CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT

R • H •
M CHESS PUBLISHING
a division of RHM Associates of Delaware Inc.
 A Publisher's Foreword
"San Antonio - '72" is the first book to be produced by
R.H.M. Chess Publishing - which is a division of R.H.M.
Associates of Delaware, Inc., long-established in the finan­
cial publishing field.
The undersigned as Publisher, our Editor-In-Chief, Burt
Hochberg, and our entire staff, approach this new publish­
ing venture with a deep sense of responsibility. Whether
most realize it or not, we are only in the foothills of the
new "Fischer Era" in chess, and we feel the sharp expan­
sion of interest in chess in America, particularly among
our youth, is destined to reach one new height after an­
other in the years directly ahead. Bobby Fischer has
brought excitement to the world of chess, as well as the
brilliance of his play, and to keep step with this change,
R.H.M. Chess Publishing intends to do its utmost to add
informative and valuable new titles to the literature of chess.
With "San Antonio - '72", the most important interna­
tional chess tournament to be played in the United States
in many years, we hope you will feel that we are off to a
good start. And directly ahead, as our second scheduled
publication, is an already eagerly-awaited book, destined to
take an important place in contemporary opening theory;
"The Benko Gambit" by Pal Benko.
This will be followed towards the end of 1973 by a book
which we feel will become a chess classic - "How To
Open A Chess Game" - with individual chapters express­
ing the specific opening approaches of the following chess
luminaries: Petrosian, Keres, Gligoric, Larsen, Portisch,
Hort, Evans.
Since we have many additional exciting proj ects in chess
publishing taking form, you may wish to be kept informed
by us as to details and publication dates. You can accomp­
lish this by sending us your name and address on a post­
card. (This is not necessary if you purchased "San Antonio
- '72" directly from us, because you are then automatical­
ly on our mailing list.)
We will expend every effort in the years ahead to meet
the challenges of the new "Fischer Era" in the world of
chess.

Sidney Fried
New York, June, 1973 Publisher
SAN ANTONIO
CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN, INC.
First International Chess Tournament

Games Annotated by

BENT LARSEN

and

DAVID LEVY

and

THE PLAYERS

SIDNEY FRIED, Publisher

BURT HOCHBERG, Editor-in-Chief

DENNIS FRIED, Assistant Editor

RHM CHESS PUBLISHING

a division of RHM Associates of Delaware, Inc.

220 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001

 Copyright © 1973
RHM CHESS PUBLISHING
a division of RHM Associates of Delaware, Inc.
220 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001

All rights reserved including the right to repro­

duce this book, or parts thereof, in any form, except
for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

ISBN 0-89058-000-6

Second Printing

Printed in the United States of America

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The reader's attention is directed to two pages in

the back of this book where we describe a new
and exciting project-The R.H.M. Survey of Cur­
rent Chess Openings.

With a world-renowned Editorial Board which in­

cludes Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi, Boris
Spassky, Tigran Petrosian, Svetozar Gligoric, Bent
Larsen and other top grandmasters, we are present­
ing an important new approach to the Openings in
chess, which we are sure you will find of great in­
terest.

Please refer to those two pages in the back of the

book for full details.
R.H.M. Press
 Table of Contents

Church's Fried Chicken, Inc. I

What Is a Coordinator, by George Koltanowski 3

Biographies of the Players 7

The Players from a Spectator's Viewpoint,

by Sherry Rittenhouse 23

Tournament Tables 33-36

Index of Games 37

Index of Annotators 38

The Tournament 39

Index of Openings 271

 Seated, left to right: George Koltanowski (Tourmiment left to right: Svetozar Gligoric, Julio Kaplan, Duncan
Coordinator), Henrique Mecking, Walter Browne, Harry Suttles, Donald Byrne, Vlastimil Hort, Larry Evans, Laj os
Golombek (Tournament Director), George W. ("Bill") Portisch, Bent Larsen, Mario Campos-Lopez, Ken Smith,
Church, Jr., E. B. Edmondson (Executive Director, U. S. Anatoly Karpov, Anthony Saidy.
Chess Federation), Paul Keres, Tigran Petrosian. Standing,
 Preface
A tournament book should best be written by the players themselves,
as it is only they who can explain how they were thinking in each game,
how they felt about each of their opponents and how they viewed the
tournament as a whole. In general, this practice is unworkable, however,
because the strains of modern tournament chess prevent most grand­
masters from annotating more than a few of their games from any event.
The task thus falls on a non-competitor to prepare for the chess publi�
the best possible record of an important tournament.
In accepting his invitation to play in Church's Fried Chicken, Inc., First
International Tournament, each player agreed to annotate his two most
interesting games for this book. (Despite the pre-tournament agreement,
however, the notes Campos-Lopez promised to write on his game with
Browne were not received.) In one instance (Mecking-Petrosian, game
77), the winner wrote notes only to the most interesting part of the game,
while the first forty moves were annotated by Bent Larsen, who was
engaged by the publishers to annotate a number of interesting games.
Many other games have notes written by me, though in most cases the
analyses which make up much of the notes were obtained from discus­
sions with the players themselves and from watching the post-mortems
which the players conducted. In this respect the players were most
cooperative and I would particularly like to thank Vlastimil Hort, Julio
Kaplan, Anthony Saidy and Duncan Suttles, who gave me help above
and beyond the call of duty. Julio Kaplan should also be thanked for
annotating four games instead of two.
Naturally some of the games have been given without comments.
These are either short draws or games without any real distinguishing
characteristic (and some rather easy wins which do not deserve notes).
In order to make publication as speedy as possible, the portion of the
typescript prepared by me was delivered to the publishers within a few
days after the end of the tournament. The material prepared by Larsen
was delivered shortly thereafter. It remained only to collect the notes by
a few players, who for the most part were admirably cooperative.
I would like to thank Bernard Zuckerman for checking the manu­
script for errors and inconsistencies.
Lastly I wish to thank Burt Hochberg for giving me the pleasant task
of editing this book and for his helpful advice and encouragement.

DNNL
London, December 1972
George W. (Bill) Church, Jr.
 SAN ANT ONI O '72

CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN, INC.

GRANDMASTERS OF GOOD FOOD

The fast-food prophet

George W. Church, Sr., founded Church's Fried Chicken as a post­
retirement proj ect in 1952 in downtown San Antonio. Chess had not
grown to its present stature throughout America and neither had the
food service industry. Mr. Church foresaw the need for totally new
methods to meet the growing demand for appealing convenience foods
outside of the home. At that time, only hot dogs and soft ice cream were
marketed in the fast food fashion. Having gained twenty years of experi­
ence in the poultry industry, Mr. Church conceived a plan to build a
small store at modest cost and offer freshly cooked quality fried chicken.
He eliminated many of the frills common to restaurants to produce a
superior product at lower cost-and deliver it at lower prices.
The plan worked. At the time of his death in 1956, four Church's
stores were open. Other members of the family continued Mr. Church's
vision, and by 1962, the chain had grown to eight San Antonio stores.

The stage was set

In 1962, George W. (Bill) Church, Jr., Church's current President and
Chairman of the Board, assumed chief operating responsibility for the
family's business. The new president was convinced that his father's
policy was sound and could be applied to create a national chain of
fried chicken stores. He gathered together a nucleus of skilled, imagina­
tive people who shared his goal of establishing Church's Fried Chicken
as a leader in the fast food industry.

By 1967, Church's was ready

Church's corporate organization was structured to assist a family busi­
ness to become a national chain. Revenues in 1967 were 2.7 million
dollars, over twice those of the previous year, and the company ended
the year with seventeen stores in five Texas cities.
In 1968, the first Church's stores were established outside the Lone
Star State. Revenues rose to over seven million dollars with 44 stores in
operation. The franchise boom was in full swing all over the nation, but
management became convinced that ownership would be the key to
sound expansion in the future. Since 1968, Church's has granted no
franchises outside of the continental 48 states.

1
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

Church's Fried Chicken became a publicly held company the follow­

ing year with operations in seven states. An equipment and manufactur­
ing plant was built on a 6-acre site in San Antonio, giving the company
the capability to design and engineer much of its special stainless steel
equipment used in all stores on its home grounds. By the end of 1969,
the beautiful national headquarters complex was completed and occu­
pied. Over 100 stores now offered Church's chicken.

Church's grew while others faltered

1970 was a year of doom for many franchising companies in the fast
food business, but it was the year that proved the soundness of Church's
earlier decision to expand carefully with company-owned stores. The
chain had grown to 208 stores in fourteen states with revenues of nearly
thirty million dollars.
Tremendous national expansion also led to foreign expansion. In
1971, Church's Fried Chicken acquired interest in a j oint venture in
Western Canada which now operates two stores in Vancouver, B.C. In
April, Church's Food Service (Australia) Pty. Limited was formed, with
the first store "down under" opened earlier in 1972.

The vision was right

George Church, Sr.'s dream has become a reality. A Church's store is
a welcome addition in communities across the United States. Each store
is attractively designed and color-coordinated, situated for easy access
and fast, convenient service.
And the chicken? First Prize! Because smiling Churchie is Church's
reminder that quality is what Church's Fried Chicken is all about.
Now, Church's has nearly 400 stores .. . and the company is still
growing. Just as chess in America continues to attract people. And
there's another vision to make come true: the growth of Church's Fried
Chicken's International Chess Tournament through the years to come.
Church's wouldn't settle for less.

2
 SAN ANTONIO '72

What Is a Coordinator?
by George Koltanowski

It was something completely new to me.

For a year and a half before the tournament started, scores of letters
had been written to chess columnists, newspapers, magazines, radio and
TV stations, etc. I traveled to the Olympiad in Skopj e especially to
arrange details of this great tournament. Arrangements were made with
Kavalek, Gligoric, Petrosian, Karpov, Keres, Golombek
Everything looked rosy. So, one week before the start of the Church's
International, I went to San Antonio to see that things were being prop­
erly taken care of on the scene. And that was some hectic week! I expect
impresarios have those pressures all the time, but a week like that was
really something. Kavalek couldn't make it, so Ed Edmondson, USCF's
heavily burdened Executive Director, had to find a replacement at the
last minute. Donald Byrne, an international master who had returned
from Skopje with a fever, agreed to play, but he was really under the
weather during most of the tournament.
It was felt desirable to install a special row of bright lights over the
playing area-at a cost of $3,000. But during the first round one of the
players thought the existing lights in the hall would be better than the
new ones, so off they went. Larry Evans insisted the new lights be kept
on, so on they went. But Henrique Mecking, the Brazilian "wunderkind"
didn't like them, so off they went. This time for good-enough is enough.
Portisch is very sensitive to noise, both during the games and when
he is trying to sleep. The Hilton Palacio de! Rio, tournament head­
quarters just across the street from the playing site, was really beautiful.
Portisch, who had been assigned room 1607, was moved to 1908 in a
search for a quiet air-conditioner but he didn't like it and was moved
to 1739.
From the start, everybody and his relatives were after me for one thing
or another. Just before the big international tournament was to start,
the Church's Fried Chicken Open was held. There were 11 3 players, a
fine showing, including 6-year-old Oscar Maass from Juarez, a wonderful
child who was a huge success with the press and the public.
Back to the international
In the hall is a large red sign, required by the fire laws, which reads
"EXIT." Mecking decided it was distracting him, so up I went on a
ladder to remove the bulb. Some fun.

3
 SAN ANTONIO '72

Then the news media needed everything. "Houston Radio calling­

can we have daily results?" "KNXT, Los Angeles, on the line. Please
send us ..." "Black and Blue Wire Service in Timbuktu calling. Results
of each round please ..." "Brazil calling, please give us all Mecking
games, move by move . ." No, sir, no, no, no.That's where I stop.
Portisch had to be moved from 1739 to 2024.
The players were supposed to get their food and pocket money each
Monday. But by Saturday, they were all descending on my neck for an
advance. I am invariably polite when saying no.Then there were the
young men who take care of the wall boards for the spectators. When
two of them didn't show up-guess who subbed for them.
The daily bulletins had to be typed, printed and mailed promptly
David Levy, editor of the bulletins as well as this book, needed a
girl (who doesn't?) to do the typing, so I had to go find him a girl.No
j okes please.
Problems kept coming up. There was a skittles room where the
players were supposed to go to do their post-mortems. But when any
one of the superstars headed for that little cubicle, the fans flocked
around like the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.
Portisch wanted his room changed, this time from 2024 to 616.
As for the personalities ...
Tournament Director Harry Golombek, recipient of the Order of the
British Empire, a high honor awarded personally by the Queen (but he
has not been knighted and is not to be called "Sir"), is a proper English­
man from top to toe. But this has its problems, too: at tea-time, roughly
4:00 p.m., he must have his tea-or else. The caterer was advised in
the strongest terms to see that tea was served at the proper time. Harry
also found the food in San Antonio to his liking, with the result that his
clothes had all shrunk by the end of the tournament.
Mecking reported that negotiations for a non-title match between him
and Fischer are taking place. Money, as usual, is holding up the works.
But it is Mecking's share, not Fischer's, that is the problem.
Larsen played badly to lose an advantageous endgame against Keres
in the seventh round. He played very poorly against Browne and lost in
the eighth round.He soon lost also to Mecking Why? The coordinator
knows. Bent was reporting the tournament and had too much work on
his hands.
Petrosian makes a great impression on everyone. His secret? He
speaks no English, keeps his hearing aid turned off, smiles graciously at
everyone and says nothing.Not a bad idea.

4
 S AN AN T ONIO '72

Karpov, diminutive in physique, is a giant at the chess board. He has

a nice smile for everyone and speaks "sotto voce." A winner any way
you look at him.
Portisch moved from 616 to 2117. For how long?
The Hilton was always crammed with conventioneers, mostly ladies
from all parts of Texas. There's the ADD, the DOL, the QXR, the TNX,
the RAP, and the DDT, j ust to mention a few. Once, riding in that
100-miles-per-hour elevator (or so it seemed), a group of ladies asked
me if I was with the NSTC, whatever that was. "No," I answered, 'Tm
with the chess convention." The ladies turned beet red and uttered not
another word. I wonder if they thought I said "chest convention."
"Grandmaster" I. S. Turover was here, as everybody knew as soon
as he arrived. He is always chock full of funny stories and is great fun.
He offered a prize of $150 for the brilliancy prize, which was won by
Keres for his win against Donald Byrne.
Portisch, for all his sensitivity to noise, is a scrupulous gentleman as
well as a great player. His conduct is always impeccable and he really
tries not to create problems (except for his opponents). He says he
thinks one day he will buy a house on a lonely island in the middle of
Lake Balaton in Budapest so he can finally get some sleep. By the way,
the above account of his room-changes is rather exaggerated.
What is a coordinator? A man who grumbles all the time, sends out
the bulletins, pays out the food money, accounts for the daily receipts
from the gate and the bulletin orders, refuses free entry to "girl friends"
the players have never even met, turns pale when a player gets sick and
almost faints dead away when the doctor sends a bill for $70, is the first
one up in the morning and the last to go to bed at night, sees that the
media gets the news, takes all the blame for every little thing that goes
wrong.
But after many nights without sleep, television shows to make, bulletins
to take care of, etc., etc., we find there is a certain allure to all those
miseries, something you would not want to trade for some mosquito-bitten
nights in Jamaica, even with a rum-and-coke in your hand and your mind
in a reverie
Would I do it again? Just ask me!

5
Tournament Director Harry Golombek, 0.8.E., left, with Tournament
Coordinator George Koltanowski.

6
 THE PLAYERS

Walter Shawn Browne

(Australia)*
International Grandmaster

Born January 10, 1949, in Sydney, Australia, he learned chess at the

age of eight and was beating his father after a few months. When he
was very young, his family moved to New York, where at the age of
thirteen he j oined the Manhattan Chess Club. He received the U.S.
Master title at fourteen and garnered the U.S. Junior title at seventeen.
When he was nineteen, he returned to Australia to win the national
championship, which was a breakthrough for the young master. He tied
for first in the Asian Zonal. At twenty, he came second at the great
San Juan International Tournament, behind then World Champion Boris
Spassky. He obtained his International Grandmaster title at that event.
Since then he has played in numerous tournaments, winning many high
places and first prizes. He is a professional games-player and is pro­
ficient in backgammon and poker in addition to chess.

*Since the Hastings Tournament of 1972-73, Browne has considered

himself an American.

7
 THE PLAYE RS

Donald Byrne
(UnitedStates)
International Master

Donald Byrne, brother of Grandmaster Robert Byrne, was born June

12, 1930. He evinced an interest in chess early and was one of the
members of the fabled "Hawthorne Chess Club," which was not a real
club at all but the home of John W. Collins in Brooklyn. Along with
most of the other leading players of his generation-Robert Byrne,
Arthur Bisguier, William Lombardy, Robert Fischer, et al. -Donald
spent a good deal of time at the Collins home and developed his talent.
But his general education was not neglected-he is now a professor of
English at Pennsylvania State University.
In 1962 he earned his International Master title. However, he had
been achieving important successes for some time before, notably his
defeat of Soviet star Averbakh by 3-1 in the U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. Match in
New York 1954. In 1953 he won the US
. . Open and in 1957 he was equal
first in that event. He is noted for his excellence in team events; he
scored 5-2 at the Varna Olympiad in 1962, 6Y2-3\/2 at the Tel Aviv
Olympiad in 1964, and 5\/2-2Y2 at the Lugano Olympiad in 1968. He
has often been team captain.
As a player Donald Byrne favors complicated positions. This, com­
bined with his ever-present time pressure, has tended to reduce his point
totals in many events. He is very well liked by the other players and is
a talented raconteur. He lives in Pennsylvania.

8
 THE PLAYERS

Mario Campos-Lopez
(Mexico)
National Master

Born May 15, 1943, in Matamoros, Mexico. Since 1966, he has won
every national championship in his country. In 1969, he came fourth in
the Zonal Tournament held in Ecuador, missing the International Title
by one half point. He plays in important chess events infrequently. He
is a civil engineer by profession.

9
 THE PLAYERS

Larry Evans
(United States)
International Grandmaster

Born in New York, March 22, 1932. Evans tied with Arthur Bisguier
for the U.S. Junior Championship in 1949 and the same year came
third in the U.S. Open. Awarded the grandmaster title in 1957. In 1951,
he became the youngest player ever to have won the U.S. Champion­
ship. He won the title again in 1962 and in 1968. He was U.S. Open
Champion in 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1971 (tied with Walter Browne).
He has represented the United States on nine Olympic teams.
Larry Evans is a prolific writer on chess. In addition to his instructive
columns for Chess Life & Review, he writes a syndicated column which
appears in dozens of newspapers. He has authored a number of success­
ful books for the intermediate player. He makes his home in Nevada.

10
 THE PLA YERS

Svetozar Gligoric
(Yugoslavia)
International Grandmaster

Born February 2, 1923 in Belgrade. Gligoric is one of the chess elite,

having been among the world's best for more than twenty years. He was
a candidate for the world championship three times (1953, 1959, 1968).
He has won the championship of his country eleven times and played
first board on Yugoslavia's Olympic team for some twenty years.
"Gligo," as he prefers to be called, has impeccable credentials as a
j ournalist, and can be heard regularly on Radio-Belgrade. In chess
circles he is known for his great charm. He speaks several languages
fluently.
His best chess results number in the dozens. Some of the highlights
are: 1st in Lj ublj ana 1946, Warsaw 1947, Mar del Plata 1950 and 1953,
Staunton Memorial 1951, Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro 1953, Stock­
holm 1954, Hastings five times, Belgrade 1962, Tel Aviv 1966, Dublin
1967, best score on first board in Munich 1958 Olympiad (ahead of
Botvinnik); second at Portoroz 1958, Sousse 1967, Zurich 1958, Lj ubij ana
1969, Vincovci 1970, Rovinj -Zagreb 1970 (behind Fischer), Wij k aan Zee
1971, and many others.
He is the author of a popular column for Chess Life & Review.

11
 THE PLAYERS

Vlastimil Hort
(Czechoslovakia)
International Grandmaster

Born in Kladno, January 12, 1944. He learned chess at seven and

became an international master at sixteen. Tying with Paul Keres at
Marienbad (Marianske Lazne) 1965, he earned his grandmaster title.
Since then, Hort has been considered one of the leading contenders for
the world championship. By training he is an economist, but in effect
he is a professional chess player. Hort plays first board for the Czech
Olympic team.
He has an extremely powerful physique but a very gentle nature. One
of his friends calls him a "giant teddy bear." He is gregarious and loves
to talk and laugh. He speaks English well, in addition to Russian and
other languages.
His best results have been: equal first with Portisch in Kecskemet
1965, equal second in Vincovci 1968, 1st in Venice 1969, equal second
in Zagreb 1969, equal first in Skopj e 1969, equal second in Athens
Zonal 1969, second at Wij k aan Zee 1970, equal second at Rovinj ­
Zagreb 1970, first at Havana 1971 and Luhacovice 1971, equal first
at Gothenburg 1971, and equal second at Wij k aan Zee 1972.

12
 THE PLAYERS

Julio Kaplan
(Puerto Rico)
International Master

Born July 25, 1950, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1964 he moved

to Puerto Rico and has represented Puerto Rico ever since. (Puerto Rico
has an independent chess federation which is affiliated with FIDE.) In
1967 he won the Puerto Rico Championship and in the same year he
became World Junior Champion at the tournament in Jerusalem. He
became an international master in 1967. He has played first board for
Puerto Rico at the Olympics in 1968 and 1970. He has not yet had a
great deal of international chess experience, but is considered a bright
promise in world chess. He is a graduate of the University of California
at Berkeley, where he studied mathematics and computer science. He is
easily identified at chess tournaments by his bright red hair and beard.

13
 THE PLAYERS

Anatoly Karpov
(U.S.S.R.)
International Grandmaster

Born in Zlatoust, in the Urals, on May 5, 1951. He learned chess

from his father at an early age and was soon playing in local clubs. He
is now a student at the University of Leningrad. In 1969, Karpov won
the World Junior Championship at Stockholm. His remarkable suc­
1971, equal first with Korchnoi
cesses (equal first with Stein in Moscow
at Hastings 1971-72, high score for the Soviet team at the Skopj e
Olympics in 1972) have already made him, in the eyes of the chess
world, a likely challenger for the world championship. He is considered
by all to be the brightest star of the younger group of Soviet grand­
masters.
Karpov is friendly and sociable. He has a slight build which belies
his chess strength. His decidedly positional style is considered unusual
for a player of his age. Some say he plays "like an old man." He speaks
English haltingly. During the San Antonio tournament, he seemed to
have a warm and close relationship with former World Champion
Petrosian, which may be considered of great potential benefit to the
young grandmaster.

14
 THE PLAYERS

Paul Keres
(U.S.S.R.)
International Grandmaster

Paul Keres was born in Narva, Estonia, January 7, 1916. Though

very much alive and active as a player, Keres is already considered one
of the immortals. Beginning his chess career as a correspondence player,
Keres's talent was soon shown in national championships (he was
Estonian Champion in 1934) and on the international scene, where in
his first international event he astounded the chess world by scoring 12
out of 19 in the Warsaw Olympics. The next year he was equal first
with the great Alekhine in Bad Nauheim. Scoring 15 out of 20 at first
board in the Munich Olympics of 1936, Keres's career was well on its
way. Many first prizes in the 1930's followed, culminating in a tie for
first with Fine at the AVRO tournament in Holland (the tournament
was organized to select a challenger for World Champion Alekhine).
Keres was declared the winner on tiebreaking points, but various eva­
sions by Alekhine prevented the match from taking place. Then the
Second World War intervened, followed by Alekhine's death. Since then,
although Keres has had notable successes, the world championship has
eluded him. He came third in the World Championship Tournament in
1948 and was second in four of the five candidates' tournaments he has
played in. The Soviet government awarded him the title of Sportsman
of the Year in 1962.
He has written several imporant works on chess, including one of the
most thorough chess autobiographies in the history of the game. His
analysis can be seen regularly in the pages of Chess Life & Review.

15
 THE PLAYERS

Bent Larsen
(Denmark)
International Grandmastf r

Born March 4, 1935, in Copenhagen. He claims he showed no special

talent at an early age. At nineteen, he won the Danish Championship
for the first time, winning it again in 1955, 1956, 1959, 1963 and 1964.
He has been considered one of the two best non-Soviet players (Fischer
is the other one) since the mid-1960's. Larsen's style, notably appropriate
for tournament play, is based on the creation of unbalanced positions
with an element of risk. He is one of the most successful tournament
players in chess history, having had a string of five consecutive first
places in strong tournaments in 1967-68 (Havana, Winnipeg, Palma de
Maj orca, Monte Carlo, U.S. Open at Snowmass). He has also won first
prize at Palma de Maj orca 1969, Busum 1969, Lugano 1970, Vinkovci
1970, Sousse Interzonal 1967, and was equal first at the Amsterdam
Interzonal in 1964. As a regular candidate for the world championship,
Larsen in 1965 defeated Ivkov and Geller, but lost to Tai, in 1968 he
defeated Portisch and Tai, but lost to Spassky (who then went on to
beat Petrosian for the world title), and in 1971 he beat Uhlmann but
lost to Fischer in what must be considered the most severe setback in
his career. In 1970, he played first board for the "World" team against
the U.S.S.R., defeating Stein in one game and playing Spassky to a
1 V2 -1 V2 standstill.
Larsen is one of the most ingratiating grandmasters and a very popular
personality. He has written several books, of which his Selected Games
is most successful. He contributes a column to Chess Life & Review.

16
 THE PLAYERS

Henrique Mecking
(Brazil)
International Grandmaster

Born January 23, 1952. He learned the game at the age of six. In
1966 Mecking won a South American tournament, gaining the inter­
national master title. In Vrsac 1971, Mecking finished first, ahead of
Portisch. He tied for third with Robert Byrne at Hastings 1971-72,
earning the grandmaster title. He has been champion of Brazil in 1965,
1966 and 1967.
According to other players, Mecking is a difficult opponent because of
his nervousness and sensitivity. But he is also a very dangerous player,
capable of defeating anyone in a given game. He is considered one of
the bright stars of the future.

17
 THE PLAYERS

Tigran Petrosian
(U.S.S.R.)
International Grandmaster

Born in Tillis on June 17, 1929. World Champion 1963-69. His first
success was winning the championship of his native Georgia in 1945.
He moved to Armenia as a youth and soon won the Armenian Cham­
pionship and the U.S.S.R. Junior Championship. He considers himself
a student of Nimzovich's theories, which he credits as helping him attain
a mature style. He came of age internationally in the 1950's, coming
second in the 195 1 U.S.S.R. Championship and in the 1952 Interzonal.
He was fifth in the unusually strong Zurich 1953 Candidates' Tourna­
ment, which result earned him the grandmaster title. In 1962, after a
long series of successes, he won the Candidates' Tournament in 1962,
which gave him the right to challenge then World Champion Botvinnik
for the title. He defeated Botvinnik in the title match in 1963. In 1966
he successfully defended his crown against Spassky, but in 1969 the young
challenger won the title.
Petrosian's style is marked by a strong predilection for defense and
"prevention," one of the ma j or theories of Nimzovich. Although he has
been called a dull player, connoisseurs recognize his enormous skill.
As a personality he is unique. His face is a study in expressiveness.
When in a relaxed atmosphere Petrosian loves to perform, and his
clowning keeps his audience, which usually includes other top grand­
masters, vastly amused. He is one of the most respected grandmasters,
recognized as perhaps the most difficult player in the world to defeat.
Petrosian is Editor-in-Chief of the Soviet chess newspaper "64."

18
 T HE PLAYERS

Lajos Portisch
(Hungary)
International Grandmaster

Born April 4, 1937 in Zalaegerszeg. He learned chess from his father

at the age of twelve. His first opponent was his brother, two years
younger, who received the Hungarian Master title later. At eighteen,
Portisch reached the finals of the Hungarian Championship and in the
same year participated in the World Junior Championship, where he
finished fourth (the title was won that year by Boris Spassky). He first
won the Hungarian Championship in 1958, and because of his other
chess successes in that year, he gave up his studies at the university and
became a chess professional. In 1958 he won the strong Asztalos
Memorial Tournament in Hungary and received his International Master
title. In 1961 he earned his grandmaster title. Since then, he has won
the Hungarian Championship six more times. He has twice qualified for
the Candidates' Matches, in 1965 and 1968. He has won numerous first
prizes, among them: Saraj evo 1962 (equal first), Saraj evo 1963, Halle
Zonal 1963, Amsterdam 1963, Beverwij k 1965 (equal first), Kecskemet
1966 (equal first), Halle 1967 (Zonal), Amsterdam 1967, Skopj e 1968,
Monaco 1969 (equal first), Amsterdam 1969, Hastings 1969-70 and
1970-71, Adelaide 1971, Wij k aan Zee 1972, and had the best result on
board one at the Tel Aviv Olympics in 1964.
Portisch is now considered one of the chess elite. He carries a black
leather bag with him everywhere, which presumably contains his opening
files and other chess material. He guards it carefully. He works diligently
during a tournament and is seldom seen relaxing with the other players.

