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CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT

R

•

H

•

M CHESS PUBLISHING

a division of RHM Associates of Delaware Inc.

A Publisher's Foreword "San Antonio - '72" is the first book to be produced by R.H.M. Chess Publishing - which is a division of R.H.M. Associates of Delaware, Inc., long-established in the finan­ cial publishing field. The undersigned as Publisher, our Editor-In-Chief, Burt Hochberg, and our entire staff, approach this new publish­ ing venture with a deep sense of responsibility. Whether most realize it or not, we are only in the foothills of the new "Fischer Era" in chess, and we feel the sharp expan­ sion of interest in chess in America, particularly among our youth, is destined to reach one new height after an­ other

in

the

years

directly ahead.

Bobby

Fischer

has

brought excitement to the world of chess, as well as the brilliance of his play, and to keep step with this change, R.H.M. Chess Publishing intends to do its utmost to add informative and valuable new titles to the literature of chess. With "San Antonio - '72", the most important interna­ tional chess tournament to be played in the United States in many years, we hope you will feel that we are off to a good start. And directly ahead, as our second scheduled publication, is an already eagerly-awaited book, destined to take an important place in contemporary opening theory; "The Benko Gambit" by Pal Benko. This will be followed towards the end of 1973 by a book which we feel will become a chess classic - "How To Open A Chess Game" - with individual chapters express­ ing the specific opening approaches of the following chess luminaries:

Petrosian, Keres, Gligoric,

Larsen, Portisch,

Hort, Evans. Since we have many additional exciting proj ects in chess publishing taking form, you may wish to be kept informed by us as to details and publication dates. You can accomp­ lish this by sending us your name and address on a post­ card. (This is not necessary if you purchased "San Antonio - '72" directly from us, because you are then automatical­ ly on our mailing list.) We will expend every effort in the years ahead to meet the challenges of the new "Fischer Era" in the world of chess.

New York, June, 1973

Sidney Fried Publisher

SAN ANTONIO CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN, INC. First International Chess Tournament

Games Annotated by BENT LARSEN and DAVID LEVY and THE PLAYERS

SIDNEY FRIED, Publisher BURT HOCHBERG, Editor-in-Chief DENNIS FRIED, Assistant Editor

RHM CHESS PUBLISHING a division of RHM Associates of Delaware, Inc.

220 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001

Copyright

© 1973

RHM CHESS PUBLISHING a division of RHM Associates of Delaware, Inc. 220 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001

All rights reserved including the right to repro­ duce this book, or parts thereof, in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in

a

review.

ISBN 0-89058-000-6 Second Printing

Printed in the United States of America

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The reader's attention is directed to two pages in the back of this book where we describe a new

and exciting project-The R.H.M. Survey of Cur­ rent Chess Openings. With a world-renowned Editorial Board which in­ cludes Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi, Boris

Spassky, Tigran Petrosian, Svetozar Gligoric, Bent Larsen and other top grandmasters, we are present­ ing an important new approach to the Openings in chess, which we are sure you will find of great in­ terest. Please refer to those two pages in the back of the book for full details.

R.H.M. Press

Table of Contents Church's Fried Chicken, Inc.

I

What Is a Coordinator, by George Koltanowski

3

Biographies of the Players

7

The Players from

a

Spectator's Viewpoint,

by Sherry Rittenhouse

Tournament Tables

23

33-36

Index of Games

37

Index of Annotators

38

The Tournament

39

Index of Openings

271

Seated, left to right: George Koltanowski (Tourmiment

Coordinator), Henrique Mecking, Walter Browne, Harry Golombek

(Tournament

Director),

George

W.

("Bill")

Church, Jr., E. B. Edmondson (Executive Director, U. S.

Chess Federation), Paul Keres, Tigran Petrosian. Standing,

left to right:

Svetozar

Gligoric,

Julio

Kaplan,

Duncan

Suttles, Donald Byrne, Vlastimil Hort, Larry Evans, Laj os Portisch, Bent Larsen, Mario Campos-Lopez, Ken Smith, Anatoly Karpov, Anthony Saidy.

Preface A tournament book should best be written by the players themselves,

as it is only they who can explain how they were thinking in each game, how they felt about each of their opponents and how they viewed the tournament as a whole. In general, this practice is unworkable, however, because the strains of modern tournament chess prevent most grand­ masters from annotating more than a few of their games from any event. The task thus falls on a non-competitor to prepare for the chess publi� the best possible record of an important tournament. In accepting his invitation to play in Church's Fried Chicken, Inc., First International Tournament, each player agreed to annotate his two most interesting games for this book. (Despite the pre-tournament agreement, however, the notes Campos-Lopez promised to write on his game with Browne were not received.) In one instance (Mecking-Petrosian, game

77), the winner wrote notes only to the most interesting part of the game, while the first forty moves were annotated by Bent Larsen, who was engaged by the publishers to annotate a number of interesting games. Many other games have notes written by me, though in most cases the analyses which make up much of the notes were obtained from discus­ sions with the players themselves and from watching the post-mortems which the players conducted.

In this respect the players were most

cooperative and I would particularly like to thank Vlastimil Hort, Julio Kaplan, Anthony Saidy and Duncan Suttles, who gave me help above and beyond the call of duty. Julio Kaplan should also be thanked for annotating four games instead of two. Naturally some of the games have been given without comments. These are either short draws or games without any real distinguishing characteristic (and some rather easy wins which do not deserve notes). In order to make publication as speedy as possible, the portion of the typescript prepared by me was delivered to the publishers within a few days after the end of the tournament. The material prepared by Larsen was delivered shortly thereafter. It remained only to collect the notes by a few players, who for the most part were admirably cooperative. I would like to thank Bernard Zuckerman for checking the manu­ script for errors and inconsistencies. Lastly I wish to thank Burt Hochberg for giving me the pleasant task of editing this book and for his helpful advice and encouragement.

DNNL London, December

1972

George W. (Bill) Church, Jr.

SAN ANT ONI O

'72

CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN, INC. GRANDMASTERS OF GOOD FOOD The fast-food prophet George W. Church, Sr., founded Church's Fried Chicken as a post­ retirement proj ect in 1952 in downtown San Antonio. Chess had not grown to its present stature throughout America and neither had the food service industry. Mr. Church foresaw the need for totally new methods to meet the growing demand for appealing convenience foods outside of the home. At that time, only hot dogs and soft ice cream were marketed in the fast food fashion. Having gained twenty years of experi­ ence in the poultry industry, Mr. Church conceived a plan to build a small store at modest cost and offer freshly cooked quality fried chicken. He eliminated many of the frills common to restaurants to produce a superior product at lower cost-and deliver it at lower prices. The plan worked. At the time of his death in 1956, four Church's stores were open. Other members of the family continued Mr. Church's vision, and by 1962, the chain had grown to eight San Antonio stores. The stage was set In 1962, George W. (Bill) Church, Jr., Church's current President and Chairman of the Board, assumed chief operating responsibility for the family's business. The new president was convinced that his father's policy was sound and could be applied to create

a

national chain of

fried chicken stores. He gathered together a nucleus of skilled, imagina­ tive people who shared his goal of establishing Church's Fried Chicken as a leader in the fast food industry. By 1967, Church's was ready Church's corporate organization was structured to assist a family busi­ ness to become a national chain. Revenues in 1967 were 2.7 million dollars, over twice those of the previous year, and the company ended the year with seventeen stores in five Texas cities. In 1968, the first Church's stores were established outside the Lone Star State. Revenues rose to over seven million dollars with 44 stores in operation. The franchise boom was in full swing all over the nation, but management became convinced that ownership would be the key to sound expansion in the future. Since

1968, Church's has granted no

franchises outside of the continental 48 states. 1

SAN ANTONIO

'7 2

Church's Fried Chicken became a publicly held company the follow­ ing year with operations in seven states. An equipment and manufactur­ ing plant was built on a 6-acre site in San Antonio, giving the company the capability to design and engineer much of its special stainless steel equipment used in all stores on its home grounds. By the end of 1969, the beautiful national headquarters complex was completed and occu­ pied. Over 100 stores now offered Church's chicken. Church's grew while others faltered 1970 was a year of doom for many franchising companies in the fast food business, but it was the year that proved the soundness of Church's earlier decision to expand carefully with company-owned stores. The chain had grown to 208 stores in fourteen states with revenues of nearly thirty million dollars. Tremendous national expansion also led to foreign expansion. In 1971, Church's Fried Chicken acquired interest in a

j oint

venture in

Western Canada which now operates two stores in Vancouver, B.C. In April, Church's Food Service (Australia) Pty. Limited was formed, with the first store "down under" opened earlier in 1972. The vision was right George Church, Sr.'s dream has become a reality. A Church's store is a welcome addition in communities across the United States. Each store is attractively designed and color-coordinated, situated for easy access and fast, convenient service. And the chicken? First Prize! Because smiling Churchie is Church's reminder that quality is what Church's Fried Chicken is all about. Now, Church's has nearly 400 stores .. . and the company is still growing. Just as chess in America continues to attract people. And there's another vision to make come true: the growth of Church's Fried Chicken's International Chess Tournament through the years to come. Church's wouldn't settle for less.

2

SAN ANTONIO

'72

What Is a Coordinator? by George Koltanowski It was something completely new to me. For a year and a half before the tournament started, scores of letters had been written to chess columnists, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations, etc. I traveled to the Olympiad in Skopj e especially to arrange details of this great tournament. Arrangements were made with Kavalek, Gligoric, Petrosian, Karpov, Keres, Golombek Everything looked rosy. So, one week before the start of the Church's International, I went to San Antonio to see that things were being prop­ erly taken care of on the scene. And that was some hectic week! I expect impresarios have those pressures all the time, but a week like that was really something. Kavalek couldn't make it, so Ed Edmondson, USCF's heavily burdened Executive Director, had to find a replacement at the last minute. Donald Byrne, an international master who had returned from Skopje with a fever, agreed to play, but he was really under the weather during most of the tournament. It was felt desirable to install a special row of bright lights over the playing area-at a cost of

$3,000.

But during the first round one of the

players thought the existing lights in the hall would be better than the new ones, so off they went. Larry Evans insisted the new lights be kept on, so on they went. But Henrique Mecking, the Brazilian "wunderkind" didn't like them, so off they went. This time for good-enough is enough. Portisch is very sensitive to noise, both during the games and when he is trying to sleep. The Hilton Palacio de! Rio, tournament head­ quarters just across the street from the playing site, was really beautiful. Portisch, who had been assigned room 1607, was moved to 1908 in a search for a quiet air-conditioner but he didn't like it and was moved to 1739. From the start, everybody and his relatives were after me for one thing or another. Just before the big international tournament was to start, the Church's Fried Chicken Open was held. There were 11 3 players, a fine showing, including 6-year-old Oscar Maass from Juarez, a wonderful child who was

a

huge success with the press and the public.

Back to the international In the hall is a large red sign, required by the fire laws, which reads "EXIT." Mecking decided it was distracting him, so up I went on a ladder to remove the bulb. Some fun. 3

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

Then the news media needed everything. "Houston Radio calling­ can we have daily results?" "KNXT, Los Angeles, on the line. Please send us ..." "Black and Blue Wire Service in Timbuktu calling. Results of each round please ..." "Brazil calling, please give us all Mecking games, move by move . ." No, sir, no, no, no.That's where I stop. Portisch had to be moved from 1739 to 2024. The players were supposed to get their food and pocket money each Monday. But by Saturday, they were all descending on my neck for an advance. I am invariably polite when saying no.Then there were the young men who take care of the wall boards for the spectators. When two of them didn't show up-guess who subbed for them. The daily bulletins had to be typed, printed and mailed promptly David Levy, editor of the bulletins as well as this book, needed a girl (who doesn't?) to do the typing, so I had to go find him a girl.No

j okes

please.

Problems kept coming up. There was a skittles room where the players were supposed to go to do their post-mortems. But when any one of the superstars headed for that little cubicle, the fans flocked around like the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. Portisch wanted his room changed, this time from 2024 to 616. As for the personalities ... Tournament Director Harry Golombek, recipient of the Order of the British Empire, a high honor awarded personally by the Queen (but he has not been knighted and is not to be called "Sir"), is a proper English­ man from top to toe. But this has its problems, too: at tea-time, roughly 4:00 p.m., he must have his tea-or else. The caterer was advised in

the strongest terms to see that tea was served at the proper time. Harry also found the food in San Antonio to his liking, with the result that his clothes had all shrunk by the end of the tournament. Mecking reported that negotiations for a non-title match between him and Fischer are taking place. Money, as usual, is holding up the works. But it is Mecking's share, not Fischer's, that is the problem. Larsen played badly to lose an advantageous endgame against Keres in the seventh round. He played very poorly against Browne and lost in the eighth round.He soon lost also to Mecking

Why? The coordinator

knows. Bent was reporting the tournament and had too much work on his hands. Petrosian makes a great impression on everyone. His secret? He speaks no English, keeps his hearing aid turned off, smiles graciously at everyone and says nothing.Not a bad idea. 4

S AN

AN T ONIO

'72

Karpov, diminutive in physique, is a giant at the chess board. He has a nice smile for everyone and speaks "sotto voce." A winner any way you look at him. Portisch moved from 616 to 2117. For how long? The Hilton was always crammed with conventioneers, mostly ladies from all parts of Texas. There's the ADD, the DOL, the QXR, the TNX, the RAP, and the DDT,

j ust

to mention a few. Once, riding in that

100-miles-per-hour elevator (or so it seemed), a group of ladies asked me if I was with the NSTC, whatever that was. "No," I answered, 'Tm with the chess convention." The ladies turned beet red and uttered not another word. I wonder if they thought I said "chest convention." "Grandmaster" I. S. Turover was here, as everybody knew as soon as he arrived. He is always chock full of funny stories and is great fun. He offered a prize of $150 for the brilliancy prize, which was won by Keres for his win against Donald Byrne. Portisch, for all his sensitivity to noise, is a scrupulous gentleman as well as a great player. His conduct is always impeccable and he really tries not to create problems (except for his opponents). He says he thinks one day he will buy a house on a lonely island in the middle of Lake Balaton in Budapest so he can finally get some sleep. By the way, the above account of his room-changes is rather exaggerated. What is a coordinator? A man who grumbles all the time, sends out the bulletins, pays out the food money, accounts for the daily receipts from the gate and the bulletin orders, refuses free entry to "girl friends" the players have never even met, turns pale when a player gets sick and almost faints dead away when the doctor sends a bill for $70, is the first one up in the morning and the last to go to bed at night, sees that the media gets the news, takes all the blame for every little thing that goes wrong. But after many nights without sleep, television shows to make, bulletins to take care of, etc., etc., we find there is a certain allure to all those miseries, something you would not want to trade for some mosquito-bitten nights in Jamaica, even with a rum-and-coke in your hand and your mind

in a reverie Would I do it again? Just ask me!

5

Tournament Director Harry Golombek, 0.8.E., left, with Tournament Coordinator George Koltanowski.

6

THE

PLAYERS

Walter Shawn Browne (Australia)* International Grandmaster

Born January 10, 1949, in Sydney, Australia, he learned chess at the age of eight and was beating his father after a few months. When he was very young, his family moved to New York, where at the age of thirteen he

j oined

the Manhattan Chess Club. He received the U.S.

Master title at fourteen and garnered the U.S. Junior title at seventeen. When he was nineteen, he returned to Australia to win the national championship, which was a breakthrough for the young master. He tied for first in the Asian Zonal. At twenty, he came second at the great San Juan International Tournament, behind then World Champion Boris Spassky. He obtained his International Grandmaster title at that event. Since then he has played in numerous tournaments, winning many high places and first prizes. He is a professional games-player and is pro­ ficient in backgammon and poker in addition to chess.

*Since the Hastings Tournament of 1972-73, Browne has considered himself an American.

7

THE

PLAYE RS

Donald Byrne (UnitedStates) International Master

Donald Byrne, brother of Grandmaster Robert Byrne, was born June 12, 1930. He evinced an interest in chess early and was one of the

members of the fabled "Hawthorne Chess Club," which was not a real club at all but the home of John W.

Collins in Brooklyn. Along with

most of the other leading players of his generation-Robert Byrne, Arthur Bisguier, William Lombardy, Robert Fischer, et al. -Donald spent a good deal of time at the Collins home and developed his talent. But his general education was not neglected-he is now a professor of English at Pennsylvania State University. In 1962 he earned his International Master title. However, he had been achieving important successes for some time before, notably his defeat of Soviet star Averbakh by 3-1 in the U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. Match in New York 1954. In 1953 he won the US . . Open and in 1957 he was equal first in that event. He is noted for his excellence in team events; he scored 5-2 at the Varna Olympiad in 1962, 6Y2-3\/2 at the Tel Aviv Olympiad in 1964, and 5\/2-2Y2 at the Lugano Olympiad in 1968. He has often been team captain. As a player Donald Byrne favors complicated positions.

This, com­

bined with his ever-present time pressure, has tended to reduce his point totals in many events. He is very well liked by the other players and is a talented raconteur. He lives in Pennsylvania.

8

THE

PLAYERS

Mario Campos-Lopez (Mexico) National Master

Born May 15, 1943, in Matamoros, Mexico. Since 1966, he has won every national championship in his country. In 1969, he came fourth in the Zonal Tournament held in Ecuador, missing the International Title by one half point. He plays in important chess events infrequently. He is a civil engineer by profession.

9

THE

PLAYERS

Larry Evans (United States) International Grandmaster

Born in New York, March 22, 1932. Evans tied with Arthur Bisguier for the U.S. Junior Championship in 1949 and the same year came third in the U.S. Open. Awarded the grandmaster title in 1957. In 1951, he became the youngest player ever to have won the U.S. Champion­ ship. He won the title again in 1962 and in 1968. He was U.S. Open Champion in 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1971 (tied with Walter Browne). He has represented the United States on nine Olympic teams. Larry Evans is a prolific writer on chess. In addition to his instructive columns for

Chess Life

&

Review,

he writes a syndicated column which

appears in dozens of newspapers. He has authored a number of success­ ful books for the intermediate player. He makes his home in Nevada.

10

THE

PLA YERS

Svetozar Gligoric (Yugoslavia) International Grandmaster

Born February 2, 1923 in Belgrade. Gligoric is one of the chess elite, having been among the world's best for more than twenty years. He was a candidate for the world championship three times (1953, 1959, 1968). He has won the championship of his country eleven times and played first

board

on

Yugoslavia's

Olympic

team

for

some

twenty

years.

"Gligo," as he prefers to be called, has impeccable credentials as a

j ournalist,

and can be heard regularly on Radio-Belgrade.

In chess

circles he is known for his great charm. He speaks several languages fluently.

His best chess results number in the dozens. Some of the highlights are: 1st in Lj ublj ana 1946, Warsaw 1947, Mar del Plata 1950 and 1953, Staunton Memorial 1951, Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro 1953, Stock­ holm 1954, Hastings five times, Belgrade 1962, Tel Aviv 1966, Dublin 1967, best score on first board in Munich 1958 Olympiad (ahead of Botvinnik); second at Portoroz 1958, Sousse 1967, Zurich 1958, Lj ubij ana 1969, Vincovci 1970, Rovinj -Zagreb 1970 (behind Fischer), Wij k aan Zee 1971, and many others. He is the author of a popular column for

11

Chess Life & Review.

THE

PLAYERS

Vlastimil Hort (Czechoslovakia) International Grandmaster

Born in Kladno, January 12, 1944. He learned chess at seven and became an international master at sixteen. Tying with Paul Keres at Marienbad (Marianske Lazne) 1965, he earned his grandmaster title. Since then, Hort has been considered one of the leading contenders for the world championship. By training he is an economist, but in effect he is a professional chess player. Hort plays first board for the Czech Olympic team. He has an extremely powerful physique but a very gentle nature. One of his friends calls him a "giant teddy bear." He is gregarious and loves to talk and laugh. He speaks English well, in addition to Russian and other languages. His best results have been: equal first with Portisch in Kecskemet 1965, equal second in Vincovci 1968, 1st in Venice 1969, equal second in Zagreb 1969, equal first in Skopj e 1969, equal second in Athens Zonal 1969, second at Wij k aan Zee 1970, equal second at Rovinj ­ Zagreb 1970, first at Havana 1971 and Luhacovice 1971, equal first at Gothenburg 1971, and equal second at Wij k aan Zee 1972.

12

THE

PLAYERS

Julio Kaplan (Puerto Rico) International Master

Born July 25, 1950, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1964 he moved to Puerto Rico and has represented Puerto Rico ever since. (Puerto Rico has an independent chess federation which is affiliated with FIDE.) In

1967 he won the Puerto Rico Championship and in the same year he became World Junior Champion at the tournament in Jerusalem. He became an international master in 1967. He has played first board for Puerto Rico at the Olympics in 1968 and 1970. He has not yet had a great deal of international chess experience, but is considered a bright promise in world chess. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where he studied mathematics and computer science. He is easily identified at chess tournaments by his bright red hair and beard.

13

THE

PLAYERS

Anatoly Karpov (U.S.S.R.) International Grandmaster

Born in Zlatoust, in the Urals, on May

5, 1951. He learned chess

from his father at an early age and was soon playing in local clubs. He is now a student at the University of Leningrad. In

1969, Karpov won

the World Junior Championship at Stockholm. His remarkable suc­

1971, equal first with Korchnoi 1971-72, high score for the Soviet team at the Skopj e Olympics in 1972) have already made him, in the eyes of the chess

cesses (equal first with Stein in Moscow at Hastings

world, a likely challenger for the world championship. He is considered by all to be the brightest star of the younger group of Soviet grand­ masters. Karpov is friendly and sociable. He has a slight build which belies his chess strength. His decidedly positional style is considered unusual for a player of his age. Some say he plays "like an old man." He speaks English haltingly. During the San Antonio tournament, he seemed to have a warm and close relationship with former World Champion Petrosian, which may be considered of great potential benefit to the young grandmaster.

14

THE

PLAYERS

Paul Keres (U.S.S.R.) International Grandmaster

Paul Keres was born in Narva, Estonia, January 7, 1916. Though very much alive and active as a player, Keres is already considered one of the immortals. Beginning his chess career as a correspondence player, Keres's

talent

was soon

shown in

national

championships

(he was

Estonian Champion in 1934) and on the international scene, where in his first international event he astounded the chess world by scoring 12 out of 19 in the Warsaw

Olympics. The next year he was equal first

with the great Alekhine in Bad Nauheim. Scoring 15 out of 20 at first board in the Munich Olympics of 1936, Keres's career was well on its way. Many first prizes in the 1930's followed, culminating in a tie for first with Fine at the AVRO tournament in Holland (the tournament was organized to select a challenger for World Champion Alekhine). Keres was declared the winner on tiebreaking points, but various eva­ sions by Alekhine prevented the match from taking place. Then the Second World War intervened, followed by Alekhine's death. Since then, although Keres has had notable successes, the world championship has eluded him. He came third in the World Championship Tournament in 1948 and was second in four of the five candidates' tournaments he has played in. The Soviet government awarded him the title of Sportsman of the Year in 1962. He has written several imporant works on chess, including one of the most thorough chess autobiographies in the history of the game. His analysis can be seen regularly in the pages of

15

Chess Life

&

Review.

THE

PLAYERS

Bent Larsen (Denmark) International Grandmastf r

Born March 4, 1935, in Copenhagen. He claims he showed no special talent at an early age. At nineteen, he won the Danish Championship for the first time, winning it again in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1963 and 1964. He has been considered one of the two best non-Soviet players (Fischer is the other one) since the mid-1960's. Larsen's style, notably appropriate for tournament play, is based on the creation of unbalanced positions with an element of risk. He is one of the most successful tournament players in chess history, having had a string of five consecutive first places in strong tournaments in 1967-68 (Havana, Winnipeg, Palma de Maj orca, Monte Carlo, U.S. Open at Snowmass). He has also won first prize at Palma de Maj orca 1969, Busum 1969, Lugano 1970, Vinkovci 1970, Sousse Interzonal 1967, and was equal first at the Amsterdam Interzonal in 1964. As a regular candidate for the world championship, Larsen in 1965 defeated Ivkov and Geller, but lost to Tai, in 1968 he defeated Portisch and Tai, but lost to Spassky (who then went on to beat Petrosian for the world title), and in 1971 he beat Uhlmann but lost to Fischer in what must be considered the most severe setback in his career. In 1970, he played first board for the "World" team against the U.S.S.R., defeating Stein in one game and playing Spassky to a 1 V2 -1 V2 standstill. Larsen is one of the most ingratiating grandmasters and a very popular personality. He has written several books, of which his Selected Games is most successful. He contributes a column to Chess Life & Review. 16

THE

PLAYERS

Henrique Mecking (Brazil) International Grandmaster

Born January 23, 1952. He learned the game at the age of six. In 1966 Mecking won a South American tournament, gaining the inter­ national master title. In Vrsac 1971, Mecking finished first, ahead of Portisch. He tied for third with Robert Byrne at Hastings 1971-72, earning the grandmaster title. He has been champion of Brazil in 1965, 1966 and 1967. According to other players, Mecking is a difficult opponent because of his nervousness and sensitivity. But he is also a very dangerous player, capable of defeating anyone in a given game. He is considered one of the bright stars of the future.

17

THE

PLAYERS

Tigran Petrosian (U.S.S.R.) International Grandmaster

Born in Tillis on June 17, 1929. World Champion 1963-69. His first success was winning the championship of his native Georgia in 1945. He moved to Armenia as a youth and soon won the Armenian Cham­ pionship and the U.S.S.R. Junior Championship. He considers himself a student of Nimzovich's theories, which he credits as helping him attain a mature style. He came of age internationally in the 1950's, coming second in the 195 1 U.S.S.R. Championship and in the 1952 Interzonal. He was fifth in the unusually strong Zurich 1953 Candidates' Tourna­ ment, which result earned him the grandmaster title. In 1962, after a long series of successes, he won the Candidates' Tournament in 1962, which gave him the right to challenge then World Champion Botvinnik for the title. He defeated Botvinnik in the title match in 1963. In 1966 he successfully defended his crown against Spassky, but in 1969 the young challenger won the title. Petrosian's style is marked by a strong predilection for defense and "prevention," one of the ma j or theories of Nimzovich. Although he has been called a dull player, connoisseurs recognize his enormous skill. As a personality he is unique. His face is a study in expressiveness. When in a relaxed atmosphere Petrosian loves to perform, and his clowning keeps his audience, which usually includes other top grand­ masters, vastly amused. He is one of the most respected grandmasters, recognized as perhaps the most difficult player in the world to defeat. Petrosian is Editor-in-Chief of the Soviet chess newspaper "64." 18

T HE

PLAYERS

Lajos Portisch (Hungary) International Grandmaster

Born April 4, 1937 in Zalaegerszeg. He learned chess from his father at the age of twelve. His first opponent was his brother, two years younger, who received the Hungarian Master title later. At eighteen, Portisch reached the finals of the Hungarian Championship and in the same year participated in the World Junior Championship, where he finished fourth (the title was won that year by Boris Spassky). He first won the Hungarian Championship in 1958, and because of his other chess successes in that year, he gave up his studies at the university and became a chess professional.

In 1958

he won the strong Asztalos

Memorial Tournament in Hungary and received his International Master title. In 1961 he earned his grandmaster title. Since then, he has won the Hungarian Championship six more times. He has twice qualified for the Candidates' Matches, in 1965 and 1968. He has won numerous first prizes, among them: Saraj evo 1962 (equal first), Saraj evo 1963, Halle Zonal 1963, Amsterdam 1963, Beverwij k 1965 (equal first), Kecskemet 1966 (equal first), Halle 1967 (Zonal), Amsterdam 1967, Skopj e 1968, Monaco 1969 (equal first), Amsterdam 1969, Hastings 1969-70 and 1970-71, Adelaide 1971, Wij k aan Zee 1972, and had the best result on board one at the Tel Aviv Olympics in 1964. Portisch is now considered one of the chess elite. He carries a black leather bag with him everywhere, which presumably contains his opening files and other chess material. He guards it carefully. He works diligently during a tournament and is seldom seen relaxing with the other players. 19

THE

PLAYERS

Anthony Saidy (U.S.A.) International Master

Born May 16, 1937, in Los Angeles. He won the Canadian Open in 1960, the American Open in 1967, and the U.S. Speed Championship in 1956, among others. He tied for second in Venice 1967 and in Polanica Zdroj 1967. He received his international master title in 1967. He is the author of

The Battle of Chess Ideas

medical

has

degree

and

practiced

the

(1972). Saidy has a

profession

of

public

health

physician. He has recently declared himself to be a chess professional. Saidy is well read and can converse on almost any subj ect. He has a particular interest in sociological and political subj ects. He works very hard at the chess board. He is extremely self-analytical. Saidy, despite his own assertions of professionality, is a chess amateur in the truest semantic sense: he loves the beauty of chess and admires those players he considers "romantics." His book, deliberately intended as a continuance of the pioneering work of Richard Reti, may prove to be a landmark in American chess literature. He is a special contributor to

Review.

20

Chess Life

&

THE

PLAYERS

Kenneth Smith (U.S.A.) National Master

Born in 1930. Smith has been many-time Southern and Southwestern champion. He once won the British Maj or Open. He learned chess at the relatively late age of seventeen. Smith recalls telling Koltanowski that he had hopes of becoming a chess master and asked the famous player how he could best accomplish this. Koltanowski replied, "Why in the world do you want to become a chess master?" Smith is the publisher of Chess Digest magazine and one of the largest retailers of chess supplies in the country. He acts as American distribu­ tor for many important theoretical books on the game, and his Chess Digest publishes many works. Smith lives in Dallas, Texas, where he heads a contracting firm.

21

TH E

PLAYERS

Duncan Suttles (Canada) International Master*

Born December 21, 1945, in San Francisco. Suttles moved to Van­ couver in 1951, where he still lives. He learned chess at fourteen. He has played on the Canadian team in the Olympics of 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970. He played in the Interzonal tournaments of 1967 and 1970. He achieved his first international grandmaster norm at the Lugano Olympics in 1968, playing against ten grandmasters and two international masters. However, due to a quirk in the FIDE qualification rules, he was denied his title at that time. That he amply deserves the high title is without question, however, especially in view of his fine showing in San Antonio. He met his wife, Dobila, while playing chess in Yugoslavia. They were married in 1968. He is presently working toward his Ph.D. in Mathe­ matics at the University of British Columbia.

*Suttles met the international grandmaster norm at the San Antonio tournament.

Photos of players by Burt Hochberg

22

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

The Players From a Spectator's Viewpoint by Sherry Rittenhouse "There is a saying: it is not right that a soldier should not want to be a general," Russia's Anatoly Karpov remarked with a laugh. The remark was made in response to this writer's statement that a national news magazine had quoted him as saying, "Evidently, I shall" one day be champion of the chess world. "No," he stated, "I did not say this but ..." his eyes took on a puzzled look as he searched for English words. He turned to

Svetozar Gligoric, Grandmaster from Yugoslavia,

and asked a question in Russian. Gligoric replied in English, "A saying." Karpov's mouth formed into a generous smile, his eyes expressing merriment. "Yes, a saying," he repeated, and spoke about the soldier's obligation of ambition, which elicited a response of warm laughter from those who shared the table with him. He had been getting our attention as he had been getting it throughout this event, which has been called the finest International Grandmaster Chess Tournament to be held in the United States since 1924. But there was much more than the excitement felt by a spectator witnessing 15 rounds of battle fought in electric silence by some of the best of the world's players.There was the excitement of the champions themselves when not silent. What are they like, these soldiers of Caissa, these men who are in their own right generals, the International Grandmasters of chess? How do they differ? Do they share similar qualities? And, most intriguing of all, what is the common denominator of chess greatness within these players? Taking them in the order of tournament program appearance, let's explore what they are like from the impressions of a spectator at the games and away. Walter Shawn Browne, 23-year-old Australian, has lived most of his life in the U.S. Browne gives the marked impression of a living explosion. His motion is characterized by a continuous series of dispersed flows. This combined with his rather longish brown hair and lightly bearded face gives him an anachronistic look, as though he'd

j ust

doffed a suit

of chain mail and armor after a day's work in the ranks of knights. He is very interesting to observe at the chessboard, and at the kibitzing which follows most games.In the maj ority of his contests here, he ran 23

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

into time trouble. Browne, however, appears to be "blitz" oriented. The extremely fast particle flow which time trouble necessitates matches his randomity pattern. In the kibitzing, he moves pieces as though they were sword blades, or some such ancient weapon. Slam, "Maybe here is better," he states in a voice with a European accent. Or, "No, no maybe here." Slam; table vibrates, incredulous spectator expressions. "He is mild now; you should have known him a few years ago!" the grand­ masters exclaim among themselves. Browne won 4, drew 5, lost 6, for a

61/2 point total. Donald Byrne of the U.S.A. is 42, a professor of English Literature at Penn State. Byrne has a rather intriguing air about him. He reminds one of mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. Consequently, one watches him in anticipation of seeing him rip off his coat to expose a giant red S, but he never does. One looks at Don and wonders when he'll reveal his true identity. During play he was the only player who smoked, which lent a more "living room" aura to the space he and his opponent occupied. Except for the dark suits, white shirts and glasses, Don's gaming atmosphere is rather less formal. His company outside the tournament hall is relaxed and easy, but retiring. He makes excruciating puns which elicit groans from the company. He enj oys them immensely. Byrne finished the tournament with 4 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses, for a total of 7 points. Mario Campos-Lopez is the current national champion of Mexico. The 29-year-old Campos-Lopez is a civil engineer and works for the municipality of Mexico City. He is a National Master and faced ex­ tremely strong competition in this tournament. Although he finished with only 31/z points, the general consensus indicated that Campos-Lopez played excellently. He is a warm, personable young man. He is un­ assuming in his wit and communicates readily though he speaks very little English. With my rather poor Spanish and his English we discussed the in-progress games (his had finished earlier) and tournament facilities. He commented that the artificial light bothered his eyes. I thought "Uh-oh." But then he started laughing and said, "Daylight hurts my eyes too." It was a rare moment when Mario didn't have a smile on his face. The exception was at the chessboard; then his countenance was sober and attentive. Syndicated chess columnist Larry Evans of the U.S.A. has played for nine U.S. Olympic teams and has a long list of other firsts and cham-

*Browne is now an American. 24

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

pionships. He is well known to chess enthusiasts across the planet for the many chess publications he has authored. Evans was considered the strongest American player in this tournament. Although he only lost 4 games, he drew 9 and won 1 for a total of 61/z points to tie for eleventh place with Browne. Evans's beard, sprinkled with gray, his preference for organic foods and turtleneck pullovers, lend an outdoorish intel­ lectual air. He appeared at this tournament to be a bit dry and edgy. He lives in Sparks, Nevada, and is reported to be a better than average gambler. Next in appearance is Svetozar Gligoric, or "Gligo" as we came to call him. Gligoric is a

j ournalist

for Radio-Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and

has enormous chess experience. Although feeling a bit under the weather (which was unusually miserable for November in San Antonio) and anticipating what he termed a "catastrophe" at the games, Gligoric took fourth place in the tournament behind a three-way tie for first. Tremendously handsome and congenial, Gligoric kept us in constant mirth with stories about rides in Soviet airplanes, women drivers, the Fischer-Spassky match and other chess anecdotes. We were constantly amazed at his reservoir of languages as well. Often he kept the inter­ national

personages

communicating

with

his

ready

interpretations.

Gligoric also has published many chess articles and books. His most recent one, on the Fischer-Spassky match, is very entertaining for the spectator-enthusiast as well as instructive for the player. His style is light and bright,

reflecting his own personality,

which very simply

sparkles and radiates vitality. Gligo is fantastic, as a Grandmaster and gentleman. Czechoslovakia's leading Grandmaster, 28-year-old Vlastimil Hort, tied for sixth place with Duncan Suttles of Canada. Hort became a Grandmaster in 1965, is a professional economist and very much enj oys the theater. Vlastimil was another favorite; a friendly extroverted young man who speaks English as though he's singing it. His lilting accent was almost mesmerizing and one could listen to him for hours. Very much in favor of experiencing the varieties of life, Vlastimil said that chess demanded too much devotion, too much of a lifetime. The relating of some of his experiences kept us interested and amused. Observing him at the chess table was entertaining as well. Somehow, in the extreme concentration of his game, he'd manage to put his fingers through his hair in such a way that it stood straight up. Many players walk up and down within the playing area as the opponent lengthily calculates his next move. Vlastimil was no exception in this ambulatory pastime, and it

25

S AN

ANTONIO

'72

was a sight to see him walking around with his hair straight on end. International Master Julio Kaplan of Puerto Rico is a 21-year-old fiery redhead with accompanying beard. Julio, however, is quiet; he prefers Levis to slacks, sports coats and suits. He and his wife, Susan, are warm and pleasant company. Kaplan graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in computer science and mathematics last June. He says, however, that he has yet to receive his diploma to make it official. He plans to establish a chess academy in Puerto Rico. Each player seems to have his own interesting countenance while playing chess. Julio's is a rather strange sitting position. He backs his chair away from the table and leans down until his eyes are parallel with the board as though he were directing lines through the pieces to find the openings. He contemplates his moves at length and this caused him time problems in several instances. Kaplan finished the tournament in thirteenth place with 2 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses, for a total of 5 points. Anatoly Karpov, the 21-year-old Grandmaster, is the present Soviet chess champion. Karpov is constantly beset by questions such as: "Will you be the one to beat Bobby Fischer? Will you be the next world's champion?" The asking of this question is the only thing I saw create a slight negative expression on Karpov's face. His answer is inevitably, "Perhaps." The rest of the time this young man appeared relaxed and friendly. He vacillates between being rather shy and very open. The shyness perhaps was more from the language barrier than an inherent characteristic. What English he did speak, he spoke well, and he was will­ ing to answer questions about himself and to participate in the general conversation. At one point, I asked Anatoly if he enj oyed chess. "Yes," he said, "but it is very hard work, and I don't very much enj oy working that hard." "You sound like an American," I replied, and he answered with gales of laughter. There is no doubt of his confidence in his ability, yet there is no inflated demand for attention. Consequently, he receives a great deal of it, at the games as well as in conversation. He, like the other players, will from time to time meander up and down the playing area. But there is a difference in the way he observes the games. Most players concentrate only on the pieces and their positions. Karpov does this, but he also looks intently at each player as though he reads some­ thing as significant in his face as on his board. Although slight of frame, Karpov is one of those beings whose personal magnetism gives the impression of quiet but limitless power. What is time, when one has it all? It is this awareness that Karpov seems to use as a stable datum. Gligoric is quoted as saying, "Anatoly is the only young player who has shown

26

SAN ANTONIO

'72

a very high level of play. He has a very classical style. He's patient. He tries to build up his chances." This method of operation observably continues from game to game. Going into the last round, Karpov was tied for first with fellow countryman Tigran Petrosian. The only other threat came from Laj os Portisch, of Hungary, who was 1lz point below the leaders. The profile of these significant contests was as follows: Petrosian vs. Duncan Suttles of Canada: Suttles needed only Yz point

more in order to earn his Grandmaster title. Karpov vs. Henrique Mecking of Brazil: Mecking is also a chess

prodigy, and very talented according to tournament officials. Certainly here was no easy win for Karpov. Portisch vs. Bent Larsen of Denmark: Larsen, when he is playing well,

is truly a formidable foe, and must be given at least equal chances in any single game. The results: Petrosian vs. Suttles-Draw. This very early decision (a game is

limited to five hours of play in one day) occurred within the first hour and put Petrosian in the lead by 1lz point. Karpov vs. Mecking-Draw. Shortly after Petrosian drew with Suttles,

Karpov offered Mecking a draw. It was accepted. Karpov maintained his tie for first with ex-world champion Petrosian while Portisch still battled with Larsen. Portisch vs. Larsen-Win for Portisch. The win for Portisch did not

occur quickly, but he had to have it in order to catch the leaders. He did. Much speculation concerned the draw offered by Karpov. To some it seemed obvious that the Russians would agree to draw and tie. To some it was acceptable that Petrosian would offer the draw in order to allow Suttles to gain his title. And it is true that Petrosian and Karpov like each other a great deal. During one of the rounds the players were walking about more than usual. Karpov and Petrosian met and began talking. Shortly they broke into quiet laughter and Petrosian reached up and patted the side of Anatoly's face. It was an affectionate gesture of kinship. Yet to others it was the appearance of Bobby Fischer, current world champion and a frequently outspoken critic of Soviet chess, that triggered the Russians' quick draws and withdrawal from the tournament hall. However, the most plausible explanation came from Bill Church, President of Church's Fried Chicken, Inc., and the man behind the creation of this tournament. "Karpov is young, up-and-coming. He doesn't need to stretch his chances; he's got all the time in the world. A 27

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

tie with Petrosian for first is a great position. In this case it was an easy decision." This viewpoint is consistent with what had been observed in Karpov's play and personality. Dr. Max Euwe, President of FIDE, the international chess federation, indirectly supported this viewpoint in a separate conversation. "Karpov is uncluttered and simple. He has great power to observe and deduce correct conclusions, and he works hard. That is why he is a grandmaster." Whatever the viewpoint, Karpov is a real threat to the world champion. And there is no doubt he is special. Paul Keres, at 61 the senior grandmaster of the group to participate in Church's International, has a serene countenance that draws one to him immediately. Keres has been involved in chess for many years. Though he has never held the world championship title, many agree this seemed to be a quirk of fate rather than ability, as his victory record is most impres­ sive. Certainly he holds a high place among the greats. In this meeting he captured fifth place with a total of 9112 points, one point below the front runners. Keres is physically very handsome. His skin glows and his blue eyes reveal the readiness of his humor and wit. He denies that he speaks English well, yet there was never a problem in communicating, nor in understanding his intentions. I was talking with Keres after the tournament and chanced a question concerning the basic ability a chess player must have in order to succeed. He laughed and said, "He must be able to sit in a chair and play for five hours." In reflecting on his remark, it is apparent this is an important factor in the stamina that chess of grandmaster caliber re­ quires. Much of the walking the players do during a tournament suggests it is an outlet for the pressure, which also creates the electrifying at­ mosphere. It is this electricity of which the spectator is immediately aware. There is no obvious, agitated, visual motion in a chess tourna­ ment of this kind, but the spectator responds to the games with tre­ mendous excitement in breathless silence, more often than not sitting on the edge of his chair. It is the flows the players themselves create that are infectious in the observer. It is very difficult as a spectator to remain seated in constant concentration, and the difficulty for the participant must be a hundred times more intense.

Bill Church was of the same basic opinion as Keres. "The basic ability of a grandmaster has to be the ability to simply

confront, to j ust sit

there and confront and continue to confront." There are many anecdotes that same out of the tournament which relate to this concept. These

28

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

will be covered later under the appropriately related players. Known for his dynamically creative style in chess, Bent Larsen of Denmark

is

also a very dynamic individual personally.

He speaks

English with ease and is a most entertaining conversationalist. With Larsen, one can continue probing subj ects and find his quick and colorful humor usually finding the satire in most situations. He prefers reality to mysticism, although he sometimes creates the impression that most things are a bit absurd. He gained a great deal of support from San Antonians by his generous appearances at a number of the local schools and the San Antonio Chess Club. We spent many enj oyable hours with his wife, Lis, who is simply a lovely person. With Lis we explored chess from the viewpoint of the grandmaster's wife. There we found great support of the game as well as the husband, in spite of the concept of the "chess widow." Tourna­ ment play seems to be the hardest for the wives since, as she said, they suffer all the pressure, "because you canot help, you know? You remain quiet and read while he works, but more than this you cannot do." Larsen finished the tournament in a tie for eighth with seven games won, three draws and five losses, for a total of 81h points. His aggressive and creative style is responsible for the small number of draws. He is an optimistic player and quite open about his abilities as a grandmaster. There was agreement that he did not play in top form at this tourna­ ment. It was also agreed that the competition was very keen in such a strong field. Not the least of the competitors was Henrique Mecking from Brazil, who tied with Larsen for eighth. Mecking was not feeling well during the greater part of the tournament so there was not much opportunity to get to know him personally. His companion, Abaiyete Valverde, described him as very warm hearted, but rather stoic. He eats only certain kinds of foods, studies a great deal and consequently does not pursue youthful adven­ ture. He is much watched over by the President of Brazil, who confers with

Mecking

concerning

his

chess

career

decisions. Not

only

is

Mecking a professional chess player, but he is a Professor at the University of Brazil in, yes, chess! Mecking, the player, is interesting to observe. He clasps his hands over his ears and is totally immersed in his game. At one point during his game with Petrosian, the Armenian leaned over the board to inspect the position closely. It was Mecking's move, and the young Brazilian, his head bent, waved his hands at Petrosian as if to shoo him away. In another instance during the same game, Mecking asked Harry Golom-

29

SAN ANTONIO

'72

bek, the tournament director, to please make Petrosian stop shaking his legs. Apparently Petrosian was bouncing his legs underneath the table. Golombek refused to tell the ex-world champion to stop shaking. Tour­ nament officials agree that Mecking is a bit much to handle, but then as Valverde remarked, "It is his right as a player if he feels his chances will be affected." Tigran Petrosian, Grandmaster from Soviet Armenia, was champion of the chess world from 1963 to 1969. He finished this tournament tied for first place, accumulating 1 OV2 points. He has been mentioned previously in his relationship with Karpov and Mecking, but there is a great deal more to this personality. From the spectator viewpoint, he is most interesting to watch, particularly his facial expressions. He has a manner of pursing and unpursing his mouth that makes him look speculative in a humorous "what's going on in general" kind of way. His style of chess is well known as "preventative." He plays very conservatively, with few, if any, errors and awaits his opponent's blunder. If none shows, the game is a draw. Which it usually is. Petrosian tied for the top of the list with nine draws in this tournament. Other statistics were six wins and no losses. Petrosian speaks little English, and his wife, Rona, interprets for him. Even so, it was obvious that Tigran Petrosian is an amiable man. One evening, shortly after his game with Mecking, he described his game and was quite animatedly creative, showing through gesture what had gone on. He was laughing as hard as the rest of us, enj oying his own antics. The third part of the first-place triumvirate was Laj os Portisch of Hungary. I have few impressions of Portisch. Perhaps that very lack is significant. He was, however, the only player to beat Karpov. Portisch works hard during tournaments, usually retiring to his room after the games. He is seldom to be seen kibitzing with the other players. A black leather bag, containing precious secrets, accompanies him almost every­ where. He is conservative in dress, polite in manner (he tips his hat) and keeps very much to himself. His presence at the chess board is serious and concentrated. He won 7, drew 7, and lost one, that to Gligoric. Most agree Portisch has not played his best chess since the match in March of 1970, U.S.S.R. vs. the World. But his tremendous surge in the second half of this tournament, after an indifferent start, was really admirable. The U.S. had four representatives in the tournament, a grandmaster, two 30

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

international masters and a national master. Dr. Anthony Saidy, late of the medical profession, holds an international master title. Saidy is an attrac­ tive man with curly dark hair which he wears rather longish, with ac­ companying sideburns and slightly graying temples. The obvious ques­ tion to Saidy is, "Why did you leave medicine?" His response relates his desire to take the time now to pursue chess and to write. He published his first book, The Battle of Chess Ideas, in 1972. He intended his book to continue the work of Richard Reti, a writer of the 1920's who, as Saidy states, described that "in the idea of chess and the development of the chess mind, we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of man­ kind." Saidy's purpose is also to "elucidate something of the mysterious attraction of chess" and to show the reader not only how chess is played by ten contemporary chess greats, but why. To the enthusiast of chess from a technical viewpoint, the book may be heavily romantic. But the observer who finds as much fascination in the players as in the game, will gain a most interesting insight into Dr. Saidy himself, his apprecia­ tion of the soldiers of Caissa and their impetus to play the game. Saidy's conversation is as much intellectually oriented as is his prose. There is a great deal of meaning and mobility in his questioning counte­ nance, and a great deal of charm. National Master Ken Smith was another American in the tourna­ ment. The most immediate and marked impression of Smith to the spectator is his size. He is a huge man. Smith is also tremendous as a chess enthusiast. He publishes Chess Digest magazine, and he writes books and articles on the game. He is a resident of Texas. Ken's own statement indicated he was "thrilled to have the opportunity" to face across the board so many of the greats in a game he so avidly supports. In his best game of the tournament, Smith battled to a draw with Paul Keres of the U.S.S.R. This was a particularly exciting moment for him, somewhat compensating for his last place in this strong field. Smith is a personable individual, and so is his wife, Linda. They pool their efforts in the publishing enterprise. Ken also heads a contracting firm in Dallas. Last on the list of masters is Duncan Suttles of Canada who came to this tournament to attempt qualifying for the grandmaster title. His efforts proved successful and he did indeed solidify his position among the best. As an individual, Suttles has an easy smile, but is generally quiet and reserved. His chess, Gligoric commented, is "very compli­ cated." Currently, aside from his endeavors in chess, Suttles is working on his Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of British Columbia. He was 31

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

accompanied by his wife, Dobrila, who in sharp contrast is extremely extroverted, friendly, and interested in everything. Three other personalities who made the tournament the tremendous experience it was are George Koltanowski, Tournament Coordinator, Harry Golombek, 0.B.E., of England, Tournament Director, and finally Dr. Max Euwe, former World Champion and now President of FIDE. Koltanowski is a syndicated chess columnist in the U.S. He himself holds the International Master title, though he no longer participates as a tournament player. The question for George should have been: Which is rougher, coordinator or player? His comments, elsewhere in this book, are most enlightening. It was Koltanowski who, at the request of Bill Church, put the tournament together. From the spectator viewpoint he did a magnificent j ob. Spending an evening with "Kolty," Golombek and their longtime friend, Paul Keres, was to enj oy many a hilarious story about their experiences in the world of chess. There were too many to relate here, but it is appropriate to look at the two most crucial non-players. To say that they are individually and uniquely dynamic is a tremendous under­ statement. But I find no better description. George throws his hands in the air in a gesture of despair over a trifling detail gone wrong, but rest assured the big problems are under control. "Why do I worry?" he exclaims with a slight accent, shaking his head. But he is ready and willing to give a novice with genuine interest the time to discuss chess. He indicates that to be a grandmaster one must have talent, should work hard, and have a lot of luck. Golombek, on the other hand, is steady, stalwart and has the Britisher's subtle, dry humor. One's impression is that he could not become very ruffled over anything, much less an ex­ world champion's shaking legs. Together they are more than colorful. Add Keres and you have the rainbow. Dr. Max Euwe arrived from the Netherlands to witness the closing days of the tournament. It was a rare privilege to share several enj oy­ able hours discussing chess and other interests with this dignified and genuinely lovely man. From this spectator's viewpoint (my first international chess tourna­ ment), the game and the masters are enthralling. One taste of the inter­ national comradeship which exists among the players, one round of exciting battle and that's it-you're addicted.

32

ROUN D

ONE

Players in the Order of the Draw Country

Title

Age

Rating

Paul Keres

USSR

GM

56

2600

2

Henrique Mecking

Brazil

GM

20

2570

3

Anthony Saidy

USA

IM

35

2425

4

Walter Browne

Australia

GM

23

2530

5

Bent Larsen

Denmark

GM

37

2625

6

Mario Campos-Lopez

Mexico

NM

29

2430*

7

Duncan Suttles

Canada

IM

26

2470

8

Donald Byrne

USA

IM

42

2470

9

Tigran Petrosian

USSR

GM

43

2645

10

Svetozar Gligoric

Yugoslavia

GM

49

2575

11

Lajos Portisch

Hungary

GM

35

2640

12

Kenneth Smith

USA

NM

42

2395*

13

Larry Evans

USA

GM

40

2545

14

Anatoly Karpov

USSR

GM

21

2630

15

Julio Kaplan

Puerto Rico

IM

22

2470

16

Vlastimil Hort

Czechoslovakia

GM

28

2600

Average rating of players= 2538.75 FIDE category of tournament = 12 Score necessary for a Grandmaster result = 8 Score necessary for an International Master result = 6

GM= International Grandmaster IM = International Master NM= National Master = Provisional Rating 33

FINAL STANDINGS AND PRIZE DISTRIBUTIONS N

1st-3rd

Karpov, Petrosian, Portisch

10V2 pts

4th

Gligoric

10

-

5th

z

r-.

0

0 E-<

z < z < rl'.l

$2,333.33 each

pts

$

Keres

9Yz pts

$

600.

6th-7th

Hort, Suttles

9

pts

$

450.

8th-9th

Larsen, Mecking

8Yz pts

$

256.25 each

10th

D. Byrne

7

pts

$

175.

11th-12th

Browne, Evans

6Yz pts

$

162.50 each

13th

Kaplan

5

pts

$

125.

700. each

14th-15th

Campos, Saidy

3V2 pts

$

87.50 each

16th

Smith

2

pts

$

50.

The $150 Turover brilliancy prize was won by Keres for his game against D. Byrne (Game 61).

""" ('<")

PROGRESSIVE POINT TOTALS BY ROUNDS

\;.) Ut

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

1

lVz

2

2

3

4

41/z

5Vz

6Vz

7Vz

8

9

1

2

2Vz

3Vz

4

4Vz

5

5Vz

6V2

7Vz

8

9

10

lOVz

1

2

2Vz

3V2

4Vz

5V2

6

7

7

8

8Vz

9

9Vz

10

10V2

Vz l /2

Portisch Petrosian Karpov

5

4

3

2

1

Player

9V2

10V2

Gligoric

1

2

2

2V2

3Vz

5

5V2

6

6Vz

7V2

8Vz

9

1

2

3

3V2

4Vz

4Vz 51/z

5

Keres

6

7

7Vz

8

8

8Vz

9

9Vz

Suttles

0

V2

lVz

2Vz

2Vz

3Vz

4

4Vz

5Vz

6

6Vz

8Vz 71/2

8

8Vz

9

Hort

0

Vz

lVz

2

3

3

4

5

5

5Vz

6V2

7

7V2

8Vz

9

Mecking

1

1

1

lVz

2Vz

3V2

4Vz

5

5Vz

5V2

6

6Vz

7Vz

8

8V2

Larsen

1

2

2Vz

3V2

3Vz

3Vz

4Vz

4Vz

5Vz

6Vz

7

8

8

8Vz

8Vz

1

2

3

3

3Vz

3Vz

4

5

5

5

6

6Vz

7

1

1

1

lV2

2

2Vz

3V2

4

4V2

4Vz

5 1/z

6

6Vz

lVz 1/2

2

2

2

2

3

3

3Vz

4Vz

5

5

5Vz

6Vz

Vz

lV2

lVz

2

2Vz

3

3

4

4Vz

4Vz

5

lVz

lVz

lVz

lV2

lVz

2Vz

3 3 1/2

3Vz

3V2

3Vz

3Vz

3Vz

3Y2

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

3Vz

lVz

2

2

2

2

D. Byrne

Vz

Evans

Y2

Vz l /2

Vz

Vz

Browne Kaplan Campos

0 Vz

Vz 1

Saidy

0

Vz

Vz

Smith

0

Y2

Y2

Vz

Vz

Vz

Vz

Vz

Vz

Vz

10

V1

> z > z >-l 0 z ......

0 . -..J N

CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN INC. First International Chess Tournament San Antonio, Texas November 19

r:-

0 -

z 0 rz <

December 11, 1972

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

x

1h

1

0

1

l/2

1

1h

1

1h

V2

1h

1

1h

1

1

1h

x

1h

1

1h

V2

1h

1

1

1h

1h

1h

1h

1

1

1

N

-

WD

L

Pts.

S-B

7

7

1

101h

76.75

1

6

9

0

101h

72.75

1

Portisch

2

Petrosian

3

Karpov

0

1h

x

1

1h

1

1h

1h

1h

1

1h

1

1h

1

1

1

7

7

1

lOV2

70.25

4

Gligoric

1

0

0

x

1h

1

1h

1h

1h

1

1h

1

1h

1

1

1

7

6

2

10

65.50

5

Keres

0

l/2

1h

V2

x

1h

1

1

1

1

0

1h

1h

1

1

V2

6

7

2

9V2

6

Suttles

1h

1h

0

0

1h

x

V2

1h

1h

1h

1

1h

1

1

1

1

5

8

2

9

56.50

7

Hort

0

1h

1h

1h

0

1h

x

1

0

1h

1h

1

1

1

1

1

6

6

3

9

55.75

8

Meeking

1h

0

1h

1h

0

1h

0

x

1

1h

1h

1

1

1

1h

1

5

7

3

81h

54.00

66.25

0

0

1h

V2

0

1h

1

0

x

1

1

0

1

1

1

1

7

3

5

8V2

51.25

z <

10

D. Byrne

1h

1h

0

0

0

1h

V2

1h

0

x

1

0

1h

1

1

1

4

6

5

7

41.75

11

Evans

V2

V2

1h

1h

1

0

1h

1h

0

0

x

1h

0

1h

1h

1

2

9

4

61h

47.75

Cll

12

Browne

1h

1h

0

0

1h

1h

0

0

1

1

1h

x

1

0

0

1

4

5

6

6V2

45.50

9

Larsen

13

Kaplan

0

1h

1h

1h

1h

0

0

0

0

1h

1

0

x

1

1h

0

2

6

7

5

38.50

14

Campos

1h

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

V2

1

0

x

1

1h

2

3

10

3V2

19.50

15

Saidy

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1h

0

0

1h

1

V2

0

x

1

2

3

10

3V2

18.50

16

Smith

0

0

0

0

1h

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1h

0

x

1

2

12

2

11.50

Note: Players listed in tiebreak order. However, no official tiebreaking S-B

=

was

done and tied players received equal prizes

Sonnenborn-Berger

\0 <"l

INDEX OF GAMES

(Numbers in bold face indicate player on left had White)

..,, -..J

PE

KA

GL

KE

SU

HO

ME

LA

BY

EV

BR

KA

CA

SA

SM

Portisch

26

71

40

86

11

41

92

116

23

58

109

75

6

101

56

Petrosian

-

54

24

69

114

9

77

99

8

43

93

60

111

84

39

Karpov

-

-

59

106

37

89

119

20

44

88

14

102

29

3

74

Gligoric

-

-

-

76

7

25

85

110

10

55

100

70

115

94

42

Keres

-

-

-

-

52

1

16

35

61

103

31

120

46

18

91

Suttles

-

-

-

-

-

97

62

82

112

28

79

45

90

67

22

Hort

-

-

-

-

-

-

17

65

113

73

49

105

81

33

57

Mecking

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

47

68

107

34

2

51

32

104

Larsen

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

95

13

64

30

80

50

5

D. Byrne

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

38

83

53

98

78

27

Evans

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4

96

21

118

72

Browne

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

19

66

48

117

Kaplan

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

36

15

87

Campos

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

63

12

Saidy

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

108

Smith

en

> z > z ...., 0 z ...... 0 . -..J N

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

1HE ANNOTATORS

Browne: 19, 64 D. Byrne: 38, 83,112

Campos: 63 Evans: 72, 103 Gligoric: 40, 100 Hort: 17, 33 Kaplan: 70, 96,102, 120 Karpov: 14, 37 Keres: 46, 61 Larsen: 3, 10, 12, 13, 20, 26, 29, 30, 35, 50, 51, 56, 58, 59,65,76,77,78,80,81,82,84,88,90,95,99, 101, 110, 115, 116, 118

Levy: 2, 7,16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31,32,36,41, 44,49, 75, 79, 85, 104, 105

Mecking: 34, 47 Petrosian: 77, 99 Portisch: 71, 86 Saidy: 48, 94 Smith: 87, 91 Suttles: 28, 67

38

ROUND

ONE

ROUND ONE Sunday, November 19th White

Black

Opening

Result

Moves

Keres

Hort

Queen's Indian Defense

1-0

60

2

Mecking

Kaplan

Sicilian Defense

1-0

31

3

Saidy

Karpov

Polish Defense

0-1

52

4

Browne

Evans

Franco-Sicilian Defense

1h-1h

25

5

Larsen

Smith

Queen's Gambit Declined

6

Campos

Portisch

Sicilian Defense

7

Suttles

Gligoric

King's Indian Defense

8

D. Byrne

Petrosian

RetiOpening

GAME 1 White: Paul Keres Black: Vlastimil Hort Queen's Indian Defense

1-0

24

lf2-l/2

33

0-1

48

1h-1h

22

PxP

19

PxP

20

P-B4

N-B4

21

B-N5

R-K2

22

P-QN4

P-QR3

23

PxN

PxB

24

PxP

QXP

25

B-K3

Q-QB3

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

26

R(2)-Bl

Q-R3

2

P-QB4

P-K3

27

NxQP

BXN

3

N-KB3

P-QN3

28

RXR

QxR

4

P-K3

B-N2

29

RXB

R-B2 R-B8ch

5

B-Q3

B-K2

30

QXP

6

N-B3

P-Q4

31

K-B2

R-B7ch

7

0-0

0-0

32

K-B3

P-R4

8

P-QN3

QN-Q2

33

P-R3

Q-Rl

9

B-N2

P-B4

34

Q-N3

R-Bl QXP

10

Q-K2

R-Bl

35

K-N3

11

KR-Ql

PxQP

36

QxQ

BXQ

12

KPXP

P-N3

37

K-B3

B-Bl

13

N-K5

R-Kl

38

R-Q7

B-N2

14

QR-Bl

B-Bl

39

K-K4

R-Nl

15

R-B2

B-N5

40

B-B5

R-QBl

16

P-QR3

B-Bl

41

K-Q5

R-Rl

17

B-Bl

NXN

42

P-N4

PxP

18

PxN

N-Q2

43

PXP

R-R4

39

SAN 44

R-Q8ch

K-R2

45

P-N5

R-R5

46

B-Q4

R-R6

47

K-K4

R-R5 B-Rl

48

R-QN8

49

R-KB8

K-N2

50

R-Q8

K-R2

51

K-Q3

R-R6ch

52

K-B4

R-R5ch

53

K-N5

R-R6

54

R-KB8

K-N2

55

R-B8

K-R2

56

R-B8

K-N2

57

RXB

KxR

58

P-K6ch

K-Nl

59

P-K7

R-Rl

60

B-B6

Resigns

ANTONIO '72

R-Nl?

