ANATOLV

THE
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FOR CHESS ... READ BATS FORD FOR CHESS ... READ BATSFORD
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The open games, which commence 1 e4 e5, are some of the most exciting and
important in chess. In this, the first of a four-volume series covering all of the
major openings, former World Champion Anatoly Karpov presents a survey of
the Ruy Lopez, the Russian (or Petroff), the Scotch, the Italian (or Giuoco
Piano) and the Four Knights. Complete games from recent Grandmaster play
are analysed in depth, so that the reader sees the logical connection of the
opening to the middlegame (and beyond).

This is not only an excellent book for players wishing to improve their
understanding of the opening; it is also highly entertaining, and all players will
find much to enjoy.

Anatoly Karpov was World Champion from 1975 to 1985, during which time he
dominated the chess world, becoming the most successful tournament player
in history. His recent epic struggles with Gary Kasparov have proved that he is
the only player in the world capable of successfully challenging Kasparov for
<
the World Championship. 1

Other popular titles from Bats ford

The Semi-Open Game in Action Winning with the Griinfeld
Anatoly Karpov Andras Adorjan and Jeno Dory

Learn From Your Defeats Winning with the Queen's Indian

Anatoly Karpov Zoltan Ribli and Gabor Kallai

Batsford Chess Openings

Cary Kasparov and Raymond Keene
For a complete list of Batsford Chess Books
How to Play the Ruy Lopez
please write to:
Shaun Taulbut
BT Batsford Ltd
Playing to Win 4 Fitzhardinge St
James Plaskett London W1 H OAH

ISBN 0-7134-6096-2

1 1 11111
9 780713 460964
The Open Game in Action
The Open Game in
Action

ANATOLY KARPOV

Translated by V. Kalinin

B. T. Batsford Ltd, London

First published 1 988
© Anatoly Karpov 1 988

ISBN 0 7 1 34 60962

All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced, by any means, without prior
permission of the publisher.

Printed in Great Britain by

Dotesios Printers Ltd, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
for the publishers
B. T. Batsford Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge Street,
London WI A OAH

A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK

Adviser: R. D. Keene GM, OBE
Technical Editor: Ian Kingston
Contents

Introduction to the four-volume series vii

Introduction to the first volume XI
I The Spanish Game I
2 The Russian Game 55
3 The Scotch Game 93
4 The Italian Game 101
5 The Four Knights' Game 106
Index of Complete Games Il l
Index of Main Variations 113
Introduction to the four-volume
series
.

This publication consists of four volumes: The Open Game in A ction,

The Semi-Open Game in Action, Closed Openings in Action and Semi­
Closed Openings in A ction.
What sort of books are they? It is difficult to define them exactly.
Three aspects come to mind instantly.
1 . These books contain games from the past few years, especially the
period between 1 984 and 1 987, which have been most interesting and
valuable for opening theory. The games included are mainly by well
known grandmasters, including the most important games between
Kasparov and myself in our first three world championship matches.
Also included are games that developed further innovative and original
opening ideas first used in these matches.
So, first of all, these books are a selection of grandmaster games from
the past few years with interesting opening ideas.
2. As we have already noticed these games are chosen according to
the openings. But it is not only a matter of choice but of the form of
presentation. Each of the main games concentrates on one particular
opening, and within the notes to each game there are many references
and even other complete games. So some of the main games look like
an opening note and some even like a whole article. The notes to the
main games often refer to earlier or later games, so the information on
the opening idea can be presented in the context of its development,
how it was perfected and refined. While commenting on the main
games I am often "distracted" by my recollections of the examples of
other grandmasters or of my own examples. I hope that these "lyrical
deviations" will not confuse the reader.
Thus, secondly, the books are a selection of opening discussions that
are devoted to the most critical openings, variations and plans played
by grandmasters during the past few years.
3. The book includes many games played by the author. This is not
surprising, as in less than ten years I have played six world champion­
ship matches-two with Korchnoi and four with Kasparov. As is well
known, in any duel for the crown, the best developments of opening
theory are used, and new ideas are born that attract huge attention and
become very popular. As I have already mentioned, these books
contain the most valuable theoretical games from my encounters with
Kasparov. Apart from these, I have included games played by me in
between these world championship matches, none of which have been
previously published with my notes in English.
viii Introduction to the four-volume series

Therefore, the third aim of these books is to be an addition to the

selections of the games of the twelfth world champion during the years
1 984-- 1 987.
Thus, the main idea of this series is to cover the modern state of
opening theory, the most popular variations which occurred in the
tournaments and matches of the mid-80s using grandmaster games of
recent years. Having become acquainted with the games in any one of
the four volumes you will have sufficient knowledge of the most critical
openings, variations and innovations which have attracted the close
attention of theoreticians and players. You will be able to follow the
development of the opening ideas and additionally their realisation at
the highest grandmaster level. In this sense these four volumes are a
true reflection of their titles. By going through the games you will
acquire a lot of useful information on the openings in action and learn
the latest developments. At the same time it is difficult to guarantee that
you will be able to overpower any grandmaster in the chosen opening.
Nobody has managed to write this sort of universal book and I doubt
that it is possible at all. Playing successfully in the opening depends not
only on the information you possess about the opening, or how many
variations you remember, but more on your ability to find new opening
ideas and exploit them over the board. You also need a mastery of
playing the middlegame and the endgame.
Although the attention in these books is concentrated on the opening
stage of the game all the main games are given from the beginning to
the end. I think that going through the whole game is very beneficial
because it allows the reader to trace the connection between the
different stages of the game. The opening reference books consist of
thousands and thousands of variations which usually come suddenly to
an end in the most interesting place. I recall how sometimes I look
through a game and it breaks off with an assessment of "unclear play",
and regret that it is not possible to see how it ended. In this series this
sort of disappointment is not going to befall the reader.
There is another consideration. Imagine that when the game is
interrupted like this we are told that White has the better chances. But
the question of the explanation of this advantage is left open. At the
same time, studying the connections between the middlegame and
endgame is most important for an improving chess player. That is why
the idea of this series seems good to me. On the one hand, the reader
can enhance or broaden his opening repertoire and on the other hand
the actual reading will not be a boring memorisation of a countless
number of variations. The value of studying chess as a preparation for
tournaments will increase considerably if you do not limit yourself by
just getting acquainted with an opening but if you also analyse the
 Introduction to the four-volume series ix

grandmaster games to the end. The use of a small opening advantage,

the art of transition from an opening to a middlegame, the technique of
defending a difficult position-all these methods of play have great
importance and much attention is devoted to them in these games. In
the end I took into consideration that the actual acquaintance with
exciting grandmaster games brings pleasure in itself!
The apparent difference between this series and specialised opening
books is, firstly, that I have covered only fashionable openings and,
secondly, that even from them, I have picked out the most popular
variations and systems. And this is understandable, because modern
opening theory is so fully developed that detailed analysis of some
individual variations would take as much space as any one of the four
books. At the same time the games that I have annotated, as was
mentioned before, were chosen with the aim of embracing the majority
of the fashionable variations including many from the world cham­
pionship matches.
I want to say some words about the structure of the four volume
series. As is well known, chess openings are normally divided into three
groups- open, semi-open and closed. This classification was formed as
far back as the end of the last century and the beginning of this one.
There was a time when I e2-e4 was almost obligatory. If Black replied I
. . . e7-e5 it was called an open opening, if I . . . e7-e6 then semi-open,
and all the rest (there were not many) were called closed. The situation
has changed substantially in recent years and the popularity of closed
openings has been continuously growing. The number of games played
with closed openings these days is probably higher than the number
played with open openings and semi-open openings together. Thus it is
possible to assume that there is a need to split closed openings into two
classes-closed and semi-closed. Consequently, closed openings
become the symmetrical systems- ) d4 d5 and I c4 c5, and semi-closed
openings become the asymmetrical systems- I d4 (I c4) � f6. Although
this classification hasn't been settled yet I believe that it will be official
quite soon. Anyway, this classification is used for the four-volume
series.
Here are the statistics of the openings of the first three matches
between Kasparov and myself:
open games- 1 2 games,
semi-open games- 14 games,
closed openings-41 games,
semi-closed openings-29 games
(96 games in all from the three matches). As you see, closed openings
(mostly the Queen's Gambit) are played more frequently even in the
x Introduction to the four-volume series

new classification and, using the old classification, their predominance

would be overwhelming.
I want to say a few words about my opening repertoire. It consists of
the main open openings (the Spanish, the Russian, the Italian*), semi­
open (the Sicilian, the French, the Caro-Kann, the Pirc), closed (the
Queen's Gambit, the Slav, the English) and the semi-closed (the
Nimzoindian and the Queen's Indian). Among the popular openings,
only the King's Indian quite seldom occurs in my games. I don't play it
as Black and nobody plays it against me when I am White. All the other
modern openings, as you see, are included in my repertoire and most of
them I play as White and as Black. Therefore I am compelled to
become an expert in opening theory. I hope that after all this is said the
reader will not be surprised by the fact that there are so many games
played by the author included in these books. It is understandable that
when talking about the modern state of an opening it is always
convenient to take your own game as a basis. But I want to point out
that in the notes to my games it is possible that I refer to no less
valuable games and in this case they are thoroughly discussed in the
text of the main game.
Each book of the four-volume series consists of about 30 main games
and the notes cover about another 1 50 games. Thus in the whole series
about 700 games are considered, most of them from the 1 984--1 987
period.
Almost all grandmaster games and games from the world champion­
ship matches were annotated in dozens of publications and so in my
notes I have tried to put different sources together. This series is not
scientific but written in a light style with some lyrical reminiscences.
Therefore, to sum up, that is why I decided not to name the authors of
all the suggested variations, especially as quite often the same moves
were suggested by different commentators.
In conclusion I would like to say that I haven't previously tried to
write this kind of literary work which is based on the modern state of
opening theory and practice. In the four-volume series the period 1 984--
1 987 is covered, including my first three matches against Kasparov. If
the reader finds my books interesting and useful, then I will probably
write another series, on "The Openings in Action", on the material
from the next "cycle", say 1 987-1 990.

A. Karpov

•Throughout this book the accepted international terminology, Spanish,

Russian and Italian, has been preferred to Ruy Loperz, Petroff and Giuoco
Piano.
Introduction to the first volume

Open games have different names in the opening textbooks and

monographs. Apart from those mentioned in this book there are the
King's Gambit (accepted, declined and some other modifications), the
Vienna Game. the Hungarian Gambit, Philidor's Defence, the Two
Knights' Defence and others. All these openings appear quite seldom at
grandmaster and master levels nowadays, so we shall leave them out of
this book. In fact, there are only two open openings which steadily
maintain their popularity. These are the Spanish Game and the
Russian Game. Games where these openings occurred are the main
theme of this volume and only at the end shall we see a few games with
the Scotch Game, the Italian Game and the Four Knights' Game.
There is no doubt that the most popular open game is the Spanish
Game and it is played considerably more often than the Russian Game.
That is why the reader might be surprised that the Spanish has only
slightly more examples in this book (the main games: the Spanish - 1 6,
the Russian- I I ). This can be explained by the fact that the theory of
the Russian Game is developing rapidly and my games with Kasparov
have played a major part in this. In the Spanish the main weight of the
struggle is shifted to the middlegame and so I would say that the theory
of the middlegame is developing rather than the theory of the opening
itself.
There is one drawback to the Russian Game from Black's point of
view. The problem is that if White chooses the ancient variation with
the queen exchange- I e4 e5 2 -df3 -2)f6 3 -dxe5 d6 4 -2)f3 -2)xe4 5 "i!i'e2
JYie7 6 d3 -df6 71L.g5 'i!iixe2 + 8 kxe2-with the aim of finishing the
game with a quick draw, Black has little chance of avoiding this result
(assuming that the opponents' strengths are approximately equal).
That is why if Black wants a lively game he should meet I e4 with I . .
e5 2 -21 f3 -2)c6 or even chose one of the semi-open openings. On the
.

other hand, as is well known, a draw would not be a big achievement

for White.
Thus this book starts with games played with the Spanish Game. Of
course it was not possible to cover all the variations and systems. First
of all the opening discussions between Kasparov and myself are
described here. A lot of attention is paid to the Open Variation. Its
popularity has not decreased after the Baguio and the Merano world
championship matches. We look at the present state of the sharp
Marshall Gambit, and at some rarer continuations, 3 . . . g6 and 3 . . .
-2)d4.
In conclusion, I want to add a little bit more about the proportion of
xii Introduction to the first volume

the Spanish and the Russian games in this book. In the first three
Kasparov-Karpov matches the open openings occurred twelve times.
And what is significant is that there were six Spanish games and six
Russian! So the relative balance between these two openings reflected in
this book is justified.
1 The Spanish Game

Kasparov-Karpov 9 h3 A_b7
Game 5, world championship II 10 d4 j.e8(1)
Moscow, 1985

Both players are great fans of the

Spanish Game, but we played it
only twice in each of our first
three encounters (I played Black
in all six games) and consequently
we favoured some other openings.
In the first match we played the
Spanish in the final stages in
games 44 and 46. Despite a peace­
ful result in both games, I didn't Practically everything is played
like the way they developed and I here - 10 . . . t:td7, 10 . . . �a5, 10
was better prepared for the next . . . ed, I 0 . . . h6. I chose a varia-
match. The following game hap­ tion worked out by my trainer
pened to be the best of all six Zaitsev many years ago. This plan
played with this opening. I men­ is now well established in tourna­
tion the nuances of the 44th and ment practice. Black strengthens
46th games of the first match in his centre without wasting time on
the following game, and the 1 4th the preventive . . . h6. Of course,
and 3rd games of the third match there is a "danger" that White will
are mentioned in the analysis of repeat moves by I I �g5 � f8 1 2
game 2 of the second match. � f3 �e8, but grandmasters sel­
I e4 eS dom finish the game in such a
l � f3 � c6 straightforward way. However,
If Black is aiming for a draw 2 this was the way that Hubner
. . . � f6, leading to the Russian forced a draw with me in a tour­
Game, is more solid. However, nament immediately after the
after my victory in the previous third match (Tilburg, 1 986) and a
game, I decided not to object to a year later Ljubojevic followed suit
more intense Spanish battle. (Brussels, 1 987).
3 �bS a6 11 �bd2
4 �a4 �f6 Kasparov played the imme­
S 0-0 A.e7 diate I I a4 in game 44 of our first
6 �el bS match and after I I . . . h6 1 2
7 A_b3 d6 � bd2 ed 1 3 cd -E:�b4 1 4 'l\ii'e2 �f8
8 c3 0-0 1 5 e5 � c6 obtained a significant
2 The Spanish Game

advantage. Black's last move was

2
a mistake. Commentators sug­ w
gested 1 5 . . . de 1 6 -dxe5 -2Jfd5!?
However, the exchange in the
centre is premature, in my opi­
nion. 1 2 . . . il..f8 was played in the
9th game of our second match,
and in the 1 4th and 1 6th games of
the third match.
ll il..f8
12 a4 iiitd7
I played 1 2 . . . h6 1 3 il_c2 -2Jb8 retreat to d8 and White captures
in game 9 of our second match. the initiative in the centre.
It's not that I was not satisfied 15 dS
with the opening result of the 5th This opening variation is dis­
game, but I simply wanted to try liked by some, but it has still
the Breyer Variation (see the next taken its place in the opening
game). In games 14 and 1 6 of our repertoire. This position was
third match, instead of retreating reached in game 46 of our first
the knight to b8 I chose a different match and on that occasion I
plan: 1 3 . . . ed 1 4 cd -2Jb4 1 5 it.b l played 1 5 . . . -2!d8 and after 1 6
c5 1 6 d5 -2Jd7 1 7 �a3 c4. I think -21ft h6 1 7 -2! 3h2 -d b7 1 8 11..c2
that I achieved an equal position -2!c5 19 b4 -2la6 20 -2! g4 -2lh7 2 1
in both games after the opening. .£)g3 c6 2 2 de j_xc6 2 3 jJ_ b 3 .£)c7
In fact, despite his successful re­ 24 "lli!f'f 3 -2! e6 25 h4 'i!i!!'d8 26 J;;;;d l
sults in both games, Kasparov White achieved a considerable ad­
didn't play this opening with vantage.
White in the rest of the match. Black's knight has four other
There is more about these games possible retreats and three have
later. been played before. A year later in
13 ab Popovic-Smejkal (Zagreb, 1 985)
1 3 lL.c2 has been played. In after 15 . . . .£)e7 16 c4 � b8 1 7
Hiibner-Portisch (Brussels, 1 987) )4e3 c6 1 8 de -2lxc6! 1 9 cb .£)d4 20
White advanced the d pawn im­ il_c4 .axb5 21 b3 l/1a7 22 i.b2 h6
mediately before the exchanges on 23 � e l .il..c6 White maintained a
the queenside: 1 3 d5 -de7 14 c4 slight advantage. Smejkal lost this
-dg6 15 i._c2 and White had a game and, obviously, for that rea­
standard "Spanish" initiative. son he played 1 5 . . . .£\ b8 against
13 ab Kasparov (Dubai, 1 986). The
14 �xa8 j_xa8(2) game continued as follows: 1 6
Now if 1 5 -2:}g5 then 1 5 .. . �e7 -d fl -2:}a6 1 7 .JLg5 JJ..e7 1 8 -dg3 g6
followed by . . . h6. If 1 4 . . . .!i xa8 1 9 ·""d2 it_b7 20 �a l ,gaS 2 1
1 5 -2lg5 Black's knight is forced to .il..c2 c6 2 2 de $t.xc6 23 �d l �d8
 The Spanish Game 3

24 ·i>o�e3 '!i-i'b7 25 _kh6 �c7 26 Ta,imanov, when commentating

�f5. White had achieved a clear on this game, cited Nimzowitsch
advantage and it was a disaster who said that a piece which has
for Smejkal again. been restrained for a long time
In my game I chose a com­ can obtain formidable strength
pletely different place for the when it becomes free. And, in­
knight . . . deed, in this game my dormant a8
15 �aS bishop, after being hemmed in by
This wins a tempo in compari­ the b7 knight and c6 pawn, will
son with the other retreats; at liberate itself and make its pres­
least it did in game 46 of the first ence strongly felt. So in due
match. course, Black will get the upper
16 _ia2 c6 hand.
17 b4 -2!b7(3) 18 c4
After the natural IS �fl Black
can play 1 8 . . . c5 or 1 8 . . . cd 1 9
3
w
ed h6 20 � 3h2 �d8 2 1 � g4 �h7
intending to obtain counterplay
by . . . f5.
18 �c8
It is sensible to occupy a more
promising file before retreating
the knight to d8.
19 de
The surrender of the centre im­
mediately allows Black to achieve
Grandmasters considered 1 7 an equal position. An interesting
. . . �c4 here when analysing the alternative was 1 9 '\ii'e2 ( 1 9 �b2
46th game of the first match. But or 1 9 c5 are also possible) 1 9 . . .
then after 1 8 -2\xc4 be 1 9 �g5 ( 1 9 -2!d8 20 �b2 be 21 �xc4 '\ii'a 7! 22
kxc4 cd 20 ed �c8 2 1 iitb3 iitc7 �a I cd 23 ed �xd5 24 �xd6
22 -2)d2 with a slight advantage .itxd6 (24 . . . �xf3 25 �xc8
for White) 19 . . . cd 20 � xf6 de 2 1 l!lf"xa2 26 gf is unclear) 25 �xd5
�xe5 �a7 22 -2)g4 'l\lf"xa2 23 '1\lf"xal + 26 �xa l gel+ 27 * h2
-2)h6+ 'lrh8 24 �h5 gf 25 �xf7 (27 -E)e I J.. xb4) 27 . . . � xa l (if 27
_ixh6 26 'iitfxe8+ 'lrg7 27 'fite7+ . . . e4+ 28 � e5) and Black has
White has an advantage due to sufficient compensation for his
the fact that Black's bishops have slight material loss.
few prospects. 19 l!lf"xc6
It seems that Black is now suf­ 20 c5
focating because of lack of Rather a reckless move. Better
breathing space. But this impres­ was 20 j_ b2. The threat (20 . . . de
sion is deceptive. Grandmaster 2 1 J.. xn+ ) is easily repulsed and
4 The Spanish Game

Black takes over the initiative. 27 �db7

20 -E)dS 2S "llf e2 .:Qd6
21 �b2 de! 29 � xeS jj'xeS
22 be '@!l'g4 �eS
30
Black also had better chances 31 g dl kg6
after 22 o2lxeS llja6! 23 \I{{ a 1 c4 24 32 '8"f4 "i'J;'b4!
Ac3 llja3 2S � e3 �xb4 26 33 '8"cl �e4
-E)exc4 be 27 A xf6 c3! 28 _g g3 34 �el )!it' aS
o2le6 or 22 �xeS o2ld7 23 �b2 c4. 3S j_b3 '!WaS
22 l!f'xeS 36 "il!J'bl b4
23 �xeS -E)d7 37 � e3 �g6
24 A b2 "W'b4!(4) 38 �xeS 'iiii' xeS
This is more accurate than 24 39 ii(el �e4
. . . \\!i'c2 2S "iia l \\!i'a4 26 �d4 40 AdS <2leS
�cS 27 � e3 with sharp play. 41 o2lb3 � d3
Black's last move was sealed.
4 His passed pawn guarantees vic­
w tory. Kasparov decided that there
was no way of escape in the
adjourned position and resigned
without resuming the game.

Kasparov-Karpov
Game 9, world championship II
Moscow. 1985
2S -E)b3?
After 2S l�J'b l White could still I e4 eS
have held the position. White's 2 <2lf3 � e6
desire to play actively puts him 3 j_bS a6
into a difficult position. 4 �a4 -EJf6
2S • . • <2leS S 0-0 �e7
26 � at 6 � el bS
White is practically forced to 7 Ab3 d6
sacrifice this pawn since after 26 S e3 0-0
�xeS �xb2! 27 � e2 llja3 28 9 h3 i_b7
o2ld3 �xe4 29 A xf7 + <2lxf7 30 10 d4 � eS
g xe4 b4 Black has a clear advan­ II -E) bell A fS
tage. ll a4 h6
26 . . • �xe4 As mentioned earlier, I decided
27 �fd4 not to repeat 1 2 . . . "l!lld 7, which I
Black was clearly winning after had played in game S, and chose
27 <2lgS Ac2! 28 "iJlj'xc2 "iJlj'xe l + 29 the Breyer Variation which I had
tlfh2 Ad6 + 30 g3 �e4. played with Black and White
 The Spanish Game 5

many times before. It is interest­

ing that Kasparov played this var­
iation with Black twice in a train­
ing match against Timman
(Hilversum, 1 985) not long before
our match. The Dutch grandmas­
ter played the quiet 1 2 a3, with the
idea of b2-b4, _icl -b2 and c3-c4,
instead of I I a4. Despite the fact
that Kasparov won one game and
lost the other one he had the 1 9 h4, forcing 1 9 . . . h5, was
better position in both games. also worth considering here.
13 .i_c2 Black's counterplay in the centre
The other possibility was 1 3 d5, would be insufficient after 1 9 . . .
but the bishop retreat looks more c5 20 ab c4 2 1 b6! (2 1 ba cd 22 ab
solid. g xa l 23 "l!!i'xa l 'f!lxb7 with good
13 -2Jb8 play for a pawn) 2 1 . . . -2Jxb6 22
The exchange on d4 and ad­ _ic2 with an advantage to White.
vance . . .E) b4 was played in the
. The immediate 1 9 'fllc2 (which
1 4th and 16th games of our third White played next move) would
match, which are covered below. I now be premature because of 1 9
temporarily stopped playing this . . . c5! 20 ab c4.
variation because I lost those two 19 J.. g7
games (not, in fact, because of the 20 "*c2
opening) and preferred to play 1 3 Preventing . . . d5, for instance:
. . . � b8 (see Timman-Karpov, 20 . . . d5 2 1 -2Jxe5 -2J xe5 22 de
Tilburg, 1 986) after the match. -21 xe4 23 -21 xe4 de 24 1:1 xe4 c5 25
14 R_d3 c6 J;tg4 'fllxe5 26 _t xg6 + ! fg 27
15 -2Jfl -2Jbd7 "\i1xg6 + '!lfg8 28 �e 1 and Black is
16 -2Jg3 'f!lc7 worse.
In Sax-Rivas (Rome, 1 984) 20 -2Jf8
Black played 1 6 . . . g6 im­ 21 � e3 -2Je6
mediately and after 1 7 R_d2 � h7! 22 � ad 1 � ac8
18 l!rc 1 h5 19 �d l R.g7 20 ..tc2 23 J.. fl J.. f8
-2Jb6 21 b3 ba 22 ba a5 23 �d3 24 Kd2
� a6 24 J.. xa6 .!;1 xa6 25 de de the White's main plan involves the
position became absolutely equal. advance of the b pawn with the c
Possibly, 1 7 h4 h5 (otherwise h5 is pawn joining it afterwards to
unpleasant) was more energetic create pressure on the centre.
and White is better because of the White could have carried out this
weakness of the g5 square. plan at once: 24 b4 \\li'b8 25 "l!!i'a2
17 �d2 g6 figS 26 de de 27 c4.
18 "i!ii' cl *h7 24
19 b3(5) 25 'l)!(b1
6 The Spanish Game

26 b4 j_b7 regarded the adjourned position

27 ab as already better for Black, but
It is interesting that the first Kasparov managed to find a
exchange did not happen until the study-like draw.
27th move. 43 hg +
27 ab 43 'l!tc4 gh 44 �xd4 'l!te5 led to
28 �edt 'f!lc7 Black's advantage.
29 �cl j_g7 43 fg
30 gcdl 44 'if(c4 hS(6)
Now 30 de de 3 1 c4 was still
possible. White postponed the c
pawn advance again and I was
able to consolidate my position.
30 .!!t cd8
31 de de
32 gxd8 �xd8
33 � xd8 � xd8
34 c4 be
3S j_ xc4 �e8
Black could more easily have
equalised by 35 . . . _tc8 36 "t��t"a l
�e8 37 'l'lta5 J.. e6. Now after 45 -d xd4 J.. xe4 46
36 --·2 -dd6 -dxe4 'i¥Jxe4 47 -de6 '!'¥le i + 48
37 i.b3 � bS �fl 'i¥Jd2 Black retained some­
If 37 . . . J.. c8 then 38 "tllf"a 5 is what better chances. However,
unpleasant. Kasparov had prepared an unex­
38 h4 pected surprise and now it was I
This advance looked more dan­ who had to take precautions.
gerous twenty moves ago. Now 4S eS!
Black has sufficient counterplay. By opening the b l -h7 diagonal
38 � d4 White creates the unpleasant
39 j_xd4 eel threat of 46 -dxhS! gh 47 *g8 +
40 hS 'Wt e7 'lrh6 48 i_c2. The knight sacrifice
41 'i!i!!' d2 is also possible after 45 . . . h4-46
White has lost an important -dh5! gh 47 i*g8 + *h6 48 j_c2
tempo and the position suddenly forcing mate, or 46 . . . j_xf3 47
becomes sharper. Correct was the i*g8 + 'lrh6 48 -d xg7 iltxg7 (48
immediate 41 *c2 and after 4 1 . . . i_g4 49 f4 i*xg7 50 iitxd8) 49
. . . j_a6 42 j_c4 j_xc4 4 3 "t��t"xc4 *xd8 with a big advantage for
White maintains the initiative. White in the endgame. Admit­
41 cS tedly, Kasparov showed in his
42 i*c2 cb commentaries later that Black
This was the sealed move. We could have escaped in this case as
 The Spanish Game 7

well: 46 . . . .il_xe5! 47 -E)xe5 *xeS 1 e4 e5

48 *g8 + frh6 49 f4 ifte l + 50 2 -21 f3 -2!c6
r;t>h2 gh! (50 . . . ffxh5 51 il..d l + ! 3 .i, b5 a6
'jj6'xdl 52 � xd8) 51 iftg5 + frh2 4 _ta4 -E)f6
52 ifi'xh5 + 'l!ig7 with a draw. 5 0--0 1L_e7
45 il.. xf3 6 �el b5
46 gf il_xe5 7 .1 b3 d6
47 f4! .il_xf4! 8 c3 0--0
After 47 . . . il..g7 48 f5! Black's 9 h3 il.. b7
king is in trouble. 10 d4 �e8
48 'i!!t' g8 + 'i1i'h6 11 -E)bd2 il..f8
49 il_c2 * g7! 12 a4 h6
After 49 . . 'iiif f6 50 -E)e4 or 49
.
13 iLc2 ed(7)
. . . d3 50 il..xd3 'iiiff6 51 -E)e4
�a l + 52 frg2 k.c7 (52 . . . -E)c6 7
53 'ii6'f8 + ) 53 -E)c3! •aS + 54 w
.,adS 'i¥t'c6 55 �1'8 + 'l!ih7 56 il_e4
Black is completely lost.
SO jj· xd8 j_ xg3
51 fg �e5
52 �f8 + <frg5
53 * g2
The storm has settled and we
agreed to a draw: 53 . . . *e2 +
54'1!ih3 'l\li'g4 + (54 . . . 'il!t'xc2?? 55 Since this game and the next
iWf4 mate) 55 <frf2 'l!lte2 + leads to complete our analysis of my
perpetual check. games with Kasparov played with
the Spanish, I want to remind you
Kasparov-Karpov that in the forty-fourth game of
Leningrad, 1986 our first match we played I I a4 h6
Game 14, World 12 -21bd2 ed 13 cd �b4 iWe2, in
Championship Ill the forty-sixth game of our first
match and the fifth game of our
The 1 4th and 16th games of our second match - I I �bd2 11..1'8 1 2
third match are so complicated a4 'l!ltd7, and i n the ninth game of
that it's unlikely that their analy­ our second match - II -E) bd2
sis will be ever complete. For in­ il._f8 1 2 a4 h6 1 3 il_c2 -2!b8. But in
stance, Kasparov has devoted the fourteenth game of our third
several dozen pages of notes on match and sixteenth game of our
them and still hasn't covered all 3rd match we adopted a new sys­
possible variations. We are going tem.
to concentrate only on the open­ Despite the fact that I couldn't
ing part of these games. complain about the opening re-
8 The Spanish Game

suits of the two games played with the better chances but White mir­
the Spanish in our third match, aculously managed to escape in
the defeats in these games affected the end . . . after 50 moves.
me psychologically and I tempor­ 14 cd
arily switched to another well 14 -2)xd4 has also been played
known move, 1 3 . . . � bS, after but it is unlikely that the resulting
this match. central pawn formation offers
I want to divert your attention White any advantage.
for a while to demonstrate two 14 -2) b4
recent games where I played this 15 .il_b1 c5
move. Black has many other possibili­
Timman-Karpov (Tilburg, ties here, 15 . . . �d7, 1 5 . . . ba
1 9S6): 14 ab ( 1 4 i:_d3 j_cS 1 5 � fl and 15 . . . g6, all of which I have
j_d7 1 6 �g3 'liteS 1 7 �fl 'lltb7 I S tried at some time. However, the
a5 l!ffcS 1 9 -2)h2 -2)e7 20 f4 ef 21 statistics show that Black has
.&xf4 -2)g6 led to equality in more chances of counterplay after
Belyavsky-Giigoric, Sochi, 1 9S6) the text. Remember that 1 5 . . . ba
14 . . . ab 15 i_d3 JLcS 1 6 � fl ( 1 6 was played in the famous Kas­
-2)b3 and 16 d5 have also been parov-Belyavsky game in the
played) 1 6 . . . b4 (this was a new interzonal (Moscow, 1 9S2).
move; after 16 . . . ed 1 7 cd -2) b4 16 d5
I S k_bl c5 1 9 �f4 White is better) This is considered to be almost
1 7 -2)g3 be I S be ed 1 9 cd -2) b4 20 obligatory. After 1 6 b3 cd 1 7
j_bl c5 2 1 iLf4 � b5 22 'lltd2 Ma5 -2)xd4 ba l S ,l!Xa4 a5 1 9 il_b2 g6
23 � xa5 l!ffxa5 24 d5 'i!i!i'dS 25 20 il_c3 .:!CS 21 1Lxb4 ab 22
�d l �d7. The position is ap­ �xb4 il..aS 23 �a4 il_g7 24 JLd3
proximately equal. In search of 'i'ii'b6 25 1La6 � cdS Black
the initiative, White worsened his obtained the initiative in Tsesh­
position, as often happens, but in kovsky-Balashov (Minsk, 1 9S2).
the end the game was drawn. 16 -2)d7
Hjartarson-Karpov (Dubai 01, Grandmaster Dorfman, who is
1 9S6): 16 . . . it_d7 (this was one of Kasparov's trainers, regu­
another new move, instead of 1 6 larly plays 16 . . . g6. But in his
. . . b4 a s in the previous game) 1 7 game against Aseev (Lvov, 19S4)
-2Jg3 WlCS! I S il_e3 (better was I S after 1 7 -2) fl il_g7 I S �a3 ba 1 9
�d2 l!ff b7 19 b4! �aS 20 '!i�ib3 Jo;; xa4 a5 20 � a 3 il_a6 21 -2)g3
� xa I 21 � xa I );::( aS 22 � xaS il_b5 22 �f4 ,ah7 23 �d2. White
l\otxaS 23 'i'li'b l l!ffeS 24 l\ota2! with had a dangerous initiative.
initiative for White, Geller-Gii­ 17 Jo;; a3 (8)
goric, Sochi, 1 9S6) I S . . . �b7 1 9 mine the centre favourably by 1 7
de (after 1 9 d5 i t is equal) 1 9 . . . . . . f5! l S e5 ( l S ef -2! f6! with
-2lxe5 20 "ga7 '!'¥fcS 2 1 -2) xe5 de 22 splendid prospects) l S . . . JLxd5
'i'fi· f3 ;.:!. e6! 23 1L c2 c5. Black had 19 il_xf5 il_xO! 20 l!ffx O -E}xe5 2 1
 The Spanish Game 9

After 20 � f5 g6 2 1 !!;.g3 ,ga l , or

8
B 20 -d fl .!;lxa3 21 ba �d3 22
fi xd3 iii xd4 23 _a e2 'iit't xd I 24
� xd I �c5 Black has the initia­
tive. However, White should play
20 �df3 ec5 21 .it_e3! and the e4
pawn is taboo: 21 . . . -2)xe4 22
.!! xa8 .it. xa8 23 .fl. d2!
20 ba ad3
21 Axd3 cd
22 _ab2 (9)
'iiid
i' l c4 22 � e3 'i!lei'f6 23 �g3 d5. If 22 � xb5 then 22 . . . .1a6, 22
The pawn "fist" in the centre was . . . 'i11i'b6 or 22 . . . �a5 23 �d4
a strong force, so Black won -dc5 and Black has sufficient com­
quickly (Dvoirys-Kruppa, USSR pensation for the pawn.
ch !-final, 1 986). Only recently, in the Candi­
17 • • • c4 dates' Match Sax-8hort, Canada,
This move concedes White the 1988, the Hungarian grandmaster
important d4 square but it is not played a new move: 22 � e3.
known yet how to create queen­ The game continued: 22. . . -2)e5
side counterplay in any other way. 23-2)xb5 m-a5 24 -2)d4 Mc3
In Kozlov-Gofstein (Aktjubinsk, 25-2)2b3 i_a6 26 kd2 'i¥i'b2
1 985) after 1 7 . . . g6 1 8 h4! � f6 1 9 27kb4 g6 28 f4. Very risky;
� fl "i!i'd7 20 � g3 �g4 2 1 _ad2 28-Md2 looked safer, offering the
ba 22 'illc l h5 23 eh2! "i!i'd7 24 f4 immediate queen exchange. 28 . . .
a5 25 f5 _aa6 26 � f3 fig? 27 _ac3 -2)c4 29�xd3 �xe4 30'M'f3 );;( e8
Black was subjected to a very 3htth2 kg7 32 -2)c6 'i'ire2 33
strong attack. abd4 �xf3 34 � xf3 �e4 35
18 ab -2)b3 ):;t.e2 36 acd4 );l;e4 37 ac6
Here after 1 8 . . . ab White ;.;; e2 38 'itig3. Sax declines the
played 19 �d4 but in the 1 6th repetition and makes the fatal
game he played 1 8 -dd4 im­ mistake. 38 . . . -de3 39 h4
mediately. It seems that there is ;;;;( xg2+ 40 'itih3 i_c8+ 41 f5
not much difference, but as we
shall see below the game de­
veloped differently. I want to
point out that the natural
exchange on b5 was, in fact,
played for the first time in this
game.
18 ab
19 �d4 �xa3
19 'lll!f' b6 was interesting.
10 The Spanish Game

jj_ xfS + 42 � xf5 gf 43 1i. xd6 safer. Kasparov considered 24

�b2 44 �e7 + 'itPh7 45 �c5 i_f6. -21 b3 as the main reply and gave
White resigned. the following line - 24 . . . 't)!(a4 2S
This position (a) should be � xd3 �eS 26 jj_xeS (26 't)!(g3
regarded as a starting point for Jl.. xdS!) 26 . . . 14 xeS 27 f4 � e8 28
further analysis. The theory of the �g3 with an unclear position.
Spanish Game already goes so Many commentators recom­
deep. mended 24 J.#. e3 when 24 . . . gf
22 "Wt'aS allows 2S J.#.g3 + 'itPh7 26 't)!(hS
Some commentators consider but 24 . . . -deS is quite playable.
this move to be the best, but it is Incidentally, my move 23 . . . -deS
also worth considering 22 . . . wasn't such a bad mistake yet.
�cS, preventing White develop­
ing an attack by 23 � fS or 23
'Wt"g4. After 23 .axbS Black has a
choice between 23 . . . A_a6 with
the initiative for a pawn, and a
forced variation which nearly
guarantees a draw: 23 . . . 't)!(b6 24
a4 _txdS 2S ed �xe l + 26 'Wt"xe l
-dxa4 27 _txg7 *xbS (27 . . .
*xg7 28 'Wt"al + ) 28 _txf8 *xf8
29 il{e3 'il!f"xdS 30 *xh6 + * g8.
Apparently, White should play 23 24 jj_xeS!
� e3 with a threat of 24 -2!4b3 . It looked more natural to con­
23 <21f5! tinue with the kingside offensive
It was impossible to surround by 24 f4. The quiet 24 . . . -dg6
the advanced pawn immediately: would have led to a difficult posi­
23 J.#.e3 �eS 24 f4 -2Jc4; 23 -2!2f3 tion for Black after 2S J.#. fl -de7
-deS 24 -db3 � xb3 2S iii xb3 d2 26 -de3 or 26 -db3 jj-b6 27 il_d4
26 �e2 'itf"a4! 27 il{xa4 ba 28 't)!(a6 28 -dxh6 + gh 29 fS. But
-dxd2 _txdS; 23 � 2b3 iiia4 24 after the active 24 . . . -dc4! a tense
iii'xd3 jj_xdS and Black gains the struggle would lie ahead, e.g. 2S
advantage in every line. White -2!xc4 be 26 il_xg7 _tc8! 27 il_xf8
exploits the fact that Black's jj_xfS 28 _txh6 � xe4 29 � xe4
queen has been distracted and _ixe4 30 �g4 + _ig6 3 1 fS (3 1
tries to organise an attack against 'IM!'c8 + ? 'itPh7 32 'il\'f8 jj-cS + 33
Black's king. The immediate * hI 't)!(d4 with an advantage for
threat is 24jj_xg7 jj_xg7 2S ii!r'g4. Black) 3 1 . . . 'il\'xdS 32 fih2
23 -deS ( 10) 'i/lf'eS + with complete equality, or
I underestimated the following 26 . . . jj_xdS! 27 'il\'g4 'IM!'xe l + 28
exchange on eS when making this * h2 jj-e2! 29 � g3 �e6! and
move. Apparently, 23 . . . g6 was Black starts a counter-offensive.
 The Spanish Game 1 1

24 de I t i s this move, made i n time

After 24 . . . � xeS 2S � f3 � e8 trouble, which is the decisive mis­
26 ..-xd3 Black has no compensa­ take. 3 1 . . . §J..g7 was also bad
tion for the pawn. after 3 1 . . . �g7 32 d6 j_ xe4 33
25 �b3 \'ili"b6 � c8 + t�Ph7 34 't'td l and the d
Black could also play 2S pawn would have been unstop­
iif"xa3 26 iif"xd3 g6 27 �e3 (27 pable. However, according to
iii"x bS itb4!) 27 . . . iJII'a6 28 .!!la l Kasparov, Black could put up
*b6. stiffer resistance by 3 1 . . . f6 32
26 � xdJ �f3 g a6 (32 . . . *g7 33 I;;.c 6!, 32
The d3 pawn has been "eaten" . . . §J_g7 33 �cS), and it would be
at last but the a3 pawn is not difficult to break through Black's
going to escape either. position.
26 � a8 32 �cS
27 g el g6 33 I;;. xc4
It would have been premature 34 e xb7
to take the a3 pawn: 27 . . . � xa3 35 e xd6 � xd6
28 d6 g6 29 d7! .!!l a8 (29 . . . "ti!Yd8 36 •n rfJg7
30 "tl!'fxbS Aa6 3 1 'i!if"xeS � xb3 32 37 f3 fS
..-es I;;. b8 33 I;;. c8 and so on) 30 38 � fl d2
�e3 I;;.d8 3 1 �g4 §J..g7 32 �cS 39 *e2 �b4
hS 33 �e3 � f8 34 � xb7 "i'i!r"xb7 3S 40 edJ �cJ
� dS! with a considerable advan­ 41 � cS .

tage to White. The game was adjourned in this

28 � e3 §J_xaJ position, but Black resigned
After 28 . . . � xa3 29 �g4 because he was losing the d pawn
Black has serious difficulty and there were no chances of sav­
defending the pawn e.g. 29 . . . ing the ending.
iii"d6 (29 . . . !JLg7 30 d6!) 30 'ili'xbS
� a6 3 1 "i'l!fe8! I;;. xb3 32 � c6! or 29 Kasparov-Karpov
. . . Ata2 30 'i�i'b1 'ili'a7 3 1 � c7 hS Leningrad, 1986
32 �xb7 iii"xb7 33 �f6 + and Game 16, World
White wins. Championship Ill
29 � a1 � a4
It was possible to defend more 1 e4 eS
obstinately by 29 . . . hS 30 iii"c3 2 � f3 -E)c6
f6. 3 JLbS a6
30 � g4 1L.f8 4 ..t a4 -df6
31 � cl s 0--0 j_ e7
Of course, if 3 1 � xeS? §J_g7! 32 6 �e 1 bS
�d7 �xa l + 33 �xa1 'ili'c7 and 7 ..tb3 d6
Black is winning. 8 c3 0--0
31 ·ifrd6 9 h3 A b7
12 The Spanish Game

10 d4 Ke8
12
11 �bd2 ..us w
12 a4 h6
13 J.. c2 ed
14 cd �b4
IS j_b l cS
16 dS -dd7
17 �aJ c4
18 �d4 ( 1 1)

think of giving up his knight in

II such a simple fashion to clear the
B
obstacles in the way of an attack
on the enemy king? 20 � xc4 • . .

