 Qxe4 16. Qxe4 Bxe4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 and Black drew the ending in Najdorf-Smyslov, Havana 1962.} 14. e4 Nxd7 {14...Bxe4 15. Bg5 leaves Black in a hopeless tangle.} 15. Ng5 Rad8 {Meets with a charming refutation. But 15...Ne5 16. Bf4 Rae8 17. Qh5 h6 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 19. Bxe5 Rxe5 20. Qxf7+! Qxf7 21. Rd8+ Kh7 22. Bxf7 also wins.} 16. Bxf7+ Rxf7 17. Ne6 Qc8 18. Nxd8 Ba6 { The only hope; on 18...Qxd8 19. e5 decides.} 19. Qe3 Re7 20. Qb3+ c4 21. Qa3
Nc5 {Also inadequate is 21...Qxd8 22. Bg5.} 22. Be3 Rxe4 23. Bxc5 Qxc5 24.
Qf3 {Black never saw daylight. If 24...Re7 25. Ne6 Rxe8 26. Rd8 mates. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrosian, T."]
[Black "Unzicker, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]

{With his quiet, positional style, Petrosian failed to excite the chess public as did the charismatic Tal, but at his best few could match his depth of conception. Here he paralyzes the Black position by controlling the only open file, then sets off on a long King march to prepare the decisive breakthrough.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 d5 4. c4 c6 5. Qc2 Be7 6. e3 O-O
7. Nc3 h6 8. Bf4 Nbd7 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Bd3 a6 11. O-O b5 12. a4 b4 13. Na2
Ne8 14. Nc1 a5 15. Nb3 Ba6 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. Qd3 Ra7 18. Rfc1 Nd6 19. Bxd6
Bxd6 20. Rc6 Nb8 21. Rc2 Nd7 22. Rac1 Nb6 23. Qb5 Nc4 24. Nfd2 Nxd2 25. Rxd2
Qa8 26. Rdc2 Rd8 27. Rc6 g6 28. g3 Kg7 29. Kf1 Kg8 30. h4 h5 {Now White sets out on a remarkable plan -- he will transfer his King to b1, advance his Kingside pawns to open another file, and launch a direct attack on the Black King. Black cannot answer in kind, for the White Rooks on the c-file make that part of the board quite unsafe for him.} 31. R1c2 Kg7 32. Ke1 Kg8 33.
Kd1 Kh7 34. Kc1 Kg8 35. Kb1 Kh7 36. Qe2 Qb7 37. Rc1 Kg7 38. Qb5 Qa8 39. f4
Kh7 40. Qe2 Qb7 41. g4 hxg4 42. Qxg4 Qe7 43. h5 Qf6 44. Ka2 Kg7 45. hxg6
Qxg6 46. Qh4 Be7 47. Qf2 Kf8 48. Nd2 Rb7 49. Nb3 Ra7 50. Qh2 Bf6 51. Rc8 Rd7
52. Nc5 b3+ {Or 52...Ra7 53.f5 Qxf5 54.Rxd8+ Bxd8 55.Qb8, winning a piece.}
53. Kxb3 Rd6 54. f5 Rb6+ 55. Ka2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gligoric, S."]
[Black "Bobotsov, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]

{An important theoretical game. Today it looks like old hat, but Gligoric's Queen sacrifice was a trail blazer.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11.
Bd3 b5 {More active is 11...g5! 12. fxg5 Ne5.} 12. e5 Bb7 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14.
Bg6+ Kf8 {On 14...Kd8 15. Qh3! dxe5 16. Qxe6 steps up the pressure.} 15.
exf6 Bxf3 16. fxe7+ Kg8 17. gxf3 Nf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. e8=Q+ Rxe8 20. Bxe8
d5 {Later analysis revealed Black might be able to hold a draw with 20...Kf8! 21. Bh5 Rg8 22. f5 b4! 23. Ne4 Rg2.} 21. Rd4 Kh7 22. Bh5 Qc5 23.
Rhd1 Rc8 24. R1d2 f5 25. Ne2 Kg7 26. Kb1 Kf6 27. a3 a5 28. Ng3 b4 29. a4 Qc6
30. b3 Qc3 {It's only a matter of time before White breaks through on the either the g or e-file.} 31. R4d3 Qc5 32. Re2 Qg1+ 33. Kb2 Rc3 34. Rdd2 d4 { A little better is 34...Rc8 to prevent the bishop from escaping to e8.} 35.
Rg2 Qe3 36. Be8 d3 37. cxd3 Qe1 38. Rc2 Rxd3 39. Bb5 Rc3 {White forces mate after 39...Rd1 40. Nh5+ Kf7 41. Rg7+ Kf8 42. Rc8+.} 40. Bc4 Rxc2+ 41. Rxc2
e5 42. fxe5+ Qxe5+ 43. Ka2 f4 44. Ne4+ Kg6 45. Rg2+ Kh5 46. Nf2 Qe8 47. Bd3
Kh4 48. Rg4+ Kh5 49. Bg6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match Moscow vs. Leningrad"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vassily Smyslov"]
[Black "Boris Spassky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]

{Smyslov's best games are characterized by an absence of error combined with apparently simple but powerful positional maneuvers. Here, he effortlessly demolishes a future world champion in a seemingly equal position by retreating his Queen to the first rank, in order to exploit weak dark squares. A nice illustration of how to use the sweep of two Bishops to switch an attack from one flank to the other.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 a6 {"An old opening system which first occurred in 19th century games of the brothers Louis and Wilfred Paulsen. It is characterized by the development of the Queen at c7 followed by b5 and has become very popular in our time". -- Smyslov.} 5. c4 Nc6 {Spassky deviates from the usual 5...Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 which is satisfactory for Black.} 6. Nc3 Bc5 7. Nb3 Bb4 8. Bd3 Nge7
9. O-O O-O {Black's last chance to double the pawns by 9...Bxc3 before castling.} 10. Qc2 Bxc3 {It's unwise to swap a bishop for a Knight without provocation. Better is 10...Ne5 11. Be2 Qc7 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 with chances to equalize. Now White's advantage of the two Bishops becomes very real.} 11. Qxc3 d5 12. Be3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Qc7 14. Rac1 Rd8 {This turns out badly. Better is 14...Bd7 right away.} 15. f4 Bd7 {At first glance, Black seems to have successfully completed his development with a solid but cramped position.} 16. Qe1 {A subtle retreat, aimed at increasing the pressure against b6 combined with kingside threats.} 16... b6 {No relief is offered by 16...b5 17. Be2 Be8 18. Qf2 Rab8 19. Nc5 invading on the weak dark squares.} 17. Qf2 Rdb8 {Moving the rook again shows why his 14th move was wrong.} 18. f5 Qc8 {Black cannot defend threats on both sides of the board. If 18...exf5 19. Bf4 wins the Exchange.} 19. Nd4 {Stronger than 19. f6 Ng6 20. fxg7 Qe8 when Black can resist by controlling the strong square e5 with his knight.} 19... Nxd4 {"It is difficult to suggest anything better. After 19...e5 20. Nxc6 Nxc6 21. Bd5 Qe8 22. f6 White's attack is very dangerous, while if 19...exf5 20. exf5 with the threat of f6" -- Smyslov.} 20. Bxd4 Nc6 21. fxe6 Bxe6 22. Bxe6 {Now 22...Qxe6 is met by 23. Rxc6! Qxc6 24. Qxf7 and mate next. An impresive crush. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C36"]

{Spassky confronts Bronstein with his own favorite weapon -- the King's Gambit. The finale is featured (without credit) in the James Bond movie "To Russia With Love".} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Bd6 5. Nc3 Ne7 { More usual is 5...Nf6.} 6. d4 O-O 7. Bd3 Nd7 8. O-O h6 {Losing time. Better is 8...Nf6.} 9. Ne4 Nxd5 10. c4 Ne3 11. Bxe3 fxe3 12. c5 Be7 13. Bc2 Re8 14.
Qd3 e2 15. Nd6 {White can keep the upper hand without risk by 15. Rf2 Nf8 16. Ne5 but Spassky already feels the lure of immortality.} 15... Nf8 {Black might draw by 15...exf1=Q+ 16. Rxf1 Bxd6 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. exd6 cxd6 19. Qh8+ Ke7 20. Re1+ Ne5 21. Qxg7 Rg8 22. Rxh6 Qb6 23. Kh1 Be6 24. dxe5 d5.} 16.
Nxf7 exf1=Q+ 17. Rxf1 Bf5 {If 17...Kxf7? 18 Ne5+ Kg8 19. Bb3+ leads to mate. The best practical chance is 17...Qd5 18. Bb3 Qxb3 19. Qxb3 Be6.} 18. Qxf5
Qd7 19. Qf4 Bf6 20. N3e5 Qe7 {20...Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 holds out longer.} 21.
Bb3 Bxe5 22. Nxe5+ Kh7 23. Qe4+ {Black Resigns. The Queen falls on 23...g6 24. Rf7+ and 23...Kh8 24. Rxf8+ followed by Ng6+ mates shortly.} 1-0

[Event "Leipzig Olympiad"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C17"]

{Any contest between these two giants arouses interest, and this could have gone either way. After a seesaw struggle it settles in a draw by perpetual check -- a valid if frustrating result.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5
c5 5. a3 Ba5 {Unpopular retreat -- but never refuted.} 6. b4 cxd4 {Also playable is 6...cxb4 7. Nb5 Nc6 8. Nf3 a6 9. Nd6+ Kf8 10. Bd3 b3+ 11. Kf1 Bc7.} 7. Qg4 Ne7 8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nbc6 {Theory says White stands better on 10...Nd7 11. Nf3 Nf8 12. Qd3 Qxa5 13. h4! (Smyslov-Botvinnik, 9th match game 1954.)} 11. Nf3 Qc7 {There's nothing wrong with 11...Qxa5 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Bf4 Bd7 14. Bg3 O-O-O (Damjanovich-Udovcich, Yugoslavia 1963).} 12. Bb5 Bd7 {White's h-pawn heads for a touchdown after 12...Rxg2 13. Kf1! Rg8 14. Rg1! Rxg1+ 15. Kxg1.} 13.
O-O O-O-O 14. Bg5 {Underestimating Black's reply. Fischer claims he missed a win with 14. Bxc6! Bxc6 15. Qxf7 d4 16. Qxe6+ Bd7 17. Qxe7 Rxg2+ 18. Kxg2 Bh3+ 19. Kxh3 Qxe7 20. Bg5 with a decisive material advantage as soon as White can consolidate.} 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxb5 16. Nxf7 {Leads to an exciting draw. White could maintain some tension with 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Rfe1.} 16... Bxf1 17. Nxd8 Rxg5 18. Nxe6 Rxg2+ 19. Kh1 {But not the hasty 19. Kxf1? Rxh2 20. Qf7 Rh1+ 21. Kg2 Qh2+ 22. Kf3 Qh3+ and wins.} 19... Qe5
20. Rxf1 Qxe6 21. Kxg2 Qg4+ {In view of his material deficit Black must take the perpetual check after 22. Kh1 Qf3+ etc.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "17th Match Game, Moscow"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]

{The Latvian whirlwind Mikhail Tal became the youngest champion in chess history (age 23) in 1960. To this day he remains one of the most inventive minds over the chess board. In this key game, just when Tal's attack seems to have hit a wall, Botvinnik stumbles in time trouble and is overwhelmed with mating threats.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6
6. Bc4 e6 7. N1e2 Nf6 8. Nf4 Bd6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. O-O Qa5 12.
f4 {This strange move locks White's bishop on the g5 square, but helps control the center. It was typical of Tal, the magician of the chessboard, to play bizarre and confusing moves.} 12... O-O-O 13. a3 Qc7 14. b4 Nb6 15.
Be2 Be7 16. Qd3 Nfd5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. c4 Nf6 19. Rab1 Qd7 20. Rbd1 Kb8 21.
Qb3 Qc7 22. a4 {The beginning of an attack against the King.} 22... Rh4 23.
a5 Nc8 24. Qe3 Ne7 25. Qe5 Rhh8 {Not 25...Qxe5 26. fxe5 Nd7 27. Rxf7} 26. b5
cxb5 27. Qxb5 a6 28. Qb2 Rd7 29. c5 Ka8 30. Bf3 Nc6 31. Bxc6 Qxc6 32. Rf3 { Tal's steady pressure has been met by Botvinnik's accurate defense. Now Tal begins a direct attack, threatening 33. Rb3, 34. Rb6 and 35. c6. Botvinnik must defend actively.} 32... Qa4 33. Rfd3 Rc8 34. Rb1 Qxa5 35. Rb3 Qc7 36.
Qa3 Ka7 37. Rb6 Qxf4 38. Ne2 Qe4 39. Qb3 Qd5 {Black must play 39...Ka8 with chances to defend.} 40. Rxa6+ Kb8 {Black is mated after 40...bxa6 41. Qb6+ Ka8 42. Qxa6+ Ra7 43. Qxc8.} 41. Qa4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Nimzowitsch Memorial"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1960"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bent Larsen"]
[Black "Efim Geller"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]

{"I consider this one of my best games ever. I like its logical progress, the queenside action prepared for the destruction of the enemy pawn center, and after this the direct attack against the King became possible" -- Larsen.} 1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 {3...e4 4. Nd4 leads to an Alekhine's Defense reversed where White has a move in hand.} 4. O-O Nf6 {After 4...e4 5. Ne1 followed by d3 Black has his center to defend.} 5. c4 d4 {If 5...dxc4 6. Qa4. Clearly unfavorable now is 5...e4? 6. Ng5 h6 7. cxd5 Qxd5 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. d3.} 6. d3 Bd6 7. Na3 O-O {Few masters like to swap a bishop for a Knight but Larsen considers even 7...Bxa3 playable.} 8. Rb1 Re8 9. Nc2 a5
10. b3 h6 11. a3 Bf5 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 Qd7 14. b5 Nd8 {The game is roughly even and White now tries to undermine Black's center.} 15. e3 dxe3
16. Nxe3 Bh7 {Better is 16...Bh3 although White retains an edge with 17. d4. } 17. Bb2 c6 18. Ra1 {Contesting the only open file. If Black replies 18...Rc8 then 19. d4 is coming.} 18... Rxa1 19. Qxa1 cxb5 {Riskier is 19...Bxd3 20. Rd1 Be2 21. Nxe5.} 20. Nxe5 Qc7 21. Nf3 Be7 {Too dangerous is 21...Bxd3 22. Bxf6 Bxf1 23. Nd5! Qxc4 24. Nd2!} 22. Rc1 {"For me this was the most difficult move of the game. 22...Bxd3 is met by 23. Nd5" -- Larsen. } 22... bxc4 23. dxc4 Qb6 24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. cxd5 Bf8 26. Bd4 Qb3 27. Ne5 b5 { In serious time trouble, Black rejects 27...Bf5 28. g4 Necessary is 27...Qb5 to stop Nd7.} 28. Nd7 Ba3 {Black lacks a good defense. If 28...Qa3 29. Bxg7 snares a pawn. Or 28...f6 29. Bxf6!} 29. Bxg7 Bxc1 30. Nf6+ Kxg7 31. Nxe8+
Kf8 32. Qh8+ Ke7 {Suddenly the dazed King must wander into the open. No better is 32...Bg8 33. Nf6.} 33. d6+ Kd7 34. Nf6+ Kc8 35. Bh3+ Kb7 36. Qxd8
Qd1+ 37. Kg2 Bd3 38. Bc8+ Ka8 39. Qa5+ {Black resigns, as mate is unavoidable after 39...Kb8 40. Qc7 Ka8 41. Qb7.} 1-0

[Event "Bled"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gligoric, S."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E98"]

{This draw has the charm of perfection. The timing and ingenuity produces a harmonious flow of movement, like a graceful ballet.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 {If 8. Be3 Re8! 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8 (Larsen-Fischer, Monaco 1968) 10...Rxd8! 11. Bg5 Rf8! is roughly equal.} 8... Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 {The older 10. f3 f5 11. Be3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 gives Black good attacking prospects.} 10... f5 11. exf5 Nxf5 { Also playable is 11...gxf5 12. f4 Ng6. After the text Black's grip on d4 offsets White's grip on e4.} 12. f3 Nf6 13. Nf2 Nd4 14. Nfe4 Nh5 15. Bg5 Qd7
16. g3 h6 17. Be3 c5 {An intricate pawn sacrifice. On 17...Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 g5 19. c5 White would have a comfortable space advantage.} 18. Bxd4 exd4 19.
Nb5 a6 20. Nbxd6 d3 {Giving up a second pawn to open the diagonal for his bishop on g7. A fine concept. Black gets adequate counterplay after 21. Bxd3 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Nxg3+ 23. Nxg3 Qxd6.} 21. Qxd3 Bd4+ 22. Kg2 {Another try is 22. Rf2!? On 22. Kh1 Nxg3+ 23. Nxg3 Qxd6 White retains his extra pawn but his weak squares provide Black with even chances.} 22... Nxg3 {Anyway! Black had to visualize this resource and determine its soundness when he began this adventure at move 17.} 23. Nxc8 {Unclear is 23. Nxg3 Qxd6 24. Rab1. White is a pawn ahead but has a weak kingside.} 23... Nxf1 24. Nb6 Qc7 {Blow for blow. Black threatens mate-in-2.} 25. Rxf1 Qxb6 26. b4 Qxb4 {Too precarious is 26...cxb4 27. c5! Bxc5 28. Nxc5 Qxc5 29. Qxg6+.} 27. Rb1 Qa5 {Black can hold after 28. Rxb7 Rf7.} 28. Nxc5 Qxc5 29. Qxg6+ Bg7 30. Rxb7 Qd4 31. Bd3
Rf4 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Qg6 {33...Kg8 34. Qe6+ draws by repetition. Neither side dares disturb the surface tension.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Los Angeles"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, S."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D42"]

{For pure excitement it is hard to match the "desperado" tactics which predominate in the middle game. Reshevsky emerges with the better of it but the clock proves to be his undoing.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
Nxd5 5. Nf3 c5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bd3 Be7 {Another plan is 7...cxd4 8. exd4 g6.}
8. O-O O-O 9. a3 cxd4 10. exd4 Nf6 {R. Byrne-Bisguier, USA Championship 1964, led to equality by 10...Bd7 11. Qc2 g6 12. Bh6 Re8 13. Qe2 f5 14. Nc3 Bf6.} 11. Bc2 b6 12. Qd3 Bb7 13. Bg5 g6 14. Rfe1 Re8 15. h4 Rc8 16. Rac1 Nd5
17. Ne4 f5 {Triggering incredible complications.} 18. Nc3 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Nf4
20. Qe3 Qxd4 21. Nb5 Qxe3 {Best. Fischer gives 21...Qd5 22. Qxf4 Qxb5 23. Nxe6 Qxb2 24. Qh6! with an irresistible attack.} 22. fxe3 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 Nd4+
24. Be4 {"I can still hear the audience gasping with each blow, thinking each of us had overlooked it in turn. 'Fischer is winning!' or 'Reshevsky is winning!' The true state of affairs will crystallize in a matter of moves" -- Fischer.} 24... Bxe4+ 25. Nxe4 Nxb5 26. Nf6+ Kf7 27. Nxe8 Rxe8 28. a4 Nd6
29. Rc7+ Kf6 {Black can ill-afford to part with his rook after 29...Re7 30. Rec1.} 30. Rec1 {To maintain control of the c-file. On 30. Rxa7 Rc8!} 30...
h6 31. Rxa7 Ne4 32. Ra6 Rd8 33. Rc2 {The best way to preserve winning chances. Fischer gives 33. Rxb6 Rd2+ 34. Kg1 g5 35. Rcc6 g4 36. Rxe6+ Kg5 38. Rh6 f4 with even chances.} 33... Rd3 34. Rxb6 Rxe3 35. a5 f4 36. Rf2 { Short of time, Reshevsky returns material and banks on his queenside pawns. But he should allow a draw with 36. a6! f3+ 37. Kf1 Rd3, etc.} 36... Nxf2
37. Kxf2 Re5 38. b4 Re3 39. a6 Ra3 {Now White is stymied and Black is ready to mobilize his kingside pawns.} 40. Rc6 {The only hope is 40. b5 but this was the last move of the time control and White relied on instinct, not calculation.} 40... g5 41. hxg5+ hxg5 42. b5 g4 43. Rc8 Kf5 44. b6 g3+ 45.
Ke1 Ra1+ 46. Ke2 g2 47. Rf8+ Ke4 48. Rxf4+ Kxf4 49. b7 g1=Q {Sharper is 49...Ke4! 50. b8=Q Ra2+ 51. Ke1 g1=Q mate! The text also wins -- by a hair.}
50. b8=Q+ Kf5 51. Qf8+ Ke4 52. Qa8+ Kd4 53. Qd8+ Kc4 54. Qd3+ Kc5 55. Qc3+
Kd6 56. Qd2+ Ke5 57. Qb2+ Kf5 {After 58. Qb5+ Kf6 59. Qb2+ e5 stops the torrent of checks and Black's material superiority can finally prevail. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gaspariantz,"]
[Black "Eidlin,"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B98"]

{Two unknowns enrich the theory of the notorious Goteborg Variation which came into being one day at the 1955 Swedish Interzonal when three Argentinians (Najdorf, Panno, Pilnik) suffered terrible defeats with this secret weapon at the hands of three Soviet stars (Keres, Geller and Spassky, respectively).} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5
e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 g5 {A remarkable idea. Black voluntarily smashes open his kingside to obtain domination over e5. It's even more remarkable that as a result of many games with this sharp variation theory now regards it as drawish! Nowadays 9...Qc7 is the prescription for maintaining tension.} 10. fxg5 Nfd7 11. Nxe6 {The same move those three Soviets chose on that fateful day when confronted with Black's surprise.}
11... fxe6 12. Qh5+ Kf8 13. Bb5 {The purpose of this thrust is to clear the way for castling. The bishop is also able to eliminate on d7 or c6 a Knight which can play a vital role in many lines.} 13... Rh7 {Panno lost after 13...Ne5 14. Bg3! Bxg5 15. O-O+ Ke7 16. Bxe5 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 dxe5 18. Qf7+. Najdorf and Pilnik promptly switched to 13...Kg7 but fared no better after 14. O-O Ne5 15. Bg3 Ng6 16. gxh6+ Rxh6 17. Rf7+ Kxf7 18. Qxh6 axb5 19. Rf1+. } 14. O-O+ {A good illustration of the creative evolution in opening theory. At the time this game was played Gligoric- Fischer, Portoroz 1958, was known to favor Black after 14. Qg6 Rf7 15. Qxh6+ Kg8 16. Qg6+ Rg7 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. O-O-O Ne5 20. Qd5 Bg4.} 14... Kg8 15. g6 Rg7 16. Qxh6
Bxh4 17. Rf7 Qf6 {This simplifies matters; the ramifications of 17...Rxf7 18. gxf7+ Kxf7 19. Qh7+ Kf8 appear to be drawish.} 18. Rxf6 Bxf6 19. Be2 Ne5
20. Bh5 Bd7 21. Rf1 Be7 {With a rook and two minor pieces for the queen, Black is in good shape.} 22. Rf7 Nxf7 23. gxf7+ Rxf7 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qh5+
{On 25...Kg7 26. Qg4+ Kf8 27. Qh5! forces a perpetual.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "28th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nezhmetdinov, R."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]

{The mighty Tal prey falls prey to the kind of dazzling tricks he usually inflicted on others. It's a unique experience to see him on the receiving end of a sacrifice for a change.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Qc7 8. f4 Nbd7 9. g4 {White's intentions are clearly anything but benign. Objectively better is 9. Bf3 but it's a sound psychological ploy to play aggressively against opponents who like to attack.} 9... b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. Bf3 Nc5 {Misplacing the knight. Correct is 11...h6!} 12. Qe2 e5 13. Nf5 g6 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nh6 {The Knight is curiously well posted here, mainly because of the pressure exerted on f7. Not the least of its merits is the prevention of castling.} 15... Ne6 16.
Bg2 Bg7 {Maybe Black should try 16...Bxh6 17. Bxh6 Nd4 18. Qd1 Qb6. Now he falls prey to a sacrifice that is far from obvious. It requires some intricate tactics to justify it.} 17. Rxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Qd8 {Rejecting 18...Bxd5 19. exd5 Nd4 20. Qf2 because of the dual threats of d6 or Qxf6.}
19. Qf2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. e5 {Opening lines. If now 21...Bh4 22. Nf6+ Qxf6 23. exf6 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Bxg2 25. Re1+ Kf8 26. Kxg2 Re8 27. Rd1 gives White a bind.} 21... Bxe5 22. Re1 f6 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Qd4 {Each blow is more powerful than the last.} 24... Kf8 {The point is 24...Bxg2 25. Rxe5+ Kf8 26. Rf5! wins.} 25. Rxe5 Qd8 26. Rf5+ gxf5 27. Qxh8+ Ke7 28. Qg7+ Ke6
29. gxf5+ {The Queen falls after 29...Kd6 30. Nf7+. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Bled"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Olafsson, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]

{Tal's intuition leads him into an unsound combination but he has the clock on his side and luck -- the luck of the strong. Indeed, how many players in the world would have found the refutation over-the-board?} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. a3 Nf6 8. f4 d6 { Transposing into the cramped but solid Scheveningen Variation. This is a critical moment; Black's move determines the character of the game. Against Yanofsky at Stockholm 1962 Olafsson decided to simplify with 8...Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Ng4 10. Bd2 Qc5 11. Qxc5 Bxc5 12. Nd1 d6 with equal chances.} 9. Qf3
Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O Bd7 12. Rae1 b5 13. Qg3 Kh8 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. e5 Ng8
{With the dubious idea of bringing this Knight to f5 via h6. Natural and better is 15...Ne8. White would still have attacking prospects, to be sure, but it would be hard to crash through since Black's kingside contains no organic weaknesses.} 16. Qh3 Nh6 17. f5 {Tal spent 40 minutes and later said he should have played 15. Kh1 instead of this premature sacrifice.} 17...
Nxf5 18. Rxf5 {There's no turning back. Bad is 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. exd6 Bxd6 20. Rxf5 Bd7.} 18... exf5 19. Bxf5 g6 20. Bd4 Kg8 {A few months afterwards some Moscow amateurs found 20...Qd8! 21. exd6+ Bf6 22. Qh4 Bg7! which forces simplifications and collapses Tal's combination.} 21. e6 Bg5 22. exf7+ Rxf7
23. Bxg6 Rg7 {23...Rf6 offers more resistance.} 24. Qe6+ Kh8 25. Be8 h6 26.
Bxc6 Qxc6 27. Ne4 Re8 28. Qg6 {Good enough but even simpler is 28. Qf7 Reg8 29. Nxg5 hxg5 30 Qh5 mate.} 28... Re7 29. h4 Qd5 30. Bxg7+ Rxg7 31. Qxd6
Qxd6 32. Nxd6 Bxh4 33. Re8+ Rg8 34. Nf7+ Kg7 35. Rxg8+ Kxg8 36. Nxh6+ Kh7
37. Nf5 Bg5 38. b3 {Black lost on time.} 1-0

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bagirov V."]
[Black "Kholmov R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C63"]

{Someone once said that chess is 99% tactics. This game illustrates a typical tactical trick in the rarely seen Schliemann Defense to the Ruy Lopez. Note especially the power of doubled rooks on an open file near the end.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 {It's a good idea to catch opponents by surprise with offbeat but unrefuted opening ploys.} 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2 { Better is 5. exf5; it's too early to post the Queen.} 5... Bc5 6. exf5 Qe7
7. Ne4 {Kholmov claims that 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Qxe5 Bxf2+! 9. Kf1 Qxe5 10. Nxe5 Bd4 11. Nf3 Bxc3 followed by Bxf5 only leads to equality. And Black is okay on 7. d3 Nd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd4.} 7... Nxe4 8. Qxe4 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Bxc6 bxc6
11. d4 {Black gets compensation for the pawn after 11. Qxc6 Bxf5 12. d3 Rab8 14. b3 Bg4! (if 14. Nd2 Be2!).} 11... Bxf5 12. Qe2 Bb6 13. dxe5 d5 14. h3
Be4 15. Ng5 Rf5 16. Nxe4 Rxe5 17. Qa6 Rxe4 18. Be3 Re8 19. Bxb6 cxb6 {Black has straightened out his pawns and now has undisputed control of the open e-file, but material is even.} 20. Qd3 Qf6 21. b3 h5 22. Rad1 R8e5 23. Qc3 { Preparing the faulty plan of contesting the e-file. More active is 23. c4 to strive for counterplay along the d-file.} 23... c5 24. Rfe1 {Black already has the initiative and trying to challenge the open file is both futile and fatal.} 24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Re2 {White resigns. Hobson's choice between getting mated or dropping a rook: 26. Qa1 Qxf2+. Or 26. Qxf6 Rxe1+ 27. Kh2 gxf6.} 0-1

[Event "Bled"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivkov, B."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]

{Both Queens disappear from the board after a sharp theoretical dispute. But White's attack still rages, and a storm soon descends upon the hapless Black monarch.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 {Striking at d4, the base of the pawn chain on e5.} 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4 {In the long run 7. Nf3 may be more reliable. The question is whether this excursion with the Queen is or is not premature.} 7... f5 8. Qg3 Ne7 {White gets a pull after 8...dxc4 9. cxd4 Ne7 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Bd3 b6 12. Ne2 Ba6 13.Nf4 Qd7 14. Bxa6 Nxa6 15. Qd3 Nb8 16. h4 (Reshevsky - Botvinnik, Moscow 1948.)} 9. Qxg7 Rg8
10. Qxh7 cxd4 11. Kd1 {Tal's idea in order to develop the Knight at f3 where it is more aggressive than at e2.} 11... Bd7 {Black scorches his kingside in return for powerful pressure on the other wing and in the center. 11...Nbc6 also is feasible.} 12. Qh5+ Kd8 13. Ne2 Ba4 {Lands in brackish waters since the bishop is needed where it is to defend e6. Correct is 13...dxc3.} 14.
Nf4 Qxe5 {On 14...Qxc3 15. Ra2 Bd7 16. Qf7 Qc6 17. h4 is hard to meet.} 15.
Qf7 Bd7 16. Bd3 Qd6 17. Re1 {Genuinely risky. Safer is 17. cxd4.} 17... e5 { Underestimating White's attack. The best chance is 17...Nbc6 18. Nxe6+ Bxe6 19. Rxe6 Qxh2.} 18. a4 Be8 {Relatively best. If 18...Nbc6 19. Ba3 Qh6 20. Nxd5! Nxd5 21. Qxg8+.} 19. Qe6 Qxe6 20. Nxe6+ Kd7 {Had he foreseen the sequel, he might have gone to c8 directly.} 21. Nc5+ Kc8 22. Rxe5 Nbc6 23.
Re2 Rxg2 24. Bxf5+ Kd8 {There is no good shelter. If 24...Kc7 (or 24...Nxf5 25. Rxe8+) 25. Bf4+ Kb6 26. Rb1+ Kxc5 27. Rb5+ Kc4 28. Bd3+ Kxc3 29. Bd2 mate.} 25. Nxb7+ Kc7 26. Bf4+ Ne5 {Disagreeably forced in view of 26...Kxb7 27. Rb1+ Ka6 28. Bd3+ Ka5 29. Bc7+ Kxa4 30. Ra1 mate.} 27. Rxe5 Nxf5 28.
Re7+ Kc6 29. Rc7+ Kb6 30. Rb1+ Ka6 31. Rc6+ {Inviting 31...Bxc6 32. Nc5+ Ka5 33. Bc7 mate. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Varna Olympics"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Hecht, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E13"]

{Sheer fantasy! Tal keeps finding an array of bewildering and unpredictable moves until his opponent drops from exhaustion.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ {Also seen frequently is 7...g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Qc2 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6.} 8. bxc3 d6 9. Nd2 e5 10. f3 Qe7
11. e4 Nbd7 12. Bd3 Nf8 13. c5 {Ultrasharp. Steadier is 13. Nf1 or O-O.}
13... dxc5 {13...g5 14. Bb5+! c6 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Nc4 transforms the positon drastically. On 13...bxc5 Tal said he was exploring 14. d5 to control c4 and b5 with hopes of exploiting the open b-file. This is murky.}
14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Qa4+ {Surprises follow with increasing regularity. Tal is determined to fight for the initiative come hell or high water.} 15... c6 { Tal said that on 15...N8d7 16. Qc2 his two Bishops plus the mobile center would compensate for the pawn, but this assessment is rather optimistic.}
16. O-O Ng6 {If 16...Qxc3 17. Nc4 Qxd3 18. Rad1 b5 19. Rxd3 bxa4 20. Nd6+ Ke7 21. Nf5+ Ke8 22. Nxg7+ Ke7 23. Nf5+ Kd8 24. Nd6+ Ke7 25. Nxb7 wins.} 17.
Nc4 Qe6 18. e5 b5 19. exf6 {This unexpected Queen sacrifice is just the beginning of an inspired combination.} 19... bxa4 20. fxg7 Rg8 21. Bf5 {With only a bishop as material compensation for the queen, White gives that away as well!} 21... Nxh4 {Taking everything in sight. If 21...Qxc4 22. Rfe1+ Qe6 23. Rxe6+! fxe6 24. Bxg6+ Kd7 25. Rd1+ Kc7 26. Bg3+ leads to a decisive attack.} 22. Bxe6 Ba6 23. Nd6+ Ke7 24. Bc4 Rxg7 25. g3 Kxd6 26. Bxa6 Nf5 { It's a pity that after defending so well Black falters in the absence of a threat. After 26...Rb8 he could hardly lose with an extra pawn.} 27. Rab1 f6
28. Rfd1+ Ke7 29. Re1+ Kd6 30. Kf2 c4 {Pitching a pawn to squirm out of a potential mating net.} 31. g4 Ne7 32. Rb7 Rag8 33. Bxc4 Nd5 34. Bxd5 cxd5
35. Rb4 Rc8 36. Rxa4 Rxc3 37. Ra6+ Kc5 {If 37...Rc6 38. Rxc6+ Kxc6 39. Re6+ and Rxf6 wins.} 38. Rxf6 h5 39. h3 hxg4 40. hxg4 Rh7 41. g5 Rh5 42. Rf5 Rc2+
{The sealed move and the game was adjourned but White's connected pawns are decisive.} 43. Kg3 Kc4 44. Ree5 d4 45. g6 Rh1 46. Rc5+ Kd3 47. Rxc2 Kxc2 48.
Kf4 Rg1 49. Rg5 {Inviting 49...Rxg5 50. Kxg5 d3 51. g7 d2 52. g8=Q d1=Q 53. Qb3+ Kd7 54. Qxd1+ Kxd1 55. f4, etc. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Curacao"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Efim Geller"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]

{This positional gem shows why Geller was one of the few players in the world with a plus score against Fischer (5 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws). "A little earlier at the Stockholm Interzonal Fischer had tried the flank development of his queen's bishop against me but had failed to equalize. It was clear to me that the American grandmaster would not simply abandon his favorite variation but would try to find an improvement for Black. And, of course, counter-measures were taken on my part so that his 10th move did not catch me unawares" -- Geller.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 {A month later in round 16 Fischer varied with 7...Be6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. a4 Be7 10. f4 Qc7 11. f5 and again landed in an inferior position.} 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Qc7 {Universally adopted then, but nowadays considered inaccurate. More precise is 9...Be6 followed by Nbd7.}
10. a4 Be6 {At Stockholm, Fischer had difficulties after 10...b6 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. f3 Bc6 13. Rfd1 Nbd7 14. Qe1 h6 15. Qf1 Qb7 16. Bc4 Rfc8 17. Rd2 Nf8 18. Nc3! Ng6 19. N1a2 aiming at d5 as the final destination.} 11. a5 Nbd7 12.
Nd5 Nxd5 {White also retains the upper hand on 12...Bxd5 13. exd5 b5 14. axb6 Nxb6 15. c4! But in general Fischer was reluctant to part with the two Bishops.} 13. exd5 Bf5 14. c4 Bg6 15. Rc1 Nc5 {"Fischer was obviously afraid of sharpening the position by 15...f5 16. c5 f4 17. cxd6 Qxd6 18. Bc5 Nxc5 19. Nxc5 but that is what he should have played, although White's position would have remained attractive. On the other hand, the attempt to blockade the critical c5 square proves illusory, and Black's game can no longer be saved" -- Geller.} 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. b4 Rac8 {17...cxb4 allows 18. Bb6 and c5 with a complete positional bind.} 18. Qb3 Bd6 19. Rfd1 Qe7 20. bxc5 Bxc5
21. Bxc5 Rxc5 22. Ra1 {"Without the transfer of this rook to b6 it is difficult for White to combine the threat of winning the b-pawn with the advance of his d-pawn" -- Geller.} 22... Rd8 23. Ra4 Bf5 24. Rb4 Bc8 25. Rb6
Rd6 {If 25...Rxa5 26. d6 Qd7 27. Bf3 wins the pawn on b7.} 26. Qb4 Qc7 27.
Rxd6 Qxd6 28. Rb1 Qc7 {More tenacious is 28...g6 so that if 29. Qa3 Rxd5!}
29. Qa4 Bd7 30. Qa3 Rxa5 31. Rxb7 Qxb7 32. Qxa5 g6 {"The idea conceived in the opening has been carried out, so to speak, in its purest form: the two connected passed pawns in the center are irresistible. All that is required of White now is accuracy" -- Geller.} 33. h3 Qb1+ 34. Kh2 Bf5 35. Qc3 Qe4
36. Bf3 Qd4 37. Qxd4 exd4 38. g4 Bc8 39. c5 a5 40. c6 Kf8 41. d6 {After this sealed move, Black resigned. If 41...Ke8 42. Bd1 Ba6 43. g5 Bb5 44. c7 Bd7 45. Ba4 forces the win. Or 41...a4 42. c7 a3 43. Bc6 a2 44. d7 Bxd7 45. Bxd7 a1=Q 46. c8=Q does the trick.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Bolbochan, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]

{Bolbochan, burdened with a bad bishop against a good knight, defends with extreme care but is gradually forced to retreat behind his own lines. Fischer's invasion on the weak squares, culminating in a keen combination, is a model of accuracy.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. h3 Nc6 {Too loosening is 6...e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. g4 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bg2.} 7. g4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 e5 9. Qd3 Be7 {More accurate is 9...Be6! so as to retreat the Knight to d7 without hemming in the Bishop.} 10. g5 Nd7 11. Be3
Nc5 {Better is 11...Bxg5 12. Bxg5 Qxg5 13. Qxd6 Qe7 holding White to a minimal edge.} 12. Qd2 Be6 13. O-O-O O-O 14. f3 Rc8 15. Kb1 Nd7 {Regrouping. The Knight has no future on c5 so Black tries to post it on b6 where it can leap to c4.} 16. h4 b5 17. Bh3 Bxh3 18. Rxh3 Nb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 {White won the fight for control of d5 and dominates the light colored squares.} 20.
Nd5 Qd8 21. f4 {It's instructive to watch how Fischer works with threats on both sides of the board to augment his positional superiority.} 21... exf4
22. Qxf4 Qd7 23. Qf5 Rcd8 24. Ra3 Qa7 25. Rc3 {"Objectively best is 25. Nxe7+ Qxe7 26. Rxa6 Rfe8 27. a4! But I was hoping to win in the middle game. Ironically I wouldn't have been awarded the brilliancy prize had I chosen the best line here. They don't give medals for endgame technique" -- Fischer.} 25... g6 26. Qg4 Qd7 27. Qf3 Qe6 28. Rc7 Rde8 29. Nf4 Qe5 30. Rd5
Qh8 {The Queen must cower in the corner.} 31. a3 h6 {Black defended a difficult position rather well, but his back is still to the wall. Fischer gives 31...f6 32. Qb3! Rf7 33. Rxd6 fxg5 34. hxg5 Qe5 35. Rf6! Rf8 36. Rxf7 Rxf7 37. Rc8+ Bf8 38. Ne6 and wins.} 32. gxh6 Qxh6 33. h5 Bg5 34. hxg6 fxg6
35. Qb3 Rxf4 {What else? If 35...Kh8 36. Nxg6+ Qxg6 37. Rxg5 Qxg5 38. Qh3+ mates.} 36. Re5+ Kf8 37. Rxe8+ {Now 37...Kxe8 38. Qe6+ Kf8 39. Qc8 mates. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Varna Olympics"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Najdorf, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]

{Here the originator of the Najdorf Variation encounters some surprising and effective tactics. After only 24 moves he is bound hand and foot, a victim of Fischer's supreme artistry.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 a6 6. h3 {A recommendation of Weaver Adams, author of a controversial pamphlet in the 1940s entitled "White to play and win".} 6... b5 7. Nd5 Bb7
{Black's troubles begin here. Better is 7...Nxe4 8. Qf3 Nc5 9. b4 e6 (if 9...Nb7 10. Qc3! is hard to meet) 10. bxc5 exd5 11. Qxd5 Ra7 with even chances.} 8. Nxf6+ gxf6 9. c4 bxc4 {By accepting the pawn Black subjects himself to tremendous pressure. More prudent is 9...Bxe4.} 10. Bxc4 Bxe4 11.
O-O d5 12. Re1 {A hard move to find, but the only one to sustain the initiative. Fischer gives 12...dxc4 13. Rxe4 Qd5 14. Qf3 e6 as the relatively best defense.} 12... e5 13. Qa4+ Nd7 {White gets a bind on 13...Qd7 14. Bb5! axb5 15. Qxa8 Bd6 16. Rxe4! dxe4 17. Qxe4.} 14. Rxe4 dxe4
15. Nf5 Bc5 16. Ng7+ Ke7 17. Nf5+ Ke8 {Now Black has lost the option of castling and his defensive task is hopeless.} 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Qb6 20.
Rd1 Ra7 21. Rd6 Qd8 {Also futile is 21...Qxb2 22. Bxf7+! Kd8 23. Qa5+ Kc8 24. Ne7+ Kb8 25. Nc6+ Ka8 26. Nxa7, etc.} 22. Qb3 Qc7 23. Bxf7+ Kd8 24. Be6
{The grand old master has no appetite to continue. If 24...Rb7 25. Qa4 Qc8 26. Qa5+ Ke8 27. Qxa6 Kd8 28. Bxd7 Rxd7 29. Rxd7+ Qxd7 30. Qxf6+ Kc7 31. Qxe5+ Kb8 32. Qxh8 is decisive. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Varna Olympics"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Mohrlok, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]

{"This is the only game I played in 1962 which I felt satisfied about," wrote Tal. Yet like many of his vintage brilliances it has a murky quality, and one can't help but wonder how he would have fared had his nemesis, Korchnoi -- or a machine -- conducted the defense.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 {The Rauzer Variation is aimed against the Dragon Variation (6...g6? 7. Bxg6). It comes and goes out of fashion.}
6... e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. Nb3 {Tal-Larsen, 6th match game 1969, continued 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Kb1 Bc6 13. Rhf1 h6 14. Bh4 Qh5! with even chances.} 9... Qb6 10. f3 a6 11. g4 {"If 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Qxd6 Bg5+ with a good attack. I don't like to win such pawns" -- Tal.}
11... Rd8 12. Be3 Qc7 13. g5 Nd7 14. h4 b5 15. g6 fxg6 {"I played this pawn sacrifice in previous games and Mohrlok was obviously prepared and replied very quickly," wrote Tal. "In a practice game a few years ago my chess trainer Koblenz played 15...hxg6 but then White quickly broke through along the h-file with 16. h5 gxh5 17. Rxh5 Nf6 18. Rh1 d5 19. e5! Nxe5 20. Qh2 Kf8 21. Qh8+! Ng8 22. Bf4 Bd6 23. Rh7".} 16. h5 gxh5 17. Rxh5 Nf6 18. Rg5 { "White wants to switch the attack between the h and g files according to Black's defense, so he posts one rook on each file, with the Queen supporting from behind" -- Tal. Now 18...b4! 19. Na4 Rb8 would deny White's Knight access later to d5.} 18... Ne5 19. Qg2 Bf8 20. Be2 {"Mohrlok had played very rapidly up to here, but now thought for 20 minutes, so I guessed that 20. Be2 must be a new move. Afterward he told me he expected 20. Bd4 but then comes 20...h6! 21. Rg3 Nh5 22. Rh3 Nf4 winning the Exchange" -- Tal.} 20... Nc4 21. Bxc4 bxc4 22. Nd4 Rb8 23. Rh1 Rb7 24. Rh6 {"The strongest move in the game. White's main idea is to play f4-f5 to create a Knight outpost at d5, or alternatively f4 and e5 to drive Black's Knight away from the protection of the h-pawn" -- Tal.} 24... Kf7 25. Rh4 Qb6 26.
Nd1 {"The Knight goes on the defense, but only temporarily. Black's Queen has to move again" -- Tal.} 26... Qc7 27. f4 h6 28. Rg6 Re8 {The only chance is 28...Ke8 though 29. f5 e5 30. Ne6 Bxe6 31. fxe6 (menacing Rxf6) still attacks with full force.} 29. f5 e5 30. Nc3 Qd8 {What else? If 30...exd4 31. Rxf6+! gxf6 32. Nd5 threatens both the Queen and Qg6 mate.} 31. Nc6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Littlewood, N."]
[Black "Botvinnik, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B75"]

{White launches a blitz attack against his renowned opponent which narrowly fails to a very fine saving clause. As Botvinnik remarked at the time, it seemed that White had a 50-50 chance of success.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 a6 8. Bc4 b5 9. Bb3 Bb7 10. Qd2
Nbd7 {Black keeps his King in the center as long as possible until White declares himself. His queenside maneuvers are designed to discourage White from castling on that wing. Black got the worst of it after 10...h5 11. a4 b4 12. Na2 a5 13. c3 (Bisguier-Reshevsky, 2nd match game 1957).} 11. O-O-O
Nc5 12. Kb1 Nxb3 13. cxb3 {Capturing away from the center is frowned on because the resulting pawn configuration gives Black a won King and pawn ending -- if he ever get there. A big if. On 13. axb3 Qc7 followed by O-O-O solves Black's opening problems.} 13... O-O 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 b4 16. e5
{This gamble meets with a stinging refutation. Better is 16. Na4 e5 17. Nc2 a5 18. Ne3 to gain control of d5.} 16... Nd7 17. h4 bxc3 18. h5 dxe5 {Barden relates: "A dramatic moment. Here there was hubbub among the spectators, who had the vision of a new Saint George arising to slay the Dragon. Even many of the other masters were taken in and gathered around White's position, which was viewed with a mixture of amazement and envy. As Botvinnik sat calmly at the board -- and even adjusted his tie -- while Littlewood's head remained buried in his hands, doubts began to arise".} 19. hxg6 Nf6 20. bxc3
{Now White remains a piece down and is desperate. He intended 20. Nf5 but saw the catch after 20...c2+! 21. Kxc2 Qc8+ followed by Qxf5.} 20... exd4
21. gxh7+ Kh8 22. Rxd4 Qa5 23. Qe3 Nd5 24. Qd2 Nxc3+ 25. Ka1 Rad8 26. Rc1
Qxa2+ 27. Qxa2 Nxa2 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 {An anti-brilliancy! White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Varna Olympics"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "O'Kelly, A."]
[Black "Penrose, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B49"]

{Some draws are more fascinating than many a decisive game; this is one of the most unusual draws on record. Black's superlative defensive play is rewarded when he marches his King into enemy terrain and lives to tell the tale.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 {This used to be considered inferior on account of 5. Nb5 d6 6. Bf4 when e5 saddles Black with a hole on d5. However, this weakness is offset by White's loss of time with the knight.} 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 {More flexible is 6. Be3 reserving the option of going directly to d3 with this Bishop.} 6... a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Bb4 9.
Nxc6 {Pressure against his e-pawn compels White to simplify -- or to speculate with 9. Na4!? (see Koehler-Evans, 1968).} 9... bxc6 10. Bd3 {Now the drawback of 6. Be2 can be seen more clearly since White loses a tempo. But 10. Qd4 c5 11. Qc4 Bb7 12. Bf3 Qe5! 13. Bd2 O-O is slightly better for Black (Gligoric-Taimanov, Buenos Aires 1960).} 10... d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12.
Bd4 Be7 13. Re1 O-O {Castling into it "sans peur ni reproche" -- O'Kelly.}
14. Qf3 Bb7 15. Re3 Rfe8 16. Rae1 Rad8 17. Qh3 {Preparing a massive attack. Only timely countermeasures will save Black.} 17... Ne4 18. Qh5 Bf6 {Again the only move, but sufficient. Not 18...g6? 19. Qxh7+ Kxh7 20. Rh3 Kg8 21. Rh8 mate. Or 18...f5? 19. Rh3 h6 20. Bxg7 Ng5 21. Qg6!} 19. Nxe4 {White has nothing more than a draw after 20. Rxe4 dxe4 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Bxe4 f5.}
19... Bxd4 20. Qxh7+ {"White must go for the sacrifice since 20. Ng5 h6 21. Rh3 Qf4 gives Black the initiative" -- Penrose.} 20... Kxh7 21. Nf6+ Kh6 22.
Rh3+ Kg5 23. Nh7+ Kg4 24. Be2+ Kf4 25. Bd3 {White has nothing better. If 25. Rh4+ Ke5 escapes the mating net. Or 25. Bh5! Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Qxc2+ 27. Kg1 Qxh7!} 25... Kg4 26. Be2+ Kf4 27. Bd3 Kg4 {It's hard to believe White has nothing better than a repetition. If 28. Kf1 Bxf2! 29. Kxf2 Qf4+ is the saving clause.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Team Championship"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lutikov, A."]
[Black "Klavins, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]

{Black is stalked relentlessly after a rather minor slip in the opening. The result is a textbook model that illustrates the power of the initiative.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. a3 b5 8. Nxc6
Qxc6 {Gligoric-Darga, Sarajevo 1962, continued 8...dxc6 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O c5 11. f4 Be7 12. Bf3 Nf6 13. e5 Rd8 14. Qe1 Nd5 with equal chances.} 9. Be2
Bb7 10. Bf3 Qc7 11. e5 Rc8 12. O-O Bxf3 13. Qxf3 d6 {If 13...Qxe5 14. Qb7 regains the pawn favorably.} 14. exd6 Bxd6 15. Bd4 Bxh2+ {Snapping the bait. 15...Nf6 16. h3 Be7 maintains parity.} 16. Kh1 Be5 17. Nd5 Qb8 {Not 17...exd5? 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Rfe1 pinning the Queen. The next sequence is forced.} 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Nb6 Rd8 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 f5 22. Nd7 Qe4 23.
Qg3 Qe2 24. Qb8+ Kf7 25. Ne5+ Kf6 {The King seems to have reached safety and Black has some nasty threats of his own. However, he still has no time to draw a free breath.} 26. Qf8+ Kxe5 27. Qxg7+ Nf6 28. Qg3+ Ke4 {No avail is 28...f4 29. Qg5+ Ke4 30. f3+ Ke3 31. Qc5 mate.} 29. f3+ Ke3 30. Re1 f4 31.
Rxe2+ Kxe2 32. Qxf4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stein, L."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]

{One careless move costs Black the game when he overlooks a sparkling twist. Remarkable.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {Black's move order is quite deliberate. 4...Nc6 allows White to set up a Maroczy Bind after 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 which many players using the Taimanov Variation would rather not face.} 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Qc7 7. Nd2 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. f4 Bc5+ 10. Kh1 d6 { More consistent is 10...d5 but that's another story.} 11. Nf3 e5 12. fxe5
dxe5 13. Nh4 O-O 14. Nf5 Be6 15. Qe2 a5 16. Bc4 Kh8 17. Bg5 Nd7 {Virtually forced. Not 17...Ne8 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Qc4! exf5 20. Qxc5, etc.} 18. Rad1
Nb6 {White gets a break. After 18...Bxf5 19. exf5 f6 he would retain an edge but it's hardly enough to win.} 19. Nxg7 Bxc4 {Forced. On 19...Kxg7 20. Bf6+ Kg8 21. Qh5 wins.} 20. Bf6 Be7 {Also futile is 20...Nd7 21. Rxd7! Or 20...Bxe2 21. Nf5+ Kg8 22. Nh6 mate.} 21. Qf3 {If 21...Bxf6 22. Qxf6 Nd7 23. Rxd7! clinches matters. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Student Team Championship"]
[Site "Czechoslovakia"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Ciric, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B29"]

{Good defense can be just as exciting and exhausting as attack. Not convinced? Follow Spassky's thoughts in the days before he became World Champion.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 {For 4...Nxc3 see Gurgenidze-Lein 1967. White gets the edge after 4...Nc7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4! Nc6 7. Qe4.} 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd5 Qb6 {The most aggressive choice in this risky line.} 9. Bc4 Bxf2+ 10. Ke2 O-O 11. Rf1 Bc5
12. Ng5 Nxe5 {Black remains a pawn down on 12...Nd4+ 13. Kd1 Ne6 14. c3. The idea behind the text is to swiftly mobilize his forces with White's King stranded in the middle of the board. It nearly works. "This was a surprise indeed! Needless to say, I was far from a state of tranquillity. It isn't much pleasure coping with special analysis, carefully thought out in a calm atmosphere at home. Even if this analysis has a slight inaccuracy, finding it during a vital game where time for thinking is limited isn't easy at all. No wonder I pondered over my reply for exactly an hour before making up my mind" -- Spassky.} 13. Qxe5 {"Unquestionably the most crucial moment of the game. By accepting the sacrifice I had to live up to his bold challenge. 13. Nxf7 Nxf7 14. Rxf7 Qe6+ 15. Qxe6 gave me a somewhat better ending and a guarantee against all unpleasantness, but a decision of this kind would have been equal to backing out of the fight" -- Spassky.} 13... d5 14. Qxd5 { "Analyzing 14. Bxd5 Bg4+ took up most of my time but I finally rejected it" -- Spassky.} 14... Re8+ 15. Kf3 Qf6+ 16. Kg3 Bd6+ 17. Rf4 {"Evidently this reply was overlooked by my rival in the analysis he made at home. He probably reckoned only on 17. Bf4 after which 17...Re3+ would bring him victory" -- Spassky.} 17... Be6 {"It is impossible to see how Black can keep up the dying flame of attack because of the danger to f7" -- Spassky.} 18.
Nxe6 Rxe6 19. Qxd6 Qg6+ 20. Rg4 Re3+ {After 20...Rxd6 21. Rxg6 Rxg6+ 22. Kf2 it becomes only a matter of time before the power of the two Bishops against a rook will be felt.} 21. Bxe3 Qxd6+ 22. Kf2 Re8 23. Rf4 Re7 24. Bb3 Qe5 25.
Re1 g5 26. Rf3 Kg7 27. Rd1 f6 28. Kg1 g4 29. Bd4 {"We found out after the match that the piece sacrifice had been prepared by the Yugoslavs especially for this contest with the Soviets. But the surprise, as you can see, had both its merits and demerits" -- Spassky. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Curacao"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B20"]

{Keres is strategically outplayed but manages to neutralize White's advantage when the game is adjourned. Fischer then refuses a draw and makes progress in the ending until Keres finds an ingenious saving resource.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Ne2 d6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O {Better is the immediate 5. c3 Nc6 6. d4.} 5... Nc6 6. c3 e5 7. d3 Nge7 8. a3 {Fischer calls this a "lemon". Better is 8. Be3 to strive for d4.} 8... O-O 9. b4 b6 10. f4 exf4
11. gxf4 d5 12. e5 {"Poker-faced, as always, Keres made this move as though it were the most natural one on the board. But it was the last thing he wanted to do, since it exposes the poverty of White's strategy" -- Fischer.}
12... Bg4 13. h3 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 f6 15. b5 Na5 16. Nd2 {Fischer suggests 16. Ra2 instead.} 16... fxe5 17. fxe5 Rxf1+ 18. Nxf1 Nb3 19. Rb1 Nxc1 20. Rxc1
Qc7 21. Re1 Rd8 {"Despite the drawing tendencies of the opposite- colored bishops, White has a difficult game; he's weak on all the squares and his King is somewhat exposed" -- Fischer.} 22. Nh2 d4 23. cxd4 cxd4 24. Nf3 {24. Ng4! Rf8 25. Rf1 would lead to equality.} 24... Bh6 25. Qa2+ Kh8 26. Qe6 Nd5
{Hoping for 27. Nxd4? Qc5 but 26...Nf5! is better.} 27. Nh2 Ne3 28. Bc6 Rf8
29. Nf3 Bf4 30. Nxd4 Bxe5 31. Nf3 Bd4 32. Rxe3 Bxe3+ 33. Qxe3 Qg3+ 34. Kf1
Qxh3+ 35. Ke1 Qf5 36. d4 Kg7 37. Kf2 {"The right plan -- the King must stay on the kingside to blockade Black's pawns" -- Fischer.} 37... h5 38. Kg3
Qg4+ 39. Kh2 Rf4 40. Qe7+ Kh6 {"The game was adjourned and Keres sealed his move. Upon resuming the next day, he offered me a draw, which I rejected...I felt no harm could come from continuing since there was little danger of losing. Besides, winning this game would still have put me in contention for first place even as late as round 14, the halfway mark" -- Fischer.} 41. Qe2
Qf5 42. Qe3 g5 43. Kg2 Rg4+ 44. Kf2 Rf4 45. Kg2 Qc2+ {"Beginning a series of exploratory checks to see if White goes to the wrong square. For instance 46. Kg3? Rg4+ 47. Kh3 Qg2 mate. Hope springs eternal!" -- Fischer.} 46. Kh1
Qb1+ 47. Kh2 Qa2+ 48. Kh3 Qf7 49. Kh2 Qf6 50. Kg2 Kg7 51. Kg3 h4+ 52. Kg2
Rg4+ 53. Kh1 Rg3 54. Qe4 g4 55. Nh2 Qg5 56. Nf1 {"A blunder on the last move of the time-control. Perhaps Keres has allowed me to get a little too much out of the position, but he can still hold a draw with 56. Qe5+! Qxe5 57. dxe5 (threatening Bd7) Rxa3 58. Nxg4, etc". -- Fischer.} 56... Rh3+ {The winning line is 56...Rxa3! immediately.} 57. Kg1 Rxa3 58. d5 g3 59. Bd7 Ra1
60. Bf5 Qf6 {"I must confess that I still expected to win. But now Keres really starts to find moves!" -- Fischer.} 61. Qf4 Re1 62. d6 Re5 {Another winning try is 62...Kf7.} 63. Qg4+ Kf8 64. d7 Rd5 65. Kg2 Rxd7 66. Bxd7 {"I thought this was a mistake at the time, but that he was lost anyway. Keres, however, has seen just one move further" -- Fischer.} 66... Qf2+ 67. Kh3
Qxf1+ 68. Kxh4 g2 69. Qb4+ Kf7 70. Qb3+ Kg7 71. Qg3+ Kh7 {"Now I was sure I had him" -- Fischer.} 72. Qe5 {"What's this? He makes no attempt to stop me from queening!? Gradually my excitement subsided. The more I studied the position, the more I realized Black had no win" -- Fischer.} 72... Qh1+ 73.
Bh3 Qxh3+ {On 73...g1=Q 74. Qh5+ Kg7 75. Qg6+! Kxg6 stalemate.} 74. Kxh3
g1=Q 75. Qe7+ Kh8 76. Qf8+ Kh7 77. Qf7+ {Draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Curacao"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Keres, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C96"]

{Clashes between these two titans are always memorable. A few rounds later, plauged by illness, Tal was forced to withdraw, paving the way for Petrosian to become Botvinnik's challenger.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 {Later 9...Nd7 achieved some popularity.} 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. a3 { In an earlier round Tal tried 14. Nb3 a5 15. Be3 a4 and Keres reached equality. A better approach is 14. d5 Nb4 15. Bb1 a5 16. a3 Na6 17. b4!}
14... exd4 15. Nb3 Nde5 16. Nfxd4 Bf6 17. Bd2 {Prelude to disaster. Simpler is 17. Nxc6 Nxd6 18. f4.} 17... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Nd3 19. Nc6 {Trying to avoid 19. Bxd3 Bxd4 20. Rb1 Qf6 with pressure. But now Black springs a surpising combination.} 19... Nxf2 20. Qf3 {No better is 20. Qh5 Nxh3+ 21. Kh2 g6; or 20. Nxd8 Nxd1 21. Nxf7 Bd4+ 22. Kh2 Nxb2; if 20. Kxf2 Qb6+ 21. Be3 Qxc6 wins.} 20... Nxh3+ 21. Kh2 Be5+ 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Red1 Nf4 24. g3 Ne6 25.
Bc3 Qg5 26. Rd6 Qh6+ 27. Kg1 Nd4 {Winning material. Now White is clearly lost.} 28. Rxh6 Nxf3+ 29. Kf2 gxh6 30. Kxf3 Re8 31. Rh1 Kg7 32. Bb3 Bb7 33.
Bd2 f5 34. Rxh6 Rad8 35. Rb6 Bxe4+ 36. Ke2 Bf3+ 37. Ke1 f4 38. Bc3 fxg3 39.
Rxa6 Rd4 40. Ra7+ Kh6 41. Rf7 {and White Resigns without waiting for 41...Rf4.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Marianske Lazne"]
[Date "1962"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gufeld, E."]
[Black "Kavalek, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C64"]

{A sharp opening leads to a remarkable setting, with a Bishop and swarm of pawns overcoming two Rooks.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 f5 5. d4
fxe4 6. Ng5 Bb6 7. d5 e3 8. Ne4 Qh4 9. Qf3 Nf6 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. dxc6 exf2+
12. Kd1 dxc6 13. Be2 Be6 14. Qh5+ Qxh5 15. Bxh5+ Ke7 16. b3 Bd5 17. Ba3+ Ke6
18. Bg4+ f5 19. Bh3 Rhg8 20. Nd2 Bxg2 21. Bxg2 Rxg2 22. Rf1 {Black is winning -- 22.Nc4 (22.Ke2 f1Q+ wins back the piece) Rg1+ 23.Ke2 Rag8 24.Nxb6 Rxh1 25.Rxh1 Rg1.} 22... Rd8 23. Ke2 Rxd2+ 24. Kxd2 e4 25. Bf8 f4 26. b4 Rg5
27. Bc5 Rxc5 28. bxc5 Bxc5 29. Rab1 Kf5 30. Rb4 f3 31. Rd4 Bxd4 32. cxd4 Kf4
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1963"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Gligoric, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]

{Since Gligoric himself was an arch exponent of the White side of this opening, it is interesting to watch how he conducts the defense. Tal altered the normal flow of events with a surprising piece sacrifice on move 15, probably a prepared variation.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6 { Fischer wrote: "Gligoric and I have a standing feud with this position, which we reached no less than three times. I lost twice and drew once with Black". Bernstein-Fischer, USA Championship 1958 continued 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. Rhe1 b4 13. Nd5!? exd5 14. exd5 Kf8 15. Nf5 Re8 and Black (for a change) won.} 11... Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13. a3 {Careless is 15. Bh3? b4! 16. Nce2 Bb7 and Black already assumes the initiative (Smyslov-Fischer, Candidates' 1959).} 13... Bb7 14. Bh3 O-O-O 15. Bxe6 {Highly speculative. Gligoric-Fischer, Candidates' 1959 went 15. f5!? Bxg5+ 16. Kb1 e5 17. Ndxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 and now Fischer gives 18...Qb6! (instead of his Qc5) 19. Nxd6+ Kc7 20. Nxf7 Bf6 with even chances.} 15... fxe6 16. Nxe6 Qc4 {Flustered, Gligoric finds a square where the Queen turns out to be maladjusted. Better is 16...Qb6!} 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Kb7 {Slightly better is 18...Kb8 19. b3 Qc8 and if 20. Nd4 Ka8 holds.} 19. b3 Qc8 20. Rd3 Nb6 21. Rc3 Qd7 22. Rc7+
Qxc7 23. Nxc7 Kxc7 24. Qc3+ Kb8 25. Qxg7 Nc8 26. Re1 Rdg8 {Black can offer only token resistance in view of his pawn deficit. On 25...Rhg8 27. Qxh7 Rh8 28. Rxe7 is good enough to win.} 27. Qd4 Bd8 28. Re6 Rf8 29. h4 h6 30. g6
Rhg8 31. h5 Rf5 32. Qe4 Rxh5 33. Re8 Rxe8 34. Qxe8 Bf6 35. c4 bxc4 36. bxc4
Rh3 37. Kd2 Bc3+ 38. Kc2 Bd4 39. f5 Rxa3 40. c5 dxc5 41. d6 Ra2+ 42. Kd3
Ra3+ 43. Kc4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Piatigorsky Cup"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Round "12"]
[Date "1963"]
[White "Miguel Najdorf"]
[Black "Paul Keres"]
[Result "1-0"]

{The strongest international tournament in America since New York 1924 and 1927, or Dallas 1957. Keres and Petrosian shared first in a double round robin ahead of Najdorf, Olafsson, Reshevsky, Gligoric, Benko and Panno. Bobby Fischer didn't go because the organizers rejected his demand for a $2,000 appearance fee, but he opined that Najdorf's positional wizardy (which ousted Keres from the lead) was the finest game in the entire event.}

1. d4 e6
2. c4 {Rejecting an invitation to transpose into a French Defense with 2. e4.}
2... Bb4+
3. Nc3 f5 {Transposing into a Dutch Defense but the bishop on b4 is misplaced.}
4. e3 Nf6
5. Bd3 O-O
6. Ne2 d6
7. O-O {"White could play 7. a3 obligating the exchange of Black's Bishop. However, why lose a tempo for this when the bishop is not strong here? You must never have fear of poorly placed pieces. Don't force your opponent to make a good move!" -- Najdorf.}
7...c5
8. b3! {White's last undeveloped minor piece is headed for the long diagonal.}
8... Nc6
9. Bb2 e5 {A strategic error which opens the game too early before Black is fully ready for combat. Better is 9...Ba5 or Qe7.}
10. dxe5 dxe5
11. Nd5! Be6
12. Ng3 g6 {A weakening move. But White also stays on top after 12.....Nxd5 13. cxd5 Bxd5 (not 13...Qxd5? 14. Bc4) 14. Bxf5.}
13. f4! {"A good move and very easy, because every time you want to exploit an advantage you must open the position even if you have to sacrifice". -- Najdorf.}
13...Nxd5
14. cxd5 Bxd5
15. fxe5 Be6
16. Ne2 {"The Knight has accomplished its purpose at g3 and is now looking for a better strategic square. White's play is very clear. He must remove the bishop on e6 and weaken the defense of black's King. The bishop on b4 is useless". -- Najdorf}
16... Qe7
17. Nf4 Nd8
18. Qf3 {"Now is the time for the heavy artillery". -- Najdorf}
18.. Rc8
19. Rad1 a6
20. Bc4! Bxc4
21. bxc4 Nf7
22. e6 Ng5
23. Qd5 Rc6 {"The difference in action of the two Bishops must now be compared. If 23...Qc7 24. e7+ Rf7 25. Qd8+ winning. If 23...Ne4 24. Qe5 Nf6 25. Nd5 or Rd7 wins". -- Najdorf}
24. Qe5 Nxe6
25. Qh8+ Kf7
26. Qxh7+ Ke8
27. Qxe7+ {Simplicity itself. 27. Qxg6+ Qf7 wins more slowly.}
27...Kxe7
28. Nxg6+ Ke8
29. Nxf8 Nxf8
30. Rxf5 b5
31. cxb5 axb5
32. h4 Ra6
33. a3 Bxa3
34. Bxa3 Rxa3
35. Rxc5 {Black Resigned. White has an overwhelming material preponderance.} 1-0

[Event "Tel Aviv"]
[Site "Israel"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saidy, A."]
[Black "Bednarsky, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]

{White launched an intricate combination only because, at the time, he believed his position to be inferior. Saidy criticizes his own sacrifice -- but it turns out to be sounder than his faith in it. Paul Keres noted: "Although not a model performance, I nevertheless like this game and the original conclusion very much. I think most chess fans will too".} 1. c4 g6
2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. f3 c6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 b5 {This anti-Saemisch system was worked out by Robert Byrne. Instead of passively waiting for White to mount a kingside attack, Black mounts a rapid diversion on the queenside.} 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nge2 O-O 10. O-O bxc4 {A good alternative is 10...e5.} 11. Bxc4 Nb6 12. Bb3 a5 13. Na4 Ba6 14. Rfc1 Nfd7 15. Rc2 {"The Black pawn on c6 is backward, but capturing it by 15. Rxc6 would give him strong play via 15...Bb5 16. Nxb6 Nxb6 17. R6c1 a4. But now my serenity is destroyed by the next move" -- Saidy.} 15... c5 16. Nxc5 {Without this sacrifice Black stands well after 16. dxc5 Nxa4 17. Bxa4 Nxc5. "I pondered for 40 valuable minutes, appalled by my own disjointed pieces and the fact Black has so swiftly freed his position. I must admit now that, had I seen a quiet way to retain an edge, no brilliancy would have been hatched (with such a long gestation period)" -- Saidy.} 16... dxc5 17. dxc5 a4 {Tougher to meet is 17...Nc8 18. Rd1 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Qc7 with a hard fight in the offing.}
18. Bxf7+ Rxf7 19. cxb6 Bxe2 {The best practical chance. Saidy was pessimistic about 19...a3 but White has no reason to complain after 20. Rd1 axb2 21. Nc3.} 20. Qxe2 {Even stronger is 20. b7! Rb8 21. Rac1 Ba6 22. Rc8.}
20... Nxb6 21. Rd1 Qb8 {The decisive error in a flawed contest. Correct is 21...Nd7! 22. Rcd2 e6 and if 23. Qb5 Qb8 saves the piece.} 22. Qb5 Nc8 23.
Rd8+ Rf8 24. Qd5+ {If 24...Kh8 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 26. Bd4+ is a killer. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bronstein, D."]
[Black "Larsen, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E73"]

{In the 1960's, the Soviet chess hegemony was threatened first by Bobby Fischer and then by Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen. Fischer's disputes with organizers over playing conditions kept him out of world championship competition for a decade, but Larsen produced a series of tournament victories unmatched since Alekhine, including a tie for first with Spassky, Smyslov and Tal in the 1964 Interzonal. In this game, Bronstein adopts a very aggressive continuation against the King's Indian Defense, but Larsen combines defense and counterattack to take the point.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 {White has a space advantage, but Black has opened the long diagonal for his Bishop at g7.} 7... e6 8. Nf3
h6 9. Bf4 {Most experts prefer 9.Bd2, for reasons that will be seen in the next note.} 9... exd5 10. exd5 Re8 11. Nd2 {Naturally White would prefer to castle, but then 11...Ne4 12.Nxe4 Rxe4 would gain a tempo by attacking the Bf4.} 11... Nh5 12. Bg3 {Not 12.Be3 Rxe3! 13.fxe3 Qh4+ 14.g3 Nxg3 15.Nf3 Qh3, and Black has more than enough for the Exchange.} 12... Bg4 13. O-O
Nxg3 14. hxg3 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 Bxb2 16. Rb1 Bg7 17. Rxb7 Nd7 {Now Black threatens to trap the Rook with ... Nb6 and ...Qc8. Rather than retreat it, White tries to use its active position on the 7th rank for attack.} 18. Nf4
Nb6 19. Re1 Bc3 20. Ne4 Bxe1 {Now Black has a large material advantage, but his King is poorly defended, and White threatens to break through with a Knight sacrifice at e6 or g6.} 21. Ne6 Bxf2+ {Luring the King to f2 so that Black will have a saving check on the f-file in some variations. Hopeless is 21...fxe6 22.Qg4 Re7 23.Qxg6+ Kf8 24.Nf6, and if 24...Rxb7 25.Qg8+ Ke7 26.Qg7++.} 22. Kxf2 fxe6 23. Qg4 Rf8+ 24. Kg1 Rf6 25. Qh3 {This is quickly refuted by a counterattack. The position remains unclear after 25.dxe6; one amusing variation (not forced) is 25...Qf8 26.e7 Rf1+ 27.Kh2 Qf5 28.Qxf5 Rxf5 29.Rxa7!, and Black must accede to a draw by 29...Rb8 30.Rb7 Ra8 31.Rxb6 Re5 32.Nf6+ Kf7 33.e8Q+ Raxe8 34.Nxe8 Rxe8 35.Rxd6 Re4, since the Black Rook has no safe square on the 8th rank.} 25... Qf8 26. Ng5 {The apparently dangerous 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.Qxh6 fails to 27...Qd4+ 29.Kh2 Qh8, pinning the Queen.} 26... Rf1+ 27. Kh2 Rf5 28. Nxe6 Rh5 29. Qxh5 gxh5 30.
Nxf8 Rxf8 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Championship"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Averbach, Y."]
[Black "Estrin, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]

{Prepared variations play an increasing role in modern competition now that huge databases are readily available to all players. In this game White's novelty on move nine, prepared at home, poses major problems.} 1. d4 d5 2.
c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 dxc4 {The Vienna Variation gives rise to tricky complications where Black tries to profit from the absence of the c1-bishop on the queenside.} 6. e4 c5 7. Bxc4 {The main line is 7. e5 cxd4 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. O-O-O (Fine- Euwe, AVRO 1938.} 7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qc7 {Meets with a stunning rebuttal. Alternatives are 8...Bxc3+ or Nbd7 or 8...Qa5 9. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxc3+ 11. Kf1 Qxc4+ 12. Kg1 O-O 13. Qg4 g6 (Trifunovic-Gligoric, Mar Del Plata 1953).} 9. Qb3 Bxc3+ {On 9...Nxe4 10. Qxb4 Nxg5 11. O-O threatens h4. And on 9...Qc5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. O-O Qxd4 12. Qxb4 Nc6 13. Qb3 White stands better.} 10. Qxc3 Nxe4 {Underestimating the reply. The best chance is 10...Qe5.} 11. Nb5 Qc5 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13. Bh6
Qxf2+ {A better defensive try is 13...Nd7 14. Rc1 a6.} 14. Kd1 Nd7 15. Re1
Nef6 16. Bxe6 Qxb2 {If 16...fxe6 17. Rxe6+ Kd8 18. Qe7 mate.} 17. Rc1 { Piquant. 17...fxe6 still allows mate-in-two. And if 17...Qxb5 18. Bc4+ snares the Queen. Finally 17...Kd8 18. Bxd7! Kxd7 19. Qxf8 is crushing. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Foguelman, A."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D25"]

{Bronstein's speculative pawn sacrifice in the opening pays dividends when Foguelman allows his Queen to be cut off from the scene of action. Such gambles, however, don't succeed that often against precise defense.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 {More popular is 4...e6 5. Bxc4 c5.} 5.
Bxc4 e6 6. Qb3 {The acid test, exploiting the absence of the bishop from the queenside.} 6... Bxf3 7. gxf3 c5 {Black doesn't want to weaken his queenside with 7...b6 or lose time defending the pawn with 7...Qc8.} 8. Qxb7 Nbd7 { Should Black get away with this gambit? White's kingside is a shambles and his Queen has been plunged out of play; but he has the two bishops, and a pawn is a pawn.} 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. f4 O-O 11. O-O {An inaccuracy. Much safer is 11. Nc3 to prevent the next move which bars the Queen from returning to the queenside.} 11... Nd5 12. Rd1 {Loss of time. Necessary is 12. Bxd5 Rb8 13. Qa6 exd5 14. Qe2 returning the Queen to the home front where it is needed.} 12... Rb8 13. Qc6 Qh4 14. Nc3 Rb6 15. Qxd7 Nxf4 16. Ne2 {Alas, there is nothing better. If 16. Bf1 (16. exf4 Qxf2+ 17. Kh1 Qf3 mate) 16...Qg4+ 17. Kh1 Qf3+ 18. Kg1 e5! swinging the rook to g6.} 16... Nh3+ 17.
Kg2 Nxf2 18. Rd4 Ng4 19. Rf4 {If 19. Rxg4 Qxg4+ 20. Ng3 Qxc4 wins material.}
19... Qxh2+ 20. Kf1 Bxe3 21. Bd5 Bxf4 {Inviting 22. Bxf4 Qf2 mate. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Yugoslav Championship"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Velimirovic, M."]
[Black "Sofrevsky, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]

{Sacrificing pieces for rapid development is common in many sharp variations of the Sicilian Defense. But here White's innovation was so unexpected that it sent theoreticians scurrying back to the drawing board.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Be7 8. Qe2 {This system is Velimirovic's lasting contribution to opening theory.} 8... a6 9.
O-O-O Qc7 10. Bb3 Na5 11. g4 b5 12. g5 Nxb3+ {Careless is 12...Nd7? 13. Bxe6! fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qc6 15. Nxg7+. The second player must guard against this stock attack.} 13. axb3 Nd7 14. Nf5 {The only try for an advantage, otherwise Black's solid position coupled with the two Bishops must be assessed as favorable. The Trojan Horse must be accepted. If 14...Bf8 (for 14...b4 see Medina-Pomar, 1969) 15. Bd4! exf5 16. exf5+ Kd8 17. Rhe1 Qa5 18. Nd5 wins.} 14... exf5 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. exf5 O-O {The best defense is 16...Bb7! The last word has yet to be uttered on this remarkable line.} 17.
f6 gxf6 {There's no way to return the piece gracefully. If 17...Nxf6 18. gxf6 Bxf6 19. Bb6 Qd7 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Rhg1+ yields a winning attack.} 18.
Bd4 Ne5 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. Rhg1+ Bg7 {Equally unappetizing is 20...Kh8 21. Bb6.} 21. Bxe5 dxe5 22. Qxe5 f6 23. Ne7+ Kf7 {A prettier finish is 23...Kh8 24. Rxd8 fxe5 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 26. Rg8 mate.} 24. Qh5+ {Mate is not far away after 24...Kxe7 25. Rxg7+. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Velimirovic, M."]
[Black "Nikolic, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]

{A seminal game which brought young Velimovic and his novel attacking system to the attention of the chess world. In an exhibition of daring and ingenuity, he sacrifices a rook and Knight to rip open the position.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2
O-O 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. Bb3 a6 11. g4 Nxd4 {Eliminating the bishop by 11...Na5 is more stubborn.} 12. Rxd4 {Velimirovic-Galjovic, Belgrade 1966, featured a curious finish after 12. Bxd4 b5? 13. g5 Nd7 14. Qh5 Nc5 15. Rhg1 Bb7 16. Bf6! b4 17. Qh6! Black Resigns.} 12... b5 13. g5 Nd7 14. Qh5 Ne5 { Time-consuming. It's better to try and erase the bishop on b3 by 14...Nc5.}
15. f4 Nc6 16. Rd3 Nb4 17. Rd2 Rd8 18. f5 g6 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. Qh4 {More precise is 20. Qd1 preparing h4-h5.} 20... Nc6 21. Qg3 Ne5 22. h4 Bb7 23. h5
b4 24. hxg6 Nxg6 {Not 24...bxc3 25. Rh8+! Kxh8 26. Qh4+ Kg7 27. Qh7 mates.}
25. Rdh2 bxc3 26. Bd4 e5 27. Rh8+ Nxh8 28. g6 {White's forceful maneuvers have all been based on the power of the b3 bishop which Black should have taken pains to eliminate long ago. There is no longer any defense.} 28...
Bf6 29. gxf7+ Kf8 30. Rh7 Nxf7 31. Qg6 Bg5+ 32. Kb1 Rd7 33. Qg7+ Ke8 34.
Qg8+ {It's mate next, so Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Larry Evans"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]

{Evans tries to emulate Tal by pushing his kingside pawns in a sharp middlegame. However, just when a draw seems likely, Tal finds a clever way to exploit the unfortunate position of White's King by forcing it into enemy terrain. At the end, when a draw by repetition of moves looks inevitable, Black wins by a single tempo.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. Be2 b5 5. d4
cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. a3 Qc7 8. O-O {8. f4 has more sting. On 8...b4 9. axb4 Bxb4 10. Ra4! led to a promising pawn sacrifice in Hort-Tal, Moscow 1963.}
8... Nf6 9. Qd3 {Shows the drawback to White's setup. Had he played 8. f4 he could not proceed with Bf3.} 9... d6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Qe3 Be7 12. Rad1 O-O
13. f4 Rac8 {"Rather routine play. I had no doubt that 13...Rfe8 would have been more prudent. In this case on 14. g4 e5 15. Nf5 Bf8 could have followed". -- Tal} 14. g4 {In the spirit of Tal, this is the only way to enliven the proceedings.} 14... Nb6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. g5 Bxd4 { "Unfortunately, Black is forced to exchange this strong bishop, since after 16...Be7 17. f5 e5 18. Nb3! Nc4 (the attempt to win a piece by 18...d5 19. exd5 Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. f6 is too dangerous) 19. Bxc4 bxc4 20. f6 cxb3 21. fxe7 Qxe7 22. bxc3 with a positional advantage". -- Tal} 17. Rxd4 e5 18.
Rd2 exf4 19. Rxf4 Rfe8 20. Qf2 Qe7 {"Black could also have played 20...d5 but this would achieve nothing real after 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Rxe2 24. Qxe2 Qxf4 25. c3". -- Tal} 21. h4 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. Rd4
Rec8 24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. Qa7 Qd7 26. Kf2 {"With the idea of moving the King over to the queenside at the first opportunity. Black does not wish to allow this, and he himself opens the game up, which leads to the White pieces becoming active.} 26... d5 27. Nxd5 Rxc2+ 28. Kg3 Rc8 29. Rf6 {"Once again cleverly played. White avoids the traps". -- Tal Inadequate is 29. Nb6 Qd3.}
29... Ra8 30. Qc5 Rd8 31. Rb6 {31. Rf5 is feasible. Riskier is 31. Ne7 Kh8 32. Rxf7 Qd3 33. Rf3 Qxe4 34. Nc6 Rg8.} 31... Bxd5 32. exd5 Qf5 33. Qd6 { Right idea, wrong execution. White has defended a difficult position very well, but after 37. Qc7! Black has nothing better than to give a few checks and then capture on d5 with the Queen -- then Rb8 forces a drawn ending.}
33... Qd3+ 34. Kg2 Qc2+ 35. Kg3 Qb3+ 36. Kf4 {A bad square -- but forced. If 36. Kg2 Qxb2; or 36. Kg4 h5 37. gxh6 Rxd6.} 36... Re8 37. Rb8 {The decisive mistake, the the rest is forced. White has chances to hold after 37. Qe5 Qc4 38. Kg3 Qc8 39. Qd4 g6.} 37... Qe3+ 38. Kg4 f5+ 39. gxf6ep h5+ 40. Kxh5 Qf3+
41. Kg5 Qxf6+ 42. Qxf6 gxf6+ 43. Kxf6 Rxb8 44. d6 {White comes within an ace of drawing, but no such luck. On 44. Ke7 Rb7! is the only move that wins: e.g., 45. Ke8 Rh7 46. d6 Rxh4 47. d7 Re4 48. Kd8 Kf8 49. Kc7 Rc4.} 44... Kf8
45. h5 Rb7 46. Ke6 {Of no avail is 46. h6 Ke8 47. Kg6 Kd7 48. h7 Rb8 49. Kg7 Kxd6 50. h8/Q Rxh8 51. Kxh8 Kd5 picking up the queenside pawns.} 46... Rh7
47. Kd5 Ke8 48. Kc6 Kd8 {White resigns. 0-1} 0-1

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Berger, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]

{Sometimes you have to rely on intuition when you can't calculate clearly to the end of a combination. White's speculative Knight sacrifice doesn't yield immediate dividends, though it soon becomes apparent that Black's uncastled King will find no haven.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3
Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. h4 {The weakening of the pawn structure is compensated by the subsequent control of space. White gets only a slight pull by 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O Ngf6 9. Re1 Be7 10. c4 O-O 11. b3 Qa5 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. Qe2 (Evans-Benko, USA Championship 1962.)} 7... h6 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10.
Qxd3 Qc7 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O e6 13. Kb1 c5 {Black should castle long either now or on the next move before undertaking action in the center. If 13...Bd6 14. Ne4 Bf4 15. Be1! followed by g3 avoids the swap maintains tension.} 14. c4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 a6 {Black originally intended 15...Ne5 but after 16. Qe2 Nxc4 17. Nxe6 Black's King won't escape the central crossfire. His defensive task is also difficult on 15...O-O-O 16. Nb5 Qb8 17. Ne4! Nxe4 18. Qxe4.} 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qg6+ Kd8 18. Rhe1 {Gibralter crumbles after this quiet developing move.} 18... Kc8 {Giving up a second pawn to find sanctuary. On 18...e5 (or 18...Qxc4 19. Bc3) 19. Bc3 Kc8 20. f4! exf4 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Re8+ mates.} 19. Rxe6 b6 20. Qf5 {Another quiet move, intending Bf4.} 20... Kb7 21. Bf4 Qc5 {Also inadequate is 21...Qc8 22. Ne4 Ka7 (if 22...Nxe4 23. Qxe4+ Ka7 24. Rc6!) 23. Nxf6 Nxf6 24. Rxf6! gxf6 25. Rd7+ etc.} 22. Rxf6 {If 22...Nxf6 23. Rd7+ Kc6 24. Rc7 mate. Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bakulin, N."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B16"]

{Black's patient strategic buildup is rewarded when he gets an opportunity to splurge a rook and Bishop. The finish is artistic and original.} 1. e4 c6
2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ gxf6 {Less vibrant is 5...exf6. The text is double- edged, anticipating use of the open g-file in return for the ugly doubled pawns.} 6. Be3 Bf5 7. Qd2 e6 8. Ne2 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bg6 10. Be2
{White's Knight is not particularly well-placed. More consistent is 10. h4 h5 11. Bd3 followed by castling queenside.} 10... Qc7 11. O-O {A courageous but risky decision. White anticipates Black's castling long and hopes to use his queenside pawns as battering rams. His own king, however, becomes vulnerable. Safer is 11. O-O-O.} 11... h5 12. Rfd1 h4 13. Nf1 h3 14. g3
O-O-O 15. c4 {Allowing Black to establish a blockade. More pertinent is 15. b4 e5 16. c4.} 15... c5 16. d5 e5 17. Rac1 f5 18. b4 Bd6 {Stronger than 18...cxb4 19. c5. White seems to have reached a maximum but Black still has the dynamic break f4.} 19. f3 {Leads to trouble. More active is 19. f4 though already White has lost his precious initiative.} 19... f4 20. Bf2
Rde8 21. Kh1 Rhg8 22. Re1 e4 {Black clearly holds all the trumps. The threat of ...e3 is horrific.} 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. bxc5 Qxc5 25. Bd1 Bc7 26. gxf4 e3
27. Qe2 {The pawn is poisoned: 27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. Qxe3 Qxe3 29. Nxe3 Bxf4 30. Rc3 Re8 wins. Now begins a sacrificial orgy.} 27... Bd3 28. Qxd3 Rg1+ 29.
Kxg1 e2+ 30. Ne3 {No better is 30. Kh1 Qf2.} 30... Rxe3 31. Qf5+ Re6+ 32.
Kh1 Qf2 {If 33. Qxh3 Qxe1+ 34. Kg2 Qf1+ 35. Kg3 e1=Q+. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1964"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Benko, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]

{This was the year 20-year-old Fischer made chess history with an 11-0 clean sweep against America's top players, a feat unlikely ever to be repeated. Benko exhibited some suicidal tendencies in the management of his defense; he scarcely expected the bombshell that exploded on move 19.} 1. e4 g6 2. d4
Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Bg4 {Black's path is thorny. In Fischer-Perez, Havana 1965 White got a pull after 6...Nc6 7. e5 dxe5 8. fxe5 Nd5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. c3 Bg4 11. Qe2.} 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nc6 9. Be3 e5 10.
dxe5 dxe5 11. f5 gxf5 {11...Nd4 12. Qf2 gxf5 13. exf5 b5 14. O-O is also in White's favor.} 12. Qxf5 Nd4 13. Qf2 {On 13. Qxe5 Ng4 yields tons of counterplay. Now White consistently strives to dominate the f-file.} 13...
Ne8 14. O-O Nd6 15. Qg3 Kh8 {Black gets an inferior ending on 15...f5 16. Bh6 Qf6 17. Qxg7+ Qxg7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. exf5 N6xf5 20. Rae1 Rae8 21. Ne4.}
16. Qg4 c6 {More active is 16...c5! followed by b5.} 17. Qh5 Qe8 {Now either 17...Ne6 or c5 is essential.} 18. Bxd4 exd4 {Hoping for 19. e5 f5! but he's in for a rude shock.} 19. Rf6 Kg8 20. e5 h6 21. Ne2 {But not 21. Rxd6 Qxe5! with chances to survive. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Geller, Y."]
[Black "Smyslov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]

{This was one of a series of candidates' matches to determine a challenger for world champion Petrosian. The way Smyslov is dispatched at the outset was demoralizing, and he was eliminated by a final score of 5.2 - 2.5. Geller makes it all look so easy, winding up with a neat Queen sacrifice.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5
8. Ne2 {Refraining from 8. Nf3?? O-O 9. O-O Bg4!} 8... O-O 9. O-O Nc6 { 9...cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bg4 12. f3 Na5 15. Bxf7+ was frowned on by theory but later revived by Karpov in his title matches vs. Kasparov.} 10.
Be3 Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. f4 {More forceful than 12. Qe1 e6 13. f4 Na5 14. Bd3 f5 (Spassky-Fischer, Piatigorsky Cup 1966).} 12... e6 {Another critical defense is 12...Bg4 13. f5 gxf5 14. Bxf7+! Kh8! 15. exf5 cxd4 16. cxd4 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Bxd4 (Shiskin-Bondarevsky, USSR 1960) which was shortly drawn.}
13. Kh1 b6 {Black's problems can be traced to this lackluster response. Safer is 13...Na5 14. Bd3 f5. White now seizes the opportunity to prevent this defense.} 14. f5 Na5 {The best chance is 14...Ne5! 15. Bf4 Qe7.} 15.
Bd3 exf5 16. exf5 Bb7 17. Qd2 Re8 18. Ng3 Qc6 19. Rf2 Rad8 {Black lost time regrouping his rooks while White achieved steady development without wasting any moves.} 20. Bh6 Bh8 21. Qf4 Rd7 22. Ne4 c4 23. Bc2 Rde7 24. Rcf1 Rxe4
25. fxg6 f6 {Of course not 25...Rxf4? 26. gxh7 mate.} 26. Qg5 Qd7 {Again if 26...fxg5 27. Rf8 mates. Now White can also win by 27. gxh7+ Kxh7 28. Qh5.}
27. Kg1 Bg7 28. Rxf6 Rg4 29. gxh7+ Kh8 30. Bxg7+ Qxg7 31. Qxg4 {On 31...Qxg4 32. Rf8+ forces mate -- ideal exploitation of a weak back rank. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Bisguier, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]

{Holes in the pawn structure often are exploited in the endgame. Here the weak dark squares on Black's kingside prove fatal after the Queens are gone. } 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 {A quiet line to postpone the battle instead of the sharper 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ swapping pieces.} 6... Nc6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 cxd4 10. exd4
Bd7 11. Bc2 Qc7 12. Qd3 g6 {Weakening h6 and f6 but it stops the mate threat.} 13. Bh6 Rfe8 14. Rfe1 Rac8 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Rac1 Bf5 17. Qd2 Bxc2
18. Rxc2 Qd7 19. Qf4 Bd6 20. Qf6 Bf8 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. h4 h5 23. b4 a6 24.
Rc5 Rfe8 25. Rec1 Rcd8 26. a4 Re6 27. Qg5 Qe7 28. b5 axb5 29. axb5 Na5 30.
Rc7 Qxg5 31. Nxg5 Rf6 32. Re1 b6 33. Ree7 Rf8 34. Rcd7 Nc4 35. Rxd5 Rd6 36.
Rd7 Rxd5 37. Rxd5 f6 38. Nh3 Rf7 39. Rd8+ Kh7 40. d5 Na3 41. d6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Geller, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]

{The hallmark of the artist is simplicity. Keres' deceptively effortless attack comes like a storm out of a still blue sky.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 {Avoids the isolated d-pawn after 5...exd5 that is characteristic of the pure Tarrasch Defense.} 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bc4 Nxc3
{This exchange tends to give White's center a momentary stability. An alternative is 7...cxd4 8. exd4 Be7.} 8. bxc3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. e4 b6 11.
Bb2 Bb7 12. Qe2 Na5 13. Bd3 Rc8 14. Rad1 cxd4 {Opening lines rebounds to White's favor. Better is 14...Qc7 awaiting further developments.} 15. cxd4
Bb4 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Qe7 {A better defense is 17...Bc3 18. Bxc3 Rxc3 19. Rfe1. White's control of the central files is clear yet far from decisive.}
18. Ne5 f6 19. Qh5 g6 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Bxg6 Qg7 {If 21...Nc4 22. Rd3 Nxb2 23. Rg3 Qg7 24. Bh7+.} 22. Rd3 Bd6 23. f4 Qh8 24. Qg4 Bc5+ 25. Kh1 Rc7 26.
Bh7+ Kf7 27. Qe6+ Kg7 28. Rg3+ {Finally forcing 28...Kxh7 29. Rh3 mate. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "32nd USSR Championship"]
[Site "Kiev"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kholmov, R."]
[Black "Bronstein, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]

{Kholmov's sacrifices are so startling that one is left with the impression he stumbled into them by accident. Actually, his concept is incredibly beautiful and profound.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 {For 3. e5 Nd5 see Spassky-Ciric, 1962.} 3... d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8.
Qf3 Qc7 {This accurate reply prevents Bc4.} 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6
gxf6 12. f5 {Ceding control of e5 in order to exert pressure on e6. An exciting draw in Padevsky-Evans, Havana Olympics 1966, resulted from 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Kb1 Nc5 14. f5 b4 15. Nce2 d5 16. fxe6 dxe4 17. exf7+ Kf8 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Nxe4 20. Ne6+ Kxf7 21. Nxc7 Ra7.} 12... Ne5 13. Qh3 O-O { Fischer tried this against Gligoric at the Candidates' tourney in 1959. Weaker is 13...Bd7 14. g5! fxg5 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Nxe6.} 14. g5 b4 {This error meets with a stunning refutation. Correct is 14...fxg5 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Nxe6 Qd7 17. Nd5 Qxe6 18. Qxe6+ Bxe6 19. Nxe7+ Kf7 with at least equal chances.} 15. gxf6 Bxf6 16. Rg1+ Kh8 17. Qh6 Qe7 18. Nc6 {A shocker. Some readers thought it was a misprint! It soon becomes clear that White is fighting to clear e4 for his Knight at any cost.} 18... Nxc6 19. e5 Bg5+ {If 19...Nxe5 20. Ne4 is decisive; likewise 19...Bxe5 20. f6 Bxf6 21. Bd3.} 20.
Rxg5 f6 21. exd6 Qf7 22. Rg3 bxc3 23. Bc4 cxb2+ 24. Kb1 Nd8 25. Rdg1 {More efficient is 25. d7! Bxd7 26. Rxd7 snuffing out all resistance.} 25... Ra7
26. d7 Rxd7 27. fxe6 Nxe6 28. Bxe6 Rd1+ 29. Rxd1 Bxe6 30. Kxb2 Rb8+ 31. Ka1
Bxa2 {31...Bf5 offers more fight but in the long run White's material preponderance would prevail.} 32. Rgd3 Qe7 33. Kxa2 Qe6+ 34. Rb3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "1st American Open"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Blackstone, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]

{In this donnybrook neither side is afforded the luxury of castling as both kings are perched precariously in the center with shells exploding around them. White's Knight tour to the edge of the move is one of the weirdest winning moves in chess history!} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 {Also playable is 6...e5 which, however, has the drawback of creating a backward pawn at d6 on an open file.} 7. f4 Qc7 8.
Bf3 Bd7 9. g4 h6 {A sensible reaction since Black gets some space on the h-file after the inevitable g5.} 10. g5 hxg5 11. fxg5 Ng8 12. Be3 {Perhaps White ought to speculate on 12. g6!? fxg6 13. Bg4 although he has no clearcut continuation after 13...Qc8.} 12... Ne7 13. h4 Nbc6 14. Nb3 {Better is 14. Qe2 and O-O-O.} 14... Ng6 15. h5 Nge5 16. Be2 b5 17. Qd2 Nc4 18. Bxc4
bxc4 19. Nd4 Ne5 20. Qg2 Rb8 {The best practical chance. On 20...O-O-O 21. O-O-O the board belongs to White. Now Black has two bishops, a strong Knight on e5 and pressure along the b-file. On the other hand White will mobilize his forces on the f-file and strive for g6. It's interesting to watch how tactics are wedded to these strategic concepts in this double-edged position. White's immediate problem is how to defend the pawn on b2. If 21. O-O-O Qb7 22. b3 a5 Black's attack is likely to come first.} 21. Rb1 Qa5 22.
Ke2 Kd8 {A maneuver known as "castling by hand".} 23. Nf3 Bc6 24. Nxe5 Qxe5
25. Qf3 Rb7 26. Bf4 Qc5 27. Rhd1 Rd7 28. Rd2 Be7 {The game is rapidly approaching a climax. The apparently strong 28...d5 is refuted by 29. Be3! d4? 30. Bxd4 Rxd4 31. Rxd4+ Qxd4 32. Rd1 pinning the Queen.} 29. Rbd1 Bxg5 { Losing patience. Safer is 29...Kc8 30. Be3 Qe5.} 30. Bxd6 Qb6 {The best chance is 20...Qa5 31. Rd4 Bf6 32. Rxc4 Bb5 33. Nxb5 Qxb5 34. b3 with an edge.} 31. Bf4 Bxf4 32. Qxf4 Ke8 {Not 32...Rxh5? 33. Rxd7+ Bxd7 34. Rxd7+ Kxd7 35. Qxf7+ and Qxh5 next.} 33. Qe5 Rh7 34. Rxd7 Bxd7 35. Nd5 Qc6 {Better is 35...Qb7 but 36. Ne3 keeps an advantage.} 36. Qb8+ Qc8 37. Nc7+ Kd8 { Again forced. If 37...Kf8 (or 37...Ke7 38. Qb4+ Kf6 39. Rf1+) 38. Qxc8+ Bxc8 39. Rd8+ mops up.} 38. Nxa6 Rxh5 39. Qb6+ Ke7 40. Qd6+ Ke8 41. Nc7+ Kd8 42.
Na8 {If 42...Ke8 (to stop Qf8 mate) 43. Nb6 is the quietus. Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Larsen, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]

{Tal in the saddle! His reckless and profound Knight sacrifice triggers a ferocious struggle; the soundess of this ploy baffles analysts even today.}
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 {In their 8th match game Tal adopted the positional 6. g3. He got some slight pressure but Larsen managed to draw without too much effort.} 6... Nf6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
O-O {Some players prefer to delay castling with 8...Bd7 and wait to see where White's King will live.} 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. Ndb5 Qb8 11. g4 a6 12. Nd4
Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b5 14. g5 Nd7 15. Bd3 b4 16. Nd5 {"The lightning bolt that shatters open a veritable Pandora's box of combinative havoc" -- R. Byrne. The way to refute a sacrifice is to accept it; an old maxim, but still true. Black can't decline by 16...Bd8 because of 17. Nf6+.} 16... exd5 17. exd5 f5
{One of Black's problems is that he has so many plausible replies!} 18. Rde1
Rf7 19. h4 Bb7 20. Bxf5 {Picking up a second pawn for the piece. Perhaps 20. h5 is stronger.} 20... Rxf5 21. Rxe7 Ne5 {Returning the piece. Tougher resistance is offered by 21...Rf7 22. Rxf7 Kxf7.} 22. Qe4 Qf8 {Too late for 22...Rf7 23. Rxf7 Nxf7 24. g6! hxg6 25. Qxg6 Qf8 26. Rg1.} 23. fxe5 Rf4 24.
Qe3 Rf3 {The last chance to fight back is 24...Bxd5 25. exd6 Rxd4 26. Qxd4 Bxh1.} 25. Qe2 Qxe7 26. Qxf3 dxe5 27. Re1 Rd8 28. Rxe5 Qd6 29. Qf4 Rf8 30.
Qe4 b3 31. axb3 Rf1+ 32. Kd2 Qb4+ 33. c3 Qd6 34. Bc5 Qxc5 35. Re8+ Rf8 36.
Qe6+ Kh8 37. Qf7 {A pretty finish. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "European Team Championship"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Johan Barendregt"]
[Black "Rudolf Teschner"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]

{"Opening theory is a strange, speckled animal," observed Bent Larsen. Indeed, certain variations seem to go in and out of fashion for no apparent reason. For example, the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez lost favor for about 40 years until 1965, when an obscure 41-year-old Dutch professor took up the cause. The widespread publiclation of this miniature, which he lost, might have doomed it once again, except it caught Bobby Fischer's eye. A year later the future world champion rehabilitated 5. O-O to win several spectacular games at the 1966 Olympiad in Havana.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O {Until now the usual continuation was 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7! with an ending where Black's two Bishops outweigh White's superior pawn structure and kingside pawn majority. When Fischer started playing this move, the variation took off. and suddenly became fashionable.} 5... Bg4 6. h3 h5 {Some opening manuals awarded it an exclamation mark and dismissed the variation without further analysis.} 7.
d3 Qf6 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Bd6 11. hxg4 hxg4 12. Nh2 Rxh2 {The critical position. Instead of capturing the rook, which loses quickly, White can retain an edge by 13. Qxg4! This discovery probably prompted Fischer to re-examine the entire variation.} 13. Kxh2 Qxf2 14. Re2 {Already White is lost. It's too late for 14. Qxg4 Ke7 threatening Rh8.} 14... exd4+ 15. e5 { Also futile is 15. Kh1 Qh4 16. Kg1 Qh2 17. Kf2 Bg3 18. Kf1 Qh1 mate.} 15...
Bxe5+ 16. Rxe5+ Nxe5 17. Kh1 {No better is 17. Ne4 Nf3! 18. Qxf3 Qh4 19. Kg1 gxf3.} 17... O-O-O {The threat of Rh8 is looming. "I lost not only the game but the variation," lamented Barendregt, unaware that his misfortune had awakened the interest of Bobby Fischer. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Candidate Match"]
[Site "Bled"]
[Date "1965"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Lajos Portisch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]

{An engrossing psychological study. Tal's murky rook sacrifice is probably unsound and good for a draw at best. Yet when Portisch tries to refute it, he succumbs to a bit of wizardry.} 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Nxe4
Bg4 {White's avoidance of d4 is designed to meet the normal 4...Bf5 by 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Ne5 Bh7 8. Qh5 g6 9. Bc4! e6 10. Qe2 (threatening Nxf7).}
5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Nd7 7. d4 Ngf6 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. c3
Nf6 12. Qh4 Nd5 13. Qg4 Bf6 {Dodging the obvious trap 13...O-O? 14. Bh6 Bf6 15. Qe4 g6 16. Bxf8.} 14. Re1 Qb6 15. c4 {"Correct was the reserved 15. a3 with the hope in a protracted struggle of exploiting the famous pair of Bishops. But the fact that the black King has stood with impunity in the center of the board for 14 moves provoked this reaction". -- Tal.} 15... Nb4
16. Rxe6+ {The only way to justify the previous move since if 16. Bxb1 Qxd4 picks up a pawn for nothing.} 16... fxe6 17. Qxe6+ Kf8 {A difficult decision. Portisch plays for a win instead of acquiescing to a draw by 17...Kd8 18. Qd6 Ke8 19. Qe6, etc. Tal's genius consists of posing his opponents with tempting ways to go wrong. He gives 17...Be7 18. Bg6! Kd8! as unclear.} 18. Bf4 Rd8 19. c5 Nxd3 20. cxb6 {"Still out for blood. My first intention here had been to force a draw at last by 20. Bh6! to which Black has one good reply 20...Qxb2 (less good is 20...Qc7 21. Qxf6 Kg8 22. Bxg7!). But not every c-pawn can reach a7. I therefore decided on the risky, though not losing, capture of the queen" -- Tal.} 20... Nxf4 21. Qg4 Nd5 {Fischer suggests 21...g5. But not 21...Rxd4? 22. Qc8 Rd8 23. Qxd8! Bxd8 24. bxa7 and the pawn queens.} 22. bxa7 Ke7 {Headed for refuge via d6 and c7. "Stronger was the straightfoward 22...g6! How the game would have finished in this case, I do not know. But at the board it seemed to me that the pawn on a7 insures White to a significant degree against defeat". -- Tal} 23. b4 Ra8 { Instead Tal recommends 23...Kd6 24. b5 Kc7.} 24. Re1+ Kd6 25. b5 Rxa7 {Loses instantly. As so often happens, the defender is exhausted by all the tactics. Fischer suggests 24..Rfd8.} 26. Re6+ Kc7 27. Rxf6 {On 27...gxf7 28. Qg7 followed by Qxh8 is decisive. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Bucharest"]
[Site "Romania"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kavalek, L."]
[Black "Matulovic, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E76"]

{Black's aggressive formation boomerangs when he runs into a surprising rook sacrifice. What is remarkable is that his position appeared perfectly safe just one move earlier.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6.
f4 O-O 7. Bd3 e6 8. dxe6 {Better than 8. Nf3 exd5 9. cxd5 Qb6.} 8... fxe6 9.
Nge2 Nc6 10. O-O Nd4 11. Ng3 Ne8 {More consistent is 11...a6 striving for rapid expansion with b5.} 12. Be3 Qh4 {Risky. 12...Nc7 followed by a6 is more thematic.} 13. f5 exf5 14. Qd2 f4 {Unclear is 14...fxe4 15. Bg5 Qg4 16. Bxe4. White's initiative compensates for his pawn, but Black has numerous defensive resources.} 15. Bxf4 Ne6 16. Be3 Rxf1+ 17. Rxf1 Bd7 {Correct is 17...Nf6 threatening Ng4.} 18. Nd5 Nf6 {It's already difficult. If 18...Bc6 19. Qf2 is hard to meet.} 19. Rxf6 Bxf6 20. Nf5 gxf5 21. g3 Bc3 {Forced. If 21...Qh3? 22. Nxf6+ Kf7 23. Bf1! impales the Queen.} 22. bxc3 Qd8 23. exf5
Ng7 {Now the roof caves in, but no better is 23...Nf8 24. Bg5 Qa5 25. Bf6.}
24. Bg5 Qf8 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Nxd7 Qf7 27. Nf6 Nh5 28. Nxh5 Qxh5 29. Bf6+ Kg8
30. Be4 h6 31. Qxd6 Re8 32. Bd5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Havana Olympics"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pachman, L."]
[Black "Uhlmann, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D86"]

{In 1966 Fidel Castro hosted the Chess Olympiad. Here Wolfgang Uhlmann of East Germany, a specialist in the Gruenfeld Defense, faces Ludek Pachman of Czechoslovakia, one of the world's leading opening theoreticians. Their clash gives off uncommon sparks, especially after White sacrifices the Exchange.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 {The exchange variation is the sharpest way to proceed against this sturdy defense.} 4... Nxd5 5. e4
Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 Nc6 {More usual is 8...c5 nibbling at the center right away. The idea behind the text is to defer this blow until Black has completed his development with ...b6, Bb7, and Na5 so that he can then maintain his pawn on c5 instead of being compelled to swap it for the d-pawn.} 9. O-O b6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Rc1 e6 12. Bd3 Qd7 13. Qd2 Na5 14. c4 f5
{The disadvantage of this setup now becomes apparent. Since c5 is not playable, Black assails the center from another direction.} 15. f3 Nc6 16.
Bb1 Na5 17. Rfd1 Qa4 {A reasonable alternative is 17...Ba6.} 18. Nc3 Qd7 { Kmoch recommends giving up the Queen with 18...Qxc4 19. Nd5 exd5 20. Rxc4 Nxc4 21. Qe2 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 dxe4.} 19. Ne2 Qa4 20. Nf4 Nxc4 {Better is 20... Rfe8. It's always interesting to observe a player's reaction when his offer of a draw by repetition is spurned.} 21. Rxc4 Qxc4 22. Rc1 Qa4 23. Nxe6 Rf7
{Returning material with 23...fxe4 was to be considered.} 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 { 24...Rxg7 loses more slowly after 25. exf5 gxf5 26. Bxf5 Bxf3 27. Be6+ Kh8 28. Bg5 Rf8 29. Rf1!} 25. exf5 gxf5 26. Bf4 h6 27. Be5+ Kg6 28. Qf4 Bc8 29.
g4 h5 30. gxf5+ Bxf5 31. Qg3+ {If 31...Kh7 32. Bxf5+ Rxf7 33. Qg7 mate. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Havana Olympics"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pomar, A."]
[Black "Johansson, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E53"]

{White lays a diabolical trap of uncommon beauty. It succeeds because he sees one move further than his opponent.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
e3 {This has replaced both 4. Qc2 or Qb3 which used to be more fashionable.}
4... O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. a3 {More usual is 7. O-O. Now White has to delay castling.} 7... Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qc7 9. Qc2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 cxd4 {Sharper is 10...b6 so that if 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4 Ba6!} 11. cxd4 b6 {11...b5 12. Bd3 Qxc2 13. Bxc2 slightly favors White in the ending because of his two Bishops.} 12. Qd3 Bb7 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Rc1 Be4 15. Qe2 Qb7 16. O-O {Finally! Now Black should play 16...h6!} 16... a6 17. Ng5 Bxg2 18. Bxe6 Bxf1 {Missing the point. White has only a minimal edge after 18...fxe6! (not 18...Rxc1? 19. Bxf7+ Qxf7 20. Rxc1!) 19. Rxc8+ Qxc8 20. Kxg2 h6.} 19. Qf3 {The demonic ultra point. If 19...Qxf3 20. Rxc8+ mates.} 19... Bg2 {Inadequate, but so is 19...Nc6 20. Nxf7!} 20. Qxb7 Bxb7 21. Bxc8 Bd5 {No better is 21...Bc6 22. e4 h6 23. d5 Be8 24. e5 Nxd5 25. Bb7.} 22. e4 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Re1 f5 { Forced. On 24...Bc6 25. Bb7! is crushing.} 25. Be6+ Kh8 {All choices are bad. If 25...Kf8 26. Bb4+ Ke8 27. Bxf5.} 26. Bxf5 Bc6 27. d5 {If 27...Bb5 28. Re7 Na6 29. Bc3 is decisive. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Zagreb"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Larsen, B."]
[Black "Matanovic, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E07"]

{This serene game is typical of modern chess. Black is holding his own until an oversight leads to a shattering denoument.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5
{This setup is designed to deaden the scope of the fianchettoed bishop so that, in the words of Nimzowitsch, it will "bite on granite".} 4. Nf3 Be7 5.
O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 c6 {Solid yet 7...b6 at once is preferable to profit from White's last move which exerts no pressure on d5.} 8. b3 b6 9.
Bb2 Bb7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. e3 dxc4 {Black opted for 11...Rc7 with the idea of Qa8, Rfc8 and c5 in Keres-Ragozin, USSR Championship 1947.} 12. Nxc4 c5 13.
Qe2 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nc5 16. Rfe1 {More natural seems 16. Rfd1. White has an edge in space, but the game has an essentially drawish character due to the symmetrical pawn formation: 2 vs. 2 on the queenside and 4 vs. 4 on the kingside.} 16... Qd5+ 17. f3 Rfd8 18. e4 Qb7 19. Ne5 Bf8
20. Rc2 Re8 {Black may be lulled into a false sense of security by the absence of any direct threat. Better is 20...a5 to stop b4 and ease the pressure.} 21. Rec1 Nfd7 22. Ng4 Na6 23. a3 Nab8 24. Rc4 a6 25. Qc2 Rxc4 26.
Qxc4 b5 27. Qc3 {White won the battle for control of the c-file but it lacks any great significance. If 27. Qc7 Qxc7 28. Rxc7 Bd6 they could agree to a draw.} 27... b4 28. axb4 Bxb4 {More prudent is 28...Qxb4. Black is slowly drifting into trouble.} 29. Qe3 Be7 30. Rc4 Rc8 {Weary of prolonged defense, Black misses the right move 30...Nf6. The text overlooks one of the most difficult two- move combinations ever seen in a practical game.} 31. Nxe6
Rxc4 {If 31...fxe6 32. Qc3 wins owing to the double threat of Qxg7 mate and/or Rxc8.} 32. Nh6+ {Mate is unavoidable on 32...gxh6 (or 32...Kh8 33. Bxg7) 33. Qxh6. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "U.S. Championship, New York"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Byrne, R."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]

{During the 1960's, Larry Evans was one of the strongest U.S. players after Fischer, known as a "pawn-grabber" for his -- well justified -- faith in his defensive abilities. Robert Byrne lures him into a prepared line of the "Poisoned Pawn Variation," a risky but resilient defense in which Black snatches a pawn at the cost of his development. The result is one of the most brilliant games of the decade.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 {Despite thirty years of tournament practice, it is not yet clear which side stands better in this position, or even what White's next move should be. Alternatives to the game are 10.f5, 10.Be2 and 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4.} 10. e5 dxe5
11. fxe5 Nfd7 12. Bc4 Bb4 {The text seems logical, but 12...Qa5 is now considered better.} 13. Rb3 Qa5 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf6 gxf6 {Losing. The only try is 15...Nxf6 16.exf6 Rd8, preparing to retreat the Queen or Bishop to f8 for defensive purposes.} 16. Qh6 Qxe5 17. Nf5 {It is essential to prevent f6-f5, which would allow the Black Queen to retreat to g7.} 17... exf5 18.
Ne4 {The third sacrifice clears the third rank for the Rook. Now if 18...fxe4 19.Rh3, or 18...Qxe4 19.Rg3+ Qg4 20.Rxg4+ fxg4 21.Bd3 wins [21...Rd8 22.Bxh7+ Kf8 23.Bg6+ Kg8 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Qxf7++].} 18... Bd2 19.
Nxd2 Qd4+ 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Rg3+ Ng4 {Also unsatisfactory are 21...Ng6 22.Rh3 and 21...Qg4 22. Qxf6 Ng6 23.Rxg4 fxg4 24.Bxf7+.} 22. h3 Qe5 23. Rf4 Qe1+
24. Nf1 Qxg3 25. Rxg4+ {Not 25.Nxg3? Nxh6.} 25... Qxg4 26. hxg4 Nd7 27. Ng3
Kh8 28. Bd3 Rg8 29. Bxf5 Rg6 30. Bxg6 fxg6 31. Ne4 b5 32. g5 Bb7 33. Nxf6
Nf8 34. Qh2 Bc8 35. Qe5 Ne6 36. Nd7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "2nd Piatigorsky Cup"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Larsen, B."]
[Black "Petrosian, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B39"]

{Larsen's concluding Queen sacrifice is frosting on the cake. Remarkably, he ties up the world champion in knots - and makes it look so simple.} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Be3 Bg7 {He could avoid the Maroczy Bind by 5...Nf6 but Petrosian has a predilection for cramped positions.} 6. c4
Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4 8. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 Ne6 {"9...Nc6 seems preferable, although it does not change my estimation that this line is rather difficult for Black" - Petrosian.} 10. Qd2 d6 11. Be2 Bd7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rad1 Bc6 14. Nd5
Re8 {"This move I do not understand. Why not 14...Nc5 15. f3 a5 - I intended 16. Rfe1 followed by Bf1 but it would not be easy to attack the solid Black position" - Larsen.} 15. f4 Nc7 16. f5 Na6 17. Bg4 {"A difficult decision - and probably wrong. Very strong would have been 17. b4!" - Larsen.} 17...
Nc5 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Qf2 Rf8 20. e5 {"Winning the Queen would give Black a strong position: 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Nf6+ Bxf6 22. Rxd8 Raxd8. This White can never win, and he might lose" - Larsen.} 20... Bxe5 21. Qh4 Bxd5 22. Rxd5
Ne6 {The losing move. The best chance is 22...e6.} 23. Rf3 Bf6 24. Qh6 Bg7
25. Qxg6 {"Basically uncomplicated, but nonetheless beautiful and rare" - Petrosian.} 25... Nf4 {The same fate is in store on 25...fxg6 26. Bxe6+; or 25...Nc7 26. Qxg7+! Kxg7 27. Rg5+ Kh8 28. Rh3 mate.} 26. Rxf4 fxg6 27. Be6+
Rf7 28. Rxf7 Kh8 29. Rg5 b5 30. Rg3 {Black Resigns. "My sense of self-criticism is probably not strong enough. I really do not blame myself for that mistake on move 17" - Larsen.} 1-0

[Event "Piatigorsky Cup"]
[Site "Santa Monica"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bent Larsen"]
[Black "Tigran Petrosian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B39"]

{Larsen was Denmark's best player for most of the last half of the 20th century. There is always something heady about a Queen sacrifice, especially against a world champion who didn't lose many games during his reign.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Be3 Bg7 6. c4 {The Maroczy bind subjects Black to a lasting cramp.} 6... Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4 8. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1
Ne6 10. Qd2 d6 11. Be2 Bd7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rad1 {A more aggressive setup than 13. Rfd1 followed by Rac1, f3 and b3 as chosen by Keres against Petrosian at the Candidates tournament in 1959. The immediate threat is c5.}
13... Bc6 14. Nd5 Re8 {"After the hesitating text move I felt justified in starting an attack," wrote Larsen, who recommends 14...Nc5 15. f3 a5 because winning the Queen by 16. Bxc5 and Nf6 is not favorable for White.} 15. f4
Nc7 16. f5 Na6 17. Bg4 {"A difficult decision -- and probably wrong!" wrote Larsen, who points out that 17. b4 Nb8 18. b5 is better.} 17... Nc5 18. fxg6
hxg6 19. Qf2 Rf8 20. e5 {Larsen considers this the finest move in the game. Winning the Queen by 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Nf6 Bxf6 22. Rxd8 Raxd8 is good for Black.} 20... Bxe5 21. Qh4 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Ne6 {The best defense is 22...e6! Now White's attack gathers momentum.} 23. Rf3 Bf6 {The only hope is 23...f5 24. Rh3 Ng7.} 24. Qh6 Bg7 25. Qxg6 {"Of course it was wonderful to make this move, but it was not a difficult decision. Spectators were said to be have been surprised. What move did they expect? 25. Qh4?" -- Larsen.} 25... Nf4 {Desperation. But if 25...Nc7 26. Qxg7Kxg7 27. Rg5 Kh7 28. Rh3 mate.} 26.
Rxf4 fxg6 27. Be6+ Rf7 {Also futile is 27...Kh7 28. Rh4 Bh6 29. Bxh6.} 28.
Rxf7 Kh8 29. Rg5 b5 30. Rg3 {White wins. "My sense of self-criticism is probably not strong enough. I really do not blame myself for that mistake on move 17". -- Larsen.} 1-0

[Event "Havana Olympics"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Garcia, G."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B49"]

{White loses the initiative early on. Watch for the zigzag gyrations of Black's bishop which starts out at b4 and winds up on h2 just three moves later!} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Qc7 7.
Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Bb4 9. Na4 O-O {Somewhat risky. So is 9...Nxe4 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Nb6 Rb8 12. Bf3 f5 13. Bxe4 fxe4 14. Qh5+ with attacking prospects. For 9...Bd6 see Koehler-Evans, 1968.} 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. c4 {Hoping for 11...Nxe4? 12. c5 stranding the bishop at b4. Better is 11. Bb6! Qf4 12. Bd3 (12...Nxe4? 13. g3 Qe5 14. Qe2.} 11... Bd6 12. Bb6 {Too late.} 12... Bxh2+
13. Kh1 Qf4 14. g3 Qh6 {Even better than 14...Bxg3 15. fxg3 Qxg3.} 15. Kg2
e5 {White suddenly saw the fatal weakness of his h3 and is now helpless against a flurry of checks.} 16. Rh1 Qh3+ 17. Kf3 Bg4+ 18. Ke3 Qh6+ 19. Kd3
Rfd8+ 20. Bxd8 Rxd8+ 21. Kc2 Rxd1 22. Raxd1 g6 23. f3 Qe3 24. Rxh2 Bxf3 25.
Nc3 Bxe4+ 26. Nxe4 Nxe4 27. Rg2 Nf2 28. Rxf2 Qxf2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "17th Olympiad"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Boris Spassky"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C93"]

{This eagerly awaited clash between the USA and USSR, who were in a tight race for the world team championship, was delayed over a week when the Soviets refused to postpone the start of the round from 4pm to 6pm on Friday to accommodate Fischer's religious convictions -- despite assurances before going to Cuba that his request for a change in schedule would be honored. America protested by forfeiting on all four boards. Finally Moscow relented and cabled instructions to play the round on a free day. World champion Petrosian was replaced on first board by Spassky, who fought back heroically after being pinned to the ropes all game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 {Ending speculation that Spassky would risk his pet Marshall Attack with 8...d5.} 9. h3 h6 10. d4 Re8
11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 Bd7 13. Ng3 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 15. b3 cxd4 {Opening the c-file to get some breathing space. Spassky-Portisch, Luagno 1968, continued 15...Nc6 16. d5 Ne7 17. c4 closing the center.} 16. cxd4 Nc6 17. Bb2 g6 {An alternative is 17...Rc8 18. a3 Qb6 19. b4 a5 as in Janovsevic-Geller, Belgrade 1969.} 18. Qd2 Bg7 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. Nf1 {Aiming to redeploy this Knight on d5, a typical Ruy Lopez theme to exploit Black's cramp.} 20...
Rad8 21. Ne3 Qb8 22. Bb1 Qb7 {Marking time and regrouping, since there is no way to improve his position. If 22... exd4 23. Nd5 regains the pawn, so Black tries to maintain his strong point on e5.} 23. Rc1 Kh7 24. a3 Bc8 {In effect, Spassky is saying "come and get me!" White gains too much space whenever Black relinquishes the center. Too dangerous is 24...exd4 25. Nxd4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Bxb2 27. Qxb2 Rxe4 28. Nxc6 Bxc6 29. Ng4 (or Qf6).} 25. Bc3
Bd7 26. Qb2 Qb8 27. b4 Kg8 28. Rcd1 Nh7 29. Ba2 Ng5 {In cramped positions, exchanges ease pressure.} 30. Nxg5 hxg5 31. dxe5 dxe5 32. Nd5 Ne7 33. Nxe7+
Rxe7 34. Qd2 {White clearly maintains the initiative.} 34... Bf6 35. Qd6 Kg7
36. Qxa6 {Allows counterplay. Much stronger is 36. Re3!} 36... Rc8 37. Rd6
Rxc3 38. Rxf6 Be6 {Turning the tables. If 39. Bxe6 Kxf6! Now White must sacrifice the Exchange and fight for a draw.} 39. Rxe6 fxe6 40. Rd1 Qb7 {An error on the last move of the time control. Spassky fails to find 40...Qe8! White sealed his reply and the game was adjourned.} 41. Qxb7 Rxb7 42. Bxe6
Rxa3 43. Kh2 Ra4 44. Rb1 Rc7 45. f3 Ra6 {If 45...Rc6 46. Bd7 holds.} 46. Bb3
Ra3 47. Rb2 Ra1 48. Kg3 Kf6 49. Kg4 Rc3 50. Bd5 Raa3 51. h4 gxh4 52. Kxh4
Ra1 53. Rd2 Raa3 54. Kg4 Rd3 55. Rc2 Rac3 56. Ra2 Ra3 57. Rb2 {A draw, as neither side can make progress. Three years later Spassky wrested the crown from Petrosian in 1969 and then faced Fischer for the last time before their famous title bout at Reykjavik in 1972 (see Spassky-Fischer, Siegen 1970).}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Havana OIympics"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Padevsky, N."]
[Black "Matanovic, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]

{White gets an extremely dangerous mating attack at the cost of a pawn. The defender finds an original way to return the pawn, then assumes the initiative and concludes with beautifully sharp tactics. "Some like it hot" was the title one critic gave to this minor masterpiece. It represents the triumph of the counterattack.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3
O-O 6. e5 Nfd7 {Black lands in an inferior ending if he tries to avoid the following wild attack by 6...dxe5 7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Rd8+ 9. Ke1 Nd5 10. Nxd5 Rxd5 11. Be4 Rd8 12. Ng5 (Bronstein-Vasiukov, USSR Championship 1966).}
7. h4 {The consistent follow-up but 7. Be3 is sturdier.} 7... c5 8. h5 cxd4
9. Qxd4 {For 9. hxg6 see Sorokin-Duborik, 1968.} 9... dxe5 10. Qf2 {All part of the master plan. White pitches pawn to get his Queen to the h-file. Tamer is 10. fxe5 Nxe5 11. Qh4 Bf5!} 10... e4 {A vast improvement over 10...exf4 11. hxg6 hxg6 12. Bxf4 Nf6 13. Qh4 when the attack gathers too much momentum.} 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Qh4 Qd4 {A vital link in the defensive scheme. Now if 14. Nh7 Rd8 repulses the attack.} 14. Nb5 Qb6 15.
Bc4 {If 15. Nxe4 Re8 staves off mate (16. Nxf6+ exf6+) and White's forces remain disjointed.} 15... Bg4 16. f5 {Throwing caution to the winds in order to activate the bishop on c1. But Black gets the initiative after 16. Nxe4 Nbd7 17. Nf2 Be6.} 16... gxf5 17. Nh7 Nbd7 18. Nxf8 Nxf8 19. Nc3 {White can only retreat -- sad but true. On 19. Bh6 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Qe3+ 21. Kf1 Ng3+ wins.} 19... Rc8 20. Bb3 e6 21. Qf2 {White's on the run. Now that the offensive is over, his endgame is lost. He evidently forgot Pillbury's maxim: "Conduct the attack so that when the fire is out...it isn't!} 21...
Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Ng6 23. Be3 {An amusing line is 23. g3 Bf3 24. Re1 Ng4+ 25. Kf1 Bd4 threatening Nh2 mate!} 23... f4 24. Bxa7 e3+ 25. Bxe3 {Even less appealing is 25. Kg1 Nh5 26. Kh2 Be5.} 25... Rxc3 26. bxc3 Ne4+ 27. Kg1 fxe3
28. Bc4 Bxc3 29. Rb1 Nd2 30. Rxb7 Nxc4 31. Rc7 e2 32. Kf2 Bd4+ {Winning a whole Rook. 32...e1=Q+ 33. Rxe1 Bxe1+ 34. Kxe1 would present more technical difficulties.} 33. Kg3 Ne3 34. Rc8+ Kg7 35. Re1 Be5+ 36. Kf2 Nd1+ 37. Kg1
Bg3 38. Rxe2 Bxe2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kozomara, V."]
[Black "Byrne, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]

{"My opponent was so impressed by the piece sacrifice that the first thing he asked me after the game was whether it was prepared analysis. Not only was it not prepared analysis, it was not even prepared on my previous move. It was a clear case of shooting from the hip" -- Robert Byrne, longtime chess columnist for The New York Times.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. b4
O-O 5. Bb2 d6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 e5 8. O-O {Black recovers the pawn with a comfortable position after 8. dxe5 Ng4.} 8... e4 9. Nfd2 Re8 10. Nc3 Nf8 11.
a4 h5 12. a5 N8h7 {"It is often difficult to decide, in case of attacks on opposite wings, what if any defensive measures one ought to take time out for. Perhaps I should have played 12...a6 but in the face of White's sweeping pawn avalanche, defensive moves usually turn out to create more weaknesses than they shield" -- Byrne.} 13. a6 b6 14. f4 exf3ep 15. Bxf3 Bg4
{"I considered this so essential as to be obvious, but my opponent told me later than in a previous game 15...Rb8 was chosen and he scored quickly against it" -- Byrne.} 16. h3 Bh6 {A thunderbolt! White expected 16...Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Ng5 18. Qf4 Ne6 19. Qf2.} 17. hxg4 Bxe3+ 18. Rf2 {White does better to seek counterplay with 18. Kh2 Ne4! 19. g3 Nxd2 20. Bxa8 Nxf1+ 21. Qxf1 Qxa8 22. gxh5.} 18... Nxg4 19. Bxg4 Qh4 20. Qf3 {The most demanding defense is 20. Nde4 hxg4 21. Qd3 with lots of fight left.} 20... Ng5 21. Qxe3 Rxe3
22. Nd5 {White looks okay with three minor pieces for the Queen. But the next move punctures this illusion.} 22... hxg4 23. Nxe3 Qg3 24. Re2 Nh3+ 25.
Kf1 {Byrne gives 25.Kh1 Nf4 26. Rae1 Nxe2 27. Rxe2 Re8 28. Ndf1 Qf4 29. Kg1 Qe4 winning.} 25... Nf4 26. Ne4 Qh4 27. d5 f5 28. Nf6+ Kf7 29. Rd2 g3 30.
Ke1 Qh1+ 31. Nf1 Nxg2+ 32. Kd1 {The rest needs no comment. On 32. Rxg2 Qxg2 33. Bd4 Rh8 followed by Rh1 does the trick.} 32... Qxf1+ 33. Kc2 Ne3+ 34.
Kb3 Qxc4+ 35. Ka3 Nc2+ 36. Rxc2 Qxc2 37. Rh1 Qxb2+ 38. Kxb2 Kxf6 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Byrne, R."]
[Black "Bisguier, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]

{"When you don't know what to do, wait for your opponent to get an idea -- it's sure to be bad," advised wily Dr. Tarrasch. Here Black encourages White to pursue his fixation with winning a pinned piece, which proves to be his undoing.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7.
cxd5 {This exchange frees Black's "problem child," his c8- Bishop. A good alternative is 7. b3.} 7... exd5 8. Nc3 c6 9. Qc2 Re8 10. a3 a5 11. Bg5 Nb6
12. Rad1 Nc4 13. Ne5 {Better is 13. Rfe1 to strive for e4.} 13... Nd6 14. f3
Nd7 15. Bf4 {More consistent is 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nxd7 Qe3+ 17. Rf2 Bxd7 18. Rd3 Qe7 19. e4 with chances for initiative.} 15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 Qb6+ 17.
Kh1 Nc4 18. Na4 Qb5 19. e4 dxe4 20. Rfe1 {The die is cast. White prepares the seemingly devastating threat of Bf1 pinning the knight.} 20... Be6 21.
Bf1 {The consequences of 21. Rxe4 Nxa3 22. bxa3 Bb3 are ramified but seem to favor Black.} 21... exf3 22. Re4 Rad8 {Exploiting the weakness of White's back rank.} 23. Rb1 g5 24. Rxc4 {The point is 24. Bc1 Nxa3! wins.} 24...
gxf4 25. gxf4 {There is no hope after 25.Rxf4 Qxe5.} 25... Qd5 26. Nb6 Qd2
27. Qe4 Qf2 28. Rc2 Qxb6 29. Bd3 Rxd3 30. Qxd3 Bd5 31. h3 Kh8 32. Rf1 Rg8 { Black's two Bishops are just too powerful. White could resign on the spot.}
33. Rcf2 Rg3 34. Kh2 Rg2+ 35. Rxg2 fxg2 36. Rg1 Qxg1+ {Of course 37. Kxg1 Bc5+ leads to mate. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Beverwijk"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pomar, A."]
[Black "Szabo, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A69"]

{As a child prodigy Spain's Arturo Pomar at age 13 drew a game with world champion Alexander Alekhine in 1944! Here Pomar adopts a line which was considered to be in White's favor, but Szabo uncorks a resource that casts doubt on this evaluation.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O
6. f4 {Once considered the scourge of the King's Indian Defense, the so-called Four Pawns Attack has been shorn of its terror.} 6... c5 7. d5 e6
8. Nf3 exd5 9. cxd5 {Sharper than the insipid 9. exd5 Bf5.} 9... Re8 10. Nd2
a6 11. a4 Ng4 12. Bxg4 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qxg4 14. Qxg4 {White's pawn on d5 can become infected after 14. O-O Bd4+! 15. Kh1 Qh3! 16. Nf3 Bg4 17. Qd3 Nd7! 18. Bd2 Bxf3+! 18. Qxf3 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Rfe1 Nf6 (Kerr-Evans, Washington 1969).} 14... Bxg4 15. Kf2 Bd4+ {An improvement on 15...f5 16. h3 fxe4 17. Nc4! Bf3 18. Re1 Bf8 19. Nb6 Ra7 20. a5.} 16. Kg2 Nd7 17. h3 Bxc3
18. bxc3 Be2 19. Re1 Bd3 20. Re3 c4 21. Ba3 {A critical position for the judgment of the whole variation, and the subject of an article by Zaitsev who concluded that White stood better. The key move he considered is 21...f5 22. e5 Nb6 23. Bxd6 Nxd5 24. Rxd3! cxd3 25. c4 and winning chances are with White after he fixes the queenside with a5 and c5, then goes after the d-pawn.} 21... Nb6 22. Bxd6 Nxd5 23. Ree1 {The interesting course if 23. Rxd3 cxd3 24. c4 Nc3 25. Kf3 b5! 26. cxb5 axb5 27. a5 with a stiff fight.}
23... Nxc3 24. Be5 Rxe5 25. fxe5 Rc8 26. Ra3 {No time for 26. Kf3 b5 27. Ra3 b4, etc.} 26... Ne2 27. Kf2 c3 28. Nb3 {Willy-nilly White should try his luck with 28. Rxe2.} 28... c2 29. Nc1 Nxc1 30. Rxc1 Bxe4 31. Ke3 Rc4 32. a5
h5 33. Kd2 Rc5 {Picks up a third pawn for the Exchange and effectively ends all resistance.} 34. Re1 Rxe5 35. Kc1 f5 36. Rb3 Rxa5 37. Rxe4 fxe4 38. Rxb7
Ra3 39. g4 h4 40. Rb6 Kf7 41. Kxc2 Rxh3 42. g5 Rg3 {White Resigns. A good illustration of the "creative evolution" that goes into judging an opening. The middle game and endgame flowed directly out of the opening. Theory now decrees White should abstain from this line unless he can produce some improvement.} 0-1

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vladimirov, Y."]
[Black "Doda, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A69"]

{Players often spend many hours preparing for tournament games; here White's ultrasharp opening has all the tang of home cooking. Black quite properly nibbles at the dish, as befits a polite guest, but makes the mistake of accepting a second helping.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Bg7
6. f4 O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. cxd5 {A risky gambit is 9. e5?! dxe5 10. fxe5 Ng4 11. Bg5 Qa5 12. cxd5 Nxe5 13. O-O (Nei-Westerninen, Helsinki 1966). } 9... Re8 10. e5 {It's questionable whether White should undertake such action before castling. Safer is 10. Qc2.} 10... dxe5 11. fxe5 Ng4 12. Bg5
Qb6 13. O-O Nxe5 {A pitfall is 13...c4+? 14. Kh1 Nf2+ 15. Rxf2 Qxf2 16. Ne4 Qb6 17. Nd6 Rf8 18. Be7 Nd7 19. Nxc4 regaining material with a clear advantage.} 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Bc4 Qxb2 {A bold choice. Sturdier is 15...Bf5. } 16. d6 {A logical extension of White's idea to utilize the open f-file. Black's problems are now more easily solved in analysis than over-the-board. If 16...Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qf3 Nc6 19. Qf7+ looks good.} 16... Bf5 17.
Bxf7+ {More accurate is 17. Rxf5+! gxf5 18. Bxf7+! transposing into the game without allowing Black the option pointed out in the next note.} 17... Kxf7
18. Rxf5+ gxf5 {Now White's attack becomes irresistible. The quiet 18...Kg7! poses more problems because the rook is left hanging in the air and White's entire queenside is about to be scorched.} 19. Qh5+ Kf8 20. Rf1 Bd4+ 21. Kh1
Re6 22. Rxf5+ Bf6 23. Bh6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kf7 {Of course not 24...Bxg5 25. Rf8 mate but Black is lost anyway since 24...Kh8 25. Bg7+! Kg8 (25...Bxg7 26. Qd8+) 26. Bxf6+ Kf8 27. Bg7+ Ke8 28. Rf8+ Kd7 29. Qd8+ leads to mate.} 25.
Rxf6+ Rxf6 26. Qg7+ Ke6 27. Qe7+ {Black does not care to take his King for a stroll in view of 27...Kf5 28. Qe4 mate. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Monte Carlo"]
[Site "Monaco"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Efim Geller"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]

{"It was clear to me that the vulnerable point of the American grandmaster was in double-edged, hanging, irrational positions, where he often failed to find a win even in a won position. This led to my decision to challenge Fischer in a very sharp game and, what's more, in his favorite variation. Players who are devoted to certain opening systems know how unpleasant it can be to play against oneself in the purely psychological sense. To be objective, it must be pointed out that there is always another side of the coin, as was indeed the case here. The opening subleties of the variation were well known to Fischer, whereas I had to search very hard for good continuations in an unfamiliar situation" -- Geller.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 {Leads to the so-called poison pawn variation. "The less committing 8. Nb3 would have looked like moral capitulation on White's part". -- Geller.} 8... Qxb2 9.
Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 {As Black, Fischer had several times refuted the overly aggressive 10. e5.} 10... Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5 {Opening all lines in the center to facilitate the attack. Inadequate is 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Be2 Rg8 14. O-O (14. Bh5 Ke7 leads nowhere) Qc5 15. Kh1 Qg5 forcing an exchange of Queens.} 13... Nd5 {Fischer once defended with 13...dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Be2 h5! "But I was playing this variation for the first time in my life. It was inconceivable to try and work out all the possible complications at the board, and I decided that Black's pawn center should enable his King to sit it out" -- Geller.} 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Be2 dxe5
16. O-O Bc5+ {A better defense is 16...Ra7! 17. c4 Qc5 18. Kh1 d4 19. Qc2 Be7 20. Qa4 Rd7 as in Bednarsky-Sakharov, Varna 1968.} 17. Kh1 Rf8 18. c4 { "Up to this point Fischer had played very quickly, obviously following his prepared analysis. Here for the first time he sank into thought and made the usual move in this sort of position" -- Geller.} 18... Rxf1+ 19. Rxf1 Bb7
20. Bg4 {"Fischer's only mistake, made after 20 minutes thought. It was here that my correctly evaluated aspect of his character came into effect: in unfamiliar sharp positions he was apt to lose his way. He had to make a choice between: (a) Rf3; (b) 20. Bd1; (c) 20. Qc2; (d) his continuation in the game. After the game I pointed out that 20. Qc2! makes it difficult to parry the threat against h7" -- Geller. Three months later in Tal-Bogdanovic, USSR vs. Yugoslavia, White won after 20. Qc2! e4 . Bg4 Be7 22. Qf2! O-O-O 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Bxe6 Kb8 25. Qb6 Bxf4 26. Qxd8.} 20... dxc4
21. Bxe6 Qd3 22. Qe1 Be4 {"The idea is to paralyize White's heavy pieces. The bishop in the center is simultaneously both a shield and a sword. Fischer at this point looked very dismayed" -- Geller.} 23. Bg4 Rb8 24. Bd1
Kd7 25. Rf7+ Ke6 {White resigns. "Contrary to the normal state of affairs, Black's King in the center is now safe, whereas its colleague, which is in its customary place, is in a trap. On 26. Rxg7 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Rb2 28. Kh1 Qd5 mates". -- Geller.} 0-1

[Event "National Championship"]
[Site "East Germany"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hennings, A."]
[Black "Moehring, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]

{It's amazing how much hot water a master can wade into in the first dozen moves despite a century of opening theory. Here Black's defensive setup is mangled even though every one of his moves seems plausible.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 {Considered inferior until Fischer rehabilitated it.} 7... Be7 8. Qe2 O-O {While not an error, castling generally should be delayed in favor of rapid queenside action with a6 and b5.} 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. Bb3 a6 {Rather slow. 10...Na5 is indicated.}
11. g4 b5 12. g5 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nd7 14. Rhg1 Nc5 {If such a natural move leads to trouble, then Black already is walking a tightrope. Better is 14...Bb7.} 15. Qh5 b4 {Black can hardly be blamed for overlooking the reply. But he still loses after 15...Nd7 16. g6! hxg6 17. Rxg6.} 16. Bf6 {This elegant coup threatens the still more elegant Qh6!} 16... Re8 17. Rg3 bxc3
18. Rh3 cxb2+ 19. Kb1 Bxf6 20. gxf6 Kf8 21. e5 Ne4 {On 21...dxe5 22. fxg7+ Ke7 23. Qg5+ also wins.} 22. fxg7+ Ke7 23. Qh4+ f6 24. Qxe4 d5 25. g8=Q Rxg8
26. Rxh7+ {Enough is enough! Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Skopje"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Dely, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B88"]

{A crisp miniature. Black tries to solve his opening problems superficially and is on the receiving end of two fatal jolts.} 1. e4 {"Best by test" -- Fischer.} 1... c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7.
Bb3 a6 8. f4 Qa5 {White got good attacking prospects after 8...Na5 9. f5! Nxb3 10. axb3 Be7 11. Qf3 O-O 12. Be3 Bd7 13. g4 e5 14. Nde2 (Fischer-Bielicki, Mar Del Plata 1960).} 9. O-O Nxd4 {A better solution is 9...d5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. f5 with a slight initiative, but nothing serious.}
10. Qxd4 d5 {Naively attempting to free his game with Bc5. The lesser evil is 10...Qc5 11. Qxc5 dxc5 although White has an endgame advantage with 12. a4.} 11. Be3 Nxe4 {Better but far from good is 11...dxe4 12. Nxe4 Be7 13. Nd6+.} 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. f5 Qb4 {Fischer gives 13...exf5 14. g4! Be6 15. gxf5 Bxb3 16. axb3 Qb4 17. Ra4 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Be7 19. Rxe4 Kf8 20. f6! Bxf6 21. Rxf6 gxf6 22. Bh6+ and mates.} 14. fxe6 Bxe6 {Overlooking the concluding combination. 14...fxe6 is now the only hope.} 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Rxf8+ Qxf8
17. Qa4+ {Mate or heavy material loss is unavoidable, so Black Resigns. If 17...b5 18. Qxe4 Rd8 19. Qc6+ Rd7 20. Rd1 Qe7 21. Bb6! and the threat of Qc8+ is devastating.} 1-0

[Event "Skopje"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Geller, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B88"]

{A flawed masterpiece. Fischer has a momentary lapse; his ultra sharp attack meets with a stunning refutation.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 {Black should start rapid action on the queenside with 7...a6 8. Bb3 Qc7 9. Qe2 b5 10. O-O Na5 (or Bb7).} 8. Bb3 O-O
9. Qe2 Qa5 {Trying to improve on the customary 9...a6 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. g4.}
10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bd7 12. Kb1 Bc6 13. f4 Rad8 14. Rhf1 b5 15. f5 {The die is cast. 15. a3 is safer but costs a tempo, which definitely is not to Fischer's taste.} 15... b4 16. fxe6 bxc3 17. exf7+ Kh8 18. Rf5 Qb4 19. Qf1 { Fischer says this was the hardest move in the game to find (45 minutes). Black must meet the threat of Rxf6.} 19... Nxe4 {Objectively better is 19...Ng4 20. Bxc3 Qb7 21. Qf4 with three pawns for the piece, but who can quarrel with success?} 20. a3 {White loses his way in the labyrinth. Fischer gives 16. Qf4! as the winning move. One line he offers is 16...cxb2 17. Rh5! Nc3+ 18. Kxb2 Nxd1+ 23. Kc1 Rxf7 24. Bxf7! Bd7 25. Bxg7+ snaring the Queen.}
20... Qb7 21. Qf4 Ba4 {White overlooked this shot which turns the tables.}
22. Qg4 Bf6 23. Rxf6 Bxb3 {The point is 24. Rf4 (or 24. cxb3 Nxf6) 24...Ba2+! 25. Kxa2 Qxb2 mate. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Zuckerman, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]

{5-time national champion Larry Evans received the brilliancy prize against Bernard Zuckerman, who often was called "Zuckerbook" in chess circles because of his encyclopedic book knowledge. Here he displays a rare piece of bad judgment by gobbling a tainted pawn in the opening. The dose is lethal.}
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 Bg7 8.
Qd2 O-O {Postponing castling with 8...Bd7 or Rc8 has been found wanting, since Black's King is not secure in the center and he is minus the serves of his rook on h8".} 9. O-O-O {The main alternative is 9. Bc4.} 9... Nxd4 { Black has to show that he has enough compensation for the pawn after 9...d5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qc5 (Evans-Padevsky, Havana 1964.)} 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Kb1 Qc7 {Not 11...Qa5? 12. Nd5!} 12. h4 Rfc8 13. h5 Nxh5 {Opening the file is too dangerous. Correct is 13...Qa5 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. a3 15...Rab8 16. g4 b5 (Evans- Zuckerman, USA Championship 1970.)} 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. g4 Nf6 16. Qh6+ Kg8 17. e5 dxe5 18.
g5 Nh5 19. Bd3 {19. Rxh5 gxh5 20. Bd3 transposes into the same line.} 19...
e4 {Black has no valid defense to the threat of Rxh5. If 19...f5 20. Rxh5 gxh5 21. Qxe6+ Kh8 22. Qxf5 wins.} 20. Rxh5 gxh5 21. Nxe4 {Better than 21. Bxe4 Qe5.} 21... Qf4 22. Nf6+ exf6 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. Bf5+ Kg8 25. Qh7+ Kf8
26. Qh8+ {Etiquette dictates that a master not play on until mate -- 26...Ke7 27. gxf6! Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Suetin, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]

{An object lesson in how to sustain the initiative. Each time Black is on the verge of equalizing, Spassky finds an ingenious way to prevent it.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 {3...e5 is also playable but creates a hole on d5.} 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Nb3 {A dubious attempt to improve on either 7 a3 or Bd3.} 7... Nf6 8. f4 Bb4 9. Bd3 O-O {Lacks vitality. More forceful is 9...d5 10. e5 d4! 11. Nxd4 Nd5.} 10. O-O Bxc3 {Again better is 10...d5. Black should not swap his good bishop just to double the c-pawns.}
11. bxc3 d6 {In accordance with classical theory, Black tries to keep the center closed to minimize the scope of White's two Bishops. More forcing, however, is 11...d5 12. e5 Nd7 followed by an eventual f5.} 12. Rf3 e5 13.
f5 d5 14. Rg3 Kh8 {14...dxe4 would be met by 15. Bh6.} 15. exd5 Ne7 { 15...Nxd5 allows the powerful stroke 16. Qh5 Nxe3 17. f6 g6 18. Qh6 Rg8 19. Rxe3 Qd8 20. Ne4 Qf8 21. Qh4 with a bind.} 16. Bc5 Nfxd5 17. Qg4 Rg8 18. Rh3
Nf6 19. Qg5 Ned5 20. Rf1 b6 21. Be4 Bb7 {Black could ease the pressure somewhat with 21...bxc5 22. Bxd5 Rb8 (but not 22...Nxd5? 23. Rxh7+).} 22.
Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Be7 Qc6 {No rest for the weary. If 23...Qxe7 24. Rxh7+ wins.}
24. Rh6 Ne4 25. Rxc6 Nxg5 26. Rd6 {Again Black is allowed no breathing space. After 26. Rxb6 Ne4 regains the pawn. The text eliminates drawing chances stemming from opposite colored Bishops.} 26... Bxb3 27. axb3 Ne4 28.
Rxb6 Nxc3 29. f6 {Material is even but White has managed to preserve his initiative despite the disappearance of Queens.} 29... Rge8 30. fxg7+ Kxg7
31. Rb7 Ne2+ 32. Kh1 Nf4 33. g3 Ng6 {If 33...Ne6 34. Bd6 Nd8 35. Rd7 e4 36. Bc7 nabs at least a pawn.} 34. Bd6 Nh8 35. c4 Kg6 36. g4 Re6 37. c5 Kg5 38.
h3 e4 39. Kg2 e3 40. Bf4+ Kg6 41. Rb6 {This insures the gain of a pawn and with it the game. Note the power of the bishop contrasted with the immobile knight.} 41... e2 42. Re1 Rc8 43. b4 a5 44. Rxe2 axb4 45. Rexe6+ fxe6 46.
Be5 h5 47. Rxe6+ Kf7 48. Rb6 hxg4 49. hxg4 Ke7 50. Bxh8 Rxh8 51. Rxb4 Ke6
52. Rc4 Kd5 {Black is hoping for a miracle. He should resign.} 53. Rc1 Rg8
54. Kg3 Kc6 55. Kf4 Rf8+ 56. Ke5 Rg8 57. Kf5 Rf8+ 58. Ke6 Rg8 59. Rg1 {Of course 59...Kxc5 60. g5 is fatal. White's smooth transition from a superior midgame to a won ending illustrates once again that a chess game is an organic whole. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Match: Yugoslavia vs. USSR"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bogdanovic, R."]
[Black "Suetin, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B49"]

{Blow and counterblow -- a violent clash of wills from start to finish. Exhausted by all the complications, Black falls into a deadly snare while trying to avoid a draw.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3
Qc7 6. f4 a6 7. Be3 b5 {The popularity of this Taimanov System is due largely to the great latitude it offers the second player. Here Black ignores the kingside to start a diversion on the other wing.} 8. Nxc6 Qxc6
9. Be2 Ba3 {An ingenious novelty designed to improve on 9...b4 10. Bf3! bxc3 11. e5 cxb2 12. Rb1 Qc3+ 13. Bd2 Qa3 14. Bxa8.} 10. Bd4 Bxb2 11. Nxb5 Bxa1
12. Bxa1 axb5 {If 12...Kf8 13. Nd6 yields a strong bind.} 13. Bxg7 Qxe4 14.
O-O Rxa2 15. Bd3 Qe3+ 16. Kh1 Bb7 17. Bxh8 Nh6 {17...Ne7 looks better but the text gives the Knight access to g4.} 18. Bxb5 Bd5 19. Rf3 Qc5 {Black seems justified in playing for the win. He spurns 19...Ng4 20. Rxe3 Nf2+ 21. Kg1 Nxd1 22. Rd3 Rxc2 23. Rxd1 Rxg2+ 24. Kf1 Rxh2 with a draw in view.} 20.
c4 Bc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Qb1 Re2 {Still with an eye on the main chance but forgetting about his own back rank. Better is 22...Ra8 23. h3 f5.} 23. Qb8+
Ke7 24. Bf6+ {Satan never sleeps. It's mate in three.} 24... Kxf6 25. Qd8+ { If 25...Kf5 26. Qg5+ Ke4 27. Qe5 mate. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "35th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gurgenidze, B."]
[Black "Lein, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B29"]

{Everything proceeds serenely until White's unexpected Knight sacrifice on move 11. Black must decline the "gift" but he never recovers from the disruption it caused.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 Nxc3 5. dxc3 {5. bxc3 d5 is easier for Black to handle. Capturing away from the center violates principle but allows for rapid development. "Before the ending the gods have placed the middle game," observed Dr. Tarrasch.} 5... Qc7 {Hoping to mobilize the queenside and perhaps castle there, but he never gets the chance. Nimzowitsch opined that 5...d5 is best. He once played 5...b6? overlooking 6. e6! f6 7. Ne5! fxe5 8. Qf3 (Votolchek-Pachman, Prague 1944).}
6. Bf4 Nc6 7. Bc4 e6 8. O-O b6 9. Re1 {Overprotecting e5 in order to free the knight. Now Black should reply 9...h6 followed by Bb7 and O-O-O.} 9...
f5 10. Nh4 g6 {The final error. Necessary is 10...Ne7 after which White would not find it easy to exploit his initiative. If 11. Qd6 Nd5! equalizes. } 11. Nxf5 Na5 {The only defense. If 11...exf5 12. e6 d6 13. e7! Bxe7 14. Bxd6 Qd7 15. Qd5 Rf8 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. Qxa8 wins. Or 11...gxf5 12. Qh5+ Kd8 13. Rad1 followed by Bxe6 and Black's King will be caught in a crippling crossfire.} 12. Bd5 Bb7 {12...exd5 loses to 13. Nd6+ Kd8 14. Qxd5 with myriad threats.} 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. exd6 Qc8 15. Bh6 {Now Black's King is hemmed in the center and victory is only a step away.} 15... Rg8 16. Qf3
Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Nc6 18. Rad1 {With the new and ugly threat of 19. Rxe6+.}
18... Nd8 19. Qg5 Nc6 20. Qf6 g5 21. Re5 {Black is hog-tied and resigns. If 21...Qd8 22.Rxe6+ dxe6 23. Qxe6+ Ne7 24. d7+ butchers him.} 1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Suetin, A."]
[Black "Taimanov, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B28"]

{A colossal struggle. Black manages to stagger out of a beautiful combination bloody but unbowed -- only to falter in the quiet aftermath.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 {A legitimate attempt to profit from Black's passive last move. White hopes to establish a pawn mass in the center.} 3... d5 4.
exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 cxd4 9. cxd4 O-O 10. Nc3 { Finally gaining the tempo which Taimanov has been trying to deny him. But Black already is safely castled and can afford the slight loss of time.}
10... Qd6 11. Rc1 Nbd7 12. Qd2 Nb6 {12...b5 is more active but Taimanov has another idea in mind.} 13. Bf4 Qd8 14. Ne5 Nfd5 15. Bg3 Bd7 16. f4 Bb5 {When cramped, try to exchange pieces!} 17. Rf3 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Rc8 19. Rcf1 Bb4 { Too slow. 19...Nxc3 20. bxc3 Na4 21. Be1 b5 produces the necessary counterplay. 19...f5 weakens the e-pawn but also deserves consideration.}
20. Ne4 Ne7 21. a3 Bd6 22. Bh4 f6 {22...Nbd5 would prevent the following combination but 23. f5 is still strong.} 23. Nxf6+ Rxf6 {Not 23...gxf6 24. Rg3+ Kf8 25. Qg4 Nf5 26. Qg8+! Rxg8 27. Nf7 mate.} 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Rg3+
Kf8 26. Qg4 Bxe5 27. fxe5 f5 28. Rxf5+ Ke8 {Forced. On 28...exf5 29. Qg7+ Ke8 30. e6 Qd5 31. Wh8+ Ng8 32. Rxg8+ Ke7 33. Qg7+ Kd6 34. Rxc8 Nxc8 35. Qd7 mate.} 29. Rf1 Kd7 30. Rb3 Rc6 {A pity that after having survived the worst Black fails to offer the best resistance with 30...Rc4 31. Rf6 Nf5.} 31. d5
Nbxd5 32. Rxb7+ Kc8 33. Rb3 Qa5 34. h3 Qd2 35. Kh2 Kc7 {A valiant defense that fails. All things considered 35...Ng6 is the best practical chance.}
36. Rf7 Qc2 37. Rc3 Rxc3 {It's all over after 37...Nxc3 38. Rxe7+ Kd8 39. Qg7.} 38. bxc3 Kd7 39. c4 h5 {If 39...Ne3 40. Qd4+ wins.} 40. Qh4 Qg6 41.
Qf2 Ne3 42. Rxe7+ Kxe7 43. Qxe3 Qf5 44. Qd4 a5 45. c5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Sousse Interzonal"]
[Site "Tunisia"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Stein, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{In this violent clash of wills between the American and Soviet champions, Fischer's prosecution of the attack is crowned by a brilliant bishop sacrifice. Stein declines, carrying the struggle into the endgame. Voted best game of 1967 by the jury of the prestigious CHESS INFORMANT.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9.
h3 {The attempt to dispense with this prophylactic move (which prepares d4 and prevents the pin on g4) has not fared too well. Black achieved easy equality in Fischer-Korchnoi, Stockholm 1962 after 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3 Na5 15. d5 Nd7 16. Nbd2 Bf6.}
9... Bb7 10. d4 Na5 11. Bc2 Nc4 12. b3 Nb6 13. Nbd2 Nbd7 {More active is 13...exd4 14. cxd4 c5.} 14. b4 {Thwarts c5 and prepares a dominating buildup by 15. Bb2 followed by c4.} 14... exd4 15. cxd4 a5 16. bxa5 c5 {Inferior is 16...Rxa5 17. d5! c5 18. dxc6 Bxc6 19. Nd4 with a target against the isolated b-pawn.} 17. e5 dxe5 18. dxe5 Nd5 19. Ne4 Nb4 {"Not 19...Rxa5 20. Neg5 h6 21. Qd3 g6 22. Ne6! wins" -- Fischer.} 20. Bb1 Rxa5 21. Qe2 Nb6 { Stein commits the strategic error of pressing too hard on the queenside and allowing White to become entrenched on the other wing. Better to safeguard the King by 21...Re8 and Nf8.} 22. Nfg5 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 g6 24. Qh4 h5 25. Qg3
Nc4 26. Nf3 Kg7 27. Qf4 Rh8 28. e6 f5 {Fischer recommends 28...Bf6 with a hard fight.} 29. Bxf5 Qf8 {The best way to decline the offer. Fischer gives 29...gxf5 30. Qg3+ Kh7 31. Ng5+! Bxg5 32. Bxg5 Qd3 33. Qc7+ Kg6 34. Qf7+! Kxg5 35. Qg7+ Kf4 36. Rad1!} 30. Be4 {In the heat of battle White misses the clincher 30. Nh4! Bxh4 31. Qxh4 Qxf5 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qc7+ Ke8 35. e7.} 30... Qxf4 31. Bxf4 Re8 {Time trouble. Better is 31...Rxa2. Now White wins material and the rest is a matter of technique.} 32. Rad1 Ra6 33.
Rd7 Rxe6 34. Ng5 Rf6 {Equally inadequate is 34...Ra6 35. Bb1 Kf6 36. Ne4+ Kf7 37. Nxc5.} 35. Bf3 Rxf4 36. Ne6+ Kf6 37. Nxf4 Ne5 38. Rb7 Bd6 39. Kf1
Nc2 40. Re4 Nd4 41. Rb6 Rd8 42. Nd5+ Kf5 43. Ne3+ Ke6 44. Be2 Kd7 45. Bxb5+
Nxb5 46. Rxb5 Kc6 47. a4 Bc7 48. Ke2 g5 49. g3 Ra8 50. Rb2 Rf8 51. f4 gxf4
52. gxf4 Nf7 53. Re6+ Nd6 {If 53...Bd6 54. Rf6! ends resistance.} 54. f5 Ra8
55. Rd2 Rxa4 56. f6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Keres, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C83"]

{The Open Defense to the Ruy Lopez never enjoyed a wide following despite the advocacy of Euwe, Korchnoi and Tarrasch. Here Keres springs an improvement that gives him a won game before Tal can even get all his pieces out of the box.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4
b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. Bc2 {Bronstein enjoyed some success with this rare attempt to dislodge the knight. It avoids the simplifications arising after 11. Nbd2, which is the normal move here.}
11... Qd7 {This pawn sacrifice was originally recommended by Dr. Euwe. After 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 Bd5 there seems to be no good way for White to keep his pawn.} 12. Rd1 f5 13. Nbd2 {On 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Ng5 Bg4 15. f3 Bc5+ 16. Kh1 Rae8 Black gets great activity.} 13... Kh8 {Anchoring the Knight on e4. The game reaches its climax right here. White's last two moves were intended to dislodge black's Knight but the text sets his game tumbling downhill. If 14. Nxe4 fxe4 15. Bxe4 dxe4! 16. Rxd7 exf3 17. Qd1 Bxd7 18. Qxd7 Rad8. With Black's King still on g8, this line could be refuted by 19. Qe6+ and Be3.}
14. Nb3 Bf7 {This quiet retreat proves deadly since White must now cope with a vicious pin after Bh5.} 15. Nbd4 Bh5 16. Nxf5 {Desperately fishing in troubled waters. The passive 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Qd3 Qg6! ties White up, but he still has a chance to live after 18. Re1 f4 19. Nd2.} 16... Qxf5 17. Rxd5
Bg6 18. Qe3 Rad8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 c5 22. d5 {It's also all over after 22. f3 cxd4! 23. Qe1 d3 24. fxe4 Qxe4 25. Qxe4 Bxe4 26. Bb1 d2.} 22... Qxe5 23. f3 Bg5 24. f4 Qxd5 25. Bxe4 Bxe4 26. fxg5 {White finally established material equality -- at the cost of his King. The rest is forced.} 26... Qd1+ 27. Kf2 Qc2+ 28. Qe2 Rf8+ 29. Ke1 Qa4 30. b3 Qd4 {White Resigns. On 31. Bb2 Qg1+ 32. Kd2 Rd8+ 33. Kc3 Qd4 mate.} 0-1

[Event "Unknown"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "N. Radchenko"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C59"]

{Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. Some masterpieces were created by players nobody ever heard of, and just one great effort can make you famous. Inside Chess unearthed this obscure game and noted: "Radchenko is not a household name even in his native Russia, but he is the creator of a brilliant game that deserves to be considered as one of the best of the century". Noteworthy are the gyrations of Black's Queen from one side of the board to the other. The final Queen sacrifice on move 25 is truly inspired.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6
8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Qd4 11. f4 Bc5 {A main line in the Two Knights Defense. White can't castle, but a question debated for ages is whether Black has enough compensation for the pawn.} 12. Rf1 Qd8 {This retreat averts the threat of c3 and b4 forking a piece.} 13. c3 Nd5 14. Qa4 O-O 15.
b4 {An old analysis by Paul Keres gives 15. Qxe4 Re8 16. d4 as the right path.} 15... Qh4+ 16. Kd1 Rd8 17. Kc2 Bf5 18. bxc5 e3+ 19. Kb2 {Greater resistance is offered by 19. d3 Qxh2 20. Qxa5 Qxg2 21. Kd1.} 19... Rdb8+ 20.
Ka3 Qd8 21. Bb2 exd2 22. Rd1 Bc2 23. Qxc2 Nb3 {The Knight is immune. If 24. Qxb3 Qa5 25. Qa4 Qxc5.} 24. Nc4 Nxa1 25. Qxd2 Qb6 {Decisive. If 26. Ka4 (or 26. cxb6 axb6) Qb5 27. Ka3 Qa6 28. Na5 Qxa5 mate.} 26. Ka4 Qb5+ 27. Ka3 Qa6+
28. Na5 Qxa5# 0-1

[Event "Puerto Rico Open"]
[Site "Rio Piedras"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rossolimo, N."]
[Black "Reissman, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]

{Rossolimo was awarded a special brilliancy prize for this fantastic Queen sacrifice. The elegant finale is reminiscent of Marshall's famous win over Levitsky in 1912 where spectators were so delighted that they showered the board with gold pieces.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4
6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 {Black emerges unscarred on 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Ne5 10. bxc3 Nxc4 11. Qd4 O-O!} 7... Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10.
Qb3 Nce7 {Not quite sound is 10...O-O?! 11. Bxd5 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. Qc3 Re7+ 14. Ne5.} 11. O-O c6 12. Rfe1 O-O 13. a4 b6 {An ill-advised attempt to improve on the main line with 13...Qb6.} 14. Ne5 Bb7 15. a5 Rc8 16. Ne4 Qc7
{He must try 16...Rc7 to create a retreat for the bishop at c8.} 17. a6 Ba8
18. Qh3 Nf4 19. Qg4 Ned5 20. Ra3 {A fine idea. The inactive rook swings over to the kingside to reinforce the attack.} 20... Ne6 {His predicament is critical. If 20...f6 21. Bxd5+ Nxd5 22. Qe6+ Kh8 23. Ng6+ hxg6 24. Rh3 mate. The best chance to fight back is 20...c5.} 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Nf6+ Kh8 23.
Qg6 Qc2 {If 23...fxg6 24. Nxg6+ hxg6 25. Rh3 mate. Black can last a few moves by giving up his Queen for two Knights by 23...gxf6 24. Qxf6+ Ng7 25. Rg3 Rg8 26. Nxf7+ Qxf7 27. Qxf7. The text evokes a beautiful point.} 24. Rh3
{Black Resigns. If 24...Qxg6 25. Nxg6+ fxg6 26. Rxh7 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Sousse"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Miagmarsuren, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]

{Fischer dropped out of this world championship qualifier over a scheduling dispute when he was leading and delayed his prospects for several years, but he created a number of beautiful games. Here the Mongolian champion is so intent on breaking through on the queenside that he forgets about his King. Fischer's concluding Queen sacrifice is captivating and perfectly timed.} 1.
e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 {The purpose of this move order is to avert an exchange of Queens after 3...dxe4 4. dxe4.} 3... Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6.
Ngf3 Be7 7. O-O O-O {White's quiet buildup postpones sharp hand-to-hand battle until the middle game where operations will take place behind closed lines.} 8. e5 Nd7 9. Re1 b5 10. Qe2 b4 11. h4 a5 12. Nf1 a4 13. a3 {"Believe it or not, I actually spent more time on this innocuous push (15 minutes) than on any other move in the game! I didn't want to allow Black to get in ...a3 thereby creating holes (weak squares) on c3 and a3. On the other hand, by stopping to meet his positional threat I am forced to postpone my own schemes for at least two moves. Chess is a matter of delicate judgment, knowing when to punch and how to duck" -- Fischer.} 13... bxa3 14. bxa3 Na5
{This decentralization is inadvisable. Black should try 14...Nd4 or Ba6 right away.} 15. Ne3 Ba6 16. Bh3 {Permanently discouraging the f6 freeing maneuver.} 16... d4 17. Nf1 {Fischer is a law unto himself. He abstains from the natural 17. Ng4 because this Knight is headed instead for e4. Meanwhile Black has secured d5 for his knight.} 17... Nb6 18. Ng5 Nd5 {It's remarkable that such an obvious move is inferior. 18...h6! 19. Ne4 c4 offers reasonable counterplay.} 19. Bd2 Bxg5 {19...c4 was still a better try. But not 19...h6? 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Bxe6+ Kh8 22. Bxa5 Qxa5 23. Bxd5 gaining two buttons.} 20.
Bxg5 Qd7 21. Qh5 {"Make way for the heavy artillery" -- Fischer. Black should now take the precaution of 21...Kh8.} 21... Rfc8 22. Nd2 Nc3 { Ruinous. Again 22...c4 is the best chance. With all Black's pieces clustered on the other wing, his King is ripe.} 23. Bf6 Qe8 {Forced. Not 23...gxf6 24. exf6 Kh8 25. Nf3 Nd5 26. Ng5 Nxf6 27. Qh6 Qe7 28. Bf5! and wins.} 24. Ne4 g6
25. Qg5 Nxe4 26. Rxe4 c4 27. h5 cxd3 28. Rh4 Ra7 {To defend the second rank after 29. hxg6 fxg6.} 29. Bg2 {A subtle move whose sly purpose soon becomes apparent.} 29... dxc2 {Also lost is 29...Qf8 30. Be4! dxc2 31. hxg6 fxg6 32. Bxg6! hxg6 33. Rh8+ Kf7 34. Rh7+! Ke8 35. Rxa7 Bd3 36. Rxa5.} 30. Qh6 Qf8
31. Qxh7+ {Black Resigns. It's mate after 31...Kxh7 32. hxg6+ Kxg6 33. Be4.} 
1-0

[Event "Sofia"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1967"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gheorghiu, F."]
[Black "Uhlmann, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]

{A quiet opening gives rise to splendid tactics. White positional sacrifice of the Exchange is fully justified, and the final twist is simply delicious. } 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Be7 5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 {A King's Indian Reversed. This is a well-known position where each side is about to attack on the opposite wing. Who will get there first?} 8... b5
9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 a5 11. h4 b4 12. Bf4 a4 13. a3 {An attempt to improve on the customary 13. N1h2 a3 14. b3 Na7! where Black gets counterplay against the weak dark squares.} 13... bxa3 14. bxa3 Ba6 15. Ne3 Nd4 16. c4 Nb3 { Stronger is 16...dxc4 17. Nxd4 (or 17. Nxc4 Nb3) 17...cxd4 18. Bxa8 dxe3 19. Bf3 exf2+ with very active play.} 17. cxd5 Nxa1 18. Qxa1 exd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd3
{Much safer is 19...Nb6. Now Black's in trouble.} 20. e6 Nf6 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7
22. Ne5 Bg6 23. Nc6 {Spurning 23. Bxa8 Rxa8.} 23... Qb7 24. Bd6 Be4 {Allows a pretty finish. On 24...Kh8 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Qe5 Black won't survive for long.} 25. Rxe4 Qxc6 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 {If 26...Nxe4 27. Qxg7 mate. Black resigned without waiting for 27. Qxf6! Qxe4 (or 27...gxf6 28. Rg4+Kh8 29. Bxc6) 28. Qxf7+! Rxf7 29. exf7+ Kxf7 30. Bxe4 emerging a piece ahead.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reshevsky, S."]
[Black "Seidman, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D92"]

{Despite stout resistance, Reshevsky transports a small advantage into the endgame. His startling sacrifices of a Knight for two pawns unleashes the full fury of two Bishops vs. two Knights.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4.
Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Rc1 {This quiet, positional system was favored by Hungarian grandmaster Lajos Portisch and world champion Tigran Petrosian. It yields a shaded advantage.} 6... c5 7. dxc5 Be6 8. e3 Qa5 9. Nd4 Nc6 10.
Nxe6 fxe6 11. Qa4 Qxc5 12. Qb5 Qxb5 13. cxb5 Nb8 {More forceful is 13...Na5 14. Be2 Rac8 15. O-O Nc4 (Portisch-Evans, Havana 1964.} 14. Bd3 Nbd7 15. Ke2
e5 16. Bg3 e4 17. Bb1 Rac8 18. Na4 Ng4 19. Rhd1 e6 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. f3
exf3+ 22. gxf3 Nge5 23. e4 dxe4 24. Bxe4 b6 25. Rd6 {The tempting 25. f4 Nf6 26. Bb7 Rc2+ 27. Rd2 Rxd2+ 28. Kxd2 Ned7 leads only to even chances.} 25...
Nf8 26. b3 g5 {Harder to beat is 26...Nf7 27. Rc6 Rd8. Judging from a casual inspection, Black's worries are over. White's reply is so startling that Seidman can be forgiven for overlooking it.} 27. Nxb6 axb6 28. Rxb6 h5 29.
Ra6 h4 30. Bf2 Neg6 31. Ra8 {Stronger is 31. Rc6 cutting off Black's Rook.}
31... Rxa8 {A much better try is 31...Nf4+ 32. Kd2 Rxa8 33. Bxa8 Nh3 34. Ba7 Be5 35. Ke2 Bxh2 36. Kf1. "White's pawns would prevail, but not without a struggle" -- Reshevsky.} 32. Bxa8 Be5 33. Bg1 Nf4+ 34. Kf1 Nd7 35. a4 Bc7
36. Bc6 Nb8 37. Be4 Nd5 38. Bxd5 exd5 39. b4 {The clincher. "It is imperative to advance the a-pawn, and in order to effect this advance White b-pawn has to be at b4" -- Reshevsky.} 39... Kf7 40. a5 Nd7 41. b6 Bd8 42.
b7 Nb8 43. Ba7 Bc7 44. b5 Nd7 45. a6 Bxh2 46. b8=Q {Black Resigns. If 46...Nxb8 47. Bxb8 Bxb8 48. b6 and a7 wins.} 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik"]
[Site "Iceland"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Addison, W."]
[Black "Sigurjonsson, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E54"]

{Black springs an opening novelty, but White goes one better. Addison's sprightly bishop sacrifice on move 15 is followed by equally energetic tactics.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O
dxc4 8. Bxc4 Qe7 9. a3 Ba5 10. Bd3 {Strictly speaking, this retreat is unnecessary. Another approach is 10. Bd2 followed by Rc1.} 10... a6 {Rather pointless. More natural is 10...Nc6.} 11. e4 cxd4 12. e5 dxc3 {The best defense is 12...Nd5 and if 13. Bxh7+!? Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qh5 Qxg5 16. Bxg5 dxc3 17. Bf6 Bd8.} 13. exf6 gxf6 {Of course not 13...Qxf6 14. Bg5.} 14.
Qa4 Nc6 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 {White wins with a curious Queen triangulation after 15...Kxh7 16. Qh4+ Kg7 17. Qg4+ Kh7 18. Qh3+ Kg7 19. Bh6+ Kg6 20. Nh4+ Kh7 (if 20...Kxh6 21. Nf5+ compels mate) 21. Bxf8.} 16. Be4 b5 {Even worse is 16...Bc7 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qh4+ Kg8 19. Qg4+ Kg8 10. Bh6 Rg8 21. Qh5.} 17.
Qd1 Rd8 18. Nd4 {A clearance sacrifice to give the Queen access to h5.}
18... Qc5 19. Bxc6 Rxd4 20. Qf3 Ra7 21. Qxf6+ Kh7 22. Be3 Bb6 23. Rad1 e5
24. Bh6 Rg4 25. Be4+ {Black Resigns. A last gasp might have been 25...Rg6 26. Qg7 mate. Or 25...Kg8 26. Rd8+.} 1-0

[Event "Beverwijk"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Donner, J."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E50"]

{Grandmasters are doomed to heavy material loss already by move 13. Here is the spectacle: a sudden refutation of a recognized line, then a sudden matting attack.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nf3 b6
{It's customary to contest the center by 6...d5.} 7. d5 {The logical reply, bottling up the center to cramp Black's game. An alternative is 7. O-O Bb7 8. Na4 cxd4 9. exd4 Qc7! 10. a3 Be7 11. Nc3 d5 (Gligoric-Smyslov, Mallorca 1967).} 7... Bb7 {This doesn't help break the grip. 7...b5!? offers more practical chances. But not 7...exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5? 9. Bxh7+ Kxh7 10. Qxd5 Nc6 11. Qh5+ Kg8 12. Ng5 weaving a mating net.} 8. e4 b5 {Safer is 8...exd5 9. cxd5 Re8.} 9. e5 bxc4 10. Bb1 Nxd5 {Falling for a stock combination as old as chess itself. The best chance is 10...Bxd5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Qa5 13. exf6 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxc3+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ (not 15...Qxa1? 16. O-O!) 16. Kxd2 and Black can fight on with three pawns for his piece.} 11. Bxh7+ Kxh7 {Of no avail is 11...Kh8 12. Ng5 g6 13. Qg4 Kg7 14.Qh4 Rh8 15. Nxe6+ fxe6 16. Qh6+.} 12. Ng5+ Kg8 {Taken by surprise, Black prepares to concede his Queen without a fight. He's lost anyway after 12...Kg6 13. h4! Nxc3 14. Qg4! Ne4+ 15. Kf1 Nxg5 16. hxg5 Rh8 17. Rh6+! gxh6 18. gxh6+ Kh7 19. Qg7 mate.} 13.
Qh5 Qxg5 14. Bxg5 Nxc3 15. a3 Ne4+ {Even worse is 15...Ba5 16. Bd2. Further resistance proves futile since two minor pieces can't match a Queen.} 16.
axb4 Nc6 17. Be3 Nxb4 18. O-O Nc2 19. Rac1 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Bd5 21. Rf4 f5 22.
exf6ep Rxf6 23. Rcf1 Raf8 24. Rxf6 Nxf6 25. Qe5 Ne4 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qb8+
Kf7 28. Qxa7 Bc6 29. h4 Kg6 30. g4 Kh6 31. Qb8 Kh7 32. Qf8 Nf6 33. g5 Ne4 { The minor pieces can't do much. If 33...Nh5 34. Qf7 Ng3 35. g6+ Kh6 36. Qf4+ picks up more material.} 34. Qf7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Horowitz, A."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A79"]

