1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 Bronstein • Y2 I Y2 I Y2 0 Y2 Y2 I Y2 Y2 I Y2 Y2 Y2 I I I 12 2 Kotov Y2 • Y2 Y2 0 I I 0 I Y2 I I 0 0 I I I I I 12 3 Furman 0 Y2 • 0 0 Y2 I I 0 0 I I I I Y2 I I Y2 I 1 1 4 Flohr Y2 Y2 I • Y2 Y2 Y2 Y2 I Y2 Y2 I Y2 I 0 Y2 Y2 Y2 Y2 10% 5 Tolush 0 I I Y2 • Y2 Y2 I 0 I Y2 0 I 0 Y2 I 0 I Y2 10 6 Bondarevsky Y2 0 y2 Y2 y, • y, Y2 y, I y, y, y, 0 I I 0 I Y2 9% 7 Keres I 0 0 Y2 Y2 Y2 • 0 I Y2 Y2 Y2 Y2 I 0 y, I I Y2 9% 8 Konstantinopolsky Y2 I 0 Y2 0 Y2 I • Y2 0 I I Y2 I Y2 0 Y2 Y2 Y2 9% 9 Lisitsyn Y2 0 I 0 I y, 0 y, • 0 I 0 I Y2 I I Y2 Y2 Y2 10 Ilivitsky 0 y, I Y2 0 0 Y2 I I • 0 I Y2 0 I Y2 Y2 Y2 Y2 9 11 Lilienthal Y2 0 0 Y2 Y2 Y2 Y2 0 0 I • Y2 l 0 Y2 Y2 I I I 9 12 Kholmov y, 0 0 0 l Y2 Y2 0 l 0 Y2 • 0 I I Y2 Y2 I Y2 8% 13 Averbakh 0 l 0 Y2 0 Y2 Y2 Y2 0 Y2 0 I • Y2 Y2 0 l Y2 I 8 14 Levenfish Y2 l 0 0 I l 0 0 y, l l 0 y, • y, I 0 0 0 8 15 Ragozin Y2 0 Y2 l Y2 0 l Y2 0 0 y, 0 y, Y2 • Y2 y, I y, 8 16 Alatortsev y, 0 0 y, 0 0 y, I 0 y, Y2 y, l 0 y, • y, y, l 7% 17 Panov 0 0 0 Y2 l I 0 Y2 y, y, 0 y, 0 I y, y, • Y2 y, 7% 18 Aronin 0 0 Y2 y, 0 0 0 y, y, y, 0 0 y, 0 y, y, • I 6 19 Taimanov 0 0 0 Y2 y, Y2 y, y, y, y, 0 y, 0 l y, 0 y, 0 • 6
T
HE YEAR OF 1 948 saw Botvinnik abstain again, as he had recently won the world title in the match-tournament at The Hague and Moscow. In fact he was to take a three-year break, to work on his doctorate. By this step he distanced himself from professional colleagues like Smyslov, Keres, Bronstein and so on. It was interpreted as a way of guaranteeing his future once his chess powers waned. In fact such a waning was decades away!Keres was in the field of 19, but still suffering from his uncertain form in the 5-man The Hague/Moscow match-tournament.
Kotov had a blinding start of five straight wins, during which he played a strange response to Kholmov's Albin Countergambit: l d4 dS 2 c4 eS 3 i2Jc3 with the sequel 3 ... dxc4 4 dS ltlf6 S e4
c6 6 �xc4 �b4 7 'ii'b3 'ii'aS 8 �d2 0-0 9 a3 �xc3 10 �xc3 'ii'c7 l l i2Jf3 l2Jxe4 12 �xeS and 1-0, 41 moves.
Kotov lost in the sixth round to Tolush in 29 moves and was caught up by Bronstein after 17 rounds. Bronstein was making his bid for the world title after his outstanding performance at the Saltsj{)baden Interzonal earlier in the year. No fewer than five players made their debut: Furman, who was a revelation and fmished third, Kholmov, Ilivitsky Averbakh and Taimanov. The new, less frantic schedule with two rounds, an adjourned games day, two rounds, one adjourned and one rest day per week was conducive to high-class play, with fewer short losses. However, there were two miniatures:
Georgy Ilivitsky-Ratmir Kholmov
Queen's Gambit, Baltic Defence 006
l d4 dS 2 t2Jf3 �rs 3 c4 e6 4 'ii'b3 ltlc6 5 cxdS 'ii'xd5 6 'ii'xdS exdS 7 a3 i2Jf6 8 �f4 �d6 9
�g3 0-0 to ltlc3 :res u e3 ltlas 12 ltld2 �xg3 13 hxg3 cS 14 itJbS �d7 IS dxcS �xbS 16 �xbS l:xcS 17 �d3 d4 18 e4 l2Jg4? 19 b4 l-0
Alexander Tolush-Vladimir Alatortsev Falkbeer Countergambit C3 1
1 e4 e5 2 f4 d5 3 exd5 'ibd5? 4 ilJc3 'i'e6 5 fxe5 'i'xe5+ 6 �e2 �g4 7 d4 'i'e6 8 'i'd3 c6 9 �f4 ilJf6 10 0--0--0 �xe2? 1 1 llJgxe2 �d6 12 d5! llJxd5 (12 ... cxd5 13 ilJb5) 13 llJxd5 cxd5 14 'i'g3 �xf4+ 15 ilJxf4 'i'h6 16 l:thel+ �f8 17 'i'a3+ 1-0
There was also one horrendous blunder, with perhaps the worst move of all 58 Championships:
Alexander Tolush-Georgy Ilivitsky Catalan Opening E04
1 d4 ilJf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 d5 4 �g2 dxc4 5 ilJf3 cS 6 0-0 a6 7 'i'c2 bS 8 ilJeS ilJd5 9 dxcS 'i'c7 10 e4 ilJb4 1 1 'i'c3 �xeS 12 a3 llJ4c6 13 ilJxc6 llJxc6 14 'i'xg7 'i'e5 1S 'i'h6 �b7 16 ilJc3 �d4 17 �g5 'i'g7 18 'i'h4 l:tg8 19 �f4 llJeS 20 �xeS 'i'xeS 21 l:tad1 l:td8 22 ilJdS (D)
Black sees that 22 ... exd5 23 exd5 threatens both 24 l:tfe l and 24 l:txd4; he decides to guard against 23 l:txd4 and then 24 ilJf6+. What he does not see is 22 ..• l:tg6 23 'i'e7#!