21 � g3 �c8 22 1i_xh6 ab 23 � f3
� al Short took the line o f least
resistance and gave up his rook
for the dormant b I bishop, level­
ling the material but not effecti­
vely reducing the strength of
White's attack. 24 �gS � xbl 25
This move was played for the \ff x bl gh 26 �e6 + 'itih8 27 � xf8
first time in Sokolov-Psakhis, ;;; xf8. 27 . . . � dB 28 "lli'c I �f6
(Volgograd, 1 985). After 18 . . . was bad owing to 29 �g6 + !, But
.'2)e5 1 9 ab "11i' b6 20 � 2f3 � bd3 perhaps Black should have played
White sacrificed the exchange by 27 . . . "11i'd4, with the aim of
21 j_e3 �xe l 22 �xe l "iftc7 23 blocking the c I-h6 diagonal for
�ef3 ab 24 � xb5 "11i'd 7 but didn't White's queen, before capturing
gain sufficient compensation. White's trapped knight on ffi.
However, I had prepared an Now 28 "lli'c i would be met by 28
opening surprise for this game, IS . . . "iii'd2 or 28 b3 by 28 . . . �d2.
. . . "11i'f6!? Thus, the final assess­ Even so, in the second variation
ment of the variation 1 8 � e5
• . . after 29 'i'li'c I !;!. xffi (29 . . . � a2 30
19 ab iitb6 ( 12) was postponed. 'ff;c7 � xffi 3 1 � xd6 winning) 30
A year after our third match this � e2, White would have a slightly
position occurred in a grandmas­ better position. 28 � c l \trh7 29
ter game. It was so interesting that � c3 �eS 30 \ff xb4 �d7 31 �d2
I must distract myself and demon­ f)c4 32 �dl b4 33 b3 � eS 34
strate the complete game here. <�ih2!? White intends to advance
Sax-Short, Subotica, interzonal, the f pawn and, if it is taken,
1 987: Here White played the activate the second rook. But the
incredible 20 -E}xc4!!? Lightning pawn sacrifice shouldn't work. 34
from a clear sky! Who would . . . �xf2 35 i4 fl �b2 36 � hS f6
 The Spanish Game 13

37 g f4 'l!l'td2?? This was an appall­ 21 J�xaJ

ing time trouble mistake. After 37 22 .2)xa3
. . . �e8 38 i!tf5 + �g6 39 'i!lf"e6 If 22 ba Black's queen would
iirc 1 40 � xf6 � xf6 4 1 iirxf6 iirc7 penetrate to a 1 .
Black's pos1t1on would be 22 • . •J.. a6
impregnable. 38 iirxh6 + ! Every­ It would have been premature
thing is finished by a checkmate. to play 22 . . . � bd3 owing to 23
Black resigned. This game needs J.xd3 � xd3 24 J�e3! For in­
more detailed study. stance 24 . . . � xb2 25 j_ xb2
18 iirf6 iirxb2 26 � xc4 or 24 . . . j_ a6 25
19 -2!20 f)c5 ( 13) 'i!i;"a4 g aS 26 J.d2 lltxb2 (26 . . .
-E:�xb2 27 t'rc2! �d3 28 � xc4
'jjef-a l + 29 � e l ; 28 . . . _txc4 29
'/!ll'xc4 K a l + 30 �e l ) 27 � xc4
'l!l'tb l + 28 ..te l ! �c5! 29 iirc6
i!c8 30 iirb6 * xb6 3 1 � xb6 � b8
32 J..a 5 and Black has no com­
pensation for the pawn. That is
why I defended the c4 pawn first.
23 � e3 � b8!?
This move is part of the plan of
putting pressure on the queenside.
Putting the queen on f6 could However, 25 . . . .2)bd3 was
have already been j ustified now by already possible. Kasparov gave
1 9 . . . �d3 20 J. xd3 (not 20 the following variation: 24 J. xd3
l:i(xd3 cd 2 1 iirxd3 �c5 22 iirc2 cd 25 b4 � xe4 26 b5 j_ b7 27
g6) 20 . . . b4! (an important Zwis­ � xd3 �c3 28 J. b2 <dxd l 29
chenzug) 2 1 Jtxc4 (2 1 � a l cd 22 il._xf6 -E:�xf2 30 '\tPxf2 gf 3 1 � c4
'i!ii'xd3 -Elc5 23 iirb l lt_xd5, 23 with an advantage for White.
iirc4 a5 24 �b5 );;;(ac8 with an However, after 27 . . . ·iita l (in­
advantage for Black) 21 . . . ba 22 stead of 27 . . . .2)c3) Black has
b3 (22 b4 � ac8) 22 . . . �c5 with sufficient compensation for the
good play for Black. Incidentally, pawn, and it's not even clear if
it is clear from this variation why White will be able to keep this
Black's queen is better placed on pawn.
f6 than b6 (if 1 8 . . . iirb6); in the 24 e5!?
second instance 19 . . . �d3 is no Now any quiet move like 24
longer dangerous owing to the � h2, 24 <de l or 24 � c3 would
Zwischenzug 20 a5. have been followed by 24 . . .
20 ab ab � bd3!, so White prepares to at­
21 �xb5 tack on the kingside to counter
Not 2 1 �xa8 Mxa8 22 �xb5 Black's operations on the queen­
.i;g,a l 23 -tJc3 -tJbd3 24 )i:;.fl � b3. side. But this move has the draw-
14 The Spanish Game

back that Black's queen and pas­ 26 � g4?

sive f8 bishop are given more This is a return mistake by my
scope. opponent. 26 '1)!jc2! would have
24 de led to gloomy consequences for
25 � xeS (14) me. The f2 pawn would be
defended, the queen would reach
the dangerous diagonal, and, as a
result, my knight would be
pinned. Now Black can play
neither 26 . . . � b3 27 �d7, nor
26 . . . � d8 27 -E)exc4 � xd5 28
b4, nor 26 . . . � b4 27 �c6 � b7
28 )4e8 g6 29 �e3 )4xb2 30 J.,d4
with a clear advantage for White
in each case, though the game
wouldn't be finished yet. The
This is another critical position. position becomes dynamically
It was time to put a knight on d3, equal after White's inaccuracy.
but unfortunately I chose the 26 'lli!tb6
wrong knight. The correct choice 27 � g3 g6
was 25 . . . �cd3!, and Black This is the safest reply,
could look with hope into the although 27 . . . * h8, or 27 . . .
future. Indeed, after 26 -E)g4 (26 -E)e4 were also possible.
Axd3 �xd3 27 � xd3 cd 28 -E)d7 28 j_xh6 'lli!f xb2
'i!�t'd6 29 <2lxb8 llfxb8 30 llt'a4 29 iitf3 -E)d7
would lead to a draw) 26 . . . 'l!l'fd4 30Axf8 *xf8
(26 . . . 'i!l!rb6 was recommended, 31 .h2 � b3!
but then 27 .i!!: g3 g6 28 J.,e3 with a This move has been criticized
dangerous initiative) 27 �c2 by many commentators, but in
� xc2 (of course not 27 . . . lltxd5 reality it was stronger than 3 1 . . .
28 <2l f6! + gf 29 � g3 + and 30 il!txa3, 3 1 . . . -.ci or 3 1 . . . ffg7.
•g4 mating) 28 J..xc2 Ac5 with a 32 J.,xd3 cd?
complicated position. This is a terrible mistake and I
Actually, having summed up shall try to explain it. First of all, I
the results of our opening discus­ admit that I regarded the position
sion, it is possible to finish here. as already better for Black. In­
The variations considered show deed, White's queenside had been
that Black's new plan has passed eliminated, and his kingside at­
the test in a fitting manner. Now tack seemed to me to be ineffec­
we shall have a cursory look at the tive. Naturally, I started my cal­
remaining dazzling moves of this culations with 32 . . . cd. I spent
game. plenty of time and in the end
25 .abd3? rejected this move. I considered
 The Spanish Game 15

other continuations but, alas, Only this move, made in ter­

every time I came to the conclu­ rible time trouble, finally loses the
sion that Black didn't have an game. It was found afterwards
advantage. Having established that 33 . . . d2! still maintained
this sad fact, I glanced at the clock chances of escape. All the same I
and realised that the hand was in regard 32 . . . cd in this game as
the danger zone. And I automati­ the most dramatic mistake of the
cally made the move on which I whole match.
had spent most time . . . Of 34 eh6 'fjfe7
course, I saw the following simple 3S � xg6 *eS
variation: 32 . . . g xd3 33 i/rf'f4 36 K g8 + 'lle7
ilfr'xa3 34 �h6 i/rf'e7 35 K xg6 i/rf'e5 37 d6 + ! 'lle6
36 ilfr'xe5 (this time the combi­ 38 � e8 + *dS
nation which occurred in the 39 � xeS + e xeS
game wouldn't be possible: 36 40 d7 g b8
� gS + 'lle7 37 d6 + � xd6 3S 41 � xf7.
� f5 + 'llf6 39 'lilt xeS 'II xeS 40 Black resigned.
.:axd6 * xd6) 36 . . . � xeS 37
J;;. xa6 J;;.x d5 3S � aS + 'lle7 39
e fS + *e6 40 �e3 when White Timman-Karpov
would have only a symbolic ad­ Bugojno, 1986
vantage in the ending which
would be impossible to utilise. 1 e4 eS
Even stronger was 32 . . . g xa3, 2 � fJ �c6
Kasparov gave the following long 3 �bS a6
variation: 33 'i!lt'f4 g xd3 34 4 _ta4 � f6
iitd6 + 'II g7 35 iitxd7 � xg3 36 fg s 0-0 _te7
� b7! 37 h4! � aS!! 3S 'Wt'dS '!1i1i'd4 6 � e1 bS
39 • xaS -wrxg4 40 '!!\ta l + *f8! 4 1 7 �b3 d6
d 6 •es 42 iita4 + 'lidS 43 )'!lta5 + 8 c3 0-0
*eS 44 '!'ii' bS + iitd7 45 'Wt'e5 + 9 h3 _tb7
"Wte6 with a draw. The classical Tchigorin Varia-
33 'i!il'f4 iltxa3( 15) tion 9 . . . .:aas 10 �c2 c5 II d4
'Wtc7, 1 1 . . . cd 1 2 cd 'fltc7 or 1 1 . . .
-2Jc6 is not too popular nowadays
and Romanishin is the only pro­
minent grandmaster who plays it
all the time. The statistics of the
last few years are not very encour­
aging for Black.
10 d4 .!;le8
11 -21 bd2 � f8
12 a3
16 The Spanish Game

We covered 1 2 a4 in great detail Ljubojevii:-Portisch: 15 ... -dbd7

in the notes to earlier games. The 16 i... d3 d5!? 1 6 . . . c6 is normal.
quiet pawn move 12 a3 is no less 17 ab de 18 -dxe4 -d xe4 19 JLxe4
popular now. White protects the JLxe4 20 � xe4 ab 2 1 .iL_g5 f6 22
b4 square from the Black knight i.. h4 � xal 23 'ii<i" x a1 iJ.. d6 24
and intends to develop an initia­ l¥ta2 + <11 h8 25 de -2)xe5. Draw.
tive on the queenside. Of course, After 12 .iL_c2 -2Jb8 ( 1 2 . . . g6 is
this move is not necessary and, for also often played), apart from the
instance, 1 2 i.._c2 was possible. blunt 13 a4, the quiet 13 b3 is also
This position arose after ll -2)g5 played . Here is a recent example
�f8 12 -E:�fJ �e8 13 -2!bd2 kf8 14 of this from my own experience.
JLc2 in Sokolov-Karpov, Bugojno, Ljubojevii: -Karpov, Tilburg,
1986. After 14 ... -2!b8 15 a4 I 1986: 13 ... -2!bd7 14 il.b2 g6 15
tried an innovation which was not a4 )4 b8 (this was a theoretical
quite successful, 15 . c5, and
. • novelty; the standard moves are
White closed the queenside by 16 1 5 . . . c5, 1 5 . . . ]Lg7 and 1 5 . . .
d5 -dbd7 17 b4 c4 18 -2)0 and c6) 16 kd3 c6 17 'ii<i" c2 -2Jh5 18
carried out an energetic attack on -2)h2 (after 1 8 c4 ed 1 9 -2Jxd4 b4
the kingside: 18 ... -2Jh5 1 9-2)3h2 Black takes over the initiative, but
g6 20 ke3 i.._ e7 21 'ii<i" d2 ;,; f8 22 better was 18 kfl e.g. 1 8 . . . -df4
jj_h6 -2)g7 23 -2Jg3 1trh8 24 -2Jg4 1 9 g3 -de6 20 h4) 18 .. . -2)f4 19
-2)(6 25 -d xf6 i.._ xf6 26 � n �·d7 it n -2Je6 20 -2Jg4 kg7 21 de.
27 f4 aS 28 f5 ab 29 cb ba 30 ;.;;; f3 Nothing is gained by 2 1 -df3 h5
1trg8 31 'ii<i" f2 JLh4 32 .iJ... xg7 JLxg3 22 -2Je3 ed 23 cd (23 -2Jxd4 -2Jec5
33 ;.;;; xg3 'lixg7 34 f6 + 1trh8 35 with a better position for Black)
J;:;ga3 �b5 36 'ii<i" e3 �g8 37 h4 g5 23 . . . c5 24 d5 (24 de JLxe4!) 24
38 hg )4 g6 39 lti'fl h6 40 ;,:; hi . . . -2!d4 25 -2)xd4 cd 26 -2Jd I 8 c8
<lih7 41 ii_dl � ag8 42 'ii<i" h3 � h8 and Black has a clear advantage.
�h8 43 JLh5. Black resigned. 21 ... de 22 -210 h5 23 -2Je3 fftc7
This game was quite impressive 24 � ad1 s bd8 25 h4. Draw. 25
and was deservedly named the . . . -2Jdc5 26 g3 ;.;;; xd I 27 ;,:; xd I
best game in /nformator 41. How­ �d8 with total equality.
ever, I think this fact served the 12 h6
young grandmaster badly; it 13 JLc2 -2)b8
seemed that he overestimated his 13 . . . d5!? was also worth con­
abilities before the world candi­ sidering.
dates' superfinal . . . 14 b4 -2!bd7
The correct move in my game 15 kb2 g6 ( 16)
with Sokolov was 1 5 . . . -2)bd7, After 15 . . . -21 b6 16 de de 17 c4
retaining the possibility of under­ and White is better.
mining the centre, instead of 1 5 16 c4
. . . c5. In a later round a t Bugojno, In Psakhis-Razuvaev (Mos­
1986 there was a quick draw in cow, 1986) White tried a new
 The Spanish Game 1 7

a game between two Hungarian

women chess players: Madi-Ver­
oci Hungary, 1987; 19 .i.d3! this is
the idea of the international mas­
ter Perenyi 19 . . •1l,g7 20 � cl
'i!it'b6 2 1 ..-b3 -2)e5 22 Jt fl � adS
23 -2)4f3 � xf3 + . It was better to
strengthen the centre by 23 . . .
� fd7. 24 'i!i{xf3 � e6. 24 . . . � xe4
2S it_xg7 -2) xd2 26 'M' f6 * h7 27
i'i!xn. 25 -EJ b3 � deS 26 kd4 'illr' a6
move- 1 6 'illr' b l ! The aim of this 27 ..-c3 c5. Black couldn't resist
move was to overprotect the e4 the pressure along the c file, but
pawn and free the d2 knight for Black would also lose after 27 . . .
relocation via -E:J d2-b3-aS. After ;s xe4 28 il._ xf6 � xe I 29 � xe I
1 6 . . . j_ g7 1 7 -E:J b3 c6 1 8 � aS .i;;( Xe l 30 j_xg7. 28 be it_xe4 29
'fi{c7 1 9 Jtb3! � adS 20 'i/lf a2 dS 2 1 i0i' b4 'i'li' aS 30 cd .i_ f8 31 il_c5
ed -E:�xdS 2 2 de � xeS 2 3 -2\ xeS �d5. The only way to continue
� xeS 24 c4 White achieved a con­ resistance was 33 . . . -2)d7. 32
siderable advantage. More accur­ ii1d4 k xg2? This was a second
ate was 1 7 . . . � c8 ( 1 7 . . . ;..:, b8 1 8 time trouble mistake. 33 ;,:; xe6
-E:�aS j_a8 1 9 dS) 1 8 �aS j_ a8 1 9 k xfl 34 14 xeS and Black resigned
d S � b6 20 a4 'illr' d7 2 1 a b a b 22 after a few more moves.
Jtd3 -E:�hS 23 c4 be � xc4 -d f4 2S 19 ba
� xb6 cb 26 _a c t with approxi­ 20 .zt._ xa4 'ii!i' b6
mate equality (Psakhis-Portisch, This move was played for the
Sarajevo, 1 986). first time by Kasparov in the first
16 ed game of his match with Timman
1 7 cb ab (Hilversum, 1 98S). Before then 20
IS � xd4 c6 ( 1 7) . . . ;.:;. c8 was preferred. After 20
. . . ..-b6 2 1 bS cb 22 il._xbS dS! 23
� xa8 jj_ xa8 24 'l\lf a4 -2\cS 2S 'l\lfc2
� b8 Black took over the initia­
tive and won the game. Timman
varied with 21 -2)c2 in the third
game of the match. He repeated
this move in our game as well.
21 -del 'i'li' c7
Black could also try 2 1 . . . 1t. a6
with the intention of meeting 22
iL_ b3 with 22 . . . .i_ d3 when 23
19 a4 l4 xa8 � xa8 24 iOi' f3 .it_ xc2 2S
An improvement was played in JLxc2 'i!iot' xb4 26 ii_c3 'i!i1CS 27 -d b3
18 The Spanish Game

llj'c4! lead to an advantage for * xg7 29 ii!r"e3 h5 30 ii(r"xe8 hg 3 1

Black. hg -E:J f6 32 -wte2 � f4 with an ad­
22 it. b3 i;g, xal vantage for Black) 27 . . . ff xg7 28
In the third game of the Tim­ ."E)e4 h5 29 JL xf7! 'il!rxf7 30 -E:J g5 +
man-Kasparov match, the world *e7 3 1 -wtf3! -2)ef6 32 �ef6 32
champion chose 22 . . . JLa6, and -2)xf6 -E:J xf6 33 i11 e 3 + winning.
after 23 � c l JJ.. g7 24 -2Je3 .,ib5 25 be -2) xc5
the position was equal. However, 26 1t. xf6 JJ.. xf6.
Timman later managed to win Draw.
this imperfect game, although he After 27 -dd5 1l.. xd5 28 il.. xd5
was on the verge of losing. the position would be absolutely
23 JJ.. xal equal.
After 23 il!r"xa l 1t. g7 24 -2)c4, 24
Geller-Tal
. . . d5 leads to equality, but 24 . . .
Sochi, 1986
c5 is worth a try e.g. 25 'fWi'a5 (25
be � xc5, and Black is better, but The Open Variation of the
25 e5! leads to an equal position) Spanish Game was one of most
25 . . . � xa5 26 ba ."E) xe4 27 iL_ xg7 popular openings in the Baguio
*xg7 28 f3 d5 29 fe de 30 JJ.. xc4 and Merano matches, and in the
);;;. xe4 and Black has the initiative. second, it is fair to say, it played a
23 i!. g7 decisive role. However, this varia­
24 -2)e3 tion never occurred in my
The position would also be matches with Kasparov. It has
equal after 24 -2)c4 �xe4 25 � xe4 been quite a rare guest in my
(25 f3 k xa l 26 il1xal d5!) 25 . . . recent games- I can single out
� xe4 26 ii!r"xd6 i11 xd6 (not 26 . . . only two games with Yusupov in
l*c8 owing to 27 -21 b6! threaten­ 1 983. But I still follow closely all
ing 28 \¥f'xg6) 27 -2) xd6 Jl. xa l 28 the developments in this varia­
-2)xe4. tion, the more so, because nearly
24 cS all the games covered below de­
This move leads to a relief of velop ideas born in the matches
tension. It was very tempting to between Korchnoi and me. Inci­
take the pawn by 24 . . . �xe4. In dentally, Korchnoi hasn't stopped
fact, after 25 � xe4 );;;. xe4 26 playing his pet line and still often
il. xf7 + 'l/xf7 27 'iii' f3 + -2) f6 28 uses it in tournaments, despite its
it_xf6 l;;;. xe3! 29 \\ilixe3 i!.xf6 30 failure at Merano. But the most
� xh6 c5 Black would be better. fervent supporter of the Open
However, 25 ."E) g4! gave White a Variation is grandmaster Yusu­
dangerous attack for instance: 25 pov. He plays it regularly (the
. . . -2)ef6 (25 . . . d5 26 1J. xg7 Russian Defence is the only
'lt xg7 27 �xe4 de 28 -wtd4 + ."E)e5 choice he has . . . ), and, most of
29 f4) 26 l4 xe8 + -E:J xe8 27 il_xg7 the time, successfully. It wouldn't
(but not 27 'l'¥f' f3? d5 28 il.. xg7 be an exaggeration to say that
 The Spanish Game 19

every one of his games makes a 33 *dS + * g7 34 ..-es + *f7 3S

valuable theoretical contribution. hS � fS! with equality. So, the
Several dozen grandmaster games assessment of the forced play
have been played with this varia­ from the opening to the endgame
tion since Merano and the most hasn't changed throughout all
important ones are covered be­ these years. Black's position is
low. Some games are singled out safe.
for detailed treatment and the rest Another move worth mention­
mentioned in passing. ing is 9 ,ie3 and then 9 . . . .1e7
1 e4 eS 10 c3 0--0 I I � bd2 (the l Oth and
2 -21fJ l£1 c6 I I th moves can also be played in
3 .ibS a6 reverse order). This position is
4 .1 a4 �f6 well-known to theory, and the fol­
S 0-0 -2J xe4 lowing continuations are con­
6 d4 bS sidered: I I . . . l£)xd2, I I . . . '/ili'd7
7 .1b3 dS and I I . . . .,;l g4. A recent game,
8 de .1e6 Uim-Kengen (9th Correspon­
9 �bd2 dence Chess Olympiad, 1 982-
The immediate 9 c3, which is 1 98S) continued I I . . . ecS 1 2
mentioned below in the notes to j_c2 '!lli' d 7. After 1 3 b4 l£)a4 1 4
Popovic-Timman, is also popu­ j_xa4 ba I S 'il(( xa4 -2J xeS 1 6 'i!!i' xd7
lar. As for the ancient 9 11!fe2, it is -2J xd7 17 -21 b3 c5 1 8 e xeS l£l xcS
temporarily out of fashion. I want 19 be � fc8 20 ed4 j_ xcS 2 1
to remind you of a long forced � fb i 1t,xd4 2 2 ,i xd4 � ab8 23
variation which was known some 1;4 b3 � bS! with equal chances.
thirty years ago -9 i�te2 .1e7 1 0 Talking about 9 .1e3, it re­
� d l -2J c S I I ,i xdS j_xdS 1 2 �c3 mains to be said that contribu­
j_c4 1 3 � xd8 + � xd8 14 iite3 b4 tions have been made to the varia­
I S b3 j_e6 1 6 � e4 � d l + 1 7 � e l tion 9 .1e3 ,ie7 10 c3 '!lli' d 7 I I
l£)d4 1 8 .1 b2 e xc2 1 9 11!fe2 � xa l -21 bd2 during the past few years.
20 ,ixal 2 1 � xeS ,i xcS 2 2 -2!d3 In Timman-Korchnoi (Reykja­
.ib6 23 -2J xb4 0--0 24 ec6 f6 2S vik, 1 987) after I I . . . .i::l d8!? I I
h4 fe 26 ili'fxeS � f6. Now the well­ • . . -21 xd2 is normal) 1 2 .'El xe4 de
known continuations 27 g4 and 1 3 'il(( x d7 + j_xd7 1 4 -2J gS -2) xeS
27 ed4 have been joined by I S .1d4 _txgS 16 _t xeS 0--0 1 7
another one . . . .1 xc7 J;g, c8 1 8 .1 b6 M fe8 the posi­
Timman-Yusupov (Montpei­ tion was completely equal.
Iier candidates', 1 985); 27 .'El d8 9 -2)cS
.1 f7 (27 . . . .tc8 28 'iiit d S + • rs 10 c3 d4 ( 18)
2 9 .'Elc6!) 2 8 �xf7 •xf7 ( 2 8 . . . The most popular move these
� xf7 29 'i/ltxa l � xf2 30 <ll h2 3 1 days is the ancient 10 . . . j_e7
'i!\i'e5) 29 "Wtxa l � xf2 30 *h2 aS which was played in Hiibner­
31 'i!!i' e S h6 32 a4 (32 a3!) 32 . . . g6 Korchnoi.
20 The Spanish Game

. . . � d3, 23 . . . .!;i dS is stronger!

and Black can be confident of the
future.
But the question is whether it
was possible to take the knight!?
A year after Baguio Timman­
Smyslov (FRG, 1 979) continued
I I . . . \'lf'xgS 1 2 � f3 0--0---0. Better
than 1 2 . . . �d7 1 3 j_ xf7 + *e7
14 �b3 ! \'lf'xeS I S � xeS il!(xcS 1 6
11 � xe6 K el + \li d S 1 7 cd 'fjif'd6 I S Jl g S +
Before going any further, it is of *cS 1 9 ii ac l ! -pointed out by
course worth considering l l Keene-or 1 2 . . . *d7 1 3 �dS!
� gS!? This forceful move was j_ xdS 14 'iWf' xdS + j_d6 I S cd
found by my trainer Zaitsev while �xd4 1 6 � c4! �e2 + 1 7 w h l
preparing for the match in )ll(( fS I S � xd6 '1ll&' d 3 1 9 'i!ii' x f7 +
Baguio. The knight is deliberately *c6 20 JLe3 K af8 2 1 'iiei' e 7! ..-ds
put en prise to Black's queen -it is 22 K ad l �d3 23 e6 and White
not the sort of move that every­ obtained a strong attack (Bron­
body would find! In fact, Korch­ dum-Brinck-Ciaussen, Denmark,
noi didn't accept the knight. Let's 1 979). 1 3 j_ xe6 + fe 14 'i!¥;'xc6
look at this game in more detail. .-xeS I S b4 'i!!i' d S 1 6 'iirJ' x dS ed 1 7
Karpov-Korchnoi, game l 0, be de I S -21 b 3 d4 1 9 j_ a3 j_e7 20
world championship, Baguio j_ b4 Jl f6 2 1 a4 *d7 22 ab ab 23
l 97S; I I . . . de 1 2 � xe6 fe 1 3 be I;� a6 c6 24 � d l *e6 2S � xc6 +
ti-d3 1 4 �f3 (if 1 4 �c2 ilt' xc3 I S *dS 26 K xf6! *c4! and the
iithS + g6 1 6 � xg6 + hg 1 7 chances can be considered equal,
'i!iJ'xhS tl'xa l and White has despite the fact that White has got
no compensation for the lost two extra pieces at this moment.
material, but 1 4 t\' g4 was worth So far, it seemed that taking the
considering) 1 4 . . . iit'xd l I S knight passed the test. However,
�xd l j_e7 1 6 j_e3 �d3 1 7 j_ b3 A. Lilienthal later suggested a
* f7 I S J Ud i eJdxeS 1 9 eJ xeS substantial improvement 23
� xeS 20 JJ.. f4 �c4. Not 20 . . . K fd l ! \li e6 24 g ae l *f7 2S \li ft
j_d6 2 1 �xeS � xeS 22 � fe l K heS 26 � d3 � e4 27 g3, Black's
j_ xc3 23 I;� xe6 * f8 24 I;� d7! etc. central pawns have been stopped,
Here I played 2 1 j_ xc4 and after and he faces difficulties.
2 1 . . . be the chances soon became I think that the theory of the
level. Tal recommended 2 1 I;� d7 knight sacrifice on gS is far from
cS 22 I;� e l � adS 23 I;� b7 � d3 24 complete. Incidentally, it has been
j_gS K eS 2S 1. e4 g xc3 26 h3 known for a long time that White
and White maintains dangerous gains nothing by I I cd -d xd4 1 2
threats. However, instead of 23 -d xd4 Q xd4 1 3 j_ xe6 � xe6 1 4
 The Spanish Game 21

iJ!;'f3 � d8 1 5 a4 �b4! 1 6 ab ab 1 7 man, Amsterdam, 1985, and after

-crtc6 + 'tit;'d7 1 8 -crtxd7 .!!1 xd7 with 14 ab ab 15 �e4 �e7 16 -Eld6 cd
equality (an old variation by V. 17 �xd4 -2l xd4 18 'iV{xd4 de 19
Nenarokov). l!lfxe5 0--0 20 �f4 S! b7 21 'tit;'e4
Back to I I �xe6 which has � d7 22 �c6 a draw was agreed. I
nearly always been played in re­ still believe that 1 3 . . . �e7 is the
cent games. most logical move.)
II �xe6 14 � xd4. 14 ab was worth con­
12 cd sidering, though in Sax-Yusupov
1 2 a4 and 1 2 .£Jb3 have also (Sofia, 1 984) after 14 • • . -Elxb5-
been played, but White didn't after 14 . . . ab 1 5 g xa8 'jif xa8 1 6
achieve anything. -2:)xd4 -2:) xd4 1 7 "il{(g4 � e6 1 8 f4
12 -Elcxd4 White is better- 1 5 'i!i'c2-the
( 19) immediate 1 5 .E) b3!? should be
tried - 1 5 . . . 0--0 1 6 ,a b3 c5 1 7
/9 Jl.. e3 )lllj" b6 1 8 K a4 � fb8 1 9 ,a a5
w g c8 20 ii!(e4 � bd4 2 1 � xd4 cd
22 �xd4 the chances were equal.
In Hiibner-Yusupov, Tilburg,
1979, White played differently on
move 1 5; 15�e4, but didn't
achieve anything. After 15 . 0--0
. .

16 J.. e3 c5 17 � a4 ii!�'b8 18 "il{(a1

abd4 19 j_ xd4 cd 20 .E) xd4 a xd4
21 � xd4 �xeS 22 � fdl .i;i fd8 23
This pos1t10n is the starting b3 i4 xd4 24 ·tl1 xd4 )'i!J' xd4 a draw
point for the modern theory of the was agreed.
Open Variation. Now 1 3 .a xd4 1 4 . . . -crtxd4. The right capture.
'ii6- xd4 1 4 'l!l'tf3 � d8 1 5 a4 reaches In the 1 8th game of the Merano
the position from the old game match Korchnoi took with the
Capablanca-Lasker (St. Peters­ knight: 1 4 . . . � xd4 1 5 �e4-
burg, 1 9 1 4). I tried two dangerous also possible was 15 ab ab 1 6
new moves here in the Merano � xa8 'Wrxa8 1 7 'il!i'g4 .£J e6 1 8 f4 -
match: 1 3 �e4 ( 1 4th and 1 6th l 5 . . . �e6-if 1 5 . . . 0--0 1 6 ab
games) and 1 3 a4 ( 1 8th game). 1 3 ,a xb5 1 7 �e3 Black still has
�e4 became popular afterwards, problems, and if 1 5 . . . ,a f5 then
which is why the following discus­ the manoeuvre 1 6 'i!lff3 -E)d4 1 7
sion is devoted to this move. But 'i/lfg4 would become even
first let's have a look what hap­ stronger- 1 6 it. e3 0--0 1 7 f4 'WI' xd l
pens after 1 3 a4. 1 8 � fxd l .i;I fb8 1 9 � d7 . White
13 a4 }Le7. (We also considered achieved a considerable advan­
1 3 . . . j_c5 and 1 3 . . . j_ b4. 13• . .
tage which soon became decisive.
El b8 was played in Nunn-Tim- This victory was my sixth and
22 The Spanish Game

brought the Merano match to an g fc l K e8 25 � 7c2 � xc2 26

end. � xc2 f6.
1 5 ab *xe5 1 6 ba 0--0 1 7 � f3 Perhaps 1 5 X e 1 was more
�b5 1 8 '1\lri'a4 -.:txa4 1 9 � xa4 accurate than 1 5 �c3, for ex­
�c5. The chances are equal. This ample: 1 5 . . . J.. b4 ( 1 5 . . . JJ.. e 7 1 6
was proved by Psakhis-Dolmatov � f6 + !) 1 6 �c3 -.d8 (after 1 6 . . .
from the 49th USSR champion­ 'ltd7 1 7 JJ.. e3 JJ.. c 5 White has an
ship, 1 98 1 , soon after the Merano extra tempo in comparison with
match. Despite the fact that this the position of the diagram,
game is quite old, there have been although it is not clear how im­
no new ideas suggested since then. portant it is) 1 7 J.,g5! * xg5 1 8
13 �e4 JJ.. e7 'Wfxd4 J., xc3 1 9 'Wfxc3 0--0 20
Recently Black has almost l;l ac l (Malchikov-Odeev, USSR,
automatically chosen this move, 1 983). The weakness of Black's
but 1 3 . . . *d5 14 � xd4 � xd4 pawns on the queenside is
may also be playable. The posi­ obvious.
tion after 1 5 -2l c3 '!\ltd? 1 6 JJ.. e3 14 JJ.. e3 �fS
1J.. c5 ( 20) occurred twice in the This position occurred for the
49th USSR championship 1 9 8 1 first time in the 1 6th game of the
and i n both cases Black success­ Merano match. In game 1 4
fully overcame his opening diffi­ Korchnoi mistakenly played 1 4
culties. . . . � xn + and after 1 5 * x f3 0--0
1 6 l;l fd l 'iii' e8 1 7 � f6 + ! J., xf6 ( 1 7
. . . gf 1 8 e f J.,d6 1 9 � d4 * h8 20
� h4 � g8 2 1 g xh7 + * xh7 22
)'l(( h 5 mate) 1 8 ef 'jjf c8 1 9 fg � d8
20 h4! White had a clear advan­
tage.
15 'il'fcl 0-0
16 g ad1
In the 1 6th game of the Merano
match, I played 1 6 �eg5 J., xg5 1 7
-2l xg5 g6 (it was easier to achieve
equality by 1 7 . . . � xg5 1 8 'i!ii' x f5
Romanishin-Yusupov: 1 7 'lliJ' h5 -2le6 1 9 'jjf e4 c5 20 f4 f5) 1 8 � xe6
( 1 7 ii!'d2 � d8 18 � ad l 0--0) 1 7 fe ( l 8 . . . � xe3? 1 9 'il't'c6) 19 l;l ae l
. . . 'il'fe6 1 8 � ad l g d8 1 9 l;l d2 (the immediate 1 9 .it,c5!? was pro­
0--0 20 X fd l g6 2 1 ·!Wfh4 Ja.e7 22 bably better) 19 . . . 'i!ii' d 5 20 b3
�e4 <E:J f5. � ac8 21 1l_c5 x fd8 22 h3 'i!ii' c6 23
Belyavsky-Dorfman: 17 -EJe4 b4 � d7 24 Iii d 1 � cd8 and Black
,la7 1 8 Ii c I 0--0 19 �c5 .it, xc5 20 overcame the opening difficulties
.:1 xeS g fd8 2 1 ..1 xd4 'CJi'(xd4 22 this time.
'il't'xd4 � xd4 23 K xc7 K d2 24 16 � f6 + JLxf6 17 j(;'xf5 JJ.. e7
 The Spanish Game 23

1 8 � ad l 'il{(c8 1 9 �d2 � d8 (Van trate on achieving a knockout

Der Wiei-Korchnoi, Sarajevo, blow on the kingside.
1 984) is unpromising. 20 ecs
16 � xeJ 20 . . . �e8 was played in the
17 fe next game. Black requires only
It is amusing that the isolated one tempo- �g5-and the weak­
doubled e pawns have their own ness of the e pawns will count.
merits, like the control of the d4, However 20 . . . �g5 was bad
d6 and f6 squares and, additio­ now, owing to 21 )ll({ d5 'ifj-e8 22
nally, the f file is opened for man­ �g4 with a very strong attack for
oeuvres as well. White.
17 'i!!J' c8 (21) 21 iiei' f3 �e8
22 �gJ � d8
More flexible was 22 . . . � b8
21
and 23 . . . li b6, or 22 . . . aS and
w
23 . . . � a6 in order to connect the
rook to the defence of the
kingside. The second possibility
occurred in the next game.
23 �g4 �e6
24 -E)fS *h8
25 � xe7
White decided to go into the
endgame with an extra pawn but,
This position has occurred apparently, stronger was 25 h4
quite often in recent years. This (25 . . . � d7 26 I!IJ'c6) or 25 'tii' g3,
game has led us to it. It is analysed increasing the pressure on the
in more detail in the next game. kingside.
18 h3 25 ·tifxe7
I played this move for the first 26 i/6' xf7 iltf' xf7
time against Yusupov (Linares, 27 � xf7 hS
1 983). 1 8 Ji d3 soon led to equa­ 28 � fl Ai dS
lity in Hiibner-Hort (Wijk aan 29 Ji fS g6?
Zee, 1 986): 1 8 . . . c5 1 9 l2:) d6 ttb8 After 29 . . . Ji d2! it was un­
20 � fd l � a7 21 � d5 'i!!( a 8 22 a4 likely that Black risked losing.
� d8. 1 8 -E)d4 has been played The f6 square weakness would
many times. There are examples immediately become important.
in the notes to the next game. 30 e4!
18 � d8 This Zwischenzug makes all the
19 �h2 � xd 1 difference. White first defends his
20 'i!l!l'xd1 pawn with gain of tempo and only
It is sensible to leave the rook then plays � f6.
on the f file in order to concen- 30 M CS
24 The Spanish Game

If 30 . . . � d2 then 3 1 � f6 This defeat convinced Tal that

would still be extremely un- he should start playing this varia­
pleasant. tion with White. The next game is
31 � f6 )!;( xeS an example.
32 � xg6 -E)c 5
33 � c6
33 ;,:; g3 won easily . Tal-Korchnoi
33 -d xe4 Reykjavik, 1987
34 .?J xe4 ;,:\ xe4
35 1ti f2 � e5 I e4 e5
36 ;,; xc7 b4 2 -d f3 .£Jc6
37 b3 3 ..it_b5 a6
37 � b7 was more accurate, 4 k a4 -2! f6
although the rook ending turned 5 0--0 .2\ xe4
out still to be won after the move 6 d4 b5
order adopted in the game. 7 .ii b3 d5
37 *g8 8 de .;.e6
38 � b7 � a5 9 dbd2 -2!c5
If 38 . . . a5 White would gra­ 10 c3 d4
dually win by bringing his king to 11 JJ.. xe6 -E) xe6
h4 and playing g3. 12 cd -2!cxd4
39 ;.; xb4� xa2 + 13 .El e4 j_e7
40 <lr g3 *g7 14 Jt. e3 -2! f5
The game was now adjourned 15 �c2 0--0
and White easily won in the 16 � ad 1 -E) xe3
second session. 17 fe 'i!tt" c8
41 ;,. a4 ;.::, b2 17 'iii' e8 used to be con-
42 b4 *ti sidered bad because of 18 �d4. In
43 ;4 xa6 h4 + Van Der Wiel-Korchnoi, Wijk aan
44 <lr xh4 �. xg2 Zee, 198 7 after 18 g d8 19
a b6
• . .

