Tony Miles: 'It's Only Me': England's First Chess Grandmaster

Contents Introduction

5

Inde" of Openings Acknowledgements

6 7

Foreword by Leonard Barden

9

1:

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

2:

"I played every night for a year unlil l gal bored"

23

3:

"A cable"

51

4:

"I pushed Karpov all the way for first place at Tilburg

78

5:

"I beat Spassky twice heavily-lovely games, very pretty"

93

6:

"I feel I'm overdue to win some toumaments"

109

7:

"1 heard that Karpov felt insulted by my choice of opening"

128

II

"

(including Interview at Lone Pine 1980 - 133) 8:

"When I play close to home it's the complex-l play badly"

159

9:

"The Impossible Challenge, Tilburg Inlerpolis 1985"

175

10:

"I get bored with playing the same thing all the time"

198

11:

"I am nostalgic for the days before computers were invented"

218

12:

Problems

240

13:

Solutions to Problems

245 252

14:

Articles

IS:

Memories ora generous soul, a great bloke'

16:

Tony Miles-.one of my best and most loyal friends

17:

"Can you show me your game against Karpov

and a unique personality

where you played 1...36, please Mr Miles?" 18:

"I have no style-I just make moves"

264 267

271 278

Tony Miles's tournament, match and England national team record Index of Opponents

284 288

Acknowledgements

Introduction n November 200 I the chessworld was shocked by the news that Tony Miles, Engl:and's first-and most influential-grandmaster, had died suddenly at his home in Birmingham at only 46 years of age.

I

>

By way of tribute we have now compiled a selection of Tony's most interesting g3mes with his own commentaries. Also included are some of his most memorable articles such as 'Has Karpov losl his marbles?' from Kingpin, togethcr with a number of chess brain·teasers he set h.is readers and a rare interview he gave at Lone Pine

1980.

The majority of the annotations are taken from Tony Miles's chess column in the New Statesmall which he conducted from 1976 to 1981a period in which he developed inlo a world class player-and from his contributions to Chess magazine, first as a budding junior and later as a hardened campaigner on the gruelling chess circuit. In addition there are a fair number of good games which he never fully annotated in words but only with analytical symbols. Games from Tilburg 1984, probably his finest tournament victory, and thrilling as such encounters Miles­ Belyavsky, Tilburg 1986, one of his most famous wins, have been taken from his InJormator and Chess

notes (where we have replaced the symbols with words). We were, however, disappointed not to find comments on more of his instructive games with the English Defence, perhaps his favourite opening. Surely he annotated more than those we have managed to unearth here? Player

Chapter headings come in Ihe fonn of Miles quotes which highlight key aspects of his 30 year chess career or specific character traits. Meanwhile the tournament record will provide a basis for funher research, since he undoubtedly played more events than those listed here. We have also endeavoured to give a glimpse of Miles the man, through our own personal recollections, particularly relating to his school years and his coniribulions to junior chess in the Midlands. Throughout the book, unless otherwise stated, any commentaries or quotes are by Tony himself. Finally, in case you didn't realise, "It's Only Me" is an anagram of Tony Miles, and was one of his handles on Ihe Internet Chess Club. We feel fortunate to have known Tony and it has been a pleasure to compile this book in his memory. We do hope it does him justice and that readers will enjoy his colourful writing and chess annotations.

ur sincere thanks to Tony Miles's family. particularly to his cousin Pam and his late Aunt Dev, who unfortunately passed away shortly after Tony. They generously gave us their time and acccss 10 his archives.

O

The following publications have given their pennission to reproduce Tony Miles's work; New Statesman magazine

Milcs's chess column ran from mid 1976 to early 1 98 1 . Games 9, 22 to 25, 27 t o 30. 3 2 to 35,38 to 41, 43, 44,46,5 1 to 68. Articles; 'Noise at Hastings', 'Russian Prodigy', 'Kasparov at the Olympiad', 'Making sense of chess books' Problem Numbers: 2 10 18. New I n Chess magazine

'The Impossible Challenge'­ Tilburg Interpolis 1985 tournament report. Games 83 to 88, 114. Chess magazine

Early games up to around the time of Dubna 1976, and again from around 1994 onwards:

Audio Chess

'Tony Miles Grandmaster'-Tony talking to Mike 8asman about Duhna 1976. Games 15 to 18. 'Chess Cafe website'

Miles's column started in 1999. Games 1 1 5, 117, 1 18. Article: 'The Holey Wohly?' Kingpin magazine

Article; 'Has Karpov Lost His Marbles?' Book reviews: Unorthodox Chess Ope/lings, Secrets oj Millor-Piece Endings, Samllrai Chess: Mastering the Martial Art oJthe Mind lnformator

Games 21, 36, 37, 45, 69 to 72, 75, 79 to 82, 89. 94, 95, 97, 104, 106.116. Inside Chess

Games 9010 93. 'The Chess Player' Series (Tony

Gillam) Games 13, 14, (15 to 18 exclams). Part of the introduction to Miles· Larsen, London 1 980. is taken from Londa" 1980 by Tony Miles. Annotations have been reproduced from th' following publications: Chess £rpress (defunct)

Games 73. 74.

Games 3 to 8, 10 tol2, 19,7610 78, 96,98 to 103. 105, 107 to 1 13.

llitematiollal Chess (defunct)

Article: 'Blindfold Simultaneous Exhibition 1984', 'Tony Miles says .

IBM Schaktoernooi

..

•

Games 42. 47 to 50. Games 20. 3 1 .

8

Acknowledgements

Main sources for quotes Miles's quotes are taken from the

New in Chess interview with Miles

in 1984, S.W.Gordon interviews with Miles from 1976 and 1980,

Chess, British Chess Magazine, New Statesman, Chess Life, Best Games of the Young Grandmasters by Kopec & Pritchett, London 1980 by Miles,

National

newspapers, and

Birmingham Evening Mail, BBC TV programs.

The following people have provided help and advice Jimmy Adams, Michael Basman, James Coleman, Chris Duncan, Malcolm Pein (Chess & Bridge Lrd), Leonard Barden, Bernard Cafferty, Roger De Coverly, John Donaldson, Tony Gillam, Bill Gordon, Stephen Gordon, BiB Hartston, Richard James, Nigel Johnson, Andrew Morley, Richard Parsons, Jodie Soame (New Slatesman), Monica Vann, Roelof Westra.

References New Statesman magazine, Chess magazine, British Chess Magazine, New III Chess magazine and Yearbooks, Informalor volumes,

Chess Cafe website, Kingpin magazine, The Chess Player Series, Chess Life (USA), Inside Chess (USA), Internet Chess Club, Chess Assistant: Miles's database (Monica Vann), The English Chess Explosion from Miles 10 Sltorf Keene & Chandler, British Chess Bonerill, Levy, Rice, Richardson, Best Games of the Young Grandmasters Kopec & Pritchett, European Junior

Cltampionship

Grollingen

1972

book, Tony Miles Grandmaster audio cassette (Audio Chess UK), 1976 taped convers­ ation with Stephen Gordon (National Open 1976), IBM Schaak­ toernooi 1 976 tournament book, IBM ScJwktoernooi 1977 tourn­ ament book, London 1980 Tony Miles, LondOIl 1980 Hartston & Reuben, Tilburg Imerpolis 1984 tournament book, The Mosler Game James & Barden, The Master Game (book 2) James & Hartston, The Sicilian Dragon Miles & Moskow, The English Defence King, MeO Tenth edition Kom, Modern Opening Traps Chemev, A Complete Defelice for Black Keene & Jacobs, Best Chess Games 1970-1980 Speelman, Endgame Strategy Shereshevsky, Birmingham Evening Mail/Post and national newspaper archives (Binningham Central Library). tournament

Foreword by Leonard Barden

T

ony Miles was the chess player who inspired English talent to defeat Soviet grandmasters and even challenge them for world supremacy. He was a competitive professional, n source of fresh and original opening ideas, a patient strategist ready to win in 100 moves, and a first prize winner at the highest level. Yet Miles never forgot his roolS, competing on the English weekend circuit in his prime and later leading Slough to national team titles. I recall an early image of Tony and his fierce will to succeed, when he played Kuzmin in the England v USSR match in the European championship at Bath 1973. Kuzmin was a bruiser, hard-faced and muscular, while Tony already had his trademark mannerisms as he poured his glass of milk and placed his wristwatch over his score sheet to hide his notation, which he recorded in Cyrillic to Kuzmin's They evident bewilderment. whipped out their moves staccato, and as time pressure loomed at the end of the session play became almost physical as they leaned towards each other like a couple of heavyweights. Tony's schoolboy talent blossom­ ed around 1970 at just the right time for himself and for British chess. Older masters were retired or past their best, while a younger group

\cd by Keene and Hartston seemed unlikely to scale the heights. Abroad, Fischer and Larsen were defeating Russians in a style which excited the chess publ ic. The search was on for an Englishman who could also take on the Soviets. Jim Slater, then the City's most dynamic young financier, was already backing a talent programme and an English bid for the junior World Championship. After his money saved the FisctJer v Spassky match in Reykjavik from collapse, he offered a £5,000 prize for the first English grandmaster. Slater considered going further with £10,000 for an Englishman reaching the world top 30, but decided to wait. Just as well, since his business collapsed in the next two years and the higher prize could not have been honoured. The race with Keene for the Slater award triggered a fresh advance in Tony's strength. In 1976 he tied for first with Korchnoi at Amsterdam, in 1977 he was second to Karpov at Tilburg and in the BBC Master Game, and in 1978 he brilliantly beat Spassky at Montilla. So Tony concluded that "the only thing left is to have a go at Karpov". I'm not sure if it was a wise move to make this public. As post­ glasnost documents revealed, the Soviets had a dedicated programme to try to stop Fischer, and I have the impression that after 1978 USSR

10 Foreword

grandmnsters plnyed specially hard against Miles. This clenrly happened at the 1979 Riga Interzonal where Tony (whose preparation had typically been a few UK week­ enders) started among the leaders but then fell back when he met the Russians. His famous win over Karpov at Skarn 1980 was an exception to the World Champion's convincing victories in many of their other games 3t this time. Karpov's post-game fury when he branded I e4 a6 as lese mujesle is consistent with shame 3t letting the side down by failing to subdue the Western upstart. Afler Riga, Mile� l:'lcilly abandoned his pretentions to the world crown 3nd played to his strengths as a top GM. He again beat Karpov in the BBC Master Game 1983, while his first place at Tilburg 1984 was the finest British tournament result by anyone up to that time. He totalled 8/ 1 1 , was Ph points clear of the field, and defeated three world candidates. At Tilburg 1985 he injured his back, played stomach down on a massage table, and reduced his opponents to a petition against the table. Miles's vintage period ended with his ill-health and his '22-eyed monster' defeat by Kasparov in 1986. A decade later, he relaunched

his career by combining tournament play with coaching, writing, and leading the Slough team. He won the Capablanca Memorial in Cuba three times, and gained many new admirers with his witty Chess Cafe internet column and his contrib­ utions to Kingpin magazine. He poked fun at the pretentious. and put forward constructive ideas 10 improve the world chess scene. The humour and warmth of Miles the man comes through in his writing. Tony's legacy to British chess can be seen in the successes of our players in the two decades after he won a world title and beat the feignin� World Champion. He broke the baTTier of over-respect for Russians, and set a high achieve­ ment target for his friends and contemporaries. Tony showed that in chess you have to demand the best from yourself, and that became the English chess ethos. Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Jon Speelm3n, John Nunn and Matthew Sadler are only the cream of many who over-fulfilled what could have been reasonable expectations from them when they were juniors. In his final years Tony was passionately involved in junior coaching, so I hope this book will help inspire future generations of English talent to aim for the heights.

1:

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

T

ony Miles was born on St.George's Day-April

23'd 1955, in Edgbaston,

Binningham-the son of Jennie and Jack Miles.

'/ learned 10 play from my father

at age five. / played every I/ighl for a year IIl1til / got bored. / Ihen 'retired' for three years. My life in chess really began liS a type of accident, since / started playing a/ school when / was nil/e. There was a chess craze lit Ihe time and / found that / was good at the game. / always beat everyone, including teachers.'

which was to become even more pronounced later. He seemed to prefer 10 go his own way, rather than heed the opinions of others. Miles attended King Edwards School in Edgbaston which set demanding academic standards. His school reports paint a clear picture of the pupil doing just enough work to get by, while concentrating on the more important matter of perfecting his skills at the game he played so well! One tart comment, from General Studies, gives the flavour of the reports:

something special.'

'Perhaps olle day he will realise Ihere are more Ihings in heaven and earth than chess. At the momelll he cannot conceive of such a possibility. Thus his only creditable activity iI/ this subject has been thai he has turned up. Othen�'ise he has said nothing, done nothing, and looked pretty bored. He needs to learn the inestimable value of intellectual humility.'

At II he won the Birmingh3m Primary Schools Championship, and subsequently joined the Binning­ ham Chess Club, where some of the

In 1967, he started playing in the Binningh3m Easter Congresses, run by Ritson Morry, the Midland and Hastings chess organizer. He won

stronger pl3yers encouraged the promising schoolboy-in p3rticular Bernard Cafferty and Peter Gibbs, even if today they both tend to play down their role, saying he received no formal coaching. But one thing is certain-already apparent at this young age was Miles's independ­ ence of thought and self-reliance,

the West Midlands Under-12 title but, more remarkably, finished runner-up in the Birmingham Open Speed Championships. In his first national competition, aged 12, h e scored 50% in the British Under-14 Championship, losing to title winner John Nunn. In the Birmingham Easter Congress 1968, he played no

From the age of

II

he played

competitive chess several times a week. This was the beginning of a pattern of intense chess activity that was to last his whole career. The young Miles loved all kinds of spons-rugby, cricket, swimming, athletics-but in the field of chess came the realization '/ hud

12

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

fewer than four games a day, winning the Under-16 and Under-14 titles, the Boys' Lightning Champ· ionship and placing well in the Open Lightning event. Accom­ panied by his father, he went on to win the British Under-14 title in Bristol, though again losing to Nunn, and then, in 1969, to share 2place with Nunn in the British Undcr-18s, this time gaining his revenge in their individual game. By the age of 15, Miles was more

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

match shortly afterwards, winning both his games on board nine. After famously saving the Fischer Spassky match from collapse, at the Hastings 1972/3 Congress financier Jim Slater announced, 'I am offering a cash prize of £5,000 to the first British chess player to become a grandmaster. ' This was an enonnous sum of money at the time, equivalent to something approaching £100,000 today, and came at just the right moment for Miles's generation.

than a match for national experts. Perhaps his first really significant result in adult competition was when he became the youngest ever Midland Open Champion at the 1970 Binningham Easter Congress. After this he rcpresented England Under-l 8 s in the Glorney Cup, winning all his games, but, surprisingly, then made a disastrous showing at the Islington Junior. Apparently his accommodation was poor during the tournament and he vowed always to choose better lodgings in the future (indeed,

his results exceeded expectations. In the latter he lost only in the last round-to American grandmaster Arthur Bisguier.

Miles surged ahead in 1971, registering his first international success at the Nice Junior Invitation, which he won on tie· break from the World Junior Champion Werner Hug. He then added the British Under-21 trophy to his growing collection. In the 1971/72 Binningham and District League First Division, he scored a record 91h/1O, playing mainly on top board, and on his British Championship debut in 1972, he scored a respectable 50%. He made his first appearance for the full England squad in the Anglo-Dutch

This was followed by his best result so far when, in Binningham, he not only became the 4'" young· est ever winner of an International Tournament but also obtained his first lM norm. Here he gained his revenge on Bisguier and led by a whole point after 6 rounds. 'I stayed up Iwlf the night analyzillg, tlying in vain 10 find a will, whell l adjollrtled againsl Carleton. I fOlilld if frustratillg and tirillg whell I Dilly drew that game.' Going into the last round, Miles shared the lead, half a point ahead of the British Champion, Eley. 'I kllew how Eley would play, alld decided Ihal I would have to checkmate him before he ofe f red aggressively to win, alld it worked.'

throughout h is career, there were shades of Bobby Fischer in his reports of complaints made to hotels around the world.)

Meanwhile, Miles represented England in the 1973 European Junior in Groningen. His second place behind Oleg Romanishin was a tremendous perfonnance since he was two to three years younger than his main rivals. He then crossed the Atlantic to play in the US National Open and Lone Pine events, where

At the World Junior Champion· ship 1973, Miles finished a close

second 10 Russian 1M Alexander

Belyavsky, despite winning their individual game and despite having his luggage stolen at the start of the tournament!

'Aly worst momelll ill chess was the despair I felt during Ihe 1973 World Junior Championship. About five rounds before the elld, I knew I would /lot win alld d;sco�·ered Ihat it meant more to me thall I had realised.' Tony Miles was a proud man, rarely asking for help from others, but after this personal disappoint­ ment he phoned Leonard Barden, seeking his assurance that Bernard Cafferty would be his second at the 1974 event. After finishing 4..... in the British Championship he won a weak

tournament in Malta with II1I1 and then returned to England to come

3'" in the strong London Chess Club Invitational. Showing no signs of fatigue, he jelled straight back to Malta, this time winning a stronger tournament there which included Belgian grandmaster O'Kelly de Galway. He again made a clean score of IIIII! By now it was time for him to attend Sheffield University as an undergraduate: • Whell I sta,.tetl /0 st udy mathematics I decided thaI I had to work at my srudies at least for Ihe first trimester. I didn't do anything, but I didll 't play chess durillg those three mOllths either. I drallk a lot and wellf to discotheques a lot. But afterwards I played at Hastings­ alld started wilh I 0111 of 7. I simply couldn', play allymore. II was ollly in the second half of Ihe tOIlrt/amellf

13

thai I got goillg. I made 4'h Ollt of8, ineluding a win from Kuzmill. So il took me seven rOllnds to remember !row I mllSI play chess.' At Hastings he also had the better of the play in a hard fought draw against the other Soviet entrant, fonner World Champion Mikhail Tal. He was fearless against the best players, simply stating that 'these gllyS miss thillgs.· Miles honed his toughness on the 1974 UK weekend circuit, sharing

the £1000 Grand Prix with Gerald Bennett-'Swisses are dife f rellt. OK. because they make you aggressive.' He was a frequent winner of weekenders, due in no small measure to his physical strength and sheer persistence, and was by now, to all intents and purposes, a chess professional. Miles's chess style was once described as a streeHighter's:

'I used

that

description

Ollce,

because I learned to play chess mostly at weekelld tournamellts. Six rOllllds ill olle weekelld, alld YOII have to will all of those games, so that means you /rave to fight. Even if there is 110 way to fight you still

hove 10 find a way to will. Bllt jllSt "fighter" is ellough, you C(III drop tire "street".. Miles's wish came true and Bernard Cafferty accompanied him to the 1974 World Junior Champ­ ionship. Manila was rainswept and games were sometimes delayed for an hour whiIe the competitors literally waded through floods to the toum:lment hall-but he triumphed

brilliantly, clinching the title with a round to spare after defeating his main rival Kochiev in a scintillating a draw. Sicilian Dragon. Fiveme years later So he I played described this as his favourite game:

14

The Chess Career oJ Tony Miles

'No small part oj my favouritism is due to the Jaet that it clinched the World Junior Championship Jor me --aile ofmy bat moments in ehas. ' In 1975, Sheffield University awarded Miles an Honorary Master of Arts degree in recognition of his achievements in chess, particularly thai of becoming World Junior Champion (to this day he remains Ihe only Englishman 10 have won this coveted title). During 1975, while ostensibly a student, Miles again won the UK Grand Prix, this time outright. He also managed to fit in five international tournaments. Bearing in mind Slater's £5,000 offer, Miles was pressing hard for a grandmaster result although Ray­ mond Keene was widely expected to become England's first OM, having already achieved his first grandmaster nonn the previous year. Miles's breakthrough came at the London International. He easily won the tournament, restricted to under-3D-year-olds, beating three of the four grandmasters present and exceeding the GM nonn by half a point. The quest for the title had suddenly become a two-horse race between Miles and Keene but in the following Teesside and Hastings tournaments they both fell short of the required nonns. In 1976 Miles received an invitation to a strong tournament in the Russian town of Dubna. Despite the tough opposition and freezing temperature he remained on course for the GM title. But then he lost to Suetin and was left needing a win in the final round, with Black, against the untitled Kostro of Poland. The pressure was on the 20 year old English player, 'My nerves did a

Jair amount to counter the strength

The Chess Career of TOllY Miles 15

oj my opponent', and in a tense game he emerged victorious. And so Miles had become England's first grandmaster and, incidentally, the youngest in the world at that time. With hindsight this provided the springboard for English chess as more players aspired to the title and competed with confidence against the world's best. Hij; early record against Soviet players was impressive and right after Dubna he said 'It's still about

plus six, willS against 8elyavsky twice, Bronstein twice, Kuzmill, Vaganiall. . ' Before he left for .

Dubna, he had been asked by a friend in London, Eddy Penn, to send a telegram if he was successful in his quest for the title. A fortnight later he received one with the words: 'A cable-Tony Miles.'

Miles's success was due in no small part to his superb play in several tough endgames. Respected Soviet trainer, OM Mikhail Shereshevsky, wrote in 1985:

endgame play of ' The grandmaster Miles is characterized by unhl/rried manoeuvring and the accumulation of small advantaga, according to the principle 'do not hurry '. But when hIS advantage attains decisive dimensions, the English player is transJormed, and he uses all his tactical skill to reach his goal by tire shortest path, althor/gll quieter, more lengthy roads might be fOUlld. A player oj the past who acted in tllil' mlmner was the olltslanding Russian Champion Alexander Alekhine.· Returning to England, he gave interviews at his parents' house in Binningham, before departing for the USA:

' I expect I shall find myself playing chess Jar a living. I'm Jar

too lazy to do anything else. I really don't do enough work. It would be helpful if I knew more about the theoretical side of elIas. I don't think I'm very temperamental though I am vagI/ely moody about my gama. Sometimes I feel like playing, sometimes I don't, •

Miles sensationally tied for first place with Viktor Korchnoi in the 1976 IBM Amsterdam tournament, ahead of nine GMs, thus emphasiz­ ing his ability to compete against the world's best. He represented England on top board at the weakened Haifa Olympiad in 1976, scoring well. He wrote:

E ' ngland's third place at the Haifa Olympiad has been widely acclaimed as a success. Personal/y, I am inclined to disagree. Tire result can be put into perspective by a comparison with tire previous Olympiad at Nice. There England finished lenth. However, (because many oJ the top teams were missing) England efe f fourth to third ThllS, considtlrjng that the England team is supposed to be collsiderably stronger than ever beJore, the result can scarcely be regarded as a vast improvemelll. ' .

