[Event "Hastings (England)"]
[Site "Hastings (England)"]
[Date "1975.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Anthony Miles"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1975.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5
6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd3 cxd4 {
Perhaps 7...Be7 is more accurate, maintaining the central tension.} 8. exd4 Be7
9. O-O O-O {One of the classical isolated queen's pawn positions, in which
White's extra space and attacking chances compensate for the structural
weakness.} 10. Re1 Nf6 {A solid alternative is 10...Bf6 11 Be4 etc.} 11. Bg5 {
!? Fashionable was 11 a3, but the text is not bad. All White's pieces are
coming out at great speed while Black still has problems completing his
queenside development.} 11... Nb4 {The immediate 11...b6 deserves attention.
Black's plan to dominate the blockade square d5 instantly is possibly too
straightforward.} 12. Bb1 b6 {12...Bd7 is a more cautious treatment, planning
a later development with ...Bc6.} 13. Ne5 Bb7 {It might look as if Black is
over the worst but now a vicious attack appears almost out of nowhere.} 14. Re3
{!! A difficult and bold move. When I played it I already had to be sure that
my kingside attacking chances would be sufficient compensation for my lack of
queenside development and the clumsy position of my rook on the third rank.
Strangely, a similar rook manoeuvre occurred in a game Filip - Pogats, played
14 years previously, but neither Miles nor I had any notion of this until I
discovered the theoretical background after our game. Incidentally, the Filip
game ended in a draw.} 14... g6 {
To prevent 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16 Bxh7+ Kxh7 17 Qh5+ and 18 Rh3.} 15. Rg3 {! It looks
odd to aim the rook against a granite wall (g6) but the granite has faulty
foundations. In contrast, the more natural 15 Rh3 achieves nothing.} 15... Rc8
{?! At the time the course I feared most was 15...Nc6! 16 Bh6 Qxd4! when Black
breaks White's attack by sacrificing the exchange. In view of the lack of
weaknesses in Black's position it would then be a distinctly uphill struggle
for White to win. After the move played the solution became susceptible to
precise tactical analysis.} 16. Bh6 Re8 17. a3 Nc6 {
17...Nbd5 does not alter things significantly.} 18. Nxg6 {!} 18... hxg6 19.
Bxg6 {Apart from capturing the bishop Black has two other defences: a) 19...
Bf8 20 Bc2+ Kh8 21 Bxf8 Rxf8 22 Qd2 Ng8 23 Rh3+ Kg7 24 Rh7+ (Fritz gives 24
Qf4) 24...Kf6 25 d5+-; b) 19...Bd6 20 Bxf7+ Kxf7 21 Rg7+ Kf8 22 Qf3+-. In this
position Black is quite helpless, in spite of his extra material.} 19... fxg6
20. Qb1 {! An original square for the queen in a mating combination, but
neither 20 Qd3 Ne5 nor 20 Qc2 Ne5! 21 dxe5 Ne4 (exploiting the pin on the
c-file) would be good enough for White.} 20... Ne5 21. dxe5 Ne4 {
Without the c-file pin this is sheer desperation.} 22. Nxe4 Kh7 23. Nf6+ Bxf6
24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Bg7+ Bxg7 26. Qxg7# 1-0

[Event "Madrid (Spain)"]
[Site "Madrid (Spain)"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Karl Robatsch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1971.??.??"]