12

An ugly move which wastes a tempo and later exposes the Rook to pressure from White's QB. Kap­ lan's idea was to protect the QNP against the possibility of Q-N3 by White. Better was the immediate 12 . R-Kl.

GAME 2

.

White: Henrique Mecking

.

13

R-Bl

R-Kl

Black: Julio Kaplan

13 . .. P-Q4 was possible at once and if 14 BPXP PXP 15 PXP N-QN5 16 B-KB4 B-Q3.

Sicilian Defense

Notes by Levy 14 1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-K3

3

P-Q4

PxP

Q-Q2

P-Q4!

The only way to test whether the Maroczy really binds.

4

NxP

N-QB3

5

N-N5

P-Q3

15

BPXP

PXP

6

P-QB4

P-QR3

16

PXP

N-QN5

7

N(5)-R3

N-B3

17

B-KB4

B-B4ch

8

N-B3

B-K2

18

K-Rl

R-QBl

19

P-Q6

P-QN4

B-K2

0-0

10

9

0-0

P-QN3

11

B-K3

B-N2

12

P-B3

If 19 ... QN-Q4 20 NXN NXN 21 B-B4 with pressure on KB7 (21 40

ROUND

ONE

... NXB 22 QXN is extremely

were made in

good for White).

mutual time shortage.

20

KR-Ql

a

flurry because of

25

Q-Q4

B-B4

26

Q-KS

R-Kl P-N3

Possibly better was 20 B-Ql with

27

Q-RS

the idea of bringing the Bishop to

28

Q-NS

28

..... .

QN3 again with pressure on KB7. 20

QN-Q4

21

NXN

NxN

22

B-Q3

Q-Q2

Not 22 ... B-N5 23 RxR QXR (23

... BXR 24 BXPch) 24 Q­

KB2

NXB

25

P-Q7

NxB

26

PXR=Qch winning the Exchange. Better, however, was 22 ... BXP 23 RXR BXR 24 BXB QXB 25 B-K4 B-K3 (25 ... B-N2 26 N-B2 is better for White) 26 P-R3 R-Ql

NxB?

27 N-B2 (intending N-K3) 27 ... . In desperate time trouble Kaplan

P-B4, when Black is very slightly better but the game should prob­

blunders. "I fell

ably be drawn.

woke up and looked at my clock I

asleep. When I

only had ten seconds left." 23

B-K4

B-NS

24

RXR

RXR?

After 28 ... P-B4! It is impos­ sible for White to keep his extra pawn without suffering utter ruina­

Correct B-B5

(not

was 25

24

tion, e.g. 29 RXN BXN (29

.. . BXQ 25

RXRch

QXR

26

...

PXB 30 RXB PXP is tricky but

BXB Q-K3 27 B-N4 P-B4 28 BXN

unsound:

BXB 29 P-QN3 B-B3 when Black

P-B7 wins] 31 ... P-B7 32 Q-N3

31

R-Bl

[if 31

R-K5?

has good winning chances) 25 ...

Q-N5 33 N-B2! [not 33 QXP? R­

BXR 26 BXQ BXKB 27 BXB R­

K7!] 33 ... Q-K7 34 N-K3! and

K3 28 N-B2 (or 28 P-R3 B-B3) 28

Black has no more tricks) 30 PXB

... P-B3 29 N-N4 NxN 30 BXN

PxB 31 PxP BXR (31 ... RxP

R-K7, when Black has good drawing

may be even better) 32 QxBch Q­

chances.

B2 winning for Black (33 Q-Q2

From now on most of the moves

RXP 34 P-Q7 QXQP). 41

S AN

ANTO NIO

' 72

29

QxN

B-Bl

things quiet in the center until he

30

Q-Bl

BxP

has castled.

31

B-B6

Forfeit

GAME 3 White: Anthony Saidy

nality.

N-KB3

N-KB3

2

P-KN3

P-QN4!?

8

This is really getting quite popu­ lar now; the young Yugoslav grand­ plays

it

very

often. It had to come sooner or

RXR

BXR

10

N-R3

P-NS

11

N-B4

0-0

12

B-Q2

N-B3

13

Q-Rl(?)

Kl. White has a nice position with­

able as 1 N-KB3 N-KB3 2 P-B4 as

out pawn weaknesses, while the far

Smyslov,

advanced black QN pawn might be

Benko and others have played many

considered weak.

times.I think it is an advantage for Black that he has not played P­

13

QB4. I have played 1 N-KB3 P-K3 2 P-KN3 P-QN4 a few times myself, I prefer P-K3 for Black because I do not like to promise so early not to make it a Dutch Orang-Utan,

PXP

NXP

15

Q-R6(?)

B-B3

16

R-Rl(?)

P-R3!

17

R-Kl

move prevented tricks like 17 Q­ N5

B-N2

P-Q4

14

A sad retreat. But Karpov's last

with P-KB4 (see game 99!). 3

PxP

9

A blind alley. Good was 13 R­

later, for it is certainly just as play­ P-QN4!?,

PxP

an unknown position there is plenty

1

3

8

of scope for imagination and origi­

Notes by Larsen

P-KN3

P-Q3 P-QR3

8 P-B3 followed by N-R3. In such

Polish Defense

Ljubojevic

P-K4 P-QR4

Not a bad idea. Another one was

Black: Anatoly Karpov

master

6 7

B-N2

Q-Q2

18

R-R6

R-Nl

19

QXRch NxQ 20 RXB Q-Bl 21

4

0-0

P-K3

N-R5 because of K-R2! 22 N-B6

S

P-Q3

B-K2

Q-N2.

6

P-K4!

Black

must

Q-K2

17

This is much better than 5 ... P-Q4

18

keep 42

N-RS

ROUND Why not to K5?

ONE cause of 32 R-R5 QXP 33 NXQ BXN 34 BXN. Saidy was short of

18

. . . . . .

Q-Q3

time, so Karpov was hoping for a chance.

After 18 ... NXN 19 QXN BXP 20 R-Nl B-B6 21 BXB PXB 22

32

R-R5

N-Q4 Black cannot hold the plus

33

P-N4?

Q-K2

pawn. Helping Black.Best was probably 19

N-B4

20

B-K3

Q-B4

33 B-B3, threatening P-K4.

Q-B2

33 Probably best. White has lost the

34

R-Rl

B-N4

initiative, but he still has a playable

35

K-Rl

K-R3

game.

36

R-KNl?

20 21

NxB PxN

Again, better B-B3. But having

N-K2!

played 33 P-N4? White could not play

Otherwise White would get the

P-K4,

as the Black Knight

would go to B5.

advantage with N(3}-Q2.

N-B3

36 22

N(3)-Q2

B-Q4

23

N-K4

BXN(K5)

24

BXB

P-R4!?

25

Q-Rl?!

37

B-B3

R-Ql

38

R-Rl?

P-N6!

Seeing the beginning of a Black attack,

White retires. More ener­

getic was 25 R-Rl!

P-N3

25 26

Q-Ql

P-R5 Q-KN4

27

Q-K2

28

Q-B3

K-N2

29

Q-B4

Q-QB4

30

R-Rl

N-Q4

31

Q-B2

P-B3 After this, Black's advantage is

31 ...B-N4 is not very good be-

probably decisive. 43

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

39

R-R6

PxP

there is no reason to doubt that he

40

QxP

N-Q4

would have won. 52

Adjourned. White has too many

R-R5??

Q-Q7

Resigns

weaknesses. P-QB4

41

Q-Q2

42

Q-K2

N-N5

43

R-R3

K-N2

44

B-N2

B-B3

45

B-Bl

N-B3!

White: Walter Browne

46

Q-KB2

N-K4

Black: Larry Evans

47

NxN

QXN

48

P-N3

R-Q2

GAME 4

Franco-Sicilian Defense

Black wants to play B-N4, forc­

1

P-K4

ing P-K4, after which White will be

2

P-Q4

P-QB4

terribly weak on the black squares.

3

P-Q5

PXP P-Q3

But first he prevents R-R7.

P-K3

4

PXP

5

N-QB3

N-KB3

6

N-B3

B-K2

P-K4

Q-N4

50

Q-K2

R-N2

7

B-K2

0-0

51

Q-B3

B-K4

8

N-Q2

N-R3

9

N-B4

N-B2

P-QR4

P-QN3

49

10

A

nice

position!

Karpov

has

11

0-0

B-N2

12

B-B3

Q-Q2

13

B-B4

KR-Kl

14

Q-Q3

P-KR3

15

B-N3

B-KBl

16

KR-Ql

B-R3

17

P-N3

N-N5

18

R-Kl

RXRch

19

RXR

R-Kl

20

RXR

QXR

21

Q-K4

N-B3

slowly and patiently collected im­

22

QXQ

N(3)XQ

portant positional advantages. The

23

N-K3

P-N3

game might still take a long time

24

P-R4

P-R4

without the following blunder, but

25

N-K4

Draw

44

ROUND

ONE

A game distinguished solely by

21

RXKP

RXR

the fact that in the middle of it

22

QxR

B-QBl

Browne complained about the in­

23

NxP

Q-B2

tensity

24

N-Q6

Resigns

of

the

overhead

lighting

which had been specially installed at a cost of $3,000. Result: after this

round

the

overhead

lighting

was never again used! GAME 6 White: Mario Campos-Lopez Black: Lajos Portisch

GAME 5

Sicilian Defense

White: Bent Larsen

1

P-K4

P-QB4

Black: Kenneth Smith

2

N-KB3

P-K3 PxP

Queen's Gambit Declined

3

P-Q4

4

NxP

P-QR3

5

B-Q3

B-B4

1

P-Q4

P-Q4

6

N-N3

B-N3

2

N-KB3

N-KB3

7

N-B3

N-QB3

3

P-B4

P-B3

8

Q-K2

KN-K2

4

P-K3

P-KN3

9

B-K3

0-0

5

N-B3

B-N2

10

0-0-0

P-QR4

6

B-K2

0-0

11

P-QR4

BxBch P-Q4

7

0-0

P-K3

12

QxB

8

P-QN4

P-N3

13

P-K5

9

B-N2

B-N2

10

Q-N3

QN-Q2

11

P-QR4

P-QR3

12

KR-Ql

R-Kl

White leaves himself without any

13

N-K5

NxN

play.

Here 13 PXP PXP 14 KR-Kl is more natural. By closing the center

14

PXN

N-Q2

15

P-B4

P-B3

13

16

PXQP

QBPXP

14

N-Q4

KN-B3

N-N5

17

P-K4

QPxP

15

P-B4

B-Q2

18

R-Q6

PxP

16

KR-Bl

R-Bl

19

QR-Ql

R-K2

17

R-B3

NxN

20

B-N4

K-Rl

18

QXN

P-B4

45

SAN

ANTONIO

'72 GAME 7

19

K-Nl

Q-K2

20

R-QBl

R-QB2

21

B-N5

KR-Bl

White: Duncan Suttles

22

B-Q3

Q-B4

Black: Svetozar Gligoric

23

QxQ

RXQ

24

R-B2?

P-Q5

25

B-N5

BXB

26

NXB

N-Q6

27

R-Q2

NXR

28

KxN

P-Q6

29

P-B3

King's Indian Defense Notes by Levy 1

P-Q4

N-KB3

2

P-QB4

P-KN3 B-N2

3

N-QB3

4

P-K4

P-Q3

5

P-B3

0-0

6

B-K3

P-B3

7

Q-Q2

P-QR3

Suttles was totally unprepared to meet this system. He had expected

7 ... P-K4.

At this point in an otherwise un­ interesting

game,

a

dance

8

P-KN4?

9

P-N5?

P-QN4

After this move, White is stra­

band

tegically lost. He has no way of

started playing in the hall below

breaking through on the Kingside

the tournament room. Portisch is

and nowhere safe to put his King.

extremely sensitive to noise, and in

If he castles Kingside Black can

any case his musical taste is strictly

open up the position with

classical.Infuriated at the cacoph­

KB4. On the other wing it is no

...P­

onous interruption to his thought

safer because all the play will be

processes, he came up with a most

on that side.

unexpected move. N-R4

9 29

R-B5??

10

QN-K2

P-K4

R(l)-B2

11

P-Q5

PXBP

30

N-Q6

31

NXR

RXN

12

N-B3

P-QB4

32

P-KN3

RXRP

13

KBXP

N-Q2

33

RXP

Draw

14

N-R4

R-Nl

46

ROUND

ONE

15

P-QR3

P-B4

32

PxP

PXP

16

PXP e.p.

QNXP

33

B-B3

R-KBl

17

N-B3

N-Q2

34

N-Nl

Q-Q6

N-N3

35

R-N2

R-B3

� i I'� ..

36

R-Kl

B-R3

37

R(2)-K2

R-Bl

38

R-N2

K-N2

39

R(2)-K2

R-QNl

40

K-R2

Q-B5ch

41

K-Rl

R-N6

42

R-QB2

Q-Q6

43

R(2)-K2

RXB

0-0-0

18

• �·�BAii ··'· � �-.. : . � � �I� i • • w.• �� i�� •1• %' ; �� A�I • �. -� • A• • �.-�A• �n�� l!i � - -m !ii �,,�� � � • �F" • E§ � �§· I

�

%

�

�

:

0

19

P-KR4

21

R-R2

PXR

B-Q7

R-Nl

BxPch

46

K-R2

Q-B5ch

47

R-N3

B-Q5

R-KN2

P-R4

48

N-KB5

B-Bl

20

44 45

Resigns

B-Q2 N-R5

GAME 8

Black is methodically moving his whole

army

in

the

direction

of

White: Donald Byrne

White's King.

Black: Tigran Petrosian 22

NxN

23

R-Kl

R-B2

24

K-Nl

KR-N2

25

K-Rl

B-N4

1

P-KN3

26

BxB

RXB

2

N-KB3

P-QB3

27

R-Nl

R-N6

3

B-N2

B-N5

28

N-K2

R-Q6

29

BXN

If

29

BXN

Q-Bl R(l)-N6

Reti Opening

30 N-B3

Q-R4 and Black threatens 31 R(Q)XN 32 PxR RXPch, etc.

. ..

RXQ

29

P-Q4

4

P-N3

N-Q2

5

B-N2

P-K3

6

0-0

7

P-Q3

8

P-B4

0-0

P-QR3

KN-B3 B-K2

9

N-B3

10

R-Bl

R-Kl

11

R-B2

B-Bl

30

BXR

Q-N3

12

Q-Rl

P-K4

31

P-R5

Q-N4

13

PxP

PXP

47

SAN ANTONIO

'72

14

KR-Bl

P-KS

18

P-K3

Q-K2

15

PxP

PxP

19

KN-K2

B-B3

16

N-Q4

N-N3

20

N-Q4

B-Q2

17

P-KR3

B-Q2

21

KN-K2

B-B3

22

N-Q4

B-Q2 Draw

If 17 ... QxN 18 NxP! Standings After One Round Gligoric, Karpov, Keres, Larsen, Mecking Y2

Browne, D. Byrne, Campos, Evans, Petrosian, Portisch

0

Hort, Kaplan, Saidy, Smith, Suttles

48

ROUND

TWO

ROUND TWO

Monday, November 20th White

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Black

Hort (0) Gligoric (1) Portisch ('h ) Smith (0) Evans (lh) Karpov (1) Kaplan (0) Keres (1)

Petrosian (lh) D. Byrne ('h) Suttles (0) Campos (lh) Larsen (1) Browne (1h) Saidy (0) Mecking (1)

Result

Opening

Sicilian Defense lh-lh Gruenfeld Defense 1-0 Pirc Defense lh-V2 Jh-lh French Defense 0-1 Queen's Indian Defense 1-0 English Opening Sicilian Defense lh-lh 1-0 Queen's Gambit Accepted

White: Vlastimil Hort

White: Svetozar Gligoric

Black: Tigran Petrosian

Black: Donald Byrne Gruenfeld Defense

Sicilian Defense 1

P-K4

P-QB4

N-KB3

P-Q3

Notes by Larsen

3

B-NSch

B-Q2

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

4

BXBch

QXB

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

5

P-B4

N-QB3

3

N-QB3

P-Q4

6

N-B3

N-B3

4

N-B3

B-N2

7

0-0

5

B-NS!?

N-KS

6

B-R4

If 7 P-Q4 PXP 8 NxP Q-N5 with complete equality (Petrosian). 7 8 9

Earlier the normal continuation in this position was 6 PXP NXB 7 NXN P-K3, leading to a rather quiet game unless White plays the risky 8 Q-R4ch?! P-B3 9 PXBP NxP, giving Black a tremendous development for the pawn. The text move is an idea of Taimanov's, originally played a move earlier: 4 B-N5 N-K5 5 B-R4.

P-KN3 P-Q4

PXP

NxP

B-N2

10

KN-K2

0-0

11

P-B3

P-QR3

12

P-QR4

Q-Ql

13

B-K3

N-Q2

13 39 40 64 43 59 69 28

GAME 10

GAME 9

2

Moves

Draw

49

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

P-QB4

The more ambitious 15 ... P-N3?

7

P-K3

BPXP

loses material because of 16 B-K7

8

KPXP

N-QB3

6

R-Kl?

17 B-QN4! And, Byrne's

next move is not 100% satisfactory Black By

the

plays way,

very

either.

energetically.

another

aggressive­

looking move is not as good as it

15

looks: 8 ... Q- R4?! After 9 Q-N3

16

B-NS(?) BXB

NXB QXBP

N-QB3?? 10 Px P NxQP 11 NxN

17

QxP

BXN White wins a piece with 12

18

N-B6!

Q-N5ch! 9

PXP

NxN

10

NPXN

QxP

11

B-K2

P-K4!?

The Black position after 11

0-0 is probably perfectly satisfac­ tory, but Donald Byrne's move is clearer. 12

PXP

Q-R4 Suddenly Black is in difficulties. One threat is QR-Bl followed by

12 ... QxQch 13 RxQ 0-0 14

N-K7ch

B-N3 is not an easy draw for Black,

and N-BS,

black QR! The

but 12 ... B-K3!? was an interest­

best

Black is probably 18

ing alternative.

trapping

the

defense

for

... Q-N7,

but after 19 QXQ BXQ 20 QR-Nl

0-0

0-0

B-B3 21 BXB NXB 22 R-N7 White

14

Q-N3

NxP

keeps slight winning chances.

15

N-Q4

13

Q-BS?

18 The strong position of this Knight

19

QR-Bl

Q-RS

compensates for Black's healthier Looks clever, as 20 N-K7ch? K­

pawn structure.The game is even.

Rl

Black has solved his problems, and

21 N-BS

is met by

21

...

in theory books we can write: " ...

NxRP! But there comes a quiet

and with 15

killer:

... N-B3! he could

equalize." 20

Of course, one must be careful.

50

B-N3!

N-B3

R OUND There is no defense. The answer

TWO against the Black King White could

to 20 ... QR-Kl would probably

at least have forced the exchange

have been 21 B-Q6, hut 21 QXP

of Queens, after which the ending

is not bad either.

would

not have

been difficult to

wm. 21

N-N8!

22

R-B6

Q-K5 36

It is all over. A surprisingly quick knock-out in

a

position that looked

Q-N7 QxPch

K-R3

38

R-B6

K-N4

39

P-R4ch

Resigns

37

very drawish. 22 23

GAME 11

QRXN BXR

N-N5

24

B-N3

B-Q5

White: Lajos Portisch

25

R-B7

Q-K7

Black: Duncan Suttles

26

Q-B3

Q-K3

27

R-B6

N-K4

Or 27

.

.

.

Pirc Defense

Q-Q2 28 R-Ql.

1

N-KB3

2

P-K4

B-N2 P-Q3

P-KN3

28

BXN

QXB

3

P-Q4

29

P-N3

P-KR4

4

B-K2

N-KB3

30

KR-Bl

K-N2

5

N-B3

0-0

31

R-B8

6

0-0

B-N5

7

B-K3

N-B3

It is a good general rule that if

8

Q-Q2

BxN

you

9

BXB

N-Q2

should exchange your opponent's re-

10

QR-Ql

N-N3

maining Rook.

11

B-K2

P-K4

12

P-Q5

N-K2 P-KB4

you

are

the

Exchange

up,

RXR

13

P-B3

32

RXR

Q-K8ch

14

P-KN3

N-Q2

33

K-N2

Q-R4

15

R-B2

N-KB3

34

Q-K4

B-B3

16

B-Bl

N-R4

35

Q-QB4

Q-N3

17

N-K2

PxP

36

R-B7

18

PXP

RXR

31

19

BXR

N-KB3

Ouch! Maybe Black could have

20

B-N2

N-N5

but with threats

21

B-R3

B-R3

defended better,

51

SAN

A NTO NIO Being

'72 student of Nimzovich, I

22

Q-N4

P-R4

23

Q-B4

NxB

cannot criticize this move. But I do

24

KxN

K-Rl

not play it myself.

25

K-N2

N-Nl

a

26

R-KBl

N-B3

3

27

R-B3

Q-K2

4

P-QB3

N-QB3

5

N-B3

KN-K2!?

28

N-B3

R-KBl

29

B-K6

B-Q7

30

N-Ql

B-N5

31

Q-K2

B-B4

32

P-KR4

K-N2

33

N-B2

BXN

34

RXB

P-B4

35

P-R4

Q-Kl

36

P-N3

Q-Ql

37

R-B3

Q-N3

38

P-KN4

Q-Ql

39

K-R3

P-R3

40

Q-K3

P-QB4

Better known is 5 ... Q-N3, but the text move is very good. White's best answer is probably 6 PXP!? 6

P-QR3

Best was 6

PxP(?) P-B5!, planning

something like N-R4, B-Q2, P-KR3, Q-B2 and 0-0-0. A similar plan is known to be quite good after 5

N-R2

... Q-N3 6 P-QR3, but in the pres­

Draw

ent game Black would almost have a

tempo more. The text move gives

White the position he wants.

GAME 12 White: Kenneth Smith

7

PxP

N-B4

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez

8

N-B3

B-K2

9

B-K3

P-B3!

French Defense Otherwise,

White

would

get

a

very good position with 10 B-Q3.

Notes by Larsen

It might have been better for White 1

P-K4

to play

P-K3(?)

9 P-QN4 (9 . . P-B3? 10 .

P-N4). Stronger is P-QB4, which wins a pawn (Smith always plays the Morra

10

PXP

BxBP

Gambit,

11

B-Q3

0-0 K-Rl

in

this

tournament

with

disastrous results). 2

P-Q4

3

P-K5

P-Q4

52

12

0-0

13

R-Bl

P-QR3?

14

P-QN4

P-KN3!?

15

N-QR4

Q-Q3

ROUND

TWO

It was still not very good to take

21

the QP, for example 15 ... N(4)XP

22

PxP

16 NXN BXN 17 BXB NXB 18

23

BxNP!?

BXNP N-B6ch 19 PxN PXB 20

An interesting defense in an al­

Q-Q4ch K-Nl 21 N-N6 R-Nl 22 Q-K5.

But

after

the

text

P-QS!

ready critical position.

move,

White should have chosen the plan

23

which would also have been very

24

BXP QXQ

RXQ B-R2

good one move earlier: play on the

25

R-Ql

black squares. Very strong was 16

26

R-Q8ch

BXN

followed

would

be

by

Q-Q2,

Q-K6

White all

Also possible was 26 N-B5, but

minor pieces except the Black QB!

after 26 ... PxB 27 R-Q8ch K-N2

ready

to

exchange

28 R(2)-B8, Black keeps some win­ 16

Q-Q2?

NXB

ning chances with 28 ... RXP 29

17

PXN

P-K4

RXB RXR 30 RXR P-R4.

18

PXP

NxKP

19

NXN

QXN

20

R-KB2

R-Kl!

21

Q-B3?

On 21 N-N6!, the answer B-N4? doesn't work: Q-B2

B-Q2

K-N2

26

Solves Black's problems.

22 NXR BXP 23

27

K-Bl

PxB B-Q2!

28

R(2)-B8

29

RXR

BxN

30

R-N8ch

K-B2

31

P-N3

B-N4ch

32

K-N2

B-B3ch

33

K-Bl

Not better was 33 K-R3 R-K7!

24 N-B7 R-QBl 25

R-Kl!

33 34

B-N3 R(R)-B8ch

K-K2

35

R-B4

B-N4ch

36

K-N2

B-B3ch

37

K-Bl

B-KS

After 37 ... RXRP 38 R-N7ch White draws. 38

R-N8

B-B2?

After this it is not absolutely cer­ tain

that

Black

can

win. Much

better was 38 ... B-Q4! 53

SAN

ANTO NIO

'7 2

and P-R5. But White must not play

39

RXBch

RxR

40

RXP

R-B5

P-R4 too early: 52 P-R4 K-N2! 53

41

P-N5

PxP

P-N4 K-R3 and wins, for instance

42

RXP

R-B7

54 K-N3 B-B6 55 K-B2 B-N5 56

43

K-Nl

K-B3

K-N3 B-K8ch 57 K-R3 B-B7, zug­ zwang! So, White can only play P­ R4 when the Black King is further

Or 43 ... R-R7 44 P-KR4!

away from KR3. 44

P-QR4

R-R7

45

R-N4

B-K4

51

K-R3

K-N4

46

R-B4

R-N7

52

R-R2

B-N7

46 ... K-B4! looks better. 47

P-R5!?

R-R7

48

P-R6!

RXQRP

49

R-B2

53

R-R5ch

K-R3

54

R-Q5

B-B6

55

R-QB5

55 R-Q3 was not bad either. 55

R-R6

56

R-B6

K-R4

57

R-B5ch

P-N4?

This makes White's task easier. A better try was 57 ... K-R3 58 R-B6 B-Q5. 58

K-N2

R-R7ch

Or 58 ... K-N3 59 P-R4.Or 58 ... K-R3 59 R-B6ch K-R2 60 K­ B3 followed by P-R4. Fantastic! White builds a fortress, and Black cannot break through. 49 50

K-N2!

59

K-B3

B-Q5

60

R-Q5

R-B7ch

R-N3(?)

61

K-K4

RXRP

R-N6

62

RxB

K-N5

63

K-K5ch

KxP

64

K-B5

Draw

Or 50 ... R-N7 51 RXR BXR 52 K-B3! and Black cannot win, for instance 52 ... K-B4 53 P-R4!

Something to look at for the endgame experts!

and Black cannot prevent P-N4-N5 54

ROUND GAME 13

TWO 6

PxP

PXP

7

P-Q4

QN-Q2

White: Larry Evans

8

N-B3

B-K2

Black: Bent Larsen

9

P-N3

Still, both N-K5 and Q-R4 were

Queen's Indian Defense

possible; Black would probably an­ swer P-B3.

Notes by Larsen

9 1

P-QB4

P-K3

2

N-KB3

N-KB3

3

P-KN3

P-QN3

4

B-N2

B-N2

5

0-0

P-Q4

is

well

suited

for

B-N2

11

N-KS

R-Kl

White's only try for the initiative. If White does nothing, Black can slowly build up a very strong posi­ tion, as some of Botvinnik's games

The charm of this setup is that it

0-0

10

long,

from the 1930's show.

hard

games. In the main line, 5 . . . B­

11

K2 6 P-Q4 0-0 7 N-B3 N-K5, two minor pieces are exchanged very

.....

B-KBl

.

There may be two better continu­

quickly, making it more difficult to

ations,

but

play sharply for a win. Here, Black

White

to

can play 7 ...

could turn out to be a weakness in

P-Q4, often used

I

wanted

play

P-B4,

to provoke because

by Botvinnik in his youth, also by

his position. Possible was 11

Nimzovich in his famous "immortal

B-N5

12

P-QR3

BXN

13

it

... BXB

zugzwang game" against Saemisch,

N-K5 14 B-N2 P-KB3, but I con­

Copenhagen 1923. But after 8 N­

sidered that too simple! Also possi­

K5 theory gives some very attrac­

ble was 11 ... P-B4, but I believed

tive

White would get good play against

variations for White:

QN-Q2?

9

PXP

PXP

10 Q-R4;

NXP(4) B-R3 11 P-N3 P-QN4 12

if I get this position again I might try this continuation.

13

PXBP

the hanging pawns after 12 NxN

N-K3

P-N5

P-K4

.

QxN 13 PXP PXP. Nevertheless,

.

9

..

10

8

. . P-B3

8

N-K2

BXN

14

QXB QXP with very good com­ pensation for the pawn; or, prob­

12

P-B4

P-B4

ably best, 8 .

Q-Bl 9 PXP PXP

13

P-K3

PXP

10 Q-N3, with initiative for White.

14

PXP

N-KS!?

.

.

With the early P-Q4 Black tries An unclear pawn sacrifice. The

to avoid these variations. 55

SA N alternative was 14

A NTO NIO

B-N5, plan-

'72

pawn, with the weakened pos1t1on

ning BXN and N-K5.

of the white King and his inactive QB.

NXN(4) 16 Q-K2

PXN

15

Obviously, Black cannot now play 19

.

.. PXN?? 20 BXPch K-Rl 21

Q-R3. Just in time to stop Black's P-B3 19

(because of Q-B4ch).

P-N3

20 BXP!? N-B3 N-Q4

16 17

P-KN4

It was still possible to play quietly with 20 Q-KB3 R-Bl!, etc.

The alternative was 17 .. . Q-Q4, but I did not believe I could hold

20

..... .

Is

the

R-K2!

the KP in the long run. Also, if White decided to win the pawn at once, after 18 P-N5 N-Q2 19 BXP QxB

20

QxQ

BXQ

21

NXN

Black would have very good com­ pensation

and

an

almost

certain

draw - but what about winning chances? 18 19

BxP Q-Q3!?

P-B3

White chooses a complicated con­

Black

position

not

all

ruins? No, not quite. Two White

tinuation which looks very promis­ ing.Another possibility was 19 QR­

pieces are hanging, the White QB

Ql !? PXN? 20 QPXP and Black

is not very active, and there are

cannot quickly enough get out of

possibilities to get a counter-attack.

the two pins (20 ... Q-Q2 21 Q­

But, of course, Black is two pawns

B3 QR-Ql 22 R-Q2 etc.) However,

down at the moment.

Black must not take the Knight, but can play 19 ..

.

Evans later told me that he could

R-Bl, with the

win

idea R-B2 followed by either PxN

with

21

B-K4!?

At

first

it

looked convincing. I remember see­

or Q-Rl.It is hard to prove an ad­

ing a variation like 21 ... R-N2

vantage for White in this line, for

22 K-Rl? PXN 23 QPXP NXP!

if his Knight retreats Black must get

during the game - but after 22

very

Q-KB3 Black is in a bad way.Also,

good

compensation

for

the 56

ROUND a vanat10n like 21

TWO I can say that I already believed

. .. PXN 22

QPXP R-Q2 23 Q-KB3 Q-K2 24

I had very good chances,

P-B5 is rather hopeless as the White

don't mean drawing chances.

and I

pawns are too strong. Black must

24 P-NS

get active counterplay immediately, before the White pawn roller starts

Directed against B-R3(ch).

moving. There is only one possi­ bility: 21

... PXN 22 QPXP N­

leaves the Black pieces rather well and 23 Q-B4ch B-Q4 24

Rejecting

QXN RXP (not 24 ... R-KN2?

probably

also

offer!

I

felt

for this decision anyway, because I

R-B2

BXRch 28 KXB R-K7ch (28 ... is

draw

not lose, but I took quite some time

teresting continuation is 25 BXBch

Q-B4ch

a

sure enough that my position should

25 Q-Kl) is not too clear. An in­ QXB 26 Q-B3 B-B4ch 27

K-Bl N-NS

25 P-N6ch 26 QR-Kl

N5! Now, the exchange of Queens placed,

Q-Q3

good

was not feeling very well. I had had a very bad stomach for a couple of days. But I decided that so close to

enough for a draw) 29 KXR Q­

the Alamo I could not allow my­

N7ch 30 K-Ql R-Qlch 31 K-Bl

self to be a coward

Q-R8ch 32 K-B2 Q-K5ch with per­ petual check. It may be that B-K4

27 Q-R3 28 R-K3 29 R(l)-Kl

offered winning chances, but it is far from a clear win.

Q-Q4 R-Bl P-B4

Not very good would be 21 BR3 because of 21

Defending

PXB 22

21 N-B7 22 BXRch 23 QxPch

30 R(l)-K2 31 K-B2

RXN KXB B-N2

White got Rook and three pawns for two minor pieces, but his re­ maining Bishop is

against

the

QxRch.

BXR NXB.

not

very well

placed and he has dangerous weak­ nesses on the white squares. My opponent said after the game that he had not been sure he had any advantage in this position. As to my own feelings during the game,

57

P-R4 B-QR3

threat

SAN 32

A NTONIO

GAME 14

R-K5

Losing his head. The move al­

White: Anatoly Karpov

most forces Black to win the game.

Black: Walter Browne

It was not pleasant to play 32 R­ Q2, leaving an important file, but

English Opening

it was necessary. Then it would be

Notes by Karpov

much harder for Black to find the right 32

continuation.

. . .

For

instance,

Translated from the Russian

N-B7 33 R-K5 BXR 34

by Hanon Russell

BPXB is good enough for a draw. The strongest move seems to be 32 ... R-B3.One of the points is that after 33 P-R3 N-B7 34 R-K5 BXR 35 BPXB Q-K5 there is no perpetual check for White. I see no satisfac­ tory defense for White against R­

RXB

N-Q6ch

34

K-N3

NXR

35

BPXN

B-N2

P-KN3

4

BXN!?

after White's fourth move, he could have played 3 of 3

... P-K3 instead

.. . P-KN3. This entire idea

needs verifying, and it is for this

White has no perpetual, and his very

B-N2

takes control over Q5.If Black does

33

not

N-KB3

3

P-QB4

not like the position which arises

BXR(4)

are

P-QB4 P-QN3

giving up his good Bishop, White

would have played it. 32

1 2

An original idea: in exchange for

B3, but I cannot guarantee that I

pawns

'72

reason that this game is interesting

dangerous.

from the theoretical point of view.

Black's threats are so strong that White has no time to strengthen his

4

position.

5

36

Q-R8ch

K-K2

37

Q-B6ch

K-Q2

38

QxPch

K-B2

39

Q-B7ch

QxQ

40

PxQ

B-Q4

41

K-B4

K-Q2

42

P-KR4

K-K2

43

P-R5

KXP

PxB N-QB3

B-N2

6

P-N3

N-B3

7

B-N2

P-B4

This advance, as it turns out, is hasty. On KB4, the pawn hems in the white-squared Bishop. Possibly better was 7

... P-Q3, so as on

8 P-K3 to reply 8 ..

.

N-N5, re­

taining the possibility of finding an

Resigns

active spot for the

A tough fight.

Bishop.

58

white-squared

ROUND 8

P-K3

0-0

Now it would have been thought­ less to continue 8 .

.

.

TWO 14

KR-Ql

QR-Nl

15

N-QS

QxQ

16

RxQ

P-NS

N-N 5 inas­

much as the check on Q3 is not

Black must move the QN pawn,

dangerous for White; he could play

since to exchange it on QB5 serves

either 9

no purpose and it is impossible to

Q-N 1, defending against

9 ... N-Q6ch, or 9 KN-K2, allow­

maintain the tension on the Queen­

ing 9 ... N-K6ch.

side, for White threatened 17 PXP PXP 18 P-Q4 PXP 19 RXN BXR

9 10

P-QR3

KN-K2

20 N-K7ch and 21 NxB.

QR-Bl 17

In order on 10

P-Q4

. .. P-QN4 to

have the possibility of 11 P-Q3 and on 11 ... PXP, of recapturing with the Queen Pawn. 10 0-0 is also good. P-QN4

10 11 Of

P-Q3 course,

dangerous

was

11

PXP PXP 12 NXP RXP 13 RXP Q-R4 and on 14 N(5)-B3, there fol­ lows 14 ... RXP!

The game is strategically won: Q5 is firmly held, Black's pawns on

11

B-N2

the

12

0-0

P-Q3

and White's extra pawn in the cen­

Kingside

have

been

stopped

13

Q-Q2

Q-R4

ter promises him all the winning chances.

Black

is

in

serious

difficulties.

The QN pawn needed defending.

KR-Qt

17

It could only be defended by the Queen, but that piece is not well

Forced, PXP

inasmuch

after

both the exchange on QB5 and the

massive exchange of pieces which

advance 13 ... P-N5 were unpleas­

would not be in Black's favor: 18 NxQP

lesser evil.

20 PXN. 59

NXN

19

would follow

17

. ..

ant for Black. Browne selected the

there

as

placed on R4. On the other hand,

N-K7ch

a

K-Rl

SAN 18

ANTO NIO

R(l)-Ql

'7 2

White gets nothing with 21 PXP BXN (worse is 21 ... RXP 22 N­ has

an

K3 BXB 23 KXB and 24 P-QS

overwhelming advantage after

An

inaccuracy. White

18

with good prospects) 22 BXB RXP

PXP PxP 19 R(l)-Ql, threatening

and 23 ... N-N4; also the simple

20 N-K7ch.

21 NxP does not work due to 21 ... BXB 22 NXP B-B6 23 NXR

18

PxP

19

PxP

20

P-BS?

RXN. The text was probably the

K-Bl

only possibility of preserving the Knight and fighting for

further

a

advantage. A serious error, letting the lion's

21

share of White's advantage slip. The quiet 20 N-K3 was much simpler and stronger, and found when my head

was

clear;

but,

during

the

game

PxP

23

PxP

RXR

24

RXR

R-Bl

vantage thanks to the presence of

N-R2!

an extra passed pawn on the Queen­ side, but for the moment, he must

The point! The Knight will have a wonderful post on QN4,

tend to its defense. I decided to

from

exchange the QB pawn for the QN

where it can go to QB6 and attack

pawn, loosening Black's hold on the

the Queen pawn. Any other move this

position

would

be

strongpoint at his QB6. After 25

much

R-B2 N-N4, Black is on his way

weaker. 21

KXB

White has a clear theoretical ad­

20

in

BXB

22

to seizing the initiative.

N-K3

25

N-QS

RxP

26

NxP

P-QR4

27

N-QS

R-B3

This move and those following were made by Browne in time-pres­ sure, and therefore I succeeded in increasing my advantage and win­ ning. Of course, the normal result from this position would be a draw. This

move

is

the

first

More precise was 27

without fearing 28 N-N6. 60

mistake.

... N-B3,

ROUND

TWO

28

N-K3

R-B4

his King to QB4 due to 42 NxP

29

N-KB4

B-R3

and 43 P-N4ch; the Knight cannot

30

R-Q5

leave the defense of the QR pawn. P-N4

White goes in for an exchange of

41

pieces so that he can take advan­

42

N-K3ch

tage

43

P-KR4

of

his

extra

pawn

on

the

K-K3

Queenside. Blockading the pawns and guarRXR

30 31

N/4XR

anteeing the win.

BxN? PxRP

43 From this moment on White again

44

PXP

N-K2

has real winning chances. It was

45

K-B4

N-N3

necessary to keep the Bishop and

46

N-N2

K-Q3

continue 31 ... N-B3; then White's

47

K-N5

K-Q4

winning chances would be extremely

48

KXP

K-K5

problematical.

49

P-N4

K-B6

Now

both

oppo­ in

50

P-N5

KxN

endgames, bring their Kings to the

51

P-N6

N-Bl

center.

52

K-N5

N-Q2

53

P-R4

NxP

KXN

K-B6

nents,

32

as

is

usually

the

case

NxB

K-K2

54

33

N-B4

N-B3

55

P-R5

KxP

34

K-B3

K-K3

56

P-R6

K-K6

35

K-K3

K-Q4

P-B5

36

P-QR3

57

P-R7

58

P-R8=Q

P-B6

59

Q-K8ch

Resigns

Preparing the King's entry to Q3. Now 36 ... P-R5 is impossible due GAME 15

to 37 N-N6ch. 36 37

K-Q3

K-K3

White: Julio Kaplan

K-Q4

Black: Anthony Saidy

38

P-B3

P-R3

39

K-B3

P-R4

40

K-Q3

P-B3

41

P-B4!

Zugzwang. Black cannot

Sicilian Defense

move 61

P-QB4

1

P-K4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

P-Q4

PxP

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

4

NxP

N-KB3

44

R-R7ch

K-B3

5

N-QB3

P-QR3

45

R-R6ch

K-K2

6

B-K2

P-K4

46

R-N6

R-R5

7

N-N3

B-K3

47

RXNP

NXP

8

P-B4

Q-B2

48

R-N7ch

K-Bl

9

P-N4

PXP

49

R-Q7

P-N4

10

BXBP

P-R3

50

BxN

RXB

11

N-Q4

QN-Q2

51

RXP

R-QB5 RXBP

12

NxB

PXN

52

R-Q5

13

Q-Q3

P-KN4

53

RxKP

P-N5

14

B-N3

N-K4

54

R-QN5

P-N6

15

Q-Q4

B-K2

55

R-N7

R-Q6

16

Q-R4ch

K-B2

56

K-R4

R-QB6

17

Q-N3

N(3)-Q2

57

P-N5

R-Q6

18

0-0ch

B-B3

58

K-N4

R-QB6

19

QR-Ql

K-K2

59

K-B4

R-Q6

20

N-Nl

Q-N3ch

60

P-N4

P-N7

21

B-B2

QxQ

61

RXP

K-N2

22

RPXQ

N-KN3

62

R-N7ch

K-N3

23

B-N3

B-K4

63

R-N6ch

K-N2

24

K-N2

BXB

64

R-K6

R-Ql

25

PxB

N(3)-K4

65

P-N6

R-Q5ch

26

N-Q2

N-KB3

66

K-N5

R-Q4ch

27

K-R3

QR-KBl

67

K-R4

R-R4

28

P-B3

P-QR4

68

R-N6

R-QB4

29

R-QRl

P-N3

69

P-N5

30

P-N4

PXP

31

R-R7ch

N(3)-Q2

32

RXR

RXR

33

N-B4

NxN

34

BXN

PxP

35

B-N5

R-Ql

36

PxP

P-K4

37

R-N7

K-K3

38

B-B4ch

K-B3

39

B-Q5

K-N3

40

B-K6

N-B4

41

B-B5ch

K-B3

R-Bl Draw

GAME 16 White: Paul Keres Black: Henrique Mecking Queen's Gambit Accepted

(by transposition) Notes by Levy

42

R-KR7

R-QRl

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

43

RXPch

K-K2

2

P-QB4

P-B4

62

ROUND

TWO

The Modern Benoni is very pop­ ular

among

the

younger

masters

and grandmasters, so ... 3

P-K3

Keres leads the game into the classical

sort

of position

he

was

playing years before Mecking was even born. 3

P-K3

4

N-KB3

P-Q4

5

N-B3

N-B3

20

6

P-QR3

PxBP

21

7

BxP

PxP

8

PxP

B-K2

9

0-0

0-0

ney at the end of which Black's Knight has achieved nothing.

10

B-B4

P-QN3

11

Q-Q3

B-N2

12

QR-Ql

R-Bl

13

B-R2

PXP PxP

N-Q2

The beginning of a strange jour­

22

B-R2

N-B4?!

23

Q-Q2

RXR

24

QxR

N-R5?

White clearly has the better of No one in the tournament hall

the opening. Now he builds up for

could understand the point of this

the central breakthrough, P-Q5.

move. 13

N-Nl

14

KR-Kl

N-Q4

15

B-Nl

P-N3

16

B-R6

NxN

17

PXN

R-Kl

18

P-B4

Q-Q3

25

R-Kl

Q-Ql

If 25 ... Q-Q2 White wins by 26 N-K5 Q-Q3 27 N-N4, etc. 26

P-Q6

N-B6

If 18 ... BxN 19 QXB RXP 26 . . Q-Q2 loses to 27 N-K5!

20 P-Q5! PXP 21 B-R2 R-B4 22

.

which is even stronger than in the

BXP is crushing.

last note because of the added threat 19

R-K3

20

P-Q5!

on

B-KB3

KB7. 26

. . . QxP

also has

serious drawbacks (27 Q-K8ch). 63

SAN ANTONIO

27 BXPch! 28 P-Q7

'72

only wins the Exchange for White,

K-Rl Resigns

but also leaves him with the deadly back-rank check at the end.

Since

28 ... QX P 29 B-K6 not

Standings After Two Rounds

2

Gligoric, Karpov, Keres, Larsen

1

Campos, Mecking, Petrosian, Portisch

1h

Browne, D. Byrne, Evans, Hort, Kaplan, Saidy, Smith, Suttles

64

ROUND

THREE

ROUND THREE Tuesday, November 21st Result

Moves

17 Mecking (1)

Hort (1/z)

Sicilian Defense

0-1

87

18 Saidy

Keres (2)

Queen's Gambit Declined

0-1

55

19 Browne (1/z)

Kaplan (1/z)

Sicilian Defense

1-0

24

White

Opening

Black

(V2)

20 Larsen (2)

Karpov (2)

Queen's IndianDefense

Vz-V2

33

21 Campos (1)

Evans (1/z)

Sicilian Defense

l/z-Vz

41

22 Suttles (1/z)

Smith (1/z)

Sicilian Defense

1-0

49

23 D. Byrne

Portisch (1)

English Opening

Vz-Vz

32

Gligoric (2)

King's Indian Defense

1-0

35

(Vz)

24 Petrosian (1)

N-K4

10

GAME 17

11

PxP

PxP Q-B2

White: Henrique Mecking

12

N-B3

Black: Vlastimil Hort

13

B-K2

Sicilian Defense

Now Black must make the big decision about where he is going

Notes by Hort

to put his King. I did not want to castle

Queenside

because

I

was

1

P-K4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

White's

3

P-Q4

PXP

Black is probably all right after ...

P-QB4

afraid of B-K3 and threats along KN1-QR7

diagonal.

But

4

NxP

N-KB3

0-0-0 and ... B-B3 (with pressure

5

N-QB3

N-B3

on the KP).

6

B-KN5

P-K3

7

Q-Q2

P-QR3

13

8

0-0-0

B-Q2

14

NxN

9

P-B4

B-K2

15

B-R5ch!

10

P-B5

R-Ql PxN

Weakening my Kingside. A very strange move. Normal is

15

10 N-B3 P-N4 11 P-K5 P-N5 12

P-N3

PXN PxN 13 QxBP PXP 14 B­ R4 P-Q4.

Of course I cannot capture the 65

SAN Bishop:

15

. ..

NxB

16

ANTO NIO

21

BXB

' 72

Q-K2

K-N2!

KXB 17 Q-N5ch and White regains the

piece

with

an

Taking Black's KR3 square away

overwhelming

from

game.

White's

Bishop

and at

the

same time adding support to the

16

B-K2

17

Q-Kl?

Black Knight.

0-0

22

R-B3

N-R4

This is too optimistic. Mecking

23

BxKB

RXR

was hoping to win almost immedi­

24

QxR

QxB

ately but usually such methods do not

work. He

should

24 ... N-B5 almost works: 25

have been

more patient and tried

B-B6ch

17 Q-K3

KxB!

and

Black

would

when the game would be very com­

win, but 25 B-Q6! refutes the idea

plicated.

because 25

... NxBch 26 QXN

and 25 ... Q-B3 26 BXPch both

P-N4!

17

win for White. So unfortunately I had to be satisfied with just a small

The logical approach. White's at­

advantage - Black's position is im­

tack is now seen to be too slow be­

proved because the White Knight

cause of the threat of

is out of play on QN 1.

followed

by

... P-N5

R-Bl

and

B-N4.

B-Q3

P-NS

19

N-Nl

R-Bl

20

R-Bl

18

PxB

25

BXB

26

P-KN3

N-B3

27

Q-Q3

Q-B4

28

N-Q2

R-B2

29

N-N3

Q-B7

30

Q-Q2

NxP

31

QxQ

NxQ

32

R-Bl

Not 32 R-Kl? N-Q6ch and wins.

32

N-NS

Objectively better may have been 32

.. . N-Q6ch followed by

N-B4, time

20

B-N4

but

trouble

tricks. 66

because

I

was

of

...

Mecking's

playing

for

ROUND 33

R-Kl

P-R4

34

R-K2

K-B3

THREE

P-R3

N-R3

N-Q2

N-B4

37

N-K4ch

K-K2

38

K-Ql

R-Q2ch

39

K-Bl

R-Q5

40

P-N4

PxP

41

PxP

N-Q3

42

N-B2

•

• • • 1•1• � � • R1R �-· �-� �� • • • �·--� • • &; • A��A-�R • f. � • • • �•

35 36

•

•

•

•

.

R-KR8

46

A very deep move and the only way to keep the Rook active.

game

Here the with

Black

having

was

adjourned

47

N-Q3

R-R5

48

K-B3

P-N4

49

K-N2

R-N5ch

50

K-R2

R-R5ch

51

K-N2

R-N5ch

52

K-R2

R-Q5

53

R-K5ch

K-B3

54

R-B5

P-N5

55

K-N2

R-K5?

winning

good

55 ... P-KN6 wins more easily.

chances. K-B3

56

K-B2

43

N-Q3

Rxi>

57

R-B7ch

K-B3

44

NxKP

R-N8ch

58

R-B5

R-Q5

45

K-Q2

K-B4

59

R-B6!

46

K-K3!

42

K-K2

If 59 K-N2 P-KN6! A tremendous move which I had K-N4?

59

not seen in my adjournment analy­ sis. If 46 P-B3 PxPch 47 PXP N­ K5ch

48

K-Q3

R-QB8

A stupid move.

49 P-B4

R-Q8ch 50 K-B2 R-Q5, and Black 60

wins without any difficulty. 67

R-B5ch

K-B3

SAN If 60

.

.

.

ANTONIO

,7 2 GAME 18

K-R5 (the idea behind

my last move) 61 R-K5 and White

White: Anthony Saidy

can draw.

Black: Paul Keres 61

R-B6

62

N-B5

N-B4 R-B5ch

63

K-Nl

N-Q5

Queen's Gambit Declined

64

R-B8

K-K2

1

N-KB3

P-Q4

65

N-Q3

R-K5

2

P-Q4

B-B4

66

K-Bl

P-KN6

3

P-B4

P-K3

67

NXP

R-K7

4

N-B3

P-QB3

5

B-B4

Now White is forced to exchange

N-B3

6

P-K3

Knights into a lost Rook and pawn

QN-Q2

7

B-K2

ending.

B-K2

8

0-0

Q-N3

9

PxP

NXP

68

N-B6ch

K-Q2

69

R-Q8ch

KxN

70

RXN

RXP

71

R-QN4

K-B4

72

P-R3

P-N7ch

73

K-Nl

P-K4

74

R-K4

K-Q4

75

R-QN4

P-K5

76

RXPch

K-Q5

77

R-N4ch

K-Q6

78

R-N3ch

K-Q7

79

KxP

P-K6

80

K-B3

If 80 R-N8 K-Q8ch.

P-K7

80 81

R-K3

P-K8=Q

82

RXQ

KXR

83

P-N4

K-Q7

84

K-K4

K-B6

85

K-Q5

K-N6

86

P-N5

K-R5

87

P-N6 and White resigns

68

10

NxN

KPXN

11

B-Q3

B-N3

12

N-K5

NxN

13

BxN

0-0

14

BXB

RPXB

15

Q-Q2

KR-Kl

16

KR-Bl

QR-Qt

17

Q-B3

R-Q2

18

P-KR3

P-R4

19

R-B2

Q-N4 P-N4

20

B-B4

21

B-N3

B-N5

22

P-QR4

Q-R3

23

Q-N3

R-K3

24

R-Ql

Q-Rl

25

Q-Q3

Q-Kl

26

R(l)-QBl

R(2)-K2

27

Q-B5

P-B3 R-K5

28

P-N3

29

R-Bl

R(2)-K3

30

R(l)-Bl

Q-R4 R-Kl

31

B-K5

32

B-N3

R(l)-K3

33

B-K5

K-B2

ROUND

THREE

34

B-N3

P-KN3

7

B-N2

B-Q2

35

Q-B3

P-N5

8

0-0

R-Bl

9

R-Kl

N-B3

36

PXP

RxNP

37

R-R2

R-Kl

38

B-K5

B-K2

9 ... B-K2 10 NxN BXN 11

39

R(2)-R1

K-N2

Q-N4 P-KR4 12 Q-K2 is clearly better for White.

40

B-N3

B-N5

41

QR-Nl

Q-N4

42

R-Ql

R(5)-K5

43

R-Q3

Q-R3

44

R(l)-Ql

P-KN4

45

B-B7

R-K2

12 RXP N-Q4 13 N-R4 followed by P-QB4 when again White's posi­ tion is superior.

46

B-N8

Q-Rl

47

Q-N3

Q-Ql

48

K-Bl

R-R5

49

B-B4

K-B2

50

BXP

PXB

51

QxP

Q-KRl

52

Q-B5ch

Q-B3

53

Q-B8

Q-N3

54

K-K2

K-N2

55

P-N3

R-Rl

10

BxN

NxN

Or 10 ... PxN?! 11 P-K5! PXP

11

N-Q5!

Resigns

GAME 19 White: Walter Browne Black: Julio Kaplan

BXN

11 If 11

Sicilian Defense Notes by Browne

B-K2 then 12 NXB

QXN 13 P-N3!

P-K4 14 B-QR3

R-Ql

0-0

15

Q-Q2

16

QR-Ql

N-Kl 17 P-QB4 (threatening P-B5) 1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

when Black has a horrible position.

3

P-Q4

PXP

12

PXB

4

NXP

N-QB3

13

P-KB4!

5

N-QB3

P-K3

6

P-KN3

P-QR3

This variation 69

P-K4

differs

from

the

SAN

ANTONIO

usual one in that Black has played ... R-QB1 instead of

... Q-B2.

This gives White the advantage that

'72

18 Q-N4 P-B4 19 BXP fails to 19 ... N-B3! when the situation is not clear.

Black's K4 square does not get any protection from Black's Queen.

18 19

13

Q-BS Q-N4

R-B2?!

Q-B2

14

Q-K2

N-Q2

15

B-R3!

P-B3

Now 19 ... P-B4 20 BXP N-B3 fails to 21 BxPch PXB 22 QxPch K-Bl 23 PXP PxP 24 R-Bl win­

If 15 ... QXP 16 B-Q2 QXP 17 QR-Nl Q-Q5ch 18 B-K3 QxQP

ning at once. Relatively best is 19 ... R-Ql.

19 QR-Ql with an overwhelming position. If you eat too much you die a hard death. 15 ... P-KN3 also fails to save Black: 16 PXP PXP 17 BXNch KXB 18 Q-N4ch! P-B4 (or 18 ... K-Ql 19 B-N5ch B-K2 20 P-Q6!

20

P-N3!

Now Black's Queen is in jeopardy because his last move closed

off

the square QB2 for retreat.

Q-B4ch 21 B-K3 QxQP 22 QR­ Ql winning) 19 Q-R4ch K-K2 (if

20

Q-B6

19 ... K-Ql then 20 B-N5ch and P-Q6 winning as before) 20 B-B4 with

a

killing position.

If 20

Q-N4 then 21 B-B7ch

K-Ql (or 21 ... KXB 22 Q-K6ch K-Bl 23 QxQPch and 24 QXR)

16

B-K3

P-KN3

17

B-K6

B-N2

22 Q-K6! R-KBl 23 QxQP! RXB 24 P-B4 Q-R4 25 P-QN4 QXRP 26 B-N6 wins.

I had expected 17 ... B-K2 but Black wanted to get his Bishop on

21

BXNch

RxB

an active diagonal in case he could

22

Q-K6ch

K-Ql

22

... R-K2 23 QxQP R-Q2

ever get in the (impossible) moves ... P-B4 and

... P-K5. Against

17 ... B-K2, the sharpest contin­

24 Q-K6ch R-K2 25 Q-N6 PXP

uation is 18 P-B4 followed by P­

26 B-B2 leaves Black with no moves.

QN4 and P-QB5.

18

QR-Bl

70

23

B-N6ch

K-Bl

24

R-K4

Resigns

ROUND

THREE 10

GAME 20

Q-B4

P-Q4

After IO .

White: Bent Larsen

play either

Black: Anatoly Karpov

.

.

Q-Nl, White would

1 1 N-B3 or

1 1 QxQ

QRXQ 12 N-B3 followed by pres­ sure against the Black QP.

Queen's Indian Defense Notes by Larsen

11

R-Ql

Q-Bl(?)

1 1 ... Q-N 1 must be the right

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

2

N-KB3

P-K3

continuation, which I would prob­

3

P-B4

P-QN3

ably have answered by

4

P-KN3

B-N2

12 QxQ QRxQ 13 N-K5 QR-Bl

5

B-N2

B-K2

leads to

6

0-0

0-0

7

P-N3

a

12 N-K5.

very drawish position.

One of the ideas behind the text move is

12 N-B3 PXP

13 QXP

N-QN5, so I preferred ... Of

course,

the

most

common

move is 7 N-B3. I played the text

12

QN-Q2

R-Ql

move in order to get into less ex­

13

QR-Bl

Q-Nl

plored territory. By the way, Kar­

14

N-K5

B-Q3

pov knows the continuation 7 N-B3

15

NxN

N-K5 8 Q-B2 NxN 9 QXN P­ QB4!? very well.

The best answer to 15 N(2)-B3

It was rehabili­

seems to be 15

tated by Korchnoi a few years ago,

N-K2.

at a time when he was working to­ gether with Furman - and later

15

Furman became Karpov's trainer!

16

7

P-B4

16

BXN Q-R4

.

.

.

