Grandmaster' :.

Performance

L POLOGAYEVSKY
PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS SERIES

Grandmaster Performance
PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS-SERIES

General Editor: Kenneth P. Neat

Executive Editor: Martin J. Richardson

AVERBAKH,Y.
Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge
Comprehensive Chess Endings
Volume 1 : Bishop Endings & Knight Endings
Volume 2: Bishop v. Knight Endings & Rook v. Minor Piece Endings

BOTVINNIK,M. M.
Achieving the Aim
Anatoly Karpov: His Road to the World Championship
Half a Century of Chess
Selected Games 1967-70

BRONSTEIN,D. & SMOLYAN, Y.

Chess in the Eighties

ESTRIN,Y. & PANOV, V. N.

Comprehensive Chess Openings

GELLER,E. P.
The Application of Chess Theory

KARPOV,A. & GIK, Y.

Chess. Kaleidoscope

KARPOV, A. & ROSHAL, A.

Anatoly Katpov: Chess is My Life

LIVSIDTZ,A.
Test Your Chess IQ, Volumes 1 & 2

NEISHTADT, Y.
Catastrophe in the Opening
Paul Keres Chess Master Class

POLUGAYEVSKY, L.
Grandmaster Performance
Grandmaster Preparation

SHERESHEVSKY, M. I.
Endgame Strategy

SMYSLOV, V.
125 Selected Games

SUETIN, A. S.
Modern Chess Opening Theory
Three Steps to Chess Mastery

TAL, M., CHEPIZHNY, V. & ROSHAL,A.

Montreal 1979: Tournament of Stars

VAINSTEIN, B. S.
David Bronstein-Chess Improviser
 Grandmaster Performance

By

LYEVPOLUGAYEVSKY
International Grandmaster

Translated by

KENNETH P. NEAT

PERGAMON PRESS
OXFORD NEWYORK TORONTO SYDNEY PARIS FRANKFURT

)
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First edition 1 984

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Polugayevskii, Lev.
Grandmaster performance.
(Pergamon Russian chess series)
Includes index.
1 . Polugayevskii, Lev. 2. Chess-Collections of games.
I. Neat, Kenneth P. 11. Title. Ill. Series.
GV1439. P62A34 1 984 794.1'5 8 3 - 1 3 082

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Polugayevskii, Lev.
Grandmaster performance.-(Pergamon Russian
chess series)
1. Polugayevskii, Lev Chess-Collections
of games
I. Title
794.1 '59 GV14339. P/
ISBN 0-08-02691 3-3 Hardcover

ISBN 0-08-029749-8 Flexicover

Printed in Hungary
 Contents

From the author vi

Problems from the first move 1

In search of the truth 17

From defence to attack 50

The touchstone of mastery 68

Finale of the chess symphony 117

Psychology of the chess struggle 161

Main tournament and match results 175

Index of openings 179

Index of opponents 180

V
 From the Author

Some 30 years ago, when I was still a boy, I was given some advice by one of the oldest
Soviet chess masters, one of Alexander Alekhine's fellow players back in the 1909 S t Peters
burg Tournament, Pyotr Romanovsky. "If you want to play well," he said, "in the first in
stance study games. Your own and other peoples'. Examine them from the viewpoint of the
middlegame and the endgame, and only then from the viewpoint of the opening. This is more
important than studying textbooks."
Perhaps such advice is not indisputable, perhaps it will not appeal to everyone, but I accept
ed and have followed this recommendation all my life. O f course, on becoming a master, and
then a grandmaster, I had to make a detailed acquaintance with opening monographs and with
endgame guides, but nevertheless the analysis of games still remains for me the most important
thing. To a great extent, this is why I am now offering this collection of my own games, played
over nearly a third of a century.
They have been selected such that the reader should obtain as clear an impression as possible
of what promises victory in chess. This is a fundamental knowledge of the openings (even if
not all, but only certain ones), a mastery of the skills of attack and defence, and an ability to
form a strategic plan. (The following aphorism is after all true: "It is better to follow a bad plan,
than to play without any plan at all".) This is the ability to play endgames, and the ability to
play in critical situations, which is acquiring greater and greater significance: psychology today
is the key to the solving of many problems, including those associated with chess.
But I hope that the reader will take note of, evaluate, and arm himself with the main message
of the book: at whatever stage of the game the victory was gained, by whatever means it was
achieved, it was always as a result of effort. Always great, and sometimes enormous. The author
is firmly convinced that without this it is impossible today to mount even half the steps of
the chess staircase, leading upwards.
I consider myself to have been fairly fortunate in chess. I have scored victories in many major
tournaments, and have more than once been a Candidate for the World Championship. But
the greatest joy in this field of my life has nevertheless been gained from individual, quite
specific games. When everything succeeds, and victory is gained, these are the happiest
moments in the life of any chess player.
To all readers of this book, I should like to wish as much happiness of this type as possible.

LYEV POLUGAYEVSKY
International Grandmaster

VI
 Problems From the First Move
The opening has always attracted me as an
essentially independent field of chess thought.
Throughout my chess career I have tried
to find my own approach to the handling
and study of the opening. This has been a
striving to 'conceive' something new, even if
in my younger years my findings were not
-of ve ry high quality, or were even simply
dubious.
This is explained by the fact that I lived
in Kuibishev, where at that time chess books
were not always readily available. Besides,
my studies and my work left little time for a
deep analysis of all the openings, and I
chose for myself the more sensible path of a
certain self-limitation.
It cannot be said that I have been alto
gether happy with this. At some point I
have even regretted that I have not normally
played 1 e4, or, for example, the Ruy Lopez
as Black. At any event, a situation arose in
which, having only gone deeply into certain
opening systems, I became an experimenter in
them.
In adopting this stance I was aided by the
fact that I never liked making ten to fifteen
'book' moves during the first minute of play.
I was accustomed to taking important deci
sions from virtually the first few moves,
and wanted some sort of problems to arise
immediately on the board.
I do not wish to asser t that the path of the
experimenter is strewn with roses. By no
1
means. I know of many top grandmasters
who have a different, more economic, more
practical approach, and there is no reason
at all to condemn them for this. They prefer
to make use of all the opening guides, and
carefully follow all the tournament bulletins.
They immediately pick up all opening inno
vations, and, without much hesitation, they
immediately employ them.
There are also other players. They are
sceptical about everything in the opening,
and employ only that on which they have
worked a great deal. It is they who determine
the present-day state of opening theory, and
advance it.
Of course, it is a matter of individual feel
ing, but for me personally such work and
such players are closer to my heart.
And one more thing : had I studied all the
openings, had I played the Ruy Lopez, and
the French, Caro-Kann and Alekhine's De
fences, I am convinced of this : then there
would have been no 'Polugayevsky Varia
tion', and no innovations of twenty-five to
thirty moves in length, which are given in
this book and which have cast doubts on
the correctness of entire systems and varia
tions. A n ew idea has to be sought for wee ks,
or even months, and sometimes costs hund
reds of hours of work. The result makes its
appearance in a single moment, in a single
game, but at the same time the theory of
openings takes a step forward .
 Problems from the first move

No. 1 King' s Indian Defence to the rebirth' of this line. The game con
tinued 8 Nge2 c5 9 d 5 e6 1 0 0-0 e x d 5 11
Polugayevsky-Stein e x d5 Nbd7 12 Bc2 Re8 13 Qd2 b5 !, with
gre at advant age to Black.
28th USSR Championship Slightly late r, still in 1 960, this was all
Moscow, 1961 repeated again in a game between Poluga
yevs ky and Geller from the USS R Team
1 d4 Nf6 Tournament. This time White answered 7 . . .
2 c4 g6 a6 with 8 d5, but after 8 . . . c5 9 d x c6 N x c6
3 Nc3 Bg7 1 0 Nge2 Ne5 Geller obtained a good game.
4 e4 d6 Stein was undoubtedly familiar with all
5 f3 0-0 the subtleties of the line, and was the refore
6 Be3 b6 not averse to it all being repeated in the pres
ent g ame.

7 Bd3 a6
8 Nge2 c5
9 e5!

Here it is, the 'latest' innovation. Of

course, all this was prepare d long beforehand
in my home 'laboratory'.

9 ... Nfd7

H ardly any better was 9 . . . d X e5 1 0

d X e5 Nfd7 1 1 Be4 Ra7 12 f4, with advan
In its time this move was one of the reve
tage to White.
lations for Black in the d angerous S amisch
Variation. Its idea is to advance . . . c5 and 10 e x d6 e x d6
then to seize control of d4. If White does 11 0-0 Nc6
not take any urgent meas ures, Black equalizes 12 Bc2 Bb7
with ease . For e xample, 7 Qd2 c5 8 Nge2 13 Qd2 Nf6
Nc6 and then 9 . . . e5. 14 Radl
White's usual reply to 6 . . . b6 used to be
Here we can sum up the results of the open
7 d5, but after 7 . . . c5 8 d x c6 N X c6 he
ing. White h as a slight but clear positional
did not gain the expected advantage. And
advantage. He can set up pressure on the
then in the 26th USSR Championship Bran
d-file, and in addition he has control of the
stein prepared against Lutikov a genuine
important central s quares d5 and e4. Now
'Bronsteinian' innovation : 7 Bd3 ! Lutikov
Black chooses a plan which, although at
quickly replied 7 . . . c5, and after 8 e5 ! he
first sight obvious, is incorrect. He should
lost material. It appeared that this was the
have maintained the tension in the centre
end of it all, and that the variation would
and played 14 . . . Re8.
have to be shelved. But a year later, in the
USSR Championship Semifinal in Vilnius, 14 . c x d4
Gufeld employed the variation against me, 15 N X d4 Ne5
and a fter 7 Bd3 played 7 . . . a6, which led 16 b3 d5

2
 No. 2 Polugayevsky-Tal, 1969

After this natural advance Black's position This move is the point of the combination.
becomes critical. Here too 16 . . . Re8 was 22 . . . g X f5 is decisively met by 23 Bxf5.
better.
22 . . . Qf6
23 R x d5 Rfd8

23 .. . Nb4 fails to 24 Rd4, with the threat

of 25 Rh4.
24 R X d8 + R X d8
25 Be4 Nd4
26 Ng3 B X e4
27 fX e4 Qe7
28 Qf4 Kg8
29 e5 Ne6
30 Qf6 Q x f6

The exchange of queens is forced, since afte r

17 Bh6!
30 . . . Qc5 + 3 1 K h 1 Rd7 32 Ne4 and then
Nd6 White's attack is irresistible. But now
In this way White finds a vulnerable point
he realizes his material advantage.
in the black position. Nothing is achieved
by 1 7 c x d5 N X d5 1 8 N X d5 Q X d5 (18 . . . 31 e X f6 Rd2
B X d5 19 Nf5) 1 9 Qb4 Qc5 ! 32 Rf2 Rd1 +
33 Nfl g5
17 . Rc8
34 Rd2 R X d2
18 B X g7 K x g7
35 N x d2 h6
19 Qg5 Nc6
36 Ne4 Kh7
37 b4 Kg6
1 9 . . . Re8 is met by 20 Rfel, while after
38 g4! Nf4
1 9 . . . Nfd7 White has the highly unpleas
39 c5 b X c5
ant 20 Nf5 + . But now he carries out a
40 b X c5 Resigns
tactical operation and wins a pawn.

20 Nf5 + Kh8
21 N X d5 N x d5 No. 2 Queen' s Gambit
Polugayevsky-Tal

37th USSR Championship

Moscow, 1969

1 c4 Nf6
2 Nc3 e6
3 Nf3 d5
4 d4 c5
5 c X d5 N X d5
6 e4 N x c3
22 Qh6! 7 b X c3 c x d4

3
 Problems from the first move

8 c X d4 Bb4 + 15 Bd3 ReS

9 Bd2 B X d2 + 16 d5! e X dS
10 Q X d2 0-0 17 e5!
11 Bc4 Nc6
12 0-0 b6
13 Rad1 Bb7
14 Rfel

It was with this unexpected pawn sacrifice

This very position was reached in the 5th
game of the 1 969 Spass ky-Petrosian World
Championship Match. With his unique sense
of danger, Petrosian continued here 14 . . .
ReS, thereby avoiding the main threat;
although he also got into difficulties after
1 5 d5 e x d5 16 B X d5, and was unable to
save the game.
Many of the commentators on this game,
including Mikhail Tal, recommended that in
the diagram position the bishop should be
driven from c4 by the immediate 14 . . . Na5,
or after 14 . . . ReS 15 d5 Na5 .
O f course, they were not t o know that we
had analyzed this continuation in Dubna,
where simultaneously with Spassky I had
been preparing for my match against Alek
sandr Zaitsev for the title of USSR Cham
pion. Incidentally, on completing our joint
analysis, Boris and I agreed that either of us
had the right to employ it at the first conve
nient opportunity.
that we associated the whole of our subse
quent analysis. White plays for a direct
attack, which it is hardly possible to parry.
17 . . . Nc4
18 Qf4 Nb2
Tal goes into the main variation, trying
to exchange off the dangerous white bishop,
but what else could he have done ? On 1 S . . .
h6 there follows 1 9 Qf5 g6 20 Qh3 Kg7
21 e6 fX e6 22 Nd4, whe n Black's position
collapses. Equally unsatisfactory is 1 S . . .
Rc6 1 9 Ng5 h6 20 Bh7 + Kh8 2 1 N X f7 + ,
when he loses quickly after 2 1 . . . R x f7 22
Q X f7 K X h7 23 e6 Nd6 24 Qd7, or 2 1
K X h7 22 N X d8 R X f4 23 e6.
19 B X h7 + K x h7
20 Ng5 + Kg6

14 . . Na5

The Ex-World Champion had no reason

for deviating from his own recommendation.

4
 No. 3 Portisch-P olugayevsky, 1970

The first impression is that nothing comes 25 Qf6

of White's attack, but he has at his disposal 26 Q X f6 g X f6
a prepared move of terrible strength. 27 Rd2

21 h4! ! 27 Nd6 was more energetic, but the move

in the game is also good enough to win,
This is the point of the combination. Of since the threat of Nd6 is maintained.
course, to find the whole of the subsequent 27 Rc6
lengthy variation was possible only with 28 R X b2 ReS
prepared analysis. I think it was only here
that Tal realized he was battling under une 28 . . . Bc8 was slightly the lesser evil,
qual conditions, but there was already no although it would not have affected the out
way out. Hanging over the black king is the come of the game.
threat of 22 h5 + ! K X h5 23 g4 + Kg6 24 29 Nh6 + Kh7
Qf5 + Kh6 25 Qh7 + K X g5 26 Qh5 + Kf4 30 Nf5 Rc x e6
27 Qf5 mate, and 2 1 . . . f5 fails to save 31 R X e6 R X e6
Black due to 22 Rd4 !, with the same idea 32 Rc2 Rc6
of 23 h5 + or 23 Qg3. His reply is therefore 33 Re2 Bc8
forced. 34 Re7 + Kh8
35 Nh4 f5
21 Rc4
36 Ng6 + Kg8
22 h5 + Kh6
37 R X a7 Resigns
23 N X f7 + + Kh7
24 Qf5 + Kg8 It goes without saying that an innovation
25 e6! lasting 25 moves is a rarity, but it once
again emphasizes what a great return - both
competitive and creative - a player can ex
pect from searching, and from experiment
ing. It hardly has to be said that, in itself,
such a success far exceeds the disappointment
from other, less successful attempts, and that
it is quite capable of inspiring a player, a s
the game with Tal inspired me in that USSR
Championship.

No. 3 Nimzo-Indian Defence

I reached this position in my analysis that
Portisch-Polugayevsky
morning, prior to the game. And yet 25 moves .
have already been made ! Interzonal Tournament
Now on 25 . . . Qe7 the piquant 26 h6 ! Palma de Mallorca, 1970
is decisive . In addition, Black was on the
threshold of severe time trouble, whereas 1 d4 Nf6
White had spent literally only a few minutes, 2 c4 e6
and most of those on the first few moves. 3 Nc3 Bb4

5
 Problems from the first move

4 e3 0-0 1 3 e4 and 13 Bd2 being prevented. On 1 3

5 Bd3 c5 Qe2 there now follows 1 3 . . . c x d4 1 4 e X d4
6 Nf3 d5 N X d4 1 5 N X d4 B X d4 16 Be3 e5, when
7 0-0 d X c4 White can hope only for equality, e.g. 1 7
8 Bxc4 Nc6 B X d4 e x d4 1 8 Qe5 Re8 (18 . .. d3 i s also
9 a3 Ba5 possible) 19 R X d4 Qb6 20 Qd6.
Since 1 3 d x c5 Q x d3 14 R X d3 B X c5,
Prior to the Portisch-Larsen Candidates
leading to an equal ending, can hardly satisfy
Match, 1 968, this bishop retreat was consid
White, the most active line for him would
ered dubious because of 10 Qd3, but in
appear to be 1 3 Ne4 c4 14 Qc2, but this can
the first game of that match the Danish grand
be answered by 1 4 . . . N X e4 15 Q X e4 f5,
master carried out an original plan : 10 . . . a6
when capturing the knight leads to a repeti
1 1 Rd 1 b5 1 2 Ba2 c4 13 Qe2 Qe8, with in
tion of moves : 1 6 Q x c6 Bd7 1 7 Qd6 Bc7
teresting play.
1 8 Qb4 Ba5 etc. Besides, 15 . . . f5 is by no
True, after 14 Bd2 Bb6 15 Bb 1 e5 (Spassky
means obligatory, 1 5 . . . Bb7 leading to a
recommended 15 . . . Bb7) 16 d X e5 N x e5
sharp game.
17 Ne4 ! N X e4 1 8 B X e4 Portisch retained
Therefore:
the advantage, and although he subsequently
did not find the strongest continuation, 13 Qc2 c4
Black's position did not inspire confidence.
Now the exchange on d4 is less favourable
Since then there had been frequent dis
for Black : 13 . . . c X d4 14 Ne2.
cussions on the theme : in general, is Larsen's
plan playable ? 14 Qe2 ? !
Perhaps it is good, but it requires an im
Portisch vacates the b 1 -h7 diagonal for
provement somewhere earlier ? It was to
his stranded bishop at a2, but, as will be
this question that the present game gave a
seen, the transfer of the bishop to b1 does
convincing answer.
not take place, so that White's plan must be
10 Qd3 a6 considered a failure.
11 Rd1 b5 Incidentally, 14 e4 would still not have
12 Ba2 Bb6! worked in view of 14 . .. N X d4 15 N X d4
B X d4 1 6 e5 (or 16 Be3 e5 17 Ne2 Bg4)
1 6 . .. Ng4 1 7 Qe4 B X f2+ 1 8 Kfl Qh4 1 9
h 3 (after 19 Q X a8 Bb6 20 Ne4 f5! or 2 0 Rd2
f6 the position of the white king is indefen
sible) 1 9 . . . Ne3+ !, when Black remains
two pawns up.
After the tempting 14 Bb 1 (with the threats
of 15 e4 and 15 d5) White, evidently not with
out justification, was afraid of 14 . . . Na5,
and if 1 5 e4 ( 15 Ne4 is adequately met by
15 . . . g6), then 1 5 . . . Nb3 16 e5 N x a l .
It would therefore seem that White can
Here it is, the prepared innovation ! By inten no longer hope for an advantage, and that
sifying the pressure on the d4 pawn, Black he should have restricted himself to the
hinders White's normal development, both quiet 14 Bd2 Bb7 1 5 Ne4.

6
 No. 3 Portisch-Polugayevsky, 1970

14 . . Qe8 disconcerted and parts with the exchange. I

can only assume that, in his calculation of the
Thus, in comparison with the aforemen
resulting complications, Portisch committed
tioned Portisch-Larsen game, the black
an oversight somewhere. Meanwhile, the
bishop stands not at a5, but at b6, which is
diagram position contains a number of latent
clearly to Black's advantage, especially in
possibilities, and White had at his disposal
the event of 15 e4 e5.
the saving move 21 Bd5!
15 b3 Now 21 ... NXd5 (21 .. . BXd5 22
RXd4!) 22 RXd4 QXd4 (22 ... NXc3 is
White avoids 15 Bb1, to which 15 ... Bb7
in fact better) 23 NXd5 Qc5 24 Qg4 f6 25
and 16 ... e5 looks a more than adequate
Nxf6+ Kh8 26 QXg7+! KXg7 27 Nd7+
reply, and finds a different way of freeing
and 28 Nxc5 favours White, but even
his imprisoned bishop at a2.
stronger is 25 Rc1! Qd6 (25 ... Bc8 26 Qg3)
15 . . cxb3 26 Rc7 Rf7 27 NXf6+ Qxf6 28 BXf6
16 Bxb3 Bb7 Rxc7 29 h4!
17 e4 Therefore I would have continued 21 ...
BXc3 22 Bxc3 Qxc3 23 Bxb7 Ra7 24
At last White makes this long-planned
Bd5 Qe5 or 24 ... Rd7, when Black's posi
advance, especially since the position after
tion is preferable.
17 Bb2 Na5 18 Ba2 ReS and 19 ... Nc4
clearly did not appeal to Portisch. But Black 21 . . Q X d4
is fully prepared for it, and lands a counter 22 Rel
blow.
Alas, 22 Nd5 fails to 22 .. . Qxe4 23
17 ... e5 NXf6+ gXf6, when White has not the slight
18 d x e5 Nxe5 est compensation for the exchange.
19 NxeS Q xeS
20 Bb2 Bd4! 22 . . . Rfe8
23 e5

The one chance of fighting for the initia

tive. Here too 22 Nd5 is not dangerous in
view of22 ... Qxe4.

23 . . . Qg4!
24 f3

After the exchange of queens, White has

no hope of saving the ending.

An accurately calculated manoeuvre, for
cing White to declare his intentions: 21 Racl
is very strongly met by 21 ... Rac8.
21 R x d4 ?
White i s s o impressed b y the threats to
his knight and his e-pawn that he becomes
24 . . . Qf4
25 g3
This weakens the king's position and
invites Black to fall into a simple trap. How
ever, White's position is all the same lost:
apart from anything else, there are no strong
points in the centre for his minor pieces.

7
 Problems from the first move

25 . Qd4 + No. 4 Sicilian Defence

Of course, not 25 . . . Q x f3 ? 26 Q X f3
Jansa-Polugayevsky
B X f3 27 Rfl , regaining the lost material.

26 Kf1 Qe5 European Team Championship

27 Nd1 Bd5! Skara, 1980

Forcing the exchange of bishops, or 1 e4 c5

queens, since on 28 Bc2 there follows 2 Nf3 d6
28 . . . Bc4. 3 d4 e X d4
4 N X d4 Nf6
2S Qe2 Q X e2
5 Ne3 a6
29 Bxe2 Nd7
6 Be2 e6
30 f4 Be4 +
7 0-0 Be7
31 Kg1 Ne5
8 f4 0-0
32 Nf2 RadS
9 Kb1 Ne6
33 Be3 Nd3
10 Be3 Bd7
Forcing further simplification. 11 a4 ReS

34 B X d3
This position has occurred countless times
in practice, including my games. The usual
Or 34 NX d3 B X d3 35 Bb3 Bf5, and there
continuation here is 12 Nb3, to which Black
is no defence against the rook's invasion
replies 12 . . . Na5, but my opponent played
at d3.
differently.
34 Bxd3
35 Ba5 Rd7 12 Qe1
36 g4 Be2
The white queen wishes to find a post
37 Rcl ReS
either at f2 (with sights on b6), or on the
In allowing this pin, Black had made an K-side. But when studying this position on
accurate calculation of the resulting tactical one occasion I had found a way of casting
'complications. doubts on White's idea.

3S f5 Rd5 12 . . Nb4!
13 Qg3
Threatening 39 B X f5.
Now Black is able to carry out his plan
39 e6 f X e6
in full. True, after 13 Bd3 e5 Black has a n
40 fxe6 ReS
excellent game, while o n 1 3 Qd2 h e would
41 Nd3 Rxe6
have continued 13 . . . e5 14 Nf5 (14 /X e5
42 Nb4 Re2
d x e5 15 Nf5 B X/5 gives Black the initia
43 Kfl R X h2
tive) 14 . . . B x f5 15 e x f5 e x f4 1 6 R x f4
44 Kg1 Rb1 + !
d5, with counter-play.
Wbite resigns: 45 K X h 1 Be4+. To be considered was 13 Rdl ! ?, with
attacking chances after 13 . . . e5 1 4 fx e5
d x e5 1 5 Nf5 N X c2 1 6 Qg3.

8
 No. 4 Jansa-Polugayevsky, 1 980

The alternative was 1 7 Bd2, parting with

one of the bishops, but then after 1 7 . . .
N X d2 1 8 Q X d2 NXa4 1 9 B X b7 Bf6 ! Black
for the exchange has two pawns and a good
game, since 20 Bxa6 fails to 20 . . . Qb6.

17 . Bf6
18 Bd4 B X d4!

Black finds a way to retain his advantage,

by retaining the two . . . knights !

19 N X d4 f5
13 . R x c3
20 B X e4
It is this exchange sacrifice (which, inci
Otherwise the white rooks simply cannot
dentally, is typical of a slightly different
come into play.
Sicilian position-with the bishop at b7)
that constitutes Black's idea. 20 Nxe4
21 Qb4
14 b X c3 N X e4
15 Qe1 White was pinning great hopes on this
attack, but back on his 1 8th move Black had
This makes things easy for Black. Better
planned a favourable arrangement of his
was 15 Qf3 N X c3 16 Q X b7, although even
pieces.
then Black has perfectly sufficient compen
sation for his minimal material deficit after
1 6 . . . d5, or 1 6 . . . a5, or, perhaps strongest,
16 . . . Nbd5 17 Bgl (17 Bd2 B/6) 17
N x e2 1 8 N x e2 Qc8.

15 . . Nd5
16 Bf3

White has evidently decided to try and

exploit the apparently insecure position of
the black knights, since the passive 16 Bd2
is well met either by 1 6 . . . Qc7, or 16 . . .
Bh4 1 7 g3 Bf6 1 8 Bf3 Nc5, or 1 6 . . . Nc5 21 . Qc7
1 7 a5 Nf6 followed by . . . d5 and . . . Ne4. 22 Rab1 Bc8!
Even so, that is what he should have played. 23 Rbd1

16 Nd X c3 It transpires that Black would have

Not fearing any ghosts, the knights con
tinue their dance in the centre of the board.
For the moment they are defending each
other, and the white rooks are deprived of
the important squares b 1 and d l .
17 Ne2
answered 23 Qb6 with 23 . . . Rf7, either
immediately or after first exchanging on b6.
23 . . . Qc3
Black aims for the endgame, in which his
central pawns will be able to advance . This is
the key factor in evaluating the given position.

9
 Problems from the first move

24 Q x c3 No. 5 Queen ' s Indian Defence

If 24 Qb3, then 24 . . . Rf7 followed by
... Rc7. Polugayevsky-Korcbnoi

24 N X c3 Candidates Semi-Final Match

25 Rde1 Kf7 Buenos-Aires, 1980
26 a5 Bd7
27 Re3 ReS 1 Nf3 Nf6
28 Rfe1 Nd5 2 c4 b6
29 Rb3 Rc7 3 g3 e6
30 g3 Bc8 4 Bg2 Bb7
For the third time Black's bishop stands 5 0-0 Be7
on its initial square, completing a new re
6 d4 0-0
grouping and freeing the rook for active 7 d5
measures. The third time this move had been tried
31 Rd1 g6 in the match. After 7 ... eXd5 8 Nd4 the
6th game went 8 ... Nc6 9 cXd5 NXd4
Parrying the threat of 32 NXf5.
10 QXd4 c5 11 Qd3!? d6 12 a4 a6 13 Na3 b5
32 Kg1 Rc4 14 Bf4 b4 15 Nc4, and White gained a slight
33 Ra3 advantage. In the 8th game, after the theo
retical 8 ... Bc6 9 cxd5 BXd5 10 BXd5
33 ... Ra4 was threatened.
NXd5 11 e4 Nb4 12 Nc3 Bf6 13 Nf5 Black
33 Nc3 employed the improvement 13 ... Re8 !,
creating pressure on e4 and retaining his
The knight again heads for e4!
extra pawn.
34 Rd3 Ne4 When preparing for the decisive 12th game,
35 c3 Bd7 which I had to win at all costs, I spent many
long hours studying the resulting position,
Exploiting the fact that 36 Rb3 is bad
but was unable to improve White's play.
because of 36 ... Nc5, Black brings his last
I was forced to go back, and here I managed
reserves into play, quickly concluding the
to find a completely new line in an opening
aame.
which had apparently been thoroughly
36 Re3 Ba4 studied. Yet another demonstration of the
37 Nf3 Bc6 inexhaustible nature of chess!
38 Rb3 Ra4
7 e x dS
39 Nd4 Bd5
. .

40 Rb1 NcS
(see diagram next column)
Not giving the opponent the slightest
chance, e.g. 40 ... RXa5 41 c4, although 8 Nb4! !
even here Black's advantage is undisputed.
In this way White reaches the desired
41 b3 variations, while avoiding 8 ... Bc6, and
also 8 ... Nc6.
White sealed this move, but resigned with
out resuming play. 8 c6

10
 No. 5 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 980

After 8 . . . Ne4 9 c x d5 B X h4 10 B x e4 White regains his piece, and the opponent's

Bf6 1 1 Qc2 g6 12 Nc3 White obtains an dark squares on the K-side are irreparably
attractive position. weakened.

9 c x d5 N X d5
10 Nf5
This position had frequently occurred in
the 8 Nd4 c6 variation, although there White
usually continued 10 e4 followed by 11 Nc3.
But here the vulnerable position of the white
knight dictates that it should immediately
move to f5. Black decides to try and cast
doubts on this.
10 . . Bc5
Vacating e7 for the knight, from where
it will dislodge its white opponent from its
active position.As will be seen, White is able
to refute this plan.
Later, at the Malta Olympiad, two other
continuations were tried. But both after
1 0 ...Nc7 1 1 e4 d5 12 Nc3 Bf6 1 3 e x d5 c x d5
14 Bf4 Nba6 1 5 Re 1 (Kasparov-Marjanovic),
and after 10 ... Nf6 1 1 e4 d5 12 Nc3 d X e4
13 N X e4 with the threat of Bg5 (Poluga
yevsky-Stean went 13 Bg5 ?! h6, when Black
parried the attack) White has a serious
initiative for the pawn.
11 e4 Ne7
(see diagram next column)
13 B X b4
Black should probably have tried 1 3 .. .
Ba6, so that after 14 Re 1 the white rook
should be less actively placed than in the
game. But here too White has a strong
initiative, e.g. 14 . . . B X b4 15 Qd4 + f6
1 6 Q X b4 c5 1 7 Qc3 Nbc6 1 8 e5 !
14 Qd4 + f6
15 Q X b4 c5
16 Qd2 Nbc6
17 Bb2
The check at h6 is unnecessary, since there
is no point in driving the black king out of
the firing line. White's overall plan consists
of organizing the e4-e5 breakthrough, after
which it will all be over. Realizing this, Black
tries by tactical means to hinder or at least
delay it.
17 . . . Ba6
18 Rd1 Ne5
19 Na3
White is not afraid of this sideways de
velopment, since the knight and the black
bishop mutually restrict each other. Mean
while, the threat of f2-f4 hangs over Black
like the sword of Damocles.

12 N X g7! K X g7 19 . . . N7c6
13 b4 20 Qe3!

2 11
 Problems from the first move

This modest move, over which I thought won more quickly by 27 Re1 Qe6 (27 . . .
for more than half an hour, prevents Black Qg4 28 Qf6 + Kg8 29 Qh8 + Kf7 30 Q X h7+
from confusing matters in variations such as and mate next move, o r 27 . . . Be6 28 Qf6 +
20 f4 Nd3 21 e5 NXb2 22 QXb2 Nd4 23 Kg8 29 Qg5+ Kf7 30 f5 and wins) 28 Qc7+
BXa8 QXa8, and thus acts like a proverbial Ke8 29 Q X c6 + , winning an important pawn
cold shower. in comparison with the game.
But I had worked out beforehand the
20 . . . Qe7
variations after 26 ... Kg6, and with time
On 20 . . . Nb4 White had prepared the trouble approaching I did not want to be
murderous 21 Rd6!, with the threat ofRad1, diverted by a search for additional possibili
and after 21 ... Nbd3 (21 . . . Ned3 loses ties.
immediately to 22 Qg5 + ) 22 f4 NXb2 (or
27 Qf6 + Kg8
22 . . . Ng4 23 Qf3) 23 fXe5 Black is lost.
28 Qg5 + Kf7
21 f4 Nc4 29 Re1 Qe6

Of course, there was little cheer in retreat Black has to give up his queen, since
ing to f7 or g6, but nevertheless this would 29 ... Be6 fails to 30 f5.
have been the lesser evil.
30 Qg7 + Ke8
22 N X c4 B x c4 31 R X e6 + B x e6
23 e5 r x e5 32 Bf6 Bf7
24 B x c6 d X c6 33 Bg5

The end position of White's combination.

Of course, 34 QXh7 followed by the advance
of the pawns would also have won, but, by
threatening 34 Qe5 + , for the sake of comfort
he intends in addition to win the exchange.

33 ... Kd7
34 Bb6 c4
35 Q X h7 c5
36 B X f8

There was absolutely no reason to be in

a hurry with this; 36 g4 or 36 h4 would have
25 Rd7! !
concluded matters within a few moves. I was
An explosive move. With his few remain let down by my nerves in this important
ing forces White begins a direct attack, game, the last in 'normal time'.
which is merely strengthened by the presence
36 R X f8
of opposite-coloured bishops.
37 Qg7 Ke7
25 . Q X d7 38 Qe5 + Kd7
26 Q X e5 + Kf7 39 g4

Correct was 26 . .. Kg6, which would have And here White should have restricted
transposed into the game after 27 Qg5 + the rook by 39 Qf6, or advanced the pawn
Kf7 28 Qf6+. But now White could have after the preparatory 39 Qg7 Ke7.

12
 No. 5 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 980

39 ReS The only chance of exploiting the passed

40 Qf6 BdS c4 pawn. 49 . . . Ra2 would have been most
41 g5 Re2 simply met by 50 Qf6 + and 5 1 Qc3, followed
by the advance of the K-side pawns.

50 h5 c3
51 Qf6 +

Again White solves all his problems by

checks.

51 Be6

Or 5 1 . . . Kc7 52 Qg7 + ! Kc6 {52 . . . Kc8

53 Qf8 + ) 53 h6, when 52 . . . c2 loses to
53 Qg6 + . But now too White is able to ex
ploit the fact that the black bishop is not
In this position the game was adjourned.
very actively placed.
Black has activated his pieces, but a queen
is a queen, and there are two ways to win: 52 Kf2 c2
by the move sealed by White, and 42 g6. 53 Qb2 Rh3
Moreover, in my analysis I was able to find 54 Kg2
a fairly clear-cut winning procedure.
Completing the encirclement : after 54 .. .
.
42 h4 b5 RXh5 55 Q x c2 the white pawns are un
stoppable.
Obviously 42 R X a2 loses quickly to
43 h5. Therefore Black attempts to advance 54 Bf5
his pawn to b4 and follow it up with .. . c3
The last chance.
or . . . b3. By a series of checks White fore
stalls this possibility.

43 Qf5 + Kd6
44 Qf8 + Kc6
45 Qc8 + Kd6
46 Qd8 + Kc6
47 Qa8 + Kd6
48 Qf8 +

Having made several 'prophylactic anti

time-trouble' moves, White sets about imple
menting his plan.
55 Qf6 + !
48 Kc6
White simply transposes into a won
49 a3!
queen ending, his pawns being further
The black pawns are now halted, since advanced.
49 . . . a5 is met by 50 Qa8 + and 5 1 Q X a5 ,
55 . Kc7
and 4 9 . . . c 3 b y 5 0 Qf6+.
56 Q X 5 cl = Q
49 Re3 57 Qe5 +

2* 13
 Problems from the first move

Vacating f5 for the king. The rest is ob- work, suddenly my heart literally skipped
VlOUS. a beat : I had seized on an absolutely new
idea . . .
57 ... Kb6 In the match it was not required, and the
58 K X h3 b4 piece of paper with my analysis stayed with
59 a x b4 c X b4 me for more than four years !
60 h6 Qh1+
61 Kg4 Qd1+ 11 e X f6
62 Kf5 Qc2+
If White plays 1 1 g3, he has to reckon
63 Kf6 b3
both with 1 1 . . . b4 12 Ne4 N X e4 13 B X d8
64 h7! Q x h7
K X d8 (experts on the variation have doubts
65 Qe3+ Kc6
about the conclusion of theory, that all this
66 Q x b3 Qh8+
favours White), and 1 1 . . . Qa5 . But now
67 Ke7 Qh4
after 1 1 . . . Qb6 12 g3 White transposes into
68 Qc4+ Kb6
the main line, where he has the advantage.
69 Qb4+ Kc6
Therefore Black first plays
70 Qe4+ Kb5
71 Kf7 a5 11 . . . Bb7
72 g6 Qg4 12 g3!
73 Qe5 + Resigns
Nevertheless !

12 . . . c5
No. 6 Queen' s Gambit 13 d5 Nb6

Polugayevsky-Torre

Moscow, 1981

1 d4 d5
2 c4 c6
3 Nf3 Nf6
4 Nc3 e6
5 Bg5 d x c4
6 e4 b5
7 e5 h6
8 Bh4 g5 This position had frequently been the sub
9 N X g5 h X g5 ject of theoretical analyses, and had been
10 B X g5 Nbd7 tested in practice, with Black maintaining
approximate equality.
This is essentially the initial position of the 14 d X e6 Q X d1 +
Botvinnik Variation. For roughly two weeks, 15 R X dl B x h1
at the risk of wasting precious time, I ana 16 e7 a6
lyzed it when preparing for my match with
Henrique Mecking. The risk justified itself. Obviously Black has no time for 1 6 . . .
One sleepless night, totally engrossed in the Bh6, in view of 1 7 N X b5 Rc8 1 8 Nc7 + .

14
 No . 6 Polugayevsky-Torre, 1 98 1
What i s White to do ? My analysis, and
also the game Belyavsky-Bagirov from the
Match Tournament of Four USSR teams,
Moscow, 1981, showed that after 17 e X f8
=Q + K X f8 1 8 Rd6 Rb8 19 Be3 Rh5
White has good compensation for the ex
change, but perhaps not more, since he has
constantly to reckon with the possible ad
vance of Black's Q-side pawns.
17 b4! ! Bb6
18 f4! !
Having given up a rook, White has no
intention of regaining the lost material, but
contents himself with the fact that the rook
at h8 is not destined to come into play for
some time.
18 . . . b4
19 Rd6!
This too is the result of that same home
preparation (jumping ahead, I have to admit
15
that the position was analyzed a s far as move
30 of the present game). Had White retreated
with 19 Nb 1 , Black would have been alright,
whereas now the knight has available the d 1
square, from where it can immediately aim
for the centre.
19 . . . Rb8
After 19 . . . b X c3 20 R X b6 c X b2
(if 20 . . . c2 21 Kd2 Kd7 22 B X c4 Be4,
White wins even by the seemingly paradox
ical 23 R X a6!) 2 1 B X c4 followed by R X b2
Black loses due to the weakness of f7 and
the amazing helplessness of his rooks. More
over, after placing his rook on the d-file,
White can even exchange bishops and play
a unique 'three-rook' ending ! After lengthy
thought the Philippine grandmaster finds
the best chance.
20 Nd1 B x g5
21 f X g5 Nd5
Preventing Ne3, and simultaneously pre
paring to give up the knight for the e- and
f-pawns.
22 B X c4 N x e7
23 fX e7 K x e7
24 Rf6!
It is much more important to prevent the
rook at h8 from coming into play, than to go
after the a-pawn.
24 . . . Rbf8
25 Ne3
25 Nf2 followed by Nd3 is also quite good,
but I did not like the fact that, after the
capture on c5, the white pieces do not defend
one another, and in certain cases can be left
'hanging' . Therefore, instead of the c5 pawn,
White attacks the important d5 and f5
squares.
25 Be4
26 R x a6
 Problems from the first move

Now, with the e-file securely blocked and A mistake, which could have cancelled out
the black rook unable to come into play all White's achievements. He could have won
from e8, White re-establishes material equal by the simple 34 h6 followed by 35 h7 and
ity, maintaining a highly significant posi the advance of the king into the centre.
tional advantage and excellent winning In addition, Black would be unable to keep
chances. his king at d5, since he would be threatened
with 36 g6, and if 36 . . . fX g6 37 Bb3 +
26 Rbd8
and 38 Bg8.
27 Rf6
34 Ke5
27 h5 suggests itself, but at the board I re
35 g4 Kf4?
frained from making this committing ad
vance, due to the possibility after 27 . . . Rg8
In time trouble Black fails to take the
28 g6 of Black giving up the exchange by
excellent chance granted him by White-35
28 . . . fX g6 29 B X g8 R X g8, when, al
. . . d3 ! ! (with the bishop at c2 this move
though White is a pawn up, it may prove
would not have been possible). Now on 36 g6
no easy matter to realize it. Therefore the
fx g6 37 h x g6 he retreats his king to f6,
game continues in positional vein.
while after 36 Kd2 Kd4 ! 37 g6 fX g6 38 h X g6
27 Rd6 Rf2 + (or 36 h6 Kf4 37 B X /7 Ke3 !) he has
28 Rf4 Rd4 powerful counter-play, and it is White who
29 h5 has to think in terms of saving the game.
Now 29 . . . Rg8 is no longer possible; 35 g6 Ke3
and Black tries to disentangle himself.
On 36 . . . d3 White has 37 Kd2, while
29 Bd3
after 36 . . . fX g6 37 h X g6 the pawn reaches
30 Nd5 + Kd6
the queening square. But in the game too.
31 R X d4 c X d4
Black is not able to create a counter-attack
32 Bb3 Bc2
using mating threats.
33 B x c2 K X d5
34 Bb3 + ? 36 g7 Rc8
37 Kfl

38 h6 is also good enough.

37 . . d3
38 Kg2 Kf4
39 b6

In this hopeless position Black lost on time.

This innovation is perhaps the best that
I have managed to find during the whole of
my chess career.

16
 In Search of the Truth
Truly great chess players are universal. The
genius of combinations, Alexander Alekhine,
could win an intricate, technically complex
ending, while that deep strategist Mikhail
Botvinnik played some wonderful attacks.
And yet even at a very high level we find
players who are definitely one-sided. More
over, this leaning is normally in the direction
of tactics. I have met many masters who have
possessed a sharp tactical vision, and whose
play is aimed only 'at the king'. They burn
their boats behind them, not even considering
the possibility of their attack breaking down,
and very often take the liberty of bluffing.
Such reckless play has never appealed
to me. Just as it has never appealed to me
to make a sacrifice, merely to take the oppo
nent off the normal path, to disturb his
equilibrium. I will admit that such an ap
proach has a certain justification, and that
sometimes the effect of a surprise can be very
strong. But in principle this is an erroneous
path, and in confirmation I can cite the
words of Capablanca, who said that excessive
boldness, like excessive timidity, are con
tradictory to the essence of chess.
All my life I have been aiming in chess
for the truth, and have tried to play clean,
correct chess. And if I sense at heart that
an attack or combination is dubious, I will
not go in for it. And I will not debase myself,
just so that some spectator should later say:
'See how brilliantly he attacked!'
This does not mean, of course, that a
beautiful combination does not give me
17
enormous pleasure. I myself like carrying
out a swift attack, but - based on certain
positional principles. It is important that
the integral nature of strategy and attack
should be retained, and that a combination
should lead to a determination of the truth
in the chess position.
There is also one more factor which ex
plains why attacks occur comparatively
rarely in my games. Since childhood I have
been playing the Sicilian Defence, in which
it is necessary to have a very subtle feel for
the opponent's attacking possibilities, and
at the same time for one's own defensive re
sources. So that even in an offensive position
I see many ways of parrying an attack, and
my interest in it wanes. Although I realize
that it is highly probable that a less ex
perienced opponent will not find these de
fensive subtleties.
But to give in to such a temptation would
mean acting contrary to my basic convic
tions. And I endeavour not to do this.
No. 7 Queen' s Gambit
Polugayevsky-Lutikov
Semifinal 25th USSR Championship
Sverdlovsk, 1958
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 c5
 In search of the truth

4 e3 Be7 20 BXd5 B X g5 (20 . . .e x d5 21 B X e7

5 Nc3 0--0 Q x e7 22 Ng6 + ) 21 B x b7.
6 Bd3 dS
19 Rh3
7 0--0 d X c4
s B x c4 Nbd7 Preventing 1 9 . . . Nfd5, which is met by
9 Qe2 a6 20 Qh5 . Now White intends to continue
10 a4 c X d4 20 Qf3 followed by Qg3 and Qh4, a man
11 e X d4 Nb6 oeuvre which Black should have prevented
12 Bb3 by 19 . . . Bc6.

19 . . g6?
20 Qf3 Rg8

Mter weakening his K-side, it is unlikely

that Black can save the game. Here are some
sample variations :
(a) 20 . . . Nfd5 21 N X g6 + fX g6 22
Q X f8 + B X f8 23 B X d8.
(b) 20 . . . Ng8 21 N X g6 + fX g6 22
Q X f8 B X g5 23 Q X b4.
(c) 20 . . . Nh5 21 Bh6 Rg8 22 Q x f7 !
Bf8 23 Q x e6.
In this complicated and interesting posi (d) 20 . . . Bc6 21 Qg3 Nh5 22 R X h5
tion White will build up a piece attack on g X h5 23 Bh6 Bf6 24 B X f8 Q X f8 25 Ng6 +
the king, whereas Black will aim for active h X g6 26 Q x c7.
play in the centre and on the Q-side . The move in the game also meets with
a refutation.
12 Bd7
13 NeS Be8 21 Ne4 NhS

Better was 13 Bc6 or the immediate 21 . . . N x e4 fails to 22 R X h7 + K X h7

13 . .. Nbd5, so as to answer 14 Rdl with 23 Qh3 + and 24 Qh6 mate .
14 . . . Nb4.

14 Rd1 NbdS
15 Rd3

Now White succeeds in switching his rook

to the K-side, exploiting the fact that on
15 . .. Nb4 there follows 16 Rg3, when
1 6 . . . Q X d4 fails to 1 7 Bh6.

15 ReS
16 Rg3 Kh8
17 BgS Nb4
18 Rd1 Rc7 22 Q X f7!

Preparing 1 9 Nfd5, which was not This spectacular move is the quickest way
possible immediately due to 1 9 N x d5 N X d5 to win.

18
 No. 8 Polugayevsky-Suetin, 1 958

22 Bc6 11 Bf6

There was no longer any defence. Thus on

22 . . . BXg5 there would have followed
simply 23 N Xg5 , when 23 . . . Q Xg5 allows
24 Q x c7.
If instead 22 . . . BXf7, the following
variation is possible : 23 N X f7+ Kg7 24
NXd8 RXd8 25 g4 Nf6 26 Bh6 + Kh8 27
Ng5, and wins.

23 Q x e6 Rg7
24 d5 Bd7
25 B X e7 R x e7
Suetin also made this move instantly, so
26 Qd6 Qe8
that it had obviously been prepared before
27 Nf6 N x 6
hand. In the Tal-Boleslavsky game Black
28 Q x f6 + Rg7
would not have equalized, if (after 11 . . .
29 d6 Resigns
B X/5 12 Bd3! e4! ? 13 Jx e4 Qe7 14 e xj5
Apart from 30 Nf7 +, mate in two is also Q X e3 + 15 Qe2 Qg3+ 16 Kd2 Nc7) instead
threatened : 30 R Xh7+ KXh7 31 Qh4. of 1 7 Qh2 Tal had played 17 Nf3 !, e. g.
1 7 . . . ReS 1 8 Ne4 Qf4+ 19 Qe3, with
advantage to White. Suetin's last move is
No. 8 King ' s Indian Defence an attempt to improve Black's play, but
the further course of the game shows that
Polugayevsky-8uetin the innovation is not able to alter the evalua
tion of the position as difficult for Black.
25th USSR Championship 12 Bd3!
Riga, 1958
After 40 minutes' thought White finds the
1 d4 Nf6 correct plan. He is not afraid to sacrifice
2 c4 g6 a pawn in the interests of completing his
3 Nc3 Bg7 development as quickly as possible, and of
4 e4 d6 building up an attack on the black king.
5 f3 0-0
e5 12 Ng7
6 Be3
.

c5 13 Qe2 B X h4 +
7 d5
8 g4 Ne8
A mistake, after which i t i s unlikely that
9 h4 f5
White's attack can be parried. Better was
10 g x 5 g X f5
13 . . . NXf5 (13 . . . B X/5 14 Ne4) 14 BXf5
11 e x f5
BXf5, although even then after 1 5 0-0--0
White retains an obvious advantage.
The two players made these first 1 1 moves
instantly, aiming for a position reached in 14 Kd2 B x f5
the 3rd round game between Tal and Bole 15 Ne4 Be7
slavsky. 16 Nh3 b5

19
 In search of the truth

Black tries to create complications on the The concluding move, which is immedi
opposite wing, but his counter-play is too ately decisive.
late .
27 . . . Rh8
17 Rag1 b X c4 28 Qf5 Resigns
18 Bc2 Qa5 +

After 1 8 . . . Na6 White has an interesting No. 9 Queen' s Gambit

win: 19 Qg2 Bg6 20 Nhg5 B X g5 21 N X g5
Qa5+ 22 Kcl c3 (22 . . . Nb4 23 R X h7! Polugayevsky-Khasin
NX c2 24 R X g7 + KXg7 25 Ne6 + , win
ning) 23 R X h7 ! cxb2 + 24 Kb l Nb4 25 28th USSR Championship
R X g7 + K X g7 (25 . . . Kh8 26 Nf7+ ! Moscow, 1961
R X/7 27 Qh3 + KXg7 28 Qh6 + ) 26 Ne6+ ,
and wins. 1 d4 d5
2 Nf3 Nf6
19 Nc3 B X c2
3 c4 e6
20 K x c2 Na6
4 Nc3 c5
21 Bh6 Nb4 +
5 c X d5 N X d5
22 Kb1 Rf7
6 e3 Nc6
7 Bd3 Be7
On 22 . . . Bf6 there would have followed
8 0-0 c X d4
23 B X g7 B X g7 24 Qg2 Qc7 25 Ng5 Qe7 26
Ne6 Rf7 27 Qh3, when Black's position is
Present-day theory rightly gives preference
hopeless.
here to 8 . . . 0-0, deferring the relieving of
23 Ng5 B X g5 the central tension to a more propitious
24 R X g5 Rb8 moment.
9 e x d4 0-0
10 Re1 Nf6
11 Bg5 b6
12 Qe2!

It transpires that, since the d-pawn is

immune (12 . . . NX d4 ? 13 NX d4 Q X d4
14 Radl Qc5 15 B X/6 B X/6 16 Qe4, with a
double attack on h7 and aS), White is able
to deploy his pieces in the best way possible.

12 . Bb7
25 B X g7! R X g7 13 Rad1 Nb4
14 Bb1 Rc8
On 25 . . . Nd3 White has the decisive 26 15 Ne5 Nbd5
RXh7 !
The play of both sides is natural, but never
26 R X g7 + K x g7 theless Black's last move seems to me not
2 7 Qe4! altogether good. He should not have given

20
 No. 9 Polugayevsky-Khasin, 1 961

the white queen immediate access to d3, but The only way of avoiding loss of material.
should have let White waste a tempo on a2-
24 N X f6 +
a3. To be considered was 1 5 . . . Qd6.
In 'justification', it might be said that Black
O n 24 Rd2 there would have followed
was sticking firmly to his plan, and was not
24 . . . Bg5.
suspecting that White might have prepared
a trap. 24 . . . g X f6
25 Rc1 Kg7
16 Qd3 N X c3
17 b X c3 Qd5

This was the position Black was aiming for.

Now after 1 8 f3 g6 he has everything in order,
since the b 1 -h7 diagonal is securely blocked,
and the white queen is unable to switch to
the K-side.
But White too was aiming for this position.

18 Qb3! R X c3

26 d5!

This break enables White to expose the

black king, and to bring his queen into play
with great effect.

26 ... e X d5
27 Qg4 + Kb8
28 Qd4 Rfc8
Z9 Q X f6 + Kg8
19 f3 !
30 Q X h6
The trap snaps shut ! Of the two threats -
against h7 and the bishop at b7 (by Be4), In making this move, White calculated that
only one can be parried. he did not have to fear the advance of the
d-pawn, since he continues his pursuit of the
19 b6
king.
20 B X f6 B X f6
21 Be4 Q X e4 30 d4
22 R X e4 B x e4 31 b4!
23 Nd7
This is the whole point !
Concluding the combination begun six
31 d3
moves earlier. Material is level, but there will
32 b5 R3c5
be numerous targets to attack in the black
position. Parrying the threat of 33 Qg5 + and 34 h6.

