Indicadores de impacto

White persists in his original plan. Had he foreseen Keres' fine com­ bination, he would have played 27. Kt x P. 27. . . . P�4! ! 28. B x Kt R x B 29. Kt-B6 If 29. R X B, K X R; 30. Kt-B6 eh., K-B3; 31. Kt x R, P x B; 32. P x P, and White has a lost end game on account of his weak QBP.

29. . . . . . . P x B! 30. Kt x R P x P 31. Kt-Q5 To prevent 31. . . . . B-B3 and P-Kt7. 81. . . • • . • K�6!

The right reply, for if 32. Kt x B, Kt-B5 eh. wins, or if 32. R x B, P-Kt7! 82. R�2 P-Kt7 33. R-Ql If 33. Kt--B3, B-Kt5; 34. R X Kt, B x Kt; 35. R�8 eh., K-K2; 36. R�Kt8, P-B4 wins. 33. . . . P--B4 Inexact; 33. . . . . Kt-BS (keep­ ing the Rook out) 34. Kt-B3, B-Kt5; 35. Kt-Ktl, P-B4; and P�B5 wins quickly. 34. R�Ktl P�B5 85. K-Bl B-B4 36. K-K2 If 36. Kt-K3? B X Kt; 37. P X B, P-B6 wins. 36. • • . • • . B x P 37. Kt-K3!

A fine move making Black's task difficult, for if 37. . . B X Kt; 38. K x B, and Black loses his Queen's side Pawns.

37. . . . P-B6! A very subtle move, for if 38. K x Kt, B x Kt; 39. K x P, B-B8; and the White Rook is incarcerated.

38. Kt-B2 Kt-KS! r

If in reply 39. Kt X Kt, B X Kt; 40. K-Q3, B-Q7; wins.

39. Kt-R3 B-B4 Good enough, but 39 . . . B-R5, 40. K�l, Kt X P; is quicker.

40. K x Kt 41. K-Ql 42. K-B2 White must give otherwise B-B5 is decisive. B x Kt B-Q3 up the Pawn and B-B8 42. . . . . . . B x P 43. R-KRl If 43. K x P, B-K4 eh. wins easily. 43. . . • . . . B-K4 More precise is 43 . • • . . B-B5; 44. R x P, B-Q7; as will be seen on the 49th move. 44. R x P K-B2 45. R-Rl P-Kt4 46. R-Kl K-B3 47. R-KKtl K-Kt3 48. R-Kl B-B3 49. R-KKtl P-Kt5! The only way to make progress, since the Black King is unable to penetrate. This shows the disad­ vantageous position of Black's Bishop at K4. 50. P x P P-B5 51. P-Kt5l Otherwise 51. . . . . K-Kt4 fol­ lowed by P-B6 decides. 51. . . • B�5 51. . . • • B X P? only draws. 52. R-Ql 53. K x P 54. R-Q6 eh. 55. R-Kt6 56. K-Q3 57. R-Kt8 Resigns. B-K6! B--B8 K x P P-B6 K-B5 K-Kt6 If 58. R-Kt8 eh., K-B7; 59. K-B2, K-K7; 60. R-KS eh.,

THE TCHIGORIN DEFENCE 67 K-B8; 61. R---:-K7, P-B7; 62.

I

K_-B6; 64. R-B8 eh., B-B5; and R-K8, K-Kt7, 63. R-Kt8 eh., wms.

This game, between the winners of perhaps the greatest tournament of all time, presents, at first glance, a rather old-fashioned aspect especially in the opening stages where White indulges in the ancient practice of pawn-grabbing at the expense of development. The explanation seems to lie in the remarkable variations given in the notes to White's 13. Q-K2, the Queen's agile leap from QRI-K5 threatening the Knight at QKtl and also Q-Kt3 eh. with mating threats. It is a good illustration of the trend of modern play where strategical concepts are carried out by tactical threats and where the most important points are more often implied than implemented. The importance of this game from the point of view of the opening we are studying, lies in showing that Black need not spend time defending his QKtP but can continue his development. The middle and end game are here inseparable, for in spite of the reduced material the ending is rich in combinative strokes-a contrast to the 19th-century style of retaining Queens simply to provide such tactical opportunities.