45 .� d2 -2! xe6 g xdl 20 )4 xd1 fe White

46 <lr g4 � d4 + captured the unprotected pawn,
47 <lr g5 8 d5 + but Black turned out to have suf­
48 1ti f4 E!; d3 ficient counterplay. 21 'i!(:( xc7 'i!tf" h5
49 h4 � d4 + 22 � n � xfl + 23 ;!ti xfl 'i!(:(f5 +
50 <lr g5 � d5 + 24 -2!f2i!1b1 + 25 \tiel 'i!txb2 + 26
51 <lr h6 � d4 * f3 .i f'S 27 -2!e4 'i'Ji' xa2 28 .2\g5.
52 h5 ..,; d5 White has come very near to
53 b5 � c5 Black 's king, but Black finds a
54 � b8 very elegant way to force a draw.
55 b6 � b5 28 . . 'ioifd5 + 29 <lr g3 'iti h8!
.

56 b7 l! b6 + White's queen is tied to the e5

57 'ttr h7. pawn and there is also the threat
Black resigned. of . . . h6. So White is forced to
 The Spanish Game 25

repeat moves- 30 -2) 17 + <ftg8 31 (Chandler-Yusupov, Minsk,

-E}gS *h8. Draw. 1 982); 20 f,tf xc7 )4 ac8! 21 'iff a5
It is worth trying to find out � c2 22 .i;l f2 .i;l fc8 (H iibner-Lju­
what happens after White plays bojevic, Tilburg, 1 982). Black had
1 8 h3, 19 -2)h2 and so on, as he no difficulties in either game.
does when the queen is on c8. In 18 Jo;. d8
this case, after the exchange of 19 -dh2
one pair of rooks, Black's second I delayed this move in the origi­
rook is left on f8. It guards the n nal game: 1 9 � c l ( 1 9 � xd8 +
square here, but at the same time 'i!Jxd8 20 � d l 'iiit e8 2 1 -dd4 -2l xd4
is rather passive. 22 ed c6 and the position is equal)
18 h3 (22) 19 . . . c5 (better than 1 9 . . . i!�!'b7
20 l!li'c6!) 20 l!li-f2 � b7 21 -2) h2!
22 'iff xe4 (2 1 . . � f8 22 'i!\f'f3! and
B
.

-d g4) 22 litf xfl + *h8 23 'ili' xe6

i_ g5 24 1t> h l . White maintained
the mttlatlve but Yusupov
managed to draw in the end. 1 9
-2) h 2 i s more consistent.
19 a xdl
20 'ii{f xd1 'ii!r' e8
20 . . . -2) c5 was played in the
previous game and was covered
As I have already pointed out, there.
this modest pawn move occurred 21 'i!\f'hS -deS
for the first time in Karpov-Yusu­ 22 -2l g3 aS! (23)
pov, Linares, 1983. Before then
the normal continuation was 18
� d4 -2) xd4 19 ed 'ii!r' e6 . There was
an unexpectedly quick finish in
Tseshkovsky-Yusupov (Erevan,
1 982): 20 -2l g3 f6 21 -2) fS fe 22
'ii!r' b3! and Black resigned because
he was losing a piece. The right
way was shown by Yusupov three
years later: 20 . . . c6 2 1 -d f5 � fe8
22 � d3 i_ f8 23 � h3 g6 24
-E}h6 + i, xh6 25 Jo;. xh6 c5 with an This is an important improve­
equal game (Short-Yusupov, ment. Black has found a simple
Montpellier candidates', 1 985). way of relocating the rook to the
Apart from 20 -dg3, other con­ kingside. If you remember, in the
tinuations are not dangerous previous game (with the White
for Black: 20 � d3 f6 2 1 'Wi xc7 queen on f3) we said that this
fe 22 'i:Wfxe5 .i;l xfl + 23 \ti xfl method of defence promised
26 The Spanish Game

equality. However, Black was too defensive problems once and for
subtle in this game and allowed all by taking control of the g4
Tal to carry out an effective plan. square.
23 �f5 Jl, a6 33 itt d8 g6?
24 �g4 K g6 In this game Korchnoi demon­
The knights are beautiful, but strated the unlimited resources of
Black's rook covers all the vulner­ the Open Variation, but he spoilt
able squares around his king . . . the finish and allowed Tal to play
25 b3 a beautiful combination winning
This is a waiting move. White's the queen. After 33 . . . K e8 the
pieces are excellently placed but it likeliest result would be a draw.
is not clear how to improve his 34 �h6 + fl g7 (24 )
position any further.
25 .td8 24
26 � fl w
White i s compelled t o beat a
retreat. His e pawns have become
a real weakness, although they
cannot yet be taken. (26 . . . itt xe5
27 � h6 + ).
26 itt c6
27 e4 llt e8
After 27 . . . l£) xe4 then 28 itt d l
l£)d6 29 �g4 � b7 the knight has 35 �fg4!
been thrown back and White has Tal's cavalry becomes fierce.
compensation for a pawn. Korch­ 35 hg
noi is betrayed by his attempt to 36 K xf7 + fl xh6
gain an advantage at low cost. 37 itt xf8 + figS
28 itt d 1 J... e7 38 h4 + ! flxh4
29 itt d2 .tf8 39 itt h6 +
Black is in a hurry to relieve the White could have finished the
tension. He apparently rejected 29 game even more beautifully by 39
. . . b4 because of White's occupa­ K h7 + flg5 40 itt h 6 + fl f6 4 1
tion of the d file. itt h4 + 1!i'g5 4 2 K f7 + . White's
30 itt xa5 queen manoeuvre is like an end­
31 itt xb5 game study . . .
32 itt b8 39
White has acquired dangerous 40 g3 +
threats- l£) g4 and, if the oppor­ 41 itt f4 + !
tunity arises, �gh6 + . Not 41 \'!!i' e3 + fl h4 42 K f2 g3
32 h5 43 flg2 \'!!i' g5
32 . . . Jl e8 was more accurate 41 fl h4
but Black intended to solve his 42 'i!!i' fl + g3
 The Spanish Game 27

43 � f4 +
25
B
44 "«f xg3 +
45 K h4
White's combination has now
triumphed and the rest was sim­
ple.
45 K xe4
46 .l;l xbS + 'ilr xbS
47 "«f xc7 �e6
48 tltf' b7 K eS
49 a4 �(4 amount of theory on it. This game
so tltf' f3 + 'ilrgS presents an opportunity to survey
51 b4 K el + the most interesting and modem
52 'ilrfl K bl developments in this line.
53 bS J� b2 + 12 "«!td7
54 'ilre l 'ilrfS Strangely 12 ... d4, which
55 "«!t c3 K b4 theory considered to be fine, has
45 b6 �ciS completely disappeared from
57 tltf' c8 + tournament play. The other op­
Black resigned. tions- 1 2 . 0--0, 1 2 . . . j_h5 and
. .

the move played in this game­

Hiiboer-Korchnoi often lead to the same position.
Tilburg, 1986 Here are a few recent examples:
1 2 . . . J.. h5 1 3 � fl 0--0 1 4 � g3
I e4 eS J., g6 1 5 � f5 tltf' d7 1 6 g4 K fd8 1 7
2 � f3 �c6 � 3d4 �xd4 1 8 cd �e6 1 9 J.,e3 c5
3 J.,bS a6 with sufficient counterplay for
4 J.. a4 � (6 Black (Thipsay-Agzamov,
s 0-0 � xe4 Frunze, 1 986). Kupreichik-Kai­
6 d4 bS danov (Kuibishev, 1 986) contin­
7 J.,b3 ciS ued: 1 2 . . . 0--0 1 3 <E:J fl J.. h5 1 4
8 de J.. e6 �g3 J.,g6 1 5 � f5 't!t'd7 1 6 g4 (this
9 '2J db2 �cS position is familiar from the pre­
10 c3 J.,e7 vious game), and after 1 6 . . .
I I J.,c2 J.,g4 ,l adS 1 7 h4! <E) e4 1 8 � xe7 +
12 K el (25) � xe7 1 9 � h2 �c5 20 J.,e3 <E)e6
This position can arise from 21 J., b3 c5 22 h5 J.. e4 23 h6!
different move orders, most often White had the initiative.
by 9 c3 (avoiding the light- There are three more important
squared bishop exchange) 9 . . . examples: 1 2 . . . 0--0 1 3 h3 j_h5
�c5 1 0 J.,c2 J.,g4 1 1 � e 1 j_e7 1 2 1 4 '2J b3 <E) e4 15 j_ xe4 de 1 6
� bd2. The variation has a long *xd8 K axd8 1 7 K xe4 K d 1 + 1 8
history and there is a considerable 'i1r h2 f6 with compensation for the
28 The Spanish Game

pawn (Mikhalchishin-Kaidanov, �c4 20 � c l h6 2 1 b3 l£l b6 22

Kuibishev, 1 986). .i_e3 c5 23 h5 � h7 24 'i!!i' c2
1 2 . . . � h5 1 3 l£! fl 'i!l!t'd7 1 4 j_ xf5 25 gf d4! and Black had
l£lg3 �g6 1 5 l£l d4 l£lxd4 1 6 cd successfully resolved all his
l£le6 1 7 �e3 c5 1 8 l£l f5 0--0 1 9 de problems (Gavrikov-Haritonov,
� xc5 20 � xc5 l£l xc5 2 1 � c l Sverdlovsk, 1 984).
� xf5 22 � xf5 l£le6 23 ». c3 g6 24 15 A g6
�g4 .1!1 ac8 25 X h3 with an ad­ 16 �d4 0-0 (26)
vantage for White (Short-Garcia,
Dubai 01., 1 986)
26
w
12 . . . �h5 1 3 l£l fl 0--0 1 4 l£l g3
�g6 1 5 �e3 lltd7 1 6 b4 l£l a4 1 7
� xa4 ba 1 8 a3 X fd8 1 9 J,.g5 � e8
20 � xe7 ,g xe7 21 g a2 �e4 22
l£l xe4 de 23 'f!lxd7 ,g xd7 24 e6!
and White's chances were slightly
better (Geller-Agzamov, 52nd
USSR championship, 1 985).
13 h3
I want to remind you that I had
already played 13 l£lb3 in the 28th Until this game the normal
game of the Baguio match, and move was 1 6 . . . l£l xd4 e.g. 1 7 cd
after 13 l£le6 14 h3 �h5 15
• . . �e6 1 8 €) f5 c5 19 J,.e3 0--0 ( 1 9 . . .
J,.f5 l£l cd8 16 �e3 a5 1 7 j_c5 a4 'l!fa7 20 J;i c l J,. xf5 2 1 J,.xf5 cd 22
1 8 j_ xe7 'iiif xe7 1 9 � bd2 c6 20 b4 � d2 'it' b6 was unclear in De Fir­
�g5 the position became sharp. mian-Agzamov, Vrsac, 1 985,
I regard Nunn-Tal, Naestved, although White could have still
1985 as important. After some tried to gain the initiative by 23
transpositions Black played 15 . • . b4) 20 J;i c l g c8 21 de A xc5 22
J,.g6 (instead of 1 5 . . . l£l cd8). � xc5 � xc5 23 l£!d6 'i!li'c6 24 J,. b3
The game continued: 16 l£lfd4 0-0 d4 25 i!td2 d3 26 f4 l£l d4 27 .1!1 xc5
17 J,.g4! l£lcxd4 18 cd a5 19 f4 h5 -.xc5 28 * h2 l£j xb3 (28 . . . o.2)e2
20 J,. xh5 J,. xh5 21 'i!i!'f xh5 a4 22 29 K xe2 was also better for
<E)c5 l£l xc5 23 de J,. xc5 + 24 J,.e3 White) 29 ab f6 30 f5 and White
� xe3 + 25 X xe3 f5 26 e6 'f!le7 27 had an advantage (Koroljov­
� ael � adS 28 g4! d4 29 g5! g6 30 Biro, correspondence game,
'f!lxg6 + and White won after ten 1 986).
more moves. 17 J,.f5
13 �h5 1 7 l£l gf5 was probably better.
14 l£l fl � d8 17 .
. . �e6
15 l£lg3 18 j_g4
1 5 j_ e3 is not dangerous for The intention of this move was
Black. e.g. 1 5 . . . o.2)e6 1 6 g4 j_g6 to advance the f pawn, but this
1 7 � f5 0--0 1 8 o.2)g3 l£j a5 1 9 h4 will not be possible.
 The Spanish Game 29

18 <21cxd4 "{tg3 g5 + 44 fg )!I xh3 + 45 �xh3

19 cd c5 'i!i:i' xg5 mate.
20 <21 f5 �a7
21 <21 xe7 + 'fl!xe7 Popovic-Timman
22 ..1e3 cd Sarajevo, 1984
23 �xd4 li eS
Black has already gained the I e4 e5
initiative and Korchnoi is known 2 <210 <21c6
for his winning technique in this 3 �b5 a6
sort of position. 4 ..1a4 <21 f6
24 �d2 5 H <21 xe4
25 'fl!e3 6 d4 b5
26 j_ xe6 fe 7 ..1b3 d5
27 fJ 8 de �e6
An inappropriate move. Better 9 c3 �c5
was 27 a3 il!f c4 28 b3 ""c7 29 10 �bd2
� e2. 1 0 'l!ltd3 is also played, for in­
27 .M fc8 stance by Sokolov against Yusu­
28 l!l adl h6 pov in the World Championship
29 a3 'lV!e7 Candidates Final (Riga, 1 986),
30 l;l cl but 10 <21 bd2 is more logical.
More stubborn was 30 �c3 10 H
.1. 8xc3 31 be 'l!ltxa3 32 il;b6 � f5 II ..1c2 ..1f5
33 g4 "fl!e7 34 ll!r'e3 '1!lt h4 35 l!l e2 In Marovic-Yusupov (Tunis,
"fll g3 + when the result would still 1 985) Black played the well
be in doubt. known exchange- 1 1 . . . .E:J xf2 1 2
30 "fl!h4 � xf2 f6 1 3 ef ..1xf2 + 1 4 * xf2
31 I. xc2 ,M xc2 i!f' xf6 1 5 .a n -2Je5. Here White
32 gn �f5 played 1 6 * g l and after 1 6 . . .
33 Ji fl .M c4 -2Jxf3 + 1 7 gf 'i!Jll( xf3 1 8 'i!l!fxf3
34 f4 'iii" h5 ,g xf3 Black restored material
35 * h2 equality and gradually took over
This is the decisive mistake. 35 the initiative. The right move was
g d2 was necessary. 16 ..1e3! coolly leaving White's
35 'fl!dl king in the pin. In Tseshkovsky­
36 l!!l d2 '*'bl Chekhov (Rostok, 1 984) after 1 6
37 ..1c3 ,g e4 . . . � ae8 1 7 ..1 h4 iitf' h4 + 1 8 * g l
38 �fl � el -2J xf3 + 1 9 gf iitf' g5 + 20 .E:J g3
39 J;t e2 K hl + il_ h3 21 a4! g6 22 ab ab 23 ..1f2!
40 * g3 J,. xh3! White gained the initiative.
41 gh ii\Jg6 + 12 .ab3 (27)
42 *h4 "i!lff5 This is a critical position in this
White resigned
because he variation. Black has the choice
couldn't prevent mate, e.g. 43 between 1 2 . .Jl_ g4, which was
.
30 The Spanish Game

� ac8 22 g fd I .1e4 23 J.. c 5 K fe8

27
B
24 K 7d4 i.d5 25 b3 a5 26 flh2
K a8 27 *g3 and White's pos­
itional advantage was decisive. I t
seems that n o satisfactory impro­
vements have been found for
Black during the last decade.
13 <2lfd4
1 3 a4 has been played many
times e.g. 1 3 . . . ..1 b6 14 <2l bd4
popular in the seventies, and 1 2 <2l xd4 1 5 e xd4 (Van Der Wiei­
. . . .1g6 which became popular in Korchnoi, Wijk aan Zee, 1 983)
this decade. In Marovic-Murray and now 1 5 . . . *d7 (better than
(Malta Olympiad, 1 984) the unex­ 1 5 . . . c5 1 6 <tlc6 <2l xc3 1 7 � xd8
pected 1 2 . . . .1 xf2 + was played <2l xd l 18 .txg6 l;l axd8 19 i_ f5!
(in the spirit of the 40s!) and after with a dangerous initiative) 1 6
1 3 l, xf2 � xf2 1 4 * xf2 .1 xc2 1 5 _te3 <2lc5 1 7 a5 .1 a7 1 8 f4 _txc2
"Wtxc2 f6 1 6 e6 'ltd6 1 7 .1e3 'lt xe6 1 9 <tl xc2 f6 20 ef J;� xf6 21 iit h5 c6
1 8 � bd4 � xd4 19 � xd4 White would have led to equality.
gained an advantage. 13 .1xd4
12 .1g6 14 cd
After 1 2 . . . .1g4 I used some Black would have had satisfac­
years ago to exchange on c5 auto­ tory play after 1 4 -2l xd4 *d7 1 5
matically. I remember that in this f4 e xd4 1 6 cd f6.
way I achieved an advantage 14 a5
against Belyavsky and Smyslov 15 J.. e3 a4
(Leningrad, 1 977). However, In an old Karpov-Savon game
Korchnoi managed to get a good (Moscow, 1 97 1 ) White achieved a
game twice in the Baguio match big advantage after 1 5 . . . <2l b4?
and there and then I switched to 1 6 j_ b l a4 1 7 <2l d2 a3 1 8 * c l !
1 3 h3. Since 1 3 . . . j_ xf3 14 gf 16 <2ld2
loses a piece, Black is compelled In the 6th game of my match
to retreat by 1 3 . . . .t h5, and after with Korchnoi (Merano, 1 98 1 ) I
1 4 g4 .1 g6 1 5 .t xe4 de 1 6 <2l xc5 ef retreated my knight and after 1 6
1 7 .1 f4 White has a clear advan­ -E) c l a 3 1 7 b3 f6 1 8 ef 'i/irxf6 1 9
tage. Let's have a look at some <2le2 <2l b4 20 JL b l 'fl/(e7 2 1 * e l
moves from Karpov-Korchnoi � fe8 2 2 � f4 j_f7 Black almost
(game 1 4, Baguio, 1 978): 1 7 . . . equalised (although by playing 23
'ltxd I (this is a forced exchange as <2ld3! <2l xd3 24 .1 xd3 I could
1 7 . . . 'f;lfe7 allows 1 8 *d5 � a5 1 9 have maintained slightly better
b4 <2lc4 20 'lt x f3 <2l xe5 2 1 J_xe5 chances). Instead of 1 7 b3 White
.-xe5 22 �d7!) 1 8 K axd l �d8 has since tried 17 ba ( 1 7 . . . K xa3
19 X d7 <2le6 20 � xe6 fe 21 A_e3 1 8 j_ b3 �c3 19 'iir d2 b4, Ljuboje-
 The Spanish Game 31

vic-Timman, Bugojno, 1 984) and time against Korchnoi in 1 982.

1 7 X b I ( 1 7 . . . f6 1 8 f3 fe 1 9 fe The bishops were still
,k xfl + 20 'ilit' Xfl ed 2 1 �d2, exchanged - 20 .1 xd3 21
. • •

Unzicker-Korchnoi, Beer-Sheva, � xd3-but where White had a

1 984) but Black achieved equal more appropriate pawn structure.
chances in both games. They played this position twice.
16 a3 In the first game after 21 . . . l!ii, fb8
17 -E) xe4 ab 22 .!;!; tb1 b4 23 a3 ba 24 � xb8 +
18 � b1.t xe4 f?j xb8 26 �xa3 'iW c6 27 'W{e7 �d7
When I commentated on my 28 jta3 a draw was agreed
game with Savon, I assessed the (Hiibner-Korchnoi, Chicago,
position after 1 8 . . . de 1 9 � xb2 /982) although, according to
f?je7 20 X xb5 � xa2 2 1 -wt b l �aS Hubner, White could maintain
22 X c l as favourable for White. better chances by playing 27 g4 h6
However, later, in Ivanov-Yusu­ 28 f4 -E)d7 29 f5 -E) b6 30 i,f2. In
pov (47th USSR championship, the second game after 21 . . . b4 22
first league, 1 979) Black played 1 8 .1d2 � fb8 23 � fb i i!J'g4 24 a3
. . . .t xe4 and equalised after 1 9 � b6 25 h3 '*'c8 26 � c2 b3! 27
l;!; xb2 'tltd7 20 k, xe4 de 2 1 .l!l xb5 � xb3 .)! xb3 28 i!J' xb3 -2) xd4
f?j xd4 22 x es x fd8. 1 8 . . . .t xe4 Black won the exchange and
has been played dozens of times the game (Hubner-Korchnoi,
since then, and, perhaps, on the Lucerne 01 ., 1 982). But White
whole, White has come off better. didn't have to give up material
In this game, White also artfully and could have kept quite tang­
realised his positional advantage. ible pressure by playing accu­
It seems that this variation isn't rately. This game, in particular,
played at grandmaster level any proves this point of view . . .
more. 20 .t xdJ
19 K xb2 �d7 20 . . . b4 was bad owing to 2 1
20 .tdJ (28) .t b 5 X fb8 2 2 X xb4 ,g xa2 23
k, xc6.
28 21 t;-xdJ J;� fb8
B 22 X tb1
22 X xb5 X xb5 23 t;-xb5 -E) xeS
24 -Wtb7 -Wtc6 25 �xc6 -E) xc6 26
X c l � a6 would have led to equa­
lity.
22 b4
23 Xcl
In Karpov-Yusupov ( Moscow,
1 983) the moves 23 h3 h6 were
This move (instead of 20 J.. xe4) inserted and only now did White
was played by Hubner for the first play 24 K c l . We shall look at this
32 The Spanish Game

game later. The game Popovic­ for the pawn but it is only illusion.
Yusupov, Sarajevo, 1984 ended in 38 f]g3! fg 39 f] xh4 gh 40 f4. 40
a quick draw after 23 h3 � b6! 24 * xh3 �e6 + 41 tlr h2 t;- f5 threa­
"Wtc2 � ab8 2S � cl � 8b7 26 tlJ'cS. tening 42 . . . '(lte4 was dangerous
Draw. Perhaps 23 � c l was more for White but now the rook comes
accurate. to help the king. 40 -wte6 41
. • •

23 � b6 '(lthS! (not allowing 41 . . . h5) 41

24 h6 'f!/e7 + 42 f] xhJ '(ltf7 43 1!1 b2!
.�!. a7 ( 29)
• . .

2S (preventing 43 . . . g g3 + 44 * h4
� h3 + ) 43 t;-d7 + 44 fS. Black
• . •

29 resigned. It is interesting that at

w the closing ceremony of the USSR
championship Yusupov and my­
self were both awarded the prizes
for the most beautiful game of the
championship and it was the
game between ourselves because
any chess masterpiece is created
by two authors!
26 i;� cS! � aS!?
After 2S • . . � ab8 the position Black sacrifices a pawn to acti-
from Karpov-Yusupov, Moscow vate his knight.
1983, would occur. Although this 27 � xb4 �c4
game might be known to the 28 i;� b3 K ab7
reader it is worth looking at the 29 *h2 c6 (30)
whole version.
26 � cS �d8 27 � cc2 �c6. 27

�-
. . . -E) e6 allows 28 f4 with a pawn
attack; and so Black retreats the
knight. 28 �cl � 8b7 29 cS
J?:Je7 30 *h2 �fS. Black gives p
a pawn to complicate the ga e;
he could have tried 30 . . g b5 or
.

30 . . . c6 with a defensible posi­

tion. 31 � bc2 � g6 32 � xc7
� xc7 33 � xc7 iitbS 34 g4! �h4
3S � c8 + *h7 36 '(ltdl 'CIJ'a6 37
� c2. White intended to under­ It appears that Black is com­
take the manoeuvre Jt.e3 - f4-g3 pletely safe because the hostile c5
and if 37 . . . 'Wt'a3 38 '!\li'e2 b3 39 ab rook is in effect out of play. How­
"Wtxb3 White's position would be ever, White has a witty trick here,
strengthened by 40 � c7. 37 . . . fS. which brings the rook back to life.
It seems that Black has good play 30 .!;l aS!!
 The Spanish Game 33

Now White is simply a pawn many years in both systems. Inno­

up, which is the passed a pawn. vative ideas and sharp continua­
30 '!ll1 c8 tions are discovered from time to
31 s a4 �b8 time but the overall statistics of
3 1 . . . i;;. xb3 32 ab l:i1b8 33 \!!( a2 victories and defeats implacably
offered Black no joy. grow in White's favour. That is
32 � xb6 � xb6 why "solid" chess players, as a
33 'i!lf'f5 Wi' b7 rule, choose more sound struc­
34 11.. c l � bS tures when playing Black. But, of
3S 'll(f g4 * h7 course, those who favour sharp
36 .1_ a3 *g8 positions don't take into consider­
37 .1cS -E)d2 ation these general points of view.
A decisive time trouble mis­ l e4 eS
take. 37 . . . -E) xe5 was a better 2 .a n -E)c6
chance although after 38 'i!lf' f5 3 � bS a6
'iltb8 39 g3 and 40 A a7 the a 4 .1 a4 .ar6
pawn's advance would have been S 0-0 Jie7
almost impossible to prevent. 6 � el bS
38 g a7 'i�t'b8 7 j_b3 0-0
39 'ilt'f4 8 c3 dS
39 '\!ifd7 would have finished the 9 ed � xd5
game. 10 �xeS .a xeS
39 f6 l1 K xeS c6 (31)
40 '1!16' g4 The ancient 9 . . . e4 (instead of
White could have taken the 9 . . . -E)xd5) or I I . . -E) f6 (in­
.

knight, but he wanted more. stead of I I . . . c6) hardly ever

40 � b7 occur in serious tournaments
41 .�;t xb7 'ii!i' xb7 these days. It has been an uncon­
42 ef -E)e4 testable fact for many years that
43 '*'xg7 + Black doesn't get any compensa­
Black resigned. tion for his pawn.

Georgiev-Tseshkovsky 31
Minsk, 1985 w

We shall cover the modern state

of the Marshall Gambit in the
commentaries on the next few
games. 1, personally, associate
this variation of the Spanish with
the Dragon Variation of the Sici­
lian Defence. Similar theoretical
research has been going on for 12 d4
34 The Spanish Game

Sometimes the more restrained g e2 23 d7 '1Pe7 24 j_c2 � xfl 25

2 1 d3 is played and this is covered * xfl �e6 26 <2lb3 JL. g4! and
later. White resigned in ten moves.
The exchange 1 2 j_ xd5 has Before we concentrate on 1 2 d4
gone out of fashion in the last few in more detail, I want to mention
years, but the amusing 12 'iiei' fl !? another recent game where
was chosen in Kapengut-Mala­ Fischer's 1 2 g3 was played.
nyuk, USSR, 1985. White draws Braga-Geller (Amsterdam,
his queen nearer to the king in 1 986): 12 . . . ii_ f6. (White's d
advance, anticipating Black's pawn has stayed on its original
offensive on the kingside. In fact, square and so Black can organise
this plan looks rather artificial. pressure on the d4 square.) 1 3
After 12 . . . j_d6 13 g et 'iiei' h4 14 � e l c5 1 4 d4 j_ b7. (An innova­
g3 �h5 15 d4 � g4 ( 1 5 . . . .1h3 is tion. After 14 . . . cd 1 5 cd ii_ b7 1 6
also good). While 1 6 ii_e3 � ae8 -E}c3 >21xc3 1 7 be White is slightly
1 7 -E}d2 � e6 1 8 c4 � xe3 1 9 � xe3 better; now, when the c3 square is
g h6 20 i!l'r g2 c5 leads to a level occupied, White is behind in deve­
position, Kapengut tried a new lopment.) 1 5 de � e8 1 6 �d2
move, 16 -E}d2, developing the -E} xc3! 1 7 be j_ xc3 18 c6 (Geller
knight immediately. The game gave variations which show that
continued: 16 • • • � ae8 17 f3 j_ h3 after 1 8 � b l Y�td7 Black has the
(The pawn recapture is favour­ advantage.) 1 8 . . . j_ xc6 1 9
able for White in this situation­ � xeS + "lll!r' xe8 20 � b 1 .k d 8 2 1
the tension is relieved and he is '(i!i'c2. If 2 1 'i!IJ h5 - 2 1 � b2 a5!­
left with the advantage of the two there is a pretty variation: 2 1 . . .
bishops.) 18 "lll!r' fl f5 19
g xe8 g6 22 Y�tg5 Y�te l + 23 � fl 'i!iJ'e4 24
� xe8 20 c4 -E}f4! 21 c5 + (It is \i(fxd8 + '1J g7 25 f3 .- xf3 26 -E}e3
difficult to assess the position Y�t h l + 27 'ilif2 llfel mate. 21 . . .
after 21 gf l!l!tg6 + 22 -.g3 .k e l + j_ xd2 22 ii_ xd2 j_e4 23 j_ xf7 +
23 \lf f2 "lll!r' e8 24 -E}e4 g fl + 25 *xf7 24 'iiri' b3 + j_d5. Black had
*e2 fe 26 cb + 'IPffi 27 "lll!r' xM ef + an endgame advantage which he
28 "*d3 "l)ife2 + 29 frc3.) 21 . . . easily converted into a win.
frf8 22 cd? The losing move: cor­ 12 iLd6
rect was 22 gf! e.g. 22 . . . 'iit g6 + 13 � el
23 "1il'g3 g, e l + 24 *f2 "lil'e8 25 Perhaps White could present
-E:Je4 g fl + 26 '1ie2 fe 27 'iiri' xh3 Black with more problems by 1 3
d+ � ·� 'i!i!tcl + � ·� g e2, but we will cover this later.
'ii' e l + 30 j_d2 b4 + 3 1 'ili c4 13 'iiri' h4
iit'e2 + 32 'i1P xb4 "i!J!f' xd2 + 33 *a3 14 g3 "iWfh3 (32)
j_ xc5 + 34 de llfa5 + 35 j_ a4 15», e4!?
iit'XC5 + 36 b4 'i!ri'C3 + 37 j_ b3 The well known continuations
� xa 1 38 -wr-c8 + • e7 39 Y�tc7 + 1 5 j_ xd5 and 1 5 'iiri' d 3 are not
*e8 with perpetual check . 22 . . . dangerous for Black and are not
 The Spanish Game 35

». xfl + 30 * xfl with an advan­

32
w tage for White (Ramirez-Velas­
quez, Niceol, 1 974). The rook's
deflection from the first rank
changes matters. 22 I! xa4 g5 23
fg? White takes an unjustified
risk. In Schlosser-Nunn (Krefeld,
1 986) after the rook's retreat 23
J;t aa 1 a5 24 fg f4 25 � xf4 a draw
was agreed. 23 . . . g xe3! 24
played these days. The classical � xe3 f4 25 gf � xf4 26 g g3 -.e8!
position occurs after 1 5 �e3 �g4 (Black exploits the rook's delay
1 6 �d3 ll ae8 (the exchange 1 6 on the a4 square. Certainly there
. . . �xe3, suggested by Geller as was no point in taking the queen
far back as 1 965, is not sufficient immediately: 26 . . . �e3 + 27
for equality: 1 7 � xe3 c5 1 8 'iii' fl g xe3 � xfl 28 �xfl ) 27 g xg4
� h6 19 �d2 � adS 20 �f3 �xf3 JLe3 + 28 *g2 g xn 29 � xn
21 g xf3 cd 22 cd *d2 23 lit d3! � cl! 30 X a5 '111f e2 + 31 *g3
and White had better chances, 'ilf'xfl and Black won.
Fischer-Donner, Santa Monica, 15 g5
1 986) 1 7 �d2 � e6 1 8 a4 (it was 16 -.n
established in the 70s that after 1 8 Better than 16 -.n � f5 ( 1 6 . . .
c4 � f4! Black gains splendid f5 1 7 g e5!) 1 7 jj_c2 �e4 1 8 _t xe4
chances) 1 8 . . . f5 1 9 'ii!f' f l 'tlifh5 20 �e6 1 9 � xg5 ( 1 9 � f5 tt e 1 + 20
f4 ba 2 1 g, xa4. From this very ftg2 'i!iJ'xc l 2 1 � a3 *d2! 22 J;t d l
position, which has become stan­ �e3 + ) 1 9 . . . f5 20 � d3 h6 2 1
dard, we will start the commen­ .1h4 g a7! 22 �d2 J� g7 23 * fl
taries on the next game . . . f4 with the initiative for Black.
Before going any further, I 16 'Wr'h6
want to mention one recent game This was a novelty but it was
after 15 j_e3 �g4 16 ._d3 It ae8 doomed to failure. The exchange
17 €)d2 f5 (instead of 1 7 . . . X e6). of queens would have given Black
To all appearances, the pawn ad­ a good game.
vance also gives Black sufficient 17 f3 *h8
counterplay. Let's see. 18 €)d2 �h3
Ulmanis-Van Der Haiden, cor­ 19 \'!l(fe1 �f4
respondence tournament, 1 986: 18 20 �n
f4 tlr h8 19 �xd5 cd 20 'Wt'fl 'i/lf'h5 After 20 g f gf 2 1 * h i g g8 22
21 a4 ba! ECO considers the main 11 e2 *g7 23 *f2 j_e7 the threat
reply to be 21 . . . g5 e.g. 22 ab ab of . . . ..t h4 was unpleasant.
23 � a6 gf 24 � xf4 �xf4 25 l!l xe8 20 11t g7
� xeS 26 "i!!i' xf4 X e l + 27 �fl 21 'iir fl �d3
�e8 28 � b6 JLh3 29 g b8 22 '*d2 � xcl
36 The Spanish Game

23 � xcl fS 41 �d7! J,. xd7

24 !! e6 (33) 42 �xd7 + *e6
43 -E:�c5 + *d5
33 44 �e4! h6
B 45 � g3 *c4
46 �f5 b3
47 a3 a4
48 *e4 �c7
49 �e3 + *b5
50 � d5 �d6
51 -E:Jc3 + w a5
52 f; d5 ..U8
53 *c6 j_g7
The tension has gone and 54 -E)b5! * a6
White has the initiative. 55 *c5 j_f8 +
24 . . . K ad8 56 -E:Jd6
Not 24 . . . i_ f4 25 gf gf + 26 Black resigned.
�g3 fg 27 K h6 gh + 28 * xh2
J.g2 29 !! gl f4 30 K h3!
25 K eel c5 Prandstetter-Blatny
26 '(itfl cd Czechoslovak championship, 1986
27 i/lf'xd4 �xd4
28 cd *g7 1 e4 e5
29 !! cl .!He8 l -El f3 .ac6
30 * fl f4 3 J.b5 a6
31 � xe8 K xe8 4 J. a4 -El f6
32 -E)dl! 5 0-1) �e7
Black would have had an advan- 6 � el b5
tage after 32 � c6? _a b4, but now 7 J.b3 0-0
White's knight is heading for the 8 c3 d5
centre and Black gets the worse 9 ed -El xd5
position. 10 � xe5 �xeS
32 �rs 11 K xe5 c6
33 �d� � c8 12 d4 �d6
34 K xc8 fg + 13 g el i/ll' h4
35 hg j_xc8 14 g3 i!t h3
36 -E) e4 j_ e7 15 _ae3 _a g4
37 g4 aS 16 iit d3 � ae8
38 J.c6 b4 17 �dl � e6
39 •e3 �d8? 18 a4 f5
40 -2) c5 * f6? 19 iit fl iit h5
Black made several mistakes in 20 f4 ba
a row because of his time trouble. 21 K xa4 (34)
 The Spanish Game 37

34
Instead of 22 . . . g fe8 Matzu­
B kevich suggests 22 . . . � e4! 23
g xa4 (23 -E:� xe4 fe and . . . g7-g5)
23 . . . g5 24 g xa6 gf 25 -E:� xe4 fe4
26 g xd6 fe 27 g xe3 §J.. h3 28 g4
'ilfh4 29 *xh3 'i!i' f2 + 30 * h l
K a8 3 1 g d8 + � xd8 3 2 g5 g aS
33 )ie6 + * g7 with a draw.
21 g b8
This is Lilienthal's improve­
That is how far the research of ment on 2 1 . . . IHe8 22 iltf2 *h8
the Marshall Gambit has moved: 23 � xd5 cd 24 c4! or 21 . . . g5 22
it is possible to play more than � xa6 *h8 23 g xc6! -E:� xe3 24
twenty moves without blinking •f2 with a big advantage for
. . . White sometimes doesn't White in both cases.
hurry with the capture on a4 and 22 .i_ xd5 cd (35)
plays 21 j_ xdS cd 22 .-g2 instead.
Here is one recent example.
Tseshkovsky-Agapov, Kiev,
1984: 22 � fe8 23 'ilf xd5 *h8
. . •

24 j_ f2 � e2. The other moves

which have been played here are
25 * g2 or 25 g xa4 .i_ xf4! 26 gf
.i.c4 27 g xc4 (27 i/txc4 'ilfg4 + 28
* h l g xe l + with equality) 27 . . .
.�;t xe l + 28 j_xe l � xe l + 29 � fl
� xfl + ! 30 * xfl ._d l + with a
draw. White plays a new move,
which turns out badly. 25 �c4. White now played the novelty
Putting the knight on e5 looks 23 � xa6. But before going any
attractive, but weakening the f3 further, it is useful to consider the
square is very important. 25 . . • well known continuation 23 'iltg2
§J.. c7. 25 . . . � xf4 26 g xe2 g xe2 .-es 24 'iltxdS * h8 25 *fl. Some
27 gf K xf2 28 * xf2 "i!l!(xh2 + 29 books consider here 25 . • •g5 26
* fl a3! was also good for Black. J� xa6 ;g xb2 27 K a2 gf 28 gf
26 �e5 ll. xe5 27 K xe2. The game g xa2 29 'iltxa2 §J.. xf4 30 � fl � e4
would end dramatically after 27 with good play for Black.
de .i.f3 28 iirc4 'ii!f x h2 + ! 27 . . . ECO suggests 27 � a8, which is
'i!ii' xe2 28 de '\!lfxb2 29 g xa4 'ilfxc3 refuted by 27 . . . il. b8! when
30 K c4 ili'a1 + 31 * g2 h6 32 '\!lfdJ Black avoids the exchange of
'\!lfa2 33 � c7 K b6 34 K c2 K b2 35 rooks, eliminates the pin along
� xb2 •xb2 36 'i!l({xa6 \'!llf' c2 and the sixth rank and maintains all
Black soon won. his threats. However, White has
38 The Spanish Game

the more logical continuation 27 assessed as better for White on the

� a8! g b8 28 ii;-c6! Now, after 28
- basis of the continuation 30 . . .
. . . gf, the forced continuation 29 jl;'e4 3 1 'll(( d 2 gf 32 gf ..- xf4 + 33
'lib'xe8 + 1;1 bxe8 30 gf JJ.. e7 3 1 w g2 �. xe3 34 �xe3 �xe3 35
l;l xe6 k, h4 + 3 2 *g2 !t xe6 3 3 d5 .:t.} xe3 etc. However, Black
j_xe l 34 de j_ xd2 35 j_ xd2 leads shouldn't waste a tempo on 30 . . .
to a position with bishops of op­ 'W;'e4 allowing his opponent time
posite colour, but with two extra to stabilise his position, but
pawns for White. No better is 28 should play 30 . • .k,h3! (sug­
. . . �h5 29 h3! 'W;'xh3 30 'l!li'g2 gf gested by G. Fridshtein) which
31 l!lrf xh3 il_xh3 32 gf l;l g8 33 *e2 presents White with serious prob­
li ge8 34 *fl � g6 35 g h l and lems. It seems that White then has
White won, Popolitov-Trushakov, nothing better than 3 1 )llli' xa6
USSR, correspondence tourna­ J., xfl 32 ..- f6 + forcing perpetual
ment, 1980-1981. check.
So, is the position in diagram So, Lilienthal's idea of 21 . . .