23 . . . Bc2 33 Re1 Rd8

21
 In search of the truth

On the intended 34 Re4 there would now (b) 29 . . . e x f3 30 B X h6 f2 (if 30 . . . Qa6.,

have followed 34 . . . d2 35 Rg4 + Bg6 then 31 R X/3 Q x c4 32 Q X c4 R X c4 33 Kg2,
36 hXg6 d 1 = Q + 37 Kh2 Qd6 + 38 Kh3 and the black knight on the edge of the board
fX g6 39 R X g6 + Q X g6 40 Q X g6 + Kf8, has no move) 3 1 Kg2.
when White, as a minimum, would have had
30 f6!
to spend time and effort on analysis and an
adjournment. But the position of the rook This is the whole point ! White lures the
at d8 gives him a decisive tempo. bishop onto an unprotected square, at the
same time gaining control of f5 . The position
34 Qf6 Resigns
of the black king immediately becomes crit
There is no defence against 35 h6. ical.
30 B X f6
31 Bc3 e X f3
No. lO
Here it is not easy to offer any good advice;
Polugayevsky-Vasyukov since after 31 . . . Bg7 32 B X g7 + K X g7
33 Nh4 the different in strength between the
29th USSR Championship white and the black knight is striking.
Baku, 1961
32 B X f6 + Kg8
33 R X f3 Ng5
34 Rf5 Nb7

With his last move (28 . . . e4) Black took

a gamble, obviously overrating his position.
The al-h8 diagonal, on which his king stands,
should not have been opened, although this
35 Raft
factor can be exploited only by means of a
combinational blow. With little time on the clock, White makes
a natural move, and makes things more diffi
29 Bd2!
cult for himself. 35 Bc3 ! was in the spirit of
This is the prologue ! the position, retaining the bishop for the
attack. In this case White wins quickly, since
29 Bg7
Black has no satisfactory defence against

The following two lines allow White to win the two threats of 36 R X h5 and 36 R X f7
a pawn : K X f7 37 Q X h7 + , for example :
(a) 29 . . . B X d2 30 N X d2 e3 (30 . . . Qe8 (a) 35 . . . h4 36 R X f7 Nf8 37 Rafl h X g3
31 Rae1) 3 1 Qc3 + . 38 h X g3 R X g3 39 Qh2 ! Qh3 (39 . . . Rh3

22
 No. 1 1 Polugayevsky-Maslov, 1 963

40 R X/8 + , or 39 . . . R x cJ 40 Qg2 + ) 40 54 Rg4 + K16

Rg7 + R X g7 41 Q X h3 Rh7 42 Rgl + Kf7 55 Qh8 + Ke7
43 Q X h7 + N X h7 44 Rg7 + . 56 Re4 + Kd6
(b) 35 . . . Ng5 36 Rafl Qe8 (36 . . . h4 57 Qe5 + Resigns
loses immediately to 37 Rlf4) 37 Re i (37
Rlf4 is also good) 37 . . . Qd7 38 Bd2 Nh7
(38 . . . Ne4 39 R X e4 Q X/5 40 Re8 + ) 39 No. 1 1 Reti Opening
R X h5 .
Polugayevsky-Maslov
35 . . . N x f6
36 R x f6 Rg7
USSR Spartakiad
37 R X d6 h4
Moscow, 1963
The last chance - complicating matters
in the opponent's time trouble, but White 1 Nf3 d5
finds the best moves. 2 g3 g6
3 Bg2 Bg7
38 Rc6 Qh3 4 0-0 e5
39 Qg2 Qg4 5 d3 Ne7
40 Rf4 Qdl + 6 Nbd2 0-0
41 Qfl Qd2 7 e4

After 41 . . . Q X fl + 42 R X fl h X g3 43
The position reached is essentially one from
Rgl the rook ending is obviously hopeless
the King's Indian Defence with colours re
for Black.
versed and an extra tempo for White. Such
42 R X h4 ReS set-ups used to occur in my games, and do
43 Rch6 KJ8 even now sometimes. In this way White does
44 Re6! not gain an opening advantage, but on the
other hand it leads to a complicated strategic
The most exact move, suppressing Black's
counter-play. struggle, where the players have to solve all
the problems directly at the board.
44 R X e6
7 d X e4
45 d X e6 Ke8

46 Qf3 Qcl +
Black immediately relieves the tension.
47 Kg2 Qb2 +
The alternative was 7 . . . Nc6 8 e x d5 (now
Mter 47 . . . Q x c4 48 Qc6 + Black is or on the next move White is obliged to
mated. concede the centre) 8 . . . N X d5 9 Re l ,
when White begins a n attack o n the e-pawn,
48 Kh3 Qb6
but Black reinforces it and has a comfortable
49 e X f7 + R X f7
game.
Now comes the concluding mating attack.
8 d X e4 b6
50 Qa8 + Kd7 9 b3
51 QdS + Ke7
52 Re4 + KJ8 White could also have tried the immediate
53 Qa8 + Kg7 9 Nc4 and then used his bishop on the cl-h6

23
 In search of the truth

diagonal, but he thought that it would be
more promisingly placed at b2.
9 . aS
The natural reaction - advancing the
a-pawn to exploit the slight weakening of the
opponent's Q-side.
Vacating the a-file for the possible invasion
of the rook after the exchange on b3. The
alternative plan was 14 . . . a x b3 1 5 a X b3
h6 with the idea of placing the queen at e6,
but Black rejected it, evidently because of
1 6 Kh2, when after 17 Bh3 the white rook
on the d-file may make itself felt.

10 Bb2 15 h5 Qa6 ?

Nowadays I would probably have first Excessively optimistic, and inconsistent

hindered Black's plan by playing 10 a4, or with his previous play. The queen not only
else 10 a3 with the idea of meeting 10 . . . a4 moves away from the centre, not only de
with 1 1 b4, and only then developed the prives itself of the possibility of influencing
bishop. After the move in the game Black events on the K -side, but also blocks the
has not the slightest difficulty. a-ffie for its own rook. After the correct
15 . . . a X b3 16 a x b3 Ra2 the black rook
10 Nbc6 would have begun to play on White's nerves.
11 Qe2 a4
12 Nc4 Ba6 16 h X g6 h X g6
17 Ng5!

This is the consequence of Black's 1 5th

move. Disregarding the Q-side, and in par
ticular the defence of c4, White makes for
the opposing king. He already threatens 1 8
Qg4 followed by Qh4.

17 Na5

Black should have attempted to hold the

position by 1 7 . . . Rfd8, although even then
after 1 8 Qg4 and f2-f4 White has a strong
initiative.
13 h4!
18 Qg4 N x c4
The only possible plan in this position. 19 b X c4 B x c4
White counters Black's Q-side activity with 20 Qb4 Rfe8
an attack on the K-side. A typical procedure
Prudently defending the e6 square, but it is
in such positions is the mutual breaking up
already too late.
of the pawn chains at their weakest points.

13 . . Qc8 (see diagram next column)

14 Rad1
'Just in case' White strengthens his control
over d4, although the immediate 14 h5 was
also possible.
21 f4!
Of course, in such a situation there is no
need to pay any attention to the rook at fl .

14 Bb5 21 . Qb5

24
 No. 1 1 Polugayevsky-Maslov, 1 963
Winning the exchange by 2 1 . . . B X fl
22 BXfl would deprive Black of his last
defence of f7.
22 B X e5 f6
23 Qh7 + Kf8
24 Bh3
White is too engrossed in his overall plan,
and carries out an intended tactical blow one
move later than he should have done. Imme
diately decisive was 24 BXf6 B X f6 25 Rd5 ! !,
blocking out the bishop from f7. After 25 . . .
B X d5 26 e x d5 B X g5 27 fX g5 + Nf5 28
R X f5 + g X f5 29 g6 Re l + 30 Kh2 Ke8 31 g7
it is all over.
True, he now threatens both 25 Be6, and
25 Ne6 + B X e6 26 B X e6 followed by 27
B X f6. On 25 . . . Qc6 he wins by 26 Bd7, but
Black finds the only possible defence.
24 Rad8!
25 Rd5! ! ? ?
25
An unusually picturesque position. White
has two rooks and two minor pieces en prise.
The essence of the combination has already
been indicated.
It should be mentioned that 25 Ne6 +
B x e6 26 B X e6 fails to 26 . . . Qc5 + ! 27 Kg2
(27 Khl R X d1 28 R X dl Q X c2) 27 . . . R X d1
28 B Xf6 Rd2 + , when both 29 Kf3 and 29
Kh1 allow 29 . . . Qh5 + , exchanging queens.
25 Be6 can met by 25 . . . Qc5 + 26 Kh2
(26 Khl R X d1 27 R X dlfX e5) 26 . B x fl !,
. .
when White has no time for 27 B X f6 in
view of the threat of 27 . . . Q X c2 + .
First 25 R X d8 R X d8 and now 26 Ne6 +
B x e6 27 B x e6 is also parried by 27 . . .
Qc5 + 28 Kh1 (28 Kh2 Rd2 + 29 Kh3 Jx e5
30 jx e5 + Rf2) 28 . . . Qc6, with attacks on
e4 and e6.
All that has been said is as though to justify
the exclamation marks attached to White's
move. But the question marks have been
given because this move is not the strongest.
Here too it should have been preceded by 25
B X f6, and if 25 . . . B X f6 - 26 Rd5 ! ! (not
26 Ne6 + ? B X e6 27 B X e6 Bg7) with a decisive
attack, e . g. 26 . . . B x d5 27 e x d5 Bd4 +
(27 . . . B x g5 28 Be6, with inevitable mate)
28 Kh2 ! Qe2+ 29 Khl , and Black has no
defence. In certain variations Black can 'buy
off' White with his queen, but this does not
affect the outcome of the game.
After the text move Black had an amazing
defensive resource, which at the board he
failed to find.
25 . . N X d5
After 25 . . . B X d5 26 e X d5 Qc5 + 27
Rf2 there is no satisfactory defence against
the threats of 28 Ne6 + and 28 B X f6, since
on 27 . . . N X d5 White wins by 28 Be6 Ne7
(28 . . . /X e5 29 Qg8 + Ke7 30 Q X g7+
Kd6 31 Q x e5 + Ke7 32 B x d5 + ) 29 B x f6
Rd l + 30 Kg2 Qc6 + 3 1 Nf3.
26 Be6
 In search of the truth

This was what White intended when mak Qg8 + Ke7 28 Q X g7 + Kd8 29 B X f6 +
ing his 25th move. He threatens mate in two N X f6 30 Q X f6 + Kc8 3 1 B X d7 + Q X d7
moves - 27 Qg8 + and 28 Qf7 mate, and if Here for the moment he is a pawn up, but
26 . . . Ne7 then 27 B X f6. An interesting the position remains double-edged, with
continuation of the attack would have been Black threatening to capture on a2 or to play
26 Q X g6, but after 26 . . . Re7 ! I could not his queen to g4, and so on.
see any clear-cut winning variation, either
27 N X e6 + Ke7
during the game, or after a lengthy subsequent
28 Nd4!
analysis. The countless continuations for
White and for Black in this position would The queen is attacked, and - most impor
suffice for a long article, but there is probably tant - the diagonal along which it might
no point in giving them. I will mention the check the white king is blocked.
important thing : Black's defence is based on
the captures . . . fxg5 and . . . B X fl in the 28 . QcS
event of the f-file being opened, and also on 29 Q x g7 + Ke8
the intermediate queen check at c5, which 30 Q x g6 + Ke7
is useful in certain cases. 31 Rf2

3 1 e X d5 was also good enough.

31 . . rxes
32 Qe6 + Kf8
33 f x e5 +

I n view of the inevitable mate in three

moves, Black resigned.

No. 12 Griinfeld Defence

26 . . . R X e6 Polugayevsky-Padevsky

Black fails to seize that chance about which

Havana Olympiad, 1966
I have already spoken. White's 'audacity'
in leaving all his pieces en prise could have
1 d4 Nf6
been countered by the unexpected 26 . . .
2 c4 g6
Rd7 ! !, by which Black opens an escape
3 Nc3 dS
square for his king at d8. After the most natu
4 c x ds N X dS
ral 27 e x d5 there follows 27 . . . fXe5 !
5 g3 Bg7
(27 . . . B Xf1 loses to 28 Qg8 + Ke7 29
6 Bg2 Nb6
Q Xg7 + Kd8 30 B X/6 + Kc8 31 B X d7 +
Q X d7 32 Q x d7 + and 33 K X/1), when White
Black more often plays 6 . . . N X c3, not
has nothing.
wasting a tempo on retreat, although there
It would seem that White would have had
is also the original idea of 6 . . . Be6.
to restrict himself to 27 Rf2, retaining his
former threats but giving Black a tempo for 7 e3 0-0
defence, or else gone in for the variation 27 8 Nge2 eS

26
 No. 12 Polugayevsky-Padevsky, 1 966

The alternative plan is to undermine at any moment will begin an attack on the
White's centre by . . . cS, but in this game cS pawn. But Black has a tactical defence.
Black is aiming for a Q-side pawn majority.
17 . . Nb4
9 0-0 e X d4 18 B X b4 c x b4
10 N X d4 a6 19 NcdS N x dS
20 N X dS R X dS!
An unexpected decision, but not without
point. Black plans . . . cS, and for this he This is the basis of Black's defence. White
first deprives the white knights of the square retains a positional advantage, it is true, but
b5. The standard 10 . . . c6 leaves White there is little material remaining on the
with the freer game. board, and the bishops are of opposite
colour . . .
11 b3 c5
12 Nde2 Qe7 21 B X d5 Bd3
22 e4 B X fl
After 12 . . . Q X d 1 13 R X d 1 followed
23 Q x fl Bc3
by Ba3 and Racl White obviously has a good
game . But the drawback to the move played Black blocks the c-ille, but it would per
is that Black's queen ends up in a pin. haps have been better to leave it open and
13 Ba3 play 23 . . . Qd7, preparing 24 . . . Rc8.
In this case, incidentally, 24 Rc4 Rc8 25
The routine 13 Bb2 would have allowed R X b4 would have failed to 25 . . . bS, when .
Black to advance . . . c4 without hindrance. the white rook is trapped.
24 h4 ReS
25 Kg2 ReS
26 Qd3 bS

Had Black sensed the danger, he would

not have allowed the advance of the enemy
rook's pawn, but would himself have played
26 . . . hS. In this case White would have
had to continue his attack by sending for
ward his f-pawn.

27 h5 Be5
13 . . . Bg4! 28 R X c5 Q x cS
29 Qf3 Qc7
Probably best. Black plans active counter 30 h6!
play.
The culmination of White's strategic plan.
14 Rcl Nc6
In spite o f the exchange .of rooks, his ad
15 h3 Rfd8
vantage has increased considerably; since
16 Qe1 BfS
the pawn wedge at h6 creates the precon
17 Nf4
ditions for various mating threats against the
White appears to have an undisputed ad black king, while here the opposite-coloured
vantage. He has gained control of d5 and bishops merely strengthen the attack.

3 27
 In search of the truth

30 Bd6 ? 42 Qg7 + Ke6

43 Q X d7 + K X d7
Dismayed by the course of events the
44 f4 Resigns
Bulgarian grandmaster allows White to arry
out a winning combination. 30 . . . Qd7 was
essential, depriving the white queen of g4.
In this case White would have continued
No . 1 3 English Opening
3 1 Qe3, clearing the way for his f-pawn.
Polugayevsky-Rossetto

Lugano Olympiad, 1968

1 c4 e5
2 Nc3 Nf6
3 g3 c6
4 Nf3 e4

One of the sharpest variations of the

English Opening. Right from the first few
moves Black aims for a hand-to-hand fight
in the centre. However, tournament practice
31 e5! B x e5
has shown that the system chosen by Black
32 B X f7 + ! Q x f7
has a serious drawback : exploiting his lead
33 Qa8 + Qf8
in development, White can undermine his
34 Qd5 + Qf7
opponent's central pawns.
35 Q x e5
5 Nd4 d5
White is effectively a pawn up, and the
6 c x d5 Qb6
enemy king is still badly placed. These factors
7 Nb3 c x d5
are sufficient for a win.
7 . . . a5 is also to be considered.
35 . . . Qb7 +
36 Kh2 Qd7 8 Bg2 Nc6

The only way of parrying the mating In the game Polugayevsky-Jongsma

threats at e8 and g7. But . . . (Amsterdam, 1 970) Black played 8 . . Bf5, .

37 g4 a5 but after 9 d3 ! e X d3 10 0-0 ! Nc6 1 1 Bg5

38 Kg3 Qd3 + White gained the advantage.
39 f3 Qd7 9 0-0
40 Kh3
Of course, White could have played 9 d3,
Black is in zugzwang, and has only moves
but he rightly considered that the operation
with his pawns. When these run out it will
which his opponent now undertakes would
all be over.
be to White's advantage.
40 . . . a4
9 a5
Kf7
. .

41 Kg3
10 d3! a4
There is nothing else. 11 Be3!

28
 No. 13 Polugayevsky-Rossetto, 1968
White sacrifices a piece, but in return ob
tains three pawns and a powerful centre.
1 1 .. . d4 12 Nxd4 Nxd4 13 d X e4 is bad
for Black, and therefore his reply is forced.
11 . . . Qb4
12 d X e4 a X b3
13 a3!
Only in this way can White demonstrate
the correctness of his plan. In the event of
13 exd5 Na5 ! 1 4 a x b3 Ra6 ! Black can
hold the onslaught.
13 . . . Qa5
On 13 . . . Qd6 White had prepared 14
N X d5 ! and 15 Bf4, with a very strong
attack.
14 e x d5 Ne5
15 Q X b3
White hastens to re-establish material
equality (three pawns for a piece), but 1 5
Bd4 !, preparing the advance o f the central
pawns, looks more energetic. After 15 . . .
Bd6 White could have chosen between 16
Q X b3 with the threat of 1 7 Nb5, and 1 6 e4
followed by 17 f4.
15 . . . Be7 ?
Now White's initiative develops unchecked.
The only correct move was 15 . . . Bc5 ! Black
was apparently afraid of 16 Qb5 + , but the
variation 16 .. . Q X b5 1 7 Nxb5 B X e3
3*
18 Nc7 + Ke7 1 9 N X a8 Bd7 (19 . . Ba7 .
is also unclear) would hardly have satisfied
White.
However, he would also have had other;
more effective continuations : the quiet 16
B X c5 Q X c5 1 7 Rac l , or the sharp 16 Nb5.
1 6 Bb6
An important zwischenzug, forcing the
black queen to occupy an unfavourable
square.
16 Qa6
17 Bd4 Ned7
18 Nb5
The point of White's 1 6th move becomes
clear : since 18 . .. Qa5 is unpleasantly met
by 19 d6 Bd8 20 Qe3 + , Black is forced to
castle.
18 . 0-0
19 Nc7 Qa4
Black thought that the worst was over;
but he was in for a disappointment.
20 Qc3!
White had worked out this subtle queen
manoeuvre beforehand. Black cannot save
his rook : 20 ... Rb8 ? 2 1 b3, and the queen
is trapped . Black's position has become
critical, but nevertheless he should have
tried to give up his rook for as high a price
as possible-20 ... Ra7. Dismayed by the
29
 In search of the truth

unexpected turn of events, Rossetto makes 6 Nc3 0-0

a further mistake . 7 Be2 e6
S 0-0 ReS
20 . Bd6?
21 N X aS Q X aS
Black delays capturing on d5, which
22 e4 ReS
would lead either to the main line of the
23 Rfe1
Modern Benoni (after 9 c X d5), or to a

23 Rae l and 24 f4 is more consistent. King's Indian position favouring White

(after 9 e x d5), and for the moment makes
23 ... Be5 useful moves. If White does not prevent it,
24 f4 B X d4 + at a convenient moment Black will release
25 Q X d4 Qa6 the tension in the centre. For example, 9 Nd2
26 Rac1 Na6 10 Re 1 Nc7 1 1 a4 b6, and now :
(a) 12 Bfl Rb8 1 3 h3 a6 14 Nf3 e X d5
Of course, this is good enough, but stronger
1 5 c x d5 (15 e x d5 is slightly better) 15 . . .
was the natural 26 e5 ! Ng4 27 h3 Nh6 28 g4,
b5, and Black has a good game, Geller
when Black can resign.
Suetin, Kislovodsk, 1 972.
26 ... h5 (b) 12 Rb 1 Rb8 13 b3 a6 14 Bb2 e X d5
27 h3 NfS 15 c x d5 b5 1 6 a X b5 a X b5 1 7 Bfl Ng4 ! ,
2S e5 N6h7 with an excellent position, Smyslov-Polu
29 Rc7 . g5 gayevsky, USSR Spartakiad, Riga, 1 975 .

Attempting somehow to confuse matters. 9 d x e6 B x e6

10 Bf4 Nc6
30 Kh2 Qh6
Black is prepared to sacrifice a pawn, and
And without waiting for a reply, Black hopes for compensation in the form of good
stopped the clocks. White was preparing to piece play. Moreover, in many cases his idea
conclude the game by 3 1 e6 ! , e . g. 3 1 . . . is fully justified.
fX e6 32 d X e6, when Black loses after 32
11 B X d6 Nd4
. . . B x e6 33 f5 or 32 . . . N x e6 33 Bd5,
while 32 . . . R X e6 is most convincingly The alternative is 1 1 . . . Qa5, vacating d8
met by 33 R X c8 ! R X e 1 34 Bd5 + Re6 35 f5 . in order to set up pressure on the d-file. How
ever, as was shown by the game Ivkov-Torre
(Rio Interzonal, 1 979) - with the slight
No . 14 King' s Indian Defence difference that there the black pawn was
at h6 - after 12 Nd2, with the idea of trans
Polugayevsky-Bilek ferring the knight to b3 with gain of tempo,
while also attacking the c5 pawn, Black fails
Busum, 1969 to equalize : 12 . . . RedS
( 12 . . . Rad8 can be
met by 13 e5 Nd7 14 f4 f6 15 Nb3 Qb6 16 Nd5
1 c4 c5 B X d5 17 Q X d5+ , with advantage to White)
2 Nf3 g6 1 3 Bf4 Ne8 14 Nd5 !, and by returning the
3 d4 Bg7 pawn White obtains a good attacking posi
4 d5 d6 tion. However, White also has the better
5 e4 Nf6 game after the move played .

30
 No. 14 Polugayevs ky-Bilek, 1 969

12 e5 Nd7 that the immediate capture o f the pawn

13 Rei would give him good play.

16 B x c5 b6

1 6 . . . Na5 was also to be considered.

17 N x e5

Necessary, since on 1 7 Be3 Black wins

the c-pawn by 1 7 . . . Na5 .

17 . . B x e5

But here Black misses the interesting pos

sibility of 17 . . . Na5 !, after which 1 8 Ne7 +
can be quietly met by 1 8 . . . Kh8, while
A poor move, which allows Black to escape
the sacrifice of a piece for three pawns- 1 8
from all his difficulties . 13 N X d4 was correct.
B X b6 a x b6 1 9 Q X b6 (19 Qg3 B X d5)
At the board I avoided this continuation
1 9 . . . B X e5 is in his favour.
because of 13 . . . c X d4 14 Q X d4 N X e5
1 5 B X e5 Q X d4 1 6 B X d4 B X d4 17 Rac 1 IS Be3 Na5
Rad8 1 8 b3 B X c3 19 R X c3 Rd2 20 Bf3 19 Qb5 B X d5 ? !
R x a2 2 1 B X b7 Rb8 22 Bc6 Ra3, when,
as was confirmed by the later game Uhlmann This hands White the initiative . The im

Schmidt (Polanica Zdroj, 1 975), Black re mediate 19 . . . Qh4 20 g3 Qe4 should have

gains his pawn with an equal ending. But been tried.

after 14 Nb5 N X e 5 15 c5, although Black 20 e x d5 Qb4

has some compensation for the pawn, it is 21 h3 Qf6
an open question as to whether or not 22 Racl RedS
it is sufficient.
If 22 . . . B X b2, then 23 R X c8 R X c8
13 Ne6!
24 d6 (with the threat of 25 Bg5 and 26 d7),
A brilliant reply ! Now the e5 pawn is and now :
attacked, and Black can intensify the pressure (a) 24 . . . Be5 25 d7 Rd8 26 Rcl .
on it by playing his bishop to g4. It is there (b) 24 . . . Bd4 25 d7 Rd8 26 Bf3 B X e3
fore quite clear that White has not a shade 27 R x e3 Kg7 28 Re8, and Black's position
of an advantage. He should have recognized is hopeless due to his knight being cut off.
this and clarified the situation by 14 Bfl Bg4
1 5 h3 B X f3 16 Q X f3 . (see diagram next column)
But in search o f a n opening advantage
he oversteps the mark, and risks ending up 23 d6!
in an inferior position.
A piquant situation. The undefended
14 Nd5 ReS
white pawn places itself en prise to three
15 Qb3 Nd x e5
black pieces, in order to give the white
The simple 15 b6 16 Rad 1 Bg4 was squared bishop more scope. The first piece
perfectly possible, but Black rightly assumed to feel this is the black knight.

31
 In search of the truth

39 Bg3 Rd7 40 Bc6 Rc7 41 b5 Re6 42 Rd8,

and Black cannot avoid loss of material.
Of course, this long variation is by no
means obligatory. Thus the simple 26 Bh6
(with the threat of 27 B X b7) looks very
strong, and if 26 . . . f6 (26 . . . Bg7 27 Bg5 f6
28 Bh4 and Bg3, and White has an over
whelming position), then 27 Rcd 1 Qb8 28
B x b7 R X b7 29 f4, with a very strong attack.
The move in the game allows White to
carry out an accurately calculated tactical
23 . Q X d6 blow.

Both 23 . . . B X d6 24 Bg5 and 23 26 Bg5 f6

B X b2 24 Bg5 Qf5 25 B X d8 are unsatis
factory.

24 b4 Nb7
25 Bf3

The white bishops are operating at full

power, whereas with the board full of pieces
the black knight does not have a single move,
and Black has only two ways of defending it.

25 Qb8

Better was 25 . . . Re7, although here too

27 R x e5! R x e5
White has several good continuations. I will
give only one, a combinational one : 26 Bg5 f6 27 . . . Q x e5 28 Q x e5 R x e5 29 B X f6
(26 . . . Bf6 loses a piece to 27 R X e7 Q X e7 is equally hopeless.
28 B X/6) 27 R X e5 ! R X e5 (27 . . . Q X e5
28 Qc4 + Kg7
28 Q x e5 R X e5 29 B X/6) 28 Qc4 + Qe6
29 Qc7 + Kg8
(or 28 . . . Kg7 29 Bf4 Rd7 30 Qc8 Qel-30
. . . Nd8 is met by 3 1 B X e5 fxe5 32 Rd 1 -31
Or 29 . . . Q x c7 30 R x c7 + Kg8 3 1 B X f6
B x e5 fX e5 32 Bg4 Rd8 33 Rc7) 29 B X f6
Re l + 32 Kh2 Rd6, when either 33 Be7 Rde6
Re 1 + 30 K.h2 Q x c4 (on 30 . . . Rd7 White
34 Bd5 or 33 Bc3 is sufficient.
would have continued 31 Qc8+ Kf7 32 R X e1,
and if 30 . . . Rd6 31 Qc7!! Rd7 32 R X el) 30 B X f6! Rel +
3 1 R X c4 Rd7 (after 31 . . . Nd6 White wins 31 Kh2 R x ct
by 32 Rd4 Rd7 33 Bg4) 32 Bg4 ! Rd6 33 Rc8 + 32 Bd5 + !
Kf7 34 Bh4 ! h5 (otherwise the threat of 35
Rc7 + cannot be parried) 35 Bf3 Rd7 (no The triumph of the two bishops. Black
better is 35 . . . Rd4 36 Rc7 + Ke6 37 Re7 + , resigned, not wishing to be prettily mated
o r 36 . . . Kf8 37 B/6 Rd6 38 Bel) 36 Bc6 Nd6 after 32 . . . Kf8 33 Bg7 + Ke8 34 Bf7 mate,
37 Ra8 (this is stronger than 37 B X d8 NX c8 or to lose material after 32 ... R X d5
38 B x c8 Re4) 37 . . . Rc7 38 Bd5 + Kg7 33 Q X b8 + .

32
 No. 15 Polugayevs ky-Pfleger, 1969

No. 1 5 Queen's Gambit 10 Qb6

11 Nd2 Ba6
Polugayevsky-POeger 12 Nc4 Q b4

Ludwigsburg, 1969 Black overlooks a tactical blow, after

which his position becomes hopeless. The
1 c4 e6 lesser evil was 12 . . . BXc4 13 Qxc4 0-0,
2 g3 Nf6 although here too after 14 a3 a5 15 e4 Ne7
3 Bg2 d5 16 Bg5 with the threat of 17 Rac l , White
4 Nf3 c5 has a very real advantage.
5 Nc6
6 c x d5 N x d5

At this point the outline of the Tarrasch

Defence begins to take shape-both players
have reached it by a roundabout way. With
this in mind, 6 . . . exd5 was sounder, trans
posing into the normal position with an iso
lated pawn. It later transpires that Black's
move is linked with a plan of creating
active - too active! - counter-play.

7 d4 c x d4
13 Nd6 + ! Ke7
s N x d4 Bc5 ?

Capturing the knight would have lost

Continuing the same aggressive policy.
material.
But as Bogoljubov wrote some fifty years ago :
'If at such an early stage of the game Black 14 Bd2!
could get away with seizing the initiative, the
Queen's Gambit would be removed from An important zwischenzug, which Black
the modern opening repertoire.' had not taken into account, whereas after
At c5 the black bishop comes under attack 14 Ne4 ?! Bd4 he could have hoped for some
by the white pieces, and it should have been counter-play.
developed at e7, after first hindering the har
monious development of the white pieces
14 Qb6
by 8 . . . Qb6.
Totally bad is 14 . . . Qd4 15 e3 Qe5
9 N x c6 b X c6 1 6 N x f7.
10 Qc2
15 Nc4 Qb5
Of course, White would also have had
a slight advantage in the endgame after 10 e4 It is understandable that Black should not
Nb4 11 QXd8+ KXd8 12 Rd l+ Ke7 l 3 want now, in an inferior situation, to ex
Nc3, but with the queens o n the weakness change on c4, leaving White with the two
at c6 and the position of the black king in the bishops, play on the c-file, and . . . with the
centre are more vulnerable. black king in the centre.

33
 In search of the truth

16 b3 Rac8 No. 1 6 English Opening

17 Rac1 Bb4
18 Rfd1 Qb8 Polugayevsky-Gheorghiu

The rook at h8 cannot move, being tied Palma de Mallorca, 1972

to the defence of the h-pawn. Therefore
Black prepares by a mass exchange of minor 1 c4 c5
pieces to safeguard his king to some extent, 2 Nf3 Nf6
while defending the d6 square against in 3 Nc3 d5
vasion. But . . . The time for the decisive 4 c x d5 N x d5
offensive has arrived. 5 g3 Nc6

We have here the English Opening in pure

form, so to speak, the variation being con
sidered favourable for White. Theory has
a high regard for 5 . . . g6 followed by the
fianchetto of the black-squared bishop.

6 Bg2 Nc7
7 d3 e5

But here after 7 g6 8 Be3 Ne6 9 0-0

Bg7 10 Na4 Ncd4 1 1 Rc l White has time
to create pressure on c5, which is highly un
19 e4! B x d2
pleasant for his opponent.
20 Q X d2 B X c4
21 R x c4 Nf6
8 Nd2 Qd7
22 Qg5

A rarely-played continuation. Of course,

By the threats of 23 e5 and 23 Q X g7 White
Black had to parry the threat of 9 B X c6 +
gains time to switch his queen to the a3-f8
b X c6 10 Nc4, but a more natural way of
diagonal, after which he will be able to attack
doing this was by the usual 8 . . . Bd7. True,
with an 'extra' rook (Black's king's rook can
it should be pointed out that in this case
not come into play !).
the pawn sacrifice 9 0-0 Be7 10 Nc4 0-0
22 . .
Kf8 1 1 B X c6 B x c6 12 N x e5 Be8 (which was
23 Qc5 + Kg8 first played in Espig-Polugayevsky, Sochi,
24 e5 Ne8 1 975), does not, as later transpired, give
Black full equality, while after 10 . . . f6 1 1 f4 !
Or 24 . . . Nd5 25 B X d5 e x d5 26 R X d5 . (Ree-Polugayevsky, Amsterdam, 1972) White
has the advantage, since in the event of 1 1
2 5 Rd7
. . . b5 he has 12 Ne3 e X f4 1 3 g X f4 0-0
14 Ned5, when the weaknesses in Black's
With the threat of 26 Qe7.
position become appreciable.
25 . . . Rc7
26 B x c6 Resigns 9 0-0

34
 No. 1 6 Polugayevs ky-Gheorghiu, 1 972

Also promising was the immediate 9 Nc4 he continues playing on both wings, which
followed by 10 Qa4, renewing the threat of in principle is always promising for the side
B X c6. with the initiative . Of course, an accurate
evaluation of the resulting position was re
9 b6
quired, and time confirmed the correctness
Black hurries to solve the problem of his of White's plan.
white-squared bishop, which is perfectly
14 N X f4
logical. After 9 . . . Be7 10 Nc4 f6 1 1 f4
15 R X f4 Rb8
(or 11 Qa4, as in Timman-Hort, Montreal,
16 a x b6 a X b6
1 979*) he has a mass of trouble over the
17 NdS
development of his Q-side .
Increasing the tempo of the offensive, and
10 Nc4 f6
not allowing the opponent a respite. After all,
11 a4!
White must constantly remember : if Black
Although this weakens b4, it forces Black had, for example, castled, he would be per
in the event of 1 1 . . . Bb7 to reckon with fectly alright.
the advance a4-a5-a6. Besides, in this way
17 . Bd8
White prepares operations over the entire
front, and not only on the K-side. Necessary, since after 1 7 . . . b5 1 8 Ncb6
Qd6 1 9 N x c8 R X c8 20 Ra6 Black is bound
11 Be7
hand and foot.
12 f4 e x f4
13 B X f4 Ne6 18 Re4 + !

Practically forced, since 13 . . . 0-0 allows

1 4 B X c7 Q X c7 15 Nd5, winning material.

This was the position White was aiming

14 aS!
Very timely and very strong. By giving up
o ne of his bishops, White makes prompt
use of his lead in development. Moreover,
* Cf. Polugayevsky's notes to this game in
1979, Tournament of Stars, Pergamon Press, 1 980
(Translator's note).
for when he made his 1 4th move. The rook
feels fine in the centre of the board, and
creates excellent preconditions for all kinds
of combinational blows.
18 . Kf7
On 1 8 . . . Kf8 White was intending 1 9
Nf4 Qc7 20 Re6 ! Nd4 2 1 Nd5 ! , with a n over
Montreal
whelming position. After the move played
Black has hoping to be able to put up a

35
 In search of the truth

successful defence, since his king's rook is
ready to come into play, his king does not
appear to be threatened, and 19 Qb3 is bad
because of 19 . . . Nd4. And even so
19 Qb3! Nd4
Now 1 9 . . . Kf8 would have enabled Black
to avoid the combination in the game, but
would have left him under severe pressure
after 20 Qb5. It should be noted, incident
ally, that White's 'central striker'-his
knight at d5-would have remained immune
under the protection of the Re4/Bg2 battery.
Taking e8 away from the black rook, and
beginning to switch the attack to the black
king. White now threatens 25 Ra8 with
a 'mortal' pin along the 8th rank, and on
24 . . . Bb7 he has a forced win by 25 B X b7
Q X b7 26 Nd6 Qe7 27 Qf5 + Kh6 28 Qh3 +
Kg5 29 Qh4 + Kg6 30 Qg4 + Kh6 3 1 Nf5
mate.
24 . . . Qc7
25 QdS

20 R X d4 c X d4

The triumph of centralization. Simulta

neously the black king's retreat is cut off, and
- most important - the knight's invasion
21 Nb4! at d6 is assured, since on 25 . . . Be7 White
had prepared 26 Bf3 ! (with the threat of
This is the point of White's combination.
27 Qh5 mate), when 26 . . . Qc5 27 N X b6
Black could have parried the plausible is unsatisfactory, as is 26 . . . f5 27 Ne5 +
21 Nd X b6 by playing his king to g6 or e8, Kf6 28 Qf7 + K X e5 29 Q X g7 + . There
when the tempo of White's attack is sharply only remains 26 . . . h5, which is strongly
reduced . But now it transpires that Black met by 27 Rfl ! (with the threat of 28 Be4 +
is unable simultaneously to block the Kh6 29'Qf7), and if 27 . . . Bc5, then 28 Be4 +
a2-g8 diagonal and defend his c6 square. Kh6 29 Rf5 ! B x f5 30 Q x f5 Qf7 3 1 Ne5
21 Kg6 Qe8 32 Qf4 + , mating.

No better is 2 1 . .. Ke8 22 Nc6 Rb7 25 . . . ReS

23 Ra8, when White has no need to hurry
over regaining the sacrificed exchange. Now White builds up irresistible threats
against the black king. The only way to
22 Nc6 Qc7 continue resisting was by 25 . . . Qc5, al
Forced in view of the threat of 23 N4e5 + though even then 26 Ra8 leads to gain of
material.
23 N X b8 Q X b8
24 QbS 26 Nd6 ReS

36
 No. 1 7 Balashov-Polugayevsky, 1973

26 . . . R X e2 loses to 27 Be4 + R X e4 game. Nowadays the g3-g4 advance is pre

28 Q X e4 + f5 29 Qe8 + . pared before castling, by playing 9 h3 im
mediately.
27 Be4 + Kh5
28 Qg8! f5 9 b5
10 h3 Bb7
The capture of the knight would have
11 g4
allowed mate in two .

29 Nf7 fX e4 This leads to a weakening of the black

30 Q X h7 + Kg4 squares; but on 1 1 a3 there would have fol

31 Rf1 lowed 1 1 . . . Nc5.

The final finesse. Black can parry the threat 11 b4

of 32 Rf4 mate by 32 . . . g5, but then comes
Preventing White from carrying out his
33 Kg2 and mate by h2-h3 .
planned regrouping.
31 Rf5
12 Nd5 N X dS
32 Qg6 + Rg5
13 e x dS 0-0
If 32 . . . Bg5, then 33 R X f5 Qcl + 34
Kg2 B X f5 35 h3 mate .

33 Q x e4 + Kh5
34 Qh7 + Kg4
35 Qh4 mate

It is not often that a game against a grand

master ends in mate !

No. 17 Sicilian Defence

Balashov-Polugayevsky It is clear that Black has no difficulties .
Rather the opposite : he can hope for the
Tallinn, 1973 better game, since the position of the white
king may well become uneasy.
1 e4 c5
14 c4
2 Nf3 d6
3 d4 c x d4 White has to hurry with this move, before
4 N X d4 Nf6 Black has time to place his rook at c8.
5 Nc3 a6
6 g3 e5 14 b X c3
7 Nde2 Nbd7
Black aims for an open game. On the
8 Bg2 Be7
other hand, 14 . . . Bg5 had other virtues :
9 0-0
it would have enabled him to control the
black squares, and was objectively stronger.
I have reached this position several times,
with Black usually obtaining a comfortable 15 N X c3 aS

37
 In search of the truth

Now the exchange of the black-squared After this the attack develops rapidly.
bishops no longer works. On 15 . . . Bg5 It is difficult for White to find a defence
16 Ne4 B x c 1 Black has to reckon with the against the numerous threats .
intermediate capture 17 N X d6. The text Qf6
24 Be4
move secures c5 for his knight. 25 Qc2
16 Re1 Nc5 Or 25 Rc2 Rac8 26 Qa4 Rc4 !

16 . . . ReS is interesting, with the idea 25 . . . g6

after 17 Be3 of reverting to the old plan of 26 Kg2
17 . . . Bg5 .
26 Qd2 is better.
17 Be3 Rc8 26 . . . Rab8
18 Na4 27 Rh1 Rb4
The only possibility. If Black should man All the black pieces are wonderfully co
age to play . . . Bg5, White's weaknesses ordinated, literally cutting through White's
will quickly make themselves felt. position both along the diagonals (the
bishops), and along the files and ranks (the
18 . . N x a4
queen and rooks). There are combinations
19 Q x a4 Ra8!
in the air. Thus, for example, 28 f3 is met by
Black plans to return his bishop to the the tactical blow 28 . . . R X e4 ! 29 Q X e4
c8-h3 diagonal, in order to advance . . . f5. Bd3 ! 30 g5 B X g5 31 B X g5 Q X g5 + 32 Qg4
After all, sooner or later he will have to lift Q x g4 + 33 fX g4 Be4 + , when Black has
the blockade of e4. excellent winning chances in the rook ending.

20 Racl 28 Rh3

Essential was 20 Qb5 Ba6 21 Qc6, prepar So as to answer 28 . . . Rc4 with the un
ing the exchange of queens. White decides expected 29 Rf3 !, relieving the situation.
to carry out this manoeuvre at a more con
28 . . . Bg5
venient moment, and, as often happens in
Now 29 Rf3 allows 29 . . . Bf4 and 30
such cases, loses time.
. .

Qg5, with a decisive attack.

20 . . . f5!
29 b3 B x e3
21 QbS
30 R x e3
Only now did White begin to sense the
uneasiness of his position. 21 g X f5 Bc8
22 Qc6 B X f5 23 Bb6 Qb8 did not appeal
to him, but perhaps this was in fact the lesser
evil.
21 . Ba6
22 Qc6 fX g4

Now on 23 Bb6 Black has a choice between

23 . . . Qc8, retaining his extra pawn, and
23 . . . Qb8 24 h X g4 Bg5 .

23 h X g4 Bh4! 30 . . . R x e4!

38
 No. 1 8 Polugayevsky-Vasyukov , 1974

Removing the bishop which is defending on the centre (to this end 2 Bg5 is also played).
f3 . In addition, 3 e4 is threatened, gaining all
the advantages of the Staunton Gambit,
31 R x e4
but . . . for free !
3 1 Q x e4 loses quickly to 3 1 . . . Q X f2 + 2 d5
3 2 Kh1 (32 Kh3 Rf4) 32 . . . Qh4 + 3 3 Kg 1 3 Bg5 c6
Rf4.
If 3 . . . Nf6, then 4 B X f6 e X f6 5 e3
31 Bd3
followed by Bd3 and Qf3, forcing Black to
. . .

Of course, Black also wins after 3 1 think of how to defend his pawn mass.

Qf3 + 32 Kgl Bd3 3 3 Re3 Q X g4 + 3 4 Rg3 4 e3 g6

Q x g3 + 35 fx g3 B X c2 36 R x c2 Rf3
37 Rc6 R X g3 + 38 Kf2 Rd3 R X d6 Kg7 Black tries to prepare the development of
40 Ke2 Rd4, but the way chosen is more his king's knight, but this is not so easy
efficient, and is more quickly decisive . to do. The move slightly weakens the K-side,
and White promptly exploits this.
32 Q X d3 Q X f2 +
33 Kh1 Rf3 5 h4 b6
34 Rc8 + Kg7
Black simply cannot allow the further
35 Rc7 + Kf6
advance of the h-pawn.
36 g5 + K x gs
37 Rc2 Qg3 6 Bf4 Nd7
38 Qd2 + KfS 7 Nf3
39 Qg2 K x e4
40 Rc4 + K X dS The immediate 7 g4 was also to be con

White resigns sidered.

7 . Ngf6
8 Ne5 Rg8
No. 1 8 Dutch Defence
The exchange on e5 clearly favours White.

Polugayevsky-Vasyukov 9 Bd3

Leningrad, 1974 Not the best move ! 9 f3 suggests itself,

preventing the black knight from going to
1 d4 f5 e4 or g4, then Qd2, 0-0--0 , and the prepara
2 Nc3 tion of e3-e4.
But now Black resourcefully unravels his
It is not often that one has to comment position.
on the 2nd move in a game ! I can only say
that, although it has occurred several times (see diagram next column)
in practice (an interesting thought is whether
or not there is in fact a move which has 9 N x es
never ever been played ? !), a theory of this 10 B x es Ng4!
continuation essentially does not exist. The 11 Bg3 e5!
idea of the move is to set up piece pressure 12 Be2

39
 In search of the truth

1 8 0-0-0 would have been careless here in

view of 1 8 . . . B x c3 19 Q x c3 f4.

18 f X g4
19 b4 Bc7
20 Ne2 Be6
21 Qc3!

With the by no means obvious idea of

controlling c5, and possibly invading there
with the queen. For example, 21 . . . 0-0-0
22 Qc5 Q x c5 23 d X c5, and the white knight
Since 12 d x e5 is simply met by 12 . . . obtains an excellent post at d4. Even so,
Bg7, and after 12 B x e5 N x e5 13 d x e5 Black should have gone in for this continua
Bg7 14 f4 Qb6 he has counter-chances, it tion, or else tried to complicate matters by
must be considered that he has fully equalized . 2 1 . . . B X g3 22 N X g3 a5.
White has to begin all over again !
21 . . . Bb6 ? !
12 . . e4
The c 5 square i s now defended, but the
13 Qd2 Bb4
bishop at g3 dominates the position.
A dubious decision, allowing White sub
sequently to expand on the Q-side. After
the natural 13 . . . Bd6 Black can count
on equalizing.

14 a3 Ba5
15 Bf4!

A very subtle move. In this closed position

White sacrifices a tempo, in order to 'force'
Black to persist with his unwillingness to
exchange the black-squared bishops. Because
22 Rb1!
only 1 5 . . . Bc7 enables him to maintain
the balance, other ways of defending the Reminding Black that after Q-side cast
h6 pawn being in White's favour. ling his king might come under an attack by
a3-a4 and b4-b5. But perhaps the king would
15 g5 have found it quieter there than on the K-side
16 h X g5 h X g5 after Black's next move ? !
17 Bg3 Qe7
18 B x g4 22 Kf7
23 Rh7 + Rg7
At just the right time. White controls the 24 Rh6
h-file, he will soon force the exchange of
White has complete control of the h-file,
black-squared bishops, and his remaining
and in addition he threatens 25 Be5 .
knight will be able to demonstrate its superi
ority over the opponent's white-squared bish 24 . Kg8
op, blocked in by its own pawns. Besides, 25 Kd2

40
 No. 19 Polugayevsky-Larsen, 1978

Here 25 Be5 is parried by 25 . . . Rh7. play, each player ha d t o pass two ( !) time
25 . Rh7 controls : he was allowed an hour and a half
26 Rbb1 R X b6
for thirty moves and a further hour for the
27 R X b6 Bf5 next twenty . . . Two time scrambles, the one
2S Qa1! more terrible than the other, with the first
being guaranteed in practically every game.
The queen heads for h l , and the threats That is why in this game there is liveliness,
become decisive. an attack, and sacrifices. But it is lacking in
2S Bb7 that depth which gives a player creative
29 Be5 Bc7 satisfaction . . .

How Black must have regretted that he 1 d4 e6

did not exchange bishops earlier ! 2 c4 Nf6
3 Nf3 b6
30 Bf6 Qf7
4 g3 Bb4 +
31 B x gs aS
5 Bd2 Be7
32 Qb1 a X b4
33 a x h4 Ra4 This variation is more often played without
34 Qb4 g3 the check at b4. By luring the white bishop
to d2, Black hinders the thematic advance
Of the possible captures on g3, two are
d4-d5 . But . . .
bad. But the third is good, and in addition
there is something more decisive. 6 Nc3 Bb7
7 Bg2 0-0
35 Rf6 Qd7
S O-O Na6
36 Bb6 RaS
37 N X g3 Yes, the d-file is blocked, but on the other
hand the c-file has been cleared with gain of
Now this too is good, and the knight
tempo !
joins the attack.
9 Rcl ReS
37 ... ReS
3S Nb5 BdS Earlier in the same tournament Larsen
39 Qg3 + KbS played 9 . . . c5 against Ogaard, but after
40 Bg7 + KgS 10 d5 e X d5 1 1 Nh4 g6 he had an inferior
41 Rd6 Resigns position.

10 Qa4

No. 19 Queen' s Indian Defence

Polugayevsky-Larsen

Reykjavik, 1978

This game occupies a special place in my

30 years of chess practice . The reason : the
more than unusual tournament schedule.
During the normal two and a half hours of

41
 In search of the truth

To be considered was 10 a3, preparing Forced, in view of the threat of 25 B X g7

a Q-side pawn offensive. The text move is B X g7 26 Qg5 .
not one of my best, and in a game with a nor
mal time control I would have been unlikely 25 g4 a X b3
to make it, since Black gains the opportunity 26 a x b3 Ne5
to initiate favourable complications . 27 g5 g6

10 . . . Qc8

The 'Sword of Damocles' time factor was

also hanging over my opponent, otherwise
he would undoubtedly have preferred the
sharp 10 . . . c5, and if 1 1 d5 e X d5 12 Nh4,
then 12 . . . Nb4, when 13 a3 can be met by
13 . . . Bc6 14 Qd 1 d4.

11 Ne1 B x g2
12 N X g2 c5
13 d5 e x d5
14 c x d5 Nc7 28 g x f6! Nf7
15 e4 b5
The knight could not be taken because of
16 Qc2 d6
the decisive queen check at g5, and Black
This leads to a typical and . . . difficult is no longer able to hold the position.
position, since White's strong pawn centre 29 Ngh4! b4
allows him to develop a K-side attack, where
30 Bb2 ReS
as Black's pawn phalanx on the opposite
wing is less dangerous. Better was 16 . . . c4, 30 . . . g X f5 loses to 3 1 Rg1 + Kh8
reserving the c5 square for his minor pieces . 32 Qg2, but in any other case White was
threatening to bring up his forces for a sac
17 Nd1 Qa6
rifice on g6.
18 Nde3 Bf8
31 Rg1 Ne8
The a2 pawn is obviously immune.
32 B x es d x es
19 f3 Rac8 33 N x g6 h x g6
20 Bc3 Nd7 34 R X g6 + Kh7
21 b3 35 Rcg1

The bishop is maintained on the long The remainder of the game was unneces
black-squared diagonal, and the concentra sary.
tion of White's pieces on the K-side is about
35 . . . c4
to become threatening.
36 Qe1 Bh6
21 ... Qb6 37 N X h6 Q X g1 +
22 Khl a5
O r 3 7 . . . N x h6 38 R X h6 + , mating.
23 Qd2 a4
24 Nf5 f6 38 R X gl Resigns

42
 No. 20 Chikovani-Polugayevsky, 1978

No. 20 Sicilian Defence Chikovani 'believed' me, and not without

reason. On 12 Qc2 Black had prepared
Cbikovani-Polugayevsky 12 . . . Ndb4 13 B X h7 + Kh8 14 Qb1
(14 Qe4 Bb7!) 1 4 . . . d x e5 ! 15 d X e5 g6
USSR Cup, 1st League 1 6 B x g6 fX g6 17 Q X g6 Qd3, when his
Mogilev, 1978 queen comes to the defence of his king, and
in this position the extra piece is much
1 e4 c5 stronger than the three pawns.
2 c3 Nf6 Therefore White tries a different means
3 e5 Nd5 of attack, but here too he will constantly be
4 d4 c x d4 aware of his knight being 'under arrest'.
5 Nf3 Nc6
6 c x d4 d6 12 . . . g6
7 Bc4 e6 13 Bb6 Re8
8 0-0 Be7 14 Rad1
9 Qe2 0-0
10 Na3 It later transpires that the rook has noth
ing to do on the d-:file, and that 14 Rae 1 ,
My opponent had several times been suc defending the outpost a t e5, would have
cessful with this move. Without blocking the been preferable.
path of his black-squared bishop, White
14 . Bb7
intends to play his knight to c4 (of course,

15 Qg4 d X e5
when it becomes free). But it seemed rather
16 d X e5 Qc7
unnatural to me, and at the board I was able
17 Rde1
to cast doubts on it.

a6 An admission of his inaccuracy, since after

10 . . .
11 Bd3 b5 ! 1 7 Rfe 1 Rad8 (with the threat of 18 . . . Ndb4)
Black renews the pressure on e5.

17 . . . Rad8
18 b4

Black also has an excellent game after

the more cautious 1 8 Bbl .

18 . . Ndb4
19 Be4 Nd3

The a2 pawn is not worth considering.

The consequences of this move had to be 20 B X d3 R X d3

worked out exactly, since 12 Qc2 is possible 21 b5
with a double attack on c6 and h7.
Without the white-squared bishop this
12 Qe4 attack is not dangerous, and Black makes

4 43
 In search of the truth

the final preparations for his counter

offensive . Life would be rather easier for
White if, instead of a3, his knight were at,
say, c3 .

21 Red8
22 Nc2

29 . . . Bh2 + !
30 Kg2

It is obvious that after 30 K X h2 Q X f2 +

3 1 Kh3 (31 Qg2 Qh4 + ) 31 . . . Q X f3 +
Black has many pleasant ways to win.

30 . . . h6
22 . . R X f3! 31 Qe7 Bc7!
23 g X f3
This very fine bishop manoeuvre destroys
F orced : 23 Q X f3 Nd4. the co-ordination of the white forces, and
maintains its white-square colleague in its
23 ... N x e5 menacing attacking position. Now 32 Rd7 is
24 Bf4 Bd6 simply met by 32 . . . Qf5, when 33 R X c7
25 B X e5 B x e5 allows mate in two.
26 Rd1
32 Qf8 + Kf6
Played in the hope of exploiting the weak 33 Qh8 + Kg5
ness of the back rank, since after 26 Ne3 34 Rd4
B X b2 material is level but Black has a totally
won position. In the game Black could have 'Everybody back !'
avoided the exchange of rooks, but he ac
curately calculated all its consequences. 34 . . . Qf5
35 Kf1 B X f3
26 ... R X d1 36 Ke1 Qb1 +
27 R X d1 Q X c2 37 Kd2 Q X b2 +
28 Rd8 + Kg7 38 Kd3 Be2 +
29 Qg5 39 Ke3 Bf4 +
40 R X f4 Q X h8
29 h X g6, with the idea of 29 . . . h X g6 White resigns
30 Qh4, does not work since Black has 29 . . .
Q X g6 But now White threatens both 30 h6
.

mate and 30 Q X e 5 + . . .

44
 No. 21 Polugayevsky-Romanishin, 1 978

No. 21 Slav Defence 12 Qc2 B X d3

13 Q X d3 NdS
Polugayevsky-Romanishin 14 Rb1 b6
15 Ba3 ReS
44th USSR Championship 16 Rfc1
Tbilisi, 1978
All this is well known. Along the half-open
b- and c-files White sets up strong pressure
1 d4 d5
on the Q-side, which more than compensates
2 Nf3 Nf6
for the sacrificed pawn.
3 c4 d X c4
4 Nc3 c6 16 . . . f6

Preventing the invasion of the knight at e5.

White's last move seemingly took Roman
ishin unawares, and instead of the sharp and 17 e4 Nf4
critical 4 . . . a6 5 e4 b5 he chooses the Slav
It would have been better to retreat the
Defence, which, it would appear, he has never
knight to e7, since now White gains extra
played before, and in recent years - definite
tempi for his attack.
ly not ! Thus Black has to do battle on
foreign territory' . 18 Qe3 Ng6
19 b4 h5
5 a4 Bf5
6 e3 e6 Unsatisfactory is 1 9 . . . e5 20 h5 Nh4 2 1
7 B x c4 Bb4 h6, when Black's K-side i s irreparably weak
8 0-0 0-0 ened, but the move played is also highly
9 Qe2 Ne4 dubious. The lesser evil was 1 9 . . . Nh8
10 Bd3 B x c3 followed by . . . Nf7.
11 b X c3 N x c3
20 e5

This looks very tempting, but White could

also have continued more solidly with, say,
20 Rb2, and if 20 . . . e5, then 21 Rd2 e X d4
22 N x d4.

