CHESS

Perhaps the least appreciated of all chess skills is that of manoeuvring. At its highest level, this consists of going round in circles, apparently with malicious intent, but in reality keeping one's mind clear for the moment when something turns up. In the following game, Nigel Short manoeuvred to perfection to earn a place among the last five in the Fide world championship.

White: Nigel Short

Black: Mikhail Krasenkov

Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3

This variation is sure to irritate anyone looking forward to a full-blooded fight in the classical Sicilian with 3.d4 .

3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 d5 7.exd6 e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Bxd6 10.0- 0 Ne7

Black takes a grip on the d5 square while also preparing to defend his K-side, should it become necessary, with Nf5 or Ng6.

11.Nc3 Bd7 12.Ng5! h6 13.Nge4 Bc7 14.Qg4 Nf5 15.Rd1 0-0 16.Nc5

The end of the trail begun with 12.Ng5. Now 12...Bc6 loses to 13.Nxe6.

16...Bc8 17.g3 Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Qf3 Ne7 20.Bf4!

Good positional stuff. White exchanges his inferior bishop, ensuring himself a permanent advantage thanks to the superiority of his remaining cleric.

20...Bxf4 21.Qxf4 b6 22.Na4 Be6 23.Rac1 Rc8 24.Nc3 Qd7 25.f3 Ng6 26.Qd2 Rc7 27.Ba4 Qc8 28.Re1 Rd8 29.Kf2

We are now well into the manoeuvring stage. White's advantage is clear, but not enough to win by direct attack. With Kf2, he prepares the option of playing h4 and h5 - but not too soon. It pays to wait and let the opponent squirm a little.

29...Ne7 30.Bb3 Qb8 31.Ne2 Rxc1 32.Rxc1 Rc8 33.Re1!

White's winning chances would be radically reduced by an exchange of rooks.

33...Nc6 34.Bc2 Qd6 35.a3 Ne7 36.Bb3 Kf8 37.Nf4 a5 38.h4! Qd7 39.h5

The squeeze begins.

39...Qb5 40.Bd1 Rc6 41.g4 Qc4 42.Re3 Qc1

Seeking salvation in exchanges, Black precipitates his downfall.

43.Qxc1 Rxc1 44.Ba4! (See diagram.)

Preventing both Rc6 and Bd7.

44...Bc8 45.Nxd5! resigns.

45...Nxd5 46.Re8 is mate.