One of the great surprises was the play of debutant Furman, who had only become a master three years earlier.
Semyon Furman-Paul Keres Queen's Indian Defence E l 5
1 2 c4 d4 ilJf6 e6 3 ilJf3 b6 4 g3 �a6
This unusual development was only gaining recognition at that time. It is curious that Furman had a sceptical view of the move, writing that Keres played it merely to complicate matters, while Panov was more definite, calling it dubious and giving it a '?'.
S 'i'a4
Furman, the opening 'encyclopedist' of later years, was distinguished even as a young man by a fine feel for the openings. Facing a surprise move, he chose a line considered among the best even nowadays. Moves like 5 'ii'c2 or 5 ilJbd2 are less critical.
5 c6
Black's aim is clear. He prepares the central thrust ... d5. Nowadays there is a preference to be satisfied with the tempting of the queen to the flank and to reply 5 ... �b7 6 �g2 c5, undermining the centre not on the light squares but on the dark.
6 ilJc3 dS
Too direct. It was more flexible first to develop the kingside by 6 ... �e7 7 �g2 0--0 8 0--0 and only then play 8 ... d5, as did Karpov 40 years later against Salov.
7 cxdS!? exdS
A trickier idea is 7 ... b5 8 'ii'b3 cxd5, offering a pawn for the initiative.
8 llJeS!? �b7
Black must do this, as 8 ... 'ifc7 is bad due to 9 �f4 and 8 ... 'ifc8 likewise due to 9 �g5 ilJfd7
10 �h3 !.
9 �gS �e7
10 .i.g2 0-0 11 0-0 h6?!
This is already a more serious mistake. Black had to play l l ...ilJfd7, striving for simplification.
12
13 �xf6! f4 �xf6
Now White's advantage in clear. Under the protection of the mighty e5-knight, he has the line-opening move e4 ready to follow.
13 aS
It is clear that Black's counterplay lies only on the queenside. 14 l:tad1 15 e4 16 'i'c2 'ifc8 bS llJa6
64 The Soviet Championships At last the minor pieces are developed, but
in the interim White has achieved a great deal. 17 l:r.cl !
The c-file is about to be opened and White stresses his influence there. Obviously 17 exd5 is premature in view of 1 7 ... �b4 and
1 8 ... �d5. 17 18 l:r.fd1 19 �xd5! �c7 ._e6 (D)
An elegant decision, rather in the spirit of Capablanca's 'petites combinaisons'. The opening of the position gives White's pieces fresh energy.
19 �xd5
Otherwise Black just remains a pawn down. 20 exd5 cxd5
21 ._c7 l:r.a7
The only move, as 2 1 ...l:!.fb8 fails to 22 lLld7.
The triumph of White's strategy. He wins a pawn while retaining the initiative.
22 l:r.a6
23 ._xb5 l:r.b6 24 ._e2
Clearly not 24 .-xa5 .l:.a8 letting Black's pieces come to life.
24 25 26 27 i..e7 l:r.d8 i..d6
It is instructive to see how White extends his influence over the whole board.
21 .-r6
This looks like an elementary mistake, but Keres was probably reckoning on good
counterplay after the win of the exchange: 28 �d7 l:r.xd7 29 i..xd7 ._e7.
28 �g4 ._e7 29 l:r.e2 .-m
Not 29 ... .-xe2? 30 lLlxh6+. 30 �e5
White's pressure mounts with the threat of 3 1 �xt7!, apart from the simple 3 1 �7.
30 i..a6
31 l:[f2 i..b5
Thus Keres repels the immediate threats - 32 lLlxt7? i..e8. Yet Black's position remains difficult.
32 l:.cl ! i..b8 33 l:.fc2 g6
Clearly, this move creates a new weakness, but it is hard to find a rational move for Black.