3 1 favourable for White after 23 .!:! b8 leads after 22 � xd5 cd 23

�g2!? No, this is not the case. \'!lfg2 to equality which, from a
The opening books simply over­ theoretical point of view, is very
looked that after 23 . . . 'i!lte8 24 satisfactory for Black. But
�xd5 wh8 25 * fl Black can play White's attempt in the present
25 g xb2 (instead of 25 . . . g5).
. . . game to improve by 23 g xa6
Play can then continue: 26 g, a2 turns out to be unsuccessful.
� xa2 27 'i!ltxa2 g5 28 d5! (more 23 g xa6 li be8!
promising than 28 <E:lc4 gf 29 It was bad to take the pawn
-2} xd6 fe + 30 ,!:! xe3 ....,. h5 31 now: 23 . . l!l xb2 24 1ir'g2 ..-es 25
'$ xe6 �xh2 + 32 * " ilifbl +
.

lif' xd5 fih8 26 .:t.}c4!

draw agreed, Chiburdanidze­ 24 lif'fl
Tseshkovsky, Tashkent, 1980) 28 Black would also have had the
. � xe3 29
. . � xe3 �c5 30 -E:� fl better chances after 24 ..-g2 g xe3
(36) . 25 g xc3 .!:! xe3 26 t;- xd5 + t;-f7
27 *xf7 + * xf7 28 !;l xd6 g e l +
29 <21 fl �h3 30 'ilff2 K xfl + 3 1
*e3.
24 g5
25 .!:! xd6! ,l xd6
26 fg .!:! de6
27 h4? (37)
This move allowed Black to
start a decisive offensive. The
right continuation was 27 j!;' f4
J.,h3 28 ilif2 l;l e4 29 � xe4 fe 30
Until recently, this position was * g l g f8 3 1 g4 � xg4 32 il{(e5
 The Spanish Game 39

*n 33 \'!ltg3 with a probable 9 ed -dxd5

draw. 10 -E) xeS -dxe5
ll � xeS c6
37
12 d3
B This modest d pawn advance
(White strengthens the e4 square
and, if the opportunity arises,
leaves the d4 square free for a
rook) is unlikely to be better than
the standard 12 d4. This ancient
move competes with the two
square pawn advance only
because of fashion.
27 f4! 12 j_d6
28 gf 13 � e1 (38)
Black also retains the advan­
tage after 28 1/l'txf4 ;;,;. f8 29 i/itc7 38
l!fe8. B
28 �h3!
29 �xn
30 j'(g4
31 � xel +
32 .i, xe1 'Wt'h3 +
33 'ili'g1 'ii!t' e6
34 *" '@!i' e4
35 �d2 'i!it f3 +
36 �fl � e4! 13 �h4
37g6 h5 The main continuation accord­
38 c4 � xf4 ing to theory, is 13 JJ_f5 1 4
. . .

39 'ii!i'e 1 )ff h3 + JJ:.xd5 ( 1 4 j'( f3 � e8 1 5 � xe8+

White resigned. j'(xe8 1 6 j_d2 -d f4 1 7 iL_c2 ;;;; d8
and Black was better, Whittaker­
lvanov-Agapov Harding, correspondence tourna­
Kiev, 1984 ment, 1 977) 1 4 . . . cd 1 5 -2J d2 ( 1 5
'i!lf f3 doesn't achieve anything for
1 e4 e5 White either: 1 5 . . . � e8 1 6 iL.d2
2 �f3 -E}c6 -.d7 17 h3 .ft.c7 18 -2Ja3 jj- d6 1 9
3 �b5 a6 g3 � h3, Zaitsev-Adorjan, Polia­
4 J.. a4 -E}f6 nica-Zdroj, 1 970) 1 5 . . . ii.. xd3 1 6
5 0-0 JJ:.e7 � fl ,ig6 1 7 j'(d4 � c8 1 8 .i!_ e3 b4
6 � e1 b5 1 9 � ad ! be 20 be it_ b8 2 1 'il'i' xd5
7 .i_b3 0-0 'il'i' xd5 22 � xd5 � xc3 with an
8 c3 d5 excellent game for Black.
40 The Spanish Game

More interesting is the imme­

39
diate I4 <E:�d2 and after I4 • . .
w
-E:� f4! IS <2}e4 ( 1 5 d4 -E) xg2!) IS • . •

<2} xd3 I6 � gS '$'d7 1 7 � xd6

'ilir'xd6 1 8 �c2 the position is
equal. Here is one recent example,
Georgiev-Nunn Dubai 0/., 1986:
I7 � eJ � xe4 IS X xe4 K ae8 I9
'ilir'g4 '$'xg4 20 � xg4 �eS 2I K bi
h5 22 1;1 h4 <2l xb2 23 �eJ �dJ 24
K d i �b2 25 K bi �dJ. Draw.
As a rule, Black has refused to Timman-Hiibner (Tilburg,
play 1 3 . . . � f5 in recent games. 1 985): 1 7 <2J fl (This move was
Possibly he intends to exploit played for the first time in this
White's unambitious play and to game.) 1 7 . . . f5. (Better than 1 7
make a serious attempt to gain the . . . � f5 1 8 il_xd5 cd 19 .�;i; d4-the
initiative . . . d4 square has turned out to be
In Popovic-Velimirovic (Bor, useful- 1 9 . . . il_c5 - 1 9 . . . iJ.. e6
1 985) Black played 1 3 . . . K a7!? 20 �e3 il_c5 21 �xd5 and if 2 1
After 1 4 '2)d2 � f4 1 5 �e4 � xd3 . . . �xd4 there is the Zwischen-
1 6 il.g5! �e7 ( 1 6 . . . 'i1ir'd7 1 7 zug 22 <2l f4-20 � xd5 _ig4 21
� e3) 1 7 �xe7 x xe7 1 8 � e3 ( 1 8 .d2 �c6 22 "Wt'g5 ii. h3 2 3 <E)e3
� f6 + \li h8!) 1 8 . . . � d7 'i1ir'h5! il_xe3 24 �xe3 h6 25 'llf' h 5 g6 26
White launched a winning attack. l{te5 and White has a clear advan-
I4 gJ 'ilir'hJ tage. Hubner recommended 1 7 . . .
This position has also occurred � f6 1 8 � e l �g4 1 9 f3 il.f5 20 d4
after a different order of moves, c5 2 1 cd A,xc5 + 22 .ie3 � adS 23
for instance: 1 2 g3 �d6 1 3 K e l .-e2. But even here White's
i!!t d7 14 d3 trh3. chances are better. Another possi-
IS 1. e4 'ltrf5 bility is 1 7 . . . h5!? 1 8 a4 1l_g4 1 9
I 6 �d2 't)l;'e l � f6 20 � e3 � ae8 21 ab
If 16 K h4 �b7 1 7 �c2 .-e6 18 ab 22 d4 h4 with sharp play,
c4 � b4 1 9 c5 � xc2 20 "t�t xc2 f5! Kuzmin-Shulman, Spartakiad,
or 1 6 �c2 "Wtg6 1 7 'ilir' fl f5 1 8 K e l USSR, 1 986). 1 8 � d4. (White
f4 Black has a clear advantage. again takes advantage of the fact
16 • • . 'ilir'g6 ( 39) that the d4 square is vacant, but it
Not 1 6 . . . '2) f6 1 7 X e 1 'ilir'xd3 \ was the only move as well, as after
1 8 �e4! Tht: position in the dia- 1 1 8 � e l f4 1 9 c4 fg 20 fg j_g4
gram has become a sort of tabia 1 Black would have had an ad van­
for the 1 2 d3 variation. White has tage.) 1 8 . . . f4 (if 1 8 . . . .i b7 or
a choice between 1 7 � fl and 1 7 1 8 . . . .ie6 then 1 9 c4) 1 9 g xd5
� e l with the aim of putting the cd 20 jj_xd5 + �e6 21 �xa8
knight on e4. J;l xa8 22 Wr'f3 .I;!; ffi 23 "Wte4 � f5 24
 The Spanish Game 41

'i!td5 + * h8 25 a4 b4? (Hiibner 'i!td4 lli'h5 21 ed c5! Black has an

gives 25 . . . � xd3 26 ab �e4 27 advantage.
'i!td4 fg 28 �xg3 �xg3 29 fg ab 18 f4
30 J.f4 h5 3 1 ttd6 which led to 19 �e4 fg
equality) 26 cb fg 27 hg � xb4 28 20 fg �g4
�d2 � xd2 29 �xd2 J.xd3 30 21 'i!tcl be
K a3 and Black didn't have any 22 de
compensation for the pawn in the 22 'i!txc4 was worth consider­
ending, though Hubner managed ing, but now Black develops a
to save the game thanks to inac­ decisive attack.
curate play by his opponent. 22 J;t ae8!
Now we return to the main (40)
game which illustrates the second
option, although it is unlikely to
be the best.
17 J� el f5
Malanyuk played another in­
novation in the Marshall Gambit
against Smagin (Kiev, 1 986) but it
did not turn out well: 17 . . . J.c7.
After 18 �f3! �g4 19 �h4 'i!th5
20 f3 �h3 2 I lli'e2 I;� adS (more
accurate was 2 1 . . . * h8 with the
intention of advancing the f pawn
although Black's activity Two years later in Smagin-­
wouldn't quite compensate for the Hebden, Moscow, 1986 Black
absence of a pawn in this case didn't risk giving up the piece but
either) 22 d4 f5 23 f4 and Black played 22 . . ..tb4. Bearing in
.

couldn't find anything better than mind that Black won quickly and
the exchange of queens by 23 . . . efficiently after 22 . . . � ae8 in the
ttxe2 24 g xe2 g fe8, and after 25 main game, it remains a puzzle
II xeS + g xeS 26 *f2 J.g4 27 why White repeated the position
.1,e3! and the rest, as they say, is a allowing 22 . . . 11 ae8 and Black
matter of technique. rejected this opportunity. The
1 7 . . .1. b7 hasn't justified
. game finished as follows: 23 J.d2
itself, after 1 8 �f3! � feB (instead �f4 24 .1,xf4 J.xe1 25 .!!l xel J.f5
of 1 8 . . . ,ig4) 1 9 � xeS + g xe8 26 'ii(( g2 � fe8. 26 . . . � ae8 was
20 �h4 'i!IJ'f6 21 j_d2 b4 22 ilrf3 more stubborn . . 27 .tel � e6
28 g4! J.xg4 29 :w, n J.e2 (or 29
.

ilrxf3 23 �xf3 White's chances

were better (Hjartarson-Hebden, . . . .1,h3 30 'l!lrxg6 � xg6 + 3 1
London, 1 986). �g3 .1, xfl 3 2 .1,xg6 33 .1, b l ) 30
18 e4 �g5! it,xfl 31 .1, xg6 k xg2 32
After 1 8 �e4 fe 19 de 11.. g4 20 J.n + • m n J.xe6 •� M
42 The Spanish Game

'itr xg2 h6 35 j_g4 36 hg j_ xg5 + 12 d4 ..id6

�d6 37 b4. Black resigned. 13 � e2 (41)
23 cd il_ f3!
It becomes clear that Black 41
wins the piece back while main­ B
taining all the advantages of his
position.
24 de +
24 it_ f4 .2_xf4 25 'i!J!r'xc6 � h5 26
d6 + �h8 27 d7 iWh3! (27 . . .
;;;; xe4 28 'i!ii' c 8!) 28 \!if'C2 \!if' xd7 29
gf ;;;:; xe4! was equally hopeless for
White.
24 It has already been pointed out
25 kd2 � xe4 that the rook retreat to e2 is tak­
26 � xe4 j_ xe4 ing over in popularity from the
27 'ii.f c3 '1Wf5. traditional 1 3 g e 1 and is almost
White lost on time, but he could considered to be a refutation of
just as well have resigned. the Marshall Gambit. At the same
In the annotations to this game time, only a few years ago, the
the reader can find a number of opening books gave just two lines
games played very recently. How­ to this move. The aim of the
ever, I chose Ivanov-Agapov rook's manoeuvre is clear­
which was played back in 1 984. White, if the opportunity arises,
As you can see, the importance of will save a tempo in transferring
this game hasn't diminished since his queen to fl (in one go: i!td 1 -
then. fl , not in two: 'i1i' d l -d3-fl ). We
shall cover the modern state of the
Belyavsky-Malanyuk variation that starts with 1 3 lit e2
Minsk. 1987 (54th USSR in the notes to this game.
championship) 13 �h4
13
• • . j_g4 has also been
1 e4 e5 played, with the continuation 14
2 �fJ � c6 f3 ..i h5 1 5 j_xd5 (15 �d2 .t:J f4 16
3 j_ b5 a6 g.fl �dJ 17 g, e2 �f4. Draw.
4 j_ a4 -2!f6 Ady-Littlewood, London, 1983)
5 0-0 j_e7 1 5 . . . cd 1 6 .t:J d2 �c7 (or 1 6 . . .
6 � e1 b5 '1\!lt'h4 1 7 .t:J fl � ae8 1 8 ..ie3, and
7 j_ b3 0-0 Black's initiative runs out of
8 c3 d5 steam) 1 7 -2! fl g, fe8 1 8 ..ie3 tlll' c4
9 ed -2! xd5 1 9 a4. This position occurred in
10 .t:J xe5 -2:1 xe5 Van Der Sterren-Pein (Brussels,
11 � xe5 c6 1 984). After 1 9 . . . j_g6 Black has
 The Spanish Game 43

retained some compensation for cated position (Eijmes-Roma­

the pawn, but White should be nenko, correspondence tourna­
content, because nothing threa­ ment, 1 98 1 ).
tens his kingside. 15 it.h3
14 g3 '*hS 1 5 . . . i.g4 16 f3 i.xf3 17 �xf3
In connection with 14 • . *h3
. 'ltxf3 I S i!tfl 'Wtg4 19 i.d2 K feS
we should look at Sokolov-Kha­ led to equality (Balashov-Tsesh­
lifman (Sochi, 1 9S2): 15 -2Jd2 ( 1 5 kovsky, USSR championship,
'i!!t f l 'i!!t h5 1 6 f3 i.h3 1 7 "i!r f2 f5 l S 1 980-- 1 9S l ). However, stronger
<2!d2 ;g aeS 1 9 .Iii xeS i! xeS 20 was I S K f2 'i!fe4 19 'l!l'ff3 ( 1 9 _ic2
-'2l fl led to an unclear position) 15 'lte6 20 'i!lrd3 g6 is not quite clear)
• . 1l_f5 16 Jt.c2 j_ xc2 17 \\lj'xc2 f5
. 1 9 . . . � aeS 20 i.d2 �f6 2 1 M, e l
1 S f4 �g4 1 9 � fl .txf4 20 K f2 and White had the better chances
i.d6 2 1 c4 be 22 ll{xc4 f4 23 li!(xc6 (Sax-Nikolic, Plovdiv, 1 983). As
"ilfe6 24 �xf4 and White had an we know, White is interested in
advantage. simplifying the position and
18 c4 has also been played in­ maintaining the advantage of the
stead of 18 f4. Ljubojevic-Nunn, two bishops at the same time,
Szirak, 1987 ended in a crushing even at the cost of a pawn.
defeat: 18 . . . 'fii' g4 19 � e6 �f4!? 16 f3 (42)
20 � xd6? � ae8 21 cb � e2! 22
·ttt c4 + 'lrh8 23 'lll't' xe2 (23 . . . 42
-2)h3 + was threatened, and if B
23 � f7 then 23 . . . � el + 24 � fl
� xfl + is decisive) 23 . . . �xe2 +
24 \lig2 f4! 25 be fg 26 hg �f4 +
White resigned. In Hubner-Tim­
man, Tilburg, 1987, White played
20 f3, and after 20 . . . �h3 + 21
iltg2 �f4 + 22 fjtjl g1 �h3 + 23
*g2 �f4 + the game was drawn
by repetition. The attempt to In Psakhis-Geller, Sochi, 1982
avoid this by 22!1f h 1 is danger­ White played 16 ).t el? If White
ous: 22 . . . 'iii' h3 23gf j_xf4 24 wanted to retreat to the first rank,
� e2 � ae8! However, 19 f4!? it was better to do so after the
intending to open up the kingside preliminary 16 � e4 'i'ii' g6. 16 • • .

was worth considering. I!l ae8! Now Black's pressure is

15 �d2 growing before one's eyes. 17 f3
Better than 1 5 � e4 ti' g6 1 6 f5! 18 c4 <2J e3! (not hesitating to
j_ c2 f5 (or 1 6 . . . 1l. f5 1 7 ;g e2 sacrifice) 19 cS + !lfh8 20 � xe3
». ae8 18 i. e3 1L xc2 19 'iit xc2 � xe3 21 cd f4! 22 �e4 (22 *f2
'l\ii xc2 20 g xc2 <2Jxe3) 1 7 ». e2 .i_g4! 24 gf � fe8) 2 2 . l;l xf3 23
. .

i/fh5 1 8 �d2 f4 with a compli- il.xf4 )l: 8xf4 24 d7 (24 <dd2 iite8!
44 The Spanish Game

25 �xf3 i(te3 + 26 * h l 'l!li'f2 27 but 2 2 . . . j_b6 2 3 j_e3 j_xd4 24

-EJ h4 K xh4!) 24 . . . _i xd7 25 -EJd2 j_ xd4 c5 25 j_xc5 ,!l xd l 26 j_xd l
j_ h3! 26 -EJ xfJ � xfJ 27 'iij d2 � f8 x d8 27 j_xb4 was possible) 23
28 '(11 e3 'i!!i' fS 29 'llt e2 cS 30 _ic2 ,. e2 � fe8 24 iL g5 f6 25 iL e3 h5
'llt dS and Black won. 30 . . . 'ii!J' f6! (25 . . . j_xg3! 26 hg � xe3 27
3 1 de "ii(( d4 + 32 * h 1 j_g4! would � xe3 jfxg3 + 28 * fl 'i!i'h3 + led
have been quicker. to a draw) 26 c5 + *f8 27 kc4
16 j_c7 it.. xg3 (27 . . . h4 28 "ifi'fl !) 28 hg
Apart from 16 . . . j_c7, Black (now after 28 'ii( fl ii_xh2 + 29
has also played 1 6 . . . f5, 16 . . . � xh2 'i¥f xfl + 30 'lrxfl � xe3 3 1
g ae8, and 1 6 . . . .!l ad8. Let's w f2! � ee8 32 ,!l xh5 JJ... c8 33
look at recent examples of each of � h8 + 'lre7 34 � e l + 'lrd7 35
these replies. � exeS � xe8 36 � xe8 wxe8 37
16 . . . f5 1 7 c4 ( 1 7 a4 .!l ae8 1 8 a5 White maintains the better
ab ab 1 9 .!l a6 was also not bad) chances) 28 • . . � xe3 29 � xe3
1 7 . . . be 1 8 -EJ xc4 i.c7 1 9 -EJe5 'i!li'xg3 + 30 r;trfl �h3 + 31 'lrg1
with an advantage for White jfg3 + 32 w fl �h3 + Draw.
(Rodriguez-Malanyuk, Erevan, In Short-Nunn (Brussels, 1 986)
1 984); 1 6 . . . .!l ae8 1 7 .!l xe8 � xe8 White played the improvement 1 9
1 8 � e4 JJ... c7 1 9 j_d2 'i!IJ'g6 20 _ic2 o21e4! (instead o f 1 9 .!l e i ) after
and Black had no compensation 1 9 . . . ..-g6. (Nunn, commenting
for a pawn (Garcia-Pinter, on this game in lnformator, gives
Lucerne Olympiad 1 982); 1 6 . . . variations which show that 19 . . .
J;� ad8 1 7 -2Je4 ( 1 7 "Wt e l intending -2) xe4 20 .!l xe4 and 'i!li'xf3 20 -2)g5
'i!itf2, -2J e4 and .id2 was also are favourable for White.) 20 -2) £2
playable) 1 7 . . . 'iilf x f3 1 8 -2Jg5 J.. f5 21 .,ic2 .!l fe8 2 2 .§lxf5 jl{xf5
'i!li' h5 19 -2J xh3 'ii!J xh3 20 "tirf' fl �g4 23 .!l xe8 + � xe8 24 * g2. Black
2 1 .l bd2 .!l fe8 22 .!l ael .!l xe2 23 had no compensation for a pawn.
-w-xe2 'ii!J' xe2 24 .!l xe2 h6 25 * g2 Short, though, made several mis­
* f8 26 'iti f3 and White's chances takes at the end of this game and
were clearly better (Aseev­ lost.
Taborov, Kostroma, 1 985). 17 �e4!
16 . . . JLc7 was played for the This move was played a bit
first time in Kuporosov-Mala­ later in the games covered before.
nyuk, USSR, 1985. Let's see what But, possibly, the immediate cen­
happened. 17 a4 b4 18 c4 �f6 19 tralisation of White's knight is the
K el (better than 1 9 'l!lte l .!l ae8 20 most unpleasant for Black. In any
'l!lt f2 .!l xe2 2 1 'i!it xe2 .!l e8 22 ,'i!ll- f2 case, Malanyuk, although an
'i!li' f5 with an initiative for Black) expert on the Marshall Gambit,
19 • . . .!l ad8 20 �e4 o21 xe4 21 managed to hold out for only ten
K xe4 Ji.. fS 22 .!l el ;ir h3 (not 22 more moves .
. . . g fe8 j_e3 iih3 24 J.. f2 h5 25 17 .!l ae8
II xe8 Iii xe8 26 "(i!;'d2 h4 27 Iii e 1 , A similar position arose in Gar-
 The Spanish Game 45

cia-Pinter mentioned above. The 28 j_xe3 � g6 29 "ilole2 �xe3, mat­

presence of the rooks on the e file ing) 27 _t xd5 cd l8 �xd2 "i!llt g5 29
(they were exchanged in that f4! "i!llt h4 30iitf5 l;o( e8 31 ;;;. n h6
game) favours White. Black resigned.
18 "l!IJ'd3 J! e6
1 9 �d2 I;� g6
White has successfully com­ Karpov-8passky
pleted his development, and his Bugojno, 1986
opponent makes a desperate at­
tempt to create complications on 1 e4 e5
the kingside. 2 �13 <E:lc6
20 g4 � xg4 3 .tb5 g6
21 fg I;� xg4 + Talking about rare continua­
22 � g3 f5 tions, there has been a growth of
23 � g2 "i!r;' h3 interest in Bird's Defence, 3 . . .
l4 J! fl �d4 and this will be considered
White has brought all his pieces later. At the same time the Janisch
to the rescue and Black has no Gambit (also known as the Greco
compensation for the piece. Counter-gambit)- 3 . . . f5, the
l4 j, f6 Berlin System-3 . . . � f6 4 0--0
l5 gO h5 �xe4, and also 3 . . . Jl.c5 have
l6 'i!it'e2 g fg6 almost disappeared. All that is left
27 �c2. to mention is the unfashionable
Black resigned exchange variation 3 . . . a6 4
The theoretical dispute about j_xc6 de. It seems to me there
this game continued a few months have been no substantial opening
later in Ehlvest-Geller, Vrsac, discoveries here and so we are not
1987: 18 . . . f5!? (a new move, as going to consider these variations
opposed to 1 8 � e6) 19 -dg5 (not in this book.
1 9 �f2- 1 9 . . . � xe2 20'i!i¥ xe2 4 c3 a6
� e8) 19 . . . f4 20 � xh3 fg 21 5 1t. a4 d6
� xe8! (not 21 ltrg2 gh 22 it_d2 6 d4 j_d7
'iit' g6 + ) 21 . . . � xe8 (2 1 . . . gh 7 0--0 (43)
loses immediately to 22 r;tr h I
� xeS 23 .itf4) 22 \ll g2 gh 23 it_d2 43
ltih8! l4 -dg5? (this allows Black B
to take over the initiative; White
should have played 24 ;.. xd5) l4
. . . .it.f4! 25 -de4 � e6 26 ltih1
]Lxd2?? (Black, in time trouble,
forgot about the intended 26 . . .
._ae3! which wins immediately: 27
l;;;. fl (27i/lf'e2 � xe4) 27 . . . "ilolh3
46 The Spanish Game

Probably only Smyslov and �e7 14 � bd2 * f7 15 * f2 *g7

Spassky of the top grandmasters 16 j_xd7 'flfxd7 17 '/!It b3 f5! with
play the fianchetto system. Soko­ an advantage for Black.
lov played 7 J,.gS against both of Anyway, I decided not to waste
them in the Candidates' Tourna­ time on the long bishop's move
ment (Montpel/ier, 1985). In Sok­ but to put it on e3 immediately.
olov-8passky after 7 . . . f6 8 A e3 7 J.. g7
<21 h6 9 0-0 J,.g7 1 0 h3 �f7 I I 8 I;;. el
� bd2 0-0 1 2 J;� e l 'f!ke7 1 3 b4 The immediate exchange on e5
* h8 14 j_c2 �cd8 1 5 � fl �e6 is worth attention and will be con­
16 'f!kd2 �fg5 1 7 �3h2 f5 1 8 ef gf sidered in the next game.
1 9 f3 f4 20 Af2 �xh3 + ! 2 1 gh 8 �ge7
�g5 22 * h i � xh3 Black de­ Developing the knight on f6 is
veloped a dangerous attack. no less popular. Here is a recent
Black was successful in example, Gonzalez-Gavrilakis
Belyavsky-Smyslov from the (Dubai 01., 1 986): 8 J,.e3 �f6 9
same tournament: 1 2 j_c2 (in­ de de 1 0 � bd2 'fke7 1 1 b4 b6 1 2
stead of 1 2 K e l ) 1 2 . . . 'f!ke7 1 3 h3 0-0 1 3 ..t b3 �h5 1 4 a4 a 5 1 5
g e l * h8 1 4 "i!!i' b l �cd8 1 5 b4 b5 �d8 1 6 �c4 ..te6 1 7 .t e l
�e6 1 6 a4 j_ h6 1 7 a5 j_ xe3 1 8 <EJb7 1 8 �e3 �c5 1 9 � d 5 J.. xd5
J;l xe3 � fg5 1 9 �xg5 fg 20 de de 20 J.. xd5 g adS and Black with­
2 1 "i!!i' b2 �f4 with the initiative for stood the pressure. All the same, 8
Black, which brought him victory . . . �ge7 looks more flexible.
in the end. 9 ..te3
In Sokolov-8myslov (also from I am still not in a hurry to
the Candidates' Tournament, exchange on e5. In Short-Sprag­
Montpel/ier, 1985) after 9 h3 J.. g7 gett (Montpellier, 1 985-you see
10 �bd2 "i!!i' e7 White played the how popular this variation was at
immediate 1 1 b4. Instead of the this Candidates' Tournament)
solid I I . . . � f7 Black replied 1 1 after 9 de � xe5 1 0 � xe5 ..txe5 1 1
• • • ed and the game unexpectedly .,tb3 �c6 1 2 �d2 J.. g7 1 3 � f3
finished with a crushing defeat for "i!!i' e7 1 4 .,tg5 f6 1 5 ..te3 �e5 1 6
Black: 13 cd 0-0 13 0-0 fS 14 J.. gS �d4 0-0-0 1 7 f4 White had the
'f!ke8 IS J,.b3 + *h8 16 g e l "i!!i' c8 initiative.
17 eS de 18 de J.. e6 19 J.. xe6 'flfxe6 9 0-0
20 <2l b3 �t7 21 �cs 'flfc4 22 g el 10 �bd2 "i!!i' e8
"i!!i' xb4 23 J.. d2 "i!!i' a3 24 I;;. e3 il!r xa2 As far as I know, this was a new
25 K c2. Black resigned. move. 1 0 . . . h6 had been played
An unsuccessful innovation before. Black's plan involves the
was played in Popovic-Kovacevic advance . . . f7-f5, but it was
(Yugoslavia, 1 986): 9 h4 (instead impossible to play it right away:
of 9 0-0 or 9 h3) 9 . . . � g4 1 0 h5 I 0 . . . f5 I I A b3 + * h8 1 2 de de
�xe3 I I fe J.. h6! 12 hg hg 1 3 d5 1 3 ..tc5! b6 1 4 ..ta3 and White has
 The Spanish Game 47

a clear positional advantage. The have opened up to White's advan­

immediate 1 0 . . . b6, taking con­ tage.
trol of the critical cS square was 17 �fJ *b7
worth considering. 18 a4 fS!?
I 0 . . . tte8 in the game set a The positional threat 1 9 aS
trap by threatening I I . . . �xd4! compels Black to play actively.
However Black's queen finds itself But 1 8 . . . aS was better when the
on the same file as White's rook, concession of the square bS
which will play an important role wouldn't have been so dangerous
later. (if 1 9 � a3 � a7!). Spassky proba­
1 1 �bJ bly didn't expect the sudden
After I I dS Black intended not explosion which now happens in
I I . . . �d4 1 2 cd J.. xa4 1 3 "ttcl ! the centre.
x es 1 4 de de I S �c4 f6 1 6 b3 19 ef gf (44)
J.. d 7 1 3 'll!t a 3 with a clear advan­ Not 1 9 . . . �xfS 20 � f4! e4 2 1
tage for White, but I I . . . �d8! �c2, and i f 1 9 . . . .K xfS threaten­
and after . . . f7-fS, the knight ing 20 . . . X xn, I would reply 2 1
would have comfortably settled � fd2 (21 � h4 X hS) with a better
on f7. position.
11 b6
If I I . . . * h8 then the familiar
12 de de 1 3 �cS.
12 de de
After 1 2 � xeS 1 3 ttc2
White would have gained a lot of
space.
13 � c4 *h8
14 tt cl!
Preventing 1 4 . . . fS as after I S
J.. h6 Black would have serious
problems with his e pawn. 20 � fxe5! � xe5
14 J.. g4 Nothing was changed by 20 . . .
15 �g5! j_xeS 2 1 �xeS �xeS 22 � xh6
Preventing I S . . . fS again � 7g6 (22 . . . �d3 23 "ilf'gS; 22 . . .
because of 1 6 �e6. If I S J.. d l �n + 23 gf ..-g6 + 24 "!itgS!) 23
Black would transfer the bishop J.. x f8.
to e6. 21 <E) xe5 � xe5
15 h6 22 � xh6
16 hJ! J.. d7 The piece has been sacrificed
Black's bishop is compelled to for two pawns, but Black wasn't
retreat since, after 1 6 . . . � hS 1 7 concerned with arithmetic,
� xf7 + ! a xf7 ( 1 7 . . . 'll!t x f7 1 8 because his position is falling
� xb6) 1 8 g4, the position would apart.
 48 The Spanish Game

22 �d6 29 aS
After 22 . . . j_g7 23 JLxg7 29 . . . f3 30 g4 � e2 3 1 * g3
* xg7 24 -;ii' g5 + Black loses at � xb2 32 i;i d8 "1ft g7 33 'll!i' e 5 and
once due to the queen's position 29 . . . � e2 30 � d8 � xf2 3 1
on e8. If it was on d8 he could � h 8 + were equally hopeless for
play 24 . . . -E)g6. 22 . . . j_ f6 was Black.
more stubborn, although after 23 30 � d4 � ff8
j_xf8 "l!ifxf8 24 "iit f4 and � ad l 31 � d7 g c6
White would have developed a 32 iWeS .-r6
menacing initiative. 33 .. dS � cS
23 ..-gs! 34 �e4.
The exchange on f8 would lead Black resigned.
to unclear play. If 34 . . . l!l;' f5(g6) then 35 flte7
23 \'!lr" g6 and if 34 . . . � f5 then 35 j_c2
No better was 23 . . . � f7 in '!\li"e5 36 � h7 + ! *g5 (36 . . .
view of 24 'i!if' h4 (24 iiJ h5 � f6!) 24 * xh7 37 -.. xe5) 37 h4 + ! * f6 (37
. . . * g6 (24 . . . *g8 25 "i!IJ'h5 with . . . *g4 38 �f3 + ) 38 fltc6 +
a deadly pin) 25 g4 fg 26 hg Jtxg4 "l\li'e6 39 i;i h6 + wins beautifully.
27 "lii' xg4 + *xh6 28 � e6 + *h7
29 j_c2 + mating.
24 � xe7 + j_ xe7 Geller-8alov
25 'it Xf:7 + * xh6 Moscow, 1987
26 'itxd7
The tactical battle has clearly 1 e4 eS
ended in White's favour. Since his 2 -2!f3 -2!c6
king doesn't have pawn cover and 3 j_bS g6
can end up in a mating net, Black 4 c3
should have exchanged queens 4 d4 is seldom played. The crea­
now by 26 . . . "i!!J' d6 (26 . . . 'ft!lg7 27 tion of a strong pawn centre is
'ft!lc6 + ) 27 'itxd6 cd. However, a more in keeping with the Spanish
bishop and two pawns would be Game. This game was played at
stronger than a rook in this situa- the recent Match-tournament of
tion. the "three generations". In the
26 f4 same tournament, in Balashov­
Now White wins in a few Smyslov White immediately ad­
moves. vanced the d pawn: 4 d4 ed 5 il.. g5
27 "i!IJ'xc7 � ae8 �e7 6 j_xe7 "ilifxe7 (theory
28 � d1 � f6 recommends 6 . . . -E)gxe7 7 -2! xd4
If 27 . . . f3 then 28 g4 threaten­ d5 8 -2!c3 de -2!xe4 0--0 with equa­
ing � d l -d5-h5. lity, but the capture with the
29 *h2 queen is quite safe too) 7 0--0 -2! f6
A quiet move which stresses 8 .fl. xc6 de 9 "iit xd4 c5 10 '!'i'e3
Black's defencelessness. .iLg4 I I -2!c3 JLxf3 12 '!\li"xf3 0--0--0
 The Spanish Game 49

1 3 I!l ad l I!l d4 1 4 �d5 � xd5 1 5 pawn, not allowing f2- f4, but
ed � xd I 1 6 � xd I � e8 and Black there is still no reason to criticise
was out of danger. the other option.
4 a6 9 o2) xe5 de
5 il._a4 10 f4 tjj e7 (45)
In Chandler-8passky, Vienna,
1986 White captured on c6. It is
interesting that this exchange
hasn't occurred in this book
before. So: 5 j, xe6 de 6 0-0 J.g7
7 d4 ed 8 cd �e7 9 -de3 J. g4 10
J.e3 0-0 1 1 h3 J. xfJ 12 '{lt xfJ f5
(it was possible to take the d pawn
without hesitation) 13 j_ g5 'Wt'd7
14 J. xe7 'W/ xe7 15 e5 I!l ad8 16
� adl e5! 17 � d5 'li!t'f7 18 de
j, xeS 19 � fel � deS. Draw.
5 d6 This position has been known
6 d4 j,d7 ever since a famous Fine-Alek­
7 0-0 j,g7 hine game (AVRO-tournament,
8 de 1 938). There I I fe k_ xa4 1 2
In my game with Spassky, 'l!lj'xa4 + �d7 1 3 'l!lj'xd7 + 'i1Pxd7
which was covered before, I 14 il._ f4 *e6 1 5 �d2 brought a
rejected this exchange for several quick victory for White. The right
moves. The opening reference move was I I . . . -2:1c6 1 2 A f4 'l!lj'e7
books don't regard the immediate 1 3 �d2 0---0--0 with complications
capture on e5 as dangerous, but (Taborov-Bronstein, USSR,
this game proves them wrong. In 1 978).
fact, 8 d5 was possible as well. 11 f5 gf
Here is a recent example: 8 d5 12 ef -2) d5
�ce7 9 J.xd7 + '\!\i'xd7 1 0 c4 h6 This is the ingenious reply dis­
I I �c3 f5 12 ef �xf5 ( 1 2 . . . gf 1 3 covered by grandmaster Wcsteri­
� h4 � f6 1 4 f4 e4 1 5 _ie3 0--0 1 6 nen, but here it will be refuted.
h3 c5 1 7 de be 1 8 '\!ilte2 with an 13 \i!i'Xd5
advantage for White, Fischer­ In Bronstein-Westerinen (Yur­
Filip, Cura�ao Candidates 1 962) mala, 1 978) after 1 3 J. b3 -21 f6 1 4
1 3 �e4 -2:l f6 14 -dxf6 + ..txf6 1 5 _tg5 "Wte7 1 5 -2)d2 0---0--0 1 6 \i!i'e2
-2:1d2 0--0 1 6 �e4 with a better � hg8 Black achieved counterplay
game for White (Short-Spassky, along the g file.
London, 1 986). 13 Jixa4
8 -2) xe5 14 \i!i' Xb7 .iLb5
Apparently it was more accur­ Black doesn't seem to have any
ate to capture on e5 with the special compensation for the
50 The Spanish Game

pawn after 1 5 X el either, but Romanishin-Balasbov

Geller won by force. Erevan, 1986
15 f6! J.xf6 (46)
1 e4 e5
2 �fJ �c6
3 i.b5 �d4
There are a lot of surprising
metamorphoses in chess theory.
One variation or another comple­
tely disappears over the horizon
for many years, or on the con­
trary, it attracts growing interest.
A recent example of this is Bird's
Defence, which has gained con­
siderable popularity in grandmas­
No better was 1 5 . . . ..txfl 1 6 fg ter tournaments. As usual, we
K g8 1 7 -.c6 + *e7 1 8 J.. g5 + . shall look at the most important
16 c4! recent developments in this varia­
Certainly not the immediate 1 6 tion in the annotations to the
X xf6- 1 6 . . . -. d i + 1 7 * f2 game.
-.e2 + 1 8 *g3 K g8 + and 4 <B xd4
White's king is mated. The bishop retreats to a4 or c4
16 X b8 are less logical, although they
After 1 6 . . . ..t xc4 1 7 -.c6 + or allow White to avoid sharp lines.
1 6 . . . J.. d 7 1 7 X xf6 Black loses a That is what happened in Roma­
piece. Further play was actually nishin-Malanyuk (Tbilisi, 1 986):
unnecessary, but this was a short 4 _tc4 _tc5 5 o21xd4 ..txd4 6 c3
time control tournament . . . J.. b6 7 d4 -.e7 8 0--0 <B f6 9 a4 a6
11 -.o -.d4 + 1 0 j_e3 �xe4 (after 10 . . . d6 I I
18 _te3 .-xc4 de de 1 2 ..t xb6 Black's pawn
19 �a3 .e6 structure would have lost flexibi­
20 � xb5 X xb5 lity) I I K e l 0--0 1 2 J.d5 ( 1 2 de?
21 -. xr6 1!f'xf6 � xf2! 1 3 -.e2 _txe3 1 4 f(( xe3
22 X xf6 K xb2 <Bg4 with an advantage for Black)
23 x xa6 0-0 1 2 . . . �f6 1 3 de <B xd5 14 llt�d5
24 x n x ds _txe3 1 5 X xe3 X b8 1 6 �d2 b5!
25 i.h6 X b6 and Black had no difficulties.
26 g xb6 cb In Georgiev-Tseshkovsky
27 K f6 Jtdl + (Dubai 01., 1 986) after 4 j_a4
28 *fl K a1 _tc5 White played a new move-5
29 11 xb6 X xa2 + b4 (instead o f the usual 5 0--0),
fJ . and after 5 . . . ..1 b6 6 0--0 � xf3 +
30
.
Black resigned. 7 "W"xf3 t1tf6 8 11t'g3 �e7 9 ..1 b2
 The Spanish Game 51

