10 Great Ways to Get Better at Chess by Nigel Davies

Author:Nigel Davies [Davies, Nigel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: [Kobo], Chess, Non Fiction, Training
ISBN: 9781857448376
Publisher: Everyman Chess
Published: 2012-06-05T16:24:09+00:00

Game 33

B.Spassky-V.Korchnoi

Candidates final, (2nd matchgame) Belgrade 1977

French Defence

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Ne7 7 Qg4

Although Bobby Fischer claimed that the Winawer Variation (3 ... Bb4) was “anti-positional and weakened the kingside”, he never played this critical move.

7 ... cxd4

Recently there has been a greater focus on 7 ... 0-0.

8 Qxg7 Rg8 9 Qxh7 Qc7 10 Ne2

10 Kd1!? used to be White’s other main move.

10 ... Nbc6 11 f4 Bd7 12 Qd3 dxc3 13 Be3 d4!?

Korchnoi had deliberately prepared this line to put Spassky in the uncomfortable role of having to defend. Black must sacrifice a pawn or two, but he gets the initiative.

14 Bf2 0-0-0 15 Nxd4 Nxd4 16 Qxd4 b6 17 Bh4 Bb5 18 Qe4 Bxf1 19 Rxf1

Playing to win? White had a forced draw here with 19 Qa8+ Kd7! (19 ... Qb8 20 Qxb8+ Kxb8 21 Kxf1 is good for White) 20 0-0-0+ Nd5 21 Rxd5+ exd5 22 Qxd5+ Kc8 23 Qa8+ etc.

19 ... Rd5! 20 Bxe7 Qxe7 21 Rf3 Kb8

22 Kf1?!

After this Black is better. White should have played 22 g3!, when 22 ... Qc5 23 Qe3 Rd4 24 Kf1 is about equal.

22 ... Rd2 23 Rf2 Rgd8 24 Qf3 Rxf2+ 25 Kxf2 Rd2+ 26 Kg3

26 Kf1 Qc5 would have left White completely tied up while regaining the pawn; for example, 27 Rc1 Qb5+ 28 Kg1 (or 28 Ke1 Qb2) 28 ... Rxc2 is good.

26 ... Qd8!

Not 26 ... Rxc2?, as 27 Rd1 would give White some counterplay.

27 Qe4 Qg8+ 28 Kh3 Qh8+ 29 Kg3 Qg7+ 30 Kh3 Rd8

Threatening mate with 31 ... Rh8+.

31 g4

31 g3 Qh6+ 32 Kg2 Rd2+ is a mating attack.

31 ... Rh8+ 32 Kg3 Qh6 33 Qg2 Qh4+ 34 Kf3 Rd8 35 Qg3

35 Rf1 would have been better, so as to meet 35 ... Rd2 with 36 Rf2.

35 ... Qe7 36 g5?

In time trouble Spassky misses his last chance. 36 Re1 was the best try.

36 ... Rd2 37 Kg4 Qb7 38 Qxc3 Rg2+ 39 Kh3 Rf2 40 Kg4 Qe4 0-1

Finally, here’s the game

which took Korchnoi to a 5-5 win tally in his Baguio City match against Karpov and within a whisker of the Championship title.

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