CBM 214 : A World Championship Special

by Nagesh Havanur
9/7/2023 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. The latest issue, CBM 215 is just out. Here our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a look at a recent issue. 162 games (41 annotated), decisive encounters from World Championship deeply annotated. 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 9 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Anish Giri, Boris Gelfand and Peter Svidler among others. The icing on the cake is a feature on Boris Spassky with 27 annotated games. | Photo: Ding Liren vs Nepomniachtchi, WCH 2023, FIDE/Anna Shtourman

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Review by Nagesh Havanur

Even as I write these lines, the Julius Baer Generation Cup is drawing to a close with victory in sight for Magnus Carlsen. A number of leading players participated here and only one player was missing, Ding Liren, the recently crowned World Champion. Let us hope, he returns to the tournament scene soon.

This issue, in the main, deals with the world championship that culminated in his rise to the summit. This was a cliff- hanger and both players played with great determination. Ding Liren’s opening experiments (influenced by his second Richard Rapport) were a refreshing change and led to novel situations in which both players had to rely on instinct and improvisation. Inspired play on occasion was marred by terrible blunders. How well would this match compare with the world championship games in the Carlsen years is for discerning readers to judge. All the decisive games have been annotated in this issue.

Here is the Final Tie-break game annotated by Hou Yifan:

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7 9.h3 0-0 10.Be3 Na5 11.Ba2 bxa4 12.Nc3 In the 2nd tie-break game, Nepo chose 12.Bd2 c5! The game continuation 12...Nc6 13.Nc3 Rb8 14.Nxa4 was slightly better for White. 13.Nc3 Rb8 With the a4 pawn on the board, black is fine. 12...Rb8 13.Bb1!? Though to the engine this is one of the best moves, due to the poor location of the White pieces and his uncoordinated army it is very tricky to try in rapid, especially in the final round. Qe8 14.b3 c5 15.Nxa4 Nc6 16.Nc3?! The priority is to activiate the 'dead' bishop while preventing Black's Nd4. The downside is that this weakens the b3 square and restricts the knight on a4. 16.c3 Be6 17.Bc2 h6 16...a5 17.Nd2 Be6 18.Nc4 d5?! A very logical decision, trying to create the kingside counterplay. However, it helps white boost the development of the bishop. 18...Qd7 19.Ra2 19.Nxa5? Ra8 loses material 19.f4 exf4 20.Bxf4 g6! preparing ... Nh5 to vacate the f6 square for the dark-squared bishop. 19...Rfe8! Another waiting move, since in the position is very tricky for White to make any development. 19...Bxh3 is a bit too hasty. After 20.gxh3 Qxh3 21.f3 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 there is nothing more than a perpetual check. 20.Nxa5? Nxa5 21.Rxa5 Bxh3! 22.gxh3 Qxh3 23.f3 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Nh5 25.Rf2 Bg5 Without the c4 knight protecting the e3 bishop, it is too slow to stop the attack, via ...Re6-Rh6. 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Bd2? A critical decision. White misses the chance to re-activate the bishop. 20.Nxd5! Bxd5 21.c3 f5 22.f3 A weird position, but completely holdable for white. Normally, it is not recommended to put most of the pawns on the 3rd rank, but due to the weaknesses on a5 and c5, plus the c4 outpost, the position is more or less balanced. The b1 bishop can finally protect both the b3 and d3 weakness. 20...Nxc3? Wrong.When one gets space advantage, it's better to keep as many forces as possible to squeeze your opponent. After 20...Nf4! surprisingly enough, with most of the pieces on the board, it is hard to suggest any move for White. If 21.Ne2 Nxh3+! 22.gxh3 Bxh3 23.Re1 f5 with a deadly attack. 21.Bxc3 Bxc4 22.bxc4 Bd8 Not precise, but very reasonable in rapid chess, especially, in the last game of the tie-break. 22...Bd6 is more precise, as it will save a tempo compared to the game, and this tempo matters. 23.Bd2 23.Bxa5 e4! 24.Bc3 e3 25.Re1 Be5! 26.Bxe5 26.Rxe3? Bxc3-+ 26...Qxe5 is clearly better for Black. 23...e4! The additional tempo allows this push before white's c3. 24.c3 Qe5 25.g3 e3!? 26.Bxe3 Qxc3 23.Bd2 Bc7 24.c3 Now there is no immediate e4, however, the position still looks in favor of Black, and it's easier for him to make moves. f5 25.Re1 25.Bc2!? Maybe it's the time to bring the bishop in the game. e4!? 25...Rd8?! 26.Bg5 Rd6 27.Be3± 25...Qg6 26.f4 exf4 27.Bxf4 Bxf4 28.Rxf4= 26.dxe4 f4 A typical sacrifice. 27.Ba4 f3 28.Bg5! (with the idea of Qd5), White is fine. 25...Rd8 25...e4 26.dxe4 f4 27.e5! It's important to activate the bishop before the e4 pawn can be blocked. Nxe5 28.Be4∞ 26.Ra2 Qg6 27.Qe2 27.Qf3 Probably the best, but hard to choose over the board. e4 27...Qd6 28.Qd5+! This is the idea, preventing Black from working on the diagonal h2-b8. Qxd5 29.cxd5 Rxd5 30.Rb2 With the pair of bishops and the open a2-g8 diagnol, White has at least enough compensation. 28.dxe4 f4! 28...Ne5 29.Qg3! Qxg3 30.fxg3 Nxc4 31.Bf4 When the position is open, the bishop shows its strength. 29.e5 Nxe5 30.Qe4 Qxe4 31.Rxe4= 27...Qd6 28.g3 Rde8 29.Qf3 e4!? An intuitive move, which may not need full calculation in rapid chess, though with long and accurate play White may refute it. 30.dxe4 Ne5 31.Qg2 Nd3 31...Nxc4? 