{Passive play is punished drastically. White drifts and gets outplayed in this model example of a good Knight vs. a bad Bishop.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3.
d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 {There are many ways to meet the Benoni Defense ranging from this quiet positional approach to the sharp 7. f4.} 7... Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 {Black also can aim to simplify with 9...Bg4.} 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 {More flexible is 11. Re1 reserving the option of f4.} 11... Nc7 12. a4 b6 13. Nc4 {A better idea is 13. Rb1 aiming for b4. } 13... Ba6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Qd7 16. g4 {Drastically weakening the f4 square -- the source of White's future problems. More sensible is 16. Qd2.}
16... Rab8 17. Bg3 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 a6 19. Re1 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bf1 b4 22.
Ne2 h5 23. h3 hxg4 24. hxg4 Nb5 25. Kg2 Ra8 26. Qd3 Nh7 27. Qd2 Qe7 {White has "won" the two Bishops but his prospects are lifeless and his weakness on the dark squares is evident} 28. Qd3 Nd4 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Nxd4 Bxd4 31. Re2
g5 {For all practical purposes the winning move. The bishop on f1 is no match for the Knight aiming at Nf8-g6-f4.} 32. Qb5 Be5 33. Qc6 Ra1 34. Qc8+
Nf8 35. Bxe5 Qxe5 36. Qf5 Ng6 37. Qxe5 Nxe5 38. Rf2 c4 {The complete triumph of Black's strategy -- he will create a passed pawn while White watches helplessly.} 39. Kg3 Ra2 40. Re2 b3 {White Resigns. The threat of c3 is devastating.} 0-1

[Event "Reykjavik"]
[Site "Iceland"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Szabo, L."]
[Black "Sigurjonsson, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]

{Tiny Iceland produces the largest number of grandmasters per capita than any nation in the world. In this sleeping beauty GM Sigurjonsson's pieces spring to life after the prick of his 21st move that spectacularly opens diagonals for his hemmed in Bishops.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
{Diverting from a Slav Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined. Also feasible is 4...dxc4.} 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 {Sharper is 8. Bd3 but White has a twist in mind.} 8... Bb7 9. a3 {This is it -- to prepare b4. } 9... a6 {More natural is 9...Bd6 with the idea of meeting 10. b4 with a5 (thus saving a tempo). However, Black's strategy is to let White expand on the queenside while counter-punching in the center.} 10. b4 Bd6 {Szabo-Wade, Haifa 1958, produced equality after 10...a5 11. Rb1 axb4 12. axb4 Nd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. O-O Bd6 15. Qc2 h6.} 11. O-O O-O 12. Bd2 {Passive. Stronger is 12. e4 e5 13. Bg5.} 12... Qe7 13. Qc2 e5 14. Rae1 Rac8 15. Ng5 h6 16. Nge4
Bb8 17. Ng3 {More active is 17. f4 exd4 18. exd4 Qd8 19. Nc5.} 17... Rfe8
18. Nf5 Qe6 19. dxe5 {Ill-conceived because it releases the pressure on c5. Necessary is 19. f4.} 19... Nxe5 20. Nd4 Qd7 21. Nb3 c5 {A surprising stroke that refutes White's strategy.} 22. Nxc5 Rxc5 23. bxc5 Nf3+ 24. Bxf3 Bxf3
25. Ne2 {Forced. If 25. gxf3? Qh3 26. f4 Ng4 mates.} 25... Ne4 26. Ng3 { Best. If 26. Bc1 Ng5! 27. Nf4 Qg4 is decisive. Or 26. Nd4 Bxh2+! 27. Kxh2 Bxg2! 28. Kxg2 Qg4+ 29. Kh2 Re5.} 26... Nxd2 27. gxf3 Nxf3+ 28. Kg2 Qc6 29.
e4 Nxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Bxg3 31. hxg3 Re5 {This timely simplication nets a pawn; the outcome is no longer in doubt.} 32. Rd1 Rxc5 33. Rd8+ Kh7 34. Qe2 f5 35.
Rd4 Rc4 36. Rxc4 Qxc4 37. Qxc4 bxc4 38. Kf3 g5 39. exf5 h5 40. Ke4 c3 {White Resigns. When White stops the passed pawn with 41. Kd3 Black simply creates another one by 41...h4 which can't be stopped.} 0-1

[Event "13th Olympiad"]
[Site "Lugano"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bent Larsen"]
[Black "Wolfgang Unzicker"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]

{"I do not deliberately play openings that are obviously bad, but I emphasize the surprise element," wrote Larsen, who is famous for flank attacks by advancing his rook's pawn during a lull. After his trademark offer of his h-pawn on move 14, he noted: "I suddenly got this idea and couldn't resist it! It is doubtful whether White gets enough for the pawn by correct play, but in practice such a sacrifice offers good chances, as surprise is an important psychological weapon".} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3
d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 {By recapturing with the knight, Black avoids the isolated pawn resulting from exd5 in this Tarrasch Defense.} 6. e3 Nc6 7.
Bc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Nxc3 11. bxc3 b6 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Bd3
g6 14. h4 {"The book move 14. Bh6 must still be considered best". -- Larsen}
14... Rc8 {"Unzicker only thought for a few minutes, then declined the kind offer. White hopes to exploit the weakness of the dark squares after 14...Bxh4 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Qd2 but it is doubtful whether he gets enough for the pawn by correct play". -- Larsen} 15. Qd2 Bf6 {Now it's too late to grab a pawn in view of 15...Bxh4? 16. Qh6 Bf6 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Rxe6 fxg5? 20. Rxg6 hxg6 21. Qxg6 Kh8 22. Qh7 mate..} 16. h5 Na5
{Decentralizing this Knight is dangerous. Much better is 16...Ne7 coming to the aid of the kingside.} 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Qd3 { Stronger than 20. Qh6 Rxc3! 21. Bg5 f6 22. hxg6 Rc7!} 20... Rc5 {More stable is 20...Bd5. Now Black will have to weaken his kingside even more to avoid losing a pawn.} 21. Rxc5 bxc5 22. hxg6 fxg6 {Otherwise 22...hxg6 23. Ba3 Qd5 24. Qg3 costs Black a pawn.} 23. Bh6 {Stronger than 23. Ba3 Rf5! 24. Bxc5?? Rxc5.} 23... Rf7 24. Rb1 cxd4 25. cxd4 Qd5 {Material is even but Black's problem is his weak back rank. Larsen gives 25...Qh4 26. Qe3 Qg4 27. d5! Qf5 28. Rb5! a6 29. Rc5 when the invulnerable d-pawn divides Black's position in two.} 26. Qg3 Rc7 {To prevent the threat of Qb8.} 27. Rb5 Rc1+ {Makes the win easier but if 27...Qe4 28. d5! is hard to meet.} 28. Bxc1 Qxb5 29. Qb8+
Kf7 30. Ba3 e5 31. Qd6 g5 {White threatened mate in two by Qe7. If 31...Qe8 32. Qc7 Kg8 33. Qxb7 picks up the Bishop.} 32. dxe5 Qc6 33. e6+ Kg6 {A pretty underpromotion arises after 33...Kf6 34. e7! Qxd6 35. e8=N! Ke6 36. Nxd6.} 34. e7+ Kh5 {Again forced. If 34...Qxd6 35. e8=Q is the winning touch.} 35. f3 g4 {Black has no good defense. If 35...Qxd6 36. e8/Q Qg6 37. g4 Kh4 38. Qe1 Kh3 39. Qf1 Kg3 40. Bd6! Qxd6 41. Qg2 Kh4 42. Qh1 Kg3 43. Qh2 Kxf3 44. Qxd6 snags the Queen.} 36. Qe5+ {Black resigns. 1-0} 1-0

[Event "Solingen"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Parma, B."]
[Black "Szabo, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]

{Szabo provokes a familiar sacrifice for the sake of refuting it and suffers a stinging loss. The game confirms conventional wisdom that Black is ill-advised to tamper with the standard move order in this variation of the Sicilian Defense.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6.
Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Bc4 b5 {This works no better here than it ever has, but there is no easy way to discourage the pending sacrifice on e6. A good alternative is 8...Qa5.} 9. Bxe6 {The exclaim is not for originality but merely to indicate its great strength. On 9. Bb3 Bb7 Black can hold his own. } 9... fxe6 10. Nxe6 Qb6 {A better defense is 10...Qa5. But not 10...Qe7? 11. Nd5! Qxe6 12. Nc7+ Kf7 13. Nxe6 Kxe6 14. Qd4 Bb7 15. O-O-O with a dangerous attack before Black can consolidate.} 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Qe3+ { Of course not 12...Bb7? 13. Nc7+ Qxc7 14. Qe6+.} 13. Kf1 Nb6 14. Nc7+ Kd7
15. Qf7+ Kc6 16. Nxa8 {Matanovic-Gufeld, Yugoslavia vs. USSR 1969, continued 16. Nd5! Qxe4 17. Qc7+ Kxd5 18. Rd1+ Ke6 19. Re1 Qxe1+ 20. Kxe1 h6 21. f5+! Kd5 22. Qxb6 hxg5 23.Kf2 Rh4 24. Rd1+ Ke5 25. Qc6 Rb8 26. Qe8+ Black resigns.} 16... Nxa8 17. Qd5+ Kc7 18. Re1 {Parma's new move. Theory awarded White a plus after 18. Qxa8 but Black can hold with 18...Be6 19. b3 d5 20. Qd8+ Kb7 21. Re1 Qd2 22. f5 Qxc2 23. fxe6 Qd3+ 24. Re2 Qd1+ 25. Re1 Qd3+ etc.} 18... Qa7 19. e5 dxe5 20. Qxe5+ Kb7 21. Be7 Nc7 22. Qd6 Bxe7 23. Rxe7
Qb6 24. Qxb6+ Kxb6 25. Rxg7 Nd5 {Black could still put up a whopping fight with 25...Ne6! 26. Rf7 Rd8.} 26. g3 Ne3+ 27. Kf2 Ng4+ {On 26...Nxc2 28. Rd1 keeps the Knight locked up while the kingside pawns advance.} 28. Ke2 Bb7
29. Re1 Nxh2 30. Kf2 Rd8 {Of no avail is 29...h5 31. Re6+ Bc6 32. Rgg6 Ng4+ 33. Ke2 Rc8 34. f5.} 31. Re6+ Bc6 32. g4 Rd2+ 33. Re2 Rd6 34. f5 Rd4 35. Kg3
Nf1+ 36. Kh4 Nd2 37. f6 Nf3+ 38. Kg3 h5 39. gxh5 Rd1 40. f7 Nd4 41. f8=Q 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USA National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Koehler, W."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B49"]

{After a brief theoretical skirmish a remarkable endgame blooms in only 15 moves. Black gambles on an Exchange sacrifice, proving once again that ingenuity will out even in well-trodden paths.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O {It's debatable whether White should stop for 8. a3 to prevent Black's next move.} 8... Bb4
9. Na4 Bd6 {Black has a welter of interesting choices. For 9...O-O!? see Garcia-Evans, 1966. Another offbeat idea is 9...Ne7!? 10. c4 Nxe4 11. Bf3 Nc5 12. a3 Nxa4 13. axb4 Nxb2 14. Nxe6 dxe6 15. Qd4 O-O 16. Qxb2 (Lepeshkin-Furman, USSR Championship 1966) and now 16...Nf5 is just fine for Black.} 10. g3 b5 11. Nxc6 {This slight transposition proves harmful. Correct is 11. Nb6! Rb8 (Fischer pointed out that 11...Qxb6 12. Nxe6! yields a terrific attack) 12. Nxc8 Rxc8.} 11... Qxc6 12. Nb6 Bb7 {The real point is to save this Bishop. White keeps the upper hand after 12...Rb8 13. Nxc8 Rxc8 14. Bd3. The next few moves are forced.} 13. Nxa8 Qxe4 14. Bf3 Qxf3 15. Qxf3
Bxf3 16. Nb6 h5 {Black has a pawn for the Exchange and his minor pieces are stationed magnificently. The immediate threat is h4.} 17. h4 {Maybe 17. a4 right away is better. But not 17. h3? h4 18. g4 Nxg4! 19. hxg4 h3.} 17...
Ng4 18. a4 Ke7 19. axb5 axb5 20. b4 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Bc6 22. c4 Bxg3 23. cxb5
Bxb5 24. Rfc1 Rb8 25. Nc8+ Kf6 26. Na7 Bxh4 {Black just keeps eating pawns.}
27. Rc7 Bg3 28. Nxb5 Bxc7 {More efficient than 28...Rxb5 29. Rxd7 h4 30. Raa7 with drawing chances.} 29. Nxc7 Rxb4 30. Ne8+ Ke7 31. Ra8 h4 32. Kf2 g5
{The rest is a visit to the butcher shop. The Knight is no match for four pawns.} 33. Ng7 Rb2+ 34. Kf3 f5 35. Nh5 e5 36. e4 g4+ 37. Ke3 f4+ 38. Nxf4
exf4+ 39. Kxf4 g3 40. Rh8 Rh2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Bucharest"]
[Site "Romania"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bilek, I."]
[Black "Gheorghiu, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B25"]

{Seldom is premature castling punished so drastically. White's energetic combination reveals the potential of his hitherto unfashionable opening system.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4 e5 7. Nh3
Nge7 8. O-O O-O {Careless. The right plan is 8...exf4! 9. Nxf4 O-O 10. Nfd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Be6 12. Nf4 Bd7 13. c3 b5 with equal chances (Bilek-Evans, Lugano Olympics 1968).} 9. f5 gxf5 {Necessary is 9...f6 either here or on the next move.} 10. exf5 Bxf5 11. Rxf5 Nxf5 12. Be4 Nfd4 {12...Nfe7 is refuted by 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qh5+ Kg8 15. Ng5. However, tough resistance could still be offered by 12...Nxg3! 13. hxg3 f5.} 13. Qh5 Re8 {Also inadequate is 13...f5 14. Bd5+ Kh8 15. Ng5 h6 16. Qg6! hxg5 17. Qh5+ Bh8 18. Qxh6 mate.} 14. Qxh7+ Kf8 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Nd5 Re6 17. Rf1 Nxc2 18. Bg6 {The finishing touch. Black's King can't escape from its tight wedge. If 18...Rxg6 19. Qxg6.} 18... N2d4 19. Bh6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "18th Olympiad"]
[Site "Lugano, Switzerland"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bilek, I."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]

{A classic illustration of how Black should handle the closed Sicilian. 5-time USA champion Evans first makes sure his King is impregnable and then sacrifices a piece to penetrate on the queenside.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3
g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5 7. Nh3 Nge7 8. O-O exf4 {The point is 8. gxf4 f5 stops the attack cold.} 9. Nxf4 O-O 10. Nfd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Be6 12.
Nf4 Bd7 13. c3 b5 14. a3 {Creates a new weakness without stopping Black's strategy to break with b4 and thus activate his bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal. Better is 14. Bd2 or Be3.} 14... a5 15. Be3 Ne5 16. h3 a4 17. Qd2
Bc6 18. Rf2 Rb8 19. Raf1 Qd7 20. Qd1 Qb7 {White's prospects on the kingside have come to a standstill while Black masses for the inevitable b4.} 21. Bc1
b4 22. axb4 {Better is 22. cxb4 axb4 23. d4.} 22... cxb4 23. c4 b3 24. Kh2
Qa6 25. Re1 Rb7 {White is reduced to marking time while Black quietly prepares to double rooks followed by a3.} 26. Be3 a3 27. Qe2 Nxc4 {The most efficient winning method.} 28. dxc4 Bxb2 29. Qd3 Be5 30. Bd4 b2 31. Ne6 a2
32. Bxe5 b1=Q 33. Qxd6 Re8 34. Nc7 Rxc7 35. Bc3 {Also hopeless is 35. Qf6 Rxe5.} 35... Qxe1 36. Bxe1 a1=Q 37. Qxc7 Qb7 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Geller, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B25"]

{Spassky's lopsided score in this match of 3 1/2 - 1/2 with the "closed" system against the Sicilian did much to revive its popularity. Geller is defeated with apparent ease when his queenside counterplay proves ineffectual.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 {Chigorin employed this move with success at the turn of the century. White plans on dominating d5 which means that it will be difficult for either player to open the center. Thus the system is known as "closed" because the struggle mostly will be confined to the wings. } 2... d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. f4 {An elastic continuation reserving f3 or h3 for his knight. The older moves were 6. Nge2 or Be3.}
6... Nf6 {For 6...e5 see Bilek-Gheorghiu, 1968. A more viable plan is 6...e6 followed by Nge7 and f5. Only after this crushing defeat did Geller switch to that idea in their last match game.} 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Rb8 9. h3 {In their second match game Spassky tried 9. Nh4 Nd4 10. f5 b5 11. Bg5 b4 12. Nb1!? when Black chances were better.} 9... b5 10. a3 a5 11. Be3 b4 12. axb4
axb4 13. Ne2 Bb7 {The bishop is inactive here and does not help in defending the kingside. Better is 13...Ne8 14. Rb1 Nc7 15. f5 Nb5 (Reshevsky-Korchnoi, match 1968).} 14. b3 {Until now it replicated their fourth game where Spassky played 14. Qd2 instead. The point of the text is that this pawn will not be under fire if and when Black's rook arrives at a2.} 14... Ra8 15. Rc1
Ra2 16. g4 Qa8 17. Qe1 Qa6 18. Qf2 Na7 {Too slow. Better is 18...Nd7!} 19.
f5 Nb5 20. fxg6 hxg6 {Necessary is 20...fxg6 21. Nf4 Bc8.} 21. Ng5 Na3 22.
Qh4 Rc8 23. Rxf6 exf6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 {The fever seems to have subsided and there appears to be a lull. But the next blow shatters Black's illusions.}
25. Nxf7 Rxc2 {If 25...Kxf7 26. Bh6 Rg8 27. Nf4 d5 28. exd5 f5 29. Ne6 wins. } 26. Bh6 Rxc1+ 27. Nxc1 Kxf7 28. Qxg7+ Ke8 29. g5 f5 {A last gasp. Mate is unavoidable on 29...fxg5 30. Bxg5.} 30. Qxg6+ Kd7 31. Qf7+ Kc6 32. exf5+ 
{Black Resigns. After 32...Kb6 33. Qxb7+ Qxb7 34. Bxb7 Kxb6 35. f6 the pawns can't be stopped.} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Gligoric, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C93"]

{Tal, one of the greatest attackers in history, lost a lot of his fire due to poor health. Yet he remained a dangerous opponent even after losing the crown back to Botvinnik in 1961. Here he is stymied by ruthlessly precise defense after failing to land a roundhouse blow.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 h6 {The idea is to hold the center by Re8 and Bf8 while preventing the Ng5 which aims at f7. } 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 Bb7 13. Ng3 Na5 14. Bc2 Nc4 15. a4 d5 16.
b3 {After 16. exd5 exd4 Black drew without difficultly in Stein-Spassky, Amsterdam 1964.} 16... dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 {Stein-Reshevsky, Los Angeles 1968, was eventually drawn after 18. Rxe4!? Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nb6 20. Bxa8 Nxa8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Be3 exd4 23. Nxd4 Qd5.} 18... Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5
20. Rg4 {A wild try for advantage. Steadier is 20. Re1 Na5 21. axb5 Nxb3 22. Rxa6 exd4! with equality.} 20... Na5 21. Bxh6 Nxb3 22. Ra3 {Mixing it up. The rook is untouchable in view of 22...Bxa3? 23. Rxg7+ Kh8 24. Ng5 Re7 25. Qh5. Later their fifth match game was drawn after 22. Rb1 bxa4 23. Nxe5 Qe6! 24. Qf3 c5.} 22... bxa4 23. Rxa4 Rab8 24. Rxa6 {Not best. Gligoric suggested 24. Qf1 and Tal thought 24. Be3 is right.} 24... exd4 25. cxd4 {The correct path is 25. Nxd4.} 25... c5 {Much stronger is 25...Ra8! 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 when White must address the threats of Ra1 in addition to c5 and f5.} 26. Be3 Rb4
27. Rg5 Qb7 28. Rh6 Nxd4 {Simpler is 28...g6 when White must sacrifice a rook on g6 to obtain a draw.} 29. Nxd4 Rb1 30. Bc1 Qb2 31. Qh5 {This faulty combination nearly succeeds. Correct is 31. Nb3 Qe2 32. Qd5 with a keen struggle in the offing.} 31... Qxc1+ 32. Kh2 Bd6+ 33. Rxd6 Qf4+ 34. Rg3 Qxd6
35. Nf5 Ree1 {This is what Tal overlooked. The mate threat compels White to plunge into unfavorable simplifications.} 36. Qxf7+ Kxf7 37. Nxd6+ Ke6 38.
Rg6+ Kd5 39. Nf5 Rb7 40. Ne3+ Rxe3 {A witty way to eliminate technical problems.} 41. fxe3 Rc7 {Adhering to the principle that rooks belong BEHIND passed pawns. The rest is window dressing.} 42. Kg3 c4 43. Kf4 c3 44. e4+
Kc4 45. Ra6 c2 46. Ra1 Kd3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Capablanca Memorial"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivkov, B."]
[Black "Donner, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C81"]

{"This is the kind of game I always admire: a new idea in the opening, an excellent conception of the middle game and, finally, a spectacular kingside attack involving sacrifices" -- Rossolimo.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2 Nc5 10. Rd1 Nxb3
11. cxb3 {Violating principle by capturing away from the center is an original idea. White hopes to exploit the open c-file.} 11... Be7 {Perhaps Black should regroup with 11...Nb8 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nc3 c6.}
12. Nc3 O-O 13. Be3 Na5 14. Rac1 Nb7 15. Ne4 Bg4 {Black's has lost control over c5. If 15...Rc8 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. Bxc5 f6 18. Nd4 is strong.} 16. h3
Bxf3 17. Qxf3 c6 {He should hasten to simplify with 17...dxe4 18. Rxd8 exf3 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Rxc7 Bd6! 21. exd6 Nxd6.} 18. Ng3 Rc8 19. Nf5 g6 {Allows a brilliant conclusion. After 18...Kh8 20. Qg3 Rg8 White maintains a firm grip but there would be no immediate way to win.} 20. Rxd5 Qe8 {It's also over after 20...exd5 21. Rxc8 Qxc8 22. Nxe7+ with a family fork.} 21. Bh6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Beverwijk"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Donner, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]

{Ordinarily it is difficult to launch an attack in this variation of the French Defense because of the barricaded pawn structure. However, Tal succeeds in confining Black's King to the center and then proceeds to open lines with wild abandon.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+
6. bxc3 Qc7 {White reinforced his center at the cost of doubled pawns and Black hastens to exert pressure along the c-file.} 7. Nf3 b6 8. a4 Ba6 9.
Bxa6 {Black can mount a sturdy defense against 9. Bb5+ Bxb5 10. axb5 a5 11. O-O Ne7 (Stein-Byrne, Sousse 1967.)} 9... Nxa6 10. Qe2 Nb8 {Avoiding the trap 10...cxd4 11. Qb5+! Kd8 12. Qxa6 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 Qxa1 14. Bg5+ winning the Queen.} 11. a5 bxa5 {11...cxd4 12. O-O is unclear but White's attacking prospects remain bright.} 12. Ba3 Nd7 13. dxc5 Ne7 14. c6 {This thematic pawn sacrifice opens the a3-f8 diagonal and hems the Black King in the center.} 14... Qxc6 15. O-O Qxc3 {The purpose is not so much to gain another pawn as to prevent Nd4.} 16. Rfd1 Nc6 {Tal feels that 16...Qc4 17. Qd2 Nc6 may be somewhat better; in that case White can continue his attack with 18. Bd6 followed by 19. Ra3.} 17. Bd6 Qc4 18. Qe3 Qe4 {Desperately trying to swap Queens and diminish the force of the attack.} 19. Qb3 Nb6 {Preventing Qb7. With two extra pawns Black's position looks cozy and his King is ready to go to d7 with a measure of safety. But the next move shatters his illusions.} 20. c4 Qxc4 21. Qa3 Qa6 22. Rac1 Rc8 {Black could organize a better defense with 22...Nc4 immediately.} 23. Nd2 f6 {It's hard to conceded that Black's solid position already is lost. Another possible defense is 23...Nd4.} 24. exf6 gxf6 25. Qf3 Kd7 {Relatively better is 25...Nd7.} 26.
Qxf6 Rhe8 {Even worse is 26...Kxd6 27. Ne4+ Kc7 28. Nc5 Qe2 29. Qg7+.} 27.
Ne4 Ne7 28. Nc5+ Rxc5 29. Bxc5 Nc4 30. Bxe7 {Black Resigns. The point is 30...Rxe7 31.Rxd5!+. One is left with the impression that Black could have considerably improved his defense somewhere along the way, but that doesn't detract from Tal's courageous performance.} 1-0

[Event "Postal Game"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sorokin, E."]
[Black "Duborik, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]

{Correspondence chess takes place far from the hurly burly of the tournament arena, but it doesn't lack tension. Many theoretical novelties are rigorously tested by mail, and this one contains its share of fireworks.} 1.
e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 {Less sharp but also playable is 6. Bd3.} 6... Nfd7 7. h4 c5 8. h5 cxd4 9. hxg6 {A wild piece sacrifice. For 9. Qxd4 see Padevsky- Matanovich, 1966.} 9... dxc3 10. gxf7+
Rxf7 11. Bc4 e6 {Hoping for 12. Bxe6? Nxe5! Another possible defense is 11...Nf8 12. Ng5 e6 13. Nxf7 Kxf7 14. Qh5+ Kg8 15. Bd3 h6 and now 16. g4 leads to murky complications.} 12. Ng5 Nxe5 {Returning the piece to destroy the center.} 13. fxe5 {The real test of whether this line is sound would come after 13. Qh5 h6.} 13... Qa5 {Sets everything right again. Black misses a clear win by 13...cxb2! 14. Qh5 Qxg5!} 14. Qh5 {The Queen will return twice more to this square, and each time with new threats.} 14... Qxe5+ 15.
Be2 Rf5 16. g4 cxb2 {16...Qg3+ 17. Kd1 Rd5+ 18. Bd3 Rxd3+ is exquisitely refuted by 19. Ke2! and the King slips out while Black is faced with deadly mating threats.} 17. gxf5 Qa5+ 18. Kd1 Qd5+ 19. Bd3 Qxh1+ 20. Qxh1 bxa1=Q { An ingenious defense. Now White is at the crossroads: play to win a rook down or take a probable draw with 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Qg6 Ke7 23. Qf7+ Kd8 24. Nxe6+ Bxe6 25. fxe6 Qf6 26. Qxb7 Qxe6 27. Bg5+ Bf6 28. Bxf6+ Qxf6 29. Qxa8.}
21. Qh5 Qf6 22. fxe6 Nc6 {Sorokin analyzes wins against either 22...Qe7 or Bxe6 but perhaps Black can find an escape clause.} 23. e7 Bg4+ 24. Qxg4 d5 { On 24...Ne5 25. Bxh7+ Kh8 26. Qh3 still demolishes the defense.} 25. Qh5 
{Black Resigns. If 25...Qxe7 26. Bxh7+ Kf8 27. Ba3! Qxa3 28. Qf7 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Monaco"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik, M."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]

{Botvinnik was noted for his strategic depth. His games seldom feature brilliancies but when given the opportunity he shows that he is always alert to all the dormant tactical implications.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4.
cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Be6 {Another try is 5...Ne7 6. Nf3 Nbc6 7. d3 Nf5.} 6. Nf3
Nc6 7. O-O Nb6 8. d3 Be7 9. a3 a5 {The main drawback is that Black is essaying a well- known variation of the Sicilian Defense a move down. This restraining maneuver merely creates a weakness. More active is 9...f5 10. b4 Bf6.} 10. Be3 O-O 11. Na4 Nxa4 12. Qxa4 Bd5 13. Rfc1 Re8 {Portisch himself queries this lackluster developing move but fails to offer a satisfactory alternative. He could try 13...f5 14. Qb5 Bf6 (15. Qxb7? Nd4).} 14. Rc2 Bf8
15. Rac1 Nb8 {Hoping to neutralize White's control of the file with c6 on the next move, but it doesn't work. Necessary is 15...e4 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. Rd2 Qf6 though White keeps the initiative with 18. Rc4!} 16. Rxc7 Bc6 17.
R1xc6 bxc6 18. Rxf7 h6 {The rook is immune: 18...Kxf7? 19. Qc4+ Kg6 20. Ng5 Qf6 21. Be4+ Kh5 22. Bf3+ Kg6 23. Bh5+ Kxh5 24. Qh4+ Kg6 25. Qxh7 mate. Had Black seen what was in store he might have tried 18...Be7.} 19. Rb7 Qc8 20.
Qc4+ Kh8 {Black can avoid the holocaust with 20...Qe6 21. Nxe5 Qxc4 22. Nxc4 a4 but with strong diagonals for his Bishops and two pawns for the Exchange White should win the ending.} 21. Nh4 Qxb7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. Be4 Bd6 24.
Nxe5+ g6 {Forced. If 24...Kh8 25. Nf7+ wins the house.} 25. Bxg6+ Kg7 26.
Bxh6+ {Black Resigns. Neat to the end. If 26...Kxh6 27. Qh4+ Kg7 28. Qh7+ Kf6 29. Ng4+ Ke6 30. Qxb7 wins. No better is 26...Kf6 (or 26...Kh8 27. Nf7+ Kg8 28. Nxd6+) 27. Qf4+ Ke6 28. Bf7+ Ke7 29. Qg5 mate. Voted the best game of 1968 by the CHESS INFORMANT jury of eight grandmasters.} 1-0

[Event "Riga"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov, V."]
[Black "Liberzon, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]

{"My best game in ten years," said former world champion Smyslov. His Queen sacrifice is very deep and proves to be an unexpected bonus for his positional superiority.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Rb1 d6
6. b4 a6 {Also playable is 6...f5 right away so as not to create a queenside target. Evans-Spassky, Lugano Olympiad 1968, continued 7. d3 Nf6 8. b5 Ne7 9. e4 O-O 10. Nge2 a6 with equality.} 7. e3 f5 8. Nge2 Nf6 9. d3 O-O 10. O-O
Bd7 11. a4 Rb8 12. b5 axb5 13. axb5 Ne7 14. Ba3 {To prevent Black from freeing his game with c5.} 14... Be6 15. Qb3 b6 16. d4 e4 17. d5 Bf7 18. Nd4
Qd7 19. Bb2 {"According to the great teachers of the past -- Anderssen, Lasker, Alekhine -- before one attacks, every piece must be on its best square. Since the bishop has served its purpose on a3 it is moved to its best attacking post" -- Smyslov. If now 19...Ra8 20. Ra1 followed by Ra6 so Black decides to launch a kingside offensive.} 19... g5 20. Nce2 Kh8 21. Ra1
Ng6 22. f4 exf3ep 23. Rxf3 Ne7 24. Nc6 Rbe8 25. Ned4 Nfxd5 {Probably the best practical chance to end slow strangulation.} 26. cxd5 Bxd5 27. Nxf5
Rxf5 {The Queen can't be taken: 27...Bxb3 28. Bxg7+ Kg8 29. Ncxe7+ Rxe7 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. Ra8+ Kf7 32. Nd4+ followed by Nxb3 wins. Also bad is 27...Nxf5 28. Qxd5 Bxb2 29. Raf1.} 28. Bxg7+ Kg8 {Disagreeable but necessary since 28...Kxg7 29. Qc3+ Kg8 30. Rxf5 Qxf5 31. Rf1 Qe6 32. Rf6! gains material.}
29. Rxf5 Bxb3 30. Rxg5 Ng6 {Best. Not 30...h6 31. Nxe7+ Rxe7 32. Ra8+ Re8 33. Bxh7+ Kh7 34. Rg7+ wins. Time to take stock. White has only a rook and bishop for the queen, but she will be subjected to unrelenting harassment.}
31. Bh6 Qe6 32. h4 Qxe3+ 33. Kh2 Qc3 34. Rf1 Bc4 35. Rf2 Qe1 36. Rgf5 Bxb5
37. Bd2 Qb1 {The Queen is almost more trouble than it's worth. She has to be constantly protected and is inefficient both for defense and attack.} 38.
Bd5+ Kh8 39. Bc3+ Ne5 40. Nxe5 dxe5 41. Rxe5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1968"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Benko, P."]
[Black "Horowitz, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]

{Black single-mindededly pursues a consistent strategic theme: exploiting White's weak square on b3. This obsession proves to be his downfall when he is caught off guard on the opposite flank.} 1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4.
g3 e6 {Passive. 4...Bf5 (or g6) is more enterprising.} 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Bb2 O-O
7. O-O a5 8. a3 c5 {An obvious loss of time, since the pawn took two moves to reach a square it could have reached in one. Better is 8...Nbd7 but not 8...a4 9. b4 dxc4 10. Ne5 favorably regaining the pawn.} 9. cxd5 exd5 10. d4
Na6 {A strange place for the knight, but consistent with his attempt to exploit b3. More flexible is 10...b6.} 11. Nc3 Bf5 12. Ne5 cxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc5
{Apparently White fell into a trap and left b3 vulnerable. If he is obliged to retreat with 14. Qd1 Qb6 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Rad8 would be tough to meet.} 14. Nxd5 Nxb3 15. Qf4 Nxd5 {Necessary is 15...Bc2 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rae1 Rfd8 with fair chances of survival.} 16. Qxf5 Nxa1 17. Nxf7 {The killer. Black was hoping for 17. Rd1 Ne3!} 17... Qc8 {If 17...Nc2 18. Be4! Ra6 19. Qh5! Rh6 20. Qxh6! Equally hopeless is 17...Rxf7 18. Bxd5.} 18. Nh6+
Kh8 19. Qxd5 Nc2 20. Qg8+ {Black Resigns. A banal smothered mate after 20...Rxg8 21. Nf7.} 1-0

[Event "Malaga"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1969"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Medina, G."]
[Black "Pomar, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]

{Another testament to the infinite richness of chess. Black's refinement on move 14, aimed at thwarting the Velimirovic attack, spawns a host of new complications.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 {The scant experience with 4. dxc5 Nxe4 5. cxd6 e6 6. Qd3 Nxd6 7. Nc3 indicates that White holds the edge.} 4... cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. Bb3 a6 8. Be3 e6 9. Qe2 Be7
10. O-O-O Na5 11. g4 Nxb3+ 12. axb3 b5 13. g5 Nd7 14. Nf5 b4 {Apparently Pomar has no taste for 14...exf5l 15. Nd5 as in Velimirovic-Sofrev- sky, 1966, but his medicine may be even more bitter.} 15. Nxg7+ {An imaginative gamble. The prudent 15. Nxe7 bxc3 16. Nxc8 Rxc8 gives Black some counterplay despite his abysmally weak d-pawn.} 15... Kf8 16. Qh5 Kxg7 {The complications are also monstrous after 16...bxc3 17. Qh6! Qa5.} 17. Bd4+ Ne5
18. f4 {Saving the Knight with 18.Na4 would lose the momentum of the attack after 18...Bb7.} 18... bxc3 19. Bxc3 Bb7 {Black can hope to weather the storm by returning the piece by 19...h6 20. fxe5 Bxg5+ 21. Kb1 dxe5 but 22 h4! is very strong. Desperate measures are needed and the answer is 19...Qxc3! 20. bxc3 Ng6 netting three pieces for the Queen.} 20. fxe5 dxe5
21. Rd7 Qxd7 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Bxe5 f6 24. gxf6 Bc5 {Or 24...Bf8 25. Rg1+ Kf7 26. Qh5 mate.} 25. Qg7+ Qxg7 26. fxg7 {Rarely does one pawn win two rooks!}
26... Kf7 27. gxh8=Q Rxh8 28. Bxh8 Bxe4 29. Rf1+ Bf5 {An Exchange and pawn down, Black could safely resign instead of dragging it out to the bitter end.} 30. Be5 Be3+ 31. Kb1 Kg6 32. Bf4 Bd4 33. Re1 Kh5 34. Kc1 Kg4 35. Be5
Bf2 36. Rf1 Be3+ 37. Kd1 Bc5 38. Rf4+ Kh3 39. Rf3+ Kg2 40. Rg3+ Kf2 41. Kd2
h5 42. Rg8 a5 43. c4 {Finally gets the passed pawn moving!} 43... h4 44. Rc8
Be3+ 45. Kc3 Ke2 46. b4 Bd2+ 47. Kb3 Bxb4 48. c5 Be4 49. c6 Ke3 50. Ka4 Bd5
51. Kb5 Ke4 52. Bf6 h3 53. Rd8 Ke3 54. Rxd5 {Black Resigns. At last the pawn triumphs after 54...exd5 55. c7.} 1-0

[Event "Havana Olympics"]
[Site "Cuba"]
[Date "1969"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Bolbochan, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]

{One expects Tal to prevail in positions replete with attacking themes. But the unique twist he gives the task each time is truly marvelous. Here his "quiet" maneuver on move 25 is the straw that broke the camel's back.} 1. e4
c5 {"It is more desirable to try 1...e5 against Tal but Bolbochan is a hard-headed opponent who steps aside for no one" -- R. Byrne.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Be7 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Bb3 a6 {The immediate 9...Na5 snuffing out the bishop on b3 is the right way to get into the fight.} 10. O-O-O Qa5 {It's preferable to reserve this square for the knight. Better is 10...Qc7.} 11. Kb1 Re8 {More active is 11...Bd7 and b5. Black mistakenly supposes that the breakthrough will come with f4-e5 and braces himself against that pawn advance.} 12. Rhg1 Bd7 13. g4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4
Bc6 15. g5 Nd7 16. Rd3 g6 17. h4 Nc5 18. h5 Nxb3 {Capturing the rook would allow White's Bishops to rake the kingside, so the kind offer is declined. On 18...Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Bxg5 20. hxg6 fxg6 21. e5 gives a potent attack.} 19.
axb3 e5 20. Be3 Qc7 {This retreat exposes the folly of 10...Qa5.} 21. Bd2
Rad8 22. Rh1 Bf8 23. Qg4 b5 24. Qh4 b4 25. Nd1 d5 {Bolbochan is a very stubborn, indefatigable defender, and he has managed to prime a promising counterattack.} 26. Ne3 dxe4 27. Ng4 {The knight's mission is revealed. Now if 27...exd3 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. hxg6 dxc2+ 30. Kc1 fxg6 31. Qxh7 mates.} 27...
f5 28. Nf6+ Kf7 29. hxg6+ Ke6 30. Nxe8 {Quite a road traveled all the way from d1!} 30... Rxe8 31. gxh7 Bg7 32. Rdh3 Bd5 33. Qh5 Kd7 34. Qxe8+ {Black Resigns. Brilliant to the very end. On 34...Kxe8 35. h8=Q+ Bxh8 36. Rxh8+ Ke7 37. Bxb4+ nets a whole Rook.} 1-0

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1969"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tsheshkovsky, V."]
[Black "Lutikov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]

{Black attempts a refutation of a book refutation, but one more refutation restores the original judgment. The more things change, the more they remain the same.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Weaker is the once popular 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Nbd2 Nxd2 6. Bxd2 Be7! 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Bc3 O-O 9. Qxd6 Bxd6 with a drawish ending (Boleslavsky-Keres, Moscow 1962).} 4... Nbd7 5. Bc4
Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 c6 8. Qe2 exd4 {Better is 8...Qc7 to maintain the central tension. Obviously Lutikov is steering for a prepared variation since he already used this same defense against Smyslov at the Chigorin Memorial in 1960. That game continued 8...a5 9. h3 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Bf4 with a freer game.} 9. Nxd4 Nxe4 {Without this follow-up the previous move abandoning the center loses much of its point.} 10. Nxe4 d5
11. Nf5 {Black undoubtedly had some improvement in mind over Suetin-Gusev, Tula 1950 which went 11. Ba2 dxe4 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. Nf5 Qc7 14. Qxe4 Nc5 15.Qf3 Be5 16. Bg5! with clear advantage.} 11... dxc4 {This must be Lutikov's novelty. In case of 11...dxe4 White need not retreat his bishop as in the previous note and would thus gain an extra tempo for the attack. An old Keres analysis runs 11...dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bf6 13. Nh6+! gxh6 14. Bd3 Re8 15. Qxh7+ Kf8 16. Bxh6+ Ke7 17. Rfe1+ Kd6 18. Bf4+ Be5 19. Qxf7 but Black by no means can be counted out.} 12. Bh6 Nf6 {The tricky resource Black relied on. A blunder would be 12...Bf6? 13. Bxg7 Bxg7 14. Qg4. White also gets a terrific attack after 12...gxh6 13. Qg4+ Bg5 14. Nxh6+ Kg7 15. Nxg5! Kxh6 16. Qh4+ Kg6 17. Qxh7+ Kxg5 18. f4+ Kf6 19. Qh6+.} 13. Neg3 {The refutation of the refutation. This simple yet elegant retreat is precisely the kind of move one is prone to overlook in home analysis. With one stroke White protects the Knight on f5 and renews the attack on both e7 and g7. Unclear is 15. Rad1 Bxf5! 14. Rxd8 Raxd8 with compensation for the Queen.} 13...
Bxf5 14. Nxf5 gxh6 15. Nxe7+ Kg7 16. Nf5+ Kg6 17. Ne7+ Kg7 {White repeated moves to gain time on the clock, a common tournament practice.} 18. Qe5 Qb8
{Understandably Black is anxious to dislodge the Queen from its dominating post. However, he could offer tougher resistance with 18...Re8 19. Rfe1 Qb8 frustrating the maneuver which ensues in the game.} 19. Nf5+ Kg6 20. Nd6 Kg7
21. Rfe1 Rd8 22. Rad1 Rd7 {Shaken by the turn of events, Black can only sit back and wait for White to apply the finishing touch.} 23. Rd4 Qc7 24. Rg4+
{Black Resigns. If 24...Kf8 25. Qxf6 Qxd6 26. Qh8 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1969"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smejkal, J."]
[Black "Smyslov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]

{Tournament winner's Smyslov only loss was against this young Czech player. After one inadvertent move the roof caved in.} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c3 {An unpretentious system aimed at bolstering the center.} 3... d6 4. f4 Nf6 5.
e5 Nd5 6. Nf3 O-O {The game has earmarks of Alekhine's Defense where White has refrained from driving the Knight away with c4. Black has nothing to fear -- yet.} 7. Bc4 c6 8. a4 Na6 9. O-O Nac7 10. Qe1 f6 {A handy defensive move which assails the central pawn wedge and mutes the maneuver Qh4 and Ng5.} 11. Qh4 Be6 12. Na3 Qd7 13. Bd2 b5 14. Bd3 Nb6 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Rae1
a6 {Underestimating the attack. Better is 16...dxe5 17. fxe5 a6 with a hard game for both sides. Now the roof caves in.} 17. exd6 exd6 18. Rxe6 Qxe6 19.
f5 g5 {More resistance is offered by 19...gxf5 20. g4 Qf7 21. Bxf5 h6. Smyslov, however, is still shaken by Smejkal's 18th move.} 20. Nxg5 fxg5 21.
Bxg5 Qd7 22. f6 Bh8 {For the nonce Black has staved off mate and held onto the extra Rook. But all hope is soon squelched.} 23. Bf5 Ne6 24. Qg4 Kf7 25.
Qh5+ Kg8 26. Qg4 Kf7 27. Bxh7 Ke8 {Forced. If 27...Nxg5 28. Qh5+ Ke6 29. Bf5+ wins. White lost nothing by repeating moves to gain time on the clock.}
28. f7+ Rxf7 29. Bg6 Nd8 30. Qh5 {Piling more pressure on the pinned rook and hitting the bishop as well. Now if 30...Bg7 31. Bxd8. The end is near.}
30... Qe6 31. Qxh8+ Kd7 32. Bxf7 {Black Resigns. On 32...Nxf7 33. Qg7 Black must lose a piece.} 1-0

[Event "Busum"]
[Site "West Germany"]
[Date "1969"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Milko Bobotsov"]
[Black "Bent Larsen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]

{"Light desert after dinner" is how Larsen describes this game, his shortest win over a grandmaster. After all the warnings against leaving the King in the center too long, this illustrates the danger of castling too soon. Bobotsov carelessly drops a pawn on move six and goes from bad to worse as he desperately tries to regain it. As usual, one bad move leads to another.}
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4 4. g3 {More customary is 4. Qc2 in order to recapture with the queen, after O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7.} 4...
O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O {An instructive error. White fails to realize he can't get the pawn back. Correct is 6. cxd5 or 6. a3 Be7 (if 6...Bxc3 7. bxc3 dxc4 8. Ne5 regains the button 7. d4 and if dxc4 8. Qa4 followed by Qxc4. "This is going to cost him the game!" -- Larsen} 6... dxc4 7. Qa4 {"Contrary to many Catalan variations, this is neither with check nor with a threat against the black pawn on c4". -- Larsen The problem, of course, is that 7. Ne5 is refuted by Qd4!} 7... Na6 8. a3 Bd7 9. Nb5 {"Looks crazy -- and it is. But on 9. Qc2 Bd6 White can't regain the pawn". -- Larsen} 9... Qe8 10.
Nfd4 {"After 10. Nxcd7 Bxa4 11. Nxe8 Be7! 12. Nxf6 Bxf6 White has won back the pawn, but how can he develop his queenside? Also hopeless is 10. axb4 Bxb5 11. Qa5 Nd5". -- Larsen} 10... e5 11. Bxb7 exd4 12. Bxa6 {"Another possibility was 12. axb4 Bxb5 13. Qa5. Black cannot keep the piece, but several variations are very advantageous, the most interesting being 13...Nb8 14. Bxa8 c6 15. Qxa7 Qxe2 which wins quickly". -- Larsen} 12... Bh3
{This surprising riposte decides the game.} 13. axb4 {Loses quickly. So does 13. Re1 Qc6 14. f3 Bc5 15. Qxc4 d3 16. Kh1 Rae8. The only way to keep the game alive is by giving up the Exchange with 13. Nc3.} 13... Qe4 14. Bb7 {If 14. f3 Qxe2 forces mate.} 14... Qxb7 15. f3 Bd7 {White resigns. Black prefers to win the pinned knight, rather than 15...Bxf1 16. Kxf1 d3 which also wins. Note that the bishop on c1 played no role in the action.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Rovinj-Zagreb"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrosian, T."]
[Black "Gligoric, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]

{It is when both sides play to win that the most exciting chess is produced. In this game, Gligoric offers a consistent and sound piece sacrifice, which ought only to have maintained the balance. Petrosian's attempt to hold on to everything results in his Queen being exiled to h1.} 1. c4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3.
d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {White tries to accelerate his Queenside play [he plans to play c5 and c5xd6, followed by play against d6 and c7]. The drawback of this move is that the weakening of the long diagonal permits the Black Nf6 to take a more active role than usual.} 9... Nh5 10. Nd2 Nf4 11. a4 f5 12. Bf3 g5 13. exf5 Nxf5 14. g3 Nd4 { The only consistent follow-up. On 14...Ng6 15.Nde4, White's pieces dominate the Kingside and his pawns are ready to advance on the other wing.} 15. gxf4
Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 {Safer was 16.Nxf3 exf4 17.Bb2 g4 18.Kh1, returning the piece with approximate equality.} 16... g4 17. Qh1 {Petrosian believes the sacrifice to be unsound and is unwilling to permit Black to recover his material with 17.Qd3 Bf5 18.Nde4 exf4 19.f3 [but not 19.Bd2? f3, followed by 20.Rxf3 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Bxe4 22.Rxf4 Qg5+ 23.Qg3 Qxg3+, with a likely draw.}
17... exf4 18. Bb2 Bf5 19. Rfe1 f3 20. Nde4 Qh4 21. h3 Be5 {The Queen at h1 has no scope and serves only to obstruct the White King. Now 22.hxg4 Qxg4+ 23.Kf1 Bxc3 is crushing -- 24.Nxc3? Bd3+.} 22. Re3 gxh3 23. Qxf3 Bg4 24. Qh1
h2+ 25. Kg2 Qh5 26. Nd2 Bd4 {All the Black pieces are attacking. Now a move of the Rook allows 27...Rxf2+, and 27.Rae1 fails to 27...Bh3+ 28.Rxh3 Qg4+ 29.Rg3 Rxf2++.} 27. Qe1 Rae8 28. Nce4 {Black has a winning attack -- 28.Kh1 Rxe3 29.fxe3 Bf3+ 30.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 31.Kxh2 Be5+ 32.Kg1 Qg4+.} 28... Bxb2 29.
Rg3 Be5 30. Raa3 Kh8 31. Kh1 Rg8 32. Qf1 Bxg3 33. Rxg3 Rxe4 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "Rovinj - Zagreb"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Petrosian, T."]
[Black "Gligoric, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]

{Petrosian was a hard man to beat because he took few risks and seemed content to draw with his peers. Here Gligoric upends him with a thematic piece sacrifice in a sharp line of the King's Indian Defense. The effort was awarded a brilliancy prize.} 1. c4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4
d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 {Also playable is 9...Nd7 but Black seeks his fortune on the kingside.} 10. Nd2 {Veering from the usual 10. g3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3.} 10... Nf4 11. a4 f5 12. Bf3 g5 13. exf5 Nxf5
14. g3 Nd4 {This sacrifice is nearly forced since 14...Ng6 15. Nde4 gives White a bind.} 15. gxf4 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 g4 17. Qh1 {A curious retreat. Better is 17. Qd3 Bf5 18. Nde4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Bxc3 21. Ra3! with a drawish ending.} 17... exf4 18. Bb2 Bf5 19. Rfe1 f3 {Nailing White's Queen to the cross.} 20. Nde4 Qh4 21. h3 Be5 22. Re3 gxh3 23. Qxf3 Bg4 24. Qh1 h2+
25. Kg2 {No help is afforded by 25. Kf1 Rf3!} 25... Qh5 26. Nd2 Bd4 27. Qe1
{Forced. If 27. Rae1 Bh3+! 28. Rxh3 Qg4+! 29. Rg3 Rxf2 mate.} 27... Rae8 28.
Nce4 Bxb2 29. Rg3 Be5 30. Raa3 Kh8 31. Kh1 Rf7 32. Qf1 Bxg3 33. Rxg3 {33. Nxg3 lasts longer but is just as bad.} 33... Rxe4 {White Resigns. If 34. Nxe4 Bf3+ kills.} 0-1

[Event "14th Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "Siegen, Germany"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Boris Spassky"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]

{The most eagerly awaited game in the entire Olympiad took place in the USSR-USA match between the world champion and his inevitable challenger. This victory was of the utmost importance for Spassky, who prevailed after a tense struggle, raising his record to three wins and two draws out of five games against Fischer before their 1972 showdown for the crown. Fischer stood well in the opening but lost his way in the midgame, as Spassky succeeded in imposing his own will on the course of events.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3
O-O 10. O-O Qc7 {The main line is 10...cxd4 11. cxd4 Bg4 12. f3 Na5. Karpov later revived the discredited 13. Bxf7!? Rxf7 14. fxg4 with some success against Kasparov in their title bouts.} 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. h3 {Deviating from 12. Qe1 e6 13. f4 Na5 14. Bd3 with which Spassky defeated Fischer at Santa Monica 1966.} 12... b6 13. f4 e6 14. Qe1 Na5 15. Bd3 f5 16. g4 {Aggressive and logical to pry open the kingside for an attack. Chances are now roughly equal.} 16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 Bb7 18. Ng3 Nc4 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Bf2 Qc6 21.
Qe2 cxd4 22. cxd4 b5 23. Ne4 Bxd4 {Risky and widely condemned because it loosens the squares around Black's King. Safer is 23...Rf8.} 24. Ng5 Bxf2+
25. Rxf2 Rd6 {Spassky recommended 25...Re8.} 26. Re1 Qb6 27. Ne4 Rd4 28.
Nf6+ Kh8 {Better is 28...Kg7 accepting an eventual trade of Queens and a likely draw after 29. Qxe6. Fischer seriously misjudges the position in playing for the win.} 29. Qxe6 Rd6 30. Qe4 Rf8 {A waste of time. More pertinent is 30...Rad8 31. g5 Rd2 32. Rf1 Rxf2 33. Rxf2 Qe3 with equal chances.} 31. g5 Rd2 32. Rf1 Qc7 {A fatal error. Necessary is 32...Rxf2 33. Rxf2 Qe3 even though White still retains a better ending with 34. Qxe3 Nxe3 35. Rd2.} 33. Rxd2 Nxd2 34. Qd4 Rd8 35. Nd5+ Kg8 {Hoping for 36. Qxd2 Qc5 regaining the piece.} 36. Rf2 Nc4 37. Re2 Rd6 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. Rf8+ {Snaring the Queen after 39...Kxf8 40. Qh8 Kf7 41. Nxc7. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR Championship"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Black "Tal, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]

{The Bishop sacrifice on h7/h2 is a rare bird these days, and rarer still in top-level competition, but here we see former world champion Mikhail Tal falling victim to a refined version. The game demonstrates the "transformation of advantages," as White trades space and material for time, advancing his central pawns with a sacrifice to obtain a winning attack. It also shows the level of preparation required of Grandmasters -- Polugaevsky had examined the position arising at move 25(!) in his pre-tournament analysis.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7.
bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 {It had been assumed for many years that Black could equalize in this variation, since he could exchange several pieces. But Polugaevsky and Spassky analyzed it in preparation for Spassky's 1969 match with Petrosian, and discovered that things were not so simple if White found the right squares for his Rooks.} 10... O-O 11. Bc4
Nc6 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 {Neither Rook is placed on an open file, but both support the advance of the central pawns at the right moment. White's plan may involve creation of a passed d-pawn, or a cramping advance of the e4-pawn in anticipation of a Kingside attack.} 14... Na5 15. Bd3 Rc8
16. d5 exd5 17. e5 {At the cost of a pawn, White has activated his Bishop and deadened Black's. The Black minor pieces are a long way from Kingside ...} 17... Nc4 18. Qf4 Nb2 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg6 {Forced; 20...Kh6? 21.Ne6+ is obviously out, and 20...Kg8 runs into something like 21.e6 fxe6 22.Qh4 Re8 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Qxg7+ Kd6 26.Nf7+, or 22...Rf5 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Qxg7+ Kd6 26.Rxe6+ Kc5 27.Qxb2 Rxg5 28.Qc3+ and mate soon.} 21. h4 {The point of the combination; White threatens 22.h5+ Kxh5 23.g4+ Kg6 24.Qf5+ Kh6 25.Qh7+ Kxg5 26.Qh5+ Kf4 27.Qf5++.} 21... Rc4 22. h5+
Kh6 23. Nxf7+ Kh7 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. e6 Qf6 {Now on 25...Qe7 26.h6! is crushing: 26...Nxd1 27.h7++, 26...gxh6 27.Qg6++, or 26...Rxf7 27.exf7+ Qxf7 28.h7+.} 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Rd2 Rc6 {The Knight cannot be saved, for on 27...Nz4 comes 28.Nd6 Rc7 29.e7.} 28. Rxb2 Re8 29. Nh6+ Kh7 30. Nf5 Rcxe6
31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Rc2 Rc6 33. Re2 Bc8 34. Re7+ Kh8 35. Nh4 f5 36. Ng6+ Kg8
37. Rxa7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad"]
[Site "Siegen, Germany"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Westerinen, H."]
[Black "Evans, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]

{"'A typical Evans game!' sneered my team-mates, implying that the win was routine once I had the pawn in my pocket. But to be on the defense through an entire game is a little hard on the nerves -- even mine. One would prefer not to play such hard chess every round, but trying to win with Black always requires a certain degree of risk" -- Larry Evans.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 Qc7 {"In many variations it is important to prevent Bc4 and subsequent sacrifices on e6" -- Evans.} 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Bd3 g5 12. e5 {This prepared variation is hard to refute but basically unsound because Black is solid. More usual 12. fxg5 Ne5.} 12... gxh4 {"Very risky is 12...dxe5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bg6+ Kf8 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 Kg7 17. Qg3! If there is a hole in this attack, it certainly would be unpleasant to have to find it over the board with the clock ticking" -- Evans.} 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Rhe1 Bd7 15. Qf2 O-O-O {Black is healthy as long as he can castle but 15...d5 is even more accurate.} 16. Nf5
Bc6 17. Qa7 {The only way to increase the pressure. If 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qxh4 Bxg2 holds the pawn.} 17... Rhe8 18. Nd4 {White can't regain the pawn. If 18. Nxh6 Bf8; or 18. Nxh4 Nh5 19. Qf2 Nxf4! (20. Qxf4? Bg5 pins the queen).} 18... Nd7 {Curiously, the fact that Black has a number of plausible moves complicates his defensive task!} 19. f5 Ne5 20. fxe6 Bg5+ 21. Kb1 fxe6
22. a3 Bd7 {Snatching a second pawn by 22...Bxg2 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24. Bf5 Qf7 is okay but too complicated in time pressure. Black's aim is to consolidate as fast as possible.} 23. Be4 Qb8 24. Qb6 d5 25. Bd3 {Now White gets pushed off the board. He must mix it up by 25. Bxd5! exd5 26. Nxd5.} 25... Bf4 26.
Re2 {Necessary was 26. h3 to save the pawn but the rest of the game was played "blitz" by both sides in acute time pressure.} 26... Bxh2 27. Rf1 Qc7
28. Qa7 Nc6 29. Nxc6 Qxc6 30. Rf7 Bb8 {Now Black's King is safe and the rest is technique.} 31. Qd4 Bg3 32. Qg7 e5 33. Rf6 Re6 34. Rxe6 Qxe6 35. Bh7 Kb8
36. Rd2 Bc6 37. Ne2 Bf2 38. Nc3 Bd4 39. Ne2 Be3 40. Rd3 d4 41. Rb3 e4 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Palma, Mallorca"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Larsen, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B89"]

{This game is memorable because it was Fischer's only loss in this qualifying event before an incredible winning streak that brought him the world championship in 1972. A year later Fischer wiped out the Great Dane 6-0 in their candidates' match.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 {The Sozin Variation, a Fischer favorite that Short revivied with some success in his 1993 title match vs. Kasparov} 6... e6 7.
Bb3 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Qe2 a6 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. g4 Nd7 12. h4 {The correct continuation is 12. g5! according to Velimirovic, the originator of this attacking scheme.} 12... Nc5 13. g5 b5 14. f3 Bd7 {14...b4 is well met by 15. Na4.} 15. Qg2 b4 16. Nce2 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 {Black also stands well on 17. Nxb3 a5 18. Kb1 a4 19. Nbc1 Ne5.} 17... a5 18. g6 fxg6 19. h5 Nxd4 20. Nxd4
g5 21. Bxg5 Bxg5+ 22. Qxg5 h6 23. Qg4 Rf7 {Larsen's cool defense now precludes 24. Nxe6? Qc8 25. Rxd6 Re7.} 24. Rhg1 a4 25. bxa4 e5 26. Ne6 { Useless is 26. Nf5 Bxf5 27. exf5 Rxa4 28. Kd2 d5.} 26... Qc4 27. b3 Qxe6 28.
Qxe6 Bxe6 29. Rxd6 Re8 {White has only two pawns for the piece, but Black still faces technical problems.} 30. Rb6 Rxf3 31. Rxb4 Rc8 32. Kb2 Rf2 33.
Rc1 Bf7 {Winning an important pawn, after which the path will be cleared for the advance of his own h-pawn.} 34. a5 Ra8 35. Rb5 Bxh5 36. Rxe5 Be2 37. Rc5
h5 38. e5 Bf3 39. Kc3 h4 40. Kd3 Re2 41. Rf1 Rd8+ 42. Kc3 Be4 43. Kb4 Rb8+
44. Ka3 h3 45. e6 Bxc2 {45...h2 is also sufficient. Here it was adjourned.}
46. b4 Re3+ 47. Kb2 Bd3 48. Ra1 Ba6 49. Rc6 Rxb4+ 50. Kc2 Bb7 51. Rc3 Re2+
52. Kd1 Rg2 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "USA National Open"]
[Site "Sparks, Nevada"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Browne, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]

{This game features a check on the third move, resulting in early exchanges which contain a drop of poison. Enroute to the title, Evans disposed of his main rival with pellucid simplicity.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ {Not popular because it poses too few problems.} 3... Bd7 {The simplest. Complex alternatives are 3...Nc6 or Nd7.} 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7.
Nxd4 g6 {The cause of Black's future problems because it gives White an iron grip on d5. More forcing is 7...Nf6 to prevent White from setting up a favorable form of the Maroczy Bind on the next move. If 8. Re1 e6 9. c4 Be7 offers chances for equality.} 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bg7 11. b3 O-O
12. Bb2 Qe6 {Misplacing the Queen. Better is 12...Rfc8 before exposing this major piece to danger.} 13. Nd5 Rfc8 14. f4 Ne8 15. Qf2 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Nc7
17. f5 Qd7 18. Ne3 {Avoiding exchanges which would merely relieve Black's cramp. Now the threat is 19. Ng4 f6 20. Qxf6!} 18... f6 19. Rad1 Qc6 20. Nd5
Nxd5 21. exd5 Qd7 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Rde1 {Piling up on the backward pawn on an open file. Black is now strategically lost.} 23... Kf7 24. Re6 {Occupying the "hole" and exerting more pressure on f6.} 24... Rf8 25. g4 Kg7 {Also inadequate is 25...g5 26. Rfxf6!+ gxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Qxg5+ Qg7 29. Rg6.}
26. g5 Qd8 27. Rfe1 Qb6+ {Desperation. If 27...Rf7 28. Rxe7! does the trick. } 28. Kg2 Rae8 29. gxf6+ Kh7 30. Rxe7+ Rxe7 31. fxe7 Re8 32. Qf6 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "USSR Vs. World"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geller, E."]
[Black "Gligoric, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]

{"When you play the Ruy Lopez, it's like milking a cow," said Bronstein, referring to the gradual squeeze on Black. Gligoric reaches a tenable position but carelessly lets the Russian execute a surprising combination.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 O-O 9. h3 h6 {Black wants to hold his strongpoint on e5 and prevents Ng5, an idea popularized by Smyslov.} 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 Bb7 13. Ng3
Na5 14. Bc2 Nc4 15. b3 Nb6 16. Bb2 Nbd7 {In their third game Gligoric varied with 16...c5 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. c4 Nbd7 19. Qe2 b4 20. Rad1 Qa5 21. Bb1 Re8 22. Nf5 Rae8 23. Ne3 Nb8 24. Nd5 Nc6 25. Rd2 and they agreed to a draw, though White is slightly better.} 17. Qd2 c5 18. Rad1 Qa5 19. dxc5 dxc5 20.
c4 b4 {20...Qxa2? 21. Ra1 Qxb2 22. Reb1 costs the Queen.} 21. a4 Qc7 { Starting to go wrong. 21...Rad8 first is better.} 22. Nf5 Nb8 {Bad timing. The best defense is 22...Rad8 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. Qxd6 Qa5. Black underestimates White's next move.} 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. f4 Qe6
26. e5 Ne8 27. Nh4 Nc6 28. Qd3 g6 29. f5 gxf5 30. Nxf5 Qg6 31. Qe2 {Good enough but even more crushing is 31. Qd7.} 31... Qg5 {Losing the Queen but if 31...Qe6 32. Qe4 still wins.} 32. h4 Qf4 33. g3 Qxe5 34. Qg4+ Qg7 35.
Nxg7 Nf6 36. Qf4 Bxg7 37. Qc7 Rb8 38. Rd6 Ng4 39. Rxc6 Bd4+ 40. Kf1 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "USSR Championship Semi-Finals"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anatoly Karpov"]
[Black "Alexander Zaitsev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{One of the wildest games you would ever expect to see from the normally conservative Karpov, who marches his King into the center and finally wanders to the queenside for safety. "It can't be classified as correct, but what is a correct game? One that is ideally played by both sides; considering that neither is a machine, perhaps there will be a slight inaccuracy". -- Karpov.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3
Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5 Bf5 {The bishop will be harassed on this square. Another plan is 7...Be6 followed by g6 and Bg7.} 8. c3 e6 9. g4 Bg6 10. h4 { "Inspired by the games of Tal, the pawns want to underscore the insecure position of the bishop on g6. The point is that h6 is not playable because of Nxg6, and it is simply not possible to switch to another diagonal by 10...Be4 11. f3 Bd5 12. c4" -- Karpov.} 10... Bd6 11. Qe2 {Inadequate is 11. h5 Be4 12. f3 Bxe5!} 11... c5 12. h5 {An oversight. 12. Bg2 gives White a small advantage.} 12... Be4 13. f3 cxd4 14. Qb5+ Nd7 {"I forgot about 15. Nxd7 Bc6! And on 15. Qxd7 Qxd7 16. Nxd7 Bxf3 would be very unpleasant. When I saw all this, I decided to plunge into the jungle of tactical complications" -- Karpov.} 15. Nxf7 Bg3+ 16. Ke2 {Steinitz once quipped, "My King likes to go for a stroll in the opening".} 16... d3+ 17. Ke3 Qf6 {Also good is 17...Kxf7 18. Kxe4 Nf6.} 18. Kxe4 Qxf7 19. Rh3 a6 20. Qg5 h6 { Stronger is 20...e5! 21. Rxg3 Nc5 22. Ke3 O-O 23. Rh3 Rad8 threatening ...Ne4.} 21. Qe3 e5 {"It may be hard to believe, but White already has the advantage. Zaitsev should take the forced draw: 21...Nf6 22. Kxd3 Nxg4 23. fxg4 Qxf1 24. Kc2 Qxh3 25. Qxe6 Kd8 26. Qd5 Kc8 27. Qf5 Kb8 28. Bf4 and Black cannot avoid perpetual check. But how can one resist playing for mate in such a position?!" -- Karpov.} 22. Kxd3 Bf4 23. Qg1 O-O-O 24. Kc2 Bxc1
25. Rxc1 {Returning the pawn, but completing mobilization of all the pieces. } 25... Qxa2 26. Rh2 Rhf8 27. Rd2 Qa4+ 28. Kb1 {Voila! Safe at last. Now, a mistake would be 28...Rxf3 29. Rcd1 controlling the d-file.} 28... Qc6 29.
Bd3 Kc7 {Any capture on f3 is futile in view of the pin by 30. Bf5.} 30. Be4
Qb6 31. Qh2 Rde8 32. Rcd1 {Complete domination! A classic example of the superiority of a bishop over a knight.} 32... Nf6 33. Bg6 Re7 34. Re1 Qb5
35. Rde2 Nd7 36. Bf5 Rxf5 {Black gives up the Exchange rather than the weak pawn on e5.} 37. gxf5 Qd3+ 38. Ka1 Qxf5 39. Qh4 Nf6 40. Qc4+ Kd8 41. Qc5 Nd7
42. Qd5 Kc8 43. Re4 b5 {The only defense against Rc4. The rest is a matter of technique.} 44. Qa8+ Kc7 45. Qa7+ Kd8 46. Qxa6 Qxh5 47. f4 Qf5 48. Qa8+
Kc7 49. Qa5+ Kc6 50. c4 b4 51. Qxb4 Re6 52. fxe5 Kc7 53. Qa5+ Kb7 54. Qb5+
Rb6 55. Qd5+ Kc7 56. Kb1 Qf2 {Black's last futile threat is Qxb2 mate!} 57.
R4e2 Qf5+ 58. Qe4 Qxe4+ 59. Rxe4 Nc5 60. R4e3 Ne6 61. Kc2 g5 62. Kc3 h5 63.
b4 Ra6 64. c5 Ra3+ 65. Kc4 Rxe3 66. Rxe3 h4 67. b5 Kd8 68. b6 Kd7 69. Rd3+
Kc8 70. Rd6 h3 {Too little, too late.} 71. Rxe6 g4 72. Rh6 {Black Resigns}
1-0

[Event "USSR Vs. World"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Petrosian, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]

{An important historical contest. After an absence of almost two years from tournament chess, Fischer agreed to take second board behind Larsen in this ten board match and roared back with 3-1 over Petrosian in their set. This sweet taste of victory restored Fischer's confidence to renew his assault on the citadel.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4
7. Qb3 Na5 {7...Qc8! is more accurate. If 8. h3 Bh5.} 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qc2 e6
{Hems in the Bishop. Petrosian suggested 9...a6. Capablanca once played 9...Qb6 in this position.} 10. Nf3 Qb6 11. a4 {To saddle Black with a bad bishop by stopping ...Bb5. There is nothing to fear from 11...Nb3 12. Ra2.}
11... Rc8 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Qb1 Nh5 14. Be3 h6 15. Ne5 Nf6 16. h3 Bd6 17. O-O
Kf8 18. f4 Be8 19. Bf2 Qc7 20. Bh4 Ng8 21. f5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bxe5 23. fxe6
Bf6 24. exf7 Bxf7 25. Nf3 Bxh4 26. Nxh4 Nf6 27. Ng6+ Bxg6 28. Bxg6 Ke7 29.
Qf5 Kd8 30. Rae1 Qc5+ 31. Kh1 Rf8 32. Qe5 Rc7 33. b4 Qc6 34. c4 dxc4 35. Bf5
Rff7 36. Rd1+ Rfd7 37. Bxd7 Rxd7 38. Qb8+ Ke7 39. Rde1+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Mallorca Interzonal"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vassily Smyslov"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A36"]

{The better player will win with either color, but it takes longer with Black. Fischer said the turning point in his career came with the realization that Black should play to win instead of just steering for equality, and this solid triumph with Black over a former world champion proves his point. His victory ahead of the powerful Soviet contingent in a field of 24 launched his remarkable run to the title in 1972. In order to pave the way for Fischer to compete in Mallorca, however, every American who played in the previous zonal qualifying round had to sign a waiver and step down!} 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. b3 e6 6. Bb2 Nge7 7. Na4 { Smyslov tries to improve on his draw with Fischer earlier in the year at Buenos Aires which continued 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Na4? e5! (inviting 9. Nxc5? e4! 10. Bxg7 exf3). Fischer wrested the initiative and at first refused Smyslov's offer of a draw by saying, "I don't take draws in under 40 moves!" } 7... Bxb2 8. Nxb2 O-O 9. e3 d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Ne2 b6 12. d4 {White pays dearly for failing to castle here. The King looks safe enough for now, but Fischer finds ways to put it under acute pressure.} 12... Ba6 13. dxc5 Qf6
14. Nc4 Nc3 15. Nxc3 Qxc3+ 16. Kf1 Rfd8 17. Qc1 Bxc4+ 18. bxc4 Qd3+ 19. Kg1
Rac8 20. cxb6 axb6 21. Qb2 Na5 22. h4 {The result of Black's pawn sacrifice is activity for all of his major pieces. Necessary is 20. Bf1! Nxc4 23. Qf6 Qd5 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 and only now 25. h4 with good drawing chances for White. Soon the pressure becomes unbearable.} 22... Nxc4 23. Qf6 Qf5 24. Qxf5 gxf5
25. h5 Rd2 26. Rc1 Rc5 27. Rh4 Ne5 28. Rxc5 bxc5 29. Ra4 c4 {Black's advantage has been translated into an active passed pawn and a good Knight against a bad Bishop.} 30. h6 Kf8 31. Ra8+ Ke7 32. Rc8 Rxa2 33. Bf1 Rc2 34.
Kg2 Ng4 35. Kg1 Rxf2 36. Bxc4 Rf3 37. Kg2 Rxe3 38. Rh8 Nxh6 39. Rxh7 Ng4 40.
Bb5 Rb3 41. Bc6 Rb2+ 42. Kg1 Ne5 43. Ba8 Rb8 {Black's two extra pawns are decisive. In his heyday Smyslov was nearly invincible with White. This dynamic victory with Black over a former world champion showed that Fischer was on his way to the top. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "USSR Vs. World"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Larsen, B."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]

{The USSR won this match by a narrow margin. On the top board world champion Spassky demolished Bent Larsen in a delightful miniature. White's King is a sitting duck with four of his pieces out of action on the queenside.} 1. b3
e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nf3 {Provocative. More solid is 4. Nc3.} 4... e4
5. Nd4 Bc5 6. Nxc6 {Aids Black by opening lines for his quick development. Instead 6. e3 is indicated.} 6... dxc6 7. e3 {Too passive -- and creates a hole on d3. White should settle for 7. d4 exd3 8. Qxd3.} 7... Bf5 {Wisely reserving the option of queenside castling.} 8. Be2 Qe7 9. Qc2 O-O-O 10. f4
{Creates a fresh weakness which is immediately exploited. Better is 10. Nc3. } 10... Ng4 11. g3 {Virtually forced since 11. O-O? Rxd2! 12. Nxd2 Nxe3 wins. Or 11. Nc3 Rxd2! 12. Qxd2 Bxe3 13. Qc2 Bf2+ bags the Queen. No better is the pawn snatch 11. Bxg7 Rhg8 12. Bb2 Qh4+! 13. g3 Nxe3! 14. dxe3 Rxg3!}
11... h5 12. h3 h4 13. hxg4 {Of no avail either is 13. Bxg4 Bxg4 14. hxg4 hxg3 15. Rg1 Rh1! 16. Kf1 Qh4.} 13... hxg3 14. Rg1 Rh1 {Another gift that can't be refused because White gets mated after 15. Kf1 Rxg1+ 16. Kxg1 Qh4.}
15. Rxh1 g2 16. Rf1 {Equally bad is 16. Rg1 Qh4+ 17. Kd1 Qh1} 16... Qh4+ 17.
Kd1 gxf1=Q+ {White Resigns. If 18. Bxf1 Bxg4+ 19. Kc1 Qe1 mates.} 0-1

[Event "Skopje"]
[Site "Yugoslavia"]
[Round "?"]
[Date "1970"]
[White "Evgeny Vasiukov"]
[Black "Alexander Matanovich"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Players frequently complain that you can only get away with brilliant games against relatively weak opposition. Maybe. But the victim here was no slouch. GM Matanovich was the former editor-in-chief of the prestigious Chess Informant and he boasts a solid record of achievements in chess. This unknown masterpiece has never been included in the standard works about spectacular attacking games. One critic noted that "it ushered in 70s-style attacking chess without attracting much attention at the time". White's spectactular 30th move alone is worth the price of admission!}

1.e4 e5 
2.Nf3 Nc6 
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.O-O Be7 
6.Re1 b5
7.Bb3 d6 
8.c3 O-O
9.d4 {Considered inferior to 9. h3 because of Black's reply exerting pressure on d4.}
9...Bg4 
10.d5 {Closing the center is relatively tame but alternatives are no better. If 10. Bd5 Qd7; or 10.Be3 exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 equalizes.}
10...Na5 
11.h3 {A novelty at the time. An effective response is 11...Nxb3 12. axb3 Bd7.} 
11...Bh5 
12.Bc2 c6 
13.dxc6 Qc7 {There's no rush to recapture. White keeps the edge after 13...Nxc6 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nh4.}
14.Nbd2 Qxc6
15.Nf1 Rfe8
16.Ng3 Bg6 
17.Nh4 Bf8 {This retreat is unnecessary. Black should regroup by bringing his Knight into play with 17...Nc4.}
18.a4! {Opening a second front on the queenside is highly effective.}
18... Nd7 
19.Nhf5 Nb6 
20.axb5 axb5 
21.h4 f6 {Weakens the kingside. Better is 21...Nb7.}
22.h5 Bf7
23.Qg4 Kh8 
24.Nh4 Nb3
25.Bxb3 Bxb3
26.Ng6+ Kg8 {Resisting the temptation of 26...hxg6? 27. hxg6 with mayhem looming on the open h-file.}
27.Nf5 Qc7 {Guarding the second rank. Of course not 27...Rxa1? 28. Nh6+! gxh6 29. Nxe5+ followed by Nxc6.}
28.Be3 Rxa1 
29.Rxa1 Na4 
30.c4!! Bxc4 {Matanovich remarked drily that on 30...bxc4 31 g3 Black is powerless against the threat of Kg2, Rh1 and h6! Even so, that remains to be seen.}
31.Rc1 Nxb2 {Tempting but wrong. The best defense against the threat of b3 is 31...Nc5.}
32.Bb6! Qb7 {The main point is that 32...Qxb6 is refuted by 33. Nxf8 Qc7 34. Nd7! Qxd7 35. Nh6+ snaring the Queen.}
33.Rxc4! {The reason for this sacrifice soon will be apparent. White appears to be after the King but his real goal is the queen!}
33...Nxc4 
34.Nh6+! gxh6 
35.Ne7+ Kf7
36.Qg8+ Kxe7
37.Qxh7+ Ke6 {The absence of the bishop on c4 rules out an interposition on f7.}
38.Qxb7 Nxb6 
39.Qxb6 f5
40.Qxb5 Rd8 
41.Qd5+ Kf6 
42.exf5 Kxf5 
43.Qf7+ Ke4 
44.Qc7 {Black resigns. The house of cards collapses. Any rook move loses the rook, and if 44...Be7 45. Qxe7.} 1-0

[Event "USA Open Championship"]
[Site "Ventura, California"]
[Date "1971"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Browne, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E56"]

{A positional gem by Evans enroute to his fourth Open title. This key victory enabled him to tie for first with Browne, who made a few subtle errors and slowly got outplayed.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5.
Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nc6 9. a3 Ba5 {If now 10. dxc5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qa5 regains the pawn.} 10. Qd3 {If now 10. dxc5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 (of 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. bxc3 Ne4) Qa5 regains the pawn.} 10... cxd4 11. exd4 Bb6 12.
Rd1 h6 13. h3 {A handy waiting move before deciding on a plan.} 13... Qe7
14. Be3 Rd8 15. Qe2 {Rejecting 15. Rac1 e5!} 15... Nd5 16. Rac1 Nxe3 17.
fxe3 Bd7 {Black has "won" the two Bishops but meanwhile White fortified his center.} 18. Kh1 Be8 19. Ba2 Rac8 20. d5 Nb8 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23.
Qc4 Bd7 {A bit better is 23...Rd6. Now Black gets tied up.} 24. Ne5 Bc8 { Even more irksome is 24...Bxe3 25. Rd1! Bc8 26. Ng6! Qe8 27. Rxd8 Qxd8 28. Qxc8! Qxc8 29. Ne7+ and Nxc8.} 25. Qe4 {Suddenly Black faces threats to his King after Bb1.} 25... Nc6 26. Ng6 Qf6 27. Nf4 Qe5 {Giving up a pawn. Unpalatable is 27...Kf7 28. Rf1.} 28. Nxe6 Bxe6 29. Bxe6+ Kh8 30. Qxe5 Nxe5
31. Nd5 Nd3 32. Rc2 Bc5 {Black's last hope to reach parity is to retain the opposite colored Bishops.} 33. Rc3 Nf2+ 34. Kg1 Ne4 35. Rc4 Ng5 36. Rxc5
Nxe6 37. Rb5 b6 38. Nb4 Nc7 39. Rf5 Rd1+ 40. Rf1 Rd2 41. Rf2 Rd1+ 42. Kh2
Re1 43. Rf7 Nb5 44. Nd5 Re2 45. b3 Rd2 46. Rd7 Nxa3 {Black can put up a better fight with 46...Rb2 47. a4 Na3 48. b4 a5 49. bxa5 bxa5 but 50. Rc7 and Rc5 wins anyway.} 47. Rd8+ Kh7 48. Nf6+ gxf6 49. Rxd2 Nb5 50. Rd5 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Match"]
[Site "Vancouver"]
[Round "3"]
[Date "1971"]
[White "Mark Taimanov"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer"]
[Result "0-1"]

{Fischer's 6-0 victory in this historic match catapulted him on the road to the World Championship. In the next match, he also eviscerated Bent Larsen by 6-0 in the semifinals, and then trounced Petrosian in Buenos Aires to qualify for his title match with Spassky at Reykjavik in 1972. "Our third game holds a special place in my chess biography. It caused me acute suffering at the time and tormented me for many years," noted Taimanov in his book entitled "I Was Fischer's Victim!"}

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6
5.Nf3 0-0
6.Be2 e5 
7.0-0 Nc6
8.d5 Ne7
9.Bd2 {Varying from 9.Ne1 (Taimanov-Evans, USA-USSR match 1954). The idea behind the text is to get in c5 as fast as possible. By keeping his Knight on f3 White hopes to exploit the hole created at e6 with Ng5 after Black launches the essential counter ...f5.}
9...Ne8 {Differing circumstances decide whether the Knight should go to e8 or d7. The text allows the bishop on c8 to observe the e6 square.} 
10.Rc1 {In Korchnoi-Geller, 3rd match game in Moscow -- taking place at the same time as this game -- White tried 10. b4 to enforce c5 more quickly.} 
10...f5 
11.Qb3 b6 
12.exf5 gxf5 
13.Ng5 Nf6 
14.f4 h6
15.fxe5 dxe5
16.c5 {Double-edged, but the sequel shows it was played intuitively with no idea of a concrete follow-up. The simple retreat 16. Nf3 is a good alternative.}
16...Nfxd5 
17.Nxd5 Nxd5 
18.cxb6 axb6 
19.Rc6 {Threatening Bc4.}
19...Kh8 {"All my understanding of chess, all my experience and feeling for the game convinced me that the position should be won, and yet no concrete way to victory could be found. Having become disillusioned with 20. Qh3 I began examining other ideas -- such as 20. Rd1 -- but also in vain. And here, I have to admit, I was seized by the feeling of helplessnes, of despair: 'Is this Fischer invulnerable, is he somehow bewitched?' I again returned to 20. Qh3, again worked through dozens of variations, and again without success. And meanwhile the clock was ticking, time trouble was approaching. According to the arbiters' reckoning, I pondered over the position for 72 minutes! Perhaps in all the fifty years of my career I have never spent so much time on one move! And I simply collapsed psychologically. My energy dried up, apathy set in, everything lost point, and I made the first move that popped into my head. It lost, of course". -- Taimanov}
20.Nf3 {This retreat effectively concedes the game. But computer analysis reveals no forced win after 20. Qh3 Nf6, despite both players' claim that Taimanov missed a win by 20. Qh3.} 
20...Bb7
21.Rg6 Nf4 
22.Bxf4 exf4 {"At the cost of worsening of his pawn structure in the center, Fischer opens up the position, after which his Bishops become irresistibly strong. This is another example of his favorite method of transforming one type of advantage into another". -- Taimanov}
23.Rd1 Qe7
24.Re6 Qc5+
25.Kf1 Rfd8 {"Fischer is in his element. After seizing the initiative, with impressible energy he develops his offensive over the entire board. Now 26...Bd5 is threatened". -- Taimanov}
26.Rxd8+ Rxd8
27.Qa4 Qc1+
28.Kf2 Bf8 
29.b4 Be4 {One good move after another by Fischer leaves White in an awful position.}
30.Re8 {After this mistake, White could resign.}
30...Bc6
31.Qxc6 Qxc6
32.Rxd8 Qf6 
33.Rc8 Qe7
34.Kf1 Kh7 {Breaking the pin and freeing the Bishop. White's rook and Knight are no match for the mighty Queen.}
35.Nd4 Bg7
36.Nb5 Be5
37.a3 Qd7
38.Ra8 f3
39.gxf3 Bxh2
40.Kg2 Qg7+
41.Kxh2 Qe5+ {White Resigned. 42...Qxe2 is coming next. "Here the game was adjourned and, of course, I resigned without resuming. I was able to play a match with an outstanding Grandmaster who was to occupy an honored place in history, and to experience enormous creative pleasure, since it was generally considered that, despite the sensationally catastrophic result, the games themselves were exceptionally interesting and hard-fought". -- Taimanov} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Match"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1971"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Tigran Petrosian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B44"]

{Riding the crest of a 19-game winning streak, Fischer faced the imperturbable ex-world champion. Petrosian was well prepared and refuted one of his opponents pet weapons against the Sicilian Defense. Departing from his usual cautious style, he seized he initiative with a sensational 11th move. But he went astray, swapped pieces and drifted into an inferior ending where his great defensive genius was foiled by the clock. Short of time, Petrosian missed good drawing chances.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nc6 {Petrosian varied with 4...a6 in their seventh match game.} 5. Nb5
d6 6. Bf4 {A dubious, time-consuming maneuver. More solid is 6. c4 with a Maroczy Bind.} 6... e5 7. Be3 Nf6 8. Bg5 Be6 {Improving on 8...Qa5 9. Qd2! Nxe4 10. Qxa5 Nxa5 11. Be3 Kd7 12. N1c3! Nxc3 13. Nxc3 as in Fischer-Taimanov, 2nd match game 1971.} 9. N1c3 a6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Na3 d5
{Prepared analysis, improving on 11...Nd4 12. Nc4 f5 13. exf5 Nxf5 14. Bd3 as in Fischer-Taimanov, 6th match game 1971.} 12. exd5 Bxa3 13. bxa3 Qa5 14.
Qd2 O-O-O 15. Bc4 Rhg8 16. Rd1 Bf5 {Also strong is 16...Rxg2 17. Ne4 Qb6!}
17. Bd3 Bxd3 {Missing the thematic 17...e4! 18. Be2 Rxg2 19. Qe3 Ne5 with active winning chances.} 18. Qxd3 Nd4 19. O-O Kb8 20. Kh1 Qxa3 {Leads to trouble. More viable is 20...f5 21. f4 f6 with even chances.} 21. f4 Rc8 22.
Ne4 Qxd3 {White also keeps the advantage on 22...Qxa2 23. Rf2!} 23. cxd3 Rc2
24. Rd2 Rxd2 25. Nxd2 f5 26. fxe5 Re8 {The pawn can't be defended by 27. Nc4 because of ...b5.} 27. Re1 Nc2 28. Re2 Nd4 29. Re3 Nc2 {Black is content to draw by repetition.} 30. Rh3 {White, however, is not.} 30... Rxe5 31. Nf3
Rxd5 32. Rxh7 Rxd3 33. h4 {Petrosian must find a way to stop this dangerous passed pawn.} 33... Ne3 {The most precise defense is 33...Nd4.} 34. Rxf7
Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Ra1 36. h5 f4 {A better try is 35...Rxa2 but 36. Kh3 would still win.} 37. Rxf4 Rxa2 38. Re4 Nxg2 39. Kg3 Ra5 40. Ne5 {Cutting the rook off from stopping the pawn while the stranded Knight on g2 will fall. A dramatic and exciting game in a match that proved to be the last obstacle to Fischer's ascent to the crown against Spassky in 1972. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates' Match"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1971"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Petrosian, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]

{During his remarkable run for the title Fischer wiped out both Taimanov and Larsen 6-0. In the last match former world champion Petrosian managed to halt the winning streak before succumbing by 6 1/2 - 2 1/2. Fischer won their last four games, starting with this positional masterpiece reminiscent of Capablanca.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6
bxc6 {Nowadays 6...dxc6 is considered safer.} 7. O-O d5 8. c4 {More forceful than 8. Nd2 Nf6 9. Qe2 Be7 leading to equal chances, as in Spassky-Petrosian, 9th match game 1969.} 8... Nf6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5 exd5
{White wrested the advantage after 10...Nxd5 11. Be4! Be7 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Qa4+ Qd7 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. Rd1 in Averbach-Taimanov, 27th USSR Championship 1960.} 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 {Probably expecting 13. Bb5 axb5 14. Qxa8 O-O with an unclear position. The best defense is 12...Bd7 13. Qd4 Be6.} 13.
Re1 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Be6 15. Be3 O-O 16. Bc5 {Creates a bind by exploiting the weak dark squares.} 16... Rfe8 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. b4 Kf8 19. Nc5 Bc8 20. f3
Rea7 {Better is 20...Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Nd7 to dislodge White's Knight from its dominating post on c5.} 21. Re5 Bd7 22. Nxd7+ {Giving up a good Knight for a bad Bishop. If 22. a4 Bc6 offers tough resistance.} 22... Rxd7 23. Rc1 Rd6
24. Rc7 Nd7 25. Re1 g6 26. Kf2 h5 27. f4 h4 {Creating a new weakness. Less is conceded by 27...Nb6 28. Ree7 Rf6.} 28. Kf3 f5 29. Ke3 d4+ 30. Kd2 Nb6
31. Ree7 Nd5 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rb7 Nxb4 34. Bc4 {Black Resigns. 34. Rh7 was also crushing right away.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Match"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1971"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bobby Fischer"]
[Black "Tigran Petrosian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]

{Petrosian was a hard man to beat and held Fischer even in the first five games before losing four in a row. This match proved to be the last obstacle in Fischer's path to the summit. This clean victory, where he simplifies to an ending with only a good bishop against a passive knight, reminiscent of Capablanca at his best, is generally considered Fischer's finest effort in this match.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {A system introduced last century by German master Louis Paulsen. The idea is to fianchetto the bishop after b5 with latent pressure on the center.} 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6
{Many opening manuals recommend 6...dxc6 as safer.} 7. O-O d5 8. c4 { Improving on 8. Nd2 Nf6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 a5 as in Spassky-Petrosian, 1st match game 1969.} 8... Nf6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. exd5 exd5
{Accepting an isolated pawn. 11...Nxd5 11. Bd4! is also in White's favor, as is 10...Qxd5 11. Nc3.} 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 {Rejecting 12...Bd7 13. Qc2! O-O 14. Bg5.} 13. Re1 {Veering for an endgame instead of going for material by 13. Bb5!? axb5 14. Qxa8 O-O with unclear complications.} 13... Qxa4 14.
Nxa4 Be6 15. Be3 O-O 16. Bc5 Rfe8 {White's control of c5 gives him a permanent bind.} 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. b4 {Fixes the weakness on a6. Now 18...a5 can be met by 19. b5 with a dangerous passed pawn.} 18... Kf8 19. Nc5 Bc8
20. f3 Rea7 21. Re5 Bd7 22. Nxd7+ {Sweet simplicity -- one of Fischer's trademarks. If instead 22. a4 Bc6 Black can organize a line of defense with Nd7 in reserve.} 22... Rxd7 23. Rc1 Rd6 24. Rc7 Nd7 25. Re2 g6 {Black is hogtied. 25...Nf6 would allow the invasion 26. R2e7.} 26. Kf2 h5 27. f4 h4 { Creating a new weakness. 27...Nb6 28. R2e7 Rf6 is harder to beat.} 28. Kf3
f5 29. Ke3 d4+ {Black cannot allow the King to get to d4.} 30. Kd2 Nb6 31.
Ree7 Nd5 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rb7 Nxb4 34. Bc4 {And Black resigns. Petrosian has no defense to the threat of Rh7. I f 34...Rc8 35. Rh7 Rf6 36. Rh8 Rf8 37. Bf7 Kd8 38. Rxf8 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Church's Fried Chicken"]
[Site "San Antonio"]
[Date "1972"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Byrne, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]

{This game was awarded the brilliancy prize in one of the greatest international tournaments ever held in the United States. Despite making a second queen, Black was unable to stave off mate.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 {This modest continuation leads to a quieter game than 5. Bf4.} 5... O-O 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bc4 Nb6 {Also feasible is 7...Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. O-O Qc7.} 8. Bb3 c5 9. O-O {After 9. dxc5 N6d7 Black regains the pawn with easy equality. "It is not in character with White's opening strategy to capture on c5" -- Keres.} 9... cxd4 10. exd4 Nc6 11. d5 Na5 12. Bg5 { Indirectly protecting the pawn on d5 by exerting pressure on e7. Now on 12...Nxb3 13. Qxb3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd5? (or 14...Qxd5 15. Bxe7) 15. Rad1 snares a piece.} 12... h6 13. Be3 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nbc4 16. Bc1 Nxb3
17. axb3 Nd6 18. Re1 Re8 19. Be3 b6 {"Not the best way to protect the a-pawn. Firstly, it will remain attacked by White's rook and secondly the c6 square is weakened. A better move was 19...a5" -- Keres.} 20. Bf4 Qd7 21.
Ra4 {Keres recommends 21. g4 or Be5 at once.} 21... Rac8 22. g4 a5 23. Be5
Rc5 24. Rf4 Bxe5 {"White dominates the kingside and the center, therefore Black must seek counterplay on the queenside. The exchange on e5 makes White's task easier. Better seems to be 24...b5 at once for 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Ne4 Nxe4 27. Rxf7+ Kg8 28. Rxe4 Qxd5 is not immediately decisive" -- Keres.} 25. Rxe5 b5 26. Qe3 Qc7 27. Rf3 b4 28. Ne2 a4 {Hoping for 29. bxa4? Nc4 but now White launches a decisive offensive. If 28...Kh7 29. Qf4 keeps Black at bay.} 29. Qxh6 a3 30. bxa3 bxa3 31. Rg5 a2 {There's no good defense against the threat of Rxf7. If 31...Rc1+ (or 31...e6 32. Rf6! Re7 33. Rgxg6+) 32. Kg2 Qc2 33. Nxc1 is decisive.} 32. Rxf7 a1=Q+ 33. Kg2 {Black Resigns. Capturing the rook leads to mate. So does 33...Qf6 34. Rxg6+ Kxf7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36.Rg8.} 1-0

[Event "Church's Fried Chicken"]
[Site "San Antonio"]
[Date "1972"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Evans, L."]
[Black "Keres, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E42"]

{An example of slow positional strangulation. Paul Keres, who was widely regarded as the best player who never became world champion, tries a dubious idea in the opening and never recovers from the cramp.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 d6 {A dubious idea that preserves the two Bishops at the cost of a permanent cramp. More stable is 5...cxd4 6. exd4 d5.} 6. a3
Ba5 7. Rb1 Nc6 8. b4 Bc7 {White keeps the edge after 8...Bb6 9. Na4. Or 8...cxb4 9. axb4 Bxb4 10. Rxb4 Nxb4 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. d5 winning two pieces advantageously for Rook. Now White spurns 9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Qxd8+ Bxd8 11. bxc5 Be7 12. Nb5 O-O 13. Nd6 Bxd6 14. cxd6 Rd8 regaining the pawn.} 9. g3 a5
{A grave strategic error creating a hole on b5. Better is 8...O-O 10. Bg2 cxd4 11. exd4 e5 holding White to a minimal space advantage.} 10. bxc5 dxc5
11. Bg2 cxd4 12. exd4 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 14. Qa4 Ra6 15. Re1 {Discouraging the freeing maneuver 15...e5 16. d5 Nd4 17. Nxd4 with a fatal pin alone the e-file. Now Black can't find a happy square for his Queen.} 15... Rd8 16.
Nb5 Bb8 17. Bb2 Na7 18. Nbc3 {"Cramped positions bear the germs of defeat" -- Dr. Tarrasch. Ergo White avoids exchanges.} 18... Qc7 19. Bc1 Qe7 20. h3
Nc6 {He could try to ease the pressure with 20...b6 but this pawn remains weak no matter what.} 21. Be3 Ne8 22. d5 Ne5 23. c5 Qd7 {Keres pondered 32 minutes and decided his position was lost. Necessary but unpleasant is 23...exd5 24. Nxd5 Qf6.} 24. Qxd7 Bxd7 {More resistant is 24...Rxd7 25. c6 Re7.} 25. Rxb7 exd5 26. Nxd5 Be6 27. Reb1 Rxd5 28. Rxb8 Kf8 29. Bxd5 Bxd5
30. Nd4 Ke7 31. R1b6 Ra7 32. Bf4 Nf3+ {If 32...Nd7 33. Nf5+ Kf8 34. Bd6+ leads to mate.} 33. Nxf3 Bxf3 34. c6 Nd6 35. c7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "World Championship"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Round "1"]
[Date "1972"]
[White "Boris Spassky"]
[Black "Bobby Fischer"]
[Result "1-0"]

{This loss at the outset of their famous title match brought Fischer's lifetime record against Spassky to 4 losses and 2 draws. After 29...Bxh2?!?! in a dead drawn position, a roar ran through the playing hall. "One move and we hit every front page in the world!" exclaimed a joyous Icelandic organizer. Years later a fan noted: "It was undoubtedly the most famous single move played in my lifetime. The popular press described it as a terrible gaffe, and I even remember a report that Spassky looked up from the board in disbelief. He trapped the bishop and eventually Fischer resigned, yet my computer finds nothing wrong with the pawn grab. Was it truly the losing move?"}

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 d5
4. Nc3 Bb4
5. e3 {White can't win a piece by 5. Qa4+ Nc6 and chooses a solid line.}
5...O-O
6. Bd3 c5 {This thrust makes it hard for White to seize the initiative. Fischer got into trouble against Reshevsky in their 7th match game 1961 with 6...Nc6 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. O-O.}
7. O-O Nc6
8. a3 Ba5 {More natural is 8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 b6 10. dxc5 bxc5.}
9. Ne2 { Too tame. A better try for advantage is 9. cxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc3 11. bxc3.}
9... dxc4
10. Bxc4 Bb6
11.dxc5 Qxd1
12. Rxd1 Bxc5
13. b4 Be7
14. Bb2 Bd7
15. Rac1 Rfd8 {White has a slight space advantage but no points of entry.}
16. N2d4 Nxd4
17. Nxd4 Ba4
18. Bb3 Bxb3
19. Nxb3 Rxd1+
20. Rxd1 Rc8 {Seizing the open file is better than 20...Rd8 21. Rc1.}
21. Kf1 Kf8
22. Ke2 Ne4
23. Rc1 {More simplification. They could agree to a draw right now.}
23... Rxc1
24. Bxc1 f6
25. Na5 Nd6
26. Kd3 Bd8
27. Nc4 Bc7
28. Nxd6 Bxd6
29. b5 Bxh2?!?! {?!?! - Not fatal in itself, though critics attributed Black's loss to this pawn snatch. Having demonstrated that the champion could not achieve anything with White, Fischer now seems to be saying, "You can't draw with me that easily". Reuben Fine noted: "Every beginner knows that this move is a blunder, so why did Bobby do it? Afterwards he told me he miscalculated, thinking that after 30. g3 h5 31. Ke2 h4 32. Kf3 h3 he could escape, but overlooking 33. Kg4 traps the Bishop. I think a psychological explanation is more in order. Bobby is out to show that he can make what everybody would consider an impossible move; caught up in this fantasy, he does not calculate properly".}
30. g3 h5
31. Ke2 h4
32. Kf3 Ke7 {Too late Fischer saw that his intended 32...h3 33. Kg4 Bg1 34. Kxh3 Bxf2 35. Bd2! seals off his bishop's escape route. But Black still has drawing resources.}
33. Kg2 hxg3
34. fxg3 Bxg3
35. Kxg3 Kd6
36. a4 Kd5 {Black has 2 pawns and an active King for the piece.}
37. Ba3 Ke4
38. Bc5 a6 {Every pawn that goes off the board increases Black's drawing chances. But not 38...b6? 39. Bxb6! axb6 40. a5 bxa5 41. b6 and the pawn queens.}
39.b6 f5
40. Kh4 f4? {? - The last move of the time control costs a precious half-point. The right plan is 40...Kd5! A key theme is to force White to play a5, then liquidate all kingside pawns and rush the King headlong towards a8 for stalemate. One possible variation: 41. Bd4 e5 42. Bc3 f4 43. exf4 exf4 44. Kg4 Kc5 45. a5 g5 46. Kxg5 Kd6 47. Kxf4 Kd7 48. Kf5 Kc8 49. Be5 Kd8 50. Ke6 Kc8 51. Bd6 Kd8 52. Bc7+ Kc8 53. Ke7 stalemate (but with the pawn still on a4 White wins because 53...a5 is forced.) Now it was adjourned and Spassky sealed his move.}
41. exf4 Kxf4 
42. Kh5 Kf5
43. Be3 Ke4
44. Bf2 Kf5
45. Bh4 e5 {"Excuse me, Boris," said Bobby, springing out of his chair to rush backstage and order the cameras turned off. This cost Fischer 33 minutes on his clock, but his position can no longer be saved.}
46. Bg5 e4
47. Be3 Kf6
48. Kg4 Ke5 {If White's pawn were on a5, then Black could draw by steering for a8.}
49. Kg5 Kd5
50. Kf5 a5
51. Bf2 g5
52. Kxg5 Kc4
53. Kf5 Kb4
54. Kxe4 Kxa4
55. Kd5 Kb5
56. Kd6 {Black gets in zugzwang again after 56...a4 57. Kc7 Ka6 58. Bc5 Kb5 59. Bf8 Ka6 60. Be7, etc. Fischer smiled and extended his hand to resign.}
1-0

[Event "World Championship Match"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1972"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A77"]

{Fischer now trailed by two points after losing the first game and forfeiting the second when he refused to show up unless the cameras were turned off. Spassky, reportedly defying orders to return to Russia, saved the match by agreeing to play in a private room away from cameras instead of on stage in front of a full house. "Just this once," he said. "Never again". Good sportsmanship cost Spassky the title, and he was punished for it when he got back home. For the first time ever he lost a game to Fischer and then went on to drop the match 12.5 - 8.5} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5
exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 {The idea is to swing this Knight to c4 and then bear down on the backward pawn on d6 with Bf4. A drawback is moving the same piece twice. More usual is 7. e4.} 7... Nbd7 8. e4 Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10.
O-O Re8 {Pressuring e4 limits White's freedom of action.} 11. Qc2 {A good alternative is 11. a4 to help restrain Black's strategic threat of a6 and b5. Another approach is Petrosian's 11. f3 which gives solid protection to the central pawn chain.} 11... Nh5 12. Bxh5 gxh5 13. Nc4 {A month later at the Skopje Olympiad, White sought an edge in Gligoric-Kavalek with 13. a4 Ne5 14. Nd1! Qh4 15. Ne3 Ng4 16. Nxg4 hxg4 17. Nc4 Qf6 18. Bd2.} 13... Ne5
14. Ne3 Qh4 15. Bd2 {The bishop is passive here. Better is 16. f3! to reinforce the e-pawn and prevent Black's next move.} 15... Ng4 16. Nxg4 hxg4
{Undoubling the pawns eliminates Black's major weakness.} 17. Bf4 Qf6 18. g3
{Creating a serious weakness on the light squares and weakening e4 since now f3 can be met by gxf3. Better is 18. Qd2 or 18. Bg3 h5 19. f3.} 18... Bd7
19. a4 b6 20. Rfe1 a6 21. Re2 b5 22. Rae1 {This is White's last chance to break in the center with 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. e5 dxe5 25. Rxe5.}
22... Qg6 23. b3 Re7 24. Qd3 Rb8 25. axb5 axb5 26. b4 {To stop the threat of b4 and Bb5. If 27. cxb4 Na2.} 26... c4 27. Qd2 Rbe8 28. Re3 h5 29. R3e2 Kh7
30. Re3 Kg8 31. R3e2 Bxc3 32. Qxc3 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxe4 Qxe4 35. Bh6
Qg6 36. Bc1 Qb1 37. Kf1 Bf5 38. Ke2 Qe4+ 39. Qe3 Qc2+ {White is pinning his hopes for a draw on opposite colored Bishops. Not 39...Qxd5? 40. Qg5+. Black must remember that his own King is insecure.} 40. Qd2 Qb3 41. Qd4 {The only chance to fight on is 41. Ke1.} 41... Bd3+ {"I sealed a crusher!" exulted Fischer when the game was adjourned. Upon resumption Spassky pondered his predicament for five minutes before tipping his King. If 42. Ke1 Qxb4+ picks up a second pawn. Or 42. Ke3 Qd1! 43. Qb2 Qf3+ 44. Kd4 Qe4+ 45. Kc3 Qe1! 46. Bd2 Qe5 mate.} 0-1

[Event "Church's Fried Chicken"]
[Site "San Antonio"]
[Date "1972"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Portisch, L."]
[Black "Larsen, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]

{This crucial last round victory catapulted Hungary's Lajos Portisch into a tie for first at 10.5 - 4.5 with future world champion Anatoly Karpov and past world champion Tigran Petrosian in their American debut. Larsen confesses that he didn't know what Portisch was planning when he gave up the Exchange.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 {Declining 2. e4 entering the French Defense.}
2... c5 3. d5 exd5 4. cxd5 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Bf4 Nf6 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9.
Qb3 Qc7 10. e4 O-O 11. Be2 Nh5 12. Be3 Na6 13. Nd2 f5 {More thematic is 13...Rab8 fighting for b5.} 14. exf5 gxf5 {Any other recapture is met by 15. g4.} 15. Bxh5 f4 16. O-O fxe3 17. fxe3 Nb4 18. Nce4 {"It was here I realized that White may very soon get strong threats against my king, and that he is also planning to send this Knight to e6. White's pawn plus is not very important, but his pieces can produce threats before Black can" -- Larsen.}
18... a5 19. Ng5 a4 20. Qc4 h6 21. Ne6 Bxe6 22. dxe6 d5 23. Bf7+ Kh8 24. Qh4
Qe5 {"A desperate attempt. After 24...Nc6 25. Nf3 Qe7 26. Qh5 threatening Nh4 is a killer" -- Larsen.} 25. Nf3 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1 Nd3 27. Rae1 Nxe1 28.
Rxe1 Qd3 {"Portisch paused to think a long time. I was hoping for 29. Ne5? Bxe5 30. Qxh6+ Qh7 31. Qxh7+ Kxh7 32. Rxe5 c4 33. Rxd5? Red8! But when his move finally came, it was one to which there was no answer" -- Larsen.} 29.
Qh5 a3 30. b3 Bc3 {"Sheer desperation. There is nothing to be done against e7. Now I planned to resign on 31. Bg6. But nothing is wrong with Portisch's solution" -- Larsen.} 31. e7 Kg7 32. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 33. Bxd5 Bxe1 34. Qe5+ Rf6
35. Qe7+ {Black Resigns. On 35...Kg6 36. Be4+ spells finis.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "6th Match Game, Reykjavik"]
[Date "1972"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D59"]

{Once the "sideshow" events had been put aside and he settled down to play chess, Fischer clearly demonstrated his superiority in his World Championship match with Boris Spassky. Many observers suggested that Fischer's limited opening repertoire would prove his undoing (he had rarely begun with any move but 1.e4), but in the 6th game he showed an equal mastery of Queenside play.} 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5
O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be6
12. Qa4 c5 13. Qa3 Rc8 14. Bb5 a6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Be2 Nd7 18.
Nd4 Qf8 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. e4 {With his play against the "hanging pawns" (c5 and d5) White has pushed the Black pieces into passive positions, and now he opens the center for direct attack.} 20... d4 21. f4 Qe7 22. e5 Rb8 23. Bc4
Kh8 24. Qh3 Nf8 25. b3 a5 26. f5 exf5 27. Rxf5 Nh7 28. Rcf1 Qd8 29. Qg3 Re7
30. h4 Rbb7 31. e6 Rbc7 32. Qe5 Qe8 33. a4 Qd8 34. R1f2 Qe8 35. R2f3 Qd8 36.
Bd3 Qe8 37. Qe4 Nf6 38. Rxf6 gxf6 39. Rxf6 Kg8 40. Bc4 Kh8 41. Qf4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1973"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Browne, W."]
[Black "Zuckerman, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D60"]

{Perhaps the most successful American player of the post-Fischer era, Walter Browne from 1974 to 1983 won or tied for first in the U.S. Championship no less than six times. Here he shows the advantages of the "isolated Queen's pawn" (open e-file, open diagonals for the Bishops, outpost square on e5), in a game described at the time as an "orgy of sacrifices".} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 c5 9. O-O
a6 10. a4 cxd4 11. exd4 Nb6 12. Bb3 Bd7 13. Ne5 Bc6 14. Bc2 Nbd5 15. Bb1 Nb4
16. Re1 g6 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Ra3 Qd6 19. Ne2 Rad8 20. Rh3 Qd5 21. Nf3 Qa5 22.
Nc3 Nbd5 {Black has been outplayed -- the result of all this maneuvering has been to transfer the White Rook from a1 to h3, where it participates in the attack.} 23. Ne5 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Bxa4 25. Qe2 Bd7 26. Bg5 Nd5 27. Nxf7 Bxg5 { The only move, as 27...Kxf7 loses to 28. Rxh7+ Kg8 29.Qe4.} 28. Rxh7 Nf6 { The Rook cannot be taken either -- 28...Kxh7 29.Qh5+ (the g6 pawn is pinned), and other moves are no better; one variation is 28... Ne7 29.Bxg6 Nxg6 30.Qh5 Nf4 31.Rh8+ Kg7 32. Qh7+ Kf6 33. Ne5 Re7 34.Ng4++.} 29. Bxg6
Nxh7 {Or 29...Bb5 30.Qe5 Rd5 31.Qxf6 Bxf6 32.Nh6+ Kf8 33.Rf7++.} 30. Qh5
Qxc3 31. Qxh7+ Kf8 32. Rf1 Qxd4 33. Ne5 Qf4 34. Nxd7+ Rxd7 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36.
Qxe8+ Kf6 37. Qxd7 Kxg6 38. Qxe6+ Bf6 39. Qe8+ Kh6 40. g3 Qb4 41. Re1 a5 42.
Re6 Qb2 43. Qf7 Kg5 44. h4+ Kg4 45. Qg6+ Kh3 46. Qf5# 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "El Paso, Texas"]
[Date "1973"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Grefe, J."]
[Black "Browne, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]

{A big upset occurred in American chess when John Grefe, a young Californian master, tied for first with Kavalek in America's most prestigious event. Grefe faded and never seemed able to repeat this success, but here is his outstanding victory against the pet Sicilian Defense of 6-time USA champion Walter Browne.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {This move order allows White the opportunity to set up a Maroczy Bind with 5. c4.} 5. Nc3
Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 {A useful interpolation, though it weakens g6. The sharp 7...Qb6!? is also feasible.} 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11.
Be2 Rb8 {White gets 3 pieces for the Queen and a strong initiative on 11...b5 12. e5! Bb7 13. exf6! Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Bxf6 15. Bxf6 Rc8 16. Bxg7.} 12.
Qg3 Rg8 {Though Black's pieces are poorly coordinated and he has lost the right to castle, it's hard for White to make progress.} 13. Rhf1 g5 14. fxg5
Ne5 15. Nf3 b5 {Necessary is 15...hxg5.} 16. Nxe5 b4 {Black relied on this thrust, rejecting 16...dxe5 17. gxf6! Rxg3 18. fxe7 Rg5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 20. Bh5!} 17. Nxf7 bxc3 18. gxf6 Rxg3 19. fxe7 Rg5 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. Nxd6+ { Black Resigns. If 21...cxb2+ 22. Kb1 Kxe7 23. Rf7+ wins the house.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Petropolis"]
[Date "1973"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bronstein"]
[Black "Ljubojevic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B03"]

{One of the most exciting games of the "interregnum" between Fischer's retirement and the rise of Karpov. The meeting of two courageous tacticians produces a fierce battle in which both Kings are under attack.} 1. e4 Nf6 2.
e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Nc3 exd5 9. cxd5
c4 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. Qd4 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Bb4 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. Rg1 g6 15. Bg5 Qc7
16. Bb3 Bc5 17. Qf4 Bxg1 18. d6 Qc8 19. Ke2 {A little too imaginative; 19.O-O-O would have given White the advantage with less risk, e.g.} 19...
Bc5 20. Ne4 N8d7 21. Rc1 Qc6 22. Rxc5 {By means of an Exchange sacrifice, White succeeds in posting a Knight at the "hole" on f6.} 22... Nxc5 23. Nf6+
Kh8 24. Qh4 Qb5+ 25. Ke3 h5 {The White King is not as exposed as it seems -- 25...Qd3+ 26.Kf2 h5 27.Nxh5 gxh5 28.Bf6+ Kg8 29.Qg5+ and wins.} 26. Nxh5
Qxb3+ 27. axb3 Nd5+ 28. Kd4 Ne6+ 29. Kxd5 Nxg5 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. Qxg5 Rfc8
32. e6 fxe6+ 33. Kxe6 Rf8 34. d7 a5 35. Ng4 Ra6+ 36. Ke5 Rf5+ 37. Qxf5 gxf5
38. d8=Q fxg4 39. Qd7+ Kh6 40. Qxb7 Rg6 41. f4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Petropolis"]
[Round "13"]
[Date "1973"]
[White "David Bronstein"]
[Black "Oscar Panno"]
[Result "1-0"]

{"Bronstein won the longest game of the tournament, and it was wonderfully rich in strategic and tactical surprises. He eventually queened a pawn (in front of his castled king!) but still had to work hard to win as all Black's remaining forces mutually defended each other," stated the tournament book. Bronstein didn't qualify for the next stage of the world championship, but he had the satisfaction of creating the craziest game of 1973. An editor asked him to annotate the game. "It's impossible!" exclaimed Bronstein. "Neither of us knew what the next move was going to be. I can't even tell you if I was winning. Such a game is played in the air".}

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 Nf6
4.Qe2 {At his title match vs. Kramnik in 2000, Kasparov failed to win a single game against the Berlin Defense after 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8.}
4...Be7
5.c3 {Departing from 5.0-0 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.Nc3 Re8 (Janowski-Winawer, 1897). Also innocuous is 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nxe5 Qd4 regaining the pawn.}
5...d6
6.d4 Bd7
7.d5 Nb8
8.Bd3 {Naturally! When your opponent is cramped, avoid exchanges.} 
8...c6 
9.c4 Na6 
10.Nc3 0-0 
11.h3 Nc5 
12.Bc2 cxd5 
13.cxd5 Qc7 {Setting a little trap (14. b4? Ncxe4!) but 13...Rc8 seizing the open file, looks more flexible.}
14.Bd2 g6
15.b4 Na6
16.a3 Nh5
17.g3 Rac8
18.Bb3 Kh8
19.0-0-0 {Believe it or not, the King is safe here, despite Black's temporary control of the c-file.}
19...b5
20.Kb2 Qb7
21.Bh6 Rfd8
22.Qd2 Nb8
23.g4 Nf6
24.Bg5 Be8 {Much more active is 24...a5 and if 25.bxa5 Qa7.} 
25.Qe2 Nbd7 {Unnecessarily giving up a pawn for counterplay. Correct is 25...Rc7.}
26.Qxb5 Qc7
27.Rc1 Nb6
28.Qa6 Qd7
29.Rhe1 Kg7
30.Be3 Rb8
31.Nd2 h5
32.g5 {A good alternative is simply 32.f3.}
32...Nh7
33.h4 f6
34.gxf6+ Bxf6
35.Rh1 Qe7
36.Nf3 Rd7
37.Nb5 {An awkward post and a loss of time. More logical is 37. Ne2.} 
37...Rdb7 
38.Nc3 Bd7 
39.Ka2 Bg4 
40.Nh2 Bd7 
41.Nf3 Bg4 
42.Nd2 {Playing to win by rejecting a repetition of moves with 42.Nh2.} 
42...Bxh4 
43.Bc2 Bg5 
44.Nb3 Bxe3 
45.fxe3 Rc7 
46.Bd3 Bc8 
47.Qa5 a6 {Provocative. Safer is 47...Nf6 and if 48.Nb5 Rcb7.} 
48.Bxa6 Ra7 
49.b5 Nc4 
50.Qb4 Nxa3 
51.Kxa3 {Also okay is 51. Qxa3 Bxa6 52. bxa6 Rb6 53. Kb1 Raxa6 54. Qb2 Qb7 55. Kc2.}
51... Bxa6
52.b6! Raa8 
53.Na4 Nf6
54.Na5 Rc8
55.Rc6 Kh6
56.Rxd6 Rc2
57.Rc6 {Stronger is 57. b7 Bxb7 58. Nxb7 but Bronstein is hoping to get even more in return for his menacing passed pawn.} 
57... Ra2+
58.Kb3 Qxb4+
59.Kxb4 Nxe4 {Restoring material equality but White's b-pawn is very dangerous.}
60.Rg1 Ng5
61.Rc7 Rd8
62.Rd1 {Stronger is 62. Ra7.}
62...Be2
63.Rb1 Rxd5
64.Nc5 Ne6
65.b7 Rxa5
66.Kxa5 Nxc7
67.b8=Q Rxc5+
68.Kb6 Ne6 {A difficult ending. Black has two minor pieces and two pawns for the Queen.}
69.Qe8 Bg4
70.Rg1 Rd5
71.e4 {Prolonging the agony. The most efficient win is 71.Rxg4! Rd6+ 72.Kb7 Nc5+ 73.Kc7 Rd7+ 74.Kc6 hxg4 75.Kxc5.}
71...Rd6+
72.Ka5 Ra6+ {Hoping for 73.Kxa6? Nc7+ followed by Nxe8. It's still tricky.} 
73.Kb4 Rb6+ 
74.Kc3 Kg5 
75.Qe7+ Kf4 
76.Qf6+ Kxe4 
77.Re1+ Kd5 
78.Rxe5+ {A little better is 78. Qxe5+ but the ending is hard to win in any event.}
78...Kd6
79.Ra5 Rc6+
80.Kd2 Bf5
81.Qe5+ Kd7
82.Rd5+ Ke7
83.Ra5 Rd6+ {White has trouble making progress.}
84.Ke1 Rd8
85.Ke2 Bd3+
86.Ke3 Bf5
87.Ra3 Rd7
88.Qh8 Kf7
89.Ra8 Rc7
90.Kf2 Ke7 {This is questioned in the tournament book, but it's hard to suggest a foolproof defense for Black.}
91.Qe5 Kf7
92.Rh8 Rc2+
93.Ke3 Nf8
94.Qd5+ {If 94.Rxh5 Re2+! 95.Kxe2 Bg4+ 96.Ke3 gxh5 is hard to beat.} 
94...Ne6 
95.Qe5 Nf8 
96.Kf4 Rc8 {If 96...Ne6+ 97.Kg3 Nf8 98.Rxh5.} 
97.Kg3 Rd8 
98.Qc7+ Rd7 
99.Qc4+ Be6 
100.Qb4 Re7 
101.Kh4 {The King enters the fray decisively on the dark squares.} 
101...Re8 
102.Kg5 Bf5 
103.Kh6 Re7
104.Qb3+ Re6
105.Qb2 {Black Resigns. The threat of Qg7+ is lethal. 105...g5+ 106.Kxg5 merely delays the inevitable. A great fight!} 1-0

[Event "Interzonal"]
[Site "Petropolis, Brazil"]
[Date "1973"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov, V."]
[Black "Mecking, H."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]

{Henrique Mecking was a boy wonder who won the Brazilian national championship at 13. His greatest success was winning this qualifier for the world title by a wide margin. Unfortunately his career was cut short by a debilitating nerve disorder.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5.
Bg2 O-O 6. Nd5 {Less ambitious but more prudent is 6. O-O.} 6... e4 7. Nh4
Bc5 8. O-O Re8 9. d3 exd3 10. Qxd3 Ne5 11. Qc2 c6 12. Nc3 {Leads to trouble. Almost anything is better.} 12... Nxc4 13. Na4 {Mecking probably anticipated 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Rxe4! 15. Qxe4 d5 16. Qc2 Bh3 17. Rd1 Qf6 with a good attack.} 13... Bf8 14. Qxc4 b5 15. Qd4 bxa4 16. e4 Ba6 17. Re1 Qb6 18. Be3 { If 18. Qxa4 Bc5.} 18... Bb4 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Red1 Be2 21. Rd4 c5 22. Rxb4 { No better is 22. Rd6 Rab8!} 22... cxb4 23. e5 Ng4 24. Bxa8 Nxe3 25. Re1 Bc4
26. Be4 Nd5 27. a3 bxa3 28. bxa3 Nc3 29. Bf3 f6 30. Rc1 Rxe5 {Outlawing 31. Rxc3 Re1+ 32. Kg2 Bf1+ 33. Kg1 Bh3 mate.} 31. Kg2 Rc5 32. Rxc3 Bf1+ 33. Kxf1
Rxc3 34. Bd5+ Kf8 35. Ke2 Rxa3 {From here Black's game plays itself. The two minor pieces are no match for the rampaging Rook.} 36. Kd2 b5 37. Nf5 b4 38.
Ne3 b3 39. Kc3 Ra2 40. Kb4 Rxf2 41. Kxa4 b2 42. Ba2 Rxh2 43. Kb3 Rh3 44. Nf1
Rh1 45. Nd2 Rg1 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Costa Brava"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1974"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gudmundur Sigurjonsson"]
[Black "Pal Benko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]

{The only thing more painful than a loss is a short loss. Alas, this appalling fate befell the normally cautious Benko, who gobbled a dangerous pawn and never recovered from this fatal error of judgment. He extricated his Queen by returning the pawn, but his King remained hostage in the center -- proving once again that failure to castle is a a major cause of disaster in the opening, even among grandmasters.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 a6 7. f4 Qc7 8. O-O Be7 9. Be3 b5 {It's usually premature for Black to seek counterplay before safeguarding his King. The precautionary 9...Nbd7 (or O-O) is more prudent.} 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Qxe5
{Risky. Necessary is 11...Nfd7 12. Bf3 Bb7 13. Bxb7 Qxb7 even though White retains the initiative after 14. Qg4.} 12. Bf4 Qc5 13. Bf3 Nd5 {Of no avail is 13...Ra7 14. Bxb8 Rd7 15. Bc6!} 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. b4 Qc4 {No better is 15...Qb6 16. Bxd5 Bb7 17. Bxf7! Kxf7 18. Bc7 snaring the Queen by discovered check.} 16. Re1 Kf8 17. c3 Bd7 18. Qd2 {Even 18. Qe2 is strong but White wants to keep Queens on the board.} 18... Qc8 {Black has no defense. If 18...Nc6 19. Be2 traps his Queen. Or 18...Bf6 19. Bd6 Kg8 20. Bc5 Nc6 21. Be2 leads to the same debacle.} 19. Bxd5 {Black resigns, beacuse on 19...Nc6 20. Qe3! Bf6 21. Nxc6 Bxc6 22. Qc5 mops up. 1-0} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "Chicago"]
[Date "1974"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Browne, W."]
[Black "Bisguier, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{Enroute to the first of his six victories in America's highest title, Walter Browne (born in Australia) smashed veteran Arthur Bisguier (who won the title in 1954) with a prepared variation on move 14 that has an interesting history.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6.
Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 {This aggressive line in Petrov's Defense was always considered adequate -- before this game.} 8. c4 Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3
Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 c6 14. Bh6 {Bobby Fischer once showed this crushing novelty to some friends, although he never got a chance to use it. Until now theory considered the position equal. If 14. Bg5 f6 holds; or 14. Re5 Qd7 leads to nought.} 14... Rg8 {On 14...gxh6 15. Re5 Qd7 16. Rae1 Be6 17. d5! cxd5 18. Rxe6 wins. Also if 14...Be4 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Rxe4 Qxe4 17. Re1 Qg6 18. Qb4 O-O-O 19. Rxe7 does the trick.} 15. Re5 Qd7 16. Rae1 Be6
17. Ng5 {No rest for the weary. The best try now is 17...Bxg5 18. Bxg5 h6 19. Bh4 g5 20. Bg3 Kf8.} 17... O-O-O 18. Nxf7 Bxf7 19. Rxe7 Qxd4 20. Rxf7
Qxc3 21. bxc3 gxh6 {Black's endgame is lost because White's kingside pawns will advance too fast. Speed is of the essence.} 22. Rb1 Rg5 23. h4 Rb5 24.
Rxb5 cxb5 25. Rxh7 Rd1+ 26. Kh2 Rd2 27. Rxh6 Rxa2 28. h5 Rxf2 29. Rh8+ Kc7
30. h6 Kb6 31. Kh3 a5 32. g4 b4 33. cxb4 axb4 34. Re8 Rf1 35. Kg2 Rf7 36. g5
Rf5 37. h7 Rxg5+ 38. Kf3 Rh5 39. h8=Q Rxh8 40. Rxh8 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "5th Lone Pine"]
[Site "California"]
[Date "1975"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Larry Evans"]
[Black "Pal Benko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]

{Louis Statham, a wealthy inventor, sold his house in the Holmby Hills of Los Angeles to Playboy's Hugh Hefner and retired to Lone Pine. This tiny town is about ten blocks long and three blocks wide nestled at the foot of Mount Whitney with Highway 395 running through it. In the 1970s Stathan paid all expenses to lure masters from far and wide to the strongest series of Swiss events ever held in America until then. He also donated a Town Hall to Inyo County with the proviso that it be available for these chess tournaments, which unfortunately ended with his demise. In this game, White gets a withering attack when Black leaves his King in the center too long. The final combination adds a piquant flavor.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Be7 {Black's move order is careful and deliberate. The usual 3...Nf6 allows 4. Bg5 pinning the knight.} 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. g4 { This bayonet thrust is an idea of Botvinnik, who used it several times in defense of his title against Petrosian in 1963. White weakens his pawn structure to create double-edged play and seek an early initiative.} 7...Be6 
8. Bd3 Bd6 {Better is 8...Nd7 instead of moving the same piece twice.} 9. Qf3 
Bxf4 10. exf4 h5 11.f5 Bd7 {Not 11...hxg4 12. Qe3! snaring a piece.} 12. gxh5 
Qf6 13. O-O-O Ne7 14. Re1 Na6 {Unnecessary contortion. Now Black's King never reaches safety. Either 14...Kf8 or O-O was preferable. But risky is 14...Qxd4 15. Nge2 Qf6 16. Ng3 with a strong grip.} 15. Bxa6 bxa6 16. Nge2 Bxf5 {Loses. Necessary is 16...Kf8.} 17. Ng3 Qh6+ 18. Qe3 Qxe3+ 19. Rxe3 Be6 20. Na4 
{Preparing to occupy the hole on c5.} 20... Kd7 21. Rhe1 Kd6 22. Nc5 Rh6 23. f4 
{Throwing fresh fuel into the fire.} 23...Rf6 {Seems sufficient, but now White has a unique winning combination.} 24. f5 Nxf5 25. Rxe6+ fxe6 26.
Rxe6+ Rxe6 27. Nxf5+ Kc7 28. Nxe6+ Kd7 29. Nexg7 Rc8 {Black could resign here. This move merely prolongs the agony.} 30. h6 a5 {If instead 30...Rh8 White simply marches his King to g6 and advances the pawn to h7.} 31. Kd2 a4
32. h4 a5 33. Ke3 Rb8 34. Kf4 Rxb2 35. h7 Rb8 36. Kg5 {After 36...Rh8 37. Kg6 the rest is easy. "I should have played the Benko gambit!" moaned Benko as he tipped his King. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1975"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lubomir Luboyevic"]
[Black "Sergei Makarichev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]

{What's new under the sun? Many players are so busy studying new wrinkles that they neglect old openings.We have a tendency to forget that "The Book" is merely the accumulated wisdom from master games of the last two centuries. Here Yugoslavia's Luboyevic, the victor in this annual IBM series of tournaments (since cancelled), was the victim of some musty analysis against his runner-up, a hot prospect from Russia who faded from the scene.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 {For the more aggressive 6...Bd6 see Janowsky-Marshall, match 1912.} 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 Bg4
9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nfd2 {11. Qxb7 Rf6 12. Qb3 Rg6 gives Black a dangerous attack. Also inferior is 11. Bf4? Bxf3 12. gxf3 Ng5 13. Kg2 Qd7 14. Qc2 Ne6 as in Lasker-Pillsbury, St. Petersburg 1895. The best reply is 11. Nbd2 Kh8 12. h3! as in Karpov-Korchnoi, 6th match game 1974.} 11... Nxf2
{So old, it's new!} 12. Kxf2 Bh4+ 13. g3 f4 14. Kg2 fxg3 15. Be4 {In 1902 Schlechter's analysis showed that Black also wins against 15. hxg3 Qd6! 16. gxh4 Rf2! 17. Kxf2 Qh2 18. Ke3 Qg3 19. Nf3 Re8 20. Kd2 Rxe1! 21. Qxd5 Be6.}
15... Bh3+ 16. Kg1 {Running for cover. Also hopeless is 16. Kxh3 Qd7 17. Kg2 Rf2 18. Kg1 Qh3 19. Qxd5 Kh8 20. Nf1 Rxf1! 21. Rxf1 Qxh2 mate.} 16... gxh2+
17. Kxh2 Qd6+ 18. Kh1 Bxe1 19. Qxd5+ Qxd5 20. Bxd5+ Kh8 21. Nf3 Bg3 { Although White seems to have survived the worst, his undeveloped queenside is his Achilles' heel.} 22. Ng1 Bf1 23. Nd2 Rae8 24. Ne4 {No better is 24. Nxf1 Rxf1 25. Kg2 Ree1.} 24... Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Rf2 26. Nf3 Bg2+ 27. Kg1 Bxf3
28. Bxf3 Rxf3 {Black emerges from the complications a piece up. If 29. Kg2 Rd3 ends further resistance. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1975"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Efim Geller"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]

{Strategic struggle, tactics, a trap, an attack -- this game has it all -- plus an original finish. Under fire from a sharp offensive, White's King elbows its way through the ranks of its own and enemy forces deep into opposing territory until it is within a handshake of its Black colleague. "Throughout my wide tournament experience, I do not recall a similar King march," noted Geller.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 { "Harmoniously developing pieces in the center, White avoids disclosing his plans". -- Geller} 5... O-O 6. O-O Bg4 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 e5 9. d5 Ne7 10.
Rad1 {"White has an advantage in space and must seek some way to attack. It is difficult to do this on the queenside, since the Knight at c3 hinders the advance c4. Therefore he plans f4. Black too must aim for ...f5 since he has no other plan. White's last move prevents ...c6, although also possible was 10. a4 which I played in a later game". -- Geller} 10... Bd7 11. Ne1 Ng4 12.
Bxg4 Bxg4 13. f3 Bd7 14. f4 exf4 {Also feasible is 14...Bg4 15. Rb1 as in Karpov-Timman, Tilburg 1977.} 15. Bxf4 f5 16. Nf3 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Bg4 18. Rde1
Qd7 19. Neg5 {"The result of the strategic battle is obvious. White has set his sights on e6 and Black is faced with a difficult defense". -- Geller}
19... Rae8 20. c4 {Bolstering d5 and preparing Nd4. White wants to occupy e6 with a knight, not a Rook.} 20... Nc8 21. Nd4 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8+
Qxe8 24. h3 Bd7 25. Nde6 Bxe6 26. Nxe6 Qf7 27. b3 Qf6 {Swapping rooks eased the pressure but Black is still cramped. The immediate threat was Nd8 and Nxb7. So, Black sacrifices a pawn to get counterplay.} 28. Nxc7 Qa1+ 29. Kh2
Bd4 30. Qe2 {White could win immediately by 30. Qc1! Qxa2 31. Qe1 with a mating attack. But without this inaccuracy the marathon march of his King from h2 to f8 would never have occurred.} 30... Ne7 31. Nb5 {Avoiding the cunning trap 31. Qxe7? Qg1 32. Kg3 Qf2 33. Kg4 Qxg2 34. Bg3 h5 35. Kh4 Qe4! 36. Qxe4 Bf6 mate!} 31... Bg1+ {Both players are short of time. More complicated is 31...Qg1 32. Kg3 Nf5 33. Kf3 Bf6.} 32. Kg3 Nf5+ 33. Kf3 Nh4+
34. Kg4 Nf5 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qd7+ Kh8 37. Nxd6 Qd1+ 38. Kg5 Qh5+ 39. Kf6
Bd4+ 40. Ke6 Ng7+ 41. Kf7 g5+ {Black resigns. The time scramble is over and after 42. Kf8 Black runs out of checks. 1-0} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1976"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Black "Andersson, U."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]

{When two players of contrasting styles meet, the result is a battle of ideas which can only enrich the game. Ljubojevic is one of the most dangerous attacking players of the modern era, while Ulf Andersson is one of the most difficult players to defeat. With a sharp pawn sacrifice, White places many practical problems before his opponent, and with the clock ticking, Andersson is unable to find the hidden path to the draw.} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7
9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Qg3 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Bf4 Bd6 15.
Rad1 Qb8 16. Rd3 {White will combine threats against the pinned Knight with the transfer of pieces for an attack on the King.} 16... Ne8 17. Ne4 Bc7 18.
Rc3 Nc6 19. Bxc7 Nxd4 20. Bd3 {Of course not 20.Bxb8 Nxe2+ and 21...Nxg3.}
20... Qa7 21. Nc5 Bb5 22. Be5 Nc6 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rf4 f6 25. Rh4+ Kg8 26.
Qh3 Nd8 27. Bd4 b6 28. Nxe6 Nxe6 29. Qxe6+ Qf7 30. Qe4 g5 {Correct was 30...Qxa2. Then 31.Qxa8 is bad -- 31. ..g5 32.Rh3 Qb1+ 33.Kf2 Qf1+ 34.Kg3 Qf4++, or 32.Rg4 Nd6 33.Qf3 Qb1+ 34.Kf2 Qf1+ 35.Kg3 Nf5+ 36.Kh3 Kf7 and 37...Rh8+. So White must play [30...Qxa2] 31.Qh7+ Kf7 32. Qh5+, with a draw by repetition.} 31. Rh6 Ra7 32. Rch3 Qg7 33. Rg6 Raf7 34. a4 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "44th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1976"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Efim Geller"]
[Black "Mikhail Tal"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]

{Some drawn games are endowed with enough fantasy and unheard melodies to please those who value not only results but beauty. Here, Geller's unexpected 19th move, although inferior, caused his opponent to note it was dictated "by the soul of a chess artist".} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qe1 {More usual is 9. f4. Black sometimes can dispense with ...Qc7. White's move order forces it to move off the d-file after the imminent Rd1.} 9... O-O 10. Rd1 Qc7 {Voila! By transposition they reach the main line of the Scheveningen Variation} 11.
f4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nd7 15. Ne4 {Heading for the kingside where the main battle will take place. Now 15...Nxe5? is refuted by 16. Qg3; and if 15...Qxc2 16. Bd3 leads to an irresistible attack.} 15...
Bb7 16. Nf6+ Kh8 {The only defense. Not 16...gxf6 17. Qg3! Kh8 18. exf6! Qxg3 19. fxe7 and White emerges with more material.} 17. Qh4 h6 18. Qh5 Bc5
19. Rf2 {"I expected 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. Bxc5 Qc6 regaining the piece. But after considerable thought Geller made another move, dictated, as soon becomes clear, by the soul of a chess artist. I must confess that this came as a surprise. At first I examined a continuation which seemed satisfactory: 19...Bxd4 20. Rxd4 Nxe5 21. Rh4 Rfd8 (not 21...Ng6 or Qc5 22. Qxh6!! leads to mate) and here, to my horror, I noticed 22. Qg5!! White would force immediate capitulation. Of course, to be co-author of such a work of art would have been honorable, but I nevertheless declined. It would have been a terribly crushing defeat" -- Tal. Yet in his notes, Geller pointed out that simply 19. Kh1! is stronger.} 19... Rad8 20. Ng4 Be4 {Gets to the kingside in the nick of time.} 21. Nxh6 gxh6 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. Rd3 {It is here that White's 19th move becomes important! With his King on h1 23. Bd3!! would now be decisive.} 23... Bxd4 {But not 23...Nxe5? 24. Rh3 forces mate. Or 23...Bxd3 24. Bxd3. Draw agreed. White must take the perpetual check by 24. Rg3 Bg6 25. Qxg6 Kh8 26. Qh6, etc. But 24. Rxd4? Bg6 25. Rh4 is parried by Qxe5.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR Championship, Moscow"]
[Date "1976"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geller, E."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]

{Garry Kasparov once suggested that Grandmasters could be divided into "maximalists" and "minimalists" -- those who try to find the best move in every position, and those who economize their time and effort to achieve the best tournament standing. Efim Geller belongs to the first group. One of the top Soviet GMs since the early fifties, he has produced many fine games, and here he outplays the World Champion, concluding with a spectacular Queen sacrifice.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. Nf3 b6 {A provocative defensive system -- Black quietly prepares to exchange his "bad" Bishop, and dares White to exploit his laggard development in this closed position.} 6.
Bd2 Ba6 7. Bxa6 Nxa6 8. O-O Nb8 9. Ne2 Be7 10. Rc1 b5 {White threatens to open a file on the Queenside, which Black temporarily prevents.} 11. Nf4 h5
12. b3 Ba3 13. Rb1 a5 14. c4 c6 {White refutes 14...bxc4 15.bxc4 dxc4 with 16.d5! exd5 17.e6, opening lines against the Black King after, say, 17...fxe6 18.Re1.} 15. c5 Bb4 16. Bc1 a4 17. Nd3 Ba5 18. bxa4 bxa4 19. Qxa4
{White has won a pawn, but the a2 pawn is weak and White's Bishop would have little scope in an endgame. So White prepares an Exchange sacrifice to keep the initiative.} 19... Qa7 20. Bg5 Bc7 {Nearly forced, as Black gets into trouble on the Queenside after 20...Qa6 21.Rb3 Ne7 21.Rgb1 Nd7 22.Ra3.} 21.
Rxb8+ Qxb8 {Not 21...Bxb8? 22.Qxc6+ Kf8 23.Qc8++.} 22. Qxc6+ Kf8 23. Nf4 Ra7
24. Nh4 Qe8 {White threatened to win back the Exchange with a two-pawn profit with 25.Nhg6+ fxg6 26.Nxg6+.} 25. Qxe6 fxe6 {Capturing on e6 with the Queen leads to about the same thing as the game, and other moves do not defend against White's threat to win the Queen with 26.Nfg6+.} 26. Nfg6+
Qxg6 {Or 26...Kf7 27.Nxh8+ Kf8 28.N5g6+, and Black must play 28...Qxg6 anyway.} 27. Nxg6+ Ke8 28. Nxh8 Ra4 29. Rd1 Ne7 30. Bxe7 Kxe7 31. Ng6+ Kf7
32. Nf4 Bxe5 33. dxe5 Rxf4 {Black pawn has won back a pawn, but the passed White c-pawn and the active White Rook leave him with no real hope of saving the game.} 34. Rc1 Ke8 35. c6 Kd8 36. c7+ Kc8 37. g3 Ra4 38. Rc6 Rxa2 39.
Rxe6 g5 40. Rd6 Rd2 41. e6 Kxc7 42. e7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "7th Match Game, Evian"]
[Date "1977"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]

{Karpov's first challenger for the World Championship was Victor Korchnoi. Though playing under many handicaps -- after his defection to the West in 1976, Soviet Grandmasters boycotted tournaments in which he competed, and it is difficult for any master to stay in top form without top-flight competition -- he came to the Candidates' Matches armed with many new ideas and a fierce will to win, and scored decisive victories over Tigran Petrosian, Lev Polugaevsky and Boris Spassky.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5
4. d4 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O b4 10. Ne4 Be7
11. Nxf6+ Nxf6 12. e4 O-O 13. Qc2 h6 14. Be3 Rc8 15. Rfd1 c5 16. dxc5 Ng4
17. Bd4 e5 18. h3 exd4 19. hxg4 Rxc5 20. Qd2 a5 21. Rac1 Qd7 22. Rxc5 Bxc5
23. g5 hxg5 24. Qxg5 Qe7 25. Qh5 g6 26. Qh6 Qf6 27. Bc4 d3 28. e5 Qf5 29.
Rxd3 Be4 30. Rd6 {A "diverting" sacrifice -- on 30...Bxd6 31.Ng5 wins, as Black no longer has 31...Qxf2+, and 30...Bxf3 removes one of the guards from g6, allowing 31.Rxg6+ (the f7 pawn is pinned).} 30... Qg4 31. Rf6 Bf5 32. b3
Bd4 33. Nxd4 Qxd4 34. Rxg6+ Bxg6 35. Qxg6+ Kh8 36. Qh6+ Kg8 37. e6 Qe4 38.
exf7+ Rxf7 39. Qf6 Qb1+ 40. Kh2 Qh7+ 41. Kg3 Qd3+ 42. f3 Qxc4 43. Qd8+ 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1977"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stefano Tatai"]
[Black "Anatoly Karpov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]

{Las Palmas was the sunny setting of another resounding triumph for the world champion, who made it look easy by scoring 90% in a strong field. As a rule Karpov is prepared for long games, patiently nursing small advantages. His style engenders no seething or turbulence; he prefers positions which seem drab, stodgy and drawish, yet he won numerous brilliancy prizes. This melee, capped by his stunning Queen sacrifice, is a textbook illustration on the perils of pawn snatching.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 {Steering into an English Opening instead of a Sicilian Defense by 1. e4.} 2... Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
Nxd5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Qa4+ {A double-edged innovation. More usual is 7. O-O but White is willing to lose time in order to try and gain a pawn.}
7... Nc6 {Intending to answer 8. Qc4 with Ndb4.} 8. Ng5 e6 9. Nge4 Nb6 { Preferring to give up a pawn rather than defend by 9...Qe7.} 10. Qb5 c4 11.
Na4 O-O 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Qxc4 e5 {Karpov took an hour on this move and rejected 13...Bd7 14. Nc3!} 14. Qc2 Nd4 15. Qb1 {In order to gain a pawn White lost time and violated opening principles by moving his Queen five times within the first 15 moves.} 15... f5 16. Nc3 e4 17. d3 b5 18. Be3 { "Again the only defense. White could not play 18. e3 Nf3 19. Bxf3 exf3 20. Nxb5 Qa5 21. Nc3 b5" -- Karpov.} 18... b4 19. Nd1 Re8 20. dxe4 fxe4 21. Bxd4
{Rightly rejecting 21. Bxe4? Rxe4 22. Qxe4 Bf5 23. Qxb7 Nc2. But he might try returning the pawn with 21. O-O Nxe2 22. Kh1 to get the King out of the center.} 21... Qxd4 22. a3 Bg4 {Threatening Bf3 and avoiding the trap of 22...bxa3 23. O-O!} 23. Qc2 Qd3 24. exd3 {Relatively better is 24. Qd2 Qxd2 25. Kxd2 Rad8 26. Ke1.} 24... exd3+ 25. Kd2 Re2+ 26. Kxd3 Rd8+ 27. Kc4 Rxc2+
28. Kxb4 Rcd2 29. f3 Bf8+ 30. Ka5 Bd7 {White throws in the towel in view of 30. Ne3 Bc5 threatening Ra8 mate. Or 31. Kb6 Rxg2 32.Kc7 Be7 nets a piece. 0-1} 0-1

[Event "46th USSR Championship"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "1978"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Efim Geller"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]

{Another fighting draw between these great antagonists. Tal plays in the spirit of Tal and Geller defends sharply in the spirit of Geller. A series of combinational blows drives Black's wobbly King into the center, but White sacrificed so much material to achieve this goal that he must be content with perpetual check.} 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6.
Nf3 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. Rc1 c6 {The most flexible plan. Persisting with the aim of playing ...c5 gave White the advantage in Geller-Ivkov, Beverwijk 1965, after 8...b6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. O-O Qe7 12. Re1 c5 13 e4!}
9. Bd3 Nd7 10. cxd5 {If 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 allows Black easy equality. } 10... exd5 11. b4 Be7 {Perhaps 11...a6 to delay the minority attack.} 12.
b5 Ba3 13. Rc2 {On 13. Rb1 Qa5 14. Qb3 c5! seizes the initiative. Or 13. bxc6 bxc6 14. Rc2 c5! and 15. Nxd5? is refuted by cxd4 with the threat of Qa5.} 13... Bd6 {Now 13...c5? 14. Nxd5 cxd4 15. Nxd4 renders the Queen check at a5 harmless.} 14. O-O Nf6 15. bxc6 bxc6 16. Na4 Ne4 {Too passive would be 16...Bd7 17. Nc5 Qe7 18. Qc1! with continued pressure on c6. Struggling to equalize, Geller invites 17. Rxc6 Bd7 18. Rc1 Ba3 19. Rb1 Qa5 with excellent counterplay.} 17. Ne5 Qe8 18. f3 {Black equalizes against 18. f4 f6 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Nc4 Be7! 21. d5 Qf7 22. d6 (or 22. dxc6 Ba6) Rd8.} 18... c5 {Black continues to strive for the initiative and also rids himself of his main weakness, the backward c-pawn.} 19. fxe4 cxd4 {"An unusually picturesque position: doubled White and Black pawns, and both White Knights hanging. It would be a blunder to play 19...Qxa4? 20. cxd5 when cxd4 fails to 21. Nxf7!" -- Geller} 20. Ng4 {"On 20. Nc6?! dxe4 21. Bb5 d3 the initiative passes to Black, although he has only two pawns for the piece". -- Geller} 20... dxe4
{Blow and counter-blow! White's attack flourishes after 20...Bxg4 21. Qxg4 Qxa4 22. e5!} 21. Bc4 {Rejecting 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nf6 gxf6 23. Qg4 Kh8 24. Rxf6 Rc1 25. Bf1 Qe6! when it is White who must concern himself with how to hold the draw.} 21... Bxg4 22. Qxg4 Qxa4 23. Rxf7 {Maintaining the tempo of the attack. If 23. Bb3 Qa5 holds.} 23... Rxf7 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qf5+ Ke7 { Black loses after 25...Kg8? 26. Qd5 Kh7 27. Qxe4 g6 28. Qb7.} 26. Qxe4+ Kd7
27. Qb7+ Ke6 28. Qe4+ Kd7 {Also drawn is 28...Be5 29. Rc6 Kf7 30. Qd5 Kf8 31. Qc5 Kg8 32. Qd5 Kh8 33. Rxh6 gxh6 34. Qxe5, etc.} 29. Qb7+ {A draw. It's perpetual check after 29...Ke6 30. Qe4.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Berkeley"]
[Date "1978"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Christiansen, L."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]

{In the round-robins which predominate at the international level, every player may expect a reasonable prize, but in American "Swiss" tournaments (a large number of players compete over a weekend, with equal scores being paired in each round), a last-round game may mean the difference between a substantial prize and a long walk home. In this game, Seirawan outplays his opponent strategically, but Christiansen launches a clever counterattack which leads to a King-hunt and a very long discovered check.} 1. Nf3 g6 2.
e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. d5 {Not a very strong system for White; though he obtains a temporary space advantage, the Black position is without weaknesses, and Black will will obtain counterplay by attacking the advanced pawn with...c6 or e6.} 7... Nb8 8. Bg5 c6 9. Qd2 Qc7
10. Rad1 Nbd7 11. Rfe1 a5 12. Bf1 {Incorrectly assessing the position -- he ought to play 12.a4. Now Black gets too much space on the Queenside, and combines threats against b2 and c2 with a flanking action against the d5 pawn.} 12... a4 13. a3 Re8 14. h3 Nb6 15. Bh6 cxd5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. exd5
Bd7 18. Re3 Ra5 19. Rd3 Nc4 20. Qc1 Rc5 21. Ng5 {White is being pushed back, and certainly doesn't want to go over to passive defense with 21.Qa1. He decides to sacrifice a pawn to gain time to transfer his pieces to the Kingside.} 21... Nxa3 22. Rd4 h6 23. Nge4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Nc4 25. Rdd4 Nb6 { Better was 25...b5, preparing for the creation of a passed pawn on the a-file, but mainly keeping the option of bringing the Nc4 back to the defense of the King via e5.} 26. Rh4 Rh8 {Black cannot play 26...g5, for White has a winning attack with 27.Rxh6! Kxh6 28.Rh4+ Kg6 29.Bd3+ Bf5 30.Qd1 gxh4 31.Qg4+ Kh6 32.Qxf5.} 27. Qa1 Ra8 {It was essential to bring another piece to the Kingside with 27...Bf5.} 28. Bd3 g5 29. Rxh6 {Black must have assumed that this combination would not work with the White Queen so far away. Well, he was mistaken.} 29... Kxh6 30. Rh4+ Kg7 {The second Rook cannot be taken, for if 30... gxh4 31.Qc1+ Kh5 32.Qd1+ Kh6 33.Qd2+ soon mates.} 31. Rh7+ Kf6 {And on 31...Kf8 32.Qd1, followed by 33.Qh5 wins.} 32.
Rh6+ Kg7 33. Rh7+ Kf6 34. Ne4+ Kg6 {Or 34...Ke5 35.b4+! Kxd5 36.bxc5 dxc5 37.Nxg5 c4 38.Be4+ Kc5 39.Rh5 f5 40.Bxf5 Bxf5 41.Ne4+ Kd5 42.Rxf5+ Kxe4 43.g4 followed by mate.} 35. Qd1 g4 {White also mates after 35...Kxh7 36.Qh5+ Kg7 37.Qxg5+ Kf8 38.Qh6+ Kg8 39.Nf6+.} 36. Qd2 Rxd5 37. Qh6+ Kf5 38.
Rxf7+ {Short of time, White misses several quicker wins, such as 38.Nxd6+ Ke5 39.Nxf7+ Kd4 40. Qe3++.} 38... Ke5 39. Qg7+ Ke6 40. Rf6+ Ke5 41. Rxd6+
Kf4 42. g3+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Detroit"]
[Date "1979"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Belle"]
[Black "Chess"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A79"]

{At the American computer championship White plays a masterful game that even Karpov pronounced "very human". The breakthrough 44. e5! is worthy of a Grandmaster, but thereafter technique fails the machine, and the endgame is drawn.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 b6 13. Nc4 Ba6 14.
Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 g5 {Until this move the computers had been following opening theory. 15...g5 weakens the Kingside, but at least gains some space.} 16.
Bf2 Nh5 17. Ne3 Bc8 18. Qc2 Nf4 19. Bc4 Bd7 20. Rfd1 Qf6 21. Bg3 Nh5 22. Be1
Nf4 23. Kh1 a6 24. Bg3 b5 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Bf1 b4 28. Ne2 b3
29. Qb1 {If 29. Qxb3 Ba4 wins the exchange.} 29... Nh5 30. Bf2 Nf4 {On 30...Qxb2 31. Qxb2 Bxb2 32. Rb1 Ra7 33. Nc4 is all right for White.} 31. Nc4
Nxe2 32. Bxe2 Bb5 33. Bg3 Ra4 34. Qc1 Bf8 35. Rd2 Qd8 36. Qf1 h5 37. Kg1 h4
38. Bf2 Bg7 39. Ne3 Bxe2 40. Qxe2 Ra1+ 41. Rd1 Ra2 42. Qd3 Rxb2 43. Nc4 Rc2
44. e5 {A fine pawn sacrifice which produces a powerful passed d-pawn.}
44... Bxe5 45. Nxe5 dxe5 46. Qxb3 Re2 47. Kf1 c4 48. Qb7 Ra2 49. Bb6 h3 { Black is losing a piece, but has some chances due to the advanced pawns.}
50. Qxc7 Qf6 51. Qd8+ Qxd8 52. Bxd8 Rxg2 53. Re1 {Most humans would play d6, winning easily. Computers often have difficulty in the endgames.} 53... c3
54. Rxe5 c2 55. Re8+ Kg7 56. Bxg5 Rxg5 57. Rc8 Rg2 58. d6 Rxh2 59. d7 Rd2
60. Kg1 Rxd7 61. Rxc2 Rd3 62. Rf2 Kf6 63. Kh2 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "San Miguel Open"]
[Site "Argentina"]
[Date "1980"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mahia, G."]
[Black "Quinteros, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]

{At this obscure South American tournament an unknown named Gustavo Mahia, who was never heard from again, created a gem destined for the anthologies. In the words of Gray's ELEGY: "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air". A thunderbolt that shatters on the enemy on the spot is wondrous to behold, and White's fantastic bishop sacrifice on move 24 elevates this game to greatness. His victim was GM Miguel Quinteros, once an aide to Bobby Fischer.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Nc3
d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 {The "poison pawn" variation. 8. Nb3 is rather tame.} 8... Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5
Nfd7 12. Be2 {For 12. Bc4 Bb4 see Byrne-Evans, USA Championship 1966.} 12...
Bb4 13. Rb3 Qa5 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf6 Nxf6 {An improvement over 15...gxf6 16. Qh6!} 16. exf6 Rd8 17. fxg7 Rxd4 {Instead 17...Bc5! seems to refute the attack.} 18. Qh6 Qe5 {If 18...Bxc3 19. Rxf7! Kxf7 20. Qxh7 looks strong.}
19. Ne4 Qxe4 20. Bh5 Rd7 21. Rd3 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 Bd4 23. Rg3 Nc6 {Loses beautifully. So does 23...f5 24. Qxh7+! Kxh7 25. g8=Q+.} 24. Bg6 Qxg6 {If 24...fxg6 25. Rf8 mate; or 24...hxg6 Qh8 mate.} 25. Rxg6 Ne7 26. Rxf7 Kxf7
27. g8=Q+ Nxg8 28. Qxh7+ Ke8 29. Rxg8# {Mate} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "U.S. Championship"]
[Date "1981"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alburt"]
[Black "Peters"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A62"]

{In this brilliancy prize game from the 1981 U.S. Championship, Black's sharp Exchange sacrifice produces a complex position with the struggle ranging all across the board, a typical example of Modern Benoni at its best.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3
Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Ne4 {White has adopted the "Fianchetto Variation" against the Benoni, developing his Bishop at g2. He hopes thus to safeguard his King and gradually advance his center pawns (e2-e4, f2-f4, e4-e5). Black hastens to obtain counterplay with his Rook on the half-open e-file.} 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rb4 {A finesse, luring the a-pawn to a dark square so that it will be "en prise" after...Bxb2.} 13. a3 Rxf4 14. gxf4
Bxb2 15. Ra2 Bg7 {It seems that Black has good compensation for his small investment -- a pawn for the Exchange, a three-to-One pawn majority on the Queenside, and a powerful dark-squared Bishop. But now White advances his center pawns, and the position becomes very sharp and unclear.} 16. e4 Na6
17. Re1 b5 18. e5 Bf5 19. e6 Nc7 20. Nb3 a5 21. Rae2 Bc3 22. e7 Qd7 23.
e8=Q+ {After 23.Nxc5 dxc5 24.d6, Black seizes the advantage by returning some material: 24... Re8 25.dxc7 Qxc7, with two good pawns for the Exchange. } 23... Rxe8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Re3 Bf6 26. Nxa5 Ng7 {A curious reversal: White has maintained the material balance and will now get the upper hand on the Queenside, but Black will launch a decisive attack against the weakened White King position.} 27. Nc6 Nh5 28. Bf1 {Or, 28.Rb3 Nxf4 29.Rxb5 Nxg2 30.Kxg2 Be4+ 31. f3 Qg4+, with a winning attack.} 28... c4 29. a4 Nxf4 30.
axb5 c3 31. b6 c2 32. Qc1 {White could set a trap with 32.Qe1 Bb2? 33. Rb3 c1Q 34.Qxc1 Bxc1 35.b7, getting a new Queen, but Black would play instead 32...Nxd5! 33.Rb3 Qxc6 34.b7 c1Q 35.b8Q+ Kg7, winning easily.} 32... Nxd5
33. Rb3 Nxb6 34. Rxb6 Be4 35. h3 {Or: I) 35.Qf4 c1Q 36.Qxc1 Qg4+; II) 35. Bg2 Bxg2 36.Kxg2 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 Qd1+; III) 35.f3 Bxc6 Rb8+ Kg7 37.Qxc2 Qa7+.}
35... Qf5 36. Bg2 {Slightly better was 36.Rb3, but after 36... Qg5+ 37.Qxg5 Bxg5 38.Rc3 c1Q 39.Rxc1 Bxc1 White emerges two pawns behind.} 36... Qg5 37.
Ne7+ Kg7 38. Nf5+ gxf5 39. Qxg5+ Bxg5 40. Rc6 Bxc6 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Olympiad, Lucerne"]
[Date "1982"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A64"]

{A Titanic struggle. Karpov chose not to play in the match in which he would have to face his bitter enemy Korchnoi, and so the first-board encounter was between the former challenger and the next one. Kasparov chose a sharp and risky piece sacrifice to stir up threats against the White King, and even Korchnoi's great defensive skills prove insufficient.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. O-O exd5 9. cxd5 a6 {A position of the Modern Benoni has been reached by transposition from the King's Indian Defense. White now adopts a strategy aimed at preventing ...b7-b5; he hopes to stifle Black's counterplay and gradually assumes the initiative in the center.} 10. a4 Re8 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. h3 Rb8 13. Nc4 Ne5
14. Na3 Nh5 15. e4 Rf8 {A refinement. Earlier, the immediate 15...f5 had been tried, but it was eventually discovered that White could get the advantage with 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.g4 Bxg4 18.hxg4 Qh4 19.gxh5 Rf8 20.h6 Bh8 21.Ne4 Ng4 22.Qxg4 Qxg4 23.Nxd6 Be5 24.Ne4, and the three pieces and passed d-pawn will prove stronger than the Queen.} 16. Kh2 f5 17. f4 b5 {On a retreat of the Ne5 Black's position would collapse at once -- after 18.exf5 he cannot recapture without losing a piece, and without the cooperation of the Ne5 Black would have no real attacking chances.} 18. axb5 axb5 19. Naxb5
fxe4 {Now on 20.fxe5 Bxe5 Black has a very dangerous attack e.g. 21.Bf4 Nxf4 22.gxf4 Bxf4+ 23.Kg1 Bd7! with a clear advantage; if the Nb5 moves, 24...Bd4+ will be crushing. Korchnoi's move is stronger, but the position remains unclear.} 20. Bxe4 Bd7 {Now on 21.Nxd6 Rb6 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Nc4 Bxg3+ 24.Kg1 Rbf6 Black brings another piece into the attack with the decisive effect.} 21. Qe2 Qb6 22. Na3 Rbe8 23. Bd2 {The critical point of the game. Two better defenses, which have been extensively analyzed without a clear conclusion, are 23. Qg2 Qd8 24.Bd2, and 23.Kg2!? Nf7 24.Qd3} 23... Qxb2 24.
fxe5 {Not 24.Rfb1? Nf3+, but both 24.Ra2 and 24.Nc2 avoid the rapid debacle of the game.} 24... Bxe5 25. Nc4 Nxg3 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. Qe1 Nxe4+ 28. Kg2
Qc2 29. Nxe5 Rf2+ {Allowing White to continue resistance by sacrificing his Queen. Immediately decisive was 29...Nxd2!, e.g. 30.Nxd7 Nf3+ 31.Qe2 Nh4+ 32.Kg1 Qxc3 33.Qe6+ Kh8 34.Nxf8 Qg3+ 35.Kf1 Qg2+ 36.Ke1 Kf3+ 37.Kd1 Qd2++.}
30. Qxf2 Nxf2 31. Ra2 Qf5 32. Nxd7 Nd3 {Material is approximately equal, but Black's Queen and Knight cooperate better than White's scattered army. 33.Nb6 runs into 33...Qf2+ 34.Kh1 Qf3+ 35.Kh2 Nf4 36.Bxf4 Qxf4+ 37.Kg2 Qg5+, followed by a check picking up the Nc3.} 33. Bh6 Qxd7 34. Ra8+ Kf7 35. Rh8
Kf6 36. Kf3 Qxh3+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "5th Match Game, London"]
[Date "1983"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov, V."]
[Black "Ribli, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]

{The old lion proves that he can still bite, as Vassily Smyslov, World Champion in 1957, crushingly defeats favored Hungarian Grandmaster Zoltan Ribli. Smyslov won the quarterfinal Candidates' Match 6 1/2-4 1/2, avoiding modern theoretical variations and relying on classical positions in which his greater experience gave him the edge.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4.
Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 cxd4 10. exd4 Bf6
11. Qc2 h6 {A typical "isolated Queen pawn" position -- White has more space and greater freedom of movement, while Black will try to maneuver against the potentially weak d4 pawn. Experience has shown that the chances are dynamically equal.} 12. Rd1 Qb6 13. Bc4 Rd8 {The combination 13...Nxd4? 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Na4 Qc7 16. Rxd4 b5 fails to 17.Bxh6! gxh6 18.Rg4+ Kh8 19.Qd2.} 14. Ne2 Bd7 15. Qe4 Nce7 16. Bd3 Ba4 {Black assumes that the penetration of the White Queen to h7 will not be dangerous, but he's mistaken. 16...Ng6 would prevent the attack which arises in the game, and 16...Bb5 would at any rate gain a tempo over the game continuation.} 17.
Qh7+ Kf8 18. Re1 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Qxb5 20. Ng3 Ng6 21. Ne5 Nde7 22. Bxh6 {A fine move, permitting the other White pieces to assist the Queen in the attack. 22...gxh6? is obviously impossible (23.Qxf7++), and both 22...Rxd4 23.Nxg6+ 24. Nh5 gxh6 25.Nxf6 and 22...Bxe5 23.Rxe5 Nxe5 24.Qxg7+ Ke8 25.dxe5 are as bad as the game (25...Ng6 26.Qg8+ Ke7 27. Bg5+).} 22... Nxe5 23. Nh5 Nf3+ { In view of variations like 23...Rxd4 24.Nxf6 gxh6 25. Qxh6++ and 23...N5g6 24.Bxg7+ Bxg7 25.Qxg7+ Ke8 26.Nf6++, the Knight sells its life as dearly as possible, doubling the White pawns.} 24. gxf3 Nf5 25. Nxf6 Nxh6 26. d5 {The thematic line-opening advance of the isolated pawn. Now on 26...gxf6, White wins with the variation 27.dxe6 Qg5+ 28.Kh1 fxe6 29.Rg1 Qf4 30.Rg7 Qxf3+ 31.Kg1 Rd1+ 32.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 33.Kg2 Qd5+ 34.f3 Qd2+ 35.Kh3, escaping the checks.} 26... Qxb2 27. Qh8+ Ke7 28. Rxe6+ {A sacrificial combination that wins the Black Queen.} 28... fxe6 29. Qxg7+ Nf7 {Or 29...Kd6 30.Ne4+.} 30.
d6+ Rxd6 31. Nd5+ Rxd5 32. Qxb2 b6 33. Qb4+ Kf6 34. Re1 Rh8 35. h4 Rhd8 36.
Re4 Nd6 37. Qc3+ e5 38. Rxe5 Rxe5 39. f4 Nf7 40. fxe5+ Ke6 41. Qc4+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1984"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nesis, G."]
[Black "Blocker"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]

{An unusual game demonstrating that the effects of a positional piece sacrifice can be felt far into the endgame stage; this game is even more unusual because it was played by correspondence. In "postal" chess, many players feel a sacrifice must be calculated to the very end, yet it is clear that in this game such depth of calculation wasn't possible. Whatever the method, the result is very good chess.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 { The Catalan. White announces his willingness to give up the c-pawn for development, central control, and coordination.} 4... dxc4 {Before 4.g3, this capture could be met with e2-e3 and Bxc4, but White is unlikely to weaken the Kingside if he plans this development: the Bishop is firmly committed to development on g2.} 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O b5 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. a4 Bb7 9.
e4 Nf6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nc3 c6 13. Bg5 Bb7 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15.
e5 h6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qh5+ Kg7 18. Ra1 {Heading for a7. Although Black has a whole extra piece, the only one he has developed is the sad specimen on b7, blocked in by his own pawns. Furthermore, Black's King finds little shelter.} 18... f5 19. Ne2 Rg8 20. Nf4 Qd7 21. Ra7 Kh8 22. Nxe6 {Gaining control of the seventh rank, and planning the win of both e- and f-pawns. Later, White will advance his pawn mass with great effect.} 22... Qxe6 23.
Rxb7 Bg7 24. Rf7 Rf8 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 26. Bh3 Na6 27. Bxf5 Qe7 28. Qg6 Nb4 29.
Be4 Qd7 30. Kf1 Nd5 31. f4 b4 {Black is almost in Zugzwang, as to move any piece severely worsens his position. The only plan left is to push Queenside pawns, and they soon run out of moves.} 32. Ke2 c3 33. b3 c5 34. dxc5 Bxc5
35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. e6 Nxf4+ 37. Qxf4 Qxe6 {And now the final stage where two connected passed pawns prove sufficient to overcome the drawing power of the "opposite color" Bishops.} 38. Kf3 Qf7 39. Qxf7+ Kxf7 40. h4 Be7 41. Bb1 Ke6
42. Kg4 Bd6 43. h5 Ke5 44. h6 Kd4 45. Kh4 Ke3 46. g4 Kd2 47. g5 Bf4 48. Kh5
c2 49. Bxc2 Kxc2 50. g6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1985"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E81"]

{Despite the vast amount of theory that has accumulated on the King's Indian Defense over the last 40 years, it is still possible for a creative player to produce an original game. John Nunn is one of the new generation of GMs who have made England one of the world's leading chess powers (silver medal in the 1986 Olympiad, behind the Soviet Union), while Beliavsky is one of the top Soviet players after Kasparov and Karpov.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 {The popular Saemisch Variation -- White securely defends his e4 pawn, and is ready in some lines to advance his Kingside pawns (g2-g4, h2-h4-h5xh6), in conjunction with Queenside castling.} 5... O-O 6.
Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 c5 {A logical plan, increasing the activity of the Bg7. The alternative is something like 7...e5 8.d5 Nh5 followed by ...f7-f5, but this is the sort of thing the Saemisch is designed to meet.} 8. d5 Ne5 {It is usually incorrect to move the same piece twice in the opening, but Black's move discourages Nge2 (...Nxc4), Nh3 (...Bxh3 and ...Nxf3+), and f4 (...Neg4, exchanging the important Be3). The right reply is paradoxical 9.Bg5, threatening 10.f4, as played in Timman-Nunn in a later round of the same tournament.} 9. h3 Nh5 10. Bf2 {The most reasonable alternative is 10.Qf2, but White would have tactical problems based on the juxtaposition of his King and Queen on the same diagonal, e.g. 10...e6 11.f4 Bf6 12.g3 Nxg3.}
10... f5 11. exf5 Rxf5 {Offering a piece sacrifice to get at the uncastled White King.} 12. g4 Rxf3 13. gxh5 {Of course not 13.Nxf3? Nxf3+, forking King and Queen. No better is 13.O-O-O Rf7 14.gxh5 Qf8, skewering the two bishops, e.g. 15.Ne4 Bh6 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Rxf1. Possible is 13.Be2 Rxf2 14.Kxf2, but after 14...Qf8+ Black has more than enough for the Exchange.}
13... Qf8 14. Ne4 {A good defensive move, which should enable White to hold the balance.} 14... Bh6 15. Qc2 {The critical point of the game. White tries to hold all his material, but fails to set up a solid defense. Correct was 15.Qe2, attacking the Rook in earnest, and after 15...Nd3+ 16.Qxd3 Rxd3 17.Bxd3 Qf4 18.Rd1, it seems the White can hold the position, though the Black pieces remain very active.} 15... Qf4 16. Ne2 {Taking the Rook now leads to an inferior endgame -- 16. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 17.Kd1 Bf5 18.Bg3 Qe3 19.Bf2 Qxe4 Bxe4 21.Bg2 Rf8, and though White has apparent material advantage, the active Black Bishops cooperate far better than the clumsy White Rooks.}
16... Rxf2 17. Nxf2 Nf3+ 18. Kd1 Qh4 19. Nd3 {The only way to save the Knight, in view of the threat of ...Qe1++.} 19... Bf5 {Threatening 20...Ne1, and if 21.Nxe1 Bxc2+ 22.Nxc2 Qg5 and wins. Relatively best now is 20.Nc3, but Black is still on top after 20...Nd2!, e.g. 21.B3 Nxf1 22.Rxf1 Qh5+ 23.Ke1 Qxh3 24.Rd1 Qg3+ 25.Rf2 Be3.} 20. Nec1 Nd2 {Threatening now the "staircase" maneuver 21...Qe4 22.Rg1 Qe3 23.Rh1 Qf3+.} 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. Bg2
Nxc4 23. Qf2 Ne3+ 24. Ke2 Qc4 25. Bf3 Rf8 26. Rg1 Nc2 {Threatening to confiscate the Bf3 as well with...Nd4 and ...Bxd3.} 27. Kd1 Bxd3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Montpellier"]
[Date "1985"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Nogueiras, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]

{Even in a quiet Queen's Gambit, opening inaccuracies may meet with a drastic refutation. It is true that in closed positions maneuvering may be more important than rapid development -- but you must be certain that the position will remain closed.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5
Nbd7 {Black avoids the sharp Anti-Meran Gambit (5...dxc4 6.e4) and transposes into the Queen's Gambit declined.} 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Bd6 8. Bd3
Nf8 9. Ne5 Qb6 {Or 9...Ng6 10.f4 O-O 11.O-O, with a good attacking formation for White, as Pillsbury demonstrated at the turn of the century.} 10. O-O
Bxe5 {Black does not care for 10...Qxb2 11.Rc1 Bxe5 12.dxe5 N6d7 13.f4, but if he doesn't plan to take the b2 pawn, his 9th move makes little sense.}
11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Qa4 {White is only slightly better after 12.Bf4 Ng6 13.Bxg6 hxg6 14.h3 Nh6. Now White threatens 13.Nxd5, and 12...Bd7 runs into 13.e6 Bxe6 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Qxg4, with two Bishops and a development advantage.}
12... Qxb2 13. Rac1 Bd7 14. Qd4 {With a plethora of threats -- 15.Nxd5 Qxd4 16.Nc7++ and 15.Ne4 Qb6 16.Nd6++ chief among them, while 14...Qb6 fails to 15.e6 Bxe6 16.Qxg7.} 14... f6 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Bxf6 Rg8 {No better was 16...Nxf6 17.Qxf6 Rg8 18.Nxd5.} 17. Nb5 Qxb5 {Since 17...Qxd4 18.Nd6 is still mate.} 18. Bxb5 Ne6 19. Qb2 cxb5 20. Bh4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "24th Match Game, Moscow"]
[Date "1985"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]

{Once more a game in which the sporting factors outweighed the chessic ones. After 23 games, Kasparov led by a score of 12-11, but a 12-12 tie would allow Karpov to retain the World Championship, and he had White in the last game. Kasparov remained true to himself, eschewing passive defense and once more adopting the double-edge Sicilian Defense. Karpov obtains an attack sufficient for a draw, but his attempts to obtain more lead only to a slashing counterattack and a decisive victory for the challenger from Baku.}
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8.
f4 O-O 9. Kh1 Qc7 {Black adopts the solid and flexible Scheveningen System. His pawns on e6 and d6 deny White the use of the central squares d5/e5/f5, and he can prepare counterplay with ...b5, ...d5 or ...e5 as events dictate. } 10. a4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. Nb3 b6 15. g4 {White must choose between two fundamentally different plans: the piece attack, with something like Qd2-f2-g3 and f4-f5, and the pawn storm, as adopted in the game. The drawback of the latter plan is that the White King may become exposed if the first player later loses the initiative.} 15... Bc8 16. g5
Nd7 17. Qf2 Bf8 18. Bg2 Bb7 19. Rad1 g6 20. Bc1 {Freeing the third rank so that the Rd1 may be transferred to the Kingside.} 20... Rbc8 {Kasparov later recommended instead 20...Nc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Rd3 Nd4 23.Rh3 Qe7, with a satisfactory position for Black.} 21. Rd3 Nb4 22. Rh3 Bg7 23. Be3 {A preparatory move typical of Karpov, but according to Kasparov the immediate 23.f5 would be more dangerous for Black.} 23... Re7 24. Kg1 Rce8 {A strange-looking idea, but Black thus defends his second rank (especially f7) and discourages f4-f5, for the opening of the e-file may be to his advantage.} 25. Rd1 f5 {Suddenly taking the initiative at the cost of a pawn sacrifice. If 26.Qd2 e5! 27.exf5 gxf5, the doubled Rooks on the e-file no longer look so silly.} 26. gxf6ep Nxf6 27. Rg3 Rf7 28. Bxb6 Qb8 29. Be3 Nh5
30. Rg4 Nf6 31. Rh4 {Objectively best was to repeat moves with 31.Rg3 Nh5, but this would be equivalent to resigning the World Championship.} 31... g5
32. fxg5 Ng4 33. Qd2 Nxe3 34. Qxe3 Nxc2 35. Qb6 Ba8 {Now it is clear that the Rh4 is quite out of play, and the White position is very loose.} 36.
Rxd6 {A losing blunder in a difficult position. The game remains unclear after 36.Qxb8 Rxb8 37.Bh3, when best play seems to be 37...Re7 38.Rxd6 Rxb3 39.Rd8+ Kf7 40.Rxa8 Rxb2, when Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.} 36... Rb7 37. Qxa6 Rxb3 {Even better, according to Kasparov, was 37...Nb4 38.Qa5 Qxd6, for if 39.e5 Qd3 40.Bxb7 Qe3+ mates.} 38. Rxe6 Rxb2
39. Qc4 Kh8 40. e5 Qa7+ 41. Kh1 Bxg2+ 42. Kxg2 Nd4+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Hulak, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]

{The King's Indian Defense can still reach independent positions with unique positional and strategic elements.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O
5. Be2 d6 6. d4 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 {Preparing f2-f3 and routing the Knight to d3, where it supports Queenside action.} 9... Nd7 10. Be3 { Another interesting plan for White is the fast prophylactic g2-g4.} 10... f5
11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Nb5 a6 14. Na7 {Korchnoi seems to prefer to delay the thematic play c4-c5 in favor of first gaining some other advantage. After this move, Black cannot afford to allow Na7xc8, since that Bishop is essential to both offense and defense, so a material imbalance is forced.}
14... Rxa7 15. Bxa7 b6 16. b4 Bb7 17. c5 dxc5 18. Rc1 Nc8 19. bxc5 Ba8 20.
c6 Nf6 21. Bxb6 Nxb6 22. Bxa6 {White has a Rook and two pawns against Black's two minor pieces, but more importantly the maneuvers on the Queenside to achieve this have advanced White's objectives there while Black has been doing nothing on the other wing. Black would now like to focus on the White King, but finds this difficult with his Bishop out of play on a8.}
22... g4 23. Nd3 g3 24. h3 Ne8 25. Nc5 Qb8 26. a4 Nd6 27. a5 Nbc8 28. Kh1
Qa7 29. Qc2 Ne7 30. Rb1 Ng6 31. Rfc1 Bf6 32. Bf1 Bxc6 33. dxc6 Qxa5 34. Ra1
Qb4 35. Ne6 {Black Resigns. The main threat is to trap the Queen with Rc1-b1.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "15th Match Game, Seville"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]