�g6 1 0 c4 � f4 1 1 X e l c6 1 2 d4 vantage hasn't changed for a long

he achieved an advantage. Black time. The revival of Bird's
could play 5 . . . � xb4 and after 6 Defence is precisely connected
� xd4 ed 7 0--0 White would have with the immediate development
the prospect of an initiative but of the bishop.
this would only just compensate 6 ..tc4
for the pawn. Another popular possibility
4 ed was 6 d3 c6 7 ..tc4 (7 _ta4 �e7 8
So Black has managed to keep illt h S dS 9 �d2 0--0 10 �f3 aS I I
the bS bishop temporarily out of c3 de 1 2 be f6 1 3 � e l ..td6 with a
play and his d4 pawn restrains the complicated struggle, Ivanov­
development of White's queen­ Kupreichik, Minsk, 1 985) 7 . . . dS
side. At the same time White has 8 ed cd 9 ..tb3 (or 9 ..tbS + J.. d 7
gained time and intends to create 10 ..txd7 + 'tltxd7 I I �d2 �e7 1 2
a dynamic pawn centre. Thus, �b3 j_ b6 1 3 ..tgS and then either
each side has its own plusses and 1 3 . . . 0--0 14 j_ xe7 il6'xe7 1 5 �el
minuses. 'i!\tf6 1 6 * h S � ac8, Chandler­
5 0-0 Wolf, FRG, 1 985: or 1 3 . . . f6 1 4
In Sokolov-Tukmakov (Len­ ..td2 a5 1 5 a4 0--0 1 6 � e l �g6 1 7
ingrad, 1 987) White retreated by 5 h3 � fc8, Lunch-Tseshkovsky,
_tc4 at once. This time 5 . . . ..tcS Trnava, 1 986, with an equal posi­
(the main answer to 5 0--0) was tion in both cases) 9 . . . �e7 (48)
not possible, and after 5 . . . � f6 6
0--0 �xe4 7 ..t xn + 'll x n 8 48
'i!\thS + g6 9 i16'd5 + 'lfg7 1 0 il6' xe4 w
"'* f6 I I d3 ..t cS White achieved a
small advantage but didn't man­
age to exploit it.
5 ..tc5 (47)

This position has often oc­

curred in recent tournaments.
Here we give several typical ex­
amples which show that Black's
doubled pawns are not a weak­
ness but a strength and allow
Black to seriously restrain White's
The once popular 5 . . . c6 is position.
more passive and the theoretical Dvoirys-Balashov (53rd USSR
assessment that White has an ad- championship, 1 986): 10 c4 0--0
52 The Spanish Game

( 1 0 . . . dc3 1 1 � xc3 0--0 1 2 � el d5 1 0 ed ( 1 0 R.b3 de 1 1 R.g5 is

h6 1 3 � f4 .i!_e6 14 d4 � b4 1 5 unclear) 1 0 . . . �xd5 1 1 R.g5 f6
g e3 � c8 1 6 � c t �f5 1 7 � d3 1 2 R.d2 �e6 with an equal posi-
� e8 1 8 h3 with a slightly better tion.
game for White, Nikolenko-Gor­ 6 • • • d6
elov, Moscow, 1 986) 1 1 cd � xd5 7 c3
1 2 �d2 -E)e3 13 fe de 14 'i/li'h5 ed This is a new plan. White threa­
1 5 tfxc5 dc (tf) 1 6 � axel �e6 1 7 tens 8 cd � xd4 9 'iij a4 + and if 9
� xe6 fe 1 8 � xf8 + 'i/fi' xf8 1 9 'illi' e3 . . . c6 or 9 . . . �d7, the bishop on
'iit f6 with equality. d4 is under attack after 10
Dvoirys-Kupreichik (Volgo- � xf7 + and 9 . . . * f8, of course,
grad, 1 985): 10 � e l 0--0 1 1 *h5 can't be acceptable for Black.
(Black also stood better after 1 1 Note that 7 b4 j_b6 8 a4 a5 is not
-E)d2 a5 1 2 a4 � b4, Anand­ dangerous for him, but 7 d3 also
Tseshkovsky, Calcutta, 1 986) 1 1 looks quite solid here. Let's look
. . . �e6 1 2 -E)d2 a5 1 3 a4 � b4 1 4 at one recent example. Ghinda­
� e2 �d7 1 5 � f3 J.,g4 1 6 \itg5 Komponias (Athens, 1 986): 7 d3
R.xf3 17 gf � a6 and Black had an -£) f6 8 J.,g5 h6 9 1L h4 g5 (this is a
advantage. risky move, better was 9 . . . �e6)
Markland-Davies (correspon­ 10 J.. g3 �g4 I I f3 .i e6 1 2 �d2
dence tournament, 1 985): I 0 'iii' h5 �d7 1 3 R.xe6 (the winner thinks
0--0 1 1 �d2 a5 1 2 a3 a4 1 3 R.a2 that 1 3 .a b3 � b6 1 4 j_ f2 c5 1 5 c3
� a6 14 -E) f3 � g6 with a sharp d5 1 6 ed � xd5 1 7 K e l + was
position. even stronger) 1 3 . . . fe 1 4 f4 h5 1 5
Belyavsky-Tseshkovsky (53rd fg �g4 1 6 'i!l;' f3 0--0--0 1 7 -E)b3
USSR championship, 1 986): 10 -E)e3 1 8 -E) xc5 de 1 9 �e5! and
�g5 f6 1 1 .i!_f4 ( 1 1 � h4 0--0 12 White won.
-2!d2 '1Ph8 1 3 �el a5 with equal 7 -E)f6
chances) 1 1 . . . 0--0 ( I I . . . .ie6 1 2 Black has a lot of other options
� e l J.. f7 1 3 c3 0--0 14 cd R. xd4 and here are some of them. Ehl­
1 5 -E)c3 .ag6 with a complicated vest-Kupreichik (Kuibishev,
struggle, Thipsay-Kupreichik, 1 986): 7 . . . 'i!i'f6 (7 . . . c6 8 d3
Frunze, 1 985) 12 -E)d2 * h8 1 3 -£)e7 9 -2Jd2 0--0 10 1L b3 is about
� e l a5 14 a4 j_ b4 1 5 h 3 g5 1 6 level; 7 . . . -2Je7 8 cd JL xd4 9
1L h2 � a6 with good chances for ·i!ii' a4 + -2}c6 10 j_d5 it. b6 1 1
Black. ]Lxc6 + be 1 2 d4 and White
Before going any further, I also , stands better) 8 -2}a3 it_xa3 9
want to mention 6 i!l!r'h5. Kuzmin- \ 'i!ifa4 + .iL.d7 1 0 'i!itxa3 .ae7 1 1
Malanyuk (Moscow, 1 986) con- . 'i!ii' b3 ( 1 1 1Le2 0--0 1 2 d3 � fe8 1 3
tinued 6 . . . i!l!r'e7 (6 . . . � b6 7 cd 'i!!j· xd4 1 4 .il.e3, Khalifman­
'i!ite5 + !) 7 d3 � f6 (7 . . . c6 8 R.g5 Kupreichik, Minsk, 1 986 also
with an advantage) 8 'i!ith4 c6 9 favoured White) I I . . 0--0 1 2 .

1Lc4 (9 1La4 is worth a try) 9 . . . jfxb7 .il,c6 1 3 i!ltxc7 � fc8 1 4

 The Spanish Game 53

'i!ii' a 5 _:txe4 1 5 d3 � c5 1 6 'l'ta6 13 .;tf3 � g4

.;tc6 (Ehlvest and Truss give a If 1 3 . . . .;tg4 then 1 4 �e2
beautiful variation: 1 6 . . . .;t xg2 winning a tempo.
1 7 * xg2 -2l f5 I S *b7 � eS 1 9 14 .;t xg4 .;t xg4
* h i -2l h4 20 �e3!! -2l f3 2 1 �d7 15 h3 .;te6
� dS 22 "{ith3 with a winning posi­ If 15 . . . .;th5 then 16 g4 .;tg6
tion) 1 7 cd � h5 I S d5! with a 17 -2le2 and White's initiative on
clear advantage for White. the kingside becomes menacing.
8 cd .;txd4 16 -2lel .;tc5
9 * a4 + *f8 17 d4
10 -2lc3 White has accomplished the
White would have stood some­ standard advance at last. Black's
what better after 1 0 .txf7 c5 (not problem is that he doesn't have a
10 . . . .;te5 I I .;t b3 .;txh2 + 1 2 useful plan and his king is in
* xh2 -2lg4 + 1 3 *g3 -wtg5 1 4 f3! limbo. At the same time White
or 1 0 . . . .;txf2 + I I 1. xf2 * xf7 can increase his pressure on the
1 2 d4 x es 1 3 -2lc3 *gS 14 .tg5) kingside.
I I J.b3 ( I I .;td5 -2l xd5) I I . . . 17 ttb4
� xe4 1 2 -2lc3. 18 'l'td1 .;tb6
10 c6 (49) 19 b3 f6
After 1 9 . . . d5 20 a4 *gS 2 1
.;ta3 'l't a5 22 e5 transferring the
bishop to d6 would be quite un­
pleasant for Black.
20 .tdl 'l't b5
21 .te3 x ae8
22 K cl -wthS
23 'tt dl d5
24 e5 *g8
It wasn't possible to withstand
the pressure on the kingside by
playing 24 . . . f5 because of 25 a4
Black keeps his bishop in the AdS 26 � f4 'tt f7 27 b4 h6 2S b5
centre for the time being, prevent­ g5 29 �xe6 K xe6 30 f4.
ing d2-d4. However, the bishop 25 ef gf
will be compelled to waste time 26 a4 jlc7
soon and White's pawn mass will 27 .tf4 .txf4
start advancing. That is why it 28 � xf4 ty g5
was worth considering I 0 . . . 29 � c3 'll f7
.;t xc3 I I de � xe4 1 2 .;txf7 -2l xc3 30 K g3 'l'th6
1 3 'tt b3 with complications. 31 Ji fe1 !! e7?
1 1 .;t el tll' b6 32 "Wrcl!
12 d3 .;te6 The X-ray effect along the c l -
54 The Spanish Game

h6 diagonal and the g file control allowed 33 �xe6 l?fxcl 34 K g7

allows White to finish the game mate. 32 . . . :1!1 g8 was also too late
forcefully. The immediate crisis in view of 33 K xg8 * xg8 34
could have been prevented by 3 1 �xd5!
. . K hg8.
. 33 � xe6 l?fxcl
32 aS 34 K g7 + .
Losing a piece, but 32 . . . g he8 Black resigned.
2 The Russian Game

Karpov-Portisch below. But first we shall look at

Turin, 1982 the dispute which was a harbinger
of the later turbulent events . . .
In 1 982 I had a theoretical duel I e4 eS
with Portisch in the Russian 2 -E:�O er6
Game at Turin, Tilburg and 3 �xeS
Lucerne. In spite of the small ad­ In recent years this capture has
vantage in the actual score, 2: I in been almost the only move
my favour, the opening argument played. But not long ago 3 d4 was
can be considered to have been considered to be the main move.
won by White 3:0 . . . In fact the assessment of 3 . . . ed 4
I include the game which eS �e4 S i!t xd4 as favourable for
opened our discussion as the main White still hasn't changed. But
game. However, the other two are after 3 . � xe4 4 j_dJ dS S � xeS
. .

included in the commentaries on and now either S . . . �d7 or S . . .

the main game to put them all �d6 Black has good chances. In­
together. Since this variation cidentally, I have played this posi­
doesn't occur any longer at the tion with White and with Black
highest level it is possible to con­ and can say that it is full of
clude that it has been abandoned, finesse.
for the time being at least, and S• . • �d6 6 i!tf3!? is an amus­
certain conclusions about it have ing innovation that I prepared
been made. I believe that this with my permanent trainer Zait­
theoretical dispute with Portisch sev at some training sessions. This
prepared the ground for a new idea was tried in Zaitsev-Yusupov,
dispute which occurred in my first Erevan, 1982. After 6 . . i!te7 •

match with Kasparov and con­ 7 0-0 0-0 8 <2:lc3 �xc3 9 be �xeS
tinued in the second and the third 10 de i!txeS I I J.f4 i!tf6 12 i!tg3
ones. The appearance of this <2:lc6 White forced a draw by repe­
opening in the world champion­ tition of moves -13 j_gS i!td6 14
ship matches initiated, as usually J.f4 i!tf6 because he didn't have
happens, an explosion of interest anything better.
in the Russian Game and the in­ I remember my game with
formation boom virtually flooded Hort, where I played White
the theory of the open openings! (Amsterdam, 1 980): 5 . �d7 6
. .

All the important games from my i!te2 i!te7 7 j_ xe4 de 8 �f4 exeS
matches with Kasparov and the 9 � xeS J.fS 10 �c3 0--0--0 1 1
games which developed the ideas 0--0--0 i!te6 1 2 "t{te3 hS 1 3 h3 f6 1 4
born in these matches are covered �h2 g6 1 S * b 1 j_h6 1 6 i!tg3
56 The Russian Game

K h7 1 7 J;� he l iitb6 with compli­ 8 X el �13 (51)

cations. In Karpov-Larsen (Til­ Perhaps we should jump ahead
burg, 1 980) I had a setback: 6 . . . a little and mention a few moves
�xe5 7 � xe4 de 8 jtxe4 �e6 9 from each of the games from the
jtxe5 jtd7 1 0 0--0 0--0-{) I I �e3 matches between Kasparov and
J,. b4 12 �c3 f6 1 3 iitg3 �xc3 1 4 myself where the Russian Game
be h5! 1 5 h4 g5! 1 6 f3 K dg8 with a was played. Then the reader will
very strong attack for Black. be able to understand better how
So both 5 . . . � d6 and 5 . . . the later events developed.
�d7 solve Black's problems and ( 1 ,28): 6 . . . �c6 7 0--0 �g4 8
that is why White more often X e l �e7 9 c4 � f6 1 0 cd;
chooses 3 � xe5. (2, 1 5) and (3,6): 6 . . . �c6 7 0--0
3 d6 �b4 8 c4 � f6;
4 �f3 �xe4 ( 1 ,30): 6 . . . �e7 7 0--0 �c6 8
5 d4 (50) X e l � g4 9 c4 �f6 1 0 �c3;
( 1 ,4 1 ): 6 . . . �e7 7 0--0 �c6 8
50 c4 � b4;
B ( 1 ,48): 6 . . . �c6 7 0--0 J,.e7 8
c4 � f6 9 �c3 0--0 .
So, in all these games Black's
light-squared bishop either
jumped out to g4 or stayed on its
original square. Of course, all
these positions will be scrutinised
in detail later. As far as my dis­
pute with Portisch is concerned it
Some time ago Spassky deter­ is wholly devoted to the develop­
minedly played the ancient 5 jte2 ment of the bishop on f5.
and managed to achieve a small
advantage in a number of games.
However, in my game with him in
the same tournament in Turin I
managed to equalise after 5 . . .
jte7 6 d3 � f6 7 �g5 1!!f xe2 + 8
J,. xe2 �e7 9 �c3 c6 1 0 0--0 � a6
I I .l. fe l �c7 1 2 � fl �e6 1 3 J,.e3
0--0 14 d4 K e8 1 5 d5 �xd5 1 6
� xd5 cd 1 7 A b 5 K d 8 1 8 X a� I
� f6 1 9 c3 �c7 20 �e2 x es l l
�d4 J,.d7 22 � f3 � xd4. 8 . . . � f5 was first played in
5 d5 Adorjan-Hiibner, Candidates '
6 �dJ �c6 quarter-final 1980. In fact, this
7 (H) J,.e7 move was known to me after my
 The Russian Game 57

own game with Kasparov (the altogether. It was a pity because

first of all the 1 00 games!), played the next move was prepared for
three years before the first match him.
(Moscow, 1 98 1 , the Match-tour­ 9 c4!
nament of the "three genera­ I prepared this opening surprise
tions"). I played Black and this is with Zaitsev for the Merano
what happened: 9 � bd2 �xd2 10 match. The innovation in fact hit
�xd2 J.. xd3 1 1 ..- xd3 0-0 12 c3 Portisch instead three times.
�d7 (Hubner played 12 . . . •d6 9 �b4
and after 13 t;'f5 K ad8 14 J.. f4 a 10 J.. fl
draw was agreed) 1 3 J.. f4 a6 1 4 Of course not 10 cd � xf2! Pre­
� e3 � ae8 15 K ae l J.. d 8 1 6 b3 cisely because of this move, 9 c4
� xe3 1 7 K xe3 f6 1 8 � e2 � f7 1 9 was previously regarded as
�d2 j_e7 20 �fl J.. f8 2 1 'i!!t' f3 dubious. However, White doesn't
X e7 with a small advantage for have to hurry to clarify the situa-
White. tion.
8 . . . J.. f5 was also played in the 10 0-0
fourth game of the Merano match The later game Karpov-Por­
where after 9 J.. b5 Korchnoi tisch, Tilburg, 1982 continued 10
played an important improve­ . • • de, but after 11 �c3! �f6 12
ment 9 . . . J.. f6! Remember that J.. xc4 0-0 13 a3 �c6 14 d5 I
in Timman-Portisch (Moscow, managed to gain a significant ad­
198 1 ) Black chose 9 . . . 0--0 I 0 vantage. The game continued: 14
j_xc6 be I I �e5 J.. h4 1 2 J,. e3 . . . �aS 15 J.. a2 c5 16 J.. g5 .l;l e8
'{!lf'd6? (better was 1 2 . . . g e8) 1 3 17 il\'(a4 i.d7 18 'ijc2 h6 19 J.. h4
..-h5! and got into a difficult posi­ �xd5 20 � xd5 J.. xh4 21 Ji, xe8 +
tion. The idea of 9 . . . J.. f6 is to J.. xe8. Here I could have
prevent White from strengthening increased my advantage by 22
the knight on e5, because after 1 0 Ji, e l or 22 X d l but I saw a forc­
j_xc6 + be I I �e5 j_xe5 1 2 de ing variation which, unfortu­
0--0 Black's pieces are developing nately, had a ftaw. After Black's
freely and White has to be careful accurate reply I could, probably,
to try to stop the c and d pawns' still have had a draw but I got
advance. As far as the Merano carried away, sacrificed a piece
game is concerned after 10 � bd2 and quickly lost. Here is the sad
0--0 I I �fl the position was end: 22 ..-e4? J.. f6 23 J.. b 1 *fB 24
equal. Admittedly, my opponent 'ith7 t;'xd5 25 j_ e4 tt'd6 26
made several inaccuracies soon 'ijh8 + *e7 27 J.. c2 �c6 28 J.. a4
and even lost in the end. The �d4 29 � xd4 j_ xd4 30 X el +
opening was not responsible for * f6 31 J.. xe8 ..-r4 32 X fl t;'e5.
the result of this game, but this White resigned.
fact seriously affected Korchnoi Frankly speaking, when Por­
and he gave up the Russian Game tisch again played the Russian
58 The Russian Game

Game at the 25th Olympiad in K e8 1 5 �eS (threatening 1 6 J.. c4)

Lucerne I was surprised by his 1 5 . . . � xeS 1 6 Jt xeS ttd7 1 7
stubbornness. Apparently, the re­ tt f3 with a double attack; 1 4 . . .
sult of the previous game had �d6? 1 5 c4 'ltt a 5 1 6 �d2 with a
encouraged him . . . win; 14 . . . I;� adS 1 5 �f4 with a
1 1 a3 � c6 (52) clear advantage. It is difficult to
Now we have a structure simi­ blame the Hungarian Grandmas­
lar to the one I had against Kava­ ter for playing 14 . . . �g6, which
lek (I was Black) from the pre­ prevented the direct threats but
vious round: 9 a3 0--0 t o c4 � f6 didn't solve the basic problems.
1 1 �c3 � xc3 1 2 be �xd3 1 3 15 c4 itt d7. After 1 5 . . . itt d6 1 6
ttxd3 de 1 4 ttxc4 �aS 1 5 tta4 d 5 � f6 the tactical 1 7 c5! was
b6 with equality, but now White decisive. 1 6 d5 �f6 17 K a2. The
wins time to a certain extent. tempting exchange sacrifice would
not work: 1 7 �g5 j_xal 1 8 de
'ltt xd l 1 9 K xd l .lf6 20 cb K ab8
and the b7 pawn cannot be
defended. 17 � a5 18 .lf4. It
• . •

was possible to take advantage of

the awkward position of the
knight on the edge of the board:
1 8 j_d2 b6 1 9 j_xa5 ba 20 <£Je5
ttd6 21 �c6 or 1 8 �e5 J.xe5 1 9
K xe5 b6 20 .lf4 K fe8 2 1 K ae2.
But the text move was more ener­
getic. 18 • . . K fe8 19 K ae2!
12 �cJ X ac8? A major concession. Black
Despite the fact that this move didn't like 1 9 . . . K xe2 because of
brought me a beautiful victory in 20 ttxe2 with the threat of 2 1
Turin, I decided not to check <£Je5 �xeS 2 2 ttxe5, but still this
what Portisch had prepared when continuation wasn't so dangerous
I played him again later in the for him. 20 �e5 itt f5? This is a
year at the Lucerne Olympiad. logical consequence of the pre­
Since I promised to show all three vious manoeuvre. Only 20 . . .
games let's see first how our last J.. xe5 offered any resistance. 21
game on the subject of The Rus­ .ld2! Creating the unstoppable
sian Game finished. This was threat of g2-g4. If 2 1 itt d2 with
quite an interesting game as well. the same idea then 2 1 . . . .lh5 22
So Karpov-Portisch (Lucerne f3 g5 23 .lg3 b6 would have pro­
01., 1 982): I longed the game. 21 � xc4
12 cd ttxd5 13 � cJ <£J xt3 1 4 be
• • .

(53) . After 2 1 . . . b6 22 g4 ttc2

J.. g6. Black's pieces are awk­ 23 'W'xc2 J.. xc2 24 � xa5 J.xe5 25
wardly placed, for instance: 1 4 . . . A xc2 Black would Jose a piece.
 The Russian Game 59

had to give up the exchange for

this pawn and White won.
IS �gS 'Wt'd7
16 <21h4! (54)

22 g4! � xeS. No better were 22

. . . ftc2 23 ftxc2 � xc2 24 � xc4,
or 22 . . . f!j'xeS 23 K xeS � xeS 24
gS. 23 gf -2\ 13 + 24 * gl �hS lS This manoeuvre allows White
-.a4 � h4 + 26 *g3 _t xel 27 to gain firm control of the initia-
_t xel. Black resigned. tive.
Now we return to our game in 16 <21 aS
Turin. In reply to 1 6 . . . .,tg4 there
12 �xc3 was a choice between the simple
13 be de 1 7 f3 � hS 1 8 g4 and 1 7 ft b l <2)aS
It is difficult for Black to do 18 � d3 gaining control of the fS
without this exchange. square.
14 _t xc4 �d6 17 _tal bS
Taking stock, White's pieces Black's pieces are placed in­
are better placed and exert clear securely, so Portisch strives to
pressure on the centre. create strong points for them;
In Ehlvest-Halifman, USSR White has to act energetically.
championship (Minsk, 1 987), the 18 a4 a6
latest game at the time of writing, After 1 8 . . . ba, I had the
Black played 1 4 . . . �aS but pleasant choice between 1 9 �dS
didn't manage to overcome the .K ae8 20 x xe8 x xe8 21 �xfS
opening problems. The game con­ ftxfS 22 ftxa4 .K b8 23 K e l and
tinued: l S i,a2 cS 1 6 �eS � f6 1 7 1 9 c4 cS 20 de (or 20 �xfS ftxfS
g4 �d7 1 8 .,tf4 � xeS 1 9 K xeS cd 2 1 h4 <21 b3 22 � b l ftd7 23 de
20 cd �c6 2 1 li dS -.c8 22 h3 �xeS 24 K a2 with excellent at­
i,e6 23 X eS i, xa2 24 K xa2 'Wt'd7 tacking opportunities) 20 . . .
2S dS �e7 26 K d2. Black �xeS 2 1 X eS ftxd l + 22 K xd l
managed to liquidate White's ad­ �g4 2 3 X xeS � xd l 24 x xaS.
vantage of the two bishops, but 19 ab ab
there was nothing he could do 20 <21 xfS fjxfS
about the d pawn. In the end, he 21 �e7
· K fb8 (55)
60 The Russian Game

nation! The bishop cannot be

taken-23 . . . • xn 24 x xaS!
x xaS 2S -.b3 + * g6 26 K e6 +
forcing mate.
23 * h8
24 � xd6 -.xn
25 K e7 -.m
26 �c5
White has a material and pos­
itional advantage. The result of
the game is clear.
After 2 1 . . . � xe7 22 X xe7 c6 26 -.r4
23 -.e2 �c4 24 K e l 'i!tdS 2S X eS 27 -.e2 h6
(2S � b3 is also strong) 2S . . . 28 K e4 -.n
X xa2 26 -.xa2 � xeS 27 -.xdS cd 29 K e5 €)c4
2S �t xeS K dS 29 X e7 X eS 30 30 x xa8 K xa8
X b7 White would win a pawn. If 31 K f5 .. g6
21 . . . K feS 22 �xd6 cd 23 � b l 32 .. e4 * h7
-.hs the weakness o f the eighth 33 h3 K al +
rank would tell: 24 X xeS + X xeS 34 * g2 K cl
2S g4 -.h3 26 X xaS -.xc3 27 35 �b4 €)d6
X a2! 2 1 . . . K fcS was also bad 36 � xd6 cd
after 22 � b l -.d7 23 -.n g6 24 37 .. d3 d5
i,a2! However, the transfer of the 38 fJ!
rook to bS is also met by an Black resigned.
unexpected and strong reaction.
22 g4!! Karpov-Kasparov
Of course it was difficult to Moscow, 1984
anticipate such an extravagant Game 41, World Championship I
move beforehand. Its objective is
shown in the following variations: I played six games with the
22 . . . -.f4 23 � xd6 -.xd6 (23 . . . Russian Game in my first three
cd 24 �ds) 24 -.n -.d7 (24 . . . world championship matches
K ffi 2S � xn + ! flhS 26 'i!tg3!) 2S with Kasparov and these games
g e2 and it is difficult to prevent had a considerable affect on the
the threat of 26 X ae I and 27 development of theory. Three
X e7. For instance: 2S . . . �c6 26 games are presented as the main
x ae l x es 27 -.xn + mating or games and the other three are
2S . . . X a6 26 X ae l X f6 ·27 'il\i'g3 covered in commentaries on the
with irresistible threats. main three. Of course, the reader
22 fitd7 will find many other important
23 � xf7 + ! games here which elaborate our
The whole point of the combi- ideas on the opening.
 The Russian Game 61

1 e4 e5 veloped a lot since then but, per­

2 �fJ �f6 haps, only now has it become very
3 �xeS d6 clear how important it is to have
4 .:21 fJ �xe4 one extra tempo in this opening
5 d4 d5 system. One could say that two
6 �d3 J.. e7 different moves by the bishops­
7 0-0 12!c6 (56) the dark-squared to e7 and the
light-squared to g4-define the
two different routes of the theory
of the Russian Game. We will
cover the Ji... g4 move in detail
later.
The two Russian games of the
first match, where Kasparov
played White, convinced him that
this opening is not dangerous for
Black, so he chooses to play it
with Black this time. But I had a
This is a turning point. The small surprise . . .
defence by 6 . . . -E)c6 and 7 . . . 8 c4 (57)
Ji... e7 (or in reverse order as in this
game) was researched by a Rus­ 57
sian Master, K. Janisch as far B
back as the last century. 6 . . . �c6
7 0--0 Ji... g4, with immediate pres­
sure on the centre, looks more
aggressive. However, this idea is
not new. As long ago as 1 922,
Schlechter in his "Handbook"
gave the following variation (with
a transposition): 6 . . . Ji... g4 7 0--0
�c6 8 J;l e l f5 9 c4! Ji... d6 1 0 cd White attacks the centre im­
Ji... xO 'Wt'xO -2J xd4 1 2 jj-e3 'i!li'f6 1 3 mediately. In the two previous
Ji... xe4 fe 1 4 jj'xe4 + * f7 1 5 �g5! games in this opening 8 g e I was
jj'xg5 16 'i!li'xd4 with an advantage played and White achieved
for White (Capablanca-Marshall, nothing. Here are these games.
match, 1 909). Schlechter recom­ Kasparov-Karpov, game 28 of
mended in his book, instead of the the first match: (the move order
unsuccessful 8 . . . f5, playing 8 . . . was 6 • • • �c6 7 0-0 Ji... g4); 8 g e1
J.. e 7! and then 9 Ji... xe4 de 1 0 Ji... e7 9 c4 �f6 10 cd .,txfJ. This
J;l xe4 Ji... xO! I I 'i!li'xO �xd4 1 2 move was first played by Smyslov
'iii' d3 �e6 with a n equal position. against Hiibner in the candidates
Certainly, the theory has de- match (Velden, 1 983). 10 . . .
62 The Russian Game

€J xd5 was played before. I t "W' xfJ possibility 1 3 . . . c5!? After 1 4

"W'xd5. We will cover this position ..t e 3 x es 1 5 "W'e2 cd 1 6 €l xd4
in more detail later. ll "W'h3 €l xd4 ..tc4 1 7 X. ad 1 White is slightly
13 �e3 "W'd7 14 "W'xd7 + * xd7 15 better but 14 . . . c4 1 5 J.. c2 €ld5
_te3 �e6 16 X adl _td6 17 ..tf5 equalised for Black (Fedorowicz­
*e7 1S €lb5 X bdS I9 � xd6 ed l0 Kogan, USA, 1 985). Perhaps
b3 b6 21 g4 h6 ll ..td4 X ac8 23 White had better chances by play­
..t c3 g6 24 ..t cl h5 25 fJ. Draw. ing 14 _tg5 h6 1 5 ..th4. Now if 1 5
Kasparov-Karpov, game 30 of . . . c4 1 6 ..t xf6 ..txf6 1 7 ..te4 he
the first match: (the move order gains control of the centre. 14 a3
was 6 . • . ..te7 7 0--0 �c6 S X el a6. In Lobron-Handoko (Yugo­
..tg4 9 e4 �f6): 10 €le3 (instead slavia, 1 985) Black played 14 . . .
of 1 0 cd) 10 . . . de I I ..t xe4 0--0 12 K e8, but after 1 5 ..t b5 "W'd6
..te3 ..t xfJ 13 ijxfJ €l xd4 14 (White would have also been
..txd4 \'txd4 IS � xe7 "ijxe4 16 better after 1 5 . . . a6 1 6 ..txc6 be
il(fxb7 e6 17 "W'b3 "W'xb3 IS ab 1 7 �e5) 1 6 ..tg5! K ed8 1 7 ..t xf6
� ab8 19 � a3 � feS 20 � xeS + ..txf6 1 8 �e4 White achieved a
� xeS. Draw. clear advantage and won the
I want to remind you that the game. 15 J.. f4 "W'd7. This is a
. . . ..t f5 move-6 . . . €lc6 7 0--0 serious mistake. Correct was 15
..te7 8 .l e i ..t f5-was covered in . . • �d5, for instance: 16 ..tg3
some depth in the commentaries ..tf6 17 .tel €lee7 1S €le4 ..tf5 1S
on Karpov-Portisch (Turin, �xf6 + � xf6 20 ..tb3 c6 ll €le5
1 982). �fd5 22 "W'fJ ..te6 23 I. ad I €lf5
s ... €lb4 24 j_xd5. Draw. (Gufeld­
Kasparov took advantage of Schiissler, Havana, 1985). 16 €le5!
my idea in the 48th game by play­ � xeS 17 de €ld5 1S � xd5 ..t xd5
ing the Russian Game for White 19 "W'cl g6. If 1 9 . . . h6 White
again. Since the knight ma­ could play 20 x ac 1 c6 2 1 x e3
noeuvre didn't justify itself in the with a very strong attack. 20
4 1 st game, I was compelled to .1. ad I c6. This leads by force to a
move the other knight. very difficult position for Black.
Kasparov-Karpov, game 48 of Black should have accepted a
the first match: S . . . €l f6 9 �e3 worse ending by 20 . . . "W'c6 2 1
0--0 10 h3. Once and for all pre- \1' xc6 ..t xc6 22 ..t c4 . 2 1 ..th6
venting . . . ..tg4. 10 . . . de. After X fdS (58) .
1 0 . . . �b4 (if 1 0 . . . _te6 1 1 ll e6! fe. No better were 22 . . .
c5 was good) I I ..te2 c5 1 2 a3 ..t xe6 23 ..t xg6!, or 22 . . . ije8 23
�c6 1 3 de de 14 J.. e3 White had "W'c3 f6 24 f4! 23 ..t xg6 ..tf8 24
some advantage (Ve1imiTovic­ ..txf8 K xf8 25 J.. e4 � f7 26 I. e3
Schiiss1er, Smederevska Palanka, K g7 27 K dd3 � f8 28 K g3 * h8
1 979). I I ..txe4 � a5 12 J.. d3 J.. e6 29 i!te3 K f7 30 K de3. Black's
13 .1. e1 €le6. Let's consider the position is strategically lost
 The Russian Game 63

dam, 1 975). I I • • • * b8 Botvin­

.

nik suggested here I I . . . �aS 1 2

i!tbS c6 1 3 i!t a4 b S 1 4 'tltc2 �c4
or 1 2 'tlta4 �c6 1 3 � bS K f6 1 4
�xc6 K xc6 I S �eS K a6 with
equal chances. 12 hJ. 1 2 � fl . 1 2
J.,e2 and 1 2 i!txb7 were pre­
viously played, and in every case,
Black achieved a favourable posi­
tion. However, this move is not
too dangerous for Black either. 12
although in fact it took another . • . � hS 1 3 'tlt xb7 K f6. In Ligter­
forty moves for White to win. ink-Dvoretzky (Wijk aan Zee,
Before returning to the main 1 975) after 1 3 . . . �aS 14 'tlta6 cS
4 1 st game, I will allow myself one I S j_ e2 K b8 the chances were
more recollection, which is more equal.
pleasant. I want to direct your 14 'l!ltb3 K g6 Botvinnik anno­
.

attention to the fact that the wave tated the games of this match and
of interest in the c2-c4 disrup­ he regarded this move as the
tion of the centre started compar­ primary cause of Black's defeat
atively recently in the 80s. But in and suggested the sharp 1 4 . . . gS.
the 70s the restrained c2-c3 was However 14 . . . K g6 shouldn't
preferred. In connection with this, have led Black to catastrophe. IS
the Karpov-Korchnoi game �e2 J.. h4? This move is Black's
played in the candidates' final in undoing. No better was I S . . .
1 974 comes to mind. Let's look at �xf2 1 6 * xf2 j_ h4 + 1 7 * fl
this game. We start from the posi­ j_xe l 1 8 � xe l j_ xe2 + 1 9 * xe2
tion in diagram 56. t;-e7 + 20 * f) x es 21 'tlt d l win­
8 j! el � g4 9 cJ fS 10 t;-bJ. ning. However, after I S . . . J.. d6 a
White gained nothing by playing complicated struggle would lie
10 -21 bd2 t;-d6 I I t;-b3 0--0--0 1 2 ahead. One possibility, suggested
i, bS J.. f6 1 3 'l!lta4 e, xd2 1 4 � xd2 by O'Kelly is 1 6 �eS � xeS 1 7
,g he8 (Mestei-Wolf, London, J.. x hS K xg2 + 1 8 * xg2 'tltg5 +
1 985) or by 10 c4 de I I �xc4 1 9 * fl 'i/lt h4 20 -21 xe4 i!txh3 + 21
t;-d6! 1 2 �c3 0--0--0 ! (Kolmov­ *gl de 22 de J.. xeS 23 f4 *g3 +
Mikhalchishin, Minsk, 1 985). 10 with a draw. 16 x n � xf3 17
. • . 0-0 II e,bdl. If I I . . . � fd2 -21 xf3 J.. xfl + (a mistake-it is
then Black plays I I . . . -21 xf2! 1 2 either a sacrifice or an exchange,
*xf2 J.. h4 + 1 3 g 3 f4 1 4 * g2 fg but Black had less than five mi­
I S J.. e4 J.. h 3 + ! 1 6 * g l gh + 1 7 nutes for 24 moves) 18 K xfl 19
* xh2 ,.d6 + 1 8 * h i J., xe l , �xfl l9 * xfl *d6 20 e,gS! §!:. f8
gaining a decisive advantage 21 ·�uJ -.ds 22 J.. f4 h6 23 �f3
(Ljubojevic-Makarichev, Amster- K e8 24 J.. dJ K e4 2S gJ l!l f6 26
 64 The Russian Game

�c5 g5 27 -2:J xg5 hg 28 � xg5 I I -2:Je5 -2:Jc6 1 2 -2:J xc6 be 1 3

� ee6 29 K f l 'iit g8 30 h4 I;� g6 31 -2:Jc3 -2!d6 1 4 �b3 �f5 1 5 d 5 c5
� xe6. Black lost on time, but the 16 l;l e l �d4 1 7 �e3 led to an
position was resignable anyway. advantage for White in Shindik­
It is time to end the nostalgic Jannson (Italy, 1 983). The correct
mood and go back to the Kar­ reply for Black was the immediate
pov-Kasparov game, which was I I . . . -2:Jd6! After 1 2 � b3 �f5 1 3
played ten years after the one we a3 �d5 1 4 �c3 � e6 1 5 g e l c6
have just looked at . . . 1 6 �c2 !Qc7 the position is equal
9 � e2! (59) (Shindik-Zitz, Baden-Baden,
1 985).
11 ed6
12 j,b3 i.f6
After 1 2 . . . �g4 1 3 h3 �h5 1 4
g4! � g6 1 5 -2:J e5 followed b y f2-
f4 White i s clearly better, but 1 2
. . . * h8! was worth considering.
In Mnatsakanian-Diaz (Varna,
1 985) after 1 3 -2:Je5 f6 14 .:an �g4
1 5 h3 j,h5 16 j, e6 � xf3 1 7 gf
'i!ite8 1 8 � f4 f5 1 9 *h2 t/ei'g6 20
Actually only this move is a real j, b3 �g5 Black obtained a pow­
innovation. Its obvious aim is to erful initiative on the kingside.
avoid the exchange of the light­ 13 h3
squared bishop. In Hiibner­ In a later game, Sokolov-Agza­
Smyslov from the before-men­ mov (52nd USSR championship,
tioned match, after 9 cd -2:Jxd3 1 0 1 985), White played the even
� xd3 'i!lf'xd5 I I X e l � f5 1 2 ec3 stronger- 1 3 -de5! and after 1 3
( 1 2 �e5 which had been played . . . -dc6 (more accurate was 1 3 . . .
before, is not dangerous for c5 1 4 � f4 c4 1 5 ..£)xc4 <E}xc4 1 6
Black) 1 2 . . . e xc3 1 3 'ii!i' XC3 �e6! �xc4 j, xd4 1 7 <E}b5; but not 1 3
14 .. xc7 j,d6 1 5 .. c2 0--0 Black . . . � f5 1 4 �xf7! g xf7 1 5
gained quite sufficient compensa­ ..t xf7 + ff Xf7 1 6 'i!!'t b3 + or 1 3 . . .
tion for the pawn. The modem _axe5 1 4 de -2! f5 1 5 �xf7 + !) 1 4
state of 9 cd will be covered be­ ..tf4 <E} f5 1 5 -2:J xc6 be 1 6 d 5 c5 1 7
Io N. <E} a4 j,a6 1 8 gel j,e7 (better
9 . •. de was 1 8 . . . c4 1 9 �c2 �d6) 1 9
We shall consider the interest­ !4 c l k_d6 20 j_g3 White had a
ing possibilities 9 . . . _te6 I Q ec3 big advantage.
0--0 (or 9 . . . 0--0 10 ec3 1J.. e6J ip 13 j,f5
the notes to several later games. 14 �e3 K fe8
10 ..t xc4 0-0 15 a3 �d3 (60)
11 -dc3
 The Russian Game 65

Black makes a losing move in

time trouble. 30 . . . * f7 or 30 . . .
�c2 were necessary.
31 a4! g d4
Not 3 1 . . . �eS 32 aS �d6 33
a6 R.xcS 34 J.. xcS ;g, xeS 3S
� e8 + 36 a7.
32 aS g xb4 ( 61)