20 . . f5

After this White's attack develops un

Here we see the result of playing an unfa
miliar opening. Black chooses a dubious vari
ation, where in return for a pawn he has to
conduct a gruelling defence . Back in the good
old days this line was abandoned as inferior,
and in the present game, of course, Black did
not have anything new to offer . . .
checked. Black evidently assumed that White
would have to worry about the defence of his
h-pawn, but he should have tried 20 . . . fxe5.
Now nothing is achieved by 2 1 Qe4 Qf6 22
d X e5 Qf5, so I was intending to sacrifice
a further pawn - 2 1 d X e5 ! N X h4 22 N X h4
Q x h4 23 Rb4 ! Qd8 24 Rd4. White has a
threatening initiative, and his quen is aim
ing for g5, but at least Black would have
known what he was suffering for.

4* 45
 In search of the truth

game by 36 h5 Rad8 (36 . . . d2 37 Qg6 +

Kh8 38 Qh6 + Kg8 39 Q X d2 Kf7 40 Qg5)
37 h6 Rd7 38 Qg6 + .

21 Bd6!

Blocking the queen's path to d5, and after

2 1 . . . N X h4 22 Ng5 Ng6 23 f4 with the
threat of 24 Qf3 (in reserve there is also 29 R X g7 +
24 B X b8 R X b8 25 R X c6) it is unlikely that
This also wins, o f course, but simpler was
White's attack can be parried.
29 Rg6 Qf7 30 Rcg3 Rd7 3 1 Q X h5. If 29 . . .
21 Nh8 f4, then 30 Q X f4 Qf7 3 1 Qh6, and again the
22 Ng5 Nf7 g7 point collapses.
23 N X f7 K X f7
29 Q X g7
24 Qf4
30 Rg3 Rd7
White clears the 3rd rank for switching his
Black tries to avoid the above variations,
rooks to the K-side.
which arise after 30 . . . Q X g3 3 1 fx g3
24 Kg8 c x d4.
25 Rb3 Qd7
31 R X g7 + R X g7
26 Rg3 Na6
32 Q X h5 Rd8
Black has finally completed his develop 33 Qh6 ReS
ment, but the knight is unable to partici 34 d5!
pate in the defence of his king.
The most energetic. The way is cleared for
27 Qh6 c5 the advance of White's e-pawn.
28 Rcc3
34 e x d5
Crossing as though over a bridge, the
Black cannot maintain e6 : 34 . . . Nc7 35
rooks assemble for the decisive attack. Black's
B X c7 R X c7 36 Qg6 + Kf8 37 d6 Rg7 38
g7 is indefensible.
Qf6 + Kg 8 39 h5 Kh7 40 d7 , and White wins .
28 Rad8
35 e6 Nc7

After 28 . . . c X d4 29 R X g7 + Q X g7 30 36 e7 Re x e7
Rg3 Q X g3 3 1 fX g3 d3 32 Qg6 + Kh8 33 37 B x e7 R X e7
Q x h5 + Kg7 34 Qg5 + Kf7 (34 . . . Kh7 38 Qg5 + Kf8
loses more quickly to 35 Be7 !, when against 39 h5 c4
36 Qh5 + and 37 B/6 there is no satisfactory 40 b6 c3
defence) 35 Qf6 + Kg8 White concludes the 41 Qf6 + Resigns

46
 No. 22 Polugayevsky-Petrosian, 1 98 1

No. 22 Queen' s Indian Defence pleasant game. But even so, I think that that
is how Black should continue. Of course,
Polugayevsky-Petrosian his rook stands rather better at dS than at eS,
but this is a slight consolation for the freedom
Moscow, 1981 which White now acquires on the K-side.
Meanwhile, 13 . . . Nc6 would have forced
1 Nf3 Nf6 White to concern himself over the defence
2 c4 b6 of d4, and would to a certain extent have
3 Nc3 Bb7 curtailed his activity.
4 d4 e6
14 Qe2 Rd8
5 a3

Against the Ex-World Champion-his own

favourite weapon : 5 a3 commences the
Petrosian Variation' in the Queen's Indian
Defence . In the Moscow Tournament both
Kasparov and Timman also played it against
him.

5 . . d5
6 c x d5 N X d5
7 e3 Be7
8 Bb5 + c6
9 Bd3 N x c3 15 h4! Nc6
16 Be3
The most accurate . After 9 . . . c5 Black
has to reckon with 10 N X d5 Q X d5 1 1 d X c5 As a result the d-pawn is defended by the
B X c5 12 Bb5 + , which after 12 . . . Ke7 bishop, and not the rook, which may possibly
gave White the more comfortable position find work on the f-file.
in, for example, Gheorghiu-Karpov (Mos
16 Bf6
cow, 1 9 S 1 ) .
Black is wrong to force the opponent to
10 b X c3 c5
advance his e-pawn with gain of tempo,
11 0-0 0-0
since this is part of White's plan. The weaken
In my game with Portisch (Moscow, 1 9 S 1 ) ing of the d5 square is less significant, and
I deferred castling with Black, so a s to avoid therefore 16 . . . Rd7 should have been con
the enforced weakening of the K-side, and sidered.
first played . . . Nc6 and . . . ReS. The Ex
17 e5 Bg7
World Champion handles this position rather
18 h5
differently.
The resulting position is similar to one
12 Qc2 g6
reached in the main line of the Grtinfeld
13 e4 Qc7
Defence . But I think that here White has a
In the game Kasparov-Petrosian (from couple of extra tempi, and his knight stands
the same Moscow Tournament) after 13 . . . better at f3 than at e2, so that his advantage
Nc6 1 4 Bh6 ReS 1 5 Rfd 1 White had the more is undisputed .

47
 In search of the truth

18 . . . Rd7 An unusual decision, based on an accurate

19 h X g6 determination of relative piece values : the
white knight is stronger here than the static
Immediately clarifying the position, al
bishop at d5.
though 19 Rad l was also possible, threaten
ing Ng5 X h7 in some cases. 25 . g X f5
19 . . h X g6
25 . . . e x f5 was perhaps slightly better,
20 Rad1 c x d4
although even then after 26 Qh3 it is unlikely
21 c x d4 Qd8
that White's attack can be parried : he threat
It transpires that Black is basing his defence ens Qh7 + followed by Nh3 and Bh6, as well
on a possible exchange sacrifice on d4. White as Nh7 with the idea of Bg5 .
naturally prevents this.
26 Qb5 f6
22 Be4 Ne7 27 Qh7 + Kf8
A mistake . 22 . . . Rb8 was absolutely neces
28 Nh3
sary, at least for the moment preventing
By retreating, White advances ! The immedi
the knight from going to g5 .
ate threat is 29 Bh6. Black's reply is forced.
23 Ng5 Nf5
24 Qg4! 28 . . Qe7
29 e x f6 Q x f6
It turns out that the d-pawn is immune-24 30 Bg5 Qf7
. . . B X e4 25 N X e4 N X d4 26 B X d4 R X d4 31 Nf4
27 R X d4 Q X d4 28 Nf6 + , and meanwhile
White's attack gathers pace .

24 . Bd5

Black defends e6, since on 24 . . . Rb8, for

example, there could have followed 25 Qh3,
and if 25 . . . N X e3, then 26 Qh7 + Kf8
27 N X e6 + fX e6 28 f X e 3 + , with an immedi
ate win.

Black's position is lost, and he attempts

somehow to relieve the situation.

31 . . . Bf6
32 Qh6 + Ke7

On 32 . . . Bg7 there would have followed

33 Qh4 and then Rd3-g3 . But the king cannot
escape.

25 B X f5! 33 Rc1!

48
 No. 22 Polugayevsky-Petrosian, 1 98 1

The plausible 3 3 Ng6 + would have compli change, after which the outcome of the game
cated matters. But now Black's king is not is definitely decided .
only cut off from the Q-side, but he also has
to meet the specific threat of 34 N X dS + 40 K x 6
R X dS 3 5 B X f6 + Q X f6 36 Rc7 + . 41 N X d7 + R X d7
42 f3
33 Rad8
34 Rfel White's plan is clear : to place his king at e3
and his rook at h l .
Black is in complete zugzwang, and it is by
no means of his own free will that he decides
42 b5
to part with the exchange .
43 Kf2 Rb7
34 . B X g5
35 Q X g5 + Qf6 Blocking the c-file by 43 . . . Bc4 would
36 Ng6 + Kf7 merely have prolonged the game.
37 Ne5 + Ke7
44 Rbl Rb6
38 Ng6 + Kf7
39 Ne5 + Ke7 45 Rc7 Ra6
40 Q X f6 + 46 f4

By repeating moves White has gained time In view of inevitable mate - 46 . . . Kg6
on the clock, and now he picks up the ex- 47 Rch7 and 48 Rlh6 mate -:- Black resigned .

49
 From Defence to Attack

There are basically two types of defenders . goalkeeper, and a single mistake can mean
One is, so to speak, the prophylactic defender. a goal.
By preventive measures he creates a certain But on the other hand, defence - and in the
exclusion zone, and is ready to accept a direct first instance, active defence - can teach
attack, after preparing for it beforehand. a great deal. The ability to await the con
I belong to the defenders of a different type. venient moment for a counter-blow, or to
In the language of chess they say to their find counter-play on the opposite wing, or to
opponents : 'Attack, but remember that sacrifice a pawn, the exchange, or even the
instead of a zonal defence you will encounter queen, in order to change the character of
active counter-play.' the struggle and to go onto the offensive .
It stands to reason that chess life sometimes It seems to me no accident that all the World
dictates its own will. On occasion I have had Champions - from Steinitz to Karpov -
to conduct a difficult, gruelling, passive, have been, apart from anything else, outstand
'trench warfare' type of defence, but in princi ing masters of defence .
ple, when I am attacked I prefer to have a plan And, in addition, defending cultivates good
of counter-measures, often based on a veiled competitive qualities . Because, like no other
tactical blow. aspect of the battle, defending demands of a
It has to be said that in general the defen player coolness, composure, and the ability to
sive resources in chess are very great. How avoid panic.
many times have we seen how seemingly
hopeless positions have been saved by one or
two unexpected and surprising moves. More
No. 23 Queen' s Gambit
over, to find them one requires fantasy no
Accepted
less than that needed in searching for the
most brilliant combination.
Portisch-Polugayevsky
So that defence is an excellent field for
the development of one's purely chess and Hungary v. RSFSR
purely human character. Yes, the role of the Budapest, 1963
defender is difficult and responsible . The skil
ful chess attacker always has ways of deviat 1 d4 d5
ing, such as transposing into a reasonable 2 c4 d x c4
endgame, etc. But in defence one sometimes 3 Nf3 Nf6
has to make a series of difficult moves in order 4 Qa4 + c6
to hold the position. To make a comparison 5 Q X c4 Bg4
with football : the defender in chess is the 6 Nbd2 Nbd7

50
 No . 23 Portisch-Polugayevsky, 1 963

7 g3 e6 20 Rae1 Bc8 ! !
8 Bg2 Bd6
9 0-0 0-0
10 Qc2 Bc7
11 b3 e5
12 Bb2 ReS
13 e4 e x d4
14 N X d4 Ne5
15 b4 aS

With this one move Black simultaneously

kills several birds : the bishop defends the
b-pawn, intends in certain cases to make a
sortie to a6, and - most important - makes
it possible to answer 21 e5 with 21 . . . Nd7 !

21 Ndb3 Nb2!

The black knight displays enviable vivacity !

Black has played the opening badly and Having avoided expulsion, it has now pen
ended up in a difficult position. White has etrated into the enemy rear. Moreover,
a pawn majority in the centre, and at any although it has moved away from the centre,
moment the knight at e5 will be pushed back. it is nevertheless fulfilling some important
It is therefore all the more interesting to functions : guarding the dl square and
follow how Black succeeds in creating coun ensuring the invasion of the queen at d3 .
ter-chances .
22 Kh1
16 f4
Had White sensed the danger, for the
An inaccuracy, provoked by White's desire impudent knight he would have given up the
to evict the opponent's minor pieces from pride of his position - his black-squared
the centre as soon as possible . Better was bishop : 22 B X b2 a X b2 23 Q X b2, although
16 h3 Bc8 (16 . . . Bh5 allows White after Black gains good compensation in the form
17 f4 to trap the bishop at a convenient of the two bishops and pressure on the a-file .
moment by g3-g4 and f4-f5) 17 b X a5 B X a5
22 . . B x cS !
1 8 N2b3 Bb6 1 9 Khl , preparing f2-f4 and
gaining an advantage. A new surprise. Now on 2 3 N X c5 there
follows 23 . . . b6 24 Nb3 Ba6 - this is where
16 ... Bb6
the strength of Black's 20th move is seen.
17 N2b3 a4!
18 NcS a3! 23 b X cS Qd3
19 Bc3 Nc4
The triumph of Black's resourceful defence .
Black's first achievement : his knight has not He has seized the initiative, and account must
retreated, but advanced. be taken of the fact that White was absolutely

51
 From defence to attack

unprepared for such a metamorphosis on the begin pursuing the a2 pawn) 3 1 . . . B X e2

board. 32 N x es R x es 33 B X f6 N X e4 34 B X e4
R X e4 35 Rc3, and the position is obviously
24 .Rf2
drawish.
Mter 24 Q X d3 N X d3 25 Re3 Nb2 there
28 . N x cS
is the threat of 26 . . . Nd5 .
29 h3 Nf6
.24 Ng4 30 B x f6 R X a5
25 Rd2 Q X c2 31 Bd4 Na6
26 R x c2 Nd3 32 f5 Ra4
27 Ree2 Be6
Black sticks to his main 'code of conduct'
It is the minor pieces that are the heroes in this game : to answer blow with counter
of Black's army in this game ! blow.

33 fX e6 R X d4
34 e x f7 + K x f7
35 Rc3 RedS!
36 R x a3 Rd3

The material balance has been restored .

but at the same time the position has sharple
simplified in favour of Black. His knight is
clearly superior to the bishop, his rook is mors
active, and his king is closer to the centre,
The sum of all these factors is a strong basiy
for victory.
28 Na5
37 R X d3 R X d3
White is obviously disconcerted, and he 38 Kh2 Ke6
decides to give up a pawn. Indeed, he certainly 39 e5 Ra3
has difficult problems. Thus bad is 28 Nc1 40 Be4 g6
Bc4 29 Red2 Ne3, or 28 Ba 1 Nb4 29 Rc3 41 Bc2 NcS
RedS, or 28 h3 Nf6 29 f5 (29 Ncl NX cl 42 Kg2 Ke7!
30 R X cl Bc4 leads to the loss of the a2
Forcing the white bishop to abandon its
pawn) 29 . . . B X b3 30 a x b3 N X c5 3 1
comparatively best position, after which the
B X f6 g X f6 32 R X c5 a2.
knight gains scope to carry out its destructive
However, by determined action White
work.
could have held the position : 28 Nd4 ! Bc4
(after 28 . . . NX c5 29 NX e6 NX e6, in return 43 Bd1 Nd3
for the pawn White has the two bishops and 44 Bb3 Ncl
the prospect of a successful attack on the a3 45 Re3 h6
pawn) 29 h3 Nf6 30 Nf5 ! (this active move is
Also possible was 45 . . . N X a2, or 45 . . .
White's main trump) 30 . . . N X c5 (nothing
N X b3. Here all roads lead to Rome
is achieved by 30 . . . Nb2 31 Rei) 3 1 N X g7
(less convincing and clear is 31 B X/6 B X e2 46 h4 N X b3
32 Bd4 Bd3 33 R X c5 B X e4, when Black can 47 a X b3 Ke6

52
 No. 24 Polugayevsky-Torre, 1 976

48 Kf3 Ra5 Too impulsively played; and, a s will shortly

49 Kf4 RbS be seen, without penetrating deeply into the
50 Re4 c5 essence of the position. Highly interesting
51 Re3 Rb4 + was 14 . . . c6 ! ?, when 1 5 d x c6 (15 B X c5
52 Kf3 Rd4 dX c5 16 dX c6 Q x d2 + and 17 . . . b x c6)
53 g4 g5 can be answered by 1 5 . . . Qa5, with the
Wbite resigns threat of 1 6 . . . Nb3 + .

15 c X b5 a6
No. 24 King's Indian Defence
Polugayevsky-Torre

Interzonal Tournament
Manila, 1976

1 d4 g6
2 e4 Bg7
3 c4 d6
4 Nc3 Nf6
5 h3
16 b4!
I do not consider Makogonov's Variation
In this position the pawn move in front of
to be stronger than the Samisch Variation.
the king is the most logical. It transpires
But in this game I wanted to surprise my
that Black is forced to part with his knight,
opponent, a great lover of the King's Indian
since after 1 6 . . . Ne4 1 7 N x e4 B X e4 1 8
Defence. Black has several continuations
Ng5 or 1 6 . . . Nd3 + 1 7 B x d3 B x d3 1 8
leading to a good game. Torre chooses the
Q x d3 R x f3 1 9 b X a6 h e stands badly.
plan of rapidly advancing . . . f5.
During the game it seemed to me that Torre
quite simply overlooked this outwardly risky
5 0-0
move by White .
6 Be3 eS
7 dS Nbd7 16 a X b5
8 Nf3 Ne8 17 b X c5 b4
9 g4 fS 18 Nb5 RaS
10 g X f5 g X fS 19 Bc4 Qa8
11 e x f5 Nc5 20 Q x b4 Nf6
12 Rgl B X fS
13 Qd2 Kh8 Nothing is achieved by 20 . .. R X a2
2 1 B x a2 Q x a2 22 Qb2 (22 Na3 is also
A standard position has been reached, in good) 22 . . . Qc4 + 23 Nc3 . Now one gains
which success depends on who is the first the impression that White's position is
to create threats. completely won, but Black's threats are not
exhausted, and White has to display ex
14 0-0-0 bS ? ! treme composure, caution and accuracy.

53
 From defence to attack

Thus, for example, 21 N x c7 would be an ing for the fact that, with the 'curtain about
swered by 21 . . . Rb8 ! to fall', it was possible to find counter
chances so original, that during a subsequent
21 R X g7!
joint analysis one of the other players called
This counter-sacrifice reduces Black's at them 'miraculous' .
tacking potential by one unit, and a highly
2 6 Rg1 + Kh8
significant one.
27 Q X d6!
21 K X g7
In this critical situation White takes the
22 Nh4 Be4
only correct decision : to head into the storm.
23 c x d6 R x a2
The white king does not sit and await its
After 23 . . . c X d6 24 Rg1 + Kh8 25 fate, but travels around the board, energetic
Q X d6 things are totally bad for Black, so ally battling for its existence.
Torre decides to throw in the exchange as
27 Rc8 +
well.
28 Kd1 Qa1 +
24 B x a2 Q x a2 29 Ke2

It unexpectedly transpires that the awk

wardly placed knight at a3 is operating as a
'central defender', controlling the c2 square .

29 Qb2 +
30 Bd2

25 Na3 ?

White is a piece up, and he only had to

play 25 Qb2 Qc4 + 26 Kd2, when the game
would have been settled. His blunder can be
explained both by the great effort involved
in calculating the preceding variations, and
perhaps by a premature subconscious relax
ation. I assumed that there was no defence
against 26 Qb2, and completely overlooked
the opening of the c-file .
25 . . . c x d6
Here I saw that I was threatened with the
deadly 26 . . . Rc8 + . In just a few minutes,
with time trouble looming up, I had to make
a hurried readjustment. The game is interest-
30 . . N X d5
After this White easily parries the threats,
but what should Black have played ? Later,
in an analysis with a group of players from
the tournament, someone suggested 30 . . .
Bd3 + , supposedly leading to a win for Black.
At the board, while Torre was thinking, I
had seen that it would be bad to play 3 1
K X d3 Qd4 + 3 2 Ke2 Ne4 3 3 Be3 Qb2 + ,
when Black wins, and had therefore intended

54
 N o . 25 Polugayevs ky-Adorjan , 1 976

3 1 Kf3 Ne4 32 Qe 7 N x d2 + 33 Kg2. I n No . 25 English Opening

the analysis it was suggested a t this point that
the return of the knight - 33 . . . Ne4 - Polugayevsky-Adorjan
would be decisive, but Ljubomir Ljubojevic,
who was standing alongside, qu ick as light Sochi, 1976
ning suggested 34 Nc2 ! !, and I saw to my joy 1 c4 g6
that my intuition had not let me down dur 2 e4 e5
ing the game . Indeed, after this sacrifice - 3 d4 Nf6
t he knight can be taken by three( ! !) black 4 d x e5
pieces - White wins. Now 34 . . . Q X c2
parries the threat of 35 Kh2, but on the other It is difficult to explain why I played this .
ha nd it removes a defence from e5, so that Against Tal (4 1 s t USSR Championship,
35 Q x e5 + Kg8 36 Kh2 + is decisive. Mter Moscow, 1 973) and in certain other games I
34 . . . B X c2, for an instant the f2 square is chose the normal 4 Nf3, but here, as is usual
out of the black queen's field of view, so in such tournaments , I wanted to experiment.
that White wins by 35 Kh2 Rg8 36 R x g8 +
K X g8 3 7 Nf5, with inevitable mate . 4 N x e4
But particular aesthetic pleasure is afforded 5 Qd5 Bb4 +
by the variation 34 . . . Rg8 + 35 Kh2
R X gl 36 Qf8 + ! Rg8 37 Ng6 + h X g6 38
Qh6 mate . How inexhaustible chess is !

31 Rg4

The white rook also takes on defensive

functions.

31 . . . Nf4 +
32 Ke3

In this game the king is not afraid of a ny

thing, and looks after itself quite well.

32 . Nd5 + It was only when Adorjan made this move

33 K x e4 Qd4 + that I remembered I had examined it at home,
34 Kf3 Rc3 + and had concluded that White's position
35 B x c3 Qd3 + was diffic ul t . But when I played 4 d X e5 , I
36 Kg2 Nf4 + completely forgot about this, and expected
play to follow the Gheorghiu-Ribli game
We now have a classic illustration of the
from the Manila I nterzonal, namely : 5 . . . f5
Russian proverb : 'One soldier on the battle
6 e X f6 N x f6 7 Qd l , when White retains a
field is not a warrio r . '
microscopic advantage .
37 R X f4 Q x d6
38 Nf3 Q X a3 6 Nd2 f5
39 B x e5 + Kg8
40 Rg4 + Kf7 It now tra nspires that the queen's ea rly
41 Rg7 + Ke6 development has rebounded , e .g. 7 Nf3
42 R x h7 Resigns c6 8 Qd3 Qb6, and White is in some difficulty.

55
 From defence to attack

He therefore has to continue his dangerous 18 Q x a6 is bad because of 18 . . . Nf4.

queen walk.
18 Bc8
7 e x f6 N X f6 19 0-0 Nac7
Here, incidentally, the thought occurred to
20 N2f3
me : it was just as well that I was White, and Thus White has easily concluded his devel
that my loss of time was partly compensated opment, while retaining his extra pawn.
by the right of the 1st move . Only for this 20 c5
reason was it still possible to hold on.
In the event of 20 . . . Ba6 White would
8 Qd3 0-0 have simply answered 21 Qc2.
9 Be2 ReS
21 Nb5 N X b5
A plausible move, which, however, gives 22 Q X bS Bd7
White a respite and allows him to drive away
Generally speaking, Black drives the queen
the enemy bishop. More active was 9 . . . d5,
when White may have no way of staying to where it wants to go, but I personally
find it difficult to give any better recommen
out of danger.
dation.
10 a3 Bf8
11 Ngf3 d5 23 Qc4
12 c x dS Bf5
13 Qc4 b5

But this move surprised me . Why, instead

of a favourable positional path- 1 3 ...
Q X d5 1 4 0-0 Nbd7, choose a violent one ?

14 Q X b5 c6
15 Qb3 Na6

To have compensation for the sacrificed

pawn, Black must achieve full co-ordination
of his pieces. But if he is forced to develop
his knight at a6, this is a bad sign.
16 d6 + NdS
My opponent later admitted that White's
last move came as a surprise, and he now
offered a draw. But did I have the right to
avoid a struggle in such a position ? !
17 Qc4
The best of the numerous queen moves in
this game. The pin is maintained, the bishop
at e2 defended, and the knight at a6 attacked.
23 Rab8
Mter the game Adorjan suggested that
23 . . . a6 would have been stronger, but then
by 24 Qc2 Bb5 25 Bc4 White consolidates
his position.
24 Ng5 !
This move all but wins the game immedi
ately. The counter-combination 24 . . . R x e2
25 Q X e2 Bb5 fails to 26 Qf3, meanwhile
White threatens 25 Bf3 and 25 Rd 1 , and only
a miracle allows Black to continue resisting.

17 Q X d6 24 h6
18 Nd4 25 Bf3

56
 No. 25 Polugayevsky-Adorjan, 1 9 76

For a long time I looked for something
else, more decisive, but failed to find it, e.g. :
(a) 25 Rd l Bb5 26 R x d5 R x e2 !
(b) 25 Bf4 Q X f4 26 Q X d5 + Kh8 27 Bc4
Bg7 28 Nf7 + Kh7 29 Q X d7 Q X c4 30 Nd6
Qe6.
(c) 25 Ne4 Qc6.
I therefore had to be patient.
I must admit to being pleased with this
move. White cannot exchange rooks, since
then he is unable to avoid perpetual check.
34 ReS
Black had to play 34 . . . Qa4, when for
the last time he would have retained drawing
chances.

h X g5 35 Bal
25

26 B x d5 + Be6 The queen is at last free, and now takes

27 B x e6 + Q x e6 part in the concluding attack. If 35 . . . Ra8,
28 Qa4 g4 then 36 Qd2 followed by Qg5, or 36 Qe 1
29 Bd2 threatening 37 Qe5 . Black deprives the queen
of these two squares, but uncovers a third .
But this is an inaccuracy on my part.
Correct was 29 Be3, and if 29 . . . R X b2 30 35 . Re2
Rael. It has to be admitted that Adorjan 36 Qd8 g3
exploits this chance excellently, and creates 37 Qb4!
counter-play apparently out of nothing.
This defence, with the simultaneous threat
of Qh8 + , was of course envisaged before
29 Qe4
hand . Bad, naturally, is 37 h X g3 R X g3 !

30 Q x a7
37 .

I was sensible to avoid the exchange of

Or 37 . . . g X f2 + 38 R X f2 R X f2 39
queens, but the same cannot be said about
Qh8 + Kf7 40 Qh7 + Ke8 41 Re 1 + Kd8 42
30 b4.
Qh4 + and 43 Q x f2 .

30 Qc6! 38 K X h2 R x a3
31 Qa5 R X b2
32 Rael Re4! On 38 . . . Bd6 + 39 Kgl Rg3 there would
33 Bc3! Rb3 have followed 40 Qh8 + Kf7 41 fX g3 + .

39 Qh8 + Kf7
40 Reel Raa2
41 Rbl

Here the game was adjourned, and the

position had to be analyzed in detail. After
the best move 41 . . . Be7 White wins by 42
Kg1 Qe4 43 Rb8 Ke6 44 Qg8 + Kd6 45 Bc3,
when there are so many threats that they
cannot all be parried. 41 . . . Ra8 is met by
42 Rb7 + Ke8 43 Bg7 (43 . . . Q x b7 44
Q X/8 + Kd7 45 Rdl + etc.). The move
34 Rcl ! sealed by Black lost even more quickly.

57
 From defence to attack

41 . . R X f2 9 B X g2
42 R x f2 + R X f2 10 K x g2 Qb8
43 Rb7 + Ke8
44 Qe5 + Kd8 The bishop's place at b7 is taken by the
45 Rb8 + Kd7 queen. This could also have been achieved by
46 Qe8 + Resigns 10 . . . Qc8, but the move played creates a
possible threat of . . . c5, when the knight's
position at e5 may prove shaky.
No. 26 Queen' s Indian Defence
ll e4 Qb7
Timman-Polugayevsky
Forced, since 1 1 . . . c5 can be met by 12
Bf4, and if 12 . . . d6, then 1 3 Nc6 Qc7 14
Wijk aan Zee, 1979
N x e7 + Q X e7 1 5 d X c5, when Black loses
the exchange .
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6 12 Qf3 c6
3 Nf3 b6
4 g3 Bb7 An essential link in Black's plan, who must
5 Bg2 Bb4 + aim for the pawn break . . . d5, or possibly
. . . b5. In general, it should be noted that
Formally Black loses a tempo, but in
the position is highly dynamic and flexible,
fact the move pursues an idea which will be
even though the centre is in White's posses
explained a little later.
sion. But he fails to find a plan and makes a
mistake. Meanwhile, his knight was not
6 Bd2 altogether well placed at e5, and if Timman
had sensed this he would have immediately
6 Nbd2 is also quite good.
retreated it to d3. In this case White would
have been threatening e4-e5, and would
6 . Be7 have had a slight spatial advantage . But . . .
7 Nc3 0-0
8 0-0 Na6 13 Rfe1

Black's plan becomes clear. Now in the An unfortunate move, which gives Black
event of the natural 9 Rc 1 he replies 9 . . . c5, the tactical opportunity to exchange his in
and the bishop which was decoyed to d2 sufficiently active knight at a6 for White's
prevents White from advancing to d5 (be centralized knight. Better, as already men
cause of 10 . . . e X d5 11 Nh4 Nc7). tioned, was 13 Nd3 or 13 Rad l .

13 . . . Nb4
9 Ne5
Threatening to win the exchange by 14 .

The idea of immediately exchanging the Nc2.

white-squared bishops deserves serious con
sideration, since in certain variations the 14 Racl d6
undefended knight at a6 is a factor. In prac 15 Nd3 N x d3
tice 9 Qa4 has also been played . 16 Q X d3 a6!

58
 No. 26 Timman-Polugayevsky , 1 979

23 Qf3 f5, and White unexpectedly risks

coming under an attack.

21 d X e6 fX e6
22 f3

22 B X d6 is obviously bad because of 22

. . . Rd8 .

22 . . . Rd8
23 Red1

To be considered was 23 Rcd 1 , when White

Five black pawns stand on the 6th rank, is better prepared for possible breaks in the
and each is ready to take a step forward ! centre .
Another original position has been reached
23 . . . Nd7
in this seemingly well studied opening. Rather
24 b3 Rcc8
than wait to see which black pawn will
25 Ne2
undermine his centre, White himself crosses
the demarcation line . 24 Be3 is better. Now Black seizes the
initiative .
17 d5 c x d5
18 c x d5 25 Nc5
26 Qb1 b4
On 1 8 e x d5 Black would have continued
1 8 . . . b5 ! Consolidating the position of the knight,
which is carrying out numerous functions,
18 . b5
including the defence of the e-pawn.
19 a3 ? !

Preparing to answer 19 . . . e5 with the

manoeuvre Na2-b4-c6. But Black is by no
means obliged to relieve the pawn tension in
the centre, and therefore it was better to play
immediately 19 d X e6 fXe6 20 f3, followed
by directing the knight via e2 to d4 or f4.

19 Rac8

The position must be considered com

pletely level, so that the opening battle has
essentially been won by Black.
20 Bf4 Rc4
But this is wrong. Much simpler was 20 . . .
e5, when on 2 1 Bg5 White has to reckon
with 21 . . . N X d5, while after 21 Be3 Bd8
22 Na2, with the idea of manoeuvring the
knight to c6, Black replies 22 . . . Ba5 ! If
instead 21 Bd2, then 21 . . . Nd7 22 Na2 Nc5
Now on 27 a4 White had to reckon with
27 . . . d5, when 28 e5 could be met by 28 . . .
d4, with a positionally justified pawn sacri
fice and counter-play on the d-file. The
double-edged 27 . . . g5 28 Be3 g4 was also
possible . Therefore the most justified was
27 a x b4 Q x b4 28 Rc4, and if 28 . . . Q X b3
29 Q X b3 N x b3, then 29 B x d6 Rc2 30
B X e7, with a probable draw.

5 59
 From defence to attack

But White failed to sense the danger, and, The best practical chance. After 35 Ra l
hoping to regain the pawn, played Rc2 + 36 Kh3 Bc3 37 e7 Kf7 38 e x f8 =

Q+ K X f8 39 Ne6 + Kf7 40 Nd4 Black

27 Be3 ? wins by 40 . . . R X h2 + 4 1 K X h2 B X a 1 42
Nb3 Bc3 and . . . a5-a4.
A mistake, since the black pawn at a3
becomes very strong.
35 . Rd8
27 . b X a3 36 e7 R x d5!
28 b4 Nd7! 37 R X d5

After 28 . . . Na4 ? 29 Qb3 the advantage After 37 e8 = Q R X d 1 White does not

would obviously pass to White . have even a single check.

29 Qb3 Nf8 37 al = Q
30 Nf4 ? 38 e8 = Q Qa2 +
39 Bd2 B X d2
30 Q X a3 was essential, agreeing after 30
40 ReS Bb4 +
. . . d5 31 e x d5 B X b4 to a slightly inferior,
41 Re2 Qd5
but defensible position. But White assumed
that his position was still preferable, and it
was only after

30 d5

that he realized he had lost the battle.

31 e x d5
32 Q X b4

Or 32 Qa2 Qb2 + 33 Q X b2 a X b2 34 Rb 1
Rc2 + .

Black's material advantage, and, more im

32
portant, the inadequately defended position
33 d x e6
of the white king, are bound to lead to a win.

The lesser evil was first 33 R X c8 R X c8 But even so, with his next move White should

and only then 34 d X e6, definitely leading not have given himself an extra weakness

to the game continuation. Because now Black at g3 .

could have won immediately by 33 . . . a2,

and if 34 R X d8 R X c l 35 Bd4 Rd l . But he 42 h4 ? a5
had already made up his mind to attain a 43 Re4 Bd6
position planned beforehand, and so missed
With his sealed move Black begins to set
this additional possibility.
his sights on the opponent's king. His plan
33 R X d1 also includes - after suitable preparation -
34 R X dl a2 bringing his knight into play, after which the
35 Nd5 attack will become irresistible. And it should

60
 No. 27 Griinfeld-Polugayevsky, 1979

be borne in mind that the exchange of queens No. 27 Sicilian Defence

will also conclude the game immediately.

44 Re2 b6 Griinfeld-Polugayevsky

With the idea of . . . Kh7. Interzonal Tournament

Riga, 1979
45 g4
1 e4 c5
So as to free himself from worries over his
2 Nf3 d6
g3 pawn, and to obtain at least some kind of
3 d4 c x d4
counter-chances by h4-h5 . But the weakness
4 N X d4 Nf6
of the b8-h2 diagonal is now especially
5 Nc3 a6
marked .
6 Bg5 e6
45 Qd4 7 f4 b5
46 b5 Bc5 8 e5 d x e5
46 Kg3 9 r x e5 Qc7
10 Qe2 Nfd7
If 47 Qa8, defending f3, then 47 . . . 11 0-0-0 Nc6
Qgl + 48 Kh3 Bf2, winning. 12 N x c6 Q x c6
47 Qgl + 13 Qd3 h6 !
48 Kf4 Bd6 +
49 Ke4 Qc5

The most accurate. 50 . . . Qc4 + is threat

ened, and if 50 Qa4 Qe5 + 5 1 Kd3 Qd4 + ,
winning the key f3 pawn.

50 Qa8 Qc4 +
51 Ke3 Bc5 +
52 Kd2

The white king has been finally driven into

the open field, and the pursuit of it now
concludes. In this apparently risky line, to which
theory has given the name of the 'Polugayev
52 Qa2 + sky Variation', how many times has Black
53 Kdl Qbl + succeeded in finding additional resources.
54 Kd2 Qb2 + Opening guides, including the fundamental
55 Kdl Qb3 + Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, give only
56 Kd2 two lines here :
(a) 1 3 . . . Bb4 14 Be2 Rb8 1 5 Ne4 0-0
If 56 Rc2, then 56 . . . Qb l + 57 Kd2
1 6 Nf6 + ! N X f6 1 7 B X f6 Bb7 1 8 Qh3 ! ,
Bb4 + 58 Kd3 Qd l + .
with a winning attack for White (Kelece
56 Bb4 + vic-Bucan, Yugoslav Championship, 1971).
57 Kcl Qd3 (b) 1 3 . . . Bc5 14 Be2 Qc7 1 5 Ne4 0-0
White resigns (15 . . . Q x e5 is bad because of 16 Rh/1,

5* 61
 From defence to attack

with the threat of Bf4) 16 Qg3 Kh8 1 7 Bf4, course, my opponent's pos1t10n cannot be
and White has an obvious advantage (Tom considered bad or even inferior : after all,
son-Kovacevic, USSR v. Yugoslavia, 1 96 1 ) . White has not done anything 'unlawful' .
In Grandmaster Preparation (Pergamon It was simply that the resulting situation gave
Press, 1 9 8 1 ) I consider 13 . . . Bb7 14 Be2, great scope to fantasy, demanded deep,
again with advantage to White. The idea of exact and lengthy calculation, and I was
Black's move in the present game is that in hoping for success.
some cases he has counter-play with . . . g5.
18 Nb5!
I hit upon this idea a long time ago, but the
subtleties and certain details were only White accepts the challenge, which, more
polished up before the tournament and . . . over, he is unable to decline. After 1 8 Nb l
during my night-time preparations for this the initiative is with Black, while the 'attack
game with my trainer Oleg Averkin. ing' 1 8 Na4 simply loses to 1 8 . . . N x a4
19 Q X e6 + f X e6 20 Bh5 + Qf7 21 B X f7 +
14 Bb4 Bb7
K X f7 22 Rd7 + Kg6 23 R X b7 Bc5, when
15 Be2 Qc7
for the piece White has no compensation.
16 Rbe1
But now it appears that things are bad for
White indirectly defends his e-pawn. Black, and that he must reconcile himself
The alternative was to try an immediate to an obviously inferior position after
attack on f7 by 16 Rhfl or 16 Bh5 . 1 8 . . . Qa5 19 Nd6 + B X d6 20 e X d6, since
1 8 . . . a x b5 19 B X b5 + Bc6 20 Qf3 ! leads
16 . . . Nc5
to mate after 20 . . . B X b5 21 Q x a8 + ,
1 6 . . . N x e5 is bad : 1 7 Qg3 g5 1 8 B X b5 + or 20 . . . Rc8 2 1 B X c6 + Q x c6 22 Q X c6 +
a x b5 1 9 N X b5 followed by capturing on e5. R X c6 23 Rd8 mate.
But after checking the variations once
17 Qb3
again, Black nevertheless followed the second
'ruinous' path.

18 . . . a x b5!
19 B X b5 + Bc6
20 Qf3 Nb3 + ! !

17 . . b4! ?

Perhaps it would have been more prudent

to choose the less risky 17 . . . Rc8, but I felt
an inclination to go in for complications.
Especially since at the board I had found
a totally unexpected move, which would set
White incredibly difficult problems. No, of
This fine intermediate move into a triple
attack was planned by Black when he made
his 1 7th move . It came as a complete sur-

62
 No. 27 Griinfeld-Polugayevsky, 1 979

prise to Griinfeld, who, in spite of prolonged
thought, promptly committed the decisive
mistake .
21 Kbl ?
This loses and . . . leaves behind the scenes
a mass of interesting variations, which I had
been considering for roughly an hour.
It stands to reason that neither 21 Q X b3 ?
B X b5, nor 2 1 c x b3 B X b5 + is playable.
Therefore, by the method of elimination,
White was bound to choose 21 a x b3 !,
when my calculation continued 21 . . . Ra l +
22 Kd2 Qd7 + 23 Ke3 ! (not 23 Ke2 B X b5 + )
2 3 . . . Bc5 + 24 Kf4 g5 + 2 5 Kg3 ! R X d l !
(if 25 . . g X h4 + ?, then 26 Kh3! R X dl
.
27 B X c6! R X el 28 B X d7+ , and White
has the advantage wherever the king moves :
28 . . . KX d7 29 Qb7+ and 30 Qb8+ , or
28 . . . Ke7 29 Qf6 + , or 28 . . . Kf8 29 Qf6
Rh7 30 B X e6), and since after 26 R x d l ? !
gXh4 + 27 Kh3 B X f3 28 R X d7 Be2 !
29 Rb7 + B X b5 30 Rb8 + Ke7 3 1 R x h8
Bd4 things are bad for White, he has to
choose between capturing on c6 with queen
or bishop :
(a) 26 Q X c6 Rd3 + ! 27 c x d3 g X h4 +
28 K x h4 Q x c6 29 B X c6 + Ke7, and White
is two pawns up, but his pawn formation
is irreparably spoiled, and the opposite
coloured bishops guarantee Black a draw.
(b) 26 B X c6 R X e l 27 B X d7 + Kf8
(with the threat of 28 . . . Re3) 28 Qf6 Re3 +
29 Kg4 (29 Kf2 ? loses to 29 . . . R X e5+
30 Kg3 Re3 + 31 Kf2 Re4+ 32 Kg3 Bd6 +
h5, and Black wins. For Black in turn, after
32 Qd8 + Kg7 33 Qf6 + Kg8 34 Qd8 the
attempt by 34 . . . Bf8 to avoid perpetual
check is risky.
Thus the complications provoked by Black,
with 'correct play', could have led only to
a draw. But what a mockery was made of
this term many years ago by Mikhail Chi
gorin ! The resulting position was full of
life - and for this reason alone it had every
right to exist. I need hardly remind the reader
how difficult it was at the board to calculate
all these - and many other - variations,
and correctly weigh up the chances of the
two sides.
21 . . . Na5
Now Black keeps his extra piece, although
the battle is not yet over.
22 Rd4!
The best chance, threatening both Rc4;
and the doubling of rooks on the d-file.
22 Rc8!
23 Redl! gS!
Both sides are accurate in exploiting their
chances, simply Black has more of them . . .
24 B x c6 +
After 24 Rd7 Q X d7 2 5 R X d7 Black wins
both by 25 . . . K X d7 26 Q x f7 + Be7 27
B X c6 + N x c6, with the threats of 28 . .

33 Kh3 R X h4 mate) 29 . . . Re4 + 30 Kh3 g X h4 and 28 . . . Rf8, and by 25 . . . B X f3

R X h4 + 3 1 Kg3 Rh7, and both players 26 Rc7 + Bc6 2 7 R X c8 + Kd7 2 8 Ra8
must be satisfied with a draw. It is dangerous B x b5.
for White to continue, e.g. 32. B X e6, in
view of 32 . . . Rf4 33 Qd8 + Kg7 34 Bg4 24 . Q x c6
(the only way of parrying simultaneously the 25 Qd3 Be7
two threats of 34 . . . /X e6 and 34 . . . Bf2 + 26 Bel 0-0
35 Kh3 Rh4 mate) 34 . . . Rh8 ! 35 Qd7 27 B x b4 B X b4
(d5, d3, d2, d l , c7, a5) 35 . . . Bf2 + 36 Kh3 28 R X b4 Nc4

63
 From defence to attack

decisive was 38 . . . Rc7 and 39 . . . Rcd7,

when the rooks invade.

39 c5!

Now d6 is inaccessible to the rook, and the

knight is attacked . . .

39 Nd5
40 Rc4 Nf4
41 Qb2 Rd1 +

41 . . . Q x b2 + 42 K x b2 Nd3 + and
Here we can take stock, and it is depressing 43 . . . Ne5 would have won easily, but I was
for White. In the middlegame his passed vexed, and wanted without fail to conclude
pawns will not go far. the game with an attack on the king.

29 b3 42 Ka2 Qf8
43 Rfc3 Qd8
A trap in Black's time trouble . If now 44 Rc2 Nd3
29 . . . Na3 + 30 Kb2 N x c2 (30 . . . Q X c2 + 45 Qc3 Qd5
31 KX a3), then 3 1 Rc4. However, i t is 46 Ka3 Ne5
unlikely that White could have kept his
The black pieces have achieved maximum
e-pawn.
activity, and there is no longer any defence
29 . . N x e5 against the numerous threats.
30 Qe2 Qc3
47 Rb4 Rd3
31 Re4 Nc6
48 Rb8 + Kg7
In time trouble I overlooked the elegant 49 Qb4 Rd1
31 . . . Rfd8 ! , which after 32 R X d8 + 50 Ka2 Ra6!
R X d8 33 R X e5 Rd2 34 Rc5 ! Qd4 ! wins
Threatening 51 Rd4 and 52 . .

immediately by the threat of 35 . . . Rc l + Rd X a4 + .

and if 35 c3 Qg 1 + .
51 Rb6
32 Rd3 Qa5
5 1 c6, opening the way for the white queen
33 Rb3 Nb4
to f8, would not have achieved anything,
34 c4 Rfd8
since the black king would have hidden from
35 a4
the checks at h5 or h4, while White's would
Forced, in view of the threat of 35 have remained undefended. The game could
Rd 1 + . have been prolonged slightly by 5 1 a5, but
even then Black wins by 5 1 . . . Nc6 52
35 ... Qf5
Qc3 + e5 53 Rb5 Nd4 54 Rb6 R X b6 55
36 Rf3 Qg6
c x b6 N x c2.
37 Kb2 Qg7 +
38 Kb1 Rc6 ? ! 51 Rd4!
52 Q X d4 Q X d4
With his flag about t o fall, Black carries 53 R x a6 Qd3
out inexactly a correct plan. Immediately Wbite resigns

64
 No. 28 Polugayevsky-Braga, 1 982

No. 28 Catalan Opening a win, it is not difficult to appreciate my state

of mind at this point. I had to summon up
Polugayevsky-Braga literally all my strength, in order to find a plan
that was even slightly acceptable.
Mar del Plata, 1982
11 Qa2!

1 c4 e6 After the natural 1 1 Qd3 b4 12 Nd 1 Be4

2 g3 Nf6 Black has straightforward play with an
3 Bg2 d5 advantage. The point of the move played
4 d4 Be7 is to remove the queen from the firing line.
5 Nf3 0-0
11 b4
6 0-0 d x c4
. .

7 Qc2 a6 The developing 1 1 . . . Nbd7 is also good.

8 a4 Bd7
12 Nd1 Bd5
9 Q x c4 Bc6
13 b3
This position has occurred dozens of times The queen is out of danger, but the ini
in practice, including my games. Moreover, tiative-alas-is on the side of the opponent.
I prefer playing it with White, and have con
tinued here either 10 Bg5 or 10 Bf4. And 13 . . . c5
suddenly I mechanically picked up the wrong 14 d X c5
piece ! . . . Necessary, since 14 Ne3 can be met by
14 . . . c X d4 1 5 N X d5 N X d5 1 6 N X d4
Nc3 1 7 Qd2 Ra7, or even 1 7 . . . Q X d4.

14 . Ne4

Played with the striving typical of youth

10 Nc3 ?
The saddest thing is that I not only knew
all the consequences of this incorrect move,
but had even pointed out them out myself
in the notes to one of my games . . .
10 . . b5!
Black's position immediately becomes pre
ferable. And if account is taken of the fact
that my tournament position demanded only
- and the Argentinian master F. Braga is
still young - to try and 'finish off' the oppo
nent immediately. More solid and sensible
looks 14 . . . Ndb7 followed by . . . N X c5,
maintaining the pressure. After the text move
White succeeds m finding some counter
play.
15 Ne3 Nc3
16 Qd2 Be4
It transpires that on 16 . . . B X b3 White
would not have played 1 7 Nd4 in view of
1 7 . . . Bd5 or 1 7 . . . Q X d4, but 1 7 Bb2 !,
when the position is roughly equal. For ex
ample, 1 7 . . . Bf6 (or 17 . . . Q X d2 18
NX d2 NX e2+ 19 Kh1 Bd5 20 NX d5
e X d5 21 B X d5) 1 8 Ng4 ! Q X d2 1 9 N X f6 +
g X f6 20 N X d2 N X e2 + 2 1 Kh1 Bd5 22

65
 From defence to attack

B X dS e x dS 23 B X f6. Of course, a draw 23 Na5

did not suit me, but then in a superior 24 Qe4 Rad8
position my opponent was not thinking of
one either. Not 24 . . . N X b3 ? 25 Rab l .

17 Re1 B x c5 25 Nc2 Bc5 ?

Over-hasty. Black could still have retained For the second time the black bishop goes
some advantage by 17 . . . Nd7 1 8 Bb2 to c5, and for the second time it is a mistake.
N x cs 19 B X c3 b x c3 20 Q x c3 Rc8, when After the correct 25 . . . Bc3 26 R X d8
he has more than sufficient compensation for R X d8 27 Rb l Black would still have had
the pawn. chances of fighting for a draw.

18 Bb2 Nc6 But now White begins a counter-attack

by combinational means .

19 B X c3! b X c3
20 Q X c3 Bb4 26 b4! B X f2 +
21 Qc4! B X f3 27 Kg2 Nb3
28 a5!
Had Black accepted the exchange sacrifice
by 2 1 . . . B X e 1 , he would have lost material The point of the manoeuvre begun by
after 22 Q x e4 Bc3 23 Rc 1 , to say nothing White : the black queen loses control of d8,
about White's splendid attacking prospects and the weakness of the back rank soon
on the K-side. becomes a decisive factor.

22 Red1! Qb6 28 Qa7

29 R X d8 R X d8
After 22 . . . Bd5 23 N x d5 e x d5 24 B X d5
30 Rb1 Nd2
Black loses at least two pawns.
31 Rd1
23 B X f3
The threat of 32 Qb7 renders Black's
Thus White has a minimal material advan position lost. The finish was :
tage, but for the moment the extra pawn
does not play any particular role, while the 31 Bg1
presence of opposite-coloured bishops is 32 e3 Qe7
a drawing factor. 33 Qc6

66
 No. 28 Polugayevsky-Braga, 1 982

Stronger than 33 R X d2 R X d2 + 34 K X gl . 34 . . . Q X f3 is met by 35 R X d2, and

34 . . . N X f3 + by 35 Q x f3.
33 . . . Qf6

Or 33 . . . Rd6 34 Qc3 Qd8 35 Be2 and , 35 Bg2 Nb3

Black loses a piece. 36 R X d8 + Q x d8
37 Qa8 Resigns
34 K X gl h5

67
 The Touchstone of Mastery
These games I have assigned to the category
of positional strategy. In contrast to the ex
amples where there was a swift attack on the
enemy king or a plan of defence in depth,
here I used positional means to solve concrete
problems. Problems, such as the exploitation
of some weakness, the activity of the pieces
or a spatial advantage, the creation of a fa
vourable pawn formation, the transforming of
one type of advantage into another, and so on.
In practice I have made use of many dif
ferent strategic ideas, such as the creation
of open lines on the Q-side for counter-play,
or the exploitation of a bad enemy piece (for
example, the bishop at g7 in the Siimisch
Variation of the King's Indian Defence).
Or the strategic device of transposing from
the opening into a favourable endgame,
especially if it should lead to my favourite
ending with the advantage of the two bishops.
A large place in my practice has been
occupied by the strategic problems of posi
tions with an isolated pawn. I have played
both against it, setting up a blockade and
aiming for the endgame, and 'for it', exploit
ing the spatial advantage to take the initiative
on the K-side. And in all these cases I have
learned from the games of the chess greats,
whom I have always considered great autho
rities in the field of positional strategy. Their
games are notable for the steadfast carrying
out of a plan, and their play never gives the
impression of being 'jerky'.
If I should succeed in carrying out a com
plete strategic plan, I gain more satisfaction
68
from this even than from some spectacular
combination. And although I am regarded
as a 'concrete' player, which is in principle
true, I frankly do not care for play where, for
example, the king's rook is first placed at
d l , and is then moved back to el. Nowadays,
it is true, such play is considered flexible and
spontaneous, a variation in semi-tones. Per
haps it is sometimes alright, for there are
numerous players who successfully employ
such methods. But what can I do : to me
personally, such a style, such a 'method of
trial and error', does not appeal. A com
plete, logical plan of positional strategy has
always laid and will lie at the basis of chess.
This is the touchstone on which chess mastery
is both whetted and tested.
No. 29 Sicilian Defence
Boleslavsky-Polugayevsky
23rd USSR Championship
Leningrad, 1956
l e4 c5
Nf3
2 Nc6
3 d4 c X d4
4 N X d4 Nf6
5 Nc3 d6
6 g3
Boleslavsky had played this against me
in the Semifinal of the previous USSR
Championship (Gorky, 1 954), the game con-
 No . 29 B oleslavsky-Polugayevsky, 1 956

tinuing 6 . . . Bg4 7 f3 Bd7 8 Be3 e5 9 Nde2 14 N X d5

Be6 10 Nd5 B X d5 1 1 e x d5 Qa5 + 12 Nc3 15 e X d5
Nb8 1 3 Bg2 Be7 14 0-0 0-0 1 5 f4, with
slightly the better game for White . On this On 1 5 N x d5 there could have followed

occasion the encounter develops along differ 15 . . . e6 1 6 Ne3 Qe7 and then 17 . . . Rfd8.

ent lines.
15 . Qb6
6 g6 16 c3 Rfe8
7 Nde2 Bg7 17 Re1 Qa6
8 Bg2 0-0
9 0-0 Bd7 Black takes control of the important a6-fl

10 h3 ReS diagonal, frees the path of the b-pawn, and,

11 Nd5 finally, prevents the development of the white

queen at b3 in view of . . . Ba4.
This move is a part of the system chosen by
White . In the event of the exchange on d5, 18 a4 Qa5 !
he will aim after e X d5 for the set-up b2-b3
White had apparently not considered this
and c2--c4, with Q-side pressure . In the present
move . Now there is no good defence against
game Black manages to prevent this .
19 . . . b5.
11 . . . Ne5
12 Nd4 19 Ne2 b5
20 b4 Qc7
Of course, not 12 b3 N X d5 1 3 e X d5 Nf3 + . 21 aS

2 1 a x b5 was bad because of 2 1 . . . B X b5

22 Nd4 Q X c3.

21 . Bf5
22 Be3 Nd3

On 22 . . . Nc4 there would have followed

23 Bd4.

23 Rfl Nb2
24 Qb3

Bad was 24 Qc 1 Na4, winning a pawn.

