Chess
Unseen blushes
Raymond Keene
It will be a long time before all of the hidden subtleties from the Kasparov Korchnoi match are revealed by the players themselves or by independent analysts. Meanwhile, here are two fascinating posi- tions, where I am now able to expand con- siderably on my own original notes.
Kasparov — Korchnoi, Game 1
Position after 20 . Kg8 Here White played 21 Ng5 h6 22 Ne4 and drifted into an inferior ending after 22 ... Bxe4. Later on, Gary pointed out to me the following incredi- ble improvement, which seeks to capitalise on White's lead in development: 21 Ne51 Threaten- ing Ng4 with devastation around Black's K-side dark squares. 21 ... Rd8 22 Qh4 Rd5 Not 22 ... QxeS? 23 Qxd8 + . The text forks two White pieces and wins material. 23 f4! RxbS Or 23 ... Qc5 + 24 Khl Qxb5 25 c4! 24 Radl, threatening to penetrate on d7 or d8, and if now 24 ... RxeS 25 Rd8 + Kg7 26 fxe5 Nd7 27 Rxf7 + Kxf7 28 Qxh7 mate. This fierce demonstration is certain- ly more consistent with Kasparov's public image than the tame way in which he actually succumb- ed in the game.
Korchnoi — Kasparov, Game 10
Position after 34 Bxc6 Black continued here with: 34 .. . Bxd4 and had to fight to rescue half a point. At the time no one noticed that Black can play for the advantage with: 34 ... Rxel + 35 Rxel Bxd4 36 Bxb7 Rb8. Now White's B cannot move, since prompt ex- ecution follows with ... Rb2, while 37 Qb3 or 37 Qbl is obviously out of the question, since f2 falls. Finally, 37 Rbl fails to 37 ... Rxb7 38 Rxb7 Qcl mate. So, 37 g3 Qf6 38 Rbl, but now comes the subtle 38 ... Bb6!! (Diagram) From this position a forced line emerges, 39 Bc6 Qxf2 + (39 ... Bxf2 + 40 Kg2!) 40 Qxf2 Bxf2 + 41 Kxf2 Rxbl 42 d6 Rdl 43 d7 Kf8 44 Ke2 Rd6 45 a4 Ke7 46 Bb5. My feeling is that this position should be a draw, though it is White who has to prove it, since his K cannot pass to the Q-side and his B is tied to b5.
Position after 38 .. . Bb6!!
These variations, and many more, are discussed in the match video tape, a unique record of the games and daily atmosphere at the Acorn world championship semi- finals. In its 75 minutes the tape includes live coverage of the 10th Korchnoi- Kasparov game, discussed above, plus in- terviews with Smyslov, Ribli, Campomanes and Byrne, plus move commentary by Bob Wade and myself. VHS or Betamax copies can now be ordered at £20 each from LEI Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln LNI 3 DY .
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