The Players: Hagen Tiemann, from
eastern Germany, is a Senior Inter- national Master who first got his IM title in 1967. A dangerous tactician, he likes to experiment with gambits in thematic tournaments.
A veteran of the old Soviet school, Abram Khasin (born in the Ukraine in 1923) is a FIDE IM and ICCF GM (since 1972). After being seriously wounded at the battle of Stalingrad, Khasin worked as a chess coach to many leading players. He won several GM-level CC tournaments.
About this game: This game demon-
strates the class difference between a talented amateur IM and a professional GM. First Khasin defuses a potentially explosive opening variation and then his refined endgame technique brings home the point from a position where a lesser player might have settled for a draw. My notes are based on analysis by Khasin in the Swedish magazine ‘SSKK Bulletinen’ 4/1984.
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 Èf3 ƒd6 5 c4
The Exchange Variation of the French Defence used to have a very drawish reputation, because many piece exchanges usually take place
and the pawn structure often remains symmetrical. However, that is not true after White’s plan in this game, which involves accepting an isolated d-pawn in exchange for a lead in development and extra space, which can create attacking chances. 5...Èf6 6 Èc3 dxc4 7 ƒxc4 0–0 8 0–0 (D)
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+-vl-sn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+LzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
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The ‘Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings’ (‘ECO’) classifies this as a Queen’s Gambit Accepted (D20) because the same position can arise via 1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 e3 (a deceptively simple move) 3...e5 4 ƒxc4 exd4 5 exd4 ƒd6 6 Èf3 Èf6 7 0–0 0–0 8 Èc3. However, the diagram position more often arises via the French, as in
64 Great Chess Games 172
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9-tr-wq-trk+0
9zpLzp-+pzp-0
9-+-+-sn-zp0
9+-+Nvl-+-0
9-+-sn-+-vL0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
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the QGA Black usually prefers to play...ƒb4+. Game 10 reached a similar position (with Bƒe7 and WÈe2) via a completely different move order.
8...Èc6!?
In this line the isolated pawn will soon be dissolved after exchanges.
8...ƒg4 followed by ...Èbd7 is often played, but White has good chances after 9 h3 ƒh5 10 g4 ƒg6 11 Èe5.
9 ƒg5
White mostly prefers 9 h3 to prevent the pin ...ƒg4, when Black replies in kind with 9...h6. This ancient line has been seen recently in high-level games, notably those of GM Morozevich.
9...h6
Black puts the question to the ƒ. If 9...ƒg4 10 Èd5 ƒe7 11 Èxe7+ White has achieved a gain with no pain, as in Marshall-Janowski, New York 1924. Surprisingly, Black repeated this in Lputian-Romanishin, Manila OL 1992. White won both games.
10 ƒh4 ƒg4 11 ƒd5
11 d5 Èe5 12 ƒe2 Èg6 breaks the pin on the È, while if 11 Èd5? g5 wins a pawn. So 11 h3 seems best.
11...ƒxf3 12 ƒxf3
Instead 12 †xf3 Èxd4 13 †d3 c5 14 …fe1 (not 14 ƒxb7? …b8) might offer White some play for the pawn.
12...Èxd4! 13 ƒxb7
Of course not 13 †xd4?? ƒxh2+ 14 ‡xh2 †xd4‰.
13...…b8 14 Èd5
14 ƒd5 looks more natural, but Black obtains good play by 14...c5å.
14...ƒe5! (D)
Possibly White had underestimated
this move, which protects both Ès.
15 …e1
An important point is that Black can meet 15 f4 …xb7 16 fxe5 by 16...†xd5 17 exf6 …xb2! which seizes both a pawn and the initiative thanks to the threat of mate on g2.
15...†d6 16 f4 …xb7!
16...Èxd5?! is not as good, since after 17 fxe5 †c5 18 ƒf2 …xb7 19 ƒxd4 Black at best gets equality; while 17...†b6? 18 ƒxd5 Èf3+ 19 ‡h1 Èxh4 is a further mistake, as Black is in danger of losing after 20 e6!.
17 …xe5
White steers towards an endgame that he hopes to hold. 17 fxe5 †xd5 18 exf6 …xb2 once again leaves Black a pawn up with the more active game.
17...Èxd5 18 †xd4 Èxf4! 19 †xf4 …b4 20 ƒe7!?
This is his idea. 20 †g3 …xh4! simply leaves Black a pawn ahead.
20...…xf4 21 ƒxd6 cxd6 22 …e7
White offered a draw when playing this natural move, which takes the 7th rank with tempo. However, 22
…a5! was more precise, and Black’s winning chances then really would be minimal, according to Khasin.
Game 35: Tiemann-Khasin 173
22...a5!
Despite the reduced material, Black runs no risk in playing for a win and is able to teach his opponent a lesson in technique. Since there would normally be no winning chances in a single … ending with 3 pawns versus 2 on the kingside, Black’s plan is to exchange the white queenside pawns for his d-pawn and f-pawn, creating a strong passed a-pawn. This would not have been possible against 22 …a5.
23 …d1?!