{Karpov makes a strong-looking Exchange sacrifice in the 1987 World Championship match, but Kasparov wriggles well and avoids the ax.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 {The Grunfeld was a staple between these two during these earlier matches. Later, Kasparov switched to the King's Indian as Black, which seems a good choice as the Grunfeld structures seem to suit Karpov's style.} 8. Be2 c5 9. d5 e6
10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Rd1 Re8 13. d6 {This is actually one of the quieter lines in the Grunfeld, but already White is advancing his passed d-pawn to the sixth. Black must prove this pawn weak, or start some fast counterplay with the Queenside majority.} 13... h6 14. h3 Nb4 15. Bf4 Nd7
16. Rd2 a6 17. Qb3 b5 18. Qd1 c4 19. a4 Nc5 {Black is willing to give up a pawn to plant his Knight on d3.} 20. axb5 Nbd3 21. Bxd3 Nxd3 22. Rxd3 {And White is willing to give up a Rook to remove it. White gets plenty of compensation for the Exchange, but in the end it isn't enough to win.} 22...
cxd3 23. Nd5 axb5 24. Ne7+ Kh7 25. Rxa8 Qxa8 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Qxd3 Qe4 28.
Qxb5 Ra8 29. Bd2 Rd8 30. Qc5 Qe6 31. Bf4 Bxb2 32. Nh4 Bf6 33. Qxf5+ Qxf5 34.
Nxf5 h5 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Kg6 37. Kg2 Bb2 38. Ne7+ Kf6 39. Nc6 Rd7 40.
Nb8 Rd8 41. d7 Ke6 42. Kf3 Ba3 43. Bc7 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "5th Match Game, Seville"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]

{These two giants have played well over 150 serious tournament games over the years, and the difference between them is only two or three points overall (in Kasparov's favor). They don't get along well away from the board, but their feuds seem to end eventually in friendly post-mortem analysis of their games. This is, Kasparov explains, because they are the only people who truly understand what the other is doing on the chessboard.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5
8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ {Even though this line was played several times by Karpov and Kasparov in World Championship matches, it never caught on with anyone else. This was either because no one else understood what was going on, or they did and the two contenders for the throne were too stubborn to give it up. In either case, this unusual line of the Grunfeld led to some very hard games.} 12... Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+
14. Kxf1 Qd6 15. e5 Qd5 16. Bf2 Rf8 17. Kg1 Bh6 18. h4 Qf7 19. Bg3 Be3+ 20.
Kh2 Qc4 21. Rb1 b6 22. Rb2 Qd5 23. Qd3 Nc4 {What does Black get for his pawn? A firm blockade of the central pawns, and all of his pieces active. However, White's King remains fairly safe, and with a pair of Rooks and two minor pieces exchanged, any storm Black can manufacture will be small, or at least smaller than if all of the pieces were still on.} 24. Rb1 b5 25. Kh3
a6 26. Ng1 cxd4 27. Nf3 Rd8 28. a4 dxc3 29. Qxc3 Qe6 30. Kh2 bxa4 31. Rb4
Nd2 32. Rxa4 Nf1+ 33. Kh3 Rd1 34. Qc2 Rc1 35. Qe2 h5 {Well, this storm doesn't look so small now that it has centered on the White King! But White's defensive resources aren't so small, either. In fact, White will prove in just a few moves that Black has over-extended.} 36. Be1 Qd7 37.
Qxa6 Ra1 38. Qxg6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E56"]

{When Korchnoi goes after the King, sometimes it is necessary to have some heavy duty shears to get out of the net. Ljubo left his shears home this day.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6
8. a3 Ba5 9. h3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Bd7 11. Bd3 Qe7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 cxd4 14.
exd4 h6 15. b4 Bb6 16. b5 Na5 17. a4 Rfd8 18. Ba3 Qf6 19. Bb4 Qf4 20. Bb1 a6
21. Qd3 g6 22. Bd2 Qf5 23. Qe3 {Viktor doesn't want to try his luck in the endgame with his vulnerable d-pawn: his target wears the crown with the cross.} 23... Qh5 24. Ne5 axb5 25. Bxa5 Bxa5 26. Qf4 Be8 27. Ng4 Kf8 28. Nf6
g5 29. Qe5 Qh4 30. Ng4 Bb6 31. Qh8+ Ke7 32. Qf6+ Kf8 33. Rd1 Bc7 34. Ra3 h5
35. g3 Qxh3 36. Nh6 h4 37. Bf5 Be5 38. Qxe5 exf5 39. Re3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Altensteig"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ftacnik, L."]
[Black "Farago, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]

{Grandmaster Lubomir Ftacnik, now of Slovakia, has been among the top players in the world for several years. In this game he wins Farago's Queen for two Rooks, normally a poor trade, but also picks up some pawns. The odd feature is the length of time that the Queen actually stays on the playing field. Both players know it is gone, so why bother to remove it?} 1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. Qxc3 h6
9. Bf4 Bd6 10. Bg3 O-O 11. e3 Nd7 12. Bb5 Bxg3 13. hxg3 c5 14. Rd1 Qe7 15.
Bxd7 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qxd7 17. dxc5 Qc6 18. e4 bxc5 19. Rh5 Rfc8 {Black would avoid the following problem if he used the other Rook.} 20. b4 f5 {In this apparently simple position, Black cannot afford to exchange his weak c-pawn with 20...cxb4 because of the blazing back-rank tactic, 21.Rd8+! Kh7 22.Qxc6 Rxc6 23.Rxa8. Ftacnik specializes in the transitional stages of the game, and it is when things appear to be getting simpler that you must really be careful.} 21. bxc5 fxe4 {Again not 21...Qxc5 because of 22.Rd8+!} 22. Qe5
exf3 23. Rd6 Qe8 24. Rxe6 Qf7 25. Rexh6 gxh6 26. Rxh6 {White has calculated that the two major pieces working together will lead either to mate or the win of the Queen.} 26... Qe8 27. Re6 Rab8 28. Qg5+ {White shows he is in no hurry to actually capture the Queen.} 28... Kf8 29. Qf4+ Qf7 30. Rf6 Re8+
31. Kd1 Rbd8+ 32. Kc2 Rd7 33. c6 {Again, no hurry. Where can she go?} 33...
Rc8 34. Qxf3 Rcc7 35. Kc3 Re7 36. Kd4 Ke8 37. Rxf7 {Now, it is finally necessary. Notice how White's position has improved, though.} 37... Rxf7 38.
Qe4+ Rce7 39. Qg6 Rc7 40. Kd5 Re7 {After 41.Kd6, White can win by a variety of methods, so Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gulko, B."]
[Black "Campora"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]

{Gulko's Queenside ambitions are stymied, so he switches his attention to the King. A sustained attack follows.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. g3
Nf6 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 c6 7. O-O b5 8. c5 a5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. e4 Nxe4 11.
Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Ra6 13. Re1 Re8 14. h4 Nf6 15. Qc2 Nd5 16. a4 b4 17. Ne5
Qc7 18. Be4 {A familiar battery is formed to provoke Kingside weaknesses. White's pieces coordinate well for the coming Kingside attack.} 18... g6 19.
h5 Bf6 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kf8 23. Re4 Ke7 24. Bg5 Rf8 25.
Rf4 Qd8 {Not 25...Nxf4 26.Qg7+ winning the house.} 26. Rxf6 Nxf6 27. Re1 { Down by a Rook, White takes time to bring his remaining pieces into play.}
27... Qd5 {Black is effectively in Zugzwang; any move he makes damages him.}
28. Qg7+ Ke8 29. Bxf6 Ra7 30. Qg6+ Raf7 31. Nxf7 Rxf7 32. Re5 Qf3 33. Qg8+ 
{Black Resigns. 33...Rf8 34.Rxe6+ is the end.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Szirak"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A79"]

{A model Modern Benoni game by the veteran Hungarian Lajos Portisch.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O
9. O-O Na6 {One of the modern ideas in the Modern Benoni is to play ...Nb8-a6-c7 to support the ...b7-b5 advance, or failing that, to at least get the Knight out of the way.} 10. Nd2 {White likes the c4-square for this Knight, from which it may pressure the d6-pawn. White may later choose Bc1-f4 or f2-f4 and e4-e5 to continue the attack.} 10... Re8 11. f3 {This announces that White has opted for piece play against d6, rather than fast pawn action in the center. Black reacts appropriately.} 11... Nc7 12. a4 b6
13. Nc4 Ba6 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Rb1 {Since Black is prepared to remove the Knight, White tries to get in b2-b4.} 15... Bxc4 16. Bxc4 a6 17. b4 b5 18.
Bd3 c4 19. Bc2 bxa4 {Making a square for that Knight-c7. The passed c-pawn is now an important feature, and the straightforward, logical moves he finds to simplify the position are very pretty.} 20. Bxa4 Nb5 21. Kh1 Qb7 22. Bxb5
axb5 23. Be3 Ng4 24. Bd4 Ne3 25. Bxe3 Bxc3 26. Bd4 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Qa7 28. Qc3
{Now White's major pieces are tied to the blockade of the c-pawn.} 28... Qe7
29. Ra1 Rxa1 30. Qxa1 Rc8 31. Rc1 Qc7 32. Qc3 Ra8 33. f4 Qa7 34. Qd2 Qa2 35.
Qe1 Qb2 36. Rb1 c3 37. h3 Ra2 38. Qf1 c2 39. Rc1 Qxb4 40. e5 Rb2 41. Qf2 Qe4
42. Kh2 Qxd5 {White Resigns. Black will end up with two extra pawns and a well centralized Queen: an easy win.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hjartarson, J."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]

{Candidate Johann Hjartarson of Iceland here falls victim to a Kingside attack.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O
O-O 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 b6 10. b3 c5 11. Bb2 Bb7 12. Qe2 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5
14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Nf3 Qc7 16. Ne5 Rad8 17. Rad1 Rd6 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. Qxg4 f6
20. Bc2 Qe7 21. Rxd6 Bxd6 22. Re1 e5 23. h4 {This seems to be where White starts to go wrong. He should settle for rough equality after 23.Be4.} 23...
Rd8 24. h5 Bb4 25. Re2 Qd7 26. Bf5 Qd1+ 27. Kh2 Bd2 28. Be6+ Kh8 29. Bd5
Bf4+ 30. g3 f5 31. Qh4 Bxg3+ 32. Kxg3 Rxd5 33. cxd5 Qxd5 {White had apparently hoped this series of desperado sacrifices would fail in view of 33...Qxe2 34.Qd8#, but now Black's battery will keep White busy.} 34. Qb4
Qf3+ 35. Kh4 h6 36. Re3 Qxf2+ 37. Rg3 Qh2+ 38. Rh3 Qf2+ 39. Rg3 Kh7 40. Kh3
Qf1+ 41. Kh4 Qh1+ 42. Rh3 Qg1 43. Rg3 {The threat was ...Qg1-g5#.} 43...
Qh2+ 44. Rh3 Qxb2 45. Qc3 Qf2+ {White Resigns. Now 46.Qg3 Qd4+ mates and 46.Rg3 Qh2+ 47.Rh3 Qf4#.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tukmakov, V,"]
[Black "Sveshnikov, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]

{Evgeny Sveshnikov is well known for his eccentric taste in opening variations; he even has one major variation of the Sicilian named after him. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8.
Bg2 Be7 9. O-O dxc4 10. Ne4 Qf5 11. Nfd2 Nb6 {Black desires to hold on to the c4-pawn for a while. Rather than because he holds an extra pawn, Sveshnikov intends to open the d-file and use the c-pawn's influence over the d3 outpost square to his advantage.} 12. a4 Qa5 13. Qc2 O-O 14. Rfd1 Rd8
15. e3 e5 16. dxe5 Bg4 17. f3 {Although White may stand somewhat worse anyway, this weakens the e3-pawn giving a Rook on d3 a target. Better seems 17.Bf3.} 17... Be6 18. f4 Rd3 {The clear and natural exploitation of the open d-file.} 19. Bf1 Rxe3 20. Bxc4 Rxe4 21. Bxe6 {White evidentially overlooked the check, ...Qa5-c5, which would follow 21.Qxe4.} 21... Re2 22.
Bg4 Qd5 23. Bxe2 Bc5+ 24. Qxc5 Qxc5+ 25. Kf1 Nd5 {Black has a winning material advantage.} 26. Nc4 g5 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Rac1 Ne3+ 29. Nxe3 Qxe3
30. Bc4 Qxe5 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Ribli, Z."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]

{The Semi-Slav variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined has a reputation for leading to complicated play. The following game is no exception. Viktor Korchnoi, probably the strongest player never to wear the World Championship crown, tries to blow away fellow Grandmaster Zoltan Ribli. Accurate play from the Hungarian leaves White with a terribly weak pawn on d6 which proves to be Black's margin of victory.} 1. c4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5.
Qb3 {A popular way of avoiding the complexities of the Meran Variation that arises after 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5.} 5... dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qb3 a6
8. Bg5 Nbd7 9. e4 h6 10. Bxf6 {White surrenders the Bishop pair for the Classical center (pawns on e4 and d4) but Black's position is quite resilient.} 10... Nxf6 11. e5 Nd7 {The right square from which the liberating advance ...c6-c5 is supported.} 12. Be2 Bb7 13. O-O Be7 14. Ne4
Rc8 {Preparing ...c6-c5.} 15. Rfc1 Qb6 16. a4 c5 17. Nd6+ {The main alternative, 17.Nxc5, leaves slightly better after 17...Nxc5 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.axb5 Bxf2+ 20.Kh1 O-O-Ribli.} 17... Bxd6 18. exd6 c4 19. Qb4 Bxf3 20.
Bxf3 O-O {Now that things have settled down it's possible to evaluate the position. White's pawn on d6 can't be protected, and the only hope to save the game is by generating play against the enemy b-pawn.} 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Ra5 Rb8 23. Re1 Rfd8 24. h3 Nf6 25. Re5 Qxd6 {Capturing the d-pawn in such a way that other pawns are likely to fall as well.} 26. Qxd6 Rxd6 27. Raxb5
Rxb5 28. Rxb5 Rxd4 29. Be2 Ne4 30. Rb8+ Kh7 31. Rb4 Rd2 32. Bxc4 Nxf2 {With a four versus two majority on the Kingside the rest of the game is a simple matter of technique in Ribli's capable hands.} 33. Rb3 Rc2 34. Bb5 Kg8 35.
Rf3 Ne4 36. Bd3 Rc1+ 37. Rf1 Rxf1+ 38. Kxf1 Nf6 39. Ke2 Kf8 40. Ke3 Ke7 41.
Kd4 Kd6 42. Bc4 Nd7 43. b4 f5 44. Be2 Nb6 45. Bh5 e5+ 46. Kd3 Nd5 47. Kc4
Nf4 48. Be8 Nxg2 49. Kb3 Ne3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lvov"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chernin, A."]
[Black "Vyzhmanavin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]

{White sacrifices a piece for pressure, and finds a way to win the ending.}
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ {With weak points at c3 and e4, and a hanging Bishop on g5, White must use his development advantage quickly.}
10... Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 {Capturing 11...Qxc3+ first is dangerous: 12.Kf1 gxf6 13.Rc1 with nasty threats. When behind in development, think twice about grabbing material and opening lines against your own King.} 12. Qb3 a6
13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qxe6+ Kd8 16. Rd1 Qxc3+ 17. Ke2 Qb2+ 18.
Kf3 Qc3+ 19. Ke2 Qb2+ 20. Kf3 Qc3+ 21. Kg4 {Going for it. The coming complications are hard to assess.} 21... f5+ 22. Kh5 Qg7 23. Rxd7+ Qxd7 24.
Qf6+ Kc7 25. Rc1+ Kb8 26. Qxh8+ Ka7 27. Qe5 Rg8 28. Rc7 Qd8 29. Qe7 Qxe7 30.
Rxe7 Rxg2 31. exf5 Rxf2 32. Kg5 Rg2+ 33. Kh6 Rxa2 {Black may be lost anyway, but it is hard to imagine it is worse to capture the h-pawn with check on one of these moves.} 34. h4 Rf2 35. Re5 b5 36. Kg7 b4 37. f6 b3 38. Re7+ Kb6
39. Re3 b2 40. Rb3+ Ka5 41. f7 Rg2+ {This series of checks is necessary because White threatens Rb3xb2.} 42. Kxh7 Rf2 43. Kg6 Rg2+ 44. Kh6 Rf2 45.
Kg7 Rg2+ 46. Kf8 Ka4 47. Rb6 a5 48. h5 Rh2 49. h6 Rxh6 50. Rxb2 Rh1 51. Rb6
Ka3 52. Ke7 {Black Resigns. After 52...Rf1 53.Rf6 White promotes, and 52...Rh7 53.Ke8 leads to a Rook vs Pawn ending where Black is much too slow.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Rotterdam"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lukacs, P."]
[Black "Sosonko, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]

{If you're behind in development, space, and central control, why not grab a pawn for your troubles? Gennadi Sosonko of the Netherlands is given a fairly clear explanation in this game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5.
Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Rc1 O-O 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Rxc3 dxc4 10. Rxc4 Nc6 11. e4
Rd8 12. e5 Qg6 13. Bd3 Qxg2 14. Rg1 Qh3 15. Qe2 Ne7 16. d5 exd5 {Capture with a piece allows Rc4-h4, trapping the Queen.} 17. Rh4 Qe6 18. Nd4 Qb6 19.
e6 {At the minimal cost of another pawn, White gains a square for his Queen and cuts off communications along the sixth rank.} 19... Bxe6 20. Qe5 Kf8
21. Bb5 Nf5 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. Qxg7+ Ke7 24. Rxh6 Rg8 {Not 24...Qxb5 25.Qe5+ Be6 26.Rxe6+ fxe6 27.Rg7+ and mates.} 25. Qe5+ Be6 26. Qf6+ Kd6 27. Qf4+ Ke7
28. Qf6+ Kd6 29. Rxg8 Rxg8 30. Qxf7 Rg1+ 31. Bf1 Qa5+ 32. b4 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1
Qb5+ 34. Ke1 Qd7 35. Qf4+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov A."]
[Black "Ljubojevic L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]

{Yusupov's sharp, tactical play against Ljubo's hanging center pawns leads to a Queen ending where the passed pawn decides.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. Rc1 c5 8. dxc5 bxc5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O
Nbd7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Ne5 Nb6 13. a4 a5 14. Bf3 Re8 15. Nb5 Ra6 16. Nd3 c4
{The hanging pawns, side-by-side on open files in the center, are notorious. They are strong only if they are impervious to attack or can advance with disorganizing effect; they are weak when forced to advance into a blockade. Here the White forces are coordinated, and the pawns are weak.} 17. Bc7 Qd7
18. Ne5 Qc8 19. b3 Na8 20. bxc4 Nxc7 21. cxd5 Bd6 22. Nc4 Bc5 23. Nxa5 Rxa5
24. Rxc5 Qd8 25. Nd6 Qxd6 26. Rxa5 Bxd5 27. Qd4 Qe6 28. Bxd5 Ncxd5 29. Rd1
Rc8 30. Rc5 Rxc5 31. Qxc5 h5 32. a5 Qe4 33. h3 g6 34. Qc6 Qb4 35. a6 Qa5 36.
Qb7 Qa4 37. Rb1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Timman, J."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]

{This game was played in Yugoslavia in 1987 between the two players who are now each challenging for the World Championship against the two players (Kasparov and Karpov) who have owned the title for nearly twenty years. There are two ways of playing the Exchange variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined: the normal way, planning a minority attack on the Queenside, and Jan Timman's way, with e2-e4 accepting an isolated pawn and attacking the King.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. cxd5 {The Exchange variation has a quiet reputation, since it allows the Black Bishop on c8 to freely develop. White's normal plan is to develop pieces and begin play with the Queenside minority of pawns: b2-b4, a2-a4, b4-b5 intending to weaken the Black pawn that normally will be found on c6.} 5... exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qc2 g6
{Black wants to develop the Bishop aggressively to f5, but this move weakens the Kingside and provokes the Dutch Grandmaster to switch plans.} 8. e4 dxe4
9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qxe4+ Kf8 {Even after 10.Qe7 White will maintain an initiative, but perhaps that move is safer.} 11. Bc4 Kg7 12. O-O Re8 13. Qf4
Be6 14. Bxe6 Rxe6 15. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 16. Rxe1 Nd7 17. Ne4 Be7 18. h4 Qb8 19. Ne5
f6 20. Ng5 Nf8 21. h5 gxh5 22. Qf5 Qc8 23. Nd7 {Discovering an attack against the Bishop.} 23... Qxd7 24. Qxd7 Nxd7 25. Rxe7+ Kg6 26. Nf3 {26.Nxh7 looks good, since it regains a pawn and sets up the trap 26...Rd8 27.Rxd7! Rxd7 28.Nf8+, but Black can jettison a second pawn instead: 26...Nb6! 27.Rxb7, when the White Knight is looking claustrophobic. White may well pick up two or even three pawns for this piece, but the more conservative method chosen by Timman is better.} 26... Rd8 27. Kh2 Nf8 {Short finds it impossible to save all of his pawns on the seventh rank, so he offers some of them to gain piece activity.} 28. Rxb7 Ne6 29. Rxa7 Nxd4 30. Nh4+ Kg5 31.
g3 f5 32. f4+ Kf6 33. Rxh7 Ke6 34. Rh6+ Kd5 35. Rxh5 Ke4 36. Rh7 Kd3 37. Rf7
Rd5 38. b4 Kc4 39. a3 Kb3 40. Ra7 Nc2 41. Ra5 Rd2+ 42. Kh3 Nxa3 43. Ra6 Rc2
44. Nxf5 {The two connected passed pawns decide.} 44... Nb5 45. Ne7 Nd4 46.
Rb6 Rc3 47. Kg4 Ka4 48. Rb7 Nc2 49. f5 Nxb4 50. Rxb4+ Kxb4 51. f6 Ra3 52. f7
Ra8 53. Nxc6+ Kc5 54. Ne5 Kd6 55. Ng6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Halle"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Boensch U"]
[Black "Chekhov V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]

{The Queen's Gambit doesn't have the mad-dog attacking reputation that its Kingside counterpart has earned, but somebody forgot to tell Uwe Boensch!}
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. O-O Qf6
8. e5 Qg6 9. Nh4 Qg4 10. Ndf3 Be6 11. h3 Qe4 12. Bd3 Qd5 13. Ng5 Qxe5 14.
Nhf3 Qd5 15. Be4 Qd7 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Nxd4 O-O-O 19. Qa4 Qxd4
20. Be3 Qxb2 21. Rab1 Qa3 22. Qxc6 Ne7 23. Qxe6+ Rd7 24. Rb3 Qxa2 25. Qe4 c5
26. Rxb4 cxb4 27. Qa8+ Kc7 28. Rc1+ Kd6 29. Qe4 {Closing the net.} 29... Nd5
30. Bf4+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Miles, A"]
[Black "Seirawan, Y"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]

{An instructive endgame.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 a6 4. e4 b5 5. a4 b4 6.
Na2 Bb7 7. f3 e6 8. Bxc4 c5 9. Ne2 Ne7 10. Be3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nec6 12. Nb3
Qxd1+ 13. Rxd1 {White has a slight advantage in the endgame due to Black's weaknesses on the queenside.} 13... Ne5 14. Be2 Bc6 15. Rc1 Bxa4 16. Rc8+
Ke7 17. Nac1 Bxb3 18. Nxb3 Kd7 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rxb8 Kc7 21. Re8 Ng6 22.
Ke2 Bd6 23. Rc1+ Rc6 24. Rxh8 Nxh8 25. f4 Rxc1 26. Bxc1 e5 27. f5 Kc6 28.
Kd3 Kb5 29. g4 f6 30. g5 fxg5 31. Bxg5 Nf7 32. Bh4 g5 33. fxg6ep hxg6 34.
Nd2 Bf8 35. Nc4 Bh6 36. Bf6 Bf4 37. h3 Kc5 38. b3 Kb5 39. Be7 Bc1 40. Ke2
Bf4 41. Nd6+ Nxd6 42. Bxd6 Ka5 43. Kf3 Kb5 44. Kf2 Bh2 45. Kg2 Bf4 46. Kf3
Bh2 47. Kg4 Bf4 48. h4 Bd2 49. Bxe5 Kc5 50. Bf4 Be1 51. Kg5 Kd4 52. e5 Kd5
53. Kxg6 Bxh4 54. Kf7 Ke4 55. Bh2 Bf2 56. e6 Bc5 57. Ke8 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Bulgaria"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Donchev, D."]
[Black "Nikolov, Sa."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]

{Grandmaster Dimitar Donchev, one of Bulgaria's strongest players, is noted for his attacking prowess. His opponent, countryman Sasho Nikolov, is an International Master. This game serves as a reminder that in the Sicilian Black must always be especially vigilant about his opponent's tactical opportunities.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5
e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. a3 {The text avoids the complex lines of the Poison Pawn variation of the Najdorf Sicilian (8.Qd2 Qxb2), while indirectly protecting the b-pawn.} 8... Nc6 {Capturing on b2 would be a grave error as 9.Na4 traps the Queen.} 9. Nb3 Be7 10. Qf3 O-O 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. g4 b5 13. Bg2 {A classic Sicilian position with opposite side castling has arisen. The plan for both players is well known: attack the enemy King as quickly as possible. Here White is ahead in development but Black has compensation in the pawn on a3 which invites ....b7-b5-b4 quickly opening lines.} 13... Rb8
{Sharp Sicilian middlegames often allow little room for error. Here Black makes one small imperceptible error and is never given a chance to recover. The text, preparing ...b5-b4, looks completely natural, but leaves the Knight on c6 loose. Correct was 13...Bb7 giving the Knight extra protection. } 14. e5 Nd5 15. Rxd5 {The start of a brilliant combination that seeks to exploit the lack of harmony in Black's position.} 15... exd5 16. Nxd5 Qd7 { Note that 16...Qd8 fails to 17.Na5! Qxa5 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Nc6.}
17. Na5 Nxa5 18. Nxe7+ Kh8 19. f5 Bb7 {Now the threat of f5-f6, prying open the Black Kingside, is in the air. Note that 19...f6? offers no relief as 20.Ng6+! hxg6 21.Qh3+ Kg8 22.Bd5+ Rf7 23.fxg6 wins.} 20. f6 {A fantastic conception that required great imagination. Donchev sacrifices his Queen for only one piece but draws the enemy King out into the open.} 20... Bxf3 21.
fxg7+ Kxg7 22. Bf6+ Kh6 23. Bxf3 Rg8 {The terrible threat of 24.g5 mate leaves Black with only one choice.} 24. Rg1 {Hoping for 24.h4 Rxg4! breaking the attack.} 24... Qxe7 {Now 24...Rg5 would be met by 25.h4!. With 25.g5+ looming Black is forced to give up his Queen.} 25. Bxe7 dxe5 26. g5+ Kg7 27.
Bf6+ Kf8 28. Rd1 {The smoke has cleared and White is way ahead despite being the Exchange down. All of his pieces are active while Black's Rook on g8 is bottled up.} 28... Nc4 29. Rd7 Nb6 30. Ra7 Re8 31. Be4 h6 32. h4 hxg5 33.
hxg5 Rc8 34. Rb7 Nc4 35. Bd5 Rg7 36. Bxg7+ Kxg7 37. Bxf7 Nd6 38. Be6+ { Simplifying down to an easily won Bishop versus Knight ending.} 38... Nxb7
39. Bxc8 Nd6 40. Bxa6 Kg6 41. b3 Kxg5 42. c4 bxc4 43. Bxc4 Kf4 44. a4 Nxc4
45. bxc4 Kg3 46. Kd2 Kf2 47. Kd3 Kf3 48. a5 e4+ 49. Kd4 e3 50. a6 e2 51. a7
e1=Q 52. a8=Q+ Kf4 53. Qf8+ {Now Donchev demonstrates how to win with Queen and pawn versus Queen. Note how he centralizes his Queen before trying to advance his pawn. This allows for more chances for cross-checks (answering a check with an interposition that also gives check). The cross-check, which threatens to trade down to a won pawn ending, is a major weapon in Queen endings.} 53... Kg5 54. Qg7+ Kf5 55. Qf7+ Kg5 56. Qd5+ Kf6 57. Kc5 Qa5+ 58.
Kc6 Qa6+ 59. Kc7 Qa7+ 60. Qb7 Qa3 61. Qc6+ Kg5 62. c5 Kh5 63. Qd5+ Kh4 64.
c6 Qg3+ 65. Kd8 Qa3 66. c7 Qf8+ 67. Kd7 Qg7+ 68. Kc6 Qc3+ 69. Qc5 Qf3+ 70.
Kb5 Qb7+ 71. Kc4 Qc8 {Black runs out of checks after 71...Qa6+ 72.Kb4 Qb7+ 73.Ka5!} 72. Qd6 Kh5 73. Kc5 Kg4 74. Qd4+ Kh3 75. Qe3+ Kg4 76. Qe4+ Kg3 77.
Qe5+ Kh4 78. Kb6 Kh3 79. Qc3+ Kg4 80. Qc6 Kh3 81. Ka7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Poznan"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ernst Th."]
[Black "Novikov, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8.
Qd2 Qxb2 {The Sicilian Poison Pawn is one of the most analyzed variations in chess. Some of its lines include multiple piece sacrifices by White; all feature attacks against the Black monarch. Yet for all of the high-powered analysts that have placed this position on their boards, the line continues to elude definition. The overall soundness of the gambit is still in doubt.}
9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be2 Be7 14. O-O Qa5
15. Bf3 e5 16. Bh5+ Kd8 {The 16...Nxh5 is out of the question, since 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Nd5+ wins the Queen.} 17. Be3 {Threatening the Queen again, with Be3-b6+. Since these direct threats appear to lead to a White advantage by force, one could conclude that the move 14...Qa5 was faulty.} 17... c5 18.
Rxf6 gxf6 19. Bh6 Rg8 {The Rook was in jeopardy from Bishops coming to f7 and g7.} 20. Qd5 {Fork!} 20... Rxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Qxc3 22. Kh1 Qxc2 23. Rc1 Qf2
24. Qxa8 Qh4 25. Rg1 Qxh5 26. Rg8+ Bf8 27. Rxf8+ Ke7 28. Rxc8 Qd1+ {With a huge material deficit, Black's only hope is perpetual check. The method White uses to evade the checks is worthy of study - and of course White needed to work all of this out before he grabbed the Rook.} 29. Kg2 Qe2+ 30.
Kg3 Qe1+ 31. Kf3 Qf1+ 32. Ke3 Qe1+ 33. Kd3 Qf1+ 34. Kc2 Qc4+ 35. Kd2 Qxa2+
36. Ke3 Qb3+ 37. Kf2 Qc2+ 38. Kg3 Qc3+ {If 38.Qd3+ Kh4.} 39. Kg4 f5+ 40.
exf5 Qd4+ 41. Kg3 Qg1+ 42. Qg2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Managua"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Estevez, G."]
[Black "Canda, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B62"]

{According to Averbach, in his "Chess Tactics for Advanced Players," all chess tactical motives can be distilled into one common theme, the double attack. Still, the series of double attacks ending this game make a pleasing impression.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6
7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Qf3 h6 10. Bh4 c5 11. Nb3 Bc6 12. O-O-O Qc7 13.
Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nd5 {Actually, this is a common sacrifice in the Sicilian. The setting here is a bit unusual.} 14... exd5 15. exd5 Bb7 16. Qxf6 Rg8 17.
Rhe1+ Be7 18. Nxc5 Kd8 19. Rxe7 Qxe7 20. Nxb7+ Kd7 21. Qc3 Rac8 22. Qb4 Rc7
23. g3 Rg5 24. Na5 Qe2 25. Qa4+ Ke7 26. Nc6+ {Driving the King into the tactic.} 26... Kf8 27. Qf4 {A double attack, in a way: d6 is hit and f7 is pinned.} 27... Rg6 28. Nd4 {Hitting the Queen...} 28... Qe5 29. Ne6+ {And the e6 square. Now the fork wins too much material. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Muelner, I."]
[Black "Janosi, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B81"]

{Sometimes the tactics in correspondence games are so deep that a quick overview of the game makes you wonder if both players set up the pieces wrong. Even after careful study, the tactics and positional evaluations Black arrived at in this game are impressive.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 {The dreaded Keres attack.} 6... h6 7. Rg1 Be7
8. Be3 a6 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Qd2 g5 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. h4 gxh4 {It's hard to imagine that the weak, doubled extra pawn just created will eventually promote.} 13. f4 Qc7 14. Nf3 b5 15. e5 {White regains the pawn with this move, but yields Black an enduring initiative.} 15... dxe5 16. fxe5 Nd5 17.
Nxd5 exd5 18. Bxh6 Rc8 19. Kb1 Rg8 20. Bf4 Be6 21. Rc1 d4 22. Ng5 Bxa2+ 23.
Kxa2 Nb4+ 24. Kb3 Qc6 25. c3 a5 26. Nh7 d3 27. Ka3 Qe6 28. b3 a4 {It is conceivable that Black foresaw the final position of the game when playing this move.} 29. Nf6+ Bxf6 30. bxa4 Ra8 31. Bd1 Nc2+ 32. Bxc2 dxc2 33. Kb2
Rxa4 34. Ra1 Be7 35. Rxa4 bxa4 36. Qxc2 Qc4 37. Qd2 Rg6 38. Ka1 Rb6 39. Rb1
Rb3 40. Rxb3 axb3 41. Kb2 Qa4 42. Kb1 Ba3 43. Qg2 Bc1 44. Bxc1 h3 45. Qe2
Qa2+ {And the h-pawn Queens -- White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vladimirov, E."]
[Black "Epishin, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]

{There are three basic ways to attack the Sicilian structure seen in this game: e4-e5, f4-f5, and g4-g5. Usually the g4-g5 idea is to drive away the defending Knight-f6, but here White uses it to open the g-file, then follows up with f4-f5, which is normally used to soften the d5-square.} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 {An attacking idea attributed to the great Estonian Grandmaster Paul Keres. It certainly sets unpleasant problems for Black, who must have second thoughts about castling after a move like this.} 6... h6 7. h4 Be7 8. g5 hxg5 9. Bxg5 Nc6 10. Qd2 a6 11.
O-O-O Bd7 12. f4 Nxd4 {Black tries to clear some space for his cramped pieces by exchanging.} 13. Qxd4 Bc6 14. Rg1 Qa5 15. Bh3 Qc5 16. Qd3 b5 17.
f5 b4 {Understandably, Black would prefer to drive the c3-Knight away before reacting ...e6-e5, since a Knight hopping into d5 would be very strong.} 18.
Be3 Qa5 19. Qc4 Bb7 20. fxe6 bxc3 21. Rxg7 d5 {Hoping to reduce the effect of the White Queen on the a2-g8 diagonal. Black's King is caught in the center, and the passed pawn that will soon appear on f7 will make some serious threats.} 22. Qb3 cxb2+ 23. Kb1 Qb5 {It isn't easy to suggest an improvement for Black. With this move he hopes to reduce the attacking force by exchanging Queens.} 24. exf7+ Kf8 25. Rdg1 Qxb3 26. Bh6 Ng4 27. Rh7+ Nxh6
28. Rxh8+ Kxf7 29. Rh7+ {Black Resigns. The Black Knight is a goner, since even after 29...Ke8 30.axb3 Nf7 31.Rgg7 wins pieces.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Szirak"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Marin, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]

{British Grandmaster John Nunn knows his stuff in several openings. At the Interzonal tournament in 1987, he got to demonstrate a thing or two about the Sicilian.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6
7. Qd2 b5 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Bd3 Ne5 12. Rhe1 Nfd7 13. f4
b4 {Black has made several moves with Knights while White has been compactly centralizing his forces. Now Black hopes to force the Knight c3 to retreat before his own steed flees the scene, but Nunn seizes the chance to advance! } 14. Nd5 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 exd5 16. exd5 Be7 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. dxc6 Nf6 19. Bb6
{Many lines were opened by White's excellent thematic sacrifice of a Knight on d5, and naturally his major pieces are well prepared to take advantage.}
19... Qxb6 20. Rxe7+ Kf8 {If 20...Kxe7 21.Qxd6+ and 22.Re1+.} 21. Qxd6 Kg8
22. g5 hxg5 23. fxg5 Rc8 24. c7 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Ng4 26. Rd8+ Kh7 27. Red7 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]

{The Breyer variation of the Ruy Lopez features complex strategic play that can degenerate into a devastating Kingside attack for White, or a swamp full of pawns rolling up the Queenside for Black. As played by these two strong Grandmasters, it is all of the above.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2
Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18.
Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Bh6 Nfd7 22. Qe3 Rb8 23. Rf1 Bf8 24. Bxf8
Rxf8 25. Nd2 Bc8 26. f4 {White begins the Kingside assault, giving up the e5-square to open the f-file.} 26... exf4 27. Qxf4 Ne5 28. Nf3 Qe7 29. axb5
axb5 30. Qh6 b4 {And here come the Black pawns. One recent World Championship game in the related Zaitzev system had the ultimate Black pawn mass - four extra connected passed pawns on the Queenside. However, Black fell into a drawing trick later.} 31. Ne2 b3 32. Bb1 Nxf3+ 33. Rxf3 Qe5 34.
Nf4 Qg7 35. Qg5 Re8 36. Rg3 Re5 37. Qd8+ Qf8 38. Qf6 Nd7 39. Qh4 Kh7 40. Ra4
Nb6 41. Ra7 Rb7 42. Rxb7 Bxb7 43. Rf3 Qe8 44. Qf6 Qe7 45. Nxh5 {Tactics based on the loose Bishop-b7 and possible connected passers for White. If 45...gxh5 46.Qxf7+ starts taking pawns to compensate for the Knight.} 45...
Qxf6 46. Rxf6 Re7 47. Rxd6 Nc8 48. Rd8 gxh5 49. e5+ Kg7 50. d6 Nxd6 51. Rxd6
Rxe5 {And after the fireworks, equality.} 52. Kf2 Rg5 53. g3 h4 54. g4 Rd5
55. Rxd5 Bxd5 56. Bf5 Kf6 57. Bc8 Ke5 58. Ke3 f6 59. Ba6 Be6 60. Bb5 Bd5 
{Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]

{In 1987, the decidedly youthful British phenomenon Nigel Short did well in a strong international event in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. The sport of chess will be much worse off due to the conflict in Yugoslavia; clearly funding chess tournaments is no longer a priority there.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
4. c3 {The Giuoco Piano, an ancient opening. The original idea was to get in d2-d4 as fast as possible, often at the cost of a pawn or two. Nigel chooses a more modern treatment here, expanding on the Queenside.} 4... Nf6 5. b4
Bb6 6. d3 a6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nf4 11. d4 Be6 {The experienced Korchnoi prefers to finish development rather than speculate on the position after 11...exd4.} 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qg5 14. g3 Ne2+ 15.
Bxe2 {Collecting three minor pieces for the Queen.} 15... Bxb3 16. Ndf3 Qf6
17. axb3 Rae8 {Three minors are usually more than a match for a Queen, but the presence of other pieces can muddy things up a bit. Also, the placing of the pieces is critical.} 18. Bf4 h6 19. Bc4 g5 20. Ng4 Qxc3 21. Nxh6+ Kg7
22. Nxg5 Qxb4 23. Nhxf7 Bd4 24. Rad1 Qc3 25. Rd3 Qb2 26. Bc1 Bxf2+ 27. Kg2
Qa1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gligoric, S."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]

{Nigel Short is one of the world's leading experts on the French Defense.}
1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Nbc6 8.
Nf3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. Bd3 c4 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O f6 {A thematic break against the head of the pawn chain. Nimzowitsch extols the virtues of attacking the base (BASE) of a chain, but the modern game is perhaps a little more flexible.} 13. Ba3 Rae8 14. Bd6 Rf7 15. g3 Nf5 16. Bb4 Qc7 17.
Rfe1 fxe5 18. dxe5 Nxb4 19. cxb4 Ref8 {Black now gets play on the half-open f-file and in the center, where his pawn mass is fairly mobile.} 20. Ng5 Re7
21. Bg4 Be8 22. c3 a5 23. bxa5 Qxa5 24. Qb2 Bc6 25. f4 h6 26. Nf3 d4 27.
cxd4 {Not 27.Nxd4 Nxd4 28.cxd4 Qd5 when Black owns the long diagonal to the White King.} 27... g5 {Opening the file for fireworks against the f3-point.}
28. fxg5 h5 29. Bxh5 Nxg3 30. hxg3 Bxf3 31. Qa3 Qd5 32. Rad1 {Gligoric now recognizes the dangers in 32.Qxe7 Qxd4+, but it is too late.} 32... Rh7 33.
g4 Bxd1 34. Rxd1 Rf3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hungary"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Perenyi, B."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]

{In closed positions, maneuvering becomes the rule, and frequently unusual developments are possible. However, this game played in Hungary in 1987 had both players try something quite rare: the fianchetto of the Queen!} 1. e4
e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 b6 {Most active is 4...c5, attacking the base of White's pawn chain. s often leads to wild complications.} 5. Qg4 Bf8 6.
Nh3 Ne7 7. Bg5 Nbc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. O-O-O h6 10. Be3 a6 11. Be2 Qc8 12. Nf4
Qb7 {Black first finds b7 for his Queen. His game is cramped, but playable; he intends to castle long.} 13. Qf3 O-O-O 14. Nh5 Be8 15. g4 Kb8 16. Qg2 { Now the fianchettoed Queens are in opposition on the long diagonal. The Black pieces have adequately defended the Kingside, and now White will switch to the other wing, attacking with a battery of Queen and Bishop, and supporting with a Rook lift.} 16... Rc8 17. Qf1 Ka7 18. f4 Bd7 19. Rg1 Na5
20. Rg3 c5 {Unfortunately, Black's main hope for active play is also on the Queenside. Opening the game here is dangerous, since the Black King will become more exposed. However, it is hard to be too critical, since passive defense is doomed.} 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Bg1 Ng6 23. Ne4 {Capture of this Knight leads to immolation on the a-file: 23...dxe4 24.Ra3. Note the pin of c5 and the loose Bishop d7, which both play a tactical role.} 23... Rb8 24.
Nxc5 Qxb2+ 25. Kd2 d4 26. Rb1 Bxc5 {White gets more than sufficient compensation for the Exchange after 26...Qxb1 27.Qxb1 Rxb1 28.Nxd7. The ending would be all but hopeless.} 27. Rxb2 Rxb2 28. Qa1 Rhb8 {Black has almost enough for the Queen, but the pin of c5 and weakness on the a-file come back to haunt him.} 29. Kc1 R2b4 30. Rc3 Bb6 31. Rb3 Nxb3+ 32. axb3 a5
33. Bc4 Ne7 34. Bxd4 Nc6 35. Bxb6+ R8xb6 {Better is 35...R4xb6, but White should still win.} 36. c3 Rxb3 37. Bxb3 Rxb3 38. Kc2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Varna"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Angelov, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]

{After a weirdly violent opening exchange, Black finds his Knight difficult to extract.} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5 5. dxe5 Nc6 6. Nf3
Bb4 7. Bd2 Bg4 8. a3 Nd4 {Black must rely on tactical devices to remain in the game.} 9. Bb5+ c6 10. O-O Bxf3 11. axb4 Bxd1 12. bxa5 Bxc2 13. Ba4 Ne7
14. Bxc2 Nxc2 15. Ra4 {Incarcerating the Knight.} 15... Rd8 16. Ne4 Nf5 17.
g4 Nfd4 18. Nd6+ Ke7 19. Bc3 c5 20. Nxb7 Rd5 21. Rc4 h5 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23.
Nxc5 hxg4 24. Kg2 Nf3 25. Rd1 Rxh2+ 26. Kg3 Ke8 27. Ne4 Rh6 28. Kxg4 Nh4 29.
Rc1 {Finally the trapped Knight decides matters. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tarnby"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hebden, M."]
[Black "Jadoul, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]

{British International Master Mark Hebden tries to sneak off with some material belonging to his unknown opponent, only to be swamped with a sustained onslaught of Black pieces.} 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nf3
Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Qf6 6. Qg3 Qg6 7. Qxc7 {Hunting for material at the cost of development is often dangerous.} 7... Bd6 8. Qc4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Be5 10. Bd2 O-O
11. O-O-O d5 12. exd5 b5 {Black throws away Queenside pawns to get open lines.} 13. Nxb5 Bf5 14. Bc3 Rfc8 15. Qa4 a6 16. Nd4 Rxc3 17. bxc3 Rb8 18.
Nb3 Ne4 19. Qxa6 Qg5+ 20. Kb2 Nxc3 21. Re1 Qd2 22. Bd3 Ne2+ 23. Kb1 Qc3 
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "USSR"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Volovik, D."]
[Black "Kozlov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]

{A right smart execution. White's mating attack is swift and final.} 1. e4
a6 2. d4 b5 {In the early '80s, the St. George attack (...b7-b5) gained some popularity when Tony Miles used it to defeat World Champion Karpov. What few noticed was the huge number of offbeat openings Miles had tried against Karpov with zero success first. That he eventually scored with one of them shouldn't be too surprising, and a careful study of that game proved it was hardly the fault of the opening. However, public taste is seldom based on good logic, and it took several serious setbacks, including this game, before the St. George found the obscurity it truly deserves.} 3. Nf3 Bb7 4.
Bd3 Nf6 5. Qe2 e6 6. a4 c5 {Miles' success came by playing this move at the right moment and transposing into a tame line of the Sicilian where the advanced Queenside pawns may be useful. The position was equal, but Karpov played too hard to refute the odd opening, and eventually overpressed. Here, White plays accurately, proving the Black Queenside to be advanced too fast, and finding great squares for his Knights.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Nbd2 b4 9. e5
Nd5 10. Ne4 Be7 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nd6 Bc6 13. h4 f6 {With the White pawn cramping the Kingside from e5 and the Knight firmly entrenched on d6, Black has few chances to survive. This attempt to drive off the attackers meets with a swift refutation.} 14. exf6 gxf6 15. Ne5 fxg5 16. Qh5 Rf5 17. Bxf5
exf5 18. Qf7+ Kh8 19. Ng6+ {And mate next, so Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Vrsac"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Black "Rajkovic, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A31"]

{By transposition this game reaches the Hedgehog Sicilian, in which White attempts to keep a bind on the center using the Maroczy-style construction c4, e4, f3. This is a very effective strategy against the Dragon formations (Black fianchettos the King Bishop), but active play is harder to develop versus the flexible and reactive Hedgehog. In this game, the White player decides to advance the Kingside pawns in a storm, willy-nilly, and is suitably punished as the Black pieces infiltrate the weaknesses left behind. } 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bb7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. f3 d6 7. e4 Nbd7
8. Be3 e6 9. Be2 Be7 10. Qd2 a6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 Re8 13. Rac1 Qc7 14.
Bf1 Rac8 15. Kh1 Qb8 16. Qf2 Bd8 17. Nc2 Bc7 18. g4 {There is nothing wrong with White's game until this move. White is simply not placed to attack the Kingside; more reasonable is continued maneuvering. Once the e-pawn is secure, White might consider a plan with f3-f4, or a4-a5, or even b2-b4 and c4-c5(?!?). Regardless, he will need to consider the potential counterstrikes ...b6-b5 and ...d6-d5 on every single play. If Black achieves one of these, White may go down like a rock.} 18... h6 19. h4 d5 {Reaction in the center against the (premature/unprepared) wing attack. White's Kingside actions amount to hara-kiri.} 20. g5 Bg3 21. Qg2 dxe4 22. fxe4 hxg5
23. hxg5 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Nc5 25. Bxc5 Rxc5 26. Rd7 Ba8 27. Rcd1 Rxg5 {The result of White's Kingside attack: he lost all of his King's cover for the temporary gain of a piece. White must now make another material adjustment.}
28. Nxg5 Bxg2+ 29. Bxg2 Qf4 30. Nh3 Qxc4 31. Nd4 Qxa2 32. Rf1 Be5 33. Nf3
Bf6 34. Nfg5 Qxb2 {An unusual material imbalance: Queen, Rook, Bishop, and four Pawns vs. two Rooks, two Knights, Bishop, and zero.} 35. Nxf7 Re7 36.
Rxe7 Bxe7 37. Rf2 Qd4 38. Rf4 Qd1+ 39. Rf1 Qd4 40. Nf4 {It would seem to be in White's favor to continue the repetition and hope for a draw, but of course Black has just been repeating to reach the time control at move forty.} 40... Bf6 41. Bh3 Kxf7 42. Bxe6+ Ke7 43. Bf5 Qd2 44. Bd3 b5 45. Rf3
Be5 46. Ng6+ Kd6 47. Kg1 Bd4+ 48. Kf1 a5 {Meeting 49.Bxb5 with 49...Qd1+ 50.Kg2 Qg1+ and ...Qg1xg6. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "8th Match Game, Seville"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]

{This World Championship game was played in Spain between the two players who have dominated the Championship since Fischer's refusal to defend it in 1975. Karpov defeated Korchnoi in 1975 (Candidates Finals), 1978, and 1981. Karpov and Kasparov have played in every match for the title since, until the odd happenings of this year (1993). Nigel Short qualified to challenge Kasparov, and together they broke away from FIDE, organizers of the title match since the death of Alekhine. FIDE countered by replacing them with Karpov and Timman, who had each lost a match to Short during the qualification process. This may lead to the odd situation of having both Kasparov and Karpov claiming the title, although at this point Fischer himself may have as legitimate a claim as anyone else.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5
3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 {Another treatment is to retreat the Knight to e1. When Black captures on c3, White can then recapture with the d-pawn, and maneuver the Knight e1-c2-e3-d5. Moves like Bc1-g5 fit in well with this plan.} 7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 e3 {In the next game of the match with these colors, Black captured on f3 here and lost badly. Apparently, between the games analysts for both camps had decided the gambit offered here wasn't sound.} 10. d3 {The move 10.d4 is a possible improvement.} 10... d5 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qa3 c6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. f4 Nc6 15.
Rb1 Qc7 16. Bb2 Bg4 17. c4 dxc4 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Ne4 Kg7 20. dxc4 Rad8 21.
Rb3 Nd4 22. Rxe3 Qxc4 23. Kh1 {White's pieces are badly placed to defend against Karpov's well-coordinated army.} 23... Nf5 24. Rd3 Bxe2 25. Rxd8
Rxd8 26. Re1 Re8 27. Qa5 b5 28. Nd2 Qd3 29. Nb3 Bf3 30. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 31. Kg1
Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 Ne3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "2nd Match Game, Seville"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G,"]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]

{The two best players in the world essay the English Opening. Kasparov gives away the Bishop pair, in an open position suicide against Karpov, but receives ample compensation in the form of unassailable central squares for his Knights. After lengthy maneuvers he finds a weakness to attack.} 1. c4
e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. a3 g6 6. b4 Bg7 7. Rb1 Nge7 {Black's structure is known as the Botvinnik formation, and it is most commonly played from the White side in the English or as a Black defense to the Closed Sicilian. As a defense in symmetric English variations it is slightly suspect. Black shuts in his own King's Bishop, and weakens d5 voluntarily. We will see shortly just how important the d5 and e4 squares can become.} 8.
e3 O-O 9. d3 Rb8 10. Nge2 Be6 11. b5 Na5 12. Bd2 b6 13. O-O Nb7 14. e4 { Similarly shutting in White's Bishop, but note how much harder it is for a Black Knight to reach d4.} 14... Kh8 15. Qc1 f5 16. Bg5 Qe8 17. Bxe7 Qxe7
18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Nd5 Qd7 20. Qd2 Na5 21. Nec3 Rbe8 22. Ne4 {And now White's domination of the central light squares is complete.} 22... Nb7 23. a4 Na5
24. h4 Nb7 25. Kh2 Rb8 26. Ra1 Na5 27. Ra3 Rf7 28. Qc3 Rd8 29. Ra2 Bh6 30.
Ng5 Rff8 {Of course, Black cannot afford to open the h-file (...Bh6xg5), so the Bishop remains inactive.} 31. Re2 Bg7 32. Qc2 Rde8 33. Ne3 Bh6 34. Bd5
Bg7 35. Qd1 h6 {This will eventually allow White to target the g6-pawn. However, it is very difficult to just sit and play pieces back and forth against the dynamic World Champion; he'll certainly come and get you eventually.} 36. Ne4 Qd8 37. Ra2 Bc8 38. Nc3 h5 39. Be4 Re6 40. Ncd5 Bh6 41.
Ng2 {Supporting the f4-break.} 41... Kg7 42. f4 exf4 43. Ngxf4 Re5 44. Nxg6
Rxf1 45. Qxf1 Rxe4 46. dxe4 Kxg6 {Although the material count now appears to favor Black, closer inspection reveals the Black pieces are completely unable to organize a simple defense.} 47. Rf2 Qe8 48. e5 dxe5 49. Rf6+ Kg7
50. Rd6 {Black Resigns. Qf6 will win a piece or more.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Bulgaria-DDR Match, Bulgaria"]
[Date "1987"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Black "Tischbierek, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]

{White essays a most original and effective Kingside expansion.} 1. Nf3 d5
2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. c4 c6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 e6 7. d3 Ngf6 8. O-O Be7
9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4 {Played both to allow the win of the Bishop pair and to free the f-pawn for advance.} 11... Bc5 12. Na4 Bd6 13. e4 d4
14. f4 e5 15. f5 b5 {But White isn't winning a piece with his advance, because his Knight, too, is vulnerable.} 16. Nc3 dxc3 17. bxc3 Rc8 18. Qe1
Nc5 19. Rf3 Na4 20. Bd2 a6 21. Bf1 Nd7 22. d4 Ndb6 23. Ng2 Qc7 24. h4 f6 25.
fxg6 {Finally it is necessary to regain the piece.} 25... hxg6 26. g5 { Normally the open h-file and advanced Kingside pawns would be a source of concern for White, but here the Black King has no safe home, and the White center is surprisingly secure.} 26... fxg5 27. Qg3 Rh5 28. Bxg5 Nd7 29. Qg4
Nf8 30. dxe5 Bxe5 31. Bxb5+ {Clearing f1 with tempo. When the Knight-f8 is undermined, the light squares it is guarding will be open to occupation by the White Queen.} 31... axb5 32. Raf1 Bf6 33. Bxf6 gxf6 34. Rxf6 Qc5+ 35.
Kh1 Rc6 36. Rxf8+ Qxf8 37. Rxf8+ Kxf8 38. Nf4 Rh6 39. Qg5 {Winning a Rook. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Smirin, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]

{An instructive Kasparov combination.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4
d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5
12. b4 b6 13. f3 f4 14. Na4 axb4 15. axb4 g5 16. c5 Nf6 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. b5
Bd7 19. Nc4 Nc8 20. Ba3 Ne8 21. g4 {Stopping Black's attack on the kingside. } 21... fxg3ep 22. hxg3 g4 23. Bc1 gxf3 24. Bxf3 Nf6 25. Bg5 Ra7 26. Rf2 Rb7
27. Rb3 Ra7 28. Rb1 Rb7 29. Rb3 Ra7 30. Rb4 Kh8 {Better is 30...Qe8.} 31.
Qf1 {This is where the combination starts.} 31... Bxb5 32. Rxb5 Rxa4 33. Bg2
h6 34. Bh4 Qe8 35. Bxf6 Rxf6 36. Rxf6 Qxb5 37. Re6 {This is the move that Kasparov had to see when starting his combination. The Knight is indirectly protected: 37...Qxc4 38.Re8+ Kh7 39.Qf5# and 37...Rxc4 38.Qf7.} 37... Kg8
38. Bh3 Rxc4 {Overlooking White's reply, but who would have seen what was coming? Best is 38...Ra7, after which White transposes into a superior endgame with 39.Ne3 Qxf1+ 40.Kxf1.} 39. Rxh6 {An unexpected way to clear the e6-square for the Bishop!} 39... Bxh6 {If 39...Qc5+, then 40.Kh1 Rc1 41.Be6#.} 40. Be6+ Kh8 41. Qf6+ {Black Resigns. If 41...Kh7, then 42.Qf7+ Bg7 43.Bf5+ Kh8 44.Qh5+ Kg8 45.Be6+ Kf8 46.Qf7#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Sibenik"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Suetin, A."]
[Black "Sale, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E80"]

{Always look for unexpected moves.} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6
5. f3 Nc6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Rb8 8. d5 Ne5 9. h3 Nh5 10. Qf2 f5 11. f4 O-O {A brilliant piece sacrifice.} 12. fxe5 {Black also has compensation for the sacrificed piece after 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.fxe5 Bxe5.} 12... fxe4 13. Qh4 Bxe5 { Threatening 14...Bg3+.} 14. Nge2 b5 {With active pieces and open lines and White's King stuck in the center, Black has compensation for the sacrificed piece.} 15. g4 Ng3 {Black must go forward with courage. 15...Nf6?! 16.cxb5 followed by 17.Bg2 gives White a large advantage. Black cannot allow White to consolidate.} 16. Nxg3 Rf3 17. Nge2 Rxe3 18. Bg2 Qf8 19. Nxe4 {Correct is 19.Nd1.} 19... bxc4 20. Qf2 Rxe2+ 21. Qxe2 Rxb2 22. Qf3 Rxg2 23. Qxf8+ {If 23.Qxg2, then 23...Bxa1 24.Rf1 Qg7 wins.} 23... Kxf8 24. Rc1 Bb7 25. Rf1+
Ke8 26. Nd2 Bxd5 27. Nxc4 Bg3+ 28. Kd1 Rxa2 {Black's two Bishops and numerous pawns give him a decisive advantage.} 29. Rc3 Bg2 30. Rg1 Ra1+ 31.
Rc1 Rxc1+ 32. Kxc1 Bf4+ 33. Kd1 Bd5 34. Nd2 Kd7 35. Kc2 Be5 36. Kd3 c5 37.
Nc4 Bxc4+ 38. Kxc4 Kc6 39. Rd1 g5 40. Rd3 a5 41. Rd2 a4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]

{A sparkling win by the World Champion. Grandmaster Alexander Beliavsky has a reputation for being a fearless fighter but occasionally he seems to lose his sense of danger. Here Kasparov introduces a strong novelty (15...Qf5!) which pays quick dividends when Alexander goes wrong almost immediately (17. . Rd1? - correct was 17.Rd6!). The conclusion is vintage Kasparov with all sorts of tactical complications.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5.
Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8. Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. Bg5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Be6
12. O-O-O Bxd5 13. Rxd5 Qb6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. e5 Qf5 16. Bd3 Qc8 17. Rd1 b5
18. Qh4 Nb4 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Rd7 Qe8 21. Re7 Bh6+ {Things look bad for Black but a few quick thunder bolts, based on White's weak back rank, make the true nature of the position crystal clear.} 22. Kb1 Rd8 23. Rd6 Qc6 24.
a3 Rxd6 25. exd6 Qxd6 26. axb4 cxb4 27. Qe4 b3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Kasparov G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D89"]

{One of the reasons for the popularity of openings like the Kings Indian Attack (1.Nf3 followed by 2.g3, 3.Bg2, 4.O-O, 5.d3, 6.Nbd2, and 7.e4) is due to the closed nature of the position the critical stage of the game tends to be delayed. More forceful openings, like the Grunfeld for example, tend to supernova much earlier on. The following game is a good case in point.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. Rc1
{A critical juncture where White must choose between the text and the main line - 14.d5.} 14... Bxa2 15. Qa4 Be6 16. d5 Bd7 17. Qb4 e6 18. Rfd1 exd5
19. exd5 Re8 20. Bf2 b5 21. Nd4 Nc4 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. dxc6 Nb2 24. Bxb5 { Forced as 24.c7 would be met by 24...Qxd3!.} 24... Nxd1 25. c7 Qd5 26. Bxe8
Nxf2 27. c8=Q Rxc8 28. Rxc8 Nh3+ 29. gxh3 {Yusupov has no choice but to accept the draw as 29.Kf1?? gets mated by 29...Qd3+ 30.Ke1 Qe3+ 31.Kd1 Nf2+ 32.Kc2 Qd3+ 33.Kc1 Qd1+.} 29... Qd1+ 30. Kg2 Qe2+ 31. Kg1 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, A."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]

{Anatoly Karpov has done well against Garry Kasparov when the latter defended against 1.d4 with the Grunfeld and this game is no exception. Here Kasparov employs a fashionable line against the Exchange variation which involves a pawn sacrifice. White's ragged pawn structure and slightly insecure King provide some compensation but the real key to this line is whether the Bishop on g7 is active. in this game Karpov is so effective at bottling it up that in desperation Kasparov is forced to unsoundly sacrifice the Exchange.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3
Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ {Till the mid 1980's the routine continuation was 12.Bd3 but now the text is all the rage.} 12... Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1 Qd6 15. e5 Qd5 16. Bf2 Rd8 17.
Qa4 b6 18. Qc2 Rf8 19. Kg1 Qc4 20. Qd2 Qe6 21. h3 Nc4 22. Qg5 h6 23. Qc1 Qf7
24. Bg3 g5 25. Qc2 Qd5 26. Bf2 b5 27. Ng3 Rf7 28. Re1 b4 29. Qg6 Kf8 30. Ne4
Rxf2 31. Kxf2 bxc3 32. Qf5+ Kg8 33. Qc8+ Kh7 34. Qxc5 Qf7+ 35. Kg1 c2 36.
Ng3 Bf8 37. Nf5 Kg8 38. Rc1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D86"]

{The Grunfeld is one of Black's most respected answers to 1.d4 because it combines both soundness and the opportunity for dynamic counterplay. If there is one drawback to this defense it's that it requires careful handling or White's center can serve as a springboard for a Kingside attack . That's the case in the following game between Dutch GM Jan Timman and the great Viktor Korchnoi of Switzerland. When Black makes an insignificant error on move 11 things quickly start to go downhill.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 b6 {This is an usual continuation. Normally Black plays either 7...c5 or 7... O-O.} 8. Nf3 { Experience with 7...b6 is limited but the traditional answer has been 8.Qf3 threatening e5 in some positions. The text is logical and contains the hidden trap 8...Bb7 9.Bxf7+!.} 8... O-O 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qc2 {Since White plays Re1 shortly one might wonder why not now? The answer is that that Qc2 not only guards e4 but also protects c3. This enables the first player to meet 10...c5 with 11.d5.} 10... Nc6 11. Re1 Qd7 {A small but significant error. According to Timman the path to equality was reached by 11...Qd6 12.e5 (otherwise the Bishop is unable to be posted on a3) 12...Qd8 13.e6 f5 14.Ng5 Na5.} 12. Rb1 e6 13. Ba3 Rfd8 14. h4 {The lack of pressure on White's center means a Kingside attack has good chances to succeed.} 14... Na5 15.
Bf1 c5 16. dxc5 {Necessary as Black would have too much counterplay after ...cxd4.} 16... Qc7 17. Qc1 bxc5 18. h5 Nc6 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Qg5 {A multi-purpose move which eyes both the Kingside and c-pawn.} 20... Rab8 21.
Bxc5 Qa5 22. Rb5 Qxc3 23. Reb1 Bf6 24. Qh6 a6 {Not 24...Ba6 because of 25.Rxb8 Rxb8 26.Ng5 winning.} 25. R1b3 Qc2 26. Ne1 {Winning a piece and the game.} 26... Qd2 27. Qxd2 Rxd2 28. Rxb7 Rxb7 29. Rxb7 Rxa2 30. Rb6 Nd4 31.
Rxa6 Ne2+ 32. Bxe2 Rxe2 33. Nf3 Rxe4 34. Ra8+ Kg7 35. Bf8+ Kh7 36. Ra7 g5
37. Rxf7+ Kg6 38. Rd7 g4 39. Nd2 Re1+ 40. Nf1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Uzhgorod"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Efimov, I."]
[Black "Mikhalchishin, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D81"]

{A game of attacks and counterattacks.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3
dxc4 5. Qxc4 Na6 6. Bf4 Bg7 7. e4 O-O 8. Rd1 c5 9. d5 Qb6 10. Rd2 e6 11. d6
e5 {This move starts a tactical storm.} 12. Bxe5 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 {If 13.Nxe4, then 13.Bxe5 14.d7 Bxd7 15.Rxd7 Rad8 is good Black because White's King is stuck in the center.} 13... Bf5 14. Qh4 Bxe5 15. Nd5 Rae8 16. Ne7+ {If 16.Nxb6, then 16...Bf6+ or if 16.d7, then 16...Qxb2 17.dxe8=Q Qc1+ with a strong attack.} 16... Kg7 17. Nxf5+ gxf5 18. Be2 Qb4 19. Qg5+ {If 19.Qxb4, then 19...Nxb4 20.a3 Nc6 followed by ...Nd4 is good for Black.} 19... Kh8
20. Nh3 f6 21. Qxf5 Bxb2 22. a3 Qa5 {Stronger is 22...Qc3 threatening ...Qc1+.} 23. d7 Rd8 24. Nf4 {24.Kd1 would have held out longer. Now White loses a Rook.} 24... Bc1 25. O-O Qxd2 26. Bd3 Rf7 27. Ne6 Rdxd7 28. Bc4 Qc3
29. Bb5 Rde7 30. Nd8 Rf8 31. Ne6 Rff7 32. Nd8 Rf8 33. Ne6 Rg8 34. Nf4 Bxf4
35. Qxf4 Qe5 36. Qh4 Qg5 37. Qh3 Qg4 38. Qxg4 Rxg4 39. Rd1 Rd4 40. Rc1 Nc7
41. Bf1 b6 42. Rc4 Kg7 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saloniki"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Knaak, R."]
[Black "Christiansen, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E41"]

{The Art of defense.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6.
Ne2 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. a3 Be7 10. Bc2 O-O 11. Qd3 g6 12. h4 { Forsaking castling to start a kingside attack.} 12... e5 {The best way to meet a flank attack is with a counterattack in the center.} 13. dxe5 Nxc3 { If 13...Bf5, then 14.Qxd5 Bxc2 15.Bg5! is good for White.} 14. Qxc3 Bg4 { Black has sacrificed a pawn, but hopes to take advantage of White's King being stuck in the center.} 15. f3 Rc8 {Black needs to press forward with his attack. White has a large advantage after 15...Be6 16.Bh6 followed by 17.Rd1.} 16. fxg4 Nxe5 17. Qb3 {Forced. Not 17.Qxe5 Rxc2 18.O-O Bc5+ with a strong attack.} 17... Bxh4+ {Better is 17...Ng4, although White is better after 18.Bd2 followed by O-O-O.} 18. g3 Rxc2 19. Qxc2 Nd3+ 20. Kf1 Qd5 21.
Ng1 {A brilliant defensive move. 21.Rxh4? and 21.Rh2 lose to 21...Qf3+.}
21... Re8 {Threatening 22...Re1#. If 21...Qxh1, then 22.Qxd3.} 22. Bh6 Bxg3
23. Rd1 Qxh1 24. Qxd3 Qh2 {24.Qxh6 would have held out longer, although White has a big advantage after 24...Qxg3.} 25. Qe2 {Forcing the exchange of Queens, after which White is easily winning.} 25... Qxe2+ 26. Nxe2 Be5 27.
b4 b5 28. Rd7 Ra8 29. Nd4 a6 30. Nc6 Bf6 31. g5 Bb2 32. Ne7+ Kh8 33. Nd5 a5
34. bxa5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Malaniuk, V."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]

{In 1988 the 19 year old untitled Ukrainian Ivanchuk was suddenly one of the top five players in the world.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3
Be7 6. e4 dxe4 7. fxe4 e5 8. d5 Ng4 9. Nf3 {Better is 9.b4 to prevent Black's next move.} 9... Bc5 10. b4 Bf2+ 11. Ke2 {White has had to forego castling, but 12.h3 is threatened. What is Black going to do with his Bishop?} 11... c5 {Black intends to retreat his Bishop to d4.} 12. Nb5 {If 12.h3, 12.dxc6, or 12.bxc5, Black replies 12...Bd4.} 12... a6 13. Qa4 axb5 { 13...O-O 14.h3 would be to White's advantage.} 14. Qxa8 Bd4 15. Nxd4 {Better would have been 15.Ra2, although Black still has a big advantage after 15...Nd7.} 15... cxd4 16. Qxb8 O-O 17. Ke1 {If 17.h3, then 17...Qh4 wins.}
17... Qh4+ 18. g3 Qf6 19. Bf4 {The best chance. If instead 19.Ra2, then 19...Qf3 20.Bg2 Qc3+ 21.Bd2 Qb3 wins.} 19... g5 {Stronger is 19...d3?.} 20.
c5 {Suddenly Black has lost his advantage and the game is unclear.} 20...
exf4 21. Qd6 Qg7 22. Bd3 Ne5 23. Kd2 f3 24. Bxb5 g4 25. Qe7 Ng6 {If 25...Qh6+, then 26.Kc2 Qe3 27.Qxe5 Qc3+ leads to perpetual check.} 26. Qg5 { Better is 26.Qd6 with an equal position.} 26... h6 27. Qh5 d3 28. Bxd3 {A blunder in time pressure. 28.e5 is necessary with an unclear position.}
28... Re8 {The Queen is trapped!} 29. h3 Re5 30. hxg4 Rxh5 31. gxh5 Ne5 32.
Rae1 Qg5+ 33. Kc2 f2 34. Rd1 Qe3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]

{A positional masterpiece by Karpov.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7
5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Bf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Rc1 c5 10. d5 exd5 11. cxd5
Nxd2 12. Nxd2 d6 13. Nc4 Ba6 14. Qb3 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 a6 {This leaves weak pawns at a6 and b6. Better is 15...Nd7.} 16. a4 Nd7 17. e3 Ne5 18. Qe2 c4
19. Be4 {Guarding the d3-square.} 19... Re8 20. Bc2 Rc8 21. Ne4 Be7 22. b3
cxb3 23. Bxb3 Qd7 24. Rxc8 {Not 24.Qxa6 due to 24...Nf3+ 25.Kg2 Qg4.} 24...
Qxc8 25. Rb1 {White targets the weaknesses in Black's position.} 25... Qf5
26. Nd2 Rb8 27. Bd1 {White would like to play Nb3-d4 hitting the weakness at c6.} 27... Qc8 28. Nb3 Bf6 29. Nd4 Qb7 30. Qc2 g6 {If 30...Qxd5?!, then 31.Rxb6.} 31. Be2 Kg7 {If 31...Qxd5, then 32.Bxa6 Nf3+ 33.Nxf3 Qxf3 34.Qc7 is good for White.} 32. Qb3 Nd7 33. Nc6 Ra8 34. Qb4 Qc7 35. Kg2 h5 { Preventing Bg4.} 36. h3 Kg8 37. Bd1 Re8 {Better is 37...Kg7.} 38. g4 hxg4
39. Bxg4 Kg7 {If 39...Nc5, then 40.Qxb6 Qxb6 41.Rxb6 Nxa4 42.Rxa6 with a large advantage for White.} 40. Bxd7 Qxd7 41. Qf4 {Not 41.Qxb6?! Qf5 with an unclear position.} 41... Rh8 42. Qg4 Qe8 {If 42...Qc7, then 43.f4.} 43. Rxb6
Rh4 44. Qf3 Rxa4 45. Rb8 Qd7 {Much better is 45...Qe4 exchanging Queens.}
46. Ra8 Bh4 47. e4 Bf6 48. Qd3 Qb7 49. Rb8 Qd7 50. Qc2 Ra3 51. Rb3 Ra1 { Better is 51...Rxb3, although White has a large advantage after 52.Qxb3 followed by 53.Qa3.} 52. Rf3 {There is no defense against 53.Rxf6 and 54.Qc3+ picking up the Rook.} 52... Qb7 53. Rxf6 Qb5 54. Qc3 Qf1+ 55. Kg3
Qg1+ 56. Kh4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]

{Annotations by Yasser Seirawan. A word of warning to the uninitiated. When you sit down across from Viktor Korchnoi, be prepared to play, because he will. I've had some real slugfests with Viktor, and just a few draws.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 d6 8.
O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 10. d5 Nb8 11. b4 {With his central wedge, White has the choice of playing for the Queenside with b2-b4-c4-c5 or the Kingside by Ne1-d3 and f2-f4. It's rather a matter of taste, but I feel that the Queenside is the right choice. White's problem is his Bishop. My problem is that I need to exchange a few pieces to breathe.} 11... a5 {A critical moment. The alternative was 11...Bg4 and Bxf3, exchanging a pair of minors. The decision was tough because White's Bishop would take over the vacated h3-c8 diagonal and keep my Rooks off c8. As a trade of c-pawns is always a prominent concern in such positions, I delayed the Bishop sally.} 12. a3 Na6
13. Qb3 {White could also consider the immediate 13.Nf3-e1, and b4xa5 might follow.} 13... c6 14. dxc6 {A shock. It's rare to see Viktor voluntarily cede the center. His treatment is not so easy to meet. With an eventual Nb3, he hopes to force me to exchange on b4. He'll then attack d6 and c6 by either c4-c5, or b4-b5. For my part, if I can relocate my Knight from a6 to d4, I'll gain a sizable advantage.} 14... bxc6 15. Qc3 Bg4 {A logic glitch. If I wanted to exchange pieces, I'm late. Instead of wasting time, I should have played 15...Nc7 (not fearing c4-c5) or 15...Re8 (fearing c4-c5), while preparing Nc7-e6. In either case the game would be dynamically equal.} 16.
Nh4 {A wonderful, multi-purpose move. It immediately threatens Nf5 when, after the exchange, White's Bishop will return to life with a vengeance. It also protects the pawn on e4, thereby freeing the Knight for d2-b3-a5. I now disappeared into deep thought, well aware of my growing troubles.} 16...
Rfb8 {Lasker said "long think, wrong think". This move helps nothing. Both 16...g6 and 16...Nc7 were better choices.} 17. Rfb1 {Viktor trusts me. He made this move is response to my rhythm. The threat against b4 is pure imagination. Being an optimist, I'd rate my game as lousy after 17.Nf5.}
17... Nc7 18. h3 {A hard move to judge, as it facilitates my plan of ...Nc7-e6. My choice is 18.Nb3, when White's play on the Queenside comes too fast.} 18... Bd7 19. bxa5 {Both Viktor and I love pawns, but what a grub! This completely destroys the Queenside structure, and gives up c5 to boot. White's position demands 19.Nf5 with a big edge. Viktor plunges head over heels into quicksand.} 19... g6 20. Rb6 Ne6 21. Rab1 Rd8 22. Nb3 c5 {The first indication that things have run afoul. Viktor continues to swim ahead, believing that the drum beats his tempo. Not so. I'm preparing my counterblow ...Bd7-a4, in order to gain d4 for one Knight and vacate d7 for the other. In the post-mortem, Viktor found ways to make the desperate sortie Nh4-f5 work now and on subsequent moves. Such tactics shouldn't work. Still, Viktor is right. After 19.bxa5 White's position has become desperate. } 23. a6 Bc8 24. Qa5 {Viktor plunges deeper into self-made quagmire. The kicking is soon over. Absolutely forced is 24.Nf5.} 24... Nd7 {Immediately decisive. Loss of the Exchange is unavoidable. If 25.Rc6, then Bb7 or Nb8; while if 25.Rb5, then Bxa6.} 25. Nd2 Nxb6 26. Rxb6 Nc7 {The little guy on a6 shouldn't be allowed to wonder far.} 27. a7 Ne6 28. Rb8 Rxa7 29. Qc3 Nd4 30.
Kh2 Be6 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. Nhf3 Qa8 {Imprecise. Better first is 32...Nxf3+. Time pressure has become a factor.} 33. Nxd4 cxd4 34. Qb4 Ra6 35. Bf1 Kg7 { 35...Qa7 kills.} 36. c5 dxc5 37. Qxc5 Ra5 38. Bb5 f6 39. a4 Ra7 40. f4 exf4
{With time control reached, the game is over.} 41. gxf4 Qb8 42. Kg2 Rf7 43.
f5 Qf4 44. Qxd4 gxf5 {Excellent! The Rook will threaten a deadly check on the open g-file. Viktor must swap Queens.} 45. Qf2 Qxf2+ 46. Kxf2 fxe4 47.
Nxe4 Bxh3 48. a5 Ra7 49. a6 Bc8 50. Nc5 Rc7 51. Na4 Bd7 52. Bxd7 Rxd7 53.
Nc5 Ra7 54. Ke3 h5 {White Resigns. An invigorating victory!} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Sokolov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]

{Those that play the Catalan have to accept the reality that in many lines White must sacrifice a pawn in the opening. Regaining the material isn't usually very difficult - the challenge lies in finding a way to recover the material and still keep some sort of positional advantage.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5 Bd7 8. Nxc4 cxd4 9. Bf4
Nd5 10. Nd6+ Bxd6 11. Bxd6 Nde7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Qb3 Bc8 14. Nc4 Re8 15. Rfd1
Nf5 16. Bc5 e5 17. e4 Nfe7 18. Nd6 Rf8 19. Nxb7 {White doesn't actually win back his pawn with this move, as b2 will soon fall, but he does gain the two Bishops which is very important.} 19... Bxb7 20. Qxb7 Rb8 21. Qa6 Rxb2 22.
Qa4 Qb8 23. Bf1 f5 24. Ba3 Rb6 25. exf5 Nb4 26. Rab1 Nec6 {The losing move in a tense position. Correct was 26...Ned5 when 27.Bc4+ Kh8 28.Bxb4 Rxb4 29.Rxb4 Qxb4 30.Qxb4 leaves White much better but with no immediate win.}
27. Bg2 Rd8 28. Bxc6 Nxc6 29. Rxb6 Qxb6 30. Qc4+ Kh8 31. Qf7 Rg8 32. f6 Qd8
33. Be7 Nxe7 34. fxe7 Qd7 35. Rd3 {A strong move which threatens Rf3 and Qxg8+.} 35... h6 {The tempting 35...e4 allows 36.Rxd4 Qxd4 37.Qxg8+ winning. } 36. Rf3 Rc8 37. Qf8+ Kh7 38. Rf7 Rc1+ 39. Kg2 Qc6+ 40. Kh3 Qe6+ 41. Kh4
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]

{Grandmasters Alexander Beliavsky of Ukraine and Lajos Portisch of Hungary are two of the greatest fighters in the history of chess. Both players are noted for their scholarly approach to the game and have done much to enrich opening theory.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {The Catalan, an opening that is seldom seen at the amateur level but which is a favorite is a favorite in Grandmaster praxis. White can easily obtain terrific Queenside pressure if Black isn't careful.} 3... d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6
8. e3 Nd5 {This attempt to hold onto the pawn seems to risky. Concentrating on development with 8...Qd7 seems more solid.} 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe2 Nb6 11.
Rd1 O-O 12. Nd2 Na5 13. Nf3 Qc8 14. Bd2 Nc6 15. Bc3 Nb4 16. Ne5 N4d5 17. Be1
{White wants to win back the pawn but on his own terms - maintaining the two Bishops.} 17... c5 18. Rac1 cxd4 19. Nxc4 Qe8 20. Rxd4 Rc8 21. b3 Qb5 22.
Qd1 Bc5 23. Rd3 Bb4 24. a4 Qa6 25. Bxb4 Nxb4 26. Rd6 {A dream position for the Catalan. White's pieces rake the Black Queenside.} 26... Nc6 27. Ne5 Qa5
28. Nxc6 bxc6 29. Rcxc6 Rxc6 30. Bxc6 {A pawn up and with the better position to boot the rest is a formality for Beliavsky.} 30... Qc5 31. Bf3
Qg5 32. Qd2 Qe7 33. Rd4 e5 34. Rd6 e4 35. Be2 h6 36. a5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, M."]
[Black "Wedberg, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A77"]

{Grandmaster Maxim Dlugy, a former World Junior Champion and Interzonalist, is one of the strongest players in the United States. His opponent, IM Tom Wedburg, has represented Sweden in several Chess Olympiads. The game between these two players is a model demonstration of how to play against the aggressive but risky Modern Benoni.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5
5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 {The Knight prepares to go to its ideal post at c4 where it would hit the key squares e5 and d6. The text also has the virtue of sidestepping ...Bg4 after White plays e4.} 7... Nbd7 {Meeting Nc4 with ....Nb6.} 8. e4 Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. a4 Ne5 12. Qc2 Nh5 {This aggressive move first caught the public eye when Fischer used it to defeat Spassky in their World Championship match in Reykjavik. The advantages of 12...Nh5 are clear - after 13.Bxh5 gxh5 Black has the two Bishops, an open g-file, and the use of the g4 square. However the dark side of 12...Nh5 shouldn't be ignored. Black's Kingside pawn structure gets ripped apart and he has a permanent hole on f5.} 13. Bxh5 gxh5 14. Nd1 {The Knight immediately heads to e3 where it can eye the f5 square. An added bonus is that Ra3 - g3 is now possible.} 14... Qh4 15. Ra3 Bd7 16. h3 b5 17. axb5
Bxb5 18. Re1 f5 19. Ne3 f4 20. Nf5 Qf6 21. Nxg7 {Chess is often like alchemy. Here White trades his beautiful Knight on f5. Why? Because once the Bishop on g7 is gone Black's King will be especially vulnerable.} 21... Qxg7
22. Nf3 Rf8 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. Rf3 Rf7 25. Bd2 Re8 26. Qc1 Ref8 27. Bc3 Qe7
28. g3 {The killing blow and the logical conclusion to White's play. The rest is a well well orchestrated King hunt.} 28... Qg5 29. Kh1 Re8 30. gxf4
Qh4 31. f5 Rxe4 32. Rg3+ Kf8 33. Qh6+ Ke7 34. Rge3 Bd3 35. Kg1 Rxf5 36.
Qxh7+ Kd8 37. Ba5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Agdestein, S."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A61"]

{Norwegian Grandmaster Simen Agdestein has achieved a unique distinction - he is both a world class chess and soccer player. Here he boots Yugoslav Grandmaster Ljubomir Ljubojevic all over the board in a good old fashioned King hunt.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7.
Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Nbd7 9. Nd2 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Nc4 Nb6 12. e3 Nxg3 {By ...h6, ...g5, and ...Nh5 Black has managed to hunt down the White Bishop but at a definite cost. Black's Kingside has been loosened and the f5 square looks weak.} 13. hxg3 a6 14. a4 Bg7 15. Qd2 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 Bd7 17. a5 Qf6 {The start to a bad plan. Black would be perfectly okay after 17...b5 18. axb6 Qxb6.} 18. Ra3 {A multi-purpose move which prepares Rb3 as well as strengthening White's position along the third rank.} 18... O-O-O {Typical Ljubojevic who loves to live on the edge. The Black King now makes a very inviting target.} 19. Rb3 Rde8 20. Rb6 Qe5 21. Qd3 Bf6 22. Bxa6 {Ljubo put his head in the Lion's mouth and now he must pay the price.} 22... bxa6 23.
Qxa6+ Kd8 24. Rb7 {This quiet move contains a very nasty threat - Rxd7+.}
24... Reg8 25. Na4 {Black's last move freed e8 for his King so White brings in reinforcements to continue the attack.} 25... Ke8 26. Nb6 Bg4 27. Nc4
Qxd5 28. Qa8+ Bd8 29. Re7+ {The final shot. Having won the Queen for only Rook and Bishop the rest is quite easy.} 29... Kxe7 30. Qxd5 Bc7 31. Qb7 Kd8
32. Nb6 Bxb6 33. axb6 Bd7 34. Qc7+ Ke7 35. b7 Ke6 36. O-O Rd8 37. Rd1 Ba4
38. b8=Q {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saloniki"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hoi, C."]
[Black "Gulko, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]

{A modern day brilliancy.} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7
6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. c3 d6 10. Qe2 Re8 11. Nf1 Nbd7 12.
Ng3 Bf8 {Black has an excellent defensive setup. He is now preparing to break with ...e6-e5. Afterwards, his only concern would be the potential weakness of the f5 square.} 13. Bg5 h6 {This move doesn't fit in with the plan of ...e6-e5, so Black decides on another course. I prefer ...Qc7 followed by ...g7-g6, ...Bg7, and ...e6-e5.} 14. Bd2 Qc7 15. Bc2 {White is floundering without a plan. A normal course would be to press matters on the Queenside with 15.Ba6 and a2-a4-a5. Like the text, this plan would step out of the ...e6-e5-e4 hit.} 15... Bd5 {Black tries immediately to take advantage of the weakening of c4. The deployment of the Bishop is very provocative and gives White a plan. Perhaps the modest 15...Bc6 preparing ...b6-b5, securing d5 for the Knight was better.} 16. b3 Qb7 17. Nh4 b5 18.
Qd3 {What does one make of this position? It's easy to get the impression that White has been outplayed and that Black has taken over the initiative. Black feels justified here in punishing White for his play. That explains Boris's overly optimistic thrust ...g7-g5, which he plays this move. The problem as I see it is that Black's pieces are ill-prepared to support this thrust. Particularly unfavorable is the placement of the Knight on d7. But outside of ...g7-g5, does Black have another plan? If Black sits, perhaps White will try f2-f4 and build up a "real" Kingside attack.} 18... g5 19.
Nf3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Bg7 21. h4 gxh4 22. Ne4 Qc6 23. Kh1 {Suddenly Black is in big trouble. White has two screaming Bishops and the open g-file. Boris tries to force White's hand with provocative defense.} 23... Nh5 {The purpose of this move is to play ...f7-f5 as quickly as possible.} 24. Rg1
Kf8 {Black is convinced that 24...f5 25.Bxh6 quickly torches his King.} 25.
Rxg7 Kxg7 {Mandatory, as 25...Nxg7 26.Bxh6 f5 27.Rg1 Re7 28.Qe3 fxe4 29.Rxg7 Rxg7 30.Qg5 is curtains.} 26. Bxh6+ {A magnificent follow-up to the exchange sacrifice. White can't allow the Black King to waltz to safety on e7. Thus 26.Rg1+ Kf8 27.Bxh6+ Ke7 would lead to a dead end.} 26... Kxh6 27. Rg1 { White's attack is frightening. In all likelihood Black is lost here.} 27...
f5 28. Qe3+ f4 {The retreat 28...Kh7 is met by the brutal 29.Qg5 and if 29...Ng3+ 30.fxg3 h3, trying to keep the g-file closed, 31.g4 is strong.}
29. Nxd6 Qxd6 30. Qd3 Nf8 31. Qh7+ {Black Resigns. What horrible irony to be mated by a Rook supported by the Bishop which made such a strange retreat on move fifteen.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Klaipeda"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Magerramov, E."]
[Black "Oll, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]

{Azerbaijani GM Elmar Magerramov took second place in the final USSR championship. His opponent, Estonian GM Lembit Oll, has been rated over 2600.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 {Initiating the razor sharp Anti-Meran Gambit. First popularized by Botvinnik over 50 years ago the Anti-Meran even today defies a complete analysis.} 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6
8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Qa5 12. exf6 b4 13. Ne4 Ba6 14.
Qf3 O-O-O 15. Be2 Nb6 16. Be3 Bb7 17. O-O c5 18. dxc5 Na4 19. Bxc4 Nxb2 20.
c6 Bxc6 21. Rac1 Kb7 22. Bxe6 {A stunning shot that puts White in the driver's seat. Now 22...Nd3 fails because of 23.Rxc6 Ne5 24.Nd6+.} 22...
fxe6 23. Rxc6 Kxc6 24. Rc1+ Kd7 25. f7 Nd3 26. Nf6+ Kd6 27. Ne8+ Ke7 28.
Bg5+ Qxg5 29. Rc7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gavrikov, V."]
[Black "Kharitonov, A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]

{A rare example in which it is better to promote a pawn to a Knight rather than a Queen.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5
7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O Bg4
13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8 15. Ra2 {Planning Rd2 to threaten the weak d5-pawn.}
15... d4 {Black tries to liquidate the weak pawn.} 16. b5 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 dxe3
{Correct is 17...Na5 or 17...Ne5.} 18. bxc6 Qxd3 19. cxb7 exf2+ 20. Kh2 { 20.Rfxf2 Qxf3 21.gxf3 Rab8! would result in an equal position.} 20... Qxf1 { If 20...Qxf3, then 21.gxf3 Rab8 22.Bxb8 Rxb8 23.Rb2 Rxb7 24.Rfxf2 wins.} 21.
bxa8=Q Qg1+ 22. Kg3 f1=N 23. Kh4+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Andersson, U."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]

{Swedish GM Ulf Andersson has a reputation for being one of the hardest players in the world to beat but Garry Kasparov is equal to the task. The Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined enjoys its popularity in part to its great flexibility. It can be interpreted as a Queenside middle game when White castles short and goes for the minority attack (Rab1 and b2-b4-b5). Or it can be seen as an aggressive attacking scheme when White goes long and throws his Kingside pawns up. Here Kasparov elects to follow a third plan - short castling and playing for e3-e4.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 {The Knight can also go to f3 but on e2 it supports the plan of e4 much more efficiently. The f-pawn is left free to advance and the Knight can come to g3.} 9... Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. f3 Be6 12. Rae1 Rc8 13. Kh1 N6d7 14. Bxe7 Rxe7
15. Nf4 Rc7 16. Qf2 Nf6 17. e4 dxe4 18. fxe4 Rcd7 19. d5 cxd5 20. Bb5 Rc7
21. exd5 Bd7 22. Be2 Rc8 23. Qxa7 {White's efforts have borne fruit. The captured pawn on a7 will not win the game itself but instead Kasparov will trade it for other advantages that will do the trick.} 23... b6 24. Qa6 Ne4
25. d6 {Clearing the d5 squares for his Knights and preparing to trade the weak d-pawn for the enemy b-pawn.} 25... Nxd6 26. Nfd5 Re5 27. Qxb6 Nf5 28.
Qxd8 Rxd8 29. Bd3 {The rest is simple technique but it is instructive to see how Kasparov systematically converts his advantage.} 29... Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Ng6
31. a4 Kf8 32. a5 Nd4 33. Bxg6 hxg6 34. Rd1 Ne6 35. Nb6 Bc6 36. Rxd8+ Nxd8
37. b4 Ne6 38. b5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Yusupov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]

{This was voted best game in the last half of 1988 by Chess Informant.} 1.
c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 {Black takes advantage of the premature exchange of pawns on d5 in order to develop his light-squared Bishop.} 7. Qc2 g6 8. e4 {A double-edged decision. White accepts an isolani in order to prevent Black from developing his Bishop. The tame 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nbd7 is equal.} 8... Nxe4 {Better is 8...dxe4 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qxe4 Kf8 with approximate equality. The text lands Black into some unexpected difficulties.} 9. Bxe7 Kxe7 {Forced. If 9...Qxe7, then 10.Nxd5 is awkward to meet.} 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Qxe4+ Be6 12. Bc4 Qa5+
13. Kf1 Qf5 14. Qe3 {An unusual position has arisen. Both sides have compromised their King position, making routine development impossible. Therefore, normal considerations such as White's isolated pawn become less of a factor. At any rate, White's development is straightforward. He intends Re1, h2-h4, Rh3, and Ng5. It's hard to believe that Black should have difficulties equalizing, but where to put the King? Going Kingside walks into White's intended h2-h4. Going Queenside is more inviting, but will require a number of tempi.} 14... Nd7 15. Re1 Rae8 16. d5 {Is this really the Karpov we all know and (grudgingly) admire? If so, what is he doing sacrificing pawns? Has Kasparov forced him to add another element to his style? Certainly we could have expected 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Qa3+ Kf7 18.h4 with advantage to White. But the pawn sacrifice is even stronger. It completely gums up Black's pieces. Also, it really leaves Black in a quandary concerning his King. Suddenly the Queenside isn't so inviting. Since Black's last moves have been solid developing ones, we must trace his problems to 8...Nxe4.} 16... cxd5 17. Bb5 a6 18. Qa3+ {By using a series of ladder checks with his Queen, White is able to retreat his Bishop with tempo and recover his sacrificed pawn.} 18... Kd8 19. Qa5+ Ke7 20. Qb4+ Kf6 21. Qd4+
Ke7 22. Bd3 Qh5 23. h4 {Preparing the introduction of the Knight and King's Rook into the attack. Black can't stop Ng5 with 23...h6 because 24.g4 wins the Queen.} 23... Kd8 24. Ng5 Rhf8 25. Be2 {Shoving the Black Queen into an even worse hiding place. White's domination of the position is nearing completeness. Yaacov Murey once told me that the Queen placement is the dominant theme in all middlegame positions. He would therefore state that Black is lost. I agree.} 25... Qh6 26. Bf3 Re7 27. Qb4 {The start of a forced sequence of moves that nets a material plus.} 27... Nf6 28. Qd6+ Rd7
29. Qf4 Ng8 30. Bg4 Kc8 {A merciful end would be 30...Bxg4 31.Qb8 checkmate. } 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Rc1+ Kd8 33. Nxe6+ Ke7 34. Qxf8+ Qxf8 35. Nxf8 Kxf8 36.
Rh3 Ne7 37. h5 Kg7 38. h6+ Kf6 39. Rf3+ Ke6 40. Re1+ Kd6 41. Rf6+ Kc7 42. g4
Nc6 43. Re8 {Black Resigns. An absolutely superb game by Anatoly Karpov. Has chess really evolved to a point where a single opening inaccuracy can be so ruthlessly exploited?} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saloniki"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Campora, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7
8. Nge2 Re8 9. Qc2 Nf8 10. O-O-O Be6 11. Kb1 Ng4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nf4 Nf6
14. f3 {Preparing a kingside attack with g2-g4.} 14... c5 15. g4 cxd4 16.
exd4 Qd6 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nce2 {Moving the Knight to g3 where it can hop into g5.} 18... Re7 19. Ng3 Ng6 20. Ng2 Nd7 21. Rhg1 Ree8 22. Rdf1 {Threatening f4-f5.} 22... Ngf8 23. Ne3 Kh8 {If 23...Qf4, then 24.Nh5 Qh6 25.f4 is strong.} 24. Nh5 g6 {If 24...f6, then 25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.gxf5 followed by 27.Qg2 with a strong attack.} 25. f4 gxh5 26. f5 h4 {The only move. Black needs to keep the g-file closed.} 27. fxe6 fxe6 28. g5 Re7 {If 28...Ng6, then 29.Bxg6 hxg6 30.Qf2 Re7 31.Ng4 is winning.} 29. Ng4 Rg7 30. Nh6 Qb6 {If 30...Qe7, then 31.Rg4 followed by Rgf4 winning.} 31. g6 {Opening a line for the entry of the Queen.} 31... hxg6 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Qh6 Rh7 {If 33...Rxf7, then 34.Bxf7 is decisive.} 34. Rxg6+ Nxg6 35. Qxg6+ Rg7 36. Qh6 {Black Resigns. If 37.Qh8# is threatened and if 36...Rxf7, then 37.Rg1+.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Huzman, A."]
[Black "Lin, Ta."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D28"]

{An example in which the wrong Rook is moved.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6
4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bd3 cxd4 9. exd4 Bb7 10. a4 b4
11. Bg5 Nc6 {Allowing his pawns to get doubled, but Black feels that he will be all right.} 12. Bxf6 gxf6 {Not 12...Qxf6 13.d5.} 13. Rd1 Ne7 {Black hopes to obtain counterplay along the g-file and a8-h1 diagonal. His plan is Nd5-f4.} 14. Nbd2 Nd5 15. Qe4 Be7 {15...f5 16.Qe5 Rg8 17.Bxf5 is good for White.} 16. Nb3 f5 17. Qe5 Bf6 18. Qg3 Ne7 {Threatening 19...Rg8.} 19. Nc5
Bd5 20. Bxa6 {If 20.Nxa6, then 20...Rxa6! 21.Bxa6 Rg8 22.Qh3 Ng6 followed by 23...Nf4 wins.} 20... Rxa6 {Not 20...Ra7? 21.Bb5+ Kf8 22.Ne5 and White wins. } 21. Nxa6 Rg8 22. Qf4 Ng6 23. Qc7 {Not 23.Qg3 Kf8 threatening 24....Nh4 winning. Also bad is 23.Qb8 Qxb8 24.Nxb8 Nf4.} 23... Qa8 24. Qd6 { Threatening 25.Nc7#.} 24... Bd8 25. Rdc1 {An error in time pressure. Correct is 25.Rac1. The Rook is needed on d1 to cover the d2-square as we will see in some variations that follow.} 25... Nh4 26. Nc7+ {Also losing is 26.Rc7 Nxf3+ 27.Kh1 Ne5 as is 26.Nxh4 Bxg2.} 26... Bxc7 27. Rxc7 Nxf3+ 28. Kf1 { Loses immediately. 28.Kh1 would have held out longer, although Black is much better after 28...Qd8.} 28... Bc4+ {White Resigns. If 29.Rxc4, then 29...Nd2+ wins. Now it's clear why the wrong Rook was moved to c1.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Psakhis, L."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D21"]

{Grandmasters Lev Psakhis and Jonathan Speelman of England are two of the most creative players in the world. Despite their fancy for invention they both have achieved some significant results - Speelman is a two time Candidate and Psakhis twice won the USSR championship.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 e6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. Qxd5 Qxd5 7. Nxd5 Bd6 8. Nd2 Ne7 9. Nxc4
Nxd5 10. Nxd6+ Ke7 11. Nxc8+ Rxc8 {This line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted, pioneered by GM Yasser Seirawan, is quite controversial. is quite controversial as Black willingly gives White the two Bishops. Compensation comes in the form of a lead in development and a harmonious position.} 12.
g3 Nc6 13. Bg2 Rd8 14. Bg5+ f6 15. Bd2 Rd6 16. O-O Rad8 17. Rfc1 b6 18. Kf1
a5 19. Be1 g6 20. Rab1 Ndb4 21. a3 Na2 {Expecting the Knight to go back to d5 but the ever inventive Speelman has something else in store even if it isn't quite exactly sound.} 22. Rc4 Nd4 23. b3 {The natural question is why not 23.Ra1 attacking the trapped Knight? Speelman planned the variation 23...Nb3 24.Rxa2 Rd1 25.Re4+ Kf7 26.f4 Rb1 27.Kf2 Nc1! but as New York GM Joel Benjamin points out White can improve with 27.Re3! meeting 27...Nc1 with 28.Be4.} 23... Nb5 24. Rb2 Nac3 25. a4 Nd1 26. Rb1 Na3 27. Rcc1 Nxb1
28. Rxb1 f5 29. Bb7 {White is the Exchange down but the two Bishops are good compensation. Tarrasch was the first to note that two Bishops and a Rook, while inferior on a purely materialistic level, often are of equal practical value to two Rooks and a Knight.} 29... g5 30. Ba6 f4 31. Bd3 {A blunder caused by time pressure. Correct was 31.Bb5 with equal chances.} 31... Rxd3
{The standard way of winning an Exchange up is to give it back for a pawn. This game is a good practical example.} 32. exd3 Rxd3 33. Ke2 Rd5 34. gxf4
gxf4 35. Rc1 Nb2 36. Bc3 Nd3 37. Rg1 Nb4 38. Rg7+ Kf8 39. Bb2 Rd3 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]

{Anatoly Karpov, World Champion from 1974-1985, is one of the greatest players of all time. His opponent, Jonathan Speelman of England, is a two-time Candidate who is noted for his original play.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bf5 8. Ne2 e6 9. O-O Na5
10. Ba4+ c6 {Here 10...Nxa4 11.Qxa4+ Nc6 (10...c6 11.Bd2) 12.Nbc3 a6 13.Ng3 Bd3 14.Rfe1 is slightly better for White (Karpov and Zaitzev). Note that while Black has the d5 square it doesn't quite compensate for White's space advantage.} 11. Bc2 Bg6 12. Nbc3 Nac4 13. Qc1 Be7 14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Ne4 Rh4
16. N2g3 Qd5 17. Qc2 O-O-O 18. Bg5 Bxg5 {A strong positional move. After the exchange of Bishops White will have a strong grip on c5, d6, and g5.} 19.
Nxg5 Rd7 20. Nf3 Rf4 21. Rad1 g5 22. Qc1 {Classic Karpov. The modest looking text conceals a nasty threat - 23.b3. Now Speelman is forced to sacrifice the Exchange for insufficient compensation.} 22... Rxf3 23. gxf3 Qxf3 24.
Rfe1 g4 25. Re4 Nxb2 26. Rd2 N2a4 27. Qc2 Qa3 28. Rxg4 g6 29. Ne4 Kb8 30.
Rg3 Qe7 31. h3 Qh4 32. Kh2 Qf4 33. Kg2 Qh6 34. Rdd3 a6 35. Rg4 Rd5 36. h4
Rb5 37. Rb3 Nd5 38. Rf3 Rb4 39. Ng5 Ne7 40. a3 Rb2 41. Qxa4 {Black Resigns.}
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D14"]

{White never recovers from a mistake in the opening.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3.
Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7
10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Na4 {Correct is 12.Ne5.} 12... g5 {Starting a sudden kingside offensive to which there is little defense.} 13. Bg3 h5 14.
h3 g4 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Ne5 {If 16.Nh2, then 16...Bh4! 17.Nxg4 Qg5 is strong.} 16... Nxe5 17. Bxe5 {If 17.dxe5, then 17...c5 with a large advantage to Black.} 17... f6 18. Bg3 Kf7 19. Re1 {19.f3 would have held out longer, although Black is much better after 19...gxf3 20.Qxf3 Qg8.} 19...
Rh5 20. Qd2 {If 20.Kf1, then 20...Qa5.} 20... Be4 21. Kf1 {If 21.Nc3, then 21...Qh8 22.Kf1 Rh1+ 23.Ke2 Bxg2 wins.} 21... Bf3 {There is no defense to ...Rh1#, so White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]

{A combination by Tal.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O
6. O-O c5 7. d5 Na6 8. Re1 Nc7 9. Bf4 b5 10. Nxb5 {Not 10.Bxb5? Nh5.} 10...
Nxe4 11. Nxc7 Qxc7 12. Bc4 Nf6 13. Rb1 Re8 14. h3 a5 15. Qd2 Qb6 16. Re3 Ba6
17. Bxa6 Qxa6 18. Rbe1 Kf8 {Better is 18...Qc4 with an equal position.} 19.
Ng5 Qb7 {Better is 19...h6.} 20. c4 Qb4 21. Qe2 h6 {21...Nxd5 22.cxd5 Qxf4 23.Ne6+ fxe6 24.Rf3 e5 25.g3 is also good for White.} 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Rb3
Qa4 24. Qe6+ Kf8 25. Rb7 {Threatening Bxd6.} 25... Qxc4 {Also losing are 25...Rad8 26.Rxe7 or 25...Ra6 26.b3 Qxa2 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qxe7+ Kg8 29.Qb7.}
26. Bxd6 Ng8 {If 26...Nxd5, then 27.Bxe7+ Rxe7 28.Rxe7 Nxe7 29.Qxc4 wins.}
27. Re3 {Threatening Rf3+.} 27... Bf6 28. Rf3 Kg7 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 30. Rxe7+
Nxe7 {If 30...Bxe7, then 31.Rf7+ Kh8 32.Qxg6 wins.} 31. Qxf6+ Kg8 32. Qf7+
Kh8 33. Qxe7 Qxd5 34. Rf7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Caturian, V."]
[Black "Bangiev, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]

{An attack against the uncastled King.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5
11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13. f5 Nc5 14. f6 gxf6 15. gxf6 Bf8 16. Qh5 Rg8 { Better is 16...Bd7.} 17. e5 {Opening the position up.} 17... dxe5 {Better is 17...Bd7.} 18. Bxb5+ axb5 19. Ncxb5 Qb6 {19...Qa5? loses immediately to 20.Nc6.} 20. Qxe5 Na6 {20...Ra7? loses to 21.Nxa7 Qxa7 22.Nc6 and 20...Bh6+ loses to 21.Kb1 Rg5 22.Nc7+ Kf8 23.Nxa8.} 21. Nf5 Bb7 {21...Qc5 22.Ng7+ and 21...Bd7 22.Nbd6+ both win for White.} 22. Rhf1 Bc6 {If 22...Rd8, then 23.Nbd6+ Bxd6 24.Rxd6 Qc5 25.Ng7+ Rxg7 26.Rxd8+ Kxd8 27.Qxc5 Nxc5 28.fxg7 wins.} 23. Nbd6+ Bxd6 24. Qxd6 {Black Resigns. If 24...Qc5, then 25.Ng7+ Rxg7 26.fxg7 Qxd6 27.Rxd6 wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saint John"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tolnai, T."]
[Black "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]

{Bulgarian Grandmaster Kiril Georgiev is ranked among the top 15 players in the world. His opponent in this game, fellow GM Tibor Tolnai of Hungary, is noted for his aggressive play.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 {The famous Poison Pawn variation of the Najdorf Sicilian, a long time favorite of Bobby Fischer, is still one of the most controversial variations in chess. Black breaks the rules by going pawn grubbing with his Queen in the opening but a clear refutation has yet to be discovered.} 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6
13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Be2 h5 {Necessary to stop the threat of 17.Bh5+.} 17. O-O f5 18. Bf3 Kf7 {Accepting the piece would be risky - 18...fxe4 19.Bxe4 and the twin threats of 20.Bxc6+ and 20.Bg6 mate are difficult to meet. At best Black's King will be stuck in the middle of the board and subject to a fierce attack.} 19. Kh1 Ra7 20. Rb8 Rd7 21. Qe2
h4 22. Bg4 Kg7 23. Bxf5 {This sacrifice looks likes it's winning but Georgiev has a hidden resource that turns the tables.} 23... exf5 24. Qf2
Rd1 {A move that illustrates how chess has changed from the previous century. Then Black would have all most certainly have clung on to all his booty till he was mated. Modern defensive technique is considerably more sophisticated and the weapon of simplification - which Black uses here - is well known.} 25. Rxd1 fxe4 {Two Bishops for a Rook is a winning material advantage but Black will have to to show considerable technique in view of his exposed King. The first step is to coordinate his pieces.} 26. Qe2 Kh6
27. Qxe4 Qc5 28. Rf1 Qd5 {A standard sort of move to make when ahead in material. Since simplifying is in Black's favor he offers a trade while improving the position of his Queen.} 29. Qe2 h3 {Effectively ending the game. To stave off immediate defeat White is forced to give up more material.} 30. Rf3 Rg8 31. Qe3+ Bg5 32. Rxh3+ Bxh3 33. Qxh3+ Kg6 34. Rxg8+
Qxg8 35. Qg4 Qf7 36. Qe4+ Qf5 37. Qxc6+ Bf6 38. Qxa6 Qxc2 39. h4 Qe4 40. h5+
Kg5 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]

{Though his results have been uneven, young British GM Nigel Short is considered by many the West's best hope to regain the world championship. After a tiny inaccuracy, he is able to sacrifice two pieces to smoke out the Black King and drive it all the way to h2 before administering the coup de grace.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f4 b5 11. Bd3 Be7 12. Kb1 b4 13. Nce2 O-O
14. h3 Qc7 15. g4 Qb7 16. Ng3 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bc6 18. Rhe1 Rfe8 {Better was 18...Rfd8 -- it turns out that the e8 square will be needed for the Knight.}
19. g5 hxg5 20. fxg5 Nd7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Nh5+ {Now if the King retreats to the back rank, 23.g6 will rip open the position with decisive threats, e.g. 22...Kf8 23.g6 Bd8 24.gxf7 Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Nf6 26.Qh6, or 22...Kg8 23.g6 24.gxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Kg6 26.h4 Bh6 27.Qg2+ Kxh5 28.Be2+. So Black decides to take his King for a walk.} 22... Kg6 23. e5+ Kxh5 24. Qf4 Bxg5 25. Qxf7+
Kh4 26. Qh7+ Kg3 27. Qh5 Kh2 {On 27...Rg8 28.Qg4+ Kh2 29.Re2+ Bg2 30.Be4 wins.} 28. Qxg5 Rg8 29. Rd2+ Bg2 30. Qf4+ Rg3 31. Be4 Qxe4 32. Qxe4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Black "Sax, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]

{White sacrifices to get at the King.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. h4 Nc6 8. Rg1 h5 9. gxh5 Nxh5 10. Bg5 Nf6 11. Rg3
a6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qf3 Bd7 14. O-O-O Be7 15. e5 {Opening up the d-file.}
15... dxe5 16. Ne4 Rb8 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qg2 {Threatening 19.Rg8+ as well as 19.Rgd3.} 18... Rf8 19. Bc4 Qb6 {If 19...Qa5, then 20.Ra3! Bxa3 21.Nxf6+ Ke7 22.Rd7+ Kf6 23.Qg5# or if 19...f5, then 20.Bxe6!.} 20. Rb3 Qa7 21. Rbd3 Rb7
22. Qg7 f5 23. Nd6+ Bxd6 24. Rxd6 {White's threat is just to advance his h-pawn.} 24... Qxf2 25. Bxe6 {The final breakthrough.} 25... fxe6 26. Rxd7
Qf4+ 27. Kb1 Rxb2+ 28. Kxb2 {Black Resigns. Black will run out of checks after 28...Qb4+ 29.Kc1 Qa3+ 30.Kd2 and White marches his King over to the kingside.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Poland"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sobura, H."]
[Black "Pieniazek, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]

{A brilliant Rook sacrifice.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. h4 Be7 8. Qf3 h5 9. gxh5 Nxh5 10. Bg5 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6
12. O-O-O Bxg5+ {Better is 12...Rb8. Black clearly overlooked White's 16th and 17th moves.} 13. hxg5 Qxg5+ 14. Kb1 Ke7 {Even are is 14...Qc5 15.e5! and 14...d5? 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Nxd5! exd5 17.Rxd5 winning.} 15. Be2 g6 16. Rxd6
Kxd6 17. Qxf7 {The key move. The King cannot retreat.} 17... a5 {Other moves also offer no hope. For example, 17...c5 18.Rd1+ Kc6 19.Bb5+ or 17...e5 18.Rd1+ Kc5 19.Na4+.} 18. Rd1+ Ke5 {If 18...Kc5, then 19.Na4+ Kb4 20.Rd4#.}
19. Bxh5 Rxh5 20. f4+ Qxf4 21. Qg7+ {Black Resigns. If 21...Qf6, then 22.Qc7#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tal, M."]
[Black "Zaitshik, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]

{Many consider the late Tal to be one of the five greatest players of all time. Watch his magic at work.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 e6 6. f4 a6 7. Qf3 Qb6 8. a3 Nc6 {Not 8...Qxd4?? 9.Be3 trapping the Queen.} 9. Nb3 Qc7 10. Bd3 Be7 11. Bd2 O-O 12. O-O b5 13. Rae1 b4 {Better is 13...Bb7.} 14. Nd5 exd5 15. exd5 Bg4 {If 15...Nb8, then 16.axb4 followed by 17.c4 is good for White.} 16. Qg3 Nxd5 17. Qxg4 Nf6 18. Qh3 d5 {Better is 18...bxa3.} 19. a4 Rfe8 20. Kh1 a5 21. Qf3 Bd6 22. c4 bxc3ep 23. Bxc3 {The Bishops are directed right at the King.} 23... Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Bb4 25. Bxf6 { The King hunt starts!} 25... Bxe1 26. Qh5 gxf6 {If 26...h6, then 27.Qg4 g6 28.Bxg6 wins.} 27. Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxa8 {White has won a pawn and Black's King remains open. White's passed h-pawn could later have a decisive effect.} 29... Bf2 30. Bb5 Nd4 31. Qe8+ Kd6 32. Qf8+ Ke6 {White is winning in the endgame after 32...Qe7 33.Qxe7+ Kxe7 34.Nxa5.} 33. Nc5+ Kf5 34. Bd7+
Ne6 {If 34...Kf4, then 35.Qh6+ Ke5 36.Nd3+ Kd6 37.Qxf6+ wins.} 35. Qxf7 Qxc5
36. Qxe6+ Kxf4 37. Qxf6+ Ke3 38. Qg5+ Kd3 39. Be6 Kc4 40. Qf4+ Bd4 41. Qc1+
Kb4 42. Qxc5+ Kxc5 43. b3 {White is easily winning in the endgame.} 43...
Kd6 44. Bc8 Ke5 45. g3 Ke4 46. Kg2 Bc5 47. Bb7 Bb4 48. h4 Bc3 49. Kh3 Be1
50. g4 Ke5 51. g5 d4 52. Ba6 Bb4 53. Kg4 Ke4 54. g6 Bf8 55. Kg5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Gyongyos"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Enders, P."]
[Black "Orgovan, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]

{White sacrifices a Knight and then a Rook right in the opening.} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. g4 e5 8. Nf5 g6 9.
g5 gxf5 10. exf5 d5 11. Qf3 d4 12. O-O-O Nbd7 {Better is 12...Nc6.} 13. Rxd4
{A new move. Previously 13.Bd2 had been tried. Black's King will be under a vicious attack for the rest of the game.} 13... exd4 14. Bxd4 Bc5 15. Bxc5
Nxc5 16. Bc4 Qd4 17. Re1+ Kf8 18. gxf6 Qxf6 {Not 18...Qxc4? 19.Qg3 winning immediately.} 19. Qe3 {White is threatening 20.Qe8+ Kg7 21.Rg1+ and mate in a few moves.} 19... Bxf5 20. Qxc5+ Kg7 21. Nd5 Rac8 {If 21...Qh6+, then 22.f4 wins. Perhaps Black's best chance was 21...Rhc8 although White would have a large advantage after 22.Qe3 Qd6 23.Nb6.} 22. Qe3 Rxc4 {If 22...Qh6, then 23.f4 Rhe8 24.Qd4+ f6 25.Re7+ wins.} 23. Rg1+ Bg6 {If 23...Qg6, then 24.Qe5+ wins.} 24. Nxf6 Kxf6 {If 24...Rxc2+, then 25.Kb1 wins.} 25. c3 Rhc8
26. h4 h5 27. Rg5 Kg7 28. f4 Kf8 29. f5 Re8 30. Qg3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]

{Grandmasters Jan Timman and Ljubomir Ljubojevic have been among the World's best players for close to two decades. Each is noted for his original play and fighting spirit.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 {Much less common than 5.Nxd4 but well motivated. White is prepared to surrender the Bishop pair (Bb5 and Bxc6) in return for rapid development.} 5... Nc6 6.
Bb5 Bd7 7. Qd3 Nf6 8. Bf4 a6 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. O-O-O Be7 {A serious mistake after which Black is in real trouble. Correct was 10... Qb6 when 11.Bxd6 O-O-O 12.e5 Bxd6 13.exd6 Ng4 14.Qd4 Qxd4 15.Rxd4 f5! leads with unclear to unclear play -Rajkovic.} 11. Rhe1 Qb6 12. Bxd6 O-O-O 13. e5 Ne8 14. Nd5 {A very nice tactical shot that Ljubojevic had to find several moves ago. Now Black has to go pawn grabbing with his Queen. White uses this time to whip up an overpowering attack.} 14... Bxd5 15. Bxe7 Rd7 16. Qa3 Qxf2 17. Rd2 Qb6
18. Nd4 f6 19. Bc5 Qc7 20. c4 {The killing blow as 20...fxe5 is met by 21.cxd5 exd4 22.Rc2 Qf4+ 23.Kb1 Kb8 24.dxe6 winning.} 20... Bxc4 21. Rc2
fxe5 22. Nxe6 Qc6 23. Rxe5 Nc7 24. Rxc4 Nxe6 25. Qh3 Nc7 26. b3 Qf6 27. Bd4
Rd8 28. Rxc7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saint John"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Sax, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]

{The Svesnikov variation of the Sicilian is typical of the sort of openings that have developed after the Second World War. Rather than just play to equalize Black immediately aims for the initiative by creating imbalances from the word go.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 {A key position in the Sveshnikov. Black has compensation for his inferior pawn structure in the two Bishops, the g-file, opportunities for ...f5, and the awkward position of White's Knight on a3.} 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. Qh5 Bg7 13. O-O f4 14. c4 bxc4 15.
Bxc4 O-O 16. Rac1 Ne7 17. Rfd1 Rc8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Rc3 {A very effective consolidating move that plans b3 and Rcd3 pressuring the d6 move. It also contains a trap - 19...Rc6?? would lose a piece to 20. Bxe6 Rxc3 21.Bf5.}
19... Kh8 20. b3 f5 21. Rh3 h6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 23. Rhd3 {White has a clear positional advantage. His next step is to activate his one poorly placed piece - the Knight on a3 - while Black's Bishop on g7 languishes.} 23...
Rcd8 24. Qe2 fxe4 25. Qxe4 f3 26. Nc4 {Consistently increasing the pressure. The natural 26.Rxf3 allows Black to mobilize his center pawns after 26...d5 27.Qh4 Rfe8 threatening ...e4.} 26... Rf4 27. Qd5 Qg4 28. Rxf3 Rxf3 29. Qxf3
Qxf3 30. gxf3 d5 31. Kf1 Bf6 32. Nb6 {Forcing the pawn to d4 after which White's King enters the Black position through the c4 and e4 squares.} 32...
d4 33. Ke2 Bg5 34. Nc4 Bf4 35. h3 Rg8 36. b4 Rg2 37. a4 Kg7 38. b5 axb5 39.
axb5 Kf6 40. b6 Ke6 41. b7 Rg8 42. Rb1 Rb8 43. Rb5 Kd7 44. Na5 Kc7 45. Kd3
Kd6 46. h4 Kc7 47. Rb2 Bh2 48. Ke4 Bf4 49. Rc2+ Kd7 50. Kd3 Bh2 51. Rc1 Bf4
52. Rg1 Kd6 53. Kc4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Women's Olympiad"]
[Site "Greece"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Judith Polgar"]
[Black "Pavlina Angelova"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]

{There's an old saying that "Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe". One of the allures of this ancient pastime is that no two games are ever alike; but we do know that among the vast number of recorded games there are some curious coincidences -- identical twins born years apart. At age 12 Judith Polgar played for Hungary in this world team championship and earned a brilliancy prize for her effort that unwittingly duplicated a brevity played ten years earlier by two obscure Russians (Levchenkov vs. Egarian). Polgar went on to become the highest rated woman in chess history.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 e5 6. d4
exd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 cxd4 9. e5 Ne7 {White sacrificed one pawn for the initiative but it would be fatal to snatch a second one by 9...Bxe5? in view of 10. Re1 f6 11. f4 winning the Bishop.} 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qxd4 Nc6 {Stronger is 11...Nf5!} 12. Qh4 Qb6 13. Nc3 Bxe5 14. Rae1 Bxc3 {Taking the bait. White would still have to find compensation for the pawn after 14...Bg7!} 15. bxc3
Qxb5 16. Qh6 Qf5 {Alas, Black no longer has any defense. If 16...f6 17. Bxf6! Rxf6 18. Re8 Kf7 19. Qf8 mate.} 17. Qxf8+ Kxf8 18. Bh6+ Kg8 19. Re8# 
{A fine illustration of how to exploit a weak back rank.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Van der Wiel, J."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]

{This wild game, between two of Holland's best players, is a good example of counterattack being the best defense. Van der Wiel sacrifices the Exchange for a central pawn roller and Kingside attacking chances which look to be unstoppable. Timman saves the day by launching a sharp counterattack which ends in perpetual check.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 {The Breyer variation of the Ruy Lopez whereby Black loses some time relocating his Knight to a better square. In return the c-pawn becomes free to advance, the Bishop has a clear diagonal, and the Knight on d7 helps strong point the e5 pawn.}
10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5
c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Bg5 Be7 21. Bh6 Nh7 22. Ra3 Rb8 23.
Be3 {Van der Wiel, in his notes to this game, which appeared in Chess Informant, mentions that only with this move have the players left the theoretical highway in the highly analyzed Ruy Lopez.} 23... Bf6 24. axb5
axb5 25. Rea1 Bc8 26. Ne2 Bd7 27. Nc1 Qc7 28. Na2 Ra8 29. Nb4 Rxa3 30. Rxa3
Qc8 31. Ra7 Bd8 32. Bxc5 dxc5 33. Nc6 Bb6 34. Rxd7 {The logical follow up to White's previous play but not necessarily correct.} 34... Qxd7 35. Nfxe5 Qd6
36. f4 Nf6 {Van der Wiel suggests that with the interpolation of 36...Bc7! 37.g3 and only now 37...Nf6, Black would be slightly better.} 37. Qf2 Bc7
38. Qg3 Nh7 39. Nxf7 Qxf4 {Blow for blow. The text is forced as 39...Kxf7? loses to 40.e5 Qd5 41.Qxg6+ Kf8 42.Qh6+.} 40. Qxg6+ Kf8 41. d6 Ra8 { Counterattack is the only defense.} 42. e5 Ra1+ 43. Bb1 Qc1+ 44. Kh2 Rxb1
45. dxc7 Qg1+ 46. Kg3 Qe1+ 47. Kh2 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]

{Mastery of the Ruy Lopez is the hallmark of many top GMs. So rich and complex is this opening that certain players, like Anatoly Karpov, are quite content to play either color of the "Spanish Torture". The players in the following game, Grandmasters John Nunn of England and Alexander Beliavsky of Ukraine, are noted for their virtuosity in 1.e4 e5 openings and their attacking skills. This sharp encounter does both players credit.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9.
h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. b4 Bf8 14. a4 Nb6 15. a5
Nbd7 16. Bb2 g6 17. Rb1 Nh5 18. c4 {Having made all the necessary preparatory moves White tries to blow open the center but Black should be okay.} 18... bxc4 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Nxc4 Qf6 22. Ba4 {Nunn, in his notes to the game, criticizes this move for losing control of the d3 square. He suggests that 23.Re3 would have given him a slight advantage.}
22... Re6 23. Qb3 Rb8 {More logical was 23...Rd8 with ...Nf4 soon to follow. } 24. Bd7 {A clever idea bringing the Bishop to the Kingside for defense.}
24... Re7 25. Bg4 Nf4 26. g3 h5 27. gxf4 hxg4 28. Nxe5 gxh3 29. Ng4 Qh4 30.
Nf6+ Kh8 31. Re3 Bc8 32. Nd7+ Kg8 33. Rxh3 Qg4+ 34. Qg3 Qxg3+ 35. fxg3 Bg7
36. Nxb8 Bxh3 37. Bxg7 Kxg7 38. Nxa6 {The rest of the game is very easy for Nunn.} 38... Rxe4 39. Nxc7 Re2 40. b5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lau, R."]
[Black "Lukacs, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C93"]

{A trite but true chess maxim is that the best answer to a wing attack is a counterattack in the center. Hungarian Grandmaster Petar Lukacs gives an excellent demonstration of how effective a pawn break can be in the following game against German GM Ralf Lau.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. d4 Bb7 11.
Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a3 h6 15. Bc2 Nb8 16. b4 Nbd7 17. Bb2
g6 18. Qb1 Bg7 19. Nb3 Rc8 20. a4 d5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Nxe4 23. f3 Ng5
24. Nc5 Nxf3+ {Black decides to strike while all the White pieces are sleeping on the Queenside.} 25. gxf3 Qg5+ 26. Kh1 Qg3 27. Re2 Qxh3+ 28. Kg1
Rxe5 29. Qf1 {As 29.Rxe5 would be met by 29...Qg3+.} 29... Rg5+ 30. Kf2 Qh4+
31. Ke3 Re8+ 32. Kd3 Qc4+ 33. Kd2 Qf4+ 34. Kd3 Qc4+ 35. Kd2 Rxe2+ 36. Qxe2
Qf4+ 37. Ke1 {On 37.Kd3 Black wins with 37...Bc8! 38.Qe8+ Kh7 39.Qxc8 Rg2!.}
37... Rg1+ 38. Kf2 Qg3+ 39. Ke3 Rg2 40. Qd1 Qe5+ 41. Kd3 Bc8 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolov, A."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{Opening preparation continues to advance at a frightening rate. Hungarian Grandmaster Lajos Portisch is well known for his opening erudition but here he falls victim to a powerhouse novelty prepared by Andrei Sokolov and his second master Yurkov. Everything had been seen before 24.b3!!.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3
Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a4 h6 15. Bc2 exd4
16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Bb1 c5 18. d5 Nd7 19. Ra3 c4 20. Nd4 Ne5 21. axb5 Qb6 22.
Nxc4 Nxc4 23. Rg3 Bc8 24. b3 {This replaces the earlier 24.Bxh6. White still intends to take on h6 but first wants to ensure that the f - pawn will advance with tempo.} 24... Ne5 25. Be3 {A necessary move to take along as the immediate 25.f4 would be strongly answered by 25...Nbd3!.} 25... Ng6 26.
f4 Qd8 27. f5 Ne5 28. Qd2 a5 29. Bxh6 Qh4 30. Kh2 Bd7 31. Bg5 Qh5 32. Rf1 g6
33. Nc6 Bxc6 34. dxc6 Rab8 35. fxg6 fxg6 36. c7 Rbc8 37. b6 Qh7 38. Rxf8+
Rxf8 39. Qxd6 {Everyone knows the normal value of the pieces but here everything is topsy turvy. White is a Rook down but two big passed pawns, passive Black pieces, and very active White ones spell victory for the first player.} 39... Nbc6 40. Bf6 Rxf6 41. Qxf6 Qd7 42. b7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Protvino"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Psakhis, L."]
[Black "Smagin, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{A game featuring an attractive central pawn mass.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 {Sometimes when Black chooses this move order in the Ruy Lopez it is to play 8...d5, the Marshall Gambit.} 9. h3 Be6 {The following are all "book" in this position: 9...Re8, 9...Bb7, 9...Nd7, 9...Nb8, 9...Na5. All are better than the text.}
10. d4 Bxb3 11. axb3 {In order to avoid a serious loss of time, Black was forced into the a-file opening exchange. Now the c4 square is off-limits to the Black Knight, and the a-pawn will be a constant source of worry.} 11...
Re8 12. d5 Nb8 13. c4 c6 14. Qd3 b4 15. Bd2 c5 16. Be3 Nbd7 17. Nbd2 h6 18.
Nf1 Nh7 19. Ng3 Bg5 20. Nf5 Qf6 {The d6-pawn is a big target, and after this the Queen can be driven off. Slightly better is 20...Nf8, although White's attack is still dangerous.} 21. Nh2 h5 22. Bxg5 Nxg5 23. h4 Nh7 24. g4 g6
25. g5 Qd8 26. Nxd6 Rf8 27. Nb7 Qb6 28. Na5 f6 {Hoping to open lines against the White King, and take advantage of the off-side Knight-a5.} 29. Qh3 Nb8
30. f4 Ra7 31. fxe5 fxg5 32. e6 Qd8 33. e5 gxh4 34. Qe3 Re7 35. Kh1 Rf5 36.
Qxc5 Ng5 37. Qe3 Nxe6 {If Black could eliminate all of the center pawns and activate his Rooks on the center files, the piece sacrifice would be well worthwhile.} 38. dxe6 Rxe6 39. Qc5 h3 40. Rad1 Qe8 41. Qc7 Rf8 42. Rd6 {It seems White's Rooks are more active, though.} 42... Re7 43. Qb6 g5 44. Rg6+
Rg7 45. Rxg7+ Kxg7 46. Qf6+ Kh7 47. Qxg5 Nc6 48. Rg1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saint John"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hjartarson, J."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C82"]

{One of the biggest surprises of the 1988 World Chess Festival in Saint John, New Brunswick, was Icelandic Grandmaster Johann Hjartarson's elimination of Viktor Korchnoi in the first round of the Candidates.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Re1 Qd7 13. Nf1 Rd8 14. Ne3 Bh5
15. b4 Ne6 16. Nf5 d4 17. Be4 Bg6 18. g4 h5 19. h3 Kf8 20. a4 {Black's opening has turned out to be a failure. His King is stuck in the center and there is little hope that his Rooks will ever be connected. The text increases White's advantage by preparing to open the a-file for his Rook.}
20... hxg4 21. hxg4 Qe8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Ra6 {A natural but very strong move that commences the start of cleanup operations.} 23... Nb8 24. Rxe6
fxe6 25. Nxe7 Bxe4 {Forced as 25...Kxe7 is met by 26.Bg5+ while 25...Qxe7 leaves the Bishop hanging on g6.} 26. Rxe4 dxc3 {Now 26...Qxe7 allows 27.Bg5 followed by Bxd8 and recapturing on d4.} 27. Ng6+ Kg8 {The Knight is immune - 27...Qxg6 28.Qxd8+ Kf7 29.Qxh8 Qxe4 30.Ng5+.} 28. Rd4 Rxd4 29. Qxd4 Rh3 { The Knight still cannot be taken as 29...Qxg6 would be met by 30.Qd8+ Kh7 31.Ng5+ winning.} 30. Ng5 Rh6 31. Nf4 Nc6 32. Qxc3 Qd8 33. Nf3 Nxb4 34. Bd2
Qa8 35. Kg2 Nc6 36. g5 {Two pieces for a Rook is a winning material advantage but it is still instructive to see how Hjartarson actually collects the point.} 36... b4 37. Qc5 Rh7 38. Nxe6 g6 39. Qd5 Kh8 40. Ned4
Qc8 41. e6 Nxd4 42. Nxd4 c5 43. Bf4 Ra7 44. Nc6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Tukmakov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C82"]

{Ukrainian Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk is among the world's best. The 1988 New York Open was his breakthrough event and the following game against compatriot Vladimir Tukmakov was a key victory from this famous event.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {The Open Ruy Lopez differs from the Closed (5...Be7) in that Black eschews maintaining a strong point on e5 in favor of easy development for his pieces. The strategical plans are determined by the pawn structure. White, with four pawns versus three on the Kingside aims for the Kingside while Black is King on the other side of the board.} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7
11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Re1 O-O 13. Nf1 Bh5 14. Be3 Bg6 15. Ng3 Re8 16. h4 {A strong move which forces Black to yield control of his f5 square.} 16... Bxc2 17.
Qxc2 Nd7 18. Bf4 Nf8 19. h5 Ne6 20. Be3 Na5 21. Rad1 Nc4 22. Bc1 c5 {Black has succeeded in mobilizing his Queenside pawn majority but Ivanchuk's Kingside action counts for more.} 23. Qf5 Ra7 24. Ne4 Nb6 25. Neg5 Bxg5 26.
Bxg5 Qc8 27. Be3 h6 28. Nh4 Rc7 29. Qg4 Ng5 30. Nf5 Rxe5 {Black has no satisfactory answer to the threats of Bxg5 and f2-f4 followed by Nxh6+.} 31.
Bf4 Qxf5 32. Qxf5 Rxf5 33. Bxc7 Nd7 34. f4 Ne6 35. g4 Nxc7 36. gxf5 Kf8 37.
Re2 Nb8 38. Re5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vasyukov, E."]
[Black "Rantanen, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]

{Yrjo Rantanen is one of three Grandmasters that Finland has produced. Evgeny Vasyukov is one of several hundred that the USSR produced. Both players are noted for their skill in attacking the enemy King.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 {A quiet way to avoid the sharp theory arising from the Archangel variation (5...Bb7).} 7...
Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. Nf1 Bf8 11. c3 Na5 12. Bc2 d5 13. Qe2 c5 14.
Ng3 d4 15. cxd4 cxd4 {Here a safer recapture was 15...exd4. Now Black starts to get into difficulties.} 16. Bd2 Rc8 17. Rec1 b4 18. Qe1 {A good move which ties Black down.} 18... Qb6 19. a3 Nc6 20. Ba4 a5 21. Qd1 Nd7 22. axb4
axb4 23. Nf5 Nc5 24. Ng5 {Student body right. GM Vasyukov starts to bring his pieces over to the Kingside.} 24... Rc7 25. Qh5 h6 26. Nxf7 {The start of a magnificent combination. Note that it can't be refused as 26...Nxa4 would be met by 27.Qg6! Rf7 28.Nxh6+ Kh8 29.Nf7+ Kg8 30.Ng5 winning.} 26...
Rxf7 27. Rxc5 {Gaining control of the a2-g8 diagonal for the Bishop. Note that 27...Qxc5 fails to 28.Bb3 Nd8 29.Qg6 threatening Nxh6+.} 27... Bxc5 28.
Qg6 {A quiet move with a deadly threat. Now 28...Rxf5 fails to 29.exf5 Rf8 30. Bxh6 Qc7 31.Bb3 Kh8 32.Bg5.} 28... Kf8 29. Bxh6 Ree7 {White wins after 29...gxh6 30.Qxh6+ Kg8 31.Bb3 Bf8 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Bxf7.} 30. Qh7 Ke8 31. Qg8+
Kd7 32. Nxe7 Kxe7 {On 32...Rxe7 33.Bxg7 followed by pushing the h-pawn does the trick.} 33. Bg5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Petursson, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{One mistake and it's all over.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Despite its symmetrical nature, the Petroff can be a very sharp opening and is employed by some of the top Grandmasters in the world.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4
d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12.
h3 Bh5 13. Rb1 Nd7 14. Rb5 Nb6 15. c4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxc4 17. Bc2 {White is planning a4-a5.} 17... a6 {Better is 17...Qc7.} 18. Bg5 axb5 {Black decides to give up his Queen. If 18...Qc7, then 19.Bf6 results in a decisive kingside attack. For example, if 19...axb5 or 19...gxf6, then 20.Bxh7+.} 19.
Bxd8 Rfxd8 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qxb5 Bc7 22. a4 Rxd4 23. Qc5 Rd7 24. g3 Re8 {If 24...Nxa4, then 25.Bxa4 Rxa4 26.Qb5 wins.} 25. a5 Re5 26. Qb4 Nd5 27. Qxb7
Rde7 28. a6 Bb6 29. Qc8+ Kg7 30. Qxc4 Rc7 31. Qa4 Re2 32. Bb3 Nc3 33. Qb4
Ba7 34. Bc4 Rc2 35. Bd3 Rd2 {35...Ra2 would have held out longer, although White is still winning after 36.Qd6.} 36. Qf4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Huebner, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{A super Grandmaster suffers a "Short" defeat. Robert Huebner is known as the strongest "amateur" chess player in the world, although what that means in chess is that he has another career. It certainly doesn't mean he refuses any prize money! Being a non-professional has serious disadvantages in these times of advancing opening theory and computer-aided study, and Huebner has found it more and more difficult to compete successfully against players like Short.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6
7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bg4 12. Qd3 Nd7 13.
Ng5 Nf6 14. h3 Bh5 {14...Bd7 15.Re1 is slightly better for White.} 15. f4 { Threatening to win the Bishop with g4 and f5.} 15... h6 16. g4 hxg5 17. fxg5
Nxg4 18. hxg4 Qd7 {If 18...Bxg4, then 19.Qe4 Qd7 20.g6 is strong. Instead Black sacrifices a piece for an attack on the open King, but its insufficient.} 19. gxh5 Qg4+ 20. Kf2 Rae8 {Black is threatening 21...b5 22.Bb3 Bg3+ 23.Qxg3 Re2+.} 21. Rg1 Qh4+ 22. Kg2 b5 23. Bb3 c5 {If 23...Re4, then 24.Qf3 is forced and strong.} 24. Rh1 {Black Resigns. White wins after 24...Qg4+ 25.Kf1 c4 26.Bd1 Re1+ 27.Kxe1 Qg2 28.Qe2 Qxh1+ 29.Kd2.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hjartarson, J."]
[Black "Nogueiras, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]

{Grandmasters Johann Hjartarson of Iceland and Jesus Nogueiras of Cuba have reached the Candidates stage of the World championship cycle. Both players are known for doing their homework but Nogueiras is especially noted for his diligence in finding novelties in the opening. Here he applies a known idea (16...Na5) in a new setting.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 {This move, which can initiate wild play, is not for the faint- hearted. White wins a pawn, a passed h-pawn at that, but matters are hardly clear. Black has a lot of counterplay that shouldn't be underestimated.} 7... Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 Bd7
12. Qd3 dxc3 13. Qxc3 Nf5 14. Rb1 O-O-O 15. Rg1 d4 16. Qd3 Na5 {A new move that turns out well. The text may look a bit odd - it temporarily decentralizes the Knight - but it is well motivated. With 16... . Na5 Black makes the c6 square available for his Bishop, opens the c-line for counterplay, and prepares to bring the Knight to c4.} 17. g4 Ba4 18. c3 Bc2
19. Qxc2 d3 20. Qa2 Qc5 21. Rg2 Ne3 {Four outstanding moves in a row have caught the White King in the middle.} 22. Bxe3 Qxe3 23. Rg3 d2+ 24. Kd1 Qf2
25. Kc2 d1=Q+ 26. Rxd1 Rxd1 27. Kxd1 Qxf1+ 28. Kd2 b5 29. Ke3 Nc4+ 30. Ke4
Qf2 31. Qc2 Rxg4 32. Qd3 Rxf4+ 33. Nxf4 Nd2+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Farago, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]

{Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov has a tremendous feel for the game. His positional understanding is so fine that it is rare to find a game of his where things get out of control. The Poison Pawn variation of the French Winawer would hardly seem his cup of tea but the following game flows.} 1.
e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 Qc7 8.
Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 Bd7 12. Qd3 dxc3 13. Qxc3 Nf5 14.
Rb1 Rc8 {Hjartarson-Nogueiras, Belfort 1988, saw 14...O-O-O, but the text, if followed up correctly, is also quite playable.} 15. Bd2 b6 {This gives the b-pawn extra support and allows the possibility of ...Nc6-a5-c4 c4, but stronger was 15...a6 with ...Nce7 and ...Bb5 to follow.} 16. g3 Qb7 17. Qd3
Nce7 18. Rg1 Rc4 19. g4 Nh4 20. Rg3 Qc8 21. Rb2 Nhg6 22. Rf3 Nc6 23. Rf2 Rh8
24. h3 Qd8 25. Qg3 Qe7 26. Rf3 Qc5 27. Kd1 Ra4 {Decentralizing. Better was 27...d4 with the Exchange sac 28...Rc3 soon to follow.} 28. Rc3 Qe7 29. Nc1
d4 30. Rcb3 Na5 31. Rb4 Nb7 32. Rxa4 Bxa4 33. Rb4 Qd7 34. Nb3 {As 34...Bxb3 isn't possible (35.Bb5).} 34... d3 35. Qxd3 Qxd3 36. Bxd3 Bxb3 37. Rxb3 Nc5
38. Rc3 Ke7 39. Bf1 Rd8 40. Rc4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Yusupov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]

{John Nunn is not only one of England's top players but he is also an outstanding writer on all aspects of the game. His opponent, Artur Yusupov , formerly of Russia but now representing Germany, has reached the Candidates level of the World Championship cycle several times.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. a4 b6 9. Bb5+ {This move, which looks like it loses a tempo, is actually well motivated. After 8...b6 Black is threatening 9...Ba6 ridding himself of his bad Bishop. . The maneuver 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bd3 stops this.} 9... Bd7 10. Bd3 Nbc6 11. O-O h6 {A necessary move to throw in as the immediate 11...O-O loses to 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Ng5+ with a winning attack.} 12. Re1 O-O 13. Ba3 Na5 14. dxc5 {A typical plan in this position. White wants to open the position for his Bishops and undouble his c-pawns with Nf3-d2-b3.} 14... bxc5 15. Nd2 Bxa4 {Cutting across White's plan and starting some incredibly complicated play.} 16. Bxc5
Qxc5 17. Rxa4 Qxc3 18. Re3 Kh8 19. g4 {Nunn has excellent Kingside attacking chances for his pawn and the text, threatening g4-g5, demands drastic action from Black.} 19... Nac6 20. Nf3 Rab8 21. Bc4 Qb2 22. Bb3 Ng6 23. Ra2 Rxb3 { Trapping the Queen would not be the right way to describe what is happening here as Yusupov will have fantastic compensation.} 24. Rxb2 Rxb2 25. Qc1 Rb4
26. h3 Rfb8 27. Kh2 a5 28. Kg3 Rc4 29. c3 a4 30. Nd2 Ncxe5 {This game is a good illustration that sometimes the standard numeric values for the pieces don't apply. Yusupov has sacrificed more material and after 31.Nxc4 Nxc4 he would have only two Knight's and two pawns - and a winning position. Instead of winning the Exchange Nunn elects to eliminate the dangerous a-pawn.} 31.
Qa1 Rc7 32. Qxa4 Rbc8 33. Qa5 Nc4 34. Nxc4 Rxc4 35. h4 Nf4 {Black's plan is clear - attack the c-pawn three times and win it.} 36. g5 h5 37. Rf3 e5 38.
Qa7 Rxc3 39. Rxc3 Rxc3+ 40. Kh2 Rh3+ 41. Kg1 Rxh4 42. Qb8+ Kh7 43. Qxe5 Kg6
44. Qd6+ Ne6 45. Qxd5 Rg4+ 46. Kh2 Rxg5 47. Qe4+ {The position is an easy win for Yusupov as the White Queen is helpless without an outside support. It's instructive to see how Yusupov patiently improves his position and prepares to win Nunn's f-pawn.} 47... Rf5 48. Qd3 Ng5 49. Kg3 Nf3 50. Qe4
Ne5 51. Qc2 Ng4 52. f3 Ne5 53. f4 Ng4 54. Qd3 Nh6 55. Qd6+ Kh7 56. Qd3 g6
57. Qd7 Ng4 58. Qa7 Kg7 59. Qd4+ Nf6 60. Qb2 Kh7 61. Qb7 Nd5 62. Qa7 Nxf4
63. Qd7 Ne6 64. Qb7 Rf4 65. Qb5 h4+ 66. Kh3 g5 67. Qb7 Nf8 68. Qd5 Kh6 69.
Qd6+ Ng6 70. Qd2 g4+ 71. Kg2 Kh5 72. Qd5+ f5 73. Qd7 h3+ 74. Kg1 g3 75. Qh7+
Kg5 76. Qxh3 Nh4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Nikolic, Pr."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C18"]

{GM Predrag Nikolic of Bosnia has the distinction of having qualified for both the World Cup and Candidates cycle in 1990. Only a handful of players managed to pull off this difficult double.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Ne7 8. a4 b6 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bd3 Nbc6
11. O-O h6 12. Re1 O-O 13. Bf4 {In Nunn-Yusupov, we saw 13.Ba3, here the English GM varies.} 13... Ng6 14. Bg3 cxd4 15. Nxd4 {White captures this way because 15.cxd4 would be met by 15...Nb4. If Black can exchange off the Bishop on d3 the first player's chances for a successful Kingside attack are greatly reduced.} 15... Na5 16. Re3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Qxc4 18. h4 Bxa4 19. h5 Ne7
20. Bf4 Nf5 {A neat tactical defense of the Kingside - 21.Nxf5 Qxf4.} 21.
Rd3 Bd7 22. Rb1 a5 23. g4 {Nunn understands exactly what is happening. White is losing on the Queenside so he needs to get something going on the Kingside.} 23... Nxd4 24. Rxd4 Qc7 {Black needs to stay on the e-pawn to delay g4-g5.} 25. Qf3 Rac8 26. c4 dxc4 27. g5 hxg5 28. h6 Bc6 {Capturing the Bishop leads to a unstoppable White attack - 28...gxf4 29. hxg7 Kxg7 30.Qg4+ Kh7 31.Qh5+ Kg7 32.Qg5+ followed by 33.Rf4 wins.} 29. Qg4 gxh6 30. Bxg5 f5
31. exf6ep hxg5 32. Qxg5+ {The start of 22 consecutive checks! Nunn's training as a mathematician (he has a doctorate) is in evidence.} 32... Kf7
33. Qh5+ Kxf6 34. Qh4+ Kf7 35. Rf4+ Ke8 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Qh8+ Kf7 38. Qh7+
Kf6 39. Qh6+ Kf7 40. Qh7+ Kf6 41. Qh6+ Ke5 42. Qg5+ Kd6 43. Qg3+ Kd5 44.
Qg5+ e5 45. Qd2+ Ke4 46. Qe3+ Kf5 47. Qh3+ Kg6 48. Qg4+ Kf7 49. Qf5+ Kg8 50.
Qe6+ {Try as he might Black is unable to escape from the checks and he must finally agree to split the point.} 50... Kg7 51. Qg4+ Kh8 52. Qh3+ Kg8 53.
Qe6+ Kg7 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wolf, J."]
[Black "Gerbich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]

{Correspondence chess allows enough time for reflection that ordinary masters can sometimes play at over the board GMs. Here J. Wolf plays a brilliant sacrificial attack that any player would be proud to have played.}
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 {The Wade variation. Black intends ....Bd7-b5 trading off his bad Bishop.} 6. Be2 Bb5 7. c4 {A sharp attempt to combat Black's plan. White sacrifices a pawn to open the game and exploit his superior development.} 7... Bxc4 8. Bxc4 Qb4+ {On 8...dxc4 White has 9.d5.} 9. Nbd2 dxc4 10. a3 Qa5 11. O-O Nc6 12. Nxc4 Qa6 13. Nd6+ Bxd6
14. exd6 cxd4 15. d7+ Ke7 16. Nxd4 Nf6 17. Nf5+ exf5 {A bolt from the blue which while not leading to a forced win is still extremely strong.} 18. Re1+
Kd8 19. Bf4 Ne7 {The losing move. According to Kerpf and Wolf the only chance for Black was 19...Qb6 20.Qe2 Qd4 21.Bg5 with unclear play.} 20. Rc1
Nfd5 21. Rxe7 Nxf4 {Here 21...Kxe7 lost to 22.Qxd5 Qe6 23.Qc5+ Kxd7 24.Qb5+ Kd8 25.Qa5+ b6 26. Qd2+ intending Re1.} 22. Qe1 Qd6 23. Rxf7 Qe6 24. Qa5+ b6
25. Qxa7 Qe1+ 26. Rxe1 Rxa7 27. Re8+ Rxe8 28. dxe8=Q+ Kxe8 29. Rxa7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{The following game, between two of the greatest players of all time, is a classic demonstration of the realization of a small advantage.} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 {Moving the Knight three times in the first five moves may look like it violates basic opening principles but 5.Ng5 is a based on an idea - to force ...e6 to shut in Black's c8-Bishop.}
5... Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. O-O h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 O-O 11. c3 e5
12. Bc2 Re8 13. Re1 exd4 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Qxd4 {Despite all of the simplification White's small lead in development and greater board room give him an annoying little edge.} 15... Qe7 16. Bf4 Bxf4 17. Qxf4 Nf8 18. Re1
Be6 19. Nd4 Rd8 20. h4 Qc5 21. Re3 Qd6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 {A serious error that shows that even the great players occasionally err. Karpov, whose positional understanding is second to none, knows that 22... fxe6 creates a terrible weakness on e6 and that 22...Nxe6 is right. So why did he play 22...fxe6? Perhaps because he didn't want to lose a tempo after 22...Nxe6 23.Qe4 Nf8 and that he wanted more room to maneuver on his second rank. However, as the game shows in no uncertain terms, the weakness on e6 is more than Black's position can stand.} 23. Qg4 Qd2 24. Bb3 Kh8 25. Re2 Qd6 26. g3 a6 27. Kg2
Re8 28. Re3 Re7 29. Rf3 Rd7 30. Qh5 Qe7 31. Qe5 Rd8 32. a4 b5 33. Qe4 Qc7
34. Rf4 c5 35. Qf3 Qd6 36. axb5 axb5 37. Rf7 Rb8 38. Ra7 b4 39. Bc2 bxc3 40.
bxc3 Qe5 41. Rf7 Nh7 42. Qg4 Kg8 43. Re7 Nf8 44. Qf3 c4 45. Be4 Kh8 46. Bc6
Nh7 47. Qf7 Nf8 48. Re8 {Normally Queen and Knight work better together than Queen and Bishop but this position is an exception. The passive placement of the Black Knight, the vulnerable King, and the weak pawns on e6 and c4 spell defeat. All of this explains why White exchanges Rooks. Soon after Black starts losing pawns and later the game.} 48... Rxe8 49. Bxe8 Nh7 50. Bd7 Nf6
51. Bxe6 h5 52. Bxc4 Qe4+ 53. Kh2 Kh7 54. Qe6 Qf3 55. Qe1 Ng4+ 56. Kg1 Qc6
57. Bd3+ g6 58. Qe7+ Kh6 59. Be4 Qb6 60. Qf8+ Kh7 61. Qf7+ Kh6 62. c4 Qa6
63. c5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]

{Hastings has the longest tradition of any tournament in the world, going back to 1895. England's top two players take each other on.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4
d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 {Threatening 7.Nxf7. } 7... Nb6 8. Bb3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. Bf4 Nbd5 11. Be5 Qa5+ 12. Nd2 b5 { Forced. White can't be allowed to complete his development with Ng1-f3 and O-O, as Nd2-c4 would come too strongly.} 13. c4 bxc4 14. Bxc4 Nb6 {Again, Black isn't comfortable with development as usual. If 14...cxd4 15.Nf3 Be7 16.O-O and after the eventual Nd2-b3, Black's Queen is missing a home. With the text, Jonathan tries to make d5 available for his First Lady.} 15. b4 { Nigel must have seen some variations in which the Black Queen gets trapped. Perhaps he overlooked that after 15...Qxb4 16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Rb5, the reply ...Qc3 is possible since the back rank is weak. If Black's Queen isn't trapped, then Nigel has pitched a pawn for nebulous compensation.} 15...
Qxb4 {Not 15...cxb4 as 16.Nb3 Qa3 17.Bb5+ Bd7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Bxd7+ Nxd7 20.d5 qualifies as good compensation.} 16. Rb1 Qa5 17. Bb5+ Bd7 18. Bxf6
gxf6 19. Nf3 {Against 19.d5, Black has 19...Qxa2 defending e6.} 19... cxd4
20. O-O {A natural mistake. The Knight on b6 is an excellent defender. It blocks the b-file, controls c8 (check out the c-file), and lends a hand to the support of Black's King. Thus, it should be pushed back by 20.Bxd7+ Nxd7 21.O-O, when White has play on the b-file.} 20... Rd8 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Nxd4
Kf8 {Cool defense by Jonathan. His King is well protected by the wall of pawns on f7, f6, and e6. Gradually, his pieces can gain activity with moves like ...f6-f5, or ...Rh8-g8-g6. Also, Black's Queen may land up on the monster square e5. Black is better.} 23. Rfd1 f5 24. Ng3 {Better is 24.Bxd7. } 24... Bxb5 25. Nxb5 Nd5 {Centralizing the Knight and setting up multiple forks on c3.} 26. Rb3 h5 {Black has taken over the initiative completely.}
27. Nd4 {Better is 27.Nxh5.} 27... Nf4 {A high-class move, combining defense and attack. White's pieces are poised for sacrifices against e6 and f5. The text move addresses such threats while opening up the d-file for annoying exchanges and pins. That's the defensive part - the really good news is that White has no convenient way to guard e1. If 28.Qf3 or 28.Qc2, then 28...Rxd4 and 29...Qe1+ decides immediately.} 28. Qf1 {Both players were in time trouble here.} 28... Qxa2 {"Give me your pawns, baby".} 29. Rf3 h4 {A marvelous move. Who could guess that the Rook on h8 would be putting decisive pressure along the d-file?} 30. Ngxf5 exf5 31. Rxf4 Rh6 32. Ra1 { Better is 32.Rxf5.} 32... Qd2 33. Ne2 {The only move was 33.Qc4, although Black would still have a large advantage.} 33... Re6 34. Rxf5 Qxe2 35. Qc1
Red6 {White Resigns. There is no good defense to 36...Rd1+.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]

{The 1988 Candidates Match between GMs Nigel Short and Jonathan Speelman of England was extremely hard fought. The following game, the fourth of the match, is a good demonstration of the danger of playing for a win without just cause.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7.
dxc5 Qa5 8. O-O Qxc5+ 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. Bd3 Bg4 11. Qe1 Bxf3 12. Rxf3 Nb4 { Black trades pieces to try to blunt White's impending Kingside attack.} 13.
Be3 Nxd3 14. cxd3 Qb4 15. Rb1 a5 16. f5 Rac8 17. Bg1 a4 18. a3 Qb3 19. Bd4
e6 20. Qg1 b5 21. g4 Nxg4 {An excellent practical decision from Speelman who understands that the routine 21...h6 just leaves him worse.} 22. f6 Nxf6 23.
Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxf6 b4 25. axb4 a3 26. Qd1 Qxb4 27. Rf2 axb2 28. Na2 Qd4 29.
Rfxb2 d5 30. Rb4 Qa7 31. Nc1 {Starting to drift. Necessary was 31.Ra4.}
31... dxe4 32. dxe4 {A serious mistake. Having made much of the play early on White finds it hard to reorient himself to the new demands of the position.} 32... Qe3 {King safety is everything here.} 33. Qg1 {The last chance to fight, albeit with the inferior position, was by 33.Nb3 Rfd8 Rfd8 34.Qf1 Rc2 35.Re1.} 33... Qf3+ 34. Qg2 Qd1+ 35. Qg1 Rfd8 36. Nb3 Qf3+ 37.
Qg2 Rd1+ 38. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 39. Qg1 Qe2 40. h3 Rc2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sax, G."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B09"]

{Annotations by Yasser Seirawan. Chess Informant voted this the theoretically most important game for the first half of 1988.} 1. e4 d6 2.
d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. e5 Ng4 8. e6 {I confess; I've faced this situation as Black many times. And like the blind leading the blind I've followed my peers and played 8...Bxb5 9.exf7+ Kd7 10.Nxb5 Qa5+ 11.Nc3... One day when preparing for the Zagreb Interzonal, NM James Blackwood, IM John Donaldson, and I asked ourselves what happens if we just take the e-pawn? This then is our joint analysis:} 8... fxe6 9. Ng5 Bxb5 10.
Nxe6 Bxd4 11. Nxd8 {Our analysis runs 11.Nxb5 Qa5+ 12.c3 Bf2+ 13.Kd2 Be3+ 14.Kc2 Qa4+ 15.Kb1! Qe4+ 16.Qc2 Qxc2+ 17.Kxc2 with an unclear position. Naturally, Gyula didn't like having to call it peace so quickly with White. Thus, he did the proper thing. He thought for 72 minutes, and then took my Queen.} 11... Bf2+ 12. Kd2 Be3+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lugano"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Balashov, Y."]
[Black "Torre, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]

{Grandmaster Eugenio Torre of the Philippines was the first Asian player to participate in the Candidates. He is also well known for having served as Bobby Fischer's second during his 1992 match with Boris Spassky. His opponent, Yury Balashov of Russia, has been rated over 2600 and has a win over Anatoly Karpov to his credit.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {The Pirc Defense, named after the Yugoslav Grandmaster who was among the first to appreciate the counterattacking possibilities of this elastic defense.} 4.
Be3 c6 5. Qd2 b5 {Black shows his deep understanding of the position by avoiding two tempting but inaccurate moves. Here ...Bg7 would only lose a tempo to a future Be3-h6 and moving his Queen early would be misguided as what Black really needs his quick counterplay on the Queenside and in the center.} 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 e5 8. a4 b4 9. Ne2 exd4 10. Nexd4 c5 11. Ne2 Bg7
12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Ng3 O-O 14. O-O Re8 15. Bf4 Bf8 {The game is about equal as the weak pawns on e4 and d6 cancel out.} 16. Rfe1 a6 17. Bc4 d5 18. Ba2 { Safer was 18.exd5. Now Black destroys White's once proud center in truly hypermodern fashion.} 18... b3 19. Bxb3 c4 20. Ba2 dxe4 21. Ng5 Rc8 22. h3
Qb6 23. a5 Qa7 24. Kh2 Qc5 25. N5xe4 Nxe4 26. Qxd7 Bc6 27. Nxe4 Bxe4 28. Bd6
{The losing move. Necessary was 28.Re2 or 28.Bg3.} 28... Bxd6+ 29. Rxd6 Kg7
30. Re2 Bf5 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "de Firmian, N."]
[Black "Miles, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]

{One rarely sees a strong Grandmaster lose in 20 moves as in this game from the U.S. championship.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 {The English GM is known for playing unorthodox openings.} 5. Bd3 e5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. dxe5
dxe5 8. fxe5 Nfd7 9. Bf4 Bb4 {White gets too big of an advantage after 9...Ba3? 10.Bd2 Bxb2 11.Nb5 Qd8 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.Rb1.} 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd5 {An unexpected Knight sacrifice. For the piece White will have two central pawns and the d3-h7 diagonal will be opened.} 11... Bc5+ {It is better to accept the sacrifice, although White will have a strong attack: 11...cxd5 12.exd5 and because of the threat of 13.Bxh7+, Black should play 12...Be7.} 12. Kh1
Bd4 {It was still better to play 12...cxd5.} 13. e6 fxe6 14. Bc7 Qa4 15.
Ne7+ Kh8 16. Ng5 h5 {If 16...Bxd1, then 17.Rxf8+ Nxf8 18.Nf7#.} 17. Rxf8+
Nxf8 18. Qf1 Nbd7 19. Qf7 Nf6 20. e5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saloniki"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Andersson, U."]
[Black "Greenfield, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]

{Sweden's top player Ulf Andersson is known for his quiet style, but he is also capable of quite the opposite.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7
5. O-O c5 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Nb5 Nc5 11. Rd1
Nfe4 12. b4 {A strong exchange sacrifice.} 12... Bf6 13. Qe3 Bxa1 14. bxc5
bxc5 15. Ng5 Bd4 {If 15...Qxg5, then 16.Qxg5 Nxg5 17.Bxb7 Rb8 18.Bxg5 wins.}
16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Rxd4 Nc5 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Qf3+ Kg8 {If 20...Qf6, then 21.Qxb7+ Kg6 22.Rg4+ wins.} 21. Qxb7 {The threat is 22.Rg4 g6 23.Bh6.} 21... Rb8 22. Qe4 Kf7 23. Ba3 Qf6 {If 23...Rb6, then 24.c5.} 24.
Bxd6 Rb1+ 25. Kg2 Re8 26. Be5 Qf5 27. Qe3 g5 {If 27...Kg6, then 28.Rf4 or if 27...Kg8, then 28.Rd7 wins for White.} 28. h4 h6 29. g4 {Black Resigns. If 29...Qg6+, then 30.h5 Qc2 31.Qf3+ Kg8 32.Rd7 wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Andersson, U."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]

{Black needs to play originally to hold the balance.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3.
g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. b3 Bg7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Nc3 Na6 9. Rc1 e6 10. d4
d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Na4 Rc8 13. Qd2 Ndb4 {White would end up with a slightly better position after 13...Qe7 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nxc5 Rxc5 17.Qb2+ Kg8 18.Rxc5 Qxc5 19.Ne5. Andersson is famous for grinding his opponents down in very simple positions.} 14. a3 Na2 {Black must play this move to hold the balance. 14...Nc6? 15.dxc5 is good for White.} 15. Rc2 {If 15.Ra1, then 15...b5 is good for Black.} 15... Bd5 {15...Be4? 16.dxc5 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 b5 19.Qxa2 bxa4 20.b4! is good for White.} 16. dxc5
Bxb3 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rxa2 Qxd2 {18...Bxa2 19.Qxa2 Nc5 is slightly better for White.} 19. Rxd2 Bxa4 20. cxb6 axb6 21. Rd6 {White has a slight advantage in the endgame due to his more active pieces and Black's weak b-pawn.} 21... Rc6 22. Rxc6 Bxc6 23. Rb1 Rb8 24. Ne5 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Nc5 26.
Rb4 Rb7 {Not 26...Ra8? 27.Rxb6 Ra3 28.Rc6 followed by Rc7 with a large advantage to White.} 27. f4 b5 {Threatening simplification with ...Na6 followed by ...b4.} 28. Nc6 Na6 29. Rb3 Nc5 30. Rb4 Na6 31. Rb2 Rb6 32. Ne5
Nc7 {Not 32...b4? due to 33.Nd3 b3 34.Kf2 with a large advantage to White.}
33. a4 b4 34. Nd3 Nd5 35. e4 Nc3 36. Rxb4 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ehlvest, J."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]

{A Kasparov combination.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2
O-O 6. d3 {Better is 6.Nd5.} 6... Re8 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5
10. Be2 Bf5 11. Rd1 {If 11.e4, then 11...Nf4 12.exf5 Nd4 is strong.} 11...
a5 12. O-O Qe7 13. a3 {If 13.e4, then 13...Ndb4 14.Qb1 Bg4 is good for Black.} 13... a4 14. Be1 {Better is 14.Rfe1.} 14... Bg6 15. Qc4 {Better is 15.Rc1.} 15... Red8 16. Nd2 {The decisive error. 16.d4! was necessary. Now comes a Kasparov combination.} 16... Nd4 17. exd4 Nf4 18. Bf3 Rxd4 19. Qb5 { 19.Qc3 is better, although Black has a big advantage after 19...Rad8.} 19...
c6 20. Bxc6 {20.Qb6 Ra6 traps the Queen.} 20... bxc6 21. Qxc6 Qd8 22. Nf3
Rd6 23. Qb5 {If 23.Qb7, then 23...Rb6 traps the Queen.} 23... Rd5 24. Qb4 e4
25. Bc3 {An error in time pressure. 25.Nd2 would have held out longer, although Black is winning after 25...Qh4.} 25... Ne2+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Naberezhnye Chelni"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vaganian, R."]
[Black "Chernin, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]

{Two top Soviet Grandmasters battle it out.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6
4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6 8. g3 Qe7 9. d3 O-O 10. Bg2
Bd7 11. O-O Na5 12. Nd2 c5 13. Ne4 f5 {If 13...f5, then 14.c4 followed by Nc3-d5 is good for White.} 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. f4 {White needs to open the position up for his two Bishops.} 15... Rae8 16. fxe5 Qxe5 17. Rf2 Bc6 18.
Bxc6 Nxc6 19. Qb3+ Rf7 20. g4 Na5 21. Qa4 Nc6 {Not 21...b6 due to 22.gxf5 winning a pawn.} 22. Bd2 Re6 {If 22...fxg4, then 23.Rxf7 Kxf7 24.Qc4+ is good for White.} 23. Raf1 Rg6 24. g5 Re6 {Not 24...h6?! as 25.Qc4+ Kf8 26.Qxf7+ and 27.Rxf5+ is strong.} 25. e4 g6 26. Qb3 Na5 27. Qc2 c4 {An error in time pressure. Better is 27...Nc6. Now Black will lose a pawn.} 28. exf5
gxf5 29. d4 Qe4 30. Qxe4 Rxe4 31. Rxf5 Rg4+ 32. Kh1 Rxf5 33. Rxf5 Nc6 {If 33...Nb3, then 34.Bf4.} 34. Rc5 Re4 35. Rxc4 Kf7 36. Rc5 Kg6 37. Kg1 Re2 38.
Bf4 Ne7 39. Kf1 Rb2 40. Ke1 Nf5 41. d5 Nh4 42. Kd1 Ng2 43. Bd2 Kf5 44. d6+ 
{Black Resigns. Black's position is hopeless after 44...Ke6 45.Kd5 Kd7 46.Rd4 trapping the Knight.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Sokolov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A19"]

{Russian GM Andrei Sokolov stunned the chess world when he reached the Candidates final in 1987. He hasn't been able to repeat that success but he does hold the distinction of being one of the few players in the world to have beaten both Kasparov and Karpov. This game however is not one of his more golden moments. Kasparov plays a very sharp pawn sacrifice and Sokolov, who is better noted for his attacking play rather than defensive prowess, quickly goes down.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 {The text, which keeps the game going along pure English lines and sidesteps the Nimzo-Indian (3.d4 Bb4), is perfect for Kasparov's aggressive style.} 3... c5 {A more circumspect choice was 3...d5 aiming for 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.d4 e5. The text offers White a chance to play a very promising gambit.} 4.
e5 Ng8 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxe5 8. Ndb5 a6 9. Nd6+ Bxd6 10. Qxd6
f6 11. Be3 {So far so theory. For the sacrificed pawn White has the two Bishops, a lead in development, and lots of play on the dark squares.} 11...
Ne7 12. Bb6 Nf5 13. Qc5 d6 14. Qa5 Qe7 15. O-O-O O-O 16. f4 Nc6 17. Qa3 e5
18. g4 {A strong novelty that overturns existing theory. Previous to this game 18.c5 had been tried and found wanting. With the text White prepares to lock in Black's Bishop and in so doing his Rook on a8 as well.} 18... Nfd4
19. Nd5 Qf7 20. f5 g6 21. Rg1 {Grandmaster Sergey Makarichev, one of Kasparov's coaches, gave this move two exclamation marks in Chess Informant 45. Why? Partly because 21.Qxd6 is messy but also because the text will open lots of lines which should favor the better developed player - White.} 21...
gxf5 22. g5 Kh8 23. gxf6 Be6 24. Qxd6 Bxd5 25. cxd5 Qxf6 {This move seems like it loses a piece but Sokolov has seen a trick a few moves down the road. Unfortunately for him Kasparov's evaluation of the position has gone much deeper. He foresees that despite being temporarily a pawn down in the ending he has all the winning chances thanks to his two Bishops.} 26. Qxf6+
Rxf6 {With the point that 27.dxc6 is met by 27...Rxc6 check picking up the Bishop.} 27. Kb1 Nd8 28. Bc5 Rc8 29. Be7 Rf7 30. Bd6 Nf3 31. Rg3 e4 32. Be2
Rf6 33. Bf4 Rg6 {White's two Bishops have done their job and the rest is easy.} 34. Bxf3 Rxg3 35. Bxe4 fxe4 36. hxg3 Kg7 37. Rd4 Nf7 38. Rxe4 Rd8 39.
Re7 Rxd5 40. Rxb7 h5 41. Ra7 a5 42. a4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Saloniki"]
[Date "1988"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Speelman, J."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A15"]

{Karpov shows how to win in a simple position.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 e6
4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. b3 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bb2 c5 10. Rc1 Nd7
11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. d4 Rc8 13. Qd2 cxd4 14. Rxc8 {Better is 14.Qxd4 with an equal position. The text allows Black's Queen to take up an active role.}
14... Qxc8 15. Qxd4 Nf6 16. Rc1 Qa6 {Winning a pawn.} 17. e3 Qxa2 18. Nd2
Bc5 19. Qe5 Bd6 20. Qd4 Ba3 21. Bxa3 Qxa3 22. Rc7 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 h6 24. Nc4
Qxb3 25. Rxa7 Qc2 {Threatening ...Ne4.} 26. Ne5 {If 26.Nxb6, then 26...Ne4 27.Kf3 Qxf2+ 28.Ke4 Qf5#.} 26... Ne4 27. Nd3 Nd2 28. Ne5 b5 29. h4 Ne4 30.
Nd3 Qc4 31. Qd7 {An error in time pressure. Better is 31.Qxc4 bxc4 or 31.Ne5 Qc2 32.Nd3 Nf6 33.Ne5 h5 with a large advantage to Black in either case.}
31... Nd2 {Threatening 32...Qe4+ to which there is no defense.} 32. Rc7 Qe4+
33. Kh2 Nf3+ 34. Kh3 g5 35. hxg5 hxg5 {White Resigns. There is no defense to 36...g4+ 37.Kg2 Ne5+.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Piket, J."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]

{The 20 year old Hollander Piket has a great future. But currently the World Champion Kasparov remains out of his league.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7
4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11.
f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. b4 Nf6 14. c5 Ng6 {The King's Indian Defense often results in positions in which there is a race between White's attack on the queenside and Black's on the kingside.} 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Rc1 Rf7 {This is both a defensive and offensive move. The rook defends the 7th rank and the Bishop is moved to f8 for defensive purposes, but later this Rook can be moved to the g-file for attacking purposes.} 17. a4 Bf8 18. a5 Bd7 19. Nb5 { Better is 19.Kh1 perhaps followed by Bg1. Now Black's attack comes fast.}
19... g4 20. Nc7 g3 21. Nxa8 {Better is 21.hxg3 fxg3 22.Bxg3 although Black is better in this complicated position after 22...Bh6.} 21... Nh5 22. Kh1 { The only move. White loses quickly after 22.Bxa7 Qh4 23.h3 Bxh3 24.gxh3 Qxh3 25.Rf2 gxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Nh4.} 22... gxf2 23. Rxf2 Ng3+ 24. Kg1 {The attack is too strong. 24.hxg3 fxg3 followed by ...Qh4+ immediately ends the game.}
24... Qxa8 25. Bc4 a6 26. Qd3 {26.hxg3 fxg3 27.Rb2 Qd8 28.Kf1 Bh6 29.Ke2 Qg5 is also hopeless.} 26... Qa7 27. b5 axb5 28. Bxb5 Nh1 {White Resigns. 29.Kxh1 Qxf2 leaves White a piece down.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haifa"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Black "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]

{An instructive tactical game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nd2 c5 10. Rb1 Ne8 11. b4 b6 12.
bxc5 bxc5 13. Nb3 f5 14. Bg5 Kh8 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 Rg8 17. Qe1 { Threatening 18.Qh4.} 17... Qd7 18. Bh5 Ba6 19. Qh4 e4 {The only move. If 19...Nc8, then 20.Bg6 Bf8 21.Bxe8 Qxe8 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Bf6+ wins.} 20. Nxe4
fxe4 21. Bxe7 Bxc4 22. f5 {Threatening f5-f6. White has a large advantage.}
22... Bxf1 23. Rxf1 c4 24. Nc1 Qb7 25. Ne2 Be5 {If 25...Qxd5, then 26.Bg6 is strong.} 26. f6 Nc7 27. f7 Nxd5 28. fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 29. Bg5 Qg7 30. Rf5 Ne3 31.
Rxe5 Nxg2 {Not 31...dxe5 32.Bf6.} 32. Qf2 Nf4 {If 32...Nh4, then 33.Rd5 Qa1+ 34.Qf1 wins.} 33. Nxf4 Qxe5 {If 33...dxe5, then 34.Ng6+ wins.} 34. h4 { Threatening 35.Ng6+.} 34... e3 35. Qf3 h6 36. Bf7 {White was in time trouble. 36.Ng6+ would have won more quickly.} 36... e2 37. Nxe2 Rg7 38. Bd5
{Completely blowing the win. 38.Qh5 would have won easily. Now White has to fight for a draw.} 38... hxg5 39. h5 g4 40. Qf8+ Kh7 41. Nf4 g3 {If 41...c3, then 42.Ne6. The text move threatens 42...g2 winning.} 42. Kg2 {The only move.} 42... Qb2+ 43. Kf3 Qf2+ 44. Ke4 Qc2+ 45. Kf3 g2 {Black sacrifices his Queen to promote a new one.} 46. Be4+ Qxe4+ 47. Kxe4 g1=Q 48. Qf5+ Kh6 49.
Qf6+ Kh7 50. Qf5+ Kh8 51. Qf8+ Kh7 52. Qf5+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Skelleftea"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Portisch, L."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]

{The Hungarian Grandmaster Portisch is one of the strongest players in the world, especially with the White pieces. But the English Grandmaster Nunn is extremely dangerous in sharp positions in which he is attacking.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 h6 8. O-O Ng4 9.
Bc1 Nc6 10. d5 Ne7 11. Ne1 f5 12. Bxg4 fxg4 13. Nc2 g5 14. Ne3 Rf4 15. Bd2
Bd7 16. b4 Ng6 17. Rc1 {Black plans to continue his attack on the kingside with ...Nh4 followed by ...Qe8 and ...Qh5.} 17... Nh4 18. Kh1 {White needed to play 18.f3 gxf3 19.g3 right away. Now he is in trouble.} 18... Qe8 19. f3
{Black was planning to play 19...Qh5 followed by 20...Nf3 21.gxf3 gxf3 and 22...Rh4. Black would have a big advantage after 19.Nf5 Nxf5 20. Bxf4 gxf4 21.exf5 Bxf5 followed by 22...Qg6. Even worse is 19.g3 Nf3 followed by 20...Qh5.} 19... gxf3 20. g3 {Even worse is 20.gxf3 Qh5 followed by 21...Nxf3.} 20... Qh5 21. gxh4 {Also bad is 21.gxf4 exf4 followed by 22...Bh3. White's best hope is 21.Rf2.} 21... Rxh4 22. Rf2 g4 23. Nf1 Rh3 { Threatening 24...g3.} 24. Kg1 Qg6 {Again threatening a decisive breakthrough with 25...g3.} 25. Ng3 {White is threatening to stop Black's attack with 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.gxf5 Qxf5 28.Qc2 followed by Ne4.} 25... Rf8 26. Nf5 { Otherwise Black will breakthrough with 26...h5 followed by 27...h4.} 26...
Rxf5 27. exf5 Bxf5 28. Ne2 {Now White has no defense against ...g3. He can only postpone the inevitable.} 28... fxe2 29. Qxe2 Bd3 30. Qd1 g3 31. hxg3
Be4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Philadelphia"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Christiansen, L."]
[Black "Gurevich, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]

{Black has a ferocious kingside attack, but White defends by counterattacking.} 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6
7. h3 Na6 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Nc7 10. a4 e5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bd2 Nh5 {Preparing to start his kingside attack with ...f7-f5.} 13. Qc1 g5 14. Ne2 Nf4 15. Nxf4
gxf4 16. Kh2 f5 {Planning g2-g3.} 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Bxf5 Rxf5 19. Qc2 {White must prevent ...e5-e4.} 19... Qd7 20. Rab1 {Preparing a queenside attack with 21.b4.} 20... Raf8 {Worth considering was blockading the queenside with 20...a5. Then White planned to play 21.Rfe1 followed by infiltrating with his Queen with 22.Qb3.} 21. b4 Ne8 22. Rfe1 b6 23. a5 Rh5 {Better is 25...Qc8 to prevent White's 25th move.} 24. bxc5 bxc5 25. a6 {Now the Rook has an infiltration square at b7.} 25... Qg4 26. Rb7 Rff5 27. Qd3 {Not 27.Rxa7? Rxh3+ 28.gxh3 Rh5 29.Ng1 f3 winning.} 27... Nf6 28. Rxa7 Qg6 29.
Kg1 {Better is 29.Rxb7 Ng4+ 30.Kg1 Rxh3 31.a7 winning. Now Black's attack becomes very dangerous.} 29... e4 {Not immediately 29...Rxh3 due to 30.Nxe5. } 30. Rxe4 Rxh3 31. Rxg7+ {Other moves lose: 31.Ree7 Bf8 and 31.Rb7 Rfh5 32.Re8+ Nxe8.} 31... Kxg7 {Not 31...Qxg7 32.Re7 winning.} 32. Bc3 Re5 {A very strong move that breaks the pin on the diagonal.} 33. Bxe5 {33.Nxe5 Rxd3 34.Nxg6 Rxc3 leads to an equal position.} 33... dxe5 34. a7 Nxe4 35.
Qe2 {Not 35.a8=Q? Rh1+ 36.Kxh1 Nxf2+ and 37...Nxd3 with a large advantage to Black.} 35... Rxf3 36. a8=Q {Also good is 36.Qxf3 Nd2 37.Qe2 Qb1+ 38.Kh2 Nf1+ 39.Kh3.} 36... Rxf2 37. Qb7+ Kg8 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qd7+ Kh8 40. Qdg4
Rxe2 {Not 40.Qeg4? Rf1+ 41.Kxg1 Ng3+ 42.Qxg3 fxg3 with an equal position.}
41. Qxg6 Ng3 42. Qxh6+ Kg8 43. Qe6+ Kg7 44. Kh2 Nf1+ 45. Kh3 f3 46. Qg4+ { White needs to be careful. 46.gxf3 Rh2+ 47.Kg4 Ne3+ allows a draw by perpetual check.} 46... Kh6 47. Qxf3 Re3 48. d6 {Black Resigns. There is no way to stop the d-pawn.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Glasgow"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Levitt, J."]
[Black "Martin, And."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E87"]

