Chess: An older, wiser man

LONGEVITY in chess is a curious and inconsistent phenomenon. While most players peak in their early thirties, some deteriorate rapidly thereafter while others stay close to their best for 20 years or more. Vassily Smyslov is still playing at grandmaster level despite having recently celebrated his 73rd birthday and Viktor Korchnoi, at a sprightly 62, can still trouble the very best.

Today's game, from Beersheva 1993, is a typically youthful and energetic performance from the old man. When Black played 14 . . . 0-0, he must have felt he had the game under control. 15. dxc5 is met by 15 . . . Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Rfd8+ and Black regains his piece. Korchnoi's 17. 0-0-0 is a remarkable move. Despite the open files, his king is not easy to attack and White gains the initiative through finally threatening dxc5.

With 20. Rh3, Korchnoi enabled his rook to defend along the third rank if necessary, but he took the move back with 25. g4] and 26. Rh1. After 27. Qh4 White had no threat but Black's reply changed all that. 27 . . . c5 was intended to exploit the bishop on c3, but 28. f5] (threatening f6) exf5 (still missing the point), led to a brilliant finish with a queen sacrifice. After 30 . . . Kxg7 31. dxc5+ Kf8 32. Rh8+ Ke7 33. Bf6 it is mate.

------------------------------------------- White: V Korchnoi Black: A Huzman ------------------------------------------- 1 d4 Nf6 16 Ng5 Qd7 2 c4 g6 17 0-0-0 Ne6 3 Nc3 d5 18 Bb3 Nxg5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 19 hxg5 Rab8 5 e4 Nxc3 20 Rh3 Qb7 6 bxc3 Bg7 21 Qe3 Qb5 7 Bb5+ c6 22 f4 e6 8 Ba4 b5 23 Qf2 Rfe8 9 Bb3 b4 24 Rd2 Bf8 10 Bb2 bxc3 25 g4 hxg4 11 Bxc3 Nd7 26 Rh1 Bg7 12 Nf3 Nc5 27 Qh4 c5 13 Bc2 Ba6 28 f5 exf5 14 Qd2 0-0 29 Qh7+ Kf8 15 h4 h5 30 Qxg7+ 1-0 -------------------------------------------