From 1977 to 1979, Miles concentrated on forging a career based on international tournament play and virtually abandoned weekend and open Swiss tourn­ aments. As the world's youngest grandmaster he earned a good living from top level tournaments-it must be remembered that in those 'Iron CUr1ain' days the USSR would only send two players at most to any Western tournament. At Bad Lauterberg 1977 he lost in his first meeting against the reigning World Champion, Anatoly Karpov. In the

Soviet wrote:

chess journal

64 Karpov

'Miles has a well-rehearsed opening re pertoire alld resource­ Julness in critical situations... which makes up for his lack oj proper training alld technique. He is an extremely nervous man and resembles Henrique Mecking, bllt once he finds himself in a difficult position. just like the young Brazilian, he Jorgets about all else and clasps his head in his hallds.' At the next IBM tournament in Amsterdam he repeated his success, winning by n whole point. Miles fared beller in his meeting against Karpov in the BBC Master Game final, defending very well to draw the first game, and the replay. The rapid-play final game was a treat for viewers: Karpov had too little time to replace a newly promoted pawn, and at one stage in the furious finish missed a mate in one with his 'pawn', before eventually emerging triumphant. Shor1ly after this, Miles recorded a sensational second place in the world's strongest tournament, the Tilburg Interpolis, in 1977. Here he finished second behind Karpov and a point ahead of the rest of the field, sending a clear message that he had World Championship Candidate potential-and all of this within two years of qualifying for his GM title. After losing to Karpov with a dubious opening line, he described the World Champion'S ease of play:

'Karpov's so thorouglrly prepared, he's got an opening repertoire that he knows absolutely in$ide out. It's almost impassible to gain an advantage Jrom the opening against him. Once he realizes what's going on in a position he

16

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

seems to grasp it completely, and he'lI just chum out move after move very quickly. It's as though everYlhing's completely worked out in his head and he doesn 'I have to work 0111 anything al all. he just walks around and comes back and plays the moves. Fafllaslic speed of play very frequently. even whell he has a tiny advantage, nothing really significallt. '

After all the excitement of 1977, the following year must have seemed like something of an anti-climax to Miles. For most of 1978 he was unable to win a single tournament. But he did register two beautiful wins against fonner World Champion Boris Spassky, employ­ ing his patented 4 J.f4 variation in the Queen's Indian Defence. These victories showed Miles's all-round strength-the first was a superb attacking display, the second a technical effort. Miles married Jana Hartston, an anaesthetist. Jana was Czech woman champion in 1965 and 1967 and regularly won the British Ladies Championship. Unfortunately this marriage broke up after three years. Speaking to the local Evening Mail newspaper Tony said 'We are more or less on speaking tenns-I think this will put me off marriage for a while, though perhaps not for ever. Marriage is illogical anyway.' Tony and Jana remained good friends. Miles made his first attempt at the World Championship by competing in the Amsterdam Zonal 1978 and won an Interzonal place by finishing equal first with Timman. It was a good moment to register his only tournament victory that year. He perfonned solidly throughout 1979 without winning any

the British tournaments. In Championship he lost to a young Nigel Short, who himself almost won the litle. The Riga Interzonal started soon after, leaving Miles with little time for preparation. Speelman was his second, though perhaps not an ideal choice since Miles was never at ease with those he viewed as rivals and the two players had a very different approach to the game. Much was expected of him, but, after starting well, his challenge faded as he lost six games to the top eight finishers. were British chess f:IOS disappointed. Mites latcr said, somewhat enigmatically: 'It was

supposed (0 be the biggest (oumamen( of my fife and I just didn '( feel like playillg chess. I wanted to play, bllt the motivation just wasn't there.'

Short!.r after Riga, Miles finished equal 2 in the Buenos Aires Clarin event, with Spassky, Andersson, Najdorf and Gheorghiu, behind tournament winner Bent Larsen.

1980 proved to be one of Miles's most successful years. At the European Team Championship in the remote Swedish township of Skarn he faced the World Champion Anatoly Karpov in the first round. I n probably the most famous game ever played by an Englishman, Karpov opened I c4, whereupon Miles, fresh from a skiing holiday, replied with the unbelievable 1...a6. The audience apparently could not contain their laughter and Miles scored a sensational victory. Karpov appears to have simply 1I0t adjusted 10 the shock of the opening. England's first grandmaster had achieved another 'milestone' in his career by beating a reigning World Champion!

. Whetl I beat Karpov with 1."a6 and 2 b5 at the European Team

...

Championship in 1980, he did not resign the game personally. The Soviet team captain signed the scoresheet. I heard from others that he felt insulted by my choice o f opening. '

Mike Basman had played l...a6 frequently, calling it the SI. George Defence, partly because Miles's birthday is on SI. George's day! Miles himself suggested the Binningham Defence, after his home town. His choice of opening was perhaps more than just a whim. At Montreal 1979, Larsen beat Karpov with the Center Counter Defence. Miles wrote: 'This game adds further weight to the suspiciofl thot the World Champion is a little vulnerable to unusual openings.' He

was the highest scorer on the top board a t Skarn and England made a breakthrough, capturing the bronze medal. Phillips and Drew, London 1980, was the strongest tournament to be held in England since Nottingham 1936, which had fielded five World Champions. Showing great detenn­ ination, Miles shared first place with Korchnoi and Andersson, the first time he had taken top honours in an event of this calibre. His result was hailed by Hartston and Reuben as 'perhaps the greatest ever by a British player'. Back 10 his winning ways, he then tied for first pl3ce at L3S Palm3s with Petrosian and Geller. and also returned to weekenders-'J always play in weekend tournaments just to keep playing.' Including weekend

tournaments, his winning streak eventually extended to ten stl1light firsts, including Vrbas where he

17

triumphed ahead of Petros ian and Gligoric. But after losing to Short in the final of the BBC Master Game, Miles congratulated his young opponent, adding: 'Please try not to make a habit of it!' His stunning successes in 1980 had perhaps revived his World Championship hopes, but Miles declined his invitation to compete in the somewhat chaotically organized 1982 West European zonal, also stating: 'if I were ever to become the challenger to Kurpov, I should be

up against n ot all individual bllt a nation. '

It is somewhat curious that Miles only achieved 3 single viclory in the British Championship and that was in 1982. He dominated the event and with further successes at Lloyds Bank and Benedictine, boosted his score to record levels in his third UK Grand Prix win. Then, in 1983, he again sensationally defeated Karpov: 'One of my best moments in chess, winnillg a BBC television tourn­

by beating Karpov. had Black in that game!'

ament

I even

In 1984 Miles again won the UK Grand Prix, taking his tally to four. After finishing bottom at Tilburg 1981, for the next two years he did not receive any invitation. But in 1984 he made no mistake and became the first Westerner to win Ihis prestigious tournament which fielded half of the world's top ten players. 'Of course, my best result ever was winning the J984 Tilburg super4GM tOllmament.'

After a typically lethargic start, Miles hit top form with five

18 The Chess Career of TOllY Miles including wins, consecutive victories over Smyslov, Portisch and Timman, thereby surpassing his previous best at Tilburg 1977 where he won four straight games. In several games he showed great tenacity:

'A bad positioll does IIOt discourage me, it's a coincidellce that is WI aspeCI ofyour professioll. Possibly lI'ilh the exception of Karpov, el 'erybody gets illto a bad position once in a while, so that 's IIOt a reason at all 10 simply lose them, You also IUlI'e /0 find a way 10 save fast positions alld fly to will Ihem. If possible. It 's the same as my game against Portisch. I dOli 't remember who. but someolle told me that it was a game typical for all Englishman, survivillg a terrible position. I think it was a typical I-game.' Of his recent form, Miles said:

Things were wrong wit" me. I'd put 011 a stone alld it 1I'0 uldll 't go away. My weight wasil " going back to IIormal. I'd lost presellce and aggression. My physical cOllditiOIl was suddenly bad. I'd always beell physically strollg. For the past eight months, /played like all idiot. (Then 1 11'011 31 consecutive games all the UK weekend circuity-such trainillg was like jOillillg Alcoholics AIIOIIY­ mailS. But if this is the result, well.. / feel positive and much more healthy. / needed a boost. / can't will the British Champiollship willi the Nigel Shorts alld Jonfllhall Spee/malls, bllt I Clm win the big olle or Tilb/ll"g. (laughing). •

'

What was Miles's board presence like? Well, his posture at the board was fairly typical of many players -he held his head in his hands, with his elbows resting on the

The Cliess Career of Tony Miles 19 playing table and he covered his ears. He worked immensely hard at the board.

'That 's the way it developed over tir e years alld 11011 ' I call 't do otherwise. It looks very COllcell­ trated. but I couldjllsl as well go '0 sleep. Sometimes when I'm tired I close my eyes. Then I lower my hallds a little so that nobody lIotices. ' During play he had characteristic idiosyncrasies. He usually had a glass of milk beside him and used a large silver-strapped watch to cover up his moves on his scoresheet. He often wrote down his proposed reply soon after his opponent had moved but would usually analyse it further before actually executing it, and occasionally changed his mind. H e constantly removed invisible specks of dust from the board, pointed his knights to his right, and wore a silver bracelet which he removed at the end of the game. He also tended to blow his nose during play:

The handkerchief is a tic. Maybe I'm a bit too sensitive. I wear the bracelet alit of superstitiol/. /t has some significallce 10 me ... / call " explain that.' •

At the Thessaloniki Olympiad 1984 England won the silver medal, where John Nunn scored a remarkable 10/11 on board two, thereby jumping ahead of Miles on the Elo rating list. In the Tunis Interzonal 1985. Miles said that his problems began when he lost on time in a winning position with one move to make against Zapata. He seemed out of sorts, losing to the Interzonal winner Yusupov in only 24 moves. A couple of months later he found his

fonn, sharing first place with Portisch and Ribli, ahead of Smyslov and Gligoric, in the Vidmar Memorial at Portorozl Ljubljana. At Tilburg Interpolis in 1985, Miles's shared first place was achieved despite crippling back trouble. He played lying flat on his stomach for most of the tournament, on what was dubbed his 'massage table'! Various players lodged a protest saying that they felt distracted and this made Miles even more determined than usual. Feeling that his integrity was being questioned, he wrote a detailed tournament diary, 'The Impossible Challenge', published in New III Chess. Twice he beat Korchnoi, hitherto a difficult opponent for hirn---his first win being achieved in the conventional sitting position! At the Lucerne World Team Championship, England finished third and Miles won the silver medal on top board. He now lived in West Gennany for much of the time as he not only played in the Bundesliga for Pol7iKoln but found it convenient for travelling to European tournaments. During the latter half of 1985 he played the huge number of 86 rated games, regained his spot as the top ranked British player, and rose to equal ninth in the world. In 1986 Miles contested a match against the new World Champion Kasparov. Although he had chances, he went down fighting ¥.!-5IA, commenting wryly '/ thOi/ght I was

playing a World Champion, not II monster wilh 22 eyes who sees everything'. Many commentators believe that this result marked a turning point in his career and the following year he admitted:

'/ dOll 't cOllsider myself a COlllellderfor the World Champion­ ship-I don't COl/sider myself to be ql/ite that good. 011 a good day I could be ahout lIumber three ill the world. To be better than that YOIl'd have to be completely devoted to chess, which I"m 1I0t. '

At the 1986 Dubai Olympiad England came closest yet to capturing the gold medal, finishing half a point below the Soviet team. Then in 1987, after a ten year reign, Miles was overtaken as British number one by Nigel Short, who again qualified for the Candidates. At the Zagreb Interzonal Miles lost six games, three to tailenders. Around this time the well publicized Miles-Keene dispute broke out. At the Tunis Interzonal in 19�5 Keene claimed 10 have acted as Miles's second for which he received a payment from the British Chess Federation. However Miles publicly announced that Keene was 1I0t his second and felt that the BCF did not investigate the matter fully, The controversy escalated and Miles commenced legal proceedings (which never reached court) and went so far as to indicate that he did not wish to be considered for future English team selection. In fact he transferred his allegiance to the USA. However the dispute took a heavy toll on him, his sleep was badly affected and he suffered a period of ill health which forced him OUI of chess for a few months. These were difficult times for Miles-he had never really taken any son of break from competitive chess before. After some indifferent results, he recovered his form a little and shared first place at the 1988 Dutch Open. In Chess Life, he

20

The Chess Career of Tony Miles

summed up his unfortunate last place in the 1988 US Champion­ ship:

'/ came in willi flu and jel lag. They're nor I'ery original excuses, bur / never gar going. II was Ilmch fiercer than I e:r;pecred. I gar carved lip in my firsr r"ree games willt Black. Well, rlra/ was the end ofit. It was only an I I -round tournament, and by the time I sfaned playing it was 100 lale. The last year has been a disaster for me. 1 '11/ jIm playing and fryillg to improve agaill. As you kilOII'. I was very ill last yeal". I spent a period of aboul three monlirs where I didll·' sleep at all, and my entire nervous system virlllally collapsed. All sons of lhillgS went II'rollg with m e. /1 had IIOlhillg 10 do with my back. Jllst a seriOllS case of insomnia having enormous side effects. For a period of six to nine months. Ijust COllldn 'I play chess at all. Whenever I tried, I dropped another 25 raling poinls. Now, I'm okay, blll l ·ve effectively been out of chess for a year. My openings are a year 0111 of dale. / 'm rllsty. My ralillg is at the lowesl point in Ihe last 13 years since I became a gran dmaster. It 's 2500 /lOW; when I was WI 1M, it was 2510. Dow" used to be always 25.50 and up ave,. 2600.

I

don·f

wallt

10

go on playing

chess forever, bllt I dOli '/ illlelld to

·1 play. / 11'0'" to gel back lip there first. Theil if I lI'allt 10 slop, I '/I slap becallse I wallt la, II0t becallse I can play any more. /,'s ollly a game. /t 's elljoyable. It's a nice way to earll a living. As a game itself. il ·s /lever hadlamastic importance 10 me. '

stop because /

CO/I

"

The Chess Career of TOllY Miles 21 Miles did not take up residence in the USA but continued to live mainly in West Gennany. Larry Hanken wrote in Chess Life: 'Miles,

a true cosmopolitan, is a British subject who plays Jar a West German team and lives ill West Germany much of the year. He maill'ains residellce ill Andorra where he pays his taxes. and unofficially repre.rellts the Vlliled Slates ofAmerica 011/ ala New York state mailing address [the America/l Chess FOImdllfion post office box].' Miles met his second wife Jeannie in Adelaide. They married in April 1989 and moved to Binningham but the marriage was doomed to failure and they separated in 1991. He seemed to come 10 tenns with the fact that his globetrotting lifestyle would never allow him to be a conventionally ideal husband. Miles's fonn improved in 1989. At Los Angeles he tied for first, ahead of Tal, Larsen and Browne. Then, after a playoff subsequent to the US Championship, he qualified for the Manila Interzonal, where he finished half·way. In the early nineties he spent some time living in Australia, thanks to the hospitality of his friend and travelling compan­ ion Alex Wohl. At the end of 1991 Miles applied for, and was granted, British Chess Federation membership, and indic· ated that he now wished 10 play

again for England in future events.

After a string of wins in Australia, he resettled in Birmingham. Miles was a natural teacher and from this point on he actively encouraged many youngsters in the Midlands. mainly through his Presidency of the Checkmate Chess Club, for which he received no fees.

From now on he competed mainly in Open tournaments. A high point was at Seville 1993 where he made a 2800-resuit and received a stand­ ing ovation for his victory. He described this as 'the tOllrnament oj

my life-soJar!'

One all-play-all in which he did compete regularly, however, was the Capablanca Memorial in Cuba, where he had an impressive record. In 1994, at Matanzas, he tied for first (Van Wely won on tie-break) and he also scored three outright victories, the most memorable of which was the 1 996 event in which 1 2 of the 14 participants were Grandmasters and he defeated his five nearest rivals! In 1997 he finished second behind his friend, Peter Leko. In 1995, he won a strong all-play·all in Benasque ahead of Andersson and Psakhis, while ;:It the PCA Intel Rapid Chess Grand Prix. in London he scored a famous victory over Vladimir Kramnik in the quarter-final after a playoff in front of a partisan audience. At the end, he punched the air in delight. Miles first played for Slough in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) when they won their first national title in 1995/6. He became team captain a couple of seasons later and successfully guided the team to two further tilles. In the 1997 British Championship he tied for first (Adams and Sadler won the tie·break) and in 1998 came yd, with wins in the last two rounds against Speelman and Short. In 1999 he was diagnosed with diabetes. His energy levels were affected and he reduced his playing schedule. At his final tournament, the British Championship 200 I, he

withdrew prior to Ihe final round due to illness. But he continued to captain and play for Slough in the 4NCL where he was laying a strong junior foundation for the club. In Binningham he competed daily on the local bridge circuit, a game which he threw himself into with the same passion as he showed for chess. In November 2001, Tony Miles died suddenly from heart failure rcJated to diabetes. He passed away at home after having spent much of the previous day with friends. A one minute silence was held in his mcmory at the start of the seventh round in the European Team Championships in Leon

Summary Tony Miles's chess career spanned over 30 years. commencing just as I"JoYnUllor was launched and long before the start of the computer generation. A strong junior, his rise was rapid from the age of 18. He won the World Junior Champion· ship in 1974, gaining the Inter­ national Master title. Then within two years he became a Grand­ master, England's first and the youngest in the world at the time. After impressive results in 1976 and 1977, Miles had aspirations for the World Championship. However, his resuils against the World Champion Karpov and top players such as Korchnoi, Portisch and Timman were perhaps not encouraging­ these players were theoretically well prepared. In 1984, he commented on his approach to study: '(at University) The mathemalical sflldies flopped-qllickly, because it

couldn 'r fascinate me. I

cOllld find

22 The Chess Career of TOllY Miles 110 impetus whatsoever to sflldy for all examinalion that I would have to do ill Ihree years lime. The same as chess. I can't study something abstract Ihal does nol have allY practical significance for me al tlte momenl. There musl be a challenge. an opponent and some excitement.'

After the Riga Interzonal 1979. it seems that he more or less abandoned hopes of challenging for the world title:

'/ lI"ant to be among the top tell in the world. But how milch do I want to improve? The World Champion­ ship is out of the questioll. J dOll 't have any concrete ambitions. I walll to gel to tlte Candidates alld that 's abo/ll it.' (1 980) Throughout his career Miles played frequently-he revelled in the fight. He won tournaments at Ihe . highest level-Tilburg Interpolls 1984 and 1985 arc perhaps his best results. An original thinker, Miles was a sharp tactician and a chess artist with a high level of endgame technique. He played many beautiful games. He beat the reigning World Champion Karpov twice, scored wins against fanner title holders Spassky, Tal and Smyslov, and frequently defeated World Championship Candidates. He is one of the strongest players not 10 have reached the Candidates stage of the World Championship. Miles represented England on top board from 1976 to 1986, was the top scorer at the European Team Championships in 1980 and won the

silver medal at the World Team Championships in 1985. During this period the English national team enjoyed unprecedented success, winning bronze medals at the 1976 Haifa Olympiad and European Team Championships in 1980, and silver medals at the Thessaloniki 1984 and Dubai 1986 Olympiads. Miles's impact on the English game was immense and he ranks among the greatest ever English players. He was well liked and made friends the world over. He always amazed lesser players and amateurs by his willingness to talk chess mailers to them, valuing their opinions. He is sadly missed. Against Anatoly Vaisser, at the . Elista Olympiad in 1998, Miles played a game so bizarre that it appeared as if his sense of humour had taken over completely:

That 's my II(lfure. I am IIot very serious when / play. / mean I do cOllcenlrate bllt Ihat is ollly a part of it-l have a strong tendellcy to look at crazy things first. Whell promoting a pawn I prefer a bishop to a qlleen if tllat is possible. I am very fond of. leI us say. three rooks 011 the board. In (I weekend (Ol/mament I had that OIIce. and illstead of resiglling my oppone,., allowed himself to be mated beautifully ill the middle of the board. That appeals 10 me.' •

Tony Miles, England's First Grandmaster, 1955-2001.

2: "I played every night for a year until I got bored"

I

n this early game, 12 year-old Miles opens I e4 and faces the Sicilian Dragon, an opening which he later enthusiastically adopted himself: I

A.J .Miles Wlrile P.K.Bissieks Black Sunday Times Schools Competition 1967 Sicilia" Defelice (notes by 12 year old Tony Miles)

1 e4 c5 2 tDfJ d6 3 d4 exd4 4 li:lxd4 lOf6 5 tOe3 g6 6 �e3 �g7 7 �e2 li:lc6 8 fJ 0-0 9 'ii'd2 d5 10 lCIxe6 bxc6 I I 0-0-0 Pinning the d-pawn.

I I ...i.e6 t2 e5 Here come the pawns.

12 ...Iild7 13 f4 ...5 1 4 g4 ltfd8 So as to play ...d4 and �xa2. This was impossible before: 14 ...d4 15 ..-xd4 �xa2 16 ..-xd7.

15 83 �ab8

Seemingly threatening ..:'xb2, Wxb2 :'b8+. but tOb5! wins.

16�bl Relieving any danger.

16...... xd2+ 17 :'xd2li:lb6 To cover the a-pawn.

18ltn Threatening pawns.

to

advance

the

18...�f8? Useless.

19 f5 Charge.

19 ...gxf5 20 gxfS i.c8 21 f6 On they come.

21...exf6 22 exf6 �h8 23 �c5+ �,8 23 . . .�g8 24 :'gl+. 24 i.e7 Tearing open Black's position.

24 jxc5 d3 52 Af2 i.e l and a pawn queens) when after 51 fxg4 Black keeps his d·pawn and can still cause problems.

51 ':al i.b2 52 :bl ..ta3

Now if 52 ...i.c3 53 Wxc5.

53 bg4 Now the queen's pawn must fall and White is left with rook plus large pawn roller against two ineffective pieces.

53...�e6 54 h4 ..te7 55 f5 IOg7 56 .:n i.d6 57 :0 h6 58 ¢'xd4 h5 A last trap. If 59 g5 �xg3

drawing.

S9 gxh5 .i.xg3

If 59.. . liJxh5 60 g4 comfortably. I now sealed:

wins

60 h6 And at breakfast the next morning my opponent, observing that I had overcome the main problem-that of struggling out of bed in time for the resumplion-decided to resign. After 60... lOh5 6 1 h7 Wg7 62 f6+

IPxh7 63 fl Jl.d6 64 f8='11 Jl.xf8 65

:x:f8 White is elementary win.

left

with

an

8 A.J.Miles White

M.Tal Black

Hastings 197)174

Reti Opening Up until the World Junior Championship ( 1 973) I had almost

"Jplayed every night Jor II year until J gol bored" 37

" Jplayed ellery nightJor a year until I got bored "

36

invariably opened I e4 with White, but after eight rounds of the finals I was surprised to find thai I had scored three draws and a loss with While and three wins (one against the Russian Belyavsky) and a draw with Black. In the nexi round I switched to I 100 against Stean. primarily to con him OUI of a Najdorf, which I duly achieved after 1 lilG g6 2 e4 �g7 3 d4. With my last White of the tournament. I again ventured I /CIG 10 which my opponent replied 1 ...lOf6 and I was forced to play a genuine English­ Reti system, and proceeded to win in 26 moves. With my first White in the British Championship a few days later I returned to I e4 and was soundly thrashed by Pritchard. That was the last straw. Since I was still winning consistently with Black (to the extent of JOYS points from my last I I games) I decided that the only logical thing to do was to treat White as Black with a move in hand. Since then I have chosen almosl randomly from I lOG and I c4 with the odd I e4, 1 d4 or I b3 creeping in. I have now a slight preference for I g3 since I find it gives a little more scope for originality, but since 1 had already used it four limes in the tournament, (3W4!) I decided to change.

l IOn IOr6 2 g3 g6 3 b3 I think I had played this system twice before this game.

3...dS 4 �b2 cS S c4 d4 6 b4 This must be played immediately, otherwise Black prevents it with . 1Oc6, when White's queen's bishop is misplaced. 6 .il.g7 7 il.g2 0-0 8 0-0 IOrd7 9 bIeS ..

had delayed this move for as long as possible basically for nuisance value. I would have preferred to play 9 d3 here, but was unsure about the reply 9...'ib6 and if 10 a3 a5 when White must either sac a pawn, which is dubious, or play I I b5 when although it takes Black some time to untangle his queenside While has no target to undennine, his quecn's bishop is out of play, and Black's space advantage in the centre will soon become relevant. I

9 ...�c6 10 d3 lilxcs I I lilbd2

il.g4

Perhaps it's better to prepare for ...e5 by 1 1 ...:eS.