32.Bf4± 32.Bxd3 Qxd3 33.exf5 Rxe1+ 34.Bxe1 Qxc4 The previous couple of moves were not hard to be considered, but how to judge this position is important: Black has a passed a-pawn, well-placed pieces; but his king is relatively weak. On the other hand, again the bishop on e1 is inactive. 35.Ra1?! Logical, but missing the best chance in the game so far! 35.Rd2! Easy to understand, but hard to choose. The rook controls the open file, but it blocks e1 bishop, and does not keep an eye on the a-pawn. So where is the trap? Rxf5 35...a4 36.Rd7 Be5 37.Qc6 a3 38.Ra7 a2 39.Qe6++- 36.Qc6! Bxg3 36...Re5 37.Qxc7 Rxe1+ 38.Kh2 It's clearly better for White when the bishop is off the board. 36...Rf7 37.Rd4! Qb3 38.Re4 The powerful rook controls the e-file, but also stops the a pawn. 37.Rd8+ Kf7 38.f4‼ The only winning move, which is nearly impossible to foresee before Rd2, and it's a trap! Bxf4 38...Qxf4 39.Rd7++- 38...Rxf4 39.Rd7+ Kg8 40.Bxg3± 39.Qe8+ Kf6 40.Bh4+ Rg5+ 40...g5 41.Qh8+ Kg6 42.Rg8++- 41.Bxg5+ Bxg5 42.Rd1!+- 35...Rxf5 36.Bd2 h6 37.Qc6 Rf7 38.Re1 Kh7 39.Be3 Be5 40.Qe8 Maybe it's time to simplify the position. 40.Qxc5 Qxc5 41.Bxc5 Bxc3= 40...Bxc3! 41.Rc1 Rf6 42.Qd7 In view of the danger, it would be better to repeat moves here. 42.Bd2 Rf3 43.Be3= 42...Qe2! The only move. 43.Qd5 Bb4 44.Qe4+ Kg8 45.Qd5+ Kh7 46.Qe4+ An historic moment! While most of the people are already expecting the next tiebreak mini-matches, Ding decides to fight for a win. Practically, it's a nice test, as both were under very few minutes, and Nepo probably already expected a draw. With such mindset, things may go wrong as what happened in the game. Rg6!? 47.Qf5?! Now things have started to go wrong. 47.h4 was more precise: a4 47...h5 48.Rc2 Qd1+ 49.Kg2 Qd6 50.Qf5 - Too many weaknesses for Black to protect. 48.Qf5 Qg4 49.Qc2 It is impossible for Black to keep both passed pawns on board whilte stopping the h5 threat. 47...c4! 48.h4? Towards the wrong side. 48.Qf4 was the only way to prevent the Black queen from taking over the b1-h7 diagonal. c3 48...Bd6 49.Qxc4 Rxg3+ 50.fxg3 Qxe3+ 51.Kh1 Qf3+ 52.Kg1 Qxg3+ 53.Kf1 Qxh3+ 54.Ke2= 49.Qf5! Although two tempi down, now White gets the full dominance over the diagonal. a4 50.h4 Qg4 51.Qd3= with the idea of Bd4 48...Qd3-+ Now it's a clear win for black. 49.Qf3 Rf6 50.Qg4 c3 51.Rd1 Qg6 52.Qc8 Rc6 53.Qa8 Rd6? Making things complicated again. 53...c2 54.Rf1 Rd6-+ 54.Rxd6 Qxd6 55.Qe4+ Qg6 56.Qc4 Suddenly White may be able to create a fortress. Qb1+ 56...c2 57.h5!= 57.Kh2 a4 58.Bd4 a3 59.Qc7? Missing the final chance of the match. Honestly speaking, under super high pressure, such move may occur with high probability. However, with a closer look one would understand, the key thing is to control the golden g6 square. 59.h5! Bf8 59...a2 60.Qf7+- 60.Qf7 Qd3 61.Bxc3! Qxc3 62.Qxf8= The Black queen cannot find a good place to prevent both the perpetual check and support the promotion of the a-pawn. 59.Bxg7! draws as well, but one needs to have a broad picture in mind to ensure the perpetual check. Kxg7 60.Qc7+ Kf6 61.Qc6+ Ke5 62.Qe8+ Kd4 63.Qh8+ Kc4 64.Qg8+! Kb5 65.Qe8+!= 59...Qg6 60.Qc4 60.Bxc3 Bxc3 61.Qxc3 a2 With ...Qb1 coming next, queening is unstoppable. 60...c2-+ Now it's hopeless for White. 61.Be3 Bd6 62.Kg2 h5 63.Kf1 Be5 64.g4 hxg4 65.h5 Qf5 66.Qd5 g3 67.f4 a2 68.Qxa2 Bxf4 A very well-fought game, lots of interesting content. Congrats to Ding for winning the title! Also congrats to Nepo showing greater technique in the match. 0–1
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Nepomniachtchi,I2795Ding,L27880–12023World-ch Nepomniachtchi-Ding Tiebreak