B-K4

B-K2 17 PXP BXP 18

N-K4 does not look very attractive for Black.

If Karpov had answered 7 ...

P-Q4, I would have played 8 PxP, 17

hoping to transpose into my game

BxB

QxB

against Evans in the previous round. I

would

like

to

have

the White

pieces once in that position! 8

B-N2

PXP

9

QxP

N-B3

(See diagram next page.) 71

SAN

ANTO NIO

'72

ending after 19 QXQ PXQ is ten­ able for Black. It looks as though the

majority

on

the

Queenside

should offer White winning chances, but the White Bishop is misplaced. 19

N-Q4

B-N2

20

PxP

NxP

21

N-B6?

For the second time, a very tame 18

N-B3?

continuation. 21 N-N5! offered win­ ning chances. One of the ideas is 21 ... R-QBl 22 BXN! 8XB (22

I find it hard to explain why I abandoned

my

original

plan:

... PXB gives White

18

a

clear posi­

tional advantage) 23 P-K4 8-B3 24

PXP BXP 19 P-K4 B-N2 20 N-B4 RXRch 21 RXR Q-B2 (21 ... Q-

NXP!

86? 22 Q-B4!) 22 P-K5 N-Q4 (22

rank mating threat nets White an

...

important pawn.

BXB?? 23 PXN B-B6 24 Q­

QXN 25

RXB,

the

back

N5!) 23 N-Q6. Really, the Black

BxN

position would be very difficult to

21

defend, for instance, 23

... 8-B3

22

RXB

24 R-QBl. I remember seeing 23

23

Q-K4

Q-K4

... Q-B7 24 Q-R5 P-N3 25 Q-B3 N-B6! 26 QxB QxRch 27 B-Bl

The only good continuation. A

R-KB1 - but that is all nonsense!

good reply to 23 Q-Q84(?) is 23

White should just play 24 R-KBl,

... N-K6!, for instance 24 RXRch

with the double threat NXB and

RXR 25 R-88! Q-R8ch 26 Q-Bl

8-K4.I did not look deep enough

QXQch 27 RxQ and White(!) can

and rejected

just hold the ending.

a

promising and logi­

cal continuation for no good reason. game in round

23

three does not decide the outcome

Maybe drawing

24

BxQ

N-B3

of the tournament, but I had the

25

RXRch

RXR

feeling that this was where I lost

26

B-Q3

a

QXQ

first prize! I believed that I still had some 18

chances with Bishop vs. Knight in

Q-Nl?

a

Correct was 18

Q-K5! The

rather open position and

a

more

active Rook. But Black has a very 72

ROUND

THREE

R-B7 K-N2 32 B-B4 33 P-QR4 30

good defense, pointed out by Kar­ pov after the game: 26 ... N-Kl,

31

followed by the centralization of the King. White cannot find any weak

R-Q8ch R-N8 P-QR3! Draw

spots in the Black fortress. Because of 33 ... P-N4, eliminating all pawns on the Queenside.

GAME 21 White: Mario Campos-Lopez Black: Larry Evans Sicilian Defense 1 26

N-Q4(?)

27 P-QR3 28 B-N5

K-81

2

3 4 5 6 7 P-B4 8 BXN 9 Q-Q2 10 N-B3

Preventing 28 ... K-K2 because of 29 P-K4. Black now has some problems, but finds a good defense. 28 29

P-K4 N-KB3 P-Q4 NxP N-QB3 B-N5

P-N4!

11

K-Bl

0-0-0

12

K-Nl N-Q4 14 NxN 15 B-Q3 16 KR-Bl 17 N-K2 18 N-N3 19 P-B5 20 N-R5

13

Honestly, I did not see Black's following maneuver, but also after 29 K-N2 P-N5! there would not be many

winning

chances. The

ad­

vance of the Black KN P prevents White from a slow, broad advance on the Kingside. 29

N-K2!

Exactly on time, before the White King reaches K 1.

73

P-QB4 P-Q3 PXP N-KB3 P-QR3 P-K3

P-R3 QXB N-B3 Q-Ql B-K2 P-QN4 B-Q2

BxN Q-N3 0-0-0

R-Q2 K-Nl B-B3 B-K4

21

PxP

PxP

22

N-B4

R-Kl

23

P-KN3

P-N4

24

N-N6

B-KN2

SAN

ANTONIO

'72 N-B3

25

Q-K2

Q-B4

6

26

QR-Kl

R-QB2

7

0-0

27

P-K5

PxP

8

P-KR3

0-0

28

NXP

B-Q4

29

Q-K3

Q-Q3

30

N-B7

Q-B3

8

31

N-K5

Q-N2

only other natural continuation, 8

32

R-B2

K-Rl

N-QB3,

33

R(l)-KBl

KR-QBl

game a fter

8 P-KB4 at once can be met by

.

.

PXP 9 PXP N-KN5. The

.

gives 8

White

an excellent

. . . P-Q5 9 N-K2

34

P-KR4

PxP

because he is two tempi up on a

35

PXP

Q-R2

King's Indian: Black will play

36

R-K2

QxQ

P-K4

37

RXQ

K-R2

P-K3, and White can play P-KB4

38

P-R3

K-N3

without

move

a

39

K-Bl

R-Bl

Knight away from KB3. After

8

40

RxR

BXR

N-QB3, however, Black does best

41

B-K4

Draw

to continue with 8 ... P-QN3 fol-

having already played first

having

to

...

lowed by ... B-N2, ... Q-Q2 and ... QR-Ql.

GAME 22 White: Duncan Suttles

8

Black: Kenneth Smith

9

P-KB4

10

P-KN4

P-QN4 B-N2

Sicilian Defense (by transposition)

After 10 P-K5 N-Q2 it is diffi­ cult for White to force P-Q4.

Notes by Levy 10

P-B5?!

P-Q4

1

P-KN3

2

B-N2

N-KB3

3

P-Q3

P-K3

4

N-Q2

B-K2

PXP when 11 PXP P-B5 is prob­

5

P-K4

P-B4

ably slightly better for Black, e.g.

6

N-K2

Now White can follow P-K5 with P-Q4. The correct move was 10 ...

12 N-KN3 Q-Q5ch followed by 13 ... P-B6, or 12 P-N5 (on 12 P-B3

This move gives rise to a prob-

the maneuver ... N-Q2-B4 is even

!em of nomenclature in the open-

stronger

ing. Can it really be called a King's

jump in to Q6) 12 ... N-Q2 fol­

Indian Attack when White's KN is

lowed by ... N-B4. White should

developed at K2 instead of KB3?

therefore meet 10 ... PxP with 11 74

because the

Knight

can

ROUND

THREE

N X P when the position is roughly equal. 11

P-K5

12

PxP

N-Q2

13

P-Q4

P-B3

PxP

14

N-KB3

PxP

15

BPxP

Q-N3

16

K-Rl

16 K-R2 may result in a later pin of White's KP by Black's Queen on QB2. In

that

event,

Black

21

N-QB3?

could

take advantage of the pin by ...

Black should have tried the inter­

N-B3-K5 or some other complica­

esting double Exchange sacrifice 21 . .. RXN 22 BXR RXB 23 QXR

tion.

QX P, when he may be able to take P-N5

16 17

N-B4

advantage of White's exposed King.

N-R4

From now on, Black's position de­ teriorates steadily.

If 17 be

... N-Ql Black will not

able to

untangle

himself and

double Rooks on the KB-file: P-N5

(preventing

18

22

N-Ql

B-N2

18

... N-B2

Now the sacrifice is no longer

which is busted by 19 P-N6) 18 ...

possible:

P-N3 19 P-KR4 N-B2 20 B-R3 N­

RXB 24 QXR NXQP 25 Q-B2!

Nl

and Black must submit to the ex­

21 N-R2 and 22 N-N4 with

very good Kingside play. 18

P-N3

19

R-KNl

22

... RxN 23 BXR

change of Queens.

B-R3

23

R-Kl

This and White's 25th move are Not by

19

20

R-B2?

...

P-N4!

NxKP,

followed

when

played to prevent ... B-QN4,

both

Q-R3 and ... B-Q6-K5.

White's QP and his KN are pinned against the undefended Rook.

23 24

19

N-Nl K-R2

R-B2

20

P-KR4

21

N-R3

QR-KBl

Coming to the support of the Knight at KB3 so that the Queen 75

SAN

ANTONIO

can be more u�efully employed.

avoid

'72 the

following

combination.

Probably best was 35 ... Q-R3.

B-QN4 P-N3

24 25 R-K3

Better was 25 .. .

P-QR4. The

text only leads to the further con­ gestion of Black's Kingside.

N(Nl)-B3 R-N2 N-B2

26 Q-B2 27 R-Ql 28 P-N5

With the idea of playing . .. P­ KR4 (to prevent White's N-B2-N4-

Black's position, under great pres­

B6ch) and vacating the Ql square

sure at several points, has up to

so

now been held together by a taut,

that

the regrouping maneuver

... B-QI,

invisible thread. Now Suttles finds

N-K2-B4 will be

the weapon to cut the thread and

possible.

Black's game collapses.

29 R(3)-Kl 30 K-N3

P-KR4 N-Rl

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Black's position is beyond salva­ tion. If 30 ... B-Q1 31 N-B4 N­ K2 32 B-KR3 B-Q2 (hoping to con­ tinue

... N-Rl

followed by

...

N-B4 so that on BXN Black can recapture with the Rook) QB5!

QxQ 34

33

PxQ and

Q­

White

wins a pawn.

31 32 33 34 35 It

N-B4 R-Q2 B-KR3 Q-Nl R-KB2 was

necessary

N-Ql R(l)-B2 B-Bl P-R4 P-R5? to

move

BXP! NxQP N-B6ch PXR Q-K4 B-Bl B-N5 R-Q2 R-QBl R(2)-QB2

NxB Q-Nl RXN R-Q2 P-R6 Q-Ql K-B2 R-Q4 Q-Q2

Now Black cannot prevent the final combination.

45

B-QR3

his

Queen off the QN3 square so as to

(See diagram next page.) 76

ROU ND

THREE Byrne was clearly eager to avoid ... P-K5 if he developed his Knight at KB3. In the corresponding Si­ cilian variation this thrust is indeed painful for Black: 1 P-K4 P-QB4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3 3 B-N5 P-KN3 4

0-0 B-N2 5 R-Kl N-B3 6 P-K5! N-Q4 (or 6

... N-KN5 7 P-Q4

PXP 8 B-KB4 with

a

good game

for White - Faibisovitch-Kuprei­ chik, USSR Team Ch. 1969) 7 P­ 46

R-B7!

NXR

Q3

47

RXN

QxR

NPXB 10 N-B3

48

QxRch

K-Kl

with pressure on the KP (Kapengut­

49

Q-K6ch

Resigns

Kupreichik, Minsk 1970-71).

0-0

8

B-N5 N-B2 N-K3

5

GAME 23

9 BXN 11 B-R4

N-B3

6

KN-K2

B-B4

7

0-0

P-Q3

White: Donald Byrne

8

P-Q3

P-QR3

Black: Lajos Portisch

9

P-KR3

R-Nl

10

P-R3

P-QN4

English Opening

11

P-QN4

B-R2

12

N-QS

NxN

Notes by Levy

13

BPXN

N-K2

14

P-Q4

P-KB4?

(This game was played one day later than

scheduled owing

Better was 14 ... N-N3 15 K-R2

to

Byrne's temporary indisposition.)

(15 B-K3 leads to unclear complica­ tions)

15

...

P-KB4

16 PXKP

1

P-KN3

P-K4

QPXP 17 PXP QBXP with roughly

2

P-QB4

N-KB3

equal chances.

3

N-QB3

B-NS 15

PxKP

QPxP

Black's system has recently be­

16

Q-N3

K-Rl

come popular in reverse against the

17

B-K3

BXB

Sicilian Defense.

18

PxB?

4

B-N2

5

P-K4

There was nothing wrong with

0-0

the

77

natural-looking

recapture

18

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

QxB e.g. 18 ... B-N2 19 QR-Ql

is good for White after 25 PXP

and White has a slight advantage.

QXBP 26 N-Q5.

,

PxP

25

Q-N2

19

N-B3

B-N2

26

Q-K2

Q-N3

20

RxRch

QxR

27

R-KBl

B-Bl

21

BXP

28

R-B3

B-Q2

29

N-Ql

R-Kl

30

N-B2

P-QR4

31

Q-N2

PxP

32

PXP

18

R-KBl

Q-Q3 Draw

GAME 24 White: Tigran Petrosian Black: Svetozar Gligoric N-Nl

21

King's Indian Defense

21 ... Q-B3 would be a blunder

Notes by Levy

on account of 22 P-Q6 PXP (or 22 ... QXP 23 BXB RXB 24 R-Ql)

1

P-QB4

23 BXB RXB 24 R-KBl and mate

2

P-K4

B-N2

on the back rank. 21 ... Q-B2

3

P-Q4

P-Q3

P-KN3

(threatening ... R-KBl) is met by

4

N-QB3

N-KB3

22 Q-R2 so that 22

5

P-B3

0-0

... R-KBl

may be met by 23 P-Q6. But Black

6

B-K3

P-B3

does have an acceptable alternative

7

Q-Q2

P-QR3

in 21 ... Q-N 1 followed by

P-QN4

...

8

B-Q3

text,

9

R-Bl

QN-Q2

however, is probably the simplest

10

KN-K2

P-K4

regrouping move.

11

P-QS

N-Bl

and

... N-Q3. The

22

B-N2

N-B3

23

P-K4

Q-Q3

24

K-R2

P-R3

The freeing attempt 24 ... P-B3

(See diagram next page.) 78

ROUND

THREE attack was 16 P-N5 and now: (i) 16 ... P-B4?! 17 PXP PXP 18 P-N6 with an excellent game for White; (ii) 16

... N-N3?! 17 N-N3 in­

tending P-KR4 followed by K-Ql­ B2 when White's attack will prevail; or (iii) 16 ... P-B3 17 P-KR4 PXP 18 PXP R-B6 19 N-Nl R-B2 (not 19 ... R-N6 20 N(2)-R3 followed by 21 Q-KB2 trapping the Rook) 20 N(2)-R3 N-N3 21 Q-N2 N-Bl 22

11

..... .

P-NS?!

N-B2 followed by B-K2 and N-N4.

16

An unthematic move which de­

..... .

P-B4?

prives Black of any later counter­ play on the Queenside. More natural

An erroneous (double) pawn sac­

would have been 11 ... PxBP 12

rifice. Correct was 16 ... QN-B3 17 R-KNl B-Q2

BXP P-B4.

when,

P-B4

12 N-Ql 13 P-N4

according

18 P-R5 Q-Bl to

Gligoric,

the

position is roughly equal.

17 18

More accurate than 13 N-B2 N­

NPxP PXP

PxP P-KS

R4! 14 P-N4 N-B5. The only logical followup to his

13

..... .

sixteenth move, offering a second

P-KR4

pawn to activate his QN and KB. This reaction to White's Kingside

19 BxKP 20 N-N3 21 0-0

gesture has become a well-known motif ever

in since

the

Saemisch

Variation

Gligoric introduced

it

N-K4 N-KB3

into master practice in his games Also possible is 21 B-N2 N(4)-N5

with Tai and Sherwin at Portoroz

22

1958.

B-N5

(there

wrong with 22

14 N-B2 15 PxP 16 P-KR4

(or 22

PXP N-R2

is

also

nothing

0-0) 22 ... R-Klch

. .. Q-Klch 23 Q-K2) 23

K-Bl N-K4 24 P-R5.

(See diagram next page.)

Another way of continuing the 79

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

22 B-N5 23 P-N3 24 Q-K2

Q-N3 QR-KB2 Q-B2

If 24 .. .NxB 25 N(2)XN BXP 26 NxB RxN 27 RXR RXR 28 Q-N4 and 29 N-B6ch, etc.

21

. . . . . .

On 21

25 26 27 28 29 30

R-R2

... N-R4 it is very risky

for White to accept the sacrifice,

B-Nl K-N2 N-N4 QR-Kl QxN R-K6!

N-R2 N-Q2 N(Q2)-B3 NxN K-Rl

e.g. 22 NxN QXP 23 Q-K2 BXP 24 B-N2 N-N5.But after 22 B-N5!

Threatening 31 P-B6 NXP 32

Q-Kl 23 N(2)-Rl! followed by 24

BXN BXB 33 R(l)XB RXR 34

Q-K2,

Q-R5ch K-Nl 35 Q-N5ch Q-N2 36

White's Kingside

structure

QxQch KXQ 37N-R5ch and wins.

remains intact and his two pawns advantage will decide the game. 21

... NXB 22 N(2)XN QXP

30 31 32 33 34 35

is also unsatisfactory for Black: 23 B-N5 Q-N5 24 P-B6 B-Rl 25 Q-N2 (stronger than 25 R-B4 N-B6ch 26 RXN QXR 27 R-Bl Q-N5) and White is threatening 26 R-B4 fol­ lowed by N-B5 or N-R5.

Q PX B Q-B3 N-R5 N-B4 N-Q5

Standings After Three Rounds 3

Keres

21h

Karpov, Larsen Gligoric, Petrosian

2

11/z

Browne, Campos, Hort, Portisch, Suttles

D. Byrne, Evans, Mecking

1

1/z

Kaplan, Saidy, Smith

80

BXR N-B3 R-K2 K-Nl R-Nl Resigns

ROUND

FOUR

ROUND FOUR

Thursday, November 23rd White

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Opening

Black

Hort (l1h) Portisch (1Y2) Smith (112) Evans (1) Karpov (2V2) Kaplan (112) Keres (3) Mecking (1)

Gligoric (2) Petrosian (2) D. Byrne (1) Suttles (l1h) Campos (l1h) Larsen (21;2) Browne (1112) Saidy (lh)

GAME 25 White: Vlastimil Hort Black: Svetozar Gligoric

King's Indian Defense English Opening Sicilian Defense Robatsch Defense Alekhine's Defense Caro-Kann Defense Benoni Defense Sicilian Defense

Result

Moves

1h-Y2 l/2-lh 0-1 0-1 1-0 0-1 V2-V2 112-112

23 39 34 44 23 56 19 41

quite

sound: from KR3 the Knight can support the advance . . . P­ KB4 and Black can then exchange pawns on K5 at will and follow up with .. N-B4. .

King's Indian Defense 11

P-QS

Notes by Levy

11 PXP QPXP is perfectly satis­ factory for Black. 1

P-Q4

N-KB3

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

11

3

N-QB3

B-N2

12

4

P-K4

P-Q3

5

N-B3

0-0

6

B-K2

P-K4

N-Q2 N-Q2

Another possibility

is 12 Q-Q2.

7

B-K3

N-NS

12

8

B-NS

P-KB3

13

PxP

N-B3

9

B-R4

P-KN4

14

KN-K4

NxN

10

B-N3

N-KR3

15

NXN

BxP

16

B-Q3

P-NS

17

Q-K2

Q-Kl

18

0-0-0

Q-N3

Black's plan appears somewhat awkward but the idea behind it is 81

P-KB4

S AN

ANTONIO

'72

"I offered a draw because (after

24 Q-Q3) I didn't want to think if I should take the Bishop or not." -Gli goric. Some possibilities after 24 Q-Q3 NXB are: (i) 25 PxN R-B7 26 KR-Bl QR-KBl 27 RXR RXR 28 P-KR4 Q-R4 with a level posi­ tion;

or (ii) 25 QxN?!

R-B5 26

P-B3 B-B3 27 R-N2 B-R5 28 Q-R2 R-KNl 29 QR-Nl RXR 30 QxR leaves Black painfully weak on the light

squares:

30

.. .

R-B1

31

19

P-KR3

Q-N4! B-B7 32 R-N2 B-N3 (other­

19

K-Nl at once offers Black

White's 33 Q-Q7) 33 Q-Q7, and if

wise the QBP is vulnerable after more opportunity to go wrong, e.g.

33 ... R-KNl 34 RxRch KxR 35

19

B-B5! and Black is probably lost.

.. . N-B2 20 B-R4 Q-R3 21

P-KN3 Q-N3 22 P-KR3 PXP 23 P-B3! with an excellent game for White; or 19

GAME 26

... R-B2 20 B-R4

QR-KBl 21 P-KR3 PXP 22 PXP

White: Lajos Portisch

BXN 23 BXB N-B4 24 KR-Nl,

Black: Tigran Petrosian

also with a tremendous game for White. But correct is 19 ... K-Rl,

English Opening

when 20 P-KR3 transposes to the N ates by Larsen

game and 20 P-B3 PXP 21 PXP Q-R4 22 B-Kl B-N3 gives Black good play. PXP

19

1

P-QB4

2

N-QB3

N-QB3

3

N-B3

P-KN3?!

P-QB4

20

PXP

BXN

21

BxB

N-B4

Known as a mistake in this posi­

22

K-Nl

K-Rl

tion! Petrosian's continuation does

23

KR-Nl

not show that he has found any improvements for Black.

If 23 Q-Q3 sinply 23 ... Q-R4 and Black has nothing to fear. 23

Q-R3

. . . . . . Draw

82

4

P-K3!

B-N2

5

P-Q4

P-Q3

6

B-K2

PXP

7

PxP

N-B3

ROUND

FOUR

Both N-R3 and B-N5 have been played without good

results.

But

the text move is very bad. 8

P-Q5

N-QNl

9

0-0

0-0

10

B-K3

N-R3

11

N-QN5

P-N3

12

N(3)-Q4

B-N2

13

B-B3

After

13 N-B6! BXN

this pawn

20

P-N5

Q-B2

21

N-B6

QR-Kl

22

N-Nl

N-Q2

23

B-B3

N(5)-B4

24

B-N5

24

..... .

14 PX B

would be very strong.

Of course, nobody can prove a clear win. 13 14

N-Q2 Q-Q2(?)

There are several better moves:

R-Kl, R-Bl and even P-KR3. 14

N-K4

15

B-K2

Q-Bl

16

QR-Bl

N-B4

17

P-QN4?!

After

17 P-KR3 or

P-QN3 the

A nice sacrifice which White de­ cides to accept. The Black pieces are rather well developed now.

KR-Kl or

Black position would

still be very unpleasant. 17 18

N-K5 Q-Ql?

19

...... N-R3

25

B-K7

P-B4

26

BXR

NXB

27

B-K2

B-KR3

28

R-B2

B-Bl

Black has compensation for the Exchange, but probably not serious winning chances.

Better 18 Q-B2. 18

P-K4!?

29

N-B3

N(l)-Q2

30

R-Kl

N-B3

P-QR3

31

B-Bl

P-B5

P-QR4!

32

R(2)-K2

R-Bl

And suddenly Black has counter-

32

�ey!

�re�� 83

B-N5!? looks

more

in-

S AN 33

N-R4

NXN

34

QxN

N-Q2

ANTO NIO 8

8 White was threatening P-B5!

'72 P-QR3

B-KN5

... P-KR3? allows 9 N-N5

P-Q4 10 PXP PXB (10 ... PXP loses to 11 BXQP) 11 PXP "and

35

N-K7ch

K-Rl

36

NXB

QxN

Black is dead "--Smith.

37

Q-R3

N-B4

9

Q-K2

38

Q-KB3

Q-B4

10

B-R4

39

P-KR3

Draw

P-R3

In his book, Smith criticizes this Understandable. Neither side can undertake

anything

without

move,

great

giving as its refutation 10

... P-KN4 11 B-KN3 B-N2 12

risks.

QR-Ql P-K4 when "the threat of 13 ... B-N5 is strong." Instead he recommends

GAME 27

N-N3

11

an improvement on the analysis in

Black: Donald Byrne

the book, but Byrne is the first to vary.

Sicilian Defense Notes by Levy P-K4

B-K3

in playing the text he had in mind

White: Kenneth Smith

1

10

QR-Ql. One can only surmise that

Q-R4

10

P-QB4

11

B-KN3

12

Q-Q2?

N-N3

2

P-Q4

PXP

3

P-QB3

PXP

4

NxP

N-QB3

5

N-B3

P-Q3

real compensation for the pawn is

6

B-QB4

P-K3

his slight initiative. 12 P-QR3 was

7

0-0

KN-K2

probably best.

A scandalous waste of a tempo in a variation where White's only

"By this piece arrangement Black

N(N3)-K4

12

demonstrates ambitious intentions.

13

NxN

PxN

He wants not only to blunt White's

14

P-QR3

B-K2

usual

15

P-N4

Q-Ql

wants to contest the dark squares

16

Q-R2

P-QN4

(his K4 and KB5)." - Ken Smith

17

B-N3

0-0

in his book "Sicilian: Smith- Morra

18

Q-N2

B-N2

Gambit Accepted."

19

N-K2!

P-K5,

... but

Black

also

84

ROUND Keeping Black on the defensive. 19

FOUR as the KRP.

B-B3

31

Q-N2

QXPch

20

P-B3

Q-B2

32

K-Nl

Q-N4

21

QR-Bl

KR-Qt

33

Q-QB2?

22

K-Rl

R-Q6

23

N-Q4

Losing at once, but in any case White had a terrible game as well as being a pawn down. 33 34

R-Q7 RXR

RXR

Resigns

GAME 28 White: Larry Evans Black: Duncan Suttles 23

Q-Q2

24

NXN

BxN

25

R-BS

B-K2

26

QR-Bl

B-N4

27

QR-Qt

Robatsch Defense Notes by Suttles

1 B-Q5. R-Ql

27 28

P-K4

P-KN3

2 P-Q4 3 N-QB3

If 27 R-B5 B-K6 and 28

P-KR4

P-Q3 B-N2

4

B-K3

P-QB3

5

Q-Q2

P-QN4

6

0-0-0?!

"White had almost equalized but

This sharp move is perhaps pre­

this move is terrible. 28 P-R3 was

mature as Black has not committed himself

much better."-Browne.

to

castling

Kingside

and

White does not have the option of 28

exchanging Black's KB.

B-B3

29

QBXP

BXB

30

QXB

Q-K2

6

Threatening 31 ... RXB as well

85

7

P-B3

N-Q2 N-N3

8

P-KR4

P-KR4!?

SAN A NTONIO This

move

not

only

'72

hinders

if 16 BXB N-B5 17 Q any NXB

White's Kingside expansion but it

regaining the piece (18 QXN B­

also makes Black's KB even more

R3).

inaccessible. B-R4

16 9

N-R3

17

P-R4

P-N3

P-R5

10

N-B2

P-N5

18

BXB

RXB

11

N-Nl

R-Nl

19

R-N5

PXP

12

P-N4?

20

RPXP

RXR

21

PXR

N-Q2 K-Bl

A serious error which leads to

22

R-Bl

the loss of a pawn. However, it is

23

Q-Q3!

difficult to find moves which don't Black must play very defensively

allow Black to keep the initiative. Perhaps 12 B-K2 and 13 QR-Nl

to

is feasible.

structure with

avoid

compromising his pawn P-B3.

PXP

23

PxP

N-B3

24

Q-B4

14

B-K2

NxNP!

25

PxP

PxP

15

NxN

BXN

26

R-Kl

Q-Bl

27

R-Bl

N-K4!

12 13

Q-Kl P-QB4

An apparent impasse has been reached, but Black finds a combina­ tion which resolves problems. 28

16

QR-Nl!

White tries to make the most of his spatial advantage on the King­ side which gives him some compen­ sation for the lost pawn. Of course 86

QxBP

his defensive

ROUND

FOUR GAME 29

Otherwise comes ... P-B5, but now Black wins more material.

White: Anatoly Karpov 28

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez

N-Q6ch

29

PXN

30

R-B2

R-Bl

31

QxRch

QxQch

32

K-Ql

Q-R3

33

K-K2

Q-R7ch

34

N-Q2

B-B6

Q-R6 Alekhine's Defense Notes by Larsen

Now Black can win the QNP at his leisure.

1

P-K4

2

P-KS

N-Q4

3

P-Q4

P-Q3

4

N-KB3

P-KN3

5

B-QB4

P-QB3

N-KB3

35

R-R2

K-N2

36

R-R4

P-K4

Most players prefer 5 ... N-N3

37

R-Rl

BXN

as did Fischer in the 13th match

38

BXB

QxP

game in Reykjavik.

39

K-K3

Q-N7

tinued very badly so that game was

Spassky con­

40

R-QBl

P-N6

of no great importance for opening

41

R-B8

Q-R8

theory. Probably critical is 6 B-N3

42

B-B3

Q-B8ch

B-N2 7 N-N5!? 0-0 8 P-KB4, but

43

K-K2

P-N7!

44

BxPch

there are not too many good master games available yet with this am­ bitious attempt to build a strong center and lock up the Black fian­

This was the sealed move and White Resigned without resuming.

chetto Bishop.

After 44 ... P-B3 45 PxPch K-B2 46

47 K-K3 Q­

6

0-0

B4ch! 48 P-Q4 Q-N3, Black gets

7

PxP

R-QR8

Q-B7ch

B-N2

a second Queen and White's threats There

are over.

are

other

continuations,

for example R-Kl or P-KR3. But the text move is not bad. The posi­ tion now looks more like a Caro­ Kann than an Alekhine. 7

87

QXP

8

P-KR3

0-0

9

B-N3

B-B4

SA N

ANTO NIO

Another possibility is 9

'7 2

P-

GAME 30

QN4!? followed by N-Q2 and B­ White: Julio Kaplan

N2.

Black: Bent Larsen 10

R-Kl

R-Kl

11

QN-Q2

P-QN4!?

12

P-QR4

N-Q2

13

P-B4

N-NS??

Caro-Kann Defense Notes by Larsen

Running completely wild. After 13 ... PXBP it would have been a normal game. Did Black see some danger for his QB? It is not there, as 14 NXP Q-B2 15 P-N4? B-K3 15

N-N5

N-Bl

only

weakens

P-BS

15

N-K4

BxN

RXB

P-K4

N-QB3

PXP

NXP

N-B3

5

NXNch

NPxN

6

dubious

by

B-B4!?

Most known master games con­ .

.. B-N5, but I decided

in favor of the text move many years ago. Donner is of the same opinion.

Cat and mouse! QPXP was not bad either. QR-Ql

18

B-NS

Q-B4

19

BXR

RXB

7

B-K2

Q-B2

8

0-0

N-Q2

P-B4

P-K3

9 10

B-Q2!?

10 P-Q5 looks strong, but as I

Or 19 ... QxR 20 BXPch!

found out during my second match game

Q-K2

considered

N-B3

tinued 6

RPXP

20

line

uations may be the one chosen by

To prevent R-B4.The Black po­

17

3 4

Mecking two rounds later.

sition is already hopeless. 17

P-QB3 P-Q4

many experts. White's best contin­

Q-B3

16

P-K4 P-Q4

A

White's own position. 14

1 2

BPXP

against

Kavalek

(Solingen

1970), Black can simply answer 10

21

RXRP

N-QB3

... 0-0-0, for instance 11 N-Q4

22

R-B7

N-R4

B-N3 12 PXKP? N-K4! The text

23

B-QS

Resigns

move is quite clever, since if Black 88

ROUND

17

castles 11 Q-R4 K-Nl 12 B-R5! forces

a

weakness

in

the

FOUR ......

P-R5!

Black Black already feels justified in

King's position.

sacrificing a pawn in order to take 10 11

K-Rl

12

P-B5?!

B-Q3

the initiative-and probably White's

R-KNl

best chance was to take the pawn! After 18 NXB PXB 19 NXP Black would have very good compensa­

Probably not good, as Black need

tion: open lines against the White

not fear any breakthrough in the

King, weak White QP, misplaced

center now. Maybe White was hop­

White Knight, etc. - but after the

ing for 12 ... B-B5? 13 P-KN3!

game

BXB 14 NxB followed by N-B4-

positional advantage for nothing.

continuation

Black

gets

a

Q6.But Black's position was already absolutely satisfactory, and I was

18

B-Q6

B-Q4

expecting something like 12 P-QN4

19

BXB

P-R6!

B-K5. Black must not play 0-0-0

20

P-B3

too

quickly;

he

must

first

make

preparations for the attack against

I was expecting 20 B-B3, but in

the White King, so that White can­

any case the White pawns are a

not

sad sight.

concentrate

on

storming

the

other side. 20 12

PXPch

B-K2!

21

RxP

RXR

13

Q-Bl

B-K5

22

KXR

KXB

14

B-KB4

Q-R4

23

N-B4

BXN

15

B-N3

P-R4

24

BXB

N-B3

16

R-KNl

P-B4

25

Q-B4

R-Ql

17

N-Q2

26

P-QR3

Perhaps better was 26 R-Ql, but Kaplan may have rejected it be­ cause of 26 stance

27

. ..

B-N3

Q-R5!?, for in­ Q-N4

with

the

possibility P-R4-R5.

In any case,

White's

difficult,

position

is

and

many endings will be lost for him because of his weak pawns. In fact, instead of Black's last, 25 . . . R­

Nlch 26 K-Rl Q-Ql was also very 89

SAN

ANTO NIO

'72

good, with the idea 27 R-KNl Q­

35

RxPch

QNl!

36

QxQ

P-N3!

26 27

36

Q-R5

P-N4

28

R-R2

PXP

29

QPxP

Q-Q8

Q-R6ch

K-B3

K-K4

37

NxQ

36 37

You may say that White's pawns

R-N7

N-Q4

38

B-B4

R-QBl

but his

39

K-N3

P-B5ch

King is in danger! 30 Q-B7ch N-Q2

40

K-B2

N-K6

look a

RxP

QXPch is not better for White.

little better now,

does not improve matters, for ex­ ample 31 Q-N3 P-B5!

Also

good was

40

... N-K2,

followed by R-KR1-R4.

30

B-Bl

R-Nlch

31

K-B2

N-Q4

41

B-Q3

32

Q-Q2

Q-N6

42

R-B7

R-KRl

The sealed move.

N-Q4

42

N-N5

43

RXP

44

R-Q6

NxBch

45

RxN

RxPch

46

K-Nl

R-QB7

47

R-Q4

RXP!

Simple but neat: 48 RXPch RB4! It

is

difficult

to

find

a

useful

R-B7ch

move for White. One of Black's

48

K-B2

threats is P-B5 followed by Q-K6ch;

49

K-Bl

K-N4

QXQ, PxQch; K-K2, R-N8. Kap­

50

R-Q8

K-R5

lan had only five minutes left, but

51

R-KN8

P-B4

even with more time he would not have been able to find a good continuation.

Good enough, for 52 R-K8 KN6 53 RXP KXP 54 K-Nl does not

save

White,

as

it

would

if

33

R-N2

QxRP

Black had only one BP! One win­

34

R-R2

QxP

ning method is 54 ... R-N7ch 55 90

ROUND

FOUR

K-Rl R-Q7 56 K-Nl R-Q8ch 57

7

K-R2 K-B7

(or

8

B-Q3

P-QN4

excellent

9

P-QR4

P-N5

58

R-KB6

58 R-QR6 R-Ql).

P-B6

Also

10

was 51 . . . P-K4.

P-QR3

N-Nl

Better

is

10

N-K2

P-QR4

11

52

R-N6

P-K4

53

R-K6

P-K5(!)

P-B3,

54

PxP

PxP

RPXP 13 R-R2 N-N3 14 P-QN3

55

RXP

K-N6

B-QR3

56

R-K8

R-B8ch

P-B5!) 15 ... NxB 16 N-Q2 N-B2

e.g. 11 . . . 15 BXB

0-0 12 PXP (not

15

R-B2?!

17 R-B2 P-K3 18 PXP NxKP 19

Resigns

B-N2 BXB 20 RXB Q-B3 21 R-B2 This

game is

typical for

N-Q5

Black's chances in this variation of

when

the Caro-Kann.

quite

22 NXN QxN 23 "White

has

N-B4,

everything"

Many an ending

(Keres) or "White is a little better"

has been won with those modest­

(Browne), according to which side

Iooking center pawns.

of the table you are sitting on!

10

..... .

P-QR4

In almost all lines of the Modern Benoni

GAME 31

Black

gets

an

excellent

game once he can achieve the ad­ White: Paul Keres

vance . . P-QN4. But here White

Black: Walter Browne

still has a QBP (which is not the

.

case in

the Modern Benoni) and

Black therefore does not have a

Benoni Defense

Queenside pawn majority. In addi­ Notes by Levy

tion, Black's Queenside pawn struc­ ture has congealed into an almost

1

P-Q4

P-QB4

solid lump in which there are one or two gaping holes. Keres now at­

2

P-Q5

N-KB3

3

N-QB3

P-Q3

tempts to occupy these holes with

4

P-K4

P-KN3

his minor pieces.

5

N-B3

B-N2

6

B-N5ch

KN-Q2

7

0-0

11

QN-Q2

Possibly better is 11 B-QN5 0-0 12 P-B4, e.g. (i) 12 ... N-N3 13

The alternative is Larsen's 7 P­

R-R2 P-K3 14 PXP BXKP 15 P-

QR4. 91

SAN

ANTONIO

QN3 followed by B-N2 with a clear

16

'72

N-B4

advantage to White; or (ii) 12 ... B-QR3 13 BxB (if 13 R-R2 N-N3

The sacrifice 16 P-QB4 PXP e.p.

14 P-QN3 BXB and now both 15

17 PXP BXP 18 R-Nl leaves White

RPXB P-R5! and 15 BPXB QN-Q2

with insufficient play along the QN

16 QN-Q2 R-Bl 17 Q-K2 P-B5!?

file to compensate for the pawn (18

18 NxP NxN 19 PxN N-N3 20

... Q-R2 19 N-B4 N-K4 20 R-N3

N-Q2 Q-B2, or 20 ... B-B6, are

NxB 21 QXN B-KN2).

good for Black) 13

... RXB 14

R-R2 P-K3 15 PXP PXP 16 P­

16

QN3 Q-K2 17 B-N5 B-B3 18 BXB

17

R-Nl

N-N3

RXB

NXN

18

NXN

QxN

PXN 21 N-Q2 with an excellent

19

B-KNS

19

P-K5!

NXP

20

Q-R2

the

pawn

after

Knight to Q3: N-K4

R-B5

23

maneuvering 21

his It is true that nothing much hap­

... N-B3 22

R-Kl

N-Q5

pened in this

24

game,

but from

a

study of the post-mortem analysis

R-Q2 R-Rl 25 R-Q3 QR-KBl 26 P-B3 P-R4 (or 26

KR-Kl

Draw

game for White who will recapture

... P-N4 27

the reader gets an excellent insight into the mechanics of this particu­

N-N3) 27 N-B2 Q-KN2 28 R(3)-K3

lar type of Benoni formation (White

R(5)-B4 29 N-Q3, etc.

pawns at QB2, Q5 and K4; Black pawns at QR4, QN5, QB4 and Q3).

N-N3

11 12

N-B4

13

KN-Q2

QN-Q2 GAME 32

If 13 R-R2 0-0 14 P-QN3 NxN 15 BXN N-N3 16 B-Q3 P-B5! 17

White: Henrique Mecking

PXP B-QR3 18 Q-K2 Q-Q2 (or 18

Black: Anthony Saidy

... Q-B2), regaining the pawn with the better game.

Sicilian Defense 0-0

13

Notes by Levy

14

Q-K2

B-QR3

15

NxN

QxN

Possibly more active was 15 BXB 16 PXB NXN 17 R-R2 Q­ Q2

18

P-QN3

QR-Kl

19

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

P-Q4

PxP

4

NxP

N-KB3 P-QR3

B-N2

5

N-QB3

P-K3 20 BXB KXB 21 PXP RXP.

6

B-K3

92

ROUND Robert Byrne's

FOUR

move which is

rapidly gaining in popularity.

6

..... .

QN-Q2

Suggested by Shamkovitch as an improvement on 6 ... P-K4 7 N­ N3

B-K3

8

Q-Q2!

Byrne-Balashov,

QN-Q2

Moscow

(R.

1971),

which led to a crushing defeat for Black. The idea of the text is to continue

quietly

with

Now White threatens 20 N-R5!

. . . P-K3,

PxN 21 QxRP KR-Kl 22 R-KR3

... P-QN4 and . .. B-N2.

B-Ql 23 QXRPch K-Bl 24 P-N6 winning. And so

7

B-K2

8

P-QR4

P-K3 19

NXN

20

PxN

Saidy criticized this move but it

21

PXN

P-QR4

seems to be rather logical in view

22

Q-R4

B-R3

23

B-B2?

of Black's intended plan of develop­ ment on the Queenside.

8

23 P-KN4 was virtually crushing, e.g. 23 ... B-B4 24 B-B2! and

P-QN3

9

P-B4

10

B-Q3

NxB

Black

B-N2

is

defenseless

against

e.p. and 27 P-B5.

Also possible is 10 B-B3.

23

P-R4

24

P-KN4

PXP K-N2

Q-B2

25

QxP

11

Q-B3

N-B4

26

K-N2

R-KRl

12

0-0

B-K2

27

R-R3

RXR

10

the

threat of 25 R-KR3 P-B4 26 NPXP

13

P-KN4!

P-Q4

28

QXR

R-KRl

14

P-KS

KN-KS

29

Q-B3

B-B4!

15

QN-K2

R-QBl

16

N-KN3

0-0

17

P-NS

P-N3

18

Q-N4

Q-Q2

19

R-B3!

Preparing to exchange into a position in which the opposite color Bishops complex helps Black's attack. 93

SA N 30

P-N3

BXN

31

BXB

Q-B3?

ANTONIO

' 72 R-QBl?

36

36 ... R-R5 37 Q-N3 R-R4 38 31 . .. Q-B 1 ! would have been

Q-N2 Q-Bl wins as before-White

very strong, e.g. 32 Q-K2 R-R5!

must permit either the infiltration

(threatening 33 ... Q-KRl), win­

of Black's Rook on the KR file

ning easily.

or allow the exchange of Rooks when Black's Queen can enter the

32

Q-K2

P-N4

33

Q-Q2

R-QBl

game via the QB file.

Both players were by now com­ pelled to play at blitz speed. 34

K-B3

P-N5

35

K-K3

R-KRl!

36

Q-KN2

37

Q-Q2

R-KRl!

38

Q-KN2

R-QBl?

39

R-Ql

Paradoxically, Mecking did not want a draw at this stage. By an­ nouncing his intention of playing 39 Q-Q2 he could have claimed a draw by threefold repetition. Q-B2

39 40

Q-KR2

R-KRl!

41

Q-KN2

Draw?

41 ... R-R5 still wins for Black but

Mecking,

obviously

realizing

this, saved himself by the somewhat unethical Saidy

was

offer

move.

Standings After Four Rounds 3V2

Karpov, Keres, Larsen

2112

Gligoric, Petrosian, Suttles

2

Browne, D. Byrne, Hort, Portisch

1112

Campos, Mecking

1

Evans, Saidy 112

Kaplan, Smith 94

of

a

draw

considering his

while sealed

ROUND

FIVE

ROUND FIVE Friday, November 24th White

Black

Opening

Result

Moves

33 Saidy (1)

Hort (2)

King's Indian Defense

0-1

34 Browne (2)

Mecking (11/2)

SicilianDefense

0-1

54

35 Larsen

Keres (31/2)

English Opening

0-1

91 41

(31h)

57

36 Campos (11/2) 37 Suttles (21/2) 38 D. Byrne (2)

Kaplan (llz)

Sicilian Defense

0-1

Karpov

Sicilian Defense

0-1

60

Evans (1)

English Opening

1-0

33

39 Petrosian (2llz)

Smith (1/2)

Queen's Gambit Declined

1-0

62

40 Gligoric (21h)

Portisch (2)

Gruenfeld Defense

1-0

55

GAME

(3 Vz)

33

8

P-Q5

N-N5

9

B-N5

P-KB3

White: Anthony Saidy

10

B-R4

N-Q2

Black: Vlastimil Hort

11

N-Q2

N-R3

12

P-B3

King's Indian Defense

Otherwise 12 ... P-KN4 13 B­

Notes by Hort 1

P-QB4

N-KB3

2

N-QB3

P-KN3

3

P-K4

P-Q3

4

P-Q4

B-N2

5

B-K2

6

N-B3

7

B-K3

N3 P-KB4 gives Black a very good game.

13

0-0

B-R3

0-0

14

Q-B2

P-R4

P-K4

15

KR-Qt?

Inexact. The Rook does nothing on Ql. Better is 15 B-B2 or even

A very interesting variation. 7

. . . . . .

I prefer this to 7 .

15

Q-K2

.

.

QR-Ql.

White needs his KR

on KB 1 in readiness for when the KB-file becomes opened.

N-N5. The

N-B4

15

idea is simply to exchange pawns on Q5

N-B2

12

16

and then capture White's

B-B2

P-B4

Now Black has a very comfort­

KP, so White's reply is more or

able game.

less forced. 95

SAN

ANTO NIO

'7 2

17

P-QN3

N-N4

22

KXR

Q-R5ch

18

P-QR3

PXP

23

K-Nl

B-K6ch

19

QNXP

On 19 PXP Black has the possi­ bility of a very

interesting

24

K-Rl

B-BS

25

P-N3

BXP

26

B-B3

B-Q2?!

Rook Much stronger is 26

sacrifice: 19 ... N-R6ch 20 PXN

.. . B-B5

RXB 21 KXR Q-R5ch 22 K-Nl

followed by

BXP with a strong attack.

tempo on the game continuation.

19 20

QNXN

27

NXN

solidate with Q-K2 and B-N4.

an even better game than in the last note: 21 PXN Q-N4ch 22 K-Bl

27

RXBch and White can resign.

21

R-KNl

Now White is threatening to con­

Now 20 PXN N-R6ch gives Black

NxN

20

. .. B-R6, gaining a

PXN

B-B7

28

KR-KBl

B-K6

29

Q-K2

B-BS

29 ... B-Q5 is not so good: 30 QR-Ql R-KBl 31 B-N2 B-B7! 32 R-Q3 B-N5 33 B-B3 B-N6 34 K­ N1! (not 34 Q-N2?? B-R6 winning) and Black runs out of steam.

30

R-KNl

Q-R6

31

Q-KN2

Q-R3

32

Q-K2

K-Rl

With the idea that after 33 B-N4 BXB 34 RXB Q-R6 35 Q-KN2 Black can grab the QNP without having to worry about 36 RXPch

21

..... .

and

RXB!

33

This sacrifice is the only way for

draw by perpetual check.

a

QR-Ql!

Black to play for a win. With the Intending to activate the Rook by

most accurate play on both sides

R-Q3.

Black should stand better. 96

ROUND

Now my army walks into Saidy's

R-KBl

33 34

B-N4

BXB

35

RXB

Q-R4

36

R-N2!

position. 41

Not 36 Q-KN2? BXP. 36

FIVE

Q-R6

R-B3!

42

R-B2

43

R-N4

Q-R6

44

Q-B3

R-R3

45

R(4)-N2

R-R5

Q-R5

37

R-Q3

Q-R5

38

R-KB3

P-N3

39

Q-KB2

Q-R4

Bl followed by 47

40

R-Nl

P-KN4

White must exchange Queens.

Now Black threatens 46 ... Q­ ... R-R6, so

46

QXQ

RXQ

47

R-N2

P-R4

48

P-R4?!

If 48 P-N4 (threatening 49 P-B5) RXP 49 PXP R-R8ch 50 R-KNl RXP and White cannot contest the QR-file. 48

. . . . . .

P-N5

Now the rest is very easy. 41

Q-K2? 49

K-Nl

K-N2

The sealed move, and probably

50

R(KN2)-K2

K-N3

the fatal error. Saidy failed to see

51

R-Nl

P-R5

the following maneuver; otherwise

52

R(1)-N2

R-KB6

he would have played 41 P-R3! R­

53

R-Nl

B-K6ch

KNl 42 R-N4 Q-N3 43 Q-K2 P­

54

K-Rl

K-N4

... Q-B3

55

R-KN2

K-B5

(after 44 ... P-N5? 45 PXP PXP

56

R-Kl

B-B7

46 R-R3ch PxR 47 RXQ RXR 48

57

R-QNl

P-R6

R4 44 R-Nl,

e.g. 44

Q-R5ch and 49 Q-B5, White has a

Resigns

draw by perpetual check) 45 R(3)-Bl P-N5 46 Q-Kl Q-N4 (not 46 ... P-N6 47 K-N2 with a dead draw) with only a slight plus for Black.

97

SAN GAME

ANTONIO would

34

'72 be

too

much

of a

strain

playing in a tournament with both White: Walter Browne

Browne and Mecking. -DNLL)

Black: Henrique Mecking 1

P-K4

P-QB4

Sicilian Defense

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

P-Q4

PxP

Notes by Mecking

4

NXP

N-KB3

5

N-QB3

P-QR3

6

B-N5

P-K3

of the more colorful characters in

7

P-B4

B-K2

the international circuit. Both are

8

Q-B3

Q-B2

(Browne and

Mecking are two

known for their frequent, chronic

9

0-0-0

QN-Q2

time shortages and both are difficult

10

P-KN4

P-N4

their

11

BXN

NXB

mannerisms at the board. Browne

12

P-N5

N-Q2

is always an extremely nervous op­

13

P-B5

to

play

against

because of

ponent, his nervousness manifesting itself in an almost continual fidget­

When Browne and I played in a

ing and grimacing. Mecking's prob­

tournament in South America we

lem is somewhat different - he

played many blitz games together

complains

and the Najdorf Variation appeared

about

everything

and

anything, from the noise and the

quite

lighting to his opponent's manner­

played

isms.

tion.

When

playing

Petrosian,

often.

In

those

games

he

13 P-QR3 without excep­

Mecking complained to Golombek that his opponent's legs were quiv­

13

ering, but his words fell on stony

14

P-B6

PxP

ground for Golombek had no inten­

15

PxP

B-Bl

tion of tying the ex-world cham­

16

Q-R5

N-B4

pion's legs together. When these

two young grand­

16

B-R3 is the other main line.

masters met in San Antonio their game was a real battle, both on the

16

B-Q2

board and off. In some ways one can

sympathize

with

the

young

16

.

..

P-N5? is refuted by the

well-known 17 N-Q5!

West G erman Robert Huebner who refrained from playing at San An­ tonio because, being a little sensi­

17

B-R3

P-N5

tive to such antics, he felt that it

18

QN-K2

0-0-0

98

ROUND

FIVE

19

QXBP

B-R3ch

The text 1s known to be a better

20

K-Nl

QR-Bl

move.

21

Q-R5

RXP

22

KR-Bl

KR-Bl

23

RXR

RXR

24

Q-R4!

25

P-R4!

. . . . . .

My innovation which I discovered at the board after twenty-five min­ utes thought. Now Browne thought

White's Queen is better placed on R4

than

on RS

for one hour.

and Black's

Rook is worse on N3 than on B3

P a r m a -Zu c k e r m a n ,

because White often has the pos­

1971, went instead 25

N e ta n ya

sibility of N-B4. If White has any

26 N-B4 BXN 27 QXB P-K4 and

advantage in this position it is be­

a draw was agreed although White

cause of the weakness of Black's

is slightly better after 28 Q-B8ch

...

B-K6

KRP and his slightly exposed King.

K-N2

At any rate, all the moves so far

threatening Q-N3 and P-B3. Anal­

have followed

ysis by Parma.

well-known theory

29

BXB

NXB

30

Q-B7

and the opinion before this game was that White is a little better.

26

N-N3

Q-Ql!

But I do not believe it. White was threatening to win by

R-N3

24

27 N-B5!

27

Q-R5

On 27 P-K5 Black can exchange Queens or play 27 . .. P-Q4, in either case with a good game.

B-B5

27 28

N-K2

28 QxP? loses to 28 ... R-R3 forking Queen and Bishop.

25

N-KB3 28

.. . . . .

Q-Bl

Tringov-Browne, Sarajevo 1970, Now I am threatening 29

went 25 N-N3 B-KN4 26 QXP R­

...

R3 27 Q-N7, and now Black should

R-R3 30 Q-N4 P-K4 winning at

have continued with 27 ... RXB.

once. If 28

99

... R-R3 29 Q-B7

SAN

AN TONIO

34 35 36 37 38

RxB 30 QxB P-K4 31 Q-K3 (31 NXP

may

also

be possible) and

White's position is probably a little worse because his KP

and KRP

are both weak.

'72

R-N3 B-QB3 B-KRl K-B2 B-K4

B-Rl R-Kl N-N3 N-Q2

29 N(3)-Q4 Creating

an

escape

square

at

KB3 for White's Queen.

29 30 N-KB3

B-K4 B-Rl

I was trying to confuse the issue

in time trouble. (The ensuing time scramble was very entertaining for

39 R-K3

the spectators. Mecking was mov­ ing the pieces with one hand and

39 N(2)-Bl would save the pawn

punching his clock with the other -definitely

a

sharp

practice

but White is losing anyway. Besides

but

having all his pieces badly placed

not against the laws of chess as

he must worry about the advance

Browne discovered when he com­

of Black's KRP.

plained to Golombek. -DNLL)

31 N(3)-Q4

39 40 R-K2

B-K4

B-BS BXN(6)

It would have been much easier

Not 31 ... R-R3 32 Q-N4 P-K4

to win after 40

33 N-B5 when White is better.

... BXN(7) 41

RXB NXP.

32 N-KB3

(As soon as the time scramble

Q-R3

was

Golombek

instructed

of his score sheet. Normally this is

of time.

done

33 QXQ 34 B-N2

over,

Mecking to fill in the blank portion

By now Browne was very short

RXQ

with

the

help

of

the

op­

ponent's score sheet but Browne, who

was

not

feeling

in

a

very

friendly mood for the reason stated If 34 NxB PXN Black wins pawn.

a

in the note to the 30th move, re­ fused to cooperate. -DNLL)

100

ROUND

FIVE

41

PXB

RXP

2

N-QB3

P-QB4

42

R-Kl

P-K4

3

N-B3

N-KB3

43

B-B3

N-K3

4

P-KN3

N-B3

44

K-Bl

N-N4

5

B-N2

B-K2

45

B-Ql

R-N7

6

P-Q4

P-Q4

46

R-Rl

P-R5!

7

BPxP

KNXP

8

NxN

PXN

9

PXP

BXP

If 46 ... K-N3 47 N-B4ch with some counterplay for White.

Keres also played this variation 47

P-R3

against Petrosian and Portisch, so the

If 47 P-B3 P-R6! wins. PxP

47 48

PXP

K-N3

49

P-B3

R-N6

50

K-N2

R-Q6

tournament

study

material.

rasch

Defense,

offers

interesting

It is like but

a Tar­

without

the

White QN and the Black KN. 10

P-QR3

B-B4!?

51

K-B2

NxP

52

KXR

N-B4ch

and he can answer B-N5 with Q­

53

K-B4

P-Q4ch

Q2. Also, he is ready to play B-K5.

54

K-N4

N-R3 mate

Interesting. Black prevents Q-Q3,

11

P-QN4

12

B-N2

B-QN3

GAME 35 The natural move, but 12 R-R2!?, White: Bent Larsen

to attack the isolated QP as quickly

Black: Paul Keres

as possible, is interesting. 12

English Opening

13 Notes by Larsen

0-0 N-Q4

BXN

14

BXB

R-Kl

15

R-R2!

Q-Q2 B-R6

I find it unpleasant to annotate

16

0-0

this game, which more or less ruined

17

R-Q2

BXB

the tournament for me. But per­

18

KxB

P-QR4!?

haps someone will learn from it to

19

B-B5

PxP

keep his eyes open.

20

PXP

R-K4

21

P-K3

R-Ql

22

P-N5

N-K2

1

P-QB4

P-K3

101

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

23

BXN

QxB

31

R-Q6

P-N3

24

Q-N3

P-R4

32

R-Q7

Q-K3

25

R-Q4

R-Q3

33

R-Q8ch

K-N2

26

KR-Qt

Q-Kl

34

Q-N4

Q-B5

27

P-R4

R-QN3!?

35

Q-N2ch

Q-B6

36

Q-N7

. -�···• •1• �­ m'A!

36 Q-N8 gives nothing special, for instance 36

36

•

This creates some problems for

Black decides to give up a pawn on the Kingside. Should White play 28 R-QN 1 it would then be very difficult for him to make progress. So, the plus pawn and some small

28

RXP

RXNP

29

RXR(K5)

RXR

Q-K7

Q-N7

38

Q-B8ch

K-R2 K-R3

39

Q-N8ch

40

R-Q2

Q-KN2

41

Q-R8

K-R2

42

P-K4?!

lowed

by

Keres

took

were

P-K4. After 35

the

minutes

for

text his

he wrote down the only good move:

.....

.

Q-B6!

... QXR? 30 R-Q8ch Forcing the exchange of Rooks.

or 29 ... Q-B3ch 30 Q-Q5.

QxP

chances

sealed move, erasing twice. Finally

42 Not 29

winning

probably offered by 42 R-B2 fol­

correct picture of the size of the his play against the isolated QP.

37

Better

chances probably give a

advantage White has obtained with

30

R-B4?!

......

Black, but they are not too serious.

and draw with three against four

winning

Q-K4.

R-QB4

Threatening to exchange Queens.

43

PXR

QXR

44

Q-N7

K-Nl

45

P-B6

The Rook ending is a theoretical The winning chances are mini­

draw, and more than that, there is really very little play in it.

mal, also after 45 PXP. 102

ROUND 4S 46

White cannot even save the game.

Q-Ql Q-B6

FIVE

K-R2

47

Q-QB3

Q-Q4ch

61

Q-K3

48

P-B3

Q-R7ch

62

Q-B4

QxP

49

K-R3

Q-N8

63

QxP

Q-K6ch

SO

K-N2

Q-R7ch

64

Q-B4

Q-K7

Sl

K-Bl

Q-R3ch

6S

Q-N3

Q-N4ch

S2

K-Kl

Q-K3ch

66

K-B4

Q-B4ch

S3

K-B2

Q-R7ch

67

K-K3

QxP

Q-N8ch

S4

K-Nl

SS

K-N2

Q-R7ch

S6

K-R3

Q-N8

S7

P-N4

Q-R8ch

S8

K-N3

Q-N8ch

PxP

With the White King cut off, this is a win for Black. 68

Q-NS

68 . 69

.

Q-B8

. QxQ?? draws!

Q-N4

Q-K8ch

Driving the King further away.

Black

has

defended

well,

and

70

K-Q3

71

Q-KB4

K-N2

72

Q-Q4ch

P-B3

73

Q-QN4

Q-K3

73 Q-KB4 Q-K4 is not better.

now White could shake hands with a good conscience. But look what

73

happens!

74

S9

K-B4??

60

K-NS???

Q-R7ch

goes into a mating net. . . . . . .

With the horrible

Q-N6! threat

K-R3

Decisive.

Blunder of the year! The King

60

Q-B4ch K-K2

PXP.

103

7S

K-Kl

K-R4

76

Q-QB4

Q-NS

77

Q-BSch

KXP

78

Q-K7

Q-B4

79

Q-N4ch

K-R4

80

Q-QB4

P-N4

81

Q-B7ch

K-R5

SAN

ANTO NIO

' 72

82

Q-B8

K-N6

10

83

Q-R3ch

Q-B6

11

P-KR4

12

B-R6?

R-Bl N-K4

84

Q-Q6ch

K-N7

85

Q-Q2ch

K-R6

86

Q-Q7ch

P-B4

87

Q-KN7

P-N5

lows Black to take

88

Q-R8ch

K-N6

with a promising Exchange sacrifice.

89

Q-K5ch

P-B5

Best is 12 0-0-0.