AI.EKHINE'S TREATMENT

Alekhine often adopted the Worrall attack when he played the Ruy Lopez, since being less analysed it gave his combinative powers far greater scope and allowed him to introduce that element of surprise so charac­ teristic of his dynamic style.

In

the next game we see the two greatest attacking players of modern times engaged in a variation favoured by both. From the start Alekhine introduces surprises by inverting the order of moves, although the greatest surprise comes when he introduces the Rauser system (exchange of the centre Pawns instead of blockading the centre by P-Q5), infusing new life into the Worrall attack.

White A. Alekhine 38 Black P. Keres Salzburg, 1942 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3. B-Kt5 P-QR3 4. B-R4 Kt-B3 5. Castles B-K2 6. Q-K2 P-QKt4 7. B-Kt3 P-Q3 The other line is 7. . . . . Castles; 8. P-B3, P-Q4; where Black offers a Pawn for a vigorous counter-attack. Though the line has been much analysed, it is so rich in possibilities that it may be a long time before an ultimate conclu:aion

6

is reached. The simplest answer is 9. P-Q3, P-Q5; 10. P X P, QKt X P;

ll. Kt X Kt, Q X Kt; 12. B-K3, Q-Q3; (Keres-Euwe, The Hague, 1948) and with 13. R-Bll (instead of the move actually played 13. Kt -B3), White could have obtained a better game.

8. P-B3 Castles If at once 8. . . . . Kt-QR4 in order to adopt a Tchigorin defence system then there would follow 9. P-Q41 Kt X B; 10. P X Kt, Kt-Q2;

l l . R-Ql, B-B3; 12. P X P, P X P;

13. Kt-R3 (Alekhine-Rey Ardid, 2nd match game, 1944) with a slight advantage to White. Alek­ hine's free and alert approach to the openings is well illustrated by this variation.

68 CHESS FHOM MORPHY 'fO BOTWINNIK

9. R-Q1

Instead of playing 9. P-Q4 at once which would allow B-Kt5, White waits to see what system Black will adopt.

9. . . . Kt-QR4 If 9 . • . . . B-Kt5; 10. P-KR3,

B-R4; 11. P-Kt4, B-Kt3; 12. P-Q3! and the Bishop is out of play as Alekhine played against Samisch at Bad Nauheim, 1937. A striking illustration of the use of transposition of moves.

10. B-B2 P-B4 11. P-Q4 Q-B2 Superficially it appears that Black has achieved a normal Tchigorin defence formation and, indeed, this has often been recommended as the safest defence for Black to adopt against the Worrall attack, since White cannot play 12. QKt-Q2 as 12. . . . . BP x P wins a Pawn (the Bishop at B2 is now unprotected).

12. B-Kt5

To all appearances a developing or waiting move, but Alekhine has other aims. 12. 13. P x KP! 14. QKt-Q2 B-Kt5 P x P

Now Alekhine's idea becomes clear. He is able to set up a Rauser formation (see game 35), with the added advantage that he has gained time, since he has been able to play his KR to Q1 at once instead of to K1 first, and he has also dispensed with P-KR3, a move of little or no advantage in this system. This gain of two tempi enables Alekhine to give the game a more dynamic character.

14. . . . . . . J{R- Q1 The simplifying move 14. . . . . Kt-R4; 15. P-KR3, B X Kt; 16. Kt x B, B x B; 17. Kt x B, Kt-KB5;

18. Q-Kt4 does not help Black to overcome the weakness on his Q4, after the !{night has been driven off by P-KKt3.

15. Kt-B1 Kt-R4 16. P-KR3 B-K3 16 . . . B x Kt; 17. Q x B, B x B; 18. Q x Kt, is preferable, since the Bishop would prevent the White K�ight from reaching K3, _although Black's weakness at his Q4 will still prove a handicap.

17. Kt-K31 P-B3

Now it seems that Black will be able to play Kt-KB5, but he had not reckoned with Alekhine's reply.

18. Kt-R2! I

A superb move, the introduction to a splendid example of the modern system of furthering strategical aims (here the occupation and utilisation of White's Q5) by tac­ tical threats. Naturally, not 18. B-KR4, Kt-KB5!

