Lubomir Kavalek on Chess

Something sinister is lurking behind some magnificent chess victories these days. It is getting harder to tell what is actually created by humans and what is spit out by chess computers during preparation. A game from the 10th European Individual Championship, underway in Budva, Montenegro, between IM Peter Vavrak of Slovakia and GM Valery Popov of Russia is loaded with computer-like moves. In a sharp Nimzo-Indian variation, which I prepared for Nigel Short to combat Garry Kasparov in the 1993 world championship, black navigates the stormy lines with unusual ease.

Vavrak-Popov

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c5 7.dxc5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4! 10.Bxb8 (Kasparov's line, 10.e3 Qa5! 11.Nge2, is doing fine for black after 11...Bf5 12.Be5 0-0 13.Nd4 Re8.) 10...Qf6! (Levon Aronian's important "zwischenzug.") 11.Bg3 Nxc3 12.a3 Bf5 13.Qd2 Ba5 14.e3 (The game Sokolov-Aronian, Turin 2006, continued 14.b4 Ne4 15.Qc1 Rc8 16.Ra2 Rxc5! 17.Qa1 Qc6 18.Qe5+ Kd8 19.Qxh8+ Kd7 and white resigned.) 14...0-0-0! (White was hoping for 14...d4 15.Bb5+!, for example 15...Kf8 16.Nf3; or 16.Qxa5 Nxb5 16.Qxa5 with white's edge.) 15.Bd6 Bg4! (Threatening to win outright with 16...Ne4 17.Qxa5 Qxf2 mate.) 16.f3? (After 16.Ne2 or 16.Be2, black plays 16...Qxf2+! 17.Kxf2 Ne4+ with an advantage, but 16.Nf3!? was worth a try, for example 16...Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qxf3 18.bxc3 Qxh1 19.0-0-0 with chances to survive. Now comes the first shocker.)

16...d4! 17.e4 (After 17.fxg4 dxe3 18.Qc2 Nb5+ 19.Ke2 Nd4+ black wins; and 17.exd4 Rhe8+ 18.Ne2 Nxe2 19.Qxa5 Ng3+ is unpleasant for white.) 17...Rhe8 18.Ne2? (Only 18.Bd3! Nxe4 19.Qxa5 Nxd6+ 20.Ne2 gives white some hope.) 18...Bxf3! 19.gxf3 (After 19.e5 Rxe5!! 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.gxf3 d3! 22.bxc3 dxe2 23.Qxe2 Bxc3+ 24.Kf2 Rd2 black wins.) 19...Qxf3 20.e5 (White is desperately trying to block the central highways. After both 20.Rg1 Rxe4 21.b4 Nxe2 22.Bxe2 d3; and 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Nxc3 dxc3, followed by 22...Rxe4+, black wins.)

20...d3! (A computer-like advance, pounding the white pieces along the central files. After 20...Qxh1 21.bxc3 dxc3 22.Qc2 white lives.) 21.bxc3 (After 21.Nxc3 Rxd6! 22.cxd6 Rxe5+ black mates.) 21...dxe2 22.Qxe2 Bxc3+ 23.Kd1 Qxh1 (White is not only an exchange down, but his king is in trouble.) 24.Rc1? (A blunder. White had to play 24.Kc2!, although after 24...Bxa1 25.Bg2 Qxg2! [Not 25...Qg1? 26.Bxb7+! and white mates.] 26.Qxg2 Bxe5, black has a substantial advantage.) 24...Rxe5 (After 25.Qg2 Qxg2 26.Bxg2 Re1+ 27.Kc2 Rxc1+ 28.Kxc1 Re8 black wins.) White resigned.

Attacking Giants

It is always a treat to read a book by Colin Crouch. His new work, "Chess Secrets: Great Attackers," recently published by Everyman Chess, is a marvelous tribute to the world champions Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov, and the three-time Soviet champion Leonid Stein. Crouch points out three different attacking styles: Tal's magical combinations, Kasparov's energetic pawn sacrifices and Stein's attacking power play. The carefully selected games were played mostly in the 1970s when the creative efforts were still produced by human brains. A very enjoyable and instructive work.

Solution to today's study by H. Lommer (White: Kc4,Rf8,Rh8; Black: Kc6,Qa5): 1.Rh6+ Kd7! 2.Rf7+ Ke8 3.Ra7! Qe5 (or 3...Qxa7 4.Rh8+ Kd7 5.Rh7+ wins) 4.Rh8+! Qxh8 5.Ra8+ wins.