19
 THE PLAYERS

Anthony Saidy
(U.S.A.)
International Master

Born May 16, 1937, in Los Angeles. He won the Canadian Open in
1960, the American Open in 1967, and the U.S. Speed Championship
in 1956, among others. He tied for second in Venice 1967 and in
Polanica Zdroj 1967. He received his international master title in 1967.
He is the author of The Battle of Chess Ideas (1972). Saidy has a
medical degree and has practiced the profession of public health
physician. He has recently declared himself to be a chess professional.
Saidy is well read and can converse on almost any subj ect. He has a
particular interest in sociological and political subj ects. He works very
hard at the chess board. He is extremely self-analytical. Saidy, despite
his own assertions of professionality, is a chess amateur in the truest
semantic sense: he loves the beauty of chess and admires those players he
considers "romantics." His book, deliberately intended as a continuance of
the pioneering work of Richard Reti, may prove to be a landmark in
American chess literature. He is a special contributor to Chess Life &
Review.

20
 THE PLAYERS

Kenneth Smith
(U.S.A.)
National Master

Born in 1930. Smith has been many-time Southern and Southwestern

champion. He once won the British Maj or Open. He learned chess at
the relatively late age of seventeen. Smith recalls telling Koltanowski
that he had hopes of becoming a chess master and asked the famous
player how he could best accomplish this. Koltanowski replied, "Why in
the world do you want to become a chess master?"
Smith is the publisher of Chess Digest magazine and one of the largest
retailers of chess supplies in the country. He acts as American distribu­
tor for many important theoretical books on the game, and his Chess
Digest publishes many works.
Smith lives in Dallas, Texas, where he heads a contracting firm.

21
 TH E PLAYERS

Duncan Suttles
(Canada)
International Master*

Born December 21, 1945, in San Francisco. Suttles moved to Van­

couver in 1951, where he still lives. He learned chess at fourteen. He
has played on the Canadian team in the Olympics of 1964, 1966, 1968,
1970. He played in the Interzonal tournaments of 1967 and 1970. He
achieved his first international grandmaster norm at the Lugano Olympics
in 1968, playing against ten grandmasters and two international masters.
However, due to a quirk in the FIDE qualification rules, he was denied
his title at that time. That he amply deserves the high title is without
question, however, especially in view of his fine showing in San Antonio.
He met his wife, Dobila, while playing chess in Yugoslavia. They were
married in 1968. He is presently working toward his Ph.D. in Mathe­
matics at the University of British Columbia.

*Suttles met the international grandmaster norm at the San Antonio

tournament.

Photos of players by Burt Hochberg

22
 SAN ANTONIO '72

The Players
From a Spectator's Viewpoint
by Sherry Rittenhouse

"There is a saying: it is not right that a soldier should not want to

be a general," Russia's Anatoly Karpov remarked with a laugh.
The remark was made in response to this writer's statement that a
national news magazine had quoted him as saying, "Evidently, I shall"
one day be champion of the chess world. "No," he stated, "I did not say
this but ..." his eyes took on a puzzled look as he searched for English
words. He turned to Svetozar Gligoric, Grandmaster from Yugoslavia,
and asked a question in Russian. Gligoric replied in English, "A saying."
Karpov's mouth formed into a generous smile, his eyes expressing
merriment. "Yes, a saying," he repeated, and spoke about the soldier's
obligation of ambition, which elicited a response of warm laughter from
those who shared the table with him.
He had been getting our attention as he had been getting it throughout
this event, which has been called the finest International Grandmaster
Chess Tournament to be held in the United States since 1924. But there
was much more than the excitement felt by a spectator witnessing 15
rounds of battle fought in electric silence by some of the best of the
world's players.There was the excitement of the champions themselves
when not silent.
What are they like, these soldiers of Caissa, these men who are in
their own right generals, the International Grandmasters of chess? How
do they differ? Do they share similar qualities? And, most intriguing of
all, what is the common denominator of chess greatness within these
players?
Taking them in the order of tournament program appearance, let's
explore what they are like from the impressions of a spectator at the
games and away.
Walter Shawn Browne, 23-year-old Australian, has lived most of his
life in the U.S. Browne gives the marked impression of a living explosion.
His motion is characterized by a continuous series of dispersed flows.
This combined with his rather longish brown hair and lightly bearded
face gives him an anachronistic look, as though he'd j ust doffed a suit
of chain mail and armor after a day's work in the ranks of knights. He
is very interesting to observe at the chessboard, and at the kibitzing
which follows most games.In the maj ority of his contests here, he ran

23
 SAN ANTONIO '72

into time trouble. Browne, however, appears to be "blitz" oriented. The

extremely fast particle flow which time trouble necessitates matches his
randomity pattern. In the kibitzing, he moves pieces as though they were
sword blades, or some such ancient weapon. Slam, "Maybe here is
better," he states in a voice with a European accent. Or, "No, no maybe
here." Slam; table vibrates, incredulous spectator expressions. "He is
mild now; you should have known him a few years ago!" the grand­
masters exclaim among themselves. Browne won 4, drew 5, lost 6, for a
61/2 point total.
Donald Byrne of the U.S.A. is 42, a professor of English Literature
at Penn State. Byrne has a rather intriguing air about him. He reminds
one of mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. Consequently, one watches
him in anticipation of seeing him rip off his coat to expose a giant red S,
but he never does. One looks at Don and wonders when he'll reveal
his true identity. During play he was the only player who smoked,
which lent a more "living room" aura to the space he and his opponent
occupied. Except for the dark suits, white shirts and glasses, Don's
gaming atmosphere is rather less formal. His company outside the
tournament hall is relaxed and easy, but retiring. He makes excruciating
puns which elicit groans from the company. He enj oys them immensely.
Byrne finished the tournament with 4 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses, for a total
of 7 points.
Mario Campos-Lopez is the current national champion of Mexico.
The 29-year-old Campos-Lopez is a civil engineer and works for the
municipality of Mexico City. He is a National Master and faced ex­
tremely strong competition in this tournament. Although he finished
with only 31/z points, the general consensus indicated that Campos-Lopez
played excellently. He is a warm, personable young man. He is un­
assuming in his wit and communicates readily though he speaks very
little English. With my rather poor Spanish and his English we discussed
the in-progress games (his had finished earlier) and tournament facilities.
He commented that the artificial light bothered his eyes. I thought
"Uh-oh." But then he started laughing and said, "Daylight hurts my eyes
too." It was a rare moment when Mario didn't have a smile on his face.
The exception was at the chessboard; then his countenance was sober
and attentive.
Syndicated chess columnist Larry Evans of the U.S.A. has played for
nine U.S. Olympic teams and has a long list of other firsts and cham-

*Browne is now an American.

24
 SAN ANTONIO '72

pionships. He is well known to chess enthusiasts across the planet for the
many chess publications he has authored. Evans was considered the
strongest American player in this tournament. Although he only lost 4
games, he drew 9 and won 1 for a total of 61/z points to tie for eleventh
place with Browne. Evans's beard, sprinkled with gray, his preference
for organic foods and turtleneck pullovers, lend an outdoorish intel­
lectual air. He appeared at this tournament to be a bit dry and edgy.
He lives in Sparks, Nevada, and is reported to be a better than average
gambler.
Next in appearance is Svetozar Gligoric, or "Gligo" as we came to
call him. Gligoric is a j ournalist for Radio-Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and
has enormous chess experience. Although feeling a bit under the weather
(which was unusually miserable for November in San Antonio) and
anticipating what he termed a "catastrophe" at the games, Gligoric
took fourth place in the tournament behind a three-way tie for first.
Tremendously handsome and congenial, Gligoric kept us in constant
mirth with stories about rides in Soviet airplanes, women drivers, the
Fischer-Spassky match and other chess anecdotes. We were constantly
amazed at his reservoir of languages as well. Often he kept the inter­
national personages communicating with his ready interpretations.
Gligoric also has published many chess articles and books. His most
recent one, on the Fischer-Spassky match, is very entertaining for the
spectator-enthusiast as well as instructive for the player. His style is
light and bright, reflecting his own personality, which very simply
sparkles and radiates vitality. Gligo is fantastic, as a Grandmaster and
gentleman.
Czechoslovakia's leading Grandmaster, 28-year-old Vlastimil Hort,
tied for sixth place with Duncan Suttles of Canada. Hort became a
Grandmaster in 1965, is a professional economist and very much enj oys
the theater. Vlastimil was another favorite; a friendly extroverted young
man who speaks English as though he's singing it. His lilting accent was
almost mesmerizing and one could listen to him for hours. Very much
in favor of experiencing the varieties of life, Vlastimil said that chess
demanded too much devotion, too much of a lifetime. The relating of
some of his experiences kept us interested and amused. Observing him
at the chess table was entertaining as well. Somehow, in the extreme
concentration of his game, he'd manage to put his fingers through his
hair in such a way that it stood straight up. Many players walk up and
down within the playing area as the opponent lengthily calculates his next
move. Vlastimil was no exception in this ambulatory pastime, and it

25
 S AN ANTONIO '72

was a sight to see him walking around with his hair straight on end.
International Master Julio Kaplan of Puerto Rico is a 21-year-old
fiery redhead with accompanying beard. Julio, however, is quiet; he
prefers Levis to slacks, sports coats and suits. He and his wife, Susan,
are warm and pleasant company. Kaplan graduated from the University
of California at Berkeley in computer science and mathematics last June.
He says, however, that he has yet to receive his diploma to make it
official. He plans to establish a chess academy in Puerto Rico.
Each player seems to have his own interesting countenance while
playing chess. Julio's is a rather strange sitting position. He backs his
chair away from the table and leans down until his eyes are parallel
with the board as though he were directing lines through the pieces to
find the openings. He contemplates his moves at length and this caused
him time problems in several instances. Kaplan finished the tournament
in thirteenth place with 2 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses, for a total of 5 points.
Anatoly Karpov, the 21-year-old Grandmaster, is the present Soviet
chess champion. Karpov is constantly beset by questions such as: "Will
you be the one to beat Bobby Fischer? Will you be the next world's
champion?" The asking of this question is the only thing I saw create a
slight negative expression on Karpov's face. His answer is inevitably,
"Perhaps." The rest of the time this young man appeared relaxed and
friendly. He vacillates between being rather shy and very open. The
shyness perhaps was more from the language barrier than an inherent
characteristic. What English he did speak, he spoke well, and he was will­
ing to answer questions about himself and to participate in the general
conversation. At one point, I asked Anatoly if he enj oyed chess. "Yes," he
said, "but it is very hard work, and I don't very much enj oy working
that hard." "You sound like an American," I replied, and he answered
with gales of laughter. There is no doubt of his confidence in his ability,
yet there is no inflated demand for attention. Consequently, he receives
a great deal of it, at the games as well as in conversation. He, like the
other players, will from time to time meander up and down the playing
area. But there is a difference in the way he observes the games. Most
players concentrate only on the pieces and their positions. Karpov does
this, but he also looks intently at each player as though he reads some­
thing as significant in his face as on his board. Although slight of frame,
Karpov is one of those beings whose personal magnetism gives the
impression of quiet but limitless power. What is time, when one has it all?
It is this awareness that Karpov seems to use as a stable datum. Gligoric
is quoted as saying, "Anatoly is the only young player who has shown

26
 SAN ANTONIO '72

a very high level of play. He has a very classical style. He's patient. He
tries to build up his chances." This method of operation observably
continues from game to game. Going into the last round, Karpov was
tied for first with fellow countryman Tigran Petrosian. The only other
threat came from Laj os Portisch, of Hungary, who was 1lz point below
the leaders. The profile of these significant contests was as follows:
Petrosian vs. Duncan Suttles of Canada: Suttles needed only Yz point
more in order to earn his Grandmaster title.
Karpov vs. Henrique Mecking of Brazil: Mecking is also a chess
prodigy, and very talented according to tournament officials. Certainly
here was no easy win for Karpov.
Portisch vs. Bent Larsen of Denmark: Larsen, when he is playing well,
is truly a formidable foe, and must be given at least equal chances in
any single game.
The results:
Petrosian vs. Suttles-Draw. This very early decision (a game is
limited to five hours of play in one day) occurred within the first hour
and put Petrosian in the lead by 1lz point.
Karpov vs. Mecking-Draw. Shortly after Petrosian drew with Suttles,
Karpov offered Mecking a draw. It was accepted. Karpov maintained
his tie for first with ex-world champion Petrosian while Portisch still
battled with Larsen.
Portisch vs. Larsen-Win for Portisch. The win for Portisch did not
occur quickly, but he had to have it in order to catch the leaders. He did.
Much speculation concerned the draw offered by Karpov. To some it
seemed obvious that the Russians would agree to draw and tie. To some
it was acceptable that Petrosian would offer the draw in order to allow
Suttles to gain his title. And it is true that Petrosian and Karpov like
each other a great deal. During one of the rounds the players were
walking about more than usual. Karpov and Petrosian met and began
talking. Shortly they broke into quiet laughter and Petrosian reached up
and patted the side of Anatoly's face. It was an affectionate gesture of
kinship. Yet to others it was the appearance of Bobby Fischer, current
world champion and a frequently outspoken critic of Soviet chess, that
triggered the Russians' quick draws and withdrawal from the tournament
hall.
However, the most plausible explanation came from Bill Church,
President of Church's Fried Chicken, Inc., and the man behind the
creation of this tournament. "Karpov is young, up-and-coming. He
doesn't need to stretch his chances; he's got all the time in the world. A

27
 SAN ANTONIO '72

tie with Petrosian for first is a great position. In this case it was an easy
decision." This viewpoint is consistent with what had been observed in
Karpov's play and personality. Dr. Max Euwe, President of FIDE, the
international chess federation, indirectly supported this viewpoint in a
separate conversation. "Karpov is uncluttered and simple. He has great
power to observe and deduce correct conclusions, and he works hard.
That is why he is a grandmaster." Whatever the viewpoint, Karpov is a
real threat to the world champion. And there is no doubt he is special.
Paul Keres, at 61 the senior grandmaster of the group to participate
in Church's International, has a serene countenance that draws one to
him immediately.
Keres has been involved in chess for many years. Though he has
never held the world championship title, many agree this seemed to be
a quirk of fate rather than ability, as his victory record is most impres­
sive. Certainly he holds a high place among the greats. In this meeting
he captured fifth place with a total of 9112 points, one point below the
front runners.
Keres is physically very handsome. His skin glows and his blue eyes
reveal the readiness of his humor and wit. He denies that he speaks
English well, yet there was never a problem in communicating, nor in
understanding his intentions.
I was talking with Keres after the tournament and chanced a question
concerning the basic ability a chess player must have in order to
succeed. He laughed and said, "He must be able to sit in a chair and
play for five hours." In reflecting on his remark, it is apparent this is an
important factor in the stamina that chess of grandmaster caliber re­
quires. Much of the walking the players do during a tournament suggests
it is an outlet for the pressure, which also creates the electrifying at­
mosphere. It is this electricity of which the spectator is immediately
aware. There is no obvious, agitated, visual motion in a chess tourna­
ment of this kind, but the spectator responds to the games with tre­
mendous excitement in breathless silence, more often than not sitting
on the edge of his chair. It is the flows the players themselves create that
are infectious in the observer. It is very difficult as a spectator to remain
seated in constant concentration, and the difficulty for the participant
must be a hundred times more intense.
Bill Church was of the same basic opinion as Keres. "The basic ability
of a grandmaster has to be the ability to simply confront, to j ust sit
there and confront and continue to confront." There are many anecdotes
that same out of the tournament which relate to this concept. These

28
 SAN ANTONIO '72

will be covered later under the appropriately related players.

Known for his dynamically creative style in chess, Bent Larsen of
Denmark is also a very dynamic individual personally. He speaks
English with ease and is a most entertaining conversationalist. With
Larsen, one can continue probing subj ects and find his quick and
colorful humor usually finding the satire in most situations. He prefers
reality to mysticism, although he sometimes creates the impression that
most things are a bit absurd. He gained a great deal of support from
San Antonians by his generous appearances at a number of the local
schools and the San Antonio Chess Club.
We spent many enj oyable hours with his wife, Lis, who is simply a
lovely person. With Lis we explored chess from the viewpoint of the
grandmaster's wife. There we found great support of the game as well
as the husband, in spite of the concept of the "chess widow." Tourna­
ment play seems to be the hardest for the wives since, as she said, they
suffer all the pressure, "because you canot help, you know? You remain
quiet and read while he works, but more than this you cannot do."
Larsen finished the tournament in a tie for eighth with seven games won,
three draws and five losses, for a total of 81h points. His aggressive and
creative style is responsible for the small number of draws. He is an
optimistic player and quite open about his abilities as a grandmaster.
There was agreement that he did not play in top form at this tourna­
ment. It was also agreed that the competition was very keen in such a
strong field.
Not the least of the competitors was Henrique Mecking from Brazil,
who tied with Larsen for eighth. Mecking was not feeling well during the
greater part of the tournament so there was not much opportunity to get
to know him personally. His companion, Abaiyete Valverde, described him
as very warm hearted, but rather stoic. He eats only certain kinds of foods,
studies a great deal and consequently does not pursue youthful adven­
ture. He is much watched over by the President of Brazil, who confers
with Mecking concerning his chess career decisions. Not only is
Mecking a professional chess player, but he is a Professor at the
University of Brazil in, yes, chess!
Mecking, the player, is interesting to observe. He clasps his hands
over his ears and is totally immersed in his game. At one point during
his game with Petrosian, the Armenian leaned over the board to inspect
the position closely. It was Mecking's move, and the young Brazilian, his
head bent, waved his hands at Petrosian as if to shoo him away. In
another instance during the same game, Mecking asked Harry Golom-

29
 SAN ANTONIO '72

bek, the tournament director, to please make Petrosian stop shaking his
legs. Apparently Petrosian was bouncing his legs underneath the table.
Golombek refused to tell the ex-world champion to stop shaking. Tour­
nament officials agree that Mecking is a bit much to handle, but then as
Valverde remarked, "It is his right as a player if he feels his chances
will be affected."
Tigran Petrosian, Grandmaster from Soviet Armenia, was champion
of the chess world from 1963 to 1969. He finished this tournament tied for
first place, accumulating 1 OV2 points.
He has been mentioned previously in his relationship with Karpov and
Mecking, but there is a great deal more to this personality. From the
spectator viewpoint, he is most interesting to watch, particularly his
facial expressions. He has a manner of pursing and unpursing his mouth
that makes him look speculative in a humorous "what's going on in
general" kind of way. His style of chess is well known as "preventative."
He plays very conservatively, with few, if any, errors and awaits his
opponent's blunder. If none shows, the game is a draw. Which it usually
is. Petrosian tied for the top of the list with nine draws in this tournament.
Other statistics were six wins and no losses.
Petrosian speaks little English, and his wife, Rona, interprets for him.
Even so, it was obvious that Tigran Petrosian is an amiable man. One
evening, shortly after his game with Mecking, he described his game
and was quite animatedly creative, showing through gesture what had
gone on. He was laughing as hard as the rest of us, enj oying his own
antics.
The third part of the first-place triumvirate was Laj os Portisch of
Hungary. I have few impressions of Portisch. Perhaps that very lack
is significant. He was, however, the only player to beat Karpov. Portisch
works hard during tournaments, usually retiring to his room after the
games. He is seldom to be seen kibitzing with the other players. A black
leather bag, containing precious secrets, accompanies him almost every­
where.
He is conservative in dress, polite in manner (he tips his hat) and
keeps very much to himself. His presence at the chess board is serious
and concentrated. He won 7, drew 7, and lost one, that to Gligoric.
Most agree Portisch has not played his best chess since the match in
March of 1970, U.S.S.R. vs. the World. But his tremendous surge in the
second half of this tournament, after an indifferent start, was really
admirable.
The U.S. had four representatives in the tournament, a grandmaster, two

30
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

international masters and a national master. Dr. Anthony Saidy, late of the
medical profession, holds an international master title. Saidy is an attrac­
tive man with curly dark hair which he wears rather longish, with ac­
companying sideburns and slightly graying temples. The obvious ques­
tion to Saidy is, "Why did you leave medicine?" His response relates his
desire to take the time now to pursue chess and to write. He published
his first book, The Battle of Chess Ideas, in 1972. He intended his book
to continue the work of Richard Reti, a writer of the 1920's who, as
Saidy states, described that "in the idea of chess and the development
of the chess mind, we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of man­
kind." Saidy's purpose is also to "elucidate something of the mysterious
attraction of chess" and to show the reader not only how chess is played
by ten contemporary chess greats, but why. To the enthusiast of chess
from a technical viewpoint, the book may be heavily romantic. But the
observer who finds as much fascination in the players as in the game,
will gain a most interesting insight into Dr. Saidy himself, his apprecia­
tion of the soldiers of Caissa and their impetus to play the game.
Saidy's conversation is as much intellectually oriented as is his prose.
There is a great deal of meaning and mobility in his questioning counte­
nance, and a great deal of charm.
National Master Ken Smith was another American in the tourna­
ment. The most immediate and marked impression of Smith to the
spectator is his size. He is a huge man. Smith is also tremendous as a
chess enthusiast. He publishes Chess Digest magazine, and he writes
books and articles on the game. He is a resident of Texas. Ken's own
statement indicated he was "thrilled to have the opportunity" to face
across the board so many of the greats in a game he so avidly supports.
In his best game of the tournament, Smith battled to a draw with Paul
Keres of the U.S.S.R. This was a particularly exciting moment for him,
somewhat compensating for his last place in this strong field. Smith is a
personable individual, and so is his wife, Linda. They pool their efforts
in the publishing enterprise. Ken also heads a contracting firm in Dallas.
Last on the list of masters is Duncan Suttles of Canada who came to
this tournament to attempt qualifying for the grandmaster title. His
efforts proved successful and he did indeed solidify his position among
the best. As an individual, Suttles has an easy smile, but is generally
quiet and reserved. His chess, Gligoric commented, is "very compli­
cated."
Currently, aside from his endeavors in chess, Suttles is working on his
Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of British Columbia. He was

31
 SAN ANTONIO '72

accompanied by his wife, Dobrila, who in sharp contrast is extremely

extroverted, friendly, and interested in everything.
Three other personalities who made the tournament the tremendous
experience it was are George Koltanowski, Tournament Coordinator,
Harry Golombek, 0.B.E., of England, Tournament Director, and finally
Dr. Max Euwe, former World Champion and now President of FIDE.
Koltanowski is a syndicated chess columnist in the U.S. He himself
holds the International Master title, though he no longer participates as
a tournament player. The question for George should have been: Which
is rougher, coordinator or player? His comments, elsewhere in this book,
are most enlightening. It was Koltanowski who, at the request of Bill
Church, put the tournament together. From the spectator viewpoint he
did a magnificent j ob.
Spending an evening with "Kolty," Golombek and their longtime
friend, Paul Keres, was to enj oy many a hilarious story about their
experiences in the world of chess. There were too many to relate here,
but it is appropriate to look at the two most crucial non-players. To say
that they are individually and uniquely dynamic is a tremendous under­
statement. But I find no better description. George throws his hands in
the air in a gesture of despair over a trifling detail gone wrong, but rest
assured the big problems are under control. "Why do I worry?" he
exclaims with a slight accent, shaking his head. But he is ready and
willing to give a novice with genuine interest the time to discuss chess.
He indicates that to be a grandmaster one must have talent, should work
hard, and have a lot of luck. Golombek, on the other hand, is steady,
stalwart and has the Britisher's subtle, dry humor. One's impression is
that he could not become very ruffled over anything, much less an ex­
world champion's shaking legs. Together they are more than colorful.
Add Keres and you have the rainbow.
Dr. Max Euwe arrived from the Netherlands to witness the closing
days of the tournament. It was a rare privilege to share several enj oy­
able hours discussing chess and other interests with this dignified and
genuinely lovely man.
From this spectator's viewpoint (my first international chess tourna­
ment), the game and the masters are enthralling. One taste of the inter­
national comradeship which exists among the players, one round of
exciting battle and that's it-you're addicted.

32
 ROUN D ONE

Players in the Order of the Draw

Country Title Age Rating

Paul Keres USSR GM 56 2600

2 Henrique Mecking Brazil GM 20 2570

3 Anthony Saidy USA IM 35 2425

4 Walter Browne Australia GM 23 2530

5 Bent Larsen Denmark GM 37 2625

6 Mario Campos-Lopez Mexico NM 29 2430*

7 Duncan Suttles Canada IM 26 2470

8 Donald Byrne USA IM 42 2470

9 Tigran Petrosian USSR GM 43 2645

10 Svetozar Gligoric Yugoslavia GM 49 2575

11 Lajos Portisch Hungary GM 35 2640

12 Kenneth Smith USA NM 42 2395*

13 Larry Evans USA GM 40 2545

14 Anatoly Karpov USSR GM 21 2630

15 Julio Kaplan Puerto Rico IM 22 2470

16 Vlastimil Hort Czechoslovakia GM 28 2600

Average rating of players= 2538.75

FIDE category of tournament = 12

Score necessary for a Grandmaster result = 8

Score necessary for an International Master result = 6

GM= International Grandmaster

IM = International Master

NM= National Master

= Provisional Rating

33
 FINAL STANDINGS AND PRIZE DISTRIBUTIONS
N
r--
.
1st-3rd Karpov, Petrosian, Portisch 10V2 pts $2,333.33 each
4th Gligoric 10 pts $ 700.
0
- 5th Keres 9Yz pts $ 600.
z 6th-7th Hort, Suttles 9 pts $ 450. each
0 8th-9th Larsen, Mecking 8Yz pts $ 256.25 each """
E-< ('<")
10th D. Byrne 7 pts $ 175.
z
< 11th-12th Browne, Evans 6Yz pts $ 162.50 each
13th Kaplan 5 pts $ 125.
z 14th-15th Campos, Saidy 3V2 pts $ 87.50 each
<
rl'.l
16th Smith 2 pts $ 50.
The $150 Turover brilliancy prize was won by Keres for his game against D. Byrne
(Game 61).
 PROGRESSIVE POINT TOTALS BY ROUNDS

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Portisch Vz 1 lVz 2 2 3 4 41/z 5Vz 6Vz 7Vz 8 9 9V2 10V2

Petrosian l /2 1 2 2Vz 3Vz 4 4Vz 5 5Vz 6V2 7Vz 8 9 10 lOVz V1

1 2 2Vz 3V2 4Vz 5V2 6 7 7 8 8Vz 9 9Vz 10 10V2 >

Karpov
z
Gligoric 1 2 2 2V2 3Vz 4Vz 5 5 5V2 6 6Vz 7V2 8Vz 9 10
Keres 1 2 3 3V2 4Vz 51/z 6 7 7Vz 8 8 8Vz 8Vz 9 9Vz >
Suttles 0 V2 lVz 2Vz 2Vz 3Vz 4 4Vz 5Vz 6 6Vz 71/2 8 8Vz 9 z
\;.)
5 5 5Vz 6V2 7 7V2 8Vz 9 >-l
Ut Hort 0 Vz lVz 2 3 3 4
0
Mecking 1 1 1 lVz 2Vz 3V2 4Vz 5 5Vz 5V2 6 6Vz 7Vz 8 8V2
z
Larsen 1 2 2Vz 3V2 3Vz 3Vz 4Vz 4Vz 5Vz 6Vz 7 8 8 8Vz 8Vz ......