1. c4 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O
O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Qc2 b6 8. Nc3 Bb7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 {This line was employed by
Geller in his 1965 Candidates' match with Smyslov, and resulted in easy
equality for Black. Here, or on the next move, a recapture on d5 with the
e-pawn would restrict the mobility of Black's queen's bishop, though this
might not prove serious in view of the foothold Black would gain in the centre.
} 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. e4 Bb7 12. Bf4 {Smyslov played 12 Rd1, which got him
nowhere. The text seems to me logical to me, since White now has the
opportunity to place his rooks on d1 and e1, and in addition he has no reason
to fear the central thrust ...c7-c5 on account of the following pawn sacrifice.
} 12... c5 13. d5 exd5 14. exd5 Bf6 {And not 14...Bxd5 15 Rad1 when Black must
lose material. 14...Nf6 would fail to 15 d6 followed by 16 Rad1.} 15. h4 Re8 {
15...h6 is possible, although White could then try 16 Nh2 and Ng4, attacking
the weakness on h6.} 16. Ng5 Nf8 17. Rad1 Bd4 {
Hoping to surround White's d-pawn, but White's next move thwarts this.} 18. Be3
{Now Black cannot capture at once on e3 in view of the sensitivity of f7.}
18... h6 {After the game Robatsch suggested 18...f6 but this fails to 19 d6!
Bxg2 20 Qb3+ c4 21 Qxc4+ Ne6 22 Nxe6 Bxf1 23 Kxf1 etc.; en passant, it should
also be mentioned that the variation 18...Bxd5 19 Bxd4 Bxg2 20 Bxg7! is in
White's favour.} 19. Ne4 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Ng6 {
? A severe tactical error. Correct is 20...Qe7!} 21. Rxf7 {!! I played this
sacrifice after only a few minutes thought. It is clear that both 21...Rxe4 22
Qxe4 or 22 Rxb7 Rg4 23 Qf5 and 21...Kxf7 22 Rf1+ Kg8 23 Nf6+ gxf6 24 Qxg6+ Kh8
25 Qxh6+ Kg8 26 Qg6+ Kh8 27 Rxf6 Re7 28 Be4! are inadequate, and I felt that
after 21...Kxf7 22 Rf1+ Ke7 there had to be a mate.} 21... Kxf7 {It is hopeless
to decline. White remains a pawn up with a rook firmly established on the 7th
rank.} 22. Rf1+ Ke7 {Now I paused to think for 50 minutes before continuing
with the combination. White is winning but some of the variations demand
precise calculation.} 23. d6+ Kd7 {
Or 23...Ke6 24 Nxc5+ bxc5 25 Qxg6+ Kd7 26 Rf7+ etc.} 24. Rf7+ Ne7 {If 24...Kc8
then 25 Rc7+ Kb8 (or 25...Qxc7 26 dxc7 Kxc7 27 Nd6 Kxd6 28 Qxg6+ Re6 29 Qd3+
Kc7 30 Bxb7 Kxb7 31 Qd7+) 26 Rxb7+ Kxb7 27 Nxc5+ Kb8 28 Na6 mate. 25 Nxc5 also
wins easily.} 25. Qa4+ Kc8 {There are two alternatives: a) 25...Bc6 26 Bh3
mate. b) 25...Ke6 26 Qc4+ and now: b1) 26...Kd7 27 Bh3+ Kc6 28 d7 Rf8 29 Qe6+
Kb5 30 Nd6+. b2) 26...Ke5 27 dxe7 Rxe7 (if 27...Qd5 28 Qc3+ Ke6 29 Ng5+) 28
Rf1! and Black's king is stranded. b3) 26...Bd5 27 Rxe7+ Rxe7 (if 27...Qxe7 28
Nxc5+ Kxd6 29 Qxd5+ etc.) 28 Nxc5+ bxc5 (or 28...Kf6 29 Qf4+ Kg6 30 dxe7 Qxe7
31 Bxd5) 29 Qxd5+ Kf6 30 Qf3+ followed by dxe7 and Qxa8 winning a piece.} 26.
d7+ {Leading to a surprising final twist.} 26... Qxd7 {
Or 26...Kc7 27 dxe8=N+ Qxe8 28 Qc4 and Black is helpless.} 27. Bh3 {
! 27...Qxh3 28 Qxe8+; or 27...Bc6 28 Qxc6+ Nxc6 29 Bxd7+ Kb8 30 Bxc6+-.} 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam (Netherlands)"]
[Site "It"]
[Date "1973.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Vladimir Kovacevic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1973.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... d5 2. b3 Bg4 3. Bb2 Nd7 4. g3 Bxf3 {
A bold decision indicating that Black is playing for a win. This was the last
round and if Kovacevic could beat me he would have tied with me.} 5. exf3 Ngf6
6. f4 e6 7. Bg2 {
?! Dubious. 7 Bh3! intending the disruptive advance f4-f5 is less stereotyped.}
7... Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. d3 a5 10. a4 c6 11. Nd2 b5 12. Qe2 bxa4 {? Now White
obtains the upper hand. It was essential for Black to maintain the tension
with moves such as ...Rb8 and ...Re8 when his position would even be slightly
preferable.} 13. Rxa4 Nb6 14. Ra2 {!} 14... a4 15. Rfa1 axb3 16. Rxa8 Nxa8 17.
Nxb3 Nb6 {Not good: White now has the opportunity to launch a variety of
favourable combinations, but it's clear that Black's position is already far
from satisfactory (White is better developed and his well cO-Ordinated pieces
control the vital a-file and a1-h8 diagonal).} 18. f5 {! Inaugurating the
combination. Black must accept the sacrifice, otherwise (after 19 fxe6) he
would shed his e-pawn to the combined onslaught of White's pieces.} 18... exf5
19. Nd4 Qd7 20. Bh3 {! Also good was 20 Nxc6 Qxc6 21 Qxe7 but the text is more
accurate. Black cannot allow the white knight to reach f5 since the threats
against g7 would be intolerable.} 20... g6 {Or 20...Ng4 21 Nxf5!} 21. Bxf5 {
!! Once again 21 Nxc6 Qxc6 22 Qxe7 was very good, but White has something more
ambitious in mind.} 21... gxf5 22. Ra7 {!! This move visibly came as a shock
to my opponent. Black has no choice but to fall in with White's plans.} 22...
Qxa7 23. Nxc6 Qd7 {There are two major alternative defences: a) 23...Qa2 24
Nxe7+ Kg7 25 Nxf5+ Kg8 (or 25...Kg6 26 Ne7+ Kg7 27 Qg4+) 26 Qg4+ Nxg4 27 Ne7
mate. b) 23...Ba3! (Best) 24 Nxa7 (24 Bxf6 Qa4! is highly unclear) 24...Bxb2
when White has queen for rook and two pieces, but Black's forces are rather
awkwardly placed and this enables White to increase his advantage as follows:
25 c4! Bd4 26 Nb5 Re8! 27 Qf3 Bc5 28 d4 Bf8 29 c5 Nc4 30 Qxf5, and in view of
the powerful c-pawn, Black's weakened kingside and the scattered dispositions
of the black army, White should win. However, this was Black's only chance of
resistance. But, as so often, a combinational blow disturbs the balance of the
victim's objectivity and he fails to discover the most tenacious defensive
possibilities.} 24. Nxe7+ Kg7 25. Qh5 {! Completely unanswerable. For example:
25...Qxe7 26 Qg5+ Kh8 27 Bxf6+ picking up the other knight in addition; or 25..
.h6 26 Nxf5+ or 25...Ra8 26 Qg5+ Kf8 27 Bxf6 with Qg8 mate to follow.} 1-0