12 l1bl llb8 Probably necessary in view of the threat of �a3 (12 ...'i'a5 is met by 13 IOb3).

"The only move"-Tal. As in similar Benoni positions White must eliminate the hostile horse at c5 if he is to hope for an advantage. The immediate 1 5 �xc5 bxc5 16 :b5 fails to 16 ...eaS (one of the points of 13 ...'i'c7) 17 tClc4 /CIb7 followed by ....i.d7 and White is driven back.

IS.../CIa5 Of course not IS ...�xd3 when 16 n or 1 6 h3 wins material.

16 lilge4 �d7(?) Around here Black's position begins to deteriorate quite considerably. If 16 .. /CIxe4 17 /CIxe4 White maintains a noticeable advantage. Best, I think, is 16... lilab7 when although White keeps an edge it's nowhere near as great as in the game.

17 lilJ:CS bxcS 18 lile4 Black's c·pawn is now

an

enonnous liability, and in the event of mass exchanges he's likely to be left with his bad king's bishop.

18...lilb7 Not a pleasant move to have to play, but after I S....:xbl 19 "'xbl :h8 (19 ...�xa4 20 lOxcs is also good for White) 20 'l'a2 lOb3 2 1 :hI ..txa4 22 lilxc5 /CIxc5 23 :Xb8+ "'xbS 24 .i.xc5 White picks up a pawn.

13 a4 Preparing �a3. Tal said afterwards that he was concerned about 1 3 .i.a3 'i'aS 14 ..txcS "'xcS IS :b5 'i'd6 16 'i'b3 when White has active play but nOlhing concrete. Personally 1 prefer not to concede the bishop pair so lightly.

. 13.....c7 14 �a3 b6 IS lilgS(!)

19 'l'c2 "as? Completely missing White's reply. Best is 19... .i.c6 immediately. 20 "d2!

l'llRatening :xb7.

:!I_Wc7 Forced. If 20...'i'xa4 21 �xc5 .... advantage or 20......xd2 2 1 ;&d2 W 22 hc5 winning.

21 as? Too slow. As Tal pointed out after the game 2 1 "'f4 ! would probably give White a winning position. For instance: . (i) 21 ..... xf4 22 gxf4 and now: (a) 22 ...:fcS 23 tOxc5 lilxcS 24 :xb8 :xbS 25 �xc5 with an extra pawn, or even 23 :xb7 :xb7 24 ttlxcs regaining the exchange with interest. (b) 22 ... �xa4 23 lOxcs lilxc5 24 ..txc5 winning a pawn e.g. 24... J:xbI 2S :xbl ..th6 26:al. In all such lines, once White has succeeded in exchanging his a-pawn for Black's c-pawn his position is practically won, even without an extra pawn. (ii) 21 ...eS 22 lilf6+ ¢>h8 23 'i'h4 and apart from mate in one White also threatens to exchange ofT lots of pieces and then lake the C·pawn. (iii) 21 ...�e5 (Probably the best try) 22 'i'h4 .i.c6 (Black must contend with 23 tOg5 and 23 "'xe7. If 22...f6 23 :xb7-or 23 f4 is strong-23 ...:xb7 24 lbxcs :b6 25 a5 :d6 26 f4 win nin g ) 23 /CIgS h5 24 �xc6 'i'xc6 25 We4! 'i'c7 (If 25...'i'xe4 26 lOxe4 .i.d6 then White simply doubles rooks by 27 :'bS and Black's position collapses) 26 :b2! with the powerful threat of 27

38

"I played every nightfor a year until 1 got bored "

J:fbl. If now 26...tDa5 27 J:xb8

J:xb8 28 'i'd5 winning a pawn. Best is 26...i.d6 but White still retains tremendous pressure. 21 ...�c6(!)

Apan from 22 a6 White was threatening 22 11xb7 llxb7 23 tOxc5 winning a pawn. The ailemative 2 1 ...a6 would be met strongly by 22 1M. 2Z a6 .ixc4 23 i.xe4

23 axb7 would be good, were it not for the fact that after 23 ....ixg2 24 �g2 J:txb7 25 J:txb7 "xb7+ is check. 23.../(ld6 24 ig2

24 �b7 is possible, reaching a position similar to the game with an extra pair of rooks. White has not wasted time with his "-(b2/d2) and Black's kingside play is slower than in the game continuation. E.g. 24 ... h5 25 'l'g5 ltlf5 (threatening ...�h6) 26 'i'f4 �e5 27 �e4 (threat 25 i.xc5) 27....i.d6 28 J:tb5 and White is gradually taking over. 24 ...11fc8 25 J:tb2 J:txb2 26 ..-lb2 J:tb8 27 �b7

If 27 ..-d2, there is a distinct likelihood of White's advanced a-pawn disappearing in the near future. 27 ...h5

Not 27 ...iOxb7 28 J:tbl acquiring an enonnous passed pawn on h7. 28 J:bl �cS 29 *c1(?) Black seems to be O.K. now; White hasn't quite got enough room on the queenside to achieve anything significant. Probably the last chance to cause Black any rl.al problems was the tricky 29 e4! gaining space in the centre and threatening 30 f4 when Black's pieces run out of �uares. (If 30...ig7 3 1 eS /(lf5 32 111'bS).

If 29...g5 then 30 'i'd2 is an embarassment, e.g. 30 ...i.f6 3 1 e5! or 30.. .f6 31 f4 gxf4 32 gxf4 iOxb7 33 fxe5 rIOds 34 J:txb8 'i'xb8 35 exf6 exf6 36 �xc5 with an extra pawn and a fine position. Unfortunately, being somewhat shon of time at this stage, I totally overlooked the possibility of29 041; I suspect that I wasn't the only one! 29...h4 30 1WgS /(l,b7 31 lt,b7 If31 axb7 then 3 1 ...h3 is strong. 31...J:txb7 32 axb7 h3 33 0

Forced, in view of the threat of 33...'i'xb7. 33...id634 1WdS

White must preserve his b-pawn for as long as possible. If 34 'i'g4 'i'a5 35 'i'xh3 .xa3 36 'i'c8+ Wh7 37 b8='i' �xbS 38 'i'xb8 as and Black's a-pawn gives him good winning chances. J4 ...e6 35 'i'e4 'i'aS 36 Wf2 'i'xaJ 37 'i'c6 Regaining the piece and simplify­ ing to a drawn queen and pawn endgame. 37...'i'b2

Black could draw immediately by 37 .. .'''cI but tries for more. 38 'ihd6 ....xb7 39 'i'xcs 'i'bl

"I played every /lightfor ayear ul/til l got bored" 39

If 40 'i'xd4 'i'h I and Black wins the h-pawn whereupon his passed pawn is considerably faster than White's. On 40 'itxa7 'i'hI 41 'lb8+ Wh7 42 g4 Wg2+ 43 Wei .gl+ 44 �d2 1Wel+ 4S �dl 1Wgl+ 46 Wc2 'i'e3 draws. At this stage I fdt that I might have some slight winning chances since my c-pawn is a little more dangerous than Black's a-pawn. 40... 'ithl 41 g4 "g2+ This was Black's sealed move, and at the adjournment it soon became clear that after.. 42 Wei 'itgl+ 43 Wd2 Wa l(! ) White has no reasonable way of avoiding a draw by perpetual. So, having nothing better to do, I decided to set up a perpetual myself-just in casc>-while my opponent made a last attempt 10 squeeze something from the position. 44

gS as 45 "b8+ Wg7 46 'iteS+

Wb7 47 'i'c7 'i'b2+ 48 Wdl Wg7

4'.eS+

Not 49 '�ha5? when 49 ... 'i'b8

gn'cs Black good winning chances, ax 49 "d8(?) when 49 ... ..,, 1 + 50 ¢'d2 'Wb4+ 5 1 Wc2 'i'c5 follows

.ad White has some problems proving a draw. 49_W'g8 50 'i'd6! Wg7 51 "c5+ ¢117 52 '5'c7 Draw agreed.

A favourite game

9

A.Kochiev White

A.J.Miles Block '·odd Junior Championship 1974 Sicilia/l Dragon

o.e of the questions one

40 'iteS

is asked by reporters is ...... is your best or favourite

.. ...ml n )'

gameT 'Best' is always difficult 10 define, but I certainly do have a favourite and. as it happens, I have never annotated it before. No small pan of my favouritism is due to the facl that it clinched the World Junior Championship for me. It was played in the penultimate round at Manila in 1974. I e4 cS 2 tOO d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 tOxd4 tOf6 5 tOc3 g6 6 �e3 i.g7 7 0 0-0 8 'ii'd2 lL!c6 9 g4

A sharp move which enjoyed a brief spell of populariry around the time of this game. I had met it once before in a counry match against John Littlewood. At that time I continued 9...lDd7!? (as recom­ mended in a theoretical article which appeared just before the game) 10 h4 lOde5 I I .i.e2 iOxd4? (... lOa5 is a bener try) 1 2 �xd4 �e6 1 3 f4! and White won heavily. After that game I spent a while looking at 9 g4 and came up with an interesting idea. I analysed it for about half an hour and resolved to test it if the opportunity arose. Little did I expect that I would get my chance in such a crucial game! Over the board I sank into thought. So far my opponent had not stopped to think. Clearly he had prepared the line and was OUI for blood. After

40

"I played every nigh/for

"I played every nightfor a year II11 /il l gal bored "

twenty minutes I summoned up the courage to test my idea: 9 e6! ...

This seems to me a very logical, if un-Dragonlike, idea. Black treats White's g4 as a premature wing attack and intends to exploit it in with classical fashion a counter-attack in the centre. White cannot prevent ...d5 after which the opening of the centre should render White's push a weakness. Other moves which have been tried are 9...d5?! (10 g5), 9 ...111xd4, 9...�e6 and 9...e5?! 10 llldbS?!

After twenty-five minutes' thought, not a move I had considered. White tries for a direct refutation based on the weakness of d6. After the game it was widely suggested that White could have gained the advantage with 10 0-0-0 and I I � h6. However, after 10 0-0-0 d5, the immediate I I �h6 is impossible ( l l...lOxd4 12 �xg7 lOxD 13 -.n6 lOxg4) and on I I ltlxc6 bxc6 12 �h6 Black's strong pawn centre, in my opinion, gives him the edge. Another possibility is 10 �c4 playing to give Black an isolated d-pawn. IO...dS

10 ... llle8 is as horrible as it looks. I I �cS

White must be consistent. 1 1 ...�6!

A fine exchange. The alternatives 1 1 . ..lIe8(?) (12 ttJd6) and 1 1 . ..lOe7 (very passive) were clearly less attractive. 1 2 �xfS WxfS

Not 12.. .'i'xfS 13 t:oc7 and the knight surfaces on d5. 13 exdS (?)

Probably White should try to avoid opening lines. However, if 1 3 lOd4 lllxe4 1 4 fxe4 "'h4+ IS ..-£2 'i'xfJ:+ 16 Wxf2 �xd4+ with a tremendous position, while on 13 11:103 b5 1 4 i1ld 1 b4 15 /(lbl .tb7 and Black dominates the board (if 1 6 exd5 just 16...lOxd5). Even at this stage I remember looking round and noticing that my other rivals, Dieks and Schneider, had none too good positions and it crossed my mind that I might be able to win the tournament with ;) round 10 spare.

24 c3 i.d4+! mating, or I S "e2 'tic5 19 'i'f2 l:.e8+ 20 �f1 'i'c4+ 21 �gl 1ilo4' 22 rxo< .td4 23 1ilo3 'ii'c5 24 Wf! �xe3 and 25 ......c4+. 18 lOe4!! ...

...

IS...b4 16 lllb i ..txg4!

Combinations flow from Black's osition. Now if 17 fxg4 &4 18 p 'tfg2 'i'h4+ 19 �e2 lOd4+ 20 Wd3 lbc5+ 21 ¢'d2 �h6+ 22 tOe3 l:.eS and White is annihilated. 1 7 �g2!

The strongest defence. If 17 �e2 lOe4 I S fxe4 "'h4+ 19 lllf2 ..txe2 and 20...i.xb2 wins. Now, though, the bishop is threatened and White is ready to castle, 17 ...&4 is no longer possible (fxe4) so what is Black to do? 17...'i'b6!? is interesting, but aOer 18 fxg4 l:.eS+ 19 �n lllxg4 it is not clear that Black has enough. t 7...'i'e7+! 18 "'e3

Best. For example, IS Wf2 lOe4+! 19 fxe4 'i'h4+ 20 Wn �xd I 21 c3 (else ...�xb2) 21 ...i.a4 with advantage, or 18 wn &41 19 'i'd3 lieS! 20 fxg4 �g3+! 21 'i'xg3 'l'e2+ 22 �gl "'xdl+ 23 �n lIe2!

Black is clearly winning, bul probably even more efficient would have been 21...�a4! eg 22 b3 i.b5 23 "'c5 �c3! 24 'ilhe7+ fue7 25 exd5 �xd5! 26 �xd5l:[dS winning. 22 'lfh3 d3 23 0-0 �g8 Threatening ...i.xb2, �c3 and ...'lfg5. 24 eS Hoping to gain coumerplay with the e4 and d5 squares. 24 lId8! ...

Supporting the d-pawn and controlling d4 (if25 �xc6 'iWc5+).

13...exdS 14 lDa3

Now if 14 lOd4 lOxd4 15 "'xd4 'i'e7+! and ...llle4 or ...lllg4 according to White's reply (I5 ... /(l,4 1 6 'iI'b4+). 14 bS IS llld l Forced. Both knights must ret reat and b2 has to be defended.

a year until I go/ bored" 41

2Sc6

The climax of Black's attack. The white king is nailed finnly in the centre (19 O-O? i.d4). If instead IS ...'i'd6 1 9 0-0 i.f5 20 'i'd2 White still keeps his head above water. 1 9 fxe4? AI last White begins 10 crack. If 19 fxg4 �d4! 20 'i'e2 (20 "'h6+ Wg8 21 Wfl UeS or 2 1 tOe3 �g5!) 20...lIeS and While has no move. E.g. 21 �xe4 '1'114+ or 2 1 iOd2 �g3! The last chance to keep things interesting was 19 c3 ..-h4+ 20 �f1 and either 20.. l:.eS!? 2 1 fxg4 d4 with rasing attack or just 20....ith6. If 20 lll £2 bxc3 21 bxc3 �h6 22 .e2 (22 'i'b6 l:.b8) 22 ...l:.eS and White is helpless.

The pawn is doomed so White jettisons it as best he can. 2S."fxc6 26 J:eet �d4 27 Whl /(lIS

Defending the kingside and renewing Ihe threat to Ihe b-pawn. 28 J:e4 'i'gS! Undennining d2 and forcing the further advance of the pawn. 29 �f3 'ii'h6 30 :'h4!

.

19 �xdl 20 �d2 ..•

The fireworks die down. If 20 ¢'xd l i.xb2 wins easily, while 20 cJ is answered by 20 ...d4 21 'i'd2 dxc3 22 bxe3 i.a4 with dec isive pressure. 20._�xc2 21 J:.ct d4

Played quickly. With IWO pawns for the exchange, one a passed pawn em the fifth and likely 10 go funher,

A spirited attempt at counterplay. In fact Black can defend successfully with 30 ...�xh4 3 1 'i'xe6+ WhS 32 "iiie7 .l:.fS! 3 3 lllg5 l:.xfl+ 34 i.xfl i.f8! but it is far simpler 10 ignore the rook.

"Iplayed every nightfor a year until I got bored" 43

42 "I played every nightfar a year until ! got bored" 30...'i'e3! 31 :'xb4 Now if 31 :'xh7 d2, or 3 1 :'el 'ilr'xe I + 32 lLlxe I d2.

10

A.J.Miles White S.Matera Black

3 1 ... d2 32 lDxd2 ...wxh3 33 .i.xh3 :'xd2

Binningham Intemational 1975

All that remains is to reach the time control safely.

I tDfJ g6 2 e4

34 :'el �rs 35 :'b8 wn 36 .:tb7+ .i.e7 37 .i.n �a4 38 l:lb6 i.d6 39 .:teZ .:tdl 40 Wg2 i.b5 41

1If:!

At this point the game was adjourned and a capacity crowd of about a thousand stood and applauded. The remainder of the game was rather an anti-climax, being played in a small room at the hotel.

41....i.c5 42 .:tb7+ Wf6 43 .i.xb5 nbS Not 43.. bf2 44 .i.e2. ..

44 .:te2 .:tgl+ 45 Wh3 g5 46 .:tg2

Pirc Defence Since Matera usually plays the Sicilian against I e4. I decided to transpose into a Pire.

2....i.g7 3 d4 d6 4 lDe3 lDf6 5 .i.e2 0-0 6 0-0 c6 In an earlier game against Matulovic, Matera played 6... i.g4 followed by 7 ... tDc6 and 8... e5. Apparenlly he changed his choice of variation in order to avoid the drawish possibility of White meet­ ing ... e5 by dxe5 and exchanging all the major pieces. At this point in the tournament he needed only J Ih/2 for a grandmaster nonn.

7 a4 as 8 h3 lDa6 9 .i.e3 lDb4

:dl!

10...d5!? As it's a little late to prepare ...e5 Black tries the other plausible central advance. However White isn't threatening anything drastic so it may have been better to wait a while.

l i eS 'Lle8 Now I J...lbe4 12 li:'Jxe4 dxe4 1 3 tDci2 would just lose a pawn.

12 'i:lbl Taking measures against ...c5 and/or preparing to expel the black knight.

12...i.fS 13 'i:lel Defending the e2 and d3 squares and preparing c3 and f4.

13...c5 1 4 c3 cxd4 IS cxd4 f6 16 f4 .:tc8 17 l.bc3 The game has now become very similar to the variation of Alekhine's Defence: I e4 'i:lf6 2 e5 1ild5 3 d4 d6 4 '1l0 g6 5 Jl.04 '1lb6 6 .i.b3 .i.g7 7 'i:lg5 d5 8 f4 where White's central pawn wedge gives him a space advantage and keeps Black's theoretically "good" king's bishop out of the game.

17...'i:lc7

1 8...lbd3? Losing an enonnous number of tempi. 18 ... �e4 was a gambit when after 1 9 lbxe4 dxe4 20 i.xe4 lDcd5 21 ..-d2 f5 22 .i.bl e6 Black would have some play for his pawn. Also better than the text would be 1 8....i.e6 intending ... fS blocking the kingside.

19 'itd2 'i:lxel 20 .:taxel .i.e6 2 1 'i'd!! lZ:!a6 Necessary. If 21...f5 intending 'ifxb7 or 'i'M.

22 'itb3

22 exf6 The right time to change the nature of White's advantage. If 22 'i'b3 lDb4 and, on other moves, ...

13

.

22...exr6 23 .i.d2 .i.f7 Naturally if 23 ...'i'd7 or ... :'e8 simply 24 .:txe6 and 25 .i.xd5. Or 23 ... �c7 24 'itb3.

24 'i'b3 'i:lb4 25 'i:lbS 'i:lc6 26 f5! Liberating the queen's bishop and preparing 10 drop pieces into d6.

26...'i'd7 27 .i.g4 27 .i.f4 is also possible but, after 27 ... :ce8 28 .i.d6 would be met by 28 ...�xd4.

Possibly the best try was 17 .. i.e4 18 'il'd l B.

18 Jl.o

IO 'i'cl White resigned. There is no defence to the threats of ... :d3+ and ... g5 and ... g4+. By now Schneider had already lost, and soon after Dicks was forced to resign, thus rendering the last round academic and the title mine.

After the more natural 10 'i'd2 Black has the possibility of 1O ...d5 I I e5 lDe4 although after 12 'i:lxe4 dxe4 13 'i:lg5 he has problems defending his advanced e-pawn. e.g. 13 ....i.fS 14 g4 h6 15 gxfS hxg 5 (or 15 ...gxfS 16 lDxe4 fxe4 17 �xh6) 16 fxg6 with some advantage to While. Possibly Black's beSI try is 1 3...c5 nibbling at the white centre.

27...g5 If 27...h5 28 fxg6 hxg4 29 gxf7+ :'xf7 30 hxg4 threatening .:tfS. and

44

" Iplayed every nightfor a year Imtil lgot bored , .

;f 30... f5 3 1 'l'd3! fxg4 32 IIxt7

¢'d7 (or 32....i'xfl 33 lbd6) 33

'i'h7! followed by :.n+ winning.

28 '1'1'3 Not 28 �xgS? hS! winning a piece.

2S...:'ceS 29 h4! Not 29 �hS �xhS 30 'ihhS :'xe I and White must make the awkward capture 31 �xe I.

29...gxh4

"[played every nightfor a year until I got bored"

The Dragon, and particularly this variation was doing rather well in this tournament, Mestel having already disposed of Janosevic and Matulovic with it. 11

0-0-0 lDe5 13 lDde2?!

Matulovic tried 13 ¢lb I lOc4 14 ixc4 :'xc4 15 lbde2 against Meste!. Haag tries the same idea without 'wasting' a move with ¢'b I.

13 bS! .••

If 29 ... h6 30 hxgS hxgS 3 1 :'xe8 :'xe8, White can really play 32 .txgS.

Much beller than ...1Dc4.

Eliminating Black's better bishop.

Expecting 22 ... i.xe5 23 ':xe5 dxe5 24 d6 exd6 25 'i'xg6+ when Black's king would begin to suffer from exposure.

32 :'xe4 dxe4 33 .1e3 lDe7 34 :.r4 :'c8 35 i1Jc3 i1JdS

36 i1JxdS "xdS 37 :'xh4 ¢'f8 3S 'I',h7 'l'g8

"

Binningham International 1975

Sicilian Defence

t e4 cS 2 i1Jo d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 l1l,d4 I1lf6 5 11lc3 g6 6 .lte} il.g7 7 o 0-0 8 'it'd2 i1Jc6 9 .i.c4 .td7 10 h4 :c8 II .tb3 hS

If31 i1Jb4 "'a3 32 'i'd2 :'c2. 12

S.Webb White A.J.Miles Black

English Opening

14

19 "xc3 i1Jxe4 is killing) I S...:xc3 winning (Hodgson-Miles Woola­ combe 1974).

A poimless move which transfers the initiative to Black. Probably annoyed at missing my 22nd, White begins to drift.

14 �xa7 Otherwise comes ... a5 e.g.

i1Jf4? as 15 a4 bxa4 16 �a2 a3 17 b3 I1leg4 18 .ltgl ( 1 8 fxg4? IIxc3!

On 16... lbc4 White must try the interesting 17 .xb4! since 1 7 .txc4 :'xc4 is terrific for Black. However I could see nothing convincing against 1 7 'i'xb41 Hence the text.

[.Haag While A.J.Miles Black

30 i1Jxd3 b3 White resigned.

British Championship 1 975

39 'i'xg8+ ¢'xg8 40 :xe4 Black resigned.

threatening

An alternative way of winning was 29 ... .txb2+ 30 ¢'xb2 .txd3 3 1 ¢' a l ! .a3 3 2 'i'd2 :'c2.

22...dxeS! 23 d6 exd6 24 :'xd6

1 4... b4 IS lDdS i1JxdS ]6 exdS '1'.5

was

27 ... :'xcZ! 2S �xc2 .txc2+ 29 ¢'al .txd3

24 'i'xg6 is possible but after 24... .txb3 25 o[)xb3 rxg6 26 lOxaS :txc2 27 :'cl White has only a small edge in the ending.

:'g4

White

followed by .i.h6.

Since on I S. .. .tfS 19 .txg7 �xg7 20 i1Jg3 is crushing or 18 ....ta4 1 9 .txg7 ¢'xg7 20 .txc4 :'xc4 21 b3 wins a pIece for minimal compensation.