90

Q-N8

Q-K6ch

K-Ql

K-N7

91

A well-known mistake which al­

12

Resigns

GAME 36

the initiative

BxB

13

QxB

RXN

14

PxR

Q-R4

15

Q-Q2

R-Bl

16

0-0

If 16 P-R4 (trying to inhibit ... P-QN4) 16 ... P-QN4! 17 P-QB4

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

P-NS

Black: Julio Kaplan

N-K4 with a

18

Black Sicilian Defense

1

P-K4

P-QB4

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

P-Q4

PXP

4

NXP

N-KB3

5

N-QB3

P-KN3

6

B-K3

N-B3

7

P-B3

B-N2

8

Q-Q2

0-0

9

B-QB4

B-Q2

10

17

the

text

Q-B2 to

Yugo­

RXP N-K2

Or 17 QR-Kl

Q-B4 18

R-K3

RxR 19 QxR P-QN4! 20 P-B3 P-QR4 21 P-R4 PXP 22 B-R2 N­ BS

with ample play

change

for the Ex­

(Vasiukov-Parma,

USSR­

Yugoslavia Match 1962). Q-N3ch

17

B-N3

P-KR4. After

19

advantage

(Bogdanovic-Parma,

16

More accurate is the immediate 10

NXBP clear

slav Championship 1963).

Notes by Levy

2

0-0

18

Q-Q4

R-B4

19

N-B4

B-N4

move (See diagram next page.)

Black can achieve complete equal­ ity with Parma's suggestion o f 10 20

... NxN 11 BxN P-QN4. 104

N-Q3

ROUND

FIVE 29

R-Bl

N-B6

30

BXN

PxB

31

P-B4

P-QN4

White's position is hopeless. His Rook has no useful moves and he has no effective means of prevent­ ing the advance of Black's pawns.

(Position after 19 ... B-N4)

White cannot avoid losing a sec­

32

P-R5

P-N5

33

Q-N3

K-N2

34

Q-Q3

P-R4

35

Q-R6

Q-Q4

36

Q-R7

Q-Ql

ond pawn, e.g. 20 KR-Ql NxPch!

37

Q-R6

P-Q6

21

38

QxKP

P-Q7

PXN

QXQP??

P-K4 R-B3ch

22

Q-B2

(22

winning

the

Queen) 22 ... PxN.

P-R6ch

KXP

R-KRl

P-Q8=Q

41

RxQ and White Resigns

BXN

20 21

39 40

PXB

NxQP! GAME 37

Of course Black could have cap­ tured first with the Knight so that he would now have a Bishop on

White: Duncan Suttles

Q6, but with most of White's pawns

Black: Anatoly Karpov

on light squares the Knight is a Sicilian Defense

much more useful piece. 22

Notes by Karpov

QR-Nl

Naturally not 22 QxN?? R-B6ch.

Translated from the Russian by Hanon Russell

22

N-B5!

23

K-R2

Q-B2

1

P-KN3

P-QB4

24

Q-K3

P-Q4!

2

B-N2

N-QB3

25

P-K5

N-K3

3

P-K4

P-KN3

26

KR-Bl

P-Q5

4

N-K2

B-N2

27

RXR

QXR

5

0-0

P-Q3

28

Q-Kl

N-Q4

6

P-QB3

105

SA N In

comparison

to

the

A NTONIO Closed

'72

Queen goes to support an eventual

Variation of the Sicilian Defense,

P-Q4. After White plays

White has a somewhat better posi­

the Queen may go to Q2 to help

tion as a result of his intricate move

prevent P-B5.

P-KB4,

order. First of all, he has rapidly developed his Kingside pieces; sec­ ondly,

N-QB3

has been

12

omitted,

which allows White to occupy the

P-B4

Also possible was the aforemen­

center with his pawns. Naturally,

tioned 12 ... Q-Q2.

Black will try to prevent this by any means at his disposal.

13

N-QS

K-Rl

P-K4

6 7

P-KB4

Black retreats his King to avoid

N-R3

checks in certain variations from The Knight is headed for QB2,

K7 and KB6, while the square KNl

from where it will be able to sup­

can be used later by the Bishop on

port the thrust P-Q4, while at the

K3.

same time it could go to Q5 via K3. Another possibility for White

14

PxKP?!

was to play 7 P-Q3 followed by B-K3 and P-Q4. KN-K2

7 8

This demands timing;

N-B2

Q-N3!?

14

First and foremost, consistency!

9

N-K3

The plan 9 R-Nl and 10 P-QN4 is too slow.

QPXP

15

B-NS

P-KR3

16

NXN

NxN

17

B-K3

Q-B2

With this move, Black not only protects his pawns, but frees the Queen file preparing to put pres­ sure on White's weakened central

0-0

9

14 B-K3

should be played first.

10

P-Q3

B-K3

11

K-Rl

Q-Ql

pawns. 18

Q-Q2

The Queen has done her job on

18 P-Q4 leads to complications

QN3. The way is now cleared for the

Queenside

pawns,

while

the

which are unfavorable for White.

106

ROUND

FIVE

K-R2

18 19

P-N3

20

P-B4

25 B-Q5 is no better, for Black

QR-Ql

follows

26

forced:

P-B5

was

Q-Bl!

center pawn on QB4.

BXKBP

21 RXB

sacrifice

NxB PxN

agree to the loss of an important

threatened.

first

27

Q-K2

28

K-N2

glance,

looks

the

Exchange

attractive,

but

no

it is obtained. True, this is the only way out of the position for White.

realizing

his

N-B3

advantage

to

accept

Black's

dangerous

gift

with 28 N-K7 Q-K3 29 BXBP P­ N3 30 B-R3. R-B6

28

24

Exchange

after this passive move. White had

NxR

22 B-K4

P-N5

Black succeeds more readily in

more than equal compensation for

23

the ad­

allowed. To prevent that, I had to

PxP

Practically

At

with

The blockade P-KN4 cannot be

P-KN4!

20

22

P-K5,

25

Hoping to control Q5, but this meets with an elegant refutation.

21

with

vantage.

29

R-Ql

R-Q2

K-Rl Black has managed to defend his weaknesses and strengthen KB6.

This looks very good for White, occupying the central squares, but

30

P-KR4

P-KR4

Black shatters the illusions with one

31

B-N5

Q-Bl

move. 24

. . . . . .

Now

the

N-Q3 white-squared

Bishop

must be exchanged, for to remove it from K4 would allow Black to free his black-squared Bishop via P-K5. 25

N-Q5 107

SAN 32

ANTONIO

N-B4

Despair.

Besides

the

variation

' 72

43

K-B2

R-B6ch

44

K-N2

K-N3

45

P-N4

which occurs in the game, 32 ... White comes to the realization

PXN also wins: 33 RXR RXPch 34

K-B 1

(34

K-R 1

R-R6ch

35

that his position is hopeless. I in­

...

tended to trans fer the King to K3,

B-Q5! (threatening mate on KN8!)

the Bishop to Ql and break with

35 K-Kl (35 Q-R2 R-B6ch) 35 ...

P-R3 and P-N4.

K-Nl

B-Q5ch and wins) 34

R-N8ch 36 K-Q2 P-86 37 Q-Q3 P-B7 38 P-K5!?? (mate almost seems

45

inevitable, but 38 ... P-B8=Nch

46

PXP BXNP

R-Q6

or 38 ... R-Q8ch leads to an easy

47

N-K7ch

K-B2

win).

48

N-B8

K-K3 R-Q5

32 33

RxR

34

N-Q5

49

NxRP

Q-Kl

50

P-R3

RXBP

QxR

51

N-N5

B-R3

52

K-B2

R-B7ch

53

K-Kl

B-K6

After 34 NXP Q-Q6 White would

54

K-Ql

R-KN7

be forced to exchange Queens and

55

N-B7ch

K-B2 RXP

Knight for Bishop. In the ensuing

56

N-Q5

endgame, Black's Rook will create

57

P-R4

B-Q5

havoc among the Black pawns on

58

P-R5

PXP

the Queenside.

59

BxP

R-KR6

60

B-Q8

P-N6

34

Resigns

Q-B3

35

B-K3

K-R2

36

B-B2

P-N3

37

B-Kl

Q-N2

38

B-B3

R-Bl!

GAME 38 White: Donald Byrne

The

Rook

frees

KB6

for

the

Black: Larry Evans

Queen. The exchange is unavoid­ English Opening

able; the rest of the game is easy. 39

B-Kl

Q-KB2

40

B-Q2

Q-B6ch

41

QxQ

RxQ

1

P-KN3

P-KN3

42

B-B3

R-Q6

2

B-N2

B-N2

Notes by D. Byrne

108

ROUND

FIVE

3

P-QB4

P-QB4

Black is quite willing to exchange

4

N-QB3

N-QB3

his QP for White's QNP, for the

5

P-Q3

P-K3

Black

Queenside

would

be

more

mobile than the White center pawns. Obviously, it is Black's intention to attack in the center,

11

and the

0-0

P-Q5

weakening of the dark squares does A

not appear to be significant. .

6

B-Q2

7

P-QR3

to

12

advance

on

the

Queen's

wing becomes clear. Such an ad­ vance is a logical attempt to nullify Black's threat of P-Q4.

7

. . . . . .

should

them away without seriously weak­ ening his Kingside.

post­

poned. I arrived at an analogous position in my game with V. Hort in

15.

round

Hort's

strategy,

threatening P-Q4 but not actually pushing the QP, proved to be suc­ cessful. 7

.

8

PXP N-R3

P-N3

13

P-QN4

PXP

14

PXP

P-QR3

15

P-N5

White's attack on the Queenside will come to naught if Black is per­ mitted to proceed with N-R2 fol­ lowed by N-N4.

. . 0-0 is a reasonable

15

move for Black.

9

N-K4

12

be

11

White's Knights occupy powerful

P-Q4

probably

is

positions and Black cannot drive

Certainly a very aggressive move which

alternative

in the center.

KN-K2

With the last two moves, White's plan

reasonable

.. B-K3, holding on to the squares

16 PxP

PXP Q-N3

P-R3

Black indirectly defends the QNP and prepares to chase the Knight from K4.

Now White can put pressure on Black's center with both Knights

17

KR-Nl

and the Bishop. As soon as the pawn on QN4

9 10

N-B4

0-0

falls,

the pawn on QN3

R-Nl

very

weak.

109

Nevertheless,

will

be

White

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

should have played the more ag­ gressive 17 KR-QB1 which would give White pressure on a second open file.

17 18

K-R2 P-B4

B-Kl

Black wishes to drive the Knight from

its

strong

position

in

the

center and to hold on to his QNP for a few

A fatal

more moves, but the

mistake!

Black

should

play R-Bl.Then if White exchanges

move creats additional weaknesses

Rooks, Black's pawn weaknesses re­

in his position.

main but the pressure against his King position would be diminished

19

N-Q2

P-NS

20

N-K6

BxN

21

QXB

R-B3

22

Q-N3

B-Bl

considerably. 29

R-B6

Q-N4

In order to fight on, Black had to play 29

By threatening to hold the QNP,

.. . Q-Kl, yielding a

Black hopes to get rid of the power­

pawn. Now the Black game col­

ful White KB. It is now very evi­

lapses.

dent that White would be much 30

better off if his Rook were at QB1.

23

N-Bl

N-Bl

24

BXN

RXB

25

BXP

B-N2

B-K7 also wins quickly. 30

If Black exchanged Bishops, his King position would be very ex­ posed

and

he

would

have

difficulty defending the QP.

great

R-Bl

N-R2

R-QRl

31

N-B3

Q-R4

32

RXQNP

N-B6

33

NxP

Resigns

White, two pawns ahead, threat­ ens BXN and R-N7.If Black plays 33

26

N-Q2

... NxPch,

White plays 34

NxN and Black cannot recapture

27

Q-B7

RXR

the Knight because of mate-34 ...

28

RXR

N-N4

QxN 35 B-B3 R-KNl 36 QXPch 110

ROUND K-Rl 37 K-Rl 37 QxP mate, or 34 .

.

.

R-R8ch

35

K-N2

QxN 36

QxPch followed by R-N8ch.

GAME 39

Queen's Gambit Declined P-QB4 N-QB3 N-B3 P-K3 B-K2

N-KB3 P-B3 P-Q4 P-KN3 B-N2

0-0

0-0

P-Q4 PxP Q-N3 PXN B-R3 PXQ N-Q2 N-B4 N-R5 QR-Nl P-KN4 P-B3 KR-Ql BXB K-B2 P-K4 P-N4 N-B4 R-QRl

B-B4 NxP NxN Q-N3 QxQ R-Kl P-KN4 N-Q2 QR-Nl B-Bl B-K5 B-N3 P-K3 KXB N-B3 R-K2 R-B2 N-Q2 P-QR3

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

White: Tigran Petrosian Black: Kenneth Smith

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

FIVE

111

P-R4 R-Rl R x KRP R-KNl N-R5 B-Ql B-N3 PXP R-QBl PXN K-K3 RXP B-Q5 RXP R-Rl BXB R-R5 K-B4 R-N5 P-N5 Rx Pch R-N5 K-N4 R(6)-N6 R-N5ch R-QN8ch R-N7ch RXR R-N5 P-B4 P-K5ch RXP R-K4 P-K6 K-B5 K-B6 P-K7

PxP K-N2 P-B3 P N4 N-N3 P-K4 PXP N-B5 NxN R-Ql R(2)-Q2 RXP R-R5 R-Q2 B-B2 RXB R-R6ch P-N5 R-B2 P x Pch K-B2 K-N2 R-K2 R-KB2 K-Bl K-K2 K-K3 KXR K-K3 K-Q3 K-B3 RXP R-R8 R-N8ch -

P-R4 R-Nl Resigas

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

out of play in time, sacrificing the

GAME 40

Exchange under circumstances dif­ ferent from those in the last note.

White: Svetozar Gligoric Black: Lajos Portisch Gruenfeld Defense

15

P-Q5

P-QN4

16

Q-N4

BXR

If 16

Notes by Gligoric

... N-B3? 17 Q-Nl and

after Black moves his Knight, White 1

P-Q4

N-KB3

may play B-Q4 and P-B4 with a

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

quick crush.

3

N-QB3

P-Q4

4

PxP

NxP

5

P-K4

NxN

6

PXN

B-N2

7

B-QB4

P-QB4

8

N-K2

N-B3

This

9

B-K3

0-0

tween this and the other variation

17

B-Q2

RXB

Not 17 ... P-B3? 18 B-B5 R-Kl 19 Q-Q4 (the threat is 20 B-N6). illustrates the

difference be­

(14 P-Q5) in which White's Queen 9 ... PXP 10 PXP Q-R4ch 11 B-Q2 is good for White-his Bishop

cannot

come

to

the

dominating

square Q4.

will be well placed on QB3. 10

0-0

PXP

11

PXP

B-N5

12

P-B3

N-R4

13

B-Q3

B-K3

14

Q-R4

An innovation. The idea is to follow up with QR-Bl and P-Q5 if possible. Normal is 14 P-Q5 BXR 15 QXB P-B3 when Black can de­ fend himself. 18 14

......

Q-Q4

P-QR3 Threatening 19 B-R6.

Necessary, in order to take con­ trol of the QB5 square by ... P­

18

QN4. But now White cuts the QB

19

112

P-B3 P-K5

ROUND Intending 20 P-K6.

FIVE thought that the position was now even

20

but

I

considered

myself to

have the worse position. Only after

PxP

19

the game did I realize that I was

QXP

better. Now the threat is 21 B-Q4. 26 20 21

QxP

PXB

By capturing

Or 26 ... RXB 27 RXR PXR this pawn

White

28 K-B2.

further weakens the dark squares

27

around Black's King. 21

BXN

Q-Nl

..... .

B-K3

27 N-B3 followed by K-B2 is a

Q-Kl

simple continuation which is also

If 21 ... R-Kl 22 Q-B5 Q-K4 23 B-Q4 N-N2 (or 23 ... QR-Bl

promising but at the time I was afraid of the exchange of Queens.

24 Q-N6 with the idea of an even­ 27

tual Q-KB6) 24 Q-N6. 22

Q-B5

R-Bl

23

Q-Q4

N-B5

24

B-R6

R-KB2

25

R-QB1!

Preventing 25

R-Kl

28

K-B2

Q-Q3

29

N-N3

B-N4

A sad necessity. Now the Bishop is rather badly placed.

... Q-K4 when

30

White wins by 26 RXN. White's idea now is to exchange on QB4

N-K4

Q-K4

30 . .. RX Pch is not sound.

and then play N-B3 when it is im­ possible to lose and there are many favorable possibilities. My strategic

31

QxQ

position is beautiful-no real weak­

32

N-B3

RXQ

nesses. Not 32 B-Q4? RxN.Now White's 25

..... .

Knight is on its ideal square and

Q-K2?!

his position is somewhat better. In Possibly Black had nothing better but I didn't like this move. Portisch

many ways this position is typical of the whole variation.

113

SAN

ANTONIO

' 72

with 36 ... RXP when Black may be

able

to

draw

because

of

his

connected passed pawns. It is also possible that after 36 P-Q6 Black may draw with 36 ... RxN.

36 N-B6ch 37 NXR

K-B2 BX N

Or 37 ... RXN 38 PXB RXB 39 P-B7 winning at once.

R-QN2?

32 32

38 RXP

... P-N4 should have been

good enough for a draw, e.g. 33

More accurate is 38

B-Q4 R-Kl (threatening ... P-N5)

... B-Kl

but then 39 P-R5 puts Black under

34 K-N3 and White's advantage is

constant pressure.

probably not enough. The idea of the text is to come to the seventh

39 P-N4 40 B-K3

rank with the Rook. The flaw is that Black loses back the Exchange.

33 B-Q4 34 N-K4

B-B4

B-Q2

40 B-B5 at once fails to 40

R(4)-K2 R(N)-Q2?

R-K4.

40 Possibly the decisive mistake, but

. . . . . .

B-Kl

If 40 ... R-K4 41 R-B4ch and

in any case Black has problems,

42 R-Q4 is very strong.

e.g. 34 ... R-Nl 35 N-B6ch K-B2 36 NXP.

41 B-B5

R-Q2

35 P-QR4! If 41 ...R-K4 42 R-B4ch K-Nl 35 N-B6ch is only good for a

43 R-K4 RXR 44 PXR, and White wins the ending with his connected

draw.

passed pawns.

35

B-B3?

The last chance was 35 ... K-B2 with the idea of meeting 36 PXB 114

42 R-B4ch 43 B-B8ch 44 B-R6

K-N2 K-Nl B-B2

ROUND Not

44

. . . R-KB2

45

FIVE

R-K4

Threatening 49 R-R7.

B-Q2 46 R-N4, etc. 45

R-B6

46

R-R6

48

P-R4

46 P-Q6 gives Black a chance to fight for a draw by 46 ... R-Ql 47

B-Q2

B-Kl!

48

BXP

R-Rl.

The point of the text is that White wants to create a passed QRP so that if

Rooks are exchanged the easy

win

because

he

R-R8

50

P-R5

R-B7ch

51

K-N3

R-B6

52

R-R7ch

R-B2

If White moves the Bishop in­ stead,

Black

draws

by

52

...

RXPch.

opposite colored Bishops ending will be an

B-N6

49

52

can

53

create a second passed pawn on

K-K3 B-N5

P-R3

the Kingside, many files away from Or 53 ... B-Q4 54 R-K7ch K­

the first.

Q3 55 R-K3. 46

BXP

47

RXRP

48

B-K3

K-B2

54

R-K7ch

K-Q3

55

R-K3

Resigns

Standings After Five Rounds 4 V2

Karpov, Keres

3 V2

G ligoric, Larsen, Petrosian

3

D. Byrne, Hort

2V2

Mecking, Suttles

2

Browne, Portisch

11/2

Campos, Kaplan

1

Evans, Saidy

1h

Smith

115

SAN

ANTO NIO

,

72

ROUND SIX

Sunday, November 26th White

Black

Opening

Result

Moves

0-1

37

0-1

35

41 Hort(3)

Portisch(2)

42 Smith (V2)

Gligoric(31h)

43 Evans(1)

Petrosian(31/z)

King's Indian Defense 1h-V2

34

44 Karpov(41h) 45 Kaplan(11h) 46 Keres (41/2) 47 Mecking(21h) 48 Saidy (1)

D.Byrne(3)

Sicilian Defense

1-0

40

Suttles (21/2)

Pirc Defense

0-1

34

Campos(1112)

Ruy Lopez

1-0

41

Larsen (3V2)

Caro-Kann Defense

1-0

70

Browne(2)

EnglishOpening

1-0

41

Sicilian Defense Three Knights Game

GAME 41

8

P-R3

P-KR3

9

B-K3

B-K3

White: Vlastimil Hort

10

N-Q2

P-Q4

Black: Lajos Portisch

11

PXP

NxP

12

NxN

BXN

13

Q-RS

P-B4

14

P-B4

Sicilian Defense

Notes by Levy Of course White could take the immediate draw by 14 BXRP PxB

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

15 Q-N6ch, but his position offers

3

N-B3

P-K4

more.

4

B-B4 14

Hort has used this system before with good results. 4

. . . . . .

B-K2

PxP

15

BXKBP

B-B3

16

P-B3!

BXB

17

NXB

QXP

18

N-Q6

N-K2

19

NXNP

Q-Q4

4 . . . N-KB3? would be a be­ Not 19 ... N-Q4? 20 B-Q6.

ginner's blunder (5 N-KN5). 5

P-Q3

N-KB3

6

0-0

N-B3

7

P-QR4

0-0

20

N-Q6?

This 116

retrograde

move

destroys

ROUND

SIX

White's advantage. Better was 20

32

K-Rl

Q-B3 Q-N6 21

33

R-Rl

P-B6

34

BxB

PxPch

R-B2! QR-Bl

22

B-Q6 with an excellent game.

20

Q-Q4

35

QXP

QxB

QR-Ql

36

R-KNl

Q-Q6

37

K-R2

R-K3

21

QR-Ql

Q-N6

22

Q-K2

QxRP

23

R-Rl

Q-Q2

24

Q-B4ch

K-R2

Resigns

GAME 42

White: Kenneth Smith Black: Svetozar Gligoric Three Knights Game

25

QxP??

"My hand should be cut off for

1

P-K4

P-K4

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

3

N-B3

P-KN3

4

P-Q4

PxP

5

N-Q5

B-N2

6

B-KN5

QN-K2

7

NxP

P-QB3

8

N-QB3

P-KR3

9

B-K3

P-Q4

10

PxP

NxP

11

NXN

QXN

BXB

12

B-K2

N-K2

NXB 29 RXRP with a certain draw.

13

0-0

0-0

14

P-QB3

K-R2

making this move."-Hort. 25 N­ N5 leaves White without any prob lems, e.g. 25 NxQ

27

. . .

B-Q6

­

Q-Q4 26 QXQ B-K2

28

25

. . . . . .

N-N3

15

B-B3

Q-Ql

26

B-R2

B-K2

16

Q-N3

Q-B2

17

KR-Kl

P-R3

18

P-N3

B-R6 Q-Q2

The move Hort had overlooked.

19

B-B4

27

KR-Ql

P-B5

20

QR-Ql

N-Q4

28

RXP

Q-K3

21

N-B2

Q-Bl

29

R-R6

R-B3

22

BxN

PXB

30

Q-B2

RxN

23

QXQP

B-K3

31

R(l)XR

BXR

24

Q-QR5

R-Kl

117

SAN

ANTONIO

'7

2

25

N-Q4

B-N5

19

BxN

N-K4

26

QR-Bl

Q-Q2

20

B-B2

P-QN4

27

Q-QB5

P-KN4

21

PxP

Q-R4

28

B-Q2

R-QBl

22

Q-Q2

BxP

29

Q-N6

B-R6

23

KR-Kl

B-Q2

30

Q-N3

P-N4

24

P-B4

N-N5

31

RXR

RXR

25

P-KR3

N-B3

32

R-Kl

K-Nl

26

B-Q3

N-R4

33

R-K3

RXR

27

RXR

RXR

34

BxR

Q-N2

28

R-QBl

Q-Ql

35

P-B3

BXN

29

B-K2

N-B3

Resigns

GAME 43

30

B-B3

Q-N3

31

K-R2

Q-N5

32

N-Nl

P-QR4

33

R-B4

QxQ

34

NxQ

B-N4 Draw

White: Larry Evans Black: Tigran Petrosian King's Indian Defense

GAME 44 1

P-QB4

N-KB3

2

N-QB3

P-KN3

White: Anatoly Karpov

3

P-Q4

B-N2

Black: Donald Byrne

4

P-K4

P-Q3

5

P-B3

0-0

6

KN-K2

P-B4

Sicilian Defense

Notes by Levy

7

B-K3

P-N3

8

Q-Q2

N-B3

9

P-Q5

N-K4

1

P-K4

P-QB4

10

N-Bl

P-K3

2

N-KB3

P-Q3 PxP

11

B-K2

B-QR3

3

P-Q4

12

P-QN3

PXP

4

NxP

N-KB3

13

KPXP

KN-Q2

5

N-QB3

P-KN3

14

0-0

P-B4

6

B-K3

B-N2

15

B-NS

Q-B2

7

P-B3

0-0

16

B-R6

BXB

8

Q-Q2

N-B3

17

QxB

QR-Kl

9

B-QB4

P-QR4

18

N-Q3

NxN

10

118

P-QR4!

ROUND

SIX

The only way for White to ex­ tract any advantage from Donald Byrne's pet variation.

10

10

NXN

.. . N-K4

12 P-R4 and 10

11

B-N3

B-Q2

... N-QN5 11

N-Q5 KNXN 12 PXN BXN 13 BXB P-K4 14 B-B2! are also good for White.

Now Byrne wanted to play 21 ... QxQ but he noticed that after

11

BXN

12

B-N5

22 PXQ N-N5 23 NxB RxN 24

B-K3

RXR PXR 25

RXP RXPch 26

KXR N-K6ch 27 K-B3 NXRch 28 The Bishop does not accomplish very much on this square which might later be a useful outpost for White's

Knight. 12

B-N3

K-Q4 and 29 K-B5 he loses the ending. So to make the line play­ able he found ...

might

21

therefore be more troublesome to Black, e.g. 12 ... BXB 13 PXB N­ Q2 14 BXB KXB 15 P-QN4 PXP 16 Q-Q4ch K-Nl 17 QxNP Q-R4 18 QxQ RXQ 19 P-QN4 QR-RI 20 K-K2 KR-Bl 21 KR-QBl with the better ending for White. Analysis by Rosenfeld.

..... .

P-N3??

... which prevents the entry of the

White

King but

which loses

even sooner. Probably best was 21 ... R-KRl followed by ... P-R4, when White's advantage is so slight that Karpov was unable to win a single variation in the post-mortem analysis.

12

R-Bl

13

0-0-0

N-Q2

22

B-R6

P-R4

14

BXB

KXB

23

BXR

RXB

15

P-B4

N-B3

24

P-R3

QxQ

16

KR-Kl

Q-B2

25

PxQ

N-K5

17

Q-Q4

KR-Ql

26

NxN

BXN

18

R-Q2

P-Q4

27

R-K2

B-Q4

19

PxP

BXP

28

R-Q4

R-B4

20

Q-K5

P-K3

29

P-R4

P-B4

21

KR-Ql

30

PxP e.p.ch

KxP

119

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

31

R-B4ch

K-N2

23

R-B2

P-QN4

32

R-K5

R-B2

24

B-KBl

B-Bl

33

P-KN3

R-B3

25

KR-Q2

R-K3

34

K-Q2

R-B2

26

Q-Q5

K-N2

35

P-N3

R-Q2

27

QxQ

RXQ

36

K-K3

R-K2

28

P-R3

N-B5

37

P-KN4

PXP

29

R-Q8

RXR

38

RxNP

K-B3

30

RXR

N-K3

39

R(5)-N5

R-KR2

31

R-Q2

N-B4

40

RxPch

Resigns

32

P-QB4?

GAME 45 White: Julio Kaplan Black: Duncan Suttles Pirc Defense 1

P-K4

P-KN3

2

P-Q4

P-Q3

3

N-KB3

B-N2

4

N-B3

N-KB3

5

B-K2

0-0

6

0-0

B-N5

7

B-K3

KN-Q2

Kaplan had just refused the offer of a draw!

8

P-KR3

BXN

9

BXB

N-QB3

10

B-K2

P-K4

11

PxP

PxP

12

N-R4

N-B3

13

B-Q3

N-Q5

33

..... .

14

P-B3

N-K3

34

B-Q5??

15

N-B5

NxN

16

BxN

R-Kl

17

Q-B2

Q-Q2

18

QR-Ql

Q-B3

19

B-K3

P-QR3

20

Q-N3

R-K2

21

B-QB4

R-Nl

22

P-B3

N-R4

32

. .....

33

BXP??

PXP

He should have tried 33 R-B2. NxP

Compounding his previous errors with an almighty oversight. 34

..... .

R-B8ch

Resigns White loses a whole Rook: 35 K-R2 NXR 36 BXN R-QS. 120

ROU ND

SIX

on his Q4 square and now intends

GAME 46

to play 9 QN-Q2 followed by P­ White: Paul Keres

KR3 and N-Bl-N3.

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez 8

.. . . . .

Q-Q2

Ruy Lopez A better idea seems to be 8 Notes by Keres

0-0 at once. Black is hoping for 9 P-KR3 B-R4 10 QN-Q2 after

1

P-K4

P-K4

which he could launch an attack on the Kingside by 10 ... P-KN4.

It is refreshing to meet a Ruy Lopez

in

these

days

of

But White will wait with P-KR3

popular

until Black has castled.

Sicilians, Alekhines, Pires, etc. N-QB3

9

QN-Q2

0-0

10

P-KR3

B-R4

2

N-KB3

3

B-NS

P-QR3

4

B-R4

N-B3

5

0-0

B-K2

Black

6

R-Kl

P-Q3

Bishop to Q2.

Had he not played could

have

... Q-Q2

retreated

The Kecskemet Defense which,

11

N-Bl

KR-Kl

according to theory, is best met by

12

N-N3

B-N3

7 BXNch PXB 8 P-Q4, etc. But

13

P-Q4

the

here I had other plans in mind. From the opening White has ob­ 7

P-B3

B-NS

tained a clearly superior position. Black's

In the Ruy Lopez this pin of the

pieces

are

cramped,

the

Bishop on N3 stands badly and he

Knight will only be effective after

lacks

White has played P-Q4. But with

Therefore

his pawn still on Q2 White is able

open up the game as this will give

to show up this move as a loss of

Black unnecessary counterchances.

time. Usual

After 13 N-R4! (13 ... B-Bl 14

. . . 0-0 or 7

continuations .

are

7

. . B-Q2.

chances White

for

counterplay.

should

not

yet

B-KN5!) followed by 14 N(4)-B5, White could increase his positional

8

P-Q3

pressure with a Kingside attack.

By keeping his QP on Q3 White

13

avoids the uncomfortable pressure

14

121

P-N4 B-B2

PxP

SAN

ANTO NIO

'72

intend to

This will shut out Black's Bishop

continue with (15 PXP) N-QN5,

for a long time, in fact for most o f

Since he

Black did not

should

not

have

exchanged

the game.

pawns. 14 ... QR-Ql at once was preferable.

15

18 QR-Ql

PxP

After Black's previous move 15

P-R3

19

P-B5

20

B-N3

B-R2

On 20 PXP NxP, the freeing

... N-QN5 16 B-N3 P-B4 would

advance 21

have been logical. But then 17 P­

prevent.

... P-Q4 is hard to

R3 N-B3 18 PXP PXP 19 P-K5! QXQ 20 RXQ N-KR4 21 B-Q5

20

QR-Bl 22 N-K4! would give White a clear advantage (the threat is 23 P-KN4!).

16

PxP

21

PXP

22

R-Bl

B-Bl

Unnecessarily

P-Q5!

complicating

the

matter. After 22 B-K3 or 22 B­ KB4 White would have a fine game with a durable initiative.

R-Bl

22 23

Q-B3

Q-N2

Now Black suddenly threatens to get counterplay by means of 24 ... QN-Q2 and ... N-K4. White had to take measures at once.

Black

was

threatening 16

...

24

B-K3

QN-Q2

25

N-B6

N-K4!

P-Q4 17 P-K5 N-K5. If he now plays 16 N-R2!

The attractive 25 ... N-B4 did

... N-K4 then after 17

the

threat

of P-B4-B5

is

not work because of 26 B-Q4! NXB 27 PxN, as 27

annoying.

be

16 17

N-Q4

18

P-B4!

played

... NXP cannot

because of

28

N-N4!

N-Nl

winning a piece. By the following

P-B3

exchanges Black is easing his posi­ tion. 122

ROUND

SIX

26

NxN

PXN

then 34 R-B7 Q-Q3 35 R-B8! would

27

N-K4

NxN

retain the edge.

28

QxN

K-Rl

After RXB

28

30

B-B4

Q-K3!

longer prevent

29

BXB

Black could

no

33

B-N6

R-Q2

34

R-B8ch

B-Nl

35

Q-B6!

31 P-B6! Decisive. Black can hardly move

29

QR-Bl

Otherwise

any of his pieces.

RXR 30

R-B6!

would

35

be

36

very strong. 30

Winning a piece. The rest is easy

P-B3

RXR

K-R2 R-Q8!

to understand. The

exchanges

have

not freed

Black completely from his troubles.

36

White has a strong passed pawn

37

QxQ RXR

PxQ

and the only open line, which gives Or 37 ... B-B4ch 38 K-Bl!, etc.

him a lasting positional advantage. 31

R-B6

32

Q-B2

R-Ql

38

BxR

39

PXB

P-N3

40

P-KN4

P-KR4

41

K-B2

Resigns

BXB

GAME 47 White: Henrique Mecking Black: Bent Larsen Caro-Kann Defense Notes by Mecking

1

P-K4

P-QB3

2

P-Q4

P-Q4

32 ... Q Q2

3

N-QB3

PxP

33 P-N4 B-Nl would have created

4

NxP

N-B3

more trouble for White although

5

NxNch

NPXN

32

..... .

This loses at once.

B-Q3?

-

123

SAN

ANTONIO

I was a little surprised to see Larsen play this variation

for the

second time in the tournament.

6

'72

15

QxB

16

Q-K3

BXB

17

QxB

P-KB4

B-Q6!

Although White is a pawn ahead

N-K2

Black has sufficient counterplay to give him adequate compensation.

Best.

18

B-B4

6 7

N-N3

B-N3

8

P-KR4

P-KR3

P-R3

If 18 .

.

.

20 P-KB4! I f 8 ... P-KR4 9 B-K2 followed

QR-Nl N-N3 19 0-0-0 R-Q4 followed by K-Nl and

R-QB1 with a very good game for

by P-QB3 allows White to take off

White

the KRP whenever he likes.

chances on both the Kingside and

because he has the better

the Queenside.

9 10

P-K3

P-QB3

19

B-K3

Not

After 10 B-Q3 BXB 11 QXB or 10 P-R5 B-R2 11 B-Q3 BXB 12

0-0-0 19

N-B3 ...

RXNP 21 Q-B3

P-BS

20

N-K4

followed by 22

QXB, White has a slight plus but

QxP. But now 20 ... P-BS is a

Black's game

real threat because it results in the

can play

is

not

.. . P-KB4,

so

bad-he

... N-Q2

immediate capture of White's KRP.

and ... N-B3.

10

N-Q2 P-RS

B-R2

12

Q-Q2

Q-R4!

13

B-K2

11

It is dangerous to grab the pawn immediately because a fter 13 BXP BXB 14 QXB 0-0-0, Black gets more counterplay than in the game. But 15 B-K2 would transpose to

20

the game.

14

20 Q-B3 at once was also pos­

0-0-0

13

BXP

BXB

R-R4

sible. 124

ROUND 20 21

Q-B3

Q-Q4

25

P-KN3

QR-Rl

N-NS?!

26

R-R4

P-B4

White was threatening 27 R-Kl,

On 21 ... QxQ 22 PXQ R-R3 23 QR-Rl QR-Rl,

SIX

White is still

28 Q-K2 and 29 P-B3 and against

better but the win would be more

this plan Black really has nothing.

difficult than in the game. White's

But the text is a bad move which

advantage lies in the fact that he

Larsen made because he saw that I

can leave just one Rook and his

was in time trouble. If I play 27

Knight guarding the thrice attacked

P-Q5, which is probably the best

KRP because if Black ever plays

move, the play becomes very com­

... NxP he loses to R(l)-Rl (as­

plicated. Since I was short of time

suming that this Rook was sitting

I decided to keep the game simple.

on some other square on the first rank). White can therefore expand

27

PxP

on

28

R-Q2

the

Queenside,

advancing

his

QXP

pawns and King and using a Rook I used up most of my remaining

in support.

time thinking about 28 R-Q4 which 22

is very good, but again I decided

N-K2!

to avoid complications. The idea I

knew

by

Larsen's face

the that

expression he

had

on

over­

..... .

stand this move. N-B4

24

R-R3

Losing

a

28

Q-N6

What is this? I could not under­

23

can be answered by 29 NXP PXN 30 R-QB4 winning the Queen.

looked this move. 22

of 23 R-Q4 is that 28 ... N-B3

28

. . . P-K4 29 N-Q3 makes

White's job easy. 29

R-R3

R-Rl

Not 29 R-Q4 N-K5. tempo. Better is 24 Q­

29

K2 followed by P-B3 and P-KN4.

24

N-B3

..... .

Q-N4

Preventing 25 Q-K2.

Q-B3

30

QxQch

PxQ

31

P-B3!

R-Nl

32

R-R3

N-R2

Because of my time trouble Lar125

SA N

A NTO NIO

sen was trying to make me nervous by the threat of ... N-N4.

'72

Of course not 42 R-N3? R-R8ch 43 K-Q2 N-B8ch. My move pre­ vents ... N-B5 and takes away all

33 R-KB2 34 N-Q3!

K-Q2

of Black's threats.

42 43 K-Q2

Now the threat is 35 P-KN4.

N-B3 PXP K-Q3

34 35 P-KN4 36 PxP If 36

K-Q4

�

�

�

�

... RXNP 37 R(3)-B3

NxP 38 RXPch K-Q3 39 P-N4 and 40 N-B5 with an easy win. Also 37 N-K5ch wins the Exchange.

37 R-R4 My sealed move. During the ad­

Best. Now 37 R(3)-B3 would ac­

journment Larsen told the news­

complish nothing.

papermen that he expected to draw

RXNP NXR RxP

37 38 RXR 39 RXP

the game. During the adjournment I was not sure that I could win; otherwise I would have accepted the offer of a draw which Petrosian

After 39 ... P-R4 (best) 40 P­

made to me twice during our game

B4 N-K4 (not 40 ... RXP?? 41

(my game with Larsen was played

P-B5ch) 41 NxN KxN 42 R-QR7

off a few days later).

K-Q5

43

RXP

clearly better

P-B4,

and

his

White

is

43 44 R-N2 45 P-R4

advantage

may be enough for a win. Another possibility after 39 ... P-R4 is 40

N-B4 P-B4 N-Q3

R-KN7 N-K6 41 N-B4 P-K4 42 If 45 ... P-B5 46 N-N4ch K-B4

R-N6ch when the win should be

47

fairly simple.

R-N6

N-Q3

48

N-R6ch

and

now 48 ... K-B3 loses to 49 PXP

40 RXP 41 R-KN7 42 P-N3!

P-K4 N-K6

and 48

... K-Q4 to 49 N-B7ch

K-B4 50 P-N4ch K-B3 51 N-N5. And if Black tries 47 126

... N-K2

ROUND

SIX

instead of 47 ... N-Q3, he loses to

59

P-R6

R-R6

48 R-K6 R-R7ch 49 K-Bl PXP 50

60

R-N6

R-R4

RxN P-N7ch 51 K-Nl K-B5 52

61

K-Q5

N-Ql

K-R2 KXP 53 N-Q5ch.

62

P-B4

K-Q2

63

NXPch

K-B2

46

N-B2

R-Rl

A bad plan. Better was 46 ... P-K5.

64

R-Q6

R-R6

65

R-Q7ch

K-Bl

66

P-R7

N-N2

67

K-B6

R-R3ch

68

K-N5

RXP

47

N-Ql

R-QNl

69

K-N6

R-R6

48

N-K3ch

K-B3

70

R-B7ch

Resigns

48 ... K-K5 loses at once to 49 K-K2.

GAME 48

49

R-N6

K-Q2

White: Anthony Saidy

50

R-N7ch

K-B3

Black: Walter Browne

51

R-N6

K-Q2

52

K-B2

R-KRl

Better is 52

English Opening

R-KBl for a

Notes by Saidy

reason which will soon be apparent. This game occurred before my 53

N-N4!

disastrous

N-B2

losing

streak

(11

in a

row-!-including 9 of my 12 tedi­ If 53 ... P-K5 54 N-K5ch K-K2

ous adjournments that sapped pa­

55 RXN KXR 56 N-B7ch. This

tience). While both sides wanted to

trick

would

not work

if

Black's

win,

only

Browne

was

ready

to

overpress for the point, because I'm

Rook was on B1.

the sort of player he expects to R-R6ch

beat. (Of course, he expects to beat

K-B4

K-K2

almost everyone.)

N-B2

R-K6

54

K-Q3

55 56 57

P-R5

But Browne ran into his prime fault: time pressure and the errors it carries in its wake. I know it

Now the rest is very easy.

well,

as

a

fellow

offender-and

sufferer. Browne himself stated the 57 58

N-N4

R-K7

paradox correctly: One should strive

R-QR7

for perfection in chess, but the ex127

SAN

ANTO NIO

cessive time used in the early stages

'7 2

that he finds a better line.)

to find perfect moves often results

Less promising for White would

later in a time-pressure mess all

be 6 NXB NxN (6 ... PXN 7

too imperfect.

NXN

The

solution?

The

time

limit

QPXN

8 P-Q4

Barcza-Bisguier,

should be changed to 4 0 moves in

as

in

1971)

7

=,

Tallinn

N-Q4 0-0 8 N-B2 NxNch 9 QxN

5 hours. Then we'd both be nearly

P-Q4

unbeatable!

Wijk aan Zee

10

B-N2

(Smyslov-Benko,

1972 ), and now 10

... B-B4!? 1

P-K4

P-QB4

Browne has equalized numerous times with 1 ... P-QB4 vs. players of the calibre of Smyslov.Already on move one he indicates that he doesn't want a draw.

2 N-QB3 3 N-B3

N-KB3

Recent practice indicates that 3 P-KN3 BXN,

B-N5, gives

followed

Black

by

6

...

P-Q3(!)

easy equality, Good.It forces White to do some­

e.g. Martz-Browne, U.S. Open 1972.

thing promptly about the threat of ... P-KN4. But in order to do so

N-B3 B-NS P-KS

3 4 P-KN3 5 N-QS 6 N-R4(!)

on move

9, he must lose a lot of

time on move 8. 7

NXB P-QR3 9 P-Q3 10 B-N2 11 0-0 8

I played this odd-looking move quickly,

having

seen

Petrosian-Liebert,

the

Siegen

game 1970,

which went: 6 N-R4 0-0 7 B-N2 R-Kl

8 0-0 B-Bl

10 QXP N-K4

NXN N-B3 0-0

R-Kl P-KR3

9 P-Q3 PXP Decent alternatives were

11 Q-B2 with ad­

vantage for White. Browne appar­

P-QR4 or 11

Q-K2.

ently hadn't seen it, because he now indulged

himself

in

an

12 PXP 13 B-K3!?

hour's

thought. (He thus vitiates the fact 128

NXP

11

ROUND Because of my modest orienta­

SIX 19

P-B5

B-K3?

tion to this game (modesty always seems to give my best results in such company), I didn't even con­ sider 13 P-B3 N-N4 14 P-K4, with a slight advantage for White (space and the Bishop). P-QR4

13 14

Q-B2

15

QR-Ql!?

Q-K2

I didn't quite trust 15 P-N3 (pre­ venting the artificial isolation of the

This error is decisive and hard

QBP by ... P-R5) N-B3 16 P-R3

to explain. Did Browne overesti­

N-K5! (threatening ... NXNP) 17

mate the drawing potential of op­

K-R2! B-Q2, but 18 QXN is equal.

posite-color

But the text move has the virtue of

pieces present, especially Knights,

Bishops?

(With

preparing B-QBl if necessary-and

their

one other that will be crucial.

reduced.) Correct was 19

drawing

tendency

is

other much

.. .

P­

KN4 20 N-B3 R-K3 21 PXP PXP 15 16

KR-Kl

P-R5

22 N-Q4 (else ... N-R4) NXN 23

B-Q2?!

RXN B-B3, and Black's weakness is probably insignificant.

Browne overlooks a point. Why? He now had 38 minutes for 24

A pawn now goes, for exactly nothing.

moves. He feared severe time pres­ sure. The move is an anticipatory

20

PxP

PxP

error-he was already hurrying. So,

21

RXP

R-R4

even on move 16 the clock can

22

B-Q2

R-Q4

take its toll. (When will we ever

23

RXR

BXR

learn?)

24

P-B3

White's 16th, protecting the KP, makes

possible

a

transition to a

good endgame. After 16

After this move, White's techni­

P­

cal problems are minimal. He con­

QN3, Black would have had noth­

trols all key squares, so there is no

ing to fear.

...

counterplay. The long offside Knight soon enters the action effectively.

17

BXN

QxB

18

QxQ

RXQ

24

129

..... .

R-Kl

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

25

B-B3

B-N6

36

B-N4

N-Q5

26

N-B5

P-B3

37

R-Q2

N-N4

38

K-K2

27

N-Q6

R-K2

28

K-B2

R-Q2

29

N-K4

R-Q4

30

R-QBl

Not 38 P-B5ch K-B2 39 R-Q7ch K-Nl

40 RXP RXPch 41 K-Kl

NxP. But Black cannot avoid this Resisting the temptation of 30 BXP PXB 31 NXPch K-B2

penetration.

32

NxR BxN. It is simpler to elimi­

38

nate Black's Bishop. Now, due to

39

K-Ql

PxP

the time factor, Black loses more

40

PXP

R-R6

quickly than necessary.

41

P-B5ch

K-B2

The sealed move. Black resigned

K-B2

30

P-N4

31

N-Q2

R-QN4

32

NXB

RxN

33

P-B4

K-K3

B3 R-Q6ch 45 K-Kl R-K6ch 46

34

R-B2

N-R2

K-Bl RXP

35

P-K4

N-N4

easily.

without resuming, in view of 42 R­ Q7ch K-Nl 43 RXP N-Q5 44 B­

Standings After Six Rounds 511z

Karpov, Keres

4Vz

Gligoric

4

Petrosian

31/z

Larsen, Mecking, Suttles

3

D. Byrne, Hort, Portisch

2

Browne, Saidy

11/2 Vz

Campos, Evans, Kaplan Smith

130

47

R-N4

and

wins

R OU N D

SEVEN

ROUND SEVEN Monday, November 27th

White

Opening

Black

49 Browne (2)

Hort (3)

50 Larsen (31h)

Saidy (2)

51 Campos (11h) 52 Suttles (3V2)

Result

Alekhine's Defense Queen's Gambit Declined

Mecking (31/z) Keres (51/z)

Sicilian Defense

Moves

0-1

40

1-0

38

0-1

65

Reti Opening

1/z-1h

37 20

53 D. Byrne (3)

Kaplan (l1/z)

English Opening

54 Petrosian (4)

Karpov (51h)

Queen's Indian Defense

1/z-1h 1/z-1/z

55 Gligoric (41h)

Evans (11/z)

King's Indian Defense

1,1z_1,1z

41

56 Portisch (3)

Smith

1-0

60

(1h)

Reti Opening

GAME 49

29

10 NxP BXB 11 QxB QN-Q2 12 QR-Ql P-QB3 13 N- K4 N-Bl 14

White: Walter Browne

N-B5 NXN(K4) 15 PXN Q-B2 16

Black: Vlastimil Hort

Q-N4

N-N3

with

roughly

equal

chances. The correct way for White to reach the game continuation was

Alekhine's Defense

8 PXP PXP 9 N-B3 0-0 10 B-K3.

Notes by Levy

N-B3

9

1

P-K4

N-KB3

2

P-K5

N-Q4

10

PXP

PxP

11

P-Q5

PxP

3

P-Q4

P-Q3

4

N-KB3

B-N5

11 . BXN 12 BXB N-K4 13 PXP! PXP 14 B-N4 is clearly good

5

B-K2

P-K3

for White.

6

0-0

B-K2

7

P-B4

N-N3

8

N-B3

0-0

9

B-K3

.

12

.

NxP

Not 12

.

.

NxN

.

BXN? 13 BXN BXB

14 BXQ BXQ 15 BXB KR-Kl 16 White's move order has been in­

QRXB NxB 17 N-B7 and White

accurate but Black fails to take ad­

wins the Exchange (HartstoncCor­

vantage

den, England 1971).

of

Vaganian,

the

situation.

USSR

Geller­

Championship

1971, now continued 9

.

.

.

PXP

131

13

QxN

B-B3

SA N

A NT O NIO 14

'72

..... .

R-Bl!

A very strong move which Hort discovered

over

the

known continuation Q-Bl

board. The was

14

...

15 R-Q2 N-K4 16 R-QBl

P-QN3 17 P-QN3 R-Ql 18 R(l)­ Ql with a dominating position for White

(Georgadze-K.

Grigorian,

Vilna 1971). 14

KR-Ql?!

15

R-Q2

"The stupid book (Shakhmatny

15 QXP QXQ 16 RXQ BXP 17

Bulletin) recommended this move"

R-Nl B-QR6 can hardly be good

-Browne. In fact, the article to

for White (18 R-Q3? B-KB4, or 18

which Browne refers quotes two

P-B5 P-QN3).

games in which White obtained the advantage after the text move but

15

.....

in both cases Black played an in­ ferior reply. The strongest move was the one which Browne had wanted to play but which he had rejected in favor of the "book" recommendation: 14 Q-Q2! Q-R4 (otherwise 15 QR-Ql and 16 P-QN3 consolidates White's 15

KR-Ql

threatening

Another active move. If instead P-QN3, White has had time to con­ solidate his Queenside structure and he can then turn his attention to Black's sick QP. 16

16

QXQ NXQ 17 QR-Bl and 18 P­ QN3. It would appear that bringing the other Rook to Q1 also fails to reap

Q-R4!

15 ... Q-B2 16 R-QBl KR-Kl 16

advantage) and White can continue with

.

QxP?

Already the losing move. White should

exchange

Queens

with

a

draw as the likely result.

White any dividends against correct play:

14 QR-Ql BXP

R-Nl

16

... Q-B3 may also be

17

BXB

possible but it looks more risky) 16

18

Q B4

B-K3 (15 Q-QN5 Q-R6

B-B3 17

Draw

15

QR-Ql

-

QxP R-Bl 18 Forced - White must protect his

(Tukmakov-Olafsson,

Moscow 1971).

BXN

Q2 square for the second time. 132

ROUND 18

SEVEN

B-K4

38

R-Q5ch

K-N5

RXR

BXQ

39

B-B5

K-B6

20

RxRch

KXR

40

K-Nl

Q-N3ch

21

BxB

19

White

Resigns

has

pawn for the

Rook,

Bishop

and GAME 50

Queen but on the

open board the Queen is all power­ ful. The remainder of the game is

White: Bent Larsen

an effortless display of Hort's fine

Black: Anthony Saidy

technique. Queen's Gambit Declined 21

N-Q5

22

B-Q6ch

K-Kl

23

B-Q5

Q-Q7

24

P-QN3

K-Q2

Notes by Larsen

24 ... N-K7ch 25 K-Bl N-B8

1

P-Q4

P-Q4

2

P-QB4

P-QB3

3

P-K3

N-B3

also leads to a win, but the text is more convincing.

Possibly inspired by Keres (see game 18) Saidy planned to play 3

25

B-K5

26

K-Bl

N-K7ch

.. . B-B4. He could not explain why

he abandoned the idea.

In­

stead he went into a line he had 26 K-Rl

P-B3 27 B-N3 N-B8

never played before.

and 28 ... Q-N7 is also not particularly pleasant for White.

4

N-QB3

P-KN3

5

N-B3

B-N2

Q-Q6

6

B-K2

0-0

27

K-Kl

N-N8

7

0-0

B-B4(?)

28

B-KB3

NxBch

29

PXN

K-K3

30

BXP

P-B3

me before.

31

R-Ql

QXKBP

PXP

32

B-B8

Q-R8ch

BxN 11 BxB P-K3 gave White a

33

K-K2

QxP

microscopic advantage in Larsen­

34

B-N4

Q-R4ch

Shipman,

35

K-Kl

Q-R8ch

perhaps 8 Q-N3 offers more. 7 ...

36

K-K2

Q-K5ch

QN-Q2? has been played several

37

K-Bl

K-B4

times,

26

This has not been played against

133

9

7

Q-N3

. . . B-N5 P-N3

Washington

after

which

8

10

8 PXP P-KR3

1972,

but

PXP offers

SAN

ANTONIO

White excellent prospects on the open QB file. 7 ...

'72

many variations Q-Q2 gains a valu­

P-K3 looks

able tempo because of the threat against the QR pawn!

solid, but may be too passive (see game 5). I have a fantastic score with this

opening. What should Black play? Don't ask me

I

-

play it with

White only!

8 PXP

NXP

Because 8

PXP 9 Q-N3 P-

N3 10 N-K5 looked unattractive.

N-N3 B-K3

9 Q-N3 10 R-Ql

In this quiet position I made my longest

White is building a strong center,

calculation

in

the

whole

tournament! Fourteen moves deep,

so Black is wise to exchange this

but not difficult at all. While such

Bishop, which will have no good

calculations

square

connection with a sharp sacrificial

left.

Some

masters

would

it

is

can

be

necessary

unusual

to

look

in

probably have preferred 10 . . . B­

attack,

N5 followed by BXN and P-K3

many moves ahead in connection

so

with a very passive but rather solid

with

position.

Normally I do not advise trap play,

an

innocent

waiting

move.

but I really like the trap I set here.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

B-BS N(1)-Q2 Q-B2 QR-Bl BXB Q-Nl N-B3

Q-B2 P-K4 B-K3 QR-Bl P-QN3 QxB P-QR4

White has more space, but the Black position is not easy to at­ tack. What will probably be Black's next move? KR-Ql. Is there any­ thing wrong with that move? You will see.

18 P-R3!? I was considering the possibility

Falling into it!

17 ... P-QR4 18 P-K5!, for in­ stance

18

... N-Q4?

PXN 20 Q-N5 or 19

P-R4,

with

18

good

19

KR-Qt?

NxN

19 P-RS

N(N3)-Q2

. . . P-K3 If he saw it here, he might have

attacking

chances on the Kingside - and in

tried N-Rl!? 134

ROUND

SEVEN

20

P-K5!

N-Q4

25

RXR

21

NxN

PxN

26

Q-K6ch

K-Rl

22

B-N5!

27

QXN

Q-B2

28

QxP

R-Ql

29

Q-QN5

P-QR3

30

Q-R4!

RXR

Not 30 Q-N4? R-Q4! and the White

plus

pawn

would

not

be

worth very much. 30 31

B-Bl P-Q5

You begin to see it? With the Black Rook on KBl he could just play P-K3. 22 ... RXR does not look too nice, giving up the open file. 23 RXR P-B3 24 PXP PXP 25 B-Q2 is very good for White, but I was planning something sharper: 25 Q­ K7 !?

PXB 26 Q-K6ch K-Rl 27

NxP P-KR3 28 N-B7ch K-R2 29 and what

You see how easy it is to look

can Black do with his two pieces

NxR

QxN 30

QxP,

fourteen moves ahead! In this case,

against the Rook? White picks up a

at least. As an exercise, go back to

pawn on the Queenside and gets an

the diagram after the 17th move

irresistible

and try to "see" the game continu­

passed

pawn,

for

in­

stance 30 ... P-N3 31 P-R6 Q-Kl

ation up to here without use of the

32 Q-N7.

board. During the game, it was Saidy's

P-B3

22

impression that I had given up a

23

PxP

PxP

24

B-B4!

QXB

Forced, for 24

clear

... Q-Rl? 25

RXR QXR 26 R-QBl

Q-Rl

positional

advantage

for

a

rather worthless pawn. But I still 27

have a positional advantage! The extra pawn, per se, is not too im­

Q-K6ch K-Rl 28 R-B7 is a fate

portant,

worse than death.

QP is very strong, and the Black 135

but certainly the

passed

SAN

ANTO NIO

'72

King's position has been weakened.

GAME 51

Also, there is the danger of the White Knight getting to K6 (for

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

instance 31

Black: Henrique Mecking

... Q-B7? 32 Q-Rl). Q-B4

31 32

Sicilian Defense

K-N2

Q-KB4

Notes by Larsen A clever trap: 33 N-Q4? RXP! 34 N-K6ch K-B2 35 NXQ?? RXRch

1

P-K4

P-QB4

36 K-R2 B-Q3. Better is 35 RXR

2

N-KB3

P-Q3 PXP

QXR 36 NxB KxN 37 QxPch

3

P-Q4

K-Nl 38 Q-N6, but it would be

4

NXP

N-KB3

either impossible or very difficult

5

N-QB3

P-QR3

to win this ending.

6

B-K2

P-K3

The

answer

to

32

... B-K2

would also have been Q-K4. 33

Q-K4!

Najdorf's idea (which may have originated

K-Rl

Saidy was now in desperate time QXRP 34 N-Q4 was more than un­

P-KN4

QXRP

Q-K6

Q-B6

with

the

K4, but it is remarkable how many modern

masters

prefer

the

text

move.

pleasant.

35

earlier

... P-QR3 was to play 6 ... P­

pressure. But he saw that 33 ...

34

even

Czech master Opocensky) with 5

7

B-K3

8

P-KN4?!

Not

as

B-K2

aggressive

as

it looks.

Compare with the Keres Variation I expected 35 ... R-Q3 36 Q­

(5 ... P-K3 6 P-KN4!?): Black's

B7 Q-Ql 37 R-Kl R-Q2 38 R-K8

moves P-QR3 and B-K2 are known

RXQ

39

RXQ

K-N2

40

P-Q6

with a winning position.

as

useful

in

that

variation,

but

White does not always play B-K2. So, White is playing this variation

36

K-N2!

R-Q3

"half a tempo" down, and in such

37

Q-B7

Q-Bl

sharp variations this is not unim­

38

R-QBU

Forfeit

portant. Mecking does not play 8 ... P-R3 to hinder P-N5 for if the

Of course, the position is hope­

White

KNP

stays

where

it

is,

less. But he had no time left to

White's move B-K2, protecting it,

realize it!

will be justified. 136

ROUND 8 9 10

P-NS

SEVEN

N-B3

Typical of Black's play in many

N-Q2

variations of the Sicilian, he only castles when he has already built

R-KNl

up Not strictly necessary at the mo­ ment (if Black plays BXP, White has NXP!). And R-KNl followed by Q-Q2 looks a little uneconomi­ cal. Maybe 10 Q-Q2 was better. 10

point in keeping the Queen on Q 1.

that

course, for weaker players it goes the King in the center for so long - but nobody calls the Sicilian an

21

B-Q2

Allowing

N-B4 White's

misplaced

Knight to be exchanged, but ob­ taining new advantages.

P-N4

Q-Q2 0-0-0

position

concentrate on the

against a very practical rule to keep

as on move 8. The White KNP is solidly protected, so Black sees no

11

active

attack against the Black King. Of

A little of the same kind of logic

12

an

easy defense.

Q-B2

. . . .. .

such

White cannot

22

NXN

PxN

23

N-B3

P-BS

24

PXP

It is easy to suggest P Q R3 in­ -

stead,

but

I

believe

that

Black

stands better already. P-NS

12 13

N-R4

R-QNl

14

K-Nl

N-R4

15

P-KB4

B-N2

16

B-Q3

N-BS

17

BXN

QXB

18

Q-Q3

R-QBl

The Black maneuvers are very White's

When you see Black's next move,

NR4 is misplaced, his KP is weak,

simple

and

very

strong.

you ought to wonder why White

he has no attacking chances

did not play 24 QxP. Then you may even find the answer yourself

19

P-N3

Q-B2

(if you are not too ready to believe

20

KR-Kl

0-0

that White didn't think!). The an137

SAN ANTONIO

'72

swer is: 24 QXP Q-R4! 25 Q-K2

40

K-Q4

B-Nl

RXP!

attack. A

41

B-Q2

B-R2ch

neat little point hidden in a game

42

K-Q3

B-B4

that

43

B-Kl

K-K4! K-B4

with "plays

a

winning

itself,"

so

that

both

annotator and reader are tempted

44

B-Q2

to let their brains have a rest.