{This game features a well-known sacrifice of the Queen for a two pieces and a pawn.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. f3 d6 6. Be3 e5 7. d5
Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2 Nxc4 13. Rc1
Na6 14. Nd1 Nb6 15. Ne3 Bd7 16. Nh3 f6 17. Nf2 Nc8 18. Nd3 c5 19. Qg3 Bh6
20. h4 Bb5 {Better is 20...Bxe3.} 21. a4 Bxd3+ {Not 21...Bxa4 22.h5 g5 23.Nf5 Bg7 24.h6 with a winning advantage.} 22. Kxd3 Nb4+ 23. Ke2 f5 24. h5
Bxe3 {White's kingside attack is very dangerous.} 25. hxg6 h6 {If 25...Bxc1, then 26.gxh7+ Kh8 27.Rg1 wins.} 26. Rxh6 {The decisive breakthrough.} 26...
Bxh6 {If 26...Bxc1, then 27.Qh3 Kg7 28.Rh7+ Kxg6 29.Qh5+ Kf6 30.Qf5 checkmate.} 27. Qh3 Kg7 28. Rh1 Bg5 {If 28...Rh8, then 29.Qxf5 Rf8 30.Qh3 Rh8 31.Qd7 Kxg6 32.Qe6+ Kg7 33.Rg1 wins.} 29. Qh7+ Kf6 30. Qd7 {Threatening 31.Qe6+ Kg7 32.Rh7 checkmate.} 30... Bh6 {If 30...Kxg6, then 31.Qh7+ Kf6 32.Qxf5+ wins.} 31. Rxh6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lugano"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gheorghiu, F."]
[Black "Piket, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]

{Romanian Grandmaster Gheorghiu, who won the world junior championship in 1963, takes on a new promising talent, 20-year-old Piket of Holland.} 1. d4
d6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 Nf6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. Qd2 a6
9. O-O-O Qa5 10. Kb1 e6 11. Bh6 b5 {The players attack the opposing Kings on opposite sides of the board.} 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. dxc5 b4 {It appears that the Knight has no safe squares.} 14. Nd5 {Worse is 14.cxd6 bxc3 15.Qxc3 Qc5 with a large advantage to Black.} 14... exd5 15. cxd5 dxc5 {White's central pawns are too powerful after 15...Ne5 16.cxd6. So Black gives back the piece.} 16.
dxc6 Be6 17. b3 {Not 17.Nc1? c4.} 17... Rfd8 18. Qc2 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 Rd8 20.
Qc1 {Not 20.Qc2? Nd5! 21.exd5 Bf5.} 20... Rd3 {Threatening 20...Bxb3.} 21.
Qc2 c4 22. Nf4 {22.bxc4 b3 23.axb3 Qe1+ gives Black too much play.} 22...
cxb3 23. Nxe6+ fxe6 24. axb3 {Not 24.Qxd3? Qxa2+ 25.Kc1 b2+ winning.} 24...
Rc3 25. Qb2 Rxc6 26. Bc4 Qc7 27. Rd1 e5 {Not 27...Qxh2 28.Rd7+ winning.} 28.
Qd2 a5 29. Qd8 Qa7 {Better is 29...a4 with counter chances.} 30. g4 { Suddenly the Black King is finding itself in a mating net. 31.g5 is threatened.} 30... Qe3 {If 30...g5, then 31.h4 h6 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.Rh1 wins.}
31. h4 Rxc4 {If 31...Nxe4, then 32.Qd7+ wins.} 32. Qe7+ Kh6 33. Qf8# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Skelleftea"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E73"]

{Every now and then a GM plays a game so complicated that he doesn't know what's going on.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 {The last time I played this position, Garry was White and I was Black.} 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5
7. d5 h6 8. Be3 e6 9. Qd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Re8 11. f3 h5 {An important move. Black uses his h-pawn to gain space on the Kingside. White has won some fine games by playing g2-g4 and h2-h4.} 12. a4 a6 13. a5 {Both players are waiting. White wants to play Ng1-h3-f2. Of course, Black is waiting for the opportunity to play Bc8xh3. The question is: who will benefit more from the waiting game? Kasparov's next move answers that question. Black will. White should have played 13.h4.} 13... Nh7 {An important new idea in the position. Black intends f7-f5, attacking White's trump, his powerful center. If Black succeeds in destroying the center, he wins. White's position will be ruined. I now had to undertake a major rethink of the position.} 14. Bd1 {Not pretty, but necessary.} 14... Nd7 {The waiting game is over. Black has won the first battle. White has been forced into an ugly scheme of development.}
15. Nge2 Ne5 16. b3 Qh4+ {More natural is 16...f5.} 17. Bf2 Qf6 18. Qe3 { Continuing to misuse all my pieces, while only a couple of Black's are clumsily placed (Qf6, Nh7). Better is 18.Be3.} 18... h4 {Another benefit of 11...h5. White can't allow h4-h3 but, by playing h2-h3 myself, my Kingside becomes a rigid target. Black will also keep the mighty outpost on e5.} 19.
h3 g5 20. O-O Bd7 {I ain't happy. How often do you see a Bishop voluntarily "developed" at d1? My Knights are particularly sad. The Knight on e2 is an object of ridicule. Look at those Black pawns. My King is the object of Black's attentions. My Bishops are wondering what to do, while my Rooks have no clue! In short, if I were the World Champion, with White's position, I'd offer a draw and excuse myself. Before all else, my King needs protection.}
21. Kh1 Nf8 22. Bg1 Nfg6 23. Bh2 c4 {When making this move, Garry literally screwed the pawn into the c4-square, then he rubbed the pawn on the square hard enough to rock the table. I was so delighted by this move and its accompanying motions that I couldn't repress a smile. In an instant, my Rooks now know where to play. The Knight on e2 is offered the d4-square, while my Queen is unleashed on the g1-a7 diagonal.} 24. Rb1 Rac8 25. Qa7 Nf4
{As good as anything else. Black is impaling himself on White's defenses.}
26. bxc4 {After the simple 26.Bxf4 gxf4 27.Qxb7, Black is in real trouble.}
26... Nxc4 27. Rxb7 {A capture made with high hopes. I'm amazed that I could play such a bad move. Once again, I was too sure of my King's defenses. 27.Bxf4 was forced. Now Black has a ferocious attack against my King.} 27...
Nd2 28. Rg1 {Here, my confidence in victory was absolute! After all, isn't Black's Bishop simply trapped? In fact, the position is harrowingly complicated.} 28... Nxh3 29. e5 {My intended resource. The structure g2-f3-e4-d5 was supposed to corral Black's Knights. They've jumped the fence. My best chance to save the game is 29.Rxd7.} 29... Rxe5 {29...Qf5! causes White real problems.} 30. Rxd7 Nxg1 31. Qxg1 {In making this move, I was once again fully confident of victory. Most of the little horrors hovering around my King have disappeared. I'm ahead in material. Things never appeared so rosy; the only drawback was the time control. At least that was mutual. I had 5 minutes left until move 40 while Garry had 6 minutes left. Unfortunately, my confidence was not fully warranted. White's Knights on c3 and e2 step on each other's hooves. My Queen is passive. And the f3-pawn can easily be undermined by h4-h3. Both players were beginning to tense up. I felt my mind had slipped into high gear and was speeding at 100 miles per hour!} 31... Ree8 {Correct is 31...h3!} 32. Rxd6 Qf5 33. Ba4 { Garry had overlooked this grab from the crypt when playing 33...Ree8. I had been dreaming of such a moment ever since 14.Bd1.} 33... Qd3 {A tremendous reaction to the shock of 33.Ba4. Black's Queen is omnipresent on d3. My Knights are in concrete shoes. The bum's rush d5-d6-d7 is nigh impossible, as the Queen is behind the d-pawn.} 34. Bxe8 Rxe8 35. Rc6 {I've no doubts the position is fully won for White. Am I not a full piece up? Proving the matter, however, is not easy.} 35... h3 {His only chance.} 36. Bg3 {Correct is 36.Qf2!} 36... hxg2+ 37. Qxg2 Nxf3 38. d6 Re6 {An unpleasant surprise. I hadn't reckoned on being mated on the h-file.} 39. Qf2 g4 40. Rc8+ {The normal last-move-of-time-control mistake. If a win still exists, it must be 40.Kg2!.} 40... Kh7 {Now that the time control had been reached, I sank into deep thought and couldn't believe my eyes. My mind had stopped working. I couldn't find a win. After a thirty-seven minute think, I decided to force a repetition.} 41. Nf4 Rh6+ 42. Kg2 Ne1+ 43. Kg1 Nf3+ {Draw by 3-fold Repetition.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Ftacnik, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{Another example of attacking the King.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4.
cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Ne5
11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qd2 b6 13. f4 Bg7 14. c4 e5 15. O-O f5 16. Bb2 Qd6 17. Qc3
Re8 18. Bd3 Re7 {Correct is 18...fxe4 19.Bxe4 Re7. Now Black's kingside is weakened.} 19. exf5 gxf5 20. fxe5 {White sacrifices a pawn to get his pieces at the Black King.} 20... Bxe5 21. Qd2 {Not 21.Qd2? Bxh2+ 22.Kh1 Qh6.} 21...
Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Be5 23. Qg5+ Qg6 {Not 23...Rg7 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Qd8+ Kf7 26.Rbe1 with a strong attack.} 24. Qxe7 Qh6+ 25. Kg1 Qe3+ 26. Kh1 Qh6+ 27.
Kg1 Qe3+ 28. Rf2 {White sacrifices his Queen to avoid the perpetual check. In exchange he will have a Bishop and Rook and a very powerful attack.}
28... Bh2+ 29. Kxh2 Qxe7 30. Rf3 Qd6+ 31. Rg3+ Kf7 32. Rf1 h5 {If 32...f4, then 33.Bc1 wins.} 33. Bxf5 h4 34. Bg6+ Kg8 {If 34...Ke7, then 35.Bf6+! Kd7 36.Bh4 Kc7 37.Rf7+ Kb8 38.Bg5 followed by Bf4 wins.} 35. Bh7+ Kxh7 36. Rf7+
Kh6 37. Bc1+ {Black Resigns. If 37...Kh5, then 38.Rh7 followed by mate.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vaisser, A."]
[Black "Pein, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{Black, the well-known British chess merchant Malcolm Pein, does not find the right defense.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6.
bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 {This is a well-known sacrifice that has been played many times before. Black will lose a lot of time returning his Queen.} 11... Qxa2 12. O-O b6 13. Qc1 Qe6 14.
Bc4 Qxe4 15. Re1 Qb7 16. Bb4 Be6 17. Rxe6 {Sacrificing the exchange to get open lines for his pieces.} 17... fxe6 18. Ng5 Nc6 {A new move in this theoretical variation.} 19. Nxe6 Kh8 20. Bc3 {Threatening 21.Nxg7 Kxg7 22.d5+.} 20... Bf6 21. Qh6 Rg8 {Correct is 21...Rf7. After 22.Nc5 Qc8 23.Bxf7 bxc5 24.Bxg6 Qg8 25.Be4 the position is unclear.} 22. Re1 Rg7 {Now Black is loss. He could have put up the most resistance with 22...Qc8, although after 23.Re3 threatening 24.Qxh7+ White has a big advantage.} 23.
g4 {Threatening g4-g5.} 23... Na5 {If 23...g5, then 24.Bd3.} 24. Bd3 Qc6 25.
Ba1 Rf7 {If 25...Qf3, then 26.g5 Qh5 27.Qxh5 gxh5 28.f4 is winning for White.} 26. g5 Bg7 27. d5 Qxd5 28. Bxg7+ Kg8 29. Bxg6 {Black Resigns. Of course if 29...hxg6, then 30.Qh8#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Browne, W."]
[Black "Nickoloff, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D89"]

{Grandmaster Walter Browne has won the most US championships since Bobby Fischer.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4
Be6 14. Qa4 a6 15. d5 b5 16. Qb4 Nc6 17. Qc5 Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Ne5 19. Bh6 { White will win back the exchange because Black's kingside is weak.} 19...
Bd7 20. Qd4 f6 21. Bxf8 Kxf8 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. f4 Nxd3 24. Rxd3 Bg4 25. Rc3
Qb8 {Not 25...Qa7 26.Qxa7 Rxa7 27.Nd4 with a large advantage to White.} 26.
e5 fxe5 {Better is 26...Bxe2 27.exf6 exf6 28.Qxf6+ Kg8 29.Qe6+ Kg7 30.Qxe2 Qxf4 with an equal position.} 27. fxe5 Qa7 {If 27...Bxe2, then 28.Qf2+.} 28.
Rc5 Kg8 {If 28...Bxe2, then 29.e6! Kg8 30.Rc8+ wins.} 29. Nc3 Rd8 30. d6 Be6
31. a3 exd6 32. exd6 Qg7 33. Re5 Bf7 34. Ne4 h6 35. Nf6+ Kh8 {Black Resigns. If 35...Qxf6, then 36.Re8+ wins. Black resigned here because 36.Re7 wins.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D88"]

{An interesting endgame.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4
Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1 cxd4 15. cxd4 e5 16. d5 Nc4 17. Bf2 Qf6
18. Kg1 Rf8 19. Qe1 Bh6 20. Ng3 Qa6 {Threatening 21...Rxf2.} 21. Kh1 {Not 21.Nf1 Nb2!.} 21... Qa4 22. Qe2 b6 23. h4 Bf4 24. Nf1 {Better is 24.g5 with an unclear position.} 24... Nd6 25. Re1 Rc8 26. g3 Rc2 27. Qf3 Qxa2 28. Kg1
Bh6 29. g5 Bg7 30. Ne3 Rc7 31. Ng4 Rf7 32. Qe3 {If 32.Nf6+, then 32...Bxf6 33.gxf6 Ne8.} 32... Qc2 {Threatening 33...Nc4.} 33. h5 {Better is 33.Rc1, although after 33...Qxe4 34.Rc8+ Rf8 Black has a large advantage.} 33... Nc4
{Better is 33...gxh5!.} 34. Qc1 Qxc1 35. Rxc1 gxh5 {If 35...b5, then 36.h6 Bf8 37.Nf6+ is unclear.} 36. Rxc4 hxg4 37. Rc8+ Bf8 38. Be1 {Better is 38.Kf1! with an unclear position followed by marching the King to the queenside.} 38... Kg7 39. Bc3 Bd6 40. Rc6 Bc5+ 41. Kg2 Rf2+ 42. Kh1 Bd4 43.
Bb4 {If 43.Rc7+ Kg6 44.Bxd4 exd4 45.d6 Rf8 with a large advantage to Black. The text threatens Be7.} 43... Rf7 44. Re6 Rb7 45. Rc6 {If 45.Be7, then 45...b5 is strong.} 45... a5 46. d6 {46.Ba3 would have held out longer, although Black is much better after 46...b5.} 46... axb4 47. Rc7+ Kf8 {Not 47...Rxc7?? 48.dxc7 and the pawn promotes.} 48. Rxb7 b3 49. Rb8+ Kf7 50. d7
b2 51. Rf8+ {If 51.d8=Q, then 51...b1=Q+ 52.Kg2 Qg1#.} 51... Ke6 52. d8=N
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zakharov, A."]
[Black "Khenkin, I."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]

{An endgame results with Queen versus Rook, Bishop, and Knight.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Bc4 Bg7 8. Ne2 Nc6
9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ {A variation played by Karpov during the world championship match.} 12... Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1 Qd6
15. Qa4 {A new move.} 15... Qxh2 {Black sacrifices a Knight to start attacking the King.} 16. Qxa5 Rf8+ 17. Ke1 {The only move. Not 17.Bf2? Qh4 18.g3 Qh1+ 19.Ng1 Qh2 winning.} 17... Qh1+ 18. Ng1 {White must play precisely. 18.Bg1 Bh6 19.Qxc5 Qxg2 followed by ...Qf1 wins.} 18... Qxg2 {If 18...Bh6, then 19.Kd2 is unclear.} 19. Qb5 Bh6 20. Qe2 Qg3+ {Wins the Queen, but White gets lots of material for it.} 21. Kd2 Rf2 22. Bxh6 Rxe2+ 23. Nxe2
Qh3 {Not 23...Qxg4 24.Rf1 followed by 25.Rf8#.} 24. Be3 {Good for Black is 24.g5?! c4.} 24... Qxg4 {Material is roughly equal. A Rook, Bishop, and Knight is about equivalent to a Queen and two pawns.} 25. Rf1 {Threatening 26.Bh6.} 25... h6 {25...Kg7 26.Nf4 is good for White.} 26. Bxh6 Qxe4 27.
Rf8+ Kh7 28. Bg5 Qe6 29. a4 cxd4 30. cxd4 Qa2+ 31. Ke1 Qxa4 32. Rf7+ Kg8 33.
Rxe7 Qb4+ 34. Kf2 a5 {Its a race between White's attack and Black's a-pawn.}
35. Bf6 Qb6 {Not 35...Qd6? 36.Rg7+ Kf8 37.Be5 followed by Nf4 with a strong attack.} 36. Be5 a4 37. Nf4 Qb2+ {Both players are playing accurately in time pressure. Not 38...Kf8? 39.Bg7+! nor 38...a3? 38.Ne6.} 38. Kg1 Qc1+ 39.
Kh2 Qb2+ 40. Kg1 Qb1+ 41. Kh2 Qb2+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Simoncini, R."]
[Black "Denaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]

{The following game was a correspondence game played between two of the finest correspondence players in the world. In this type of chess game each player mails a move at a time to his opponent. Sometimes the games last several years! The benefit of such games is that both players can literally analyze the games to death...} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5.
e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5
12. Bd5 {The players are in the main variation of the Grunfeld Defense. 12.Bd5 and 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 are among the most topical ways to meet the Grunfeld.} 12... Bd7 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Bf4 Qc8 15. e5
Be6 16. Be4 Bc4 17. Qa4 Bxe2 18. Rf2 Ba6 19. Qxa5 {This little tactical skirmish has allowed White to exchange his passive Knight. The position favors White because his Bishops control more space than their counterparts. } 19... cxd4 20. cxd4 Qd7 21. Be3 Rac8 22. Rfb2 Rc7 23. f4 e6 24. d5 exd5
25. Bxd5 Rfc8 26. Rd1 Qf5 27. Qa4 g5 28. Rf2 {Black is ambitious. He was anxious to clear a diagonal for his g7- Bishop but simultaneously weakened his King. It would've been better to play 27...h5 preparing ...Rc7-c2 with reasonable chances.} 28... gxf4 29. Bxf4 Bxe5 30. Bg3 Qg5 31. Rxf7 Rxf7 32.
Bxe5 Bc4 33. h4 {The game gets more complicated. The immediate 33.Bxc4 Rxc4 34.Qxc4 Qe3+ 35.Kh1 Qxe5 leaves Black with a playable position.} 33... Qe3+
{Again 33...Qxe5 fails because, 34.Bxf7+ allows the unpleasant choice of how to lose a rook: 34...Kxf7 35.Qd7+ or 34...Bxf7 35.Qg4+; a familiar friend.}
34. Kh1 Qe2 35. Bxf7+ Bxf7 36. Qd7 Re8 37. Bc3 Qc4 38. Rd3 Qxh4+ 39. Rh3 Qf4
40. Rf3 Qh6+ 41. Kg1 Rf8 42. Be5 {Black gives up. He has no way of meeting White's threat of Rf3-g3+. Thus 42...Bg6 43.Qe6+ or 42...Qc1+ 43.Kh2 Qh6+ 44.Rh3 Qc6 45.Rg3+ wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Zenica"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cvitan, O."]
[Black "Terzic, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]

{How to take advantage of dark-squared weaknesses.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O d6 7. b3 Nc6 8. Bb2 Rb8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10.
Rc1 Qc8 {Better is 10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 a6 with a slight advantage to White.} 11. Qd2 Bh3 12. d5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Na5 {The Knight is completely out of play on the edge of the board and this is one of the reasons why White has such a large advantage.} 14. e4 {White's plan is e4-e5.} 14... a6
15. Rfe1 Qc7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 { Threatening 21.b4.} 20... Qd6 21. Rd1 {21.Qxa5?! Qxd5 22.f3 Ra8 is unclear.}
21... Ra8 22. h4 Rfd8 {Better is 22...h5.} 23. h5 e6 24. h6 {If 24.Nxf7, Black should play 24...Qxd5!, but not 24...Kxf7? 25.dxe6+.} 24... Qxd5 {If 24...Bf8, then 25.Ng4 or if 24...Bh8, then 25.Nxf7.} 25. Qf4 {Because of the threats of 26.hxg7 and 26.Qxf7+, Black must give up his important Bishop and he becomes very weak on the dark squares. Control of the a1-h8 diagonal is so powerful that White even gives up a Rook for it.} 25... Bxe5 26. Bxe5
Qxd1 27. Qf6 Kf8 28. Rf4 Qd5+ {The only move.} 29. f3 Qb7 30. Qg7+ Ke8 31.
Qg8+ Kd7 32. Rxf7+ Kc6 33. Qxh7 Rd7 {If 33...Qb6, then 34.Qxg6 wins.} 34.
Qxg6 Re8 {If 34...Rxf7, then 35.Qxe6# or if 34...Rd2+ 35.Kh3 Qc8, then 36.h7 wins.} 35. Rf8 Ree7 {The only move. If 35...Rxf8, then 36.Qxe6+ wins.} 36.
h7 Rd2+ 37. Kf1 Qd7 38. Qe4+ Kb6 39. Rb8+ Nb7 40. h8=Q Rd1+ 41. Kf2 Qd2+ {If 41...Rd2+, then 42.Ke3 Rxa2 43.Rxb7+ wins.} 42. Qe2 Qd5 43. Bc3 b4 44. Ra8
Rd3 45. Bf6 Rd7 46. Qb8 Rh7 47. Qa7+ Kc7 48. Be5+ Kd7 49. Qxb7+ {Black Resigns. 49...Qxb7 50.Qxd3+ Kc6 51.Qe4+ wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lucerne"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]

{A battle between two super Grandmasters.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 d6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 Nbd7 11.
Nh3 h6 12. Bf4 Re8 {Black sacrifices the d-pawn, believing that the Bishop will get trapped. This does not turn out to be the case.} 13. dxe6 fxe6 14.
Bxd6 e5 15. O-O-O Re6 16. Be2 Qc8 {If 16...Ne8, then 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Rxd7 wins.} 17. Rd3 Ne8 18. Rhd1 Qc6 19. b4 {Not 19.Bc7 Nef6.} 19... cxb4 {If 19...Nxd6, then 20.b5 Qc7 21.Qd2 wins back the piece with a large advantage. } 20. Bxb4 {Hence White has won a pawn, but Black has some compensation because White's King position is open and the c-pawn is weak.} 20... Ndf6
21. Qb3 a5 22. Bc3 Ba6 23. R3d2 Rc8 24. Kb1 Kh7 {Correct is 24...Bxc4 25.Bxc4 Qxc4 26.Qxc4 Rxc4 27.Bb2 followed by Nf2-d3 with a slight advantage to White due to the weak e5-pawn.} 25. Bb2 Nd6 {Again 25...Bxc4 was correct. } 26. c5 Nb5 {If 26...Bxe2, then 27.Qxe6 Bxd1 28.Rxd6 Qxc5 29.Rxd1 Qc2+ 30.Ka2 Qxd1 31.Qxc8 wins.} 27. cxb6 Qxb6 28. Ka1 a4 29. Qb4 {Not 29.Qa4 Nc3 30.Qxa6? Qb3 winning.} 29... Rb8 30. f4 {White gets his pieces into action.}
30... Qc7 {Not 30...exf4 31.Nxf4 Rxe4 32.Bd3 winning.} 31. fxe5 Rxe5 32. Rc1
{Of course not 32.Bxe5?? Qxe5+ followed by ...Nc3.} 32... Qe7 33. Qxe7 Rxe7
34. e5 Nd7 35. e6 Nf8 36. Nf4 g5 {If 36...Nxe6, then 37.Bd3+ Kg8 38.Nxe6 Rxe6 39.Bc4 wins.} 37. Nd5 Rxe6 38. Nf6+ Kg6 39. Bh5+ {Black Resigns. If 39...Kg7 40.Nd7+ or 39...Kf5 40.Rf1#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Malaniuk, V."]
[Black "Kveinys, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]

{White's Queen hunts down a Rook but his King is left standing in the center.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 dxe4 7. fxe4
e5 8. d5 Bc5 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Bd4 11. Nb5 {Safer is 11.Qc2.} 11... Bxb2 12.
Rb1 a6 {The only move. Very bad is 12...Bd4 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.e5.} 13. Bxf6
gxf6 14. Qa4 {A dubious idea. Better is 14.Rxb2.} 14... axb5 15. Qxa8 {If 15.Qxb5+, then 15...c6 16.Qxb2 Qa5+ followed by 17...Qxa3 leads to a great advantage for Black.} 15... Bc3+ 16. Kd1 Na6 17. Kc2 O-O {Enticing the White King to expose itself.} 18. Kxc3 Qd6 19. Rxb5 {If 19.Rb3, then 19...Qb6 wins.} 19... c6 {19...Qxa3+? 20.Kd2 does not give Black anything.} 20. Ra5 { Better is 20.Rb3.} 20... cxd5 21. Rxa6 bxa6 {Better is 21...d4+.} 22. Qxd5
Qb6 {Threatening 23...Rd8.} 23. Qd3 Rd8 24. Qg3+ Kh7 25. Bd3 Qa5+ 26. Kc2
Bd7 27. Ne2 Ba4+ 28. Kc1 Bb3 29. Rf1 {A fatal error in time pressure. Correct is 29.Qf3! with an unclear position.} 29... Qxa3+ 30. Kd2 Bxc4 31.
Nc1 Qb2+ 32. Kd1 {If 32.Ke3, then 32...Bxd3 33.Nxd3 Rxd3+ 34.Kxd3 Qb5+ wins. } 32... Bxd3 {White Resigns. 33.Nxd3 Qb1+ 34.Ke2 Qc2+ wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Eingorn, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]

{White wins a pawn in the opening, but his King is left stuck in the center. Will he be able to defend?} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 d5 5. a3
Be7 6. e4 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. e5 Nfd7 10. Qxd5 O-O 11. f4 Qb6
12. Nf3 Bf2+ 13. Ke2 Nc5 14. b4 {Not 14.Kxf2? Rd8 15.Qc4 Ne4+ mating.} 14...
Rd8 15. bxc5 Bxc5 16. Qe4 Qb3 17. Bd2 {The only way to save the Knight.}
17... Rxd2+ 18. Kxd2 Qb2+ 19. Kd3 {Not 19.Qc2 Be3+.} 19... Qxa1 20. e6 {With Black's pieces misplaced, the counterattack starts.} 20... fxe6 21. Ng5 g6
22. Qe5 Be7 23. Nxe6 Kf7 {The decisive mistake. Correct is 23...Bf8.} 24.
Qg7+ Ke8 {If 24...Kxe6, then 25.Kc2 and the rest of White's pieces enter the action decisively.} 25. Nc7+ Kd8 26. Qh8+ {Black is able to start his own counterattack after 26.Nxa8? Bf5+.} 26... Kd7 {If 26...Kxc7, then 27.Nd5+ wins the Queen.} 27. Nxa8 Qxa3 28. Kc2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lucerne"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Adorjan, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]

{This was voted best game in the last half of 1989 by Chess Informant.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Bc3 O-O 10. Ne5 Nfd7 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. Nd2 Rc8 13. e4 b5 14. Re1 dxe4
15. Bxe4 bxc4 16. bxc4 Nb6 17. c5 {Usually such a move cannot be recommended, as gives up the d5 square and leaves the d-pawn backward. However, here it is quite strong because it prevents the break ...c6-c5 and allows White to concentrate on a kingside attack.} 17... Nd5 18. Qc2 g6 19.
Nf3 Bf6 20. Ne5 {The Knight is very strong on e5, but 20...Bxe5 would leave the dark squares around Black's King very weak.} 20... Qc7 21. h4 {With the idea of h4-h5 weakening Black's kingside.} 21... Rfd8 22. Bd2 Bg7 { Threatening 23...Nb4 24.Bxb4 Rxd4.} 23. Rad1 Ne7 24. Qc3 {Threatening Qa3.}
24... Bb5 {Perhaps the exchange sacrifice 24...Rxd4 25.Qxd4 Bxe5 offers more chances. Now White gets a large advantage.} 25. Bc2 Nf5 26. Bf4 Qb7 27. a4
Ba6 28. Be4 Qa8 29. h5 g5 {If 29...Ne7, then 30.hxg6 hxg6 31.Qf3 pressuring f7 and c6.} 30. Bxg5 f6 31. h6 Nxh6 {If 31...Bh8, then 32.g4 Ne7 33.Qc2 wins.} 32. Bxh6 Bxh6 33. Qb3 Re8 34. Ng4 Kg7 {If 34...Bg7, then 35.Bf5 wins. } 35. Kg2 {Threatening 36.Rh1.} 35... f5 36. Nxh6 Kxh6 37. Bxf5 exf5 38. Qf7
{Black Resigns. There is no defense to 39.Rh1+ followed by mate.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Portisch, L."]
[Black "de Firmian, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]

{Black's King is forced to go on a death march.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 c5 6. O-O Be7 7. Nc3 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2
Nc6 11. Re1 Rc8 12. Rc1 Re8 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Be4 Qd7 {The decisive error. Almost any other Queen move that does not leave it en prise was better. For example, 15...Qa5 or 15...Qd8.} 16. Rxc6 {The Knight comes into e5. This is why d7 is such a bad square for the Queen.} 16... Bxc6 17.
Ne5 Qb7 18. Bxh7+ {This is the real point of White's exchange sacrifice.}
18... Kf8 {If 18...Kxh7, then 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Qxf7+ Kh7 21.Qg6+ Kg8 22.d5 winning.} 19. Qh5 Bb4 20. Bd3 g6 {Not 20...Bxe1 21.Ba3+ Re7 22.Qh8 checkmate. Also bad is 20...Bxg2 21.Ba6.} 21. Qh6+ Ke7 {If 21...Kg8, then 22.Ng4 Qe7 23.d5 winning.} 22. d5 Bxe1 {If 22...Bxd5, then 23.Qh4+ wins the Bishop.} 23. Ba3+ Kd8 24. Qh4+ Kc7 25. dxc6 Qa8 26. Qf6 b5 27. Bc5 Rcd8 28.
Qxf7+ Kc8 29. Bxb5 a6 30. Qd7+ {Black Resigns. 30...Rxd7 31.cxd7+ or 30...Kb8 31.c7+ win easily.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krasenkov, M."]
[Black "Arbakov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]

{A King hunt.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4
7. Na3 Bxa3 8. bxa3 b5 {Black tries to hang onto the gambit pawn.} 9. a4 a6
10. Ba3 Re8 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. e4 Nf6 13. Nxf7 {A well-known sacrifice in this opening.} 13... Kxf7 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Be4 g6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 {A new move. Previously 17...Re7 had been played.} 18. Qxg6+ Kh8 19. Rfe1 {White is threatening 19.Re4 followed by Qh6+ and Rg4+.} 19... Nc3 {The only move.}
20. Re3 Bb7 {If 20...Re7, then 21.Qf6+ wins or if 20...Nd7, then 21.Rxc3 Nf8 22.Qh5+ followed by Rf3 wins.} 21. Rxc3 Nd7 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Qg6+ Kh8 24.
Qh6+ Kg8 25. g4 {Threatening Rh3.} 25... Re7 {If 25...Be4, then 26.Re1 Bh7 27.g5 followed by g6 wins.} 26. Rh3 Nf8 {Better is 26...Be4, although White would have a large advantage after 27.g5 Rh7 28.Qxe6+ Kh8 29.Be7.} 27. Qh8+
Kf7 28. Rh6 Ke8 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Qxf8+ Kd7 31. Qf7+ Re7 32. e6+ Kc6 33. Qf6
{A surprisingly strong move. If instead White takes the Rook, then Black is all right after 33...Qxd4.} 33... Qd5 {If 33...Qg8, then 34.Qf3+ Kb6 35.Bc5+ wins, or if 33...Qf8, then 34.Qe5 is strong.} 34. Bxe7 Kb6 35. f3 Rg8 36.
Bc5+ Ka5 37. Qf4 c3 {37...Kxa4 would have held out longer.} 38. axb5 axb5
39. a4 Rc8 40. axb5+ Kxb5 41. Rb1+ Kc4 42. Qe3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cranbourne, C."]
[Black "Crespo, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A69"]

{Correspondence games are interesting because they involve a lot of deep calculation.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 {The Benoni defense leads to very sharp positions.} 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9.
Be2 Re8 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Ng4 12. Bg5 f6 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Qd2 Bf5 15.
O-O Bxg5 16. Qxg5 Qxg5 17. Nxg5 {Despite the exchange of Queens, the position is still very sharp. White has a large advantage in the endgame due to his active pieces.} 17... Ne3 18. Bb5 Rd8 19. Rfe1 {A spectacular sacrifice. Black's King will be in a lot of danger.} 19... Nc2 20. Re7 a6 { If instead 20...Nxa1, then White would continue his attack with 21.g4!.} 21.
Bc4 b5 22. Rf1 bxc4 {If 22...Ne3, then 23.Nce4! will win.} 23. g4 Ne3 {If 23...Bxg4, then 24.Rff7 results in a mating attack.} 24. gxf5 Nxf5 {If 24...Nxf1, then 24...Nxf1 25.f6 Rf8 26.Rg7+ Kh8 27.Rxh7+ Kg8 28.f7+ wins.}
25. Rc7 Nd7 26. Nce4 {Threatening 26.Rxd7 Rxd7 27.Nf6+.} 26... Nf8 27. Nf6+
Kh8 28. Rxf5 gxf5 29. Ne6 Rd6 30. Rg7 {Black Resigns. The threat is 31.Rg8 checkmate and 30...Nxe6 allows 31.Rxh7 checkmate.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Los Angeles"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Silman, J."]
[Black "Christiansen, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]

{The American GM Christiansen is one of the best tactical players in the world.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 {The Benko Gambit. Black sacrifices a pawn in exchange for open files against White's queenside pawns. But White declines the offer.} 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5 d6 8. Bf4 g5 { Not 8...Nxe4 9.Qe2 and if 9...Nf6 10.Nxd6+.} 9. Bxg5 Nxe4 10. Bf4 Qa5 11.
Bc4 Bg7 12. Qe2 b3+ 13. Kf1 f5 14. f3 {14.Qh5+? Kd8 is good for Black.}
14... O-O {The Knight of course cannot retreat due to Nxd6+.} 15. fxe4 fxe4
16. g3 {If 16.Qxe4, then 16...Qd2 is strong.} 16... Qxa2 {Beautiful!} 17.
Rxa2 {White must accept the offer. 17.Re1 Ra4 followed by ...Ba6 is too strong.} 17... bxa2 18. Bxa2 Rxa2 {Black is threatening 19...Rxb2 and 19...Ba6.} 19. Nc7 Bf5 20. Ne6 Rxb2 21. Nxf8 {Correct is 21.Qe3.} 21... Rxe2
22. Nxe2 Kxf8 23. Kf2 Na6 {Black has too many pawns for White to put up any resistance.} 24. Bd2 Nc7 25. Nf4 Be5 26. Ba5 Bxf4 27. Bxc7 Bg5 28. h3 Ke8
29. g4 Bc8 30. Kg3 Bd2 31. Rb1 e3 32. Kf3 Kd7 33. Bb8 Ba6 34. h4 e2 35. Kf2
Bd3 36. Ra1 Kc8 37. Ba7 Kb7 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]

{One needs to play a very spectacular game to defeat Anatoly Karpov.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 b6 {This is a common opening mistake. It is surprising that Karpov fell into it.} 5. d5 {White gains a dominating position with this move.} 5... exd5 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nxd5 Bb7 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9.
c3 O-O 10. Bc4 a6 11. O-O b5 12. Bb3 {Better is 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bd5 Nc6 14.Qd2 d6 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.a4 with a large advantage to White.} 12... d6 13.
Qd2 Nd7 14. Rfd1 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Rb8 16. Qc2 Nb6 17. Rd2 g6 18. Rad1 Qc7 19.
Qe4 {Worth considering is 19.h4, because 19...h5 would not be possible. After 19...Kg7 20.h5 Qe7 21.g3 followed by Kg2, White has an initiative.}
19... Kg7 20. h4 Qe7 21. Qf4 Be5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Qg3 Rbd8 24. h5 Rd7 {Not 24...Rd6 because of 25.hxg6 and if 25...hxg6, then 26.Bxf7!.} 25. b3 Rfd8
26. e4 g5 27. Qe3 h6 28. c4 Rc7 {Black wants to play Nb6-d7-f6 to hit the weakness at h5.} 29. Rd3 Nd7 30. Bxf7 {With both players short on time, White complicates the position with a spectacular Bishop sacrifice.} 30...
Kxf7 {Not 30...Qxf7? because of 31.Qh3 winning the Knight.} 31. Qd2 {White's compensation for the piece is that Black's pieces are pinned to the Knight, he has weak pawns, and the King has little protection.} 31... Ke8 32. Qa5
bxc4 {If 32...Rc6, then 33.cxb5 axb5 34.Qxb5 Qe6 35.Rd5 with a strong attack.} 33. bxc4 Rcc8 {The decisive error. Black wanted to play 33...Nf8.}
34. Qa4 {Threatening 35.Rd6.} 34... Rc7 35. Qxa6 Rb8 36. Qg6+ Kf8 {36...Kd8 would have held out longer, although 37.Rd6 Kc8 (or 37...Qe8 38. Qxh6) 38.Re6 Nf8 39.Rxe7 Nxg6 40.Re8 Kb7 41.Rb1+ is winning.} 37. Rf3+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Palma"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolov, I."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]

{A risky pawn grab backfires in this game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4.
e3 Qb6 5. Nbd2 Qxb2 {This well known variation leads to very sharp positions. Black has a pawn more, but he loses a lot of time moving his Queen. He may later find it difficult finding a safe place for his King.} 6.
Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O d5 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. c4 Nb4 10. Be2 Qa3 11. e4 {White must not waste any time opening up the position.} 11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 Be7 13. Qd2 Bd7
14. Qf4 O-O-O 15. Nxf6 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bc6 17. Nb5 Qa5 {Better is 17...Bxb5, although White still has a good position after 18.cxb5 Bd6 19.Qe4 Nd5 20.Bf3 Kb8 21.Rad1.} 18. Ne4 Bxe4 19. Qxf7 {A spectacular piece sacrifice. Black is unable to defend all his weak points.} 19... Rd7 20. Qxe6 Bc6 21. Bg4 { Threatening 22.Qxe7.} 21... h5 {Both 21...Kb8 22.Qe5+ and 21...Re8 22.Rad1 Qd8 23.Nxa7+ lose.} 22. Bh3 Bd8 23. Rad1 Rh7 24. a3 Nc2 {The Knight has no good squares. 24...Na6 25.Nxa7+ also loses.} 25. Qg6 {Forking the Knight and Rook wins a piece.} 25... Re7 26. Qxc2 a6 27. Na7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8.
Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 c4 11. dxe6 cxd3 12. exf7+ Kxf7 13. e5 Qe7 {The only move.} 14. Ng5+ Ke8 15. O-O {Not 15.f4? Nxe5 16.O-O Qa7+ winning.} 15...
Nxe5 16. Re1 h6 17. f4 {Overlooking Black's 18th move. Correct is 17.Nge4.}
17... hxg5 18. Rxe5 Qxe5 19. fxe5 Bc5+ 20. Be3 {If 20.Kh1, then 20...Ng4 wins, or if 20.Kf1, then 20...Rh2 21.Qxd3 Rh1+ 22.Ke2 Bg4+ wins.} 20...
Bxe3+ 21. Kf1 Nh5 {Better is 21...Rf8.} 22. Qxd3 Rf8+ 23. Ke1 Bf2+ 24. Kf1
Be3+ 25. Ke1 Nf4 26. Qe4 Ra7 27. g3 {If 27.Qc6+, then 27...Bd7 28.Qe4 Rc7 followed by ...Bc6 wins.} 27... Bb7 28. Qh7 Ne6 29. Ne4 Bxe4 30. Qxe4 Bf2+
31. Kf1 {If 31.Ke2, then 31...Bc5! 32.b4 Nd4 followed by ...Bb4 wins.} 31...
Bxg3+ 32. Kg2 Bf4 33. Rd1 Ke7 34. Rd6 Rd8 35. Qd5 Rxd6 36. Qxd6+ Kf7 37. b4
Rc7 38. Qxa6 Rc2+ 39. Kf3 {Better is 39.Kf1.} 39... Bxe5 40. h3 Kf6 41. Ke4
Rc4+ 42. Ke3 Rxb4 43. Qc6 Bf4+ 44. Kf2 Rb2+ 45. Kf1 Rxa2 46. Qxb5 Be3 47.
Qc6 Rf2+ 48. Ke1 Ke5 49. Qb5+ Nc5 50. Qe8+ Kf4 51. Qb8+ Kf3 52. Qa8+ Kg3 53.
Qa3 Rf3 54. Ke2 Ne6 55. Qe7 Nf4+ 56. Kd1 Nxh3 57. Qxg7 g4 58. Kc2 Nf4 59.
Qg8 Rf1 60. Kc3 Re1 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Meszaros"]
[Black "Zagorskis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]

{An unexpected sacrifice leaves Black without a defense.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4
Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4
Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bc2 h6 12. b3 c5 {Black should complete his development with 12...b6.} 13. Bb2 cxd4 14. Qxd4 Qe7 15. Rad1 Rd8 16. Qh4
Bc7 17. Rxd8+ Qxd8 18. Rd1 Qe7 19. Ne5 {White has a very big advantage due to his active pieces. 20.Ng4 is threatened.} 19... Kf8 20. Ng4 Ne8 {If 20...Nxg4, then 21.Bxg7+.} 21. Bxg7+ Nxg7 22. Nf6 {White is threatening 23.Qxh6 and 24.Qh8 checkmate. Not immediately 22.Qxh6 due to 22...f5.} 22...
Qc5 {There is no defense. If 22...Bd8 23.Qxh6 Qxf6 24.Qh8 checkmate. White has a large advantage after 22...Nf5 23.Bxf5 Kg7 24.Qg4.} 23. Nh7+ Ke8 { Black could have held out longer with 23...Kg8. White intended to then play 24.b4. 24...Qxb4 would lose to 25.Rd8+ Bxd8 26.Qxd8+ Ne8 27.Nf6. White would have a big advantage after 24...Qb6 25.c5.} 24. Qf6 Qh5 25. h3 Qe5 {This saves the Knight but loses the Queen. If 25...Nf5, then 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qf8 checkmate.} 26. Rd8+ Bxd8 27. Qxe5 f6 28. Bg6+ Kd7 29. Nf8+ {Black Resigns, as he has the unpleasant choice between 29...Ke7 30.Qc5# or 29...Kc6 30.Be8+.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Hjartarson, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]

{The Icelandic Grandmaster Hjartarson tries to challenge Kasparov in a very theoretical opening, but the world champion is always well prepared.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 {The old Vienna variation has become very popular lately.} 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3
Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3 a6 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O Qc7 15. Rab1
Na5 16. Qa3 Rc8 17. Rfd1 Qxc3 {This pawn grab is too risky. Better is 17...Qc5.} 18. Qd6 {Threatening 19.Nf5.} 18... Qc7 19. Nf5 exf5 {Also bad are 19...Nc6 20.Ng7+ Kd8 21.Qa3 and 19...Qxd6 20.Nxd6+ Ke7 21.Nxc8+.} 20.
Qxf6 O-O {20...Rg8 would have held out longer, although White would have an extremely strong attack after 21.exf5.} 21. Rd3 f4 {The only move to stop 22.Rg3+.} 22. Rd5 h6 {The only way to stop 24.Rg5+. If instead 22...Rfe8, then 23.Rg5+ Kf8 24.Rg7 Bf5 25.exf5 Rxe2 26.h3 Qe7 27.Qh6 Re1+ 28.Kh2 Rxb1 29.f6 wins.} 23. Qxh6 f5 24. Rb6 {With the Rook on d5 blocked off from the attack, the other Rook comes into the picture.} 24... Bc6 {The only way to stop 25.Rg6+. If instead 24...Nc6, then 25.Bc4 wins immediately.} 25. Rxa5
Qh7 {If 25...Qxb6, then 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Ra3 wins immediately.} 26. Qxf4 
{Black Resigns. It's all over after 26...Bxe4 27.Qg5+ Qg7 28.Rg6.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lautier, J."]
[Black "Kupreichik, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]

{The Frenchman Lautier shocked the chess world in 1988 when at 15 years old he won the world junior championship. Since then he has become one of the strongest Grandmasters in the world. Here he outmaneuvers the Soviet Grandmaster Kupreichik, who is a former KGB agent.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. a3 Bxc3+
10. Qxc3 c4 11. b3 O-O {Not 11...Be6? 12.bxc4 dxc4 13.e4. Black sacrifices a pawn in order to gain time.} 12. bxc4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Be6 14. Qb5 Bg4 15. e3 { White is a pawn ahead but he is behind in development and his King is still in the center. With the text he sacrifices back the pawn.} 15... Bxf3 16.
gxf3 Qxf3 17. Rg1 Nc6 18. Rd1 {Not 18.Rg3? Nxd4!.} 18... Rfe8 19. Rg3 Qe4 { Better is 19...Qf6.} 20. Bg2 {Black did not believe this was possible due to his next move, but...} 20... Nxd4 {If 20...Qe7, then 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qxc6 Qxa3 23.Qxh6 wins.} 21. Qb2 Nc2+ 22. Kf1 Qc4+ 23. Kg1 g5 {If 23...g6, then 24.Bd5 wins.} 24. Rd6 Re6 {If 24...Rad8, then 25.Bd5 threatening 26.Rg6+ wins.} 25. Rxe6 Rd8 {Threatening 26...Rd1+ winning. If 25...fxe6, then 26.Qf6 wins.} 26. Bf1 Qxe6 {If 26...Rd1, then 27.Re8+ leads to mate.} 27.
Qxc2 {After the smoke has cleared, White is a piece up.} 27... Rc8 28. Qb2
Qe4 29. Qf6 Qc6 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. Rg4 Rc1 32. Ra4 a6 33. Rb4 Ra1 34. a4 a5
35. Rd4 Kf8 36. Kg2 Ke7 37. Bb5 b6 38. Rd7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lucerne"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nikolic, Pr."]
[Black "Vaganian, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D55"]

{Converting a small advantage into a win.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4.
Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. Qb3 c6 9. Rd1 Nd7 10. Bd3 Rb8
11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Be2 Qa5 14. O-O c5 15. a3 {Better is 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.b4 Qxb4 17.Nxb5. Now Black gets a slight advantage.} 15... b4 16.
axb4 Qxb4 17. Na4 Bb7 18. dxc5 {Better is 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Qxc5 Qxc5 20.dxc5 Bd5 21.Rd2 Rfc8 with only a slight advantage to Black. Now Black's advantage grows.} 18... Be4 19. Qc4 Bc6 20. Nb6 {Not 20.Ra1? Qxc4 21.Bxc4 Rb4 winning. } 20... Qxc4 21. Nxc4 Nxc5 22. Ra1 Ba4 {Black's advantage is due to his active pieces, especially his two Bishops.} 23. Nd4 Rb4 24. Ra3 Rd8 25. b3
Bxd4 26. bxa4 {26.exd4 Nxb3 wins for Black.} 26... Bb2 27. Nxb2 Rxb2 28. Bf3
Nb3 29. Re1 {Good for Black is 29.a5 Nd2 30.Re1 Nxf3+ 31.gxf3 Rdd2 32.Rf1 g5 and White is all tied up.} 29... a5 {Fixing the a-pawn on the same color as the Bishop.} 30. h3 Kf8 31. Rd1 Ke7 32. Rxd8 Kxd8 33. Bd1 Nc5 34. Rc3 Ne4
35. Rc4 Rb4 {A blunder would be 35...Nxf2 36.Bc2 trapping the Knight.} 36.
Rc1 {Not 36.Rxb4? axb4 37.Kf1 b3 winning the Bishop.} 36... Nd2 37. Rc3 Ne4
38. Rc1 f5 39. Kf1 Ke7 40. f3 Nd2+ 41. Kf2 Nc4 42. Rc3 Nb2 {Black targets the weak a-pawn.} 43. Bc2 Kd6 {Not 43...Nxa4 44.Ra3.} 44. Ke2 h5 {A strong move. Black fixes the pawns on the kingside.} 45. f4 h4 46. Rc8 {White decides to give up his a-pawn in exchange for one of Black's kingside pawns. 46.Ra3 g6 47.Bb3 e5 48.fxe5+ Kxe5 49.Kd2 Nc4 is winning for Black.} 46...
Nxa4 47. Bxa4 Rxa4 48. Rg8 Ra2+ 49. Kf3 Rc2 50. Rxg7 Rc7 51. Rg8 Ra7 {A very important concept. Black wins because he is able to get his Rook behind the passed pawn.} 52. Ke2 a4 53. Rd8+ Ke7 54. Rd2 a3 55. Ra2 Kd6 {With White's pieces tied down to the passed pawn, the Black King's entry into the game is decisive.} 56. Kd2 Kd5 57. Kd3 Ra8 58. Kc3 Ke4 59. Kd2 Rd8+ {White Resigns. If 60.Ke2, then 60...Rd3.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Malinin, V."]
[Black "Zagorskis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]

{In correspondence chess, the players do not need to calculate quickly and there are no exciting scrambles in time pressure. However, the strategic ideas tend to be deeper and the players must calculate much further.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Qc2 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8. O-O-O
Qa5 9. Kb1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 cxd4 11. Rxd4 h6 12. h4 a6 {White's attack on the h-file is unstoppable after 12...hxg5? 13.hxg5.} 13. Rh3 {This game is simply a race between whose attack will come first. White on the kingside or Black on the queenside. Therefore Black should have considered sacrificing a pawn with 12...b5.} 13... b5 14. Bxe6 {A sacrificial attack begins. Black's kingside is ripped open.} 14... fxe6 15. Bxh6 b4 {White's attack is too strong after 15...gxh6 16.Qg6+ Kh8 17.Rg3 Rg8 18.Qxh6+ Nh7 19.Rdg4.} 16. Rg3
Rf7 17. Ng5 gxh6 18. Nxf7+ Kf8 {19...Kxf7 20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.Rf4 loses quickly.}
19. Nxh6 Qh5 {Worse is 19...bxc3 20.Qg6 threatening 21.Qg8+.} 20. Rg6 Ne5 { If 20...bxc3, then 21.g4 Qxh4 22.g5 is strong.} 21. Rxf6+ Bxf6 22. Ne4 Be7 { If 22...Qxh6, then 23.Nxf6 and Black's King has no defenses.} 23. Qc7 Bd7
24. Nc5 Bxc5 {If 24...Qxh6, then 25.Qxe5 Bxc5 26.Qxc5+ Ke8 27.Rg4 Qh7+ 28.e4 Rb8 29.Qg5 Rc8 30.h5 is winning.} 25. Qxc5+ Ke8 26. Rg4 Qxh6 27. Rg8+ Kf7
28. Rxa8 Qh7+ 29. Ka1 Qxh4 {If 29...Qd3, then 30.Qf8+ Kg6 31.h5+ Kxh5 32.Qh8+ leaves the Black King in a mating net.} 30. Qf8+ {Black Resigns. After 30...Kg6 31.Qg8+ Kf5 32.Rf8+ Ke4 33.Rf4+ wins the Queen.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Exhibition, New York"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Deep Thought"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]

{The World Champion was invited to New York to face off with the world's leading main-frame computer program in a two-game exhibition at the Marshall Chess Club. The first game was a typical grandmaster crush, as Deep Thought was tied down to defense of the King pawn. In this, the second game, Kasparov opens the game up tactically and shows how a hesitant computer can be hung out to dry.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. d5 Ne5 6.
Nc3 c6 7. Bf4 Ng6 8. Be3 cxd5 9. exd5 Ne5 {Deep thought loses time moving the same piece twice in the opening. Kasparov jumps at the chance to exploit his advantage in development.} 10. Qd4 Nxf3+ 11. gxf3 Bxf3 12. Bxc4 Qd6 { Black could not play 12. ...Bxh1 13. Bb5+, but 12. ...a6 would have been a better defense.} 13. Nb5 Qf6 14. Qc5 Qb6 15. Qa3 e6 16. Nc7+ Qxc7 17. Bb5+
Qc6 {Black has nothing better.} 18. Bxc6+ bxc6 19. Bc5 Bxc5 20. Qxf3 Bb4+
21. Ke2 cxd5 {A human would probably resign in this position, but Deep Thought doesn't mind playing out a lost game.} 22. Qg4 Be7 23. Rhc1 Kf8 24.
Rc7 Bd6 25. Rb7 Nf6 26. Qa4 a5 27. Rc1 h6 28. Rc6 Ne8 29. b4 Bxh2 30. bxa5
Kg8 31. Qb4 Bd6 {This is hopeless, but otherwise White plays 32. Qe7.} 32.
Rxd6 Nxd6 33. Rb8+ Rxb8 34. Qxb8+ Kh7 35. Qxd6 Rc8 36. a4 Rc4 37. Qd7 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Black "Torre, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]

{The Soviet GM Polugaevsky and Filipino GM Torre have both been world championship candidates in the past.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3
dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Nh4 Bg4 10. f3 Bh5 11. g4
Bg6 12. e4 Nbd7 13. g5 Ne8 14. Nxg6 hxg6 15. Be3 Nd6 16. Be2 Ba5 17. Kh1 Qe7
18. Rb1 Rfd8 19. b4 Bxb4 {Black takes the bait. White would have a large space advantage after 19...Bc7 20.f4.} 20. Rxb4 Nf5 21. exf5 Qxb4 22. Qd2
exf5 {If 22...gxf5, then 23.g6 is strong.} 23. Rb1 {White has a large advantage because the two Bishops are much better than a Rook.} 23... Qa5
24. Rxb7 Rab8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. d5 {Opening up the position makes his pieces more active.} 26... cxd5 27. Bb5 Nb6 {Better is 27...Ne5 although White has a large advantage after 28.Bf4 Nxf3 29.Qd3.} 28. Bd4 {A very powerful diagonal for the Bishop. White is planning Qf4-e5.} 28... Nc4 29. Qf4 Rd8
30. h4 Qb4 {Better is 30...a6, although White is still winning after 31.Bc6 Rd6 32.Bb7 Qd8 33.h5 Qd7 34.h6!.} 31. Qc7 Rf8 32. Bxc4 dxc4 {White is winning in the endgame after 32...Qxc4 33.Qxc4 dxc4 34.Bxa7.} 33. Qe5 f6 34.
Qe6+ Kh7 35. gxf6 Qb7 36. Nd5 gxf6 {If 36...Qf7 37.fxg7 Qxe6 38.gxf8=N+ wins.} 37. Kg2 Kh6 38. Nxf6 Rd8 39. Ng8+ Kh5 {Black Resigns. 40.Qg5 wins.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Daugavpils"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Epishin, V."]
[Black "Kupreichik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]

{How to attack an exposed King.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2 g6 5.
Bf4 Na6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Nb4 {Black will immediately get his piece back, but the text move involves a couple of pawn sacrifices.} 8. Qxb4 e5 9. c5 { 9.Qxb7 Rb8 10.Qxc6+ Bd7 is unclear.} 9... exf4 10. exf4 b6 11. Ne5 bxc5 12.
Qb7 Bd7 13. Nxd7 {If 13.Nxc6, then 13...Qc8 14.Qxc8 Rxc8 15.Nxa7 Rb8 16.a4 c4 is good for Black.} 13... Nxd7 14. Qxc6 Rc8 15. Qxd5 cxd4 16. Bb5 {Better is 16.Nd2 Bb4 17.Qe4+ Qe7 with an unclear position. Now White's King is stuck uncomfortably in the center.} 16... Bb4+ 17. Ke2 {If 17.Kd1, then 17...O-O 18.Qxd7 Qh4 19.g3 Qh5+ 20.Be2 Qc5 wins.} 17... O-O 18. Rd1 {If 18.Qxd7 Qh4 19.g3 Qh5+ 20.g4 Rfe8 21.Qxe8 Rxe8 22.Bxe8 Qxg4+ is good for Black.} 18... Qh4 19. Kf1 {If 19.Qxd7, then 19...Qh5+ 20.g4 Rfe8+ 21.Kf1 Qh3+ 22.Kg1 Rcd8 23.Bf1 Qh4 24.Qa4 Be1 wins.} 19... Qxh2 20. Nd2 {If 20.Bxd7, then 20...Rc2 wins.} 20... Nf6 21. Qg5 {If 21.Qxd4, then 21...Qh1+ 22.Ke2 Qh5+ wins.} 21... Bxd2 22. Qxf6 Rc2 23. Ke2 Bxf4+ 24. Kd3 Rxf2 25.
Bc6 Qg3+ 26. Bf3 Rxf3+ {White Resigns. 27.gxf3 Qxf3+ 28.Kc4 Rc8+ wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]

{Timman tries a new move out from his home laboratory.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3.
cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bf4 e5 {This is Timman's new move.} 6. Bxe5 {Worse is 6.dxe5 d4.} 6... Nxe5 7. dxe5 d4 8. Ne4 {Not 8.Qa4+? b5! 9.Nxb5 Bd7.}
8... Qb6 9. Nf3 {White needs to get his pieces developed.} 9... Qxb2 10. Rb1
Bb4+ {Not 10...Qxa2 11.Nxd4.} 11. Ned2 Bxd2+ 12. Nxd2 Qxa2 13. e3 dxe3 14.
fxe3 Be6 15. Rxb7 Rd8 16. Qc1 {Not 16.Bb5+?! Kf8 17.O-O g6 followed by ...Kg7 with a large advantage to Black.} 16... g6 {Black is intending to castle by hand via Kf8-g7.} 17. Qc3 {Not 17.Bc4? Bxc4 18.Nxc4 Qxg2 winning.}
17... Kf8 {Not 17...Nh6? 18.Qb4.} 18. Bd3 Rc8 19. Qb4+ Kg7 20. O-O Nh6 21.
Ne4 {Intending Ng5.} 21... Rhd8 22. Nd6 Bd5 23. Be4 Bxb7 24. Qxb7 Rb8 25.
Qe7 Rf8 {Not 25...Qe6? 26.Rxf7+ winning the Queen.} 26. Qf6+ Kg8 27. Qg5 Kg7
28. Qf6+ {White decides to draw by repetition of moves. If instead 28.h3, then 28...Ng8!.} 28... Kg8 29. Qg5 Kg7 30. Qf6+ {Draw by 3-fold repetition.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pinter, J."]
[Black "Karolyi Jr., Tibor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]

{Black makes a mistake in the opening and suffers a quick knockout.} 1. d4
f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O Qe8 8. b3 e5 9.
dxe5 dxe5 10. e4 Nc6 11. Nd5 Qd7 12. Ba3 Re8 {Correct is 12...Rd8.} 13. exf5
e4 {If 13...gxf5, then 14.Nh4 is strong.} 14. Ng5 gxf5 {If 14...Qxf5, then 15.f4.} 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Qh5 {White has no objection to sacrificing the exchange here, as his Bishop will control the a1-h8 diagonal.} 16... Bxa1
17. Rxa1 Rd8 18. Bb2 Qe7 19. Re1 Nd4 {If 19...Bd7, then 20.Rxe4 fxe4 21.Nxe4 wins.} 20. Bxe4 {White brings his last pieces into the attack. Black has no defense.} 20... fxe4 21. Rxe4 Nf3+ {If 21...Ne6, then 22.Rg4 wins.} 22. Kg2
{Not 22.Qxf3 Qxg5 or 22.Nxf3 Qxe4.} 22... Bh3+ 23. Kxf3 {Black Resigns. White wins after either 23...Qd7 24.Qxh3! or 23...Qf8 24.Rf4 Rd3+ 25.Ke2 Bf5 26.Ne4 Bxe4 27.Rg4!.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Yusupov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A88"]

{This was voted the second best game during the first half of 1989 by Chess Informant.} 1. c4 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7.
O-O c6 8. b3 Qc7 {Planning ...e7-e5.} 9. Ba3 a5 {Planning ...Na6-b4.} 10.
Rc1 Na6 11. Qd2 Bd7 12. Rfe1 {Planning e2-e4.} 12... Nb4 13. Bb2 e5 {Better is 13...Rae8. Black misses White's 16th move.} 14. a3 Na6 15. dxe5 dxe5 16.
Nb5 cxb5 {The only move.} 17. cxb5 Nc5 18. Bxe5 Qb6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Qd5+ { Winning back the piece.} 20... Ne6 21. Qxd7 Rad8 22. Rc6 {White had to see this move when playing his 16th move.} 22... Rxd7 {Worse is 22...bxc6 23.Qxe6+.} 23. Rxb6 Nc5 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Ne4 26. e3 Kf7 27. h4 {White is two pawns up and Black has little chance against Karpov's great technique.}
27... Rb8 28. Rc1 Ke7 29. Nd4 Kf7 {If 29...Bxd4 30.exd4 Rxd4, then 31.Rc7+ Rd7 32.Rxd7+ Kxd7 33.Bxe4 fxe4 34.h5.} 30. Bxe4 fxe4 31. Ne6 Bd8 32. Ng5+
Bxg5 33. hxg5 Re8 34. Rc4 Kg7 35. Kg2 Rf7 36. Rd6 h6 37. gxh6+ Kxh6 38. b6
Re5 39. Rc7 Rf8 40. Rxb7 Ref5 41. Rd2 Rb5 42. Rd4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haifa"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hodgson, J."]
[Black "Gurevich, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]

{The English GM Hodgson has been very successful with an unorthodox style, but will it work against a super Grandmaster like Gurevich?} 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3
Nf6 3. h3 {An unusual move in this position. The idea is to play Bf4 and to have a retreat square at h2 in case of ...Nh5.} 3... g6 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 d6
6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. c3 O-O 8. Qb3+ Kh8 9. O-O-O {If 9.Ng5?!, then 9...e5 is good for Black.} 9... Qe8 {Threatening ...e7-e5.} 10. d5 Na5 11. Qa3 b6 12. Nb3 { Not 12.b4? Nxd5! 13.bxa5 Nxc3.} 12... Ne4 13. Bg3 {The only way to defend f2, but now White's pawn structure is weakened.} 13... Nxg3 14. fxg3 e6 { Sacrificing a pawn in exchange in exchange for open lines.} 15. Nxa5 bxa5
16. Qxa5 c6 17. dxc6 Qxc6 18. Qb4 d5 19. h4 {Threatening h4-h5.} 19... Bd7 { Not 19...h6 20.Ne5 Qe8 21.Bb5 winning.} 20. Nd4 Qc8 21. h5 g5 22. h6 Bf6 23.
g4 Rb8 24. Qa3 Qe8 {Not 24...fxg4?! 25.Bd3 followed by Rdf1 with good attacking chances.} 25. Bd3 Ba4 26. b3 {Weakening the queenside. Correct is 26.Bc2.} 26... Bd7 27. Kb1 e5 28. Nxf5 {Sacrificing a pawn to open the h8-a1 diagonal.} 28... e4 29. Bc2 Bxf5 30. gxf5 Qc6 31. c4 {The only move.} 31...
Rfd8 {Not 31...Qxc4?? 32.Qxf8+ winning.} 32. c5 Rb5 33. Bxe4 Rxc5 34. Qxa7
Rc8 {Black has a winning position. Both players were in time pressure here.}
35. Bxd5 Qb5 {Black has an even quicker win with 35...Rxd5 36.Rc1 Rd1! 37.Rhxd1 Qe4+.} 36. Rd2 {36...Rc1+ 37.Rxc1 Qd3+ was threatened.} 36... Rxd5
37. Qf7 Rd6 38. Rc2 {If 38.Rxd6, then 38...Qxf5+ wins.} 38... Qxf5 39. Rc1
Qxc2+ {White Resigns. If 40.Rxc2, then 40...Rd1+ mates.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Purgin, N."]
[Black "Kantsler, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]

{White sacrifices a Knight to open up the King position.} 1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7
3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c5 6. d5 O-O 7. e5 Ne8 8. Be2 Nd7 9. e6 fxe6 10.
dxe6 Ndf6 11. O-O Nc7 {If 11...Bxe6, then 12.Ng5.} 12. Ng5 d5 {Not 12...Nxe6 13.Bc4.} 13. f5 {Opening up the kingside.} 13... gxf5 14. Rxf5 Nxe6 15. Bf3
Nd4 16. Rxf6 Bxf6 {Better is 16...Bxf6. White would have a strong attack after 17.Bxd5+ e6 18.Be4 h6 19.Qh5!.} 17. Bxd5+ Kh8 {If 17...e6, then 18.Qh5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5 with a large advantage to White.} 18. Nxh7 {Cracking open the King's defenses.} 18... Nf3+ {If 18...Kxh7, then 19.Qh5+ Kg7 20.Qh6#.} 19.
Kh1 {Not 19.Qxf3?? Bd4+.} 19... Kxh7 20. Qxf3 Qe8 21. g4 {Threatening 22.Qh3+.} 21... Kg7 {If 21...e6, then 22.Be4+ Kg8 23.Qh3 Qf7 24.Be3 followed by Rf1 and g5 wins.} 22. Bf4 Bd4 23. Rf1 {Threatening 24.Bh6+.} 23... Bd7
24. Qg3 e5 {If 24...Qg6, then 25.Be5+.} 25. Bh6+ {Bringing the King out into the open.} 25... Kxh6 26. Qh4+ Kg7 27. Qg5+ Qg6 28. Qe7+ Kh6 29. Qh4+ Kg7
30. Qe7+ Kh6 31. Rxf8 Re8 {If 31...Rxf8, then 32.Qxf8+ Kg5 33.Qe7+ wins.}
32. Qh4+ Kg7 33. Qh8# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]

{This was voted the third best game in the first half of 1989 by Chess Informant.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 g6 3. c4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nc3 Nc6 7.
Be3 Nge7 8. h4 h6 {Better is 8...f5.} 9. Be2 f5 {If 9...O-O, then White gets a strong attack after 10.Qd2 Kh7 11.g4.} 10. exf5 Nxf5 11. Nxf5 Bxf5 12. Qd2
Qd7 {Better is 12...Qf6.} 13. O-O O-O-O {It was better to try 13...h5 followed by ...O-O. White's attack on the queenside will be unstoppable.}
14. b4 Nxb4 15. Nb5 Nc2 {If 15...Bxa1, then 16.Qxb4 Be5 17.Nxa7+ Kb8 18.Bf3 is strong.} 16. Bf3 d5 {Trying to block the h1-a8 diagonal. Either 16...Bxa1 17.Nxa7+ Kb8 18.Rb1 or 16...Nxa1 17.Nxa7+ Kb8 18.Qa5 c6 19.Nb5! is winning for White.} 17. Bxd5 Nxa1 18. Nxa7+ Kb8 19. Qb4 Qxd5 {If 19...c5, then 20.Bf4+! Ka8 21.Qa5 wins.} 20. cxd5 Nc2 21. Qa5 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rhe8 23. Nb5
Rxd5 24. Qxc7+ Ka8 25. Qa5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wahls, M."]
[Black "Huebner, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B89"]

{The players castle on opposite sides of the board and wildly attack each other's King.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4
e6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. Bb3 Be7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. g4 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 b5 13.
g5 Nd7 14. f4 Nc5 15. f5 exf5 16. Bd5 Rb8 17. exf5 b4 {17...Bxf5 18.Rf1 also leads to an unclear position.} 18. g6 {18.Ne4 Bxf5 19.Ng3 Bg6 would be better for Black.} 18... hxg6 {The Knight is poisoned. Not 18...bxc3 19.Qh5 h6 20.Bxh6 winning immediately.} 19. fxg6 Be6 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 21. Nd5 {White must give up the exchange, but his attack is very strong.} 21... Nxd4 22.
Bxd4 Bg5+ 23. Kb1 Qb7 24. Qh5 {Not 24.Qg2 Bh6 25.Re1 Rfe8 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8+ 27.Nf6+ Kh8 winning for Black.} 24... Bh6 25. Nf6+ {The only way to continue the attack.} 25... gxf6 {Not 25...Kh8 26.Rg1 threatening 27.Qxh6+.} 26. Rg1
fxg6 27. Qxh6 Rf7 {Not 27...b5 28.Bxf6.} 28. b3 {Protecting his King against back rank mates. 28.Rxg6+ Rg7 or 28.Qxg6+ Rg7 29.Qxf6 Rxg1+ 30.Bxg1 Qe4 are good for Black.} 28... Rc8 29. h4 {Again 29.Rxg6+ Rg7 30.Bxf6 Qh1+ 31.Kb2 Rxc2+ 32.Kxc2 Qe4+ followed by 33...Rxg6 is good for Black.} 29... Rh7 { White has a strong attack after 29...Qc7 30.h5 Qxc2+ 31.Ka1 and if now 31...g5?, then 32.Rxg5+ wins immediately.} 30. Rxg6+ Rg7 31. h5 Qh1+ { 31...Rxg6 32.Qxg6+ Qg7 33.Qf5 allows White a strong attack.} 32. Kb2 Rxc2+ { Black decides to force a draw by perpetual check. Otherwise White's attack would be too strong.} 33. Kxc2 Qe4+ 34. Kc1 Qe1+ 35. Kb2 Qe2+ 36. Kc1 Qe1+
{Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]

{How to blow away a super Grandmaster.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. h4 Nc6 8. Rg1 h5 9. gxh5 Nxh5 10. Be3 Nf6 11.
Nf3 a6 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. O-O-O b5 14. Ng5 Qa5 {If 14...Rxh4, then White gets a strong attack after 15.f4 and Qf2.} 15. f4 {White wastes no time.} 15... b4
16. Nb1 Qxa2 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Nd5 19. Bg2 Be7 20. Nxf7 {With Black's Queen off to the side of the board, the position is ripe for such a sacrifice.} 20... Kxf7 21. Be4 Ke8 22. Rxg7 Bd7 23. Qg4 Kd8 {If 23...Nxe5, then 24.Rxe7+ wins or if 23...Nxe3, then 24.Rg8+ Bf8 25.Qg7! wins.} 24. Bxd5
exd5 25. e6 Be8 26. Bb6+ Kc8 27. Qf4 Ra7 28. Bxa7 Rxh4 29. Qg3 Qc4 30. Rxe7
{Black Resigns. If 30...Nxe7, then 31.Qb8#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lugano"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Thorsteins, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]

{The English Grandmaster John Nunn was awarded his doctorate in mathematics from Oxford when he was 21, but since then has chosen a career as a chess player. He is known as an aggressive attacking player.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 Be7 7. g5 Nfd7 8. h4 O-O 9. Be3 Nc6
10. Bc4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 a6 {Better is 11...Ne5.} 12. O-O-O b5 13. Bb3 Nc5 14.
f4 Qa5 15. h5 b4 16. h6 e5 {It appears that White is losing a piece.} 17.
Nd5 {But Nunn has seen further ahead.} 17... Nxb3+ {If 17...exd4, then 18.Nxe7+ Kh8 19.hxg7+ Kxg7 20.Bxd4+ f6 21.gxf6+ followed by 22.Rdg1+ results in mate in a few moves.} 18. axb3 Bxg5 {Now 18...exd4 loses to 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Bxd4 f6 21.g6.} 19. fxe5 {Black could finally take the Queen after 19.fxg5? because of 19...exd4 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 21.Bxd4 Qxg5.} 19... Bxe3+ {If 19...dxe5, then 20.Qxe5+ Bxe3+ 21.Kb1 wins.} 20. Qxe3 {Black's King is without defense.} 20... g6 21. Qg5 f6 {The only defense to 22.Ne7+ Kh8 23.Qf6#.} 22. Ne7+ Kf7 {This loses the Queen. But if 22...Kh8, then 23.Nxg6+ hxg6 24.Qxg6 Ra7 25.exf6 threatening 26.Qg7+ wins.} 23. e6+ {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Skelleftea"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sax, G."]
[Black "Ehlvest, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]

{A super Grandmaster makes an error in the opening and suffers a quick knockout.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 Be7 7.
g5 Nfd7 8. h4 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qh5 d5 {Better is 10...a6.} 11. O-O-O dxe4
12. Nxe4 Qa5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bd4 e5 {Not 14...Qxa2? 15.Nf6+ Bxf6 16.gxf6 e5 17.fxg7 winning.} 15. Bc3 Qxa2 {If 15...Qc7, then 16.Rxd7! Bxd7 17.Bd3 g6 18.Qh6 wins.} 16. Rxd7 Bxd7 17. Nf6+ Bxf6 {If 17...gxf6, then 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Rg1 Bg7 20.Qh6 wins.} 18. gxf6 Qa1+ {Correct is 18...Qe6, although after 19.Bh3 Qxf6 20.Bxd7 White has a large advantage.} 19. Kd2 Qa4 20. b4 { Preventing ...Qg4. The threat is now 21.Qg5 g6 22.Qh6 mating.} 20... Rfd8 { If now 21.Qg5, then 21...Bf5+ and 22...Bg6.} 21. Bd3 gxf6 22. Ra1 Qb5 23.
Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ {Of course not immediately 24.Bxb5?? due to 24...Bf5+.}
24... Ke7 25. Bxb5 cxb5 26. Qe3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Damljanovic, B."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]

{The world champion can beat even the strongest Grandmasters swiftly and powerfully with the Black pieces.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4
5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nb3 d6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Kh1 { The King was exposed to checks along the a7-g1 diagonal.} 11... b5 12. a4
bxa4 13. Rxa4 Nd7 14. f4 Nb6 15. Ra1 a5 16. Nd5 {Better is 16.e5 Nb4 with an unclear position.} 16... a4 17. Nd2 Bd7 18. Ra3 {Better is 18.c3.} 18... Na5
19. f5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Qb6 21. fxg6 fxg6 {Black has a big advantage because White's pieces are awkwardly placed.} 22. b3 Rxf1+ 23. Nxf1 axb3 24. cxb3
Rb8 25. Bg5 Nxb3 26. Bxe7 Nd4 {Better is 26...Qb4 with a large advantage to Black.} 27. Rd3 {A fatal error in time pressure. Better is 27.Bg5! Qxb2 28.Ra7 Bf5 29.Be3 Be5 with just a slight advantage to Black.} 27... h6 {The e7-Bishop is in danger of getting trapped.} 28. Ne3 {The final error. White's best chance is 28.Bxd6 Qxd6 29.Rxd4 Bxd4 30.Qxd4 Rb1 with a large advantage to Black.} 28... Re8 {White loses a piece.} 29. Nc4 Qb4 30. Nxd6
Rxe7 31. Ne4 Nf5 32. Qf3 Qe1+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Speelman, J."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]

{Two former world champion candidates square off in the Ruy Lopez opening.}
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d3 {This quiet move was favored by the world champion of the last century, Wilhelm Steinitz.} 10... Nb6 11. Be3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13.
Nbd2 Nc6 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 f5 {Black wants to destroy White's center.}
16. dxc5 dxc5 17. Qc1 {Threatening 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Bb3+.} 17... Kh8 18. exf5
Bxf5 19. Be4 {White keeps the pressure on. 20.Bxc6 and 20.Bxc5 are threatened. White wins a pawn, but then Black is able to start a counterattack.} 19... Rc8 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 Na4 22. Qa3 Nd4 23. Nxd4
Qxd4 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Ne4 Nxb2 26. Qxa6 Rcf8 {Better is 26...Rd8. Now with his next move White is able to go into an endgame a pawn up.} 27. Qd6 Qxd6
28. Nxd6 Rd5 {Worse is 28...Rxf2 29.Rf1! Rxf1+ 30.Rxf1 Ra8 (30...Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 b4 32.Ke2 is winning for White.) 31.Nxb5 with a big advantage.} 29.
Ne4 h6 30. Rab1 Nc4 31. Re2 Re5 32. Nc3 Rxe2 33. Nxe2 Ra8 34. Nc3 Ra3 35.
Rb3 Rxb3 36. axb3 Na5 37. b4 Nc6 38. Nd5 Kg8 39. f4 Kf7 40. Kf2 Ke6 41. Nc7+
Kf5 42. Ke3 Nxb4 43. g4+ Kf6 44. Ke4 Nc6 45. Nxb5 Ne7 46. Nc7 Ng6 47. Nd5+
Kf7 48. Ne3 Ne7 49. h4 Ng6 50. h5 Nf8 51. Ke5 {Black has hung on tough and finally White makes a mistake. White would have had a big advantage after 51.Kf5! Ne6 52.Nc2!. Now Black is able to make a draw.} 51... Nd7+ 52. Kd5
Nf6+ 53. Kd6 g6 {To force the draw Black needs to liquidate all of White's pawns.} 54. hxg6+ Kxg6 55. Ke5 h5 56. f5+ {If 56.g5, then 56...Nh7 followed by 57...Nxg5 drawing.} 56... Kg5 57. gxh5 Nxh5 58. Nc4 Kh6 59. Nb6 Kg7 60.
Ke6 Nf4+ 61. Ke7 Ng6+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haninge"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Van Der Wiel, J."]
[Black "Sokolov, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C91"]

{White cracks open Black's King position with sacrifices.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4 d6 9. c3 Bg4
10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Qc8 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nbd2 c6 14. b4 Nb7 15. dxc6 Bxc6 {This weakens the f5 square. Better is 15...Qxc6.} 16. Nf1 Re8 17. Ng3 h6 {This unnecessarily weakens the kingside. Better is 17...g6.} 18. Nh4 {White intends to play 19.Qf3.} 18... Nxe4 19. Rxe4 {19.Nxe4 Bxh4 is all right for Black.} 19... Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxh4 21. Nf5 d5 {If 21...Bf6, then 22.Bxh6! is strong.} 22. Qg4 {Not 22.Qxd5? Qxc3.} 22... Bg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. Qxg5 g6
25. Nh6+ Kf8 {If 25...Kg7, then 26.Ng4 wins.} 26. Bxg6 Qd8 {The only move. Not 26...fxg6 27.Qf6#.} 27. Qg4 Qf6 {If 27...fxg6, then 28.Qxg6 Nd6 29.Rd1! wins.} 28. Bxf7 Qxh6 29. Qg8+ {Better is 29.Bxd5. White was short on time here.} 29... Ke7 30. Bxe8 Rxe8 31. Qxd5 {White has a large advantage because Black's King is exposed and his numerous pawns outweigh the Knight.} 31...
Nd6 32. Qxe5+ Kf8 33. Qd4 Re4 34. Qb6 Qe6 35. Qxa6 Re1+ 36. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 37.
Kh2 Ne4 {Black's best chance was 37...Qe5+ 38.g3 Ne4.} 38. Qe6 {Threatening 39.Qe5 and 40.f3.} 38... Qb1 39. f3 Nf2 40. Qc8+ Kf7 41. Qb7+ {Black Resigns. Black loses his Knight after either 41...Kg6 42.Qb6+ or 41...Kg8 42.Qa8+ and 43.Qa7+.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Skelleftea"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sax, G."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C75"]

{One error allows Black a fierce kingside attack.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 Nge7 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2 Ng6 9. Nc4 Be7 10.
Ne3 Bg5 11. Nxg5 {White gains the Bishop pair but gives Black an open h-file.} 11... hxg5 12. g3 {Preventing the Knight from coming into f4.}
12... exd4 13. cxd4 Kf8 {This is the safest spot for the King.} 14. O-O Bh3
15. Qf3 Qd7 16. Rd1 Re8 17. Nf5 {This move is an error because the Knights outpost cannot be held. Correct is 17.Bc2.} 17... g4 18. Qe3 {If 18.Qd3, then 18...Nce5 wins immediately.} 18... Rh5 19. Nh4 {The only defense to 19...Rxf5.} 19... Rxh4 20. gxh4 Nxh4 {White will find it impossible to defend his King.} 21. Bd5 Ne7 22. Bc4 Nef5 23. Qc3 {If 23.Qd3, then 23...Nxd4 wins immediately.} 23... Rxe4 24. Bf1 Nxd4 25. Be3 Ndf3+ 26. Kh1
Bxf1 27. Rxf1 Ng6 28. Rad1 Qe7 {White Resigns. There is no defense to 29...Qh4.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Makarichev, S."]
[Black "Tukmakov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C46"]

{How to take advantage of a weak square in your opponent's position.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Bxd4 d6 10. f3 Be6 11. g4 c5 12. Be3 Qa5 13. Bh6 {Trading off an important defensive piece and weakening the squares around the King.}
13... Bxh6 {Not 13...Bxa2?? 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Nxa2 Qxa2 16.Qc3! winning, as there is no defense to g5.} 14. Qxh6 b5 {White has a strong attack after 14...Bxa2 15.h4.} 15. Bxb5 Rab8 16. a4 a6 17. Rxd6 axb5 18. e5 Nxg4 {Black must give back the piece. 18...Ne8? 19.Ne4 threatening 20.Nf6+ wins immediately. f6 is a weak square which White takes advantage of.} 19. fxg4
Qb4 20. a5 {White must keep the queenside closed.} 20... Qxg4 21. Re1 { Threatening Ne4-f6.} 21... Qf5 {In order to meet 22.Ne4 with 22...Qxe5.} 22.
Qh4 b4 {Better is 22...Kg7 or 22...h5.} 23. Ne4 h5 24. Rd2 {Threatening Rf2. } 24... Kg7 {The only move.} 25. Qf6+ Kh6 26. Nxc5 Rb5 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28.
Qxf5 Rxf5 {28...exf5 would have offered better chances.} 29. a6 Rfxe5 {If 29...Ra5, then 30.Rd6 wins.} 30. Rxe5 Rxe5 31. Rd6 {White is winning due to his passed a-pawn.} 31... Kg5 32. c4 Kh4 33. Kc2 Kh3 34. Kb3 Kxh2 35. Kxb4
Re1 36. a7 Ra1 37. Rd2+ {Black Resigns. If 37...Kg3, then 38.Rd3+ followed by 39.Ra3 or if 37...Kg1, then 38.Rd1+ wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Makarichev, S."]
[Black "Razuvaev, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C28"]

{A contest between two strong Soviet Grandmasters.} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3.
Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 Na5 5. Nge2 Nxc4 6. dxc4 Bc5 7. h3 {Of course White does not fall for 7.Bg5? Bxf2+.} 7... h6 8. Ng3 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Bd2 a6
{Creating a retreat square for the Bishop in case of Na4 and also planning ...b5 to open lines for his pieces.} 12. a4 c6 {With the idea of ...d5. The side with the two Bishops wants the position to be opened up.} 13. Rad1 Qe7
14. Kh1 {The start of a dubious plan. Better is 14.b3.} 14... Rad8 15. f4
exf4 16. Bxf4 {17.Nf5 is threatened. White would have a strong position except for Black's next move.} 16... Ng4 17. Nf5 {Of course not 17.hxg4 Qh4#. Also bad is 17.Qe2 Qh4.} 17... Bxf5 18. exf5 Nf2+ 19. Rxf2 Bxf2 20.
Ne4 {Black has won the exchange, but can he withstand White's coming attack? } 20... Qh4 {Not 20...Bc5 21.f6.} 21. Qf3 Be1 {The saving move. Not 21...Bc5? 22.Bg3 Qe7 23.f6 with a very good position for White.} 22. f6 {If 22.Nxd6, then 22...Bb4 or if 22.Bxd6, then 22...Rfe8.} 22... g5 23. Bh2 {If 23.Bxd6, then 23...Rf8 24.g4 h5!.} 23... Rfe8 {Not 23...d5? due to 24.Nxd6 followed by 25.Nf5.} 24. Nxd6 g4 25. hxg4 {Better is 25.Qxg4 Qxg4 26.hxg4 although Black has a large advantage after 26...Bb4 followed by 27...Re6.}
25... Rxd6 26. Rxd6 Bd2 {Threatening 27...Re3+.} 27. Qh3 {If 27.g3, then 27...Qh3 wins.} 27... Qe1+ 28. Bg1 Be3 29. Qh2 Bxg1 {White Resigns. If 30.Qxg1, then 30...Qh4+ 31.Qh2 Re1#.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Alma-Ata"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Blatny, P."]
[Black "Vladimirov, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]

{A game full of tactics.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+
6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3 Nbc6 9. Qh5 Nf5 10. Nf3 f6 11. g4 c4 {The only move.} 12. Be2 Nfe7 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. Ng5 h6 {Not 14...Rh6 because of 15.Qf7+ Kh8 16.Qf3 winning.} 15. Nf3 Qf8 16. g5 g6 17. Qh3 {Not 17.Qxh6 Rxf3 winning.} 17... e5 18. Qg2 Re6 19. gxh6 exd4 20. cxd4 Rxe2+ {Sacrificing the exchange to open up the King's position. The position is unclear after 20...Qf5 21.Be3 Qxc2 22.h7+! Kh8 23.Rd1.} 21. Kxe2 Qf5 22. Kd2 {The only move.} 22... b5 23. Re1 c3+ 24. Kxc3 b4+ 25. axb4 Nxb4 26. Re2 {Not 26.Kxb4? Qxc2 followed by ...Rb8+ winning.} 26... Ba6 27. Rxa6 Qc8+ {27...Nxa6? 28.h7+ Kh8 29.Kd2 followed by Qg5 is good for White.} 28. Kb2 {The King is too exposed after 28.Kxb4 Rb8+.} 28... Qxa6 29. h7+ {Now White is able to start his own counterattack.} 29... Kh8 30. Bf4 {Threatening 31.Be5+.} 30...
Qa2+ {Not 30...Qxe2# 31.Be5+ Kxh7 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.Ng5#.} 31. Kc1 Nd3+ {The only move. White was threatening 32.Be5+.} 32. Kd1 {White must play precisely. 32.Kd2 Rc8 33.Kxd3 Qc4+ wins for Black.} 32... Rc8 {The losing move. 32...Nb2+, 32...Qa1+, or 32...Qb1+ all would have given Black an equal position.} 33. Qg5 {Threatening Qf6+.} 33... Qb1+ 34. Bc1 Rc6 {34...Qxc1+ 35.Qxc1 Nxc1 36.Rxe7 is winning for White as is 34...Nb2+ 35.Ke1 Nd3+ 36.Kf1.} 35. Qh6 {Threatening Qf8+.} 35... Rc8 36. Qg5 Rc6 37. Ne5 Nxc1 38.
Nf7+ {Black's King is in a mating net.} 38... Kxh7 39. Qh6+ Kg8 40. Qh8+
Kxf7 41. Qh7+ Kf8 42. Qxe7+ Kg8 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Re7+ Kh6 45. Qh8+ Kg5 46.
Qe5+ Kh6 {If 46...Kg4, then 47.h3+ leads to mate.} 47. Qe3+ g5 48. Qh3+ 
{Black Resigns. If 48...Kg6, then 49.Qh7#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Lugano"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ernst, T."]
[Black "Rogers, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]

{Tactics in the endgame.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3
cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 11. b3 a6
12. Bb2 Qf4 13. Qe2 Bd6 14. g3 {14.Nf3?! Bc6 15.Ne5 Nd7 is good for Black. If now 16.g3, then 16...Nxe5!.} 14... Qg4 15. Qxg4 Nxg4 16. Rad1 Bc5 17. Be2
{Better is 17.Nf3 to avoid Black's next move.} 17... e5 18. Nf3 e4 19. Ng5 { Not 19.Nd2 e3.} 19... Ne3 20. Rxd7 {Correct is 20.fxe3 Bxe3+ 21.Kg2 Bxg5 22.Bxg7 Rg8 23.Bf6 with a slightly better position for White.} 20... Kxd7
21. Re1 f5 {Not 21...Nxc2? 22.Rc1.} 22. Nf7 Rhc8 23. fxe3 Bxe3+ 24. Kf1 Rxc2
{Black is better because of his extra pawns and his pieces are more active.}
25. Ne5+ Ke7 26. Nc4 Bc5 27. Bxg7 {Better is 27.Rc1 exchanging off Black's active Rook.} 27... f4 28. Bh6 {The only move. Not 28.gxf4? Rg8 or 28.Be5? f3 winning.} 28... f3 29. Bd1 Rf2+ 30. Kg1 Re2+ 31. Kf1 Rf2+ 32. Kg1 Rxa2+
33. Kh1 {Not 33.Be3? f2+ winning immediately.} 33... Kf6 34. Rxe4 Ra1 35.
Re1 Rd8 36. Bd2 {The only move.} 36... Bb4 37. Bxf3 {Again the only move. If 37.Bxb4, then 37...Rdxd1 38.Bc3+ Kg5! wins.} 37... Rxe1+ 38. Bxe1 Bxe1 39.
Bxb7 a5 {White's chances to hold this ending are very slim.} 40. Bc6 Rd3 41.
Ba4 Rf3 42. Kg1 Ke6 43. Kg2 Rf2+ 44. Kh3 Bc3 45. Bc6 Ra2 46. Be4 h6 47. Bc6
Kf5 {Threatening ...Kg5 followed by ...Bd4-g1.} 48. Ne3+ Kg5 49. Ng2 {White plans to play Nh4-f3.} 49... Rb2 {Black's plan is to sacrifice the exchange for the b-pawn and then win with his advanced a-pawn.} 50. Bd5 Kf6 51. Nh4
Ke5 52. Bg8 Ke4 53. Bh7+ Kd5 54. Bg8+ Kc5 55. Ng6 {If instead 55.Nf5, then 55...Kb4 56.Nxh6 Rxb3 and the a-pawn cannot be stopped.} 55... Kb4 56. Ne7
Ka3 {Not 56...Rxb3? 57.Nc6+ Ka3 58.Bxb3 Kxb3 59.Nxa5 with an equal position. } 57. Nc6 Rd2 58. Bc4 Rd6 59. Na7 Kb4 60. Bg8 Rg6 61. Bd5 Rd6 62. Bg8 Bd4
63. Nc8 Rd8 64. Be6 {If 64.Ne7, then 64...Rxg8 followed by 65...Kxb3 wins.}
64... Bc5 {The Knight cannot escape. Now Black wins just by capturing the b-pawn.} 65. Kg4 Rd3 66. Kh5 Rxb3 67. Bxb3 Kxb3 68. Kxh6 a4 69. g4 a3 70. g5
a2 71. g6 Bd4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubin, D."]
[Black "Glek, I."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]

{This correspondence game features lots of sacrifices and some very sharp tactics.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6
7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. b3 Qc7 12. Qe2 Bd6 13.
Nf5 {The fireworks begin.} 13... Bxh2+ 14. Kh1 O-O 15. Nxg7 Qe5 {Not 15...Kxg7 16.Bb2 Qf4 17.Qh5 winning.} 16. g3 {16.Bh6 Qxe2 17.Bxe2 Be5 leads to an equal position.} 16... Qxa1 17. c3 b5 {17...Qxc3 18.Bb2 wins for White.} 18. Bd3 Rd8 {Unclear is 18...Qxc3 19.Bb2 Qc6+ 20.f3.} 19. Be4 Nxe4
20. Qxe4 Qxc3 {If 20...Rb8, then 21.Qe5 threatening both 22.Qxb8 and 22.Nh5. } 21. Nh5 {Black has a big advantage after 21.Qxa8 Qxg7.} 21... Qd3 22. Qg4+
Qg6 23. Qh4 Bb7+ 24. Kxh2 e5 25. Bb2 {White is down in material but Black's kingside is very weak.} 25... Re8 {Black must give back the exchange to keep the White's bishop out of play.} 26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Nxe8+ Rxe8 28. Rc1 Qf5 29.
Qf4 {Bad is 29.f4 h6 30.Rc7 Qe4 31.Qg4+ Kf8 and White cannot defend his King.} 29... Kg6 30. Qxf5+ Kxf5 {Black is better in the endgame, but will it be enough to win?} 31. Rc7 Bd5 32. Rd7 Ke6 33. Ra7 Rc8 {Black could have kept his extra pawn with 33...Ra8, but decides to activate his Rook instead. } 34. g4 {Worse is 34.Rxa6+ Kf5 with a strong attack.} 34... Rc2 35. Rxa6+
Bc6 36. Kg3 f6 37. f4 Kd5 38. Ba1 e4 39. Ra7 e3 40. Re7 Rg2+ {White's kingside pawns would become quite dangerous after 40...Rxa2 41.Bxf6.} 41.
Kxg2 Kd6+ 42. Kf1 Kxe7 43. Ke2 Bd7 44. f5 h5 45. gxh5 Bxf5 46. Kxe3 Bg4 47.
h6 Kf7 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dreev, A."]
[Black "Azmaiparashvili, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]

{A contest between two Soviet super Grandmasters ends quickly.} 1. d4 g6 2.
e4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bg5 Nf6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c6 7. Qd2 b5 8. Bd3 Bg4 9. e5
b4 10. Ne2 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Nd5 12. Bc4 a5 13. O-O-O {White is intending to weaken Black's kingside with f4-f5.} 13... Qd7 14. f5 {This pawn sacrifice opens lines and gains time for White's attack.} 14... Qxf5 15. Ng3 Qe6 16.
f4 dxe5 17. f5 Qd6 18. fxg6 hxg6 19. Rdg1 exd4 {Better is 19...f5.} 20. Nf5
Qe5 {If 20...exf5, then 21.Bh6.} 21. Nxg7 Ne3 {If 21...Qxg7, then 22.Bh6 Qe5 23.Rg5 Qe4 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Re1 wins for White.} 22. Bxe3 dxe3 23. Qd3 { Threatening 24.Qxg6.} 23... Kxg7 24. Bxf7 Qh5 25. Rxg6+ {Black Resigns. If 25...Kxf7, then 26.Rf1+ Ke8 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.Qd8+ Kf7 29.Qg8#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kudrin, S."]
[Black "Miles, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]

{This game from the U.S. championship features a Russian born Grandmaster against an English born Grandmaster, the latter well known for his creative but sometimes unorthodox style.} 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nf3 Bb4+
5. c3 Bd6 6. Nbd2 Nxf3+ 7. Nxf3 Ne7 8. e5 Bc5 9. b4 Bb6 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Bc4
Ng6 12. Bg3 d6 {Black is willing to sacrifice a pawn to open lines for his pieces.} 13. exd6 Re8+ 14. Be2 Qf6 15. O-O cxd6 16. Bb5 {Not 16.Bxd6 due to 16...Rxe2.} 16... Rd8 17. Qd2 Bg4 18. Nd4 Rac8 19. Rac1 Ne5 20. Rfe1 {Black has a weak d-pawn, but his active pieces gives him the advantage.} 20... Rc7
21. Bf1 a6 22. Re4 Qg6 23. Rce1 f6 24. Kh1 Rdc8 25. R4e3 Bd7 26. a4 h5 27.
f4 {This weakens the kingside. Better is 27.a5.} 27... Ng4 28. Re7 h4 {Black calculated many moves ahead before playing this strong sacrifice.} 29. Bxh4
Qh5 30. Bg3 {This obvious move loses for White. Better was 30.Nf3, although after 30...Qxh4! 31.Nxh4 Nf2+ 32.Kg1 Ne4+ 33.Qe3 Bxe3+ 34.Rxe3 d5 Black has the better position.} 30... Rxc3 31. Rxd7 Rxg3 32. h3 Qd5 {This position is full of tactics. Black threatens both 33...Qxd4 and 33...Rxh3+.} 33. Nf3
Qxf3 {Beautiful! 34.gxf3 is met with 34...Rg1 checkmate!} 34. Bc4+ Rxc4 35.
gxf3 Rxh3+ 36. Kg2 Rh2+ {Black wins back the Queen and is left at least a piece ahead.} 37. Kg3 Rxd2 38. Ree7 {White's only hope is a counterattack on the Black King, but this proves futile.} 38... Nh6 39. Rxg7+ Kf8 40. Rh7
Rcc2 41. Rh8+ Ng8 42. Kg4 Rg2+ 43. Kf5 Rg7 44. Rxd6 Rc6 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodriguez, Am."]
[Black "Miles, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]

{English GM Miles plays a game in the style of the great chess thinker Aron Nimzowitsch.} 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. Be3 e6 6. Be2 Be7
7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 d5 {Pure Nimzowitsch. Black intends to exchange off his Queen Bishop after fixing the pawns on light squares.} 9. h3 Bh5 10. e5 Nd7
11. Qd2 Nb6 12. b3 Bg6 13. Bd3 Qd7 14. Ne2 {With the idea of Nf4.} 14... Nb4
15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. c3 {Better is exchanging off his bad Bishop with 16.Bg5.}
16... Na6 17. Bg5 Ba3 18. Qc2 Rac8 {Not 18...c5 19.Bc1.} 19. b4 {Threatening 19.Nd2 and 20.Qb3, trapping the Bishop.} 19... Rxf3 {The only move, but a strong one as well. White's kingside is full of holes.} 20. gxf3 Rf8 21. Kg2
Qf7 22. Qd3 Nc4 23. Bc1 Bxc1 24. Raxc1 Nb8 {With the idea Nc6-e7-f5.} 25. h4
Nc6 26. f4 Ne7 27. Rh1 Nf5 28. Rh3 Qe7 29. Rch1 a5 {Creating a second front. } 30. bxa5 Ra8 31. Ng3 Rxa5 32. h5 Qf7 33. Qb1 b6 34. hxg6 Qxg6 35. Rxh7 Kf7
{35...Nce3+ 36.Kg1 is unclear.} 36. R7h5 Nce3+ 37. Kg1 Qg4 {Black has a large advantage.} 38. R1h2 {If 38.Rg5, then 38...Qxf4 wins, or if 38.R1h3, then 38...Nxg3 wins.} 38... Nxg3 39. fxg3 Qxg3+ {White cannot hold this position because of his open King and weak pawns.} 40. Kh1 Qf3+ 41. Kg1 Qg4+
42. Kf2 Nd1+ 43. Kf1 Ne3+ 44. Kf2 Nd1+ 45. Kf1 Qf3+ 46. Kg1 Qe3+ 47. Kf1
Nxc3 48. Qe1 Qd3+ 49. Kg1 Rb5 {The Rook comes into action. ...Rb1 is threatened.} 50. R5h3 {If 50.Rd2, then 50...Qg6 51.Rg5 Rb1.} 50... Qxd4+ 51.
Kg2 Rb2+ 52. Kf3 Qd3+ 53. Kg4 Qf5+ 54. Kf3 Ne2 {White Resigns. 55...Nd4+ is threatened, and if 55.Rxe2, then 55...Qxh3+.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Salov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]

{This was voted the best game of the first half of 1989 by Chess Informant.}
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. Qe2 Nbd7 8.
g3 Rc8 {Better is 8...e6. Black needs to be developing his kingside.} 9. Bg2
a6 10. O-O Qc7 {Again, better is 10...e6.} 11. b3 e6 12. Nd5 {This move was discovered in Kasparov's home laboratory.} 12... Qb8 {If 12...exd5, then 13.exd5+ Kd8 14.Bb2 gives White the advantage.} 13. Rd1 g6 {Again 13...exd5 14.exd5+ Kd8 15.Nc6+ is good for White.} 14. Bg5 Bg7 {If 14...exd5, then 15.exd5 Be7 16.Nc6 is winning for White.} 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Nxb6 Rd8 {Better is 16...Rc7, although White has a large advantage.} 17. e5 Bxg2 {If 17...dxe5, then 18.Nc6 is strong.} 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Nxe6 {Cracking open the defenses around Black's King.} 19... fxe6 20. Qxe6+ Be7 21. c5 {Protecting the Knight on b6.} 21... Bb7 22. Re1 Qc7 23. c6 Bxc6 24. Rac1 {Threatening 25.Rxc6.} 24... Rd7 25. Nxd7 Qxd7 26. Qc4 Bb7 {If 26...Bb5, then 27.Qc8+ wins.} 27. Qc7 Rf8 28. Qb8+ Kf7 29. Rc7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Skelleftea"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Vaganian, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]

{Vaganian would win the Soviet Championship in 1989, but playing Black against the world champion is not an easy task for anyone.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3
Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 d5 8. Bg2 d4 9. Na4
Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Bb4 11. Nc5 {The Knight moves to the strategically important outpost at d3.} 11... O-O 12. Nd3 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Rd8 {White has some advantage in the endgame because of his pawn majority on the queenside. The game will be determined by how effectively he will utilize it.} 15. c5 Ne8 16. Na3 f6 17. f4 Bd7 18. Nc4 Rab8 19. b4 Ne7 20. a4 Bc6 21.
Bf3 a6 22. Rhb1 Nc7 23. Nd6 Nf5 24. b5 axb5 25. axb5 Nxd6 {Black had been doing fine up to here. But this move is a mistake and Kasparov does not give him a second opportunity. Correct is 25...Bxf3 26.Nxf5 Bxe2 27.Ne7+ Kf7 28.b6 Ne8 29.c6 Kxe7 30.c7 Bf3 31.Ra7 Rbc8 32.cxd8(Q)+ Rxd8 33.Nc5 Nd6.} 26.
bxc6 Nc4+ 27. Kc1 bxc6 28. Rxb8 {Black's problem now is that both his c- and d- pawns are weak.} 28... Rxb8 29. Ra4 Ne3 30. Bxc6 e5 {If 30...Rd8, then 31.Ra7 Ned5 32.Kb2 Rb8+ 33.Rb7 Rxb7 34.Bxb7 Nc3 35.e4 followed by Kb3 and Kc4 with a large advantage to White.} 31. fxe5 fxe5 32. Nxe5 Ne6 33. Ra5 Rc8
34. Kd2 Kf8 {Not only is White a pawn ahead, but his pieces are also better placed. Black has no hope.} 35. Kd3 Ke7 36. Ra7+ Kf6 37. Nd7+ Kg5 38. Bf3
Nf5 39. h4+ Kg6 40. Ra6 Kf7 41. Bd5 Re8 42. Ne5+ Kf6 43. Nf3 {Black Resigns. In order to stop 44.Ng5, Black must play 44...h6. But after 45.g4 Ne3 46.Bxe6 Rxe6 47.Rxe6+ Kxe6 47.Nd4+ White wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Hjartarson, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]

{The rising Icelandic GM takes on the former world champion in the quarterfinals of the world championship. This was voted the fourth best game during the first half of 1989 by Chess Informant.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2
d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 Be6 9. b4 O-O 10. Rb1
{Anticipating that the b-file will get opened after Ne4-c5 and ...Bxc5. The Rook also guards the b3-square should Black play ...Nd4.} 10... f6 11. d3
Qd7 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Qc2 b6 {Preventing Ne4-c5, however this contradicts one of Steinitz's rules - "don't make weaknesses where your opponent is attacking".} 14. Bb2 Rac8 15. Rbc1 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Qc6 Qxc6 18. Rxc6
Bd7 19. Nxd4 {White has more than enough compensation for the exchange.}
19... Bxc6 20. Nxc6 Rce8 21. Rc1 {Karpov plays like a python the way he deprives his opponents of all counterplay.} 21... f5 22. Nd2 Nf6 23. Nxa7
Bd6 {If 23...c5, then 24.b6 followed by an attack on the b6-pawn.} 24. e3 c5
25. Nc4 Bb8 26. Nc6 b5 27. N4a5 cxb4 28. axb4 Nd7 {Preventing 29.Rc5.} 29.
d4 {Threatening Bg2-f1.} 29... g5 30. Nxb8 Rxb8 31. Rc7 Nf6 32. Nc6 Rb6 33.
Ne7+ Kh8 34. Nxf5 Ra6 35. Rc1 Ra2 36. h3 Rb2 37. e4 Rxb4 38. g4 h5 39. e5
hxg4 {If 39...Nh5, then 40.hxg4 and White's central pawns are too powerful.}
40. exf6 gxh3 41. Bxh3 Rxf6 42. Rc8+ Kh7 43. Rc7+ Kg6 44. Rg7+ Kh5 45. f3 
{Black Resigns. There is no good defense to 46.Bg4#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]

{When the number-one and number-three-rated players get together to rumble it's always an eagerly awaited match-up. The audience didn't disappoint the players, nor did the players disappoint the audience.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 d6 3.
Bg2 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 {This gives White an advantage in the ending. The middlegame after 6...Nc6 7.Qd2 Bg7 8.b3 is also better for White.} 7. Qe3+ Qe7 8. Qxe7+ Kxe7 9. b3 {A powerful move that Nigel had missed when allowing the exchange of Queens. The move has several points. It protects c4, making counterplay based on ...Bc8-e6 impossible. Also, when Black plays ...c7-c6, protecting d5 and neutralizing the Bishop on g2, White then can play Bc1-a3 pressing against d6. Black has a bleak future. He'll have to sit passively, waiting to counterpunch. The question is, what is the best defensive arrangement for Black's pieces? Should he forgo playing ...c7-c6 and play ...a7-a5 with ...Nb8-a6 in mind? Or should he bite the bullet, play 9...Rd8 intending ...c7-c6, ...Bc8-e6, ...Nb8-d7-b6, and ...d6-d5? The choice is not an easy one even with hindsight.} 9... a5 {Nigel didn't like this move and blamed it for his problems in this game. He felt 9...Rd8 aiming for an eventual ...d6-d5 was better.} 10. Bb2 c6 11. Na4 {A very strong move. Black is sentenced to keep watch over the b6 square while his Kingside is paralyzed on the a1-h8 diagonal. White already has a significant advantage. It's moves like this -moving the same piece twice, decentralizing the Knight, etc. - that gives chess teachers nightmares.} 11... Be6 {It's hard to question a move like this, but Black's position craves exchanges. Better is 11...Nh5 or 11...Ne8 intending to exchange Bishops and use e6 for the Knight. This would have relieved some of the pressure on Black's position. With the benefit of hindsight, it's plain that Black had to be willing to make a major concession to trade these Bishops.} 12. Nf3 Nbd7 {Nigel is drifting. In combination with ...a7-a5, this method of development is not logical.} 13. Nd4 {Now all of White's pieces are working. As soon as the first player doubles on the d-file Black can resign.} 13... Rhc8 14. O-O Rab8 15. Rac1 {Garry is wrong to discourage ...b7-b5. After the indicated 15.Rfd1, followed by Rd2, Black is history. If 15...b5?!, then 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.Nc3 b4 and 18.Ncb5, intending Na7, and the game would end before it had properly begun.} 15... Ne8 16. Rfd1 {The handwriting is on the wall. Black has to hold his breath and play some ugly moves before things get any worse.} 16... c5 {The best move, but I can't bring myself to give such a move an exclamation mark! Review my earlier notes.} 17. Nb5 Bxb2 18. Nxb2 Nb6 19. Nc3 Na8 {The Knight on b6 is a dead piece. The White pawn structure of b3-c4 stifles its movements. White has a won game.} 20. Nba4 Nec7 21. Rd2 Bd7 22. Ne4 {Garry tightens the noose.}
22... Ne8 {Forced. If 22...Bxa4 23.bxa4 Ne8 (If 23...Nb6, 24.Rxd6 Nxa4 25.Rd3 intending Ra3 wins material.) 24.Rb1 at once, Black is forced to play ...b7-b6, after which material losses will become unavoidable.} 23. Nac3 Bc6
24. Rcd1 Rd8 {White has achieved all he can on the queenside and in the center, and it's not enough to win the game. How to step up the pressure? It's clear that the Kingside has to get involved. The winning idea will be to play e2-e3, f2-f4, g3-g4-g5 and then to push the h-pawn. Garry now sets this plan in motion.} 25. g4 {Black isn't given the chance to exchange pieces by ...f7-f5 and Bc6xg2.} 25... Nac7 26. a4 {Once again preventing any freeing of the Black position by ...b7-b5. White can work in peace.} 26...
Ne6 27. e3 h6 28. f4 Rd7 29. h4 Rbd8 30. Ng3 {Preparing a full-court press. White wants to play g4-g5 and force the exchange of h-pawns. If Black avoids this with ...h6-h5, then f4-f5-f6+ comes in decisive fashion.} 30... N6g7
31. Nd5+ {Precise play. It's too early to play 31.g5 hxg5 32.hxg5 f6, when lines will be opened on the kingside because White isn't completely mobilized to take advantage of them. Parting with the Bishop by 31...Bxd5 32.Bxd5 Nf6 33.Bf3 doesn't help matters.} 31... Kf8 32. Kf2 {Readying the blow g4-g5 and Bg2-h3.} 32... Ne6 33. g5 hxg5 34. hxg5 N6c7 35. Bh3 f5 36.
gxf6ep Rh7 37. Nxc7 Nxc7 38. Bg2 Ne8 {Nothing is accomplished by 38...Rh2, as 39.Kg1 forces exchanges on g2.} 39. Bxc6 bxc6 40. Kg2 {Harnessing Black's Rook. White now wants to protect his pawn with e3-e4-e5.} 40... Rb8 41. Rd3
d5 {Desperation. If 41...Rhb7, then 42.e4 Rxb3 43.e5 R3b4 44.Rc3 Rxa4 45.Ne4, with the intention of Nxd6 or Rh1-h8+ and Ne4-g5 mate, quickly decides matters.} 42. cxd5 cxd5 43. Rxd5 Rxb3 {It now seems logical for White to fall into the trap 44.e4 Nxf6 45.Rxc5 Rxg3+, winning for Black. Unfortunately for Nigel, the strongest part of Garry's game is his fine tactical ability, which he now demonstrates once more.} 44. Ne4 {A superb move. White utilizes all his pieces to weave a mating net. White intends Rd5-e5 and Rd1-d8.} 44... Rxe3 45. Re5 Rh5 {Nigel is still kicking. When I first saw this position I thought that Nigel had squirmed out. Indeed, after 46.Nxc5 Rexe5 47.Nd7+ Kf7 48.fxe5 Nc7, Black has good blockading chances. Garry's next move removes all hope.} 46. Re6 {Renewing the threat of Rd1-d8. } 46... Re2+ {Nigel can choose his own execution: 46...Nc7 47.Rd8+ Kf7 48.Re7 mate or 46...Nxf6 47.Rd8+ Kf7 48.Rxf6+ Ke7 49.Rff8 and the Knight on e4 is taboo because of Re8+ and Rxe4.} 47. Kf3 Rhh2 48. f7 {The final brilliancy.} 48... Rhf2+ 49. Nxf2 Rxe6 50. fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 51. Rc1 {Black Resigns. A clinical masterpiece by Garry Kasparov.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Speelman, J."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]

{Black's King is left stuck in the center.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 4.
e4 Bb7 5. Bd3 {White intends to play Bc2 and d4.} 5... c5 6. e5 Ng4 7. O-O
Nc6 8. Be4 f5 9. exf6ep Nxf6 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. d4 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 cxd4 13. Nb5
Rc8 14. Bf4 a6 15. Nxd4 Rxc4 16. Rfd1 {Threatening 17.Nxe6. White has compensation for the sacrificed pawn because Black's King is stuck in the center.} 16... Qc8 17. Rac1 Kf7 {If 17...Be7, then 18.Rxc4 Qxc4 19.Qa8+ is slightly better for White.} 18. Qe2 Rxc1 {Not 18...b5? 19.Nf3 threatening 20.Ne5+.} 19. Rxc1 Qa8 {Not 19...Qb7?, as 20.Nxe6! wins at once.} 20. Nf3
Bc5 21. Ne5+ Ke7 22. Bg5 Rf8 23. Rd1 d6 24. b4 dxe5 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Qc2 { Threatening 27.Qxh7. If 26.Qxe5, then Black holds with 26...Qc6.} 26... Kf7
27. Bxf6 Kxf6 28. Rd3 e4 {A blunder in time pressure. Correct is 28...Kf7.}
29. Qc3+ Kf5 {Also losing are 29...e5 30.Rd6+ Kf7 31.Qc4+! and 29...Kf7 30.Rd7+ and 29...Kg6 30.Rg3. Instead Black brings his King into the center, but it has little chance for survival there.} 30. Rd7 e3 31. Qxc5+ Kg6 32.
Qxe3 Qc6 33. Qg3+ Kf5 34. Qh3+ Ke5 35. Qg3+ Kf5 36. Rc7 Qe4 37. h4 h6 38.
Rxg7 Qe1+ 39. Kh2 Qe5 40. Ra7 Qxg3+ 41. Kxg3 Rg8+ 42. Kh3 Rc8 43. Rxa6 Rc3+
44. g3 h5 45. Ra5+ e5 46. f4 Ke4 47. fxe5 Kf3 48. e6 Kf2 49. Rf5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Palma de Mallorca"]
[Date "1989"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Velikov, P."]
[Black "Dorfman, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]

{This game has a wild King hunt.} 1. Nf3 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. d4 c5 4. c3 b6 5.
dxc5 bxc5 6. Qd5 {White hunts down a pawn but loses in a lot of time in the process.} 6... Nc6 7. Qxc5 Nf6 8. Bg2 Ba6 9. Nd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 O-O 11. Bxa8
{Grabbing the Rook is risky as it leaves the kingside weak. Safer is 11.Qd1. } 11... Qxa8 12. f3 e5 {Black must lose no time in opening up the position.}
13. Qd1 {Of course 13.Qxe5 Re8 loses immediately.} 13... e4 14. Kf2 {Black would have compensation for the sacrificed material after 14.O-O exf3 15.Rxf3 Re8.} 14... Re8 15. Re1 Qc6 16. Na3 Qe6 17. Nc2 Qh3 18. Kg1 {Not 18.Rh1? exf3 19.exf3 Re2+ winning immediately.} 18... Re5 {Threatening 19...Rh5.} 19. Bf4 {19.Ne3 Rh5 20.Nf1 exf3 loses immediately as does 19.g4 Nxg4 20.fxg4 Qxg4+ 21.Kh1 e3 22.Rf1 Rg5.} 19... Rd5 {An important in-between move. On 19...Rh5, White can defend with 20.g4.} 20. Nd4 Rh5 21. g4 Nd5 22.
Qb3 Nxf4 23. Qb8+ Bc8 24. Qxc8+ {If 24.Qxf4, then 24...Be5.} 24... Bf8 25.
Kf2 Re5 26. Ke3 exf3+ 27. Kxf4 {If 27.Kd2, then 27...f2 28.Rf1 Rxe2+ 29.Nxe2 Qd3+ wins.} 27... d6 28. e4 {If 28.Nxf3, then 28...g5+ 29.Nxg5 Qe3 checkmate.} 28... f2 {Threatening 29...g5 checkmate.} 29. Nf3 fxe1=Q 30.
Rxe1 h5 31. Nxe5 dxe5+ 32. Kg5 {If 32.Kxe5, then 32...Qh2+ 33.Qd5 Qd2+ 34.Kc4 Qxe1 wins.} 32... Kg7 33. Qd7 Qxg4+ {White Resigns. 34.Qxg4 f6 is a very pretty checkmate.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E99"]

{A titanic struggle between two giants.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4
d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2
Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 13. Rc1 c5 {This makes it more difficult for White to attack on the queenside.} 14. g4 {And this makes it more difficult for White to attack on the kingside.} 14... a6 15. Nf2 h6 16. h4 fxg4 17. fxg4 Neg8 18.
Kg2 Nh7 19. Rh1 Bf6 20. g5 {White sacrifices a pawn to keep Black's pieces inactive. To Black's advantage is 20.Kg3 Bxh4+ 21.Rxh4 Rxf2 and even worse is 20.h5 Bh4.} 20... hxg5 21. h5 Qe8 {Good for White is 21...Ne7 22.Bg4.}
22. b4 {White suddenly switches the focus to the queenside.} 22... cxb4 23.
Na4 Bd8 24. Bxb4 Bd7 25. hxg6 {Better is 25.Nb2. Then Kasparov intended to play 25...Rxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Ngf6 with attacking chances.} 25... Qxg6 26. c5 { Threatening 27.c6.} 26... g4 {Better is 26...Nf6 to meet 27.c6 with 27...Nxe4.} 27. c6 g3 28. Nd3 bxc6 29. dxc6 Rc8 30. Bf3 {Not 30.cxd7? Rxc1 31.Nxc1 Rf2+ 32.Kg1 Qxe4 winning.} 30... Rxf3 31. Qxf3 Bg4 32. Qxg3 {Not 32.Qe3? Bg5 winning.} 32... Qxe4+ 33. Kg1 {Correct is 33.Kh2.} 33... Nf6 34.
Bxd6 Qd4+ {Correct is 34...Rxc6 35.Rxc6 Qxc6 36.Nxe5 Qxa4 with a large advantage to Black.} 35. Nf2 Qxd6 36. Nxg4 Qd4+ 37. Nf2 Qxa4 38. Qxe5 Rc7
39. Rh2 Rg7+ 40. Rg2 Bc7 41. Qf5 Qxa2 42. Qc8+ Qg8 43. Qxg8+ Kxg8 44. Rxg7+
Kxg7 45. Nd3 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Ye, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]

{An incredible back-and-forth tactical marvel, played at the Olympiad between the former Soviet Korchnoi, now playing for the Swiss, and the top board for the Chinese team, relative newcomers to the world of top-level chess. In this game, Ye, Jiangchuan proves that age and experience are not always victorious over inventive youth.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4
d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O {This is a standard line in the King's Indian Defense. Note that White cannot now win a pawn by 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nxe5 due to 9...Nxe4 with complications. 7.dxe5 is playable, however, with positions more favorable to the style of Korchnoi's nemesis, Anatoly Karpov. } 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 {Preparing to meet ...f7-f5 with f2-f3, and also repositioning the Knight to support c4-c5. An alternative is to retreat to d2, heading for the c4 square after c4-c5. White's play is on the Queenside, while Black will mount a direct assault on the White monarch.} 9... Nd7 10.
Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Nb5 {This move is normally played a little later, after Ne1-d3, Ra1-c1, c4-c5, and c5xd6. With the exchange of c-pawns, White is better prepared to attack down the open c-file, and Nb5 threatens both the a-pawn, the d-pawn, and the c7 square. Now Black takes a moment to defend the a-pawn and slow the c-pawn's advance.} 13... b6 14. b4 a6 15. Nc3
h5 16. Kh1 Nf6 17. c5 g4 18. cxb6 cxb6 19. Rc1 g3 {Black is more than willing to sacrifice a pawn or two to open Kingside lines.} 20. Bg1 gxh2 21.
Bf2 h4 22. Na4 Rb8 23. b5 axb5 24. Bxb5 Nh5 25. Kxh2 Ng3 26. Rg1 Ng6 27. Nd3
Kh7 28. Nb4 h3 29. Rxc8 {Basically forced, due to Black's increasing initiative. Now Korchnoi hopes to get some pawns for the exchange.} 29...
Rxc8 30. gxh3 Rh8 31. Bxb6 Qe7 32. Nd3 Rb8 33. Bc6 Kg8 34. Nf2 Nh4 35. Qd3
Kf7 36. Rc1 Rxb6 {And Black returns the material to set up an unusual diagonal pin against the loose Knight f2.} 37. Nxb6 Qa7 38. Qb3 Rb8 39. Rb1
Bf6 40. Qb4 Nxf3+ 41. Kg2 Nh4+ 42. Kg1 Bd8 43. Qxd6 Rxb6 44. Qe6+ Kg7 45.
Rxb6 Qxb6 46. Qd7+ Kh6 47. Qe6+ Ng6 48. Kg2 Kg7 49. Qd7+ Be7 50. d6 {Walking into mate, but there is no real defense.} 50... Nh4+ 51. Kg1 Qb1+ 52. Kh2
Nf1+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Euwe Memorial, Amsterdam"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stohl, I."]
[Black "Uhlmann, W."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]

{The text is a model King's Indian Defense game, where Black first stymies White on the Queenside, then goes for a full bodied attack on the King.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Bd7 11. Rb1 {Thus far both players are following the recommended line of play. White's idea will be to advance on the Queenside. Black will try to instigate play on the Kingside.} 11... a4 12. b3 axb3 13.
Nxb3 c5 14. dxc6ep Bxc6 15. Qd3 Nh5 {A move that is reminiscent of Game three in the 1972 match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. Black is willing to accept doubled pawns in return for open lines to attack White's King. He feels comfortable doing this as White's Queenside pieces haven't reached their attacking potential.} 16. Bxh5 gxh5 17. Qh3 f5 18. Qxh5 fxe4
19. Qe2 Ng6 20. Nd5 Kh8 21. Qxe4 Ra4 {White has won a pawn and appears to have a nice blockade in the center. All of which appears to be a good deal. But, Black has prepared a much deeper point. Using the light-squared Bishop, he will undermine White's pieces in the center. Once they have been swept away, he will attack White's King upon the light squares.} 22. Qe2 Qh4 23.
Nb4 Bd7 24. g3 {White is obliged to make this weakening Kingside move. If 24.Rd1 Nf4 25. Bxf4 exf4 26.Rxd6 f3! 27.gxf3 Bh3 would have fatal consequences. The text tries to prevent ...Ng6-f4.} 24... Qh3 25. Bb2 Bh6 {A very sly move. Black activates his Bishop while secretly clearing the g-file for his Rook to attack.} 26. f3 Be6 27. Rbd1 Nf4 {Everything is in readiness and the fireworks now begin. Note that if the attack does fail, White will win. This is where the importance of calculation comes in. In this case, Black has either calculated or intuited that his attack is worth the offered material.} 28. gxf4 Rg8+ 29. Kh1 Bxc4 30. Qf2 Bxf4 {An excellent move. Had Black rushed to recapture his piece, a surprise would await: 30...Bxb3 31.fxe5! Bxd1 32.dxe6+ Bg7 33.Rxd1 and White has sacrificed material for the initiative.} 31. Rg1 Rxg1+ 32. Rxg1 Bxb3 33. Rg4 Qh6 34. Nd3 Bd5 35. Nxf4
Rxf4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Petursson, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]

{Black gets a strategically lost position when his own Bishop becomes trapped behind his pawns.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6
6. Be2 Bg4 7. Bg5 Nc6 8. d5 Bxf3 9. gxf3 Ne5 10. h4 c6 11. f4 Ned7 12. h5
cxd5 13. exd5 Nc5 {Better is 13...Qa5.} 14. Qc2 Qa5 15. O-O-O b5 16. Bxf6
exf6 {Worse is 16...exf6. White gets a very strong attack after 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Rxh7 Kxh7 19.Rh1+ Kg7 20.Bh5.} 17. h6 Bh8 18. f5 {Completely shutting in the Bishop. Now it will as if Black is a piece down.} 18... b4 19. Ne4 Nxe4
20. Qxe4 Rfe8 21. Qc2 Qxa2 22. Bd3 Kf8 23. Rde1 Qa1+ 24. Kd2 Qa5 25. Rxe8+
Rxe8 26. Re1 Re5 {If 26...b3+, then 27.Qc3 Qxc3+ 28.bxc3 Rxe1 29.Kxe1 and Black's King will be no match for White's King and Bishop.} 27. Re3 gxf5 28.
f4 Rxe3 29. Kxe3 Qc5+ 30. Kf3 Qg1 31. Bxf5 a5 {If 31...Qh1+ 32.Kg3 Qxh6, then White creates a strong passed pawn with 33.c5.} 32. b3 Qh1+ 33. Kg3
Qg1+ 34. Qg2 Qe3+ 35. Qf3 Qg1+ 36. Kh3 Ke7 37. Qe2+ Kd8 38. Qg2 {Forcing an exchange of Queens.} 38... Qxg2+ 39. Kxg2 Kc7 40. Kf3 Kb6 41. Ke3 {Black Resigns. White wins after 41...Kc5 42.Kd3 Kb6 43.Kd4 Kc7 44.c5 or 42...a4 43.bxa4 b3 44.Kc3.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "23rd Match Game, Lyons"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E87"]

{This was the next to the last game of the 24 game match. Kasparov had a two game lead, and was therefore assured of at least a drawn match, enough to retain his title. But there was still something to play for! As well as the honor Karpov could gain by winning the last two games to tie the score, there was a $1,000,000 bonus trophy to the clear winner. There was also the boast Kasparov made about "crushing" Anatoly this time. In any case, Karpov made a match of it by refuting Garry's uncharacteristically unsound piece sacrifice. However, he was unable to win in the final round with Black, and Kasparov triumphed by the slimmest of margins.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Qe7 10. O-O-O { Playing the Samish against the King's Indian and castling on opposite wings announces Anatoly's intention to fight.} 10... f5 11. exf5 gxf5 12. Nh3 Na6
13. Rg1 Nf6 14. Nf2 Kh8 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Bg5 Nc5 17. g4 {Battling for positional control of e4.} 17... e4 18. fxe4 fxe4 19. Be3 Na4 20. g5 Nxc3
21. bxc3 Ng8 22. Ng4 c5 23. dxc6ep Bxc6 24. h4 d5 {Played hastily, this is apparently based on faith in the phantom of Black Queen, Bishop, and Rook coordinating an attack against the White King on the dark square.} 25. cxd5
Bxd5 26. Qxd5 Rac8 {No better is 26...Qa3+ 27.Kb1 Qxc3 28.Bd4. The move 28.Bd4+ also refutes 27...Bxc3 in this line, in fact winning another piece.}
27. Qd6 {Blocking the Queen's route to a3, and effectively ending the game.}
27... Rxc3+ 28. Kb1 Qf7 29. Bd4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E84"]

{A tactical skirmish leaves White the exchange ahead, but Black seems to have enough resources to hold the position.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7
4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Qd2 a6 8. Nge2 Rb8 9. Nc1 e5 10. Nb3 exd4
11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. Rd1 c6 13. Be2 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. b4 c5 16. Nc2 cxb4 17.
Nxb4 Be6 18. O-O {Black has the better position after 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Ne8 21.Rd4 Bxc4.} 18... Qa5 19. Qxd6 Nc4 {Not 19...Rfd8 20.Bb6.}
20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Nc6 {Not 21.Rb1 Qa3.} 21... Qxc3 22. Bd4 Nxe4 23. Bxc3 { Not 23.fxe4 Bxd4+ 24.Rxd4 Rb7 with a slight advantage to Black.} 23... Nxd6
24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Nxb8 Nf5 26. Nd7 Rc8 27. Nb6 Rc6 {Black has enough for the exchange due to his active pieces and passed c-pawn.} 28. Rb1 c3 29. Rb4
Bxa2 30. Rc1 c2 31. Kf2 h5 32. Ke2 Be6 33. Kd2 Rd6+ {Both players were very short on time.} 34. Kxc2 {This is a mistake. Correct is 34.Ke2 with an equal position.} 34... Ne3+ 35. Kb2 Nxg2 36. Nc4 Rd3 {Black misses 36...Rd5 37.Nb6 Rd2 38.Rc2 Rxc2 39.Kxc2 Ne1+ 40.Kd1 Nxf3 with big advantage.} 37. Ne5 Re3
38. Re4 Kf6 39. Rxe3 Nxe3 40. Nd3 Bd5 41. Ne1 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marin, M."]
[Black "Mascarinas, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E80"]

{White throws everything he can at Black's King.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 c5 6. d5 O-O 7. g4 {White does not hide his aggressive intentions.} 7... e6 {The best way to meet a flank attack is with a counterattack in the center.} 8. Nge2 exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 Nfd7 11. h4 Ne5
12. Ng3 {White is planning 13.Be2 and 14.f4.} 12... f5 13. gxf5 gxf5 14. f4
Ng4 {Better is 14...Nf7.} 15. Be2 {Threatening 15.Bxg4 fxg4 after which White will have a commanding center.} 15... Nh6 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nh5 e4 18.
Nxg7 Kxg7 19. b4 {Opening up the a1-h8 diagonal.} 19... cxb4 20. Qd4+ Rf6 { If 20...Qxf6, then 21.Qxb4 followed by 22.Bb2.} 21. Rg1+ Ng4 {Otherwise 22.Qxb4 followed by Bb2 is very strong.} 22. Bxg4 Kh6 {Other moves also lose: 22...fxg4 23.Ne4, 22...bxc3 23.Bxf5+, or 22...Nc6 23.Be2+ Kh6 24.Qc4 bxc3 25.Qxc3.} 23. Nxe4 Rg6 {If 23...fxe4, then 24.Bxc8.} 24. Ng5 Be6 25.
Nxe6 Rxe6+ {If 25...Qxh4+, then 26.Qf2 Rxg4 27.Rxg4 Qxg4 28.Nc7.} 26. Be2
Rf6 {If 26...Qxh4+, then 27.Qf2.} 27. Rg8 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E73"]

{Every year a super Grandmaster tournament is held in Tilburg, Holland.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Na6 {A fairly new idea by which Black sidesteps the main lines of the Averbakh System and quietly "develops". But, can it be good to develop your Knight to the rim?} 7. f4 { This aims to refute Black's sixth move. The normal 7.Qd2 e5 8.d5 Nc5 9.f3 would be a straight transposition. I wanted to punish Black's opening.} 7...
c6 {The text is a restrained response to White's pawn-mass, preparing subtle undermining moves like ...Qd8-b6 and ...Na6-c7-e6.} 8. Nf3 Nc7 9. d5 Nh5 { Another nibbling move. Black avoids direct confrontations but continues to feint and jab.} 10. f5 gxf5 {This move deserves a commendation for bravery, but it is plainly bad.} 11. exf5 Nf6 12. dxc6 {White chooses to give up the center in order to focus on the Black King.} 12... bxc6 13. g4 {White's primitive plan (Qd1-d2, Bg5-h6) may decide the issue.} 13... Rb8 14. Qd2 Na6
15. Nd4 Qb6 {My plan in this position was simple: Stop black on the queenside and kill him on the kingside. This led me to mistakenly shore up my queenside with...} 16. Nb3 {Correct is 16.b3.} 16... Nb4 {The only move, but a good one. While stopping Bg5-e3, Black introduces the possibility of ...Nxa2. I now went into a "long think, wrong think" routine. White wants to move the Bishop on g5 and play g4-g5.} 17. Bh4 {Understandable but wrong. The position demanded the Karpovian retreat 17.Bd1!.} 17... Nxa2 18. Rxa2
Qxb3 19. O-O {My last move was played with great confidence. I couldn't believe that Black could survive. White's threats include g4-g5, f5-f6, as well as Ra2xa7xe7. Now Boris went into a deep think and uncorked a masterful defensive stroke.} 19... Re8 {This move goes to the very heart of the position. Black will allow White to sacrifice an Exchange only on his own terms. White must occupy g5 with a pawn, and in the meantime Black simply protects e7. After having launched myself into the position, I felt as if I had stepped into a cold shower. Black still has his Queenside pressure while White's attack is chimerical.} 20. Bd1 Ne4 21. Qe3 Nxc3 22. Bxb3 Bd4 23.
Qxd4 Ne2+ 24. Kf2 Nxd4 25. Ba4 {Black is slightly better, but time pressure was about to affect my play.} 25... Rb6 26. Re1 Kf8 27. Re4 Nb3 28. Bxb3
Rxb3 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. Kxe3 a6 31. c5 d5 32. Ra4 e6 33. f6 e5 34. h3 { Natural, but bad. White puts another pawn on a light square. Best was 34.Bg3 with a rather simple draw.} 34... d4+ {Black's only chance to win.} 35. Ke4
Be6 36. Rxa6 Bd5+ 37. Kd3 Bg2 38. Bg5 {Yes Virginia, Grandmasters really do blunder Rooks! 38.Rb6 should draw.} 38... Bf1+ {White Resigns. Why does the realization that you've made a blunder wash over you the moment you release the piece?} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Lautier, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E69"]

{Anatoly Karpov was the World Champion from 1975-1985. Here he faces the young French Champion Joel Lautier. Does the young man have what it takes to push the former World Champion aside?} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2
O-O 5. O-O d6 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. h3 c6 9. e4 Qb6 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nxd4
Ne8 12. Nf3 Ne5 13. Nxe5 {A simplifying move which is the hallmark of Karpov's game. Karpov tries to channel the game into quiet lines of play where his superior positional skills can be demonstrated.} 13... dxe5 14.
Qa4 a5 15. a3 Nc7 16. Be3 Qxb2 {Ambitious youth at work! The text puts Black's Queen in imminent danger in return for a pawn. On the other hand, 16...Qa6 17.Bf1 would secure White a clear plus.} 17. Rec1 b5 18. Qd1 bxc4 { Not much choice here. If 18...b4?? 19.Na4 snares a Queen. 18...Be6 19.Qd6 threatens 20.Rab1 similarly winning Black's Queen. The text makes her retreat possible.} 19. Bc5 Ne6 {Black is forced to cough up material. White has the double threat of 20. Rab1 and 20.Bxf8 winning.} 20. Na4 Qb3 21. Bxf8
Bxf8 22. Bf1 {Although White has won an exchange, Black has two pawns as compensation. White's advantage lies in the fact that Black's c-pawns are doubled. This clue should show us how to win the game.} 22... Nd4 23. Rxc4
Qxd1 24. Rxd1 Be6 {According to Karpov's notes, this is a mistake. More resistance could have been offered by 24...Bxa3 25.Nb6 Rb8 26.Ra4 Bb4 27.Nc4 when White will play Nc4xa5 but it's still a fight.} 25. Rc3 Rd8 26. Kg2 Rb8
27. Nc5 Rb2 28. Bd3 Ba2 29. Na4 Rb3 30. Ra1 Rxc3 31. Nxc3 Bb3 32. Ne2 a4 33.
f4 Nb5 34. fxe5 Bg7 35. Rc1 Bxe5 36. Rxc6 Nxa3 {Black has managed to win White's a3-pawn. But his pieces are dominated by the d3-Bishop and White Rook.} 37. Ng1 Kf8 38. Nf3 Bb2 39. Nd2 Bd1 40. Rc7 Be5 41. Rc5 Bd4 42. Rc8+
Ke7 43. Rc7+ Ke6 44. Nf3 Bb2 45. Rb7 Bc1 46. Kf2 h5 47. Be2 Bb3 48. Nd4+ Ke5
49. Nxb3 axb3 50. Rxb3 Kxe4 51. Bd3+ {Black Resigns. Continuing to keep Black's a3-Knight locked up. After 51...Kd4 52.Ke2 Black's kingside pawns are targeted for termination.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Smejkal, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]

{This game is a relatively short draw, but there are some sharp tactics on the way. No "GM" draw here; both sides are clearly at risk.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 {The move Nf3 was once thought to be undesirable in the exchange Grunfeld Defense, due to Black's ability to pin the Knight and put more pressure on the d-pawn. However, tactical resources were uncovered, and the move is now played routinely.} 7... c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Ne5 {Capture on c3, even with check, would lead only to the forcible exchange of the critical fianchettoed Bishop and the time-losing retreat of the Knight - far too large a price to pay for a mere pawn.} 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qd2 b6 13. f4 Bg7
14. O-O e6 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Qe3 Bb7 17. Bc4 Qd7 18. f5 {The beginning of an attractive plan to tactically profit from the pin of the weak e-pawn.} 18...
gxf5 19. exf5 Bd5 20. Qd3 Qc6 21. Bg5 {Finally connecting the Rooks, but now Black obtains equality through tactical means.} 21... Be4 22. Qh3 Rxf5 23.
Rxf5 Bxb1 {Naturally not 23...Bxf5 24.Qxf5.} 24. Bxe6+ Kh8 25. Rf1 Bg6 26.
c4 Qd6 27. Bd5 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{The text features a match-up between two of today's youngest chess stars. This game was played in Tilburg, Holland in an atmosphere where the winner was expected to clinch first place in the tournament.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4
10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 {An important theoretical pawn sacrifice. The position after 11.Qd2 Qxd2+ 12.Bxd2 Rd8 is considered equal.} 11... Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4
13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 {A surprising retreat. Both players evaluated the position after 14.Bxe7 Re8 15.Rxb7 Nc6 16.Bc5 Rxe4 as balanced.} 14... Nc6
15. d5 Na5 16. Bc5 Bf6 17. e5 Bxe5 18. h3 {It appears that White has made an oversight as 18.Nxe5?? Bxe2 works well for Black. Also 18.Bxe7 Rfe8 19.d6 Nc6 doesn't offer White much. Still, he has calculated well. His next move clarifies who is in charge.} 18... Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rfe8 {Black cannot give up control of the a1 square. Example: 19...Bd6 20.Bxd6 exd6 21.Ra1 winning the Knight a5.} 20. d6 Qc4 {Black is forced to respond to the threat of Bf3-d5 which would trap his Queen. Thus 20...exd6 21.Bd5 Nc4 22.Rxb7 dxc5 23.Bxf7+ Kh8 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Qd7 wins.} 21. d7 Qxc5 22. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 23. Qa4 {The scorpion's sting at the tail of the combination. Black will soon find himself in an exchange-down ending. The result is a python-like squeezing to death. The technical phase is worthy of our highest compliments and deserves careful study.} 23... Nc6 24. Rxb7 Rc8 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Qxc6
Bd4 28. Qd5 Bb6 29. g3 h5 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. Rb1 Qe2 32. Qf3 Qe6 33. Qc3+ Kh7
34. Re1 Qd5+ 35. Qf3 Qd7 36. Rd1 Qe7 37. Rd3 Kg7 38. Qc6 Qe2 39. Rf3 Qa2 40.
Qc3+ Kg8 41. Qb3 Qxb3 42. Rxb3 Kf8 43. Kf3 Ke7 44. Rb2 Ke6 45. Ke4 Kd6 46.
Rd2+ Ke6 47. Kf4 Kf6 48. Rc2 Bd4 49. Ke4 Bb6 50. Rc6+ Ke7 51. f4 Kd7 52. Rf6
Ke7 53. Rc6 Kd7 54. Kd5 Bc7 55. Rc4 a5 {A considerable mistake. Although the position is losing, this accelerates defeat. Now White can get his Rook behind Black's passed a-pawn, a crucial point. In that case, the Rook will attack the Kingside too.} 56. Rc6 Bd8 57. Ra6 Ke7 58. Ke4 Bc7 59. Kd5 Bd8
60. Ra7+ Kf6 61. Ra8 Be7 62. Rxa5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Gulko, B"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D86"]

{White hunts down a pawn with his Queen, but leaves his kingside undefended. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {The Gruenfeld defense is a very sharp and theoretical opening.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2
Nc6 {This is a less common move than 8...c5.} 9. O-O b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Qd2
Qd6 12. Rad1 Na5 13. Bd3 c5 14. d5 e6 15. c4 Ba6 16. Qc2 exd5 17. exd5 Qd7 { Black prevents 18.Qa4 followed by Bd2.} 18. Ng3 Rae8 19. Bd2 Nb7 20. Ne4 Nd6
21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Qa4 {The start of a very risky plan. Better is 22.Rfe1 with an equal position.} 22... Bc8 23. Qxa7 Be5 {White has won a pawn, but with his Queen out of play, Black quickly mobilizes his forces for a kingside attack.} 24. h3 {This weakens the kingside. Better is 24.f4.} 24...
Bd4 {Threatening 25...Bxh3 26.gxh3 Qg3+.} 25. Kh1 {If White tries to bring his Queen back in play with 25.Qa3, then 25...Bxh3 26.Bxg6 Bxg2 27.Bxh7+ Kxh7 28.Kxg2 Rg8+ is winning for Black.} 25... Qf6 26. Be3 {If White tries to bring his Queen back into play with 26.Qc7, then 26...Be5 27.Qc6 Qh4 threatening 28...Bxh3 wins for Black.} 26... Bxh3 {White's King is under a bloody siege.} 27. Bxd4 cxd4 28. d6 {If 28.gxh3, then Black has a winning attack after 28...Qh3+ 29.Kh2 Re5.} 28... Re5 {Threatening 29...Bxg2+ 30.Kxg2 Rg5+.} 29. f4 Re3 30. Qb7 {White loses very quickly after 30.gxh3 Qh4.} 30... Qh4 31. Kg1 Bxg2 {Now White must give up his Queen to avoid getting mated.} 32. Qxg2 Rg3 33. Be4 Rxg2+ 34. Bxg2 Qf6 35. d7 Qd6 36. f5
Qxd7 37. Bd5 Qe7 38. Rf3 Qe5 39. Rdf1 g5 40. f6 Re8 41. Kh1 g4 42. Rf5 Qe3
43. Rh5 Re5 44. Rh2 d3 45. Bxf7+ Kxf7 46. Rxh7+ Kg6 47. f7 Kxh7 48. f8=Q
Qh3+ {White Resigns. It's checkmate after 49.Kg1 Qg3+ 50.Kh1 Rh5.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "17th Match Game, Lyons"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{After a mass of King's Indian Defenses with Black, Kasparov returns to the Grunfeld in this game in the second half of the 1990 New York-Lyons World Championship match. Karpov seemed happy enough with this decision, and his straightforward thematic play brought him a needed victory.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Nf3
Bg4 10. Ng5 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nc6 12. h3 Bd7 13. Rb1 Rc8 14. Nf3 Be6 15. Bd3 { Restrained play, as 15.d5? Na5 16.dxe6?? Bc3 would be unfortunate. Black is attempting to direct play into dynamic lines that would favor his style, but the big pawn center eventually forces Black into passive defense.} 15... Na5
16. O-O Bc4 17. Rfd1 b5 18. Bg5 a6 19. Rbc1 Bxd3 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Qxd3 Rd8
22. Rc1 Qb7 23. d5 Nc4 24. Nd2 Nxd2 25. Bxd2 Rc8 26. Rc6 {Occupying the c6-outpost with a big advantage. Every exchange has favored White, since the d-pawn is far more important than the Queenside majority, and Karpov is very dangerous in simple positions.} 26... Be5 {Of course, 26...Rxc6 27.dxc6 Qxc6 28.Qd8+ Bf8 29.Bh6 won't do.} 27. Bc3 Bb8 28. Qd4 f6 29. Ba5 Bd6 30. Qc3 Re8
31. a3 Kg7 32. g3 Be5 33. Qc5 h5 34. Bc7 Ba1 35. Bf4 Qd7 36. Rc7 Qd8 37. d6
g5 38. d7 Rf8 39. Bd2 Be5 40. Rb7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dolmatov, S."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E54"]

{White's sacrificial attack on Black's King eventually wins Black's Queen.}
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 {The Panov-Botvinnik attack is popular method of combating the Caro-Kann defense. White usually concedes weaknesses in his pawn structure in exchange for active pieces and strong attacking chances.} 4... Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7
10. Bg5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 12. Bd3 Qxc3 {Black has won a pawn, but can he defend against the coming attack?} 13. Rc1 Qa5 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Rc5 Qa3 16.
dxe5 Qxc5 {16...Nd7 17.Rb5 leaves White with the much better position.} 17.
Bxf6 Re8 {This creates a defensive square for the Queen on f8, but better was 17...gxf6. White could then either force a perpetual check with 18.Bxh7+ or play for a win with 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Qh4.} 18. Bxh7+ {Black's defenders are knocked out.} 18... Kxh7 {Worse is 18...Kf8 19.Qg4 gxf6 20.exf6 winning.}
19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Qg5 Qf8 {Not 20...g6 21.Qh6 winning immediately.} 21. Rd1 { Bringing the Rook into the attack will win Black's Queen.} 21... b6 22. Rd4
Ba6 23. Rg4 {Threatening to win immediately with 24.Qh6.} 23... Be2 24. Bxg7
{Too slow is 24.Rg3?! Red8 25.h3 Rd3.} 24... Bxg4 25. Bxf8+ Kxf8 26. Qxg4 { White has a big advantage because of his passed h-pawn.} 26... Rac8 27. h4
Ke7 28. Qg5+ Kd7 29. Qf4 a5 {Black decides not to tie his pieces down to the f-pawn and instead concentrates on creating his own passed pawn on the queenside.} 30. Qxf7+ Kc6 31. Qf3+ Kc5 32. Qe3+ Kc6 33. Qf3+ Kc5 34. Qa3+
Kc4 35. Qb3+ Kc5 36. a4 {An important move to slow down Black from creating a passed pawn on the queenside.} 36... Rb8 37. Qc3+ Kd5 38. f4 Ke4 39. Qf3+
Kd4 40. Qc6 Ke3 41. Qc1+ Ke2 42. h5 Rec8 43. Qf1+ Kd2 44. Qb5 Ke3 45. g3 Kd4
46. Kg2 Kc3 47. h6 {It would have been better to march all the kingside pawns in unison with 27.g4.} 47... Rh8 48. Qd7 b5 {Not 48...Rxh6?? 49.Qc7+. Black's only hope is to create a passed pawn.} 49. axb5 a4 50. b6 a3 51. Qa4
Kb2 {Worse is 51...Ra8 52.Qc6+ Kb2 53.b7.} 52. Qb4+ Ka2 53. h7 Rbc8 { 53...Rxh7 loses to 54.Qd2+ Kb1 55.Qd3+.} 54. b7 Rc2+ 55. Kf3 Rb2 56. Qc4+
Rb3+ 57. Kg4 Kb2 58. Qc8 Rxh7 59. b8=Q Rg7+ 60. Kh5 Rxg3 61. Qd6 Rh3+ 62.
Kg6 Rbg3+ 63. Kf7 Rh7+ 64. Kxe6 Rh6+ 65. Kf5 Rxd6 66. exd6 a2 67. d7 a1=Q
68. Qb7+ {Black Resigns. 68...Kc3 69.d8=Q is hopeless.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolov, I."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E44"]

{The Nimzo-Indian Defense, played often by and named after Aron Nimzowitsch, whose plan in this position was to capture the Knight on c3 and double White's c-pawns. There are many plans available to White, some of which avoid the doubled pawns, and some of which allow the doubling. In this case, White chooses to avoiding the doubling, and the games transposes into a non-standard line of the Queen's Indian.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ne4 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Qh4 {Played against the natural central expansion f2-f3, e2-e4.} 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 f6 { To avoid being mated after d4-d5.} 12. d5 exd5 13. Rd1 d4 {13...dxc4 14.Bxc4+ would open too many lines against the Black King.} 14. Rxd4 Qh5 15.
Be2 Qg6 16. Rg4 Qb1+ 17. Bd1 Nc6 18. O-O {Now 19.Bc2 is a nasty threat. White has gained time with a unique Rook-lift and now the Bishop-pair are preparing to drive home the point.} 18... Qf5 19. Rg3 Qe5 20. Qd2 Qe8 21.
Bc2 Ne5 22. h4 d6 23. Qe2 f5 24. f4 Ng4 25. Bxf5 Rxf5 26. Qxg4 Rf7 27. Bxg7
Qd7 {Two pawns down, Black decides to try his luck in the endgame. Alas, no help is forthcoming, even with opposite-color Bishops.} 28. Qxd7 Rxd7 29.
Bc3+ Kf8 30. f5 Re8 31. f6 Be4 32. Rf4 Bg6 33. Kf2 Kf7 34. h5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E35"]

{A current world champion against a former world champion.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. e3
g5 10. Bg3 Ne4 11. Nf3 Qf6 12. Bb5 Nxc3 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 {Correct is 13...Qxc6 14.bxc3 Bxc5 15.O-O with only a slight advantage to White.} 14. a3 g4 { 14...Bf5 15.Qd2 is much better for White.} 15. Be5 {Black is all right after 15.Nd4 Nb5.} 15... Ne4+ 16. axb4 Qf5 17. Bxh8 gxf3 18. Rg1 {Good for Black is 18.gxf3 Qxf3 19.Rg1 Bg4.} 18... Qg4 {Better is 18...fxg2.} 19. Qd1 Ng5
20. Qd4 Ne4 21. Qe5+ Be6 22. Qf4 Qg6 23. Qxf3 f6 24. Qf4 Kf7 25. f3 Ng5 26.
Kd2 Qf5 {26...Rxh8 27.Rxa7+ loses immediately.} 27. h4 Qxf4 28. exf4 Nh7 29.
g4 {Black Resigns. 30.g5 is coming and 29...Rxh8 30.Rxa7+ is hopeless.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E38"]

{The following game was played at the 1990 chess Olympiad. The featured game was played between the USA's top board Yasser Seirawan and Switzerland's Victor Korchnoi. In a team event no one wants to risk the wrath of one's teammates by losing, but winning is nice too.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Na6 6. a3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8. Rc1 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Qa4 10. b4
Qxc2 11. Rxc2 Na4 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. e4 {After a sharp opening, the players have found themselves in a "simple" ending. I had hoped to exploit Black's fractured pawn structure.} 13... a5 14. Bd3 Rg8 15. Ne2 {Laying a trap that Black immediately falls for. But the question soon becomes, "Who is trapping whom?" If White wanted, he could have secured an advantage with 15.f4! in order to develop by Ng1-f3.} 15... Rxg2 16. Ng3 axb4 17. axb4 Nc5 {Now that the g2-Rook's retreat has been cutoff, I had expected Black to try 17...Nc5 18.Bf1 Rxg3 19.hxg3 Ra1+ 20.Ke2 Nxe4 21.Rxh7 with a likely win.} 18. Bf1
Nd3+ {A spectacular move. It is very rare in chess to see such a tactic. Black's Knight attacks White's Bishop. The Bishop moves. Then Black moves the Knight to the same square the Bishop just came from! Now 19. Ke2 Rxf2+ 20.Kxd3 Ra3+ 21.Rc3 Rf3+ costs White the game.} 19. Bxd3 Rxg3 20. hxg3 Ra1+
21. Kd2 Rxh1 22. Ra2 d6 23. Ra8 Kd7 24. Bc2 Rf1 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Miles, A."]
[Black "de Firmian, N."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E38"]

{Under the new program to qualify a challenger for the world championship, this single tournament in the Philippines produced seven contenders to join Karpov in a series of play-off matches. Former U.S. champion Nick de Firmian just missed qualifying, but had the satisfaction of winning the Brilliancy Prize with this game. From the beginning Black looks for a slugfest against White's safe positional play. Black escalates the sacrifices until his opponent's "safe" play at a critical juncture is anything but safe.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Na6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Nxc5 8. f3
d5 9. cxd5 b6 {Black is playing for quick development. If 10. dxe6 Bxe6 Black would have more than enough play for the pawn.} 10. b4 Na4 11. Qb3 b5
12. e4 a6 13. Ne2 O-O 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 exd5 16. e5 Re8 {Again de Firmian is willing to sacrifice to open the game. Now 17. exf6 d4 allows Black many threats, so Miles plays safely.} 17. f4 g5 18. Bf2 Ne4 19. Bd4 Be6 20. Qf3
Rc8 21. f5 Bd7 22. Ng3 {Miles wants to play 23. Bd3 and 24. O-O with a safe positional advantage, but this position is too sharp for that. Necessary was 23. e6, beginning great complications.} 22... Rxe5 23. Be2 {No better is 23. Bxe5 Qe7 24. Nxe4 Qxe5.} 23... Qe8 24. Nh5 Rxf5 25. Qe3 Rc3 {The exchange sacrifice reduces White's counterattacking chances.} 26. Bxc3 Naxc3 27. Bg4
d4 28. Qxd4 Nc5+ 29. Kd2 Nb3+ 30. Kxc3 Nxd4 31. Bxf5 Qe3+ 32. Bd3 Bf5 33.
Rad1 Ne2+ 34. Kc2 Qe5 {Moves have been forced since 27...d4. Now the threat is 35...Qc3+.} 35. Kd2 Qb2+ 36. Ke3 Bg4 37. Rd2 {White is lost after 37. Ng3 Nxg3 38. hxg3 Bxd1, but in time pressure Miles overlooked.} 37... Qd4# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Eastbourne"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ward, C."]
[Black "Suba, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]

{The following game played in England features a riveting struggle between a classical player playing for the center versus a hypermodern player who prefers to develop on the flanks.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. d4 cxd4
5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 e5 10. Nb3 d4 11. Qa5
Qe8 {The first in an excellent series of moves. Black has earned control of the center at the cost of two Bishops. In the ending 11...Nc6 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.Bg5 followed by Nb3-c5, White's chances are preferable. Black needs to keep Queens on the board and pursue dreams of Kingside attacks.} 12. O-O Nc6
13. Qa4 h6 14. Nc5 a5 15. a3 {A dubious decision. Best was 15.e3 fighting for central control.} 15... e4 16. b4 Qe7 17. Nb3 Rd8 18. Bb2 e3 19. f4 Bh3
{A fantastic positional idea. The piece sacrifice is based upon the idea that White's remaining pieces will have a bleak existence. Declining the sacrifice with 20.b5 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 d3! 22.exd3 e2 23.Rfe1 Rxd3 gives Black a vicious attack. Analysis by G. Flear.} 20. Bxh3 axb4 21. Qb5 bxa3 22. Bc1
Ne4 {This is Black's point. His pieces take up dominating positions while White's pieces are blocked in by the fence of Black's central pawns. A brilliant concept.} 23. Bg4 d3 24. exd3 {No choice here. If 24.Bxe3 dxe2 25.Rfe1 Rd3! 26.Bb6 Nd6 wins back the piece with interest.} 24... Rxd3 25.
c5 Nf2 26. Rxf2 {The unpleasant point is that Black threatens 26...Qe4 with ...Qe4-h1 mate the principle threat. The other way to meet this is by 26.Bf3 e2! 27.Kxf2 Rxf3+ promotes.} 26... exf2+ 27. Kxf2 Qe4 28. Ra2 Qd5 29. Rd2
Rxd2+ 30. Bxd2 a2 31. Bf3 Qxf3+ 32. Kxf3 a1=Q 33. Qxb7 {The final spectacular point is revealed. Capturing by 33.Nxa1 allows the Knight fork 33...Nd4+ winning because Black is an exchange up in the ending. A marvelous game.} 33... Qh1+ 34. Ke3 Rb8 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]

{Even Grandmasters occasionally "oops". Here's one featuring Dutch hero Jan Timman against an American Grandmaster.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3
Bb4 5. Qb3 c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Bg5 Nc6 8. O-O-O Bxc3 9. d5 {The only move to keep an advantage. After 9.Qxc3 Ne4 Black is quite comfortable.} 9... exd5 { A terrible mistake. In fact a losing mistake! The whole point is that Black voluntarily removes his e6-pawn for White's c4-pawn. Why is this so crucial? Consider White's Bishop on f1: with the c4-pawn missing, suddenly the Bishop is released with devastating effect. Amazingly, Jan had prepared 9...Be5 10.dxc6 Bc7 =.} 10. cxd5 Be5 11. dxc6 Qe7 12. cxd7+ Bxd7 13. e3 Rd8 14. Rxd7
{Morphy would be proud. White doesn't waste a tempo in attacking. After 14.Bb5? Bd6 Black is still kicking.} 14... Rxd7 15. Bb5 Bd6 16. Rd1 O-O 17.
Bxd7 Qxd7 18. Bf4 c4 19. Qc2 Ne8 20. Ng5 f5 21. Qxc4+ Kh8 22. Bxd6 Nxd6 23.
Qd5 Rd8 24. Ne6 Qc8+ 25. Kb1 Rd7 26. Qxd6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haninge"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Black "Wojtkiewicz, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]

{A good example of how to play against hanging pawns.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6
3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. b3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bb2 Re8
10. Nc3 Na6 11. Ne5 c5 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. e3 Nc7 14. Na4 Ne6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16.
Ng4 Ne4 {Better is 16...Nxg4 17.Qxg4 Qe7 18.Rfd1 Red8.} 17. f3 Nd6 18. f4 { Not 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Rxc5 Nc4. Now 18.f5 is threatened.} 18... Ne4 19. Nf2
Nf6 {Now Black will lose a pawn. But White is much better after either 19...Nxf2 20.Rxf2 threatening both 21.f5 and 21.Rd2 or 19...f5 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.g4.} 20. f5 Ng5 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Rxc5 Nge4 {Not 22...Rxe3 23.Bc1.} 23.
Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Qd4 f6 25. Rc2 Qd6 26. Rfc1 Re7 27. Qa4 {Threatening 28.Ba3.}
27... Qd8 28. Ba3 Rf7 {If 28...Rd7, then 29.Rd1 threatening 30.Bxe4 is strong.} 29. Rd1 Qb6 30. Qd4 Qa5 31. Bb4 Qb5 32. Bxe4 dxe4 33. Rc7 Rxc7 {If 33...Qe8, then 34.Rxf7 Qxf7 35.Qd8+ Qe8 36.Qxe8+ Rxe8 37.Rd7 wins.} 34. Qd8+
Qe8 {Not 34...Rxd8 35.Rxd8+ Kf7 36.Rf8 checkmate.} 35. Qxc7 Bc6 {Worse is 35...Ba6 36.Rd7.} 36. Rd6 Bb5 37. a4 Rc8 38. Qa5 Bd3 39. Qd5+ Kh8 40. Rd7 h6
41. g4 Qe5 42. Qxe5 fxe5 43. Bd6 Rc1+ 44. Kg2 Rd1 45. Rxa7 Bf1+ 46. Kf2 Rxd6
47. Kxf1 Rb6 48. a5 Rxb3 49. a6 {Black Resigns. Black loses after either 49...Rxe3 50.Rb7 Ra3 51.b7 and 52.f6 or 49...Ra3 50.Ra8+ followed by a7, h4, and g5.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]

{A brilliant tactical shock can strike when least expected.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nb3 Be7 9. Nbxd4
O-O 10. b3 d6 11. Bb2 a6 12. Rc1 Nbd7 13. b4 Qb8 14. a3 Rc8 15. Qb3 Bf8 16.
Rfd1 d5 17. Ng5 dxc4 18. Rxc4 Rxc4 19. Qxc4 b5 {Black has played well up to here, but this move is a mistake. Correct is 19...Ne5 20.Qb3 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qb7+ with equality.} 20. Qb3 Bxg2 21. Ndxe6 {Instead of the obvious 21.Kxg2, White finds a brilliant tactical shot.} 21... Qb7 {If 21...Bd5, then White wins with 22.Rxd5 Nxd5 23.Qxd5 Nf6 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Nxf7 Kxf7 26.Nc7+.} 22.
Nf4 Nc5 23. bxc5 Bc6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nf3 Bxc5 {If 25...Re8, then 26.Nh5 Rxe2 27.Nxf6+ Kg7 28.Qc3 wins.} 26. Nh5 Bxf3 {If 26...Qe7, then 27.Qc3 wins, or if 26...Be7, then 27.Qe3 Kh8 28.Qh6 wins.} 27. exf3 Qc6 28. Kg2 Bxf2 { 28...Be7 29.Qe3 also loses.} 29. Qb2 Bc5 30. Nxf6+ Kf8 31. Nxh7+ Kg8 32.
Nf6+ Kf8 33. Rc1 Rd8 34. Ne4 {Black Resigns. Its all over after 34...Rd5 35.Rxc5 Rxc5 36.Qb4.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tel-Aviv"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cramling, P."]
[Black "Psakhis, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]

{The official world of international chess has long been divided into the men's half (95%+) and the women's half (5%-), with tournaments exclusively for women and events that attracted only men, although they were in theory open to all. This was not entirely bad for the women players, because in truth none was good enough to compete with the best male players. All this began to change in the 1980s, however, and now there are a few women players who choose to play almost exclusively with the men. Most of these are the Polgar sisters, but in this game we see one of the brave non-Polgars, Sweden's Pia Cramling, in a losing effort against Israeli GM Lev Psakhis.}
1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4 a6 8. h3
{The modern Benoni is a dangerous opening for both sides. Black may be positionally busted: the d-pawn is a target, he has fewer center pawns, and the White e-pawn threatens to advance with cramping effect. But in compensation, he gets a powerful Bishop on the long diagonal and Queenside play in the form of b7-b5... if White allows it. Normal in these positions is a2-a4 to delay the Queenside expansion and to secure the c4 square for the White Knight (Nf3-d2-c4). Presumably White was worried about ...Bg4 pinning this Knight, but the side-effects of the pin are less serious than those of the b7-b5 push.} 8... b5 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. O-O c4 {Opening the c5 square for a Black Knight.} 11. Bc2 O-O 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Qd2 Qb6 14. Be3 Qc7
15. a3 Nbd7 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. Rad1 Re7 18. Bg5 Ree8 19. Nd4 {Pia was apparently uninterested in discovering if her illustrious opponent would allow a repetition draw after 19.Be3 (Re7 20.Bg5 etc.). This is a healthy decision; White should play for more, and to limit your ambition ultimately limits your results.} 19... Nc5 20. Bh6 Bh8 21. Bf4 Nh5 22. Bh2 Qb6 23. Nc6
{This is a recurring tactical theme in Benoni positions, but here it turns out badly. White is induced to sacrifice two pawns.} 23... Bxc6 24. dxc6 Be5
25. Nd5 Qxc6 26. f4 Bxb2 27. e5 dxe5 28. fxe5 Nd3 {And this removes the Knight from d5, which was White's main compensation for the material.} 29.
Bxd3 Qxd5 30. Qxb2 cxd3 31. Re3 Rad8 32. Qc3 Rc8 33. Qxd3 Qa2 34. Qd5 Qxd5
35. Rxd5 Ng7 36. Re1 Ne6 37. Rd6 a5 38. Rb6 Rb8 39. Ra6 b4 40. Rxa5 { Material equality has been restored, but at the cost of a passed b-pawn.}
40... b3 41. Rb1 b2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chernin, A."]
[Black "Wahls, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A61"]

{White makes a positional exchange sacrifice after which Black's position falls apart.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6
7. h3 {A new move. The idea is to prevent Black from having access to the g4 square.} 7... a6 8. a4 {Preventing Black from expanding on the queenside with ...b7-b5.} 8... Qe7 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. e3 O-O 12. Bd3 h6 13.
Bh4 Rb8 14. O-O Ne5 15. Bc2 g5 16. Bg3 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. f4 Nc4 {If 18...Nd3, then 19.Bxd3 Qxe3+ 20.Kh2 Qxd3 21.fxg5 hxg5 22.Bxd6 with a large advantage.} 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. fxg5 hxg5 21. Rxf6 {Eliminating this Knight shatters Black's position.} 21... Qxf6 {If 21...Bxf6, then White starts a mating attack with 22.Qh5.} 22. Ne4 Qg6 {Not 22...Qxb2 23.Rb1 winning.} 23.
Nxd6 {Not 23.Bxd6 Bf5.} 23... f5 24. Nxc4 {For the exchange, White has two pawns and open lines. Black's position is also full of weaknesses.} 24...
Rb4 25. Bd3 Bb7 {If 25...Ba6, then 26.Ne5.} 26. Be1 Bxd5 {Black has no choice but to return the exchange.} 27. Bxb4 cxb4 28. Ra5 Qe6 29. b3 {White has a big advantage because Black's pawns on f5 and g5 are weak.} 29... Bb7
30. Qc2 f4 31. Rxg5 f3 {If 31...fxe3, then 32.Ne5 is strong.} 32. gxf3 {Both players were getting short on time here.} 32... Rxf3 {If 32...Qxh3, then 33.Ne5 Bxf3 34.Bc4+ Kh8 35.Ng5+ is strong.} 33. Ne5 Rxh3 {If 33...Rxe3, then 34.Bc4 Bd5 35.Bxd5 Qxd5 36.Rxg7+ Kxg7 37.Qg6+ followed by 38.Qh6+ and 39.Qxe3.} 34. Bc4 {Stronger is 34.Rxg7+ Kxg7 35.Qc7+.} 34... Rh1+ 35. Kf2
Rh2+ {Better is 35...Bd5, although White would retain his advantage with 36.Qg6.} 36. Kg1 Rh1+ 37. Kf2 Rh2+ 38. Kg3 Rh3+ {Better is 38...Rxc2 39.Bxe6+ Kf8 40.Ng6+ Ke8 41.Nf4 with only a slight advantage for White.} 39.
Kf4 Rh4+ {If 39...Bd5, then 40.Bxd5 Qxd5 41.Qc8+ picks up the Rook.} 40. Ng4
{Here Black lost on time, but his position was hopeless in any case.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Akopian, V."]
[Black "de Firmian, N."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A63"]

{A sharp game full of tactics.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5.
cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Nd2 Nh5 11. Nc4 Ne5
12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Bh6 Re8 14. Qd2 Rb8 15. a4 a6 16. Rab1 b5 {Not 16...Bf5? 17.e4 Bxc3? 18.Qxc3 Bxe4 19.g4 Nf6 20.Rbe1 winning.} 17. axb5 axb5 18. b4 c4
19. e4 f5 20. Rbc1 Qf6 {Threatening 21...f4.} 21. Bg5 Qg7 22. Rfe1 Nf6 23.
Bh6 Qf7 24. exf5 Bxf5 25. h3 Bd3 26. Bf4 Qd7 {If 26...Bxc3, then 27.Qxc3 Nxd5 28.Bxd5 Qxd5 29.Ra1 with a large advantage.} 27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. Qg5 Qd6
29. Ra1 Re7 {Not 29...Qxb4? 30.Qxf6 Qxc3 31.d6 with the threat of Bd5+.} 30.
Ra5 h6 {Deflecting the Queen, as 30...Qxb4 31.Qxf6 Qxc3 32.Qxe7 Qxe1+ 33.Kh2 Qxa5 34.Qe6+ Kf8 35.Qd6+ Kf7 36.Qxb8 is good for White.} 31. Qxh6 Qxb4 32.
Rea1 Qxc3 33. Ra8 Qxa1+ {The only move. 33...Rb7 34.Rxb8+ Rxb8 35.Ra7 loses immediately.} 34. Rxa1 b4 {The passed queenside pawns are very dangerous.}
35. Ra6 Rf7 36. Qg5 {Better is 36.Bf1.} 36... b3 37. Rxf6 {Not 37.Qxe5 Nd7 38.Qb2 c3 39.Qc3 b2 winning.} 37... Rxf6 38. Qxf6 b2 39. Qe6+ Kh7 40. Qe7+
Kh6 41. Qh4+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Hauchard, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]

{The 18 year old Shirov is a possible challenger to the world championship someday.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 {The Benko Gambit is one of the most popular defenses to 1.d4.} 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. a4 Qxb6 { Better is 7...a5.} 8. a5 Qc7 9. e4 g6 10. f4 {White has a very commanding center and will later try to play e4-e5.} 10... Bg7 11. Bc4 O-O 12. Nf3 Re8
13. O-O e5 14. dxe6ep fxe6 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. f5 h6 {Not 16...gxf5 17.Bf4 Rd8 18.exf5 winning.} 17. e5 dxe5 {If 17...hxg5, then 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nd5 wins.}
18. fxg6 hxg5 {If 18...Nxg6, then White wins with 19.Rxf6 Bxf6 20.Qh5 Qg7 21.Nge4.} 19. Bxg5 N8d7 {If 19...Nxg6, then 20.Bxf6 Nf4 21.Qg4 Rf8 22.Ne4 wins.} 20. Qf3 Ra7 21. Rad1 {Threatening 22.Rxd7.} 21... Qb7 22. Qh3 Qc6 23.
Nd5 exd5 24. Rxd5 Kf8 {Worse are 24...Nb6 25.Rd7+ Nxc4 26.Rxf6 Qxf6 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Rxa7 or 24...Qe6 25.Rd7 Qxc4 26.Bxf6.} 25. Qh7 {Threatening both 26.Bh6 and 26.Rd7.} 25... Re6 26. Bh6 Ke8 27. Qxg7 Nxd5 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. g7
Rxh6 {If 29...Rg6, then 30.Qf8+ Nxf8 31.gxf8=Q+ Ke6 32.Bg5 wins.} 30. Rf7+
Kxf7 {Or 30...Kd6 31.Qxh6+ winning.} 31. g8=Q+ Ke7 32. Qd8+ {Black Resigns.}
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]

{Annotations by Yasser Seirawan. This was my first game with the world's fourth-highest-rated played. I looked forward to the opportunity to test him; but as the game got underway I began to feel nervous. Ivanchuk is a shy, reserved young man who has several distracting habits at the board. For instance, he rarely looks at the board. Usually, he looks directly up in the air, or at the space behind your head. I began to wonder what was going to fall down on me - or sneak up on me!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 {I sometimes enjoy playing this closed Benoni variation because it leads to rich strategical positions. I wanted to steer my opponent as far away as possible from a sharp theoretical struggle. This didn't prevent Ivanchuk from playing the most topical line.} 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Nf3
Nbd7 8. g4 {The Kingside expansion is crucial for White in this variation. Black's plan is ...Nf6-e8, ...g7-g6, ...Ne8-g7, and ...f7-f5. By employing a King's Indian Defense attacking motif, Black's position takes on a lot of the advantages of that opening with fewer drawbacks than usual. Black has stopped White's play on the Queenside with c7-c5. Also, Black's "bad" Bishop on e7 is actually on the right square. Black often plays ...Bg7-f8 or ...bg7-h6 in K.I.D. positions. From e7 the Bishop, if allowed, will play to g5 - or to d8 and a5.} 8... Ne8 9. Bd3 g6 10. Be3 {It's common for White to play 10.Bh6 Ng7 11.Rg1, etc. In this case, Black usually plays ...Kg8-h8 and ...Nd7-f6-g8 chasing away White's Bishop on h6. This works out nicely for Black because his King is no longer on the g-file. Therefore, 10.Be3 is more exact.} 10... Ng7 11. Rg1 Nf6 12. Qe2 h5 {An interesting attempt to force a resolution of the kingside situation. I had become disenchanted with the idea of forcing ...f7-f5 through. This loss of resolve, however, constituted a severe psychological problem. Because of my attempt to avoid the basic confrontation in the position, White gains a clear advantage. Best was 13...Nfe8!.} 13. Nd2 Qd7 {The only way to justify the eccentric ...h7-h5. Still the move took a long time: my mind went swimming in a stream of tactical complications.} 14. f3 {Played without hesitation. This left me cursing all the time I had wasted on 13...Qd7. The drawbacks of f2-f3 are clear. White weakens a whole complex of dark squares on the Kingside. Also, the Knight can't return to f3, and White's Queen no longer hits h5. This allows Black good play on the dark squares. Better is 14.Bc2!.} 14... Nh7
15. O-O-O Bg5 {By trading dark-squared Bishops, Black solves his strategic problems.} 16. Bxg5 Nxg5 17. Qg2 Qe7 18. h4 Nh7 19. Qg3 {The critical moment in the game. My approach to this position was quite lazy. I was satisfied with myself for "outplaying" my opponent through exchanging Bishops. Clearly, White's only chance in the position is g4-g5 and f3-f4. In this case, I reasoned that the Kingside would become closed, and that I would get two key squares: g4 and e5. So, without further ado, I played the "obvious"...} 19... a6 {...essentially losing the game. Obviously Black wants to play b7-b5 - but who does this favor? Look at that lousy Knight on d2. Let it jump to c4, however, and it becomes an entire cavalry. No, it is still correct to play defensively, completely killing White's only play in the position (g4-g5 and f3-f4) with 19...Nf6! 20.g5 Nd7 when it's clear that the first player is going nowhere on the Kingside. Black can then prepare a Queenside advance: ...Ng7-e8-c7 and ...a7-a6.} 20. g5 {I was now horrified to discover that both my Knights had been cut out of the action. White intends Rdf1, f3-f4, and Nd2-f3. If White gains control of the e4-sqaure, the game is over.} 20... f6 {A panicky reaction to what I felt was my impending doom. Black can still fight with 20...Re8. Now, though, I open up the position in the worst possible way.} 21. gxf6 Rxf6 22. Rdf1 Bd7 23. f4
exf4 24. Rxf4 Rxf4 25. Qxf4 Rf8 26. Qh6 Be8 27. e5 {As simple as a baby's smile. Black's position is completely devastated.} 27... Qxe5 28. Bxg6 Bxg6
{If 28...Nf6, 29.Nf3 is embarrassing.} 29. Qxg6 Kh8 30. Nce4 Nf5 31. Qxh5
Nd4 32. Qxe5+ dxe5 33. Rg6 Rf4 34. Rb6 Rxh4 35. b3 Rh1+ 36. Kb2 Rh2 37. Rxb7
Ng5 38. Ka3 Nxe4 39. Nxe4 {Black Resigns. Once Ivanchuk got his chance, he exploited his opportunity with ruthless precision.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]

{Castling on opposite sides of the board leads to sharp play.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3
Qa5 10. O-O-O Bd7 11. g4 Rfc8 {11...Nxg4 just opens lines for White on the kingside.} 12. Kb1 Bf8 13. g5 Nh5 14. Bg3 Ne7 15. Ne5 Be8 16. Be2 f6 17.
gxf6 gxf6 18. Nf3 Bg6 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nh4 Nxg3 21. hxg3 f5 22. g4 Bg7 23.
gxf5 exf5 24. Nxg6 hxg6 25. Nb5 Qb6 {Not 25...Rd8 as then White plays 26.c5 followed by Qc4+.} 26. Qb3 Kf8 {27.c5+ was threatened. If 26...Qc5, then 27.Rd7 a6 28.Nd6.} 27. Rh7 Rd8 {If 27...a6, then 28.Qb4 axb5 29.Rxg7.} 28.
Rdh1 Qf6 {If 28...a6, then 29.Rxg7 Kxg7 30.Qc3+ with a decisive attack.} 29.
c5 Rd2 30. Rxg7 Kxg7 {Not 30...Qxg7 31.Nc7 threatening both 32.Nxa8 and 32.Ne6+.} 31. Nc7 Qe5 {Black must give up the Rook. If 31...Rh8, then 32.Rxh8 Kxh8 33.Qh3+ Kg8 34.Bc4+ Kf8 35.Qh6+ wins. If 31...Rxe2, then 32.Ne6+ Kg8 33.Ng5+ Kg7 34.Rh7+ wins.} 32. Nxa8 Rxe2 33. Nc7 Qxc7 {Black will lose his Rook after this. But 33...Rxf2 34.Qxb7 loses even faster.} 34.
Qc3+ Kf7 {If 34...Kf8, then 35.Qf6+ Ke8 36.Qe6 followed by Rh8+ wins.} 35.
Qc4+ Kf6 36. Qxe2 Qxc5 37. Rc1 Qd5 38. Rd1 Qc5 39. Rd7 Qc6 40. Qd1 Ke6 41.
Rd8 Nd5 42. Qb3 a5 43. Qg3 Ne7 {Not 43...Kf7 44.Rd6.} 44. Qb8 Qb6 45. Rd2
Qc6 46. Qd8 b6 47. a4 g5 48. Qd4 g4 49. Rd1 {Threatening 50.Rh1.} 49... Qc5
50. Qd7+ Ke5 51. Qe8 Kf4 52. Qb8+ Kg5 {If 52...Kf3, then Black soon gets mated after 53.Qg3+ Ke2 54.Rc1 Qd4 55.Rc2+.} 53. Qd8 Kf4 54. Rc1 Qb4 55. Rc3
Ng6 56. Qf6 Ne7 57. Qe6 Kg5 58. Rc7 {Black Resigns. It's all over after 58...Ng6 59.Rg7 Qe1+ 60.Ka2 Qxf2 61.Rxg6+ Kf4 62.Rf6.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gurevich, M."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]