34 .. h4 �g7 35 a3
While attacking it is useful to keep calm and prevent such a counterthreat as ... �.
35 i..xe5
He could not tolerate the Number One enemy any longer as there was a threat of 36 �g4.
36 fxe5 37 l:.c6
i..d3
Shattering Black's illusions. By giving back the pawn White proceeds to a direct attack on the king. 37 38 .. f6+ l:.xb2 �g8 Or 38 ... �h7 39 llc7. 39 e6! 40 l:r.c8 l:.db8
An even simpler win was 40 e7, but White sees a combination based on under-promotion.
40 l:.xc8
41 l:r.xc8 l:.bl+ 42 �fl ._xeS 43 exf7+ �h7 (D) 44 tslLl+!
The only way, since 44 i..xc8 l:r.fl + would actually lose for White.
44 45 46 47
The sealed move. Black could ring down the curtain, but plays on.
48 'Wxa5 �f7 49 a4 �e6 50 'We5+ �d7 51 g4 l:b2+ 52 �g3 l:b3+ Hoping for 53 �h4? g5+ 54 �h5 l:.h3#. 53 �f4 .i.e6 54 'Wg7+ �d6 55 'Wf8+ �d7 56 'Wxh6 1-0
Kotov played with great elan. Here is one of his best efforts, the ending of his game with Aronin, who was White.
Lev Aronin-Aiexander Kotov Black's position is the more active, but it is hard to force the win in view of White's counterplay. All the more instructive, then, the way Black goes about it.
41 ltld7!
A difficult move! He has to keep the knight on the board but the natural 4 1 ...ltld5 gives
nothing in view of 42 ltlc4. The d5-square has to be reserved for the king.
42 l:xh5 �d5! 43 g4!
The best chance. Pawn exchanges reduce Black's resources. The alternative 43 .i.d8 would meet with a far from simple but convincing rejoinder. Kotov had in mind the following study-like variation: 43 ... ltlxb6 44
.i.xb6 (44 l:xf5 ltlc4!) 44 ... :txb6 45 l:.xf5 l:.b2!
46 f4 d3! 47 fxe5 .i.b4 48 e6+ �e6 49 :tf2 �d5! (49 ... .i.xd2? 50 l:f3) 50 l:.f5+ �c6! 5 1 l:f6+ �b5 52 l:f5+ �a4 5 3 l:f2 .i.c3 ! 54 l::tf4+ (54 �cl l:c2+ 55 �dl l:.a2!) 54 ... �b5 55 l:f5+ �c6 56 l:f2 �d5 57 l:U5+ �d4 58 l::tf4+ �e5 ! 59 l:f2 .i.xd2 60 l:.f3 �e4 winning.
43 e4!
Forward, ignoring all losses, is the only way to play it.
44 .i.h6
'44 gxf5 is met by 44 ... e3 ' commented Kotov. Let us remember this note, for it deserves more attention. Meanwhile, the game proceeds along the lines mapped out by Black.
44 e3
45 l:xf5+ ltle5 46 .i.xe3!
The best chance. 46 f4 l:b2! is a win for Black.
46 dxe3
47 f4 l:b2! 48 ltlf3 �e4! 49 fxe5 .i.a3
A remarkable picture! Black is three pawns down, but the activity of his remaining forces proves more significant.
50 e6
50 b7 was more stubborn, commented Kotov, but then 50 ... :Xb7 5 1 e6 :tbl + 52 �c2 l:c 1 + 53 �b3 .i.e7 is also a win for Black.
50 e2+! 51 �cl l:b5+ 52 �d2 l:xf5 53 gxf5 �xf3 54 b7 .i.b4+ 55 �c2 .i.d6 0-1
There were no brilliancy prizes in this event, but this ending was considered by experts to be the fmest. I have to admire though that
66 The Soviet Championships analysing this remarkable ending four decades
later I had doubts arise about its total soundness. I concentrated my attention on the possibilities after 43 moves.
here, and Kotov indicated 44 gxf5 e3 with a win, but ... alas, this is not so. Let us continue the variation.
4S f6
A remarkable resource. The rook at h5, apparently cut off, gains in force, along with the passed pawn. Discovered checks are threatened. Here are the alternatives for Black:
a) 45 ... exd2 46 i.f4+! �c6 (46 ... lC!e5 47 i.xe5 i.xe5 48 f4) 47 l:txb5 i.xf4 48 l:tf5;
b) 45 ... lC!e5 46 f7! l:tb2 (46 ... exd2 47 i.f4! �c4 48 l:txe5!) 47 i.xe3 ! ! dxe3 48 l:txe5+! ! i.xe5 (48 ... �e5 49 lC!c4+ �f4 50 lC!xb2 �f3 5 1 lC!d3) 49 f8W l:txd2+ 50 �cl i.b2+ 5 1 �bl .
In none of these variations can Black even think of a win. So, a remarkable ending proved to have a flaw, but the flaw is fascinating and As the reader knows, White tried 44 i.h6 so the ending becomes doubly attractive. The games were published in a Dutch magazine, bound up to form a booklet, which cost me (B.C.) five shillings and nine pence in the 1950s!