12 . Nc6!
24 Nc4
This forces White to return his knight to
e2, since 1 3 . . . N x d5 and 14 . . . N x d4 Now White cannot play 25 Bd4 due to
is threatened. 25 . . . Nd2.
13 Ne2 Ne5
25 Bf4 Qd7
14 Nef4

With White, Boleslavsky naturally avoids (see diagram next column)

the repetition of moves, but after this Black
is the first to seize the initiative. 26 Kh2

69
 The touchstone of mastery

With the time scramble over, Black sealed

his next move. In spite of his inaccurate play,
he has retained an advantage sufficient to win.

41 Rc4
42 Qd2 Rc2
43 Qb4 Qc4
44 Qd6

If 44 Q X c4, then 44 . . . b X c4 followed

by 45 . . . Rc8, when the advance of the
c-pawn is irresistible .
Or 26 g4 Bd3 27 Rfe l Ne5 28 Bg3 B X e2
29 R X e2 Nf3 + 30 B X f3 R X c3 and then
31 . . . R X f3, when Black wins a pawn.

26 . . Bd3
27 Rfel Ne5
28 Nd4

28 B X e5 was more tenacious.

28 . . . Bc4
29 Qdl

If 29 Qb l , then 29 . . . Nd3 30 Re3 N X f4

3 1 g X f4 e5 32 d X e6 fx e6 with a won posi 44 Qa2!
tion for Black.
This decisively strengthens Black's position.
29 Nd3 The main threat is of course 45 . . . R X f2;
30 Re3 B X d4 after which the white king is in a mating net.
31 c x d4 N X b4
32 Qd2 N x d5 45 Rfl Q X a5
33 B X d5 B X d5 46 b4 Qd8
47 Rat Q X d6
Thus Black has won two pawns, and it is 48 B X d6 Rd8
only the presence of opposite-coloured bish 49 Bb4
ops that slightly complicates the win.
On 49 Bc5 Black was intending 49 . . . Rb8 !
34 Rael Rc7
50 R X a7 b4 5 1 Bd6 Rb5 52 Rd7 Rc8 .
34 . . . Rc4 was stronger.
49 Rc4
35 g4 Qc8 so Bc5 b4
36 Kg3 Rc2 51 B x a7 Ra8
37 Qb4 Qb7 52 Ra5 Rc6
38 B X d6 e6 53 Rel b3
39 Bc5 Qc7 54 Ra3 b2
40 Bd6 Qc6 55 Rbl Rc7
41 Be5 White resigns

70
 No. 30 Polugayevsky-Spassky, 1 959

No. 30 Nimzo-Indian Defence Two rounds later Taimanov played 7

Ne4 against me, and after 8 Bd2 Nc6 9 N x e4
Polugayevsky-Spassky d X e4 1 0 B X b4 N X b4 was clearly not averse
to repeating the game Saidy-Padevsky (Var
26th USSR Championship na, 1 958), where there followed 1 1 Qa4 +
Tbilisi, 1959 Nc6, with a complicated game . But I employ
ed an innovation - 1 1 Nc3 !, and after 1 1 . . .
1 d4 Nf6 Q X d4 1 2 Q X d4 Nc2 + 1 3 Kd2 N X d4 14
2 c4 e6 N X e4 I retained an enduring advantage in
3 Nc3 Bb4 the ending, and won.
4 e3 c5
5 Nge2 8 a3 Ba5

It is difficult to say which is better, the

White avoids the well-studied variations
retreat to a5 or the exchange on c3. Spassky
resulting from 5 Nf3 and 6 Bd3, in favour of a
decides to retain his black-squared bishop for
less analyzed continuation.
his planned counter . . . e5.
5 ... c x d4
6 e x d4 d5 9 b4 Bc7
7 c5 10 g3

It is with this move that White's hopes In this way White reduces somewhat the
are associated. He creates a pawn majority activity of the bishop at c7. In addition, he
on the Q-side, while in return, of course, prepares the development of his bishop at
allowing his opponent active possibilities in g2, which after e5 will be very active.
the centre.
10 e5
11 Bg2 Bg4

Probably the strongest continuation. In the

event of 1 1 . . . e x d4 12 Nb5 White's advan
tage is undisputed.

12 f3

Practically forced. After 12 h3 Bf5 13 g4

Bg6 the black pieces are very actively placed.

12 . . . Bf5
7 ... Nc6 13 0-0 0-0
In the well-known game Averbakh-Panno 14 Nb5
(Portoroz, 1958) Black played differently :
Probably not the best. To be considered
7 . . . Ne4 8 Bd2 N X d2 9 Q X d2 b6 10 a3
was 14 Bg5 h6 15 B X f6 g X f6 1 6 f4 !, with
B X c3 1 1 N x c3 b X c5 12 Bb5 + Bd7 1 3 d x c5
an advantage.
a5, with good counter-play. But White is not
obliged to check with his bishop at b5, and 14 . Bb8
can play 12 d x c5 immediately. 15 d X e5 N x e5

71
 The touchstone of mastery

Considerably stronger than the capture 27 N x c7 Q x c7

with the bishop, on which there follows 16 28 R x n Qe5
Nbd4. 29 Rd1

16 Ned4 Here we can sum up. White obviously

has a marked advantage, since the d5 pawn
This too is probably not the best. 16 Bf4 is attacked, and he has the d4 square at his
is more logical, aiming for the exchange of disposal, while the white b- and c-pawns are
black-squared bishops. threatening to advance. Black could have
defended his pawn by 29 . . . Rd8, to which
16 Bd3
White was intending to reply 30 Qd4, retain
17 Re1 Bc4
ing a positional advantage.
18 Nc3 a5
19 Rb1 a x b4 29 . . . Kf8
20 a x b4 Nd3 30 Qd4 Qf5
31 N x ds

Too hasty. Black has achieved satisfactory

counter-play, and should have completed his The start of a little combination, based on
development by 20 . . . Re8. Now White gains the following continuation : 3 1 . . . Rd8 32
a clear advantage . c6 !, when the following lines are possible :
(a) 32 . . . b x c6 33 Qc5 + Kg8 34 Ne7 + .
21 Re3 N x c1 (b) 32 . . . b6 (it was this move that Spassky
22 R X cl Qd7 had considered possible in his preliminary
23 Qd2 Bc7 calculations) 33 Q x b6 R X d5 34 Qb8 + Ne8
24 Bfl! 35 Re i .
(c) 32 . . . R X d5 33 c X b7 R X d4 34 b 8 =
Eliminating a well-placed black piece,
Q + Ne8 35 R X d4 Qb l + 3 6 Kf2 Qb2 +
after which the weakness of the d5 pawn
37 Ke3, and the white king hides from the
becomes apparent.
checks.
24 . Rfe8 All the continuations given are clearly in
25 R X e8 + R x e8 White's favour, but Black has a stronger
26 Ndb5! Bxn reply : 32 . . . Q x d5 ! 33 Q x d5 N X d5 34
c x b7 Rb8 35 R x d5 R X b7, when analysis
O n 2 6 . . . Be5 there could have followed shows that Black has better chances of draw
27 B x c4 d X c4 28 Q X d7 N x d7 29 Ne4. ing than White has of winning. E .g. 36 b5

72
 No. 3 1 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 966

Ke7 37 Kf2 Ke6 38 Rc5 Kd6 39 Rh5 g6 40 37 Kg7

R X h7 Ke6 with a draw, or 36 Rd4 Ra 7 ! , 38 c6
with the threat of posting the rook behind the
passed b-pawn. Once again threatening 39 Qd4 + .
Thus it can be concluded that Black was 38 . Kb6
correct in allowing White to capture on d5, 39 Qc5
but that he should definitely have replied
3 1 . . . Rd8. White, on the other hand, was Now the exchange of queens by 40 Qcl +
wrong to be tempted by the combinational is threatened .
possibility 3 1 N x d5, and by continuing 3 1
39 g5
Kg2, followed by 32 Rd2 and 33 b5, he could

40 c7 Re2
have maintained a considerable positional
41 Qf8 + Resigns
advantage.
But Spassky took me 'at my word' Mter 41 . . . Kg6 White wins by 42 Rd6 +
31 . . N x d5 ? f6 43 R X f6 + .

This move is the decisive mistake .

32 Q X d5 Qc2 No. 3 1 English Opening

Here the exchange of queens-32 . . . Q X Po1ugayevsky-Korcbooi
d 5 and now 3 3 . . . Re 1 + 34 Kf2 Rb 1-does
not give Black any serious chances of saving Sochi, 1966
the game : the white king heads for b5, and
this is decisive. Spassky hopes after 32 . . . 1 c4 e6
Qc2 to invade on the 2nd rank with his rook . 2 Nc3 Nf6
3 Nf3
33 Qd6 + ! Kg8
34 Qd3
By this move order White avoids the
Nimzo-Indian Defence .
Without the preliminary check at d6, this
move would have been impossible, in view of 3 Bb4
the familiar combination . . . Re 1 + and on 4 Qb3
R X e 1- . . . Q X d3. But now in this case
Black would be mated by the rook at e8. A promising continuation, in my opinion,
although in practice 4 a3 B X c3 5 b X c3 is
34 Qb2 more common.
35 Qe4!
4 c5
Winning a second pawn.
5 a3 Ba5
35 Kf8 6 g3 Nc6
36 Q X b7 g6 7 Bg2 d5
37 Qb6 8 0-0 B X c3

The only defence, but an adequate one, Black is right to part with his bishop, which
against the threat of 37 . . . Re2, on which has little in the way of prospects. 8 . . . d4
there now follows 38 Qd8 + Kg7 39 Qd4 + . is weaker due to 9 Na4.

73
 The touchstone of mastery

9 Q X c3 d4 Unattractive is 17 . . . fXe5 18 g X h5,

10 Qc2 a5 when White acquires excellent chances on
11 d3 0-0 the g-file, a factor which is strengthened by
the post for his bishop at e4.
An inaccuracy. The logical l l . . . e5 would
have enabled Black to complete his develop 18 Bg3 a4
ment unhindered, and to begin active play 19 e x d4 c x d4
in the centre. But now White temporarily 20 f4
stops this advance.
It is now clear that the plan begun by Black
12 Bf4 on his 14th move has suffered a fiasco.
White's long-range bishops plus the half-open
Not only preventing 12 . . . e5, but also
central file are decisive trumps in this posi
preparing the exchange of knights, after
tion. On top of everything else, it is not easy
which the important Q-side break b2-b4 is
for Black to solve the problem of unfreezing
facilitated.
his Q-side. White's following manoeuvre
12 Qe7 emphasizes even more his positional advan
13 NeS N x es tage.
14 B x eS
20 QcS
21 Bel! Rd8
22 Bb4 Q c7
23 Qf2 Rb8
24 Qh4 Qf7

Forced. 24 . . . f5 is bad in view of 25 Be7

ReS 26 Bf6, with the threat of 27 Be5.

25 Rael b6

14 NhS

Korchnoi begins a seemingly very tempting

operation aimed at surrounding White's
bishop, but this 'sideways' move is not in the
spirit of the position. White is excellently
developed, and it is not surprising that he
finds an adequate antidote.

15 e3 f6
26 fS
16 Qe2
This breakthrough is the natural conse
An important zwischenzug, forcing Black
quence of the co-ordination of all the white
to weaken still further his K-side.
pieces. Black now loses after 26 . . . e x f5
16 g6 27 Re7, or 26 . . . g X f5 27 g X f5 e x f5
17 g4 Ng7 (27 . . NX/5 28 R X/51 e X/5 29 Qg3+ ,
.

74
 No. 32 Polugayevsky-Gheorghiu, 1968

or 27 . . . e5 28 R X e5) 28 Be7 ReS (28 . . . 9 0-0

Rd7 29 Qg3) 29 Bd6. 10 0-0 Nf6

26 . g5 10 . . . B X c3 1 1 b x c3 Na5 should have

27 fX e6 N x e6 been considered, when I was intending to
28 Q h6 Nf4 continue 12 Bb3 N X b3 13 a X b3 and 14 c4
29 R X f4 with advantage. Even so, this was the lesser
This decides the game. Loss of material is evil for Black.
inevitable for Black. 11 a3 Be7
29 g X f4
. .
The bishop's journey has cost Black dearly.
30 Q X f4 B X g4
In comparison with similar variations of the
No better is 30 . . . Be6, when White wins Queen's Gambit Accepted, he has lost two
either by the spectacular 3 1 R x e6, or by the tempi, and this renders his position difficult.
prosaic 3 1 Bd6. 12 Rd1 Bd7
31 Bd5 Resigns The bishop has to be developed at d7,
since 12 . . . b6 13 d5 ! allows White an over
whelming advantage.
No. 32 Queen's Gambit
13 Ba2 Rc8

Polugayevsky-Gheorghiu

Skopje, 1968

1 c4 Nf6
2 Nc3 e6
3 Nf3 d5
4 d4 c5
5 c x d5 N X d5
6 e3 Nc6
7 Bc4 c x d4

I consider that 7 . . . N X c3 is more in the 14 Bg5

spirit of the position. Routine is a dangerous enemy. In the given
8 e X d4 Bb4 situation the standard development of the
bishop is by no means the best, and White
And this activity is unjustified. 8 . . . Be? essentially loses the greater part of his advan
is more natural. tage. As will be seen later, I committed an
9 Qd3
oversight. Meanwhile, by playing 14 Bb1 ,
White would have set his opponent difficult
9 Qc2 was tempting, setting in passing the problems, e.g. 14 . . . g6 (there appears to be
trap 9 . . . N X c3 10 b X c3 N X d4 ? 1 1 N X d4 no other defence against 15 d5) 15 Bh6 Re8
Q x d4 12 Qa4 + , but White rejected it be 16 Ne5 Bf8 17 Bg5, or, also pretty strong,
cause of the simple 9 . . . Nb6. 15 Ba2, preparing 16 Bf4.

6 75
 The touchstone of mastery

14 . . Nd5 22 d5 with 22 . . . Qf6 23 d X c6 B X c6, with

15 Bb1 chances of a successful defence .

1 5 Ne4 was to be considered . 21 Qa5

15 . . . g6 21 . . . Qe7 is more circumspect. Black

16 Bh6 N x c3 had apparently reckoned only with 22 c4,
on which he was intending 22 . . . e5.
I overlooked this intermediate exchange,
22 Nd2 e5 ?
and reckoned only with 16 . . . ReS, when
1 7 Ne4 would have given White excellent Black's position has improved, but he again
chances. makes a mistake which this time is irrepar
ReS able . The emotional Rumanian grandmaster
17 b X c3
1S Ba2 Bf6
does not enjoy a painstaking defence. The
variation 22 . . . Qf5 23 Ne4 RedS 24 Qe3
followed by 25 c4 did not appeal to him,
and he tries at any price to escape from the
positional squeeze. With his last move Black
was hoping to lure his opponent into a net,
but as a result he himself became entangled.
He should have continued coolly 22 . . .
RedS 23 Ne4 BcS, preparing for the advance
of the enemy pawns in the centre.

23 Nc4 Qc7
24 d X e5

19 Ne5! Only not 24 N x e5 N X e5 25 d X e5 Bf5,

when Black has everything in order. But now
Only this combinational blow allows White
24 . . . N X e5 fails to 25 Qd4 ! This reply was
to sustain his fading initiative. Now both
overlooked in his preliminary calculations
19 . . . B X e5 20 d X e5 N X e5 21 Qd4, and
by Black, who had reckoned only with 25
19 . . . N x e5 20 d X e5 B X e5 21 Q x d7
N X e5 R X e5 ! 26 Q X d7 ? Rei + . As a result,
Qh4 22 f4 B X c3 23 Bg5 are unattractive for
Black's position is lost.
Black.
24 ... Bg4
19 . . . Bg7
25 Re1 RedS
20 B x g7 K X g7
26 Qg3 Be6
21 Nf3
27 Nd6 Re7
I had initially pinned my hopes on the 28 B x e6 f X e6
sacrifice 21 N X f7, but at the last moment I 29 Rabl!
had to reject it with a heavy heart. The main
This deprives Black of any chances m
variation is highly convincing : 21 . . . K X f7
volved with playing his queen to a5.
22 d5 e X d5 23 Q X d5 + Be6 24 Qf3 + Qf6
25 Rd7 + Re7 26 B x e6 + K x e6 27 Rd6 + , 29 b6
or 22 . . . Ne5 23 d X e6 + B x e6 24 B x e6 + 30 Rbd1 Red7
K X e6 25 Qh3 + . But, alas, Black can answer 31 Rd3 Ne7

76
 No. 33 Polugayevsky-Gligoric, 1 969

This accelerates Black's defeat, which, it is
true, was by now inevitable, since White was
threatening both the advance of his h-pawn,
and the doubling of rooks on the d-file .
32 Qg5 Rf8
Covering f6 by 32 . . . Ng8 also loses after
33 Red 1 , with the same threat as is carried out
in the game .
The main continuation in this positiOn.
In the event of 6 . . . d6 Black has to reckon
with 7 Bf4 e5 8 Bg5 a6 9 Na3, when the result
ing formation (which after a possible sub
sequent e2-e4 is similar to the Chelyabinsk
Variation of the Sicilian Defence) is, in my
opinion, favourable for White .
If instead Black chooses 6 . . . d5, instead
of accepting the pawn sacrifice by 7 c X d5
N x d5 8 N X d5 e X d5 9 Q X d5 Bb4 + ! 1 0
Bd2 Be6 with a dangerous initiative for Black,
White can gain a clear advantage by 7 Bf4 !
e5 8 c X d5 e x f4 9 d x c6 b X c6 10 Q X d8 +
K X d8 1 1 0-0-0 + Bd7 12 Nd6, Bilek-Jansa,
Harrachov, 1 966.

7 Bf4

In a game with Kholmov, 33rd USSR

Championship, Tallinn, 1 965, I tried 7 Bg5,
but after 7 . . . 0-0 8 e3 a6 9 Nd6 Qa5 10
33 Ne8 + !
B X f6 g X f6 1 1 Qd2 Qe5 12 Rd 1 Rd8 13 Be2
Black resigned in v1ew of the vanat10n Kf8 14 0-0 Ke7 White's slight advantage
33 . . . R X e8 34 Qf6 + Kg8 35 Q X e6 + and was insufficient for a win.
36 R X d7. The text move is more energetic. An inter
esting fact is that I myself had to battle
against it five(!) times in my Candidates
No. 33 English Opening Semifinal Match with Korchnoi, Buenos
Aires, 1 980. Jumping ahead, I might point
Polugayevsky-Gligoric out that I was able to find a complete solution
to Black's defensive problems.
Belgrade, 1969
7 ... 0-0

1 c4 c5
2 Nf3 Nf6
3 Nc3 Nc6
4 d4 c X d4
5 N x d4 e6

Possibly the long-standing leader of Yugo

slav chess did not want to follow the game
Polugayevsky-Ivkov (No . 52), played a little
earlier in the same tournament, and he chooses
different set-up.

6 Ndb5 Bb4 8 Bd6

6* 77
 The touchstone of mastery

In the first and fifth games of the afore how he can neutralize the mounting pressure
mentioned match White continued 8 Bc7 on the d-file.
Qe7, and now 9 Bd6. In this way he gains a
12 c x b5 a x b5
tempo, but after 9 . . . B X d6 10 Q x d6 (10
13 Nd X b5 Ba6
NX d6 looks tempting, since Black does not
14 0-0 Rfb8
have the usual counter-play with . . Qb6;
.

nevertheless, 10 . . . Ne8 gets him out of his Of course, the king's rook would have also
difficulties, since 11 Ncb5 a6 12 NX e8 a X b5 been useful on the d-file, but after 14 . . .
13 Nc7 Ra4! 14 c x b5 Qb4+ 15 Qd2 Nd4 is Rab8 Black would have lost his control of the
unfavourable to White) 10 . . . Qd8 ! it trans a-file.
pires that the blockading position of the
15 a4
white queen is highly insecure, and in each
case Black gained sufficient counter-play : Of course, this weakens b4, but on the
(a) 1 1 g3 a6 12 Na3 Qb6 13 Rb l Qb4 1 4 other hand the protected knight at b5 para
Q x b4 N x b4 1 5 Bg2 d5 1 6 c x d5 e x d5 1 7 lyzes all Black's counter-play.
Rd l Be6 1 8 0-0 Rfd8 (1st game).
15 d5
(b) 1 1 0-0-0 (a sharper try) 1 1 . . . a6 12
16 Rcl
Nd4 Ne8 (12 . . . NX d4 13 R X d4 b5 also
looks satisfactory, trying to emphasize imme With the unpleasant threat of 1 7 N X d5 .
diately the vulnerable position of the white
16 Qb6
king) 1 3 N x c6 b x c6 14 Qd6 1 5 c5 d5 16 f4
17 Qd2 Rd8
Nf6 1 7 e4 a5 ! 1 8 g3 Ba6 (5th game).
18 Rfdl e5
Perhaps for this reason, in the later games
19 Qc2 Bb7
of the match White played as in the present
20 Bf3! d4
game.
8 ... B X d6 The centre could have been held by 20 . . .
9 N X d6 Qa5 Ne7, but then White's Q-side pawns would

This move is part of an apparently active. have advanced.

but incorrect plan. Black must battle for the 21 e X d4 e x d4

d6 square, and in accordance with this aim 22 Ne4 N X e4
are both 9 . . . Ne8 (as in the 7th and 9th 23 B x e4 Nb4
games of the aforementioned match), and 24 B X h7 + Kh8
9 . . Qb6 10 Qd2 Ne8, as in the 13th game.
.

After exchanging the white knight, Black

then advances . . . d6 with a satisfactory
position.

10 e3 a6
10 . . . Qb4 1 1 Qd2 Ne8 can be met by
12 Ncb5, when 12 . . . a6 is bad in view of
13 N X e8 a x b5 14 Nc7.

11 Be2 b5

By this pawn sacrifice Black tries to compli

cate matters. Otherwise it is not apparent 25 Qc7!

78
 No. 34 Polugayevsky-Browne, 1971

This reply, which was envisaged before No. 34 King's Indian Defence
hand by White, enables him to retain his
material advantage. Thanks to the bishop at Polugayevsky-Browne
b7 being undefended, the threat of . . . g6 is
neutralized. Mar del Plata, 1971

25 . Q X c7 l c4 Nf6
26 R X c7 Bc6 2 Nc3 g6
3 e4 d6
26 B X g2 27 K X g2 K X h7 fails to
4 d4 Bg7
28 Rc4 !
5 Be2 0-0
27 Bbl 6 Nf3

Simultaneously defending the 1 st rank, and I knew that Browne usually played the
preparing to exploit the weakness of the 8th King's Indian Defence with . . . c5 . Why did
rank. he play it in its 'pure' form ? Perhaps he was
expecting 6 Bg5 ? 'Just in case', for purely
27 . R X a4 psychological reasons, I chose the continua
28 Nd6! tion in the game.

28 R X d4 ? would have lost to 28 . . . Re8 ! , 6 e5

but now the game is essentially decided : 7 d5 Ndb7
.apart from a material advantage, White also
gains an attack. Since Browne had avoided 7 . . . a5, which
at that time was considered strongest, I
28 Kg8 sensed that he might be unfamiliar with the
29 N X f7 Rd5 subtleties of the variation in question.
30 h4
8 0-0 Nc5
White's king obtains an escape square, and
9 Qc2 a5
his knight-the g5 square.
10 Bg5 h6
30 d3 11 Be3 b6
31 Ng5 Be8
32 Rc4 Again avoiding the main line : 1 1 . . . Ng4
12 B x c5 d x c5 13 h3 Nf6 14 N x e5 N x d5
Simplifying and winning a third pawn. 15 c x d5 B x e5 16 f4 Bd4 + . Lack of knowl
edge ? It is difficult to say. But after the game
32 . . d2 Browne remarked that he would not play
33 b3 Rat this variation any more. A strategic struggle
34 R X b4 R X bl in a blocked position is not to his taste, his
35 R X bl dl= Q + preference being for a sharp tactical battle.
36 R X dl R X dl +
37 Kh2 g6 12 Nd2 Ne8
38 Rb7 Bc6
39 Rb6 Resigns (see diagram next column)

79
 The touchstone of mastery

White's plan is to place his knight at e3

and prepare either b3-b4 or g2-g4. Such
positions have often occurred, and were
successfully handled, for example, by Re
shevsky.

20 . . . Qe8
21 Ne3 Qg6
22 Bc3

White does not want his bishop at d4 to

be 'hanging', since he has the following queen
White's plan is clear : to begin an attack manoeuvre in mind .
on the Q-side with a2-a3 and b2-b4. Black's
22 Rg8
thoughts are directed towards the K -side,
23 Qe1!
and in this sense the move played is logical.

13 f3

White chances plan, exploiting a certain

feature of the position. 13 a3 did not appeal
to me because of 13 . . . f5, and if now 14 b4,
then 14 . . . Na6 with the threats of 15 . . . f4
and 1 5 . . . a x b4, while after 14 f3 f4 1 5 Bf2
a4 1 6 B X c5 b X c5 1 7 N X a4 g5 Black gains
some attacking chances for the pawn.

13 f5
Played not so much with defensive inten

14 e x f5 g X f5
tions, but rather in anticipation of an attack.
15 f4
In view of the weakness of the h5 square, the
Exploiting the fact that the black knight white queen at h4 will restrict the black
is at e8, and not d7, so that it cannot reach pieces.
e5. 23 . Bh8
e4 24 Qh4 Raf8
15 .

N X b3 25 h3
16 Nb3
With the idea after Kh2 and Rg1 of playing
Forced, since otherwise the white knight g2-g4. Black therefore exchanges queens, and
goes to d4. goes into an inferior ending.
17 a X b3 Bd7 25 . Qg3
18 Qd2 Nf6 26 Q X g3 R X g3
19 Bd4 Kh7 27 Kf2 Rgg8

Black vacates the g-file for his heavy pieces : Doubling rooks on the g-file would have
he has no other counter-play. left Black's Q-side completely undefended.

20 Nd1 28 b4 a x b4

80
 No. 34 Polugayevsky-Browne , 1971

It is impossible to prevent the opening of

the a-file : 28 . . . a4 can be met by 29 b5
Ra8 30 Bd 1 , if there is nothing better.

29 B X b4 Ra8

Black also had 29 ... Ne8, but after

30 Bc3 B X c3 31 b X c3 White invades down
the a-file with his rooks.

30 Bc3 h5

Black is forced to wait, and takes pro

phylactic measures (for example, against The point o f the combination. Now 37 . . .
g2-g4). Rf8 was essential, but in time trouble Black
falls into the trap.
31 g3 Kg6
32 Rgl 37 . . Kg5
38 Bd2
A quiet move, forcing Black in time trouble
to find the one continuation which will get With his small army White unexpectedly
him out of his immediate difficulties . But . . . mounts an assault on the black king. The
game can no longer be saved, although White
32 . . Kh6 ? has to avoid some 'false trails'.
Essential was 3 2 . . . Kf7 , and if 3 3 B X f6, 38 Ra2
then after 33 . . . B x f6 34 B X h5 + Ke7 39 N x g4 + K x f5
Black gains sufficient counter-play for the 40 Nh6 + Ke5
pawn. But how could he have taken such
a committing decision in a matter of mo Now nothing 1s achieved either by 41
ments ? . . . Nf7 + Kd4 42 Bc3 + K X c4 43 N X h8
N X d5, nor by 41 Ke3 (threatening two
33 R X a8 R x a8 mates !) 41 . . . N X d5 + 42 c x d5 K x d5 .
34 g4 Therefore :

White switches onto combinational lines, 41 Bc3 + Kf4

which quickly proves successful. 42 Ke2!
34 fX g4 Threatening both 43 Nf7, and 43 Rfl + .
35 h X g4 B x g4
42 . . Ra4
Mter 35 ... N X g4 + 36 B X g4 Black
This move was sealed by Black. The game
loses a piece due to the rook check on the
concluded :
h-file. 35 . . . h X g4 was interesting, but then
43 Rfl + Kg3 44 B X f6 B X f6 45 R X f6
comes 36 f5 with numerous threats.
R X c4 46 Nf5 + Kg4 47 Ne3 + Kg5 48 Rf7
36 B X g4 h X g4 (this is much more convincing than 48
N X c4 ? ! K x f6 49 Ke3 b5 and 50 . . . Ke5)
(see diagram next column) 48 Rb4 49 Ndl Rb5 50 R X c7 R x d5 51

Nc3 Rd4 52 Ke3 Rb4 53 Rg7 + Kf5 54 Rg2

37 f5 ! Ke5 55 Rd2 Rc4 56 Rd5 + Ke6 57 Rb5 Kd7

81
 The touchstone of mastery

58 R X b6 Kc7 59 Nd5 + Kd7 60 b3 Rc6 61 shown that Black does not gain complete
Rb7 + Ke6 62 Kd4 Rcl 63 Re7 + Kf5 64 equality. For example, 9 . . . Nc5 10 f3 Nh7
Ne3 + Kf4 65 R X e4 + Kf3 66 Re7 Rb1 67 1 1 h4 h5 12 0-0--0 f5 13 e x f5, and Black
Kc3 Re1 68 Nf5 Resigns. is obliged to continue the battle for e4 by
13 . . . g X f5, since 13 ... B x f5 15 g4
h x g4 1 5 fx g4 gave White a strong attack
No. 35 King' s Indian Defence in Portisch-Gligoric (Ljubljana/Portoroz,
1975).
Polugayevsky-Donner
9 . . Nc5
10 Qc2 b5
Amsterdam, 1970
Later it was established that 10 . . . c6 ! is
1 c4 Nf6 preferable, with counter-play after 1 1 h5
2 Nc3 g6 c x d5 12 c x d5 g5 ! (Farago-Uhlmann,
3 e4 d6 Leipzig, 1 975).
4 d4 Bg7
5 Be2 0-0 11 f3 c6
6 Bg5 12 b4 Na6

This simple system is not without venom. 12 . . . Nbd7 was better, since on the edge
In the same tournament I employed it several of the board the black knight is badly placed .
times, with invariable success.
13 a3 c x d5
6 . . b6 14 c x d5 Bd7
15 Nh3
The alternative is 6 . . . c5 7 d5 e6, opening
the centre and aiming for counter-play on the Objectively speaking, there were more
e-file . grounds for 1 5 Bd3 and Nge2.
7 Be3 e5
15 . Qb8
8 d5 Nbd7
Illogical. Black shuts his main piece out
of the game . He should have commenced
action o n the K-side : 15 . . . Ne8 or 15 . . .
Nh 7, preparing 16 . . . f5 .

16 Nf2 b5
17 Nd3 Nc7
18 0-0 Qb7

This merely helps White, whose knight now

heads with great effect for a5.

19 Net Rac8
9 h4
20 Qd2 Na8
A double-edged move. The quiet 9 Qd2 21 Nb3 Nb6
was possible, when subsequent practice has 22 Na5 Qb8

82
 No. 35 Polugayevsky-Donner, 1970

As a result of the manoeuvring struggle B x c6 34 d X c6 R x c6 35 Nd5, when the

White has gained a positional advantage. white pieces come very strongly into play.
Black's pieces are cramped, and are forced For example, 35 . . . Qb7 36 R X c6 R x c6
to defend his weaknesses on the Q-side. 37 R X c6 Q X c6 38 Qa2, with numerous
threats.
23 Rfcl Rc7
24 Rc2 Rfc8 33 Qb7
25 Racl a6 34 Na5 Qb8
26 Bfl! 35 Nc6 Qb7

This move has a double aim. Firstly, Again gaining time for thought and . . .

White intends to cramp Black still more by 36 Na7!

27 Qf2, and in addition the white bishop has
is sights set on h3. In the event of the ex In this unusual way White seizes control
change of bishops, the knight will obtain an of the c-file.
excellent post at c6. 36 . Re8
Ne8 37 Nd1 R X c2
26 ...
Na8 38 R x c2 Be7
27 Qf2
Nb6 39 Nc6 Bf6
28 Qd2
29 Qf2 Na8 Better nevertheless was 39 . . . Bd8, al
though after 40 N x d8 R X d8 41 Bfl White's
Having repeated the position with the aim
advantage is undisputed.
of avoiding time trouble, White goes into
action. 40 Na5 Qb8
41 Ba7 Qd8
30 g3! Bf8
42 Nc6
31 Kh2 Ng7
32 Bh3 f5 This time the knight's invasion at c6 forces
33 Nc6! Black to exchange it, and the resulting passed
pawn decides the game.
(see diagram next column)
42 . B x c6
43 d X c6 f4
Having weakened Black's position on the
K-side, White chooses a favourable moment All the same Black cannot prevent the
to invade with his knight. Bad now is 33 . . . white knight from going to d5.

83
 The touchstone of mastery

44 Nc3 Kh7 7 . . d6
45 Nd5 fX g3 + 8 e4
46 Q X g3 B X h4
8 e3 seems more flexible, with the possi
47 Qg2 Bg5
bility of Bd3-e4.

On 47 . . . Ne6 White wins most easily by 8 ... Nd7

48 B X e6 R X e6 49 Qh3 . 9 d5

48 c7 N x c7 White should not have determined the

49 R X c7 Resigns pawn formation in the centre so prematurely.
In trying to restrict one enemy bishop,
he opens a diagonal for the other. To be
considered was 9 Be2 or 9 Nb5.
No. 36 Queen' s Indian Defence
Nezhmetdinov-Polugayevsky

Kislovodsk, 1972

1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 b6
4 Nc3 Bb7
5 Bg5 h6
6 B X f6 Q X f6
7 a3
9 g5!
After 7 e3 Black obtained a comfortable 10 Be2 Bg7
game in Vaisman-Gheorghiu (Bucharest, 11 0-0 0-0
1967) : 7 . . . Bb4 8 Be2 B X c3 + 9 b X c3 12 Rc1 Ne5
<16 1 0 0-0 e5. Instead of 8 Be2, more logical 13 g3
is 8 Rcl , not allowing the doubling of pawns A poor plan, with the aim of advancing
on the c-file. f2-f4 and thus casting doubts on Black's 9th
7 e4 has also been played, and in Geller move. Instead White should have been think
Boleslavsky (Zurich Candidates Tournament, ing in terms of counter-play on the Q-side
1 953) White had an excellent game after - 1 3 b4 with the idea of c4-c5.
7 . . . Bb4 8 Bd3 c5 9 0-0 c x d4 1 0 Nb5
Qd8 1 1 Nb X d4 0-0 12 Qe2 Nc6 13 Rad l . 13 c6!
In analogy with the previous variation, here
The bishop, wich has been asleep since
too 8 . . . B X c3 9 b x c3 d6 followed by . . .
d4-d5 is now activated. Should White be
e5 would have been good.
tempt; d by the pawn - 14 d x c6 B x c6 1 5
In the light of what has been said, White's
Q X d6 - after 1 5 . . . Rfd8 ! 1 6 Q x e5 an
last move will be understandable. But, as the
unpleasant surprise awaits him : 1 6 . . . Qe7,
course of events shows, even after the pro
and the queen is trapped.
phylactic a2-a3 the bishop at f8 is not with
out work. 14 Nd4 Rac8

84
 No. 36 Nezhmetdinov-Polugayevsky, 1972
Black could, if he so desired, have relieved
the situation by 14 . . . Nd3, but the position
would have been markedly simplified, and he
would have lost all his advantages.
15 Nc2
White has serious difficulties over the de
fence of his centre. Unfavourable, of course,
is 15 d x c6 N X c6 16 N x c6 B x c6, when the
black bishops become terribly powerful,
while 15 f4 loses material after 1 5 . . . N X c4.
The move played is essentially the only
possible attempt to stabilize the position.
The knight aims for e3, in order to hold the
key point d5.
15 . . . c X d5
16 c x d5 Qe7
Now Black's plan is revealed : he is pre
paring . . . f5.
17 Ne3 f5
18 f4
The further opening of the game merely
favours Black. To be considered was 1 8 d X e6,
although even then after 18 . . . fXe4 19 Bg4
N X g4 20 Q X g4 Rce8 21 N X e4 d5 22 Nd2
B X b2 Black wins material.
18 . . . g X f4
19 g X f4 Ng6
The tactical justification of this move is in
the variation 20 d X e6 Q X e6 2 1 N X f5
85
R X f5 22 e x f5 Qe3 + 23 Rf2 N X f4, when
Black wins.
20 Bh5 Nh4
21 e x f5 e x f5
22 Ng2 Kh8
Even now it is difficult to establish which
of the two continuations 22 . . . Kh8 and
22 . . . N X g2 is the most accurate. In all
probability they are roughly equivalent, and
retain for Black a serious initiative.
22 . . . Rc4 was tempting, aiming at the f4
pawn (the threat is 23 . . . NXg2 24 KXg2
R X/4 25 R Xf4 Qg5+ ) . If 23 Re 1 , then 23 . . .
Qd8, maintaining all the threats. During the
game, at the last moment I noticed 23 Qe2 !,
which is probably the best reply. Here Black
has only one reasonable continuation : 23 . . .
Q X e2 24 B X e2 Bd4 + 25 Kh1 R X c3 ! 26
b X c3 B X d5 27 c X d4 B X g2 + 28 Kg1
B X fl 29 K X fl d5 30 Kf2, although it leaves
Black little chance of realizing his extra
pawn.
23 Re1 Qd8
I have to admit that, when I went in for
this position, I was considering 23 . . . Qf6
24 Re6 Qd4 + 25 Q X d4 B X d4 + 26 Kh1
B X d5, but then noticed that it would be
stronger for White to play his king not to h 1 ,
but fl . The variation 2 6 Kfl B X d5 would
suit Black, but 24 . . . Qd4 + 25 Kfl N x g2
(25 . . . Ba6 + 26 Be2 ; 25 . . . B X d5 26
R X h6 + ! Kh8 27 NX d5 R X cl 28 Ne7 mate ;
or 27 . . . Q X dl + 28 R X dl B X h6 29 NX h4)
26 R X h6 + Kg8 27 Q X d4 B X d4 would leave
him little hope of success.
24 Re6
After the game Nezhmetdinov suggested
24 Rc2 here, although it is inlikely that after
24 . . . N X g2 25 R X g2 Qh4 White's defence
would have been any easier. For example,
26 Re6 Q X f4 27 Reg6, and now Black must
merely avoid falling into the trap 27 . . .
 The touchstone of mastery

Bd4 + 28 Kh1 B X d5 29 Q X d4 ! Q x d4 30 A time trouble inaccuracy, which, however,

R X h6 mate, but instead consolidate his po does not affect the outcome. Simpler was
sition by 27 . . . Rc7, thus parrying his 35 . . . Rd4, preventing White from returning
opponent's tactical threats . his bishop to d3 and regrouping.

24 N X g2 36 Bd3 + Kh8
25 K X g2 Rc4 37 Rf3 Rf4
26 Qf3 Qh4 38 Re3 Rf7
27 Rfl Rd4 39 Ne4 Rc8
40 b3 Rcl
I avoided the tempting 27 . . . Rg8 not 41 a4 Kg7
because of 28 Bf7, which is advantageously
met by 28 . . . R X f4, but due to the simple Here the game was adjourned. 'hite's
28 Kh1 . position is hopeless, and Black won without
much difficulty :
28 Rf2 Rg8 42 Bc4 Rc2 + 43 Re2 R X e2 + 44 B X e2
Rf8 45 Ba6 h5 46 Be2 Kh6 47 Kh3 Rf5 48
Kg2 Bd4 49 Bc4 Bc5 50 Kh3 ReS 51 Nc3 Kg5
52 Ne2 Be3 53 Nc3 Bf2 54 Ne2 Re3 55 Kg2
Bel 56 b4 B X b4 57 Nd4 Bel 58 Nf3 + Kf5
White resigns.

No. 37 Queen' s Gambit

Polugayevsky-Keres

Tallinn, 1973
29 Rg6
1 c4 Nf6
White avoids a devilish trap : 29 Khl Rd3 !
2 Nc3 e6
30 Q x d3 Q x f2 3 1 Qe2 (31 Qf3 Q x b2) 3 Nf3 d5
31 . . . Qg1 + ! ! 32 K X g 1 Bd4 + + , and
4 d4 c5
mates. More tenacious was 29 Bg6, although
5 c x d5 c x d4
even then 29 . . . Rc4 ! would have set White
virtually insoluble problems . Nowadays this move does not enjoy a good

Ba6 reputation. The normal 5 . . . N x d5 is more

29

natural, leading to the Tarrasch Defence

The threat of the rook's invasion at d3 Deferred.
decides the game .
6 Q X d4
30 Qh3 R X f4
After 6 . . . e x d5 7 e4 ! Nc6 8 Bb5 Bd7
31 Q X h4 R X h4
9 B x c6 White gains the advantage, since the
32 Be2 Kh7!
black king is late in castling.
33 Rg3 f4
34 B x a6 fX g3 7 e4 N x c3
35 h X g3 Be5 s Q x c3 Bd7

86
 No. 37 Polugayevsky-Keres , 1973
A poor reply, in my opinion. The d-file
will belong to White, and the bishop merely
obstructs it. 8 . . . Nc6 was better.
9 Be2 Na6
Black's plan becomes clear : . . . Rc8 and
the transfer of the knight to c5. But the future
will show that it was very important for
Black to keep control of the key e5 square.
More sensible therefore was 9 . . . Nc6 and
then 10 . . . Rc8 .
1 0 0-0 ReS
11 Qb3
The strongest reply. On 1 1 Qe3 there
would have followed 1 1 . . . Bc5, and there
fore White 'invites' the knight onto this
square. It appears to be well placed there,
but, as already mentioned, it does not par
ticipate in the battle for e5.
11 Nc5
12 Qe3 Be7
13 Ne5 0-0
14 b3 Qb6
In this way Black tries to solve the problem
of his queen, since at any moment a white
rook will occupy the d-file. But it fails to find
a comfortable post on the Q-side, and there
fore to be considered was 14 . . . Qe8, pre
paring the freeing . . . Bb5.
15 Nc4 Qc6
87
After 1 5 . . . Qc7 Black would have had
to reckon with 1 6 Bb2 and 1 7 Be5, but even
so that is what he should have played. True,
in making this move, Black was counting
only on 1 6 Bb2 in reply . . .
16 Ba3!
Not only development, but consistent,
purposeful action. There is the threat of 1 7 b4
and 1 8 b5, and 16 . . . b5 is unpleasantly
met by 1 7 Ne5 Qb7 1 8 N x d7 Q X d7 1 9 Rac l ,
when the b5 pawn i s i n danger.
16 Qa6
In this way Black forces the bishop to leave
the a3-f8 diagonal, since now 1 7 b4 is parried
by 1 7 . . . Bb5. But at a6 the queen comes
under fire from the other white bishop.
17 Bb2 Rfd8
18 Rfcl!
One of those quiet moves, which for all its
apparent modesty is stronger than any com
binational blow. White is not afraid of tem
porarily shutting out his queen's rook-the
main point is the awkward position of the
black queen. Now 1 8 . . . Qc6 can again be
met by 19 Ba3, when 19 . . . Qa6 20 b4 Bb5
no longer works due to the knight at c4 being
defended, while 19 . . . Bf8 is very strongly
met by 20 e5 ! with the threat of 21 Nd6.
18 . . . Be8
Black, of course, could hardly have been
satisfied with 1 8 . . . Bb5 19 a4 B X c4 20
R x c4.
19 e5 Nd7
Forced in view of the threat of 20 Nd6,
which would also have followed on 19 . . .
Qc6 after the interposition of 20 b4. But now
on 20 Nd6 Black first exchanges rooks with
check.
20 a4 Bc5
 The touchstone of mastery

29 B x e8 R x e8
30 b4 Ng6
31 Rd7 Ne7
32 Qf3 Rf8

Black has to part with his b-pawn, since

after 32 . . . Rb8 33 Bd4 ! B X d4 34 R X e7
Rf8 35 R X f7 ! the game concludes im
mediately.

33 R X b7 Qa5
34 Qe2
21 Qf3 !
Defending e l and threatening 35 Rb5 .
An important interim step in White's plan.
34 . . . a6
By keeping the bishop at e2 defended, he re
35 Qe1
news the threat of Nd6, and lures the black
queen to c6, where it now comes under the The effect of time trouble, since 35 Qc4
unpleasant observation of the white rook. would have immediately terminated Black's
resistance .
21 . Qc6
22 Q g 3 Qe4 35 Q x e1 +
36 R x e 1 Nd5
An attempt to break out, since bad, for
37 Rcl Bb4
example, is 22 . . . Rb8 23 Nd6 Qb6 24 a5.
38 Rc4 a5
2 3 Bd3 Qd5 39 Bd4 Rd8
24 Rd1 Qc6 40 Bc5 Bc3
25 Racl 41 Bd6 f6
42 Be7
Back where we started ! The white rooks
have regrouped with gain of tempo, and the With the time control reached, Black
black queen, which has made 7 moves almost resigned.
in succession, still has failed to find a safe
place . Loss of material for Black is now
inevitable. No . 38 Queen's Gambit
25 Rb8
Polugayevsky-Saidy
26 Nd6 Qb6
27 N x e8 Tallinn, 1973
White could perhaps have won more
1 c4 Nf6
simply by 27 Bb5 B X d6 (otherwise 28 NX e8)
2 Nc3 e6
28 R X d6 (28 e X d6 is also decisive) 28 . . .
3 Nf3 d5
Qa5 29 Bc3 Qc7 (or 29 . . . Rbc8 30 B X a5
4 d4 Be7
R X cl + 31 Bf1) 30 Bd2, but after the move
5 B g5 0-0
played he similarly has little trouble.
6 e3 b6
27 . . . R x e8 7 Bh4 b6
28 Bb5 Nf8 8 Bd3

88
 No. 38 Polugayevsky-Saidy, 1 973
After being fashionable for many years,
the line 8 c X d5 N X d5 9 B X e7 Q X e 7 1 0
N X d5 was shown by the World Champion
ship Matches Petrosian-Spassky (Moscow,
1 966) and Spassky-Fischer (Reykjavik, 1 972)
to promise little for White, since after 1 0 . . .
e X d5 Black does not develop his white
squared bishop at b7, but at e6, when the
hanging pawns resulting after . . . c5 are
securely defended .
However, the text move allows Black to
obtain a good game . Therefore in later
games against Doroshkevich (mentioned
below) and Tal (in the 1980 Candidates
Match) I chose a different move order, and
played 8 Qb3.
8 ... Bb7
9 B x f6 B x f6
10 c x d5 e x d5
11 0-0 Nd7
Now White implements his plan in full .
Correct for Black was the thematic 1 1 . . . c5,
when after 12 d X c5 b x c5 13 Qb3 Bc6 14 Bb5
White intensifies the pressure on Black's
centre, but by 14 . . . d4 ! ? 15 e X d4 c X d4
1 6 B X c6 N x c6 1 7 Nd5 Rb8 Black obtains
sufficient counter-play.
12 Qb3 c6
13 Rad1
The position reached is known to theory,
and usually arises after 8 Qb3 followed by
Be2, 0-0 and Bd3 . But here the white bishop
has gone to d3 immediately, and in this par
ticular instance the extra tempo is extremely
important.
13 . . . Re8
Although for the moment it is imper
ceptible, this weakens f7. In a game with me
in the 42nd USSR Championship (Yerevan,
1 975) Doroshkevich followed a recommen
dation by Tal, and played 13 . . . Be7 im
mediately, planning . . . Bd6 and a possible
89
. . . Qb8. But for an instant Black has left
the e5 square uncontrolled, a factor which
I was able to exploit : 14 Ne5 Bd6 1 5 f4.
After 1 5 . . . Nf6 16 e4 my opponent thought
for 62( !) minutes, and, not wishing to defend
after 16 . . . d X e4 1 7 N X e4, plunged into
a maelstrom of complications - 16 . . . c5 ? !
1 7 d X c5 B x c5 + 1 8 Kh1 d X e4 (18 . . . d4
is unpleasantly met by 19 Bc4) 1 9 B X e4 Qc8
(19 . . . Qc7 is better) 20 Bg6 ! , and, even
with the rook at f8, the weakness of f7 be
came very apparent, especially since 20 . . .
Qe6 ? would have lost to 2 1 B X f7 + . The
game continued 20 . . . Qc7 2 1 Nb5 Qe7
22 Rfe l , when there was no satisfactory
defence against 23 N x f7.
14 Bb1!
'The threat is stronger than its execution',
and the break e3-e4, which is already pre
pared, is kept in reserve . The retreat of the
bishop is useful in many respects. The oppo
sition of the white rook and black queen
is made more apparent, the possible future
advance d4-d5 gains in strength, and, a factor
which is not unimportant, a totally un
expected position is prepared for the white
bishop . . .
14 Qb8
Black's desire to withdraw his queen to
a safe post is understandable. Besides, he had
not yet guessed at the essential point of
 The touchstone of mastery

White's strategic plan. Preferable was 14 . . . Further losses result from 22 . . . Q X f7

Nf8, and if 1 5 e4 Ne6, going totally onto 23 N x f7.
the defensive.
23 Ne5! Resigns
15 Rfe1 Be7
16 a3!

'Notifying' the opponent that the bishop No. 39 Nimzo-Indian Defence

is going to be switched to the a2-g8 diagonal.
Tal-Polugayevsky
16 Bd6

All the same Black cannot maintain control 42nd USSR Championship
of dS. For example, on 16 . . . Nf6 there Leningrad, 1974
would have followed 17 e4 d x e4 18 NeS
NdS 19 B X e4 Qd8 20 N x c6, winning a 1 d4 Nf6
pawn. 2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 Bb4 +
17 e4 d X e4
4 Nc3
18 N x e4 Re7

1 8 . . . Rf8 also loses after 19 Qd3 g6 20 Tal is true to himself. He avoids the
NeS N x es 21 Nf6 + Kg7 22 d x es B x es simplifying 4 Bd2, and goes into the main
23 Nd7, while in the event of 1 8 . . . Nf8 variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defence.
19 Ba2 Ne6 (19 . . . Re6 20 Qc3 Re7 21
NX d6 Q X d6 22 R X e7 Q x e7 23 Ne5 is even 4 . . c5
worse) 20 NeS B x es 21 d x es White has 5 e3 0--0
an overwhelming positional advantage . 6 Bd3 d5
7 0--0 d X c4
19 Ba2 Qc7 8 B X c4 Nbd7
9 Qd3

Evidently White does not want for the

100lst time in this position to play 9 Qe2
followed by placing his rooks at d l and e 1 ,
and s o he chooses a less well-studied con
tinuation.

9 a6
10 a4 c X d4
11 e X d4 b6

20 Neg5! It would have been natural, of course, to

This tactical blow has developed logically play 1 1 . . . Nb6 and then deploy the forces
from White's strategic plan. in the spirit of the Queen's Gambit Accept
ed - . . . NbdS, . . . Be7 and . . . Nb4, but
20 Nf6 I decided to avoid this well-known set-up.
21 R X e7 Q x e7
22 Q x f7 + Kh8 12 Bf4

90
 No. 39 Tal-Polugayevsky , 1974

I thought that 12 Bg5 seemed more logical,
when I was intending to reply 12 . . . Bb7
and then . . . Be7 and . . . Nd5 with simpli
fication. In the game Black succeeded in ex
ploiting a slight drawback to White's 12th
move.
Had Black been interested only in a draw,
he would have chosen 1 8 . . . B X c3 and
19 . . . Nd5, but by now he already had
ambitious intentions.
19 Bf4

12 Bb7 The 'ugly' 1 9 Re 1 was worth considering.

13 Rac1
In combination with the position of the
bishop at f4, this move looks good, but . . .
13 ReS!
Not so much reinforcing e6, as preparing
the transfer of the second knight to the K
side, which will emphasize the unfortunate
position of the bishop at f4, and will suppress
any possible attack on the king.
19 Bc5
20 Rc2
White avoided 20 Bg3, since he was in
tending to exploit the position of the knight
at g4 by 21 h3 Nh6 22 g4. On 20 Bg3 Black
had prepared 20 . . . Red8 !, and if 21 Be4,
then 21 . . . B x e4 22 N x e4 Bd4, winning
a pawn. Nevertheless White should have
played 20 Bg3 Red8 21 Be2 (the tempting
21 h3 fails to 21 . . Ne3!) 21 . . . h6 22 Bh4,
.

14 Rfd1 Nf8 reconciling himself to a slightly inferior po

15 Ne5 Ng6 sition. This would have been the lesser evil.

20 . . Rad8!

Now it has to be this rook ! On 21 Rcd2

Black wins by 21 . . . R X d3 22 R X d3 N X f2,
whereas after 20 . . . Red8 White would
have 23 Rd8 + .

21 h3 Rd4!

Evidently White should have admitted

here that he has no advantage, exchanged
on g6, and then by Bg5 prepared d4-d5,
leading to exchanges and a draw. But he aims
for more, and Black manages to seize the
initiative.

16 Bg5 N x es
17 d X e5 Q X d3
18 B X d3 Emphasizing that White will be unable
to 'disentangle himself' by playing one of his
After 1 8 R X d3 White would have had
minor pieces to e4. Insufficient now is 22 Bg3
to reckon with 1 8 . . . B X c3 and 1 9 . . Ne4.
Red8, while 22 g3 is very strongly met by
.