18. . . . P-Kt3 Against the alternative move 18. . . . . B-B2 White has two lines, (a) the immediate occupation of Q5 by the Knight; 19. Kt-Q5 when there follows R X Kt; 20. P x R, P X B; 21. P-Q6, B X QP; 22. Q-Q3, R-Q1 (22. . . . . B-Kt3; 23. Q-Q5 eh.) 23. Q x P eh., with

THE TCHIGORIN DEFENCE 69 a nebulous position, or the stronger

line (b) 19. P-KKt4, P X B; 20. P x Kt, and White has control of Q5 and KB5. 19. B-R6 B-KB1 20. B x B K x B lf 20 . . . Kt-KB5; 21. Q-B3, R X B; 22. P-KR4!, Kt-B5; 23. B-Kt3, Kt X Kt; 24. P X Kt, B X B; 25. P X B, Kt-K3; 26. R-Q5! 21. P-KKt3 R x R eh. Black avoids the trap 21. . . . . B x KRP? 22. Kt--Q5! Q-B2; 23. P-KKt4, Kt-KB5; 24. Kt X Kt, P x Kt; 25. Q-B3, and the Bishop is lost.

22. B x RI

White declares his intention of opening the QR file for his Rook in exchange for the Queen's file, which is of no use to Black, since White guards every square upon it.

22 . . . . 23. P-QR4! 24. P x P 25. Kt--Q5! R-Q1 Kt-QB5 P x P

Just at the moment when Black thought that he had successfully overprotected his Q4, Alekhine plays the thematic move in the Rauser system, Kt-Q5 offering a Pawn sacrifice which Black dare not accept. If 25 . . . B x Kt; 26. P x B, R x P; 27. Q-K4, Q-Q2; (27 . . . R-Q1? 28. B X Kt, P X B; 29. Q-B3, Q-B2; 30. Q-B6, or 27. . . Kt-Kt3; 28. B X Kt, P X B; 29. Q-K2!) 28. B-B3, R-Q3; 29. Q-R8 eh., Q-Q1; 30. Q--Kt7, regaining the Pawn with a won game. The complications of these lines are not so significant as the realisation that the position holds such opportunities for White on account of his positional super­ iority. Since Black is unable to accept the Pawn, White has at last achieved the positional goal of the Rauser variation-absolute control of his Q5. The rest of the game is given to turning this advantage to effect. 25. . . . Q--QKt2 26. P-Kt3 Kt--Q3 27. P--QB4 P x P 28. P x P B x Kt 29. KP x B Kt-Kt2 30. Kt-Kt4 Q-K2 If 30. . . . . Kt(Kt2)-K1; 31. Q-K3, Kt X P; 32. Q X P eh., Kt(B4)--Q3; 33. R-R7, Q-Kt8; 34. Kt-R6, Q X B eh.; 35. K-R2, Kt-Kt2; 36. Q-B7, followed by mate in a few moves.

31. B-B2 Kt(Kt2)-Kl 32. P-R4 P-K5 The drawback to this move is that it surrenders KB5 to White.

33. Kt-K3

Threatening Kt-Kt2-B4--K6. 33 . . . . , . . Q-K4 A better defence is given by 33 . . . . . R-Ktl; 34. Kt-Kt2, P-B4; 35. Kt-B4, Kt-KKt2; and Black can either oppose his Rook on QKt7 or use it aggressively at QKt5. 34. R-R7! 35. Kt-Kt4 36. B x PI K-Ktl Q-Q5 Decisive! If 36. Kt x B; 37. Kt-R6 eh., K-R1; (37. . . . . K-B1? 38. R-B7 mate} 38.