[Event "Hexagon International"]
[Site "Woolacombe"]
[Date "1973.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stuart James Hutchings"]
[Black "Raymond Keene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A16"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1973.??.??"]

1. c4 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... Nf6 2. Nc3 b6 3. Nf3 {
3 e4!? is more energetic} 3... Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. g3 {
? This variation is fairly harmless. More aggressive are 5 e3 and 5 Bg5.} 5...
Bb4 6. Bd2 c5 {! Black already has an excellent position.} 7. a3 {
Perhaps 7 dxc5 could be tried.} 7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Ne4 9. Qc2 {
?! More accurate is 9 Rc1.} 9... Nxc3 10. Qxc3 Qf6 {! This aggressive move
forces weaknesses in White's pawn structure all over the board.} 11. Rd1 Bxf3
12. Qxf3 Qxf3 13. exf3 Nc6 14. dxc5 {
?! This adds the b-file to Black's gains. 14 d5 was the last chance.} 14...
bxc5 15. Bg2 Rb8 {Black obviously has a great advantage, but what
distinguishes this game, after White's inept handling of the opening is the
way in which Black forces entry into the white fortress. The elements to be
combined are pressure in the b-file, an outpost for the black rook on b3 and
the unchallengeable black knight on d4. It is interesting that in spite of the
numerous exchanges the cumulative effect of all these pluses leads to black
victory in a mere seven moves.} 16. Rd2 Rb3 17. Kd1 Ke7 18. f4 Nd4 19. Kc1 h5 {
!! By threatening ...h4-h3 Black forces White to weaken his pawn on g3.} 20. h4
Rhb8 {The threat is now 21...Rxg3! 22 fxg3 Nb3+ 23 Kc2 Nxd2 24 Kxd2 Rxb2+-+.}
21. Bf1 Rf3 {! This is totally decisive. White has no defence to the twin
threats of ...Nb3+ and ...Rxa3.} 22. Kd1 {If 22 Kb1 Rxa3 all the same.} 22...
Rxa3 {The White fortifications have crumbled for if 23 bxa3 Rb1 mate.} 0-1

[Event "Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1964.09.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "E Fielder"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1964.??.??"]

1. d4 {Annotations by Keene.} 1... Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. e4 Bg4 4. d5 Ne5 {?} 5.
Nxe5 {!} 5... Bxd1 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 bxc6 9. Bxc6+ Kd8 10. Nxf7+
Kc7 11. Bxa8 Bh5 12. Nxh8 e6 13. O-O Qb6 14. e5 {!} 14... d5 {?} 15. Bxd5 Bb4
16. Be3 Qa5 17. Bxe6 Qxe5 {?} 18. Bf4 {!} 18... Qxf4 19. Nd5+ 1-0

[Event "Camaguey (Cuba)"]
[Site "Camaguey (Cuba)"]
[Date "1974.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Eleazar Jimenez Zerquera"]
[Black "Raymond Keene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1974.??.??"]