19 ...i.a4 20 i1JcI :'c7 2 1 l:.hel :.rcS 22 .txeS?!

The best try.

1I-I2-h2.

IS...lDeS

Probably White Can afford to take the e-pawn, but he's happy with one extra pawn.

30... .txhS 31 'i'xhS :'e4

Simplifying White's task but Black has run out of sensible moves. Ir for instance 3S ...:'c4 simply 36 "xh4 and 36... �f5 is refuted by 37 'i'h3. Otherwise White plays g4 and either annexes the black e-pawn or organises a direct assault down the h-file by

Perhaps I've become over­ accustomed to bishops coming this way rather than queens. This came as a great shock, and after some thought I could find nothing better than .

19¢'bl

30 il.hS

17

�d4 i1Jc4??

A terrible move. I completely overlooked that White's reply was legal. Best was 17... :'c71 with a fine game.

18 'i'gS!

45

I lDo

lDxd4

�r6 2 c4 cS 3 d4 cxd4 4

24 ...Wh7 25 :'dS??

2S...'i'aS 26 :'d3? Compounding his previous error and this time it's fatal. While's position was already very difficult, though. For example 26 :ed I :'xc2 27 .txc2 i.xc2+ 28 Wal .txdl 29 :Xdl .th6 winning a piece. 26...e4! Now the Dragon bishop really begins to breathe fire and White has more cause than ever to regret his unfortunate 22nd. 27 fxe4

4...a6! This somewhat peculiar-looking move was, to the best of my knowledge, first tried by Forintos against Rashkovsky at Sochi 1974. The idea is to continue with ...dS

46

" I pluyed every lIight/or a year until 1 gal bored "

"Iplayed every night/or a year until 1got bored"

liquidating the centre before White has time to establish a space advantage (After an immediate 4...d5 White is supposed to retain some advantage by 5 cxd5 �d5 6 �b5. Hence 4 ...a6). The game Rashkovsky v Forintos continued 5 toe3 d5 6 cxd5 �xd5 7 lOdb5!? (rather amusing since 4...a6 was designed to prevent this) 7...gl?

6 Ael 6...lOd4 7 .sic4 �6 8 ltb2 .i.e7 9 Ael 0-0 10 �n d6

'itf5!

This gives Black time to go pawn snatching. Beller is 36 Wh3 when I intended 36..:l'e71 restraining the d-pawn and preparing to drive White back with 37 ....f6. So 37 l:r.xg6 fxg6 38 'ii'd3 (Not 38 .e617 'lWxe6+ 39 dxe6 Wg8) 38....d6 with good prospects of success, though there is obviously a lot of play left in the position. 36......xb2! 37 l:r.xg6 37 "'xf7 can be met by 37 ...'i'f6.

White now sealed 42 r,pf2 but resigned without continuing since 42 ...'IId2+ 43 ¢>g3 b4 44 d7 b3 45

The altemative is 32 ...11xb2. Then if 33 ..-d4? Axg3 34 hxg3 'i'e2 wins, or 33 .d3 l:ixg3 34 hxg3 'i'e2 35 'i'xe2 :'xe2 36 d6 1:.e8 should win. but 33 :e1(!) leaves the rook looking rather silly. although after 33 ...1:.)(g3 34 hxg3 :a21 Black is probably still winning.

London [ntemalional 1975

33 Wxg2 .xdl 34 .e8+ Wh7 35

37....d4+! More accurate than 37 ... fxg6 38 'i'd3 'i'cl+ 39 ¢'g2 'i'g5+ 40 ¢>hl 'ite7 41 d6 'ii'd7 42 'i'd5 with drawing chances. 38 ¢'g2 fxg6 39 'ite6 'iWb2+ 40 Tgl 'i'xa3 41 d6 .cl+

32...Ax g2+

13

G.Sigurjonsson White A.J.MUcs Black

'i'e8 b2 46 d8=. 'i'xd8 47 Wxd8 bl='i' would leave Black three pawns ahead. •

•

•

Black is slightly bener. I I d3 �d7 12 lOd2 We7 13 ibe2 .i.f6 14 c3 lbxe2+ 15 "'xe2 l:r.ac8

If \ 5... b5 then 16 lbO intending d4. 16 f4 d5 17 g3?! 17 WO! is equal.

nightfor a yeor limit I got bored " 49 Black threatens 44...c3 45 :d3

i.c4 46 Axc3 .xd4+ 47 Ae3 l:r.al

winning.

White rHlgned. Now a sharp tactical battle against a noted tactician: Miles sacrifices his queen for 3 minor pieces. 14 G.5ax White A.J. Miles Black London International 1975

Sicilian Defence

1 e4 ,5 2 /1)1'3 /1),6 3 �bS 'IIb6!? 4 �a4!? A new move with the idea 0-0, c3 and d4.

17 'i'a5 18 e5 lte7 19 lbO d4!?

4...g6!? 4... e6 5 0-0 .!bge7 6 c3 d5 was about equal in Sax-Miles, Blitz!

20 ...dxc3 21 ltxc3 'i'b6 22 ..-f2 IIrd8 23 �b2 /1)b4 24 i1ld2 �,6 25 ibc4 'i'c7 26 l:r.dl b5 27 lOe3 'i'b7

5 0-0 i.g7 6 c3 e6!? 7 Ad �ge7 8 e5 0-0 9 d4 cxd4 10 exd4 f6!

•••

20 Aed? 20 c4 b5 slightly favours Black.

28 a3 .!bdS Black has a clear advantage.

29 l:r.acl lOxe3 30 'i'xe3 i.d5 31 d4 e4 32 b4 as 33 �c3 axb4 34 �xb4 .i.xb4 35 axM l:r.e6 36 :al liaS 37 '11f2 11,2+ 39 l:h:a2 lba2+ 40 :d2 1:.a4

The position is unclear. I t lOa) fxe5 12 1Oc4 'i'M! 13 b3?! Belter is 13 ttkxe5 b5 14 i.b3 Wd6 and ...�b7 with equal chances.

With a winning position. 41 .i.e2 'ih7 42 i.dl l:ta3 43 "'d &6

•

follows a polished There positional crush from London 1975, which Miles won outright. gaining his first Grandmaster nOnTI. In the final position Miles's 'bad' bishop is stronger than Sigurjonsson's 'good' bishop.

13 .. .:'xO! 14 i.a3 If 14 gxO then 14 ...�d4 is strong-...'ifxel + is the immediate threat. Or 14 �d2 J:.d3 !

50

" I played every night/or a year until 1 got bored "

14..:l'xC4! 14 ..:i'c3 15 l:tcl 'i'd3 16 gxO is unclear.

15 bxc4 l:txa3 Black is clearly better.

16 dxe5 .i.xe5!? 16 ...b6? 1 7 f4 is roughly equal.

1 7 J::bl 17 l:txe5?! lOxe5 18 'i'd6 J::xa4 1 9 "xe7 b6 20 l:tel tOn with a

27 f3 i.dJ!? 28 l:txe5 l:txbJ! 29 axb3 it.:lxe5 30 'i'xe5+ wn 31 'i'xd4 ..'tb5 32 "f4+ WeS 33 "h6 :IdS 34 'i'xh1 l:td6 35 h5 gxhS

3:

35 ...d4.

36 "xh5+ Wd7 37 f4 a6 3S f5 d4 39 'i'g4! 39'i'n d3! 40 f6 d2 wins. 39...WeS

winning position.

1 7...b6 18 h4 i.d4 19 J::e4 e5 20 i.b3 d6 21 c5+ dS 22 "13 i.rs 23 l:teel

"A cable"

iles (AJM) analysed his wins at Dubna 1976, where he gained the tille, with Mike Basman (MB) on the AudioChess cassette TOllY Miles Grandmaster.

M

15 O.Averkin White A.J .Miles Black

23 l:txd4 l:txb3!

Dubna 1976 Benko Gambit

23...Wg7 24 J::b dl bxc5

AJM: "This tournament was held in Dubna, which was a small town about 80 miles from Moscow." MB: "How playing in it?"

40 "IIf41 40 'i'g7! threatening hold.

f6

should

4o...iOcS! 41 f6 d3 42 ..rs d2 43 n+ WfS 44 'i'xc8+ wxn 45 'i'c7+ 45 Wb7+ l:td7 46 '1'0+ We7 47 "dl a5! and ... a4 wins. 45 'i'f5+

25 "g3 ..'te4?! 26 l:txd4! cxd4 26.. tOf'S 27 "c3! iOfxd4 28 0 i.fS 29 "xc5 is unclear. .

We7 wins.

45. ,We6 46 'l'cS+ Ad1 (46...We7) 47 'i'e8+ Wd6 White .

resigned,

come

you

were

AJM: "I got this strange invitation which came via various back doors and eventually landed in my letter box about a week before the tournament started. Consequently I had great trouble getting visas, but got there eventually." MB: "You didn't have any trouble in travelling or anything like that?" AJM: "Well, I turned up and my luggage didn't. but it arrived about

3 days later-so it wasn't quite that bad. Barcza was a little worse ofT­ his didn't tum up at all." MB: "What about the tournament-was it a strong one?" AIM: "Yes, there were eight grandmasters, five international masters and the grandmaster nonn was nine points out offifieen." MB: "What money?"

about

the

prize

AJM: " I got a few roubles-my prize was about 550, unfortunately you can't get them out of the country which is a slight problem."

MB: "What about the other players in the tournament?" AJM: "The tournament was won by Tseshkovsky who is one of the guys that the Russians consider to be one of their promising players for the nex.t few years. Also Savon who was Russian champion some time ago, Suetin, and several other lesser known Russian grandmasters. Holmov is quite strong, also Gipslis." MB: "What about the tournament. How did it begin for you?" AJM: "In the first round I had White against Savon---the tourn­ ament hall was at this time rather cold, outside-well -2oe was a wann day. This unfortunately overpowered the heating system, I spent the first round wrapped up in numerous coats and still shivering. I had a lot of pressure in the game all the way through and finally disposed of my pressure in convincing fashion and only drew. Second round, I played the Yugoslav player Knezevi6-that was a relatively short draw, In the third round I again got a massive position against Holmov, another Russian grandmaster-again I repeated my earlier act and got rid of the advantage and only drew. Then we came to the following game:"

52 "A cable "

I d4 'llf6 2 c4 cS J ds bs MB: "That seems to blunder away a pawn ..·· .

AJM: "That's right, commonly known as the Benko Gambit."

4 nbS a6 S bxa6 g6 6 'llcJ �xa6 AJM: "7 c4 is playable, but after the bishops are exchanged White can't castle and it costs him a move or two to get his king into a sensible place." 7 1il13 d6 8 g3 >l.g7 9 >l.g2 Iilbd7 10 0-0 Iilb6

"A cable " �3 AJM: "Guards Ihe pawn on d5, but I�?ves his d3 square a liule weak.

12 ...111fd7 I3 'i'c2 'llc4!? AJM: " Quite slrong-now if he plays 14 b3? "'a5! and there's no useful way of defending the to{c3}."

14.J:.dl 'i'as AJM: "Except that the white pawn was on h3, this is almost the same position I had against against the Dutch grandmaster Donner in an international match a couple of months ago. He played �fI which is probably beller than what Averkin now produced, which was a small oversight."

I S lDd2? It:.\a3! AJM: "If 16 -.b3 simply .J:.fb8 when he has to take the kniphl and he's only lost another move.'

16 bxa3 "'xc3 MB: ;(Why didn't you take wilh the bishop?" AJM: "Because he might just play

MB: ';What's the idea of Black's opening?" AJM: "Basically when Black castles he brings his king's rook over to the b-file with lots of play on the queenside. lIld panicularly • pressure against the pawn on b2, or Ihe square if the pawn happens to run away. The fianchettoed bishop has a useful diagonal. The other black bishop is also well placed, whereas the white bishops-the one on g2 is not very actively placed because the pawn on d5 blocks it and the other white bishop doesn't have that much scope and lends to get kicked around a bit by the knights if it ever gets anywhere."

I I .J:.el 0-0 12 c4

40...c2!

lOb3 and I might just lose a piece. 1 thought maybe that wasn't such a good idea!" 1 7 "xc3 �xc3 MB: " You're quite happy 10 be in an endgame are you?"

AJM: "Yes, they're not bad." 18 :'bl

c4!

AIM: "This takes away the square b3 from While's pieces. If for instance IS ....:fb8 instead then White has 1 9 :tb3 and he temporarily holds the position for a while on the queenside and can untangle his pieces."

19 lOo :fb8 20 R.e3 R.b2! AJM: "This snuffs his rook out and prepares c3-c2."

21 /Od4 c3 22 R.fI lOeS 23 �xa6 lba6 24 111cl

AJM: "Now I can play ... locA and win both the a-pawns quite quickly, but I didn't want to take all of the a-pawns yet since they're not very useful-I thourht the e-pawn might be a bit bener.'

24..,:'a4! 25 �fI AJM: ·'25 l:.d4 lOf3+ and the obvious move 25 �d4 allows 25 ..cf)f3+ 26 Wg2 liJd2 wins Ihe exchange-work it out." .

MB: "I believe you! So he had to give up his pawn for nothing."

2S,..:'xe4 26 :'d4 :'xd4 27 .1hd4 28 �e2 lbc4 29 �d3 lOxa3 30 :el ¢>f'8 31 :'e2lObs 32 �e3

:"8

AIM: ··With the threat of �h6+ aDd 195 and 1 have some problems

AJM: "If 41 :xc2 lOb4+ winning thc exchange or 4 1 'ot'xc2 �g7+ picking off some pieces. So instead he decided to coullteranack."

41 lOgs+ �e7 (sealed) 42 .J:.xe6+ ¢>d7 43 Wxc2 MB: " How much of the ensuing play did you see during the adjournment?" AJM: "Most of it, just about-most of the line was forced apart from a few early diversions."

43...�f6+ 44 Wb3 AJM: " He must allack the rook, otherwise ... �xg5 wins."

44....J:.b2+ 45 Wa3 l:.bs!

defc-oding my e-pawn. So I decided ., expand in Ihe centre."

32_e5?! 33 dxe6 fxe6 34 lOd4!?

� 35 >l.h6+ �r7 36 1il13

AIM: "Around here I began to realise it wasn't quite as easy as I

6aaghl it had been for a while. I

W a reasonably long think and ame up with a plan of activating

..,. pieces.. panicularly the bishop." l 6 .... : . xa l !?

37 lllgs+ ¢'e7 38

.au �! 39 �gS+ ¢'f7 40 R.h6

_� -"Now 1 played the ", ,,",, ri -.. ';"" which I'd been t'X ing . ee lIP for tht last few moves. .

AJM: "With the powerful threat of mate in two by ... i.b2 and lik3, and also threatens to discover an

54 "A cable "

"A cable " 55

attack on his lO(g5). It also threatens ... �xg5 a!tacking his rook, So he has to stop ,..�b2+-his next move is forced.'

16

A.J,MIles White

J,Plachetka Black Dubna 1976

Sicilian Defelice

46 Ae2 tOe3! 47 Ac2 �d4! MB: " That isn't obvious actually is it? It's obvious when you see it. One is generally thinking how 10 knock these bits ofT." AJM: "Threatening mate. This isn't easy to stop, there's only one way, .."

48 :l-c3 �l-c3 AJM: "Now his king is out of play, Black has an extra exchange and his d-pawn is very strong."

49 lbe4 �d4 50 f] d5 5 1 lbd2 �c3 52 lbb3 ,.pc6 53 �e3 :b8 54 Wa2 Wb5 While resigned, AJM: "Since the black king comes inlo c4 and the d-pawn queens rather quickly." MB: "That was certainly a very beautiful endgame," AIM: ''Yes, the endgame was interesting. I feel I should have finished it ofTa lillie bit earlier," MB: "Can you point?"

point

to any

AJM: "No, I'm not sure of any wins I missed, but the opening looked so overwhelming I felt there ought to have been something a bit quicker. In Round Five I had a relatively short and painless draw against Zaitsev. Sixth round I had perhaps my most interesting game of the tournament against Donchenko-a very long game which finished four days later-we'll come to thtlt later. In the seventh round I had another interesting but a little shorter game the Czech against master Plachetka,"

I

e4?!

MB: "Was he surprisedT AIM: "Possibly, this is only about the second time I've played it this year", MB: "You used to play

lot,"

e4 quite a

AIM: "Yes, I found I kept walking into peoples' pet lines."

l.. e5 .

AJM: "This came as a bit of a shock to me because I didn't know he played the Sicilian. I'd seen various of his games where he defended Ruy Lopezes, but no Sicilians. I had no great confidence in my theoretical knowledge, I didn't want to go down tiny main lines because I wasn't convinced I knew too much about it. So I decided to play..." 2 (4!? MB: ''Nice move. You can't go wrong. AIM: "Less common,"

2 lbf6 3 lbd d5 4 c5 d4 5 exf6 dxd 6 fxg7 cl-d2+ 7 Wxd2 "'l-d2+ 8 �l-d2 �xg7 ...

AJM: "This is very fortunate for me, it's the only line I happen to know of this opening. It's following a game Bisguier-Hanston from Hastings, For a long time this ending has been considered equal but in that game Black found considerable difficulty in holding the position. There's a similar ending coming from Alekhine's defence where the black pawn is on c7 and the white pawn is on f2, and that one I think is equal. But in this position, the black pawn on e5 seems to be rather vulnerablc to quiet moves like �e3, whereas the white pawn seems to be very useful for attacking purposes on f4, As the game goes on, this seems to prove this."

9 0-0-0 .i.f5 1 0 lbe2! AJM: "Trying to exploit the position of the bishop by playing lb g3 and then perhaps getting in on £5 or h5 or somewhere like that." 1 0...€k6 I I �e3 AIM: "This stops him castling and also attacks the c-pawn, 1 1 ..,b6 is probably best, even then White still has some advantage by playing his knight out to g3 and then ... �d7 when I can either possibly go lbh5, or play the bishop to d3 and threaten to bring the knight into £5 . Alternatively play �b5 and dump the rook on e l and White has loads of things," l I ,.

l:c8?! 12 lbg3

.

AIM: "If I now play 12 �xc5 then ibb4 is very strong. 13 .i.xb4 Zhc2+ 14 ¢'bl and he can win the piece back with some advantage­ n i fact he might mate me, ... in fact he will-there's another bishop lying around."

12...�g4 13 l:d5!

AJM: "Now there's a big threat of :g5 winning one of the bishops and also the c-pawn is now genuinely attacked," MB: "You don't seem to play many automatic moves in this game--I mean your 1 0 lbe2 you thought about. The autom3lic move was :el here, you chose l:d5." AJM: "Yes, well it seems to be a bit stronger," (laughing) MB: "That's your trademark." "What, playing moves?" (laughillg) AJM:

strong

MB: "Well, playing nonautomatic moves that are a little stronger." AIM: 'That's because I'm not used to playing this opening you see, I don't know how to play it-I don't realise the automatic moves,"

(laughing)

13...Jtd' AJM: "The only way try and defend the bishops and keep the c-pawn,"

14 �xd4 cxd4 AIM: "If he plays l 4...lOxd4 15 c3 and the knight has to move away, His bishop on g4 has chances of getting trapped by £5, his king's rook is out of play," 15 Jtb5

56

"A cable " 57

"A cable "

MB: "That is actually a logical, automatic move." AJM: "Yes, that one's quite good as well! Now his d-pawn is in rather a lot of trouble."

IS....id7 AJM: ''Now if

I take on c6 he

recaptures with the bishop and then gets my g-pawn. I fou�d a much stronger move, namely ...

16 �e4! MB: "If you were Black in this position, how would you defend?" AJM: "I wouldn't be Black in this position." (laughing)

16...Itd8

MB: "It's not that obvious is it?" AJM: "No, it's surprising-the whole e-file, there's no way of interposing on it."

c5?"

AJM: "Yes, well c5 is the automatic move, so.. ," (laughing)

AJM: "Unfortunately gets rid of the last open file for his olher rook, Now all of his pieces are looking quite terrible and he was running rather short of time now." MB: "If 23...h5 then 24 lbxh5 now?" AJM: "Oh yes, that's legal-I don't think I noticed that one. I might just have played Itg7,"

AJM: "If 1 7....ixc6 guarding the

pawn 1 have 18 lbf6+! which is a little bit strong-after 18 ...exf6 1 9 Ite 1 + and the king must move allowing ':xd8+ with rather an easy win, exchange up, all the pawns falling apart. Hereabouts he noticed Ihal continuation and turned a little red."

MB: "He before?"

hadn't

noticed

it

l 3 11lf.l .6 4 g3 l.e7

AJM: "Yes. I didn't think it did so much here." MB: "Interesting that-so on g3 you think it's better than on c5."

23...e5 24 tt:'le4 MB: " A nice blockader. What if

....ixf5 here?" AJM: "I seem to have ttJd6+..," MB: "Good."

AJM: "Now I'm threatening Itd6+ Wf5 lOg3 mote and he's rather short of defences against this. In fact he had about four minutes left on his clock and he thought for three of them, didn't find a defence, and resigned. In fact he has gOI 26...Wf5, the only move to stop mate." MB: "Then 27 l:ld6?" AJM: "No-then 27.. �e6. After 26.. ¢'f5 I kick his king back across the board with something like 27 :n + we6 28 tbg5+ �d6 29 Ad 1 + Wc5 and then something like l:r.e4 and I'm winning at least a second pawn and his position is falling apart quite rapidly. So in fael his resignation was quite justified. Pity it wasn't a forced mate." .

.

MB: "Well I don't blame him for thi�ki�g i,� was a forced mate and reslgnmg.

AJM: "...picking up the bishop-lucky that."

17

A.Donchenko While A.J.Miles Black

MB: "Yes, it was rather."

24 ...We7 25 (6+ We6 AJM: "Now I considered 26 l:r.d6+ but after 26 ...Wf5 he's attacking my rook, so instead I played a quiet move"

26 h3

c4 �f6 2 �c3 c5

AJM: "Not much, but I couldn't think of anything to play at the time." (laughing)

MB: "Could you have gone to

MB: "Another cunning move."

17 .ixc6! bxc6

I

MB: "You like the Symmetrical do you?"

18 llxd4 .i(S 1 9 :a4 l:td7 20 I1lg3

20....ie6 2I Itd I Itc7 Z2 fS .ic8 Z3 :g4

AJM: "This holds against almost everything-unfortunately the one thing it ?oe�� 't hold against is rather , convmcmg.

tournament, it lasted ten hours alto�ether and was played in two sessIOns:

AJM: "I think not, no."

In the 6th round I had perhaps my interesting

game

5 .ig2 a6!? AJM: "Andersson has played this once or twice, vaguely similar to some Sicilian-not the other one{!)-serups. It gives While some advantage but lets Black have some play."

6 0-00-0 7 d4 exd4 8 �,d4 AJM: "If 8 0xd4 .c7 and the c-pawn is a little uncomfortable."

8...lbe6 9 'i'f4 d6 10 l:dl Sit.d7 I I b3 .aS!? AJM: "This attacks the white

knight, if 12 iLb2 b5 gaining space

on the queenside. On Ihe other hand if 1 2 �d2 then ...'i'c7 and the white bishop is slightly misplaced." t:z 1Oe4!? lbxe4 13 ..wxe4 l:fd8 1 4 .id2 ..whS 15 .ie3

AJM: "Threatening 10 come into b6. Black can no longer defend this square, so I thought I better move the hole."

IS...bS

Dubna 1976

English Opening

most

AJM: "The system I played in this game I'd never played before, bUI felt like playing something new for a change,"

of

the

AJM: ''Now White started lashing out and came forward swinging wildly."