18 . . Ng4 22 . . . g5. White also does not have 22 Ne2,

7 91
 The touchstone of mastery

in view of 22 . . . N x f2 23 N x d4 N x d 1 , 31 ... R X g2
and h e therefore appears t o have nothing 32 Rd4 Rh2
better than the move played. 33 Be3 Rb2
34 Bd2 a5
22 B X h7 + K X h7
23 R X d4 B X d4 A crucial move : a passed pawn on the
24 h X g4 ReS b-file would have been less of a danger to
White than one on the a-file .
Formally White is a pawn up, but the
35 Ke1 Ra2
black bishops are so strong that Tal is pre
36 Be3 Bb3
pared to return the extra pawn immediately
37 Rd6 R X a4
for the sake of exchanging one of them.
38 R X b6 Bd5
25 Rd2 Rc4! 39 g5

There is no reason to hurry, and Black It would have been better to agree to 39
intensifies the pressure. Now White takes Ra6 R X g4 40 R X a5 Re4 41 Kf2 R X e5,
what I consider to be a debatable decision. since in the game Black could have won
By 26 Be3 he would have retained good quickly and without any particular difficulty :
chances of a successful defence. 39 . . . Re4 40 Kf2 R X e5 41 Rb5 a4 42 Ra5
Re4. But I was enticed by the idea of ad
26 b3 B X f2 + vancing the a-pawn .
27 R X f2 R X c3
39 . . . Ra1 +
28 Bd2
At first sight 39 . . . Ra2 seems better, when
All White's pawns are weak, and he is un 40 Ra6 fails to 40 . . . Bc4, while on 40 Kd 1
able to maintain material equality. Even so, there follows 40 . . . a4 41 Ra6 a3 42 Bc5
28 b4 Rc4 29 Bd2 R X g4 30 a5 was probably Bb3 + 43 Ke 1 Ra 1 + and 44 . . . a2, with
better, since the passed pawn Black obtains
a decisive advantage. But--40 Bc5 !, and the
on the Q-side gives him a great advantage. advance of the black pawn is hindered.
28 R X b3 40 Kd2 a4
29 R X f7 Bd5 41 Ra6 Ra2 +
30 Rf4

The alternative was 30 Kf2, immediately

giving up the g2 pawn (30 . . . Rb2 31 Ke2
B X g2) , but activating the king.

30 . Rg3
31 Kf1

It would seem that, of the two g-pawns,

White would have done better to part with
the g4 pawn-3 1 Rf2 R X g4 32 Be3. In this
case Black's task would have been much
harder, since the pawn at g3 (subsequently)
would have been stronger than the one at g5.
The sealed move, and the strongest.
My analysis now proceeded in two direc
tions.

92
 No . 39 Tal-Polugayevsky, 1 9 74

On general grounds I considered 42 Kcl

to be a 'second-rate' move, but I neverthe
less looked at it first, and decided :
(a) Nothing is achieved by 42 . . . a3 ?
43 Kb l Rb2 + 44 Ka l .
(b) On the other hand, 42 . . . Kg6 43 Ra7
Be4, with the threat of 44 . . . a3 and 45 . . .
Rc2 + , wins .
And I switched over completely to the
analysis of 42 Kd3, on which I spent a mass
of time .
Here I planned 42 . . . Ra3 + 43 Kd2 Bc4 I suddenly noticed to my horror that 44 . . .
44 Rc6 Rd3 + 45 Ke2 Bb5 (after 45 . . . Rd4 + a3 does not win, on account of 45 Bc5 Ra l +
46 Kf2 Re4 followed by . . . Bd5 and . . . 46 Ke2 ! ! a2 47 Bd4 Rhl 48 R X a2 Rh2 +
R x e5, Black has considerable difficulties 49 Bf2.
on account of the weakness of g7) 46 Rb6 I should mention one curious detail. Tal
(Black also wins after 46 g6 +
KXg6 47 later told me that he too considered the posi
R X e6 + Kf5 48 Rb6 Rd5 + 49 Kel a3) 46 . . . tion after 44 . . . a3 to be lost, but when
Rb3 + 47 Kf2 Bc4 48 Rc6 Rb2 + 49 Kg3 I sank into thought, he did too. And, of
Rc2, and the pawn automatically reaches a2. course, he found everything !
Having found all this, I once again checked Fortunately the win was still there, but
42 Kcl , and suddenly discovered that the win I was terribly vexed by this mistake in my
was not so simple : 42 . . . Kg6, and now not analysis.
43 Ra7, but 43 Kbl Kf5 44 Bel ! g6 (44 . . .
44 ... Bf3 +
K X e5 45 Ra5!) 45 Ra7 Bb3 46 Bb2 K X g5
45 Kcl Be4
47 Rh7 ! , preventing the advance of the
46 Kdl Bc2 +
g-pawn, and winning it in the event of 47
47 Kd2 Bb3 +
. . . Kg4 48 Rg7 g5 49 Be l .
But then I found 4 8 . . . R X b2 + 49 Having gained time on the clock by re
K X b2 g5, and calmed down . . . peating moves, Black embarks on a plan
It remained for me to consider the follow which he found at the board. He intends to
ing line : 42 Kc l Kg6 43 Ra7 Be4 44 Bd4 a3 transpose into an ending without rooks, and
45 Kd l Bd5 ! 46 Kc l Bb3 !, when there is no with just opposite-coloured bishops !
defence against the threat of 47 . . . Rc2
(if 47 Kbl, then 47 . . . Rd2). If, on the other 48 Kc3 Rg2
hand, 44 Kd l , then 44 . . . a3 45 Bd4 (45 Bc5 49 Kb4 Rg3
RaJ + 46 Kd2 a2 47 Bd4 Rhl) 45 . . . Bd5 ! 50 Bel Rf3
46 Kc l Bb3, with again the same win. 51 Rc7 Rf7
But on the resumption, after 52 R X f7

42 Kcl Kg6 Otherwise Black, after freeing his king

43 Ra7 Be4 from the defence of his g-pawn, wins without

44 Kdl any great difficulty.

52 K X f7
(see diagram next column) 53 Kc5 Bc2!

7* 93
 The touchstone of mastery

The bishop is transferred to f5, so as to free No. 40 Old Indian Defence

the black king, although Black also wins
by the simple 53 . . . Kg6 54 Kd6 Kf5, when Polugayevsky-Espig
White is in zugzwang - 55 Ke7 g6 56 Kf7 Bc2.
Budapest, 1975
54 Kd6 BfS
SS Ba3 Kg6
1 Nf3 Nf6
56 Bel Kh5
2 g3 d6
The last time trouble move. 56 . . . Bg4 3 d4 Nbd7
followed by . . . Kf5 and . . . g6 wins more 4 c4 e5
simply. 5 Nc3 Be7

57 Ke7 g6 With this system of development Black

58 Kd7 Kg4 defends his weak point at d6 and plans a
59 Kd6 Kg3 Q-side pawn offensive, but a drawback to it is
the fact that it is rather passive.
To be fair, it should be admitted that
a move earlier 58 . . . a3 59 B X a3 K X g5 6 Bg2 (H)
would have won, but about the a-pawn 7 0-0 c6
I simply 'forgot' . . . 8 e4 Qc7
9 b3 a6
60 Kc5 Kf3
10 Bb2 bS
11 Qe2

This simple move emphasizes White's

superiority, with his control of the centre
and greater command of space. On the other
hand, 1 1 c x b5 a x b5 12 Rc 1 Qb6 would
have squandered the advantages of his posi
tion.

11 . . b X c4

Played in the hope of exploiting the posi

61 Kd4
This loses immediately, whereas 6 1 Kc6 !
would have forced Black to find a win in the
variation 6 1 . . . Kg4 62 Kd6 a3 63 B X a3
K X g5. It is not difficult to calculate that
Black can just reach a position where White
is unable to stop the g-pawn.
tion of the white queen and rook on the a6-fl
diagonal. But Black has failed to take account
of certain tactical features of the position,
and, retaining the pawn tension, he should
for the moment have made the useful move
1 1 . . . ReS.
12 Q x c4 a5
13 d X e5 d X e5

61 Kg4 After 13 . . . Ba6 14 e x f6 B X c4 1 5 fX e7

the three minor pieces are stronger than the
White resigns: he cannot prevent . . . Bb 1 queen. The lesser evil for Black was the
and . . . Kf5, after which zugzwang decides. simplifying manoeuvre 13 ... N X e5 14

94
 No. 40 Polugayevsky-Espig, 1975

N X e5 d X e5, although even here 15 Rfc 1 18 Rfd8

gives White a positional advantage : there 19 Bd4
is no disputing the weakness of the c6 pawn.
Avoiding the trap 1 9 B X f6 ? B X f6 20
14 Rfd R x c5 Bb5 1, when all White's heavy pieces
are en prise.
The alternative was 1 4 Nd5 N X d5 1 5
e x d5 Ba6 16 Q x c6 Q x c6 1 7 d x c6 B X fl 19 NfX e4
18 K X fl , when White has more than suffi 20 Qe1
cient compensation for the exchange. Even
so, he preferred the move in the game, plan It becomes clear that Black has lost the
ning to answer 14 . . . Ba6 with 15 Nd5 N X d5 tactical battle. The pins along the g1-a7
16 Q x d5, with an overwhelming position. diagonal and - in many variations - the
e-file are highly unpleasant, and at any mo
14 Nc5

ment the long-range bishop at g2 will come to
lS Na4 Ba6
life. In addition, there is the concrete threat
Since both 15 N x a4 16 Q x a4 and of 21 Qe3.
1 5 . . . NfX e4 16 B X e5 are clearly in White's 20 BbS
favour, Black tries by a temporary pawn 21 N X cS
sacrifice to embroil his opponent in tactical
complications. This is good enough, but possibly stronger
was 21 Nc3, when Black loses material both
16 B X eS Qa7
after 21 . . . N X c3 22 Q X c3 Ne4 23 Qe3 c5
17 Qc2 Bd3
24 B X g7, and after 21 . . . Bf6 22 N X e4
No relief is gained by 1 7 . . . N x a4 (17 B X d4 23 N X d4 Nd3 24 N X b5.
. . . NfX e4 or 17 . . . NcX e4 - 18 Bd4) 1 8 21 B x cS
b X a4 Rfc8 1 9 Rd l Ng4 20 Bd4 c 5 2 1 Bc3,
when the white e-pawn is ready to advance, 21 . . N X c5 loses immediately to 22 Qe3 .
and the black knight is badly placed at g4. 22 R X cS! N x cs
18 Qdl! 23 QeS R X d4
24 N X d4

For the time being Black has regained his

pawn, but the weakness at c6 and the unde
fended state of his K-side allow the position
to be considered strategically won for White.

24 Nd3

On 24 . . . Rd8 there would have followed

25 Nf5 Ne6 (25 . . . f6 26 Qe3) 26 a4, winning
the c-pawn.

25 Qe3 !
A quiet conclusion to the manoeuvre begun
on move 1 5 . Black is unable to parry success It was possibly this modest move that Black
fully the threat of 19 Bd4. underestimated.

95
 The touchstone of mastery

No. 4 1 Sicilian Defence

R. Byme-Pologayevsky

Montilla, 1975

1 e4 c5
2 Nf3 d6
3 d4 c X d4
4 N X d4 Nf6
5 Nc3 a6
25 . . . a4 6 Be3 e6

On the natural 25 . . . Rd8 White wins Of course, Black also has other good moves,
most simply by 26 N X b5 Q X e3 27 fX e 3 such as 6 . . . Nbd7 or 6 . . . Qc7. I also took
c X b5 2 8 Rd l Rd7 2 9 Bc6, when the undoing account of the fact that on 6 . . . e5 Byrne
of Black, on top of everything else, is the lack happily plays 7 Nde2. Therefore I decided
of an escape square for his king. for the moment to adopt a normal set-up,
and wait to see what my opponent's further
26 Rd1
intentions were.
This is simpler than 26 N X b5 Q X e3 27 7 Be2 Be7
fX e3 a X b3 28 Nc3 b2 29 Rb l R a3 30 Nd l 8 g4 ?
R X a2 3 l Be4.
A question mark can confidently be attach
26 a X b3 ed to this move. The main virtue of the plan
27 a X b3 Nb2 involving g2-g4, which is carried out in many
28 Re1 Rf8 variations of the Sicilian Defence, lies in its
29 Qd2 precipitate nature . But here this is lost. In
combination with the development of the
The trap snaps shut, and the knight cannot bishop at e2, the move g2-g4 is clearly inap
be saved. propriate . White should of course have gone
29 Qa2 into the normal Scheveningen Variation by
30 N X b5 c X b5 8 f4.
31 Qc2

Preparing Rb 1, although there is no need

to hurry over this .

31 Rd8
32 Bfl Qa5
33 Re2 h5

Or 33 . . . Nd3 34 Q X d3 .

3 4 Q X b2 Rd1
35 ReS + Resigns 8 b5!

96
 No. 41 Byrne-Polugayevsky, 1 975

I think that this is the most logical reply. On 15 Q x d4 I was intending to reply 15
Also possible is 8 . . . d5 9 e X dS N X dS 1 0 .. . Bc6, when after 1 6 b3 (16 Q X b4 loses to
N x d5 Q X d5 1 1 B f3 Qa5 + ( o r 11 . . . Qe5) 16 . . . Rb8 17 Qc4 Bb5) Black has a choice
with a good game, but Black is already think between 16 . . . B X a4 and 16 . . . e5.
ing of more . Thus on 9 a3 he has a choice
between 9 . . . Bb7 10 f3 d5 and the immediate 15 . . e5
9 . . . d5 10 e x d5 Bb7, with a very attractive 16 f X e5
position.
This capture is equivalent to capitulation.
9 g5 Nfd7 Byrne, on the basis of 'negative' thinking,
10 f4 b4 immediately rejected 16 Be3 because of the
11 Na4 Bb7 same 1 6 . . . Bc6 . But now Black's hands are
12 Bf3 Nc6 freed for operations on both wings !

16 . . d X e5
Perhaps the most precise. Black intends
17 Bf2 Bc6
first to dislodge one white knight from d4,
18 c3 Qa5
and then to attack the other at a4.
19 b3

13 h4 This is what my opponent was counting

The g-pawn requires over-protection. Thus
13 Qd2 can be met by 13 . . . N X d4 14 B X d4
e5 1 5 Q x b4 Bc6 . And even so, this variation
could have been the lesser evil, and should
have been tried. Note, incidentally, that 13 e5
fails to 13 . . . Qc7 .
on. Since (after the exchange 16 fX e5 d X e5)
his bishop was able to retreat to f2, White was
contemplating a little tactical trick : 1 9 . . .
b X c3 (19 . . . B x a4 20 b X a4 b X c3 ? 21
Q X d7) 20 N X c3 Q x c3 21 Rcl , regaining
the piece .

13 . . 0-0
14 0-0

This move was made by the American

grandmaster after lengthy thought. I watched
him and saw that he was beginning to dislike
the position, and that he was hesitating over
his choice of continuation.
In my opinion, White should have tried
to consolidate the position by 14 Ne2. True,
even here after 14 . . . Qa5 15 b3 Nc5 ! 1 6 19 . . Rfd8!
Nb2 (dubious is 16 NX c5 d X c5 and 17 . . .
Rad8) 16 . . . Rfd8 Black prepares . . . d5 Thanks to the blockage of white pieces on
with an excellent game. But, I repeat, this the f-file, Black is able to move his rook away
was nevertheless the best method of defence. safely and vacate f8 for his knight. Now, of
course, the capture on a4 is threatened.
14 . . .
15 B x d4 20 c x b4 Q X b4

97
 The touchstone of mastery

The black queen aims for b7 as quickly

as possible (21 a3 Qb7 or 21 Qc2 Rac8 and
22 . . . Qb7), to intensify the pressure on e4.

21 Qe1 Qb7
22 Qe3

22 Rc 1 is dangerous in view of 22 . . . Bb5

23 Be2 Q x e4 24 B X b5 Qg4 + , as is 22 Nc3
Bb4.

22 . . B X a4
27 . . . Ng6
23 b X a4 Bc5!
It transpires that after the exchange of all
Black's main task is to get rid of the oppo
the minor pieces White's defence is not at all
nent's active pieces ; the difficulty lies in the
easier. One form of advantage is transform
choice of many tempting continuations. Thus
ed into another, and the weakness of his
23 . . . Nc5 24 Rad 1 N x a4 25 Rd5 ! would
K-side remains incurable .
have been a 'false trail'. Note that opening
the position by 23 . . . f6 would also have 28 B X g6 h X g6
eased White's defence . 29 Rbd1 Qe6
30 Kh2
24 Qe2 B X f2 +
25 Q X f2 Nf8! On 30 Qf3 there would have followed 30
. . . Rd4 (Black also has 30 . . . Q X a2 in
The knight aims for d4, and in particular, reserve) 3 1 R X d4 e X d4, when, on top of all
f4. In my opinion, White's last chance was his other troubles, White has to worry about
26 Qc5 !, trying to tie down the black pieces stopping the passed d-pawn.
to the defence of the e-pawn. After missing
this possibility White ends up in a strategic 30 ... Rac8
ally lost position. 31 R X d8 + R X d8
32 Qe2 Rd4
26 Rab1 ? 33 a5 Ra4
34 Rf2 R X a5
This merely helps the black pieces to occupy
attacking positions. The immediate 34 . . . Ra3 is also possible,
but just in case, taking advantage of White's
26 . . . Qe7! helplessness, I decided first to pick up a pawn .
27 Bh5
35 Kg3 Ra3 +
White no doubt felt a sense of relief at this 36 Rf3 R x a2
point, since on 27 . . . g6 he cuts the access 37 Qd3 Qb6!
of the knight to the centre by 28 Bg4, while 38 Qfl Qb2
27 . . . Ra 7 is well met by 28 Rb6, and if 39 Kg4 Qh2
28 . . Ne6, then 29 Q X f7 + Q X f7 30
. 40 Rg3 Rf2
B X f7 + R X f7 3 1 R X e6 . White resigns

98
 No. 42 Polugayevsky-Korchnoi, 1 977
No. 42 Catalan Opening
Polugayevsky-Korchnoi
Candidates Semi-final Match
Evian, 1977
1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 Bb4 +
4 Bd2 Be7
5 g3 d5
This leads to a position from the Catalan
Opening, with the difference that, instead of
being at c l , the white bishop is at d2. The
question is, who does this favour, and how
much does the changed position of the bishop
affect the game ?
The point of Black's last move is that he
immediately blocks the hl-a8 diagonal, thus
restricting the scope of the fianchettoed
white bishop. Also possible was 5 . . . c5,
since the position of the bishop at d2 prevents
White from playing 6 d5, the usual advance
in such cases.
6 Bg2 0-0
The attempt to gain the advantage of the
two bishops by 6 . . . Ne4 7 0-0 N X d2 is
rather premature, since after 8 Nb X d2 0-0
9 e4 d X e4 10 N X e4 Nd7 1 1 Qc2 Nf6 12
Rfd l (12 Rad1 is also to be considered)
12 . . . c6 13 Ne5 Qc7 White has a very appre
ciable lead in development, and in Honfi
Dely (Miskolc, 1 963) he could have seriously
cramped the black bishops by 14 c5 !
7 0-0 c6
8 Qc2
The attempt at a Q-side offensive does not
gain White any advantage : 8 Nc3 Nbd7
9 Bf4 Nh5 1 0 c5 N X f4 11 g X f4 Qc7 12 Qd2
b6 13 b4 Ba6 14 Qe3 b x c5 15 b X c5 Rab8,
and the black pieces are quite actively placed.
99
8 ... Nbd7
9 Rdl
In the first instance White prevents any
activity by the opponent involving the ad
vance . . . c5 . Simultaneously he prepares a
retreat for his bishop at el, to preserve it
from exchange. The analogous idea of 9 b3
b6 10 Bc3 Bb7 (not 10 . . . Ne4 ? 11 Bb2 f5
12 c x d5 c x d5 13 Qc6, and White wins,
Pietzsch-Donner, Leipzig, 1 960) 1 1 Nbd2 ReS
followed by . . . c5 allows Black to make a
timely counter-attack on the opponent's
centre .
9 ... b6
Here too 9 . . . Ne4 10 Be I f5 allows White
a strong initiative on the Q-side and in the
centre after 1 1 b4, for example : 1 1 . . . g5 12
Ne5 Bf6 (after 12 . . . Nx e5 ? 13 dxe5 the
knight at e4 is trapped, and to save it Black
must lose his d-pawn) 1 3 N x d7 B X d7 14
a4 a6 1 5 c5, with the threat of 16 f3.
10 a4 Ba6
1 0 . . . Bb7 is unpleasantly met by 1 1 a5
with the threat of 12 a6, whereas now Black
ties his opponent to the defence of c4, since
c x d5 would activate the bishop at a6.
11 b3 Ne4
12 Bf4
 The touchstone of mastery

Here the bishop is more active than at e l .

12 Rc8

1 2 . . . Bd6 would have been met by 1 3 :'\e5 .

13 Nbd2 N x d2
14 R X d2 g5 ? !

White merely has slightly the freer game,

and there was a bsolutely no need fo r B lack
to resort to such a r i s ky move . The natural
14 . . . Nf6 would ha ve retained the possi
bility of a counter-attack on Wh it e s centre
' time the opening of the game . But then 2 1
by . . . c5 . :Sd3 would ha ve given \\bite control over
a whole complex of black squares.
15 Be3 f5
16 Rdd1 Bf6 20 g X f4 g4
17 Racl 21 Ne5

By natural moves White has deployed his The strength of White's position could
pieces on the most convenient squares, even have been demonstrated by the sacrifice
whereas Black's minor pieces are tota lly unco 2 1 Ng5 h x g5 22 h X g5 followed by K h2-g3
ordinated one with a nother. In addition. a nd an attack on the h-file . In this case the
White intends to explo it the wea kening of g 4 pawn would ha\ e been doomed . But Black
Black's K-side, by a ttacking g5. is not obl i ged to accept the 'gift' immediately,
and ca n interpose 21 . . . Qf6, threatening
17 h6
22 . . . h X g5 23 h X g5 Qf5 . Therefore White
.

A further wea kening. but it is n o t easy to rightly avoids anything 'demonstrative'. espe
offer Black any good advice . For exa mple. c ia l ly since he holds the initiative on all parts
the attempt to hold g5 by 1 7 . . . R f7 1 8 Qd2 o f the board .
Rg7 would have a llowe d White after 19 R c2
21 N x es
and Rdc l to create the t h r e a t of exchanging
. .

22 d x e5 Q x h4
on d5, and the black queen wo ul d have been
23 c x d5 c x d5
overloaded by h a vi n g t o defe n d b ot h c8 a nd
g5 . Tota lly bad is 23 . . . e x d 5 24 R >< c6 .
Black therefore attempts tohis relieve
2 4 R X c8 B x c8
bishop of the need to defend t h e g5 p awn .

so as to withd raw i t a nd v aca te f6 fo r his Black is forced to concede the open c-file.
knight. But it i s too late . since after 2 4 . . . R X c8 the 25 f5 break
th rough is decisive .
18 Qd2 Bg7
25 Rcl g3
(see diagram next column) 26 Rc7 Ba6

Or. 26 . . . h5 27 Qc2 (with

the t h r eat of
19 b4! f4?
28Qg6) 27 wins by 28 Qc6.
. . . Qd8 White
The only way to continue resisting was by while in the event of 26 . . . g X f2 + 2 7 Kfl
1 9 . . . g4 20 r\e 1 h5, preventing fo r some the white king finds itself an excellent shelter

100
 No. 43 Bagirov-Polugayevsky, 1 977

behind the black pawn, and in addition White chooses a set-up which often occurs
there is the threat of 28 B X f2 Qg4 (28 . . . - with colours reversed - in the Tarrasch
Q X/4 loses a piece to 29 Q X/4) 29 Bf3 Qh3 + Defence Deferred. But there is a significant
30 Ke 1 followed by Qc2-g6. difference here : while for Black the achieve
ment of an equal game must be considered an
27 fX g3 Q X g3
achievement, the same cannot be said of
28 R X a7 Bc8
the 'achievement' of an equal game for White .
29 b4 Kh8
30 Bf2 10 Be5

Now White merely has to exchange queens,

when his Q-side pawns can calmly advance.

30 Qg4

Or 30 . . . Q X f4 3 1 Q X f4 R X f4 32 Ra8
Rf8 33 B X b6 etc.

31 Rc7 b5
32 Qe3 Rg8
33 Qf3 Qf5
34 Bh4 d4
35 Bg5 Qg6
36 Qd3 Resigns 11 N x c6

A poor reply, which merely strengthens

Black's centre and also presents him with
No. 43 Queen' s Gambit
the b-:fi1e. In the spirit of the variation was
1 1 Nce2 Qd6 12 g3 Bh3 13 Bg2 B X g2 1 4
Bagirov-Polugayevsky
K X g2, with a n equal position (A. Zaitsev
45th USSR Championship Polugayevsky, USSR Championship Play-Off
Leningrad, 1977 Match, 1 969).

11 . b X c6
1 d4 Nf6 12 Bd2
2 c4 c5
3 Nf3 c x d4 Preferable was 12 Qd2 followed by the
4 N X d4 Nc6 fi.anchetto of the black-squared bishop.
5 Nc3 e6
12 . . . Qd6
6 e3
13 g3 Bh3
14 Bg2
A passive continuation, allowing Black an
easy game . More critical is 6 g3 or 6 Ndb5.
White's position is already slightly inferior
6 ... d5 and the exchange of white-squared bishops,
7 c x d5 e x d5 as it seems to me, favours Black here . At any
8 Be2 B d6 rate, after the opening of the centre planned
9 0-0 0-0 by Black the weakness of the white squares
10 Bf3 will become more appreciable.

101
 The touchstone of mastery

14 . B x g2 Had White sensed just how dangerous his

15 K x g2 cS position was, he might possibly have tried
16 f4 to obtain some counter-play at the cost of
a pawn-21 b3 Qa6 22 Rc2 N x c3 23 R x c3
White's desire to clarify the situation is Q x a2 + 24 Qf2.
understandable, especially since the 16 . . . d4
break was already threatened. But the text 21 . d4
move hopelessly weakens e4, conceding it 22 e x d4 c X d4
to the black knight, and also White's entire
23 Bel Qa6
K-side. The lesser evil was 16 Qf3, defending With two threats-24 . . . d3 and 24
the long white-squared diagonal. Q x a2. White finds the best counter-chance .

16 . . B x c3 24 Qb3! h5!
17 B X c3 Ne4 On 24 . . . d3 Black would have had to
18 Qf3 Rfe8 reckon with the invasion by the white rook
on the 7th rank - 25 Rc7, and if 25 . . . Re6,
Black's advantage has taken real shape.
then 26 R x d3 R X d3 27 Q X d3. Therefore
It comprises pressure on the e-file, the pos
he begins combined play, linking breaks on
sibility of creating a passed pawn in the centre
the K-side ( . . . h4) and in the centre ( . . . d3)
by . . . d4, and also the excellent co-ordina
with pressure on the weakened white squares.
tion of his queen and knight.
25 Qc4
19 Rfdl
Trying for an endgame . 25 Rc7 would
have been unpleasantly met by 25 . . . Qe2 +
26 Kg l and now 26 . . . Re6.

25 . . Qb7
26 Qc6 Qe7!

26 . . . Qb8 is weaker, not due to 27 Qc7 ?

Qa8 28 Qc6 ReS and wins, but due to 27 Ba5.
But now the black queen escapes from the
pursuit, which has not brought White any
particular joy.

27 BaS
19 . Qb6!
27 Qc4 was bad due to 27 . . . d3 ! 28 R x d3
A highly unpleasant move for White. Nd6, with a double attack on White's queen
He was evidently expecting the routine 19 . . . and bishop.
Rad8, which would have allowed him to play 27 . Rd6
20 Be5 and 21 b3 . But now 20 b3 is im 28 Qc7 Qe6
possible, and the d-pawn is immune due to 29 Qc4 RdS!
20 . . . N x c3 21 b x c3 Qb2 + .
Again the pursuit of the queen has not
20 Racl Rad8 achieved anything, whereas the . . . h4 break
21 Rc2 is now a reality.

102
 No. 44 Polugayevsky-Smyslov, 1979

30 Bb4 a5! No. 44 Bogoljubov Defence

31 Ba3

This retreat to the edge of the board is Polugayevsky-Smyslov

forced, since on 3 1 Be l h4 32 R X d4 Black
USSR Spartakiad
wins by 32 . . . h3 + 33 Kgl Nd6, while if 32
Moscow, 1979
Re2, then after 32 . . . h3 + 33 Kgl Qg4 !
34 R X e4 (or 34 Rdd2 Rdd8 !, winning) 34
1 d4 Nf6
. . . R X e4 35 Q X d5 Qe2 36 QdS + ReS
2 c4 e6
White can resign.
3 Nf3 Bb4 +
31 . h4 4 Bd2 a5
32 Qc6
Black exploits the fact that, for the moment,
The d-pawn is still 'poisoned' : 32 R X d4
it is unfavourable for White to exchange on
h3 + , and White loses both after 33 Kf3
b4, since then the rook at aS comes into play.
Ng5 + , and after 33 Kgl Nd6 34 B X d6
The drawback to the move is that it does
(34 Q X d5 Qel mate) 34 . . . Qe3 + 35 Rf2
nothing to promote Black's development.
R X d4.

32 . h3 + 5 g3 d6
33 Kg1 d3
Black chooses a plan which is more typical
of Old Indian set-ups. I consider the system
with . . . b6 and . . . Bb7 to be more logical,
in order to neutralize the pressure of White's
fianchettoed bishop.

6 Bg2 Nbd7
7 0-0 e5
8 Nc3

At just the right time . White avoids the

exchange of bishops, and wishes in due
The culmination of Black's strategic plan. course to leave the bishop at b4 'out of work'.
The outcome of the game is decided. Or - to gain the advantage of the two
bishops.
34 Q x e6 R x e6
35 ReS + Kh7 8 e X d4
36 f5

On 36 Kfl there could have followed 36 Black is wrong to give up the centre.
. . . N X g3 + 37 h X g3 d2 3S Rc2 h2 39 Kg2 Preferable was S . . . 0-0, and if 9 a3 B x c3
Re l . 10 B X c3 Ne4. Therefore White had decided
beforehand that on S . . . 0-0 he would con
36 Ree5 tinue as in the game.
37 Rc4 d2
38 b4 Nc3 9 N X d4 0-0
White resigns 10 Qc2

1 03
 The touchstone of mastery

The difference in strength between the

bishops at g2 and c8 is obvious, as is White's
advantage.

10 . Ne5

This tactical rejoinder evidently escaped

Black's attention. The hanging position of
Black's pieces immediately becomes apparent,
and in addition he is finally forced to 'open
up' .
11 Bg5!
18 . d X e4
The c4 pawn is immune, since after 1 1 . . . 19 R x e4 ReS
N X c4 12 Nd5 Black is in trouble . The play
now takes on a forcing nature. Of course, Black's position was very diffi
cult, but it now becomes hopeless due to the
11 b6
pin on the e-file. Preferable was 19 . . . Qf6,
. .

12 B X f6 Q X f6
agreeing after 20 Qb3 to the loss of the b4
13 Nd5 Qd8
pawn. But my opponent pins his hopes on
14 N X b4 a x b4
a trap, into which White, after calculating
15 c5
slightly further, readily 'falls'.
T he pos1t10n now becomes open, and
White's lead in development acquires even 20 Rae1 Qd7
greater significance. The d-file is opened, and 21 b3! B X h3
a white rook will soon appear on it, while
also important is that the b4 pawn finds itself 21 . . . Bf5 is met by 22 N X f5 Q x f5 23 f4,
'surrounded'. and 21 . . . Bh5 by 22 R X e5 .

15 c6 22 B X h3 Q X d4
16 Rfdl d5
17 e4

Black cannot maintain his fortifications,

so he switches to tactics, by which he hopes
to solve his defensive problems .

17 Bg4

(see diagram next column)

18 Re1 !

1 04
 No. 45 Polugayevsky-Larsen, 1 979

This is what Black had in mind, rightly This position was 'twice new' for me,
thinking that after 23 R X d4 Nf3 + he would as it were. Firstly, Larsen had never played
be alright : 24 Khl R x e l + 25 Kg2 N x d4 this against me (and we have met at the board
26 Qd2 Re4. dozens of times). Secondly - and this is the
important thing ! - this was the very first time
23 Bg2! ! that it had occurred in any of my games.
Therefore I s i mply did not know that, on the
This was the reply that White had pre basis of the game Gligoric-Green (Hastings,
pared . He now wins a piece. 1 96 1), theory considers the strongest to be
9 Qc2 B x f3 10 g x f3 Qa5 1 1 0-0 Be7 12 Kh 1
23 . Qd5 Nb4 1 3 Qe2 h6 14 f4 Qh5 1 5 f3 gS 1 6 e5 Nfd5
24 f4 R x a2 1 7 B x d5 ! e x d5 1 8 f5, with advantage to
25 r x e5 b3 White. After the game it transpired that
26 Qc3 Rd8 it was precisely this variation in which Larsen
27 e6 fx e6 was trying to catch me, having prepared some
28 Rg4 Qd7 improvement . So that in this game I was
29 Q x b3 RaS helped by my own . . . 'illiteracy', which,
30 Qc3 Rda8 however, should in n o way be given as a rea
31 Kh2 eS son for not studyin g theory . . .
32 Rge4 Resigns But there is nothing new under the sun !
The move played by White had also occurred
before !

9 . B x f3
10 g X f3 Nc7
No . 45 Slav Defence
1 1 Rg1 NbS
12 Ke2 ? !
Polugayevsky-Larsen

Interzonal Tournament Provocative play, to put in mildly. The

Riga, 1979 game Geruscl-Hort (Halle, 1967) went 12
0-0-0 ! ? Qc7 1 3 Na2 aS 14 Qb3 0-0 1 5 Rg5
1 Nf3 Nf6 Nf6 16 Rdgl g6 1 7 N X b4 Q X b4 18 Q X b4
2 c4 c6 a X b4 1 9 b3 RadS 20 Rd 1 Rfe8, with equality.
3 d4 dS
12 . . . g6
4 Nc3 d x c4
5 a4 l'o;a6
This could haw been deferred in favour
6 e4 Bg4
of 12 . . .Qc7, with the idea of castling
7 B x c4 e6
Q-side .
8 Be3

(see diagram next column)

8 0-0 would also have been perfe ctly
natura l .
13 d5 ! ?

8 . . . BM The logica l continuation of the pla n . If left

9 Qd3 undisturbed, Black could have prepared

1 05
 The touchstone of mastery

Now the white a-pawn, supported by the

two bishops, threatens a rapid advance,
whereas the black h-pawn has no such pros
pects.

19 BeS
20 a5 Nf4 +

Black is unable to exchange bishops by

20 . . . Bd4 - 21 Rd 1 e5 22 Bb6 !

21 Kf1 Rd2
0--0-0 and then exploited the weakening of 22 Nd1! Na8
White's K-side and the position of his king.
Forced, since on 22 . . . Bd4 White wins
13 . Bd6 ? by 23 Bb8 and a5-a6, while if 22 . . . B X b2,
then 23 N X b2 R x b2 24 Be3 e5 25 a6.
White's risky tactics justify themselves.
Essential was 13 . . . e x d5 1 4 e x d5 Qe7 23 Be3 Rd7
(with the threat of 15 . . Nf4 + ), gaining
.

a tempo for castling Q-side - 15 Kf1 0-0-0, Black's temporary activity has petered out
after which Black's chances in this very sharp (23 . . . Rc2 ? 24 Bb3), and his game goes
position would be preferable . rapidly downhill.

14 d x c6 b X c6 24 a6 Kf8
1S Qd4! 25 Nc3 g5

A highly important interposition. The im In this way Black prevents Na4-b6, ex

mediate 1 5 Rgd 1 was weaker in view of 1 5 changing the blockading knight at a8 .
. . . Nf4 + 1 6 B x f4 B X f4, when Black's
26 Na4 Bd4
bishop is markedly stronger than its white
opponent.

15 . 0--0?

After this so natural move Black's position

becomes very difficult. Essential was 15 . . . e5
1 6 Qd2 Qe7 with a complicated game, al
though the bishop at c4 would gain signif
icantly in strength, whereas the black bishop
would join the ranks of the 'bad'.

16 Rgd1 B X h2

No better is 16 . . . Be7 1 7 Q X d8 RfX d8

27 Rd1!
1 8 R X d8 + B X d8 1 9 Rd 1 , with the threats
of 19 B x a7 and the invasion of the rook. The start of an elegant combination, cal
culated by White right to the end of the game .
17 Q X d8 RfX d8
18 R X d8 + R X d8 27 e5
19 B x a7 28 Nc5 Rd8

106
 No. 46 Polugayevsky-Ljubojevic, 1980

Tempting counter-play such as 28 . . . Rd6 slav grandmaster is a fervent follower of this

29 Nb3 Rh6 fails to 30 Kg1 Nh3 + 3 1 Kg2 line.
Nf<:t + 32 B X f4 g X f4 33 N X d4 Rd6 34
Ne6 + . 5 Nc3 Bb7
6 f3
29 Nb3 Bb6
30 R X d8 + B X d8
The alternative is 6 Bg5, in anticipation
31 a7
of the fact that it will be difficult for Black
Intending 32 Ba6 and 33 Bb7. to manage without playing . . . e6.

31 . . . Bb6 6 . . d6
32 B X b6 N X b6 7 e4 Nbd7
33 Na5 Ke7 8 Be2 e6
9 0-0 Be7
Or 33 . . . c5 34 Nb7 Ke7 35 N x c5 Kd6
10 Be3 0-0
34 b4.

34 N x c6 + Kd6
35 Nb4 Ne6

35 . . . Kc5 fails to 36 Nd5 !

36 Nd5 Na8
37 Nf6 b6
38 Bd5 Nec7

For an instant Black seems to have gained

a breathing space, but White has calculated
one move further.

39 Ne8 + ! Resigns At one time such set-ups were considered

passive and unpromising for Black, whereas
now various forms of the 'Andersson' pawn
No. 46 English Opening formation along the 6th rank (soon the a7
pawn will also step onto it) occur more and
Polugayevsky-Ljubojevic more often in grandmaster games. Yes, great
strides have been made both by theory, and
Bugojno, 1980 by the understanding of the dynamics of a
position. Even so, in this sense I am an ortho
1 Nf3 c5 dox person, and I believe that in the very
2 c4 Nf6 near future 'Lady theory' will confirm one of
3 d4 c x d4 her basic postulates - a spatial advantage
4 N X d4 b6 means something !

Black avoids the usual 4 . . . e6 in favour 11 Qd2 a6

of a system which resembles Ulf Andersson's 12 Rfd1 ReS
set-up in the Queen's Indian Defence. This 13 Bfl Bf8
did not come as a surprise to me - the Yugo 14 Rac1 Qc7

8 107
 The touchstone of mastery
Both sides have made 'their' moves . Their
strategy is basically different. Black will en
gage in manoeuvring, awaiting a convenient
moment for counter-play on the Q-side and
in the centre. White, on the other hand, must
aim to convert his 'extra' space into some
thing real.
15 b4!
A correct decision, in my opm10n. Ex
ploiting the fact that the c4 pawn is securely
defended by his bishop, White restricts still
further the mobility of the black pieces.
The idea of advancing the b-pawn two
squares had already occurred in my game
with Rodriguez from the Riga Interzonal
Tournament, where it fully justified itself.
15 Rac8
16 a3 Qb8
17 Nb3
Beginning to probe the weakness at b6,
and preventing Black from making a counter
attack on the c-pawn ; on 1 7 . . . Ne5 there
follows 1 8 Na4.
17 b6
18 Qf2 Bc6
19 b3 Be7
20 Rb1!
Unexpected and very strong. Now that
White has achieved the required deployment
of his pieces and consolidated his pawn for
mation, he regroups his rooks, preparing the
advance of his a-pawn. It would appear that
such a plan was seen for the first time in this
game : after all, it was considered 'statutory'
to have one of the rooks on the d-file. But
White very reasonably assumed that his
planned deployment would make life difficult
for the black queen.
20 Qc7
21 Rdcl
On the agenda is the threat of 22 Nd5 .
Where should Black move his queen to ?
Possibly the lesser evil now was 21 . . . Qd8,
although this would have broken the co
ordination of his rooks.
The move in the game allows white to send
forward his a-pawn with great effect.
21 Qa7
22 a4 d5
An attempt to break out, since other replies
would have allowed White a serious posi
tional or even material advantage.
23 e x d5 e x d5
24 a5
24 B X b4
108
 No. 48 Psakhis-Polugayevsky, 1 982

This leads to a hopeless position. Of course, No. 47 Queen' s Indian Defence

Black should have continued 24 . . . d X c4
(24 . . . Bd8 is bad due to 25 c X d5, and the Psakhis-Polugayevsky
undefended position of the rook at c8 tells)
25 a x b6 Qb8 26 B X c4 (less clear is 26 Na5 Kislovodsk, 1982
Bd8 27 NX c4 Bb5) 26 . . . B X f3 (if 26 . . .
B X b4, then 27 B x a6) 27 B X f7 + (on 27 1 d4 Nf6
B x a6 White has to reckon with 27 . . . R X c3 2 c4 e6
28 R X c3 Ne4 29 Q X/3 NX c3) 27 . . . K X f7 3 Nf3 b6
28 Q X f3, and although White's position 4 a3 d5
is better, it is by no means so clear whether 5 Nc3 Be7
or not he can win.
A slight finesse : in the event of 5 . . . Bb7
25 a x b6 Qb8
6 c x d5 e x d5 White has the unpleasant
26 c5
7 Qa4 + (Dorfman-Romanishin, Frunze,
Consolidating White's enormous advan 1 98 1), and so Black changes his move order.
tage.
6 Qa4 +
26 . . Bb7
Following the same path, which here i s un
No better is the exchange sacrifice 26 justified. 6 c X d5 was better.
R x e3 27 Q x e3 Bb7 due to 28 Na2, while
o n 26 . . . a5 White himself sacrifices the ex 6 . . Bd7
change - 27 Na2 Ba3 28 N X a5, gaining 7 Qb3 d X c4!
a won position.
This is the whole point ! Black does not
27 Bd4 Re6 allow his opponent to create a stable position
28 Na2 Ba3 in the centre by exchanging on d5 ; he prefers
29 Rc3 to give up his pawn centre in return for good
piece play. His lead in development merely
Black's bishop is trapped, and the rest of emphasizes that in an open game the advance
his moves were, strictly speaking, un- a2-a3 is an unfortunate loss of tempo.
necessary.
8 Q x c4 0-0
29 Rd8
9 e4 Bc6!
30 Na5 B x c5
31 B x c5 N x c5 Probing the weak point in the opponent's
32 Q x c5 d4 position.
33 N X b7 Q x b7
34 Qc7 Rb8 10 Qd3
35 Q X b7 R X b7
In transpires that on the natural 1 0 Bd3
36 Rc8 + Kh7
Black would have replied 10 . . . Bb7, when
37 Bd3 + g6
the threat of 1 1 Ba6 gives him the ad
38 Rc7 Rb X b6
vantage .
39 R X f7 + Kg8
40 Rb7 R X b1 + 10 Bb7
41 R X b1 Resigns 11 e5

8* 1 09
 The touchstone of mastery

This concedes d5 to Black, but White has hand, White could have avoided the troubles
no other active plan. in store.

11 . . Nd5 16 Ne2

He misses the opportunity ! Better was

16 N x d4, and if 16 . . . Nd7, then 1 7 N x d5
B X d5 1 8 Qe3.

16 . . Nd7 \
17 Qg4 ? !

The lesser evil was 1 7 Q X d4, although by

17 . . . Qb8 ! Black emphasizes the awkward
placing of the white pieces.

17 Qb8!
18 Qg3
12 Qe4 ? !
White is forced to attend to the defence
All i n the same extravagant manner-this of his e-pawn, since on 1 8 Bb5 I was intend
is already the 5th move with the queen ! ing to sacrifice the exchange - 1 8 . . . N X e5
It stands to reason that such a waste of time 1 9 N x e5 Q x e5 20 B x es R x e 8 21 N X d 4 f5
is bound to cost White dearly. 22 Qd 1 Bf6, with more than sufficient com
After the game the two players spent a long pensation.
time considering the alternative 12 h4 ! ?, and
18 . . . Nc5
pronounced it best. I did not especially care
19 Bb5
for the position with chances for both sides
after 12 . . . f5 13 e x f6 N x f6 14 Ng5 Qd6,
and therefore I was intending to play 12 . . .
N x c3 13 b X c3 c5, and on 14 Ng5 - simply
14 . . . g6. Now the tempting 15 N x h7 K x h7
16 h5 fails to 16 . . . Rh8 ! (but not
16 . . . Kg7
17 Bh6 + !), when White's attack is parried.
Better therefore is 1 5 Be2, but after 1 5 . . .
c x d4 16 c X d4 Nc6 I consider Black's posi
tion to be more promising.

12 c5
13 Bd3 g6
14 Bb6 ReS 19 d3!
15 0-0 c x d4
Already here Black had worked out
This is perhaps the only move in the game accurately all the resulting complications,
with which I am now unhappy. Black is which in the end lead to gain of material.
wrong to force events. He should have first
20 Nf4
played 15 . . . Nd7, threatening 16 . . . c x d4
and 1 7 . . . Nc5, and retaining all the ad After 20 Ned4 ReS 2 1 b4 a6 ! Black has
vantages of his position. Now, on the other an undisputed advantage.

1 10
 No. 48 Polugayevsky-Seirawan, 1982

20 Rd8 A last attempt to confuse matters some

21 N X d3 Ne4! how.
22 Qg4 Nc7!
23 Bc4 b5 34 e x dS
24 Bb3 35 e6

White is no longer able to maintain If 35 Q X d5, then 35 . . . Qd8 .

material equality.
35 Qe8
24 R X d3
36 Qg5
25 Bc2 R X f3
26 g X f3 Nc5
Or 36 Q X d5 Rd8 37 Q X b5 Nd6 38 Qe5
As it is customary to say, the rest is a Nf5 .
matter of technique. All that is required of
Black is accuracy. 36 . fX e6
Wbite resigns
27 f4 Be4

Eliminating the opponent's white-squared

bishop, although 27 . . . Qe8 followed by . . . No. 48 Nimzo-Indian Defence
Qc6 was also perfectly convincing.
Polugayevsky-8eirawan
28 B X e4 N X e4
29 Racl NdS lnterzonal Tournament
30 Rc6 BcS! Toluca, 1982
Now 3 1 . . . Qb7 is threatened . In addition
Black has calculated that 31 R X e6 does not 1 d4 Nf6
work . . . 2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 b6
31 b4
4 Nc3 Bb4
On 3 1 R X e6 there would have followed
3 1 . . . N X f2 ! 32 R X f2 B X f2 + 33 K X f2 Seirawan avoids 4 . . . Bb7, possibly fear
Qc8 34 f5 f X e6 3 5 f X g6 Qc2 + and, if there ing 5 a3, and transposes from a Queen's
is nothing better, 36 . . . Q X g6. Indian set-up into the Nimzo-Indian Defence
- an opening in which he is well versed.
31 Bb6
32 Qg2 Nd2 5 e3 Bb7
But not 32 . . . Qb7 ? ! 33 R X b6 ! N X b6 6 Bd3 cS
34 Re 1 , and for a time White restores
material equality. The other recommendations of theory are
6 . . . Ne4, 6 . . . d5 and 6 . . . 0-0. The
33 Rd1 choice is a matter of taste, although, in my
33 f5 is well met by 33 . . . N x fl 34 fX g6 opinion, in each continuation White can hope
Q x e5 ! for a slight opening advantage.

33 Nc4 7 0-0 0-0

34 R X dS 8 Na4 c X d4

Ill
 The touchstone of mastery
The threat of 9 a3 Ba5 1 0 d X c5 practically
forces Black to remove the pawn tension,
since the other move to be tried, 8 . . . 7
9 a3 Ba5 10 Rb 1 , drives the bishop 'off-side'
and leaves it under the threat of tactical
blows involving b2-b4.
9 e X d4 Be7
Perhaps more subtle is 9 . . . ReS, as
Larsen once played against me. In this case
the white rook cannot go to el for the mo
ment, and the black bishop has a choice of
retreat squares-e7 or f8.
10 Re1 Re8
There is in progress an imperceptible but
important battle for a tempo ! The point is
that White wishes to justify the position of his
knight at a4, whereas Black would like to
show it to be dubious. For the moment the
knight does not stand badly, preventing the
natural . . . d5, on which there would follow
c4-c5 with a bind . However, the knight would
'gladly' retreat to c3, but only if Black should
have wasted a tempo on . . . d6. Black realized
this in making his l Oth move . If now the
knight retreats to c3, Black plays 1 1 . . . d5,
and his rook at e8 is well placed. For the
moment 1 1 Bg5 is premature, and so \\!bite
has to find a useful move.
11 a3
1 12
Here it is ! Firstly, b2-b4 is prepared, and
secondly, after the future possibility of . . . d5
and . . . d X c4, from c4 the white bishop will
have a convenient retreat at a2.
11 . . . d6
The invisible micro-duel has been won . . .
l2 b4 Nbd7
13 Bb2 Rc8
14 Nc3
'The Moor has done its deed', and can now
withdraw. White has the freer game, and in the
struggle for equality Black must come up with
some concrete plan of action.
14 . . g6
A link in Black's strategic plan. Tempting
was 14 . . . Ba6, with a comfortable game after
1 5 b5 (15 Nd2 is bad due to 15 . . . d5)
1 5 . . . Bb7 followed - without hindrance -
by . . . d5, but Black rejected it because of 1 5
d5 (also possible, however, is 15 Nb5 B x b5
16 c x b5, with the idea of exploiting not so
much the strength of the two bishops, as the
weakness of c6), when 1 5 . . . e5 1 6 Nd2
leads to a typical position, favouring White,
while 1 5 . . . e x d5 16 c x d5 B X d3 1 7 Q x d3
gives White both the c6 square, and attack
ing chances on the K-side .
15 Bfl
There is nothing more for the bishop to do
on the b 1 -h7 diagonal. In addition, White
now has the option of parrying 1 5 . . . Ba6
whith 16 Nd2.
15 . . . a6
I think that Black should not have wasted
time on this move . Since he was intending play
in the centre and on the K-side, it was better
to play 1 5 . . . Nh5 immediately, or else
15 . . . Bf8 followed by . . . Bg7.
16 Nd2
 No. 48 Polugayevsky-Seirawan, 1 982

White immediately exploits the resulting 21 . B x b2

weakness at b6, intending Nb3 and a3-a4-a5. 22 N X b2 Ne5

16 Nh5 This active move seems fine, but . . . White

17 d5! is well ahead of the opponent in the develop
ment of his initiative, and therefore to be
At just the right time ! Black's white
considered was 22 . . . Nhf6, attacking d5,
squared bishop is now shut in, since 1 7 . . .
and thereby hindering the possible advance
e x d5 1 8 N x d5 B X d5 1 9 c x d5 b5 20 a4
of White's c-pawn.
clearly favours White.
23 a x b6 Q X b6
17 e5
24 Qd2 Qd8

18 Nb3 f5
25 Ra3
19 a4 Bf6
This prophylactic move is unnecessary.
Of course, the immediate 1 9 . . e4 did
.
The immediate 25 Na5 should have been
not work because of 20 Nd4, but there was played, and if 25 . . . Ba8 26 b5 !, invading
some point in making the 'sideways' move then at c6 with a strategically won position.
1 9 . . . Bh4 ! ?, with the idea of either provok But now for an instant Black can catch his
ing g2-g3, weakening the position of the white breath.
king , or (in view of the inevitable a4-a5 and
a X b6) of attacking f2. At any rate, this would 25 . . . Nf6
have given White some additional problems 26 NaS Ba8
to solve. 27 Rd1

20 a5 e4 For the moment b4-b5 is not possible, so

White begins preparing c4-c5, for which he
first defends his d-pawn.
27 Rc7
28 Na4 Rg7

Black's idea is 29 g5, 30 . . . g4 and

3 1 . . . Nf3 + , but White is the first to create
decisive threats, and therefore the lesser evil
was 28 . . . Rf7, preparing . . . f4.
29 Qd4 g5
30 Nb6 g4
31 N x a8 Q x a8
21 Na4! It turns o ut that on 3 1 . . . Nf3 + White
One of the most difficult moves in the game . had prepared 32 R X f3 ! g X f3 33 Nc6 !
Black's main piece is now his black-squared Q x a8 34 Q x f6, when Black can resign.
bishop, and it has to be exchanged . 21 Nd4 32 Nc6 Qb7
Ne5 22 Ne6 was clearly wrong in view of
22 . . R X e6 23 d x e6 N X c4, with fine
.
Black has clearly lost the battle . since
counter-play. 32 . . . N X c6 is bad due to the simple 33
Besides, from b2 the white knight securely d X c6, winning material.
defends the c4 pawn. 33 c5 Qf7

1 13
 The touchstone of mastery

White might just play 34 R X a6 ? ?, allow 49 Be6 + and 50 B X/5) 49 K X h2 Qd6

ing 34 . . . Nf3 + ! 50 Bd5 + Black loses his queen. These simple
34 N X e5 R X e5 but effective variations were easily found dur
ing the adjournment analysis.
Or 34 . . . d X e5 35 Qc4 and then simply
42 d6 Nf6
d5-d6.
43 Qf5 Qa7
35 c x d6
44 Qc5
35 R X a6 is also good.
The miracle has not occurred, White having
35 . ReS no intention of overlooking the mate at g l . . .
If 35 . . . R X d5, then 36 Bc4. 44 Qa4
36 R X a6 f4 45 Rde1 Qa2
46 R x 6 R X f6
47 d7 RgS
48 Qd4 Kg7
49 Bc4 Resigns

No. 49 King' s Indian Defence

Polugayevsky-Rodriguez

Interzonal Tournament
37 d7! Toluca, 1982
The most energetic. The white rook
1 d4 Nf6
reaches e6, and further loss of material for
2 c4 g6
Black is inevitable.
3 Nc3 Bg7
37 . N X d7 4 e4 d6
38 Re6 Rf8 5 Be2 0-0
39 Q X e4 g3 6 Nf3 e5
40 f3 g X h2 + 7 Be3
41 Kh1
I n this position the game was adjourned : This continuation often occurs in practice.
Black was obviously hoping for a miracle . . . It is true that I have normally played differently
in this position, but for this tournament I de
41 KhS
cided to change slightly my opening reper
.