1. e4 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 {!?} 5.
Qd2 Nd7 6. f3 {The most aggressive move here is 6 h4, but Jimenez had drawn
all of his games in quiet fashion up to this round, so I was hardly expecting
a super-sharp theoretical test of my provocative defence inaugurated by 4...
a6!?} 6... b5 7. Nh3 Bb7 8. Be2 c5 9. Nf2 {Much stronger is 9 d5! After the
feeble text Black can reach a highly favourable Sicilian style position.} 9...
cxd4 {!} 10. Bxd4 Ngf6 11. O-O O-O 12. a3 Qc7 13. Rac1 Nb6 {Black has obviously
won the opening and his pressure in the half-open c-file is especially
unpleasant for White. White's next move looks insanely anti-positional but he
is already in a strange kind of strategic zugzwang.} 14. Ng4 Nxg4 15. fxg4
Bxd4+ 16. Qxd4 Rac8 17. Kh1 Qc5 {Exchange of queens furthers Black's cause.}
18. Qd2 Nd7 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Ne5 21. c3 Rc7 22. Rcd1 Kg7 23. Rf4 Rb8 {
Black prepares the traditional minority attack on the queenside.} 24. h3 a5 25.
Ra1 Rcb7 26. b4 Qc7 27. a4 axb4 28. cxb4 bxa4 29. Rxa4 {
? A better chance would have been 29 b5! intending 30 Rfxa4.} 29... Rc8 30. Rd4
Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qb1 32. Ba6 {
A naive piece of optimism which allows a cunning refutation.} 32... Rc2 {
If now 33 Qf4 Rbc7-+.} 33. Bxb7 {Two rooks for a queen ... please?} 33... Qb2 {
!! A painful shock for White. If 34 Qf4 Rxg2+ 35 Kh1 Rf2-+.} 34. Qxc2 {
As I said, two rooks for a queen.} 34... Qxc2 {
Threatening ...Qxa4 or ...Nf3+. White's reply is forced.} 35. Ra3 Qb2 {
! Back again, and it only one rook. After 36 Rd3 Nxd3 37 Rxd3 Qxb4 White has
even shed his b-pawn, so ...} 0-1

[Event "Sydney"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1979.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Stephen G R Kerr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E45"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1979.??.??"]

1. d4 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2
Ba6 6. Ng3 {! Much better than 6 Qa4? as in Purdy - Kerr in round 8 from the
same tournament.} 6... O-O 7. e4 Nc6 8. Bd3 e5 {Not 8...Nxd4 when 9 Qa4 wins.}
9. a3 {! This was a theoretical novelty. Usual is 9 d5, but not 9 O-O Nxd4 10
Qa4 Bxc3 11 bxc3 Ne6 12 Ba3 Bb7! with more than enough for the exchange.} 9...
Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 d6 {10...exd4 11 cxd4 Nxd4 12 Bb2 c5 13 Bxd4 cxd4 14 O-O would
be better for White, as he regains the pawn with a great advantage in
structure.} 11. Bg5 {! With the idea of 12 Nh5, therefore provoking ...h7-h6.}
11... h6 12. Be3 Na5 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. Nf5 Qa4 {? Overlooking disaster. Correct
is the paradoxical 14...g6! 15 Nxh6+ Kg7! with complications.} 15. Bxh6 {
!! This wins in all variations.} 15... gxh6 16. Qe3 Ne8 17. Qxh6 Qd7 {
If 17...f6 then 18 Qg6+ Kh8 19 Ne7 with the unstoppable threat of 20 Qh6 mate.
A peculiar zig-zag manoeuvre now wins the queen.} 18. Qg5+ Kh7 19. Qh4+ Kg8 20.
Qg3+ Kh7 21. Qh3+ Kg8 22. Nh6+ 1-0

[Event "Manchester"]
[Site "Manchester"]
[Date "1981.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Michael John Basman"]
[Black "Raymond Keene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1981.??.??"]

1. g4 {Notes by Raymond Keene. I have never been quite sure whether this is
the worst opening move or whether that dubious title belongs to 1 f3. At least
after 1 f3 d5 White can play 2 f4, or after 1 f3 e5 2 e4 Bc5 3 f4!?, but 1 g4
gives no such opportunity. One of the best ways to manhandle this miserable
move is to play a sharp gambit against it.} 1... d5 2. h3 e5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 e4
5. c4 Bd6 6. Nc3 Ne7 {
! A powerful gambit, which casts doubt on White's whole opening.} 7. g5 {
In his book The Killer Grob, Basman recommends instead accepting the gambit
with 7 Qb3 O-O 8 Bg5 f6 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 Nxd5 Be6 11 Nxe7+ Qxe7 12 d5, but then
12...Bf7 13 Be3 Na6 or 13...Nd7 leaves White virtually lost, since he will
automatically lose the pawn on d5 and he cannot meanwhile develop his kingside.
} 7... Be6 8. h4 Nf5 9. Bh3 {Not 9 e3 Nxh4 10 Rxh4 Qxg5 winning.} 9... O-O 10.
cxd5 cxd5 11. Nxd5 {
Or 11 Bxf5 Bxf5 12 Nxd5 Qa5+ 13 Nc3 Nc6 with a decisive lead in development.}
11... Ng3 {Basman completely overlooked this. If 12 fxg3 Bxg3+ and 13...Bxd5,
or 12 Bxe6 Nxh1 13 Bh3 Bh2! stabbing White's knights in the back. The rest is
a slaughter.} 12. Nf6+ gxf6 13. fxg3 Bxg3+ 14. Kf1 Nc6 15. Be3 Nb4 16. Kg2 Nd5
17. Kxg3 Nxe3 18. Qd2 Qd6+ 19. Kf2 Qf4+ 20. Nf3 exf3 {
21 Qxe3 Qxh4+ is hopeless for White.} 0-1