An ambitious move. I S . . . �c6

was safer.
16 � b1 eS
17 de �e4
Not 17 . . . � xb2 18 � xb2
� xc3 1 9 cd! .txb2 20 _txf7 + !
*xf7 2 1 'i!i'fdS + and White has an
irresistible attack.
18 .tel! �xbl
Not 1 8 . . . �g3 1 9 fg K xe3 20 A historic position. White
'ifi'd2 k_d4 2 1 � xd4 22 *h2 �g6 could have won by advancing his
23 �dS! a pawn for just one more square:
19 "flt xd8 K axd8 33 a6! .tb3 (33 . . . �a4 34 a7
20 � xbl � xe3 _tc6 3S � e6 J.. d S 36 K d6; 33 . . .
21 g xb7 �xeS � b8 34 l;l xd l �a3 3S � b7!) 34
22 � xeS � xel � xb3 � a4 (34 . . . � xb3 3S
23 i;l xa7 l;l e8 + and 36 a7) 3S �cS K aS 36
White has won a pawn, but it l;l e4! 'lff7 37 i;� a4! l;#. xa4 38
was probably better to do so by 23 �xa4 .td4 39 �c3! and Black
i;� c l i;� d l + (23 . . . _te4 24 would have lost his bishop.
i;� xa7) 24 i;� xd l � xd l 2S � xa7. By winning this game I would
23 �d1 have won the match with a score
24 � e7 � xe7 of 6: I . After this chess history
2S .txe7 g d3 would have taken an entirely dif­
26 � gS �b2 ferent turn . . .
27 .tb4 33 K xd1 .td4
The threat was 27 . . . .tc2 win­ 34 �e6 .ta7
ning back the a3 pawn. Now if 27 3S � d7
. . . J.. c2 then 28 � e I ! 3S �xg7 K b2 36 � fS _t xf2 +
27 h6 37 * fl also offered White few
28 �e4 fS winning chances.
29 �eS g dS 3S K b1 +
30 g el f4'! 36 * hl .t xfl
66 The Russian Game

37 �xf4 K al 54 K b4 K e7
38 �e6 �;t xa5 55 l;!. c4 K e8
56
Black makes it harder for him­ g3 j_b2
self. As was pointed out by I. 57 * f3 K e6
Dorfman, he could draw by 38 . . . 58 K c5 j_ d4
g5! 39 K g7 + (39 K d5 � e l ) 39 59 J;� d5 ,i e5
. . . *h8 40 X g6 ffh7 41 � f8 + 60 .W. b5 J... c7
*h8 42 a6 (42 X xh6 + ffg7 43 61 g c5 J... b6
J;t g6 + * xf8 44 X f6 + ffg7 45 62 K c8 j, d4
J;t xf2 K xa5) 42 . . . ,i b l + ! 43 63 ll g8 + J... g7
* g3 .W. a3 + 44 * g4 K a4 + ! 64 h4 K a6
39 � xg7 + ff h8 65 wr4
40 K f7 ,ie3 Alas, after 65 h5 + ff xh5 66
41 ff g3 ll xg7 K a3 + 67 fff4 ll f3 +
The game was adjourned in this Black had a perpetual rook sacri­
position and after analysing it I fice.
convinced myself that it was 65 li aS
almost impossible to exploit the 66 K e8 ll f5 +
extra pawn. I tried to achieve this 67 ff e3 K e5
for the next 30 moves, but without 68 K g8 K e7
success. 69 ff f4 ll f7 +
41 i,d2 70 ff g4 h5 +
42 ll d7 j_c3 71 *h3. Draw.
43 fff3 ff g8
44 .£Jf4 g f5
45 ffe4 x f7! Khalifman-Arkhipov
46 J;t d8 + Moscow, 1985
White had more chances of vic­
tory in a minor pieces endgame: 1 e4 e5
46 � xf7 *xf7 47 'llf f5. However, 2 �f3 22} f6
Kasparov's trainers I. Dorfman 3 � xeS d6
and E. Vladimirov published an 4 �f3 �xe4
interesting analysis soon after the 5 d4 d5
match, which showed the method 6 �d3 i,e7
of Black's defence in this ending. 7 0--0 � c6
46 ff h7 8 c4
47 ll d3 g e7 + Having seen the previous game,
48 fff3 j_b2 the unsophisticated reader might
49 ll b3 .}cl think that it was possible to dis­
50 -2!d5 K e5 courage Black from playing 8 . . .
51 -2!f6 + ff g6 � b4 here for a long time, due to
52 -21 e4 II t'5 + the 9 j_e2 retreat. But this was
53 *e2 K e5 not the case! Soon after that game
 The Russian Game 67

an improvement was found on he played this move. We will

Kasparov's 9 . . . de. cover the other possibilities later.
8 Black now has an unpleasant
9 J.. e2 threat- 1 2 . . . �xc3 1 3 be �c2.
This is the innovation. Who 12 "f!rbJ
was the inventor? The Inter­ Ivanov against Arkhipov (Mos­
national Master Arkhipov played cow, l 98S) played 1 2 a3 and after
this move twice in the Moscow 1 2 . . . �xc3 1 3 be �c2 1 4 K a2
International tournament in l 98S. �xa3 ( 1 4 . . . � xe3 l S fe with a
He put the N sign by this move in small advantage for White) I S
his commentaries on his game K xa3 J.. xa3 1 6 cS J.. b2 1 7 -.!tb3
with Tseshkovsky in lnformator. J,. xc3 1 8 -.!txc3 c6 1 9 l U I K e8 20
However a month before this ». a3 *c7 21 �d2 bS 22 ll, a6
game Christiansen played this White stood better. However, Iva­
move against Ljubojevic at nov pointed out that the position
Linares. So apparently the "scien­ would have been uncl�ar after 1 6
tific" discovery was made by the . . . bS 1 7 *b3 J.. xcS 1 8 de c6 1 9
two players independently of each �d4 J.. d 7 20 J.. f4 a S 2 1 J.. d6
other. ». e8.
10 � c3 12 c6
1 0 cS!?, with the aim of gaining In the same tournament at
space on the queenside ( l l a3 Moscow 1985 against Tsesh­
�c6 1 2 b4) hasn't been tried yet. kovsky, Arkhipov continued 12 . • .

After 1 0 . . . �c6 ( 1 0 . . . aS l l de 13 J.. xc4 a5 (more accurate

�eS) I I -.!ta4 aS 1 2 <21eS White than 1 3 . . . � xc3 1 4 be �c2 I S
has a small advantage. X ad l � xe3 1 6 fe with pressure
10 0--0 on the n square) 14 aJ � xcJ 15
1 1 i.. eJ be (after I S ab bS! 16 be be 1 7
I I cd will be considered later. -.!txc4 J.. e6 1 8 *bS ab 1 9 K xa8
11 J.. f5 (62) -.!txa8 20 cb J.. d S Black is better)
15 a4 16 1!rb2 �cl 17 ll, a2
• • .

� xeJ 18 fe J.. d6 19 -.!txb7 (correct

was 1 9 �eS! i._ e6 20 i._xe6 fe) 19
• • • II. b8 20 *d5? (the losing
move, but Black also had an ad­
vantage after 20 *a6 *d7) 20 . • •

J.. dJ! 21 "t!rc6 (2 1 J_xd3 i.. xh2 + ;

2 1 K d l c6! 22 -.!txc6 K c8) 21 • . •

.txn 22 • xn K b1 + and Black

won.
Apparently, after the game
In all three of S. Arkhipov's Arkhipov was convinced that, de­
games, which are mentioned here, spite his successful result, the
68 The Russian Game

exchange on c4 didn't solve all the 17 e xe4

opening problems. Some rounds After 1 7 exc6 €)exc3! 1 8
later he tried a refinement and exd8 ee2 + 1 9 fr h l <2!xcl
delayed the exchange by one Black gains a material advantage.
move. 17 � xe4
13 .M acl 18 x xe6
1 3 cd cd 14 x ac l aS IS a3 Better was 1 8 <21 xf7 * xf7 and
-E) xc3 16 x xc3 a4 1 7 'it d l �c6 only now 1 9 g xc6.
offered White no advantage but a 18 'lte8!
more promising continuation was 19 K eel
1 3 cS -E)xc3 14 be �c2 I S ll, ac l Not 19 K fc l owing to 19 . . .
�xe3 1 6 fe. The waiting move by <2!xe3 20 �xf7 j_dS!
White's rook now allows Black to 19 �d6
capture the initiative. 20 e xti "Wtxti
13 • . • de 21 K c6 .M d8
This capture is now much There is nominal equality on
stronger because Black has the board, but Black's pieces are
already prepared the b7- bS ad- very well coordinated.
vance. 22 j_g5 �f4!
14 � xe4 b5! (63) This leads by force to a number
of exchanges and a winning
bishop endgame.
63
w 23 'lifxf7 + fr xti
24 j_ xd8 j_xe6
25 � g5 � xg2!
26 d5 J.. xd5
27 g dl fr e6
28 g xd5 fr xd5
29 fr xg2 fr e4
The difference in actiVIty is
great and this proves to be deci-
sive.
15 �xti + !? 30 J.. e3 a6
The modest I S �e2 led to the 31 h3 ,i e5
loss of a pawn: I S . . . J.. e6 1 6 32 b3 J.. d4
lltf"d I <2!xc3 1 7 g xc3 j_ xa2 1 8 b3 33 J.. g5 fr d3
aS and aS-a4, or 1 7 be �xa2 1 8 34 *0 fr e2
� c2 and bS-b4. 35 �e3 J.. f6
15 .M xti 36 fr e4 *b2
16 €)e5 <2!d5. 37 fr d3 fr xa2
This is the only reply but it is 38 fr e2 aS
sufficient. If 16 . . . tt"e8 then 1 7 39 j_b6 a4
g4! � xc3 1 8 be etc. 40 b4
 The Russian Game 69

White would lose immediately end, I decided to try this variation

after 40 ba b4. with Black myself.
40 *•3 9 0--0
41 �cS h5 10 �cJ � e6
42 �f8 g6 11 J.eJ �f6 (64)
43 �cS g5
44 f3
If 44 � d6 then 44 . . . g4! 45 hg
h4 followed by h4-h3 and J.e7
winning the b pawn.
44 �e5
45 �e7 _ftgJ
46 � xg5 * xb4
47 f4 *c4
48 fS *ciS!
49 J.d8 J.d6
50 J.h4 *e4
51 f6 * fS This was played for the first
52 *cJ * e6 time in another game by the
53 �g5 b4 + Yugoslav grandmaster: Ljuboje­
54 *c4 bJ. vic-Christiansen (Linares, 1 985).
White resigned. After 12 K c l c5 1 3 a3 cd 14 � xd4
J. xd4 1 5 � xd4 €) xc3 1 6 l;l xc3
€)c6 1 7 cd €)xd4 1 8 de fe ( 1 8 . . .
Ljubojevic-Karpov � xe6 was safer, when White
Bugojno, 1986 would have had only a marginal
advantage) 1 9 �d3 l!l f7 20 1ltd2
1 e4 e5 itf6 21 l;l fc l White achieved a
2 �f3 €)f6 considerable advantage.
3 � xe5 d6 I captured on e4 in my game
4 �f3 � xe4 with Ljubojevic. But before going
5 d4 dS any further, note that White has
6 �dJ another two options, which are, in
7 0--0 fact, absolutely safe for Black: 1 2
8 c4 cd � xc3 1 3 be � xd5, and Black is
9 J.el simply better; 1 2 a3 €) xc3 1 3 be
After the 4 1 st game of the first €)c6 1 4 cd §txd5, and the position
Karpov-Kasparov match, it is equal.
seemed nobody would want to 12 de
play this position with Black. But, 13 c6
as we shall see, the theory is deve­ 14
loping rapidly and Black has 15 aJ
found various antidotes. In the 16 €) c2
70 The Russian Game

1 6 . . . ttd7 1 7 K fd 1 �c7 threa­ Perhaps Black should have

tening b7-b5 was perhaps better. played 26 . . . *d7 and if 27 h3
17 K fd1 x ae8 then 27 . . . f6 28 't!i'c5 �e6 fol-
18 't!i'a4 c5! lowed by . . . l;t e8 and . . . 't!i'f7.
Not allowing 1 9 b4 which 27 h3 f6
would have cramped Black's 28 't!i'c5
queenside. Another option was 28 � b6
19 K acl! 't!i'dl + 29 *h2 11td6 + 30 K g3
If 1 9 d5 �d7 20 't!i'b3 't!i'd6 K b8.
followed by . . . �e5, I would 28 't!i'XO
have been content with my posi­ Not 28 . . . *xd4 29 X eS +
tion. But now White renewed the *f7 30 *e7 + .
b2-b4 threat, having overpro­ 29 � xeS b5
tected the c4 pawn. 30 �b4
19 ed 30 b3 � f7 3 1 a4 K d l + 32
20 � xd4 �c5 *h2 ba 33 ba .M a l 34 �a3 .l. a2
Black gains some counterplay also led to a draw.
by sacrificing a pawn. Despite 30 h5
what happens afterwards, the re­ 31 K e7?
sult of the opening favours White. White has been exerting pres­
21 tt-xa7 � d3 sure on Black's position through­
2 1 . . . �xd4 22 X xd4 K xd4 23 out the game and he could still
�xd4 �d3 24 X c2 led to an develop an initiative by 3 1 *h2
advantage for White. .l. d7 32 h4 threatening *g3, f2-
22 �xd3 f3, * f4. Now I can breathe at
The other exchange, 22 �xe6, last.
looked dangerous. 22 . . . �xc l 23 31 K d1 +
� xd8 � xe2 + 24 * fl K xd8 25 32 * hl K cl
'ilrxe2 Jl xd l (25 . . . � xb2 26 But not 32 . . . X fl because of
tt-xb7 and so on) 26 *xd l tt-d7 + 33 � e l !
27 *cl would be dubious for 33 �c3 �;t el
Black. However, after 22 . . . 34 �d4
tt- xe6 23 x c2 (23 � xd3 ed 24 If 34 *g3 then 34 . . . h5-
11txb7 X b8 with an equal posi­ h4 + .
tion) 23 . . . b5! Black has suffi­ 34 Jt dl
cient counterchances. 35 K d7 K d3
22 � xd4 35 . . . h4 36 �;t d8 + *h7 37
23 � xd4 ed �xf6 X xf2 was also possible.
24 X xd3 l;t xe4 36 h4 *h7
Not 24 . . . K a8 owing to 25 37 f3 *g6
't!i'b6 K a6 26 't!i'b3 X ad6 27 't!i'c3. 38 K d8 *"
25 x xe4 � xe4 39 �b6 Jl xd8
26 x e3 *d6 40 � xd8 *g6
 The Russian Game 71

Another possibility was 40 . . .

65
f5 4 1 *g3 g6 42 * f4 * e6. B
41 *g3 * rs
42 * fl *eS
43 *e3 J.. b3
44 j_ c7 + * dS.
Draw.
Despite the peaceful result, it
should be admitted that Black
didn't completely solve his open­
ing problems.
getic advance of the f pawn Black
Karpov-8eirawan acquires opportunities of active
Brussels, 1986 counterplay on the kingside. I I
. . . J.. f5 and I I . . . J.. f6 have
1 e4 eS already been covered in detail.
2 �fJ �(6 Only recently, in Sokolov-Smys­
3 � xeS d6 lov (Moscow, 1 987), Black tried
4 �fJ � xe4 another move- I I . . . �f6. The
s d4 dS game continued 1 2 a3 �c6 1 3 b3
6 j_d3 J.. e7 �e4. The exchange on c3 when
7 0-0 � c6 White has a pawn on b2 is not
8 c4 �b4 very good for Black because
9 J.. e2 j_e6 White strengthens his centre. In
10 �c3 0-0 fact, this was proved by the main
1 1 J.. e3 game. However, now that the b
In the same tournament in pawn has moved one square and
Brussels Ljubojevic played I I cd b2xc3 is impossible, Black's
against Seirawan. After I I . . . knight returns to e4 to exchange
� xc3 1 2 be �xd5 1 3 "i/ri'c2 ( 1 3 on c3. Unfortunately, White cap­
�d2 �b6 is equal) 1 3 . . . c5 1 4 c4 tures the knight himself and Black
� b4 1 5 'i!IIJ' e4 "iiri' d 7 1 6 dc? J.. f5 1 7 has lost two tempi which in the
ilrd4 ilre6 1 8 J.. b2 J.. f6 1 9 "iiri' d2 end is decisive. 14 �xe4 de 1 5 d5
J.. xb2 20 "i/ri'xb2 �c2 Black gained ef 16 J.. x f3 j_d7 1 7 de J.. xc6 1 8
an advantage, which he converted �xc6 be 1 9 jf'f3 iitd3 20 g ab l
into a point. After the game it was jf'g6 21 a4 a 5 2 2 J.. f4 j_d6 23
suggested that White should have j_ xd6 'i!\f'xd6 24 � bd l jf'b4 25
played 1 6 j_ b2. Note one more � d7 � ab8 26 g xc7 jf'xb3 27
variation: I I �xe4 de 1 2 � e l jf' xc6. Despite the fact that Smys­
with chances for both sides. Iov managed to save the game in
11 fS!? (65) the end, it is unlikely that he
An interesting idea from the would like to repeat his opening
American champion. By the ener- experiment.
72 The Russian Game

12 a3 <E:� xc3 pionship, 1986). In the position in

13 be �c6 diagram 62 Black played 19 • • .

14 'ii!J' a4 a6! It was not a difficult move but

A tense struggle would have now it becomes clear that White's
ensued after 14 cd j_ xd5 1 5 c4 rook is deprived of the b5 square
J.. x f3 16 J.. xf3 f4 1 7 J.. d 5 + * h8 which is an important fact. 20 h3
1 8 j_cl .;t f6. j_hS 21 <E:� gS? White got flustered
14 f4 by being faced with an unexpected
IS j_d2 .h8 move. After 2 1 � bd l (2 1 �h2
16 � abl � b8 was also interesting) he would still
17 � ret de have had the initiative. 21 • . •

18 .,ixc4 j_g4 j_ xe2! This is much stronger than

19 �e2 (66) 21 . . . _ixg5 22 j_xh5 f3 23 j_xg5
il1i'xg5 24 j_xf3! � xf3 (24 . . .
� xd4 25 \'!\lixd4 � xf3 26 � xb7
� bf8 27 � xc7 .!;1 xh3 28 "(lfd6
A! g8 29 illf' e6 with the huge and
terrible threat of '/!!f xg8 + ) 25
'ilifxc6! and White has a clear ad­
vantage.
22 -2)e6 "i!\rdS 23 � xe2 f3! Black
creates dangerous threats by sac­
rificing the exchange. 24 � eel fg!
25 -2) xf8 � xf8 26 i11i' d l "i!\rfS!
Black has a winning position but
it is interesting to see how the
This was an important mo­ game finished. 27 * xg2 '/!!f xfl +
ment. Jumping a little ahead, I 28 *h i �f3. White is forced to
want to point out that here, after give up a piece in order to avoid
1 9 . . . Ad6 20 h3 j_ h5, White's mate. 29 � e3 � xe3 30 j_ xe3
rook made an unusual ma­ ili"xe3 31 i!l';'g4 g6! 32 � fl . No
noeuvre: 21 � b5! Ae8 22 '/!!f c2 a6 better was 32 i!i"c8 + *g7 33
23 .!;;. f5! The rooks were � xb7 _id6 34 � xc7 + j_xc7 35
exchanged, the light squares in '/!!( XC7 + �e7. 32 • . . *g7 33 � f3
Black's camp became weak and I '/!!f e l + 34 * g2 j_ xa3 35 '/!!f f4
took advantage of this fact in the \'!\lie7 36 � e3 •f7 37 '/!!f e4 j_d6 38
end. � e2 -2)e7! 39 '/!!f xb7 �dS 40 � fl
Soon after this, Seirawan found -2)e3 + White resigned in view of
a way to improve Black's play to the line 41 * g l Ah2 + ! 42 * xh2
some extent. The game where it \'!\lixf2 + 43 * h l "i!\rg2 + !
happened should be looked at in It is time to return !O my game
full. with Seirawan.
Rohde-Seirawan ( USA cham- 19 j_d6
 The Russian Game 73

I want to remind you again that hopeless. However he managed to

1 9 . . . a6 was correct here. organise a stubborn resistance
lO h3 _th5 and the game went on for another
Wasn't it better to play 20 . . . 40 moves-just like another
..tf5 here? game!
11 .�;. b5! _te8 37 ..tb3 b5
If 2 1 . . . _tg6 then 22 c4 was 38 *" 1lt f8
unpleasant. 39 .tel tli'g8
ll 'itel a6 40 j_b3 + tli' h8
This is too late, but White also 41 h4 �b7
stood better after 22 . . . _tg6 23 4l e4 'iiir g8 (67)
.,td3 ..t xd3 24 lltxd3 threatening
g h5 and �g5.
J;. xfS
l3 J;. fS! 67
24 llt xfS ..tg6 w
15 'itt"g4 •r6
16 A.e4 g f8
The queen exchange 26 . . . ..tf5
1 7 -.. gs 'iiir xg5 28 �xg5 wouldn't
help Black.
l7 a4 ..tel
28 *h5 h6
Not 28 . . . jl xa4 29 � g5 h6 30
� f7 + *h7 3 1 J;. e6!
19 J;. e8! ..t fS 43 'i!1J'd3
The a4 pawn is taboo again This retreat didn't affect the re­
because of 30 �g5! sult of the game but it did cause
30 ..tdS! ..td7 the whole evening to be wasted on
31 Iii xf8 + 'itxf8 completing the adjourned game
lf 3 1 . . . ..txf8 then 32 �e5. . . . After 43 J.c2! threatening
jl �h4 Ae8 1Lc3, d5 and 'i!IJ'xh6 mate the game
33 'l!lrel would have finished much sooner.
It is difficult for Black to defend 43 iit h7
the light squares even without 44 *el g5
rooks. But White shouldn't hurry. 45 e5
Now after 33 �g6 ..1xg6 34 "iif' xg6 It was better to exchange the
J?je7 White would let go some of queens at once.
his advantage. 45 j_e7
33 J?jd8 46 ab ab
34 "iir e4 flt e7 47 h5 _ta5
35 �g6 + ..1 xg6 48 ..tel
36 "iif' xg6 e6 Here again 48 "Wrxh7 + with an
Black's position is strategically easy winning endgame was cor-
74 The Russian Game

rect. Now to achieve a win I have

68
to create a small endgame study. w
48 . • . "\!lr e7 +
49 *dl
After 49 *f3 g4 + ! only Black
would have winning chances: 50
*xg4 '\tg5 + 5 1 * f3 (5 1 *h3
lt;'xh5 mate) 51 . . . "i!Jxh5 + 52 g4
(52 *e4 "i!Jg6 + , 52 *xf4 "i!fg5 + )
52 . . . "i!f h l + .
49 'iii' e l +
so lt;'xfl + king off from the pawn. After 66
51 �g3 .tc7 .tc5! Black could still hold
52 fg out.
53 66 g4
The queens are exchanged at 67 * c3 ,.td6
last. Black admittedly has an 68 .lg7 .tf4
extra pawn but he doesn't have 69 *b4 *dS
any hope in the minor piece end- 70 * xb5 * c7
game. 71 * c5 .te3 +
53 *g7 72 *d5 .tf4
54 d5 -2! xc5 73 .tf8
55 .tbl + *18 Black is in a total zugzwang.
56 de � a6 73 *b6
57 .t a3 + *eS 74 .td6 .t g5
58 .te6! 75 .t xg3.
This is a pretty method to cut Black resigned.
the king off from the pawn.
58 ... .tb4 Sax-Yusupov
Of course not 58 . . . <2) b4 + 59 Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1984
.txb4 .txb4 60 c7.
59 .tbl ..U8 I e4 e5
60 .td7 + *d8 2 � f3 -2!f6
61 .te5 <E) b4 + 3 <2) xe5 d6
62 *dl -2!d5 4 <2)f3 � xe4
63 .te6 -2!c7 5 d4 d5
64 .tf7 -2! e8 (68) 6 .t d3 j)_ e7
Black's last chance was 64 . . . 7 ()....{) -2! c6
�a6. But now comes the pro­ s J;� el .tg4
mised endgame study . . . 9 c4 <2)f6
65 .1. xeS! *xeS 10 cd .t xf3
66 .tf6! II �xf3 �xd5
Now another bishop cuts the (69)
 The Russian Game 75

sufficient for a draw) 1 6 a3 � xe4

69
w 1 7 M xe4 � xc3 1 8 be �a5 with
complete equality (Ehlvest-Mik­
halchishin, Lvov, 1 984). In
Lobron-Mikhalchishin, White
played 1 6 � xc6 (instead of 1 6 a3),
and after 16 . . be 1 7 a3 .1. xd4! 1 8
.

ab M xd2 1 9 K xa7 M e8! Black's

position became even better.
Before going any further, I
want to remind you that 1 2 i!th3,
My first match with Kasparov which Kasparov chose in the 28th
lasted five whole months, and game, occurred for the first time
many ideas which were born there in Velimirovic-Kurajica (Bela
were refined elsewhere during the Crkva, 1984), and Black captured
actual marathon, in particular at on d4 with the queen there, 1 2 . . .
the olympiad in Thessaloniki. '5'xd4, when 1 3 �c3 X d8 1 4 �f5
This game was played there. The h5 1 5 i!tg3 * f8 1 6 �e3 i!tb4 1 7
reader should remember that this a 3 -.as led to approximate equa­
position occurred in the 28th lity. 1 4 � b5!? was worth a try.
game of this match, where after 1 2 One way or the other, I decided to
i!th3 the game finished in a quick avoid surprises and deviated my­
draw. But there were other self by capturing on d4 with the
queen's moves and one of them knight which solved Black's prob­
was tried in this game. lems.
12 i!t g3 12 i!txd4
The exchange on d5 has been 13 �c3 � ( 70)
played many times but it doesn't
appear to offer White much: 1 2
"i!fxd5 � xd5 1 3 �c3 0--0--0 ! (after 70
w
1 3 . . . �db4 White manages to
achieve an advantage: 14 �e4
<E:� xd4 1 5 �e3 c5 1 6 � xd4! cd 1 7
-2!b5 * f8 1 8 a3! �c6 1 9 X ac l d3
20 � xd3 J,.f6 21 b4 g6 22 J,.e4,
Popovic-Kurajica, Yugoslavia,
1 984; or 1 5 . . . K d8 1 6 J,.xd4
K xd4 1 7 a3 �c6 1 8 <E:�b5 K d2 1 9
o2lxc7 + * d8 20 � b5, Abramo­
vic-Rukavina, Yugoslavia, 1 985) Up to now the game has fol­
14 �e4 � b4 1 5 J.. d2 � f6 ( 1 5 . . . lowed Hiibner-Smyslov, which is
o2lxd4 1 6 �xd5 ..txd2 1 7 .l, ed l c6 regarded as the original of the
1 8 X xd2 cd 1 9 K xd4 was also exchange on f3. Black played 1 3
76 The Russian Game

. . . II d8 there and had to work 2 1 <21 xa6 �e7 22 �c5! <2lxf5 23

hard to draw. By castling at once � xf8.
Black doesn't just equalise but 21 K c4 l2) xf5
actually manages to take over the 22 K xb4 K d7
initiative. 23 K cl
14 �b5 l\f'g4 23 � f4 1ost after 23 . . . J;�. c8 24
14 . . . l!f'b4 was also worth con­ J;�. xb7 <2ld5 25 �e5 �xc7 26 K c l
sidering; in Abramovic-Kurajica �e8!
(Yugoslavia, 1 984) the players 23 l;l c8
soon agreed to a draw after this 24 K bc4 J;�. cd8
move. 25 h3 �xe3
15 l\f' xg4 26 fe \ti'f8
1 5 l!f'xc7 was dubious in view of 27 e4 *e7
1 5 . . . �c5! with an attack for 28 K b4 K dl +
Black, but after 1 5 �xc7 Ji adS 1 6 29 J� xdl J� xdl +
'{itxg4 � xg4 1 7 �e2 the position 30 \ti'fl *d6
would be equal. 31 e5 +
15 � xg4 White makes a decisive mistake
16 �f5 in time trouble. The endgame was
Here again 1 7 �e2 was better, unpleasant for him, but after 3 1
but 1 7 �xc7 �c5! was rather *e2 it would have been possible
risky. to put up a stubborn resistance.
16 l2)f6 31 \ti' xe5
17 �xc7 � adS 32 -E)a8 b5
18 �e3 33 a4 �d5
1 8 �b5 was bad owing to 1 8 34 .W. b3 ba
. . . �i dS. 35 .� b7 .w. bl
18 a6 36 \ti' f3 a3.
An accurate move; after 1 8 . . . White resigned.
�d6 1 9 � b5 �xh2 + 20 * xh2
l;l d5 21 �xa7 White would have
stood better. Belyavsky-Smyslov
19 � acl Reggio Emilia, 1986/1987
A mistake, after which Black
obtains an initiative. Correct was 1 e4 e5
1 9 � ed t �d6 20 �b6 �e5 21 2 �f3 � f6
J4 xd8 � xd8 2 2 � xa6 retaining 3 �xe5 d6
equal chances. 4 �f3 -E) xe4
19 �b4! 5 d4 d5
20 � n 6 �d3 �c6
I f 20 � ed t then 20 . . . �a5! 7 0--0 �e7
20 �d4! 8 c4 �b4
I f 20 . . . �a5 White would play It seems appropriate to men-
 The Russian Game 77

tion the 48th game from the first started by the 4 1 st game of the
Kasparov-Karpov match where 8 world championship match. It
. . . � f6 was played, and present serves as a guideline for our dis­
more recent material on this sub­ cussion on the Russian Game.
ject. 9 cd
Ljubojevic-Shiissler (New This capture, which allows the
York, 1 985): 9 �c3 0-0 10 .l, e l exchange of the light-squared bis­
de I I � xc4 J.. g4 1 2 J.. e3 � xf3 1 3 hop, was known even before the
iltxf3 � xd4 1 4 j_xd4 iltxd4 1 5 4 1 st game, as was pointed out
.l, xe7 -t�rxc4 1 6 iltxb7 c6 1 7 iitb3 before, and it also occurred more
iltxb3 1 8 ab K fe8 1 9 l, a3 .l!l fe8 than once after this first game
20 X xe8 + l, xe8 2 1 * fl with a with Kasparov. Therefore this or­
better endgame for White. der of moves still remains topical.
Kudrin-Wolff, USA champion­ At the same time the reputation of
ship, 1985: 9 �c3 0-4) 10 cd �xd5 this variation as safe for Black
1 1 X el j_e6 12 a3 J.. f6 13 � e4 remains intact.
� de7? (the wrong knight goes to 9 � xd3
e7; 1 3 . . . �ce7! equalised) 14 10 iltxd3 -.xd5
� g5! � xg5 15 �xg5 �f5 (but ( 71)
now 1 5 . . . h6 was correct) 16 d5
�xe4 17 it xe4 -2! b8 18 -.h5 h6
19 X ael � xd5 20 �xf7 �f6 21
� xh6 + *h7 22 iith3. Black
resigned
Fedorowicz-Kogan (USA
championship, 1 985): 9 h3 0-0 1 0
�c3 de I I j_xc4 � a 5 1 2 j_d3
j_e6 13 K e l c5!? (a new move
compared to the 48th game) 1 4
J.. e3 c4 1 5 �c2 �d5 with equa­
lity.
In the last game, Christiansen
suggested 1 4 J,.g5! h6 1 5 j_h4, in This position has been known
order to meet 1 5 . . . c4 by 1 6 for at least twenty years, so it is
J.. xf6 � xf6 1 7 j_e4 with some impossible to cover it in full. As
initiative in the centre. One way usual, we are interested in the
or the other, we can see that 8 . . . newest material.
-2! f6 remains viable, and certain 11 K el �f5
failures at the "highest level" Before presenting Belyavsky's
don't mean that the adherents of move here, I want to remind you
the Russian Game have lost faith that 12 �c3 � xc3 13 ttxc3 once
in this opening. used to be White's only continua­
Now we return to the dispute tion. Let's look at two important
78 The Russian Game

examples of the way to play this soon become quite dangerous. In

position. First let us return to the principle, it would be possible to
1 983 candidates' match. put a full stop here, but the epilo­
Hiibner-Smyslov, Velden, 1983: gue of this game was so fascinat­
1 3 . . . ..t e6. (The tempting 1 3 . . . ing that it is a pleasure looking
c6 was definitely refuted a long through it to the end. 23 -.aS
time ago: 14 ..t h6!! X g8 - 1 4 . . . *b8 24 � d3 -.b3 2S K cl b6 26
gh 1 S x es 't!td7 1 6 x ae l _te6 1 7 't!teS .M c8 27 <E� f4 tt b2 28 K c6
dS! cd 1 8 ll xe6 fe 1 9 ttxh8 + .,t f8 *b7 29 *h2 'it'xf2 30 �d3 iiit dl
20 't!tf6 etc; 1 4 . . . .,te4 l S .,t xg7 31 tre4 *b8 32 -BeS *b8 32 .tieS
X g8 1 6 X xe4! 't!txe4 1 7 ,M e l K d8 33 .t�d7 + ! *c8 ( 72)
't!txe l + 1 8 i!txe l l;l xg7 1 9 'tlteS­
l S X eS 't!td7 16 X ae l .,te6 1 7
�gS! 0-Q-0 1 8 � xf7!, and White 72
w
won, Browne-Bisguier, USA
championship, 1 974). 1 4 ftkxc7
.,td6 1 S 't!tc2 ()....{) 1 6 .,td2 .tfS! 1 7
't!tb3 't!txb3 1 8 ab f6 1 9 .,tc3 * f7.
White's extra pawn is neutralised
by Black's two strong bishops.
The game ended in a draw.
Van der Wiei-Short, Biel. 1985:
13 .,te6 14 X eS. Perhaps tak­
• . •

ing on c7 was better but it was still

not too dangerous for Black. 14 34 X d6!! Black resigned. An
. • • 't!tc6 (Black also has a solid instructive fin ish: 34 . . . K xd7 3S
position after 14 . . . -.d7 l S .,tgS ..-as mate: 34 . . . cd 3S t�rc6 mate.
f6 16 X e3 fg 1 7 X ae 1 ()....{) 1 8 A beautiful victory, but in no way
X xe6 .,t f6) I S *el. After 1 S due to the opening . . .
ttxc6 be the slight weakness in Now we must return to the
Black's pawn chain would be main game.
compensated by the presence of 12 �eS!! ( 73)
two bishops. IS . . . 0-6-0 16 .tgS
.txgS 17 X xgS .,tdS 18 �eS lltb6
(Black would have had a fine posi­ 73
B
tion after 1 8 . . . 'tlth6 1 9 l;l g3 f6)
19 Iii xg7 � hg8 20 Iii g3 '{lt xb2
(wasn't it better to pick up a pawn
on d4?) 21 K dl � xg3 22 hg
.txa2? After 22 . . . l;l e8 Black
shouldn't lose. In fact, he cuts his
bishop out of the game by taking
the a2 pawn, and White's threats
 The Russian Game 79

Although this move has also gested 1 6 . . . * fl 1 7 � xe7 +

been known for quite a while, * xe7 1 8 llt' xg7 + with an unclear
theory (I mean the Encyclopedia position. But it turns out to be, in
of Chess Opening) doesn't devote fact, very clear! A game between
much attention to it. If 1 2 . . . f6 two young masters-Ulibin­
then it gives 1 3 jl(f3, recom­ Serprer (Sochi, 1 986) continued
mended by P. Keres, and if 1 2 . . . for only seven moves: 1 8 . . . � fl
�h4? 1 3 g3 <E) xg3 then 1 4 f;f3! 1 9 "i/!r'g4 � adS 20 b3 "\li'g6 2 1
even decides the game (Zuidema­ iWfxg6 hg 2 2 j_a3 + * fl 2 3 � e 1
Barendreght, Amsterdam, 1 966). � h5 24 ii. b2 �e6 25 -E:�f3 � hd5.
However, 1 2 . . . f6 should be con­ White resigned.
sidered in more detail. The point So, 1 7 X xe7 + was unsound,
is that after 1 2 . . . f6 1 3 f;f3 Black and therefore the whole variation
can reply 1 3 . . . g6! and after the is not dangerous for Black. Per­
knight leaves the e5 square Black haps one can draw the conclusion
has no problems. And if 14 g4 fe that, after 1 2 <E)e5 Black's reply 1 2
1 5 gf gf White is even in more . . . f6 is sufficient to equalise. But
trouble ( 1 6 f;xf5 K g8 + 1 7 tlf fl what was Belyavsky intending
f;c4 + ). when he played 1 2 �e5 and what
Makropoulos-Toth (Budva was Smyslov afraid of when he
1 9 8 1 ) countiuned 1 3 �c3 <E) xc3 rejected 1 2 . . . f6? We shall proba­
14 -.xfS �bs 1 5 lll' h 5 + g6 1 6 bly learn the answers to these
ii(( h3 fe 1 7 � xeS "tlt'xd4 1 8 'il{(e6 questions in the future.
-.dl + 19 g el "1Y!i'd7 20 j_g5 and 12 g6
the chances were equal. It should be noted that Black
A new move was played in De does not have much choice here.
Firmian-Plaskett (Copenhagen, According to Arkhipov 1 2 . . .
1 985): 1 5 "WI' g4. After 1 5 . . . � xd4 0--{)-0 was insufficient owing to 1 3
16 �d3 Black was lured by the ilff3 ( 1 3 �c3? 'iltxe5) 1 3 . . . g6 1 4
exchange- 1 6 . . . �c2? and was g4 j_h4 1 5 �c3 ( 1 5 �d3 �x£2 1 6
subjected to a mating attack: 1 7 f;xd5 �h3 + 1 7 tlfg2 K xd5 1 8 gf
� b4! -2) xb4 1 8 '$'xb4 c5 1 9 'iltg4 j_ xe 1 1 9 �xe 1 l, e8 favours
lti fl 20 J.h6! gh (20 . . . g hg8 2 1 Black) 1 5 . . . �xc3 1 6 be �e6 1 7
� ad l gh 22 '$'xg8 + ) 2 1 � ad l h5 f;xd5 K xd5 1 8 g5 with an advan­
(21 . . . j{(c6 22 )4. xe7 + ! * xe7 23 tage for White. And after 1 2 . . .
'i-tt' g7 + *e6 24 � el + with a <E)d6 1 3 �c3! f;a5 ( 1 3 . . . f;xe5
crushing position) 22 i(( e2 'iltf5 23 14 de �xd3 1 5 ed cd 1 6 �d5) 1 4
'i'ii' xe7 + *g6 24 � d7 h4 25 h3 il(re3 (or 1 4 f;f3) Black i s under
;;;;. ag8 26 � e4 *h5 27 ilt fl + strong pressure.
� g6 2 8 g d5. Black resigned. Judging by the quick draw
resigned. which it led to, it is possible to
De Firmian, in his annotations come to the conclusion that Smys­
on this game in lnformator, sug- lov's new move 1 2 . . . g6 was
80 The Russian Game

successful. However, Black had to

74
overcome a lot of obstacles to B
achieve the draw and so 1 2 . . . f6
is still more solid.
13 jtf3
13 g4 was bad because of 13 . . .
-dxf2! But why not 1 3 -dc3? The
first impression is that the inser­
tion of the moves 1 2 � e5 g6, in
comparison with the games
covered above, favours White. In­
deed, after 1 3 -dc3 -2l xc3 14 'i!(( xc3 when playing 1 3 jj-f3. If now 1 6
1 4 . . . Ae6 is bad owing to 1 5 . . . 'i!(( xb4 ( 1 6 . . . 'i!ii' b6), then 1 7
�h6! 0-0--0 1 6 � xf7! �xf7 1 7 -dd5! decides immediately. The
� xe7 and White is a pawn up same move is played after 1 6 . . .
with the better position. 1 4 . . . c6 'i!li'a6. The ensuing variations are
lose because of 1 5 �c4! when worth attention.
there is no satisfactory defence 16 . . . 'i!li'a6 1 7 �d5! AdS (there
against 1 6 -d e3 and 1 7 d5. The is nothing else) 1 8 g4! ( 1 8 � xe4 +
correct move is 1 4 . . 0-0--0 with
. A Xe4 1 9 �xe4 + 'i!li'e6 20 �d4
a good position for Black because 0---0 2 1 �h6 f6 22 AXfS * xf8 23
1 5 � xg6 is impossible owing to 1 5 'i!!i' d2 *g7 24 � e l �d7 is good
. . . hg 1 6 � xe7 'i!!i' d6! attacking for Black). Black has three op­
the rook and the h2 pawn. tions now, but none of them offer
It seems that White had a dan­ much.
gerous initiative after the queen 1 8 . . . c6. This move blocks the
move chosen by Belyavsky. But queen's path to the e6 square, and
Smyslov coolly took the pawn . . . White takes advantage of this fact
13 'i!li'xd4 immediately. 1 9 � xe4 + Axe4 20
14 -dc3 jj'xeS 'i!(( xe4 + *d7 (20 . . . * f8 2 1
Black goes on picking up every­ �h6 + * g8 22 'i!li'e8 mate) 2 1
thing possible. The material will � d I and White has a crushing
be won back soon but there will position.
be nothing left on the board . . . 1 8 . . . �e6 1 9 "tl!i'xe4 0---0 20
IS � r4 Ah6 � e8 (20 . . . �xd5 2 1 "ti!i'xd5
After 1 5 -d xe4 Black would slip winning the exchange) 2 1 'i!li'e5;
away just in time by 1 5 . . . 0---0 . 18 . . . 0---0 19 gf gf ( 19 . . . -d f6
IS 'i!li'aS 20 A h6) 20 * h l with an irresist­
16 b4 ( 74) ible attack.
After 16 -2l xe4 again there was But Black still has one defence
enough time for 16 . . . 0---0 ( 1 7 which is sufficient.
�g3 �e6). Belyavsky probably 16 'i!li'a3!
counted on this b pawn advance 17 �dS
 The Russian Game 81

