Anatoly Karpov & Gik - Chess Kaleidoscope

Chess
Kaleidoscope
A.KARPOV & Y.GIK

PERGAMOM PRESS
Chess
Kaleidoscope
In Chess Kaleidoscope, World Champion
Analoly Karpov has collaborated with
Mathematician and Chess Journalist
Yevgeny Qik to produce an instructive and
entertaining book, which should satisfy
the demands both of chess enthusiasts
and of serious players.
The book is in three parts, the first of
which tells of matches For the World
Championship, of decisive games, of com-
binations, problems and studies on the
chess board, and of the unusual properties
of the board and pieces. Part two deals
with a currently fashionable topic. The
Computer at the Ches1 Board , and in the
third part the World Champion annotates
fifteen of his best games, many of which
are from recent events dnd may be
unfamiliar to the Western reader.
PERGAMON RUSSIAM CHESS SERIES
0 08 026896 X
PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS SERIES
General Editor
Kenneth P. Neat
Executive Editor
Martin J. Richardson
AVERBAKH, Y.
Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge
BOTVINNIK, M. M.
Achieving the Aim
Anatoly Karpov: His Road to the World Championship
Selected Games 1967-70
ESTRIN, Y. & PANOV, V. N.
Comprehensive Chess Openings
KARPOV, A. & ROSHAL, A.
Anatoly Karpov: Chess is My Life
LIVSHITZ, A.
Test Your Chess IQ, Books 1 & 2
NEISHTADT, Y.
Catastrophe in the Opening
POLUGAYEVSKY, L.
Grandmaster Preparation
SUETIN, A. S.
Modern Chess Opening Theory
TAL, M., CHEPIZHNY, V. & ROSHAL, A.
Montreal 1979: Tournament of Stars
Chess Kaleidoscope
By
A. KARPOV and Y. GIK
Translated by
KENNETH P. NEAT
PERGAMON PRESS
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Copyright© 1981 Pergamon Press Ltd.

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Firs! edition 1981
Britilh Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Karpov, Anatolii
Chess kaleidoscope. - (Pergamon Russian chess series)
1. Chess
I. Title II. Gik, Y. III. Shakhmaty
kaleidoscope. English
794.1 G VI445
ISBN 0-08-026897-8 (Hardcover)
ISBN 0-08-026896-X (Flexicover)
Library of Congress Catalog Card no: 81-82527
Printed in Great Britain by A. Wntatan & Co. Ltd,, Exeter

.
Foreword
The game of chess is inexhaustible, and no one definitely knows

what it is — science, art or sport, A professional interest in this
ancient but eternally youthful game is displayed by people of various
professions: psychologists and doctors, mathematicians and cybernetic-
ists, as well as historians and teachers. And in their leisure time,
millions of people simply like to play chess, from school children to
academicians, and from wise phi losophers to light-minded drummers in
pop groups.
Of course, the sport element In chess is also very great, and
competitive success is of considerable significance. The recognition and
popularity of a player, and ultimately his very livelihood, depend on
the results which he scores in tournaments. This is why many players
strive to perfect their mastery. For practical players in many countries
of the world a great deal of chess literatur-e is published — opening
monographs, games collections, and books on the endgame.
But chess would be dead, were it not for the many thousands of
admirers and supporters who have a disinterested love of chess, who
know everything about i t , and at the same time do not have any great
ambitions.
The authors have written the present book in the hope of satis-
fying to some extent the demands of both categories of chess player —
both enthusiasts and serious players. The book acquaints the reader
with the most varied aspects of chess, both as a game and an art, and
therefore we have decided to call it Chess Kaleidoscope. The book is
in three parts. The f i r s t part, 'Seven Chess Letters', tells of matches
for the World Championship and decisive games, of combinations, prob-
lems and studies on the chess board, and of the unusual properties of
the chess board and pieces. The second part of the book, 'The Computer
at the Chess Board', is wholly devoted to a currently fashionable lopic
— to chess playing by electronic computers. Here are described com-
petitions between machines, including three World Computer Chess
Championships. Games by computers are given, played both against
other computers, and against humans. We describe the successes of the
f i r s t Computer World Champion, the Soviet program Kaissa, in the
analysis of chess endings (one of the creators of Kaissa, mathemat-
ician and chess master A. Bit man, assisted in the writing of this part
of the book).
vi Foreword
The t h i r d part of the book, 'Fifteen of the World Champion's Best
Games', is purely chess. Each game is annotated by the World Cham-
pion, and is accompanied by a brief introduction, e x p l a i n i n g why that
p a r t i c u l a r game is dear lo the author, and why it was included in the
select Ion.
How did the idea of w r i t i n g this book arise? Its authors f i r s t
became acquainted in 1968 in (he Moscow University Chess Championship,
when the game between the f i n a l - y e a r student Y. Gik and the f i r s t - y e a r
student in the same University f a c u l t y A. Karpov played an Important
role. The latter came out on top, and also won the t i t l e of Moscow
University Champion, while the former finished In second place (the
Karnov-Gik game opens the t h i r d part of the book). Shortly a f t e r -
wards, one of the authors moved from Moscow to L e n i n g r a d , and t r a n s -
ferred !o the Economics Faculty of Leningrad University (he finished
with a distinction there several years l a t e r ) . In 1975 Anatoiy Karpov
became chess champion of the world, and three years later succeeded
in r e t a i n i n g this t i t l e in the match in Baguio. During the intervening
years the second author has defended his mathematics dissertation,
published more than t h i r t y scientific works, and, in passing, written
two chess books. Now World Champion Anatoiy Karpov once again lives
in Moscow; he is edi t o r - i n - c h j e f of the Chess Review 64, while Yevgeny
Gik, who is a member of the USSR Union of Journalists, uses his connec-
tions to write from time to time for this magazine.
Since 1980 the authors have been w r i t i n g a chess column i n the

popular science magazine Kvant* ( i n this way the World Champion has
succeeded in r e t u r n i n g to mathematics!}. The idea of this book In fact
came to the authors when w r i t i n g their 'chess letters' for Kvant.
This, In p a r t i c u l a r , explains why the chapters of the f i r s t part of the
book are called ' l e t t e r s ' . Although d u r i n g the work on the book the
' l e t t e r s ' from Kvant were at hand, in the 'kaleidoscope', as should be
the case, their contents have been completely mixed up. The result,
we hope, is a r i c h , diverse and unusual book, In which every reader
w i l l f i n d for himself something of interest.
A. Karpov, Y . Gik
• K v a n t = Quantum (K.P.N.)
Contents
PART ONE - SEVEN CHESS LETTERS - .

First Letler — The Geometry of the Chess Board 3
Second Letter — Symmetry in Chess 15
Third Letter — An Ancient Mate 24
Fourth Letter — Forty Chess Quartets 33
Fifth Letter- — Trios and Duets on the Chess Board 54
Sixth Letter — Two Decisive Games 66
Seventh Letter - Before the 30th Match for the
World Championship 7B
PART TWO - THE COMPUTER AT THE CHESS BOARD 99

Why program computers to play chess? 101
Competitions with the Participation of Computers 103
The Computer Analyzes the Endgame 115
PART THREE - FIFTEEN OF THE WORLD CHAMPION'S BEST GAMES 123

No. 1 Karpou-Gik, Moscow University Championship, 1968 125
No. 2 Karpov-Hort, Moscow 1971 129
No. 3 Karpov-Polugayevsky, Q u a r t e r - F i n a l Candidates'
Match, Moscow 1974 133
No. 4 Karpov-Spassky, Semi-Final Candidates' Match,
Leningrad \9Tt 137
No. 5 Karpov-Korchnoi, Final Candidates' Match,
Moscow 1974 lft
No. 6 Portisch-Karpou, European Team Championship,
Moscow 1977 H
No. 7 Tlmman-Karpov, Montreal 1979 '*
1
No. 8 Karpov-HCibner, Bad Lauterberg 1980 *
No. 9 Kar-pov-Tal, Bugojno 1980 H9
vii
Contents
No. 10 Gl i g o r i c - K a r p o v , Bugojno 1980 151
No. 11 K a r p o v - R i b l i, Amsterdam 1980 154
No. 12 L a r s e n - K a r p o v , Amsterdam 1980 157
No. 13 K a r p o v - 5 p a s s k y , T i l b u r g 1980 159
No. 14 K a r p o v - H o r t , Malta Olympiad 1980 162
No. 15 L j u b o j e v i c - K a r p o v , L i n a r e s 1981 166
Part One
Seven Chess Letters
First Letter
THE GEOMETRY OF THE CHESS
BOARD
In order to play well al chess i l is nol essential to be a good

mathematician. The continuous calculation of variations, which a
player has to conduct during a game, is of a different nature from the
work of the calculating mathematician. Me vert he less, the game of chess
contains certain mathematical features, with which we are going to
acquaint you.
We will begin with the fact lhat the chess board possesses
unusual geometric properties, which are of great importance in the
theory of the endgame. Let us begin with the following famous study.
R. Reti, 1921
White to play and draw.

Surprising though it may seem, White succeeds in catching the
enemy pawn. Of course, if the king heads for it by the direct route
(1 Kh7 h4 2 Kh6 h3, etc.) the pawn safely promotes to a queen. But
White chooses a more cunning route: I Kg7! h4 2 Kf6! Kb6 (on 2. . .h3
there follows 3 Ke7 h2 4 c? Kb7 5 Kd7, and the pawns queen simul-
taneously) 3 Ke5! Now 3...h3 & Kd6 h2 5 c7 again leads to a draw,
but no better is 3...Kxc6 4 Kf4 h3 5 Kg3 hZ 6 Kxh2 - the king
catches the pawn on the threshold of queening.
As we see, White is saved here by a purely geometric idea, which
consists of the fact that the shortest distance on the chess board is not
necessarily measured in a straight line. In the given example the
4 Seven Chess Letters
path of the white k i n g from he to hZ occupies six moves, both in a

straight line, and in a z i g - i a g ; but in the second instance Black is
forced to lose two extra temp i, which enables his 'unstoppable' pawn
lo be halted.
When this pawn study was published, it caused a genuine sen-
sation in the chess world. The geometric idea on which it i ? based has
subsequently been improved many times, but for p u r i t y of form it is
Impossible to surpass the o r i g i n a l . Seven years later, Retl gave his
'discovery' an even more paradoxical form.
R. Reti, 1928
A single white pawn draws against three opposing connected

passed pawns! 1 Kg6 Kb6 2 Kxg7 h5 ( 2 . . . f S 3 Kf6 f4 h Ke5 f3
5 Kd6, with a draw) 3 Kxf6 hA 4 Ke5, with the familiar f i n i s h ;
1...f5 2 Kxg7 f4 3 Kf6 13 !3...Kb6 4 Ke5) 4 Ke7(e6). Draw.
We will consider one further endgame study, in which White wins

by a 'geometric' method.
I. Maizelis, 1921
White to play and w i n .
The a7 pawn cannot be defended, and Black's one chance is to

answer the inevitable Kxa7 with . . . K c 7 , not allowing the enemy k i n g
out of c a p t i v i t y . The path of the white k i n g to the a7 pawn takes
five steps, and there are 30 different ways of capturing the pawn In
this number of moves, but only one of them wins: 1 Ke6t Kc3 2 Kd3!
The white k i n g , as chess players say, 'shoulder charges' his black
opponent. Now the latter cannot go to d4, and loses a decisive tempo:
2..,Kd3 3 Kc6 Kd4 * Kb7 Kc5 5 Kxa7 Kc6 6 Kb8, etc. Other ways
1st Letter — The Geometry of the Chess Board 5
do not work, for example 1 Ke6 Kc3 2 Kd6 Kd4 3 Kc6 Ke5! 4 Kb7 Kd6
5 Kxa7 Kc7, with a draw.
A tragic incident, associated w i t h . . . the geometry of the chess
board, occurred in 1951 iri the match for the World Championship
between Botvinnik and Bronstein, as will be described in the seventh
'letter' .
Let us now examine (wo very simple geometric rules for pawn
endings, which every chess player should know.
The Rule of the Square
In the following position the while king is not participating in

the play, and everything depends upon whether or not its black
opponent can catch the h3 pawn.
Inexperienced players usually reason as follows: the pawn goes

here, the king — there, the pawn — here, the king — there, and so on.
In doing so they frequently get confused (especial ly if there are other
pawns on the board}, and in the end miscalculate. However, the out-
come of the game can easily be evaluated using the 'rule of the
square'. It is sufficient to check whether or not the king can, on Its
move, enter the 'square' of the pawn — In the given Instance that
depicted in the diagram. For convenience one need mentally draw only
one line — the diagonal of the square (h3-c8). Thus, in our position
Black lo move can draw (he enters the square), but if It is the
opponent's move Black loses.
The well-known chess master and composer N. Grigoriev was
involved in an amusing incident in the days of his youth (1913). Once
in a chess club he was playing a game against an old man. The
youth was very agitated, since he assumed that he was up against
some eminent old player. But things went quite well, and in the end
the following position was reached.
With a trembl ing hand the old man took the b-pawn — 1 ...Kxb2,
but then the other pawn rushed forward — 2 a4. The enemy king
hastened after it — 2...Ka3 3 a5 Ka4. Al this point the young player
began to have doubts; what if the old man should know some magical
secret, and was not pursuing the pawn in vain? There was nothing to
lose, and the race continued — 4 a6 Ka5 5 a7 Ka6. The black king
has kept r i g h t behind the pawn. Here, with a cry of ' q u e « n ! ' , White
made the last move with his pawn — 6 aB=CH. The old man's face was
covered in g r i e f . "Ah, too l a t e ! ! " , he sighed d e s p a i r i n g l y . The old
man had believed in his good fortune, bul the sudden appearance of
the queen shattered al I his hopes. . . . See whal a sad tragedy can
result from not knowing the rule of the square!
Who knows, perhaps this episode with the pursuit of the pawn
played its p a r t , but, at any event, Nikolai Grigoriev subsequently
became one of the greatest specialists in the world in the f i e l d of pawn
endings. Here is a s t r i k i n g ex amp le; to an international competition
for studies in France, held in 1936, he sent ten of his pawn studies,
and a l l ten won prizes!
The Rule of the Triangle
In the following position Black to move loses immediately, since

he allows the white king in at b6 and loses his only pawn.
But It is now White's move, and he has to give his opponent the
move, in other words, gain a tempo. After 1 Kd5 KcB nothing is
achieved by 2 KdG Kd8 3 c7+ Kc8 4 Kc6 stalemate!, while 2 Kc5 Kc7
leads to the i n i t i a l position. The goal is achieved by means of ' t r i -
angulation1. For the given example this t r i a n g l e (c4-d4-d5) is depicted
in the diagram. After 1 Kd5 Kc8 2 Kd4 Kb8 3 Kc4! Kc8 4 Kd5 the
necessary tempo has been won! Now on 4 . . . K d 8 White wins by 5 Kd6
Kc8 6 c7, and on 4...Kc7 by 5 Kc5.
Geometric Opposition
Opposition plays a basic role in the p l a y i n g of pawn endings.

Geometric opposition means that the white and black kings are situated
on the same line, and are separated by ar\ odd number of squares.
If there is one square, the opposition Is eel led close, if there ere
three or f i v e , it is called d i s t a n t . With the kings on the same f i l e ,
rank or diagonal, the opposition is called vertical, horizontal or
diagonal, respectively. Thus, to gain the opposition, one has to use
arithmetic — calculate the number of squares between the k i n g s . If the
pawns are f i x e d , the side possessing the opposition (with the opponent
to move) attains his goal — wins, or gains a draw. In every case, a

decisive role is played by manoeuvres of the kings (and pawns, if they
are not blocking one another).
White to play and draw. .,
In order to gain a draw, White must take the opposition. But in

the event of close opposition he is hindered dy his own pawn: 1 Kfi?
Kd2 2 Kf2 Kd3!, and the opposition is lost - 3 Kg3 Ke3 4 Kg2 Ke2
5 Kg3 Kfl 6 Kh3 Kf2 7 Kg4 Kg2, and wins. The game is saved only
by the distant opposition: 1 KM ! Kc2 (after 1...g4 2 Kg2 Kd2
3 f x g i eU 4 g5 the pawns promote simultaneously) 2 Kg2 Kd2 3 Kh2!
Ke2 4 Kg2 Ke3 5 Kg3, with a draw.
Now an amusing example, which also relates to the opposition.
The reader may be confused by the task, since after all White
has an extra rook. But here there is one additional condition — the
rook is allowed to move, only if i t . . . gives mate!
After 1 Kg2! White takes the opposition (the kings are separated
by an odd number of squares — f i v e ) . If now the black king keeps on
the g - f i l e , White retains the opposition — 1...Kg7 2 Kg3! (the distance
Is again an odd number, three squares) 2...Kg6 3 Kg4! (one square).
Thus, Black is forced to move off the g - f i l e - 3...Kh6 4 Kf5! Up t i l l
now the white king could not stand in front of the rook, since his
black opponent would have immediately escaped to freedom across the
f - f l le. But now this possibility has appeared, and White carries out
an outflanking manoeuvre. 4 . . .Kg7 (alas, after 4 . . .Kh6 the rook is
allowed to come Into play - 5 Rhi mate) 5 Kg5! (again the opposition
has been won) 5 . . . K h 7 6 Kf6! KgB 7 Kg6! KhB 8 Rf8 mate ( 6 . . . K h 8
7 Kf7 Kh7 8 Rhi mate). After 1 Kh2? KhS! 2 Kg3 Kg7 3 Kh4 Kh6 the
b l a c k k i n g cannot be p i n n e d a g a i n s t the w a l l .
The Theory of Corresponding Squares
On making the acquaintance of the concept of opposition, we saw

that in pawn endings, in order to win (or d r a w ) , the one k i n g , for
various positions of his opponent, must occupy corresponding squares
(the opposition), and thai if He cannot do t h i s , th« goal is not
achieved. This correspondence often proves to be more complex than
that examined above, and therefore the opposition is essentially a
specific instance of the concept of 'corresponding squares', a r i s i n g In
the analysis of positions with a blocked pawn structure. in their
study, various methods are used: 'Bianchett i 's c r i t i c a l distances',
'Ebersr's co-ordinate system', and others. The theory of such endings
is cal led the theory of corresponding squares. The analysis of each
concrete position can be regarded as the solution of a subtle mathe-
matical problem, although there is no single algorithm in existence.
Uet us investigate the following f a i r l y simple example (While to move).
Black's position is not easy — the white k i n g is threatening to

break into his camp either via f3, or via b7. Black must endeavour to
prevent both these intrusions. Let us consider various positions of
the white k i n g , and determine the corresponding squares for Black.
Let us begin with the c r i t i c a l intrusion squares — f3 and a6. If the
white k i n g stands at f3, 6lack must not allow it (o reach g4, i . e . his
k i n g must stand at g5 (from h5 he w i l l be too f a r away from the 0 -
side). Thus on the corresponding squares f3 and g5 we w r i t e the
number 1 . If the white king has a r r i v e d at a6, Black must meet it at
b8 (number 2 ) , Suppose that the white k i n g stands at e2. Since it is
threatening to occupy square 1 in one move, and square 2 in four, the
black k i n g must be at f6 (at e2 and f6 we place the number 3 ) . The
white king can go to a6 from a5 and bS, and this means that these
squares correspond to c8 (number 4 ) . The white k i n g can reach the
squares with number 4 from b4 or c4, and they correspond to d8 (num-
ber 5 ) . From d3 the king can go to squares 3 and 5, i . e . it corres-
ponds to square e7 (number 6 ) . S i m i l a r l y , from c3 the king can occupy
squares 5 and 6, and it corresponds to e8 (number 7 } . From d2 the
king has moves to squares 3, 6 and 7, and the corresponding square is
f7 (number 8 ) . The remaining squares do not play any role.
Thus the corresponding squares are not mutually equivalent — two

p a i r s of white squares each correspond to one black square, and this
decides matters: 1 Kf3 KgS 2 Ke2 Kf6 3 Kd3 (3 Kd2 Kf7) 3 . . ,Ke7
A Kc4 (4 Kc3 Ke8) 4,..Kd8. Up t i l l now Black has found the necessary
reply, but after 5 Kb4! (the white king stays on a square with the
number 5) Black loses the correspondence and with it Ihe game: on
5-..Ke7(e6) there follows G Kb5, and on 5...Kc8 - 6 Kc3 Kd8 7 Kc4I,
and on one sector of the board Ihe white king breaks through to the
black pawns.
In the given example Black has little opportunily for manoeuvre.
and therefore White could even have permitted himself an inaccuracy.

For example, if he had gone S Kb5 (instead of 5 Kb4), then after 5 . . .
Kc8 he could have repaired h i 5 mistake by 6 Ka5! etc. But Often in
such positions one inexact move can have irreparable consequences.
White to play and w i n . '
The analysis of this position is considerably more complicated.

White intends to break through either v i a d6, or via f4, and the black
king must hinder both these plans. Thus if the while king reaches c5,
Black must meet it at e7 (with his king at d7 he would not have time
to defend the g4 pawn after Kc5-d4-e3-f4), i.e. e7 corresponds to the
square c5. With the white king at f4, Black's must be at h5, i.e. h5
corresponds lo f4.
If the white king has reached d4, Black's at this point must
occupy f7, so as to answer Kc5 with ...Ke7, and Ke3 with . . .Kg6.
From c4 White can go both Kc5 and Kd4, and in this case Black's king
must be at fB, so as to stand at e7 (after Kc5) or at f7 (after Kd4).
From d3 the moves Kc4, Kd4 and Ke3 are possible, and therefore the
square corresponding to d3 is g7. By successively going round all the
most important squares at the disposal of the white k i n g , and seeking
the coresponding squares for Its black colleague, we obtain the f o l -
lowing picture, where, as above, corresponding squares are indicated
by the same number.
Now the solution can be found almost automatically. White should

be guided by the following r u l e : to place his king on a squar-e which
at the given instant corresponds to the square of the black k i n g , or on
a square, the corresponding square to which is Inaccessible to t
black king within one move. Since the corresponding square to bl is
g7, and that to b2 is h7, and to a2 — h8, the only move to win is
1 Ka1-a2!! After 1 Kb1? Kg7! or 1 Kb2? Kh7! Black gains a draw.
Since the subsequent play Is simpler, we give only the main
variation (if Black plays otherwise, he loses more q u i c k l y ) . 1 Ka2!I
Kh7 2 Kb2! Kg7 3 Kb3! Kg8 4 Kc3! Kf8 5 Kc4! Kf7 6 Kd4! By th«
staircase depicted i n the d i a g r a m , the white k i n g has completed its
ascent onto the highest step, and now Black is defenceless! Obviously,
by means of our table of numbers it is also easy to evaluate the posi-
tion for other i n i t i a l piacings of the kings, but only for the given
pawn structure.
Up t i l l now we have been t a l k i n g only about pawn endings.
However, various mathematical elements are also contained in other
endings. Consider, for example, one form of the ending 'rook and
pawn against rook 1 .
Draw
How should this position be evaluated? White has an extra pawn,

but It turns out that he cannot win. For the evaluation of such
positions, in which Black's k i n g is cut off from (he white pawn, but
his rook is attacking the pawn from the front, there exists a simple
arithmetic r u l e . It Is called the ' r u l e of f i v e ' , and goes as follows.
If the number of the rank occupied by the pawn and the number of
files separating it from the weaker side's king in total give a number
less than or equal to f i v e , the position is drawn; but If this number
is greater than f i v e , the stronger side wins.
Thus the position in the above diagram is drawn. Indeed, the
pawn stands on the t h i r d rank, and the king is cut off by two f i l e s ,
3 + 2 = 5! Play can go as follows: 1 Kc3 RcB+ 2 Kb4 RdB 3 Kc4
Rc8+ 4 Kb5 Rd8 5 Rdi Kf6 6 d4 (6 Kc6 KeS) 6...Ke7 7 Kc6 Rc8+,
with a simple draw — the black king succeeds in occupying a square in
front of the pawn.
White wins.
In this position, which differs from the previous one in that the
pawn and k i n g have been moved up one rank, White now wins — the
sum in question is greater than f i v e : 4 + 2 = 6! This is how the win
is achieved: 1 KcA Rc8+ 2 Kb5 RdB 3 Kc5 RcB+ 4 Kb6 RdB 5 Rdi
Kf6 6 Kc7! RdS 7 Kc6 Rdfl 8 d5, and the pawn attains the eighth
rank without d i f f i c u l t y .
1 1st Letter" — The Geometry of the Chess Board 11
White wins.
And t h i s position d i f f e r s from the i n i t i a l one by the black k i n g
and white rook being moved one f i l e to the r i g h t . The black k i n g is
cut off from the pawn by three f i l e s , and again 3 + 3 = 6! White
decides the game by 1 Kc3 RcB+ 2 Kdfi RdS+ 3 Ke4 Re8+ 4 Kf5 Rf8+
5 Ke6 Rd8 6 Rdl Rd4 7 Ke5 RdB 8 d4, etc.
We have studied three positions i n which White's e x t r a pawn was
a central one. However, the given r u l e is also perfectly applicable to
positions with a bishop's or k n i g h t ' s pawn.
Draw
According to the ' r u l e of f i v e ' , t h i s is a draw. 1 Kb3 RbB+

2 Ka4 Rc8 3 Kb4 RbB+ 4 Ka5 Rc8 5 Rci Ke3 6 c4 Kd2, or 1 Re6 Kf5
2 Rb6 KeS 3 Kb3 Kd5, w i t h a simple d r a w . The result does not change
if t h i s last position \s shifted either- one f i le to the r i g h t , or to the
left.
It has to be said that the ' r u l e of f i v e 1 can prove useful only to
•a human. But for a computer p l a y i n g chess, it is no use at a l l . As
w i l l be described in the second p a r t of the book, a computer has made
an exhaustive study of a l l endings of the type 'rook and pawn against
rook 1 , and is able to make a f a u l t l e s s e v a l u a t i o n of any one of them.
We w i l l now describe an amusing instance, which bears some

r e l a t i o n to our theme. It happened 15 years ago in a group of students,
who were good mathematicians (but not very good chess p l a y e r s ! ) . One
of the authors of t h i s book, then s t l l I a student (at that time the
second author was studying at school, and could h a r d l y have guessed
that w i t h i n ten years he would become the strongest player on this
p l a n e t ) , for amusement offered his colleagues the following problem of a
so-called reverse mate.
White to play and force Black to give mate.
In this position Black does not want to mate the white k i n g , but
White forces him to do t h i s . Since Ihe task was an unusual one, I
decided f i r s t of a l l . . . to show my colleagues how to give mate, and so
I took the white pieces: 1 Bg2 Bd5 2 Qd8 Bb7 3 Be4 Bc6 4 0c8 Bb7
5 Bd5 Bc6 6 Qh8 Bb7 7 Bb6, and Black is forced to play 7...Bxc6
mate.
The students said that it was a l l clear to them, and we turned
the board round. But after 1 Bg2 Be4 2 0d8 Bd5 3 Qe8 Bc6 4 Qf8
Bb7 5 Qh8 Bf3 6 QdB Bd5 7 Be4 Bb7 8 Qc8 Bc6 9 Bd5 Bb7 they were
disappointed to notice that the i n i t i a l position had again been reached.
This was repealed several times — I , p l a y i n g White, achieved my goal,
while my partners with the same colour could in no way force Black to
mate them. In the end we made a bet, and my colleagues had indepen-
dently to disclose the secret of the mysterious queen and bishop
manoeuvres. The students llyashenko and Petri (now well-known
mathematicians) compiled a table of corresponding squares between the
white pieces and Ihe black bishop, and soon (after a l l , they were good
mathematicians!} the exact law was establ ished! It [urns out that,
however the white queen moves about along the eighth r a n k , nothing
w i l l force Black, who chooses the corresponding squares for his bishop,
to mate the white k i n g ! Black must merely observe the following r u l e .
With the queen at c8 he must keep between the bishops a distance of
one square along the diagonal (as in the i n i t i a l position}, with the
queen at d8 — two squares, with the queen at e8 — three squares, with
the queen at f8 — four squares, and f i n a l l y , with the queen at h8 the
black bishop must stand next to White's. Essentially we have here as
many as f i v e amazing oppositions!
Here is a possible course of events: 1 Bg2 Be4! (with the queen
at c8 — a distance of one square) 2 Bf3 Bd5 3 Qe8 Bb7! (queen at
e8 — three squares) 4 QdB Bc6 (two squares) 5 Be4 Bb7 6 Bg2 (not
possible is 6 Qf8 Bxe4!, and this is not mate, since there is the move
7 Qf3; in general, the queen can stand to the r i g h t of its bishop only
at h8) 6...Bd5 7 Qf8 Bb7! (four squares) 8 Qe8 (again the bishop
cannot move due to its capture) 8...Bc6 9 Qh8 Bf3! (next to the white
bishop) 10 Qc8 Be4 11 QdS Bd5 etc.
Thus my colleagues, having shown that the probfem could not be
solved, almost won their bet. Almost, because White has at his disposal
another p l a n , involving the retreal of his queen from the eighth r a n k .
After 1 Qh8 Bc6 2 Q a i l Bb7 3 Bc6 Black, so as not to give mate, is
forced to move his bishop from bB. After this White captures f i r s t one
bishop — 4 Bxb7+, within a few moves the second, then the a7 pawn,
then he gives up his own Bishop (he no longer needs i t ) , and queens
his pawn. Finally, using the two queens he constructs the following
position.
1st Letter - The Geometry of (he Chess Board 13
There now follows Qa2-g2+!, and Black is forced to give mate --

h3xg2 mate!
This example illustrates an important distinction (in the type of
thinking) between mathematics and chess: the solving of a mathematical
problem demands exact and deep analysis, concentrated in a narrow
field (the student mathematicians accomplished it successfully), but in
the game of chess Ihe number of variations is immensurably large, to
take them all into account is impossible, and solutions (moves) are
sought only approximately. An exhaustive analysis of the position, as
we see, can be refuted in a completely unexpected and illogical way!
In [his position, by Berger, the white queen again has to battle

ogainsl two bishops, but this time with a more usual aim — that of
mating the black k i n g . An analysis of the correspondence between the
queen and the bishops shows that it can be achieved only by very
subtle play, and not earlier than the )3th move (against accurate
defence by Black): 1 Qb8! (not allowing the black-squared bishop to
escape; other continuations lead to a draw) 1...BC4 2 Qe5 Ba6
3 Qe1 Bb5 4 Qc1 Bfi 5 Qf4 Ba6 6 QgA Bb7 7 Qdi Be4 B Kg3 Bf3
9 Qc1 Bh5 10 Qai Bg4 11 QhB+ Bn3 12 Qxh3+ Bh2 13 Qxh2 mate.
We have taken this problem from a book by the well-known Polish
mathematician and popu I ar izer of science, G. Steinhausa, Mathematical
Kaleidoscope. It thus links two 'kaleidoscopes' — mathematical and
chess 1
We have examined with you only positions, the analysis of which

resembles to some extent the solving of a mathematical problem. We
have not considered problems and studies in which the solution is
Burely chess one, but contains various geometric motifs: the opening
and crossing of lines (blocking, interference), the graphical ly precise
co-ordination of pieces (systematic movement) or their geometric move-
ment on the board ( i n a triangle, square, rhombus or c i r c l e ) . For
long time the study of geometric ideas has attracted the attention of
chess composers, and in almost every col lection of problems or studie;,
one can find a section devoted to 'chess geometry'. We should add
that geometric ideas also occur often in practice. Take, for instance,
Seven Chess Letters
(f6 f7+! cf the

- - -
Second Letter
SYMMETRY IN CHESS
Symmetry, as a general principle of harmony in molecules,

crystals, and l i v i n g nature, is of deep significance. The study of Us
manifestations and regularities plays an important role in mathematics,
physics, chemistry and biology.
"Symmetry, however broad or- narrow our understanding of this
word, Is an idea by means of which man has for centuries attempted to
explain and create order, beauty and perfection", thus wrote the wel I-
known German mathematician Herman Weil. In our everyday life we
constantly encounter various motifs of symmetry. Ornaments, mosaics
and decorative designs delight our eyes by the symmetrical arrangement
of their patterns. In many engravings by the oustanding Dutch a r t i s t
Escher (including some with a chess theme!), symmetry predominates.
Even the school geometry course is based now on the concept of
symmetry (which is regarded as a specific case of spatial transform-
a t i o n ) , and, it has to be said, for many parents the school syllabus
has become very d i f f i c u l t . . . .
Various symmetry motifs are also encountered on the chess b o a r d .
On the one hand, one can talk about natural symmetry, i.e. that
arising during the course of a game, and, on the other hand, symmetry
used in chess problems and studies.
Our account is not a fundamental study of the given question,
especially since it does not give any recipes for p l a y i n g or for the
solving of problems. The aim has been merely to acquaint the reader
with some unusual chess games and positions, the basic feature of
which is symmetry.
It w i l l be remembered that Symmetries of various types occur, the
most common of which are a x i a l and c e n t r a l . In axial symmetry on the
chess board, the axis is the line separating the left and r i g h t sides of
the board (the boundary between Ihe d - and e - f i l e s ) , or the lower and
upper parts (the boundary between the fourth and f i f t h r a n k s ) . If,
say, a white knight stands at c2, and a black knight at c7, we say
that these knights are arranged symmetrically (evidently, with a x i a l
symmetry the corresponding squares are of opposite colours). With
central symmetry on the board, the centre of symmetry Is Ihe poinl at
which the four central squares touch — d4, dS, e4 and e5. In this
case knights at c2 and f7 are symmetrical (the colours of the square?
coincide). Subsequently we will not soecify each time the type of
15
symmetry in question, as this w i l l be clear from the context.

We w i l l begin w i t h the fact that the i n i t i a l arrangement of the
chess pieces possesses symmetry. In s h a i r a n j , also symmetrical were
the ancient opening tabiya fIhe positions from which play began), for
example:
Now imagine that a game begins, and Black copies White's moves
exactly, wishing to retain for as long as possible the symmetry on the
board. Of course, this method of play does not lead to any good.
Exploiting his opponent's 'adherence to p r i n c i p l e s ' , White can mate the
enemy king in only four moves, In one of two ways: 1 c4 c5 2 Qa4
Qa5 3 Qc6 Qc3 4 OxcS mate; 1 d4 d5 2 Qd3 Qd6 3 0h3 Qh6
4 Qxc8 mate.
There is the following amusing story. Someone appeared at a
chess club and announced that he had found a sure way of not losing
as Black. "How?", they asked him. "Very simple", the guest replied,
"by repeating the opponent's moves!" The naive inventor was challenged
to a game by Sam Loyd, who mated him in four moves.
Thus, with symmetrical play the white queen can mate the black
k i n g as early as the fourth move. It takes a few more moves for a
rook, bishop, knight and pawn to mate: 1 h4 h5 2 g i g5 3 Bg2 Bg?
4 Nh3 Nh6 5 hxg5 hxg4 & gxh6 gxh3 7 hxg7 hxg2 8 Rxh8 mate;
1 el e5 2 KeZ Ke7 3 Kf3 Kf6 4 Kg3 Kg6 5 Be2 Be7 6 Bf3 Bf6 7 d3
d6 8 Bh5 mate; 1 g3 g6 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 e3 e6 4 Nge2 Nge7 5 Ne4 Ne5
6 Nf6 mate; I g4 gS 2 h4 h5 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Ne5 Ne4 5 hxg5 hxg4
6 g6 g3 7 gxf7 mate. F i n a l l y , on the ninth move the white king can
announce mate: 1 d3 d6 2 Kd2 Kd7 3 Kc3 Kc6 4 Kb3 Kb6 5 Ka3 Ka6
6 Be3 Be6 7 Bb6 8b3 8 axb3 axb6 9 Kb4 mate.
In his book 13 Children of Kaissa, I . Kreichik called one of his
' c h i l d r e n ' "When two do one and the same". In this humoresque he
gives three symmetrical games with an identical finish — the black king
gets mated. Here is one of them, in which, in Kreichik's opinion, the
Queen's Gambit for Black is refuted: 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 c5
4 Bg5 Bg4 5 e3 e6 6 Nc3 Nc6 7 BeZ Be7 8 0-0 0-0 9 Bxf6 Bxf3
10 Bxg7 Bxg2 11 BxfB Bxfi 12 Bxe7 Bxe2 13 Bxd8 Bxdi 14 cxd5 cxd4
15 dxc6 dxc3 16 cxb7 cxb2 17 bxa8=Q bxa1=Q 18 Bf6 mate.
In two other games the Spanish and I t a l i a n Games are refuted in
similar fashion. In the four-move miniatures given above, White's play
was based exclusively on his opponent's stuDborness. For example,
Loyd, taking account of this factor, was not a f r a i d to place his own
queen en prise. At the same time, in the games suggested by Kreichik,
the play proceeds quite sensibly.
But symmetrical games can be found not only in humorous stories;
they also occur in serious tournaments. One of the most notable
oxatnptos of this type Is a game played at the beginning of this
century.
2nd Leiler — Symmetry in Chess 17
Rot I e v i -EI y ashov

Four Knights' Game
1 e 4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 Bb5 Bb4 5 O-CT O-O f> d3 d6

7 Bxc6 Bxt3 8 Bxb7 Bxb2 9 Bxa8 Bxal 10 Bg5 Bg4 11 Qxal QxaB
U Bxf6 Bxf3 13 Bxg7 Bxg2 U Bxf8 Bxf1 15 Qxfl Qxf8 16 0g2+ Qg?.
Here, evidently a f r a i d of seriously disturbing the symmetry, the

players agreed a draw.
I I is interesting that, several years later, the position after
Black's 12th move was repeated in a game Traxler-Samanek. On this
occasion Black did not succeed in demonstrating that the opponent's
moves could be copied indefinitely. Instead of 13 Bxg7 there followed
13 Bxe5! Bxe4 14 Bxg7 Bxg2 15 Bxf8, and after 15...Bxfl 16 Qg7
mate Black was unable to repeat his opponent's move.
In the following game, which was played in our time, the sym-
metry was maintained for a f u 11 19 moves (apart from one 'hiccup'
between ihe 7th and 9th moves) — a record In its own way!
Stolyar-Shukshta
English Opening
I c4 c5 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 a3 a6 6 Rbi Rb8

7 b4 cxb4 8 axb4 b5 9 cxb5 axb5 10 Nh3 Nh6 11 0-0 0-0 12 d4 dS
13 Bxh6 Bxh3 H Bxg7 BKg2 15 Bxf8 Bxfl 16 Bxe7 Bxe2 17 BxdB
Bxdi 18 Bc7 Bc2 19 Bb2 Rb7.
20 Be5 Nxe5. Unfortunately, the symmetrical 20.. .Be4 21 Nxe4