[Event "Lugano Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1968.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "Ricardo Calvo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E63"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1968.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. c4
d6 6. d4 Nc6 {This and Black's next move constitute the Panno Variation, which
was then in fashion as a method of meeting White's kingside fianchetto.} 7. Nc3
a6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2 Bd7 {? Black's best try for equality would seem
to be 10...Rb8 11 b3 b5 12 Bb2 Bh6 without exchanging on c4.} 11. b3 b5 12. Bb2
Qb6 13. Nd1 Rfb8 {There is a common misconception that the best way to handle
this type of position for Black lies in building up pressure on the
potentially open b-file. This is completely false, and many games have been
lost by Black through the misplacing of the rooks on this file, while White
gradually steamrollers through the centre with f2-f4 and e4-e5. Against the
configuration of minor pieces adopted by White here (bishop - c3, knights - d3,
d2) Black's rooks are helpless since they are denied points of entry.
Meanwhile, Black's knight on a5 is beginning to look ridiculous, and White's
minor pieces are admirably placed to support a central advance and transfer to
the opposite wing.} 14. e4 bxc4 15. bxc4 Qd8 16. Bc3 Ne8 17. Nb2 Ra7 18. Nd3 e6
{Black must do something to avoid slow but sure extinction after f2-f4, but a
better method of achieving counterplay would have been 18...Bd4. Now Black has
weakened both his dark squares and the base of his pawn chain, and White
exploits these factors by means of a temporary pawn sacrifice.} 19. Bxg7 Nxg7
20. e5 {! With the dire threat of Ne4.} 20... exd5 21. Bxd5 Bf5 22. Qc3 Bxd3
23. Qxd3 dxe5 24. Qe3 Qe7 25. Rfe1 Nf5 26. Qc3 {Now White's bishop has taken
up a commanding post on d5 whence it menaces the vulnerable f7 square, and
Black is also obliged to return his extra pawn.} 26... Qc7 27. Rxe5 Nc6 28.
Ree1 Nfd4 29. Nf3 {Contemplating a trip to g5, hence ...} 29... Nxf3+ 30. Qxf3
Nd4 31. Qf6 Nc2 {Rather optimistic, but it is already too late to discover a
really satisfactory defence. The text does at least have the virtue of
removing White's dangerous bishop.} 32. Rab1 Rxb1 {
And not 32...Nxe1? 33 Bxf7+! winning instantly.} 33. Rxb1 Nb4 34. Re1 Qd7 35.
h4 {35 Rd1 threatening Bxf7+, as suggested by team captain C.H.O.D. Alexander
after the game, also wins easily, e.g. 35...Qe8 36 Bb7!! and then Rd8. Now
Black is threatened with imminent mate following the further advance of the
h-pawn, so he is forced to give White a winning passed pawn.} 35... Nxd5 36.
cxd5 Ra8 37. d6 Qf5 {After the alternative 37...Rd8 38 h5 Black has no defence
against 39 h6; the try 38...Qxd6? is met by 39 Re8+; 38...gxh5 by 39 Re5 or 39
Re7.} 38. Qe7 Qd5 39. d7 Rf8 {
Losing at once - but if 39...Kg7 40 Qe8, 41 Qxa8, 42 Re8 etc. wins anyway.} 40.
Qxf8+ 1-0

[Event "Teesside (England)"]
[Site "Teesside (England)"]
[Date "1972.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hans-Joachim Hecht"]
[Black "Raymond Keene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B26"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1972.??.??"]