One move that evoked universal admiration in this game was 46…Rg6, Ding Liren allowing his rook to be pinned by the White queen. Hou Yifan offers it a moderate assessment. Black had to give in to perpetual check or take a chance with this move. Probably Ding Liren also saw that the White queen could not remain for ever on the b1-h7 diagonal. So it happened and the Black rook immediately became active once the White queen left the diagonal. Ding Liren won.

Svidler shines

This issue also includes all games from the traditional TePe Sigeman International Tournament at Malmö, Sweden . The event was won by Peter Svidler ahead of young players, Gukesh, Abhimanyu Mishra and Nils Grandleius. Veteran, Boris Gelfand suffered and ended up in the lower half of the tournament table. He was no pushover, though and Peter Svidler annotates his hard-fought game with him in this issue:

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This being my first classical tournament since the Grand Swiss 2021, I had a customary (somewhat intentional) quiet first round game vs Mishra, and then had the fun assignment of preparing for a Black game vs Boris. I've been facing that task for far longer than most of the field of the Tepe Sigeman 2023 has been alive, and despite that, I tend to fail at it. And so it came to pass. 1.Nf3 I was ready to play 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6, so this move is giving me an out - I could still play 1...c5 here, or anything, really. Nf6 2.c4 d6 But no, I was pretty set on this idea, having noticed that Boris appears to dislike allowing the 3.Nc3 e5 4.d4 e4 lines, meaning I was very likely to get 3.d4 g6 4.Nc3 Bf5 ...this position, in which he has been playing 5.d5 fairly consistently in recent years. Black isn't doing all that hot there, either, but at least I had some kind of an idea there. 5.Qb3 Not here though. Qc8 6.h3! There is really no excuse I can offer for not looking at this before the game, this is far from a novelty, and the engines love it, too. c6?! There aren't any good choices as such, but this is a little bit too artificial. 6...Bg7 7.g4 Bd7 8.e4 0-0 9.Be3 is pretty bad, too - but at least the Black pieces don't get in the way of each other as much here. 7.g4 Be6 I went for this with some vague dreams of creating enough of the distraction by hinting at b7-b5, maybe to deter Boris from the most straighforward development, but it was never going to be a realistic proposition. 8.e4 Bg7 8...b5 makes sense, we badly want to trade some pieces off, and deleting parts of White's gorgeous centre is extremely important, too, but it just doesn't work tactically. 9.Ng5! the simplistic 9.d5 bxc4 10.Bxc4 cxd5 actually does give Black about as decent of a game as can be hoped for 9...Bxc4 No choice, otherwise the position just crumbles. 10.Bxc4 bxc4 11.Qxc4 and the weakness on f7, combined with general lack of development, should decide the game fairly soon 9.Ng5! Very nice move, making sure b5 is unplayable and preparing to grab more space with f4. c5 Incredibly ugly choice, but I couldn't see any way not to play this. Lines such as 9...0-0 10.f4 Na6 11.e5 Ne8 seemed worse after 12.Bg2 10.Nxe6?! This gives White a massive edge. But I was much more worried about 10.d5 Bd7 11.f4 , where I was genuinely fearful of not making it to move 20. My plan was to play h5 12.e5 Nh7 , hoping to at least make it into a mess, but then after the simple 13.exd6! Nxg5 14.fxg5 exd6 15.Bf4 Black's position would start collapsing. 10...fxe6 11.d5 0-0 Black is still in a lot of trouble, but at least I could now hope to fight for some dark square control. 12.Be3 The quiet 12.Bg2 Na6 13.0-0 Nc7 14.a4 leaves Black with very little counterplay, since trying to open things up with exd5 and e6 is very likely to result in White's edge increasing dramatically due to the Bishops getting much more operational freedom. 12...Nfd7!? I felt like I couldn't wait quietly for White to improve, and decided to try and get the Bishop to d4 asap. 13.f4 Still fine, but based on a miscalculation. After 13.Be2 Bd4 14.Nb5 e5 White would have a very important additional resource of 15.g5! aiming to put the bishop on g4, while Black, apart from a very nicely placed Bd4, doesn't have much at all to write home about 13...Bd4 Boris played 13.f4, thinking this move is impossible due to 14.dxe6. 14.Nb5?! He realized after 14.dxe6 I can reply with Nb6! 14...Bxe3? 15.Nd5 15.Bd2 Qxe6 He lost track a little bit here and failed to consider the move I was worried about the most: 14.Bd2!, after which Black is still struggling to generate counterplay. I wanted 14... Nf6 but Black is in a lot of trouble after both 15.Bd3 and even 15.0-0-0!?, finishing development and inviting Black to open some files for the White pieces by grabbing the e4 pawn with 15...Bxc3 16.Bd3 14.Bd2! Nf6 15.Bd3 15.0-0-0!? Bxc3 14...e5 15.f5 a6 since 16.Na3 doesn't look all that hot we're at least forcing White to give us a protected passer on d4 - and perhaps even more importantly, some squares for our knights. 16.Nxd4 exd4 Giving myself the e5 square for the knights, which makes the kingside a bit more defended, at least optically. 16...cxd4 17.Bh6 a5!? was my original plan. I felt like I absolutely don't care about the rook on f8, and the d7 knight belongs on c5, therefore securing it from being kicked with b4 later down the road is very important. However, I became very worried I could get mated on the kingside if White keeps the bishop on h6, castles kingside and just starts amassing the forces to attack my king directly. Looking at it now, with the engine's help, I feel like both parts are sort of true, if that makes any sense: the position is extremely dangerous, but only if White plays very precisely. 18.Be2 Nc5 19.Qg3!? 19.Qf3 Nbd7 20.Qg2 Qd8 21.0-0 Qb6 does give Black legitimate counterchances, for example 19...Nbd7 20.0-0 and the idea of landing the queen on h4, and perhaps g5 afterwards, is quite potent, meaning that White can just ignore the fact the e4 pawn is hanging 17.Bf4!? I'm pretty sure, Boris spent the sum of total of 3 seconds on deciding not to play 17.Bh6 Ne5 18.Bxf8 Qxf8 19.Qxb7 Nbd7 which suddenly gives Black full control over the dark squares, and plenty of counterplay 17...Nf6? I didn't like 17...Ne5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 since my knight is still too far away from the action and we've also closed down the best square we had for our knights. It's not a bad general assessment: after 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.g5 , with the h4 and Bh3 follow up, Black is indeed in trouble. However, the text move is worse. 