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ETCETERA: CHESS

Walter Polhill
Saturday 27 May 1995 23:02 BST
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The Polhill technique proves too much for the world champion...

A few weeks ago in this space, I outlined the simple strategy needed to defeat Mr Garry Kasparov. It is encouraging to see how conscientiously some young players have taken that lesson to heart.

White: Jeroen Piket

Black: Garry Kasparov

Amsterdam 1995.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Na6

The champ's favourite reaction to the Qb3 line against the Grunfeld. Black will attack the centre with c5.

8.Be2 c5 9.d5 e6 10.0-0 exd5 11.exd5 Re8 12.Rd1 Bf5 13.d6

No time to dither over whether the pawn will be strong or weak here. White's major asset must be pushed!

13...h6 14.Bf4 Nd7 15.Rd2! Nb4 16.Qb3!

With a swarm of minor pieces buzzing around his queen, White must take evasive action against Be6.

16...Be6 17.Bc4 Nb6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Na4!

A logical concept. After 19...Nxa4 20.Qxa4 the pawn will advance to d7.

19...Re4 20.Bg3 Nc4 (see diagram) 21.Nxc5!!

Keep your wits about you and trust your judgement. That was my anti-Kasparov strategy, and how well Piket practises it!

21...Nxd2 22.Nxd2 Re2

After 22...Rd4 23.Nf3 Rg4 24.h3, the rook is chased away from its defence of b4..

23.Qxb4 a5 24.Qxb7!

White cannot save his knight after 24.Qf4 g5 but this move shows how deeply Piket calculated at move 21.

24...Rxd2 25.d7! Rxb2 26.Qd5 Rb5 27.Rd1 Bf8 28.Bd6!

White must have seen this move when playing 21.Nxc5!

28...Bxd6 29.Qxd6 Rab8 30.h3 Rb1 31.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 32.Kh2 Rb6

32...Qb8 loses to 33.Qxb8+ Rxb8 34.Nb7!

33.Qe5 Kf8 34.Qh8+ Ke7 35.Qe5+ Kf8 36.f4!

Now 36...Qb8 is met by 37.Ne6+! fxe6 38.Qf6+!

36...h5 37.Qd5 h4

Black has no good moves.

38.Qe5 g5

Otherwise Qh8+ and Qxh4+ will win easily.

39.Qh8+ Ke7 40.Qe5+ Kf8 41.fxg5! Black resigns.

His bluff has been called! After 41...Qb8 42.Qxb8+ Rxb8 43.Nb7 Ke7 44.d8(Q)+ Rxd8 45.Nxd8 Kxd8 46.g3! White wins comfortably.

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