After 41 . . . Nf6 42 Q x f4 N x d5 43 Qd6 ! toire, and I successfully employed 7 Be3 on

(of course, transposing into the endgame also
wins) 43 . . . Ne7 (43 . . . Nf4 44 Bc4 Kh8
45 Rf6!!, mating) 44 Bc4 Kh8 (44 . . . Nf5
45 Q xfi + !) 45 Rde l Nf5 (45 . . . Ng8
46 b5) 46 Q x f8 + ! Q x f8 47 Re8 Rg8 48
B X g8 ! Ng3 + (48 . . . Qf6 49 Bd5+ Kg7
50 Rg8+ Kh6 51 Re6, or 48 . . . Q x b4
two occasions - against Nunn and in the
present game.
7 . . Nc6
Nunn continued 7 . . . Nbd7, and after
8 04> c6 9 d5 c5 I chose 10 Ne l Ne8 1 1 Nd3
(to meet 11 . . . f5 with 12 f4) 1 1 . . a6 .

1 14
 No. 49 Polugayevsky-Rodriguez, 1 982
12 a4 Qe7 13 Qd2 Nc7 14 a5, and White's
advantage became appreciable.
8 d5 Ne7
9 Nd2 cS
Practically forced, since otherwise White's
Q-side initiative develops unchecked. For
example, 9 . . . Nd7 10 b4 f5 1 1 f3 followed
by c4-c5 and Nc4.
10 g4
This 'squeeze' move, typical of positions
with a blocked centre, is directed against
Black's planned . . . f5.
10 N X g4 ? !
To b e frank, this move surprised me :
I had never come across it, although, I repeat,
the position after 10 g4 had often occurred
in practice. Only after the game did I learn
from my opponent that this temporary piece
sacrifice had already been tried in a tourna
ment in Cuba .
The usual move here is 10 . . . Ne8.
11 B X g4 f5
12 b3!
At the board White finds a reply which
casts doubts on Black's plan. He is essentially
forced to take the bishop immediately, and
open the h-file for White .
12 . fX g4
After 12 . . . f4 1 3 B x c5 d X c5 14 B X c8
Q x c8 15 Qg4 the constant factor of the bad
115
bishop at g7 (as is known, in the King's
Indian Defence this bishop is either very bad,
or very good, and this frequently determines
the chances of the two sides) gives White
a clear advantage.
Black is unable to maintain the tension
either by 12 . . . h5, since after 13 B X h5
g X h5 14 Bg5 the h5 pawn is lost, or by 12 . . .
b6, since after 13 f3 the capture of the bishop
at g4 is all the same forced.
13 b X g4 a6
14 a4
At first sight, this seems to be excessive
prophylaxis, but . . . What is of primary im
portance in positions of this type is the overall
strategic plan, and not some move taken in
isolation. White's idea is to squeeze the op
ponent over the entire board, and then to
exploit his spatial advantage and the bad
bishop at g7.
14 . . Bd7
15 f3 Nc8 ?
Good or bad, it was essential to play 1 5 . . .
Qa5, preventing the advance of the a-pawn.
and at least exerting some pressure on the
Q-side. The text move involves an over
naive idea.
16 g5!
The idea of . . . Bf6-g5 remains unrealized.
whereas the black knight at c8 stands very
badly . . . True, White had to evaluate
carefully the consequences of the possible
exchange sacrifice . . . Rf4.
16 . . . Rb8
17 a5
White's superiority has become more than
obvious. It is interesting that, after the inevi
table advance of the black b-pawn, the second
rook's file is also opened to White's advant
age, whereas the b- and f-files do not pro
mise Black anything real.
 The touchstone of mastery

17 b5 Intending to transfer the knight to d3, from

18 a x b6 R X b6 where it will support both b3-b4, and also
19 b3 Rf4 possibly f3-f4.
An attempt to confuse matters : if White
25 . Nb6
wins the exchange, the bishop at g7 will 26 Nf2 Nd7
become terribly strong. But what is Black 27 Nd3 Ra8
to do if White simply reinforces his lines, and
in particular his g-pawn ? 28 b4 was threatened .
20 Rgl Rf7
28 Qc3 Bf8
An admission of his 'guilt' . And although 29 Rgal
on 20 . . . Bf8 (with the idea of . . . Bel)
White could have continued either 21 Ne2, The reserves have been brought up, and
or 21 Ke2 (aiming for c2 via d3) 21 . . . Be7 b3-b4 is now unavoidable .
22 B x f4 e x f4 23 e5 ! and Ne4, Black should
have tried to gain at least some counter 29 Rb6
chances by 20 . . . Rh4.
Or 29 . . . Nb8 30 b4 c X b4 3 1 N X b4
21 Ke2
Bb5 32 Kd3 ! and the a-pawn is lost.
Contrary to the usual state of affairs, the
king in the centre feels fine. 30 b4 Qc8

21 ... Be8
Although insufficient, the last chance was
22 Ra3 Ra7 nevertheless to give up the exchange-30 . . .
23 Qat Rbb7 c X b4 3 1 B X b6 Q X b6. True, White would
24 Ra5 have continued 32 N x b4, and if 32 . . . Qd8,
For the moment the black pawn is immune then 33 Qe3 Nc5 34 Nd3 N x d3 35 K X d3
(24 R X a6 ? ? R X a6 25 Q x a6 Ra7, and the Be7 36 R x a6 R x a6 37 R x a6 B X g5 38 Qb6,
queen is caught), but White fixes it, at the which was bound to win.
same time forcing the black pieces to cluster
31 b X c5 N X c5
on a cramped sector of the board.
32 N x c5 d x cs
24 . . Qc7 33 Rbl!

The cleanest way. Black's one active piece

is exchanged, which reduces his counter
chances on the b-file to nil. He is unable to
defend all his pawn weaknesses.

33 R X bl
34 N X bl Bd6
35 Nd2 Ra7
36 Qa3 Qh3
37 R X a6 Qg2 +
25 Ndl ! 38 Kd3 Resigns

1 16
 Finale of the Chess Symp hony
This was the name given to the endgame by
Savielly Tartakover. And he was quite right.
Because a chess game can be figuratively
compared with a house. It stands on the
opening - its foundations, the walls are its
middle game, and the roof- the endgame. And
if the roof leaks, if it is badly made, the very
first rain will wash away the best built walls,
and will begin to rot the most solid founda
tions. In the same way, any player with high
ambitions is obliged to like, know, and be
able to play the endgame. It is no accident
that a microscopic superiority of one grand
master over another in the endgame has
frequently decided even the fate of matches
for the World Championship.
In my career it so happened that I learned
my endgame mastery not so much from
books, as from my own experience. Of course,
I could not pass by the game collections of
Capablanca and Rubinstein, which are full
of endgame masterpieces. I was also familiar
with the splendid books of Rabinovich and
Fine, and later with Averbakh's fundamental
three-volume work. But the main thing is that
I have always extended beyond the minimal
bounds in the analysis of adjourned end
game positions.
For example, once in a junior event I ad
journed a game with a rook and white h-pawn
against Black's white-squared bishop. I knew
that, if the pawn had not crossed the fourth
rank, White could win. But how ? . . .
Of course, it would have been easy to
look it up in the book by Lisitsin which had
1 17
just been published. But, feeling eager, I de
cided to find the winning path for myself.
Deep into the night I joyfully discovered how
to win the ending, and it was only as a pre
caution that I compared it with the already
known procedure. I think that such an ap
proach to the problem was of much more
benefit to me than the the generally-accepted
using of a reference book.
By similar means I also mastered other
types of endings, in particular rook endings.
The results of this work are seen in some of
the games given here .
And it stands to reason that one's skill in
playing the endgame can be improved espe
cially markedly by the analysis of adjourned
games. It is constantly mentioned in chess
literature, but to the question - what is the
art of analysis ? - no single answer exists.
This is natural, since too much depends on the
individuality of the player. Some outline only
general plans and the piece set-up for which
they are aiming. This, for example, is how
Ex-World Champion Smyslov analyzes, and
in this he is helped by his brilliant intuition.
Grandmaster Geller's method is rather dif
ferent. Apart from the plan itself, he also
works out in great detail the most specific
ways imaginable of carrying it out. That is
also how I try to operate, and with experience
I have begun more and more often - and
nowadays almost always - to resort to Bot
vinnik's principle : not to disregard any moves
in the position which are at all possible, even
the most 'stupid' and apparently absurd . For
 Finale of the chess symphony
it is these which can contain a good deal of
venom, and several examples, which we have
yet to come to, will confirm this.
All this refers to the strategy, as it were,
of analysis. When it comes to tactics, this
depends on many factors, in particular on the
player's tournament position, on his state
of health, on the number of unfinished games
he has accumulated, and on the schedule of
the event. Sometimes it makes sense not to use
up all your strength on the thorough study
of an adjourned position, in order to avoid
losing a mass of points in other unfinished
or subsequent games. Sometimes, when you
know your opponent well, you can take a risk
by assuming that he won't go in for a partic
ular variation, and thus economize on effort
by reducing the extent of your analysis . All
this depends very specifically on the circum
stances. I can state only one thing with com
plete certainty : it is wrong to analyze right up
to the last minute before the resumption of the
game. One should, on sitting down at the
board, be able for a moment to glance at the
familiar position from the side, as it were .
If something has been overlooked in analysis,
or if it has not been carried through to the
end, such a glance may help, and in the ex
perience of each one of us there are certainly
examples which will confirm this.
But in general, when there are no exception
al circumstances in the tournament, a player
should, in my opinion, go fully into the
analysis, devoting to it maximum effort and
time. Even if a part of this effort proves to be
wasted, it will subsequently be rewarded.
Analysis is an excellent form of training ; it
develops efficiency, perseverance and stamina,
which chess players really need no less than
marathon runners. And in sport, severe
training methods have for a long time been
practised .
1 18
No. 50
Polugayevsky-Averbakh
31st USSR Championship
Leningrad, 1963
The weakness of Black's Q-side pawns,
the resemblance of his bishop to a 'large
pawn', and the fact that his king is tied to the
defence of his weaknesses - all this gives
White a serious advantage . And even so, the
win is by no means simple. It is not possible
to achieve success by play on one wing only,
and therefore White carries out a plan which
consists of three stages : (I) weaken Black's
K-side ; (2) using the a-, c- and g-files for rook
manoeuvres, tie down Black's forces by
attacking his weak points ; (3) transfer his
king to the K-side.
44 Rgl g5
Black avoids the passive 44 . . . R8d7,
fearing 45 Rg6 followed by h2-h4-h5 and
the switching of the second rook to the g-file.
But the move in the game undermines the
stability of Black's pawn structure, and allows
White to plan a march with his king via f3
and g4 to h5 . However, first he ties down the
opponent's forces to the defence of the c6
pawn.
45 Rgal ReS
46 Kd2 Ra8
 No. 50 Polugayevsky-Averbakh, 1 963

Black is forced to wait, 46 . . . Re5 being

pointless due to 47 Rc5.

47 ReS Rb8
48 Racl

The second stage of the plan is completed,

and White can now turn to the third, conclud
ing stage.
48 . . Rf8
49 Be4 ReS
50 Kd3 Ra8 ment he avoids the exchange of bishops,
On 50 . . . Rde6 White planned 51 Bg6 and which would ease slightly his opponent's
then 52 Ke2, but Black should have tied down defence.
the white king, if only for the time being, 58 Rdl
by 50 . . . Re7. 59 Ke2 Ral
51 Ke2 Rh8 60 Rb8 + Kc7
52 K3 b5 61 Rf8 Ra2 +
62 K3 Ra3
Black loses his nerve. The threat of the 63 Ke2 Ra2 +
king's advance to h5 or f5 is averted, but 64 Kf3 Ra3
perhaps this would have been the lesser 65 Rb7 + Rd7
evil. Now g5 is obviously insufficiently de 66 Be4?
fended, and White immediately exploits
this factor. Up till now White has found the best
moves, but here I should like to disagree
53 b4! g X b4
with myself. 66 Bg6 ! was undoubtedly
After 53 . . . g4 + 54 Kf4 the h5 pawn is stronger, and if 66 . . . f5, then either 67
doomed. Rf6, or 67 Kf4 a5 68 b X a5 R X a5 69 Rf6.
54 Rbl Bc8 66 . . . f5
55 R X b4 Rg8 67 R X d7 + K X d7
Since no relief is acquired by 55 . . . Bg4 + 6 8 Bbl
56 Kf4 and then f2-f3, Black immediately Obviously the immediate 68 B X f5 fails
parts with his h-pawn in order to activate one to 68 . Ke7.
. .

of his rooks.
68 . . . Ke7
56 Rc X h5 Rgl
57 Rh8 Be6 Black has nothing better, all the alterna-
tives being bad :
(see diagram next column) (a) 68 . . Rb3 69 B x f5 Ke7 70 B x e6.
.

(b) 68 . . Ra4 69 Kf4.

.

58 Bd3! (c) 68 . . Ra l 69 Bc2 ! Rcl (69 . . Ra2

. .

70 B X/5 Ke7 71 B X e6) 70 Bd3 Ra l 7 1

In spite of his material advantage, accuracy
Kf4.
is required of White, since the black rook is
starting to operate in his rear. For the mo- 69 Rb8 Rb3

1 19
 Finale of the chess symphony

Pursuing the bishop would have made 8 d5 a6

White's task rather more difficult : 69 . . . 9 Nf3
Ra 1 70 Bd3 Ra3 7 1 Bfl Bd5 + 72 Kg3
(72 Kf4 Ra2) 72 . . . Ra2, when in certain Of course, White could have resorted to 9
variations he has to reckon with . . . f4 + . a4, and met 9 . . . Qa5 with 1 0 Ra3, radically
But now the game is decided. preventing . . . b5, but then he would have
had to reckon with 10 . . . Qb4 and 1 1 . . .
70 Ba2 Rb2 Nb6. Therefore, having calculated that the
71 B x e6 K x e6 ensuing complications were not dangerous,
72 Rb6 Kd5 I decided to complete my development as
73 R x a6 f4 quickly as possible.
Or 73 . . . R X b4 74 Kf4 c5 75 Ra5 . 9 ... Qa5
74 Ra5 + Kd6 10 0-0
75 e4 R X b4
76 d5 c5 Here 1 0 a4 ? would have been a bad mis
take, in view of 10 . . . b5 1 1 c x b5 a x b5 12
and, without wmtmg for his opponent's B X b5 N x e4 ! 13 N x e4 Q x b5 .
reply, Black resigned.
To be frank, I was very pleased to be award 10 b5
ed the prize for the best endgame in the
Black is at least consistent in carrying out
Championship - no doubt, because it would
his ideas, but it soon transpires that his plan
seem that no one had received such a distinc
is tactically unjustified .
tion in a game with Yuri Averbakh, an ac
knowledged theorist and expert on the con 11 c x b5 a x b5 .
cluding stage of the game. 12 B X b5 N X e4
13 N X e4 Q X b5
14 B x e7 Q X b2
No. 5 1 King ' s Indian Defence
Polugayevsky-Geller

Skopje, 1968

1 d4 Nf6
2 c4 g6
3 Nc3 Bg7
4 e4 d6
5 Be2 0-0
6 Bg5 Nbd7
7 Qd2 c5 Both players had aimed for this position.
Black assumed that after 15 Q x b2 B X b2
Usually Black plays 7 . . . e5 here, but, in 1 6 B X f8 (insufficient is 16 Rae1 Ba6, or 16
contrast to our previous meetings, in this Rab1 Re8 17 R X b2 R X e7 18 NX d6 Ba6
game Geller chooses a plan involving rapid 19 Rei Rd8, with counterplay) 16 . . . B X a 1
activity on the Q-side. 1 7 B X d6 (or 17 R X a1 KX/8 18 NX d6 Nf6)

120
 No. 5 1 Polugayevsky-Geller, 1968

17 . . . R X a2 he would be able to count on This seems to be the best chance. 20

a draw. But far in advance White had found
a strong reply.
15 Qe3! Ba6
Black decides to give up the exchange,
since 15 . . . Re8 is bad because of 16 N X d6,
while on 15 . . . Ra3 I would have continued
16 Qf4 (16 B X/8 R X e3 17 B X g7 KXg7 19
Bb2 is dubious on account of 2 1 Rd2, while
on 20 . . . Bh8 there would have followed 2 1
Ng5 (with the threat o f 22 Qh3) 2 1 . . . Nf6
(21 . . . h6 22 Qh3) 22 Q x c5 .
21 R X d7
The most logical. True, White also retains
an advantage both by 21 Q x f3, and 21 g X f3.

/X e3 is also interesting) 16 . . . ReS 1 7 N X d6 but in the first case Black can hold on for
R x e7 1 8 N x c8, when on both 1 8 . . . Re2 the moment by 2 1 . . . Bd4, while in the
and 1 8 . . . ReS the invasion 19 Qc7 is highly second it will not be easy to realize the ad
unpleasant. vantage of the exchange, in view of White's
spoiled pawn formation.
16 B X f8 R X f8
17 Rfe1 Bc4 21 . . Bc6
22 Rd2 Q X d2!
Rightly judging that the passive 1 7 . . .
Qb6 1 8 Rab l Qc7 1 9 Qf4 holds no promise, Again the best decision. For his queen
Black pins his hopes on his two bishops and Black obtains only two bishops, but they are
the passed c-pawn. strong, and to win White has to follow a
completely untrodden path.
18 Rad1 Q x a2
23 Q X d2 B x es
19 N X d6 B X d5
Of course, it is to Black's advantage to
retain the rooks, and therefore White's
immediate efforts are aimed at forcing their
exchange.

24 Qd8 Ba4
25 Qa5 Bb3
26 Q x c5 Be6
27 Qd6

The d-file has been seized, and the exchange

at b8 is now inevitable.

20 Ne8 ! 27 . . . h5

A blow of terrible strength. If the black Perhaps marginally stronger was 27 . . .

squared bishop should fall, White will easily ReS 28 Rbl Bf8, although after 29 Qf4 the
realize his advantage of the exchange. At the white rook nevertheless breaks through onto
same time, for the moment the black rook is the 8th rank.
cut off from the decisive sector of the battle
field. 28 Rb1 Ra8
29 Rb8 + R X b8
20 . B X f3 30 Q X b8 + Kh7

121
 Finale of the chess symphony

Correct, of course, was 41 . . . g X f4+

In principle, the more pawns there are on
the board, the harder it is for the weaker side
to defend. But at the same time the queen
requires space for manoeuvring, and at the
moment Black has no weaknesses. And so I
prepared the plan of h2-h3, g2-g4, Kg2-g3
and f2-f5-f5, with winning chances.
42 K X f4, with a highly interesting ending.
White's plan would be to advance g4-g5,
and to prevent the white-squared bishop from
occupying the b1-h7 diagonal. Then the
queen would go via the h-:file to h6, to sup
port g5-g6 at the appropriate moment. Fi
nally, an ending with queen against two
bishops, without pawns, could be reached,
but with the black king cut off on the back
rank. Unfortunately, none of this was tested
in practice ; the ending would undoubtedly
have been of theoretical importance .
However, Geller, foreseeing this, and not
wishing to play a disagreeable ending, tried
another possibility, which in the end proved
to be even worse.

31 Qf4 Bc3
32 b3 Kg7
33 g4 h X g4
34 h X g4 Bf6
35 Qe4

Now Black could have hindered the ad

vance f2-f4 by playing 35 . . . Bd8 36 Kg2
Bc7. Geller decides to counter White's plan
more radically, but as a result the solidity of
the black pawns is destroyed somewhat.
Thus the game was adjourned in this rare
35 0 0 0 g5 position, with a completely unusual balance
36 Kg2 Be7 of forces. I am not sure whether or not it
has occurred earlier in practice, but in end
36 . . . Bd8 now has no point, since after game theory nothing of this sort is analyzed.
37 f4 B X g4 38 fx g5 White wins. The question to be answered is the following :
is the queen able to overcome the resistance
37 Kh3 Bf6
of the bishop pair, which are able in some
39 Kg3
cases to create an iron curtain around their
For several moves White defers the car king ?
rying out of his basic plan. I now had to seal my, next move. I examined
42 Kf3 . Now 42 . . . g X f4 is no longer pos
38 . . o Bd8 sible, in view of 43 g5, when one of the
39 Qd4 + Bf6 bishops is lost : 43 . . . Bd8 44 Qd4 + , or
40 Qc5 Ba2 43 . . . Ba 1 44 Qc l . At the same time 43 f5
41 f4 Bb1 ? is threatened, when there is no way that the

1 22
 No. 5 1 Polugayevsky-Geller, 1 968
white-squared bishop can reach the a5-h l
diagonal, which is its ideal place. But then
I suddenly imagined that, by going totally
onto the defensive - 43 . . . Bh7 44 f5 Bg8,
Black could create a fortress by later placing
his bishop at e5 and his pawn at f6.
This did not appeal to me, and it was only
at home that I found that the fortress would
not in fact materialize . White would contin
ue simply 45 Ke4 Ba l 46 Qa3 Bf6 47 Kd5,
when his king penetrates unhindered to e8.
Then with the bishop at f6 White places
his queen at d6, when Black is in zugzwang.
For example, 1 . . . Bc3 2 Ke7, and there is
no defence against f5-f6.
But, alas, it was a different move that was
sealed .
42 f5
I do not even know whether I should re
gret this, since without it there would not have
occurred a highly interesting endgame, which
I analyzed move by move literally to the very
end. When all this analytical material was
written down, it turned out that the position
on the board was virtually a study. And I
went along to the tournament hall, firm in
the knowledge that it was Black to play, but
that White would win, and, moreover, that
there was only one single way to do this.
Incidentally, during the resumption of the
game White spent only a few minutes on his
two dozen moves, but behind each minute
there stood roughly an hour of analytical
work.
Theory, I repeat, has nothing to say about
such endings, and I began my work by deter
mining those typical positions, in which
Black's bishops as it were cut across the
board, and do not allow the white king into
his position, without which, of course, there
is no win. The first of these I was able to
construct without difficulty.
(see diagram next column)
9 123
The e4 bishop simply strolls up and down
the long white-squared diagonal, and even the
united efforts of king and queen are insuffi
cient to trap it or drive it off. This means that
the white king cannot cross the barrier erect
ed along the a8-hl and b8-h2 diagonals.
Having determined this position, White
begins in the first instance to fight against
such a set-up for the bishops.
42 . . . Be4
I was in no doubt that this is what Black
would play : after 42 . . . Ba2 43 Qb5 there
is nothing to prevent the white king from
reaching e4, and then, by attacking the
bishop with Qa4, moving on to d5 and
eventually e8.
43 Kf2 Bbl
44 Ke3 Bb7
45 Qc7!
The 'triangulation' device once again comes
into play. It transpires that, on the empty
and long white-squared diagonal, the bishop
each time has only one reasonable square.
By giving his opponent the move, White
drives the bishop to a less comfortable post.
For instance, if here White plays 46 Qd6
immediately, Black has 46 . . . Bg2, and the
white king is still cut off, since 47 Kd3 is
answered by 47 . . . Bfl + 48 Ke4 Bg2 + .
If White should incautiously attempt to
penetrate with his king on the edge of the
board via a4 and a5 to b6, then Black, after
first tying down the queen to the defence
 Finale of the chess symphony
of the g4 pawn, can hope to create that same
drawn position which has already been
given.
Incidentally, so as not to have to return
again to the initial stage of my analysis, I
should say that I also discovered another
ideal position for Black.
[Here White's king is centralized, but he
has no possibility of crossing a different
barrier this time - along the a l -h8 and a2-g8
diagonals. Thus while fighting against the
first drawn position, White all the time has
to take care that Black does not set up the
second . . .
But let us return to the game. Following
White's queen manoeuvre, the white-squared
bishop is unable to reach the a6-fl diagonal.
45 . Bg2
46 Qd6! !
Both bishops have a mass of moves; and
yet Black is in zugzwang. The point is that
124
the bishops cannot defend each other, and
it only needs the black-squared bishop to
move away from his own king for one of
Black's fighting units to fall.
E.g. 46 . . . Ba l 47 Kf2 ! Be4 48 Qe7, and
the breakaway pawn at g5 is lost. If Black
attempts to keep the white king out of d3
by 46 . . . Bfl , then after 47 Qd5 ! he is de
prived of the long diagonal, and his forces
are paralyzed : if 47 . . . Be?, then 48 Kf2 !
Ba6 49 Qc6 Bd3 50 Qc3 + , and the bishop is
lost, while 47 . . . Bc3 is again answered
by 48 Kf2 !, with the follow-up 48 . . . Ba6
49 Qc6 Bd4 + 50 Kf3 Bfl 5 1 Qc2, when the
road to e4 and d5 is open to the king.
White's task appears to be the most diffi
cult after 47 . . . Ba6, but in fact it is fairly
simple : 48 Qc6 Bfl 49 Kf2 Bd3 50 K.f3 Bfl
5 1 Ke3, and once again triangulation, this
time by the king, is used to give Black the
move ; he is forced to move his black-squared
bishop, which inevitably leads to loss of
material.
Black therefore attempts to retain posses
sion of the a8-hl diagonal.
46 . Bb7
47 Kd3
The first step is made : the king heads for
c4.
47 Bf3
Naturally, Black tries to prevent this. By
tying the queen to the defence of the g4 pawn,
he plays his bishop to d5, takes control of c4
and 'reminds' his opponent that he also has.
a second drawing position.
48 Qg3 BdS
(see diagram next column)
For 'complete happiness' Black requires
two tempi : 49 . . . Bal and 50 . . . f6. But . . .
49 Qe3!
 No. 5 1 Polugayevs ky-Geller, 1 968
Black is faced with fresh problems. Neith
er bishop can move (after 49 . . . Ba2 the
white king breaks through : 50 Ke4 Be7
51 Qa7 Bb1 + 52 Kd5), but in reserve he has
moves with his king.
49 . . Kg8!
It would seem that White cannot put all
three pieces in zugzwang. But the whole
point is that this does prove possible.
50 Kd2! !
White vacates d3 for his queen (so as to
d islodge the bishop from its centralized post
at d5), and prepares a route for his king
into the enemy position via the jumping-off
square b3, while exploiting a barely-discern
ible nuance in the resulting position : the
black-squared bishop will temporarily be
undefended. It would appear that, with this
aim, the immediate 50 Kc2 is more consist
ent, but it achieves nothing against Black's
9*
only, but sufficient, defence : 50 . . . Kg7
51 Qd3 Bh 1 ! ! (bad is 51 . . . Ba2 52 Qb5,
when the white king goes first to e4, and
then - after the attack on the bishop by
Qa4 - also to d5) 52 Kb3 Be5 !, and it is
impossible to prevent the creation of the
familiar first drawing position after . . . f6.
White's problem is to move to c2 with
his king only when, after this, the enemy king
will be forced to retreat to g8, and for an
instant leave the bishop at f6 without sup
port (we will see from the further course
of the game what an extremely important
factor this is). White therefore resorts to
the famous triangulation with his king,
which explains his last move.
50 . . Kg7
Now 50 . . . Bh 1 fails to the flank attack
5 1 Qh3 and 52 Qh6, with an immediate win.
Here we see for the first time how White
exploits the hanging position of the black
squared bishop.
If instead 50 . . . Bg2 (50 . . . Ba2 51
Qb6 Kg7 52 Qb5 and 53 Kd3), then 5 1 Qg3,
and bad is both 51 . . . Be4 52 Ke3 ! (the
return of the king enables White to trap one
of the bishops or to invade with his king)
52 . . . Bc2 53 Qc7 Ba4 54 Ke4, and 5 1 . . .
Bfl 52 Qf3 Bb5 53 Qd5 Be8 (53 . . . Bf1 54
Ke1 !) 54 Ke3 etc.
51 Kc2
It is here that we reach the position of
absolute, if one can call it this, zugzwang,
that White has been aiming for. The black
squared bishop cannot move (51 . . . Bd8 52
Qd4 + ) . On 5 1 . . . Bc6 the king advances-52
Kb3 Bd5 + 53 Kb4, while on 5 1 . . . Bg2
there follows 52 Kb3 Kf8 53 Kc4 Be7
(53 . . . Bd8 54 Kc5 Be7+ 55 Kb6 Bd8 + 56
Ka7 f6 57 Kb8 ! Be7 58 Kc7 Bd5 59 Kd7)
54 Qg3 Bfl + 55 Kd5 f6 56 Qb3 Kf7 57 Kc6 +
Kf8 (57 . . . Ke8 58 Qg8 + Bf8 59 Qg6 +
Ke7 60 Qh7 + ) 58 Kd 7. As we will see
125
 Finale of the chess symphony

the retreat of the king similarly fails to save
Black.
To be honest, I do not know whether it
has ever occurred in practice, that one piece
has essentially paralyzed the activity of three
enemy pieces on a completely open board !
51 Kg8
The last stage of the realization of White's
advantage commences . As I have already
said, I reached this position during analysis
in my hotel room, and I relished the manoeu
vres discovered with a special sort of chess
delight, which, incidentally, has nothing in
common with the joy of gaining a point in
the tournament table.
Qd6 ! (it is here that the undefended state of
the bishop is decisively exploited !-what's
more, it is cut off from e5) 53 . . . Kg7 54
Kb3 Bf3 55 Qg3 Bd5 + 56 Ka4 Bc6 + 57
Ka5 . Now it finally becomes clear why White
needed to resort to the triangulation ma
noeuvre with his king : at the decisive moment
his opposite number was forced to retreat to
g8, when the black-squared bishop lost its
support.
53 Qd6 Be4 +
54 Kb3 Kg7
55 Kc4
The remainder, as it is customary to say,
is a matter of technique .

55 . . . Bf3
56 Qg3 Bhl
57 Qh3

This manoeuvre enables White to improve

the position of his queen without loss of
tempo, so that as before it controls e5, while
at the same time keeping the g5 pawn under
fire .

57 Be4
58 Qe3 Bc6
52 Qd3 Bc6 59 Kc5
Other moves similarly fail to save Black. At last the Rubicon is crossed !
For example, 52 . . . Bb7 53 Kb3 Be5
(53 . . Bal 54 Qd8 + ), and Black does not
.
59 . Bd7
succeed in achieving a fortress by 54 . . .
A final attempt : the bishop retreats onto
f6-54 Qb5 wins one of the bishops. If the
the a4-e8 diagonal, and so long as it is there
bishop stands not at b7, but at a8, then 54
the white king cannot advance any further
Qd8 + immediately concludes the game.
than d6. But the diagonal is short, and it is
On 52 . . . Bg2 White takes control of e5
not difficult to drive the bishop off it.
with gain of tempo by 53 Qg3, and after
53 . . Be4 + (53 .
. Bhl 54 Kd3) 54 Kb3
. . 60 Kd6 Bb5
Bd5 + 55 Ka4 Bc6 + 56 Ka5 Be8 57 Qb8 ! 61 Qb3 Be2
Kf8 58 Qd6 + Kg7 59 Kb6 his king penet
Or 6 1 . . . Be8 62 Qc4 Kg8 63 Qc8 Kf8
rates into the opposing position. The bishop
64 Kd5 Bb2 65 Qd8.
similarly cannot move to a2 : 52 . . . Ba2 53
Qa6, while in the event of 52 . . . Bh1 White 62 Qb4 Bf3
wins (as after the move actually played) by 53 63 Qc4

126
 No. 52 Polugayevsky-Ivkov, 1 969

The g4 pawn is defended, and the road to Championship Match held in the Spring of
e8 is open. At the same time, Black will not that year.
now have a check from c6.
12 Nd5 !

63 ... Kg8 In the aforementioned game Spassky play

64 Kd7 Kf8 ed 12 Be2 against Petrosian, which allowed
65 Qc5 + Kg8 Black to neutralize White's pressure on the
66 Ke8 Resigns c-file after 12 . . . Rfc8 13 b3 a6 14 Nd5
Q X d2 + 15 K X d2 N X d5 ! 15 c x d5 Bd7.
This is possibly the most meticulous ana But here White economizes on an important
lysis I have ever made in my life. During tempo.
the resumption the white queen had to get
12 Q X d2 +
through a tremendous amount of work, and

it was necessary to find an accurate way of
utilizing her inexhaustible energy.
No. 52 Sicilian Defence
13 K X d2 B X d5
Black has to give up his bishop, since in
the event of 13 . . . N x d5 14 c x d5 Bc8
15 b3 the rook's threatened invasion at c7
is highly unpleasant.

14 c x d5 Rfc8
Polugayevsky-lvkov

Belgrade, 1969

1 N3 N6
2 c4 c5
3 Nc3 Nc6
4 d4 c x d4
5 N X d4 N x d4
6 Q X d4 g6
7 e4 d6
8 Be3 Bg7
9 3 0-0 From the opening the game has gone di
10 Qd2 Be6 rectly into an endgame, which is favourable
11 Rcl Qa5 for White. He has not only the advantage of
the two bishops, but also good prospects
A phenomenon fairly typical of modern of a pawn offensive in the centre and on the
day chess has occurred : an English Opening K-side . And yet the ideal for him would be
has transformed into . . . a Sicilian Defence . for all four rooks to disappear from the
To some extent my opponent could have board !
been happy, since normally, as the reader will 15 Be2
already know, I do not open with the king's
pawn. Nevertheless I was familiar with this A few rounds later I reached the same
position, if only for the reason that it had position in a game with Ostojic, and there
occurred in the third game of the World the complete solution was found : 15 R X c8 + !

127
 Finale of the chess symphony

R X c8 16 g3 ! Rc7 1 7 Bh3 (of course, not

17 B X a7 ? Nd7, with the threat of 18 . . . b6)
17 . . . Nd7 18 Re i R X c l 19 K X c l , and the
resulting ending can be considered won, as,
incidentally, has been confirmed several times
in practice.
Ostojic continued 1 9 . . . Nb6, and lost
after 20 Kc2 Kf8 21 b3 Ke8 22 a4 ! Kd8 25 a5
Nc8 24 B x c8 K x c8 25 B x a7. On 19 . . .
Ne5 White has the very strong 20 N x a7
Nd3 + (20 . . . NXf3 allows White a passed
pawn on the Q-side) 21 Kc2 N X b2 22 Bc8 It turns out that there is nothing Black can
b5 23 Ba6, while 19 . . . Nc5 can be met by do on the open file, whereas after 22 Rei
20 Kc2 with the threat of 2 1 b4 (Kurajica R X c l 23 B x c 1 White might not have been
Huguet, Malaga, 1 970). able to win, in view of the blocked nature of
The text move allows Ivkov to hold the the position. Besides, the black rook is forced
position, albeit passively. to guard the c-file, otherwise the white rook
will occupy it with decisive effect !
15 . . a6
22 Bd4
The suggestion of certain commentators on
. .

this game (in particular, Kholmov), 1 5 . . . Black tries to maintain the status quo .
e5, can hardly be considered good : after 16 But, perhaps, taking account of the long
d X e6 fX e6 the position is opened up, and term prospects, he should have sought
the bishops (especially the white-squared counter-chances by the more active 22 . . . e6
one) acquire additional strength. 23 d X e6 fXe6. At any rate, this would have
16 b4 Kf8 allowed his knight to reach c6 via b8 or e5,
17 a4 Nd7 with the threat of invading at d4. Now, on
18 a5 the other hand, White tightens the squeeze .

In military parlance this would be termed 23 g4 Kg7

a containing offensive . The opponent's Q 24 g5 Rc7
side is blockaded, and his knight immobil 25 Rd1 Kf8
ized. But the main attack is planned on the 26 f4 Bg7
opposite wing. 27 Bg4 Ke8
True, in contemplating this plan, White 28 Rfl Bd4
had to bear one factor in mind : he would be 29 h4 Bg7
conceding the only open file . 30 h5 Bd4
31 Rh1
18 . Bb2
19 Rc2 R x c2 + The advance of the white pawns could
20 K x c2 Bg7 have been more rapid, without the rook
21 Kb3 Rc8 manoeuvres, but after all Black has no possi
bility of undertaking anything.
(see diagram next column)
31 . . . Bg7
22 Bd2 ! 32 Rh3

1 28
 No. 52 Polugayevsky-Ivkov, 1 969
Contemplating the possibility of wresting
the c-file from Black.
32 . Kf8
33 h6 Bd4
34 Rd3!
Having fixed the weakness at h7 and alto
gether cramped the opponent's forces in
every way possible, White also forces the
black bishop to abandon the al-hS diagonal,
and thus obtains the possibility of making
the e4-e5 break.
34 . . . Ba7
Forced, since totally bad is 34 . . . Ba l (hS)
35 B X d7 ! R X d7 36 Bc3 ! B X c3 37 R X c3
KeS 3S b5 ! (38 Rc8 + Rd8 39 Rc7 Rd7), when
the threat of 39 b X a6 b X a6 40 Rc6 Ra7 41
ReS + Kd7 42 RhS(fS) forces Black to allow
the white king into his position after 3S . . .
a x b5 39 Kb4 KdS 40 K x b5 . He then loses
after both 40 . . . Rc7 4 1 R X c7 K X c7 42 e5 !
with zugzwang and the threat of e5-e6, fol
lowed by f4-f5, g5-g6 and the queening of the
h-pawn, and 40 . . . e6 41 Kb6 e x d5 42 e X d5
Re7 43 Rc4 ! Rd7 44 Re4, when Black is in
complete zugzwang.
35 Bh3
Here 35 B X d7 ? would be an irreparable
mistake, since after 35 . . . R X d7 36 Rc3
KeS 37 b5 Black blocks the c-file by 37 . . .
Bc5 .
129
35 Bgl
36 Bc3 Ke8
37 e5 Bh2
Slightly better was 37 . . . d X e5 3S fX e5
and now 3S . . . Bh2, when the hasty 39 d6
does not achieve anything after 39 . . . ReS !
40 d X e7 Rc7 ! However, Black's position
would still have remained extremely difficult.
38 e x d6 e x d6
39 Re3 + Kd8
40 Re4
40 Bgl
This loses immediately. The only way for
Black to prolong the resistance was by 40 . . .
ReS, when to win White would still have had
to make several accurate moves : 41 Re2 !
B X f4 42 Bf6 + ! (but not 42 B X d7 ? KX d7
43 Rf2 Be5! 44 B X e5 dX e5 45 R X/7 +
Kd6 46 R X h7(b7) e4, when Black has suffici
ent counter-chances) 42 . . N x f6 (42 . . .
.
Kc7 43 Re7) 43 B x cS K X cS 44 g X f6 Be5 !
45 b5 a X b5 (otherwise after b5-b6 the white
rook breaks through at c7) 46 Kb4, and now :
(a) 46 . . . B X f6 47 ReS + ! (less convinc
ing is 47 Rf2 Bg5 48 R X/7 B X h6 49 R X h7
Be3 50 Rg7 g5 51 KX b5 Bj4 52 Rg6 Kb8!)
47 . . . Kd7 48 RfS .
(b) 46 . . . KbS 47 K X b5 Ka7 (or 47 . . .
BX/6 48 Re8 + Ka7 49 Rf8 Bg5 50 R Xf7
B X h6 51 a6) 48 R X e5 ! d X e5 49 d6 Kb8
50 Kb6 KcS 5 1 d7 + K X d7 52 K X b7 e4 53
 Finale of the chess symphony

a6 e3 54 a7 e2 55 a8 = Q e l = Q 56 Qc8 + 8 ... Na6

Kd6 57 Qc6 + Ke5 58 Qe8 + . 9 Bg5 h6
10 Bh4 Qe8
41 B X d7! 11 Ne1

Now after 4 1 . . . K X d7 42 Bf6 there is

For the advance of his Q-side pawns,
no defence against the manoeuvre Re7-e8-h8,
White wishes to have the support of his
when the white h-pawn queens . Therefore
knight from d3. The alternative plan is 1 1
Black resigned.
Nd2, securely maintaining e4, the key square
in the King's Indian Defence, and preparing
a pawn offensive without the support of the
No . 53 King's Indian Defence knight.

Polugayevsky-Vhlmann

Interzonal Tournament
Palma de Mallorca, 1970

1 c4 Nf6
2 Nc3 g6
3 e4 d6
4 d4 Bg7
5 Be2 0-0
6 Nf3 e5
7 d5 a5
11 . . . Bd7

This continuation, worked out by Ukraini

Black avoids the tactical operations on the
an players, and in particular Stein and Geller,
K-side which were possible after, for example,
hinders the development of White's Q-side
1 1 . . . g5 12 Bg3 N x e4 13 N X e4 f5 14 Bh5
initiative. In previous games my opponent
(both after 14 Bd3 fX e4 15 B X e4 Nc5, and
had also played 7 . . . Nbd7, which earlier was
after 14 Nc3 f4 15 Ne4 Bf5 16 Qd3 Qg6 White
considered more flexible (for example, Petro
is unable to maintain his piece outpost at e4)
sian-Uhlmann, Moscow, 1967), although
14 . . . Qe7 1 5 f3 f x e4 16 fx e4 R x fl +
there too he did not manage without an early
17 K X fl Nc5 1 8 Qe2 g4 ! 19 B X g4 B X g4
(even earlier than theory recommends) . . . a5.
20 Q X g4 Qg5 (Polugayevsky-Bukic, Skopje,
By the time of the present gam, Blak's 7th
197 1), and White is not able to keep his
move had become firmly established m tour
extra pawn : 21 Q X g5 h X g5 22 Bf2 N x e4,
nament practice, since in this case the black
or 21 Qe2 Qg6.
knight heads for c5 via a6, which affords
Nevertheless, the developing move in the
Black certain additional possibilities.
game has every right to exist, since it in no
8 0-0 way breaks the basic rules of strategy.

8 Bg5, which theory considers the m in 12 Nd3 b6

continuation, in fact leads merely to an m 13 b3 Nc5
significant transposition of moves. 14 N x cs

1 30
 No. 53 Polugayevsky-Uhlmann, 1970

On 1 4 f3, with the idea of bringing the The threat o f 24 c 5 i s now highly unpleasant,
bishop into play via f2, Black would have and Black has to take concrete measures
answered . . . Nh5 ! followed by . . . Nf4. against it.

14 . . b X c5 23 BM
15 Rb1 Nh7
16 f3 f5 By this bishop manoeuvre Black wishes to
17 Bf2 weaken the white king's position, but in this
way he loses time. He should have played
White prepares for active play (a2-a3 and either 23 . . . Rab8, although after 24 Ra l
b3-b4) on the part of the board where he is White's chances are all the same better,
stronger. Aiming for play on the K-side by or the active 23 . . . Ra2, and only on 24
Qd2 and g2-g4, as occurred in Hamann-Uhl Bd3-24 . . . Bh4.
mann (Amsterdam, 1 975), is quite unjusti
fied. 24 g3 Bf6
25 c5 d X c5
17 . . Bf6
Black is reluctantly forced to agree to this
An imperceptible mistake, which, however, move . No better was 25 . . . B X b5 26 B X b5
has serious consequences. Black's desire to Rab8 27 Qc4, for example, 27 . . . d X c5 28
activate his bishop is quite understandable, d6 + Qf7 29 d X c7 R X c7 30 Q x f7 + , and
but it should have been played to h6. On f6 White wins.
the bishop deprives the knight of an impor
tant square, and prevents it from coming 26 B x cs Qe8
into play.
In order to answer 27 Qc4 with 27 . . . B X b5,
18 a3 Qe7 easing his lot by a series of exchanges, but
the position of the queen at e8 allows White
It is essential to connect the rooks, but on
to land a tactical blow.
the other hand the black bishop can no longer
take part in the defence of c5.

19 Qe1 Rfb8

After this Black's attacking potential on

the K-side is markedly reduced. 1 9 . . . Ng5
was more logical.

20 Nb5 Rb7

The exchange on b5 would merely have

averted for a short time the Q-side break
through, whereas the white squares in Black's
position would have been irreparably weak 27 d6!
ened.
This move demanded deep and accurate
21 b4 a x b4 calculation.
22 a x b4 c x b4
23 Q X b4 27 c x d6

131
 Finale of t4e chess symphony

On 27 . . . c6 I had prepared a fine queen
sacrifice : 28 Qc4 + Be6 29 Nc7 R X c7 30
d X c7 B x c4 31 B x c4 + Kg7 (or 31 . . . Kh8)
32 Bd6, and Black is helpless against the
threat of 33 Rb8. Here is a pretty variation :
32 . . . Qd7 (32 . . . Rc8 33 Rb8) 33 Rb8
Q x d6 34 R X a8 Q x c7 35 Rg8 mate .
28 Qc4 + !
Kg7 37 e x f5 Nf6 38 Ra8 Rc7 39 Kg2, and
prefers to retain the black-squared bishops
in the hope of counter-play. I think, neverthe
less, that in time trouble he should have
chosen the above continuation, since, in view
of the limited amount of material remaining
on the board, it would have been very difficult
for White to realize his extra pawn.

Possibly Uhlmann was hoping for 28 N X d6 35 e x f5 Ng5

R X b4 29 N x e8 R X b 1 30 N X f6 + N X f6 36 Kf2 e4 ?
3 1 R X b l fX e4, when he would not stand
This leads to a hopeless position. With
badly.
the flag on his clock already raised, Black
28 . Be6 fails to exploit his last chance, which lay in
29 N X d6 R X bl winning the h-pawn. After 36 . . . g X f5
30 R X bl B x c4 (36 . . . Rd2 + loses quickly to 37 Ke3 R X h2
38 Rb8 + Kh7 39 Rf8! Bg7 40 /Xg6 + KXg6
Black has no other move, since 30 . . . Qd7
41 Bf5+ Kh5 42 Rg8) 37 B X f5 Rd2 + 38
is met by 31 Rb7, and 30 . . . Qe7 by 31 N X f5 .
Ke3 R X h2 39 Rb8 + Kg7 40 Rb7 + Kg8
31 B x c4 + Kh8 41 f4 ! e X f4 + 42 g X f4 Nh3 43 Kf3 Rh 1 44
32 N x es R X e8 Rc7 an unusual ending is reached, where,
33 Bf7 ReS in view of the poor position of his king on
the 8th rank, it is very difficult, if at all possi
By attacking the bishop, Black appears
ble, for Black to put up a successful defence.
to gain a tempo for the defence of his g-pawn,
but there is another unpleasant surprise in 37 f4 Rd2 +
store. 38 Ke3 Rd3 +
39 Ke2 Nf3

Uhlmann has used up all his resources.

The only thing that can save him is a miracle,
and . . . it happens !

40 fX g6 ? ?

Instead of the prepared 40 Rb8 + Kg7 (if

40 . . . Rd8, then 41 R X d8+ B X d8 42 fXg6
Bf6 43 h4 Nd4 + 44 B X d4 B X d4 45 g4, and
the armada of white pawns advances irresist
34 Be6! ibly) 41 Rb7 + Kh8 42 fX g6, after which
all that is left for Black is to resign, I immedi
The concluding move of the combination. ately made the 3rd move of the sequence,
34 . . . Rd8 thinking that the white rook already stood
on the 7th rank ! !
Uhlmann avoids 34 . . . R X c5 35 Rb8 +
Bd8 (35 . . . Kg7 ? ? 36 Rg8 mate) 36 R X d 8 + 40 . . . Bd4! !

1 32
 No. 53 Polugayevsky-Uhlmann, 1970
This immediately changes the picture.
White is threatened with mate in two
moves--41 . . . Rd2 + and 42 . . . Rf2, and
he cannot capture on d4 because of the loss
of a piece.
41 Bb4
With his sealed move White is forced to
block the b-file, and his rook is no longer
able to participate in the attack, but there
is simply no other continuation.
41 . . .
N X h2!
Without doubt the strongest. But, since
I had no right to restrict myself to this one
move, I considered in my analysis a whole
series of other continuations for Black.
41 . . . Bc3 42 B x c3 R X c3 43 Rd 1 was
immediately rejected, since without his bishop
Black has no way of opposing the advance
of the f-pawn, and the intrusion of the white
rook onto the 7th or 8th rank.
It was quickly established that after 41 . . .
Re3 + the white king finds safety : 42 Kfl
(weaker is 42 Kdl Rd3 + 43 Kc2 Bf6, when
the d4 square is vacated for the knight to
join the attack) 42 . . . N X h2 + 43 Kg2
Re2 + 44 Kh3, and if 44 . . . h6, with the
threat of 45 . . . Nf3 and 46 . . . Rh2 mate,
then simply 45 Kh4.
The analysis was by no means so easy after
the possible 41 . . . Kg7. White obviously
has to support his g6 pawn by 42 f5, and then
1 33
Black begins pursuing the king : 42 . . . Re3 + .
Where should it move to ? If 43 Kd 1, then
43 . . . Rd3 + 44 Kc2 Bf6, and the already
familiar threat of 45 . . . Nd4 + is highly
disagreeable. I therefore had to look for a
winning plan in the line with 43 Kfl .
It turns out that after 43 . . . h5 ! (the most
unpleasant ; White's task is simpler after
43 . . . NX h2 + 44 Kg2 Re2 + 45 Kh3 h5 46
Bd6!, when it is Black who is the first to be
mated, e. g. 46 . . . Nf3 47 Rb7 + Kh6 48
Rh7 + Kg5 49 Bf4 + Kf6 50 Rf7 mate) there
follows 44 Bc4 ! (now 44 Bd6, which was so
strong in the previous variation, is not possi
ble, since it loses the rook after 44 . . . Nd2 + ;
while the other attempt to mount a mating
attack, 44 Ba5, similarly does not work, in
view of 44 . . . NX h2 + 45 Kg2 Re2 + 46 Kh3
Nf3 47 Rb7 + Kh6 48 Rh7 + Kg5 49 Bd8 +
Bf6 50 B XJ6 + KXf6 51 R X h5 Rh2 + 52
Kg4 Ne5+ , and White loses his rook ; there
fore the white bishops retreat, in order, as it
were, to make a running start and move into
the attack) 44 . . . Nx h2 + (or 44 . . . Kf6
45 Rdl ! KXf5 46 R X d4 NX d4 47 g7, and
wins ; 44 . . . Ne5 is similarly unsatisfactory
for Black, because of 45 Be2 Ng4 46 Bd6!
less clear is 46 Bd2 Nx h2 + 47 Kef Nf3 +
48 Kdl NX d2 - 46 . . . NX h2 + 47 Kef
Nf3 + 48 Kdl Rc3 49 Rb7 + Kg8 50 Rb8 +
Kg7 51 Bf8 + Kf6 52 g7 Be3 53 Ba3! KXg7
54 Bb2, and White wins) 45 Kg2 Nf3 ! (if
45 . . . Ng4, then 46 Bd6 Rc3 47 Rb7 + , mat
ing) 46 Ba5 ! !
 Finale of the chess symphony
With the idea of giving a decisive check
at d8 at the essential moment. The co-ordina
tion of both White's and Black's pieces is
quite amazing. The play revolves around who
will be the first to give mate. This normally
happens in the middlegame, with castling
on opposite sides, when both players launch
an attack on the king, but here we have an
ending with relatively few pieces !
If now Black plays 46 . . . Kf6, then 47
Rb5, defending the f5 pawn, followed by
Bd8 + , driving the black king back into the
trap, and White is the first to land a decisive
blow. In reply to 46 . . . h4 there follows
47 Rb7 + Kh6 48 Bd8 ! ! (also sufficient, how
ever, is 48 Rh7 + Kg5 49 g7, when White must
gradually be able to realize his advantage,
despite the limited number of pieces remaining
on the board) 48 . . . Bg7 49 Bc7, and if
49 . . . Ne5, blocking the bishop's path to
f4, then simply 50 g X h4, while in the event
of 49 . . . Be5 White first exchanges, 50 B X e5
N x e5, and again wins after 5 1 g X h4.
All these secondary variations - although
it is difficult to call them such - demanded
many, many hours of work : here I have not
given the numerous false trails which my
second, Boleslavsky, and I analyzed on the
way. Did Uhlmann see all this ? I think that
he must have examined something similar,
although it is by no means impossible that he
may have chosen the strongest 41st move
intuitively.
Mter this White has no time to improve the
placing of his bishops, since 42 . . . Re3 +
is threatened, and on the Q-side it is diffi
cult for the king to avoid pursuit. Therefore
White's subsequent play deserves credit,
but - alas ! - it nevertheless does not lead
to a win.
42 Rhl Nf3
42 . . . Re3 + would now be a serious mis
take ; firstly, the b1 square has been vacated
1 34
for the king, and, secondly, the white rook
i s already in play on the opposite wing.
43 R X h6 + ! Kg7
44 Rh7 + K X g6
45 Rd7!
White utilizes literally every chance of
success. At first I was very happy when in
my analysis I found this set-up for my pieces .
I t i s true that White has lost his far-advanced
passed pawn, but his pieces have acquired
the co-ordination which was lost on the
41st move, and the two passed f- and g-pawns
soon threaten to become a formidable force.
But nevertheless, it was the irony of fate
that in every variation I succeeded in finding
an amazing saving line for Black. This was
also discovered by Uhlmann, although in
various lines it is one single move that each
time comes to Black's rescue.
45 . . Bc3!
Now after 46 R x d3 e x d3 + 47 K x f3
B X b4, or 46 Bc5 Nd4 + , opposite-coloured
bishops are left. White has to give up his
advantage of the two bishops.
46 B x c3 R x c3
47 Rd6! !
Problem-like motifs come into operation :
the rook sets up an ambush. The 'normal'
47 g4 allows Black to hold on in the variation
47 . . . Ng1 + 48 Kf2 e3 + 49 K X g 1 e2,
 No. 53 Polugayevsky-Uhlmann, 1970
while on 48 Kd2 he replies 48 . . . Rf3 !, and
not only White's but also Black's pawn
threatens to advance and queen.
The move made by White looks terribly
strong. Indeed, if 47 . . . Ng l + , then 48 Kf2
e3 + 49 K X g l e2 50 Bc4 + , and White wins .
It doesn't help for Black to forestall the
discovered check by 47 . . . Kg7 ; White has
in reserve 48 Bf5 ! Ng l + 49 Kf2 Rf3 + 50
Kg2 ! ! (the only way : 50 KXg1 R X g3 + 51
Kh2 Rf3 52 Rg6 + Kf7 53 Rg4 e3 54 Bd3 e2
leads to a draw) 50 . . . Ne2 5 1 Rg6 + Kf7
(after 51 . . . Kf8 White simply captures
the e4 pawn) 52 Rg4 ! ! N x g3 53 B x e4 Re3
54 Bd5 + , and wins.
47 . . . Nh2! !
Black ignores the discovered check, sepa
rates widely his rook and knight, and appar
ently destroys the co-ordination of his pieces,
but in this way he achieves a draw ! It
turns out that the knight does not come under
attack, whereas the g3 pawn is now threatened
and in some cases the e-pawn can advance.
Boleslavky and I 'polished' this position
exhaustively. We tried both the obvious 48
K.f2 Rc2 + 49 Ke3 Nfl + , and 48 f5 + , when
if Black chooses 48 . . . Kg7 ?, then after 49
Bd5 R X g3 50 f6 + the white pawn costs him
his rook. But Uhlmann could have played
48 . . . Kg5, or 48 . . . Kh5, or even 48 . . .
K.f6. I was able to find something in these
1 35
cases, but only when I defended inaccurately
for my opponent.
48 g4 Rf3
Black immediately exploits the one defect
in White's otherwise sensible move-for an
instant the f4 pawn is undefended.
49 Bd5 + Kg7
Once again the irony of fate. White appears
to be able to win by 50 Rg6 + Kh7 (not, of
course, 50 . . KXg6 51 B X e4+ and 52
.
B Xf3) 5 1 f5 N X g4 52 R X g4, since the last
white pawn is taboo : 52 . . . R X f5 ? ? 53
B X e4. But Black again has a single saving
move, 5 1 . . . Rf4 !, when the white pawns
are driven forwards to their doom : 52 Bg8 +
Kh8 53 f6 N X g4 54 f7 Ne5 .
I n m y analysis I therefore decided to seek
success in a different variation.
50 Rd7 +
The black king can now move to one of
four black squares, and on three of them
catastrophe awaits him : 50 . . . Kh8-5 1
Rh7 + ! ; 50 . . . Kh6-the same ; 50 . . . Kf6
5 1 Rf7 + . There is again but one saving move.
50 . . . Kf8!
51 Rf7 +
Similarly inadequate is 5 1 g5 R X f4 52 g6
Rg4 53 Rf7 + Kg8 ! !, and again the discov
ered check achieves nothing. One can
 Finale of the chess symphony

imagine how much mental torture I suffered Drawn. Although Black's knight is on
during my analyisis, on finding all these the edge of the board, it cannot be caught .
fantastic possibilities ! An example of the amazing and inex
haustible nature of chess !
51 . . . Ke8
52 g5 Nfl

It was only here that the game diverged No. 54 Sicilian Defence
from our analysis. We thought that Black
would gain a draw by 52 . . . Ng4, and if Planinc-Polugayevsky
53 g6, then 53 . . . Re3 + , with perpetual
check or the win of the bishop. But Uhlmann's
Mar del Plata, 1972
move is also good enough.
1 e4 c5
53 g6 Ng3 + 2 Nf3 d6
54 Kel Re3 + 3 d4 c X d4
55 Kf2 Rf3 + 4 N X d4 Nf6
56 Kg2 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bg5 Bd7
Or 56 Kg l Ne2 + .
7 Qd2 ReS
56 . . . Nh5 ! 8 f4

The advance of each of the white pawns

is prevented : 57 g7 N X g7 58 R X g7 R X f4,
o r 5 7 f5 Nf4 + and 5 8 . . . N x d5 .
5 7 Kb2
This is considered the most accurate move
order. In the event of 8 0-0-0 Black carries
out the basic idea of the variation - 8 . . .
N X d4 9 Q X d4 Qa5.