45

B-Bl

KR-Ql

24 25

Q-N3

QxQBP

26

N-KS

QxQch

Zugzwang!

45 46

B-B7 B-Q2

P-QR4

"Repairing" the White pawns on

47

P-B3

PXP

the Queenside, but Black wins the

48

BxP

KXP

KP

49

BxP

KxP

SO

P-N4

K-K3

and

secures

a

sufficient

ad­

vantage to win.

27

RPXQ

51

P-NS

K-Q3

R-QS

52

K-K2

B-QS

28

B-K3

RXReh

53

K-Q3

B-N8

29

RXR

BXP

54

B-N4ch

K-B2

30

N-B4

B-Q4

55

B-RSch

B-N3

56

B-B3

K-Q3

57

B-N4ch

K-K3

58

B-Q2

P-R4 P-B3

Certainly there were other win­ ning

continuations,

but

Mecking

sees quite correctly that the Bishop

59

B-B4

ending is easy.

60

P-R4

K-B4

61

B-Q2

P-N4

31

N-N6

R-Ql

62

B-Kl

K-NS

32

NXB

RXN

63

B-B3

PXP

33

RXR

PXR

64

BXP

P-R6

34

P-BS

P-N3

65

B-KS

K-B6

35

P-B6

B-Q3

36

P-R3

K-Bl

Resigns Well played by Mecking, but not

Though computer chess is still

too difficult. A typical Black win

on a very low level, I suppose that

against inexact White play in the

several computers could win this.

Sicilian.

K-Kl

37

K-Bl

38

K-Q2

K-Q2

39

K-Q3

K-K3 138

ROUND

SEVEN

31 32 33 34 35 36 37

GAME 52

White: Duncan Suttles Black: Paul Keres

Reti Opening (by transposition)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

P-QB4 P-KN3 B-N2 N-KB3 Q-R4ch 0-0

N-B3 N-K5 NxN QXBP Q-B4 Q-N5 P-Q3 BXB Q-R4 P-R4 PxP Q-R3 Q-N2 N-K4 PXP R-R8ch RXRch NxNch P-N3 Q-B3 Q-K4 Q-B2 R-Ql R-Q3

P-K3 P-Q4 N-KB3 PXP QN-Q2 P-QR3 P-B4 R-QNl QxN P-QN4 B-Q3

P-K4 RXR B-K3 K-N2 Q-Ql Q-Q6 K-B3

Q-QN4 QXR Q-N4 P-N3 P-R4 Q-N2 Draw

GAME 53

White: Donald Byrne Black: Julio Kaplan English Opening

0-0

B-N2 RXB R-Bl B-K2 PXP P-R3 P-N5 P-B5 RXP R-Bl QxR BxN R-Q2 B-B6 Q-R3 Q-N4 Q-KB4 K-R2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

P-KN3 B-N2 P-QB4 N-QB3 P-K4 KN-K2 P-Q3

8

0-0

P-KN3 B-N2 N-KB3 0-0

P-B4 N-B3 P-Q3 R-Nl P-QR3 N-Kl N-B2 PXP NxN N-K3 KXB P-QR4 N-B4 B-Q2 B-B3 K-Nl

P-KR3 P-QR4 B-K3 P-Q4 NXP BXN BxB N-Q5 P-B4 18 K-R2 19 P-N3 20 R-QNl

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Draw 139

SAN

ANTONIO

'7

2

GAME 54

GAME 55 White: Svetozar Gligoric

White: Tigran Petrosian

Black: Larry Evans

Black: Anatoly Karpov King's Indian Defense Queen's Indian Defense

1

P-Q4

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

3

N-QB3

B-N2

N-KB3

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

4

P-K4

P-Q3

2

P-QB4

P-K3

5

B-K2

0-0

3

N-KB3

P-QN3

6

B-N5

P-KR3

4

P-K3

B-N2

7

B-K3

P-K4

5

N-B3

P-Q4

8

P-Q5

P-QR4

6

B-Q3

B-K2

9

P-KR3

N-R3

7

0-0

0-0

10

N-B3

N-B4

8

P-QN3

P-B4

11

N-Q2

B-Q2

9

B-N2

PXQP

12

0-0

N-R2

10

KNXP

PxP

13

N-N3

P-N3

11

BXP

P-QR3

14

Q-Q2

P-R4

12

B-K2

P-QN4

15

B-Ql

K-Rl

13

B-B3

R-R2

16

B-B2

P-B4

14

BXB

RXB

17

PXP

PXP

15

Q-B3

R-Q2

18

P-B4

NxN

16

P-QR4

PxP

19

PxN

P-K5

17

NxRP

Q-B2

20

B-Q4

R-KNl

18

KR-Bl

Q-N2

21

N-K2

BXB

19

N-QB5

QxQ

22

QxBch

R-N2

20

PXQ

BXN

23

P-QN4

PXP

21

RXB

P-R3

24

RXR

QxR

22

K-N2

R-N2

25

N-N3

Q-Kl

23

P-B4

K-R2

26

R-B2

P-R5

24

QR-QBl

R-Ql

27

N-Bl

Q-Rl

25

R(l)-B2

N-K5

28

N-K3

Q-R4

26

R-B7

R-Q2

29

R-Bl

K-Nl

27

RXR(N7)

RXR

30

K-B2

K-B2

28

B-R3

P-N4

31

B-Ql

N-B3

29

K-B3

N-KB3

32

B-K2

R-Nl

33

R-KNl

Q-B4

Draw 140

ROUND

SEVEN

34

QXQ

QPxQ

11

Q-Kl

P-R3

35

R-QRl

K-K2

12

P-K4

B-R2

36

R-R7

K-Q3

13

Q-K2

KN-Q2

37

B-Ql

N-Kl

14

N(5)-B3

B-B3

38

R-R8

N-B3

15

P-K5

B-K2

39

R-R7

N-Kl

40

R-R8

K-K2

41

B-K2

Draw

Polugaevsky

has

won

similar

positions with White several times, slowly building up an attack on the

Black sealed

41

.

.

N-B3 but

.

Kingside.

agreed to a draw without resump­ tion of play.

GAME

16

N-Q4

N-R3

17

P-KB4

N-N5

18

QR-Bl

56 18 N(2)-B3 looks more natural, 18 ... P-QB4! 19 N-QN5 P-B5.

White: Lajos Portisch

but Black has the strong reply

Black: Kenneth Smith

18

Reti Opening

19

B-QB4!? K-Rl

P-QN4

Notes by Larsen Black has to get some play on

1

N-KB3

P-Q4

the Queenside

2

P-KN3

P-QB3

tions such as: do not give up the

3

B-N2

B-B4

Bishop

4

0-0

N-B3

center pawns for flank pawns, are quite secondary.

5

P-Q3

P-K3

6

QN-Q2

B-K2

7

P-N3

P-QR4

8

P-QR4

It is still not clear if

quickly. Considera­

pair or

do

not

exchange

20

PXP

BXN

21

BXB

PXP

22

P-N4?

8 P- Q R 3 is

better. After the text move Black

Much too optimistic. White un­

can always get some counterplay

derestimates Black's threats. Much

on the Queenside.

better was 22 N-B3, for instance 22 . . . R-Bl (threatening RXP!) 23 Q-Q2 Q-B2 24 B-N2.

8

0-0

9

B-N2

N-R3

10

N-K5

N-B4

22

141

.....

.

R-Bl!

SAN

ANTONIO

Better than 22 ... Q-B2 23 P­

With good winning chances!

B5! We notice again the neat trick

26

23 N-B3? RXP! So White has to

27

make a very passive move: 23

Q-Ql

24

N-B3!?

Portisch,

' 72

Q-B2

NxB NXN

Q-N3

28

P-B3

R-B2

29

KR-Kl

Nowadays everybody can make

not satisfied with his

score, plays sharply for a win. 24 B-N2(!) would probably have led to

mysterious Rook moves a la Nimzo­ vich. White simply wants to prevent Black's P-B3.

a draw by repetition: 24 ... N-R7

29

25 R-Rl N-N5 26 R-Bl.

30

P-R4

31

N-B2

31

P-B5

K-Rl N-Nl

N-B3

is

unclear,

White prefers to wait. 31

24

P-R5?

. . . . . .

After

24

.. . N-R7 the Hun­

garian grandmaster intended an Ex­ change sacrifice, probably 25 Q-Q2. Not the most correct sacrifice in the world, but what can you do when you want to play for a win? Good enough for a draw seems 24 ... N-R7 25 R-Rl QxBP 26 QXQ RXQ 27 N-Kl R-Q7 28 B-K3 R­ N7 29 B-Q4. 25

Q-Q2

26

P-N4

N-QB3

142

N-B3

32

P-Q4

33

RXB

KR-Bl

34

R-N2

N-K2

BXN

35

R-K3

R-Bl

36

P-R5

P-B4

37

PXPe.p.

RXKBP

38

Q-Kl

R-B3

39

R(2)-K2

N-Nl

40

P-N5?!

RXKBP

41

RXP

so

ROUND 41

..... .

SEVEN 49

RXR??

50

R-K6 R-B5!

This loses, while 41 ... R-R5ch! offered good chances, e.g. 42 QXR RXR or 42 K-Nl RXRP. 42

RXR

43

PXP!

Easier than 50 RXP, as White gets his King into play.

Q-Ql

50

Very simple, for if 43 ... NXP? 44 R-K8ch or 43 ... PXP 44 Q­ K5ch.

44

QxQ

RxQch

45

K-Nl

N-B3

K-B2

P-R7

52

R-R5

RXP

53

RxRP

R-Q6

54

R-N2

The classical rule: Rook behind

Q-R5ch

43

P-R6

51

the passed pawn.

54 45 ... RXRP 46 PxPch KXP 47 R-N6 is not better for Black. 46

R-N6

47

BXN

RXB

48

PXPch

KxP

49

RXP

N-K5

RXP

55

P-N5

56

K-K3

R-KR5

There went Black's last hope: 56 P-N6?? R-R7ch.

RXP

56

R-Rl

49 K-B2 was also an easy win,

57

P-N6

for instance 49 ... R-K2 50 RXP

58

P-N7

R-QNl

R-R2 51 RXP P-R6 52 R-N5ch

59

K-Q4

K-B2

and 53 R-Nl.

60

KXP

Resigns

Standings After Seven Rounds 6

Karpov, Keres

5

Gligoric

41h

Larsen, Mecking, Petrosian

4

Hort, Portisch, Suttles

31h

D. Byrne

2

Browne, Evans, Kaplan, Saidy

11h

Campos

1h

Smith 143

S AN

ANTONIO

'72

ROUND EIGHT Wednesday, November 29th White

Black

57 Hort (4) 58 Evans (2) 59 Karpov (6) 60 Kaplan (2) 61 Keres (6) 62 Mecking

(4Y2)

63 Saidy (2) 64 Browne (2)

Opening

Smith

Old Indian Defense

Portisch

Sicilian Defense

(Y2) (4) Gligoric (5) Petrosian (4Y2) D. Byrne (31/2) Suttles (4) Campos (1V2) Larsen (4Y2)

Moves

1-0

1-0

37 41 52 23 33

1/2-l/2

21

Benoni Defense

0-1

Caro-Kann Defense

1-0

53 43

Ruy Lopez Sicilian Defense Gruenfeld Defense Pirc Defense

GAME 57 White: Vlastimil Hort Black: Kenneth Smith Old Indian Defense t

Result

Y2-V2 1-0

Y2-V2

t6

QR-Qt

t7

P-R3

P-KN3

t8

K-R2

B-N2 N-R4

B-Bt

t9

B-B2

20

B-B3

N-B3

2t

R-Q2

B-Bt

22

R(2)-K2

Q-Q2

23

B-N2

N-R4

P-B3

24

N-B3

Q-B2

P-K4

25

P-QN4

PxP

P-QB4

N-KB3

2

N-QB3

3

P-K4

4

N-B3

P-Q3

26

PXP

N-Q2

5

P-Q4

QN-Q2

27

N-QR4

P-QB4 PxP

6

P-KN3

B-K2

28

N-B3

7

B-N2

0-0

29

N-Q5

Q-R4

8

0-0

R-Kt

30

Q-Nt

P-N6

9

P-KR3

Q-B2

3t

QxP

N-B4

B-K3

B-Bt

32

Q-Nt

Q-R5

10 11

R-Kt

PxP

33

P-KN4

NXBP

12

NxP

N-B4

34

NxN

QxP

13

Q-B2

P-QR4

35

R-B2

Q-R5

t4

P-B4

B-K3

36

R-R2

Q-B3

t5

P-N3

QR-Qt

37

B-R4

Resigns

144

ROUND GAME 58

EIGHT den paths for quite some time.

White: Larry Evans

6

B-NS

Black: Lajos Portisch

7

P-B4

B-K2

8

Q-B3

Q-B2

9

0-0-0

QN-Q2

Sicilian Defense

10

P-K3

B-Q3

Notes by Larsen 10 P-KN4 is still the main con­ Among the games I was asked

tinuation, but the text has been used

to annotate, this one puzzled me

in several spectacular

most. I don't understand it! With

year. One possible continuation is

Black, without any difficulty, Por­

10 . .. P-N4 11 KR-Kl B-N2 12

tisch gets a clear positional advan­

N-Q5!? PxN 13 N-B5, with which

games

this

White

White won brilliantly in Enevold­

could have played better somewhere

sen-Hamann, Danish Championship

tage. OK,

that

happens;

between move 12 and move 18, but

1972. But a month earlier, in the

I am not terribly interested, since

Yugoslav Championship, Ljubojevic

I do not play this variation with

played 12 ... NXN 13 PXN BXB,

White and I have not played it with

and though 14 RxPch!? led to vic­

Black for many years. But what

tory for Velimirovic, Yugoslavia's

happens

wildest attacking player, later anal­

afterwards?

not do very much; but

doesn't

Evans

does

ysis indicates that Black can at least

Portisch tries

accomplish

anything.

hold the position. It was remarkable

White makes a draw without doing

that, in the 15th match game in

anything. The difficult problem for

Reykjavik, Fisher was ready to go

the annotator is to find out what

into this with Black, but Spassky

Black

played 12 Q-N3!?

missed. I

have

not

really

found it, but I have promised to

We may never know what Evans

annotate this game, so here goes ...

was planning, for Portisch avoids these variations.

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

10

3

P-Q4

PXP

11

B-R4

4

NXP

N-KB3

12

PxP

5

N-QB3

P-QR3

P-R3 P-KN4!?

The sharpest continuation is 12 The

Najdorf

Variation

again.

P-K5. It is remarkable that Evans

After this move it would not be

does not choose it, for he was on

surprising if the game follows trod-

the Black side of this against West-

145

SAN ANTO NIO

'72

erinen in the Olympiad 1970 and annotated the game in Chess Life & Review, pointing out many promis­ ing possibilities for White.

N-K4 N(3)-N5

12 13 Q-K2 Some

years

ago

this

variation

had a bad reputation for Black, but it gradually improved.I do not like Evans's next move; I would prefer 14

P-KR3,

lured

to

away

have

from

23 R-R3 24 P-R5

that Knight

the

important

K-Nl R-R3

square. As mentioned, this annotator un­

14 15 16 17 18 19

N-B3(?) PxN B-N3 P-B4 BXBP K-Nl

derstands very little of this game,

NxN PxP N-K4 PXP B-Q2

but feels a strong desire to suggest some improvements on Black's play. Well, here is one: 24 ... B-KN4!?

25 B-K2 26 P-R3 27 R(3)-Q3

0-0-0

Black stands better! The White

B-KN4 R-Bl R-B3(?)

passed pawn on the KR file is not If I understand just a little, this

worth very much and the Black center pawns may become strong.

idea is the main reason that Por­ tisch

20 Q-B2 21 P-KR4 22 BXN

does

not

get

any

winning

chances. So, another suggestion: 27

QR-Bl B-QB3 PXB

. . R(3)-Rl. .

28 29 30 31

(See diagram next column.) Black has a clear superiority in

Q-N2 R-N3 R-N8 Q-Nlch!

B-R3 R-B5 K-R2

the center and on the dark squares pieces

I like that; it softens the Black

seem limited to defending the KP.

King's position, activating the White

in

general.

White's

minor

The Knight really does nothing else

minor pieces a little, especially the

for the rest of the game.

Bishop. 146

ROUND 31 32

B-Q3

EIGHT

P-N3

In my personal opm1on, it is a

R-RS

pity that Gligoric plays this pas­

33

RXR

QxR

sive defense in almost all his games

34

Q-B2

R-BS

against 1 P-K4. His play against 1

35

Q-N3

Q-QN1

P-Q4 is much more interesting, and with the King's Indian he has won

Finally,

the White Knight pro­

many nice attacks.

duced a threat: N-K2. 6

R-Kl

36

R-Nl

B-QN2

7

B-N3

P-Q3

37

K-R2

R-B3

8

P-B3

0-0

38

Q-R4

Q-KRl

9

P-KR3

N-Nl

39

R-N8!?

QxR

40

QxR

Q-N2

For quite some years, the Yugo­

41

QxQ

Draw

slav grandmaster's favorite line has

P-QN4

been Smyslov's P-R3. But after the The game was adjourned, so both players had time to find out that

match in Reykjavik,

about which

he wrote a bestseller, Gligoric has

neither had any winning chances.

used several of the openings played

If the game had continued, perhaps

there, and here he follows Spassky

that

Knight would have gone to

war, for instance 41 ...

BXQ 42

in choosing the Breyer line. We do not get to see for how many moves he was ready to follow the 13th

N-Ql.

game

Fischer-Spassky,

as Karpov

deviates with his next move.

GAME 59

10

White: Anatoly Karpov Black: Svetozar Gligoric

P-Q3!?

White plays P-Q4 later, so why not at once? One answer could be that he wants to give his KP solid

Ruy Lopez

protection first.

Another,

that he

wants to get out of the most-anal­ Notes by Larsen

yzed continuations.

1

P-K4

P-K4

10

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

11

QN-Q2

B-N2

3

B-NS

P-QR3

12

N-Bl

N-B4

4

B-R4

N-B3

5

0-0

B-K2

QN-Q2

This Knight has to retreat later,

147

SAN ANTONIO '72 but as it drives the White Bishop

White is building up his position

to a more passive position, this is

very quietly maybe it need not be

not a simple case of a lost tempo.

fatal to lose this tempo - but with it, Black plans to lose much more

13 14 15 16

B-B2 N-N3 P-N4 P-Q4

R-Kl B-KBl N(4)-Q2 P-R3

time! In connection with R-Bl, the log­ ical continuation was 19

... PXP

followed by P-B4. It seems to me - and remember, I am not an ex­

In this variation,

which I never

pert on the Closed Ruy - that this

play, who am I to critize Gligoric's

would have given him an absolutely

moves? Even so, I must say that

satisfactory

this move would not even be my

that resulting from 19 ... PXP 20

game. Positions

like

second choice in this position. I

PXP P-B4 21

would prefer either 16

P-Q5 are very difficult to assess;

... P-N3

NPXP!? PXP 22

or the sharper 16 ... P-QR4!? I

the fight between a strong flank

do not see the need for P-R3

majority and a pawn majority in

as

long as White has not played B­

the center. In this case, the Black

QN3.

pieces seem quite well placed. Maybe Karpov's last move, pro­

17 B-Q2 18 B-Q3 19 Q-B2

tecting the KP once more, indicates

N-N3 R-Bl

that after 19 ... PXP he intended to play 20

NxP!?,

but also then

20 . . P-B4 looks good for Black. .

So does 20

PXP P-B4 21

P-Q5

N-B5. I am not too sure that Karpov's last three moves were the best. So, even if I think that 19 would have given

... PXP

Black an even

game, I am stubborn

enough to

maintain my criticism on Black's 16th.

19 ..... .

20 QR-Ql 21 B-K3

Q-Q2??

Q-B3? N-RS

This is the move Gligoric called

21 ... N-B5 22 BXN QXB? 23

the reason for his defeat.The move

P-Q5 leads to disaster for the ad­

itself is just a loss of time, and as

venturous

148

Black

Queen. But

the

ROUND

EIGHT

text move does not lead to any­

36

P-NS

PXP

thing; Black is in a blind alley.

37

PXP

N-Q2

38

B-N4

R-KNl

22

R-QBl

N-N3

39

K-B2

R-KRl

23

Q-Nl

Q-Q2

40

R-KRl

QR-KNl

24

N-Q2

P-B4

Poor Black cannot do a thing. If Leads to an almost hopeless posi­ tion,

but probably 24

he moves a pawn on the Kingside

. .. P-N3

he just helps White. And on the

was no better as White was ready

Queenside, it is White who decides

for 25 P-QB4.

when to start hostilities.A try would be to get the QRP to the 6th, but

25

NPxP

QPXP

it is not possible.

26

P-QS

N-RS

27

P-QB4

P-N5

41

Q-Ql

K-Ql

28

R-Bl

Q-B2

42

Q-Nl

N-N3

28 ... B-Q3 29 N-B5 B-B2 30

42 ... P-R4!? 43 P-R3?! RXR

N-QN3 is also very unpleasant for

44 QXR P-R5 is not too clear (45

Black.

PxP

PXP

46

P-B5

NXP),

but

White can simply play 43 B-Ql, 29

N-Q2

P-B4

and if 43 ... N-N3, then 44 P-R3.

The fact that the Black position

43

R-R2

lead

44

N-N3

K-B2

you to believe that it is a real fight.

45

K-B3

N-Q2

collapses

slowly

should

not

Q-K2

Black has very little space and even less counterplay. After, for instance, 29 ... PXP 30 BXKBP B-Q3 31 BXB QXB 32 N-B5 Q-Ql 33 N­ B3,

the

probably

decline have

fall

would

happened

and

more

quickly. 30

Q-B2

N-B6

31

P-BS

N-B3

32

N-K2

NxNch

33

BXN

B-Q3

34

P-N4

K-Bl

Black has obtained about as good

35

P-KR4

K-K2

a defensive position as possible-

149

SAN

ANTONIO

now look how quickly it collapses!

'72

5

N-QB3

6

B-KN5

P-K3 P-KR3

P-Q3

46

P-R3!

PXP

7

Q-Q2

47

R-R2

R-R5

8

BXN

PXB

9

0-0-0

P-R3

10

P-B4

B-Q2

R-Rl 48 RXP

11

K-Nl

B-K2

KR-QBl the Black position would

12

P-B5

NxN

not last long.

13

QxN

Q-R4

14

B-K2

P-R4

Nothing but a demonstration, but even after 47

.

.

.

48

RXP

R(l)-KRl

15

KR-Kl

Q-B4

49

R-Nl

R-QNl

16

PxP

PxP

50

Q-Kl

RXB

17

QxQ

PXQ

18

B-B3

0-0-0

19

N-K2

B-Kl

Desperation.

20

RXRch

BXR

51

KXR

B-Bl

21

P-K5

P-B4

52

Q-R5ch

Resigns

22

N-B4

B-KB2

23

P-B3

Draw

For instance, 52 NXP

BXN

54

R-N3 53

RXR

BXR

55

BXBch NxB 56 P-B5. This must have been a very de­

GAME 61

pressing game for Gligoric, but it did

not

make

him

give

up

the

Closed Ruy; he played it again two

White: Paul Keres Black: Donald Byrne

rounds later. Gruenfeld Defense Notes by Keres

GAME 60 White: Julio Kaplan

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

Black: Tigran Petrosian

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

3

N-QB3

P-Q4

4

N-B3

Sicilian Defense 1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

5

3

P-Q4

PXP

played too much in recent months

4

NXP

N-B3

to be successful.

The modern line 4 B-N5 N-K5

150

B-R4

has

been

analyzed

and

ROUND B-N2

4 5

EIGHT A good way of protecting the

P-K3

pawn on Q5. Now, after 12

...

NXB 13 QxN BXN 14 PXB the A modest continuation, leading

capture 14 ... NXP? loses a piece

to a quieter game than 5 B-B4 but

to 15 QR-Ql and 14 ... QxP 15

one which is not without problems

BXP

for both sides.

favorable game.

0-0

5 6

PXP

NxP

7

B-B4

N-N3

13

... NxB 15 QXN BXN 16 PXB

... Q-B2. In

preferable to the text since Black would then be unable to gain a

able game.

8

B-N3

0-0

P-KR3 B-K3

QxP. But 13 B-KB4 was probably

both cases Black will get a reason­

9

a

After 13 B-KR4 P-N4 14 B-N3,

ation or plays 7 ... NxN 8 PXN by

with

Black could take the pawn with 14

Black prefers here the text continu­ followed

leave White

12

It is a matter of taste whether

P-B4

would

tempo with ... N(3)-B5 as he does later in the game.

P-B4

13

. . . . . .

B-NS

It is not in character with White's opening strategy to capture on QB5. Moreover, after 9 PXP, Black soon regains the pawn with a good posi­ tion.

9 10

Now the attempt to win the QP would fail because of Black's weak pawn at KR3.

PxP PxP

N-B3

Black cannot preven t the pawn

14

P-KR3

BXN

15

QxB

N(3)-B5!

16

B-Bl

NxB

push P-Q5 and White is not in a

16 ... Q-N3 would not do be­

position to delay the thrust, as 11

cause of 17 B-B2! when Black can­

B-K3

not make the capture 17 ... NXP

B-N5

would

increase

the

pressure against White's Q4 square

in

in a most uncomfortable way.

piece. But 16 ... R-Bl could have

view

of

18

R-Nl

winning a

been played first. 11

P-QS

12

B-NS!

N-R4 17

151

PxN

N-Q3

SA N

A NTO NIO

' 72

Also worthy of consideration was 22 B-K5 P-QR4 23 P-R4 so as to operate with the Rook along the fourth rank. But White does not want to free the KB5 square for Black's pieces.

22

P-QR4

23

B-KS

R-B4

24

R-KB4

BXB

The position has now taken on

White

dominates

the

Kingside

the character of a Tarrasch Defense

and

with

must seek some counterplay on the

colors reversed,

with

White

the

center,

therefore

Black

having the somewhat better pros­

Queenside. But

pects. The pawn at Q5 keeps Black's

K4

position, especially the KP, under

Better seems to be 24 .. . P-QN4

severe pressure.

at once,

makes

BXB

the

for the

KXB

exchange

White's

26

task

on

easier.

continuation 25 N-K4

NXN

27

18

R-Kl

R-Kl

RxPch K-Nl 28 RxN QxP is not

19

B-K3

P-N3

immediately decisive.

This is not the best way to pro­ tect the QRP. Firstly, it will remain attacked by White's Rook, and sec­ ondly, the QB3 square is weakened.

25

RXB

P-QN4

26

Q-K3

Q-B2

27

R-B3!

A better move was 19 ... P-QR4. Black now has no comfortable 20

B-B4

21

R-R4

Q-Q2

way to protect his KRP. On either 27

. .. K-N2

White The Rook is not very effectively

can

or

27 .. . K-R2

increase

his

pressure

with 28 P-R4 or 28 Q-B4. At the

placed here. Better therefore was

same time Black has no effective

21

counterplay on the Queenside.

P-KN4 at once, and also the

Black therefore decides to make

positional plan 21 B-K5 was to be

use

considered.

of

the

positions

of

White's

Queen on K3 and his Rook on K5 21 22

QR-Bl P-KN4

to launch a desperate counterattack, which is nicely refuted. 152

ROUND

EIGHT

P-NS

27 28

P-RS

N-K2

The idea of this counterattack is that White cannot capture 29 PXP because of 29 ... N-B5 and thus Black obtains

a

dangerous passed

pawn on the QR-file. But all this happens at the expense of Black's King position, against which White now launches a decisive attack. 29

QXP

P-R6

32

30

PXP

PXP

33

31

R-NS!

P-R8=Qch K-N2

Resigns

In spite of his two Queens Black On 31 N-B4 P-R7 32 NxP Black

has no adequate defense against the

has the defense 32 ... P-RS=Qch

mating threat on KR7 since captur­

33 K-N2 QXR!, and 31 R-K6 P­

ing the Rook would lead to mate

R7 32 RXBP P-RS=Qch 33 K-N2

in two.

(Keres

KXR! leads to nothing.

was

awarded

Turover Brilliancy 31

. . . . . .

the

Prize for

game. -Ed.)

P-R7

GAME 62

Black chooses the worst variation but there was already no adequate defense against the threat of 32

White: Henrique Mecking

RXP!

Black: Duncan Suttles

For

instance,

if

31

...

P-K3 then 32 R-B6 will decide (32 Pirc Defense

... R-K2 33 R(5)XPch!), and on 31 ... R-BSch the continuation 32 K-N2! Q-B7 33 NXR is decisive.

(See diagram next column.)

32

RXP!

The decisive blow which leads to immediate mate. 153

1

P-K4

P-KN3

2

P-Q4

P-Q3

3

N-QB3

B-N2

4

N-B3

N-KB3

0-0

5

B-K2

6

0-0

B-NS

7

B-K3

N-B3

8

Q-Q2

N-Q2

9

QR-Ql

P-K4

$150 this

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

10

PXP

PXP

11

N-Q5

8XN

Kingside, while the text move pre-

12

8X8

N-Q5

pares to mobilize the Queenside as

13

P-83

Nx8ch

soon as possible.

14

PxN

R-81

15

KR-Kl

K-Rl

16

N-K7

QxN

14 . . .

15

P-R3 would weaken the

Q-Q2

17

QXN

Q-83

18

K-N2

P-KR4

19

R-Q5

P-N3

15

20

R-Ql

K-R2

16

8X8

21

P-N4

8-R3

17

8-K2

Better was 15 K-Rl immediately. 8XN P-QR3

Draw Had White played 15 K-Rl he could now have tried 17 Q-K2. 17

GAME 63

P-N4

18

PXP

PxP

19

K-Rl

P-N5

White: Anthony Saidy Black: Mario Campos-Lopez

Ceding White's QB4 but forcing his Knight to a less effective square.

8enoni Defense 20

N-Ql

Q-K2

Notes by Campos Threatening P-Q4

N-KB3

2

P-QB4

P-84

21

8-Q84

3

P-Q5

P-Q3

22

N-82

P-KN3

1

4

N-QB3

5

P-K4

B-N2

6

B-K2

0-0

7

N-83

P-K3

8

0-0

PXP

BPXP

R-Kl

N-Q2

N-R3

9 10

N(2)XP. R-Rl

If 22 N-K3 NxKP. 22

.

.

.

.

.

.

Q-81

Intending N-Q2-N3 or K4.

11

P-83

N-82

23

8-84

N-Q2

12

P-QR4

P-N3

24

N-N4

N-N3

13

N-84

B-QR3

25

8-K2

P-R4

14

8-N5

R-Nl

26

N-82

Q-K2

154

ROUND

EIGHT

Again threatening NXP or Q-B3.

With the fall of the central pawn White's position crumbles.

27

B-KN5

28

P-N4

Q-Q2

A double-edged move, threaten­ ing a strong attack on the KN file. 28

. . . . . .

P-R5

file closed. BXP

N-N4

30

BXN

QXB

Now

Black's

counterplay

R-Bl

Q-K3

44

P-N5

K-N2

45

B-B2

N-Q6

46

BXBch

RXB

47

P-R3

R-B5

48

Q-N2

RXReh

Faster was 48 ... N-K8.

Because of the mentioned threat, this is necessary to keep the KN

29

43

49

QxR

50

K-R2

QxP

51

P-N3

Q-K4ch

Q-Q4ch

52

K-N2

Q-K5ch

53

Q-B3

N-K8ch

Resigns

is

strong enough to compensate for the pawn. The threat is ... N-B5

GAME 64

or to mobilize the pawn majority by

... P-B5-B6.

White: Walter Browne

31

Q-Q3

P-B5

32

Q-K2

Q-B4

Black: Bent Larsen Caro-Kann Defense

Now ... RXR followed by

Notes by Browne

NxP is a possibility. 1

P-K4

P-QB3

33

KR-Ql

RXR

2

P-Q4

P-Q4

34

RXR

NXP

3

PXP

PXP

35

B-N3

N-N3

4

B-Q3

N-QB3

36

N-Ql

P-Q4

s

P-QB3

N-B3

37

R-Bl

PxP

6

B-KB4

B-NS

38

PXP

Q-B3

7

Q-N3

Q-Bl

39

N-B2

B-Q5

40

R-Kl

N-R5

The usual move. Fischer-Petro­

41

N-Ql

N-B4

sian, Belgrade 1970, went instead

42

Q-B3

RxP

7 ... N-QR4?! 8 Q-R4ch B-Q2 9 155

SAN

ANTO NIO

'7 2

Q-B2 P-K3 10 N-B3 Q-N3 11 P­

while

QR4!

(iii) 12 ... N-Q2 13 Q-B2 P-KN3

with

the

better

game

for

White.

8

N-Q2

9

KN-B3

P-K3

are

smothered;

or

(after 13

... P-KR3 14 P-KR3

B-R4

P-KN4

15

B-N3 16

BXB

PXB 17 BXP NxP 18 QR-Kl N­ B2

If 9 P-KR3, Black can retreat either to KB4 or KR4 and then KN3.

19

B-K3

P-KN4

20

P-KB4

White's position is clearly better) 14 P-KR3 B-KB4 15 BXB NPXB 16

B-R6

R-Ql

17

N-B3,

and

White's game is again superior. The

9

idea is that if Black plays ... K-Rl

B-K2

I have the option of N-N5 or B-N5 and

If 9 ... N-KR4 10 B-K3 B-Q3 11

Black's

N-K5!

and

now:

(i)

11

...

NxN 12 PXN BXP 13 Q-R4ch

in the meantime I have the

threat of QR-Kl, R-K3, N-N5 and R-N3 with a crushing attack.

winning the Bishop; or (ii) 11 ...

12

BXN 12 PXB (threatening 13 P­ KR3

B-B4

14

BXB

PXB

Q-B2!

15

QxQP), when 12 ... NXP allows

A critical move. If 12 QR-Kl

13 B-N5ch K-Bl 14 P-KR3 B-B4

NXN 13 BXN B-N3 and White is

15 P-N4 forking two pieces, and

only slightly better because Black

12 . . .

gets to trade things off. With my

0-0 is also unsatisfactory

because

of

13

P-KR3

NxP

move I force ... B-N3 so that I can

14

trade my Knight for Black's Bishop.

BXPch KXB 15 PXB winning.

10

0-0

12

Less incisive is 10 N-K5 NxN 11 BXN 0-0 12 Q-B2 B-KB4 13 BXB PXB 14 0-0 P-KN3 with an

even

game. Matulovic-Vukic,

Yugoslavia 1971.

10 11

0-0 N-KS

B-R4

Or 11 ... NXN 12 PXN and now:

(i) 12

. .. N-R4 13 B-K3

is similar to the game; (ii) 12 ... N-Kl is a joke - 13 P-B4 leaves all White's pieces on good points

156

B-N3

13

NXB

14

N-B3

N-KR4

15

B-K3

Q-B2

RPXN

ROUND 16

EIGHT

P-KN3!

After

20

16 QR-Kl? N-B5 Black

N-NS

Even stronger than 20 N-K5.

has equalized. Now Larsen started 20

to make some strange moves. 16

..... .

QR-Bl?

P-KB4

22

N-B3

N-Q2?!

... QR-Nl,

Even stronger was 22 P-KR4!,

... P-QN4 although

e.g. 22 ... N-Bl 23 P-R5 PXP

Preferable

is

playing for

B-Q3

21

16

... P-N5 might need to be pre­

(or 23 ... P-B3 24 PXP PXN 25

pared

text

Q-R5 P-N5 26 K-N2 followed by

threatens 17 ... N-N5 so it forces

R-Rl, etc.) 24 QXRP P-KN3 (or

me to move my Queen to the King­

24 ... P-B4? 25 BXBP winning)

by

.. .

P-R4. The

side which is what I wanted to do

25

in any case.

R-Rl with advantage; or 22 ...

Q-R6

threatening

K-N2

and

N-B3! 23 K-N2 N-K2 24 P-KN4 17

(after

Q-K2

24

R-Rl

N-R4!

White's

position is clearly superior, but 24 Now I got another shock when I

P-KN4

is conclusive)

and

Black

has no defense to the threat of Q­

came back to the board.

B3, R-Rl and P-R5. 17

.. . . . .

P-R3 22 23

Too slow. Black should be pre­

N-Bl N-KS

N-K2

paring for White's onslaught on the Kingside. But probably there is no

After 23 ... NXN (or BXN) 24

way. Maybe White already has a

BPXN, every one of White's pieces

strategically won position.

is bearing down on the Kingside and Black's Queenside play is too

18

QR-Kl

19

B-Bl!

slow. He's really sweating!

KR-Kl

Threatening 20 N-K5 NXN 21

24

K-N2

25

N-B3

P-B3

PXN when the Black Knight on Not 25 P-KR4 PXN 26 BPXP

KR4 is in very dire straits. Black, realizing

this

danger

to

his

life,

B-R6! 27 PXB QXBP, when Black has been given some unnecessary

plays

counterplay. When the enemy is in 19

N-B3

retreat do not give him any chance. 157

SAN

25

A NTONIO

through. The immediate threat is

R-Nl

26

'7 2

P-KR4

34 B-N5 winning the Exchange.

33

QxP

34

N-R4!

PXP

If 34 ... P-N4?! then 35 PXP N-B4 36 NXN PXN 37 Q-B3 wins; if 34 ... N-B4 then 35 PXP wins; or 34 ... P-K4?! 35 BPXP PXKP 36 PXKP N-B3 37 PXP RXP 38 Q-B3 with the deadly double threat of 39 Q-B7ch and 39 RXR and 40 QXPch.

P-QN4

26 27

P-R3!

N-B3

28

Q-QB2

N-K2

29

Q-K2

35

QXP

Intending

KR-Bl Q-Kl or ... R-

B7ch. After 29

R-Rl

P-R4 30 P-R5

P-N4!? 31 PXP BXNP 32 R(K)­ N1 !

White

is

clearly

better

36

P-B5!

but

Black has some swindling chances.

Q-B3?!

29 29

... N-B3 is an alternative

even though White is winning after 30 R-Rl P-K4 31 BPXP PXP 32 PXP NXP 33 NXN RXN 34 Q-B3 Q-N2 35 RXR BXR 36 P-R5.

30

R-Rl

P-R4

31

P-R5

P-N5!

32

BPXP

PXNP

33

P-R4!!

Sharp, to the point, and the best move.

36 The

momentarily halted so that White can

..... .

Q-N6?!

Black Queenside attack is

achieve

a

Kingside

break-

This

loses

quickly. Other

tries

are: (i) 36 ... P-K4 37 PXP BXP

158

ROUND

EIGHT

38 N-N6 (threat 39 NXN(7)ch) 38

by 38 Q-B7ch or 38 Q-R8ch KxQ

... N(2)XN 39 PXN R-B7ch 40

39 N-N6ch, etc .

K-Bl winning (and not 40 BXR? QXBch and 41 ... QXKNP); (ii)

38

36

Q-R7ch

K-B2

39

Q-R5ch

K-Bl

... PXP 37 RXN BXR 38

NxP R-Kl 39 N-R6ch PXN 40 QxPch K-Rl

41 Q-B7 winning;

(iii) 36 ... Q-Kl 37 N-N6 PXP 38 BXP N(l)XN 39 RXN winning;

39 ... K-Nl loses to 40 RXN QXB 41 RXB R-B7ch 42 K-R3.

or (iv) 36 ... R-B7ch 37 BXR (37 K-Nl!? is also possible) QxBch 38 R-K2 Q-Q6 39 PXP QxPch 40

40

N-N 6ch

41

RXN

K-Kl

K-Bl P-N3 41 Q-R6 R-Bl 42 B-Q2 The sealed move!

R-Rl 43 N-N2! winning. 37

PXP

NXP

41

If 37 ... QXB White can mate

K-Q2

42

RXNch

BXR

43

Q-B5ch

Resigns

Standings After Eight Rounds 7

Karpov, Keres

5

Gligoric, Hort, Mecking, Petrosian

4112

Larsen, Portisch, Suttles

31/z

D. Byrne

3

Browne

21/z

Campos, Evans, Kaplan

2

Saidy 112

Smith

159

S AN

ANTONIO

'7 2

ROUND NINE

Thursday, November 30th White

65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

Opening

Black

Larsen (41h) Campos (2V2) Suttles (41h) D. Byrne (31h) Petrosian (5) Gligoric (5) Portisch (41h) Smith (V2)

Hort (5) Browne (3) Saidy (2) Mecking (5) Keres (7) Kaplan (2V2) Karpov (7) Evans (21h)

GAME 65

Black: Vlastimil Hort King's Indian Defense

7

Notes by Larsen P-QB4

2

N-QB3

B-N2

3

P-Q4

P-Q3

4

P-K4

N-KB3

5

B-Q3?!

6

KN-K2

P-QS

And here 7 closer study.

P-KN3

Completely unusual. The move does not look bad, but it cuts off the Queen's protection of the QP. I have never played this move in a tournament game and just decided to get out of the books. 5

Moves

48 61 43 20 13 53 26 40

It will take more master games before it can be decided if N-B3 or P-B4 is better here. In round 14, Kaplan got a good game with N-B3 - against Hort!

White: Bent Larsen

1

Result

King's Indian Defense 1-0 Sicilian Defense 1-0 King's Indian Attack 1-0 Queen's Gambit Declined 1h-1h English Opening V2-V2 1/2-V2 King's Indian Defense Nimzo-Indian Defense 1-0 Sicilian Defense 0-1

P-QR4

N-R4 deserves

8

P-B3

N-R3

9

B-NS

P-R3

10

B-K3

P-B3

11

Q-Q2

K-R2

The game has transposed into a Saemisch variation, in a rather favorable version for White. The move P-R3 may prove a weakness in the Black King's position. 12

P-KN4

N-B4

0-0

13

B-QB2

PxP

P-K4

14

BPXP

B-Q2

160

ROUND

NINE Passive

Black decides to remain passive

defense.

More

active

on the Kingside.The alternative was

seems 21 ... N-N4, but Black did

14 ... P-R4 15 P-KR3, when there

not like the answer 22 B-R4.

would be constant danger of White opening lines. 15

N-N3

In similar positions, P-QR4 de­

22

KR-Bl

KR-Bl

23

B-Ql

Q-Ql

24

B-K2

B-Bl

25

K-N2

NXN

25 ... R-B2 looks a little better.

serves attention. But here, the an­ swer

15

... Q-N3 looks rather

annoying. 15

N-B4

26

BxN

27

BXN

RXB

28

RXR

PXR

P-QN4

16

P-KR4

P-N5

17

N-K2

N-Kl

18

P-R5!

It is difficult to open a line on this flank, so instead White closes the position in a favorable manner. 18 19

P-N4

0-0

The White King has found a safe spot,

the

Black

KB is

the

most

passive minor piece on the board, and White has a chance to occupy KB5 with a Knight, while Black cannot hope to get a Knight to his KB5. Even if it got there it would not be doing very much, while a White Knight on KB5 will attack two Black pawns.

White has a clear positional ad­ vantage, but there is

a

certain dan­

ger that the position will be too blocked to win. One idea is to ex­ change the white-squared Bishops, heading for an ending with a very strong Knight against a very bad Bishop. But first the Knight must be moved to a better square, where it looks in two directions, Kingside and Queenside, or QB4 and KB5.

Q-N3

29

Q-K2

R-Nl

20

N-Bl

N-B2

30

N-Bl

B-Q3

21

N-Q3

N(2)-R3

31

N-K3

K-Nl!

19

161

SAN

ANTONIO

Well played. The . King has to

' 72

White King gets Black into zug­

participate in the defense.

zwang.)

32

N-B4

B-Kl

41

QxB

QxQ

33

R-QBl

K-Bl

42

PXQ

RXP

34

Q-K3

R-Bl K-K2

43

K-Bl!

35

P-R3

36

R-QRl

R-Rl

37

Q-K2

B-Q2

38

N-K3

Q-N3

39

P-R4!

Making

B-N5

possible

-

but

doesn't the position get too blocked? No; analysis proves that there is just enough play. R-QNl

39 40

B-N5!

BXB?!

Not 43 N-B5ch? K-Q2 44 NXP Hoping for counterplay - but it is not there. After 40 how

could

... B-Bl,

White win? There

is

P-B5! with strong counterplay. The White King goes to the Queenside to make sure Black does not get a

only one plan: to attack the QBP,

dangerous

and then play B-B6 at the critical

rest is easy.

passed

pawn,

and

the

moment.This leads to exchange of Bishops at the expense of a pawn.

43

P-N6

Hort estimated that the resulting If

position was lost, and deeper analy­ sis seems to show that he was right.

Black

plays

passively,

the

White King just goes to QB4, then

Play might continue like this: 40

Black cannot hold all his pawns;

... B-Bl 41 P-N3 Q-R2 42 R-QBl

either the QRP, QBP or KRP will

R-Rl 43 R-B2 R-Nl 44 Q-Bl R-Rl

go first.

45 N-B4 B-N2 46 N-N2 R-QBl 47 N-Q3 R-B2 48 Q-Bl R-Bl 49 B-B6

44

K-K2

B-B2

BXB 50 PXB RXP 51 N-N2, with

45

R-R4

K-Q2

a winning position in spite of the pawn minus. (The ending, without

Or 45 ... R-N5 46 RXR BPXR

Rooks and Queens, is a win for

47 K-Q3 P-R5 48 K-B4 and the

White! With triangle maneuvers the

King takes care of the Black pawns.

162

ROUND

NINE

46

K-Q3

R-N3

22

RXR

R-B3

47

K-B3

R-N4

23

P-R3

P-KR4

48

N-B4

K-Kl

24

Q-Q3

P-R5

25

N-Q5

Q-Bl

move.

26

N-B3

N-R4

Black resigned without further play.

27

N-Bl

N-N6ch

He did not want to look at that bad

28

K-R2

Q-N2

This was

Black's sealed

Bishop any longer!

GAME 66

29

P-N3

Q-Bl

30

N(l)-K2

NXN

31

NxN

RXP

32

RXP

B-N4

33

R-R4

R-Q7

34

Q-KB3

Q-B3 Q-B2

35

R-N4

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

36

R-B4

Q-Nl

Black: Walter Browne

37

Q-N4

P-Q4

38

QxB

PxR

39

P-B6

P-N3

Sicilian Defense

40

QXR

PxP

1

P-K4

P-QB4

41

Q-R6

Q-KBl

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

42

QxQch

KxQ

3

P-Q4

PXP

43

P-N4

K-Kl

4

NxP

N-KB3

44

K-N2

K-Q2 K-B3

5

N-QB3

P-QR3

45

K-B3

6

B-K2

P-K4

46

K-K3

K-B4

7

N-N3

B-K3

47

K-Q3

K-N5

8

P-B4

Q-B2

48

N-B3

P-N7

9

P-QR4

B-K2

49

N-Nl

K-N6 K-R7

10

P-B5

B-B5

50

N-Q2ch

11

0-0

QN-Q2

51

K-B3

P-N4

12

B-K3

0-0

52

K-B2

K-R8

13

P-R5

P-QN4

53

K-N3

P-N8=Qch

14

PxP e.p.

NxNP

54

NxQ

KxN

15

K-Rl

QR-Bl

55

K-B4

K-B7

16

BXN

QXB

56

K-Q5

K-Q6

17

BXB

RXB

57

KxP

K-K6

18

Q-K2

KR-Bl

58

K-B5

K-B6

19

R-R2

B-Ql

59

P-K5

K-N6

20

R(l)-Rl

Q-N2

60

P-K6

PxPch

21

R-R4

RXR

61

KXP

Resigns

163

SAN

ANTONIO '72

GAME 67

Black should either open the cen­ ter with 13

Black: Anthony Saidy

.

King's Indian Attack Notes by Suttles 1

P-KN3

N-KB3

2

B-N2

P-Q4

3

P-Q3

P-B3

4

N-KB3

B-B4

5

P-N3!?

. . PXP or continue .

his Queenside expansion

White: Duncan Suttles

.

.

with 13

P-QR4.

14

P-KS

N-Kl

15

P-KB4

BXN!?

An interesting idea. Black hopes to establish a firm blockade on his KB4 square.

In this theoretical position White attempts to gain a tempo by fian­ chettoing his QB before Black has

16

PXB

B-B4

17

P-R3

P-N3

18

R-B3

P-QR4

19

R-KN1

N-N2

20

N-Bl

P-B4

21

R-N3

P-BS?!

castled (see the note to Black's 9th move). P-KR3

5 6

B-N2

P-K3

7

QN-Q2

QN-Q2

8

0-0

B-R2

9

P-QR3

B-K2

Black concedes the tempo. Per­ haps 9 ... P-QR4! was better. Now White can move his Queen directly

After the game it was felt that

to K2 rather than indirectly via

21 ... P-R4 was necessary in order

Kl because the early fianchetto of

to block the Kingside. Then White

the White QB attacks the KNP in­

would have to take defensive meas­

directly.

ures

on

the Queenside,

possibly

commencing with 22 Q-B2. 10

P-K4

11

Q-K2

P-QN4

22

P-RS!

PxQP

12

K-Rl

Q-N3

23

PxQP

K-R2

13

N-R4

QR-Ql?!

24

B-KB3

R-KN1

0-0

164

ROUND

NINE

25

N-K3

R-QBl

38

RXR

KXR

26

PxPch

PXP

39

P-B5

PXP

27

P-Q4!

40

QXRP

P-K6ch

41

K-Nl

Q-B6

This move is necessary to prevent

42

Q-N6ch

K-Bl

White's

43

R-B8ch

Resigns

from

Black

infiltrating

Queenside. N-Bl

27 28

P-KR4

Q-Ql

29

Q-R2

B-K5! GAME 68

An excellent try to utilize the light square weaknesses in White's position. By now Black was very

White: Donald Byrne

short of time.

Black: Henrique Mecking

30

BXB

PXB

Queen's Gambit Declined

31

R-N4

N-B4

(by transposition)

32

Q-R3

R-B2? 1

P-KN3

P-Q4

2

N-KB3

P-QB4

P-R4 maintains the block­

3

B-N2

N-KB3

ade and leaves White's Bishop with

4

0-0

N-B3

little to do.

5

P-Q4

P-K3

6

P-B4

PxQP

A weak move in time pressure. 32 . . .

33

P-R5

NxN

7

NxP

B-K2

34

QxN

Q-Q4

8

PXP

PXP

35

B-Bl!

9

N-QB3

0-0

P-N3

B-KN5

10 Black has blocked one diagonal

11

P-KR3

B-K3

but it is impossible to block the

12

B-N2

Q-Q2

other.

13

K-R2

KR-Qt

14

R-Bl

QR-Bl

15

Q-Q3

NXN

16

QxN

B-QB4

17

Q-KB4

B-Q3

18

Q-Q4

B-QB4

RXB

35 Desperation. 36

RXR

PXP

19

Q-KB4

B-Q3

37

R-B7ch

N-Q2

20

Q-Q4

Draw

165

S AN

ANTONIO '7 2

GAME 69

more reliable equalizing method. The game Gligoric-Evans from round seven (game 55) continued 7 B-K3 P-K4 8 P-Q5 P-QR4 9 P-KR3 N-R3 10 N-B3 N-B4 11 N Q2 B­ Q2 12 0-0, and White has no ad­ vantage. But Black would have ex­ perienced more difficulties after 9 P-KR4 followed by 10 P-R5, or 9 P-KR4 P-R4 10 P-B3 intending an eventual P-KN4 with an attack. Gligoric had some trouble against Uhlmann (White) with 6 . . . P­ KR3 7 B-K3 P-B4 8 PxP Q-R4 9 B-Q2 QxBP, but I cannot believe that such a slow form o f the Maroczy Bind can give Black any trouble. I was hoping to play this line without the weakening . . . P­ KR3, but Gligoric chose a different system.

White: Tigran Petrosian Black: Paul Keres

-

English Opening 1

P-QB4

N-KB3

2

N-QB3

P-K3

3

N-B3

P-B4

4

P-KN3

B-K2

5

B-N2

0-0

6

P-Q4

P-Q4

7

PxQP

NXP

8

0-0

N-QB3

9

NxN

PXN

PxP

BXP

10 11

Q-Q3

P-KR3

12

P-QR3

P-QR4

13

B-Q2

P-QN3 Draw

GAME 70

7

P-QS

P-QR3

8

P-QR4

Q-R4

9

B-Q2

P-K3

White: Svetozar Gligoric

10

N-B3

PXP

Black: Julio Kaplan

11

KPXP

After 11 BP XP we would reach a Benoni-type position in which the play is very double-edged. Experi­ ence with Gligoric's move shows that White has very little play, but Black has even less; thus it is an unpleasant move to face. Still, in the game I managed to activate my pieces.

King's Indian Defense

Notes by Kaplan 1

P-Q4

2

P-QB4

N-KB3 P-KN3

3

N-QB3

B-N2

4

P-K4

P-Q3

5

B-K2

0-0

6

B-NS

P-B4 B-NS

11

6

. . .

P-KR3 is considered a 166

12

0-0

QN-Q2

ROUND

NINE

13

P-R3

BXN

but the advance of the KBP weak­

14

BXB

Q-B2

ens White's K4 and K3 squares.

15

P-R5 17

B-Q5ch

Cramping Black's Queenside. In

18

K-R2

N-N2

an endgame White could play N­

19

B-Q3

QR-Kl

QR4 and P-QN4; after Black re­ plies

PxNP

BxNP

with

the

White

threat

of

Only

plays P-B5

now,

when

Black

creating a passed pawn. Meanwhile

pieces

White's

himself, is this move good.

QRP

holds

two

Black

has

found good squares for his minor and

White

has

weakened

pawns. Of course all this is far in the

20

Q-B3

N-B3

future, but an immediate conclu­

21

R-R2

P-R4

sion can be reached: Black must

22

N-K2

N-N5ch?!

avoid the stereotyped occupation of the lead

K-file to

since

the

that

exchange

would of

only

Surprising, flashy ... and prob­

major

ably weak! The solid 22 ... N-K5!

pieces. Instead, Black must concen­

23 B-Kl B-B3 would give Black a

trate on finding good squares for

very good game since White is very

his minor pieces.

cramped.

15 16

23

N-Kl! B-K2

K-Rl

P-B4

Not 23 PXN?? RPXP 24 Q-N3 N-R4 25 Q-Kl P-N6ch and 26 ... Q-R2, or 25 Q-R4 B-B3 26 Q-B2 P-N6ch 27 NxP B-R5 winning. 23 24

N-K6 R-KNl?!

Better 24 R-Kl! R-K2

24 17

P-B4

25

NXB

PxN

26

P-QN3

N-Kl

In order to play 18 B-Q3 without

The Knight steers for K5. 26

having to cope with 18 ... N-K4,

R(l)-Kl would leave the horse 167

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

without any squares to hop to; and 26 ... P-R5 is risky because of 27 P-N3, although Black can probably defend himself against a Kingside attack.

27

R-Kl?!

28

BxN?

N-B3

White's last two moves are the

P-R5

product of miscalculation. Gligoric

34

B-Bl

thought

a

35

Q-Q4

Q-K8

pawn. Correct was 27 B-QBl N-B3

36

K-Nl

K-Bl

28 B-N2 Q-B4 29 P-QN4! Q-R2!

37

Q-N6

Q-Kl

when White has the better chances

38

Q-Bl

N-B3

since he can slowly build up an

39

B-Q3

that

he

was

winning

attack against the QP, while Black cannot

find

a

action. This

concrete

clearly

plan

shows

Black's 22nd move was not correct.

28

......

Or 39

of that

QXP Q-K6ch 40 Q-B2

QXNP and the passed QRP is very powerful.

39

KR-Kl!

40

Gligoric thought that this was im­

N-R4 P-QN4

Q-B3

41

Q-K3

K-Bl

42

K-Bl

Q-N7ch

possible because of 29 Q-N3, but he missed the simple 29 ... K-B2!

The sealed move.I thought that

30 B-B2 RXR 31 BXR R-K6. Now

the position was an easy win for

Black has the advantage again.

Black but I missed an important trick (see move 48) thanks to which

29

QR-Kl

RXB

30

RXR

PxR

31

RXP

QxRP

32

RXRch

NXR

33

Q-K3

K-Bl

White can hold the position.

43

K-B3

QXP

44

Q-K6

Q-R6

45

K-Bl!

NXP

If45 ... QXB46 QxQPch K-N2 47 Q-K7ch K-R3 48 Q-N5ch K-R2

(See diagram next column.)

49 Q-K7ch N-N2 50 QXPch K-Nl 168

ROUND 51

NINE Returning the compliment! After

Q-Q8ch with perpetual check. 51

... NxNP! 52 Q-Q8ch K-R2

Q-B6ch

K-Kl

53 BXP N-K8ch Black has excel­

47

Q-R8ch

K-Q2

lent winning chances because of the

48

BxPch!

46

exposed White King and the beauti­ ful coordination of his Queen and Knight. Going back to the note to White's 49th move, we see that this line would be no good with Black's King on QB2 because after Q-K7ch White picks up the QP with check. Now we reach a Queen ending marginally better for Black because of

his

more

sheltered

King,

but

being in time pressure I preferred to take a draw.

The point of White's defense. If

52

KXN

53

K-K3

Q-B8ch Q-B8ch Draw

48 ... PXB 49 Q-R7ch K-Bl 50 QXBPch K-B2 51 52

QxN

and

Q-B7ch K-N3

White

stands

no GAME 71

worse (if 52 ... Q-N6ch?? then 53 QXQ PXQch and now not 54 KXP P-R4, but 54 K-K3). In this line,

White: Lajos Portisch

White must not play 51 QXN be­

Black: Anatoly Karpov

cause of 51 ... Q-N6ch! 52 QXQ Nimzo-lndian Defense

PxQch 53 K-K3 P-N3! with good winning chances.

Notes by Portisch K-B2

48

N-KB3

1

P-Q4

2

P-QB4

P-K3

This gives new chances. Correct

3

N-QB3

B-N5

was the immediate 49 QXP, leav­

4

P-K3

P-B4

ing the Black King on QB2.

5

B-Q3

0-0

49

Q-R7ch?

49

6

N-B3

P-Q4

K-N3

7

0-0

PxBP

50

QxRP

Q-N7ch

8

BXP

QN-Q2

51

K-B3

QxPch?

9

Q-K2

PxP

169

SA N ANTONIO Slightly unusual. 9 ... P-QN3 at

play

' 72

15

B-KN5

Q-K2

16 QxQ

BXQ 17 KR-Kl, but after 17 ...

once is the normal move.

B-Q3 I analyzed a position in my

10

PxP

P-QN3?!

mind in which my QB was still on QBl and I could find nothing better

Rather dubious. In a recent Hun­

than 18 R-Ql. But of course with

garian team tournament M. Kovacs

the Rooks united, I would leave my

played 10 ... N-N3 against me.In

KR on Kl and play 18 QR-Ql with

any event White has good compen­

a very good game.

sation for the isolated QP but after Black's move the problem of the

15

isolated pawn is immediately solved.

16

11

P-Q5

BXN

12

PxP

B-N5

13

PxN

QXP

14

P-QR3!