{A positional masterpiece by Gurevich.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4
Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Be2 dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Qe2 b5 11.
Bd3 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Rfd1 Qe7 {Threatening ...e6-e5-e4.} 14. Bg5 Rac8
15. a4 b4 16. Nb1 a5 17. Nbd2 h6 18. Bh4 Bb6 19. Be4 Nc5 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. Nd4 {White is slightly better because of Black's weaknesses at a5 and h6.} 22... Rfd8 23. Nc4 f5 24. Nb5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rd8 26. Nbd6 Qc7
27. g4 Ne4 {Not 27...fxg4 28.Qxg4+ Kh7 29.Qh5 Rd7 30.Rd4 winning.} 28. Nxe4
Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qxc4 {29...fxe4 30.b3 is good for White. The Knight is much better than the Bishop.} 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. b3 Qc6 32. Nh5+ Kf8 33. gxf5 exf5
34. Ng3 {Now Black has weaknesses at a5, f5, f7, and h6.} 34... f4 {Black sacrifices a pawn to give White some pawn weaknesses and create more scope for his Bishop.} 35. exf4 Qe6 36. Qf3 Bc7 37. Kg2 Ke7 38. Qe3 Kd7 39. Qd3+ { White cannot yet go into an endgame as Black's King would be too active: 39.Qxe6+ Kxe6 followed by Kd5-d4-c3.} 39... Kc8 40. Kf3 Qc6+ 41. Kg4 Qe6+
42. f5 Qf6 43. Qd5 Qg5+ 44. Kf3 Qf6 45. Ne4 {White transfers his Knight to a more active post.} 45... Qh4 46. Nc5 Qf4+ 47. Ke2 Qe5+ {Not 47...Qxh2 48.Qa8+ Bb8 49.Qb7+ Kd8 50.Qd7 checkmate.} 48. Qxe5 Bxe5 49. h3 Kc7 50. Ke3
Kc6 51. Ke4 Bf6 52. Nd3 Kd6 53. f4 {54.Ne5 is coming. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tarrasa"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bellon Lopez, J."]
[Black "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]

{Sometimes when you need to win, a satisfying way is to start an all-out attack on the King. Here the Spanish Grandmaster throws caution to the wind, storms the Black King, and even gives away his most powerful piece to continue the attack. His optimism is well rewarded.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Qc2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 {White surrenders the Bishop pair in order to launch a Kingside attack.} 9... Bxf6
10. cxd5 exd5 11. g4 c5 12. O-O-O cxd4 13. exd4 Nc6 14. h4 g6 15. g5 hxg5
16. hxg5 Bxg5+ 17. Kb1 Bf6 18. Bd3 Nb4 19. Bxg6 {And now the Queen is offered. For the Queen, White gets two minor pieces and forces the Black King to take a long walk.} 19... Nxc2 20. Bh7+ Kg7 21. Rdg1+ Bg5 22. Nxg5
Kf6 23. Rh6+ Ke7 24. Bxc2 Qd7 25. Re1+ Kd8 26. Re5 Kc7 27. Bf5 Qd8 28. Be6
f6 29. Bxd5 fxe5 30. Rh7+ Kb8 31. Rxb7+ Kc8 32. Ne6 exd4 33. Nxd8 dxc3 34.
Ne6 Rf5 35. Rc7+ Kb8 36. Rd7 c2+ 37. Kxc2 Rxf2+ 38. Kc3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Dreev, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]

{The poisoned pawn.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Qb6 {A very bold pawn grab. An early teacher of mine had a memorable way of warning against capturing the b-pawn with the Queen in the opening: "In the ending with gusto! But never in the opening!"} 6. e3 Qxb2 {Consistent. Vlastimil Hort got a bad game against me in the 1986 Wijk aan Zee tournament after 6...Nc6?! 7.Bd3! Bg4 8.f3 when the Black Queen on b6 was dreadfully misplaced.} 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Nge2 Qa3 {Dreev feared a2-a3 and Ra1-a2 trapping the Queen.} 9. Ba4 {My best move of the whole game. The move has three purposes: it threatens Nc3-b5, cuts off the Black Queen's retreat to a5 making Ra1-b1-b3 a threat, and opens the b-file. Black's reply is forced.}
9... a6 10. Rb1 e6 11. O-O {The crucial position. Black must find a defense. He is reduced to two choices: chasing White's black-squared Bishop away by ...Nf6-h5, ...f7-f6, and ...Qa3-e7 etc., or biting the bullet with 11...b5. As it turns out, Dreev makes the wrong choice.} 11... Nh5 12. Be5 f6 13.
Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Bc7 {Black's game is in shambles. He can't develop his Kingside because the Queen is lost after Rb1-b3. The Knight on h5 is still on the laundry list. My main line lasted only two moves. After 14...f5 15.Qc2 Bd7 16.Na4, White is left with an overwhelming position. Dreev decides to chase away the meddlesome Bishop.} 14... Qe7 15. Ba5 {Keeping the b-file open for operations.} 15... Qf7 {As good as anything else. If 15...f5, 16.Qc2 Bd7 17.Na4 is positional overkill.} 16. Qc2 {Winning. The double threat of Nc3xd5 and g2-g4 is impossible to meet.} 16... c5 17. dxc5
{With my opponent short on time, I decided to play for a direct attack rather than pick up the Knight on h5. My threat is Qc2-c4+. Play is forced.}
17... Bd7 18. Nd4 e5 19. c6 exd4 20. Rb7 Bxc6 21. Rxf7 Kxf7 22. Ne2 Bb5 23.
Nxd4 Bxf1 24. Qc6 Bc4 25. Qxa8 g5 26. Qc8 {Moving in on the Black King and keeping his pieces paralyzed.} 26... Ng7 27. Bc3 Rg8 28. g4 h5 29. Nf5 Nxf5
30. gxf5 {Dreev now happily watched his flag fall.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Tisdall, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A86"]

{Annotations by Yasser Seirawan: This game features a positional piece sacrifice.} 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nh3 {I prefer this deployment over the standard 6.Nf3. White intends to control the e6-square by Nh3-f4 and d4-d5. White also eyes e4 with the Bishop on g2. This makes e2-e4 a source of worry for Black.} 6... d6 7. d5 c6 8. Nf4 e5 9.
dxe6ep Qe7 10. O-O {A key position for this variation. It seemed to me that Black had two choices. He can capture on e6 with the Bishop, or delay the capture by ...Na6, intending ...Na6-c5xe6. Instead Jon plays a provocative move.} 10... g5 {Normally, I prefer a "controlled game" and disdain speculative attacks. But when my opponent forces my hand... Charge!} 11.
Nfd5 {An easy decision. White gets two pawns for a piece and an excellent bind. My thoughts were that for Black to unravel his Queenside, he needs at least four moves: ...Nb8-a6-c5, b7-b6, and ...Bc8-a6. With Black's Kingside pawn shield so advanced, White's four moves should drum up fatal threats.}
11... cxd5 12. cxd5 Ne8 {Well played. Bad is 12...h6, further weakening his Kingside, in particular the complex of squares f5, g5, and g6.} 13. f4 gxf4
{Forced. Trying to keep the Kingside closed fails after 13...g4? 14.e4.} 14.
Bxf4 Na6 {The first of four moves to freedom.} 15. e4 Nc5 {Two moves to go (...b7-b6, ...Bc8-a6).} 16. exf5 Rxf5 {For a fleeting moment, Black considered 16...b6? 17.g4 Ba6 18.Rf3. Fleeting indeed. White's tidal wave of pawns will wash Black clean.} 17. Qg4 Qf6 18. Be3 {Forcing Black to bring the White Queen's Rook into battle.} 18... Rxf1+ 19. Rxf1 Qe5 20. Qf3 Nf6
21. Bf4 {Underestimating my own position. This move forced Black to return the piece, but he would have to do it anyway. Correct is 21.Kh1! and Black is helpless to prevent the loss of d6, after which White's center rolls forward.} 21... Qd4+ 22. Kh1 Nxe6 23. dxe6 Bxe6 24. Qxb7 Re8 25. Nb5 Qxb2
26. Nc7 Qxb7 27. Bxb7 {This is the position that I saw when playing 21.Bf4. I now expected the simple execution 27...Rb8 28.Nxe6 Rxb7 29.Nxg7 kxg7 30.Bxd6 with a win. Black jolted me back to reality with a brilliant counterstroke.} 27... Bc8 {The game is now in doubt.} 28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Bxd6
Ne4 30. Bf4 Bd4 {Black feels the remorseless ticking of his clock. Black wants to activate his Rook by driving the Knight from c7. He's unsuccessful. Best was the immediate activation 30...Rb8! 31.Ne6 Rb2! 32.Nxg7 Nf2+ 33.Kg2 Nd3+ 34.Kh3 Kxg7 with good drawing chances. The text loses a tempo.} 31. Kg2
a5 {Too late! Black realizes that 31...Bb6 32.Rc1 is fine for White. There is no pin on the c-file. Black now plays for ...a5-a4-a3, Bd4-b2, and Ne4-c3. White stops the party before it gets out of hand.} 32. Rd1 Bb2 { White intends to activate his King and drive Black's pieces back.} 33. Rb1
Ba3 34. Kf3 Nf6 {Black's resistance is unraveling.} 35. Rb7 {Now the game is back under control. All of White's pieces are more active than their counterparts. The extra pawn helps too.} 35... Bb4 {A time pressure-pass.}
36. a4 {Securing Black's a-pawn on a dark square, which means it is more of a target than White's.} 36... Nd7 37. Ne6 Nc5 38. Rg7+ Kh8 39. Be5 Nd3 40.
Bd4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolov, I."]
[Black "Karlsson, Lars"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]

{White goes on a King hunt from one side of the board to the other.} 1. d4
e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Ne2 b6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Ng3 Nc6 10. e4 cxd4 {Better is 10...fxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 d5.}
11. exf5 dxc3 {If 11...e5, then White gets a strong attack after 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Bxf6 Rxf6 14.Qg4 followed by 15.Nh5.} 12. Ba3 Re8 13. Bd6 Na5 14. Rc1 Ba6
15. Rxc3 Rc8 16. fxe6 dxe6 {If 16...Rxe6, then 17.Bf5 Re8 18.Nh5 followed by 19.Rg3 is strong.} 17. c5 Nd5 18. Qg4 {White is massing his pieces on the kingside and is not going to let a Rook slow down the attack.} 18... Nxc3
19. Nh5 Re7 20. Bxa6 Rxc5 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Nxh7 {The defenses around Black's King are ripped open.} 23... Kxh7 24. Qh3+ Kg8 25. Qxc3 { Material is back to even, but Black has weaknesses all over the board and his King is not very safe.} 25... Qb6 26. Bd3 Rd7 27. Bg6 Nc6 28. Qh3 Nd4
29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qxg7+ Kd6 32. Qf8+ Kd5 33. Re1 Qd6 34. Qa8+
Kc4 35. Qe4 Kb5 36. Rb1+ Ka5 37. Qd3 {Black Resigns. There is no good defense to 38.Qa3#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Rotterdam"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Gurevich, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]

{Many consider Viktor Korchnoi to be the strongest player of all time never to become world champion. He is now past his prime, but even at age 59 he is still one of the best.} 1. d4 f5 {The Dutch defense is considered to be anti-positional, but it creates dynamic chances.} 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nh3
d6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Nf4 c6 7. d5 e5 {Black temporarily sacrifices a pawn to get his pieces developed.} 8. dxe6ep d5 {Not immediately 8...Qe7 because of 9.e4 fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Bxe6 12.O-O O-O 13.Re1 with a large advantage to White.} 9. h4 {While Black must take the time to get his pawn back, White provokes weaknesses on the kingside.} 9... Qe7 10. h5 g5 11. h6 Bf8 12. Nh5
Rg8 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Bxd5 {A daring piece sacrifice.} 14... Bxe6 {Black should have taken the Bishop. After 14...cxd5 15.Nxd5 Qd8 16.Qd4 Bxe6 17.Nf6+ Kf7 18.Qxd8 Bb4+ the position is unclear.} 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. e4 Bxh6
{If 16...fxe4, then 17.Qh5+ Qg6 18.Bxg5 winning.} 17. Qf3 fxe4 18. Qxe4 Rg6
19. Be3 Nd7 20. O-O-O O-O-O 21. Qa4 {Also possible is 21.Qxe6 Rxe6 22.Rxh6 Rxh6 23.Bxg5. Instead White directs his attention at the Black King.} 21...
a6 22. Rxh6 Rxh6 23. Bxg5 Re8 24. Bxh6 Qxh6+ 25. Kb1 {White has a big advantage. He is a pawn ahead and Black's King's position is full of holes.}
25... Qe6 26. Qd4 Nf6 27. a3 h5 28. Na4 Qe5 29. Qd3 Kc7 {Both players were getting short on time here.} 30. Nc3 Kc8 31. f4 Qe7 32. Qd4 Rg8 33. Rd3 Re8
34. b4 Qe6 35. Kb2 Kc7 36. Na4 Nd5 37. c4 Nf6 38. Qb6+ Kc8 39. Nc5 Qe7 {If 39...Qe2+, then 40.Kb3.} 40. Qa7 Qc7 41. Na4 {Also strong is 41.Nxa6.} 41...
Qh7 42. Qd4 h4 {42...Qe7 would have held out longer.} 43. Qd6 Re2+ 44. Kb3
Nd5 45. Nb6+ {Black Resigns. 45...Nxb6 46.Qd8 checkmate.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodriguez, Am."]
[Black "Herrera, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]

{White goes on a sacrificial mating attack.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 Qc7 10. O-O-O
Nbd7 11. Be2 Rb8 12. Qg3 Rg8 13. Rhf1 Nc5 {Better is 13...g5 14.fxg5 Ne5.}
14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nfe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Qf4 {Black's King is stuck in the center and is in a lot of danger.} 17... Bxh4 18. Qxh4 Nc5 {Not 18...Qxe5? 19.Nc6 followed by mate on d8. Also good for White is 18...Ng5 19.Bb5+! axb5 20.Nxb5 Qe7 21.Nd6+ Kf8 22.Nxf7 followed by Rd8+.} 19. Nb5
axb5 20. Rxf7 {The defenses around Black's King are ripped open.} 20... Kxf7
{If 20...g5, then 21.Rxc7 gxh4 22.Bh5+ wins.} 21. Bh5+ g6 22. Qf6+ Ke8 23.
Bxg6+ Rxg6 24. Qh8+ Kf7 {If 24...Ke7, then 25.Qh7+ Ke8 26.Qxc7 Nd7 27.Rxd7 wins.} 25. Rf1+ Ke7 26. Qf8+ {Black Resigns. Black gets mated after 26...Kd7 27.Rf7+ Kc6 28.Rxc7+ Kxc7 29.Qd6#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]

{The world champion Kasparov gives a special effort in games against Ivanchuk, who may one day challenge him for his championship.} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 {The poisoned pawn variation of the Najdorf Sicilian has been thoroughly analyzed.} 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be2 Be7 14.
O-O O-O 15. Rb3 Qc5+ 16. Be3 Qe5 17. Bf4 Qc5+ 18. Kh1 Ng4 19. h3 e5 20. Na4
Qa7 21. Bc4+ Kh8 22. hxg4 exf4 23. Nb6 d5 {The first new move in the game, which Kasparov had no doubt prepared in his home analysis.} 24. exd5 cxd5
25. Bxd5 Rb8 26. Nxc8 Rbxc8 27. Rh3 Qb6 28. Re1 Bg5 29. Re6 Qd8 {Not 29...Qb1+ 30.Kh2 Qxc2 31.Qxc2 Rxc2 32.Be4.} 30. c4 Rb8 31. Qd3 Bh4 32. Be4
Qg5 33. Bxh7 Rfd8 {According to Kasparov, 33...f3 would have won.} 34. Qc2
f3 35. Rxf3 {Not 35.gxf3 Rd2 winning.} 35... Rd2 36. Qe4 Rd1+ 37. Kh2 Re1 { This move is a mistake. According to Kasparov, 37...Qc1 should have been played. Both players were getting very short on time here.} 38. Qf5 Rxe6 39.
Qxe6 Kxh7 40. Qe4+ g6 {Not 40...Kg8? 41.Rf5 winning.} 41. Rh3 {The decisive error. Correct is 41.Rf7+ Kh6 42.Qd4 Rg8 43.g3 Qd8 44.Rd7 Qb8 45.Qd2 Bg5 46.Qg2 Bh4 with an equal position.} 41... Kg7 42. Qd4+ Kg8 43. Qe4 Qf6 
{White Resigns. Black is a piece ahead and will start his own attack after 44.Rf3 Qd6 45.Kh3 Kg7 46.c5 Rh8.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]

{Yugoslavia has long prided itself on its chess traditions. So has the Soviet Union! In this Olympiad match-up of chessic giants, the game from board one was a classic duel.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qf3 {The Najdorf Sicilian is considered one of the sharpest openings in the modern players repertoires. Theory considers that Black's 7...Nbd7 allows White a strong attack after 8.Bc4 b5 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5 with sharp play. Ljubojevic playing White, wasn't anxious to find out what Gelfand had in store for him and so sidestepped the theoretical recommendation.} 8... Qc7 9. Be2 b5 10. f5 b4 {Black cleverly dodges 10...e5? 11.Ne6 fxe6 12.fxe6 Nb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6? 14.Qxf6 winning. Analysis by Gelfand. The text seeks to first drive away White's c3 Knight.}
11. fxe6 Ne5 12. Qxf6 {A brilliant yet forced move. A line like 12.exf7+? Qxf7 will cost White his c3-Knight.} 12... gxf6 13. Nd5 Qa7 {The only defense. In this case, Black must ensure that White has as many pieces in capture as possible.} 14. Nxf6+ Kd8 15. Nd5+ Ke8 16. Nf6+ {At this point, unable to perceive all the complications, Ljubojevic chose to force the repetition. In their analysis after the game, both players felt that Viswathanand Anand's recommendation of 16.Bh5 was the most dangerous, citing 16.Bh5 Bg7 17.Rf1 as leading to a winning attack. Later Gelfand found 16.Bh5 Bh6!! as leading to a win for Black. Thus the repetition was the correct decision.} 16... Kd8 17. Nd5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Miskolc-Tapolca"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ermenkov, E."]
[Black "West, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]

{Who is fooling whom? White tricks Black with the chameleon Sicilian, leading to the Dragon variation. But Black seems to understand the Dragon a lot better than White does.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nge2 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5.
Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 Bg7 7. Bb5+ {A positionally doubtful concept. The Bishop is strongly placed on c4, where is puts pressure on the Kingside.} 7... Bd7 8.
Qe2 a6 9. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10. O-O-O {Announcing his intention to attack, but exchanging the light-squared Bishop and placing the Queen on e2 slow the White Kingside play. Black already has the edge.} 10... O-O 11. f4 Rc8 12.
e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Qa5 14. Nf3 Rxc3 {A standard sacrifice in Dragon lines, this weakens the White King position.} 15. exf6 exf6 16. Rxd7 fxg5 17. bxc3
Qxc3 18. Rxb7 Qa1+ 19. Rb1 Bb2+ 20. Kd2 Rd8+ 21. Nd4 {White must return some material.} 21... Rxd4+ 22. Ke3 Qxa2 23. Kf2 Rf4+ 24. Kg3 Qa3+ 25. Qd3
Bd4 26. Kh3 {The threat was ...Bf2+ and ...Rh4#.} 26... g4+ 27. Kh4 {If 27.Kg3 Qd6 looks tasty.} 27... Qe7+ 28. Kg3 Bf2+ 29. Kxf4 Qf6+ 30. Kxg4 { Variation 30.Ke4 Qf5#} 30... h5+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kalegin, E."]
[Black "Yuferov, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]

{Another amazing attacking gem played in Russia by relative unknowns. White is willing to sacrifice anything from pawns to Rooks to get at the enemy King, with ultimate success.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ {This way of avoiding the main lines of the Sicilian is generally thought to be quiet...}
3... Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4 {But White has one or two ways of livening up the proceedings.} 7... Nxe4 8. d5 Nb8 9. Re1 Nf6 10. Bg5
Qf5 {Black now experiences some difficulty in developing; White seems to have adequate compensation for the pawn.} 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nbd2 Qxd5 {Make that two pawns.} 13. c4 Qc6 14. Ne4 Kd8 {Due to the pin along the e-file, both d- and f-pawns are under attack.} 15. b4 cxb4 {Three.} 16. c5 d5 17.
Nd4 Qd7 18. c6 bxc6 {Four.} 19. Nc5 Qe8 20. Re6 fxe6 {And a Rook.} 21.
Ndxe6+ Kc8 22. Qg4 a5 23. Nxf8+ f5 {Black's turn.} 24. Qxf5+ e6 25. Nfxe6
Nd7 26. Rc1 Ra7 27. Ne4 dxe4 28. Rxc6+ Kb8 29. Qf4+ Ka8 30. Nc7+ Rxc7 31.
Qxc7 Nb8 32. Qxa5+ Kb7 33. Rc7# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Blackpool"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hodgson, J."]
[Black "Suba, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]

{A sharp tactical match-up. English GM Julian Hodgson at twenty-five represents the young lions of today, while his opponent, Mikhail Suba, is one of the venerable old guard of Romanian chess.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3
Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 {Avoiding the transparent trap: 4...Nxe4 5.Qa4+.} 5. d4 cxd4
{Now 5...Nxe4? 6.d5! and 7.Qa4+.} 6. cxd4 Nxe4 {It is considered to be very dangerous to grab the e4-pawn in this line. Suba takes the approach, "If it's not nailed down, why not take it?"} 7. d5 Qa5+ {A necessary check.} 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nd8 {Also seen is 9...Ne5 10.Nxe5 Qxc3+ when Black wins many pawns but suffers from lack of development.} 10. O-O e5 11. dxe6ep { White has gambited a pawn for open lines for his pieces. It is only natural for him to open the game as much as possible. Black's problem is that his King is stuck in the center.} 11... Nxe6 12. Nd4 Be7 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Rb1 a6
15. Bc4 Qc7 16. Bxe6 {A powerful move. Black's c8-Bishop is forced to cover the b7-pawn while avenues to Black's King are being opened.} 16... fxe6 17.
Re1 e5 18. Qf3+ Bf6 19. Ba3 {The best amongst a tempting array. The tries 19.Bh6 and 19.Bg5 look good, but this one sets up the shots 20.Qd5 and 20.Rxe5 which bring down the curtains.} 19... exd4 20. Qd5 Be7 21. Rxe7 Kxe7
22. Re1+ Kf6 {Black has to walk the plank. If 22...Kd8 23.Bxd6 wins, while 23...Kd7 24. Re6 is equally decisive.} 23. Bxd6 Qd7 {Again no choice. The materialistic 23...Qxc3? 24.Be7+ Kg6 24.Re6+ would be decisive.} 24. Re5 Re8
25. Qf3+ Kg6 26. Qh5+ Kf6 27. Qf3+ Kg6 28. Qh5+ Kf6 29. Rxe8 Qxd6 30. cxd4 { Very nice. Black has no moves. The grab 30...Qxd4 31.Rf8+ Ke7 32.Qf7+ Kd6 33.Rd8+ wins, while developing with 30...Bg4 31.Qe5+ wins.} 30... h6 31. h4
a5 32. Qf3+ Kg6 33. h5+ Kg5 {Admitting defeat. However 33...Kh7 34.Qe4+ g6 35.hxg6+ Qxg6 36.Re7+ wins. The rest is a massacre.} 34. Re5+ Qxe5 35. dxe5
Be6 36. Qxb7 Rg8 37. Qe7+ Kf5 38. g4+ Kxe5 39. f4+ Kxf4 40. Qxe6 Rd8 41.
Qf7+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "18th Match Game, Lyons"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{Annotations: Schussler. This was a disappointing game for Karpov, as with the victory Kasparov essentially clinched the Championship in the New York-Lyons match. And the bad part was that Karpov's team of seconds had prepared this line in advance, and Kasparov walked right into it. His improvement found at the board refuted the gambit and destroyed Karpov's chances. One lesson to be learned is that if you are going to play chess, trust other people's analysis only as far as you can verify it yourself.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Bf6 {During the latter half of the match Karpov had started playing this e5-strongpoint line instead of the main Zaitzev Ruy Lopez that he started with.} 11. a4 Bb7 12. Na3 exd4 13. cxd4 Nb6 14. Bf4
bxa4 {This plan of gaining the Bishop pair in exchange for pawn weaknesses is dynamic play that may fit better into Kasparov's style.} 15. Bxa4 Nxa4
16. Qxa4 a5 17. Bd2 Re8 18. d5 Nb4 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Qxb4 Rb8 {And it was this position that Karpov was playing for. Black appears to be threatening to gain great activity by moving the light-bound Bishop, but White finds the right idea, preventing ...Ba6.} 21. Qc4 Qc8 22. Nd4 Ba6 23. Qc3 c5 24.
dxc6ep Bxd4 25. Qxd4 Qxc6 26. b4 h6 27. Re3 Re6 28. f3 Rc8 29. Rb3 Bb5 30.
Rb2 Qb7 31. Nc2 Qe7 32. Qf2 Rg6 33. Ne3 Qg5 34. Rbb1 Bd7 35. Ra5 Qe7 36. Ra7
Qd8 37. Nd5 Kh7 38. Kh2 Rb8 39. f4 Re6 40. Qd4 Qe8 41. Re1 Bc6 42. Qd3 Qf8
43. Rc1 Bxd5 44. exd5+ Rg6 45. Qf5 Kg8 46. Rac7 Rf6 47. Qd7 Rd8 48. Qxd8
Qxd8 49. Rc8 Qf8 50. R1c4 Rf5 51. Rxf8+ Kxf8 52. Rd4 h5 53. b5 Ke7 54. b6
Kd7 55. g4 hxg4 56. hxg4 Rf6 57. Rc4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "20th Match Game, Lyons"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{In the split match for the World Championship in 1990, the scene changed from New York to Lyon, France. But the scene on the chessboard stayed much the same, with the contestants essaying the King's Indian Defense when Karpov was White, and the Ruy Lopez when Kasparov played the White pieces. Some variety occurred late in the match, but most of the time the chess world was treated to, or forced to endure, depending on your orientation, a seemingly endless series of similar lines. This is one of the games that Kasparov won brilliantly - and when this occurred, even the critics found time to wonder.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 {The Zaitzev Ruy Lopez; Karpov is an acknowledged expert in the line. In fact, in the months leading up to the match, some wondered if the Ruy - one of the world's oldest openings - wasn't advantageous to Black! Karpov's match with Hjartarson in Seattle certainly left that impression. Kasparov quickly dispelled the notion, making a theoretical improvement the first time the line was played in this match, and winning nicely. Karpov improved in turn, but although he got big advantages in several games, he failed to make the most of his chances.} 11.
Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 c5 16. d5 Nd7 17. Ra3
f5 18. Rae3 {Once, Gary experimented with e4xf5, nearly losing in gruesome fashion. Later he did it again, to the surprise of all.} 18... Nf6 19. Nh2
Kh8 20. b3 bxa4 21. bxa4 c4 22. Bb2 fxe4 23. Nxe4 Nfxd5 24. Rg3 Re6 25. Ng4
Qe8 26. Nxh6 c3 27. Nf5 cxb2 28. Qg4 Bc8 29. Qh4+ Rh6 30. Nxh6 gxh6 31. Kh2
Qe5 32. Ng5 Qf6 33. Re8 Bf5 34. Qxh6+ Qxh6 35. Nf7+ Kh7 36. Bxf5+ Qg6 37.
Bxg6+ {At this unimportant point, White errs. Leading to immediate mate is 37.Rxg6!} 37... Kg7 38. Rxa8 Be7 39. Rb8 a5 40. Be4+ Kxf7 41. Bxd5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "2nd Match Game, New York"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{This was the second game of the New York-Lyons World Championship Match. In the first, Karpov missed a fairly easy win of a pawn, and the game was drawn. Now Kasparov came through with a major theoretical improvement against Karpov's Zaitzev Ruy Lopez, and after a controversial combination, Garry crashed through. At this point, it looked like Kasparov's prediction - that he would crush GM Karpov and prove he was unquestionably the greatest player in the world - might just come true. Karpov managed to come back, though, and once again the two titans played a remarkably close match.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4
15. Bb1 bxa4 {This capture was also played by Karpov in his match against the Icelander Hjartarson in Seattle. There Johann failed to make much from the White pieces, and openings theoreticians were suggesting White might have to vary from this pattern early - that perhaps the Ruy was at best equal for White!} 16. Rxa4 a5 17. Ra3 Ra6 18. Nh2 {This is where GM Hjartarson tried 18.Rae3, with little success. The World Champion was watching, of course, and found an improvement that may make 15...bxa4 doubtful.} 18... g6 19. f3 Qd7 20. Nc4 Qb5 21. Rc3 Bc8 22. Be3 Kh7 23. Qc1
c6 24. Ng4 {Here is the point. White's pieces coordinate against the Black King, and capture of the Knight on g4 would open the h-file with nasty consequences.} 24... Ng8 25. Bxh6 {An interesting sacrifice, leading to favorable complications. In this match-up, dynamic tactical complications generally favor Kasparov, while quiet positional games seem better for Karpov.} 25... Bxh6 26. Nxh6 Nxh6 27. Nxd6 Qb6 28. Nxe8 Qxd4+ {Although hardly commented on (after all, why not win a center pawn with check?), this gives White extra play on the open d-file. Simply 28...Qd8 is safer.} 29.
Kh1 Qd8 30. Rd1 Qxe8 31. Qg5 Ra7 32. Rd8 Qe6 33. f4 Ba6 34. f5 Qe7 35. Qd2
Qe5 36. Qf2 {With this maneuver White gains the critical diagonal for his Queen, with threat of mate on h8.} 36... Qe7 37. Qd4 Ng8 38. e5 Nd5 39.
fxg6+ fxg6 40. Rxc6 Qxd8 41. Qxa7+ Nde7 42. Rxa6 Qd1+ 43. Qg1 Qd2 44. Qf1
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Kuala Lumpur"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Timman, J."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C92"]

{The winner of this match would play Kasparov later in the year for the world championship.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6.
Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 {Karpov is an expert on the Zaitsev variation of the Ruy Lopez. This variation would be played many times in his world championship match later that year against Kasparov.} 11.
Nbd2 Bf8 12. a4 h6 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 c5 16. d5 Nd7 17. Ra3
f5 18. Rae3 f4 {In the 20th game of the world championship match against Kasparov, Karpov played 18...Nf6.} 19. R3e2 Ne5 20. Nf1 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Qh4
22. Nh2 Re5 23. Qd2 Qxh3 24. Qxf4 bxa4 25. Qg4 Qxg4+ 26. Nxg4 Ree8 27. f4 { The endgame is slightly better for White because of his central pawn mass.}
27... a5 28. f3 Ba6 29. Rg2 Kf7 30. Rd1 Bc4 31. Ne3 {White would like to play e4-e5, but his d-pawn needs protection.} 31... Bb3 32. Re1 c4 33. e5
dxe5 34. Bg6+ Kg8 35. Ng4 {The position is unclear after 35.Bxe8 Rxe8 36.Ng4 Nd3.} 35... Nd3 36. Nxh6+ gxh6 37. Bxd3+ Kh8 38. Bg6 Red8 39. Bd2 {An error in time pressure. Better are either 39.Bf7 or 39.fxe5.} 39... Bb4 40. Bc3
Bxc3 41. bxc3 a3 {Black's outside passed pawns give him the advantage.} 42.
fxe5 Rxd5 43. e6 Rd1 {If 43...a2, then 44.f4 is unclear.} 44. Rxd1 Bxd1 45.
e7 {Not 45.Rd2? Ba4 46.e7 Kg7 47.Rd8 a2 winning.} 45... Ba4 {The position is equal after 45...Bb3? 46.Re2.} 46. Bf7 {The decisive error. White needed to start advancing his f-pawn with 46.f4.} 46... Rb8 47. Re2 Rb1+ 48. Kf2 Rb2
49. Bxc4 Kg7 50. Ke1 Rxe2+ 51. Kxe2 h5 52. Bb3 Bd7 53. Ke3 Kf6 54. Kf4 Bc6
55. c4 Kxe7 56. c5 Be8 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Benasque"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Martin, B."]
[Black "Garcia Palermo, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]

{White shows us the value of a Kingside space advantage and the power of the Rook lift.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 a5 {Normal and better are 9...Na5 (Chigorin), 9...Nb8 (Breyer), 9...Bb7 (Zaitzev), or even 9...Nd7. The Knight moves generally prepare ...c7-c5.} 10. d4 a4 11. Bc2 exd4 12. Nxd4 {White doesn't wish to lose his valuable light-squared Bishop to a Knight after 12.cxd4 Nb4.} 12...
Nxd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. Nd2 {The same logic applies here, although this time White spurns the gain of a Pawn. Black's Bishops would get too much activity.} 15... Nxd2 {Perhaps better is 15...f5, trying to block lines to the King. Of course this yields a protected passed pawn, and in the long run the backward c-pawn on the half-open file will be hard to defend.} 16.
Bxd2 Be6 17. Bh6 gxh6 {Declining the sacrifice with 17...Re8 18.Qd3 g6 loses at least the b-pawn.} 18. Qd3 f5 19. exf6ep Rxf6 20. Qxh7+ Kf8 21. Bg6 Rxg6
{The threat was Qh8+, ...Bg8, Qxh6#. Now the material balance is close to equal, but King safety plays the most important role.} 22. Qxg6 Bf7 23.
Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Re3 Bh4 25. Rc1 b4 26. Rd1 Rb8 27. Rdd3 Rb6 28. Rg3+ {The point of White's play. On any of the last few moves, ...Qf6 or ...Qg5 is met by Rg3(+), an overloading combination.} 28... Bxg3 29. Rxg3+ Rg6 30. Rxg6+
Bxg6 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. h4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Garcia, G."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C78"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 {One of Beliavsky's pet lines. Note that ...Nxe4 is met variously with Bb3-d5, Rf1-e1, or d2-d4, in all cases regaining the pawn. Big Al prefers this compact development with ...Bc8-b7 and ...Bf8-c5.} 7. Re1 Bc5 8. c3 d6 9. d4
Bb6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 O-O 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Nd2
Qe7 16. Qe2 Rad8 17. a4 Rd6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nf1 Bc6 20. Bc2 Rfd8 21. Rac1
h5 22. h3 h4 23. Bh2 Qe6 24. Ne3 Rd2 25. Qf3 Rxc2 {A nice thematic exchange sacrifice that quickly leads to the baring of White's King.} 26. Nxc2 Rd2
27. Kh1 g4 28. hxg4 Rxf2 29. Qh3 Nxe4 30. Ne3 Rxg2 31. Qxg2 h3 32. Qc2 Nd2+
33. Kg1 Qxg4+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hector, J."]
[Black "Fernandez Garcia, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]

{Johnny Hector is known for his exciting play and specialty openings, but here he essays the ancient Four Knights Game, and his opponent was well prepared.} 1. e4 Nf6 {Is it the Alekhine Defense?} 2. Nc3 e5 {The Vienna Game?} 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 {No, it's the Scotch Four Knights!} 4... exd4 5. Nd5
Be7 6. Bf4 d6 7. Nxd4 O-O 8. Nb5 {White will soon be made to pay for moving his Knights around too much. But without this attack, it is hard to see how he can gain any advantage.} 8... Nxd5 9. exd5 Bg5 10. Bxg5 Qxg5 11. Qd2 Qe5+
12. Be2 a6 13. Nxc7 Nd4 14. Nxa8 Bg4 15. c3 {15.f3 is met by 15...Bxf3! Although White is up a Rook, he is in trouble.} 15... Nxe2 16. Qe3 Qf6 {The ending is OK for White, because the Knight e2 cannot escape.} 17. Nb6 Qd8
18. Nc4 Re8 19. h3 {The Queen cannot be saved except by even greater expense, so White takes the practical decision to jettison her.} 19... Rxe3
20. Nxe3 Qb6 21. hxg4 Qxb2 22. Rd1 Nxc3 23. Rd2 Qb5 {There is no respite. White will not be allowed to castle.} 24. Nd1 Ne4 25. Re2 Qb4+ 26. Kf1 h6
27. Rh3 Qd4 28. Re1 Qxd5 29. Kg1 b5 30. Rhe3 Nf6 31. Nc3 Qc4 32. Ne4 { Leading to an ending with Queen and six Pawns against two Rooks and three pawns.}
32... Nxe4 33. Rxe4 Qxa2 34. f4 a5 35. f5 b4 36. Kh2 Qd2 37. R1e2 Qg5 38.
Rb2 d5 39. Re8+ Kh7 40. Ra8 Qh4+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "14th Match Game, Lyons"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]

{Kasparov re-introduces the Scotch into World Championship play after more than a century. The real surprise was that he played it again and won! Even with these fine results, the Scotch is unlikely to gain general popularity, as most of its sting was removed by analysts in the 1800's.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Ba6 9. b3
O-O-O 10. g3 Re8 11. Bb2 f6 12. Bg2 fxe5 13. O-O h5 14. Qd2 Nf6 15. Qa5 Bb7
16. Ba3 Qe6 17. Bxf8 Rhxf8 18. Qxa7 Qg4 19. Na3 h4 20. Nc2 h3 21. Bh1 Ne4
22. a4 Nc3 23. Rae1 Ne2+ 24. Rxe2 Qxe2 25. Nb4 d5 26. cxd5 cxd5 27. Bxd5
Bxd5 28. Nxd5 Qc2 29. Qa6+ Kd7 30. Ne3 Qe4 31. Rc1 Rb8 32. Qf1 Rxb3 33.
Qxh3+ Kd8 34. Qh5 Kc8 35. Qd1 Rxe3 36. fxe3 Qxe3+ 37. Kh1 Qe4+ 38. Kg1 Qe3+
39. Kh1 Qe4+ 40. Kg1 Rd8 41. Qc2 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Cologne"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polgar, J."]
[Black "Knaak, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]

{The youngest of the three Hungarian Polgar sisters, Judit, would go on to become the youngest Grandmaster ever: in 1992 at the age of 15, she eclipsed Bobby Fischer's record by several months. In this game the strong German GM Rainer Knaak is out-combined by a 13-year-old girl. Her marvelous sharp tactical style has in fact accumulated many GM scalps.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3 {An unusual line of the French Winawer. White normally captures on g7 here with wild complications - which are theoretically well known several moves deep. 8.Bd3 suggests a willingness to explore lesser-known lines.} 8... cxd4 9. Ne2 Qxe5
10. Bf4 Qf6 11. Bg5 Qe5 12. cxd4 {Refusing the draw by repetition.} 12... h5
13. Qh4 Qc7 14. Bf4 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qd8 16. g4 e5 17. dxe5 Bxg4 18. Rg1 Qd7 19.
f3 Be6 20. Nd4 Nbc6 21. Nxc6 Nxc6 22. Rxg7 Qc7 23. f4 Nxe5 {Black wins the exchange, but the Knight and Queen were the only defenders of the dark squares. Black's position was in any case desperate.} 24. fxe5 Qxe5+ 25. Kf2
Qxg7 26. Rg1 Qb2 27. Bb4 f6 28. Re1 O-O-O {Returning a piece to try to find a haven for the King.} 29. Rxe6 Kb8 30. Qxf6 Qa2 {The ending after 30...Qxf6 would be very difficult for Black. Two Bishops in an open position should easily overpower a Rook and Pawn.} 31. Qd4 Rc8 32. Bd2 Ka8 33. Be3 Rxc2+ { But keeping the Queen's on hasn't proven to be without risk either. Now Knaak tries a few checks, but Judit defends properly.} 34. Bxc2 Qxc2+ 35.
Ke1 Qb1+ 36. Kd2 Qa2+ 37. Kd1 Qb1+ 38. Ke2 Qc2+ 39. Bd2 Rf8 40. Qxd5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Van Riemsdijk, H."]
[Black "Hmadi, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]

{This game features a double Rook sacrifice.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 a6 7. Qg4 Bxg5 8. hxg5 c5 9. g6 f5 {Not 9...fxg6 10.Rxh7.} 10. Qf4 h6 11. dxc5 O-O 12. Nf3 Nxc5 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. Ne2 Qa5+ 15.
Kf1 Ne4 16. c3 Qb6 17. Nfd4 Qxb2 {17...Qc7 was more cautious.} 18. Rb1 Nd2+
19. Kg1 Nxb1 20. Rxh6 Qd2 {The second Rook could be taken: 20...gxh6 21.Qxh6 Rf7 22.gxf7+ Kxf7 23.Nf4 and White's attack is too strong.} 21. Rh7 Qxf4 22.
Nxf4 {Despite the exchange of Queens, White's attack is still dangerous. 23.Nh5 is threatened.} 22... Nxe5 23. Nh5 Nxg6 {Black must give back some pieces. Not 23...Nxd3 24.Rxg7+ Kh8 25.Nf3 followed by Ng5, Rh7+, and g7.}
24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Rxg6 Nxc3 {Short on time, Black makes an error. Correct is 25...Nd2 to prevent White's next move.} 26. Nf3 b5 {Black hopes to defend with 27...Ra7. If 26...Ne4, then 27.Ne5 followed by Rg7 and Ng6#.} 27. Rg7
Rg8 28. Re7 Ne4 {28...Rb8 followed by 29...Rb7 would have held out longer.}
29. Bxe4 fxe4 30. Nf6 {Black Resigns. The only defense to 31.Rh7# is 30...Rg7 31.Re8+ Rg8 32.Rxg8#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geller, E."]
[Black "Dreev, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C08"]

{A contest between two different generations. White is more than 44 years older than his opponent, and his rating is 90 points lower. However, in his prime Geller was one of the best players in the world and should never be underestimated.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Ngf3 c5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Be2
c4 7. O-O Bd6 8. b3 b5 9. a4 Bb7 10. bxc4 bxc4 11. Bxc4 {White sacrifices a piece to open up the position. In his prime, Geller was one of the finest combinational players.} 11... dxc4 12. Nxc4 Be7 {12...Ne7 13.Nxd6+ Qxd6 14.Ba3 leaves White with a strong attacking position.} 13. Re1 Qc7 14. Rb1 { Threatening 15.Rxb7 Qxb7 16.Nd6+. Black is having trouble finding safety for his King.} 14... Qxc4 15. Rxb7 Nc6 16. Nd2 Qxd4 {If 16...Qxa4, then 17.d5 is strong.} 17. Bb2 Qxa4 18. Re4 Qa2 19. Bxg7 O-O-O 20. Rb3 Bf6 {If 20...Nf6, then 21.Rc4 Rxd2 22.Rxc6+ Kd7 23.Qxd2 Kxc6 24.Qc3+ wins.} 21. Qg4+ Kc7 22.
Qf4+ Kc8 {If 22...Rd6, then 23.Rd3 wins.} 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. Qxf6 Qxc2 25.
Qf5+ {Black Resigns, as he will lose his Queen by discovered check. This was voted to be the best game in the first half of 1990 by Chess Informant.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Kavala"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ermenkov, E."]
[Black "Kovacevic, Vlado"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C04"]

{The pawn grab is King in this game. Some pawns seem to be worth more than Queens, even.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {Initiating the Tarrasch variation. White maintains some of the tension in the center, but doesn't put the Knight on c3, where it can be pinned. These lines are considered to yield White a very small but fairly persistent advantage.} 3... Nc6 {Black's main choices are 3...c5, 3...Nf6, and 3...Nc6, although many other moves have some validity. After the move chosen, Black will have to move the Knight again to allow ...c7-c5, and then will probably return it to the natural c6 square. But since the position will remain closed (after e4-e5) this loss of time may not be too serious.} 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Bb5 {Since White doesn't really intend to capture at c6, which would leave Black the possibility of playing the strong freeing move ...c5 twice(!), this seems to just lose time.} 6... a5 7. c3 Na7 8. Bd3 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 cxd4 11.
cxd4 a4 {By a simple tempo count, White is ahead in development. However, things are rarely so simple in chess, and a quick quality check shows that the unmoved Rook on a8 is at least as well placed as the "developed" White Rook, and pieces for both sides will need to be shifted several times to find the right homes. Considering Black's Queenside space advantage, it is possible he already stands better.} 12. Nf1 Be7 13. Ng3 h5 14. Ne2 Nb6 15.
g3 Nb4 16. Bb1 Bd7 17. h4 Nc4 18. Nf4 Qb6 19. Kg2 Kd8 20. Ng5 Bxg5 21. hxg5
g6 22. Ne2 Nc6 23. Rh1 Kc7 24. Rh4 Nxb2 25. Qd2 a3 26. Qf4 Rhc8 27. Qxf7 Rf8
28. Qxg6 Nd1 29. Rf4 Qb2 30. Bc2 Qxa1 31. Bxd1 Rxf4 32. gxf4 Qxa2 33. f5 Qb1
34. Nc3 Qxc1 35. fxe6 Qxc3 36. exd7 Qxd4 37. Qd6+ Kb6 38. e6 a2 39. Bf3 Qc5
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Galdunts, S."]
[Black "Tavadian, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]

{The former USSR was a chess powerhouse, with seemingly inexhaustible supplies of world-class players. The restrictive travel policies imposed by the state prevented most Soviet players from ever playing in international tournaments, so by the time the rest of the world found out about a player he was already very strong. In this game two unknowns play a fine battle.}
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8.
h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. O-O-O e6 13. Qe2 {This is a main line in the Caro Kann; the retreat puts pressure on e6 and defends the e5 square, as well as removing the Queen from possible attack along the d-file should Black castle long.} 13... c5 {Normally, this is a desirable move; it breaks in the center and gives the Black pieces more room. In this position, it may be slightly premature - the weakness of the Black Queenside isn't at all obvious, though.} 14. Kb1 {Getting off the c-file and preparing to bring a Rook over.} 14... Rc8 15. c4 cxd4 {Again well motivated, preventing d4-d5 which would render the c-file battery useless and pressure e6. But the newly centralized Knight also hits at e6, and develops some Queenside action, too.} 16. Nxd4 Bc5 {Of course, 16...Qxc4 17.Rc1 is unacceptable, but 16...a6 may run into 17.Nxe6.} 17. Nb5 Qc6 18. b4 { Suddenly Nb5xa7 is a problem. The Knight attacks many dark squares in the heart of the Black position, so it must be eliminated.} 18... a6 19. bxc5
axb5 20. cxb5 Qxg2 21. Rhg1 Qh3 22. c6 bxc6 23. bxc6 Rxc6 24. Bb4 Qh4 25. a3
Rb6 26. Qb2 Nd5 27. Rd4 Qd8 28. Rxd5 exd5 29. Qe2+ Re6 30. Nf5 Qb6 31. Nxg7+
Kd8 32. Nxe6+ fxe6 33. Rg7 Rf8 34. Qb2 Rf4 35. Rh7 Kc8 36. Qh8+ Rf8 37. Qc3+
Kd8 38. Qg7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]

{This was a crucial game on Nigel Short's path to challenge Kasparov for the world championship in 1993.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. c3 {A Short specialty.} 4... e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O h6 8. Be3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nge7
10. Nc3 Nc8 11. Rc1 a6 {Better is 11...Nb6.} 12. Na4 Nb6 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14.
Rxc5 O-O 15. Qb3 Nd7 16. Rc3 Qb6 17. Rfc1 Qxb3 18. Rxb3 Rfb8 19. Nd2 Kf8 20.
h4 {With Black tied down on the queenside, White switches his attention to the kingside.} 20... Ke8 21. g4 Bh7 22. h5 Nd8 {Better is 22...Kd8, although after 23.f4 White has a space advantage.} 23. Rbc3 Nb6 24. Nb3 Na4 {If 24...Rc8, then 25.Nc5 is strong. 25...Nd7 would be met with 26.Nxb7.} 25.
Rc7 Nxb2 26. Nc5 {White has a winning advantage.} 26... b5 27. g5 {The decisive breakthrough.} 27... Nc4 {If 27...hxg5, then 28.Bxg5 followed by 29.Re7+ is decisive.} 28. gxh6 gxh6 29. Nd7 Nxe3 30. fxe3 Bf5 31. Kf2 Rb7
32. Nf6+ Kf8 33. Rg1 {Black Resigns. If 33...Rxc7, then 34.Rg8+ Ke7 35.Re8#.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kotronias, V."]
[Black "King, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]

{To win at chess, it is necessary to take risks. Here the young Greek player Kotronias gives up the center to develop a flaming attack against his English colleague.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 Qb6 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6.
Qxd3 e6 7. Nge2 Nd7 8. O-O Ne7 9. a4 c5 10. a5 Qc6 11. dxc5 {An inspired move. But if White plays 11.f4 Nf5! gives Black a fine game. Perhaps throwing in 11.a6 in order to justify the a-pawn advance was best. The text gives up a pawn in the hopes of crashing through in the center.} 11... Nxe5
12. Qg3 N5g6 13. Nd4 Qxc5 14. Be3 e5 {Such a weakening move deserves a strong rebuke. However, Black is already on the slippery slope of defeat. The solid move 14...Qc8 15.Ncb5 Nc6 16. Nc7+ costs Black an Exchange and the opportunity to castle.} 15. Ndb5 Qc6 {Black sidesteps the wipeout: 15...d4 16.Bxd4 (16.Ne4 is also strong.) exd4 17.Nc7+ Kd8 18.Nxa8 dxc3 19.Rfd1+ Kc8 20.Nb6+ axb6 21.axb6 wins. Analysis by Andrianov. This nice comment illustrates Black's problem: his vulnerable King.} 16. a6 b6 17. Rad1 d4 18.
Qh3 {A killing move. If Black captures on either c3 or e3 White plays 19.Nd6+ which will be devastating. The text sidesteps Black's tempo ...Ne7-f5 and also fixes to keep Black's King trapped in a crossfire.} 18...
Nc8 19. Bxd4 {The piece sacrifice is immediately decisive. If 19...exd4 20.Nxd4 Qc7 21.Qf3 Rb8 22.Nc6 wins. Black has no answer for Rf1-e1+ and Nc3-b5.} 19... Nd6 20. Rfe1 Nxb5 21. Bxe5 Be7 22. Nxb5 O-O {Black dare not accept the second piece offering. If 22...Qb5 23.Bxg7 Rg8 24.Qxh7 wins.} 23.
Nd4 Qc5 24. b4 Qc4 25. Nf5 Bxb4 26. Qh6 {Black Resigns. A painful finale. Black is reminded about his endangered King. The point 26...gxh6 27.Nxh6+ is indeed a beauty.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haninge"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Van der Wiel, J."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]

{Annotations by Yasser Seirawan. It's always a good idea to make sure none of one's favorite lines have been busted and before this game I quickly scanned the games in New In Chess Yearbook 15. Sure enough, right on cue, GM Khalifman had just clobbered someone who played my favorite variation of the Rat Defense. Rats! He had annotated the game, and had gone so far as to give my 8...fxe6 a ?! mark. The cheek! His notes were short and succinct. Was it the end of my idea? I refused to believe it, and spent a whole night and early morning mulling the variation over. I hoped things were patched up successfully because my next opponent was the dangerous GM John van der Wiel.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 {I prefer this move order to that of the classical Pirc (2...Nf6) because I consider it more flexible. In the variation where White plays Bc1-e3 and Qd1-d2, angling for Be3-h6, it's sometimes useful to have a Knight on g8.} 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7.
e5 Ng4 8. e6 fxe6 9. Ng5 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 Qa5+ 11. c3 Qxb5 12. Qxg4 cxd4 13.
Nxe6 {This position was evaluated as winning for White by Khalifman. As we had both played quickly up to now, I immediately played my novelty.} 13...
Qc4 {After making this move, I got up to get a glass of mineral water. While at the refreshment stand, I heard the other players joking, "How can this guy be leading the tournament? he leaves his pieces hanging with check!" After a pause, John found his only chance for an advantage.} 14. Nxg7+ Kf7
15. Nf5 {Avoiding Black's trap. On 15.Nh5? dxc3! (threatening...Qc4-e4+ and ...g6x h5) 16.Ng3 cxb2 17.Bxb2 Qb4+, Black safely recovers his piece with the better game.} 15... Qe6+ 16. Ne3 dxe3 17. f5 {In my preparations I had decided that this was the only way for White to attain an advantage. Of course, 17.Qxe6+ Kxe6 18.Bxe3 Nc6 is completely equal.} 17... gxf5 18. O-O
Nc6 {The try 18...Nd7 19.Rxf5+ Nf6 seemed equally plausible. After a lot of late-night deliberations, I preferred the text because of the game continuation. It seemed to me that Black's King was quite safe on d7 with a Knight protecting e7. The open files on the Kingside guarantee Black adequate counterplay.} 19. Rxf5+ Ke8 20. Rf8+ {White is thinking along classical lines only and mistakenly plays into an ending where he believes he stands better because he has a Bishop versus a Knight and Black has three pawn islands to White's two. But for White to retain any real threats he had to keep the Queens on the board. Better is 20.Qf3!.} 20... Kd7 21. Qxe6+
Kxe6 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bxe3 Rf8 24. Re1 {Losing a tempo. The game is quickly drawn after 24.Rf1!. I was happy to see John trying to win this ending as my next move proves that it is Black who has the pull.} 24... Kd5 25. Bg5 { Another wasted tempo. Again 25.Rf1 is correct.} 25... e5 26. Rd1+ Ke6 27.
Rd3 {When I saw this move, I realized that John was oblivious to the danger. He is trying to play without his Queenside majority and without his King! Black is well ahead in the race already. Time to drive the point home.}
27... d5 28. Rh3 {White consistently carries out his mistaken plan. White's Rook on h3 is apparently active, but the Black Rook on f7 does more - it cuts off White's King.} 28... Rf7 29. Bd2 d4 {Now White began to sense the danger. Black is ready to transfer his King to e4, dominating White's Rook along the third rank.} 30. Rf3 Rd7 {After White finally discovers that his Rook belongs on the f-file, Black refuses the exchange. My center pawns are lusting to advance further.} 31. cxd4 exd4 {A difficult move to sort out. Both ...Rxd4 and ...Nxd4 appear to be better, but this isn't the case. After 31...exd4, Black's Rook is nicely placed behind the passed pawn. The e5-square becomes available for the Knight - which may transfer to c4 - while the d-pawn itself is one square further advanced.} 32. b3 Ne5 33. Rf4
Ng6 34. Rg4 {White is worried about the possible transfer of the Black Rook to the c-file. But the White Rook is poorly placed here. I had expected 34.Rf1 when, despite the best efforts of both White and Black, the position is only slightly better for Black.} 34... Kd5 {Freeing the Rook.} 35. Kf1 { Just in time. White activates the King in preparation for 35...Rc7 36.Ke2 Rc2 37.Kd3 and the game is equal.} 35... Rf7+ 36. Ke1 Ne5 37. Rh4 Rg7 38.
Kf2 b6 39. Bf4 {An interesting practical decision. Black is offered a Rook and pawn ending with an extra unit, but the extra h-pawn isn't fantastic. Still, White has problems.} 39... Nd3+ 40. Ke2 Nxf4+ 41. Rxf4 Rxg2+ 42. Kd3
Rxh2 43. Rxd4+ Ke6 {The only winning chance Black has in this ending is to place his Rook behind his h-pawn, h7 being the ideal square. Then Black has but a single weakness on the Queenside (a7) which he protects with the Rook. Black has to use his King to keep White's Rook from penetrating to the eighth and harassing Black's Queenside. Karpov said the ending was a draw - but both sides have their problems.} 44. a4 Rh5 {With the transparent threat of ...Rh5-d5. On a deeper level, Black plans ...Rh5-d5+ - d7 and switching behind the h-pawn.} 45. Rg4 Kf7 {Black brings his King to the Kingside in order to assist the h-pawn's touchdown.} 46. b4 {A probable error. White had to use this moment to penetrate with his Rook: 46.Rf4+ Kg6 47.Rf8.} 46...
Re5 47. Kd4 Re6 48. Kd5 h5 49. Rh4 Rh6 {This is the cruncher. The passive White Rook makes the rest look easy.} 50. Ke5 Kg6 51. Kf4 Kf6 {Zugzwang! White must retreat. Now White intends to blockade with his King. This leaves the White Queenside easy pickings.} 52. Kg3 Ke5 53. Kh3 a6 54. Rc4 Kd5 55.
Rc8 Rc6 56. Ra8 b5 57. axb5 axb5 58. Ra1 Rc4 {White Resigns. If 59.Rb1, then ...Rd4 with the unstoppable threat ...Kc4-c3 and ...Rd5xd4.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smagin, S."]
[Black "Sahovic, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]

{This game was played at the annual chess festival in Biel, Switzerland. Russian Grandmaster Smagin used a startling Queen sacrifice, catapulting him to victory over his Yugoslav colleague.} 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. c3
e6 5. Nd2 f6 {Black attacks the head of the pawn chain, rather than preparing the positionally superior ...c5, which has the drawback of costing too much time. Another plan for Black is to blockade the light squares with h5, g6, and Nh6. This would be risky unless the Bishop f5 can be exchanged, so it is normally played only if White has provided a Knight on f3 that can be pinned. It is also stronger if White has committed his f-pawn to f4, since from f3 it can support the blockade-busting move g2-g4.} 6. f4 {Now that Black has chosen to play ...f6, this move is desirable.} 6... fxe5 7.
fxe5 Nh6 8. Ndf3 Nf7 9. Ne2 Be7 10. Ng3 Bg4 {This works out badly. Better was 10...Bh4 pinning the g3-Knight.} 11. Bd3 Ng5 12. Nxg5 {A spectacular move. White sacrifices his Queen for two minor pieces and a dangerous attack. Black is forced to accept the Trojan offer.} 12... Bxd1 13. Nxe6 Qb8
14. Nxg7+ Kd8 {The first critical moment. Black must chose between this defense and the more testing: 14.Kf7 Bh6 15.Bf8 16.O-O Kg8 17.N7f5 Bg4 18.Rf4! Bf5 19.Bxf5 Nd8 20.Be4 Bxh6 21.Bxd5+ Kg7 22.Nh5+ Kg6 23.Rf6+ Kxh5 24.Bf3+ Kg5 25.g3 - a remarkable variation given by Smagin which demonstrates the dangers Black faces.} 15. Kxd1 {White has two minor pieces and two pawns for his sacrificed Queen. More important, though, is that Black's "extra" Queen is neatly buried on the Queenside. The rest of the game is a struggle between keeping the Queen entombed or reviving her.}
15... b5 16. Ne6+ Kc8 17. Nf5 Bf8 {A poor choice. Black should have tried 17...Qb6 18.Nf4 Rd8 19.Ne3 when White is for choice, but it is still a fight. Black didn't want to put his Queen into a possible Knight fork.} 18.
Rf1 Kb7 19. Bh6 Bxh6 20. Nc5+ Kc8 21. Nxh6 Ne7 22. Be2 Ng6 23. Nf7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Olafsson, H."]
[Black "Levitt, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]

{A startling Rook sacrifice.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2
Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 Ne4 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Bf4 O-O 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Qd2 Qb6
12. Rfd1 Rd8 {Better is 12...Nc6.} 13. Qe3 Qb7 14. Bd6 {Sacrificing a pawn to keep Black tied down.} 14... Bxd6 15. Rxd6 Qxb2 16. Rad1 Qb7 17. Rxe6
fxe6 18. Ng5 h6 {The best move. 18...Bxg2 19.Qxe6+ and 18...Nc6 19.Qxe4 g6 20.Qh4 h5 21.Ne4 both lose quickly.} 19. Nxe4 Nc6 20. Nxc5 Qc7 {20...Qb6 21.Nxd7 Qxe3 22.fxe3 Rac8 23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.Nf6+ also wins for White.} 21.
Nxd7 Rac8 {21...Rxd7 22.Qxe6+ Rf7 23.Bxc6 followed by 24.Rd7 wins immediately. 21...Re8 would have held out the longest, although White's attack is very strong after 22.Qe4 Rac8 23.Bh3 Nd8 24.Qg6.} 22. Qxe6+ Kh8
23. Be4 Ne7 {If 23...Ne5, then 24.Nxe5 Rxd1+ 25.Kg1 threatening 26.Ng6+ wins.} 24. Rd6 Qxc4 25. Qxe7 {Threatening 25.Rxh6+ gxh6 26.Qh7#.} 25... Qc1+
26. Kg2 Re8 27. Qf7 Rxe4 28. Rg6 {Black Resigns. Black gets mated after 28...Qc3 29.Nf6 Qc7 30.Rxg7 Qxf7 31.Rxf7 and Rh7.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Franco, Z."]
[Black "Romero Holmes, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]

{A game of unusual pins and material imbalance.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4
exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2 Nf6 6. g3 Be6 7. e4 Be7 8. b3 Nxe4 {White has lost a little time with his double fianchetto, and Black finds a fine tactical method of exploiting his developmental advantage.} 9. Nxe4 d5 10. Bg2 {The piece cannot be saved, since retreat to c3 allows d5-d4 and Be7-b4 pinning the Queen, and 10.cxd5 Bxd5 pins the Knight to a Rook and renews the threat of Bb4.} 10... Bb4 {But Black isn't in a big hurry to simplify the position. The piece isn't going anywhere, is it?} 11. Nc3 d4 12. Bb2 Qf6 13. Nge2
O-O-O 14. Qc1 dxc3 15. Bxc3 Qe5 {With threats on the center files, Black prevents White's escape by O-O... but isn't there a piece hanging again?}
16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Bxb4 Bh3 18. Qc3 Qf5 19. g4 Bxg4 20. f3 Rd3 21. fxg4 { White has little choice but to surrender the Queen for as much material as possible. Normally a Rook and two minor pieces is more than enough, but here there is the small matter of King safety.} 21... Qe4 22. Qxd3 Qxd3 23. Rd1
Qh3 24. Ng3 Qxg4 25. O-O h5 26. Kh1 h4 27. Nf5 Qe4+ 28. Kg1 Rh5 29. Ne7+ Kb7
30. Rd2 Rg5+ 31. Kf2 Rg2# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haninge"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]

{Scaling K2.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 g6 3. d4 {Attempting to lure Anatoly into unfamiliar terrain.} 3... d6 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nc3 c6 {How nice! A mistake. This move took Karpov about a quarter of an hour. Obviously Black is concerned about the position of his King, so he prepares a home for him on c7. The problem is that by playing this move now, Black throws his timing off and allows White a strong attack. After 6...Be6! 7.b3 Nd7, White has a slight advantage.} 7. f4 {Only this move exposes the vulnerability of Black's position. White wants to open the center and deny Black's King the c7-square. It is also a prelude to a long and complex pawn sacrifice.} 7...
Be6 8. Nf3 Bxc4 9. Bh3 f5 10. b3 {This goes to the very heart of the position. The key question facing White is: "What are you going to do with the Bishop on c1?" Is it going to g5 with check? That is attractive to be sure, but it implies f4xe5 which involves a large tempo loss. Beside, doesn't the Knight want to go to e5? So that leaves Bc1-e3. Hardly inspiring.} 10... Bb4 {Karpov finds the only defense! But when in his career has it happened that after 10 moves he has only 27 minutes left for the last 30 moves of time control?} 11. Bb2 Bd5 12. e4 {Fantastic! I'm fighting for the initiative at all costs. Somehow White has managed to develop all his minors and play c4,d4,e4, and f4 while Black has only managed to move his Bishops, pawns and put his King on a bad square!} 12... fxe4 {The only move. } 13. O-O-O Bxc3 {Excellent. Black finds the only chance: sacrifice an Exchange! A cursory glance shows he had no choice. If 13...Nf6? then 14.Ng5! (again not Nf3xe5), and Black is about to be slam-dunked.} 14. Bxc3 exf3 15.
Bxe5 Nd7 16. Bxh8 Ne7 {Up to this point, the moves of the game have been incredibly complex and have taken a considerable toll on both player's clocks. I had foreseen this position when playing 12.e4 and had thought, "Okay, Black has a pawn for the Exchange". But I reasoned that Black's little fella on f3 was too far from the supply lines, and that after a few deft moves the game would be over. So I nonchalantly made a lazy piece of analysis and played a mistake.} 17. Rhf1 {Rooks belong on open files! Correct is 17.Rhe1!.} 17... Nf5 {Five minutes for the next 23 moves!} 18.
Bd4 h5 {Forced. White threatened Bh3-g4xh3.} 19. g4 hxg4 20. Bxg4 Nh4 21.
Bf2 Ng2 {At this point, I realized that Karpov would lose on time. It would be physically impossible for him to make the time control. But this didn't stop Karpov from trying!} 22. Bg1 Nh4 23. h3 Kc7 24. Bh2 Nf6 25. f5+ Kb6 26.
fxg6 Nxg4 27. hxg4 Rg8 28. Rd4 a5 29. g5 Nxg6 30. Kd2 {About this time, my flag was beginning to rise, preparatory to precipitous descent. It was time to put the criminal on f3 under lock and key!} 30... Rf8 31. Bg1 {Black is still worse after 31.Bg3.} 31... Ka6 {In the postmortem, we agreed that 31...Kc7! was equal. As my flag continued to rise, we played at lightning speed.} 32. Bf2 Rf5 33. Rg4 Ne5 34. Rg3 Ng6 35. Rh1 Re5 36. Re1 {And in this position, my opponent's flag fell! After 36...Rf5 37.Re8 b6 38.Rd8 (intending Rd8-d6) 38...Kb7 39.Rh3 Rxg5 40.Rh7+ Ka6 41.a4, Black gets mated.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Eastbourne"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mestel, J."]
[Black "Flear, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]

{A crucial match-up to determining the British Championship in 1990 was this tactical land mine laid by Jonathan Mestel.} 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4.
g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 d4 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 Ne8 11.
d3 f6 12. Na3 e5 13. Nc2 Nc7 14. a3 a5 15. Rb1 Be6 16. Nfxd4 {White has succeeded in playing a modern Benoni with several extra tempi. But, if Black is able to secure his game with ...Qd8-d7, he should have a fine game. White goes for a long winded combination.} 16... Nxd4 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Rxe6 Nxe6
19. Bd5 Kh8 {Black relinquishes his Knight. A line like 19...Ra6 20.Qe2! Qd7 21.Re1 Kf7 22.Nxd4 would be catastrophic.} 20. Bxe6 Bxa3 {A fine response. Black takes advantage of the fact that the Bishop on e6 is hanging. Thus 21.Nxa3 Qe7 is fine for Black. White had to calculate his next move, which sets up the threat of Qd1-h5.} 21. Nxa3 Qe7 22. Bf5 g6 23. Nc2 gxf5 24. Nxd4
f4 25. Qf3 fxg3 {Thus far Black has given as well as he's taken. Had he tried 25...Rad8! 26.Ne2 (26.Qxf4 Qd6) fxg3 first the game would have been unclear. By failing to drive White's Knight backwards, he cedes White an advantage.} 26. hxg3 Rae8 27. Nf5 Qb4 28. Kg2 Rf7 29. Nh6 Rff8 30. Nf5 Rf7
31. Nh6 Rff8 32. Rh1 Re7 33. Nf5 Rd7 34. Nh4 Rg7 35. Qf5 Kg8 36. Qe6+ Kh8
37. Nf5 Rgf7 38. Nd6 Rg7 39. Nf5 Rgf7 40. Re1 {This sets up the trap 40...Qxb3? 41.Qxf7 Rxf7 42.Re8+ Rf8 43.Rxf8 check mate. Instead of playing for this trick, White had a stronger continuation by 40.Rh6! Qc5 41.Nd6 Qc6+ 42.Kg1 Kg8 (42...Kg7 43.Qh3 wins!) 43.Rxf6 Qxd6 44.Qg4+ wins. Analysis by G. Flear. While White has achieved positional dominance, he must still win the game.} 40... Qc5 41. d4 Qc6+ 42. d5 Qc5 43. Re4 b6 44. d6 Qc6 45. Ne7 Qa8
46. Kg1 a4 47. bxa4 Rg7 48. Nf5 Ra7 49. d7 Qd8 50. Rd4 Rxa4 51. Qe7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Z."]
[Black "Wahls, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]

{A brilliant pawn sacrifice allows White a sudden mating attack.} 1. g3 g6
2. Bg2 Bg7 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. c4 O-O 5. O-O c6 6. b3 Ne4 7. d4 d5 8. Bb2 Nd7 9.
Qc2 Ndf6 10. Ne5 Bf5 11. Qc1 Nd7 {Better is 11...a5.} 12. f3 Nd6 13. Nd2 Be6
14. e4 a5 {White has good attacking chances after 14...Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nc8 16.f4.} 15. Nd3 {Threatening 16.Nf4.} 15... Re8 {To meet 16.Nf4 with 16...Nf8.} 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Nc8 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. f4 Qc7
21. Rac1 dxe4 22. Nxe4 Na7 {If 22...f6, then 23.c6 bxc6 24.Rxc6 is strong.}
23. Ng5 Bf5 24. g4 {A very good move. Black's king's position is soon ripped open.} 24... Bxg4 {If 24...Bd3, then White wins with 25.Bd5 e6 26.Nxh7! Kxh7 27.Rf3.} 25. Bd5 Rf8 {If 25...e6, then 26.Ne4 exd5 27.Nf6+ Kf8 28.Nxd5 wins. } 26. f5 gxf5 {If 26...Bxf5, then 27.Rxf5 gxf5 28.Ne6! fxe6 29.Bxe6+ Rf7 30.Rc2 followed by Rg2 wins.} 27. Rc4 {Threatening 28.Rxg4.} 27... h5 28.
Rxg4 hxg4 29. Rxf5 e6 30. Ne4 Rfd8 {If 30...exf5, then 31.Nf6+ and 32.Ne8+ wins the Queen.} 31. Rh5 e5 32. Rxe5 Nc6 33. Rg5+ Kf8 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Qf6+
Kd7 36. Qf5+ Ke7 37. Qxf7# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Haninge"]
[Date "1990"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karlsson, L."]
[Black "Seirawan, Y."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A03"]

{Annotations by Yasser Seirawan. This game features the rare Bird's opening. When Black plays the move order I play in this game, White has a problem with his Queen's Bishop.} 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O Nh6
6. Nc3 Nc6 {Objectively speaking a "good move," but at this precise moment it would have been better to play 6...O-O. Black needs the Knight on b8 for the flexibility this offers in being able to play ...d5-d4 when the Knight may go to a6. Then after some remedial action comes the standard ...Na6-c7-d5 with good play. Also, once on c6, the Knight becomes a tactical target to Nf3-e5 or Nf3-g5 in case of ...b6.} 7. d3 O-O 8. Bd2 {Better is the straightforward 8.e4!.} 8... Nf5 9. Kh1 {White seems blissfully unaware of what is about to happen to him. Black is aiming for the following pawn structure: c5,b6,a7 vs. a2,b2,c2,d3. In this position, White's Queenside pawn majority is being clamped down. Since White is unable to take action on the Queenside without creating a weakness, Black will use his majority on the Kingside for an easy strategical win. White must avoid the above structure, and the simplest way is with 9.e4.} 9... d4 {At last!} 10. Na4 b6
11. g4 {Black is ideally placed for ...Qd8-c7, ...bc8-b7 and ...e7-e5 when the handwriting is on the wall. White has an offside Knight on a4 and no clear line of play. With the text, White regains some control of his e3-square and tries to challenge in the center.} 11... Nd6 12. h3 Bb7 13. e4
{White is forced to allow Black his strategical aims. Why? Because Black has more space. By mobilizing his pieces behind his pawn wedge, Black can build a menacing position. White needs some space before he is pushed off the board.} 13... dxe3ep 14. Bxe3 Qd7 15. Nc3 f5 16. g5 {Black is in his strategic glory. His remaining goal is to win complete mastery of the d4-square for a minor piece. Once this is done, White will be forced to play c2-c3 when Black will swarm over the resulting weaknesses. This means getting rid of the White Knight on f3 - preferably not in exchange for the Black Knight on c6 as he is ticketed for d4 - combined with the idea of utilizing my Kingside majority. The next series of moves is easy to see.}
16... Nf7 17. Qd2 Rae8 18. Rae1 e5 19. fxe5 Nfxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 {All the links in the plan are coming together. Still, it was important to be vigilant to White's counterplay. Lackadaisical is 20...Bxe5? 21.Bd5+ and Qd2-g2 when Black's domination of d4 is hindered.} 21. Bf4 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Nd4
{Mission accomplished. Black has a protected passed pawn on the Kingside, which becomes more important as the minor pieces get exchanged. At the moment, White's immediate problem is how to cope with the beast on d4. He decides to sacrifice a pawn for activity.} 23. Bxb7 Qxb7+ 24. Qg2 Qxg2+ 25.
Kxg2 Nxc2 26. Re7 Rf7 27. Re6 Rf8 28. Re7 Rd8 {This move is a hallmark of Karpov's. He is fantastic at limiting his opponent's pieces while maximizing his own after he has achieved his strategic aims. In this situation White's Rook has been allowed to penetrate, but Black keeps White's Knight on c3 nicely bottled up. It mustn't be allowed the trip Nc3-d5-f6+. In the meantime, the pawn on d3 is about to be slurped.} 29. Rxa7 Ne1+ 30. Kf1 Nxd3
{Once again, emulating Karpov. White is certainly having trouble maximizing his Knight, while Black's f5-pawn is waiting for his role.} 31. Bc7 Rd7 32.
Na4 {In time trouble, White chucks the game away. Obviously Black's play to limit the Knights mobility had made a strong impression on White's psyche. This attempt at mobilizing the Knight is really no choice at all. Black's pieces just work better. Probably the best line for White was 32.Bxb6 Rxa7 33.Bxa7 Nxb2 34.Ne2 c4 when Black is winning, but White is still kicking.}
32... b5 33. Nb6 {Black is getting pounded on a lot of meaningless squares.}
33... Rd4 {Still preventing the Knight from reaching d5.} 34. Ra8+ Kf7 35.
Ra7 Ke6 36. Ra6 Nb4 37. Ra5 Rd1+ 38. Ke2 Rb1 39. Rxb5 Rxb2+ 40. Kf3 Bd4 { Black's pieces are working together flawlessly.} 41. a4 Ra2 42. Ra5 Nd3 43.
Ra8 {At this point I had a really long think. Of course the position is a win, as Black's pieces are all ideally placed. I'm also a pawn up and have a mating attack. Great. Now, stop for a moment and see if you can find the win. At first the idea of ...Nd3-e1+ and ...Bd4-f2+ seems very appealing. Or perhaps the simple ...Rd4-f2+ and ...f5-f4-f3. Hmmm, not so simple. After staring at the board for a long time, I finally found the right idea, a really strange Knight move - away from the action!} 43... Rf2+ 44. Kg3 Nc1
45. Re8+ Kf7 46. Rd8 Ne2+ 47. Kh4 Rf4+ 48. Bxf4 Bf2+ 49. Bg3 Bxg3# {mate is a nice finish.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]

{Even when played by two of the greatest players alive, the King's Indian Defense is a game of opposite wing attacks, decided in favor of the player whose attack is the more efficiently planned - or more likely against the player who wastes time. Kasparov is the world's foremost expert on the dynamic Black side of this defense.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O {The Classical King's Indian, reached by a move order that denies the Grunfeld to Black (also a Kasparov specialty), but also denies the Samish for White.} 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 {Another possibility is 9.Nd2, planning to put the Knight on c4 to pressure d6 after a general advance on that wing. The move played intends Nd3 and c5, when the Knight retains options of swinging on the Queenside with Nb4 or heading back to defend the King, usually from f2.} 9... Nd7 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2
g5 {Black continues the Kingside action. Frequently Black will maneuver pieces about to clear lines, defend Queenside squares (d6 and c7 are key), and attack the King. Knight routes like Ng8-f6-d7-f6-e8 are common, while the other steed can be seen on the Nb8-c6-e7-g6-h4 highway. Black's attacking chances should not be underestimated.} 13. a4 {There are lines in which this move can play an important part, but there doesn't seem to be any hurry about playing it. Better is 13.Nd3 followed by c4-c5, c5xd6, Ra1-c1, and Nc3-b5, when Black is usually forced to offer a pawn to maintain the Kingside tempo.} 13... Ng6 14. Nd3 Nf6 15. c5 h5 16. h3 Rf7 {An important move, giving Black options to use the Rook on the g- or h- files while defending c7 along the rank and allowing the Bishop to defend d6 from f8 if necessary.} 17. c6 {White still does better to capture on d6, transferring the base of the pawn chain. The move chosen costs too much time, and Black's attack breaks through.} 17... a5 {Slowing down the occupation of c6 by the Knight (d3-b4-c6) and winning a tempo. Perhaps this excellent defense is what Korchnoi overlooked; it is often a bad idea to make defensive pawn moves on the side of the board that is being attacked by the opponent.} 18.
cxb7 Bxb7 19. b4 Bc8 20. bxa5 Bh6 21. Nb4 g4 22. Nc6 Qf8 23. fxg4 hxg4 24.
hxg4 Bg5 {Black has found a good route to activate the "bad" dark-squared Bishop.} 25. Bf3 Qh6 26. Re1 Nh4 27. Bxh4 Bxh4 28. g5 Qxg5 29. Re2 Ng4 30.
Rb1 Bg3 31. Qd3 Qh4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hartberg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lazarev, V."]
[Black "Uhlmann, W."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E98"]

{A game full of tactics and sacrifices.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4
d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 c5 10. Nd3 Ne8 11. Bd2
f5 12. f3 f4 13. g4 h5 14. h3 {Not 14.g5? Bh3 15.Rf2 Nc8.} 14... Kf7 {The h-file will become a place of confrontation.} 15. Kg2 Rh8 16. Rh1 Bf6 17. b4
{White begins operations on the queenside.} 17... b6 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Rb1
Bh4 20. Nb5 g5 21. Qa4 Ng6 22. Ba5 Qd7 23. Qa3 {White is preparing a dubious sacrifice. Better is 23.Nc3 Qxa4 24.Nxa4 Bg3 with an equal position.} 23...
Bg3 24. Nxd6+ Qxd6 25. Nxc5 Nh4+ 26. Kf1 Nf6 27. Bb4 a5 28. Bc3 {Not 28.Ne6? Qb8 or 26.Bxa5? Nd7 29.Rb5 Ba6 winning.} 28... hxg4 29. hxg4 Nd7 30. Rb5 Ba6
31. Rxa5 Nxf3 32. Rh5 {Not 32.Bxf3? Rxh1+ 33.Bxf1 Bxc4+ 34.Kg1 Rxa5 35.Qxa5 Qxc5 or 32.Rxh8? Rxh8 33.Rxa6 Rh1+ 34.Kg2 Rh2+ winning.} 32... Rxh5 33. gxh5
Nxc5 34. Qxc5 Qxc5 35. Rxc5 g4 36. Rc7+ {If 36.Bxf3, then 36...gxf3 followed by Bc8-h3+.} 36... Kf6 37. h6 Kg5 38. h7 Rh8 39. d6 {Worse is 39.c5 Nh2+ or 39.Bxf3 gxf3 40.Bxe5 Rxh7! 41.Rxh7 Bxc4+ winning.} 39... Nh2+ 40. Kg2 {Not 40.Kg1? f3 41.Bd3 Bf4 followed by ...g3.} 40... Kh4 41. Rg7 f3+ 42. Kg1 {If 42.Kh1, then 42...fxe2 43.d7 Bb7 wins.} 42... fxe2 43. d7 Nf3+ 44. Kh1 Be1
45. Bxe1+ {Also losing are 45.Rg8 Rxh7! 46.d8=Q+ Kg3 and 45.d8=Q Rxd8 46.Rg8 Rxg8 47.hxg8=Q Kg3!.} 45... Nxe1 46. d8=Q+ {If 46.Rg8, then 46...Rxh7! 47.d8=Q+ Kg3 48.Kg1 Nf3#.} 46... Rxd8 47. Rg8 Rxg8 48. hxg8=Q Kg3 {White Resigns. White cannot stop 49...Nf3 and 50...e1=Q+.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hansen, Cu."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]

{The tactics start in the opening and never stop.} 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4
Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {Called the "Bayonet" in this variation of the Classical King's Indian Defense, White plays an early b4 to rush the Queenside.} 9... Nh5 10. g3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12.
f3 f4 13. c5 dxc5 14. Bc4 cxb4 15. d6+ Kh8 16. Nb5 {Trying to win a piece with 16.dxe7 leaves White's minors seriously uncoordinated. After 16...Qxe7, Black threatens both ...Qe7-c5+ and ...h7-h6 regaining the material with interest.} 16... h6 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 18. Bxf7 cxd6 19. Nxd6 Bh3 20. Bb3 Kh7 21.
Rf2 Nc6 22. Bb2 Qe7 23. Rc1 Nd4 24. gxf4 Nh5 25. fxe5 Bxe5 26. Nf7 Nxb3 27.
Nxe5 Nxc1 28. Qxc1 {After the complications, Black is ahead a pawn. But more importantly, his pieces are active and the White King is threatened.} 28...
Rc8 29. Rc2 Rxc2 30. Qxc2 Qg5+ 31. Kh1 Qe3 32. Qc7+ Ng7 33. Qc1 Qe2 34. Qg1
g5 35. Bd4 Ne6 36. Qg3 Nf4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Fourmies"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Legky, N."]
[Black "Martinovic, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]

{White sacrifices two pieces to get to the King.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4
Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 Nh5 10. g4
Nf6 11. Be3 h5 {This weakens the kingside. Better is 11...Nc6.} 12. g5 Nh7
13. f4 a6 {With the idea of playing 14...c5, which is not possible immediately due to 14.Ndb5.} 14. Bf3 Bh3 15. Rf2 f6 16. Bxh5 {Cracking open the kingside.} 16... gxh5 17. Qxh5 Bd7 18. h4 f5 19. Nxf5 {Sacrificing a second piece. The pawns will be overwhelming.} 19... Bxf5 20. exf5 Rxe3 {If 20...Bxc3, then 21.f6 is strong.} 21. f6 Bxf6 {If 21...Nxf6?, then 22.gxf6 Qxf6 23.Nd5 wins immediately.} 22. gxf6 Rg3+ 23. Kh2 Nxf6 24. Qf5 Rg7 25.
Rg1 {Exchanging off a key defender.} 25... Nbd7 {If 25...Rxg1, then 26.Kxg1 Nbd7 27.Nd5.} 26. Nd5 Nh7 {26...Qf8 would have been more tenacious.} 27.
Qe6+ Kh8 28. Rxg7 Qxh4+ {If 28...Kg7, then 29.Rg2+ Kh8 30.Ne7 wins.} 29. Kg1
Kxg7 30. Rh2 Nc5 {If 30...Ndf8, then 31.Rg2+ Ng5 32.Qe7+ Kh8 33.Rxg5 winning.} 31. Qe3 Qd8 32. Qg3+ Kh8 33. Qc3+ Kg8 34. Rg2+ {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]

{The Kings Indian Defense usually involves a race between White's attack on the queenside and Black's attack on the kingside.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 h6 8. O-O Ng4 9. Bc1 Nc6 10. d5 Ne7
11. Nd2 f5 12. Bxg4 fxg4 13. b4 a5 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. Nb3 Ra6 16. c5 g5 17.
Be3 Ng6 18. a4 Nf4 19. a5 Bd7 20. Nd2 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Rf7 22. Qb3 Bc8 23. Nc4
h5 24. Nb5 Rh6 {Better is 24...h4.} 25. d6 c6 {If 25...Be6, then 26.Nxc7 Rxc7 27.dxc7 Qxc7 28.Qb6 wins.} 26. Na7 Be6 27. a6 bxa6 {If 27...b5, then 28.Nxc6 wins.} 28. Nxc6 Qa8 29. Ne7+ Kh7 30. Qc2 h4 31. Rfd1 {Better is 31.Nb6 Qe8 32.Rad1 threatening d6-d7 and White has a winning position.}
31... Qe8 32. Nb6 g3 {It is clear now that the wrong Rook was moved to f1.}
33. Nf5 gxf2+ 34. Bxf2 Rhf6 35. Be3 Bf8 36. Bxf4 exf4 37. Nd5 Bxf5 38. Nxf6+
Rxf6 39. exf5 Bxd6 40. Kh1 {40.Rxa6?? is not immediately possible due to 40...Bc5+. But better is 40.Re1 Qb5 41.Re6 winning.} 40... h3 {Black's only hope is an attack on White's exposed King.} 41. Rxa6 Qe3 42. Rf1 {If 42.Raxd6 Rxd6 43.Qc7+ Kg8 44.Qxd6, then Black draws with 44...hxg2+ 45.Kxg2 Qe2+.}
42... g4 43. Ra4 {43.Rxd6 Rxd6 44.Qc7+ Kg8 45.Qxd6 still only draws due to 45...hxg2+ 46.Kxg2 Qe4+.} 43... hxg2+ 44. Qxg2 Qd3 45. Rg1 Bc5 46. Rxf4 { White must give back the exchange, because if 46.Re1, then 46...Qxf5 followed by 47...f3 is good for Black. The position is equal after 46.Qxg4 Bxg1 47.Qh4+ Kg7 48.Rxf4 Bd4.} 46... Bxg1 47. Rxg4 Qxf5 {Not 47...Be3? 48.Rg7+ Kh6 49.Rg6+! mating.} 48. Rh4+ {48.Qh3+ Rh6 49.Rg7+ Kxg7 50.Qxf5 Bxh2 leads to a drawn position.} 48... Rh6 49. Qb7+ Kg8 50. Qb8+ Kg7 51.
Qc7+ Kg8 52. Qd8+ Kf7 53. Qc7+ Kg8 54. Qb8+ {White is repeating moves to save time on the clock.} 54... Kg7 55. Qb7+ Kg8 56. Rxh6 Be3 {Threatening both ...Bxh6 and ...Qf1 checkmate forces the draw.} 57. Qb8+ Kf7 {Not 57...Kg7? 58.Qh8+.} 58. Qc7+ Kg8 59. Qd8+ Kf7 60. Qc7+ Kg8 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raicevic, V."]
[Black "Vasiljevic, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]

{White sacrifices a piece to activate his pieces and start a mating attack.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. h3 e6 8. Bd3
Na6 9. O-O e5 10. Ne2 Bd7 11. a4 {Weakening the b4-square but preventing Black from starting counterplay on the queenside.} 11... Nb4 12. Bb1 Nh5 13.
Ra3 {This Rook will later be transferred over to the Kingside.} 13... f5 14.
exf5 gxf5 15. Ng5 Nf6 16. Ng3 e4 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Ne8 19. Qh5 Qf6 20.
Nxe4 {Sacrificing a piece to open up the b1-h7 diagonal.} 20... fxe4 21.
Bxe4 h6 22. Rg3 {Threatening 23.Bxh6.} 22... Qxe6 23. Re1 Qf7 24. Qh4 Qxf2+
25. Kh2 Qf6 {If 25...Qxe1, then 26.Rxg7+.} 26. Bg5 Qxb2 {If 26...hxg5, then 27.Qh7+ Kf7 28.Rf3 wins.} 27. Bxh6 Rf2 28. Bh7+ {Black Resigns. Black has the unpleasant choice between 28...Kf7 29.Qe7# or 28...Kxh7 29.Bxg7+.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E86"]

{The Saemisch is one of White's sharpest variations against the King's Indian, frequently displaying opposite-wing castling and pawn storms. Here Russian "Big Al" Beliavsky allows Dutch GM Jan Timman to capture Queenside material to his heart's content, while relentlessly storming the King. The resulting endgame yields a textbook example of winning with a Knight and passed pawns against a Rook.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 { The defining moment for the Samish variation. White plans Bc1-e3, Qd1-d2, O-O-O, Be3-h6, and h2-h4-h5 with a Kingside attack. A similar attacking strategy against the Sicilian Dragon is called the Yugoslav Attack.} 5...
O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. O-O-O a6 10. h4 b5 {Black can consider h7-h5 trying to delay the White attack, or he can begin his own assault. There is also a theoretical debate about the best way to develop the Knight from b8, either to c6 or to d7 as in this game. Black sometimes operates with Nb8-c6, Ra8-b8, a7-a6, and b7-b5, occasionally even omitting the move e7-e5.} 11. h5 Qa5 {The last thing Black wants to do is open files on the Kingside, therefore he probably didn't even consider capturing the h-pawn. Also, b5xc4 wins a pawn and opens the b-file, but it allows White a respite and is slower than the text. Everything depends on being first with the attack.} 12. Bh6 Bxh6 13. Qxh6 b4 14. Nb1 Qxa2 15. Ng3 Nb6 16. c5 {White doesn't immediately have enough force to break through on the other side, so first he plays in the center. This move requires the following exchange sacrifice.} 16... Nc4 17. Rd2 Nxd2 18. Nxd2 Qa1+ 19. Nb1 Be6 20. cxd6 Qa5 { Black runs back for the defense. If White manages to dislodge the Black Knight from f6, then mate will follow on h7. This was the point of 16.c5, to remove the Black pawns from d6 and e5, and place at least one White unit on e5, attacking the Knight.} 21. Qg5 Qd8 22. dxe5 Nd7 23. Qh6 g5 24. Nf5 Bxf5
25. exf5 f6 26. Bc4+ Kh8 27. e6 {White obviously has more than enough for the exchange.} 27... Ne5 28. Rd1 {White could win a piece with 28.e7 instead, but this would allow Black to eliminate all of the dangerous center pawns, and in fact the White King would remain exposed. Play might continue (after 28.e7) 28...Qxd6 29.exf8/Q+ Rxf8 when Black has defended and has threats of ...Rf8-d8, ...Ne5xc4, or ...Qd6-c5. Notice also that White's Queen is trapped on h6, and that White must be careful not to allow ...Ne5-f7 removing it.} 28... Nxc4 29. e7 Qe8 30. Qxf8+ {This takes care of the trapped Queen problem.} 30... Qxf8 31. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 32. Rd4 {Now a numerically equal ending has been reached. However, White still has the passed d-pawn, and Black's Queenside is seriously overextended. This is enough to win.} 32... Ne5 33. Nd2 Kg7 34. Ne4 Kf7 35. Nc5 Ra8 36. Rxb4 Ra7
37. Rd4 Ke8 38. Kc2 a5 39. Kc3 Kd8 40. Ne6+ Kd7 41. Nc5+ Kd8 42. Re4 h6 43.
b3 Ra8 44. g3 Rb8 45. Rxe5 {Black would meet 45.f4 with 45...Rb5, but this exchange sacrifice creates two passers for White, and Black's Rook remains curiously bottled up.} 45... fxe5 46. f6 Ke8 47. d7+ Kd8 48. Kd3 Ra8 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Christiansen, L."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]

{A growing trend is the participation of foreign Grandmasters in the traditional team matches in Germany. Former U.S. champion Christiansen now lives in Germany for this and for the opportunity to compete more frequently in European events. The most impressive result of an American player in years was Christiansen's clear first at Munich over an exceptionally strong field. In this game typical of his style, Christiansen unleashes a fierce attack that swings from the center to the King's wing, finally resulting in a subtly won endgame.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6.
Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3 exd5 9. cxd5 Na6 10. Be2 Nc7 11. O-O Rb8 12. Bf4 b5
13. Qd2 Re8 14. Kh1 h5 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Rae1 b4 17. Nd1 Nb5 18. Bc4 Nd4 19.
Ne2 Nxe2 20. Rxe2 Qc7 {Nunn intends 21...Nd7 and 22...Ne5 with a fine position, but Christiansen's forceful play keeps Black off-balance for the rest of the game.} 21. e5 Rxe5 22. Rxe5 dxe5 23. d6 Qc6 24. Ne3 Ba6 25. Nd5
Nxd5 26. Bxd5 Qd7 27. Re1 Re8 28. Rc1 e4 29. fxe4 Bd4 {Black seems to be safe for the moment, but Christiansen finds an original breakthrough that unleashes the power of the passed d-pawn.} 30. Bc6 Qxc6 31. Qxd4 cxd4 32.
Rxc6 Bb5 33. Rc7 Rxe4 34. h3 {Black must lose material for the d-pawn. Nunn struggles to confuse matters, but there is no escape.} 34... f6 35. Bh6 d3
36. d7 Rd4 37. Rc8+ Kh7 38. d8=Q Rxd8 39. Rxd8 Kxh6 40. Kg1 f5 41. h4 Kg7
42. Kf2 Kf6 43. Ke3 Ke5 44. g3 {Black Resigns. White's rook will win one of the Black queenside pawns, after which the White queenside pawns would advance.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Timman, J."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E67"]

{On move 19 Kasparov bangs his Knight onto f2 and the board is in flames.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. b3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Re8 12. Bb2 Nc5 13. e3 a5 14. a3 h5
15. b4 Nce4 16. b5 Bd7 17. Rac1 {Each player is playing on opposite sides of the board. Worth considering was 17.a4 h4 18.Re1 with equality.} 17... h4
18. a4 {Even Timman, with all his experience, did not expect the strike from out of the blue that follows. Better is 18.Re1 or 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Re1.}
18... hxg3 19. hxg3 Nxf2 20. Qxf2 {Worse is 20.Kxf2 Ng4+ 21.Kg1 Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 Qh6+ winning.} 20... Ng4 21. Qf3 Nxe3 {22...Nxd1 and 22...Bg4 are threatened.} 22. Re1 Bxd4 23. Nd5 Ng4+ 24. Bxd4 Qxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 26. Bf1
cxd5 27. Qxd5 Rae8 28. Bf2 {Not 28.Bc3 Rxf1+.} 28... Be6 29. Qxb7 Rc1 30.
Qc6 Rc8 31. Qe4 R8xc4 32. Qa8+ Kh7 33. b6 Rb4 34. Qxa5 {If 34.b7, then 34...Rbb1 35.Qa6 Bc4 wins.} 34... Rbb1 35. Kg2 Rc2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Yusupov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E67"]

{This game was the first of a two-game tie breaker that was to decide the Candidates semifinalist, the chess world's version of the Final Four. The game was played at the odd time limit of 60 moves in 45 minutes, so it's impossible to imagine what the players were seeing.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 d6 3.
Bg2 g6 4. d4 Nd7 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Nf3 Ngf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 {This is a dubious deviation from the well-trodden path of 8.e4, which gives White a pull.}
8... Re8 {Better is 8...exd4 9.Nxd4 Nb6!. The text allows White an even more favorable transposition into the normal 8.e4 lines.} 9. Rd1 c6 10. b3 Qe7 { Not a happy placement of the Queen.} 11. Ba3 {This is asking for trouble. After 11.e4! exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.f3 a5 14.a3 White keeps a persistent advantage. The text anticipates ...e5-e4, because it prevents the follow-up ...d6-d5.} 11... e4 {Forced. Also, at this time control it's nice to have the initiative.} 12. Ng5 e3 13. f4 {This natural-looking move is actually a careless blunder. It makes White's kingside structure quite brittle. Black can now concentrate on such conceptions as ...h7-h5-h4xg3 and ...Nf6-h5. Therefore, correct was 13.f3!} 13... Nf8 {Black's attack is suddenly very ominous. Ivanchuk slowed down around this point to try and comfort his King and then pressed ahead on the queenside.} 14. b4 Bf5 15. Qb3 h6 16. Nf3 Ng4
17. b5 g5 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Ne5 {It takes nerves of steel to play a move like this one. Black's pieces are flooding the kingside and White moves away a key defender. Vassily is playing with fire. But what else is he to do? After 19.fxg5 hxg5 White's game lacks vitality, while Black's attack is still picking up steam.} 19... gxf4 20. Nxc6 Qg5 21. Bxd6 {In the hopes that the Bishop can serve a defensive role on the d6-h2 diagonal.} 21... Ng6 22.
Nd5 {White is trying to rush his pieces back to the kingside.} 22... Qh5 { The natural looking move to induce a weakness, but 22...fxg3 23.Bxg3 h5 appears to be winning.} 23. h4 Nxh4 {The fun begins. Black is also for choice after 23...fxg3 24.Bxg3 Nxh4 25.Nf4 Qg5 26.Nh3 Qf6 with advantage. Artur was determined not to allow White's pieces to get back.} 24. gxh4 Qxh4
{The crucial moment. I thought that Black's attack could now be repulsed by 25.Nce7+!, grabbing the Bishop on f5. Ivanchuk thought for several minutes, hesitated, reached out his hand, and grabbed the wrong Knight! Now, holding the wrong Knight, Ivanchuk looked grieved, then continued as if nothing was wrong. How can the world's number two player grab the wrong piece? My guess is nerves.} 25. Nde7+ {A gross error. The Knight on d5 was fulfilling a brilliant function, it hit the kids on f4 and e3 and it was just a hop from the kingside, whereas the Knight on c6 is obviously useless.} 25... Kh8 26.
Nxf5 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 Re6 28. Qb7 Rg6 {White will soon have to return his hoard of pieces to save his King. Now ...Qh2-h1+ is the King-Kong threat.} 29.
Qxa8+ {I like this very much! If you're going to go down in flames, take as much with you as you can!} 29... Kh7 30. Qg8+ Kxg8 31. Nce7+ Kh7 32. Nxg6
fxg6 33. Nxg7 {From a material standpoint, White's doing great, two Bishops and two Rooks for the Queen! But as my first teacher, Jeffrey Parsons once said, "Concentrate on what stays on the board, not on what comes off!"}
33... Nf2 {Instant death. Black threatens ...Nf2-h3 and ...Qh2-g1 mate.} 34.
Bxf4 Qxf4 35. Ne6 Qh2 {The threat worked once before, perhaps it will work again?} 36. Rdb1 Nh3 {It still wasn't too late to blow the game by 36...h5?? allowing 37.Ng5+ Kh6 38.Nf3 which defends the homestead.} 37. Rb7+ Kg8 38.
Rb8+ Qxb8 39. Bxh3 Qg3 {And Ivanchuk gave up. The moral of the story is that the next time you invite your opponent to push his pawn to e3, be sure that you take it! Chess Informant voted this the best game in the second half of 1991.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Speelman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E62"]

{This game from the strong Linares tournament in 1991 pits the very popular Russian Grandmaster Artur Yusupov against the resourceful Brit, Jonathan Speelman. The advantage of the initiative is well illustrated here, as Yusupov continually pressures Speelman's King until finally material is won. } 1. d4 d6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Nc3 Bf5 8.
Ne1 Qd7 9. e4 Bh3 10. f3 {White makes a strong central barrier, then prepares his Kingside play at leisure. When playing these hypermodern openings, it seems imperative that some central line-opening options are retained, since the disadvantage in space can be fatal in the long term.}
10... Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Na6 12. Be3 Rfc8 13. Nd3 Ne8 14. Qe2 c5 15. d5 Nec7 16.
Nf2 Rcb8 17. a4 {White gladly gives up the b4 square to a Knight in order to delay or prevent ...b7-b5.} 17... Nb4 18. Ng4 Rf8 19. Bh6 Bxh6 20. Nxh6+ Kg7
21. Qd2 e6 22. dxe6 Qxe6 23. Ng4 f6 24. h4 {White still retains enough central control to casually advance the h-pawn to open lines. White's attack doesn't look like much, but the Kingside initiative combined with Black's slightly uncoordinated Knights will lead to bigger and better things.} 24...
Rad8 25. h5 f5 26. exf5 Qxf5 27. hxg6 Qxg6 28. Ne4 Ne6 29. Rh1 Rxf3 {A very good try. If White accepts the Exchange sacrifice, Black will take over the initiative against White's exposed King.} 30. Qh6+ {But White has a method of simplifying while retaining a tactical edge.} 30... Qxh6 31. Rxh6 Nd4 32.
Rah1 Rh8 33. Rxd6 Nd3 {Moves like Ng4-e5 and Rd6-d7 are threatened, but this loses a piece without compensation.} 34. Rxd4 cxd4 35. Kxf3 Nxb2 36. Rb1
Rf8+ 37. Ke2 Nxc4 38. Rxb7+ Kg6 39. Kd3 Ne3 40. Nxe3 dxe3 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Ernst, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D91"]

{An example of a quick knockout of a Grandmaster.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. cxd5 Nxg5 7. Nxg5 c6 8. e3 cxd5 {Better is 8...e6 9.Nf3 cxd5.} 9. Qf3 {Forcing weaknesses.} 9... f6 {The only way to avoid losing a pawn.} 10. Nh3 Bxh3 {10...e6 11.Nf4 O-O 12.Bd3 Nc6 13.h4 is good for White.} 11. Qxh3 f5 12. g4 {Opening up the position. The Black King will not be able to find a safe home.} 12... O-O 13. gxf5 gxf5 {If 13...Rxf5, then 14.Bd3.} 14. Rg1 {Threatening a double attack with 15.Qg2.}
14... e6 {The only move.} 15. Ne2 Nc6 {Transferring the Knight to a very strong outpost at f4.} 16. Nf4 Rf6 17. Bd3 Qe7 {Better is 17...Qc7.} 18. Ke2
Raf8 19. Rg5 R8f7 20. Rag1 Qc7 21. Rh5 Nxd4+ {A desperate attempt to prolong the game.} 22. exd4 Qxf4 23. Rxh7 {Black Resigns. If 23...Kf8, then 24.Rhxg7 Rxg7 25.Qh8+ wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Kamsky, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D91"]

{White sacrifices a pawn in the opening and has sufficient compensation. But Black plays a very good defense.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5.
Bg5 Ne4 6. Bh4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 dxc4 8. e3 b5 {Black tries to hang onto his extra pawn.} 9. a4 c6 10. Nd2 a6 11. Be2 Ra7 12. O-O O-O 13. Bf3 Rd7 14. Qb1
{Threatening 15.Nxc4.} 14... Qc7 15. Ne4 {Transferring his Knight to the strong outpost at c5.} 15... Rdd8 16. Qb4 f5 17. Nc5 Rde8 {Black would like to play 18...e5.} 18. Rfd1 {Now 18...e5 would be met with 19.d5.} 18... Bf6
19. Bxf6 {Not 19.Bg3 e5 20.d5 Be7 pinning the Knight.} 19... Rxf6 20. Ra2
Nd7 21. Rad2 Qb6 22. g3 Nxc5 23. Qxc5 Qxc5 24. dxc5 Kf7 {White does not have enough compensation for the pawn.} 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra2 {Threatening Ra7 followed by Rc7 winning the c6-pawn.} 26... e5 {Threatening to block in the Bishop with 27...e4.} 27. Ra7+ Re7 28. Ra8 Bd7 {Better was 28...e4.} 29. Rd8
Be8 30. e4 f4 31. g4 {Both players were in time pressure.} 31... g5 32. h4
Rh6 33. hxg5 Rg6 34. Kf1 Rxg5 35. Ke2 Rg6 36. Rh1 Kg7 37. Ra1 h6 38. Raa8
Bf7 39. Ra6 Rc7 40. Rd6 Rf6 41. Rd8 Kg6 42. Kd2 {White would like to infiltrate with his King via a5.} 42... Kg5 43. Kc2 Be6 44. Re8 Rg6 45. Ra1
Kf6 46. Rh1 Ra7 47. Kb2 b4 48. g5+ {Worse is 48.cxb4?! c3+.} 48... hxg5 49.
Rxe6+ {White gives up the exchange to stop ...g5-g4. His position has become quite bad.} 49... Kxe6 50. Bg4+ Kf6 51. cxb4 Kg7 {Threatening 52...Rh6.} 52.
Rh5 Rh6 53. Rxg5+ Rg6 54. Rxg6+ Kxg6 55. f3 Kf6 56. Kc3 Ke7 57. Kxc4 Ra3 58.
Bh5 Kd7 59. Bg4+ Kc7 60. Bh5 Kb7 61. Bg4 Ra1 {White Resigns. Black wins after 62.Bd7 Rc1+ 63.Kb3 Rd1 64.Bg4 Ka6 65.Be6 Rd3+ 66.Kc4 Rxf3.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Kozul, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]

{20 year old Latvian GM Shirov proved himself to be one of the best players in the world by winning this strong tournament in Biel, Switzerland.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2
O-O 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Kf1 {White forgoes castling because he intends to open up the h-file by advancing his h-pawn.} 12... Bd7
13. h4 Rfc8 14. h5 Nd8 15. f3 b5 16. Bb3 Rxc1 17. Bxc1 Qb6 {Better is 17...Rc8.} 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Qe1 {Transferring the Queen to the h-file.}
19... Rc8 20. Bg5 {Not 20.Qh4?! Rxc1+! 21.Nxc1 Qxd4 with counterplay.} 20...
Ne6 21. Bxe7 g5 {This is Black's only defense against Qh4.} 22. d5 Nd4 23.
Bxg5 b4 24. Be3 Qa6 25. Bxd4 Bxd4 26. Qd2 Bg7 27. d6 Bb5 28. Bxf7+ {The finishing touch.} 28... Kf8 {If 28...Kxf7, then 29.Qd5+ Kf8 30.Qf5+ Kg8 31.Qe6+ Kf8 32.Rh5 results in a decisive mating attack.} 29. Be6 Rc1+ {If 29...Bxe2+, then not 30.Qxe2 Rc1+, rather 30.Kf2.} 30. Qxc1 Bxe2+ 31. Kf2
Bd4+ 32. Kg3 Qxd6+ 33. Qf4+ Ke7 34. Rh7+ {Black Resigns. Black loses his Queen after 34...Kxe6 35.Rh6+.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Kamsky, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]

{An instructive ending.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4
Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Qd2 Qa5 9. Rb1 a6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+
12. Kxd2 O-O 13. Nf3 e6 14. Bc4 Nc6 15. Rhd1 Bd7 16. Ke1 Na5 17. Be2 Rfc8
18. Bd2 Nc6 19. Bc3 Na7 20. Bd2 Nb5 {Better is 20...Nc6.} 21. e5 Bc6 22. a4
Na7 23. Ra1 Bd5 24. Kf1 {White intends to maneuver his Knight to d3 via e1.}
24... Nc6 25. a5 {Fixing Black's pawns on the queenside.} 25... Rc7 26. Be3
Bf8 27. Ne1 Bb4 28. Rdc1 {This position is much better for White.} 28...
Bxe1 {Otherwise Black would get into a very cramped position after the Knight comes to d3.} 29. Rxe1 Nb4 30. Rac1 {Not 30.Rec1 Nc2 31.Rab1 Ba2.}
30... Nc2 31. Bg5 Rac8 32. Red1 Nb4 33. Rxc7 {Not 33.Rb1?! Na2 threatening ...Nc3.} 33... Rxc7 34. Rb1 Nc2 35. Bd8 Rc8 36. Bb6 {Threatening Bc5 trapping the Knight.} 36... Be4 {Threatening 37...Ne3+ and 37...Nd4.} 37.
Rd1 Rc3 38. Bc5 Kg7 39. Kg1 Rb3 40. f3 Bc6 41. Kf2 Nb4 42. Rd2 Bd5 43. h4
Nc6 44. Bb6 h5 {Trying to win the a-pawn with 44...Ra3 is risky after 45.Rc2 Nxa5 46.Rc8 and Black's King could get into a mating net with Bc5-f8+ or Bd8-f6+.} 45. Rc2 Ra3 46. g4 Ra1 {If 46...hxg4 47.fxg4 Rh3, then White creates an outside passed pawn with 48.g5.} 47. Rc3 Rh1 48. Kg3 g5 {A strong move which creates an outside passed pawn.} 49. hxg5 h4+ 50. Kg2 {If 50.Kf2, then 50...Rh2+ 51.Ke3 h3 and the passed pawn will become dangerous.} 50...
Re1 51. Rc2 {Not 51.Kf2 h3! winning.} 51... Kg6 52. Kf2 Ra1 53. f4 Ra3 54.
Rd2 {The losing move. Correct is 54.Kg1 Rg3+ 55.Kh2.} 54... Rg3 {Cutting the King off from the passed pawn.} 55. Bc5 {If 55.Rd3, then 55...Rg2+ 56.Ke3 Rxe2 57.Kxe2 Bc4 wins.} 55... Kg7 56. Rd3 {If 56.f5, then 56...Rg2+ 57.Ke3 h3 wins.} 56... Rg2+ 57. Kf1 Rxe2 58. Kxe2 Bc4 59. d5 {White must sacrifice a pawn to get his Bishop back in time to stop the h-pawn.} 59... exd5 60.
Kd2 Bxd3 61. Kxd3 d4 {White will not be able to stop both passed pawns without losing a piece.} 62. Ke2 {If 62.Bxd4, then 62...Nxd4 63.Kxd4 h3 wins.} 62... h3 63. Kf3 d3 64. Be3 Nd4+ 65. Kg3 h2 66. Kxh2 Nf3+ 67. Kg3 d2
68. Bxd2 Nxd2 69. f5 Nc4 70. Kf4 Nxa5 71. Ke4 Nc6 72. Kd5 a5 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Speelman, J."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D76"]

{A tactically complex middlegame between Britain's top two players leads to a simple, theoretically known Rook ending.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4.
g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 Re8 10. h3 a5 11.
Rb1 a4 12. Ne1 Bf5 13. e4 Bd7 14. Nc2 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 {It is clear that Black has already more than equalized. This move will cause trouble later along the diagonals to the White King.} 16... Nec4 17. Qf3 Qe7 18. b3
axb3 19. axb3 Qc5+ 20. Kh2 Nd6 21. e5 Nb5 22. Nxb5 Bxb5 23. Rf2 Bc6 24. Qe3
Qxe3 25. Nxe3 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 f6 27. Ng4 {Leads to a pawn-down Rook endgame. Better chances to hold are given by 27.exf6, although Black's pieces gain activity.} 27... fxe5 28. fxe5 Nd5 29. Nh6+ Bxh6 30. Bxh6 Rxe5 31. g4 Rae8
32. Rbb2 Ne3+ 33. Bxe3 Rxe3 34. b4 Rc3 35. Rf3 Ree3 36. Rxe3 Rxe3 37. b5 Kf7
38. Rc2 Re7 39. Kf3 Ke6 40. Kf4 h6 41. Rd2 g5+ 42. Kg3 c5 43. bxc6ep bxc6
44. Rd8 Ke5 45. h4 gxh4+ 46. Kxh4 c5 47. Rc8 Kd5 48. Rd8+ Kc6 49. Rc8+ Kb6
50. Rb8+ Kc7 51. Rb1 Re6 52. g5 hxg5+ 53. Kxg5 Kc6 54. Rc1 {Slightly more testing is 54.Kf5, bringing the King one file closer with tempo on the Rook. However, the theory of these endings is well known, and Short seems completely competent to win against the best defense.} 54... Kb5 55. Rb1+
Ka4 56. Rc1 Kb4 57. Rb1+ Ka3 58. Rc1 Rc6 59. Kf4 c4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yusupov, A."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]

{Yusupov sacrifices a Rook and follows up with some masterful strokes, winning a sparkling tactical brilliancy.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Bd2 cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 { Black tried 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qxd5 12.Re1 Nbd7 13.Qe2 Qh5 14.a4 a6 15.Reb1 Rfd8 with equality in Reshevsky-Smyslov, Zurich 1953, but giving up a Bishop for a Knight while improving your opponent's pawn structure is not to everyone's taste.} 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Re1 Rc8 {Black cannot generate proper pressure against the d4-pawn: 12...Nf6 13.Bg5.} 13. Re4 Nce7 {Yusupov badly needed a win, so extraordinary measures can be easily justified. You don't see Rooks being transferred to h4 this early very often.} 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 { Forced, as 14...exd5? 15.Rh4 loses and 14...Bxd2 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Qd2 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 also fails to simple tactics.} 15. Rh4 g6 {I can think of players who would not hesitate to go for 15...f5 16.Rh3. The strangely placed Rook seems like a good reason for a permanent weakening of pawn structure.} 16.
Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Ng5 {There is only one direction - forward.} 17... Be7 18. Qg4
Ba6 {Already playing with fire. Much safer was 18...Nf6 19.Qh3 h5.} 19. Qh3
h5 20. Rxh5 gxh5 21. Bh7+ Kg7 22. Qxh5 Nf6 {A terrible move that tries to cope with the threat 23.Bf5! Nf6 24.Nxe6+. Better was 22...Bxg5!.} 23. Nxe6+
fxe6 24. Qh6+ Kh8 25. Bf5+ Kg8 26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. Qh4+ Kg8 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29.
Qh4+ Kg8 30. Qg3+ Kh8 31. Qh3+ Kg7 32. Qg3+ Kh8 33. Qh3+ Kg7 34. Bxe6 Qxe6 { The Black Queen goes because of the mate threat. The other way round with 34...Rh8 35.Qg3+ Kf8 36.Bxc8 Bxc8 37.Qb8 could not save the day.} 35. Qxe6
Bd8 {The tempting 35...Re8 would not be good after 36.Bg5!.} 36. g4 Re8 37.
Qf5 Bc4 38. g5 {Black Resigns. Black is cornered after the simple 38.g5 Nd5 39.Qd7+ Kf8 40.g6.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gual, A."]
[Black "Garbarino, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]

{Black starts a quick counterattack, sacrifices a piece, and then his Queen! } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Rb1 Na6 8.
Bd2 O-O 9. d5 Bb7 10. e4 exd5 11. exd5 Ng4 12. Ng3 Qh4 13. Be2 Rae8 14. Nce4
{White is having trouble finding safety for his King. If 14.h3, then 14...Nxf2! 15.Kxf2 f5 followed by 16...f4.} 14... Nxh2 15. Nd6 f5 {Black must keep on attacking.} 16. Nxb7 {The decisive error. Correct is 16.Nxe8 or 16.Bxa5.} 16... f4 17. Nf1 f3 {This pawn has a great future.} 18. Rxh2 Qxh2
19. Nxh2 fxg2 20. Bxa5 g1=Q+ {White Resigns. White's position is hopeless after 21.Kd2 Qxh2 22.Bc3 Rxf2.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Berga"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kozul, Z."]
[Black "Ionescu, Co."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]

{Another instructive kingside attack.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2
c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Nf3 Qb6 7. e3 Qc7 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Bd3
Na6 12. Nb5 Qc6 13. Qd2 Nc5 14. O-O a6 15. Nbd4 Qc7 16. Bb1 O-O {Better was 16...Be4. This diagonal is later used for a dangerous attack.} 17. Ne2 Rfd8
{If now 17...Be4, then 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bxe4 Nxe4 20.Qxd7 wins a pawn.} 18.
Ng3 {White maneuvers his pieces in preparation for a kingside attack.} 18...
d6 {Better was 18...Nfe4. Now the attack comes in full force.} 19. Ng5 h6
20. f4 Rac8 {If 20...hxg5, then White's attack is very strong after 21.fxg5. 21...Ne8 22.Qc2 g6 23.Rxf7 loses immediately while White wins back his piece after 21...Nfe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Qd4 with a double attack.} 21.
Qc2 Ncd7 22. Nh5 {Now there is no way to stop White from making a direct hit deep into Black's kingside.} 22... hxg5 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.
fxg5 Bxg5 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Bg6 Bxe3+ {If 27...Bf6, then 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Qxg7! Bxg7 30.Rxf7+ Ke8 31.Rxc7+ Kf8 32.Rxb7 wins.} 28. Kh1 d5 {Worse is 28...Rd7 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxg7.} 29. Rxf7+ Qxf7 30. Bxf7 Kxf7 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Qxg7+
Kd6 33. Qg3+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]

{An instructive endgame.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3
Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 c5 9. e3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Nc6 11. Qd6 Ne4 12.
Bxd8 Nxd6 13. Bh4 Ba6 14. b3 Nf5 15. Bf2 Na5 16. Rb1 d5 {As Black is ahead in development, he needs to open up the position quickly before White consolidates.} 17. cxd5 Bxf1 18. Kxf1 exd5 19. g4 Ne7 20. Ne2 Rac8 21. Rb2 { 21.Kg2 Rc2 22.Nd4 would have given White a slight advantage.} 21... f5 { Black needs open lines, otherwise Karpov is going to squeeze him.} 22. Kg2 { If 22.g5, then 22...f4! is strong.} 22... fxg4 23. fxg4 h5 24. gxh5 Rf5 25.
h6 {Better is 25.Rc1 with a slight advantage for White.} 25... Rg5+ 26. Bg3
Nf5 27. Kf2 {Not 27.Kf3? Rf8 28.Bf4 Nh4+ 29.Kf2 Rg2+.} 27... Nxh6 28. Nd4 { Better is 28.Rd1 with an equal position.} 28... Ng4+ 29. Ke2 {Not 29.Kf3 Rf8 30.Ke2 Nxh2!.} 29... Nf6 {Black has a slight advantage due to his better placed pieces.} 30. Kf3 Nc6 31. Ne6 Rf5+ 32. Kg2 Re8 33. Nd4 Nxd4 34. exd4
Re3 {Threatening 35...Rff3.} 35. Re1 Rd3 36. Re5 Rff3 37. Re7 a5 38. b4 { Correct is 38.Be5!.} 38... Nh5 39. bxa5 Nxg3 40. hxg3 {The losing move. White could have held the position with 40.axb6 Nh5 41.Re1 Nf4+ 42.Kg1 Rb3 43.Reb1.} 40... Rxg3+ 41. Kh2 bxa5 42. Rd7 {More tenacious is 42.Re5.} 42...
Rg5 43. Rg2 Rxg2+ 44. Kxg2 Rxd4 45. Kf3 Rd3+ 46. Ke2 Rxa3 47. Rxd5 Kh7 48.
Kf2 Kh6 49. Rc5 g5 50. Kg2 Kh5 51. Rd5 Kh4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bareev, E."]
[Black "Sax, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E31"]

{This wild attacking game was played in the traditional Christmas tournament at Hastings, England. GM Bareev is now acknowledged as one of the strongest players in the world, with good chances to eventually challenge for the World Championship title, and GM Sax of Hungary is also among the elite. Any game between these players should be watched with interest.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 e5 {In Nimzo-Indian lines, Black often captures on c3, then tries to blockade the center and build up a slow attack against the White weaknesses. By playing Bg5, White sharpens the struggle; the Bishop is placed offside for defensive duty, but the pin can be decidedly unpleasant for Black.} 9. f3 g5 10. Bg3
e4 11. h4 g4 12. h5 {Regaining the h4 square for the Bishop.} 12... exf3 13.
gxf3 Qe7 14. Bh4 Qxe3+ 15. Qe2 Qxe2+ 16. Nxe2 Nxh5 17. O-O-O {White offers many pawns, but each capture opens a line against the Black King.} 17... Nd7
18. fxg4 Ng7 19. Ng3 Kf8 20. Ne4 Ne5 21. Nxd6 Bxg4 22. Re1 Nf3 23. Be7+ Kg8
24. Re3 f5 25. Be2 Ng5 26. Bxg4 fxg4 27. Rg1 {Now it is clear the White has woven a net around the monarch.} 27... Kh7 28. Rxg4 Kg6 29. Reg3 Nh5 30.
Rxg5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tarrassa"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Epishin, V."]
[Black "Ehlvest, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]

{An instructive example of a kingside attack.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Bf6 9. Rc1 d6 10. d5 Nxd2
11. Qxd2 e5 12. h4 {White does not hide his intentions.} 12... Nd7 13. Bh3
g6 {This allows White to open up the h-file. Worth considering is 13...Be7 followed by 14...Nf6.} 14. e4 Bg7 15. h5 Nf6 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Kg2 { Preparing to transfer his Rooks to the h-file.} 17... Qe7 18. Rh1 Rfe8 19.
Rh2 Qf8 20. Rch1 Bh6 21. Qe2 {If 21.Ng5, then Black is fine after 21...Nh7.}
21... Qe7 22. Bd7 Qxd7 23. Rxh6 Kg7 24. Qd2 {Threatening 25.Nh4 followed by 26.Nf5+.} 24... Rg8 25. Qg5 Qe7 26. Nb5 {With Black tied up on the kingside, White makes threats on the other side of the board.} 26... Qd8 {If 26...a6, then 27.Rh7+ Kf8 28.Nxc7 Nxh7 29.Qxe7+ Kxe7 30.Nxa8 with a large advantage to White.} 27. Nh4 Nxe4 {If 27...Kf8, then 28.Nxg6+ wins immediately.} 28.
Rh7+ Kf8 29. Nxg6+ Ke8 {White wins immediately after either 29...Rxg6 30.Rh8+ or 29...fxg6 30.Qh6+ Ke8 31.Nc7+.} 30. Qf5 Qd7 31. Qxe4 Rxg6 32.
Nxc7+ {The icing on the cake.} 32... Qxc7 33. Qxg6 Qe7 34. Rxf7 Qxf7 35.
Rh8+ Ke7 36. Rh7 Rf8 37. Qe6+ Kd8 38. Rxf7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Salov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]

{Karpov conducts a magnificent space game, simple in concept but agonizingly tricky in execution.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6.
Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Bf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Rc1 d6 10. d5 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Qe7 12. e4 Nd7
13. Nd4 Bxd4 {Black trades off his Bishop before locking the pawns on that color.} 14. Qxd4 e5 15. Qd2 a5 {White is also better if Black tries to challenge White on the kingside after 15...g6 16.f4 f5 17.Rce1.} 16. f4 Nc5
17. f5 f6 {White has a large space advantage. The only drawback is his bad Bishop.} 18. Bf3 g5 {Blocking the kingside allows White to switch his attention to the kingside.} 19. b3 {Not immediately 19.a3? due to 19...a4 fixing the queenside.} 19... Bc8 20. Bd1 Bd7 21. a3 Ra7 22. b4 Nb7 23. Rf2
Nd8 24. Qe3 axb4 25. axb4 Nf7 26. h4 Kh8 {Black starts counterplay along the g-file.} 27. Kf1 {White uses the second rank to deploy his Rooks and moves his King over to the queenside where it will be safer.} 27... Rg8 28. Rcc2
Qf8 {If 28...Ra1, then 29.Ra2.} 29. Ra2 Rxa2 30. Rxa2 gxh4 31. gxh4 Qg7 32.
Ke1 Nh6 33. Ra7 Be8 34. Kd2 Qg2+ {Black sacrifices a pawn for counterplay. Good for White is 34...Ng4 35.Bxg4 Qxg4 36.Qh6.} 35. Kc1 Nf7 {If 35...Rg3, then 36.Qd2 but not 36.Rxh6 Rxc3+.} 36. Rxc7 Rg3 37. Qd2 Qh3 38. Kb2 Kg7 39.
Rc8 {The players were in time trouble here.} 39... Bd7 40. Rc7 Be8 41. Be2
Qxh4 42. c5 {Creating a passed pawn in the center.} 42... bxc5 43. bxc5 Kf8
44. c6 Qh2 45. Rc8 Qf2 46. Rb8 Qc5 47. Qc2 Ng5 48. Rb3 Rg2 49. Rb5 Qa7 50.
Qd3 h5 51. Qc4 Qd4 52. Kb3 Rg3 53. Kc2 Rg2 54. Kb3 Rg3 55. Kc2 Rg2 56. Qd3
Qa7 57. Rb7 Qc5 58. Rb5 Qa7 59. Rb7 Qc5 60. Kb3 h4 61. Qc4 Qxc4+ 62. Bxc4
Nf3 {If 62...h3, then 63.c7 h2 64.c8=Q h1=Q 65.Qd8 winning.} 63. Bb5 Nd4+
64. Kc4 h3 {If 64...Rc2, then 65.Ba4.} 65. c7 Nxb5 {If 65...Bxb5+, then 66.Nxb5 Rc2+ 67.Nc3 wins.} 66. c8=Q h2 67. Qe6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Gjovik"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Agdestein, S."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]

{Not only is the Norwegian Simen Agdestein one of the top Grandmasters in the world, he is also a professional soccer player. This is former world champion Karpov's lone win in a four game match they played which ended in a tie.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3
O-O 8. e4 d5 9. cxd5 Bxf1 10. Kxf1 exd5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Kg2 Qd7 13. Qe2 Nxc3
14. Bxc3 c5 15. Rhe1 Qe6 16. Ng1 {White intends to maneuver his Knight to f4 via h3.} 16... Nc6 17. dxc5 d4 18. Bd2 Bxc5 19. Qe4 Rfe8 20. f4 Rad8 21. Nf3
d3 22. Ng5 Qd5 23. Rac1 Nd4 24. b4 Be7 25. Qxd5 Rxd5 26. Nf3 Nc2 27. Re4 b5
{Preventing Rc4 and fixing the b4-pawn.} 28. Ne1 Bxb4 29. Bxb4 d2 30. Bxd2
Rxd2+ {Having a Rook on the second rank gives Black the advantage.} 31. Kh3
{31.Kf3? f5 32.exf6 Nd4+ wins. The best move is 31.Kg1! Nxe1 32.Rexe1 Rxa2 with only a slight advantage for Black, according to Karpov.} 31... f5 {This wins the exchange by force.} 32. Nf3 Rf2 33. Rd4 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 g6 35. Nxb5
Rb8 36. a4 {If 36.Nxa7, then 36...h6 threatening 37...Rbb2 winning.} 36...
h6 {This move prevents the White King from escaping a mating net via Kh4-g5. } 37. Rc6 {If 37.e6, then 37...a6 38.Nc7 Rbb2 wins.} 37... Rb6 38. Rc8+ Kg7
39. Rc7+ Kf8 40. Rc8+ Ke7 41. Rc7+ Kd8 42. Rxa7 {If 42.Rg7, then 42...g5 43.fxg5 hxg5 wins. 44...Rh6+ is threatened and if 44.Nd6, then 44...Rbb2.}
42... g5 43. Ra8+ {If 43.fxg5 hxg5 44.g4, then 44...f4! wins.} 43... Ke7 44.
Ra7+ Kf8 45. Ra8+ Kg7 46. Ra7+ Kg6 {The King escapes the checks on h5.} 47.
g4 fxg4+ 48. Kxg4 Rxf4+ 49. Kg3 Re4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Andersson, U."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]

{Sweden's Ulf Andersson has a reputation as a hard man to beat.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. g3 Ba6 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Bg2 Be4 8. Qb3 Bxd2+
9. Bxd2 O-O 10. O-O d6 11. Rfd1 Qe7 12. Qe3 Nbd7 13. Bc3 Rfe8 14. Rac1 h6
15. b3 Rac8 16. Bh3 c6 17. Bb2 Rc7 18. Nd2 Bg6 19. Nb1 a6 {Black puts his defensive faith in the third-row pawn wall. It seems in the long run White's spatial advantage and Bishop pair are going to win through, so the opening must be judged unsuccessful for Black.} 20. Bg2 Rec8 21. Ba3 Ne8 22. Nc3 Qd8
23. Qd2 Rb7 24. e4 b5 25. Ne2 Rbb8 26. Nf4 Bh7 27. c5 d5 28. e5 a5 29. Re1
Ra8 30. Bb2 b4 {If the Queenside gets entirely locked up, White will have free reign on the other wing. The problem is that White is well-placed to contest any open lines on the left as well.} 31. Ra1 Qc7 32. a4 bxa3ep 33.
Rxa3 Qb7 34. Bc3 Nc7 35. Bxa5 Nb5 36. Ra4 {This is one of those positions that a Grandmaster resigns in, but most players look at and wonder "why?" Black is an uncompensated pawn down, will lose control of the a-file, has awkwardly placed Knights, and is playing Anatoly Karpov. Better to end the suffering now.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Khalifman, A."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]

{Both sides make errors in a time scramble.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4.
Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. Qa4+ Qd7 7. Qc2 dxc4 8. e3 c5 9. Bxc4 Qc8 10. Qe2 Nbd7
11. O-O a6 12. Rd1 b5 13. Ba2 Be7 14. e4 b4 15. Na4 Qc6 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17.
dxc5 bxa3 18. e5 Ne4 19. Nd4 Qxc5 20. f3 Rd8 21. Be3 axb2 22. Qxb2 {White has compensation for the pawn because Black is a little bit behind in development.} 22... Qc3 23. Qe2 Nc5 24. Rac1 {The wrong Rook. Correct is 24.Rdc1. White's Rook is not well placed on d1 because the Knight could become pinned.} 24... Qa5 25. f4 g6 26. f5 {Trying to keep Black off balance, but the sacrifice is unsound. Better is 26.Bb1, although Black is much better after 26...Rd5 (preventing f4-f5).} 26... gxf5 27. Nxf5 Rxd1+
28. Rxd1 Rg8 {White would have too strong of an attack if the Knight is taken: 28...exf5 29.Bxf7+ Kxf7 30.Qh5+. Instead Black starts a counterattack along the g-file.} 29. Ng3 h5 30. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 31. Kh1 h4 32. Bxe6 {The Knight cannot move due to the attack on g2.} 32... hxg3 {Not 32...fxe6? 33.Qh5+ winning. White sacrifices a piece and starts a desperate attack.} 33. Bxf7+
Kxf7 34. Qh5+ Kg7 {The players were in time trouble here. Better is 34...Ke6 35.Qh6+ Kxe5 36.Re1+ Be4 winning. The text move is an error and now White will be able to hold the position.} 35. Qg4+ Kh6 36. Qh3+ Kg6 37. Qxg3+ { White also makes an error in time pressure. Correct is 37.Qg4+ Bg5 38.Rd6+ with an equal position. Now Black is again winning.} 37... Bg5 38. Qd3+ {If 38.Rd6+ Kf7 39.Qb3+ Kf8 wins.} 38... Kg7 39. Qd7+ Qe7 40. Qxe7+ Bxe7 41. Rd7
Rd8 {White Resigns. 42.Rxe7+ Kf8 wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "San Francisco"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polgar, Sz."]
[Black "Christiansen, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]

{The Polgar sisters, Szusza, Sofia and Judith, from Budapest, have defied the conventional wisdom that women cannot compete on equal terms with men. Their answer is results: at the age of 15 in 1991 Judith is an eyelash from becoming a Grandmaster. At the 1990 Olympiad, the Hungarian women's team did the previously impossible: took first place above the Soviets. Szusza, the oldest of the trio, won the Brilliancy Prize for this relentless Kingside attack at the Pan-Pacific tournament in 1991.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5
4. Bd3 b6 5. c4 Bb7 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. O-O d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5
O-O 11. Qg4 Nf6 12. Qh4 Nbd7 13. Rd1 Ne4 14. Qh3 Ndf6 15. d5 {The pawn moves to a square guarded four times!} 15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxd5 17. Bg5 g6 18. Qh4
h6 {Christiansen tries to wriggle out from the pressure White gained from the pawn sacrifice, but Polgar instead adds fuel to the fire.} 19. Bxg6 fxg6
20. Qxh6 Nh7 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. c4 Qh4 {Black could not move the bishop away as 24. Rd7 would win.} 24. cxd5 Qxf2+ 25. Kh1 Rf6 26. Qe4
exd5 27. Qxd5 Rg8 28. h3 Rf5 29. Rf1 Qxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 31. Kh2 Rg7 32.
Qd4 {The Queen and Knight work very well together. Christiansen has material equality, but cannot defend his King against Polgar's slow attack.} 32...
Rf6 33. h4 Kg8 34. g4 Nf8 35. g5 Re6 36. Ng4 Rge7 37. h5 Nd7 38. g6 Ne5 39.
Nh6+ Kf8 40. Qf4+ Ke8 41. Nf5 Nxg6 42. hxg6 Rxg6 43. Qb8+ Kf7 44. Nxe7 Kxe7
45. Qxa7+ Kd8 46. a4 Kc8 47. Kh3 Rc6 48. Kg3 Rc3+ 49. Kf4 Rb3 50. Ke5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Philadelphia"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Wolff, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]

{A contest between the 1991 and 1992 US champions.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3.
Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. h3 {Preserving the Bishop in anticipation of ...Nh5.}
5... c5 6. c3 cxd4 7. exd4 d6 8. Be2 Qb6 9. Qb3 Qxb3 10. axb3 {White is slightly better in the endgame, partly due to his open a-file.} 10... Nc6
11. O-O e5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. Bh2 dxe5 14. Rd1 Nb6 15. Nbd2 Be6 16. b4 { Threatening 17.b5 winning the e-pawn.} 16... f6 17. Ne4 {The Knight eyes an outpost at c5 or d6.} 17... Bd5 {Better is 17...Rf7 or 17...Bc4.} 18. Nd6
Ne7 19. c4 Rfd8 20. c5 a6 21. Ra5 Kf8 22. g4 {Threatening g4-g5, isolating the e-pawn.} 22... g5 {An ugly move to have to play because of the hole at f5, but g4-g5 had to be prevented.} 23. b5 axb5 24. Rxb5 Na4 25. Rxd5 { Sacrificing the exchange to get two connected passed pawns.} 25... Nxd5 26.
Nxb7 Rdb8 27. c6 Ne7 28. Nd4 {A nice way to activate his pieces.} 28... exd4
{Also bad is 28...Ke8 29.c7 Rc8 30.Nd6+ winning.} 29. Bxb8 Rxb8 30. c7 Rc8
31. Nd6 Rxc7 32. Rb8+ Nc8 33. Nxc8 f5 {Yes 33...Kf7 would have held out longer, although White is winning after 34.Nd6+ Ke6 35.Nf5.} 34. Nb6+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Lobron, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]

{White's kingside attack is strong, but Black had a way to defend.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O
9. Qc2 Qe7 10. Bf4 a5 11. Rad1 Nd5 12. Bc1 Bd6 13. Ne4 b5 14. Nfg5 f5 {If 14...h6, then 15.Nxd6 hxg5 16.Ne4.} 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. e4 Nb4 17. Qe2 h6 18.
Nh3 fxe4 19. Qxe4 {Black's weakened kingside gives White compensation for the sacrificed pawn.} 19... Ra7 {If 19...Nf6, then 20.Qg6 is strong.} 20.
Nf4 {White could have forced a draw with 20.Bxh6 gxh6 21.Qg6+.} 20... Nf6
21. Qe2 Re8 22. Nh5 Qf8 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Bf4 {The Bishop repositions itself on the powerful e5-square.} 24... Nd5 25. Be5 Qf8 26. Be4 {The Bishops menace the Black King.} 26... Rd8 27. h4 {White continues his kingside attack with a pawn storm.} 27... Bd7 {Better is 27...Ba6.} 28. g4
Be8 29. f4 Rf7 30. g5 Nxf4 {Black could have stopped White's attack cold with the exchange sacrifice 30...Rf5. After 31.Bxf5 Qxf5 32.gxh6 Bh5 Black has sufficient compensation.} 31. Qh2 {Not 31.Qg4? h5.} 31... Nd3 32. gxh6
Nxe5 33. Qxe5 gxh6 {If 33...Qd6, then 34.Rxf7! Qxe5 35.h7+ Kxf7 36.dxe5 Rxd1+ 37.Kf2 wins.} 34. Rxf7 Bxf7 35. Kh1 Qd6 36. Qf6 Kf8 37. Rf1 Rd7 38.
Qh8+ Ke7 39. Bg6 Qd5+ 40. Kh2 Kd6 {Black Resigns. White wins after 41.Qb8 Rc7 42.Rxf7.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Kamsky, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]

{A battle between two future contenders for the world championship.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 c4 12. Bc2 e5 13. Qe2 Bd6 14. Bg5 O-O 15. Nh4
Be7 {If 15...g6, then White would play 16.Nd1 followed by 17.Ne3.} 16. Nf5
Nxd5 17. exd5 {If 17.Bh6, then 17...Nxc3 18.Qg4 Ne2+ is unclear.} 17... Bxg5
18. Nd6 Rb8 {Better is 18...Nc5.} 19. Nxb7 Rxb7 20. d6 {White has compensation for the sacrificed pawn because of his advanced passed d-pawn and more active pieces.} 20... Rb6 21. Rfd1 g6 22. a4 b4 {Better is 22...Bf6.} 23. a5 Rb8 {23...bxc3 24.axb6 cxb2 25.Rxa6 is good for White.}
24. Nd5 {Better is 24.Ne4.} 24... c3 {Black sacrifices back the pawn to get his own passed pawn.} 25. bxc3 b3 26. Bb1 Nc5 27. Nc7 {Dubious is 27.Qxe5?! Re8 28.Ne7+ Bxe7 29.Qxc5 Bxd6.} 27... e4 {Opening up the h8-a1 diagonal for the Bishop.} 28. Bxe4 Bf6 29. Bc6 Bxc3 30. Rab1 Bxa5 31. Qe5 Bb6 32. Nd5 { Threatening 33.Ne7+. Both players were getting short on time here.} 32... f6
33. Qf4 Kh8 34. Ne7 {Stronger is 34.Qh6 Qd6 35.Nf4 threatening Nxg6+ winning.} 34... Kg7 35. h4 Nd7 36. Kh1 Ne5 {Correct is 36...Bc5 with an unclear position.} 37. Rxb3 Bc5 38. Rg3 Rb4 39. Nf5+ Kh8 {If 39...Kf7, then 40.Qh6 gxf5 41.Rg7+ Ke6 42.Re7+ wins.} 40. Qh6 Rf7 41. Bd5 gxf5 42. Bxf7 Rg4
{Also losing is 42...Ng4 43.Rxg4 Rxg4 44.f3 Rg7 45.Be6.} 43. Qh5 Rxg3 44.
fxg3 Ng4 45. Qxf5 Nf2+ 46. Kh2 Ba7 47. Re1 Kg7 48. Re7 Qxd6 49. Rxa7 Qd4 50.
Bg8+ {Black Resigns. 50...Qxa7 51.Qxh7+ wins the Queen.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wells, P."]
[Black "Conquest, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]

{White displays a shocker.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3
Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 b4 9. Na4 c5 10. e4 cxd4 11. Bb5 Qa5 12.
Bc6 Rb8 13. O-O {Not 13.Bf4 due to 13...b3+. Now it appears that Black will be able to hold on to his extra pawn.} 13... e5 14. Bf4 {Intentionally placing a Bishop en prise to break Black's blockade. 15.Nxe5 is threatened.}
14... Bd6 {White gets a strong attack if Black takes the Bishop: 14...exf4 15.e5 Nd5 16.Nxd4.} 15. Bg3 {Threatening 16.Nxd4.} 15... Bc7 {Not 15...Nh5? due to 16.Nxe5!.} 16. Rc1 {White has sufficient pressure for the sacrificed pawn.} 16... O-O 17. b3 Rd8 {Better is 17...Bb7. Now White wins back his pawn.} 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 {Not 18...Bxd7 due to 19.Rxc7.} 19. Nxd4 Nf6 {Better is 19...Bb7. Both players were getting short on time here.} 20. Nc6 { Sacrificing the Queen for two Rooks is not bad, but even better is 20.Rc5.}
20... Rxd1 21. Rfxd1 Qb5 22. Nxb8 Bg4 {22...Qxb8 23.Bxe5! loses immediately. } 23. Rxc7 Bxd1 24. Rc8+ Ne8 25. Nc6 h5 {If 25...Kf8, then 26.Nxe5 threatening Nc4 and Nd6.} 26. h4 {Correct is 26.Rxe8+ Kh7 27.Rd8. Now Black gets a big advantage.} 26... Kh7 27. Rxe8 Qxc6 28. Rxe5 {Material is even, but White's pieces are disorganized.} 28... f6 {Correct is 28...Qc2.} 29.
Re7 Bg4 30. f3 Be6 31. Rxa7 Kg6 32. Kh2 Bf7 33. Rc7 Qb5 34. Nc5 Qe2 35. Nd7
Kh6 36. Nxf6 {Black has fallen apart in time pressure.} 36... gxf6 37. Rxf7
Qxa2 38. Rxf6+ Kg7 39. Rb6 Qxb3 40. Bd6 {Black's flag fell here but he was lost in any case.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]

{A masterful performance by Karpov.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 10. h3 a6 11. e4 { Of course, this is the only way to test Black's opening setup. After d5xc4, if White doesn't use his central majority, then Black gets fine queenside play.} 11... e5 12. Rd1 {Awaiting developments while reinforcing the center. Clearly the d-file will be opened and the Rook is well-positioned on d1. Black's ...a7-a6 has committed him to queenside play, thus the roles are clear. White will play in the center, Black on the queenside. The following moves are consequential for both players.} 12... b5 13. Bf1 c5 14. d5 c4 { Forced. White mustn't be allowed to play b2-b3 and a2-a4.} 15. a4 Rb8 16.
axb5 axb5 17. Ra5 {Both forced and good. Black can't be allowed to play ...Nd7-c5 and Bc8-d7 with an excellent game. Now Black's pawns are forced into a kind of death march.} 17... b4 18. Na4 {Very good. Although the Rook's retreat on a5 is cut off, it will happily roost on a7. A Knight on c5 would be formidably placed, so White ensures its exchange.} 18... Qd8 19.
Ra7 b3 {A major compromise. Black's risky strategy has better chances after 19...c3.} 20. Qe2 {After 20.Qxc4?, ...Rb4 followed by ...Nf6xe4 solves Black's problems.} 20... Nc5 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. Ra1 {Both players have been on a collision course to this position. Anand has put his faith in his far-flung queenside pawns, Karpov in his center. The outcome is more than just a matter of victory or defeat in one game. The result will test the mettle of Black's entire opening strategy!} 22... c3 23. Nxe5 c2 {It's not every day that you get a protected passed pawn on c2! Frightening to be sure. However, the rascal is completely blocked and White's center is extremely menacing. So despite Black's queenside gains, White is for choice. } 24. Rd3 {Well played. From this perch, the Rook supports the d-pawn, eyes the b3-pawn, and has the potential for a kingside shift. White's problem is his vulnerable e4-pawn, Black has to be quick with his tactical shots, else defeat is assured. White's principal threat is Ne5-c6.} 24... Qe8 {This simply fails. Better is 24...Bd7.} 25. Nc6 Rb6 26. Be3 Nxe4 {Black is forced to enter a long, but narrow, tactical path. The result is a loss after 26...Bxe3 27.Qxe3, hitting the b3-pawn, Black has no chances.} 27. Bxc5 Nxc5
28. Re3 {Well played. After 28.Ne7+ Kh8 29.Rc3 Ba6! 30.Qe3 Na4! Black is making it messy. With the text, Karpov controls the flow.} 28... Qd7 29. Qc4
{Every move is a blow. If the Knight moves, the b3-pawn falls.} 29... Rxc6
30. dxc6 Qd1 31. Re1 Qd6 32. Qc3 {Consolidating the extra wood. If 32.Ra5 Qd2, now Ra1-a5 is the threat. The Knight has no squares after 32...Be6 33.Ra5, winning. The game is lost for Black. Here Karpov had a few minutes left to make the time control, giving Anand his final chance. Unfortunately, White remains in complete control.} 32... Qd5 33. c7 Bb7 34. Ra5 Ne4 35.
Rxd5 Nxc3 36. Rd3 {Not 36.bxc3?? b2.} 36... Na2 37. Rxb3 Bc8 38. Bc4 {The last difficult move. Black has no remaining tricks.} 38... g6 39. Ra3 c1=Q
40. Rxc1 Nxc1 41. Rc3 Re8 42. Rxc1 Re7 43. Bf1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]

{Black makes an error early and is under pressure the rest of the way.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Ke2 gxf6 {Better is 12...Qb2+ 13.Kf1 gxf6. The King is better placed on e2 than f1 as he is able to develop his King Rook quicker.} 13. Rc1 Qb4 {Not 13...Qa5? 14.Rxc8+ Rxc8 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.Nb3+ winning the Queen.} 14. Rc4 Qe7 15. Qc1 O-O 16. Rc7 a6
17. Ba4 Qd6 18. Rd1 Ne5 {If 18...Nb6, then 19.Rc3 Nxa4 20.Rg3+ wins.} 19.
Nf5 Qb4 20. Rd4 Qb6 21. Ne7+ Kg7 22. Qc3 Ng6 23. Nxg6 {Not 23.Nxc8? Raxc8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Qxc8 Qxd4 losing.} 23... hxg6 24. e5 {Opening up the King's position.} 24... fxe5 25. Rd3 Kg8 26. Qxe5 Qb4 27. Rh3 f6 {Black has no defense against the three major pieces attacking his King.} 28. Qe3 Qb2+ 29.
Kf3 g5 {Black had to defend against Qh6. For example, if 29...Qe5, then 30.Rg7+ Kxg7 31.Qh6+ Kf7 32.Qh7#.} 30. Rhh7 Rd8 31. Rcg7+ Kf8 32. Qc5+ 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nenashev, A."]
[Black "Vaganian, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]

{A nice strategical game from the last USSR championship.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4
Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O
Nbd7 10. Qe2 Ne4 11. Bg3 {White avoids exchanges which would make it easier for Black to equalize.} 11... Ndf6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Rac1 c5 14. Rfd1 Nxc3
15. Rxc3 c4 {After this move is played, White tries for the e3-e4 break.}
16. Bb1 b5 17. Rcc1 Ne4 18. Ne5 Qe8 19. f3 Nd6 20. Bf4 {Sidestepping 20.e4 dxe4 21.fxe4 Bg5.} 20... Bg5 21. Kh1 Qe6 22. Qc2 g6 23. h4 Bxh4 24. Bxh6 Bg3
25. Bf4 Bxf4 26. exf4 Kg7 {Better is 26...Qf6 making it more difficult for White to advance his pawns.} 27. g4 b4 28. Kg2 Rh8 29. Qd2 a5 30. Re1 Qf6
31. g5 Qe6 32. Ng4 {The Knight heads to the outpost at f6.} 32... Ne4 {If 32...Qd7, then 33.Re5 is strong.} 33. Bxe4 {Not 33.fxe4?? Qxg4+.} 33... dxe4
34. Kg3 Rh5 {In a losing position Black allows White to play a nice combination.} 35. d5 Qxd5 {This loses a piece, but alternatives are also bad: 35...Qb6 36.Nf6 or 35...Bxd5 36.Qd4+ Kf8 37.fxe4.} 36. Qxd5 Bxd5 37.
Nf6 exf3 {Also bad is 37...Be6 38.Nxh5+ gxh5 39.fxe4.} 38. Nxd5 Rah8 39.
Kxf3 Rh2 40. Re4 Rxb2 41. Nf6 Rd8 42. Rexc4 Rxa2 43. Rc8 Rad2 44. Rh1 R2d3+
45. Kg4 {Black Resigns. If 45...Rxc8, then 46.Rh7+ Kf8 47.Rh8+ and 48.Rxc8 easily wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D54"]

{The average rating of the eight participants at the Tilburg tournament was 2666, at that time the highest in history.} 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4.
Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 h6 7. Bh4 Nbd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. Bg3 {To avoid the exchanges that would result after ...Ne4.} 10... Nb6 11. Nf3 Bg4
12. h3 Bh5 13. Bh2 {White is intends to start advancing his kingside pawns.}
13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Bd6 15. g4 Bxh2 16. Rxh2 {White has decided to leave his King in the center and start a kingside attack.} 16... g6 17. h4 Qd6 18. Rg2
Kg7 19. Kd1 {The start of a dubious King march.} 19... Rae8 20. Kc2 Ne4 21.
h5 Qe7 22. Qf4 g5 23. Qf5 {White tries to prevent the ...f7-f5 break by Black. But this will be impossible to enforce, as Black will bring his Knight on b6 to d6.} 23... Nc8 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Qa5 f5 26. gxf5 Qd7 27. Kb1
Rxf5 28. Qa4 Qf7 29. Rg4 Nb6 {Better is 29...Rxf2.} 30. Qxa7 Nc4 31. d5 {Not 31.Nxe4? Rxe4 32.Rxe4 Nd2+.} 31... cxd5 32. Qd4+ Kg8 33. Nxe4 dxe4 {This allows White to enter an equal ending.} 34. Qxc4 Qxc4 35. Rxc4 Rxf2 36.
Rgxe4 Rxe4 37. Rxe4 Rh2 38. a4 Rxh5 {Now it's a race between White's pawns on the queenside and Black's pawns on the kingside.} 39. a5 Rh4 40. Re8+ Kf7
41. Rb8 Ra4 42. Rxb7+ Kg6 43. Rb6+ Kh7 {Black decides to take a perpetual check. It is risky to block the pawns with 43...Kh5. White is better after 44.Rb5 Kh4 45.b3 Re4 46.a6.} 44. Rb7+ Kg6 45. Rb6+ Kh7 46. Rb7+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Cetinje"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kozul, Z."]
[Black "Dorfman, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]

{Both players sacrifice pieces to get at each other's Kings. The two Bishops are the deciding factor in the endgame.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3
e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 {The opening transposes from a Slav defense into a Queens gambit accepted.} 7. O-O a6 8. a3 b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. Nc3 Nbd7 11. Qe2
Be7 12. Rd1 Qb8 13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd6 {Not 14...O-O 15.Nxe6 winning.} 15.
g3 O-O 16. f3 Rd8 17. Be3 {White plans on playing 17.b4 and Nd4-b3-a5, however Black's next move changes the direction of the game.} 17... h5 18.
b4 h4 19. g4 Nf8 {Maneuvering the Knight toward the newly created hole at f4.} 20. Qf2 Ng6 {Underestimating White's next move. Better is 20...h3.} 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bxe6+ Kf8 {If 22...Kh8, then 23.Bf5 and the pawn on h4 falls.}
23. Bf5 Ne5 {If 23...Kf7, then 24.Qa2+ wins immediately. If 23...Ne7, then 24.g5 is good for White.} 24. Bb6 Nxf3+ {Black decides to sacrifice his piece back. 24...Bc7 25.Bd6+ Kg8 26.g5 is good for White.} 25. Qxf3 Bxh2+
26. Kg2 Rxd1 {26...Bc7 27.Bc5+ Kg8 28.g5 wins for White.} 27. Rxd1 Qg3+ 28.
Qxg3 Bxg3 29. g5 Ne8 {29...Nh5 would have held out longer.} 30. Nd5 Bxd5 { Also losing is 30...Be5 31.Bc5+ Kg8 32.Nb6.} 31. Rxd5 Rb8 32. Bc5+ Kg8 33.
Rd7 {White is winning because of his active pieces. The two Bishops control the whole board.} 33... Nc7 34. Kh3 Re8 35. Bg6 Rc8 36. Bd4 Ne8 37. e5 Be1
38. e6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]

{Karpov's games are always extremely instructive.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ c6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qb3 Nbd7 8. Bg5 Qa5 9. e3 Ba6 10.
Bxf6 gxf6 {Not 10...Nxf6 11.Ne5 hitting the c-pawn.} 11. Bd3 b4 12. Ne4 Rd8
13. Rc1 {Sacrificing a pawn for the initiative. Black is fine after 13.Bxa6 Qxa6 14.Rc1 Be7.} 13... Bxd3 14. Qxd3 b3+ {Dubious is 14...Qxa2 15.O-O Qa5 16.Ra1 with a strong position for White.} 15. Nfd2 bxa2 16. O-O f5 17. Nc3 { White will win back the weak a-pawn.} 17... Bg7 18. Ra1 O-O 19. Rxa2 {White is better because of Black's weak pawns. Black should try to make liquidations with ...c6-c5 or ...f5-f4.} 19... Qc7 20. Nb3 {Trying to restrain the ...c6-c5 break.} 20... c5 {Black must play this move now while he has the chance.} 21. Qc4 Rc8 22. Nb5 Qb6 23. Nxa7 Rc7 24. Nb5 Rb7 25. Ra5
cxd4 26. exd4 Rbb8 {Black has compensation for the pawn because White's pieces are awkwardly placed.} 27. Qa4 Rfd8 28. Rc1 Nf6 29. Nc5 Ne4 30. Qa3
Qc6 {A bad mistake. Better is 30...Bxd4 or 30...Nd6.} 31. Na7 Qc7 {The only move.} 32. b4 {Reinforcing the c5-Knight and protecting the c1-Rook. Black's game is so bad now that he must give up the exchange.} 32... Qf4 33. Nxe4
fxe4 34. Nc6 Bxd4 35. Qg3+ Qxg3 36. hxg3 e3 37. Kf1 exf2 38. Nxd8 Rxd8 39.
Rd1 {Pinning the Bishop. Black has a pawn for the exchange, but White's passed b-pawn gives him good winning chances.} 39... Kg7 40. Re5 Kf6 41. Re2
Ke7 42. b5 f5 43. Rc2 Rd5 44. Rb1 Bb6 45. Rc6 Rd6 46. Rxd6 Kxd6 {Black must try to eliminate the passed b-pawn, after which White cleans up on the kingside.} 47. Ke2 Kd5 48. Rh1 Kc4 49. Rxh7 Kxb5 50. Re7 Bd4 51. Rxe6 Kc5
52. g4 fxg4 53. Rg6 Kd5 54. Rxg4 Ba7 55. Rg7 Bb6 56. Re7 {Black Resigns, as his King is cut off from the kingside and hence the situation is hopeless.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Korfu"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolov, I."]
[Black "Piket, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]

{An instructive example of how to play with an isolated d-pawn.} 1. d4 d5 2.
c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. h3 { Preventing ...Bg4.} 8... Nbd7 9. O-O Nb6 {When playing against an isolated pawn, it is a good idea to control the square in front of the pawn with a Knight.} 10. Bb3 c6 11. Ne5 Nfd5 12. Ne4 Be6 13. a3 Qc7 14. Re1 Rad8 15. Qf3
Qc8 16. Bc2 f6 {This leads to a favorable endgame for White. 16...Bf5 17.Nf6+ would give White a slight advantage.} 17. Qh5 fxe5 18. Nd6 Nf6 19.
Nxc8 Nxh5 20. Nxe7+ Kf7 21. Rxe5 g6 22. Bg5 Rxd4 {If 22...Nf6?, then 23.Rae1 Rd6 24.f4 followed by 25.f5 wins for White.} 23. Rae1 Rd6 24. f4 {f4-f5 will be decisive.} 24... Nc4 25. Rc5 {Not 25.Bb3? Nxe5 26.fxe5 Rd4 and Black will maintain equality.} 25... Nf6 26. f5 Kxe7 27. Rxc4 gxf5 28. Bxf5 Kd7 29. Rf4
Bxf5 30. Rxf5 Re8 31. Rxe8 Nxe8 32. Rf7+ Kc8 33. Rxh7 Rd5 34. h4 Nd6 35. Bf4
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "5th Match Game, London"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Speelman, J."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A92"]

{For many years the British struggled to create even one Grandmaster, and now they can boast at least a half-dozen. Whether this is due to the success of some great plan, is the result of an increase in the game's popularity, or is just blind luck is uncertain. Nigel Short is the first English player to challenge for the World Championship since the days of Howard Staunton in the mid 1800's. In this game, though, he falls victim to another strong Brit, the inventive Jonathan Speelman.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 {The Dutch Defense has often been considered to be unsound at the highest levels. The reason Black chooses to play ...e7-e6 before ...f7-f5 is to avoid some nasty gambit lines - one of which even dates back to and is named after Staunton. 1.d4 f5 2.e4 is the Staunton Gambit, and it is a weapon that is still feared by players of the Dutch. Short also wouldn't mind a transposition to the French (1.d4 e6 2.e4), as he is an acknowledged expert in the opening.} 3. g3 Nf6
4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 d5 {Setting up the Stonewall, descriptively named for the wall of Black pawns on the light squares. Its biggest disadvantage is the truly bad Bishop on c8, which usually must reposition itself via d7-e8-h5 in order to get any activity. However, Black will make a virtue of this necessity and try to begin a Kingside attack involving this theme.} 6. O-O
O-O 7. Qc2 Bd7 8. b3 {Not to fianchetto, but to play out all the way to a3 and exchange for Black's good minor piece.} 8... a5 9. Ba3 c6 10. Bxe7 Qxe7
11. Ne5 Be8 12. Nd3 Bh5 13. Nf4 g5 14. Nxh5 {The White Knight has made a rather extensive tour just to exchange for the bad Bishop. This does reduce Black's Kingside chances.} 14... Nxh5 15. Nd2 Nd7 16. a3 Nhf6 17. Qc3 Nb6
18. Rab1 Rf7 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Ne4 21. Bxe4 fxe4 22. b5 Ra3 {Black wants to keep the b-file closed, and he was going to lose control of the a-file anyway with his plan involving ...Rf8-f7. The option was to try 22...c5 instead of first exchanging Rooks. White still has an edge with, among other things, the thought of f2-f3 blowing open the center.} 23. Rb3 Rxb3 24. Qxb3
c5 25. Qe3 Nd7 26. dxc5 Nxc5 27. Qd4 Rf5 28. Ra1 {Now watch how smoothly the game is decided by Speelman's control of the a-file, and after that, the seventh rank.} 28... Kf7 29. Ra8 Nd7 30. Ra7 Nf6 31. Qb6 Kg6 32. Qxb7 Qc5
33. Qf7+ Kh6 34. e3 Qb4 35. g4 {Forcing mate (Qf7-g7, or if ...Nf6xg4, Qf7xh7). Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dreev, A."]
[Black "Malaniuk, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]

{A game from the last-ever USSR championship. White shows how to take advantage of holes in your opponent's position.} 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2
d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. O-O h6 8. c4 Qe8 9. Qc2 Na6 10. Nbd2 c6
11. Rae1 {One of the disadvantages of the Dutch defense is that it leaves a weakness at e6. White tries to take advantage of this by playing for the e2-e4 break.} 11... Qf7 12. Bc3 {Not immediately 12.e4 due to 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Bf5 15.Qxe7 Bd3 or 15.Qe3 Nb4.} 12... g5 13. e4 fxe4
14. Nxe4 Bd7 15. Nxf6+ exf6 16. d5 {Taking advantage of the hole at e6.}
16... c5 {Not 16...cxd5 due to 17.Nxg5 followed by Bxd5.} 17. Re6 {The hole at e6 allows White to break through.} 17... Nc7 {Worse is 17...Bxe6 18.dxe6 Qe7 (18...Qxe6 19.Nxg5) 19.Qf5 followed by 20.Nd2 and 21.Be4.} 18. Rxd6 Qe7
19. Rxd7 Qxd7 {Now there are no holes in Black's position at f5 and g6.} 20.
Rd1 {Threatening 20.d6.} 20... Rad8 21. b4 b6 {Not 21...cxb4 which gives up the d4-square.} 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. d6 Ne8 24. Qg6 {Taking advantage of the hole at g6.} 24... Kh8 {The best move is 24...Qf7, although White is much better after 25.Ne5! Qxg6 26.Nxg6 Rf7 27.Bd5.} 25. Nxg5 fxg5 {If 25...hxg5, then 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Bd5+ Rf7 28.Ba5 winning.} 26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. Bd5+ Rf7 28.
Qxg5 Kf8 29. Bxf7 Kxf7 30. Bxg7 Nxg7 31. Qxc5 {Black's Knight is no match for White's pawns.} 31... Ne8 32. Qh5+ Kf8 33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. Qh5+ {Short on time, White repeats moves.} 34... Kf8 35. c5 Qe6 36. Rd4 Rd7 37. Qh8+ Kf7
38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Rf4+ {Black Resigns. A pawn is promoted after 39...Rf7 40.Rxf7+ Qxf7 41.Qxf7+ Kxf7 42.d7.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Correspondence"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Isaev, A."]
[Black "Timoshenko, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]

{In the ending opposite colored Bishops can be drawish, but in the middlegame they can be deadly because it is hard to confront an attack.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. e5 {If 12.fxg5, then 12...Ne5 13.Qe2 Nfg4 winning back the pawn.} 12... gxh4 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. f5 e5 15.
Nde2 Bd7 16. Be4 Bc6 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Rc8 19. Nc3 b5 20. Bb3 Qc6 21.
Qe2 Rg8 22. Nd5 a5 23. Nxf6+ Bxf6 24. Bd5 Qb6 25. Rd3 Rg5 {Believe it or not, this is the first new move in the game!} 26. Kb1 Kf8 27. c3 b4 28. c4 { White is hoping to establish a blockade with 29.Qe4.} 28... e4 {Sacrificing a pawn to open the diagonal for the Bishop.} 29. Bxe4 Re8 30. Rd5 h3 31. g3
b3 32. axb3 {Trying to keep lines closed with 32.a3 loses to 32...Rxe4 33.Qxe4 Qf2.} 32... a4 33. b4 a3 34. bxa3 Rg4 {Deflecting White's Queen so that he can penetrate with his own.} 35. Qxg4 Qf2 36. Bc2 Re3 37. Ra5 {The best defense was 37.Qf4.} 37... Qg2 {37...Rb3+ does not immediately work due to 38.Kc1 Bb2+ 39.Kd1.} 38. Rd1 Rb3+ 39. Kc1 Bb2+ 40. Kb1 Bd4+ {White Resigns. 41.Kc1 Be3+ wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dojran"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kiroski, T."]
[Black "Bielczyk, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]

{In this game there are lots of sacrifices and in the end an amazing King hunt.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 h6 10. Bh4 Rc8 11. Nf3 Qa5 12. Kb1 b5 13. e5 b4 14.
exf6 bxc3 15. fxg7 Bxg7 16. Qxd6 Rc7 17. Bc4 Qb6 {If 17...cxb2, then 18.Ne5 wins.} 18. Bb3 a5 19. a4 Rg8 20. f5 Bf8 21. fxe6 fxe6 {Not 21...Bxd6 22.exf7#.} 22. Qd3 Rxg2 23. Bg3 {13.Rhg1 Ne5 is unclear.} 23... Qxb3 {In a difficult position Black tries to mix it up with a Queen sacrifice.} 24.
cxb3 Rxb2+ 25. Ka1 Nb4 26. Qg6+ Kd8 27. Qf6+ Ke8 28. Qg6+ Kd8 29. Bxc7+ Kxc7
30. Rxd7+ Kxd7 31. Rd1+ Ke7 32. Qh7+ Kf6 33. Qh8+ Bg7 34. Qd8+ Kf5 35. Nh4+
Kg4 36. Rd4+ {Not 36.Rg1 Kh3! with an unclear position.} 36... Kh3 37. Rd3+
Kxh2 38. Qc7+ e5 39. Nf3+ Kh1 40. Rd1+ Kg2 41. Qxg7+ Kxf3 42. Rf1+ Ke4 43.
Re1+ Kd3 44. Qg3+ Kc2 45. Re2+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brno"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gipslis, A."]
[Black "Hracek, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]

{White sacrifices both his Rooks. The classical double Rook sacrifice is the subject of a fascinating book by GM Seirawan and IM Minev, titled "Take My Rooks".} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 {In this variation White compromises his pawn structure in exchange for quick development and open lines.} 6... Ng4 7. Bb5 Nxe3 8. fxe3 Bd7 9. O-O g6 10.
Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qf3 f6 12. e5 dxe5 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 {If 13...Qc8, then 14.Nxe5 fxe5 15.Qf7+ Kd7 16.Rad1 is strong.} 14. Qxc6+ Kf7 15. Rad1 Qc8 16. Rxf6+ { Cracking open the King's position.} 16... exf6 17. Rd7+ Be7 18. Rxe7+ Kxe7
19. Nd5+ Kd8 {If 19...Kf7, then 20.Qxf6+ Kg8 21.Ne7#.} 20. Qd6+ Qd7 21.
Qxf6+ Kc8 22. Qxh8+ Kb7 23. Qxe5 {The smoke has cleared. White has a large advantage because he has three pawns for the exchange and Black's King remains open.} 23... Rc8 24. c3 Qa4 25. h3 Qxa2 26. Qe7+ Ka8 27. Qe4 Kb8 28.
Qf4+ Kb7 29. Ne7 Rc7 {If 29...Rc4, then 30.Qf7 is strong.} 30. Qe4+ Kb8 31.
Qe5 Kb7 {If 31...Qb1+, then 32.Kf2 Qxb2 33.Nd5 Qb7 34.Kg1! is strong.} 32.
Qe4+ Kb8 33. Nc6+ Kc8 34. Qe8+ Kb7 35. Nd8+ Kb6 {If 35...Kb8, then 36.Nf7+ Rc8 37.Qb5+.} 36. Ne6 Qxb2 {Black has to give back the exchange. If 36...Rc4, then 37.Qb8+ wins.} 37. Nxc7 Qa1+ {If 37...Kxc7, then 38.Qe7+ Kb6 39.Qd6+ Kb7 40.Qb4+ wins.} 38. Kh2 Kxc7 39. Qe5+ Kc6 40. e4 a5 41. Qd5+ Kb6
42. Qd6+ Kb7 43. Qd5+ {Not 43.e5? Qxc3 44.e6 Qc7 and Black wins.} 43... Kb6
44. Qd4+ Kb7 45. e5 {White is winning because his pawn is farther advanced, his Queen is centrally positioned, and his King is safer from checks.} 45...
Qe1 46. Qd7+ Kb6 47. Qd6+ Kb7 48. e6 g5 49. Qd7+ {Not 49.e7? g4! and the threat of ...g3+ stops the e-pawn.} 49... Kb6 50. Qd8+ Ka6 51. Qf6 {An important position for the Queen as after 51...g4 52.hxg4, Black does not have 52...Qh4+.} 51... a4 52. e7+ Kb7 53. Qxg5 Kc7 {If 53...a3, then 54.Qb5+ Kc7 55.e8=Q wins.} 54. Qa5+ Kd6 55. Qd8+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]

{Kamsky and Kasparov are sworn enemies.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11.
Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. Rad1 Na5 {c4 is a common outpost for the Knight in the Sicilian defense.} 15. b3 {Preventing the Knight from invading.} 15... Rec8 16. Nde2 Be8 17. Ba7 Ra8 18. Bd4 Nc6 {Black sacrifices a pawn to try to gain the initiative. Worse is 18...Nd7 19.f5 with a large advantage to White.} 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxd6 Qb6 {Black could have maintained equality with 20...Qxd6 21.Rxd6 g5 22.g3 gxf4 23.gxf4 Nb4.} 21. e5 Be7 22.
Qd2 Bb4 23. Qd3 Rd8 24. Qe4 Qc5 25. Na2 Bd2 26. c3 a5 {Preventing b3-b4.}
27. Nac1 Bxc1 28. Rxc1 Rac8 29. Ng3 {This allows a shot by Black. Better is 29.Qb1 with a large advantage to White.} 29... Nb4 30. Rcd1 Qxc3 31. Qxb7
Qxb3 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Qc7 Rd4 34. Ne4 Qd3 35. Rg1 Rxe4 {This becomes an exchange sacrifice. Black hopes to later attack the King with his Queen and Knight.} 36. Qc8 Kf8 37. Qc5+ Kg8 38. Qe7 g6 {Not 38...Bc6? 39.Bxe4 and Black cannot recapture without getting mated.} 39. Qxe8+ Kg7 40. Bxe4 Qxe4
41. Rf1 Nd3 42. Qb5 Qe3 {There is nothing that White can do about ...Nf2+ forcing a draw.} 43. h3 Nf2+ 44. Kh2 Qxf4+ 45. Kg1 Nxh3+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Mexico"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sisniega, M."]
[Black "Vera, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]

{White sacrifices his Queen to get to the King.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 Nc6 8. g4 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10.
O-O-O {Its a wild race between White's attack on the kingside and Black on the queenside.} 10... Nd7 11. h4 Nde5 12. Qg2 Qc7 13. g5 b5 14. f4 Nxd4 15.
Bxd4 Nc6 16. Be3 Bb7 17. Kb1 Rac8 {Much better is 17...d5 18.exd5 Nb4.} 18.
Qf2 Rfe8 19. Bb6 Qb8 20. h5 b4 21. Ne2 Ne5 22. Ng3 {Not 22.fxe5? Bxe4.}
22... Nc4 23. Ba7 Qa8 24. Bd3 Rc7 25. Bd4 e5 {Better is 25...Bf8.} 26. fxe5
dxe5 {Better is 26...Nxe5.} 27. g6 fxg6 {If 27...Bf6, then 28.Bc5 or if 27...Rf8, then 28.Nf5 winning in each case.} 28. hxg6 hxg6 {28...h6 would have held out longer.} 29. Bc5 Rxc5 {Better is 29...Nd6 although White is much better after 30.Bxb4.} 30. Qxc5 {This Queen sacrifice immediately ends the game.} 30... Na3+ {If 30...Bxc5, then 31.Bxc4+ Kf8 32.Rhf1+ Ke7 33.Rf7#. } 31. bxa3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Khalifman, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B78"]

{The Yugoslav variation of the Sicilian Dragon leads to wild attacks on the opposite sides of the board.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12.
O-O-O Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h5 {Sacrificing a pawn to open up the h-file.}
14... Nxh5 15. g4 Nf6 16. Nb3 Re8 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. Bg5 Qc8 19. Rh4 Rxc3 { Better is 19...Nxg4 20.fxg4 Bxg4 21.Re1 h5 with an unclear position.} 20.
bxc3 Be6 {20...Nxg4 was still better.} 21. Rdh1 {Threatening 22.Rxh7 Nxh7 23.Qh6 winning.} 21... Bg7 22. e5 {This keeps Black's King Bishop tame.}
22... dxe5 {If 22...Nd5, then 23.Rxh7 Bxe5 24.f4 followed by Qh2 wins.} 23.
Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxh7 Qc4 {Threatening to stop White's attack by exchanging Queens with 25...Qf4.} 25. Kb1 Qf4 {If 25...Bg7, then 26.Rxg7+ Kg7 27.Qh6+ Kf6 28.g5+ Kf5 29.Rg1 wins.} 26. Qg2 Bg7 27. Qh3 f5 28. Nc5 Bc8 {If 28...Bd5, then 29.Nd7 threatening 30.Rxg7+ wins.} 29. gxf5 Bxf5 {29...Qxf5 would have held out longer although White is winning after 30.Qh4 followed by Ne4.} 30. Ne6 Bf6 31. Rg7+ Bxg7 32. Qh7+ Kf7 33. Nxg7 Kf8 34. Qh8+ Kf7
35. Qxe8+ Kxg7 36. Qxe7+ Kg8 37. Rd1 {Black Resigns. There is no defense to 38.Rd8#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Czestochowa"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zezulkin, J."]
[Black "Kulagin, A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B78"]

{A game of King hunts and tactics.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. f3 O-O 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11.
Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. g4 Nf6 16. Nb3 Re8 17. Bh6
Bh8 18. Bg5 Qc8 19. e5 Nxg4 {The only move. 19...dxe5 20.Bxf6 loses a piece. } 20. fxg4 Bxe5 21. Nd5 Be6 22. Ne3 {Not 22.Nxe7+? Rxe7 23.Bxe7 Bf4 winning as is 22.c3? Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Rxc3+.} 22... Ra4 23. Kb1 Qc6 24. Qf2 Qa6 25. Nd5
{Not 25.a3 Rxa3 26.bxa3 Qxa3 with a strong attack.} 25... Rxa2 26. Bc1 Ra4
27. Rxh7 {Not 27.Qh4? h5 or 27.Nc7? Ra1+ 28.Nxa1 Qa2+.} 27... Kxh7 28. Qh4+
Kg8 29. Rh1 Rc8 {The only move. Not 29...Rb8? 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Bh6+ Ke8 32.Nc7+ winning the Queen.} 30. Nxe7+ Kf8 31. Bh6+ {Not 31.Nxc8? Ra1+ winning.} 31... Ke8 32. Nxc8 Bxc8 {Better is 32...Ra1+! 33.Nxa1 Qa2+ 34.Kc1 Qxb2 with a strong attack.} 33. Bf8 Kd7 {Not 33...Kxf8? 34.Qd8+ Kg7 35.Qh8#. } 34. Nc5+ {Opening up the King.} 34... dxc5 35. Qe7+ Kc6 36. Qxc5+ Kd7 37.
Rd1+ Bd4 38. Qe7+ Kc6 39. Qd6+ Kb5 40. Qd5+ Kb6 41. Qd6+ Kb5 42. Qd5+ Kb6
43. Qd8+ Kb5 44. Qd5+ {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodriguez, J."]
[Black "Gil, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]

{A good example of how to counterattack.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1
O-O 11. e5 dxe5 12. Qh4 Qc7 13. Nxe5 Rac8 14. Rd3 {Transferring the Rook over to the kingside.} 14... Nd5 15. f4 h6 16. Rh3 {Better is 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 with an equal position.} 16... Bd8 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rc3 Qa5 { Black sacrifices a Rook to get at the King.} 19. Rxc8 hxg5 20. Qf2 {Not 20.fxg5? Bxg5+ 21.Qxg5 Qxe1#.} 20... Qxa2 21. c4 Bxg2 22. Qc2 {If 22.Qxg2, then 22...Qa1+ wins.} 22... gxf4 23. Nd7 f3 24. Nxf8 Bg5+ 25. Qd2 Bxd2+ 26.
Kxd2 Qxb2+ 27. Kd3 f2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]

{The annual tournament in Linares, Spain, is one of the strongest in the world. The winner of this event, in the words of Kasparov, can consider himself the "tournament World Champion". In 1991, the youthful Ivanchuk scored a stunning victory over Kasparov in Linares, and laid claim to being a legitimate challenger for the title.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4
Nf6 5. O-O cxd4 {Capture of the e-pawn can lead to trouble. White gets quick development and play on the e-file.} 6. Qxd4 a6 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7 8. Bg5 h6 9.
Bxf6 gxf6 10. c4 {For the Bishop pair, White gets development and a space advantage. This move is an attempt to keep control of d5, since in the long run, ...d6-d5 might open the position to Black's gain.} 10... e6 11. Nc3 Rc8
12. Kh1 h5 13. a4 {And this is to control the ...b7-b5 break. A closed, maneuvering game where White's Knights can remain in the center would suit Ivanchuk just fine.} 13... h4 14. h3 Be7 15. b4 a5 16. b5 Qc7 17. Nd2 Qc5
18. Qd3 {The two Bishops have better chances to shine in the endgame, so White avoids the exchange of Queens.} 18... Rg8 19. Rae1 Qg5 20. Rg1 Qf4 21.
Ref1 {Although White seems to be defending passively, it will turn out that the Black Queen and Rook are insufficient attacking force, and White will drive them away with gain of time.} 21... b6 22. Ne2 Qh6 23. c5 {Making a square for a Knight.} 23... Rxc5 24. Nc4 Kf8 25. Nxb6 Be8 26. f4 f5 27. exf5
Rxf5 28. Rc1 Kg7 {As can be seen from many great attacking games, the factor most important to the evaluation of a position is King safety. Here the Black King fails to find a comfortable home, and the White pieces move to box him in.} 29. g4 Rc5 30. Rxc5 dxc5 31. Nc8 Bf8 32. Qd8 Qg6 33. f5 Qh6 34.
g5 Qh5 35. Rg4 exf5 36. Nf4 Qh8 37. Qf6+ Kh7 38. Rxh4+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]

