CHESS

If you wish to win games with the black pieces, a small measure of cultivated uncouthness does not go amiss. Where couth play may lead to a steady and correct draw, a spot of decent vulgarity may lead the opponent astray, as the following game, played recently in Belgrade, demonstrates.

White: Alexander Kovacevic

Black: Viswanathan Anand

Ruy Lopez

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5

This is the start of it. Respectable players know that the bishop belongs on e7 in such positions ...

6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bg4

9.h3 Bh5 10.d3 Rb8

This move is yet another concession: it lets White seize the a-file whenever he wants.

11.axb5 axb5 12.Re1 0-0 13.Nbd2 Ra8!

White must now have realised that he was a little hasty in exchanging pawns on b5. Now he loses control of the a-file.

14.Rxa8 Qxa8 15.Nf1 Qa7 16.Qe2 b4 17.g4

White can be happy with his strategy. Now the bold bishop is banished to g6 and reduced to the role of a harmless bystander.

17...Bg6 18.Ne3 Rb8 19.Bc2 Qa1! 20.Qd2

An ugly move, but how else is he to defend c3?

20...Qa2 21.Bd1 Nd8 22.g5

White's plan is to chase the knight from f6, then occupy d5 with his own knight.

22...Bxe3 23.fxe3 Nd7 24.cxb4 Nc6 25.Qc3

With pressure down the c-file and the chance to activate a bishop on b3, White forces his opponent to sound the retreat.

25...Qa8 26.Nh4 Nxb4 27.Nxg6 hxg6 28.Bb3 Nc5 29.Bc4 (See diagram.)

White has two bishops against two knights in an open position. He is developing threats against f7, and the black queen and rook are a long way from being able to assist their king. All seems well in the white camp, except for one small thing ...

29...Nbxd3!

Most unfortunate: after 30.Bxd3 Rb3 Black regains the piece, then picks off the pawn on e4.

30.Rf1 Qxe4 White resigned.