18.Qf3? continues a sequence of mistakes, but we were both down to below half an hour on the clock, and had to navigate by instinct in a very weird landscape - I know I have never seen anything like this structure before, and I suspect, neither had Boris. 18.e5! Somehow neither of us realized just how strong this is. dxe5 19.Bxe5 Nbd7 20.Bf4 The bishop calmly returns and Black is just stuck. The only source of 'counterplay' is b5 , but after the simple 21.0-0-0 it turns out, it's all ephemeral, and with Re1 and Bd3 coming in, the position is about to collapse. In more general terms, I think it's completely decisive that Black no longer has access to the e5 square, and there are more files open than you will see in the game. 18...Nbd7 Now Black is well and truly back in the game. 19.Bd3 b5?! This looks pseudo-active, but in fact it was cleaner to establish a beachhead on e5 before doing this. 19...Qc7 20.0-0 Ne5 21.Qg3 Nfd7 would have led to a fairly balanced position. 20.b3 My problem now is that I have to keep at least some brain cells occupied by the question 'Is my b5 pawn hanging?' I would like to have access to the b-file for later. Rb8 I wasn't at all happy to be spending a full tempo on this in a very concrete position, and having to hope that my indiscretion won't be punished too much. 20...bxc4 21.Bxc4 is potentially not that great either for Black. 21.0-0 Ne5 22.Qg3? Harsh to call this a mistake, but it was much more testing to play 22.Qe2. 22.Qe2! , and Black seems to be a tempo away from achieving the best setup because it turns out that b5 is hanging and we don't much like the prospect of bxc4 22...Nfd7 runs into 23.cxb5! , and the naive Nxd3 24.Qxd3 axb5 loses to 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.e5! 22...Qd7 is perhaps the best choice, but after 23.Rac1 introducing an additional threat of Bxe5, cxb5 and Rxc5, Black would struggle to coordinate his pieces properly 23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.bxc4 , and the threat of e4-e5, combined with general weakness of my kingside, gives White a very serious edge 22...bxc4?! we both thought the text move forces 23.bxc4. Starting with 22...Nfd7 was much cleaner. 23.bxc4?! It's hard to criticize Boris for not realizing how strong 23.Bxc4! Nxe4 24.Qg2! Nxc4 25.bxc4 Nf6 26.Bh6 Rf7 27.Qe2 was - I don't think it's very obvious at all even when I'm staring at the computer evaluation, telling me the game is basically lost. The 'simple' problem is - White will play Qe6, and there will be no good way to react to that. 23...Nfd7 Now Black is doing completely fine, for the first time in the game. The b-file is open, meaning White has to pay at least some attention to the queenside, while creating an attack on the other side of the board is difficult, with the Nd7+Ne5 tandem providing ample cover. 24.Bg5 We were both very short on time by the point, and this is a very understandable move, trying to create immediate questions to answer. The engine suggestion 24.Be2 Rb2 25.Rae1 , completely abandoning the queenside and intending to play g5 and then try to get that bishop to g4, by hook or by crook, is a hard thing to consider even in time trouble. 24...Rf7?! This is a good move, but played with a very panicky wrong idea. I left myself less than 5 minutes here, and finally decided on a course of action which gave White a draw if he wanted it, or a mess if he didn't. The engine completely disagrees with this generosity and says 'you're already better, be thriftier' After 24...Qd8! White has no logical ways of continuing to press on the kingside, and has to switch to defence. 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.Rxf7 Kxf7? 26...Nxf7! 27.Bxe7 Qc7! gives Black a massive edge because even with White to move, the impending Nf7-Ne5 setup covers absolutely everything, e.g. 28.Rf1 Nde5 29.Bf6 Qa5! , and despite a very scary looking Bf6, there is just no attack, while the threat of Qc3 basically decides the game. I don't believe, I spent more than 10 seconds on any of that, though... 27.Rf1+ Ke8 28.Bc2! Doesn't change the evaluation, but full marks to Boris for realizing just how scary the thought of landing this bishop on a4 is. I assumed, his choices were a draw after 28.Bxe7 28.Bxe7 Kxe7 29.Qh4+ Ke8 , completely missing that even here White can try 30.Bc2! which would have forced me to find Qc7! 31.Ba4 Qa5 and shockingly even with the bishop on a4 White still can't deliver mate vs those two majestic knights. or a more ambitious, and also weaker, 28.Qh4?! Kd8 29.Bxe7+ Kc7 where despite being a pawn down, I was pretty sure, I was in control now that my king is safe 28...Kd8! Played with maybe 2 minutes left on the clock, this is the best move. The engine somehow holds the position after 28...Qb7 29.Ba4 Qb2 30.Qf4 Kd8 31.Bxe7+ Kxe7 32.Qg5+ Ke8 33.Qf6 Rb5‼ but I will leave it to its conscience. 29.Bxe7+ Kc7 29...Kxe7 30.Qh4+ Ke8 31.Ba4 is completely lost. Qb7 32.Qf6+- 30.Ba4 creating a threat of Bxd6! Kxd6 Bxd7 and Rf6+ Qe8 30...Rb4!? 31.Bxd6+ Kxd6 32.Bxd7 Qb8‼ , and the ideas of Kxd7 or Rb1 give Black enough play for the pawn we had to give up. However, I don't think it's realistic to find this when moves like Qe8, which gives up precisely none of our remaining structure, exist. 31.Bf6 31.Bg5 Nxc4 32.Bxd7 Qxd7 33.Bf4 is also very far from clear, with the Black king not nearly as safe on c7 as I thought during the game, but the text move doesn't do any harm yet. 31...Rb4 32.Bxe5?? But this one does. Boris was down to seconds at this point, which is the only way you can explain his making such an unappealing move. It took us a while during the post-mortem to convince ourselves that after 32.Bxd7 Nxd7 33.Qd3 Black has no way to collect any of the White pawns in the centre without allowing massive counterplay, but we finally decided it must be true, and the engine confirms Black isn't even a little bit better here since trying to gang up on the c4 pawn will inevitably result in allowing e4-e5, often with disastrous consequences. The easiest way to make sure Black isn't worse either is to play Rb2 34.Qa3 Rb6 , and the queen will have to go back to protecting e4 35.Qd3 Rb2 36.Qa3 Rb6= 32...Qxe5 Now White is simply lost. 33.Qa3 33.Qxe5 Nxe5 34.Bb3 a5 and everything crumbles. 33...d3 The cleanest. If 34.Bxd7 Rb2! 35.Qa5+ Kxd7-+ 0–1
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Gelfand,B2678Svidler,P26830–12023Sigeman & Co 28th