Alas, this time this move allows "Wtxd4 i!l'e7 + 1 0 A.e2 �e7 (Chi­
the exchange of queens. But 1 7 burdanidze-Agzamov, Frunze,
�xe4 i!l'xf3 would even have led 1 986). Also after 6 A.e2 j_e7 7
to Black's advantage in the end­ 0--0 0--0 8 d4 j_f6! Black's pieces
game, because Black could hardly successfully interact in the centre.
be expected to fall for 1 8 � f6 + Here are two examples also taken
tlr f8 . . . 1 9 � h6 mate . . . from the international tourna­
17 'l!ltxf3 ment at Frunze, 1 986.
18 gf �d8! 9 h3 � e8 10 j_f4 (if 10 �c3
19 fe Makarichev had prepared l 0 . . .
White can only be proud of the -21 xd4! I I -21 xd4 j_ xd4 1 2 \iri' xd4
fact that he has been attacking for -2J xc3 1 3 i!l'xc3 � xe2) 10 . . . j_f5
five moves being a piece down . . . I I � e l 'I!Vtd7 1 2 �a3 j_ xh3 1 3 gh
19 �e6 ))lfxh3 1 4 j_e3 �g3 with an attack
20 � xc7 + j_xc7 for Black (Chiburdanidze-Mak­
21 � xc7 f6 arichev):
22 a3 � c8 9 A.e3 (9 d5 -2Je7 1 0 j_d3 j_f5
23 x acl .,.,. I I � e l -E:�c5 and 9 it.d3 j_f5 10
Draw. � e l � e8 also lead to good posi­
This was a short game but you tions for Black) 9 . . . � e8 l 0
can't call it a grandmaster draw. � bd2 il_f5! I I �b3 d5! 1 2 � e l
de 1 3 JL xc4 �d6 1 4 �e2 -2J b4,
Kasparov-Karpov and Black had an advantage
Moscow, /985 (Kupreichik-Makarichev).
Game 15, World Championship II 5 dS
6 ..1d3 �c6
1 e4 eS Interest has revived in the
2 � f3 �f6 ancient continuations 6 . . . j_d6
3 �xeS d6 and 6 . . . -E:�d7. Since these moves
4 �f3 �xe4 haven't reached "world stan­
5 d4 dards" yet, we will omit them in
Another move order adopted this book. In order to present the
quite often is 5 c4. The logical material in a more compact way,
reply 5 . . . �c6! was suggested by we are compelled to reject some
Makarichev. Now if 6 d4, then 6 games and variations.
. . . d5 is good, e.g. 7 �c3 � b4 8 7 0-0 j_g4 ( 75)
'i/lf'c2 i�We7 + 9 �e3 �g4 10 f(;'cl We now start considering
.axc3 l l be �a3 1 2 'i!\i'd2 �b4! another popular plan in the Rus­
with a decisive advantage for sian Game, involving the imme­
Black (Kupreichik-Mikhalchi­ diate development of the light­
shin, Kuibishev, 1 986). After 6 squared bishop on g4 and leaving
�c3, Black equalises easily by 6 the dark-squared bishop on its
. . . �xc3 7 de �f5 8 �d4 �xd4 9 original square. It seems that
82 The Russian Game

not hurry with a check but should

save it for the future.
9 J.. xf3
Other continuations could lead
to serious problems for Black: 9
. . . j_e7 1 0 cd �xd5 I I J.. e4; 9 . . .
�xd4 1 0 iitel + (the check now
comes in handy!) 10 . . . j_e7 ( 1 0
. . . �e6 I I �e5) I I �xd4 de 1 2
�f5 cd 1 3 �xg7 + * f8 1 4 J.. h6
* g8 1 5 f3 with a strong initiative
there is not much difference, but for White.
nevertheless the play sometimes 10 iitxf3 �xd4
takes a totally different direction. II K el +
Black creates serious pressure on The game took the usual direc­
the d4 pawn by saving a tempo on tion after this check, but only for
the move . . . j_e7, but at the same one move! Later we shall consider
time his king is delayed in the the interesting continuations 1 1
centre and becomes the object of '.tfe3 + and I I '({(( h3 in detail.
White's attack. This variation has II .J.. e7 ( 76)
its own plusses and minuses. It is
interesting that the position in
diagram 75 wasn't even con­
sidered in ECO ( 1 9 8 1 ).
8 c4 �f6
9 �cJ
Black has created pressure on
the d4 pawn and Kasparov de­
cided to sacrifice it immediately.
This idea, though not new, is
quite dangerous for Black. We
shall cover 9 cd below. 9 � e l +
J.. e7 would transpose to the posi­ 12 "t�tdl!?
tion from the 28th game of the Lobron-Karpov (Hannover,
first match. As you will remem­ 1 983) continued 1 2 .-g3 de 1 3
ber, 1 0 cd J.. x f3 I I "t�t xf3 "t�txd5 1 2 j_xc4 ( 1 3 -. xg7 lost to 1 3 . . .
"t�t h3 �xd4 1 3 �c3 "t�td7 1 4 � f3 + 1 4 * h I K g8 1 5 "tltxf6
illl' xd7 + •xd7 led to a quick � xe l ) 1 3 . . 0--0 14 J.. g5 j_d6 ( 1 4
.

draw. Of course, this result is . . . -dc2 1 5 J! xe7!) 1 5 ilfh4 h6! 1 6

acceptable to Black, and so Kas­ J.. xf6 -.xf6 1 7 -.xf6 gf l 8 X e4 c5
parov took another path after 46 1 9 i;i h4 * g7 20 �e4 j_e7 2 1 �g3
minutes' thought. He came to the f5 22 g h3 j_d6 23 f4 b5 24 j_d3
sensible decision that he should c4 25 j_xf5 g fe8. The pawn has
 The Russian Game 83

been won back at last, but Black the centre; if 1 6 . . . � c8 then 1 7

has a big positional advantage ..te5! is unpleasant) 1 7 <2) xe7 +
and he easily transformed it into f/ xe7 1 8 J.. d6. However, Black
victory. could avoid all his difficulties by
1 2 llt d l was undoubtedly an playing 1 6 . . . <2)xf4 1 7 l, xe7 +
improvement, although, as will be 'll f8 1 8 .K e5 f/d6!, e.g. 1 9 K f5
seen later, it was not too danger­ .!';;. d8 20 � xf4 ftxd5 etc.
ous for Black either. 16 0-0
12 �e6! There was no time to defend the
Black manages to simplify the pawn: 1 6 . . . a6 1 7 _te3 0--0 1 8
position by this move. After 1 2 . . . � ad I with strong pressure.
de 1 3 _txc4 0--0 ( 1 3 . . . c5 1 4 17 �xe7 +
•a4 + ) 1 4 � xe7 flxe7 1 5 'i!(f xd4 Not 1 7 "«fxb5 _tc5!
Black would have been on the 17 -. xe7
verge of defeat. White also had an 18 -.xbS a6
advantage after 1 2 . . . 0--0 1 3 cd. This is more accurate than
13 cd <2)xd5 immediate 1 8 . . . X fd8 1 9 ..t e3
14 _tbS + c6 "«fd7 20 "«fxd7 x xd7 2 1 � ad l .
IS � xdS cb ( 77) 19 "«fb3 K fd8
20 ..te3 K ac8
20 . . . b5 also led to equality.
77 21 .K acl b6
w
22 b3 <2!d4.
Draw.
After 23 J.. xd4 l, xc 1 24 .K xc 1
.K xd4 both sides have run out of
steam.

Kasparov-Karpov
London, 1986
Game 6 World Championship 1/1
The tension has gone. White
has the mighty knight in the 1 e4 eS
centre and Black has doubled 2 � f3 �f6
pawns, but one of them is an extra 3 <21 xeS d6
pawn. One thing balances the 4 .:E) f3 <2! xe4
other and a draw is soon agreed. s d4 d5
16 "«fb3 6 _td3 <2)c6
1 6 J.. f4 preventing Black cas­ 7 0-0 ..t g4
tling looked tempting e.g. 1 6 . . . 8 c4 �f6
()...?.{) ( 1 6 . . . _td6 1 7 J.. xd6 "«fxd6 9 <2!c3 ..t xf3
1 8 � f6 + 'll e7 1 9 .:E)d5 + .:E)f8 20 10 -.xo � xd4
lltf3 and Black's king is delayed in 11 tt"e3 + ( 78)
84 The Russian Game

White has the advantage of the

78
B two bishops and an initiative for a
pawn. In order to avoid losing the
b7 pawn Black has been forced
to put his queen on the edge of
the board. In lvanchuk-Serper
(Sochi, 1 986), which should be
regarded as the initial game in this
line, Black tried 1 5 . . . lltc5 but
after 16 � xb7 K b8 1 7 b4! lltb6
1 8 11txb6 cb he had the worse
As you will remember, we have endgame and after 1 9 �c6 +
been following the 1 5th game of *d8 20 §l d l + *c7 2 1 b5 §l d8
our previous match. In that game 22 §l xd8 <2! xd8 23 �d5 �e6 24
Kasparov had played a home pre­ �xe6 fe 25 .,t f4 + White
pared innovation here, but his I I exploited his advantage.
tte3 + in the present game had Evidently, it is 1 5 . . . 'f(a6
already been suggested a year ago rather than I I 'f(e3 + that should
and so was no surprise to me. be considered the innovation in
11 �e6 this game.
12 cd � xdS 16 � dl
After 1 2 . . . �c5 White could The immediate 1 6 b4 achieved
play 1 3 ttf3 �d4 1 4 g e l + * ffi nothing after 1 6 . . . �xb4 1 7 � b I
1 5 tt f4 �xd5 1 6 �xd5 i!fxd5 1 7 �c5 1 8 ill!' -f3 c6 1 9 i;;;. xb7 0--0 . If
'Wtxc7 �e6 1 8 i!fg3 �;i dS 1 9 .!!!: d l 1 6 jff3 �d4! 1 7 �e3, Kasparov
h 5 20 h4 with advantage. advises Black not to win the
13 �xd5 'Wfxd5 exchange ( 1 7 . . . �e2 + 1 8 * h i
14 �e4 -¥t b5 �g3 + 1 9 hg ill!' Xfl + 20 * h2
15 a4 with an unclear position), but
If 1 5 i!ff3? Black would have recommends 1 7 . . . 0--0--0 ! with an
replied 1 5 . . . �d4. extra pawn and excellent chances.
15 i!fa6 ( 79) The variations occurring after 1 6
illt f3 � b8 ( 1 6 . . . �c5? 1 7 b4
.axe4 1 8 -¥t xe4 + �e7 1 9 � e l
i!i'e6 20 �g5), will be mentioned
in the annotations to the other
games. The continuation 1 6 �d3
'l!l!t b6 was not dangerous for
Black.
16 .,te7
This game has been studied by
many theoreticians (Dlugy, Mak­
arichev, Nunn, Timman and
 The Russian Game 85

others), but I believe that it is

impossible to achieve an exhaus­
tive analysis without a computer.
Interesting variations occur
after 1 6 . . . �c5 1 7 'l'tf3 c6 I S
X d7!? (80)

80
B

X d4) 1 9 K d7 0--0 20 1!th3 g6 (20

. . . h6 2 1 J,xh6) 2 1 J.. xg6! hg 22
J.. b2 �g7 23 11th6 forcing mate.
Another way is l S J.. b2 0--0 1 9
1!th3 g6 ( 1 9 . . . �g5 20 "t!tg4 1!th6
21 J,cl ! J,e7 22 h4 winning a
piece; 1 9 . . . f5 20 J.. x f5 �g5 2 1
It is bad to accept the sacrificed 1!tb3 + \ll h S 2 2 K d7 and so on.)
rook: I S . . . 'llr xd7? 1 9 'l'txf7 + 20 X d3! h5 (20 . . . �g5 21 ..-h6
�e7 20 J, f5 c5 (also inferior is 20 f6 22 J.. d 5 'llr hS 23 "t!txg5!) 2 1
. . . "t!te2 2 1 J,e3 or 20 . . . ..-c4 2 1 "t!txh5! gh 22 K g3 + .
�g5 K heS 22 K d l + 'llr c7 23 17 . . . 0-0
J.. xe7) 21 J.. g5 'itd6 22 J,xe6 + 18 1!th3
'l't xe6 23 K d l + . After l S b5 or l S ..-n Black
Black needs coolly to complete would take over the initiative by
his development: l S . . 0--0 1 9
. the Zwischenzug l S . . . X adS.
J.. d 3 ( 1 9 b4 J.. d4) 1 9 . . . 11tb6 (but 18 . • . g6
not 1 9 . . . "t!ta5 20 �d2! 11tb6 2 1 Not l S . . . h6 19 ..-fs g6 20
b4 J.. d4 2 2 a 5 or 1 9 . . . b 5 20 b4 "t!te5 or 20 1!tf3 threatening J.. xb7
J.. xb4 2 1 "t!te4) 20 a5 1!tb4 2 1 J.. d2 and J.. xh6.
1!th4 (bad is 2 1 . . . "t!txb2 22 J,c3 19 J.. b2
1!tb3 23 1!th5 g6 24 J,xg6) 22 g3 No better were: 1 9 b5 .1. adS! 20
1!tf6 (22 . . . 1!th3 23 J.. f5) 23 l, e l (20 J.. h6 X xd l + 2 1 X xd l
11txf6 gf and Black has no prob­ "t!txa4) 20 . . . 11tb6 o r 1 9 "t!tc3
lems. 24 X xb7 K fdS 25 X b3 �g5! 20 J,xg5 (20 J.. b2 J.. f6!) 20
�d4 26 K c3 J.. b4 etc is bad for . . . J.. xg5 21 "t!txc7 (2 1 a5 11te6) 2 1
White. . . . X abS and White would only
17 b4 (81) have a symbolic positional advan­
White offers another pawn sac­ tage. 1 9 . . . �g5 in the second
rifice, but it would have been too variation was Black's only
dangerous to accept it: 1 7 . . . defence. In Aseev-lvanchuk
.i,xb4 l S 1!tf3 c6 ( I S . . . �c5 1 9 (Irkutsk, 1 9S6) Black tried to play
86 The Russian Game

more sharply by 1 9 'ft'c3 c5!? but 11 .idS

after 20 .,tb2 �d4 2 1 .td3 'ft'b6 Now it is White who has to be
22 a5 'ft'c7 23 be _txc5 24 ..t fl accurate. After 2 1 .t xb7 'ft'xb4 22
X fdS 25 K a4 he was subjected to .ta3 ttxa4 23 X xe7 X xe7 24
a deadly pin: if 25 . . . .1. acS then 'ft'c3 c5! 25 .t b2 �d4 26 X xa4
26 X axd4 etc. �e2 + 27 * fl �xc3 2S .t xc3
19 'ft'c4! .11 xb7 he is left with nothing.
The queen emerges at last, and 11 'ft'xb4
Black's torments are over. Black 11 .tc3
could not play 1 9 . . . � f4 20 'ft'e3! If 22 .t a3 then 22 . . . 'ft'd4, and
'ft'e2 (20 . . . ..tg5 21 \lrh l ) 21 'ft'd4 after 22 .te5 Black can play 22 . . .
f6 22 .,tf3! The pawn was still .tf6! 23 .t xf6 � f4.
taboo: 1 9 . . . _txb4 20 X d3! with ll �f4! (82)
the deadly threat of 2 1 'ft'xh7 +
\lr xh7 22 X h3 + . 82
10 K d7 w
White could win back a pawn
by 20 ..t xb7, but after 20 . . .
J;� adS he would have had
nothing. Of course, Black should
have also considered 20 .td5
when playing 19 . . . 'ltc4. But he
had an important tempo move 20
. . . 'ltc2 here, which gives him at
least equal play: 2 1 _te5 (2 1 Now the roles have been
� ab l g adS) 2 1 . . . � adS 22 reversed due to Black's threats of
� ac t (22 J;� d3 .,tg5 23 K ad l c6 . . . 11txc3 and . . . �e2 + . White's
24 -.xe6 J;l xd5!; 22 .l;l dc l i!td2! attack has run out of steam and
23 _txe6 fe 24 ;ltxe6 + II f7) 22 after numerous exchanges Black
. . . •xc l ! 23 � xc l l;l xd5. achieves a better endgame. How­
lO M ae8! ever, a draw is inevitable.
A forced move but good l3 .t xb4 � xh3 +
enough to dampen White's offen­ l4 gh .t xb4
sive. As usual, the b4 pawn was 15 .l;l xc7 b6
taboo: 20 . . . i/txb4 (20 . . . •xe4 Perhaps Black should have
2 1 *c3 f6 22 l;l xe7 or 2 1 . . . �d4 tried 25 . . . K e5 transferring the
22 l;l e l ! 11tf4 23 X xd4 11tf6 24 rook to f5 with pressure on f2.
K xe7 11txe7 25 X e4! with a win­ 16 K xa7 \lr g7
ning position) 2 1 _txg6 � g5 (2 1 17 X d7 K d8
. . . fg 22 ttxe6 + X f7 23 .t f6! If 27 . . . g e5 White could
.Iil eS 24 J;� e l ) 22 .txh7 + � xh7 defend by 2S g a2! K f5 29 K b2
23 _ta3! tth4 24 .txe7 ttxh3 25 J.. c5 30 K c2! (intending a4-a5)
gh J;� fcS 26 J;� a3. 30 . . . K cS 31 _te6!
 The Russian Game 87

28 K xd8 1t xd8 posed into the 28th game of my

29 X d1 J,.d6 first match with Kasparov which
30 K d3 bS continued 1 2 '$'h3 �xd4 1 3 e,c3
31 •n X d7 '1td7 14 '$' xd7 + * xd7, with a
32 .gl j_c5 quick draw.
33 *n h4 11 J,.e7
34 J.. c4 X e7 1l i.b5 '$'d6!
35 K fJ i.d6 The pawn capture 1 2 . . . '$'xd4
36 'IJgl .K c7 was too risky, because of 1 3 �c3
37 J,.b3 f5 with a strong initiative
38 l. d3 i.c5 13 �c3
39 K c3 '1J f6 Of course, 1 3 X e l 0-Q 14 i_ xc6
40 A c4 g5 be 1 5 '$'xe7 was bad because of 1 5
41 K c2 '1Je5 . . . Jl fe8 winning.
42 J,.c4. Draw. 13 H
14 J,. xc6 be (83)

Timman-Yusupov
Tilburg, 1986

1 e4 e5
2 �fJ �f6
3 �xe5 d6
4 �fJ e, xe4
5 d4 ciS
6 J,.d3 �c6
7 H J,.g4
8 c4 �f6
9 cd 15 J,.e3
9 e,c3 J,. xf3 1 0 ttxf3 � xd4 White supports the d4 pawn
led, as we saw, to a sharp tactical hoping to take advantage of the
skirmish. The exchange on d5 can doubled pawns on the c file. We
be regarded as a positional solu­ shall return to this position after
tion. I will look at some more the game.
examples on 9 �c3 in the notes to 15 �ciS
the next game. 16 X acl .K fe8
9 Plaskett twice occupied the
10 tt xfJ other semi-open file. 1 6 . . . l, ab8
1 1 tt e2 + 1 7 b3 � xe3 1 8 '$'xe3 Jl fd8 1 9
This is an innovation, specially K fd l c5 ( 1 9 . . . J,. fll 20 g3 with
prepared by Yusupov for the strong pressure on Black's posi­
quarter-final candidates' match. tion, Mestel-Piaskett, London,
I I X e l + i_e7 would have trans- 1 986; 19 . . . i. f6 20 �e4 i_ xd4 2 1
88 The Russian Game

-E}xd6 �xe3 22 fe X xd6 23 II xd6 . . . X ae8 White would probably

cd 24 X xc6 l:l d8 25 .1 c7 with not have taken the pawn but
good winning chances in the rook simply played 2 1 -.xd5 cd 22
ending) 20 d5 �ffi 21 -E}e4 and X c6. 20 . . . "Wth5 was also worth
White had a clear advantage considering.
(Short-Piaskett, London, 1 986). 21 itc2
17 <2l xd5! After 2 1 'iit xc6 K ae8 22 d5 X e4
This is an unusual solution. 23 �c5 h5 Black would have had
Black is given an opportunity to sufficient compensation for the
undouble the pawns, but after 1 7 pawn. Timman drives the hostile
. . . cd 1 8 l';c2 followed by 1 9 l';c6 queen off the convenient f5 square
he would have no counterplay. with a Zwischenzug.
But White's unexpected move 21 tlt h5
is met by Black's unexpected 22 -.xc6 X ae8
reply . . . 23 -.g2 X e4
17 litxd5! 24 X fel i!tf5
18 l';c4 �d6 24 . . . � b4 was useless because
19 b3 (84) of 25 .,td2! taking advantage of
If 1 9 l';xc6 then 1 9 . . . tf' xa2. the weakness of the 8th rank.
However, Black should have pre­
vented the rook exchange planned
84
B
by Timman by 24 . . . i!fa5! 25 a4
h5 or 25 X e2 i!tf5 followed by . . .
h7-h5. Then it would have been
White who needed to play accu­
rately to avoid trouble.
25 J.. d2 h5
26 f3 X xel +
27 X xel K xel +
28 J.. xel i!td3
29 -.n J.. aJ!
19 K e6 The extra pawn is almost irrele-
20 g3 vant here as well.
White could not yet take the 30 *g2
pawn-20 'Wf'xc6? �xh2 + . 31 'Wt'fl
20 'Wt'f5 32 i!fe2
The International Master M. More dangerous for Black was
Dvoretzky compared this purely 32 �f2 J.e3 (32 . . . -.b2 33
positional pawn sacrifice with the "Wtb5!) 33 i!fe2 J.. xf2 34 'iit x f2
pawn sacrifice in the Marshall forcing transposition into a pawn
Gambit. A small material gain for ending- 34 . . . -.b6 35 'iit xb6 ab.
White is well compensated by the But, as was established by Tim­
activity of Black's pieces. After 20 man's second, grandmaster U.
 The Russian Game 89

Andersson, White could not win Black into a critical situation.

this ending either. 36 * f2 *f8 37 Black should have tried the active
*e3 *e7 38 *f4 *d6! 1 9 . . . J.. f6 20 JLxc7 Ji e4 or 20 . . .
32 t�tb2 X ac8 2 1 K ac l x e4 or even 1 9 . . .
23 l!;xb2 � xb2 .,td6. Now Short, despite his
34 g4 g6 youth, demonstrated a high level
But not 34 . . . hg 35 fg. of technique in exploiting his
35 gh gh positional advantage.
The weakness of Black's pawns
on the queenside guarantees
White some advantage in the
bishop ending, although it should
not be enough for a win. Timman
made it very easy for his opponent
by allowing the exchange of
another pair of pawns.
36 *g3 �e5 +
37 *h4 i_ xh2
38 * xh5 �d6
39 *g5 *f8
40 *f5 *e8
41 �c3 c6 20 J;� acl J;� ac8 21 * " f6 22
42 �e5 �e7 .1;1 d3 * f7 23 f3 �f8 24 I. b3 h5 25
43 �d4. Draw. h4 K e6 26 a4 *e8 27 K el
Thus, White's interesting posi­ K xel + 28 fi xe1 c5 29 de J.. xc5
tional plan, involving the dou­ 30 X b7 i.d4 31 fl d2 �b6 32 b4!
bling of his opponent's pawns on K c4 33 �d6 g5 34 a5 i.g1 35 hg
the c file and the exchange on d5, fg 36 b5 X a4 37 a6 l, a2 + 38
only led to a draw in this game. fid3 *d8 39 i. b8 X a3 + 40 *cl
But an improvement was pre­ X aS? 41 � c7 + . Black resigned.
pared by the young English
grandmaster Short. Let's return
to the position in diagram 83. Kupreichik-Yusupov
Short-Oiafsson, Reykjavik, Minsk, 1987
1987. 15 K dl! (this seems to be a 54th USSR Championship
better way to defend the d pawn
than 1 5 J.. e3) 15 . . . K fe8 16 �f3 1 e4 e5
<EJd5 17 �xd5 l!;xd5 18 •xd5. 2 .ao �r6
White is happy to exchange 3 �xeS d6
queens this time. 18 . . . cd 19 J.. f4 4 �f3 €l xe4
c6? (85) . Strange though it may 5 d4 d5
seem, this is almost a decisive mis­ 6 i.d3 �c6
take. This passive move puts 7 0-0 i. g4
90 The Russian Game

8 c4 �f6 18 . • . -.as! 1 9 tt'xb7 now lost to

9 �c3 1 9 . . . .a xd3!, and so the one
So we return to the sharp and square queen advance has relieved
exciting variation introducing the Black from any problems. 19 �d2
pawn sacrifice. It could be said �b4 20 �e3 (20 �b5 + c6 2 1
that this game, played in the 54th �xc6 + be 22 'Wfxc6 + t1P f8 23
USSR championship, is the latest �xb4 + tt'xb4 24 K xd8 + <21 xd8
contribution to the theory and 25 tt'd5 ttb8! or 25 ttd7 ttb7 26
practice of this variation today. K d l ttxd7 27 K xd7 t�Pe8 28
9 � xf3 X xa7 h5 and Black has an advan­
10 ttxf3 � xd4 tage) 20 0-0 21 ..-xb7 �cS 22
• • •

Before demonstrating Kuprei­ �xeS �xeS 23 tt bS. Draw.

chik's innovation I want to look Black managed to obtain a
at the information which had draw in that game, but it was not
been known before this game. the end of the story. In Howell­
After l l � e l + �e7 1 2 -. d l lvanchuk, Groningen, 1986-87
we again transpose into the 1 5th Black found a way to gain the
game of my second match with initiative: 17 g b8 (instead of
. • •

Kasparov, which ended in a draw, 1 7 . . . � d8). The pawn is

and after 1 2 • g3 de 1 3 il. xc4 0--0 defended and White has to start
1 4 �g5 Ad6 into Lobron­ thinking how to win back his
Karpov, where Black didn't have material. 18 b4. This is Yusupov's
any difficulties either. The immed­ recommendation, but Ivanchuk
iate I I iii' g3 was dubious because proved that this pawn advance in
of I I . . . �e6 and Black could this situation gains nothing for
win time by . . . Ad6. White. 18 0-0 19 � d7 � bd8!
• . .

The surprise 11 *e3 + as you

, 20 �xb7 (if 20 � xe7 then 20 . . .
remember, was given to me by *d6 2 1 �a3 • xe7 22 b5 �c5 23
Kasparov in the 6th game of our �xh7 + * xh7 24 -. hs + *g8 25
third match and, after 1 1 . . .�e6 �xeS *f6! with an advantage for
12 cd � xdS 13 � xdS iitxdS 14 Black) 20 'ilitc4 21 � xd8 � xd8
. . •

�e4 't!tbS 1S a4 iita6 16 g d1 �e7 22 �e3 •xb4 23 � e4 (after 23

1 7 b4!? 0--0 1 8 'tit h3 g6 Black �xa7 c5 the bishop would have
repelled White's attack and ended up in an unenviable posi­
"demanded" a draw from a posi­ tion) 23 . �cS 24 � xeS •xeS
. .

tion of strength. 1S h4 *d4 2S � e1 •xa4. Ivan­

An attempt to improve this var­ chuk carried out the technical side
iation for White was made in Tim­ of the game simply and convinc­
man-Yusupov, Hilversum, match, ingly. 27 hS � gS 28 -.rs �xe4 29
1986. White played 17 •f3 in­ � xe4 *d1 + 30 * h2 g6! 31 hg hg
stead of 1 7 b4. The game didn't 32 ._gs lil dS 33 ._r6 'i!lthS + 34
last long. 17 • . . K d8 18 �dJ (the � h4 *xh4 + ! White resigned.
exchange on d8 was unpromising) So it is possible to draw the
 The Russian Game 91

conclusion that neither 1 1 tte3 + e.g. 1 2 . . . 'ltd7 1 3 X e l + J.e7

nor 1 1 .l. e l + is dangerous for ( 1 3 . . . 'lidS 14 'ltxd7 + 'lr xd7 1 5
Black. Kupreichik makes one X d l c5 1 6 J. xf7 winning back a
more attempt to prove that the pawn and maintaining the two
pawn sacrifice is quite sound, and bishop advantage) 1 4 'ltxd7 +
he does so against one of the best � xd7 1 5 �d5 �e6 1 6 X xe6! and
specialists of the Russian Game. White takes the upper hand.
1 1 tt h3!! (81) 13 J.g5 0-0
14 x adl c5
15 X fel (87)
86
B
87
B

Black has saved time by not

playing . . . J.e7 but White still
used to play K e l + . 1 5 . . . X e8 would now be dan­
11 de gerous for Black after 1 6 J. b5 ( 1 6
Better than 1 1 . . . c6 1 2 X e l + J.d3 'ltc8 1 7 'lth4 h6 1 8 J. xh6
J.e7 1 3 J.g5 �e6 14 J. xf6 J. xf6 � f5) 16 . . . � xb5 1 7 & xd8 J. xd8
1 5 cd cd 1 6 J. f5 or 1 3 . . . de 1 4 1 8 X xe8 + �xeS 1 9 J.xd8 Jl xd8
J.xf6 g f 1 5 J.xc4 with more than 20 'lr fl and White has an advan­
enough compensation for a pawn. tage due to his mobile queen.
1 1 . . . J.e7 1 2 J.g5 de 1 3 J. xc4 15 h6
would have transposed to the 16 j_ xh6!?
position in the main game, and 1 2 The bishop sacrifice is tempt­
K e l de 1 3 J.xc4 0-0 would have ing, but 1 6 X xe7! may be better,
led to a sharp position in which it e.g. 1 6 . . . hg ( 1 6 . . . 'ltxe7 1 7
is difficult to give preference to �d5 etc) 1 7 X xb7 with advan­
either side. However, White can tage to White.
improve by 1 2 cd � xd5 1 3 .l. el 16
�e6 14 J.g6! �df4 1 5 J.xf4 17 tt xh6
� xf4 1 6 J.xf7 + 'lr xf7 1 7 'ltf5 + 18 K d3
when White wins back a pawn 19 'lth5
and maintains the initiative. After 1 9 K g3 � f5 20 ttg6 +
12 J. xc4 J.e7 <2)g7 it wouldn't be easy to besiege
Better than exchanging queens Black's fortress.
92 The Russian Game

19 .f6 be the decisive mistake and that

the correct one was 2 1 . . . 'II g7!
. . .

20 X g3
20 J1 h3! *'g7 2 1 f4 �xf4 22 The game was very tense and
�d5 �g5 23 �e7 + � xe7 24 mutual inaccuracies are bound to
X xe7 looks more promising for happen in such a sharp struggle.
White. 22 b4 X xe4
20 K ae8 No better were 22 . . . *'h6 (g6)
This time Black could have 23 J;l xg5 or 22 . . . � xh4 23 � xf6
played the more accurate 20 . . . x xe l + 24 * h2.
� f5. After 2 1 �e4 *'g7 22 K g4 23 X xe4 �f4
(22 X xg5 � xg5 23 � xg5 �d6!) 24 X g4 �b6
22 . . . �h6! 23 X g3 � f5 and if 24 . . . �d6 25 ,l xd4 cd 26 �d3
the opponents wished the game didn't help Black. He has many
could end with a repetition of pieces, but they are all scattered.
moves. 25 •xeS �c6
21 �e4 *b8 (88) 26 .hS .d6
27 J,.xf7 *' d1 +
28 *h2 ttd6 +
29 f4 *'c7
30 �b3 .d6
31 l;l e8 � xf4 +
32 g3 J,. xg3 +
33 *h3
Black lost on time but there was
no way to avoid mate.
I believe that there are still a lot
of secrets in this variation not
Yusupov considers this move to discovered even in this game!
3 The Scotch Game

Timman-Karpov time to time. The same year in

London, 1984 Bugojno he won an interesting
game against Smyslov in the var­
There are three main grand­ iation 4 . . . i_c5 5 �f5! and this is
master games and more than ten covered later.
in the commentaries on them-I Korchnoi played 6 . . . <2ie4 in
didn't expect myself that the an­ this position instead of 6 . . . f!ie7
tique Scotch Game, played today, against Timman in the same year,
could amass so much material. and played a new move. Timman
The material is quite rich and replied with the innovation 7 i_e3
should give the reader an oppor­ instead of the usual 7 f!/0. The
tunity to invent some original game continued 7 . . . d5 8 ed cd 9
lines which could serve as opening i_d3 � f6 1 0 0-0 i.e? I I c4 0-0
surprises. But, it should be admit­ 1 2 �c3 i_e6 1 3 K e l d5 1 4 cd
ted, that there have been no major o2) xd5 1 5 � xd5 i_ xd5 with a level
turns in the development of this position (Sarajevo, 1 984).
opening in the last few years. On 7 f!iel o2ld5
the whole, the Scotch Game has 8 c4 i_a6
maintained the reputation of a 9 f!/e4
reliable opening for Black. 9 �d2 was not dangerous for
My encounters with the Dutch Black after 9 . . . -21 b4 (but not 9
grandmaster often become . . . � f4 1 0 f!/e4 o21g6 I I f4 0-0--0
theoretical disputes. This time, 1 2 g3 d5 1 3 cd i_ xfl 1 4 l. xfl cd
Timman decided to surprise me 1 5 f!ia4 with a better game for
from the very start by choosing a White) 1 0 � n c5 I I a3 �c6.
rare opening. 9 �b6
I e4 e5 Here I could have offered a
l �fJ �c6 symbolic draw by playing 9 . . .
3 d4 ed � f6 1 0 f!/e2 �d5 but, as I re­
4 � xd4 �f6 member, I was in a fighting mood
5 � xc6 be that evening. 9 . . . f5 was also
6 e5 worth considering.
6 i_d3 is more common but the 10 � dl
e pawn advance is also well This is an innovation (opening
known. reference books mentioned only
6 tte7 10 �c3 with equality), but it is
Timman is, perhaps, one of the not quite successful.
few modem grandmasters who 10 0-6-0
adopt this ancient opening from (89)
94 The Scotch Game

an advantage by 1 5 . . . ttxe5 1 6
'f!txe5 fe 1 7 0--0-0 d 5 and i f 1 8
�a5 + then 1 8 'll b6 1 9 b4
J.. b 5!
15 fe
16 fe K e8!
17 J.f4 i!th4 + !
This is much stronger than 1 7
. . . it b4 + 1 8 ttxb4 J.. x b4 + 1 9
* d 1 II h f8 and Black would be
l l c5 only slightly better.
White opens up the position 18 g3
believing that Black's king will be 19 X cl 'll a8!
unsafe, but, as it turned out, his 20 h4 d5!
own king was even more insecure. Keene recommended 20
Curiously enough, only a year �d6?! 2 1 X c5 j_xe5 22 J.. xe5 (22
later the Dutch grandmaster X xe5 K xe5 23 .t xe5 X eS) 22 . . .
chose this opening against me d5 23 g4 x xe5 24 gf x xe4 + 25
again and this position arose from *d 1 . Black's position would be
another move order 9 . . . � f6 1 0 preferable here as well, but my
'f!te2 �d5 I I �d2 0--0-0 1 2 'f!te4 move was more energetic.
� b6. Timman now advanced 11 'f!te3
another pawn by 1 3 a4, and I If 2 1 'f!tc2 either 2 1 . . . c5 or 2 1
played a new move - 1 3 . . . d5! . . . .1. xe5 2 2 ..l xe5 ttxe5 + 23
After 1 4 cd �xfl 1 5 d6 J;l xd6! 1 6 .f2 (23 . d l i!th5 + !) 23
� xfl X e6 1 7 f4 g 5 White got into ..ld6 was good for Black.
difficulties again. However, hav­ 11 g5!
ing obtained a significant advan­ 11 �xg5 .t b4 +
tage, I let it slip in time trouble 13 * fl X hf8 +
and the game ended in a draw. In 14 .g1 (90)
order to give a full picture, this
game is covered below as well.
ll J.xfl
11 cb � a6
13 ba
The initiative has already
passed to Black's, but perhaps it
was better to capture another
pawn by 1 3 be!?
13
14 �b3
15 f4 14 K. xe5!
After 1 5 J.. d2 Black would gain My opponent seemed a bit sur-
 The Scotch Game 95

prised when I sacrificed the rook. h4) 1 4 -.e3 � xg2 + ( 1 4 . . . ttxg2

He thought the worst was already 1 5 ttxa7) 1 5 � xg2 ttxg2 1 4 0-0-
over. 0 c5! with a complicated struggle.
25 'i!txeS II 0-0-0
26 ., h2 In 011-Kalinin (USSR, 1 986)
White resigned the knight retreated and after I I
After 27 * h3 the sly move 1 9 . . . � b4 1 2 � f3 c5 1 3 a3 �c6 1 4
. . . fla8, which opened a path for � d2 0-0-0! 1 3 �c3 Black carried
the bishop, now proves to be use­ out the same idea as in the main
ful: 27 . . . �c8 + 28 g4 K f3 + . game- 1 3 . . . d5! The queen
exchange 1 4 ed X xd6! 1 5 'i!txe7
� xe7 1 6 �e2 K e6 led to approxi­
mate equality. I managed to gain
Timman-Karpov more.
Amsterdam, 1985 12 'lte4 �b6
13 a4?! d5!
I e4 e5 White had prepared a surprise
2 �f3 �c6 (the a pawn advanced instead of
3 d4 ed the c pawn), but stumbled into an
4 � xd4 �(6 innovation himself. This coun­
s �xc6 be terthrust in the centre is very pro­
6 e5 'i!te7 mising. The restrained 1 3 . . . fl b7
7 'i!te2 �d5 in Handoko-Kovacevic (Zagreb,
8 c4 � ·6 Rijeka, 1 985) led after 1 4 a5 �c8
9 'i!te4 � (6 1 5 b4! fi bS 1 6 �e2 f6 1 7 f4 fe 1 8
10 'i!te2 �d5 fe K e8 1 9 � f3 ._e6 20 c 5 �xe2
II �d2 2 1 'i!txe2 d6 22 J;� b l de 23 tta6
So, White refused to repeat ._g6 24 K b2 �e7 25 0-0 g hf8 26
moves and the position known to � xe5 K xfl + 27 •xfl tte6 28
us from the previous game arose � f4 to a clear advantage for
again. I I b3 has also been played White. But now White didn't have
(without the repetition ttt e2 - time to drive the knight from the
e4-e2, �d5-f6-d5). Here is the b6 square and so the a pawn ad­
most recent example: I I . . . 0--0-Q vance lost much of its point.
1 2 'ltb2 �b6 1 3 �e2 � e8 14 � f4 14 cd J_ xfl
g5 1 5 �g3 �g7 1 6 �c3 f5 1 7 f4 gf 15 d6 ». xd6!
18 �xf4 �xe5 1 9 J_xe5 -.xe5 20 16 � xfl
0-0 (20 0--0-{) d5!) 20 0 0'Wt'd4
0 Of course the rook could not be
with advantage for Black (Ljubo­ taken: 1 6 ed iltxe4 + 1 7 �xe4
jevic-Seirawan, Wijk aan Zee, J.. xg2; other captures of the
1 986). Hort suggested 1 2 J.. b2 (in­ knight were no better: 1 6 'lll' xfl
stead of 12 iitb2). 12 . . . 'Wt'g5 1 3 ». d5, 16 l;l xfl g d5 preparing . . .
�d2 � f4 (better than 1 3 . . . f6 1 4 f7-f6.
96 The Scotch Game