23 …a7 would have been more consistent with White’s previous move, or else 23 …c1 seizing the open file.
23...…c8!
Black’s second … takes an open line. 24 …xd6?? is impossible because of 24...…c1+ and mates.
24 g3
White gives his ‡ a square with tempo. The drawback is that should a black … later control the 7th rank (as
does occur in the game), the ‡ will not be able to move off the back rank. Possibly 24 …e2 was better.
24...…a4!
White still does not have time for 25 …xd6 as Black can choose between 25...…xa2 and 25...…c2.
25 a3 …c2 26 …xd6
26 …f1 was also possible, when Black 26...f6 is probably best. White has some counterplay after 27 …f2 …xf2 28 ‡xf2 …c4 29 ‡e3 …c2 30 b4, but probably the kingside pawns win after 30...…xh2.
26...…xb2 27 …d8+ ‡h7 28 …xf7 …xa3 29 …f2!
White correctly goes for the single
… endgame because he loses quickly in the line 29 …dd7? …a1+ 30 …f1 …xf1+ 31 ‡xf1 …xh2. 29...…xf2 30 ‡xf2 …a2+ 31 ‡g1 (D)
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9-+-tR-+-+0
9+-+-+-zpk0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9r+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+-mK-0
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The key point in this ending is the trapped white ‡. The usual defence would be for White to capture the kingside pawns while the black ‡ is away supporting the passed a-pawn; to sacrifice the … for the a-pawn (at the last possible moment); and rush his own kingside pawns forward (supported by the ‡) to win the … back and draw.
Unfortunately here, the white ‡ cannot advance off the back rank and has nowhere to hide. This means that once the a-pawn reaches a3 the white … must stay in attendance, otherwise Black would win by ...…b2, ...a2 and ...…b1+.
31...‡g6! 32 …d5!
If White uses his … correctly, Black will not be able to advance his pawn beyond a3 without the assistance of the ‡ because the black … is on the “wrong” side of the passed pawn.
32...‡f6 33 …b5 a4 34 h3 a3
Black threatens 35...…b2 followed by ...a2, ...…b1+ and ...a1†.
64 Great Chess Games 174
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9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zp-+-tR-zPP0
9r+-mk-mK-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
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35 …b3!White will hold the third rank for as long as possible. 35 …a5 is met by 35...‡e6 marching the ‡ to b6 and then down the b-file. White never has time to take the g-pawn.
35...‡e5 36 ‡f1 ‡d4 37 ‡g1
The defending ‡ can only wait for fear of being caught in midstream: 37 ‡e1? …a1+ 38 ‡f2 (38 ‡d2) 38...a2 39 …a3 …h1 40 …xa2 …h2+ wins.
37...‡c4 38 …e3 g5! 39 ‡f1
The ‡ must move as after 39 …f3 ‡b4 White has no check on the 4th rank.
39...‡b4
This is the start of a triangulation manoeuvre, typical of such endgames where “losing a move” and “gaining a move” can be equivalent.
40 …e4+ ‡c3 41 …e3+ ‡c4 42 ‡g1
This is what Black was waiting for, but there is nothing better. The position of … can only be disimproved, while if 42 g4 the black ‡ goes round again: 42...‡b4 43 …e4+ ‡c3 44 …e3+ ‡c4, and now White has to move the ‡.
42...‡b4 43 …e4+ ‡c3 44 …e3+ ‡d2!
This was unplayable before the white ‡ moved to g1, because of the reply …e2+. Now the end is in sight. The final phase involves bringing the ‡ to support the passed pawn so that the … can move out of its way.
45 ‡f2 (D)
White threatens a skewer. After 45 …f3 Black wins by 45...…a1+! 46 ‡g2 ‡c2 47 …f2+ ‡b3 48 …f3+ ‡b4.
45...…a1 46 …e6
There is nothing better:
a) 46 …b3 ‡c2 47 …e3 a2 48 …e2+ (48 …a3 ‡b2) 48...‡d3! 49 …e3+ ‡d4 50 …a3 …h1! 51 …xa2 …h2+ wins the ….
b) 46 …f3 ‡c2! when White has no check and now: 47 …f6 (47 ‡g2 a2 48 …f2+ ‡b3 49 …f3+ ‡b4 50 …f2 …g1+! 51 ‡xg1 a1†+) 47...a2 (£...…f1+) 48 …a6 ‡b3 49 …b6+ ‡c4 50 …a6 …h1. c) 46 …e2+ ‡c3 47 …e3+ ‡d4 as in line a). 46...…b1 47 …e2+
If 47 …a6 …b3 and the black ‡ marches to b2 and promotes the pawn.
47...‡c3 48 ‡f3 ‡b3 49 …e3+ ‡a4
Now a check on b4 can be met by interposing the ….
50 …e6 a2 0–1
White gives up as he has only a few spite checks before Black promotes the pawn: 51 …a6+ ‡b3 52 …b6+ ‡c4 53 …c6+ ‡b5.
This was an instructive ending in which GM Khasin was able to exploit a couple of small inaccuracies.