1. e4 {Notes by Raymond Keene.} 1... g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 {3 d4, returning to
the Pirc or Modern, is a more severe test of Black's resources.} 3... c5 4. Bg2
Nc6 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 Rb8 {I like this move very much. I first saw a similar
idea in Christoffel - Petrosian, Zuerich 1961, and since then I have had
several opportunities to use it in my own games. Black wants, ideally, to
establish a queenside advantage rapidly, before committing the development of
his kingside to any set pattern.} 7. Nf3 {Hartston - Keene, Hastings 1971/72
(a few months before this game) had gone: 7 Qd2 b5 8 Nge2 b4 9 Nd1 Qb6 10 O-O
a5 11 f4 f5 12 Bf2 Nf6 13 Ne3 O-O 14 e5 dxe5 15 Nc4 Qc7 16 Bxc5 Rd8 17 Kh1
Ba6=/+, although White succeeded in holding the draw after 29 moves.} 7... Nf6
8. h3 b5 9. Qd2 b4 10. Nd1 {? The further course of the game reveals that the
knight is badly placed on this square. 10 Ne2 was indicated.} 10... Ba6 {
Aiming, eventually, for ...c5-c4 to hit at the base of White's pawn chain.} 11.
Nh4 O-O 12. O-O c4 13. f4 Qc7 14. Rf2 {To unpin the d-pawn.} 14... Rfd8 {
Only this plan, in connection with the sacrifice at move 17, leaves Black on
top. If White could play d3-d4 free of charge and follow this with c2-c3,
cementing the foundations of his centre, he could be winning.} 15. d4 {
To advance the f-pawn would concede too many squares, e.g. 15 f5 cxd3 16 cxd3
Ne5.} 15... d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Bxe4 c3 {! 17...dxe4? 18 c3 leaves White's
centre like a rock and Black's queen's bishop totally out of play.} 18. bxc3
dxe4 {For his pawn Black has achieved two very important basic advantages: a)
his pawn structure is superior (White's huge centre, with its unwieldy doubled
pawns is subject to severe pressure) and b) his king is more secure. In
addition, Black dominates the light squares and White's minor pieces are badly
congested and incapable of cO-Ordination.} 19. Kh2 {To guard against ...bxc3
followed by ...Qd7, forking d4 and h3. If, instead, 19 cxb4 Nxb4 20 a3 Nc6
followed by ...Na5 heading for the weak c4 square.} 19... e6 20. Qe1 Bf8 21. f5
{?! A practical decision - White gives back the pawn to enliven his queen's
bishop and create some counterplay. I had expected 21 Bd2 but then comes 21...
bxc3 22 Bxc3 Nxd4! 23 Ba5 Nxc2 24 Bxc7 Nxe1 25 Bxb8 Rxb8 with such threats as .
..e4-e3, ...Bc5 or ...Nd3.} 21... exf5 22. Bg5 bxc3 {! Another practical
decision - I wanted to keep the initiative and wipe out White's centre without
stopping to save the exchange, but 22...Be7 or 22...Rd7 were doubtless
playable. Not surprisingly, my 22nd move was partly prompted by Hecht's
habitual time shortage, which was not absent in this encounter.} 23. Bxd8 Qxd8
24. Qxc3 Rc8 25. Ne3 Qxd4 {25...Nxd4 is also excellent.} 26. Qxd4 Nxd4 27. Rd1
Nc6 28. Rd5 Re8 29. g4 {The best try in the circumstances.} 29... Bh6 30. Nexf5
{? In time-trouble it is difficult to make rational decisions, and after this
a rout ensues. There was still tough resistance possible with 30 Nhg2 Nxe5 31
gxf5 Nf3+ 32 Kh1 Bf8 33 fxg6 hxg6 34 c4 Rb8 35 Rc2, although Black should win
with 35...Bc5! planning ...Bd4 and an advance of the f-pawn. Note that 36 Rxc5
loses to 36...Rb1+.} 30... gxf5 31. Nxf5 Bf8 32. Nd6 Rxe5 0-1

[Event "Apertura Catalana (E04)"]
[Site "Olimp Juegos Mentales. Pekín"]
[Date "2012.12.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "A. Giri (Holanda, 2.720)."]
[Black "A. Morosiévich (Ru, 2.748)."]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{Giri, de 18 anos, a quien veremos en Leon en junio, firma una joya rapida:} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 b5 6. a4 c6 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. O-O a6 ({
(quiza se aguante mejor con} 8... Bb7 {, que al menos desarrolla una pieza y
elimina la indefension de la Ta8 en la gran diagonal blanca)}) 9. axb5 cxb5 10.
b3 cxb3 11. Qxb3 Bb7 {(a largo plazo, si se eliminase la artilleria pesada del
tablero, los dos peones pasados negros del flanco de dama serian decisivos;
pero Giri demostrara que su poderoso centro, la ventaja de desarrollo y la
fragilidad del monarca negro sin enroque pesan mucho mas)} 12. e4 Nf6 13. d5 $1
Bd6 ({(Morosievich busca el enroque para mantenerse vivo, porque ceptar el
regalo seria suicida:} 13... exd5 $2 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Qe3 Qe7 ({-si} 15... Be7
$2 16. Rd1 {[amenaza Cc3]} 16... b4 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Qe4 {, ganando-}) 16. Ba3
b4 17. Bxb4 Qe6 ({-si} 17... Qxb4 $4 18. Nc6+ {, ganando-}) 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19.
Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Qc5+ Ne7 21. Re1 Nbc6 22. Nc3 {
, y la ventaja de desarrollo garantiza la victoria)}) 14. Nxf7 $3 {
(mantener al rey negro en el centro es fundamental)} 14... Kxf7 15. dxe6+ Ke8 {
(diagrama)} ({(si} 15... Ke7 $4 16. e5 $1 {
, ganando, porque las capturas en f6 o d6 serian con jaque)}) 16. e5 $3 {
(esta decision implica el sacrificio de la torre en a1)} 16... Bxg2 17. exf6
Qxf6 18. Kxg2 $1 Qxa1 19. Bb2 $6 ({(era muy importante evitar Da4} 19. Nc3 $1)
19... Qa4 $1 20. Qf3 Ra7 $2 ({
(Morosievich no ve el estrecho camino a la salvacion:} 20... Qc2 $3 {
(la idea principal es Dc6, pero no la unica)} 21. Qf7+ ({
-el punto mas critico era} 21. Rc1 Rf8 $1 22. Rxc2 Rxf3 23. Rc8+ Ke7 24. Kxf3
Kxe6 25. Nc3 Ra7 {, sin problemas para las negras-}) 21... Kd8 22. Bxg7 ({
-o bien} 22. e7+ Bxe7 23. Qd5+ Kc7 24. Rc1 Qc6 25. Rxc6+ Nxc6 26. Bxg7 Rhd8 {
, y las negras estarian bien-}) 22... Qc6+ 23. Kg1 Re8 24. Rd1 Nd7 $1 25. exd7
Qxd7 26. Qd5 Ra7 27. Bd4 Rb7 {, y ya lloveria mucho menos para las negras)})
21. Rc1 $1 Kd8 ({(si} 21... Rc7 22. Rxc7 Bxc7 23. Bxg7 Ke7 24. Qf7+ Kd6 25. Nc3
Qc4 26. Bxh8 Qxe6 27. Qxh7 {
, con ventaja ganadora, porque el rey negro esta mucho mas expuesto)}) 22. Bf6+
$1 Be7 23. Qd5+ Nd7 24. Bd4 Rc7 {(todas pierden)} 25. Qa8+ {
, y Morosievich se rindio porque era mate.} 1-0