{Anand has always been a difficult opponent for the world champion.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. O-O
Ne5 9. h3 Bc5 10. Kh1 d6 11. f4 Nc6 {Better is either 11...Ng6 or 11...Ned7. } 12. e5 Nxe5 {Other moves were bad for Black too. For example, 12...dxe5 13.Ndb5! axb5 14.Bxc5 Nd4 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Bxb5+ Bd7 17.Qxd4 and White is a pawn ahead.} 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Bb5+ axb5 15. Ndxb5 Qc6 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17.
Nd6+ Ke7 {Also losing is 17...Kf8 18.Nce4.} 18. Rxf6 gxf6 19. Nce4 {Black's King is stuck in the center and he will be unable to defend it.} 19... Qd4
20. Qh5 Rf8 21. Rd1 Qe3 22. Qh4 Qf4 23. Qe1 {Threatening 24.Qb4.} 23... Ra4
{If 23...f5, then 24.Qb4 fxe4 25.Nxe4+ Ke8 26.Qb5+ Ke7 27.Qc5+ Ke8 28.Qc7 mating.} 24. Qc3 Rd4 {Black cannot prevent White's Queen from infiltrating. 24...Rd8 25.Qc7+ Bd7 26.Nc8+ Rxc8 27.Rxd7+ also wins for White.} 25. Rxd4
Qf1+ 26. Kh2 exd4 27. Qc5 Kd7 {if 27...Qf4+, then 28.g3 Qe5 29.Nxc8+ Kd7 30.Nb6+ with mate to follow.} 28. Nb5 Qf4+ 29. g3 {Black Resigns. If 29...Qe5, then 30.Nf6+ Qxf6 31.Qd6+ Ke8 32.Nc7#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]

{British GM Nigel Short defeats Gelfand in a match along the road to becoming the first non-Russian challenger to the world championship since Bobby Fischer.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. O-O e6
7. d3 Nge7 8. Qe1 {White transfers his Queen to h4 for attacking purposes.}
8... Nd4 9. Nxd4 cxd4 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Bb3 Nc6 12. Bd2 {Preventing ...Na5.}
12... d5 13. e5 f6 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Kh1 {Planning Ng1-f3 controlling the weakness at e5.} 15... a5 16. a4 Qd6 17. Ng1 Bd7 18. Nf3 Nb4 {Better is 18...Rae8. Now Black starts having trouble with his weak d-pawn.} 19. Qf2
Qc5 20. Bc3 Nc6 21. Rae1 b6 22. Bd2 Nb4 {Better is 22...Rae8 followed by 23...Re7 and 24...Be8. Now White starts a quick attack on the Kingside.} 23.
Qg3 b5 {Black is short on time.} 24. f5 {The decisive breakthrough. Open lines are created for the Bishop and Rook with this pawn sacrifice.} 24...
exf5 25. Ne5 Be8 {Not 25...Bxe5 26.Qxe5 Rae8 27.Bxb4 winning. Most tenacious was 25...Ra7 although White remains much better after 26.Nxd7 Rxd7 27.Rxf5.}
26. axb5 Qxb5 27. Rxf5 Kh8 28. Rxf6 {Now Black's kingside will be indefensible.} 28... Rxf6 29. Ng4 Rf5 {Other Rook moves allow Qe5+.} 30. Nh6
Rh5 31. Qf4 {Black Resigns. 32.Qf8+ and 32.Qf6+ are both threatened.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Los Angeles"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Benjamin, J."]
[Black "Kamsky, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]

{The US championship in this year was played as a knockout tournament and the two survivors square off for the final match.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 {The Marshall attack. Black sacrifices a pawn but gets very active play.} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10.
Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. g3 {A common move here. This temporarily blunts Black's attack, but it weakens the light squares.} 13...
Qd7 14. d3 Qh3 15. Re4 Qd7 16. Nd2 f5 17. Re1 Kh8 18. Qh5 Nf6 19. Qh4 c5 { Black is planning to put pressure down the a8-h1 diagonal.} 20. Nf3 Bb7 21.
Ng5 h6 22. Bd2 Qc6 23. f3 c4 {This wins back the pawn.} 24. Bd1 {Otherwise f3 falls. For example, 24.dxc4? Nh7 wins for Black.} 24... cxd3 25. Ne6 Rf7
26. Kg2 Bc5 27. Ng5 Rff8 28. Ne6 Ng4 {Sacrificing the exchange to keep the attack going.} 29. Nxf8 Rxf8 30. b4 Bd6 31. Qh5 Qb6 32. Rf1 Ne3+ 33. Bxe3
Qxe3 34. Bb3 {Both players were in time pressure here.} 34... Qd2+ 35. Rf2
Qxc3 36. Rd1 Bxb4 {Black has a large advantage.} 37. Qg6 d2 38. Rdxd2 {White correctly sacrifices back the exchange to get rid of the passed d-pawn.}
38... Bxf3+ 39. Rxf3 Qxd2+ 40. Rf2 Qe3 41. Bf7 Qe4+ 42. Kh3 Qg4+ 43. Kg2
Qxg6 44. Bxg6 Rf6 45. Bxf5 {Opposite colored Bishop endings can be hard to win, but along with Black's extra pawn, the presence of pawns on both sides of the board and Rooks gives Black excellent winning chances.} 45... Bc5 46.
Rf1 g5 47. Bd3 Rd6 {Exchanging Rooks would lead to a dead draw.} 48. Rd1 Kg7
49. Be2 Bd4 50. Bf3 {Correct was forcing a pawn exchange with 50.h4.} 50...
b4 51. Rc1 {Again better is 51.h4.} 51... Bc3 52. Rd1 Rb6 53. Rd7+ Kf6 54.
Bd5 Ke5 55. Bb3 Rf6 56. h4 {Better is 56.h3 followed by g4. Now his pawns are fixed on the same square as the opponent's Bishop.} 56... g4 57. Rg7 h5
58. Re7+ {Winning a pawn allow Black's King to infiltrate: 58.Rg5+ Kd4 59.Rxh5 Ke3 threatening ...Rf2+.} 58... Kd4 59. Rd7+ Ke4 60. Rf7 Rd6 61. Rf2
a5 62. Bf7 Rh6 63. Bb3 Ke3 64. Kf1 Ra6 {Threatening ...a5-a4.} 65. Ba4 Rd6
66. Be8 Rd1+ 67. Kg2 Be1 68. Rc2 Rd5 69. Rb2 {If 69.Bc6, then 69...Bd2 followed by 70...Rf2+.} 69... Re5 70. Bd7 Kd3 71. Kf1 Bd2 72. Rb3+ Bc3 73.
Rb1 Kc2 74. Rb3 Re1+ 75. Kf2 Kd2 76. Bb5 Ra1 77. Bc4 a4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]

{In 1991, Ivanchuk was the heir-apparent to the chess throne, and Kamsky was an even younger upstart who had defected from Russia to the USA The Marshall Gambit is well regarded theoretically, but at the highest levels it is usually only expected to draw.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.
O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 {The defining move of the Marshall Gambit to the Ruy Lopez. It was introduced by Frank Marshall in a famous game against the World Champion J. R. Capablanca, and in a rare event for a first-time appearance of a new gambit, Capablanca refuted an unsound variation at the board. Marshall refined his concept, and the gambit returned with greater success in later games.} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5
11. Rxe5 c6 {Marshall originally played 11...Nf6, intending ...Be7-d6 and ...Nf6-g4 with attack. It was this line that the great Cuban Champion Capablanca refuted with incisive defense. 11...c6 is the improvement.} 12.
d4 Bd6 13. Re2 {Somewhat more common is 13.Re1, with difficult and well-analyzed variations.} 13... Bg4 14. f3 Bh5 15. Bxd5 cxd5 16. Nd2 f5 17.
Qb3 Bf7 18. Nf1 f4 19. Bd2 Qd7 20. Rae1 {Although White now appears to control the e-file, in fact there are no entry points. White is soon reduced to passively moving the same pieces back and forth.} 20... a5 21. a3 a4 22.
Qd1 Bg6 23. Bc1 Rf7 24. h3 {An attempt to get some maneuvering room for Nf1-h2-g4, but it also makes another weakness on the Kingside.} 24... Bf5
25. Nh2 h5 26. Rf2 Raf8 27. Nf1 Rf6 28. Nh2 Kh8 29. b3 {Now, rather than await execution on the Kingside, Kamsky tries for activity on the Queenside. But this just creates another weakness, and Black happily switches over to attack the new target.} 29... Rc8 30. Bb2 Kh7 31. Nf1 Rff8 32. Rfe2 Rc7 33.
Nh2 Rfc8 34. Nf1 b4 35. axb4 {35.cxb4 loses control of the c2 square (35...Bc2).} 35... a3 36. Bxa3 Rxc3 37. Kh2 Ra8 38. Bb2 Rd3 39. Qc1 Rc8 40.
Rc2 Rxc2 41. Qxc2 Bg6 42. Qf2 Bxb4 43. Re5 Rd1 {Black's Rooks and minor pieces have thoroughly infiltrated White's game.} 44. Qe2 Rb1 45. Rg5 Qc6
46. Re5 Qc2 {The exchange of Queens would leave unguarded two minor pieces simultaneously, so Black manages to get the Queen in, too. White now wins a pawn with check, but soon must capitulate.} 47. Rxh5+ Kg8 48. Qe6+ Bf7 49.
Rh8+ Kxh8 50. Qxf7 Qc6 {Protecting against the unending checks; White cannot save both pieces.} 51. Bc3 Bxc3 52. Qf8+ Kh7 53. Qf5+ Qg6 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polgar, J."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]

{There has never been a chess phenomenon like Judith Polgar. She would later become the youngest Grandmaster in history.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Qd7
11. Bc2 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Bg4 13. Qf4 Bxf3 14. Bf5 Qd8 15. Qxf3 {Sacrificing a pawn for open lines.} 15... Nxe5 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. Re1 Nc6 18. Bg5 {Preventing Black from castling.} 18... Kf8 {Other moves are worse. For example, 18...f6 19.Qh5+ Kf8 20.Re6 Qc5 21.Rxf6+! gxf6 22.Be6 wins.} 19. Be3 g6 20. Bh6+ Kg8
21. Qg4 Qf6 22. Bc2 {If 22.Re5, then Black should play 22...Ne5!.} 22... Bf8
23. Bg5 Qd6 24. Bf4 Qd8 25. Rad1 {Black's misplaced King's Rook gives White a large advantage.} 25... Na5 26. h4 c6 27. h5 Nc4 28. hxg6 {Creating weaknesses in the Black King position.} 28... hxg6 29. b3 Nd6 {If 29...Nb2, then 30.Bxg6 fxg6 31.Qxg6+ Bg7 32.Qe6+ Kf8 33.Bd6+ winning.} 30. Bxg6 fxg6
31. Re6 {If 31.Qxg6+, then 31...Bg7 and 32.Bxd6 is met with 32...Rh6.} 31...
Rh7 32. Bxd6 {Not 32.Rxg6+ Rg7 33.Bxd6 Qxd6 winning.} 32... Bg7 {If 32...Bxd6, then 33.Rxg6+ Kh8 34.Qd4+ winning.} 33. Rde1 {Better is 33.Rxg6 with a winning position.} 33... Rh6 34. g3 Qd7 35. Bf4 g5 36. Bxg5 Rg6 37.
Qf5 {Better is 37.f4.} 37... Rxe6 38. Qxe6+ {Better is 38.Rxe6 Re8 39.Rxe8+ Qxe8 40.Bf6 winning. Now White has only a slight advantage.} 38... Qxe6 39.
Rxe6 Rc8 40. Bd2 Kf7 41. Re1 c5 42. Kf1 c4 43. bxc4 Rxc4 {Correct is 43...bxc4 44.Rb1 d4 with only a slight advantage to White.} 44. Rc1 Ke6 45.
Ke2 d4 46. cxd4 Bxd4 47. Be3 Bb2 48. Rxc4 bxc4 49. Kd2 {White wins with her two connected passed pawns.} 49... Bg7 50. Kc2 Kd5 51. f3 Bf6 52. Bh6 Be5
53. g4 Bd4 54. Bd2 Bb6 55. Bc1 Ba5 56. a4 Ke5 57. Bg5 Kd5 58. Bd2 Bc7 59.
Bc3 Bf4 60. Bf6 Bg3 61. g5 Bh4 62. Bd8 Bf2 63. g6 Bd4 64. Ba5 Ke6 65. Bc3
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Bardejovske Kup"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gipslis, A."]
[Black "Dobrovolsky, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]

{A brilliant kingside attack.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5.
d3 d6 6. O-O Bb6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Re1 Ne7 9. Nf1 Ng6 10. h3 c6 11. Bb3 Be6 12.
Ng3 h6 13. d4 Nh7 14. Be3 {Better is 14.Bc2 followed by 15.Nf5.} 14... Qf6
15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Bc8 17. Bc2 Ng5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 {Black's commanding control over the f4-square give him the advantage.} 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bxb6
axb6 21. Qe3 b5 22. Nf1 g4 23. hxg4 Bxg4 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. g3 {A futile attempt to keep the Knight out of f4. Better is 25.f3.} 25... Nf4 {The Knight comes in anyway.} 26. Nh2 {If 26.gxf4, then 26...exf4 27.Qc5 Qg6 wins.} 26... Qg5 27. Kh1 {If 27.f3, then 27...Rd2! wins. For example, 28.Qxd2 Nh3+ or 28.fxg4 Qh6 29.Nf3 Rg2+ 30.Kf1 Qh1+.} 27... Rd6 {The Rook goes to the front before White can organize a successful defense.} 28. f3
Bh3 29. Rg1 Nd3 30. Qa7 {If 30.Qxg5, then 30...Nf2#.} 30... Qd2 31. Bxd3 Rh6
{Threatening 32...Qxh2+ and 33...Bf1#.} 32. g4 Bxg4 33. Rg2 Bxf3 34. Bf1 Qf4
{Threatening 35...Qxh2#.} 35. Qg1 Bxe4 36. Be2 Rg6 37. Bf1 Qd2 38. b4 Qxa2 
{White is in zugzwang. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]

{This is the 159th game played between the current and former world champion. Kasparov comes up with a novelty in the opening. Karpov fights back but cannot save the game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Ba6 9. b3 g6 10. f4 {This is the novelty. White plans Qf2 and the Knight on d5 will be en prise.} 10... f6
11. Ba3 Qf7 12. Qd2 Nb6 13. c5 Bxf1 14. cxb6 axb6 {Also bad is 14...Bxa3 15.b7. Correct is 14...Ba6.} 15. e6 {Not 15.Bxf8? Bxg2 16.Qxg2 Rxf8 17.O-O fxe5.} 15... dxe6 {If 15...Qxe6+, then 16.Kxf1 Bxa3 17.Nxa3 Rxa3 18.Re1 wins.} 16. Bxf8 Rd8 17. Qb2 Bxg2 {17...Bd3 offered more chances.} 18. Qxg2
Kxf8 19. Qxc6 Rd6 20. Qc3 {Black does not have enough compensation for the piece.} 20... Kg7 21. Nd2 Rhd8 22. O-O-O Qe8 23. Qxc7+ R8d7 24. Qc2 Qb8 25.
Nc4 Rd5 26. Qf2 Qc7 27. Qxb6 Qxf4+ 28. Qe3 Qg4 29. Rdg1 Qh4 30. Rg3 e5 31.
Rh3 Qg4 32. Rg1 Rd1+ 33. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 34. Kb2 h5 35. Rg3 Qh1 36. Qf2 h4 37.
Qg2 Qxg2+ 38. Rxg2 g5 39. a4 Kg6 40. a5 e4 41. b4 h3 42. Rg3 Rh7 43. a6 f5
44. Ra3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "7th Match Game, Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]

{White sacrifices the exchange for a strong attack. But later Black sacrifices a piece.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff defense has become a popular opening in the big leagues.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3
Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12. Rb1 b6
13. Rb5 Bc7 14. h3 a6 15. hxg4 {This is a new move. White will get a strong attack for the exchange.} 15... axb5 16. Qc2 g6 {16...h6?! 17.g5! is good for White.} 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Bxb5 Re4 19. g5 {Correct is 19.c4.} 19... Qd6
20. Ne5 Qe6 {Black should have sacrificed the exchange back with 20...Rxe5 when he still had the chance.} 21. f4 {Securing the strong Knight outpost.}
21... Nc6 {Black sacrifices a piece for counterplay. 21...Bxe5 22.fxe5 Nc6 23.Qf2 followed by Bd3 would have been good for White.} 22. Nxc6 {22.Bxc6 Bxe5 23.Bxa8 Bxf4 is good for Black.} 22... Rxf4 23. Rxf4 {White still could have retained his advantage with 23.Qd2.} 23... Bxf4 {Threatening 24...Qe1#. } 24. Ne5 {Not 24.Qe2? Rxa2.} 24... Bxe5 25. dxe5 Qxe5 {Usually two Bishops are better than a Rook, but here White's King is open. Therefore chances are equal.} 26. a4 Qe1+ 27. Kh2 Rc8 28. Qd3 Qe5+ {If 28...Rxc3, then 29.Qd4 forces Black to take a perpetual check with 29...Qg3+ 30.Kg1 Qe3+.} 29. Qg3
Qxc3 30. Qf4 Qc7 31. Kg3 Qc3+ 32. Kh2 Qc7 33. Kg3 Qc3+ {Draw by Agreement.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Nikolic, Pr."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C19"]

{British GM Nunn is like a loose cannon capable of blowing away the defenses of the world's most sturdy GMs.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 {A slightly unusual move for Predrag. He often times side steps the Winawer pawn sacrifice (7.Qg4) by playing 6...Qc7 anticipating 7.Qg4 f6 with a different middlegame plan. Of course White can play 7.Nf3 reverting back to main lines where Black has committed himself to ...Qd8-c7, thereby losing several options.} 7. Nf3 {John is rightly regarded as one of the world's foremost theoreticians and practitioners of 1.e4. he can be counted upon to challenge the sharpest lines. Interestingly, he eschews the debate over 7.Qg4.} 7... b6 {The text is a favorite of Nikolic. Black plays for the exchange of his problem Bishop (...Bc8-a6).} 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 { Strategically, a very sharp decision. White permits ...Bd7-a4 which hampers the development of White's queenside (a3-a4, Bc1-a3). More common is 9.a4 with a strategically complex game.} 9... Ba4 {Accepting the perch to roost.}
10. dxc5 {An ugly move. White wants to insure that the game is opened for his two Bishops. The move implies the sacrifice of the e5-pawn.} 10... bxc5
11. O-O c4 12. Be2 Ng6 {According to Nikolic, this reasonable looking move is his only mistake of the game! It took 23 flawless moves by White to demonstrate why the move was bad! I suppose Nikolic missed something in his calculations! Essentially, White has already sacrificed his game positionally. He is banking on an attack based on Nf3-d4/g5, f2-f4-f5. From this perspective Black should be developing pieces towards a defense. Thus 12...Nd7 or 12...Qa5, playing for ...Qa5xc3, ...Ba4xc2 defending the kingside are preferable.} 13. Ng5 {A forced and powerful pawn sacrifice. Black must accept the gift, as otherwise f2-f4-f5 is a free attack.} 13...
Nxe5 {Not 13...h6? 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh5 winning a pawn.} 14. f4 Nd3 {In general, when defending it is a good idea to exchange pieces. This move has the unfortunate drawback of allowing White to play Qd1-h5 in one move.} 15.
Bxd3 cxd3 16. f5 e5 17. Qh5 {And this is the rub. Black's King is now trapped in the center. Surprisingly both players now embark on a forced line in which White must sacrifice a piece.} 17... Qe7 {The best. After 17...Qb6+ 18.Kh1 g6 19.Qh6 is a smash. Black is close to consolidating, but it is White's move.} 18. Ne6 Kd7 {A sad reality. After 18...g6 19.fxg6 fxe6 20.g7+ or 19...fxg6 20.Qxe5 is a clobber. Meanwhile, White threatens Bc1-g5 developing with tempo. Black prepares to meet this with ...f7-f6.} 19. Bg5
f6 20. Be3 {Around this time, White has to be satisfied with the idea of 10.dxc5 opening up the b-file.} 20... Na6 21. cxd3 g6 {The most testing. If Black doesn't try to undermine the Knight on e6 he may as well resign.} 22.
Qg4 Bc6 23. Nd4 {A wonderfully intuitive piece sacrifice. Neither player was able to calculate all the lines. Black is forced to go for the ride, while White felt that Black's exposed King and disorganized pieces were sufficient. Certainly, in practice, White's role is easier.} 23... exd4 24.
Bxd4 h5 25. Qh3 g5 26. Rfe1 Qf8 27. Re6 Rh6 28. Qe3 {A powerful move. White prevents ...Na6-c7 because Bd4-c5 wins the d6-square. Besides controlling the e-file, the a7-pawn is also given attention.} 28... Re8 29. Re1 Nc7 30.
Bc5 Qf7 31. Be7 {Only this move justifies White's attack. Black threatened to simply waltz away with his King. Now 31...Kc8? leaves the Bishop en prise. White threatens Re6-d6xc6.} 31... Rh7 32. Qc5 Bb7 33. Qxa7 {Killing. Now 33...Bc6 34.Rd6+ Kc8 35.Rb1 Bb5 36.Rxb5 Nxb5 37.Qa8+ Kc7 38.Qc6+ soon mates.} 33... Kc8 34. Rb1 Rxe7 35. Rxb7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Timman, J."]
[Black "Ljubojevic, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C19"]

{Ljubomir Ljubojevic has long been one of the top players in the world, although he has never challenged for the World Championship. He is known for his inventive tactical style, which explains the Dutch Grandmaster's avoidance of complications in the opening. Timman's restraint pays off when his Yugoslav colleague allows a strong blockade on the central dark squares. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Qc7
8. a4 {Rather than one of the tactical maelstroms available in the Winawer French (7.Qg4 is often followed by Qxg7 and mass complications), White has chosen a positional treatment.} 8... b6 9. Bb5+ {This looks like a loss of time, but actually it is an important move directed against ...Bc8-a6, exchanging the light-squared Bishops. After the Bishop interposes against the check, White retreats to a useful square and if Black were to try ...Bd7-c8, it would be he who loses time.} 9... Bd7 10. Bd3 Nbc6 11. O-O h6
12. Re1 O-O 13. Bf4 f5 {One of many standard ideas in the French. Black hopes to block the Kingside attacking lines, assuming that White will not wish to both open the f-file for Black's Rook and lose the Bishop pair. But White understands the important idea of blockade, and sets out on a thoroughly "Nimzowitschian" course.} 14. exf6ep Qxf4 15. fxe7 Nxe7 16. Bb5
Qc7 17. Qe2 Bc8 {With the weak e-pawn, Black no longer desires to exchange this Bishop.} 18. Qe5 {White now firmly controls e5 with pieces. Black's game is cramped.} 18... Qd8 {Normally, cramped positions desire exchanges, but in this one the exchange of Queens doesn't help. The Bishop on c8 is especially passively placed for an endgame.} 19. dxc5 bxc5 20. Rad1 Rf6 21.
Qe3 Qd6 22. Ne5 Nf5 23. Qh3 Bb7 24. Qh5 Ne7 25. Bd3 Raf8 26. Ng4 {White has once again turned his attention to the Kingside.} 26... Rf4 27. Re3 R8f7 28.
Rde1 Bc8 29. Bg6 Nxg6 30. Qxg6 Kf8 31. Ne5 R7f5 32. Qh7 Rxe5 {The threats of Ne5-g6+ and Qh7-h8+ were too much.} 33. Rxe5 Rxa4 34. R5e3 Bd7 35. Rf3+ Rf4
36. Rg3 Rf7 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Rxg7 Qf4 39. Rxf7+ Kxf7 40. Qh7+ Ke8 41. Rb1
Kd8 42. g3 Qd6 43. Qxh6 Kc7 44. Qh8 Bc8 45. f4 {Black Resigns. The final effect of the e5-blockade; White will play Qh8-e5 next, winning easily.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C17"]

{Nigel Short and Jan Timman are both participating in World Championship matches in 1993, but they aren't playing each other! Short begins play with Kasparov, while Timman squares off against Karpov, due to a political power-play on the part of Kasparov and Short. It remains to be seen if the whole mess will turn out to be good for chess (through media exposure and increased prizes), or if it will put the lot of the average Grandmaster back several years. Whatever the ultimate result, Short is a huge underdog vs Garry Kasparov, while Timman has better but not quite equal chances against Anatoly Karpov.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 {An old line. Now the standard "refutation" begins 6.b4, but Short doesn't want to discover his opponent's improvement on theory the hard way.} 6. Qg4 Ne7 7.
dxc5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qa5 9. Bd2 Ng6 10. h4 h5 11. Qg5 Nd7 12. c4 {Complicated opening play. White hopes to use the Bishop pair by opening up the center; Black will try to exploit White's weak pawns.} 12... Qa4 13. cxd5 Ndxe5 14.
Be2 Qe4 15. O-O-O {Although White's King position looks precarious, he threatens play on the d-file.} 15... O-O 16. Bc3 f6 17. Qd2 Qxg2 {Now Black feels the need to try to keep the material balance under control. The problem is, this leads to a loss of time and more open Kingside lines.} 18.
Nh3 exd5 19. Bxh5 Nc4 20. Qd4 Nge5 21. Nf4 Qe4 22. Qxd5+ Qxd5 23. Nxd5 Kh7
24. Rhg1 Bf5 25. Ne7 Be4 26. Rd4 Bf3 27. Bg6+ Kh8 28. h5 Rad8 29. Rh4 
{Black Resigns. In the end Black's King proves the more dangerously placed.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Nikolenko, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]

{An attack on an open King.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2
c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. f4 b5 8. a3 {Slowing down Black's attack on the kingside.}
8... a5 9. Nf3 b4 10. axb4 cxb4 11. f5 {White sacrifices a pawn to create an outpost for his Knight at f4 and to weaken Black's pawn structure.} 11...
exf5 12. Nf4 Nb6 13. Bb5 Bb7 {Worse are 13...Qc7 14.c4 or 13...Bd7 14.e6 fxe6 15.Nxe6.} 14. e6 Bd6 {Bad is 14...f6 15.Ne5! fxe5 16.Qh5+.} 15. exf7+
Kxf7 16. O-O Re8 {Black tries to castle artificially.} 17. Nxd5 Bxh2+ {White will get a ferocious attack after 17...Nxd5? 18.Ng5+ Kg6 19.Rxf5!.} 18. Kxh2
Qxd5 19. c4 {This forces Black's Knight into an awkward position on c4 where it will be hard to defend.} 19... Nxc4 20. Ng5+ Kg6 {If 20...Kg8, then 21.Rxf5 is strong.} 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 22. Qf3 Rf8 {Correct is 22...Ne7. White should then play 23.Qg3.} 23. Qg3 {Sacrificing a Rook but threatening a deadly discovered check.} 23... Qxf1 24. Ne6+ Kf7 25. d5 {Threatening 26.Qxg7+.} 25... Rg8 {If 25...Ke8, then 26.Qxg7 Rf7 27.Qg8+ Ke7 28.Bg5 is winning.} 26. Qc7+ Kg6 27. dxc6 Bc8 28. Nf4+ Kf6 {If 28...Kg5, then 29.Qe7+ Kg4 30.Nd5 is strong.} 29. Qd6+ Kf7 30. Qd5+ Kf8 31. Be3 {32.Bc5+ is coming. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kengis, E."]
[Black "Djurhuus, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C05"]

{It is very rare when a strong Grandmaster with the White pieces is knocked out so quickly.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6
7. Ndf3 Qb6 8. Ne2 cxd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. a3 {Preventing Black's pieces from having access to the b4 square.} 10... O-O 11. Ng3 f6 {Opening up the f-file.} 12. Bd3 fxe5 13. fxe5 Ndxe5 14. dxe5 {A new move. Black sacrifices a Knight for two pawns and gains lots of activity for his pieces.} 14...
Nxe5 15. Be2 {Of course not 15.Nxe5?? Qf2+.} 15... Bd7 16. Nxe5 {White mistakenly thinks that he can get away with this. Correct is 16.Rf1.} 16...
Qf2+ 17. Kd2 Rac8 {Preventing the White King from fleeing to safety with Kc2 and Kb1.} 18. Qb3 {Other moves lose as well. For example, if 18.Nxd7, then 18...Rf4 followed by 19...Rd4+ or 18.Nf3 Rxf3 19.gxf3 Bg5+ 20.Kd3 Bb5#.}
18... Bg5+ 19. Kd3 {If 19.Kd1, then 19...Qd4+ 20.Nd3 Ba4 wins the Queen.}
19... Rf4 {Threatening mate on d4.} 20. Nf3 {If 20.Bxf4, then 20...Qxf4 and there is no way to prevent mate. Likewise 20.Be3 Rf3! wins quickly.} 20...
Be8 {White Resigns. 21...Bg6+ will be decisive.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bareev, E."]
[Black "Christiansen, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]

{The Russian Bareev is one of the top ten players in the world, but the American Grandmaster is a tough fighter who excels in sharp tactics.} 1. d4
d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 Na6 6. Bc4 O-O 7. e5 Nh5 8. Be3 c5
9. O-O cxd4 10. Qxd4 Bf5 11. Rf2 Nc5 12. Rd1 Rc8 13. Ng5 {The threat of 14.Bxc4+ Rxf7 15.Qc4 forces Black's reply.} 13... Qe8 14. Bb5 Qd8 15. Be2 { Better is 15.Qb4 and if 15...h6, then 16.Nxf7!.} 15... h6 16. Nf3 Bxc2 17.
Rd2 Bf5 18. Nh4 Bd7 19. Rd1 {If 19.g4, then 19...Nf6 20.exf6 Bxf6 attacking both the Queen and Knight.} 19... Nf6 20. f5 {If 20.exf6, then 20...Bxf6 attacking both the Queen and Knight.} 20... dxe5 21. Qb4 a5 22. Qa3 Nce4 23.
Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Rff1 g5 25. f6 {Creating a square for the Knight at f5.} 25...
exf6 26. Nf5 Qc7 {Black must sacrifice the exchange to relieve some of the pressure, but his pawn majority gives him the advantage.} 27. Ne7+ Kh8 28.
Nxc8 Rxc8 29. Qe7 {The players were short on time.} 29... Be6 30. Qxc7 Rxc7
31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. g4 {White must try to hold back Black's pawn mass.}
32... f5 33. gxf5 {33.Bd3 should have been considered.} 33... Bxa2 34. f6 { Correct is 34.Ra1. Now Black's kingside pawns become unstoppable.} 34...
Nxf6 35. Bb5 Be6 36. Bb6 Rc8 37. Rxc8 Bxc8 38. Bxa5 Kg6 39. Bc4 Bh3 40. Re1
e4 41. Re3 Bd7 42. b4 Bf8 43. Re1 Bd6 44. Rd1 Bf4 45. Bb6 h5 46. Ra1 Ng4 47.
Bd5 {If 47.h3, then 47...Be3+ 48.Bxe3 Nxe3.} 47... Bxh2+ 48. Kg2 Be5 49. Ra8
Nf6 50. Bxb7 h4 51. Be3 h3+ 52. Kg1 Bg4 {White Resigns. There is no good defense to 53...h2+ and 54...Bf3.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beliavsky, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]

{Viswanathan Anand from India is known for the incredible speed of his play. This is both a strength and a weakness: he never suffers from time pressure and his opponents can be unnerved by his quick responses, but most of his losses come from failing to double-check tactics. Here we see him at his best, trading blows with the powerful Al Beliavsky.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3.
Nc3 g6 4. f4 {Although it started with 1.d4, the game has transposed to the Austrian Attack against the Pirc Defense.} 4... Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3 b6 { Not so much to fianchetto, but to support the central challenge ...c7-c5.}
7. e5 Ng4 8. Bg1 c5 9. h3 Nh6 10. d5 Bb7 11. Qd2 Nf5 12. Bh2 dxe5 13. fxe5
e6 {Black's mission in these modern defenses is to allow White to build a big pawn center, then challenge it from the wings and smash it with pawn levers. The classical masters of the last century would be scandalized to allow White pawns to reach the fifth rank; Anand is pleased because he will prove they are overextended.} 14. O-O-O exd5 15. Nxd5 Nc6 16. c3 Ncd4 17.
Nf6+ Bxf6 18. cxd4 Bg7 19. d5 {Here we go again. Now the important strategic feature is that the Kings are castled on opposite wings. Each side will mount an attack.} 19... c4 20. Be2 Rc8 21. Kb1 Bh6 22. Bf4 Bxf4 23. Qxf4
Bxd5 24. h4 c3 25. bxc3 Rxc3 26. h5 Ne3 27. Ng5 Qc7 28. Nxh7 {No defense for either side, just go, go, go. White appears to have come in first, with serious consequences after 28...Kxh7 29.hxg6++ Kg8 30.Rh8+ and mates. Otherwise, surely 29.Nf6+ will be too strong?} 28... Rb3+ {Obviously, Black had to see this when playing 21...Bh6. Now it is White who is mated, and all with check. Work it out. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]

{A strategical masterpiece with a beautiful King march at the end.} 1. e4
Nf6 {The Alekhine is a rare guest in today's big leagues.} 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4
d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. Qe2 {Currently, this is the most topical way of meeting Alekhine's defense. Usual is 7.a4 or 7.Ng5. Here White sidesteps an early Queen exchange and strengthens his e5-pawn. If this pawn can be maintained, Black's game will be cramped and the Bishop on g7 will have to re-deploy.} 7... Nc6 8. O-O O-O {Obviously 8...Bg4? 9.Bxf7+ is a sucker's trap.} 9. h3 a5 10. a4 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nd4 {In a cramped position, Black correctly seeks exchanges.} 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Re1 {A critical moment. Black has to decide on his scheme of development. What will he do with his light-square Bishop? If he blocks it in with ...e7-e6, then the only chance for activation is by a fianchetto. That will cost a lot of tempi. Playing 13...Bf5 develops the Bishop, but it's a useless development, since there is no harmony with the rest of Black's pieces.} 13... e6 {Best. But this development takes a lot of time.} 14. Nd2 Nd5 15. Nf3 Qc5 16. Qe4 {A nasty move. White prevents 16...b6, as 17.c4 picks up a piece.} 16... Qb4 17. Bc4
{A beautiful move. Grabbing a pawn by 17.Bxd5?! exd5 18.Qxd5 Bd6 gives Black excellent compensation. The text invites Black to weaken White's pawn structure in exchange for tempi. If Black doesn't go along with the menu, then White develops by hitting the Black Queen.} 17... Nb6 18. b3 Nxc4 19.
bxc4 Re8 20. Rd1 Qc5 {This strikes me as being overly cooperative. A line like 20...Ra6 21.Qh4 Rc6 22.Rd8 Qf8 23.Ba3 Rxd8 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 loses material, but offers kicking chances.} 21. Qh4 b6 22. Be3 Qc6 {Reluctant to defend passively with 22...Qf8 23.Ng5 h6 24.Ne4 Bxe5 25.Bxh6, when White has an excellent game, Timman drifts towards a lifeless position.} 23. Bh6 Bh8 { This is excessive. The position after 23...Bb7 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Rd4 is a positional crunch, but what happens is even worse!} 24. Rd8 Bb7
25. Rad1 Bg7 {Reversing an earlier decision. White was threatening Qh4-e7 and Rd1-d7.} 26. R8d7 Rf8 {If 26...Bxe5 27.Rxf7 followed by Rd1-d7 is over.}
27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. R1d4 {Preventing a possible Qc6-e4.} 28... Rae8 29. Qf6+
Kg8 30. h4 h5 {Up to now, we applaud the wonderful way that Short has tied up his opponent, and the following exploitation of his advantage is breathtaking.} 31. Kh2 Rc8 32. Kg3 Rce8 33. Kf4 Bc8 34. Kg5 {Black Resigns. There is no defense to 35.Kh6 and 36.Qg7#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Klooster"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wojtkiewicz, A."]
[Black "Bellon Lopez, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]

{When White gets tied up hunting down the pawns on the queenside, Black goes hunting on the kingside.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7
6. a3 a5 7. O-O d6 8. Ne1 Be6 9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Ne3
Nde7 13. Ne4 b6 14. Qa4 O-O {Black feels that he has enough compensation for the pawn sacrifice. Also possible is 14...O-O.} 15. Nxc5 bxc5 16. Bxc6 Nxc6
17. Qxc6 {White has won a pawn, but giving up his King Bishop leaves his kingside weak.} 17... Rc8 18. Qa4 f5 19. Nc4 f4 20. Qxa5 Qg5 21. f3 e4 { Opening up lines for his pieces.} 22. Qa6 {If 22.g4, then 22...Bd4+ 23.Kh1 exd3 24.exd3 Qxg4! 25.fxg4 Bd5+ wins.} 22... Bh3 23. Bxf4 {If 23.dxe4, then 23...Bd4+ is very strong. For example, 24.Rf2 fxg3! 25.Bxg5 Bxf2+ 26.Kh1 g2#.} 23... Rxf4 24. dxe4 Bd4+ 25. Kh1 {If 25.e3, then 25...Rf6 wins.} 25...
Rcf8 26. Rfd1 Rxe4 27. fxe4 Qh5 28. Ne3 {If 28.Rxd4, then 28...Qxe2 29.Rd2 Rf1+ wins.} 28... Bxe3 29. Qc4+ Kg7 30. Qc3+ Bd4 31. Rxd4 cxd4 32. Qxd4+ Rf6
33. Qa7+ {If 33.e5, then 33...Re6 34.Rc1 g5 35.Rc7+ Kh6 36.Qd8 Qg6 wins.}
33... Kh6 34. Qe3+ g5 35. Kg1 {35.e5 would have held out longer.} 35... Qf7
{White Resigns. There is no defense to 36...Rf1+.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hansen, Cu."]
[Black "Ftacnik, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]

{White rips opens Black's King position and Black is hard pressed to find a defense.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 b6 4. e4 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7.
f3 e6 8. Be3 Qb8 9. Qd2 Be7 10. g4 O-O 11. O-O-O Rc8 12. g5 Ne8 {Risky is 12...Nh5 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Kb1 a6 15.f4 threatening 16.Be2.} 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14.
Kb1 {Wisely moving his King off the c-file. Risky is 14.h4 b5 15.cxb5 Bxb5 16.Bxb5 Qxb5 17.Qd7 Qa5.} 14... a6 15. h4 b5 16. h5 bxc4 {Black hopes to make use of the open b-file.} 17. g6 fxg6 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Rg1 Bf6 20. Rxg6
Kf7 21. Rg2 d5 {Necessary was 21...Qb4 22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 Rab8 24.Rd2 Qb6 and Black should equalize.} 22. exd5 exd5 23. Nxd5 c3 24. Qd3 {Better than 24.Nxc3 Bxf3 25.Qd7+ Kf8 with an unclear position.} 24... Ba4 {If 24...c2+, then 25.Qxc2 Bxd5 26.Qxg6+ wins.} 25. Qg6+ Kf8 26. Nxf6 c2+ {Worse is 26...gxf6 27.Bh6+ Ke7 28.Re2+.} 27. Rxc2 Rxc2 {If 27...Bxc2+, then 28.Qxc2 Nxf6 29.Bc5+ Kg8 30.Bc4+ Kh8 31.Rh1+ mates.} 28. Nd7+ Bxd7 29. Qxc2 Be6 30.
Qc5+ Kf7 {If 30...Kg8, then 31.Bc4 Bxc4 32.Qxc4+ wins.} 31. Rd7+ Bxd7 {If 31...Kg8, the 32.Bc4.} 32. Bc4+ Be6 {Also bad is 32...Kg6 33.Qg5+ Kh7 34.Qh5#.} 33. Qf5+ Ke7 34. Qxe6+ Kd8 35. Bb6+ Nc7 36. Bd5 Ra7 37. Bc6 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vaganian, R."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]

{The opening stages of chess games carry names, and frequently beginners put too much faith in these names. A not-uncommon tendency at the lower levels is to ignore the opponent's play. One quote: "I played the King's Gambit against the Sicilian". For more experienced players this is humorous, but every player has experienced dramatic transpositions in the opening. This game begins as an English, but transposes into the Sicilian on move nine.}
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. e4 Qc7 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. b3
b6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bb7 11. Bb2 Nc6 {The formation Black has adopted is now called the Hedgehog. A more common development of the Knight-b8 in these systems is to d7, from whence it eyes c5 and e5. White usually builds up for a Kingside attack, keeping control of the center with his c4, e4 bind.} 12.
Rc1 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Rb8 14. Rfd1 O-O 15. Ba3 Rfd8 16. h3 Ba8 17. Rd2 h6 18.
Bb4 Rd7 19. Qe3 b5 20. cxb5 axb5 21. e5 Nd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Nxd5 Qd8 24.
e6 fxe6 25. Ba5 Qxa5 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Qxd7 Bxd5 28. Bxd5 Qd8 29. Qe6 Qf8
30. Rc7 Bf6 31. Rf7 Qe8 32. Rxf6 gxf6 33. Qxf6+ Kh7 34. Qxd6 Rd8 35. Qc7+
Kh8 36. Qc3+ Kh7 37. Qd3+ Kh8 38. Qd4+ Kh7 39. Kg2 Qe7 40. Qd3+ Kh8 41. Qxb5
Qe5 42. Bc6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Speelman, J."]
[Black "Sax, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]

{This lively game was played at the annual Christmas tournament in Hastings, England, between the popular British Grandmaster Jonathan Speelman and Gyula Sax from Hungary. Appropriately, they played the English Opening, and the English player won with some nifty tactics in the transitional stages of the game.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qb6 6. Nb3 e6 7. a3
d5 8. Be3 Qd8 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. g3 Be7 12. Bg2 Bf6 13. Qd2 d4 { Traditional Nimzowitschian strategy against the isolated pawn is to first blockade it, then surround and destroy it. Black acts quickly to prevent the physical blockade of the pawn, advancing it as a gambit to win the Bishop pair and hopefully inconvenience the White King.} 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Bxd4
Qd5 16. O-O-O {Sax may have thought he was winning a piece here, but this move allows 16...Qxb3 to be met by 17.Bxf6 with threat of mate. The opening stage is over, and the transitional tactics here favor White.} 16... Bg5 17.
f4 Qxb3 18. Bxg7 Be7 19. Bxh8 f6 20. e4 {White is temporarily ahead the Exchange and two Pawns, which would normally be more than a match for the Bishop pair. But Black will soon win the Bishop on h8, and then will have two Bishops for the Rook and Pawns. As can be seen in many of these games, King safety plays a major role in the evaluation of the position, and soon Speelman heads into an endgame where tactics again predominate.} 20... Kf7
21. f5 Rb8 22. Rhe1 Ba6 23. Qc2 Qxc2+ 24. Kxc2 Rxh8 25. Rd7 Rd8 {Black's light-squared Bishop is in trouble. The passive 25...Ra8 barely merits consideration, if only because of 26.e5. Other moves allow 26.Rxa7, when the Bishop may be trapped by a3-a4 and b2-b3. The move played envisions control of the d3 square. Watch what happens.} 26. Rxa7 Bd3+ 27. Kc3 Kf8 {White threatened 28.Rd1 Bxe4(?) 29.Rxd8 winning by means of the pinned Bishop.}
28. Rd1 {Anyway!} 28... Bxe4 29. Rxe7 {Black Resigns. The point being 29...Kxe7 30.Re1 or 29...Rxd1 30.Rxe4, in either case reaching an easily won Rook ending.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "European Cup"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vaganian, R."]
[Black "Hjartarson, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]

{Many strong Grandmasters are hired by chess clubs to play for them in team competitions. The Armenian and Icelandic Grandmaster play for German clubs.}
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. Nc3 d6 7. Re1 Nbd7 8.
e4 Ne5 9. d4 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Be7 12. b3 O-O 13. Ba3 Qb8 { Black's pawn formation is known as the hedgehog. He keeps his pieces behind the third rank for a while and sometimes White will overextend himself.} 14.
Rad1 Rd8 15. Re3 Ne8 16. Red3 h6 17. Qe3 Bg5 18. Qe2 a6 19. Bg2 {Better is 19.e5! Bxf3 20.Qxf3 dxe5 21.Rxd8 Bxd8 22.Rd7 with a large advantage.} 19...
Qc7 20. Bb4 Be7 21. Qd2 Bc6 22. f4 {Better is 22.a4 to prevent Black's next move.} 22... b5 23. cxb5 axb5 24. h3 Rdc8 25. Qe3 Qb7 26. a3 Nf6 27. Kh2 Nd7
{Better is 27...Bf8 threatening ...d5.} 28. Bxd6 Bxd6 29. Rxd6 Rxa3 30. Nd5
{Likely Black overlooked this move.} 30... Bxd5 {Worse is 30...exd5 31.exd5 which is winning for White.} 31. exd5 Rc2 32. Rd2 Rxb3 {Now White has a very beautiful combination.} 33. dxe6 {White will get his Queen back because this pawn will be promoted.} 33... Rxe3 34. exd7 Re2 35. d8=Q+ Kh7 36. Rxh6+ {The finishing touch. If 36...gxh6, then 37.Qd3+ wins. Or if 36...Kxh6, then 37.Qg5+ Kh7 38.Qh5+ Kg8 39.Rd8+ wins. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Rogatska Slatin"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vaganian, R."]
[Black "Sokolov, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]

{White makes one mistake after which Black grabs the initiative and never relinquishes it.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg2
d6 7. O-O h6 8. a3 a5 9. e3 {Preparing d3-d4.} 9... Bf5 10. b3 Qd7 11. Bb2
Bb6 12. d4 exd4 13. exd4 Bg4 14. Na4 Ba7 15. Qd2 {If 15.d5, then 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Ne5 is unclear.} 15... Rfe8 16. Rae1 d5 17. Rxe8+ {This is a mistake from which White is never able to recover. Correct is 17.cxd5 Qxd5 18.Ne5 Qb3 with an unclear position.} 17... Rxe8 18. Ne5 Ne4 {White appears to have overlooked this move.} 19. Qe1 {19.Bxe4 Nxe5 wins for Black as does 19.Qc2 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Nxf2 21.Rxf2 dxc4!.} 19... Nxe5 20. dxe5 Ng5 21. Qxa5 {White has big problems because of the weakness at f3. If 21.Bxd5, then 21...Nf3+ 22.Bxf3 Bxf3 followed by ...Qh3 wins.} 21... Bf3 {Threatening 22...Qh3! winning immediately.} 22. Qc3 {If 22.Bxf3, then 22...Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Nh4+! 24.gxh4 Qg4+ results in a mating attack.} 22... Bxg2 23. Kxg2 dxc4 24. e6 { 24.bxc4 Qxa4 and 24.Qxc4 Qh3+ both lose.} 24... Nxe6 25. Qf3 {If 25.Qxc4, then 25...b5.} 25... Ng5 26. Qd1 Qc6+ 27. f3 cxb3 28. Nc3 Qe6 29. g4 Qc4 30.
Re1 Rxe1 31. Qxe1 Bd4 32. h4 Ne6 33. Qe4 Qc5 34. Qe1 Qc4 35. Qe4 Qc5 {Black repeats moves because he was in time pressure.} 36. Qe1 Bxc3 37. Bxc3 Qxa3
38. Qd2 Qd6 39. Qb2 Nf4+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Akopian, V."]
[Black "Stambulian, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]

{White sacrifices two pieces to hunt down the opposing King.} 1. c4 Nf6 2.
Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9.
Rb1 Nc6 10. Qa4 Na5 11. Qh4 e6 {Better is 11...Bf5.} 12. Ng5 h6 13. Ne4 g5 { This weakens the kingside, but White has a big advantage after either 13...Qxh4 14.gxh4 or 13...Qc7 14.Nf6+ Kh8 15.d4.} 14. Qh5 Qc7 15. Rb5 {White keeps the pressure on.} 15... f5 {If 15...b6, then either 16.Nf6+ or 16.Nxg5 are good.} 16. Rxc5 {Not 16.Nxc5? a6.} 16... Nc6 17. Qg6 Bd7 {If 17...fxe4, then 18.Bxe4 Rf6 19.Qh7+ Kf7 20.Ba3 with a strong attack.} 18. Ba3 fxe4 19.
Bxe4 Rf6 {19...Rf5 would have held out longer, although White has a big advantage after 20.Bxf5 exf5 21.d4.} 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. Rxg5 {Black Resigns, as he gets mated after 21...hxg5 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.Bg6+ Kg8 25.Qh7#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "2nd Match Game, Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A18"]

{Black gets a very bad position and his only hope is a desperate counterattack.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 {These days 3...c5 4.e5 Ng8 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.nxd4 Nxe5 8.Ndb5 is considered a fearsome pawn sacrifice, especially in the hands of Kasparov.} 4. e5 Ne4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Qc2
{Forcing Black to resolve the tension to White's advantage.} 6... Ng5 {Over the board inspiration? Black's game lacks dynamic chances after 6...Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5, but the text cedes a large center for free.} 7. Nxg5 Bxg5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. O-O-O {A sharp decision. White wins with a kingside pawn storm. Thus he must only prevent a hit to his center. The text annuls ...c7-c5.} 11... Nc6 {Seems artificial, but there is no "correct" way to attack White's King. Black must be bold or get crunched on the kingside.}
12. a3 Na5 13. Bd3 h6 14. Qe2 {Intending Bd3-c2, Qe2-d3 to induce ...g7-g6 and the win of a pawn. While a question of attacking styles, I see no reason to reject the effective pawn roller 15.f4!} 14... b5 {A courageous offer by Timman. Most GMs are loath to offer a pawn to Korchnoi. But here a pawn sacrifice is necessary. Without it, White plays alone.} 15. Bc2 {Winning the h6-pawn! If 16.Bxb5 or 16.Nxb5 Rb8!, it is evident that Black has reasonable counterattacking chances. White shouldn't be distracted from his own designs.} 15... Rb8 {Again well played. White had added Qe2xb5 to his menu of possibilities. The text envisages opening the b-file to White's King.}
16. Qd3 g6 17. Bxh6 b4 {Masterful. Timman recognizes that timing is crucial. 17...Re8? 18.h4 b4 19.axb4 gives White several tempi over the game. The position is not about material, it's about King safety. That means cutthroat chess.} 18. axb4 Rxb4 19. Qg3 {A crucial moment. The ensuing positions do not work out well for White. His Queen is misplaced and his kingside attack grinds to a halt. Better is 19.Bxf8.} 19... Bh4 {But this is the rub. Black hits the Queen and forces her to a bad square. Additionally, the Bh4 does a nice job of delaying White's h-pawn attack. In passing, White's threat of Bc2xg6 is stopped. A move with multiple bonuses!} 20. Qf4 c6 {An easy move to second-guess. Black defends his d5-pawn and opens the way for ...Qd8-b6. However, 20...Be6 offers much the same, while developing a piece.} 21. Rde1
{Played after a long think. Korchnoi completely underestimates Timman's threats. His idea of Rd1-e1-e3-g3 is far too slow. It also leaves the d-pawn vulnerable. Better is 21.Bxf8 Bg5 22.Bxb4.} 21... Be6 22. Re3 c5 {Classical chess. An attack on the flank is best met by a counter in the center.} 23.
Bxf8 Bg5 24. Qg3 Kxf8 {White's game is a wreck. With time-trouble to boot, the end is clear.} 25. h4 Bh6 26. h5 g5 27. Na2 Rb8 {Played without hesitation. Timman wants to keep his pressure on the b2- pawn. Still, 27...Rxd4 is much better for Black. I see no defense against ideas like ...Na5-c4 and ...g5-g4.} 28. dxc5 g4 29. Kb1 Nc4 30. Rb3 Nd2+ 31. Ka1 Nxb3+
32. Bxb3 Qa5 {Black has great pressure for his two pawns, but I felt White could draw with 33.Bc2 d4 34.Qa3 Qxa3 35.bxa3 Bg7 36.Re1 Rb5 37.Nb4 Rxc5 38.Kb1 etc. With his flag flying high, Korchnoi uncorks a howler.} 33. Rd1
Qb5 {The game is over now.} 34. Rd3 Bf5 35. Rxd5 Qxb3 36. Qxb3 Rxb3 37. c6
Rd3 38. Nb4 Rxd5 39. Nxd5 Ke8 40. Nf6+ Kd8 41. f3 gxf3 42. gxf3 Be6 43. Ng8
Bf4 44. h6 {Because Viktor didn't know the move number, he blitzed to this point though he had made the time control at move 40. He stopped blitzing here when his flag fell.} 44... Bxe5 45. h7 Kc7 46. f4 Bg7 47. Nh6 Kxc6 48.
f5 Bb3 49. Kb1 Kd6 50. Ng4 Bd5 51. Nh6 Ke5 52. Kc2 Kf4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Salamanca"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Vladimirov, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A19"]

{White makes some dubious moves in the opening, but he is able to recover.}
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 c5 4. e5 Ng8 5. Nf3 d6 6. exd6 Bxd6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 a6 9. Be3 Nf6 10. Qf3 O-O 11. O-O-O {The King is very exposed on the queenside.} 11... Nbd7 {Preventing 12.g4 due to 12...Ne5.} 12. Kb1 {If 12.Nxe6, then 12...fxe6 13.Rxd6 Ne8.} 12... Qc7 13. h3 {Not 13.Ndb5? axb5 14.Nxb5 Qa5.} 13... Ne5 14. Qe2 Bd7 15. Nb3 {Better is 15.Bf4.} 15... Ng6
16. f3 Be5 17. Qf2 Bxc3 18. Bb6 Qc8 19. bxc3 e5 {Black is a bit better because his King is safer than White's.} 20. h4 h5 21. Rd6 Re8 22. Nc5 Bc6
23. Qg3 e4 24. Kb2 exf3 {Better is 24...Qb8.} 25. gxf3 Qf5 26. Bd3 Qxf3 27.
Qxf3 Bxf3 28. Rg1 Rac8 {Better is 28...Ng4. Now White is able to restore the equilibrium.} 29. Bxg6 fxg6 30. Rxg6 Rc6 31. Rxc6 Bxc6 32. Bc7 Re2+ 33. Kb3
Be8 {Both players were in time pressure here.} 34. Rg5 Bf7 35. Be5 {Correct is 35.Re5.} 35... Ne8 36. Nxb7 Re4 37. Na5 Rxh4 38. Kb4 {This pins the c-pawn, which he needs to start advancing. Better is 38.Ka3.} 38... Re4 39.
Kc5 h4 40. Kb6 h3 41. c5 Re2 42. c6 Rb2+ {White has good chances after 42...h2 43.Bxh2 Rxh2 44.c7.} 43. Ka7 Rb5 {Not 43...h2 44.c7 h1=Q 45.c1=Q with an unclear position. Now White is in trouble because his Bishop is pinned to his Rook.} 44. c7 Nxc7 45. Rxg7+ Kf8 46. Rg5 Ne8 {White Resigns. There is no defense to 47...h2.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "4th Match Game, Brussels"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A19"]

{White sacrifices a pawn in the opening which has been known to give him dangerous attacking chances. Black gives the pawn back to transpose into the endgame.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 c5 4. e5 Ng8 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7.
Nxd4 Nxe5 8. Ndb5 a6 9. Nd6+ Bxd6 10. Qxd6 f6 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Bb6 Nf5 13.
Qb4 Nc6 {Better is 13...Qe7.} 14. Qc5 Qe7 15. O-O-O Qxc5 16. Bxc5 d6 { Sacrificing the pawn back to break the bind that White has on the position.}
17. Bxd6 {It is better to retain this Bishop with 17.Ba3. The d-pawn is weak and cannot be held in any case.} 17... Nxd6 18. Rxd6 Ke7 19. c5 Bd7 20. g3
Rac8 21. Bh3 {Underestimating Black's next move. Better is 21.Bg2.} 21...
Ne5 {Now White has trouble with his advanced c-pawn.} 22. Rhd1 Rhd8 23. Bg2
Rxc5 24. Bxb7 a5 25. Be4 Ng4 {Better is 25...f5.} 26. R6d2 f5 27. Bg2 Nf6
28. f4 {Fixing Black's pawns.} 28... Rb8 29. Re1 h6 30. Rd4 Rb4 31. Red1 g5
32. a3 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 Ng4 34. h4 Ne3 35. Bf3 gxh4 36. gxh4 Bc6 37. Be2 Nd5
38. Kd2 Nxc3 39. bxc3 Be4 40. Rc4 Rd5+ 41. Ke3 Kd6 42. Rc8 Rc5 43. Ba6
{Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Salov, V."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]

{Salov makes a gutsy but dubious sacrifice, then gets lucky. This game is a testimony to never giving up.} 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5.
O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Qc7 11. Qc2
Rd8 12. Qb2 {White will try to make something of the battery on the long diagonal.} 12... Bf8 13. Rac1 Qb6 14. d3 Bd7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Rac8 17.
Rc4 {Another unit joins the attacking force.} 17... f6 18. Bxf6 {Retreating the Bishop allows ...e6-e5, when Black is fine.} 18... gxf6 19. Qxf6 Be8 20.
Rg4+ Bg6 21. h4 {White threatens to regain the piece with h4-h5. However, Black smoothly repulses the attack, and White is forced to part with even more material to keep some play.} 21... Bg7 22. Qg5 h5 23. Qxg6 hxg4 24. Be4
Rc7 25. Kg2 Rf7 26. h5 Rf6 27. Qxg4 Kf7 28. f4 {It is very hard to believe White has sufficient compensation for a Rook.} 28... Bh6 29. Bg6+ Kf8 30.
Rf3 Qb4 31. Qh4 Kg7 32. e4 e5 33. fxe5 Qd2+ 34. Kh3 Rxf3 35. Qxd8 Qg5 36.
Qd7+ Kg8 {White has no more than a draw after 36...Kf8 37.Qe8+ Kg7 38.Qd7+, but eliminating all of Black's pawns with 37.Qc8+ Kg7 38.Qxb7+ Kf8 39.Qa8+ Kg7 40.Qxa7+ Kf8 41.Qb8+ Kg7 42.Qc7+ Kf8 43.Qxc5+ leaves a position where it is not clear that even seven pawns for the Rook is enough to win.} 37. Qh7+
{Oops. 37...Kf8 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qe8#. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Damljanovic, B."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]

{Grandmaster Boris Gelfand of Minsk is one of the top five Grandmasters in the world.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 Nc6
7. c4 e5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. a3 h6 10. Qc2 a5 11. e3 Qe7 12. Ne4 {This allows Black to play ...f7-f5 with tempo. Better is 12.Nb3.} 12... Rd8 13. Bd2 f5
14. Nc5 Qf7 15. Rab1 b6 16. Na4 Nde7 17. Ne1 {Bad is 17.b4? axb4 18.axb4 e4!.} 17... Bb7 18. Nc3 Rd7 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Nd8 21. Nf3 {Better is 21.Bxb7 with just a slight advantage for Black.} 21... g5 22. Ra1 Rb8 23.
Rfd1 g4 24. Ne1 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Ne6 26. Kg1 {In time pressure White is playing without a plan.} 26... Ng5 27. Qa2 Nf3+ 28. Kg2 e4 29. Qxf7+ Kxf7 30. d4 c5
{Opening up lines for his pieces.} 31. Nxf3 exf3+ 32. Kf1 cxd4 33. exd4 Rxd4
{Black has won a pawn and is winning.} 34. Be1 Rbd8 35. Rxd4 Rxd4 36. Ra7
Rd3 {Not 36...Rxb4?? 37.Rxe7+.} 37. Nb5 Rd5 38. Nc7 Rd7 39. Nb5 Rxa7 40.
Nxa7 Ke6 41. Bd2 h5 42. Be3 Nd5 43. Nc8 Nxe3+ 44. fxe3 Bf8 45. Nxb6 Bxb4 46.
Kf2 Kd6 47. Nc4+ Kd5 48. Nb6+ Ke4 49. Na4 h4 50. gxh4 Be7 51. h5 Bh4+ 52.
Kf1 Bg5 53. Nc5+ Kxe3 54. Ne6 Bh6 55. Nd8 f4 56. Nf7 g3 57. hxg3 fxg3 58.
Nxh6 g2+ 59. Kg1 f2+ {White Resigns. 60.Kxg2 Ke2 forces the promotion of a pawn.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]

{A Latvian GM and English GM square off in the German chess club league.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 Nf6 12. f3 h5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. f4 e4 15.
Nf2 Ng4 16. Nxg4 fxg4 {This gives up control of the center. Better is 16...hxg4.} 17. Nxe4 Bxb2 18. Rb1 Bd4+ 19. Kh1 Nf5 20. Bd3 b6 21. Re1 Bd7
22. Ng5 Rf6 23. Bb4 {Threatening 24.Bxf5 with a discovered attack on the Bishop.} 23... a5 24. Ba3 Bc3 25. Re2 {White is threatening to control the important a1-h8 diagonal with 25.Rc1 Bb4 26.Bb2.} 25... h4 26. Re6 {Not 26.Rc1? due to 26...Ng3+ 27.hxg3 hxg3 28.Rxc3 Rxf4 winning the Knight on g5. } 26... Nh6 {If 26...Bxe6, then 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 28.Qxg4+ Ng7 29.dxe6 wins.} 27.
Bh7+ Kg7 28. Qd3 Bxe6 29. Qxc3 {Gaining control of the a1-h8 diagonal is decisive. White now threatens Bb2 and Ne4.} 29... Bg8 30. Bb2 {Black Resigns. If 30...Bxh7, then 31.Ne6+ wins the Queen.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gurevich, M."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O {White's move order is used to reach the King's Indian Defense positions without allowing the Grunfeld Defense, in which Black plays ...d7-d5.} 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5 12. b4 Kh8 13. Qc2 Ng8 14. f3 Ngf6 15.
Bd3 f4 16. Nb5 b6 17. Bb2 g5 18. Be2 Ne8 19. g4 fxg3ep 20. hxg3 g4 21. fxg4
Qg5 22. Qd3 Ndf6 23. Nf3 Qxg4 24. Nxe5 Qh3 25. Nc6 axb4 26. Rf2 bxa3 27.
Nxa3 Qh6 28. e5 dxe5 29. Nxe5 Nd6 30. Bc1 Qh3 31. Rh2 Qxh2+ 32. Kxh2 Bf5 33.
Qb3 Rae8 34. Bf4 Nd7 35. Bh5 Nxe5 36. Bxe8 Ng4+ 37. Kg1 Bd4+ 38. Kf1 Rxe8
39. Qd1 Ne3+ 40. Bxe3 Bxe3 41. Kg2 Be4+ 42. Kh3 Nf7 43. Rb3 Ng5+ 44. Kh4
Nf3+ 45. Kh3 Ng5+ 46. Kh4 Nf3+ {Draw by 3-fold repetition.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]

{The US champion knocks off the world champion.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7
11. Rb1 f5 12. b4 Kh8 13. f3 Ng8 14. Qc2 Ngf6 15. Nb5 axb4 16. axb4 Nh5 17.
g3 Ndf6 18. c5 Bd7 19. Rb3 Bh6 20. Rc3 Bf4 {A Kasparov novelty that he worked out in his home laboratory.} 21. cxd6 {Taking the Bishop is dubious: 21.gxf4?! Nxf4. Black threatens 22...Nxe2+ as well as 22...Nxd5 followed by 23...Qg5+.} 21... Nxg3 22. hxg3 {One can imagine how difficult it is for White as the world champion has probably worked out most of these complex variations at home.} 22... Nh5 23. gxf4 Nxf4 {But not everything has been worked out perfectly. Correct is 23...Qh4.} 24. Bc4 Nh3+ {Black has nothing after 24...Qg5+ 25.Kf2 Qh4+ 26.Ke3.} 25. Kh1 {Not 25.Kg2 Qg5+ 26.Kxh3 f4 27.Kh2 Qg3+ 28.Kh1 Qh3+ with a draw by perpetual check.} 25... Qh4 26. Nb3 { Clearing the second rank for his Queen for defensive purposes.} 26... fxe4
27. Qh2 Rf5 28. f4 Rh5 {Threatening 29...Nf2+ 30.Rxf2 Qxf2. The players were short on time.} 29. Qg3 Qxg3 {If 29...Nf2+, then 30.Qxh4+ Rxh4+ 31.Kg1 Rg4+ 32.Kf2 Ra2+ 33.Nd2 Rg2+ 34.Ke1 is winning for White.} 30. Rxg3 exf4 31. Bb2+
Kg8 32. dxc7 Bxb5 {If 32...fxg3, then White wins immediately with 34.d6+.}
33. Bxb5 fxg3 34. Kg2 Ng5 35. d6 {There is no stopping the connected passed pawns.} 35... Rh2+ 36. Kxg3 Rxb2 37. Bc4+ Kg7 38. d7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Kovalev, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]

{Black sacrifices a piece for a kingside attack, but will it work?} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3 Ng4
9. Bg5 Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. h3 h6 12. Bc1 Nf6 13. Be3 Nh5 {Moving the Knight to the outpost on f4.} 14. c5 Nf4 15. Bb5 Qe6 16. Re1 {16.Qa4? Nxg2 17.Kxg2 Qxh3+ wins for Black.} 16... Nxg2 {Sacrificing a piece to open up the kingside.} 17. Kxg2 Qxh3+ 18. Kg1 Bg4 19. Bf1 {Black has a strong attack after 19.Be2 f5.} 19... Qh5 20. Be2 Rad8 {If now 20...f5, then 21.Nxe5!.}
21. Nd2 f5 22. exf5 {22.Bxg4? fxg4 followed by ...Rf3 gives Black a strong attack.} 22... gxf5 23. Bxg4 Qg6 {If 23...fxg4, then 24.Nce4 is good for White.} 24. Nce4 h5 {24...fxe4 25.Kh1 is good for White.} 25. Bg5 fxe4 26.
Bxd8 Rxd8 27. Qb3+ Kh8 28. Nxe4 Qxg4+ 29. Qg3 Qf5 30. Qg5 Qxg5+ 31. Nxg5 { White has a big advantage in the endgame due to his material advantage.}
31... Rd4 {Better is 31...Rg8, although White is much better after 32.Kf1.}
32. Ne6 Rg4+ 33. Kf1 Bf6 34. Rad1 Kh7 35. Re3 Kg6 36. Rf3 {Threatening 37.Rd7 and 38.Nf8+.} 36... e4 37. Nf8+ Kf7 38. Rd7+ Kxf8 39. Rxf6+ Ke8 40.
Rh7 Nxc5 41. Rxc7 Nd7 42. Rh6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]

{Gelfand tries to improve on a game that Kasparov had in the previous world championship.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5
7. Be3 c6 8. Qd2 exd4 {Black plays for a counterattack against the e4-pawn. If that fails White will be able to obtain a bind.} 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. f3 d5
11. exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 {White will try to convert his control of the d6- and d4-squares into outposts for his pieces.} 13... Rxe3 {Black's main compensation for the exchange will be his powerful King Bishop.} 14.
Qxe3 Qf8 15. Ncb5 {This is the novelty that Gelfand had prepared. Karpov played 15.Nxc6 against Kasparov in the 1990 world championship.} 15... Qxc5
16. Rac1 {Not 16.Nf5? d4 17.Nfxd4 a6 18.Rac1 Qb6 and White loses material.}
16... Qb6 17. Qf2 Bd7 {Black needs to start immediate activity while White's pieces are unstable in the center of the board.} 18. Rfd1 Re8 19. Bf1 {White prepares the shot 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.Nxa7 winning a pawn. Currently this fails to ...d5-d4 at the end of the line, when the e2-Bishop ends up hanging.}
19... Bh6 {This is the rub. Black has beautiful dark-square play. White has to deal with the twin threats of ...Bh6xc1 and ...Bh6-e3. Black has seized the initiative.} 20. Rc3 Nb4 21. Nc2 {Perhaps the decisive error. White plays into an ending but underestimates the dangers. Better is 21.a3.} 21...
Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 Nxc2 23. Rxc2 Be3+ 24. Ke1 {Not 24.Kg3 because of 24...g5. If 25.h3, then 25...Bg1 leads to mate and 25.h4 is also bad after 25...Nh5+ 26.Kh2 Bf4+ 27.Kg1 gxh4.} 24... Bf4+ 25. Kf2 Be3+ 26. Ke1 Bg1+ 27. Kd2 Bxh2
{With two pawns for the exchange Black has a large advantage in the ending.}
28. Re1 Rd8 {An important principle in such positions is to avoid exchanging the major pieces when an exchange down. The extra major piece acts as an important defender. Also, the difference in strength between Rooks and minors are emphasized when the minors have to face the Rook alone.} 29. Kd1
Bf4 30. Nd4 a6 31. Bd3 h5 {For Black to win he has to create targets in White's camp. This means pounding out some outposts on the kingside.} 32.
Rc3 h4 33. Bc2 Bg3 34. Re2 Kg7 35. Rb3 Rb8 {Not 35...Bc8? 36.Re7 Kf8 37.Rexb7 and White has good chances to draw.} 36. Rd2 b5 {Black wants to give his Rook a bit more operating space. The a6-weakness is easily covered. } 37. Ra3 Rb6 38. b4 Bd6 39. Rb3 Nh5 {Since the ending began, Kasparov has played masterfully. White's pieces are still clumsy, the Rooks are ineffective and the Bishop hasn't arrived on b3 in time to harass the d5-pawn. Meanwhile Black has taken a grip on the Kingside and is ready to increase the pressure there.} 40. Ne2 Be6 41. a3 g5 42. Nd4 Kf6 43. Nxe6 { White would lose quickly after 43.Rc3 Bf4 44.Re2 Be5 45.Rd2 Nf4.} 43... fxe6
44. Bd3 Nf4 45. Rc3 d4 {As Bobby Fischer once said, "To get squares, you gotta give squares". Black stakes a claim for the e3- and c3-squares, while White gets e4 and others. Black makes the better deal.} 46. Rc8 Nd5 47. Ke2
{47.Re2 Nc3+ 48.Ke1 would have held out longer.} 47... Bf4 48. Rdc2 Ne3 49.
Kf2 {White gives back the exchange, hoping that he will have chances in the ending with opposite colored Bishops.} 49... Bg3+ 50. Kg1 Nxc2 51. Rxc2 g4 { Played in order to get connected passed pawns. If White tries 52.Be4 gxf3 53.gxf3 h3 54.Rc6 Rxc6 55.Bxc6 d3 wins because of the outside passed pawn.}
52. fxg4 Kg5 53. Kf1 e5 54. Ke2 Kxg4 55. Rc8 Rf6 56. Be4 {Better was 56.Rg8+.} 56... Rf2+ 57. Kd3 Bf4 58. Rg8+ Kh5 59. Bd5 Bg5 60. Ke4 Rxg2 { Adjourned but White resigned without resuming. After 60.Kxe5 Bf6+ 61.Kxf6 Rxg8 62.Bxg8 d3 is a case of the overworked Bishop. Another very impressive game by Kasparov.} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Timman, J."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E87"]

{Even against his most serious rivals Kasparov carries risk strategy to the maximum. In one of the strongest series of the decade, he was undefeated and led the field by a clear 2 points.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 {Establishing a giant pawn wall to constrict Black.} 7... Nh5 8. Qd2 f5 9. O-O-O Nd7 10. Bd3 Nc5 {A provocative innovation. 10...Ndf6 is usual. Now, with both sides on opposite wings, savage attacks can be expected.} 11. Bc2 a6 12. Nge2 b5 13. b4 Nd7 14. cxb5
axb5 15. Nxb5 Rxa2 16. Nec3 Ra8 17. Kb2 Ndf6 18. Na7 fxe4 19. Nc6 Qd7 20. g4
{Overreaching. Better is the humble 20. fxe4.} 20... Nf4 21. g5 N6xd5 {A surprise. Inferior is 21...N6h5 22. Bxe4 dominating the board.} 22. Nxd5
Nd3+ {Of course not 22...Qxc6?? 23. Ne7+} 23. Bxd3 exd3 24. Nce7+ Kh8 25.
Nxc8 e4+ {White Resigns. If 26. Kb3 Qa4+ 27. Kc4 Qc6+ 28. Kb3 Qxd5 mate; or 26. Nc3 Qa4 27. Kc1 Qa1+ 28. Nb1 Ra2; finally 26. Nf6 Rxf6 27. Bd4 Rxf3 carries the day.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lautier, J."]
[Black "Bologan, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]

{The young French Champion, Joel Lautier, uses a swarm of Knights to win this game, played in the Olympiad, or international team tournament, in Manila. The Philippines have a long chess history and many strong players; it is also the home of the president of FIDE (the international chess federation), Florencio Campomanes.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7
5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Nh3 c6 8. Qd2 e5 9. Be2 a6 10. Nf2 exd4 11. Bxd4 b5
12. Rd1 Qa5 {In this type of position arising from the King's Indian Defense, Black seeks compensation for his weak d-pawn in Queenside expansion and active play. Lautier shows in this game that White is not without a certain activity, too.} 13. a3 bxc4 14. Bxc4 d5 15. Ba2 Bb7 16. O-O Qc7 17.
Rfe1 Rad8 18. e5 {A good plan to push Black's pieces out of position and ultimately weaken his Kingside.} 18... Ne8 19. e6 fxe6 20. Rxe6 Nef6 21.
Rde1 Rf7 22. b4 {And this blockading move prevents ...c6-c5.} 22... a5 23.
Na4 axb4 24. axb4 Ra8 25. Bb3 Nf8 26. Be5 Qc8 27. Rxf6 Bxf6 28. Bxf6 Rxf6
29. Nc5 {Spurning the chance to regain the sacrificed material with 29.Nb6.}
29... Rf7 30. Ng4 Qc7 31. Qb2 Rg7 {Necessary to prevent 32.Nh6 mate!} 32.
Nf6+ Kf7 33. Na4 h6 34. Ng4 Kg8 35. Nf6+ Kh8 36. Ne8 Rxe8 37. Rxe8 Qf7 38.
Qe5 h5 39. Nb6 Qd7 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 41. Nxd7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bareev, E."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]

{A positional masterpiece.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2
O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Be3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 e5 9. d5 c6 10. h4 h5 {Allowing h4-h5 would weaken Black's kingside.} 11. Nh3 cxd5 12. cxd5 a6 13. Ng5 b5 14. a4 b4 {If 14...Rb8, then 15.a5 is strong. White would later like to maneuver his Knight to c6 via a2 and b4.} 15. Nd1 a5 16. Rc1 Bb7 17. Qc7 Qb8 18. Bb5 Rc8
19. Qxb8 Raxb8 {White is better in the ending because of Black's weaknesses at a5 and d6.} 20. Kd2 Rxc1 21. Kxc1 Rc8+ 22. Kb1 Kf8 23. b3 Ke7 24. Nb2 Rc3
{Better is 24...Ng4.} 25. Rc1 {Black is unable to defend his position after the exchange of Rooks.} 25... Rxc1+ {A better fighting chance was 25...Nxd5 26.exd5 Bxd5.} 26. Kxc1 Ng4 27. Ba7 Bh6 28. f3 f6 29. fxg4 fxg5 30. Be3 Nc5
{Also losing is 30...hxg4 31.hxg5 Bg7 32.Nc4 and the pawn on a5 falls.} 31.
hxg5 Bg7 32. Bxc5 dxc5 33. Nc4 Bc8 34. d6+ Kd8 35. d7 Bxd7 36. Bxd7 Kxd7 37.
Nxa5 Kc7 38. Nc4 {Black Resigns. Black's King is tied down to the passed a-pawn and his Bishop is completely shut-in, hence White's King and Knight will be free to roam the board picking up Black's pawns.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hubner, R."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E69"]

{Kasparov managed to hold back a field of hungry lions by tying for first with Ivanchuk at 6-3. The sensation of the tournament was the first-ever victory of veteran Robert Hubner over the reigning world champion. A wild and wooly midgame is typical tactical chess at its best.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6
3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 Qb6 10.
c5 {Leads to great complications. More usual is 10. d5 Nc5.} 10... dxc5 11.
dxe5 Ne8 12. Na4 Qa6 13. Bg5 b5 14. Nc3 Nc7 15. Be7 Re8 16. Bd6 Ne6 17. a4
b4 18. Ne2 Qa5 19. Nd2 Ba6 20. f4 c4 21. Kh2 Rad8 22. Qc2 Nb6 23. Rfd1 Bf8
24. Nf3 c3 25. Ned4 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 cxb2 27. Qxb2 Nc4 28. Qb3 Qb6 29. a5 Qb7
30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. e6 c5 32. e5 Qc7 33. exf7 Qxf7 34. Nc6 Rxd1 35. Rxd1 Nxe5
36. Bd5 Bc4 37. Qc2 Ng4+ {Leads to a lost endgame. 37...b3! offers much better chances to survive.} 38. hxg4 Re2+ 39. Qxe2 Bxe2 40. Bxf7 Bxd1 41.
Bc4 b3 42. Nxa7 b2 43. Ba2 Be2 44. Kg2 Bd3 45. Kf3 Ke7 46. Ke3 b1=Q 47. Bxb1
Bxb1 48. Nb5 Kd7 49. a6 Kc6 50. f5 {Black Resigns. If 50...gxf5 51. gxf5 Bxf5 52. Nd6! and the threat of a7 is decisive.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Bad Woerishofen"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cebalo, M."]
[Black "Gutman, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{White rips open Black's King's position, sacrificing both his Rooks in the process.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 a6 9. Be2 Qa5 10. O-O {Sacrificing a pawn to gain time in development.} 10... Qxa2 11. Bg5 {Making it difficult for Black to castle.}
11... Qa5 12. Qc1 Nd7 13. e5 Qd8 {Worth considering is 13...Qc7 followed by ...b6 and ...Bb7.} 14. Rd1 cxd4 15. Rxd4 h6 {If 15...O-O, then White gets a strong attack with 16.Bh4 followed by Rh4. Best is 15...Qc7 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Ne5.} 16. Bh4 Qc7 {Better is 16...O-O.} 17. e6 {Destroying Black's pawn structure.} 17... fxe6 {If 17...Nc5, then 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.Bg3 followed by Ne5+ is good for White.} 18. Rc4 Qd6 {If 18...Qd8, then 19.Qc2 Nf8 20.Bd3 Kf7 21.Rf4+ Bf6 22.Ne5+ wins.} 19. Qc2 e5 20. Rd1 Qe6 21. Rc7 Qb6 22. Bc4
Kd8 {If 22...Qxc7, then 23.Qxg6+ Kd8 24.Qxg7 wins.} 23. Rcxd7+ Bxd7 24. Qd3
Qc6 25. Bd5 Qd6 26. Qb1 Ra7 27. c4 g5 28. Bg3 g4 {If 28...b6, then 29.Qe4 followed by 30.Nxe5 is strong.} 29. Nd2 Ba4 {Better would have been 29...Rf8 30.Ne4 Qg6 followed by 31...Rf4.} 30. Ne4 Qc7 31. Be6+ Bxd1 32. Qxd1+ Ke8
33. Qxg4 {Black has no good defense left.} 33... Bf8 34. Qh5+ Kd8 35. Bxe5
Qc6 36. Qd1+ Ke8 37. Bd5 Qg6 38. Qd4 b6 39. Bxh8 Rd7 40. g3 {Black Resigns. White will play 41.Qe5 threatening 42.Nf6+ and 42.Qb8+.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Mecking, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{Mecking is widely considered to be the greatest Latin American chess talent since Capablanca. A debilitating disease forced him to retire but he is now making a comeback.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6.
bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Rc1 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 {An over-the-board sacrifice. The resulting position is analogous to similar a2-pawn sacrifices in the Gruenfeld with an added plus for White- Black hasn't castled.} 11... Qxa2 {Black hardly has a choice, as other moves just give him a bad game.} 12. d5 Ne5 {Black is forced to walk a narrow path.}
13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15. Qe2 {Threatening 16.Bxd7+ and 17.Qb5+.} 15...
a6 {Forced.} 16. Bxd7+ Kxd7 17. Qg4+ Kd8 {Black correctly avoids ...e7-e6 and ...f7-f5 which would allow White to open the game when he needs to.} 18.
Qg5 {The best way to untangle the White pieces.} 18... f6 {Too risky is 18...Bb2 19.d6, White has opportunities for Bd2-a5+ and Rc1-c7.} 19. Qe3 { This was the position that I was aiming for when I provoked ...a7-a6. White's compensation for the a-pawn is clear.} 19... Qa4 20. O-O Ke8 21. Bc3
{Simple chess. Black's Bishop on e5 occupies too powerful an outpost. White controls the c-file, but the business square c7 is covered, thus an exchange of Bishops is in order.} 21... Bxc3 22. Rxc3 Kf7 23. e5 {A powerful and thematic move. Black's King has found a temporary haven and White has to blow open its burrow. exf6 and Rc3-c7 are threatened.} 23... Rac8 24. Rxc8
Rxc8 25. Qh3 Rf8 26. Qxh7+ Ke8 27. e6 Qe4 28. Rc1 Kd8 29. d6 Qxe6 30. dxe7+
Qxe7 31. Rc8+ Kxc8 32. Qxe7 Rd8 33. h4 b5 34. Qxf6 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Kb7 36. Qf3+
Kb6 37. Qxd1 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ftacnik, L."]
[Black "Krasenkov, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D88"]

{A piece sacrifice turns the tables.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Rc1 Na5 11.
Bd3 e5 12. d5 b6 13. O-O {Better is 13.c4.} 13... f5 14. f3 f4 15. Bd2 c4
16. Bc2 h5 {This weakens the g6 square. Better is 16...g5.} 17. g3 g5 18.
Kh1 Kh8 19. Qe1 Qf6 20. Qf2 Bh3 21. Rg1 Rf7 {Better is either 21...fxg3 or 21...Bh6.} 22. gxf4 gxf4 23. Nxf4 {This piece sacrifice will deflect Black's Queen away from the important f4 square.} 23... exf4 24. e5 Qxe5 {If 24...Qd8, then 25.e6 Rf8 26.Rce1 Bf6 27.Rg6 wins.} 25. Qh4 Bf5 {If 25...Bd7, then 26.Rg5 wins.} 26. Qxh5+ Kg8 27. Bxf5 Qxf5 {27...Rxf5 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Rg1+ wins.} 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Rg1+ Kf8 {The move 29...Kf6 would have held out longer, although White is much better after 30.Qh4+ Ke5 31.Rg5.}
30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qxa8 Kd6 {If 31...Qd3, then 32.Qxa7+ Kf6 33.Qxb6+ wins.}
32. Bc1 {Bringing the Bishop into play via a3.} 32... Rb7 {If 32...Kc5, then 33.a4 followed by 34.Ba3+ wins.} 33. Ba3+ Kxd5 34. Qe8 {Black Resigns. There is no defense to 35.Rg5 Qxg5 36.Qe4#.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nikolic, Pr."]
[Black "Epishin, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]

{A great fighting game between two of the world's top Grandmasters.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Bg2 a6 7. a4 e5 8. dxe6ep Bxe6
9. Ng5 Bxc4 {9...Nc6 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Nc3 is slightly better for White.} 10.
Nd2 Be6 11. Bxb7 Ra7 12. Bg2 O-O 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Rb1 d5 16.
e4 Ne5 17. Nb3 c4 18. Nd4 Qb6 19. a5 {Not 19.exd5 exd5 20.Be3 Neg4 21.Bf4 Ne4 with advantage to Black. Now Black appears to be in trouble. He needs to keep his e-pawn guarded, but 19...Qd6 20.f4 followed by e5 loses a piece.}
19... Qd6 20. f4 Nxe4 {Black gets good compensation for the sacrificed piece.} 21. fxe5 {Not 21.Bxe4? dxe4 22.fxe5 Rxf1+ 23.Kxf1 Bxe5 24.Be3 Rd7 with a large advantage to Black.} 21... Rxf1+ 22. Qxf1 Qxe5 23. Nf3 Qd6 24.
Be3 Rb7 25. Qc1 Qb4 {Threatening 26...Nc3.} 26. Bh3 Nc3 27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28.
bxc3 Qxb1 29. Qxb1 Rxb1+ 30. Kg2 Rb2+ 31. Kf1 Rb5 32. Bb6 Bxc3 33. Bd7 Rb2
34. Bc8 {White has just enough resources to hold the position.} 34... Bf6
35. Bxa6 c3 36. Ne1 c2 37. Nxc2 Rxc2 38. Bb7 Rb2 39. Bxd5 Kg7 40. a6 Rxb6
41. a7 Ra6 42. a8=Q Rxa8 43. Bxa8 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E25"]

{Sometimes there is no justice. In this game, poor Alexi Shirov must have been asking himself, "What did I do wrong?" as his pawn-grabbing is punished by an old-fashioned King hunt.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qd3 {White's Queen is vulnerable to attack on this square, but he had to defend the c3-pawn in order to advance e2-e4.}
8... b6 9. e4 Ba6 10. Qd2 Bxf1 11. Kxf1 Ne7 12. Ne2 Nbc6 {And Black has taken advantage of the situation to prevent White from castling. Now White's strong center could provide him some King safety, but rather than settle for quiet position-building, he sets off on a material quest that leaves his King in grave danger.} 13. dxc5 Qc8 14. Qe3 O-O 15. cxb6 Rd8 16. Kf2 axb6
17. Rb1 Ne5 {With the capture of the d3 square, Black rules the board. The loss of material is an unimportant consequence.} 18. Qxb6 Qc4 19. Be3 Nd3+
20. Kg3 f5 21. Bg5 Rd7 22. Nd4 f4+ {And the band played "Waltzing Matilda"...} 23. Kh4 Ng6+ 24. Kh5 Nf8 25. Qc6 Qa2 26. Rhg1 {White can't even afford to capture a whole Rook, as Black's Queen would gain decisive proximity to the White King.} 26... e5 27. Qxa8 Qf7+ 28. Kh4 h6 29. g4 hxg5+
30. Kh3 exd4 31. cxd4 Nf2+ 32. Kg2 Qa2 {Threatening a big discovered check.}
33. Qb8 Nd3+ 34. Kh1 Qe2 35. Rgf1 Rxd4 36. Qb3+ Kh7 37. Qb5 Rd6 {Idea: ...Rh6 and mate.} 38. h4 Ng6 39. Qxg5 Nxh4 40. Qxh4+ Rh6 41. Qxh6+ Kxh6 
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E25"]

{Shirov uses the same line against Karpov that he used without success in his game with Kiril Georgiev. Karpov varies first, but he wins anyway. Will these youngsters never learn?} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3
Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qd3 b6 9. e4 Ba6 10. Qd2 Bxf1 11. Kxf1 Ne7
12. Ne2 Nbc6 13. dxc5 Qc7 {Georgiev was happy with 13...Qc8.} 14. Qf4 e5 15.
Qg4 O-O 16. Kf2 Na5 17. cxb6 Qxb6+ 18. Be3 Qc6 19. Rhd1 Nc4 20. Bg5 f6 21.
Bc1 Qb6+ 22. Kg3 f5 23. exf5 Nxf5+ 24. Kh3 Nce3 25. Bxe3 Nxe3 26. Qe4 Qe6+
27. Kg3 Nxd1 {So much for White's extra pawn. It is clear that King safety is much more important than the material in this opening.} 28. Rxd1 Rad8 29.
Re1 Qf5 30. Qxf5 Rxf5 31. Kf2 Rd2 32. Rb1 Ra2 33. Rb5 Rxa3 34. c4 Rf6 35.
Rxe5 Rc6 36. c5 Ra5 37. Re7 Rcxc5 38. Nf4 Re5 39. Rc7 Ra4 {White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Portisch, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]

{The top boards of the US and Hungary square off in the Olympiad.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bg3 Bb4 9.
Qc2 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6 11. Bd3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Qe7 13. Be4 Nc6 14. d5 Na5 15.
dxe6 Bxe4 {Better is 15...fxe6 16.Bg6+ Kd7 but not 15...Qxe6? 16.Bxb7 Nxb7 17.Nd4.} 16. Qxe4 O-O 17. exf7+ Qxf7 18. Rh4 {White has a large advantage.}
18... c6 {If 18...Rae8, then 19.Qd5 is good for White.} 19. Rd1 Rae8 20. Qd3
Re6 21. Rf4 Qh5 22. g4 Qg6 {If 22...Qh1+, then 23.Ke2 Qxg2 24.Rg1 Qh3 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Qf5+ is good for White.} 23. Qxg6 Rxg6 24. Rfd4 c5 25. Re4
Rgf6 26. g5 {Stopping 26...g5.} 26... hxg5 27. Rd5 Rh6 28. Ke2 Rh1 29. Rxd6
Ra1 {If 29...Rc1, then White doubles on the seventh with 30.Re7 and Rdd7.}
30. Rd2 Rc1 31. Nxg5 Rxc3 32. Re7 {Threatening 33.Rdd7.} 32... Nc6 33. Rc7
Ne5 34. Ne6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Ulibin, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]

{The famous "Bishop Pair" are not to be under-rated. Strong in the middle game, they are even more effective when facing two Knights on an open board in the end game stage. Such is the case here.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3
Bb4+ {Called the "Bogo-Indian," after Bogolyubov, a contemporary of Alekhine. If White responds with Nb1-c3, the game transposes to the "Nimzo-Indian," named for Aron Nimzowitsch.} 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Nc3 O-O
7. Bg2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Ne4 9. Rc1 d6 10. d5 Nd8 {If he had known what effect those Bishops were going to have on the rest of the game, Black might have taken this opportunity to remove one with 10...Nxc3. Of course, White would still have an edge.} 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. Bb4 Bd7 13. Ne5 N6c5 14. Nxd7 Nxd7
15. O-O a5 16. Ba3 Rfe8 17. b3 b6 18. Bb2 Rad8 19. Qd4 Qf6 20. Qxf6 Ndxf6
21. Rfd1 h6 22. e3 Nd7 23. Kf1 Re7 24. Ke2 Rde8 25. g4 {White makes it harder for Black to solidify the e4 outpost for his Knights.} 25... Re6 26.
h4 R6e7 27. Bf3 Ndc5 28. Rd5 Na6 29. a3 Nac5 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 Na6 32. b5
Nac5 33. Ra1 {White's space advantage makes it more likely that he can utilize open lines.} 33... Nf6 34. Rdd1 Nfe4 35. Ra7 Kf8 36. g5 hxg5 37.
hxg5 Nxg5 38. Bc6 Rc8 39. Rh1 Kg8 40. Raa1 Nce6 41. Rh4 f6 42. Rg1 Kf7 43.
Bd5 Ke8 44. Rh8+ Nf8 45. f4 Ne6 46. Kf3 {46.Bxe6 Rxe6 47.Rxg7 is also strong, but White's bind on the position is strong enough that he is in no hurry.} 46... f5 47. Rg6 Nc5 48. Bxg7 Rf7 49. Bxf8 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "15th Match Game, Sveti-Stefan & Belgrade"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E07"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 b6 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. Ndf3 Ne4 11. Bf4 Ndf6 12. Rc1 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14.
Ng5 Nxg5 15. Bxg5 Ne4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nc4 e3 19. f3 Rad8 20.
Qb3 Rfe8 21. Rc3 Bd5 22. Rfc1 g6 23. Qa3 Bxf3 {Along with some incredibly brilliant play, Fischer exhibited some surprisingly rusty-looking stuff, too. It is clear that he was not expecting this excellent sacrifice.} 24.
exf3 e2 25. Re1 Rd1 26. Kf2 Rxe1 27. Kxe1 Qd7 {Heading for d1 or h3. It seems Black must surely win...} 28. Qb3 Qh3 29. Ne3 Qxh2 30. g4 Rb8 31. Qd5
Rxb2 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Nf5+ {But with this move, White happily escapes with a draw.} 33... gxf5 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "1st Match Game, Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A52"]

{The first game of the quarterfinal world championship match. Short shocks everyone by playing a dubious opening.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 {The Budapest Gambit is unsound. Nigel must've found something in Karpov's historical record against this opening that he liked.} 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3
Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 {A conservative choice championed by Akiba Rubinstein. White gains the two Bishops and a better game.} 6... Qe7 7. e3 Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5
9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O d6 {This leads to a highly unpleasant position. Black had to be content with 10...Bxd2 11.Qxd2 d6 and a solid inferiority.} 11. Nb3 b6
12. a3 Bc5 13. Nxc5 bxc5 14. b4 {So White has won the two Bishops after all. Additionally, he now has queenside targets upon which to gnaw.} 14... Nd7
15. Bg4 a5 {Hoping to clarify the queenside. The pawn-minus ending 15...Bb7 16.Bxd7 Qxd7 17.bxc5 Qc6 18.Qd5! is very unpleasant for Black.} 16. Bxd7
Bxd7 17. bxc5 dxc5 18. Qd5 Ra6 19. Qe5 Re6 20. Qxc7 {We can already speak about the position as being won for White. An extra pawn, active Queen, solid King...It's to Nigel's credit and fighting spirit that he nearly saves the game! Play on.} 20... Rc8 21. Qb7 {Right idea, wrong execution. It's clear that Black's only source of counterplay is connected with the moves ...Bd7-c6, ...Re6-g6, and ...Qe7-e4. The text pins the Bishop preventing this attack. But the b7-square is a light square, meaning when the Bishop pops out to the c6-square, it is with tempo. Simplest was 21.Qa7! Qe8 22.Rab1 Bc6 23.Rb8, exchanging pieces while eyeing the a5- and c5-kids.}
21... Qe8 22. Rab1 h5 {Naturally Black makes White's life as difficult as possible. Now, should Black achieve ...Re6-g6 and ...Bd6-c6, the defense Bf4-g3 runs into ...h5-h4. Black also avoids 22...Bc6? 23.Qxc8 Qxc8 24.Rb8 exchanging pieces.} 23. f3 {While in the long run this is a likely precaution, perhaps 23.h4!? first would better neutralize matters.} 23...
Bc6 24. Qb2 h4 25. h3 f5 26. Qc2 Qg6 27. Qc3 a4 28. Rf2 Rce8 29. Rd1 Qh5 30.
Qc2 Qg6 31. Kh1 Qf6 {Overcoming the horrible opening hasn't been easy, but Karpov's do-nothing approach has allowed Short to do well. He now threatens ...g7-g5 and the question of who's better comes to mind.} 32. Qb2 Qe7 {I suspect that Karpov was in time pressure and that Short was entertaining the possibility of winning. After 32...Kf7, in order to ensure ...g7-g5, Black should draw comfortably.} 33. Rfd2 g5 34. Bd6 Qf7 35. Bxc5 g4 36. fxg4 fxg4
37. Rf2 Qh5 {When declining the Queen swap, Short undoubtedly had visualized the diagrammed position and thought it was yummy. The c5-Bishop hangs as does the h3-pawn - the drawbridge to White's monarch. Sadly for Short, White has a powerful answer in ...} 38. Qe2 {Indirectly protecting the c5-Bishop, e.g., 38...Qxc5 39.Qxg4+ Kh8 40.Qxh4+! (if 40.Rf7, then 40...Bxg2+ gives some kicking chances) 40...Kg7 (now 40...Kg8 41.Qg4+ Kh8 42.Rf7 is fatal, since White has picked up the h4-pawn gratis) 41.Rf7+ Kxf7 42.Qh7+ Kf6 43.Rf1+ Ke5 44.Qf5+ Kd6 46.Rd1+ wins the Queen.} 38... Rg6 {A time-trouble mistake which lightens White's task, Black still has some attack after 38...Re4, avoiding exchanges.} 39. Rd6 {The clincher. White offers a piece exchange.} 39... Re4 {The last lemon of a bad day. Certainly Black can try 39...Rxd6 40.Bxd6 Qg6 41.Qxg4 Qxg4 42.hxg4 h3 with chances.} 40. Rd8+ Kh7
41. Rf7+ Rg7 42. Rxg7+ Kxg7 43. Qb2+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Adams, M."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]

{20 year old Michael Adams is fast becoming one of the top players in the world, but he is still no match for the world champion.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 {White does not hide his aggressive intentions.} 7... dxc4 {7...Nxg4? 8.Rg1 just favorably opens lines for White.} 8. e4 {Better is 8.Bxc4.} 8... e5 9. g5 exd4 10. Nxd4 {If 10.exf6, then 10...Qxf6 attacks both Knights.} 10... Ng4 11. h3 {11.Nf5? Nde5 12.Nxg7+ Kf8 13.Nh5 Nf3+ wins.} 11... Nge5 12. Be3 {Not 12.f4? Bc5 13.Nf5 Nf3+ 14.Ke2 Nd4 winning.} 12... Nc5 13. O-O-O Ned3+ 14. Kb1 Qe7 { Black's Knights have White in a stranglehold.} 15. Rg1 g6 {Preventing the Knight from coming into f5.} 16. Bg2 O-O 17. Ka1 {17.Nde2 would have held out longer.} 17... Bf4 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 19. h4 Rd8 20. Qd2 {Threatening 20.Nxc6.} 20... Ncd3 21. Qe3 Bg4 22. Rd2 {22.f3 Qe5 or 22.Bf3 Bxf3 23.Nxf3 b5 24.e5 Nd5 win for Black.} 22... Qe5 {White resigns, as he loses quickly after 23.Nc2 Nxb2 24.Kxb2 Rd3.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]

{In an outstanding positional game, the former World Champion takes full advantage of the weak light squares the young Latvian creates around his King.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2
O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Re8 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. b3 e5 {With this central break Black hopes to equalize, but the pressure White is able to exert with his active pieces against the Kingside proves too much.} 13. h3
Bb7 14. Bb2 a6 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. a4 Rad8 17. Ng5 Qe7 18. Nce4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4
Bb4 20. Ng3 {Eyeing f5 and h5. With his next move, Shirov hopes to avoid the weakening of his dark squares that would result from ...g6, but instead the light squares suffer.} 20... f6 21. Bxe5 {Removing the only real light-square defender.} 21... Qxe5 22. Bd3 h6 23. Bg6 Rf8 24. Nf5 c5 25.
axb5 axb5 26. Ra7 Qc7 27. Nh4 Rxd1+ 28. Qxd1 Ra8 29. Qg4 Qc6 {Of course, 29...Rxa7 would lose to 30.Qe6+ and 31.Qe8 mate.} 30. Rxb7 Qxb7 31. Qe6+ Kh8
32. Be4 {Black Resigns. Not so much for the effect of the skewer, but to allow the Knight to check on g6.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krasenkov, M."]
[Black "Sveshnikov, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]

{A vicious and direct assault, launched with the gambit of a pawn... this is the Romantic chess that was supposed to have died 100 years ago!} 1. Nf3 d5
2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 {Up to this point, the opening has been one of the most boring and conservative possible. By any rational understanding of the opening, Black has done nothing wrong; certainly nothing that would justify this!} 7... Nxg4 8. Rg1 Nh6 {Hoping for 9.Rxg7? Qf6 with a double attack on g7 and f3.} 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb4+ { Otherwise the Kingside will be ruined by the combined assault of the White pieces.} 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Nf5 13. O-O-O Nf6 14. Bd3 O-O 15. Rg2 Nxe4
16. Bxe4 Qf6 17. Ne5 Rd8 18. Ng4 Qe7 {Not 18...Qxd4? 19.Nh6+! after which Black loses too much material: 19...Nxh6 20.Qxd4; 19...Kh8 20.Nxf7+; 19...Kf8 20.Qb4+ c5 21.Rxd4 wins.} 19. Bxf5 exf5 20. Nh6+ Kh8 21. Rxg7 {A brilliant destruction of the King's remaining guard. The true justification of White's original pawn sacrifice can be seen in the fact that even as the final hammer blow falls, Black's Bishop remains on its original square.}
21... Kxg7 22. Rg1+ Kh8 23. Qe2 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Salov, V."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]

{Black grabs the initiative and never relinquishes it.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Qe7 9. Rd1 dxc4
10. Bxc4 e5 11. e4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nb6 13. Be2 Re8 14. Be3 Bd7 {Not 14...Nxe4? 15.Nxe4 Qxe4 16.Qxe4 Rxe4 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Rxd6 with a large advantage.} 15.
f3 Rad8 16. Bf1 Nbd5 17. Bf2 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Bc8 19. Rab1 Qc7 20. g3 h5 { Creating weaknesses on White's kingside.} 21. Ne2 {Threatening 22.Bxa7 and 23.Bb6.} 21... Nd7 22. f4 {Not 22.Bxa7? is met with 22...b6. The best move is 22.Bg2.} 22... Bc5 23. e5 {Worth considering is 23.Nd4. Now White's King becomes exposed.} 23... Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qa5 25. Nd4 Nb6 26. Nb3 Qa3 27. Rd4 { Better is 27.Be2.} 27... c5 28. Rd2 Be6 29. Rbd1 Rxd2+ 30. Rxd2 Nc4 31. Bxc4
Bxc4 32. Rd6 Qa4 33. Ke3 {A dubious King march.} 33... b6 34. Kd2 f6 {This wins a pawn as now 35.exf6 is met with 35...Re2+.} 35. Kc1 fxe5 36. f5 Bf7
37. f6 {37.Nd2 followed by 38.Ne4 would have held out longer. Now Black wins a piece.} 37... c4 38. Nd2 Qa3+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Van Wely, L."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]

{20 years old Van Wely and 17 year old Kramnik are two very promising players.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. a4
Bb7 8. e5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. exf6 gxh4 11. Ne5 Nd7 12. Qh5 {Unsound is 12.Nxf7? Kxf7 13.Qh5+ Kxf6.} 12... Qxf6 13. Nxd7 Kxd7 14. axb5 cxb5 15.
Qxb5+ Bc6 16. Qxc4 Bd6 17. Ra6 {White plays for a direct attack as Black is slightly better after 17.Nb5 Qf4 18.Nxd6 Qxd6.} 17... Rhc8 18. Rxc6 Rxc6 19.
Qa4 Qg5 20. Bb5 {20.Bd3 Qc1+ 21.Nd1 Rb8 is good for Black.} 20... Qxg2 { 20...Qc1+ 21.Nd1 leads to nothing.} 21. d5 {21.Rf1 a6 22.d5 axb5 23.Qxa8 exd5 is good for Black.} 21... Qxh1+ 22. Ke2 Kd8 23. Bxc6 Rb8 24. Nb5 {Bad is 24.Qxa7 Rxb2+ 25.Kd3 Qf1+.} 24... exd5 25. Qa5+ Ke7 26. Qxa7+ Kf8 27. Qe3
Kg8 28. h3 Bf8 29. Qf4 Qe4+ 30. Qxe4 dxe4 31. Ke3 Rb6 32. Bd7 Rf6 33. b3
Bc5+ 34. Kxe4 Rxf2 35. Kd5 Bb4 36. Nd4 Kg7 37. Kc4 Rf4 38. Kd5 Kf6 39. Bc8
Rf1 40. Bg4 Bc3 41. Nf3 Kg6 42. Nxh4+ Kg5 43. Nf3+ Kf4 44. Nh4 Rf2 45. Bc8
Kg5 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Yusupov, A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]

{Some sharp tactics in a theoretical opening.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5
4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. O-O-O
Ne4 11. Nb5 a6 12. Nc7 e5 13. Nxd5 {Bad is 13.Bxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxa8 Ng4 or 13.cxd5 Qc7 14.Qxe4 exf4 15.dxc6 fxe3.} 13... Nxf2 {Not 13...Bf5 14.Nh4 or 13...exf4 14.Qe4.} 14. Ng5 {14.Qxf2 exf4 15.Nxf4 Re8 is unclear.} 14... Bf5
{14...f5 15.Qf2 exf4 16.Qxf4 is good for White.} 15. Qxf2 {Black is able to start a counterattack after 15.Qxf5 g6 16.Nf6+ Kh8 17.Qd7 Bxa3.} 15... exf4
16. Qxf4 Ne7 {Bad is 16...Bg6 17.h4 with attack.} 17. Nxe7+ Bxe7 18. Rd5
Qe1+ {Weak is 18.Bd3? Bxa3 19.Qxf5 Qc3+.} 19. Rd1 Qa5 20. Rd5 Qe1+ 21. Rd1
{Draw by 3-fold repetition.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vera, R."]
[Black "Garcia, Gil."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]

{White's plan of castling long against the Tarrasch Defense is slightly unusual. Normally in this line, one side or the other ends up with an isolated d-pawn, which is blockaded and attacked. In compensation, the player with the isolated pawn hopes to develop piece activity.} 1. d4 d5 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9.
a3 Qa5 10. O-O-O Bd7 11. g4 {However, it is clear that White wants to develop a mad-dog attack on the Kingside. Violent opposite-wing attacking is the rule with opposite-wing castling.} 11... Rfc8 12. Kb1 Bf8 13. Ng5 g6 14.
h4 Bg7 15. h5 Be8 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. f3 b5 18. cxb5 Ne7 19. Be5 d4 20. Bxd4
Ned5 21. Nxd5 Rxc2 22. Nxf6+ Kf8 {Capturing the Knight leaves Black's King in a coffin.} 23. Ngh7+ Ke7 24. Bc5+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "7th Match Game, Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]

{Another Karpov masterpiece.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3
O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 { Inhibiting ...c7-c5. Black plays it anyway, but does not get a strong pawn center.} 11... c5 {Otherwise White plays 12.b5.} 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Qa5
14. Qd2 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. exd4 Ba6 17. Nb5 Qd8 18. O-O Nc6 19. Rfd1 Qf6
20. Bf1 Rab8 21. a4 Rfc8 22. Rb3 Bxb5 23. axb5 Nd8 24. Qa2 {White starts building up on the weak a-pawn.} 24... Rc7 25. Ra3 Qf5 26. Re3 {Not 26.Rxa7? Rc2. Now 27.Re8+ Kh7 28.Bd3 is threatened.} 26... Ne6 {Not 26...Rc2 27.Re8+ Kh7 28.Qxc2 Qxc2 29.Bd3+ winning.} 27. Re5 Qg4 28. Be2 Qg6 29. g3 Rbc8 30.
Bh5 {Not 30.Rxd5? Rc2 winning. Black also has a good position after 30.Qxd5 Rd8 31.Qe4 Qxe4 32.Rxe4 Rcd7 winning the d-pawn. After the text White wins a pawn.} 30... Qf6 31. Qxd5 {Threatening 32.Bxf7+.} 31... g6 32. Be2 Rc3 33.
h4 Ra3 34. Qe4 Rcc3 35. Kg2 Kg7 36. d5 Nc5 37. Qd4 Rc2 38. Re8 Raa2 { 38...Qxd4 would have held out longer, although White is much better after 39.Rxd4 Raa2 40.Kf3 Ra3 41.Re3. Now White wins the Queen.} 39. Rg8+ Kxg8 40.
Qxf6 Rxe2 41. Ra1 Ne4 42. Rxa2 Rxa2 43. Qd4 Rxf2+ 44. Kg1 Re2 45. d6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Cheliabinsk"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Magerramov, E."]
[Black "Sherbakov, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]

{White sacrifices a pawn in the opening for open lines. Later he sacrifices even more for higher returns.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5
Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 {The Cambridge Springs was first played by Marshall at the turn of century, but it is still popular today.} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qd2 N7b6 9.
Bd3 {This is a pawn sacrifice.} 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Na4 11. O-O {Not 11.Rc1? Nxc3 followed by ...Bb4.} 11... Qxc3 12. Qe2 Qb2 13. Bc2 Qb5 14. Qd1 Nc3 15.
Qd2 Bb4 16. Bd3 Qa4 17. a3 Ba5 18. Qb2 f6 {Not 18...O-O? 19.Be7 Re8 20.Bb4 winning.} 19. Bh4 Nd5 20. Rfc1 {Black's misplaced Queen gives White more than enough compensation for the pawn. The threat is 21.Rc4.} 20... Bc7 21.
Rc4 Qa5 22. Qc2 Bd6 23. e4 {23.Bxh7 is not very strong after 23...Ne7.}
23... Nb6 {Not 23...Nf4 24.Bg3.} 24. Rc3 Qh5 25. a4 Bb4 {Dubious is 25...Bxh2+ 26.Kxh2 g5 27.a5 Nd7 28.d5 with a big advantage to White.} 26.
Rb3 a5 27. Bg3 O-O 28. Bc7 Nd7 29. Bc4 Re8 30. e5 Nf8 {This allows White to open up the Black King, but worse is 30...f5 31.Bd6! Bxd6 32.exd6 and the e6-pawn is very weak.} 31. exf6 gxf6 32. Nd2 {White prepares to move his attack over to the kingside. The text move clears the third rank for the Rook.} 32... Qf7 33. Rg3+ Ng6 {More tenacious is 33...Kh8.} 34. Bd3 Kg7 35.
Nf3 {Threatening Nh4.} 35... Rg8 36. Bxg6 hxg6 37. Ne5 {The decisive breakthrough.} 37... fxe5 38. Bxe5+ Kf8 {Worse is 38...Kh6 39.Rh3+, but now Black loses his Queen.} 39. Rf3 Qxf3 40. gxf3 Bd7 41. Qe4 Be8 42. Rb1 Ke7
43. Rxb4 axb4 44. d5 Rxa4 45. Qh4+ g5 46. d6+ {Black Resigns. Qh7 is coming.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]

{White defers castling and instead opens the h-file and starts a kingside attack.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7.
Qc2 g6 8. e4 O-O 9. e5 Ne4 10. Bh6 Re8 11. Bd3 Nxc3 {Correct is 11...Nd6 12.O-O (if 12.exd6, then 12...Bg5+) 12...Nf5.} 12. bxc3 c5 13. h4 {Preparing to open the kingside and weaken Black's kingside.} 13... cxd4 14. h5 { Threatening 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Bxg6 winning.} 14... g5 {If 14...Qc7, then 15.Bd2.} 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Bg6 Be6 {If 16...fxg6, then 17.hxg6 Kg8 18.g7 followed by 19.Bxg5 wins.} 17. Nxd4 Qc8 18. Qd2 {White breaks through on g5. } 18... fxg6 {If 18...Nc6, then 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 Nxd4 21.Qh6+ Kg8 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Rh3 is winning.} 19. hxg6 Kg8 20. Rc1 Nc6 21. Bxg5 Qc7 {If 21...Bxg5, then 22.Qxg5 Qc7 23.Nxc6 bxc6 24.Rh7 wins.} 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 {If 22...Qxe5+, then 23.Kf1 Rxe7 24.Re1 Qf6 25.Rxe6 Rxe6 26.Nxe6 Qxe6 27.Rh8+! wins.} 23. Kf1 Rae8 24. Re1 Rg7 {The only defense to 25.Qh6 and 26.Qh8+.}
25. Qh6 Kf8 26. Rh4 {Threatening 26.Rf4+.} 26... Nxd4 27. Qh8+ Rg8 28. Qf6+
Bf7 29. Qxf7+ Qxf7 30. gxf7 {Black Resigns. White has an easily winning position after 30...Kxf7 31.cxd4.} 1-0

[Event "Return Match"]
[Site "Sveti Stefan"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Fischer, B."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]

{At a press conference Bobby Fischer predicted the day was fast approaching when computers would beat the best humans; and he suggested that perhaps the starting position might have to be changed before each game. "I think we're coming to the end of the history of chess with the present rules," he said with regret. "We have to get away from the game becoming simply a question of memorization". Going into this encounter Spassky led by a point and while it was in progress IBM's Deep Thought pointed out where he missed several chances to increase his lead. From now on machines would play a dominant role in analyzing master games.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 {The Queen's Gambit Accepted. It's not a real gambit because White can regain the pawn.} 3. Nf3
Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. b3 Nbd7 10.
Bb2 b5 {Varying from 10...b6 in game 4. Match play may lack variety, but it's interesting to see what improvements the players hatch between rounds. This line is drawish and Spassky denies his legendary opponent a chance to mix it up in double- edged positions.} 11. Be2 Bb7 12. Nbd2 Ke7 {Perhaps 12...O-O leaves the King less vulnerable.} 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Rhb8 15. Rc1
Bd5 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Rxa6 Rxa6 19. Bxa6 f6 {After this it's all uphill. Deep Thought analyzed to a draw with 19...Nc5!} 20. Bc4 Bxc4 21.
Rxc4 Nc5 22. Rc3 f5 {Drifting into a lost position. A tougher defense is 22...Na4 23. Rc2 Nxb2 24. Rxb2 Ba3 25. Rb1 Bb4 26. Nc4 Ra8.} 23. Ba3 Ne4 24.
Rc7+ Kd8 25. Bxd6 Nxd2 26. Rxg7 Rxb3 27. h4 h5 28. Bf4 Ke8 29. Kh2 {Overly cautious. The straightforward 29. Bg5 Ne4 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Rxe6 Rb1+ 32. Kh2 Nxf2 33. Rf6+ Kg7 34. Rxf5 grabs a second pawn.} 29... Rb2 30. Kh3 Ne4 31.
f3 Nf2+ 32. Kg3 Nd3 33. Bg5 e5 34. Kh3 Nf2+ 35. Kh2 Nd3 36. Bh6 Ne1 37. Kg1
Nd3 38. Bg5 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Rb2 40. Re7+ {Deep Thought found a simpler win by 40. Rh7! Ne1 41. Kh3 Rxg2 42. Re7+ Kf8 43. Rxe5 Rh2+ 44. Kxh2 Nxf3+ 45. Kg3 Nxe5 46. Kf4.} 40... Kf8 41. Re6 Kg7 42. Kh3 Re2 43. Rd6 Ne1 44. Bf6+ Kg8
45. Bxe5 Rxe3 46. Bf4 {Deep Thought pointed out the last chance to win by 46. Rd5! Re2 47. Bg3 Nxg2 48. Rxf5 picking up a second pawn.} 46... Re2 47.
Rg6+ {He could make Black sweat by 47. Rf6 Rxg2 48. Bg3 Rg1 49. Bxe1 Rxe1 50. Rxf5 Kg7 51. Rxh5. Although White is two pawns ahead, it's still a theoretical draw with correct defense.} 47... Kf7 48. Rg5 Ke6 49. Bc7 Ra2
50. Bb6 Nd3 51. Kh2 Ne1 52. Kh3 Nd3 53. Bc7 Rc2 54. Bb6 Ra2 55. Kg3 Ne1 56.
Rxh5 Rxg2+ 57. Kf4 Nd3+ 58. Ke3 Ne5 59. Rh6+ Kd5 60. Bc7 Rg7 61. Bxe5 Kxe5 
{Draw by Agreement. "I played terribly," conceded Fischer after this narrow escape. Despite this reprieve, he clearly was not his old self.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]

{When this game was played, Ivanchuk had temporarily taken over the number two position in the world from Karpov.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5
Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be6 {Of course not 7...Nxd4?? 8.Bxd4 Qxd4 9.Bb5+ winning the Queen.} 8. Nc3 Qd7 9. Nf3 O-O-O 10. h3 {Preventing 10...Bg4. Karpov's style is to play like a python and squeeze his opponents to death. But Ivanchuk is not a willing customer.} 10... Nb4 11. Be2 {Not 11.Be4?! Bc4.} 11... f5 12. O-O h6 13. a3 N4d5 14. Ne1 Nxc3 {Dubious is 14...g5?! 15.Nd3 followed by 16.Nc5.} 15. bxc3 Bc4 16. Nd3 e6 17. a4 g5 18.
Qc2 Qc6 {Not 18...Nd5?! 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc4 with a large advantage to White. } 19. Rfc1 Bd5 20. Bf1 Nc4 21. Bd2 Rg8 22. Nb4 Bxb4 23. cxb4 Nxd2 24. Qxd2
Qd7 25. Ra3 Kb8 {Not 25...g4?! 26.hxg4 Rxg4 27.Rac3 Rdg8 28.f3 and White is better.} 26. Rac3 Rc8 27. b5 g4 28. h4 Qe7 29. g3 Qb4 30. Qd1 {With this move White loses his advantage. Correct is 30.Bg2 preventing Black's next move.} 30... c6 31. Bg2 {Not 31.bxc6 Rxc6 32.Rxc6 Bxc6 33.Rc4 Qa5 with a large advantage to White.} 31... Bxg2 32. Kxg2 cxb5 33. Rxc8+ Rxc8 34. Rxc8+
Kxc8 35. Qc1+ {Not 35.axb5? Qxb5 36.Qc1+? Qc6+ winning.} 35... Kd7 {Not 35...Qc4 36.Qxh6 bxa4 37.Qf8+ Kd7 38.h5 which is good for White.} 36. axb5 { Dubious is 36.Qxh6?! bxa4 37.h5 a3 38.Qg7+ Qe7 with a large advantage to Black.} 36... Qxd4 37. Qxh6 Qe4+ 38. Kh2 Qd5 39. Qg7+ Ke8 40. Qh8+ Kd7 41.
Qg7+ Ke8 42. Qg6+ Ke7 43. Qf6+ Kd7 44. Qf7+ Kd8 45. Qf6+ Kd7 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]

{A game full of tactics.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4
Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bf5 8. Nbc3 e6 9. O-O Qd7 10. Be3 Rd8 11. Ng3 Bg6 {Not 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Qxd4 13.Qf3 hitting both f5 and b7.} 12. h4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4
{Not 13.h5 Bd3! and 14.Qxd3 is impossible due to 14...Nf3+.} 13... Qxd4 14.
Qf3 Qxh4 {14...c6 15.h5 Bd3 16.Rfe1 followed by 17.Rad1 is good for White.}
15. Qxb7 Bc5 {Not 15...Be7? 16.Qc6+ Rd7 17.Rd1 and Black cannot castle without losing a piece. Now the threat is 16...Qxg3.} 16. Qc6+ {16.Nge4 Bd4 17.Qc6+ Rd7 is good for Black.} 16... Nd7 17. Rad1 {17.Nge4 Bb6 18.Rad1 O-O 19.Rxd7 Bxe4 is good for Black.} 17... Bb6 {17...O-O? 18.Rxd7 Rxd7 19.Qxc5 and 17...Qxg3?! 18.Rxd7 Rxd7? 19.Qxc5 are good for White.} 18. Rxd7 {18.Na4? Bd4! and 18.Nce4? Ke7 are to Black's advantage.} 18... Rxd7 19. Rd1 O-O {The only move. Not 19...Qxg3?? 20.Qxd7+ Kf8 21.Qd8#.} 20. Rxd7 Qxg3 21. Qxb6
Qxc3 {The only move. 21...axb6 22.fxg3 wins a piece.} 22. bxc3 cxb6 23. Rxa7
Rc8 {The endgame is completely equal.} 24. c4 h5 25. Rd7 {If 25.Rb7, then 25...Bd3 wins the c-pawn.} 25... Rc5 26. f4 b5 27. cxb5 Rxb5 28. Kf2 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Bareev, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]

{Karpov is upset.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 d4 5. Ne4 Qa5+ 6. Nd2
Nd7 7. e6 fxe6 8. g3 e5 9. Bg2 Ngf6 10. Nf3 Be7 11. O-O Qc7 12. Qc2 O-O { White has a slight advantage due partially to his control of the e4-square.}
13. b3 Re8 14. Bb2 Bf8 15. Ng5 Nc5 16. h3 g6 17. g4 Bg7 18. Nde4 {Better was 18.e3.} 18... Nfxe4 19. Nxe4 Ne6 20. b4 {Preventing the Knight from coming into f4 with 20.e3 is met with 20...c5.} 20... Nf4 21. e3 Nxg2 22. Kxg2 a5
23. a3 Rf8 24. Rad1 {Correct is 24.f3. Now Black gains a slight advantage.}
24... axb4 25. axb4 dxe3 26. f3 {If 26.fxe3, then 26...Rxf1 27.Rxf1 Qe7 followed by ...Be6 and ...h5.} 26... Qe7 27. Bc1 Bh6 28. Rde1 Be6 {Not 28...Qxb4 29.g5.} 29. Bxe3 Bxe3 30. Rxe3 Qxb4 31. Rb1 Qe7 32. Nf2 Qf7 33.
Qb2 {If 33.Nd3, then 33...e4 34.fxe4 Bxc4 is strong.} 33... Bxc4 34. Qxb7
Qf4 35. Qxc6 {White is forced to give up the exchange. 35.Rc3 Bd5 is too strong.} 35... Qxe3 36. Qxc4+ Kh8 37. Rb3 {White is hoping to play Qe2 followed by Re3 setting up a defensive fortress.} 37... Qd2 38. Qc5 Rae8 39.
Rd3 Qf4 40. Qc3 {In time pressure White misses a way to hold the position. Better is 40.Qc2 followed by Qe2 and Re3.} 40... Rc8 41. Qb2 Rc4 {Black would like to play either 42...Rfc8 or 42...Rd4.} 42. Qe2 h5 43. Ne4 h4 44.
Re3 Rfc8 45. Qf2 Rc2 46. Re2 Rxe2 47. Qxe2 Kg7 48. Qf2 Qc1 49. Qxh4 Rc2+ 50.
Nf2 g5 51. Qg3 Qe1 52. h4 Kg6 53. hxg5 {53.f4 offered more chances.} 53...
Kxg5 54. f4+ exf4 55. Qf3 Rd2 {White is in zugzwang.} 56. Kh3 Qf1+ {Not 56...Qxf2 58.Qxf2 Rxf2 stalemate.} 57. Qg2 Rxf2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Nikolic, Pr."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]

{This game won the first brilliancy prize at the Olympiad.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
c6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 d4 5. Ne4 Qa5+ 6. Bd2 Qxe5 7. Ng3 Qd6 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Qc2
Be7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. e3 dxe3 12. fxe3 {Weaker is 12.Bxe3 Qc7 with equality. } 12... Qc7 13. Bc3 Bg4 {Better is 13...Na6 14.a3.} 14. Bd3 Nbd7 15. Bf5 { Threatening 16.Rxd7.} 15... Bxf5 {White has a strong attack after 15...Rad8 16.Bxg4 Nxg4 17.Bxg7 Nxe3 18.Qd2.} 16. Nxf5 Rfe8 17. Nxg7 {Ripping open Black's kingside.} 17... Kxg7 18. Qf5 Nf8 {Weaker would be 18...Kf8 19.Ng5 h6 20.Rxd7 Qxd7 21.Nh7+ or 18...Rad8 19.Rdf1 Nf8 20.Qg5+ Ng6 21.Nh4.} 19. h4
{White brings in reinforcements.} 19... h6 20. g4 {Better is 20.Qg4+.} 20...
Qc8 21. Qxc8 {White's attack would remain strong after 21.Qc2 Kg8 22.g5.}
21... Raxc8 22. g5 Nd7 23. e4 {Not 23.Rxd7? hxg5 24.hxg5 Kg6.} 23... Rcd8 { 23...Kf8 offered better chances.} 24. Rdf1 Kf8 25. gxf6 Bxf6 {If 25...Nxf6, then 26.Ne5.} 26. e5 Bg7 27. Rhg1 c5 28. Kc2 Re6 29. Rg4 Bh8 {White still has strong pressure as can be seen from the variation 29...h5 30.Rf4 Bh6 31.Rxf7+ Kxf7 32.Ng5+ Ke7 33.Rf7+ Ke8 34.Nxe6 winning.} 30. b4 b6 31. bxc5
bxc5 32. Rb1 Ra6 33. Rb2 Bg7 {If 33...h5, then 34.Rf4.} 34. Rb7 Rxa2+ 35.
Kb3 Ra6 36. e6 Rxe6 37. Rxg7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "30th Chess Olympics"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Nikolic, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]

{In this matchup between Russia vs. Bosnia, Kasparov created a memorable game that will take its place among his many creative achievements. His complex piece sacrifice was awarded the first brilliancy prize.} 1. d4 d5 2.
c4 c6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 d4 5. Ne4 Qa5+ 6. Bd2 Qxe5 7. Ng3 Qd6 8. Nf3 Nf6 9.
Qc2 Be7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. e3 {The battle lines already are sharply drawn. Kasparov rejects 11. Bc3 dxc3! 12. Rxd6 cxb2+ 13. Kb1 Bxd6 with reasonable compensation for the Queen.} 11... dxe3 12. fxe3 Qc7 13. Bc3 Bg4 {13...Na6! would avoid many future problems.} 14. Bd3 Nbd7 15. Bf5 Bxf5 16. Nxf5 Rfe8
17. Nxg7 {A bolt from the blue. This long-range sacrifice could not be calculated to the very end.} 17... Kxg7 18. Qf5 Nf8 {The best defense. Weaker is 18...Kf8 19. Ng5 h6 20. Rxd7! Qxd7 21. Nh7+! Or 18...Rad8 19. Rdf1 Nf8 20. Qg5+ Ng6 21. Nh4 with unbearable pressure.} 19. h4 {A profound conception. White is only slightly better after 19. Rhf1 Kg8! 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxf6 Qe7.} 19... h6 20. g4 {Allows Black some hope. Stronger is 20. Qg4+ Ng6 21. h5 Qb6 22. hxg6 Qxe3+ 23. Kb1 fxg6 24. Qh4 and the attack triumphs.}
20... Qc8 21. Qxc8 {Regains the piece. Even more crushing is 21. Qc2! Kg8 22. g5 Ng4 23. gxh6 f5 24. Rhg1 Qe6 25. Nd4 Qxe3+ 26. Kb1.} 21... Raxc8 22.
g5 Nh7 23. e4 Red8 {A better defense is 23...Kf8! 24. gxf6 Nxf6 25. Rhg1 Red8 but White is still better with 26. Bd2.} 24. Rdf1 Kf8 25. gxf6 Bxf6 26.
e5 Bg7 27. Rhg1 c5 28. Kc2 Rc6 29. Rg4 Bh8 30. b4 b6 31. bxc5 bxc5 32. Rb1
Ra6 33. Rb2 Bg7 {33...h5 34. Rf4 is no help either.} 34. Rb7 Rxa2+ 35. Kb3
Ra6 36. e6 Rxe6 37. Rxg7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "IT Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karpov, An."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]

{An interesting situation. These two are to meet the month after this game is played in an elimination match for the World Chess Championship. How should each proceed. Are ego points to be struck? Is this a throw-away game to avoid tipping the hand as to opening preparations for the "big match"? Your guess is as good as mine! A dubious opening novelty gives White an immediate advantage.} 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nh3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6.
c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. Nf4 g5 {This weakens the kingside. Better are either 8...Bd8 or 8...c6.} 9. Nd3 Qg6 10. f4 h6 11. d5 Na6 12. b4 {Karpov is known as a python for the way he strangulates his opponent's pieces.} 12... exd5
13. Nxd5 {Worth considering is 13.cxd5 in order to attack the weak c-pawn on the c-file.} 13... Nxd5 14. Bxd5+ Kh7 15. b5 Nc5 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. Qc2 a6 { Black needs to try to get his queenside pieces developed.} 18. a4 Rb8 19.
fxg5 hxg5 20. Ra3 c6 {If 20...Be6 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Re3 Qf6 23.g4 wins.} 21.
Bg2 {g4 is threatened.} 21... Bf6 22. Be3 Bd4 23. Bxd4 cxd4 24. e3 dxe3 25.
Rxe3 Be6 26. g4 Rbe8 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. c5 {Not 28.Bxc6 Rc8.} 28... Qf6 {If 28...Bd7, then 29.Rd3 followed by 30.Rd6.} 29. Bxc6 Rb8 {If 29...Qd4, then 30.Qc3 Qxg4 31.Rg3.} 30. gxf5 Bf7 {If 30...Bxf5 31.Rxf5 Qxf5 32.Be4.} 31.
Bg2 Rb2 32. Qc3 Qxc3 33. Rxc3 Rd8 34. c6 Rdd2 35. Be4 Re2 36. c7 Rxe4 37.
c8=Q {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "30th Chess Olympics"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Rogers, I."]
[Black "Milos, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]

{This game won the second brilliancy prize at the Olympiad's Australia vs. Brazil matchup. This was one of the prettiest games in the entire event, and the finishing touch is very nice indeed.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 
d6 3. Nc3 Bg4 4. e4 e6 5. h3 Bh5 6. Qe2 {Reinforcing e4 before playing g4. More natural is 6. Be2.} 6... c6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 
10. h4 {White controls more space, but he could get overextended and Black's two Bishops might be dangerous in the future.} 10... h6 11.
O-O-O Nd7 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. Rg1 {Preparing g4-g5 or h4-h5.} 13... h5 14. 
g5 Be7 15. d5 e5 16. Bh3 O-O-O 17. Nd2 Kb8 {It's always a good idea to break pins right away.} 18. Nc4 Nb6 {Trying to reduce White's pressure on the queenside.} 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. Rd3 {Prepares an assault along the third rank after an imminent Nd5. Now Black should consider 20...c5 to close the lines on the queenside.} 20... Ka8 21. a3 Rdf8 22. Bf5 
{Stopping Black from starting his own counterplay with ...f7-f5.} 
22...Bh7 {Black wants to open up diagonal for his Bishops with ...g7-g6 and ...f7-f6.} 23. Rgd1 g6 {Again 22...c5 looks right.} 24. dxc6 bxc6 
{Not 24...gxf5 25.Nd5 winning immediately.} 25.Bd7 Qc7 {The best try is 25...Rb8! 26. b3 Qc7 although White retains an edge with 27. Bh3.} 26. 
Bxc6+ Qxc6 27. Nd5 Bd8 {If 27...Qd7, then 28.Rc3 Rc8 30.Qa6! wins.} 28. 
Rc3 Qb7 29. Rb3 Qc6 {If 29...Qc8, then 30.Rdd3 Ba5 31.Rb5 wins.} 30. 
Rdd3 Ba5 31. Rdc3 Bxc3 32. Qa6 {Black resigns. If 32...Qxa6, then 33.Nc7# or if 32...Rc8, then 33.Nb6+ Kb8 [33...Qxb6 34. Rxb6 Rb8 35. Rxb8+ Rxb8 36. Qc6+] 34.Nxc8 Kc7 35.Rxc3.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shabalov, A."]
[Black "Smirin, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B64"]

{This game won the third brilliancy prize at the Olympiad.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4
h6 10. h4 {More risky than the normal 10.Bh4.} 10... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 a6 { 11...hxg5 12.hxg5 gives White too strong of an attack on the h-file.} 12.
Be2 Qa5 13. Bf3 Rd8 14. g4 Bd7 15. Bxh6 {Ripping open Black's kingside.}
15... gxh6 16. g5 Ne8 {Not 16...Nh7 17.Rdg1 h5 18.Bxh5 and White has threats of Bxf7+ and g6.} 17. Rdg1 h5 {Trying to keep the kingside closed. 17...Qc5 18.gxh6+ Kh7 19.Qd2 followed by Qg2 is very strong.} 18. Bxh5 {Threatening 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qh8 Ng7 21.g6+ Kf6 22.Qh6.} 18... Bf8 19. f5 Qe5 20. Qd2 { Threatening 21.g6 f6 22.g7.} 20... exf5 21. g6 fxg6 {Even worse is 21...f6 22.g7.} 22. Rxg6+ Kh7 23. Rhg1 fxe4 {23...Nf6 would have offered more resistance.} 24. Rh6+ Bxh6 25. Bg6+ Kg7 26. Bxe8+ Kh7 {26...Kf8 27.Qxh6+ Ke8 28.Qg6+ also loses.} 27. Bg6+ Kg7 28. Bxe4+ Kf7 29. Qxh6 {Black's position remains difficult because of his open King and White's active pieces.} 29...
Rh8 30. Bd5+ Ke8 31. Qd2 Kd8 32. Re1 Qh5 33. Ne4 Qh6 34. Ng5 Kc7 35. Re7
Rae8 36. Qa5+ b6 {Worse is 36...Kc8 37.Qb6.} 37. Qc3+ {A blunder in time pressure. Better is 37.Qxa6 and if 37...Rxe7, then 38.Qb7+ Kd8 39.Qxb6+.}
37... Kd8 38. Rxd7+ Kxd7 39. Qc6+ Ke7 40. Qc7+ Kf6 41. Qxd6+ Kf5 42. Qd7+
Ke5 {Returning the favor. The position would be roughly equal after 42...Kf4.} 43. Bf7 Qf8 44. Qd5+ {White plays several checks before deciding on the best way to win.} 44... Kf6 45. Qf3+ Ke7 46. Qb7+ Kf6 47. Qxb6+ Kf5
48. Qf2+ Ke5 49. Qg3+ Kf6 50. Qf4+ Ke7 51. Qc7+ Kf6 52. Qc6+ Ke5 53. Qd5+
Kf6 54. Qf3+ Ke7 55. Qb7+ Kd8 56. Qb8+ Ke7 57. Qa7+ Kd8 58. Qa8+ Ke7 59.
Qa7+ Kd8 60. Qb6+ Ke7 61. Qe6+ Kd8 62. Qb6+ Ke7 63. Qxa6 Rb8 64. Qa7+ Kd6
65. Qd4+ Kc6 66. Bd5+ Kd7 67. Nf7 {Threatening 68.Qa7+.} 67... Rh6 68. Qg4+
Kc7 69. Qf4+ Rd6 70. Qxd6+ Qxd6 71. Nxd6 Kxd6 72. Bf7 Rf8 73. Bg6 Rf1+ 74.
Kd2 Rf2+ 75. Ke3 Rh2 76. h5 Ke5 77. Kd3 Kd5 78. Kc3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Adams, M."]
[Black "Salov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]

{A good example of how to play against the sharp Sveshnikov defense.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3
b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3 { White will have an advantage if he can keep control of the d5 square. Otherwise Black's two Bishops and center will become very strong.} 14... Be6
15. g3 Ne7 16. Bg2 Rb8 17. O-O Nxd5 {Better is 17...f5.} 18. Bxd5 Kh8 19. a4
{Opening up the a-file for his Rook.} 19... Bh6 20. axb5 axb5 {Better was 20...Bxe3.} 21. Nc2 {Now the Knight takes up a very strong position on b4.}
21... Qd7 22. Ra6 Bh3 23. Re1 {Not 23.Bg2?? Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Qb7+ picking up the Rook.} 23... Bg5 24. Nb4 Bd8 {Black hopes to exchange off White's active Rook with 25...Rb6.} 25. Be4 Bb6 {25...Rb6 is met by 26.Qh5 with a strong attack. For example, 26...f6 27.Qf6 Rf7 28.Rxb6 Bxb6 29.Bxh7 winning.} 26.
Nd5 f5 27. Nxb6 Qd8 28. Nd7 Qxd7 29. Rxd6 Qe7 30. Rd7 Qg5 31. Bc2 e4 {This loses quickly. Black could have offered more resistance with 31...Rbe8.} 32.
Qd4+ Qf6 33. Qa7 Qh6 34. Ra1 b4 35. Qd4+ Qf6 36. Raa7 Qxd4 37. cxd4 {Black Resigns. There is no defense to 38.Rxh7+ followed by 39.Bb3 or 39.Rag7.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dolmatov, S."]
[Black "Chekhov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]

{A nice kingside attack by White.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3
Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7 15. Qh5 Qd7 16. Rad1 Rc8 17. Nc2
Rc5 18. Ne3 e4 {Not 18...f4? 19.Nf5.} 19. Bb1 O-O {If 19...f4, then 20.Ng4.}
20. g3 {White is planning to play 21.f3.} 20... b4 {Better is first 20...Rb8.} 21. cxb4 Rb5 22. a3 Bxb2 23. Kh1 {Not immediately 23.f3?! due to 23...Qa7.} 23... Rc8 24. f3 Rc3 25. fxe4 Rxa3 {Not 25...Rxe3? 26.Qg5+.} 26.
Nxf5 Nxf5 27. e5 {Opens up the b1-h7 diagonal.} 27... Nxg3+ 28. hxg3 Bxe5
29. Qxh7+ Kf8 30. Rc1 {Threatening both 31.Rc8+ and 31.Rxf7+.} 30... Rb7 31.
Bf5 Qb5 32. Be6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Luther, T."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]

{This game was played in the Bundesliga. The strongest chess clubs in Germany meet every few weeks for team competitions. The German International Master Luther plays for Sindelfingen and the Latvian Grandmaster Shirov plays for Hamburg.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.
Ndb5 d6 {The sharp Svesnikov variation is very popular on the international circuit.} 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 f5 12. Bd3 Be6
13. Qh5 Rg8 14. c3 Rxg2 15. Qf3 Rg4 16. exf5 {A novelty. 16.h3 had been previously played.} 16... Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Ne7 18. Qb7 {Not 18.Qf3 Rf4.} 18...
Bh6 19. Nc2 Kf8 {Threatening 20...Rb8 21.Qxa6? Ra4.} 20. Rd1 {Better is 20.Ne3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Ng8 22.f6 Nxf6 23.Rf1.} 20... Rb8 {Not 20...Bg5 21.Be2 followed by 22.Rxd6.} 21. Qf3 Rf4 22. Qh3 Bg5 23. Ne3 e4 24. Qg3 {Better is 24.Be2.} 24... Nxf5 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 26. Bxe4 Qe7 27. O-O {27.Rd4 Bh4 and 27.Qxd6 Qxd6 28.Rxd6 Re8 29.Rd4 Rf4 30.f3 f5 31.Rd5 Bh4 both win for Black.}
27... Qxe4 28. Qxd6+ Kg7 29. Qxb8 Bf4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romero Holmes, A."]
[Black "Salov, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]

{Black plays a risky but sharp opening.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4
cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 {The Sveshnikov is a very theoretical and popular opening.} 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 f5 12. g3
fxe4 13. Bg2 Be6 14. Bxe4 Bg7 15. Qh5 {15.Nf6+ Qxf6 16.Bxc6+ Ke7 17.Bxa8 Qxa8 is good for Black.} 15... Rc8 16. c3 Ne7 17. Rd1 Rc5 18. Nb4 Qb6 19.
Qg5 Kf8 20. Qe3 h5 21. Nd3 {Bad is 21.Nxa6? Bh6, but not 21...Qxa6?? 22.Qxc5 dxc5 23.Rd8#.} 21... Rc6 22. Bxc6 Qxc6 {Black has sufficient compensation for the exchange. White had several weaknesses in his position.} 23. f3 Bh6
24. Qf2 a5 25. O-O h4 26. g4 Nd5 27. Nc2 h3 28. Nc1 {Better was 28.Qe2 with an unclear position.} 28... Bg5 29. Ne2 Bd8 {The Bishop is transferred to the a7-g1 diagonal.} 30. Kh1 Bb6 31. Qg3 b4 32. Ncd4 {An unsound sacrifice in a difficult position.} 32... exd4 33. Nxd4 Bxd4 34. Rxd4 bxc3 35. bxc3
Ke7 36. g5 Ne3 37. Rf2 Nf5 38. Qf4 Rh4 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Georgiev, Kir."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]

{Played at the Festival in Biel, Switzerland, in 1992. Kiril Georgiev seems to shine especially against Shirov - for Georgiev, Shirov is a "good customer". It is sometimes this way in top-level chess, that for stylistic or psychological reasons, relatively equal strength players may have very lopsided results against each other.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 {This is the defining position of the Sveshnikov Sicilian, but oddly enough it can be reached in another way that requires fewer moves. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3... looks familiar, no? The reasons for choosing one way over the other have to do with minor sub-variations that are possible in each line: the shorter route allows White to choose 7.Nd5 instead, which some wish to avoid; the longer version doesn't really force Nd4-b5.} 9... Be6 {Black usually plays 9...b5 to prevent White from bringing his Knight back into the game via c4. Then White might play Nd5, c3, Nc2, and Nce3 to control the d5 square - or he might sacrifice a piece on b5 to try to take immediate advantage of the weaknesses Black has created by all of these pawn moves.} 10. Nc4 Rc8 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Ne3 Bh6 13. Bd3 Bxe3 { Even though this makes a weakling on e3, it also exposes Black's doubled f-pawns to direct assault on the file.} 14. fxe3 Qb6 15. Qc1 Na5 {It turns out Black doesn't have time for this maneuver, and the off-side Knight allows White's decisive tactics. 15...Nb4 makes more sense.} 16. O-O Ke7 17.
Qe1 h5 {Played both to allow ...Rh8-h6, defending the f6-pawn, and because 17...Qxb2 loses to 18.Na4 (Qa3 19.Qxa5).} 18. b3 Qc5 19. Nd5+ {Due to the threat of b3-b4, among other things, Black must capture.} 19... Bxd5 20.
exd5 Qxd5 21. Rd1 {White threatens to make a decisive discovery, but Black cannot move the Queen away without hanging the Knight.} 21... Rcg8 22. Qf2
Rh6 {22...Qe6 23.Bf5 is even worse, if that is possible.} 23. Bg6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kengis, E."]
[Black "Akopian, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B34"]

{The break-up of the Soviet Union created the opportunity for many more countries to participate in the Olympiad. Here Latvia and Armenia square off.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Bd3
Be7 8. Be3 Qc7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe2 a6 11. g4 b5 12. O-O-O Bb7 13. g5 Nd7 14.
Kb1 Nc5 15. Rhf1 Na4 16. Nxa4 {The moves 16.Bd2 Nxc3+ 17.Bxc3 e5 results in an equal position.} 16... bxa4 17. Nd2 Nb4 18. Bd4 O-O 19. Nc4 d5 20. exd5
Nxd3 {Not 20...Bxd5? 21.Bxh7+! Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Bxg7 results in a winning attack.} 21. cxd3 Bxd5 22. Rc1 Qb7 23. Nb6 Rad8 24. Qe5 {Also bad is 24.Nxa4 Bxa2+. Correct is 24.Qe3.} 24... f6 25. Qe3 {The moves 25.Qc7 fxg5 are good for Black.} 25... a3 26. b3 fxg5 27. fxg5 Bd6 28. Bc5 {A time trouble error. 28.Nc4 would have given Black only a slight advantage.} 28... Bxc5 29. Qxc5
Rxf1 30. Rxf1 Bg2 31. Rf2 {If 31.Rf4 Bh3 threatening 32...Qh1+ followed by ...Bf5.} 31... Be4 32. dxe4 Qxe4+ 33. Kc1 Qe1+ 34. Kc2 Qe4+ 35. Kc1 Qd3 36.
Qc2 {The only way to stop 36...Qd1#. 36.Qxa3 Qc3+ wins immediately.} 36...
Qd4 {Winning back the sacrificed piece.} 37. Rf1 {If 37.Nc4, then 37...Qa1+ 38.Qb1 Rd1+ wins.} 37... Qxb6 38. Qf2 Qb7 39. Qe2 Qd5 40. h4 e5 41. Re1 { Then 41.Qc4 Qxc4 42.dxc4 Rc8 gives Black a winning endgame.} 41... Rc8+ 42.
Kb1 Qc5 43. Rd1 Qc3 44. Rf1 e4 45. Qf2 Qd3+ 46. Ka1 Qf3 {Forcing the exchange of Queens which results in a winning endgame for Black.} 47. Kb1
Qxf2 48. Rxf2 e3 49. Rf3 {If 49.Re2, then 49...Rc3 wins.} 49... Re8 50. Rf1
e2 51. Re1 Kf7 52. h5 Re5 53. Kc2 Rxg5 54. Rxe2 Rxh5 55. Kc3 Rf5 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "11th Match Game, Sveti-Stefan & Belgrade"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]

{In the Sveti Stefan/Belgrade match, both players tried unusual systems against the Sicilian Defense. Several of the contests were in closed lines where White played Nc3 and d3; this game followed the Rossilimo pattern with White playing Bb5. Now White enters uncharted territory with a dynamic pawn sacrifice.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 e5
7. b4 cxb4 8. a3 c5 9. axb4 cxb4 10. d4 exd4 11. Bb2 d6 {One can't help but feel Black should be trying to develop somewhere around here. All of these pawn moves seem to help White more than Black.} 12. Nxd4 Qd7 13. Nd2 Bb7 14.
Nc4 Nh6 15. Nf5 Bxb2 16. Ncxd6+ Kf8 17. Nxh6 f6 18. Ndf7 Qxd1 19. Raxd1 Ke7
20. Nxh8 Rxh8 21. Nf5+ {Just when Spassky seems to have weathered the storm with only minor damage, Fischer unleashes this discombobulating tail-ender. It is clear that Black cannot now survive.} 21... gxf5 22. exf5+ Be5 23. f4
Rc8 24. fxe5 Rxc2 25. e6 Bc6 26. Rc1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Kd6 28. Rd1+ Ke5 29. e7
a5 30. Rc1 Bd7 31. Rc5+ Kd4 32. Rxa5 b3 33. Ra7 Be8 34. Rb7 Kc3 35. Kf2 b2
36. Ke3 Bf7 37. g4 Kc2 38. Kd4 b1=Q 39. Rxb1 Kxb1 40. Kc5 Kc2 41. Kd6 
{Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ye, J."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B45"]

{A battle between China's and Ukraine's top players.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Bb4+
10. c3 Be7 11. Bd3 Qb6 12. c4 {Better is 12.Qe2.} 12... f5 13. exf6ep {Worse is 13.Nf2 Ne3 14.Qf3 Qb4+ 15.Bd2 Qxb2.} 13... Nxf6 {White has troubles because his King is stuck in the center.} 14. Qc2 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Ba6 16. Bd2
Bf6 17. Rb1 {Not 17.O-O-O Bxc4.} 17... d5 18. Bxh7 {The decisive error. Better is 18.Bd3.} 18... O-O-O 19. b3 {Not 19.Bd3 Rxh2.} 19... Qd4 20. Bd3 { If 20.cxd5 Rxh7 21.Qxc6+ (21.Qh7 Bd3) 21...Kb8 22.Qxa6 Qe4+ wins.} 20...
dxc4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 22. bxc4 Bh4+ 23. Kd1 Qxf4 24. Kc1 {If 24.Rb3, then 24...Bg5 25.Rd3 Qg4+ wins.} 24... Rxd2 25. Qxd2 Qxc4+ 26. Qc2 Qf4+ 27. Qd2 { If 27.Kb2, then 27...Bf6+ 28.Kb3 Qe3+ 29.Ka4 Rh4+ wins.} 27... Qe5 28. Qd3 { If 28.Qb4, then 28...Bg5+ 29.Kc2 Qe2+ 30.Kb3 Rd8 wins.} 28... Qc5+ 29. Qc2 { If 29.Kb2, then 29...Kc7 30.a3 Rb8+ 31.Ka2 Qf2+ wins.} 29... Bg5+ 30. Kb2
Bf6+ 31. Kc1 Qe3+ 32. Qd2 Qa3+ {White Resigns. If 33.Kc2 Rd8 wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Luther, T."]
[Black "Lukacs, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C99"]

{A game full of sacrifices.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O
Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2
cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. d5 Nb4 15. Bb1 a5 16. a3 Na6 17. b4 Bd7 18. Qb3 axb4 { The Ruy Lopez has been thoroughly analyzed, but new moves are continually been found. Previously 18...Nh5 followed by ...Nf4 had been played.} 19.
axb4 Nc5 20. bxc5 {White sacrifices the exchange to get a strong passed pawn. The position is equal after 20.Qc3 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Na4.} 20... Rxa1 21.
c6 Bc8 22. Ba3 {Black's Rook is in danger of getting trapped.} 22... Qa7 23.
Bb4 {Better is 23.Re3 followed by 24.Qb2 with an unclear position.} 23...
Nh5 {Black starts counterplay on the other side of the board.} 24. Nf1 Nf4
25. Ne3 g6 26. Nc2 {If 26.Nxe5, then 26...dxe5 27.d6 Bd8 28.d7 Bxd7 with a winning position.} 26... Ra4 27. Na3 Bxh3 28. Nxb5 {Not 28.gxh3 Nxh3+ 29.Kg2 Rxb4 followed by ...Qxf2+.} 28... Rxb4 29. Qxb4 Qb6 30. g3 {Again 30.gxh3 is not possible due to 30...Nxh3+ and 31...Qxf2. The position is roughly equal. White has a strong passed pawn but his kingside is weak.} 30... Nh5 31. Bd3
{Better is 31.Nd2 and if 31...Nxg3?, then 32.Nc4.} 31... Nxg3 32. Nxe5 Nh5 { Not 32...dxe5? 33.Qxe7 and White is winning with his two passed pawns.} 33.
Nc4 Qd8 34. Bf1 Nf4 35. Qb3 {White brings his Queen over to the queenside for defensive purposes. Not 35.Bxh3 Nxh3+ 36.Kf1 Nxf2! 37.Kxf2 Bh4+ winning. } 35... Bh4 {Black must get his Queen into the attack. In order to do so, he sacrifices a Bishop, bringing the White King into the open in the process.}
36. Bxh3 Bxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Qh4+ 38. Kf1 Nxh3 39. Qf3 {Not 39.Re2 Qf4+ 40.Kg2 Qg4+ winning.} 39... f5 {Black gets his final piece into the attack.} 40. c7
{White seeks counterplay by trying to promote his passed pawn.} 40... Ng5 { Not 40...fxe4? 41.Qxf8+ followed by 42.c8=Q+ winning.} 41. Qg2 fxe4+ 42. Ke2
Qh5+ 43. Ke3 {Better is 43.Kd2, escaping quickly to the kingside.} 43... Nf3
44. Rd1 Ne5 45. Qe2 {The losing move. Correct is 45.Rf1! Nxc4+ 46.Kd4 and White will be all right.} 45... Nxc4+ 46. Qxc4 Qg5+ 47. Kxe4 Rf4+ {White resigns, as he loses quickly after 48.Kd3 Qg3+ followed by ...Rxc4.} 0-1

[Event "Return Match"]
[Site "Sveti Stefan"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fischer, R."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]

{Chess fans were giddy when the reclusive American, now 49, made a comeback. He showed up in war-torn Yugoslavia to play his first tournament game in 20 years in a $5 million duel billed as "The Return Match of the Century Between the Never-Defeated Champion of the World Bobby Fischer and His Challenger Boris Spassky". Until the first move was actually played, many pundits didn't believe this return match would actually take place. Bobby surprised them in more ways than one, as his first game was virtually perfect. The assembled Grandmasters were left wondering if any time had passed at all. Fischer scored the necessary 10 wins (with 5 losses and 15 draws) after 30 games and proved he still remembered how the pieces move before vanishing again -- probably forever.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6 {This Morphy Defense to the Ruy Lopez puts the question to the bishop -- it must either take the Knight or retreat.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 {Theory deems this better than 9. d4 Bg4!} 9... Nb8 {This retreat characterizes the Breyer variation of the Ruy Lopez. The Knight will reposition to d7, and moving it allows the c-pawn to advance. 9...Na5 is the main alternative.} 10. d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 
Re8 13. Nf1 {Varying from their tenth game in 1972: 13. b4 Bf8 14. a4 Nb6 15. a5 Nbd7 which Fischer (white) won in 56 moves.} 13... Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. 
Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 {Later Spassky varied with 16...exd4 17.cxd4 c5.} 17. a4 
c5 18. d5 c4 19. b4 {The novelty.} Nh7 {Dooming Black to passivity. Capturing en passant with 19...cxb3 20. Bxb3 Nc5 leaves the position fairly even and gets some breathing space along the c-file. But Spassky knew his opponent had something special prepared, and was rightly worried that Fischer would be well prepared for the obvious capture.} 20. Be3 h5 21. Qd2 
Rf8 22. Ra3 Ndf6 23. Rea1 Qd7 {As Dr. Tarrasch observed, "Cramped positions bear the germs of defeat". Instead of trying to contest the a-file Black should consider 23...Rb8 followed by Bc8-d7 to post his Bishop on a better square.} 24. R1a2 Rfc8 25. Qc1 Bf8 26. Qa1 Qe8 27. Nf1 {White is following a remarkably direct plan to dominate the a-file after it is opened - and it will be opened by axb5 at White's discretion. Now the Knight is repositioned at b1 so that after mass exchanges it will be able to hop up to a3, probably winning the b5 pawn.} Be7 28. N1d2 Kg7 29. Nb1 Nxe4 {Weary of waiting, Spassky makes a desperate bid for freedom, sacrificing a piece to shift the momentum from White's a-file buildup. This sort of sacrifice can be especially effective when the opponent's pieces are all busy doing something else, as they seem to be here. 29...Rab8, though unpleasant, may be tenable. But not 29...Bf8 30. axb5 axb5 31. Ra7 Rxa7 32. Rxa7 Ra8 33. Rxa8 Qxa8 (or 33...Bxa8 34. Qa5) 34. Qxa8 Bxa8 35. Na3 snaring a pawn.} 
30. Bxe4 f5 {But this is a mistake, opening the seventh rank for the White Rook's invasion. Better is 30...Nf6, when Black gets some play for the piece.} 31. Bc2 Bxd5 32.axb5 axb5 33. Ra7 Kf6 34. Nbd2 Rxa7 35. Rxa7 Ra8 
36. g4 {Fischer finds the most accurate route to victory. Most GMs would have relaxed a little here.} hxg4 37. hxg4 Rxa7 38. Qxa7 f4 39. Bxf4 exf4 
40. Nh4 Bf7 41. Qd4+ Ke6 42. Nf5 {Crashing through in every variation.} Bf8 
43. Qxf4 Kd7 44. Nd4 Qe1+ 45. Kg2 Bd5+ 46. Be4 Bxe4+ 47. Nxe4 Be7 48. Nxb5 
Nf8 49. Nbxd6 Ne6 50. Qe5 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Akopian, V."]
[Black "Adams, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8.
h3 Bb7 9. d3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. c3 Bf8 12. a4 Na5 13. Ba2 c5 14. Nb3 Nc6
15. Be3 d6 16. Nbd2 d5 {The move ...d5 in the Ruy Lopez must be weighed carefully. When played successfully, it can bring immediate equality or more, sometimes much more. But if it doesn't work, it can help the White pieces spring into powerful attacking posts, and expose the often awkwardly placed Black forces to newly opened lines. Such is the case here, as Black discovers he must meet one direct threat after another.} 17. exd5 Nxd5 18.
Ne4 Nxe3 {The c5 pawn was attacked.} 19. Rxe3 {Now White's Rook has been helped to the third rank, where it defends the d-pawn and may participate in a Kingside attack.} 19... Na5 {Trying to support the move ...c5-c4, but also decentralizing.} 20. Nfd2 Rc8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rf3 c4 {To block the a2-f7 diagonal.} 23. Nf6+ gxf6 24. Rg3+ Bg7 {If the King moves, 24.Qg4 will mate.}
25. Qg4 Kf8 26. Qxg7+ Ke7 27. Qxh6 Rg8 28. Rxg8 Qxg8 29. f3 Qg5 { Straightening out the doubled pawns, but only to reach a lost endgame. The loose Knight on a5 now takes its toll.} 30. Qxg5 fxg5 31. Bxc4 Nxc4 32. dxc4
bxc4 33. Ra7 Rb8 {33...Rc7 makes no difference.} 34. Nxc4 Ke6 35. b4 {And the two passed pawns decide.} 35... e4 36. fxe4 Bxe4 37. Ra6+ Ke7 38. Nd2
Bd3 39. Rc6 Ra8 40. Kf2 f5 41. Rc7+ Kf6 42. Rd7 Bb5 43. Rd5 Be8 44. g4 Bg6
45. Rd6+ Kg7 46. b5 Ra3 47. b6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "8th Match Game, Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C86"]

{This was a crucial game for Short to defeat Karpov in the quarter finals of the world championship.} 1. e4 e5 {More often than not when Karpov's back is up against the wall, he chooses the double King pawn defenses.} 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bg4 10.
Rd1 exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. e5 Ne4 {The players now find themselves in a position akin to the Open Ruy, an opening Viktor Korchnoi has championed for years, but one which I don't think Karpov has ever played before. A bizarre departure from Karpov's normal practice of sticking to what he does best.}
13. a4 bxa4 14. Bxa4 Nb4 15. h3 Bh5 {A necessary retreat. If 15...Bxf3? 16.gxf3 Ng5 17.f4 Ne6 18.f5, Black will be rolled off the board.} 16. Nc3
Bg6 17. Be3 {White has built up a frightening advantage with simple moves. Black's queenside and center pawns look like appetizers. Conversely, White's center and queenside are to be envied.} 17... Rb8 18. Na2 {Targeting the a6-pawn and opening up the c-file.} 18... c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Nxb4 Rxb4 21.
Bc6 {Black's position is coming apart. I don't know where he went seriously wrong.} 21... Qb6 22. Bxd5 Rxb2 23. Qc4 Rc2 24. Qg4 {A cruncher of a move. Besides threatening Nf3-d4-c6, all with tempo, there is now the outside chance for h3-h4-h5 with a kingside win.} 24... Qc7 25. Nd4 Rc3 26. Nc6 Re8
27. Bd4 Rc2 {Black quickly goes down in flames. After 27...Rd3 28.Rxd3 Nxd3 (or 28...Bxd3 29.e6 f6 30.Rc1 wins) 29.Rxa6 White is merely a pawn up with an overwhelming position.} 28. Nb4 Rd8 29. Nxc2 Bxc2 30. e6 Bf8 31. exf7+
Kh8 32. Re1 Bg6 {A scorching finish is 32...Rxd5 33.Qxg7+ Bxg7 34.Re8 mate.}
33. Re8 Rxe8 34. fxe8=Q Bxe8 35. Bxc5 Bxc5 36. Qe6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]

{A battle between the two contestants for the 1993 world championship.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {This old opening has been re-popularized by Kasparov.} 3... exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. O-O Bb6
9. Nc2 d6 10. Bxb6 axb6 11. f4 g5 {Gaining control of the e5-square, but weakening the kingside. Better is 11...Be6.} 12. f5 Ne5 13. Be2 Bd7 14. c4
g4 {This weakens the kingside even further.} 15. Nc3 h5 16. Qd2 Kh8 17. Qf4
Bc6 18. Ne3 Nd7 {Better is 18...Rg8.} 19. Bxg4 {Sacrificing a piece to open up the kingside.} 19... hxg4 20. Nxg4 Qh4 21. Rf3 Ng6 22. Qe3 Qxg4 {If 22...Kg7, then 23.fxg6 Qxg4 24.gxf7 wins.} 23. Qh6+ Kg8 24. Rh3 Qxh3 {The only reasonable defense to 25.Qh7#. If 24...Nf6, then 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.Rg3 wins.} 25. gxh3 Nge5 26. f6 Nxf6 27. Qxf6 Rae8 28. Kh1 Ng6 29. h4 Re6 30.
Qg5 Rfe8 31. h5 Re5 32. Qh6 Rxe4 33. Nxe4 Rxe4 34. Kg1 Ne5 {34...Rg4+ would have offered more resistance.} 35. Qg5+ Kh7 36. Qf5+ Kh6 37. Rf1 Re2 38.
Qf6+ Kh7 39. Qg5 Be4 {If 39...Rxb2 40.Rxf7 Nxf7 41.Qg6+ Kh8 42.Qf6+ and 43.Qxb2.} 40. h6 Bg6 41. h4 Re4 42. h5 Rg4+ 43. Qxg4 Nxg4 44. hxg6+ fxg6 45.
Rf7+ Kxh6 46. Rxc7 Ne5 47. Rxb7 Nxc4 48. b3 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C18"]

{When this game was played, Kasparov had lost two of his previous three games to Anand. The world champion would be out for blood.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4
d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Nbc6 8. h5 Qa5 9. Bd2
cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa4 11. Nf3 {This sacrifice is a new idea. Previously 11.Bc3 had been played.} 11... Nxd4 12. Bd3 Nec6 13. Kf1 {White is planning to play 14.Rh4.} 13... Nxf3 {Better is 13...Nf5.} 14. Qxf3 b6 {Better is 14...Qd4.}
15. h6 {Creating holes in the kingside.} 15... Ba6 {Worse is 15...g6 16.Qf6 Rg8 17.Rh4.} 16. hxg7 Rg8 17. Bxa6 {Black would get counter chances with 17.Rxh7? Nxe5.} 17... Qxa6+ 18. Kg1 Rxg7 {Not 18...Nd4? 19.Qf6 threatening Bg5.} 19. Qf6 Rg8 20. Rxh7 Qb7 21. Bg5 Nd4 {Black is planning to play ...Ne2-c3-e4.} 22. c4 {Trying to open up lines for his Queen's Rook.} 22...
Ne2+ 23. Kh2 Nc3 24. Rh8 Rxh8+ 25. Qxh8+ Kd7 26. Qh7 Rf8 27. Bh6 Re8 28.
Qxf7+ Re7 29. Qg6 {Short on time, White starts making errors. Better is 29.Qg8 which prevents Black's next move.} 29... Qb8 30. cxd5 Nxd5 {Not 30...Qxe5+ 31.f4! Qh8 32.dxe6+ Rxe6 33.Qg7+ winning.} 31. Rd1 {White could still have won with 31.f4.} 31... Qxe5+ 32. f4 Qh8 33. f5 Qe5+ 34. Kh1 
{Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Bareev, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]

{Black sacrifices a piece to get a dangerous pawn mass in the center.} 1. e4
e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 c5 6. c3 b5 7. f4 Nc6 8. a3 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bc5 11. Qd3 O-O 12. Nf3 f6 13. Nd4 {Better is 13.Be3 or 13.exf6.} 13... Nxe5 {Also worth considering is 13...Qe7 14.exf6 Rxf6 followed by 15...e5.} 14. fxe5 fxe5 {Black has compensation for the sacrificed piece in his central pawn mass and White's open King.} 15. Nc2
Bf2+ 16. Kd1 e4 17. Qe2 e5 18. Be3 Qh4 19. g3 {White decides to sacrifice the exchange to untangle his pieces.} 19... Bxg3 20. hxg3 Qxh1 21. Kd2 a6
22. Bg2 Qh2 23. Rg1 Be6 24. Bf1 Qxe2+ 25. Bxe2 Rac8 26. b4 Rfd8 27. Bb6 { Weak is 27.Bc5 d4 28.cxd4 exd4 29.Nxd4 Rxc5.} 27... Rd7 28. a4 bxa4 29. Bc5
Rc6 30. Ke3 Rdc7 31. Ra1 Bd7 32. Kd2 a5 33. Ne3 axb4 34. cxb4 {The decisive error. Correct is 34.Bxb4.} 34... Rxc5 35. bxc5 Rxc5 {Now there is no stopping Black's pawns.} 36. Rc1 Rxc1 37. Kxc1 Be6 38. Nc2 d4 39. Bb5 Bb3
40. Na1 h5 41. Nxb3 axb3 42. Be8 e3 43. Bxh5 d3 {White Resigns. If 44.Bd1, then 44...b2+ 45.Kxb2 e2 wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Bareev, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]

{An example of Knight versus bad Bishop.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5
Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bxc5 Nxc5 11.
Qf2 Qb6 12. Bd3 Rb8 13. O-O Nb4 14. Rfd1 O-O {Better was 14...Na4.} 15. Ne2
Bd7 16. Ned4 {White's command of the d4 square and Black's bad Bishop gives White the advantage.} 16... Nbxd3 17. cxd3 Na4 18. b4 {Controlling the c5 square and fixing Black's pawns on the same color as his Bishop.} 18... a5
19. a3 Rfc8 20. Rdc1 axb4 21. axb4 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Qc2
Bd7 25. Kf2 Kf8 26. g4 Ke8 27. Ke3 f6 28. h4 Qb8 {An important move. 28...Kf7? 29.exf6 gxf6 30.g5 allows White to control the e5-square.} 29. Qc1
Kf8 30. Ke2 Kf7 31. Qe3 Qf8 {If 31...Nc3, then 32.Kd2 Na2 33.f5 is strong.}
32. f5 Qe8 33. g5 {33.exf6 gxf6 34.fxe6+?! Bxe6 35.Nxe6 Qxe6 36.Qxe6+ Kxe6 37.Nd4+ Ke5 38.Nxb5 Kf4 is only drawn. With the text move, White forces a breakthrough in Black's position.} 33... exf5 34. gxf6 gxf6 35. Qh6 fxe5 {If 35...Qh8, then 36.exf6 is strong.} 36. Qxh7+ Kf6 37. Qh6+ Kf7 38. Ng5+ Ke7
39. Qg7+ Kd6 40. Nf7+ Kc7 41. Nxe5 {White is winning because his pieces are so much better placed. White is threatening to transpose into a winning endgame with 42.Qxd7+, so Black must give up his b-pawn.} 41... Nb6 42.
Nxb5+ Kb8 43. Nd4 Qh5+ 44. Ndf3 Be8 45. Kf2 f4 46. Qe7 Nc8 47. Qf6 Kb7 48.
Qxf4 Qh8 49. Ng5 Qh6 50. Kg3 Nd6 51. Qf3 Bc6 52. Ngf7 Nxf7 53. Qxf7+ Kb6 54.
Qf4 Qe6 55. h5 Bb7 56. Qf6 {Black Resigns. If 56...Qxf6, then 57.Nd7+ followed by 58.Nxf6 and 59.h6 easily wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Reggio Emilia"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]

{Not only is the Indian Grandmaster Anand one of the best in the world, he is also one of the fastest. He often uses less than half the time of his opponent. This was his second win against world champion Kasparov in less than three months.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6.
Ngf3 Nf6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qe2 Nbd7 9. Ne4 b6 {9...Ne4 10.Bxe4 Qh5 11.O-O Nf6 leaves White with a slight advantage.} 10. Nxc5 Qxc5 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Bd4 Bb7
13. O-O-O {Looks risky, but on 13.O-O, Anand had planned 13...Ng4 14.Bxh7+ Kh8! and now Black threatens 15...Bxf3.} 13... Nc5 14. Be5 {If 14.Bxf6, then 14...Qf4+.} 14... Nxd3+ 15. Rxd3 {If 15.Qxd3, then 15...Qxc6.} 15... Qc4 16.
Nd4 {If 16.Nd2, then 16...Qg4.} 16... Be4 {The Bishop is transferred to the defense of the King. Risky, but worth considering is 16...Qxa2 17.Bxf6 gxf6. } 17. Re3 Qxa2 18. Bxf6 {Not 18.Rxe4 Qa1+ 19.Kd2 Nxe4+.} 18... Bg6 {Too risky is 18...Qa1+ 19.Kd2 Qxh1 20.Rxe4 gxf6 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Qh4 Rg8 23.Qxf6+ Rg7 24.Rg4 Rg8 25.Nf3 winning.} 19. Ra3 Qd5 20. h4 {20.Qe5 Qxg2 is to Black's advantage. Worth considering is 20.Be5 f6 21.Bg3 Qxd4 22.Qxe6+.}
20... gxf6 21. h5 Qxd4 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Rah3 {Threatening mate in two.}
23... f5 24. Rh4 f4 25. Qf3 {White could have maintained equality with 25.g3 Rac8 26.gxf4. Now Black has a slight advantage.} 25... Rac8 26. Rxf4 Qc5 27.
c3 Kg7 28. Rhh4 {Correct is 28.Rfh4 Qg5 29.Kc2 Qf5 30.Qxf5 exf5 31.Rd4 with only a slight advantage to Black.} 28... Qe5 29. g3 Qe1+ 30. Kc2 Rcd8 31.
Rd4 Qe5 32. Rhf4 Qc7 33. Qe3 e5 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. Re4 Rd5 36. g4 {Better is 36.f4 with only a slight advantage to Black.} 36... b5 37. g5 Qd6 38. f3 a5
39. Qe2 Qe6 40. Qh2 Qf5 41. Qg3 {If 41.Qh6+, then 41...Kg8 42.Kb3 Rd2 winning.} 41... Qd7 42. Qe1 b4 {Black starts putting the King under pressure.} 43. cxb4 {If 43.Rxe5, then 43...Qa4+ 44.Kc1 bxc3 wins. The best move is 43.b3, although Black would have a large advantage.} 43... Qa4+ 44.
b3 {If 44.Kc1, then 44...axb4 45.Rxe5 Rd8 followed by 46...Rc8+ wins or if 44.Kc3, then 44...Qc6+ 45.Rc4 axb4+ wins.} 44... Qa2+ 45. Kc3 a4 46. bxa4
Qa3+ 47. Kc2 Qxa4+ 48. Kc3 Qa3+ 49. Kc2 Rd3 {White Resigns. Black threatens 50...Qb3# and 50.Qb1 is met with 50...Qc3#.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, An."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{Contests between the current and former world champions are always bitter.}
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 { Threatening 8.Nxf7.} 7... Nb6 {Not 7...h6? 8.Nxf7 winning at once.} 8. Bb3
h6 {The grab 8...Qxd4? 9.N1f3 Bb4+ 10.c3 Bxc3+ 11.Kf1 is suicidal for Black. } 9. N5f3 c5 10. Bf4 {An important wrinkle in this line. Black has no problems after 10.dxc5 Nbd7, intending the recapture ...Nd7xc5, with a comfortable game. Kasparov aims for maximum mobilization of his pieces and there isn't a more active square for the Bishop.} 10... Bd6 11. Bg3 Qe7 12.
dxc5 Bxc5 13. Ne5 {White has emerged with a model position against the Caro. White's last move touches the very heart of White's strategic aims in the opening. It is well known that White tries to control the e5-square and that a Knight is best placed here.} 13... Bd7 14. Ngf3 {If 14.O-O-O, then Black should not play 14...O-O-O? 15.Nxf7! Qxf7 16.Qe5, rather 14...a5.} 14... Nh5
15. O-O-O {Unsound is 15.Nxf7?! Nxg3 16.fxg3 Kxf7 17.Ne5+ Ke8 18.Qh5+ Kd8 19.Ng6 Qg5+ 20.Qxg5 hxg5 21.Nxh8 Ke7 22.Ng6+ Kf6 with a large advantage to Black.} 15... Nxg3 {Not 15...O-O-O 16.Nxd7 Nxd7 17.Be5 with a much better position for White.} 16. hxg3 O-O-O 17. Rh5 {A brilliant move! The Rook controls the fifth rank.} 17... Be8 {If 17...g6, then 18.Rh4.} 18. Rxd8+
Kxd8 {Not 18...Qxd8? 19.Nxf7 winning.} 19. Qd2+ Bd6 {A nice move to have provoked. Though a target on c5, the Bishop was gunning on the f2-pawn and now that concern is over. In reality Black had no choice, as 19...Kc8 20.Nd3 Bd6 21.Qc3+ picks up the g7-critter. It's for such reasons that Black's King belongs on b8 or a8.} 20. Nd3 {Taking time to sidestep Black's ...f7-f6 threat.} 20... Qc7 {Not 20...Kc8? 21.Qc3+ followed by 22.Qxg7.} 21. g4 { Threatening 22.g5.} 21... Kc8 {If 21...f6, then 22.Nd4.} 22. g5 Bf8 23. Rh4
Kb8 24. a4 {White switches his attack over to the queenside.} 24... Be7 { Better was 24...Nc8.} 25. a5 Nd5 {If 25...Nc8, then 26.a6 is strong.} 26.
Kb1 {Threatening 27.c4.} 26... Bd8 27. a6 Qa5 28. Qe2 {Threatening 29.Qe5+.}
28... Nb6 29. axb7 Bxg5 30. Nxg5 Qxg5 31. Rh5 Qf6 {If 31...Qxg2, then 32.Nc5 is strong.} 32. Ra5 {Black will be unable to defend his King.} 32... Bc6 33.
Nc5 {Threatening 34.Qa6.} 33... Bxb7 34. Nxb7 Kxb7 35. Qa6+ Kc6 36. Ba4+ Kd6
37. Qd3+ Nd5 38. Qg3+ Qe5 39. Qa3+ Kc7 40. Qc5+ Kd8 41. Rxa7 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{Yet another chapter in the greatest rivalry of all time. Kasparov nurses an from the opening and transforms it into a striking victory after some original maneuvers. Keep your eye on White's king's rook!} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5
3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 {Moving the Knight a third time within the first five moves is an incredible violation of principle, yet this emerged as the sharpest weapon against the Caro-Kann in the 90s.} 5... Ngf6 6. Bc4
e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 {Black must exercise care. Not 7...h6? 8. Nxf7.} 8. Bb3 h6 { Suicidal is 8...Qxd4? 9. N1f3 Bb4+ 10. c3 Bxc3+ 11. Kf1!} 9. N5f3 c5 10. Bf4
{Maximum mobilization. On 10. dxc5 Nbd7! intending to recapture Nxc5 poses Black fewer problems.} 10... Bd6 11. Bg3 Qe7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Ne5 Bd7 14.
Ngf3 {A difficult decision. 14. h3 to provide an escape square for the Bishop on h2 is also feasible. Now Black eases the pressure by the following exchange.} 14... Nh5 15. O-O-O Nxg3 16. hxg3 O-O-O 17. Rh5 {Trying to shift some wood to the other wing. The immediate threat is Nxf7.} 17... Be8 {A typical Karpovian retreat. More sensible seems 17...Rhf8 followed by Kb8.}
18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Qd2+ Bd6 20. Nd3 Qc7 21. g4 {Beautifully timed. The main idea is to discourage Black's King from seeking refuge on the kingside.}
21... Kc8 22. g5 Bf8 23. Rh4 {23. gxh6 Rxh6 24. Rxh6 gxh6 merely swaps an active rook for a passive one. In addition to swinging the rook over to the queenside, a secondary idea is g6 weakening e6.} 23... Kb8 24. a4 Be7 25. a5
Nd5 26. Kb1 {Preparing c4. Black must create a retreat for his knight.}
26... Bd8 27. a6 Qa5 {Better is 27...Nb6! right away.} 28. Qe2 Nb6 29. axb7
Bxg5 30. Nxg5 Qxg5 31. Rh5 Qf6 32. Ra5 {"The crowning achievement of White's fantastic play since 17. Rh5" is how one critic described this maneuver.}
32... Bc6 33. Nc5 Bxb7 34. Nxb7 Kxb7 35. Qa6+ Kc6 36. Ba4+ Kd6 37. Qd3+ Nd5
38. Qg3+ Qe5 39. Qa3+ Kc7 40. Qc5+ Kd8 41. Rxa7 {Black Resigns. A flawless demonstration of Kasparov in top form.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]