16 g4?! 'i'g6

58 "A cable "

"A cable " AJM: "If Black plays the natural Ad I +! with perpetual check." 32...eS? White has 33

33 J:xeS WxeS 34 b4 a4! AJM: "I thought I was winning fairly easily here. Unfortunately he came up with a rather ingenious defensive which I'd idea overlooked."

35 Wh2 ¢'d4 36 Wg3 e5 37 Wg4! AJM: "Black has freed his position somewhat. White had been playing for this oncoming selection of swipes" (laughing) hPresumably he wouldn't have played his last few movcs if hc'd rcalised that this combination was a bit unsound."

17 'ii'xg6 hxg6 18 �b6 J:dc8 19 fl But White's position remains superior. The two bishops and Black's shaky pawn formation temporary outweigh the displacement of the white king. IS ...lDe5 16 .i.e2 �f5 Not 1 6.. .'�Jxc4 1 7 :cl tDd2+ 1 8 ¢'gl 'i'b4 1 9 a3 'i'a5 20 D (trapping the knight and threatening 2 1 �el) 20...c4 2 1 �xd6 winning. 17 'i'cl!

68 "A cable " 17 :eI 'li'b2 is annoying, but now the exchange of queens would only enhance the power of the two bishops. so Black must retreat, or hazard 17... 1i.c2. 1 7.....a5

17...� is better, when I had intended 18 0 preparing e4 and :b I with advantage, so 17 ...1i.c2 is perhaps the best practical chance, considering the especially tournament position (basically a win was worth $ 1 500, a draw only $ 1 00). Then if 18 1i.xe5 "'xe5!, but not 18 ...dxe5?? 19 :bJ! winning instantly. So 17 ... �c2 1 8 a41 (threatening 1 9 :a2) 18 ... �3 1 9 "'a3 "'f6! (not 19... .tb3? 20 l:tbl nor 19 ......xc4? 20 l:tel). Also �ssible is 18 ...'li'b3 (to meet 19 :a3 with 19 .. :ti'b4).

"A cable " 69 Rather more efficient is 26 a4 when Black has no more sensible moves. 26 ...b5 27 l:te3

27 .te4 is also quite promising.

27...bxc4 28l:thel

Threatening 29 l%e7. 28....td3

Not only preventing 29 lte7 (29 ...�xe7 30 l:txe7 "'f5) but also, more annoying, accidentally taking the sting out of my other 'threat' namely

21

•d1

.•.

If the bishop moves, 22 f5 wins a piece. ll l:te I ¢Its

On 22...0-0 23 h4 is very strong. 2311>1'2

While's advantage is now of decisive proportions-the only piece Black can move is his queen's rook, and that has nowhere useful to go. 13 ... h5 24 �h4 ¢lg8 25 .1i.g5 a6

What else? 26 Jl.f3

3 1 ...h4+

At the lime 1 thought 31 ......d2 was better. 32 IPg4

There's not much to choose between g4 and h3, so I leI my sense of humour decide.

After 33 l:td7 I analysed

1 8 "'bl "'c7

19 f4 gsf4 10 esf4 �g6 11 "'f6

3 1 ¢lgi was also possible, but I felt that the king might be more vulnerable on the back rank.

I looked at 33 l:tdS+ lbdS 34 .xd8+ IPh1 (34 ...11lf1! 35 Jl.e1) 35 "'f6 l:tfS 36 l:teS but rejected it because of36......d4.

little bener, but the advantage is nowhere near as clear cut as in the game.

Preventing the black king from escaping to the relative security of the queenside.

30 lbd6 'I'S82+ 3 1 ¢lg3

32....1'2 33 I1d1

In either case I think White's a

Forced.

e-pawn wins a piece, c.g. 32 ...lOxf4 33 Jl.g5 11lg6 34 e1 IPf'7 35 Jl.d5+.

29 l:te6!

I vaguely considered 29 g4?! hxg4 30 .1i.xg4 -'xg4 31 l:teS+ :'xe8?? 32 l:txe8+ �f8 (or 32 ..¢lh7 33 .xf7 mate) 33 :'xfS+ ¢'xfS 34 .-xh8 mate, but 3l ... �fS refutes that panicular piece of nonsense (32 l:txaS :'xh2+ 33 ¢:>e3 "'g3 matc).

Now the d-pawn must fall, when White will be ready to play CS, since eS will no longer be available to the knight. 29.....a4

A desperate attempt to gain counterplay against the white king. However there is nothing better.

29...fxe6 30 dxe6 followed �y 3 1 .txa8 or 29...l:td8 30 'l'xdS+ "xdS 31 .1i.xdS fxe6 32 dxe6 and the

(al 33 ...lIh1(?l 34 1Id8+ IIxd8 35 .xd8+ IPg1 (0' 35 ...11lf1! 36 lIe8) 36 .f6+ IPg8 (0' 36...IPf1! 31 l:teS+! ¢'xeS 38 'l'd8 mate) 37 lIe8+ 11lf1! 38 I1xf1!+ 1Pxf1! 39 .d8+ IPg1 40 Jl.ffi+ IPh6 41 .f1!+ IPg6 42 ....gS+ Wx.f6 43 'l'gS mate, and (b) 33 ...IIf1! 34 lIe8! IIh1 35 l:tddS! with the following variations:

(i) 35 ....I!xe8 36 IIxe8+ 11lf1! 31 l:txf8+ mating as in (a).

(ii) 35 ...'I'd4 (to pr event .1i.f6+ in the above line) 36 "'xg6+! fxg6 37 l:txfS+ ¢lg7 3S ::g8+ ¢In 39 :'dfS mate.

Confident that I'd 'got him' and feeling rather pleased with myself 1 went for a slroll round the room. On my return I was surprised to find Ihat he'd played the rather more straightforward of the two lines. 33...l:th7!

I quickly wrote down 34 :dS+ on my score sheet, and then spent 3 few minutes wondering why he'd played the 'easy' line.

Then it hit me.

After 34 l:tdS+, 34...:'xdS 35 'l'xdS+ lOfS 36 l:te8 (36 .i.e7 is also inadequate, 36 ...:'g7+ gives at least a perpetual and probably more) 36 ... fS+ 37 ¢lh3 "xO+! 38 gxfJ .to is mate!

This, as one might imagine, came as a bit of a blow, all the more so since I had only about twenty minutes for the nexl twelve moves-nonnally plenty, but in this position I'd have preferred a couple of hours.

Well anyway, I must still be winning-I thought-mustn't I? I mean, I can even play 34 :a7 ----d4! l:td8 47 lie8+ lbe8 48 dxe8='i'+ �xe8 49 l:tdl Black resigned.

3S....ig6

...

However, having no time lefl, and being completely uninterested in a draw I would certainly have played 45 d7 which, remarkably, seems to lose e.g.: 45 .. .'iiff8 46 ¢>d6 d2 47 lih7 (47 1:e3 i.a4!) 47...¢>g8 48 �c7 (48 Ae7 �a4) 48 ...'iifxh7 49 Wxd8 �a4 followed by ...�xd7 and ...c3 but 50 l:txa4 may give drawing chances.

with the useful defensive resource of ...i.a4. The position is now, as they say, unclear. I now consumed almost all my remaining time without remotely beginning to understand the position.

Not 35 l:tdS? 1:.xh6 but I was relieved to have solved the problem of my hanging rook.

36 ... h3 can be met simply by 37 l:t7e2 forcing 37 •d4.

44 ...1:d8! is essential when it appears that White has nothing better than 45 l:txa6 followed by 46 l:taa7 with a draw by perpetual.

71

43 �xg6? More accurate is 43 ¢>e5. 43...fxg6+ 44 we5 (!)

Not 44 �xg6? d2+ or 44 We6 d2 and ... �f5+. 44...d2??

This game was only the second time that I played against this line of the King's Indian. The first lime was a drawn game against Sigurjonsson in the second round of this tournament. Still, I don't know much about the theory. Why do I play it? To try to enrich my opening repertoire. Later I found out that 8 d5 was not the theoretically best move. More common is 8 0-0. 8...cxd5 9 cxd5 �h5

The book line now

roceeds 1 0 p g3 f 5 I I exfS gxfS I 2 liJxe5 f4 and Black stands well. I played a new move and in my opinion 9...�h5 is

19 �a6 •..

This is almost capitulation. The bishop should be helping in the kingside attack. Not possible was 1 9...�a6 because of20 �xd6 �xd6 2 1 �bxd6 J:xd6 22 �xd6 'i'xd6 23 l:txc8+ and 'ilt'xa6.

20 a4 lDd7 21 '5'dl �c5 22 �el 'i"d7 23 11l.:a3 .ib7

This is pure desperation but it was

almost the only way to avoid the

attack of White's pieces.

24 b4 �a6 25 1:1'2 i.e' 26 1:fc2 .idS

72

"A cable " 73

"A cable "

Black can hardly move a piece. After the game Ligterink 3dmitted th3t 3t this point he was sure his position was lost. 27 1ik411g6 28 hl It is difficult to find a move for Black and I have plenty of time to 3djust my pieces.

A fine perform3nce from Miles's first Olympiad:

28 ...'''' 29 .d3 Iilb8 30 i.f2 g4?

I d4 lLlf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 lLlo �b7 5 a4 a6 6 lLlfd2?! bxc4 7 e4 e6 8 dxe6 8 ltk3!? 8 ... dxe6 Black has an edge. 9 llk3 lOc6 10 f3 'i'c7 10 ...lLlh5!? I I g3 &5 1 2 �xc4! I I lLlxc4 ':'d8 12 "'c2 �e7 13 �e3 0·0

Played in time trouble. Black had to do something. Better is 30...tOa6 doing nothing when I intended 3 1 � 3 followcd by as. I would have probably won bec3use of Ligterink's clock but the position is not entirely clear. 4 32 'i'd l g3 33 �gl . 31 fxg4 h xg gxh2 34 �r2 lO a6 35 'l'h5 It's not the white king but the black king that is in danger. 3S g7

21

L.Kavalek While A.J.Miles Black

Haifa Olympiad 1976

Benko Gambil

14 "'f2 lL'tb4 15 ':'cl

...

More resistance is offered by 3S ...lIgS 36 1Wh6 1il,b4 37 1103 .f6 38 .do i.,f6 39 IIb3 1ilo6 40 a6 IS a3 �xc3 1 6 bxc3 �cS 1 7 lie3 �xd3 18 -.xd3 exdS 19 ud5

19 ...lLlxdS 20 exd5 :'xfJ 2 1 l:txfJ 'ilr'xfJ 22 :'dl �a6 23 'l'd2 �c4 24 lir4 d6 25 h4 l:trs 26 ¢'h2 �e2 27 IIgl 11,8 28 IIg2 >l.e4 29 1112 "lic4 30 'i'd4 lixd5 31 'i'xe4 l:txe4 32 h5 h6 33 g4 l:!:c4 White resigned.

"[ pI/shed Karpov all

20 ':gl .i.f6 21 "-h6 .:n 22 .i.h3 Possibly better is 22 .i.d6 when Black must try 22 ...e4.

4: "I pushed Karpov all the way for first place at Tilburg" 27

J.Tlmman White A.J.MUes Black

Bad Lauterberg 1977

Sicilia/! Defence To commemorate the lOOth anniversary of its founding the Gennan Chess Federation arc currently holding an extremely strong Grandmaster tournament at Bad Lauterberg. The 16 players arc made up of the World Champion Anatoly Karpov, 12 other GMs, including Ray Keene and myself, and the three top players from the West German Championship. The event is in FIDE category 1 2 with an average tournament rating of about 2S30 (241 on the English system) and the top 13 players average over 2560. Karpov virtually clinched first place in the opening rounds by staning with 5W6, conceding a draw only to his trainer Funnan, and thus opening up a lead of I ItS points. The rest of the field is closely bunched and the other places are unlikely to be settled before the last round. I started in unconvincing fashion, scoring only one point from my first four games, due partly to the following disaster. I .. cS I have come to the conclusion that

this is a mistake against Timman

and that one should play something

boring such as 1 eS.

l . ..e6,

22...l[d7 23 >l.dO This move came as a great surprise since I thought thai I had prevented it!

I . ..c6 or

••.

2 �f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 �xd4 lOf6 5 IiJcJ gO 0 >l.e3 >l.g7 7 0 0-0 8 "-d2l()c69 0·0·0 This line has rather gone out of fashion in recent years. 9 .i.c4 is more usual.

9...dS The alternative is 9... �d4 .1xd4 �e6.

10

23...lilr4 Now 24 i.xb8 (or .i.xeS) loses to 24 .../l)e2+ and if 24 lOxeS Black can try 24...':xd6, or 24 ...lOe2+ 2S �b I ':xb2+ 26 �xb2 ':xd6. Meanwhile White has two pieces attacked and 24 .in fails to 24 ...i.xc4 25 .i.xc4 ':xd6 26 ':g8+ 'i'xg8 27 i.xg8 'Oc2+, so what is White to do?

24 ':d2!!

Following some old theory. One idea is now IS ... f5 16 0gS .1h6 as n i Keres·Hartston-simultaneous display(!) when White now blundered with. 1 7 �bl? �xg5 18 hxgS &3+! with a raging attack. The text is more (over?) ambitious.

IS..J:lb8 16 g4 fS 17 gxfS glfS 18

Up to here the game has followed Sigurjonsson-Miles from Wijk aan Zee t 977 which Timman apparently annotated for the tournament book! There I tried 18 ....i.f8 which was met by the very powerful 19 ..tc4!! Later Timman told me that he had suggested l 8 .. l:fB as an improve· men!. .

19 1ilc:4 Wh8 In this position it is much more important to preserve the black· squared bishop than the rook.

79

..-xd2 ..-xb8 and White can only force a draw by 29 ..-d7 ! lDd4 30 ..-0 ..-d8 3 1 ':g8+! etc, and instead consumed practically all my remaining time before producing

24...':bS? when after

25..tO! all White's pieces are safe again and Black has no moves and no lime. The game concluded.

2S ...l:tdS 26 ':xds lDxdS 27 .1i.xeS

':0 28 "-g5 'lifts 29 ..txf6+ ':xf6

30 lOeS lDe7 31 �c4 i.xc4 3 2 ti:ld7 Black resigned. Rook Endings The endgame is supposedly the most neglected part of the average player's game. This is caused, to some extent, by weekend events and league matches with quick play·offs and adjudications. However two rook endings from my recent games suggest that Ihis deficiency is not confined only 10 weaker players. Consider the first position (Gerusel·Miles, Bad Lauterberg 1977): (Game 28)

10 exd5 llb:dS 1 1 �xc:6 bxc6 12 �d4 e5 13 .i.eS 1.e6 14 lOe4 ':e8 1 5 h4

IildO l[f8

the wayforfirst place at Tilbl/rg "

This astonishing quiet move had a terrible effect on me. Mesmerised by such variations as 24...�h3? 2S �xe5 �xeS 26 lOxeS lOxg I 27 ':xd7 'Oc2+ 28 ¢'d J winning, and 24 ....ixc4 2S �xf5 ':bb7 (or 2S ...lbe2+ 26 ':xe2 �xe2 27 .i.xd7) 26 �xe5! �xeS 27 ..-xh7+! ! ':xh7 28 :'xd8+ ..tg8 29 ':gxg8 mate, I completely failed to find the only namely reasonable defence 24 ....i.xc4 25 i.xf5 �e6, and now if 26 ..txb8 i.x.f5! 27 :'xd7 .i.xd7, or 26 .i.xe6 lOxe6 27 ..txb8 llxd2 28

It is scarcely conceivable that this position can be won by either side--

80

"/ pushed Karpov all the

way forfirst place

if anything White should be slightly better. Consequently my opponent was somewhat taken aback when I declined his offer of a draw. At first he did not take me seriously: 4 1 ...hS 42 h4 ItIS 43 IIb7 16 44 J:i.b8 e4 45 �g2 g5 46 hxg5 fxgS At last he stopped to think. A little late; his position is already difficult. Now, either refusing to believe it is possible to lose, or realising the problems and panicking, he blundered. 4 7 �h3 J:i.b2 48 l:lb5+ o;Pf6 49 IIb6+ �'S 50 IIbS+ Itd4 51 l:lxg5?? 5 I J:i.f5 draws. SI...J:i.xf2 52 :xhS e3 53 .::r.h8 e2 54 J:i.eS �d3 55 :d8+ 1155 Ith4 110. S5...o;Pc3 56 .:teS �d2 57 J:i.d8+ �el 58 g4 �fl 59 :leS e1='" 60 J:i.xei+ �xe1 6 1 g5 �e2 62 �g4 1t,3 63 g6 1t.4 64 ItgS It,s 65 g7 J:i.gl+ White resigned. The second position ifronl Sao Paulo 1977) is equally drawn. Here I actually had an extra pawn but this time my opponent was stronger -US GM Pal Benko. (Game 29)

at Tilburg "

The basic principles are these : The position is drawn-sensible moves will suffice, but Black tries to 'overdraw', so to speak, i.e. he tries to analyse to a position which is completely trivial, often by means of complicated and ingenious ideas. This is impractical. Once I recognised my opponent's intention I decided to play quickly and give him as many alternatives as possible to examine in the hope that he would create problems for himself. 5 1 l:te2 The only try is to return the pawn and activate the king. Otherwise Black simply plays �g7-g6 and White can make no progress. S I ..ltg6 S2 Itd2 1t16 52...h5! is best, but Black has a 'clever' idea. 53 J:i.c6+ �g7 54 .c:c3! :a2+ 55 �dJ :xh2 56 c4 fxe4+ 57 �xe4 Now the idea is 57.. .'�g6!? 58 J:i.c6+ �h5! 59 ¢>f5 J:i.c2! when 60 llxc2 is stalemate, so 60 lle6! :c3! (not 60...l:te2 6 1 lle5!) but just in time he saw 6 1 �f6!1 J:i.xg3 62 �g 7! and 63 :xh6 male� 57 ... h5 (best) 58 �f5 h4 59 :c7+ No better than 59 gxh4 immediately-but it gives Black more options. S9.. �h6 60 ttc6+ �g7 61 gxh4 g3!? After 61.. .llxh4 62 �g5 and f5 looks worrying-but only draws.

so he reverts to a line which he could have had with two more tempi-no matter, it still draws! 66 J:i.xgl l:lxh4 67 J:i.el J:i.h2 68 �f7 :a2 69 lle6+! (Best try) 69 ...�h7 70 f6

.

.

62 11g6+ Ith' Not 62 . .'�f7 63 :g4 and �g5. 63 IIg4 Ith6 64 �16 g2 65 IS gl='IW .

He demonstrated a different, ralher unlucky, method of losing.

"[ pushed Kllrpov all the

Here Black noticed to his embarrassment that his next fine intention 65 ...¢'h5 is met by 66 :g8! �xh4 67 �e5! �h3 68 �f4 !

Now Black must play l:la8! drawing. Unfortunately he had taken so long to solve his earlier problems, that before he could find it he lost on time!

way forfirst place at

Tilbllrg " 81

wins against the lower players, and, much to my relief, a share of first place. Of the Spanish players present, Garcia Padron deserves some mention. Whilst his final result was not spectacular, at nineteen he already has the scalps of Tal and Browne to his credit and surely has a promising future. As for the general organisation, it is a salutary thought that an island of 50,000 inhabitants can arrange an annual tournament rather better than anything this country can offer. My most (and possibly only) interesting game of the tournament: 1 e4 c5 2 lOo lOe6 3 d4 cxd4 4 lLlxd4 g6 5 It)c3 .i.g7 6 .i.e3 ll\(6 7 .tc4 0-0 S �b3 d6 9 0 �d7 to g4

30 A.Martin White A.J.Miles Black Lanzarote 1977 Sicilian Defence The Las Palmas Tournament is traditionally followed by a second, slightly weaker event on the neighbouring island of Lanzarote. This year the twelve players included three GMs, two candidate GMs and two other IMs. After my recent perfonnances (I think that is the most appropriate tenn for them) I have become rather bored with losing games (twenty in six months). Consequently 1 decided to modify my attempts to produce interesting chess in favour of scoring some points. This resulted in several short draws, some untidy

As I am supposed to be writing a book on the Dragon, I feel obliged to play the opening once in a while. Apparently there is a rumour that 1 am an authority On the subject. Unfortunately, it is some time since 1 played the system regularly, and I could remember nothing whatsoever about this line. IO l:lc8 I I "'d2 lLle5 12 0-0-0 lbc4 13 .i.xc4 :xc4 14 h4 'l'c7 15 h5 l:tcS 16 hxg6 fxg6 17 �bl •••

82

"I pushed Karpov all the wayforfirst place 01 Tilbllrg " R3

"'pushed Karpov all the wayforfirst place at Ti/burg"

Here I disliked 1 7...b5 because of 18 otJd5! when Black cannot defend h7 satisfactorily. So I produced a long queen manoeuvre to solve the problem.

17 ...'illaS 181ilb3 'iII.S 19 Jl,d4 If 19 f4?! 'l'xc3!? 20 bxc3 �)(e4 probably draws, but 1 9 ...'I'e6 is a reasonable try for more.

19 ...'ille6 20 'iIIh2 'iIIn 21 .5 dxeS 22 Jl,x.S Jl,e6 23 1ild4 White stands bener-so I decided to unbalance the position and give my opponent an interesting chance to go wrong.

23...ltxc3!? 24 �xe6? :xc2 2S 'l'xc2 ltxd 26 1ld8+ lDe8 27 o't:lxg7 'thO! Now White has problems. After 28 :xe8+ ¢'f7 29 ¢'xc2 'l'xh I 30 J}.c3 'l'e4+ 3 1 ¢'b3 'l'xg4 White's pieces are hopelessly tied up.

Decisive. If 29 ':xc8 'l'xdl+ 30 :cl Wd3+ and ....o't:lxg7, or 29 lOxeS 'iIIe4+.

29 Jl,c3 IIxc3 30 Iilx.8 11b7(!) I had spent most of my time deciding that 42...'iI'cl (infer alia) drew and had not considered this strong quiet move.

43 c5!? 'lJxc3+ 44 ¢>d3 'lJd5

13 0-0

58 ¢'e3 lA-Ill 33 M.Quinteros White

47 :'a4+? ¢'b5. Best is 47 Wd2!! when 47 ...lOxe3? 48 'l'e2+ ¢>a7 49 :'a4+ Wb8 50 :'a8+! or 47...lLlxb4 48 :'a3+ and "'xf5+ or 47...:xe3 48 :'a4+ and 'i'xd5+ are all satisfactory for White.

The point-cutting ofT White's queen retreat.

So..

A.J.Miles Black

IBM tournament, Amsterdam 1977

Queen·s Gambit Accepted

Amsterdam is rapidly becoming my favourite place. Last year, in the IBM tournament there I scored the best result of my career, sharing first place with Korchnoi. This year, in a slightly stronger tournament (the average rating of the participants was 2516-0r 240 in real money) I went one better. The tournament was a good deal closer than the result suggests. It was only after all the adjournments were finished, before the last round, thai I emerged in the sole lead for the first time. Then I had 91n points, Liberzon and Hulak 9 and Kavalek Sin. This was my last round game:

1 d4 d5 1 felt confident enough to offer a draw-Sosonko declined.

53 ...Wb4 54 "'f8+ ¢'c3 55 "'a3+ Wc2 56 f4 Sosonko declined!

offered

a

draw-I

56......e6+ 57 Wf2 this point the game was adjourned for the second time. I retired to a nearby bar to steady my nerves. Two or three pints later I began to see winning chances, e.g. 57...'Il'1'5 58 'Il',3 b5 59 'Il',5 'Il'd7 60 �g3 b4 61 "'c5+ �b3 62 f5 �a4 63 f6 b3 64 "'e7 'it'xd4 65 n b2 66 "'e8+ and fSe'i'. However, when the game resumed, I found that Black had sealed the superior At

45"'13 :'e4! A move which I'd completely overlooked (of course). In contrast Sosonko was merrily bashing out adjournment analysis.