Nxe5 f a i l s to 22 Nf6+ and 23 dxe5. After 21 dxe5 d4 22 Rxc2 Rc7
23 Kf1 3 5 24 Ke2 dxc3 25 Kd3 Rc4 26 Rxc3 R«b4 27 Rc7 the players
agreed a draw.
The reader may have gained the erroneous Impression that, by
copying While's move, Black can at best draw. But as the following
short game shows, by copying exactly his opponent's moves, Black ha^.
the chance as early as the eighth move... to mate the white k i n g !
1 e4 < 2 Ke2 Ke7 3 Ke3 Ke6 4 Qf3 Qf6 5 Ne2 Ne7 6 b3 b6
7 Ba3 Ba6.
8 Nd4+, and Black is forced to give mate: 8.. .exd4 male!
Thus by copying White's moves, Black can both be mated, and

can male the enemy k i n g . But, clearly, in both the one case and the
other, the final position can in no way be symmetric. l l is curious,
however, that with stalemate the final arrangement of [he pieces can
perfectly well be symmetric, I.e. the stalemate is mutual! As an
example, we give the following record game, which lasts only 19 moves.
In i t , it is true, it is sometimes Black, and sometimes White who
repeals moves, but the main thing is that, in the symmetrical final
position, neither the one side nor the other has any moves.
1 e4 d5 2 e5 d4 3 c3 f6 4 Qf3 Kf7 S Qxb7 Qd5 6 Kdi Qxo.2
7 Kc2 Qxfi B Qxc8 Qxgi 9 Qxb8 RxbB 10 Rxg1 Rb3 11 Rg6 Ra3
12 Rh6 9xh6 13 bxa3 Kg7 14 Kb2 d3 15 e6 a5 16 h4 aU 17 h5"c5
18 f4 c4 19 f5. Stalen.ate to White and Black {the position on the
board is centrally symmetric).
In the given example both kings are symmetrically stalemated, but

five pieces on each side are exchanged. The following game is unique,
since, f i r s t l y , only one knight on each side disappears from the board,
secondly, both kings are symmetrically stalemated, and t h i r d l y , and
this is the most amazing, all of White's and Black's moves are sym-
metric !
1 Nf3 Nc6 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Nb5 Ng4 4 h3 a6 5 Na7 Nh2 6 Nxh2
Nxa7 (the f i r s t and last exchanges) 7 g4 b5 8 Bg2 Bb7 9 eh d5
10 Ke2 Kd7! 11 Qg1 Qb8! (at the start of play the i n i t i a l positions of
Ihe kings and queens were clearly not centrally symmetric, but now
complete order has been establ ished on the board) 12 b4 g5 13 Bb2
Bg7 U Rfi RcB 15 Bd4 Be5 16 f3 c6 17 Bf2 Bc7 18 Bel Bd6 19 Kf2
Kc7 20 a4 h5 21 s5 h4 22 c* f5 23 c5 f* 24 e5 d4 25 e6 d3.
Stalemate to both kings!
2nd Letter — Symmetry in Chess
We recall here an old chess anecdote, which shows thai copying

moves can sometimes prove highly beneficial.
Once during an inter-national tournament, a stranger approached
Emanuel Lasker with a proposal that he should play by correspondence
against his talented son. The request was supported by a substantial
material reward, and Lasker agreed. In the event of him winning he
would receive 500 dollars, while if the lad should by some miracle win
— which, of course, the father was in no way expecting, then the
grandmaster would have to fork out 1500 d o l l a r s . In the end the World
Champion succeeded in winning, although only with enormous d i f f i c u l t y .
H turned out that Lasker had been playing correspondence with Capa-
blanca, who had agreed the same conditions with the stranger, while
the son was merely a hoax.
When Lasker, playing White, made his f i r s t move, it was repeated
by the trickster in the game with Capablanca. His reply, in turn,
was reproduced in the f i r s t game for Black, and Lasker's reply — in
the second game for White, and so on. Clearly, by such symmetrical
strategy the 'father 1 guaranteed himself a drawn result in the match
with the grandmasters, and hence, a net p r o f i t to the tune of one
thousand dollars.
Alekhine figures in other versions of this anecdole. He, allegedly,
agreed to play for a big stake with two unknown persons, who had
devised a similar intrigue with the repetition of moves, forcing Alekhine
to play against himself. The situation appeared hopeless, but the
World Champion thought of a way to punish the swindlers. In one of
the games he deliberately made a bad blunder. The partners decided
not to repeat on the second board the obviously losing move of the
grandmaster, and attempted to win both games. But this renouncing of
the safe tactics had fatal consequences — Aiekhine succeeded in mating
both kings!
Uf) t i l l now we have been talking mainly about one player copying
the moves of the other, sitting opposite. But what about repeating the
moves or even entire variations which have occurred in the games of
quite different players? Of course, if these moves are good, no one
w i l l decline to copy them. But it can happen that the deliberate
repetition of unsuccessful variations can have a certain sense. We
w i l l describe an amusing instance which occurred in the game Taimanov
-Si mag in twenty years ago in the 1961 USSR Championship.
Black chose the King's Indian Defence, which he had previously
never employed. A few days earlier a fresh issue of Shakhmaty v
SSSR had appeared. In which was given a detailed analysis of the
Talmanov-GIIgoric game from an inlernational tournament in Argentina.
It has to be assumed that Simagin knew this game, which had been
convincingly won by White, and nevertheless he copied Giigoric's moves
exactly. This put the Leningrad grandmaster on his guard. He
realized lhat his opponent would hardly be suicidal enough to repeat
the game to the end, and this meant that he had certainly prepared an
opening surprise. Si mag in made his moves {belonging to Gl igoric I)
easily, whereas Taimanov chose his moves with agonizing care. The
whole paradox was that Si magi n, who was p l a y i n g the variation for the
f i r s t time, replied instantly, whereas Taimanov, who was an expert on
i t , played slowly, constantly checking and controlling himself. By the
twentieth move Taimanov's nerves were stretched to the limit, but the
game was s t i l l an extact repetition of his game with GHgorlc. His
patience had dried up. And suddenly something completely unexpected
happened — Simagin sank into deep though!, and d i d n ' t reply for nearly
an hour! The secret was revealed — Taimanov's opponent had not
prepared any improvement, It was pure b l u f f ! The grandmaster had
counted on disturbing his opponent with the threat of employing an
innovation, and of forcing him to deviate from the familiar p a t h . But
in this case there would have been no danger for Black!
Although in the battle of character White had held out, his oppon-
ent's psychological attack bore its f r u i t s — when the war of nerves
came to an end, Taimanov's strength was on the wane, and he promptly
made a mistake, and then a second, completely handing his opponent
the i n i t i a t i v e . But the curious thing is that Simagin declined to
exploit his winning chances, since he too was exhausted by the psycho-
logical duel. On concluding peace, both players were happy that the
game had ended in a draw, that in general it had ended... .
The symmetry described up t i l l now has mainly related to the

i n i t i a l position, the start of play, and unusual games. But if one
talks about chess composition, here symmetry plays a special role.
Thanks to its original ideas, problems and studies acquire an a d d i -
tional aesthetic value.
Consider [he following classic miniature, which is known through-
out the w o r l d .
R. Bfanchelti, 1925 -••••-.
White to p l a y and w i n .
After the introductory 1 Bb2! e l l the pieces on the board are

a r r a n g e d along the long d i a g o n a l . Black is threatened with the loss
of his rook, a n d , depending on where i t moves, two elegant symmetric
variations arise.
1 . . . Rf8 < 1 — R f 7 2 Rh3+ Kg8 2 Rh8 mate) 2 Rc7+ KgB 3 Rg7+
Kh8 4 Ka2! (but not 4 Kb1 because of A...Rf1+ 5 Ka2 Ra1+ 6 Kb3
Ra3+ 7 Kc2 Rc3+ 8 Sxc3 stalemate), and White wins the rook. Simil-
a r l y , 1 . . . Rh6 2 Rg3+ Kh7 3 Rg7+ Kh8 4 Kbi ! U Ka2 Ra6+ e t c . ) ,
w i t h the same f i n i s h .
The p o i n t of a problem or study is often provided by a slight

2nd Letter — Symmetry in Chess 21
disturbance of the symmetry in the i n i t i a l position, which is uti I ized

significantly in the solution. In chess composition such a device beers
the name of asymmetry. Here is one classic example on this theme.
V. Pauli, 1920
Mate in 4 moves.
At f i r s t sight the position appears completely symmetric (relative

to the d - f i l e ) , but t h i s is not quite so — the h - f i l e slightly breaks the
ideal symmetry, and this is reflected in the solution.
1 Bg7! Ba5(c7) 2 Bf8 BdB 3 Bd6!, with inevitable mate - 4 Nc3
or 4 Ne3 if one of the black knights moves; 4 Nb6 or 4 Nf6 if the
black bishop moves. At the same time (and this is important for the
problem! ) the symmetric continuation 1 Ba7 does not work, since the
black bishop makes use of the h - f i l e : l...Bh4! 2 BbS Bf2! 3 Bd6
Bd4, and there is no mate.
Lot us now examine a miniature study on the same theme,
T. Dawson, 1924
White to play and win.
White has two logical continuations — 1 Nd4+ and 1 Nf4+. The

a - f i l e , which introduces an asymmetry into the position, appears to
play no role. In other words, if the knight check at d4 wins, the
goal should also be achieved by the symmetric check at f4. But only
one of these moves leads to a win.
1 NdA+! K«3 2 Nxf3 Kxf3 3 Kf8! d2 4 eB=Q <J1=Q 5 Qh5+, and
it is all over. If Black does not queen his pawn, then it is well
1
known that the ending 'queen against central pawn Is easily won.
The move 1 Nf4+ leads to a draw - 1...Ke3 2 Nxd3 Kxd3 3 Kd8 f2
4 e8=Q Kd2! The difference is that the ending 'queen against bishop's
pawn' is drawn (provided, of course, that the white king does not
stand close to the pawn): 5 QbS Kei 6 Qb1+ Ke2 7 Qe4+ Kf1 8 Ke7
Kgl 9 Qg4+ KM 10 Gf3+ Kgl 11 Qg3+ Khl ! 12 Qxf2 stalemate. It is

curious that, if the a - f i l e is detached from the board, there is no win
in either v a r i a t i o n , because the d-pawn is transformed from a central
pawn into a bishop's pawn!
The number of different examples, i l l u s t r a t i n g the idjas of sym-
metry and asymmetry in chess composition, can readily be increased
( c f . , for example, problems 22 and 23 In the fourth ' l e t t e r ' ) .
The following incident took place a few years ago during the
Championship of the country in Leningrad. One of the authors of the
book (at the time the other was, as usual, playing in an international
tournament) was s i t t i n g with David Bronstein in the auditorium and
conversing q u i e t l y . ( I f , of course, one could call it a conversation —
Bronstein was sharing with me his o r i g i n a l and clever ideas regarding
chess in the t h i r d millenium, and I admiringly kept s i l e n t ) . The
round was only just s t a r t i n g , and the demonstration boards had not yet
drawn our attention. The grandmaster took out his pocket set and
arranged on the board two kings and six pawns.
"How do you evaluate this position?", he asked intriguingly.

"Most probably a draw, whoever it is to move", I thought. But
then what was the trick in the position? "Most probably, a win for
the side whose move it is?" But this reply too seemed inconvincing,
since why in this symmetric position, in which none of the six pawns
has moved, and the kings have not left the back rank, should the turn
to move play a decisive role? "That means, whoever begins, loses?"
But this conclusion, for the same reasons, appeared even more strange.
Of course, the most unusual and unexpected things happen on the
chess board. We constantly encounter positions of zugzwang and
mutual zugzwang. It is d i f f i c u l t to surprise us with a n y t h i n g . But
the position suggested by Bronstein, it was a special case. It was
engagingly simple, and, in addition, was notable for a kind of
compiete, in a certain sense, ideal symmetry. How many different
associations rushed through my head, while my gaze was f i x e d on this
landscape with its two kings and six pawns! There was plenty to
think about — the mysterious and inexhaustible nature of chess, its
severe beauty, paradoxical ity and depth!
( I f you feel the desire to analyze the given position, you should
also tackle a second position,
23
2nd Letter — Symmetry in Chess
which is a k i n d of antipode of the f i r s t — the pawns have made a l l of

f o u r steps, but the e v a l u a t i o n s of the positions — w i t h the same t u r n
to move — are o p p o s i t e ) .
I d i d not succeed in coming to any c o n c l u s i o n . Finally I raised
my head a n d looked i m p l o r i n g l y at the g r a n d m a s t e r . But Brans t e i n
merely gave me a c r a f t y smile, and instead of dispel I Ing my doubts,
whisper-so1 q u i e t l y ; "You should w r i t e about I t " , and Imperceptibly left
the h a l l .
So the g r a n d m a s t e r ' s w i s h had to be f u l f i l l e d , and t h i s account
had to be w r i t t e n about symmetry on the chess b o a r d .
P.S. If we should have succeeded in i n t r i g u i n g some of our

readers w i t h these last two p o s i t i o n s , it would be u n j u s t on our p a r t
to leave them without a s o l u t i o n . . .
In the f i r s t p o s i t i o n , the side t h a t moves f i r s t , w i n s . Here are
the m a i n v a r i a t i o n s : 1 Ke2 ( w i t h the aim of stopping the b l a c k pawns)
l . . . K d 7 (or I . . . h 5 2 Kf3 g5 3 a4 h4 4 Kg4 f5+ 5 Kh3 Kd7 6 cA Kc6
7 a5 w i t h a d e c i s i v e a d v a n t a g e f o r White) 2 Kf3 Kc6 3 a i h5 4 c4
fS (each side is now t h r e a t e n i n g to advance h i s r o o k ' s pawn) 5 Kg3
Kb6 6 b4 g5 (or 6 . . . 9 6 ) 7 a5+ Ka6 8 cS h4+ ( 8 . . . K b S 9 Kg2! or
8...Kb7 9 b5) 9 Kh3 f 4 ( 9 . . . K b 5 10 Kh2 g4 11 Kg2 f 4 12 Kgi )
10 c6 f3 11 b5+ Ka7 12 b6+ Kb8 13 a6 g4+ 14 Kh2 g3+ 15 K g ! h3
16 a7+ Ka8 17 c7, and White is the f i r s t to queen a p a w n . During
the course of the s o l u t i o n several symmetric positions have a g a i n been
reached, and only on the 19th move ( ! ) a f t e r 1 7 . . . h 2 + - IB KM f2
19 c8-Q+ is Black u n a b l e to copy White's move.
In the second p o s i t i o n the side which b e g i n s , loses. After 1 cS
fh 2 b5 Kb8! White is in zugzwang on both w i n g s , for e x a m p l e : 3 a6
Ka7 4 c6 Kb6, and the white pawns are b l o c k a d e d , whereas the black
pawns break t h r o u g h : 5 KhZ f3 6 Kg1 h 3 ! 7 Kf2 h 2 . The r e p l y
1 . . . f 4 also follows after 1 KhZ or 1 b 5 . On 1 Kgl there can follow
1 . . . K a 6 2 Kg2 f i 3 c5 Kb5 4 Kgi g d , when Black w i n s .
Third Letter
AN ANCIENT MATE
Slowly rotating our 'kaleidoscope', you can observe in it the

various colours of the chess spectrum: topics from chess history,
psychology, composition and geometry. Considerable attention has also
been devoted to pure chess. In the last ' l e t t e r ' of the book, lo say
nothing of its t h i r d p a r t , w i l l be given games (or extracts from them)
belonging — without exception — to World Champions! Although the
works created by well-known grandmasters are interesting and Instruc-
tive from various points of view, this by no means signifies that they
contain multi-move combinations with cascades of sacrifices and mate to
the enemy k i n g in the centre of the board. Sometimes events develop
less v i o l e n t l y . Nevertheless, it has to be admitted that tt is to the
s t r i k i n g and spectacular combinations which develop on the 64 squares
that chess is chiefly indebted for its p o p u l a r i t y . The a r t i s t i c and
aesthetic value of combinations, their emotional effect on chess players,
f i r s t and foremost raises the game to the level of a genuine a r t . And
hence it is not s u r p r i s i n g that one of our ' l e t t e r s ' we have devoted
entirely to combinations. The number of clever, spectacular and deep
combinations on the chess board is extremely great, and it would be
impossible to describe them a l l at once. Our choice has f a l l e n on one
of the oldest combinations, known by the name of 'smothered mate'.
This mate, which is given by a knight, when a l l the enemy k i n g ' s
escape squares are occupied by his own pieces and pawns, was
described back in the 15th century in the treatise by Juan Lucena —
the f i r s t printed guide to chess. Here is this famous position.
2A
3rd Letter - An Ancient Male 25
White sacrifices his queen and announces a smothered male in

five moves: 1 Qe6+ Kh8 2 Nf7+ KgB 3 Nh6»+ Kh8 4 QgB+M Rxg8
5 Nf7 mate. The king perishes encircled by his own troops, and the
deciding blow is struck by the crafty knight, for which there are no
impregnable fortresses. Note that in Lucena's position there is a d u a l :
3 Nd8+ Kh8 and 4 Qe8+, but this is, of course, a t r i f l e — five centuries
ago the word ' d u a l ' was not yet even k n o w n . . . .
The following position is by Phil I ip Stamma, and belongs already
10 the mid-IBth century.
1 Be4+- Rb7 2 0b8+! Rxb8 3 Rxa7+! Bxa7 4 Nc7 mate, and the
black king is in the trap. On this occasion White sacrifices not only
his queen, but also a rook.
Of course, for the 250 years separating these two positions, the
progress, to be frank, is not very great — in those distant times chess
art developed at a slow rate. It is curious that it was only a l the
end of the last century that the orientalist and chesa historian H.J.R.
Murray established the Arabic o r i g i n of the smothered mate. In his
History of Chess he cites the Persian mansubat of the 9th century, in
which a white knight mates the black k i n g , hemmed in by his own
pieces.
Does this ancient combination occur In tournament games? Yes,
strangely enough, rather often. The record belongs to grandmaster
Paul Keres, who once announced a smothered mate... as early as the
sixth move! What is amusing is that this curious instance occurred not
in a simultaneous display, but in an encounter with a master.
Keres-Arlamowski
Caro-Kann Defence
1 eft c6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Nf3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 kd7. It is d i f f i c u l t to

believe that this game w i l l last only two more incomplete moves.
5 Qe2 Ngf6?! (the exclamation mark is for the creation of a unique

'helpmate') 6 Nd6 mate.
26 5even Chess Letters
A classic example of a smothered mate belongs to the genius of
combinations from the 19th century, Paul Morphy. ..
Morphy-Brain
All is ready for the final scene; it only remains to divert the
black queen away from the square from which White will give mate.
1 e5! Qg5 2 h4! Qg4 3 Qa3+ Kg8 4 Ne7+ Kf8 5 Ng6++ Kg8
6 Qf8+ Rxf8 7 Ne7 mate. The concluding position deserves a diagram
(as, however, does every position of this type).
Here Is another episode from one of the games of the great

American player.
Morphy-N.N.
In this case things proceed wi rhout any preparatory operations:

1 Nc5+ Kb8 2 Nd7+ KcB 3 Nb6++ Kb8 4 Qc8+ Rxc8 5 Nd7 mate.
A reflection of this unfading combination can sometimes also be
seen In the games of the outstanding players of our time. The following
position was reached In a game from one of the 1976 Interzonal Tourna-
ments.
3rd Lelter - An Ancieni Mate 27
Tal-Portisch
The Ex-World Champion has been cleverly attacking, and he now

lands the opponent a spectacular and decisive blow — 1 Nh6! Black
resigned immediately, since on 1...Re7 there follows 2 Qxe7 Bxe7
3 Ngf7 mate, while Black has no other defence against the smothered
mate by 2 Qg8+ RxgB 3 Nf7 mate.
One of the authors of this book once attempted to give a smothered
mate in a tournament (simultaneous displays do not count, of course; in
them this ancient combination is eternally young). The game in
question was that against Vladimir Tukmakov in the 1973 USSR Cham-
pionship. Black's queen occupied b6, his knight — g4, and there
followed 1...Nf2+. Unfortunately, White d i d not go in for the variation
2 Kgl Nh3++ 3 Khl Qg! + 4 Rxgi NfZ mate, but gave up the exchange
by 2 Rxf2> and after wild complications the game ended In a draw.
The other author has been more fortunate. In the University
Championship he once succeeded In announcing a smothered mate to the
President of the Moscow University Chess Club.
BairamovGik
The white knight, heading from f2 to g3, was in transit on the

edge of the board. But to complete its journey it did not have time —
l . . . R c 2 ! 2 Bxc2 (or 2 Qe3 Ne2+ 3 Kf2 Ng4+) 2...Ne2 mate!
Here Black managed without a queen sacrifice, but used a
different combinational device — the p i n . In the following episode too
(from a game played in 1931) the queen Is given a modest role — that
of forcing Black to surround his own king with pieces.
Alekh i ne-Lugovsky
(see next diagram)
1 Ne6-H Mxe6 (on the capture by the bishop there fol lows 2 Qe7+
Kg8 3 Qe8 mate) 2 Qe7+ Kg8 3 Qe8+ Nf8 4 Ne7 mate.
A smothered mate is always beautiful, especially if it is accom-
I
ponied by ihe sacrifice of Ihe queen. However, it Is not essential that

the queen should be given up at g8. This operation can also be
carried oul on a neighbouring square, as occurred, for example, in a
game played in 1967 al an internalional tournament in Copenhagen.
Taimanov-Jakob sen ;
1 0g7+! Nxg7 2 Nh6 mare.

As we see, variations on the theme of smothered mate {or else the
mate itself!) occur in events of Ihe highest rank, and not only in
games between inexperienced players. It 's amusing that in 1970 at
the World Chess Olympiad in Siegen this ancient combination was
carried out in two games. Here are ihe conclusions of these miniatures.
Unzicker-Sarapu
Black has sacrificed a piece, but is placing his hopes on the p i n .

But White succeeds in reinforcing the Knight: 1 Bf4! Nxf4 2 Qxf7+ Kh8
3 Qg8+ RxgB 4 Nf7 mate.
Augous t i -Uzman
Ruy Lopez
The game is so short that we tan give it in f u l l : 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3

Nc6 3 BbS a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 b5 6 Bb3 Bb7 7 Rei Bc5 8 c3
3rd Letter - An Ancient Mate 29
exd4 10 cxd4? (10 h3 should have been played) 1O...Nxd4!

Qh4! 12 Nf3 Qxf2+ 13 Kh1 Q91+ 14 Rxgi Nf2 mate.
Thus, p r a c t i c a l players are always ready at a convenient moment
to give up their queen and announce mate w i t h a k n i g h t . B^t what of
chess composers? 11 stands to reason that they c e r t a i n l y could not
f a i l to consider such a f a s c i n a t i n g theme in t h e i r work. We give a few
eK ample5 in which the ancient smothered mate combination is expressed
in paradoxical form.
Up t i l l now the decisive role has always belonged to ihe k n i g h t ,
although we couldn 1 1 have managed without the queen. The idea of
replacing the queen w i t h a weaker piece — a bishop, could have been
devised only by such an inventive composer as Loyd.
S. Loyd, 1B58
Mate in 6 moves.
1 Bh2! (with the threat of 2 Bg1 + ) 1 . . .Ka7 2 b6+! KaB (2...Xa6

3 Bgi Rc6 <i b? Qh8 5 b8=N+! RxbS 6 Nc7 mate, or- 4...Rxc6 5 dxc6)
3 Nc7+ Kb8 4 Na6++ KaB (4,..Kc8 5 b7+). Taking account of the last
two moves, 5 QbB+ RxbB 6 Nc7 mate would appear natural here, but
there is no queen on the b o a r d . . . 5 BbS! RxbB (the threat was 6 b7
mate) 6 Nc? mate!
In smothered mate combinations a knight lands the concluding
blow, while at that moment the remaining pieces are, alas, inactive.
If t h a t ' s the case, decided the well-known Hungarian problemist Otto
Blathy, then let's remove these extras from the board altogether!
0 . Blathy, 1932
Mate in 12 moves.
In this fantastic picture Black has a ful I set of pieces, but this
does not save h i m : 1 Nf4+ Kc5 2 Ne6+ Kd5 3 Nxc7+ Kc5 A Nxa6+ KdS
5 Nc7+ Kc5 6 Net* Kd5 7 Nf4+ Kc5 8 Ke4 d5+ 9 Ke5 Bf6+ 10 Ke6
NdB+ 11 Kd7 and 12 Nxd3 mate.
O. Blathy, 1922
Another chess monster devised by Blalhy. Again, as on a parade,

Black is represented by his entire army, though it is true that on this
occasion his forces are less mobile. But where is the white knight?
It is some time before it appears on the board.
1 Kxe1 Qa1 2 h3! (the pawn is in no h u r r y ; the subtlety is
revealed later! 2...Qa2 (Black has plenty of pieces, but only his
queen is able to move) 3 h4 Qai 4 h5 QaZ 5 h6 Qai 6 h7 Q.a2
7 h8=N! (at last) 7...Qa1 8 Nf7 Qa2 9 Ng5 Qa1 10 Ne6 Qa2
11 Nxc5 Qai 12 Nb7 Qa2 13 Nd6 Qai 14 Nxc4 Qa2 15 Na5 Qa1
16 Nxb3 mate! ( i f on the second move White had immediately advanced
his pawn two squares, now, after any attack by the newly-Oorn knight
on the b3 rook, the black queen would have defended i t , and the
result would have been a d r a w ) .
We now return to the world of realistic chess.
E. Pogosyants, 1979
The position could well have arisen in a game between two

maslers. This study is interesting for the fact [hat, although it ends
in a classic smothered mate, at the moment White has no queen, and the
black king would appear to have no intention of going into the corner.
The mating construction arises in the course of subtle preliminary
play.
1 c7 0-0! 2 Nc6! Now the threat is 3 Nd8, and Black cannot
play either 2,..RaB 3 NbB, or 2...Rc8 3 Me7+ Kf7 k NxcG e3 5 Ne7
e2 6 c8=0 e1=0 7 Qc4+! Kf6 (7...Kf8 B Qg8 mate) 8 Qf4 mate.
Thus the white pawn queens, but the black pawn also succeeds in
promoting simultaneously. 2...e3 3 Nd8 e2 4 c8eQ e1=Q. Only now do
we see the familiar- p i c t u r e . 5 Qc4+ Kh8 6 Nf7+ Kg8 7 Nh6++ Kh8
8 Qg8+ Rxgfl 9 Nf7 mate.
3rd Letter — An Ancient Mate 31
The following study is perhaps the most famous on the given

theme. I " ' n e initial position, where the pieces of both sides are
scattered across the board, i t can hardly be conceived thai lying in
store for the black king is a smothered mate. The attack begins with
a quiet queen move, which allows Black to give check.
A. Seletsky, 1933
1 Qg5! Ke6+ (the pawn cannot be captured by 1...Bxd7 because of

2 Nf4!, wilh the irresistible threat of 3 Bh5+, while at the same lime
2 dS-0 was threatened) 2 K g l ! Kxd7 (2...Bxd7 3 Bg4+ Kd6 4 Qc5+).
Black has re-established material equality, but now the mating mech-
anism goes into operation.
3 Nc5+ KcB [other k i n g moves lead to the loss of the queen, for
example 3...Kd6 4 Qg3+ Kd5 5 Bc4+! Kxc4 6 Qb3+ Kxc5 7 Qa3+ and
White has a theoretically won position) 4 Ba6+ KbB 5 Qg3+ Ka8
6 Bb7+! Bxb7 7 Nd7!! QdB. The one way of defending the squares b6
and b9 against the mating threats. Now comes a spectacular blow, a
f i t t i n g culrnination to this splendid work of a r t . 8 Qb8+1! Qxb8 9 Nb6
mate.
And in conclusion, a 'historical' problem, in which it is
demanded lhal White should win by a smothered mate (the existence of
which, at f i r s t signt, appears impossible).
K. Jaenisch, 1&49
Smothered mate in 10 moves.
The great Russian chess master arid composer of the last century
Carl Jaenisch called his problem 'The iron cage of Tamerlan' . This is
how the black king falls into captivity: 1 f3+ gxf3 2 exd3+ cxd3
3 Bf5+ exf5 4 Re6+ dxeG 5 Rd4+ cxd4 6 a8»B+ Qd5 7 Bxd5+ exdS
B Nf6+ gxf6 9 Qe5+ fxe5 10 Ng5 mate. The king Is in the cage!
Thus, by means of the ancient smolhcred male combination, did

Jaenisch succeed in depicting Ihe cruelty and despotism of the Central
Asian conqueror of the 14th century, Timur Tamerlan.
,-l.r..
Fourth Letter
FORTY CHESS QUARTETS
The fewer the pieces on the board, the more eager we are to
solve a problem or s t u d y . Especially popular among chess enthusiasts
are miniatures — in which the number of pieces does not exceed seven.
The number of miniatures created by chess composers is quite immense,
and there are many thousands of compositions w i t h f i v e pieces or less.
The minimum material necessary lo create a worthy work of chess art is
four pieces (three-piece compositions w i l l be the subject of the following
'letter'). Problems and studies with this number of pieces we w i l l
call quartets.
Our aim is to acquaint you with a l l forms of quartets, and to
represent each of them by some single p o s i t i o n . In the f i r s t instance
we try to give a study or an orthodox problem ( i . e . a problem with a
normal task —White to play and give mate in so many moves). But
for c e r t a i n quartets we were unable to f i n d either a study or such a
problem, and in this case we have offered a helpmate problem. In a
'helpmate' it is s t i l l White who gives mate, but Black does not hinder
him, b u t , on the c o n t r a r y , does e v e r y t h i n g to assist in the mating of
his own k i n g .
It has to be said that by no means a l l the sets of f o u r pieces
are of equal v a l u e , but we have adhered to our p r i n c i p l e , and i l l u s -
trate each of them with exactly one quartet ( t h e i r o v e r a l l number f a r
exceeds a thousand).
Let us f i r s t ascertain how many sets of four pieces there are
altogether. Since two places must be reserved for the k i n g s , there are
two different cases: (1) White and Black both have one piece, apart
from the k i n g ; (2) White has a k i n g and two pieces, while Black has
a lone k i n g , [n the f i r s t case, combining one of the f i v e white pieces
(queen, rook, bishop, knight and pawn) w i t h one of the f i v e black
pieces, we o b t a i n 25 possible combinations. Here sets which d i f f e r by
the colour of the pieces are regarded as d i f f e r e n t . Indeed, 'white
rook against black p a w n ' ( w i t h White to move) Is by no means the same
as ' w h i t e pawn against black r o o k 1 .
In the second case the number of sets is fewer by ten — 15.
Here each p a i r of pieces (they are both white) obviously gives only one
set.
Thus 40 different quartets have found t h e i r way into our ' l e t t e r ' .
If both kings are accompanied by one of their own pieces, both
33
problems and studies have been d e v i s e d , but if Black has only his
k i n g it is u n d e r s t a n d a b l e that only problems can be expected. Of
course, each reader can compile hfs own l i s t of quartets on the chess
b o a r d , and it is q u i t e possible that it w i l l be no less i n t e r e s t i n g than
the one suggested b y u s .
ONE WHITE AND ONE BLACK PIECE
Pawn against pawn
The most popular, of course, is the 'geometric' study by Ret i,

examined by us in the f i r s t ' letter' together with other" pawn quartets.
The given material is of a purely endgame nature, and it would be
possible to give a whole series of beautiful studies. However, strangely
enough, clever problems with two pawns are also known, and No. 1 is
one of them.
No. 1 E. Pogosyants, 1970
Mate in 5 moves.
t a7 Kh2 ( 1 . . . f 5 2 aB=Q+ and 3 Og2 mate) 2 a8=Rt! Kh3 3 Ra4!

f5 4 Rf4! This is the point — with a queen at fit it would now be
stalemate. 4...KhZ 5 Rh4 mate.
Pawn againsl knigtit
What can depend on one white pawn, opposing a black knight?

Whether or not the knight can stop it w i l l , after a l l , be decided by the
knight itself. But to advance at the right time can also have no
small significance, as in No. 2.
No. 2 F. Prokop, 1925

4th Letter — 40 Chess Quartets 3S
Sooner or later the white k i n g must make way for the pawn, but
excessive g a l l a n t r y would be inappropriate here, since after any k i n g
move the knight catches the pawn; ! Ka8? Ne3! 2 b6 Nc4 3 b7 Nb6+
a nd 4...Nd7; 1 Ka7? N f i ! 2 66 Ne6 3 b7 NdB 4 b8=Q Nc * ; 1 Ka6?
Nf4 2 b6 Ne6 3 67 Nc5->; f i n a l l y , 1 Kc8? He3 2 b6 Nc4 3 b7 Nd6+.
Thus great restraint is demanded of the k i n g .
1 b6! Now the square thai White w i l l choose for his leader
depends on the reaction of the k n i g h t . 1...Ne3 2 Ka6! Nd5 3 b7 Nc7+
4 Ka5, or 1...W4 2 Kc8! Nd5 3 b7 Nb6+ KdB, and in both v a r i -
ations the pawn queens.
Pawn against bishop
In problem No. 3, 1 fxg8=Q? leads to stalemate. The solution is

1 fxg8=R! (once again a rook appears on the board instead of a queen)
l...Ka2 2 Rg3! Kai 3 Ra3 mate.
No. 3 0. Oehler, 1923
Mate in 3 moves.
The point of the problem is that after 1 fB=Q? Ka2 2 Qb4 the
black bishop comes to the aid of its k i n g — 2 . . . B b 3 ! , and there is no
mate.
Pawn against rook
One of the few ratios of forces where one does not have to ponder
over the choice. Study No. 4 is part of the golden treasury of chess
art.
No. 4 G. Barbier, F. Saavedra, 1895

Along w i t h R e t i ' s pawn s t u d y , t h i s i s the most famous quartet on

the chess b o a r d . Its solution is f a m i l i a r lo a l l lovers of the game.
1 c7 Rd6+ (after 1...Rd2 2 c8=0 Rb2+ 3 Ka5 ihe white k i n g
moves down on the a - and b - f i l e s ) 2 Kb5 (2 Kb7 Rd7 and the rook
captures the pawn; 2 Kc5 s i m i l a r l y f a i l s to win after 2 . . .Rdi and
3...Rc1+) 2...Rd5+ 3 Kb4 ( p l a y i n g ihe k i n g to the c - f i l t a g a i n leads
to a draw) 3...Rd4+ 4 Kb3 (4 Kc3 Rdl 5 Kc2 d i f f e r s from the main
v a r i a t i o n only by a transposition of moves) 4 . . .Rd3+ 5 KcZ! Now the
rook cannot attack the white k i n g from Ihe r e a r , and a l l would appear
to be over. However, the most f a s c i n a t i n g events are s t i l l to come.
5...RdA!l An amazing resource for B l a c k ; on 6 c8=Q he s a c r i f i c e s his
rook by 6 . . .Rc4+! 7 Qxc4, which leads to stalemate. But B l a c k ' s
hopes are not destined to be r e a l i z e d . 6 c8=R!! Ra4 (the threat was
7 Ra8 mate) 7 Kb3! A Spectacular concluding s t r o k e ; Black loses h i s
rook or is mated in one move. The four pieces have played out a
genuine chess spectacle!
The study in question is one of the earliest on the theme of
'under-promotion' . In the whole of chess l i t e r a t u r e you w i l l not f i n d
such a clever and r i ;h f i n a l e w i t h such l i m i t e d m a t e r i a l .
The history of how t h i s study o r i g i n a t e d is as f o l l o w s . In a
game Fenton-Potter, p l a y e d in England in 1875, a position s i m i l a r to
ours was reached; the white k i n g stood at c6, and his pawn at b6,
while Black '£ k i n g was at h3 and his rook at a5. Here White agreed
to a d r a w , since he had not noticed that after 1 b? Ra6+ 2 Kc5 his
k i n g could move down the b o a r d , and the pawn would queen. Shortly
a f t e r , Z u k e r t o r l , one of the strongest p l a y e r s of the last c e n t u r y and
S t e i n i t ? ' s opponent In the f i r s t o f f i c i a l match for the World Champion-
s h i p , published in his chess column the position from t h i s game, and
showed the simple w i n n i n g method for White. Twenty years l a t e r , on
l e a r n i n g of the death of the English master Potter, the French language
professor Georges Barbier remembered this ancient game, and, on
analysing it, discovered In a similar position (cf. diagram) the
unexpected stalemate Idea (6 c8=Q Rc4+1). He published the position
f a m i l i a r to us, but with a d i f f e r e n t task —White to p l a y , a n d . . . Black
to d r a w . The newspaper which p u b l i s h e d the study dedicated to Potter
came to the notice of Ihe p r i e s t Saavedra.
While s o l v i n g Barbier 1 s p o s i t i o n , this hitherto unknown chess

p l a y e r conceived an Idea which was f a n t a s t i c for that time — why not
promote the pawn to a rook, thus a v o i d i n g the stalemate — 6 cS=R! On
v i s i t i n g the Glasgow chess c l u b , Saavedra acquainted its members with
his sensational discovery, thanks io which he soon became famous
throughout the chess w o r l d . Thus one single move gave Saavedra the
r i g h t to i m m o r t a l i t y ! An amazing instance in chess h i s t o r y !
Although In p o p u l a r p u b l i c a t i o n s t h i s unique quartet w i t h white
pawn against black rook is u s u a l l y called 5aavedra's position, it
would be f a i r e r to r e g a r d the study as a c o l l e c t i v e c r e a t i o n , belonging
to two authors — Sarbier and Saavedra.
Pawn a g a i n s t queen
With this material one cannot devise either a study or a normal

proRlem, and for the f i r s t time we are forced to have recourse to the
helpmate genre — No. 5.
4th Letter — 40 Chess Quartets 37
No. 5 E. Holladay, 1972
Helpmate in 4 moves.
The black queen parlicipates in the confinement of her k i n g :
1 Kf3 (remember that in helpmate problems it is Black who begins, and
in the solution his moves are given first) 1...Kf6 2 Kg4 e7 3 Kh5
e8=R! 4 Qg4! Rh8 mate.
Knight against pawn

With such a balance of material, of course, White does not usually
entertain any hopes of winning. An exception is provided by instances
where the black pawn restricts its own king, and as a result it can be
ma led. We, however, give example No. 6, in which, by means of
intricate leaps, the white knight has to catch the enemy pawn, so as
to save the position.
No. 6 N. Grigoriev, 1932
White to p l a y and draw.
1 Nb4! h5 2 Nc6! (2 Nd5+? Kf3 and wins} 2...Ke4 ( 2 . . . h 4

3 Ne5, w i t h a simple d r a w ) 3 Na5! (3 Nd8? h4 4 Ne6 Kf5 5 Nd4+
Kg4, and it is a l l over) 3...h4 4 Nc4! Kf3 ( 4 . . . h 3 5 Nd2+ and
6 N f i , with a draw) 5 Ne5+ ( a f t e r 5 Nd2+ Ke2 6 He*. h3 a l l White's
e f f o r t s come to n o t h i n g ) 5...Kg3 6 Nc4! h3 7 Ne3. Draw.
Knight against piece

If on the board there Is a white knight and a black knight, rook
or bishop, one cannot compose either an orthodox problem, or a study.
For helpmate manoeuvres, however, there are rich possibilities. We
give one quartet for each black piece (Nos. 7-9).
No. 7 Z. Mach, 193?
f:
Here is the solution to this 'square': 1 Na3 KaA 2 Kb2 NbA
3 Kat Kb3 4 Nb1 Nc2 mate.
No. 8 D. Bebiz, 1967
The black king is adjacent io the corner square hB, but It is
mated in the opposite corner of the board: 1 Kf6 Kci 2 Ke5 KbZ
3 KdA Ka3 4 Kc3 Ka4 5 Kt>2 Kb* 6 Kal Ka3 7 Bbi Nb3 mate.
No. 9 M. Myllyniemi, 1965
The solution unexpectedly begins with castling! 1 O-O-CH! Kc6
2 Kb8 Nc4 3 Ka8 Kc7 4 Rd7+ Kca 5 Ra7 Nb6 mate.
Alas, with a white knight against a black queen it is impossible
io devise even a helpmate — such a mating position simply does not
exist. We give position No. 10 merely so as to avoid creating a
4th Letter — 40 Chess Quarteis 39
vacuum (according to our plan, each set of four pieces must be

r e p r . e 5 e n t e d , if only by one quartet).
No. 10 Conclusion of a study

- An i I lustration of the fact that in chess everything is possible —
hopes of saving the game should not be abandoned even when one has
only a lone knight against a queen: 1 Ng3+ Kh2 2 Nfl + , with per-
petual check. Of course, this is not a genuine work of a r t , but
merely an amusing epilogue to some study with many pieces in the
initial position.
Bishop against pawn
Although simple, example No. I I Is not without interest.

1 Bb3! The only possibility of averting the promotion of the pawn
(1 8fa5 Kc2!, and Black wins). Now two symmetric variations arise:
1...Ka1 2 Bc2, or l...Kc1 2 Ba2, and the pawn is stopped.
Bishop against knight or bishop

Here too, as with a white knight against a black minor piece, we
have to restrict ourselves to helpmates — Nos. 12 and 13.
40 Seven Chess t e l l e r s
No. 12 E. Albert, 1963
l Hi SIB BH
I• • 1
MO
Helpmate in 5 moves
The kings go round in a circle, exchanging places, after which

the black leader ends up in a mating net: 1 Kb6 Kb8 2 Nc6+ Kc8
3 Ka7 Ba6 4 Ka8 Kc7 5 Na7 Bb7 mate.
r
No. 13 £ . Pogosyants, 1980 •" ~ ' " ";/
Helpmate i n 5 moves.
Clearly, male is possible only w i t h opposite-coloured b i s h o p s .