16 • • . K e6! (91) 23 K g8 +
24 flh1 K g4
25 <2\bJ
91
w Timman claimed after the game
that 25 �c4 would have been
better but here again 25 . . . f6
(Black would gain no advantage
by 25 . . . �xf4 26 �e3 K h4 27
<21f5 or 25 . . . K xf4 26 .l, xf4
<21 xf4 27 K fl �d3 28 K xf7) 26 f5
g e8 27 b3 fe 28 f6 e4 29 f7 X f8 30
�e5 K g5 3 1 �xc6 fld7 would
maintain Black's clear advantage.
The e pawn should be attacked 25 • . • <2\ xf4
from the front, for if 1 6 . . . K d5 After 25 . . . K xf4 26 X xf4
1 7 f4 g5 ( 1 7 . . . itd7 1 8 �e3) <21 xf4 27 X fl �d3 28 X xf7 X xe5
White would gain an important Black would have an advantage,
tempo by 1 8 �e3. but White could defend by 27
17 f4 g5 �d4 .M xe5 28 �xc6 with a dou­
18 gJ itb4 + ble attack on the rook and the a7
The queen exchange is the sim­ pawn.
plest way to consolidate Black's 26 Jil ae1
advantage. 1 8 . . . gf 19 gf f6 (not 26 �d4 X eg6 was bad for
1 9 . . . ith4 + 20 �g3 -2:ld5 2 1 White.
�d2 �h6 22 0--0 K g8 23 K a3) 20 26 • • • K eg6
� g3 fe 2 1 f5 led to sharp play. Of course it was tempting to try
19 ttxb4 to mate by 26 . . . g h6, X g2 and
Not 1 9 <21d2 gf 20 gf X g8. K hxh2 mate, but White can
19 • • • �xb4 + defend by 27 X e3 X g2 (27 . . .
20 �dl X gh4 28 X f2) 28 h3 <21d5 29
Black would also stand better X d3 .
after 20 * f2 f6 2 1 ef X xf6 22 27 gO h5
*g2 X eS! or 20 * d l gf 2 1 gf f6. 28 �d4
20 �xdl + Not 28 h3 K g3 29 K xf4 X xh3
21 �xd2 gf mate. 29 X efl �e6 was also bad.
22 gf �d5 28 • . . �d5
After 22 . . . f6 White has the Better than 28 . . . h4 29 <21 f5
interesting continuation 23 �e4 threatening 30 �e7 + or 30 �e3.
fe 24 f5! 29 X d1 X e4
23 H 30 �bJ
I think that White shouldn't If 30 <21 xc6 I intended to reply
have withdrawn the king from the 30 . . . .M xc6 3 1 X xd5 X c2, but if
centre: 23 .ll fl was safer. 30 X xf7 then 30 . . . ee3.
 The Scotch Game 97

30 X el g xa4 would have allowed 48 h6

31 K gl g e4 49 g ffi etc.
White defends by the only 48 h6 X b8
move: if 3 1 X xf7 then 3 1 49 X h5
X gg2 was decisive. This time it is White who plays
31 X xe5 inaccurately. I was more afraid of
By now I was running short of 49 h7 X h8 50 X f7 threatening
time. 3 1 . . . X xg l + 32 * xg l � f3 -e5 -g6.
X xb2 33 'E)c5 X c2! 34 e6 f6 was 49 X h8
much stronger. 50 h7 *b4
32 X xf7 .!I xgl + 51 � h6 � f6!
33 * xgl � b4 Leading to complete equality.
Possibly 33 . . . � e l + 34 *g2 5 1 . . . *xa4? was bad because of
(34 :!HI � xfl + 35 * xfl �e3 + 52 �g5 and -E:)f7.
36 *e2 �c4) 34 . . . � bl 35 :ac5 52 � xf6 J;� xh7
!;l xb2 + 36 *g3 *d8 was even 53 � f4 + * aJ
stronger. 54 t�rel � d7
34 !;t h7 �dJ 55 -E:)dl g d8
This is another missed oppor­ 56 � c4 � b8
tunity in time trouble. After 34 . . . 57 � cl � b4.
tlr b7 it is unlikely that White Draw.
could have escaped.
35 'E)d4 *b7
36 bJ a5 Timman-Smyslov
36 . . . a6! was more accurate. Bugojno, 1984
37 X h6 � b4
38 *fl K e4 I e4 e5
39 �e6 tlrb6 2 �f3 �c6
40 tlrf3 g el 3 d4 ed
41 h4 �d5 4 -E:) xd4 J,.c5
42 �d4 X eJ + Together with 4 . . . :a f6 and 4
43 *fl K c3 . . . ith4 this bishop move is one
44 X xh5 K dJ of the most popular continuations
44 . . . *c5 45 �e6 + * b4 was in this position.
worth considering. 5 �f5
45 :af3 X xbJ Now White has several options.
46 .l. f5 X b4? Apart from 5 � f5 he can play 5
This move completely loses the J,.e3, 5 -E:) b3 and 5 .;axc6. None of
initiative which could have been these moves promises White
maintained by 46 . . . \IreS. much. Here are fairly recent ex­
47 b4 'ili'c5 amples of each of them.
6:
Now Black has to play accu­ Sveshnikov-Geller, Sochi, 197
�g e7 7 g3 . Th e
rately to maintain equality: 47 . . . 5 i_ eJ 'tlt'f6 6 c3
98 The Scotch Game

other theoretical continuations 7 H iibner-Spassky (Linares,

�c2, 7 .,tb5, 7 .,tc4 are no more 1 985): 5 . • ..,t b4 + 6 c3 ..te7 7 f4
promising 7 . • . d5 8 .,tg2 de 9 d6 8 .,tdJ .,tb4 + . The ubiquitous
�b5 ..t xe3 10 '2) xc7 + *fB 1 1 bishop prompts pawns to advance
0-0 X b8 1 2 fe 'ilte5 13 'iit b3 f5 14 on both sides . . . 9 g3 .,t f6 10 .,te3
�b5. Draw. h5 1 1 b3 g5 12 *d2 gf 13 gf � ge7
5 � b3 has been more popular 14 � a3 _tb4 + 15 ..tfl � g6 16
in recent years, but, as before, *d1. Draw.
Black has no difficulties. And the last example concerns
Pasman-Unzicker (Beer- 5 � xc6- 5 . . . *f6 6 f4 ..-xc6 7
Sheva, 1 984): 5 . . . ..t b6 6 �c3 �c3 � f6 8 .,t b5 *e6 9 *e2 (}-()
�ge7 7 a4 a6 8 *e2. This was an 1 0 e5 �d5 1 1 �e4 .,te7 1 2 (}-() f5
innovation. 8 a5 and 8 .,tg5 had 1 3 ef �xf6 1 4 � xf6. All this was
been tried earlier. 8 . . . (}-() 9 .,tg5 played in Larsen-Brinck-Claus­
d6 10 �d5 ..ta7 1 1 0--0--0 _te6 1 2 sen (Copenhagen, 1 979). The
� f6 + ?! An amusing knight sacri­ Danish grandmaster here recom­
fice. 1 2 . . . gf 1 3 .,txf6 h6 14 e5 mended 1 4 . . . ..-xf6 1 5 *c4 d5!
* h7 1 5 ed cd 1 6 *h5 X g8 1 7 1 6 'i!t'xd5 + .,te6 with sufficient
.,td3 + X g6 1 8 .,txg6 + fg 1 9 compensation for the pawn .
'tlre2 .,t xb3 20 cb *d7 2 1 X be l 5 g6
X eS! 22 .,tc3 d5 and there was no In a later game Timman-Bohm
trace of White's attack. (Holland, 1 985), Black played a
Prandstetter-Hort (Czecho- new move 5 . . . d6. Of course, you
slovakia championship, 1 984): 5 can't call this a real innovation,
• . ..,tb6 6 a4 a6 7�c3 �f6 8 g3. because this pawn sacrifice had
This was another innovation. 8 already been recommended by the
.,te2 and 8 .,tg5 had brought first world champion W. Steinitz.
White no success. 8 • • •d6 9 .,tg2 He gave the following variation: 5
(White should have played the . . . d5 6 � xg7 + * f8 7 �h5 *h4
preventive 9 h3) 9 • • • .,tg4! 10 8 '2)g3 � f6 9 �e2 �e5 10 h3
_tO ( 1 0 f3 .,td7 and White's king il g8 with a better game for Black.
would be stuck in the centre) 10 I don't know why Black
• . .�e5! 1 1 .,t xg4 �fxg4 12 0-0 rejected this manoeuvre in the re­
b5! 13 �d5 _ta7 14 b4 c6 15 �f4 cent games referred to. Maybe he
g5 16 '2) b3 gb. Black transforms was always apprehensive of some
his advantage into a victory by possible tricks.
attacking energetically. 17 .,tg5 So Timman-Bohm continued
*d7 18 .,t xb4 '2)g6 19 'i!t'O '2)4e5 as follows: 5 . . . d6 6 � xg7 + (it
20 ..-r5 �xb4 21 'i!t'xd7 + * xd7 was possible to play safe by
22 gh K ag8 + 23 *b1 X g4 24 0 retreating the knight to e3 or g3,
X xb4 25 * h2 X g8 26 X ad1 but in this case White couldn't
.,tg1 + ! White resigned, because expect much) 6 . . . *f8 7 '2)h5 (7
he couldn't prevent mate. � f5 .,t xf5 8 ef 'i/lth4 and then . . .
 The Scotch Game 99

K e8 with the initiative for Black) 1984: 12 a6 13 _tdl -2J d4 14

• • •

7 . . . *h4 8 -2Jg3 � f6 9 _te2 _tdJ c6 15 f4 �b5. Draw.

�eS. Now compare this position 13 _tc4
with the position which would White takes aim at the r7
happen as a result of Steinitz's square, but after 1 3 . . . .te6 it is
ancient recommendation. The dif­ unlikely that he could take advan­
ference is that in the modern game tage of it.
the pawn was on dS rather than 13 aS? (92)
d6. But in both instances Black
held the trumps.
92
10 b4. Curiously enough in the w
same year Timman played the
Scotch Game against Handoko
(Zagreb, Rijeka, 1 98S), as Black
this time, and after 1 0 f3 �eg4 1 1
fg -2J xe4 1 2 *dS! fS 1 3 II fl � f6
14 I. xfS White obtained an ad­
vantage. Black should have
played 1 0 . . . .M g8 or 1 0 . . . �hS
and there would be nothing to be
afraid of. 1 0 . . . _txb4 + 1 1 c3 14 -2J g4!
_tcS 1 2 _ta3 �e4 1 3 _txcS � xeS. White secures the initiative by
Black's position was favourable this unexpected move. The point
even though the game ended in a is that the dark-squared bishop is
draw after a long endgame. in the wrong place. The impres­
6 -2Je3 -2Jf6 sion is that there is a misprint in
7 -2Jc3 0-0 the diagram and the bishop
8 .tdJ J;� e8 should be on g7 . . .
9 0-0 -2Je5 14 _te6
10 *h1 d6 Black didn't like opening the f
1 1 �el · � c6 file: 1 4 . . . �xg4 1 S fg _te6 ( I S . . .
In Handoko-Smejkal (Zagreb, �e6 1 6 *f3) 1 6 �dS.
Rijeka, 1 98S) which was played 15 _t gS
later, Black played more accu­ The ex-world champion's dark
rately: 1 1 . . . �ed7! and after 1 2 squares are gaping and so he has
f3 a6 1 3 a 3 -2J ffi 14 b4 _ta7 I S to surrender his queen.
_tc4 c6 1 6 *d3 _te6 1 7 .t xe6 15 �xg4
� xe6, the chances were equal. 16 _txd8 <2)e3
12 f3 �d4 17 *cl .txc4
1 2 . . . a6 was safer. Timman­ 18 * xe3 <2) xcl
Giigoric finished quickly in the 19 iitdl <2) xal
same tournament in Bugojno 20 .tf6!
100 The Scotch Game

Black has managed to level the Yes, it is difficult to play with-

material but the threat of '*h6 out the queen . . .
forces him to accept unfavourable 30 . . . J.,xb3
simplifications. If 30 . . . * g7 the strongest re-
20 J;l e6 ply would be 3 1 X xa4.
21 x xal K xf6 31 tt xf6 a3
22 b3 J.. e6 32 ttd4 cS
23 � a4! i. a3 33 ttxd6 K c8
24 tt c3 K f4 34 ttd2 J.. e6
25 g3 J., b4 35 f4 b6
26 'l!ltd3 i;l f6 36 g4! J.,xg4
27 a3 b5 37 f5! X e8
28 ab ab 38 ttxh6 gf
29 *g2! ba 32 b3.
30 tt d4! Black resigned.
4 The Italian Game

Karpov-Yusupov (White rejects the classical 4 �g5)

Bugojno, 1986 4 . . . J.. c5 5 c3 d6 etc. In that case
the opening is called the Two
A modest, but poisonous varia­ Knights' Defence. The 3 . . . � f6 4
tion of the Italian Game involving d3 variation is comparatively new
d2-d3 occurs from time to time which explains the confusion in
in most big tournaments. I had terminology.
already become interested in this 4 cJ �f6
idea during my preparation for 5 dJ
the Merano match where it oc­ The theoretical continuation
curred twice. Although both here is d2-d4. The Italian Game
games ended in a draw, White, in has been known for about five
the first game in particular, was hundred years and White's main
dominant. And then, five years aim has always been to create a
later, I managed to overcome pawn centre by means of c2-c3
quite a dangerous opponent in the and d2-d4. Even though it is
Italian Game. In the notes, I shall, now known that Black can suc­
as usual, cover the modern state cessfully meet this plan with . . .
of the opening. �g8 - f6, it seems that 5 d4 is still
I e4 e5 objectively stronger than 5 d3. So
2 �f3 <2lc6 why then did the restrained d2-
3 J.. c4 d3-thanks to the efforts of the
3 J.. b5 against Yusupov auto­ Soviet grandmasters S. Dolma­
matically leads to the Open Varia­ tov, and S. Makarichev-gain
tion of the Spanish. But I am not substantial popularity in the 80s?
always in the mood to play it. The This could be explained by the
main idea of 3 J.. c4 is to reach one fact that the ancient continuation
of the Spanish positions in the end d2-d4 leads to a very sharp sit­
(because in the Spanish the light­ uation on the one hand and to a
squared bishop most frequently quick release of the tension and
ends up on the a2-g8 diagonal simplifications on the other. And
after J.. fl -b5-a4-b3), but in the end, the player who remem­
avoid any sharp variations such bers more variations happens to
as the Open. be in a favourable position. After
3 �c5 d2-d3 stable pawn chains are
If Black plays this move the created (as in the Spanish Game)
opening is usually called the Ita­ and the mastery of the players in
lian Game. But another order of positional manoeuvring becomes
moves is possible - 3 . . . <2l f6 4 d3 more important. These, in my
102 The Italian Game

opinion, are the reasons explain­ theory as better for Black. How­
ing why the move d2-d3, which ever, after 17 K e3! dS 18 X h3! it
was practically absent from open­ became clear that Black's king
ing books in the 70s, has forced was not so impregnable. 18 • . •

out the traditional d2-d4. I am K f8 (in the same correspondence

talking, of course, about the tournament, Tasnadi against
grandmaster level. Szecsi played 1 8 . . X xh3, and
.

Despite this it would be wrong after 1 9 gh g6 20 -.n f5 2 1 -.c3

to assume that the classical lines d4 22 -.b3 b6 23 -.b5 + * f8 24
of the Italian Game have now -.e5 *g8 25 -.f6 White had a
been played out. For example, clear advantage) 19 .i_d3 -.d6 20
let's take the only "Italian" with -.hS + *d8 21 -.n X e8 22
d2-d4 in Jnformator 42, the tt xe8 + * xe8 23 K h8 + <2lg8 24
most recent when this book was K xg8 + *e7 25 K xa8 -.b4 26
written. * " -. xb2 27 ,i.g6. Black
Szecsi-Heinrich, correspon- resigned.
dence tournament, 1986. S d4 eel 6 As you see, innovations lie in
cd ,i.b4 + 7 <2lc3 (the main move; wait for us round every corner in
the other ancient continuation is 7 the Italian Game . . . But now it is
,i.d2) 7 • . •<2l xe4 (7 . . . d5 leads time to return to the modern 5 d3.
to a difficult position for Black. A s d6
famous example is Steinitz-Bar­ 6 D-0 D-0
deleben, Hastings, 1 895, which 7 K el
ended with a beautiful combi­ The intermediate 7 b4 has been
nation with the penetration of played many times in recent years,
White's rook to the seventh rank) but I decided to leave this "side
8 0-0 ,i. xc3 9 dS .i_ f6 10 K el <2le7 variation" out of these commen­
1 1 K xe4 d6 12 ,i.gS ,i. xgS 13 taries to save space.
<2)xgS h6 14 -.e2 hg IS K el .i_e6 After 7 <21 bd2 a6 8 .i. b3 �a 7
16 de f6 (93) . the position from the 8th game of
the Merano match would occur.
This game continued as follows: 9
93
h3 �e6 1 0 ,i.c2 d5 I I l;l e l de 1 2
w
de <2) h5 1 3 <21 ft 'ii'f xd l 1 4 l;l xd l
l;l ad8 1 5 ,i.e3 f6 1 6 �xa7 <2)xa7
17 �e3. White achieved a small
positional advantage, which
could have been decisive. How­
ever, I didn't find the study-like
win and Black managed to escape.
7 a6
8 �b3 ,i.a7
This position is assessed by And this position arose in the
 The Italian Game 103

1 Oth game of the Merano match. 'ite2 'llr h8 14 ed J.. x dS l S d4 K fe8

After 9 � bd2 J.. e6 1 0 � fl J.. xb3 1 6 � xeS �xeS 1 7 de J.. xb3 1 8
1 1 'itxb3 'itc8 1 2 �g3 x es 1 3 h3 J.. gS Jl dS 1 9 ab X xeS and the
X b8 14 J.. e 3 'ite6 I S 'itxe6 fe chances were equal.
Black's doubled pawns were not 10 � bdl �hS
important and, so we soon agreed n �n 'itf6
to a draw. 12 J.. e3 (94)
Possibly 9 . . . �g4 was even
stronger, e.g. 1 0 A e2 'llr h 8 1 1 h3
94
� h6 1 2 �fl fS 1 3 J.. g S (not 1 3 B
J.. xh6 gh 1 4 ef J.. xfS I S J.. d S 'itd7
16 'llr h2 �e7 1 7 J.. xb7 K ab8 1 8
J.. e4 �g6 1 9 K d2 � f4 20 J.. xfS
K xfS 2 1 �g3 K g8 22 � g l X fgS
23 d4 e4 with an advantage for
Black, Ivanov-Glek, Borzhomi,
1 984; Black also stood well after
I S . . . �e7 1 6 J.. xb7 X b8 1 7 J.. e4
J.. xe4 1 8 K xe4 X xb2 1 9 d4 'ita8
20 X g4 e4 21 � 3d2 dS 22 'ita4 12 • • • � f4
�g6 23 K bl X xb l 24 � xb l If Black was going to put the
'itb7 2 S 'itb3 'itxb3 26 ab cS knight on f4 then he should have
Gipslis-Podgaets, Kiev, l 98S; done so only after the exchange
however, in the second instance, on e3: 1 2 . . . J.. xe3 1 3 � xe3 � f4
White might have tried 21 'itcl led to approximate equality.
X b6 22 'itxh6 �fS 23 'itgS ef 24 Yusupov played a substantial
� g3 'itd8 2S 'itxd8 X xd8 26 improvement against Hawelko
�xfS X f8 with an unclear posi­ (Dubai 01., 1 986): 1 2 . . . J.. e6 1 3
tion) 1 3 . . . 'ite8 14 d4 fe l S K xe4 J.. xe6 fe 1 4 J.. xa7 II xa7 I S �e3
J.. fS 1 6 X h4 � fi 1 7 J.. e3 'ite7 1 8 X aa8 16 a4 � f4 1 7 'llr h2 K ad8 1 8
�g3 J.. g6 1 9 J.. c2 J.. xc2 20 'itxc2 It f1 dS. A s result of White's quiet
g6 2 1 �e4 ed 22 J.. g S �xgS 23 play, Black captures the initiative.
�exgS d3 24 'itd2 hS and Black After 1 9 ed ( 1 9 'itc2 � xd3 20
had an advantage again (Smali­ 'itxd3 'itf4 + 2 1 \lr g l de) 1 9 . . . ed
Hawelko, Lucerne Olympiad 20 d4 e4 2 1 � e l �e7 22 g3 � fg6
1 982). Thus, it is not advisable to 23 f4 ef 24 �xf3 �fS 2S � eS (2S
allow the knight to g4 . . . <2l xfS 'itxfS 26 'itd2 was neces­
9 h3 h6 sary) Black carried out a favour­
After 9 . . . � hS 1 0 J.. gS White able series of exchanges: 2S . . .
stands better. Dzindzichashvili­ � xe3! 26 X xf6 �xd l 27 M xf8 +
Korchnoi (Chicago, 1 982) conti­ Jl xf8 28 K xd l �xeS 29 de c6.
nued 9 . . . 'f!le7 10 � bd2 J.. e6 1 1 The rook ending was clearly in
� fl X ad8 1 2 �g3 dS 1 3 'ite2 Black's favour.
104 The Italian Game

13 � xa7 K xa7 After 26 hg � xg6 27 'iit' h 5 'Wr'g5!

14 * h2 �e7 Black would already have the
IS �e3 ll a8 initiative. ·

16 a4! 26 'ft' f3
White has created the un­ 27 '(llt xf3 K xf3
pleasant threat of 1 7 a5. 28 hg �xg6
16 �e6 29 �e3 d4
17 �xe6 fe 29 . . . ll d8!? was necessary.
White stands better after this 30 '2Jc2 K 3r7
capture with the pawn and so Black also stood worse after 30
Black should have played 1 7 . . . . . . de 3 1 be K d8 32 �el (but not
�xe6. 32 �e3 K r7 33 K d2 K fd7) 32 . . .
18 '2!gl K ad8 g f] 33 f4.
19 g3 �fg6 31 cd!
20 :� n dS This leads to a clearly better
2 1 *e2 �c6 ending. However, the victory is
22 � g2 ll r7 still far away.
23 b4 ll df8 (95) 31 �xd4
Or 3 1 . . . ed 32 f4 �ge5 33 �f2
h5 3 4 *g2.
95
w 32 � xd4 ed
33 f4 cS
If 33 . . . �e5 then 34 �f2!
34 aS b6
34 . . . �e5 35 � f2 �c6 36 K c l
�xa5 3 7 K xc5 wouldn't change
matters.
3S ab K b7
36 ll cl K xb6
37 ll xcS
White also stood better after 23 Even stronger was 37 K f2 ll c8
. . . K fd7 24 K ad l (or 24 � f3 38 K fc2 K b5 39 l2l f2 .
II r7 2 5 �ge 1 with the threat of 37 ll xb2 +
h4-h5 and � f3-h4) 24 . . . de 25 38 K fl K xfl +
i!txe4 i!t f5 26 �e3. Of course not 38 . . . II fb8
24 ll adl because 39 K a5.
24 b2-b4 was also good. 39 �xfl K a8
24 �ge7 40 li aS (96)
2S hS After 40 � g4 a5 41 f5 ef 42 ef
25 f4 was, perhaps, more dan­ �e7 '2J f6 + ! the position would
gerous for Black. become sharper. This endgame is
2S g6 quite interesting and theoretically
26 '2! h3 important. Although it is not the
 The Italian Game 105

43 'lrf8
96
B 44 � e5! a5
If 44 . . . h5 then 45 f5 would be
decisive.
45 g4 a4
46 f5 ef
47 gf � xf5
Or 47 . . . a3 48 f6 a2 49 i#: xe7
a l ( 'i!lt' ) 50 .!Qg6 + *g8 5 1 x g7
mate.
theme of the book, it is worth 48 ef K a5
considering in detail. 49 X eS! x xc5
40 . . • .!Q e7 50 � d7 + 'lre7
41 .!Qg4 .!Qc6 51 � xc5 a3
41 . . . *g7 allows 42 .!Qe5. 52 'lrg3 'lrd6
42 X eS! 53 .!Qb3 'lre5
Stronger than 42 11 a4 a5 43 54 'lrg4 h5 +
.!Q xh6 + 'l/g7 44 .!Qg4 X b8 Black also lost after 54 . . . a2 55
(threatening 45 . . . X b4 46 X a3 � a t '1P f6 56 '1J f4 h5 57 .!Qc2 h4 58
a4 and � a7 -b5) 45 X c4 .!Q b4. 'lrg4 h3 59 * xh3 * xf5 60 'lrg3.
42 � e7 55 'lrg5 h4
56 f6
• • •

Other continuations were 'l/e6

totally hopeless: 42 . . . � b4 43 Black's resistance has been
X c7! a5 44 � xh6 + 'l/f8 45 g4 broken e.g. 56 . . . h3 57 f7 h2 58 f8
.!Q xd3 46 'l/g3 with a threat of ('it') h l ( iit ) 59 'i!lt'e7 + '1Jd5 60
g5-g6; 43 . . . .!Q xd3 44 'lrh3 a5 iitb7 + .
45 .!Q f6 + '1Jf8 46 'lrg4 with an 57 *g6 h3
amusing idea: 'lrg6 and X f7 58 f7 h2
mate. 59 f8('{11( ) hl( 'i!lt)
43 X c7! 60 !Q c5 + *e5
43 .!Q xh6 + '1Pf8 44 K a5 .!Qc6 61 'i!ltb8 + .
45 .1. g5 'lre7 was not so clear. Black resigned.
5 The Four Knights' Game

Polovodin-Tseitlio 4 . . . .l b4, after 5 0--0 0--0 6 d3 d6

Leningrad, 1985 7 .lg5 .t xc3 8 be tt'e7 the posi­
tion is equal. Incidentally, it re­
While sorting out the material minds me of one of my old games:
for chapter 3-the Scotch 8 . . . .ld7 9 d4 h6 1 0 .l h4 x es 1 1
Game- l came across an amusing ll e l a6 1 2 _id3 .lg4 with com­
game where a combination of this plete equality (Urzike-Karpov,
opening with the Four Knights' Stockholm, 1 969).
Game occurred. This game was 4 ed
interestingly annotated by its win­ 4 . . . .l b4, played for the first
ner and so I decided to include it time in Paulsen-Morphy (New
in my book. Of course, not much York, 1 857) leads to different
has changed in the ancient Four paths. Modem theory recom­
Knights' Game, but one example mends 5 � xe5! � xe4 (if 5 . . .
is worth seeing. tt'e7 or 5 . . . 0--0 White plays
1 e4 e5 tt'd3, .ld2 and 0--0--0 with a pro­
l �f3 �c6 longed initiative) 6 tt'g4 � xc3 7
3 �c3 �f6 tt'xg7 X f8 8 a3! Now after the
4 d4 extravagant 8 . . . �xd4 Polovo­
4 .l b5 is more characteristic of din gives the following beautiful
the Four Knights' Game. For variation: 9 ab � xc2 + 1 0 'i1rd2
those who wish to have a quick �xal 1 1 'ilrxc3 a5! 1 2 .lc4! tt'e7
draw there is a well known line: 4 1 3 X e l d5 14 .l b5 + c6 1 5 �xc6!
. . . �d4 5 � xd4 ed 6 e5 de 7 ef tt'xe l + 1 6 .ld2. This is an amus­
tt'xf6 (after 7 . . . cd + 8 .l xd2 ing situation! White's king is
tt'xf6 9 0--0 .le7 10 .l e i White stuck in the centre exposed to the
has a dangerous initiative for a threats of the hostile pieces and
pawn) 8 de tt'e5 + 9 ti'e2 tt'xe2 + still Black is helpless: 1 6 . . . tt'e4
1 0 .t xe2 and there is nothing to 1 7 � b8 + ! 'i1rd8 1 8 tt'xf8 + 'ilrc7
fight for. Of course, I am not 19 tt'c5 + 'ilrxb8 20 tt'd6 + 'ilra7
going to recommend the reader to 2 1 _le3 + tt'xe3 22 fe. Everything
finish the game this way, es­ has become quiet and White has a
pecially as, according to the old winning endgame.
analysis, White achieves some ad­ 8 . . . j_a5 is more solid. But
vantage by playing 5 .la4 (in­ after 9 � xc6 de 1 0 tt'e5 + tt'e7 1 1
stead of the exchange on d4). The tt'xe7 + 'ilr xe7 1 2 j_d2 .lf5! 1 3 be
correct response to 4 . . . .l b5 is _lxc2 1 4 c4! _txd2 + 1 5 'ilrxd2
the long-established symmetrical J.. f5 16 _ld3 J.. xd3 1 7 K he l +
 The Four Knights' Game 107

* f6 1 8 * xd3 White has all the evaporated and he cannot restore

chances in the double rook end­ material equality, Hartoch-Tim­
ing. man, Leuvarden, 1 978) 7 . . . d3! 8
5 �d5!? (90) cd �d4 9 �h5 + g6 1 0 �h4 c6 1 1
de cd 1 2 ed ..tg7! (if 1 2 . . . �a5 +
White has two fairly strong rep­
97 lies- 1 3 *d l ! and 1 3 ..ld2 with a
B
complicated position) 1 3 *d l !
( 1 3 .,lc4, 1 3 �g3 and � h3 have
also been recommended and they
need careful analysis too) 1 3 . . .
h6 1 4 � f3 � xh4 1 5 � xh4 * n 1 6
.,le3 f4 1 7 .,l xd4 .,lxd4 1 8 _ld3
d6 19 � xg6 Ji gS 20 � xf4 ..txb2
2 1 11 b I ..l e5 22 1. b4! (Polovo­
din-Hazai, Helenchuv, 1 980) and
After 5 �xd4 .,lb4 the classical White had a much better end­
position of the Scotch Game oc­ game.
curs. But this knight move to the In an earlier game, Po1ovoclio­
centre turns the game into a gam­ Tseitlin, Leningrad, 1979 Black
bit. To be more precise, it is the played 5 . . . � xd5. The game
Belgrade Gambit. I want to re­ continued: 6 ed J.b4 + 7 J.dl
mind you that this gambit �e7 + 8 �el J. xdl + 9 * xdl!
appeared back in the 40s in � xel + 10 .,l xel �b4 I I II heI
Yugoslav tournaments. Not 0-0 ll d6 c5 13 .,lc4 b5 14 ..t xb5
everyone wishes to sacrifice a I. b8 15 .,lc4 .,la6 16 �e5! ..txc4
pawn (or even two) so early in the 17 � xc4 � c6 18 l. e7! � xe7 19
game merely to obtain the initia­ de 1. fe8 l0 K el K b6 ll � xb6 ab
tive. For that reason the gambit ll b4! d6 l3 a4! and Black
hasn't become very popular. All resigned.
the same this gambit leads to Is there anything to add about
quite lively and exciting play. I other lines of the Belgrade Gam­
think those who favour stormy bit? 5 . . . � b4 has been less
complications should include the researched and 5 . . . ..l b4 + is
gambit in their repertoire. hardly ever played.
5 .,le7 6 ..lf4 d6
Taking the second pawn by 5 It seems that the c7 pawn
. . . � xe4? is too risky e.g. 6 �e2 should be defended because 6 . . .
f5 7 �g5!? (much better than 7 � xd5 7 ed ..t b4 + 8 ..td2 leads by
_lf4 d6 8 0--0--0 �e7 9 � xe7 transposition to a position which
..t xe7 10 g4 c5 I I ..th3 fg 1 2 �xe4 occurred after 5 . . . �xd5. And
d5 1 3 �e5 0--0 14 K hg l ..t f6 1 5 after 6 . . . 0--0 !? ..txc7 �e8 8
�h5 gf when White's attack has �xf6 + ..txf6 9 �e2 -.e6 1 0 e5
108 The Four Knights ' Game

§le7 I I a3 b6 1 2 0--0--0 JJ.. b7 1 3 A less active move would guar­

* b l .l, ac8 1 4 JJ.. d6 §l xd6 1 5 ed antee White solid pressure. Black
ttxd6 1 6 tte4 White has more tries to create counterplay on the
than enough compensation for kingside by his pawn advance.
the sacrificed pawn (Polovodin­ 14 hJ h4
Lerner, Belzi, 1 979). 15 JJ.. h2 K e8
7 <2) xd4 � 16 "tt d2
The more common continua­ White carries out his plan
tion is 7 . . . <2) xd5 8 ed e xd4 9 methodically. The exchange of the
ttxd4 0--0 1 0 0--0--0 JJ.. f6 I I ttd2. major pieces along the e file is not
The d5 pawn now gives White going to make Black's life any
reasonable prospects. easier.
8 -21 b5! <2) xd5 16 Jlg5
8 . . . <2J xe4 was dubious 17 f4 JJ.. f6
because of 9 <2) bxc7 K b8' 10 JJ.. e 2! 18 X ae1
with a big advantage. Black's pieces are restrained.
9 ed �e5 His queen impedes the coordina­
The tactical trick 9 . . . §lg5?! tion of his rooks.
failed to 10 §lxg5 ttxg5 I I ttd2 18 <2Je7
K e8 + (or I I . . . "tlte7 + 1 2 JJ.. e2 19 * hi �rs
<2Je5 1 3 0--0--0 and White is clearly 20 JJ.. dJ K xel
better) 1 2 *d l ! §lg4 + 1 3 J1 K e3 21 K xel a6
14 de! .l, ae8 1 5 cb x xn 1 6 JJ.. e2 White doesn't take any risks.
and White won (Bellon-Pomar, The weakness of Black's pawn,
Las Palmas, 1 975). which was powerful not long ago,
10 JJ.. e2 � g6 has now become a factor.
If White manages to complete 22 � ·J g6
his development and take control 23 �c2 Jl g7
of the open e file, he will undoub­ 24 JJ.. xf5 JJ.. xf5
tedly have an advantage. His 25 Jl g l
opponent should try hard to pre­ The bishop joins the struggle
vent this. After 1 0 . . . c6 I I <2)c3 with great force. The exchange 25
�g6 ( I I . . . "tltb6 1 2 X b l !) 1 2 . . . §l xc2 26 ttxc2 would doom
Jlg3 c 5 1 3 0--0 Jlh4 1 4 ttd2 Black to passive defence.
§lxg3 1 5 hg X eS 16 a4 White 25 tt d7
controls more space and his pieces 26 il fl! il f6
are better placed (Bragin-Fokin, 26 . . . tta4 would give White a
Sochi, 1 975). strong attack after 27 �d4 ttxa2
11 JJ.. gJ JJ.. f6 28 �xf5 gf 29 JJ.. xh4 followed by
I I . . f5 1 2 f3 f4 1 3 ilf2 JJ.. h4
. .1. e l -e3-g3, but this was
was possibly better. Black's last chance.
12 cJ Jld7 27 <2!d4 JUR
13 � h5!? The endgame after 27 . . . K e8
 The Four Knights ' Game 109

2S a xeS + -.xeS 29 �xf5 gf 30 32 c4

*el ! would be joyless for Black. But not 32 -.r4? ,txg2 + 33
l8 �fJ .d8 frxg2 X xe l 34 -.xh4 X e5!
29 � g5! 32 c5
The h4 pawn is surrounded, but 33 ,tc3 *d7
that isn't all. 34 fp g1 b5
29 ,txg5 35 *'4 b4
30 fg X e8 36 ,tf6 ,txgl
3 1 ,td4! 37 -.xh4 X xel +
The exposed long diagonal de­ 38 fp xgl X e2 +
cides the game. 39 fp g1
31 Black resigned.
Index of Complete Games

Page numbers in italics refer to complete games quoted in the notes to the main
games.

Adorjan-Hiibner 56 Ljubojevic-Portisch /6
Ady-Littlewood 42
Madl-Veroci 17
Belyavsky-Malanyuk 42
Belyavsky-Smyslov 76 Nunn-Tal 28
Nunn-Timman 21
Chandler-Spassky 49
Chiburdanidze-Tseshkovsky 38 Polovodin-Tseitlin 1 06, 107
Popolitov-Trushakov 38
Ehlvest--Geller 45 Popovic-Timman 29
Popovic-Yusupov 32
Geller-Salov 48 Prandstetter-Blatny 36
Geller-Tal 1 8 Prandstetter-Hort 98
Georgiev-Nunn 40 Psakhis--Geller 43
Georgiev-Tseshkovsky 33
Gufeld-Schussler 62 Rohde-Seirawan 72
Romanishin-Balashov 50
Howell-lvanchuk 90
Hiibner-Korchnoi 27, 31 Sax-Short 9, 12
Hiibner-Smyslov 78 Sax-Yusupov 74
Hiibner-Spassky 98 Short-Olafsson 89
Hiibner-Timman 43 Smagin-Hebden 41
Hiibner-Yusupov 21 Sokolov-Karpov /6
Sokolov-Smyslov 46
lvanov-Agapov 39 Sokolov-Spassky 46
Sveshnikov--Geller 97
Kapengut-Malanyuk 34 Szecsi-Heinrich 102
Karpov-Kasparov 60
Karpov-Korchnoi 58 Tal-Korchnoi 24
Karpov-Portisch 55, 57, 58 Timman--Giigoric 99
Karpov-Seirawan 7 1 Timman-Karpov 1 5, 93, 95
Karpov-Spassky 45 Timman-Smyslov 97
Karpov-Yusupov 25, 32, 1 0 1 Timman-Yusupov 87, 90
Kasparov-Karpov I , 4 , 7 , I I , 6 1 , Tseshkovsky-Agapov 3 7
62, 8 1 , 83 Tseshkovsky-Arkhipov 6 7
Khalifman-Arkhipov 66
Kudrin-Wolff 77 Ulmanis-Van Der Haiden 35
Kuporosov-Malanyuk 44
Kupreichik-Yusupov 89 Van Der Wiel-Korchnoi 27, 31
Van Der Wiei-Short 78
Ljubojevic-Karpov /6, 69
Ljubojevic-Nunn 43 Zaitsev-Yusupov 55
Index of Main Variations

As this book is not a detailed study of the whole of any particular opening, only
the major variations dealt with are listed in this index. Transpositions and other
variations are considered throughout the text, and the reader is recommended
to study all of the games in each section, rather than considering each game in
isolation.

Spanish
I e4 e5 2 0 f3 0c6 3 i.b5
(a) 3 . . . g6 45
(b) 3 . . . 0d4 50
(c) 3 . . . a6 4 _ta4 0 f6 5 0--0
(c l ) 5 . . . 0 xe4 1 8
(c2) 5 . . . ..te7 6 K e 1 b 5 7 i.b3
(c2 1 ) 7 0--0 8 c3 d5 33
(c22) 7 . . . d6 1

Russian
1 e4 e5 2 0 f3 0 f6
(a) 3 d4 55
(b) 3 0xe5 d6 4 0f3 0 xe4 5 d4 d5 6 i.d3 0c6 7 0--0
(b1) 7 . . . i.g4 8 1
(b2) 7 . . . _te7
(b2 1 ) 8 X e 1 56, 74
(b22) 8 c4 6 1

Scotch
1 e4 e5 2 0 f3 0c6 3 d 4 e d 4 0 xd4
(a) 4 . . . 0 f6 93
(b) 4 . . . _tc5 97

Italian
1 e4 e5 2 0f3 0c6 3 i.c4 i.c5 4 c3 0 f6
(a) 5 d3 1 0 1
(b) 5 d4 1 02

Four Knights '

1 e4 e5 2 0 f3 0c6 3 0c3 0 f6 4 d4 ed 5 0d5 106