4 5 5 5 6 6Vz 7 0
D. Byrne Vz Vz 1 2 3 3 3Vz 3Vz
Evans Y2 l /2 1 1 1 lV2 2 2Vz 3V2 4 4V2 4Vz 5 1/z 6 6Vz .
-..J
Browne Vz Vz lVz 2 2 2 2 3 3 3Vz 4Vz 5 5 5Vz 6Vz N

Kaplan 0 Vz 1/2 Vz lV2 lVz 2 2Vz 3 3 3 4 4Vz 4Vz 5

Campos Vz 1 lVz lVz lVz lV2 lVz 2Vz 3 1/2 3Vz 3V2 3Vz 3Vz 3Vz 3Y2
Saidy 0 Vz Vz 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3Vz
Smith 0 Y2 Y2 Vz Vz Vz Vz Vz Vz Vz lVz 2 2 2 2
 CHURCH'S FRIED CHICKEN INC.
First International Chess Tournament
San Antonio, Texas
November 19 - December 11, 1972

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WD L Pts. S-B

1 Portisch x 1h 1 0 1 l/2 1 1h 1 1h V2 1h 1 1h 1 1 7 7 1 101h 76.75

N
2 Petrosian 1h x 1h 1 1h V2 1h 1 1 1h 1h 1h 1h 1 1 1 6 9 0 101h 72.75
r:-
-
3 Karpov 0 1h x 1 1h 1 1h 1h 1h 1 1h 1 1h 1 1 1 7 7 1 lOV2 70.25
0 4 Gligoric 1 0 0 x 1h 1 1h 1h 1h 1 1h 1 1h 1 1 1 7 6 2 10 65.50
-
5 Keres 0 l/2 1h V2 x 1h 1 1 1 1 0 1h 1h 1 1 V2 6 7 2 9V2 66.25
z
6 Suttles 1h 1h 0 0 1h x V2 1h 1h 1h 1 1h 1 1 1 1 5 8 2 9 56.50
0
r- 7 Hort 0 1h 1h 1h 0 1h x 1 0 1h 1h 1 1 1 1 1 6 6 3 9 55.75 \0
<"l
z 8 Meeking 1h 0 1h 1h 0 1h 0 x 1 1h 1h 1 1 1 1h 1 5 7 3 81h 54.00
< 9 Larsen 0 0 1h V2 0 1h 1 0 x 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 7 3 5 8V2 51.25

z 10 D. Byrne 1h 1h 0 0 0 1h V2 1h 0 x 1 0 1h 1 1 1 4 6 5 7 41.75
< 11 Evans V2 V2 1h 1h 1 0 1h 1h 0 0 x 1h 0 1h 1h 1 2 9 4 61h 47.75
Cll
12 Browne 1h 1h 0 0 1h 1h 0 0 1 1 1h x 1 0 0 1 4 5 6 6V2 45.50
13 Kaplan 0 1h 1h 1h 1h 0 0 0 0 1h 1 0 x 1 1h 0 2 6 7 5 38.50
14 Campos 1h 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V2 1 0 x 1 1h 2 3 10 3V2 19.50
15 Saidy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1h 0 0 1h 1 V2 0 x 1 2 3 10 3V2 18.50
16 Smith 0 0 0 0 1h 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1h 0 x 1 2 12 2 11.50

Note: Players listed in tiebreak order. However, no official

tiebreaking was done and tied players received equal prizes
S-B = Sonnenborn-Berger
 INDEX OF GAMES

(Numbers in bold face indicate player on left had White)

PE KA GL KE SU HO ME LA BY EV BR KA CA SA SM

Portisch 26 71 40 86 11 41 92 116 23 58 109 75 6 101 56 en

Petrosian - 54 24 69 114 9 77 99 8 43 93 60 111 84 39 >

88 14 102 29 74 z
Karpov - - 59 106 37 89 119 20 44 3
Gligoric - - - 76 7 25 85 110 10 55 100 70 115 94 42 >
Keres - - - - 52 1 16 35 61 103 31 120 46 18 91 z
..,, - - 97 62 82 112 28 79 45 90 67 22 ....,
-..J Suttles - - -
0
Hort - - - - - - 17 65 113 73 49 105 81 33 57
z
Mecking - - - - - - -
47 68 107 34 2 51 32 104 ......
- - - - - - 95 13 64 30 80 50 5 0
Larsen - -

.
D. Byrne - - - - - - - - - 38 83 53 98 78 27
-..J
Evans - - - - - - - - - - 4 96 21 118 72 N
-
Browne - - - - - - - - - - 19 66 48 117
- - -
Kaplan - - - - - - - - - 36 15 87
- - -
Campos - - - - - - - - - -
63 12
- - - - -
Saidy - - - - - - - - - 108
Smith
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

1HE ANNOTATORS

Browne: 19, 64
D. Byrne: 38, 83,112
Campos: 63
Evans: 72, 103
Gligoric: 40, 100
Hort: 17, 33
Kaplan: 70, 96,102, 120
Karpov: 14, 37
Keres: 46, 61
Larsen: 3, 10, 12, 13, 20, 26, 29, 30, 35, 50, 51, 56, 58,
59,65,76,77,78,80,81,82,84,88,90,95,99,
101, 110, 115, 116, 118
Levy: 2, 7,16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31,32,36,41, 44,49,
75, 79, 85, 104, 105
Mecking: 34, 47
Petrosian: 77, 99
Portisch: 71, 86
Saidy: 48, 94
Smith: 87, 91
Suttles: 28, 67

38
 ROUND ONE

ROUND ONE

Sunday, November 19th

White Black Opening Result Moves

Keres Hort Queen's Indian Defense 1-0 60
2 Mecking Kaplan Sicilian Defense 1-0 31
3 Saidy Karpov Polish Defense 0-1 52
4 Browne Evans Franco-Sicilian Defense 1h-1h 25
5 Larsen Smith Queen's Gambit Declined 1-0 24
6 Campos Portisch Sicilian Defense lf2-l/2 33
7 Suttles Gligoric King's Indian Defense 0-1 48
8 D. Byrne Petrosian RetiOpening 1h-1h 22

GAME 1 19 PxP PxP

20 P-B4 N-B4
White: Paul Keres 21 B-N5 R-K2
Black: Vlastimil Hort 22 P-QN4 P-QR3
23 PxN PxB
Queen's Indian Defense 24 PxP QXP
25 B-K3 Q-QB3
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 26 R(2)-Bl Q-R3
2 P-QB4 P-K3 27 NxQP BXN
3 N-KB3 P-QN3 28 RXR QxR
4 P-K3 B-N2 29 RXB R-B2
5 B-Q3 B-K2 30 QXP R-B8ch
6 N-B3 P-Q4 31 K-B2 R-B7ch
7 0-0 0-0 32 K-B3 P-R4
8 P-QN3 QN-Q2 33 P-R3 Q-Rl
9 B-N2 P-B4 34 Q-N3 R-Bl
10 Q-K2 R-Bl 35 K-N3 QXP
11 KR-Ql PxQP 36 QxQ BXQ
12 KPXP P-N3 37 K-B3 B-Bl
13 N-K5 R-Kl 38 R-Q7 B-N2
14 QR-Bl B-Bl 39 K-K4 R-Nl
15 R-B2 B-N5 40 B-B5 R-QBl
16 P-QR3 B-Bl 41 K-Q5 R-Rl
17 B-Bl NXN 42 P-N4 PxP
18 PxN N-Q2 43 PXP R-R4

39
 SAN ANTONIO '72

44 R-Q8ch K-R2
45 P-N5 R-R5
46 B-Q4 R-R6
47 K-K4 R-R5
48 R-QN8 B-Rl
49 R-KB8 K-N2
50 R-Q8 K-R2
51 K-Q3 R-R6ch
52 K-B4 R-R5ch
53 K-N5 R-R6
54 R-KB8 K-N2
55 R-B8 K-R2 12 R-Nl?
56 R-B8 K-N2
57 RXB KxR An ugly move which wastes a
58 P-K6ch K-Nl tempo and later exposes the Rook
59 P-K7 R-Rl to pressure from White's QB. Kap­
60 B-B6 Resigns lan's idea was to protect the QNP
against the possibility of Q-N3 by
White. Better was the immediate 12
GAME 2 . . R-Kl.
.

White: Henrique Mecking 13 R-Bl R-Kl

Black: Julio Kaplan
13 . .. P-Q4 was possible at
Sicilian Defense once and if 14 BPXP PXP 15 PXP
N-QN5 16 B-KB4 B-Q3.
Notes by Levy
14 Q-Q2 P-Q4!
1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 P-K3 The only way to test whether the
3 P-Q4 PxP Maroczy really binds.
4 NxP N-QB3
5 N-N5 P-Q3 15 BPXP PXP
6 P-QB4 P-QR3 16 PXP N-QN5
7 N(5)-R3 N-B3 17 B-KB4 B-B4ch
8 N-B3 B-K2 18 K-Rl R-QBl
9 B-K2 0-0 19 P-Q6 P-QN4
10 0-0 P-QN3
11 B-K3 B-N2 If 19 ... QN-Q4 20 NXN NXN
12 P-B3 21 B-B4 with pressure on KB7 (21

40
 ROUND ONE

... NXB 22 QXN is extremely were made in a flurry because of

good for White). mutual time shortage.

20 KR-Ql 25 Q-Q4 B-B4

26 Q-KS R-Kl
Possibly better was 20 B-Ql with 27 Q-RS P-N3
the idea of bringing the Bishop to 28 Q-NS
QN3 again with pressure on KB7.

20 QN-Q4
21 NXN NxN
22 B-Q3 Q-Q2

Not 22 ... B-N5 23 RxR QXR

(23 ... BXR 24 BXPch) 24 Q­
KB2 NXB 25 P-Q7 NxB 26
PXR=Qch winning the Exchange.
Better, however, was 22 ... BXP
23 RXR BXR 24 BXB QXB 25
B-K4 B-K3 (25 ... B-N2 26 N-B2
is better for White) 26 P-R3 R-Ql 28 ..... . NxB?
27 N-B2 (intending N-K3) 27 ...
P-B4, when Black is very slightly . In desperate time trouble Kaplan
better but the game should prob­ blunders. "I fell asleep. When I
ably be drawn. woke up and looked at my clock I
only had ten seconds left."
23 B-K4 B-NS After 28 ... P-B4! It is impos­
24 RXR RXR? sible for White to keep his extra
pawn without suffering utter ruina­
Correct was 24 .. . BXQ 25 tion, e.g. 29 RXN BXN (29 ...
B-B5 (not 25 RXRch QXR 26 PXB 30 RXB PXP is tricky but
BXB Q-K3 27 B-N4 P-B4 28 BXN unsound: 31 R-Bl [if 31 R-K5?
BXB 29 P-QN3 B-B3 when Black P-B7 wins] 31 ... P-B7 32 Q-N3
has good winning chances) 25 ... Q-N5 33 N-B2! [not 33 QXP? R­
BXR 26 BXQ BXKB 27 BXB R­ K7!] 33 ... Q-K7 34 N-K3! and
K3 28 N-B2 (or 28 P-R3 B-B3) 28 Black has no more tricks) 30 PXB
... P-B3 29 N-N4 NxN 30 BXN PxB 31 PxP BXR (31 ... RxP
R-K7, when Black has good drawing may be even better) 32 QxBch Q­
chances. B2 winning for Black (33 Q-Q2
From now on most of the moves RXP 34 P-Q7 QXQP).

41
 S AN ANTO NIO ' 72

29 QxN B-Bl things quiet in the center until he

30 Q-Bl BxP has castled.
31 B-B6 Forfeit
6 P-K4 P-Q3
7 P-QR4 P-QR3
GAME 3 8 PxP

White: Anthony Saidy Not a bad idea. Another one was

Black: Anatoly Karpov 8 P-B3 followed by N-R3. In such
an unknown position there is plenty
Polish Defense
of scope for imagination and origi­
nality.
Notes by Larsen

8 PxP
1 N-KB3 N-KB3
9 RXR BXR
2 P-KN3 P-QN4!?
10 N-R3 P-NS
11 N-B4 0-0
This is really getting quite popu­
12 B-Q2 N-B3
lar now; the young Yugoslav grand­
13 Q-Rl(?)
master Ljubojevic plays it very
often. It had to come sooner or
A blind alley. Good was 13 R­
later, for it is certainly just as play­
Kl. White has a nice position with­
able as 1 N-KB3 N-KB3 2 P-B4
out pawn weaknesses, while the far
P-KN3 3 P-QN4!?, as Smyslov,
advanced black QN pawn might be
Benko and others have played many
considered weak.
times.I think it is an advantage for
Black that he has not played P­ 13 P-Q4
QB4. 14 PXP NXP
I have played 1 N-KB3 P-K3 2 15 Q-R6(?) B-B3
P-KN3 P-QN4 a few times myself, 16 R-Rl(?) P-R3!
I prefer P-K3 for Black because I 17 R-Kl
do not like to promise so early not
to make it a Dutch Orang-Utan, A sad retreat. But Karpov's last
with P-KB4 (see game 99!). move prevented tricks like 17 Q­
N5 Q-Q2 18 R-R6 R-Nl 19
3 B-N2 B-N2 QXRch NxQ 20 RXB Q-Bl 21
4 0-0 P-K3 N-R5 because of K-R2! 22 N-B6
S P-Q3 B-K2 Q-N2.

This is much better than 5 ... 17 Q-K2

P-Q4 6 P-K4! Black must keep 18 N-RS

42
 ROUND ONE

Why not to K5? cause of 32 R-R5 QXP 33 NXQ

BXN 34 BXN. Saidy was short of
18 . . . . . . Q-Q3 time, so Karpov was hoping for a
chance.
After 18 ... NXN 19 QXN BXP
20 R-Nl B-B6 21 BXB PXB 22 32 R-R5 Q-K2
N-Q4 Black cannot hold the plus 33 P-N4?
pawn.
Helping Black.Best was probably
19 N-B4 Q-B4 33 B-B3, threatening P-K4.
20 B-K3
33 Q-B2
Probably best. White has lost the 34 R-Rl B-N4
initiative, but he still has a playable 35 K-Rl K-R3
game. 36 R-KNl?

20 NxB Again, better B-B3. But having

21 PxN N-K2! played 33 P-N4? White could not
play P-K4, as the Black Knight
Otherwise White would get the would go to B5.
advantage with N(3}-Q2.
36 N-B3
22 N(3)-Q2 B-Q4 37 B-B3 R-Ql
23 N-K4 BXN(K5)
24 BXB P-R4!?
25 Q-Rl?!

Seeing the beginning of a Black

attack, White retires. More ener­
getic was 25 R-Rl!

25 P-N3
26 Q-Ql P-R5
27 Q-K2 Q-KN4
28 Q-B3 K-N2
29 Q-B4 Q-QB4
30 R-Rl N-Q4 38 R-Rl? P-N6!
31 Q-B2 P-B3
After this, Black's advantage is
31 ...B-N4 is not very good be- probably decisive.

43
 SAN ANTONIO '72

39 R-R6 PxP there is no reason to doubt that he

40 QxP N-Q4 would have won.

Adjourned. White has too many 52 R-R5?? Q-Q7

weaknesses. Resigns

41 Q-Q2 P-QB4
42 Q-K2 N-N5
43 R-R3 K-N2 GAME 4
44 B-N2 B-B3
45 B-Bl N-B3! White: Walter Browne
46 Q-KB2 N-K4 Black: Larry Evans
47 NxN QXN
48 P-N3 R-Q2 Franco-Sicilian Defense

Black wants to play B-N4, forc­ 1 P-K4 P-K3

ing P-K4, after which White will be 2 P-Q4 P-QB4
terribly weak on the black squares. 3 P-Q5 PXP
But first he prevents R-R7. 4 PXP P-Q3
5 N-QB3 N-KB3
49 P-K4 Q-N4 6 N-B3 B-K2
50 Q-K2 R-N2 7 B-K2 0-0
51 Q-B3 B-K4 8 N-Q2 N-R3
9 N-B4 N-B2
10 P-QR4 P-QN3
11 0-0 B-N2
12 B-B3 Q-Q2
13 B-B4 KR-Kl
14 Q-Q3 P-KR3
15 B-N3 B-KBl
16 KR-Ql B-R3
17 P-N3 N-N5
18 R-Kl RXRch
19 RXR R-Kl
20 RXR QXR
A nice position! Karpov has 21 Q-K4 N-B3
slowly and patiently collected im­ 22 QXQ N(3)XQ
portant positional advantages. The 23 N-K3 P-N3
game might still take a long time 24 P-R4 P-R4
without the following blunder, but 25 N-K4 Draw

44
 ROUND ONE

A game distinguished solely by 21 RXKP RXR

the fact that in the middle of it 22 QxR B-QBl
Browne complained about the in­ 23 NxP Q-B2
tensity of the overhead lighting 24 N-Q6 Resigns
which had been specially installed
at a cost of $3,000. Result: after
this round the overhead lighting
was never again used!
GAME 6

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

Black: Lajos Portisch

GAME 5 Sicilian Defense

White: Bent Larsen 1 P-K4 P-QB4

Black: Kenneth Smith 2 N-KB3 P-K3
3 P-Q4 PxP
Queen's Gambit Declined 4 NxP P-QR3
5 B-Q3 B-B4
1 P-Q4 P-Q4 6 N-N3 B-N3
2 N-KB3 N-KB3 7 N-B3 N-QB3
3 P-B4 P-B3 8 Q-K2 KN-K2
4 P-K3 P-KN3 9 B-K3 0-0
5 N-B3 B-N2 10 0-0-0 P-QR4
6 B-K2 0-0 11 P-QR4 BxBch
7 0-0 P-K3 12 QxB P-Q4
8 P-QN4 P-N3 13 P-K5
9 B-N2 B-N2
10 Q-N3 QN-Q2 Here 13 PXP PXP 14 KR-Kl is
11 P-QR4 P-QR3 more natural. By closing the center
12 KR-Ql R-Kl White leaves himself without any
13 N-K5 NxN play.
14 PXN N-Q2
15 P-B4 P-B3 13 N-N5
16 PXQP QBPXP 14 N-Q4 KN-B3
17 P-K4 QPxP 15 P-B4 B-Q2
18 R-Q6 PxP 16 KR-Bl R-Bl
19 QR-Ql R-K2 17 R-B3 NxN
20 B-N4 K-Rl 18 QXN P-B4

45
 SAN ANTONIO '72

19 K-Nl Q-K2 GAME 7

20 R-QBl R-QB2
21 B-N5 KR-Bl White: Duncan Suttles
22 B-Q3 Q-B4 Black: Svetozar Gligoric
23 QxQ RXQ
24 R-B2? P-Q5 King's Indian Defense
25 B-N5 BXB
26 NXB N-Q6 Notes by Levy
27 R-Q2 NXR
28 KxN P-Q6 1 P-Q4 N-KB3
29 P-B3 2 P-QB4 P-KN3
3 N-QB3 B-N2
4 P-K4 P-Q3
5 P-B3 0-0
6 B-K3 P-B3
7 Q-Q2 P-QR3

Suttles was totally unprepared to

meet this system. He had expected
7 ... P-K4.

8 P-KN4? P-QN4
9 P-N5?

At this point in an otherwise un­ After this move, White is stra­

interesting game, a dance band tegically lost. He has no way of
started playing in the hall below breaking through on the Kingside
the tournament room. Portisch is and nowhere safe to put his King.
extremely sensitive to noise, and in If he castles Kingside Black can
any case his musical taste is strictly open up the position with ...P­
classical.Infuriated at the cacoph­ KB4. On the other wing it is no
onous interruption to his thought safer because all the play will be
processes, he came up with a most on that side.
unexpected move.
9 N-R4
29 R-B5?? 10 QN-K2 P-K4
30 N-Q6 R(l)-B2 11 P-Q5 PXBP
31 NXR RXN 12 N-B3 P-QB4
32 P-KN3 RXRP 13 KBXP N-Q2
33 RXP Draw 14 N-R4 R-Nl

46
 ROUND ONE

15 P-QR3 P-B4 32 PxP PXP

16 PXP e.p. QNXP 33 B-B3 R-KBl
17 N-B3 N-Q2 34 N-Nl Q-Q6
18 0-0-0 N-N3 35 R-N2 R-B3
36 R-Kl B-R3
� i
�·�BAii
··'· � �-.. : •
. I'� ..
I � %
37 R(2)-K2 R-Bl

• • w.• � i 38 R-N2 K-N2

�I�
�
39 R(2)-K2 R-QNl
i��
%' ; �-
�� � •1• 40 K-R2 Q-B5ch
• �. �
A�I -� 41 K-Rl R-N6

• A• • 42 R-QB2 Q-Q6

�n�� l!i �.-�A• 43 R(2)-K2 RXB

� - -m
� :
44 PXR B-Q7
� � �,,�� • �F"!ii 0 45 R-Nl BxPch
•� �§· E§ 46 K-R2 Q-B5ch
47 R-N3 B-Q5
19 B-Bl N-KB5 48 R-KN2 P-R4
20 P-KR4 B-Q2 Resigns
21 R-R2 N-R5

Black is methodically moving his GAME 8

whole army in the direction of
White's King. White: Donald Byrne
Black: Tigran Petrosian
22 NxN BXN
23 R-Kl R-B2 Reti Opening
24 K-Nl KR-N2
25 K-Rl B-N4 1 P-KN3 P-Q4
26 BxB RXB 2 N-KB3 P-QB3
27 R-Nl R-N6 3 B-N2 B-N5
28 N-K2 R-Q6 4 P-N3 N-Q2
29 BXN 5 B-N2 P-K3
6 0-0 KN-B3
If 29 Q-Bl R(l)-N6 30 N-B3 7 P-Q3 B-K2
Q-R4 and Black threatens 31 . .. 8 P-B4 0-0
R(Q)XN 32 PxR RXPch, etc. 9 N-B3 P-QR3
10 R-Bl R-Kl
29 RXQ 11 R-B2 B-Bl
30 BXR Q-N3 12 Q-Rl P-K4
31 P-R5 Q-N4 13 PxP PXP

47
 SAN ANTONIO '72

14 KR-Bl P-KS 18 P-K3 Q-K2

15 PxP PxP 19 KN-K2 B-B3
16 N-Q4 N-N3 20 N-Q4 B-Q2
17 P-KR3 B-Q2 21 KN-K2 B-B3
22 N-Q4 B-Q2
If 17 ... QxN 18 NxP! Draw

Standings After One Round

Gligoric, Karpov, Keres, Larsen, Mecking

Y2 Browne, D. Byrne, Campos, Evans, Petrosian, Portisch
0 Hort, Kaplan, Saidy, Smith, Suttles

48
 ROUND TWO

ROUND TWO

Monday, November 20th

White Black Opening Result Moves

9 Hort (0) Petrosian (lh) Sicilian Defense lh-lh 13

10 Gligoric (1) D. Byrne ('h) Gruenfeld Defense 1-0 39
11 Portisch ('h ) Suttles (0) Pirc Defense lh-V2 40
12 Smith (0) Campos (lh) French Defense Jh-lh 64
13 Evans (lh) Larsen (1) Queen's Indian Defense 0-1 43
14 Karpov (1) Browne (1h) English Opening 1-0 59
15 Kaplan (0) Saidy (0) Sicilian Defense lh-lh 69
16 Keres (1) Mecking (1) Queen's Gambit Accepted 1-0 28

GAME 9 GAME 10

White: Vlastimil Hort White: Svetozar Gligoric

Black: Tigran Petrosian Black: Donald Byrne

Sicilian Defense Gruenfeld Defense

1 P-K4 P-QB4 Notes by Larsen

2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 B-NSch B-Q2 1 P-Q4 N-KB3
4 BXBch QXB 2 P-QB4 P-KN3
5 P-B4 N-QB3 3 N-QB3 P-Q4
6 N-B3 N-B3 4 N-B3 B-N2
7 0-0 5 B-NS!? N-KS
6 B-R4
If 7 P-Q4 PXP 8 NxP Q-N5
with complete equality (Petrosian). Earlier the normal continuation
in this position was 6 PXP NXB 7
7 P-KN3 NXN P-K3, leading to a rather
8 P-Q4 PXP quiet game unless White plays the
9 NxP B-N2 risky 8 Q-R4ch?! P-B3 9 PXBP
10 KN-K2 0-0 NxP, giving Black a tremendous
11 P-B3 P-QR3 development for the pawn.
12 P-QR4 Q-Ql The text move is an idea of
13 B-K3 N-Q2 Taimanov's, originally played a
Draw move earlier: 4 B-N5 N-K5 5 B-R4.

49
 SAN ANTONIO '72

6 P-QB4 The more ambitious 15 ... P-N3?

7 P-K3 BPXP loses material because of 16 B-K7
8 KPXP N-QB3 R-Kl? 17 B-QN4! And, Byrne's
next move is not 100% satisfactory
Black plays very energetically. either.
By the way, another aggressive­
looking move is not as good as it 15 B-NS(?)
looks: 8 ... Q- R4?! After 9 Q-N3 16 BXB NXB
N-QB3?? 10 Px P NxQP 11 NxN 17 QxP QXBP
BXN White wins a piece with 12 18 N-B6!
Q-N5ch!

9 PXP NxN
10 NPXN QxP
11 B-K2 P-K4!?

The Black position after 11

0-0 is probably perfectly satisfac­
tory, but Donald Byrne's move is
clearer.

12 PXP Q-R4
Suddenly Black is in difficulties.
12 ... QxQch 13 RxQ 0-0 14 One threat is QR-Bl followed by
B-N3 is not an easy draw for Black, N-K7ch and N-BS, trapping the
but 12 ... B-K3!? was an interest­ black QR! The best defense for
ing alternative. Black is probably 18 ... Q-N7,
but after 19 QXQ BXQ 20 QR-Nl
13 0-0 0-0 B-B3 21 BXB NXB 22 R-N7 White
14 Q-N3 NxP keeps slight winning chances.
15 N-Q4
18 Q-BS?
The strong position of this Knight 19 QR-Bl Q-RS
compensates for Black's healthier
pawn structure.The game is even. Looks clever, as 20 N-K7ch? K­
Black has solved his problems, and Rl 21 N-BS is met by 21 ...
in theory books we can write: " ... NxRP! But there comes a quiet
and with 15 ... N-B3! he could killer:
equalize."
Of course, one must be careful. 20 B-N3! N-B3

50
 R OUND TWO

There is no defense. The answer against the Black King White could
to 20 ... QR-Kl would probably at least have forced the exchange
have been 21 B-Q6, hut 21 QXP of Queens, after which the ending
is not bad either. would not have been difficult to
wm.
21 N-N8! Q-K5
22 R-B6 36 Q-N7
37 QxPch K-R3
It is all over. A surprisingly quick 38 R-B6 K-N4
knock-out in a position that looked 39 P-R4ch Resigns
very drawish.

22 QRXN GAME 11
23 BXR N-N5
24 B-N3 B-Q5 White: Lajos Portisch
25 R-B7 Q-K7 Black: Duncan Suttles
26 Q-B3 Q-K3
27 R-B6 N-K4 Pirc Defense

Or 27 . . . Q-Q2 28 R-Ql. 1 N-KB3 P-KN3

2 P-K4 B-N2
28 BXN QXB 3 P-Q4 P-Q3
29 P-N3 P-KR4 4 B-K2 N-KB3
30 KR-Bl K-N2 5 N-B3 0-0
31 R-B8 6 0-0 B-N5
7 B-K3 N-B3
It is a good general rule that if 8 Q-Q2 BxN
you are the Exchange up, you 9 BXB N-Q2
should exchange your opponent's re- 10 QR-Ql N-N3
maining Rook. 11 B-K2 P-K4
12 P-Q5 N-K2
31 RXR 13 P-B3 P-KB4
32 RXR Q-K8ch 14 P-KN3 N-Q2
33 K-N2 Q-R4 15 R-B2 N-KB3
34 Q-K4 B-B3 16 B-Bl N-R4
35 Q-QB4 Q-N3 17 N-K2 PxP
36 R-B7 18 PXP RXR
19 BXR N-KB3
Ouch! Maybe Black could have 20 B-N2 N-N5
defended better, but with threats 21 B-R3 B-R3

51
 SAN A NTO NIO '72

22 Q-N4 P-R4 Being a student of Nimzovich, I

23 Q-B4 NxB cannot criticize this move. But I do
24 KxN K-Rl not play it myself.
25 K-N2 N-Nl
26 R-KBl N-B3 3 P-QB4
27 R-B3 Q-K2 4 P-QB3 N-QB3
28 N-B3 R-KBl 5 N-B3 KN-K2!?
29 B-K6 B-Q7
30 N-Ql B-N5
Better known is 5 ... Q-N3, but
31 Q-K2 B-B4
the text move is very good. White's
32 P-KR4 K-N2
best answer is probably 6 PXP!?
33 N-B2 BXN
34 RXB P-B4
6 P-QR3 PxP(?)
35 P-R4 Q-Kl
36 P-N3 Q-Ql
Best was 6 P-B5!, planning
37 R-B3 Q-N3
something like N-R4, B-Q2, P-KR3,
38 P-KN4 Q-Ql
Q-B2 and 0-0-0. A similar plan
39 K-R3 P-R3
40 Q-K3 is known to be quite good after 5
N-R2
... Q-N3 6 P-QR3, but in the pres­
Draw
ent game Black would almost have
a tempo more. The text move gives
White the position he wants.
GAME 12

White: Kenneth Smith 7 PxP N-B4

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez 8 N-B3 B-K2
9 B-K3 P-B3!
French Defense
Otherwise, White would get a
Notes by Larsen very good position with 10 B-Q3.
It might have been better for White
1 P-K4 P-K3(?) to play 9 P-QN4 (9 . . P-B3? 10
.

P-N4).
Stronger is P-QB4, which wins a
pawn (Smith always plays the Morra 10 PXP BxBP
Gambit, in this tournament with 11 B-Q3 0-0
disastrous results). 12 0-0 K-Rl
13 R-Bl P-QR3?
2 P-Q4 P-Q4 14 P-QN4 P-KN3!?
3 P-K5 15 N-QR4 Q-Q3

52
 ROUND TWO

It was still not very good to take 21 P-QS!

the QP, for example 15 ... N(4)XP 22 PxP Q-K6
16 NXN BXN 17 BXB NXB 18 23 BxNP!?
BXNP N-B6ch 19 PxN PXB 20
An interesting defense in an al­
Q-Q4ch K-Nl 21 N-N6 R-Nl 22
ready critical position.
Q-K5. But after the text move,
White should have chosen the plan 23 BXP
which would also have been very 24 QXQ RXQ
good one move earlier: play on the 25 R-Ql B-R2
black squares. Very strong was 16 26 R-Q8ch
BXN followed by Q-Q2, White
would be ready to exchange all Also possible was 26 N-B5, but
minor pieces except the Black QB! after 26 ... PxB 27 R-Q8ch K-N2
28 R(2)-B8, Black keeps some win­
16 Q-Q2? NXB ning chances with 28 ... RXP 29
17 PXN P-K4 RXB RXR 30 RXR P-R4.

26 K-N2
Solves Black's problems.
27 K-Bl PxB

18 PXP NxKP 28 R(2)-B8 B-Q2!

29 RXR BxN
19 NXN QXN
30 R-N8ch K-B2
20 R-KB2 R-Kl!
31 P-N3 B-N4ch
21 Q-B3?
32 K-N2 B-B3ch
33 K-Bl
On 21 N-N6!, the answer B-N4?
doesn't work: 22 NXR BXP 23 Not better was 33 K-R3 R-K7!
Q-B2 B-Q2 24 N-B7 R-QBl 25
R-Kl! 33 B-N3
34 R(R)-B8ch K-K2
35 R-B4 B-N4ch
36 K-N2 B-B3ch
37 K-Bl B-KS

After 37 ... RXRP 38 R-N7ch

White draws.