{Previous to this Olympiad Kasparov and Ivanchuk played on the same team.}
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8.
e4 Bg7 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 {Not 9...bxc6 due to 10.c5 dxc5 11.e5 Ng4 12.f4.} 10.
Be3 O-O 11. O-O a5 {Preventing White from expanding on the queenside.} 12.
Rc1 a4 13. Qe2 Qa5 14. Rfd1 Rfc8 {Better is 14...Nd7.} 15. c5 Ne8 {White is much better after 15...dxc5 16.e5 Ne8 17.Nd5.} 16. cxd6 Nxd6 17. Nd5 Bxd5
18. Rxd5 Rxc1+ 19. Bxc1 Qc7 20. Bf4 Qc4 21. Qxc4 Nxc4 22. b3 axb3 23. axb3 { White has the advantage because of his two Bishops and active pieces.} 23...
Na5 24. b4 {Not 24.Rb5 Bd4 and the Bishop gets active.} 24... Nc6 25. b5 Nd4
26. Bf1 h5 27. Kg2 Nc2 28. Bd2 e6 29. Rc5 Nd4 30. Be3 b6 31. Rc7 Ra1 32.
Rc8+ Kh7 33. Rc7 Kg8 34. Rc4 Rd1 {Not 34...e5 35.Rc8+ Kh7 36.Rc7 and the f-pawn falls.} 35. Rc8+ Kh7 36. Rd8 Be5 37. h3 Kg7 38. Bc4 Kf6 {The losing mistake. Better is 38...Bf6} 39. Rd7 g5 {Not 39...Kg7 40.Bxe6 winning.} 40.
Be2 Nxe2 41. Rxd1 Nc3 42. Rd8 Nxe4 43. Bxb6 Nc3 44. Rg8 Nxb5 45. Bd8+ {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hansen, Cu."]
[Black "Akopian, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]

{White makes a mistake early in the game, Black grabs the initiative and never relinquishes it. Watch how Black makes use of pins throughout the game.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Bg2
O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. Nc2 d6 10. b3 {White wants to play Bb2 but this move looks risky.} 10... Bf5 11. Rb1 {Not 11.f3 d5. The text move steps out of the pin on the h8-a1 diagonal but steps into another one.} 11... a5 {Threatening 11...Nb4.} 12. Re1 {Planning 12.e4.} 12... Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. f3 {This is an error that allow Black to grab the initiative. Correct is 14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.f3 followed by 16.e4.} 14... Bxc2 15. Qxc2 Bd4+ 16. e3 Qg5 17. f4 Qc5 18.
Qf2 Qf5 19. Bd2 Bc5 20. Rbd1 a4 21. Bc3 {Black constantly keeps the pressure on.} 21... axb3 22. axb3 Nb4 23. Bxb4 Bxb4 24. Re2 Ra3 25. Bxb7 {Not 25.e4 Bc5 26.exf5 Rxe2 winning.} 25... Rxb3 26. Bc6 Re7 27. Qf3 Qc5 28. Be4 Qb6
29. Rd3 {White tries to ease the pressure with exchanges.} 29... Bc5 { White's e-pawn is very weak and he will be unable to save it.} 30. Kg2 Qb4
31. Rxb3 Qxb3 32. Bd5 Rxe3 33. Rxe3 Bxe3 34. f5 Qc2+ 35. Kh1 {It would have been difficult for Black to win after 35.Kh3 Qf5 36.Qxf5 gxf5 37.Kg2 followed by 38.Kf3.} 35... Qc1+ 36. Kg2 g5 37. f6 {If 37.Qh5, then 37...Qg1+ 38.Kh3 Qf1+ 39.Kg4 Qe2+ wins the Queen.} 37... h5 {Black sacrifices a pawn to force White's Queen out of play and get the King in a mating net. The threat is 38...Qg1+ 39.Kh3 g4+ 40.Kh4 Qxh2#.} 38. Qxh5 {If 38.Qf5, then 38...Qg1+ 39.Kf3 Qf2+ 40.Ke4 Qc2+ wins the Queen.} 38... Qg1+ 39. Kh3 {If 39.Kf3, then 39...Qd1+ wins the Queen.} 39... Qf1+ 40. Bg2 Qf5+ 41. g4 {If 41.Qg4, then 41...Qh7+ wins immediately.} 41... Qxf6 42. Be4 Qf1+ 43. Bg2
Qd3 44. Bf3 Bf4 45. Kg2 Qd2+ 46. Kh1 {If instead 46.Kf1, then 46...Be3 47.Be2 Qc1+ 48.Kg2 Qg1+ 49.Kh3 Bf4 wins.} 46... Qf2 47. Qh3 Be3 {White Resigns. 47.Qg2 Qe1+ wins.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Romanishin, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]

{Korchnoi is fond of reversed openings, especially reversed Sicilians, where White plays a position normally associated with the opposite color, with one extra move in hand. Surprisingly only a few modern openings lend themselves to this strategy; apparently even the best defenses gain from the fact that as White, the opponent is expected to try to DO something. In Grandmaster play, the player of the Black pieces is often content to draw, therefore a strong defense can afford to be reactive rather than active.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3
Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Nb6 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. a4
{Played from either side of the board, the Sicilian Dragon is a strong weapon, promising play on the half-open c-file and along the long diagonal of its fianchettoed Bishop. When the formation is played by White, many of the most aggressive plans are no longer available to the opponent, such as castling on opposite wings and pawn storming. For Black in this game, the strategy would have been too slow. He therefore chooses a cautious plan, which unfortunately allows White to control the pace.} 9... a5 10. Be3 Ra6
11. Rc1 f5 12. Nb5 Bf6 13. Nd2 Bd7 14. Bc5 Re8 15. e4 f4 16. gxf4 exf4 17.
d4 {With his big pawn center and total control of the Queenside, it is clear that White is better. Count on Korchnoi to find a quick and artistic way to finish up.} 17... Kh8 18. e5 Bg5 19. Rc3 Bh6 20. Bxb6 Rxb6 21. Nc4 Ra6 22.
e6 {According to Nimzowitsch, the passed pawn is a criminal who must be locked up or he will escape by running forward. The pawn's "lust to expand" can be seen clearly here. The mobile pawn center advances at the cost of the enemy pieces.} 22... Rxe6 23. d5 Rg6 24. dxc6 Qg5 25. Rg3 fxg3 26. fxg3 { Smooth defense of Black's last few threats. White now threatens Rf8 mate.}
26... Rf6 27. Rxf6 Qxf6 28. cxb7 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Christiansen, L."]
[Black "Sokolov, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]

{Black combines defense with counterattack.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6
4. e4 Bb4 5. d3 d6 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 b5 8. cxb5 axb5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Bd7
11. Nh4 {White's plan is to attack on the kingside starting with 12.f4.}
11... O-O 12. f4 h6 13. fxe5 {Better is 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 d5 15.g4 with a strong attack.} 13... dxe5 14. Be3 Qe7 15. Kh1 {Removing the King from the a7-g1 diagonal, but 15.Nf5 was still preferable.} 15... Rfd8 16. Qc2 Qd6 17.
Rad1 Bg4 18. Rd2 {Worse is 18.Bf3 Bxf3+ 19.Rxf3 Nxe4 20.Qb3 Qd5.} 18... b4
19. h3 Be6 20. c4 Ra3 21. Rfd1 Nd4 22. Qb2 c5 23. Kh2 Qa6 24. Bxd4 exd4 25.
e5 Nd7 {White's position is very bad because of his weak pawns.} 26. Re2 Nb6
{Planning to transfer his Knight to the outpost at c3.} 27. Rf2 Na4 28. Qc1
Nc3 29. Rdd2 Nxa2 30. Qd1 Nc3 31. Qh5 {White's only hope is a desperate attack on the kingside.} 31... b3 32. g4 {Worth considering is 32.Rf6.}
32... Ra2 33. g5 {The best chance was 33.Nf5 Bxf5 34.gxf5.} 33... hxg5 {Not 33...Rxd2? 34.gxh6!.} 34. Qxg5 Rb8 35. Bd5 Rxd2 36. Rxd2 Qa2 {36...b2 37.Rg2 would be very strong for White.} 37. Bxe6 {Clearly hopeless is 37.Rxa2 bxa2. } 37... fxe6 38. Ng6 Kf7 39. Rxa2 bxa2 40. Qe7+ {White must give up his Knight and hope for a perpetual check. There is nothing in 40.Nf4 a1=Q 41.Qg6+ Kg8 41.Qxe6+ Kh8.} 40... Kxg6 41. Qxe6+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ Kg8 {42...Kh8 43.e6 would only draw.} 43. Qe6+ Kh8 44. Qa6 Kh7 {Black must be careful. 44...Rb1 45.Qc8+ Kh7 46.Qf5+ would draw.} 45. e6 Rb2+ 46. Kg3 Re2 47. h4 Re1
48. e7 Rxe7 49. h5 Re1 50. Qg6+ Kg8 51. Qa6 a1=Q 52. Qc8+ Kf7 53. Qd7+ Kf8
54. Qf5+ Ke7 55. Qxc5+ Kd7 56. Qf5+ Kc7 {White Resigns. The Black King slips away to safety after 57.Qf7+ Kb6 58.Qg6+ Ka5.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Webster, A."]
[Black "Akopian, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]

{A game of many pins. At first, Black's pins are relative, with his Bishops bearing down on the open diagonals to White's Queenside, but then they turn their attention toward the King to produce a piquant ending.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3
Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. d4 exd4 9. exd4
Bf5 10. h3 h5 11. b3 {Setting the stage for Black's later play on the long diagonal, but in any case the d4 pawn is a target, unable to be supported by another pawn unless it advances - which increases the action of the Black Bishop on g7.} 11... Re8 12. d5 Nb4 13. a3 Nd3 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16.
g4 {White tries to take advantage of the once-defended Knight, but Black has played the opening too efficiently for this tactic to function. Notice how nicely the Black piece work together, and how clumsy the White ones appear.}
16... hxg4 17. hxg4 Nb2 18. Qd2 Bd3 19. Bf3 {Hopeless is 19.Qxb2, since 19...Rxe2 not only regains the piece, but wins another: 20.Qc1 Rc2. The pin can be an immensely powerful tactical element.} 19... Qe7 20. Ra2 {Now on 20.Qxb2 White may be fortunate enough to survive to a bad endgame: 20...Bxe2 21.Qxe2! Bxc3 22.Qxe7 Rxe7 and ...Rae8 with total control of the open e-file. But Black would probably continue as in the game, 20...Be5! with Kingside threats.} 20... Be5 21. g5 Qd7 22. Rc1 Qh3 23. Ng3 Bd4 24. Rxb2
Qxg3+ 25. Bg2 Re2 26. Nxe2 Bxf2+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "Polanica Zdroj"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romanishin, O."]
[Black "Chernin, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]

{The mating net is a powerful weapon, even after the Queens are exchanged.}
1. g3 e5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d3 Bg7 5. Nd5 Nd4 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nc3 Ne7 8. e3
Ne6 9. Nge2 d5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Qb3 d4 12. exd4 exd4 13. Ne4 {An interesting position. Black has an edge in space, but he must be careful that the advanced d-pawn doesn't become weak. White has adequate square for his pieces, especially the e4-point that is ideal for Knights.} 13... O-O
14. O-O Nc6 15. Nf4 Rb8 16. Bd2 Be5 17. Nd5 f5 18. f4 Bg7 19. Ng5 Kh8 20.
Rfe1 Qd6 21. Nb4 Ned8 22. Qa3 h6 23. Nf3 Kh7 24. Ne5 Rf6 25. Rac1 Bf8 {Very complicated opening play. The position was roughly equal immediately out of the opening, but Black hasn't been doing himself any favors by expanding on the Kingside. His one strength, the space advantage, will soon be used against him as the lines opened up behind his advanced pawns are infiltrated by White pieces.} 26. Nbxc6 {Black's over-extended position will be more obvious after the exchange of Queens.} 26... Qxa3 27. bxa3 Nxc6 28. a4 Nxe5
{The White Knight is marvelously placed, and the pressure on c6 is hard to take, but after this the passed e-pawn proves quickly decisive.} 29. fxe5
Ra6 30. Rc7+ Kh8 31. a5 Re6 32. Bd5 Re8 33. e6 Bd6 34. Rf7 b6 35. Bxh6 bxa5
36. Bg7+ Kg8 37. Bf6 Rb5 38. Rg7+ Kf8 39. e7+ {And it's all over. Rg7-g8 will be mate next. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1992"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]

{Viktor Korchnoi was Anatoly Karpov's only challenger for the World Championship during the late 1970's, until Garry Kasparov came along. Of course, the long shadow of Bobby Fischer was cast over all the pretenders to the throne during this period. Korchnoi never did break through against his arch rival Karpov, and in this game he succumbs to the young Latvian, Alexi Shirov.} 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. Qxc4 b5 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. d3
Nf6 8. Nc3 a6 9. a4 Be7 10. Nf3 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Rc8 13. e4 Qb6 14.
axb5 axb5 15. d4 c5 16. d5 exd5 17. e5 d4 {Shirov sacrifices a piece to gain passed pawns, active pieces, and a space advantage. These are more than enough compensation.} 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Nb1 Rfd8 20. Qe2 Bf8 21. Bd2 b4 22.
b3 Bd5 23. Re1 Bxb3 24. Ra6 Qb7 25. Nxd4 Bd5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Nc2 Rcd8 28.
Rxf6 {White tries to return some of the material for Kingside play, but this proves insufficient.} 28... gxf6 29. Bf4 Qd7 30. Ne3 Rd4 31. Nc4 Qe6 32.
Nbd2 Qxe2 {Two pieces are often more than a match for a Rook and a Pawn. But here they have two passed pawns to deal with, and in the endgame the Knights fail to coordinate.} 33. Rxe2 Ra8 34. Re1 Ra2 35. Re8 Kg7 36. Be3 Rd5 37. g4
Rc2 38. h4 h5 39. g5 fxg5 40. hxg5 b3 41. Rb8 b2 42. Kg2 {42.Rxb2 is met by Rdxd2!, leaving Black with a simple win after either 43.Bxd2 Rxc4 or 43.Rxc2 Rxc2.} 42... Be7 43. f4 f6 44. Rb7 Kg6 45. Kf3 fxg5 46. Rb6+ Kg7 47. Ke4
gxf4 48. Bxf4 Rd4+ 49. Kf5 Bf6 50. Rb7+ Kg8 51. Kxf6 Rxf4+ 52. Kg6 Kf8 53.
Kxh5 Rf2 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Browne, W."]
[Black "Kamsky, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]

{Kamsky tied for first in a field of 940 players. INSIDE CHESS noted: "The best played game of the tournament was Gata's stubborn defense against Walter Browne's virulent queenside attack. Gata digested the sacrificed material and scored the point."} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5.
Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 {It's debatable whether Black should take time to slow the coming queenside offensive or start his kingside attack right away with Nd7 and f5.} 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5 12. b4
Kh8 13. f3 {Strictly speaking, this move is not yet really necessary. More consistent is 13. Nb3.} 13... Ng8 14. Qc2 Ngf6 15. Bd3 f4 16. Nb5 b6 17. Bb2
Re8 18. c5 bxc5 19. Nb3 a4 20. Na5 Nb8 21. Qxa4 g5 22. Qc2 g4 23. Nb3 Rg8
24. Nxc5 {Browne didn't like the looks of 24. bxc5 gxf3 25. Rxf3 Ng4 and instead gives up a piece for two pawns with more in the offing.} 24... dxc5
25. Bxe5 c6 26. Nd6 Qe7 27. bxc5 Nbd7 {Of course not 27...Qxe5?? 28. Nf7 mate. White has plenty of compensation for the piece.} 28. Bd4 Ne8 29. Bxg7+
Qxg7 30. Nf5 Qe5 31. dxc6 Ndf6 32. Nh6 Rg7 33. fxg4 Bxg4 34. Qb2 {Probably a time-pressure error. Stronger is 34. Rb7.} 34... Qxc5+ 35. Kh1 Qh5 36. e5
Qxh6 37. exf6 Nxf6 38. Qe5 f3 39. gxf3 Bh3 40. Rg1 Rag8 41. Rxg7 Qxg7 42.
Qg3 Qh6 43. Qf2 Bg2+ 44. Kg1 Bxf3+ 45. Kf1 Bxc6 46. Qd4 Re8 47. h4 Qg7 48.
Rb2 Ng4 49. Qxg7+ Kxg7 50. Rb6 Ne5 51. Be2 Ra8 52. Rb3 Kf6 53. Kf2 Ra4 { Black gradually makes inroads with his extra piece.} 54. Kg3 Nc4 55. Bd3 h6
56. Rc3 Rxa3 57. Rxa3 Nxa3 58. Kf4 Bd5 59. Bh7 Nc4 60. Bd3 Ne5 61. Bc2 Be6
62. Be4 Bg4 63. Bc2 h5 64. Be4 Ng6+ 65. Kg3 Ne7 {White Resigns. The fatal threat of Nf5+ compels White to swap his Bishop for the knight.} 0-1

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Christiansen, L."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]

{The shortest loss of Karpov's illustrious career. Wijk aan Zee's annual Hoogoven Chess Festival broke with tradition this year and ran the premier section as a knockout. Although top-seed Karpov won the event, he was almost eliminated early on by America's Larry Christiansen.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 b6 4. a3 {Popularized by Petrosian, this quiet move seems to have no bearing on the center. It prevents a pin by ...Bb4, thus preparing an eventual Nc3 and d5.} 4... Ba6 {4...Bb7 used to be played almost automatically. The text puts a finger on c4 so that if 5. e3 d5 6. cxd5 Bxf1 disrupts White from castling.} 5. Qc2 Bb7 {An apparent loss of time but White no longer can enforce d5 with his Queen on c2. Another idea is 5...c5 right away.} 6. Nc3 c5 7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bf4 Nh5 11.
Be3 Bd6 {A misguided way to put pressure on f4. On 11...Bc5 Black's position is perfectly playable, but he simply overlooks White's reply, winning a piece.} 12. Qd1 {Black Resigns. The double attack on d6 and h5 is lethal. When grandmasters drop a piece without compensation, they usually resign on the spot.} 1-0

[Event "PCA World Championship"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Short, N."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B86"]

{This might have been the most brilliant game of the match -- and Short's immortal effort -- if he had only iced Kasparov when he had the chance! He had to wait until game 16 for his first and only victory but Kasparov, after several narrow escapes, defended his title decisively with a final score of 12.5 - 7.5.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 {A favorite of Fischer's against the Najdorf Sicilian. In two earlier match games Short essayed 6. Bg5.} 6... e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. f4 Nc5 9. e5 {White accepts a weak pawn on e5 in return for greater mobility. In game 6 Short got an edge with 9. f5 Be7 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Be3 e5 12. Nde2 b5 13. Bd5.} 9...
dxe5 10. fxe5 Nfd7 11. Bf4 b5 12. Qg4 h5 13. Qg3 h4 14. Qg4 g5 {Launching incredible complications. Now 15. Bxg5 Nxe5 favors Black; so does 15. Qxg5 Qxg5 16. Bxg5 Bg7. Instead Short decides on a startling piece sacrifice.}
15. O-O-O Qe7 {Probably insufficient. 15...gxf4 is hard to crack. Short said he intended 16. Nxe6 which looked too dangerous to Kasparov, but the jury is still out.} 16. Nc6 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 Qc5 18. Ne4 Qxc6 19. Bxg5 Bb7 20. Rd6
Bxd6 {Kasparov repeatedly finds the only defense. Not 20...Qxe4? 21. Rxe6+! Be7 22. Rxe7+ Kf8 23. Qxd7.} 21. Nxd6+ Kf8 22. Rf1 Nxe5 23. Qxe6 Qd5 24.
Rxf7+ {After this Black hangs by a thread but the fabulous 24. Qf6!! Rh7 (not 24...Kg8? 25. Nf5) 25. Bh6+ Kg8 26. Nf5 Re8 27. Rd1 Qe6 28. Rd8! Bc6 29. Ne7+ wins.} 24... Nxf7 25. Be7+ Kg7 26. Qf6+ Kh7 27. Nxf7 Qh5 {Forced. There is no other way to thwart Ng5+.} 28. Ng5+ Kg8 29. Qe6+ Kg7 30. Qf6+
Kg8 31. Qe6+ Kg7 32. Bf6+ Kh6 33. Nf7+ Kh7 34. Ng5+ Kh6 35. Bxh8+ Qg6 36.
Nf7+ Kh7 37. Qe7 Qxg2 {Unclear is 37...Kg8! 38. Qxb7 Rf8 39. Ne5.} 38. Be5 { The last winning try was 38. Bd4!} 38... Qf1+ 39. Kd2 Qf2+ 40. Kd3 Qf3+ 41.
Kd2 Qf2+ {Draw by Agreement. What a game!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Postal Chess"]
[Site "Via Mail"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Engbersen, J."]
[Black "Simmelink, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]

{Postal chess affords unknown players enough time to research openings deeply and search for important innovations. "Where can one find more art and less sport?" inquired one dyed-in-the-wool postalite in contrasting it to over-the-board chess where a relentlessly ticking clock forces error. The first 30 moves replicate Plater-Ropstorff, Cracow 1938, which exists in various databases. Hard to believe because this entire setup against the Sicilian Defense was virtually nonexistent in those days. Incredibly, White fails to come up with any significant improvement and perishes exactly in the same manner as his predecessor.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Bc4 {An anti-Dragon system known as the Yugoslav Attack.} 8... Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. h4 h5 {Black has had considerable success with this simple counter. Now all the rage, it was discovered in 1938 but became popular only in the 1970s due mainly to the games of Bent Larsen, Tony Miles and Andy Soltis, thus illustrating "creative evolution" in opening theory. Where can White improve from here?}
11. O-O-O Rc8 12. Bb3 Ne5 {Before 1965 this move also was virtually nonexistent.} 13. Kb1 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15. Nb3 {Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (B78) also cites a number of other tries such as 15. Nde2 or Nce2.}
15... Qc7 16. Bd4 Bc6 17. g4 {This premature assault diverges from Tseshkovsky-Miles, Riga 1979, which continued 17. Qe2 b5 18. e5 Nd5 19. exd6 Qxd6 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qe3 e6 23. Qxa7 Ra4 24. Qe3 Rfa8 25. a3 Qg3 26. Nc5? (better is 26. Qg5) Rxh4 27. Rxh4 Qxh4 28. Nd7 Rd8 29. Qe5+ Kh6 30. f4? (the losing move; stronger is 30. Qf6) Bxg2 31. Rd2 Bc6 32. Nc5 f6 33. Qe3 Rxd2 34. Qxd2 Qh1+ 0-1} 17... e5 18. Be3 hxg4 19. h5 gxf3 20. h6
Nxe4 {Suicidal is 20...Bh8 21. h7+ Nxh7 22. Rxh7 Kxh7 23. Qh2+ Kg8 24. Rh1.}
21. hxg7 Nxd2+ 22. Nxd2 Rg4 23. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 {So far identical to Popovich-Soltis, Marshall Club Championship, USA 1976, which also ended in Black's favor. If White had some improvement in mind, what is it?} 24. Nb3
Ke7 25. Rd2 b5 26. a3 a5 27. Rhd1 b4 28. axb4 axb4 {Materially, White's rook and two Knights are more than enough for the Queen. Yet Black's kingside pawns are decisive.} 29. Nd5+ Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Rg2 {White resigns. An amazing win. In 1938 Plater-Ropstorff continued with one more move (31. c3 f2) before White threw in the towel.} 0-1

[Event "PCA World Championship"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Short, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]

{Incredibly, both Kasparov and Short were purged from the rating list of FIDE, the world chess body, when they formed the Professional Chess Association (PCA) for their $2.5 million title match sponsored by The London Times. The first game was a tragedy for Short who wormed out of a bad position and then refused a draw before losing on time with victory in his crosshairs.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 {Avoiding Short's pet Marshall Attack after 8. c3 d5!? leading to unclear complications.} 8... b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Rb8
{Weakens the a-pawn. Better is 11...Re8.} 12. Bc4 Qc8 13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ne3
Nd4 {Kasparov criticized this move and suggested 14...Bf8 followed by g6 and Bg7.} 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Nd5 Nxd5 {But this is the real culprit. More prudent is 16...Bd8 17. Bf4 Qb7.} 17. exd5 Bd7 18. Bd2 Bf6 19. Rxe8+ Bxe8 20. Qe2 { Stronger is 20. Qe1 Qb7 21. Qe4 followed by Re1.} 20... Bb5 21. Re1 Bxc4 22.
dxc4 h6 23. b3 c5 24. Bf4 Qd7 25. h3 Rd8 26. Qe4 h5 27. Re2 g6 28. Qf3 Bg7
29. Re4 Bf8 30. Qe2 Qc7 {Going after the pawn leads to disaster. 30...Qf5 looks more natural.} 31. Bg5 Rc8 32. g4 hxg4 33. Bf6 {Kasparov claimed he missed a win with 33. hxg4 Qxa5 34. Bf6 Qa1+ 35. Kg2 d3 36. Qf3 dxc2 37. Bxa1 c1/Q 38. Qf6 Qh6 39. Re1 Bg7 40. Qxd6 Bxa1 41. Qxa6 Rf8 42. Qxa1 Qf4 43. Qd1.} 33... gxh3 34. Qg4 Ra8 {Now 34...Bg7 35. Re7 Bxf6 36. Rxc7 Rxc7 is the only chance to hold the ending.} 35. Qxh3 Bg7 36. Bxg7 {Flag hanging, Kasparov again misses a win by 36. Re7! Qc8 (not 36...Qd8 37. Rxf7!) 37. Qxc8+ Rxc8 38. Bxg7 Kxg7 39. Rd7.} 36... Kxg7 37. Rh4 Rg8 {The attack is over and Short rightly refused a draw.} 38. Rh7+ Kf8 39. Qg4 Ke8 {Short was thunderstruck when the arbiter informed him that his flag fell. Both sides agreed Black is winning. Kasparov said: "I thought at first I could play 40. Qe6+ but it loses to 40...fxe6 41. Rxc7 exd5 42. cxd5 Rf8 43. Rc6 Rf3! 44. Rxa6 Rc3.} 1-0

[Event "World Team Championship"]
[Site "Lucerne, Switzerland"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Khalifman, A."]
[Black "Gulko, B."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]

{In a field of ten top teams, the USA won resoundingly with 22 1/2 out of a possible 36 points, a full 2 1/2 points ahead of once dominant Russia. Four out of six stars on the American lineup including Boris Gulko were emigres from the former Soviet Union. This fighting draw is from the USA-Russia matchup which was tied 2-2 on four boards.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4.
Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.
Nxd4 a6 {Black lags in development but takes time out to guard b5. It's hard for White to develop an initiative against this solid formation.} 11. Re1
Qc7 12. Bb3 Bd6 13. Nf5 {Giving up a pawn for an attack. On 13. h3 O-O equalizes easily.} 13... Bxh2+ 14. Kh1 O-O 15. Nxg7 Rd8 {A vital intermezzo. If 15...Kxg7 16. Qd4! poses many problems.} 16. Qf3 {More active than 16. Qe2 Kxg7 17. g3 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Bd7.} 16... Kxg7 17. Bh6+ {An attempt to improve on 17. g3 b5 18. Kxh2 Bb7 19. Qf4 Qc6 (Wolff-Gulko, USA Championship 1992).} 17... Kg6 18. c3 Nd5 19. Re4 Kxh6 20. Rg4 Nf4 {Stops 21. Qh3 mate cold.} 21. g3 Rd3 22. Qxf4+ Qxf4 23. gxf4 {The attack is over. White remains a pawn down without compensation after the straightforward 23. Rxf4 Bxg3 24. fxg3 f5.} 23... Rh3 24. Kg2 Rh5 25. Rh1 Bd7 {Now White must fight hard for a draw. Also feasible is 25...e5 26 Rg5.} 26. Rxh2 Bc6+ 27. Kg1 Rxh2 28. Kxh2
Rd8 29. f5 exf5 30. Rd4 Re8 31. Bxf7 Re2 32. Kg3 Rxb2 33. Bd5 Bxd5 34. Rxd5
Rxa2 35. Rxf5 {After excellent defense Khalifman has finally reached a theoretical draw.} 35... Kg6 36. Rc5 Rb2 37. c4 h5 38. f3 Rb4 39. Kf4 b6 40.
Rc6+ Kf7 41. Ke5 h4 42. Rh6 Rxc4 43. Rxb6 a5 44. Kf5 a4 45. Rb7+ Ke8 46. Rh7
a3 47. Ra7 Rc3 48. Kg4 Kd8 49. Kxh4 Rxf3 50. Kg4 Rb3 51. Kf4 Kc8 52. Ke4 Kb8
53. Ra4 Kb7 54. Kd4 Rh3 55. Kc5 Rh5+ 56. Kb4 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zonal"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1993"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Chernin, A."]
[Black "Polgar, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]

{Susan Polgar, 24, the eldest of three grandmaster sisters, went on to capture the Women's World Championship. This game is a model example of a one-move disaster.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 {A slower system than 4. d4 exd4 allowing early central exchanges. The idea is to delay d4 until White can gather more force behind it.} 4... Bb4 5. Qc2 Bxc3 {It's unusual to swap a Bishop for Knight without provocation but if 5...O-O 6. Nd5 could prove awkward.} 6. Qxc3 Qe7 7. d3 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qc2 O-O 10.
a3 a5 11. b3 Bg4 {11...f5 12. Bb2 f4 13. e4 Nf6 14. h3 Kh8 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Rc1 Rae8 17. O-O slightly favors White (Ermenkov-Bisguier, Lone Pine 1980).}
12. Be2 Rad8 13. O-O f5 14. h3 Bh5 15. Bb2 {If 15. Nxe5!? Qxe5 16. Bxh5 f4 (not 16...Qxa1? 17. Bb2 Qa2 18. Ra1 traps the queen) 17. Bf3 fxe3 18. Bxd5+ Qxd5 19. Bxe3 Qxd3 leads to equality.} 15... e4 16. dxe4 fxe4 17. Ne5 { Sharper than 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 b6.} 17... Bxe2 {Polgar unexpectedly allows her pawn structure to be ruined for the sake of an attack; but the pawn on e4 may be weak in the long run after 17...Nxe5 18. Bxh5 Nd3 19. Be2 Nxb2 20. Qxb2.} 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Qxe2 Rd6 20. Rac1 { Careless. White can't afford this loss of time. Necessary is 20. Bd4! Rg6 21. f4 with chances for both sides.} 20... Rg6 21. Bd4 Rf3 {Ends the show. Perhaps Chernin was hoping for 21...Qg5 22. f4 exf3 23. Rxf3 Qxg2+ 24. Qxg2 Rxf3 25. Qxg6 hxg6 26. Kg2 Rf7 27. Rxc6 with advantage.} 22. g3 Qh4 23. Kh2
Rgxg3 24. fxg3 Qxg3+ 25. Kh1 Qxh3+ 26. Kg1 Rg3+ 27. Kf2 Qh4 {One critic described this impressive and deadly quiet move as "the jewel in the crown". } 28. Rh1 Rh3+ {White Resigns, as he gets mated after 29. Kg2 Qg3+ 30. Kf1 Rxh1.} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1994"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E54"]

{A typically magnificent effort by Karpov who defends with deadly precision. Note how he nurses his back rank, provoking his opponent to charge forward like a raging bull.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6.
Nf3 Bb4 {A Nimzo Indian Defense by transposition.} 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O
9. O-O b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Re1 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nbd7 {Supporting f6. Now it's clear why Black delayed placing this Knight on c6.} 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. Rc1 Qd6
15. Bh4 Rfc8 16. Bg3 Qa3 17. c4 Nf8 {Not an easy defensive move to spot, but as Larsen once said, "With a Knight on f8 I never get mated!" 17...Qxa2 is just asking for trouble after 18. Ne5!} 18. Ne5 Ng6 19. Re3 Qf8 {A typical Karpovian retreat, like waving a red flag in front of a bull, daring White to lunge forward.} 20. f4 {Burning bridges by going for an all-out attack. More prudent is 20. a4.} 20... Qd8 21. Bb1 Ne7 22. Bh4 {Again 22. a4 comes into consideration but White is focused on the kingside.} 22... Ng6 23. Bg5
{Declining a likely repetition by 23. Bg3 Ne7.} 23... b5 {Playing for a win. If 24. cxb5 Qd5 regains the pawn with advantage.} 24. Bxg6 hxg6 25. Rh3 Rc7
{Guarding against the threat of Rh8+. Now White has little choice but to sacrifice a pawn since on 26. c5 Qd5 Black seizes the initiative.} 26. d5
exd5 27. c5 Bc8 {Brings the attack to a screeching halt.} 28. Rb3 Qe8 29.
Qd4 Bf5 30. Re3 Qf8 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Nf3 Be4 33. Nd2 f5 {Suddenly Black has an extra pawn and a safe King. White's last trump is his passed c-pawn.} 34.
Rec3 a5 35. c6 {The pawn is weaker here. Better is 35. a3.} 35... Qb4 36.
Nb3 Qd6 37. Qf2 b4 38. Rc5 a4 39. Nd4 Bd3 40. Qd2 Bc4 41. Qxb4 Qxf4 42. Qc3
Re8 {Once again Karpov's unique style has completely bamboozled a world class grandmaster. All Black's pieces are better placed than their counterparts.} 43. Rd1 Re3 44. Qc1 Qe4 45. Qa1 Rc8 {Guarding the back rank.}
46. Ra5 Ra3 47. Qb1 Qe3+ 48. Kh1 Rxa2 49. Nf3 Bb3 {The Bishop has played a major role in the defense. First it blocked the e-file, then the c-file and finally the b- file. The end is near.} 50. Qc1 f4 51. Re1 Rc2 52. Qa1 Qb6 {A last humiliation. The rook is trapped. White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1994"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, J."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]

{Hungarian whiz Judith Polgar, the youngest of three sisters who all became grandmasters, earned this exalted title in 1992 at age 15, thus shattering Bobby Fischer's record by a few months. Judith became the highest rated woman ever and her first encounter with world champion Kasparov created a sensation because he took a move back!} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e6 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O Qc7 9. Qe1 Nbd7 10. a4 b6 11.
Bf3 Bb7 12. Kh1 Rd8 {Not an ideal post for the rook but Black probably was concerned about 12...O-O 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Ne8 15. Bf4 with the freer game.} 13. Be3 {Sharper is 13. Qg3 O-O 14. f5 right away.} 13... O-O 14. Qg3
Nc5 15. f5 e5 16. Bh6 Ne8 17. Nb3 Nd7 {Since White's Knight is relatively ineffective on b3, Kasparov avoids the swap and keeps the tension.} 18. Rad1
Kh8 19. Be3 Nef6 20. Qf2 Rfe8 21. Rfe1 {Drifting. 21. g4 is more in the spirit of attack.} 21... Bf8 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bh4 Rc8 {Breaking the pin and reassigning the rook to a higher mission on the open c-file.} 24. Qf1 Be7
25. Nd2 Qc5 26. Nb3 Qb4 {Playing to win. Polgar has already signalled her readiness to draw by repetition after 26...Qc7 27. Nd2 etc.} 27. Be2 Bxe4
28. Nxe4 Nxe4 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 30. Bf3 Nef6 31. Qxa6 Ree8 {Eschewing 31...Rxc2 32. Nd4! threatening Nxc2 and/or Nc6. Now Black has a strategically won game if he can mobilize a pawn steamroller in the center with e4 and d5.} 32. Qe2
Kg8 33. Bb7 Rc4 34. Qd2 Qxa4 35. Qxd6 Rxc2 36. Nd2 Nf8 {A better way to exploit his extra pawn is 36...Qf4 37. Rf1 Qd4. But Kasparov already touched the Knight by playing 36...Nc5? and froze before changing his mind in view of 37. Bc6! skewering his Queen and Rook. Polgar, clearly startled, glanced at Kasparov and then at the arbiter, who was monitoring the game as it neared the time control at move 40. But she lodged no protest, as required by the rules to establish a claim, and the arbiter later said that since Kasparov's hand was still on the knight, he had the right to move it to another square. "I was playing the World Champion and didn't want to cause unpleasantness during my first invitation to such an important event," Polgar explained afterwards. "I was also afraid that if my complaint was overruled I would be penalized on the clock when we were in time pressure". A few days later The London Times carried a front page story, "Kasparov Cheated, Opponent Claims". A video replay taken by a Spanish film crew during the game showed that his hand did quit the piece for a mere fifth of a second. Deliberate foul or an attempt to change his grip on the knight? Shaken by the controversy, Kasparov stated: "I have the feeling I did not take my hand off the piece. My conscience is clear."} 37. Ne4 N8d7 38. Nxf6+
Nxf6 39. Qxb6 Ng4 40. Rf1 e4 41. Bd5 e3 42. Bb3 Qe4 43. Bxc2 Qxc2 44. Rd8
Rxd8 45. Qxd8+ Kh7 46. Qe7 Qc4 {White Resigns. If 47. Re1 Qf4 is decisive. Or 47. Kg1 e2 48. Re1 Qd4+ 49. Kh1 Nf2+ 50. Kg1 Nh3+ 51. Kh1 Qg1+! 52. Rxg1 Nf2 smothered mate!} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1994"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Polgar, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C89"]

{These two "wunderkinder" first played each other at the New York Open in 1989 when Judith was 12 and Gata was 14 when he defected with his father to the USA. She won but Gata soon got revenge at a tournament in India. Their first two games were bitterly hard fought, and this third encounter is no exception.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7.
Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 {The Marshall Gambit has been analyzed more than 30 moves deep in some lines and is currently considered drawish!} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10.
Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 {Nowadays this is the move of choice. 11...Nf6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. Re1 was won by White when Marshall first sprang his famous gambit against Capablanca at New York 1918.} 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 {Black mobilizes his heavy artillery in order to get compensation for the pawn.} 18. a4 f5 19. Qf1 Qh5 20. f4 bxa4 { Opening the b-file for Black's rook but giving White an open a-file in return.} 21. Rxa4 Rb8 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Qg2 {Also feasible is 23. Rxa6 Qe8 24. Bf2 Qd7 25. Rxe6 Qxe6 26. c4 dxc4 27. Qxc4 Qxc4 28. Nxc4 Be2 29. Rc6 with an edge (Chandler-Littlewood, London 1987).} 23... Qe8 24. Qxd5 Kh8 25.
Nc4 Bxf4 {Looks brilliant but this has all been analyzed!} 26. gxf4 Rg6
27. Nd6 Bf3+ {Leads to a draw. An unclear try is 27...Bh3+ 28. Kf2 Rxb2+ 29. Re2 Rg2+ 30. Qxg2 Rxe2+ 31. Kxe2 Qh5+ 32. Qf3 Bg4 33. Qxg4 fxg4 (Canfell-Blatny, Altensteig 1988).} 28. Kf1 Bxd5 29. Nxe8 Rxb2 30. Re2 { White must consent to a repetition since 30. Rea1 Bc6 leads to trouble.}
30... Rb1+ 31. Re1 Rb2 32. Re2 Rb1+ {Draw by 3-fold repetition.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1994"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Lautier, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]

{In the 90s top players got younger and younger. French prodigy Joel Lautier made his debut at the super-tourney in Linares with a 7-6 plus score. In the last round he scored a well-deserved victory over the world champion that the teenager is sure to treasure for a long time.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 {Kasparov later successfully revived the Evans Gambit 4. b4!? in some critical games.} 4... Nf6 5. d3 {This slow system is more popular nowadays than 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ which resolves the central tension too soon. Also see Waitzkin-Xie Jun, 1995.} 5... d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. h3 a6 8. Nbd2
Be6 {Now 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Qb3 Qc8 leads to naught.} 9. Bc2 Ba7 10. Qe2 Qe7 { Each player refrains from castling until the other commits himself first.}
11. b4 {Black's antidote to this flank attack is to break in the center. More feasible is 11. Nf1 O-O 12. Ng3.} 11... d5 12. a4 b5 13. O-O O-O 14.
axb5 axb5 15. d4 {Ultra sharp, dangerous, preventing the threat of Bxf2+.}
15... exd4 16. e5 dxc3 17. exf6 Qxf6 {Black gets a bushel of pawns for the piece and renews the threat of Bxf2+. The next few moves are forced.} 18.
Nb3 Nxb4 19. Bb1 d4 20. Rxa7 c2 {Stronger than 20...Rxa7 21. Nbxd4 Bc4 22. Qe4. Now if 21. Bxc2 Rxa7 22. Nbxd4 Bc4 23. Qe4 Nxc2 is crushing.} 21. Rxa8
cxb1=Q 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. Qxb5 Qxb3 24. Qb8+ Ke7 25. Qxc7+ Ke8 26. Bd2 Qd8
27. Qe5 Kf8 28. Nxd4 Nd3 29. Qe3 Qc4 {White Resigns. Somebody forgot to tell the lad he was supposed to get creamed.} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1994"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karpov, A."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]

{Karpov seemed to find a second wind after regaining his FIDE crown against Timman in 1993. His greatest triumph ever took place at the super tourney at Linares where he outclassed a field of 14 with an amazing score of 11-2, a clear 2 1/2 points of his great rival Kasparov. Here Karpov prepares a clever and original plan on move 11 to utilize the open center files.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 {A good alternative to the usual 3. d5. White plans to fianchetto his Bishop on g2 and exert pressure on the d-file.} 3... cxd4 4.
Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Bf4 Nh5 { Better is 10...a6.} 11. e3 {A surprising, undogmatic move that surrenders the two Bishops in order to utilize the open e-file. The retreat 11. Be3 used to be automatic.} 11... Nxf4 12. exf4 Bd7 {A better defensive plan is 12...a6 and Qc7.} 13. Qd2 Qb8 {Defending the d-pawn has already become a burden. Now 13...a6 14. Ne4 Qc7 15. Rad1 is hard to meet.} 14. Rfe1 {A nasty point is the idea of f5. Black was braced for 14. Rad1 Rd8 15. Ne4 Be8.}
14... g6 15. h4 a6 16. h5 b5 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Nc5 dxc5 {Going downhill fast. On 18...Be8 19. Nxe6! fxe6 20. Rxe6 Bf7 21. Rae1 Bxe6 22. Rxe6.} 19.
Qxd7 Rc8 20. Rxe6 {Witty. Black was hoping for 20. Bxc6? Ra7. If now 20...fxe6 21. Bxc6 Ra7 22. Qxe6+ Kg7 23. Bd7! wins.} 20... Ra7 21. Rxg6+
fxg6 {Otherwise 21...Kf8 22. Qh3 fxg6 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Bd5 mate.} 22. Qe6+
Kg7 23. Bxc6 Rd8 24. cxb5 Bf6 25. Ne4 Bd4 26. bxa6 Qb6 27. Rd1 Qxa6 28. Rxd4
{The second Exchange sacrifice in the same game!} 28... Rxd4 29. Qf6+ Kg8
30. Qxg6+ Kf8 31. Qe8+ Kg7 32. Qe5+ Kg8 {If 32...Kf8 33. Qxc5+ snares a rook; or 32...Kh6 33. Qg5+ Kh7 34. Nf6+ mates.} 33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Be8+ Kf8
35. Qxc5+ Qd6 36. Qxa7 Qxf6 37. Bh5 Rd2 38. b3 Rb2 39. Kg2 {Black Resigns. Black has been denuded of all his pawns. An impressive victory by Karpov who makes it look so easy.} 1-0

[Event "Wik aan Zee Open"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cifuentes, R."]
[Black "Zvaginstsev, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]

{The "Evergreen Game" (see Anderssen - Dufresne 1853) is still fresh today. But tastes change and now we prefer brilliancies to be less one-sided. Here Vadim Zvaginstsev, 18, an unknown Russian new to the international arena, creates a modern evergreen against a Chilean grandmaster.} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3
d5 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. Be2 Bb7 8. O-O Be7 9. Rd1 O-O
10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Qc7 {Black is solid. Now White retreats his Knight to avoid swaps which would ease Black's cramp.} 12. Nc3 c5 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5
a6 {To stop the threat of 15. d6 Bxd6 16. Nb5.} 15. Nh4 g6 16. Bh6 Rfe8 17.
Qd2 Bd6 18. g3 b5 19. Bf3 b4 20. Ne2 Ne4 21. Qc2 Ndf6 22. Ng2 Qd7 {An alternative is 22...c4 23. Ne3 Rac8.} 23. Ne3 Rad8 24. Bg2 {Careless. White should try 21. Nc4.} 24... Nxf2 25. Kxf2 Rxe3 26. Bxe3 {The best defense is 26. Kxe3 Ng4+ 27. Kd2 Nxh6 28. Kc1 but he was hoping Black might take a draw by perpetual check on move 29. No such luck.} 26... Ng4+ 27. Kf3 Nxh2+ 28.
Kf2 Ng4+ 29. Kf3 Qe6 30. Bf4 Re8 31. Qc4 Qe3+ 32. Bxe3 Rxe3+ 33. Kxg4 Bc8+
34. Kg5 h6+ 35. Kxh6 Re5 {White Resigns. The threat of Bf8 or Rh5 mate can't be stopped.} 0-1

[Event "Donner Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Polgar, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]

{Yasser Seirawan was America's top-ranked player for several years -- until his interest shifted to publishing INSIDE CHESS, where he wrote: "In preparing for my first rated tournament game against Judith Polgar, I was astonished at the number of games that she has played. Although only 19, she is a veritable veteran of the tournament circuit. As baseball great Yogi Berra might say, 'They're getting old early these days.'"} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4 {Inviting 4. Qa4+ Nc6. More usual is 3...Be7 or Nf6.} 4. cxd5
exd5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Qb3 c5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Bb5 O-O 11.
dxc5 d4 {Forced. Black lacks compensation for the pawn on 11...Bxc3+ (or 11...Bxc5 12. Nxd5) 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Nd4.} 12. Bxc6 dxc3 13.
Qxb4 cxb2 14. Rb1 bxc6 15. O-O {There's no rush to win a pawn. If 15. Qxb2 Qg6 16. O-O Bh3 17. Nh4 Qg5 18. Qb4 Rad8 Black gets active piece play.}
15... Ba6 16. Rfe1 Rab8 17. Qa3 Bc4 18. Nd4 Rfe8 {Best. If now 19. Rxb2 Rxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxa2! 21. Qxa2 Qxd4 22. Qxa7 Qd5 offers good drawing chances.} 19.
f3 Qg5 20. Nxc6 Rbc8 {A tougher defense is 20...Rb5 21. Nd4 Rxc5.} 21. f4
Qd5 22. Ne5 Qxc5 23. Qxc5 Rxc5 24. Rxb2 Be6 {"The presence of the a2-pawn gives White good chances. Converting this position to a victory is a long journey and I wasn't terribly optimistic. This move gave me hope. After 24...Bd5! 25. e4!? Ba8 26. Rbe2 f6 27. Nf3 Rc4 Black's pieces are very active and White has to forego e4" -- Seirawan.} 25. a4 f6 26. Nf3 Ra5 27.
Ra1 Bd7 28. Kf2 Rc8 29. Rb4 g5 {Gains space and forces pawn exchanges. With every trade Black comes closer to a draw.} 30. fxg5 hxg5 31. Nd4 Rc7 32. h3
Kf7 33. g4 Ke7 34. Ra3 Kd6 35. Kg3 Kc5 {"I think it was better to remain on the kingside with 35...Ke7. Black might have a source of counterplay against the g4-pawn" -- Seirawan.} 36. Rb8 Kd5 37. Rf8 Ke5 38. Rf7 Rac5 39. a5 {"At last my a-pawn is no longer a problem. White has made a lot of progress" -- Seirawan.} 39... Be8 40. Rf8 Bg6 41. a6 Bf7 42. h4 gxh4+ 43. Kxh4 Ke4 44.
Kg3 Ke5 45. Ra4 {The idea is Nf3+ followed by Kf4 making inroads with the King.} 45... Bc4 46. Re8+ Kd6 47. Rxc4 Rxc4 48. Nb5+ Kd5 49. e4+ Kc6 50.
Nxc7 Kxc7 51. Re6 Kd7 52. Rxf6 Rxe4 53. Rf7+ Ke6 54. Rxa7 Ra4 55. Rh7 {"It isn't too late to spoil matters. After 55. Ra8 Kf6 56. a7? Kg7! Black draws. The not-so-secret key to winning rook endings is the active rook" -- Seirawan.} 55... Kf6 {Of course on 55...Rxa6 56. Rh6+ spears a Rook.} 56. a7
Kg5 57. Kf3 Rf4+ 58. Ke3 Ra4 59. Rg7+ Kf6 60. Rc7 Kg5 61. Kd3 Ra1 62. Kd4 
{Black Resigns. The end of a long haul. On 62...Kxg4 63. Kc5 Kf5 64. Kb6 Ke6 65. Kb7 Rb1+ 66. Kc8 Ra1 67. Kb8 Rb1+ 68. Rb7 wins.} 1-0

[Event "PCA World Championship"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]

{Anand surged ahead with a win in game 9 after a string of eight draws. The turning point came in this amazing game that sheds light on Kasparov's deep opening preparation. Blitzing out his first 22 moves in under five minutes, he caught Anand by surprise with a brilliant rook sacrifice on move 17. Demoralized by this defeat, Anand failed to win another game as Kasparov proceeded to defend his PCA title by the lopsided score of 10.5-7.5.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {The Open Defense to the Ruy Lopez has never been as fashionable as the solid 5...b5 6. Bb3 Be7.} 6. d4
b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Nc5 10. Nbd2 d4 11. Ng5 {This startling sacrifice was Karpov's innovation against Korchnoi in game 10 of their 1978 title match. For the record 11...Qxg5 12. Qf3 O-O-O 13. Bxe6+ fxe6 14. Qxc6 Qxe5 15. b4 is good for White.} 11... dxc3 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. bxc3 Qd3 14.
Bc2 {Improving on 14. Nf3 O-O-O! (Karpov-Korchnoi was later drawn after 14... Qxd1 15. Bxd1 Be7) in game six.} 14... Qxc3 15. Nb3 Nxb3 {After 45 minutes of intense thought, Anand rejected the critical alternative 15...Rd8 16. Bd2 Qxe5 17. Re1 Qd5 18. Rc1! with a promising initiative.} 16. Bxb3 Nd4
{Kasparov later said that he and his team were also geared for 16...Qxa1 17. Qh5+ g6 18. Qf3 Nd8 19. Qf6 Rg8 20. Bg5 Qc3 21. Rd1.} 17. Qg4 Qxa1 18. Bxe6
Rd8 {No better is 18...Qc3 19. Bd7+ Kf7 20. Be3.} 19. Bh6 Qc3 {The best defense. Hopeless is 19...Qxf1+ 20. Kxf1 gxh6 21. Qh5+ Ke7 22. Qf7 mate.}
20. Bxg7 Qd3 21. Bxh8 Qg6 22. Bf6 Be7 23. Bxe7 Qxg4 {Staggering into a lost ending, but what else can Black do? Even worse is 23...Kxe7 24. Qh4+! Ke8 25. Bg4.} 24. Bxg4 Kxe7 25. Rc1 {Not letting Black mobilize his pawns by c5. Kasparov now demonstrates impeccable technique as his kingside pawns carry the day.} 25... c6 26. f4 a5 27. Kf2 a4 28. Ke3 b4 29. Bd1 a3 30. g4 Rd5 31.
Rc4 c5 32. Ke4 Rd8 33. Rxc5 Ne6 34. Rd5 Rc8 {Equally futile is 34...Rxd5 35. Kxd5 Nxf4+ 36. Kc4.} 35. f5 Rc4+ 36. Ke3 Nc5 37. g5 Rc1 38. Rd6 {Black Resigns. If 38...b3 39. f6+ Kf8 40. e6 Nxe6 41. Bxb3 Nxg5 42. Rd8 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Pan-Pacific Tournament"]
[Site "San Francisco"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Waitzkin, J."]
[Black "Xie Jun"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]

{The 90s saw the emergence of the first grandmasters from Red China, which finally embraced Western chess. In 1990 Xie Jun spearheaded their women's team to third place in the biennial Olympiad. In 1991 she captured the women's world championship, breaking the Russian grip on this coveted title, which she defended in 1993. Here she outplays young Joshua Waitzkin, subject of the book and movie "Searching For Bobby Fischer".} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {This is currently considered the standard way to play this opening, replacing the older 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 leading to early simplifications.} 5... d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb3 a6
8. Re1 Ba7 9. h3 Be6 {Offering a trade to limit White's attacking prospects. Black welcomes the doubled pawns which would strengthen the center and open the f-file after 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Qb3 Qd7 12. Qxb7?? Rfb8 13. Qxa6 Bxf2+ and Rxa6 next.} 10. Nbd2 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Rb8 12. Nf1 Nh5 {Stops Ng3 and eyes f4 for the knight.} 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Rad1 Qe6 15. d4 {White should start thinking defensively with 15. Qxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 with equal chances.} 15...
exd4 16. cxd4 Qxb3 17. axb3 f5 18. d5 Ne5 {Allows White to equalize by 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Be3. First 18...fxe4 19. Rxe4 Ne5 20. N1h2 transposes to the game.} 19. N1h2 fxe4 20. Rxe4 Rbe8 21. Rb4 {Misplaces the Rook. Relatively best is 21. Ree1.} 21... b5 22. Kf1 h6 23. Bc1 g5 {The winning move. It takes h4 away from the rook and threatens Bc5. Now 24. Re1 loses to Nd3. White is now all tied up and gives up a pawn to survive for a few more moves.} 24. Be3 Bxe3 25. fxe3 Nxf3 26. Nxf3 Rxe3 27. Re1 Rxe1+ 28. Kxe1 Nf4
{The triumphant culmination of Black's strategy that began with 12...Nh5.}
29. Rd4 Nxg2+ 30. Ke2 Nf4+ {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga, Latvia"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C51"]

{Kasparov created a sensation by reviving the hoary Evans Gambit and blew Anand away in 25 moves. This opening all but vanished from the master repertoire last century, but surprises like this are what make Kasparov such a dangerous competitor. He constantly injects new and creative ideas into a broad range of opening theory. This victory boosted his lifetime record over Anand to 10 1/2 - 4 1/2 just prior to their PCA title match in New York.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 {Anand subscribes to the theory that the best way to refute a gambit is to accept it. A few weeks later in Amsterdam Kasparov also defeated Jeroen Piket, who declined the pawn with 4...Bb6.} 5. c3 Be7 {The modern method instead of the old 5...Ba5.} 6. d4
Na5 7. Be2 {Less forceful is 7. Nxe5 Nxc4 8. Nxc4 d5.} 7... exd4 8. Qxd4 { Black has fewer problems on 8. cxd4 d5. Leaving the pawn on c3 looks awkward but Black clearly will have problems getting his pieces out of the box; his first priority is meeting the threat of Qxg7.} 8... Nf6 9. e5 Nc6 10. Qh4 { To force the Knight to d5, an improvement on the stem game 10. Qf4 Nh5 11. Qg4 g6 (Melts-Gajevsky, Russia 1981).} 10... Nd5 11. Qg3 g6 12. O-O Nb6 { Instead of this lackluster retreat, he should seize the opportunity to castle come what may.} 13. c4 d6 14. Rd1 Nd7 15. Bh6 {Giving up a second pawn to keep Black from castling.} 15... Ncxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Nc3 {In true gambit style. Kasparov isn't about to let Anand escape for just an Exchange by 17. Bg7 Bf6 18. Bxh8 Bxh8.} 17... f6 18. c5 Nf7 {A better defensive try is 18...Bf8.} 19. cxd6 cxd6 {Else 19...Bxd6 20. Bb5+! c6 21. Re1+ Be7 22. Rad1! Bd7 23. Ne4 looks terrific. White's next move keeps the Black King hemmed in the center.} 20. Qe3 Nxh6 21. Qxh6 Bf8 {What else? If 21...Kf7 22. Bc4+ Be6 23. Bxe6+ Kxe6 24. Re1+ Kf7 25. Nd5 Bf8 26. Qh3 Qc8 27. Qb3+ with Rac1 looming spells annihilation.} 22. Qe3+ Kf7 {If 22...Qe7 23. Qf3 (also strong is 23. Ne4) 23...Be6 24. Re1 O-O-O 25. Bc4 Bxc4 26. Rxe7 Bxe7 27. Qg4+ wins.} 23. Nd5 Be6 24. Nf4 Qe7 25. Re1 {An insidious and lethal little move. If 25...Bh6 26. Bc4; or 25...Re8 26. Bb5 Bd7 27. Qb3+; or 25...d5 30. Bf3; or 25...Bd7 26. Qb3+ Kg7 27. Bb5 Qd8 28. Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Ne6+. Seeing no defense to all the various threats, Anand threw in the towel.} 1-0

[Event "Tournament Game"]
[Site "Latvia"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Berzinsh, R."]
[Black "Meijers, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C23"]

{A throwback to the romantic 19th century when wild ideas often succeeded -- until the advent of ruthless defense. Many old openings are now relegated to a footnote in the opening manuals, but some of them are making a ferocious comeback.} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 {The Bishop's Opening, rarely seen nowadays, was cited 500 years ago in the famous Gottingen Manuscript by Lucena.} 2... c6 { More forcing is 2...Nf6 to put pressure on e4.} 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bb3 Be6 5. O-O
{Useless is 5. Nxe5 Qg5.} 5... dxe4 6. Nxe5 Bxb3 7. axb3 Bd6 {It's too soon to decide where this Bishop belongs. Better is 7...Nf6 awaiting further developments.} 8. d4 exd3ep {Meets with a diabolical response. More prudent is 8...Nf6.} 9. Nc4 Be7 {It's not easy to castle. If 9...Nf6 10. Qxd3 Be7 11. Qxd8+ Bxd8 (or 11...Kxd8 12. Nb6) 12. Nd6+ picks up material.} 10. Qg4
Nf6 {Preferable is 10...Kf8 or g6.} 11. Qxg7 Rg8 12. Qh6 dxc2 13. Nc3 Nbd7 { The losing move. Necessary is 13...Rg6.} 14. Re1 {Black Resigns! Suddenly there is no good defense to the threat of Nd6 mate. If 14...Nf8 15. Qxf6. Or 14...Qc7 15. Bf4.} 1-0

[Event "Pan Pacific Tournament"]
[Site "San Francisco"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hubner, R."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]

{Korchnoi, still going strong at age 64, captured one of the few international round robins ever held in the USA with 8-3 in a field of 12 grandmasters. This miniature against one of Germany's best players is typical of his fighting style.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5.
f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 {Resolving the central tension is less fashionable than 7...a6 or Qb6 but Korchnoi has a new idea in mind.} 8. Nxd4
Qb6 {This is it. Black threatens Bc5 and Qxb2.} 9. Ncb5 {The most ambitious try at refutation. Zuniga-Korchnoi, Zagreb 1987, was drawn after 9. Na4 Qa5+ 10. Nc3 Qb6 11. Na4. Another try is the speculative pawn sacrifice 9. Qd2!? Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bb4.} 9... a6 {The only move, much stronger than 9...Bc5 10. c3! and White is going to continue b4. Also weak is 9...Nc5 10. Nb3.} 10. Nf5 {Combining threats against the King and Queen. At first glance White seems to be winning, but Korchnoi finds a cold- blooded defense.} 10... Bc5 11. Bxc5 {Since so many pieces are hanging, White is worried about becoming overextended. But it's better to steer for a draw by 11. Nbd6+ Kf8 12. Qh5 Nd8 13. Nxg7! Bxe3 14. Nxe6+ fxe6 15. Qh6+ Kg8 16. Qg5+ with perpetual check.} 11... Nxc5 12. Nbd6+ Kf8 13. Qh5 Nd8 14.
Nxg7 Qb4+ {This check is a killer because it disrupts White's normal development. 14...Kxg7? 15. Qg5+ draws.} 15. c3 Qxb2 16. Rd1 Qxc3+ 17. Rd2 { More stubborn is 17. Kf2 which Hubner rejected on account of 17...d4 threatening Qe3 mate.} 17... h6 18. Nge8 Ne4 {White Resigns. Amazing. On 19.Nxe4 dxe4 threatens e3 or Kxe8. The best try is 19. Qd1 Ke7 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Ke2 Qc4+! 22. Ke1 Qb4 23. a3 Qa5 winning.} 0-1

[Event "2nd Donner Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1995"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Polgar, J."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]

{A lulu! All six previous games between these two fiery players were decisive. Judith Polgar, 19, lost the first and won the next five in a row against Alexei Shirov, 22. Three years later he emerged as Kasparov's official challenger.} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Qf3 e6 6.
Nge2 b5 {This early expansion leads to difficulties. Safer is 6...Nd7.} 7.
Bb3 a5 8. a3 Ba6 9. d5 {Very good. White seeks to open lines in order to exploit her superior development.} 9... cxd5 10. exd5 e5 11. Ne4 Qc7 { 11...h6! would come in handy instead of committing the Queen so early. But not 11...f5? 12. Ng5 and Ne6.} 12. c4 bxc4 13. Ba4+ Nd7 14. N2c3 Ke7 {Black is clearly on the ropes. If 14...Ne7 15. Nf6+ Bxf6 16. Qxf6 Rg8 17. Ne4 is crushing. This was Shirov's last chance for 14...h6!} 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Ne4
Qxd5 {Forced. On 16...Qb6 17. d6+ Ke8 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Qxf7+ is curtains.}
17. Bg5+ Ndf6 18. Rd1 Qb7 19. Rd7+ Qxd7 20. Bxd7 h6 21. Qd1 {Black Resigns. If 21...hxg5 22. Qd6+ Kd8 23. Ba4+ Kc8 24. Qc6+ Kb8 25. Qb6+ Bb7 26. Nd6 Ra7 27. Qd8 mates.} 1-0

[Event "Geneva Open"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nenashev, A."]
[Black "Landenbergue, C."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]

{Alfred Hitchcock once made a movie called The Wrong Man. A chess sequel could be called The Wrong Rook. When both rooks are connected on the back row and either one is free to occupy the same post on an open file, which rook should be used? Some wry annotators quip "the wrong rook" no matter which one moves there! There are few guiding principles, no pat answers; it just requires good judgment. INSIDE CHESS dubbed this "the most instructive error of 1996".} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Ne2 d5 6. a3
Bxc3+ 7. Nxc3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. c5 O-O 10. Bf4 {ECO says this move deserves attention, and that's all because there are few practical tests. White has the advantage of the two Bishops and logically strives to obtain a bind.} 10... Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Bd6 Re8 13. Qd2 e5 {Leads by force into an ending clearly in White's favor. More forceful is 13...Qf6 and if 14. Rd1 e5 15. d5 Nd4 because now 16. Bxe5? can be refuted by Nf3+.} 14. dxe5 Nxe5
15. Bxe5 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Rxe5 17. b4 e3+ {To obtain counterplay and stop Ke3. } 18. fxe3 Bf5 19. Be2 Rd8+ 20. Ke1 Rxe3 21. Kf2 Re7 22. Rad1 {Nikolay Minev wrote: "Sure to become a notorious case of the Wrong Rook Syndrome! However, the grandmaster's blunder is inexplicable to me. Even if he had been in serious time trouble, which is clearly not the case here, instinct, common sense and the basic knowledge of any more or less experienced player should suggest the right decision. I showed this position to four players with ratings ranging from 1600 to 2000. All, and I repeat all, decided without thinking on 22 Rhd1! The explanation for this intuitive decision was also unanimous: White's rook on h1 does not participate in the play while the other rook on a1 is already in place to support the imminent passed pawn on the queenside.} 22... Rxe2+ {White Resigns. The point is White drops a piece after 23. Kxe2 Bg4+. But had he challenged the file with 22. Rhd1 Rxe2+ 23. Kxe2 Bg4+ 24. Ke1 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26. Kxd1 Kf8 27. Ke2 would lead to a King and pawn ending where White retains all the winning chances.} 0-1

[Event "11th Man Vs. Machine Challenge"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ree, H."]
[Black "Hitech"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]

{Interest in the progress of chess computers intensified in the 90s. For many years Aegon, a Dutch insurance firm, sponsored a match between 50 players of varying strength against 50 different programs in 300 games at a time limit of 1.5 hours per side. Nine grandmasters led the human team in 1996, slaughtering the machines 41.5 - 12.5 in 54 games. However, silicon won the war by a margin of 25 points (162.5-137.5) when flesh and blood faltered on the lower boards. Here Hitech, a program created at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, wriggled out of a fierce attack but went haywire and stumbled into a stupid mate just when it had a draw in hand.} 1.
d4 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. c4 Be4 {Violating the principle against moving the same piece twice in the opening. Better is 4...e6.} 5. Nf3 dxc4 6. Nbd2
Bd5 7. Qc2 b5 8. O-O Nbd7 9. e4 Bb7 {Most programs are taught to worship material gain and will go through contortions to hold a pawn.} 10. e5 Nd5
11. e6 fxe6 12. Bh3 g6 13. Ng5 Bh6 14. Nxe6 Qb8 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. Qe2 Bxc1 17.
Raxc1 Nd3 18. Ng7+ Kf8 19. Ng5 Nf6 {The only defense preparing to meet 19. Qe6 with Bd5.} 20. Rfe1 e5 {Fighting to survive. Hopeless is 20...Nxe1 21. Rxe1.} 21. dxe5 Nd5 22. N7e6+ Kg8 23. b3 h6 24. Ne4 Nxe1 25. Rxe1 cxb3 26.
axb3 Rh7 27. N6c5 Kh8 28. e6 Bc6 29. Qb2+ Rg7 30. Qe5 Qf8 31. f4 a5 {The machine is defending tenaciously by creating a distraction on the queenside. } 32. f5 gxf5 33. Bxf5 a4 34. bxa4 bxa4 35. Bg6 Kg8 36. Bf7+ Rxf7 37. exf7+
Qxf7 38. Rf1 Re8 39. Qd4 Qg6 40. Nf6+ Nxf6 41. Rxf6 Qb1+ 42. Rf1 Qb6 {Nicely illustrating the difference between machines and humans, who wouldn't consider denuding their kingside in this manner. Instead 42...Qg6 43. Rf6 Qb1+ leads to a draw by repetition.} 43. Qg4+ Kh7 {On 43...Kh8! White seems to have nothing better than a draw by 44. Qd4+ Kg8 44. Qg4+ Kh8 since if 45. Qh5 Bb5 wards off the immediate threats.} 44. Rf7+ Kh8 45. Qg7# {Mate} 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Canary Islands"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]

{The world's top six stars clashed in the strongest round robin of 1996 at Las Palmas. PCA champion Kasparov, 33, added another laurel to his seemingly endless string of triumphs (3 wins, 7 draws). For over a decade he and Karpov, 45, towered above their rivals, but Karpov posted his worst result ever in this event (8 draws, 2 losses). The average age of their four foes was 24! In this fighting draw Kasparov missed several good chances against runner-up Anand, his last challenger for the PCA crown.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Kh1 b5
10. a4 Bb7 {The attempt to win a pawn by 10...b4 11. Nd5 Nxe4? fails to 11. Bf3 f5 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. Qd5+ and Qxa8.} 11. Nd5 bxa4 12. Rxa4 Bc6 13. Ra3
Nxe4 14. Na5 Nf6 15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Bc4 {Instead of regaining the pawn White opts for a kingside attack by swinging his rook to h3. Anand said he prepared this line at home for White but suddenly realized, to his horror, that he was now playing the wrong side!} 16... Nd4 17. Rh3 g6 18. Qd2 Nf5
19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Bd5 {Losing the thread. More consistent is 20. g4 with the following possibility: 20...Qc8 21. Bd5 Nh4 22. Rg1! g5 23. Rxh4! gxh4 24. g5 Bg7 25. g6 Kh8 26. gxf7 Qf5 27. Bxa8 Rxa8 28. Qd5 Rf8 29. Bh6! and wins.} 20... h5 21. Bxa8 Qxa8 22. Ra3 {Since the rook no longer serves any function on the kingside, it focuses again on a6.} 22... Rc8 23. c3 Qb7 24.
Qd3 Rc6 25. Rd1 {"A horrible move that fritters away the advantage," said Kasparov. A better play is 25. Re1 intending Re4-a4.} 25... d5 {Too late Kasparov saw 26. Qxd5? Rd6! Qxb7? Rxd1 mate. He now tries in vain to wear Anand down.} 26. Ra5 d4 27. cxd4 exd4 28. b4 Nh4 29. f3 Qxb4 30.
Rxa6 Rxa6 31. Qxa6 Bg7 32. Qd3 Nf5 33. Bf4 Qb2 34. g3 Kh7 35. Rd2 Qb7 36.
Qe4 Qb5 37. Qd3 Qb7 38. Qe4 Qb5 39. Kg1 Qa5 40. Qd3 Ne7 41. Rd1 Nd5 42. Bd2
Qa7 43. Re1 Qd7 44. Kg2 Qa7 45. Kg1 Qa2 46. Re2 Qa1+ 47. Re1 Qa4 48. Rc1 Nc3
49. g4 Qa5 50. Re1 Qc5 51. h3 Bf6 52. f4 h4 53. Qf3 Qb5 54. g5 Bg7 55. Re7
Qb1+ 56. Qf1 Qf5 57. Qe1 Qxh3 58. Rxf7 Qg4+ 59. Kh2 h3 60. Qf1 Ne4 61. Be1
d3 62. Qxh3+ Qxh3+ 63. Kxh3 d2 {Draw by Agreement.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "14th New York Open"]
[Site "Manhattan"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lugo, B."]
[Black "Van Wely, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]

{Newcomer Blas Lugo, who defected from Cuba, turned in a performance rating of 2740 to tie for first in a field of 520 at the strongest open tournament in the world, then lapsed into obscurity. In this critical game, played in the penultimate round, Lugo nearly won all the marbles by sacrificing a Knight for a ferocious attack but went astray in a maze of complications.}
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 {6...e5 7. Nf3 is generally thought to give White chances for a comfortable advantage.} 7.
f3 b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Bd3 {A more active idea is 11. h4 b4 12. Nce2 d5 13. Bh3! dxe4 14. g5 hxg5 15. hxg3 exf3 16. Nf4 Ne4 17. Qe1 f2 18. Bxf2 Qxg5 19. Be3 Qh4l 20. Ndxe6! Qxe1 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Rhxe1 with a big edge (Anand-Beliavsky, Groningen 1993).} 11... b4 {Also feasible is 11...Ne5.} 12. Na4 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bg6+ Ke7 16. Rhe1
Qa5 17. Bf4 N7f6 {Avoiding the ugly trap 17...Qxa4? 18. Rxe6+ Kxe6 19. Re1+ Kf6 20. Qd4+ Kxg6 21. Qe4+ Kf7 22. Qe6 mate.} 18. Qd4 Rc8 {Again 18...Qxa4? is busted by 19. Rxe6+! Kxe6 20. Qe5+ Kd7 21. Qc7 mate.} 19. Qe5 {After this the attack is extinguished. The critical line is 19. Rxe6+! Kxe6 20. Qe5+ Kd7 21. Bf8+ Kd8 22. g5 hxg5 23. Bxg5.} 19... Rc6 20. g5 hxg5 21. Bxg5 Kd7
22. Qb8 Bc8 {Another fine defensive riposte. But not 22...Qc7? 23. Rxd5+!}
23. Qa7+ Qc7 24. Qe3 Rd6 25. Nc5+ Kd8 26. Bxf6+ gxf6 27. Rxd5 Rxd5 28. Nxe6+
Bxe6 29. Qxe6 Qd6 {White Resigns. The fire is out.} 0-1

[Event "Six Game Training Match"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Smyslov, V."]
[Black "Bacrot, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B72"]

{Athletes often have short careers, while chessmasters usually improve with age -- up to a point. Ex-world champ Vassily Smyslov, now 75, was demolished by 13-year old French prodigy Etienne Bacrot, who won four and drew two games. Smyslov, considered nearly invincible in his heyday, made few obvious blunders and yet the lad outplayed him in a positional style reminiscent of the old master himself.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4
Nf6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. h4 O-O 9. h5 d5 {In accordance with the principle that a flank attack is best met by a reaction in the center.} 10.
hxg6 hxg6 11. Nxc6 {Varying from 11. exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Qxd5 cxd5 15. O-O-O with which Smyslov had defeated Botvinnik in the fifth game of their 1958 title match.} 11... bxc6 12. e5 Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4
14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Bf4 Be6 16. Rd1 Rd5 17. Rxd5 cxd5 18. Kd2 d4 19. f3 e3+ { Liquid center pawns advance like molten lava.} 20. Kc1 Rc8 21. Rd1 g5 {Also strong is 21...Bf5.} 22. Bxg5 Bxe5 23. b3 f6 24. Bh4 Kg7 25. f4 Bf5 26. c4
Bxf4 27. Rxd4 Bd6 28. Bf3 Rh8 29. g3 Rc8 {Now that White's Bishop is locked out of play on h4 the rook return to do damage on the queenside.} 30. Rd5
Be6 31. Rd3 Bc5 32. Kd1 a5 33. Ke2 a4 34. Rd1 {A loss of time. Better is 34. g4 right away to try and activate the Bishop on h4.} 34... Rb8 35. Rd3 Rb6
36. g4 axb3 37. axb3 Ra6 38. b4 {White is hogtied. If 38. Be1 Ra2+ 39. Kf1 Kg6.} 38... Ra2+ 39. Kd1 Bxb4 40. Rxe3 Bxc4 41. Re4 {41. Be4 offers more resistance.} 41... Bb3+ 42. Kc1 Bd2+ {White gave up without waiting for 43. Kb1 Bc3 followed by Ra1 mate.} 0-1

[Event "43rd USA Championship"]
[Site "Parsippany, New Jersey"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shaked, T."]
[Black "Yermolinsky, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]

{Alex Yermolinsky, 38, captured this nation's highest title when Russian emigres began to dominate American chess after the fall of the Soviet empire. Newcomer Tal Shaked, 18, the early leader in this event, faded in the stretch and finished near the cellar in a field of 14. A year later, however, the rapidly improving lad who hails from Arizona won the World Junior Championship.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 {Since this Alapin Variation doesn't develop a piece, Black can afford to strike quickly in the center. Also playable is 2...Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 which resembles Alekhine's Defense but the pawn on c3 is not an asset.} 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 {Seldom seen. More usual is 5...Bg4 to exert more pressure on d4.} 6. Na3 Bg7 7. Nb5 {Much more forceful is 8. Bc4 Qe4+ 9. Be3 (a cute mate ensues after 9. Kd2? Bh6) threatening Bxf7+.} 7... Na6 8. Be2 cxd4 9. Qxd4 Qxd4 10. Nfxd4 O-O {The resulting endgame looks drawish.} 11. O-O Bd7 12. Nb3 Rfc8 13. Rd1 Nc5 14.
Nxc5 Rxc5 15. a4 a6 16. Nd4 e5 17. Nb3 Rd5 18. Rxd5 Nxd5 19. Na5 b6 20. Bf3
{"Concentrate! A single move can cost you the game," Fischer wrote in his 1969 BOYS' LIFE column. This is the single move that costs Shaked the game because of his weak back rank. Correct is 20. Nc4.} 20... e4 21. Bxe4 Re8 { Now mate looms on 22. Bxd5? Re1.} 22. f3 Nxc3 23. Bc6 Bxc6 24. Nxc6 Nxa4 25.
Rxa4 Re1+ 26. Kf2 Rxc1 27. Ne7+ Kf8 28. Nd5 Rc2+ 29. Kg3 Rxb2 30. Rxa6 Bd4
31. f4 Rb3+ 32. Kh4 Kg7 33. Ra7 b5 34. Rb7 Bg1 {Decisive in view of 35. h3 Bf2+ 36. Kg4 Rg3+.} 35. Nc7 Bxh2 36. Ne8+ Kg8 37. Nf6+ Kg7 38. Ne8+ {It's common for players to repeat moves when short of time as they approach the control at move 40.} 38... Kf8 39. Nd6 f6 40. Rf7+ Kg8 41. Rxf6 b4 42. g4
Rf3 43. f5 Bg3+ {White Resigns. If 44. Kg5 Bf4+ 45. Kh4 g5+ 46. Kh5 Rh3 mate.} 0-1

[Event "Six Game Match"]
[Site "Philadelphia"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Deep Blue"]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]

{February 10, 1996, is a historic date. Not only because the world's best human was pitted against a dull, black IBM machine 6.5 feet tall and weighing 1400 pounds, but also because the computer defeated him on that day. Deep Blue coolly repulsed an attack that might have withered many humans and people began to wonder whether it marked the end of our superiority -- not just in chess but in art, music and literature as well.}
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb4 {The Bishop is in danger of getting misplaced. More usual is 10...Be7 11. Nc3 Qd6.} 11. a3 Ba5 12. Nc3 Qd6 13.
Nb5 Qe7 14. Ne5 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 O-O 16. Rac1 Rac8 17. Bg5 Bb6 {Now it's clear the Bishop would be better posted on e7 to obviate this annoying pin.} 18.
Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nc4 Rfd8 {Of course not 19...Bxd4? 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Qxd4.} 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Rfd1 f5 22. Qe3 Qf6 23. d5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 exd5
25. b3 Kh8 {Black launches an attack to compensate for his broken pawn structure. More prudent is 25...Ne7. If 26. Rxc8+ Nxc8 27. Qe8+ Kg7 28. Qxc8 Qa1+ 29. Kh2 Qe5+ 30. g3 Qe2 31. Qxf5 Qxb5 equalizes.} 26. Qxb6 Rg8 {Hoping for 27. Qxb7?? Qg5.} 27. Qc5 d4 28. Nd6 f4 29. Nxb7 Ne5 30. Qd5 f3 31. g3
Nd3 32. Rc7 Re8 33. Nd6 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Nxf2 35. Nxf7+ Kg7 {Also futile is 35...Qxf7 36. Qd8+ Kg7 (or 36...Re8 37. Qxd4+) 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Qd5+ Kg6 39. Qxf3 d3 40. Qxf2 Re2 41. Kg2.} 36. Ng5+ Kh6 37. Rxh7+ {If 37...Kg6 38. Qg8+ Kf5 39. Nxf3 wins. Kasparov was very upset because he hadn't expected to be confronted by such a strong program. But he won the next game, drew the third and fourth, then took the last two to emerge victorious at 4-2. "I always describe chess as a kind of psychological warfare. It's a fight of two intellects, two egos, two wills," he said. "But when playing a computer suddenly you don't have an opponent, you have an operator in front of you who just moves the pieces. It's a kind of wall, you know. It's a face, but the person represents virtually nothing to you". Few people were prepared for the upset that took place a year later.} 1-0

[Event "58th Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Timman, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]

{White's Knight sacrifice on move 11 was introduced in Karpov- Korchnoi, 10th match game 1978. Kasparov repeated it twice in his PCA title defense against Anand in 1993. White declined the Knight in all three games but Timman bravely accepted it and wound up fighting an uphill battle. At the very end, however, he gave up the ship at the very moment that he had a draw in hand! A month after the game was over a German chess fan discovered the hidden resource Timman missed. A curious case of chess blindness.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6
9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Ng5 Qxg5 {Kasparov-Anand, 10th match game 1995, continued with the safer 11...dxc3 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. bxc3.} 12. Qf3 O-O-O
13. Bxe6+ fxe6 14. Qxc6 Qxe5 15. b4 Qd5 16. Qxd5 exd5 17. bxc5 dxc3 18. Nb3
d4 19. Ba3 g6 {Black does not have enough compensation for the piece. If 19...d3 20. Bb4 c2 21. a4 should win.} 20. Bb4 Bg7 21. a4 Kd7 22. axb5 axb5
23. Rad1 Ke6 24. Rfe1+ Kd5 25. Bxc3 Kc4 26. Ba5 Kxb3 27. Rb1+ Kc4 28. Rec1+
Kd5 29. c6 Kd6 {Black regained the piece but has new problems.} 30. Rxb5 Rb8
31. Bb4+ Ke6 32. Re1+ Kf6 33. Be7+ Kf7 34. Rd5 Rhc8 35. Rd7 Kg8 36. g3 Rb6
37. Rc1 Rb3 38. Bc5 d3 39. Rd1 Rcb8 40. Kg2 Bf8 41. Bxf8 Rxf8 42. R1xd3 Rxd3
43. Rxd3 Rf7 44. f4 Re7 45. g4 Re6 46. Rd8+ Kf7 47. Rd7+ Re7 48. Rxe7+ Kxe7
49. g5 {Black Resigns. Discouraged, Timman failed to find a draw by 49...Kd6! 50. h4 Kxc6 51. f5 Kd6! (in his mind's eye he probably saw only 51...gxf5? 52. h5 Kd6 53. g6 hxg6 54. h6! and the pawn queens) 52. f6 Ke6 53. Kf3 Kd6 54. Ke4 Ke6 55. Kd4 Kd6 56. Kc4 Ke6 57. Kc5 Kd7 58. Kd5 Ke8! 59. Kc6 (or 59. Ke6 Kf8) 59...Kd8 60. f7 Ke7 61. Kxc7 Kxf7 62. Kd7 Kf8 63. Ke6 Ke8 64. Kf6 Kf8 and White can make no further progress.} 1-0

[Event "Women's World Championship"]
[Site "Jaen, Spain"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Polgar, S."]
[Black "Xie Jun"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]

{Women's chess took a great leap forward in the 90s, prompting observers to wonder whether separate titles for men and women should be abolished. Be that as it may, Hungary's Susan Polgar dethroned China's Xie Jun by the lopsided score of 8 1/2 - 4 1/2. Most games were exciting, but the defending champion was hampered by inferior opening knowledge. "Chess literature is still hard to get in China, but the game is getting very popular there," said Xie Jun. Trailing by a point before this game, she desperately sought complications in order to even the score but faltered after only a dozen moves.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6
7. Nc3 Be6 8. Na4 {More direct is 8. Bd3 O-O-O 9. O-O with a sharp battle in the offing.} 8... Bd6 9. Qe3 Nh6 10. h3 O-O 11. Be2 Rfe8 12. Nc3 Qe5 {The Queen isn't well placed here. Better is 12...Qg6 13. O-O f5.} 13. f4 Qa5 14.
Bd2 Bb4 15. a3 Nf5 {A tactical trick that almost work. 19...Rad8 offers the best hope.} 16. exf5 Bc4 17. Qd4 Bxc3 18. Bxc3 Rxe2+ 19. Kf1 {The fly in the ointment. Black has no good discovered check. If 19...Re4+ 20. Qxc4 Rxc4 21. Bxa5 gains a piece. Now Black has to guard his Queen as well as the threat of Qxg7 mate.} 19... Qxc3 20. bxc3 Re4+ 21. Kf2 Rxd4 22. cxd4 Rd8 23. Rhe1
Kf8 24. Re4 g6 25. f6 Rd6 26. Re7 Rxf6 27. Rxc7 Rxf4+ 28. Ke3 Rf6 29. Rxb7
a6 30. Re1 Bf1 31. g4 g5 32. Rb6 Bg2 33. Rg1 Bd5 34. Rg3 Bc4 35. d5 { Simplifies the task by creating a passed a-pawn.} 35... Bxd5 36. Rxa6 Kg7
37. Ra7 Rf4 38. a4 Kf6 39. Kd2 Rf2+ 40. Kc1 Ke5 41. a5 Kd4 42. Kb2 Ke4 43.
Rb7 c5 44. Rb6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Elista, Kalmykia"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]

{In 1989 Gata Kamsky, 14, defected from the USSR. He rapidly rose to the pinnacle of American chess and earned the right to challenge Karpov for the FIDE title. Going into this game Kamsky was trailing by a point and had his last chance to catch up, yet he lost the thread with a series of aimless maneuvers. After returning with his share of the purse (over half a million dollars) Gata announced he was quitting chess to study medicine. "We feel completely exhausted after many years of fight against dark and mighty forces," said his father. "We no longer want to deal with corruption, dirty tricks and the Chess Mafia."} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5.
Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nc3 {A relatively new move instead of the usual 8. c4. The idea is to pursue rapid development by trading Knights after which the open b-file discourages Black from castling long.} 8... Qh4
{Taken by surprise Karpov spent 43 minutes on this reply. On 8...Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Rb1 b6 12. Re1 Qf6 13. Qf3 gives White an enduring advantage (Kharlov-Nielson, Kemerovo 1995.} 9. g3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qg4 11. Re1+
Kd8 12. Be2 Qf5 13. Rb1 {Possibly better is 13. c4 right away.} 13... b6 14.
c4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Re8 16. Be3 Bc6 17. d5 Bd7 18. Bf1 h6 19. c4 Re7 20. Bd3
Qf6 21. Kg2 {A strange interlude. More logical is 21. Qc2 Ke8 22. c5 bxc5 23. Bxc5 Kf8 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Bd4.} 21... Ke8 22. Bc2 Qc3 23. Bb3 {Kamsky's zeal to win clouds his better judgment. He should admit his earlier lapses and steer for a draw by 23. Bd4 Qxe1 24. Qxe1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1+ Kf8.} 23... Kf8
24. Rc1 {After this Black assumes the initiative. Better is 24. Bd4 Rxe1 25. Bxc3 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 with even chances.} 24... Qf6 25. Bc2 Rae8 26. Qd3 Bg4
27. Bd2 {As so often happens, one bad move follows another. The last chance to offer resistance is 27. f4.} 27... Re2 28. Rxe2 Rxe2 29. Rf1 Rxd2 {Black Resigns, because of 30. Qxd2 Qf3+ 31.Kg1 Bh3 32. Be4 Qxe4.} 1-0

[Event "Training Match"]
[Site "Merida, Mexico"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hernandez, G."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]

{Mexico's premier player Gilberto Hernandez, 25, was trounced 5 1/2 - 2 1/2 by Korchnoi 65, a deadly counter-puncher and master of defense. "I like to coax my opponents into attacking and to let them taste the joy of the initiative so that they may get carried away, become careless, and sacrifice material," said Korchnoi early in his career. This struggle illustrates his philosophy in action. Not many players would coax White into building up such a strong attack, but Korchnoi massed his heavy artillery along a central file and coolly marched his King to safety on the queenside.} 1. e4
e6 2. d3 d5 3. Qe2 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 dxe4 6. dxe4 e5 7. c3 a6 {A curious loss of time.} 8. Bg2 Be7 9. O-O Qc7 10. Na3 Nf6 11. Nc4 Be6 12. Ng5 Bxc4
13. Qxc4 O-O 14. f4 b5 15. Qe2 c4 16. Nh3 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 Rfe8 18. f5 Rad8 19.
g4 h6 20. g5 hxg5 21. Bxg5 Rd6 22. Rae1 Kf8 {Black sees a storm brewing and starts a relentless trek to the other wing.} 23. Nf2 Qd7 24. Bf3 Rd8 25. Rg1
Ne7 26. Rg2 Qa7 27. a3 Neg8 28. h3 Ke8 29. Ng4 Nxg4 30. hxg4 {Black is better after 30. Bxd8 Nf2+ 31. Rxf2 Bxf2.} 30... f6 31. Bc1 Kd7 32. Rh2 Kc8
33. Rh7 R6d7 34. Qh2 {An inaccuracy that permits Black to invade on the dark squares. Steadier is 34. Kg2.} 34... Bf2 35. Rf1 Be3 36. Bxe3 Qxe3 37. Qg1
Qxg1+ 38. Kxg1 Kc7 39. Rf2 Kb6 40. Rg2 Ka5 41. g5 Ka4 42. gxf6 Nxf6 43.
Rhxg7 Rxg7 44. Rxg7 Kb3 45. Re7 Kxb2 46. Rxe5 Kxc3 47. Re6 Nd7 48. Rxa6 Ne5
{The Knight is clearly more potent than the ineffectual Bishop.} 49. Kf2 Kd2
50. Re6 Nd3+ {White gave up without waiting for 51 Kg3 c3 and c2.} 0-1

[Event "9th Masters Open"]
[Site "Chicago"]
[Date "1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lonoff, M."]
[Black "Gurevich, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]

{Dmitry Gurevich, 37, is one of many Russian emigres who have enriched American chess. He set a torrid pace in a field of 79 including 15 grandmasters by taking calculated risks with Black. This strategy paid off when he swept this event with seven straight wins, a streak reminiscent of Fischer's 11-0 in the star-studded 1964 USA Championship.} 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5
3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. O-O a5 7. Nc3 Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. Qc2 b6 10.
e4 Ba6 11. e5 Ne8 {Black has gone into a defensive crouch, but his position contains no weaknesses.} 12. Ne2 Nc7 13. Rd1 a4 14. h4 Ra7 15. Bg5 Re8 16.
Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nf4 Nf8 18. Rdb1 Rc8 19. Bf1 Bb7 20. Bg2 c5 {A bold stroke to open the position that leads to rousing complications. More prudent is 20...axb3 21. axb3 Rca8.} 21. bxa4 {Better is 21. cxd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. bxa4 with equal chances.} 21... dxc4 22. Rxb6 cxd4 23. Nxd4 {Perhaps White intended 23. Rxb7 Rxb7 24. Nxd4 before realizing that 24...Nd5 is better for Black.} 23... Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Qc5 {Suddenly White's pieces are placed awkwardly.} 25. Nc6 Raa8 26. Rab1 Nd5 27. R1b5 Qa3 28. Rb8 Raxb8 29.
Nxb8 Nb4 {White's stranded Knight causes his downfall.} 30. Qe2 c3 31. Qf3
Qxa4 32. Rb7 Qe8 33. Nf4 c2 34. Ne2 Rxb8 {White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Six Game Rematch"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Deep Blue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

{Kasparov once again chose a modest opening to take the machine out of its book. He got a nice positional advantage but couldn't seem to crack Deep Blue's ingenious defense. It was now becoming clear that he was in for the fight of his life.} 1. d3 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 Nf6 4. a3 d6 5. Nc3 Be7 {Most masters would prefer the fianchetto 5...g6 and Bg7 but the machine places a higher priority on rapid rather than long-range development.} 6. g3 O-O 7.
Bg2 Be6 8. O-O Qd7 9. Ng5 {"If I had played 9 b4 instead I would have crushed it," said Kasparov after the game.} 9... Bf5 10. e4 Bg4 11. f3 Bh5
12. Nh3 Nd4 13. Nf2 h6 14. Be3 c5 15. b4 b6 16. Rb1 Kh8 {The kind of mysterious King move that also cropped up in games one and four. The machine probably was devising a plan to rescue its Bishop via g6, h7 and g8.} 17.
Rb2 a6 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Bh3 Qc7 {Rejecting 19...Bxf3 (not 19...Nxf3+? 20. Kh1 Qc7 21. g4) 20. Bxd7 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 Nxd7 22. Rb7 Rfd8 23. Nd5.} 20. Bg4
Bg6 21. f4 exf4 22. gxf4 Qa5 23. Bd2 Qxa3 24. Ra2 Qb3 25. f5 Qxd1 26. Bxd1
Bh7 27. Nh3 Rfb8 28. Nf4 Bd8 {Black is cramped but a pawn is a pawn.} 29.
Nfd5 Nc6 30. Bf4 Ne5 31. Ba4 Nxd5 32. Nxd5 a5 33. Bb5 Ra7 34. Kg2 g5 35.
Bxe5+ dxe5 36. f6 {To prevent f6 and Bg8. White's bind compensates for his lost pawn but he can't seem to make serious progress.} 36... Bg6 37. h4 gxh4
38. Kh3 Kg8 39. Kxh4 Kh7 40. Kg4 Bc7 41. Nxc7 {Regaining the pawn leads to a draw but it's not clear White can make more headway after 41. Ne7 Rf8 42. Rh1 h5+ 43. Kg5 Bd8 44. Nf5 Rg8.} 41... Rxc7 42. Rxa5 Rd8 43. Rf3 Kh8 44.
Kh4 Kg8 45. Ra3 Kh8 46. Ra6 Kh7 47. Ra3 Kh8 48. Ra6 {Draw by Agreement.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hamburg vs. Freiburg"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fracnik, L."]
[Black "Cvitan, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]

{One of the flashiest games in the modern era took place at a league match in Germany's famous "Bundesliga" where rival cities hire foreign grandmasters to play on their teams. A stunning Queen sacrifice capped Black's violent onslaught as both sides rushed to breakthrough on opposite wings.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 {It's well-known in this King's Indian Defense that the attempt to gain a pawn by 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nxe5 is foiled by 9...Nxe4.} 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 Ne8 10. b4 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. f3 f4 13. Nc4 g5 14. a4 Ng6 {Both sides waste no time attacking on opposite flanks. Who comes first is an important theoretical question.} 15. Ba3 Rf7 16. b5 dxc5 17. Bxc5 h5 18. a5
g4 19. b6 g3 20. Kh1 Nh7 21. d6 {A necessary precaution is 21. Re1! in order to vacate f1 for the Bishop. The reason soon becomes clear. A hard struggle is then in the offing after 21...cxb6 22. axb6 a6.} 21... Qh4 22. Bg1 Bh3
23. bxc7 {With the rook on e1 this could be met by Bf1. Giving up the Exchange by 23. Rf2 gxf2 24. Bxf2 is now White's only chance to survive. Instead a series of thunderbolts shatters his fortress.} 23... Bxg2+ 24.
Kxg2 Qh3+ 25. Kxh3 Ng5+ 26. Kg2 Nh4+ {Black Resigns without waiting for 27. Kh1 g2 mate.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE Interzonal"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Seirawan, Y."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]

{FIDE, in its ongoing rivalry with Kasparov's PCA, sponsored a $5 million 99-player knockout to determine a challenger for FIDE world champion Karpov. Seirawan was the only American to survive the first round. In the next round he upset a high rated favorite with this delightful brevity before falling in round three.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 e5 6. d5 a5
7. Nge2 Na6 8. f3 Nd7 9. Be3 Bh6 {The idea is to swap an inactive Bishop for an active one after 10. Bxh6 Qh4+ 11. Ng3 Qxh6.} 10. Qd2 Bxe3 11. Qxe3 c6 { It's too soon to open the center before deciding where his King belongs, but White still has attacking prospects after 11...Qh4+ 12. g3 Qe7 13. h4 Nac5 14. O-O-O.} 12. Qh6 {Preventing castling. "It would be a terrible error to play 12. O-O? Qb6! when Black's dark-square strategy would be crowned with success" -- Seirawan.} 12... Ndc5 {Better is 12...Nac5 13. Rd1 Nb6 14. b3 Qe7.} 13. Rd1 Qb6 {The final error, diverting the Queen from defense of the kingside. More tenacious is 13...Qe7 14. Bc2 Bd7.} 14. Bb1 Ke7 {The King can't survive in the center. But if 14...Qxb2 15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Rxd6 is too strong. Now White proceeds to rip open lines on the kingside.} 15. f4 exf4
16. Rf1 Rf8 17. Qxf4 {The Queen has done its job by preventing castling. Now now it's time to return to the scene of action in the center.} 17... f6 18.
dxc6 Qxc6 19. Nd4 Qe8 {Black keeps getting pushed around. No better is 19...Qd7 20. Nd5+ Kd8 21. Nb6 winning a whole Rook.} 20. Nd5+ Kd8 21. Qxd6+
Bd7 22. Nb5 {Black Resigns. It's a massacre. The immediate threat is Qb6+ followed by Nd6+.} 1-0

[Event "World Junior Championship"]
[Site "Poland"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shaked, T."]
[Black "Gyimesi, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E42"]

{The World Junior Championship has been held for players under 20 every other year since 1951. Three Russian teens -- Spassky, Karpov, Kasparov -- all won it on their way to the crown. Shaked, 19, who hails from Tucson, Arizona, was the sixth American to gain the title. This key victory against a young Hungarian grandmaster set the stage for his final surge to the top.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Rb1 Na6 8. Qa4
Bb7 9. Bd2 {Rejecting the tempting attempt to trap the Bishop by 9. b4 Bc6 10. b5 (if 10. Nb5 cxb4 11. axb4 Nxb4 12. Rxb4 a6!) 10...Be4 11. Ra1 Nb8.}
9... Bc6 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Ng3 Qc8 12. d5 Bb7 {The refutation of 12...exd5? is 13. Nf5!} 13. e4 Ne8 {More prudent is 13...d6.} 14. Bd3 f5 {Unwisely opening lines while his pieces are still asleep. Black hopes to mix it up with 15. exf5 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 exd5.} 15. O-O f4 16. e5 g6 {Rejecting the sacrifice. One possible variation is 16...fxg3 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. fxg3 Nec7 19. Qg6 Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 Qe8 21. Rf8+! Qxf8 22. Qh5 Qe8 23. Bg6+ Kg8 24. Qh7 Kf8 25. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Bg5 mate.} 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qxg6+ Kh8 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. Qg6+ Kh8 21.
Nce4 Qd8 {Black clearly hoped to get a draw by perpetual check. No such luck. Not 21...Bxd2? 22 Ng5! Black now offers tough resistance but his position has already been sufficiently disrupted to offer little hope.} 22.
Qh6+ Kg8 23. Bxf4 Qe7 24. b4 cxb4 25. Nh5 Nc5 {To stop Rb3. Now 26. Nxc5 bxc5 27. Rb3 looks strong anyway, but White chooses another path.} 26. Nef6+
Nxf6 27. Nxf6+ Rxf6 28. exf6 Qh7 29. axb4 exd5 30. bxa5 dxc4 31. f7+ Qxf7
32. Be5 Qh7 33. Qxh7+ Kxh7 34. axb6 a5 35. Bd4 Nb3 36. Bc3 a4 37. Rfe1 Bc6
38. Re7+ Kg8 39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. Rh7 a3 41. Rh8+ Kf7 42. Rxa8 Bxa8 43. f3 Ke6
44. Re1+ Kf7 45. Kf2 d5 46. Ke3 a2 47. Ra1 Nxa1 48. Bxa1 Ke6 49. h4 Bc6 50.
h5 Kf5 51. g4+ Kg5 52. f4+ {Black Resigns. Black put up a stout defense but the day of reckoning has arrived since 52...Kh6 (or 56...Kxg4 57. h6) 53. f6 queens.} 1-0

[Event "Training Match"]
[Site "Albert, France"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bacrot, E."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]

{In 1996 French prodigy Etienne Bacrot, 13, stunned the chess world by defeating former world champion Smyslov in a training match. The lad won four and drew two games in a quiet positional style reminiscent of the old master himself. The following year veteran grandmaster Korchnoi, 66, won three, drew two, but was caught napping in this game by failing to cope with a wild pawn marching down the center of the board.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nc6 9. Bc4 b5
{Popularized by Fischer vs. Spassky in their 1972 title match. Of course 10. Bxb5? Qa5+ costs a piece.} 10. Be2 {Improving on Spassky's tame 10. Bd3.}
10... Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Rb8 {Safer is 12...a6.} 13. d5 exd5 14.
exd5 Ne7 15. d6 Nf5 16. Rd1 O-O {Perhaps he intended 16...Rb6 but saw too late that 17. Bxb5+! Kf8 (not 17...Rxb5? 18. Qe2+ Kf8 19. Qxb5) 18. d7 Rxb5 18. dxc8=Q Qxc8 20. Qd8+ wins.} 17. d7 Bb7 18. O-O Qf6 {The last chance to fight back is 18...Nh4. Now White obtains a bind with a series of forcing moves.} 19. Qf4 a6 20. g4 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Nh4 22. Qxf6 gxf6 23. Be4 Rfd8 24.
Rd6 a5 25. f4 Ng6 26. h4 Kg7 {He can't break the grip by 26...Nxh4 because 27. f5! will trap the knight.} 27. h5 Nf8 28. h6+ Kxh6 29. g5+ Kg7 30. gxf6+
Kg8 31. Bc6 Ne6 32. f5 Nc7 33. Rd3 Rb6 34. Rc1 Na6 35. Re3 Rf8 36. Re8 Rb8
37. Bxb5 {Black Resigns. Bacrot's only win in this match, but a beaut.} 1-0

[Event "Six Game Rematch"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Deep Blue"]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]

{This game truly stunned -- or just plain terrified -- many observers. Deep Blue caught the world champion in its boa constrictor grip and swallowed him whole. Depressed to the point of despair after being roundly outplayed, Kasparov actually gave up in a position later found to be drawn. He never recovered from this emotional scar.} 1. e4 e5 {Already a surprise. Kasparov abandons his pet Sicilian Defense with 1...c5 to confuse the machine.} 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3
h6 {The Smyslov System. Black holds the center and defers a decision on whether to put his Knight on a5 or b8.} 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Nf1 Bd7
13. Ng3 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 15. b3 Nc6 16. d5 Ne7 17. Be3 Ng6 18. Qd2 Nh7 19. a4
{Opening lines on the queenside. Up to here Deep Blue consumed only one minute on its clock.} 19... Nh4 20. Nxh4 Qxh4 21. Qe2 Qd8 22. b4 Qc7 23.
Rec1 c4 {Locking the position leads to a serious cramp. A reasonable alternative is 23...cxb4 24. cxb4 Qb7.} 24. Ra3 Rec8 25. Rca1 Qd8 26. f4 { Opening a second front on the kingside.} 26... Nf6 27. fxe5 dxe5 28. Qf1 Ne8
{This is Black's last chance to make a bid for freedom with 28...a5.} 29.
Qf2 Nd6 30. Bb6 Qe8 31. R3a2 Be7 32. Bc5 Bf8 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. exf5 f6 {Black is reduced to passivity. Karpov suggests 34...e4 sacrificing a pawn for play on the dark squares.} 35. Bxd6 Bxd6 36. axb5 axb5 37. Be4 {A startling un-computer like move that caused Kasparov to suspect some sort of human intervention. He was hoping to draw with 37. Qb6 Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Ra8 39. Rxa8 Qxa8 40. Qxd6 Qa1+ 41. Kh2 Qc1 42. Qb8+ Kh7 43. Qxb5 Qf4+.} 37... Rxa2 38.
Qxa2 Qd7 39. Qa7 Rc7 40. Qb6 Rb7 41. Ra8+ Kf7 42. Qa6 Qc7 43. Qc6 Qb6+ 44.
Kf1 {Simply 44. Kh1 squelches all counterplay.} 44... Rb8 45. Ra6 {Black Resigns. Kasparov blue it! Analysis later showed he could draw with 45...Qe3! 46. Qxd6 Re8!! (the star move) 47. Bf3 Qc1+ 48. Kf2 Qd2+ 49. Be2 Qf4+ 50. Ke1 Qc1+ 51. Bd1 Qxc3+! 52. Kf1 Qc1! There are many more lines, of course, but White has been unable to demonstrate a forced win.} 1-0

[Event "Six Game Rematch"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Deep Blue"]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]

{Once again Kasparov achieved a comfortable advantage with an offbeat opening and once again Deep Blue found a perfect defense to rescue a difficult position. "I think I was winning at one point, but I was very tired and couldn't figure it out," said the drained, ashen-faced champion.}
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d6 {Kasparov again employs an offbeat opening and avoids sharp tactical lines.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Bd3 e6 7. Qe2 d5
8. Bg5 Be7 9. e5 Nfd7 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. h4 Na6 14.
O-O-O O-O-O 15. Rdg1 {The purpose of this move is unclear. More relevant is 15. Qe3 to prepare h5. Now Black is solid and prepares to break in the center while White flounders.} 15... Nc7 16. Kb1 f6 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Rg3
Rde8 19. Re1 Rhf8 20. Nd1 e5 {A sound pawn sacrifice to activate his pieces and seize key squares.} 21. dxe5 Qf4 22. a3 Ne6 23. Nc3 Ndc5 24. b4 Nd7 25.
Qd3 Qf7 26. b5 {Reminiscent of the first game where the machine also wrecked its own kingside. Here, however, White is a pawn up and the enemy King will be equally exposed.} 26... Ndc5 27. Qe3 Qf4 28. bxc6 bxc6 29. Rd1 Kc7 30.
Ka1 Qxe3 {Leads to a favorable ending, yet 30...Rf7 or Qc4 both look stronger.} 31. fxe3 Rf7 32. Rh3 Ref8 33. Nd4 Rf2 34. Rb1 Rg2 35. Nce2 Rxg4 { A better winning try is 35...R8f2.} 36. Nxe6+ Nxe6 37. Nd4 Nxd4 38. exd4
Rxd4 39. Rg1 Rc4 40. Rxg6 Rxc2 41. Rxg7+ Kb6 42. Rb3+ Kc5 43. Rxa7 Rf1+ 44.
Rb1 Rff2 45. Rb4 Rc1+ 46. Rb1 Rcc2 47. Rb4 Rc1+ {White was threatening Ra5 mate! If 47...Ra2+ 48. Kb1 Rxa3 49. Rxa3 Kxb4 50. Rh3 Re2 51. h5 Rxe5 52. h6 Re8 53. h7 Rh8 54. Kc2 also leads to a draw.} 48. Rb1 Rxb1+ 49. Kxb1 Re2 50.
Re7 Rh2 51. Rh7 Kc4 52. Rc7 c5 53. e6 Rxh4 54. e7 Re4 55. a4 Kb3 56. Kc1 
{Draw by Agreement. A possible drawing continuation is 56...c4 57. a5 c3 58. Kd1 d4 59. a6 d3 60. a7 d2 61. Rb7+ Kc4 62. Rc7+ Kb3 63. Rb7+ etc.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Six Game Rematch"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Deep Blue"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{Today was Kasparov's bluest day -- the shortest, saddest loss in his career. He played the opening slowly, spending two minutes on the risky 7...h6?! which is known to be dubious (instead of the usual Bd6). After this inversion of moves he shook his head and rolled his eyes as Deep Blue instantly sacrificed a knight. The champion crumbled instead of putting up a strong defense.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 {This strange move became popular over the last decade. One of the ideas behind it is to win the two Bishops after 5...h6 6. Ne6! Qb6 (of course not 6...fxe6? 7. Qh5 mates) 7. Nxf8.} 5... Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 h6 {It's a mystery why Kasparov tried to revive this discredited move since he was familiar with the standard 7...Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6.} 8. Nxe6 Qe7 {It's questionable whether the Queen is better on e7 or c7. Some previous games continued 8...fxe6 9. Bg6+ Ke7 10. O-O Qc7 11. Re1 with a dangerous attack for the piece, though Black actually won and drew several games in this variation.} 9. O-O fxe6 10. Bg6+ Kd8 11. Bf4 b5 {11...b6 looks safer. Surely Deep Blue's database contained a key game showing this line as strong for White. Chandler-Hubner, Biel 1987, went 11...Nd5 12. Bg3 Qb4 13. Re1 Be7 14. Qe2 Bf6 15. c4 Ne7 16. a3 Qb3 17. Bd3 and White won in 27 moves. However Black cam improve with 17...Nf8 18. Rad1 Bd7 19. Ne5 Be8.} 12. a4 Bb7 { Black's problem is that his King is never safe. 12...b4 was the last chance to keep lines closed.} 13. Re1 Nd5 14. Bg3 Kc8 {A waste of time since the King has nowhere to go. But if 14...Qf6? 15. Bh4 pins the Queen.} 15. axb5
cxb5 16. Qd3 Bc6 {If 16...a6 17. c4 Nb4 18. Qc3 bxc4 19. Qxc4+ Bc6 20. Rxe6 is decisive.} 17. Bf5 exf5 18. Rxe7 Bxe7 19. c4 {Deep Blue 3.5 - Kasparov 2.5. The champion didn't even wait for 19...bxc4 (or 19...Nb4 20. Qxf5 bxc4 21. Ne5 Rd8 22. Nxc6 Nxc6 23. Qf4) 20. Qxc4 Kb7 21. Qa6 mate. "Kasparov's resignation was probably premature," said one commentator. "But what we have seen today is psychological weakness of the sort I'd never expect from him". In a press conference Kasparov lashed out at IBM, claiming it was difficult to prepare for an opponent whose games were not made available to him beforehand.} 1-0

[Event "Six Game Rematch"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Deep Blue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A06"]

{Kasparov emerged with a strong endgame advantage after a complex up-and-down struggle. In an exciting finish, with White's pawn poised to queen, the computer forced a draw in the nick of time by perpetual check -- providing yet another frustration for the world champion.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3
Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. h3 Bxf3 {The alternative is 4...Bh5. The machine traded Bishop for Knight because to get a slight lead in development.} 5. Bxf3 c6
6. d3 e6 {Setting up a wall of pawns so that the Bishop on f3 will "bite on granite".} 7. e4 Ne5 8. Bg2 dxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bg2 Bb4+ 11. Nd2 h5 {An aggressive surprise instead of the expected O-O. "I was very much amazed by this move," said Kasparov. "I have to praise the machine for understanding very, very deep positional factors. I think it's an outstanding scientific achievement."} 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. c3 Be7 14. d4 Ng6 15. h4 e5 16. Nf3 exd4 17.
Nxd4 O-O-O 18. Bg5 Ng4 19. O-O-O Rhe8 {Wrong would be 19...Bxg5+ 20. hxg5 Qa5? 21. Rxh5 Rxh5 22. Qxg4+.} 20. Qc2 Kb8 21. Kb1 Bxg5 22. hxg5 N6e5 { Inviting the risky snatch 23. Rxh5 c5 24. Nb5 Qb6 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Na3 Nxf2 (if 27. Qxf2 Qg6+ snares the Rook.)} 23. Rhe1 c5 24. Nf3 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1
Nc4 26. Qa4 Rd8 {Just in time to maintain parity since now 27. Rxd8+ Qxd8 28. Qxc4? Qd1 mates.} 27. Re1 Nb6 28. Qc2 Qd6 29. c4 Qg6 {Okay but even better is 29...Qd3.} 30. Qxg6 fxg6 31. b3 Nxf2 32. Re6 Kc7 33. Rxg6 Rd7 34.
Nh4 Nc8 35. Bd5 Nd6 36. Re6 Nb5 37. cxb5 Rxd5 38. Rg6 Rd7 39. Nf5 Ne4 40.
Nxg7 Rd1+ 41. Kc2 Rd2+ 42. Kc1 Rxa2 43. Nxh5 Nd2 {The key move to save a difficult position. Despite White's dangerous g-pawn Deep Blue had already calculated a beautiful draw.} 44. Nf4 {Another try is 44. Re6 Nxb3+ 45. Kb1 Rh2! 46. Nf6 Nd2+ 47. Kc1 Nxb3+ and White must repeat moves since 48. Kd1? Rh1+ 49. Ke2 Nd4+ forks the Rook.} 44... Nxb3+ 45. Kb1 Rd2 46. Re6 c4 47.
Re3 Kb6 {"The King is a fighting piece -- use it!" (Steinitz). The concluding moves are so well timed that they look like a ballet.} 48. g6
Kxb5 49. g7 Kb4 {Draw by Agreement. If 50. g8/Q Rd1+ 51. Kb2 Rd2+ etc. "I'm not afraid to admit that I'm afraid. and I'm not even afraid to say why I am afraid", confessed Kasparov. "Deep Blue goes beyond any known program in the world. It makes decisions that still cannot be made by any computer. Facing such a challenge with virtually no preparation before the match, I have to be extremely cautious."} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Six Game Rematch"]
[Site "New York City"]
[Date "1997"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Deep Blue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]

{This $1.1 million rematch turned out to be a media extravaganza on a planetary scale. For the first time ever a machine won not just a single game but a whole series against the world champion in a match that captured global headlines. Unlike Kasparov, Deep Blue was redesigned after their match a year earlier and grandmasters were added to its team. Here are all six games from this historic confrontation "between the world's greatest chess player and Kasparov," as IBM's chairman quipped. IBM declined Kasparov's challenge to a rubber match, prompting many disappointed fans to call Deep Blue yellow.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. b3 {Kasparov's employs offbeat openings to get the machine out of its database and make it "think" as quickly as possible.} 3... Nd7 4. Bb2 e6 5. Bg2 Ngf6 6. O-O c6 7. d3 Bd6
8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 Bh5 10. a3 h6 11. Qe1 Qa5 12. e3 Bc7 {This weird retreat led some critics to conclude that Deep Blue would be at a strategic disadvantage throughout the entire series. Up to here Kasparov, playing ultra cautiously, like a turtle, has not pushed a piece beyond his third rank.} 13. Nh4 g5 {Kasparov greeted this weakening move with barely concealed mirth.} 14. Nhf3 e5 15. e4 Rfe8 16. Nh2 Qb6 17. Qc1 a5 18. Re1 Bd6
19. Ndf1 dxe4 20. dxe4 Bc5 {Finally this Bishop re-enters the game.} 21. Ne3
Rad8 22. Nhf1 g4 {Kasparov branded this "the big mistake". More sober is 22...Bg6.} 23. hxg4 Nxg4 24. f3 {Exposing the King to a pin is somewhat risky. Safer is 24. Nxg4 Bxg4 25. Ne3.} 24... Nxe3 25. Nxe3 Be7 26. Kh1 Bg5
27. Re2 a4 28. b4 f5 {This savage counterattack actually gains material but exposes Black's King to a draft.} 29. exf5 e4 30. f4 Bxe2 {No better is 30...Bxf4 31. gxf4 Bxe2 32. Qd2! threatening both Qxe2 and/or Qc3 with mayhem on the a1-h8 diagonal.} 31. fxg5 Ne5 {Allowing White to preserve his phalanx of pawns. But 31...hxg5? 32. Nc4! Bxc4 33. Qxg5+ wins outright.} 32.
g6 Bf3 33. Bc3 Qb5 34. Qf1 Qxf1+ 35. Rxf1 h5 36. Kg1 Kf8 {The best chance is 36...Ng4 37. f6! Re6! (rather than 37...Nxe3 38. f7+ Kf8 39. Bxf3! Nxf1 40. Bxh5 with the deadly threat of g7+) 38. Bh3 Rxf6!} 37. Bh3 b5 38. Kf2 Kg7
39. g4 Kh6 40. Rg1 hxg4 41. Bxg4 Bxg4 42. Nxg4+ Nxg4+ 43. Rxg4 Rd5 44. f6
Rd1 45. g7 {Black Resigns. "I kept my promise before the match that I would not play as Kasparov normally plays in human events," said the exuberant victor. Who could guess the extraordinary events that were to come next week?} 1-0

[Event "U.S. Open Championship"]
[Site "Hawaii"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kachiesvili, G."]
[Black "Polgar, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]

{By age 22 Judith Polgar was the highest highest rated woman in history. She tied for first with Boris Gulko, 51, in this field of over 300 players. After a draw with Gulko she disposed of two grandmasters in the last two rounds. But Judith had a close scrape in this eye-catching game.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O {If 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nxe5 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Bxe5 regains the pawn.} 7... Na6 8. Re1 exd4
9. Nxd4 Re8 10. Bf1 Ng4 11. f3 Ne5 12. Be3 Nc5 13. Qd2 Ne6 14. Nc2 { Naturally avoiding swaps which only ease Black's cramp. White has a nice grip on the position.} 14... Qh4 15. Rad1 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. b3 Kh8 18.
Nd5 Rg8 19. Kh1 Bd7 20. f4 {The cool 20. Nd4 also keeps the advantage.}
20... Ng4 21. Bg1 Rae8 22. g3 Qh5 23. Bg2 Nc5 {Black mixes it up with this risky pawn sacrifice. But if 23...Bc6 24. Ncb4 holds counterplay to a minimum.} 24. Nxc7 Ne4 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 26. Rxe4 fxe4 27. Nd5 {Safer is 27. Re1.} 27... Ne5 28. Bd4 Nf3 29. Qe2 Bc6 30. Bxg7+ Rxg7 31. Nf6 Qf7 32. Rxd6
Qe7 33. Qd1 Rg6 34. Qa1 {Wins the Queen and loses. But also inadequate is 34. Rd8+ Kg7 35. Nh5+ Kh6 36. f5 e3!} 34... Qxd6 35. Ne8+ Kg8 36. Nxd6 Rxd6
{Also possible is 36...Rh6 37. h4 Rxd6 first.} 37. Ne3 Rd2 38. Nf1 Rf2 39.
Qd1 Kf7 40. Qb1 {and White Resigns. He is hogtied in view of 40...Ne1! 41. Kg1 (if 41. Qxe1 e3+ 42. Kg1 Rg2+ 43. Kh1 Rxg3 mates) Rg2+ 42. Kh1 Rb2! 43. Qxb2 e3+ 44. Kg1 Nf3+ 45. Kh1 Ng5+ 46. Qg2 (or 46. Kg1 Nh3 mate) e2! creating a new Queen.} 0-1

[Event "Advanced Chess match"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D79"]

{Advanced Chess describes an experimental computer-assisted format where each side can access a computer. It's like an open book test. After six one-hour games, this match ended 3-3. The best help Topalov got from the computer, ironically, was that Kasparov constantly got into time-pressure consulting it! A month earlier in a straight four-game rapid match, however, Kasparov wiped out the same opponent 4-0. This seems to indicate that computers aid the weaker player.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5.
Bg2 c6 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 {When two top players finally use strong computers to their heart's content, they arrive at total symmetry!} 8. Ne5
e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 f6 12. Nf3 f5 13. Ne5 Nb6 14. b3 Bd7 15.
Qd3 Nc8 {The cause of Black's future problems. Better is 15...Rc8.} 16. Bc1
Nxe5 17. dxe5 Rf7 18. Be3 Bc6 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. a3 {White's space advantage is virtually decisive already.} 20... a6 21. Bd4 Bf8 22. e3 Be8 23. Qd2 Qd8
24. Bf1 Rc7 25. Qb2 Rc6 26. Na4 Rxc1 {26...b5 looks more natural than ceding White absolute control of the c-file.} 27. Rxc1 Bc6 28. Nc5 Qe8 29. a4 a5
30. Qc3 Qf7 31. Bb5 Bxb5 32. axb5 h6 33. Na4 Ba3 34. Qxc8+ Rxc8 35. Rxc8+
Kh7 36. b6 {Black Resigns. There's no defense against 37. Rc7 with a deadly pin on the seventh rank.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Match"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D70"]

{Latvia's Alexei Shirov is one of the game's greatest gamblers. He seems to have the Lasker touch -- an ability to find moves that may not be best but which unnerve his opponent. Shirov upset Kramnik 5 1/2 - 3 1/2 to earn a right to challenge Kasparov for an announced $2 million purse in the newly created World Chess Council Championship -- which never took place. This game was Kramnik's last chance to even the score in a best-of-10 series but Shirov found a stunning rook sacrifice that exposed White's King to withering crossfire in the center of the board.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 
{Transposing into his favorite Gruenfeld Defense, though this move order prevents the swap of Knights on c3.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 {The absence of this Knight from the kingside could prove troublesome. Meanwhile White has his center to defend.} 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 e5 {Varying from 8...Nc6 9. O-O-O e5 10. d5 Nd4 11. Nb5 Nxb5 12. Bxb5 Bd7 with satisfactory play for Black (Padevsky- Pachman, Moscow 1956.} 9. d5 c6 10. h4 {The die is cast. Since Kramnik is already a point behind in their 10-game match, this is his last chance to even the score with White.} 10... h5 11. Be2 cxd5 12. exd5
N8d7 13. d6 {Double-edged! Does this advance strengthen or weaken the pawn? More consistent is 13. O-O-O or g4.} 13... Nf6 14. Bg5 Re8 15. Rd1 Be6 16. Nh3 
Nc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. b3 Ba6 {Safer is 18...Be6 here is a good example of that Lasker touch} 19. Nd5 {Necessary is 19. d7! (Kasparov). On 19...Rf8 20. Nd5 Bb5 21. Kf2 secures an advantage.} 19... e4 {Just about the only way to counter the threat of Nc7. Shirov's energetic reply turns the tables.} 
20. Nxf6+ {Going for material. If 20. f4 e3! is hard to meet.} Bxf6 21. d7 Qb6 
{A stunning riposte that took spectators by surprise. Black gives up a rook to pursue his attack. Perhaps White expected only 21...Re6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. fxe4.} 
22. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 23. Qe3 {What else? White's King is caught in a withering crossfire and is in trouble despite his huge lead in material. If 23. Be3 Bxh4+ (see note to move 10) 24. Nf2 exf3 wins. Or 23. f4 e3! 24. Qd6 Qa5+ 25. b4 Qxa2 threatening Qe2 mate.} 23... Bxg5 24. Qxb6 Bxh4+ 25. Kd2 {Staggering into a bad ending, but he has no choice. If 25. Qf2 exf3+ 26. Kd2 Bxf2 27. Nxf2 Re2+ 28. Kc3 fxg2 29. Rhg1 Rxf2 does the trick.} 25... axb6 26. fxe4 Rxe4
27. Kc2 Rg4 28. Rd2 Be7 {Black has two pawns for the Exchange and two potent Bishops that sweep the board.} 29. Rg1 Kg7 30. Nf2 Rf4 31. Nd3 Re4 32. Rgd1 Bb5 
{The Bishop heads for greener pastures. Whether or not White can hold this ending is problematical.} 33.a4 Bc6 {The power of two Bishops combined with a kingside pawn majority is sufficient to force the win.} 34. Re1 Rxe1 35. Nxe1 
Bb4 36. Re2 Bxe1 37.Rxe1 Bxg2 {A third pawn for the Exchange in conjunction with three passed pawns on the kingside is decisive. White could resign here since he can't cope with three connected passed pawns supported by the Bishop.} 
38. Kd2 h4 39. Ke3 Bd5 40. b4 h3 41.Re2 f5 42. Rd2 Be4 43. Kf4 Bg2 44. Rd7+ Kf6 
45. Rh7 g5+ 46. Kg3 f4+ 47. Kg4 Ke5 48. b5 {White resigns, not waiting for Kd4-e3-f2-g1 which can't be stopped. On 48. Kxg5 f3 one of Black's pawns must Queen.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]

{Karpov only needed was a draw to clinch his title. His position was fine until he blundered in time pressure. This unexpected loss in the final game sent the match into overtime at 3-3.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 {Solid but more enterprising is 2...Ne4.} 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qd2 g5 {To prevent White from expanding with f4.} 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. Nge2 Bg7 9. Rd1 Bd7 10.
O-O O-O-O 11. Nb5 {The unbalanced nature of the position with Kings castled on opposite wings promises a hard fight. A more active plan was 11. a3 followed by b4.} 11... a6 12. Na3 g4 {More natural is 12...Qg3 13. Qe3 Kb8.}
13. f4 gxf3ep 14. Rxf3 Qe7 15. c3 h5 16. Rdf1 Rdf8 17. b4 Na7 18. Nc2 Bh6
19. Qe1 Kb8 20. Bd3 Bc6 21. Nf4 Rfg8 {Intending to meet 22. Nxh5 with f5.}
22. d5 Be8 23. Qf2 {Black need not fear 23. Nxh5 exd5 24. exd5 Qg5 25. Ng3 Qxd5.} 23... Bg7 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. dxe6 {This exchange only helps Black get some elbow room. Stronger is 25. Nfe2 Be8 26. a4.} 25... Bxd4 26. cxd4 fxe6
27. e5 Bc6 28. Ng6 Qd8 {The losing move. The correct defense is 28...Rxg6! 29. Bxg6 (not 29. Rf8+ Rxf8 30. Qxf8+ Nc8 31. Qxe7 Rxg2+) 29...Bxf3 30. Qxf3 dxe5 31. dxe5 Qxb4 32. Qf6 Rc8 33. Bxh5 Nc6.} 29. Nxh8 Bxf3 30. Nf7 Qh4 { Hoping to draw by 31. Qxh4? Rxg2+ 32. Kh1 Rf2+. Now Black picks up a few pawns but it's not to compensate for a piece.} 31. Qxf3 Qxd4+ 32. Kh1 d5 33.
Rd1 Qxb4 34. Rb1 Qa4 35. Qxh5 {White extra piece combined with the passed kingside pawns is decisive.} 35... Nc6 36. Qe2 Ka7 37. Qf2+ b6 38. Rc1 Kb7
39. h3 Rc8 40. Qf6 Nd4 41. Nd8+ Kb8 42. Nxe6 {Black Resigns. A great comeback for Anand who, as one of the world's fastest players, was now favored to win the tiebreaker.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karpov, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]

{Here are all 8 games from the shortest world championship match in history. Scheduled for 6 games, it went into overtime when Anand came from behind twice to tie 3-3. The time control then increased to 25 minutes for each side. In this initial encounter Anand walked into an opening novelty and succumbed despite a heroic struggle. "Since I had to play a short match and Anand was already in fine form, I decided to play actively from the start. This is a different strategic approach to long round robins where you have the luxury of playing yourself into a rhythm," wrote Karpov.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
c6 {The Slav Defense bolsters the center with pawns.} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5.
Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7
12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 c4 14. Qe2 Bd6 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. f4 e5 17. Ndxb5 {So far, so book. It's strange that nobody thought of this before since White gets 3 pawns for the piece and a slashing attack. Kasparov once played 17. Nf5 without much success.} 17... axb5 18. Nxb5 Qb6 19. Nxd6+ Qxd6 20. fxe5
Qxe5 21. Rf5 Qe7 22. Qxc4 Rc8 {The main alternative is 22...Ncxe4 23. Bf4 Rc8 24. Qb3 Rc5 and Black is still alive.} 23. Qb5+ Ncd7 24. Qxb7 Rxc2 25.
Bg5 Qd6 26. Qa8+ Kf7 {Loses. "More precise was 26...Qb8 after which Black should suffer a little bit but eventually make a draw" (Karpov).} 27. Qxh8
Qd4+ 28. Kh1 Qxe4 29. Rf3 Rxg2 30. Kxg2 Ne5 31. Qxg7+ {Wins. Anand, alas, expected to draw by perpetual check after 31. Rf1 Nxf3 32. Rxf3 Qe2+ 33. Kg3 Qe1+.} 31... Kxg7 32. Bxf6+ Kg6 33. Bxe5 Qxe5 34. Rg1 h5 {Not 34...Qxb2+ 35. Kh1 Kh6 36. Rh3 mate.} 35. b3 Qe2+ 36. Rf2 Qe4+ 37. Kf1+ {Prolonging the agony. Quicker is 37. Kh3+. The text costs a pawn in time pressure but no matter how Black twists and squirms, it's all over.} 37... Kh6 38. Rg3 Qb1+
39. Kg2 Qe4+ 40. Rgf3 Qg6+ 41. Kf1 Qb1+ 42. Kg2 Qg6+ 43. Kh1 Qb1+ 44. Rf1
Qxa2 45. Rf6+ Kg7 46. Rf7+ Kh8 47. Rf8+ Kg7 48. R8f7+ Kg8 49. R7f3 Kg7 50.
h3 Qc2 51. R1f2 Qe4 52. Kg2 Qb4 53. Re2 Qd4 54. Re7+ Kg6 55. Re6+ Kg7 56.
Rg3+ Kf7 57. Rge3 Qd5+ 58. Kg3 Qg5+ 59. Kf2 Qh4+ 60. Ke2 Qd4 61. R6e4 Qa1
62. Kd3 Kf6 63. Re6+ Kf5 64. b4 Qc1 65. Kd4 Qc8 66. b5 Qd8+ 67. Kc5 Qc7+ 68.
Kb4 Qf4+ 69. Kb3 Qc7 70. b6 Qd7 71. R3e5+ Kf4 72. Re4+ Kg3 73. Re3+ Kh2 74.
Kc4 h4 75. Kc5 Qc8+ 76. Kd5 Qd8+ 77. Ke4 Qd7 78. Kf5 Kg2 79. Kg5 Qg7+ 80.
Kxh4 Kf2 {Since the Queen is no match for the coordinated rooks, Anand could have saved energy and resigned here instead of dragging it out with spite checks.} 81. R3e5 Qh8+ 82. Kg4 Qg7+ 83. Kf5 Qh7+ 84. Kf6 Qh4+ 85. Kf7 Qh7+
86. Ke8 Qb7 87. h4 Qb8+ 88. Kf7 Qb7+ 89. Kg6 Qb8 90. h5 Qg8+ 91. Kf5 Qh7+
92. Kf6 Kf3 93. Re3+ Kf2 94. Re2+ Kf3 95. R2e3+ Kf2 96. Kg5 Qg8+ 97. Kh4
Qd8+ 98. Kh3 Qd1 99. Re2+ Kf3 100. Kh2 {"I was in time trouble so missed 100. Re1! which wins immediately, since both 101. Rf1+ and Rf6+ are threatened" (Karpov).} 100... Qd8 101. R6e3+ Kf4 102. b7 Qb6 103. Re4+ Kf3
104. R2e3+ Kf2 105. Re7 Qd6+ 106. Kh3 Qb8 107. R3e5 Kg1 108. Rg7+ {Black Resigns. On 108...Kf2 109. Rf7+ Kg1 110. Re1 mate.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karpov, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]

{After fireworks in the first two games, they settled for a serene draw. In match play such a result is considered a moral victory for Black. With the score tied at 1.5 apiece, Anand will enjoy the advantage of White in the last three games.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3
dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 {Now White varies from 9. O-O as in the first game.} 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. bxa3 Bd6 13. O-O O-O 14. Bb2
{Too tame because it does nothing to hinder ...c5 dissolving the weak pawn. White's best try is to seize the open b- file with 14. Rb1 Qc7 15. Qa4 threatening Rxb7 and Bxc6.} 14... Rb8 15. Qc2 c5 {A surprise. White probably expected to keep an edge after 15...Nf6 16. Bd3.} 16. Bxb7 {Black has too many options after 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 since retreating the errant Bishop costs a piece (17. Be4? Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Rxb2). Meanwhile ...Bxf3 threatens to smash the kingside.} 16... Rxb7 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. a4 {Draw by Agreement. The position is perfectly balanced and the pawn structure is nearly symmetrical.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karpov, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]

{Once again Anand resorts to the Slav Defense. This time Karpov varies with 6. Qc2 to get an edge which he fails to exploit.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3
Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 {A novel recent approach is 7. Bd2!? followed by O-O-O.} 7... O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2
Qc7 12. Ne4 {Innocuous. More promising is 12. e4 e5 13. h3.} 12... Nxe4 13.
Qxe4 e5 {13...Bb7 followed by c5 is simpler.} 14. Qh4 Re8 15. Bd3 h6 16. Bc2
exd4 {It's better to keep the tension and complete development with 16...Bb7.} 17. Qxd4 Bf8 18. b3 Nf6 {White has a nice edge and should continue 19. Bb2.} 19. Qh4 g5 {Inviting 20. Nxg5? Qe5; or 20. Qd4 Bg7 21. Bb2 Nh5.} 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 c5 22. Bb2 Bg7 23. Rd6 Be6 24. Rad1 Rec8 {To mobilize his pawn majority on the queenside. The immediate threat is Ne8.}
25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Be4 Ra7 27. Bd5 Bxd5 28. R1xd5 Kg7 29. Rd2 Be7 30. Rb6 Bd8
31. Rbd6 Be7 32. R6d5 {A brave decision to play for the win to end the match on the spot instead of taking a draw by repeating moves. But it looks dangerous in view of Black's queenside pawns.} 32... a5 {Probably better is 32...c4 33. bxc4 Rxc4.} 33. Kf1 a4 34. Ke2 axb3 35. axb3 Ra3 36. b4 Rc3 37.
bxc5 R3xc5 38. Rxc5 Rxc5 39. Nd4 Bf6 40. g4 b4 41. Rb2 Rc4 42. Kd3 Rc3+ 43.
Kd2 Bxd4 44. exd4 Rc4 45. Kd3 Rc3+ 46. Kd2 Rc4 47. Kd3 Rc3+ 48. Ke4 b3 49.
f3 Kf6 50. d5 Rc4+ 51. Kd3 Rf4 52. Rxb3 Ke5 53. Rb6 Kxd5 54. Rxh6 Ke5 55.
Ke3 Ra4 {Draw by Agreement. White's extra pawn is doubled and meaningless.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D42"]

{Anand ambitiously tries to attack but creates weaknesses by advancing his pawns. Karpov defends with precision and forges ahead with a model victory as Black.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 {The Panov-Botvinnik Attack against the Caro-Kann gained popularity in the early 1930s but is seldom seen today.} 4... Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O
O-O 10. Re1 Bf6 11. Be4 Nce7 12. h4 Nf5 13. Qd3 {It's better to dominate the dark squares by 13. Bxf5 exf5 14. Nxd5 Qxd5 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Be6 17. Re5.} 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 h6 15. h5 {Only increases the vulnerability of the pawn. More pertinent is 15. Bxf5 exf5 16. Ba3.} 15... Nd6 16. Ne5 Nxe4 17.
Qxe4 Bxe5 18. dxe5 f5 19. Qe2 {White should expose the weakness on e6 by 19. fxf6 Qxf6 20. Be3 with good pressure after 20...Qxc3 21. Rac1 Qf6 22. Rc7.}
19... Bd7 20. Rd1 {Another slip. 20. Ba3 Rf7 21. Rad1 is roughly equal.}
20... Bb5 21. Qf3 Qe8 22. Bf4 Rc8 {Safer is 22...Qf7 since now 23. Qxb7 Bc6 24. Qxa7 Qxh5 25. f3 is unclear.} 23. Rd4 Rc4 24. Rad1 Qf7 25. Rxc4 Bxc4 26.
a3 Rc8 27. Rd4 Kh7 28. Bd2 Bd5 29. Qh3 b5 30. a4 bxa4 31. Rxa4 Rc4 32. Rxc4
Bxc4 33. Qh4 Bb5 34. c4 Be8 35. c5 Qd7 36. Bc3 Qd3 37. Qd4 Qxd4 38. Bxd4 a5
39. c6 {Giving away the only trump. More resistant is 39. f3 with chances to hold the opposite colored Bishop ending.} 39... Bxc6 40. f3 f4 41. Bb2 Be8
42. Bc1 a4 43. Bxf4 a3 44. Be3 Bxh5 45. Kf2 Be8 46. Bd4 Bc6 47. Bc3 a2 48.
g3 h5 49. g4 h4 {White Resigns. The finale might be 50. f4 g5 51. f5 exf5 52. gxf5 Be4 53. f6 Bd5 followed by Kg6 and the kingside pawns storm forward.} 0-1

[Event "3rd Bad Homburg International"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lobron, E."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D34"]

{Even at 67 veteran Viktor Korchnoi continued his winning ways. Always a tenacious defender, here he pockets a pawn and clings to it for dear life.}
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 {The draback to this classical Tarrasch Defense is the isolated d-pawn. In return Black gets open lines for his pieces.} 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4
h6 11. Bf4 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. e4 d4 15. e5 {Sacrificing a pawn for the initiative and a strong pair of Bishops is often a successful tactic.} 15... dxc3 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. bxc3 Bxc3 18. Rb1 Qxd1 {Sturdier than 18...Na5 19. Qg4 Qf6 20. Be3 Rfd8 21. Rfd1 a6 22. Bb6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Nc6 24. Rd6 and White won in 41 moves (Gonzales-Vera, Havana 1984).} 19. Rfxd1 Rad8
20. Rxd8 Nxd8 21. Be3 b6 22. Rd1 Bf6 23. Be4 Rf7 24. Bg6 Rb7 25. Bf4 Nf7 26.
Rc1 Rd7 27. Rc8+ Bd8 28. Ra8 Kf8 29. Bc2 g5 30. Bb8 {An unfortunate post for the Bishop. White can get compensation for the pawn by 30. Bc1!} 30... a5
31. Ba4 Rd2 32. Bb3 Ke7 33. Bc4 Kf6 34. Ra6 Rc2 35. Bb3 Rc8 36. Ba7 Ra8 { This pin is fatal.} 37. Ba4 Ne5 38. Bb5 Kf5 {Heading for b7. "I like to take my King for a stroll," said Steinitz.} 39. Kg2 Ke4 40. Be2 Kd5 41. a4 Nc6
42. Bb5 Nb4 {White Resigns. On 43. Be2 Nxa6 44. Bf3+ Kd6 45. Bxa8 Nc5 picks up a second pawn.} 0-1

[Event "16th New York Open"]
[Site "Manhattan"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lputian, S."]
[Black "Dlugy, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]

{"This game simply took my breath away. I experienced fascination, awe, amazement. Lputian obviously knows how to defy gravity, he sacrifices pieces with the light touch of a genius. All his offerings were given for medium or long-term chances. Such a clear breach of common chess wisdom fascinates, and at the same time provokes. The final truth proves elusive". -- GM Ftacnik.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e6 4. Bxc4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c5 6. Qe2 a6 7.
dxc5 {This exchange only aids Black's development. 7. O-O is a better way to fight for an advantage.} 7... Bxc5 8. e4 Qc7 9. e5 Ng4 10. O-O Nxf2 11. b4 { A novel approach designed to deflect the Bishop from the a3-f8 diagonal. Theory considers 11. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 12. Kxf2 b5 13. b3 O-O 14. Ba3 bxc4 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 equal. Other tries are 11. Be3 Ng4; or 11. Nc3 Ne4+.} 11... Nh3+ 12.
Kh1 Nf2+ {Tacitly offering a draw by repetition. A good alternative is 12...Ba7; but not 11...Nd3+ 12. bxc5 Qxc5+ 13. Be3 Qxc4 14. Rc1 Qxc1+ 15. Bxc1 Nxc1 16. Qc2 and wins.} 13. Rxf2 Bxf2 14. Nbd2 Ba7 15. Ne4 O-O 16. Nf6+
gxf6 {The Trojan horse must be taken. If 16...Kh8 17. Ng5 Nd7 18. Qh5 Nxf6 (or 18...h6 19. Qxf7!) 19. exf6 h6 20. Ne4 Bd4 21. Bxh6 is decisive.} 17.
exf6 Nd7 {The losing move. For better or worse 17...Rd8! is necessary to create an escape route for the King via f8-e8 and leads to rich, unclear complications.} 18. Qd2 Rd8 {Also inadequate is 18...Kh8 19. Qh6 Rg8 20. Bd3 Nf8 21. Ng5 Qd7 22. Bf4 Bb8 23. Bxh7 Rxg5 24. Bg6+ Kg8 25. Qg7 mate.} 19.
Qg5+ Kf8 20. Bf4 Qc6 {Mate ensues after 20...Qxc4 21. Bd6+ Ke8 22. Qg8+ Nf8 23. Qxf8+ Kd7 24. Ne5.} 21. Rd1 Nxf6 22. Rxd8+ Ne8 {White has regained the rook and also wins against 22...Ke7 23. Be5 Kxd8 24. Bxf6+ Kd7 25. Ne5+.}
23. Ne5 {Black Resigns. Also decisive is 23. Qh6+ Ke7 24. Bg5+ Ke7 25. Bxf6+ Kf7 26. Ne5+ Kg8 27. Qg7 mate. Black has no appetite for 23...Qe4 24. Qh6+ Ke7 25. Bg5+ f6 26. Bxf6+ Nxf6 27. Qf8 mate.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Karpov, A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]

{Anand's suicidal tendencies can be explained by the fact that a draw would do him no good. He had to win to tie the match again and reach another two-game tiebreaker.} 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 {"White must work to achieve the natural c4, and my Queen can sail to the queenside to exploit the absence of the White bishop" (Karpov).} 4. Nf3 Qb6 5. b3 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7.
Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Nd7 9. c4 Ne7 {A new idea instead of the usual 9...Ngf6. The Knight heads for the outpost on f5 to harass the Bishop. White should now castle but gets too aggressive.} 10. c5 Qa5+ 11. Nc3 b6 {It's important to undermine the pawn chain before White gets in a3 and b4. Now 12. cxb6 is necessary but Anand recklessly sacrifices two pawns to confine Black's King to the center.} 12. b4 Qxb4 13. O-O Nf5 14. Rfc1 bxc5 15. Rab1 {Do or die! His only compensation for the lost material is activity on the open file.}
15... c4 16. Qc2 Qa5 17. Rb7 Qa6 18. Rcb1 Bd6 {"Materialistic computer programs wanted to select 18...Nb6 but I already have enough material to win the game. What Black is lacking is development and a safe King. Therefore I prefer the text which in my view more accurately meets the demands of the position and match situation" (Karpov).} 19. e4 Nxh4 20. Nxh4 Rb8 21. Rxb8+
Bxb8 22. exd5 cxd5 23. Ng6 {Desperation to prevent Black from castling.}
23... fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kd8 25. Qxg7 Re8 26. Qxh6 Qa5 27. Qg5+ Kc8 28. Qg6 Rf8
29. Rc1 Qb6 30. Ne2 e5 31. Qh5 Qf6 32. Rf1 Rh8 {White Resigns. Thus Karpov remained FIDE champion by a score of 5-3.} 0-1

[Event "10-game match"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Timman, J."]
[Black "van Wely, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]

{In a dogfight to determine the best Dutch player, Loek van Wely, 25, held veteran Jan Timman, 47, to a 5-5 tie and then won a speed playoff. "A century ago the spectators threw coins at the chessboard after a battle such as this," noted one critic.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 g6 {An old trap is 4...Nxe4? 5. Qa4+ snaring the knight.} 5. O-O Bg7 6. Bb5+ {More consistent is 6. d3 instead of moving the same piece twice in the opening.}
6... Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Re1 Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Nc3
{Sharper than 12. Nbd2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 O-O 14. b3 Rac8 and a draw was agreed in Timman-van Wely, Wijk-aan-zee 1998.} 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. h4 Rac8
15. h5 Na5 {Also playable is the Karpovian retreat 16...Nd8 to inhibit e6.}
16. Ng5 Rc6 17. e6 fxe6 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Qg4 Rf6 20. Qh3 Nc4 {Who will come first -- White on the kingside or Black on the queenside?} 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22.
Nh3 Qd6 23. Bg5 Rf5 24. f4 Nd2 25. Re3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Bxd4+ 27. Kh1 Bxc3 28.
Qxg6 Bg7 29. Rc1 Nc4 {Blocking the open file. But not 29...Qd7 30. Bh6 Bxh6 31. Qxh6+ Ke8 32. Ng5 Rf6 33. Qh5+ Kd8 34. Qh8+ Qe8 35. Rc8+!} 30. Re1 Rf7
31. Rxe6 Qa3 32. Bh4 Ne3 33. Ng5 Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Ng4+ 35. Kh3 Rxf4 {Threatening mate-in-two with 36. Qh1+.} 36. Re1 Qc3+ 37. g3 Rf6 {No better is 37...Nf2+ 38. Kg2 Nd3 39. Ne6+ Kg8 40. gxf4!} 38. Nh7+ Kg8 39. Nxf6+ Nxf6 40. Rxe7
Qc8+ 41. Kg2 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "Kilkenny Chess Festival"]
[Site "Ireland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Sergei Tiviakov"]
[Black "Luke McShane"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]

{British prodigy Luke McShane is a name to reckon with. At age 14 he came from behind to tie for first by upending the pre-tournament favorite, Russian grandmaster Tiviakov (rated 2655). The kid is outplayed most of the way and finds himself with a bad Bishop against a good knight. When given a chance, he lands a Sunday punch.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 {More complex than 6...a6 7. Nd6+ Bxd6 8. Qxd6 Qf6. Black is saddled with a backward d-pawn in this complex Sveshnikov Variation.} 
7. Bg5 {Stronger than 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 when Black gets a broad center by f5.} 7...a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 {Trying to exploit the doubled pawns, although some players favor the positional approach 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3.} 
9... gxf6 {White stays on top after 9...Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Be3.} 10. Nd5 f5 
11. exf5 Bxf5 12. c3 Bg7 13. Nc2 Be6 14. g3 O-O 15. Bg2 a5 16. O-O Rb8 17. Qd2 
{An improvement on 17. b4!? once adopted by Anand which merely created weaknesses in White's position.} 17... Qd7 18. Rad1 f5 19. Nde3 {Temporarily vacating d5 in order to exchange as many pieces as possible on d5 to saddle Black with a bad Bishop against a good Knight on d5. When this plan works, White usually wins. When it doesn't -- watch what happens! Now 19...f4? is refuted by 20. Qxd6.} 19... Rbd8 20.Bd5 Ne7 21. Bxe6+ Qxe6 22. Nd5 f4 23. Nxe7+ 
Qxe7 24. Qd5+ Kh8 25. Rfe1 Qf6 26. Re2 Bh6 27. Qxb5 {White has achieved his goal but snatching the pawn is perilous. The right plan is 27. b3 f3 28. Re4 Qf5 29. Rd3 Qh3 30. Ne1.} 27... f3 28. Re4 Rb8 29. Qxa5 {Isolates the Queen on the wrong wing. 29. Qd5 Rxb2 30. Ne1 is necessary to stay alive.} 29... Rxb2 {Nimzowitsch termed such a marauding rook a "pig".} 30. Ne3 Re2 31. Ng4 Qg6 32. Rb4 Bf4 {The silent Bishop comes to life and changes the outcome completely.} 33. h3 Bxg3 34. 
Qd5 {If 34. fxg3 Qc2 35. Rf1 Rg2 36. Kh1 Rh2! 37. Nxh2 Qg2 mate.} 34... Bxf2+ 35. 
Kf1 Bc5 36. Rb7 Rg2 {The threat of ...Rg1 is horrendous for White. White Resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "16th New York Open"]
[Site "Manhattan"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shabalov, A."]
[Black "Smirin, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B43"]

{Many unknowns made their name at this stellar event and earned FIDE titles here. The 16th New York Open attracted 804 players, including 60 grandmasters vying for a piece of the $175,000 prize fund. One of the most exciting games ever played here featured a daring Knight sacrifice that failed by a whisker against careful defense.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 a6 {The Kan Variation gives White the option to increase his grip on the center with 5. c4 which can be met by 5...Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4. More appealing is 5 Bd3.} 5. Nc3 b5 6. g3 Bb7 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O {Preparing a pawn sacrifice. More prudent is 8. a3 or Qe2.} 8... b4 9. Nd5 {Otherwise 9. Na4 Bxe4 10. Bxe4 Nxe4 gives White no compensation for the pawn.} 9... exd5 10.
exd5 Bc5 11. Re1+ Kf8 12. Nf5 d6 13. Bf4 Bc8 14. Nd4 Qb6 15. Nc6 h6 {This fine defensive move creates an escape square for the King on h7. Too dangerous is 15...Bxf2+ 16. Kh1 Bxe1 17. Bxd6+. Black already has enough material and must find a way to consolidate.} 16. Qd2 Bb7 17. a3 a5 18. axb4
axb4 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Ra1 Nxc6 21. Bxd6+ {White's compensation for the piece is nebulous, so he tries to mix it up. Inadequate is 21. Rxa8+ Nd8.}
21... Bxd6 22. dxc6 Qb8 23. Rxa8 {The attack also fizzles out after 23. c7 Qxc7 24. Rxa8+ Ne8 25. Qe2 Qe7.} 23... Qxa8 24. Qxd6+ Kg8 25. c7 Qc8 26. Bf1
Ne8 27. Qd8 Qxc7 28. Qxe8+ Kh7 29. Qe4+ g6 30. Bc4 Rd8 31. Bb3 {The storm is over and White fails to make the most of his drawing chances with 31. b3.}
31... Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Rd2 33. Qf3 Kg7 34. h4 Rd6 35. Kh2 Rf6 36. Qe2 Qc5 37.
Kg1 Qd4 {Now it's apparent that the Bishop is poorly placed on b3. Once the Queens are off, White is lost.} 38. c3 bxc3 39. bxc3 Qxc3 40. Bd5 Rd6 41.
Qa2 Qe5 42. Bf3 Qe1+ 43. Kg2 Rd2 44. Qa7 Qe5 45. Qa6 Qd4 {Black makes constant inroads and eventually forces the exchange of Queens.} 46. Qf1 Ra2
47. Qe1 Kf6 48. Qf1 Qd2 49. Kg1 Ke7 50. Kg2 Kf8 51. Bg4 Rc2 52. Bf3 Kg8 53.
Be4 Rc1 54. Qb5 Qe1 55. Qe8+ Kg7 56. Qe5+ Kh7 57. Kf3 Qc3+ 58. Qxc3 Rxc3+
59. Kf4 Kg7 60. g4 {Drops a pawn. 60. Bf3 offers more resistance.} 60... Rh3
{White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Clock Exhibition"]
[Site "Israel"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Smirin, I."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B43"]

{Kasparov introduced a new concept by taking on the best players of entire nations at once under tournament conditions. Here he faced the Israeli Olympic team -- a powerhouse of young former Russians -- all grandmasters. In the first round he won 2 and drew 2. In the second round he wiped them out 4 - 0! This was his only close call. Afterwards, while still in Tel Aviv, he won two games via Internet against Peter Svidler (3-time Russian champ) who competed from St. Petersburg.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Nb3 Qc7 {A loss of time justified by driving the Knight from its dominant outpost on d4.} 8. O-O Nf6 9. Re1 Bd6 10. g3 b4
11. Ne2 Nc6 12. Ned4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 h5 {Good aggression, though it's dangerous to leave the King in the center.} 14. Bf1 h4 15. Bg2 hxg3 16. hxg3
Bb7 17. Bd2 Bc5 18. c3 Qb6 19. Qe2 d5 20. e5 Ne4 21. Be3 Qc7 {Spurning 21...bxc3 22. bxc3 Nxc3 23. Qg4.} 22. c4 Qxe5 23. Nb3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qh5 25.
Qb6 Rb8 26. c5 {A viable alternative is 26. cxd5.} 26... Qh2+ 27. Kf1 O-O
28. c6 Ba8 29. Qxa6 f5 30. c7 Rbe8 31. Nd4 {A better winning try is 31. Rac1 f4 32. c8=Q gxf3 33. Qxe8!} 31... Nd2+ 32. Ke2 Qxg2 33. c8=Q Qe4+ 34. Kd1
Qxd4 35. Qaxe6+ Rxe6 36. Qxe6+ Rf7 37. Qe8+ Rf8 38. Qe6+ Rf7 39. Qe8+ {Black must allow a perpetual check in view of 38...Kh7 39. Rh1+ Kg6 40. Qe6+ Rf6 41. Qe8+ Rf7 (not 41...Kg5? 42 Qh5 mate) 42. Qe6+ etc.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Knockout"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand V."]
[Black "Shirov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]

{FIDE's new Wimbledon-style knockout format with a prize fund of $5 million attracted 98 grandmasters for the right to challenge Karpov for the title. Each round consisted of two-game mini- matches followed by speed games to resolve ties. By round 5 only eight players were still standing; the four losers each got the unheard of sum of $96,000. Anand finally blasted his way to the top, thanks in part to this lovely positional effort which a critic dubbed "the very best game from Groningen".} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {Shirov is a sharp tactician who blazed new trails by reviving the antiquated Moller Defense to the Ruy.} 7. a4 Rb8 8.
c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 O-O 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. Be3 exd4 14. cxd4
Qe8 {Eschewing 14...Nxe4? 15. Bd5 Qe8 16. Qc2.} 15. h3 Bd7 16. Nc3 Nxe4 17.
Re1 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Qc8 19. c4 {Creating an imbalance in a position which looks equal on the surface. Suddenly the Bishop on b6 is in peril.} 19...
Bf5 20. Re2 Na5 21. Ba2 c5 22. d5 Bd8 23. Bd2 {Exploiting the misplaced Knight on a5 is the key to White's strategy.} 23... Qa6 {White gradually is increasing his advantage in space. An alternative is 23...Nb7 right away in order to meet 24. Bc3 with Ba5 to ease the cramp.} 24. Qa4 Ra8 25. Bc3 Nb7
26. Qd1 {Trading pieces only helps Black uncramp.} 26... Ba5 27. Bb2 Bb4 28.
Nh4 Bg6 29. f4 {Now that the situation on the other flank has been stabilized, White launches a kingside offensive that remains potent even after Queens are gone.} 29... Qa4 30. Qxa4 Rxa4 31. f5 Rfa8 32. Re7 Bh5 33.
g4 f6 34. gxh5 Rxa2 35. Rxa2 Rxa2 36. h6 {This blow demolishes Black's hope of salvaging a draw. If 36...gxh6 37. Bxf6 Na5 38. Rg7+ Kf8 39. Rxh7 is the quietus.} 36... Rxb2 37. Rxg7+ Kh8 38. Rxb7 Bc3 39. Rd7 Kg8 40. Rd8+ Kf7 41.
Rh8 Bd4+ 42. Kf1 {Black Resigns. Not bothering with a last "spite check" by 42...Rf2+ 43. Ke1.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, V."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]

{A dramatic turnaround. Karpov could have increased his lead to two points but missed a win and then lost when he chose a "safe" natural move that ruined his position.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 { Karpov revives the old fashioned Moller Defense that never caught on because White gains a tempo in the center after attacking the Bishop with c3 and d4. } 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 {A good alternative is 8. d4 Bb6 9. h3. Now Karpov gives up the two Bishops to prevent White from expanding in the center.} 8... Bg4 9. d3 O-O 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Na5 12. Bc2 b4 13. Nd2 Rb8
14. Qe2 Re8 15. Nf3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb3 17. Bxb3 Rxb3 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4
Rxf3 {Black gets ample compensation for this enterprising sacrifice. Inferior is 19...Rxe4 20. Be3.} 20. Qxf3 {An interesting alternative is 20. dxc5!? Rc3 21. cxd6 Nxe4 22. dxc7 Qxc7 23. Qxa6.} 20... Bxd4 21. Ra2 Nxe4
22. Qd3 c5 23. Qxa6 d5 24. a5 c4 25. Be3 Be5 26. Bb6 Qd7 27. Qa7 Qc6 28. Bd4
Bc7 29. Rb2 c3 30. Rb7 Rc8 31. Bb6 {Anand starts to get into trouble by misplacing his pieces. 31. Rc1! is simple and good.} 31... Be5 32. Rxf7 c2
33. Rc1 Nc3 34. Rf3 h6 {By playing it safe Black misses a win with 33...Ne2+ 34. Kf1 Qe8! 35. Kxe2 Bb8+ 37. Re3 Qb5+ followed by Bxa7.} 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36.
Re3 d4 37. Rxe5 d3 38. Bd4 Rg8 39. Re6 d2 40. Rxc6 dxc1=Q+ 41. Kh2 Qd2 42.
Rc8 {Black Resigns. A lucky reprieve for Anand.} 1-0

[Event "Exhibition Match"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Polgar, J."]
[Black "Karpov, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{One trend that emerged in the 90s was Active Chess, where each side is allotted 25 or 30 minutes to complete the entire game instead of the standard 40 moves in 2 or 2 1/2 hours followed by either an adjournment or sudden death. The modern mania for speed was reflected in this eight game match, contested at the rate of two games a day, which Polgar won 5-3. Quality obviously suffers, the clock forces error, but chess marches on.} 1.
e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 {Inviting 7. Nxe6?! fxe6 8. Bg6+ Ke7 followed by Nf8 when White doesn't have enough compensation for the piece.} 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7
11. Qg4 Kf8 {Best. Black's want to avoid weakening a pawn by pushing it and if 11...O-O? 12. Bxh6 wins.} 12. Be3 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O-O Nf6 15. Qh4
Bxe3+ 16. fxe3 Bd7 17. Rhf1 Rc8 18. Kb1 Bc6 19. e4 Kg8 20. c3 Nd7 21. Bc2
Ne5 22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Qf2 f6 24. Qxa7 Qxh2 25. e5 Qxe5 {White also keeps the initiative on 25...f5 26. g4.} 26. Rfe1 Qc7 {Black should try to get the Queens off by 26...Qb8! 27. Qxb8 Rxb8 28. Rxe6 Kf7 breaking the attack.} 27.
Rxe6 Kf7 28. Bb3 Kg6 29. Qd4 Rhd8 {Finally the rook is free but the King is in trouble.} 30. Qg4+ Kh7 31. Bc2+ Kg8 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 {Hoping for 33. Rxf6? Qe5.} 33. Re1 Kf8 34. Bg6 Qd6 35. Qc4 Qd5 36. Qe2 Qd7 37. c4 Qd6 38. a3 Qd7
39. g4 Kg8 {Is the King safer here? More tenacious is 39...Qd6.} 40. Bf5 Qd6
41. Qc2 Re8 42. Rd1 Qc5 43. Bg6 Ra8 44. Qd3 Qe7 45. Qd4 Be8 46. Be4 Bf7 47.
c5 {Correct is 47. Bd5!} 47... Rc8 48. Bf5 Rxc5 49. Qd8+ Qf8 {A gross blunder in extreme time pressure. The only hope is 49...Qe8.} 50. Bh7+ { Timber! The Queen falls. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Chebanenco Memorial-Kishinev"]
[Site "Moldavia"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Morozevich, A."]
[Black "Iordachescu, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]

{At 16 young Alexander Morozevich had a fantastic breakthrough by scoring 9 1/2 out of 10 at the 1994 Lloyds Bank Tourney in London, and he was hailed as a future contender. Then he endured a long dry spell before winning the First Chebanenco Memorial with 8 1/2 out of 9 to obtain a magic Elo rating of 2700, suddenly catapulting him into the world's top ten.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4
d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 {Reminiscent of Deep Blue - Kasparov, 6th match game 1997, where the world champion succumbed in only 19 moves after 7. h6?! 8. Nxe6!} 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4
10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qh4 {An attempt to improve on the customary 11. Qe2.} 11...
Ke7 {One of Karpov's creative contributions to opening theory. Instead of seeking shelter on either wing, the King takes part directly in the battle by clearing the connection between his Queen and rook to make g5 possible! A wonderful concept -- and if White doesn't take the bull by the horns he may easily end up in serious trouble. Therefore he gives up a pawn.} 12. Ne5
Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qa5+ 14. c3 Qxe5+ 15. Be3 b6 16. O-O-O g5 {Unnecessarily weakens the kingside. Better is 16...Rd8 to fortify the center.} 17. Qh3 { Improving on 17. Qa4 c5 18. Rhe1 Bd7 19. Qa3 Rhd8 20. g3 Qc7 21. Bd4 Be8 22. Kb1 Rd5 and Black's pawn eventually prevailed (Kamsky-Karpov, Dortmund 1993).} 17... c5 18. Rhe1 Bb7 19. Bc4 Be4 {Costs material. The game has reached critical mass. 19...Kf8 is worth a try. But certainly not 19...Rad8? 20. Bxc5+! Qxc5 21. Rxe6+! fxe6 22.Qxe6+ Kf7 23. Qf7 mate.} 20. f3 Bf5 21. 
g4 Bg6 22. Bd5 Qxd5 {Black's dilemma is that he can't simultaneously get the rook and Queen out of the way (if 22...Rad8? 22. Bxc5+). So he jettisons the Queen for what seems like decent compensation, and stopping the horrendous threat of Bxc5+ or Bxa8.} 23. Rxd5 Nxd5 24. Qg3 Rad8 25. f4 Nxe3 26. Qxe3 
gxf4 27. Qxf4 h5 {No better is 27...Rd5 28. Rf1 Rhd8 29. Qxh6.} 28. Qg5+ Ke8 
29. Qh4 {The winning strategy is to separate Black's remaining forces into two groups that can't cooperate.} 29... Rh7 30. g5 Bd3 31. Qa4+ Rd7 32. Rd1 
c4 33. b3 Rg7 34. bxc4 {Playing it safe with 34. h4 also works.} 34... Kd8 
35. c5 Rxg5 36. c6 Rd6 37. Qxa7 Rgd5 38. c7+ Kd7 39. Qb7 {Black resigns} 1-0

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, P."]
[Black "Beliavsky, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]

{Hungarian prodigy Peter Leko became a grandmaster by age 15. Here he shows how attacking on both wings at once can keep an opponent off balance. There is little in the way of spectacular moves, but he ratchets up the pressure by subtle and strong "little moves" a la Karpov.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3
g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be3 {One of the main points of this system is to follow up with Qd2 and Bh6 to trade off Black's Bishop and thus weaken his King position after he castles. Of course this all takes time while Black starts counterplay on the other wing.} 5... c6 6. Qd2 b5 7. Bd3 Bg4 8. e5 {Clearer than 8. Bh6 O-O 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nfd7 12. Qe3 Qc7 13. e6 Bxe6 14. h4! with attacking prospects.} 8... b4 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 d5 {A major concession giving White a solid center and a free hand to operate on either wing. The b7-bishop is also muzzles. Better is 10...Bxf3 11. Bxf3 dxe5.} 11. Bd3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 a5 13. h4 Nd7 {13...h5? 14. e6! undermines Black's kingside.} 14. h5 Qb6 15. c4 bxc3ep {Relatively best even though it concedes the b-file. If 19...dxc4 20. Bxc4 gives White new targets against e6 and c6. Or 19...e6 20. Rc1 controls the c-file.} 16. bxc3 e6 17. Rb1 Qc7
18. Bh6 Bf8 19. Bg5 Rg8 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Ke2 {Almost White's first non-forcing move since the game began. Black's problem is that he has virtually no counterplay and his King is stuck in the center while White controls the only open files.} 21... Be7 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Qg5+ Ke8 24. f4
Qd8 25. Qg3 Kf8 26. Rbg1 {Finally revealing his hand. Leko intends to infiltrate on the kingside; his immediate threat is f5.} 26... Rb8 27. f5
Rb2+ 28. Ke3 exf5 29. Bxf5 Nb6 30. Bd3 Nc4+ {There's no time for 30...Rxa2 31. Qf4.} 31. Bxc4 dxc4 32. Qf4 Qe7 33. Rb1 {Switching back to the other wing! Beliavsky could still offer token resistance by 33...Rxb1 34 Rxb1 Kg7 but 35. Rh1 f6 36. Rh3! fxe5 37. Qh6+ Kf6 38. Qh4+ Ke6 39. Qxe7+ Kxe7 40. dxe5 would force a won endgame.} 33... Qa3 34. Kf3 {Renewing the threat of Rh7. A last gasp would be 34...Qxc3+ 35. Kg2 g5 36 Qf5! Qxd4 37. Rxb2 Qxb2 38. Rb1.} 34... g5 35. Qc1 {Black Resigns. Pursuing his strategy with iron logic. Now Black must submit to 35...Rxa2} 1-0

[Event "Dutch Championship"]
[Site "Rotterdam"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "?"]
[White "van der Veide, K."]
[Black "Piket, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]

{An instructive game, again proving that failing to castle early is the main reason for short losses. The player who finished last in this event upsets Dutch grandmaster Jeroen Piket, whose King got stuck in the center.} 1. e4
g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 d6 {On 4...d5 Fischer recommends 5. h3! to prevent Black from pinning the Knight by Bg4.} 5. h3 b5 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O
Bb7 8. Be3 a6 9. a4 e5 {Too provocative. Correct is 9...b4.} 10. axb5 cxb5
11. dxe5 dxe5 {Exchanges don't help ease the cramp. If 11...Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 (or 12...Bxe5 13. f4) 13. Nxb5! axb5 14. Bxb5+ Kf8 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Qd6+ Ne7 17. Rd1! is decisive.} 12. Bxb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 Bf8 {Other defenses are dubious. If 13...Bc6 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Qd6! ties Black up. Or 13...Rxa1 14. Qxa1 Bc6 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Ng5! Nh6 17. Ndxf7 Nxf7 18. Ne6+!} 14. Qd3 Ra6
15. Rfd1 Qc8 16. Rxa6 Bxa6 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. Qxd6 Be2 {Desperately trying to reduce the attacking force. No better is 18...Ngf6 19. Bg5.} 19. Rd5 Ne7 {A better chance was 19...f6 or Bxf3.} 20. Nxe5 Nxd5 {Black also can't survive for long after 20...Nxe5 21. Rxe5 Qd7 22. Qf6! with Bc5 or Bg5 looming.} 21.
Nxd7 Rg8 {What else? If 21...Qd7 22. Qxe5+ followed by Qxh8+ picks up too many pawns.} 22. Bg5 Ba6 23. exd5 Qxd7 24. Qe5+ {Black Resigns in view of 24...Kf8 25. Bh6+ Rg7 26. Bxg7+ Kg8 27. Bh6 f5 28. Qf6.} 1-0

[Event "German Championship"]
[Site "Bremen"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Joerg Hickl"]
[Black "Arthur Yusupov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A12"]

{The unification of Germany made it, overnight, the only country to really challenge Britain's supremacy in Western Europe. Joerg Hickl, 33, won the national title in a field of 48 including 21 grandmasters thanks in part to a striking sacrifice against Arthur Yusupov, formerly of the USSR. Black, obsessed with preserving his bishop, overlooks a spectacular sacrifice.} 1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Bg4 5. Bb2 e6 6. Be2 Nbd7 
7. Nc3 Bd6 8. Nd4 {Attempting to improve on 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nd4 Bxe2 10. Ncxe2 g6! 11. O-O O-O 12. Nf3 Qe7 13. Qc2 Ba3 14. Qc1 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 and a tame draw was agreed in Ivkov-Campora, New York Open 1987.} 8... Bxe2 
9. Qxe2 O-O {To be considered is 9...g6 denying the Knight access to f5 in the ensuing play, but it doesn't look necessary, does it?} 10. cxd5 
exd5 {On 10...cxd5 11. Ncb5 Bb8 12. Ba3 also gives White the initiative.} 
11. Nf5 Bc5 {Better is 11...Bc7.} 12. Na4 Bb4 {Expecting 13. a3 Ba5 14. b4 Bc7 preserving the Bishop. In retrospect 12...Re8 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 holds White's advantage to a minimum.} 13. Nxg7 b5 {Black clearly can't take the Knight due to 13...Kxg7 14. Qg4+ Kh8 15. Qxb4. The former world championship candidate thought he was now winning a piece, but he received a rude shock.} 14. Nf5 bxa4 15. Qh5 {Black overlooked this spectacular reply. If 15...Nxh5 16. Nh6 mate. Now White regains the piece with interest.} 15...
Kh8 16. Qg4 Bxd2+ {The doomed Bishop sells itself as dearly as possible.}
17. Kxd2 Rg8 18. Qxa4 Rxg2 19. Ke2 Qg8 {Desperately seeking counterplay. White's powerful Bishop ties up both Knights while the pawn on c6 and the rook on g2 are endangered.} 20. Ng3 Qg6 21. Rac1 Re8 22. Qf4 {Even stronger is 22. Kf1 but Black is lost anyway.} 22... c5 23. Kf1 Rxg3 24. Bxf6+ Nxf6
25. hxg3 Ne4 26. Rh6 Qg7 27. Rd1 Re5 28. Kg2 Ng5 29. Rc6 h6 30. Rxh6+ {Black resigns. 1-0} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Switzerland"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]

{In this two-game tiebreak each player was allotted 25 minutes, a shocking climax for a so-called world championship match. After obtaining a won position -- with a lot more time left on his clock to boot -- Anand experienced an unmitigated disaster.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O
Bg4 {More sensible than hemming in the Bishop by 4...e6.} 5. d3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2
e6 7. e4 Be7 8. Qe2 O-O 9. h3 Bh5 10. Re1 dxe4 11. dxe4 e5 {Stops e5 once and for all.} 12. b3 Qc7 13. Bb2 Rfe8 14. Qf1 {A typical Karpovian retreat to break the pin. More natural is 14. Nf1 followed by g4 and Ng3-f5.} 14...
Rad8 15. a3 b5 16. Bc3 Bf8 17. Nh4 Nc5 18. Bf3 Bg6 {Not giving White a chance to eliminate his worst piece by 18...Bxf3 19. Nhxf3.} 19. Nxg6 hxg6 { Textbooks recommend capturing TOWARDS the center.} 20. Bg2 a6 21. Qe2 Ne6
22. Nf3 Nd7 23. a4 b4 {Reckoning that his control of d4 offsets White's control of c4.} 24. Bb2 a5 25. c3 {"It was better to prepare this with 25. Rad1 c5 26. c3. 25. Rac1!? is also interesting" (Karpov).} 25... bxc3 26.
Bxc3 Rb8 27. Rab1 Bb4 28. Rec1 Bxc3 29. Rxc3 c5 30. Qe3 Qd6 31. h4 Nd4 32.
Bh3 Nb6 33. Rbc1 {"Here I should secure the blockade of the c-pawn with 33. Nd2! From d2 the Knight also protects my rook on b1, so Black does not have 33...Nxa4. I would then be able to follow with 34. Rbc1 and Black would be thrown on the defensive since his c-pawn would be under pressure" (Karpov).}
33... c4 34. bxc4 Nxa4 35. c5 Qe7 36. Ra3 {Equally bad is 36. Rc4 Rb3. Karpov suggests that the correct choice is 36. Nxd4! exd4 37. Qxd4 Nxc3 38. Qxc3 Qxe4 39. c6 with compensation for the Exchange.} 36... Nxc5 37. Rac3
Ncb3 38. Rc7 Qf6 {Anand, with 17 minutes left vs. Karpov's 3, misses an easier win with 38...Nxc1 39. Rxe7 Nce2+ 40. Kg2 Rxe7 when the Queen is overpowered by the two rooks and the passed a-pawn.} 39. R1c3 Nxf3+ 40. Qxf3
a4 {Much stronger is 40...Nd4 41. Qxf6 gxf6 42. R3c5 Ra8 getting behind the passed pawn. Now White's passive Bishop springs to life.} 41. Qxf6 gxf6 42.
Bd7 Nd4 {Black can't lose after 42...Re7 but he is still playing to win.}
43. Bxe8 Ne2+ 44. Kg2 Nxc3 45. Bxf7+ Kf8 46. Bxg6 Nb5 47. Rf7+ Kg8 48. Rxf6
Ra8 49. h5 a3 50. h6 a2 51. Bf7+ Kh7 52. Bxa2 {Stopping the pawn in the nick of time!} 52... Rxa2 53. g4 {"This is the move which ultimately brought victory in the match, since at this moment Anand was psychologically beaten. I could feel his nerves give way; he could not believe that after I suffered so many troubles I would refuse to accept a draw" (Karpov.)} 53... Nc3 54.
g5 Nxe4 55. Rf7+ Kg6 {Karpov says the last chance to hold is 55...Kg8! 56. g6 Ra8 57. h7+ Kh8 58. g7+ Kxh7 59. Rf8 Kxg7 60. Rxa8 Kg6 -- "a very important move which would most probably draw".} 56. Rg7+ Kf5 57. h7 Rxf2+
58. Kg1 Kg4 59. h8=Q Kg3 60. Re7 Rg2+ 61. Kf1 Nd2+ 62. Ke1 {Black Resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "100th U.S. Open"]
[Site "Reno"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Alejandro Hoffman"]
[Black "Hikaru Nakamura"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]

{The sensation of the tournament was 11-year-old Nakamura, who made history at age 10 as the youngest American ever to attain the rank of master. In the last round he upset this Argentinian grandmaster with a wild attack to finish a point out of the lead. Overall, in nine games Hikaru lost to two grandmasters, held one to a draw and won six games outright.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bf4 {This offbeat counter to the King's Indian Defense never gained favor because it develops the Bishop too soon. More usual is 5. e4 or g3.} 5... d6 6. h3 c5 7. d5 a6 8. a4 {Restraining Black from freeing his game by ...b5.} 8... Nh5 9. Bd2 f5 10. e3 e5 11.
dxe6ep Bxe6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O f4 14. Nd5 Bh6 {Not an active post, but it increases the pressure on e3.} 15. Ra3 Bxd5 16. cxd5 Ne7 17. e4 Nf6 18. Qb1
g5 19. a5 {More pertinent is 19. b4 right away. Now both sides proceed to attack on opposite wings, and the question becomes, who will penetrate first?} 19... Ng6 20. b4 cxb4 21. Bxb4 Qe7 22. Bd3 {Stronger is 22. Nd2 Ne5 23. f3 stopping the attack cold.} 22... g4 23. Nd4 Nh4 {23...gxh3? drops a piece after 24. Nf5.} 24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. Ne6 {Neglecting his kingside. 25. f3 would prevent Black's stunning reply.} 25... Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Qh4 27. fxg4
Qxg4+ 28. Kh2 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Kf7 32. Bc3 b5 { Stopping Qxb7 once and for all. If 32...Rg8 33. Bg7 staves off checkmate.}
33. Bg7 {The only hope is 33. Rc1.} 33... Qg4+ 34. Kh2 f3 35. Rg1 Qh4# {Will Nakamura achieve greater glory or, like so many other child prodigies before him, fall by the wayside?} 0-1

[Event "Wijk-aan-Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Svidler, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D97"]

{Kasparov is a trend-setter in the opening. This victory over Russian champion Peter Svidler features an innovation as early as move 11 in the Gruenfeld Defense that enabled him to nose out Anand for first by 1/2 point. It turns out that the first 17 moves were all prepared by Kasparov a night before this key game, though he had doubts about the outcome of his analysis.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O
7. e4 a6 {This system has stood up fairly well over the years.} 8. e5 b5 9.
Qb3 Nfd7 10. e6 {Ultra sharp. Also double-edged is 10. h4. The older 10. Be3 c5 11. e6 cxd4! was found to be okay for Black.} 10... fxe6 11. Be3 {This move was introduced in Levtchouk-Duong, Quebec 1991 but was ignored because White lost that game. The main line used to be 11. Qxe6+ Kh8 12. Qe4 Nb6 13. Qh4 Nc6.} 11... Nb6 {On 11...Nf6 Kasparov intended 12 a4! bxa4 13. Rxa4 striking a blow from the other flank. Since the Knight has swung to the left, White now swings to the right!} 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 Rxf3 {Blunts the attack and ruins White's pawn structure but opens the g-file. The idea is to keep White from gaining the initiative on 13...Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. O-O-O!? Bxe3+ 16. fxe3 Qe8 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Bd3.} 14. gxf3 Nxd4 15. Rd1 { Without this tactical nuance White would be in bad shape.} 15... c5 16. Bxd4
cxd4 17. hxg6 h6 {Best. More dangerous is 17...hxg6 18. Qc2.} 18. Rh5 {It's important to prevent Black's Knight from embedding itself on d5. Watch for the further peregrinations of this Rook.} 18... Qe8 19. Ne2 Qxg6 20. Rh1 Kh8
21. Rg1 Qf7 22. Nxd4 Nd5 23. Qd3 Bd7 24. Qe4 Rc8 25. Bd3 Nf6 26. Qh4 {This fine attacking maneuver mounts a staircase to the enemy King via b3-c4-d3-e4.} 26... Rc5 {Plausible but probably the decisive error. Essential is 26...Nd5! to establish control over the key f4 square.} 27. Ne2
Nd5 28. Rg6 Qf8 29. Qe4 Qf7 {If 28...Qf5 30. Rxg7 Qxe4 31. fxe4 Kxg7 32. exd5; or 28...Be8 29. Rxh6+! Bxh6 30. Qh7 mate.} 30. Kd2 Nf6 31. Qe3 {Black resigns. The final step of the staircase. If now 31...Rh5 32. Rdg1 Bf8 33. Nf4 Rh2 34. R6g3 threatening Ng6+ is the quietus.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand V."]
[Black "Svidler, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D97"]