Gelfand-Svidler, TepeSigeman 2023 | Photo: David Llada

A Spassky Special

Spassky seen in action with Korchnoi, Petrosian watching the rivals in play | Photo: 64 Archives/ChessPro.ru

This issue also carries a special feature on Boris Spassky with 27 annotated games. The opponents include world champions, Fischer, Tal and Petrosian, not to mention GMs, Keres, Korchnoi and Larsen  among others. Here is one of them. In this issue it has a commentary by Lubomir Ftacnik. I offer one more perspective based on contemporary analysis:

Spassky-Keres, Candidates’ Match 1965 (3)

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 Keres relies on the Nimzo-Indian with which he has a lot of knowledge and experience. 4.Bg5 The Leningrad Variation, an idea that Spassky picked up from his trainer, Vladimir Zak and developed in his own games. h6 5.Bh4 c5 6.d5 d6 6...b5!? 7.dxe6 7.e3 Bb7 7...fxe6 8.cxb5 d5 was seen in Spassky-Tal, Tallinn 1973 (0-1, 38 moves). Keres would have played such a line in his youth, not now in a Candidates' Match. 7.e3 e5 This move plays for the control of dark squares and limits the scope the White bishop. Currently it is out of vogue. 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 is preferred in current praxis. Black exchanges the bishop for doubled pawns and then only plays...e7-e5. Keres, however, tries to preserve the other bishop throughout the game. 8.Nge2 White has other options like 8. Bd3, 8.Rc1 and 8.Qc2. Here Spassky varies from his previous encounter with Keres way back in 1957. 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Nge2 was seen in Spassky-Keres, 24th USSR Championship 1957 ( 1-0, 46 moves) 8...Nbd7 9.a3 Ba5 If 9...Bxc3+ 10.Nxc3 Nf8 11.Bd3 Ng6 12.Bg3 0-0 13.0-0± White has two bishops and their power would be felt once the position opens up. not 13.Qc2? Nh5! 14.Bxg6 fxg6 15.Qxg6 Nf4 10.Qc2? A routine move. Engines prefer the subtle 10.Qb1! 0-0= 10...0-0? Keres also plays safe, completing development. Engines come up with 10...g5 11.Bg3 b5! 12.cxb5 a6 13.bxa6 Bxa6 11.Nc1?! Spassky spent 37 minutes on this move and the next. In a tournament game he might have played 11.0-0-0! a6 12.Ne4 Bc7 13.g4± with a sharp double-edged position and attacking chances. 11...Re8? Keres prepares...e5-e4 and it would help to place one of his knights on e5, in the long run. Engines, however, prefer 11...Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 b5 12...Nxd5 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Bc7 Ne4 15.f3 Nef6 16.Bxd6 Re8 led to a draw in Ivanov-Karklins, Midwest Masters, Chicago 1985. 13.cxb5 a6 14.bxa6 Qb6 12.N1a2 The point of the elaborate plan. If Black plays 12...Bxc3 he yields the advantage of two bishops to White. If he does not, he has to face the prospect of b2-b4. It's rather late for 12.Be2 Bxc3+ 13.Qxc3 13.bxc3 e4 14.Nb3 Ne5 13...Nxd5 14.Bxd8 Nxc3 15.Bc7 Nxe2 16.Nxe2 Nf6 17.Bxd6 b6 12...Qe7 The queen guards d6 and c5 pawns against b2-b4 and bxc5. She also offers more power to the advance...e5-e4. Still it is too slow. Instead he could have played 12...e4! 13.0-0-0 a6 14.Be2 g5 15.Bg3 Ne5 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 b5 18.cxb5 c4 19.Bxe5 Rxe5 20.Qxc4 Bf5∞ 13.f3 White preserves his options of castling and with this move prevents the opening of the central file, denying the square e5 to Black. He also has other options, 13.0-0-0, 13.e4 and 13.Be2. 13.0-0-0 a6 14.Be2 Rb8 15.g4 b5 offers counterchances for Black with the sacrifice of the b-pawn. 13.e4 Nf8 14.Bg3 Ng6 15.h3 Bd7 16.Be2 a6 17.0-0 13.Be2 Nf8 14.0-0 Bd7 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Ne4 Qg6 17.b4 Bb6 18.Nac3 13...e4 14.f4 g5 15.Bg3 If 15.fxg5? Ng4 16.Qd2 hxg5 17.Bg3 Nde5 15...Nh5 Tal's suggestion 15...b5!? is met by the calm 16.Be2! b4 16...bxc4?! 