38 R-N8 B-B2?

After this it is not absolutely cer­

tain that Black can win. Much
better was 38 ... B-Q4!

53
 SAN ANTO NIO '7 2

39 RXBch RxR and P-R5. But White must not play

40 RXP R-B5 P-R4 too early: 52 P-R4 K-N2! 53
41 P-N5 PxP P-N4 K-R3 and wins, for instance
42 RXP R-B7 54 K-N3 B-B6 55 K-B2 B-N5 56
43 K-Nl K-B3 K-N3 B-K8ch 57 K-R3 B-B7, zug­
zwang! So, White can only play P­
Or 43 ... R-R7 44 P-KR4! R4 when the Black King is further
away from KR3.
44 P-QR4 R-R7
45 R-N4 B-K4 51 K-R3 K-N4
46 R-B4 R-N7 52 R-R2 B-N7
53 R-R5ch K-R3
46 ... K-B4! looks better. 54 R-Q5 B-B6
55 R-QB5
47 P-R5!? R-R7
48 P-R6! RXQRP 55 R-Q3 was not bad either.
49 R-B2
55 R-R6
56 R-B6 K-R4
57 R-B5ch P-N4?

This makes White's task easier.

A better try was 57 ... K-R3 58
R-B6 B-Q5.

58 K-N2 R-R7ch

Or 58 ... K-N3 59 P-R4.Or 58

... K-R3 59 R-B6ch K-R2 60 K­
B3 followed by P-R4.
Fantastic! White builds a fortress,
and Black cannot break through. 59 K-B3 B-Q5
60 R-Q5 R-B7ch
49 R-N3(?) 61 K-K4 RXRP
50 K-N2! R-N6 62 RxB K-N5
63 K-K5ch KxP
Or 50 ... R-N7 51 RXR BXR 64 K-B5 Draw
52 K-B3! and Black cannot win,
for instance 52 ... K-B4 53 P-R4! Something to look at for the end-
and Black cannot prevent P-N4-N5 game experts!

54
 ROUND TWO

GAME 13 6 PxP PXP

7 P-Q4 QN-Q2
White: Larry Evans 8 N-B3 B-K2
Black: Bent Larsen 9 P-N3

Queen's Indian Defense Still, both N-K5 and Q-R4 were

possible; Black would probably an­

Notes by Larsen swer P-B3.

9 0-0

1 P-QB4 P-K3 10 B-N2 R-Kl

2 N-KB3 N-KB3 11 N-KS

3 P-KN3 P-QN3
White's only try for the initiative.
4 B-N2 B-N2
If White does nothing, Black can
5 0-0 P-Q4
slowly build up a very strong posi­
tion, as some of Botvinnik's games
The charm of this setup is that
from the 1930's show.
it is well suited for long, hard
games. In the main line, 5 . . . B­
11 ..... . B-KBl
K2 6 P-Q4 0-0 7 N-B3 N-K5, two
minor pieces are exchanged very There may be two better continu­
quickly, making it more difficult to ations, but I wanted to provoke
play sharply for a win. Here, Black White to play P-B4, because it
can play 7 ... P-Q4, often used could turn out to be a weakness in
by Botvinnik in his youth, also by his position. Possible was 11 ...
Nimzovich in his famous "immortal B-N5 12 P-QR3 BXN 13 BXB
zugzwang game" against Saemisch, N-K5 14 B-N2 P-KB3, but I con­
Copenhagen 1923. But after 8 N­ sidered that too simple! Also possi­
K5 theory gives some very attrac­ ble was 11 ... P-B4, but I believed
tive variations for White: 8 .. .
White would get good play against
QN-Q2? 9 PXP PXP 10 Q-R4; the hanging pawns after 12 NxN
8 . . . P-B3 9 P-K4 PXBP 10 QxN 13 PXP PXP. Nevertheless,
NXP(4) B-R3 11 P-N3 P-QN4 12 if I get this position again I might
N-K3 P-N5 13 N-K2 BXN 14 try this continuation.
QXB QXP with very good com­
pensation for the pawn; or, prob­ 12 P-B4 P-B4
ably best, 8 . . . Q-Bl 9 PXP PXP 13 P-K3 PXP
10 Q-N3, with initiative for White. 14 PXP N-KS!?
With the early P-Q4 Black tries
to avoid these variations. An unclear pawn sacrifice. The

55
 SA N A NTO NIO '72

alternative was 14 B-N5, plan- pawn, with the weakened pos1t1on

ning BXN and N-K5. of the white King and his inactive
QB.
15 NXN(4) PXN Obviously, Black cannot now play
16 Q-K2 19 . .. PXN?? 20 BXPch K-Rl 21
Q-R3.
Just in time to stop Black's P-B3
(because of Q-B4ch). 19 P-N3
20 BXP!?
16 N-B3
17 P-KN4 N-Q4 It was still possible to play quietly
with 20 Q-KB3 R-Bl!, etc.
The alternative was 17 .. . Q-Q4,
but I did not believe I could hold 20 ..... . R-K2!
the KP in the long run. Also, if
White decided to win the pawn at
once, after 18 P-N5 N-Q2 19 BXP
QxB 20 QxQ BXQ 21 NXN
Black would have very good com­
pensation and an almost certain
draw - but what about winning
chances?

18 BxP P-B3
19 Q-Q3!?

White chooses a complicated con­ Is the Black position not all

tinuation which looks very promis­
ing.Another possibility was 19 QR­
Ql !? PXN? 20 QPXP and Black
cannot quickly enough get out of
the two pins (20 ... Q-Q2 21 Q­
B3 QR-Ql 22 R-Q2 etc.) However,
Black must not take the Knight,
but can play 19 .. . R-Bl, with the
idea R-B2 followed by either PxN
or Q-Rl.It is hard to prove an ad­
vantage for White in this line, for
if his Knight retreats Black must get
very good compensation for
ruins? No, not quite. Two White
pieces are hanging, the White QB
is not very active, and there are
possibilities to get a counter-attack.
But, of course, Black is two pawns
down at the moment.
Evans later told me that he could
win with 21 B-K4!? At first it
looked convincing. I remember see­
ing a variation like 21 ... R-N2
22 K-Rl? PXN 23 QPXP NXP!
during the game - but after 22
the Q-KB3 Black is in a bad way.Also,

56
 ROUND TWO

a vanat10n like 21 . .. PXN 22 I can say that I already believed

QPXP R-Q2 23 Q-KB3 Q-K2 24 I had very good chances, and I
P-B5 is rather hopeless as the White don't mean drawing chances.
pawns are too strong. Black must
get active counterplay immediately, 24 P-NS Q-Q3
before the White pawn roller starts
Directed against B-R3(ch).
moving. There is only one possi­
bility: 21 ... PXN 22 QPXP N­
25 P-N6ch K-Bl
N5! Now, the exchange of Queens
26 QR-Kl N-NS
leaves the Black pieces rather well
placed, and 23 Q-B4ch B-Q4 24 Rejecting a draw offer! I felt
QXN RXP (not 24 ... R-KN2? sure enough that my position should
25 Q-Kl) is not too clear. An in­ not lose, but I took quite some time
teresting continuation is 25 BXBch for this decision anyway, because I
QXB 26 Q-B3 B-B4ch 27 R-B2 was not feeling very well. I had had
BXRch 28 KXB R-K7ch (28 ... a very bad stomach for a couple of
Q-B4ch is probably also good days. But I decided that so close to
enough for a draw) 29 KXR Q­ the Alamo I could not allow my­
N7ch 30 K-Ql R-Qlch 31 K-Bl self to be a coward
Q-R8ch 32 K-B2 Q-K5ch with per­
petual check. It may be that B-K4 27 Q-R3 Q-Q4
offered winning chances, but it is 28 R-K3 R-Bl
far from a clear win. 29 R(l)-Kl P-B4
Not very good would be 21 B-
R3 because of 21 PXB 22 Defending against the threat
BXR NXB. QxRch.

21 N-B7 RXN 30 R(l)-K2 P-R4

22 BXRch KXB 31 K-B2 B-QR3
23 QxPch B-N2

White got Rook and three pawns

for two minor pieces, but his re­
maining Bishop is not very well
placed and he has dangerous weak­
nesses on the white squares. My
opponent said after the game that
he had not been sure he had any
advantage in this position. As to
my own feelings during the game,

57
 SAN A NTONIO '72

32 R-K5 GAME 14

Losing his head. The move al­

White: Anatoly Karpov
most forces Black to win the game.
Black: Walter Browne
It was not pleasant to play 32 R­
Q2, leaving an important file, but
English Opening
it was necessary. Then it would be
much harder for Black to find the Notes by Karpov
right continuation. For instance,
Translated from the Russian
32 . . . N-B7 33 R-K5 BXR 34
by Hanon Russell
BPXB is good enough for a draw.
The strongest move seems to be 32
1 P-QB4 P-QB4
... R-B3.One of the points is that
2 P-QN3 N-KB3
after 33 P-R3 N-B7 34 R-K5 BXR
3 B-N2 P-KN3
35 BPXB Q-K5 there is no perpetual
4 BXN!?
check for White. I see no satisfac­
tory defense for White against R­
An original idea: in exchange for
B3, but I cannot guarantee that I
giving up his good Bishop, White
would have played it.
takes control over Q5.If Black does

32 BXR(4) not like the position which arises

33 RXB N-Q6ch after White's fourth move, he could

34 K-N3 NXR have played 3 ... P-K3 instead

35 BPXN B-N2 of 3 .. . P-KN3. This entire idea

needs verifying, and it is for this
White has no perpetual, and his reason that this game is interesting
pawns are not very dangerous. from the theoretical point of view.
Black's threats are so strong that
White has no time to strengthen his 4 PxB
position. 5 N-QB3 B-N2
6 P-N3 N-B3
36 Q-R8ch K-K2
7 B-N2 P-B4
37 Q-B6ch K-Q2
38 QxPch K-B2
This advance, as it turns out, is
39 Q-B7ch QxQ
hasty. On KB4, the pawn hems in
40 PxQ B-Q4
the white-squared Bishop. Possibly
41 K-B4 K-Q2
better was 7 ... P-Q3, so as on
42 P-KR4 K-K2
8 P-K3 to reply 8 .. N-N5, re­
43 P-R5 KXP
.

taining the possibility of finding an

Resigns
active spot for the white-squared
A tough fight. Bishop.

58
 ROUND TWO

8 P-K3 0-0 14 KR-Ql QR-Nl

15 N-QS QxQ
Now it would have been thought­ 16 RxQ P-NS
less to continue 8 . . . N-N 5 inas­
much as the check on Q3 is not Black must move the QN pawn,
dangerous for White; he could play since to exchange it on QB5 serves
either 9 Q-N 1, defending against no purpose and it is impossible to
9 ... N-Q6ch, or 9 KN-K2, allow­ maintain the tension on the Queen­
ing 9 ... N-K6ch. side, for White threatened 17 PXP
PXP 18 P-Q4 PXP 19 RXN BXR
9 KN-K2 P-QR3 20 N-K7ch and 21 NxB.
10 QR-Bl
17 P-Q4
In order on 10 . .. P-QN4 to
have the possibility of 11 P-Q3 and
on 11 ... PXP, of recapturing with
the Queen Pawn. 10 0-0 is also
good.

10 P-QN4
11 P-Q3

Of course, dangerous was 11

PXP PXP 12 NXP RXP 13 RXP
Q-R4 and on 14 N(5)-B3, there fol­
lows 14 ... RXP! The game is strategically won:
Q5 is firmly held, Black's pawns on
11 B-N2 the Kingside have been stopped
12 0-0 P-Q3 and White's extra pawn in the cen­
13 Q-Q2 Q-R4 ter promises him all the winning
chances.
Black is in serious difficulties.
The QN pawn needed defending. 17 KR-Qt
It could only be defended by the
Queen, but that piece is not well Forced, inasmuch as after 17
placed on R4. On the other hand, . .. PXP there would follow a
both the exchange on QB5 and the massive exchange of pieces which
advance 13 ... P-N5 were unpleas­ would not be in Black's favor: 18
ant for Black. Browne selected the NxQP NXN 19 N-K7ch K-Rl
lesser evil. 20 PXN.

59
 SAN ANTO NIO '7 2

18 R(l)-Ql White gets nothing with 21 PXP

BXN (worse is 21 ... RXP 22 N­
An inaccuracy. White has an K3 BXB 23 KXB and 24 P-QS
overwhelming advantage after 18 with good prospects) 22 BXB RXP
PXP PxP 19 R(l)-Ql, threatening and 23 ... N-N4; also the simple
20 N-K7ch. 21 NxP does not work due to 21
... BXB 22 NXP B-B6 23 NXR
18 PxP RXN. The text was probably the
19 PxP K-Bl only possibility of preserving the
20 P-BS? Knight and fighting for a further
advantage.
A serious error, letting the lion's
21 BXB
share of White's advantage slip. The
22 KXB PxP
quiet 20 N-K3 was much simpler
23 PxP RXR
and stronger, and found when my
24 RXR R-Bl
head was clear; but, during the
game
White has a clear theoretical ad­
vantage thanks to the presence of
20 N-R2!
an extra passed pawn on the Queen­
side, but for the moment, he must
The point! The Knight will have
tend to its defense. I decided to
a wonderful post on QN4, from
exchange the QB pawn for the QN
where it can go to QB6 and attack
pawn, loosening Black's hold on the
the Queen pawn. Any other move
strongpoint at his QB6. After 25
in this position would be much
R-B2 N-N4, Black is on his way
weaker.
to seizing the initiative.

21 N-K3
25 N-QS RxP
26 NxP P-QR4
27 N-QS R-B3

This move and those following

were made by Browne in time-pres­
sure, and therefore I succeeded in
increasing my advantage and win­
ning. Of course, the normal result
from this position would be a draw.
This move is the first mistake.
More precise was 27 ... N-B3,
without fearing 28 N-N6.

60
 ROUND TWO

28 N-K3 R-B4 his King to QB4 due to 42 NxP

29 N-KB4 B-R3 and 43 P-N4ch; the Knight cannot
30 R-Q5 leave the defense of the QR pawn.

White goes in for an exchange of 41 P-N4

pieces so that he can take advan­ 42 N-K3ch K-K3
tage of his extra pawn on the 43 P-KR4
Queenside.
Blockading the pawns and guar-
30 RXR anteeing the win.
31 N/4XR BxN?
43 PxRP
From this moment on White again 44 PXP N-K2
has real winning chances. It was 45 K-B4 N-N3
necessary to keep the Bishop and 46 N-N2 K-Q3
continue 31 ... N-B3; then White's 47 K-N5 K-Q4
winning chances would be extremely 48 KXP K-K5
problematical. Now both oppo­ 49 P-N4 K-B6
nents, as is usually the case in 50 P-N5 KxN
endgames, bring their Kings to the 51 P-N6 N-Bl
center. 52 K-N5 N-Q2
53 P-R4 NxP
32 NxB K-K2 54 KXN K-B6
33 N-B4 N-B3 55 P-R5 KxP
34 K-B3 K-K3 56 P-R6 K-K6
35 K-K3 K-Q4 57 P-R7 P-B5
36 P-QR3 58 P-R8=Q P-B6
59 Q-K8ch Resigns
Preparing the King's entry to Q3.
Now 36 ... P-R5 is impossible due
to 37 N-N6ch. GAME 15

36 K-K3 White: Julio Kaplan

37 K-Q3 K-Q4 Black: Anthony Saidy
38 P-B3 P-R3
39 K-B3 P-R4 Sicilian Defense
40 K-Q3 P-B3
41 P-B4! 1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 P-Q3
Zugzwang. Black cannot move 3 P-Q4 PxP

61
 SAN ANTONIO '72

4 NxP N-KB3 44 R-R7ch K-B3

5 N-QB3 P-QR3 45 R-R6ch K-K2
6 B-K2 P-K4 46 R-N6 R-R5
7 N-N3 B-K3 47 RXNP NXP
8 P-B4 Q-B2 48 R-N7ch K-Bl
9 P-N4 PXP 49 R-Q7 P-N4
10 BXBP P-R3 50 BxN RXB
11 N-Q4 QN-Q2 51 RXP R-QB5
12 NxB PXN 52 R-Q5 RXBP
13 Q-Q3 P-KN4 53 RxKP P-N5
14 B-N3 N-K4 54 R-QN5 P-N6
15 Q-Q4 B-K2 55 R-N7 R-Q6
16 Q-R4ch K-B2 56 K-R4 R-QB6
17 Q-N3 N(3)-Q2 57 P-N5 R-Q6
18 0-0ch B-B3 58 K-N4 R-QB6
19 QR-Ql K-K2 59 K-B4 R-Q6
20 N-Nl Q-N3ch 60 P-N4 P-N7
21 B-B2 QxQ 61 RXP K-N2
22 RPXQ N-KN3 62 R-N7ch K-N3
23 B-N3 B-K4 63 R-N6ch K-N2
24 K-N2 BXB 64 R-K6 R-Ql
25 PxB N(3)-K4 65 P-N6 R-Q5ch
26 N-Q2 N-KB3 66 K-N5 R-Q4ch
27 K-R3 QR-KBl 67 K-R4 R-R4
28 P-B3 P-QR4 68 R-N6 R-QB4
29 R-QRl P-N3 69 P-N5 R-Bl
30 P-N4 PXP Draw
31 R-R7ch N(3)-Q2
32 RXR RXR
GAME 16
33 N-B4 NxN
34 BXN PxP
White: Paul Keres
35 B-N5 R-Ql
Black: Henrique Mecking
36 PxP P-K4
37 R-N7 K-K3 Queen's Gambit Accepted
38 B-B4ch K-B3 (by transposition)
39 B-Q5 K-N3
40 B-K6 N-B4 Notes by Levy
41 B-B5ch K-B3
42 R-KR7 R-QRl 1 P-Q4 N-KB3
43 RXPch K-K2 2 P-QB4 P-B4

62
 ROUND TWO

The Modern Benoni is very pop­

ular among the younger masters
and grandmasters, so ...

3 P-K3

Keres leads the game into the

classical sort of position he was
playing years before Mecking was
even born.

3 P-K3
4 N-KB3 P-Q4
5 N-B3 N-B3 20 PXP
6 P-QR3 PxBP 21 PxP N-Q2
7 BxP PxP
8 PxP B-K2 The beginning of a strange jour­
9 0-0 0-0 ney at the end of which Black's
10 B-B4 P-QN3 Knight has achieved nothing.
11 Q-Q3 B-N2
12 QR-Ql R-Bl 22 B-R2 N-B4?!
13 B-R2 23 Q-Q2 RXR
24 QxR N-R5?
White clearly has the better of
the opening. Now he builds up for No one in the tournament hall
the central breakthrough, P-Q5. could understand the point of this
move.
13 N-Nl
14 KR-Kl N-Q4 25 R-Kl Q-Ql
15 B-Nl P-N3
16 B-R6 NxN If 25 ... Q-Q2 White wins by
17 PXN R-Kl 26 N-K5 Q-Q3 27 N-N4, etc.
18 P-B4 Q-Q3
26 P-Q6 N-B6
If 18 ... BxN 19 QXB RXP
20 P-Q5! PXP 21 B-R2 R-B4 22 26 . . Q-Q2 loses to 27 N-K5!
.

BXP is crushing. which is even stronger than in the

last note because of the added threat
19 R-K3 B-KB3 on KB7. 26 . . . QxP also has
20 P-Q5! serious drawbacks (27 Q-K8ch).

63
 SAN ANTONIO '72

27 BXPch! K-Rl only wins the Exchange for White,

28 P-Q7 Resigns but also leaves him with the deadly
back-rank check at the end.
Since 28 ... QX P 29 B-K6 not

Standings After Two Rounds

2 Gligoric, Karpov, Keres, Larsen

1 Campos, Mecking, Petrosian, Portisch
1h Browne, D. Byrne, Evans, Hort, Kaplan, Saidy, Smith, Suttles

64
 ROUND THREE

ROUND THREE

Tuesday, November 21st

White Black Opening Result Moves

17 Mecking (1) Hort (1/z) Sicilian Defense 0-1 87

18 Saidy (V2) Keres (2) Queen's Gambit Declined 0-1 55
19 Browne (1/z) Kaplan (1/z) Sicilian Defense 1-0 24
20 Larsen (2) Karpov (2) Queen's IndianDefense Vz-V2 33
21 Campos (1) Evans (1/z) Sicilian Defense l/z-Vz 41
22 Suttles (1/z) Smith (1/z) Sicilian Defense 1-0 49
23 D. Byrne (Vz) Portisch (1) English Opening Vz-Vz 32
24 Petrosian (1) Gligoric (2) King's Indian Defense 1-0 35

GAME 17 10 N-K4
11 PxP PxP
White: Henrique Mecking 12 N-B3 Q-B2
Black: Vlastimil Hort 13 B-K2

Sicilian Defense Now Black must make the big

decision about where he is going
Notes by Hort to put his King. I did not want to
castle Queenside because I was
1 P-K4 P-QB4 afraid of B-K3 and threats along
2 N-KB3 P-Q3 White's KN1-QR7 diagonal. But
3 P-Q4 PXP Black is probably all right after ...
4 NxP N-KB3 0-0-0 and ... B-B3 (with pressure
5 N-QB3 N-B3 on the KP).
6 B-KN5 P-K3
7 Q-Q2 P-QR3 13 R-Ql
8 0-0-0 B-Q2 14 NxN PxN
9 P-B4 B-K2 15 B-R5ch!
10 P-B5
Weakening my Kingside.
A very strange move. Normal is
10 N-B3 P-N4 11 P-K5 P-N5 12 15 P-N3
PXN PxN 13 QxBP PXP 14 B­
R4 P-Q4. Of course I cannot capture the

65
 SAN ANTO NIO ' 72

Bishop: 15 . .. NxB 16 BXB 21 Q-K2 K-N2!

KXB 17 Q-N5ch and White regains
the piece with an overwhelming Taking Black's KR3 square away
game. from White's Bishop and at the
same time adding support to the
16 B-K2 0-0 Black Knight.
17 Q-Kl?
22 R-B3 N-R4
This is too optimistic. Mecking 23 BxKB RXR
was hoping to win almost immedi­ 24 QxR QxB
ately but usually such methods do
not work. He should have been 24 ... N-B5 almost works: 25
more patient and tried 17 Q-K3 B-B6ch KxB! and Black would
when the game would be very com­ win, but 25 B-Q6! refutes the idea
plicated. because 25 ... NxBch 26 QXN
and 25 ... Q-B3 26 BXPch both
17 P-N4! win for White. So unfortunately I
had to be satisfied with just a small
The logical approach. White's at­ advantage - Black's position is im­
tack is now seen to be too slow be­ proved because the White Knight
cause of the threat of ... P-N5 is out of play on QN 1.
followed by R-Bl and
B-N4. 25 BXB PxB
26 P-KN3 N-B3
18 B-Q3 P-NS 27 Q-Q3 Q-B4
19 N-Nl R-Bl 28 N-Q2 R-B2
20 R-Bl 29 N-N3 Q-B7
30 Q-Q2 NxP
31 QxQ NxQ
32 R-Bl

Not 32 R-Kl? N-Q6ch and wins.

32 N-NS

Objectively better may have been

32 .. . N-Q6ch followed by ...
N-B4, but because of Mecking's
time trouble I was playing for
20 B-N4 tricks.

66
 ROUND THREE

33
34
R-Kl
R-K2
P-R4
K-B3
• • • •
35 P-R3 N-R3 • • •
•
36 N-Q2 N-B4 • • 1•1•
� �
37 N-K4ch K-K2 R1R �-·
�-�
38
39
K-Ql
K-Bl
R-Q2ch
R-Q5
��
�·--� • • •
40 P-N4 PxP • • &; • .

41 PxP N-Q3 A��A-�R •

42 N-B2
• • • �- f. �

46 R-KR8

A very deep move and the only

way to keep the Rook active.

47 N-Q3 R-R5
48 K-B3 P-N4
49 K-N2 R-N5ch
50 K-R2 R-R5ch
51 K-N2 R-N5ch
52 K-R2 R-Q5
53 R-K5ch K-B3
54 R-B5 P-N5
Here the game was adjourned 55 K-N2 R-K5?
with Black having good winning
chances. 55 ... P-KN6 wins more easily.

42 K-B3 56 K-B2 K-K2

43 N-Q3 Rxi> 57 R-B7ch K-B3
44 NxKP R-N8ch 58 R-B5 R-Q5
45 K-Q2 K-B4 59 R-B6!
46 K-K3!
If 59 K-N2 P-KN6!
A tremendous move which I had
not seen in my adjournment analy­ 59 K-N4?
sis. If 46 P-B3 PxPch 47 PXP N­
K5ch 48 K-Q3 R-QB8 49 P-B4 A stupid move.
R-Q8ch 50 K-B2 R-Q5, and Black
wins without any difficulty. 60 R-B5ch K-B3

67
 SAN ANTONIO ,7
2

If 60 . . . K-R5 (the idea behind GAME 18

my last move) 61 R-K5 and White
can draw. White: Anthony Saidy
Black: Paul Keres
61 R-B6 N-B4
62 N-B5 R-B5ch Queen's Gambit Declined
63 K-Nl N-Q5
64 R-B8 K-K2 1 N-KB3 P-Q4
65 N-Q3 R-K5 2 P-Q4 B-B4
66 K-Bl P-KN6 3 P-B4 P-K3
67 NXP R-K7 4 N-B3 P-QB3
5 B-B4 N-B3
Now White is forced to exchange 6 P-K3 QN-Q2
Knights into a lost Rook and pawn 7 B-K2 B-K2
ending. 8 0-0 Q-N3
9 PxP NXP
68 N-B6ch K-Q2
10 NxN KPXN
69 R-Q8ch KxN
11 B-Q3 B-N3
70 RXN RXP
12 N-K5 NxN
71 R-QN4 K-B4
13 BxN 0-0
72 P-R3 P-N7ch
14 BXB RPXB
73 K-Nl P-K4
15 Q-Q2 KR-Kl
74 R-K4 K-Q4
16 KR-Bl QR-Qt
75 R-QN4 P-K5
17 Q-B3 R-Q2
76 RXPch K-Q5
18 P-KR3 P-R4
77 R-N4ch K-Q6
19 R-B2 Q-N4
78 R-N3ch K-Q7
20 B-B4 P-N4
79 KxP P-K6
21 B-N3 B-N5
80 K-B3
22 P-QR4 Q-R3
23 Q-N3 R-K3
If 80 R-N8 K-Q8ch.
24 R-Ql Q-Rl

80 P-K7 25 Q-Q3 Q-Kl

81 R-K3 P-K8=Q 26 R(l)-QBl R(2)-K2

82 RXQ KXR 27 Q-B5 P-B3

83 P-N4 K-Q7 28 P-N3 R-K5

84 K-K4 K-B6 29 R-Bl R(2)-K3

85 K-Q5 K-N6 30 R(l)-Bl Q-R4

86 P-N5 K-R5 31 B-K5 R-Kl

87 P-N6 and White resigns 32 B-N3 R(l)-K3

33 B-K5 K-B2

68
 ROUND THREE

34 B-N3 P-KN3 7 B-N2 B-Q2

35 Q-B3 P-N5 8 0-0 R-Bl
36 PXP RxNP 9 R-Kl N-B3
37 R-R2 R-Kl
38 B-K5 B-K2 9 ... B-K2 10 NxN BXN 11
39 R(2)-R1 K-N2 Q-N4 P-KR4 12 Q-K2 is clearly
40 B-N3 B-N5 better for White.
41 QR-Nl Q-N4
42 R-Ql R(5)-K5 10 NxN BxN
43 R-Q3 Q-R3
44 R(l)-Ql P-KN4 Or 10 ... PxN?! 11 P-K5! PXP
45 B-B7 R-K2 12 RXP N-Q4 13 N-R4 followed
46 B-N8 Q-Rl by P-QB4 when again White's posi­
47 Q-N3 Q-Ql tion is superior.
48 K-Bl R-R5
49 B-B4 K-B2 11 N-Q5!
50 BXP PXB
51 QxP Q-KRl
52 Q-B5ch Q-B3
53 Q-B8 Q-N3
54 K-K2 K-N2
55 P-N3 R-Rl
Resigns

GAME 19

White: Walter Browne

Black: Julio Kaplan 11 BXN

Sicilian Defense If 11 B-K2 then 12 NXB

QXN 13 P-N3! P-K4 14 B-QR3
Notes by Browne R-Ql 15 Q-Q2 0-0 16 QR-Ql
N-Kl 17 P-QB4 (threatening P-B5)
1 P-K4 P-QB4 when Black has a horrible position.
2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 P-Q4 PXP 12 PXB P-K4
4 NXP N-QB3 13 P-KB4!
5 N-QB3 P-K3
6 P-KN3 P-QR3 This variation differs from the

69
 SAN ANTONIO '72

usual one in that Black has played 18 Q-N4 P-B4 19 BXP fails to
... R-QB1 instead of ... Q-B2. 19 ... N-B3! when the situation is
This gives White the advantage that not clear.
Black's K4 square does not get any
protection from Black's Queen.
18 Q-BS
19 Q-N4 R-B2?!
13 Q-B2
14 Q-K2 N-Q2 Now 19 ... P-B4 20 BXP N-B3
15 B-R3! P-B3 fails to 21 BxPch PXB 22 QxPch
K-Bl 23 PXP PxP 24 R-Bl win­
If 15 ... QXP 16 B-Q2 QXP ning at once. Relatively best is 19
17 QR-Nl Q-Q5ch 18 B-K3 QxQP ... R-Ql.
19 QR-Ql with an overwhelming
position. If you eat too much you 20 P-N3!
die a hard death.
15 ... P-KN3 also fails to save
Now Black's Queen is in jeopardy
Black: 16 PXP PXP 17 BXNch
because his last move closed off
KXB 18 Q-N4ch! P-B4 (or 18 ...
the square QB2 for retreat.
K-Ql 19 B-N5ch B-K2 20 P-Q6!
Q-B4ch 21 B-K3 QxQP 22 QR­
Ql winning) 19 Q-R4ch K-K2 (if 20 Q-B6

19 ... K-Ql then 20 B-N5ch and

P-Q6 winning as before) 20 B-B4 If 20 Q-N4 then 21 B-B7ch
with a killing position. K-Ql (or 21 ... KXB 22 Q-K6ch
K-Bl 23 QxQPch and 24 QXR)
22 Q-K6! R-KBl 23 QxQP! RXB
16 B-K3 P-KN3
24 P-B4 Q-R4 25 P-QN4 QXRP
17 B-K6 B-N2
26 B-N6 wins.