[Event "Apertura Inglesa (A29)"]
[Site "Mundial de Sevilla (2ª part)"]
[Date "1987.10.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "G. Kaspárov (URSS, 2.740)."]
[Black "A. Kárpov (URSS, 2.700)."]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]

{Manana se cumplen 25 anos del dramatico desenlace del duelo historico de
Sevilla. Kasparov sufrio lo indecible durante dos meses y medio, a raiz de
esta derrota:} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7.
Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 e3 $1 {(quiza no sea la mejor -de hecho, Karpov no
la repitio en la cuarta partida- pero el efecto de esta novedad fue devastador:
!Kasparov penso su replica durante 80 minutos!)} 10. d3 d5 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qa3
c6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. f4 Nc6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Bb2 Bg4 {(la clave es que el peon
de e3 divide en dos el ejercito blanco, y ademas la dama blanca esta lejos de
su rey; sin embargo, Kasparov confia en sus cuchillos de b2 y g2...)} 17. c4 $6
{(...pero no era necesario plantear tan rapido el cuerpo a cuerpo; tras la
solida} (17. Nf3 Rad8 18. Ba1 {, las blancas podrian seguir con Tfc1 y c4)})
17... dxc4 $1 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Ne4 Kg7 20. dxc4 $2 {(Kasparov ve una manera
de ganar el peon de e3 desde la tercera fila, pero no evalua bien las
consecuencias de ceder una columna central; era mucho mejor} (20. Qc3 {)})
20... Rad8 21. Rb3 Nd4 $1 22. Rxe3 Qxc4 {(Kasparov tenia 8 minutos para llegar
a la 40; Karpov, 10; y la posicion blanca hace aguas)} 23. Kh1 $2 ({
(habia que achicar con} 23. Qb2 $1 Re6 24. Bf3 {, y aguantar)}) 23... Nf5 ({
(se ganaba con} 23... Nc2 {, pero habia que calcular} 24. Qc3 Nxe3 25. Qxf6+
Kg8 26. Qg5+ Kf8 27. Qh6+ Ke7 28. Qf6+ Kd7 {)}) 24. Rd3 Bxe2 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26.
Re1 {(tras hacer esta jugada, Kasparov olvio pulsar el reloj durante casi tres
minutos)} 26... Re8 27. Qa5 b5 ({
(tremendos apuros de tiempo; aun mas fuerte era} 27... Rxe4 $1 28. Qxf5 Bf3 $1
{)}) 28. Nd2 Qd3 29. Nb3 {(diagrama) (todo listo para el golpe de gracia)}
29... Bf3 $3 30. Bxf3 ({(si} 30. Rxe8 Qf1# {mate)}) 30... Qxf3+ 31. Kg1 Rxe1+
32. Qxe1 Ne3 {, y Kasparov se rindio.} 0-1

[Event "Apertura Inglesa (A14)"]
[Site "Mundial de Sevilla (24ª par)"]
[Date "1987.12.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "G. Kaspárov (URSS, 2.740)."]
[Black "A. Kárpov (URSS, 2.700)."]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]