1 KeA Ba8! ( a w a i t i n g move) 2 Kf3 Kd5 2 Kg2 Ke4 ( d i a g o n a l p u r s u i t ,
w h i c h in studies is encountered only w i t h a l a r g e number of pieces)
h K M Kf3 5 Bh2 Kf2 mate.
Bishop a g a i n s t rook
Study No. 14 is a f u r t h e r illustration on the theme of symmetry.
White to p l a y a n d d r a w .
4th Letter - 40 Chess Quartets *'
The symmetry is s l i g h t l y broken (the a - f i l e d i s t u r b s i t ) , and ttiis

i S of decisive s i g n i f i c a n c e . 1 Bb3!
The symmetrical I Bh3 loses to 1 ...Rh4 2 Bg2 Ra4! (this is where
the i n i t i a l asymmetry manifests i t s e l f l 3 K f l Rai mate, or 3 Kd1 Ra1 +
4 Kc2 Ra2+.
1...Rb4 2 Bc2t Rf4. On 2 . . , B h 4 3 Kdi there follows 3...Bh1
mate, but after 3 Kf 1 ! RM + ft Kg2 Black does not succeed in winning
the bishop — to the r i g h t of the e - f i l e there Is one less free f i l e than
l 0 the left. A draw also results from 2,..Rc4 3 Kdl Rhfc 4 Kcl Rh1 +
5 KbZ.
3 Bb3! Noi 3 Bbl Rd4 4 Bc2 Rd2! 5 Bb3 Rb2!, and wins.
3...Rf2 * K d l ! (after the r e t u r n ol the bishop lo i t s i n i t i a l square,
4*Be6, Black wins by 4 . . . R f 6 5 Bb3 Rb6 6 Bc2 Ra6 7 K f l Ral+ and
8...Ra2) 4 . . , K d 3 5 Kei Ke3 6 K d l , and the draw is i n e v i t a b l e .
Bishop against queen
Position No. 15, like No. 10, t a n only serve as a good f i n i s h to

a study.
No. 15 Conclusion of a study
t Bg3! Qxg3 stalemate.
Note that only two quartets — knight or bishop against queen —

do not allow either a study or a problem to be composed on the chess
board. Any other balance of forces can serve as the basis for the
creation of a chess work of a r t .
Rook againsl pawn
Here there is r i c h material f o r studies with White to play a r | d

win. I t was not easy to choose one of them, and so we have settled
on problem No. 16.
No. 16 K. Alheim, 1966
(see next diagram)
Mate In 4 moves.
> Ra7! Kh4 (1...Kh2 2 Rxe7 Kg! 3 Rh7 Kfl 4 Rhi mate)
2 Ra5! «6 3 Re5! Kh3 4 Rh5 male. The problem resembles the very
f i r s t quartet, but here the pawn has already been transformed into a
rook.
42 Seven Cliess Letters
(Diagram for problem No. 16; see previous page)
Rook against knight
The chess h i s t o r i a n van der Linde has discovered examples of the

battle between rook and knight in an ancient Arabic manuscript, dated
1140! As is reported in the second part of the book, positions with
rook against knight can be f a u l t l e s s l y evaluated by a computer. ,.....<-
No. 17 Vi. 5chinkman, 1905
Mate in 5 moves.
1 Rb7! All the pieces are arranged on one d i a g o n a l . Now,

depending on the move of the black k n i g h t , there are two symmetric
mates: t...Nd4+ 2 Kb6! Ne6 3 Rh7, 4 Rh8 and 5 RxN mate; 1...Ke5+
2 Kc7T Nc4 3 Rb1, 4 Rai and 5 RxN mate.
Rook against bishop
We again settle on a problem — No. 18.
No. 18 K. Fabel, 1933
Mate in 3 moves.
The black king is cut off on the rank, but gets meted on the
"file: 1 Kc2!, 2 Ra6+ and 3 RxB mate.
Rook against rook
In the helpmate No. 19 the black rook, before being removed from
the board, manoeuvres subtly, allowing the white king to approach
directly the centre of events.
No. 19 E. Albert, 1963
1 Rh4! Kd3 2 Rh5! Ke4 3 Rh3! KfS 4 Kh5 Rxh3 mate.
Rook against queen
The ancient position No. 20 can be regarded as a study, although

Is to be found in a l l books on the endgame.
No. 20 J. Berger, 1889
White to play and draw,
1 Rh7+ Kg2 2 Rg7+ Kh3 (the f - f i l e is p r o h i b i t e d to the k i n g , In

View of Rf7) 3 Rh7+ Kg4 4 Rg7+ KhS 5 Rh7+ Kg5 6 Rg7+ Kh6
| 7 Rh7+ Kg6 B Rh6+! Kxh6 stalemate. In the i n i t i a l p o s i t i o n the black
queen can occupy any square on the f - f i l e apart from f5, and the
i result w i l l be the same — a d r a w .
Queen against pawn
Endings of this type have been exhaustively studied in theory and

are of a text-book nature, bul interesting problems occur —No. 21.
No. 21 R. Lermet, 1914
Mate in k m o v e s . • '.
The white king, having pinned its opposite number to the edge of
the board, unexpectedly allows him to break free, but, of course, not
for long.
1 Kd5! Kb5(b6> 2 Qb8+ Ka4 (a5) 3 Kc4 (the king retraces its
steps) 3...Ka5(a4) 4 Qb4 mate.
Queen against knight
In the struggle against a minor piece, the queen usually accom-

plishes a clever manoeuvre, depriving the enemy king of the support
of Its piece — No, 22.
No. 22 R. Garraukh, 1923 • '
Mate in 3 moves.
1 O a l ! Ke8(cB) 2 Qg7(a7), a n d mate next move. Once a g a i n we
see the theme of asymmetry - a f t e r 1 Qgl? Nf6! ( l . . . N f 8 ? 2 Qg7) the
w h i t e queen has no square on the left analogous to h 8 .
Queen a g a i n s t bishop
In the next problem, No. 23, as i n the p r e v i o u s one, a l l the

pieces a r e concentrated on one f i l e , b u t on t h i s occasion the queen
must remain on i t .
4th Letter - 40 Chess Quartets
Mate in 2 moves.
Here, in contrast, asymmetrical continuations do noi work:

Qb27 Bb4!, 1 Qh2? Bh4!, and there is no mate. After the correct
Qe5! the symmetry of the pieces is maintained, and two symmetric
cho-mates arise: 1...Kd8 (Bb4, Bc3) 2 Qb8 mate; 1...KfB (BhA, Bg3)
Qh8 mate.
Queen against rook
In problem No. 24 ihe black king is on the back rank, while the
ok too does not occupy the most favourable position, but nevertheless
ore than 10 moves are required to male the black k i n g .
No. 24 V. Shpekman, 1976 . •
Mate in 11 moves.
1 Ke6. Now Black has two possibilities (castling is ruled out,

since either the king or the rook has just moved). On l . . . K f 8 , mate
quickly results: 2 Qf4+ Kg7 3 Qf?+ Kh6 4 Kf6 Rf8 5 QxfB* Kh5
6 Obi! Kh6 7 Qh4 mate. The main variation arises after l...Rh7!
White has to make a series of exact moves with his queen: 2 Qg5 Kf8
3 Qd8+ Kg7 A Qe7* Kg8 5 QeB+ Kg7 6 Qf74 Kh6 7 Qf6+ Kh5 8 Kf5
Rf7 9 Qxf7+ Kh4 10 Qb3! KhS I I Qh3 mate.
Queen against queen
We w i l l conclude our examination of quartets with an equal

number of pieces with the helpmate No. 25.
5even Chess Letters
1 Qh7! Kg3! 2 Kg7 Kf4+ 3 Kh6 Qg5 mate.
TWO WHITE PIECES
Such an advantage for White is no good for studies, but there are
plenty of problems, and making the selection was by no means easy.
Queen and pawn
Perhaps the most widespread combination In quartets on the

chess b o a r d .
No. 26 Y. Vladimirov, 1976
Mate in 4 moves.
This four-mover illustrates the co-ordination theme of two queens

(the second w i l l soon appear) on squares of opposite colour. 1 QgB!
Now a series of interesting v a r i a t i o n s arises: 1 . . .Kd4 2 d8=0+ Kc5
(2...Kc3 3 Qa2!) 3 Qb3T; t...Kd2 2 d8=0+ Kci 3 Qg2!; l...Kf3
2 d8«Q Ke4 (2...KH 3 Qd4+) 3 Og4+ etc. It goes without saying
that each time White gives mate an the fourth move.
Queen and knight
Three-movers with this material can have very clever solutions,

and Ho. 27 is the most famous of them.
No. 27 W. Schinkman, 1885
_•$•_•
Mate in 3 moves.
1 Na8M This paradoxical f i r s t move creates a strong impression.

1...Kd6 2 Kd4 Kc6 3 Qd5 mate.
Queen and bishop
A classic combination for three-move quartets. The following

problem, together with two other quartets also depicting the Russian
letler ' r ' (G), was published on Space Exploration Day — 12th A p r i l
1964. This set of problems was dedicated by the author to Yury
Gagarin — the f i r s t man to conquer space.
Mate in 3 moves.
1 Qh3! KgS 2 Qf3! K96 (2...Kh4 3 Bf6 mate] 3 Qg4 mate.
Queen and rook
White's advantage is too great, but to f i n d the shortest path to

mate is not always easy.
(see next diagram) .. - r
Mate in 4 moves.
See how the noose is tightened around the black k i n g : 1 Qf7!

Kd4 2 Qe6 Kc3 (2...Kc5 3 Rh4 KbS 4 Rh5 mate) 3 Qd7! Kc4 4 Rc2
Seven Chess Letters
male; 1...Ke5 2 Kb4 (this move is also decisive after" l . . . K d 3 or 1 . . .

Ke3j 2...Kd6 (on 2...Kd4 or 2...Ke4 there follows 3 Re2 and k Qc4
mate) 3 Rh5 Kc6 * Rh6 male.
Two queens
On a normal board with two queens, four moves are more than
enough to mate the black k i n g . It might be supposed that, if the
dimensions of the board are increased, the number of moves necessary
for mating w i l l also increase. But strangely enough, whalever the
dimensions of the board, mate can always be given not later than the
fourth move! On the f i r s t move one of Ihe queens gives check along a
file. After the black king moves to one of the adjacent f i l e s , the other
queen (with the help of the f i r s t ) squeezes it inio two f i l e s . We then
have approximately the position shown in No. 30 (we assume here that
the normal chess board represents a fragment of a board of a r b i t r a r y
dimensions).
No. 30 An innumerable multitude of problems
On any board two white queens give

mate not later than the fourth move
Now any move by the king is answered by an appropriate h o r i -

zontal check, for example 2. ..Ke4 3 Qc4+, or 2. ..Kd5 3 Qf5+, and
mate next move: In the f i r s t case 3 . . .Ke3(e5) 4 Off4 mate, in the
second — 3...Kd4(d6t 4 0cc5 mate. The black king could s i m i l a r l y be
' c a u g h t ' along a r a n k . Obviously, the board can have any dimensions,
and can even be i n f i n i t e . At the same time, the i n i t i a l p l a c i n g of the
white queens and both kings is unimportant (the white king Is
altogether not necessary).
I 4th Letter — 40 Chess Quartets
Rook a n d pawn
In problem No. 31 the iwo k i n g s go r o u n d in a c i r c l e , but

49
this
does honour only to the white leader.
No. 31 G. Glass, 1903
Male in 4 moves.
1 K f l ! Kd2 2 Kf2 Kdi 3 Ke3 Kel 4 Rd mate.
Rook and k n i g h t
In No. 32 mate cannot be given without the support of the king,

so White must b r i n g h i s up to face the opponent.
No. 32 M. Ebert, 1975
Mate in 6 moves.
1 Ra2! Kc1 2 Nd2 Kdl 3 Nb3! Kel 4 Kg2 Kdi 5 Kf3 Ke1 6
mate.
Rook and bishop
As iri the q u a r t e t w i t h queen and b i s h o p , we have chosen a

problem in w h i c h the bishop is a ' s u p e r f l u o u s ' piece — N o . 33.
No. 33 K. Law, 1928
(see next diagram)
Mate in 3 moves.
1 Bh2! Kxh2 2 Ra3 Khl 3 Rh3 mate.
Two rooks
• ^ v
In order to achieve his goal in No. 34, White must give up one
of his rook s.
Mate in 3 moves.
1 P h i ! ! Kxhl 2 Kg3 Kg1 3 Re! mate; 1...Kf3 2 Rh2 Kf4 3 Rf2

mate; 1...KfZ 2 Kh3 Kf3 3 Bfi mate.
Bishop and pawn.
The solution of No. 35 is not d i f f i c u l t , but it contains simul-

taneously two problem motifs — a sacrifice and an under-promotion.
No. 35 A. McKenzie, 1691
"*_•„•_
Mate in 3 moves.
I Ba7! Kxa7 2 cB=R! Ka6 3 Ra8 mate.

We should mention one f u r t h e r curious d e t a i l . Since in the I n i t i a l
' p o s i t i o n it is While's move, Black must have been the lost to p l a y .
But this could only have been a move with his king from a7 to aB.
This means that before this the black k i n g was In check by the bishop
at b8. Bui the bishop Itself could not have got there, I .e. it could
only have appeared as a result of a promotion. Thus in this modest
problem there are as though two promotions: one (lo a bishop) in its
'past' (relro-play), and the other (to a rook) in Its ' f u t u r e ' (the
solution i t s e l f | .
Bishop and knight
In order to give mate with bishop and knight one needs, so to

speak, special p r e p a r a t i o n . Instances are known where a player in a
tournament game d i d not manage it in the allotted time (the rules
allow f i f t y moves for the mate). It is amusing that, in the 47th USSR
Championship (Premier League), international master Anikayev tested
the mating technique of grandmaster Balashov for some twenty moves in
this ending, but when his k i n g was slowly but surely forced towards a
corner of the same colour as the bishop (an essential c o n d i t i o n ! ) , he
curtai led his resistance. Problem No. 36 is of a certain practical
interest (as, however, is any problem of this t y p e ) . Imagine that you
have played this ending f l i p p a n t l y , and at the given moment have
already used 45 moves oul of ihe allotted f i f t y . . .
No. 36 S. Loyd, 1857 -
Mate in 5 moves
1 8d6 Kb1 2 Kb3 (White's first two moves can be made in

reverse order) Z,..Kal 3 Ba3! Kbi 4 Nc3+ Ka1 5 Bb2 male.
Two bishops
This combination of pieces, as they say, leaves something to be

desired. However, although It is easy to give mate (this task is w i t h i n
the powers even of a beginner), to f i n d the shortest path to the goal
' * not always easy — No. 37.
No. 37 V. Pauli, 1919
(see next diagram)
Mate in 7 moves.
52 Seven Ches5 Letters
1 Bf3! Kti3 2 Kf2 Kh4 3 Se2 ( b e g i n n i n g to d r i v e the k i n g into

the comer) 3...Kh3 4 Bg5 Kh2 5 Bfl KM 6 Bg2+ Kh2 7 Bf4 mate.
Two knights . - • • * %
Of course, a mate is possible only if the b l a c k k i n g p l a y s into

White's hands. A corresponding helpmate is shown in No. 38.
Ho. 3B £ . A l b e r t , 1964
Helpmate in h
1 Kb5! Nd7 2 Ka4t { B l a c k marks tim»», but does not prevent the
w h i t e k i n g from f u l f i l l i n g i t s role) 2...KC5 3 Kt>3 Kb6 A Ka4 Nc5
mate.
Knight and pawn
No. 39 P- Terngren, 1928
Mate in 3 moves.
1 fB=R! (1 f8=Q stalemate!) 1...Kh6 2 Rf7 KhS 3 Rh7 mate.

4th Letter - 40 Chess Quartets 53
Two pawns
Problems with two pawns are normally rather interesting, since

[hoy always contain unusual promotions. We conclude our parade of
quartets with No. 40, in which essentially four problems are repres-
ented. In each case one of the pawns promotes to a queen, while the
other promotes to four different pieces — queen, knight, bishop and
rook!
No. 40 0. Dehler, 1925
11
' " Mate in 2 moves. - '
(a) As in the diagram. 1 c8=Q and 2 b8=Q mate,

jb) Move the white k i n g to b3. (V. Shpekman, 1964). Mate In
3 moves. 1 bB=Q Ka5 2 c8=N! Ka6 3 Qb6 mate.
(c) Move the b7 pawn to a7. ( L . Kubbel, 1940). Mate In 3
moves. 1 a 8 - B ! , 2 cB~Q and 3 Qb7 mate.
(d) Move the c7 pawn to g7. (H. Schtaudte, 1965K Mate in 3
moves. 1 bB=R! Ka7 2 g8=Q Ka6 3 Oo2 mate.
Thus, there have appeared before you 40 quartets on the chess

board. As we have seen, between some of them lies a whole c e n t u r y . . .
And even so this modest material has been far from exhausted by
chess composers.
Fifth Letter
TRIOS AND DUETS ON THE CHESS
BOARD
In the preceding ' l e t t e r ' we saw that, for the composing of an

interesting problem or study, four nieces are quite sufficient. But
what about with less material? Is it possible to think up anything
deserving attention with three or two pieces on the board? It turns
out that, even in this 'chess m i c r o - w o r l d ' , a number of interesting
works of the most varied genres have been created, although It is true
that there is a predominance of unusual or joke problems. In this
' l e t t e r ' we w i l l meet a series of such e x h i b i t s .
If we are t a l k i n g about t r a d i t i o n a l , orthodox problems, they can
turn out in one of three ways: against a lone black k i n g the leader
of the white forces w i l l be accompanied by a pawn, rook or queen.
No. 1 K. Tonipltnson, 1845
Mate in 2 moves.
The ancient two-movers Nos. 1 and 2 relate to the stalemate

theme — in both, the solution is to promote the pawn to a rook (but not
a queen): I n N o , 1 - 1 c 6 = R ! , In N o . 2 - 1 g6-*R!, a n d 2 RaS m a t e .
No. 2 E . C o o k , 1868
(see next diagram)
54
5th L e t t e r — Trios and Duets on the Chess Board 55
Mate in 2 moves.
The later problem No. 3 is an improved version of No. 1 . Here

the appearance of the rook is delayed by one move — 1 Kc6! Ka7
2 c8=R! Ka6 3 Ra8 mate.
No. 3 H. Meyer, 1920
Male in 3 moves.
The idea of promoling a pawn to a rook w i t h such l i m i t e d material

can also take on a t r i c k form — No. 4.
Mate In 3 moves.
The subtle point Is that White f i r s t of a l l . . . folds the board in

two! Now there follows 1 Kc2! Ka3 (the squares a5 and b5 are on the
other half of the b o a r d l ) 2 c4=R! (the f o u r t h r a n k has become the
last} 2...Ka2 3 RaA mate.
No. 5 D. Hoiman, 1971
Mate in 3 moves.
In No. 5 the introduction is rather crude — 1 c8=Q, but on the

other hand the subsequent manoeuvre on the next move by the new-born
queen is the only solution: 1...Ka4 2 Qh3! Ka5 3 Qa3 mate.
Are ther-e to be found among trios any genuine studies? It can,

of course, only be a question of the material 'King and pawn against
king' . Positions of this 'ype are normal ly considered theoretical, but
certain of them are customarily regarded as studies, as for example
Nos. 6 and 7.
No. 6 J. Dr-tina, 1908
No. 6. 1 Kc2! Ke7 2 Kb3! {a roundabout manoeuvre with the aim

of taking the opposition; a draw results from 2 Kd3? Kd7 3 Kd4 Kd6!)
2...Kd6 3 Kb* Kc6 4 Kc4, and the pawn queens. If the pawn is
moved from c3 to b4, the deciding king route is lengthened by one
move; 1 Kc2 Ke7 2 Kb3 Kd6 3 Ka4! Kc6 4 Ka5! etc.
No. 7 A. Hilderbrand, 1954

5th Letter — Trios and Duets on the Chess Board 57
White to play and win.
No. 7. 1 Ka& Kc6 2 Ka5 Kb7 3 Kb5 Ka7 4 Kc6 Ka6 5 b5+ Ka7
6 Kc7 Ka8 7 Kb6 Kb8 8 Ka6t Ka8 9 b6 Kbfl 10 b7 Kc7 11 Ka7 and
12 bfl=Q. It is interesting that, in the symmetric position after Black's
7th move, the manoeuvre of the white king lo «6 is the only solution,
since a draw results from the symmetric 8 Kc6? Ka7 9 06+ Ka8 10 Kc7
stalemate!
No. 8 A. Mandler, 1969
In study No. 8 after the transfer of the kings to the other wing —
I Kb2! Kb6 2 Kc2! Kc6 3 Kd2! Kd6 4 Ke2 Ke6 5 Kf2 Kf6 6 Kg2!
Black loses command of the corresponding squares. Of course, the
solution is very simple, but on the other hand we have a unique
example of White being represented In a ;study by his king alone.
Helpmate trios can prove more fascinating than positions with a

normal task, since in them accurate play is demanded not only of the
two white pieces, but also of the black k i n g .
No. 9 E. Bon, 1961
White to p l a y . Helpmate in 7 moves.
In No. 9 the pawn must, of course, advance, but it is not in a

hurry — I d3! With such limited material, this popular idea of losing
a tempo creates a strong impression. 1 . . .Kf2 2 d4 Ke3 3 d5 Kd4
* d6 Kc5 5 d7 Kb6 (after the hasty 1 d4 the black king would not now
.have been able to cross the square b6, which would be controlled by
the new queen) 6 dB=Q+ Ka7 7 Qa5 mate.
Two f u r t h e r t r i o s w i t h the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a white pawn w i l be

examined a l i t t l e l a t e r , b u t now i t i s the t u r n of the r o o k .
ft
Ha. 10 L. Tsagler, 1973
Mate in 12 moves.
Everyone can mate a bare k i n g w i t h a rook, but to do this in the

shortest possible way — No. 10, one has to rack one's b r a i n s . 1 Ka3!
Kc3 2 Ka4 Kc4 3 R d l ! Kc5 4 Kb3 Kb5 5 Rci Ka5 6 Kc4 Kb6 7 Kb4
Ka6 8 Kc5 Kb7 9 Kb5 Ka7 10 Kc6 Ka8 I I Kc7 Ka7 12 Ra1 mate.
This serious problem resembles the 'trio with the immobile rook1,
examined by us in the f i r s t ' l e t t e r ' .
Mate in 2 moves.
While in No. 4 the board was folded in h a l f , in joke-problem

No. 11 an even more unexpected m a n i p u l a t i o n is c a r r i e d out on i t . in
order to mate the b l a c k k i n g in such short time, you must f i r s t . . . saw
off the last r a n k from the b o a r d (or cover i t , if you begrudge the
board). Now the k i n g has nowhere to g o : 1 Kb5! Ka7 2 Rc7 m a l e .
No. 12 M. V u k o v i c , 1962
Black to p l a y . Helpmate in 3 moves.

5th Letter — Trios and Duels on the Chess Board 59
If in position No. 12 [he black king were to 'resist', even twelve

moves would not suffice. His assistance speeds up (he solution consid-
erably: 1 Ke7t (Black begins) 1...Kg7 2 KeB! Kf6 3 Kf8 Rh8 mate.
The normal mating of a lone king by a queen Is too primitive a

task, and therefore we i lluatrate this trio with the helpmate No. 13,
No. 13 R. Forstor, 1966
1 Kb4 Qh2! 2 Kc3 Kg2! (a hidden, in the literal sense, possibil-
ity of admit ling the black king to the place of its downfall ) 3 Kd2
Kf3+ 4 Kei Qe2 mate.
No. 14 A. Gerbstman, V. Slobodenyuk, 1976
White takes back his last move and gives mate in \ move.
(a) as in the diagram;
(b) the king is moved from c7 to c8. i t . ' . . ' .>•
A whole series of ultra-miniatures are associated with taking a
move back. In the twin-problems Mo. H White takes back the move
b6xa7, instead of which there fol lows 1 b7 mate, and, as can readily
be checked, in the first case the piece el a7 could only be a black
knight, and in the second case — only a black bishop. Replacing the
pawn at a7 In (b) by a white knight, we obtain a third ' t r i p l e t ' -
Instead of Nb5xa7 the solution Is 1 Nc? mate.
No. 15 K. Fabel, 1949
While takes back his last move and gives mate in 2 moves.
In joke-problem No. 15 try guessing that White's last move w a s . . .

K-side c a s t l i n g . The most s u r p r i s i n g thing is that the king alone
p a r t i c i p a l e d in i t , moving from e1 to gi . The point is that While was
p l a y i n g a game with ihe odds of two rooks, anct the rook at h3 is the
result of a promotion! Instead of castling K-side he now castles oh
the Q-side, as a result of which his king goes from el not to g i , but
to c1 (the rook at a 1 , given as odds, l i k e the hi rook participates in
the castling purely symbolical l y ) . After 1 0-0-0 the black king is
forced into the corner, 1...Ka1, where it is mated by 2 Ra3.
. . I , !•-•.•
White takes back his last move and gives mate in 1 move.
The joke-problem No. 16 can be regarded as an i l l u s t r a t i o n to

Pushkin's novel in verse. Remember the well-known 'game' between
Lensky and Olga:
They meet, from others far retreating.

Above a game of chess they bow,
Now heads on elbows resting, now
In deepest meditation s i t t i n g ;
A pawn of Lensky's takes a rt>ok,
His own, d i d he but care to look.*
The present position arose precisely after the absenl-minded

Lensky had broken the rules of the game and with his g4 pawn cap-
tured his own rook at h5. Now he begs Olga to excuse him, takes back
*The translator is indebted to Mr Henry Jones of Hiding Mill, Northum-

berland, for this translation from Yevgeny Oniegm.
5th Letter — Trios and Duets on the Chess Board 61
the move gixhS and announces check and mate to the bemused g i r l by
t Rh5-h8!
This may be a joke-problem, but an interesting fact is that it
does not permit any false rumours. For example, the assumption that
Lensky had captured his queen on h5, and not his rook, would have
meant that 01 ga too was p l a y i n g absent-mindedly — otherwise there is
no explanation as to why the black king moved into check. Pushkin,
however, has nothing to say on t h i s !
No. 17 J. Sunyer, 1923
White and Black take back their last move, then Black makes
a move and White gives mate in 1 move.
The clever problem No. 17 broadens the possibilities of the two

sides to such an extent that the kings alone suffice, and without any
jokes! With Its last move the white king from g6 captured a black
rook at h5 (Kg6xRh5), which, in t u r n , had from h8 just taken a white
queen at h5 (Bh8xQh5). In the restored position Black castles K-slde,
. . .0-0!, and is immediately mated by 1 Qh5-h7.
Thus, we have played the f i r s t duet on the chess board! Very
similar to it is another problem with two kings — No. IB.
No. 18 F. Vaird, 1910
White and Black take back their last move, then Black makes
a move and White gives mate in 1 move.
Here too White's last move was to capture e black rook Kg<>xRf5,
which prior to this took the white queen - RfixQfS. Instead of this
Black plays Rf1-h1, and is mated by 1 Qf5-f2.
Amusing trios and duets can be played at give-away chess, where

taking is obligatory ( i f there are several possibil i ties, the choice is
a r b i t r a r y ) , and the player who wins is the one who is the f i r s t to
give away all his pieces, including Ihe king (or stalemate them).
No. 19 K. Fabel, 1955
White to play and lose, " '
Problem No. 19 shows that in give-away chess the presence of

only two pieces ( i n the g i v e n instance pawns) is more than adequate to
devise subtle and o r i g i n a l s i t u a t i o n s .
1 a3! The f a m i l i a r idea of losing a tempo, b u t . . . in a completely
d i f f e r e n t genre! I...h5 2 aA h4 3 a5 h3 4 a6 h2 5 a7 h1=R!
If Black promotes to a queen or bishop, then after- any promotion
of the white nawn he w i l l be forced to take it immediately. On 5 . . .
M " N there follows 6 a8=Q, and on a move by the k n i g h t - 7 Qh1 .
I n t e r e s t i n g v a r i a t i o n s a r i s e after the appearance of a black k i n g
— 5 - . . h 1 = K. Bad now for White is 6 aB=Q or a8=B because of 6 . . . K g 2 ! ;
6 aB=K leads to a draw (the k i n g s cannot approach each other, and
w i l l wander Oerpetually around the board) ; on 6 a8=N there follows
6...Kg2 7 Nb6 Kf3 8 Nd7 Ke3 9 Nb6 Kf4 10 Nc8 Ke4 11 Na7 Ke5,
and the k n i g h t is ' c a u g h t ' - - on the oexl move it w i l l have to take the
king. The solution is 6 aB=R! Kg2 7 Ra4 Kf2 8 Rd4 Kg2 9 Re4 Kh2
10 Rf4 Kh1 11 Rf3 Kg2 12 Rf2+ Kxf2, and the goal is achieved.
6 aB=8!! The only move. White promotes to an even weaker piece
than h i s opponent. Now, wherever the rook moves, there follows
7 B h l ! , a n d t h i s game of g i v e - a w a y chess ends i n White's f a v o u r .
Matt In \ move.
Our f i n g l d u e l , No. 20, also demands of the reader a c e r t a i n

sense of humour. White has already managed to make h a l f a move — he
has removed from the board his h? pawn, and now be completes the
move, p l a c i n g on h8 a queen! And t h i s means that White's complete
move is 1 h7-h8=Q mate.
5th Letter — Trios and Duels on the Chess Board 63
Thus, we have played on the chess board forty quartets end

twenty trios and duets. But the most d i f f i c u l t chess puzzles, strangely
enough, contain only one piece — a solo on the chess board! We have
In mind problems i n v o l v i n g the journey of a piece over all the SQuares
of the b o a r d . About the k n i g h t ' s tour alone, numerous books and
scientific researches have been w r i t t e n . It w i l l be recalled that the
'problem of the k n i g h t move1 was studied by the great mathematician
Euler. In the present book the detailed study of 'chess geography'
problems w i l l be left to one side. After a l l , chess Is inexhaustible,
and, as is known, it is impossible to encompass the unbounded!
Sixth Letter
TWO DECISIVE GAMES
Decisive chess games, games on which depends the fale of a major

i nternational tournament, or sometimes even ihe fate of a player,
games which determine the winner of ihe recurrent stage of the battle
for the World Championship, or even the possessor" of the chess crown,
have always provoked a special, exceptional interest among the numer-
ous lovers of the ancient game. In a decisive game, where 'the slake
is greater [nan life i t s e l f , victory is often determined not only by the
talent of a grandmaster. Character, will-power, the a b i l i t y to collect
oneself at the c r i t i c a l point of the struggle — these qualities play no
less a role than chess mastery.
Chess history knows of a number of examples, when a defeat in a
decisive game had such an effect on a player thai he was never again
able to climb to the heights which he had once been able to conquer.
Bui a defeat in a decisive game, for a l l the tension of the situation,
cannot break a true f i g h t e r . The a b i l i t y of a great master to r i d
himself of the obsessive thought, that his many years of effort were
ruined by one hasty move, the a b i l i t y to shake off the weight of
disappointment, provoke enormous respect and admiration in his person-
ality.
Chess lovers will well remember Boris Spassky's two vexing
defeats in his decisive games in the last rounds of two USSR Champion-
ships — in 1958 against M. Tal and in 1961 against L. Stein. Each
time defeal closed the door for the talented grandmaster to the Inter-
zonal Tournament, and hence put off for at least three years any hope
of a match for the World Championship. But these defeats, in the
opinion of Spassky himself, mer-ely hardened him, and prepared him for
further great battles. By defeating Tigran Petrosian in 1969, Spassky
became the tenth chess champion of the world.
One of the most famous decisive games is Ihe concluding, tenth
clash In the match for the world championship between Emanuel Lasker
and Carl Schlechter, which took place in 1910. The name of the great
Lasker is known to everyone. Today even some chess masters know of
the great Austrian grandmaster Schlechter only by hearsay. And yet,
if Schlechter had won this game against Lasker (and he was very
close to his goal), he would have become World Champion, and would
have been ranked alongside such giants as Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca
and Alekhine (the reader w i l l f i n d this game in the seventh ' l e t t e r ' of
I, 6*
6th L e t t e r — Two Decisive Games 65
•the b o o k ) .
Three h i s t o r i c a l ly d e c i s i v e games belong to grandmaster David
[ B r o n s t e i n . One of Ihem was p l a y e d In the f i r s t C a n d i d a t e s ' Tournament,
[•Which was held in 19S0 in Budapest. Before ihe f i n a l round the Soviet
(•grandmaster Isaac Boleslavsky was l e a d i n g Bronstein by half a p o i n t .
t B o l e s l a v s k y was confident lhat h i s young r i v a l would not succeed, to
order, as they s a y , In d e f e a t i n g the h i g h l y experienced Paul Keres,
and in the f i n a l r o u n d he q u i c k l y agreed a d r a w w i t h the Swedish
grandmaster Gideon S t a h l b e r g . Soon he had cause to regret hi5 haste.
Bronstein accomplished a competitive feat — he overcame his dangerous
opponent in b r i l l i a n t s t y l e , and caught up w i t h B o l e s l a v s k y . The next
decisive game was p l a y e d by him in the match designed to determine
Ifie opponent of World Champion M i k h a i l B o t v i n n i k . The twelve s t i p u l -
ated games between Bronstein and Boleslavsky d i d not g i v e a w i n n e r ,
and the question a g a i n remained open. Two a d d i t i o n a l games were
stipulated. The f i r s t of these ended in a d r a w . In the decisive duel
Bronstein once a g a i n d i s p l a y e d h i s exceptional c h a r a c t e r , won i t , and
gained the r i g h t to p l a y B o t v i n n i k . In t h i s match for the World Cham-
p i o n s h i p , B r o n s t e i n ' s t h i r d decisive game was p l a y e d . To the end of
the marathon there remained two games. B o t v i n n i k , who was t r a i l i n g
b y a p o i n t , h a d White f o r the last time, a n d i t was s u f f i c i e n t f o r
Bronstein to hold out in the 23rd game, when he would almost c e r t a i n l y
have become the second Soviet World Champion. But B o t v i n n i k ' s w i l l
proved to be the s t r o n g e r . In a tough b a t t l e of nerves he succeeded
In e x t r a c t i n g a w i n in t h i s d e c i s i v e encounter. A short draw in the
f i n a l , 24th game of the match enabled him to r e t a i n the t i t i e of World
Champion... .
It stands to reason that the story of d e c i s i v e chess duels deserves
a separate book, and perhaps some time it w i l l De w r i t t e n . In our
' l e t t e r ' we suggest that you make the a c q u a i n t a n c e of two d e c i s i v e
games, in w h i c h the a u t h o r s of t h i s book p a r t i c i p a t e d . T r u e , in the
f i r s t game L u l i k o v - T a i m a n o v , one of the a u t h o r s p a r t i c i p a t e d only in
the c a p a c i t y o f . . . grandmaster Mark T a i m a n o v ' s second. While the
i n c l u s i o n in the book of the d e c i s i v e c l a s h from the World Championship
Match in Baguio does not demand any e x p l a n a t i o n , the f i r s t game may
appear to have been chosen r a n d o m l y . But t h i s Is not q u i t e so. The
game was p l a y e d in the f i n a l round of the 37th USSR Championship,
held in Moscow in 1969, which was also a Zonal Tournament. Victory
in it took grandmaster Taimanov into the Interzonal Tournament, and
1
from there ' b y i n e r t i a — i n t o the C a n d i d a t e s ' Matches. The Fischer-
Taimanov q u a r t e r r f i n a i match became an h i s t o r i c one. By w i n n i n g by
the u n i q u e score of 6-0, the American grandmaster began h i s s w i f t
offensive in the b a t t l e for the w o r l d c r o w n . The Dane Bent Larsen was
overcome by the same enigmatic score. The next to suffer at F i s c h e r ' s
hands was the Ex-World Champion T i g r a n P e t r o s i a n . By w i n n i n g the
match in 1972 a g a i n s t Boris Spassky, Robert Fischer became the 11 th
Chess k i n g in h i s t o r y . Three years later he decl ined to defend his
t i t l e in a match w i t h Anatoly K a r p o v , and the Soviet grandmaster was
declared the 12th Champion of the W o r l d . By w i n n i n g three years
'ater a match a g a i n s t V i k t o r Korchnoi, Karpov r e t a i n e d his t i t l e . As
you see, a l l the events o c c u r r i n g In the chess world are in some way
Connected one w i t h a n o t h e r !
From a grandmaster's second:

Final round of the 37th USSR Championship, 1969
Lutikov-Taimanov
Sicilian Defence
The hall was shaking and buzzing with excitement. The controller
cal led in vain for silence. The hearts of grandmaster Taimanov's
supporters suffered an unbearable s t r a i n . One of his staunches!
friends, the writer Leonid Zorin, who had not missed a single evening
at the Championship, admitted after the game: " I don't know how I
stayed al ive".
It stands to reason that, before the start of ihe round, the
tournament situation was taken into account. Four players were to go
through to the Interzonal Tournament, and grandmasters Polugayevsky,
Smyslov and Geller had already reserved three of the vacant places.
There remained one, for which ihe contenders were Mark Taimanov and
Leonid Stein, who were level on points. The most probable outcome of
the Polugayevsky-Stein game seemed to be a draw. The prospect of a
match with Leonid Stein was not especially appealing, and so it was
decided to make every effort to avoid It. The opening most appropriate
to this aim was the sharp Paulsen Variation (known in the West as the
Taimanov Variation! — Translator), the favourite weapon of my 'charge'
in the Sicilian Defence. As expected, on his first move Lutikov
advanced his e-pawn two squares. The decisive game had begun,
I M c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 dA cxd4 A NxdA e6 5 Nc3 0c7 G Be3 06

7 Bd3 b5
And so, everything was going according lo plan — the Pautsen
Variation h$s been (alayed. But at this point, as I now recall, grand-
master Bronstein said to his neighbours in the press box: "Lutikov is
a great expert in this variation; he has scored a number of beautiful
wins with i t " . 1 cannot say that these words did much to reassure me,
to say nothing of Zorin. The only consoi ing factor was that in this
opening Taimanov too had won a number of spectacular encounters.
Instead of the advance of the b-pawn, 7.,.Nf6 is more often met. But
this had been played several times against Lutikov, and in particular,
we were farnillar with his game against Tal, which had continued 7 . . .
Nf6 8 Qd2, etc. Taimanov therefore prefers a more unusual contin-
uation.
8 Nxc6 Qxc6 9 Bd4
The idea of this move is to tie I ay somewhat the development of

Slack's K-side. Bronstein once played simi lariy against Taimanov
{with the bishop at e2) > when Black contrived to blunder away a
pawn: 9 . . . f 6 10 0-0 Bc5 11 8*b5! axb5 12 Qh5+. On this occasion
he was on the alert.
9 . . . Bb7 10 Qe2 Ne7
A flexible move; subsequently the knight will have a choice

between the squares c6 and g6. In the event of 1O...Nf6 11 Bxf6 gxf6
the advance of the white knight to dS has to be reckoned w i t h .
II f4
The f i r s t of a series of moves which impose on White special

6th Letter — Two Decisive Games 67
obi i gat ions. However, 11 0-0-0 can be well answered by 1 T . . . b4, and
H 0-0 by 11. . . N f S ! .
11 . . . b4 12 Nb1
12 Ndl would seem to leave White more possibilities.
12 . . . Ng6 13 QfZ
What more, would it seem, can one expect of one move — the queen
defends the f4 p a w n , strengthen? White's control of the g l - a 7 d i a g o n a l ,
and creates t h r e a t s on the K-side. And even so, B l a c k ' s c o u n t e r - p l a y
now comes d i s t i n c t l y to l i g h t .
13 . . . Bd6!
One of those b r i l l i a n t , p u r e l y T a i m a n c v - N k e moves. On 14 Bxg7

there follows 1 4 . . . N x f 4 15 Bxha Nxd3+ 16 cxd3 0c1 + . Since 14 g3 is
too r i s k y , and 14 e5 is u n p l e a s a n t l y answered by 14, . -Be7 w i t h the
threat of . . . B h 4 , White's next move is e s s e n t i a l l y f o r c e d .
14 Be3 0-0 15 Nd2 Rac8 16 h4
It is c u r i o u s t h a t , at t h i s p o i n t , it seemed to almost a l l the

spectators, even to the chess masters, that While's threats were
extremely dangerous, whereas f o r Taimanov, as he admitted after the
game, it was at t h i s very point that he sensed that he could go
through to the Interzonal Tournament without any a d d i t i o n a l event.
White takes upon himself o b l i g a t i o n s w h i c h are too g r e a t , and for
Which it w i l l be d i f f i c u l t f o r him to p a y .
16 Qc7
16.. .e5 17 g3 exfft IS gxffi looked t e m p t i n g , but the move p l a y e d

'S the most f l e x i b l e . Since 17 f5 is now impossible due to 17. . .Sg3,
White is p r a c t i c a l l y forced to p l a y e i t h e r 17 g3, or J-? e5, a f t e r which
the strength of the bishop a! b? grows consider-ably,

I
17 e5 Bc5 18 h5 Bxe3 19 Qxe3 Ne? 20 Nc4
20 0-0-0 is unpleasantly met by 2O...Nd5, when the white king is

In great danger.
Z0 . . . Nf 5 21 Qd2
On 21 Bxf5 Taimanov had prepared not 21...Qxc4, as we in the

h a l l assumed, but 2 1 . . ,exf5 22 Nd6 Qxc2 23 Nxc8 (23 Nxb7 Qxg2)
23...Rxc8, s a c r i f i c i n g the exchange, but gaining for it more lhan
sufficient compensation. He was no doubt r i g h t — large-scale strategy
is required of the Sicilian p l a y e r .
21 . . . Bd5 22 Ne3 Nxe3 23 Qxe3 Qc5 24 Qg3
The exchange of queens would have led lo a marked advantage for

Black, but 24 Qd2 w a j less r i s k y .
24 h6 25 Rh4
The c r i t i c a l point. After- 2S...Kh8 26 Rg4 Rg8 followed by . . .Qd4

Black would have gained a v i r t u a l l y overwhelming positional advantage.
But Taimanov impulsively checks with his queen, assuming that it is
always good to d r i v e the king into the centre. But things turn out to
be much more complicated,
25 . . . Qgit
After this move the game loses in strategic completeness, but

gains in b e a u t y . . . . Some totally s t a r t l i n g events now set i n .
26 Kd2
The game enters a phase of boundless complications, the f i n a l

consequences of which were impossible to foresee. It was subsequently
stated that 26 Ke2 would have won for White, ana given Stein, who, es
expected, had already drawn his game, a place in the Interzonal
Tournament. But analysis showed that this place would at best have
been acquired as a result of an additional match. After 26.. .Rxc2+
27 Bxc2 Bc6+ 28 Kd2 128 Kf3 Qxal 29 RgA Qf1 + , 3O...Qe2+ and 3 1 . . .
Qxc2, and White has only one check at g7) 28...Gd4+ 29 Kci Qg1 +
Black is assured of perpetual check (30 Bdl Rc8). A fascinating battle
also develops in the event of 2 6 . . .Qd4 27 f5 Rxc2+ 28 Bxc2 Qxb2
29 f6 Qxc2+ 30 Kfl g5 31 hx g 6 f x g 6 32 Rxh6 Be4.
26 QdA
The capture of the rook was not very pleasant, since after 27 Rg4
White gives mate, while after 26...Qxg2+ 27 Qxg2 Bxg2 2B Rgi Bd5
29 Rhg4 the black king Is again in an unenviable position. Now the
attack 27 Rg4 can be parried, thanks to 27...Be4! 28 Rxg7+ KhB, when
against the various threats (and in particular ...RgB —along the same
f i l e where White has been attacking!) there la no defence.
27 f5
With his queen attacked, and the further advance of the f-pawn
threatened, Black appears to be on the edge of the abyss.
27 Rxc2+!
Making such a move is pleasant not only for the p l a y e r d u r i n g
the game, but also f o r the commentator in the course of h i s a n a l y s i s .
28 Kxc2 b3+!
The b-pawn must be brought into play; 28...RcB+ 29 Kdi Qxb2

30 Rbi is i n s u f f i c i e n t .
29 Kdi
After maKing this move, White loses control of events. The

dangerous pawn should have been taken — after 29 axb3 Bxb3+ 30 Kd2
(30 Kxb3 f a i l s to 3O...Rb8+ 31 Kc2 Qxb2+ 32 Kd1 Qxa1+ 33 Ke2 Rb2+
34 Ke3 Q c H , and now either 35 Ke4 Rb4+ 36 Kf3 Qd1+ 37 Ke3 Qxd3+!
33 Kxd3 Rb3+, or 35 Kf3 Qd1+ 36 Kf4 Rb4+ 37 Be4 Qfl+ 38 Qf3 Rxe4+!
39 Kxe4 Qc4+, in each case with a won ending for Black) 3O...Qxb2+
31 Ke3 Qxal 32 f6 Q g H 33 Kd2 Qd1+ Black c e r t a i n l y has a perpetual
check, but a p p a r e n t l y nothing more. This would probably have been
the n a t u r a l result f o r such a dramatic game.
29 . . . Q g H 30 Gel Qxg2 31 Qfi
Black is p l a y i n g , as If n o t h i n g had happened, fl cook down! On

31 Rf4 Taimanov was intending to continue q u i e t l y with 31...Rc8.
31 . . . Bf3+ 32 Kei Qxb2 33 Rbi OxeS+ 34 Kf2 bxa2 35 Ret Qf6

36 Kg3 fig21
(see next diagram)
A move of great aesthetic force! It displays the p u r e l y problem-

Seven Chess Letters
like idea of over-loading — the bishop can be captured neither by the

k i n g , nor the queen.
37 Qg1 exfS!
Again a totally unexpected, quiet move. One of the grand-

masters asked in p e r p l e x i t y ; "Why separate the p a w n s ? . . . "
38 Qd4 Qg5+ 39 Kh2
The f i r s t point of the move 37...exf5 — here 39 Rg4 is impossible.