Q-B2 P-R3

16 B-KN5 B-KN5 17 BXN PXB 18 R-Q4 B-R4 gives White nothing.

16

B-N2

17

B-K3

At

this

QR-Kl

After 14 N-K5 Q-B4 Black has equalized completely (15 B-Q3 Q­

point

Karpov

thought

that he had the better game, so he

K3). My move forces the Bishop to a less favorable square. If it

gave me some chances by trying

retreats to K2 the Black Queen has

for a win. But in fact the position

no good square.

is equal. Instead of the text, 17 ... QR­ Bl 18 B-QR6 leaves White with the smallest of advantages.

18

QR-Bl

Q-Nl

19

B-QN5

R-K2

20

B-B6

A risky move because now the coming sacrifice is forced. 20

15

BXB

.. . . . .

B-Q3

14 R-Ql?

Better than 20

... B-B4!? 21

N-Q4 BXN (21 ... Q-K4 22 Q­ A hallucination. I had wanted to

B3) 22 RXB R-Bl

170

23 R(4)-QB4

ROUND

NI NE 24

B-R3 24 B-QN5 with a slight ad­ vantage to White. 21

RxB

25

B-B4

RXN

Necessary. If 22 N-Q4 Q-K4! and White has some problems. 22

. . . . . .

PXR

If 22 ... BXB then B-N4 24 Q-Q3 B-B3 with a slight plus for Black's game would be 23

N-Q4

23 R(6)-Q6 25 P-QN4 White, but tenable.

R-Q5

Resigns

There is no defense to the mate threat. If 26 ... QxP 27 B-Q4 Q­ B8ch 28 K-R2 followed by BXPch, etc. *Editor's note: In his analysis of this game in The New York Times, Robert Byrne suggests 27 . .. Q­ N8ch 28 K-R2 P-B3 29 RXP Q­ K5 as better for Black, and casting doubt on the Exchange sacrifice.

BXN

GAME 72

The only move.If White's Knight is allowed to reach KB5 Black's game collapses. 24

K-Rl??

25 ... P-B4 was essential: 26 R­ Q5 QxP 27 B-Q4 Q-B8ch* 28 K­ R2 R-K3 29 RXP and White has compensation for the Exchange in his control of Black's weak dark squares and his attacking prospects against Black's King, e.g. 29 ... P-B3? 30 Q-QN3! or 29 ... R-N3 30 P-KR4. 26

22

Q-K4 Q-B3

White: Kenneth Smith Black: Larry Evans Sicilian Defense

RXB

Stronger than 24 Q-N4ch K-Rl 25 BXB R-K3! White needs his Rook in the middle of the board from where it can quickly come into the attack. 171

Notes by Evans 1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

P-Q4

PXP

3

P-QB3!?

SAN The

Smith-Morra

ANTO NIO

Gambit,

graph

attempting

to

show

8 P-KR3 is too slow, and 8 Q­

on

which Smith has written a mono­

'72

K2 B-N5! is good for Black.

White 8

gets compensation for his pawn in

. . . ...

P-K3

all lines.After 3 N-KB3 P-K4!? 4 Now and only now does Black

P-B3 (not 4 NXKP? Q-R4ch win­ ning

a

piece)

White is okay,

so

close the diagonal for his QB. Not

Black does best to transpose into

8 ... B-N5 9 Q-N3! P-K3 10 QXP

main lines with 3 ... P-Q3 or 3

N-QR4

.. . N-KB3.

pawn with advantage.

3

9

PxP

..... .

Q-N4,

Q-K2

regaining

the

P-R3!

An improvement over 9

"The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it," so it is writ. Black

11

.

. . B­

K2 10 KR-Ql (threatening P-K5)

can decline with 3 . .. P-Q6 or 3

10

... P-Q4 or 3

P-QN4! 0-0 (12 ... NxNP? 13

.. .

N-KB3, but

why?

.. . P-R3 11 B-K3 P-K4 12

NXP) 13 P-QR4 with some com­ pensation for the pawn.

4

NxP

N-QB3 10

B-R4!?

Black develops his Knight to a Loses the initiative. On 10 B-K3

solid post, keeping flexible.

N-KN5! (the point) 11 B-Q2 KN­

N-B3

5

P-Q3

K4 Black's position is very solid anyway.

Black's order of moves is quite deliberate. Inaccurate is 5 . ..

P­

10

K3.

B­

11

Black must threaten

KN5

. . .

P-KN4! B-KN3

N-KR4!

.. or at least worry White Black

with that eventuality.

leaves

his

King

in

the

center and refrains from developing 6

B-QB4

P-QR3

his KB until its best post (K2 or KN2) is suggested by the course

A handy consolidating move. Not 6

. ..

of the game.

B-N5? 7 BxPch! KxB 8

12

N-N5ch Kany 9 QXB, etc. 7

0-0

8

B-KNS

N-B3

KR-Ql

Tame. But if 12 QR-Ql 13 BPXN P-N5! 172

NXB

14 N-KR4 (14

ROUND N-Q5!??)

NINE Also good is 20 ... N-B6! 21 B­

. .. N-K4, Black domi­

R4ch! (21 QxP? QXQ 22 RXQ

nates the dark squares.

R-R8ch 23 12

K-Bl

NXB

(21

K-K2 RXR) 21 ... K-K2

22

...

PXN!

13

RPXN

P-N5

threatening N-Q5ch) with play sim­

14

N-Kl

N-K4

ilar to the note to Black's 21st.

15

B-N3

P-KR4 21

Black is a pawn up and has an attack looming. 16

N-Q3

QR-Bl

To prevent Black from castling Queenside. Again

B-N2

not

21

QxP?

QXQ 22 RXQ R-R8ch winning a whole Rook.

Now it is clear why Black did not rush with an early ... B-K2.

21 17

R-Ql

. .... .

N-B4 Quicker is 21 ... N-B6! 22

Q­

White has run out of gas.

Q3 (not 22 PXN? PXP! threaten­

17

R8ch 23 K-K2 N-N8ch! 24 RXN

P-R5

18

Q-Q2

PXP

19

PXP

Q-N3ch

20

K-Bl

ing R-R8 mate; or 22 Q-KB2 R­ QXQch 25 KXQ B-Q5ch 26 K-K2 RXR

winning the Exchange)

22

... Q-N8ch 23 K-K2 N-Q5ch 24

Not 20 Q-B2 R-R8ch wins.

K-Q2 Q-B7ch, with variations simi­ lar to the actual game.

22

K-K2

23

Q-Q3?

N-B6

Not 23 QXP? N-Q5ch! winning the Exchange. The best defense is 23 Q-K3 B-Q5 24 Q-Q3 BXN (un­ clear

is

24

NXRch 26 N4ch

26

. .. B-N8

25

K-Ql!)

QXB

B-B4

25

RXB B­

BXBch 27 QXB

N-K4 28 Q-B3 K-K2 and Black's extra pawn should win in the long 20

..... .

B-Q2

run. 173

SA N

23 24 K-Q2 25 PxN

ANTONIO

31 RXB 32 N(2)-B3 33 N-B6ch

N-Q5ch NxBch Q-B7ch

25 . . . QXP is also strong, but the text wins the Exchange.

33 K-K3 R-R3 34 R-Bl R-KBl also wins for Black. Now the rest is

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

If 26 Q-K2 QXP(6) wins. Or 26 KN-K2 B-R3ch 27 K-B2 BXR 28 KXB Q-QB4 does the trick.

Q-K3 KxQ N-Q5 K-B2

B-N4 QxQch P-K4 B-R3ch BXR

NxP PXPch N-K3ch P-KN4 N-K2 N-B4 K-N3 Resigns

Standings After Nine Rounds 7th

Keres

7

Karpov

51h

Gligoric, Larsen, Mecking, Petrosian, Portisch, Suttles

5

Hort

4

D. Byrne

31h

Campos, Evans

3

Browne, Kaplan

2

Saidy 1h

B-B3 K-Q2

a matter of technique.

26 QN-K2

26 27 28 29 30

'7 2

Smith

174

'.K-K3 P-B4 KXP K-K3 P-Q4 P-Q5 QR-KNl R-N4

ROUND

TEN

ROUND TEN

Friday, December 1st White

73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

Black

Hort (5) Karpov (7) Kaplan (3) Keres (7Vz) Mecking (5112) Saidy (2) Browne (3) Larsen (5Vz)

Evans (31/2) Smith (lh) Portisch (51h) Gligoric (5Vz) Petrosian (51/2) D. Byrne (4) Suttles (5Vz) Campos (3Vz)

Opening

GAME 73 White: Vlastimil Hort Black: Larry Evans

P-Q4

18

N-Nl

B-N4

19

RXR

BXR

20

Q-B2

B-Q3

21

P-N3

R-B2

22

N-Q2

B-N4

23

Q-N3

RXR

24

BXR

Q-B2

25

B-N2

Q-B3

N-KB3

26

N-Q3

B-R5 QxQ

Nimzo-Indian Defense

1

Result

Nimzo-Indian Defense 1f2-1h 1-0 Sicilian Defense Sicilian Defense 0-1 Vz-112 Ruy Lopez 0-1 French Defense 0-1 Gruenfeld Defense Pirc Defense 1f2-Vz 1-0 English Opening

2

P-QB4

P-K3

27

Q-B3

3

N-QB3

B-N5

28

BXQ

P-QN3

4

P-K3

0-0

29

P-B3

N-Kl

5

N-K2

P-Q4

30

K-B2

N-B2

6

P-QR3

B-K2

31

K-K2

K-Bl

7

N-B4

P-B3

32

B-N2

K-Kl

8

P-QN4

QN-Q2

33

P-K4

B-N4 B-K2

9

PXP

BPXP

34

K-K3

10

B-Q3

N-N3

35

P-KR4

P-B3

11

R-R2

B-Q2

36

B-B3

B-R5 K-Q2

12

0-0

R-Bl

37

B-N2

13

R-B2

R-B2

38

N-Nl

N-N4

14

B-N2

Q-Nl

39

P-K5

B-B7

15

Q-Q2

KR-Bl

40

N-B3

NxN

16

KR-Bl

N-B5

41

BXN

P-B4

17

BXN

RXB

42

B-Q2

Draw

175

Moves

42 70 55 40 86 72 39 30

SAN

ANTONIO

GAME 74

White: Anatoly Karpov Black: Kenneth Smith

Sicilian Defense

'7 2

32

K-Nl

33

R-Q3

P-QN3

34

B-B2

K-N2 PxP

B-B2

35

P-B3

36

RXBP

B-K2

37

R-Nl

KR-Nl

38

Q-N2

QxQch

39

KxQ

N-R2

1

P-K4

P-QB4

40

RXR

NXR

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

41

N-B3

B-Ql

3

P-Q4

PXP

42

B-K2

N-K2

4

NxP

N-KB3

43

B-B4

BXB

5

N-QB3

P-K3

44

PXB

R-Rl

6

P-KN4

P-KR3

45

R-KRl

K-B3

7

P-N5

PxP

46

K-N3

R-R2

8

BXP

P-R3

47

B-K3

R-Rl

9

Q-Q2

B-Q2

48

K-N4

R-R2

10

0-0-0

N-B3

49

N-Q5

NXN

11

P-KR4

Q-B2

50

BPxNch

K-N2 B-B2

12

B-K2

0-0-0

51

K-N5

13

P-B4

B-K2

52

P-R4

R-Rl

14

P-R5

K-Nl

53

B-Q2

R-R2

15

K-Nl

B-Kl

54

B-N4

R-Rl

16

B-B3

N-R4

55

R-KNl

R-R2

17

Q-K2

N-B5

56

R-N6

B-Nl

18

KR-Kl

R-QBl

57

P-R6

PxP

19

R-Q3

N-Nl

58

RXBP

P-R4

20

Q-N2

B-Bl

59

BxP

BXB

21

R-Rl

N-K2

60

RXB

P-R5

22

P-N3

N-R6ch

61

RXPch

K-R2

23

K-N2

N-N4

62

R-N6

P-R6

24

QNxN

PXN

63

R-Nl

R-R5

25

Q-Q2

Q-N3

64

R-N7ch

K-Rl

26

B-R4

P-N5

65

P-B6

R-B5

27

B-B2

Q-R4

66

P-B7

P-R7

28

B-Kl

P-K4

67

R-R7

RXBP

29

N-K2

N-B3

68

RXP

R-B5

30

P-B5

P-B3

69

P-Q6

RXP

31

R-Q5

Q-R6ch

70

R-R8ch

Resigns

176

ROUND

TEN

GAME 75

If

19

N-K4

B-QB3

20 N-Q6

PXP! 21 N-KN5 BXN(4) 22 BXB White: Julio Kaplan

Q-Q2 23 R-B4 P-B3, and Black's

Black: Lajos Portisch

Knight defends all the weak spots near his King.

Sicilian Defense

19

Notes by Levy

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

P-Q4

PxP

4

NXP

N-KB3

S

N-QB3

P-QR3

6

B-K2

P-K3

7

P-B4

Q-B2

8

0-0

B-K2

9

K-Rl

N-B3

10

B-K3

0-0

11

P-QR4

K-Rl

BXP

20

NXB

PXN

21

RXR

RXR

22

N-Q4

Q-Q2

23

P-R3

A little unusual at this early stage but nevertheless a useful move in view of White's coming Kingside attack.

Not 23 RXP? R-R8ch 24 B-Nl RXBch 25 KXR QxNch 26 K-Rl

12

Q-Kl

B-Q2

13

Q-N3

P-QN3

two

14

N-B3

N-QNS

White's Rook.

15

B-Q3

NXB

16

PXN

P-QN4

17

P-KS

17

QR-Bl

P-N3 27 Q-R3 P-R4 when Black's pieces

23 24

Q-N2

gives

nothing.

White

PxKP

18

PxKP

19

PXP

N-Nl

triumph

over

P-B4 R-Bl

R-RS?

Hoping to win the QP, Portisch throws hands

17

should

away the

the

initiative

advantage

ponent. Better was 24 followed by N-Q4. 177

to

his

and op­

... B-Bl

... N-K2 and

...

SAN

A NTO NIO

'72

25

Q-B2

B-Bl

QBl 39 QxN QxQ 40 RXQ RXP

26

N-B3

R-Rl

41 RX P and White should win the

27

B-B5

R-Bl

ending.

28

P-Q4

N-K2

29

R-Rl

N-B3

30

Q-K2

BXB?!

37 38

Better was 30 ... P-N5, but by now Kaplan was in his usual time trouble and Portisch was making the classic mistake of trying to rush

QxP N-Q6

39

R-QBl

Q-Rl

40

P-N5

P-B5

41

Q-QB2?

Overlooking the

him.

R-KBl

force

of

Por­

tisch's reply, Kaplan makes what is

31

PXB

N-N5

32

R-Ql

N-Q4

33

P-QN4

R-Rl

34

Q-Q2?

34 N-Q4!

probably the losing move. 41 Q-Q3 was sufficient to maintain the bal­ ance.

41 N-B6

35 Q-B3 was

considerably stronger.

P-R3

34 35

N-Q4

R-Ql

36

P-B6

Q-Bl

Q-R6!

42

R-KNl

Q-KN6

43

N-K4

Q-K6

44

Q-B5

R-B4

45

QxQ

PXQ

46

N-Q6?

After 46 R-Kl

RXP 47 N-Q6

K-Nl 48 N-B4 White has chances for a draw.

R-B5

46

37 NxNP?

47

R-Kl

R-QN5

48

P-N3

K-Nl

49

K-N2

P-N4

50

P-N4

N-B5ch

51

K-B3

P-K7 R-N6ch

52

R-QRl

53

K-B2

R-N7

54

R-R8ch

K-N2

55

R-R7ch

Missing a tremendous opportun­ White overstepped the time limit.

ity: 37 NxKP! QXN 38 P-B7 R178

ROUND GAME 76

TEN The Breyer Variation, as against Karpov. But with Keres' next move, the most common in this position, we leave that game.

White: Paul Keres Black: Svetozar Gligoric Ruy Lopez

Notes by Larsen

10

P-Q4

QN-Q2

11

QN-Q2

B-N2

12

B-B2

P-B4

13

N-Bl

R-Kl

14

N-N3

P-N3

1

P-K4

P-K4

15

B-R6

B-KBl

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

16

Q-Q2

Q-K2

3

B-NS

P-QR3

4

B-R4

N-B3

5

0-0

B-K2

Gligoric does not believe that Black has the right to be very ag­ gressive in the opening. He chooses the Closed Variation again, and should Keres follow Karpov's foot­ steps (see game 59), then he has an improvement ready, of course. 6

R-Kl

P-QN4

7

B-N3

P-Q3

As far as I know, Gligoric has never played the M arshall Gambit (7 ... 0-0 8 P-B3 P-Q4!?). It was quite popular after the match Tal­ Spassky in the Candidates' Tourna­ ment 1965, but most grandmasters have given it up now. Too much analysis, too many good lines for White. Anyway, it is not Gligoric's style. 8

P-B3

0-0

9

P-KR3

N-Nl

All this has been played before. I am not quite sure when our game gets its own face. Gligoric is one of the greatest experts ever on Black's play in the Closed Ruy, and Keres plays it very much both with White and with Black. I have played it twice with White in the last 15 years, so I am not, as previously mentioned, an expert on this open­ ing. In my opinion, both players have a bad game! Look at the White QN: it took three moves to get to a square where it does nothing but defend the KP. And why send it to the Kingside before starting an action on the Queenside? I also feel pity for the Black QB. White can play P-Q5 at an opportune moment, and what does that Bishop do then? 17

P-QR4

B-B3

Your annotator does not under­ stand this move and would have preferred N-N3. But when I don't 179

SAN understand,

maybe I

should

ANTONIO just

remain silent?

(I had White in a Closed Ruy against Keres in Zurich which

18

'72

P-N3

BxB!

he

made

a

1959, in

similar

pawn

sacrifice and drew). But

But here I think I can follow the

stories

do

not

about

believe the

all

master

those seeing

thoughts of the players. First of all,

everything at a glance and playing

18

just as

... PXRP?

19 P-Q5! B-QN2

(PXNP or B-N4 loses a piece) 20

well in exhibitions

as in

tournament games, or playing his

RxP leaves Black with a very weak

best in crazy time scrambles! The

QRP. Secondly, as will be shown a

game takes a different course, and

little later, the text is the beginning

looking for the reasons behind the

of a clever defense against some White

threats

on

the Queenside.

masters' moves,

what do I find?

Black is not at all forced to sacri­ fice. He can play (24 Q-Q2) RXR!

Now that the opening is behind us, your annotator wakes up and begins

25 RXR P-N5! and if 26 PXP, then

to see interesting details in the posi­

26 ... BXP! (27 PXB P-K5).

tion.

After writing the above, I asked Keres,

19 20 21 22 23

QXB Q-NS P-Q5 PXP B-Q3

Q-Bl Q-N2 B-N2 PxP P-R3

and

he

told

me

that

27

B-N5! gives White a clear plus, that 24 Q-Q2! was the right move, and that Gligoric would have played 24 ... P-B5. It is not easy to annotate other masters' games!

24 Q-K3 25 B-N5

P-N5

After 25 RXR RXR 26 PXP PxP 27 Q-Q 2, the simplest is to defend the pawn with 27 ... R-Nl; unclear is 27 ... N-B4 28 B-B4, where Black loses the pawn but gets active play.

25 26 QXP(3)

During the game, I looked at this

PXP Q-Bl

position.I expected 24 Q-Q2 P-B5, which would give White an almost

Black has solved his problems

(but not quite) worthless plus pawn

and has a very solid position. A 180

ROUND

TEN

draw is to be expected, and your

mally in a peaceful mood. But, of

annotator

course,

begins

to

lose

interest

if

the opponent

gets

too

optimistic ...

again

27

N-Q2

P-R4

5

NXP

28

Q-K3

RxR

6

NxNch

B-K2

29

RXR

R-Nl

30

R-R7

N-N3

31

Q-Q3

N-Bl

32

R-RS

Q-Ql

noisseur of the continuation 6 . .

33

Q-QB3

N-N3

PXB?!, even getting the advantage

Most experts consider stronger,

6

BXN

but Petrosian is a con­ .

34

N(3)-Bl

B-Bl

with Black against Fischer in their

35

N-K3

B-Q2

3rd match game.

36

B-Q3

R-Rl

37

B-R6

N-Kl

6

38

N(3)-B4

NxN

7

39

NXN

Q-Nl

40

N-Q2

Q-N3

BXN BxB

QxB

Not a very interesting position.

Draw

White's best move is probably 8 N-B3,

but

Mecking gets

another

idea. GAME 77 White: Henrique Mecking

8

P-QB3

0-0

9

B-Q3

N-B3

Black: Tigran Petrosian White cannot stop P-K4, so Black

French Defense

has a satisfactory position already.

Notes by Larsen (Moves 1-40)

10

Q-RS!?

P-KN3

and Petrosian

11

Q-B3

Q-N2!

(Petrosian's notes translated by After

Hanon Russell)

... QxQ,

White would

have a slight edge. Black's Kingside

1

P-K4

P-K3

2

P-Q4

P-Q4

White

3

N-QB3

N-KB3

placed.

4

B-NS

PxP

has been weakened a little, but the pieces

are

not

very

P-K4

12

N-K2

(in­

13

P-QS

N-K2

stead of 3 . . . B-N5), he is nor-

14

0-0

P-KB4

When Petrosian plays this

181

well

SAN

ANTONIO

' 72

15

B-B4

K-Rl

21

PXP

RXP

16

QR-Ql

P-B5!?

22

N-N3

B-N5

23

N-Q4!

QR-KBl

Very sharp! The White Knight

23 ... R-B5 24 Q-K3 was very

cannot quickly get to K4, and in

good for White.The Exchange sac­

some variations Black plays N-B4-

rifice is Black's only logical con­

R5 followed by P-B6.

tinuation, but it was probably not

17

KR-Kl

N-B4

18

N-Bl

N-Q3

the idea when he played his 20th move. I have been told that each player offered a draw twice; if this

Here, 18 ... N-R5 was not good because of 19 Q-K4. 19

B-Bl

20

Q-K2

is

true

my

guess that

Mecking's

first offer came around move

16,

and Petrosian's here!

P-K5

24

NXR

BXN

25

Q-Q2

Q-Q2

If Black takes back the Exchange, his KP will be 26

weakness.

P-KR3

This his

a

is

K-Nl!?

Petrosian!

King

from

He

some

removes annoying

checks-and waits! Probably White could play 27 R-Bl now, but after 27 ... R-B4 28

P-B4 R-R4 29

Q-B4 RXRP we see another point to Black's King move: White has no 20

..... .

P-B6?!

mate on KB8. However, with 30 B-N2 White may play for a win,

Very impatient and un-Petrosian­ like! With 20 ... B-Q2 followed by

though

the

position

remains

un­

clear.

QR-Kl he would get a very strong ex­

27

R-K3?!

BXR

change Queens with Q-Q2-Q4.The

28

QXB

Q-B4

position, text

move

chances, play.

though

White

offers

some

may

tactical Black has a very active position

but White gets counter­

now. 182

ROUND

29 R-K2?! 30 B-N2

TEN White

Q-N4ch R-B4

ought

to

have

taken

this

chance, though Black keeps some advantage with 41

K-K2 QxPch

Black attacks the advanced White

42 K-Bl Q-R8ch 43 K-K2 Q-N7ch

center pawn before White can cre­

44 K-Kl Q-K4ch 45 K-Bl Q-Q5!

ate threats against the Black KP.

N-B4

40 ......

The result is a very favorable ex­ change.

Black has a wonderful position,

31 P-QB4 32 RXP

with centralized pieces and weak

NXP N-Q3

White pawns.

41 Q-NS 42 K-N2

White has three isolated pawns, and the Knight is better than the Bishop.

Black

has

good

K-N2 Q-B3

winning

chances. I am still wondering-can it be true that Petrosian offered a

(From here on, the analysis is by Petrosian.)

draw twice?

33 34 35 36 37

R-K3 RXR Q-QBl Q-B3 P-N3

R-K4 QXR Q-K2 P-N3

I would have preferred 37 P-N4.

37 ..... .

P-QR4 Black's

Now the Black pawn chain is perfect; he only has to keep the BP

said,

protected.

positional

advantage

is

striking. As Capablanca would have White

has

three

"pawn

is­

lands," with the Queen pawn espe­

38 K-Bl 39 Q-Bl 40 B-B3

cially weak and needing defense.

Q-N2! Q-K4?!

Besides this, the weakness of the dark squares allows Black to maneu­ ver quietly creating threats against

Just before the time control. I see

the White King and the pawn on

no clear win for Black after 40

Q5. It should be noted that White

QXP

is practically forced to avoid ex-

Q-R8ch,

etc.,

and

I

think

183

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

changing Queens until he has fixed

49

B-B3

K-B2

a pawn on KB4, which would block

50

Q-N3

K-N2

the path of his opponent's King into At first glance, Black's last two

his position.

moves seem to have been a waste 43

Q-B4

of time. But sometimes it is neces­

Q-Q3

sary to play just like this.There is no

The pawn endgame after 43

direct

attempt

NX B 46 KXN K-B3 47 K-K4 suits

move does no good ... but sud­

White fully. His King is very active.

denly my opponent falters ...

Q-K4

Somewhat better was 44 Q-QR4, so as to maintain the Queen on the fourth rank, where it to some extent holds

the

activity

of

the

Black

pieces in check and is itself more actively placed along the QR4- K8 diagonal.

a

51

Q-Q3

K-B3

52

B-Ql

N-B4

53

B-B2

King

Now you see where White loses his nerve. Either bored by events or not finding them to his liking, he shifts his Bishop to another posi­ tion where it is doubtful if it is placed any better.

K-B3

44 45

position;

to

strengthen

44

the

available

N-R5ch 44 K-N3 QxQch 45 KxQ

Q-QB4

K-N4

53

Q-K4

54

Q-Q2ch

55

Q-B3

Q-B5

This gives White the opportunity to exchange a pair of pawns after

White of course cannot allow the

which there arises a position where

exchange

there are not many pawns, and this

King would find itself

is to the advantage of the defending

spot on KB5.

of Queens. The a

Black

very nice

side.On the other hand, White loses the chance to exchange his Bishop

55

for Black's Knight, on the activity

56

of

which

Black

has

pinned

N-R5ch K-Bl

N-B6

his

hopes of winning.

The Black Knight takes advan­ tage of the fact that the Bishop has

46

P-N4

PXP

left its post. Now, of course, im­

47

QXNP

P-R4

possible is 57 K-N2 Q-R7ch and

48

B-K4

N-Q3

Black wins immediately. 184

ROUND

TEN

57

Q-Q3

Q-B8ch

of advancing, the King would have

58

B-Ql

N-K4

had to move either to one side or back. Now, however, the KN pawn is defended by the Knight, and the King occupies KB5. 62

K-K2

63

P-KR4

K-B5

Now White cannot do without this

move,

for

otherwise

Black

would play his pawn to KR5 and proceed, change At this point the game was again adjourned and White had to seal his move. Mecking did this rather quickly

and

there

did

not

seem

to ex­ for

the

tion to win the Queen pawn and obtain a won endgame. 63

.. . K-B4 there would follow 60 Q-N3 and on 59 ... K-B3, simplest is 60 Q-R4ch K-B4 61 Q-Q4 and it

59

pawn

tage of the unfortunate King posi­

move was 59 Q-N3ch. Then on 59

real chances to win.

Rook

Bishop pawn and then take advan­

much doubt to me that the sealed

is not obvious that Black has any

as in the game, the

P-KN4

64

PXP

KXP

65

K-K3

N-N5ch!

This

check

is

the

point. The

White King cannot advance, but is forced to return home.

Q-Q4

66

K-B3

67

B-Ql

P-R5

When the envelope was opened, it became clear that Mecking had sealed the losing move.

Here Mecking leaves himself the possibility of escaping with the vari­ ation 67 ... P-R6 68 K-N3 P-R7

Q-B5ch

59 60

QxQ

NxQ

61

B-B2

N-K4

69 B-B3, and White is in no danger. 67 68

N-B3! B-N3

K-B4

Now it becomes clear that it was

69

K-N2

K-N5

necessary to keep the Black King

70

B-Qlch

K-B5

off KB4. White's last move would

71

B-N3

N-K5

have been with check and instead

72

B-B2

N-B6

185

SAN

ANTONIO

Black could even play 72

'7 2

...

B-B6 K-K4 90 B-N7 N-Q5 followed

P-R6ch 73 KxP NxPch 74 K-N2

by N-B7 and N-K6, winning both

N-N5 and Black should win. But

White pawns.

this was the last move before the time control and I did not want to GAME 78

force the play unnecessarily. 73

B-N3

N-K5

White: Anthony Saidy

74

B-B2

N-B3

Black: Donald Byrne

75

B-N3 Gruenfeld Defense

White's best chance was 75 K­ Notes by Larsen

R3 and if NxP 76 KxP N-N5 77 B-Nl, but I had planned to go in for 75 . . . K-N4 76 B-N3 N-K5

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

77 K-N2 K-B5 etc.

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

75 76

K-R2

3

N-QB3

P-Q4

K-N5

4

N-B3

B-N2

N-K5

5

Q-R4ch!?

77

K-N2

P-R6ch

78

K-Nl

K-B6

One of those rare variations you

79

B-Qlch

K-B5

can make a special study of and use as a surprise weapon. However,

80

B-B2

N-B3

81

B-N3

N-N5

82

B-R4

after 5

... B-Q2 6 Q-N3 PXP

7 QxBP 0-0 8 P-K4 B-N5 Black can reach the Smyslov Variation, both

White tires of holding back the fatal check and decides to give his

sides

having

lost

a

tempo

compared to 5 Q-N3 PxP 6 QXBP

0-0 7 P-K4 B-N5. Also completely

Bishop a new role.

playable is 5 ... P-B3 6 PXP NXP P-R7ch

7 P-K4 NxN 8 PXN 0-0, with

83

K-N2

NXP

a

84

KXP

N-Q6

more

85

K-N2

K-K6

probably not be directly refuted but

86

K-N3

N-B8

82

later

P-QB4. Byrne

unusual

reply,

chooses which

gives Black some problems in the center, as it blocks his QBP.

In

this

position,

White

a

can

over­

stepped the time limit. But his posi­

5

tion is hopeless: for

example 87

6

B-B4

0-0

P-R3 N-K7ch 88 K-N4 K-K5 89

7

P-K3

PXP!?

186

N-B3?!

ROUND

TEN

Giving up the center in order to

22

B-K2

P-KR4

get the two Bishops. This may be

23

QR-Bl

B-B3

best under the circumstances, but

24

N-N3

Black does not get an easy game. Probably better is 24 P-B4.

8 9 10

N-KR4

KBXP B-KN5

P-KR3

24

B-R4

P-KN4

25

N-B5

Q-Rl

26

N(5)-K4

P-R5!?

11

B-KN3

NXB

12

RPXN

B-B4

K-N2

That man is dangerous! He wants an attack, no matter how high the

Black gets his pieces into play, and the

two Bishops

price. And really, in time pressure

defend the

weakened King's position very well

it is not so easy to find the right

-but he has problems in the center.

defenses.

27

13

P-Q5!

N-Nl

14

Q-N3

N-Q2?!

NXR

BPXN

Black's position looks wonderful, An

incorrect

sacrifice.

14

if you don't count the material.

Q-Bl was necessary.

15

N-Q4!

28

R-Q4

29

PXP?

Q-R3

B-N3

15 ... BXN would weaken the Kingside too much.

N-K4

16

QXP

17

Q-R6

Q-Nl

18

B-N5

R-Ql

19

0-0

R-Q3

20

Q-R3

P-N5!?

White has a solid position and a pawn more, but Black is not beaten. The text move is the beginning of Necessary was 29 R-KB4 R-Rl

an attack on the Kingside, which creates new problems for White.

21

KR-Ql

30 B-Bl. 29

P-R3 187

..... .

N-B6ch?

SAN Very elegant, but 29

.

.

.

A NTONIO

QXRP

'72

playing for a win.

was stronger and ought to win, for there are too many White pieces on

43

R-QBl

B-N4

vacation on the Queenside.

44

R-B7

R-R5!

K-B3? 45 R-R7 R-R5 46

30

BxN

BXR

31

BXP

BXP

32

R-Bl

B-QB4

33

Q-R4

QxP

45

P-R3

K-B3

34

B-R3

Q-N4

46

B-B8

R-Q5!

The

ending after

QXQ

44

.

.

.

P-R4! offers White some chances.

would

47

R-R7??

R-Q8ch

48

K-R2

R-R8

not be bad for Black, in spite of Winning a pawn.

the pawn minus. The Bishops are strong and the White QP weak. 35

N-K4

49

B-Q7

BxB

50

RxB

RXP P-K5

51

R-N7

White realizes that he no longer

52

P-N5

PXP

has any advantage, so he gives up

53

RXNP

P-K4

such

his pawn in order to exchange off one of the Bishops. QXP

35 36

NxB

37

P-QN4

QxN

Time pressure. 37

R-Kl

looks

better. Q-Q5

37 38

R-Ql

Q-K4

39

Q-B6

B-K5

In

40

Q-N6

R-Rl

against

chances when the plus pawn is in

41

Q-K3

B-B3

42

QxQch

PxQ

two,

positions there

three

winning

the center. That Black has a double pawn is not a

A drawish ending, but Saidy soon

with are

serious handicap.

There is no easy draw for White

walks into a trap. It was my im­

with 54 R-N4 K-B4 55 P-N4ch?;

pression at adjournment that he was

after 55 . . . K-B5 56 R-N7 P-B3 188

ROUND

I believe this pos1t1on is a win

TEN

the White King being only a specta­

for Black, but it would require very

tor.

much analysis to prove it. My ex­ perience with such positions stems

65

mainly

games

66

K-Nl

K-N6

from the Danish team champion­

67

R-R3ch

R-Q6

ship.

68

R-Rl

P-B5

White's difficulty number one is

69

K-Bl

R-Q7

that he cannot activate his King.

70

R-R8

R-B7ch

71

K-Nl

RxPch

72

K-Rl

R-Q7

from

54

R-Nl

55

R-N6(?)

adjudicating

K-N4

Resigns

Not a perfect game, but a good

White's last move looked like a preparation

R-Q7

for K-Nl,

which

fight.

he

ought to have tried. 55

......

GAME 79

R-R7!

White: Walter Browne

The bulletin says R-R2, but that

Black: Duncan Suttles

does not make sense. Now, 56 K-N3 P-B4 is hopeless. 56

K-Nl

R-R8ch

57

K-R2

R-KB8!

58

R-N2

K-B5

Pirc Defense

Notes by Levy

White is completely tied up, and Black has a clearly won position. 59

R-K2

P-B4

60

R-R2

P-K6

1

P-K4

P-KN3

2

P-Q4

P-Q3

3

N-QB3

B-N2

4

N-B3

N-KB3

5

B-K2

0-0

6

0-0

P-N3?!

61

PxPch

KXP

Suttles got this idea from the

62

R-R3ch

K-B5

game Zuidema-Timman, Wijk aan

63

R-QN3

P-K5

Zee 1971, which continued 7 P-K5

64

R-QR3

R-Q8

KN-Q2 8 B-KB4. Browne finds a

65

R-R4

stronger

continuation

which

was

not mentioned by Kurajica in his Or 65 R-QN3 P-K6 66 R-N4ch K-N4 67 R-N2 K-N5 and P-B5-B6,

notes to that game in Informator 11.

189

SAN

7 8

had

'72

has excellent winning chances.

KN-Q2

P-KS! P-K6!

Browne

AN TONIO

also considered

8

13 14 B-B4

N-Kl

14 15 PXR

RXB BXP

B-KB4 N-QB3 9 B-QN5 (the Zuid­ ema-Timman game went 9 R-Kl B-N2 10 B-KBl NXQP!? 11 NXN PXP 12 B-KN5 PXN 13 BXP and White eventually won.) 9 ... B-N2 10

BXN BXB 11 P-Q5, but he

preferred to cramp Black's game by the text move.

8

N-KNS 10 B-B3 11 R-Kl 12 Q-K2 9

PXP N-KB3 P-Q4 Q-Q3

12 N-N5 is also interesting, e.g.

15 .. . QXP fails to 16 NXKP

12 ... Q-B3 13 P-B4 P-KR3 14

BXN 17 QXBch K-Rl 18 Q-B8.

N-KR3 P-R3 with an unclear posi­ tion.

16 NxKP 17 B-N4

12 13 P-KN3

B-B3

P-B3 The piece sacrifice 17 NXP PXN 18 Q-N5 is refuted by 18 ... B-Q2

13 B-Q2 also came into serious

19 QxQP QxQ 20 BXQ B-B3.

consideration, e.g. 13 ... N-R3 14 NxKP BXN 15 QxBch R-B2 16

17 18 QR-Ql

QXQ PXQ and White probably has

N-Q2 BXN

a slight advantage. But Black's best plan is to bring his KN to the de­

Perhaps 18 .. . N-Bl was better,

fense of his forward KP: 13 ...

e.g. 19 N-K4 Q-N5 or 19 NXN

N-Kl 14 NxKP BXN 15 QXBch

KXN 20 N-K4 Q-N5.

QXQ 16 RXQ N-Q3! 17 NXP (or 17 RxKP N-B4! and Black is a

19 PxB 20 B-B3

little better) 17 ... RXB! 18 N-B7 R-Bl

19

NxR

N-R3

20

N(2)-B3

NXP Not 20 B-R3? N-K5.

PXN 21 RXKP BXP and Black 190

ROUND 20

..... .

TEN

P-QN4!

To remove the threat of P-B4 by White.

24

PXQ

N-Q3

25

K-N2

N-B5

26

P-QR4

N-N7

27

R-Rl

NXP

28

P-B4

R-Bl

28 ... N-N3 29 PxNP PXP 30 R-R6 would give White very good winning chances. 29

RXN

Forced, otherwise Black gets the opportunity to prove that his pawns are of more value than White's Ex­ change. But now there is no hope 21

K-Rl?

21

N-Q4!

of is

29

...

30

QXN 23 QXPch K-Nl 24 RXP! B-N2!

much

BXR

more 25

K-Bl

NXBP

promising:

R-Q3

27

22

a

R-K6

22

PXP

31

RXP

R-B2

26

RXQ

32

RXBP

P-B4

N-R4

28

R-R6

33

K-N3

K-N2

Q­

B7ch

31

PXR R-QRl

QXB

N(l)-N2 29 RXRP R-Kl 30 K-Rl

win for Black.

32

Better was 33 ... P-N4 so as to

R-Kl and White should win. But

R-K7

R-Ql

keep White's King out of his K5

24 BXPch (instead of 24 RXP!)

square. But even then Black would

would be insufficient: 24 ... N XB

have no real winning chances be­

25 QxNch QxQ 26 RXQch K-B2

cause his Rook is too passive.

27

RXB

(after

27

Black is better) 27

R-Q8?

N-N3

... RxR 28

RXN and the ending is drawn. BxN

21

34

K-B4

N-Kl

35

K-K5

N-Q3

36

R-QR4

N-Bl

37

R-R5

N-N3

22

QxBch

K-Bl

38

B-K2

P-N4

23

P-B5

QxQ

39

P-QB3

Draw

191

SA N ANTO NIO GAME 80

8

White: Bent Larsen

8 P-N3

P-Q3

10

B-N2

P-R3

11

P-Q3

R-Nl

P-QB4

12

Q-Q2

P-QN4

13

0-0

P-NS

Notes by Larsen

2

P-KN3

P-KN3

B-N2

B-N2

4

N-QB3

N-QB3

It is very difficult for either side

As shown again by several games in this tournament, this symmetrical defense is absolutely playable for

to undertake anything special. Black could very well play a move like 13 ... B-Q2, waiting.

Black. I have several times played

14

5 P-QR3 here, for instance 5 ... P-QR3!? 6 R-Nl R-Nl 7 P-QN4 PXP 8 PXP P-QN4 9 PXP PXP 10 N-B3, trying to transpose into Lar­ sen-Ivkov, Majorca

0-0

9

3

1967 (see my

book "Selected G ames

1948-69"),

On QR4 this Knight would be could then very well play P-K4 and start something on the Kingside. 14

0-0 12 P-Q4! Black can play 10 ... P-K4! I decided to try some­ thing else, and I have the impres­ sion that my opponent considered my next such an ugly move that he had to break the symmetry! 5

N-R3!?

P-K3

N-B4

KN-Kl

7

P-KR4

P-KR3!

N-Ql!

very far away from Q5, and Black

but instead of 10 ...N-B3 11 0-0

6

I will

probably play 8 P-N3.

English Opening

P-QB4

R-QNl

Unnecessary. Next time

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez

1

'72

. . . . . .

P-K4

Black does not want to exchange off

the

Bishop

that

defends

hole on his Q4 square. 15

N-QS

After probably

15 have

N-B4

NxN, I played

P-KR4 followed by N-B4, Black's P-K3

would

look

like

a

wasted

move. 192

would

PXN

N-K3-B4.

The right answer. After 7

his

King's position. But now there is a

16

N(l)-K3

N(3)-QS

17

NXN

NxN

and

ROUND

TEN

does not necessarily admit anything.

P-QR4 PxP?

18 19

P-R3

Illogical. If Black wanted to play this, his QR Pawn would have been safer on QR3, where it was pro­ tected by the Bishop. But his best buy was probably something like 19 ... N-Q5 20 BXN KPXB 21 PXP All this has been pretty much routine. Now comes the best move in this game. White may have a slight advantage because of the Q5 square,

but Black has closed the

Queenside

and

will

probably

be

RPXP 22 R-R7 B-N2, though both 23 N-B4 (to get an ending with a strong

20 RXP

18 P-K4 followed by P-B4, but it

KPXB 20 P-B4 B-K3 might easily lead

to

a

drawish

position

After KPXB

against

a

B-K3

20 22

N-Q5 R-Nl,

21

White

BXN

wins

a

pawn.

with

BXN(?) N-Q5

21 B-QB3 22 BXB 23 P-K3(!)

Bishops of opposite colors.

18

Q5

strong initiative.

tack on the Kingside. I considered

instance, 18 P-K4 N-Q5 19 BXN

on

aggressive 23 Q-B4!? offer White a

able to defend against a direct at­

did not seem very promising. For

Knight

rather bad Bishop) and the more

R-Rl!! Other

White wants to combine play on

BXN,

good

continuations

Q-R2 and

R-Nl.

were

But the

both wings. Very logical, since a

text move, based upon some neat

Knight or Bishop on Q5 will be

combinations, is the quickest. After

much stronger if there is something

23 ... N-B4 White gets a tremen­

happening on both flanks.This move

dous position and a plus pawn.

illustrates very well how you must "forget" the previous part of the

RXP(?)

23

game and only look at the present Or

23

Q-N3

25

position. Maybe White's 8th move was

doubtful,

but

he

should

be

NxP(?) R-Nl

P-R5

24

Q-R2

26

RXP,

ready to admit that; besides, mak­

winning a piece (one threat is R­

ing the best move in the position

R6).

193

SAN 24

RXR

25

Q-R2

Q-N3

26

R-Nl

R-Nl

ANTONIO

'72

NxR

27

BXRP!

Q-R3

28

RxN

RXR

29

QXR

QXB

30

Q-N8ch

Resigns

There could follow 30 ... K-R2 31 BXP P-R4 32 QXP or 30

...

B-Bl 31 Q-N7. The final position is a monument for a typical kind of positional advantage in this open­

Final Position

ing, a Bishop or Knight on QS.

Standings After Ten Rounds

8

Karpov, Keres

61h

Larsen, Petrosian, Portisch

6

Gligoric, Suttles

5th

Hort, Mecking

5

D. Byrne

4

Evans

3 Yz

Browne, Campos

3

Kaplan

2

Saidy

th

Smith

194

ROUND

EL EVEN

ROUND ELEVEN

Sunday, December 3rd Opening

Black

White

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

Campos (3112) Hort (5112) Suttles (6) Larsen (6V2) Browne (31/z) D. Byrne (5) Petrosian (61/z) Saidy (2) Mecking (51/z) Gligoric (6) Portisch (6112) Keres (8) Kaplan (3) Smith (112) Karpov (8) Evans (4)

Result

Pirc Defense 0-1 Sicilian Defense 1/2-V2 King's Indian Attack 0-1 English Opening 1-0 Nimzo-Indian Defense llz-112 EnglishOpening 1-0 Robatsch Defense 1-0 1/z-1/z EnglishOpening

GAME 81

7

0-0-0

K-Nl 9 N-QS 8

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

Moves

43 66 28 56 31 32 41 34

Q-R4 QN-Q2

Black: Vlastimil Hort Pirc Defense

A little surprising after the pre­ ceding sharp play.Obviously, White wants to gain half a point ...

Notes by Larsen 9

P-K4 P-Q4 N-QB3 P-B3 5 B-K3

1 2 3 4

10 11 12 13

P-Q3 N-KB3 P-KN3 B-N2 P-B3

NXNch RxQ P-KR4 B-R6

QxQ BXN 0-0

N-N3

Rather time-consuming. 5 . . . 0-0 is very dangerous in this position, for White can im­ mediately start a strong attack. It is better to prepare counterplay on the other flank, where the White King must seek shelter in case White wants to attack his Kingside pawns. 6 Q-Q2

P-QN4

13 14 P-RS

R-Ql P-K4!

The world famous medicine against flank attacks: counterplay in the center. Of course, 14 ... P-N4? would lose a pawn after 15 P-KN4 and N-R3. This was the reason for White's 13th move. But 195

SAN

A NTO NIO

'72

he should rather have played 13

22

P-QN3

R-Ql!

P-KN4, trying to build up a certain

23

K-Bl

N-B4

superiority in space on the King­ side, as Black has already done on the other side.

Again, the unhappy Knight can­ not move towards the center: 24 N-B2? NXPch.

RPXP

RPXP

16

PxP

PXP

17

RXRch

BxR

15

24

With only one Rook left, White cannot do anything dangerous on the KR file. When

did

Campos

realize that he was getting into a difficult position? Probably not yet, as his next two moves do not look

B-K2

Making

room

B-Bl

for

the Knight.

White's next move seems to indi­ cate that he was afraid of 25 R-Ql BxN!? He would get a rather weak pawn structure, but this might have been the lesser evil.

as though he was afraid of any­ thing.Or rather, the only thing he

25

P-KN4?!

P-N4

was afraid of was to get the Bishop

26

R-Ql

K-B2

on R6 caught after a Black P-N4.

27

B-Kl

R-Rl

But if so he ought to play 18 B-K3!, for example 18 ... B-K3 19 N-R3! N-B5? 20 BXN BXB 21 R-Ql with advantage, or 19 ... P-B3 20 N-B2

Remember how eager White was to open this file?

and the Knight is well placed; when it gets to Q3 it will be looking at a little hole in the Black pawn struc­

28

B-Bl

N-K3

29

P-B3

K-K2

ture. In the game continuation, the White Knight never finds a good

It is a big advantage for Black

square.

that his King can guard the squares penetrate. 29 R-Q6? was impossible

that the White Rook might use to 18

B-Q2?

B-K3

19

B-B3?

P-B3

because of N-Q5 followed by K-K2

20

N-R3

N-R5!

or B-B2.

21

B-Q2?

B-N3

Now it begins to look serious.

30

P-N4

P-R4

31

P-R3

P-R5 B-Q2

White ought to have played 21 B­

32

B-Q2

K l, to help the Knight to B2.

33

R-Kl

196

ROUND

ELEVEN White's next is probably an over­ sight. I asked Hort how he would have won if White had remained pas­ sive. His answer was clear enough: K-Q3-B3 and then B-K3,

with a

mating attack!

43

P-NS

B-B7

Resigns

In fact, the game was adjourned White

is

ready

to

play

and

B-K3,

which would offer some drawing

White

sealed

44

R-Bl.

But

there is no hope, for instance 44 ... B-R6 45 BxNP BXR 46 BXB

chances.

R-RS 47 K-K2 B-K6.

33

N-BS!

..... .

Exchanging the unlucky

White

Knight, but preventing B-K3 and opening

the

road

for

the

GAME 82

Black White: Duncan Suttles

Rook.

Black: Bent Larsen

34

NxN

NPXN

35

P-B4

B-QS

36

K-B2

R-R7

37

PXP

PxP

38

R-K2

R-R8

39

R-Kl

R-N8

1

P-KN3

P-KN3

40

B-B3

B-N3(!)

2

B-N2

B-N2

3

N-QB3

Sicilian Defense

Notes by Larsen

Black prefers to keep the bind. He could have won a pawn with 40

. ..

BXB 41 KXB R-N6 42

B-K2 BXP.

I cannot criticize this move, as I

have played it many times myself. But I do not know

a

name for this

opening.

41

B-K2

R-N7

42

K-Ql

R-R7

P-Q3

3 4

Of course, White must not get the KR file. 197

P-Q3

P-K4

5

P-K4

N-K2

6

B-K3

P-QB4

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

Breaking the symmetry and mak­

My opponent pointed out after­

ing the opening a sort of closed

wards that 19 Q-B7! QXQ 20 RXQ

Sicilian.

PxP 21 P-KR3! would almost cer­ tainly have led to a draw.

7

Q-Q2

P-KR4

8

P-B4

QN-B3

19

9

N-B3

N-Q5

20

0-0

B-N5

10 11

QR-Kl(?)

Better 11 Q-B2.

Q-R2 N-B3

21

Q-N2

22

B-N5

QR-Kl

23

B-N4ch

K-Nl

24

R-K3

B-N2!

Q-Q2

11 12

PxP PxP

Q-B2

Avoiding 12

BxN 0-0-0 13 N-

KN5. 13

BXB

14

B-Ql

0-0-0

Sometimes Suttles'moves are hard to understand.

Vacating P-B4

14 15

PxKP

BXP

16

N-Q5

PxP

16 ..

.

a

good square for the

Knight. Black ought to win rather easily now.

NxN 17 PxN P-R5 18

25

B-Q7

B-R3!

26

BXB

QxB

27

R-K2

R-K4!

PXP! is good for White. The idea behind move 24, for 28 17

NxNch

QXN

BXN loses the Queen after 28

18

PXP

P-R5?!

R-R4!

.. N-K3

28

P-KN4

with the idea 19 P-B3 N-N4 20

Probably best is 18

29

R-B6

Q-N4

Q-N2 P-R5 21 PXP NXP!

30

R(2)-KB2

K-B2

31

B-N5

Q-B8ch

32

B-Bl

N-K3

19

.

P-B3? 198

N-Ql

ROUND

ELEVEN

33

RXP

N-N4

the tempting 43 P-K5?, after which

34

Q-N3

N-R6ch

R-R2! wins very quickly. But he had not.

35

K-N2

NxR

36

QxN

Q-N8

37

Q-B7ch

K-Nl

43

B-B3

R-R2

38

R-N8ch

RXR

44

K-B2!

Q-B8

39

QxRch

K-B2

40

Q-B7ch

K-N3?

There is no easy win now, e.g. 44

...

R-R7ch 45 K-N3 QXNP

46 Q-B7ch K-N3 47 P-K5. 45

P-K5

Q-Q7ch

46

K-Bl

Q-Q6ch

47

K-N2

P-N4

48

PxPch

KxP

49

Q-N8

Q-Q7ch

50

K-Bl

Q-B8ch

51

K-B2

QxPch

52

K-Bl

Q-B8ch

53

K-B2

Q-B7ch

Very stupid. I had several minutes

54

K-Bl

Q-Q6ch

left and was almost sure that K-B3

55

K-N2

was

the

right move

(41

B-N5ch Same position as before, with the

K-N3!), but it was nice to get past the time control,

and I expected

...

55 56

41

Q-N3ch

42

B-K2!

Grateful

has

K-B3 would have won

easily.

for

K-B2

the

possibility

to

protect both the Queenside pawns and the KP. 42

that Black

. . . . . .

won a

pawn. But the win is still difficult.

Suttles to repeat moves. 40

exception

R-K2

Suttles now sealed his move very quickly. I was hoping he had played 199

K-B2 Q-K6

SAN ANTONIO 56

......

Q-Q2??

Much stronger is 56 .

.

.

Q-Q3!

57 Q-K4 R-R7ch 58 K-Bl RXP. 57

Q·QR6

K-Nl

58

Q-KB6

K-B2

'72

6

NXN

7

0-0

R-Nl

8

N-Q2

N-B3

9

P-QB4

0-0

10

Q-R4?

A stupid move.

59

Q-QR6

K-Ql

60

Q-B6ch

R-K2

61

Q-B4!

Q-B2

62

Q-B8ch

R·Kl

63

Q-B6ch

K-Bl

64

Q-R6ch

K-Q2

11

. .....

65

QxPch

K-K2??

12

N-Q2

66

.

.

.

10

. . .. . .

11

N-N3?

Q-N3

Another stupid move.

There were still some winning chances with 65

NPXN

K-Ql!

P-B4

So I started going back in a big hurry, recognizing that my last two moves were terribly bad.

B-B6

12

It is typical for my play in the last rounds that I did not see this at all. Draw

GAME 83

B-N2 BXB

RXB

14

Q·B2

Q-K3

15

R-Kl

Q·R6

16

R-Nl

N-N5

17

N-Bl

R-N3

18

P-B3??

13

Overlooking Browne's reply. Nec­ essary was 18 B-K3 when Black has

White: Donald Byrne

only a very slight advantage.

Black: Walter Browne King's Indian Attack Comments by Byrne

1

P-KN3

P-QB4

2

B-N2

P-KN3

3

N-KB3

B-N2

4

P-Q4

PxP

5

NXP

N-QB3

200

ROUND 18 19

ELEVEN Here was quite a good opportun-

NxP NxN

QxPch

ity to break the symmetry. After 8

20

K-Bl

QxN

... PxP 9 PxP P-Q4 it would be

21

Q-K4

B-B3

a

22

Q-N4

B-R5

ought to be on Q3. I am rather

position where

23

B-K3

P-B4

sure

24

Q-Nl

Q-R6ch

played 9 NxP.

QxQch

25

Q-N2

26

KxQ

BxR

27

RXB

RXP

28

BxP

RXP

9 10

Resigns I

cannot

that

the

Petrosian

QPXP

White would

KB have

BXP

QN-Q2

Finally the symmetry is broken.

remember

playing

a

10

worse game in my whole life.

N-B3

Now there is a rather clear dif­ ference between the two positions, the Black QN blocks the diagonal

GAME 84

of the QB. But nothing is wrong, of course.

White: Tigran Petrosian Black: Anthony Saidy

11

English Opening

1

P-QB4

P-QB4

P-QN3

P-QN3!?

QxP

The White pieces are not ready for an attack, so Black is not afraid

Notes by Larsen

2

PXP

of 12 BXN.

In symmetrical openings White

KR-Qt

12

P-QR3

13

Q-Nl

B-K2

14

R-Ql

QR-Bl

has a theoretical advantage, but in many of them it is only theoretical.

A good idea was probably ... Q-KB4 15 Q-R2 N-KN5.

3

B-N2

B-N2

4

N-KB3

N-KB3

15

P-QN4

Q-KB4

5

P-K3

P-K3

16

Q-R2

N-K5

6

B-K2

B-K2

17

NXN

QxN

7

0-0

0-0

18

Q-N3

P-KR3

8

P-Q4

P-Q4

19

P-R3!?

201

14

SAN ANTONIO

'72

32

Q-Rl

33

8-Q2

8-K2

34

8-K3

R-Ql R-Q2

8-N2

35

8-N6

36

Q-83

8-83

37

Q-81

8-N4

38

P-84

So, already before adjournment Petrosian has made up his mind to advance the K ingside pawns. If this Lulled

to

sleep

by

Petrosian's

was not his plan, a player like the

quiet play, Saidy does not discover

Armenian ex-world champion would

that this move contains course,

a

threat. Of

Black's position is

not play the text move. A pawn move cannot be taken back!

100%

healthy. One possible continuation was 19 .

.

38

. N-Nl.

8-K2

39

8-85

8-Ql 8-K2

RXReh?!

40

8-K3

20

RXR

R-Ql??

41

P-N3

K-R2

21

8-Q3

Q-Q4

42

P-K5

K-Nl

43

8-85

8-Ql

44

8-Q6

8-N3

45

N-85!

19

After White's P-KR3, Black does not have KN5 for the Queen. 22

8-R7ch

KX8

23

RXQ

RXR

This is certainly opposite-colored

a

case where

Bishops

do

not

help the defender. Black can only The Black position is very solid,

wait.

so the win takes time. But it is not 45

as difficult as it looks.

46 24

8-83

P-R3

25

N-Q2

K-Nl

26

Q-N2

8-KBl

A

8XN Qx8 little

N-R2 joke,

an echo

of

blunder on move 20.

27

P-83

R-Q2

28

K-82

P-QN4

47

K-82

N-81

29

N-N3

N-Ql

48

P-N4

K-R2

30

P-K4

N-83

49

P-KR4

K-Nl

31

K-K2

8-81

50

P-85

K-Rl(?)

202

the

ROUND ELEVEN Resignation. 50 ... P-KR4 would make it a little more difficult for White.

51

B-B8

K-Nl

52

P-B6

R-Q7ch

Or 52 ... PxP 53 BxP etc.

6

N-B3

BXNch

Huebner's variation, which has recently been in vogue. 7

PXB

P-Q3

8

P-K4

P-K4

9

P-Q5

N-K2

10

N-R4

P-KR3

11

P-B4

Spassky's choice in the fifth game of his match with Fischer. The older move, 11 P-B3, was thought until very recently to give White a very good game: 11 ... P-KN4 12 N-B5 BXN 13 PXB Q-R4 14 Q­ B2! 0-0-0 15 P-KR4 P-K5 16 BXKP (16 PXKP is even stronger, according to Donner) 16 . . N XB 17 PXN QR-Kl 18 K-B2 P-B3 19 B-K3 K-Nl 20 P-K5!! and White won easily in Donner-Damjanovic, Cienfuegos 1972. At the Skopje Olympiad (held a few months after the Cienfuegos tournament), Donner tried his 11 P-B3 against Portisch and was met by a very convincing innovation: 11 ... Q-R4 12 Q-B2 P-KN4 13 N-B5 NxN! 14 PxN B-Q2 15 P-KR4 P-N5 16 PXP?! (better is 16 P-R5 even though Black would still have a perfectly good game) 16 ... NxNP 17 B­ K2 R-KNl! and Black had the ad­ vantage. .

53

K-Kl

R-Q4

54

Q-B7

KXB

55

QXB

RXPch

56

K-B2

Resigns

GAME 85 White: Svetozar Gligoric Black: Henrique Mecking Nimzo-Indian Defense

Notes by Levy 1

P-Q4

N-KB3

2

P-QB4

P-K3 N-N3

3

N-QB3

B-N5

11

4

P-K3

P-B4

12

NXN

5

B-Q3

N-B3

13

0-0!

203

PXN

S AN

ANTONIO

Gligoric's important improvement

'72

theoretical innovation and built up

on the Spassky-Fischer game, which

a clearly superior position, he al­

continued 13 PXP PXP 14 B-K3.

lowed his advantage to slip when

His idea is to avoid blocking the

he

position and to retain some options

liquidating

overlooked

Mecking's

on the Kingside and in the center.

have kept White's grip on the posi­

idea. 21

B-B4

simple would

tion and allowed Black very little 13

0-0

play.Now Mecking can draw with­ out any difficulty.

14

P-B5

PxP

15

PXP

P-K5

16

B-K2

Q-K2

17

B-K3

B-Q2

21 22

18

Q-Kl

N-R2

19

P-N4

N-N4

20

Q-N3

QR-Kl

Q-B3 P-KR4

Now 22 B-B4 can be met by 22 ... P-K6! 22

N-B6ch

23

BxN

PxB

24

RXP

QxQBP

25

R-QBl

Q-N7

26

R-KB2

Q-R6

27

B-B4

QxQch

28

BXQ

R-K5

29

BXP

RXPch

30

R-N2

RXReh

31

KXR

Draw

A game of great theoretical im­ 21

portance.