46 c6+! ¢>xc6 If 46...Wb8 47 lhe4 followed by "'f8+. But 46...¢>a6 is fascinating:

Risky! However if \3 �xd5 exd5 threatens i.b4+ or d4, when the white king lacks cover. 13 ...'Il'h4

1 can only recall playing this two or three times in my life, but I wanted to avoid anything that my opponent might have prepared. 2 c4 dxc4 3 ibf3 ibf6 4 e3 i.g4 5

.i..xc4 e6 6 'i'b3!? A sharp line.

6 ..i.xlJ 7 gxf3 lt.'lbd7 8 'i'xb7 c5 9 dxc5 �xc5 10 ibc3 0-0 It (4 �b6 .

This, it seems, is an innovation. I prepared this opening before the game, but, having no appropriate literature with me, I had to work out some variations for myself. Fortunately I appear to have stumbled upon a good idea .

12 ..te2 ibfd5

Planning a crude assault by ... f5 and ...:'f6 and in some circum­ stances ...g5.

1 4 .i..13 %tabS 1 5 "'a6 It.'lxc3 16 bxc3 (5 17 i.g2 1:.f6 18 h3 I expected 18 "'e2 or 18 :'b I followed by "'e2.

18 ...l[g6 19 �hl 19 Wh2 allows ..extS threatening lOxe3 in many lines. .

1 9...l:I:f8 Here, seeing that Bulak had already drawn, and that Liberzon's position was not good I offered a draw which would give me first place. My opponent, a well known fighter, refused.

20 'i'e2 :'ff6 2 1 i.d2 :'g4! Building up dangerously.

22ltgl I now expected 22 i.e I :'fg6 23

f3 when 1 intended 23 ....l:xg2 24

...wxg2 "'h5! 25 'i'h2 .txe3 (threatening �xf4) 26 .ig3 lOc4! and the threat of liJd2 is decisive.

88

"J pI/shed Karpov all the wayforfirst place at Tilburg

22...J::trg6

"

Now if 28 'iWb7 .i.xf4 ! 29 exf4 (otherwise 'i'xh3+) 29 ...lbd6 30 'i'xa7 .l:l.xg2 wins; Or 28 'i'c6 e5 29 .l:l.xf5! .l:l.xg2! 30 Itxh5 .l:l.xgl+ 3 1 ¢'h2 exf4! forcing mate. 28...lhg2 29 'i'xg2 Or 29 'i'xh5 Itxgl+ 30 ¢'h2 .l:l.6g2 mate. 29".':xg2 30 Itxg2 .i.f8 3 1 .l:l.xa7 'i'el 32 l%gl It:lxe3! 33 be3 'i'xe3 White resigned. On fo rm at Diel

23 'i'fJ �c4 24 .i.e] h6! The intention is to prepare ... eS. First the king must be tucked away safely. 25 J:bl �d6! Not 25 ...e5 26 Itb8+ ¢lh7 27 ifd5. 26 11b7 Wh7 Intending 27 ... e5 28 fxe5 �xe5 29 'i'xfS .xh3+ 30 .i.xh3 ':xgl+ 3 1 �h2lbO mate. 27 lin Here Quinteros offered a draw­ too late! 27...'i'h5! Winning.

2S ':d7

34 A.J.Miles While K.Robatsch Black Biel 1 977 Modern Bellolli Chess 'fonn' is a peculiarly unpredictable thing. One week one can play atrociously and the next well with no apparent explanation. tn my case I had six months of awful results, and now suddenly I can do nothing wrong. Following a tentative shared first place in Lanzarote I went on to win the strong IBM tournament in Amsterdam with a point to spare. Immediately afterwards I played in Biel in a slightly weaker event. This time the result was even more conclusive: I Mites (England) 1 1 /15; 2 Andersson (Sweden), Hernandez (Cuba) and Panno (Argentina) 9... My only loss, to Panno, came in the tast round with the tournament already decided. I have just one theory for the sudden transformation. After several good results last year I decided to take the chess world by storm, trying to win all my games. In consequence I began to force matters too early and lost my sense of objectivity to some extent. About 20 losses later I concluded that something was

"Jpushed Karpov all the wayforfirst place at Tifburg " 89

wrong and made a conscious decision not to try quite so hard and to take some short draws. Since then my results have not just returned to their previous level but improved. In the last three tournaments I have scored 20 wins, 19 draws and 2 losses. Doubtless there have been other factors involved, but I suspect there is some truth in my theory. I d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lbfJ cS 4 dS exdS S cxdS d6 6 lbc3 g6 7 e4 �g7 8 Jl.g5 h6 9 Jl.h4 0-0 tournament the in Earlier Hernandez tried 9...g5 against me, but after I 0 �g3 lDh5 I I .i.b5+ ¢'f8 1 2 e5! suffered a nasty fate. 1 0 lbd2 b6 I I .i.e2 .i.a6 12 0-0 .i.xe2 IJ 'i'xe2 a6 14 a4 :'eS 15 f4 'i'c7 1 6 .1:1.ael lDbd7 17 ¢1hl Now it is difficult for Black to find a move. His queen's rook is tied to the a-pawn and ... b5 and ...c4 are impossible. 1 7 ...lDh7 I S .i.g3! Removing the sting from ...g5 which is now met str0rlgly by 1 9 1Oc4. Also if 1 8 ...f5 1 9 .d3! Black is almost zugzwang. lS...:'e7 19 'i'd3 tbhf6 20 eS! lDh5 2 1 e6 �xg3+ 22 "xg3 tbfS Or 22...�fO 23 fS. 23 f5 gxfS 24 :'xf5 ¢'h7 2S :'en! fxe6 26 dxc6 "dS 27 �d5! :'xe6

28 Ad8! .i.xf8 29 l£1e4! l%xe4 Better is 29...¢'h8 and then not 30 I1ldfO Jl.g7 31 ifg6 ifg8' (3l.. ..i.xf6? 32 "xh6+ ¢'g8 33 Wg6+ �h8 34 :'f5!) 32 �g5 :'xf6 33 :'xf6 hxg5 34 :'0 'i'd5, but 30 Itf7! and now 30...'ilfe8? 3 1 Ith7+! mates, so 30...:'xe4 is forced, when 3 I lDf6 leads to the same ending as the game (3L:'el+ 32 'ilfxel �g7 33 'tIfe4) but with the black king on h8 which is better for him. White's position remains superior but Black has some defensive chances. 30 lDf6+ "xf6 3 1 :'xf6 :'aeS 32 h.4 ¢lhS 33 Itg6! J:4e6 34 'ilfcJ+ ¢lh7 35 :'xe6 :'xc6 36 ..-d3+ ¢'h8 37 'i'xa6 :'e1+ 3S ¢lh2 �g7 39 Wxb6 �eS+ 40 ¢'h3 hS 41 ..-dS+ ¢'g7 42 "-gS+ ¢'f8 43 'ii'xh5 :'e3+ 44 ¢'g4 :'g]+ 45 ¢'fS :'xg2 46 ¢'c6 ¢'g7 47 .f7+ ¢'h6 4S as Black resigned. 48...:'xb2 49 a6 :'a2 50 a7 c4 5 1 a8='it'! :'xa8 5 2 ¢'fS is a neat finish. The Tilburg Interpolis 35 A.Karpov While A.J.Miles Black Interpolis, Tilburg 1977 English Opelling The most recent Interpolis tournament, held at Tilburg in the Netherlands, in one respect at least made chess history. It was the first category 1 4 event (i.e. the average rating of the participants exceeded 2575) since the adoption of the current tournament classification system-in comparison the last two Interzonal tournaments were only category 12. The strength of Ihe event is illustrated by the fact that the

90

"Ipuslred Karpov all the wayforfirst place 01 Ti/burg " 9/

"I pushed Karpov all the wayforfirst place al Ti/burg "

ex-World Champion Smyslov could only finish 10th and failed to win a single game. My performance was reasonable, but I have some cause for disappointment. My customary lethargic start included an extremely amateurish loss to Karpov (see below) but four successive wins brought me into the lead. I started the last round half a point behind Karpov, needing to win to catch him, but never at my best at uneanhly hours of the morning, I presented Andersson with his only win and had to settle for second place.

sacrifice in his notes to the game, but I had not bothered to look at his analysis. Unfortunately, as J found out to my cost, it is absolute nonsense.

14 lOe7

4 d4 ud4 5 tLlxd4 e6 6 g3 'l'b6 7 Illb3 1ll.5 8 e4 �b4 9 'i'ol So far, all well-known theory. Now I tried a line which has been played several times in this country (notably a game Miles-Nunn) with which I suspected Karpov would not be familiar.

9 11.5 10 �e3 'i'e6 I I n 0-0 t 2 lOd4 'i'a6 13 lOdb5 d5 ..•

Still following my game against Nunn, when (as White!), since the game was being played at a relatively fast time limit, my first reaction was to trust the rook sacrifice and look for a good alternative to 14 tOe7. Thinking I had found one (14 cxd5 exdS I S �d4) I played it, overlooking 1 5...dxe4 16 �xe5 exn with a terrific attack. Consequently I never did examine 14 1Oc7. Had 1 done so, just for five minutes, I would not have gone anywhere near the line. As it was I vaguely recalled Nunn implying the correctness of the

.

Two further games from Tilburg Interpolis 1977, Miles's best result to date, where he finishing second to Karpov, ahead of a very strong field: 36

A.J.Mlles Wlrile S.GligoriC Black

Interpolis, Tilburg 1977

Sicilian Defelice

I c4 e5 2 IOn lOf6 3 lOe3 tLle6 Even this move was a slip of the wrist, I intended to play a line with 3... dS but thought I could just as well play it next move.

17 ..'i'e6 18 �g2 lOxe4 19 �d4 �xc3+ 20 bxc3 f5 21 0-0 IOcd6 22 lOb6 eS 23 lbxe8 lhc8 24 .txeS 'l'c5+ 25 �d4 Black resigned.

Of course! Only now did I seriously start to analyse. It came as a great shock to realise that I was already losl.

14 . 'i'd6 . .

Nunn, I now discover, gives this a '?', recommending instead 14 ...'i'c6 IS lOxa8 lOxc4 when he only considers 16 %lcl. Unfortunately White has numerous other moves, the simplest being 16 .td4 (threatening eS) and if 16 ... e5 1 7 exd5 followed by 1Wxc4. Black has no semblance of compensation for the rook.

1 ,4 .5 1 14!1 1ll.6 3 Illo 11116 4 lOc3 d5 5 c5 d4 6 exf6 dxc3 7 fxg7 cxd2+ 8 'i'xd2 �xg7!? 9 'i'xd8+ lbxd8 9 .. .'�xd8 10 i.bS+ �d7 1 0 ... ltlc6?! I I .Q.bS. II ..txd7+ �xd7 12 c3 fS Intcnding ...li)f7-d6-e4. 1 3 �e3 with a slight pulL 13 ...�c6 14 0-0-0 liln 15 :'hel :Bd8 1 5 ...lOd6? 16 .i.gl ll.)e4 ( 1 6...lth.8 17 Illg5) 1 7 'lld2. 16 Axd8 :'xd8 16 ...lOxd8 1 7 j.f2 �f6Jlte8 1 8 �5+ and 17 ...e6 1 8 .Q.h4 both give While a distinct plus.

ls lbxa8 dxe4

16 fxe4 lOxe4 17 ltd l!

19 ...a6 20 lDh4! Wc6 (20 ... ..th6 2 1 g3) 2 1 :e7 20 %tn7

Wb6 21 J:td7 Wc6 22 :td2 lbd6 23 lle2(!) 23 iOd4+ �xd4 24 ':xd4

1l&8! 25 lld2 llg4 26 g3 hS followed by ... lDt4 and ... h4 with compensation. 23...hS 23 ...:'g8 24 l:te6; 23 ...lOe4(!) with the idea ... :g8-g4. 24 h4 While has a slight advantage. 24.. lOe4 25 tilg5 �d5 26 Wcl :9.8 27 a3 lbd6? 27 ... lOxc3 28 bxc3 :':xg7 12 l:tel e6 Most of the previous play is based on the fact that ...tOe6 is always bad because of .lixc6.

13 lbn lba6 14 0-0 tbe7 15 l:tfdl f6 16 e3 as 17 'i'c2 'i'e7 18 .!LIe4 �g4 1 9 l:td2 l:ted8? A mistake. 1 9...�f5 was best.

20 'i'e5! 'ilfxc5 21 lbxc5 .c:a7 22

d4!

White has a great advantage. The l:t(a7) is seriously misplaced-a fact which the opening of the centre highlights.

22 ...�xn 23 �xn f5 Hoping for ...e4.

24 e4! fle4 25 �xe4 a4 Or 25 ...l:txd4 26 ':'xd4 exd4 27 l:tdl with advantage.

94

"[ beal Spassky twice heaviJ�/oveJy games, very prellY " 95

"J beal Spassky twice heavif�lo�'ely games, very preuy "

39 L.Ogaard While A.J.MUes Black Reyjkavik 1978

sports in Iceland and this is clearly shown by the number of spectators at Reykjavik.

26 lbxb7! I always get a little suspicious

when things go so smoothly, Invariably something somewhere goes wrong.

26 :'xb7 27 :'xc6 :'xd4 28 :'xg6+ �n 29 :'xd4 exd4 30 ':h6 �g7 31 1bh5 l:a7 32 l:h7+? .•.

The first mistake. 32 :'c5 should win fairly comfortably.

32...g8 33 hS I;)bS 34 l1h6 I had intended to exchange rooks, but now noticed that it wasn't so clear.

34...ec8 35 :g6+? The second: 35 ...:g7! 36 :a6 :a7 37 :xa7 lbcxa7 38 f4 lbd6 39 �d3 lbc6 40 a3? An awful move in my opponent's time pressure. Anything else maintains the advantage.

40...lba5! 41 �f2 Draw agreed. 41 ...€:Iac4 42 �xc4+ �xc4 43 �e2 €:Ixb2 44 g4 etc. Further comments are unprintable. *

*

*

*

Ever since the Fischer-Spassky match of 1972 Reykjavik has had a great reputation in the chess world. Chess is one of the most popular

Last year the city staged the Hort-Spassky match, but the crowds were disappointed al the high number of short draws, so this year Icelanders decided to stage a slightly experimental tournament Instead of the usual 40 moves in 21n: hours, the time limit was 30 in ) 1..1 hours and then 20 in I hour, all in one five hour session. This was designed to speed up play, cut down on the number of adjourned games, encourage fighting spirit and 'lead to a clearer contest between the two players'. In these respects it certainly succeeded. In the first ten rounds there was just one 'grandmaster draw'-between the two Icelandic teenagers! It also led to a vast number of wild time scrambles which the spectators always enjoy. The tournament went in phases. Firstly Browne stonned into the lead with 3/3, winning his first two games from completely lost positions in time sCl1Imbles, Then he dropped back and Larsen and I took over with 516. Then I fell back and Larsen moved into a clear lead. With three rounds to play he was l in: points ahead of the field. He lost his next two games and Browne overtook him. With one round to play Browne had 81n: and Larsen and I eight. I had White against Browne and Larsen, Black against the Icelandic tailender Petursson. Incredibly Larsen lost again and Browne and I were left to fight for the top two prizes. I had pressure throughout but was finally forced to concede a draw and first place. My favourite game was the following brevity.

14 ...gxh4 IS fxeS lOg4 16 .tf4 �(5 17 -.d2 �xeS 18 b4 h3! White resigned.

English Defence

The Wandering King

I d4 e6 2 (4 b6 J dS?! '*h4!

40 A.J.Mlles White L.Ljubojevic Black Bugojno 1 978 Tarrasch Defence

4 e3 �f6 5 a3 .tb7 6 lbO?!

Better is 6 �3.

6......h5 7 dxe6 (xe6 8 �e2 "'g6 9 lbh4 "'h6 10 .to?! 10 1;)0.

IO ...�6 1 1 gJ g5!

With the current emphasis on sound position play at the highest level of the game the 'Wandering King' is almost a thing of the past. This week's game is a rare exception where the white monarch leaves his kingside home via the front door and wanders all the way across the board to a nonnal castled position on the queenside.

I (4 �f6 2 �c3 cS J �O e6 4 e3 dS 5 d4 �c6 6 cxdS exdS 7 .te2 .td6 8 0-0 0-0 9 bJ The alternative is 9 lObS followed by dxc5 and bJ.

9 ...ud4 10 lOxd4 �Id4 I J "'xd4 :,8 1 1 ....c7 is not so good because ..

of 12 ltib5! �xh2+ 1 3 �hl 'i'b8 1 4 g3 and White is clearly better, or 13..:i'e5 14 �a3 :ed8 1 5 g3 �xg3 J6 fxg3 "'xg3 17 :0 with clear advantage.

12 .tb2 �eS 13 "'d2 �g4 12 e4 Or 12 �g2 g4! winnin g- 13 �x g4 (or 13 �e2 tOe5) 13 .. .l o xg4 14 "'xg4 tOe5

12 ...I;),s 13 �g2 1i'g7 14 14 The alternatives 14 tOn or 14 hg5 are no better.

ljubojevic thought for a long time over this move, so I suspected he had some interesting idea in mind, But the only possibility I could see was 14 .txg4 .ixh2+, which I felt could not be sound and therefore resolved not to waste time looking at it.

14 �xg4

96

"I

"I beat Spassky twice heavily-lovely games, �'ery pretty " 97

beal Spassky twice heavily-lovely games, very pretty "

my six wins no fewer than four were decided at that stage. The best two came in the first and last rounds. The first, against Panchenko, was awarded the prize for the best played ending. I e4 cS 2 tOo e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 iOxd4 &6 S lOc3 'ilt'c7 6 .i.e2 bS 7 0-0 ..1ib7 8 ..1io tbc6 9 :el ..1id6!

The only move. 19 tOrs+ •.•

19 ......xhI 20:xhl �f5+ 21 ¢l'f4 lOxd4 22 exd4 should win for White. 20 f4

10 gJ

14,...txh2+?

At Ihis point Tal remarked that White has executed the rare manoeuvre of double-castling!

So Ihis came as something of a surprise. Only now did I start to analyse seriously.

32......xe4?

IS ¢l'xh2

15 Wh I also comes into consideration, but after 15...tDxg4 16 g3 "'g5 17 ¢l'g2 �xg3! Black is probably winning. 1 5...tOlg4+ 16 ¢l'h3! Not 16 ¢l'g I "'h4 gives Black a

strong auack whilst 16 ¢l'g3 "'g5 is also unpleasant. 16.....g5 11 ...d4!

This seems to be most accurate. E.g. 17 g3 1ifhS+ 1 8 d3.

An unfonunate necessity. White has no way of developing this piece properly.

Forced-but White has a clever triangulation in mind.

23......g3 24 :'c7

In order to exchange a pair of rooks. The alternative was 20 �b5 to control e8. 24...:'fe8 25 J:.e7 "'h2

A clever try which almost saves the game.

28 11

28......g3+ 29 �e2 'i'h2 30 "'b7!

The point-Black's rook must leave the c-file-30......xg1 3 1 'itxc8+ �g8 3 2 �c4 and there is no perpetual. 30 ...l:l.eS

30... ltd8 3 I �fl :'xd4 fails, ;as before, to 32 'i'c8+ lOg8 33 �c2. 3 1 �fl Completing the triangulation and ending Black's resistance. 31 .../OhS 32 eS!

Most precise. Now 32.../Og3+ 33 �f2lOh1+ 34 J:.xhl 'i'xhl 35 "'01 and if 35...:c8 36 "'f5 or 35...:dS IbS/a8 36 "'f5 g6 37 'i'f6+ and �c4+, or 35 ...:'gS 36 �xh7! mating quickly. 3l .g6 33 .6 'ilg3 34 Jl.bS IIg8 3S e7 lOg7 36 ..-dS a6 37 .td7 ..

Black resigned.

26�n!

On 37...'i'h4 38 "e5 is overkill.

" I feel I ' m overdue to win some tournaments"

49 A.J.Miles While

26...:'u7 27 'i'xe7 :'e8

This gives some counterplay. Perhaps 20 e4 was more accurate. 20...�h8 2 1 e4 lt:lf6 22 'i'eS 'i'g6 23 11hgl

6:

J.Tlmman Black

Wijk aan Zee 1979

Queen 's I"dian Defence I d4 JOf6 2 c4 e6 3 lO0 b6 4 �f4 Jl.b7 S .3 Jl.b4+

The latest idea ;against �f4. Black hopes to misplace the white queen's knight by 6 lObd2 when ... �e7! followed by ...c5 equalises (Hubner­ Andersson, Buenos Aires Olympiad 1978). 6 filfd2!

At Ihe board I decided it was better. IO...�xdS

Consistent. i O ...d6 I I e4 is clearly good for White (very bad Benoni) and 1 O...�xd5 1 1 '1'0 wins material. J I ti:lxdS lOxdS 1 2 'i'O lt:lc7 Forced.

Crossing Black's plan. The other knight will come to c3 to control d5 and e4. 6...0-0 7 a3 Better than 7 �d3 d5! 8 0-0 c5 with fine play for Black, Miles­ Andersson, Buenos Aires Olympiad 1978. 7...�e7 8 tOe3 c5?!

Safer is S...d5 9 cxd5 ltJxd5 1 0 lOxd5 �xd5 1 1 Itc 1 c5 1 2 dxc5 �xc5 \ 3 �c4! �xc4 14 JOxc4 with a slight advantage in Miles­ Ligterink, Amsterdam Zonal 1978. 9 d5! exdS I had naturally considered this

position in home analysis, but had merely decided that 10 'fo WllS slightly better for White and 1 0 cxd5 might be even better. 1 0 cxdS

13 'ti'b7!

A strong move which Timman overlooked. 13 ...d6 14 lOe4! Keeping the diagonal open for the king's bishop. 1 4...'ild7

If 1 4... f5? 1 5 �c4+ ¢>h8 1 6 lDxd6 �xd6 1 7 0-0-0 is winning, or 14...'I'c8 15 'l'xe8 :XcS 1 6 iOxd6 is clearly good for White, whilst if 14 ...lOd7 simply 1 5 0-0-0 :bS 16 'i'c6! is tremendous.

110

"[feel /'m overdue to win some 10Ilmamen/s "

15 0-0-0 Less accurate is 15 .txd6 .t.xd6 16 0-0-0 11le6 (0' 16 ...1i'c6) 17 "xa8 1Dc6 18 :'xd6 -.xd6 and I S lOxd6 &6 16 "xd7 lOxd7 17 0-0-0 lOxf4 l S lOfS! .t.f6! 19 :'xd7 lOg6! and ...lOtS allows Black to hold.

IS.....c6 I expected

1 5...lOe6 when I intended 16 "xd7 lOxd7 17 .t.g3! preserving both bishops with a clear advantage. Not however I S...1Dc6? 16 jc7 35 'i'a3 as 36 iLlc3 1f8 37 "'cI 'iWf2+ 38 �dl Wg l+ 39 We2 'i'xcl White resigned. •

•

•

•

From Miles's only victory in the British Championship: a nicc endgamc with delicate minor piccc play. 70 R.D.Keene While A.J.Miles Black

British Championship 1982 Queen's Indian Defence

I d4 lDf6 2 c4 e6 3 �f3 b6 4 g3 ..tb4+ 5 ..td2 i.xd2+ 6 .xd2 i.a6 7 lt:la3(?!) 0-0 7.. .i.b7! equalises. 8 i.g2 c6 8... i.b7 9 0-0 dS 10 lCJeS \ 0 Ilacl gives a n edge. 10...lOfd7 1 1 q:)xd7 li:lxd7 1 2 llael :e8 13 cxdS? 13 :c2 keeps a slight advantagc. 13 ...cxdS 14 lbc8 'i'xe8 Black has a slight pull-Whitc's minor picccs are out of play. IS ':cl 1t'b8 16 .3 16 �n 16 lilf6 17 �n llle4 1 8 'iWc2? 18 -..dl i.xfl 19 ...