{El 18 y 19 de diciembre de 1987 fueron historicos: 13 millones de espanoles
(segun Ecotel) siguieron en directo por TVE la ultima partida del Mundial de
Sevilla; desde 1988, Espana es el pais que mas torneos internacionales
organiza. Destrozado por la derrota en la 23|_, Gari Kasparov fue capaz de
reponerse, y muy inteligente al plantear una lucha muy tranquila y larga,
apostando por su mayor resistencia fisica:} 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. b3
Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Ne2 a5 11. d3 Bf6
12. Qc2 Bxb2 13. Qxb2 Nd6 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. d4 c5 16. Rfd1 Rc8 17. Nf4 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Qe7 19. Rac1 Rfd8 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. b4 $1 axb4 22. Qxb4 Qa7 23. a3 Nf5 24.
Rb1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qc7 26. Nd3 h6 27. Rc1 $1 Ne7 28. Qb5 Nf5 29. a4 Nd6 30. Qb1
Qa7 31. Ne5 $1 Nxa4 32. Rxc8+ Nxc8 33. Qd1 Ne7 34. Qd8+ Kh7 35. Nxf7 Ng6 36.
Qe8 Qe7 37. Qxa4 Qxf7 38. Be4 Kg8 39. Qb5 Nf8 40. Qxb6 Qf6 41. Qb5 Qe7 {
(y aqui se aplazo la partida hasta el dia siguiente)} 42. Kg2 g6 43. Qa5 Qg7
44. Qc5 Qf7 45. h4 h5 $2 {(fijar los peones en casillas blancas es un error
solo explicable por el cansancio de dos meses y medio)} 46. Qc6 Qe7 47. Bd3 Qf7
48. Qd6 Kg7 49. e4 Kg8 50. Bc4 Kg7 51. Qe5+ Kg8 52. Qd6 Kg7 53. Bb5 Kg8 54. Bc6
Qa7 55. Qb4 Qc7 56. Qb7 Qd8 {(diagrama)} 57. e5 $1 {
(las negras han quedado en zugzwang: todas las jugadas pierden)} 57... Qa5 ({
(veamos: si} 57... Kh8 58. Qf7) ({si} 57... Qd3 58. Be8 Qf5 59. Qf3) ({si} 
57... g5 58. hxg5 Qxg5 59. Be8 Qf5 60. Qf3) ({y si} 57... Nh7 58. Qd7 {
, ganando en todos los casos)}) 58. Be8 Qc5 59. Qf7+ Kh8 60. Ba4 Qd5+ 61. Kh2
Qc5 62. Bb3 Qc8 63. Bd1 Qc5 64. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Apertura Inglesa (A14)"]
[Site "IV London Classic. Londres"]
[Date "2012.12.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "V. Krámnik (Rusia, 2.795)."]
[Black "G. Jones (Ing, 2.644)."]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{Vladimir Kramnik debe ser el 2_| en la lista oficial del 1 de enero (ya lo es
en la oficiosa: www.2700chess.com), lo que resulta indicativo a tres meses del
Torneo de Candidatos. Su problema es la resistencia fisica, pero ello no le
impide firmar actuaciones muy brillantes, como este mes en Londres, donde su
juego fue excelso. A la obra maestra publicada aqui el dia 8, anadimos esta
maravilla de vision estrategica a largo plazo:} 1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4.
Bb2 e6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. d4
Ne4 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 bxc5 14. Qe2 Re8 15. Rfd1 Bf8 16. Qb5 Qb6 $6 ({
(como demostrara la partida, era mejor} 16... Rb8 {)}) 17. Qxb6 axb6 {
(diagrama)} 18. Rxd5 $3 {
(el teorico peon envenenado es, en realidad, un manjar)} 18... Nd4 19. Nxd4 $1
Bxd5 20. Bxd5 cxd4 $1 ({(mejor que} 20... Rad8 21. Nb5 $1 Rxd5 22. Nc7 Rd3 23.
Nxe8 Rxc3 24. Nc7 {, con un peon limpio de ventaja)}) 21. Bxd4 Ra5 22. e4 Bc5
23. Bc3 Ra3 24. Bb2 Ra7 {(el monstruo en d5 y los dos peones de ventaja valen
claramente mas que una de las torres negras, porque Jones tendra serios
problemas para activarlas)} 25. a4 Rc7 26. Ra2 h6 27. Kg2 Kh7 28. f4 f6 29. Kf3
Rd7 30. a5 $1 {(el de b3 sera ahora un peon pasado)} 30... bxa5 31. Rxa5 Rc8
32. Rb5 Rd6 33. Rb7 Rb6 34. Rf7 Rf8 $2 {(ahora Jones tendra que elegir entre
dos males: permitir el avance e5 o ceder d4 al alfil blanco de b2)} 35. Rc7 Bd6
36. Rd7 Ra6 37. Bd4 Bb8 38. Bc5 Re8 39. Kg4 $1 Ra2 40. h4 Rc8 41. b4 Ra3 42. h5
Rc3 43. Bd4 R3c7 44. Rxc7 Bxc7 45. Kf5 Bd6 46. b5 Rc1 47. b6 Bb8 48. Ke6 Rh1
49. Bc5 {, y Jones se rindio ante la maniobra b7-Ad6.} 1-0