I had expected 17 ... B-K2 but

Black wanted to get his Bishop on 21 BXNch RxB

an active diagonal in case he could 22 Q-K6ch K-Ql

ever get in the (impossible) moves
... P-B4 and ... P-K5. Against
17 ... B-K2, the sharpest contin­
uation is 18 P-B4 followed by P­
QN4 and P-QB5.
22 ... R-K2 23 QxQP R-Q2
24 Q-K6ch R-K2 25 Q-N6 PXP
26 B-B2 leaves Black with no moves.

23 B-N6ch K-Bl
18 QR-Bl 24 R-K4 Resigns

70
 ROUND THREE

GAME 20 10 Q-B4 P-Q4

White: Bent Larsen After IO . . . Q-Nl, White would

Black: Anatoly Karpov play either 1 1 N-B3 or 1 1 QxQ
QRXQ 12 N-B3 followed by pres­
Queen's Indian Defense sure against the Black QP.

Notes by Larsen 11 R-Ql Q-Bl(?)

1 P-Q4 N-KB3 1 1 ... Q-N 1 must be the right

2 N-KB3 P-K3 continuation, which I would prob­
3 P-B4 P-QN3 ably have answered by 12 N-K5.
4 P-KN3 B-N2 12 QxQ QRxQ 13 N-K5 QR-Bl
5 B-N2 B-K2 leads to a very drawish position.
6 0-0 0-0 One of the ideas behind the text
7 P-N3 move is 12 N-B3 PXP 13 QXP
N-QN5, so I preferred ...
Of course, the most common
move is 7 N-B3. I played the text 12 QN-Q2 R-Ql
move in order to get into less ex­ 13 QR-Bl Q-Nl
plored territory. By the way, Kar­ 14 N-K5 B-Q3
pov knows the continuation 7 N-B3 15 NxN
N-K5 8 Q-B2 NxN 9 QXN P­
QB4!? very well. It was rehabili­ The best answer to 15 N(2)-B3
tated by Korchnoi a few years ago, seems to be 15 N-K2.
at a time when he was working to­
gether with Furman - and later 15 BXN
Furman became Karpov's trainer! 16 Q-R4 B-K4

7 P-B4 16 . . . B-K2 17 PXP BXP 18

N-K4 does not look very attractive
If Karpov had answered 7 ... for Black.
P-Q4, I would have played 8 PxP,
hoping to transpose into my game 17 BxB QxB
against Evans in the previous round.
I would like to have the White
pieces once in that position!

8 B-N2 PXP
9 QxP N-B3 (See diagram next page.)

71
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

ending after 19 QXQ PXQ is ten­

able for Black. It looks as though
the majority on the Queenside
should offer White winning chances,
but the White Bishop is misplaced.

19 N-Q4 B-N2
20 PxP NxP
21 N-B6?

For the second time, a very tame

18 N-B3? continuation. 21 N-N5! offered win­
ning chances. One of the ideas is
I find it hard to explain why I 21 ... R-QBl 22 BXN! 8XB (22
abandoned my original plan: 18 ... PXB gives White a clear posi­
PXP BXP 19 P-K4 B-N2 20 N-B4 tional advantage) 23 P-K4 8-B3 24
RXRch 21 RXR Q-B2 (21 ... Q- NXP! QXN 25 RXB, the back
86? 22 Q-B4!) 22 P-K5 N-Q4 (22 rank mating threat nets White an
... BXB?? 23 PXN B-B6 24 Q­ important pawn.
N5!) 23 N-Q6. Really, the Black
position would be very difficult to 21 BxN
defend, for instance, 23 ... 8-B3 22 RXB Q-K4
24 R-QBl. I remember seeing 23 23 Q-K4
... Q-B7 24 Q-R5 P-N3 25 Q-B3
N-B6! 26 QxB QxRch 27 B-Bl The only good continuation. A
R-KB1 - but that is all nonsense! good reply to 23 Q-Q84(?) is 23
White should just play 24 R-KBl, ... N-K6!, for instance 24 RXRch
with the double threat NXB and RXR 25 R-88! Q-R8ch 26 Q-Bl
8-K4.I did not look deep enough QXQch 27 RxQ and White(!) can
and rejected a promising and logi­ just hold the ending.
cal continuation for no good reason.
Maybe drawing a game in round 23 QXQ
three does not decide the outcome 24 BxQ N-B3
of the tournament, but I had the 25 RXRch RXR
feeling that this was where I lost 26 B-Q3
first prize!
I believed that I still had some
18 Q-Nl? chances with Bishop vs. Knight in
a rather open position and a more
Correct was 18 Q-K5! The active Rook. But Black has a very

72
 ROUND THREE

good defense, pointed out by Kar­ 30 R-B7 R-Q8ch

pov after the game: 26 ... N-Kl, 31 K-N2 R-N8
followed by the centralization of the 32 B-B4 P-QR3!
King. White cannot find any weak 33 P-QR4 Draw
spots in the Black fortress.
Because of 33 ... P-N4, elimi-
nating all pawns on the Queenside.

GAME 21

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

Black: Larry Evans

Sicilian Defense

1 P-K4 P-QB4
26 N-Q4(?) 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
27 P-QR3 K-81 3 P-Q4 PXP
28 B-N5 4 NxP N-KB3
5 N-QB3 P-QR3
Preventing 28 ... K-K2 because 6 B-N5 P-K3
of 29 P-K4. Black now has some 7 P-B4 P-R3
problems, but finds a good defense. 8 BXN QXB
9 Q-Q2 N-B3
28 P-N4! 10 N-B3 Q-Ql
29 K-Bl 11 0-0-0 B-K2
12 K-Nl P-QN4
Honestly, I did not see Black's 13 N-Q4 B-Q2
following maneuver, but also after 14 NxN BxN
29 K-N2 P-N5! there would not be 15 B-Q3 Q-N3
many winning chances. The ad­ 16 KR-Bl 0-0-0
vance of the Black KN P prevents 17 N-K2 R-Q2
White from a slow, broad advance 18 N-N3 K-Nl
on the Kingside. 19 P-B5 B-B3
20 N-R5 B-K4
29 N-K2! 21 PxP PxP
22 N-B4 R-Kl
Exactly on time, before the White 23 P-KN3 P-N4
King reaches K 1. 24 N-N6 B-KN2

73
 SAN ANTONIO '72

25 Q-K2 Q-B4 6 N-B3

26 QR-Kl R-QB2 7 0-0 0-0
27 P-K5 PxP 8 P-KR3
28 NXP B-Q4
29 Q-K3 Q-Q3 8 P-KB4 at once can be met by
30 N-B7 Q-B3 8 . . . PXP 9 PXP N-KN5. The
31 N-K5 Q-N2 only other natural continuation, 8
32 R-B2 K-Rl N-QB3, gives White an excellent
33 R(l)-KBl KR-QBl game a fter 8 . . . P-Q5 9 N-K2
34 P-KR4 PxP because he is two tempi up on a
35 PXP Q-R2 King's Indian: Black will play
36 R-K2 QxQ P-K4 having already played ...
37 RXQ K-R2 P-K3, and White can play P-KB4
38 P-R3 K-N3 without first having to move a
39 K-Bl R-Bl Knight away from KB3. After 8
40 RxR BXR N-QB3, however, Black does best
41 B-K4 Draw to continue with 8 ... P-QN3 fol-
lowed by ... B-N2, ... Q-Q2 and
GAME 22 ... QR-Ql.

White: Duncan Suttles 8 P-QN4

Black: Kenneth Smith 9 P-KB4 B-N2
10 P-KN4
Sicilian Defense
(by transposition) After 10 P-K5 N-Q2 it is diffi­
cult for White to force P-Q4.
Notes by Levy
10 P-B5?!
1 P-KN3 P-Q4
2 B-N2 N-KB3 Now White can follow P-K5 with
3 P-Q3 P-K3 P-Q4. The correct move was 10 ...
4 N-Q2 B-K2 PXP when 11 PXP P-B5 is prob­
5 P-K4 P-B4 ably slightly better for Black, e.g.
6 N-K2 12 N-KN3 Q-Q5ch followed by 13
... P-B6, or 12 P-N5 (on 12 P-B3
This move gives rise to a prob- the maneuver ... N-Q2-B4 is even
!em of nomenclature in the open- stronger because the Knight can
ing. Can it really be called a King's jump in to Q6) 12 ... N-Q2 fol­
Indian Attack when White's KN is lowed by ... N-B4. White should
developed at K2 instead of KB3? therefore meet 10 ... PxP with 11

74
 ROUND THREE

N X P when the position is roughly

equal.

11 P-K5 PxP
12 PxP N-Q2
13 P-Q4 P-B3
14 N-KB3 PxP
15 BPxP Q-N3
16 K-Rl

16 K-R2 may result in a later pin

of White's KP by Black's Queen on 21 N-QB3?
QB2. In that event, Black could
take advantage of the pin by ... Black should have tried the inter­
N-B3-K5 or some other complica­ esting double Exchange sacrifice 21
tion. . .. RXN 22 BXR RXB 23 QXR
QX P, when he may be able to take
16 P-N5 advantage of White's exposed King.
17 N-B4 N-R4 From now on, Black's position de­
teriorates steadily.
If 17 ... N-Ql Black will not
be able to untangle himself and 22 B-N2 N-Ql
double Rooks on the KB-file: 18
P-N5 (preventing 18 ... N-B2 Now the sacrifice is no longer
which is busted by 19 P-N6) 18 ... possible: 22 ... RxN 23 BXR
P-N3 19 P-KR4 N-B2 20 B-R3 N­ RXB 24 QXR NXQP 25 Q-B2!
Nl 21 N-R2 and 22 N-N4 with and Black must submit to the ex­
very good Kingside play. change of Queens.

18 P-N3 B-R3 23 R-Kl

19 R-KNl
This and White's 25th move are
Not 19 R-B2? P-N4! followed played to prevent ... B-QN4,
by 20 ... NxKP, when both Q-R3 and ... B-Q6-K5.
White's QP and his KN are pinned
against the undefended Rook. 23 N-Nl
24 K-R2
19 R-B2
20 P-KR4 QR-KBl Coming to the support of the
21 N-R3 Knight at KB3 so that the Queen

75
 SAN ANTONIO '72

can be more u�efully employed. avoid the following combination.

Probably best was 35 ... Q-R3.
24 B-QN4
25 R-K3 P-N3

Better was 25 .. . P-QR4. The

text only leads to the further con­
gestion of Black's Kingside.

26 Q-B2 N(Nl)-B3
27 R-Ql R-N2
28 P-N5 N-B2

With the idea of playing . .. P­

KR4 (to prevent White's N-B2-N4- Black's position, under great pres­
B6ch) and vacating the Ql square sure at several points, has up to
so that the regrouping maneuver now been held together by a taut,
... B-QI, N-K2-B4 will be invisible thread. Now Suttles finds
possible. the weapon to cut the thread and
Black's game collapses.
29 R(3)-Kl P-KR4
30 K-N3 N-Rl 36 BXP! NxB
37 NxQP Q-Nl
Black's position is beyond salva­ 38 N-B6ch RXN
tion. If 30 ... B-Q1 31 N-B4 N­ 39 PXR R-Q2
K2 32 B-KR3 B-Q2 (hoping to con­ 40 Q-K4 P-R6
tinue ... N-Rl followed by ... 41 B-Bl Q-Ql
N-B4 so that on BXN Black can 42 B-N5 K-B2
recapture with the Rook) 33 Q­ 43 R-Q2 R-Q4
QB5! QxQ 34 PxQ and White 44 R-QBl Q-Q2
wins a pawn. 45 R(2)-QB2

31 N-B4 N-Ql Now Black cannot prevent the

32 R-Q2 R(l)-B2 final combination.
33 B-KR3 B-Bl
34 Q-Nl P-R4 45 B-QR3
35 R-KB2 P-R5?

It was necessary to move his

Queen off the QN3 square so as to (See diagram next page.)

76
 ROU ND THREE

Byrne was clearly eager to avoid

... P-K5 if he developed his Knight
at KB3. In the corresponding Si­
cilian variation this thrust is indeed
painful for Black: 1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 N-QB3 3 B-N5 P-KN3 4
0-0 B-N2 5 R-Kl N-B3 6 P-K5!
N-Q4 (or 6 ... N-KN5 7 P-Q4
PXP 8 B-KB4 with a good game
for White - Faibisovitch-Kuprei­
chik, USSR Team Ch. 1969) 7 P­
46 R-B7! NXR Q3 0-0 8 B-N5 N-B2 9 BXN
47 RXN QxR NPXB 10 N-B3 N-K3 11 B-R4
48 QxRch K-Kl with pressure on the KP (Kapengut­
49 Q-K6ch Resigns Kupreichik, Minsk 1970-71).

5 N-B3
GAME 23 6 KN-K2 B-B4
7 0-0 P-Q3
White: Donald Byrne 8 P-Q3 P-QR3
Black: Lajos Portisch 9 P-KR3 R-Nl
10 P-R3 P-QN4
English Opening 11 P-QN4 B-R2
12 N-QS NxN
Notes by Levy 13 BPXN N-K2
14 P-Q4 P-KB4?
(This game was played one day
later than scheduled owing to Better was 14 ... N-N3 15 K-R2
Byrne's temporary indisposition.) (15 B-K3 leads to unclear complica­
tions) 15 ... P-KB4 16 PXKP
1 P-KN3 P-K4 QPXP 17 PXP QBXP with roughly
2 P-QB4 N-KB3 equal chances.
3 N-QB3 B-NS
15 PxKP QPxP
Black's system has recently be­ 16 Q-N3 K-Rl
come popular in reverse against the 17 B-K3 BXB
Sicilian Defense. 18 PxB?

4 B-N2 0-0 There was nothing wrong with

5 P-K4 the natural-looking recapture 18

77
 SAN ANTONIO '72

QxB e.g. 18 ... B-N2 19 QR-Ql

, is good for White after 25 PXP
and White has a slight advantage. QXBP 26 N-Q5.

18 PxP 25 Q-N2 R-KBl

19 N-B3 B-N2 26 Q-K2 Q-N3
20 RxRch QxR 27 R-KBl B-Bl
21 BXP 28 R-B3 B-Q2
29 N-Ql R-Kl
30 N-B2 P-QR4
31 Q-N2 PxP
32 PXP Q-Q3
Draw

GAME 24

White: Tigran Petrosian

Black: Svetozar Gligoric

21 N-Nl King's Indian Defense

21 ... Q-B3 would be a blunder Notes by Levy

on account of 22 P-Q6 PXP (or 22
... QXP 23 BXB RXB 24 R-Ql) 1 P-QB4 P-KN3
23 BXB RXB 24 R-KBl and mate 2 P-K4 B-N2
on the back rank. 21 ... Q-B2 3 P-Q4 P-Q3
(threatening ... R-KBl) is met by 4 N-QB3 N-KB3
22 Q-R2 so that 22 ... R-KBl 5 P-B3 0-0
may be met by 23 P-Q6. But Black 6 B-K3 P-B3
does have an acceptable alternative 7 Q-Q2 P-QR3
in 21 ... Q-N 1 followed by ... 8 B-Q3 P-QN4
N-Bl and ... N-Q3. The text, 9 R-Bl QN-Q2
however, is probably the simplest 10 KN-K2 P-K4
regrouping move. 11 P-QS

22 B-N2 N-B3
23 P-K4 Q-Q3
24 K-R2 P-R3

The freeing attempt 24 ... P-B3 (See diagram next page.)

78
 ROUND THREE

attack was 16 P-N5 and now: (i) 16

... P-B4?! 17 PXP PXP 18 P-N6
with an excellent game for White;
(ii) 16 ... N-N3?! 17 N-N3 in­
tending P-KR4 followed by K-Ql­
B2 when White's attack will prevail;
or (iii) 16 ... P-B3 17 P-KR4 PXP
18 PXP R-B6 19 N-Nl R-B2 (not
19 ... R-N6 20 N(2)-R3 followed
by 21 Q-KB2 trapping the Rook) 20
N(2)-R3 N-N3 21 Q-N2 N-Bl 22
11 ..... . P-NS?! N-B2 followed by B-K2 and N-N4.

An unthematic move which de­ 16 ..... . P-B4?

prives Black of any later counter­
play on the Queenside. More natural An erroneous (double) pawn sac­
would have been 11 ... PxBP 12 rifice. Correct was 16 ... QN-B3
BXP P-B4. 17 R-KNl B-Q2 18 P-R5 Q-Bl
when, according to Gligoric, the
12 N-Ql P-B4 position is roughly equal.
13 P-N4
17 NPxP PxP
More accurate than 13 N-B2 N­ 18 PXP P-KS
R4! 14 P-N4 N-B5.
The only logical followup to his
13 ..... . P-KR4 sixteenth move, offering a second
pawn to activate his QN and KB.
This reaction to White's Kingside
gesture has become a well-known 19 BxKP N-K4
motif in the Saemisch Variation 20 N-N3 N-KB3
ever since Gligoric introduced it 21 0-0
into master practice in his games
with Tai and Sherwin at Portoroz Also possible is 21 B-N2 N(4)-N5
1958. 22 B-N5 (there is also nothing
wrong with 22 0-0) 22 ... R-Klch
14 N-B2 PXP (or 22 . .. Q-Klch 23 Q-K2) 23
15 PxP N-R2 K-Bl N-K4 24 P-R5.
16 P-KR4

Another way of continuing the (See diagram next page.)

79
 SAN ANTONIO '72

22 B-N5 Q-N3
23 P-N3 QR-KB2
24 Q-K2 Q-B2

If 24 .. .NxB 25 N(2)XN BXP

26 NxB RxN 27 RXR RXR 28
Q-N4 and 29 N-B6ch, etc.

25 B-Nl N-R2
26 K-N2 N-Q2
21 . . . . . . R-R2 27 N-N4 N(Q2)-B3
28 QR-Kl NxN
On 21 ... N-R4 it is very risky 29 QxN K-Rl
for White to accept the sacrifice, 30 R-K6!
e.g. 22 NxN QXP 23 Q-K2 BXP
24 B-N2 N-N5.But after 22 B-N5! Threatening 31 P-B6 NXP 32
Q-Kl 23 N(2)-Rl! followed by 24 BXN BXB 33 R(l)XB RXR 34
Q-K2, White's Kingside structure Q-R5ch K-Nl 35 Q-N5ch Q-N2 36
remains intact and his two pawns QxQch KXQ 37N-R5ch and wins.
advantage will decide the game.
21 ... NXB 22 N(2)XN QXP
is also unsatisfactory for Black: 23 30 BXR
B-N5 Q-N5 24 P-B6 B-Rl 25 Q-N2 31 Q PX B N-B3
(stronger than 25 R-B4 N-B6ch 26 32 Q-B3 R-K2
RXN QXR 27 R-Bl Q-N5) and 33 N-R5 K-Nl
White is threatening 26 R-B4 fol­ 34 N-B4 R-Nl
lowed by N-B5 or N-R5. 35 N-Q5 Resigns

Standings After Three Rounds

3 Keres
21h Karpov, Larsen
2 Gligoric, Petrosian
11/z Browne, Campos, Hort, Portisch, Suttles
1 D. Byrne, Evans, Mecking
1/z Kaplan, Saidy, Smith

80
 ROUND FOUR

ROUND FOUR

Thursday, November 23rd

White Black Opening Result Moves

25 Hort (l1h) Gligoric (2) King's Indian Defense 1h-Y2 23

26 Portisch (1Y2) Petrosian (2) English Opening l/2-lh 39
27 Smith (112) D. Byrne (1) Sicilian Defense 0-1 34
28 Evans (1) Suttles (l1h) Robatsch Defense 0-1 44
29 Karpov (2V2) Campos (l1h) Alekhine's Defense 1-0 23
30 Kaplan (112) Larsen (21;2) Caro-Kann Defense 0-1 56
31 Keres (3) Browne (1112) Benoni Defense V2-V2 19
32 Mecking (1) Saidy (lh) Sicilian Defense 112-112 41

GAME 25 quitesound: from KR3 the Knight

White: Vlastimil Hort
Black: Svetozar Gligoric
can support the advance . . . P­
KB4 and Black can then exchange
pawns on K5 at will and follow up
with .. N-B4.
.

King's Indian Defense

11 P-QS
Notes by Levy
11 PXP QPXP is perfectly satis­
factory for Black.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3
2 P-QB4 P-KN3 11 N-Q2
3 N-QB3 B-N2 12 N-Q2
4 P-K4 P-Q3
5 N-B3 0-0 Another possibility is 12 Q-Q2.
6 B-K2 P-K4
7 B-K3 N-NS 12 P-KB4
8 B-NS P-KB3 13 PxP N-B3
9 B-R4 P-KN4 14 KN-K4 NxN
10 B-N3 N-KR3 15 NXN BxP
16 B-Q3 P-NS
Black's plan appears somewhat 17 Q-K2 Q-Kl
awkward but the idea behind it is 18 0-0-0 Q-N3

81
 S AN ANTONIO '72

"I offered a draw because (after

24 Q-Q3) I didn't want to think if
I should take the Bishop or not."
-Gli goric. Some possibilities after
24 Q-Q3 NXB are: (i) 25 PxN R-B7
26 KR-Bl QR-KBl 27 RXR RXR
28 P-KR4 Q-R4 with a level posi­
tion; or (ii) 25 QxN?! R-B5 26
P-B3 B-B3 27 R-N2 B-R5 28 Q-R2
R-KNl 29 QR-Nl RXR 30 QxR
leaves Black painfully weak on the
light squares: 30 .. . R-B1 31
19 P-KR3 Q-N4! B-B7 32 R-N2 B-N3 (other­
wise the QBP is vulnerable after
19 K-Nl at once offers Black White's 33 Q-Q7) 33 Q-Q7, and if
more opportunity to go wrong, e.g. 33 ... R-KNl 34 RxRch KxR 35
19 .. . N-B2 20 B-R4 Q-R3 21 B-B5! and Black is probably lost.
P-KN3 Q-N3 22 P-KR3 PXP 23
P-B3! with an excellent game for
GAME 26
White; or 19 ... R-B2 20 B-R4
QR-KBl 21 P-KR3 PXP 22 PXP
White: Lajos Portisch
BXN 23 BXB N-B4 24 KR-Nl,
Black: Tigran Petrosian
also with a tremendous game for
White. But correct is 19 ... K-Rl, English Opening
when 20 P-KR3 transposes to the
game and 20 P-B3 PXP 21 PXP N ates by Larsen
Q-R4 22 B-Kl B-N3 gives Black
good play. 1 P-QB4 P-QB4
2 N-QB3 N-QB3
19 PXP 3 N-B3 P-KN3?!
20 PXP BXN
21 BxB N-B4 Known as a mistake in this posi­
22 K-Nl K-Rl tion! Petrosian's continuation does
23 KR-Nl not show that he has found any
improvements for Black.
If 23 Q-Q3 sinply 23 ... Q-R4
and Black has nothing to fear. 4 P-K3! B-N2
5 P-Q4 P-Q3
23 . . . . . . Q-R3 6 B-K2 PXP
Draw 7 PxP N-B3

82
 ROUND FOUR

Both N-R3 and B-N5 have been 20 P-N5 Q-B2

played without good results. But 21 N-B6 QR-Kl
the text move is very bad. 22 N-Nl N-Q2
23 B-B3 N(5)-B4
8 P-Q5 N-QNl 24 B-N5
9 0-0 0-0
10 B-K3 N-R3
11 N-QN5 P-N3
12 N(3)-Q4 B-N2
13 B-B3

After 13 N-B6! BXN 14 PX B

this pawn would be very strong.
Of course, nobody can prove a clear
win.

13 N-Q2
14 Q-Q2(?)

24 ..... . P-K4!?
There are several better moves:
R-Kl, R-Bl and even P-KR3.
A nice sacrifice which White de­
cides to accept. The Black pieces
14 N-K4
are rather well developed now.
15 B-K2 Q-Bl
16 QR-Bl N-B4
25 B-K7 P-B4
17 P-QN4?!
26 BXR NXB
27 B-K2 B-KR3
After 17 P-KR3 or KR-Kl or
28 R-B2 B-Bl
P-QN3 the Black position would
still be very unpleasant.
Black has compensation for the
Exchange, but probably not serious
17 N-K5
winning chances.
18 Q-Ql?

Better 18 Q-B2. 29 N-B3 N(l)-Q2

30 R-Kl N-B3

18 ...... P-QR3 31 B-Bl P-B5

19 N-R3 P-QR4! 32 R(2)-K2 R-Bl

And suddenly Black has counter- 32 B-N5!? looks more in-

�ey! �re��

83
 S AN ANTO NIO '72

33 N-R4 NXN 8 B-KN5 P-QR3

34 QxN N-Q2
8 ... P-KR3? allows 9 N-N5
White was threatening P-B5! P-Q4 10 PXP PXB (10 ... PXP
loses to 11 BXQP) 11 PXP "and
35 N-K7ch K-Rl Black is dead "--Smith.
36 NXB QxN
37 Q-R3 N-B4 9 Q-K2 P-R3
38 Q-KB3 Q-B4 10 B-R4
39 P-KR3 Draw
In his book, Smith criticizes this
Understandable. Neither side can move, giving as its refutation 10
undertake anything without great ... P-KN4 11 B-KN3 B-N2 12
risks. QR-Ql P-K4 when "the threat of
13 ... B-N5 is strong." Instead he
recommends 10 B-K3 N-N3 11
GAME 27
QR-Ql. One can only surmise that
in playing the text he had in mind
White: Kenneth Smith
an improvement on the analysis in
Black: Donald Byrne
the book, but Byrne is the first to

Sicilian Defense vary.

Notes by Levy 10 Q-R4

11 B-KN3 N-N3
1 P-K4 P-QB4 12 Q-Q2?
2 P-Q4 PXP
3 P-QB3 PXP A scandalous waste of a tempo
4 NxP N-QB3 in a variation where White's only
5 N-B3 P-Q3 real compensation for the pawn is
6 B-QB4 P-K3 his slight initiative. 12 P-QR3 was
7 0-0 KN-K2 probably best.

"By this piece arrangement Black 12 N(N3)-K4

demonstrates ambitious intentions. 13 NxN PxN
He wants not only to blunt White's 14 P-QR3 B-K2
usual P-K5, ... but Black also 15 P-N4 Q-Ql
wants to contest the dark squares 16 Q-R2 P-QN4
(his K4 and KB5)." - Ken Smith 17 B-N3 0-0
in his book "Sicilian: Smith- Morra 18 Q-N2 B-N2
Gambit Accepted." 19 N-K2!

84
 ROUND FOUR

Keeping Black on the defensive. as the KRP.

19 B-B3 31 Q-N2 QXPch

20 P-B3 Q-B2 32 K-Nl Q-N4
21 QR-Bl KR-Qt 33 Q-QB2?
22 K-Rl R-Q6
23 N-Q4 Losing at once, but in any case
White had a terrible game as well
as being a pawn down.

33 R-Q7
34 RXR RXR
Resigns

GAME 28

White: Larry Evans

Black: Duncan Suttles
23 Q-Q2
24 NXN BxN Robatsch Defense
25 R-BS B-K2
26 QR-Bl B-N4 Notes by Suttles
27 QR-Qt
1 P-K4 P-KN3
If 27 R-B5 B-K6 and 28 2 P-Q4 P-Q3
B-Q5. 3 N-QB3 B-N2
4 B-K3 P-QB3
27 R-Ql 5 Q-Q2 P-QN4
28 P-KR4 6 0-0-0?!

"White had almost equalized but This sharp move is perhaps pre­
this move is terrible. 28 P-R3 was mature as Black has not committed
much better."-Browne. himself to castling Kingside and
White does not have the option of
28 B-B3 exchanging Black's KB.
29 QBXP BXB
30 QXB Q-K2 6 N-Q2
7 P-B3 N-N3
Threatening 31 ... RXB as well 8 P-KR4 P-KR4!?