160

"When I play close to home it's the complu-I play badly "

�n :'c8 Black has an edge. IS ...:c8 19 �xa6? :xt2 20 :'xc2 11ld6 21 IObS IO,bS 21 ...l.f2 g3 The only pretence to activity. ElK White plays g3.

24 /Dxg3 l£1xg3

In time trouble Black can find no plan.

34 a4 Fixing yet another weakness.

34 ...J.e7 35 l:ld2 White's preparations for �el and g3 are complete so Black lashes out.

35...f6 36 exf6 �fB If 36 ...�xf6 37 l:ld6 picks up the e-and the h-pawns.

I expected 24 ...ltJxh4, but 25 lbxh5 is winning.

37 l:le2 �d6 38 l:lxe6 ¢'d7 39 l:le3 J:tfB 40 .ith2

25 �xg3 l:lg8 26 :'d3 ¢'c7 2¢>dl

Now White must take the scenic I route but with two pawns more there are no problems.

The white king reaches f2 time.

just

II:.

27...:'g4 28 We2 J:tag8 29 W .ltfS The last target is h4, but that too can be protected.

30 :'el �e7 3 1 J:thl

40...J:txf6 I now sealed 41 :'e4, and briefly

surveyed the room. Korchnoi and Hubner had also both adjourned, :also both apparently winning, though I was infonned that in fact

If the rook moves 52 �xc5 wins everything. Black might well be forgiven for resigning here�Ljubo decides 10 continue his 'protest'.

51 ...l:lxel 52 �xel l:la7 53 l:ld3

>l.e7 54 ¢>f3 >l.f6 55 .ltf2 .lte7 56 ..te3 l:lb7 57 �d2 :'a7 58 �c3 l:la8 59 :'d7 �e6 60 l:lb7 l:le8 61 �xa5 >l.f6 62 >l.b6 >l.d4 63 l[h7 ¢>f6 64 :'xh5 :'e3+ 65 Wg4 :'xb3 66 �xc5

.Itxe3 ..-f4+ 24 ¢>e2 e4!

"Iget bored with playing the same thing all the time "

206 "I get bored with playing the same thing all the time"

12 J.e3 with advantage. 12 :lxd I bxeS 13 i.e3! .!Oa6 13 ... .i.xb2? 14

23...e4! 24 i.xe4 Of course I realized that a timely i.xg7+ would refute Black's insanity. I considered tossing it in here, but concluded that after 24 i.xg7+ Wxg7 25 i.xe4 l:.xe4 26 fxe4 .tg4+ 27 Wd3 .i.n, things might not be as clear as I would like.

llab! . Belter is 13 ...tOd7 though White has a clear advantage. 14 lOgS! �lg2 15 Wxg2 Threatening l:I.d6. I S ...We7 16 .!Oe4! With the threats ofl:l.d6 and lbxc5. 16....i.xb2 17 llabl l:I.hb8 If 17 ....i.xa3 then 1 8 lla 1 wins a piece. 18 .i.f4!

Anyway, there's always time after 24...llxe4.

24...J.bS+! Around here I considered giving up hope in predicting my opponent's moves. Surely the try 24 ... llxe4 was forced.

2S .td3 Not 2S l:I.d3 l:.xe4! 26 fxe4 'il'xe4 with something which passes for Black counterplay.

25..:ilg5 Crude and inadequate.

clearly

woefully

26 .i.xg7+! At last the thematic counter clearly illustrates the superiority of White's play. Now 26...Wxg7 27 Rhgl or 26 •xg7 27 .txb5 "g2+ 28 Wd3 and Black is out of ammunition. ...

26...f7 36 ..-xe5 ..-d1+ 37 �cl ..-d3+ 38 Wa2 'i'c4+! with a perpetual. Instead he pl ed �y 3 1..:i'e2 and after 32 Ad2 " c4 (..:i'g4 is a beller try) 33 Ad8+ ':'f8 34 lb:f8+ �xf8 35 as "'xcl+ 36 ..i.xcl �c4 37 b3 b6 38 �3 he lost a piece and the game. In the sixth round I extended my lead by beating van der Sterren. Going into the free day it looked as though one of the five qualifying places was reserved. A week., though, is a long time in a zonal tournament, and the next round brought a shock:

102 M.lIIescas

White

A.J.Miles Black Linares Zonal 1995 Nimzovich Defence

1 04 IIlescas had been playing I d4 so far, so I knew that if he switched to 1 e4 he would have spent the free day preparing for 1 ...tbc6-it had so far netted me 2lh/3. Clearly the practical decision was to change defences, but with a I LA point lead I decided to 'see' his preparation.

1 ...'ll.6 2 'llO d6 3 d4 'llr6 4 'llxh5 �f4+ 52 Wh4 lOxg2+ 53 Wh5 'ii'd I+ and White has to be careful to draw, but 50 .xf2 seems to spoil Black's fun. Slightly rattled I chose a more scenic route.

49 ¢'xh5 'ii'e8+ SO ¢'g5 lOg8 51 'i'xtl! At last!

51...'lfd8 Instead 5l......e7 does win the rook but 52 -.rs -.xf6+ 53 'ii'xf6+

Before moving on to the game I must correct some erroneous publicity concerning the encounter. Firstly, 'Miles hadn't beaten Short for 20 years'�M.Pein. Actually I haven't beaten him for 16 years, but then he hasn't beaten me for 14. In fact, I had much the better of our only meeting in that period. The relevance of this is that 1 didn't suffer any psychological problems playing him because I lost a few games when he was still in nappies�for the simple reason that 1 can't remember them. Secondly, 'The two are not on speaking tenns'�again M.Pein. Not true. I said good morning to Gump as recently as 1994 in Moscow. Never the fastest or most fluent of orators, I assume he is still trying to think of a witty retort.

1 1013 The thing about players who spend ten years playing in Category 25 tournaments is they tend 10 be more than averagely up-Io-date with developmenrs in trendy main lines, having analyzed them extensively

228

"/ am nostalgicfor the days before computers were ;1II 'ented " 229

"/ am nostalgicfor the days before computers were invellted"

with their seconds, firsts and 'housc-guests' to use Gump's phrase. I presume that designation makes them cheaper! Anyway, I prefer to play just one the skip will so opponent, theoretical discussions for today.

1 ...d5 2 c4 e6 3 g3 �f6 4 �g2 �e7 5 b3 Again, I was content with the choice of opening. I have played this system several times, while my database did not tum up any examples of Gump playing the Black side. He started staring into the distance with the air of one who is trying to remember what he looked at many years ago.

5...0·0 6 0-0 c5 7 �b2 �c6 8 e3 b6 9 lDc3 �b7 10 cxd5 lDxd5 I I lL\xd5 'ii'xd5 1 2 d4

So does White have anything? Well a slightly better king, after the inevitable exchange on g2 and that knight on a5. What is it worth? Maybe a tempo or two: i.e basically nothing, but still more than Black has.

15 ...:'fd8 I prefer 15 ...:'ac8 first. 1 6 :'acl lDc6 17 lDd4 Giving Black a wide choice of things to exchangc. There are many ways to more or less maintain the balance but Gump's choice is the last one I would have gone for.

17... �xg2 18 ¢>xg2 �xd4 19 �xd4 �xd4 20 :'xd4 :'xd4 21 exd4

22.,,:'d8 23 :'xa7 :'xd4 24 :'b7 IId6 24... :'b4 was also possible but he prefers to keep the white king from the queenside.

25 a4 �g7 26 ¢>n g4 27 ¢>e2 h5 28 b4 e5 29 as Since 29 �e3 would be met by 29 . .:'f6 I went for the simple approach. .

29..,bxa5 30 buS :'d4 Clearly 30...:'a6 31 Ub5 followed by heading the king towards b5 is unpleasant.

31 a6 Ua4 32 a7 Wg6 33 e4 g3 55 :'0+.

12 ...lDaS 13 dxc5 ECO recommends 13 �a3 but I was content to leave the lDa5 looking slightly silly.

13 ...�xc5 14 'ii'xdS �xdS I S :'fdl

Still 39 :'c7 ¢>d6 40 :'h7 was fine.

Black resigned.

So we reach a simple rook ending, but one in which White's rook is vastly the more active. Black will always have to suffer here.

21 ... gS Banged out immediately with the air of one who knows how 10 draw such positions by grabbing some kingside space.

22 ':c7 This impression was a little undermined, though, when he sank into thought for 15 minutes here.

38 lin (?) Careless. I didn't see what he was doing. To some extent that's understandable since he isn't doing anything. But 38 :'h7 was correct and if 38 ... Wc6 then 39 Uf7, or 3 8.. .'�e6 39 ¢>b5 WfS 40 :'c7! again, or 40 'iPb6.

38,.,We6 39 :'h7?

the of win shortest My Championship! I don't know if 644 moves is a record but I'm certainly glad I didn't do it in the days of adjournments! Anyway this game still leaves the question: Ignoring the exchange of exchange of stupidities on moves 39 and 40, where exactly did Black go wrong? Let's go back to the position after my 36'h move.

230

"/ am

nostalgicfor the days before computers were iflvellled "

Obviously Black has problems, but something that didn't occur to me during the game-for obvious reasons-is what if it was White's move here? If I �b4 �e4 2 :'c4+ �fS! and White has to repeat. Also if I :'b7 :'a6 2 Wc4 �e4 3 �b5 :'a I and Black has gained a vital tempo. So surprisingly, White would be in zllgn.·ang! If White can get his king to bS, though, he does win e.g.: 36...We6 37 � c4 WfS (or 37 ...�d6 38 :'h7 lPo6 39 IPbS 1Pf7 40 11,7) 38 IPbS :'bl+ (as good as any) 39 wc6 :'al 40 �b7 :'bl+ 41 Wc8 :'al 42 Wb8 We4 43 a8='it'+ :'xa8+ 44 Wxa8 wn 45 :'c2 f5 46 Wb7 f4 47 Wc6 Wg2 48 WdS ..vxh2 49 �e4 etc. This leads to the interesting conclusion that Black could have drawn on the previous move. Instead of 3S ...:'al, either 35 ... :'a5! or 35... :'a6! would have lost the necessary tempo to escape the zugzwolIg! So does this mean that the diagram position is really zugn.·ang? Hard to believe? At this point, it is necessary to apply the Clintonian Improbability Principle: That 'which is hard to believe is generally untrue.' (As opposed to the Clintonian

Impossibility Principle: 'That which is impossible to believe is generally President of the United States'­ which has little relevance to chess, though)-combined with Sherlock Holmes' theory of escaping from zugzwang: 'When you have eliminated all the plausible moves, you'd better play what you have left quickly, before you lose on time.' The result is 36...h4 but 37 gxh4 IPg6 38 1Pdl tOa3 winning easily. So what does this all prove?? Well. fairly clearly that the best endgame prize was not merited! Thai my judgment is beller than my play? (Not a surprise with advancing age and laziness.) That violence doesn't pay-except in practice? Probably just that fortune favours the lucky. •

•

•

for the pawn. 23 :'bl :'tb8 24 iDdi 24 dxe6 i.xe6 24...exd5 25 cxdS 25

exd5? l:lxd3! 26 'ii'xd3 �rs wins. 25...iDf4 With a strong attack. 26 i.xf4 26 �c2 li)xg2! 27 ¢>xg2 Jl.xh3+ 28 .tgl (28 �xh3 'i'o mate) 28 ......0 mates; 26 i.n :'xa3 with advantage to Black. 26...gxf4 With an attack down the ventilated g·me. 27 �c2 27 i.f1 :'xa3.

•

A ferocious attack, vintage Miles:

116

A Babu rin White A.J.MIIes Black .

4NCL. England 2000

English Defelice

I d4 e6 2 e4 b6 3 a3?! Weakens b3. 3 g6 4 lOe3 i.g7 5 e4 iDe7 6 li)f3 �b7 7 �d3 d6 New move. 7...d5; 7...0-0 8 0-0 IOd7 9 !tel 9 �e3 h6!? \0 d5!? 9... h6!? 10 h3 a6 1 1 �e3 gS 12 %lei 12 d5 tt:lg6 with control of e5. 12 b4!? 12 . cS 12 ...0·0 13 b4; 12 ...iDg6!? 13 dS 1 3 b4!? 0-0 (13 ... cxd4!?). 13 ...li)g6 Black has strong squares e5 and f4. 14 i.c2 We7 15 W'd2 0·0 16 :cdl 16 dxe6 fxe6 17 %led I lbde5 1 8 'ii'xd6 'i'xd6 1 9 :'xd6 iDxc4; 17 ... 1hD!? intending ... l[)h4 or ... lDe5. 16 . li)dcS 17 lOxe5 �xe5 1 8 �d3 Intending �fI and hindering ... b5. If 18 g3 'i'f6 threatening ... lOf4. 18.....f6!? 19 .•.

. .

54 ... 1De8 55 IDe I 'ild6 56 1De2 (If 56 Wh2 1Dc4 wins.) 56... lOfS 57 .th2 g4 S8 hxg4 �g4 59 .tg2 li)h4+ 60 �f2 li) fJ! (Not 60...Wh3 61 iDxb4. Now though the knight stays within mnge of a8 [iDfJ·g5· e6-c7]. thus preventing tDb4) 61 �g2 (61 lOal ¢'h3 will transpose.) 61 ...€ld2 62 lOa 1 �h4 63 Wf2 (Not 63 .th2 IOn+) 63....th3 64 .te2 ll'Ibl 65 1Dc2 (65 ¢>f2 lOa3 wins the king ending, with the white knight 'rnpped.) 65....tg2 66 1De1+ .tgl 67 'ilc2 1De3+ 68 �e I .tg2 69 lila I .to 70 'ilc2 (Or 70 .td2 IObl+ 71 Wei wxe3 72 Wxbl Wd2 73 1Dc2

..

�a4

:ab8

20

iDxb6

i.c8

20 ... .li.c6!? 21 dxc6 :'xb6 is unclear. 21 lila4 2 1 Iilxc8 !txb2 22 'i'a5 :'xc8 23 "'xa6 %lcb8 with compensation for the pawn, intending ...i.d4 or ...lOR 21...�d7 22 lDcJ :'b3! Black has good play

27...:'xh3! Wins. 28 gxh3 Wh8 28 .. .0 29 .th I 'i'h4 30 !tg I + .th8 3 1 :'g3 i.xh3 also wins. 29 f3 29

¢>f1 'iWh4! (29... i.xh3+ 30 �e2 0+ 3 1 �d3 i.d7 32 �c4!; 29... 0 30 !te3) 30 IOe3 (30 .te2 0+) 30...Jl.b5+ 3 1 Jl.d3 'i'xh3+ 32 �e2 'i'h5+ 33 0 fxe3. 29 ....ttg8+ 30 Whl 30 Wfl �xh3+ 3 1 We2 :'g2+ 32 IOf2 Jl.d4 33 !tfl 'i'h4. 30._.'i'h4

White resigned.

117

.

Wagner White (Le Perroux, 2390) A.J.Mllcs Black (Vandoeuvre...

How would I know what my rating is these days! Too many lists!) French League 2001

Queen 's Gambit Accepted Miles Variatioll

It seems quite a while since inflicted one of my own games on you. This is largely because I have hardly played any lately, but now

236

"/ am tlostalgic/or fhe days be/ore compllfers were illvellled"

seems as good a time as any to make amends. A couple of weeks ago, I made my debut in the French league (slightly surprising that I haven't appeared there before ... but I am open to offers!). I was playing for the second division (weiLl am just an old man you know) leaders Vandoeuvre, and produced the following entertaining little game:

I d4 dS 2 lOo lOf6 3 e4 dxc4 4 1ilc3 Six year; ago I invented a system against tillS line which I used to great pecuniary advantage to knock out in consecutive rounds of the London PCA (remember them??) Grand Prix Messrs. Kramnik (whatever became of him??) and Van Wcly. Thereafter I wrote an article ahout the v:1ri;lIion and Ihen obeyed Larsen's maxim that when you write about a variation you must immediately stop playing it. Well... At least I tried to stop playing il. In one game in Bermuda a few years ago Joel Benjamin played the QGA against me, which at the time was not really part of his repertoire, so I banged out 4 �3 safe in the knowledge that he would not play my own line against me. Wrong! He did, and I had trouble scrambling a draw! On another occasion an opponent played 4 lik3 rather confidently against me, so expecting preparation, I ducked into a Slav with 4...c6. In the six years since I introduced my idea, quite a fcw strong players havc adopted il... Korchnoi, Van Wely himself, Nikolic, Tkachiev and others. Anyway, partly for old times sake, and partly because I had forgonen whatever I knew about Ihe line, I decided to wheel il out again!

4...a6 S e4 bS 6 eS lOds 7 a4 e6 8 nbS lOb6

"/ am nostalgic/or the days before compUlers were invented " 237 that both were unclear, but that was all I could rcx:al1. In fact checking my database, I now find that I had got it the wrong way round! Thinking I was showing eternal lack of confidence in my own assessments I now chose...

12...�dS The alternative 1 2 ...R.b4 1 3 'i'g4

(I played the less incisive 1 3 lik3)

The stem position of the line. Black gives back the extra pawn, but in return gets the excellent square d5 for his pieces, and preserves the pawn on c4, which does an important job-keeping the �fI from its most aggressive post on d3. White has space on the kingside, but the inability of the white light-squared bishop to join an anack means that the black king will be quite safe on the kingside. 9 �e3 Experience has shown that this is the most critical. White prepares lLki2, both attacking the c4-pawn and allowing his queen to go to g4. 9 .>l.b7 .••

Korchnoi, presumably dissatisfied with this move, has tried both .....d7 and ...i.b4 here, while the Spanish GM Magem Badals has successfully axb5, employed aesthetically establishing his king knight on a8.

1 0 lDd2 nbS 1 1 ':xa8 .i.xa8 12 �xb5 I reached this position as White in the above mentioned game against Benjamin. My memory w�s that at this point he sank into thought, and I came to the conclusion that 12 ....i.b4 was the only move, while he decided that 12 .....1d5 was forced! The post mortem concluded

1 3 ...0-0 was tried recently in a game Gormally-Krush, Oakham 2000, when White preferred 14 .i.e2 to the tempting 14 .i.h6, but went on to win anyway. Further tests are, as they say, needed.

13 11fg4 The preliminary 13 lDc3 is the major alternative.

13...hS

16 i.e2 lDe7 Wheeling the might around towards the excellent squares of d5 and f5. Now 1 7 lOxd5 is well met by 17... lOexd5.

17 0-0 i.xc3! 18 bxc3lDf5 Suddenly Black's plan begins to materialise. How exactly is the white queen going to join in the game?? Shadows of ...g5-g4 begin to rear their heads..

19 l:1al I expected 19 lOfJ to take care of the g5 nuisance, though while g4 is still not a threat it is not urgent, and ......a8 would have been a consideration. Incidentally, note that 19 g4 would really not help White after 19...lOh4.

Black exploits the fact that g7 is still protected to make White make a decision over the future of his queen.

14 .-h3

At the time, this seemed like the correct choice to me. f4 doesn't seem a very useful square, and on 'i'd1, the pawn on h5 does not n i convenience Black that much. He can SIll! arrange 10 castle after 86 or even h4.

14 ...i.b4 .

Taking advantage of the gain of time to develop optimally.

15 lDe3

Nt:ct:ssary suont:r or later. On 15

i.e2 Black could even consider 1 5 ...R.xd2+ 1 6 .i.xd2 ..tc6 winning d4.

IS.. lOc6 .

Active piece play! There is no need to fear 16 tOxd5, as after 16 ...'I'xd5 White will have trouble guarding d4 and his king will be caught in the centre.

19 �d7! ..•

My favourite move of the game, and one that my opponent overlooked. Black's only bad pLece is his king-it blocks the coordination of his major pieces -and it certainly cannot find a home on the kingside. But by heading the other way, towards c6 or c8 or b7, it is quite safe and far away from the stranded white queen, allowing the :h8 to take an active part in proceedings and puning ...g5-g4 well and truly on

238

"�I am nostalgic for the days before computers were

the agenda. Suddenly Black's whole position makes sense.

20 g3? slight panic reaction. I would have preferred the more restrained �f) to control g5, when I was thinking of maybe ... ci'c8 to prepare a possible ... f6 and ... g5 perhaps. With the text White hopes to reactivate his queen via f1, but Black has a simple way to cut across this plan. 20. ..�xe3 21 fxe3 1i'g5 22 W(l Clearly �f1 has the drawbacks of losing control of e4, and putting the 1i'h3 back in her coffin. A

22 rs!

invented "

"/ am

Now the threats of 28 ...�xc3+ and 28 ... tOe3 29 �c l "'el leave White with only one, very ugly defence:

28�bl

.

and ... ci'f6-eS with an easy win. Also inadequate is 4 h4 g5 when S hxgS+ WxgS gets the black king in to f4, while S hS Wg7 and ci'h6 just rounds up the h-pawn.

'.. .'�gS 5 Wg3 b6

Now Black finishes neatly:

28..,�e3+ 29 Wd2 �g2! The major threat is now 'i'e)+. 30 'i'xh5 :'fS! And the queen has no square. My opponent thought until he had one second remaining on his clock and then produced 31 'i'g4 but resigned immediate­ ly. 3 1 ...'i'el mops up everything, including the king.

•••

Another powerful move. Instead, 22.. f6 is less clear. After the text White has an unenviable dilemma: Leaving the pawn on f5 leaves Btack in pennanent control of dS and e4; 23 "'fl runs into 23 ...h4 (no g4 rt:ply) ; and 23 "tWh4 is met by 23...'tt'h6 when 24 �n loses a piece to 24... �n followed by ...g5-g4. Hence, as my opponent observed after the game, he chose to die quickly! 23 exf6 IUS 24 ci'e 1 The best tI)'. Now 24.. .xe3 25 fxg7 is not so clear. or else White gets in e4. Time for some accurate calculation! 24...:'xf6 25 e4 ..-c3! The key move. Getling the dS-square back is well worth a piece! And with c3 and e4 attacked, White has no choice but to accept.

lIostalgicfor the days before computers were illvellled "

1 18 R.Gcrber White

A.J.Miles Black

The next step is to use up White's tempo moves on the queenside.

6 c, If White plays h4 at any time it will just lead back to the game. 6...cS 7 b5 7 bxc5 bxc5 8 b3 a5 does not make any real difference.

7 ... axb58 cxb5 c4 9 h4+ If White retreats his king then ¢lf4 followed by advancing the h-pawn wins easily. 9...¢lf6

Importan!. After 26 ... �xdS 27 'lfg2 'lfxe3 28 lib! 1i.le3 29 'lf04 I am not sure that Black has more than a draw.

27 ci'dl �xd5

thinking I had played quite a competent ending. It was only when the game was published that I got a couple of emails pointing out that the final position is not winning!! My first reaction was increduliry, but these days anyone who runs Fritz while playing through games can come up with something unexpected, so I took a look. The rather surprising point is that after 17 We7 Q;c5 18 �d7 ci'xb5 19 Wd6 Wb4 20 �c6 f i Black plays 20...ci'b3 then 2 1 Wb5 draws immediately. Hence 20...b5 (20 ...ci'aS 2 1 Wd6 doesn't help, but not 2 1 Wd5 bS!-see later) 21 Wb6 Wa4 22 ci'cS WaS 2J WdS!