17.0-0 Nb6 18.fxg5 hxg5 19.Rf2 Nbxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxc4 Be6 22.Qe2 is dangerous for Black. 17.axb4 cxb4 18.Nc1 Bb6 19.Nb5 16.Be2 Ng7 on the way to f5. Instead Tal preferred bringing the other knight to the kingside with16...Ndf6. He could have played safe with 16...Nxg3 17.hxg3 Kg7= The vulnerable h6 point can be eaily defended with... Rh8. Sharper is 16...gxf4!? 17.Bxf4 17.exf4 Ng7 18.0-0 Nf5 17...Nxf4 18.exf4 Nf6∞ But Keres avoids violent play. He is ahead in the match and rejects this line as Jan Van Reek rightly puts it in his book, "Grand Strategy", a colllection of Spassky's Best Games. 17.0-0 Nf5 18.Qd2 Nf6 So far the game has seen a manouevering phase and this is a remarkable position with all 32 pieces on the board. After 18...Nf8 19.Be1 Ng6 20.g4 Nd4!? the ensuing complications may favour White. He could have got rid of the bishop with 18...Nxg3! 19.hxg3 Rf8∞ 19.fxg5 hxg5 20.Be1 Ng7? Keres withdraws this knight and then another, preparing f7-f5 advance. However, his rook on a8 and bishops on c8 & a5 still remain out of action. He had a road to equality with 20...Bd7! 21.Rb1 21.g4 Nh6= only helps Black. 21...Rac8= 21.b4 Bb6 22.Na4 Nd7? The knight moves to d7, freeing the bishop from the duty of guarding c5 and preparing f7-f5 next move. However, this plan fails on account of White's siege of c5 and d6. It was necessary to play 22...Bc7 23.N2c3 b6 24.Nb5 Bb8 25.Qb2± 23.N2c3 Bd8? Keres preserves his bishop allowing the advance, d5-d6. Thereafter he is lost. He had to play 23...f5 24.Bg3 Rf8 25.Nb5 Rf6 26.Rab1± 24.bxc5 Nxc5 If 24...dxc5 25.d6 Qe6 26.Nb5 f5 27.Nac3 and White's attack should prevail in the end. 25.Nxc5 dxc5 26.d6 This advance is menacing enough and it also frees d5 square for the knight. Qe6 27.Rd1 Bd7 28.Bg3 This is not bad. Even better may be 28.Qb2! Bc6 29.Nd5 Rc8 30.Bc3+- 28...f5 29.Nb5 Rf8 30.Qc1? Spassky is rather indecisive here. Stronger is 30.Nc7! Bxc7 31.dxc7 Ba4 32.Rb1 Bc6 33.Qc3± 30...Qf6?? Keres throws the weight of his queen to advance the pawn to f4. However, the queen is vulnerable on this square as Spassky demonstrates. After this move the game cannot be saved. 30...Qg6 31.Nc7 Rc8 32.Be5± followed by Qc3 was the lesser evil for Black. 31.Nc7 Rc8 32.Nd5 Qe6 33.Qb2 Ba4 34.Rc1 Spassky is racing towards time control and this does not spoil anything. Stronger is 34.Rb1! Bc6 35.Be5 Ne8 36.Rbd1 Qd7 37.Bh5!+- White plays 38. Bxe8 folllowed by 39.Nf6+ and Black's position collapses. 34...Rf7 35.Be5 Qg6 36.g4 Bc6 37.gxf5 Nxf5 38.Bg4 Bd7 38...b6 is met by 39.Qg2 and the e-pawn falls. Or 38...Bxd5 39.cxd5 Bb6 40.Bxf5 Rxf5 41.Rxf5 Qxf5 42.Rf1 Qg4+ 43.Bg3 c4 44.Qf6 Bxe3+ 45.Kh1 Qd7 46.Qg6++- 39.Qxb7 Be6 "If 39...Nxd6 White can permit himself the luxury of sacrificing the queen by 40.Rxf7! Nxb7 41.Rxd7 with an easy win"-Tal 40.Qb1 Nxd6 41.Bxe6 Qxe6 The sealed move. Keres was known for his legendary skills in adjournment analysis. But this is beyond redemption even for him. 42.Bxd6 Qxd6 43.Qxe4 Rb8 44.Rxf7 Kxf7 45.Qh7+ Ke8 46.Rf1 Qe6 47.h3! "This quiet move shatters the last of Black's illusions"- Tal. White prevents...Qg4+ and threatens in turn 48.Rf6 Bxf6 49. Nc7+ winning. Not 47.Qxa7? Qg4+ 48.Kh1 Qe4+= 47...Rc8 48.Qg7 Be7 49.Rf5! Bd6 This is forced on account of the threat of 50.Re5. 49...Qxf5?? 50.Qxe7# 50.Rf6 50.Rf6 Qe5 50...Qxh3 51.Qf7+ Kd8 52.Rxd6+ Qd7 53.Qxd7# 51.Rf8++- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Spassky,B-Keres,P-1–01965