70 CHESS FROM MORPHY TO BOTWINNIK

Position after 35 . . . Q-Q5 Kt-B7 eh. wins the exchange, or 36 . . . Q x B; 37. Kt-R6 eh., K-Rl; 38. Q X Q, Kt X Q; 39. Kt-B7 eh., a combination not difficult to foresee but impressive in the active co-operation of White's pieces. 36 . . . . 37. Kt-R6 eh. P-B4 K-Rl 38. B-B2 Q-B3 Q-K7 was threatened. 39. Q-K6 Q x Q 40. P x Q R-Bl 41. Kt-B7 eh. Kt x Kt 42. P X Kt Kt-Q3 43. B-Q3 K-Kt2 Or 43. . . . . R-Bl; 44. R-B7. -M. P-B8(Q) eh. K X Q 45. R x P K-Ktl 46. R-Q7 Kt-Kl 47. P-R5! Now 47 . . . Kt-B3 is met by 48. R-Q6! 47 . . . . 48. B x P 49. B-K6 eh. 50. R-Q5 51. R x P 52. K-Kt2 53. B-B5 54. R-B7 eh. 55. R-B7 56. P-B4 57. P-Kt4 P x P R-Rl K-Rl Kt-B3 K-Kt2 R-R7 R-R6 K-R3 R-R3 P-R5 Resigns. Logically we conclude our study of the Ruy Lopez with an example of the modem form of attack in marked contrast to the classical attack demonstrated by Morphy in the first game. And what greater exponent than Alekhine? He demonstrates convincingly that although the require­ ments of modern technique are exigent, it is possible to graft onto this 'solid' opening as many ideas as his romantic predecessor. But how complex the game has become! 'Whilst for Morphy it was sufficient

to open the centre to obtain the superiority, Alekhine had to use all the finesses known to modem opening theory, from transposing moves to changing the field of action, first in the centre, then to the Queen's side and back to the centre again, to force a decision. If a proof is needed that time alone permits new ideas to become common property, it will be found here. While the quality of this game has been recognized, the fact that it combines the two modem systems in the Ruy Lopez-the Worrall attack and the Rauser system-seems to have passed unnoticed.

CoNCLUSIONS

Our survey of the central struggle in the Ruy Lopez discloses three principal conceptions, which may be classified according to the precepts enacted by the three great players whose ideas dominate the foundations of these lines.

THE TCHIGORIN DEFENCE 71

First Morphy, who attempted an early conquest of the centre, but succeeded in achieving little in the way of establishing a lasting initiative for White.

His greatest contribution is the defence named after him, characterized by the move P-QR3 for Black. which releases the tension in the centre and is the basis of all the modern defences to the Ruy Lopez.

Secondly Steinitz, who emphasized the importance of control of the centre. We can distinguish three periods in Steinitz' later years. In the first he attempted to hold the centre by the artificial 4 ... .. KKt­

K2 with unfavourable results. In the second period he attempted to revive the 'Steinitz Preceded,' now known as the Steinitz Defence Deferred, and failed only because of the faulty timing of the moves.

The last period found Steinitz adopting his own defence in the modern form (developing the KKt at B3), a variation he played in the London and Vienna Tournaments at the close of the century. His lack of success was due to his tactical inabilities and not to any endemic failing in the variation. It was left to Lasker to demonstrate its inherent soundness. Thirdly Tchigorin, who was more fortunate. He introduced his original system against the formidable Tarrasch in 1893 with considerable success. He was not, however, content with the line and evolved a more aggressive system in the form that it is used to-day.

The latest trend in the Ruy Lopez, a blending of these two systems, is the highest tribute that can be accorded his memory.

PART 11

T H E Q U E E N ' S GAMB IT

IF any opening has experienced marked changes in its treatment during the last hundred years it is certainly the Queen's Gambit-the modem opening. Despite its modernity, it is one of the earliest of recorded openings (circa 1500 according to von der Lasa), and it appears to ante­ date the King's Gambit.

Comparisons have been drawn with the King's Pawn Openings, and for a long time the Queen's Gambit was considered dull and unenter­ prising, a debut for the cautious player, whereas King's side Openings remained the choice of the venturesome. To-day we know that this classification is artificial, since many games in the Q.G. Orthodox Defence illustrate brief and brilliant combinations (see Alekhine-Lasker, Game 50, page 94), while even in the King's Gambit Accepted, games of a lifeless and mechanical character have been played (see Santasiere-Levin, Game 99, page 186). In fact, by mastering the closed game and perfecting the transition from the closed to the open formation, one can give the game that liveliness applauded by the connoisseurs, whereas 'pure' open games tend to lead to draws by rapid exchanges.

VII

In document Delegación Cuajimalpa Dirección de Obras y Mantenimiento (página 67-71)