And now its second point is revealed. After the idea of over-loading
comes that of interference. Sheer geometry... .
39 . . . Be4! •->.-•>" ••• .i1
The f i n a l chord of this musical poem, played, as one of the

admiring spectators remarked, in the style of an heroic symphony. The
co-ordination of the white pieces is totally destroyed, and Black
threatens ...Qxhi>+ and ...Qg2 mate.
IT
40 Rhxe4 fxeft 41 0xe4 ' '
In this position Taimanov wrote on his score sheet the move fit...
Qxh5+, and went behind the scenes. With shaking hands he l i t up the
f i r s t cigarette in his l i f e . On the face of Mikhail Tal, standing beside
him, was depicted envy, which could not be erased even by the words
addressed to him by Taimanov: "Misha, today — I am your p u p i l ! "
Paul Keres, made wise by experience, came up to him. "Mark — today
you played like Liszt", was how he addressed his old colleague, and a
well-known p i a n i s t .
Thus, the game was adjourned. In prospect was some night-time
analysis, although it is true that it d i d not pr-omise to be d i f f i c u l t .
After the white k i n g moves out of check there would have followed
. ..g7-g6 and . . . R b 8 . Obviously this seemed to grandmaster Lutikov to
be sufficiently clear, and he nobly decided to same Taimanov any
further anxiety.
41 . . . Qxh5+ White resigns
A f a i r y t a l e game! It was a worthy culmination to the Champion-

ship of l h e country!
The ha 11 thundered with applause, and on the stairs friends
embraced Mark Taimanov, who that day was the happiest person a l i v e .
Some ten years later, in the course of working on the present
book, one of its authors, the one who had been Taimanov's second, met
the grandmaster for 'an evening of pleasant reminiscences'.
"Mark Yevgenyevich, your decisive encounter with Lutikov was
called by j o u r n a l i s t s at the time the 'game of your l i f e ' . Can you now
confirm the correctness of this epithet?"
"Of course, ten years ago these words — 'the game of my l i f e 1 —
were merely a t i t l e . That is not, of course, how a player t h i n k s . But
what is most s u r p r i s i n g is that now, judging events in retrospect, I
see that i t was this game, l i k e no other, which s i g n i f i c a n t l y influenced
my subsequent l i f e , and, therefore, f u l l y j u s t i f i e d its name. In the
end, victory in i t raised me to the heights of my competitive achieve-
ments, and at the same time brought me the deepest disappointments.
If events are analysed f a t a l i s t r e a l l y , it can be said that this game
subsequently led me to a series of dramatic changes in my l i f e , and
not only in the chess aspect of i t . Everything here was interlaced —
chess, my piano p l a y i n g , my personal l i f e . . . . In my everyday con-
cerns I have not returned so often to this 'game of my l i f e ' , but now
you have reminded me, and you see what a great deal it has s t i r r e d
op".
"Do you think that the psychological tension, which a g r a n d -

master inevitably experiences in a decisive game, is an aid to chess
creativity?"
"Yes, I think so. During that distant evening, at any rate, I
experienced an unusual enthusiasm, a state rather of s p i r i t u a l i t y , of
Illumination. It showed itself both in that, by g i v i n g the impulsive
queen check at g i , I switched the play into an almost incontrol I able
state, and in that I then made v i r t u a l l y fantastic efforts to turn the
i r r a t i o n a l battle onto the desired l i n e s . . . . Yes, it was a truly
euphoric state, when fantasy works at the limit of its p o s s i b i l i t i e s , and
you have the feeling that you are hovering over events. It is perhaps
3t such moments that discoveries are made. Chess history knows of
decisive games which were not distinguished for their especially r i c h
content. But the encounter with Lutikov also proved highly interesting
in the purely chess sense. It is no accident that it was remembered
'or a long time by a l l the spectators who were present in the hall
that day. 1 ts content, its aesthetic element are perfectly equivalent,
so lo speak, to its competitive v a l u e . "
"The 'game of your l i f e ' led you in the end to a match with
Fischer, the result of which was p i t i f u l . . . " .
"Yes, this encounter brought me much disappointment, but even so,
I do not regret that it took place. Robert Fischer is an outstanding
phenomenon in chess history, and I consider myself fortunate to have
Played with him an entire match, even though the result was so b a d .
I " the creative sense the games were interesting, and I am not ashamed
of them."
"How do you explain Fischer's exit from the chess world?"
"On this point I have a completely firm o p i n i o n . For the majority
of the eleventh World Champion's predecessors, the game of chess was
not only not the only thing in their lives, but sometimes not even the
main thing. But for Fischer, chess was, without a doubt, the meaning
of his life, and therefore all his criteria were of an exclusively chess
nature. Fischer, 11 could be said, was closelv linked to chess; it was
his atmosphere, the only one he could breathe.
This is why the title of World Champion meant more for Fischer
than the recognition of his competitive merits alone. The supreme
title as though assigned to him the role of a chess Messiah on Earth.
If chess is the main, indeed the only value in life, and he is the
chess k i n g , then in i t he must be a kind of infallible absolute. This,
apparently, is what Fischer thought. And indeed, to judge by his
actions following his victory over Spassky, the new Champion took upon
himself numerous different obligations. The American grandmaster
decided that he had no right to make incorrect pronouncements about
chess, and he withdrew all the books written by him, very good books,
incidentally, thinking that they were inappropriate to his new status.
He considered that he did not have the right to play badly in a
tournament, or even to lose a single game. In short, Fischer took
upon himself such a burden that he simply bent under Us weight. On
sensing, most probably, that he could not be the person he should be
in his own imagination, Fischer began avoiding chess. And the more
time that passed, the stronger that this psychological complex developed
in him. The result was that the passionate and incomparable love for-
chess, characteristic of Fischer in his earlier years, gave way to a
sense of fear, and a fear hot of some specific player, but of the very
chess pieces and the chess board.
For the average chess player It is, of course, difficult to under-

stand why the chess king, at the height of his powers, should abandon
his kingdom. But an exceptional personality may have a different
outlook, which, although abnormal, also deserves respect... . "
From the World Champion: - ' '

I am in total agreement with the description given of my pre-
decessor by grandmaster Mark Taimanov. Fischer is undoubtedly an
exceptional person and an outstanding chess player. Six years ago I
made intensive preparations for a match with him, realizing that I was
faced with a very difficult struggle in which Fischer's chances wei-e
objectively better. Nevertheless, as any player would, I hoped for
success. Alas, Fischer conceded his title to me voluntarily. Not once
in my life have I sat down at the board against the American grand-
master-, and I can only envy Taimanov, Petrosian and 5passky, who
have each played a match with him.
I must confess that, when the FIDE President Max Euwe invested
me with the Champion's wreath, I experienced a twofold sensation. On
the one hand, and 1 will not conceal the fact, there was joy, but at
the same time there appeared an irresistible urge to demonstrate to the
chess world that I had been declared the strongest chess player by
rights. And there began for me a long-range duel with my predeces-
sor. Perhaps the reader will be interested in certain comparisons... .
Fischer in his career did not lose a single match; as yet,
neither have I . Fischer gained the title of World Champion by his
victor-y over Boris Spassky, and after eleven games of this match he
was leading by 7-A (I have disregarded the loss resulting from his
failure to appear for the second game). Two years later I won a
Candidates' Semi-Final Match against Spassky by the score of . . . 7-4!
(And the overall score in games with the 10th World Champion, where
(here has been a definite result, is currently 9-1 in my favour).
Fischer won two matches by the score of 6-0. Here it is d i f f i c u l t

for me to compete with him — I am not such a maximalist. However,
j n the European Team Championship in 1977, playing on the top board,
concluded my appearance with a score of 5-0!
Judging from Fischer's book My GO Memorable Games, he won a
>tal of 25 tournaments (including those where he shared f i r s t pi ace,
ut excluding team events). At the age of 29 Fischer gave up chess.
Now, when this book is being written, I am 29 years old, and in 1979
Bt the Tournament of Stars in Montreal I won my 25th tournament.
Such is the arithmetic. Can rny duel with Fischer be regarded as
^finished? It is not for me to j u d g e . . . .
It siands to reason that the most Important and crucial event in
•which I have yet participated was my as yet only match for the World
Championship, the match in Baguia with Viktor Korchnoi. I think that
e l l the reversals of fortune associated with this match will s t i l l be
fresh in the memories of chess enthusiasts, and there is no point here
in dwelling on them in d e t a i l .
The match had already been in progress for more than two
months, and things were going f a i r l y well. After the 27th game the
score in wins became 5-2 (the winner was the f i r s t to score six wins),
and the match appeared to be coming to an end. 1 had no doubt at
all that 1 would win, and this over-confidence clearly weakened me.
In addition, the enormous, purely physical fatigue was beginning to
tell. And then, when there remained only one step to overall victory,
-the unforeseen occurred. Korchnoi, who was possibly reconciled to
ftJefeat, began playing unrestrainedly and by desperate efforts levelled
the score —5-5! Within four games 1 had lost that which I had
gained in 27! There was plenty to be distressed over. But nevertheless
I succeeded in casting off the burden of my vexing oversights,
êndeavoured to rest well, and geared myself up for a decisive battle In
he 32nd game. In this game I played calmly and confidently, and, on
taining an overwhelming position, said to myself: "Just don't be loo
, remembering that a desire to r e a l i i e an advantage as quickly
jas possible had let me down more than once in the match. Victory in
the 32nd, deciding game enabled me to retain the t i t l e of World
•Champion.
Last game of the Match for the World Championship

Baguio, 1978
A. Karpov - V. Korchnoi
Pirc-Uf imlsev Defence
e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Be2 0-0 6 0-0 c5
The choice of this or that opening in the match was made mainly
for psychological reasons. The main events normal ly developed in the
subsequent stages, and it was they that exerted a decisive influence on
the outcome of the majority of the games. The present game is a good
confirmation of t h i s ,
Korchnoi Is true to his favourite tactics — that of changing as
often as possible the chess pattern. In the 18th game, where the
Pirc-Uflmtsev Defence was also played, the discussion developed along
'he lines of the main v a r i a t i o n : 6...Bg4 7 8e3 Nc6. Then I had
employed an innovation; 8 Qd3!? On this occasion, evidently so as to
avoid such surprises, Korchnoi makes a sharp change of course. In
Principle the entire variation after 7 dnc5 dxc5 is assessed by theory
a
L
s slightly favourable for White. Bui I could assume that the c h a l -
lenger had prepared some forcing improvement in Black's p l a y , and So,
quite n a t u r a l l y , I avoided the exchanging continuation.
7 d5 Na6
Black pins his hopes on flank operations. It is d i f f i c u l t to say

which of the two plans - this oi- the one Involving ihe undermining
move ...e7-e6 — should be preferred.
8 BH
White deploys his forces so as to prepare the natural central

breakthrough e4-e5.
a..,Nc7 9 a* b6 10 ftel Bb7 11 Bc4
The prophylactic 11 h3, with the idea of retaining the bishop on

the h2-bB diagonal, could have proved to be a serious delay. After
11.,.Qd7! 12 Bc4 Rad9! 13 Qd3 e5 very sharp play develops.
11 . .
A waste of valuable time. Instead of standing stil I, it was

essential to play 11.,.Qd7, aiming after 12 e5 dxe5 13 Nxe5 Qf5 to
provoke tactical complications at any cost. For example, 1ft Nxg6 fxg6
15 Bxc7 Ng4. Evidently on 11...Qd7 White should reply 12 Qd3, main-
taining si ightly the better changes, but on the whole a very tense
struggle wouild have arisen. It seems to me that, on this occasion,
Korchnoi 's predilection for solid positions did him a bad service.
12 BgS Nhf6 13 Qd3
Now all directions it Is much more difficult for Black to

Obtain
13 . . . a6 14 Rad1 Rb8 IS h3
At this Dolnt I decided not to take a r i s k . In p r i n c i p l e , the

consistent continuation, which would have increased White's spatial
advantage and increased his Bressijre, was 15 e5!? For example,
15...dxe5 16 Nxe5 b5?! 1? axb5 axE>5 18 Bxb5! NcxdS 19 Nd7 N«c3
20 bxc3 Nxd? 21 Bxe7, ana Sl«ck loses material. l S , . . N c i d 5 can also
be well met by the simple 19 N*d5 Bxd5 (19...0>td5 20 Qg3 Qa2 21 Bcu
QxO2 Zl Nxf7) 20 C4 Ba8 (2O...Be6 21 Nc6 QxiJ3 22 Nxe7+1 21 Nd7.
In a diffei-enl situation I would have definitely played that way, bul
in this game there was no way that I coulti r i s k White's entire
initiative.
•1
15 . . . Nd7
Black cannot test his opponent's patience for long, and sensibly
prevents the threatened breakthrough in the centre. in addition, he
can now hope for counter-play of the type 16,,.b5 17 axb5 Nb6, or
16..-Ne5 17 Nxe5 dxe5 IB d6 exd6 19 Qxd6 Qxd6 20 Rxd6 b5.
16 Qe3
Occupying another important line, and preventing the ...b6-b5
break.
16 Ba8 17 Bh6 b5 18 Bxg7 Kxg7 19 Bf1 Nf6 20 axb5 axb5
Without the fianchettoed bishop at g7, the pawn offensive on the

Q-side resembles an infantry attack without the appropriate a r t i l l e r y
bombardment.
21 Ne2 Bb7
Black's chief misfortune lies in his poor communications. If he

were able to play ...e7-e5, the switching of his forces from one side of
the board to the other would be much easier. But 21 . , .e5 (or . . .e6)
leads after 22 dxe6 Nxe6 23 Ng3 to a significant weakening of his
pawn formation. Therefore Black's reserves have lo cross from one
wing to the other along the back rank, i . e . l i t e r a l l y 'on a l l f o u r s ' ,
and it is by no means all the chess pieces that are accustomed to this
and able to do i t . i v , » . . •''•--.. ^
22 Ng3 RaB 23 c3 Ra4 24 Bd3 QaB „ .... .
Black disregards his opponent's threats. The queen retreats to

Ihe edge of the board at the very point when the storm clouds are
gathering over his king position. Korchnoi obviously under-esli mated
the danger of White's threats.
25 e5!
A d a g g e r b l o w , r e i n f o r c e d by a p p r o p r i a t e a r g u m e n t s : 2 5 . . -Nfxd5
26 NhS+ (or 26 Nf5+) 26.,.gxh5 (26...«hB 27 Qh6 Rg8 28 Ng5)
27 Qg5+ KhS 28 Qf5. ... .
25 dxe5 26 Gxe5
26 0xc5 would have been a mistake because of 26.. .Ncxd5, when
• he white queen is in Immediate danger.
76 Seven Chess Letlers
26 . . . Ncxd5 27 Bxb5 Ra7

The only way of maintaining the material balance, even if only
temporarily.
28 Nh4
After this manoeuvre there are threats impending not only over
the black k i n g . In many cases the prosaic c3-cft is no less unpleasant.
Thus on 2B...Bc6 there can follows 29 Bxc6 Qxc6 30 c4 Nb4 31 Rd6
exd6 32 Nh5+ gxhS 33 Qg5+ Kh8 3ft Qxf6+ KgS 35 Nf5, while 28...Qb9
29 cii Qxe5 30 Rxe5 leads to a hopeless ending for Black.
28 BcB 29 Be2!
I think you will agree that there is something attractive in this

bishop move. Henceforward a l l the white pieces will act with co-ordin-
ation and precision. After the game I was told that It was this move
which brought such long-awaited oeace to my colleagues' troubled
sou Is.
29 . . . Be6 30 c4 Nbi 31 QxcS QbB 32 Bfi RcS 33 Qg5 Kh8

34 Rd2 Nc6 35 Qh6!
It turns out that White has not only an extra pawn, but a very
strong i n i t i a t i v e into the bargain. Black is torn apart in the direct
sense of the words; he has to parry the attack on his k i n g , and keep
a careful watch on the Q-side pawns,
35 . . . RgS 36 Nf3 Qf8 37 Qe3 Kg7?

The decisive mistake, after which Black's resistance becomes
hopeless. He could still have prolonged the game by 37...Rb7, preven-
ting the advance of the white pawns.
38 NgS Bd7 39 t>4 QaB
Black's time-trouble agony draws to a close. Already nothing can

help
40 b5 Na5 41 b6
The saying 'All roads lead to Rome' is p a r t i c u l a r l y appropriate

to this p o s i t i o n . Korchnoi sealed 41 . . . Rb7, but the following day his
second announced his resignation of the game and the match.
Seventh Letter
BEFORE THE 30TH MATCH FOR THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
In this year, as you know, the current cycle in the battle for
the World Championship is completed. Interest in chess in Ihis year
increases exceptionally, and in the summer the attention of a l l chess
enthusiasts will be focused on the Match for the World Championship.
Since the publication of our book is timed to coincide with the start of
this ' j u b i l e e ' match, we have decided that one of its ' letters' should
definitely be devoted to the history of competitions for the title of the
strongest chess player in the world.
History knows of numerous 'uncrowned kings' — the strongest
players of their time, the unofficial World Champions —Greco, Phllidor,
La Bourdonnais, Staunton, Ancierssen and Morphy. In the I8BO5 the
chess world decided that it was time thai they had a ' r e a l ' k i n g , and
in 1886, afler his victory over Zukertort, the f i r s t official World
Champion was declared to be Wilhelm Steinitz.
All the matches for- the world crown are given by us in a table
(see next page). Here you will find the names of the participants in
each match (the winner, or, in the event of a drawn result, the World
Champion retaining his t i t l e , is given f i r s t ) , the year when it was
held, the number of wins, draws and defeats and the overall store,
and the venue of the match.
The f i r s t seventeen matches were not held under any system — the
World Champion played when he wanled, with whom he wanted (and not
always with his strongest r i v a l ! ) and under the conditions which he
liked best. The very f i r s t duel was due to conclude when one side
had gained ten wins, with 3 draw to be recorded if the score stood at
9-9, but during the course of the match the contestants agreed in this
event to extend the marathon up to a further eight wins. Other
matches were held either up to a definite number of wins, or for a
majority of the points. Thus the battle between Capablonca and
Alekhlne was up to six victories (with a score of 5-5 the World Cham-
pion was to retain his t i t l e ) , whereas in all four of Alekhine's subse-
quent World Championship Matches, t h i r t y games were planned, and 15j
points was enough to secure victory.
The most enigmatic duel is that between Lasker and Schlechter.
There is even the hypothesis (though it has not been proved!) that
this wasn't a match for the World Championship el a l l . In certain
sources it is indicated that to gain the Champion's title it was s u f f i -
78
7th L e t t e r — Before Ihe 30th Match f o r i h e World Championship 79
THIRTY MATCHES FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
| . Steini tz-Zukertort USA

2. Steinit7-Chigorin Havana
3. Steinitz-Gunsberg New York
4. Stelnitz-Chigortn Havana
5. Lasker-Steinlt2 USA
6. Lasker-Stelni tz Moscow
7. Lasker-Marshall USA
8. Lasker-Tarrasch Dusseldorf,
Mu n i c h
9. Lasker-Janowski 1909 + 7 - I =2 (8-2) Paris
10. Lasker-Schlechter 1910 + 1 - 1 =8 (5-5) Vienna, Berl in
11. Lasker-Janoivski 1910 + 8 -0 =3 (9i-1sI Berl i n
12. Capablanca-Lasker 1921 + 4 - 0 =10 (9-5) Havana
13. Alekhine-Capablanca 1927 + 6 - 3 =25 (18i-15^) Buenos Aires
14- Alekhine-Bogoljubov 1929 +11 - 5 =9 (15|-gi) Germany,
Holland
15. Alekhine-Bogoljubov 1934 + 8 - 3 =15 (15i-1<ri> Germany
16. Euwe-Alekhine 1935 + 9 - 8 =13 (15*-l4) Holland
17. Alekhine-Euwe 1937 + 10 -4 -11 (1Si-9i) Holland
18. Match-Tournament of
five grandmasters 1948 The Hague,
1) Botvinnik 14 ( + 10 -2 =8) Moscow
2} Smyslov 11 (2-3 against Botvinnik)
3-4) Keres 10T (1-4 against Botvinnik)
3-4) Reshevsky IOJ (1^-3-j against Botvinnik)
5) Euwe 4 (1^-35 against Botvinnik)
19. Botvinnlk-Bronstein 1951 + 5 - 5 = 1 4 • •"•
12-12) Moscow
20. Botvinnik-Smyslov 1954 + 7 - 7 =10 (12-12) Moscow
21. Smyslov-Botvinnik 1957 + 6 - 3 13 (12^-9Jj) Moscow
22. Botvinnik-Smyslov 19SQ + 7 -5 =11 ilzl-10) Moscow
23. Tal-Bolvinnik 1960 + 6 -2 =13 |12j-Bi> Moscow
24. 8otvinnik-Tal 1961 + 10 - 5 =6 (13-8) Moscow
25. Petroslan-Botvinnik 1963 + 5 -2 =15 ( 1 2 i - E . . Moscow
26. Petrosian-Spassky 1966 + 4 -3 =17 (125-11?) Moscow
27. Spassky-Petr-osian 1969 + 6 - 4 =13 ( 1 2 i - 1 0 | ) Moscow
1972 R e y yj
kjavik
26. Fischer-Spassky + 7 - 3 =11 i ^
1978 + 6 - 5 =21 ( 1 6 j - 1 5 i ) Baguio
29. Karpov-Korchnoi
1981
30. Karpov-Korchnoi
cient f o r Schlechter to g a i n 5^ points out of 10. But we nevertheless

adhere to the generally-accepted point of view, which is t h a t , f i r s t l y .
the chess crown was being played f o r i n the match, and t h a t , secondly,
the c h a l l e n g e r h a d to w i n by a margin of two p o i n t s .
After the death of Alekhine In 1946, the chess w o r l d was, f o r t h e
f i r s t time, without a champion. For this reason, under number IB i n
the lable there appears a match-tournament, i n which the strongest
grandmasters of that time determined their new leader. A l l subsequent
matches have been held under the aegis of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Chess
Federation (F IDE), a n d the World Champion has been d e p r i v e d of the
P o s s i b i l i t y of himself choosing h i s opponents. From t h i s point onwards
a s t r i c t system of e l i m i n a t i o n events every three years determines a new
chal lenger. Since then, f o r almost t h i r t y y e a r s , matches were held on
'he best of 24 games. At the same time, i n the f i r s t four cycles t h e
World Champion h a d the r i g h t to a / f ^ t u r n match, and f o r t h i s reason
two 'additional ' matches were played. In the table the year 5975 is
'missing 1 , since it was in this year that Fischer declined to defend his
title- Of course, the Karpov-Korchnoi match of 1974, although In the
end it gave the name of the new World Champion, is not included in
our table — the winner of it could not have supposed that within a
year the chess crown would be passed on to him without a struggle.
In the 1978 match, as in the present one, the system employed has
been different from the earlier one — play now proceeds up to six wins
without limit on the number of games. In contrast to the Alekhine-
Capablanca duel, with the score at 5-S the Champion does not retain
his t i t l e , and the battle continues. In the event of the loss of his
crown, he has the right to a return match. Certain chess enthusiasts
assume that this right is considerably more important for the World
Champion than a reserve of one point in 'normal time'. However, as
we will see, this is not altogether so. If the match in Baguio had
been held under the old system, as Alekhine and Capablanca Rlayed
half a century ago, it would all have been over without any trouble a
who's five games e a r l i e r ! Indeed, after the World Champion gained his
f i f t h victory in the 27th game, and the score became 5-2, the battle
would in fact have come to an end!
batches for the World Championship are undoubtedly highly impor-

tant chess events. In the course of their preparations, and during
the match itself, the participants make us of all the latest achievements
of chess science and theory. On the other hand, the matches themselves
exert an enormous influence on the subsequent development of chess
a r t , and, one can say, chess phi losophy. The I i terature devoted to
the majority of the matches is both numerous ana thorough, and it is
1
obvious that in one ' letter of our book it is impossible to dwell on
all the reversals of fortune in the battle for tne world crown. We have
therefore decided to illustrate each Match for the World Championship
with just one extract from the play (with brief annotations, which do
not pretend to be complete). This will be either a spectacular combin-
ation, or an unexpected tactical blow, or some dramatic episode from
the match. It has to be saifl that the realization of this aim proved
to be not at all easy. Sometimes, in choosing one single example out
of the twenty to t h i r t y games in a match, our eyes became dazzled... .
We should mention that, altogether in matches for the World Champion-
ship, more than 600 games have been played, and even a cur-sory
examination of them took us a mass of time (although it also afforded
us considerable pleasure).
And so, we invite the reader to make a short excursion into the
history of competitions for the World Championship. . •
1. Steinitz-Zukertort
Steini\z was unofficially recognized as the strongest player in the

world in 1866 after his victory over Anderssen. Now, twenty years
later, after winning a match against his outstanding contemporary
Zukertort, 5teinit7 was declared the f i r s l official World Champion in
history.
After five games the future king was losing 1-4, but he then
succeeded in changing the course of events, and gained nine wins with
one one defeat. We give the conclusion of the penultimate game of the
match, highly energetically conducted by the f i r s t chess k i n g .
7th Letter — Before the 30th Match for the World Championship
Zukeriort-Steini tz
20 . . . Nd4! (threatening ...Nc2 or ...Ne2) 21 exd4 Qxd4+ 22 Khi

^3 Black has sacrificed a knight, but his pawns are irresistible.
23 Hc3 Bf6! 24 Ndbi d2! 25 Qc2 Bb3 26 Qxf5 d1=Q 27 Nxdi Bxdl"
28 Nc3 e2 29 Raxdi Qxc3 White resigns.
•' 2. Steinilz-ChigorTn ' ' ' •
While Stein i tz is r i g h t l y considered the founder of the positional

school of ptay, ChigoHn was an acknowledged master of the combin-
ational style. Thus the match between these two leading I ights of the
past was in the nature of a crucial creative debate. In the entire
history of the battle for the world crown there has not been such a
'bloody' match — only the last game In it ended peaceful l y . The
approach to chess worked out by Steinltz triumphed, and the Champ iorj
retained his t i t l e .
Stei ni tz-Chigorin
In the opening of the fourth game Black has committed several

Positional errors, and 5teinitz skilfully exploits them: 9 d5! exd5
10 a 3 ! Nd4 (fatal is 1O...Bxc3 !1 Bxc3 and Bxg.7, or 10. . .Bd6 11 Nxd5
n
c5 12 Be3 Qa5+ 13 b4) 11 Bd3 0-0-0 12 axb4 Nxf3+ 13 Qxf3! Qxa1 +
14 Ke2 Qxb2 15 Rbl Qa3 16 Nb5 Qa6 17 Qxf7 Qb6 IS Rc1 Nh6
19 Qxg7 dxe4 20 Qxc7+ Qxc7 21 Rxc7+ Kb8 22 Bxe4 Resigns.
3. Steinltz-Gunsberg
At the end of the 1880s Gonsberg won a series of major tournaments,
played a drawn match with Chigorin. This gave him the grounds
"°r throwing down the gauntlet to the Champion. Although Steinitz did
n
° t achieve a big advantage in points, he retained his t i t l e f a i r l y
confidently.
L
Here is how the seventh game of the match concluded.
Slei ni tz-Gunsberg
22 Rxf6! gxf6 (on 22...Qxf6 White wins by 23 d7 Red8 24 QxaB!

RxaS 25 Rc8+ QdS 36 Rxa8 ClxaS 27 Be7) 23 d7 RgB 24 dxe5 RgS
{24...fxe5 25 Bb2l 25 Qxa8! QxaS 26 Rc8+ Rg8 27 Rxa8 Rxa8 28 e6
Resigns.
4. Steinitz-Chigorin
The second match between the World Champion and the great Russian
player was much tenser than the f i r s t . After 23 games Steinitz was one
point ahead, but in the event of Chigorln winning the next game the
score would have become 9-9, whereupon, under the conditions of the
match, play would have continued up to a further three wins, and
everything would have been to play for. But a tragic incident
occurred, the equal of which is unknown In the history of Chess.
Chi gor in-Steinitz
White is a piece up, and after 32 Rxb7 (fol lowed by 32. . .Bti5
33 Rb3 Bf7 34 Nf4!, or 3 2 . . . f 4 33 Rxf4+ Bf5 34 Rfl Rxd5 35 Ng7!,
or 32...h3 33 Bf4 Rf2 34 Bg5+L Ke5 35 Rel+ Rde2 36 Rxe2+) he
would have won this decisive game. But White played the inconceivable
32 Bb4??, and after 32-..RxhZ+ the match concluded (33 Kg! Rdg2 mate).
5. Lasker-Steinitz
Emanuel Lasker, the founder of the psychological approach to the

chess struggle, was 32 years younger than his great predecessor, and
this age difference proved too great in their match. On losing the
match, Steinitz proclaimed 'three cheers' in honour of the second World
Champion.
7th Letter - Before (he 30th Match for the World Championship 83
Lasker-Stein itz
This is a position from the seventh game of the match. From the
opening Black gained an enormous advantage, and in spite of his
opponent's desperate efforts to confuse matters, the situation remained
unchanged. Had he now advanced his Q-side pawns (35 Qh6 is not
dangerous in view of 35...Rg3) Steinitz could have won and taken Che
lead. But his nerves gave way, with his next move he made a decisive
mistake, and he soon resigned the game — the f i r s t of a series of f i v e
defeats.
35 . . . gxf5? 35 Qh5+ Ke7 36 Rg8 Kd6 37 Rxf5 Qe6 38 RxeB Qxefl
39 Rxf6+ Kc5 40 Qh6 Re7 41 Qh2 Qd7 (41...Qd8 42 Qf2+ and 43 Rf6)
42 Qg1 + d4 43 Gg5+ Qd5 44 Rf5 Qxf5 45 Qxf5+ Kd6 46 Qf6+ Resigns.
6. Lasker-Steinltz
The f i r s t chess k i n g was quite unable to reconcile himself to ihe

fact that he had been removed from the throne, and he chal lenged
Lasker to a return match. In a l l the subsequent history of battles for
the World Championship, there has not been an instance where a player
of over 60 has taken p a r t . Steinitz suffered a crushing defeat. An
interesting fact is that this match was held in Moscow, whi le the next
event of such high rank took place in our capital only more than half
a century later.
In the second s a m e from the match Lasker carried out a famous
mating combination.
Lasker-Steini tz
31 h.4 h5 (the capture of the bishop at f4 leads to a quick mate

after Nf6+) 32 Bg5 Bd8 33 g4! hxg4 34 h5 Nf8 35 Nec5+! dxc5
36 Nxc5+ Kd6 (after 36...Kc7, 37 Bxe7 Bxe7 38 Rxe7+ Kb6 39 Rxg7 is
sufficient to win, but now follows e forced mate) 37 Bf4+ Kd5 38 Re5+
Kc4 (38...Kd6 39 F)f5 mate; 38...Kxd4 39 R1e4 mate) 29 Rc1+ Kxd4
f39...Kb4 40 Bd2 mate) 40 Nb3+ Kd3 41 Re3 male. The concluding
mating formation is most spectacular.
7. Lasker-MarshaM
Ten years a f t e r his second v i c t o r y over 5 t e i n l t 7 , the World Champion

p l a y e d a new match f o r the World C h a m p i o n s h i p . His a d v a n t a g e was
u n d i s p u t e d , ana he r e t a i n e d his t i t l e without d i f f i c u l t y .
Here is the conclusion of the t h i r d game of the m a t c h .
Marshal I-Lasker ' - '•'• •'••'
3 8 . . .Nf3! 38 g x f 3 Qxh3+ 39 K g ! Qg3+ 40 K M RfS 41 Qd8+?

(correct was 41 Qh5 Rh4+ itZ Q x h i l 41...Kh7 42 Bfi? (the f i n a l m i s -
take; there were s t i l l d r a w i n g chances a f t e r 42 Rc2 Rh4+ 43 Qxh4
Qxh4+ 44 Kg2) 42...Rf5I Now mate is i n e v i t a b l e (43 Qe8 Qh4*
44 Kg2 RgS mate), a n d White resigned.
B. Losker-Tarrasch
For many years grandmaster Tarrasch was a creative opponent of
Lasker. He sought absolute truth in chess, whereas Lasker would aim
lo find the key to each of his opponents. He was also able easily to
disarm Tarrasch... . It should be said that the match between these
two outstanding players provoked unprecedented interest for that time.
There was an elegant conclusion to the second game of the match.
Tarrasch-Lasker
40 . . . f 3 ! (4O...Bf2 41 Rxe6 Rxe6 42 Qd7+ would have led to

perpetual check) 41 gxf3 Bg5 (now 42 Bxe6 Rxe6 43 Q67+ f a i l s to draw
due to 43...Re7) White resigns.
7th Letter — Before Ihe 30th Match for the World Championship 85
9. Lasker-Janowski
In 1909 Janowski drew a demonstration match of four games with

Lasker. This success provided the grounds for challenging Lasker to a
match for the World Championship. However, the match brought
Janowski nothing but disillusionment.
Janowski-Lasker
White's position (from the second game of the match! appears solid,
but as a result of a subtle knight manoeuvre Black's advantage
becomes decisive: 24...Ng7! 25 c3 (despite its unaesthetic appearance,
25 d5 was more tenacious) 25...Ne6 26 Bfi (the threat was ...Ng5}
26...f5 27 R4g2 Rf6! 28 Bd3 g5! 29 Rht (Janowski could have immort-
alized this position in the event of 29 exf5 Qxh3+!! 30 Kxh3 Rh6+
31 Kg4 Rh4 mate) 29...g4! 30 Be2 Ng5 (not wishing lo lose his queen
after 30...Qxh3 31 Kgl ) 31 fxg4 f3 32 Rg3 fxe2 White resigns.
10. Lasker-Schlechter
Initially it was planned that this match would consist of t h i r t y

games, but due to lack of funds it had lo be restricted to ten. Appar-
ently, taking account of the shori distance, Lasker set the condition
that, for overall v i c t o r y , the challenger needed an advantage of two
points. Before the last game Schlechter was leading by one point, and
he was also close to victory in the concluding encounter... . As
promised, we give (with brief comments) the tenth, decisive game of
this match.
Lasker-Schlechter
Slav Defence
1 d4 dS 2 c* c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 g6 (this opening set-up now

bears the name of the Schlechter Defence) 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Bd3 0-0 7 Qc2
Na6 8 a3 dxc4 9 Bxc4 b5 10 Bd3 b4 I I Na4 bxa3 12 bxa3 (not
12 0.xc6 Nb4 13 Qxa8 Nxd3+ 14 Ke2 Nxc1 + 15 R h x d Ba6+, or 14 Kd2
Nxf2, with a winning position for Black) 12...Bb7 13 Rb1 Oc7 14 Ne5
Nh5 (White has played the opening q u i e t l y , and has a clear advantage;
Schlechter tries to complicate the game) 15 g4 (Lasker f a l l s In with
his opponent's wishes; the simple 15 0-0 would have retained for him
= persistent advantage) 15...Bxe5 16 gxh5 Bg7 17 hxg6 hxg6
18 Qc4 Bc8 19 Rgi (with the threat of Rxg6) 19...0a5+ 20 Bd2 Qd5
21 Rcl Bb7 22 Oc2. A draw in the game would have retained for
Lasker his Champion's t i t l e , although he would have lost the matchl
"e is obliged to play f ° r a win on prestige grounds, otherwise it is
d i f f i c u l t to explain why tie avoids the exchange of queens, after which
he certainly did not risk losing.