85
 SAN A NTONIO '72

This move not only hinders if 16 BXB N-B5 17 Q any NXB

White's Kingside expansion but it regaining the piece (18 QXN B­
also makes Black's KB even more R3).
inaccessible.
16 B-R4
9 N-R3 P-R4 17 P-N3 P-R5
10 N-B2 P-N5 18 BXB RXB
11 N-Nl R-Nl 19 R-N5 PXP
12 P-N4? 20 RPXP RXR
21 PXR N-Q2
A serious error which leads to 22 R-Bl K-Bl
the loss of a pawn. However, it is 23 Q-Q3!
difficult to find moves which don't
allow Black to keep the initiative. Black must play very defensively
Perhaps 12 B-K2 and 13 QR-Nl to avoid compromising his pawn
is feasible. structure with P-B3.

12 PXP 23 Q-Kl
13 PxP N-B3 24 Q-B4 P-QB4
14 B-K2 NxNP! 25 PxP PxP
15 NxN BXN 26 R-Kl Q-Bl
27 R-Bl N-K4!

An apparent impasse has been

reached, but Black finds a combina­
tion which resolves his defensive
problems.

28 QxBP

16 QR-Nl!

White tries to make the most of

his spatial advantage on the King­
side which gives him some compen­
sation for the lost pawn. Of course

86
 ROUND FOUR

Otherwise comes ... P-B5, but GAME 29

now Black wins more material.
White: Anatoly Karpov
28 N-Q6ch Black: Mario Campos-Lopez
29 PXN Q-R6
30 R-B2 R-Bl Alekhine's Defense
31 QxRch QxQch
32 K-Ql Q-R3 Notes by Larsen
33 K-K2 Q-R7ch
34 N-Q2 B-B6 1 P-K4 N-KB3
2 P-KS N-Q4
Now Black can win the QNP at 3 P-Q4 P-Q3
his leisure. 4 N-KB3 P-KN3
5 B-QB4 P-QB3
35 R-R2 K-N2
36 R-R4 P-K4 Most players prefer 5 ... N-N3
37 R-Rl BXN as did Fischer in the 13th match
38 BXB QxP game in Reykjavik. Spassky con­
39 K-K3 Q-N7 tinued very badly so that game was
40 R-QBl P-N6 of no great importance for opening
41 R-B8 Q-R8 theory. Probably critical is 6 B-N3
42 B-B3 Q-B8ch B-N2 7 N-N5!? 0-0 8 P-KB4, but
43 K-K2 P-N7! there are not too many good master
44 BxPch games available yet with this am­
bitious attempt to build a strong
This was the sealed move and center and lock up the Black fian­
White Resigned without resuming. chetto Bishop.
After 44 ... P-B3 45 PxPch K-B2
46 R-QR8 Q-B7ch 47 K-K3 Q­ 6 0-0 B-N2
B4ch! 48 P-Q4 Q-N3, Black gets 7 PxP
a second Queen and White's threats
are over. There are other continuations,
for example R-Kl or P-KR3. But
the text move is not bad. The posi­
tion now looks more like a Caro­
Kann than an Alekhine.

7 QXP
8 P-KR3 0-0
9 B-N3 B-B4

87
 SA N ANTO NIO '7 2

Another possibility is 9 P- GAME 30

QN4!? followed by N-Q2 and B­
N2. White: Julio Kaplan
Black: Bent Larsen
10 R-Kl R-Kl
11 QN-Q2 P-QN4!? Caro-Kann Defense
12 P-QR4 N-Q2
13 P-B4 N-NS?? Notes by Larsen

Running completely wild. After 1 P-K4 P-QB3

13 ... PXBP it would have been 2 P-Q4 P-Q4

a normal game. Did Black see some 3 N-QB3 PXP

danger for his QB? It is not there, 4 NXP N-B3

as 14 NXP Q-B2 15 P-N4? B-K3 5 NXNch NPxN

15 N-N5 N-Bl only weakens

White's own position. A line considered dubious by
many experts. White's best contin­
uations may be the one chosen by
14 P-BS Q-B3
Mecking two rounds later.
15 N-K4 BxN
16 RXB P-K4
6 N-B3 B-B4!?

To prevent R-B4.The Black po­

Most known master games con­
sition is already hopeless.
tinued 6 . .. B-N5, but I decided
in favor of the text move many
17 RPXP
years ago. Donner is of the same
opinion.
Cat and mouse! QPXP was not
bad either.
7 B-K2 Q-B2
8 0-0 N-Q2
17 QR-Ql 9 P-B4 P-K3
18 B-NS Q-B4 10 B-Q2!?
19 BXR RXB
10 P-Q5 looks strong, but as I
Or 19 ... QxR 20 BXPch! found out during my second match
game against Kavalek (Solingen
20 Q-K2 BPXP 1970), Black can simply answer 10
21 RXRP N-QB3 ... 0-0-0, for instance 11 N-Q4
22 R-B7 N-R4 B-N3 12 PXKP? N-K4! The text
23 B-QS Resigns move is quite clever, since if Black

88
 ROUND FOUR

castles 11 Q-R4 K-Nl 12 B-R5! 17 ...... P-R5!

forces a weakness in the Black
King's position. Black already feels justified in
sacrificing a pawn in order to take
10 B-Q3 the initiative-and probably White's
11 K-Rl R-KNl best chance was to take the pawn!
12 P-B5?! After 18 NXB PXB 19 NXP Black
would have very good compensa­
Probably not good, as Black need tion: open lines against the White
not fear any breakthrough in the King, weak White QP, misplaced
center now. Maybe White was hop­ White Knight, etc. - but after the
ing for 12 ... B-B5? 13 P-KN3! game continuation Black gets a
BXB 14 NxB followed by N-B4- positional advantage for nothing.
Q6.But Black's position was already
absolutely satisfactory, and I was 18 B-Q6 B-Q4
expecting something like 12 P-QN4 19 BXB P-R6!
B-K5. Black must not play 0-0-0 20 P-B3
too quickly; he must first make
preparations for the attack against I was expecting 20 B-B3, but in
the White King, so that White can­ any case the White pawns are a
not concentrate on storming the sad sight.
other side.
20 PXPch
12 B-K2! 21 RxP RXR
13 Q-Bl B-K5 22 KXR KXB
14 B-KB4 Q-R4 23 N-B4 BXN
15 B-N3 P-R4 24 BXB N-B3
16 R-KNl P-B4 25 Q-B4 R-Ql
17 N-Q2 26 P-QR3

Perhaps better was 26 R-Ql, but

Kaplan may have rejected it be­
cause of 26 . .. Q-R5!?, for in­
stance 27 B-N3 Q-N4 with the
possibility P-R4-R5. In any case,
White's position is difficult, and
many endings will be lost for him
because of his weak pawns. In fact,
instead of Black's last, 25 . . . R­
Nlch 26 K-Rl Q-Ql was also very

89
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

good, with the idea 27 R-KNl Q­ 35 RxPch K-B3

QNl! 36 QxQ

26 P-N3! 36 Q-R6ch K-K4 37 RxP

27 P-N4 Q-R5 QXPch is not better for White.
28 R-R2 PXP
29 QPxP Q-Q8 36 NxQ
37 R-N7 N-Q4
You may say that White's pawns 38 B-B4 R-QBl
look a little better now, but his 39 K-N3 P-B5ch
King is in danger! 30 Q-B7ch N-Q2 40 K-B2 N-K6
does not improve matters, for ex­
ample 31 Q-N3 P-B5! Also good was 40 ... N-K2,
followed by R-KR1-R4.
30 B-Bl R-Nlch
31 K-B2 N-Q4 41 B-Q3 R-KRl
32 Q-Q2 Q-N6 42 R-B7

The sealed move.

42 N-Q4
43 RXP N-N5
44 R-Q6 NxBch
45 RxN RxPch
46 K-Nl R-QB7
47 R-Q4 RXP!

Simple but neat: 48 RXPch R-

B4!
It is difficult to find a useful
move for White. One of Black's 48 K-B2 R-B7ch
threats is P-B5 followed by Q-K6ch; 49 K-Bl K-N4
QXQ, PxQch; K-K2, R-N8. Kap­ 50 R-Q8 K-R5
lan had only five minutes left, but 51 R-KN8 P-B4
even with more time he would not
have been able to find a good con- Good enough, for 52 R-K8 K-
tinuation. N6 53 RXP KXP 54 K-Nl does
not save White, as it would if
33 R-N2 QxRP Black had only one BP! One win­
34 R-R2 QxP ning method is 54 ... R-N7ch 55

90
 ROUND FOUR

K-Rl R-Q7 56 K-Nl R-Q8ch 57 7 P-QR3

K-R2 K-B7 58 R-QR6 P-B6 (or 8 B-Q3 P-QN4
58 R-KB6 R-Ql). Also excellent 9 P-QR4 P-N5
was 51 . . . P-K4. 10 N-Nl

52 R-N6 P-K4 Better is 10 N-K2 P-QR4 11

53 R-K6 P-K5(!) P-B3, e.g. 11 . . . 0-0 12 PXP
54 PxP PxP RPXP 13 R-R2 N-N3 14 P-QN3
55 RXP K-N6 B-QR3 15 BXB (not 15 R-B2?!
56 R-K8 R-B8ch P-B5!) 15 ... NxB 16 N-Q2 N-B2
Resigns 17 R-B2 P-K3 18 PXP NxKP 19
B-N2 BXB 20 RXB Q-B3 21 R-B2
This game is quite typical for N-Q5 22 NXN QxN 23 N-B4,
Black's chances in this variation of when "White has everything"
the Caro-Kann. Many an ending (Keres) or "White is a little better"
has been won with those modest­ (Browne), according to which side
Iooking center pawns. of the table you are sitting on!

10 ..... . P-QR4

In almost all lines of the Modern

GAME 31 Benoni Black gets an excellent
game once he can achieve the ad­
White: Paul Keres vance . . P-QN4. But here White
.

Black: Walter Browne still has a QBP (which is not the

case in the Modern Benoni) and
Benoni Defense Black therefore does not have a
Queenside pawn majority. In addi­
Notes by Levy tion, Black's Queenside pawn struc­
ture has congealed into an almost
1 P-Q4 P-QB4 solid lump in which there are one
2 P-Q5 N-KB3 or two gaping holes. Keres now at­
3 N-QB3 P-Q3 tempts to occupy these holes with
4 P-K4 P-KN3 his minor pieces.
5 N-B3 B-N2
6 B-N5ch KN-Q2 11 QN-Q2
7 0-0
Possibly better is 11 B-QN5 0-0
The alternative is Larsen's 7 P­ 12 P-B4, e.g. (i) 12 ... N-N3 13
QR4. R-R2 P-K3 14 PXP BXKP 15 P-

91
 SAN ANTONIO '72

QN3 followed by B-N2 with a clear 16 N-B4

advantage to White; or (ii) 12 ...
B-QR3 13 BxB (if 13 R-R2 N-N3 The sacrifice 16 P-QB4 PXP e.p.
14 P-QN3 BXB and now both 15 17 PXP BXP 18 R-Nl leaves White
RPXB P-R5! and 15 BPXB QN-Q2 with insufficient play along the QN
16 QN-Q2 R-Bl 17 Q-K2 P-B5!? file to compensate for the pawn (18
18 NxP NxN 19 PxN N-N3 20 ... Q-R2 19 N-B4 N-K4 20 R-N3
N-Q2 Q-B2, or 20 ... B-B6, are NxB 21 QXN B-KN2).
good for Black) 13 ... RXB 14
R-R2 P-K3 15 PXP PXP 16 P­ 16 Q-R2
QN3 Q-K2 17 B-N5 B-B3 18 BXB 17 R-Nl N-N3
RXB 19 P-K5! NXP 20 NXN 18 NXN QxN
PXN 21 N-Q2 with an excellent 19 B-KNS KR-Kl
game for White who will recapture Draw
the pawn after maneuvering his
Knight to Q3: 21 ... N-B3 22 It is true that nothing much hap­
N-K4 R-B5 23 R-Kl N-Q5 24 pened in this game, but from a

R-Q2 R-Rl 25 R-Q3 QR-KBl 26 study of the post-mortem analysis

P-B3 P-R4 (or 26 ... P-N4 27 the reader gets an excellent insight
N-N3) 27 N-B2 Q-KN2 28 R(3)-K3 into the mechanics of this particu­
R(5)-B4 29 N-Q3, etc. lar type of Benoni formation (White
pawns at QB2, Q5 and K4; Black
11 N-N3 pawns at QR4, QN5, QB4 and Q3).
12 N-B4 QN-Q2
13 KN-Q2
GAME 32
If 13 R-R2 0-0 14 P-QN3 NxN
15 BXN N-N3 16 B-Q3 P-B5! 17 White: Henrique Mecking
PXP B-QR3 18 Q-K2 Q-Q2 (or 18 Black: Anthony Saidy
... Q-B2), regaining the pawn with
the better game. Sicilian Defense

13 0-0 Notes by Levy

14 Q-K2 B-QR3
15 NxN QxN 1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 P-Q3
Possibly more active was 15 3 P-Q4 PxP
BXB 16 PXB NXN 17 R-R2 Q­ 4 NxP N-KB3
Q2 18 P-QN3 QR-Kl 19 B-N2 5 N-QB3 P-QR3
P-K3 20 BXB KXB 21 PXP RXP. 6 B-K3

92
 ROUND FOUR

Robert Byrne's move which is

rapidly gaining in popularity.

6 ..... . QN-Q2

Suggested by Shamkovitch as an
improvement on 6 ... P-K4 7 N­
N3 B-K3 8 Q-Q2! QN-Q2 (R.
Byrne-Balashov, Moscow 1971),
which led to a crushing defeat for
Black. The idea of the text is to
Now White threatens 20 N-R5!
continue quietly with . . . P-K3,
PxN 21 QxRP KR-Kl 22 R-KR3
... P-QN4 and . .. B-N2.
B-Ql 23 QXRPch K-Bl 24 P-N6
winning. And so
7 B-K2 P-K3
8 P-QR4 19 NXN
20 PxN NxB
Saidy criticized this move but it 21 PXN P-QR4
seems to be rather logical in view 22 Q-R4 B-R3
of Black's intended plan of develop­ 23 B-B2?

ment on the Queenside.

23 P-KN4 was virtually crush-
ing, e.g. 23 ... B-B4 24 B-B2! and
8 P-QN3
Black is defenseless against the
9 P-B4 B-N2
threat of 25 R-KR3 P-B4 26 NPXP
10 B-Q3
e.p. and 27 P-B5.

Also possible is 10 B-B3.

23 P-R4
24 P-KN4 PXP
10 Q-B2 25 QxP K-N2
11 Q-B3 N-B4 26 K-N2 R-KRl
12 0-0 B-K2 27 R-R3 RXR
13 P-KN4! P-Q4 28 QXR R-KRl
14 P-KS KN-KS 29 Q-B3 B-B4!
15 QN-K2 R-QBl
16 N-KN3 0-0 Preparing to exchange into a po-
17 P-NS P-N3 sition in which the opposite color
18 Q-N4 Q-Q2 Bishops complex helps Black's at-
19 R-B3! tack.

93
 SA N ANTONIO ' 72

30 P-N3 BXN 36 R-QBl?

31 BXB Q-B3?
36 ... R-R5 37 Q-N3 R-R4 38
31 . .. Q-B 1 ! would have been Q-N2 Q-Bl wins as before-White
very strong, e.g. 32 Q-K2 R-R5! must permit either the infiltration
(threatening 33 ... Q-KRl), win­ of Black's Rook on the KR file
ning easily. or allow the exchange of Rooks
when Black's Queen can enter the
32 Q-K2 P-N4 game via the QB file.
33 Q-Q2 R-QBl
37 Q-Q2 R-KRl!
Both players were by now com­ 38 Q-KN2 R-QBl?
pelled to play at blitz speed. 39 R-Ql

34 K-B3 P-N5 Paradoxically, Mecking did not

35 K-K3 R-KRl! want a draw at this stage. By an­
36 Q-KN2 nouncing his intention of playing
39 Q-Q2 he could have claimed a
draw by threefold repetition.

39 Q-B2
40 Q-KR2 R-KRl!
41 Q-KN2 Draw?

41 ... R-R5 still wins for Black

but Mecking, obviously realizing
this, saved himself by the somewhat
unethical offer of a draw while
Saidy was considering his sealed
move.

Standings After Four Rounds

3V2 Karpov, Keres, Larsen

2112 Gligoric, Petrosian, Suttles
2 Browne, D. Byrne, Hort, Portisch
1112 Campos, Mecking
1 Evans, Saidy
112 Kaplan, Smith

94
 ROUND FIVE

ROUND FIVE

Friday, November 24th

White Black Opening Result Moves

33 Saidy (1) Hort (2) King's Indian Defense 0-1 57
34 Browne (2) Mecking (11/2) SicilianDefense 0-1 54
35 Larsen (31h) Keres (31/2) English Opening 0-1 91
36 Campos (11/2) Kaplan (llz) Sicilian Defense 0-1 41
37 Suttles (21/2) Karpov (3 Vz) Sicilian Defense 0-1 60
38 D. Byrne (2) Evans (1) English Opening 1-0 33
39 Petrosian (2llz) Smith (1/2) Queen's Gambit Declined 1-0 62
40 Gligoric (21h) Portisch (2) Gruenfeld Defense 1-0 55

GAME 33 8 P-Q5 N-N5

9 B-N5 P-KB3
White: Anthony Saidy 10 B-R4 N-Q2
Black: Vlastimil Hort 11 N-Q2 N-R3
12 P-B3
King's Indian Defense

Notes by Hort Otherwise 12 ... P-KN4 13 B­

N3 P-KB4 gives Black a very good

1 P-QB4 N-KB3 game.

2 N-QB3 P-KN3
P-K4 P-Q3 12 N-B2
3
13 0-0 B-R3
4 P-Q4 B-N2
14 Q-B2 P-R4
5 B-K2 0-0
P-K4 15 KR-Qt?
6 N-B3
7 B-K3
Inexact. The Rook does nothing
on Ql. Better is 15 B-B2 or even
A very interesting variation.
15 QR-Ql. White needs his KR
on KB 1 in readiness for when the
7 . . . . . . Q-K2
KB-file becomes opened.

I prefer this to 7 . N-N5. The

15 N-B4
. .

idea is simply to exchange pawns

16 B-B2 P-B4
on Q5 and then capture White's
KP, so White's reply is more or Now Black has a very comfort­
less forced. able game.

95
 SAN ANTO NIO '7 2

17 P-QN3 N-N4 22 KXR Q-R5ch

18 P-QR3 PXP 23 K-Nl B-K6ch
19 QNXP 24 K-Rl B-BS
25 P-N3 BXP
On 19 PXP Black has the possi­ 26 B-B3 B-Q2?!
bility of a very interesting Rook
sacrifice: 19 ... N-R6ch 20 PXN Much stronger is 26 .. . B-B5
RXB 21 KXR Q-R5ch 22 K-Nl followed by . .. B-R6, gaining a
BXP with a strong attack. tempo on the game continuation.

19 QNXN
27 R-KNl
20 NXN

Now White is threatening to con­

Now 20 PXN N-R6ch gives Black
solidate with Q-K2 and B-N4.
an even better game than in the last
note: 21 PXN Q-N4ch 22 K-Bl
27 B-B7
RXBch and White can resign.
28 KR-KBl B-K6
29 Q-K2 B-BS
20 NxN
21 PXN
29 ... B-Q5 is not so good: 30
QR-Ql R-KBl 31 B-N2 B-B7! 32
R-Q3 B-N5 33 B-B3 B-N6 34 K­
N1! (not 34 Q-N2?? B-R6 winning)
and Black runs out of steam.

30 R-KNl Q-R6
31 Q-KN2 Q-R3
32 Q-K2 K-Rl

With the idea that after 33 B-N4

BXB 34 RXB Q-R6 35 Q-KN2
Black can grab the QNP without
having to worry about 36 RXPch

21 ..... . RXB! and a draw by perpetual check.

This sacrifice is the only way for 33 QR-Ql!

Black to play for a win. With the
most accurate play on both sides Intending to activate the Rook by
Black should stand better. R-Q3.

96
 ROUND FIVE

33 R-KBl Now my army walks into Saidy's

34 B-N4 BXB position.
35 RXB Q-R4
36 R-N2! 41 R-B3!
42 R-B2 Q-R5
Not 36 Q-KN2? BXP. 43 R-N4 Q-R6
44 Q-B3 R-R3
36 Q-R6 45 R(4)-N2 R-R5
37 R-Q3 Q-R5
38 R-KB3 P-N3 Now Black threatens 46 ... Q­
39 Q-KB2 Q-R4 Bl followed by 47 ... R-R6, so
40 R-Nl P-KN4 White must exchange Queens.

46 QXQ RXQ
47 R-N2 P-R4
48 P-R4?!

If 48 P-N4 (threatening 49 P-B5)

RXP 49 PXP R-R8ch 50 R-KNl
RXP and White cannot contest the
QR-file.

48 . . . . . . P-N5

Now the rest is very easy.

41 Q-K2?
49 K-Nl K-N2
The sealed move, and probably 50 R(KN2)-K2 K-N3
the fatal error. Saidy failed to see 51 R-Nl P-R5
the following maneuver; otherwise 52 R(1)-N2 R-KB6
he would have played 41 P-R3! R­ 53 R-Nl B-K6ch
KNl 42 R-N4 Q-N3 43 Q-K2 P­ 54 K-Rl K-N4
R4 44 R-Nl, e.g. 44 ... Q-B3 55 R-KN2 K-B5
(after 44 ... P-N5? 45 PXP PXP 56 R-Kl B-B7
46 R-R3ch PxR 47 RXQ RXR 48 57 R-QNl P-R6
Q-R5ch and 49 Q-B5, White has a Resigns
draw by perpetual check) 45 R(3)-Bl
P-N5 46 Q-Kl Q-N4 (not 46 ...
P-N6 47 K-N2 with a dead draw)
with only a slight plus for Black.

97
 SAN ANTONIO '72

GAME 34 would be too much of a strain

playing in a tournament with both
White: Walter Browne Browne and Mecking. -DNLL)
Black: Henrique Mecking
1 P-K4 P-QB4
Sicilian Defense 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 P-Q4 PxP
Notes by Mecking 4 NXP N-KB3
5 N-QB3 P-QR3
(Browne and Mecking are two 6 B-N5 P-K3
of the more colorful characters in 7 P-B4 B-K2
the international circuit. Both are 8 Q-B3 Q-B2
known for their frequent, chronic 9 0-0-0 QN-Q2
time shortages and both are difficult 10 P-KN4 P-N4
to play against because of their 11 BXN NXB
mannerisms at the board. Browne 12 P-N5 N-Q2
is always an extremely nervous op­ 13 P-B5
ponent, his nervousness manifesting
itself in an almost continual fidget­ When Browne and I played in a
ing and grimacing. Mecking's prob­ tournament in South America we
lem is somewhat different - he played many blitz games together
complains about everything and and the Najdorf Variation appeared
anything, from the noise and the quite often. In those games he
lighting to his opponent's manner­ played 13 P-QR3 without excep­
isms. When playing Petrosian, tion.
Mecking complained to Golombek
that his opponent's legs were quiv­ 13 N-B4
ering, but his words fell on stony 14 P-B6 PxP
ground for Golombek had no inten­ 15 PxP B-Bl
tion of tying the ex-world cham­ 16 Q-R5
pion's legs together.
When these two young grand­ 16 B-R3 is the other main line.
masters met in San Antonio their
game was a real battle, both on the 16 B-Q2
board and off. In some ways one
can sympathize with the young 16 . .. P-N5? is refuted by the
West G erman Robert Huebner who well-known 17 N-Q5!
refrained from playing at San An­
tonio because, being a little sensi­ 17 B-R3 P-N5
tive to such antics, he felt that it 18 QN-K2 0-0-0

98
 ROUND FIVE

19 QXBP B-R3ch The text 1s known to be a better

20 K-Nl QR-Bl move.
21 Q-R5 RXP
22 KR-Bl KR-Bl 25 . . . . . . P-R4!
23 RXR RXR
24 Q-R4! My innovation which I discovered
at the board after twenty-five min­
White's Queen is better placed utes thought. Now Browne thought
on R4 than on RS and Black's for one hour.
Rook is worse on N3 than on B3 P a r m a -Zu c k e r m a n , N e ta n ya
because White often has the pos­ 1971, went instead 25 ... B-K6
sibility of N-B4. If White has any 26 N-B4 BXN 27 QXB P-K4 and
advantage in this position it is be­ a draw was agreed although White
cause of the weakness of Black's is slightly better after 28 Q-B8ch
KRP and his slightly exposed King. K-N2 29 BXB NXB 30 Q-B7
At any rate, all the moves so far threatening Q-N3 and P-B3. Anal­
have followed well-known theory ysis by Parma.
and the opinion before this game
was that White is a little better. 26 N-N3 Q-Ql!
But I do not believe it.
White was threatening to win by
24 R-N3 27 N-B5!

27 Q-R5

On 27 P-K5 Black can exchange

Queens or play 27 . .. P-Q4, in
either case with a good game.

27 B-B5
28 N-K2

28 QxP? loses to 28 ... R-R3

forking Queen and Bishop.
25 N-KB3
28 .. . . . . Q-Bl
Tringov-Browne, Sarajevo 1970,
went 25 N-N3 B-KN4 26 QXP R­ Now I am threatening 29 ...
R3 27 Q-N7, and now Black should R-R3 30 Q-N4 P-K4 winning at
have continued with 27 ... RXB. once. If 28 ... R-R3 29 Q-B7

99
 SAN AN TONIO '72

RxB 30 QxB P-K4 31 Q-K3 (31 34 R-N3

NXP may also be possible) and 35 B-Rl B-QB3
White's position is probably a little 36 R-Kl B-KRl
worse because his KP and KRP 37 N-N3 K-B2
are both weak. 38 N-Q2 B-K4

29 N(3)-Q4

Creating an escape square at

KB3 for White's Queen.

29 B-K4
30 N-KB3 B-Rl

I was trying to confuse the issue

in time trouble. (The ensuing time
scramble was very entertaining for
the spectators. Mecking was mov­ 39 R-K3
ing the pieces with one hand and
39 N(2)-Bl would save the pawn
punching his clock with the other
but White is losing anyway. Besides
-definitely a sharp practice but
having all his pieces badly placed
not against the laws of chess as
he must worry about the advance
Browne discovered when he com­
of Black's KRP.
plained to Golombek. -DNLL)

39 B-BS
31 N(3)-Q4 B-K4 40 R-K2 BXN(6)

Not 31 ... R-R3 32 Q-N4 P-K4 It would have been much easier
33 N-B5 when White is better. to win after 40 ... BXN(7) 41
RXB NXP.
32 N-KB3 Q-R3 (As soon as the time scramble
was over, Golombek instructed
By now Browne was very short Mecking to fill in the blank portion
of time. of his score sheet. Normally this is
done with the help of the op­
33 QXQ RXQ ponent's score sheet but Browne,
34 B-N2 who was not feeling in a very
friendly mood for the reason stated
If 34 NxB PXN Black wins a in the note to the 30th move, re­
pawn. fused to cooperate. -DNLL)

100
 ROUND FIVE

41 PXB RXP 2 N-QB3 P-QB4

42 R-Kl P-K4 3 N-B3 N-KB3
43 B-B3 N-K3 4 P-KN3 N-B3
44 K-Bl N-N4 5 B-N2 B-K2
45 B-Ql R-N7 6 P-Q4 P-Q4
46 R-Rl P-R5! 7 BPxP KNXP
8 NxN PXN
If 46 ... K-N3 47 N-B4ch with 9 PXP BXP
some counterplay for White.
Keres also played this variation
47 P-R3 against Petrosian and Portisch, so
the tournament offers interesting
If 47 P-B3 P-R6! wins. study material. It is like a Tar­
rasch Defense, but without the
47 PxP White QN and the Black KN.
48 PXP K-N3
49 P-B3 R-N6 10 P-QR3 B-B4!?
50 K-N2 R-Q6
51 K-B2 NxP Interesting. Black prevents Q-Q3,
52 KXR N-B4ch and he can answer B-N5 with Q­
53 K-B4 P-Q4ch Q2. Also, he is ready to play B-K5.
54 K-N4 N-R3 mate
11 P-QN4 B-QN3
12 B-N2
GAME 35
The natural move, but 12 R-R2!?,
White: Bent Larsen to attack the isolated QP as quickly
Black: Paul Keres as possible, is interesting.

English Opening 12 0-0

13 N-Q4 BXN
Notes by Larsen 14 BXB R-Kl
15 R-R2! Q-Q2
I find it unpleasant to annotate 16 0-0 B-R6
this game, which more or less ruined 17 R-Q2 BXB
the tournament for me. But per­ 18 KxB P-QR4!?
haps someone will learn from it to 19 B-B5 PxP
keep his eyes open. 20 PXP R-K4
21 P-K3 R-Ql
1 P-QB4 P-K3 22 P-N5 N-K2

101
 SAN ANTONIO '72

23 BXN QxB 31 R-Q6 P-N3

24 Q-N3 P-R4 32 R-Q7 Q-K3
25 R-Q4 R-Q3 33 R-Q8ch K-N2
26 KR-Qt Q-Kl 34 Q-N4 Q-B5
27 P-R4 R-QN3!? 35 Q-N2ch Q-B6
36 Q-N7

. -�···• 36 Q-N8 gives nothing special,

•1• for instance 36 Q-K4.
�­
m'A! 36 ...... R-B4?!