There are more than 2600 games of Spassky in the Big Base alone. They are worth a look.

Opening videos and surveys

There are 3 opening videos in this issue:

The first offers  an introduction to a "quiet" line in the Colle-Zukertort Opening (D04) that appeared in the recent world championship match by Mihail Marin.

The second presents analysis of  a new line in the the Ragozin Defence (D38) by Spike Ernst.

The third  examines a  TN with a pawn sacrifice in the Catalan (D43) by Ivan Sokolov

Take your pick.

What is more, there are as many as 12  opening surveys ranging from the  Italian to the King’s Indian. Among them I would single out the analysis of the Sicilian Poisoned Pawn Variation (B97) by Renato Quintiliano and the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defence

(A83) by Spyridon Kapnisis.

Besides opening surveys, this issue has standard features on tactics, strategy and the endgame. Here I would single out Karsten Müller’s demo. lecture on king and pawn endings. He is lucid and it’s a treat to learn the final phase of the game from him.

Last, but not least, we have Jan Markos’ demo lecture on the topic, symmetrical positions. Practical advice for the tournament player.

Summing up

The main database of the issue has 162 games of which 41 are deeply annotated.There is much else in this DVD that deserves to be explored. Apart from the players I have already mentioned, the commentators include Anish Giri, Wesley So, Sam Shankland and Van Foreest among others. It may be noted that there are more annotated games in the opening and training sections of this issue.

Well, practice makes perfect.

Notes:

1) Here is a link to the official site of the World Chess Championship

2) The official site of the Sigeman Chess Tournament also deserves a look:

3) There is a wealth of information on Boris Spassky in Douglas Griffin’s Blog on Soviet Chess History:

I have made use of the report on the Keres-Spassky Candiates’s Match 1965 by Tal and Koblenz in this review. Incidentally, the match was held in Riga, Tal’s home town.

4) The Sicilian Poisoned Pawn Variation made history in the game, Caruana-Vachier Lagrave, Candidates’ Tournament 2021. Subsequently improvements were found.

Renato Quintiliano covers the same ground and also deals with recent developments in other lines. The article in this issue is the first of the series.

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Prof. Nagesh Havanur (otherwise known as "chessbibliophile") is a senior academic and research scholar. He taught English in Mumbai for three decades and has now settled in Bangalore, India. His interests include chess history, biography and opening theory. He has been writing on the Royal Game for more than three decades. His articles and reviews have appeared on several web sites and magazines.
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