22-..Qh5 23 Bxg6? (provoked by anxiety, this opening of the f - f i l e
Is In Black's favour; later the World Champion gave this v a r i a t i o n :
23 Rbi Qxh2 24 Rf 1 Qc? 25 6x96! fxg6 26 Qb3+, with a clear advan-
tage to White) 23...Qxh2 24 Rfl fxg6 25 Ob3+ Rf7 26 Qxb7 RafB!
(in is reply was presumably overlooked by White; the capture of the
knight is decisively met by ...Rxf2) 27 Qb3 Kh8 28 f4 g5! 29 Qd3
gxf4 30 exH QhA+ 31 Ke2 Qh2+ 32 Rf2 Qh5+ 33 Rf3 Nc7 34 Rxc6
Nb5! 35 Rc4.
Lasker-Schlechter " " '•-•(••' '• '•• •"
The c r i t i c a l position of this historic game. After 35...Rd8 36 Be3

e5! 37 d5 Nd6!, or 37 Rc5 Nxd4+ 38 Bxd4 (38 0xd4 Qxf3+| 38...Rxf4
Black would have retained every chance of winning;. Schlechter
unexpectedly sacrifices the exchange, losing his last chance to become
the t h i r d Champion of the World.
35...Rxf4? 36 Bxf4 Rxf4 37 Rc&+ BfB 38 Kf2! Qh2+ (after 3 6 . . .
Qh4+ 39 Kg2 Qg4+ 40 Rg3 Qxc8 41 Qg6 the black k i n g Is mated)
39 Kei Qhl-v? (Black no longer had a w i n , but now he also misses a
draw, which could have been attained by 39...Oh4+ 40 Kd2 Qh2+
41 Ke3 Rxf3+ 42 Kxf3 Qh3+ 43 Ke2 Qxc8) 40 Rfl Qh4+ 41 Kd2 Rxfi
A2 Qxfi Qxd4+ 43 Qd3 0f2+ 44 Kdi Nd6 45 Rc5.
The remainder of the game involves White r e a l i z i n g h i s advantage of
the exchange. Lasker copes successfully with this problem, and levels
the score in the match.
45...Bh6 46 Rd5 Kg8 47 Nc5 0g1+ 48 Kc2 Qcl+ 49 Kb3 Bg7
50 Ne6 Ob2+ 51 Ka4 Kf7 52 Nxg7 Qxg7 S3 Qb3! Ke8 54 Qb8+ Kf7
55 Qxa7 Qg4+ 56 Qd4 Qd7+ 57 Kb3 Qb7+ 58 Ka2 Qc6 59 0d3 Ke6
60 Rg5 Kd7 61 Re5 Qg2+ 62 Re2 Qg4 63 Rd2 Qa4 64 Qf5+ Kc7 65 Qc2+
Qxc2 66 Rxc2+ Kb6 67 Re2 Nc8 68 Kb3 Kc6 69 Rc2+ Kb? 70 Kb4 Na7
71 Kc5 Resigns.
11. Lasker-JanowskI
The defeat in his first attempt did not convince Janowski of the
f u t i l i t y of his hopes, and he challenged Lasker to a new match. On
this occasion the World Champion's victory was even more impressive.
The following position, taken from the f i f t h game of the match, Is
sometimes cited as an Illustration of Lasker's psychological method. He
often chose continuations which were r i s k y , and objectively not the
best, but in doing so took account of the fact that they would not be
to the l i k i n g of that particular opponent.
7th Lelter - Before the 30th Match for (he World Championship 87
11
L ask er-Ja n o w sk 1
Black has a marked advantage, and after the fine queen sacrifice
17.. .Qxc3+! 18 Nxc3 Nxd4! he would have obtained for it sufficient
compensation, and, in addition, a very dangerous attack. But
Janowski displays indecision, and the game concludes quite differently.
17...Bh4+? 18 g3 Qe4 19 0-0 Bf6 20 Rxf6! Now Black's position
is already c r i t i c a l . 2O...gxf6 21 Bf3 Qe5 22 Nxa7+ Kc7 23 Naxc6
bxc6 24 Rxc6+ KbB 25 Rb6+ Kc8 26 Qc14 Kd7 27 Nxe6 fxe6 28 Rb7+
Ke8 29 Bc6+ Resigns.
12. Capablanca-Lasker
Emanuel Lasker was Champion of the World for 27 years! In our

stormy times, when there are so many wishing to ascend to the chess
throne, it is d i f f i c u l t to imagine that anyone w i l l even approach this
record. Capablanca challenged Lasker to a match as far back as 1911.
The unbeaten champion, possibly sensing that the lime had come to
concede Ihe crown, for ten years avoided meeting the great Cuban, and
then even announced his abdication. But the chess world was thirsting
for a spectacle. Although subsequently Lasker had several outstanding
results, this last match went badly for him. Without playing on to the
stipulated ten wins, he resigned the match on account of illness.
Capablanca became the t h i r d Champion of ihe World.
Evidence of Lasker's poor form is provided by the conclusion of the
f i f t h game, in which he suffered his f i r s t defeat.
Cepablanca-Lasker
Having successfully conducted a d i f f i c u l t defence, Black coulO now

have drawn easily by playing ...Ke6 or- . . . K f 6 . But there followed
*5...Kf8??, and after 46 Qba*-! Lasker resigned (A6...Kg7 47 QhB+, or
46...Ke7 kl Qe5+).
13. Alekhine-Capablanca
The encounter between the two chess genii Aiekhine and Capablanca
is to this day regarded as the most outstanding event in the history of
chess. In the struggle for the world crown there has never been a
match more prolonged (34 games!), or more tense (32 exhausting
Queen's Gambits! ). But, most important, this duel saw the meeting of
two chess giants, at the height of their powers. The i n v i n c i b l e Jose
Raul Capablanca with his phenomenal technique, which enabled him to
express the hypothesis aboul 'the drawing death of chess', and the
great master of combination Alexander Alekhine, who with his irrepres-
sible fantasy refuted this hypothesis! By gaining the six necessary
victories in the match, Aiekhine not only became the fourth chess k i n g ,
but also demonstrated to the world the inexhaustible nature of chess.
We give the conclusion to the 21st game of this historic match.
•: (-•• * n • >:. <*••
Capablanca-Alekhlne
\
26.. .Bb2! The start of an unusual and s u r p r i s i n g combination.
11 turns out that the white rook has no good square. 27 Rei (27 Rbi
Na3! 28 Qxb2 Nxbl 29 Qxbi Qb3! 30 Ofi bxa4 31 h3 a3, etc., or
27 Rdl bxa4! 28 Clxa4 Nb6 29 Rxd5 Nxa4 30 Rdl Nc3 31 Rel Rc4,
with a winning position) 27...Rd8 28 axbS axb5 29 h3 e5 30 Rb1 e4
31 Nd4 (no better is 31 Nh2 Qd3! 32 RxbZ Qxb3 33 Rxb3 Rd1+ 34 Nf1
NdZ 35 Ra3 Nxfi - v a r i a t i o n by Lasker, or 31 Nei Qd2 32 Qc2 Oxc2
33 Nxc2 Rd2 34 Nei Na3 - v a r i a t i o n by Aiekhine) 31 . . .Bxd4 32 Rd1
Nxe3! A spectacular concluding blow. White resigns, in view of the
v a r i a t i o n 33 Qxd5 Rxd5 3ft Rxd4 Rxd4 35 fxe3 Rxb4.
14. Alekhine-Bogoljubov
Alekhine's f i r s t match as Champion was against Ewfim Bogoljubov.
At that time Aiekhine had no equals in the chess world, a fact which
was confirmed in the present encounter. The eighth game of the match
ended in a pure mate.
Bogo I j ubo v -A I ek h i ne
7th Letler - Before the 30th Match for the World Championship 89
26...Ng3+! 27 hxg3 hxg3+ 28 Nh3 Bxh3 29 gxh3 Rxh3+ 30 Kg2

Bh2 mate.
15. Alekhine-Bogoljubov
The repeat match between the same opponents differed l i t t l e from

the previous one. Alekhine's advantage was again undisputed, and he
retained his t i tie. We give an episode from the sixteenth game.
Alekhine-Bogol jubov • ' :•
With his last move 29.. .Rh8-g8 Black decided to drive away the
knight (correct was 29...Ng5 with a complicated game), but the knight
remains a! its post... .
30 e6!! (a beautiful combination, which refutes 8lack's manoeuvre)
3O...Rdxg7 31 Nxg7 Rxg7 32 Rxd5! (a further spectacular blow, on
which the entire combination is based) 32...cxdS 33 Rf8+ Kc7 34 Rf7+
Kd6 lales, after the exchange of rooks the white pawn queens) 35 Rxg7
Kxe6 36 Rg6+ Ke5 37 Kg2 b5 3S a5! d4 39 Rxa6 b4 40 Kf3 c3
41 bxc3 bxc3 42 Re6+! (a highly prosaic finish) 42...Kxe6 43 Kxe4
Resigns.
16. Euwe-Aiekhine
In his meeting with the Dutch player, Alekhine clearly under-

estimated his opponent, and as a result lost his crown for two years.
Max Euwe became the f i f t h World Champion in history. The phase of
the match between the 20th and 26th games went well for him — four
wins and three draws! Here is how the f i r s t of these wins was
achieved.
Euwe-Aiekhine
I
18 Ng5! fxgS (!8...Bf5 19 Qb3-<- Kh8 20 Bxe5 Qxe5 21 Nf7+, and
so that the game should not conclude with the combination described by
us in the third ' letter 1 , Black is forced to give up the exchange)
19 Bxe5 Bf6 20 Bxb8 Bxc3 21 Bd6 Rf7 22 bxc3 Rfd7 23 Rbl Rxd6
24 Rxb7 R8d7 25 Rxd7 Bxd7 26 Be4 c5 27 c4 Bxa4 28 Bd5+ Kf8
29 Rai Ra6 30 Ra2 Ke7 31 fU g x f i 32 gxf4 Kf6 33 e4 g5 3A f5 h5
35 h4! g xh4 36 KhZ Kg5 37 Kh3 Ra5 38 Bb7 Kf6 39 Bd5 Kg5 40 Bb7
Kf6 41 Bc6 Resigns.
17. Alekhine-Euwe
The return match, which took place two years later, ended in a
convincing victory for the great Russian player. Alekhine played in
his best style and easily regained his crown. The sixth game d i d not
last long.
Alekhine-Euwe
Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 e4 e5 S Bxc4 exd4. This v a r i -

ation does not promise White a great deal, but Alekhine was obviously
pinning his hopes on the following stunning continuation: 6 Nf3!?
Alfikhine-Euwe
5uch positions aê normally encountered in simultaneous displays...
Subsequently, in a book on this match, Botvinnik showed that the
knight sacrifice was incorrect: 6.. .dxc3 7 Bxf7+ Ke7 8 Qb3 cxb2!
9 Bxb2 Ob6! 10 Ba3+ (10 Bxg8 Rxg8 11 0xg8 Qbft+ 12 Nd2 Qxb2)
10. ..c5 11 BxgB RxgS 12 Bxc5+ (12 Q«g8 Qa5->- 13 Nd£ Qxa3) 1 2 . . .
Qxc5 13 0-0 Qh5! (13...Rh6? 14 Raci Qb6 15 RKc8 Qxb3 16 axb3 36
17 Rfd1 and 18 Rdd8) U GxgS Be6 IS QhB Nc6, and Black has a won
position. Of course, to examine a l l these variations at the board was
not easy, and Euwe decided not to accept the knight sacrifice.
6...b5? 7 Nxb5 Ba6 (evidently the Dutch grandmaster had over-
looked that on 7...cxb5 there follows B BdS) 8 Qb3 Qe7 9 0-0 BxbS
10 Bxb5 Nf6 11 Bc4 Nbd7 12 Nxd4. This White has an extra pawn and
a positional advantage; Black's further resistance Is hopeless. 12.. -
Rb8 13 0c2 Qc5 14 Nf5 Ne5 15 Bf4 Nh5 16 8xf7+ Kxf7 17 Qxc5 Bxc5
IB Bxe5 Rb5 19 Bd6 Bb6 20 b4 Rd9 21 Radi c5 22 6xc5 Bxc5
23 Rd5 Resigns.
18. The match-tournament of five grandmasters

In the mid-forties Mikhail Botvinnik was considered one of Alek-
hine's most worthy opponents. In fact, there had already been Orelim-
?th Letter — Before Ihe 30th Match for the World Championshio 91
(nary negotiations between them about a match for the World Champion-
ship- However, Alekhine's dealh deprived the chess world of a most
Interesting encounter. Now Botvinnik had to demonstrate that the
discussion about a match had been no accident. By convincingly
g i n n i n g , by a margin of three points, the match-tournament of the
five strongest grandmasters, he became the f i r s t Soviet, and sixth
overall, Champion of the Wortd.
The following game took place in the tenth round, when a l l was not
yet clear1 — in the event of a win for Keres he would have caught up
with Botvinnik and shared the leadership with him. But by gaining
a spectacular victory, Botvinnik hurled a long way back one of his
main r i v a l s .
Botvinnik-Keres
21 Rxg7+! The black king finds itself in a mating net. 2I...Kxg7

22 Nh5+ Kg6 23 Qe3 Resigns.
19. Botvinnik-Bronstein
Having shown that he was Ihe strongest player in the world,

Botvinnik gave up chess for three years, and devoted himself entirely
to science — in that time he completed work on his Doctor's dissertation
and defended it immediately a f t e r the match. This ' b e t r a y a l ' of chess
could have cost him d e a r l y . i n the f i r s t match held under the control
of FIDE, David Bronstein played splendidly, was in no way inferior to
nis opponent, and with only a I i ttle bit of luck would have ascended
the chess throne.
An episode which occurred i n the sixth game of the match once
again illustrates the unusual geometry of the chess b o a r d . . . .
Bronstei n-Botvinnik
In this position White can e a s i l y draw by 57 Ne6+ and 58 Nd&. To

on the safe side, Bronstein decided to b r i n g up his king towards
the dangerous pawn, and went 57 Kc2. Of course, the grandmaster saw
the possibility of the black king appearing at f2, but considered only
the direct route Kf4-f3-f2, t h i n k i n g that here too he would have lime to
play Ne6 and Nd4+ with a draw. How dumbfounded he must have been
when the enemy king did indeed set off for the square f2, but not by
the direct route (as we established in the f i r s t ' l e t t e r ' , the shortest
distance on the board is not necessarily measured in a straight l i n e ! ) .
After S7...Kg3!! White had to resign, since it turned out that the e3
pawn could not be slopped: on 58 Ne6 there follows 58. • .e2, and the
white knight moves to d4 without check (59 Kd2 K f 2 ! ) .
20. Botvirtnik-Smyslov
This was the third and, as yet, the last match for the World
Championship to end in a draw. In the f i r s t half of i t strange things
happened, and the score changed 'sinusoidally' . First Botvinnik won
three games out of four, with one draw. Two further draws, and the
score became 4 ^ - 1 ^ in his favour. But in the next five meetings the
World Champion g a i n e d . . . half a point, and Smyslov shot into the lead
— 6-5. A win in the 12th game, the conclusion of which we give
below, enabled Botvinnik to level the scores, after which he never
again fell behind. The second half of the match, like the f i r s t , ended
in a draw, and the World Champion retained his t i t l e .
Botv inn ik-5myslov
The black knight has just moved from c5, and after the capture by
the white pawn on f6 — 30 exf6 and the zwischenzug 3O...Ne4 Smyslov
was apparently feel ing highly optimistic. Indeed, after the retreat of
the queen — 31 Qg2 there fol lows 31 . . . Nxf6, and White's position is
lost, since all his pawns are hopelessly weak.
31 f7+! An unpleasant sur-prise. White wins thanks to geometric
motifs. The pawn cannot be taken by the king because of Qxg7+
(intersection of the seventh rank and the g-f i l e ! ) , while on 3 1 . . -Rxf7,
as in fact occurred in the game, there followed 32 Qd8+- Kh7 33 Bxd5
f interseciion of the d-file and the a2-gS diagonal!) 33.. .Nf2+- 34 Kg2
Qf6 35 Qwf6 Rxf6 36 Kxf2 Rxf5+ 37 B13 Rf4 38 Rgft, and Black
resigned. •>
21. Smyfilov-Botvinnik
The 1950s were marked by the r i v a l r y between Mikhail Botvinnik
and Vastly Stnyslov. While in the f i r s t match the challenger had to be
satisfied with an honourable draw, in the next cycle he succeeded in
ascending to the summit. After five games Botvinnik was ahead. After
7th Letter - Before the 30th Match for the World Championship 93
ing the score in the sixth encounter, the f i n i s h of which we glue

below, Smyslov never again fell behind, but merely increased his
advantage. As a result he became the seventh World Champion in the
history of chess.
Smyslov-Botvinnik
23 Rxd5! A spectacular continuation, which immediately decides the

outcome of the game. 23...exd5 (23...Rxd5 24 Nxc7 Rc5+ 25 k b i ,
with the deadly threat of Na6) 24 Nxc7 RdcB 25 BxcS Rxc8 26 Nxd5
Rxc6+ 27 Kd2 Ke6 28 Nc3 Resigns.
22. Botvinnik-Smyslov
Botvlnnlk prepared splendidly for- the return match, and confidently

regained his crown. The match began wilh three successive wins for
Botvlnnik, and by the fifteenth game the score could have been 10-5.
Botvlnnik '3 position was much superior, and any sensible move would
have retained his advantage. The grandmaster sank into thought, so
as to work out the winning plan right to the end. One can imagine
Botvinnik's surprise, when the controller came up to the board and
announced that Black had lost on time. The only instance of this type
in the entire history of matches for the World Championship!
Botvl nn ik-Smyslov
This position was reached In the eighteenth game of the match.

The mating r i n g round the black king Is about to close. However,
Wtitte converted his advantage into a win only ...50 moves later
(what's more, 'on the way' he himself could have been mated!).
Nevertheless, ihe f i r s t impression of the position is not erroneous -
™hite had at his disposal a striking combination, which, alas,
remained behind the scenes: 23 Nd4!! cxd4 (no better is 23...Nxd4
2
* Bd5+! Rxd5 25 Re7 Rf7 26 Re8+) 24 Bd5+! Rxd5 (Z4...KhB 25 Re7)
25 R E 8 ! , and mate is inevitable.
hit
96 Sever Chess Letters
23. Tal-Botvinnik
In the late 1950s and early sixties, Mikhail Tal, with his Incon-
ceivable combinations, caused trepidation among even the most stead-
fast of grandmasters. He surmounted the path from master to World
Champion in three years! By winning the match against Botvlnnik,
the 23*-year-old Tal became the youngest chess king in history, In
combinational storms he was clearly superior to his mighty opponent. A
tactical blow brought him victory in the 17th, the decisive game of the
match, after which i I became clear that the chess world would soon
receive a new Champion, the eighth.
Tal-Botvinnik
Black has a marked advantage, which he could have maintained by

39...Ka8. But time trouble stepped In: 39.. .Qd5? 40 Rxa6-t! Kb8 (the
accentance of the rook sacrifice lands to mate) 41 Qa4, and Black was
forced to resign, since there is no defence against the mating threats.
Ik. Botvinnik-Tal . p • . . ,. .•
B o l v i n n i k a g a i n d i s p l a y e d his a b i l i t y to f i n d the ' A c h i l l e s h e e l ' in

h i s oponents' p l a y . After deeply a n a l y z i n g the reasons for h i s f a i l u r e
in the p r e v i o u s match, he s u r p r i s i n g l y e a s i l y regained the chess c r o w n .
Here is the f i n a l scene of the c o n c l u d i n g , 21st encounter.
Botvi nnik-Tal
28 Ne4! Nd7 (28.. .Nxe'. 29 Ba4+!> 29 Nxd&f Kd8 30 RxfB+ NxfB

31 Nxe4 Bd7 32 Rf7 Kc7 33 d6+ Resigns.
25. Petrosian-Botvinnik
At the height of his powers, i.e. in the mid 1960s, Tigrsn Petrosian
7th Letter — Before the 30th Match for the World Championship 95
was a great master of defence, an almost invincible player. Journalists

conferred upon him the title of 'the iron t i g e r ' . In the f i r s t game he
was unable to control his nerves, and suffered a defeat. But in the
subsequent games Petrosian only once had to stop the clocks, while he
gained f i v e wins over his celebrated opponent. Me became the ninth
Champion of the World. This was the last match played by Mikhail
Botvlnnik, the Patriarch of Soviet chess. The right lo a return match
had been abolished, and Botvinnlk did not wish to begin 'from
1
scratch'. Here is an 'excerpt from the 18th game.
Botvinnik-Petrosian
Black elegantly realizes his positional advantage: 51. ..c3+!

52 Kxc3 (52 Kci can be well answered by 52...Nxg4! 53 hxg4 h3)
52...Rc7« 53 Kd2 Nec4+ 54 Kdi Na3! 55 Rb2 Ndc4 56 Ra2 axbA
57 axb5 NxbS 56 Ra6 Nc3+ 59 Kef Nxd5 60 Ba4 Rec8 61 Net Nf4 (now
62 Rh2 Is decisively met by 62...Re7 63 Nc2 Nd3+ 64 Kbi Nc5) White
resigns.
26. Petrosian-Spassky
In his fourth cycle of battling for the world crown, Spassky
succeeded, at last, in reaching a meeting with ihe World Champion.
However, his hour had not yet come. Petrosian played more strongly
and more subtly, did not once fall behind on points, and f a i r l y con-
fidently retained his t i t l e .
In the tenth game the World Champion carried out a most striking
combination, which has gone into a l l ihe books on chess tactics.
Petrosian-Soassky
Well known is Petrosian's predilection for sacrificing the exchange
for the initiative. On this occasion, as you can see, both rooks have
been given up for minor pieces.
27 Nxdfi Qg5+ 28 KM Raa7 29 Bxf7+ Rxf7. Now White could have
regained the second exchange by 30 Nxf7, remaining a pawn up, but

this would have prolonged the game. 30 QhB+!! This would seem to be
the longest move In, matches for the World Championship! White sacri-
fices his queen — an unusual occurrence for an event of such high
rank. Black immediately resigned, since after 30.. .KxhB 31 Nxf7+ and
32 Nxg5 he comes out a piece down.
27. Spassky-Petrosian
In. 1954, as a seventeen-year-old youth, Boris Spassky first p a r t i -

cipated in a zonal elimination tournament for the World Championship.
In this cycle, 'without stopping', he went through into the Candidates'
Tournament. But then came two dramatic failures (about which we have
already talked in the previous ' l e t t e r ' ) . The fourth attempt proved to
be 'more successful', but Spassky's dream was s t i l l not realized. And
now, at last, the fifteen-year titanic struggle for the world crown
brought the grandmaster complete success. By defeating Petrosian In a
match, Boris Spassky became the tenth Champion of the World.
There was a spectacular finish to the nineteenth game of the match.
Spassky-Petrosi an
21 e5! (vacating a square for the knight at c3) 21...dxe5 22 Ne4!

Nh5 (both knights are invulnerable: 22...exd4 23 Nxf6 Re7 24 Qg6,
or 22.. . Nxe4 23 RstfB+, and !n both cases the black king is mated on
the following move! 23 Qg6! exd4 ( 2 3 . . . N U 24 Rxf4 exf4 25 Nf3! Ob6
26 RgS! Qd8 27 Ne5, and White wins) 24 Ng5!, and Black resigned,
since after 24...hxg5 25 dxh5+ Kg8 26 Qf7i- Kh8 27 Rf3 mate is
inevitable.
28. Fischer-Spassky
In the early '970s the American grandmaster Robert Fischer startled

the world with his fantastic victories, and the chess world considered
the b i r t h of the eleventh Champion to be a f i t t i n g occurrence. Unfort-
unately, after the match with Spassky, bitter disappointment awaited
supporters of the ancient game — the new king abandoned chess...
Fischer's superiority was appreciable, but to be f a i r it must be men-
tioned that the American made a number of psychological attacks on his
opponent, and not only at Ihe chess b o a r d . . . . This was clearly
reflected in Spassky's p l a y . Here is an episode from the f i f t h game of
the match (by winning i t , Fischer only levelled the scores!).
7th Letter — Before the 30th Match f o r the World Championship 97
Spassky-Fischer
26...Nf* 27 Oc2? The i n i l i a t i v e is w i t h B l a c k , but after 27 Obi

White's position would s t i l I have been p e r f e c t l y t e n a b l e . Spassky
makes a bad b l u n d e r , a l l o w i n g Black to conclude the game w i t h an
elegant stroke - 2 7 . . . B x a 4 ! White r e s i g n e d , since a f t e r 28 Qxa4
(28 0b1 Bxdi 29 Oxdi Qxe4) 28...Qxe4 he cannot avoid mate.
29. Karpov-Korchnoi
The decisive game of this match is annotated in the previous

'letter1. The f o l l o w i n g fragment is taken from the e i g h t h game.
Karpov-Korchnoi
White e l e g a n t l y concluded h i s attack on the hostile k i n g , 26 Rd7!

Rb8 ( a f t e r 2 6 . . . B x d 7 the game ends w i t h a p r o b l e m - l i k e mate: 27 0xf7+
Rxf7 28 Rxf7) 27 Nxf7 Bxd7 (the zwischenzug 2 7 . . . B g 4 is met by the
' q u i e t ' move 28 Qf4) 28 Ndfl+I, and on any move by the k i n g there
follows 29 Qf8 mate. Black r e s i g n s . (This was the second instance in
this match when the c h a l l e n g e r admitted defeat one move before mate).
30. Karpov-Korchnoi
The author's of the book hope that the position depicted In this
diagram (the only one we can as yet reproduce! ) Will prove in the
coming, t h i r t i e t h match for the worlcj crown to be favourable for the
World Champion... .
I
Part Two
The Computer at the Chess Board
Part Two
THE COMPUTER AT THE CHESS
BOARD
The topic 'the computer and chess' has for many years been
Irovoking great interest both among chess players, and among math-
ematicians. But while in the 1950s computers were making in chess
Only their f i r s t steps, during the last decade they have made a rapid
Intrusion into a l l the fields in which man in some way or another
Dmes into contact with chess.
This part of the book is devoted to an account of the chess
chievements of the computer. Our attention w i l l be mainly focused on
following two questions:
(1) the playing by the computer of normal chess;
(2) the analysis by the computer of endings.
Why program computers to play chess?
In economics, in control problems and in long-range planning,

le choosing of the optimal solution is normally a very difficult
Sroblem. The point is that the modern engineer, planner or economist
Has in his work to take commercial or economic decisions in a limited
I*me, in a complex, changing situation, depending on a large number
factors, which are not subject to a definite evaluation or to mechan-
i c a l control.
The point of modern automizalion consists of transferring lo the
omputer functions such as the perception of the situation, and the
I b l l l t y to compare and evaluate different situations, and lo draw
jical conclusions. In order that the computer should be able to
»lve these problems, it is necessary f i r s t of a l l to formalize them,
|hon to devise effective algorithms enabl ing a solution to be obtained
a real istic time, and, f i n a l l y , to put these algorithms into practice
the form of a computer program.
It is here that we are helped b y . . . chess. In chess it is easy
formulate a f i n a l goal and many intermediate goals, and at the same
mc it is practical ly impossible to give an exact recipe for their
attainment. The choosing of a move in a chess game — this is the
a
" i n g of a decision in the complex situation described above. This is
y scientists from many countries, working on the problem of a r t i -
-ial intel ligence, have chosen chess as a model for their researches.
101
102 The Computer at the Chess Board
We do not have space here to go i n t o the d e t a i l s of how a

computer is programmed to p l a y c h e s s . * Instead we w i l l examine a
number of games p l a y e d by computers w h i c h w i l l r-eveal some of the
d i f f i c u l t i e s i n v o l v e d In w r i t i n g a successful chess p l a y i n g programme.
.•.•I h.
-i . . - . . • !
*For further detai Is of the history of computer programming the reader

is referred to "The Machine Plays Chess?" by Alex Bell (Pergamon
Press, 1976) and "Chess and Computers" by David Levy (Batsford, 1976).
Competitions with the
Participation of Computers
COMPUTER AGAINST COMPUTER t ,,j.
The f i r s t international meeting in history of computers at the

chess board took place In 1967. The Soviet program Kaissa played a
telegraph match of four games against the American program created at
Stanford University, and won it by the score of 3-1 ( + 2 -0 = 2). The
game given below discloses f a i r l y clearly both the strong and the weak
sides In the play of both programs.
Kaissa — Stanford University

Four Knights' Game .
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 BcS b Nxe5!
In 1966 chess programs were not yet provided with opening l i b -

r a r i e s , and began ' c r e a t i n g ' from the very f i r s t moves. The move
4 Nxe5 came as a surprise to the creators themselves of Kaissa, since
it values the r i g h t to c a s t l e . Nevertheless, the positional advantages
sained in r e t u r n tipped the scales in favour of Ihis capture (in the
other pan was the move 4 Bc4). At the same time, the computer
indicated the best v a r i a t i o n f o r both sides: 4...Bxf2+ 5 Kxf2 Nxe5
6 d4.
4 . . . Nxe5 5 d4 Bd6 6 dxeS Bxe5 7 f4 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 Nf6 9 e5
As in a game between people, plans can change as the game

proceeds: in Its preliminary calculations, Kaissa was intending to
play 9 QcJ4 here, but now it sees new p o s s i b i t i t l e s .
9 . . . Ne4 10 Qd3
After the game it was tested t h a i , had it been c a l c u l a t i n g six

half-moves ahead, Kaissa would have made the strongest move 10 Qd5!.
The point Is t h a t , in the v a r i a t i o n 10 Qa5 Nxc3 11 Qc4 Qh4+ 12 g3
Black is obliged to make a s i x t h half-move, after which White wins the
knight. But with a calculation of f i v e half-moves, which Kaissa was
103
104 The Computer ai the Chess Board
doing in this game, after 12 g3 a position with an extra pawn for

Black is reached, and therefore the move 10 Qd5 was rejected.
1O...Nc5 11 Qd5 Ne6
The stronger move 11 . . ,d6 must certainly have been examined by

the American program, and the fact that it did not make it indicates
the weak nature of its evaluation function.
12 f5 Ng5?
Kaissa saw that this loses a piece after 13 h4, and r i g h t l y

considered the strongest reply to be 12...c6. Clearly, the move 13 h4
did not enter the American program's f i e l d of vision, i.e. its authors
had not succeeded in limiting the search in the correct way.
13 h4 f6 14 hxg5 fxgS 15 Rxh7!
This simple tactical blow would have been found even with a
calculation to one half-move.
15 . . . Rf8 16 Rxg7 c6 17 Qd6 =* -<••••
On making this move, the computer announced that it could 'see'

male in al I variations, except the one beginning w i t h 17.. .Qf6 18 exf6
Kd8.
17 . . . Rxf5 (Black prefers a swifter end) 16 Rg8+ Rf8 19 Qxf8

mate.
The chess match between two computers was widely reported in the
press, and this gave a powerful stimulus to the development of chess
programming in a whole series of European countries, and especially in
Ihe USA.
Since 1970, under the aegis of the Association of Computing
Technology, North American computer championships have regularly been
held in the USA. In the f i r s t such tournament (New York, 1970),
which attracted six participants, the winner was the program Chess 3.0
from the North-Western University. The same program Chess (from now
on we w i l l drop the designations of its modifications — 3.0, 4.0, etc.)
was also victorious in the fol lowing three championships.
Subsequently Chess has twice had to concede the championship —
in 1974 to the Canadian program Ribbit, and in 1978 to its compatriot
— the program Belle. It should be said that the short tournament
distance (3-4 rounds on the Swiss system) often reduces the question of
f i r s t place to the result of the one game between the r i v a l s . A more
trustworthy evaluation of a computer's p l a y i n g strength is given by its
r a t i n g ( i t s coefficient on the Elo system), c a l c u l a t e d \ In exactly the
same way as for human players. In regaining the title 1 'of champion in
1979, Chess increased its r a t i n g to 2099, whereas Belle was able to
achieve a level of only 1982.
In 1974 in Stockholm the f i r s t world computer chess championship
took place. By that time in Europe the operating programs numbered
about ten, and in the USA — more than 50. In this situation the
staging of a world championship was most opportune. This contest
essentially summed up the i n i t i a l development period of chess program-
ming, and provided a review of the latest achievements in this f i e l d .
Thirteen computers from eight countries took part in the battle
Competi lions with the Participation of Computers 105
for Ihe title of champion. The representation was as follows: from the
USA —four programs, from England — three, and one each from Austria,
Canada, Hungary, Norway, Switzerland and USSR.
The tournament committee worked out a set of rules to take Into
'account the specific nature of this unusual event. For example, a
certain lime was allotted for the elimination of technical faults In the
computer, which might arise during a game, for the correcting of a
wrongly-entered move, and so on. In other respects, normal tournament
rules were In operation. The time control was established at 2 hours
for* 40 moves, irrespective of the computer speed.
According to the experts, there were two favourites — the American
Chess and the Soviet Kaissa. However, in the second round Chess
unexpectedly lost to the program Chaos, coming under a crushing
attack right from the opening. Here is an episode from this game,
with Chess playing Black.
Here there followed: 16 Nxe6! fxe6 17 Qxe6+ Be7 18 Rei Qd8

19 Bf4 KfB (20 Bc7! was threatened) 20 Rad1 Ra7 21 R d NgS 22 Rcdi
o5 23 Bd6 Bxd6 24 Qxd&t Me? 25 Nc5 Bf5 26 g4 QeB 2? Ba4!, and
White easily converted its advantage into a w i n . After this defeat,
Chess won both its remaining games, but could not catch Kaissa, which
had defeated a l l its opponents.
The Soviet program normally gained Its successes in a sharp
struggle, and felt confident in tactical complications. Here is how it
Concluded a tense encounter from the first round with the Austrian
program Fran?.
Black has just played 3O...RgB-e8, pinning the white bishop. The
reply 31 Oc6! had been overlooked by Franz. Now 31 .. .Rxe5 loses to
32 RdB+ Ka7 33 Ra8 mate. At the same time White has created a
multitude of threats: Bxc7+, Qb6+ and Rd7, which Black is unable to
Parry. The game concluded 3 1 . . .Qg6 32 0xc7+ Ka8 33 Rd7 Qf5
34 Oc6 mate.
The final results of the event were: Kaissa A/4; Chess, Chaos
(both USA) and Ribblt (Canada) 3. At the closing ceremony Kaissa was
swarded a memorial gold medal as the f i r s t world computer champion.
L
Three years later, in the Canadian town of Toronto, a second

w o r l d championship was h e l d . The number of p a r t i c i p a n t s had grown to
16, a " d the o v e r a l l p l a y i n g strength of the electronic p l a y e r s had also
grown. On t h i s occasion Kaissa lost i t s t i t l e , and shared 2nd place
w i t h the American program Duchess, while the new w o r l d champion
became the program Chess, which won a l l four games and f i n i s h e d a
point ahead of K a i s s a .
The tournament began w i t h a s e n s a t i o n : i n the f i r s t round Kaissa
lost to Duchess i n a game which f o r several d a y s e x c i t e d the minds of
fans and programmers, and which appeared in many chess p u b l i c a t i o n s .
We g i v e here this game, which i l l u s t r a t e s a number of i n t e r e s t i n g points
a r i s i n g i n the c r e a t i o n of a chess p r o g r a m .
Duchess (USA) - Kaissa (USSR)

Centre Counter Game
1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 CJ4 Nxd5 4 Nf3 g6 5 Be2 Bg7 6 c4 Nb6

7 Nc3 0-0 8 Be3 Bg4
At the s t a r t of the game both programs make moves from their

opening d i r e c t o r i e s . Now independent p l a y b e g i n s .
9 c5 Nd5 10 0-0 e6 .
1O...Nc6 Is b e t t e r . By the move i n the game Kaissa creates (from

the viewpoint of i t s e v a l u a t i o n f u n c t i o n ) a strong point at d5. I n the
g i v e n p o s i t i o n , however, this is not so i m p o r t a n t , and i f the computer
had c a l c u l a t e d v a r i a t i o n s a l i t t l e deeper, it would have ' r e a l i z e d ' t h i s ,
11 Qb3 b6 12 Nxd5 exdS 13 Bg5 Qd7 lA h3 BfS 15 Qc3!
A subtle move, by which While prevents the development of [he

k n i g h t at bB- On 1S...Nc6 there now follows 16 cxbfi cxb6 17 Bb5, and
wins. In the event of 15 Racl the move l 5 . . . N c 6 becomes possible,
since on 16 cxb6 there is the reply 16...Na5. ,•-. •••
15 . . . Re8 16 Rfel Be4
Black intends by \7.. .Qf5 fol lowed by 18.. .Nd7 to solve its
development problems.
17 Nd2 Qf5 18 Be3 Qe6
The threat was 19 f 3 . Concrete, calculating play is in progress,

and for the moment both programs ar-e up to the mark.
19 Nxe4 dxe4 20 cxb6 cxb6 21 Reel Nd7 2Z Bg4 Qd5 ^ ^
Evidently, 22. . . f 5 did not appeal to Black because of 23 Bdl •
23 Qc6 Nf6 24 Be2 Radfl 25 Qa4 Be7 26 6b5 QfS 27 Rc2 Nd&
28 Racl Bf6 29 Qb3
Black has successfully regrouped its pieces, and its knighi

occupies an excellent position in the tent re, but what to do n e x t '
Compelitions with the Par! icipation of Computers 107
A human in this position would set aboul restricting the oppon-

ent's possibi I ities, by playing 29.. .h5, 30.. .Kg7, etc. If White plays
passively, there Is the possible plan of advancing ...g6-g5-g4 and
opening the h-file. In the event of the exchange of the b5 bishop for
the knight, the d4 pawn comes under siege. As yet the construction
of promising (and at the same lime, correct) plans is inaccessible to a
computer.
29 a5?
A move which loses the game due to the existence for White of a
latent threat. In order to discover i t , a calculation of 9 half-moves
was required. Had it been calculating to that depth, the computer
would most probably have played 29...h5!
30 g4! Qe6
3O...Qf3 is b a d because of 31 RcS.
31 Rc6 a4
Black now sees lhat it loses a piece i n the v a r i a t i o n 3 1 . . . R d 6
32 Rc8+ Kg7 33 g 5 . The move 3 1 . . . a 4 lengthens the v a r i a t i o n by two
half-moves, and the computer t h i n k s that it is losing only a p a w n .
32 Qxa4! Rd6 33 Rxd6 Qxd6 34 Qa8+!
34 . . . ReB?!
Unexpectedly Kaissa gives up a whole rook. The commentators
were perplexed, and explained In confusion to the spectators that chess
programs were s t i l l a long way from perfection, and that anything
could be expected of them. Great was the general amazement when
Kaissa explained its 'blunder' by the following v a r i a t i o n : 34...Kg7
35 QfB+!! KxfB 36 Bh6+ and 37 Rc8+ with inevitable mate! Not one of
the players present at the championship found this spectacular queen
108 The Computer al the Chess Board
sacrifice. I t is not known whether or not Duchess would have seen i t ,

but from p r a c t i c a l considerations 34...Kg7 should have been chosen,
since p l a y i n g on a rook down is absolutely hopeless, whereas it would
not be every program (and not every master!) that would f i n d 35 Qf8*.
I f , in reply to 34. . .Kg7, While had been intending to win a piece by
35 g5, he himself would have lost to 3S...Nxe3 36 gxf6+ Qxf6 37 fxe3
Qg5+ and . ..Qxb5, with a decisive advantage lo Black.
As we see, in this game Kaissa f e l l v i c t i m to i t s own tactical
sharp-sightedness, but essentially (his is simply an omission on the
p a r t of the program authors, since the p r a c t i c a l considerations men-
tioned above can easily be programmed.
35 Qxe8+ Kg7 36 g5 BdB
The conclusion of the game is not of any interest — w i t h i n a few

moves Black conceded defeat.
The program Chess, which took f i r s t place, played a l l its games

evenly and s t r o n g l y . Usually by the middlegame it had already gained
a serious advantage. Here is a t y p i c a l example.
Chess-Duchess
E x p l o i t i n g the more a c t i v e p l a c i n g of i t s pieces, White develops a

Strong i n i t i a t i v e in the centre and on the K-side. 23 Ng5! Rc8 24 Nf6
Rdc7 25 Ne6 Rf7 36 Nxf8 RfxfB 27 Nxh7! Kxh7 28 Bxd6 RfdS 29 Bf4
Rd4 30 BgS. Having won a pawn a n d , thanks to the two a c t i v e
bishops, retained its positional advanlage, While easily converted its
advantage into a w i n .
In the t h i r d world championship, which took place in\ September

1980 i n A u s t r i a , 18 programs from s i x countries p a r t i c i p a t e d X In nib
welcoming speech at the opening of the championship, the President of
FIDE, the Icelandic grandmaster Fridrik Olafsson, remarked on the
great interest caused by such events in the chess w o r l d , and promised
a l l possible help and support on the p a r t of FIDE for the Association
of Chess Programming.
By t r a d i t i o n , the championship was held as a four-round Swiss
tournament. First, with the identical result of i\ p o i n t s , were two
American programs, Belle and Chaos. An a d d i t i o n a l game, played
between them d i r e c t l y In the USA (only the score of the game was
transmitted to A u s t r i a ) brought victory and the t i t l e of champion to
the program Belle.
Both ex-champions, Chess end Kaissa, made a rather modest
r e s u l t , scoring 2 j and 2 points respectively. The success of Belle >••
explained to a large extent by its considerable technical s u p e r i o r i t y
over i ts opponents. The champion used a special I y developed chps^
computer, in which the extracting of moves, the moving of the pieces

and the evaluation were implemented not by programming, but schem-
a t i c a l l y , i.e. they were prepared machine commands. Thanks to this,
Belle succeeded in examining some 20,000 moves in a second, and in
the middlegame made calculations to 7-8 half-moves.
We give the additional game, which determined the world cham-
pion, in which a fierce attack runs into a cool defence.
Belle-Chaos
Alekhine' 5 Defence
1 e4 Nf6 2 e 5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 dxe5 5 Nxe5 g6 6 g3 Bf5

7 c4 Nb4 8 Qa4+ N4c6 9 d5 Bc2 10 Gb5 Qd6 11 Nxc6 Nxc6 12 Nc3
Bg7 13 Qxb7 0-0 14 Qxc6 Qb4 15 Kd2 Be4 16 Rg! RfbB 17 Bh3 8h6+
18 f4 QaS 19 Re1 f5 20 Qe6+ Kf8 21 b3 Bg? 22 Bb2 Bd4 23 g4 Rb6
24 Qd7 Rd6 25 Qa4 Qb6 26 Ba3 Bxc3+ 27 Kxc3 RddS 28 Radi Qf2
29 gxf5 Qc2+ 30 Kd4 gxf5 31 Qc6 Gf2+- 32 Ke5 Kg8 33 Rgl+ Kh8
34 Bxe7 Qg2 35 Qf6+ Kg8 36 Bxg2 Rxd5+ 37 Ke6 h6 38 Qxh6 Re5+
39 fxe5 Rf8 40 Bf3 mate.
The standard of computer play is gradually rising. Here, for

example, is an absolutely human-like game, played by two American
programs in the 1979 championship of the country in Detroit.
Belle-Chess
Modern Benoni Defence i-
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 Nc3 exdS 5 cx<)5 d6 6 e4 g6
7 Nf3 Bg7 8 Be2 0-0 9 0-0 Re8 10 Nd2 Na6 11 f3 Nc7 12 a4 b6
13 Nc4 Ba6 14 Bg5 h6 15 Bh4 g5 16 Bf2 Nh5 17 Ne3 BcB IB Qc2 Nf«
19 Bc4 Bd7 20 Rfdl Qf6 21 Bg3 Nh5 22 Bel Nf4 23 Khi a6 24 Bg3
b5 25 axb5 axb5 26 RxaB RxaB 27 Bf1 b4 28 Ne2 b3 29 Qbi Nh5
30 Bf2 Nf4 31 Nc4 Nxe2 32 Bxe2 Bb5 33 Bg3 Ra4 34 Qci Bf8 35 Rd2
QdB 36 0f1 h5 37 Kgl h4 38 Bf2 Bg7 39 Ne3 Bxe2 40 Qxe2 Ra1 +
41 Rdl Ra2 42 Qd3 Rxb2 « Nc4 Rc2
44 e5T Bxe5 5 Nxe5 dxe5 46 Qxb3 Re2 47 Kfi c4! 48 Qb7 Ra2
49 Bb6 h3! 50 Qf6! 51 Qd8+ Qxd8 52 Bxd8 Rxg2 53 Rei?
White had many ways to win - d5-d6, Be7, Bc7 or Ba5. By
temporarily giving up material, it would have forced the advance of its
passed pawn. Instead of this, it attempts not to fal I behind the
opponent in the pursuit of pawns, and as a result lets slip the w i n .
l i is here that the basic weakness of the computer tells — the Inability
at the necessary moment to calculate a long but hardly-branching
110 The Computer gt the Chess Board
variation.
53 . . . c3 54 Rxe5 c2 55 ReB+ Kg? 56 Bx£5 Rxg5 57 RcB Rg2

5B d6 Rxh2 59 d7 Rd2 60 Kgi ftxd7 6i Rxc2 Rd3 62 Rf2 Kf6 63 Kh2.
Draw.
MAN AGAINST COMPUTER
Can the computer r e a l i s t i c a l l y compete with man at the chess

Board? This question was posed back at the dawn of chess program-
itiing. In the f i r s t instance the question must be put more precisely.
If one has in mind the analysis of certain types of endgame, or the
solving of chess problems, the answer is undoubtedly yes. Bui if one
considers the computer in single combat with man in a normal tourna-
ment game, here its successes have bee.n much more modest. Neverthe-
less, for some time chess players have been watching with interest and
caution how the family of chess computers has been developing and
gathering strength, and how i l is mounting its offensive on the position
of the human p l a y e r . The only question is, to what level the computer
can rise, and how soon it w i l l begin p l a y i n g on equal terms with
masters.
In 1968 international master David Levy made a bet that within
10 years no computer would be able to beat him in a match. During
this lime he has twice played a match with the program Chess, and
h
once with Greenblatt s program from MIT. Incidentally, the latler
program is a veteran among chess robots — it is already about two
decades o l d , A curious fact Is that it Is directed specially towards
playing with humans, and as a matter of p r i n c i p l e does not Join battle
with its own k i n d . It is true that lêvy defeated it f a i r l y easily by
2-0, but in the last match with Chess he had to work pretty hard to
overcome the robot's resistance.
This match was the best of 6 games. The computer, according to
the condition, had to score 3^ points. The f i r s t game was advantageous
for Chess, but ended in a draw. In the second and t h i r d games Chess
lost, but in the fourth the human w^s at last defeated — a highly
significant fact. And although Levy won the f i f t h game, it would
appear that the f i r s t warning bell has sounded —a l i t t l e more a n d . . . .
At any rate, as yet Levy has not made a new bet.
We give the f i r s t game of this match between man and computer.
D. Levy •- Chess
King's Indian Attack
1 g3 d5 2 Bg2 e5 3 d3 Nf6 h Nf3 Nc6 5 0-0 -Bd7 6 Bc5

7 Bb2 Qe7 8 a3 e4 9 Ne1 0-0 10 d4 Bd6 11 e3 Ng& 12 h.3.
Competitions with the Participation of Computers in
Black's attack could have been refuted by 12 c4! The move

played by Levy provokes Black into making a piece sacrifice. Obviously
he assumed that the computer would not b r i n g itself to give up the
knight. Now White's position becomes c r i t i c a l .
T2 . . . Nxe3! 13 fxe3 Qg5 1* g * Qxe3+ 15 Rf2 Bg3 16 Qe2

