ID Rd b The Ultimate Islay Malt.
CHESS
Rd be www.ardbes.com
Hollow crown
Raymond Keene
AFTER five games of the Brain Games World Chess Championship in London, the challenger Kramnik leads by three points to two. However, it was only by a miracle that Kasparov survived game four, which would have left Kramnik, had he won, with a virtu- ally unassailable lead. This week I concen- trate on Kasparov's incredible save.
Kramnik–Kasparov: Q's Gambit Accepted
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Nf3 e6 4 e3 c5 Bxc4 a6 6 0-0 Nf6 One would expect now a fierce middlegame to develop with White contracting an isolated queen's pawn in return for attacking chances. 7 dxc5 Qxd1 8 Rxdl Bxc5 9 Nbd2 Nbd7 10 Bet b6 Cautious since 10 ... b5 can be met by a swift a4 disrupting Black's queenside pawn structure. 11 Nb3 Interestingly, Kramnik has handled the white side of this variation like this before, and his results include a win against cx-world champion Anatoly Karpov. 11 .. . Bel 12 Nfd4 Bb7 13 f3 0-0 14 e4 RfcS 15 Be3 Kf8 16 Nd2 In the game Bareev–Rublevsky, Elista 1996, White tried 16 Kf2 which resulted in an uneventful draw. 16 • Ne5 17 N4b3 Rc6 18 Rac1 RacS 19 Rxc6 Rxc6
20 g4 At first sight a startling idea which weakens White's position but the plan is soon revealed. White's intention is to chase back Black's pieces with a kingside pawn rush. Even in a highly simpli- fied position the space gain could bring White an advantage. 20 ... h6 21 h4 Bc8 The purpose behind this retreat is not immediately apparent. 22 g5 hxg5 23 hxg5 Nfd7 24 f4 Ng6 25 NB Imperceptibly Kramnik is gaining an edge. He is operating with threats such as 26 Bxa6 Bxa6 27 Rxd7 as well as 26 Nbd4 or 26 f5 or even 26 e5. 25
• Rc2 Black could defend passively with 25 Ke8 but he prefers to lash out and open the position up. This contains risks for both sides. 26 Bxa6 Bxa6 27 Rxd7 Rxb2 Material is level but White's pawn on a2 and Black's pawn on b6 are both weak. The real problem for Black, and doubtless this formed the topic of Kasparov's long think before 25 ... Rc2, are the threats that arise to Black's king after White's next move. 28 Raj Bb5 29 f5 exf5 30 exf5 The situation has advanced dramatically and White's threats have become
very concrete. Black's only defence appears to be 30 ... Bc6 but then 31 Rc7 Bxf3 32 Rc8+ wins. 30 ...Re2 31 Nfd4 Kramnik continues to operate with sharp tactics. If now 31 ... Rxe3 32 NxbS wins material, Black must seek salvation by entangling his pieces after a web of checks. 31 ...Rel+ 32 Kf2 Rf1+ 33 Kg2 Nh4+ 34 Kh3 Rh1+ 35 Kg4 Be8 36 Bf2 Ng2 37 Ra8 37 Nf3 is probably stronger than this move. 37 ... Rf1 38 K13 Nh4+ The play- ers are short of time and inaccuracies are starting
to creep in. 38 Nf4 looks much better here when Black may still be able to hold the balance. Now Kramnik looks to be winning. 39 Keg Rh1 40 Nb5 Black is in big trouble. White will gang up on the bishop on e8 and Black appears to have no way to avoid the loss of a piece. 40 ... BxgS 41 Nc7 Ke7 42 Nxe8 Nxf5 43 Bxb6 The smoke has cleared and White is a piece up for one pawn. White may experience some difficulty in reactivating his far- flung knight on e8 but in principle White's extra material must give him a winning position. 43 Kd7 44 a4 Rh3 45 Nc5 Kc6 46 a5 Re3+ 47 Kd1 Re7 48 Rc8+ Kb5 Kasparov is doing his utmost to create some counterplay. 49 Ne4 A promising alternative is 49 Nc7+ Kc4 50 N5e6. 49 ... Rxe4 50 Rc5+ Ka6 51 Nc7+ Kb7 52 RxfS Be3 A bril- liant resource after which Black may well be hold- ing the draw. 53 Bxe3 Rxe3 54 Rae Re5 55 a6+ Kb6 56 Rxg7 Ra5 57 Kd2 Ral 58 Kc2 Rh1 In the rush, a blunder 59 Kb2 White's last chance in this rollercoaster is 59 RgS, a move which Black has- tens to prevent. 59 ... Rh8 Incredibly, although a knight and a pawn down, Black is hanging on. 60 Kb3 Rc8 61 a7 Kxa7 62 Kb4 The endgame of rook and knight against knight is a theoretical draw. Nevertheless, the player with the rook must play accurately and in a game against the Hungarian Judith Polgar, Kasparov actually won this endgame after she defended inaccurately. 62 ...Kb6 63 NdS+ Ka6 64 Rg6+ Kb7 65 Kb5 66 Rg2 Kc8 67 Rg7 Kd8 68 Nf6 Rc7 69 Rg5 Rf7 70 Nd5 Kd7 71 Rg6 Rfl 72 Kc5 Rc1+ 73 Kd4 Rd1+ 74 Key Draw agreed
Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 50 White to play and win — first move only required. This week's puzzle is from the game Kramnik–Kasparov, Game 2. What was Kramnik's winning move in the only decisive game from the match so far?
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 24 October or via email to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first cor- rect answer drawn out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of a bottle of Ardbeg Malt Whisky.
Last week's solution: Nxc5 + Last week's winner: Philip Grindrod, Richmond.
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