{After drawing his first five games, Anand posted his first win with a blistering attack, and his final move is piquant. It's very hard to find games in the entire history of chess that end in mate by castling; nowadays most masters resign just before it stares them in the face.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. e5 b5 9. Qb3
Nfd7 10. h4 {Varying from an earlier event at Wijk-aan-Zee where Kasparov played 10. e6 right away against Svidler, probably prepared a better defense in the meantime.} 10... c5 11. e6 c4 12. Qd1 Nb6 13. exf7+ Rxf7 14. h5 Nc6
15. hxg6 hxg6 16. Be3 Bf5 {Already going astray since it allows White to prosecute the attack with gain of tempo (18. g4). Either 16...Bg4 (or Nd5) would keep Black on track.} 17. Ng5 Rf6 {Trying to repair the previous error is futile. Black should try to survive by 17... Nxd4 18. Nxf7 Kxf7.} 18. g4
Be6 19. Nce4 Bd5 20. Qd2 {Going after material with 20. Nxf6+ exf6 21. Nf3 Qd7 allows Black more counterplay.} 20... Rd6 {Necessary is 20...Qd7 to free the rook on a8.} 21. f3 Bxe4 22. fxe4 Nd7 {Rushing back to defend the kingside. Equally unappetizing is 22...Nxd4 23. Qh2.} 23. Qh2 Nf8 24. e5 Rd7
25. Ne6 Qa5+ {No better is 25...Nxe6 26. Bxc4 bxc4 27. Qh7+.} 26. Bd2 Nxe5
27. Be2 c3 28. Bxc3 b4 29. Nxg7 bxc3 30. Qh8+ Kf7 31. O-O+ {Black Resigns. A noteworthy finale that had both players chuckling. Technically speaking, it's not mate because 31...Nf3+ 32. Rxf3+ Qf5 delays the inevitable.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Svidler, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{In the most important match of his career against Shirov in 1998, 22-year-old Kramnik failed to obtain a title match with Kasparov because he couldn't cope with Shirov's pet Gruenfeld Defense. Here he experiments with a sharp approach that helped him tie for second with Anand at 8-6 in this elite double round robin at Linares, 2 1/2 points behind Kasparov in the strongest tournament of 1999. The NY Times called this game a "gem".} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1
{The Exchange Variation of the Gruenfeld demonstrates the conflict between occupying the center with pawns as Black strives to undermine this structure. The idea behind 8. Rb1 is to remove the rook from the a1-h8 diagonal. If now 8...Nc6 9. d5 Bxc3+ 10. Bd2 favors White.} 8... O-O 9. Be2
cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 {A gambit that offers a pawn for speedy development. The endgame with 11. Qd2 offers White fewer prospects.} 11...
Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 {Inviting 13. Rxb7 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Bxd4 15. Rxe7 Nc6. The alternative 12...Qe6 13. Qc2 Qc6 14. Qd3 Qd6 15. Bb4 Qd8 16. d5 but be tenable but Black remains cramped.} 13. Be3 {The older try is 13. Bg5.}
13... Nc6 14. d5 Na5 15. Bg5 Bxf3 {Better is 15...Qa3 here or on the next move.} 16. Bxf3 Rfe8 17. e5 Nc4 {This doesn't work, but neither does 17...Bxe5 18. d6! exd6 19. Bd5 Qa3 20. Bd2 Nc6 21. Rxb7.} 18. d6 Nxe5 19.
Bd5 Qa3 20. Bxe7 Bf8 21. Bxb7 Bxe7 22. Bxa8 Bxd6 23. Bd5 Re7 {Despite dropping the Exchange, Black's position is still a tough nut to crack. White's fine next move threatening f4 renews his initiative.} 24. Kh1 h5 25.
h3 Kg7 26. Qd2 Bc7 27. Rbd1 Nd7 {No better is 27...Qd6 28. f4 Nd7 29. Qc3+ Kh7 30. Bxf7 snaring another pawn.} 28. Bxf7 Rxf7 29. Qxd7 Rxd7 30. Rxd7+
Kh6 31. Rxc7 Qd3 32. Kg1 Qd4 33. Rc2 {Black resigns. On 33...Qa4 34. Rcc1 nothing can stop White from doubling rooks on the a-file to capture the pawn on a7; then in the same way White will double rooks on the sixth rank to annihilate the pawn on g6.} 1-0

[Event "Wijk-aan-Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Sokolov I."]
[Black "Kasparov G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E59"]

{This rather prosaic loss ended Kasparov's seven game winning streak against topnotch grandmasters. "It didn't bother me. I've already validated my status as number one," he shrugged. Although Kasparov no longer wears the official FIDE crown, he still bestrides the chess world like a Colossus and many fans consider him the greatest player in history.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7
10. Qc2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 {This variation become popular at Zurich 1953 and has been tested countless times since then. White usually retains only a minimal edge.} 12. Bd3 Re8 13. e4 {Today 13. dxe5 is regarded as the main line but Sokolov revives a move that was once popular in the 1950s.} 13...
exd4 14. cxd4 Bg4 15. e5 Bxf3 16. exf6 Nxd4 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. fxg7+ Kxg7 19.
Bb2 Rad8 20. gxf3 {Other tries lack sting. Steven-Vehre, postal 1978, was drawn quickly after 20. h3 Re5 21. Bxd4+ Rxd4 22. Bf5 Qc6 23. Kh2 Qd6+ 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Qd5+ 26. Kh2 Rxf5 27. Rae1. Langeweg- Ciujpers, Leeuwarden 1980 led to equality on 20. Rfc1 Rh8 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. Rxc5 Kxh7 23. Bxd4 Rhg8 24. Be5 Rxg2+ 25. Kf1 Rg6 26. Rc3 Bxg2+ 27. Ke2 Re8+ 28. Re3.}
20... Rh8 21. Kh1 Rxh7 {Dubious. A few games featuring 21...Kf8! generally ended well for Black. Kasparov said he knew about this move but simply forgot about it in the heat of battle.} 22. Rg1+ Kh8 23. Rg3 Qe5 24. Rag1
Rh4 {Believe it or not, this is probably the losing move. In Porath-Stahlberg, Amsterdam 1954, a draw arose from 24...Qh5 25. R1g2 f6 26. Qc4 (Sokolov said he intended to improve by 26. Qg6!) Qf7 27. Qxf7 Rxf7 28. f4 Rd6 29. Rh3+ Rh7 30. Rhg3 Re7 31. Rh3+ Rh7 31. Rhg3.} 25. Qc1 Kh7 {Loses fast. The only chance to fight back is 25...Qh5 26. R1g2 but Black seems doomed in the long run.} 26. Qb1+ Kh8 {An ignominious retreat but no better is 26...Qf5 27. Rg7+ Kh8 28. Qxf5 Nxf5 29. Rg8+ Kh7 30. Rxd8.} 27. Qf1 Qe6 { "Not giving me the pleasure to execute my threat 27...Rd6 28. Qh3!" (Sokolov). A strange thing now took place. Kasparov wrote down his opponent's next move on his score sheet and even showed it to him!} 28. Qg2
{Black resigns. Tripling on the g-file is decisive. If 28...f5 29. Rh3 Qf6 30. Rxh4+ Qxh4 31. Qg7 mate.} 1-0

[Event "Isle of Man Open"]
[Site "Port Erin"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Peter Kiriakov"]
[Black "Sergei Tiviakov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]

{A retired lighthouse guardian stubbornly defied common sense by staging the first-ever international Open on this island back in 1992. Now an annual fixture, it attracted 54 players from 16 nations including 15 grandmasters in 1999. These two young Russian grandmasters didn't make it to the top, but they produced a sparkling game that illustrates the old maxim about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. Black castles early -- too early -- his rook, Bishop and Knight are locked up on the queenside and can't come to the aid of his beleaguered King on the other flank.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Nf3 Qb6 7. e3 Qc7 {Is forcing White to play e3 worth the loss of time involved in moving the Queen a second time?}
8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Be2 a6 11. Rd1 Be7 12. O-O O-O {Provoking a strong rejoinder. Simply 12...d5 or d6 or h6 would save Black a lot of grief.} 13.
Ng5 Rd8 {One bad move leads to another. Better is 13...Re8 14. Nd5 exd5 15. Bxf6 g6 16. Bxe7 Rxe7 and Black, if not satisfied, at least is still alive.}
14. Nd5 exd5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qxh7+ Kf8 17. cxd5 d6 {Finally. But not 17...Bxg5? 18. d6 threatening Qh8 mate!} 18. Bh5 {Played instantly. Black is a piece ahead but his forces are bottled up on the queenside.} 18... Bxg5
19. Qh8+ Ke7 20. Qxg7 Rf8 21. Qxg5+ Ke8 22. Rc1 Qd8 23. Qf5 Qe7 {Or 23...Qd7 24. Qe4 Kd8 25. Qh4 Ke8 (if 25...f6 26. Qb4!) 26. Rc4 threatening Re4. Now White wins back material while continuing to harass the enemy King.} 24. Rc4
Nd7 25. Rc7 Bc8 26. Rfc1 {Strengthens the attack by bringing another big gun into play.} 26... Kd8 27. Bg4 Qe8 28. R1c6 {Black is tied up in knots.}
28... Rg8 29. h3 b5 30. Qf4 Qf8 31. Bxd7 Bxd7 32. Qf6+ Ke8 33. Rxd6 Rd8 34.
Rdxd7 {Black resigns. 1-0} 1-0

[Event "10-game Exhibition match"]
[Site "Russia"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Korchnoi, V."]
[Black "Spassky, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A59"]

{Going into this 8th game Spassky trailed by a point. This was his last chance to catch up. The exciting finale proved to be the turning point of a match which he ultimately lost 6-4.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 {The risky Benko Gambit. Black boldly sacrifices a pawn for queenside pressure.} 4.
cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. g3 O-O
11. Kg2 Nbd7 12. h3 Ra6 13. Re1 Qa8 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bd2 e6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17.
Qc2 {Another try is 17. Kg1!? to get the King away from danger on the long diagonal.} 17... g5 18. a4 g4 {More logical is 18...d5 right away.} 19. hxg4
Nxg4 20. Bf4 d5 21. Nb5 {First 21. exd5 exd5 22. Nb5 clears the center.}
21... e5 22. Nc7 {White can retain a safe advantage with 22. Bd2!} 22... Qa7
23. Nxa6 exf4 24. exd5 {An alternative is 24. Qd3 c4 25. Qxd5+ Rf7 26 e5.}
24... Qxa6 25. Re6 Qb7 26. Re7 fxg3 27. Qg6 Qxb2 28. Ra2 {Who can blame him for guarding the second rank? But stronger is 28. Qxg4 Qxa1 29. Rxd7 gxf2 30. Kxf2.} 28... Ne3+ {Spassky wants to keep Queens on the board, and this is more complicated than 28...Qf6.} 29. Kh3 gxf2 30. Rxb2 f1=Q+ {The losing move. Black draws by perpetual check with 30...Rxf3+! 31. Kh2 Rh3+! 32. Kxh3 f1=Q+ 33. Kh2 Qf4+.} 31. Kh2 Nf5 32. Rg2 Qxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Nxe7 34. Qe6+ Rf7
35. Qxd7 Nf5 36. Qc8+ Bf8 37. Ne5 Rg7+ 38. Kh3 Nd6 39. Qe6+ Kh7 40. Nd7 Be7
41. Nxc5 {Black Resigns} 1-0

[Event "Training Match"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Alexander Beliavsky"]
[Black "Etienne Bacrot"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]

{Bobby Fischer once said, "When I was eleven, I just got good". Chess prodigies have always dazzled the world with their billiance, but only a few stayed the course to reach the summit. In 1996 Bacrot, at age 13, captured headlines by beating ex-world champ Smyslov in a serious training match. He failed to duplicate this feat three years later, when he lost one game and drew five against veteran grandmaster Beliavsky, 45. The teenager has a bright future, but this instructive miiniature showed that Bacrot needs more seasoning before he is ready for prime time.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 {To avoid the complications stemming from 7...b5 8. e5.} 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Nbd7 {Black weakened his pawn structure to win a pawn and now 9...Bb7 awaiting further developments seems more prudent.} 10. d5 b4 11. dxe6 bxc3 12. exd7+ Qxd7 {Beliavsky beat Atalik a week earlier in the Yugoslav Team Championship after 12...Bxd7 13. bxc3 Nxe4 14. Qd4 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Rg8 16. Qxc4 Bg7 17. O-O.} 13. Qc2 g4 {Hoping to solve his problems after 14. Ne5? Qd2! but now White crosses him up by pitching a second pawn.} 14. Rd1 Qb7 15. Ne5 Qxb2 16. Qa4 Qb5 {The last chance to avert immediate disaster is with the ugly 16...Qb7 17. Bxc4 Rh7.}
17. Rd8+ {Black Resigns. Black overlooked this shot. If 17...Kxd8 18. Nxc6+ Qxc6 19. Qxc6 mops up.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand V."]
[Black "Kasparov G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]

{Kasparov won this elite double-round tournament in a field of eight top-ranked stars with 10 1/2 - 3 1/2 (7 wins, 7 draws) -- an incredible 2 1/2 point margin over his nearest rivals Vladimir Kramnik and Viswanathan Anand, often touted as his most probable challengers. In this complicated struggle both players falter near the end; Anand's slip proves fatal.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 {A popular plan to brace the center and later launch an attack depending on which flank the enemy King seeks safety.} 6... e6 7. Be3 b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Bb7 11.
h4 b4 12. Nb1 d5 13. Bh3 g5 {A pawn sacrifice designed to prevent 13...dxe4 14. g5 with a dangerous attack.} 14. hxg5 hxg5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Bxg5 Qb6 { An improvement over 16...Qa5 in Leko-Topalov from the third round.} 17. Bg2
Rxh1 18. Bxh1 Rc8 19. Re1 {To thwart the threat of ...Nc3 and start an offensive. The question now becomes whose King is safer?} 19... Qa5 20. f4
Qxa2 21. f5 Nc5 22. fxe6 Bg7 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24. Bxd5+ {Afterwards game Kasparov showed how Anand could force a draw with 24. Qf2+! Kg8 25. Qf5 Bxd4 26. Qg6+ Bg7 27. Re8+ leading to perpetual check.} 24... Qxd5 25. Re7+ Kg8
26. Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Nc3 {Avoiding the trap of 27. Nf5+? Qxf5 28. gxf5 Nb3+. Now the resulting ending looks drawish because of reduced material.} 27...
bxc3 28. Nf5+ Kf7 29. Qxd5+ Bxd5 30. Nd6+ Kg6 31. Nxc8 Kxg5 32. Nb6 Be6 33.
bxc3 Kxg4 34. Kb2 Kf4 35. Ka3 a5 36. Na4 Ne4 {Careless. Kasparov later said he could wrap it up with 36...Nd7! 37. Nb2 Nb6 38. c4 Bxc4 39. Nxc4 Nxc4+ 40. Kb3 Ne5! 41. Ka4 Nc6 42. Kb5 Ke5, etc.} 37. Nb2 Nxc3 38. Nd3+ Ke3 39.
Nc5 Bf5 40. Kb2 Nd5 41. Nb7 a4 42. c4 Nb6 43. Nd6 Bd3 44. c5 Nd5 45. Ka3 Bc2
46. Nb5 Ne7 47. Na7 {The losing move. Correct is 47. Nc3! Kd4 48. Nxa4 Nc6 49. Nb2 Kxc5. Curiously, according to computer analysis, the longest win with Bishop plus Knight vs. Knight with perfect play by both sides requires 77 moves. In 1990 FIDE raised the limit on draws in endgames without pawns from 50 to 75 moves and later lowered it.} 47... Kd4 48. c6 Nd5 49. Nb5+ Kc5
50. c7 Bf5 {White Resigns. Alas, his Knight is trapped. If 51. Kxa4 Nb6+ 52. Ka5 Nc4+ 53. Ka6 (or 53. Ka4 Bc2 mate) Bc8+ 54. Ka7 Kxb5 55. Kb8 Nd6 and it's all over.} 0-1

[Event "Wijk-aan-Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shirov, A."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]

{Alexei Shirov is a fiery attacker. Here, however his piece sacrifice goes awry. This was their first encounter since Kasparov announced that Shirov (who defeated Kramnik in a 1998 candidates' match) would be his official challenger for the world championship. When funding evaporated, alas, Kasparov reneged on his pledge and their proposed match fell through.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 hxg4 {A risky enterprise. In the past Kasparov had preferred to recapture with Bxg4.} 12. O-O e6 {A second surprise. In the past Kasparov chose Nc6.} 13. Qd2 {An alternative is 13. Nde2. Now Black introduces a new idea by pitching a pawn.} 13... Nd7 14.
Bxd6 Ne5 15. Ncb5 {Virtually forced since 15. Bc5 Qc7 is just too strong.}
15... axb5 16. Nxb5 f6 17. Rfd1 {Rightly rejecting 17. Nc7+ Kf7 18. Nxa8 Nc4 19. Qd3 Qxd6 20. Qxd6 Nxd6. Instead with two pawns for the piece White prefers to take his chances in the middle game.} 17... Kf7 18. Qe2 Bd7 19.
Bxe5 fxe5 20. Nd6+ {No better is 20. Qxg4 Qe7 21. Nd6+ Kg8 reaching safety with the King.} 20... Kg6 21. Rd3 {Too ambitious. The best try is 21. Qxg4 Rh4 22. Qf3 Qf6 23. Qxf6+ Bxf6 24. Nxb7.} 21... Qf6 22. Qxg4 Qf4 23. h3 Qxg4
24. hxg4 Bc6 25. c4 {The ending is hard because White now has three pawns for the piece. Another plan is 25. a3 Bf8 26. f3.} 25... Rhd8 26. f3 Bf8 27.
c5 b6 {Double-edged. Instead 27...Ra4! deserves serious consideration.} 28.
b4 bxc5 29. bxc5 Ra5 30. Rc3 Rb8 31. Rc2 Kf6 32. Kf2 Ba4 33. Rc3 Rb2+ 34.
Kg3 Rc2 35. Rc1 Rxa2 {This pawn must fall but it's not over yet.} 36. Rb1
Bc6 37. Rb6 Ra6 38. Rb8 Be7 39. Rc1 Ra8 40. Rb6 R2a6 41. Rbb1 Be8 42. Rh1 { It's a mistake to simplify by 42. Nxe8+ Rxe8 43. Rb6 Rxb6 44. cxb6 Rb8 45. Rb1 Rb7 46. Rb5 Bd8 picking up the pawn.} 42... Bg6 {42...Bxd6 43. exd6 Rxd6 44. Rh8 Rad8 45. Rb7 is harder to win.} 43. Rb7 Rc6 44. Nf5 {White's nerves finally give way and his game collapses. A much tougher defense is 44. Rh6! Bxd6 45. cxd6 Rxd6 reaching an ending where White still has technical problems.} 44... Bf8 45. Rh8 exf5 46. gxf5 Bf7 47. Kg4 Kg7 48. Rh5 Bxc5 49.
Rxg5+ Kf6 {White resigns. White is two pieces down. Enough is enough.} 0-1

[Event "8th Melody Amber"]
[Site "Monaco"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alexei Shirov"]
[Black "Boris Gelfand"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]

{No tournament in the world is more unique than the Melody Amber, named after the daughter of sponsor J.J. van Oosterom, a Dutchman who gave up chess to make his fortune. Each year he donated big bucks to watch a dozen grandmasters slug it out in two separate round robins: blindfold and quickplay (25 minutes apiece for the entire game). The spectacle is exciting, yet it doesn't prove much because great players don't always excel in these formats. Still, this rapid game shows that masters can still display ingenuity and creativity even though the clock forces error.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 {This thrust was championed by Paul Keres. White is willing to weaken his pawn structure to get a quick attack.} 7... h6 8. Bg2 {Returning to a conservative mode that was popular in the 1970s. Shirov-Kasparov, Linares 1999, was drawn quickly after 8. f4 e5 9. Nf5 h5! 10. gxh5 exf4 11.Bxf4 Nxh5 12. Nxd6+ Bxd6 13. Bxd6 Qh4+ 14. Kd2 Qg5+ 15. Ke1 Qh4+.} 8... Nc6 9. h3 Ne5 10. Qe2 Qc7 {Securing control of c4 for the knight.} 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. f4 Nc4 13. Kb1 e5 14. Nb3
Rc8 {The main drawback to Black's setup is that his King is still confined to the center.} 15. Rd3 b5 16. g5 {Fighting to dominate d5. 16. Bc1 was expected.} 16...hxg5 {Unclear is 16...Nxe3 17. gxf6 exf4 18. Nd4 Be6 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 when Black's King is a target in the center.} 17. fxg5 Nh5 18. 
Nd5 Qb7 19. Bc1 Be6 20. Qe1 Be7 21. Bf3 Bd8 {Although Black is developing, his King still hasn't found a home.} 22. Bg4 a5 23. Qd1 g6 24. Rf1 a4 25. Nd2 
Bxg5 {This tempting pawn snatch leads to trouble. Better is 25...a3.} 26. Bxe6 
fxe6 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Qg4 exd5 {The rook is immune due to 28...cxd3 29. Qxe6 Be7 30. Nxe7 dxc2 31. Ka1 Qd7 32. Qxg6 Kd8 33. Nd5! Rc6 34. Rf7 and wins.} 29. 
Rxd5 Qd7 30. Qxg5 Qe6 31. Bd2 Rb8 32.Bc3 Rf8 {The threat was Bxe5. Black has managed to hang on but his King is too precarious to survive for long.} 33. 
Rfd1 Qf6 34. Qd2 Ng3 35. Qe3 {Missing a quicker kill by 35. Rxe5, but it hardly matters.} 35... Qf4 36. Qa7 Rd8 37. Bxe5 Qxe4 38. Bxg3 Qxd5 39. Qe3+ 
{Black Resigns. No credit for 39. Rxd5?? Rf1+ and it is Black who mates!} 1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Judith Polgar"]
[Black "Viswanathan Anand"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]

{Judith is the youngest of three sisters, all grandmasters, a product of their father's theory that genius is made, not born. She is usually willing to take risks, and her unclear double piece sacrifice caught Anand by surprise. Whether or not it was sound, Inside Chess called it a definite candidate for best game of the year.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 {Attacking the e-pawn right away to prevent White from establishing the so-called Maroczy Bind by c4.} 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 {A risky thrust. More prudent is 7. Be2.} 7... e5 8. Nf5 g6 9. g5 gxf5 {Virtually committing White to sacrifice a piece, since there is no compensation for the pawn on 10. gxf6 f4 11. Bd2 Qxf6 12. Nd5 Qd8.} 10. exf5 d5 11. Qf3 {Crosses Anand up. He probably expected 11. gxf6 d4 12. Bc4 Qc7! 13. Qd3 dxe3 14. fxe3 b5!}
11... d4 12. O-O-O Nbd7 13. Bd2 dxc3 14. Bxc3 Bg7 {Returning some material to blunt the attack and rejecting 14...Ng8 15. Qh5 Qc7 16. f4. But perhaps the safest path was 14...Rg8 15. gxf6 Qxf6.} 15. Rg1 O-O 16. gxf6 Qxf6 17.
Qe3 Kh8 18. f4 Qb6 {A better defense is 18...Qh6 right away.} 19. Qg3 Qh6
20. Rd6 f6 21. Bd2 e4 22. Bc4 b5 23. Be6 Ra7 24. Rc6 a5 {White has a positional bind despite the material deficit.} 25. Be3 Rb7 26. Bd5 Rb8 {To meet the threat of Rxc8.} 27. Rc7 b4 28. b3 Rb5 29. Bc6 Rxf5 30. Rxc8 Rxc8
31. Bxd7 Rcc5 32. Bxf5 Rxf5 33. Rd1 Kg8 34. Qg2 {Black Resigns. The threat of Qxe4 is devastating.} 1-0

[Event "French Team Championship"]
[Site "Monaco"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "?"]
[White "John Nunn"]
[Black "Igor-Alexander Nataf"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B32"]

{Competition among cities in various nations has become one of the most popular chess events in Europe. Virturally any number of foreigners are eligible to take part as professional "hired guns," and many grandmasters depend on these fees for their livelihood. Nataf of Russia represented Clichy, a suburb of Paris, on top board against British GM Nunn, and this beautiful game clinched Clichy's 7.5 - 2.5 victory over Monaco. Black threw everything but the kitchen sink at White's King. Computer analysis suggested the combination was unsound -- one wonders how many classics will suffer a similar fate -- but sometimes machines don't see everything!} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 {White's ability to gain total control over d5 in this manner is why many players prefer the Sveshnikov Defense move-order 4...Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 first.} 6... Be7 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 f5 { One advantage of this move-order us that this advance wouldn't be possible with the Knight already on f6. Kudrin-Shabalov, Chicago 1997, continued quietly with 9. exf5 Bxf5 10. Bd3 Be6.} 9. Bd3 f4 10. g3 {White kept a slight edge with 10. Nc2 Nf6 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 Kh8 13. Qe2 Be6 14. Nd5 in DeFirmian-Shabalov, U.S. Championship 1998.} 10... Nf6 {This pawn sacrifice is the only consistent continuation, but is it sound?} 11. gxf4 exf4 12.
Bxf4 O-O 13. Bg3 Ng4 14. Be2 {Provoking the sacrifice on f2. Alternatives are 14. Nd5 or O-O.} 14... Nxf2 {The merit of Black's pawn sacrifice rests on the soundness of this sacrifice.} 15. Qd5+ {Computer analysis later discovered that 15. Bxf2! Rxf2 16. Kxf2 Bh4 17. Kg2! (not 17. Ke3? Qg5 18. Kd3 Nb4 19. Kd4 Bf2 mate!) Qg5 18. Bg4! is better for White (after 18... Bxg4 19. Qd5) but the players themselves found that 18...Ne5!! 19. h3 h5 gives Black a very dangerous attack, probably winning.} 15... Kh8 16. Bxf2
Nb4 17. Qh5 {White's King is also mortally exposed after 17. Qd4 Rxf2 18. Kxf2 Bh4 19. Kf3 Bh3.} 17... Rxf2 18. Kxf2 Bh4+ 19. Kg2 g6 {Forces White's reply since 20. Qh6 Bg5 snares the Queen.} 20. Qf3 Qg5+ 21. Kf1 Bh3+ {This magical sacrifice is the beginning of the end.} 22. Qxh3 Rf8+ 23. Bf3 {No better is 23. Qf3 Rxf3 24. Bxf3 Qe3 25. Kg2 Qf2 26. Kh3 Qxf3 27. Kxh4 h6.}
23... Qe3 24. Qxh4 Nd3 25. Nd5 Qxf3+ 26. Kg1 Nf2 27. Kf1 Qxh1+ 28. Ke2 Qxa1
{White resigns, as continuing the fight with 29. Ne3 Qxb2 30. Nac2 Qe5 is utterly hopeless. 0-1} 0-1

[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "Hungary"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, J."]
[Black "Fritz 5.32"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]

{In the 1990s computers continued their inexorable march toward domination. Judith Polgar, rated 2677, dropped this 8-game match 5.5 - 2.5. After three draws, she lost four out of five, finally managing one victory in the penultimate game when it was far too late to catch up. Each side only had a half hour for the whole game; speed seems to favor the machine.} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. f3 Ne5 9.
O-O-O Bb4 10. Nb3 b5 11. Bd4 h6 {To prevent Qg5.} 12. Qe1 {Dubious. Better is 12. Kb1 Nc4 13. Qf2 O-O 14. Qg3 Bd6 15. Qe1 Be5 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17. Qg3 with an edge (Anand - Portisch, Biel 1993.} 12... Nc6 13. Be3 O-O 14. g4 { Too aggressive. White should first try 14. a3 to prevent the splintering of his queenside pawns.} 14... Ne5 15. Qg3 {Staking all on a kingside attack; better is 15. Nxb5!} 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bb7 17. g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 {For better or worse White should try 17. Nc5.} 18... Nh5 19. Qh3 Qxc3 20. Qxh5 { The last hope was 20. f4.} 20... Rfc8 21. Rd2 Nxf3 22. Rg2 Bxe4 {The beginning of the end. The threat of Bxc2 is just too devastating.} 23. Qg4 { Also inadequate 23. Bh6 g6 24. Qh3 Bxc2.} 23... f5 24. Qg3 Nxg5 25. Rhg1 {Or 25. Qxg5 Bxc2.} 25... Bxg2 26. Qxg2 Nf3 {White Resigns} 0-1

[Event "Sarajevo"]
[Site "Bosnia"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Michael Adams"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]

{Kasparov, now 36, began 1999 with a bang by winning four elite events in a row -- Wijk aan Zee, Linares, Sarajevo and Frankfurt. His rating soared to 2851, surpassing Fischer's peak of 2780 in 1972. Kasparov is constantly improving; his success is largely based on intense preparation and a willingness to embrace risk. Recently he revealed that almost 4,000 opening novelties are stored in his computer waiting to be used. One of these innovations helped him spring a surprise in the final round of this event against British star Michael Adams.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 {Almost single-handedly, Kasparov has revived unfashionable openings such as this Scotch Game. In an earlier round he beat Jan Timman with 9. Nd2.} 9... Qe6
10. Qe4 Bb4 11. Bd2 Ba6 12. b3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 d5 14. Qh4 {This is an attempt to improve on Luboyevic-Spassky, Montreal 1979, which was drawn after 14. Qf3 dxc4 15. Be2 O-O 16. O-O Rad8 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Rac1 c5 19. Bf1 Nd5 20. bxc4 Nb4! 21. Bxb4 cxb4 22. Qe3.} 14... dxc4 15. Be2 Nd5 {15...O-O looks safer. Failure to castle early is a major cause of disaster among both tyros and masters.} 16. Bd4 c5 {Kasparov later suggested 16...Ne7 as an improvement.} 17. Bxc5 Nc3 18. Bxc4 Qxe5+ 19. Be3 Ne4 20. O-O Bxc4 21. bxc4
O-O {Finally! Now Black's defenses are intact.} 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. f3 Nd6 { The last chance for a real fight was 23...Nc3! 24. Kh1 Ne2 25. Bf2 Qb2.} 24.
Bf2 Qf5 25. c5 Nb5 26. Qb4 Qd3 27. Red1 a5 28. Qa4 Qe2 29. Re1 Qd3 30. Rxe8+
Rxe8 31. Rd1 {Snares material. If 31...Qe2 32. Re1 is simply decisive. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "100th U.S. Open"]
[Site "Reno"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bartlomie Macieja"]
[Black "Eduard Rozentalis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]

{This victory enabled Lithuanias Rozentalis to tie for first with five other grandmasters in a field of 485 players. Polish star Macieja rejected a draw by repetition and then went astray. This duel shows how far opening theory has progressed, and the struggle no longer seems to begin on move one. Their first 19 moves duplicated a game that was drawn a year earlier, and thereby hangs a tail.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 {It's tough to gain an advantage against the solid Petrov Defense. 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 has a drawish reputation.} 3... Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7
7. O-O Bd6 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Qh5 {Wins a pawn but Black gets good counterplay.} 10... O-O 11. Qxd5 Bc6 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Ng5 14. Bxg5 {If 14. Qh6 Ne6 15. Be3 Qf6 is okay for Black.} 14... Qxg5 15. Nc3 Rae8 16. Rad1 Re7
17. d5 Bd7 {White has only one way to save his Queen.} 18. Ne4 Rxe4 19. Qxd7
Rd8 20. Qxb7 {Both players were familiar with an earlier game that was drawn after 20. Qxd8 Qxd8 21. Bxe4 Qh4 22. Rfe1 Qxh2 23. Kf1. White now strives for more.} 20... Bxh2+ 21. Kxh2 Rh4+ 22. Kg1 Qh6 23. g3 Rh1+ 24. Kg2 Rh2+
25. Kf3 {White is not satisfied to force a draw by 25. Kg1 Rh1 26. Kg2, etc. } 25... Re8 26. Qd7 {The critical defense is 26. Be4! f5 27. Ke2! Rxe4 28. Kd3 running to the queenside with two pawns in his pocket.} 26... Qh5+ 27.
Qg4 Rxf2+ {A bolt from the blue.} 28. Rxf2 Qxd5+ 29. Kf4 Qd4+ 30. Kg5 Qxf2
31. Qf4 Qc5+ {If 32. Kf6 Re6 mate; or 32. Kh4 Qh5 mate.} 32. Bf5 Qe7+ 33.
Kh6 f6 34. Bxg6 Qg7+ {White Resigns. If 34. Kh5 Qxg6 35. Kh4 Re4 pins the Queen.} 0-1

[Event "10-game Exhibition match"]
[Site "Russia"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Spassky, B."]
[Black "Korchnoi, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]

{Both players deserted the USSR in the 1970s. Their relations deteriorated dramatically after Korchnoi trounced Spassky in their last match to determine a challenger for world champ Karpov in 1978. At the end, Spassky stood on stage angrily shaking his fist at Korchnoi. Here 21 years later Spassky got off to an easy start in a grudge match sponsored in conjunction with the 275- year Jubilee Celebration of St. Petersburg University.} 1. e4
e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 a5 7. Bd3 Bd7 8. Bc2 h5 { Closed positions often can afford loss of time. The idea is to secure the Knight on f5 without worrying about being dislodged by g4.} 9. O-O Nh6 10.
b3 Be7 11. Ra2 {A previous Korchnoi game reached equality after 11. h4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Rc8 13. Bb2 Qd8 14. g3 b5.} 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Rc8 13. Bxh6 {It's unusual to swap a Bishop for a Knight without provocation but Spassky wants to unclog his queenside fast.} 13... Rxh6 14. Qd2 Rh8 15. h4 Kf8 16. Qf4 Kg8
17. Nbd2 g6 18. Rd1 Kg7 19. Nf1 Na7 20. Ng5 Be8 21. Rd3 Nb5 22. Bd1 Rc3 23.
Rad2 Qc7 {Correct is 23...Rxd3! 24. Rxd3 Nxa3.} 24. a4 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Nc3 26.
Ng3 Nxd1 27. Rxd1 Qb6 28. Rd3 Qc7 29. Rf3 Bd8 30. Ne2 Qe7 31. Qc1 Qb4 32.
Nf4 Bxg5 33. hxg5 Bc6 {Not 33...Qxd4? 34. Nxe6+! fxe6 35. Qc7+ Kg8 36. Qb8! Kg7 37. Qxb7+ Kg8 38. Qe7 Qa1+ 39. Kh2 Qxe5+ 40. g3 Qg7 41. Qxe8+ Kh7 42. Qxe6 wins.} 34. Qe3 Rc8 35. Kh2 Be8 36. Nd3 Qxb3 37. Qf4 Qxa4 {Tougher is 37...Qb6! 38. Nc5 when White must find compensation for the pawn.} 38. Qf6+
Kg8 39. Nf4 Kh7 {Nothing helps. If 39...Qd7 40. Nxg6 fxg6 41. Qf8+ Kh7 42. Qh6+ Kg8 43. Rf8 mate.} 40. Nxe6 {Black Resigns. It's mate after 40...fxe6 41. Qe7+ Kg8 42. Rf8.} 1-0

[Event "Enghien-les-Bains"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lautier, J."]
[Black "Bologan, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]

{Few fans noticed a strong category 15 tournament in France without Kasparov & Co. GM Viktor Bologan, 26, of Moldavia got off to a 6-1 start until he was stopped cold in ten moves by French GM Joel Lautier, 24, who beat Kasparov twice. Short losses by grandmasters contain instructive errors; this is no exception.} 1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 {Bent Larsen once suggested 2...e5 3. Nf3 Qa5!? to escape from reams of opening theory.} 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5.
Nc3 Nbd7 {Also playable is simply 5...Nxd5.} 6. Nf3 a6 7. d4 Nb6 8. Ne5 { Trying to improve on 8. Qb3 g6 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O a5 13. a4 Qd6 14. h3 Qb4! with a pleasant position (Motwani-Hodgson, Blackpool 1988.)} 8... Nbxd5 {The wrong knight! Correct is 8...Nfxd5! when White's sharpest idea is 9. Ne4 e6 10. a3 Be7 11. Bd3 with a hard struggle in the offing.} 9. Qa4+ Bd7 {Useless is 9...b5 10. Bxb5+ axb5 11. Qxa8 when Black has no compensation for the Exchange.} 10. Nxd7 {Black Resigns. He sees too late that 10...Qxd7 11. Bb5! axb5 12. Qxa8+ is fatal.} 1-0

[Event "2-game Exhibition match"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "1"]
[White "FRITZ 5.32"]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]

{Machines seemed like the only opposition capable of standing up to Kasparov in this decade. After back-to-back victories in two of the year's strongest tournaments at Wijk-aan-Zee and Linares, he faced the latest version of FRITZ at a fast time limit of 15 minutes apiece during a computer convention in Hanover. Kasparov held the upper hand, yet games were drawn.} 1. e4 d6 2.
d4 c6 {Fearing the program's huge opening database, Kasparov continues the kind of rearguard defense he criticized himself for adopting against Deep Blue in 1997.} 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. Be3 e6 6. Nbd2 d5 7. e5 {Relieves pressure by solidifying the center. More fluid is 7. Bd3.} 7... Nd7 8. Bd3
Ne7 9. O-O Bg6 10. Be2 Nf5 11. c3 Be7 12. Qb3 b5 13. a4 Nxe3 14. fxe3 a6 15.
Ra2 Nb6 {Forces White to resolve the queenside tension.} 16. axb5 axb5 17.
Rfa1 Rxa2 18. Rxa2 O-O 19. Ra7 Bg5 20. Nf1 Bh6 21. Ra6 Be4 22. Qb4 Bxf3 23.
Bxf3 Nc4 24. Kf2 Qg5 {Seizing the initiative.} 25. Rxc6 Nxe3 26. Qxb5 Nxf1
27. Kxf1 Qc1+ 28. Ke2 Bf4 {Overlooking 28...Qc2+ 29. Kf1 Be3 30. Qe2 Qb1+ 31. Qe1 Qxb2 snaring a pawn due to the threat of Qb5+ and/or Bd2.} 29. Rb6
Qe3+ 30. Kf1 Qc1+ 31. Ke2 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 Qc1+ 33. Ke2 Qc2+ 34. Kf1 {Draw. If 34...Qxc3 35. Rb8! simplifies to a draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wijk-aan-Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Veselin Topalov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]

{After an absence of nearly a year from tournament chess, Kasparov roared back with a resounding victory of 10-3 at the 61st Hoogovens Chess Festival, 1/2 point ahead of Anand and two full points ahead of Kramnik, his two most dangerous rivals, and in the process produced this genuine masterpiece. He was rewarded with a brilliancy prize for what is arguably the finest attacking game of his career. At the daily news conference, the visibly relaxed and smiling champion was a totally different man from the Kasparov who had paced the stage in the playing hall, while waiting for his victim to make moves.} 
1.e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 {Some experts in this Pirc Defense suggest that 4...c6 5. Qd2 b5 6.f3 Nbd7 is more accurate.} 5. Qd2 c6 
6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 {A tad premature. Stronger is 7. O-O-O Nbd7 8. Bh6.} 
7...Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 {The point: Black lost time by moving the Bishop twice instead of delaying Bg7.} 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 
{Safety first but 12. g3 O-O-O 13. Bh3 looks more promising.} 12...a6 
13. Nc1 O-O-O {Topalov has reached a fairly level position.} 14. Nb3 exd4 
15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ {Kasparov said he decided here to embark on a speculative double-rook sacrifice.} 
20...Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 {Black has the initiative and still stands well. Also playable is 21...dxe4 and may have been safer.} 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 
24. Rxd4 {One critic observed that this extraordinary combination is none the less stunning for having been born of necessity.} 24... cxd4 {"I couldn't find any advantage for White after 24...Kb6! 25. Nb3 Bxd5 and I could tell Topalov saw it too," said Kasparov. "But he looked up. Maybe he got a sign from above that he should play a great game. It takes two, you know, to do that."} 25. Re7+ Kb6 {A second taste of the tainted bait would prove fatal. Not 25...Qxe7? 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7 mate. Now the King hunt begins in earnest.} 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 {Forced. If 26...Qc5 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Qd4+ Qc5 29.Qf6+ Qd6 30. Be6!! Bxd5 31. b4!! is the brilliant point. "If Black is going to die, he will die with a full stomach" (Minev).} 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 {Even neater is 28. Ra7! right away.} 
28...Qxd5 {Mate ensues after 28...Bxd5 29. Kb2 followed by Qb3+.} 29. Ra7 
Bb7 30. Rxb7 Qc4 {Topalov later said that he analyzed this position with his second (plus his computer program), and he was unable to find a win after 30...Rhe8! However, subsequent analysis gave White the nod after 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1!! (to stop Qc4). One possible continuation is 32...Nd7 33. Rd6! Re1 (not 33...Qxd6? 34.Qb3 mate) 34. Kb2 Re3 35. Qxe3 Qe5+ 36. Qxe5 Nxe5 37. f4.} 
31. Qxf6 Kxa3 {The last chance to resist is 31...Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4.} 32.Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ Kxc3 {What else? If 33...Kb3 34. Qa2+ Kxc3 35. Qb2+ Kd3 36. Bf1+ secures victory.} 34. Qa1+ Kd2 {An incredible setting. Also inadequate is 34...Kb4 35. Qb2+ Ka5 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37. Ra7+.} 
35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 {Another hammer blow inviting 36...Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ Qe2 39. Qxe2 mate. Or 36...Qd5 37. Qc1 mate.} 36...Rd2 {Forced. If 36...Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7 mates.} 37. Rd7 {Outstanding! Black is a veritable pin cushion.} 37...Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 
41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 {Black Resigns.}  1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]

{Ivanchuk tied for 5-6 in a field of eight stars (far behind Kasparov) and was awarded the brilliancy prize for this dashing victory over Bulgaria's leading player. White's failure to castle is responsible for his early demise.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Qa5 { More usual is 6...Nf6.} 7. Nb5 d5 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 {Unclear is 9. Nxc3 d4 10. b4! Nxb4 11. axb4 Qxa1 12. Nb5 Nf6 13. Nc7+ Ke7 14. Nxa8 Bd7 15. Bg2 Ra8 16. O-O with complications (Lerner-Khuzman, Kuibyshev 1986.} 9... Nf6 10.
Bg2 O-O 11. Qb3 dxc4 12. Qxc4 e5 13. Nd6 Be6 14. Qd3 e4 {Topalov probably underestimated the strength of this tempo-gaining move. White's already in big trouble.} 15. Nxe4 {If 15. Qc2 Nd4! is strong.} 15... Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rad8
17. Qc2 Nd4 18. Qb2 Nxe2 {"A splendid combination based on White's uncastled King being stuck in the center" -- Ivanchuk.} 19. Kxe2 Rfe8 {A deadly "quiet move". 19...Bc4+ only draws.} 20. Qb4 {On 20. f3 f5 retains the initiative.}
20... Qh5+ 21. f3 f5 22. g4 Qh3 {Accurate to the end. 22...fxg4 23. Be3 is less clear.} 23. gxf5 {If 23. Kf2 fxe4 24. Qxe4 Bd5 wins.} 23... Bxf5 { "23...Qg2+ 24. Ke3 Qxh1 25. fxe6 Rd1 was also winning, but the text is more spectacular" -- Ivanchuk.} 24. Qc4+ Kh8 25. Re1 Rxe4+ {White Resigns. If 26. fxe4 Bg4+ 27. Kf2 Qxh2+ 28. Ke3 Qg3 mate.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vladimir Akopian"]
[Black "Alexander Khalifman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A15"]

{The controversial knockout format started with 100 grandmasters, but the winner was not required to face sitting FIDE champion Karpov, who boycotted the event and sued FIDE for contract violation. After recovering from an inferior opening in this first game, Khalifman went on to win the final six-game match in fine style by 3.5 - 2.5. But his legitimacy as the real world champion was called into question. The rest of the world accorded that honor to Kasparov, who bolted from FIDE in 1993.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b4
Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 e5 {Closing the long diagonal (a1-h8). Both Bishops now bite on granite.} 7. d3 Nh5 8. Nc3 f5 9. O-O Nc6 {More usual is 9...g5 or Nd7.} 10. b5 Ne7 11. e4 c5 {Black should leave the queenside alone and continue with 11...f4.} 12. bxc6ep bxc6 13. c5 d5 {13...dxc5 14. Na4 is clearly in White's favor.} 14. exd5 cxd5 15. Qb3 e4 {Virtually forced since if 15...Kh8? 16. Nxe5! Bxe5 17. Nxd5! wins.} 16. dxe4 {After this Black retains his powerful center. White can keep an advantage with 16. Ng5! and if 16...h6? 17. dxe4 hxg5 18. exd5 is decisive.} 16... fxe4 17. Nxe4 {Or 17. Ng5 Bf5. "The Knight sacrifice has some point to it. White deals with Black's dangerous pawns once and for all; as compensation he gets two pawns and a powerful light square Bishop. Additionally, the far advanced c-pawn will cause Black great difficulties in coordinating his pieces". -- Khalifman.}
17... Bxb2 18. Qxb2 dxe4 19. Ng5 Bf5 20. Nxe4 Rb8 21. Qc3 {Better than 21. Qa3 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Nf6 23. Bg2 Qc7.} 21... Nd5 22. Qa3 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Nhf6 24.
Bf3 Qc7 25. Rac1 Ne7 26. c6 Nf5 27. Qc3 Rbc8 28. Rfe1 Qg7 {Constant vigilance is required. Not 28...Qf7? 29. c7 Ne8 30. Bd1! Nxc7 31. Bb3 Nd5 32. Qxc8! Rxc8 33. Rxc8 and White is the one playing to win.} 29. Rcd1 Rc7
30. Re6 h5 31. Qe5 Kh7 32. h3 Ng8 33. Qe4 Nf6 34. Qe5 Ng8 35. Qe4 Rf6 {Black avoids a draw by repetition.} 36. Rxf6 Nxf6 37. Qb4 Qe7 38. Qb8 Nd6 39. g4 { Needlessly weakening the kingside. After 39. Qb4 or even Bg2 White possibly can still draw by standing pat.} 39... hxg4 40. hxg4 Nf7 41. Kg2 Kg7 42. Re1
Qd8 43. Qb2 Ng5 44. Re3 {White's impending doom is not averted by 44. Rd1 Qh8 45. Rh1 Qc8.} 44... Qd6 45. Qa3 Qxa3 {Too hasty is 45...Qf4 46. Re7.}
46. Rxa3 Kf7 47. Be2 Ne6 48. Ra4 Nd5 49. Bf3 Ne7 50. Kg3 Kf6 51. Rc4 Ke5 { Black's extra piece is proving decisive.} 52. Rc1 Nd4 53. Re1+ Kf6 54. Bg2
Nexc6 {The capture of this pawn ends White's drawing chances.} 55. f4 Ne7
56. Bf1 Rc3+ 57. Kg2 Nc2 {White Resigns. Picks up another pawn after 58. Rb1 Ne3.} 0-1

[Event "Kasparov vs. World"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "1999"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "World Team"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]

{This landmark contest was sponsored by Microsoft on its game zone, and it proved that chess is ideally suited for the Internet. A cliffhanger that lasted 124 days, it was hailed by many as the greatest correspondence game ever. A team of youthful coaches suggested moves and supplied analysis for the rest of the world to vote on. The move receiving the majority of votes was then chosen. Each day, about 45,000 people logged on, and ultimately some three million votes were received from 79 countries. Controversy erupted when a hacker claimed to be stuffing the ballot boxes with bad moves. Microsoft took steps to end tampering by changing the rules to exclude non-Windows users from voting.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 {3% voted for 4...Kxd7?! The other 97% made a wiser choice. Also playable, of course, is 4...Nxd7.} 5. c4 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. O-O g6 8. d4 cxd4
9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Nde2 Qe6 {This daring novelty, championed by then US Women's Champion Irina Krush, snatches a pawn and leads to wild complications. More usual is 10...O-O as in Hort-Petrosian, San Antonio 1972.} 11. Nd5 Qxe4 12. 
Nc7+ Kd7 13. Nxa8 Qxc4 14. Nb6+ axb6 15. Nc3 Ra8 16.a4 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Qxe4 18. 
Qb3 f5 {Inviting 19. Qxb6? Nd4! threatening Ra6, bagging the Queen.} 19. Bg5 
Qb4 20. Qf7 Be5 21. h3 Rxa4 22. Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Qxh7 Bxb2 24. Qxg6 Qe4 25. Qf7 
Bd4 26. Qb3 f4 {Selected by a narrow margin. Russian analysts suggested 26...Bc5 27. h4 Kc7 28. Qf7 d5 29. h5 Nd4 30. h6 Nf3+! 31. gxf3 Qxf3 and White cannot avoid a draw by perpetual check.} 27.Qf7 Be5 28. h4 b5 {Both sides race to make new Queens on opposite wings.} 29. h5 Qc4 30. Qf5+ Qe6 31. 
Qxe6+ Kxe6 32. g3 fxg3 33. fxg3 b4 34. Bf4 Bd4+ 35. Kh1 {Instead of going into the corner, 35. Kg2 looks logical but runs into 35...b3 36 g4 b2 37 g5 Nb4 38 g6 Nd3 39 h6 b1=Q (if 39...Nxf4 40. g7 Kf7 41. Rxf4+ Bf6 42. Rf1 Kg8 43. Rg1 Bg5 44. h7+! Kxh7 45. g8/Q+! Kxg8 46.Rxg4+ wins) 40 Rxb1 Nxf4+. With the King on h1, however, 41. Re1+! is now decisive (if 41...Kf6 42 g7 Kf7 43 Rxe7+; or 41...Be5 42 g7 Kf7 43 Rg1Kg8 44 h7+! forces a new queen).} 35...b3 
36. g4 Kd5 37. g5 e6 38. h6 Ne7 39. Rd1 e5 40. Be3 Kc4 41. Bxd4 exd4 42. Kg2 
b2 43. Kf3 Kc3 44. h7 Ng6 45. Ke4 Kc2 46. Rh1 d3 47. Kf5 b1=Q 48. Rxb1 Kxb1 
49. Kxg6 d2 50. h8=Q d1=Q 51. Qh7 b5 {This inferior move received 38% of the votes while 51...Ka1! got 34%.} 52.Kf6+ Kb2 53. Qh2+ Ka1 54. Qf4 b4 55. Qxb4 
Qf3+ 56. Kg7 d5 57. Qd4+ Kb1 58.g6 Qe4 {Loses by a hair. The best drawing chance is 58...Qf5!} 59. Qg1+ Kb2 60. Qf2+ Kc1 61. Kf6 d4 62. g7 {51.01% voted to throw in the towel. Kasparov later demonstrated a forced mate in 25 moves. "I spent more time analyzing this than any other game," said Kasparov, who devoted over 100 hours of study after Black's tenth move caught him by surprise.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Alexander Khalifman"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]

{FIDE recently nixed a unification match between Khalifman, their newly crowned world champion, and Kasparov, the strongest player in the world. With his usual 'modesty' Kasparov proclaimed: "There is no clear number two in the world. The gulf is so wide and my superiority is so obvious that sponsors fear a title match with any of my challengers won't generate much interest". At the annual super tournament in Linares, six stars faced each other twice. Kasparov shared the lead with Kramnik at 6 points while the other four all tied for last (or third, if you will) at 4.5 points. This closely-watched contest between two rival titleholders brought Khalifman's overall record against Kasparov to a respectable four draws.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8. Be2 c5 9. d5
e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Be3 Qb6 13. b3 Rfe8 14. Rad1 Rad8 {A solid choice. Alternatives are 14...Rxe3!? or Ng4.} 15. h3 Qa5 16. Rfe1 Nd7 17.
Na4 Nb4 18. Bg5 {Later it was determined that 18. Bd2! is better. But 18. Nxc5?! Nxc5 19. Bxc5 Nc2 20. b4 Qa4 21. Rf1 b6 22. Bd4 Qxb4 gives Black a good endgame.} 18... Nc2 19. Bxd8 Qxd8 20. Rf1 Nd4 {Kasparov later said he felt obliged to fight to win with Black because Khalifman was the lowest rated rival in this tournament. But here Kasparov misses his best chance via 20...Na3! 21. Qc1 Rxe2 22. Qxa3 Be4 23. Rfe1 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Rxe1 . Rxe1 Qg5 26. Kf1 Qxd5 27. Re8 Bf8.} 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 {Snuffing out complications that would ensue after 22. b4 Re4 23. bxc5 Qh4. Instead, the game peters out into a draw.} 22... cxd4 23. Bg4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 Re4 25. f3
Ne5 26. Qb4 Nd3 {Hoping for 27. Qxb7 Re2 with a dangerous attack.} 27. Qc4
Ne5 28. Qb4 Nd3 {Going for the repetition of moves. If 26...Re2 27. Qxd4 Qf6 28. Qd1! Rxa2 29. Nc3 White stands better.} 29. Qc4 {Draw by Agreement. Out of a total of 30 games in this event, 23 were drawn! Capablanca once predicted the "draw death" of chess, and Emanuel Lasker explained why draws were on the rise: "Games played by men of equal strength, and played accurately, will end in draws and are apt to be dull. Brilliancy occurs usually from combinations that are afforded by errors in combination."} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "Training Match"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Alexander Khalifman"]
[Black "Peter Leko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]

{Newly crowned FIDE champion Khalifman, 34, flunked his first major test against Hungary's Peter Leko, who at 20 was already ranked among the world's top ten. About a thousand spectators watched each game as Leko pleased his home crowd with a dashing 4.5 - 1.5 victory in a remarkably one-sided match. Khalifman stood no chance against such merciless precision, losing all three games with Black and merely drawing all three games with White. Even so, the outcome of the match might have been different had Khalifman won the very first game. Leko, on the ropes here, defends like a wizard.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. Bf4 Na6 8. e4 c5 9. d5
Bg4 {On occasion Kasparov has tried 9...e6 right away.} 10. Be2 Nd7 11. Qb3
Qb6 12. Qxb6 axb6 13. a3 Bxf3 {A reasonable alternative is an immediate 13...f5.} 14. gxf3 f5 15. Bg5 Bf6 {Better than 15...Bxc3 16. bxc3 Rxa3 17. Bxe7 Re8 18. d6.} 16. h4 Nc7 17. O-O-O Ne8 18. Bxf6 Nexf6 19. d6 fxe4 20.
fxe4 {Missing a chance to gain the advantage by 20. dxe7! Rfe8 21. fxe4 Rxe7 22. Rhe1 followed by f4 and e5.} 20... e5 21. Bb5 Rad8 22. f3 Kg7 23. Rhf1
Nh5 24. Nd5 Nf4 25. Bxd7 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Rxd7 27. Rxe5 Rf6 {Leko is in no hurry to extract the bone from his throat, in view of 27...Rxd6 28. Re7 Rf7 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. Rd1!} 28. Rd5 Kf7 29. f4 {Black seems to hold by the skin of his teeth on 29. e5 Rf4 31. Re1 Ke6.} 29... Rfxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxd6 31. Rd1
Rf6 {Black loses if he exchanges rooks because of his doubled pawns.} 32.
Rf1 Rd6 33. Rd1 Rf6 34. Rd7+ Ke6 35. Rxh7 Rxf4 36. Rxb7 Rxe4 37. Rxb6+ Kd5
38. Rxg6 Rxh4 {Both rooks are done with their feeding frenzy but White can't seem to do anything with his extra pawn.} 39. Kc2 Rh2+ 40. Kb1 c4 41. Rg5+
Kd4 42. Rg3 Ke5 {Draw by Agreement. Khalifman could have tortured Leko longer to avoid splitting the point so soon. One possible variation is 43. a4 Kd4 44. Ka2 Rd2 45. a5 Kc5 46. Ra3 Rd7 47. Kb1 Ra7 48. Kc2 Kb5 49. Kc3 Rh7 and White can't make progress.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Alexander Khalifman"]
[Black "Peter Leko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]

{Revenge is sweet. A few weeks after Leko crushed Khalifman in an exhibition match, the FIDE champion demonstrated his recuperative power when they met again. Their first 21 moves replicated Kramnik-Kasparov at Linares 1998, which ended in a draw just one move later. But Khalifman uncorked a new move that turned the game in White's favor at the cost of a pawn, once again demonstrating the value of prepared variations at the highest level.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Rb1
O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 {Of course it's risky to plunge the Queen out of play to gain a pawn, but can Black be punished?} 12. O-O
Bg4 {For some time returning the gambit pawn was the method of choice, but an alternative is 12...b6 13. Qc1 Qe6 as in Gavrikov-Agrest, Estonia 1999.}
13. Bg5 h6 {Hoping to equalize on 13...Bxe7 Re8 14. Rxb7 Nd7.} 14. Be3 Nc6
15. d5 Ne5 16. Rxb7 e6 17. d6 Rfd8 18. Re1 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qa5 {This line also was explored in Lautier-Illescas, Wijk aan Zee 1997, which was drawn after 20. Bd2 Qa2 21. Be3 Qa5 22. Bd2 Qa2, etc.} 20. Rf1 Bf8 21. d7 Qa2 22. Bb5 { Improving on 22. Re1 Qa5 draw agreed as in the aforementioned Kramnik-Kasparov game. White's passed pawn now looms large.} 22... a6 23.
Ba4 Nxf3+ 24. Kg2 Ne5 25. Bb6 Qc4 26. Qd4 {White wants to enter the endgame a pawn down without Queens on the board and then use his d-pawn to gain material.} 26... Qxd4 27. Bxd4 Nd3 28. Bc6 Nc5 29. Rc7 Bd6 30. Bxc5 Bxc7 31.
Bxa8 Rxa8 32. Be7 {Decisive. If now 32...Bd8 33. Rc1! Bxe7 34. Rc8 wins outright.} 32... Rd8 33. Rd1 f5 34. Bxd8 Bxd8 35. exf5 gxf5 36. Rd6 Kf7 37.
Rxa6 Ke7 38. Kg3 Bc7+ 39. Kh4 Kxd7 40. Ra7 Kc6 41. Rxc7+ {Elegantly forcing a straightforward King and pawn ending.} 41... Kxc7 42. Kh5 e5 43. Kxh6 Kd6
44. Kg5 Ke6 45. h4 f4 46. h5 f3 47. Kg4 {Hopeless is 47... e4 48. Kf4 Kf6 49. Kxe4. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Melody Amber"]
[Site "Monaco"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jeroen Piket"]
[Black "Veselin Topalov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A73"]

{Philidor's blindfold display against two opponents at Paris in 1744 was considered little short of miraculous. The Melody Amber, named after the sponsor's daughter, required 12 grandmasters to face each other twice without sight of the board at a fast clip of 25 minutes per side, which is not conducive to precise chess. The main feature of this double blind test is the position that arose after 43. g4. The rules state that en passant capture is optional, yet here it is forced, because it's the only way to prevent mate. This predicament is so rare as to be almost nonexistent.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. h3 {Taking the game out of book. A good way to exploit this loss of time is 5...exd5 6. cxd5 b5 or even 5...b5!? immediately.} 5... g6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 { Ultra-sharp because Black never succeeds in regaining the pawn. Another idea is 9...Na6 10. O-O Nc7.} 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6
Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Nb6 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 {Gives Black more counterplay than 16...axb6.} 17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Rb1 Rfd8 {Black must regain the d-pawn or he is lost.} 19. Bf4 Qb7 20. d6 Bf8 21. Qd3 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Rc6 23. Rfd1
Qd7 {Black prefers to keep Queens on the board rather than go for the unpromising ending after 23...Rcxd6 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6.} 24. Qa3 Rxd6
25. Rxd6 Qxd6 26. Qxa7 Re8 27. Qa3 Re2 {Black is still a pawn down but has active counterplay, thanks to his control of the central files.} 28. Qc3 Qb6
29. a4 c4 30. Rf1 Qb3 {Inviting 31. Qxb3 cxb3 32. Rb1 Re4 33. Ra1 Re2 34. a5 Rxb2 35. a6 Ra2 which draws in the nick of time.} 31. Rc1 Qxa4 32. Qd4 Qa6
33. Rxc4 Rxb2 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Rc8 Rb1+ 36. Kh2 Qe6 37. Qd4+ {Black is walking a tightrope owing to his back rank weakness. 37. Qh8 Kh6 38. Qf8 Kg5 39. Rc5 f5 40. Qd8 looks more dangerous.} 37... Kh6 38. Rg8 Qe7 {Stops the threat of Qh4 mate.} 39. h4 f6 40. Qd2+ g5 {40...Kh5 looks precarious but is also playable.} 41. f4 gxh4 42. f5+ Kh5 43. g4+ {Desperately trying to weave a mating net. If 43. Qf4 Rb4! avoids the trap 44...Qe5? 45. Rg5! Kh6 46. Rg6 Kh5 47. Rh6 mate.} 43... hxg3ep+ {En passant capture is absolutely forced -- otherwise Black is checkmated! This setting occurs in composed problems but rarely over-the-board.} 44. Rxg3 Qe5 45. Qd7 Qe2+ {Black is out of the woods and can even try 45...Qb2 46. Rg2 Qb7!} 46. Rg2 Qe5+ {Forcing a draw by repetition after 47. Rg3 Qe2, etc. It's hard to shake the feeling that White missed a win somewhere along the way in this exceptional blindfold game.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sarajevo"]
[Site "Bosnia"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Alexander Morozevich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]

{A thrilling draw. The world champion offered a series of pawns to Morozevich, who eagerly scooped them up. After castling on opposite sides, Kasparov won a piece but the young Russian whipped up a dangerous counterattack. Kasparov responded by sacrificing an Exchange and then a Bishop to force a draw by perpetual check. When two chess Kamikazes collide, it's the sort of result you'd expect!} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3
dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 {Black also can try to hold the pawn by 6...b5 7. e5 h6.} 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 O-O {"A novelty. I'm not sure whether it is really good". -- Kasparov.} 10. Nc2 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Qg5 12. Qe2 { Instead 12.Qf3 offers White a slight advantage.} 12... Qxg2 13. O-O-O Qxe4 { If 13...Nxe4 14. Bxg7! gives White a good attack.} 14. Rhg1 g6 {Other replies are worse. If 14...Qxe2? 15. Rxg7! Kxg7 16. Rg1 Kh6 17. Bxe2 threatening Bd2 mate. Or 14...e5? 15. Rxg7! Kxg7 16. Rg1 Kh8 17. Bxe5 Qc6 18. Nb4 wins.} 15. Ne3 e5 {"15...Nbd7 16.Rd4 is bad for Black". -- Kasparov}
16. f4 {"Before, I had in mind 16. Rd6 Be6 17. Nd5 Qxe2 18. Nxf6 Kg7 19. Bxe2 Kxf6 20. f4 Kg7 21. Bxe5 Kg8 and in this position the two bishops' advantage should equalize an extra-pawn. However, I was looking for more". -- Kasparov} 16... Be6 17. Bd3 Qxf4 18. Rgf1 {"At this moment I understood that after 18.Rdf1 Qh4 19.Be1 Rc8+ 20.Kb1 Qa4 21.b3 Qc6! White has serious problems with the c-file. The compensation for three extra pawns is not sufficient". -- Kasparov} 18... Qh4 {Just dropping a piece. Stronger is 18... Qg5.} 19. Be1 Qa4 20. Rxf6 Nc6 21. Rxe6 {"Another 'brilliant' idea. It is enough for a draw... but White could win after 21. b3! Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to calculate these complex lines". -- Kasparov.}
21... Nd4 {Much better than 21... fxe6 22. Bc4 Nd4 23. Rxd4! exd4 24. Bxe6 with a crushing attack.} 22. Qg4 Qxa2 23. Bxg6 {A fascinating finale that seems to end too soon in a draw. After 23...hxg6 (or 23...fxg6 24. Rxg6 Kh8 25. Rxd4!) 24. Rxg6 hxg6 25. Qxg6 Kh8 White has nothing better than to take the perpetual check by 26. Qh6. Black can get mated if he tries to avoid a draw by 23... Nb3 24. Kc2 Rac8 25. Bc3 fxg6 26. Rxg6 Kh8 27. Qxc8!! Rxc8 28. Rd8 Rxd8 29. Bxe5 mate.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Black "Alexei Shirov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]

{"I can't remember making any really serious mistakes in this tournament," said Kramnik after sharing first with Kasparov in a double round robin (ahead of Leko, Khalifman, Anand and Shirov). This game sheds light on a critical variation of the Slav Defense that has baffled theory for decades. After only a dozen moves an ending is reached where Black has three pawns for a piece. "In general I have the feeling that it might be slightly better for White, although close to a draw," noted Kramnik, whose flawless endgame technique helps avenge his loss of a match to Shirov in 1998.} 1. Nf3 d5 2.
d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {Kramnik has used this Krause Attack rather consistently since 1994 and scored good results with it. Two rounds earlier against Anand he tried 6. e3.} 6... e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 { This piece sac is virtually forced, since White regains the pawn advantageously after 8...Bg6 9. Bxc4.} 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4
Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 b5 {More active than 15...Rd8 16. Qe5 Qxe5 17. Nxe5 Nb4 18. Kb3 Nd5 19. Bc4 as in Evans-Kramer, New York 1951. Nowadays, no way has been found for White to show a real advantage after 15...O-O 16. Qe5 Rfb8.} 16. axb5 Nb4+ 17. Kc3 cxb5 18. Rd1 { Better than 18. Kxb4 bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rb8.} 18... Qc5 {"This might be called a novelty, though it was played in Topalov-Anand, Dos Hermanas 1997. More usual is 18...bxc4 19. Rxd5 Nxd5 20. Kd2. It's not easy to break Black's position, but it's no fun for him as he is suffering all game long and the best he can hope for is a draw". -- Kramnik} 19. Qe5 Nd5+ 20. Rxd5 b4+ { White stands well after 20...Qxd5 21. Nd6 Kf8 22.Qxd5 exd5 23. Nxb5.} 21.
Kb3 Qxd5 22. Be2 {"This is a very good move, which set him thinking for a long time. After the game Shirov told me he had not looked at this possibility in his preparation. 22. Qxg7 was possible and does not lose by force or anything, but it is very dangerous for White after 22...Qd1 23. Ka2 Qa4 24. Na3. I think he was mainly expecting 22. Qxd5 exd5 23. Na5 but I did not like the idea that his King might come into the center. I opted for the text since it forces him to castle and remove his King from the center". -- Kramnik} 22... O-O {Simply bad is 22...Qxg2? 23. Nd6 Kf8 24. Rf1.} 23. Qxd5
exd5 24. Na5 Rfe8 {"Black does have a material edge, but it is clear that some of his pawns are going to fall. I still believe that with very accurate play Black must be able to make a draw. But it is an uphill struggle, as witness the fact that Alexei, who is a good player, tried and failed". -- Kramnik} 25. Bf3 Rac8 26. Rd1 Re3+ 27. Ka4 b3 28. Rxd5 g6 {It's useful to stop back rank mate threats once and for all.} 29. Rd7 Rc2 30. Ka3 Kg7 { "This position requires deep analysis. There were some alternatives such as 30...a6 which during the game I actually believed to be his best option but still 31. Bd5 Rf2 32. Nc4 Ree2 33. Kxb3 with reasonable winning chances, even though it will not be easy. Also 30...Rxf3 31. gxf3 Rxh2 32. Nxb3 h5 33.Rxa7 h4 34. Rc7 is highly complicated. Too difficult to calculate, and that's why my opponent got into serious time trouble". -- Kramnik} 31. Rxa7
h5 32. h3 h4 33. Rb7 Rc5 34. Kb4 Rf5 35. Rc7 g5 36. Nxb3 Rf4+ 37. Rc4 Rxc4+
{"A serious mistake in time pressure. But it seems Black is lost anyway, which leaves the question of where exactly he went wrong? Difficult to say, perhaps his position was already very unpleasant right after the opening and it never recovered. Obviously his best chance was 37...Rexf3 38. gxf3 Rxf3 39. Rc3 (the point of 35. Rc7!) Rf2 40. Ka3 f5 41. Nd4 and White should be winning". -- Kramnik} 38. Kxc4 f5 39. Nd4 Kf6 40. b4 Re1 {"He had probably overlooked that after 40...Ke5 41. Nc2 very nicely traps his rook". -- Kramnik} 41. b5 Ke5 42. Nc6+ Kd6 43. b6 Rc1+ 44. Kb5 g4 45. b7 Rb1+ 46. Nb4
Kc7 47. hxg4 fxg4 48. Be4 {Black Resigns. If 48...Rb2 39. Kc4 h3 50. gxh3 gxh3 51. Kc3 decides the issue (51...Re2 52. Na6).} 1-0

[Event "Match"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vladislav Tkatchiev"]
[Black "Jeroen Piket"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]

{Tkatchiev, 26, a relative newcomer, drew an exciting eight game match with established Dutch star Piket, 31, who made a profound positional Queen sacrifice and then lost the thread. Instead of continuing his attack on the kingside, Piket inexplicably bunched his pieces on the other wing and suffered a reversal of fortune. Even fine conceptions require proper follow-ups.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 b4 {Avoids the well-known trap 5...a6? 6. axb5 cxb5 7. Nxb5!} 6. Ne4 {Sticks to his intention to sacrifice a pawn. 6. Na2 regains it, but with no hope for an advantage.} 6... Qd5 7. Ng3 Nf6 8. Nf3 Ba6 {Better than 8...h5 9. e4! Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Qxe4 11. Be2 as in Epishin-Ortega, Bozen 1999.} 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O
Bd6 11. Bd2 {Passive. Another approach is 11. Qc2 (to enforce e4) Bxg3 12. hxg3 Nbd7 13. Nd2.} 11... h5 12. Ne5 h4 13. Bf3 hxg3 {A beautiful Queen sacrifice which is entirely voluntary since 13...Qa5 14. Nxc6 Qc7! 15. Nxb4 Bb7 favors Black.} 14. Bxd5 gxh2+ 15. Kh1 cxd5 {Black has two minor pieces, two pawns and a compact, solid position for the Queen. It should at least be good enough to draw.} 16. a5 Bb5 {Also feasible is 16...b3.} 17. a6 Nc6 18.
Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Ra5 Rb8 20. Qe2 Ne4 21. Rfa1 Bc7 {The wrong concept. White is virtually paralyzed. both his rooks and Queen lack scope. Instead of going after material, Black should ignore the queenside and continue with 21...f5 followed by g5, Kf7, etc.} 22. Be1 Bxa5 23. Rxa5 c3 24. f3 Nd6 25. Bg3 Rb5
26. Ra1 Nc4 {Time pressure. 26...cxb2 27. Qxb2 Nc4 is better. Even 26...Nf5 is feasible.} 27. b3 Nb6 {Better is 27...Nd2 28. Qd1 f6.} 28. Bd6 Kd7 {To hold the game he should play 28...f6 followed by Kf7. But spurred by the clock he leaves his entire Kingside unprotected.} 29. Bc5 Rb8 30. Qf2 Nc8
31. Qg3 R8b6 {Desperation. Black's forces are bunched on the queenside without any future, leaving his kingside vulnerable. If 31...g6 32. Qf4 activates the Queen.} 32. Qxg7 Nd6 33. Qf8 {Black Resigns. A bitter pill to swallow for Piket, who managed to draw the match after coming from behind.} 1-0

[Event "5th Ubeda Open"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Pavel Tregubov"]
[Black "Artashes Minasian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]

{Hannibal made a stop in Ubeda with his army of elephants on his way to attack Rome, but not much else has happened here for centuries until chess troops arrived recently. Lured by a significant prize fund, free food and hotel accommodations, plus a mild climate even in January, titled players flocked to Spain for this event, held in conjunction with an elite closed tournament in nearby Linares. GM Tregubov came from behind in the last round at Ubeda to tie for first with GM Minasian via a pawn sacrifice in the opening that yielded mighty dividends.} 1. d4 c5 2. d5 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. c4 d6
5. Nc3 e6 {Eschewing the double-edged 5...Bxc3+!? 6. bxc3 leaving White with the two Bishops but an annoying doubled pawn.} 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 Bg4 11. Nd2 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Re8 13. Nc4 {A pawn sacrifice. Safer is 13. Qf3 Nd7 14. Nc4.} 13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd5 15. Qf3 { Even stronger is 15. Qb2! Rxe4 16. Qxb7 Nxc3 17. Qxa8.} 15... Nb6 16. Bg5 { The only way to justify the sacrifice, since 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Bh6 Re6 offers Black sufficient defensive resources.} 16... Qxg5 17. Nxb6 Ra7 18.
Rad1 Qd8 19. Nc4 Re6 20. e5 b5 {Missing a chance to reach parity with 20...Nd7! 21. exd6 b5.} 21. axb5 axb5 22. Nxd6 Qg5 23. Nxb5 Rd7 24. Rxd7
Nxd7 25. Qd1 {More elegant than 25. Qa8+ Kg7 26. Nc7.} 25... Qe7 26. f4 Rb6
27. c4 Nf8 28. h3 Ne6 29. Qd5 Rb8 30. f5 {Activating the Rook. Black is a pawn down and struggles in vain.} 30... gxf5 31. Rxf5 Qh4 32. Kh2 Rf8 33.
Nd6 Nf4 34. Qf3 Ng6 35. Rxf7 Rb8 36. Rf5 Qd4 37. Qd5+ Qxd5 38. cxd5 Rd8 39.
Ne4 Kg7 40. e6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Sarajevo"]
[Site "Bosnia"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Alexei Shirov"]
[Black "Sergei Movsesian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]

{This game shows there is no turning back after creating permanent weaknesses in the pawn structure when you go all-out to attack. Here, leading Kasparov by 1/2 point going into the penultimate round, Shirov tried to clinch first by ripping apart Black's kingside. Czech grandmaster Movsesian, who once complained that players like him were as good as the top 10 but never got invited to major tournaments, shot back with spirited defense.. Both sides went astray in the complications. The final result once again proved the validity of Tartakower's maxim that the victor is he who makes the next-to-the-last-mistake.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O {After a transposition of moves the Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defense appears on the board.} 11. Qg3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. Kh1 Bc6 15.
Rae1 Qb7 16. Bd3 b4 {On 16...a5 White can try to prevent b4 by 17. b4!? or launch an attack by 17. e5.} 17. Nd1 {Allowing Black to split White's pawn structure on the queenside is inadvisable. More sensible, in view of the fact that even a draw would enable Shirov to keep the lead, is 17. axb4 Qxb4 18. Ne2.} 17... bxa3 18. bxa3 Rac8 19. Nf2 {An attempt to improve on 19. Ne3 Bxe4 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Ng4 Bxd3 22. Nxf6 Kh8 23. Rb1 Qe7 24. Qxd3 Qxf6 25. Qxd6 which was eventually drawn in Lautier-Movsesian, Malmo 1999.} 19... Nh5
20. Qf3 g6 {Weaker than 20...Nxf4! 21. Qxf4 e5. Now White's offensive gains momentum; his next move threatens Nh6 mate..} 21. Ng4 f6 22. f5 exf5 23.
Nh6+ Kh8 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. Qxh5 fxe4 26. Qg5 Rf7 {Tenacious defense. Not 26...exd3? 27. Rxe7! Qxe7 28. Rxf6 and wins.} 27. Bc4 Rg8 {Again avoiding the trap of 27...d5? 28. Bxa6! Qxa6 29. Rxf6 Bxf6 30. Bxf6 Rxf6 31. Qxf6 Kg8 32. Re3 and wins.} 28. Qe3 d5 29. Bb3 Qd7 30. Rf4 Rg4 31. Rf2 Kg8 {Shifting from one dangerous diagonal to another, but if 31...Qe6 32 .Qh3! looks unpleasant; 31...Ba4 deserved consideration.} 32. c4 Qe6 {Tension mounts. Dangerous as it appears, 32...f5 with the idea of f4 is correct.} 33. cxd5 { Now the attack fizzles out and White doesn't have enough for the pawn. Stronger is 33. Qh3 f5 34. cxd5 Bxd5 35. Rxf5! Qxf5 36. Bxd5 regaining the pawn with even chances.} 33... Bxd5 34. Bd1 Rg5 35. h4 {Suicidal. White opens his own veins by weakening his kingside.} 35... Rgg7 36. Bb2 Bd6 37.
Rd2 Rg3 38. Bf3 {Black wins brilliantly after 38.Qd4 Rh3! 39. Kg1 (39. gxh3 Qxh3 40. Kg1 Rg7) 39...Bh2 40. Kf1 Bc4 41. Ree2 e3!} 38... Rxf3 39. Qxf3
exf3 40. Rxe6 Bxe6 {White Resigns. The time control has been reached and White sees that 41. Rxd6 f2! 42. Rd1 Bc4 snares a Rook.} 0-1

[Event "Wijk-aan-Zee"]
[Site "Holland"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Alexander Morozevich"]
[Black "Predrag Nikolic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]

{Although Hoogovens Steel Company was acquired by Corus, the new owner thankfully continued 61 years of a rich chess tradition under a new name. The top section of this annual chess festival was again won by Kasparov, but a likely championship contender emerged in youthful Alexander Morozevich, who finished fifth in a field of 14 grandmasters. This last round effort earned Morozevich the daily spectators' prize but angered Kasparov, who felt he was more deserving. Kasparov thus left the windy seaside resort in a foul mood, sensing that he was treated with a lack of respect.} 1. e4 e6 2. d3 {A passive system against the French Defense that delays the battle until the midgame as White aims for a reverse King's Indian.} 2... d5 3. Qe2 dxe4 4.
dxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Nd7 6. Nbd2 c6 7. b3 Qc7 8. Bb2 a5 9. g3 {Another possibility is 9. O-O-O a4 10. Nc4 f6.} 9... Nh6 10. Bh3 f6 11. a4 Bb4 12. O-O O-O 13.
Nc4 Nf7 14. Ne1 Re8 15. Nd3 Bf8 16. Bc3 b6 {"Black's play throughout has been exaggeratedly passive, but here it was essential to remember that some active move was possible," wrote Morozevich, who suggested instead 16...Ng5 17. Bf5 Nc5.} 17. Bd2 Nd6 18. Nxd6 Bxd6 19. Be3 Nf8 20. Bxc8 Raxc8 21. c3
Ne6 22. Rfd1 Rb8 23. b4 axb4 24. Nxb4 Bxb4 25. cxb4 c5 26. Rac1 Qc6 27. Qa2
Kh8 28. Rd5 Ra8 29. a5 Nc7 30. Rdd1 Qxe4 31. Qf7 Ne6 32. axb6 Qxb4 {The only move. Not 32...Nd4? 33. Bxd4 cxd4 34. b7 Rab8 35. Qxe8+ Rxe8 36. Rc8.} 33.
Rb1 Qa4 {This remote Queen can no longer come to the aid of the kingside. 33...Qg4! is more tenacious.} 34. b7 Rab8 35. Rd7 Qc6 36. Bh6 Rg8 37. Rbd1 { The last, precise move. White unites all his forces.} 37... Rbf8 38. Bxg7+ { "This infantile combination enabled me for the fourth time to win the spectators prize. In view of what I found with one and a half minutes left on my clock, I think it is my greatest creative achievement over the past few years". -- Morozevich} 38... Nxg7 39. Qxf8 Rxf8 40. Rd8 Ne6 41. Rxf8+
Nxf8 42. b8=Q Kg7 43. Qa7+ Kh6 {43...Kg8 holds out longer but is still hopeless.} 44. Qf7 {The final blow. If 44...Ng6 45. Rd7 does the trick. Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "First Inaugural Grand Prix"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jeroen Piket"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]

{This is the first top level tournament ever held entirely over the Internet. It began with 16 grandmasters before Dutch GM Piket knocked out Seirawan, Morozevich, Svidler and Kasparov to earn $20,000. "I can't think of any sport that can be better promoted or publicized on the Internet than chess," said Piket after this historic event. The curious thing about this game is that Kasparov uncharacteristically failed to put up a fight when he misplayed a drawn ending as the seconds ticked away.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3.
Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nc7 {The purpose of this retreat is to enforce e5. But not 6...e5? 7. Nxe5! snaring a pawn.} 7. d3 e5 {This English Opening has transposed into a reverse Sicilian where White is a move ahead.}
8. O-O Be7 9. Nd2 Bd7 10. Nc4 O-O {A well-known pawn sacrifice. The alternative is 10...f6 11. f4.} 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Nxe5 Be8 13. Qb3 Bf6 14.
Ng4 Bd4 {Improving on 14...Bc6 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Qc4 Ne6 17. Be3 as in Ribli-Chandler, Lugano 1985.} 15. e3 {Shrinking from 15. Qxb7!? Rb8 16. Qg2 f5 17. Ne3 f4 18. Nc4 f3 19. exf3 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Qxd3.} 15... Bxc3 16. Qxc3
b6 17. f3 Bb5 18. Nf2 Qd7 {Black seems unable to get tangible compensation for the pawn he sacrified.} 19. e4 Ne6 20. Be3 a5 21. Rad1 Rad8 {If and when White advances his backward e-pawn, then Black will pressure d3.} 22. Rd2
Qc6 23. Rc1 Qb7 24. a3 Nd4 25. Kg2 Rc8 {This move does nothing to improve the position. Simply 25....h6 is indicated to prevent any future back rank mating threats.} 26. Rb1 Rfd8 27. Bxd4 Rxd4 28. b4 {Finally, White frees his cramped position.} 28... axb4 29. axb4 Qd7 30. bxc5 bxc5 31. Rbb2 h6 32. Ra2
Kh7 {Unable to improve his position, Black simply marks time.} 33. Ra5 Rd8
34. Qxc5 Bxd3 35. Rxd3 Rxd3 36. Nxd3 Qxd3 37. Ra2 Qb3 38. Qc2 Qxc2+ 39. Rxc2
h5 40. f4 g6 {Better is 40...f6.} 41. e5 Rd3 {A clear mistake. Necessary is 41...Rd7. Now White's King walks into Black's crumbling bulwark.} 42. Kh3
Re3 43. Kh4 Kg7 44. Kg5 Re1 45. Rc7 Re2 46. Re7 Ra2 {Black can no longer hold the ending. No better is 46...Rxh2 47. e6. Black must move his rook, since if 26...Kf8 27. Kf6 penetrates decisively.} 47. f5 gxf5 48. e6 h4 49.
Rxf7+ Kg8 50. Kf6 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Date "2000"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]

{Kramnik, one of the few players in the world with roughly an even score against Kasparov, tied with him for first in this elite super tourney -- pompting sponsors to put up $2 million for a title match later in the year. This brilliant creative achievement by both players was voted the most spectacular game at Linares. After hours of shadow-boxing, Kramnik launched a ferocious attack that would have kayoed almost anyone else. Seemingly unfazed by time pressure, Kasparov whipped up a wonderful counterattack to save the draw. He walked a tightrope and calculated amazingly deep lines that he demonstrated with great gusto in the post-mortem to a grateful audience.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 {White gets a better ending after 4...cxd4 5. Bg2 dxc4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 a6 8. Nd2 e5 9. Nxc4! } 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6 {A risky pawn sacrifice. More usual is 6...cxd4.}
7. dxc5 Bd5 8. Qa4+ Bc6 9. Qc4 Bd5 10. Qc2 {After testing Black's intentions, Kramnik tacticly declines a draw by repetition.} 10... e6 11.
Bg2 Be4 12. Qc4 Bd5 13. Qh4 {Again avoiding a repetition of moves by 13. Qc2 Be4 but now Black regains the pawn.} 13... Bxc5 14. Nc3 Bc6 15. O-O Be7 { Inaccurate. The right plan is 15...Nbd7 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Rfd1 Qb6 18. Rac1 O-O.} 16. Rd1 Qa5 17. Bd2 Nbd7 18. g4 {Launching a wild attack that nearly succeeds instead of the staid 18. Rab1.} 18... h6 19. Qg3 Qa6 20. h4 Qc4 21.
Bf4 Qb4 {So many Queen moves while his King is still unsafe! After prolonged thought Black rejected 21...g5!?} 22. a3 {More prudent is 22. Nd4 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rc8 24. a3 Qb6 25. Rac1 O-O 26. Ndb5 with an unclear game. Now the complications are difficult to fathom over-the-board.} 22... Qxb2 23. Nd4 g5
24. Nxc6 gxf4 25. Qd3 bxc6 26. Bxc6 O-O {There's no time for 26...Rd8? 27. Rdb1 trapping the Queen.} 27. Bxa8 Ne5 28. Qd4 Rxa8 29. Qxe5 {Another critical turning point. A likely draw results from 29. Rab1 Qxe2! 30. Nxe2 Nf3 31.Kh1 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 Bxa3.} 29... Rc8 {Better than 29...Nd5 30. Rab1 Qxc3 31. Rxd5.} 30. Rac1 Nd5 31. Nxd5 Qxe5 32. Nxe7+ Kg7 33. Rxc8 Qxe2 {The activity of the Queen is sufficient to draw in view of the scattered White forces.} 34. Rg8+ Kf6 35. Rd7 Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qc2 38. g5+ hxg5 39.
Rxg5 Qxf2+ {Leads to perpetual check. Draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Brain Games World Championship"]
[Site "London"]
[Round "2"]
[Date "2000"]
[White "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "GM Larry Evans -- CM9K Game 1"]

{Five years elapsed since Kasparov, now 37, faced a new challenger after defending his title against Anand in 1995. Brain Games Network (a private British dot-com entry that later was absorbed by Einstein TV in England) raised $2 million for a 16 game match with Kasparov's former apprentice, Vladimir Kramnik, 25. Their past record in 23 tournament games was 17 draws and 3 wins apiece -- a dead heat -- yet few fans gave the younger player much of a chance. Kasparov rated at 2830 was a huge favorite despite outranking his formidable foe by a mere 79 rating points. British bookies rated Kramnik as a 5-1 underdog, but after an initial draw the match suddenly was thrown wide open when he inflicted the first defeat on the champion in almost two years in a serious tournament game.}

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5
5. e4 Nxc3
6. bxc3 Bg7 {The Gruenfeld Defense, one of Kasparov's favorites, has performed poorly in title matches since 1948. Black lost and drew many games but only won twice.}
7. Nf3 c5
8. Be3 Qa5
9. Qd2 Bg4
10. Rb1 {Departing from the theoretically favored 10. Rc1 but a well-prepared Kramnik shows that a line previously thought to be innocuous is hard to handle.}
10... a6!? {!? -- Offering a gambit which few players had the courage to accept in the past because White's kingside will be riddled with weaknesses.} 
11. Rxb7 Bxf3
12. gxf3 Nc6
13. Bc4 {Rejecting 13. e5 cxd4 14. cxd4 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nxe5! because 16. dxe5? O-O-O+ snares the rook on b7.}
13... O-O
14. O-O cxd4
15. cxd4 Bxd4 {Simpler is 15...Qxd2 16. Bxd2 Nxd4.}
16. Bd5 Bc3 {A critical decision. Black rejects 16...Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Ne5 18. Bb4 and opts to remain a pawn down in a drawish-looking opposite colored Bishop ending.}
17. Qc1 Nd4
18. Bxd4 Bxd4
19. Rxe7 Ra7 {Of course not 19...Rae8? 20. Bxf7+!}
20. Rxa7 Bxa7
21. f4 Qd8
22. Qc3 Bb8
23. Qf3 Qh4
24. e5 g5
25. Re1! {Kasparov confessed that he overlooked this shot which returns the pawn to keep the initiative. If now 25...gxf4 26 e6! fxe6 27. Rxe6 is very dangerous.}
25... Qxf4
26. Qxf4 gxf4
27. e6 fxe6
28. Rxe6 Kg7
29.Rxa6 Rf5 {A pawn down, Black is clearly fighting for a draw.}
30. Be4 Re5
31. f3 Re7
32. a4 Ra7? {? - Almost certainly the losing move. The best chance to draw is 32...Ba7+ 33. Kg2 Be3. Now Black's pieces get entangled.}
33. Rb6 Be5
34. Rb4 Rd7
35. Kg2 Rd2+
36. Kh3 h5
37. Rb5 Kf6
38. a5 Ra2
39. Rb6+ Ke7 {A final mistake in a hopeless position. But 39...Kg7 40. a6 Bd4 41. Rg6+ also wins in the long run.}
40. Bd5 {Black Resigns. If 40...Rxa5 (or 40...Re2 41. Re6+ Kd7 42. a6) 41. Re6+ Kd7 42. Rxe5 Kd6 43. Rxh5 Rxd5 44. Rxd5+ Kxd5 45. Kg4 is easy. "It's nice to start the match like this, but there's no reason to relax," said a jubilant Kramnik. After two games more than three million viewers had followed live moves and commentary by GM Larry Evans and other authorities on the official match website. But other websites also transmitted moves and the sponsors found themselves unable to recoup their investment by charging viewers.} 1-0


[Event "Brain Games World Championship"]
[Site "London"]
[Round "3"]
[Date "2000"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Result "1/2"]
[Annotator "GM Larry Evans -- CM9K Game 2"]

{After Bobby Fischer gave up competitive chess the crown remained in the hands of Russians whose names begin with K: Karpov, Kasparov -- until FIDE scrapped the system of long title matches and introduced a Wimbledon style knockout in 1999. Kramnik effectively revived the old Berlin Defense to the Ruy Lopez where both Queens vanish on move 8. It was promptly dubbed the Berlin Wall and Kasparov failed to crack it in four games, which were all drawn, a result that greatly eased Kramnik's defensive task with Black. After a sudden flurry of exchanges both players had three passed pawns on opposite sides of the board. "At some point I realized it would be drawn. It was not a good result from the opening," conceded Kasparov after an inauspicious start (a loss and a draw in the first two games). Meanwhile, adding to the pressure against him, Alexei Shirov filed a lawsuit against Kasparov in a Spanish court for $1.3 million in damages, claiming that he is the only legitimate challenger.}

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4
5. d4 Nd6
6. Bxc6 {The main line of the Berlin Defense. Black is okay after 6. dxe5?! Nxb5 7. a4 Nd6! 8. exd6 Bxd6.}
6... dxc6
7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {This queenless endgame is hard to defend but limits White's options. Now he must choose between 9. Rd1+ or g4 or the text move.}
9. Nc3 Bd7
10. b3 h6
11. Bb2 Kc8
12. Rad1 {Their first game was quickly drawn after 12. h3 b6 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Ne2 Ng6! 15. Ne1 h5! 16. Nd3 c5 17. c4 a5 18. a4 h4! 19. Nc3 Be6 20. Nd5 Kb7 setting up a blockade.}
12... b6
13. Ne2 c5
14. c4 Bc6
15. Nf4 Kb7 {Rejecting 15...Bxf3?! 16. gxf3 Be7 17. Nd5 Rd8 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 19. e6.}
16. Nd5 Ne7
17. Rfe1 Rg8
18. Nf4 {Not much is gained by 18. e6 fxe6 19. Rxe6 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Bd7.}
18... g5
19. Nh5 Rg6
20. Nf6 Bg7
21. Rd3 Bxf3
22. Rxf3 Bxf6
23. exf6 Nc6
24. Rd3 Rf8
25. Re4 Kc8
26. f4 {Perhaps White could do better with 26. h4 Nd4 27. Bxd4 cxd4 28. Rdxd4 Rxf6 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. f3.}
26... gxf4
27. Rxf4 Re8 
28. Bc3 Re2
29. Rf2 Re4! {! - To exert pressure on c4 and anchor his Knight on d4 or e5.}
30. Rh3 a5
31. Rh5 a4
32. bxa4 Rxc4
33. Bd2 Rxa4
34. Rxh6 Rg8 {An alternative is 34...Rxh6 35. Bxh6 c4. Now it gets exciting.}
35. Rh7 Rxa2
36. Rxf7 Ne5
37. Rg7 {But not 37. Re7? Ra1+ 38. Rf1 Nf3+!}
37... Rf8
38. h3 {In the post mortem Kasparov claimed that 38. h4 was "probably winning". Kramnik countered, "The ending is not seriously better for White and may even become dangerous for him. Kasparov had no chance to win."}
38... c4!
39. Re7 Nd3
40. f7 Nxf2
41. Re8+ Kd7
42. Rxf8 Ke7
43. Rc8 Kxf7
44. Rxc7+ Ke6
45. Be3 Nd1
46. Bxb6 c3
47. h4 {Kasparov claimed his last winning chance was 47. Kh2 c2 48. h4.}
47... Ra6!
48. Bd4 Ra4 
49. Bxc3 Nxc3 
50. Rxc3 Rxh4 {Now it's a well-known book draw.}
51. Rf3 Rh5
52. Kf2 Rg5
53. Rf8 Ke7 {Draw by Agreement} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Brain Games World Championship"]
[Site "London"]
[Round "4"]
[Date "2000"]
[White "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2"]
[Annotator "GM Larry Evans -- CM9K Game 3"]

{"The endgame doesn't seem to happen very often anymore", proclaimed Kasparov before this match began. Kramnik's match strategy, however, was precisely to aim for queenless endgames as fast as possible and thus rob his renowned opponent of dynamic middle game tactics. Although drawn, this game was the longest and most exciting in the entire series. A draw seemed imminent after the Queens were swapped on move 7, yet Kramnik stormed ahead with his kingside pawns to exploit an imperceptible edge. Kasparov, squirming, dropped a piece before the first time control at move 40. No one expected him to rescue the game but he fought back ferociously to find a Hail-Mary save. The finale turned into a comedy of errors when, after defending for 6 1/2 hours, Kasparov tossed away the draw he had worked so hard to salvage. But Kramnik in turn succumbed to a blinding hallucination.}

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc4 {A surprise. Kasparov adopts the Queen's Gambit Accepted for only the second time in his career.}
3. Nf3 e6
4. e3 c5
5. Bxc4 a6
6. O-O Nf6
7. dxc5 {In keeping with his strategy, Kramnik wisely aims to simplify. Against Huebner at Dortmund 2000 he tried 7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h4!?}
7... Qxd1
8. Rxd1 Bxc5
9. Nbd2 Nbd7
10. Be2 b6
11. Nb3 {Kramnik beat Karpov in a rapid game at Frankfurt 1997 with 11. Nc4 Bb7 12. b3.}
11... Be7
12. Nfd4 Bb7
13. f3 O-O
14. e4 Rfc8
15. Be3 Kf8
16. Nd2 Ne5
17. N4b3 Rc6
18. Rac1 {More ambitious than 18. Nd4 which virtually forces a draw.}
18... Rac8
19. Rxc6 Rxc6
20. g4! {A startling idea in an apparently drawn position. Even in such a simplified setting White gains an advantage in space by driving back Black's pieces with a pawn rush.}
20... h6
21. h4 Bc8
22. g5 hxg5
23. hxg5 Nfd7
24. f4 Ng6
25. Nf3 Rc2? {More prudent is 25...Ke8 but Kasparov, weary of passive defense, lashes out to find counterplay.} 
26. Bxa6 Bxa6
27. Rxd7 Rxb2
28. Ra7 Bb5 {So the Bishop can get back to e8. Of course not 28...Rxa2 29. Ra8+.}
29. f5 exf5
30. exf5 Re2
31. Nfd4 Re1+ {If 31...Rxe3? 32. Nxb5 wins material. Black's awkwardly poised forces create a dilemma for him.}
32. Kf2 Rf1+
33. Kg2 Nh4+
34. Kh3 Rh1+ {If 34...Nxf5? 35. Nxb5 Nxe3 36. Ra8+ wins.}
35. Kg4 Be8
36. Bf2 Ng2
37. Ra8 {37. Nf3 is probably stronger. In any case, Black's wayward Knight is hard to save.}
37...Rf1
38. Kf3 Nh4+? {Definitely costs a piece. 38...Nf4 is essential but still hard to defend.}
39. Ke2 Rh1
40. Nb5 Bxg5
41. Nc7 Ke7
42. Nxe8 Nxf5
43. Bxb6 Kd7
44. a4 Rh3
45. Nc5+ Kc6
46. a5 Re3+
47. Kd1 Re7
48. Rc8+ Kb5
49. Ne4 {Perhaps it's better to coordinate White's pieces by 49. Nc7+.}
49...Rxe4
50. Rc5+ Ka6
51. Nc7+ Kb7
52. Rxf5 Be3!
53. Bxe3 Rxe3
54. Rxf7 {Remarkably, this natural capture may actually be inferior to 54. Nd5 Ra3 55. Nb4 extricating the Knight from its awkward post on c7.}
54... Re5
55. a6+ Kb6
56. Rxg7 Ra5
57. Kd2 Ra1
58. Kc2 Rh1? {Simply 57...Ra5 holds the draw but after staring into the abyss for so many moves Kasparov finally drops his guard.}
59. Kb2? {Kramnik has a mirage. He said he saw the right path by 58. Rg8! Rh7 (if 58...Kxc7 59 a7 wins; or 58...Ra1 59. Nd5+! Kc5 60. Rg5! ) 59. Rb8+ Ka7 but thought 60. Rb7 was stalemate instead of mate! }
59...Rh8 {Incredibly, although a Knight and a pawn down, Black now wriggles out.}
60. Kb3 Rc8
61. a7 Kxa7
62. Kb4 Kb6 {Black must defend with care but this ending is a known theoretical draw. Kramnik tests his opponent by playing on.}
63. Nd5+ Ka6
64. Rg6+ Kb7
65. Kb5 Rc1
66. Rg2 Kc8
67. Rg7 Kd8
68. Nf6 Rc7
69. Rg5 Rf7
70. Nd5 Kd7
71. Rg6 Rf1
72. Kc5 Rc1+
73. Kd4 Rd1+
74. Ke5 {Draw by Agreement. A fighting draw in every sense of the word. Kramnik was obviously disappointed not to increase his slender lead to two points but said he was very pleased with his play before move 40. Kasparov admitted that he overlooked a way to save the piece by 38...Nf4.} 1/2-1/2


[Event "Brain Games World Championship "]
[Site "London"]
[Round "10"]
[Date "2000"]
[White "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "GM Larry Evans -- CM9K Game 4"]

{This game marked the end of an era. Kasparov, unable to win a single game out of 15 in the title match, later conceded that he was outprepared and outplayed. He seemed weary and depressed after suffering this second loss which sealed his fate. "I feel that my relationship with Kasparov now is much the same as before -- good," said Kramnik when it was all over. "He didn't have a chance to show his best chess. It can't be nice to lose your title after so long, but he took it with good grace and accepted me as the new World Champion."} 

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e3 {Varying from 4. Qc2 in game 8 where Kasparov equalized easily.}
4...O-O
5. Bd3 d5
6. Nf3 c5
7. O-O cxd4
8. exd4 dxc4
9. Bxc4 b6 {A typical double-edged position where White's attacking chances usually outweigh the weakness of his isolated d-pawn.}
10. Bg5 Bb7 
11. Re1 Nbd7
12. Rc1 Rc8
13. Qb3 Be7? {This optimistic and seemingly natural retreat leads to severe problems. Correct is 13...Bxc3 14. bxc3 Re8 bolstering the weak point on e6.}
14. Bxf6! Nxf6 {On 14...Bxf6 15. Nb5! is hard to meet.}
15. Bxe6! fxe6
16. Qxe6 Kh8
17. Qxe7 Bxf3
18. gxf3 Qxd4
19. Nb5! {Incredibly, this has all been played before but nobody has found a way for Black to equalize. White's attack is powerful despite his exposed King and doubled pawns.}
19...Qxb2
20. Rxc8 Rxc8
21. Nd6 Rb8
22. Nf7? Kg8 
23. Qe6 Rf8? {Loses instantly. Black can hold out longer with 23...h5.}
24. Nd8+ Kh8
25. Qe7 {Black Resigns. "It's not often that I'm lost in the opening, but I still have six games left and if I play like I'm capable of playing, I might still change the result," said Kasparov. But the last five games were drawn and the 16th was cancelled because even a win would not have dug him out of a two-point hole.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Championship"]
[Site "Iran"]
[Round "4"]
[Date "2000"]
[White "Viswanathan Anand"]
[Black "Alexei Shirov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "GM Larry Evans -- CM9K Game 5"]

{Fans wonder if the traditional title, which always has been the main instrument for promoting chess, will even survive. A month after Kramnik scored a major upset by dethroning Kasparov in London, FIDE held its rival 100-player knockout in India where native son Viswanathan Anand, 31, and Latvia's Alexei Shirov, 28, reached the finals. Their brief playoff took place in Iran where chess was banned by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989! Anand won easily (3 wins, 1 draw) but only FIDE loyalists regard him as the true champion because Kasparov trounced him in their 1995 title match. "A tournament filled largely with unknowns capped by a short match without much human drama doesn't excite a lot of interest except among dedicated chess junkies. FIDE forgot what Western man has known ever since Aristotle wrote about drama: We come to see tragic heroes, not the chorus," opined one critic. In this last game, trailing by two points, Shirov desperately sacrifices a piece to keep his hopes alive. Fireworks erupt but Anand, under fire, defended with his usual aplomb.}

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5 
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 {In the words of the hypdermoderns, White has his center to defend. The purpose of this awkward retreat is to bolster the center with c3 to keep the pawn chain intact.}
5... c5
6. f4 Nc6
7. c3 Qb6
8. Nf3 f6 {Biting at the center to relieve the cramp.}
9. a3 Be7 
10. h4 O-O 
11. Rh3 a5 
12 b3 Qc7
13. Neg1!? {!? -- A new idea. Not 13. Ng3? cxd4 14. cxd4 fxe5 15. fxe5 Ndxe5 16. fxe5 Rxf3! 17. Qxf3 Qxe5+ followed by Qxa1. Ajubov-Anturin, Russian Championship 2000, was drawn by perpetual check after 13. h5 b6 14. g4 cxd4 15. cxd4 fxe5 16. fxe5 Rxf3 17. Rxf3 Bh4+ 18. Kd2 Bg5+ 19. Ke1 Bh4+.}
13... a4 
14. b4 fxe5 
15. fxe5 Ndxe5!
16. dxe5 Nxe5
17. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 
18. Qe2 {It's getting messy and both sides must exercise extreme care. Black has two pawns for the piece while White's King is still stranded in the center. A mistake would be 18. Ne2 cxb4 18. axb4 Qf5! 20. Bf4 e5.}
18... Bxh4+ {Inviting 19. Rxh4 Qg3+ followed by Qxh4.}
19. Kd1 Qf6? {Objectively better is 19...Qxe2+ 20. Bxe2 Bf2 but the need to win at all costs persuades Shirov to keep Queens on the board.}
20. Nf3 Qxc3?! {?! -- Snatching a fourth pawn for the piece looks tempting but the best practical chance is 20...g5 retaining the tension.}
21. Bb2 Qb3+ 
22. Kc1 e5 {Alas, the attack comes to a grinding halt because 22...Bf6 23. Bxf6 Rxf6 24. Nd2! ensnares the Queen. Now Black loses a second piece.}
23. Rxh4 Bf5 
24. Qd1 e4 
25. Qxb3 axb3 
26. Nd2 e3
27. Nf3 Rae8 
28. Kd1 c4
29. Be2 Be4 
30. Kc1 Re6
31. Bc3 Rg6
32. Rh2 Bd3 
33. Bxd3 cxd3 {The two passed pawns look dangerous but it's only an illusion.}
34. Kb2 d2 
35. Kxb3 Rg3 
36. Kb2 g5
37. Kc2 Rc8 
38. Kd3 g4 
39. Be5 Rc1
40. Rh1 Rxg2
41. Nh4 {Black Resigns.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "Discovery 1"]
[Date "2001"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frank Poole"]
[Black "HAL 9000"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C86"]

{In Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey", super-computer HAL 9000 engages astronaut Frank Poole in a game of chess en route to the planet Jupiter. Although only the last few moves are seen, the beginning of the game has been reconstructed here. Frank and HAL undoubtedly played the Ruy Lopez-Morphy defense opening.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.
O-O Be7 6. Qe2 {The so-called Worrall attack, in lieu of the usual 6. Re1. The idea is to use the King's Rook more profitably on d1, but Black has other plans.} 6... b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 {This is an invitation to a variant of the "Marshall Gambit," which is usually seen only against 6. Re1.} 8...
d5 {And here it is, even more effective because of the White Queen is in a vulnerable position.} 9. exd5 {Wiser would have been the tame 9. d1, holding the strong point e4.} 9... Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nf4 {This "in-between" move takes advantage of the Queen's vulnerability to gain time.} 11. Qe4 Nxe5 12. Qxa8
{With three pieces to capture, none is a bargain: 12. Qxf4 allows the other Knight to sink into d2, with gain of a tempo, and for the pawn Black has wonderful lines and a constricted enemy.} 12... Qd3 {Depriving the White Queen of the last safe retreat at e4, throttling the White center, and opening the brutal discovery by the Queen's Bishop on the next move. White is busted.} 13. Bd1 {What else? Perhaps 13. Qa7, but then Nf3+ 14. gxf3 and mate to follow after 15. Ne2+ Kg2 16. Bh3+.} 13... Bh3 {Of course! The White Queen could play prosaically to a7, but the result would be the same:} 14.
Qxa6 {The film picks up the game at this point. Frank: "Anyway, Queen takes Pawn, okay."} 14... Bxg2 {HAL: "Bishop takes Knight's Pawn."} 15. Re1 { Frank: "What a lovely move. Rook to King one."} 15... Qf3 {HAL: "I'm sorry Frank, I think you missed it: Queen to Bishop three, Bishop takes Queen, Knight takes Bishop. Mate". While it is true that white has a lost position, it is NOT a mate in two as HAL claims! Frank has many options besides Bxf3 that will prolong the game. Could this mistake be the first sign of the computer's impending breakdown? Or has HAL already begun to deliberately deceive his crew?} 16. Bxf3 Nxf3# {Frank: "Uh, huh. Yeah looks like you're right. I resign". HAL: "Thank you for a very enjoyable game". Frank: "Yeah. Thank you."} 0-1


[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2001"]
[Round "?"]
[White "The Web"]
[Black "Chessmaster 8000"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

{The face of chess changed in 1999 when Kasparov took on the World via the Net. It was the largest interactive competition in history and introduced countless people to the joys of e-mail chess. In a similar challenge Chessmaster got Black by a random flip of the coin and had an hour to decide its move vs. "The Web" which had the remainder of the day (23 hours) to vote on its reply. The machine was winning rather easily but left its King in the corner too long, then made a few inferior moves. The world's lucky escape sheds some light on the difference between how machines and humans think.}

1.e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6 
3. Nxe5 {Considered the best try for an advantage against the Petrov Defense. 3. Nc3 Nc6 leads to the Four Knights Game; 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 transposes into the text.}
3...d6 {A necessary precaution. Not 3...Nxe4? 4. Qe2.}
4. Nf3 Nxe4 
5. d4 d5
6. Bd3 Bd6
7. O-O O-O
8. c4 c6 
9. Qc2 {9. cxd5 cxd5 lets Black get to c6 with his knight. Another alternative is 9. h3 to prevent Bg4 pinning the Knight on f3.}
9... Na6 
10. a3 {Quietly trying to exploit the awkward position of the Knight on the rim and shunning complications arising from the pawn snatch 10. Bxe4 dxe4 11. Qxe4 Re8 12. Qd3 Nb4 13. Qb3 Bf5.}
10....Bg4 {Once more disdaining to defend the pawn by 10...f5 11. Re1 Re8 in favor of rapid development.}
11. Nbd2 {Rightly shunning 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qh4 14. h3 Qxd4 regaining the pawn favorably.}
11...Nxd2 {A good alternative is 11...f5 to maintain the Knight on e4.}
12. Nxd2 Qh4
13. g3 Qh5
14. Qb3 {White can cripple the enemy pawn structure at the expense of weakening his own light squares after 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Bxa6 bxa6 16. Qc6 Be7.}
14...Rab8
15. cxd5 cxd5 {Going into an endgame with 15...Qxd5 is also okay. In either case White has no advantage.}
16. Re1 Nc7
17. Nf1 Ne6 
18. Be3 Bc7
19. Nd2 {It doesn't make much sense to bring the Knight back from whence it came. 19. Qa4 looks more feasible.}
19...Bb6
20. Qb4 Nd8 {It's not clear that the Knight will be better on c6 than e6. Better is 20...Rbc8 to occupy the open file.}
21. Bf4 {Preferable is 21. Nb3 Nc6 22. Qd2 to improve the position of the Queen.}
21....Nc6
22. Qa4 Bxd4 
23. h4? {? - Remaining a pawn down without real compensation. Necessary is 23. Bxb8 Rxb8 (if 23...Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 25. Ke3 Re8+ 26. Be4 seems to hold) 24. h4.} 
23... Rbc8 {More forceful is 23...Rbe8 but now Black is winning anyway.}
24. Qb5 Bb6
25. Be3 Nd4 {When ahead in material, it's generally a good policy to swap pieces and head for the ending. Simpler is 25...Bxe3 26. Rxe3 d4 27. Qxh5 Bxh5.}
26. Qa4 Qe5
27. Kg2 Qf6
28. Bg5 Qc6
29.Qxc6 Rxc6
30. Re7 f6 
31. Be3 Bc8? {Needlessly passive. Black could wrap it up with 31...Bc5! 32. Rxb7 Bc8 33. Rb8 Bh3+ 34. Kxh3 Rxb8 snaring the Exchange.}
32. Re1 Bc5
33. Bxd4 Bxd4
34. b4 Bb2 {Good enough, but a human probably would choose 34...Rc3.}
35. Nb1 Be5 
36. f4 Bd4 {Again a human would prefer to drive the rook off the seventh rank by 36...Bd6. In any event Black's win with an extra pawn should now be a matter of technique.}
37. Rd1 Bb6 
38. Rde1 Bd8 
39. R7e2 Bg4 {A human would pay more attention to the vulnerable King on the back rank and take time out to create an escape square by 39...g6.}
40. Rd2 Bb6
41. Bc2 d4
42. Bb3+ Kh8 
43. Rc2 {White is all tied up. If 43. Re7 Rc1.}
43...Bd7 {Rooks belong behind passed pawns. A human might prefer 43...Rd8 to bolster the passed pawn.}
44. Re7 Rd6
45. Nd2 Bc6+
46. Kf1 Rd7
47. Rxd7 Bxd7
48. Nc4 Bc7 
49. Na5! {! - White is desperately fighting for a draw and comes closer by inviting this swap.}
49...Bxa5
50. bxa5 Bc6 
51. Kf2 a6 {To stop a6 dissolving the doubled pawns.}
52. Re2 Rd8
53. Ke1 d3
54. Re3 d2+ 
55. Kd1 g6
56. Bc4 Ba4+
57. Bb3 Bb5 {A series of dilatory moves has diminished Black's advantage. The endgame is looking drawish after 57...Bxb3+ 58. Rxb3 Rd7 59. Rd2 h5 60. Rxd2.}
58. a4 Bc6
59. Ke2 Bg2
60. Bc2 {A bad mistake would be 60. Rd3? Bf1+! 61. Kxf1 Rxd3}
60...f5 
61. Bd3 Rd4
62. Kxd2 Rxa4 
63. Re5 Ra3 {Achieves nothing. It's time to activate the King with 63...Kg7. "The King is a fighting piece -- use it!" advised old Steinitz.}
64. h5 Kg7 
65. g4 fxg4
66. hxg6 hxg6
67. Rg5 Bf3 
68. Rxg6+ Kf7
69. Rg5 Bc6 
70. Rxg4 Rxa5
71. Kc3 Ra4 {Black's best winning chance is to push his pawns as fast as possible with 71...b5! What good is an extra pawn if you don't use it?}
72. Rh4 Bd5 {More loss of time. Why not 72...b5 right away?}
73. Rh6 a5 {A theoretical draw ensues after 73...Rxf4 74. Bxa6! bxa6 75. Rxa6.}
74. Rd6 Bc6
75. Bc4+ Ke7 {Ordinarily Black would expect to win but the problem is that White has now created a dangerous passed pawn of his own.}
76. Re6+ Kd7 
77. Re5 Kd6
78. Re6+ Kc7
79. Re7+ Kb6
80. Re1 Ra3+ 
81. Kd4 Rf3
82. Ke5 a4 {Black finally gets his pawns moving but White's passed pawn is now very menacing.} 
83. f5 Ka5
84. Be6 b5
85. f6 Be8
86. Rh1 Bg6 {If 86...b4 87. Rh8.}
87. Rg1 Re3+ {Draw Agreed. A wondrous save! Black can no longer win after 88. Kd6 Bh5 89. Rh1 harassing the Bishop.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus Tournament"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee, Holland"]
[Round "3"]
[Date "2001"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Viswanathan Anand"]
[Result "1/2"]

{Holland hosts the first super tournament each January sponsored by Corus, a steel company. The 63rd edition of this classic featured Kasparov's first appearance after losing his title to Kramnik who, along with new FIDE champion Anand, competed in this star-studded field of 14. Kasparov proved he was still King of the hill, emerging undefeated with 9 points (5 wins and 8 draws), nosing out Kramnik by a full point and Anand by 1/2 point.. In this eagerly awaited encounter each player botched his winning chances.}

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Bc5 {A bit of a surprise. The Classical Defense to the Ruy Lopez is seldom seen nowadays because the Bishop is exposed to some risk.}
6. c3 {Nothing is gained by 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5 Nxe4.}
6...b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. a4 Bg4 {To stop d4. A bad mistake would be 8...Nxe4? 9.Bd5 spearing a knight.}
9. h3 Bxf3
10. Qxf3 O-O
11. a5!? {!? - A risky decision because the pawn is weak here. More prudent is 11. d3 Na5 12. Bc2 b4 13. Nd2 Rb8.}
11... Rb8
12. d3 Nd7
13. Be3 Kh8
14. Nd2 Ne7 
15. Bc2 {Aiming for b4 to bolster the pawn on a5. Premature is 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Bb4 putting pressure on a5.} 
15...Bxe3 {Anand does not likes the looks of 15...f5 16. Bg5.}
16. fxe3 {Hoping to profit from open lines on the kingside. Black has nothing to fear from 16. Qxe3 c5 because the Bishop on c2 has limited scope.} 
16... c5
17. Bb3 c4?! {?! - Giving up a pawn for queenside counterplay. Instead Kasparov recommends 17...Nf6. Also playable is 17...f5.}
18. dxc4 Nc5
19. cxb5 Nxb3 
20. Nxb3 Rxb5 
21. Qd1 Qc7 
22. Ra4 Nc6 {If 22...Rfb8 23. Nd2 f6 24. Nc4 exerts pressure on d6. Simply 22...f6 is the best way to avoid trouble. White is a pawn up but his doubled pawns are ugly.}
23. Nd2 Nxa5 {Not much choice. If 23...Rxb2 24. Nc4 followed by Qxd6.}
24. b4 Nb7
25. Qc2? {? - Missing a spectacular winning chance by 25. Rxa6 Qxc3 26. Rxf7! Rg8 27. Qf1! Nd8 (not 27...Rxb4? 28. Ra8!) 28. Rxg7!! Kxg7 29. Rxd6 Qxe3+ 30. Kh1 Qf4 31. Qxb5 Nf7 32. Rd3 Rc8 33. Nb3.}
25... h6 {Protecting the back rank. No need to worry about 26. Rxa6 Rxb4.}
26. Qd3 Rb6
27. Rfa1 Rc6
28. R1a3 {Better is 28. Rxa6 Rxc3 29. Qd5.} 
28... a5! {Dissolving the weak pawn once and for all.} 
29. Kh2? {An unfortunate post. Correct is 29. Kh1. Of course not 29. bxa5? Nc5.}
29... d5! {!}
30. Qb5? {Over-reaching. More prudent is 30. Qxd5 Rd8 31. Qa2 Rxc3 32. Rxc3 Qxc3 33. Nf3 Qxe3 34. Qxf7 Qxe4.}
30... d4! {! - Inviting 31. cxd4 exd4 CHECK. Now we see why the King belongs on h1.}
31. bxa5 dxc3
32. Nb3 Nc5? {Instead 32...c2! gives Black good winning chances.}
33. Rc4 Rb8 
34. Qxc6 Qxc6
35. Nxc5 Qb5 
36. Rcxc3 Qe2
37. Nd7 Rb2 {Draw Agreed. 38. Rc8+ Kh7 39. Nf8+ Kg8 40. Nd7+ Kh7 41. Nf8+ leads to perpetual check.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Exhibition Match"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Round "2"]
[Date "2001"]
[White "Peter Leko"]
[Black "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Result "1/2"]

{The line between classical and rapid chess became increasingly blurred in the new millennium when FIDE pushed for faster time controls in rated games. Most serious fans thought it was a terrible idea guaranteed only to produce poorly played games. Despite the decline in quality, however, events that took weeks were now finished in days. After Vladimir Kramnik, 25, wrested the title from Kasparov, the first opponent he faced was Hungary's Peter Leko, 20, in a 12 game match at a speed of 25 minutes per side. Again utilizing the Berlin Defense, Kramnik won this series by two points (7-5). A year earlier Leko won a similar exhibition match at a regulation speed against newly crowned FIDE champion Alexander Khalifman. In this fascinating endgame Leko missed an incredible shot on move 64 found later by a computer. It's not clear that any player could find such a stunning resource over the board at any speed!} 

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4
5. d4 {Theory considers this better than 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. Rxe5+ Be7.}
5...Nd6
6. Bxc6 {White does not get enough compensation for the pawn after 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 Nd6 8. exd6 Bxd6.}
6...dxc6 
7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {Not many players are comfortable defending this ending with Black since his reward is usually a draw after a long and patient maneuvering.}
9. Nc3 Bd7
10. b3 {White decides to develop before deploying his rooks to the center. In games 4 and 8 Leko varied with 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8.}
10... Kc8
11. Bb2 Be7
12. Rfe1 a5
13. h3 h5
14. Ne4 a4
15. Neg5 Be6 {To prevent e6 once and for all. One computer suggested 15...Nh4!?}
16. Nxe6 fxe6
17.Re4 axb3
18. axb3 Rxa1+
19. Bxa1 Rd8
20. Kf1 Rd1+
21. Re1 Rd5 {Black's defensive task is unenviable. He avoids exchanges because if all the pieces go off the board White probably wins by virtue of his kingside pawn majority.}
22. Ke2 Ra5
23. Kd3 Bc5
24. Bc3 Ra2
25. Rf1 Kd7
26. Ng5 Be7
27. Ne4 Nh4 {Black makes tactical threats to offset the weakness of his pawn structure.}
28. g3 Nf3
29. Rd1 Ke8
30. Ke3 Ng5
31. Nxg5 Bxg5+
32. Kd3 Ra8
33. Ke4 Ra2
34. Kd3 Ra8
35. Rf1 {White signals his intention to play for a win by avoiding a repetition of moves.}
35... Be7
36. f4 g6
37. Ke4 Ra2
38. Rf2 b5 
39. g4 hxg4
40. hxg4 c5 {Black seeks counterplay with his weak doubled pawns, inviting 41. f5? gxf5+ 42. gxf5 exf5+ 43. Kxf5 b4 44. Be1 Bh4.}
41. Kd3 Kf7
42. Rh2 Kg8
43. Rh1 Ra8
44. f5! gxf5
45. gxf5 b4 {Of course not 45...exf5? 46. e6 with mate looming on h8.}
46. Bb2 Ra2
47. Ba1 c4+ 
48. bxc4 Ra3+
49. Ke4 Ra2
50. f6 Bc5 
51. Bd4 Bxd4
52. Kxd4 Rxc2 
53. Rb1 Rh2
54. Rxb4 {White has made remarkable progress.}
54...Rh4+
55. Kc5 Re4
56. Kc6 Kf7
57. Kxc7 Rxe5
58. Rb5 Re1
59. c5 Kxf6
60. c6 Rc1
61. Kb7 Ke7 {A more active drawing chance is 61...e5 62. c7 Kf5 63. c8/Q+ Rxc8 64. Kxc8 Kf4 65. Kd7 e4.}
62. Rb2 e5
63. c7 Kd6
64. c8=Q {? - Computer analysis shows that White can win by gaining a tempo with 64. Rd2+ Ke6 65. Rd1! Rc2 (the best chance is 65...Rxd1 66. c8/Q+ leading to a difficult Queen vs. rook duel.) 66. c8/Q+ Rxc8 67. Kxc8 e4 68. Kc7 Ke5 69. Ke6 e3 70. Kc5 Ke4 71. Kc4 getting back in time to win the pawn.}
64... Rxc8
65. Kxc8 Kd5
66. Kd7 e4
67. Rb5+ Kd4
68. Ke6 e3
69. Kf5 e2
70. Re5 Kd3 
71. Kf4 Kd2 {Draw by Agreement. White is a tempo short. If his King were now on f3, then Kf2 would win.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Round "5"]
[Date "2001"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Anatoly Karpov"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Despite losing his title to Kramnik several months earlier, Kasparov still remained number one because of his incredible tournament results. He blazed to victory in this double round robin with 5 wins and 5 draws, 3 full points ahead of Peter Leko, Judith Polgar and his old foe Anatoly Karpov (their rivalry was the greatest in chess history). At Linares, Kasparov posted a win and draw against Karpov, raising his lifetime record to 30 wins, 20 losses and 123 draws in 173 games. Here Karpov's fabled defensive genius is foiled by a slashing attack.}

1.e4 c6
2.d4 d5
3.e5 {Considered inferior to 3. Nc3 because it enables Black to free his queen's Bishop.} 
3...Bf5
4.Nc3 e6
5.g4 {This aggressive thrust proves that Kasparov is out for blood.}
5...Bg6 
6.Nge2 Ne7 {A typical Karpovian maneuver. Most mortals would opt for 6...c5 immediately.}
7.Nf4 c5
8.dxc5 {Varying from 8.h4 cxd4 9.Nb5 Nec6 10.h5 Be4 11.f3 a6 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.exd6 g5 14.Nh3 h6 15.fxe4 dxe4 16.Bg2 f5 17.O-O O-O 18.c3 Qxd6 19.gxf5 exf5 20.Qb3+ Kh8 which Black won (Topalov-Anand, Linares 1999).}
8... Nd7 {A rare move. More common is 8...Nec6 but Karpov goes his own way.}
9.h4 {The first time Kasparov has tried this relatively new (and very sharp) variation, which has been seen mostly in blitz and rapid games.}
9...Nxe5 
10.Bg2 {Better than 10. h5 Be4 or 10. Bb5+ N7c6 but it remains to be seen whether the Bishop has a future on this diagonal.}
10...h5 {A good alternative is 10...h6. It would be interesting to see how Kasparov would meet 10...d4!? 11.Nce2 N7c6 12.h5 Bxc2! 13.Qxc2 d3.}
11.Qe2 N7c6 {Also playable is 11...Nxg4 and if 12. Nb5 Qd7 13. Nd6+ Kd8.}
12.Nxg6 Nxg6 
13.Bg5! {! - Harder to meet than 13.gxh5? Nxh4 14.Bxd5 Nd4.}
13...Be7 {If 13...Qa5 then 14.gxh5 Nge5 15.O-O-O Bxc5 16.h6! gxh6 17.Bf6 Rg8 18.Bxd5! with a dangerous attack.} 
14.gxh5 Nf8 {Worse is 14...Nxh4? 15.Bxh4 Bxh4 16.Nxd5. But Black looks okay after 14...Nge5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nb5 Kf8. with a strong center. White's pawns are weak and his prospects are dim if he can't find a way to prosecute the attack.} 
15.Nb5! {!} 
15...Nd7 {Other defenses also favor White: 15...f6 16.Bf4 Qa5+ 17.Bd2 Qd8 18.h6 g6 19.Bxd5! Or 15...Qa5+ 16.Bd2 Qd8 17.Bxd5 Nd4! 18.Qc4 exd5 (18...Nxc2+ 19.Qxc2 exd5 20.c6) 19.Qxd4 Ne6 20.Qe5 Bxc5 21.h6.} 
16.h6! Nxc5! {Excellent defense! Not 16...gxh6 17.Nd6+ Kf8 18.Qh5. Or 16...g6 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 (17...Nxe7 18.O-O-O Kf8 19.h5 g5 20.Qd2 Nc6 21.c4!) 18.O-O-O Kf8 19.c4! destroys Black's center.} 
17.Bf4 {Threatening Nc7+. An alternative is 17.hxg7 Rg8 18.Bf4! Rc8 19. O-O-O.}
17...Kf8 {Hanging on for dear life. If 17...Qa5+ 18.c3 O-O-O 19. hxg7 Rhg8 20. Bc7 Qa4 21. Bxd8 Kxd8 22. h5 is decisive.}
18.hxg7+ Kxg7 
19.O-O-O Kf8 {A better try is 19...Qa5 20.a3 Rag8! creating an escape square on f8.}
20.Kb1 {More forceful is 20.c4! }
20...a6 {Too dangerous is 20...Rxh4 21. Rxh4 Bxh4 22. Qh5.}
21.Nc7! Rc8
22.Bxd5! {Finally the Bishop springs to life!}
22...exd5
23.Rxd5 Qxc7 {Black must part with the lady. If 23...Rxc7 24.Rxd8+ Bxd8 25.Bd6 does the trick. Or 23...Nd7 24. Qg4 (even 24.Rh5! works).}
24.Bxc7 Rxc7
25.Rf5 Rd7
26.c3 f6? {? - Black has 3 minor pieces for the queen; the last hope was 26...Rh6!}
27.Rg1 Nd8 
28.Qg4 Ke8
29.Rh5 Rf8 
30.Rxc5 Bxc5 
31.Qh5+ {Black Resigns. White will be too far ahead in material after 31...Rdf7 32.Qxc5. Another sparkling game by Kasparov, who conducted the attack with tremendous energy.} 1-0

[Event "Europe vs. Tatarstan"]
[Site "Kasan"]
[Round "2"]
[Date "2001"]
[White "Alexander Khalifman"]
[Black "Sergei Rublevsky"]
[Result "1-0"]

{The level of worldwide activity exploded in the new millennium, with tongue-twisting names popping up as chess continues its inexorable march towards Asia. This match was held in Tatarstan, an autonomous Russian republic, pitting a "European" team of Anatoly Karpov, Alexander Khalifman, Vladimir Korchnoi, Maya Chiburdanidze, Vladimir Akopian, and Victor Bologan against a Tartarstan team of Alexei Dreev, Sergei Rublevsky, Andrei Kharlov, Alisa Galliamova, Ildar Ibragimov, and Artyom Timofeev. Europe trailed by a point on the first day but caught up on the second day for an overall 6-6 tie. In the best game of the event, FIDE champion Khalifman seized the initiative right away and converted it into an exemplary victory.}

1.e4 c5 
2.Nf3 e6 
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 a6 {The Paulsen Variation of the Sicilian Defense.} 
5.Bd3 Nf6 {More usual is 5...Nc6 to exert immediate pressure on d4.} 
6.0-0 d6 
7.c4 {Black has allowed White to gain space but meanwhile sets up a hedgehog formation.}
7...Bd7
8.Nc3 Nc6
9.Nxc6 Bxc6 
10.b4 {Preparing to develop the Bishop on b2 while creating an eventual threat of b5. The only drawback is the weakening of the pawn on c4.} 10...b6 
11.Bb2 Be7
12.Qe2 0-0
13.Rad1 Nd7 {White controls more space and has good attacking prospects on the kingside. One example of a quick and merciless slaughter of the hedgehog is 13...Qc7 14.f4 Rad8 15.Kh1 Bb7 16.Rf3 g6 17.Rh3 Nd7 18.Nb5! and Black resigned, because if 18...axb5 19. Qh5! forces mate.}
14.f4 Bb7 {Not many players will venture to follow in Rublevsky's footsteps, even though he has defended this position many times.}
15.Rf3 g6 
16.Rh3 Bf6 {16...Qc7 is met by the already-known 17.Nb5! with the idea of getting the Queen to h5. If 17...Qd8 then 18.Nxd6! (but not 18.Qh5 gxh5 19.Rg3+ Bg5!) 18...Bxd6 19.Qh5! gxh5 20.Rg3 mates.}
17.e5! {Exploiting a flaw in Black's setup. Rublevsky's Queen has lingered on d8!}
17...dxe5
18.Be4 Qc7
19.Bxb7 Qxb7
20.Ne4 Bg7 {A mortal pin along the d-file ensues on 20...Be7 21.fxe5 Rac8 (or 21...Rfd8 22.Qf3! threatening Ne4-f6+ and at some point Rh3xh7!) 22.Rhd3 Rfd8 23.Nd6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6.}
21.fxe5 Qc7 {The pawn is taboo: 21...Nxe5? 22.Nd6!}
22.Nf6+ Bxf6 {22...Nxf6 does not work in view of 23.exf6 Bh8 24.Qe3! followed by Qh6.} 
23.exf6 {White is much better. He is threatening the queen's trip to g7 and also an attack on the poor Black Knight with heavy pieces.} 23...e5! 
24.Rf3! {Preserving his f6-pawn and reserving the threat of Qd2-h6-g7. Less convincing is 24.Rhd3 Nxf6 (24...Qxc4? 25.Qe3! Nxf6 26.Qxe5) 25.Rd6 (25.Bxe5 Rae8!) 25...Qe7 26.Qxe5 (an unclear position arises after 26.Rxb6 Rfd8 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Rxa6 Ne4!) 26...Qxe5 27.Bxe5 Ng4. Then one of Black's rooks is transferred to c8.}
24...Rfd8 
25.Rd5 {A critical move for White. Inferior is 25.Qe3? Qxc4 26.Qh6 Nxf6!} 25...h5 
26.Rfd3 Nf8 {Avoiding the pitfall of 26...Nxf6 27.Qxe5! Qxe5 28.Rxd8+ Qe8 29.Bxf6. Or 26...Qxc4 27. Qd2.}
27.Qxe5 Qxe5
28.Bxe5 Rxd5 
29.Rxd5 {Thus White winds up with an extra pawn and a won endgame.} 29...Ne6 
30.c5 bxc5 
31.bxc5 Rc8 
32.Bd6 g5 
33.Kf2 {Destination ...d7! The rest, as they say, is a matter of technique.} 
33...Kh7
34.Be7 Kg6 
35.Ke3 Rb8
36.Rd2 Kf5 
37.Kd3 Rb4 
38.Kc3 Rb1 
39.Kc4 Rc1+ 
40.Kd5 h4
41.c6 g4
42.Kd6 g3
43.hxg3 hxg3 
44.Kd7 Rc3
45.Bd6 Kxf6 
46.c7 {Black Resigned. The pawn has advanced too far! 46...Nxc7 47. Bxc7 gains a piece.}
1-0


[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2002"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shahade, Jennifer"]
[Black "Sagalchik, Gennady"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Men and women finally competed together for the first time at this Championship. College student Jennifer Shahade was 16th in a field of 56 but captured the women's crown ahead of 7 other females. "The average rating of the women was low and there was a fear we would get crushed.... Winning my first game against grandmaster Sagalchik and drawing the next two against GMs Kudrin and Seirawan gave me a great shot of confidence that lasted the whole tournament," she wrote. Here she introduces a spirited novelty in the opening and gains an advantage, then goes astray. Yet she won thanks to the clock when Black overstepped on time in a superior position. Who says there is no luck in chess?}

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6 
5.O-O Nxe4 {The Open Defense to the Ruy Lopez, a longtime favorite of Korchnoi, is more active but less popular than 5...Be7 (the Closed Defense).}
6.d4 b5
7.Bb3 d5 
8.dxe5 Be6 
9.Nbd2 {Also seen frequently are 9. Qe2 or c3. She apparently has a prepared variation in mind.}
9...Nc5
10.c3 Bg4 {Sagalchik's pet line. More usual is 11...d4.}
11.Bc2 Qd7 {Attempting to improve on Smirin-Sagalchik, Minsk 1987, which continued: 11...Be7 12.Re1 O-O 13.Nf1 Bh5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Be3 Qd7 16.b4.}
12.Re1 Be7 {In several previous games Sagalchik played 12...Rd8 instead.}
13.Nf1 {A less promising plan is 13. Nb3 Ne6 14. h3 Bh5 15. Bf5 Ncd8 16. Be3 a5 17. Bc5 a4 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 as in Karpov-Korchnoi, Baguio 1978.}
13...Bh5 
14.b4!? {!? - A sharp novelty. A previous game continued 14.Ne3 Rd8 15 b4 because now Na4 is refuted by 16 Bf5! trapping the Queen.}
14...Na4 
15.Ng3! {! - Launching extreme complications by not bothering to defend the pawn on c3. Less ambitious is 15. Bxa4 bxa4 16. Bf4.} 
15...Nxc3 
16.Qd2 Bg4 {Not 16...Bxf3 17. Bf5! Ne2+ 18. Rxe2 Qd8 19. gxf3.}
17.Qxc3 Bxb4 
18.Qe3 Bxf3
19.Bf5 Qe7 
20.Bd2 {Inspired play. White is two pawns down but threatens to win a piece. Weaker is 20. Qxf3 Nd4! 21. Qxd5 Rd8 22. Qe4 Bxe1 23. Qxe1 c5.}
20...g6 
21.Bxb4 Qxb4
22.Qxf3 {Good enough but even stronger is 22. e6!}
22...Nd4 
23.Bd7+! Kxd7 
24.Qxf7+ Kc8
25.Rac1 Ra7
26.Qxd5 {White is winning but again 26. e6! is more forceful.}
26...c6
27.Qe4? {? - Both sides are short of time. White misses a forced win by 27. Red1! Rd8 (or 27...Rd7 28. Rxc6+ Kd8 29. Rd6) 28. Rxc6+!}
27...Rd7 
28.e6 Rd6
29.Qg4 Kc7 
30.e7 Re8 
31.Qg5? {The advantage slips away. Stronger is 31. Qf4.}
31...Re6 
32.Rxe6 Nxe6 
33.Qd5 Nd4 {Shahade won on time but stands worse. She would be hard-pressed to hold a draw after 34. Qe5+ Qd6 35. Qxd6+ Kxd6 36. Rd1 c5 37. Ne2 Rxe7 38. Nxd4 cxd4 39. Rxd4+ Kc5 40. Rd1 Re2. As time limits accelerate in modern chess, the clock plays an increasingly dominant role.} 1-0

[Event "USA Championship"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2002"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shahade, Jennifer"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1/2"]

{Shahade, rated 2302, proved her mettle by holding a draw against defending champion Seirawan, rated 2644. This hard-fought game went right down to the wire. The tricky Queen ending with both sides rushing pawns toward the queening square is exciting and instructive.}

1.e4 c6 
2.d4 d5
3.exd5 cxd5
4.c4 {The once-dreaded Panov-Botvinnik Attack, introduced in the 1930s, is aimed at exerting pressure against d5. It is no longer considered very dangerous. Less forcing is 4. Bd3 (to prevent Black from developing his Bishop to f5).}
4...Nf6
5.Nc3 Nc6
6.Bg5 e6 
7.c5 {To cramp Black and control the queenside by a3 and b4, given enough time. Trying to win a pawn by 7.cxd5 exd5 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nxd5 Qd8 leads to nought.}
7...Be7
8.Bb5 Bd7
9.Bxc6 {Usually 9. Nf3 is played first.}
9...Bxc6
10.Nf3 Ne4 
11.Bxe7 Qxe7
12.Qc2 {12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Ne5 e3 is okay for Black.}
12...e5! {Striking quickly in the center before White achieves a bind.}
13.Nxe4 exd4
14.O-O dxe4 {Simpler than 14...d3 15. Qxd3 dxe4 16. Qc3 O-O 17. Rfe1.}
15.Nxd4 O-O
16.Nxc6 bxc6 
17.Rfe1 f5 
18.Rad1 Rad8
19.b4 Qe6 
20.a4 a6 
21.Qe2 {Better is 21. h3 to secure the back rank before trying to exploit White's superior pawn structure. Now Black gets active counterplay.}
21...Qb3
22.Rxd8 Rxd8
23.Qxa6 Qxb4
24.Rc1 Qa3
25.Qc4+ Rd5
26.h3 h5 {Turns out to be a weakness. More prudent is 26...h6.}
27.Rc3 Qb2 
28.Rc2 Qe5 
29.Rd2 e3 
30.Rxd5 cxd5
31.Qe2 f4
32.fxe3 fxe3 
33.c6 Qc3 {A better winning try is 33...Qa1+ 34. Kh2 Qxa4 35. Qxh5 Qxc6 36. Qe5 d4 37. Qxd4 Qe6.}
34.a5 d4 {Once again better is 34...Qa1+ 35. Kh2 Qxa5.}
35.a6 Qc1+
36.Kh2 Qxc6 
37.Qa2+ Kh7 
38.a7 e2
39.Qxe2 Qc7+ 
40.g3 Qxa7
41.Qxh5+ Kg8 
42.Qe8+ Kh7
43.Qh5+ Kg8
44.Qe8+ Kh7
45.Qh5+ {Draw by Threefold Repetition. Neither side can make progress.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dubai World Cup"]
[Site "United Arab Emirates"]
[Date "2002"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ruslan Ponomariov"]
[Black "Zhu Chen"]
[Result "0-1"]

{32 stars arrived for the first event of FIDE's new Grand Prix and learned to their dismay that the prize fund was cut in half. The format called for two games restricted to an hour apiece: 25 minutes per side with an increment of 10 seconds a move. Ties were broken in 10-minute games, prompting critics to note that ignorance is blitz. "Speed destroys quality. It is not even about blunders creeping in; it is about emasculating the very content of the game," said Gary Kasparov, who fears that FIDE's fast new time limit will toll the death knell of classical chess. FIDE champ Ruslan Ponomariov, 18, was eliminated at the outset by China's Zhu Chen, 26, the women's titleholder. Observers noted that it was the first time a women's world champion in any competition defeated her male counterpart. In their first game she pressed for 71 moves and missed a few wins before conceding a draw. Then, with Black, she scored this historic victory, albeit at a fast time limit.}

1.e4 c5 
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6
6.f3 e5 {Russian analysts in the 1940s demonstrated that Black's counterplay offsets the weakness of the backward d-pawn. 6...e6 is the chief alternative.}
7.Nb3 Be6
8.Be3 Be7
9.Qd2 h5!? {Creates a weakness but stops g4 once and for all. Other setups seen frequently are 9...O-O 10. g4 b5; or 9...Nbd7 10.g4 h6.}
10.Be2 {Reserving the option of castling kingside. Instead Gerber-Nemet, Swiss Championship 2001, continued 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Kb1 Rc8.}
10...Nbd7 
11.Nd5 Nxd5
12.exd5 Bf5
13.O-O O-O 
14.Na5! Qc7 
15.c4 Bf6
16.Rac1 b6
17.Nc6 a5 {The Knight on c6 is a bone in Black's throat. Black removed it by 17...Nb8 18. Nxb8 (stronger is 18. f4!) Raxb8 19. b4 Qd7 20. c5 bxc5 21. bxc5 dxc5 22. Rxc5 Be7 in David-Dinstuhl, Germany 2000.}
18.f4 exf4
19.Bxf4 Bg6 
20.Bd3 Bxd3
21.Qxd3 Rae8 {Rejecting 21...Bxb2 22. Qe2! Bf6 (of course not 22...Bxc1?? 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Qxh5 mate) 23.Ne7+ Bxe7 24.Qxe7.} 
22.Rc2 Nb8 
23.Qg3 h4
24.Qf3? {? - Not 24.Bxd6? Qxc6! But stronger is 24.Qa3! Be5 25. Nxe5 dxe5 26.Bg5 f6 27.Bxh4 snaring a pawn.}
24...Nxc6 
25.dxc6 Re6 {The other rook is planning 26...Rc8.} 
26.Rd2 Rc8
27.b3 Qxc6
28.Rd5 Rce8
29.a4 Qc7 
30.g4 {Better is 30. h3. White is a pawn down but has strong pressure.}
30...Be5 
31.g5 Qe7 
32.Bd2 Bb2! {! - Hoping to get the Bishop to a3 and c5.}
33.Rf5 Bd4+
34.Kh1 Rf8 
35.Qd5 {Black keeps the edge after 35. Qg4 Re4 36. R5f4 Rxf4 37.Bxf4 Be3.}
35...Bc5
36.Bc3 Rg6 
37.Re1 Qd8
38.Kg2? {Better is 38. Re4 going after the pawn on h4.}
38...Qa8
39.Qxa8 Rxa8 
40.Re7 f6 
41.Kh3 d5 
42.Re2 d4
43.Bd2 fxg5
44.Kg4 Rf8 
45.Rxf8+ Kxf8 
46.Re5 h3? {Correct is 46...d3.}
47.Kxh3? {Missing 47.Bxa5! A comedy of errors courtesy of the ticking clock.}
47...g4+
48.Kg2 d3
49.Bf4? {? - 49. Rd5 Rd6 50. Kg3 still offers resistance. Now it ends abruptly.} 
49...Rf6
50.Re4 d2
51.Bxd2 Rf2+
52.Kg3 Rxd2
53.Kxg4 Rd3 {White can resign right here but is hoping the clock will save him.}
54.h4 Rxb3 
55.Rf4+ Kg8 
56.Kf5 Kh7
57.h5 Rh3 
58.Kg4 Ra3
59.h6 Kxh6 
60.Kf5 {Hoping for Rh4 mate. Anything can happen at this speed!}
60...g6+ {White resigns. A historic game. Is it likely that FIDE will abandon its obsession with speed over quality and restore slower time controls?} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Round "13"]
[Date "2002"]
[White "Gary Kasparov"]
[Black "Ruslan Ponomariov"]
[Result "1-0"]

{Linares, which began in 1990, is usually the strongest tournament held each year. Kasparov has dominated the event by winning it eight times and finishing second twice. His performance at this super-tournament in 2002 marked his ninth straight tournament victory in classical (slow) chess. He confirmed his number one ranking in grand style, outdistancing six hungry rivals with an 8-4 performance (4 wins, 8 draws). In the penultimate round he had the satisfaction of bashing FIDE champion Ruslan Ponomariov, 18, of the Ukraine, his runner-up who trailed by a full 1 1/2 points. At the closing ceremony Kasparov retracted all the harsh things about his young rival. "That was wrong and I will correct that. Ruslan made an excellent impression on me. He is very strong and I am sure that we will play many more games," generously conceded Kasparov.}

1.e4 e6 {Ponomariov plays the French Defense for the first time.}
2.d4 d5 
3.Nc3 dxe4 
4.Nxe4 Nd7 
5.Nf3 Ngf6 
6.Nxf6+ Nxf6
7.c3 {Bolstering the center. By delaying Bd3 White retains the option of Bb5.}
7... c5
8.Ne5 Nd7 {Trying to dislodge the knight, but retreating a developed piece is dubious. More prudent is 8...a6.}
9.Bb5 Bd6 
10.Qg4 Kf8 {Losing the right to castle is unpleasant. But if 10...O-O? 11.Bh6 gains material. Now Kasparov sacrifices a pawn to get a dangerous initiative. His willingness to take risks is what endears his games to chess fans.}
11.O-O {!?}
11... Nxe5
12.dxe5 Bxe5 
13.Bg5 Bf6
14.Rad1 Qc7 {Kasparov later said he expected 14...Qe7 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 and now intended either 16. Qg3 regaining the pawn or 16. Qh5 pursuing the attack.}
15.Qh4 Bxg5 
16.Qxg5 f6
17.Qh5 g6
18.Qh6+ Kf7 {If 18...Qg7? 19. Rd8+ Kf7 20. Be8+! Rxe8 21. Qxg7+ Kxg7 22. Rxe8 snares the Exchange.}
19.Rd3 a6 
20.Rh3 Qe7
21.Bd3 f5 
22.g4!? {!? - Magically conjuring new threats and spurning 22. Qxh7+ Rxh7 23. Rxh7+ Kf6 24. Rxe7 Kxe7 which regains the pawn with an equal ending.}
22... Qf6 
23.Rd1 b5 {It's hard to shake the bind after 23...fxg4 24. Rg3 e5 25. Bc4+ Ke8 (if 25...Ke7 26. Rgd3) 26. Rd5.}
24.Be2 e5 
25.Rhd3 Ra7? {? - Now it's all downhill. Black must try to diminish the attack by getting the Queens off by 25...fxg4 26. Rd6 Qf4 27. Rxg6 Qxh6 28.Rxh6.}
26.Rd6 Qg7 {Or 26...Qe7 27. Rc6.}
27.Qe3 Rc7 
28.a4 e4 {Returning the pawn to get some breathing room.} 
29.axb5 axb5
30.Bxb5 Qe5 
31.Qg5 Qe7
32.Qh6 Be6 
33.Qf4 {A mad time scramble. A quicker win is 33. gxf5 gxf5 34. Be2.}
33....Bc8 {If 33...Rhc8 34. gxf5 gxf5 35. Kh1! c4 36. Qh6 is annoying.}
34.Qh6 Be6
35.gxf5 gxf5
36.Be2 {Bringing more force to the attack is decisive. A new and lethal threat is Bh5+.}
36...Qf6 
37.Bh5+ Ke7
38.Rxe6+ {Black Resigned. Hopeless is 38...Kxe6 (or 38...Qxe6 39. Qg7+) 39. Rd6+ Kxd6 40. Qxf6+.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Spain"]
[Round "14"]
[Date "2002"]
[White "Alexei Shirov"]
[Black "Gary Kasparov"]
[Result "0-1"]

{Kasparov only needed a draw in the last round to clinch first place but Shirov, who is a great fighter over the board, bravely sacrificed a piece for two pawns as early as move 11 in an exciting melee. Alas, Kasparov won, raising his overall score against Shirov to a stupefying 14-0 (not counting draws). They began a protracted feud when Kasparov choose Kramnik instead of Shirov as his challenger in 2000. Shirov, who had defeated Kramnik in a qualifying match, sued. Since then they no longer shake hands before their games.}

1.e4 c5 
2.Nf3 Nc6 {A surprise? Kasparov once quipped that some of his opponents write down his second move (2...d6) before it has been made on the board.}
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 e5
6.Ndb5 d6
7.Bg5 a6 
8.Na3 b5 
9.Bxf6 {A positional approach is 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3.}
9...gxf6 {Black will soon dissolve his doubled pawns. Also playable is 9...Qxf6 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.c4 b4.}
10.Nd5 f5 {Many players prefer 10...Bg7 to blunt the piece sacrifice that occurs in this game, but Kasparov seldom shuns a theoretical duel.}
11.Bxb5!? {Shirov has scored brilliant wins with this sacrifice. Tamer is 11. Bd3 Be6.}
11...axb5
12.Nxb5 Ra4
13.b4!? {A sharp try that breathes new life into this variation. Black has fewer problems after 13.Nbc7+ Kd7 14.Nb6+ Kxc7 15.Nxa4 Rg8.}
13...Qh4 {Aiming for counterplay on the kingside.}
14.O-O Rg8
15.f4!? {Heating things up by not allowing Kasparov to go for a draw after 15. c3 f4! 16. Qxa4 Rxg2+ with perpetual check.}
15...Kd8! 
16.c3 {A critical decision played quickly. Alternatives are 16. c4 or Nb6. Weaker is 16. Nxd6? Bxd6 17. Nb6 Nd4 18. Nxa4 fxe4 with a decisive counterattack.}
16... Ra6
17.a4?! {After a long think, but it creates no concrete threats. Instead 17. Ne3 attacking d6 should be considered. Now Black seizes the initiative.} 
17... fxe4 
18.f5? {Played instantly but it costs White the game. The best try is 18.Ndc7 Bh3 19. Ra2!}
18...Bb7 
19.Ra2 e3 
20.Nxe3 Qe4
21.Re1 {Equally futile is 21. Re2 Nd4! 22. cxd4 Bh6.}
21...Nxb4! 
22.cxb4 Bh6 {Relentless. The pressure on g2 is unbearable.}
23.Kh1 Bxe3
24.Qe2 {Even worse is 24.Nxd6 Qxg2+! 25. Rxg2 Bxg2 mate.}
24...Rc6 
25.a5 Qxb4 
26.Nxd6 Rxd6 
27.Qxe3 Qd4
28.Qc1 Qd5 {White resigns. Without waiting for 29. Qb2 Rxg2! 30.Qxg2 Qb3.} 0-1

[Event "NAO"]
[Site "France"]
[Round "1"]
[Date "2002"]
[White "Veselin Topalov"]
[Black "Alexander Morozevich"]
[Result "1-0"]

{It takes more than money to produce a great chess culture, but subsidizing players can't hurt. Stalin did it when using chess to prove that the Soviet system was superior to the decadent West. Many Russian players died or dispersed to the four corners of the globe. Korchnoi defected to Switzerland, and Spassky moved to France where a new patron is determined to make that country a leading chess nation. Nadej Ojjeh, the daughter of Syria's longtime defense minister, poured a fortune from her deceased husband's oil and arms empire into chess. The first NAO tournament (bearing her initials) was the strongest ever held in France. The average age of ten players was 28, ranging from ex-world champion Anatoly Karpov (50) to French champion Etienne Bacrot (19). They both landed in a massive 5-way tie, 1 1/2  points behind Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov, 26, and Israel's Boris Gelfand, 33. Russia's Alexander Morozevich, 24, ranked #5 in the world, was dead last, but his games were undeniably exciting. In this one White's last move is simply superb. At the end every piece on the board is hanging, notably Black's King.}

1.e4 e5 
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.O-O b5 
6.Bb3 Bc5 
7.a4 {White doesn't get much from 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 Nc6.}
7... Rb8 
8.c3 d6
9.d4 Bb6 
10.axb5 axb5
11.Na3 O-O {Getting the King to safety instead of bothering to defend a pawn.}
12.Nxb5 Bg4 
13.Bc2 h6 
14.dxe5 {Only helps Black to activate his pieces. 14. d5 Ne7 15. c4 looks more logical.}
14...Nxe5
15.Nbd4 d5
16.exd5 Qxd5
17.h3 Bh5 {White's extra pawn in the ending outweighs his doubled pawns after 17...Nxf3+ 18.Nxf3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Qxf3 20.gxf3.}
18.g4!? Nfxg4 
19.Nxe5 Nxe5 {Sensibly rejecting 19...Ne3 20. Bxe3 Bxd1 21. Ndc6!}
20.Qxh5 Bxd4
21.Qf5 Nf3+
22.Kh1 Qxf5 
23.Bxf5 Bf6
24.Ra7 c5
25.Be4 Ne5
26.Rd1 Nc4
27.Bb7 Bg5? {A likely draw would result from 27...Rfd8! 28.Bd5 Nxb2 29.Bxf7+ Kh7 30.Rxd8 Bxd8 31.Be3 Nd1 32.Bxc5 Nxc3.}
28.Bxg5 hxg5 
29.b3 Ne5
30.Rd5 Rfe8
31.Rxc5 Re7 {Black is a pawn down without compensation but this only hastens his defeat.}
32.Rb5 Nd3
33.Be4! {Black resigns. Every White and every Black piece is hanging! If 33...Rxb5 34. Ra8 mates. Also futile is 33...Rxe4 34. Rxb8+ Kh7 35. Rxf7, losing the exchange and a pawn. Finally, if 33...Nxf2+ 34.Kg2 Ree8 (not 34...Nxe4? 35.Rxb8+ Kh7 36.Rxe7) 35.Rxb8 Rxb8 36.Kxf2, losing the Knight for a pawn.} 1-0

[Event "NAO Tournament"]
[Site "France"]
[Round "2"]
[Date "2002"]
[White "Peter Leko"]
[Black "Alexander Morozevich"]
[Result "1-0"]

{"This was a very important fight, because we both lost in the first round," said Leko. Black repeats a line with which he lost earlier (see Topalov-Morozevich) and it quickly turns into a sharp theoretical duel that was awarded the best game prize in Cannes.}

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 
3.Bb5 a6 
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.O-O b5
6.Bb3 Bc5 
7.a4 Rb8 
8.c3 {White intends to enforce d4 and drive the Bishop on c5 back.} 
8...d6
9.d4 Bb6
10.Na3 O-O {Ignoring the pawn. Black may be able to hold the endgame after 10...b4 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5+ dxe5 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.Nc4 Be6.}
11.axb5 axb5
12.Nxb5 Bg4 
13.Bc2 h6 
14.d5 {Bold and somewhat risky, but White holds his extra pawn. Topalov chose the less ambitious 14.dxe5 against Morozevich.}
14...Ne7 
15.h3 Bh5 
16.Kh1 {A subtle prophylactic move. Black took 55 minutes on his next move, searching for a way to get compensation for the pawn. The point is that 16...Bxf2 is not made with check and can be met by 17. Nxd6!}
16...Nxe4 {A sharp, temporary sacrifice to mix it up. 16...Qd7 first also comes into consideration.}
17.Bxe4 f5 
18.Bc2 {Meeting fire with fire! Simplifying with 18.Bd3 e4 19.Be2 exf3 20.Bxf3 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Ng6 gives Black good counterplay.}
18...Qe8 {"A big surprise for me. I had calculated for about 40 minutes the following line 18...e4 19.g4 fxg4 20.Nh2 Nf5 21.hxg4 Qh4, which looked very messy. But after 22.gxh5 Bxf2 23.Qg4 Ng3+ 24.Kg2 Nxf1 25.Qxh4 Bxh4 26.Nxf1 Rf2+ 27.Kh3 Rxf1 28.Kxh4 Rxb5 29.Bxe4, I had nothing to worry about, since White has a big advantage". -- Leko} 
19.Ba4 e4
20.Nxc7 Qf7 
21.Ne6 exf3 
22.gxf3 {"On 22.g3 Bg4! White's King could get into serious trouble". -- Leko}
22...Qf6 {"A quiet move with a lot of poison. My first impression was that with a powerful Knight on e6 and two extra pawns I should be easily winning. However even after more then 30 minutes struggling I was unable to find a clear decision and Black's threats seemed more and more serious". --Leko}
23.Nxf8 Rxf8 
24.Bb5 {"This is the point! White wants to activate his rook on a4 and in an emergency the Bishop can return to e2 to protect the f3 pawn". -- Leko} 
24...Qh4 
25.Kg2 g5 {"This is simply a blunder. I expected the natural 25...Ng6 26.Ra4 f4 27.Bd7 Ne5 28.Be6+ Kh8 29.Bg4 Bxg4 30.hxg4 Nxg4 31.fxg4 f3+ 32.Qxf3 Rxf3 33.Kxf3 with a clear advantage. My opponent also saw the same line, which is why he tried the desperate text move -- which is even worse". -- Leko} 
26.Ra4 f4
27.Bd7 Ng6 
28.Re4 Ne5 
29.Rxe5 dxe5
30.Qd3 {"30.d6 was also possible, but in time-trouble I first wanted to stabilize my position". -- Leko} 
30...Kg7 
31.Qe4 Bc7 
32.Bf5 Rf6 
33.c4 Bf7
34.c5 h5 {Black can get one pawn back but it's still hopeless after 34...Bxd5 35. Qxd5 Rxf5 36. b4 Qh5 37. Bb2.}
35.d6 g4
36 fxg4 {Both sides are short of time as they approach the time control at move 40. Instead 36. dxc7 Qxh3+ 37. Kg1 would win on the spot.}
36...Bg6
37.Rg1 Bd8 
38.Qxe5 f3+ 
39.Kxf3 Qxh3+ 
40.Ke2 hxg4 
41.Rxg4 Qh5 
42.Bg5 {The final blow.}
42...Bxf5
43.Bxf6+ Kf7 {No better is 43...Kh7 because of 44.f3.}
44.f3 {Black Resigns. On 44...Bxf6 45. Qd5+ is decisive.} 1-0

[Event "Eurotel Trophy Finals"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Round "5"]
[Date "2002"]
[White "Viswanathan Anand"]
[Black "Anatoly Karpov"]
[Result "1-0"]

{32 stars -- including Gary Kasparov, 39, and Vladimir Kramnik, 27, the man who conquered him for the title -- competed for a $500,000 purse at the Eurotel Trophy in Prague. But neither reached the finals, where Viswanathan Anand, 32, beat Anatoly Karpov, 51, by 1 1/2 - 1/2  after two games of classical chess (with a 7 hour limit) -- unlike all the fast contests in previous rounds, which often ended in a blur.}

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nf6
3.Nxe5 d6
4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.d4 d5 
6.Bd3 Nc6
7.0-0 Be7 
8.c4 Nb4 {Also seen frequently is 8...Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.h3.} 
9.Be2 0-0 {Maybe 9...dxc4 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bxc4 c6 is a bit safer.} 
10.Nc3 Bf5 
11.a3 Nxc3
12.bxc3 Nc6
13.Re1 Re8 {Karpov's plan deviates from Shirov-Karpov in the semi-finals, which continued 13...dxc4 14.Bxc4 Bd6 15.Ra2! doubling on the e-file by Rae2.}
14.Bf4 {An attempt to improve on 14.Bf1 Qd7 15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.Ne5 Qd6 17.Bc4 Nxe5 18.Rxe5 Bg6 19.Qe2 Qd7 20.Be3 Bd6 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Bd3 Bxd3 23.Qxd3 b5 24.a4, ending in a draw, Pfreundtner-Buerger, Germany 1996.}
14...dxc4
15.Bxc4 Bd6 {A questionable move by Black. Preferable is 15...Rc8 to guard the pawn on c7.} 
16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 
17.Ng5 Bg6 
18.Bxd6 cxd6 
19.h4 Qe7 {The net result of all these maneuvers is that Black's pawn structure has been ruptured. How Anand exploits this weakness is instructive. Perhaps the best defense is 19...h6 20.h5 Bxh5 21.Qxh5 hxg5 22.Qxg5 Qd7.} 
20.Qg4 h6 
21.Nh3 {Threatening Qxg6. Unsound is 21.Ne6? d5! 22.Bxd5 fxe6 23.Qxg6 exd5 and White has just lost a piece.} 
21...Qf6
22.Re1 Bf5
23.Qf3 Kf8
24.Nf4 Bd7 {A frustrating but necessary retreat for Black. Not 24...Re8? 25.Rxe8+ Kxe8 26.Nh5 Qg6 27.Qxf5!! Qxf5 28.Nxg7+ wins. Or 24...Qxh4 25.Bxf7! Kxf7 26.Qd5+ Kf6 27.Re6+!!}
25.g3 Re8 
26.Rxe8+ Bxe8
27.Qe4 g5  
28.hxg5 {Also good is 28.Nd5 Qg6 29.Qxg6 fxg6 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.Nf6 with an advantage for White.}
28...Qxg5 {Now Black's pawns are split like bowling pins. But even worse is 28...hxg5 29.Nd5 Qe6 30.Qh7.}
29.Bd5 Bd7 {29...Qf6 would avoid loss of material.}
30.Qh7 Qf6 {Costs a pawn and the game. But on 30...Qg7 31.Qb1 b6 32.Qb5 Nd8 33.Qc4 is hard to meet.}
31.Bxf7 {Splat!}
31...Ne7 {Immediately fatal is 31...Qxf7? 32.Ng6+ Ke8 33.Qh8+. A pawn down, Black tries to hold the ending, but Anand's endgame technique is flawless.} 
32.Bb3 Bf5 
33.Nh5 Bxh7 
34.Nxf6 Bg6 
35.Ng4 Kg7 
36.Ne3 Be4 
37.g4 Kf6 
38.Kh2 b6 
39.Kg3 Kg5
40.Bf7 {Unnecessary, but it does no harm. Anand is reluctant to commit himself on the last move of the time control with either 40.f3 or f4+.} 
40...Kf6 
41.Bc4 Kg5 
42.Bb3 Kf6 
43.f3 Bg6 
44.f4 Be4
45.Bc4 Bc6 
46.Bd3 Bb7 
47.Kh4 Bf3
48.Nc4 Nd5 {Karpov finally tries to activate his Knight.} 
49.Kg3 Bd1 
50.Nxd6 Nxc3 
51.Nf5 Kg6 
52.d5 Ba4 {52...Nxd5 loses a piece to 53.Ne3 with a discovered check.}
53.d6 Bd7  
54.Kh4 a5 
55.Ne3+ Kf7 
56.Kh5 b5 
57.Kxh6 Ke6
58.g5 Kxd6
59.g6 {Black Resigns. White's passed pawns are too fast. This smooth positional effort by Anand is reminiscent of Karpov in his prime.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand,Viswanathan"]
[Black "Bologan,Viktor"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]


{This exciting game was the highlight of the 2003 Dortmund tournament. After losing to Bologan in round 2, Anand is back with a carefully crafted revenge - a superb tactical game with a spectacular rook sacrifice. Even defeated, Bologan will finish the tournament a full point ahead of Anand and Kramnik.}
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qc7 
{The usual move for Black in this position is Nf6, forcing the white Queen to move.}
11.O-O b6 12.Qg4 g5 13.Qh3 Rg8 14.Re1
{White ignores the g5g4 threat and attacks the black King. Remember, this is a GM-level game - so there must be a reason behind offering a piece so early...}
14...Bf8
{Frees the queen, protects the h6 square.} 
15.Qf5
{Closing in.}
15...Bg7 16.h4
{Watch the c1 Bishop. Now, will it join the attack?}
16...Kf8 
{Black's following moves try to protect his pieces and avoid exchanging material. } 
17.Qh3 Rh8 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.Qg4 c5 
{White finally allowed Black to breathe, but this move is nothing but a desperate attempt to a counterattack.}
20.Bxg5 cxd4 21.Rad1 
{Now all of White's pieces are gathered for the final attack.} 
21...Bb7 
{Even if it seems like an innocent move, leaving the c8h3 diagonal was fatal. However, it also lead to a spectacular endgame. } 
22.Rxe6 
{The show begins. White cleans up the space first...} 
22...fxe6 23.Be7+ Kxe7 24.Qxg7+ Kd6 25.Nxd4 Qc5 26.Bf5 
{The immediate victory should've been Nb5 check! However, White's position is winning anyway.} 
26...Qe5 27.Nf3+ Qd5 
{Black sacrifices his Queen hoping to prolong the game.} 
28.Qg3+ Ke7 29.Rxd5 Bxd5 30.Qg5+ Kd6 31.Qf4+ Ke7 32.Be4 Rh5 33.Nh4 Rg8 
{A better move is d5xe4, but it would've only delay the defeat...} 
34.Ng6+ Kd8 35.Qf7 Re8 36.Bd3 
{Threatening Bb5. Black resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "EUCup 19th"]
[Site "Rethymnon"]
[Date "2003"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov,Garry"]
[Black "Grischuk,Alexander"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]


{As the Big G says himself, this game is "a big creative achievement". Played during the 2003 European Clubs Cup in Rethymnon, Crete, this pitted Garry Kasparov against the young GM Alexander Grischuk (then 19 years old). It was a tensed and merciless match, far away from the usual chain of tournament draws that tend to become the norm lately.} 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 d6 9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Ba6 11.b4 c5 12.b5 Bb7 13.Nc3 a6 
14.f3 h6 15.Bh4 Qe7 16.Be2 cxd4 17.Qxd4 e5 18.Qd1 g5 19.Bg3 axb5 20.Nxb5 d5 21.O-O Rac8 22.Qb3 Qe6 23.Qb4 Rc5 24.a4 Rfc8 25.Rfd1
Ba8 26.Ra3 g4 27.cxd5 Rxd5 28.e4 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 gxf3 30.gxf3 Nc5 31.Qb2 Nfd7 32.Qd2 Bc6 33.Nd6 Ra8 34.Be2 Qf6 35.Nf5 Kh7 36.Bc4 
Ne6 37.Rd3 Ndc5 38.Rd6 Bxe4 39.Bxe6 Bxf5 40.Bxf7 Qg5 41.Qxg5 hxg5 42.Bxe5 Nd7 43.Bc3 Nc5 44.h4 gxh4 45.a5 bxa5 46.Rd5 Na4 47.Bd4
Bg6 48.Be6 Bc2 49.f4 Rb8 50.Rh5+ Kg6 51.Rg5+ Kh6 52.Bf7 Bd1 53.Kh2 Rd8 54.Bf6 Rc8 55.Be6 Rc6 56.Bg7+ Kh7 57.Bf5+ Kg8 58.Be4 Rc5 
59.Bd5+ Kh7 60.Bd4 Rc2+ 61.Kh3 Rc7 62.Be4+ Kh6 63.Rg8 {Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov,Garry"]
[Black "Radjabov,Teimour"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]


{This game, played in the 2nd round of the Linares 2003 tournament, is famous for two reasons: first, Teimour Radjabov wasn't yet 16 years old when he won against the world's no.1, Garry Kasparov, and second, the "Beauty Prize" award this game received made Kasparov so angry that he made a terrible scene during the closing ceremony of the tournament. Actually, that's perhaps why this game will remain in history - because of the disproportionate reaction of the former world champion... An interesting fact is that Kasparov himself has indicated Radjabov as a plausible future world champion, long before this game took place. Since then, Radjabov's game has further improved and he placed 4th in Linares 2004, only a half point behind Kasparov and Leko.} 
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.a3 Qb6 
{Out of the French defense.} 
10.Ne2 c4 
{Black seems to have covered a little too much ground so early in the game.} 
11.g4 h5 12.gxh5 Rxh5 13.Ng3 Rh8 14.f5 exf5 15.Nxf5 Nf6 16.Ng3 Ng4 17.Bf4 Be6 18.c3 Be7 19.Ng5 O-O-O 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Be2 
{At this time, both players had about 20 minutes to make 20 moves and were approaching time troubles. White attacks Black's outpost...} 
21...Ngxe5 
{...and Black bravely decides to sacrifice his Knight.} 
22.Qe3 
{White declines the sacrifice...} 
22...Nd7 23.Qxe6 
{White keeps improving his position and gains material, too.} 
23...Bh4 24.Qg4 
{Unexplained overlooking from White...} 
24...g5 
{...allowing Black to take the initiative, although White's position is still OK.} 
25.Bd2 
{White must retreat.} 
25...Rde8 26.O-O-O Na5 27.Rdf1 
{This was the blunder that decided the game. Watch Black's attack...} 
27...Nb3+ 
{Check and attack on an unprotected piece.} 
28.Kd1 Bxg3 
{Black keeps pressing. White can't recapture on g3 because of the immediate Qg6.} 
29.Rf7 Rd8 30.Bxg5 
{White plays on, but an extra piece matters enormously in master-level encounters.} 
30...Qg6 31.Qf5 Qxf5 32.Rxf5 Rdf8 33.Rxf8+ Nxf8 34.Bf3 Bh4 35.Be3 Nd7 36.Bxd5 Re8 37.Bh6 Ndc5 38.Bf7 Re7 39.Bh5 Nd3 
{White resigns.} 
0-1

[Event "Valle d'Aosta op 11th"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2003"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Volkov,Sergey"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C05"]


{The most beautiful game in the Valle d'Aosta Open (Italy, 2003) was without a doubt the clash between the romanian GM Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu and the russian GM Sergey Volkov. Nisipeanu will end up winning the tournament.} 
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ngf3 Be7 8.O-O g5 
{A daring move.} 
9.a3 
{This answer seems a little weird for now. What is White after?} 
9...h5 
{Black keeps pushing forward.} 
10.b4 
{Double attack on c5. Is that all?} 
10...g4 
{Black attacks too.} 
11.b5 
{A-ha! That's the point of the earlier moves - establishing a strong advanced position.} 
11...Nxd4 
{Aiming for double exchanges. Will it work?} 
12.cxd4 gxf3 13.Nxf3 c4 14.Bc2 
{...and the material stays even. The overall position, though, is a little better for white.} 
14...a6 15.Rb1 axb5 16.Rxb5 Bxa3 17.Ng5 Bxc1 18.Qxc1 
{So far, black has tried to maintain the balance. The material stays even, but white's pressure grows.} 
18...Nb8 
{Black's idea was probably to make room for the King while perhaps attacking the Rook... but it never worked.} 
19.Nh7 
{White threatens Nf6 check...} 
19...Kd7 20.Nf6+ 
{...which actually works, even if black's King can walk away...} 
20...Kc7 21.Be4 
{The key move of white's demolition of the black's center. Black can't take the Bishop as white's Queen simply takes the c4 pawn and checks, then pressing the King and finally grabbing the black Queen.} 
21...Bd7 22.Nxd5+ 
{Watch white demolishing the whole line of black pawns...} 
22...exd5 23.Rxd5 Qh4 24.Qxc4+ Bc6 25.Bf3 Ra4 26.Qc3 Rd8 27.Rxd8 Kxd8 28.d5 Bb5 29.Rb1 Qc4 30.Qe3 
{White's change of side starts the final attack on black's King.} 
30...Nd7 31.Qg5+ f6 32.Qg8+ Kc7 33.d6+ Kb6 34.Qxc4 
{You might wonder why hasn't White exchanged Queens earlier. Well, watch the two white pawns.} 
34...Rxc4 35.e6 Ne5 36.Be2 
{The finishing touch. There's no way Black can maintain the fragile equality in material.} 
36...Kc6 37.Bxc4 Bxc4 38.d7 Nxd7 39.exd7 Kxd7 40.Rxb7+ Ke8 41.f3 Kf8 42.Kf2 Bd5 43.Ra7 Bf7 44.Kg3 
{Black resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "Essent Crown"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2003"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sokolov,Ivan"]
[Black "Polgar,Judit"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]


{A superb attack sustained by imaginative sacrifices leading to positional advantages - this is one of the most beautiful, if not correct, games of 2003. Computer analysis has proven Sokolov's ideas could be countered - but in the heat of battle, often the most daring (and not the most accurate) wins. Judith Polgar will take her revenge in the second game and end winning the tournament a half point ahead of Sokolov.} 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.e4 O-O 10.Bd3 c5 11.O-O Qc8 12.Qe2 Ba6 13.Rd1 
Rd8 14.h4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Bxd3 16.Rxd3 Nd7 17.Bg5 f6 18.Bf4 Qb7 19.h5 Rac8 20.Rad1 Qa6 21.e5 f5 22.d5 exd5 23.Nd4 Rf8 24.Qf3 Nc5 
25.h6 g5 26.Bxg5 Bxg5 27.Qh5 Bf4 28.Rf3 Bxe5 29.Nxf5 Qb7 30.Rxd5 Rce8 31.Qg5+ Kh8 32.Rxe5 Rxe5 33.Ne7 Re1+ 34.Kh2 Qb8+ 35.Rg3 
Rxe7 36.Qxe7 Ne6 37.Qxe6 Qf4 38.a4 a6 39.Qxb6 Rb8 40.Qe3 Qh4+ 41.Rh3 Qf6 42.Qc3 {Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 56th"]
[Site "Krasnoyarsk"]
[Date "2003"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Svidler,Peter"]
[Black "Volkov,Sergey"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]


{GM Peter Svidler's victory in the 56th Russian Chess Championships was a new record for the russian player - he became a fourth-time russian champion, after his previous wins in 1994, 1995 and 1997. One of the event's highlights was his masterful game against GM Sergey Volkov.} 
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.a3 a5 
{The idea is to push the pawn even further, on a4.} 
7.b3 
{White counters black's a5a4 intention.} 
7...Na6 8.Be3 Rc8 9.Bd3 Ne7 10.O-O Nf5 11.Bxf5 exf5 12.Re1 
{White prepares attacks on two fronts: the e column and the g1a7 diagonal.} 
12...c4 
{Black thought perhaps of avoiding the fight on the diagonal...} 
13.bxc4 Rxc4 14.e6 
{A great move, forcing the enemy to react and freeing the e5 spot for the f3 Knight.} 
14...Bxe6 15.Ne5 Rc7 
{Look at the e column. See any patterns?} 
16.Qa4+ Kd8 17.c4 
{This move opens up a set of linked attacks crowned by a spectacular rook sacrifice. White slowly but surely builds a strong position while Black is forced to split his forces.} 
17...f6 18.c5 Qb2 19.Nd3 
{The a1 Rook is dead.} 
19...Qxa1 
{OK, so Black has a full Rook advantage. However, his Queen is too far away and the King unprotected.} 
20.Qxa5 Qa2 21.Bf4 
{This attack seems a little too obvious...} 
21...Qc4 22.Nb4 
{...but remember this is a master-level game. Black's material advantage is wasted - the c7 Rook is doomed.} 
22...Ke8 
{Black can't do anything but avoid being caught in the fire.} 
23.Bxc7 Kf7 24.Qb6 Bc8 25.Nxa6 Qxa6 
{Black starts trading pieces.} 
26.Qxa6 bxa6 27.Nc3 
{Preparing White's invasion by the b file - attacks the d5 pawn and frees e1 rook's way.} 
27...Be6 28.Rb1 Be7 29.Rb7 Re8 30.f3 g5 31.Ra7 f4 32.Bd6 Kf8 33.Rxa6 
{Two passed pawns for White, and also White's
first material advantage.} 
33...Bxd6 34.Rxd6 Bf7 35.Nxd5 Re1+ 36.Kf2 Rc1 37.Ke2 Rc2+ 38.Kd1 Rxg2 
{Cleaning up. Unfortunately, the dangerous pawns are on the other side of the board...} 
39.c6 Bh5 40.c7 Bxf3+ 41.Kc1 Rg1+ 42.Kd2 Rg2+ 43.Ke1 Re2+ 44.Kf1 Rc2 45.Rd8+ Kf7 46.c8=Q Rxc8 47.Rxc8 Bxd5 
{Black keeps fighting.} 
48.a4 Ke6 49.a5 Kd7 50.Rc3 Bb7 51.Rb3 Ba6+ 52.Kf2 f5 53.Rb6 Bc8 54.d5 
{Black resigns.} 
1-0

[Event "Corus-A"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik,Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand,Viswanathan"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]


{Vishy Anand won the first big tournament of 2004 without a sweat. Here's one of Corus Tournament's highlights, the game between Anand and Kramnik. Despite ending in a draw, this game has its fair share of convoluted attacks and avoided traps, and a surprise ending.} 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.O-O-O Be7 12.Kb1 O-O 
13.Nd5 Bg5 14.h4 Bxh4 15.g3 Bf6 16.Qf3 Bg5 17.Qh5 h6 18.f4 Bf6 19.Nd2 Nd4 20.Bc4 Rc8 21.c3 Nb5 22.f5 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxc3 24.Qg6 
Qb6 25.Rxh6 {Draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2004"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lautier,Joel"]
[Black "Vaganian,Rafael A"]
[TimeControl "-"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]


{The armenian GM Rafael Vaganian is one of the last chess artists. Watch his magic at work in his dazzling game against the french GM Joel Lautier, a game played during the 2004 Aeroflot Open in Moscow. Vaganian would end the tournament in 2nd place, with the same score as the winner, Sergey Rublevsky.} 
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Nge2 Nd7 8.f3 Bg6 9.Bg3 Nh6 10.Bf2 Bd6 11.g4 f5 12.h3 O-O 13.Bg2 Qe7 
14.O-O fxg4 15.hxg4 Qg5 16.Qd2 Rae8 17.Rae1 Rxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxg4 19.Bg3 Nxe3 20.Kh1 Bh5 21.Bxh5 Qxh5+ 22.Kg1 Qh3 23.Rf2 Bxg3 
24.Nxg3 Qxg3+ 25.Rg2 Nxg2 26.Rxe8+ Kf7 27.Rc8 Ne3+ 28.Kh1 Nf6 {White resigns.}0-1