Qxf2+ 17 Qxf2 Bxf2+ 18 Kxf2 f5 19 gxf5 Ne7 20 cA Rxf5* 21 Kgi c6
22 Nc3 RhS 23 Kh2 RfB Z4 Ndi Ng6 25 Hc1 Bxh3! 26 Bxh3 Rfi
27 Ng2 Rf3 28 cxd5 Rhxh3+.
The simplest was 28...Rfxh3+ 29 Kgl RhH 30 Kf2 Rxd5, not

allowing the opponent to open a line for his rook, and maintaining a l l
the threats. The subsequent play of Chess is most uncertain. The
computer's weak endgame technique allows the master to save the game.
29 Kg1 cxd5 30 Rc8+ Nf8 31 Bc3 Rd3 32 Nde3 Rdxe3 33 Nxe3

Rxe3 34 Bb4 Rf3 35 Rd8 h6 36 Rxd5 Rxb3 37 Rd8 Rf3 38 Ra8 g5
39 d5 h5 40 d6 Kg7 41 Rxa7 Rf7 42 Ra5 Kf6 43 Bc3+ Kg6 44 Re5
Rf3 45 Bb4 Rf4 46 Re7 Rf7 47 Rxe4 Rd7 48 Re7 h4 49 Kg2 g4
50 Kh2 b6 51 Kg2 Rd8 52 a4 Nd7 53 aS! Nf6 54 axb6 Nd5 55 b7
Nxe7 56 dxe7 RhS 57 Bd6 Kf6 58 b8=0. Rxb3 59 Bxb8 Kxe7. Draw.
One can cite a number of examples of successful play by com-

puters against professional p l a y e r s , but in hastening to report on the
computers' successes, reporters often omit important details from their
accounts.
Thus, grandmaster Walter Browne did indeed lose a game to the
program Chess, b u t . . . in a simultaneous d i s p l a y . Another holder of
the highest chess t i t l e — the Englishman Michael Stean —suffered a
defeat against the same Chess, b u t . . . In a five-minute b l i t z game, and
so o n .
The shorter the time allotted to the game, the easier it is for the
computer against a human. If a tournament for the world champion-
ship were held with a time control of 30 seconds per game, it is
(Possible that already now a computer would become champion — a man
would simply physically be unable to make the moves. But such play
fs of l i t t l e interest. As regards serious chess, as yet computers are
( t i l l a long way from grandmasters.
But at the same time, grandmasters. . . are close to computers.
Ex-World Champion Mikhai I Botvinnik has already been engaged in
[chess programming for a number of years. Another Ex-World Champion,
[the American Bobby Fischer, according to official but as yet uncon-
f i r m e d reports (with Fischer there are always such d i f f i c u l t i e s ! ! , is
llso making an active study of how chess programs are created.
At any rate (and this is now an indisputable f a c t ) , he has
[ p l a y e d a short match against the program of Greenblatt mentioned
[ e a r l i e r — that same one which avoids other computers. Well, the
ôpponents are worthy of one another, since, after al I, for many years
now Fischer has not played against people.
To Fischer's credit, it must be said that his chess seclusion
Iwould not appear to have diminished his s t r e n g t h . He conducted the
i(natch In his best style, and defeated the computer by the score of 3-0.
W think that the readers w i l l f i n d it interesting to look at one of the
games from this encounter.
Compu ter-F i scher

Sici I ian Defence
I e4c5 2 Nf3 g6 3 d4 Bg7 4 Nc3 cxd4 5 Nxd& Nc6 6 Be3 Nf6

7 Nxc6 bxc6 8 e5 NgS 9 f4 f6 10 exf6
Machines, like people, play the opening q u i c k l y . Modern computers

can 'remember' thousands of opening variations, with which they are
equipped by their programmers. But there is a I irntt to what can be
stored. 5ooner or later the machine has to think for itself, and i t is
then that its true strength is revealed. Strictly speaking, this has
always been the problem in chess programming: to find a good move
in an original situation. White's f i r s t 'independent' move in this
game is clearly not the beat; the theoretical continuation 10 Bd4
maintains for him a slight advantage, whereas now the black pieces
come Quickly into p l a y .
10 . . . Nxf6 11 Bc4
The second poor move in succession.
II . . . dS 12 Be2
The computer evidently thought that the backward pawn at e7

would compromise the opponent's position. Other justifications for the
move 11 BcA would force one to suggest that the machine's search depth
was too short, or that i t d i d not consider the reply H . , . d 5 , which is
improbable.
12 . . . Rb8 13 b3 Ng4 14 Bd4 e5! • s-.-. • •-
After 14. . .Ne3 White could have sacrificed his queen by 15 Bxg7!
Nxd5 IS BxhS Nxc3 17 Bxc3, achieving a position which would be
d i f f i c u l t to breach. The move made by Fischer is clearly stronger.
15 fxe5 0-0!
Keeping the white king in the centre. ;-• "- - \'-
IS BxgA Qxh4+ 17 g3 Qxg4 18 Qxg4 Bxgft 19 Rf 1 .
19 Kd2 was more tenacious. Now White loses by force. <• '-
19 . . . RxfU 20 Kxfi
:•!.••!?
20 . . . c5! 21 Bf2 6xe5 22 Be1 Rf8+ 23 Kg2 Rf3 24 h3 Rxc3

25 Bxc3 Bxc3 26 Rfi Bf5
Chess players resign in such positions, but the machine, demon-

s t r a t i n g its ' i r o n ' determination, fought on to the last move. We think
that in this position the readers would be able to win against any
• opponent, and so this hopeless ending for White can be o m i t l e d . , .
In recent times computers have become so omnipresent that they

are constantly mentioned in reports of International events. For
example, at the international tournament In Bad Kissingen (West
Germany, 1980), for advertisement purposes the organizers dec idea io
hold a simultaneous display by four grandmaster against 100 computers.
Strictly speaking, each player took on 25 computers, but for greater
respectabi 1 i ty it was announced that one hundred machines would simu I-
taneously join battle with the grandmasters.
What did the average p a r t i c i p a n t in the display look like? It
comprised three p a r t s : its own mini-computer, a chess board and a
keyboard. As yet its cost is rather high — about a t h i r d of the
average monthly wage. In a d d i t i o n , it requires a considerable amount
of e t e c t r i c i t y , the consumption of which depends on the working level.
Thus, in the adjoining halls were displayed computers, which anyone
could set to an appropriate p l a y i n g strength, by a l l o t t i n g half a minute
io a move, or a minute, or more. The v i s i t o r s , not wishing to lose,
gave their 'opponents 1 as l i t t l e time as possible.
During the display the grandmasters frequently experimented, so
as to discover the possibilities of the machines. For example, one of
Ihe authors of this book, who numbered among those g i v i n g the d i s p l a y ,
won four identical games, move for move, while Boris Spassky sacrificed
so much that he had to make considerable efforts so as not to f a l l
behind his colleagues, and to score a 100% r e s u l t .
In general, chess mini-computers are becoming more and more
common. While inferior in strength to their senior colleagues — the big
computers, by v i r t u e of their a v a i l a b i l i t y they can serve as excellent
t r a i n i n g devices for a wide circle of chess enthusiasts.
A big computer, on the other hand, can give a simultaneous
display against average strength amateurs, and what's more, highly
successfully. One of the most impressive enterprises of this type was
held at the end of 1977 in Paris. The American program Chess was
opposed by ten players — in the main prominent c u l t u r a l and public
figures. Among them were the composer Guy Bear, the f i l m director
Roget Vadim, the playwright Fernando Arrabal, and others. Also
included in the p a r t i c i p a n t s was 17-year-old Manuel Apitsella — the
French Junior Champion.
The display, which was in the nature of a demonstration of the
achievements of modern technology, was held in a hall which was
linked directly by s a t e l l i t e to the computer in the USA. All the games
were reproduced on demonstration boards and on television, and com-
ments on them made by French masters.
The machine won seven games, drew one and lost two. In half of
the games it took Black. If account is taken of the fact that the
chess r a t i n g of its opponents varied from somewhere between f i r s t and
t h i r d category, the result can be considered excellent.
Here is how the computer's game went with the youngest parti-
cipant in the d i s p l a y .
Chess-Apitsella
Nimzow i tsch Defence
1 e4 Nc6 2 d4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 eS Bd7 5 Nc3 Bb4 6 Bd3 Nge7

7 0-0 f6 8 exf6 gxf6 9 Bh6 Kf7 10 QdZ Bd6 11 Nb5 Ng6 12 Nxd6+
cxd6 13 h4 e5 14 h5 Nge7 15 dxe5 dxe5 16 c4 Rc8 17 cxdS

18 Bxh7 Rxh7 19 Qxd5+ Be6 20 Qxd8 RxdB 21 Be3 RxhS 22 g3 Bh3
23 Rlci Bg4 24 Nh4 Rg8 25 f3 Bxf3 26 Nxf3 R*g3+ 27 Kf2 Rhh3
28 Ngi Rxe3 29 Nxh3 Rxh3 30 Rhl Rd3 31 Rn7* Ke6 32 Rxb7 e4
33 Rcl Rd6 3ft Ke3 a5 35 Kxe4 Rd4+ 36 Ke3 Rd6 37 Rc5 f5 38 Rh7
Ne5 39 Rh8 U+ 40 Ke4 Ng6 41 Rh6 Resigns.
After the display, the well-known French mathematician Francois

le Uonnais remarked that the last 10 years had seen marked progress
in the creation of chess programs. However, It was not yet sufficient
to solve the main problem — to disclose the secret of human t h i n k i n g .
"The most important and most interesting", the scientist said, "is not
the game itself, however splendid ana highly intellectual it may be.
The main thing is the methods and algorithms which are necessary for
automating the game of chess, since they can also be extended to
other fields of human a c t i v i t y " .
Significant in this sense is the interest shown in chess program-
ming by major computing firms. Thus the firm CDC grants unlimited
free use of its best machine Cyber-176 to the group at North-Western
University that created the program Chess, demanding for this merely
permission to include this program in a software pack. Many firms
allow free use of their computers for participation in tournaments of
chess programs.
Recently the Dutch computing form Uolmak put up a prize of
50,000 dollars for the creators of a chess program which would succeed
in defeating E*-World Champion Max Euwe in a match of four games.
The offer remains in force until 1st January 1984, In announcing such
a competition, the directors of the firm stated that they were aiming,
f i r s t and foremost, to stimulate the creation of programs which would
play significantly better than those currently in existence, and also
that they hoped that the match would assist the raising of the general
interest in chess.
The Ccmputer Analyzes the
Endgame
Already when the f i r s t chess programs were being created, it was

[observed that the handling of the endgame was the weakest aspect of a
(Computer's p l a y .
In the endgame the forming of plans several moves in advance
becomes of chief Importance. What's more, for a human player it is
', easier to find the correct plan In the endgame than in the middlegame,
1
since the opponent has fewer opportunities for preventing Its implemen-
tation, and also the number of actual plans in the endgame is
significantly less. Therefore, in the f i n a l stage of the game a player
t can see the concluding positions of very long variations, and can
(often be certain that a chain of moves w i l l lead to them. That is
[•"how things are in f a i r l y complex endings, where a player is guided by
Intuition and experience — precisely that which as yet lends itself
[ b a d l y to formal ization, and in which computers are lacking.
However, in the playing of certain endings with few pieces, the
t'lnachine is now superior to man, and moreover, is in a posi tion to know
fthe 'absolute truth ' .
. . . I n 1968 the t r a d i t i o n a l match between Moscow and Leningrad
ftook place in the USSR c a p i t a l . With the score standing at 39j-395
[(the match was held on 40 boards in iwo rounds) there remained one
tunfinished game, which would decide the result of the match. The
j Leningrad player was a pawn up, and in the event of him being
^successful his team would win. The resumption of the game lasted a
• long time, and the Leningrad team were already in danger of missing
\ their t r a i n , so the game was sent for adjudication in the following
(-position, with the Leningrad player p l a y i n g Black.
115
The game was adjudicated by an authoritative grandmaster com-

mission. However-, the whole trouble was that the ending 'queen and
k n i g h t ' s pawn against queen' had been studied by players for many
years, but to establish precisely which positions were won, and which
drawn, they had nol yet been able. As for the given position, the
Jury in i l s perplexity judged it to be drawn, which provoked a natural
objection on the part of the Leningrad team. The matter ended with
the return v i s i t of the Muscovites to Leningrad not taking place, and
a t r a d i t i o n of many years' standing was b r o k e n . . . .
It is clear that, i f the computer had ' i n v e s t i g a t e d ' endings of
this type, no misunderstanding would have occurred. For the analysis
of such queen endings it was decided to enlist the services of Kaissa*.
Here it is appropriate to describe the general idea which lies at
the basis of an algorithm for the analysis of chess endings. F i r s t of
a l l it is assumed that, in the analysis of this or that class of ending,
the evaluations of a l l positions of so-called secondary endings, i.e.
those obtained from the ones being studied by a change of material —
a capture or the promotion of a pawn, are already known.
We w i l l consider a class of endings in which White is t r y i n g to
win, and Black is h a t t l i n g for a draw. All positions of this class
naturally divide into two groups — those with White to move, which are
designated by W, and those with Black to move — B. Out of the group
W let us single out those positions in which White has a move leading
immediately to a winning secondary ending (an elementarily won posi-
tion). Let us denote the aggregate of these positions by Wo and call
it the zero rank (a win in zero moves). Let us remove Wo from the
group W. For the moment the remaining positions form a class of
'unsorted Whites', which we designate UW. In analogous fashion, we
remove from group B those positions in which Black in one move can go
into a drawn {or won for him) secondary ending — Bo, end we obtain a
class LIB — 'unsorted B l a c k s ' , After the procedure described, a basic
multi-step ranking algorithm is put into practice.
Let us consider the f i r s t step of the algorithm. We w i l I pick out

from UB those Dositions from which a l l moves by Black lead to Wo.
Obviously, these w i l l be positions which are lost for- Black in one move.
We will call this grouo of positions She f i r s t black rank and w i l l
denote them by RBI. Note that RBI consists of positions which have no
moves to UW. It is this feature which is u t i l i z e d in the actual con-
struction of RB1 .
Let us now select from UW positions from which at least one move
leads to RBI. As a result we obtain a group of positions RW1, which
are won for White in one move. We w i l l remove RBI from UB and RW1
from UW. Everything is ready for the second step of the algorithm. We
continue in similar fashion: we construct RB2 as a group of positions
having no moves to UW, and RW2 having no moves to LIB and so on.
The ranking process concludes when the next group RB or RW to
lie formed turns out to be empty. Positions remaining in the groups UB
and UW are definitely drawn. As the ranked positions are obtained,
they can be removed onto, for example, magnetic tape, and used for
play, or else printed out.
For the implementation of the described algorithm in practice,
two conditions must be f u l f i l l e d . Firstly, the number of different
positions w i l h the given material must not be too large. Taking
*5ince a l l the programs which w i l l be mentioned below were created by

the same group of mathematicians as created Kaissa (under the leader-
ship of V. Arlazarov), for convenience we w i l l also call them by the
name of the muse of chess.
account of the resources of the modern computer, il can be said
that the analysis of five-piece endings ( i n c l u d i n g Ihe kings) Is at the
limit of its p o s s i b i l i t i e s . Secondly, the machine must be able to
evaluate, in the sense of a definite r e s u l t , any position of a secondary
ending.
It should be noted that. In the programming of five-piece endings
It has proved sensible to remember only the black ranks, they being
less dense. Nevertheless, in the ending 'rook and pawn against rook 1
about sixty million positions had to be remembered.
Returning to our queen and pawn ending, we can report that at
present, although Kaissa has constantly been diverted by more important
matters, it has studied the class of positions with a k n i g h t ' s pawn on
the penultimate rank. Now about each such position it can be
definitely stated whether or not it is won for the stronger side, and if
it is won, then in how many moves. In the game from the afore-
mentioned match, the pawn, as we saw, stood on the sixth r a n k , and
this means that the machine has only one more step to make before
being able to evaluate i t . There is thus the hope that the Moscow-
Leningrad matches may soon be resumed... .
An interesting fact is that, when analysing the queen ending,
Kaissa discovered two won positions, in which with best play for both
sides (he balance of forces can be changed only in 59 moves! Here is
one of these positions (in which it is Black to move).
Subtle manoeuvring of the white k i n g and queen, despite Black's

tenacious defence, leads w i t h i n 53 moves to fhe following position.
Here the black queen is forced to occupy a passive position —

54...Q9B, and after 55 Qb6+ Ka3 56 Qb7 Ka4 57 Kc3 Ka5 58 Qb4+ Ka6
59 Qc4+ White f i n a l l y exchanges queens and promotes his pawn.
The reader will no doubt be famll iar with the rule by which a
game ends in a draw if both sides have made at least 50 moves, in the
course of which no piece has been taken, and no pawn moved. In the
USSR Chess Code there is the following interpretation of this r u l e : "For
positions w i t h k i n g and two knights against k i n g and pawn the number
of 50 moves is increased to 75. It can be increased for other specific
118 The Computer a l the Chess Board
positions, only on condition that this number and these positions are
precisely mentioned In the regulations for a tournament or match".
The positions discovered by Kaissa show that the number of 50
moves should also be increased in the code for the ending ' k i n g , queen
and pawn against king and queen' . This is the f i r s t instance In
history when the computer has ' interfered' in the chess code! (The
ending 'king and two knights against king and pawn' wes studied
many years ago, and without the help of the computer).
There is another unusual Instance concerning the ending in
question, when the computer f i r s t rendered practical assistance to a
grandmaster. This occurred in 1975 in the US5B Zonal Tournament at
Vilnius. The game Grigorian-Br-onstein was adjourned in a queen
ending with an extra pawn for Black. The grandmaster knew of
Kaissa's success, and he turned to it for 'consultation'. Not long
before the start of the adjournment session, Bronstein received a letter
with an analysis of the position. True. Grigorian played inaccurately
right at the start of the adjournment, so that Kaissa's 'prompting' was
not required.
In practice, rook endings occur much more frequently than queen
endings. One of the most common forms of this ending — 'rook and
pawn against rook' has also been given to Kaissa for analysis.
Spending 60 hours of machine time, it coped b r i l l i a n t l y with its task,
and can now evaluate any position of this type, irrespective of the
position of the pawn. At the same time, the machine has established a
number of interesting facts. For example, It has discovered a position
which can be won in not less than 60 moves (as before, by won we
have in mind a transition into a won secondary ending). Here is one
such position (Black to move),
Incidentally, in the given position White succeeds in moving his

pawn only on the 32nd move after lengthy manoeuvring, in the course
of which there are several instances where there is only one correct
move, and one which is difficult for a human player to f i n d .
For the rapid evaluation of endgame positions in practice, it is
useful to imagine a drawing or winning sone for the placing of one
piece, while the positions of the remaining pieces are f i x e d . Consider
the following diagram, on which the positions of four of the five
pieces are fixed. The f i f t h piece, the black king, can stand on any
permissible square of the board.
(See diagram at top of page 119)
In this position It is Black to move. For some positions of his

king he loses, for others there is no win for White, The results of the
analysis carried out by Kaissa are shown directly on the diagram. If
a square is blank, the position is drawn, but if a certain number (n)
is written in i t , White wins in n moves. We see that, with the black
The Computer Analyzes ihe Endgame 119
king cut off beyond Ihe f - f l l e , the one saving square for if is g4 (if
we disregard g l and gZ, on which the k i n g simply captures the white
rook and Black w i n s ) .
This diagram represents a real puzzle. Imagine lhat you are

p l a y i n g White, it is now the opponent's move, and you are granted the
r i g h t to place your king on any square of the board. Which one should
be chosen so as to gain a win? Amazingly, there is only one square:
White wins only with his king at e8!
An interesting fact is [hat grandmaster Averbakh, one of the
greatest specialists in the f i e l d of the endgame, after p l a y i n g for
several hours with Kaissa at 'rook endings', admitted its complete
superiority. He remarked that such a s p a r r i n g - p a r t n e r would be highly
useful to any grandmaster for improving bis technique in the endgame.
Of the four-piece endings, the most interesting is rook against
knight. On its study Kaissa spent only 15 minutes!
In this position it is Black to move, and with correct defence on

[. his part his knight is trapped only on the 27th move! We give the
</• main variation of the solution;
I...Ne2+ 2 Kd2 (After 2 Kc2 White can no longer win) 2...Nd4

3 Kc3.
And now 3 K63 would be a mistake. However, right up to the
point when the knight is caught, White has to make a number of
precise moves. It is d i f f i c u l t to imagine that they could a l l be found

by a player d u r i n g a game!
3...NbS+ 4 Kc4 Nd6+ 5 Kc5 Nb7+ 6 Kb6 Nd6 7 Rf4! (the rook
moves more r a r e l y than the k i n g , but Its movements are more subtle)
7.,.Kb3 8 KcS Nb7+ 9 Kc6 Nd6+ 10 KbS Ne6 11 RT3+ Kc2 12 Kc4 Kd2
13 Rf5 Kc2 14 Rf2+ Kdi 15 Kd3 Nc5* 16 Kd4 Nb3+ 17 Kc3 Kel
16 Rb2! Nc5 19 Kd4 Ne6+ 20 Ke3 Kdi 21 Rb6 Ng5 (after 21..,Nc5
22 Kd4 Nd7 23 Rd6 the knight is caught more q u i c k l y l 22 Rc6! Nf7
23 Rc7 Ne5 24 Ke4! Ng4 25 Rg7! Nf6+ 26 Ke5 Nh5 27 Rg5, and the
k n i g h t is caught.
We should mention lhat the a n a l y s i s of the ending 'rook against
k n i g h t 1 has a h i s t o r y . Back in 1970 a German mathematician included
a study of It in his d i s s e r t a t i o n , devoted to combinatorial methods.
Eight years later a complete study was made of t h i s ending, indepen-
dently of each other, by Kaissa and an American computer. It is
i n t e r e s t i n g that the positions w i t h a record number of moves, found by
each of the machines, coincided almost e x a c t l y . Only, in the diagram
g i v e n above the American computer ' p l a c e d ' the k n i g h t at e2 (instead
of g1), which shortens the solution by one half-move. Evidently the
machine p r i n t - o u t contained positions w i t h While to move.
Simpler for a human p l a y e r is the ending 'rook against b i s h o p ' .
Here there are p r a c t i c a l l y no positions where the e v a l u a t i o n is in
doubt. Bui here too those positions are of interest, where the win is.
achieved i n the maximum number of moves. Here is one of the records
established by Kaissa. White to move wins only on the 16th move.
Thus, Kaissa can a l r e a d y hegin producing its own theoretical

publications! But what are the f u t u r e prospects for the computer in
the a n a l y s i s of chess endings?
The r a n k i n g method described above can be used to study several
other types of ending, which are important for theory. Firstly, the
work i n v o l v i n g the complete a n a l y s i s of the ending 'queen and pawn
against queen' (for any position of the pawn) is a w a i t i n g completion.
Here i t cannot be r u l e d out that positions w i l l be found in which the
stronger side requires more than 100 moves to w i n . Secondly, the
results of the a n a l y s i s of 'rook and bishop against rook 1 would be
highly Interesting. It is t r a d i t i o n a l l y supposed that the majority of
endings of this type are d r a w n . However, an exact a n a l y s i s of the
positions is made d i f f i c u l t due to the large number of v a r i a t i o n s , and
the absence of r e l i a b l e c r i t e r i a for e v a l u a t i n g the r e s u l t i n g positions.
And it cannot be r u l e d out that the current opinion w i l l have to be
changed... .
I t would also be useful to use the computer to analyse c e r t a i n
other endings which occur r a r e l y in p r a c t i c e , but which nevertheless
remain problematic. These could include queen against two minor
pieces (the most interesting combination of which is k n i g h t and bishop),
and two minor pieces against a knight. Many questions associated
with these sorts of positions have been accumulated by chess composers,

and the computer could render them qualified assistance.
Unfortunately, an Increase in the number of pieces on the board
seriously complicates the problem. At the same time it Is to be hoped
that the analysis of six-piece endings will be accessible to the next
generation of computers.
Part Three
Fifteen of the World Champions Best Games
Part Three
FIFTEEN OF THE WORLD
CHAMPION'S BEST GAMES
From 1960, when one of the authors of this book succeeded in

naming the first category norm, to the present year, 1961, in which for
-)e second time he will be defending his title of World Champion, I .e.
Dver a period of more than twenty years, he has played about a
thousand tournament games. Choosing fifteen of the best games out of
such a number was no easy matter. I think that the chess content of
the fifteen games chosen speaks for itself, but, so as to explain their
Competitive Importance, each game is preceded by & short introduction.
3f course, the most decisive encounter in my chess career to date was
the last game of the match for the World Championship in Baguio.
[This game is given separately, in the f i r s t part of the book.
Bearing in mind that the book is aimed at a broad range of
Chess enthusiasts, in my comments on the games I have not tried to
Jive an exhaustive analysis of variations, but have placed the
Bmphasis on general evaluations of the resulting positions.
Moscow University Championship, 1968

Karpov-Gik
Sici I ian Defence
A. Karpov: This was my f i r s t tournament in the c a p i t a l , and in

fcepder to 'conquer' Moscow it was essential to win i t . The next time 1
e to Moscow was three years later, when I was already a grand-
jltiaster, and in the very strong Alekhine Memorial Tournament I shared
[ f i r s t place. 1 think that I f i n a l l y succeeded in 'subjugating' Moscow a
ffurther three year-s later, when I won two Candidates' Matches in the
[Capital - the quarter-final and the f i n a l . . . But I decided to take up
permanent residence in Moscow only 10 years later! And who would
lhave thought that my opponent in this game would later turn out to be
|Tny co-author!
Y. Gik: In !968 my opponent was a young master, and merely a
f t l r s t - y e a r student in the Department of Mathematics and Mechanics. By
' t h a t time I had already finished my course in this department, and
therefore I raied my chances in our game as h i g h e r . . . Nevertheless
125
126 15 of the World Champion's Best Games
the studeni defeated the graduate, and as a result became Champion of
Moscow University, one point ahead of me. My opponent could not have
guessed that he was playing against his future co-author, but I loo
was not to know that within seven years my conqueror would become the
strongest player on this planet!
I eft c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 dft cxdft 4 Nxdft Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7

7 f3 0-0 B Bc4 Nc6 9 Qd2 QaS 10 0-0-0 Bd7
A.K.: This is the so-called Dragon Variation (from the formation

of black pawns on the e- to h-filest. The plans for the two sides are
wei I known — White attacks on the K-side, while Black aims for
counter-play on the Q-side. Although the history of this variation is
one of the most fascinating and mysterious in chess theory — how many
times has it been completely refuted, only to be revived anew — it
nevertheless has to be admitted that the expression 'dragon torment'
was not devised for nothing: in this variation Black more often than
not manages to get mated just before he reaches the enemy k i n g .
Y.G.: I think that in the last few years the World Champion has
played some fifteen games with White against the Dragon Variation, the
majority of them with grandmasters, and has not conceded a single
draw!
II h4 , . . . . .
A.K.; The magazine Shakhmaty v SSSR 1968 No. 7 published the

game BIkhovsky-Gik, which Black won.
Y.G.: Wei I yes, since I had defeated our chief youth trainer, I
thought that I would be able to cope somehow or other with one of his
'fledgl ings' .
A.K.: Perhaps Black would have managed to do this, if I had
played the same as BIkhovsky — 11 g4. But I had prepared for the
game, and chose the more dangerous plan of advancing my rook's pawn.
11 Ne5 12 Bb3 Rfc8

Y.G.: Whenever moving the k i n g ' s rook to c8 is refuted, the
analysts promptly suggest that Black play his queen's rook to c8.
When this manoeuvre is also refuted, they once again recommend moving
the rook from the f - f i l e to c8. This is how the theory of the Dragon
Variation is created.
A.K.: Incidentally, I first refuted ...Rac8, and in rather spec-
tacular fashion It has to be said, In my first match with Korchnoi (cf.
Game No. 5 ) .
13 h5 Nxh5 14 Bh6
S "*" S "."" ";""'§1**

it nut
t > 13
\zwSm
m mm
Game No. 1 127
A.K.: At thai time this position was very fashionable, and an

animated discussion was revolving around the variation with 14...Nd3+.
I n i t i a l l y it was thought that this check made the bishop move to h6
Impossible, but some six months before the University Championship, at
the Student Olympiad in Ybbs, the German player Duebal I showed that
In this case White retains the advantage: 15 Kbl Nxb2 (15...Bxd4
16 Nd5!) 16 Kxb2 Bxh6 17 Qxh6, and now neither 1 7 . . . Qxc3+ nor
17...Rxc3 gives Black sufficient counter-play. In the present game 1
wanted to test my preparations, but my opponent deviated from my
analysis.
Y.G.: It would have been better if I hadn't done so.
14 . . . Bxh6 15 Qxh6 Rxc3
A.K.: The standard exchange sacrifice in this v a r i a t i o n . Black

removes once and for all the threat of the knight moving to d5, and
hopes to get at the white king as soon as possible.
s . '"
16 bxc3 Qxc3
Y.G.: It was d i f f i c u l t to imagine that this capture would be the

decisive mistake. I knew that )6...Nf6 leads to a sharp game, but
assumed that it wouldn't do any harm to take the pawn.
17 Ne2!
A.K.; The start of a lengthy, forcing manoeuvre. The knight

copes splendidly with the task of d r i v i n g away the queen, and at the
same time joins the attack on the K-side.
17 Qc5
Y.G.: In a certain theoretical a r t i c l e 16...Qxc3 was considered

weak because of the reply 17 K b l . However, it then examined only
[•17.. .Nci and 17...Nf6, whereas I was pinning my hopes on 1 7 . . . a 5 ! .
The modest knight retreat came as a surprise to me. I saw to my
regret that after 17...Nd3+ 18 Rxd3 Qa1+ 19 Kd2 Qxhi 20 g4 Ng3
21 Qxhi Nxhi 22 Ke3! and 23 Rd! my knight would be successfully
[.Caught. My queen therefore had to retreat.
IB g4 Nf6 g5 Nh5 20 Rxh5!
A.K.: There Is no time to lose. 20 Ng3, which I considered for

long time, had to be rejected because of a spectacular reply which I
noticed only at the last minute — 20.. .Bg4!, and the white queen is
shut out of the game.
20 9xh5 21 Rhl Qe3+ 22 Kb1 !

A.K.: The D-ragon V a r i a t i o n is renowned f o r the fact t h a i the

s l i g h t e s t inaccuracy can spoil m a t t e r s . Thus, f o r example, 22 Kb2
would have g i v e n Black at least a d r a w : 22...Nd3+ 23 cxd3 (23 Kbi
even loses after 2 3 . . . Q x f 3 ! ) 23...Qxe2+ 24 Kal Qxd3, and Black is
assured of perpetual check.
22 Qxf3
A.K.: The f a t e of the k n i g h t is u n i m p o r t a n t — it is the l i f e of

the black k i n g t h a t is a l s t a k e : 22.--Qx.e2 23 Qxh5 e6 24 Qxh7+ Kf8
25 QhB+ Ke7 26 Qf6+ Ke8 27 RhS male.
Y.G.: 1 saw that I would have lost a f t e r 2 2 . . . e 6 23 Qxh5 Qxf3
(23...Ng6 24 Qxh7+ KfS 25 Ng3 and 26 Nf5| 24 Qxh7+ Kf8 25 Nd4,
b u l a f t e r my last move I f e l l contented.
23 Rxh5 e6
A.K.: Black cannot defend h7, since 23. . .Qxe4 loses lo 24 g 6 !
Qxg6 25 Rg5. It is also d i f f i c u l t f o r him to save the game after
2 3 . . . N g 6 , for example 24 Qxh7+ KfS 25 Rh6 e6 26 Rxg6 f x g 6 27 Qxd7
0xe2 28 Qxd6* Kg7 29 Qe7+ Kh8 30 Qf6+ Kh7 31 Qf7+ KhS 32 Qxg6.
24 g 6 ! . ,: ..,.,. • ... -.
A.K. ; This b r a v e pawn s a c r i f i c e s i t s e l f to break down B l a c k ' s

defences. The hasty 24 Qxh7+ would have al lowed the k i n g to escape:
2 4 . . . K f 8 , and now 25 QhB+ Ke7 26 Qxa8 f a i l s lo 2 6 . . . Q x h 5 , w h i l e
25 Nd4 is also not p o s s i b l e , in view of 25...Qd1+ 26 Kb2 Qxd4+.
2ft . . . Nxg6
V.G.: Capturing with the pawn d i d not work — 24...fxg6

25 Qxh7+ Kf8 26 Qh8+ Ke7 27 Rh7+ Nf7 28 QxaB, but after the c a p t u r e
w i t h the k n i g h l I a n t i c i p a l e d a q u i c k w i n — White's attack is r e p e l l e d ,
and in a d d i t i o n he is two pawns d o w n .
25 Qxh7+ Kf8 26 Rf5H

Game No. 2 129
Y.G.: For me t h i s move came I ike 3 bolt from the b l u e ! This

elegant geometrical idea immediately decides the game. Two I ines, the
aZ-gS d i a g o n a l and the f - f i l e , intersect a l the c r i t i c a l point f 7 . White
threatens 0xf7 mate, and h i s queen is supported along the f i l e by the
r o o k , and ( i n the event of 2 6 . . . e x f 5 ) along the diagonal by the b i s h o p .
Black has n o t h i n g better than to p a r t w i t h his queen. Now I r e a l i z e d
that I had been wrong to under-estimate the mathematical c a p a b i l I ties
of my opponent. The p u r e l y geometrical s o l u i i o n to the position no
doubt occurred to the student, t h a n k s to an intensive study of a n a l y -
t i c a l geometry!
26 . . . Qxb3+ 27 exf5 28 Nf4!
A.K.: Another s t r i k i n g blow (perhaps from the f i e l d of a l g e -

bra!?). White e x p l o i t s the undefended state of the rook at a8, and
t o t a l l y destroys the black k i n g ' s s h e l t e r .
28 Bd8 29 Qh6+
A.K.: The final slight finesse — White wants to capture the g6

pawn with check.
r
20 . . . Ke8 30 Nxg6 fxg6 31 Qxg6+ K*7 32 Qg5+!
A.K.; Accuracy Is required right to the end: after 32 exf5 Rf8

Black could s t i l l have put up a defence, whereas now there is no
defence against the rapid advance of the f-pawn.
32 Kefl 33 exf5 RcB 34 QgB+ Ke7 35 Qg7+ Resigns
Y.G.: A rare instance when the loser of a game also remained

Content. Wfth the game, of course, but not the result of the tourna-
ment! In an article published in Shakhmatnaya Moskva (Moscow Chess)
and devoted to Ihe University Championship, I complained that during
the tournament the new champion had constantly been absent from
Moscow, thus placing the other participants in an unfavourable posi-
tion — they had to play earlier, thus disclosing their cards to the main
rival. it is understandable that the USSR Team Championship in Riga,
In which the mathematics student made the absolute best score (10 out
of 11) was more important, because it was one of the elimination stages
for the World Junior Championship. "But is not the Championship of
the largest educational establishment in the world also of some import-
ance!" I wrote somewhat reproachfully. Had I only known that within
a few years. . .
A.K.: It is pleasant, for all that, to remember one's youth!
No. 2
Alekhine Memorial Tournament, Moscow 1971
Karpov-Hort
Sic! I Ian Defence ' • '
This was my f i r s t really strong tournament, and it was after it

that they began talking In the chess world about a new contender for
the world crown. And, as it later turned out, not for nothing — in the
very next cycle I became World Champion. The present game was the
turning point in the Memorial Tournament. Up to the meeting with the
Czech grandmaster- I had played a whole series of draws, winning only

one game. This second victory gave me a creative and competitive
Impulse. After it three more grandmasters were defeated, and r i g h t at
the f i n i s h 1 succeeded in catching Leonid Stein. In the chess sense the
present game is noteworthy for the unusual play of the k i n g ' s rook.
11 is a strange picture: this unwieldy piece l i t e r a l l y rushes aboul the
board, its movements seemingly devoid of any sense, but with each
move Black's position grows worse and worse...
2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 g4
The enduring weapon devised by Keres. The desire to drive back

the knight and to b u i l d up an attack on the K-side is supported on
tactical grounds.
6 . . . Nc6 , • ,'t'
6...h6 is more of a hindrance to White's p l a n . •. , ; • ;._
7 g5 Nd7 8 Be3
A sharp game with good prospects for White results after 8 Ndb5
Nb6 9 Bf4 UeS 10 QhS g6 11 Qh3, bul a detailed examination of
opening variations is not p a r t of our task.
8 a6 9 f*
Nowadays 9 Rgl is often preferred her«.
'.i.
9 . . . Be7
On 9 . . . h 6 my opponent was most probably a f r a i d of the move
which I was indeed intending to play — 10 Nxe6 ( s t r i c t l y speaking,
there is no a l t e r n a t i v e , since 10 gxh6 and 10 g6 are simply bad
because of 10.. .Qh4+). Boundless camp I ications could then have
arisen; 1O...fxe6 11 Qh5+ Ke7 12 Bh3 Qe8 13 Qh&, w i t h consequences
d i f f i c u l t to assess. It was just this that my tournament position
demanded.
10 Rgl Nxd4
Normally Black is in no hurry to make this exchange, but here it

is d i f f i c u l t for him to f i n d an a l t e r n a t i v e . Thus 1 0 . . .0c7 looks too
slow, it is not easy to decide on 10...0-0, straight into the attack, and
10...Nc5 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12 BxcS gives White a clear advantage.
Qxd4 12 Qd2 13 BxfA Ne5
Bad for Black, of course, was 13...0b6 14 Rg3 Qxb2 15 Rb1 Qa3
16 Nd5.
U Be2 Bee
Black cannot play actively with 1ft.. .Qa5, since the resulting
ending is clearly advantageous to White: 15 Nd5 Qxd2+ 16 Kxd2 Bd8
17 Radi Be6 18 Kci .
15 Nd5
Game No. 2 131
Immediately! Otherwise the opposing queen takes up an active

position (15 0-0-0 Qa5! ).
15 . . . Bxd5 16 exdS
Normally one tries to occupy the blockading square with a piece,

and indeed, 16 Gxd5 would also have given me an advantage, since
Black's d6 would have required constant defence. But ihen my e4 pawn
would in some instances also have needed to be guarded, and this could
have restricted my while-squared bishop. But now this bishop has
freedom of movement, especially since its black opposite number has
already left the board.
16 Ng6
B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n is m a r k e d l y I n f e r i o r , and so Hort t r i e s lo f i n d a

t a c t i c a l s o l u t i o n to h i s problems. He would have been condemned to
p a s s i v e defence a f t e r c a s t l i n g short, as well as long ( a f t e r ' 16...QC7).
17 Be3 h6t?
It is difficult to know what kind of mark to attach to this move,
so great Is the significance, and not merely from the chess viewpoint,
which is contained in i t . It shows fighting spirit, and the desire (o
give the game a (actical turn. It also shows an accurate assessment
of the position, with a clear understanding of its drawbacks. In
[t'ithort, it is a move which is risky for both sides!
18 19 Kd1
The white king is not embarrassed by the loss of castling. At
the same time, right to the end of the game Black's king has such a
possibility open to it, but does not manage to utilize it.
19 gxh6 20 Bxh6 Bf6
2O...Qf6 probably did not appeal to Black, since his bishop's
mobi li ty would then be severely reduced. Hort had planned an ideal
regrouping of his forces, but in chess there are Iwo sides playing, and
1 In turn was able to take the necessary counter-measures.
21 c3 Be5
It would appear that Black has achieved his aim — he threatens

22...Qh4, while after 22 Bg5 Qb6 2ft 8e3 0c7 White has achieved very
l i t t l e . But White finds a very strong rejoinder.
22 Rg4!
White is not concerned about his h2 pawn. What is most important

at present is not to allow the enemy queen to take up an active pos-
ition on the K-side, where, after a l l , White's pieces are s l i g h t l y
'hanging'.
22 . . . QfG . . ' . . : • - .
Comparatively best was 2 2 . . . B x h 2 , r e - e s t a b l i s h i n g material e q u a l -

ity. But one can also understand the Czech grandmaster, who wanted
to complete his development. . > . . . . .
23 h4! . . .
Now 23.. .Nxhft? f a i l s to 24 Bg7, and in general it w i l l soon be

d i f f i c u l t to win back this pawn, which u n t i l recently was so helpless,
but which now g r a d u a l l y acquires formidable s t r e n g t h . 23. . .0-0-0 also
f a i l s , to 24 BgS.
23 . . . Qf5 - . . .
Black defends against the threat of 24 h5, and simultaneously

hopes to castle Q-side.
24 Rb4!
An excellent square for the rook! 2 4 . . . 0 - 0 - 0 is s t i l l not possible,

i n view of 25 Bg4, and meanwhile the b7 pawn is attacked.
24 . . . Bf6 25 h5 Ne7 , . . . . . -.-.,- -- ..........
Of course, this is a less respectable square than e5, but here

pseudo-activity on B l a c k ' s p a r t could have cost him a piece (after
25...Ne5 26 Rf4}. In passing, it should be noted that a l l this time
Black has had no opportunity to s a c r i f i c e the exchange by . . .Rxh6-
26 RfA Qe5
Game No. 3 133
27 Rf3!
The u n w i e l d y rook d i s p l a y s m i r a c l e s of m a n o e u v r a b i l i t y , l l creates

one threat a f t e r a n o t h e r , and operates e f f i c i e n t l y not only in a t t a c k ,
but also i n defence. Thus Slack achieves nothing now by 2 7 . . .Qxh5
28 Rxf6 QM+ 29 B f i (the rook defends both bishops) 29...Ng8
30 Qel+, and White w i n s .
27 . . . Nxd5 28 Rd3 Rxh6
There is n o t h i n g b e t t e r — o n 2B...Ne7 there follows 29 Bf4.
29 Rxd5
29 0xh6 would be a mistake, i n view of 2 9 . . .Bg5 and 3 0 . . .Ne3+.
29 . . . Qe4
Black appears to have everything in order, but...
30 Rd3!
That rook again! A player is accustomed to all his pieces

working hard, but I think it would be agreed that, as regards the
rook, this applies mainly to the endgame.
30 . . . QM +
Black is forced to go in for this far from equivalent exchange.
30 Kc2 Qxal 31 Qxh6 Be5 32 QgS
Preventing Q-side castling, and creating irresistible threats

against Black's stranded k i n g . in this hopeless position Hort over-
stepped the time l i m i t . This game was voted the best in the Alekhine
Memorial Tournament, and the Yugoslav Infarmatoir called it one of the
best creative achievements of the 1971 chess year. I must confess that
1 too am <jery fond of i t . . . .
No. 3
Quarter-Final Candidates' Match
Moscow 1974
Karpov-Polugayevsky
Sici I ian Defence
This game is memorable mainly for the episode which occurred

after Black's 16th move (I am saying nothing, of course, about the
fact that victory in it brought me closer to a place in the Candidates'
Seml-Finals). Usually in the Sicilian Defence, after Ihe exchange of
the black bishop for a white knight at d5, there follows exd5. In the
given situation this standard capture did not promise White anything in
Particular, but in a normal game I would nevertheless have chosen i t .
However, probably in view of the enormous tension and the fact that
the finish of the match was In sight, I experienced a feeling of inspir-
ation and excitement. The result was the move 17 Qxd5, which involved
the sacrifice of two pawns. Many of the players present erroneously
134 15 of Ihe World Champion's Besl Games
decided that this was a p r e p a r e d v a r i a t i o n . The one to s u f f e r most in

t h i s respect was P o l u g a y e v s k y himself — f o r a long time he looked f a r a
forced loss, a n d f a i led to f i n d i t , but v a l u a b l e time h a d been wasted.
Thus the unexpected c a p t u r e w i t h the queen on d5 h a d a decisive
p s y c h o l o g i c a l effect on my opponent.
1 M c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d& cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nfe 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 ,.5