This merely prolongs the game, but does 8 ... h6

not affect the result. Now on 8 . . . N X d4 9 Q X d4 Qa5 White
57 N X f4 has the unpleasant 10 e5 !
58 Bc6 + Kd8 9 Bh4
59 g7 Rh3 +
60 Kgl Rg3 +
61 Kf2 Nb5!

Since the resumption Black's pieces, and

in particular his knight, have worked mira
cles.

62 Rf8 + Kc7

For the last time Black is once again sav

ed by a nuance : were white's bishop at b5
instead of c6, he would win.
It may seem paradoxical, but this logical
63 g8 = Q R X g8 retreat came as a complete surprise to me.
64 R X g8 K X c6 I was convinced that White would exchange
65 Ke3 Kd6 on f6.

136
 No. 54 Planinc-Polugayevsky, 1972

I thought for almost an hour over my 12 ... d X e5

reply. First I had to convince myself that 13 fX e5 Ng4
in the variation 9 . . . N X d4 10 Q x d4 Qa5 14 e6 B x e6
1 1 e5 the bishop at h4 was placed no worse 15 Bb5 + Bd7
than at g5 . Then I analyzed 9 . . . a6 10 0-0-0 16 B X d7 + K x d7
e6 1 1 Nf3 . Here too the inclusion of 8 . . . 17 0-0-0 + Ke8
h6 9 Bh4 was in White's favour. I also con 18 Nd5
sidered the double-edged 9 . . . g5 . I once
This was the position White was aiming
played in similar fashion against Platonov
for. He appears to have a serious initiative,
in the 36th USSR Championship, but in
but Black has adequate defensive resources.
that game White's Q-side had been weakened
When weighing up this position, I assumed
by b2-b4. Here the pawn sacrifice was un
that with pieces alone White was unlikely
clear. Besides, against Planinc, who is always
to be able to pierce the armour defending
looking for something to sacrifice, such
the black king. And if Black should success
tactics seemed to me dubious . After weigh
fully complete his development, his advan
ing up everything 'for' and 'against', I
tage on the K-side will become a real force.
finally came to a decision which took account
Even after the loss of the b6 pawn, the other
of my opponent's style.
pawn at b7 will hold the three white pawns.
9 N x d4 But how is Black to develop his K-side ?
10 Q x d4 Qb6! 1 8 . . . Nf6 19 N x b6 Rc6 20 Nd5 leaves him
11 Q x b6 a x b6 in difficulties . . .

It is no accident that an exclamation mark

18 . . . Rc6!
has been attached to Black's l Oth move .
An important link in Black's defences .
I realized perfectly well that the ending was
I t transpires that 1 9 B x e7 fails t o 1 9 . . .
not a bed of roses for Black . But the queens
Nf2, when 20 Rhe 1 is met by the prosaic
have disappeared from the board, and this
20 . . . N x d l , and White cannot derive
means something in a battle against a young
anything from the discovered check.
chess romantic. However, there was also an
objective point. On a closer examination the 19 Rd4!
ending proved to be by no means so 'dreary'.
Adding fuel to the fire . Since 19 . . . f5
Thus 12 0-0-0 is dangerous for White in
fails to 20 B X e7, one gains the impression
view of 12 . . . R x c3 ! 13 b x c3 N x e4, and
that Black is in a critical situation.
on 12 Bd3 I was intending to continue 12
But I had calculated 'slightly' further.
. . . Nh5 1 3 Nd5 N x f4.
Best for White would probably have been 19 g5
12 Bf2.
(see diagram next column)
12 e5 ? !
The only reply, but a sufficient one. In
Black's calculation is justified ! Instead of this way Black neutralizes all the threats.
gradually intensifying the pressure, Planinc Here, it turns out, is where the opening move
thinks only about how to expose the enemy 8 . . . h6 comes in useful !
king and create mating threats. But as a My opponent thought for a long time . Of
result Black acquires counter-chances . course, he did not like 20 Bg3 because of 20

1 37
 Finale of the chess symphony

. . . f5 21 h3 Bg7, or 21 Nc7 + Kf7 22 Rfl 25 R4f3 B X f6

f4, with an obvious advantage to Black. 26 R X f6 Rh7
He was forced to part with his bishop. 27 Rlf3 Rg7

In the double-rook ending which has ensu

red, there is now a microscopic advantage on
the side of Black. But his last move was
inexact. He should not have 'freed' the rook
at f6. 27 . . . Rc4 followed by 28 . . . Rg4 and
29 . . . h4 suggests itself, and the immediate
27 . . . h4 was also good .

28 g3 Rc4
29 Rh6 h4
30 Rb3 h X g3
31 h X g3 Rc6
20 R X g4 g X h4
32 Rh4
21 R X h4

On 32 Rh8 Black could have continued

After the game the Yugoslav master re
32 . . . Kd7 or 32 . . . f5 .
marked that the best move was probably 24
Ra4. To be fair, it should be pointed out 32 . .
Kd7
that after 21 . . . h3 ! 22 g3 (allowing the 33 Rhb4 Kc7
opponent two passed pawns by 22 g X h3 f5 ! 34 a4 Rg5
is risky) 22 . . . f5 ! Black could have faced 35 Rf4
the future with confidence.
35 g4 is better. White is labouring under
21 e6 the false impression that his position is bet
ter.
21 . . . Bg7 looks tempting, but the move
35 f5
played is easily understood. Black has had
36 Rfb4 Rh5
too many worries, and he did not now want
37 c4 Rh1 +
to play with fate . In the first instance it is
38 Kd2 Rh2 +
useful to get rid of the annoying enemy
39 Ke3 Rg2
knight.
40 Kd4 ?

22 Nf6 + Ke7
By playing according to the principle of
23 Rf1 Bg7
' only forward', White ends up in a difficult
24 Rhf4 h5!
position. He should not have cut himself off
from the g3 pawn. After 40 Kf3 Rc2 41 a5
A little finesse. Black gains an important
b X a5 42 R X b7 + Kd6 43 Ra7, or 41 . . .
tempo (the h-pawn subsequently proves a
R2 x c4 42 R X b6 R x b6 43 R X b6 he could
useful battering-ram), since 25 Nd5 + Ke8
have maintained the balance.
(25 . . . Kd8 is also possible) 26 R X f7 is
bad for White because of 26 . . . Bh6 + 27 40 . Re2
Kd 1 e x d5 28 R X b7 Rf8 . 41 aS

138
 No. 54 Planinc-Polugayevs ky , 1 9 72

Kd3 Rg2 43 R X b6 ! R X g3 + 44 Ke2 R X b3

45 R X b3 R x c4 46 Rb5 White may well be
able to save the game . E.g. 46 . . . Re4 +
47 Kf3 Re 1 48 Kf2.

42 Kd3 b X a5
43 R X b7 + Kd6
44 R3b6 ?

A mistake . White's plan meets with a

subtle refutation. 44 Ra7 ! was better, when
it is doubtful whether Black can win.
In this position Black sealed his next move.
The game was to be resumed that same eve
44 . . . Re x c4
ning, about an hour and a half later. Normally This is stronger than 44 . . . Rg4 45
in such situations one has to sacrifice both R x c6 + K x c6 46 Rb5 .
food and rest, saving every minute for ana
lysis. On this occasion I did not see the
45 R x c6 +
necessity for this, and so I permitted myself
Planinc expected that Black would reply
to devote part of the time to a meal.
with the natural 45 . . . R X c6, when there
But the food proved to be 'bitter'. After
comes 46 b4 a x b4 47 R X b4 followed by
I had sat down at the table, the effusive
48 Ke3 . But a surprise awaited him.
Argentinian grandmaster Miguel Najdorf
literally flew up to me, and announced at 45 . . . K X c6!
the top of his voice : 46 Re7 Re4
'He is lost ! You seal . . . e5-check, and 47 g4
he has to resign ! !'
Otherwise 47 . . . Kd6, whereas now this
I became embarrassed, shrugged my should
move can be met by 48 g X f5 .
ers, and felt quite upset. This move had not
occurred to me at all, and I had sealed a more 47 . . . R X g4!
thematic continuation. Only later did I 48 R X e6 + Kd5
discover that it was also stronger, and that
it was in the 41 . . . e5 + variation that in
the short one and a half hour interval my
opponent had managed to find good drawing
chances. . !t .
Objectively, on the other hand, my sealed * i
move set Planinc more difficult problems . In
addition, it later became clear that he had
. . :
spent less time on the analysis of this con
. %
tinuation. And this was the result : . . .
41 . . . Re4 +

It was only deep into the night, when the This at first sight simple ending proves
game had already concluded, that I man to be amazingly interesting. White's misfor
aged to establish that after 41 . . . e5 + 42 tune is that he is unable to exchange the Q-

10 139
 Finale of the chess symphony

side pawns, since his king must constantly This loses quickly. Black has most diffi
keep an eye on the passed f-pawn. At the culties after 57 Rd8 + Kc5 58 Rc8 + (bad is
appropriate moment Black places his rook 58 Rd2 Rd4 followed by 59 . . . Kb4, with
on the b-file, and ties his opponent down. an easy win) 58 . . . Kd4 ! 59 Rd8 + ! (if 59
KXf4, then 59 . Kd3+ ! 60 Kf3 R X b2, and
. .

49 Ra6 a4
the a-pawn decides the game) 59 . . . Kc4 60
SO RaS +
K X f4 Kb3 + ! 61 Ke3 K X b2.
50 Rb6 is answered by 50 . . . Rg3 + ! White appears to be defenceless, but in
fact he has an excellent counter-chance : 62
SO Ke6
Rd2 + !
51 Ra6 + KeS
52 RaS + Kf6
53 Ke3

There is nothing better. White has to reckon

with 53 . . . Re4 and 54 . . . Kg5.

53 Rb4

Where is the king to move to ? 62 . . . Kb3

63 Rd3 + Ka2 appears very tempting, but
here White's pieces perform miracles : 64
Rd2 + ! (64 Kd2 loses to 64 . . . Kb2) 64 . . .
Rb2 65 Rd8 ! a3 66 Kd3 Kb l 67 Kc3 ! Rc2 +
68 Kb3, with a draw.
Black has carried out the first part of his
Similarly, nothing is achieved by 62 . .

plan. Now he switches his king to the Q-side .

Kb3 63 Rd3 + Kc4 ? 64 Rd4 + Kc5 65
54 Ra8 f4 + R X b4.
55 Kf3 Ke5 And even so, Black has a study-like way
56 ReS + Kd5 to win.
62 . . . Kc l 63 Rh2 Rb2 ! ! (this manoeuvre
is the point of Black's plan ; on 63 . a3'
. .

White has an adequate reply in 64 Kd3 l

Rb3 + 65 Kc4 Rg3 66 Rhl + ) 64 Rh l + (or 64
Rh8 a3 65 Kd3 Rc2 l) 64 . . . Kc2 65 Rh2 +
(necessary, since after 65 Rh8 a3 66 Rc8 +
Kdl White is lost) 65 . . . Kc3 66 Rh8 Rb5 !'
Only in this way can White's resistance be
overcome. If 66 . . . a3, then 67 Rc8 + KbJ
68 Kd3 ! a2 69 Rb8 + .
67 Rc8 + Kb2 6 8 Kd2 Rd5 + 69 Ke3 a3-
57 ReS? 70 Rb8 + Kc3 71 Rc8 + Kb4, and Black wins .

1 40
 No. 55 Gheorghiu-Polugayevsky, 1973

And so, even with best defence White
could not have gained a draw !
session. True, on returning t o Moscow I
discovered something similar by our cele
brated composer Troitsky, but I should like
to flatter myself with the hope that the result
ing study will retain its right to exist. If
only for the reason that it emerged during
a practical game - the most refined 'compo
sition' of a chess player.
Here it is.

(see diagram previous column)

No. 55 Sicilian Defence

57 . RX b2!
58 K X f4 a3 Gheorgbiu-Polugayevsky
59 Ke3 a2
60 Rd8 + Kc4 Interzonal Tournament
61 Ra8 Kc3! Petropolis, 1973
White resigns
1 e4 c5
A highly interesting ending, which, in my 2 Nf3 d6
opinion, is of theoretical importance . 3 d4 c x d4
I have never succeeded in creating any 4 N X d4 Nf6
chess compositions, and therefore it was a 5 Nc3 a6
pleasant surprise for a little study to emerge 6 Bc4 e6
from a practical game . What's more, having 7 Bb3 b5
been extremely interested in the resulting 8 0-0 Be7
position, I found the study-like win there, in 9 f4 0-0
Mar del Plata, although not of course during 10 e5
the one hour's analysis of the adj ourned
position, but following the adjournment A comparatively new, but already well
analyzed variation of the Sozin Attack, in
which White aims for an early offensive
against the black king.

10 . . d X e5
11 fx e5 Nfd7
12 Qb5

White's primary task is to concentrate as

many pieces as possible on the K-side .

12 . . . Nc6
13 N x c6 Qb6 +
White to play and win 14 Be3!

1 0* 141
 Finale of the chess symphony

This is more accurate than 14 Kh l . Tak Ne4 ! 25 Rh4 Qfl + ! ! 26 K X fl N X g3 +

ing the bishop is unfavourable : 14 . . . 27 h X g3 g X h5, when Black wins .
Q x e3 + 1 5 Kh l Qc5 16 Qf3 Nb6 1 7 Ne4
24 Qh6 Rd7!
Q X c6 1 8 Nf6 + , and Black loses material.
25 Qh4
14 Q X c6
Equivalent to an admission of his own
15 Kh1 Bb7
mistake on the previous move. But how other
Winning a pawn by 1 5 . . . g6 16 Qh6 wise is he to prevent Black from strengthening
N X e5 is risky, since after 1 7 Bd4 White his position by 25 . . . Rfd8 (which would
has pressure. now be met by 26 Rh3 h5 27 Qf6) ?
Up to this point White has played well,
16 Rf3 Bc5
and he should have taken his strategic plan
17 Re1 a5
to its logical conclusion : 25 Rh3 ! (the trappy
25 Rd3 NX d3 26 Rh4 f5 27 B x e6 + Rff7 28
Q x h7 + Kf8 29 Qh8 + Ke7 30 Rh7 Nx e5
31 B X/7 NX/7 32 Qe5 + Kd8 33 Ne6 +
Kc8 34 Rh8 + Nd8 35 Qc7 + is refuted by the
elementary 25 . . . NX b3) 25 . . . f5 26 e X f6
N X b3. We will examine in some detail this
very sharp position.

In advancing his Q-side pawns, Black aims

in the first instance to push back the white
knight, which controls the central squares.
From this point the play becomes very tense,
and at each move the two players are forced
to calculate concrete variations.

18 a4 b4
19 Nb5 B x e3
The first impression is that it favours Black,
20 Re x e3 Nc5
since both 27 N X b3 Rd 1 + and 27 R X b3
21 Nd4 Qa6
e5 are simply not possible . But everything
22 Rf4 Rad8 ?
is put in its place by 27 Rg3 !, when the
A dubious, although plausible move . threatened sacrifice at g6 cannot be ignored.
Sounder was 22 . . . Be4 !, switching the bish For example : 27 . . . N X d4 28 R X g6 + Kf7
op to the defence of the K-side. 29 R X d4 ! (not 29 Rg7 + Ke8, and the king
escapes) 29 . . . Bd5 30 Rg7 + Ke8 3 1 R X d7
23 Kg1 g6
Qb6 32 R X d5 e X d5 33 f7 + , winning the
In order to divert the white queen from the queen.
defence of d 1 , where in some cases the black Black is therefore forced to play 27 . . .
rook is ready to invade . White could now Be4 28 c X b3 (not 28 R X e4 R X/6 !, when
have fallen into a piquant trap after 24 Rg3 thanks to the mate threat at f1 the initiative

142
 No. 55 Gheorghiu-Polugayevsky, 1 973

passes to Black) 28 . . . Qb7 ! (a worthy d5 (27 . . . Qc4), White would not have had
reply ; neither 28 . . . Qa7 29 R X e4 R X d4 30 such a choice.
R Xg6 + h X g6 31 Q X g6 + Kh8 32 Qg7+
31 . . . Q x e5
Q Xg7 33 fXg7 + KXg7 34 R X d4, nor
32 b5 Rg7
especially 28 . . . e5 29 R X e4 ! Qa7 30R X g6 +
33 b X g6 Kh8
h X g6 31 Q Xg6 + Kh8 32 Rh4+ Rh7 33
R X h7 + Q X h7 34 Qg7 + Q X g7 35 fXg7 + It was better to go into an ending : 33 . . .
KXg7 36 Ne6 + is good enough to equalize) Qel + 34 Kh2 Q X g3 + 35 K X g3 R X g6 +
29 h3 (29 N e6 ? Qb6 + ) 29 . . . R X d4 3 6 Q X g6 + (36 Rg4 i s bad due to 36 . . .
(29 . . . e5 30 #e6 Qb6 + 31 Kh2 Q X e6 32 R X g4 + ) 36 . . . h X g6 37 N x e6 Rd3 +
R X e4 also leads to equality) 30 R X e4 38 Kh4 Re3, with fair winning chances .
R X e4 3 1 R X g6 + h X g6 32 Q X g6 + Kh8
3 4 Kb2
33 Qh6 + , and the game ends in perpetual
check. This is fair, since it is unlikely that ei It was essential to prevent the black queen
ther of the players has an advantage in the from going to f6, and to this end a further
diagram position. queen move was perfectly appropriate. After
25 . . N X b3 34 Qh4 the following variations are possible :
26 R X b3 f5 34 . . . Qd6 (intending . . . Qe7) 35 Qf6 !
Q X f4 (35 . . . Qe7 36 Qe5 Rd5 is dubious
Exploiting a favourable opportunity (27 in view of 37 Qb8+ Rg8 38 g7+ Q X g7
e Xf6 e5), Black gets rid of his backward 39 R X g7 R X b8 40 NX e6, when there ap
pawn and obtains the better chances. pears to be no defence against 41 Rh4)
2 7 Rg3 Qb6 36 Rh3 ! (36 Qf8+ Rg8 37 Qf6 + Rdg7 38
Rh3 h6 39 Qe5 Qg5) 36 . . . Qd6 (36 . . .
Possibly more accurate was 27 . . . Qc4, Kg8 37 g X h7 + R X h7 38 Qg6 + , and Black
and if 28 Qh6, then 28 . . . Qd5. In this case is lost) 37 R X h7 + (37 NXf5!? hoping for
Black would have forced 29 h4 and a favour 37 . . . e XJ5 38 R X h7 + Kg8 39 R X g7 + ,
able ending, which will be mentioned in the is dubious because of 37 . . . Qc5 + ) 37 . . .
note to his 33rd move. Kg8 38 Rh6, and White will be quite happy
28 Qb6 after 38 . . . Qe7 39 Qe5, or 38 . . . Qd5 ?
39 Rh8 + ! K X h8 40 Qf8 + .
The queen returns to its post. On 28 The probable outcome of all these compli
R X d4 White has a draw by 29 R X g6 + , cations is a draw.
while after 28 . . . Qc5 (28 . . . Qc7 ? 29
Q X/8 + !) White does not need to hurry- 34 . . . Qf6
29 h4 Q X e5 30 h5, and the knight is neverthe 35 Rb4
less immune .
At this point both players were seriously
28 ... Rff7 short of time, which explains the following
29 c3 b X c3 obvious oversights.
30 b X c3 Qc5
35 ... e5
31 b4
36 Nf3 f4
3 1 Re3 was more circumspect, when it 37 Rg5 B X f3
would not have been easy for Black to attack 38 g X f3 Rd2 +
the e5 pawn. Had the black queen been at 39 Kb3 Qc6?

1 43
 Finale of the chess symphony
A ghastly mistake. Now White could have
won instantly by 40 Q X g7 + K X g7 4 1
g X h7 + Kf7 42 Rg7 + ! Black should have
played 39 . . . Rf2 40 Q X g7 + Q X g7 4 1
R X h7 + Q X h7 + 42 g X h7 R X f3 + 4 3 Kh4,
which would have left him with good winning
chances.
40 Qb5 ? Qc4
It was clear that Gheorghiu was extremely
happy with the position on the board, and,
after all the nerve-racking changes of fortune
during the 5-hour battle, he sealed his move
with an obvious sigh of relief.
I will not hide the fact that, at first, I too
thought that Black's position was hopeless.
But while Gheorghiu was painstakingly and
unhurriedly registering on his score sheet
his sealed move, I suddenly conceived the
wonderful idea of retreating my rook from its
attacking position, so as to defend my weak
back rank.
And for some reason, unknown even to
myself, I immediately sensed that for my
opponent this would be a surprise, and by no
means a pleasant one. 'I think I can win !
I have an idea ! !'
But when the analysis commenced, it
transpired that the position was fantastically
complicated. As regards the unusual nature
of the moves found during analysis, in my
entire tournament career I have never had
anything to compare with this game with
Gheorghiu. Both kings are under the threat
1 44
of a mating attack, but instead of play typical
in such positions, on the principle of 'who
is quicker', here both sides permit themselves
quiet moves.
On the resumption I found, as expected,
that with his sealed move Gheorghiu had
captured a pawn.
41 R x e5 Qfl +
42 Kg4 Rd8! !
And my opponent sank !t o thought for
a long time . . . He was prepared only for
forcing continuations such as 42 . . . Rg2 +
or 42 . . . Qg l + .
But my second and I, after spending some
fifteen hours, if not more, on our analysis,
had examined this quiet rook retreat, and had
found an exact winning plan in all variations,
except - alas ! - one single line. It hardly
has to be said that only a miracle could
help the Rumanian grandmaster to solve
these most complex problems at the board.
After all, we had spent hours checking and
rechecking variations, dicussing their virtues
and drawbacks, and had not been at all re
stricted by the rule of 'touch-move' . So how
was Gheorghiu to find a way through this
labyrinth as the minutes ticked rapidly away ?
43 K X f4
It was this, the most natural continuation;
that we analyzed in the first instance.
White also loses, however, after 43 Qg5
R X g6 44 R X h7 + K X h7 45 Re7 + Kh8
46 Q x g6 Qg2 + , when he is either the first
to be mated-47 Kh5 Rd5 + 48 Kh6 Qh3
mate, or else he loses his queen-47 Kf5
Rd5 + 48 Kf6 Rd6 + .
43 Qf5 is also unsatisfactory : 43
R X g6 + 44 K X f4 (44 Q Xg6 Qg2 + ) 44 . . .
Qcl + 45 Re3 (if 45 Ke4, then 45 . . . Qel +
and 46 . . . Q X h4) 45 . . . Kg8. This un
obtrusive move, with the threat of . . . Rf8,
is rapidly decisive : 46 R X h7 K X h7 47 Qf7 +
Kh6, or 46 Qc5 Rf8 + 47 Ke4 Re6 + .
 No. 55 Gheorghiu-Polug,ayevsky, 1973
A further possibility; 43 Rh l , also proves
insufficient to save the game : 43 . . . R X g6 +
44 K X f4 Qc4 + 45 Re4 Rf8 + 46 Ke3
Q X c3 + 4 7 Kf2. Durmg the several hours
that I spent analyzing this position, I could
see nothing decisive. But at some point I suc
ceeded in attaining an ideal working state :
I was able to glance at the position from the
side, as it were, and get away from the vari
ations and ideas that, from inertia, continued
to attract attention. In the present instance
I merely had to 'forget' about the attractive
attacks by the queen on the white king, when
it immediately struck me that after 47 . . .
Rh6 ! ! 48 Q x h6 Q X f3 + 49 Ke l Q x e4 +
5 0 Kd2 Rd8 + Black gives mate .
The impression was gained that the adjourn
ed position was altogether won for Black.
After two 'sessions' of analysis this is what
we decided, but then, when I had already
gone to bed, it suddenly occurred to me that
I should follow Botvinnik's principle : after
dealing with the main continuations, analyze,
even if only briefly, all the possible moves in
the critical position.
It was here that I conceived the idea of the
'absurd' 43 Kg5 ! ?
The following morning I mentioned this
to my trainer, and we were both shocked to
find that by a quite fantastic queen sacrifice
White can obtain a positional draw : 43 . .
Rf8 (threatening, among other things, 44 . . . the win for Black would have been more
R x g6 + 45 Q x g6 Qg2 + ) 44 Q x h7 + ! !
(but not the prosaic 44 Kh6) 44 . . . R X h7
45 R X h7 + Kg8 46 Kh6 !, with perpetual
check.
White also repels the attack in the varia
tion 43 . . . Qg2 + 44 K X f4, when Black
does not have the important check with his
queen at c l , while in the event of 43 . . .
Qg l + 44 Rg4 Qc l White has the reply
45 Qh2 ! ! , vacating a shelter for his king-
45 . . . R X g6 + 46 Kh5 . White's pieces
achieve co-ordination, and he has nothing
to fear.
The game was resumed and, after the move
made by Gheorgiu, virtually all of the time
I spent was on moving the pieces, recording
the moves on my score sheet, and pressing
the clock. Everything had been exhaustively
analyzed.
43 Qcl +
44 Kg3
No better is 44 Ke4 Q X c3, when the rest
less white king creates a cheerless impression :
Black threatens, in particular, 45 . . . Rd4 +
or 45 . . . Qd3 + .
44 . . R X g6 +
45 Rg4 Qgl +
46 Kh3
. If White had ventured to play 46 Kf4,
difficult, although it was still there : 46
145
 Finale of the chess symphony

R X g4 + 47 fX g4 (after 47 Q Xg4 Qcl + No. 56 Modern Defence

events develop similarly to a variation in the
game) 47 . . . Qf2 + 48 Ke4 Qe2 + 49 Kf4 Polugayevsky-Kagan
Rf8 + 50 Rf5 Re8, and White is lost :
(a) 5 1 Re5 (51 Kg5 Qe7+ ) 5 1 . . . Qc4 + Interzonal Tournament
52 Kf5 Rf8 + 53 Kg5 Qf4 + 54 Kh4 Qh2 + . Petropolis, 1973
(b) 5 1 Kg3 Qe l + 52 Rf2 Rf8 53 Qc5
Qgl + . 1 d4 g6
(c) 5 1 Qh3 Re4 + 52 Kg5 Qd2 + 53 Kh5 2 c4 Bg7
(53 Kf6 Qd8 + , or 53 Kh4 Qh6 + 54 Rh5 3 Nc3 d6
Q/6 + 55 Rg5 h6, and wins) 53 . . . Re2, and 4 e4 eS
the threat of 54 . . . Rh2 can merely be de 5 Nf3 Bg4
ferred for one move, bur not averted. 6 dS Nd7
7 h3 B X f3
46 R X g4 8 Q X f3 a5
47 Q X g4 Qhl +
48 Kg3 Rg8 Black misses the chance to solve one of his
49 RgS Qgl + basic problems in this type of position - the
50 Kf4 problem of his black-squared bishop. He
could now have simply exchanged it by
White cannot return to h3 with his king : 8 . . . Bh6 ! It is true that at h6 his knight
50 . . R X g5, and Black's queen is defended
. would not have been very brilliantly placed,
by his rook. But in the centre of the board but with the position blocked the time lost
the white king quickly comes under a decisive on its return would not have been so terrible.
attack. Now, however, White preserves his c l bishop
from exchange.
50 Qcl +
9 b3 Bh6
51 KfS Rf8 +
10 Ba3!
52 Ke4 Q x c3
Ugly, but strong ! The knight at d7 is now
This 'quiet' move decides the game. White 'crippled', since if it appears at c5 it will -
has no defence against the mating threats. to White's advantage - be immediately ex
changed .
53 ReS Qel +
54 KdS Rd8 + 10 Qg5
55 Ke6 Re8 +
Of course, played not in the hope of giving
mate by 1 1 . . . Qd2, but so as to gain a tempo
Were it not for his pawn at f3, Gheorghiu
for the advance . . . f5. On 10 . . Ne7 White
would have been saved by a stalemating
.

could have continued 1 1 h4 ! followed by

combination : 56 Kf7 Q x e5 57 Qg8 + . But
g2-g3 and Bh3, which, strictly speaking, is his
the pawn is there, and so White resigned.
general plan.

11 Rdl f5
12 g3 Qf6
13 Bg2

146
 No. 56 Polugayevsky-Kagan, 1 973

1 3 h4 is better, since later White will all This seriously weakens the a-pawn, but it
the same place his bishop at h3. In the game is difficult to suggest anything better.
I played with a 'margin of safety', to avoid
21 B x cS b X c5
having to calculate the variations after 13 h4
22 Rdh1 Rh8
fx e4.
23 Bg2 Qg5
13 b6
Otherwise Black cannot disentangle him
.

14 h4 Ne7
self, since after 23 . . . Bg5 the double ex
15 h5 Kf7
change on h8 leads to the loss of the c7 pawn.
16 Nb5
24 Qc3
For a long time tying a black rook to the
defence of the c7 pawn. This is especially From here the queen observes not only
advantageous to White, for the reason that the Q-side along the e l -a5 diagonal, but also
both his rooks will be employed on the the K-side along the a l -h8 diagonal ! Black
K-side. must now keep a careful watch on the white
f-pawn, and not allow it to advance to f4.
16 Rac8
17 Bh3 24 . . f X e4
25 B X e4 Nf5
With an 'X-ray' beam the bishop begins
26 B X f5 Q x fs
probing the weakness of the white squares
in the opponent's position. If 26 . . . g x f5, possible now is 27 Q X a5,
or 27 f4 Qg4 + 28 Kf2, when Black is tied
17 Kg7
hand and foot, even 28 . . . Kg6 being im

18 Rh2!
possible due to 29 Rh4.

27 Qd3 Qg4 +

27 . . . e4 is bad in view of 28 Qc3 + .

28 Kfl Qd7
29 Rh4 Rcf8
30 R1h2 Rf7
31 Qe4 Rf6
32 Nc3

The knight heads for the 'command post'

in this position - the e4 square. As soon as
One of the links in White's successfully
it is occupied, White's game will be strateg
conceived plan. He begins the hitherto con
ically won .
cealed doubling of rooks on the h-file, which
in combination with his excellently placed 32 . Qf5
minor pieces will allow him to hope for an 33 Qe2 Rff8
increased advantage in the middlegame, or 34 Kg2 Bg5
for a transition into a favourable ending !
Of course, the exchange of rooks merely
18 . Rhf8 brings White nearer to his basic goal - an
19 h X g6 h X g6 ending with a strong knight against a bad
20 Ke2 Nc5 bishop. But Black cannot tolerate for ever

147
 Finale of the chess symphony

the pressure on the h-file, and the move in the It was I who made the sealed move .
game would have been forced sooner or later.
41 Ke2 Bel
35 R X h8 R X h8 42 N x c7 Bb2
36 R X h8 K X h8 43 NbS Be5
37 Qe4 44 f4 e x 3 +
An inaccuracy in time trouble. It was better 45 K x 3 KgS
to play 37 Ne4 and only then prepare the Having got rid of the strong black pawn
exchange of queens by 38 Qf3 etc. But now at e4, White begins the execution of his plan.
Black's pawn formation is slightly improved, First the knight must be activated, after
and at the cost of a pawn his bishop acquires which both Black's king and his bishop will
the ability to 'breathe' . be tied down by attacks on the weak pawns
37 ... Kg7 at aS and d6.
38 Q X fS g X fS
46 Na7 Kf6
39 NbS e4
47 Nc6 Bc3
40 Kfl Kf6
48 Nd8!

In this position the game was adj ourned .

I was i n n o doubt that there should b e a
win - the knight is much stronger than the
bishop, and most of Black's pawns are on
squares of the same colour as his bishop -
but there was the question of where and how
to break through. After all, Black had no
intention of retreating his bishop to d8,
thereby clearing the way for the white king
to approach the a-pawn via b2. It was prob
ably for this reason that my young opponent
was pacing up and down with an air of
satisfaction, and I even heard with half an
ear how he was betting that he wouldn't lose.
Black was undoubtedly also inspired by the
highly limited amount of material on the
board .
The knight is obviously heading for b7.
It is true that there it will be trapped, but
it is only by sacrificing a piece that White
can win. He has no other possibility. Inci
dentally, in the endgame this is a typical
procedure when the sacrifice leads to the
creation of passed pawns on opposite wings .
48 . . . Ke7
49 Nb7 Bd2
(see diagram next column)
Cutting off the white king's advance, and
threatening to trap the knight. But . . .
SO Ke2!

148
 No. 57 Polugayevsky-Grigorian, 1 973

In order to prepare 56 Ne7 (when the knight

cannot be taken, since the black king will
be outside the square of the a-pawn), and
thus force . . . f4, enabling the white king to
join the battle.

55 . . Kc7
56 Ne7 f4 +
57 Kf3 Bel
58 a6 Kb6
59 Nc8 + K x a6
By triangulation the king nevertheless 60 K x f4 Ka5
penetrates to the key f4 square . 61 N X d6 Kb4
62 Ke4
50 Bb4
51 Ke3 Bc3 Another small finesse, which wins the most
52 a4! quickly. Now on 62 . . . K X b3 there follows
63 Kd3 Kb4 64 Nb7, and the black king
The hasty 52 Kf4 fails to achieve its goal
is shut out.
-52 . . . Kf6, and the d-pawn is taboo in
view of 53 . . . Be5 + , winning the knight. 62 . . Ka5
Therefore the opponent has to be given the 63 Nf5 Kb4
move. 64 d6 K x b3
Now after 52 . . . Kd7 the piece sacrifice 65 Kd5 Resigns
wins : 53 Kf4 Kc7 54 N x a5 B X a5 55 K X f5
Kd7 56 g4 Ke7 57 g5 Bd2 58 g6 Bc3. It appears
that White is unable to strengthen his posi No. 57 Queen's Gambit
tion, but this is not so : by repeating the same
king manoeuvre. he gains a tempo-59 Kg5 Polugayevsky-K. Grigorian
Bd2 + 6 0 K.h5 Kf8 (White wins very easily
after 60 . . . Kf6 61 a5 B X a5 62 Kh6) 61 Kg4 ! 41st USSR Championship
Ke7 (if 61 . . . Bc3, then 62 Kg5, and either Moscow, 1973
Black loses control with his bishop of one
of the squares f6 or h6, or else after 62 . . . 1 Nf3 c5
Kg7 the white king breaks through to e6) 2 c4 Nf6
62 g7 Kf7 63 Kf5, and at the cost of his 3 g3 e6
passed g-pawn White reaches the Q-side with 4 Bg2 Nc6
his king.
Black is ready to go into a position typical
52 . . Be5 of the Tarrasch Defence. Earlier in this event
the variation 5 Nc3 d5 6 c x d5 N X d5 7 0-0
Black decides to part with his a-pawn, so as
Be7 8 d4 0-0 9 N x d5 e x d5 occurred in the
to eliminate the white g-pawn. But this fails
game Petrosian-Grigorian. At the Inter
to save the game .
zonal Tournament in Petropolis Keres played
53 N x a5 B x g3 in similar fashion against Portisch. I wanted
54 Nc6 + Kd7 to deviate from the well-trodden path; and
55 aS therefore instead of 5 Nc3 I chose :

1 49
 Finale of the chess symphony

5 0-() d5
6 c x d5 N X d5
7 d4 Be7
8 d X c5 B X c5

Black could also have delayed regaining

the pawn, and played 8 . . . 0-0. I was plan
ning to answer 9 Qc2, and if 9 . . . Ndb4--
1 0 Qe4.

9 Qc2 Qe7

A dubious move. 9 . . . Bb6 or 9 . . . Be7

At first I thought that this move won vir
was correct.
tually by force. White does in fact win a pawn,
10 a3 but stronger was 16 Bb2 (with the threat of
Ng5) , when 16 . . . h6 is well met by 17 Rfd l .
Controlling b4, and preparing to push
back the bishop by b2-b4. 16 b6
17 Ng5
10 . Bb6
White sticks to his plan, although to be
Should Black have retreated in advance ?
considered was 17 B x a5 b X a5 1 8 Nc6.
It would have been better to castle.
17 . . . Bb7
11 Nbd2 Nf6

1 1 . . . e5 12 Nc4 e4 ? would have failed to The only move . If 1 7 . . . B X e5 1 8 B x a8

13 Q x e4, but Black should have thought B x a 1 , then 19 Bb4 !
about castling. 18 B x b7
12 Nc4 Bc7 After 1 8 Ng4 g6 Black's defences hold .
13 b4 0-0
18 N X b7
After the natural 14 Bb2 White's advantage
1 8 . . . Q X b7 loses to 1 9 Ng4.
would have been undisputed. But I decided
that the position warranted more . 19 Nc6 Qe8

14 b5 Na5 This enables Black to escape with the loss

15 Nce5 of just a pawn, and in compensation he gains
1 5 N x a5 B X a5 16 Ne5 is also good. some counter-play. 19 . . . Qc7 would have
been met by 20 Bc3 e5 21 f4 !, when Black
15 . Bd6 has no defence.

Black is markedly behind in development, 20 Bc3 h6

and in addition his knight at a5 is undefended.
Here too 20 . . . e5 is strongly met by 21 f4 !
15 . . . a6 was essential.
21 B x 6 h X g5
(see diagram next column) 22 B x gs f6
23 Be3 Qh5
16 Bd2 24 Qc4 Kf7

1 50
 No. 57 Polugayevsky-Grigorian , 1973

All Black's hopes lie in counter-play on I preferred to retain my bishop and exchange
the h-file. off the active enemy rook.

33 . . R X cl

Of course, not 33 . . . R X e2 34 Rc7 + .

34 B x cl Ke7

On 34 . . . ReS there would have followed

35 Bf4.

35 Rd4

35 Ba3 would have merely led to the

bishop's exchange after 35 . . . Nc4.
25 Kg2! Rh8 35 ReS
26 h4 Qf5 36 Ba3 + Kf7
On 26 . . . gS there would have followed
If 36 . . . Ke8, then 37 Rd6.
27 Rhl .

27 Radl 37 Bd6

To be considered was 27. a4, not determin A poor move. The exchange of rooks after
ing for the moment the position of the queen's 37 f4 Rc4 38 R X c4 N x c4 39 Bel would
rook. have led to an easily won ending.

27 . . RhcS 37 . Nc4
38 Bb4 Rc7
An admission of failure. On the h-fi1e 39 h5 e5
there is nothing more for the rook to do. 40 Rd8 Nb2
28 a4

White is also stronger on the K-side I

He should have played 28 g4 1, and if 28 . . .
Qh7-29 h5.

28 . . . Na5

By getting rid of the powerful knight at c6;

Black eases his defence .

29 Qd3 Q X d3
30 R X d3 N X c6
31 R X d6 Ne5
32 Bf4 Rc2 As I was sealing my move, I saw an in
33 Rcl
teresting idea, which, of course, would have
to be analyzed carefully at home. The 'finish
Perfectly possible was 33 B X eS fx es, ing' process unexpectedly proved to be highly
when the rook ending should be won, but complex and painstaking, with a large number

151
 Finale of the chess symphony
of variations to be considered. Time for me
was at a premium, but I nevertheless had to
'borrow' from my own sleep, and spend a
number of hours on the analysis .
41 Bd6
Black incorrectly considered the adjourned
position to be drawn (it is unlikely that White
can hold on to his extra pawn). He was
clearly superficial as regards his analysis,
and, as it turned out, had no suspicion of
the dangers threatening him. Even on the
resumption at the board he should still have
been on his guard : why, in fact, does White
part with his a-pawn, and keep his bishop
on the same diagonal ? Perhaps he has some
aim other than the superficial one of trying
to drive the rook off the 7th rank ? After all,
the black king has only one free square at
e6 . . .
In short, there was plenty for Black to
think about, and, if he had taken account
of all these considerations, he would natu
rally have tried moving his rook down the
c-file, to prevent the advance of the white
e-pawn.
In the event of this I had prepared at home
the following variations : 41 . . . Rc4 42 a5 !
b X a5 43 RaS, and if 43 . . . Ke6, then 44 Ba3
followed by R X a7. After 42 . . . Rd4 (instead
42 . . . b X a5), 43 a6 ! is decisive : 43 . . . Ke6
(or 43 . . . Nc4 44 Rf8+ Ke6 45 Bb4 - with
his pawns on black squares the ending is
hopeless for Black) 44 RaS ! R X d6 45 R X a7,
and White's passed pawns are irresistible .
4 1 . . . Rc3 is perhaps the most interesting
variation. But then comes 42 Rd7 + Ke6 43
R X g7 K X d6 44 h6 ReS 45 h7 RhS 46 R X a7,
and the resulting ending is hopeless for Black.
E.g. 46 . . . N x a4 47 R x a4 R X h7 4S Rc4,
with an easily won rook ending. Mter 46 . . .
Ke6 the break-through a4-a5 is decisive,
while if 46 . . . Nc4, then 47 Kh3. Finally,
on 46 . . . f5 White plays 47 Kh3 N x a4 4S
1 52
Kh4 !, and without wasting time on the
capture of the knight, makes for g6 with
his king.
However, all this analysis remained 'un
seen', since on his very first move my oppo
nent went a different way, but . . . one which
was not unexpected.
41 . . . Rb7 ?
This possibility had also been examined
by White in his analysis, and just in case
he had prepared a 'bomb'.
42 e4! N x a4
42 . . . Ke6 was much more tenacious,
although after 43 f4 e X f4 44 g X f4 f5 White
had found the problem-like move 45 Ba3 (if
45 Be5, then 45 . . . Nc4!), when after 45 . . .
Nc4 46 ReS + Kf7 47 RfS + Ke6 4S e x f5 +
Kd5 49 Bb4, o r 45 . . . N x a4 46 ReS + Kf6
47 RfS + Ke6 (if 47 . . . Rf7, then 48 e5 +
Ke6 49 Rc8) 4S R X f5, he wins.
The continuation in the game simplified
my task considerably.
43 f4
It turns out that, after re-establishing mate
rial equality, Black is in danger of being rather
economically mated-by 44 f5 and 45 RfS.
Defending by 43 . . . Nc5 44 f5 Nd7 leads to
a tragicomic position, in which there is
nothing for Black to do on his next move .
 No. 58 Polugayevsky-Mecking, 1 975

Only now does Grigorian make a despair 6 Bd3 d X c4

ing attempt to free himself from the trap 7 B X c4 b5
which has closed around his king. 8 Bd3 Bb7
9 e4 b4
43 . . e x f4
10 Na4 c5
44 g X f4 g5
11 e5 Nd5
The last chance, since 44 . . . g6 fails to 45 12 N x c5 N x c5
h6. 13 d X c5 B x cs

45 e5 ! g X f4 Black reached this position after spending

less than a minute on his clock. I had no
Or 45 . . . fxe5 46 fX g5, and there is no
doubt that it was very familiar to Mecking,
way of stopping the passed g- and h-pawns.
since in general he does not like taking
46 h6 Ke6 decisions at the board without thorough pre
paration at home. In addition, instinct told
Moving the king the other way does not
me that the Brazilian was aiming to repeat my
help : 46 . . . Kg6 47 e6.
game with Karpov (41 st U SSR Champion
47 Re3 + Kf5 ship, Premier League, 1 973). After due con
sideration I decided to make just one further
If 47 . . . Kd5, then White wins by 48 Be7.
step along the familiar path.
48 e6 Resigns
14 0-0 b6

Karpov played 1 5 Qe2 here, and obtained

No . 58 Queen ' s Gambit a promising position. But Mecking might
have found either some improvement, or
Polugayevsky-Mecking some new set-up for his pieces . And so,
after thinking for 45 minutes, I played :
Manila, 1975
15 Nd2
1 d4 d5
2 c4 c6
3 Nf3 Nf6
4 Nc3 e6
5 e3 Nbd7

The opening repertoire of the Brazilian

grandmaster includes the Meran Variation,
and three years earlier, at the tournament
in Mar del Plata, he had employed this line
against me . And on this occasion he made
his opening moves with astonishing speed,
obviously not giving any thought to the fact
that, firstly, I myself often play the 'Meran'
both with White and with Black, and, sec
ondly, I might have prepared some improve
ment .
Thus it was nevertheless Black who was
faced with an innovation, and in his efforts
to solve the resulting problems Mecking spent
1 hour 1 0 minutes on his next move, thus
establishing an unusual record for the tour
nament .

1 53
 Finale of the chess symphony

The point is that the knight is aiming to Bd6 23 B X d6 R X d6 led to equality in the
occupy an aggressive post at c4 or e4. It ap later game Magerramov-Bagirov, USSR,
pears that it should be possible to refute this 1976), but this is just what he should have
manoeuvre, by exploiting the fact that the played, since after 21 . . . Qc6 22 Qe2 White's
bishop at d3 is undefended . position is merely slightly preferable .
But where can the knight move to ? 1 5 . . .
Ne3 is bad because of 1 6 Bb5 + Kf8 1 7 21 Qc4 Nd4
f x e3 B X e3 + 1 8 Kh 1 Qd5 1 9 Nf3, when 22 Q x d5 R X d5
Black loses a piece : 1 9 . . . B X cl 20 Q x d5 . 23 Bd6
O n 1 5 . . . Nf4 White has the simple 1 6 23 Be4 was pointless in view of 23 . . . Rb5,
Be4, ensuring him an advantage. And even but at the same time I did not want to give
so, it is not a question of the position guaran up my e-pawn.
teeing White an advantage. Not at all. It is
simply rich in possibilities for both sides. 23 Nf5
Black in fact followed a highly tempting 24 Bc4 Rd4
path, but it was here that White was able
After 24 . . . Rd2 25 Bb4 R X b2 26 Bc3
to seize the initiative .
Black loses the exchange.
15 ... Nc3
16 Qc2 25 Bb5 + Kd8
Qd5
26 Ba3 Rd5
17 Nf3 Rd8
18 Ne1 ! 26 . . . Rd2 is stronger. In regaining his
pawn, Black loses time and comes under
Black's pieces are seemingly very actively
an attack.
placed, but he is not able to exploit the
obvious motif of the knight at e 1 being over 27 Bc4 R x e5
loaded. Meanwhile, the knight at c3 has 28 Nd3 Re4
nowhere to retreat, since 18 . . . Ne4 1 9
B X e4 leads t o the loss o f a piece .

18 . . Bd4
19 Bd2

I judged this position to be in favour of

White, since the opponent's king is stuck in
the centre. Possibly Mecking assessed the
position differently, since here he asked me
the traditional question, by which the majori
ty of foreign players offer a draw : 'Are you
playing for a win ?' I answered in the affirma
29 Rfd1!
tive, and the game continued.

19 . . . Nb5 The bishop at c4 is taboo : if 29 . . . R X c4,

20 B x b4 Bb6 ? then 30 Ne5 + Rd4 3 1 N X f7 + and 32
N X h8, after which the white knight cannot
Black was afraid to take the pawn-20 . . . be caught, if only in view of the weakness of
B X e5, because of 2 1 Bc4 (21 Rei a6 22 Qa4 g6.

1 54
 No. 58 Polugayevsky-Mecking, 1975

29 .
Kc7
30 Racl Kb8
31 Nc5 Rd4
32 Nd7 +

Of the two bishops, White decides to

eliminate the black-squared one, for three
reasons : firstly, in doing so he does not lose
time, secondly, it creates an additional weak
ness on the Q-side - the pawn moves to b6,
and, thirdly, this bishop is stronger than its
white opponent. side. He now threatens to blockade the d4
32 . Ka8 pawn and win it, when the rest will be obvi
33 N x b6 + a x b6 ous.
34 R X d4 N X d4 Black could have sought drawing chances
35 Rd1 Rd8 in the variation 42 . . . d3 + 43 Kd2 Ra8 44
a4 + Kb4 45 Rc6 K X b3 46 R X b6 + K X a4
To allow the rook onto the seventh rank 47 Rb7 Rf8 48 K X d3 Ka5, but the great dif
would be equivalent to capitulation. ference in activity between the white and black
pieces renders Black's defence extremely
36 Kfl e5
difficult. For example, 49 Ke4 Ka6 50 Re7
37 b3 Ka7
Kb6 5 1 Ke5 Kc6 52 h4, and Black is obliged
38 Bb2
to wait submissively for the advance of the
Here it was possible to win a pawn : 38 white pawns to break up his own pawn ranks.
B X f7 Ba6 + 39 Bc4 B X c4 + 40 b X c4, but It was probably for this reason that Meck
I felt that the weakness of my Q-side would ing decided on a different method of defence.
give the opponent certain counter-chances. Ra8
42 . .

38 . . Ba6 43 Rc2 Ra7

44 Kd3 Kb4
39 B X a6 K x a6
40 B X d4 e X d4 45 K X d4 b5
41 Ke2 Black's plan becomes clear. By penetrating
with his king to a3 and advancing his pawn
White has an undisputed advantage, but
to b4, he wishes to tie the white rook to the
it is difficult to say whether it is enough to win
defence of the a-pawn, and, by placing his
against best defence. After all, it is well
own rook on the e-file, to attempt to cut off
known that 'all rook endings are drawn' !
the opposing king from the K-side.
41 . Kb5 Accuracy is demanded of White to counter
42 Rc1 this plan. Thus the direct 46 Ke5 did not
appeal to me, because of 46 . . . Re7 + 47
(see diagram next column) Kd6 Re6 + 48 Kd7 h5 !, and after . . . g6
it is not easy to find a successful way of
With this, his sealed move, White occupies combating the black pawn formation f7jg6f
the open file, and cuts off the black king from h5. It is against such a set-up that White's
the main sector of the coming battle-the K- next move is directed.

11 1 55
 Finale of the chess symphony

46 g4! Ka3 to g6. Probably Black should now have

47 f4 b4 played 54 . . . Kc3, but then White gains
48 b4 Re7 the opportunity at a convenient moment to
49 b5 get rid of the black b-pawn by a2-a3, and
the remote position of Black's king means
Although Black has carried out his plan
that the projected ending with white pawn
in full, and has cut off the white king from
at f5 against black pawn at h6 is hopeless for
his pawns, he is nevertheless close to a posi
him.
tion of zugzwang, since on 49 . . . Re6 there
The move played, however, is even less
follows 50 Kc5 Re7 5 1 Rd2 Re6 52 Rd7.
good, and loses very quickly.
After prolonged thought the Brazilian
grandmaster decides to switch to active def 54 Kbl
ence. 55 Rb7 K x a2
56 R X b4 Kb2
57 Rb6 Rc2

At this point the game was adjourned for

the second time . White sealed 58 Kg6, but
the game was not continued : Black resigned.

No . 59
Polugayevsky-Balasbov
49 Rel
SO Rc7 45th USSR Championship
Leningrad, 1977
Now 50 . . . K x a2 5 1 R X f7 K X b3 52
R X g7 leads to a position where, although
Black can win the white rook for his b-pawn,
he is unable to give up his rook for all the
remaining white pawns .

so . . Rgl
51 R X f7 R X g4
52 Ra7 + Kb2
53 KeS Rg2

Black cannot contemplate the position

after 53 . . . Rh4 54 R X g7 K x a2 55 Rg3
R X h5 + 56 f5 : although he is level on mate
rial, his h-pawn is halted, whereas the white
f-pawn is free to advance .
54 KfS
Clearly intending to utilize the advanced
state of his pawns and to transfer his rook
This ending favours White, in view of the
weakness of the black pawns at a6 and f5,
but the limited material makes his winning
chances minimal. The subsequent play is
highly instructive.
49 f3

1 56
 No. 59 Polugayevsky-Balashov, 1 977

Otherwise the white king cannot break

through to f4.