QR-Kl?

In one respect this move is symp­ GAME 86

tomatic of Gligoric's play through­ out the tournament. He was suffer­ ing from bronchitis since leaving Belgrade

and

during

the

entire

White: Lajos Portisch Black: Paul Keres

tournament. When he came to the

English Opening

tournament hall each day he was almost petrified by the fear that the

Notes by Portisch

state of his health would cause him to

make

Here,

some

having

colossal

produced

blunder. a

strong

204

1

P-QB4

N-KB3

2

N-QB3

P-K3

ROUND

ELEVEN

3

N-B3

P-B4

changes twice

4

P-KN3

N-B3

White has a good game.

on his

Q5 square

5

B-N2

B-K2

6

0-0

0-0

15

7

P-Q4

P-Q4

16

PXP

BXN

8

PxQP

KNXP

17

QXQB

NXP

9

NxN

PXN

18

Q-R5

10

PXP

BxP

11

B-N5

P-B3

P-Q5

I have played this variation as Black and I prefer 11

.. . Q-N3

which I played against Darga at Beverwijk

1964:

13 N-Q2 KR-Kl

12

R-Bl

P-Q5

14 N-N3 B-Bl

15 Q-Q3 P-QR4!, with good play for Black. The text weakens the KN1-QR7 diagonal. 18 12

R-Bl

13

B-Q2

Q-Q2

B-N3 18

P-N3 is nonsense: 19 Q-

Ql and Black has only succeeded This appears to be but

I

wanted

a

little passive

to leave

the

KB4

in

weakening his

Kingside. It is

better to keep the move . . . P-N3

square free because in some varia­

in reserve for a more opportune

tions my Knight can get there via

moment.

Kl and Q3. In the game Petrosian­ Keres, Moscow 1966, White played

19

QR-Kl

13 B-B4 B-K3 14 N-Kl R-Kl 15 N-Q3, and now 15 ... P-Q5! 16

The most difficult move of the

P-QR3 B-Q4 would have been the

game. 19 QR-Ql would not be so

simplest way to equalize.

good because it deprives the White Queen of her best square.

B-N5

13 14

Q-N3

15

P-K3

19

K-Rl

If 19

KR-Kl KR-Ql then 20 B-N4

The point. Now I threaten B-B3

R-Kl 21 RxRch RXR 22 Q-Q5,

followed by N-Q4 and if Black ex-

with the idea of reaching an ending

205

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2 P-KR3

with two Bishops against Bishop

24

and Knight.

25

B-QS

K-R2

26

Q-N8ch

K-N3

27

B-B7ch

K-N4

20

BXP

21

BxQR

RXR

21 RXR P-N3 (now that move is useful!) 22 Q-Q5 QxQ 23 BXQ R-Ql

24 B-N2 N-B6ch 25 BXN

RXB 26 R-K2 RXR 27 BXR is a

If 27 ... K-B4 28 Q-B8ch K-N4 29 RXR QXPch (29 ... QXR 30 P-B4 mate) 30 K-R3 QXR 31 Q­ N4 mate.

dead draw.

28 N-K7ch??

21

QxPch

28 Q-R7 is a more elegant finish.

Weak. Black had overlooked my 24th move.Instead he should have

28

played 21 ... R-Kl 22 Q-Q5 (not

29

B-RS

K-B4 K-K3

22 B-N2? N-K7ch 23 K-Rl R-K4

30

B-N4ch

P-B4

winning the Bishop at Q7) 22 ...

31

BxPch

KXB

QXQ 23 BXQ R-Ql (23 ... N­

32

Q-B7ch

Resigns

K7ch is not so good because later White's Rook will come to the KGAME 87

file with gain of tempo) 24 R-Kl P-N3 25 B-N2 (25 B-R6? N-B4!) N-B6ch 26 BXN RXB, with a dead

White: Kenneth Smith

draw as in the last note.

Black: Julio Kaplan

22

K-N2

NXP

23

RPXN

QxB

24

Q-B7

Robatsch Defense

Notes by Smith 1

P-K4

P-KN3

2

P-Q4

B-N2

3

N-QB3

P-QB3

4

P-B4

P-Q4

5

P-KS

P-KR4

Described as the Gurgenidze Sys­ tem in Keene and Botterill's "The Modern Defense." Since I am the U.S. publisher of this excellent book,

206

ROUND

ELEVE N

permission to quote comes easily!

7

P-KR3

BXN

"The strategic problems posed by

8

QxB

P-K3

the Gurgenidze System are complex To prevent 9 P-B5.

and by no means fully resolved ... play unfolds at slow motion on a

9

wide front, and slightly inaccurate strategic

decisions

taken

at

long

Fischer-Petrosian, Belgrade 1970

range are often revealed as irre­

continued: 9 P-KN3 Q-N3 10 Q-B2

versibly fatal in view of the rather

N-K2

rigid postures into which the oppos­ ing pawn structures are cast."

6

B-K3

11

0-0-0

B-Q3

13

N-Q2

12

N-K2

P-B3

14

P-N3

P-B3

N-KB4 15 R-KNl P-B4 16 BXN KPXB 17 B-K3 Q-R3 with a slight

N-B3

advantage to Black.

Part of Black's strategy in this

9

P-RS

system is the exchange of the light squared Bishops, usually from KB4,

Even though this move has been

e.g. 6 B-Q3 (instead of 6 N-B3 as

played by Benko and Smyslov, in

played), 6 ... N-KR3 7 N-B3 B-B4

my opinion it is weak. White is not

8 0-0. Now Black must play 8 ...

bothered by this restriction on the

only a

Kingside for the other side offers

slight advantage for White. Not 8

enough expansion possibilities. This

BXB 9 QXB P-K3

with

... N-Q2 9 N-KR4! (White keeps

pawn will be a permanent weakness

his KB, for if 9 ... BXB 10 QXB

as White keeps an eye on

P-K3 then 11 NXNP is exceedingly

sides of the board.

dangerous-Keene) 9 ... P-K3 10 NXB NXN 11 N-K2 B-Bl 12 P­ B3 P-B4 13 K-Rl with advantage to White (Krogius-Bronstein, Tillis 1967). 6

10

B-Q3

N-Q2

11

0-0

N-K2

12

K-Rl

both

The idea of this move was to get White's Knight to KB3 via K2 and

B-NS

KNl. But Black's active Queenside play results in a different plan.

Black chooses an immediate pin. N-KB4

He could have angled for the above

12

variation as discussed or he could

13

B-B2

Q-N3

have played 6 ... N-KR3 which

14

B XN

NPXB

usually transposes into that line or

15

N-R4

Q-R3

the one actually played.

16

P-QN3!

207

SAN

ANTO NIO

White's idea is to attack the head of Black's pawn chain

(the

'72

nally wins it. Of course, as men­

QP)

tioned in the note to the 21st move,

with P-B4 or to initiate a general

Black could have diverted a piece

Queenside advance. Play will show

from the Queenside to defend it,

that the latter plan is used by White.

but then White would transfer his heavy pieces for a direct attack on

B-Bl

16 17

N-B5

BxN

18

PXB

Q-R6

Before

castling,

Black

Black's King.

restricts

24

BXP

Q-R3

25

B-K7

Q-B5

26

B-Q6ch

K-N2

27

P-QR4

QR-KN1

the mobility of White's pawns. 19

Q-K3

0-0-0

20

P-B3

K-B2

21

P-QN4

P-N4?

Black switches to the Kingside with the hope of creating counter­ chances.

With his desire to blunt White's Queenside play, Black forgets about his Kingside weakness. Necessary

28

R-B3

Q-N6

29

P-R5

Q-B7

was 21 ... N-Bl or 21 ... R-R2

Slightly better would have been

to protect the KRP. 22

PXP e.p.ch

23

Q-Kl!

R-Rl

23

29

...

play

PXP

White

Q-N7 so as to be able to

(after

30

Q-KBl?)

intended to

meet

RXNP! 29

Q-N7 with 30 R-B2. 30

Q-KB1

P-N4

31

K-R2

K-R3

32

Q-B2

QxQ

33

RXQ

N-Bl

34

R-KN1

N-Q2

Time trouble, but Black is lost in any case. 35

R-B3!

White has kept his eye on Black's

The correct idea, trading off so

weak KRP since move nine and by

as to be able to advance the King­

diverse Queenside action White fi-

side pawns.

208

ROUND 35 36

R-N3

ELEVEN

P-83

7

N-83

P-K4

PXP

8

0-0

KN-K2

37

PXP

P-84

9

P-Q3

0-0

38

RXR

RXR

10

B-Q2

R-Nl!?

39

P-N4!

KBPXP

40

RXP

R-KRl

Black could also play 10 . . . P­ R3, preparing for B-K3. But as N­

With his flag hanging by a thread

Kl is probably White's next move,

Black makes his 40th move. White

Black tries to save P-R3 and make

sealed ...

a

41

R-N7

Black showed up at the next ses­ sion just to make sure that White had sealed a legal move and then ...

11

N-Kl

12

N-82

B-K3

12 N-Q5 P-QN4! would prove that Black's

10th move was very

useful.

Resigns

41

more useful move.

12

P-Q4

In time, before White can take

GAME 88

the initiative with P-QN4.

White: Larry Evans Black: Anatoly Karpov English Opening

13

PXP

NxP

14

NxN

BXN

15

P-QN4

BxB

16

KxB

P-QN4!

Notes by Larsen To exchange twice would leave 1

P-QB4

P-QB4

Black with

2

N-QB3

N-QB3

is ready to play BPXP followed by

3

P-KN3

P-KN3

P-R5, and 17 PXBP Q-Q4ch gives

4

B-N2

B-N2

him a very comfortable game. If

5

P-QR3

P-Q3

you are looking for a good defense

6

R-Nl

P-QR4

a

weak QNP. Now he

against this opening, study Karpov's play in this game carefully!

It is not easy for White to ex­ ploit this weakening of the Queen­

17

PxRP!

NxP

side.

18

N-K3

R-Kl

209

SAN 18

.

.

.

N-B3

ANTONIO

19 Q-B2 N-Q5 is

'7 2

moves. So, the annotator who likes

playable for Black, but White can

"Knight vs.

bad Bishop " has not

improve with 19 P-QR4!, with some

yet

an

advantage.

White's play.

19 Q-Bl 20 BxN White's

is

the

improvement

22 23 P-B4

B-Bl

hope

found

famous

on

Q-RS! Q-QS

White has a strong Knight, in­

"Knight against bad Bishop." Black

deed, but some weak pawns, too.

was ready to play N-B3 with a very

Black is threatening P-B5.

fine game.

24 25 26 27

QxKP R-R3 P-B4

PXP R-B3 R-N3 Q-QNl

Attacks and defends.

27 28 29 30 31 32

R(l)-Rl RXP R-R7ch RXReh PxP P-BS

RXNP R-N7 R-B2 KXR PxP

The Bishop 1s not so bad any more.

22 P-K4 Very

thematic,

supporting

R-Bl R-Kl

33 K-N2 34 N-N6

the

Knight and fixing the Black KP on a square of the same color as the

Draw

Bishop. But a very interesting alter­ native was 22 P-B4!?, for instance 22

Because of 35 NXP. 35 N-Q7

... PXP 23 QXKBP!? RXPch 24

Q-Q5 36 P-K5 B-N2 is risky for

K-B3 Q-Q7!? 25 N-B6ch K-N2 26

White.

QXR P-R4!-and we have reached

In a way, this was one of the

the point where we have to go back

best-played games of the tourna­

and take away the !s, leaving only

ment. But neither player had

the ?s at those interesting White

solve very difficult problems.

210

to

ROUND

ELEVEN

Standings After Eleven Rounds 81/2

Karpov

8

Keres

71/z

Petrosian, Portisch

7

Larsen

61/z

Gligoric, Hort, Suttles

6

Mecking

5

D. Byrne

4112

Browne, Evans

31/z

Campos

3

Kaplan

2

Saidy

1112

Smith

211

SAN ANTONIO

'72

ROUND TWELVE

Monday, December 4th White

Black

Opening

Karpov (8Y2) 89 Hort (6Y2) Sicilian Defense 90 Campos (31/2) Suttles (6Vz) Pirc Defense 91 Keres (8) Smith (Vz) English Opening 92 Mecking (6) Portisch (71/2) Ruy Lopez 93 Browne (4Y2) Petrosian (71h) Sicilian Defense 94 Saidy (2) Gligoric (6Y2) Queen's Gambit Declined D. Byrne (5) 9 5 Larsen (7) English Opening 96 Kaplan (3) Evans ( 41/2) Sicilian Defense

GAME 89

Result

Moves

1/2-1h 0-1 1/2-Vz Y2-Vz 1h-Vz 0-1 1-0 1-0

18 39 73 31 27 53 40 41

GAME 90

White: Vlastimil Hort

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

Black: Anatoly Karpov

Black: Duncan Suttles

Sicilian Defense

Pirc Defense

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-QB3

P-K3

3

N-B3

N-QB3

1

P-K4

4

P-Q4

PxP

2

P-Q4

P-Q3

5

NXP

P-QR3

3

N-KB3

B-N2

Notes by Larsen P-KN3

6

P-KN3

KN-K2

4

P-B3

N-KB3

7

B-N2

NXN

5

QN-Q2

0-0

8

QXN

N-B3

6

B-K2

QN-Q2

9

Q-K3

P-Q3

7

0-0

P-K4

10

P-N3

B-K2

8

R-Kl

P-N3

11

B-N2

0-0

9

PxP

PxP

12

0-0

R-Nl

10

P-QR4

B-N2

13

N-K2

P-QN4

11

Q-B2

P-QR4

14

QR-Bl

Q-R4

A very quiet opening.

15

P-QR3

Q-N3

16

Q-Q2

P-QR4

17

KR-Ql

R-Ql

12

P-QN3

N-B4

18

N-B4

Draw

13

B-B4

N-Kl

212

ROUND 14

P-QN4!?

PXP

15

PxP

N-Q2

16

B-R3

N-Q3

17

B-N3

P-QN4

TWELVE 20

Q-Q3

20 R-K2!? was to be considered. 20

R-Bl!

Ready to answer B-Q5 with P-B3. 21

P-R3(?)

Q-K2

22

N-R2

K-Rl

23

P-B4?

Ruining an already not very good position. The idea seems to be 23 ... PXP 24 P-K5 N-KB4 25 QXP. Even that would not be very good, but Black has a "zwischenzug." 18

P-R5? KR-Ql!

23 White begins to ruin his own posi­

24

Q-K2

PXP

tion. The passed pawn is not very

25

P-K5

N-KB4

strong as Black has an ideal block­

26

N(Q)-B3

ader ready. He might just as well try 26 N-Nl!

18 19

QxP. Black has many

QR-Bl(?)

good an­

swers, but the simplest is 26 P-QB3 27 Q-K2 N-Q5

The only plan for White was to

...

28 Q-B2

N-N4 29 B-N2 NxP.

exchange that Knight as quickly as P-QB3

possible. Probably best was 19 R­

26

K2 N-R3 20 N-Kl !, with the idea

27

N-N4

N-N6

N-Q3-B5.

28

Q-KB2

R-Q6

29

R-Nl

P-QB4

19

N-R3 With a pawn more and an over­

A very good blockading Knight,

in

accordance

with

Nimzovich's

whelming position,

Black

easy job.

"System." It is important that the Knight not only blockades. Here it

30

B-Bl

BXN

threatens the White QNP.

31

PXB

NxP

213

has an

SAN

'72

ANTONIO

32

N-B6

R-Q5

3

P-K4

33

QBXP

N-B4

4

P-K5

P-Q5

34

QR-Ql

5

PxN

PxN

6

PxNP

P-Q4

Nimzovich long ago assessed this line as equal after 6 NPXP KPXP 7 P-Q4 B-Q3 8 B-Q3 0-0 9 N-K2 R-Kl. The text move attempts to pose Black more problems. PxPch

6

35

BXP

BxP

8

Q-B2

N-Q2

9

N-K2

N-B3

RXB!

34 35

7

R-Q7

Better is 9

BXN!

... Q-Bl was possible, but

why give White any chances? 36

RXQ

BXR

37

R-K4

P-B5!

Q-QN2

RXP

39

B-Ql

B-B4ch

...

N-B3 or if 10 B-B3 BXB 11 QXB (or 11 NXB) N-B3.

Threatening B-B4. 38

Q-N3 and after

10 N-B3 Black can play 10

Resigns

10

N-N3

Q-B2

11

B-Q3

B-Q2

12

B-B3

0-0-0

13

0-0-0

N-Kl

14

KR-Kl

White plays a solid developing move

and

does

counterplay

GAME 91

lines:

as

not in

allow Black

the

following

(i) 14 BXP BXB 15 PXB

with a weak pawn structure and ex­

White: Paul Keres Black: Kenneth Smith English Opening

posed King,

but he does have a

pawn; (ii) 14 BXB NXB 15 BXP P-KB4!

with

counterplay

pawn.

Notes by Smith 14

P-K3

1

P-QB4

N-KB3

15

BXB

2

N-QB3

P-B3

16

Q-B3

214

NxB

for the

ROUND Again White rejects the

TWELVE

pawn,

24

P-B4

for after 16 BXP P-KB4 White's Bishop is in trouble.

Better than 24 NXP RXP, etc. R-N5

N-B4

24

17

Q-B6

KR-Bl

25

K-Q2

RXP

18

R-K5

K-Nl!

26

P-KR3

K-Q3?

16

defense to

Better was 26

save Black's game. The effect of

Preparing a

tactical

27 NXP? R-R4!

R-R5 and if

this move is seen at move 20. 19

BXN

20

Q-Q6

PXB

After 20 NXP BXN Black has adequate

defensive

resources, e.g.

R-R5

28

K-K3

R-R5

29

NxPch

BXN

30

RxB

K-K3

31

R-KN5

R-R3

32

K-K4

R-R5ch R-R3

(i) RXB RXRch 22 KXR Q-Q2ch!

33

K-K3

followed by

34

K-Q4

QXB

. .. R-Ql; or (ii) 21

RXRch

P-QR3

27

22 KXR Q-Q3ch! Now 34

followed by ... R-Ql. Notice that

R-R5ch is met by

35 K-B5!

in both lines Black brings his Queen to the Queen file with check. He

R-N3

34

would employ the same idea against 21 RxRch RxR 22 RxB (or 22 QXB). B-K3

20 21

QxQch

22

P-N3

KxQ

Of course 22 NxP allows 22 ... BXP,

but

this

would

have been

better than the text move. 22 23

RXReh

Suddenly game.

R-KNl!

KXR Black

has

the

better

I

215

35

R-K5ch

Short of time, White could not

SAN

ANTONIO

be sure that the King and pawn

Now both players were in time

ending was a win even though it is full of possibilities for White: RXR BPXR 36

K-B5

'72

trouble.

35

K-Q2 37

36

P-B5ch

K-N6 K-Bl 38 P-QN4. Now the

37

P-KN4

R-R3

gamewould revolve around whether,

38

R-B5

K-K3

and how, Black moves his Kingside

39

R-B3

R-B3

pawns in answer to White's own

40

R-K3ch

K-Q2

K-02

advance on the Kingside.The situ­ ation on the Queenside is also im­ portant: (i) 38

Both flags stay up and White now

... P-R3? (or P­

KR4) 39 P-QR4 K-Nl

40 P-N5

moved quickly so as to force Black to seal.

RPXP 41 RPXP PXP 42 KXP! K-B2 43 P-B5! K-Nl 44 K-N6 K­

41

R-K5

Bl 45 P-B6 PXP 46 KXP followed King along the

Having read the many tales of

sixth rank to win Black's pawns; or

by

marching his

Keres's powers of analysis in ad­

(ii) 38 ... K-Nl (leaving the King­

journed positions, the pressure was

side pawns in place) 39 P-N4 K-Bl

on to find not only a correct move

40 P-KN5 K-Nl

41 P-R3! K-Bl

to seal but one that would allow me

42 P-QR4! K-Nl 43 P-N5 RPXP

to examine the possibilities from a

44 RPXP PXP 45 PXP K-Bl 46

forcing situation. I discovered the

K-R7 K-B2 47 P-N6ch K-B3 48

correct move:

P-R4! and White wins. So is the game a win for White? Not

necessarily,

R-R3

41

Black

42

R-K3

R-B3

could have improved in line (ii)

43

K-K4

K-K3

with 39

because

... P-N4!, and with his

extra tempo Black would win if

Not 43 ... R-B7 because of 44

White continued to play as in line

R-KB3 R-K7ch 45 K-Q3! winning;

(ii) or draw if White played as in

nor 43 ... R-B8 44 R-KB3 R-K8ch

line (i).There follows one example

45

of Black's strategy and the reader

after the weak Black pawns.

may

work

out the rest:

38

K-B5

and

White's King goes

...

K-Nl

39 P-N4 P-N4 40 P-QR4

44

R-Q3

R-B7

K-Bl

41 P-N5 RPXP 42 RPXP

45

R-Q6ch

K-K2

PXP 43 KXP K-B2 44 P-B5 (44 Midnight oil from the adjourn­

K-B5 P-N3ch!) 44 ... P-R3! draw.

ment analysis had been responsible 35

K-Q3

for finding the preceding moves and 216

ROUND

TWELVE

I expected it to have solved my

56

K-N2

future problems as well. But now

57

P-R4

P-R3

Keres comes up with a move that

58

R-Q7

P-B3

made my heart skip a beat

K-N2

R-B4

I had

59

R-Q6

analyzed only 46 R-R6 and 46 P­

60

P-R5

P-B4!

QR3 and found easy draws in both

61

R-N6ch

K-R2

cases.

62

PxP

RxP

63

RXP

RXP

64

P-N4

46

-

R-Q4!

White's best winning try.

The draw may look easy from this

RXP

46 47

R-N4

K-K3

48

RXP

R-K7ch!

The

drawing

idea

of

position,

but believe

me -

against a Keres it is not. 64 65

forcing

White to allow the Black King to become active along the fourth rank. 49

K-Q4

R-Q7ch

50

K-B4

R-B7ch

51

K-N4

R-KN4 R-B5

R-Nl

65 ... K-N3 loses to 66 RXRch! PXR (66

... KXR? loses to 67

P-N5) and after both players pro­ mote

White

wins

Black's

Had White played to the third

66

P-N5

K-N3

rank at any of his last three moves,

67

K-B3

P-R4

Black would have replied

68

P-N6

P-R5

69

K-Q4

R-Qlch

R­

KR 7.

70

K-B4

P-R6

K-N5

P-R7 K-N4

P-R4ch

71

52

KxP

RxPch

72

R-Bl

53

K-N4

R-B8

73

P-N7

54

R-B7

K-B3

51

Queen

with Q-N8ch.

I had expected 73 R-KRl R-KRl Black can safely go to the King­

74 P-N7 K-N5 75 RXP!, but Black

side because White can make no

draws with 75

headway on the Queenside, e.g. 55

White makes a new Queen he loses

K-R5 R-B6 56 P-N4 R-B5!

to

... RXR! and if

... R-N7ch. But

of

course

White would have played 76 K-B6 55

K-R3

K-N3

with a draw. 217

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

23

Q-B2

QR-Kl

24

B-R2

Q-Ql

25

K-Bl

Q-K2

26

QR-Ql

NxP

for it was against the great Keres,

27

NXN

BXN

my boyhood idol, who in my opinion

28

RXB

RXR

R-QNl

73 Draw

To me this was an exciting draw

is the one man living who should

29

BXR

QxB

champion but

30

QxQ

RXQ

31

BXP

world

have been never was.

R-QN5 Draw

GAME 92 GAME 93

White: Henrique Mecking Black: Lajos Portisch

White: Walter Browne Black: Tigran Petrosian

Ruy Lopez Sicilian Defense

1

P-K4

P-K4

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

1

P-K4

P-QB4

3

B-N5

P-QR3

2

N-KB3

P-K3

4

B-R4

N-B3

3

N-B3

N-KB3

5

0-0

B-K2

4

P-Q4

PXP P-Q3

6

R-Kl

P-QN4

5

NxP

7

B-N3

0-0

6

P-KN 3

N-B3

8

P-B3

P-Q3

7

B-N2

B-Q2

P-KR3

P-R3

8

0-0

B-K2

10

P-Q4

R-Kl

9

R-Kl

0-0

11

B-K3

B-Bl

10

NXN

BXN

12

QN-Q2

B-N2

11

P-QR4

Q-Q2

9

13

Q-Nl

N-Nl

12

R-K3

KR-Ql

14

B-B2

QN-Q2

13

R-Q3

N-K l

15

P-QR4

P-B4

14

P-N3

P-QN3

16

P-QN3

P-N5

15

B-QR3

P-QR3

17

PxKP

PXBP

16

Q-Q2

Q-B2

18

PXN

PXN

17

R-Kl

KR-Bl

19

NXP

NXP

18

N-K2

B-Bl

20

B-B4

P-N3

19

B-N4

N-B3

21

Q-Ql

R-K3

20

N-Q4

B-N2

22

B-Q3

Q-Q2

21

P-QB4

N-Q2

218

ROUND

TWELVE

22

P-B4

N-B4

3

N-B3

P-Q4

23

R(3)-K3

R-Kl

4

P-Q4

P-B3

24

K-Rl

QR-Bl

5

PxP

KPxP

25

P-RS

B-Rl

26

PXP

QxP

The opening is now defined as

27

B-RS

Draw

the Queen's Gambit Declined, Or­ thodox Defense, Exchange Varia­ tion - a dull game that I know

GAME 94

very well. On this occasion, weary, I would be quite content with a dull

White: Anthony Saidy

draw. But it's a mystery why Gligo

Black: Svetozar Gligoric

allowed it. He almost always plays the King's Indian.

Queen's Gambit Declined 6

B-NS

B-KB4!?

Notes by Saidy Perhaps a bit premature. Usual is When

one

of

the elite grand­

6 ... B-K2 7 Q-B2 P-KN3 8 P-K3

masters blunders a piece to you, at

B-KB4 9 B-Q3 BXB 10 QXB, and

first you can hardly believe your

Black should equalize without much

eyes. Granted: there was enough

trouble, as in Saidy-Benko, Netanya

material compensation.But it should

1969.

be impossible to lose with a piece Q-N3

7

Q-N3

Yet, when I received such gener­

8

BxN

PxB

osity in this game, I at first ne­

9

P-K3

N-Q2

ahead.

glected the sharpest continuation. In time pressure, my understanding

White has carefully avoided cap­

was so limited that I refused a fair

turing Black's Queen, which would

offer

allow a dangerous open file and

of

a

draw

and soon after

ruined the entire game with a colos­

pawn roller (. .. P-QN4-5, etc.).

sal error just before the time con­

He hopes to gain an edge by play­

trol.

ing on Black's weak KB4 square.

a

You can call it bad luck. But in

Here, 9 ... N-R3 might well equal­

losing streak there is a funny

ize, e.g. 10 N-KR4 QxQ 11 PxQ

feeling that, no matter what you do,

N-N5 12 K-Q2 B-B7 13 R-R3 B-K2

cruel fate will supervene.

14 P-N3 P-KB4 15 N-N2 B-K5.

1

P-QB4

N-KB3

10

R-Bl

2

N-QB3

P-K3

11

N-KR4!?

219

B-K2

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

More accurate is 11 P-N3 0-0

A few moves later I realized that

12 N-KR4 QxQ 13 PXQ B-K3 (or

I could have gained a probably de­

13 ... B-N3 14 B-R3) 14 B-Q3,

cisive tempo for the attack via 20

with a slight advantage for White.

R-B2, later swinging the Rook to KR2.It is simply necessary to pre­

11 12

P-N3

B-N3

vent Black

P-KB4

Knight via ... N-Q7. The condi­

from reactivating his

13

N-N2

N-B3

tion of this Knight and the immo­

14

B-Q3

QXQ

bility of Black's pawns still give

15

PXQ

N-K5

White all the chances. The next

16

P-B3

N-N4?

moves are all logical enough.

20

0-0 B-Q3

21

N-B4

22

R-R2

K-N2

23

K-B3

KR-Kl

24

R(l)-KRl

K-B3

25

B-B2

N-R4

26

P-N3

QR-Qt

Preparing played

now

B-NS would

which

have

lost

if to

(either) NXPch. White's A rare blunder for Gligoric, who

pieces

having

reached

optimal positions, he at last takes

was not feeling well during much of

the helpless Bishop and pushes his

the tournament. Here he reckoned

initiative to a critical point. (Had

only with 17 N-KR4? P-BS!

the tempo been saved on move 20,

If he had played 16 ... N-Q3

Black would have had to post his

and offered a draw, it would have

King on KN2 and his KR on KRl

been

in an attempt to hold the KR file.)

one

of

my

more

pleasant

days in fair San Antonio. But now the gauntlet was thrown down. I

27

PXB

RPXP

had to take the piece and play for a

28

R-R7

B-N5

win.

29

N-Ql

P-B4!

17

P-R4!

NXPch

18

K-B2

N-Q7

in time.If now 30 N-Q3 N-B3! 31

19

P-R5

NXP

PXP N-K4ch 32 NxN RXN, Black

20

QR-Ql?!

Black's counterplay comes just

has no real problems. 220

ROUND

30 R(l)-R6!? 31 PXP

TWELVE

PXP

Gligo later said he had not seen that White could force off a pair of Rooks in this way, thus preventing trouble on the King file. 33

. . .

If now

R-K2 34 N-K3 B-Q7 35

NXP BXR 36 NXR(6) K-N2 37 R-QB8

B-K6 38

NXNP

NXPch

and draws.

33 34 35 36 37 Alas, after much thought, leaving myself only 13 minutes for the next 9 moves, I concluded that my at­ tack at its maximum was insuffi­ cient to win. Consider these exciting but inadequate possibilities: (i) 31 BXP?! N-B3 and Black's resource of ... N-K4ch stops the

At this point,

(ii) 31 N-R5ch!? K-N4 32 N-B2! R-Q7 35 K-B3! (threatening N-R3 mate) RxNch 36 KXR B-Bl! (a terrific resource, saving the game though a Rook

down)

37

R-R8

So,

in

addition

must

deciding

on

offer. In an instant, the following thoughts went through my mind: "He's just refused my offer now he's after a draw.Does it mean he has blundered

a pawn away?

Maybe he can regain it. So what? How can I possibly lose anyway?" So I determined to play on to my doom!

37 38 R-Ql 39 N(5)-B4?!

store material equality. forces

to

moves, I had to consider a draw

and it is White who is trying to re­ White's

about two

fered a draw - very legitimately.

PXN 38 RXPch K-B3 39 B-B2,

Now,

with

minutes for four moves, I was of­

would-be mate; RXPch 33 K-N2 R-K7 34 B-Ql

R(3)-K3 RXR B-Q7 K-N2

RXR N-K3 NxPch R-Rl

fall

R-Ql B-R4

back and on the next move, Black Logical, but inferior. A minimal

refuses a draw.

advantage could be preserved via

31 32 N-K2 33 R-R8

N-B3 R-Q3

39 P-QN4! BXP 40 NXB NXN 41 B-R4, retaining the passed QP. Now the pawn must go. 221

SAN 39

ANTONIO

the only chance, hoping for a repeat

B-N3

40

'72

of the position.To his credit, Gligo

P-QS??

did not even repeat the position Oh,

cursed time

trouble! With

once, so as to find the win calmly

more time, I would have seen that

at home,

this move allows the Knight fatal

move.

but sealed the winning

threats.An easy draw was still avail­ able with 40 P-KN4.

42

K-B3

N-K6!

But, as Alekhine said about time trouble, my using it as an excuse for losing is as faulty an argument as that of a criminal who pleads

Not 42

drunkenness (he should know). 40 41

... R-KRl? 43 N-Q4!

R- R7 44 BXP! 43

R-Q2

N-K4ch K-N2

After the game, Gligoric said that

N-NS

43 R-QBl is a better choice, but still loses to 43

P-N4

43 44

P-N4.

B-Nl

White is helpless, e.g. 44 N-N2 N-B8!,

threatening

both

mate

in

one and the Rook. There is no escaping

the

mating

net

without

heavy material loss. The harmless Knight has sud­ trol reached, I now took over

a

half hour for my next move (Gli­ goric had played rapidly). During that

time I

soon

recovered

my

senses, and realized I had ruined

P-NSch!

44

denly become lethal.The time con­

45

K-B2

46

K-Kl

NxPch!

Or 46 K-Bl N-K6ch 47 K-Kl R-KRl! and wins.

my position.If I attempted to avoid the fork via 42 R-Q2, then 42 ...

46

R-KRl would be murderous,

47

e.g.

B-R4 B-Q3

43 K-B3 R-R7 44 N-Q3 N-K4ch 45 NXN R-B7 mate. So I played 222

Or 47N-Q3 R-KRl and wins.

ROUND

47 48 49 50 51 52 53

previous round,

N-K6 K-R3 K-N4 BXR N-B8ch NxPch KXN

N-R5ch N(2)-B4 K-K2 KXB K-K2 NxN Resigns

TWELVE

the

same

where he played

position

with

a

tempo

extra and lost terribly; he was ill.

P-KN3 NXN B-N2

4 5 P-K4!? 6 NPXN

I like positions with a central Before the pawn onslaught.

pawn majority, but what can White

It

interesting

do with it in this case? 7 P-Q4 P­

At least I kept intact my

QB4 leads to an old-fashioned vari­

was

chess.

flawed,

but

consistent record of playing more

ation of the Gruenfeld where White

moves than anyone else in a given

has all the problems, and 7 B-B4

0-0 8 0-0 P-B4 followed by N-B3

tournament.

looks very pleasant for Black, too.

Wait till next time!

I decided to do something strange.

7 Q-R4ch!?

GAME 95

It worked! I got the Black Knight

White: Bent Larsen Black: Donald Byrne

away from its best square, Against 7

QB3.

P-B3 I might have

know what it is worth.

Notes by Larsen

P-QB4 N-QB3 PXP N-B3

. . .

played 8 P-Q4, but I do not quite

English Opening

1 2 3 4

N-Q2

8 9 10 11 12 13

N-KB3 P-Q4 NxP

B-K2

0-0

0-0

P-QB4 Q-B2 P-N3 B-N2 B-QB3(?)

Q-B2 P-Q3 P-QR4 N-Q2

My opponent was not at all satis­

I honestly believe that 4 P-KN3 P-KN3 5 B-N2 NXN 6 N PXN 0-0

fied

7 R-QNl is very good for White,

Probably

with

this 13

move

. . .

afterwards.

P-QR3 is more

but I know that Donald Byrne has

exact. But this is one of those errors

played this with very good results

the psychological effect of which is

with Black. Do not judge him by

the most important one. Black had

his

already used over an hour, and tak-

game

against Browne in

the

223

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

ing quite some time for his next

the threat N-N4) leads to a very

four moves he was well on his way

simple position with few problems

to serious time pressure.

and almost a sure draw.

P-K3

14 B-N2 15 P-Q4

It is hard to suggest another plan for White.ThoughI felt that Black's 13th move had been inexact, I saw no advantage in the position - ex­ cept for an hour's advantage on the clock!

15 16 B-B3

P-QR3 20 B-K2!?

I could not find a good arrange­ ment of my pieces to keep the ten­ sion in the center. A noteworthy detail is that if a White Rook goes to

QBl,

Black

can

be annoying

with B-KR3.

Already

NXP?

short

of

time,

Black

chooses what seems to be the sim­ plest continuation. However, 20 ... PXBP was stronger. An interesting continuation with an unclear pawn sacrifice for White is 21 P-B4 N-Q6 22 BXB KxB 23 NXP!? (23 QxP

16 17 P-Q5

B-N2 PxP

N-N5 is pleasant for Black) NXP 24 P-Q6 26

Time: White 52 minutes, Black 113.

(26

N-N6

QxP

cer­

tainly offers no winning chances for White). After

18 PxP 19 P-B4

N-K4 P-QN4

a

the

text

move,

finally,

White has the initiative.

21 22 23 24

Black does not want to allow White

NX Bch 25 QXN Q-Q2

QR-Ql

solidly protected passed

pawn in the center. 20 RPXP PXP

NxN BXB P-Q6! KR-Ql

PXN KXB Q-Q2

21 PxP NxBch 22 NXN BXP 23 BXB KXB 24 Q-B3ch P-B3 (better than 24 ... K-Nl 25 N-K5 with

24 BXP would probably transpose

224

into

the game continuation,

ROUND

TWELVE

while the attempt to get a draw by

would not get out of the bind. But

24 ... BXP? is refuted by 25 Q­

he has only two minutes!

B3ch. 28 24

B-Rl??

R-R3

KR-Kl

25

BXP

K-Nl

26

Q-B3

QR-Ql

Yes, these things happen when you are in a hurry . .. The right move was 28 ... B-R6. With his strong

passed

pawn

White

can

hardly lose, but with his exposed King he probably cannot win either. Against 29 P-B3 Black simply de­ fends his QR pawn with 29

...

R-Rl! 29

R-KN3

I was thinking of the game Keres­ D. Byrne (game 61), where White No doubt White has an excellent

also got his Rooks working on the

position with winning chances, but

position

my next move is a mistake. Byrne

Byrne, short of time, did not find a

of

the

Black

King

and

had only four minutes left for four­

defense.

teen moves, so I thought it was a

Here, there is no defense. Byrne's

good idea to plunge into complica­

original plan was 29 ... R-Nl, and

tions. Instead,

afterwards he regretted not playing

I

ought

to

have

played something like 27 P-R5, for

it. However, White wins with 30

instance 27 ... R-K5 (plan: R-Q5)

P-R4!, for instance 30

28 QR-Nl R-N5 29 P-B3 (29 B-Bl

31 P-KR5!

... R-N5

is also very good) BXP 30 QxB RXB 31 R-N7 Q-B4 (31

29

... Q­

..... .

R-KBl(?)

K3? 32 R-K7 Q-B4 33 P-Q7! and Allowing an easy combination.

wins, for instance 33 ... K-Bl 34 R-K8ch!) 32 QxQ PXQ 33 R-N6 with good winning chances. 27

Q-B6?

Black's

BxP!

only chance,

but

quite

sufficient. After other moves Black

30

RxPch!

PXR

31

QxNPch

K-Rl

32

Q-R6ch

Clearer than 32 Q-R5ch K-N2 33 R-Q3 K-B3!

225

SAN

32

ANTONIO

'72

K-Nl

11

N-B3

Q-B2

33

R-Q3

Q-N5ch

12

B-K3

BXB

34

R-N3

QxRch

35

BPXQ

B-K5

There

was

no

other

After

remedy

against Q-N6ch followed by BXBP - nor against B-Q3. 36

Q-N5ch

K-R2

37

Q-R4ch

K-N2

38

QXB

RXP

Q-K5ch

R-B3

39 40 P-N4

P-Q3

QXB

. . .

leaving

P-K4!

was more precise,

White's

Knights

poorly

placed. Black would then have a advantage. Now White re­

covers from his poor opening play and obtains a good game again.

Black: Larry Evans Sicilian Defense

14

N(B3)-Q4

15

N-KB5

16

P-N3

P-K4 B-K3 P-B3

17 Q-B3

Notes by Kaplan

7 0-0

Evans's

In view of the following move,

White: Julio Kaplan

8

game.

to give his opponent a "bad" Bishop.

13

GAME 96

N-N3

13 Q-Q2

move is also good; Black is trying

slight

6

N-B5

Black has a good

13

Resigns

1 P-K4 2 N-KB3 3 P-Q4 4 NX P 5 B-Q3

12

BXB 14 QXB NxB 15 QxN P-Q3

This prevents the continuation 17 .

P-QB4 P-K3 PXP P-QR3 B-B4

. .

BXN( 4)

18

PXB N(N3)-K2

followed by . . . P-Q4. At the same time, White begins the fight for his Q5 square. QR-Ql

17

B-N3

18

N-K2

N-K3

N(B3)-K2

A very ambitious move. Black

QN-Q2

wants to play . . . P-Q4, and he is The usual 8 Q-K2 followed by 9

also ready to answer 19 N-Q5 with 19 ... NXN 20 PXN B-Bl pre­

B-K3 is better.

serving his Bishop. 8

9 P-QB3 10 Q-K2

QN-B3 0-0 N-N3

At

the

same

time, Black's last two moves leave his Queenside a little bare, requir­ ing him to play with great caution. 226

ROUND

19 P-B4

TWELVE

P-QR4?

The key. This removes the main defender of Black's Queenside; all his other pieces are thrown into passive positions.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

PXQ R-B7 N-Q2 QR-QBl B-Bl B-R3

Preventing 29

A horrible move. Just when the

QXQ P-N3 B-R5 R-Nl KR-Ql N-Bl

N-Q2-B4, for if

... N-Q2? 30 P-N3 B-N4 31

first faint signs of danger appear in

P-R4 wins a piece. Black achieves

his Queenside, Black rushes to push

this placement of the Knight at the

a

cost of exchanging Bishops and giv­

pawn in that sector!

even

position

Black

From an

goes

in

one

ing up the square QB3.

move to a very difficult, perhaps lost one.

29 30 BXB 31 R(l)-B6 32 R-R7

Maybe my bad play in the earlier rounds and in the opening of this game caused this attack of over­

B-Q2 NXB N-B4 K-Rl

optimism in my usually careful op­ ponent.

In order to answer R(6)-B7 with ... R-Nl.

20 N-Q5!

NXN 33 K-N2!

Black could gain a tempo with then White's

White's last piece joins the bat­

Bishop would be extremely strong

tle. The threat is K-B3 followed by

after the eventual B-Bl-R3. In par­

N-B4 winning a pawn.

20

... BXN. But

ticular, it would control the square QB8; this would make it impossible for Black to challenge the QB-file.

21 BPXN 22 KR-Bl 23 Q-K3!

B-Q2 Q-N3

33 34 K-B3 35 P-QN4 36 NXP!

P-R5 P-QN4 PXPe.p.

The exchange of Black's only well 227

SA N

A NTONIO

'7 2

posted piece spells his defeat. If

45 R-B7 R-Q7 46 P-N4 P-N3 47

Black takes on QN6 White will be

P-N5

able to double his Rooks on the

must lose his KP ; (ii) 44 ... P-R4

sixth rank winning the QP. Evans

45 R-B7 R-Q7 46 P-N4 PXPch 47

PXP

48

PXP,

chooses the best defense but it is

KXP P-N3

also insufficient.

KXP R-KN7 50

48

and

Black

P-R5 PXPch P-Q6

49

R-Q7 51

K-N6, etc.; (iii) 44 ... P-R4 45 R­ B7 R-Q7 46 P-N4 PXPch 47 KXP

R(N)-Bl

36 37

NxN

38

R(7)-QB7

R-KB7 48 P-Q6 R-Q7 49 P-Q7 K­

PXN

R2 50 K-B5 R-Q3 51 P-R5! (zug­ zwang!) K-R3 52 R-B8. If Black ignores the advance of the KRP he also loses: (iv) 44

.. . R-Q7 45

R-B7 K-Bl 46 P-R5 K-Nl 47 K­ N4 R-KB7 48 P-Q6 R-Q7 49 P-Q7 K-Bl 50 K-B5 K-K2 (or 50 ... R­ Q3 51 R-B8ch K-K2 52 P-Q8=Qch RXQ 53 RXR KXR 54 P-R6) 51 P-Q8=Qch KxQ 52 RXP R-KB7ch 53 K-K6 R-B6 (53

.. . P-R3 54

R-N6) 54 RXP RXKP 55 R-KN7! and wins. 38

. . . . . .

We

R-Rl

must

conclude

that

Black

could put up stiff resistance, but After the game Evans said that

had to lose in the end. It seems

this was the decisive mistake. In­

probable that 19

deed, it makes the win very easy

the losing move.

... P-QR4 was

but I think that Black is lost in any event.Evans suggested 38 ... RXR

39

P-Q6

RXRP

39 RXR P-B5 40 R-B5 K-Nl (if

40

R-B8

R-Nl

40 ... R-QNl? 41 P-Q6! wins) 41

41

P-Q7

R-Q7

RXNP P-B6

42 R-B5 R-Rl 43

RXP RXP 44 P-R4. Now the re­

The sealed move. Evans came to

sult hinges on whether White can

the second session just for the for­

force an entrance for his King. As

mality of signing the scoresheets.

the following variations show, Black cannot prevent it: (i) 44 ... P-R4

Black Resigns

228

ROUND

TWELVE

Standings After Twelve Rounds

9

Karpov

81h

Keres

8

Larsen, Petrosian, Portisch

7V2

Gligoric, Suttles

7

Hort

61h

Mecking

5

Browne, D. Byrne

41h

Evans

4

Kaplan

31h

Campos

2

Saidy, Smith

229

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

ROUND THIRTEEN

Tuesday, December 5th White

97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104

Black

Suttles (7V2) D. Byrne (5) Petrosian (8) Gligoric (7112) Portisch (8) Karpov (9) Evans (4V2) Smith (2)

Hort (7) Campos (3112) Larsen (8) Browne (5) Saidy (2) Kaplan (4) Keres (8112) Mecking (6V2)

Opening

Result

English Opening 112-V2 English Opening 1-0 Dutch Defense 1-0 1-0 Benoni Defense Queen's Gambit Declined 1-0 Sicilian Defense 112-V2 Nimzo-lndian Defense 1-0 0-1 Sicilian Defense

GAME 97 White: Duncan Suttles

19

K-Q2

20

PXNP

QXP

21

Q-RS

Draw

P-B4

Black: Vlastimil Hort

GAME 98

English Opening

1

P-KN3

P-QB4

White: Donald Byrne

2

B-N2

N-QB3

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez

3

P-QB4

P-KN3

4

N-QB3

B-N2

5

R-Nl

P-K3

English Opening

6

P-QR3

P-QR4

1

P-KN3

P-KN3

7

P-Q3

KN-K2

2

B-N2

B-N2 P-QB4

8

P-R4

P-R3

3

P-QB4

9

N-R3

P-K4

4

N-QB3

N-QB3

10

P-RS

P-Q3

5

P-Q3

P-K4

11

P-K4

N-QS

6

P-K3

KN-K2

12

N-Nl

B-K3

7

KN-K2

0-0

13

B-R3

Q-Q2

8

0-0

R-Nl

14

P-R4

0-0-0

9

P-N3

P-Q3

15

B-K3

K-Nl

10

B-N2

P-QR3

16

BXB

QXB

11

Q-Q2

B-R3

17

P-N3

KR-Bl

12

QR-Ql

N-QS

18

N-QS

KN-B3

13

P-B4

NxNch

230

Moves

21 31 61 37 43 35 35 19

ROUND 14

QxN

B-K3

15

N-K4

P-B4

16

N-N5

B-Bl

17

N-B3

PXP

18

KP X P

R-Kl

19

P-Q4

N-B3

20

Q-Q2

B-N 2 PXP

21

PXP

22

Q-KB2

Q-R4

23

BXB

KXB

24

Q-N2ch

N-Q5

25

NXN

PXN

26

RxP

K-R3

27

R-Q5

Q-N3ch

28

P-B5

Q-B2

THIRTEEN

quite impossible to rectify, as after the tournament the players had dis­ persed to their various corners of the globe. Making a virtue of ne­ cessity, however, we consider the combined annotations below to offer the reader a most interesting and rare opportunity to literally com­ pare notes of two great players. The letters following the individ­ ual annotations refer to the authors: (P) for Petrosian, (L) for Larsen. Petrosian's notes were translated from the Russian by Hanon Russell.)

29

P- KR3

B-Q2

At the start of this game the

30

Q-B6

R-K3

tournament standings of the two

31

Q-B7

Resigns

opponents were equal. After a series of failures (against Keres, Mecking and Browne), Larsen began to win

GAME 99

one game after another, and drew close to the tournament leaders. But

White: Tigran Petrosian

I had not been able to break out

Black: Bent Larsen

of my "prison of draws." Two or three more rounds of this and I wasn't sure if my tournament per­

Dutch Defense

formance would finish creditably. These

Notes by Petrosian and Larsen

are

the

thoughts

that

ran

through my mind before the first

(Editor's Note: Due to an ap­ parent misunderstanding, both Lar­ sen and Petrosian submitted notes to this game. Because the game as­ signments had been carefully worked out during the tournament, when Larsen's notes arrived we considered this game "finished." A few days later Petrosian's notes were deliv­ ered and we realized that there had been some kind of slip-up. It was

move. (P) 1

P-Q4

P-K3

2

N-KB3

P-KB4

Oh, what a delight! I really like to play against the Dutch Defense with White. (P)

231

3

P-KN3

N-KB3

4

B-N2

P-QN4

SAN

ANTONIO

(L) gives ?!, (P) gives !!?? Many

years

ago,

in

6

'72 ..... .

Q-N3

Portoroz

1958, I invented 1 P-KB4 P-Q4 2

(L) and (P) give !

N-KB3 N-KB3 3 P-K3 P-KN3 4

Very strong. White is forced to

P-QN4!?, and I intended to play it

waste a tempo with the uninspiring

then against Petrosian, but he played

P-QB3 or P-K3 to defend the Queen

3 . . . B-N5. Now I have the op­

pawn, after which Black will man­

portunity, but with Black the move

age to play B-N2 and P-B4 with

is not very good. (3

. . .

P-QN4

a

beautiful

game. If

White

had

would have been very bad because

previously played P-QR4,

of 4 P-Q5!) (L)

P-N5, he would now be able to play

Black's last move can hardly be

forcing

N(2)-B4. (P)

endorsed. There are certain discom­

Now 7 P-QB3 B-N2 looks satis­

forts one puts up with because of

factory for Black. Petrosian thought

the "Dutch"

for half an hour. The provocation

these

are

pawn on KB4, and

but

placing of

intensified

another

fourth rank.

by

the

was too strong. Saidy later said that

pawn on the

this was the first time in Petrosian's

However, in return,

career that he made an incorrect

White has to cope with the new

pawn sacrifice - but I am not sure

situation over the board, and this

it is incorrect. (L)

will demand time and energy. (P) 5

7

N-KS

(L) gives !?, (P) gives ?!

(L) gives ! Simple and good. But it would have been better first to play P­ QR4 and only then to follow with the plan of N-K5 and N-Q2. (P)

6

Neither during nor after the game did I overestimate White's prospects after the pawn sacrifice. White ob­ tains a big advantage in develop­ ment, but it is difficult to make use of this. Black has no weaknesses

P-B3

5

P-K4

and the pawn configuration QN4-

N-Q2

QB3-Q2-K3

keeps White's

pieces

out of Black's camp. Larsen's next

(L) gives ?! I believe that 0-0 is stronger, but

moves are very good. (P)

after only one game, who knows?

7

(L)

......

QXP

If White gets in P-K4, Black will Worse is 7

be duly punished for his experi­ ment. (P)

(P) 232

P-Q3 8 N-Q3.

ROUND THIRTEEN

8

N(5)-B3

14 15 R-K2

Q-B4

Q-B2

It will be necessary to recapture on KB4 with the Queen, since after,

(L) gives ?

for example, 8 ... Q-N3 9 PXP

I was expecting something like

PXP 10 0-0, the appearance of the

15

White Queen or Rook on the King

with an unclear position. But the

file

point is that I have succeeded in

makes

things

unpleasant

for

B-N5!

B-B3

16 N-B5

K-Ql,

creating a type of position the ex­

Black. (P)

world champion does not like. (L)

9 PXP 10 0-0

QXKBP N-Q4

15 16 N-K5

0-0

Q-R4

(P) gives ! Blocking

the

diagonal,

this

is

probably best, though it would be

If 16 ... Q-Kl then 17 NxNP and if 17 ... PXN 18 BXN. (P)

nice to get some other minor pieces into play. (L)

11 N-Q4 12 N(2)-B3

17 P-KB4 18 K-Rl 19 N(4)-B3

Q-B2 Q-R4

(L) and (P) give ?

(L) and (P) give ! Losing more time, but it disturbs White's development. (L)

13 R-Kl

B-B4 B-N2 B-N3

An error. It was better to retreat the Bishop to K2. On QN3

the

Bishop becomes an object of at­ tack. Now White has something to

B-K2

aim at. (P)

Not 13 ... B-Q3?? 14 NxNP! PXN 15 P-KN4 and wins! (L)

Had I thought of White's next move, I would have found a better move. One of them is 19 ... Q-Kl, preparing N-R3-B2

14 R-K5

(and then, fi­

nally, P-Q3). Against 20 Q-Q3 B-K2

White is using an extra move to

is good. (L)

get the Rook to K2, but this is not

the loss of time it seems to be, for

20 P-QR4 (L) and (P) give !

otherwise after castling, the Queen would "circle back" to Kl. (P)

20 233

. . . . . .

P-QR3

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

(P) gives? Another error, more serious than the first. It was better to play P-NS or to take the RP. (P) Not nice; maybe P-NS is better.

(L) 21 P-B4 22 N-N5

N-B3

Now it is clear that White has a We

splendid position. The question is, where will the crushing blow come

28

from? (P)

were

both

getting

a

little

short of time. Petrosian looked at B-Nl

P-B4!

for a

couple of

minutes, and when he saw there

22 23 B-B3 24 B-K3

was no mate he retreated to N2.

PXRP Q-Kl

He

forgot to look at

wins easily. (L) It is necessary somehow to de­

(L) gives ! Black is weak on the dark squares and has great difficulties with the

velop the Queenside. The Knight must go to Q2. (P)

development of his Queenside. The

28 B-N2

plan chosen by Black should lose quickly. (L)

24 25 RXB

completely

28 B-N6! followed by Q-B2, which

(P) gives ?, (L) gives ?? White should have been aware

BXB P-R3

of the tremendous weakness of the QN1-KR7 diagonal, especially the squares KN6 and KR7. But I was

You recall that earlier I said that

so pleased with my position here

Black had no weaknesses. Now his

that I did not even notice that after

position is riddled with them. Just

29

to make clear how bad his position

wins quickly. (P)

B-N6 Q-K2 30 Q-B2!, White

is, it should be noted that in this position, so difficult to defend, Black is two pawns ahead. (P)

26 N-K4 27 BXN

28 29 RXP

NXN P-Q4

(L) gives?! 234

N-Q2 P-B4

ROUND

THIRT EEN

compensa­

The Black Knight has moved at

tion for the pawn, and a draw is

a dizzy pace from QNl to Q8, but

White

probably has

the most likely outcome. I knew

the

the text move was a bit of a gamble,

sleeping either. In one more move

White Rooks have not been

but I underestimated White's 32nd

the other Rook will set itself down

move. Probably best was 29

next to its comrade on the seventh

...

rank. (P)

P-QR4. (L) Better was 29 ... NXN. (P)

36 30 PxP 31 R-RS

N-N3 NXP

. . . . . .

N-K6

Not 36 ... Q-Ql 37 R-Q7, and an easy refutation (but not the only

As planned. 31 ... BXP would

N-B7ch 38 K-Nl Q-Q8ch 39 B-Bl!?

give White a slight edge. (L)

(L) If 36 ... Q-R4, then 37 R(6)-R7

32 R-N3

N-B7ch 38 K-Nl Q-Q8ch 39 B-Bl! and White wins. (P)

(L) gives ! Black

has

one) of 36 ... Q-R4 is 37 R(6)-R7

a

difficult

position.

37 R(6)-R7 38 P-N4

Larsen sets a trap. (P)

32

N-B4 Q-Ql

R-Ql

32 ... R-Nl 33 RXB! is bad, and what else is there? I almost decided to sacrifice the Exchange with 32 ... Q-K2, but it cannot be good enough, so I went in for the ensuing complications. I had 8 min­ utes left, Petrosian 16.

(L)

33 RXB 39 P-R3 (L) gives ! (L) gives ??, (P) gives ? 33 34 Q-K2 35 QXR 36 RXRP

N-K6 R-Q8ch NXQ

After 39 B-B3 Black could re­ sign. (L) 39 B-B3! is immediately decisive. (P) 235

SAN 39

ANTONIO

Q-Q8ch

..... .

'72

(L) gives !? The only try. Surprisingly, Pe­

(L) gives ??

trosian thought for a long time. He

With 39 ... Q-Q7! Black had at

had not analyzed! Well, it was late

least a draw! White cannot play 40

in the tournament and the players

N-N6? Q-K8ch 41

were getting tired. (L)

K-R2 Q-N6ch

followed by R-Ql. (L) If 39

... Q-Q7, then 40 N-B3

46

P-N5

Q-B8ch 41 N-Nl with good chances for White. (P) 40

K-R2

41

N-N6

(P) gives ?, (L) gives ?? Even more surprising! I had an­

Q-Q5

alyzed this without finding a win for White. 46 K-N3! is the only correct move. (L)

Here the game was adjourned.

Correct was 46 K-N3. (P)

Analysis showed that Black's strong­ est move is 41

... R-Ql which,

47

White with the better chances. Lar­ sen sealed a bad move. (P) 41

.....

The

.

sealed

nothing better,

which Black's Knight is activated, which leads to a drawn position. (P)

was

48

lost. (L) RXPch

43

RXQch

KXR

44

NxR

KXN

45

B-B3

P-K4

(L) and (P) give !

but the ending is

42

K-Nl

Breaking up White's pawns, after

N-K6

move. There

P-R5

46

after 42 PXN PXP 43 P-N3, leaves

PXP

48 K-B2? PXP 49 B-K2 N-B4!

QXR

(L) N-B5

48 49

K-B2

Now after 45 ... N-B5 46 P-N3 N-Q7 47 B-Ql K-K2 48 K-N2 P­

Or 49 P-K6 NXP 50 P-N6 P-B5

BS 49 P-N4, White wins without

51 B-Q5 P-B6 52 B-N3 N-Q6 53 P­

much difficulty, thanks to his passed

K7ch KXP 54 P-N7 P-B7 55 BXP

pawns on both flanks. Larsen again

K-B2 and draws. White is left with

sets a trap. (P) 45

..... .

the wrong Rook's pawn. (L) 49

P-R4

236

..... .

NXKP

ROUND

THIRTEEN

Simplest of all. (P)

57

K-Q5

KxP

58

KxP

K-B4

50

B-K4

K-N2

59

P-N4

K-B5

51

P-N3

N-B2

60

P-N5

K-N6

52

P-N6

N-N4

61

P-N6

Resigns

GAME 100 White: Svetozar Gligoric Black: Walter Browne Benoni Defense Notes by Gligoric N-KB3

(P) gives ??, (L) gives ???

1

P-Q4

Losing for the third time! 52 ...

2

P-QB4

P-B4

N-K4 draws, for instance 53 K-K3

3

P-Q5

P-K3

NxP!

54 BXN KXB

55 K-K4

4

N-QB3

PXP

K-N4

56 K-K5 K-N3

57 K-Q5

5

PxP

P-Q3

K-B4 58 KXP K-B5, etc., or 55

6

N-B3

P-KN3

K-B4 K-B3 56 K-N4 K-K4, etc. I

7

P-K4

B-N2

played very quickly. I had just mis­

8

B-K2

0-0

played the adjourned game against

9

0-0

R-Kl

Suttles and was not in the mood to

10

N-Q2

QN-Q2

play chess. (L)

11

P-QR4

Correct was N-K4 or N-Q3. Now M y improvement on

White wins. (P)

the third

game of the Spassky-Fischer match 53

B-B5

54

K-K3

which

K-B3

went

11 Q-B2 N-R4!

12

BXN PXB 13 N-B4 N-K4 14 N­ K3 Q-R5 15 B-Q2 N-N5! 16 NXN

Larsen obviously overlooked this. The Bishop cannot be taken. (P)

PXN with a perfectly satisfactory game for Black. The last time I tested this move was against Kava­

N-K3

lek

55

BXN

KXB

Skopje. Surprisingly, Browne

56

K-K4

K-B3

not seen that game.

54

237

at

the

recent Olympiad

in had

SAN

11

..... .