Crans Montana 200 I

.

26 exd5 'iff2+!

lJ9

In this position I continued, planned, with

as

1... ..txe3 2 ci'xe3 �f6 forcing White to exchange on g6.

3 fxg6 fxg6! Preparing to set up a decisn� outside passed pawn. . Wfl Nor would 4 f4 help: 4...eJ(f4� S Wxf4 gS+ 6 ci'g4 (else ...hS ....WeS) 6...ci'g6 followed by lIS ___

And White is in zugzwang. Ifci'g4 (or ci'h3) ... hS followed by ...gS sets up the outside h-pawn. However, if it were Black's move here, ...hS would be met by f4 and White would control gS.

10 f4 h6 1 1 Wg4 exf4 12 Wxf4 gS+ 13 hxg5+ hxg5+ 14 Wg4 ci'eS 15 ci'xgS Wxe4 16 Wf6 Wd5 and White, who was also on the point of losing on time, reSigned. At the time I was quite pleased,

and the position IS mutual zugzwallg! White to play would lose: WcS Wa4. or Wd4 Wb4, or Wc6 b4. But Black to play can do nothing. A remarkable resource, and despite having edited a large chunk of the Encyclopaedia of King and Paw" Endings many years ago, not one I have seen before. So where did I go wrong? In fact it was only my last, careless, move that is the mistake. Instead of 16 ...ci'dS either 16 ...ci'd4 or 1 6...ci'd3 followed by ... c3 wins trivially. For example: 1 7 ci'e6 c3 1 8 bxc3 �c3 1 9 ci'd6 ¢lb4 20 ci'c6 Wa5 and wins.

Problems 241

12:

s

7: Miles - Gonzales Mestres Las Palmas 1980

How shollld the game go?

While /0 play al1d win

6

8

Problems

A selection of problems, mainly taken from Tony Miles's New Statesman column (the exceptions are the first and last positions) .

I: Miles - Marshall

Wolverhamplon 1968

3:

Korchnoi - Gheorghlu London 1980

White 10 play and male in 3

While to play and win

2: Simultaneous display

4

1978

White to play and will

White to play alld mate ill 4

White to play. How should ,he game go?

White to play. HoII' should the game go?

Problems 243

242 Problems 9: Mariotti · Miles

1 1 : Blitz game

White Iwsjusl played 1J..(d2)14. Is this (a) bad, (b) good or (c) desperate? How should Black comillue? How should Black not contillue (plausible lines ollly)?

From a blitz game o/mine. Black to play. How should the game go?

13: Miles - Sanguinetti Sao Paulo 1977

Sacrum 1980

10: Miles· de Flrmian Baerurn 1980

While, 10 play, made a move. Black made the most obvious reply. While moved again and Black resigned. Whlll were Ihe moves and why did Black resign?

IS: Miles · Sosonko

Tilburg 1 978

Black 10 play. How should Ihe game go?

While to play has all extra paWI/, bill does he have ally real chalices?

14: Miles· Hellon Las Palmas 1977

16: Plaskett - Miles Kenering 1 980

While, 10 play, call choose between u. d8�'iI b. :'c2 c. :'d2 d. :..t2 alld e, allythillg else. Which, ifally, Will, which draw alld why?

Black 10 play has variOlls possibili/ies: 23 .0re5, 23. ..ti:J7b6, 23... �7f6, 23...b5, alld others. How should Ihe game go?

12: Miles - Schneider

Philadelphia (World Open) 1980

White 10 play and will

..

244 Problems t 7: Miles - Shorl London 1980

19: Tony Miles's favourile study!?

13:

Solutions to Problems

(All solillions are by Miles with Ihe exception a/No.1) I: White mates in 3 by I 'ifd8+! ¢>xd8 2 .tgS+ ¢>e8 3 :ld8 mate.

White to pla;-Iww C(lll he swindle his way to {/ draw? Assume Illar Black 'sfirst move is the obvious cooperalive aile. . . 18: A rook and pawn endgame L.onglhorpe - Miles Hull 1980

Black

10 play.

Call he win (lnd how sholiid 'he game go?

A remarkable endgame position that I was shown recently (1995). It is not clear if it is a game or a composed study. I suspect a study inspired by a game. White Is to play and draw. Despite the limited material and very few possibilities the solution is strangely elusive, and there is a plausible trap along the way. Consider yourself extremely talented if you can solve it in under halfan houT.

2 : White mates in 4 by I 'l'xf8+! �xf8 2 :le8+! �xe8 3 i.gS+ �f6 4 .i..xf6 mate. 3: Incredibly Korchnoi played I :lc6? and only drew. Instead t :ld7! wins beautifully: J...¢>xd7 (or 1 .. .:'xd7 2 'ihf8 male) 2 'i'xf7+. Apart from this, though, as Mr Sahasrabudhe points out, White can simply play I :led I (threatening :ld8+) 1 ...:lb8 (the only defence) 2 :ld7! also winning instantly-an astonishing miss! 4: This was a good old-fashioned ueen sac and king hunt: I '1'.8+ g lCIb8 2 'i'xb7+!! (of course 2 .ta7 is playable bul it does give Black a breathing space after 2 ... gxf2+ and ... .txb5 and can hardly be compared to the text) 2 ...¢>xb7 3 �xd7+ ¢>a8 (or 3...¢>a6 4 i.c8+ ¢>as 5 €K:4+ ¢>a4 6 :lb4 mate) 4 :lxb8+! �xb8 S lib 1+ WaS 6 .tc6 mate and, being an old game, doubtless gold sovereigns were showered on the pitch.

S: Another goldie. This time both rooks go with I :ld8+! 'i'xd8 (on l...¢>h7 White doesn't bother with the queen but continues merrily with 2 :lxh6+! gxh6 3 "'e7+ Wg6 4 h5 mate) 2 'i'e6+ Wh7 3 :lxh6+ gxh6 4 'l'n mate, It is true that I

�3+ Wh7 2 'i'f7 (threatening :lxh6+) is strong but Black has 2......e8 and it certainly doesn't score any points, 6: This came from an old, but to me not well-known. brilliancy. White mates by I :llfS! exfS 2 'i'xh6+!! ¢'xh6 (2" .gxh6 3 'Df6+ ¢'h8 4 :lg8 mate) 3 '::h l+ Wg6 4 ¢'f4! (a nice touch. threatening .i.hS+ xfl mate) 4...'i'e6 (or ...:le6), the only defence S :lh8! and Black cannot prevent .i.hS mate. 7: Black hadjusl played :l(e8)-e7 hoping 10 be able 10 oppose the c-file from c7. Unfortunately this crealed a momentary back rank weakness which I quickly exploited with I lCIxb6! 'i'xb6 1 :lc8+ Ad8 (2...�h7 3 'ilf5+ g6 4 'ltffi lidS 5 a5 is just a worst variety of the same disease. However 4 ...-xd5 though also good, did not get full credit.) 3 as! and Black must surrender his queen. Probably the best way is 3.. :l'c7(!) but he was nOI thaI imaginative and the game concluded 3.. Jbc8 4 axb6 :lc6 S 'i'fS! �e6 6 'i'aS! Black resigned. (A pity really-I hoped for 6 ...d5 7 bS axbS 8 'i'38+ :'c8 9 b7.) 8: This was elegant but not difficult: White wins with 1 ibxdS! �xdS (or 1 ...:lxdS 2 �xd5 �xdS 3 ¢>e4! still traps the knight) 2 ¢'e4! and if 2...lOb6 3 :lxf7+ or 2...1CIf6+ 3 ¢>eS! So Black could find nothing better than 2 ...lCIe7 with a hopeless ending.

Solu/ions /0 Problems 247

246 Soilitions to Problems 9: (When the problem was pub. lished in New Statesman, the second question-How should Black nI)l IInfortullately conlinlle?-II'OS omitted)

Unfortunately lhe gremlins got at my introduction. The relevant piece should have read 'How should Black continue? How should Black not continue (plausible lines only)'. Somehow the second question disappeared. Luckily quite a lot of solvers found how Black should not continue!

I �(d2)·f4 is desperation since White is lost anyway. The knight will fall and Black will have an overwhelming material plus. Obviously Black should avoid 1 ...iOxf4 2 Ilc7+ Wxa8 3 l:t.axa7+ drawing. Credit though for l . . .Wxa8 which, although messy, should win. The point I, or rathcr Mariotti, was fishing for, is Ihat Black appears to have a trivial win with 1 ...e5 2 �xe5 .ixb4 completing his development with a winning position. Fool that I am, I played 1...eS?? only to be stunned by 2 l::aS!! The knight on d5 is undermined and then there is no way to keep the white rooks from the 7th rank. The game concluded 2...�"r4 3 Ilc7+ Wxa8 4 :axa7+ drawing. Had I sat on my hands for a while I should have realised two things:

first that the to(d5) is the cornerstone of my position and second (psychologically hard to realise over the board) that J �f4 does absolutely nothing! (2 &7 will be met by lthf4). Hence Black should simply play l...e6! supporting the knight, winning the b'pawn and a piece, when White can safely resign.

10: I played I lla3! (I l:tc6 is clearly weaker. After, say, ...l:te8 there is nothing decisive.) 1.. ....g6 This is, in my opinion, the most obvious defence since 1 .. �e8 loses trivially to 2 Wb5+-some credit for this though-and on 1 ....g7 2 ....xh5 White's massive positional plus should win. Perhaps 1 .....e8 is the best try but it is far from obvious. Here the game was adjourned but when I pointed out 2 "cS! Black resigned since there is no answer to the threats of 1lf3+ and l:txa7 viz. 2.....e4+ (2 ...We8 3 '11'h6 5 'i'eI g5 6 "'a3 but 6......d7 holds everything.

250 Solutions to Problems

The solution is in fact I JtdS! :lxcl+? (this is co-operative: on

L..:d8 White still has plent y of problems) 2 'i'xcl 'i'xa7 3 "'c8+ �h7 4 tOrs! This is the real point. White threatens "g8 mate and 4... gxfS 5 'i'xfS+ �h6 6 'i'f4+ is a perpetual as 6...�g6?? 7 i.xe4 is mate. Black's only remaining try is 4...�e8(!) but even this proved inadequate: 5 tbxg7 (this piece must be eliminated) S...'i'd7 6 1�he8 'i'xdS 7 tbe6 ""3+ 8 �cl 'i'c3+ 9 �dl 'i'f6 (necessary to stop the mate threats). Now on quiet moves Black maintains chances but White has yet another trick: 10 lLJgS+! 'i'xgS (else lLlxe4 draws easily) I I 'i'n+ ¢>h6 12 'i'f8+ ¢'h7 13 'i'f7+ with a pcrpetual check.

18: Of the problcms set, this caused most trouble as I expected. The general reaction was 'surely Black can't win', which is indeed correct, but the point was that there is an extremely good try, and the problem was to find both it and its countermeasure. The try itself is slightly elusive as it is in fact the problem position, but with White to move! All the White pieces are optimally placed-the rook attack­ ing both pawns and the king within reach of both sides of the board. So Black begins with 1. ..:h3 2 �g2 J:::d3 3 ¢>e2 J:c3. Note that White has no good way of avoiding this sequence: his king can have no better square, on the back rank it would allow the black king to advance with mating threats, while g2 and e2, as we shall see, both have their drawbacks. Lastly note that the drastic 2 f5 !? is by no means a clear draw: 2 ... gxfS and (a) 3 J:::h6+ '.P g4 4 J:::xh3 '.Pxh3 5 g6 b2 6 g7 b l='W 7 g8='i' (with the

Solutions to Problems 251

dcfending king in front such a position is normally a total draw­ this, though, is the exception) 7...'i'c2+! 8 ¢>e3 (or 8 ¢'f1 'Wdl + -d4+) 8 .....e4+ 9 ¢>f2 (if 9 ¢>d2 'i'g2+ wins) 9...'i'f4+ forces the el':change of queens with a simple Win. (b» ) g6 �h6 4 �g2 ltc) 5 �f2 ':c2+ 6 ,.pe3 :lb2! with excellem winning chances. If 7 ¢>f4 :bl and ...b2, or 7 ¢>d3 J:b I 8 ¢>c3 and Black has a choice between such moves as ... ':cI+, ...f4, ... :gl. Probably best, though, is a preliminary 8 ...¢>g7 (to prevent :f6) followed by ...Ag I . One possible continuation: 9 ¢>d4 Ag I(!) 1 0 l:txb3 :g4+ I I �e5 �xg6 and with the white king cut off behind the pawn Black should win. Return to the position after 3... ':c3, what should White do? Clearly 4 ¢>g2 ¢'g4 is bad: 5 l:txg6 :c2+ and ... b2. Apparently the rook must remain on b6 so White, not sensing any danger, played 4 ¢>e2 ':h3 5 ¢>rz? allowing S...¢>g4. Now if 6 Axg6 b2 7 llb6 l:thl! (a recurrent trick) wins, and with 6 l:txg6 impossible Black's newly activated king decides the issue. The game concluded 6 :b4 J:d3(!) 7 We2 :c3 (again losing a useful tempo) 8 ¢>12 (he can't run too far from the kingside) 8 .:c2+ 9 �e3 ..

b2 10 ¢>d3 J:::12 I I ¢>e3 lU3+ 12 ¢'e2 :h3! 13 ¢'rz :hll (again) White resigned. On 1 4 :xb2 l:h2+.

So, that's the winning try. There are two possible defences. The first, which I saw during the game, is ( l ... lth) 2 �g2 ltd) ) �f2 ltc) 4 ¢>e2 ':h3 5 fS! gxfS (othetwise fxg6) 6 J:::h6+ ¢>g4 7 J:xh3 ¢>xh3 8 �d2! (but not g6?) and, after both sides queen, Black loses his last

pawn. The second, suggested by J.Comforth, is 4 J:::b5! and on 4...¢'g4 5 fS! gxfS 6 g6 when White's pawn costs Black his b-pawn with a simple draw. Quite a fascinating ending. Unfortunately very few entrants realised the seriousness of the 'try' and thus the finer points generally went undiscovered.

19: In 1996 Miles said this was the most beautiful problem that he had ever seen.

I c4! b4! If 1 ...bxc4 2 ¢>d2 draws. 2 �dl! 2 �d3! transposes. 2 �cS 3 ¢>d2! (Zugzwang) 3.. ¢>xc4! 4 ¢>cl �a2 5 ¢>d2! The brilliant •..

.

point. The trap is 5 ¢>b2? .1l.b3 !! 6 cxb3+ ¢>d3 winning. Now if S,..�CS 6 c3 b3 7 �cl-b2 draws, while 5 ... �b I 6 ¢>cI repeats the position.

Tony was a bit disappointed that 2 �d3 also holds. but still liked the position. He showed this study to a few players during Hastings 1995/96, ineluding Luke McShane. who solved it quickly.

Articles 253

14:

Articles

Has Karpov Lost his Marbles? (from Kingpin 1986) As it happens I am in a position 10 reveal exclusively to Killgpin readers (unless, of course, someone else actually offers to pay me) the true and tragic story of why the invincible Anatoly failed to dispose of that young upstart Kasparov. r first recognised the symptoms when browsing through a copy of the lightweight epic Lear" from yOllr Defeats published by Batsford, translated by Eric Schiller.

'A Batsford Book. Adviser: R.D. Keene GM OBE. Technical Editor: P.A. Lamford' , Typeset, I notice, by Hope Services!? I turned quickly to Skura 1980 to discover what exactly the little man had learned from 1 e4 a6. In the introduction I was confused to read:

'Actually it is easy to see that Black's extravagant opening got him into trouble' (Oh yes!? Then

why ...).

'Besides, in my next seven games with Tony Miles the British GM also tried to undermine the centre from the flank, but he only managed to achieve a single half point'. Well, I know nostalgia tends to blur the memory, but I really didn't think things had been that bad. Fortunately this monumental and diligently researched tome comes equipped with a tournament record.

Carefully I added up my next seven scores: V! +0 +0 +VJ: +If.i + I +0

=

1f.i !?

Oh well, I suppose it must be the new FIDE scoring system. Intrigued, I turned to the BBCINPR final from Bath 1983. I was quite relieved to find that I had actually won it, though the venue had been changed to London and again the introduction was mysterious:

'This tournament was played at an accelerated time limit. Each player received one hour for forty moves, and then half an hour for the rest of the game.' Gazing at the framed scoresheet over my bed I see that the rate of play was in fact forty in two (the proposed new FIDE rate) and the rest (had there been any) in an hour. It's interesting what one can learn from one's defeats. When next I met Karpov, at the OHRA tournament in Amsterdam, I pointed these minor out inaccuracies. The first he said was all the translator's fault. He had meant the seven games before, not I still aftetwards. couldn't remember things being quite so bad. Well maybe, he thought, the TV draws were omitted because they were played at a fast time limit. I briefly considered enquiring if he had also left out the even faster win, but decided that that would only be diverging further. Instead I produced a copy of the book and

together we checked from his own r.ecord. It was still not tme.

for forty moves and then half an hour for the rest of the game.'

The second point was dearly his ailing memory. When he thought the game was played in Hamburg, wrote London when in fact it was Bath, what chance could he have of remembering the time control?

This is incorrect. I wrongly pointed out here the conditions of the previous TV cup which took place in Hamburg. The time control n i Bath was in fact 40 moves in two hours and then the rest in one more hour. Giving my apologizes {sic] to grandmaster Miles I want to thank him that he found out incorrect facts which will be taken into consideration in the next edition of the book.

Anyway, muttering gently about libel laws I politely requested a publishable apology. Anatoly quickly agreed. Now what I had in mind was something along the lines of 'Grovel, grovel ... Terribly sorry, grovel, grovel etc.' On the last day of the tournament I received the following:

Amsterdam, July the 26th. Regarding my book Learn from your Defeats (Batsford, 1985) I would like following:

to

point

out

the

In the introduction to my loss to Tony Miles at Skara 1980 the book wrongly states:

'Besides in my next seven games with Tony Miles the British Grandmaster also tried to undermine the centre from the flank, but he only managed to achieve a single half point'. The mistake was made by a translator who confused times, because in my manuscript I mentioned the score before Skara and not after it. In my loss to grandmaster Miles from the BBC/NDR tournament at Bath (not Hamburg) the intro­ duction states: 'This tournament was played at an accelerated time limit. Each player received one hour

Anatoly Karpov A nice touch, I thought, to stress before and after when we had already clearly established that his statistics were not correct before, after, or for that matter at any other time. I toyed with the idea of asking for an apology for the apology, but decided I would only be wasting my energy. You just can't win against Karpov. •

•

•

•

The Holey Wohly?

(from Chess Cafe 2000) It has been brought to my attention that so far this column has not exactly been on the cutting edge of opening theory. Well, fair comment I suppose, so this month I intend to remedy that. About twenty years ago US 1M John Watson wrote an excellent set of four volumes on the English opening. In a brave effort at total completeness he even considered in reply to I c4. I...g5, l ...a6, l ...lba6 and even 1 ...Resigns (as in Fischer-Panna, Palma de Majorca 1970).

Articles 255

254 Articles silly, you might as well do properly!

Well, believe it or not, not long after that I was genuinely intending to play 1 ... g5 against Karpov should he open I c4. Sadly he never did. 1 a6 was included solely so that ''when Basman or Miles starts using it, I won't be accused of overlooking the possibility".

8 h3 0-0 9 l%el fS 10 .td3 This is not a success.

1 0...f4

•••

Of 1 ...lDa6 he was even more dismissive. "A player approached me just recently and asked if my book had anything on 1 iOa6. He then explained that he'd been playing it wilh great success and that there were some 'really interesting ideas' behind it. I should be the last to deny this, and l . ..'Oa6 may now be considered offici�lIy entered .in the manuals of opemng theory... .

Given another move Black will play e5 with a favourable King's Indian set-up.

l i eS dxeS 12 dxeS If 12 'Oxe5 'lltxd4.

12...tOe6

.•.

I have never yet tried 1 .. iOa6, but I promise you, I will. Well, genlle reader, to change subject a Iit�le, how many games would you thmk Alex Yermolinsky loses with White in a year? Not a lot I guess, the fingers of one hand might well be sufficient. And what about Jesus Nogueiras? Probably not many more... .

So how would you react if they both lost in the space of one week to the same opponent-not named Kasparov-in the same opening? Must be a good line huh?

"If anyone wants to clap" said Eeyore. "now is the time to do it." (The house at Pooh COrlle� A.A.Milne) For those not au fall with theoretical the latest developments, I should point OUI that this is an all-purpose defence (suicide is a defence to a lot of things...) to anything, extensively researched by its Australian inventor and myself. (If I d4 'Oa61 or I e4 c6 2 d4?! iOa6). If you think it's a total joke I would point out the game Yermolinsky-Wohl, Los Angeles (0-1) played a week before this one!

3 e4 c6 4 e4 d6 S tOe3 .tg7 6 �e2 tOe7 7 0-0 tOM!

Well, without further ado, let me present to you-with apologies to Belgian afficionado de Bruycker­ the Holey Wohly:

J.Nogueiras White A.Wohl Black Merida 1999 1 '00 g6 2 d4 'Oa6!

it

And Black has an excellent position. The white e-pawn is definitely weak rather than slrong.

13 b3 'On 14 �b2 'i'c7 IS 'ife2 �d7 16 lObi J:tad8 17 'Obd2 tOeS 18 �c2 �fS 19 �xf5 gxfS 20 �d4 tOe6 21 �e3 "'d7 22 Aacl "'d3 23 tOh4 'i'xe2 24 J:txe2 tOfgS 25 i!:ldO lbe4 26 .i.b4 '06c5 27 �a3 e6 28 11l.1 lin 29 I1lhO IIfd1 30 IIcc2 AdI 31 ¢lh2 J:ta I 32 �xcS IOxcs 33 Acd2 Ad I 34 Axd8+ J:txd8 35 'Oc2 'Oe4 36 CI

:l.r.:.�

Gligoric Godenn

):M;keooo-Fldlf Grunfeld

;tiliOI'l��' Haag Ui
. ngld1Defl�� HellSlen

�C�UI1 Hennigan Hodgson

60 1 18 28 62 36 101 91 II

105 90 104

87 102 92

llIescas

74 Karlsson 67 Karpov 35, 58, 73 21 Kavalek 70 Keene 108 Kelly 47 Keogh Kindermann 72 9 Kochiev Jackson

Panchenko Panno Perecz Peters Piket Plachetka Polugayevsky Portisch Quinteros Ribli Rivas

41 38,66 57 19 103 16 84 81 33, 52 43 48

Michaelides

55 59

65 34 106 Rodriguez Sadler 109 Sox 14 Short \13 13 Sigurjonsson 25,37 Smyslov 100 Sorin 32 Sosonko 44, 45,79 Spassky Speelman 54, 1 1 2 Szekely 3 T,I 8,80 Tebb 107 Timman 27, 49, 82, 86

Myrenne

76

Torre

Kogan

64

83 18 7 94 61 20 99 40,68, 85,88 75 30 10

KOTchooi Kostro Kuzmin LaUe La",,"

Ligtennk Lima Ljubojevic Makarychev Martin Matera Mestel

50 2, 69, 95

Nikolac Nunn Odendahl

l)3j

Ogaard£Nallsh Olafsson OsIOS

93 .s.dS 39 42 5\

Rizzitano Robatsch

Vaisser Vukcevic

31 1 14 24

Webb

117 12

Wells

III

Wagner

Whiteley

23