Chess
Soviet supreme
Raymond Keene
Karpov has narrowly won the 50th anniversary Soviet Championship which ran in Moscow from 3 to 28 April. In spite of a slow start, the world champion gradually picked up momentum, and when his leading rival, Polugaievsky, faltered and lost to the unknown Malaniuk in the last round, Karpov squeezed into the top spot by a half-point margin. Leading scores were: Karpov 91/2 points out of 15; Tukmakov 9; Polugaievsky and Vaganian (the victor of Hastings) 81/2; Balashov 8; and Romanishin, Petrosian, Psakhis and Malaniuk 711. Lower down in the table were such illustrious names as Geller, Beliaysky, Yusupov and Razuvaev. Ex- world champion Tal had a depressing ex- perience. He scored two losses and three draws, then postponed a series of games and finally had to withdraw through 'high blood pressure'. Tal's illness is as persistent as Fischer's inactivity and I can only hope
that this time it is not really serious. Kasparov was absent, presumably prepar- ing for the Korchnoi match.
Eye-witness Bob Wade stressed that the overall style of play was grim and determin- ed, with many long games. Bob was in Moscow to gather first-hand material for his book on the Championship, the strongest for many years, and the first time Karpov has participated since 1976. The book costs £3.00 and can be ordered from GM Publications, Room 320, Panther House, Mt Pleasant, London ECI as well as through Chess and the BCM.
Here are two examples of the Moscow contestants' shorter efforts:
Geller — Yusupov: Petroff Defence.
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 Nxe4 4 Bd3 d5 5 Nxe5 Bd6 6 Nc3 Nxc3 7 bxc3 0-0 8 0-0 c5 9 Qh5 f5 10 Bg5 Qc7 11 Qf3 Be6 12 Rfel c4 13 Bfl Re8 14 Nxc41 Black is already on the run. If 14 . . dxc4 15 Rxe6 Rxe6 16 Qd5 and Bxc4 wins. 14 .. . Bxh2 + 15 Kh1 Nd7 16 Nei Bd6 17 NxdS Qc6 18 c4 Kh8 19 Re3 Nf8 20 Rael b5 A desperate bid for counterplay. 21 cxb5 Qxc2 Not 21 . Qxd5 22 Qxd5 Bxd5 23 Rxe8 winning. 22 Ne7 Bxe7 23 Bxe7 Bxa2 He cannot capture on e7, since White's Q attacks the R on a8. 24 Bd3 Qa4 25 Bc5 Rxe3 26 Rxe3 Black resigns. White threatens Qxa8 and QxfS.
Polugaievsky — Petrosian: Modern Defence. 1 Nf3 g6 2 d4 Bg7 3 c4 d6 4 Nc3 e5 5 e4 I prefer 5 dxe5 dxe5 6 Qxd8 + Kxd8 when White has a slight ending plus, due to Black's wandering K. 5 . . . NO 6 dxe5 Nxe5 7 Nd4 An artificial deci-
sion. Just 7 Nxe5 should be in White's favour. 7 . . . a6 8 Bet c5 9 Nc2 Be6 10 Nd5 Bxd5 11 exd5 Ne7 12 0-0 0-0 13 Rbl Nf5 14 b4 cxb4 15 Rxb4 Qc7 16 Bbl RfeS 17 Nd4 Nxd4 18 fixd4 Nd7 19 Be3 Rxe3! An exchange sacrifice which lames White's position, and of a type known from the game Kasparov-Andersson, Moscow 1981. 20 fxe3 Nc5 21 Qc2 Re8 22 Rf3 Bh6 23 Qc3 Qe7
Position after 23 . . . Qe7 (Diagram) White can no longer defend e3 since 24 Kf2 fails to . Ne4 + . The blunder he actual- ly produces is almost as bad. 24 Rb6? Cracking under pressure. 24 . . . Na4 White resigns. An amazing miniature.
In the concluding candidates' quarter- final Ribli has defeated Torre 6-4. Ribli now meets Smyslov and Kasparov meets Korchnoi in the semi-finals set for the sum-
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