1 gODDIAIAam CHESS

SPAIN'S FINEST CAVA

PDEYDRA

SPAIN'S FINEST CAVA

Another K

Raymond Keene

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY that so many of the world's top players start their names with the letter K. Kasparov, Karpov, formerly Korchnoi, Kamsky and Kramnik. Kramnik has been identified by Kasparov, no less, as a likely future champion. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who lead an ascetic, monk-like existence, avoiding smoking, drinking and late nights, Kram- nik appears to be determined to enjoy himself. Recent results indicate that his policy of hedonism is paying off just as handsomely as the puritanical devotion to duty adopted by Gata Kamsky.

Kramnik — Kasparov: Linares 1994; King's Indian Defence.

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 d4 0-0 6 Be2 e5 7 d5 The Petrosian variation. After years of neglect it has suddenly become high fashion once more. 7 . . . Nbd7 In Illescas — Gelfand, also from Linares, Black tried 7 . . a5 at this point, the approved equalising method. Howev- er White, surprisingly, won that game rather easily. Kasparov reverts to the old main line. 8 Bg5 h6 9 Bh4 g5 I0 Bg3 Nh5 11 h4 g4 12 Nh2 Nxg3 13 fxg3 h5 14 0-0 f5 Up to here the position was well known from games played in 1964 when Keres introduced the variation. Here, for exam- ple, 14 . . . Bh6 15 Bd3 c6 16 Kh 1 Nf6 17 Bc2 was played in a game by Keres against the Swiss master Walther in the 1964 Olympiad in Tel Aviv. Black's position is solid but passive, and Keres won such positions with an eventual sacrifice against the black pawn on g4. Kasparov tries something more dynamic. 15 exf5 Ne5 16 b4 e4 17 Rel Nd3 18 Bxd3 exd3 19 f6! An important counter-sacrifice which prevents Black from achieving a harmonious deployment of his forces. Kasparov had probably been expecting

Position after 21 . . Bf5

the more avaricious 19 Qxd3 when 19 . . . Qf6 20 Ne4 Qd4+ 21 Qxd4 Bxd4+ 22 Khl Bxf5 gives Black two raking bishops for his pawn. 19 . . . Rxf6 20 Qxd3 Qf8 21 Nb5 Bf5 (Diagram) 22 Rxf5! A further excellent move. Kasparov's opponents in Linares (compare also his game against Lautier which I gave in this column last month) have grasped that the champion is least comfortable when he is unable to seize the initiative. Here Kramnik is prepared to sacrifice rook for bishop in order to eliminate Black's potentially ferocious bishop pair. 22 . . . RxfS 23 Nxc7 Rc8 24 Ne6 Qf6 25 Nfl Re5 26 Rdl Qf5 27 Qxf5 RxfS 28 c5 Now White's pawn mass also becomes a menace. 28 . . . Bf8 29 Ne3 Rf6 30 Ne4 dxc5 31 b5 It is important to keep Black blockaded. White's command of the light squares gives him prospects of an eventual successful advance of his passed 'd' pawn.

Position after 31 b5 (Diagram) 31 . . . Bh6? Kasparov cracks under the pressure. The correct move is 31 . . . Re8 immediately with the plan of re-sacrificing the exchange on e6 with a likely draw. After 31 . . Re8 32 Rel Black can play 32 - . . Rf5 33 d6 Rd5 to control White's passed pawn. Alternatively 31

. Re8 32 Rel Rf5 33 Rdl and now 33 . . . Rf6 again, repeating the position. 32 Rel Re8 A tempo too late. Not only does White's knight on c4 now threaten to jump into d6 at an inconve- nient moment, White can also station his rook on e5, attacking h5 and preventing . . Rf5. 33 Re5 Re7 34 RxhS Ref? 35 Kh2 Bel 36 Re5 Rfl 37 Re4 Rdl 38 Rxg4+ The harvest continues. 38 . . . Kh7 39 Ne5 Re7 The last ditch attempt 39 . . . Rffl (threatening checkmate) fails to 40 Rg7+ Kh6 41 Ng4+ Kh5 42 Nf6+ Rxf6 43 g4+ Kxh4 44 g3 checkmate. 40 Nf8+ Black resigns.

Kramnik — Anand: Monaco Speed Chess, 1994; English Opening.

1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 e6 6 g3 Qb6 7 NdbS This move has been neglected by theory, with 7 Nb3 being the standard choiceat this stage. However, this advance with the knight, is in fact, quite logical since White aims to follow up with a dangerous dark-squared attack inaugurated either by Be3 or Bf4. The drawback to White's idea is that it will involve him in some sacrificial play, the outcome of which is not totally clear. 7 . . . Ne5 8 Bg2 a6 If instead 8 . . . Nxc4 9 Qa4 followed by Bf4 with a massive lead in development. 9 Qa4 Neg4 A transparent threat which is easily met. Surely Black would do better to further his own development by means of 9 . . . Bc5. 10 0-0 Rb8 Hoping to force White back but White's next move is a stroke of genius. 11 b4! An extraordin- ary piece sacrifice. 11 . . . axb5 12 NxbS d5 It looks most unsafe to invite double check in this fashion but Black's position is already critical. If, for example, 12 . . . Be7 13 c5 Qd8 14 Qa7 wins Black's rook. 13 Nd6+ Ke7 14 c5 Qa6 15 Qc2 Ne8 16 b5 Qa8 17 Bf4 Nxd6 Vainly hoping that White can be placated by the return of some material. 18 Bxd6+ Ke8 19 Bxb8 Qxb8 20 a4 Qc7 21 Rfcl f5 22 a5 Sadly for Black White's onslaught continues with renewed vigour. There is now no satisfactory way to stem the onrush of White's pawn phalanx. 22 . . Ne5 23 c6 b6 If instead 23 . . . bxc6 then 24 b6 wins easily enough. The text, on the other hand, permits a drastic finale. 24 axb6 Qxb6 25 Ra8 Kd8 26 Rb8!

Position after 26 Rb8!

(Diagram) Black resigns The final thrust which eliminates Black's resistance. Both 26 . Qxb8 27 c7+ and 26 . . . Qa7 27 b6 are utterly hopeless. A most spectacular demolition of one of the world's strongest speed chess players.