• This creates some problems for

Black, but they are not too serious.

37 Q-K7 Q-N7
38 Q-B8ch K-R2
Black decides to give up a pawn
39 Q-N8ch K-R3
and draw with three against four
40 R-Q2 Q-KN2
on the Kingside. Should White play
41 Q-R8 K-R2
28 R-QN 1 it would then be very
42 P-K4?!
difficult for him to make progress.
So, the plus pawn and some small
Better winning chances were
winning chances probably give a
probably offered by 42 R-B2 fol­
correct picture of the size of the
lowed by P-K4. After the text
advantage White has obtained with
Keres took 35 minutes for his
his play against the isolated QP.
sealed move, erasing twice. Finally
he wrote down the only good move:
28 RXP RXNP
29 RXR(K5) RXR
42 ..... . Q-B6!
Not 29 ... QXR? 30 R-Q8ch
or 29 ... Q-B3ch 30 Q-Q5. Forcing the exchange of Rooks.

30 QxP R-QB4 43 PXR QXR

44 Q-N7 K-Nl
Threatening to exchange Queens. 45 P-B6
The Rook ending is a theoretical
draw, and more than that, there is The winning chances are mini­
really very little play in it. mal, also after 45 PXP.

102
 ROUND FIVE

4S Q-Ql White cannot even save the game.

46 Q-B6 K-R2
47 Q-QB3 Q-Q4ch 61 Q-K3 PxP
48 P-B3 Q-R7ch 62 Q-B4 QxP
49 K-R3 Q-N8 63 QxP Q-K6ch
SO K-N2 Q-R7ch 64 Q-B4 Q-K7
Sl K-Bl Q-R3ch 6S Q-N3 Q-N4ch
S2 K-Kl Q-K3ch 66 K-B4 Q-B4ch
S3 K-B2 Q-R7ch 67 K-K3 QxP
S4 K-Nl Q-N8ch
SS K-N2 Q-R7ch With the White King cut off, this
S6 K-R3 Q-N8 is a win for Black.
S7 P-N4 Q-R8ch
S8 K-N3 Q-N8ch 68 Q-NS Q-B8

68 . . . QxQ?? draws!

69 Q-N4 Q-K8ch

Driving the King further away.

70 K-Q3 Q-K3
71 Q-KB4 K-N2
72 Q-Q4ch P-B3
73 Q-QN4

Black has defended well, and 73 Q-KB4 Q-K4 is not better.

now White could shake hands with
a good conscience. But look what 73 Q-B4ch
happens! 74 K-K2 K-R3

S9 K-B4?? Q-R7ch Decisive.

60 K-NS???
7S K-Kl K-R4
Blunder of the year! The King 76 Q-QB4 Q-NS
goes into a mating net. 77 Q-BSch KXP
78 Q-K7 Q-B4
60 . . . . . . Q-N6! 79 Q-N4ch K-R4
80 Q-QB4 P-N4
With the horrible threat PXP. 81 Q-B7ch K-R5

103
 SAN ANTO NIO ' 72

82 Q-B8 K-N6 10 R-Bl

83 Q-R3ch Q-B6 11 P-KR4 N-K4
84 Q-Q6ch K-N7 12 B-R6?
85 Q-Q2ch K-R6
86 Q-Q7ch P-B4 A well-known mistake which al­
87 Q-KN7 P-N5 lows Black to take the initiative
88 Q-R8ch K-N6 with a promising Exchange sacrifice.
89 Q-K5ch P-B5 Best is 12 0-0-0.
90 Q-N8 Q-K6ch
91 K-Ql K-N7 12 BxB
Resigns 13 QxB RXN
14 PxR Q-R4
15 Q-Q2 R-Bl
16 0-0

GAME 36 If 16 P-R4 (trying to inhibit ...

P-QN4) 16 ... P-QN4! 17 P-QB4
White: Mario Campos-Lopez P-NS 18 0-0 NXBP 19 Q-B2
Black: Julio Kaplan N-K4 with a clear advantage to
Black (Bogdanovic-Parma, Yugo­
Sicilian Defense slav Championship 1963).

Notes by Levy
16 RXP
17 N-K2
1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 P-Q3
Or 17 QR-Kl Q-B4 18 R-K3
3 P-Q4 PXP
RxR 19 QxR P-QN4! 20 P-B3
4 NXP N-KB3
P-QR4 21 P-R4 PXP 22 B-R2 N­
5 N-QB3 P-KN3
BS with ample play for the Ex­
6 B-K3 N-B3
change (Vasiukov-Parma, USSR­
7 P-B3 B-N2
Yugoslavia Match 1962).
8 Q-Q2 0-0
9 B-QB4 B-Q2
17 Q-N3ch
10 B-N3
18 Q-Q4 R-B4
19 N-B4 B-N4
More accurate is the immediate
10 P-KR4. After the text move
Black can achieve complete equal­ (See diagram next page.)

ity with Parma's suggestion o f 10

... NxN 11 BxN P-QN4. 20 N-Q3

104
 ROUND FIVE

29 R-Bl N-B6
30 BXN PxB
31 P-B4 P-QN4

White's position is hopeless. His

Rook has no useful moves and he
has no effective means of prevent­
ing the advance of Black's pawns.

32 P-R5 P-N5
33 Q-N3 K-N2
(Position after 19 ... B-N4) 34 Q-Q3 P-R4
35 Q-R6 Q-Q4
White cannot avoid losing a sec­ 36 Q-R7 Q-Ql
ond pawn, e.g. 20 KR-Ql NxPch! 37 Q-R6 P-Q6
21 PXN P-K4 22 Q-B2 (22 38 QxKP P-Q7
QXQP?? R-B3ch winning the 39 P-R6ch KXP
Queen) 22 ... PxN. 40 R-KRl P-Q8=Q
41 RxQ and White Resigns
20 BXN
21 PXB NxQP!

Of course Black could have cap­ GAME 37

tured first with the Knight so that
he would now have a Bishop on White: Duncan Suttles
Q6, but with most of White's pawns Black: Anatoly Karpov
on light squares the Knight is a
much more useful piece. Sicilian Defense

22 QR-Nl Notes by Karpov

Naturally not 22 QxN?? R-B6ch. Translated from the Russian

by Hanon Russell
22 N-B5!
23 K-R2 Q-B2 1 P-KN3 P-QB4
24 Q-K3 P-Q4! 2 B-N2 N-QB3
25 P-K5 N-K3 3 P-K4 P-KN3
26 KR-Bl P-Q5 4 N-K2 B-N2
27 RXR QXR 5 0-0 P-Q3
28 Q-Kl N-Q4 6 P-QB3

105
 SA N A NTONIO '72

In comparison to the Closed Queen goes to support an eventual

Variation of the Sicilian Defense, P-Q4. After White plays P-KB4,
White has a somewhat better posi­ the Queen may go to Q2 to help
tion as a result of his intricate move prevent P-B5.
order. First of all, he has rapidly
developed his Kingside pieces; sec­
12 P-KB4 P-B4
ondly, N-QB3 has been omitted,
which allows White to occupy the
Also possible was the aforemen­
center with his pawns. Naturally,
tioned 12 ... Q-Q2.
Black will try to prevent this by any
means at his disposal.
13 N-QS K-Rl

6 P-K4
7 N-R3 Black retreats his King to avoid
checks in certain variations from
The Knight is headed for QB2, K7 and KB6, while the square KNl
from where it will be able to sup­ can be used later by the Bishop on
port the thrust P-Q4, while at the K3.
same time it could go to Q5 via
K3. Another possibility for White 14 PxKP?!
was to play 7 P-Q3 followed by
B-K3 and P-Q4. This demands timing; 14 B-K3
should be played first.
7 KN-K2
8 N-B2 Q-N3!?
14 QPXP
15 B-NS P-KR3
First and foremost, consistency!
16 NXN NxN
17 B-K3 Q-B2
9 N-K3

With this move, Black not only

The plan 9 R-Nl and 10 P-QN4
protects his pawns, but frees the
is too slow.
Queen file preparing to put pres­
sure on White's weakened central
9 0-0
pawns.
10 P-Q3 B-K3
11 K-Rl Q-Ql
18 Q-Q2

The Queen has done her job on

QN3. The way is now cleared for 18 P-Q4 leads to complications
the Queenside pawns, while the which are unfavorable for White.

106
 ROUND FIVE

18 K-R2 25 B-Q5 is no better, for Black

19 P-N3 QR-Ql follows with P-K5, with the ad­
20 P-B4 vantage.

Hoping to control Q5, but this 25 NxB

meets with an elegant refutation. 26 PxN Q-Bl!

The blockade P-KN4 cannot be

20 P-KN4!
allowed. To prevent that, I had to
21 PxP
agree to the loss of an important
center pawn on QB4.
Practically forced: P-B5 was
threatened.
27 Q-K2 P-N5
28 K-N2
21 BXKBP
22 RXB Black succeeds more readily in
realizing his Exchange advantage
At first glance, the Exchange after this passive move. White had
sacrifice looks attractive, but no to accept Black's dangerous gift
more than equal compensation for with 28 N-K7 Q-K3 29 BXBP P­
it is obtained. True, this is the only N3 30 B-R3.
way out of the position for White.

28 R-B6
22 NxR 29 R-Ql R-Q2
23 B-K4 K-Rl
24 N-B3 Black has managed to defend his
weaknesses and strengthen KB6.
This looks very good for White,
occupying the central squares, but 30 P-KR4 P-KR4
Black shatters the illusions with one 31 B-N5 Q-Bl
move.

24 . . . . . . N-Q3

Now the white-squared Bishop

must be exchanged, for to remove
it from K4 would allow Black to
free his black-squared Bishop via
P-K5.

25 N-Q5

107
 SAN ANTONIO ' 72

32 N-B4 43 K-B2 R-B6ch

44 K-N2 K-N3
Despair. Besides the variation 45 P-N4
which occurs in the game, 32 ...
PXN also wins: 33 RXR RXPch White comes to the realization
34 K-B 1 (34 K-R 1 R-R6ch 35 that his position is hopeless. I in­
K-Nl B-Q5ch and wins) 34 ... tended to trans fer the King to K3,
B-Q5! (threatening mate on KN8!) the Bishop to Ql and break with
35 K-Kl (35 Q-R2 R-B6ch) 35 ... P-R3 and P-N4.
R-N8ch 36 K-Q2 P-86 37 Q-Q3
P-B7 38 P-K5!?? (mate almost seems 45 PXP
inevitable, but 38 ... P-B8=Nch 46 BXNP R-Q6
or 38 ... R-Q8ch leads to an easy 47 N-K7ch K-B2
win). 48 N-B8 K-K3
49 NxRP R-Q5
32 Q-Kl 50 P-R3 RXBP
33 RxR QxR 51 N-N5 B-R3
34 N-Q5 52 K-B2 R-B7ch
53 K-Kl B-K6
After 34 NXP Q-Q6 White would 54 K-Ql R-KN7
be forced to exchange Queens and 55 N-B7ch K-B2
Knight for Bishop. In the ensuing 56 N-Q5 RXP
endgame, Black's Rook will create 57 P-R4 B-Q5
havoc among the Black pawns on 58 P-R5 PXP
the Queenside. 59 BxP R-KR6
60 B-Q8 P-N6
34 Q-B3 Resigns
35 B-K3 K-R2
36 B-B2 P-N3
37 B-Kl Q-N2 GAME 38
38 B-B3 R-Bl!
White: Donald Byrne
The Rook frees KB6 for the Black: Larry Evans
Queen. The exchange is unavoid­
able; the rest of the game is easy. English Opening

39 B-Kl Q-KB2 Notes by D. Byrne

40 B-Q2 Q-B6ch
41 QxQ RxQ 1 P-KN3 P-KN3
42 B-B3 R-Q6 2 B-N2 B-N2

108
 ROUND FIVE

3 P-QB4 P-QB4 Black is quite willing to exchange

4 N-QB3 N-QB3 his QP for White's QNP, for the
5 P-Q3 P-K3 Black Queenside would be more
mobile than the White center pawns.
Obviously, it is Black's intention
to attack in the center, and the 11 0-0 P-Q5
weakening of the dark squares does
not appear to be significant. A reasonable alternative is 11
. .. B-K3, holding on to the squares
in the center.
6 B-Q2 KN-K2
7 P-QR3
12 N-K4

With the last two moves, White's

White's Knights occupy powerful
plan to advance on the Queen's
positions and Black cannot drive
wing becomes clear. Such an ad­
them away without seriously weak­
vance is a logical attempt to nullify
ening his Kingside.
Black's threat of P-Q4.

12 P-N3
7 . . . . . . P-Q4
13 P-QN4 PXP
14 PXP P-QR3
Certainly a very aggressive move
15 P-N5
which should probably be post­
poned. I arrived at an analogous
White's attack on the Queenside
position in my game with V. Hort
will come to naught if Black is per­
in round 15. Hort's strategy,
mitted to proceed with N-R2 fol­
threatening P-Q4 but not actually
lowed by N-N4.
pushing the QP, proved to be suc­
cessful. 7 . . 0-0 is a reasonable
15 PXP
.

move for Black.

16 Q-N3 P-R3

8 PXP PxP Black indirectly defends the QNP

9 N-R3 and prepares to chase the Knight
from K4.
Now White can put pressure on
Black's center with both Knights 17 KR-Nl
and the Bishop.
As soon as the pawn on QN4
9 0-0 falls, the pawn on QN3 will be
10 N-B4 R-Nl very weak. Nevertheless, White

109
 SAN ANTONIO '72

should have played the more ag­

gressive 17 KR-QB1 which would
give White pressure on a second
open file.

17 K-R2
18 B-Kl P-B4

Black wishes to drive the Knight

from its strong position in the
center and to hold on to his QNP
A fatal mistake! Black should
for a few more moves, but the
play R-Bl.Then if White exchanges
move creats additional weaknesses
Rooks, Black's pawn weaknesses re­
in his position.
main but the pressure against his
King position would be diminished
19 N-Q2 P-NS considerably.
20 N-K6 BxN
21 QXB R-B3 29 R-B6 Q-N4
22 Q-N3 B-Bl
In order to fight on, Black had
By threatening to hold the QNP, to play 29 .. . Q-Kl, yielding a
Black hopes to get rid of the power­ pawn. Now the Black game col­
ful White KB. It is now very evi­ lapses.
dent that White would be much
better off if his Rook were at QB1. 30 N-Q2

B-K7 also wins quickly.

23 N-Bl N-Bl
24 BXN RXB
30 R-QRl
25 BXP B-N2
31 N-B3 Q-R4
32 RXQNP N-B6
If Black exchanged Bishops, his
33 NxP Resigns
King position would be very ex­
posed and he would have great
White, two pawns ahead, threat­
difficulty defending the QP.
ens BXN and R-N7.If Black plays
33 ... NxPch, White plays 34
26 R-Bl N-R2 NxN and Black cannot recapture
27 Q-B7 RXR the Knight because of mate-34 ...
28 RXR N-N4 QxN 35 B-B3 R-KNl 36 QXPch

110
 ROUND FIVE

K-Rl 37 K-Rl 37 QxP mate, or 34 26 P-R4 PxP

. . . R-R8ch 35 K-N2 QxN 36 27 R-Rl K-N2
QxPch followed by R-N8ch. 28 R x KRP P-B3
29 R-KNl P N4
-

30 N-R5 N-N3
GAME 39 31 B-Ql P-K4
32 B-N3 PXP
White: Tigran Petrosian 33 PXP N-B5
Black: Kenneth Smith 34 R-QBl NxN
35 PXN R-Ql
Queen's Gambit Declined 36 K-K3 R(2)-Q2
37 RXP RXP
1 P-QB4 N-KB3 38 B-Q5 R-R5
2 N-QB3 P-B3 39 RXP R-Q2
3 N-B3 P-Q4 40 R-Rl B-B2
4 P-K3 P-KN3 41 BXB RXB
5 B-K2 B-N2 42 R-R5 R-R6ch
6 0-0 0-0 43 K-B4 P-N5
7 P-Q4 B-B4 44 R-N5 R-B2
8 PxP NxP 45 P-N5 P x Pch
9 Q-N3 NxN 46 Rx Pch K-B2
10 PXN Q-N3 47 R-N5 K-N2
11 B-R3 QxQ 48 K-N4 R-K2
12 PXQ R-Kl 49 R(6)-N6 R-KB2
13 N-Q2 P-KN4 50 R-N5ch K-Bl
14 N-B4 N-Q2 51 R-QN8ch K-K2
15 N-R5 QR-Nl 52 R-N7ch K-K3
16 QR-Nl B-Bl 53 RXR KXR
17 P-KN4 B-K5 54 R-N5 K-K3
18 P-B3 B-N3 55 P-B4 K-Q3
19 KR-Ql P-K3 56 P-K5ch K-B3
20 BXB KXB 57 RXP RXP
21 K-B2 N-B3 58 R-K4 R-R8
22 P-K4 R-K2 59 P-K6 R-N8ch
23 P-N4 R-B2 60 K-B5 P-R4
24 N-B4 N-Q2 61 K-B6 R-Nl
25 R-QRl P-QR3 62 P-K7 Resigas

111
 SAN ANTONIO '72

GAME 40 out of play in time, sacrificing the

Exchange under circumstances dif­
White: Svetozar Gligoric ferent from those in the last note.
Black: Lajos Portisch
15 P-Q5 P-QN4
Gruenfeld Defense 16 Q-N4 BXR

Notes by Gligoric If 16 ... N-B3? 17 Q-Nl and

after Black moves his Knight, White
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 may play B-Q4 and P-B4 with a
2 P-QB4 P-KN3 quick crush.
3 N-QB3 P-Q4
4 PxP NxP 17 RXB B-Q2
5 P-K4 NxN
6 PXN B-N2 Not 17 ... P-B3? 18 B-B5 R-Kl
7 B-QB4 P-QB4 19 Q-Q4 (the threat is 20 B-N6).
8 N-K2 N-B3 This illustrates the difference be­
9 B-K3 0-0 tween this and the other variation
(14 P-Q5) in which White's Queen
9 ... PXP 10 PXP Q-R4ch 11 cannot come to the dominating
B-Q2 is good for White-his Bishop square Q4.
will be well placed on QB3.

10 0-0 PXP
11 PXP B-N5
12 P-B3 N-R4
13 B-Q3 B-K3
14 Q-R4

An innovation. The idea is to

follow up with QR-Bl and P-Q5
if possible. Normal is 14 P-Q5 BXR
15 QXB P-B3 when Black can de­
fend himself.
18 Q-Q4
14 ...... P-QR3
Threatening 19 B-R6.
Necessary, in order to take con­
trol of the QB5 square by ... P­ 18 P-B3
QN4. But now White cuts the QB 19 P-K5

112
 ROUND FIVE

Intending 20 P-K6. thought that the position was now

even but I considered myself to
19 PxP have the worse position. Only after
20 QXP the game did I realize that I was
better.
Now the threat is 21 B-Q4.

26 BXN PXB
20 Q-Nl
21 QxP Or 26 ... RXB 27 RXR PXR
28 K-B2.
By capturing this pawn White
further weakens the dark squares
27 B-K3
around Black's King.

27 N-B3 followed by K-B2 is a

21 ..... . Q-Kl
simple continuation which is also
promising but at the time I was
If 21 ... R-Kl 22 Q-B5 Q-K4
afraid of the exchange of Queens.
23 B-Q4 N-N2 (or 23 ... QR-Bl
24 Q-N6 with the idea of an even­
tual Q-KB6) 24 Q-N6. 27 R-Kl
28 K-B2 Q-Q3
22 Q-B5 R-Bl 29 N-N3 B-N4
23 Q-Q4 N-B5
24 B-R6 R-KB2 A sad necessity. Now the Bishop
25 R-QB1! is rather badly placed.

Preventing 25 ... Q-K4 when

30 N-K4 Q-K4
White wins by 26 RXN. White's
idea now is to exchange on QB4
30 . .. RX Pch is not sound.
and then play N-B3 when it is im­
possible to lose and there are many
favorable possibilities. My strategic 31 QxQ RXQ
position is beautiful-no real weak­ 32 N-B3
nesses.

Not 32 B-Q4? RxN.Now White's

25 ..... . Q-K2?! Knight is on its ideal square and
his position is somewhat better. In
Possibly Black had nothing better many ways this position is typical
but I didn't like this move. Portisch of the whole variation.

113
 SAN ANTONIO ' 72

with 36 ... RXP when Black may

be able to draw because of his
connected passed pawns. It is also
possible that after 36 P-Q6 Black
may draw with 36 ... RxN.

36 N-B6ch K-B2
37 NXR BX N

Or 37 ... RXN 38 PXB RXB

39 P-B7 winning at once.
32 R-QN2?
38 RXP B-B4
32 ... P-N4 should have been
good enough for a draw, e.g. 33
More accurate is 38 ... B-Kl
B-Q4 R-Kl (threatening ... P-N5)
but then 39 P-R5 puts Black under
34 K-N3 and White's advantage is
constant pressure.
probably not enough. The idea of
the text is to come to the seventh
39 P-N4 B-Q2
rank with the Rook. The flaw is
40 B-K3
that Black loses back the Exchange.

40 B-B5 at once fails to 40

33 B-Q4 R(4)-K2
R-K4.
34 N-K4 R(N)-Q2?

40 . . . . . . B-Kl
Possibly the decisive mistake, but
If 40 ... R-K4 41 R-B4ch and
in any case Black has problems,
42 R-Q4 is very strong.
e.g. 34 ... R-Nl 35 N-B6ch K-B2
36 NXP.
41 B-B5 R-Q2
35 P-QR4!
If 41 ...R-K4 42 R-B4ch K-Nl
35 N-B6ch is only good for a 43 R-K4 RXR 44 PXR, and White
draw. wins the ending with his connected
passed pawns.
35 B-B3?
42 R-B4ch K-N2
The last chance was 35 ... K-B2 43 B-B8ch K-Nl
with the idea of meeting 36 PXB 44 B-R6 B-B2

114
 ROUND FIVE

Not 44 . . . R-KB2 45 R-K4 Threatening 49 R-R7.

B-Q2 46 R-N4, etc.

48 B-N6
45 R-B6 P-R4 49 R-R8 R-B2
46 R-R6 50 P-R5 R-B7ch
51 K-N3 R-B6
46 P-Q6 gives Black a chance to 52 R-R7ch
fight for a draw by 46 ... R-Ql
47 B-Q2 B-Kl! 48 BXP R-Rl.
If White moves the Bishop in­
The point of the text is that White
stead, Black draws by 52 ...
wants to create a passed QRP so
RXPch.
that if Rooks are exchanged the
opposite colored Bishops ending will
52 K-K3
be an easy win because he can
53 B-N5 P-R3
create a second passed pawn on
the Kingside, many files away from
the first. Or 53 ... B-Q4 54 R-K7ch K­
Q3 55 R-K3.
46 BXP
47 RXRP K-B2 54 R-K7ch K-Q3
48 B-K3 55 R-K3 Resigns

Standings After Five Rounds

4 V2 Karpov, Keres
3 V2 G ligoric, Larsen, Petrosian
3 D. Byrne, Hort
2V2 Mecking, Suttles
2 Browne, Portisch
11/2 Campos, Kaplan
1 Evans, Saidy
1h Smith

115
 ,
SAN ANTO NIO 72

ROUND SIX

Sunday, November 26th

White Black Opening Result Moves

41 Hort(3) Portisch(2) Sicilian Defense 0-1 37
42 Smith (V2) Gligoric(31h) Three Knights Game 0-1 35
43 Evans(1) Petrosian(31/z) King's Indian Defense 1h-V2 34
44 Karpov(41h) D.Byrne(3) Sicilian Defense 1-0 40
45 Kaplan(11h) Suttles (21/2) Pirc Defense 0-1 34
46 Keres (41/2) Campos(1112) Ruy Lopez 1-0 41
47 Mecking(21h) Larsen (3V2) Caro-Kann Defense 1-0 70
48 Saidy (1) Browne(2) EnglishOpening 1-0 41

GAME 41 8 P-R3 P-KR3

9 B-K3 B-K3
White: Vlastimil Hort 10 N-Q2 P-Q4
Black: Lajos Portisch 11 PXP NxP
12 NxN BXN
Sicilian Defense 13 Q-RS P-B4
14 P-B4
Notes by Levy
Of course White could take the
1 P-K4 P-QB4 immediate draw by 14 BXRP PxB
2 N-KB3 P-Q3 15 Q-N6ch, but his position offers
3 N-B3 P-K4 more.
4 B-B4
14 PxP
Hort has used this system before 15 BXKBP B-B3
with good results. 16 P-B3! BXB
17 NXB QXP
4 . . . . . . B-K2 18 N-Q6 N-K2
19 NXNP Q-Q4
4 . . . N-KB3? would be a be­
ginner's blunder (5 N-KN5). Not 19 ... N-Q4? 20 B-Q6.

5 P-Q3 N-KB3 20 N-Q6?

6 0-0 N-B3
7 P-QR4 0-0 This retrograde move destroys

116
 ROUND SIX

White's advantage. Better was 20 32 K-Rl Q-Q4

Q-B3 Q-N6 21 R-B2! QR-Bl 22 33 R-Rl P-B6
B-Q6 with an excellent game. 34 BxB PxPch
35 QXP QxB
20 QR-Ql 36 R-KNl Q-Q6
21 QR-Ql Q-N6 37 K-R2 R-K3
22 Q-K2 QxRP Resigns
23 R-Rl Q-Q2
24 Q-B4ch K-R2
GAME 42

White: Kenneth Smith

Black: Svetozar Gligoric

Three Knights Game

1 P-K4 P-K4
2 N-KB3 N-QB3
3 N-B3 P-KN3
4 P-Q4 PxP
5 N-Q5 B-N2
25 QxP?? 6 B-KN5 QN-K2
7 NxP P-QB3
"My hand should be cut off for 8 N-QB3 P-KR3
making this move."-Hort. 25 N­ 9 B-K3 P-Q4
N5 leaves White without any prob ­ 10 PxP NxP
lems, e.g. 25 . . . Q-Q4 26 QXQ 11 NXN QXN
NxQ 27 B-Q6 B-K2 28 BXB 12 B-K2 N-K2
NXB 29 RXRP with a certain draw. 13 0-0 0-0
14 P-QB3 K-R2
25 . . . . . . N-N3 15 B-B3 Q-Ql
26 B-R2 B-K2 16 Q-N3 Q-B2
17 KR-Kl P-R3
The move Hort had overlooked. 18 P-N3 B-R6
19 B-B4 Q-Q2
27 KR-Ql P-B5 20 QR-Ql N-Q4
28 RXP Q-K3 21 N-B2 Q-Bl
29 R-R6 R-B3 22 BxN PXB
30 Q-B2 RxN 23 QXQP B-K3
31 R(l)XR BXR 24 Q-QR5 R-Kl

117
 SAN ANTONIO '7
2

25 N-Q4 B-N5 19 BxN N-K4

26 QR-Bl Q-Q2 20 B-B2 P-QN4
27 Q-QB5 P-KN4 21 PxP Q-R4
28 B-Q2 R-QBl 22 Q-Q2 BxP
29 Q-N6 B-R6 23 KR-Kl B-Q2
30 Q-N3 P-N4 24 P-B4 N-N5
31 RXR RXR 25 P-KR3 N-B3
32 R-Kl K-Nl 26 B-Q3 N-R4
33 R-K3 RXR 27 RXR RXR
34 BxR Q-N2 28 R-QBl Q-Ql
35 P-B3 BXN 29 B-K2 N-B3
Resigns 30 B-B3 Q-N3
31 K-R2 Q-N5
32 N-Nl P-QR4
33 R-B4 QxQ
GAME 43 34 NxQ B-N4
Draw
White: Larry Evans
Black: Tigran Petrosian

King's Indian Defense

GAME 44
1 P-QB4 N-KB3
2 N-QB3 P-KN3 White: Anatoly Karpov
3 P-Q4 B-N2 Black: Donald Byrne
4 P-K4 P-Q3
5 P-B3 0-0 Sicilian Defense
6 KN-K2 P-B4
7 B-K3 P-N3 Notes by Levy
8 Q-Q2 N-B3
9 P-Q5 N-K4 1 P-K4 P-QB4
10 N-Bl P-K3 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
11 B-K2 B-QR3 3 P-Q4 PxP
12 P-QN3 PXP 4 NxP N-KB3
13 KPXP KN-Q2 5 N-QB3 P-KN3
14 0-0 P-B4 6 B-K3 B-N2
15 B-NS Q-B2 7 P-B3 0-0
16 B-R6 BXB 8 Q-Q2 N-B3
17 QxB QR-Kl 9 B-QB4 P-QR4
18 N-Q3 NxN 10 P-QR4!

118
 ROUND SIX

The only way for White to ex­

tract any advantage from Donald
Byrne's pet variation.