7 Nb3 Be? 8 0-0 Be6 9 U Qc7 10 a4 Nbd7 11 K h l 0-0
This v a r i a t i o n of the S i c i l i a n Defence occurred each time t h a i

Polugayevsky h a d B l a c k . D u r i n g o u r p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r the m a l c h , m y
t r a i n e r , grandmaster Furman, a n d I had reckoned w i i h this p o s s i b i l i t y ,
and h a d o u t l i n e d the most expedient deployment of White's f o r c e s . The
usual c o n t i n u a t i o n here is 12 f 5 , a n d i n 1971 I h a d managed to win in
this v a r i a t i o n against Bronstein. I also p l a y e d t h i s l a t e r , i n the
L e n i n g r a d Interzonal against B y r n e , though t h i s time w i t h o u t success.
12 Be3 . , • : : •
This idea is not new, but it acquired a second wind at high level
after the game Geller-lukov, 1973. White maintains the tension in the
centre, for the moment not disclosing his intentions.
m
12 . . . exf4 13 Rxf4 Ne5 14 a5 *' '
In the fourth game of the malch I played the weaker 14 Nd4, and
after 14...Rad6 Black secured a good game.
14 . . . Nfd7 15 Rf1 Bf6 16 Nd5 Bxd5 17 Qxd51?
Here there is something I should like to explain. Certain

commentators sometimes accuse me of being a dry, rational, careful
player. It is true that I have a practical approach, and that my
game is based to a great extent on technique. I attempt to play
'correct' chess, and never take risks as, say, Larsen does. As White,
like everyone else, I aim for an advantage from the very start, but as
Black I try first of all to equalize. But when there is a choice of
moves, ! by no means choose the simplest, but rather the most exped-
ient. If there are several equally good continuations, my choice
depends to a great extent on my opponents. Against Tal, for Instance,
I prefer to 90 in for simple positions, which are not to his taste,
whereas against Petrosian I try to make the play more complicated.
But Ff I see only one correct path, then, whoever is playing against
me, I go only along that one path.
Let us return to the game. The sacrifice of two pawns, which I
offered to Polugayevsky, was pure improvisation, as I have already
mentioned. Even today 1 find this a ' t e r r i b l e ' decision on my part.
Game No. 3 135
To be f a i r , it should be mentioned that after the quiet 17 exd5 Nc4

18 Bxc4 Qxc& not a trace remains of While's opening advantage.
T'- 17 0xc2
Polugayeusky spent more than an hour wondering whether or not

to take the pawn. But in the event of Black declining the sacrifice,
he would have come under heavy positional pressure.
18 Nd4 0xb2
As they say, " I n for a penny, in for a pound!" The attempt by

Black to limit himself to a small gain would have led to d position
with material equality and a marked positional advantage for White,
for example: 18...Qc5 19 NfS! Qxd5 20 exd5, and the black d-pawn
falls.
19 Rab1 Qc3
19...Qa3 is weaker — the black queen would have been out of play
on the edge of the board.
20 NfS
The aim of this move is to defend the bishop and not allow the
block queen to c5, which could have occurred after 20 Rb3 0c5 %\ NfS
Qxd5 22 exd5 NcS, when Black can defend.
20 Qc2!
Polugayevsky manoeuvres excellently. Any delay would have
§ allowed White to co-ordinate his pieces, and he was already threatening

21 Bd4 Qd2 22 Rb2, or 21 Rfcl Qa3 22 Rai Ub2 23 Ra2 Qb4 24 8d2!,
trapping the queen.
21 Rbel
An inaccuracy. After 21 Rfe1 White would have gained a big

advantage, whereas now Black finds a defence.
21 NcS 22 Nxd6 Ncd3 23 Bxd3 Nxd3 24 Rdi Nb4
This is the point. If on my 21st move I had played Rfel, the

white rooks would now be standing at b1 and dl . Consequently, Black
would have had only two possibilities: 2A...Nf2+ 25 Bxf2 Qxf2 26 e5
Be7 27 R f i , or 24...Ne5 25 Nxb7, in each case with a clear i n i t i a t i v e
for White.
25 Qxb7
Having been f i r s t two pawns down, and then one, perhaps I was
subconsciously aiming to eliminate this 'material deficiency' . Mean-
while, 25 Qh5 would have threatened 26 Rxf6 gxf6 27 Qg4+ Kh8
28 Bh6, which is not easily p a r r i e d (25. ..g6 26 Qc5).
25 RabB 26 Qa? Qc6
The decisive mistake. Also bad was 26...Nc6 27 Qc7

28 Qxc2 Nxc2 29 Bb6, with advantage to White. But 26...Qe2 would
have given Black some counter-play, although even here after 27 Bb6
the advantage is with White.
27 Bf4
Later 1 learned t h a t , in the press centre at t h i s p o i n t , Furman

had shown that White could have won by the exchange sacrifice
27 Rxf6! gxf6 28 Bh6, threatening 29 Qe3; on 28...Nd3 ihere follows
29 BxfB, and on 28...Qc2 - 29 Rcl Qd3 30 Qc5!. He was no doubt
r i g h t , but t h i s is not the only w i n n i n g p a t h . True, i t is s a i d t h a t ,
when I p l a y e d 27 Bf4 w i t h the threat of 28 e5, my t r a i n e r remarked
contentedly " T h a t ' s also g o o d " . Indeed, the threat of e4-e5 r e s t r i c t s
Black, and his k n i g h t f i n d s itself out of p l a y .
27 Ra8
Defending against 28 e5.
28 Qf2 Rad8 29 Qg3!
The threat is stronger than Its execution! Strangely enough, this

often is Indeed the case. White does not h u r r y to advance e4-e5, but
f i r s t increases the pressure.
f
29 . . . Qc3 30 Rf3 Qc2 31 Rdfi Bd4 •" •"• i
Again p r e v e n t i n g the b r e a k t h r o u g h by the e - p a w n . However, the

attack can no longer be h a l t e d .
32 Bh6
White d i r e c t s his fire simultaneously against two squares — f? and

97.
32 . . . Nc6
In the hope of c o m p l i c a t i n g matters after 33 Nxf7 Q c 4 l .
33 Nf5! Qb2
Game No. 4 137
There would have been an interesting finish after 33.. .Be5

34 Bxg7 Bxg3 35 Rxf3, when Black cannot avoid mate.
34 Bel!
White vacates h6 for his knight with gain of tempo. There is no

longer any defence.
34 . . . Ob5 35 Nh6+ Kh8 36 Nxf7* Rxf7

Or 36...Kg8 37 Nh6+ Kh8 38 Rxf8+.
37 Rxf7 Bf6 38 Qf2 Kg8 39 Rxf6 gxf6 40 Qxf6 Resigns.
No. 4
Semi-Final Candidates' Match - . -' •
Leningrad 1974 .*-.-. ' •
Karpov-Spassky
Queen's Gambit
The concluding game of the match, victory in which took me into
e Final of the Candidates' Event. Of particular interest in the game
"is the theoretical duel. Prior to the match I had never opened with
the queen's pawn against a strong opponent, and 1 d4 had been
prepared as a surprise for Spassky. In the present game I managed
to win bril lianlly in the so-called Makagonov-Bondarevsky Variation,
It should be mentioned that for many years the late grandmaster
Bondarevsky was Spassky's trainer, and It Is no accident that the
given variation has given faithful service to the Ex-World Champion.
d4 Nf6 2 e6 3 Nf3
I decided against 3 Nc3, so as to avoid Ihe Nimzo-lndian Defence,
which worked well for Spassky in the f i f t h game of the match.
3 . . . d5 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bg5 h6 6 0-0 7 e3 b6 8 Be2 Bb7

,9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 cxdS exd5 11 0-0
So far all according to theory, although II Rci is also to be

considered, so as to answer 11...Nd7 with (2 NbS c6 13 Nd6.
11 Qd6
11.. .Nd7 is more oflen played, when White achieves nothing by

12 Qb3 c6 13 e4 dxe4 14 NxeA c5. But if he doesn't play e3-e4
immediately, there follows 12...ReS and ...Nf8-e6, with a f u r t h e r attack

on the d4 pawn.
12 Rd a6
It is essential to prevent Nb5, and after 12...c6 the bishop at b7

is blocked In, allowing the e-pawn to advance.
13 a3 Nd7 14 b4 b5
In ihis v a r i a t i o n it is p r a c t i c a l l y impossible for Black to be the

f i r s t to play a c t i v e l y . His task is to entrench himself and to be f u l l y
prepared to meet any action by the opponent. By b2-b4 White has
weakened his c4 square, and this gives Black c o u n t e r - p l a y .
15 Nei
An inaccuracy. After 15 Nd2! followed by Nb3-c5 While need nol

have allowed the freeing advance . . . a 5 .
15 . . . c6! 16 Nd3 Nb6?
Black f a i l s to u t i l i z e the opportunity o f f e r e d . By p l a y i n g 16...a5

he would have equalized easily, opening the a - f l l e and eliminating
p r a c t i c a l l y all his weaknesses. Spassky presumably thought that he
would always have time to move the a-pawn, but after White's next
move his pieces prove to be very awkwardly placed.
17 a4! Bd8
It is d i f f i c u l t to condemn Black for this move. Faced with the

necessity of conducting a passive defence, the Ex-World Champion
decides to threaten mate, in the hope of e x p l o i t i n g the weakening of
the opponent's castled position. In doing so, however, he disturbs the
co-ordinal ion of his pieces: the rook at aB Is now doomed to remain
where it is and defend the weak pawn. 17.. . RadS was essential,
allowing the painless retreat of the bishop lo c8. With his rook at dS
and bishop at f6, the central breakthrough would have held no great
terrors for Black, and the opening of the a-file would not have
presented any particular danger.
IS Nc5 Bc8 19 a5 Bc7 20 g3 Nc4 21 eA Bh3 22 Rei dxe4
This creates a new weakness in B l a c k ' s position — his c6 pawn.

In a d d i t i o n , i t activates the white k n i g h t s , which gain the splendid
t r a n s i t square e4. Spas5ky endeavours at a l l costs to prevent the
blocking of the position. Although after e4-e5 Black loses any possi-
Game No. 4 139
b i l ity of active c o u n t e r - p l a y , the path to White's goal is also greatly

lengthened.
In the event of 22...Rfe6 23 8f3 dxe4? 24 N3xe4 Qg6 (24...Qe7
loses a pawn after 25 Nc3) 25 Bh5, Black cannot play 25. . .0h7
because of 26 B*f7+! Kxf7 27 0h5+. Comparatively best is 23...Be6,
when, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , the combination 24 Nxa6 Rxa6 25 exd5 cxd5
26 Nxb5 Qc6 27 Nxc7 Qxc7 28 Bxd5 f a i l s to 25...Bd7.
23 N3xe4 Qg6 24 Bh5!
By 2 2 . . . d x e 4 Black o f f e r e d a pawn s a c r i f i c e , but White n a t u r a l l y

r e j e c t s t h i s Greek g i f t . After 24 Bxc4? bxc4 25 Rxc4 f 5 ! a n d 2 6 . . . f 4
the opponent would have g a i n e d a very s t r o n g a t t a c k .
24 . . . Qh7
If 24...Qf5, then 25 Rc3, and Black has no good defence to g3-g4.
I 25 Qf3 f5?
This loses by force, since White gives up h i s bishop to penetrate

with h i s rook onto the seventh r a n k , and acquires splendid squares for
his queen and k n i g h t s . After 25...Qf5 it would s t i l l not have been
easy for White to realize h i s a d v a n t a g e . Here is how events might
have developed: 26 Nc3 8d6! (26...Rfe8 27 Qxc6, or 26...Rfd8 27 Re7
Qxf3 28 Bxf3 Bd6 29 Rb7) 27 QxfS Bxf5 2Q Bf3, or 26 0xf5 Bxf5
27 Bf3 Rfc8! 28 Be2! Nd6 29 Bd3, w i t h advantage to White.
26 Nc3 g6 27 Qxc6 gxh5 28 Nd5
f
A picturesque position! The black bishop is attacked, and it is
impossible to defend i t . In addition, White threatens 29 Re7.
28 . . . fh, 29 Re7 Of5
f
After 2O...fxg3 White wins most simply by 30 Nf6+ Rxf6 31 Qxa8+
Rf8 32 Qxf8+ Kxf8 33 Rxh7 gxh2+ 34 KM BU 35 Rei. Not 30 Rxh7??,
of course, in view of 3O...gxf2+ 31 Kh1 fl=Q+ 32 Rxfl Rxfl mate.
30 Rxc7 Rae8 31 Qxh6 Rf7 32 Rxf7 Kxf7 33 Qxf4 Re2 34 Qc7*

KfB 35 Nf4 Resigns.
No. 5
Final Candidates' Match
Moscow 1974
Karpov-Korchno 1
S i c i l i a n Defence
There Is no need for- me to t a l k about the competitive importance

of this game. A victory at the very s t a r ! of [he match, and in such
crushing s t y l e , could not fail to influence the e n t i r e subsequent
struggle. The reader can see for himself that the game turned out to
be u n u s u a l l y spectacular.
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 NxdA Nf6 5 Nc3 g6
At that time Korchnoi alone of the top players used to play the
Dragon V a r i a t i o n , and in p a r t i c u l a r , this opening twice occurred in his
1971 Candidates' Match with Gel l e r . | n a t u r a l l y did not r u l e out the
p o s s i b i l i t y of t h i s v a r i a t i o n o c c u r r i n g in our match.
6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 Nc6 8 Qd2 0-0 9 Bc4 6d7 10 t>4 Rca II Bb3
Ne5 12 0-0-0
The immediate 12 h5 Is also p o s s i b l e .
12 . . . NcA 13 BxcA Rxc4 14 h5 Nxh5 15 g4 Nf6 16 NdeZ!
The logical basis for the retreat of the k n i g h t from the centre is
roughly as fol lows. The c3 square is the most important point in
White's s e l - u p , against which Black concentrates his a t t a c k . The
standard exchange sacrifice . . .Rxc3 often occurs on Ihis square, when
the opponent gains a strong a t t a c k . It is a curious fact that, after
the doubling of the white pawns on the c - f i l e , B l a c k ' s position is so
r i c h in p o s s i b i l i t i e s that even in the endgame he can maintain the
balance, as was splendidly demonstrated in his games by the out-
standing Soviet grandmaster Leonid Stein. Thus ttie basic idea of the
k n i g h t move is to reinforce c3. i n a d d i t i o n , from e2 the k n i g h t can
easily be t r a n s f e r r e d for a direct attack on the hostile k i n g . As the
reader w i l l already have noticed, both p l a y e r s , without w o r r y i n g about
loss of m a t e r i a l , are mounting attacks on opposite wings — as normally
happens in positions w i t h c a s t l i n g on opposite sides. All these general
considerations should not obscure the concr-ete threat created by White
along the d - f i l e — 17 e5 and 18 g5. ; , .«
15 . . . Qa5 17 Bh6
A standard p l o y . In order to develop his attack successfully,

White is obliged to exchange the bishop at g7, which Is the sole
defender of the black squares around Its k i n g . Besides, this bishop,
I ike a long-range gun, can often put White's Q-side under fire.
Grandmaster Vladimir Si mag i n , a p l a y e r who was r i c h l y endowed w i t h
creative f a n t a s y , even devised in such positions the thematic exchange
sacrifice . . . B h 8 , merely so as to preserve his f a v o u r i t e piece from
exchange.
17 ..
1?...Rfc8 18 Bxg7 Kxg7 19 Qh6+ Kg3 transposes.
IB Qxh6 RfcB 19 Bd3!

Game No. 5 141
Up to this point both players had been moving almost instantly,

but here I played a move prepared beforehand, causing Korchnoi to
spend a long time deep in thought. And indeed, there was plenty f o r
him to think about. . . . It had been established that the theoretical
continuation 19 Rd5 does not b r i n g White any real gains. For example:
!9...Qd8 20 g5 Nh5 21 Ng3 Qf8! 22 Qxf8+ Rxf8! (earlier it was
thought lhat Black had to take with the k i n g , but then White's position
Is a l i t t l e better) 23 NnhS gxh5 24 Rxh5 f51. and things are slightly
more pleasant now for Black. Or 20 e5 d*e5 21 g5 Nh5 22 Ng3 Qfg
23 Rxh5 (23 Nxh5 Qxh6 24 gxh6 Bc6! ) 23...gxh5 24 Rxd7 Qxh6
25 gxh6, and the outside passed pawn on the h-file gives Black good
counter-chances.
After 19 Rd3! the knight at c3 is overprotected, and in a number
of variations the knight at e2 is freed for the attack. If, without
this move, White had attempted to advance immediately — 19 g5 Nh5
20 Ng3, the unpleasant counter-blow 2O...Rxc3 would have awaited him.
19 R4c5
When during our preparations lor the match we analysed 19 Rd3,

we came to the conclusion that the best reply to it was 19...R8c5.
After 36 minutes of thought my opponent decided that he had to safe-
guard himself againsl the constantly threatening thrusls of the e- and
g-pawns. I think nevertheless that Slack's best practical chance was
19...Qd8, recommended later by BoWinnik. But now, after spending 18
minutes in search of a refutation of the rook move, I found a fine
forcing combination.
20 g5
The knights at c3 and f6 defend their kings, and therefore it is
they that are subject to the greatest danger (the removal of the black
knight from f6 will almost immediately lead to the intrusion of the
, white knight at d5) .
20 . . . Rxg5 Rd5!
Of course, not 21 Nd5 Rxd5!, when Black's chief defender, his

^knight, remains ' a ! ive' .
21 . . . Rxd5 22 Nxd5 Re8
Here 22. . .Qd8 no longer works: 23 Nef4 0f8 24 Nxf6+ exf6

25 0xh7 mate, while if 22...Nh5, then 23 Nxe7+ Kh8 24 Nxc8.
23 Nef4 Bc6
142 IS of Ihe World Champion's Best Games
The d5 square has to be a t t a c k e d , as otherwise there follows

Nxf6+ followed by Nd5, a n d m . P S . On 23...Be6 I h a d p r e p a r e d
24 Nxe6 fxe6 25 Nxf6+ exf6 26 Qxh7+ Kf8 27 Qxb7 Qg5+ 28 Kbi Re7
29 0b8+ ReB 30 Qx a 7 ( b u t d e f i n i t e l y not 30 Rh8+?? K g 7 ! , when it is
B l a c k , who threatens 31...Qg1 mate, who wins) 3O...Re7 31 OtiB+ Ree
32 0xd6+ - a r a r e a n d d i s t i n c t i v e type of ' w i n d m i l l ' .
24 e5!
B l o c k i n g that same f i f t h r a n k . There is a d a z z l i n g a r r a y of
possibilities, but in fact this is the only d e c i s i v e c o n t i n u a t i o n . White
f a i Is to win by the s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d 24 Nxf6+ exf6 25 Nh5 Qg5+ ( t h i s is
the p o i n t ! ) 26 0xg5 fxg5 27 Nf6+ Kg7 28 Nxe8* BxeB.
24 BxdS
After 2 4 . . . d x e 5 25 Nxf6+ exf6 26 Nh5, mate is I n e v i t a b l e .
25 exf6 exf6
In such positions the most important t h i n g is — s e l f - c o n t r o l ! One
w a n t s , of course, to make a b r i l l i a n t move as q u i c k l y as p o s s i b l e , but
here it was not yet too late to lose the game: 26 Mh5 would have been
met by the sobering Z6...Re1 + .
26 Qxh7+ Kf8 27 Qh8+ Resigns
If 2 7 . . . K e 7 , then 28 Nxd5+ Qxd5 29 Re1 + .
No. 6
European Team Championship
Moscow 1977
Port i sch-Kar pov
K i n g ' s I n d i a n Attack
A most u n u s u a l game, i n that I succeeded in l i t e r a l l y c r u s h i n g my

opponent in t w e n t y - t h r e e moves. I wonder i f a n y t h i n g s i m i l a r had
happened to him before!? At one time I h a d a minus score against
P o r t i s c h , then I e l i m i n a t e d i t . But i n the chess world the H u n g a r i a n
grandmaster was c u s t o m a r i l y r e g a r d e d as a d i f f i c u l t opponent f o r me.
The present game w i l l perhaps f i n a l l y r e f u t e t h i s o p i n i o n . . . .
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 b6 3 Bg2 Bb7 4 O-O e6 5 d J d5 6 Nbd2 Nbd7
It would appear that this move had not been played before. An
Game No. 6 143
entertaining game was played in the First League of the 1976 USSR
Championship: 6...Be7 7 e4 dxe4 8 dxe4 Nxe4? 9 Neb, and Black
resigned, since on 9...Nd6 there follows 10 Bxb7 Nxb7 11 Qf3, with a
double attack on f7 and b7 (Kochiev-I vanov).
7 R*1 Bc5
The combination of this bishop manoeuvre with the previous knight
move is a completely new idea. As a result Black has immediately
solved all his opening problems.
8 c4
The innovation puts Portisch out of his stride, and he avoids the
traditional advance of the e-pawn. An equal game would have resulted
from 8 eh dex4 9 Ng5 e3 10 fxe3 Bxg2 11 Kxg2 Nd5 12 Nde4, whereas
now it becomes clear that White has made a pointless move with his
rook to el .
8 0-0 9 cxd5 10 Nb3
It is understandable that the bishop at c5 should be playing on

White's nerves, but at b3 the knight will be badly placed.
10 . . . Bb4!
Weaker is 1O...Bd6 11 Nbd4 Re8 12 Nb5.
11 Bd2 a5
Biack gains some advantage by 11...6xd2 12 Qxd2 c5, but I was

aiming for more complicated p l a y .
12 Nbd4 Re8
There is no point in immediately d r i v i n g away the knight by 12.••

c5. The rook move is a l l the same useful, and White has nothing
better than to 'force' the advance of the c-pawn.
13 Rci c5 14 Nf5 Nf8 15 d4?
A risky decision, since Black Is better prepared for a clash in

the centre.
15 . . . Ne4 16 dxc57
This move is associated with an oversight in the resulting compl'-

cations. Perhaps Portisch simply over-looked Black's 17th move? How-

ever, White was already in considerable d i f f i c u l t i e s . If, for instance,
16 a3, then 16...Bxd2 17 Nxd2 Qf6, and the knight at f5 is trans-
formed from an active piece into a highly vulnerable one.
16 Nxd2 17 Nxd2 Qg5!
Suddenly bolh knights are ' h a n g i n g ' . 18 Ne3 loses immediately

to 18...Rxe3 19 fxe3 0xe3+ and 10...Bxd2, so White has no choice.
18 Nd6 Bxd2
Here, on the other hand, White has a wide choice, b u t . . . a cheer-

less one:
19 ha Qh6 20 NxeB (after 20 NfS 0f6 White loses a piece) 20...
Rxe8 21 c6 Ba6, and White's position is d i f f i c u l t . More interesting is
20 Nxb7, and if 2O...Bxe1, then 21 Q*el Rxe2 22 Qxe2 Qxcl+ 23 Kh2
(the king has an escape square — an important contrast to that which
occurs in the game) 23...bxc5 24 Bx65, and White gains some counter-
play. The whole point, however, is that after 19 h4 Qh6 20 Nxb7
Black takes the other rook — 2Q...Bxc1 21 Qxcl Rxe2, with a quick
win.
While can also move another pawn — 19 c6, when there follows
19...Ba6 20 f4 (20 NxeB Rxe8) 2O...Qe7 (better- than the immediate
20. ..Be3+, when 21 Khi Ge7 22 BxdS is possible), and on 21 NxeB
Black has the zwischenzug 21...Qe3+!
19 Nxb7 Bxel 20 Qxel Rxe2 21 0xe2 Qxc1+ 22 Qfi Qd2! 23 cxb6
After 23 c6 Black wins by 23...RC8 24 Qb5 Qc1+ and 2S...Qxc6.
23 Rc8 White resigns
He either loses his queen, or Is mated after 24 Qb5 Rc2!
No. 7
'Tournament of S t a r s ' , Montreal 1979
Timman-Ksrpov
E n g l i s h Opening
T h i s game is noteworthy f o r the f a c l t h a t i n i t t h e Dutch g r a n d -
master f e l l into a t r a p , p r e p a r e d . . . f o r K o r c h n o i . It should be said
that f o r the match i n Baguio we p r e p a r e d a number of opening s u r -
p r i s e s , and by no means a l l of them were u s e d . Several ideas a r e
s t i l l a w a i t i n g t h e i r t u r n , and it is q u i t e impossible to tell who w i l l be
Game No. 7 US
their 'undeserving' victims. Incidentally, in Ihe same Montreal tourna-

ment, Portisch too was unlucky, Playing the French Defence with Black
against l a I, he also ran into a v a r i a t i o n prepared for the World
Championship Match.
1 c<t Nf6 2 Nc3 eS 3 Nf3 Nc6 A e3
In Baguio the continuation 4 g3 Bb4 was Intensively tested, so

Timman chooses a different v a r i a t i o n of the English opening.
4 . . . Be7
4...Bb4 is very popular here, and now 5 0c2 0-0 6 Nd5 Re8 lat
the 1978 Amsterdam Tournament, Timman himself, with Black against
Adorjan, continued 6...a5 7 a3 Bc5 8 Ng5 g6 9 Nxf6+ Qxf6 10 Ne4
Qe7 11 Be2 d6 12 b3 Ba7 13 0-0 f5 14 Nc3 f i . 15 Nd5 Qg5 16 Kh1
6h3 17 gxh3 f3 18 Bxf3 Rxf3 19 Qe4 Raf8, but after 20 Qg4 White
retained a slight advantage) 7 Qf5. It is in this direction that
theoretical searchings have developed in recent times. Thus Ronianishin,
as' Black against Kasparov in the 1978 USSR Championship (Premier
League), employed here an interesting, but hardly correct pawn s a c r i -
fice: 7...Be7?! 8 NxeS Nb4 9 Nxb4 Bxb4 10 a3 d5?! (White also
retains a certain advantage after 10...d6 11 Qc2 Bxd2+ 12 Bxd2 dxe5)
11 Qc2 Rxe5 12 axb4 Bf5 13 d3 0e7 14 Bd2 d4 15 Be2 dxe3 16 fxe3
Bg4 17 Bf3!, and in the end the compi ications proved favourable for
White.
5 d * exd4 6 NxdA 0-0 7 Nxc6
Also possible is 7 Be2, delaying the exchange on c6. After 7. , .

Re8 8 0-0 Bf8 9 b3 d6 10 Bb2 Bd7 11 Rci Nxd4 12 Qxd4 c6
13 Rfdi (Stean-Garcia, Lone Pine 1978} White retained a si ight opening
advantage.
7 . . . bxc6 8 Be2 d5 9 0-0 Bd6
Al I the indications are that Black stands wel I, both in the centre
and on the f l a n k s . It is important for him merely to co-ordinate the
actions of his pieces.
10 b3 Qe7 Bb2 dxc4!
This idea was conceived during our preparations for the World
B6hs<npionship Match. On general grounds it may seem rather dubious,
Tbut from the specific, tactical viewpoint it proves to be f u l l y j u s t i f i e d .
Black's main problem is to expand to the maximum extent the
scope of his well placed pieces, and to direct them towards an attack
on the K-side. It should be said that a K-side pawn structure, such
as White has here, always assists an attack by the opponent.
The earlier continuation here was 11...Rd8 12 cxd5 Qe5 13 g3
Bh3 U Ret Bb4 15 Qc2 Bf5 16 Qci cxd5 17 Bf3 Qe7 18 e3 Ba5
19 b4 6b6 20 NxdS, with an undisputed advantage for White (Keene-
Jansson, 1976}.
12 bxc4
Capturing with the bishop weakens White's control of g4, and

Black acquires all kinds of attacking possibilities, such as 12...Oe5
13 g3 Bh3, 12...Ng4 13 g3 Nxh2, or even 1 2 . . . B x h 2 + ! ? But now the

queen's rook comes into p l a y w i t h g a i n of tempo.
12 . . . R68!
White has to be on his guard: double attacks are In the air.
For example, 13 Bb1? Rxb2 14 Rxb2 Qe5, etc.
13 Qd Ng4
Black's altack develops easily and spontaneously. White has noi

even a trace of an advantage left; on the contrary, he has to follow
with anxiety the development of events on the K-side.
14 g3
After 14 Bxg4 Bxgi IS Rei Slack can increase the pressure by

15...Rb4!
14 . . . Re8
Of course, I could have played ! 4 . . .Nxh2 15 Kxh2 Qh4+ Immed-

iately, forcing a draw, but I already had every justification for
playing for a win. After 14...Re8 the combination with the knight
sacrifice at h2 will not be so inoffensive, since the rook can be
brought up with decisive effecl onto the sixth rank (15...Nxh2 16 Kxh2
Qh4+ 17 Kg2 Qh3+ ie Kgi 6xg3 19 fxg3 Qxg3+ 20 KM Re6, e t c . ] .
15 Nd1
I think that White is also In trouble after IS Bf3, which was
recommended by certain commentators. For example, 15.. .Of6 (15.. .Me5
16 Be2 Bh3 17 Rdi is less clear) 16 Bxg4 (bad is 16 Bg2 Qh6 17 h3
Ne5, etc.) 16...Bxa4 17 f3 Bh3 18 Rf2 Qg6, with a strong initiative
for Black.
15 Nxh2!
A sacrifice, By which Black Increases his advantage. Tinman
foresaw this, of course, but was pinning his hopes on the strength of
his answering intermediate move. But before beginning the combination
I had taken accurate account of all possible tactical nuances.
16 c5
Of course, not 16 Kxh2 Qh4+ 17 Kg2 Qh3+ 18 Kgi Bxg3 19 fx9 3
Qxg3+ 20 Khl Re4! <20...Re6 21 Bf6) 21 Rf4 Bh3, and it is all over.
A
Game No. 8 H?
16 . . . N x f i ! 17 cxd6 Nxg3!
l l was this blow, completing ihe destruction of White's K-side,

thai Ihe Dulch grandmaster overlooked in his calculations. Since
18 dxe7 Nxe2+ 19 Kf! Nxci Is completely hopeless for White, he has no
choice.
18 fxg3 Qxd6 19 Kf2
Equally cheerless is 19 Kg2 Qh6 20 g4 Gg5 (or 2O...Rb4).
19 . . . Qh6 20 Bd4
Or 20 Qc3 Re6, b r i n g i n g up new reserves into the attack,
20 . . . Qh2+ 21 Kel Qxg3+
White's days are numbered. Black has a powerful initiative and

b i g material advantage.
22 Kd2 Qg2 23 Nb2 Ba6 24 Nd3 Bxd3 25 Kxd3 RbdB 26 Bfi Qe4+
27 Kc3
:S
27 cS!
Clearing the final approaches to the white king. This is the

quickest way to w i n .
28 Bxc5 Qc6 29 Rb8+ 30 Ka3 Re5 31 Qb6
White resigns.
No. 8
Bad Lauterberg 1980
K a rpo v -H u b n er
Sicil ian Defence
This is, I t h i n k , one of the best tournament games of 1980. It

very r a r e l y happens lhat both players play practically faultlessly,
especially when the game is abounding in tactical nuances. Here a
sharp skirmish concluded in a forced win for While.
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6
Hiibner first invites me to play the Najdorf Variation, and then

1*8 15 of the World Champion's Best Games
switches to Ihe Scheveningen.
3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 e6 7 0-0 Be7 S U 0-0

9 KM Nc6 10 Be3 Bd7 11 Qei Nxd4 12 BxO4 Be6 13 Qg3 b5 U a3 96
An attempt to take the pressure off g7 as soon as possible. In

this well known position Black usually plays . . . g 6 a l i t t l e later.
15 Bf3 Qd7 16 Radi Qb7 17 f5
The most vigorous way of exploiting the early advance of Black's

g-pawn. The simple variation 17.. .Nxe4 18 Nxe4 Bxe4 19 f6 Bd8
20 Qh4 Bxf3 21 Qh6 Bxg2+ 22 Kgi demonstrates the immunity of White's
e-pawn.
17 . . . e5 18 Be3 b4 19 axb4 Qxb4 20 Bg5 Qxb2 21 Rd3
Creating the vei led threat of (rapping the queen by 22 Rbi Gxc2
23 Bdi . Bui in the meantime White gives ur> a second pawn.
21 . . . Qxc2
22 Bdi
The a l t e r n a t i v e , also a p p a r e n t l y good, was 22 R f d 1 , but in a

joint analysis with my opponent after the game we were unable to
discover any decisive c o n t i n u a t i o n .
22 . . . Qb2 23 Bxf6 Bxf6 24 Rxd6 Bb5
On 2 4 . . .Bh4 there would have fol lowed 25 Qxh4 Qxc3 26 Qh6, but
not the inexact 26 f6 in view of 26...Qci> 27 Rg1 (or 27 Rf3 Qxe4)
27...Kh8.
25 Rf2 Qct
After the game HUbner s a i d that 25...Qa1 would have been better.
This is indeed so, had White repeated what occurred in the game. But
I had i n mind 26 fxg6, and on 2 6 . . . B g 7 27 gxf?+.
26 Rxf6
The preceding t a c t i c a l play has led to mutual time t r o u b l e , which

nevertheless sharperied my t a c t i c a l v i s i o n .
Game No. 149
White has an amusing win here after 26...Rad8:

27 fxg6 Rxdl + 28 Nxdi Qxd1 + 29 Rfi Bxfi 30 gxf7++ KhB
31 Qxe5 Bxg2++ 32 Kxg2 Qg4+ 33 Kf2 Qg7 34 h 4 ! , and this pawn, on
reaching h6, decides the outcome.
27...hxg6 28 h3 Rd3 29 Qxg6+ (t w i l l not say that this is the
only solution, but it is c e r t a i n l y the most spectacular) 29...fxg6
30 Rxf8+ Kh7 31 R2f7+ Kh6 32 Rh8+ Kg5 33 h* mate.
26 . . . Rac8 27 Re2 Qai 28 fxg6 hxg6
On 28...Rxc3 the f a m i l i a r mechanism again operates: 29 gxf7++

KhS 30 Gxe5 Qxdl + 31 Rf1 mate. In this case an 'optical i l l u s i o n '
can arise: 3O...Re3 (3O...Ra3 31 R b 2 ! l , and Black appears to divert
the queen by himself threatening mate. But normal vision is restored
immediately: 31 Qxa1 ! Re1 + 32 Rf1 mate.
29 Rd6 Rc7
After 29...Rfd8 30 Qxe5 Rxd6 31 Qxd6 Rxc3 32 Qd4 Ra3 White

mates by 33 Rc8+ Kh7 34 RhB.
30 OxeS Rfc8 31 Qd5 Kg7 32 Qd4+ Kh7 33 Nxb5 Resigns
No. 9
Bugojno 1980
Karpov-Tal
Slav Defence
In this game, which seems to me to be a very complete one, I

employed an innovation in the so-called Meran V a r i a t i o n . True, I
learned of this from grandmaster Gligoric, who said that the move
employed by me had never been played before, and that he had been
keeping it secret for more than a year. What is s u r p r i s i n g is that I
made this move (the move in question is c a s t l i n g ) after only a few
minutes' thought, and that I had never analysed the position which Tal
went in f o r . I think that the reason why I q u i c k l y found the correct
move was that I looked at the position from a fresh viewpoint. The
continuations recommencJed in theoretical guides never even occurred
to me! I should also mention that in this game, after a whole series
of draws, I for the f i r s t lime gained a win over Mikhail T a l . The
Ex-World Champion and I are on f r i e n d l y terms, but I had no choice
— only a win gave me hopes of catching Larsen, who was confidently
leading the tournament.
e6 2 Nc3 d5 c6 Nf6 5 Nf3 Nbd7 6 Bd3

ISO 15 of the World Champion's Best Games
7 Bxc4 bS 8 Bd3 a6 9 e4 cS 10 dS c4 11 dxe6 t x d 3 12 exd7+ Qxd7

13 0-0
This is the afore-mentioned innovation. Usually 13 6g5 or 13 e5

was p l a y e d .
13 . . . Bb7 14 Rei Bb4
H . . . 0 - 0 - 0 is r i 5 k y in view of 15 Bf4, while on U,..RdB there

would have followed 15 BgS.
\
15 Ne5 Qe6
Other moves also f a i l to <3ive complete e q u a l i t y , for example,

15...Qe7 16 Nxd3 Bxc3 17 bxc3 0-0-0 18 f 3 , or 15...Qd4 16 Nxd3
0-0-0 17 Nxb4 Qxb4 18 Qc2.
16 Nxd3 Bxc3 ••-•"'•
17 Nf4I
This intermediate move is the whole point. After 17 bxc3 O-O-O

Black avoids the chief dangers.
17 . . . Qd7 .. ... . ;. >; .
Unsatisfactory is 17...Qe5 18 bxc3 0-0 19 Nd3, when 19...Qxc3

faMs to 20 Bb2.
18 bxc3 Nxe«
Afier 16. , .0-0-0 (this possibility has constantly to be taken inio

account) 19 Oxd7+ Rxd7 20 f3, or 18...Gxd1 19 Rxdi Nxe4 20 Ba3
White retains an advantage.
19 Q*d7+ Kxd7 20 B«3 Rhe8 21 Red1+ Kc7 22 f3
The knight Is diverted from the defence of the important squares,

and White, exploiting the fact that the opponent's queen's rook Is not
yet in play, succeeds In exposing the position of the black k i n g and
mounting an attack on i t .
22 . . . Nf6 23 BdfrH Kb6 24 C4 RecB 25 cxb5 axb5 26 a* RedS

27 axb5 Rd7 28 Rd4 Rcd8 29 Rodi RcB
29. . ,g5 allows White to gain a decisive advantage by 30 Be7l

Rxd4 31 Bxd8+ Kc5 32 Rxdfi Kxd4 33 Bxf6+.
Game No. 10 151
30 Be5 Re7
Afier 3O...Rxd4 31 Bxdfc+ Kxb5 32 Bxf6 gxf6 33 Rd7 Black has

no chance of saving Ihe game.
31 Rd6+ Kxb5 32 Rbl+ Kc4
The noose around the black king Is tightening: 32...Kc5 33 Nd3+

Kc4 34 Rb4 mate, or 32...Ka5 33 Rd2 Rc4 34 Ra2+ Ra4 35 Bc3+.
33 Rd4+
33 Kc5
Mate also follows after 33...Kc3 34 Rd3+ Kc2 (34...Kc4 35 Rc3

mate) 35 Rb2+ Kci 36 Ne2 mate.
34 Nd3* Resigns
Mate cannot be avoided: 34...Kc6 35 Rcl+ Kb6 36 Rb4+ Ka7

37 Ra1 + Ba6 38 Bd4+ Ka8 39 Rxa6+ and 40 Rxa7 mate.
No. 10
Bugojno 1980
Gl igoric-Karpov
Nimzo- Indian Defence
In my notes to the previous game I mentioned that in my game

with Tal I made a desperate attempt to catch Larsen in this inter-
national tournament. Four rounds from the f i n i s h this seemed impos-
sible, since the gap was one and a half points. But hy gaining three
successive wins I drew level with the Danish grandmaster. This
f i n i s h i n g spurt so affected my r i v a l that he faltered, and in the last
round missed a win in a won ending. This now gave me chances of
sole f i r s t place, for which I had to defeat Gligoric with Black. This
victory did not come easi l y . In an inferior position the Yugoslav
player set me enough! traps to suffice for several games. By f i n a l l y
breaking the resistance of the experienced grandmaster, I gave myself a
nice present (the last round took place on my b i r t h d a y ! ) .
d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Bb& 4 e3 c5 5 Nge2 cxd4
In the f i f t h game of the World Championship Match in Baguto I

preferred 5 . . . d 5 . After 6 a3 Bxc3+ 7 Nxc3 cxd4 8 exd4 dxc4 9 Bxc4
Nc6 10 Be3 0-0 11 0-0 b6 12 Qd3 White retained a minimal positional
advantage.
6 exd4 0-0
The t h i r d game of the same match went 6 . . .d5 7 c5 Ne4 8 Bd2
Nxd2 9 Qxd2 a5.
7 a3 Be7 8 d5 exd5 9 cxd5 Re8
After 9 . . . d 6 10 Nd4 While has time lo play Be2 a n d 0 - 0 ,

successfully removing h i s k i n g from the centre a n d r e t a i n i n g an a d v a n -
tage i n space.
10 d6!?
An i n t e r e s t i n g , a l t h o u g h r i s k y move. The pawn w i l l undoubtedly
be lost, but in this time White hopes to g a i n a lead i n development.
The normal c o n t i n u a t i o n is \0 g3 Bc5, w i t h an u n c l e a r game.
10 . . . Bf8 11 g3 Re6 12 Bg2 Rxd6 13 Qc2 Nc6 U 0-0 Re6