ANTONIO

P-QR3

18

'72

N-B3

Q-K2

leaves

White's

Knight on KB3 misplaced. Kavalek played 11 ... N-K4 12 Q-B2 N-R4 13 BXN PXB 14 N-Ql

18

..... .

Q-R5

19

N-B4

15

N-K3

N-N5

16

NxN

PXN

PXN 17 N-B4. 19 P-K5, intending N-K4 prob­

12

Q-B2

N-R4

13

BXN

PXB

14

N-Ql!

ably doesn't work.

Q-K2

19 20

P-K5

PXP

21

PxP

BxP

22

NXB

QXN

23

QXP

QR-Bl

Not

23

. .. B-B3?

24

Q-N4

QXQP 25 QxPch K-Rl 26 B-N5 with an immediate win.

24

The point. Now that Black's KN has gone from KB3 and White's KP is therefore under less pressure, the White QN is no longer serving any useful purpose on QB3.Its correct square is clearly QB4.

15

N-K3

Q-R5

16

R-R3!

B-Q2

17

P-B4

White

must

play

counteract Black's

actively

threat

to

of

P-QN4. 17

18

N-N5 NXN 238

P-B4

If 24 ... QXQP 25 R-Q3 QXR 26 QXPch K-Rl 27 Q-B6ch K-Nl 28 B-R6 QXRch 29 QxQ (threat­ ening 30 Q-B6 as well as B-Q2-B3) and White is better.

25

N-K4

14

Q-KB2

P-R3!

ROUND

THIRTEEN 30

A very fine move. White must

Q-Q5

Q-Q2

open up the KB-file, otherwise he 30 ... R-QS is met by 31 Q-B3.

has no play. If now 25 ... P-KR4 26 Q-R4. 25 26

R-B5

31

QXQ

RXQ

32

R-K5

RXRP

B-B4! If 32 ... R-B4 33 RXR BXR

Cutting the Rook off from the

34 B-KS wins a piece. 32 ... P-RS

defense of the KNP and thereby

is also insufficient: 33 R-N5ch K­

forcing Black to recapture with the

R2 34 R-Kl!

pawn. Q-N2

26

26 ... QXQP loses to 27 PXP PXP 28 B-R6, etc. 27

33

R-N5ch

K-R2

34

RXPch

K-N2

35

R-N5ch

K-R2

36

K-N2

R-B3

37

R-Kl

Forfeit

PXP

PXP

GAME 101

If 27 ... R(l)-K5 28 R-B3 PXP 29 B-R6 wins.

White: Lajos Portisch 28

Black: Anthony Saidy

R-K3

Queen's Gambit Declined

It is important for White to fight for this central file.

Notes by Larsen 28

..... .

R-KBl 1

P-Q4

P-Q4

If Black exchanges Rooks, White

2

P-QB4

P-QB3

has too many threats, e.g. 28 ...

3

N-QB3

PXP

RXR

29

QXR

Q-QS

30

QXQ A very rare variation nowadays,

RxQ 31 B-R6 winning.

because it is considered favorable 29

P-KN3

for White. I avoided it in my game

P-KR4

against Saidy, with 3 P-K3. If Por­ Making some space for his King

tisch had done the same, the answer

and threatening ... P-RS. By now

would probably have been 3

Browne was in terrible time trouble.

B-B4 this time.

239

...

SA N 4

ANTONIO

'72

four pawns against three than with

P-K4!

three against two. Is White's plus big enough for a

The only try for an advantage. 4 P-K3 P-QN4! is at least satisfac­

win? For the practical player this

tory for Black, and 5 NXP? PXN

is not a very important question.

6 Q-B3 Q-B2 7 QxR B-N2 8 QxP

The Black position is so difficult

P-K4! even a forced win, as demon­

that he will probably draw just as

strated in master games almost forty

many as he will lose, not winning

years ago.

any.

4

P-K4

5

N-B3

PxP

6

QXP

QXQ

7

NXQ

B-QB4

N-B3

9

P-B3

QN-Q2

P-KR3 BxN

It is hard to say if 16 ... QR-Ql

Also 7 ... P-QN4 does not keep

B-K3

P-QR3 R-B2

was better.

the plus pawn after 8 P-QR4. 8

15 16

17

BXB

B-K3

18

BXB

PXB

19

BXN(N6)

PXB

White now takes control of the only open file.Also, the Black pawn

Again, P-QN4 is not better. The right answer seems to be 10 P-QR4

majority

now

cannot

produce

a

passed pawn in a pure King and

P-N5 11 N-R2! B-R3 12 N-B2, re­

Pawn

gaining the pawn with advantage,

three groups ("islands") of pawns,

ending.

Finally,

Black

has

as the Black Queenside majority is

White only two. All in all, it is

not worth very much.

probably enough to win. Saidy said after the game that

10

BXP

0-0

he had not realized how difficult

11

K-B2

N-N3

a position he got out of the open­

12

B-N3

R-Kl

ing. About now he must have real­

13

KR-Ql

B-Q2

ized it.

14

QR-Bl

QR-Bl 20

N-R4

P-QN4

What is wrong with Black's posi­

21

N-B5

R-B2 K-B2

tion? White's advantage can be de­

22

R(2)-Q2

scribed in several ways. His center

23

K-K3

K-K2

pawn limits the scope of the Black

24

P-B4!?

P-QN3

pieces. There is more play

25

N-Q3

with 240

THIRTEE N

ROUND

29

P-B5

30

K-Q4

R-Bl

31

R-K2

N-Q2

32

NxN

R-Ql

33

R-Q2

RXNch

34

K-B3

R-B2

35

R-Q4

R-B4

36

P-QR4!

PxP

37

RXP

R-R4

Of An interesting position. I heard

P-B5

course,

exchanging

Rooks

loses.

"on the grapevine" that Black could have drawn with 25 ... N-N5ch!?

38

R-B6

Closer study reveals that 26 K-B3?

39

NPxP

PXP

NXPch 27 K-N3 R-Q2 28 KxN R(l)-Ql 29 K-N3 P-B4 30 K-B3 P-B5 does not offer winning chances

These connected passed pawns win easily.

for White - but 26 K-K2! NXP 27 N-B2 P-R4 28 R-KRl N-N5 29

39

RXP does! For instance: 29

...

40

NxN

KxN

R-Ql

31

K-B2

RXR

41

PXP

RXPch

32 R-N5 (also good is 32

42

K-Q4

R-R6

R-R8ch and R-QN8) K-Kl 33 R­

43

RXNP

Resigns

KXR

30

P-R6 R-K6ch

N6 K-B2 34 P-B5 PXP 35 PXP. Black is condemned

to passivity;

Actually,

the

game

was

ad­

White advances his KNP and his

journed, but Black resigned without

King, and he must win.

further play.

25

R-Ql

26

N-K5

RXR

27

RXR

P-B4

White has a

winning

GAME 102 White: Anatoly Karpov

position,

Black: Julio Kaplan

why use question marks? 28

P-KN4

Sicilian Defense

P-N4

Notes by Kaplan

Otherwise, White continues with P-KR4. 241

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

SAN

ANTONIO

'72

3

P-Q4

PXP

11

P-B3

4

NxP

P-KN3

12

PXP

BXP

5

P-QB4

N-B3

13

N-K3

N-Q5

6

N-QB3

P-Q3

14

NXB

NxN

7

N-B2

15

R-Nl

P-K3

16

Q-Kl

P-QR3?

P-B4

This particular form of the Ma­ easy

On the wrong track. I was trying

game, but recent games have shown

to get my Bishop to Q5 and secure it

that the more popular 7P-B3 is not

against N-N5. I should have secured

roczy

Bind

gives

Black

an

dangerous either.

instead my powerful Knights which exercise

7

B-N2

8

B-K2

9

0-0?

This which

0-0

Black

a

cramping effect, with 16

P-Q4! White has a miserable game.

natural move is an error gives

a

. .. P-QR4. Then, after 17 B-Q2

very

good

17

K-Rl

B-Q5

18

B-Q2

Q-K2

19

P-B4

QR-Kl

game. Correct is 9 B-K3 N-Q2 10 Q-Q2 N-B4 11 P-B3 with chances for both sides. N-Q2

9 10

Q-Q2?!

After the passive 10 B-Q2 N-B4

11 P-B3 P-B4 12 PXP BXP, the weakness at Q3 gives Black a slight advantage,

but

that

is

probably

White's best course. The text move Black is hoping to open the K-file

leaves his pieces in a tangle since it

before

is difficult to fianchetto the QB. Bad would be 10 B-K3 BXN! 11

White

can

coordinate

his

pieces. But it was still better to play

PXB N-B4 when Black has all the

19 ... P-QR4 with a good game.

chances;

Now White has the advantage.

the

weak

dark

squares

around Black's King are not enough compensation

for

the

doubled

pawns. 10

N-B4 242

20

P-QN4

21

B-Q3

N-Q2 P-K4

22

PXP

NXP

23

Q-K4

B-R2

ROUND 24

Q-Q5ch

25

QR-Kl?

THIRTEEN

K-N2

better endgame, for the Bishop is better than the Knight and White's Queenside is weak.

After 25 BXN RXB 26 RXR

The line Karpov plays also gives

PXR 27 R-KBl, Black is in trouble.

him a difficult game, so best is 31

Now it is White who has to be care­

RXR KXR 32 N-B6ch with equal­

ful.

ity. Karpov was probably trying to exploit my time pressure but that is

25

Q-KB2!

The tempting 25

a dangerous policy.

. . . Q-R5 26

31

R-KBl

R-K7

BXN N-N5 fails after 27 Q x Pch

32

RxPch

K-K3

K-Rl 28 P-KR3! but not 28 BXN??

33

R-R5

PxP

QXR! and wins.

34

PXP

BXP

35

P-QR4

Draw

With the text Black steers for an endgame in which his many isolated pawns are hard to attack, while the White pawn at QB4 is very sick.

Here Karpov offered a draw. I had about three minutes left and decided to see if I could quickly

26

BXN

27

NxQ

RXB

analysis, I forgot about the clock

28

B-B3

K-B2

and almost Jet my flag fall! Having

QxQ

find a forced win. Engrossed in the

29

Rx Reh

PXR

only a few seconds left I was happy

30

P-B5

N-Q6!

to accept the offer. There was

an

unfortunate lapse of concentration (or perhaps too much of it) after 35

. . .

great difficulties.

GAME 103 White: Larry Evans Black: Paul Keres Nimzo-Indian Defense

The key to the defense! Now 31

Notes by Evans

RXR KXR 32 PXP N-B7ch 33 K-Nl N-K5ch 34 K-Bl NxB 35

1

P-Q4

N-KB3

NXN

2

P-QB4

P-K3

K-Q2 leaves Black with the 243

for

R-QB7 White is in

SAN

ANTO NIO

'72

3

N-QB3

B-N5

although White retains a space ad­

4

P-K3

P-B4

vantage.

5

N-K2

P-Q3 10

NPXBP

PXP

A dubious idea which preserves

11

B-KN2

PXP

the two Bishops at the cost of a

12

PXP

0-0

permanent cramp. More stable is 5

13

0-0

Q-K2

... PXP 6 PXP P-Q4.

14

Q-R4

R-R3

15

R-Kl!

6

P-QR3

B-R4

7

R-QNl

N-B3

Discouraging the freeing maneu­

8

P-QN4

B-B2

ver 15 ... P-K4 16 P-Q5 N-Q5 17 NXN with a fatal pin on the K-file.

If 8 ... B-N3 9 N-R4 holds the

Black now can find no happy square

edge, e.g. 9 ... 0-0 10 NXB PXN

for his Queen. Not 15 B-N5 P-R3

11 P-Q5 N-K4 12 N-N3 P-QN4 13

16 QBXN QXB 17 N-K4 Q-K2 18

PXKP BXP 14 PXNP PXP 15

N-B5 NXP!

PXP B-R7 16 R-Rl with an ex­ cellent game for White. Gligoric­ Wade, Teesside

1972. Or

8

...

PXNP 9 PXP BXP 10 RXB NXR 11 Q-R4ch N-B3 12 P-Q5, winning two pieces advantageously for Rook and two pawns. 9

P-N3

White pursues development in­ stead of 9 QPXP PXP 10 QxQch BXQ 11 PXP B-K2 (12 N-N5 0-0 13 N-Q6 BXN 14 PXB R-Ql re­

15

gains the pawn).

16

9

P-QR4'?

R-Ql N-N5

B-Nl

Black's pieces are misplaced on the Queenside and White therefore

Black

gave

this

considerable

refused the offer of a draw here.

thought, but it is a grave strategical

Curiously this position is reached

error

again

creating

Queenside

weak­

on

move

21 with

White's

nesses.An alternative is 9 ... 0-0

Bishop on K3 and a pawn on KR3

10 B-KN2 PXQP 11 PXP P-K4,

opposed to a Black Knight on Kl.

244

ROUND

17

B-N2

N-R2

18

N(5)-B3

Q-B2

19

B-QBl

Q-K2

20

P-R3

N-B3

THIRTEEN

RXN

27 If 27

BXN 28 RXB R-Rl

29 RXR(Q8) RXR 30 R-Ql N-B2 31 N-B4 with

Black might try to ease his con­ gestion with 20

. . . P-QN3. His

a

decisive pin on the

Q-file. Or 27 ... B-R2 28 N(2)-B4 threatening B-KBl.

QNP is weak no matter what.

28

RXB

K-Bl

N-Kl

29

BxR

BxB

P-Q5

N-K4

30

N-Q4

K-K2

P-B5

Q-Q2

31

R(l)-N6

R-R2

32

B-B4

N-B6 ch

21

B-K3

22 23

Keres pondered thirty-two min­ utes and decided his position was lost. Necessary but unpleasant is 23

If 32 ... N-Q2 33 N-B5ch K-Bl 34 B-Q6ch mates.

... PxP 24 NxP Q-Bl 25 Q-R4 P-B3 26 N-N6 sealing Black's QR.

33

NXN

BXN

Not 25

34

P-B6

N-Q3

35

P-B7

Resigns

... N-KB3? 26 NxNch

RXN 27 B-N5.

24

QXQ

BXQ GAME 104

Equally hopeless is 24 ... R XQ

White: Kenneth Smith

25 P-B6.

Black: Henrique Mecking 25

RXP

PXP

26

NxP

B-K3

27

R(l)-Nl

Sicilian Defense Notes by Levy

1

P-K4

2

P-Q4

P-QB4

Third time lucky?

2 3

245

PxP P-QB3

PxP

4

NXP

N-QB3

5

N-B3

P-Q3

SAN

6

B-QB4

P-QR3

7

0-0

N-B3

8

P-QR3?

ANTONIO

'72

What kind of a move is this? Normal is 8 B-KNS.

8

P-K3

9

Q-K2

10

R-Ql

P-K4

11

N-QS

B-K2

P-R3

12

B-K3

NXN

13

PXN

N-Nl

14 15

(Sec diagram next column.) 14

NXP?

Totally

unsound.

White

should

PXN P-B4

16

P-Q6

PXB

17

QXP

N-B3

18

B-QS

0-0

19

BXN?

B-N4

Resigns

have tried doubling Rooks on the QB file.

Standings After Thirteen Rounds 91h

Karpov

9

Petrosian, Portisch

8Vz

Gligoric, Keres

8

Larsen, Suttles

71h

Hort, Mecking

6

D. Byrne

51/2

Evans

5

Browne

41/2

Kaplan

31/2

Campos

2

Saidy, Smith

246

PXP

ROUND ROUND

FOURTEEN FOURTEEN

Friday, December 8th Black

Opening

Result

Moves

Kaplan (4Vz) Karpov (9Vz) Evans (5Vz) Smith (2) Portisch (9) Gligoric (8Vz) Petrosian (9) D.Byrne (6)

King's Indian Defense Nimzo-Indian Defense Sicilian Defense Caro-KannDefense Sicilian Defense King's Indian Defense French Defense EnglishOpening

1-0 Vz-Vz Vz-Vz 1-0 Vz-112 lf2-Vz 0-1 Vz-Vz

36 21 41 43 65 60 33 59

White

105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112

Hort (7112) Keres (81/z) Mecking (7Vz) Saidy (2) Browne (5) Larsen (8) Campos (3Vz) Suttles (8)

GAME 105

After 9 NxN PxN 10 N-K2 N-R4 11 0-0 P-QB4 12 PXP e.p. PXP Black has at least equal chances.

White: Vlastimil Hort Black: Julio Kap lan King's Indian Defense

9 10

Notes by Levy 1

P-QB4

P-KN3

2

P-Q4

B-N2

3

N-QB3

P-Q3

4

P-K4

N-KB3

5

B-Q3

0-0

6

KN-K2

N-B3!

7

P-B3

P-QB4

Better is 10 P-KB4 11 BQN 1 when the position is roughly equal. Now Black's Q3 and Q4 squares become weak.

Not 7 0-0 P-K4 8 P-Q5 N-Q5! 9 NXN PXN followed by ... R­ Kl, when Black has a great game. 7

N-R 4 Q-Q2

11

PXPe.p.

PXP

12

P-QN4

P-KB4

13

PxP

Naturally not 13 P-N5 P-B5!

P-K4

8

P-QS

9

B-K3

PXP

13

N-QS

14

247

0-0

r� �!lo: • L.� J .i� II � wa, • • s• i �--� � • • l!! ·'li �1� • • �L" • • -� �•1 • �� �� • • �-� • ���� �• m�•� �� �§ �.'""•! ri:l , ; ' � � , SAN

'I.

<. . . • .

" �

�

'

ANTONIO

� 7, �

- �

i

%$0.

�

'

This position is possibly critical for

the

variation. In

their

post-

mortem analysis the players considered it to offer roughly equal chances.

BXN

N-B5

16

KR-Qt

R-B3

17

B-Bl

R-N3

18

K-Rl

N-R4

19

P-N5

P-B5?

BXN

PXB

22

PXBP

Q-R5 B-B4

23

P-KR3

24

N-K4

R-QBl

25

QR-Nl

BXN

26

PXB

Q-K2

27

R-N7

Q-Kl

28

Q-Q5ch

K-Rl

29

P-B5

B-Bl

30

P-B7

Q-Q2

31

B-N5

Q-K2

32

R-KBl

R-B3

33

RXR

QxR Q-N4

34

B-B4

35

Q-Ql

Q-K2

36

Q-N4

Resigns

Correct

was 19

GAME 106 White: Paul Keres Black: Anatoly Karpov Nimzo-Indian Defense

... B-N2 20

P-B5 P-Q4 21 PXP BXP 22 NXP P-B5 23 B-B2 P-K5

(or possibly

23 ... N-N6ch at once) 24 PXP N-N6ch with great complications. Now Black has no real Kingside play and White crashes through in the center. 20

21

NXNch

14 15

'7 2

B-B2

N-N6ch

This just loses. Relatively

1

P-Q4

2

P-QB4

P-K3

3

N-QB3

B-N5

N-KB3

4

P-K3

P-B4

5

B-Q3

0-0

6

N-B3

P-Q4

7

0-0

PXBP

8

BXP

PxP

9

PXP

P-QN3

10

B-KN5

B-N2

11

Q-K2

QN-Q2

best

12

QR-Bl

R-QBl

then 21

13

N-K5

P-KR3

B-Q3 followed by B-K4 increases

14

B-B4

NxN

White's hold on the position.

15

BXN

Q-K2

was

20

... B-N2

but

248

ROUND

FOURTEEN

16

B-R6

BXB

26

K-Nl

N-B4

17

QxB

BXN

27

K-B2

R-QNl

18

PXB

N-Q4

28

B-B4

R-Ql

19

P-QB4

N-N5

29

R-Ql

RXR

20

Q-R3

P-B3

30

KXR

K-Q3

21

B-N3

Draw

31

K-Q2

P-N4

GAME 107

32

B-N8

P-R3

33

B-R7

K-K3

34

B-N8ch

K-Q3

35

B-B7

K-K2

White: Henrique Mecking

36

B-N6

K-B3

Black: Larry Evans

37

B-K8

K-K2

38

B-N5

K-Q3

39

B-B4

P-K5

40

PXP

NXPch

41

K-B2

N-B4

Sicilian Defense P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

P-Q4

PXP

1

4

NXP

N-KB3

5

N-QB3

P-QR3

6

B-K3

P-K4

Draw

GAME 108

7

N-N3

B-K3

White: Anthony Saidy

8

Q-Q2

B-K2

Black: Kenneth Smith

P-B3

QN-Q2

10

0-0-0

P-QN4

11

N-Q5

BXN

9

Caro-Kann Defense

12

PXB

N-N3

1

P-QB4

13

BXN

QxB

2

P-K4

P-Q4

14

N-R5

R-QBl

3

KPxP

PxP

15

N-B6

NxP

4

P-Q4

N-KB3

16

NxB

NxN

5

N-QB3

P-K3

P-QB3

17

QXP

QxQ

6

N-B3

B-K2

18

RXQ

N-B3

7

PXP

PxP

19

P-B3

K-K2

8

B-N5ch

N-B3

20

R-Q2

KR-Qt

9

N-K5

B-Q2 Q-Bl

21

RXR

RXR

10

Q-R4

22

B-K2

P-B4

11

B-N5

P-QR3

23

P-QR4

PXP

12

BxQN

PXB

24

BXP

N-R4

13

0-0

0-0

25

B-N5

N-N6ch

14

BXN

BXB

249

SAN

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

NxQP NXB N-K3 P-QN3 QR-Bl N-B5 RXP RXR N-K3 N-B2 R-Ql N-K3 N-B2 N-Kl P-KR3 Q-N4 N-B2 Q-B4 Q-K2 Q-R5 R-Kl Q-N4 Q-K6ch P-Q5 Q-K4 QxPch Q-B8ch N-K3 Q-N4

ANTONIO

3 N-B3 4 P-KN3 5 B-N2 6 P-Q3 7 0-0 8 P-K5 9 NXKP 10 KXB 11 NxN 12 Q-B3 13 P-N3 14 B-N2 15 QR-Ql 16 N-K2 17 P-Q4 18 P-B3 19 PXP 20 N-B4 21 KR-Kl 22 NXN 23 R-Q3 24 R(l)-Ql 25 B-Bl 26 B-B4

B-Ql QXN Q-N2 B-N3 QR-Bl R-B2 P-N3 QXR Q-R2 R-Ql R-QBl R-Ql R-QBl P-N4 P-KR4 R-Ql R-Q4 R-Q2 P-R5 B-Ql B-K2 P-B3 K-Bl R-Q3 P-B4 R-B3 K-N2 B-B4 Resigns

27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

GAME 109

White: Walter Browne Black: Lajos Portisch Sicilian Defense 1 P-K4 2 N-KB3

'7 2

P-QB4 P-K3 250

P-KR3 R-QBl R-K3 R-Q3 R(l)-Ql K-Nl K-N2 PXP PXP B-B7 RXB RXR R-Q8ch Q-Q3ch QxQch R-QNS

P-QR3 P-QN4 B-N2 P-Q3 N-KB3 PXP BXB QN-Q2 QxN R-Ql B-K2 0-0

N-Kl B-B3 Q-R2 N-B2 QxP P-R3 N-Q4 PXN R-Q3 KR-Ql Q-B3 R(3)-Q2 P-QR4 Q-K3 Q-N3 P-R5 Q-B3 Q-K3 PXP P-Q5 BxP RXB RXR R-B4 K-R2 Q-N3 PxQ P-N4

ROUND

FOUR TEEN

43

P-QN4

R-B4

A rather rare continuation. Some

44

P-N4

R-K4

experts recommend a Black setup

45

R-N6

K-Nl

with P-QB4, but I have seen several

46

R-N7

K-R2

times that Gligo prefers P-K4.

47

K-N3

R-Q4

48

P-B3

K-N3

5

49

K-B2

R-K4

6

B-N5

QN-Q2

SO

R-Q7

K-B3

7

N-B3

P-K4 P-QR4

0-0

51

K-N3

R-K2

8

P-QS

52

R-Q8

R-K4

9

P-KN4!?

53

R-QN8

R-Q4

54

K-B2

R-K4

55

R-N6ch

K-B2

56

K-N3

R-Q4

57

P-R4

PXPch

58

KXP

K-K2

59

K-N3

K-B2

60

P-B4

P-N4

61

K-B3

PXP

62

K-K4

P-B6

63

KXP

P-R4

64

K-K4

R-N4

65

PXP

Draw

More

energetic

than

9

B-K2,

which might transpose into Gligoric­ Evans (game

N-B4

9

10

55).

N-Q2

P-B3

11

B-K2

B-Q2

12

N-N3!

One move earlier, 11 N-N3? P­ R3! would have been very satisfac­ tory for Black. Now, however, 12 ... P- R3 13 NxN PXB 14 NxB QxN 15 Q-Q2 would favor White.

12

GAME 110 White: Bent Larsen

NxN

13

QxN

14

0-0-0

Q-B2

White stands better! The ending

Black: Svetozar Gligoric

after 14 ... PXP 15 BXN PXBP King's Indian Defense

16 QxBP QxQ 17 BXQ BXB 18

Notes by Larsen

B N5 is unpleasant for Black, so

RXP B-N4ch 19 K-Nl B-QB3 20 -

he decides to close the position.

1

P-QB4

P-KN3

2

N-QB3

B-N2

14

3

P-Q4

N-KB3

15

4

P-K4

P-Q3

S

P-KR3

251

P-R5 Q-R3

P-B4

16

QR-Nl

Q-R4

17

P-B3?

SAN

ANTONIO

' 72

only a win could give me one of the

A quickly played routine move. During the last days of the tourna­

first places. F ifth or eighth, what is

ment I had a bad cold and was not

the difference?

playing very well. Much stronger 17 ...

24

K-B2

R-B2

Q-N5 not 18 P-R5? P-R3! 19 B-Q2

25

K-B3

R-K2

QXQ 20 PXQ P-KN4 and Black

26

R-R2

N-B2

can defend, but 18 B-Q2!

27

K-B4

K-R2

28

B-Ql

N-Kl

was

17 P-R4!, and after

KR-Bl

17 18

P-R4

Here something incredible hap­ pened. Gligoric made this move and left the table. Before making my

18 B-Q2 was probably better.

29th move, I left the tournament

Q-NS

18

hall to go to the washroom, and

19

B-Q2

P-R4!

when after several minutes Gligoric

20

P-NS

N-Kl

returned to the board, seeing I was

21

N-NS

QXQ

not there he thought I had already

22

PxQ?!

made a move and forgot to push the clock. He wrote down a move,

There was still a slight advantage

maybe it was 29 R-R2, and played

with 22 NXQ N-B2 23 K-Nl QR­

R(l)-R2! At this moment, however,

Nl

I returned, and I quickly persuaded

24 N-N5. It is worth noting

how Black's P-KR4 had something

my opponent to take back his last

to do with the play on the Queen­

move. (If the illegal move had been

side: if White allows Black to play

discovered

P-QN4, this may lead to exchange

would have had to start anew from

only

later,

the

game

of the white-square Bishops. This

this position, according to the FIDE

ought to be good for White, but

rules.)

in this case Black could play R­ KB 1 and

P-B3,

with

very

29

good

B-B2

R(l)-R2

counterplay, because the White PB3 is not protected by the Bishop any longer.

Bridge players, thinking of "pen­ alty cards," may believe that my opponent was under some kind of

22 23

PXB

BXN!

obligation to play this move, but

P-N3

that is not the case.

The game might have been given

30

R-B2

K-Nl

up as a draw here.But at this stage,

31

R-Nl

R-Rl

252

ROUND 32

K-Q3

R(l)-R2

33

B-Ql

R-Rl

34

B-K3

N-B2

35

R-B2

N-Kl

FOURTEEN After 44 B-Q3 R-Kl Bl a ck could play for a win, preparing P-B3.

44

Even after the White Rooks have left the Kingside, it would not be advisable for Black to play P-B3. So he waits.

R-B4

R(2)-R2

37

B-Q2

N-B2

38

B-B3

N-Kl

39

K-K3

K-Bl

40

B-B2

K-Nl

P-KS!

A

difficult

NxNP choice.

Afterwards,

Gligoric regretted not playing 45 .

36

R-R4

45

..

NXPch 46 K-K4 N-K2, but

the position after 47 PXP N-B4 48 R-Ql does not look bad for White. Also 46 .. . N-B2 47 PXP is very unclear.

46

RXN

Played without hesitation. There is nothing else.

46

RXR R(4)-R4

47

PXP

48

R-K4

Again, the only move. 48 P-Q7

R(4)-R2 49 BXRP is not possible, for after 49 ... RXB 50 RXR,

40 .

.

. B-Rl would have left the

Black King better placed, but even so White's next move is crazy.

41

Black's RXR is with check! And 50 P-Q8ch leads to a lost Rook ending.

R(4)-R2

48

P-B4?!

48

.. .

R-Ql

49 RXP! offers

White has prepared this as well

White good chances, and he was

as possible, but it was better to offer

threatening R-K7 followed by K-K5.

a draw.

PxPch

41

49

R-K7

K-Bl

so

R-B7

RXR

KxP

BXB

51

PXR

K-K2

43 RXB

N-B2

52

K-KS

K-Q2

53

K-B6

KxP

42 44

R-B4 253

SAN

A NTONIO 60

'72

K-R8

Draw

Black gives perpetual check. He cannot win with 60 ... K-B3 61 P-R5 R-KN2? because of 62 B-Nl P-B6 63 B-B2! and it is Black who is in zugzwang!

GAME 111

I had played very quickly, and while most games are

adjourned

White: Mario Campos-Lopez Black: Tigran Petrosian

soon after move 40, we got this far! Gligoric's

sealed

move

was,

course, the one I expected. Analysis showed that I could draw, but not more. 54 55 56

KXP KXP KXP

French Defense

of 1

P-K4

P-K3

2

P-Q4

P-Q4

3

N-QB3

B-N5

K-Q3

4

P-K5

P-QN3

KXP

5

N-B3

B-Bl

K-K4

6

B-K2

N-K2

A bad idea would be to drive

7

0-0

N-N3

8

R-Kl

B-K2

the White King back with 56 ...

9

P-KN3

P-QB4

R-Rlch?, as after 57 K-N4 K-K4

10

P-KR4

P-KR3 N-Bl

58 P-R5 White advances the most

11

B-Q3

distant pawn first, and Black is in

12

P-R4

P-R3

trouble.

13

P-QR5

P-B5

14

B-Bl

P-QN4

15

B-Q2

N-B3

16

B-R3

P-N5

17

N-K2

NxRP

18

P-R5

N-B3 Q-N3

57

K-R6

P-N4

There are several drawing lines. But Black must avoid traps like 57 ... R-Rlch 58 B-R7 P-B5 59 P-N6 P-B6 60 P-N7 R-KNl? 61 BXR! P-B7 62 K-R7 P-B8=Q 63 B-B7 and White wins.

19

N-R2

20

B-K3

P-R4

21

P-N3

B-R3

22

N-QBl

B-QN4

58

K-N7

P-B5

23

P-B4

P-R5

59

P-N6

R-R2ch

24

PXRP

RXP

254

ROUND

FOURTE E N

25

RXR

BXR

7

26

N-B3

N-QR2

8

27

P-B5

N-N4

28

R-Bl

N-B6

29

Q-Kl

BXP

30

P-B6

PXP

31

PXP

B-Q3

32

Q-Q2

B-K5

33

N-K5 and White Resigns

What is the point of this move? White appears to be weakening the squares on his Kingside where he intends to castle. Larsen played P­ KR4 in a somewhat similar position against Campos-Lopez in round ten. In that game Black had a comfort­ able position until he initiated a faulty plan with 14 ... P-K4.

GAME 112 White: Duncan Suttles

B-N2

10

0-0

P-Q3

11

P-R3

Q-Q2

12 P-QN4

Notes by D. Byrne

White must attack on the wing and the move is tactically sound. If Black tries to win a pawn he loses at once: 12 . .. PXP 13 PXP NXP 14 BXB QXB 15 N-QN5 or N-K4.

P-KN3

2

B-N2

B-N2

3

P-Q3

P-QB4 N-QB3

4

P-QB4

5

N-QB3

P-K3

6

B-Q2

KN-K2

N-Q5

12

This position was reached in the game D. Byrne-Evans (round 5, game 38). White obtained a clear advantage when Black played P-Q4 on his seventh move. Black, how­ ever, should have no serious prob­ lems if he avoids an early P-Q4. 7

N-R3

9

English Opening

P-KN3

P-N3

8

Black: Donald Byrne

1

P-KR3 P-KR4

13

R-Nl

14

K XB

After weakening his Kingside with 8 P KR4 White exchanged his KB for Black's QB. Black now has the advantage. -

,

R-QBl

14

Q-Bl

15

In the above-mentioned game vs. Evans, White played 7 P QR3 which is preferable to 7 Q-Bl. -

BXB

PxP

Black was threatening PXP fol­ lowed by P-Q4.

255

SAN

ANTONIO ' 7 2

QPxP

15 16

The Knight which has been mis­

N-Nl

placed since the 16th move is finally threatening to reach a strong square,

White does not wish to bring his Knight

to

B4

because

it

K4. Had Black moved the Knight

would

to QB3, he would have saved two

block his attack on the KRP, and

tempi while slowing down White's

he would like to find a more effec­

Queenside advance.

tive position for the Knight than

25

KR3. The Knight at least performs

P-N4

a better defensive function at Nl. White is apparently worried about

N(2)-B4

16

the possibility of a Black pawn ad­ vance on the Kingside. The move

This move is superficial and is

only serves to create serious weak­

decidedly a hindrance to the plan

nesses in White's Kingside position.

which Black initiates on his next

25 BXN is a good alternative, clos­

move.

ing the Q file, getting rid of a power­ fully posted Knight, and enabling

17

R-Ql

P-B3

White to

18

P-R4

P-KN4

Queenside where

turn

the action to the he

has

already

made some progress. White's

Queenside attack

gives

him good counterplay. Had Black

25

not

26

played

16

. . .

N(2)-B4,

he

KR-Qt Q-N2

N-K4

could now play a strong N(2)-B3. Indirectly defending the QNP by

19

PXP

20

P-R5

RPxP

the threat of N-B7. The direct de­

Q-B3ch

fense, R-Nl, was probably better,

21 P-K4

N-Q3

but Black, who was getting short of

22

PxP

PxP

time, was perversely seeking com­

23

P-B3

0-0

plications.

Now that White has opened up

(See diagram next page.)

lines on the Queenside, it seems

27

reasonable for Black to connect his

R-Q2

Rooks, and Black's KR may per­ White now threatens to capture

form more efficiently on the KB

the QNP, but B-B2 may be a better

file or the Q file.

move. Had White played 27 B-B2

24

B-K3

N-B2

he would then be ready for QXP 256

ROUND

FOURTEEN the dark squares at once. 32 PXN is a subtle move which takes some of the sting out of Black's B-Q3.

32 33 34 35 36

Q-B3 N-R3 BXB R-KRl

Q-Kl Q-B2 B-Q3 RXB

B-N3

Since Black has just seconds left

would be strong. Black was seri­

on his clock, White tries to create

ously considering the risky 27 ...

tactical threats. If 36 P-K5, then

P-B4. One variation will indicate

R-Q5 and White is in trouble.

and

if

27

... R-Nl,

28

the attacking chances open to Black is

White

does

not

proceed

with

36 37 R-QR2

great care: 27 B-B2 P-B4 28 NPXP N(5)XP(6) 29 NXN NXQP 30 Q­ B2 N-B5ch 31 K-Bl BXN 32 QxB QXP and White has more prob­ lems than he can handle.Of course, on

27

B-B2

P-B4,

White

A stupid time-pressure response by Black.

could

avoid complications by playing the

38 39 40 41 42

relatively quiet 28 QXP.

27 28 B-B2 29 B-N3

R-Nl R-N2 N-N3

Although Black's Knight has been driven from K4, it still occupies a strong position.

30 Q-Bl 31 N-N5 32 PXN

R-Q5 R-R2

R-R6 R(l)-Rl R-R8ch N-B2 K-Bl

Q-Q2 R-N2 K-B2 N-B5ch QXP

Black's time pressure is over and he has a winning position.

43 R-R8 44 Q-R3 45 K-Nl

B-Bl NXN

32 RXN looks like a reasonable

K-N3 R-N5

White is trying desperately to de­

move, but then Black could reply

fend

32

threats against the Black King.

B-Q3 and gain control of

257

himself

while

maintaining

SA N

45 46 K-R2 46

ANTONIO

'72

R-N8ch Q-N7

... Q-R4 is also good and

forces the exchange of Queens and a pair of Rooks.

47 QxQ 48 K-Nl

RxQ P-K4

Now White can be saved only by

54 R-N8ch 55 R(N)-N8 56 R-N8ch

Black!

49 50 51 52

K-Bl R-N8ch R-N8 N-Ql

P-N4 R-N2 P-N5 R-K7

R-N2 R-KR2 K-B2

Black cracks on the last move of the time control. 56

... R-N2 is

correct.White would then be forced eventually to exchange a pair of

52 ... R-KR7 is a sensible al­

Rooks.

ternative, preventing White's Rook from

leaving

the

first

rank

and

K-K3 K-B2 K-N3

57 R(N)-B8ch 58 R(B)-K8ch 59 R-B8ch

tying up White's Knight.If 52 ... R-KR7 53 N-B2, then NXP wins easily. Black was once again in time pressure and decided to play di­

At this point Black realized that

rectly for the position he had ana­ lyzed in which White is in zug­

he

zwang.

zugzwang position and wished to

53

R(l)-R8

had

passed over

return to it. Alas!

the winning

White catches

him on a threefold repetition of the

R-KR2

position and claims a draw. Black could have won with some effort

In time pressure, Black loses his

by bringing his King to QN3 (59

senses. If Black plays 53 ... P-N6

... K-K2,

White is helpless, e.g. 54 RXP R­

fusion he made the final blunder

KR2 55 N-B2 R(2 )-R7, or 54 N-B3

of the game.

etc.),

but in his con­

R-B7 55 N-Ql R-B8 56 K-Kl P-N7 57 RXP NXPch 58 K-Q2 RXNch. 258

Draw

ROUND

FOURTEEN

Standings After Fourteen Rounds

10

Karpov, Petrosian

91h

Portisch

9

Gligoric, Keres

8Yz

Hort, Larsen, Suttles

8

Mecking

61/2

D. Byrne

6

Evans

51/2

Browne

4Yz

Kaplan

31h

Campos

3

Saidy

2

Smith

259

S AN

ANTONIO

'7 2

ROUND FIFTEEN Sunday, December 10th Black

White

Result

Opening

113 D. Byrne (61h)

Hort (81h)

English Opening

114 Petrosian (10)

Suttles (81h)

Robatsch Defense

1h-1h 1h-1h

Moves 20 10

115 Gligoric (9)

Campos (31h)

Benoni Defense

1-0

72

116 Portisch (91h)

Larsen (81h)

Benoni Defense

1-0

35

117 Smith (2)

Browne (51h)

Benoni Defense

118 Evans (6)

Saidy (3)

Caro-Kann Defense

119 Karpov (10)

Mecking (8)

Sicilian Defense

120 Kaplan (41h)

Keres (9)

Ruy Lopez

GAME 113 White: Donald Byrne

0-1

1h-1h 1h-1h 1h-1h

18

RXP

QXR

19

QXR

Q-N7

20

Q-RS

P-Q3

Black: Vlastimil Hort

Draw

English Opening GAME 114

1

P-KN3

P-QB4

2

P-QB4

P-KN3

White: Tigran Petrosian

3

B-N2

B-N2

Black: Duncan Suttles

4

N-QB3

N-QB3

5

P-Q3

N-B3

6

R-Nl

0-0

7

P-QR3

P-QR4

1

P-Q4

P-KN3

8

B-Q2

P-K3

2

P-K4

P-Q3

Robatsch Defense

N-R3

P-N3

3

N-KB3

B-N2

10

0-0

B-N2

4

P-B3

N-KB3

11

N-B4

Q-Nl

5

QN-Q2

0-0

12

N-R4

R-R3

6

B-K2

QN-Q2 P-K4

9

13

P-QN4

RPXP

7

0-0

14

PXP

Q-Rl

8

PXP

QNXP

15

P-NS

RXN

9

NXN

PXN

16

PXN

BXP

17

BXB

QXB

10

Q-B2

B-R3 Draw

260

41 106

9 15

ROUND

FIFTEEN

12 13 14 15 16

GAME 115

White: Svetozar Gligoric Black: Mario Campos-Lopez

QXB

QN-Q2 N-N3 R-Kl R-Nl N-R4?!

N -B4

N-K3 P-B3 K-Rl

Benoni Defense This finds a very energetic reply. But a good plan for Black is not

Notes by Larsen

easy to find. 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

P-Q4 P-QB4 P-QS N-QB3 P-K4 N-B3 B-K2 0-0 BPxP

It is worth noting that if White

N-KB3 P-B4 P-Q3 P-KN3 B-N2 0-0 P-K3 PXP

plays

P-QR5 and

Black later

P­

QN4, after the exchange of pawns the

Black

QRP

will be

much

weaker than if the QB were still there to protect it. One of the best moves was prob­ ably 16 ... KN-Q2.

17

P-KN4!?

N-BS

As is quite common, the Modern Benoni

has

been

reached

via

a

King's Indian.

Better is 17

N-B3 followed

by P-KR4.

The most popular continuation for Black during recent years has been 9

.

.

.

R-Kl

18 Q-QB2 19 N-B4

10 N-Q2 N-R3

N-Bl P-KN4

(see game 63). Recently other con­ tinuations have been played quite

Black is now more weak on the

often, for example 9 . . R-Kl 10

light

N-Q2 QN-Q2 and 9

.. B-N5 or

dark squares! Another way to ex­

9 ... P-QR3 10 P-QR4 B-N5 as in

plain White's positional advantage

.

.

squares

than

White on

the

the present game. It is still too early

is this:

to say anything definite, but I be­

Black has hardly any possibility to

lieve that 9

After White's next move,

... B-N5 is best, but

open a line without greatly weaken­

without P-QR3 which may in some

ing his own position, while White

continuations turn out to be a weak­

has such possibilities and can pre­

ness.

pare these line-openings carefully.

9 10 P-QR4 11 N-Q2!?

P-QR3 B-NS BXB

20 P-RS! 21 N-Ql 22 N-K3 261

N-K2 N(2)-N3 N-K4

SA N

A NTONIO

A desperate try was 22 . . .

P­

'72

to occupy a stronger post with his

R4?!, but after 23 PXP N X RP 24

Knight first. More than one road

N-B5 B-K4 25 R-KNl White gets

leads to Rome.

the upper hand.

NxN

23

R-R3

24

NxN

N-N3

25

B-Q2

N-K4

26

N-K3

N-N3

26 ... P-N4 27 PXP e.p. would only

give

Black the

tioned weak QRP

earlier-men­

.

27

R-N3

B-K4

28

N-B4

Q-K2

29

R-N6!

Attacking two weak pawns and preventing all Black counterplay on the Queenside (with P-N4). As the position contains no open files, this is

more

than

could

be expected

from a Rook.

29

34

BXB?

NXB

35

N-K3

R-Q2

36

N-B5

Q-Bl

37

Q-Q2

R-Bl

38

R-QBl

R(l)-B2

39

R-B2

39 P-R4 looks good, but Black gets some counterchances with 39 .

KR-Ql

30

B-Kl

B-B5

31

B-N3

Q-B3

32

Q-B3

Q-K2

.

.

P-R4.

39

..... .

N-N3?

But even here, 39 . Exchange of Queens would lose a

.

. P-R4! was

the only chance. (And for this rea­ son White's 34th move was a mis­

pawn very soon.

take.)

33

R-Kl

P-B3

(See diagram next column.)

40

Q-B2

R-Bl

41

Q-N3

R(l)-Ql

42

Q-Kl

Black can only wait. White could already play 34 P-N4, but prefers 262

42 P-N4!? was possible.

ROUND

42 43

Q-KBl

44

P-N4!

FIFTEEN

N-K4

59

NXN

QxN

N-N3

60

Q-B5

QxQ

Or 60 ... Q-K7 61 Q-K5ch K­ Ql 62 Q-R8ch K-Q2 63 RXPch,

Finally!

etc.

44

PxP

45

RXP(4)

N-K4

46

R-N6

R-Bl?!

Desperation. White was ready to

61

PxQ

R-B4

62

RxP

RxBP

63

P-R4

RXRP

Or 63 ... P-R3 64 PXP.

strengthen his position, for example with P-R4.

64

RXP

47

RXR

QXR

48

By careful play, the two connected

NxP

Q-B6

passed pawns always win in posi­

49

N-K8!

K-B2

tions of this type. Campos tries to

50

NxP

R-B2

cut

51

P-Q6

R-B5

merely preventing the Black Rook

52

P-Q7

off the White King,

from

attacking

but by

the White

pawns

from behind, his Majesty does some­ White's King is rather open, so he

prefers

to

return one of the

thing

very useful,

even when he

has to stand in the corner.

pawns to regain the initiative.

R-R7

64 52

Q-Q7

53

P-Q8=Q

QxQ

54

N-Q5

Q-QBl

55

R-Nl

R-B7

56

N-K3

R-B6

57

P-B4!

The

end.

58

PXPch

P-R5

K-Bl

66

P-R6

K-Nl

67

R-R7

R-R4

68

R-N7ch

K-Rl

69

K-N2

Because of the Black pawn there Black's

King

is now

is no danger of stalemate.

more exposed than White's.

57

65

R-R6

69 70

K-B2

R-R6

NXP

71

R-KB7

P-R4

K-Kl

72

R-R7

Resigns

The main threat is K-N2.

Or 58 ... K-Nl 59 N-Q5! 263

SAN

A NTONIO

GAME 116

White: Lajos Portisch

'72

8

Q-R4ch!

B-Q2

9

Q-N3

Q-B2

10

P-K4

Black: Bent Larsen Not

10

BXP?

QXB

11 QXP

0-0 12 QXR Q-N3.The idea be­

Benoni Defense

hind 8 Q-R4ch was simply to lure the black Queen and Bishop to bad

Notes by Larsen

squares.

1

P-Q4

P-K3

2

P-QB4

P-QB4

3

P-QS

PXP

4

PxP

P-Q3

s

N-QB3

P-KN3

10 11

0-0 B-K2

N-R4

Is P-QR3 or R-Kl

better? As

mentioned already, the whole vari­ ation has a rather bad reputation.

I have played this a few times, the idea being to keep the possibility

12

B-K3

N-R3

to develop the Knight to K2. But

13

N-Q2

P-B4?!

that is probably not very good any­ This turns out to be incorrect. I

way ...

have only one other suggestion: 13

6

N-B3

... B-Q5!?

B-N2

14

... so here it would probably be wiser to play N-KB3, reaching a normal Modern Benoni position.

7

B-B4!

PXP

PXP

Of course, not with B or R be­ cause of the fork.

N-KB3

15

BXN(S)

16

0-0(!)

P-BS

In the position after 6 .. . N­ After

KB3 7 B-B4, most experts play 7 ... P-QR3, to avoid the line I am

BXKBP

the

White

plus

pawn would be healthier, but Black

forced into now. But in the present

would get more active play for his

position, 7 ... P-QR3 does not

pieces.

look good because of

8

Q-R4ch

PXB

B-Q2 9 Q-K4ch Q-K2 10 QxQch

16

KxQ 11 N-K4. Also not bad is 8

17

PxP

N-K4.

18

N(3)-K4

264

N-NS

ROUND

FIFTEEN

We begin to see - or maybe I ought to say: during the game it

QXKPch

26

K-Rl

QXN

Black

would get a very strong position.

was here I realized - that White may very soon get strong threats against the Black King, and that he is also planning to send this Knight to K6. The White plus pawn is really not very important, but his pieces can produce threats before Black's. As White is ready to drive back the Black Knight with P-QR3, Black really has only one move.

18 19 N-NS 19

P-QR4?

P-R4

P-N4

25 N-B3! 26 K-Rl

would

help

Black a lot.

After

26

QxKPch N-Q6 Q-K5 27

QXQ

PXQ 28 N-R4 the White passed pawn costs too much.

19 20 Q-B4

P-RS P-R3

What else? Q-K4 was

27 QR-Kl! 28 RXN a

NXR Q-Q6

strong

threat.

21 22 23 24 A

N-K6 PXB B-B7ch Q-R4

BXN P-Q4 K-Rl Q-K4

desperate attempt. After 24

... N-B3 25 N-B3 Q-K2 26 Q-R5 the threat N-R4 is a killer.

I do not know what Portisch was

(See diagram next column.)

planning when he gave up the Ex­ Now it would of course be very

change, but here he paused to think

the Ex­

for a long time. I was hoping for

P-K7?

29 N-K5? BXN 30 QXPch Q-R2

stupid of change,

White since

to after

win 25

265

SA N

ANTONIO '7 2

GAME 117

31 QxQch KXQ 32 RXB P-B5 33 RXP?

KR-Ql!

But when the

move finally came,

it was one to

29

Q-R5!

P-R6

30

P-QN3

B-B6

White: Kenneth Smith Black: Walter Browne

which there was no answer:

Benoni Defense 1

P-Q4

P-QB4

Sheer desperation.There is noth­

2

PXP

Q-R4ch

ing to be done against P-K7, and

3

N-B3

N-KB3

30 ... RXB 31

QXR does not

4

N-B3

N-B3

Now I planned to resign if

5

N-Q2

QXBP

White played 31 B-N6. But nothing

6

P-K4

P-Q3

help.

is wrong with Portisch's solution.

31

N-B4

N-KN5

N-K3

NxN

9

BXN

Q-QR4

10

B-QB4

P-KN3

QXR

11

B-Q4

R-KNl

the quickest win is not 33

12

0-0

NXB

13

QxN

B-N2

14

Q-Q5

QxQ

P-K7

After BXR,

7 8

31

K-N2 RXB

32

P-KS=Qch, but 33 N-KS!

32

PXR=Qch

RXQ

15

NxQ

K-Ql

33

BXP!

BXR

16

P-QB3

P-K3

34

Q-K5ch

R-B3

17

N-K3

B-Q2

35

Q-K7ch

Resigns

18

P-B4

B-QB3

For

the brilliancy-prize jurors,

19

B-Q3

P-B4

20

PXP

NPXP K-B2

this must have been a serious rival

21

P-KN3

to Keres-D. Byrne.

22

N-B2

P-KR4

23

QR-Kl

QR-Kl

266

24

N-Q4

BX Neb

25

PXB

P-R5

26

R-K3

PXP

27

PXP

R-KRl

28

B-K2

R-R8ch

29

K-B2

R-R7ch

30

K-Kl

K-Q2

31

R-B2

R(l)-KRl

32

P-KN4

B-K5

33

P-N5

R-R8ch

ROUND

FIFTEEN

34

B-Bl

K-B3

Playable, but not very strong in

35

R-B3ch

K-Q4

connection with the following ex­ change (one would rather expect 9

36

K-Q2

KXP

37

K-Bl

R(l)-R7

PXP PXP 10 P-B4!?). An interest­

38

RXR

RXR

ing idea is 9 P-QN4!?, and after 9

39

B-R3

R-R8ch

40

K-Q2

R-KN8

41

K-K2

.

.. P-QR4 10 PXRP White gets

an isolated

QR pawn,

but active

play for his pieces. 9

Black sealed 4 1 ... R-NS. White Resigned without resuming.

P-QR4

10

PxP?!

11

P-B3

Q-B2

12

N-Bl

P-N3 P-K5

PXP

13

P-Q4

14

B-B4

Q-B3

15

N(3)-Q2

P-B4

White: Larry Evans

16

Q-N3

B-QR3

Black: Anthony Saidy

17

N-K3

QR-Bl

GAME 1 18

Black stands very well, but the

Caro-Kann Defense

immediate 17 .

.

. P-R3 was prob-

ably stronger.

Notes by Larsen

18

QR-Bl

P-R3

19

P-R4

K-R2

20

Q-R3

R-KB2

Some years ago this was a nice

21

P-N3

Q-B3

way to avoid theory, but now this

22

Q-Q6!

1

P-K4

2

P-Q3

P-QB3

variation has been played and ana­ Necessary to avoid serious trou­

lyzed quite a Jot. Saidy chooses a

ble.

very solid setup. P-Q4

22

P-KN3

23

BXQ

P-KN3

B-N2

24

B-Bl

BxB

B-N2

P-K4

25

KXB

N-N5!?

2 3

N-Q2

4 5 6

KN-B3

N-K2

7

0-0

0-0

8

R-Kl

N-Q2

9

P-QR4

QXQ N-KB3

Interesting, as 26 NXN would offer Black very good chances. But if White is satisfied with a draw,

267

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

26 BXN NXNch 27 PXN is rather

41

K-Kl

safe.

42

RXR

NXP

43

R-Nl

N-B4

44

RXP

NXP

45

R-QB6

N-N7!

46

B-B7

26

K-K2

P-R4?!

This devalues the Black pawn

RXR

majority on the Kingside. K-Nl

27

B-B4

28

N(2)-Bl

N-KB3

29

KR-Ql

N-B3

30

B-N5

R-Q2

31

N-N2

K-B2

32

N(l)-K3

N-KR2!

33

B-B4

Or 33 N-KB4 NXB 34 PXN R(l)-Ql followed by B-Bl-K2 with some initiative for Black. N-Bl

33 34

46

N-Bl

46 ... N-Q6ch! was better, for

N-K3

35

B-K3

R(2)-B2

36

N-B4

NXNch

37

BXN

R-Q2

38

N-K3

K-K3

39

P-B4?!

B-Q5?!

instance 47 K-K2 N-NS 48 R-B4 (48 BXP? NXR 49 PXN R-Q3!) NXP

49 BXP NXN

with good

chances.

47

BXP

BXN?!

Better wait! The White position was very solid. K-B2!

39 40

Some winning chances were of­ fered by 47 ... N-Q6ch 48 K-K2 P-BS! But

PXP

White

defends

better

with 48 K-Bl!

Also 40 NXQP NxPch 41 K-K3 NXP 42 NXPRXR 43 RXRR-B3 44 R-Q7ch K-Nl offers Black slight

48

PXB

49

B-B3

RXP

winning chances. After this, Black has no winning 40

......

NXPch

chances. 268

ROUND 49

FIFT EEN

N-Q6ch

4

B-R4

50

K-Bl

N-K4

5

0-0

B-Q2

51

BXN

RXB

6

P-Q4

N-B3

7

P-B3

P-KN3

8

QN-Q2

P-QN4?!

This was less than half the game! Saidy enjoyed the sight of his plus

9

pawn for 55 moves before he finally

10

P-Q3

B-B2

B-N2

N-N3!

0-0

gave a draw on move 106. Possibly better is 10 ... Q-K2. GAME 119

11

White: Anatoly Karpov

PXP

PxP

And here 11 ... QNX P is also

Black: Henrique Mecking

possible.

Sicilian Defense

12

1

P-K4

P-QB4

2

N-KB3

P-Q3

3

B-N5ch

B-Q2

12

4

BXBch

QxB

13

5

0-0

N-QB3

6

P-B4

N-B3

7

N-B3

P-KN3

8

P-Q4

PxP

9

NxP

Draw

N-B5

Now White has a slight pull. B-N5 P-KR3

GAME 120 White: Julio Kaplan Black: Paul Keres Ruy Lopez

Notes by Kaplan

13

Q-K2?

Correct was 13

. . . BxN! 14

QXB Q-K2 15 B-K3 KR-Ql! (in­ 1

P-K4

P-K4

tending

2

N-KB3

N-QB3

with only a slight advantage

3

B-N5

P-QR3

White. But not 13 ... QXQ?! 14 269

. .. N-Q5!)

16

P-QN4! for

SAN

ANTONIO

'7 2

RXQ BXN 15 PXB with much the

BXP RXB 26 QXR BXN 27 Q­

better game for White.

N3 N-K4 with an unclear position.

14

14

P-N4??

KR-Ql??

A blunder o f at least equal mag­ A blunder.The indicated contin­

nitude.After 14 ... BXN 15 QXB

uation was 14 PXB QXN 15 P-N5

P-QR4 16 B-Q2 PXP 17 PXP N­

N-KR4

Q5, Black has a clear advantage.

16

B-K3

Q-K2

when

White's game is better. An obscure continuation would then be 17 P­

15

B-Q3

Draw

KN3!? QR-Ql 18 Q-K2 P-B3! 19 P-R4?! PxNP 20 NxNP N-B5 21

After 15 ... B-K3! 16 Q-K2 N­

Q-N4 P-KR4 22 Q-R4 B-R3 23

KR4! 17 P-QR4 N-B5 the chances

B-N3ch K-Rl 24 PXN PXBP 25

are equal.

270

INDEX OF OPENINGS (Numbers refer to games) Alekhine's Defense: 29, 49 Benoni Defense: 31,63,100, 115, 116, 117 Caro-Kann Defense: 30, 47, 64,108,118 Dutch Defense: 99 English Opening: 14, 23, 26, 35, 38, 48, 53, 69, 80, 84, 86, 88,91, 95,97,98,112, 113 Franco-Sicilian Defense: 4 French Defense: 12,77,111 Gruenfeld Defense: 10, 40, 61, 78 King's Indian Attack: 67, 83 King's Indian Defense: 7, 24, 25, 33, 43, 55, 65, 70, 105, 110 Nimzo-Indian Defense: 71, 73, 85, 103,106 Old Indian Defense: 57 Pirc Defense: 11, 45,62,79, 81,90 Polish Defense: 3 Queen's Gambit Accepted: 16 Queen's Gambit Declined: 5,18, 39, 50,68, 94, 101 Queen's Indian Defense: 1,13, 20,54 Reti Opening: 8, 52, 56 Robatsch Defense: 28, 87, 114 RuyLopez: 46,59, 76,92,120 Sicilian Defense: 2, 6, 9, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 27, 32, 34, 36, 37,41, 44, 51, 58, 60, 66, 72, 74, 75, 82, 89, 93, 96, 102, 104, 109, 119 Three Knights Game: 42

271

107,

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Lubomir Kavalek Paul Keres Viktor Korchnoi Bent Larsen

Tigran Petrosian Lajos Portisch Boris Spassky

(continued on next page)

List of Openings (Covering all Important Variations in each Opening) Sicilian

Pirc

Dutch

King's Indian

Alekhine

Larsen's

Grunfeld

Ruy Lopez

Queen's Gambit

Nimzo-lndian

Benoni

King's Gambit

English

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Caro-Kann

Benko Gambit

Reti

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"A most welcome addition to the list of

really important tournaments in the U.S." Grandmaster Paul Keres

This historic tournament pitted the proven ability of the experienced superstars against the sparkling ambition of the most exciting young grandmasters. In the prime of their careers were former World Champion Tigran Petrosian, the legendary Paul Keres, the great fighter Bent Larsen, the strong and solid Lajos Portisch, the vastly experienced Svetozar Gligoric, the dynamic Vlastimil Hort, the imper­ turbable Larry Evans. Battling for their niches among the elite were the international superstars of the future: world championship hopeful Anatoly Karpov, the controversial Henrique Mecking, the ambitious Walter Browne, the original and scrappy Duncan Suttles, the hard-fighting Julio Kaplan. The exciting games produced by this powerful group, fighting for the highest cash prizes in many years, have been explained at every stage by the players themselves, each of whom has selected his best or most interesting games to annotate exclusively for this book. In addition, Grandmaster Bent Larsen has chosen 31 games for analysis in his bright, warm style. Other interesting battles have been annotated by International Master David Levy, a well-known chess writer and authority on the openings. The book includes all 120 games, numerous diagrams, photos, crosstables, indices, etc., plus a fascinating behind­ the-scenes

essay

by

Tournament

Coordinator

George

Koltanowski, and a warm personal look at the players just being themselves by Sherry Rittenhouse.

AN RHM CHESS PUBLICATION Burt Hochberg, Editor-in-Chief