49 . e x f3 +
50 K X f3 h5 ? !

Black averts the threat o f 5 1 Kf4 Kg6 52

B X f5 + B X f5 53 h5 + , but as a result an
other of his pawns ends up in a vulnerable
position, and he fails to sense just how dan
gerous his position is. Perhaps he should
have tried the sacrifice 50 . . . Bd7 5 1 Kf4
Ba4 52 B X f5 Bb3 53 B X h7 B X c4. White finds a paradoxical way to win.
By retreating, he uses triangulation to give
51 Kf4 Kg6 his opponent the move, and then once again
52 Bfl advances.
After 52 e4 Bd7 53 B X f5 + B X f5 54 57 Ke7
e X f5 + Kg7 55 g4 h X g4 56 K X g4 Kh6 58 Kf2 f4
White is unable to break through, and the
Realizing White's intentions, Black at
pawn ending is drawn. But he has already
tempts to free his bishop at the cost of a
planned an advantageous manoeuvre in the
pawn. Otherwise after 58 . . . Kf7 White
ensuing 'dance of the bishops'.
would have carried out the manoeuvre 59
52 . . Bd7 Ke 1 ! Kg7 (59 . . . Ke7 60 Bdl) 60 Be8 Kh6
53 Bd3 Bc8 6 1 Kf2 Bb7 62 Kf3 Bc8 63 Kf4.
54 Bbl! Bd7
59 g X f4 Bf5
55 Bc2 Bc8
60 Ke2 Kd8
56 Ba4
61 Kd2
By the use of zugzwang, White has 'crippl White complicates his task. Simpler was
ed' the enemy bishop, and Black now has 6 1 Bc6 Kc7 62 Be8 Bg4 + 63 Kd2 f5 (other
only king moves, since he loses immediately wise White plays 64 e4 and prepares e4-e5,
after 56 . . . Bb7 57 Bd7. combining it with an attack on the a-pawn)
56 . . . Kf7 64 e4 fx e4 65 Ke3 Kd8 66 Bc6 Kc7 67
K X e4 Be2 68 f5 B X c4 69 f6 Kd8 70 Kf5,
The only move. After 56 . . . Kg7 57 Be8 with an easy win.
Kh6 5 8 Kf3 Black is in zugzwang. But now
61 . . Bg6
it appears that White has not achieved any-

62 Bc6 Kc7
thing, since 57 Bc6 can be met by 57 . . . Ke7.
63 Ke2 f5
If only it were Black's move ! Then . . . Kg7
would be bad because of Be8, and . . . Kf8(e7) After 63 . . . Kc8 64 Ba4 Kd8 65 Kf3 Bd3
because of Bd1 . . . (65 . . . Kc7 66 e4 and then e4-e5) 66 Bb3
f5 67 Kf2 Ke7 68 Ke 1 White transfers his
(see diagram next column) king to c3, places his bishop at e8 (stopping
off en route at c6), and nevertheless advances
57 Kf3! e3-e4.

11* 1 57
 Finale of the chess symphony

64 e4 f X e4 Black cannot permit Bf7-e6.

65 Ke3 Kc8
76 Kf4 Bf5
66 Ba4 Kd8
77 Be2 Bc2
67 Bd1!
It is beyond Black's powers to stop the
Avoiding 67 Bc2 Ke7 68 B X e4 B X e4 69 h-pawn, defend the weakness at a6, and
K X e4 Kf6 70 f5 Kf7, when again the pawn simultaneously prevent the advance of the
ending cannot be won. white king.

67 Ke7 78 Ke3
68 f5 B x rs
Also possible was the immediate 78 h5
This allows White an outside passed pawn, Bf5 79 h6 Bb 1 80 Ke3 (with the threat of
but Black also loses after 68 . . . Be8 69 81 Bg4) 80 . . . Kg5 8 1 Bfl , and in either
K X e4 Kf6 70 Kf4 Bf7 7 1 Ba4. case (on 81 . . . KX h6 or 81 . . B/5)-82
.

Bh3.
69 B X h5 Kf6
78 Bf5
70 Kf4 Bh3
79 Bd3 Bg4
71 Be2
80 Bc2 Bh3
81 Bh7 Bfl

After 8 1 . . . Kg7 82 Bd3 Kh6 83 Kf4 Kh5

84 Kg3 Bd7 (84 . . . Bg4 is bad because of
85 Bg6 + ) 85 Be2 + Kg6 86 Bg4 the white
bishop breaks through to c8, while 82 . . .
Kf6 83 Kf4 leads to a position which occurs
in the game.

82 Bd3 Bh3
83 Kf4 Bd7
84 hS Ba4
85 h6 Bb3
Accuracy is necessary right to the end .
86 h7 Kg7
The black bishop cannot now reach fl , and
87 Kf5 Resigns
after 71 . . . Bg2 72 Kg3 it is trapped .

71 Bf5
72 Bg4 e3 No. 60 Catalan Opening
After 72 . . . B x,g4 73 K X g4 Ke5 75 h5 Polugayevsky-Reshevsky
Kd4 the white pawn queens with check,
while 72 . . . Bg6 allows the white bishop to Lone Pine, 1978
attack the a-pawn.
1 d4 Nf6
73 Be2 Bd7 2 c4 e6
74 K X e3 KfS 3 g3 d5
75 BbS Kf6 4 Bg2 Nbd7

158
 No. 60 Po1ugayevsky-Reshevsky, 1978

5 Nf3 c6 13 . . a6
6 Qc2 Be7 14 c x d5 c X d4
7 0--0 0-0
8 b3 b6 Perhaps Black's best practical chance .
9 Rd1 After 14 . . . N X d5 1 5 N X d5 B X d5 1 6
d X c5 White's pressure on the d-file becomes
The slight subtlety of this move order is highly unpleasant.
that for the moment White avoids determin
15 N X d4
ing the position of his queen's knight, which
he will choose depending on Black's plans 1 5 R X d4 might have been stronger, but
with regard to his queen's bishop. during the game I was attracted by the idea
of transferring the knight to f5 .
9 . Bb7
10 Nc3 15 . . . B X d5
The knight can now occupy a more active
There is no choice . If 15 . . . N X d5, then
position.
16 B X d5 B X d5 1 7 Qf5 Bb7 1 8 Ne6, and
10 . . . ReS White wins.
11 e4 c5
16 Nf5 B X g2
Played in analogy with variations where 17 K x g2 Bb4
the white rook is at f1 or e 1 , but in the present 18 Qd3 Rc5
situation this move leads to great difficulties. 19 Qf3 B x c3
Essential was 11 . . . d X e4 12 N x e4 N X e4
1 3 Q X e4 Nf6, aiming to relieve the tension in The immediate 1 9 . . . Qa8 fails to 20 Ne7 +
the centre . Kh8 2 1 Ncd5.

12 e x d5 e x d5 20 B x c3 Qa8

Black was very much counting on this

move, assuming that the exchange of queens
would enable him to overcome his difficulties.
The further course of the game shows, how
ever, that this is not so. Instead he should
have played 20 . . Qc7, which would have
.

left him with some chances of a defence .

21 Ne7 + Kh8
22 Bd4 Q X f3 +
23 K x 3

13 Bb2!
This simple move emphasizes White's
advantage. Black cannot now play 13 . . .
d x c4, in view of 14 d5 c x b3 1 5 a x b3,
when both 16 d6 and 1 6 R X a7 are threaten
ed.
(see diagram next column)
The resulting ending clearly favours White.
His king is closer to the centre, his bishop
is the superior minor piece, and his king's
rook is excellently placed.

1 59
 Finale of the chess symphony

It transpires that the black rook does not

have a single good square . The main role
in its unexpected capture is played by the
knight at e7.

28 Kh6

Now begins a dance by the white knight . . .

29 Nf5 + Kg6
30 Nh4 + Kh6
23 Ra5 31 R x e8

On 23 . . . Rc2 there would have followed Exchanging off Black's only active piece.
24 Rdc l , when White seizes the open c-file.
31 N x e8
24 h3
32 Nf5 + Kg6
White has no reason to hurry, and he pre 33 Ne7 + Kh6
pares the potentially useful g3-g4.
The knight has returned, again depriving
24 Re8

the black rook of d5. Now all Black's pieces
25 Re1 b5
are passively placed, and the second white
26 a4 Kh7
rook comes into play with decisive effect.
This loses by force. The only move was
26 . . . Ne5 + , although after 27 R X e5 (also
34 Rc1
pretty strong is 27 B X e5 R X e7 28 B Xf6
Threatening the decisive invasion at c8,
R X el 29 B Xg7 + , winning a pawn) 27 . . .
against which there is no satisfactory defence.
R X e5 28 B x e5 R X e7 29 Bd4 Black faces
a difficult defence . 34 . . Nf8
27 b4! Rg5 35 Be3!
28 Kf4
The bishop sets up an 'ambush', and loss
of material for Black becomes inevitable.

35 . . Ng6 +
36 Kf3 N X e7
37 h4 Nd5
38 Rc6 + Kh7
39 h X g5 b5
40 R x a6 Resigns

1 60
 Psychology of the Chess Struggle
The art of chess is in many respects syno
nymous with strength of character. An ag
gressive, trained character, often created by
the player's own hands. How ? There are no
easy recipes for this, no books, and I do not
know whether in general such books could
be written. Although at some time in the
future every top player will acquire his own
psychologist, who for many years will ob
serve him and give him advice.
Does this mean that for success in the chess
struggle it is necessary to make a radical
change to your character ? If I am kind,
should I become malicious ? If I am malicious,
should I become kind ?
Not at all ! In this sense, it would seem,
a person is not able to change. If that's the
way he is, that is how he will stay.
The question is a different one : how cor
rectly to build up your character for a
struggle. It must be simultaneously made
both firm and flexible - otherwise it will lose
the ability to react to the various types of
situation during an individual game and
a tournament as a whole .
This is the chief problem. For many, and
for me in particular. Because, in contrast
to others, I was not a ready-made aggressive
competitor from birth . . .
I have spent more than 30 years in chess.
I have been unable to solve all problems of
a psychological nature, but I have neverthe
less achieved something. And I think that
even my purely competitive results will con
firm the correctness of my words.
161
And I have been faced with a number of
such problems. Different ones at various
times. Thus there were years when for me
important tournaments would follow roughly
one and the same course : due to nerves
I would make a very bad start, then, with
all chances seemingly lost, I would play well
and improve my position, only to collapse
at the most crucial moment. Yes, how many
times did excessive emotion overwhelm me,
depriving me of composure and good sense !
How many times, in a good position, was
one incidental and insignificant mistake
followed by a second, no longer incidental
and more serious, and then a third, this time
fatal ! How many times, instead of calmly
transposing into a won ending, did I launch
into a whirlpool of mutual attacks, aiming
to decide the game immediately, without
adj ourning, as a result of which the win was
missed !
Many of these ailments passed as ex
perience was accumulated, but many had
to be literally rooted out of me . And I learned
how to play the most importan.t, decisive
games, a few of which are given here.
Other 'games of my life' - this is what
players call those encounters which are of
particular competitive or psychological sig
nificance - can be found by the reader in my
book Grandmaster Preparation, published
in 1 98 1 , also by Pergamon Press .
 Psychology of the chess struggle
No . 6 1 Reti Opening
Polugayevsky-Portisch
Interzonal Tournament
Petropolis, 1973
Two rounds before the end I was more
than depressed, and all that could save me
was two successive wins. But while a win
even with Black in the penultimate round
over international master Tan was a per
fectly feasible proposition, to win 'to order'
at the decisive moment against one of the
strongest players in the world, Lajos Por
tisch . . . This seemed too unreal, especially
since Portisch was leading the tournament,
was playing brilliantly, and not once in
Petropolis had been obliged to stop the clocks.
But there was no choice. In a very sharp
battle I won against Tan, and one step from
the finish Portisch led me by one point, and
led Yefim Geller, who was also in contention
for a place in the first three, by half a point.
There was no sense in hoping for a loss by
my compatriot : in such situations one does
not normally take risks, and it was highly
probable that Geller would draw with Panno.
This meant that I had nothing to lose . . .
I felt that never before in my life had
I faced such a difficult task. Upon the result
of one game hung my long-cherished dream
of reaching the Candidates. A dream, which
I had been unable to realize either in 1970,
when I appeared to have fair prospects in
the Interzona1 Tournament, or earlier, when
I had failed in the 1 963 and 1 966 USSR
Championships and had not reached the
Interzonal Tournaments.
The consciousness of all this weighed
heavily on me, and in such a state there was
no possibility of my playing successfully.
How was I to shake off this burden of many
years, now concentrated in one single game ?
There was no answer, and I realized how
1 62
pointless it was to hope to win in such a state
of mind .
\Vhat was I to do ? Should I cultivate a
calmly indifferent attitude to the coming
battle, as I had once done in my match with
Aleksandr Zaitsev ? Or should I arouse in
myself a feeling of maximum competitive
aggression, as before that game with Khol
mov ? Neither of these was really suit
able - the first, because it inclined towards
a rather quiet game, the second, since it was
very easy to 'overheat'. \\;'hat was needed
was a synthesis of these two conditions - enor
mous energy plus cool reason, but how was
it to be attained ?
Perhaps to some extent I was helped by
a little incident.
During the tournament we were living
in a mountain hotel, and the fresh air, to
gether with a rather special, incomparable
quietness, were highly suitable for chess
players relaxing after one battle, and at the
same time tuning up for another, in the
following round .
And so, the evening before the last round,
after dinner I went out for a breath of air,
and began making circuits around the peri
meter of a small swimming pool which was
situated close to the hotel. Stars were sus
pended like mysterious lanterns in the dark
southern sky, and it was very warm and very
quiet. I encircled the pool once, twice, when
I ran into Vlastimil Hort, who was returning
to the hotel from the town.
'Who are you playing tomorrow ?' the
Czech grandmaster asked me.
Highly astonished, I replied : 'Portisch . . . '
'Aha . : . Difficult. It's impossible to win
against him at the moment, he just doesn't
lose at all !'
Hort said this even sympathetically, but
for some reason this sympathy acted like
a spark to a keg of gunpowder.
'If it comes to that, I've even won against
World Champions !'
 No. 6 1 Polugayevsky-Portisch, 1973
This was a cry from the heart. And al
though this may seem like a poor fabrication,
it was as though heard by the veteran
Argentinian grandmaster Miguel Najdorf
who had come to Petropolis especially for
the concluding rounds. His optimism is
legendary, and he spent evenings with us
in the hotel at chess and cards, when his
voice would not die down even for a minute .
'What ? ! Who are you playing ? Portisch ?
And you need to win ? You'll win ! ! '
'How will I win ?'
'You have the better chances. He needs
a draw, but you need a win !', Najdorf de
clared not altogether logically, but most con
vincingly. And he added :
'You are playing well ! Do you want to
take a bet on it ? ! '
I suddenly sensed a growing feeling of con
fidence in victory. Indeed, it was equally
likely for me as it was for Portisch. What
about a draw being in his favour ? Yes ! But
after all, not only I, but also he had to play
'to order' !
A further half hour's walking, a sound
sleep, and in the morning I felt that I couldn't
wait for the moment when I would sit down
at the board. Jumping ahead , I should per
haps mention that, in the bus on the way
to the game, I listened with genuine pleasure
to some amusing stories, and myself related
some anecdote . Later, grandmaster Yuri
Averbakh admitted that both he, and all the
competitors, had been astonished to see me
in such a mood prior to so important an en
counter.
And so, I awoke with a thirst for battle,
but not a reckless battle, but one prepared
beforehand, like a decisive encounter in a war.
Hence the stages in my opening preparation,
carried out on the morning of the game.
First I had to decide the question : should
I play what I normally play, or should I try
to surprise my opponent with my choice of
opening ? My second made his recommen-
1 63
dations to me on both possibilities, and we
began considering opening with the king's
pawn. In its favour, apart from its surprise
value, was the fact that after 1 e4 Portisch
feels much less confident . . .
'But if it should be a Lopez, what then ?',
I asked dubiously.
'Play the Italian Game !'
'But I never played it even as a child !'
'So much the better ! Portisch plays only
the variation with . . . Bc5 .'
And I was shown a multitude of varia
tions of primordial antiquity, which had bee n
worked out taking Portisch's games into
account . . .
I hesitated, and was all ready to agree,
when I suddenly sensed : this is no way to
play ! This is not the way to plan a decisive
battle . After all, if I were to fail to gain an
advantage from the opening, I would not for
give myself for having betrayed 'my sort'
of chess . Very well, it might be easier for
Portisch in the opening, but even if I were
to fail to achieve what I wanted in my own
schemes, I might quietly be able to gain an
advantage in the middlegame .
And the Italian Game fell away of its own
accord. And after it - also the Exchange
Variation of the Ruy Lopez, and 1 e4 in
general.
But I also did not wish to permit the
Nimzo-Indian Defence, which had been so
well studied by my opponent, and by the
method of elimination my choice fell on
1 Nf3 : I would attempt to gain a slight ad
vantage . In the end it would depend on me
whether or not I was able to increase it.
I must admit that I did not guess com
pletely the course of events in the opening.
Portisch chose against me that very same
variation in which a few rounds earlier I had
lost as Black to Panno . Did that mean that
he was aiming for a different piece set-up ?
At the board I took a radical decision : I de
viated from the path chosen by Panno, and
 Psychology of the chess struggle

was ready to agree both to the Queen's
Gambit, and to the Tarrasch Defence . The
result was a highly unusual form of the Reti
Opening. White did not achieve anything
in it, but . . . I lost the opening advantage
'promised' by theory, but gained more :
a complicated position was reached, which
was unfamiliar - or only slightly familiar - to
Portisch, and we were both forced to think
for ourselves.
The fact that this was to my advantage
is shown by the game.
1 Nf3 d5
2 c4 d4
3 g3 c5
4 e3! ?
After 8 Be2 B X e2 9 Q X e2 0-0-0 the
chances would have been roughly equal.
Also possible was 8 Qb3 Bf3 9 Rg1 , when
White gradually throws back the active black
pieces.
8 ... Bf5
9 g4 Bg6
The retreat of the bishop to d7 was more
natural. After 9 . . . Bd7 10 Qe2 e6 1 1 Be3
Qd6 12 Nc3 Be7 13 Ne4 a double-edged game
results, but I continue to prefer White's
position.

A position from the Modern Benoni has

been reached, with colours reversed (I d4 Nf6
2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6).
4 Nc6
5 e x d4

To 'dislodge' the opponent at any cost

from familiar opening set-ups .
10 Qa4 + !
5 . . N X d4
Strangely enough, it is after the exchange
After 5 . . . c X d4 White obtains in pure of queens that White's lead in development
form the above-mentioned variation of the begins to tell.
Modern Benoni, with an extra tempo into
the bargain. 10 Qd7
11 Q X d7 + K X d7
6 N X d4 Q X d4
12 Nc3 e5
7 d3
12 . . . e6 is unpleasantly met by 13 Be3,
7 Nc3 also deserved consideration, not
with the threat of 14 0-0-0 and d3-d4.
fearing attempts by Black to simplify the Black's king continues to wander about the
game by 7 . . . Qe5 + 8 Be2 Bg4, for example : centre, while his K-side is undeveloped.
9 d4 c X d4 10 Bf4 B X e2 (10 . . . Qe6 11
Qa4 + ) 1 1 Qa4 + b5 12 N X b5 Qe4 13 13 f4 e x f4
Nc7 + + Kd8 14 Qe8 mate. 7 . . . Bg4 is 14 B X f4 Bd6
satisfactorily met, as in the game, by 8 f3
Portisch underestimates the danger, other
Bd7 9 Qe2 Bc6 10 d3 Nf6 1 1 Be3.
wise he would have played 14 . . . Re8 +
7 . . Bg4 1 5 Kf2 Ne7 and then . . . Nc6, although even
8 f3! ? in this case White has the better chances (the

164
 No. 61 Polugayevsky-Portisch, 1 973

difference in activity of the white-squared R X g5 27 b3 Ra5 28 d4, with strong threats

bishops is too great). against the enemy king.
15 B x d6 K x d6 24 B X b7 Ra2
16 0-0-0 Nf6 25 Rb1 Re3
17 h3 Rad8 26 Kb3!

Even worse is 1 7 Rhd8 1 8 Bg2 Kc7 An important intermediate move.

1 9 g5 Nh5 20 Nd5 + , when Black's position 26 . . . Ra5
is unenviable. 27 Rbd1 h5

27 . . . h6 was possibly more prudent.

Black could also have provoked interesting
tactical complications, e.g. 27 . . . B X d3
28 Kc3 (28 g5 R X b5+ 29 c X b5 Kc7 30 g Xf6
Be2 + 31 Kc2 B X dl + 32 R X dl KX b7 33
jXg7 Rg3 34 Rd7 + Kb6 35 R X/7 leads to
a drawn rook ending) 28 . . . Nd5 + ! ?
(a study-like interference move, which simul
taneously relieves the pin on the bishop) 29
B X d5 (after 29 c X d5 B X b5+ or 29 Kd2
18 Nb5 + ! B X c4 it is now White who has to concern
himself over gaining a draw) 29 . . . Be4 +
The routine 1 8 Bg2 would have allowed 30 Kd2 Rd3 + 3 1 Ke2 (the only move, as can
Black to equalize after 1 8 . . . Kc7 1 9 Rhe 1 easily be seen : both 31 Kel R X dl + 32
Rhe8 20 R x e8 R x e8 2 1 d4 c x d4 22 KX dl B X hl 33 B X hl Ral + , and 31 Kcl
R X d4 b6. RaJ + lead to a loss for White) 3 1 . . . R X d5
18 . . . Kd7 32 Nc3 !
A counter-blow, which refutes Black's
During the game I was more concerned
plan. The alternatives are insufficient :
about the seemingly strange move 1 8 . . .
(a) 32 R X d5 + B X d5 33 Rd 1 Kc6 34
Ke5, but Portisch was evidently still hoping
c x d5 + (34 R X d5 R x b5, or 34 b3 Be6)
for a favourable outcome to the game with
34 . . . K X b5 35 d6 Ra8 36 d7 Rd8 37 Rd6
normal play.
c4 38 Kd 1 ! Kc5 39 Rd2 Kc6 40 Kc2 R X d7
19 N x a7 Ra8 4 1 R X d7 K X d7 42 Kc3 Ke6 43 Kc4 f5 44
20 Nb5 R x a2 g X f5 + K X f5 45 b4 g5 46 b5 Ke6, and the
21 Kc2 Ra4 outside passed pawn fails to have the deciding
22 Na3, trapping the rook, was threatened. word.
(b) 32 c x d5 R x b5 33 Rhf1 R x b2 + is
22 Kc3 ReS also not dangerous for Black.
23 Bg2 Re2 32 . . . B X h 1 33 c x d5 Bg2 34 Rg1 (also
After 23 . . . Re3 (23 . . . b6 24 Rhel) 24 good is 34 Kf2 B X h3 35 Kg3) 34 . . . B X h3
Rhe 1 Rg3 25 Re2 Black's forces are dis 35 Rg3 B X g4 36 R X g4. Here the two pawns
united, and each of his rooks is operating for the piece are, most probably, insufficient
at its own risk. This assures White of a clear compensation.
advantage. For example, 25 . . . h5 26 g5 28 g5 Nb7

1 65
 Psychology of the chess struggle

Now White gains a won position. 28 and here the destination of first prize would
Ne8 was more tenacious, planning 29 be decided literally in the dash for the
Nd6 . finishing line. Leading, with 5t points out
of 8, was the Bulgarian grandmaster Radulov,
while Bellon and I had 5. I was in no doubt
that Radulov would not take any risk, but
would agree a draw, so that a win would
give me a share of first place, and - on the
tie-breaking coefficient - a special prize.
But to win with Black . . .
When preparing psychologically for this
game, I sensed that I would be unable to
'persuade' myself that this was a so-called
'game of my life' - it was not a sufficiently
29 h4 Nf8 important event. And I tuned myself up for
30 Rhe1 Rh3 the sort of game in which it would be im
31 ReS Ne6 possible to make normal, every-day moves
32 Be4 B X e4 with a cold heart and sober mind I had to
33 R x e4 Ra8 seek only the best continuations
34 Rf1 Rf8
1 c4 e5
3S Kc3 fS
2 g3 d6
36 ReS! f4
37 Ra1 Of course, 2 c6 3 Nf3 e4 4 Nd4 d5
5 c X d5 Q X d5 is by no means bad, but I did
Black is powerless to oppose the intrusion
not want to reveal my plans so quickly and
of the white rooks.
to clarify the position. It seemed more
37 . . . Re3 appropriate to transpose into a King's
38 Ra7 + Kc8 Indian set-up.
Or 38 . . . Kd8 39 Rd5 + Kc8 40 R5d7 3 Bg2 g6
Nd8 41 Nd6 + , and mates. 4 d4 Nd7
39 R X e6 Resigns 5 b3

5 Nf3 would have led to a standard posi

tion, one which also, however, leads to com
No . 62 King's Indian Defence plicated play.

Bellon-Polugayevsky 5 ... Bg7

6 Bb2 Ngf6
Montilla, 1975 7 e4 ? !

This is probably too early and optimistic,

The situation before the last round was
if account is taken of the fact that White's
very tense and at the same time fairly typical,
K-side is not yet developed. 7 Nf3 was
especially for the currently fashionable small
correct.
tournaments. Over such a short distance it is
very difficult to 'escape' from one's rivals, 7 . . o-o

1 66
 No. 62 Bellon-Polugayevsky, 1975

Black could already have tried to expose For the moment d4 is defended. But al
the drawbacks to White's plan by 7 . . . e X d4 though the knight is more active at a4 than
8 B X d4 0-0 and 9 . . Re8, but he had some
. at e2 (to where it could also have moved)
thing else in mind . it is nevertheless on the edge of the boar9.

8 d X e5 14 Nd7
15 Rfd1
It transpires that normal development by
8 Ne2 would have allowed 8 . . . e X d4, and Possibly White should have played 1 5 c5
if 9 N X d4, then 9 . . N x e4 10 B X e4 Re8.
.
immediately, with a view to a subsequent
Meanwhile, the elimination of the pawn Nd2-c4.
tension in the centre can be considered 15 b6
a slight achievement for Black. 16 Bh3

8 . d X e5 This is simply a waste of time, since on the

9 Nc3 c6 very next move the bishop will have to retreat.
Better was 16 Rd2, preparing to double rooks
9 . . . Nc5 was also possible, and if 10 Ba3 on the central open file .
(after the exchange of queens the black
knight would be threatening to invade at d3), 16 Ndf8
then 10 . . . Nfd7. But in view of the nature 17 Bfl
of the struggle in this game, I still preferred It transpires that the opposition of the
for the moment not to reveal my intentions. white-squared bishops favours Black, since
10 Nf3 Qc7 he was already threatening 1 7 . . . Nd4 and
11 Qc2 Nc5 18 . . . B X h3.
12 0-0 Re8 17 . . . h6

One of the most subtle moves in the game.

By 1 8 . . . Ng5 Black intends to exchange off
the white knight at f3, after which the other
black knight will invade at d4. Thanks to
such outwardly imperceptible manoeuvres,
Black's advantage begins to assume real pro
portions.

18 h4

A familiar position has been reached, in

which Black has at least equal chances, and
even the better long-term prospects, since
he can hope to occupy d4. White is obliged
to do something positive .

13 b4 Ne6
14 Na4

1 67
 Psychology of the chess struggle

In parrying the above-mentioned threat, The knight again goes to d7, from where
White weakens his K-side. The variation it attacks the c5 pawn and simultaneously
1 8 c5 b5 1 9 Nc3 a5 20 a3 Ng5 appealed to intends to occupy e5.
him even less . . .

18 . . . f5!

Immediately taking the initiative against

the opponent's king. The tactical basis of
this break lies in the variation 19 e X f5
g X f5 20 Q X f5 (20 Bh3 e4) 20 . . . Ng5
21 Qd3 e4.

19 Rd2 ? !

Obviously upset b y the turn o f events, 28 eS ?

White makes a poor reply. He should have
brought up some reserves by 19 Nc3 .
19 . . . f4
20 Nc3
It transpires that the intended 20 Rad 1
fails to 20 . . . fX g3 2 1 f X g3 Nd4 ! 22 N X d4
e X d4, when the g3 pawn is attacked, which
then allows Black to reinforce his formidable
passed pawn by . . . c5, when for a long time
the knight at a4 is shut out of play.
This loses by force . True, no better was
28 Qa3 Ne5, and if 29 B X d4 (29 . . . d3
was threatened), then 29 . . . Nf3 + , winning.
White should evidently have continued 28
Rcl , although even then 28 . . . Rab8 29 Qa3
Rbd8 ! followed by the inevitable . . . Ne5
would have set him difficult problems.
28 . . . N x es
29 Rae1 Rab8
30 Qa3 Rf8

20 ... fX g3 Black steps out of the pin, and threatens

21 fX g3 Nd4 3 1 . . . Nf3 + .

22 N x d4 e x d4
23 Ne2 Bg4! 31 Bg2

3 1 Kg2 loses to 3 1 . . . Rf3 .

The black pieces begin operating over the
entire board. 24 . . . B X e2 is threatened, and 31 Nc4
perhaps the lesser evil for White was 24 Kg2, 32 Qd3
when the simple 24 . . . c5 is good. But
passive defence is not to Bellon's taste, and No better is 32 Re7 Q X e7 33 R X e7
he tries to complicate the situation, which N x a3 34 B x a3 Rb l + 35 Kh2 Rf2, with
merely accelerates his downfall. decisive threats.

24 c5 B X e2 32 N X b2
25 Qb3 + Kb8 33 Q X g6 Qf7
26 R X e2 b X c5 34 Q X c6 d3
27 b X cS Nd7 35 BdS

1 68
 No. 63 Timman-Polugayevsky, 1 982

Or 35 Re7 d2. Secondly, the game was played in the last

round. Before this, following a good start,
35 ... Qf6 I had lost in time trouble in a winning posi
36 Re6 d2 tion against Bent Larsen, and no longer had
37 Ral Qd4 + any chance of first place . This was sensation
38 Kh2 Rf6 ally secured, one round before the finish,
39 Qd6 Rbf8 by 1 9-year-old Garry Kasparov. But a win
40 Rfl dl = Q could give me second place, and I naturally
41 Rfx f6 Q X f6 had to try for it. Timman, on the other hand,
was making every effort to finish the tourna
The time scramble is over, so are the tactical ment on a high note, to compensate somewhat
tricks, and White resigned. for his poor showing, which - as was appar
ent! - very much grieved him.
And, last but not least, I had a minus
No . 63 Queen' s Indian Defence score in my previous encounters with the
Dutch grandmaster. And which of us corn
Timman-Polugayevsky petitors does not dream of revenge ? !

1 d4 Nf6
Bugojno, 1982
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 b6
I will state straight away that this game
4 g3 Ba6
could not be called a complete one . And,
5 Qb3
indeed, there was no question of it being so,
so great was the significance of it for both Timman likes playing White in the Queen's
players . Hence the great tension and the Indian Defence, and has great experience in
gripping chess drama of this encounter. it. In this opening the Dutch grandmaster
In order to understand all this, it is simply does not normally conduct the game in a po
essential to know the conditions under which sitional vein, but imparts to it a sharp nature.
the game was played . . . The queen move rarely occurs in practice,
Firstly, the tournament in Bugojno was and for this very reason it is interesting.
one of the currently popular super-class events, The game takes on an unusual form, demand
and success in such a tournament is an es ing a creative approach from both players.
pecially desirable honour for any grandmas
ter (however, the invitation itself to such 5 ... Nc6
a tournament is an honour). For Timman
Black has several alternatives -5 . . . c6,
and myself it was especially important, for
5 . Bb7, but the move played is the most
. .

the reason that the Interzonal Tournaments

natural. He must exploit the position of the
were approaching, and it was essential to
white queen for the development of his pieces.
know precisely what one was capable of at
the given moment. Besides, I was not alto 6 Nbd2
gether satisfied with the creative results of
On 6 Bd2 Black has the highly unpleasant
my previous appearance in the Mar del Plata
reply 6 . . . Bb7.
Tournament (although I finished third in it),
and I wanted to use every game with a strong 6 ... Na5
opponent for a full-blooded struggle. 7 Qc2

169
 Psychology of the chess struggle
The alternative is 7 Qa4, but then after
7 . . . Bb7 White does not have 8 e4.
7 ... c5
8 e4
Now White's plan is revealed. His strong
central pawns cramp Black, and may cause
him considerable unpleasantness. A similar
pawn formation occurs in several other lines
of the Queen's Indian Defence, but with the
black knight at b8, rather than a5. In this
case the difference is in Black's favour : his
knight is already developed, and he can
occupy the c-file .
8 . c x d4
. .
9 e5 Ng8
.
This reply is forced, since dubious is
9 . . . Ng4 1 0 h3 Nh6 and now 1 1 g4 (if there
is nothing better), preparing Ne4.
10 Bd3
It transpired that Timman had examined
this continuation in his pre-game prepara
tions. White's idea is tempting, but he has
not yet completed his development. The weak
ness of the e5 pawn and the possession of the
c-file give Black counterchances.
10 . Ne7
Heading for c6. For the moment Black
is a pawn up, and is threatening to seize the
initiative. Not wishing to agree to this,
Timman embarks on a dangerous course .
11 B X h7
1 70
This move has its virtues, of course, but
its drawbacks are also clearly apparent-time
is lost, and Black may be able to exploit the
opening of the rook's file.
11 . . . ReS
In this way Black emphasizes the draw
backs to the opponent's previous move . Now
12 Bd3 is well met by 12 . . . N x c4 13 N x c4
B X c4 14 B x c4 b5. Timman finds the best
chance .
12 Be4 Qc7
There is no point in taking the pawn
(12 . . . Nx c4) in view of the unpleasant
reply 13 Qa4, while 12 . . . B X c4 13 N x c4
R X c4 14 Qd3 is unclear. Black might have
tried 12 . . . b5, and if 13 c5, then 1 3 . . . Nd5
14 B X d5 R X c5, when he seizes the initia
tive . The move played is in itself not bad, but
it is less energetic.
13 b3 Nec6
A poor reply-Black incorrectly imple
ments his idea . The point is this . White's
Achilles' heel is his e-pawn. Black thought
that his knight at a5 would be needed to
support the advance of his b-pawn, but, as
it turns out, the knight does little to help this,
and therefore it should have been moved to
c6. After 13 . . . Nac6 the following varia
tion is of interest : 14 Bb2 N x e5 15 N X d4
f5 ! 1 6 Bg2 b5, when it would seem that Black
wins a pawn and creates threats on the c-file .
After missing this opportunity he ends up
in an inferior position.
14 Bb2 N x es
15 N X d4 Nac6
Here 1 5 . . . f5 is dangerous : White sac
rifices a piece and obtains a strong attack.
To avoid ending up in a very difficult posi
tion, Black has to relieve the situation.
16 N x c6 N x c6
17 0-0 Nb4!
 No. 63 Timman-Polugayevsky, 1 982
This move may or may not be good, but
it deserves an exclamation mark. After
'normal' replies, White, with his greater com
mand of space, has the advantage . Account
must also be taken of the fact that Black's
king is stuck in the centre . But he now in
tends to use the a6-fl diagonal for counter
play.
18 Qc3
A critical point. Timman thought that he
had refuted Black's plan, but in fact this is not
so . The strongest was 1 8 Qb1 (18 Qdl is also
possible), so as to answer 18 . . . d5 with
19 a3 d X e4 20 a x b4. But now Black dis
covers a strong counter-chance .
18 . . . d5
19 a3
19 . Na2!
I think that this move came as a surprise
to Timman. The point of it is that White's
white-squared bishop disappears from the
board, and also his rook is lured onto a poor
square .
d X e4
20 R x a2
21 N x e4 Bb7
Black is a pawn down, but on the other
hand he has the two bishops. For the moment
White's queen's rook is out of it, and he
requires time to bring it back into play.
22 Qd3
12
Clearing the way for the bishop, and in
tending 23 Qe2 and 24 f3 .
22 . . Rd8
23 Qe2 Qc6
23 . . . Qd7 is also a possibility, but then
Black has to reckon with 24 Qg4.
24 f3 Qd7!
Black has to exchange the queens. Then,
thanks to the more active placing of his pieces,
he will be able to exploit the weakness of
White's Q-side pawns.
25 Bel
Now Black has no problems. To be con
sidered was 25 Bc3, maintaining the pressure
along the important diagonal. Interesting
play then results after 25 . . . Qd3 26 Qe l ,
when analysis shows that 26 . . . B X e4 27
fx e4 Bc5 + 28 Kg2 Bd4 retains for White
his extra pawn, but this is neutralized by
Black's counter-play.
25 . . . Qd3
26 b4 Rh5
Black wrongly deviates from the natural
path. Simpler was 26 . . . Q X e2 27 R X e2
ReS, tying White to the defence of his c-pawn.
Then 28 Rc2 or 28 Nd2 is very strongly met
by 28 . . . a5 followed by . . . Ba6. Black
would have had an excellent position.
27 Bf4
White too does not play the best : 27 g4
was necessary. Telling on both players was
fatigue from the tense struggle, and the prox
imity of time trouble.
27 . . . Rf5
Black's idea justifies itself. 28 g4 is not
possible, and the rook is included in the centre
of events.
171
 Psychology of the chess struggle

28 Rd2 Q X e2 37 Bb2 Ke6

29 R x e2 Be7 38 Kf3 g6
30 Rd2 ReS
It was possible (and necessary) to play
This was an unexpected turn of events for 38 . . . aS, to seize control of cS. But in time
White. Black demonstrates his intention of trouble I avoided any committing pawn
attacking the white pawns. Short of time, advances.
Timman is unable to find the best defence . 39 Bel e4 +
40 Kf2 g5
31 Re2
41 h3
This leads to a difficult position. Mean Fatigue tells even more . This move un
while there was the interesting possibility necessarily weakens both the h-pawn itself,
of 3 1 Rfd l , when a possible variation is
and its neighbour.
3 1 . . . eS 32 Rd7 ! Bc6 33 R X e 7 + K X e7
34 Nd6, and wins. At the board I considered 41 . . Rd8
this continuation, and intended 3 1 . . . R X c4, 42 Rd2 Rh8
when I judged the resulting position to be This game was played in the last round,
level. 32 Rd7 can be met by 32 . . . RdS or and could not be adjourned. In the sixth
32 . . . BdS. hour of play it was difficult for Black to
31 eS decide whether or not the bishop ending was
32 Bel won.
43 Kg2 ReS
44 Re2 Rg8!

Threatening 44 . . . f4.
45 Re2 Bd6
The correct idea . Black has to play
Rc8, and then after Rc2 advance the f-pawn.
46 g4 Bf4!
A typical example of transforming one form
of advantage into another.
47 g X fS +
32 R x f3 !
47 Bb2 is more tenacious.

33 R X f3 B x e4
34 Rff2 B x e2 47 . . . K X f5
35 R x e2 Kd7 48 Re2 e3
36 Kg2 fS This wins quickly : on 49 cS there follows
Black has obtained an obvious advantage . 49 . . . e2 50 Kf2 Re8 5 1 Ke l Bg3 + . White
On the Q-side the white pawns are ossified, unsuccessfully tries to organize a blockade .
whereas Black's central pawns are mobile. 49 Kf3 Rh8
In addition his rook is active. And even so 50 Ke2 R X h3
the win is not easy, and a concrete plan must 51 Kd3 e2 +
be found. White resigns

1 72
 No. 64 Polugayevsky-Petrosian, 1 982

After 52 K x e2 Rh2 + 53 Kd3 R x c2 54 transforms into a type of Sicilian Defence,

K x c2 B x c 1 55 K x c 1 Ke4 the pawn end in a version favourable to White .
ing is hopeless . 5 . . d6

6 Bc2 c5
7 d4 c >< d4
No. 64 English Opening s N x d4 Be7
9 0-0 0-0
Polugayevsky-Petrosian 10 b3 a6
11 Bb2 Nc6
Kislovodsk, 1982
In this way Black aims to exchange a pair
A special character was imparted to this of minor pieces. The usual move is 1 1 . . .
game by the fact that it was played in a team Nbd7, creating a flexible formation in the
event - the USSR Cup. 'Spartak', who have spirit of 'Andersson's 6th rank' - the Swedish
for many years been led by my opponent, grandmaster's favourite pawn 'hedgehog' on
had on paper a much stronger team than the 6th rank.
'Locomotiv', for whom I play. But from my 12 N x c6 B x c6
experience of team events I knew that some
times the success of just one player is able
to change the course of the struggle on all
the boards, especially if it is the success of
the leader. In this case chess players suddenly
become similar to pilots, to whom the lead
ing pilot gives the well known aviation signal
'Do what I do.' . . .
It was these considerations that gave rise
to the decision to engage the Ex-World
Champion in a battle on literally every
square of the board. And my most optimistic 13 Qd3!
hopes were realized : the win as though im
parted strength to my colleagues, and we This idea occurred in a similar position
defeated 'Spartak' by a big score . It is suffici in the last game of my match with Mecking
ent to say that the Spartak quartet of grand in 1 977 (there the moves Khl and . . . Qd7
masters gained only half a point ! had been included). Exploiting the battery
This is why I assign this seemingly every of queen + bishop along the b 1 -h7 diagonal,
day game, in an every-day event, to my list White creates the threat of 14 Nd5 !
of decisive games. 13 . . . g6

1 c4 e6 An' enforced weakening of the long black

2 Nf3 Nf6 diagonal.
3 Nc3 b6 14 a4
4 e4 Bb7
Prophylaxis against Black's intended
5 Bd3
b5 .
Romanishin's patent. The bishop is trans 14 . . . Qc7
ferred to c2, and the openmg frequently 15 f4 Rad8

12* 1 73
 Psychology of the chess struggle

The correct place for the rooks is at d8
and e8. In this way Black both prevents e4-e5,
and himself aims for . . . d5.
16 Qe2 Rfe8
17 Rad1 Bb7
18 Kh1 QcS ?
Black's vigilance wavers, and White's cen
tral breakthrough gains markedly in strength,
since he is able to exploit the e4 square for
his minor pieces with gain of tempo . Black
should have continued 1 8 . . . Nd7, recon
ciling himself to the exposure of the a 1 -h8
diagonal. Of course, in this case too White has
a positional advantage and chances on the
K-side, but for the moment there would at
least have been nothing concrete in view.
White vacates e4 for his knight, and thus
forces the opponent into making further
weakenings, since 22 . . . Nf6 is unpleasantly
met by 23 Qe5 . On 22 . . . Qb4 White had
prepared 23 Bc6 !, and now :
(a) 23 . . . B X d6 24 B x d7 B X d7 (24 . . .
R X d7 25 Nd5, and wins) 25 R X d6 Q X d6
26 Ne4 followed by the inevitable 27 Nf6 + .
(b) 23 . . . Q X b3 24 Ne4, and f6 is again
indefensible : 24 . . . Bg7 25 B X g7 K X g7
26 Rd3 Qb4 27 B x d7 B x d7 28 Nf6 !, and
the knight is immune-28 . . . K X f6 ? ? 29
Qe5 mate .
22 . fS

19 e5 Nd7

This essentially loses the game . Petrosian

overlooks a tactical blow, but in other varia
tions too things are difficult for Black. Thus
1 9 . . . d x e5 20 fX e5 allows White an attack
on the f-file, while after 19 . . . Nh5 20 Be4 !
(20 Ne4 is also good) 20 . . . Qc7 (if 20 . . .
BcB, then 21 g4 Ng7 22 Bg2 with a big ad
vantage, while 20 . . . d5 is very strongly met 23 b4!
by 21 c X d5 e x d5 22 b4! Q x b4 23 NX d5
B X d5 24 B X d5, when Black loses after both A knock-out blow from the other side .
24 . . . R X d5 25 R X d5 NX/4 26 Qf3, and 23 . . Q X b4
24 . . . NX/4 25 B X/7 + KX/7 26 e6 + 24 NdS! QcS
KgB 27 Qe5, mating) 2 1 g4 Ng7 22 Qg2 Bc8
23 f5 White has a murderous attack. 24 . . . e x d5 25 B X d5 + leads to mate,
while on 24 . . . Q X a4 White had prepared
20 Be4! Bc8 25 Ra 1 Qb3 26 Ra3.
There is nothing better, since the d6 pawn 25 Nc7 Nb8
is also lost after 20 . . . B x e4 21 N X e4.
If 25 . . . B X d6, the simplest is 26 N X e6
21 e x d6 Bf8 Qb4 (26 . . . Nf8 27 NX c5 R X e2 28 B x e2)
27 Bd5 .
Only here did Black notice that 2 1
B X d 6 i s answered by the little combination 26 N x es R x e8
22 B X g6 h X g6 23 Ne4. Therefore he has to 27 Qd3 Resigns
'sound the retreat'.
White is the exchange up, and in addition
22 Bf3 28 Qc3 is threatened .

1 74
 Main Tournament and Match Results

Lyev Abramovich Polugayevsky, born 20 November 1 934 in Mogilyev. International grand

master, Honoured USSR Master of Sport, holder of the 'Peoples' Friendship' award.

Year
I Event
I Result
I Place

1 953 RSFSR Championship, Saratov 10-!/ 1 5 2

1 954 RSFSR Championship, Rostov-on-Don 9-!/ 1 7 4-7

USSR Master and Candidate Master Tournament, Lenin-
grad 12/15 2
USSR Championship -!-Final, Gorky 7-!/20 1 5-16

1 955 RSFSR Championship, Leningrad 1 2-!/ 19 2-3

USSR Championship -!-Final, Moscow 1 1 /1 8 4-5

1 956 23rd USSR Championship, Leningrad 1 0-!/ 1 7 5-7

World Student Team Championship, Upsala (board 2) 1-!/4
USSR Championship -!-Final, Tbilisi 1 0-!/1 9 8-9

1 95 7 World Student Team Championship, Reykjavik (board 3) 8 /9

USSR Championship -!-Final, Sverdlovsk 12/19 2-3

1958 25th USSR Championship, Riga 10-!/ 1 8 5-6

USSR Championship -!-Final, Yerevan/Baku 10/15 3
RSFSR Championship, Sochi 12/19 2-4

1 959 26th USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1 1/19 6

RSFSR Championship (USSR Championship !-Final)
Voronyezh 1 1 /1 7 3
Marianske Lazne 1 1-!/ 1 5 1

1960 27th USSR Championship, Leningrad 1 1-!/1 9 5

Central Chess Club International Tournament, M oscow 5/1 1 6

I
USSR Championship !-Final, Vilnius 12/ 1 7 1 -3

1 75
 Main tournament and match results

Year I
I
Event / Result
!
Place

I
1961 ' 28th USSR Championship, Moscow 1 0!/1 9 7-8
European Team Championship, Oberhausen (board 9) 6t /9
RSFSR Championship (USSR Championship f-Final),
Omsk 12t/ 1 9
Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Rostov-on-Don 6t/1 1 4
29th USSR Championship, Baku 14/20 2

1 962 Mar del Plat a 1 1t/ 1 5 1

Havana '
1 6/2 1 2-3
'Burevestnik' Championship (USSR Championship !-Final),
Yalta Bt/1 9 1
I
1 963 Bad Libenstein 1 0t/ 1 5 1 -2
Chigorin Memorial Tournament , Sochi 8t/1 1
USSR Championship !-Final, Moscow 1 1 /15 1
3 1st USSR Championship, Leningrad 1 1 /19 7-8

1 964 Sarajevo l Of/ 1 5 1 -2

1 965 USSR Trade Union Championship 9-! / 1 5 2

!
Budapest 1 1/15 1-3 :
i
33 rd USSR Championship , Tbilisi 13-!/19 2 I
i
I
1 966 Beverwijk l lt/ 1 5 1
Le Havre 7/1 1 2-3
Chigorin Memorial Tournament , Sochi 1 1 /15 2
Havana Olympiad (2nd reserve) 1 1 / 14
34th USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1 0!/20 8-9

1 967 Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana 12/ 1 9 4

35th USSR Championship, Kharkov 10/13 1 -2
Moscow 8/1 1 1-2

1 968 Skopje 13/19 3

Lugano Olympiad (1st reserve) 1 0!/ 13
36th USSR Championship, Alma-Ata 1 2!/1 9 1 -2

1 969 Match for the title of USSR Champion with A. Zaitsev,

Vladimir 3t-2t
Busum 1 0!/ 1 5 2
37th USSR Championship , Moscow 14/22 1 -2
Belgrade 10/15 1 -4 ;

1 76
 Main tournament and match results

Year
I Event I Result I Place

1 970 Match for the title of USSR Champion with Petrosian ,

Moscow 1!-3!
'Match of the Century', Belgrade (board 4) v. Hort 1!-2!
European Team Championship, Kapfenberg (board 3) 5/7
Amsterdam 1 1!/ 1 5 1 -2
Siegen Olympiad (board 4) 9/12
Interzonal Tournament, Palma de Mallorca 13/23 9-10

1971 Mar del Plata 13/15 1

39th USSR Championship, Leningrad 1 1!/21 7-8

1972 Amsterdam 12/ 1 5 1

Kislovodsk 1 1 / 14 1

1 973 Tallinn 10!/ 1 5 2

Hilversum 6/ 1 4 5-7
Interzonal Tournament, Petropolis 1 1tf 1 7 2-4
Match-Tournament v. Portisch & Geller, Portoroz 3!/8 2
41st USSR Championship 10!/ 1 7 2-6

1 974 Candidates t-Final Match v. Karpov, Moscow 2!-5!

Las Palmas 9!/ 1 5 4-7
Solingen 10/14 1 -2
Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 1 1 /1 5 1
42nd USSR Championship, Leningrad 10!/1 5 3-4

1975 Budapest 10!/ 1 5 1 -2

Mantilla 6/9 1 -2
Manila 6/10 2-5
43rd USSR Championship, Yerevan 8!/ 1 5 6-8

1976 Vinkovci 10/15 3-4

Interzonal Tournament, Manila 12!/ 1 9 2-3
Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 10/ 1 5 1 -2
44th USSR Championship, Moscow 10!/ 1 7 3-4

1 977 Candidates t -Final Match v. Mecking, Lucerne 6!-5!

European Team Championship, Moscow (board 3) 3!/4
Candidates !-Final Match v. Korchnoi, Evian 4!-8!
45th USSR Championship, Leningrad 9/1 5 3-4

_I

1 77
 Main tournament and match results

Year
I Event I Result I Place
1 978 Reykjavik 11;/ 1 3 7
Lone Pine 1 /9 2
Buenos Aires Olympiad (board 3) 8 /1 1
46th USSR Championship, Tbilisi 1 0/ 1 7 3

1 979 Wijk aan Zee 71; / 1 1 1

Interzona1 Tournament, Riga 1 1-!/ 1 7 2

1 980 European Team Championship, Skara (board 4) 4-! / 1

Candidates i--Final Match v. Tal, Alma-Ata 5!-2t
Bugojno 51;/ 1 1 4 6
-

Candidates !-Final Match v. Korchnoi, Buenos Aires 6!-7t

Malta Olympiad (board 2) 3/ 1

1 98 1 Moscow 7-! / 1 3 2-4

Amsterdam 41; /1 1 10
Chigorin Memorial Tournament, Sochi 10/1 5 2

1 982 Mar del Plata 11;/13 3-4

Bugojno 8 /13 2-3
Interzonal Tournament, Toluca 11; / 1 3 4-7
Lucerne Olympiad (board 3) 6/9
Manila 7/9 1 -2

1 983 50th USSR Championship, Moscow 8t/ 1 5 3-4

European Team Championship, Plovdiv (board 2) 3t/6
Tilburg 5 tf l l 8

1 78
 Index of Openings
(numbers refer to games)

Bogoljubov Defence 56 Old Indian Defence 40

Catalan Opening 28, 42, 60 Queen's Gambit 2, 6, 7, 9, 1 5, 32, 37, 38, 43, 5 7,
58
Dutch Defence 18
Queen's Gambit Accepted 23
English Opening 1 3, 1 6, 25, 3 1 , 3 3 , 46, 64
Queen's Indian Defence 5, 19, 22, 26, 36, 47, 63
Griinfeld Defence 12
Reti Opening 1 1 , 61
King's lndian Defence 1 , 8 , 1 4, 24, 34, 35, 49, 5 1 ,
53, 62 Sicilian Defence 4, 1 7 , 20, 27, 29, 41 , 52, 54, 55

Modern Defence 56 Slav Defence 21, 45

Nimzo-Indian Defence 3, 30, 39, 48

1 79
 Index of Opponents
(numbers refer to games)

Adorjan 25 Larsen 1 9, 45
Averbakh 50 Lj ubojevic 46
Lutikov 7

Bagirov 43
Maslov 1 1
Balashov 17, 59
Mecking 58
Bellon 62
Bilek 1 4
Nezhmetdinov 36
Boleslavsky 2 9
Braga 2 8
Padevsky 1 2
Browne 3 4
Petrosian 22, 64
Byrne 41
Pfleger 1 5
Planinc 54
Chikovani 20 Portisch 3, 23, 6 1
Psakhis 47
Donner 35
Reshevsky 60
Rodriguez 49
Espig 40
Romanishin 21
Rossetto 13
Geller 5 1
Gheorghiu 1 6, 3 2 , 55 Saidy 38
Gligoric 3 3 Seirawan 4 8
Grigorian 5 7 Smyslov 44
Griinfeld 27 Spassky 30
Stein 1
lvkov 52 Suetin 8

Tal 2, 39
Jansa 4
Timman 26, 63
Torre 6, 24
Kagan 56
Keres 3 7 Uhlmann 53
Khasin 9
Korchnoi 5, 3 1 , 42 Vasyukov 1 0, 1 8

1 80
Grandmaster
Perfonnance