15 Nf4 Re8 16 b4
Wilh his four^move rook manoeuvre Black has won the 'thematic'
pawn, but has fallen somewhat behind in development. It is not so
easy, however, to exploit this factor, for example: 16 NfdS Nxd5
17 Nxti5 d6 18 Bf4 Bg4, etc.
16 . . . d6 18 Bb2 Bd7 18 Ncd5
A complicated game results from 18 b5 Na5 19 Qd3 Rc8, but

18 NeA was to be considered. After 18...Nxe4 19 Bxeft h6 20 Bd5
White retains the necessary compensation for the pawn, so Black would
probably have had to play 18...Ng4.
18 . . . NxdS 19 Bxd5 Rc8 20 Qb3 Re7 21 Radi
On 21 Rfel Black has the defence 21...Be8, when his plans include
exchanging on el and transferring the second rook from c8 to e7.
Game No. 10 153
21 . . . b5!
S t a b i l i z i n g the position on the Q-side. On 21...Bg4, with the idea

of consolidating by 22...Od7, White replies 22 f 3 .
22 Sg2 Re8
Here on 22...Bg4 there could have followed not only 23 f3 Bf5

24 Rd5, but also 23 Rd2 with the threat of 24 h3, in both cases with
sufficient chances for White.
23 Bd5 Re7 24 Bg2 Ne5!
A f u r t h e r retreat by the rook would have led to a three-fold

repetition of the p o s i t i o n . By r e t u r n i n g the pawn Black assumes the
ini tiative_
25 RxdG Nc4 26 Rddi
The sharp 26 Rd5 was an interesting a l t e r n a t i v e .
26 . . . Qe8 27 Bd4 Bc6 28 6c5 Re5 29 BxfB Kxf8 30 NdS Kg8

3! h4 h6 32 Bf3?
An unfortunate decision. After 32 Kh2 Bd? 33 Nf4 Black has

merely a s l i g h t advantage.
32 . . . Bd7
An inaccuracy in r e p l y . White's erroneous bishop move could

have been exploited by the spectacular manoeuvre 32,..Qe6 33 Nf4
(33 Qb3 Nb2) 33...Nd2L!, for example: 34*Nxe6 Nxf3+ 35 Qxf3 ( k i n g
moves are met by 35...Nd4+) 35,..Bxf3 36 Rd8* Rxd8 37 Nxd8 Re8!,
p i c k i n g up the k n i g h t .
33 Nf4 BfS 34 Nd3 Re? 35 Bg2 Be6 36 Qbl Nxa3 37 Qa1 Nc2
B l a c k ' s advantage is now d e f i n i t e .
38 Qb2 Bf5 39 Kh2
After 39 NcS Nei 40 Bd5 Bh3 the white rook is amusingly trapped.
39 . . . Rc4 40 Bd5 Rd4 41 Nf4 Rxb4 42 8b3
Better defensive chances were offered by 42 Qc3, w i t h the inten-

tion of p l a y i n g 43 Bb3 and 44 Nd5.
A2 . . . Rxf4 43 g x f i Re2 44 Kg3!
On 44 Bd5 Black has not only 44...Ne3 45 Qxe2 Ng4t 46 Qxg4

Bxg&, but also the more vigorous 44...Qe31.
44 . . . Bg6
Not the careless 44...Qc6? 45 RdB+ Kh7 46 Bxf7 Ne3, in view of

47 B98+ Kg6 48 h5+! Kxh5 49 Qxe2+.
45 BxcZ
15* 15 of the World Champion's Best Games
The t h r e a t was 45...Ne3 46 Qxe2 NfS+.
45 . . . Bxc2 46 Rd6 f6 47 Qd4 Qg6+ 48 Kh2
48 Kf3 0h5+ 49 Kg3 is u n p l e a s a n t l y met by 4 9 . . . B e 4 .
46 . . . Qg4 49 R g i Qxh4+ SO Kg2 Re? 51 f 5 Be4+ 52 K H Qh3+

53 Kei Bxf5+
53 . . . Qxf5 is i n a c c u r a t e : 54 Rd8+ Kh7 55 Rh8+! Kxh8 55 Qd8+

Kh7 57 0xe7, a n d unexpectedly it is White who w i n s .
54 Kd2 Kh7 55 Qf4 b4 56 Rg3 Qh5 57 Qf3 0 x f 3 58 Rxf3 Bc8

59 Rf4 Rb7 60 Kc2 a5 61 Kb2 a4 62 Ra6 Bd7 White r e s i g n s
-••<-•"!£'!.
No. 11 .*:;•! •- » ,;• •. .- ' 7 ' :

Amsterdam 1980
•'• .;._ Karpov-Ribli .. •
English Opening
The International lournament in Amsterdam was a double-round
event. In the first of these Ribli defeated me, and, what's more, in
the endgame. Since I do not especially like to remain ' i n debt', in
the second cycle I aimed for revenge. I succeeded in this, and also in
the endgame! In the competitive sense the game was doubly important,
since my pursuer, grandmaster" Timman, was only half a point behind.
The game, in my opinion, was highly interesting In all its phases.
1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 g3 dS S cxd5 Nxd5 6 Bg2 g6

When before the game I was considering the possible opening
schemes, this variation was the one I least expected of the Hungarian
grandmaster. Usually he employs King's Indian set-ups, Of" else the
GrunfeiO Defence.
7 0-0 Bg7 . i , • » , . ! • . ....*'•.-{' . • JJ-*#, •'-.
Her-e I remembered that five years earlier I had done much

analysis of this position, but had not found anything more than
equality. ' • . . ] ' . , . • - , . • . . v
8 Nxd5 Qxd5 9 d3 0-0 10 Be3 Bd7! " •-'•
a
mtm tit
B tiW
• H • -
B
£G9
1
BJ • "p
This modest bishop move is the whole point. Earlier Black used
to be sfraid of the various possible moves by the white knight, and
J
Game No. 11 155
played 1O...Qd6, which gave White a definite lead in development. But

then it became clear that Slack need not waste time on retreating his
queen. On 11 Nd2 It takes up a good post at h5, while after 11 Ng5
Black has the perfectly sound 11 . . .QeS, with an attack on the b2 pawn.
11 NdA
Nevertheless, it is worth d r i v i n g away the black queen — as long

as it remains on d5, it ties down the rook at ai .
11 . . . Qd6 12 Nxc6
12 Nb5 is parried by the same 12...Qe5.
12 . . . Bxc6 13 Bxc6 Qxc6 U Rc1 Qe6
The c r i t i c a l position of the entire v a r i a t i o n . White is obliged to

capture on c5, otherwise by 15. ..b6 Black stabilizes the position and
obtains a spatial advantage. 15 Bxc5 Bxb2 16 Rbi , with the i n i t -
i a t i v e , looks tempting. At f i r s t it might seem that White also gains an
advantage after 15...Qxa2 16 Bxe7 Re8 17 Ba3, but 17...Bxb2 turns
out to be possible, when a draw Is imminent. Capturing with the rook
is therefore the only move.
15 Rxc5 Qxa2
Not 15...Bxb2 16 Rb5 Bf6, when 17 Qa4 is highly unpleasant,
16 RbS!
An innovation, thought up by me during ihe game. After the

standard 16 b4 White gets into difficulties — the a1-h8 diagonal is
completely opened, as weli as the second rank. I cannot say that the
new rook move gives White a big advantage, but the main thing is that
Black is now faced with problems which have to be solved at the board.
16 . . . b6
The b2 pawn Is Immune - )6...Bxb2 17 Qc2. The other possi-

b i l i t y was 16..,Qs6, but then 17 Qb3 nevertheless forces . . . b 6 .
17 Qatt
The idea of this manoeuvre is to tie the black rook at a8 to the

defence of the a-pawn. If Black were able to transfer his rook from
a8 to his second rank, he would immediately gain a slight advantage
in the ending.
17 . . . Qxal?!
"i
17...Qe6 was preferable. Black does not sense tne dangers

awaiting hirn in the ending. After the exchange of queens the best
that he can hope for is a rook ending wilh four pawns (e, f. g and h)
against five (d, e, f, g and h ) .
18 Rxa1 Rfb8
After 18...Rfc8 White gains an advantage by 19 Ra6 Rc2 20 b3

Hxe2 21 Rbxb6 followed by winning the a - p a « n .
19 Ra6 Kf8
Practically forced —the other pieces have no reasonable moves.
20 Rb4 Be5 21 RbaA
On 21 b3 Black has time to defend by 21...Bc7 22 Rba4 Rb7.
21 . . . b5
Black should have played 21...Bxb2 22 Bxb6 Rb7 23 Bxa7 Rc8,

when the resulting ending with five pawns against four is not at a l l
easy to w i n .
22 Ra2 Rb7 23 b3
By p l a y i n g 23 Bxa7 Bxb2 24 Rxb2 Rxa7 25 Rxs7 Rxa? 26 Rxb5

White could have forced a rook ending with an extra pawn, but I
reckoned lhat White's positional pressure offered better chances.
23 . . . Bb8 24 Bc5 Ke8 25 d4 Kd7 26 e4
A crucial decision, demanding deep calculation. 26 d5 would have

forced Black into a d i f f i c u l t rook ending; 26..,Bd(j 27 Bxd6 exd6, but
at that moment 1 recalled the chess saying which runs " a l l rook
endings are d r a w n . . . " .
26 . . . e6 27 b4 KcB . •• • , •. • .. v, ..
28 d5
There is no time to lose, since after 28 Kg2 Rd7 39 R6a5 Bd6!

30 Rxb5 Bxc5 31 Rxc5+ Kd8! White's king is not in time to defend his
far-advanced pawns.
28 . . . exd5 29 exd5 Rd?

Game No. 12 157
Black has no tlrne to move h i s bishop out of the cage — 29...Be5

30 Re2, w i t h the threat of a b r e a k t h r o u g h on eB.
30 d6 Rd8 31 Kg2
The o p p o n e n t ' s pieces are stalemated, but only the white k i n g can
win the game.
31 . . . Kd7
I n t e n d i n g to t r a n s f e r the rook to e6, which was Impossible immed-

iately: 31...Re8 32 d7+! Kxd7 33 Rf6, and w i n s . In the event of
passive defence, 31...Kt)7, White decides matters by a b r e a k t h r o u g h on
the K-side: 32 Kf3 Re8 33 Kf4 h6 34 h4 followed by g3-g4, h4-hS and
g4-g5.
32 Re2!
The position is not so clear after 32 R2a5 Ke6 33 Rxb5, and now
not 33...Bxd6, which loses to 34 Rb7, but f i r s t 33...Rd7 and then
...Bxd6.
32 . . . KcB
Bad, of course, is 32...Re8 33 Rxe8 KxeB, when the white king

reaches dS.
33 Re7 Rd7 34 Ra2!
This wins Immediately, since Black cannot defend against the

threats on the c - f i l e . 34.. .Bxd6 loses a piece after 35 Rxd7 Kxd7
36 Rd2. No better is 34...KdB 35 8b6+! (also possible is 35 Rae2 Rxe7
36 Rxe7, but not 36 dxe7+?> 35...Kc8 36 Rc2+.
Instead of White's last move, 34 Rc6+ suggests itself, but after
34,..Kb7 35 Rxd7+ (35 Rc7+ Rxc7 36 dxc7 Bxc7 37 8d6 Rc8) 35...
Kxc6 36 Rd8 a5 Black can put up a stubborn resistance.
34 . . . a5 35 Rc2 Resigns
No. 12
Amsterdam 1980
Larsen-Karpov
Queen's Indian Defence
In the competitive sense this game from the last round d i d not
mean a great deal — only in the event of me losing and Timman
w i n n i n g would the Dutch grandmaster catch me. But to win against
Larson is always pleasant, the more so with Black and in 23 moves.
The last round began earl ier ihan u s u a l , at eleven a . m . This
was an unpleasant surprise f o r the p l a y e r s , who had become accustomed
to going to bed late and r i s i n g around midday, Larsen suffered most
of a l l , as he normally goes to sleep early In the morning, and gets up
in time for l u n c h . . . .
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 b6 3 Bg2 Bb7 4 0-0 e6 5 c4 Be7 6 Nc3 0-0

7 d4 Ne4 8 Qc2 Nxc3 9 Qxc3 c5 10 Rdi d6
A well-known variation of the Queen's Indian Defence, which has

been highly popular in recent years. Nevertheless, Larsen finds a new
Idea.
11 Be3 Nd7 12 Raci
White f i r s t removes his rook for the long diagonal, so as after

d4-d5 to have the possibility of advancing his b-pawn,
12 . . . BcB 13 d5 exd5 U cxd5
The p o s i t i o n is h i g h l y interesting, a n d f u l l of d i f f e r e n t possi-

bilities. Thus Black has the i n t e r e s t i n g p l a n of a O-side o f f e n s i v e ,
b e g i n n i n g with 1 4 . . . a 5 , which also prevents b2-b4. Then 15 a4 c a n be
met by 1 5 . . . B s 6 and 16. . . b 5 . Black also has a p r o m i s i n g game a f t e r
U...Nf6 15 Mel Ng4 followed by . . . B f 6 . I d e c i d e d , however, to make
a useful w a i t i n g move, o c c u p y i n g the semi-open e - f i l e w i t h my r o o k .
U Be8 15 8f6
At f i r s t sight it appears that Black can seize the i n i t i a t i v e by

15...Nf6 16 Nei (16 Nh4 is weaker, in view o f 16...Ng4 17 Nf5 Bf6)
16...Ng4 17 Bfft Bf6, and the rook, which was developed on the
previous move, comes into p l a y . But White has a different way of
defending his central pawn: 16 Qb3!, simultaneously removing his
queen from the c-file and ihe a1-h8 diagonal. Now 16...c4 17 Rxc4
Bxd5 f a i l s to 18 Rxd5 Nxd5 19 RxcB and 20 Qxd5, while after 16...cxb4
17 Nd4 Black experiences d i f f i c u l t i e s .
16 Qd2 cxb4 17 Rxc8
Forced, since otherwise one of the pawns is lost: 17 Qxb4 Rxci

18 Bxcl Rxe2, or 18 Rxcl Bxd5.
17 . . . 0xc8 18 QxbA Qc2

Game No. 13 159
White has succeeded in achieving the positional gains he was

aiming for. In turn, Black has a certain activity for his pieces, and,
if he can hold out, a promising ending, thanks to his Q,-side pawn
majority.
19 Rci
19 Qd2 was rather more s o l i d . Black could then have exchanged

queens either immediately — 19...Qxd2 20 NxdZ! (weaker is 10 Rxd2
Rc8, with advantage to Black) 20. . .NcS, or after tlrst luring out the
bishop: 19...Rc8 20 Bh3 Qxd2 21 Nxd2 RdB, which, I think, gives
him the better chances.
19 . . . 0xe2 20 Qxd6?
It would seem that Larsen overlooked Black's reply, which places

him in a critical position. 20 Qa4 was interesting, when Black
appears to be all right in the variation 20.. .Rxe3 21 Qxd7 Re7,
except that White has the murderous 22 Qxb7!. Black would have had
to reply 20. ..RdB 21 Rc7 Ba6!, with rich possibilities.
20 Nf8!
Black seems to move his knight to a passive position, but in fact
this is the best square for it — now there are no problems over the
defence of his back rank, and although the knight takes no part in
the play, his remaining pieces are extremely active.
21 Nd*?
This loses Immediately, bul it was not easy to suggest anything
worthwhi le for White. Under attack are his bishop at e3, and his
pawns at a2 and d5.
21 Bxd4 22 Bxd4 Qd2

White's lack of co-ordination is his r u i n . He manages to defend
both pieces, but it turns out that his k i n g ' s position is hopelessly
weakened.
23 Of 4 Re1 +
White resigns, in view of 24 Rxel Qxe1+ 25 Bfi Ba6.
No. 13
Tilburg 1980
Karpov-Spassky
Sicilian Defence
\n this game I chose the Keres Attack, one of my favourite lines
In the Sicilian Defence. There was an interesting moment on the 13th
move, when, rather to my surprise, Spassky took the h4 pawn with his
bishop. Formerly, as far as I recall, the Ex-World Champion would
not have even looked at such a pawn, but times change, and a passion
for 'pawn-grabbing' can arise even in such a player as Spassky. As
a result the black king was caught in the centre, after which events
developed in rather interesting fashion.
1 e4 cS 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6 6 g4
Thus, a g a i n the Keres V a r i a t i o n , which w i l l a l r e a d y be f a m i l i a r

from p r e v i o u s games of mine. White immediately begins a c t i v e p l a y on
the K-side, before f u l l y m o b i l i z i n g h i s f o r c e s . I n r e p l y to these f l a n k
operations Black prepares the customary c o u n t e r - b l o w in the c e n t r e .
6 . . . h6 7 h4
The f i r s t time 1 have played this. Normally I continue 7 g5 hxgS
8 Bxg5, but in some recent games with ihe Swedish grandmaster Ander-
sson, a great expert on this v a r i a t i o n , I had been unable to achieve
complete success, and so I decided to try another continuation.
7 . . . Nc6
The alternative is 7...Be7, so as to have the possibility of

immediately attacking the advanced h-pawn, and of gaining control of
the d8-h4 diagonal.
• . : - , • ' . •: . r
8 Rgl d5!
The c r i t i c a l continuation, if Black is aiming for an active battle

for the centre. Otherwise White, by advancing his g-pawn on his next
move, would have driven back Ihe knight from f 6 . ••
9 Bb5 Bd7 10 exd5 Nxd5 11 NxdS exd5 12 Be3 ••• r-
Development f i r s t and foremost! After 12 g5 hxg5 13 hxg5 Rh4

Black brings his rook Into play with great effect, whi le the cautious
12 h5 is not even worth considering. White also had another tempting
possibility: 12 Qe2+, which after 12...Q.e? 13 Be3 Nxd4 14 Bxd7+ Kxd7
15 Bxd4 leads to a certain advantage for White, but after 1 2 . . . Be7
13 Nf5 Bxf5 14 gxf5 KfB the position to me seems rather unclear,
12 . . . Be7 13 Qd2
White could also have attempted to exploit the open position of

the black king by 13 Qe2, although he is then subjected to danger
along the undefended a5-e1 diagonal, and also in some cases along the
e-flle. Black would have had a choice between 13...Oa5+ 14 c3 N*d4
15 Bxd7t Kxd7 16 Bxd4 Rhe8 17 Kfl Bf6 IB Qf3 Re6, and 13...0-0
(threatening to capture on d4) 14 0-0-0 Qa5, which after 15 Bxc6 bxc6
16 Kb1 leads to an advantage for White (as does 13...a6 14 Bxc6 bxc6
15 0-0-0).
13 . . . Bxh4
Game No. 13 161
This is the episode which I recalled in my introduction lo the

game. Black captures one of the pawns threatening his position, in
the hope of castling K-side, which at present is not possible — 13...0-0
U Nf5!, and if 14...Bf6, then 15 Nxh6+ gxh6 16 95, with a decisive
attack.
14 0-0-0 Bf6
Bad, of course, Is U . . . N x d 4 15 Bxd7+ Qxd7 16 Bxd4.
15 Nf5
This move c a n be c r i t i c i z e d on c e r t a i n counts: White allows h i s

opponent to exchange one of h i s most dangerous a t t a c k i n g pieces,
simultaneously d o u b l i n g h i s pawns on the f - f i le, which r u l e s out the
g4-g5 b r e a k t h r o u g h . But in r e t u r n White also g a i n s c e r t a i n a d v a n t a g e s :
the d5 pawn is immediately a t t a c k e d , a n d the g - f i l e is opened, which
is r a t h e r unpleasant f o r B l a c k , whose k i n g cannot escape to the f l a n k
by c a s t l i n g .
White would have l i k e d to have thrown f o r w a r d h i s f - p a w n by
15 f 4 , so as to then advance also h i s g - p a w n , but I was u n a b l e to
f i n d a d e f i n i t e a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 1 5 . . .Qa5 (Black can also b a t t l e f o r
e q u a l i t y by 1 5 . . . N x d 4 16 Bxd7+ Qxd7 17 Bxd4 0-0-0 18 Bxa7 Qa4
19 Qf2 d4 20 g5 Qxa7) 16 Qxa5 (16 Qe2 0 - 0 - 0 ! ) 16...Nxa5 17 Bxd7*
Kxd?, and here I considered o n l y the f o r c i n g 18 g5 hxg5 19 fxgS Be5
20 Nf3, w h i c h is r e f u t e d by 2O...Bxb2+, a n d a fork at c 4 . Immediately
a f t e r the game I discovered that i n t h i s v a r i a t i o n While would have
g a i n e d excellent chances by 18 N f 5 ! .
15 . . . Bxf5
15. . . 0 - 0 a g a i n loses to 16 Nxh6+ gxh6 17 g 5 ! .
16 g x f 5 a6 17 Bxc6+
It is a l w a y s r e g r e t t a b l e to g i v e up such a bishop, but White has

no time to r e t r e a t i t , since then the d-pawn would advance, a n d Black
would safely manoeuvre h i s k i n g to f 8 , a n d from there, i f necessary,
to g 8 .
17 bxc6 18 Bc5
IB Rbfl
Perfectly reasonable. Black strives for counter-play, before White
has time for the projected cZ-c4. He could also have played 18...0d7,
but this did not appeal to Spassky, evidently because of 19 Qd3, when
the black queen is in a passive position, and 19. . .Rb8 can be met by
the simple 20 Bd4.
19 b4
The quieter alternative was 19 b3, to answer 19.. .Rb5 with

20 Bd4. But after the bold advance of the b-pawn, Black is soon
p r a c t i c a l l y forced to sacrifice the exchange.
19 . . . Rb5 20 Rge1 + Kd7 21 ch Rxc5 22 bxc5 Bg5?
A mistake caused by a miscalculation. Black should have played

either 22...Qc7, or 22...Db8. During the game I considered my position
to be better, and in both cases was intending to play 23 f4, completely
blocking out the bishoo arid forcing the opponent to advance his d -
pawn. But in analysis it was found that after 22. . .Qb8 23 f4 Black
has the excellent reply 23...Kc8, when White cannot capture twice on
d5, and 24...RdB is threatened. Therefore in reply to 22...QbB White
should have continued 23 cxd5! Bg5 24 Re3, when Black has to seek
salvation in the variation 24...Bxe3 25 fxe3 Qe5 26 dxc6++ Kxc6
27 Qd7+ KxcS 28 Qa7+ Kb5.
.ti. •>:•
23 f4 Qf6 24 cxdS!
This is the whole p o i n t ! The bishop cannot be taken — 24 fxgS?

0a1+ 25 Kc2 Qxa2+ 26 Kci Qa1+ 27 Kc2 Qa4+, when both 28 Kci RbS
and 2B Kd3 0xc4+ 29 Ke3 hxg5 are bad for White.
24 . . . Qa1+ 25 KcZ Qxa2+ 26 Kd3 0xd2+ 27 BxdZ Bxf4 2B Ra2

cxd5 29 Rxa6 h5 30 Kd4 h4 31 Kxd5 Rb8 32 f 6 gxf6 33 Rxf6 Bg3
34 Rxf7+ KdB 35 Rf8-t Resigns
• r." •> • : • * » « .il-V.. . "
No. 14
Malta Olympiad 19B0 e>
Karpov-Hort «; .
Caro-Kann Defence <* •.•r^(^
Victory in the last Olympiad d i d not come easily to our team.

The Hungarians immediately went ahead, whereas we faltered at the
s t a r t , and spent the whole tournament t r y i n g to catch u p . At f i r s t I
loo was not in very good form. Before the present game I had played
f i v e successive draws, and i t seemed that there would be no end to
this series. Nevertheless, the game with Hort broke this sequence, and
even proved to be the turnming p o i n t . After my win over the Czech
grandmaster, things went well — in the last s i x rounds I scored S5
points.
I «4c6 2 d4 dS 3 exdS
The Panov Attack occurs r a r e l y in my tournament practice, but

when p r e p a r i n g for this game I remembered the game Balashov-Hort
from the recent international tournament in Buenos Aires. Balsshov
succeeded in g a i n i n g an advantage, and I decided to test Hort s
readiness to repeat the v a r i a t i o n .
3 . . . cxd5 4 c4 e6
Game No. 14 163
In [he latter game the Czech grandmaster continued 4 . . .Nf6, and

then developed his queen's bishop.
5 Nf3 Nf6 6 Nc3 Be7
6...Bb4 would have transposed into a variation of the Nlmzo-

Indian Defence, whereas now we have a position typical of the Queen's
Gambi t.
7 cxd5 Nxd5 8 Bd3 Nc6 9 0-0 0-0 10 Rei Nf6 11 a3 Qd6
One of the possible ways of developing. Temporarily delaying the

development of his queen's bishop, Black aims for immediate pressure
on the isolated pawn. The move appears rather provocative, in view
of the vulnerable position of the black queen in the centre of the
board, but knight moves fail to give White any immediate gain, and he
has to be content with a more modest continuation.
12 Be3 Rd8 13 Qc2
As far as I am aware, a new p l a n . White takes control of the

b1-h7 diagonal, and prevents the flank development of the c8 bishop,
since 13...b6 f a i l s to 14 Ne4 Nxe4 15 Bxe4, with a double attack. Of
course, the queen w i l l not stay long on the c-f i le, but time is gained
for bringing the queen's rook into p l a y .
13 Bd7 14 Radl
White could have hindered the regrouping of the opponent's

pieces by 14 Nb5, driving the queen to b8. But I reckoned that at c8
the rook would not have any particular prospects, and that the queen
would voluntarily vacate d6,
14 . . . Rac8 15 Bg5!
Forcing Black to determine the position of his K-side pawns.

15...g6 looks rather unpleasant after 16 Qe2 followed by the transfer of
the bishop to a2 and the d4-d5 breakthrough (the absence of the black
bishop from the aS-M diagonal becomes apparent!). Hort decides to
advance the other pawn, but this merely helps White's bishop to switch
to a very strong position.
15 h6 16 Bh4
It is perfectly possible that, when considering this position
beforehand, Black had intended playing 16.. .Nh5. After the exchange
of bishops his position is perfectly satisfactory, but White has the
p o s s i b i l i t y of 17 dS! exd5 18 Bh7+ Kha 19 Rxc5, winning.
16 . . . 0b8
The only move, since a f t e r ?6...Be8 17 Bg3 Qd7 16 Bb5 it is

extremely d i f f i c u l t for Black to u n t a n g l e his pieces.
17 Qe2 BeS 18 Bbi
At last the l o n g - r a n g e queen/bishop b a t t e r y goes Into o p e r a t i o n !

It is a l l the more dangerous f o r Black h a v i n g advanced his h - p a w n , as
this weakens the g6 square a n d creates the conditions f o r v a r i o u s
tactical blows.
18 . . . Nd5 19 Qd3 g6 20 Bg3 Bd6 21 Nxd5 exd5 22 Ne5!
As a r e s u l t of the exchange on d5, a symmetrical pawn s t r u c t u r e

has a r i s e n . However, a l l B l a c k ' s pieces are in s t r a n g e p o s i t i o n s , a n d ,
most i m p o r t a n t , h i s queen is too f a r away from the K-side.
22 . . . Qc7 23 Qe3
Here I could have won a pawn by force a f t e r 23 Ng4, f o r example

23...Bxg3 24 hxg3 h5? 25 Nf6+ Kg7 26 Nxh5+. The pawn s i m i l a r l y
cannot be defended by 24...K3-7, because of 25 Qd2 g5 26 Qd3. But
Black can p l a y the more solid 2 4 . . . Q 6 6 25 Nxh6+ Kg? 26 Ng4 6d7, and
a l t h o u g h White has an e x t r a pawn and a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e , there are
numerous technical d i f f i c u l t i e s to overcome before he can w i n ,
23 . . . Qb6
2 3 . . .h5 is unsatisfactory, in view of 24 Bh4 Be7 25 Nxc6 Bxh4

26 NxdB.
24 Qxh6 Nxe5 25 dxe5 Bf8 26 Qg5 Qe6 27 Ba2?!
On a c h i e v i n g a won p o s i t i o n , I began p l a y i n g r a t h e r super-

ficially. I should have c a r r i e d out a simple f i n a l r e g r o u p i n g , b e g i n -
n i n g w i t h 27 Bf4 followed by the advance of the h - p a w n , instead of
which 1 began e n g a g i n g in unnecessary s u b t l e t i e s , w i t h the r e s u l t that
the bishop remained on g 3 . As a consequence, the game had to be won
for the second t i m e . . . .
27 . . . Bb5 28 hi Rd7 29 Qe3
Another in a series of moves l a c k i n g in specific c a l c u l a t i o n .

White forces Black to advance h i s b - p a w n , b l o c k i n g the s i x t h r a n k for
manoeuvres w i t h h i s queen. On the other h a n d , the queen was possibly
not p a r t i c u l a r l y aiming to go to a6 or b6, end subsequently White
loses the p o s s i b i l i t y of d e v e l o p i n g h i s queen or bishop on the g1-a7
d i a g o n a l w i t h g a i n of l i m e .
29 . . . b6 30 Gf4 Bc4
Whi le W h i t e ' s e x t r a pawns on the K-side s t a n d s t i l I, Black's

passed pawn begins to become a c t i v e . My bishop is forced to r e t r e a t
to a p a s s i v e p o s i t i o n , since a f t e r 31 Bxc4 Rxc4 the opponent's pieces
acQuire c o n s i d e r a b l e freedom on the open c - f i l e and the white squares
Game No. 14 165
on the Q-side.
31 Bbi Bb3 32 Rd2 33 Bd3 Rdc7 34 Kh2 Rci
By forcing the exchange of a pair of rooks, Slack either seizes

the f i r s ! rank, or activates his bishop by switching tt to the b1-h7
diagonal. Incidentally, Black is not averse lo the exchange of all
four rooks.
35 Rde2 Rxel 36 Rxel Bc2 37 Ba6
Beginning from the twenty-seventh move, I played this game as

though in a trance. It is perfectly obvious thai it is more advan-
tageous for Black to place his rook ahead of his queen on the c-f i le,
so why force him to do this?! 37 Be2 shoutd have been played immed-
iately.
37 .. Rc5 38 Be2 Bf5 39 Rdi Qc6 40 Rd2 Rc2 41 Bf3 Be6

42 Qd4
White has somehow succeeded In mounting some pressure on the d -

pawn, but he has wasted a great deal of time, and his bishop is s t i l l
asleep at g3. Black now decides to exchange the rooks, which undoub-
tedly eases the position of the d5 pawn. White in turn no longer has
to worry about the open c - f i l e , and can prepare the advance of his
K-side pawns. The a l t e r n a t i v e was 4 2 . . . R c 5 .
42 . . . Rxd2 43 Qxd2 Qc4 44 Be2 Qa2!?
An interesting decision! I analysed only moves by the queen to

e4, or along the c - f i l e . In the f i r s t instance t was Intending to
continue 44...Qe4 45 f 3 , and now 45...Qb1 46 Bd3, or 45...Qa4
46 Bf2. In the second case White gains the p o s s i b i l i t y of advancing
his h-pawn, since the opponent's queen has no i n t r u s i o n squares. The
move chosen by Black forces White to take specific decisions, i n v o l v i n g
the e v a l u a t i o n of the different possible types of endgame.
45 Bf4 Bc5 46 Be3
Not f e a r i n g the exchange 46...Bxe3 47 fxe3, when the position of

the d5 pawn is f i x e d f o r good. White gains use of h i s d4 square,
transfers h i s k i n g to f 2 , and begins the advance of h i s K-side pawns.
46 d4 47 BgS
White has only very s l i g h t winning chances after 47 Bxd4 Qd5

48 Be3 0xd2 49 Bxd2 Bxf2.
47 . . . Qd5 48 Bf6 Bf8 49 Bd3 Bg? 50 0f4! Kh7
There is an interesting finish after 5 0 . . .Bxf6 51 exffi Bf5

S2 Qb8+ Kh7 53 Bc4! Qxc4 54 Qf6, end mate is i n e v i t a b l e . This is
not the only v a r i a t i o n , and the prosaic SZ Bxf5 gxf5 53 Qh6 Qd6+
54 g3 Qf8 55 Qg5+- is also decisive, but i t i l l u s t r a t e s the t a c t i c a l
p o s s i b i l i t i e s of the p o s i t i o n .
51 f3 b5 52 Kg3
I t is useful to b r i n g the k i n g into the square of the d-pawn, in

the event of a bishop or pawn ending being reached.
52 . . . Qd7 53 Bxg7 Kxg7 54 Qf6+ Kg8 55 h4
It is the t u r n of this pawn to have the decisive w o r d . Now

55..,Bc4 f a i l s to 56 Qd6! Qxd6 57 exd6 Kf8 58 Bxc4 b x c i 59 Kf2 Ke8
60.g4 Kd7 61 h5, and w i n s .
55 . . . Qe8 56 h5 Bc4 57 h6! Qf8 58 Bxg6 Qxh6 59 Bxf7+ Kh7

60 Qf5+ Kh8 61 Qc8+ Resigns
No. 15
Linares 19S1
Ljubojevlc-Karpov ..
Caro-Kann Defence
A grandmaster's lot is never a bed only of roses. However many

successes a p l a y e r may have g a i n e d , there comes a time when h i s form
deserts him, and he achieves a result which is much worse than
expected. One such unhappy event in my chess career was the 1980
i n t e r n a t i o n a l tournament in A r g e n t i n a , in which I did not even f i n i s h
in the f i r s t three. The tournament in Spain was my next i n t e r n a t i o n a l
appearance (not counting the Malta O l y m p i a d ] , and so I very much
wanted to r e h a b i l i t a t e myself after Buenos Air-es. The young American
grandmaster Christiansen provided very s t i f f competition, and in order
to remain ahead I had to win a number of games.
1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5 Ng3 Bg6 6 Nf3 Nd7

7 h4 h.6 8 h5 Bh7 9 Bd3 Bxd3 10 Qxd3 e6 11 Bf4
The aim of this check is to ' r e c a l l ' the bishop to d2. Some
grandmasters are also happy to play this position as Black w i t h the
white bishop at f4, an example being Larsen in games in 1980 against
Tal, Timman and myself.
12 Bd2 0c7 13 0-0-0 Ngf6 H N«4 0-0-0 15 g3 Nc5 16 Nxc5 Bxc5

17 Qc4 Bd6 18 Qa4 Kb8 19 Ne5
Oh 19 c4 Black can play 19...Qe7, with the Idea of placing his

knight at e4 and his queen at f 6 .
19 . . . Nd5
Possibly more accurate was t9...Nd7, forcing the variation which

occurs i n the game.
Game No. J5 167
20 f4
20 Nc4 would also have been answered by 2O...Nb6.
20 . . . Nb6 21 Qb3 Bxe5 22 dxe5 Nd5
23 c47
An unnecessary weakening of the d3 and d4 squares. White could

have retained a minimal opening advantage by 23 Qf3, e . g . 23...Ne7
24 g4, with the threat of 25 fS. In this case I was intending 2 3 . . .
Rd7, when the sharp v a r i a t i o n 24 Qg4 Rhd8 25 Qxg7 Qb6 26 0g4 Ne3
27 Bxe3 Qxe3+ 26 Kb! Qxg3 29 Rxd7 Qxg4 30 Rxd8+ Kc7 31 Rhd1
gives White a s l i g h t l y favourable e n d i n g , but 28...Rxd1+ 29 Rxdl
Rxd1+ 30 Qxdi Kc8! gives equal chances.
23 He7 24 Be3 c5 25 Rxd6+ Rxd8 26 Rd1 R x d H 27 Qxdf b6

28 Qd3?1
A significant inaccuracy. 28 g4 Qb7 maintains the balance,

although there is the interesting possibil ity of 2B.. .Oc6 29 Qd6+ Qxd6
30 exd6 Ng8 31 g5 Kb7 ( 3 1 . . . f 6 32 g6 Kb7 33 b i cxb4 34 f5 eS
35 c5, w i t h the betler chances for White) 32 b4! Kc6 (32...cxb4 is
dangerous - 33 Bd4 f6 34 g6 Kc6 35 c5 bxc5 36 Bxc5}, and now an
unclear position resulls from 33 bxc5 b*c5 34 Bxc5 g 6 ! .
28 . . . g6! 29 30 a3 h5 31 b3 32 Qe4 Nf5

33 Bf2 Qd7 34 a* Kc7 35 Kc2
If 35 Qa8, then 35...Qd3, nol f e a r i n g ghosts - after 36 Qa7+ Kc8

37 Qa7+ Kd7 38 0b7+ Ke8 39 Qb8+ Kf7 40 Qb7+ Ne7 the black k i n g
successfully avoids perpetual check.
35 . . . OdS 36 Kci g5 37 fxg5 Qxg5+ 38 Kc2 Ne7 39 Clr.7 Kd7
Black looks to have a good alternative in 39.. .Qg6+ 40

Nxg6 41 Be3 Kd7 (41 ...Nxe5 « Bf4) 42 Bg5 Nxe5 followed by

manoeuvring the knight to d4.
40 Qe4 Qf5 41 Qd3+ Kc6 43 CUfS c*xf5 43 Be3 Ng6 44 e6 Kd6

45 Bg5 Kxe6 46 Kd3 f 4 ! 47 gxf4 h4 48 Ke3 h3 49 Kf3 Kf5 50 Kg3
Nxf4 51 Bd8 N«2+ 52 Kxh3 Nd4 53 Bxb6
53 Kg2 also f a l l s to save the game: after S3...Ke4 5A Kf1 Kd3

55 Kel Nxb3 56 Kdi Kxc4 57 Kc2 Nd4+ 58 Kbg Ne6 59 Bxb6 Kb4
60 Ba7 Kxa4 Black remains with two extra pawns.
63 . . . Nxb3 54 BdB Ke4 55 Kg4 Kd4 56 Kf4 Kxc4 57 Ke4 Kc3

58 Bf&+ Kc2 59 Be5 c4 60 Ke3 c3 61 Bf6 Nc5 62 Ke2
The aitempt to reach the a5 pawn by 62 Kd4 is easily parried

after 62...Nxa4 63 Kc4 Nb6+! (but not 63...Nb2+? 64 Kb5 a4 65 Kb4
with a draw) 64 Kb5 a4 65 Kb4 Nd5+. Also inadequate is 62 Bd8 Kd1
63 Bxa5 c2 64 Bd2 Nb3.
62 ... Kb3 • --- " ••- • •••
White resigns. ' • ' . • • • • • . •

Anatoly Karpov &amp; Gik - Chess Kaleidoscope

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Chess

A.KARPOV & Y.GIK

PERGAMON RUSSIAM CHESS SERIES

Copyright© 1981 Pergamon Press Ltd.

Britilh Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Library of Congress Catalog Card no: 81-82527

Printed in Great Britain by A. Wntatan & Co. Ltd,, Exeter

The game of chess is inexhaustible, and no one definitely knows

Since 1980 the authors have been w r i t i n g a chess column i n the

PART ONE - SEVEN CHESS LETTERS - .

PART TWO - THE COMPUTER AT THE CHESS BOARD 99

PART THREE - FIFTEEN OF THE WORLD CHAMPION'S BEST GAMES 123

In order to play well al chess i l is nol essential to be a good

White to play and draw.

path of the white k i n g from he to hZ occupies six moves, both in a

White to play and draw.

A single white pawn draws against three opposing connected

We will consider one further endgame study, in which White wins

White to play and w i n .

The a7 pawn cannot be defended, and Black's one chance is to

The Rule of the Square

In the following position the while king is not participating in

Inexperienced players usually reason as follows: the pawn goes

The Rule of the Triangle

In the following position Black to move loses immediately, since

White to play and w i n .

Opposition plays a basic role in the p l a y i n g of pawn endings.

to move) attains his goal — wins, or gains a draw. In every case, a

White to play and draw. .,

In order to gain a draw, White must take the opposition. But in

Now an amusing example, which also relates to the opposition.

White to play and w i n .

The Theory of Corresponding Squares

On making the acquaintance of the concept of opposition, we saw

Black's position is not easy — the white k i n g is threatening to

Thus the corresponding squares are not mutually equivalent — two

and therefore White could even have permitted himself an inaccuracy.

White to play and w i n . '

The analysis of this position is considerably more complicated.

Now the solution can be found almost automatically. White should

How should this position be evaluated? White has an extra pawn,

According to the ' r u l e of f i v e ' , t h i s is a draw. 1 Kb3 RbB+

We w i l l now describe an amusing instance, which bears some

White to play and force Black to give mate.

There now follows Qa2-g2+!, and Black is forced to give mate --

In [his position, by Berger, the white queen again has to battle

We have examined with you only positions, the analysis of which

(f6 f7+! cf the

Symmetry, as a general principle of harmony in molecules,

symmetry in question, as this w i l l be clear from the context.

Rot I e v i -EI y ashov

1 e 4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 Bb5 Bb4 5 O-CT O-O f> d3 d6

Here, evidently a f r a i d of seriously disturbing the symmetry, the

I c4 c5 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 a3 a6 6 Rbi Rb8

20 Be5 Nxe5. Unfortunately, the symmetrical 20.. .Be4 21 Nxe4

8 Nd4+, and Black is forced to give mate: 8.. .exd4 male!

Thus by copying White's moves, Black can both be mated, and

In the given example both kings are symmetrically stalemated, but

We recall here an old chess anecdote, which shows thai copying

The symmetry described up t i l l now has mainly related to the

R. Bfanchelti, 1925 -••••-.

After the introductory 1 Bb2! e l l the pieces on the board are

The p o i n t of a problem or study is often provided by a slight

Anatoly Karpov & Gik - Chess Kaleidoscope

Anatoly Karpov & Gik - Chess Kaleidoscope