10 NXN

10 .. . N-K4 11 B-N3 B-Q2

12 P-R4 and 10 ... N-QN5 11
N-Q5 KNXN 12 PXN BXN 13
BXB P-K4 14 B-B2! are also good
for White. Now Byrne wanted to play 21
... QxQ but he noticed that after

11 BXN B-K3 22 PXQ N-N5 23 NxB RxN 24

12 B-N5 RXR PXR 25 RXP RXPch 26

KXR N-K6ch 27 K-B3 NXRch 28
K-Q4 and 29 K-B5 he loses the
The Bishop does not accomplish
ending. So to make the line play­
very much on this square which
able he found ...
might later be a useful outpost for
White's Knight. 12 B-N3 might
21 ..... . P-N3??
therefore be more troublesome to
Black, e.g. 12 ... BXB 13 PXB N­
... which prevents the entry of
Q2 14 BXB KXB 15 P-QN4 PXP 16
the White King but which loses
Q-Q4ch K-Nl 17 QxNP Q-R4 18
even sooner. Probably best was 21
QxQ RXQ 19 P-QN4 QR-RI 20
... R-KRl followed by ... P-R4,
K-K2 KR-Bl 21 KR-QBl with the
when White's advantage is so slight
better ending for White. Analysis
that Karpov was unable to win a
by Rosenfeld.
single variation in the post-mortem
analysis.
12 R-Bl
13 0-0-0 N-Q2 22 B-R6 P-R4
14 BXB KXB 23 BXR RXB
15 P-B4 N-B3 24 P-R3 QxQ
16 KR-Kl Q-B2 25 PxQ N-K5
17 Q-Q4 KR-Ql 26 NxN BXN
18 R-Q2 P-Q4 27 R-K2 B-Q4
19 PxP BXP 28 R-Q4 R-B4
20 Q-K5 P-K3 29 P-R4 P-B4
21 KR-Ql 30 PxP e.p.ch KxP

119
 SAN ANTONIO '72

31 R-B4ch K-N2 23 R-B2 P-QN4

32 R-K5 R-B2 24 B-KBl B-Bl
33 P-KN3 R-B3 25 KR-Q2 R-K3
34 K-Q2 R-B2 26 Q-Q5 K-N2
35 P-N3 R-Q2 27 QxQ RXQ
36 K-K3 R-K2 28 P-R3 N-B5
37 P-KN4 PXP 29 R-Q8 RXR
38 RxNP K-B3 30 RXR N-K3
39 R(5)-N5 R-KR2 31 R-Q2 N-B4
40 RxPch Resigns

GAME 45

White: Julio Kaplan

Black: Duncan Suttles

Pirc Defense

1 P-K4 P-KN3
2 P-Q4 P-Q3
3 N-KB3 B-N2
4 N-B3 N-KB3 32 P-QB4?
5 B-K2 0-0
Kaplan had just refused the offer
6 0-0 B-N5
of a draw!
7 B-K3 KN-Q2
8 P-KR3 BXN
32 . ..... PXP
9 BXB N-QB3
33 BXP??
10 B-K2 P-K4
11 PxP PxP He should have tried 33 R-B2.
12 N-R4 N-B3
13 B-Q3 N-Q5 33 ..... . NxP

14 P-B3 N-K3 34 B-Q5??

15 N-B5 NxN
Compounding his previous errors
16 BxN R-Kl
with an almighty oversight.
17 Q-B2 Q-Q2
18 QR-Ql Q-B3 34 ..... . R-B8ch
19 B-K3 P-QR3 Resigns
20 Q-N3 R-K2
21 B-QB4 R-Nl White loses a whole Rook: 35
22 P-B3 N-R4 K-R2 NXR 36 BXN R-QS.

120
 ROU ND SIX

GAME 46 on his Q4 square and now intends

to play 9 QN-Q2 followed by P­
White: Paul Keres KR3 and N-Bl-N3.
Black: Mario Campos-Lopez
8 .. . . . . Q-Q2
Ruy Lopez
A better idea seems to be 8
Notes by Keres 0-0 at once. Black is hoping for
9 P-KR3 B-R4 10 QN-Q2 after
1 P-K4 P-K4 which he could launch an attack
on the Kingside by 10 ... P-KN4.
It is refreshing to meet a Ruy But White will wait with P-KR3
Lopez in these days of popular until Black has castled.
Sicilians, Alekhines, Pires, etc.
9 QN-Q2 0-0
2 N-KB3 N-QB3 10 P-KR3 B-R4
3 B-NS P-QR3
4 B-R4 N-B3 Had he not played ... Q-Q2
5 0-0 B-K2 Black could have retreated the
6 R-Kl P-Q3 Bishop to Q2.

The Kecskemet Defense which, 11 N-Bl KR-Kl

according to theory, is best met by 12 N-N3 B-N3
7 BXNch PXB 8 P-Q4, etc. But 13 P-Q4
here I had other plans in mind.
From the opening White has ob­
7 P-B3 B-NS tained a clearly superior position.
Black's pieces are cramped, the
In the Ruy Lopez this pin of the Bishop on N3 stands badly and he
Knight will only be effective after lacks chances for counterplay.
White has played P-Q4. But with Therefore White should not yet
his pawn still on Q2 White is able open up the game as this will give
to show up this move as a loss of Black unnecessary counterchances.
time. Usual continuations are 7 After 13 N-R4! (13 ... B-Bl 14
. . . 0-0 or 7 . . . B-Q2. B-KN5!) followed by 14 N(4)-B5,
White could increase his positional
8 P-Q3 pressure with a Kingside attack.

By keeping his QP on Q3 White 13 P-N4

avoids the uncomfortable pressure 14 B-B2 PxP

121
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

Since Black did not intend to This will shut out Black's Bishop
continue with (15 PXP) N-QN5, for a long time, in fact for most o f
he should not have exchanged the game.
pawns. 14 ... QR-Ql at once was
preferable. 18 P-R3
19 P-B5 B-R2
15 PxP QR-Ql 20 B-N3

After Black's previous move 15 On 20 PXP NxP, the freeing

... N-QN5 16 B-N3 P-B4 would advance 21 ... P-Q4 is hard to
have been logical. But then 17 P­ prevent.
R3 N-B3 18 PXP PXP 19 P-K5!
QXQ 20 RXQ N-KR4 21 B-Q5
20 PxP
QR-Bl 22 N-K4! would give White
21 PXP B-Bl
a clear advantage (the threat is 23
22 R-Bl
P-KN4!).

Unnecessarily complicating the

16 P-Q5!
matter. After 22 B-K3 or 22 B­
KB4 White would have a fine game
with a durable initiative.

22 R-Bl
23 Q-B3 Q-N2

Now Black suddenly threatens to

get counterplay by means of 24 ...
QN-Q2 and ... N-K4. White had
to take measures at once.

24 B-K3 QN-Q2
Black was threatening 16 ... 25 N-B6 N-K4!
P-Q4 17 P-K5 N-K5. If he now
plays 16 ... N-K4 then after 17 The attractive 25 ... N-B4 did
N-R2! the threat of P-B4-B5 is not work because of 26 B-Q4! NXB
annoying. 27 PxN, as 27 ... NXP cannot
be played because of 28 N-N4!
16 N-Nl winning a piece. By the following
17 N-Q4 P-B3 exchanges Black is easing his posi­
18 P-B4! tion.

122
 ROUND SIX

26 NxN PXN then 34 R-B7 Q-Q3 35 R-B8! would

27 N-K4 NxN retain the edge.
28 QxN K-Rl
33 B-N6 R-Q2
After 28 B-B4 29 BXB 34 R-B8ch B-Nl
RXB 30 Q-K3! Black could no 35 Q-B6!
longer prevent 31 P-B6!
Decisive. Black can hardly move
29 QR-Bl RXR any of his pieces.

Otherwise 30 R-B6! would be 35 K-R2

very strong. 36 R-Q8!

30 RXR P-B3 Winning a piece. The rest is easy

to understand.
The exchanges have not freed
Black completely from his troubles. 36 QxQ
White has a strong passed pawn 37 PxQ RXR
and the only open line, which gives
him a lasting positional advantage. Or 37 ... B-B4ch 38 K-Bl!, etc.

31 R-B6 R-Ql 38 BxR BXB

32 Q-B2 39 PXB P-N3
40 P-KN4 P-KR4
41 K-B2 Resigns

GAME 47

White: Henrique Mecking

Black: Bent Larsen

Caro-Kann Defense

Notes by Mecking

32 ..... . B-Q3? 1 P-K4 P-QB3

2 P-Q4 P-Q4
This loses at once. 32 ... Q Q2 - 3 N-QB3 PxP
33 P-N4 B-Nl would have created 4 NxP N-B3
more trouble for White although 5 NxNch NPXN

123
 SAN ANTONIO '72

I was a little surprised to see 15 QxB B-Q6!

Larsen play this variation for the 16 Q-K3 BXB
second time in the tournament. 17 QxB P-KB4

6 N-K2 Although White is a pawn ahead

Black has sufficient counterplay to
Best. give him adequate compensation.

6 B-B4 18 P-R3 QR-Nl

7 N-N3 B-N3
8 P-KR4 P-KR3 If 18 . . . N-N3 19 0-0-0 R-Q4
20 P-KB4! followed by K-Nl and
I f 8 ... P-KR4 9 B-K2 followed R-QB1 with a very good game for
by P-QB3 allows White to take off White because he has the better
the KRP whenever he likes. chances on both the Kingside and
the Queenside.
9 P-QB3 P-K3
10 B-K3 19 0-0-0 N-B3

After 10 B-Q3 BXB 11 QXB or Not 19 ... P-BS 20 N-K4

10 P-R5 B-R2 11 B-Q3 BXB 12 RXNP 21 Q-B3 followed by 22
QXB, White has a slight plus but QxP. But now 20 ... P-BS is a
Black's game is not so bad-he real threat because it results in the
can play .. . P-KB4, ... N-Q2 immediate capture of White's KRP.
and ... N-B3.

10 N-Q2
11 P-RS B-R2
12 Q-Q2 Q-R4!
13 B-K2

It is dangerous to grab the pawn

immediately because a fter 13 BXP
BXB 14 QXB 0-0-0, Black gets
more counterplay than in the game.
But 15 B-K2 would transpose to
the game. 20 R-R4

13 0-0-0 20 Q-B3 at once was also pos­

14 BXP BXB sible.

124
 ROUND SIX

20 Q-Q4 25 P-KN3 QR-Rl

21 Q-B3 N-NS?! 26 R-R4 P-B4

On 21 ... QxQ 22 PXQ R-R3 White was threatening 27 R-Kl,

23 QR-Rl QR-Rl, White is still 28 Q-K2 and 29 P-B3 and against
better but the win would be more this plan Black really has nothing.
difficult than in the game. White's But the text is a bad move which
advantage lies in the fact that he Larsen made because he saw that I
can leave just one Rook and his was in time trouble. If I play 27
Knight guarding the thrice attacked P-Q5, which is probably the best
KRP because if Black ever plays move, the play becomes very com­
... NxP he loses to R(l)-Rl (as­ plicated. Since I was short of time
suming that this Rook was sitting I decided to keep the game simple.
on some other square on the first
rank). White can therefore expand 27 PxP QXP
on the Queenside, advancing his 28 R-Q2
pawns and King and using a Rook
in support. I used up most of my remaining
time thinking about 28 R-Q4 which
22 N-K2! is very good, but again I decided
to avoid complications. The idea
I knew by the expression on of 23 R-Q4 is that 28 ... N-B3
Larsen's face that he had over­ can be answered by 29 NXP PXN
looked this move. 30 R-QB4 winning the Queen.

28 N-B3
22 ..... . Q-N6

28 . . . P-K4 29 N-Q3 makes

What is this? I could not under­
White's job easy.
stand this move.

29 R-Rl
23 N-B4 R-R3
24 R-R3
Not 29 R-Q4 N-K5.

Losing a tempo. Better is 24 Q­

29 Q-B3
K2 followed by P-B3 and P-KN4.
30 QxQch PxQ
31 P-B3! R-Nl
24 ..... . Q-N4 32 R-R3 N-R2

Preventing 25 Q-K2. Because of my time trouble Lar-

125
 SA N A NTO NIO '72

sen was trying to make me nervous Of course not 42 R-N3? R-R8ch

by the threat of ... N-N4. 43 K-Q2 N-B8ch. My move pre­
vents ... N-B5 and takes away all
33 R-KB2 K-Q2 of Black's threats.
34 N-Q3!
42 K-Q4
Now the threat is 35 P-KN4. 43 K-Q2

34 N-B3
35 P-KN4 PXP �
�
36 PxP K-Q3 � �

If 36 ... RXNP 37 R(3)-B3

NxP 38 RXPch K-Q3 39 P-N4
and 40 N-B5 with an easy win.
Also 37 N-K5ch wins the Exchange.

37 R-R4

Best. Now 37 R(3)-B3 would ac­ My sealed move. During the ad­
complish nothing. journment Larsen told the news­
papermen that he expected to draw
37 RXNP the game. During the adjournment
38 RXR NXR I was not sure that I could win;
39 RXP RxP otherwise I would have accepted
the offer of a draw which Petrosian
After 39 ... P-R4 (best) 40 P­ made to me twice during our game
B4 N-K4 (not 40 ... RXP?? 41 (my game with Larsen was played
P-B5ch) 41 NxN KxN 42 R-QR7 off a few days later).
K-Q5 43 RXP P-B4, White is
clearly better and his advantage 43 N-B4
may be enough for a win. Another 44 R-N2 P-B4
possibility after 39 ... P-R4 is 40 45 P-R4 N-Q3
R-KN7 N-K6 41 N-B4 P-K4 42
R-N6ch when the win should be If 45 ... P-B5 46 N-N4ch K-B4
fairly simple. 47 R-N6 N-Q3 48 N-R6ch and
now 48 ... K-B3 loses to 49 PXP
40 RXP P-K4 and 48 ... K-Q4 to 49 N-B7ch
41 R-KN7 N-K6 K-B4 50 P-N4ch K-B3 51 N-N5.
42 P-N3! And if Black tries 47 ... N-K2

126
 ROUND SIX

instead of 47 ... N-Q3, he loses to 59 P-R6 R-R6

48 R-K6 R-R7ch 49 K-Bl PXP 50 60 R-N6 R-R4
RxN P-N7ch 51 K-Nl K-B5 52 61 K-Q5 N-Ql
K-R2 KXP 53 N-Q5ch. 62 P-B4 K-Q2
63 NXPch K-B2
46 N-B2 R-Rl 64 R-Q6 R-R6
65 R-Q7ch K-Bl
A bad plan. Better was 46 ... 66 P-R7 N-N2
P-K5. 67 K-B6 R-R3ch
68 K-N5 RXP
47 N-Ql R-QNl 69 K-N6 R-R6
48 N-K3ch K-B3 70 R-B7ch Resigns

48 ... K-K5 loses at once to 49

K-K2. GAME 48

49 R-N6 K-Q2 White: Anthony Saidy

50 R-N7ch K-B3 Black: Walter Browne
51 R-N6 K-Q2
52 K-B2 R-KRl English Opening

Better is 52 R-KBl for a Notes by Saidy

reason which will soon be apparent.
This game occurred before my
53 N-N4! N-B2 disastrous losing streak (11 in a
row-!-including 9 of my 12 tedi­
If 53 ... P-K5 54 N-K5ch K-K2 ous adjournments that sapped pa­
55 RXN KXR 56 N-B7ch. This tience). While both sides wanted to
trick would not work if Black's win, only Browne was ready to
Rook was on B1. overpress for the point, because I'm
the sort of player he expects to
54 K-Q3 R-R6ch beat. (Of course, he expects to beat
55 K-B4 K-K2 almost everyone.)
56 N-B2 R-K6 But Browne ran into his prime
57 P-R5 fault: time pressure and the errors
it carries in its wake. I know it
Now the rest is very easy. well, as a fellow offender-and
sufferer. Browne himself stated the
57 R-K7 paradox correctly: One should strive
58 N-N4 R-QR7 for perfection in chess, but the ex-

127
 SAN ANTO NIO '7 2

cessive time used in the early stages that he finds a better line.)
to find perfect moves often results Less promising for White would
later in a time-pressure mess all be 6 NXB NxN (6 ... PXN 7
too imperfect. NXN QPXN 8 P-Q4 =, as in
The solution? The time limit Barcza-Bisguier, Tallinn 1971) 7
should be changed to 4 0 moves in N-Q4 0-0 8 N-B2 NxNch 9 QxN
5 hours. Then we'd both be nearly P-Q4 10 B-N2 (Smyslov-Benko,
unbeatable! Wijk aan Zee 1972 ), and now 10
... B-B4!?
1 P-QB4 P-K4

Browne has equalized numerous

times with 1 ... P-QB4 vs. players
of the calibre of Smyslov.Already
on move one he indicates that he
doesn't want a draw.

2 N-QB3 N-KB3
3 N-B3

Recent practice indicates that 3

P-KN3 B-N5, followed by ... 6 P-Q3(!)
BXN, gives Black easy equality,
e.g. Martz-Browne, U.S. Open 1972. Good.It forces White to do some­
thing promptly about the threat of
3 N-B3 ... P-KN4. But in order to do so
4 P-KN3 B-NS on move 9, he must lose a lot of
5 N-QS P-KS time on move 8.
6 N-R4(!)
7 NXB NXN
I played this odd-looking move 8 P-QR3 N-B3
quickly, having seen the game 9 P-Q3 0-0
Petrosian-Liebert, Siegen 1970, 10 B-N2 R-Kl
which went: 6 N-R4 0-0 7 B-N2 11 0-0 P-KR3
R-Kl 8 0-0 B-Bl 9 P-Q3 PXP
10 QXP N-K4 11 Q-B2 with ad­ Decent alternatives were 11
vantage for White. Browne appar­ P-QR4 or 11 Q-K2.
ently hadn't seen it, because he now
indulged himself in an hour's 12 PXP NXP
thought. (He thus vitiates the fact 13 B-K3!?

128
 ROUND SIX

Because of my modest orienta­ 19 P-B5 B-K3?

tion to this game (modesty always
seems to give my best results in
such company), I didn't even con­
sider 13 P-B3 N-N4 14 P-K4, with
a slight advantage for White (space
and the Bishop).

13 P-QR4
14 Q-B2 Q-K2
15 QR-Ql!?

I didn't quite trust 15 P-N3 (pre­

venting the artificial isolation of the This error is decisive and hard
QBP by ... P-R5) N-B3 16 P-R3 to explain. Did Browne overesti­
N-K5! (threatening ... NXNP) 17 mate the drawing potential of op­
K-R2! B-Q2, but 18 QXN is equal. posite-color Bishops? (With other
But the text move has the virtue of pieces present, especially Knights,
preparing B-QBl if necessary-and their drawing tendency is much
one other that will be crucial. reduced.) Correct was 19 .. . P­
KN4 20 N-B3 R-K3 21 PXP PXP
15 P-R5 22 N-Q4 (else ... N-R4) NXN 23
16 KR-Kl B-Q2?! RXN B-B3, and Black's weakness
is probably insignificant.
Browne overlooks a point. Why? A pawn now goes, for exactly
He now had 38 minutes for 24 nothing.
moves. He feared severe time pres­
sure. The move is an anticipatory 20 PxP PxP
error-he was already hurrying. So, 21 RXP R-R4
even on move 16 the clock can 22 B-Q2 R-Q4
take its toll. (When will we ever 23 RXR BXR
learn?) 24 P-B3
White's 16th, protecting the KP,
makes possible a transition to a After this move, White's techni­
good endgame. After 16 ... P­ cal problems are minimal. He con­
QN3, Black would have had noth­ trols all key squares, so there is no
ing to fear. counterplay. The long offside Knight
soon enters the action effectively.
17 BXN QxB
18 QxQ RXQ 24 ..... . R-Kl

129
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

25 B-B3 B-N6 36 B-N4 N-Q5

26 N-B5 P-B3 37 R-Q2 N-N4
27 N-Q6 R-K2 38 K-K2
28 K-B2 R-Q2
29 N-K4 R-Q4 Not 38 P-B5ch K-B2 39 R-Q7ch
30 R-QBl K-Nl 40 RXP RXPch 41 K-Kl
NxP. But Black cannot avoid this
Resisting the temptation of 30 penetration.
BXP PXB 31 NXPch K-B2 32
NxR BxN. It is simpler to elimi­ 38 P-N4
nate Black's Bishop. Now, due to 39 K-Ql PxP
the time factor, Black loses more 40 PXP R-R6
quickly than necessary. 41 P-B5ch K-B2

30 K-B2 The sealed move. Black resigned

31 N-Q2 R-QN4 without resuming, in view of 42 R­
32 NXB RxN Q7ch K-Nl 43 RXP N-Q5 44 B­
33 P-B4 K-K3 B3 R-Q6ch 45 K-Kl R-K6ch 46
34 R-B2 N-R2 K-Bl RXP 47 R-N4 and wins
35 P-K4 N-N4 easily.

Standings After Six Rounds

511z Karpov, Keres

4Vz Gligoric
4 Petrosian
31/z Larsen, Mecking, Suttles
3 D. Byrne, Hort, Portisch
2 Browne, Saidy
11/2 Campos, Evans, Kaplan
Vz Smith

130
 R OU N D SEVEN

ROUND SEVEN

Monday, November 27th

White Black Opening Result Moves

49 Browne (2) Hort (3) Alekhine's Defense 0-1 40
50 Larsen (31h) Saidy (2) Queen's Gambit Declined 1-0 38
51 Campos (11h) Mecking (31/z) Sicilian Defense 0-1 65
52 Suttles (3V2) Keres (51/z) Reti Opening 1/z-1h 37
53 D. Byrne (3) Kaplan (l1/z) English Opening 1/z-1h 20
54 Petrosian (4) Karpov (51h) Queen's Indian Defense 1/z-1/z 29
55 Gligoric (41h) Evans (11/z) King's Indian Defense 1,1z_1,1z 41
56 Portisch (3) Smith (1h) Reti Opening 1-0 60

GAME 49 10 NxP BXB 11 QxB QN-Q2 12

QR-Ql P-QB3 13 N- K4 N-Bl 14
White: Walter Browne N-B5 NXN(K4) 15 PXN Q-B2 16
Black: Vlastimil Hort Q-N4 N-N3 with roughly equal
chances. The correct way for White
to reach the game continuation was
Alekhine's Defense
8 PXP PXP 9 N-B3 0-0 10 B-K3.

Notes by Levy
9 N-B3
10 PXP PxP
1 P-K4 N-KB3 11 P-Q5 PxP
2 P-K5 N-Q4
3 P-Q4 P-Q3 11 . BXN 12 BXB N-K4 13
. .

4 N-KB3 B-N5 PXP! PXP 14 B-N4 is clearly good

5 B-K2 P-K3 for White.
6 0-0 B-K2
7 P-B4 N-N3 12 NxP NxN
8 N-B3 0-0
9 B-K3 Not 12 . . . BXN? 13 BXN BXB
14 BXQ BXQ 15 BXB KR-Kl 16
White's move order has been in­ QRXB NxB 17 N-B7 and White
accurate but Black fails to take ad­ wins the Exchange (HartstoncCor­
vantage of the situation. Geller­ den, England 1971).
Vaganian, USSR Championship
1971, now continued 9 . . . PXP 13 QxN B-B3

131
 SA N A NT O NIO '72

14 ..... . R-Bl!

A very strong move which Hort

discovered over the board. The
known continuation was 14 ...
Q-Bl 15 R-Q2 N-K4 16 R-QBl
P-QN3 17 P-QN3 R-Ql 18 R(l)­
Ql with a dominating position for
White (Georgadze-K. Grigorian,
Vilna 1971).

14 KR-Ql?! 15 R-Q2

"The stupid book (Shakhmatny 15 QXP QXQ 16 RXQ BXP 17

Bulletin) recommended this move" R-Nl B-QR6 can hardly be good
-Browne. In fact, the article to for White (18 R-Q3? B-KB4, or 18
which Browne refers quotes two P-B5 P-QN3).
games in which White obtained the
advantage after the text move but
15 ..... . Q-R4!
in both cases Black played an in­
ferior reply.
Another active move. If instead
The strongest move was the one
15 ... Q-B2 16 R-QBl KR-Kl 16
which Browne had wanted to play
P-QN3, White has had time to con­
but which he had rejected in favor
solidate his Queenside structure and
of the "book" recommendation: 14
he can then turn his attention to
Q-Q2! Q-R4 (otherwise 15 QR-Ql
Black's sick QP.
and 16 P-QN3 consolidates White's
advantage) and White can continue
16 QxP?
with 15 KR-Ql threatening 16
QXQ NXQ 17 QR-Bl and 18 P­
Already the losing move. White
QN3.
should exchange Queens with a
It would appear that bringing the
draw as the likely result.
other Rook to Q1 also fails to reap
White any dividends against correct
play: 14 QR-Ql BXP 15 R-Nl 16 BXN
B-K3 (15 ... Q-B3 may also be 17 BXB QR-Ql
possible but it looks more risky) 16 18 Q B4
-

Q-QN5 B-B3 17 QxP R-Bl 18

Q-R6 Draw (Tukmakov-Olafsson, Forced - White must protect his
Moscow 1971). Q2 square for the second time.

132
 ROUND SEVEN

18 B-K4 38 R-Q5ch K-N5

19 RXR BXQ 39 B-B5 K-B6
20 RxRch KXR 40 K-Nl Q-N3ch
21 BxB Resigns

White has Rook, Bishop and

pawn for the Queen but on the GAME 50
open board the Queen is all power­
ful. The remainder of the game is White: Bent Larsen
an effortless display of Hort's fine Black: Anthony Saidy
technique.
Queen's Gambit Declined
21 N-Q5
22 B-Q6ch K-Kl Notes by Larsen
23 B-Q5 Q-Q7
24 P-QN3 K-Q2 1 P-Q4 P-Q4
2 P-QB4 P-QB3
24 ... N-K7ch 25 K-Bl N-B8 3 P-K3 N-B3
also leads to a win, but the text is
more convincing. Possibly inspired by Keres (see
game 18) Saidy planned to play 3
25 B-K5 N-K7ch .. . B-B4. He could not explain
26 K-Bl why he abandoned the idea. In­
stead he went into a line he had
26 K-Rl P-B3 27 B-N3 N-B8 never played before.
and 28 ... Q-N7 is also not par-
ticularly pleasant for White. 4 N-QB3 P-KN3
5 N-B3 B-N2
26 Q-Q6 6 B-K2 0-0
27 K-Kl N-N8 7 0-0 B-B4(?)
28 B-KB3 NxBch
29 PXN K-K3 This has not been played against
30 BXP P-B3 me before. 7 . . . B-N5 8 PXP
31 R-Ql QXKBP PXP 9 Q-N3 P-N3 10 P-KR3
32 B-B8 Q-R8ch BxN 11 BxB P-K3 gave White a
33 K-K2 QxP microscopic advantage in Larsen­
34 B-N4 Q-R4ch Shipman, Washington 1972, but
35 K-Kl Q-R8ch perhaps 8 Q-N3 offers more. 7 ...
36 K-K2 Q-K5ch QN-Q2? has been played several
37 K-Bl K-B4 times, after which 8 PXP offers

133
 SAN ANTONIO '72

White excellent prospects on the many variations Q-Q2 gains a valu­

open QB file. 7 ... P-K3 looks able tempo because of the threat
solid, but may be too passive (see against the QR pawn!
game 5).
I have a fantastic score with this
opening. What should Black play?
Don't ask me - I play it with
White only!

8 PXP NXP

Because 8 PXP 9 Q-N3 P-

N3 10 N-K5 looked unattractive.

9 Q-N3 N-N3
10 R-Ql B-K3 In this quiet position I made my
longest calculation in the whole
White is building a strong center, tournament! Fourteen moves deep,
so Black is wise to exchange this but not difficult at all. While such
Bishop, which will have no good calculations can be necessary in
square left. Some masters would connection with a sharp sacrificial
probably have preferred 10 . . . B­ attack, it is unusual to look so
N5 followed by BXN and P-K3 many moves ahead in connection
with a very passive but rather solid with an innocent waiting move.
position. Normally I do not advise trap play,
but I really like the trap I set here.
11 Q-B2 B-BS White has more space, but the
12 P-K4 N(1)-Q2 Black position is not easy to at­
13 B-K3 Q-B2 tack. What will probably be Black's
14 QR-Bl QR-Bl next move? KR-Ql. Is there any­
15 P-QN3 BXB thing wrong with that move? You
16 QxB Q-Nl will see.
17 P-QR4 N-B3
18 P-R3!? KR-Qt?
I was considering the possibility
Falling into it!
17 ... P-QR4 18 P-K5!, for in­
stance 18 ... N-Q4? 19 NxN 19 P-RS N(N3)-Q2
PXN 20 Q-N5 or 18 . . . P-K3
19 P-R4, with good attacking If he saw it here, he might have
chances on the Kingside - and in tried N-Rl!?

134
 ROUND SEVEN

20 P-K5! N-Q4 25 RXR RXR

21 NxN PxN 26 Q-K6ch K-Rl
22 B-N5! 27 QXN Q-B2
28 QxP R-Ql
29 Q-QN5 P-QR3
30 Q-R4!

Not 30 Q-N4? R-Q4! and the

White plus pawn would not be
worth very much.

30 B-Bl
31 P-Q5

You begin to see it? With the

Black Rook on KBl he could just
play P-K3.
22 ... RXR does not look too
nice, giving up the open file. 23
RXR P-B3 24 PXP PXP 25 B-Q2
is very good for White, but I was
planning something sharper: 25 Q­
K7 !? PXB 26 Q-K6ch K-Rl 27
NxP P-KR3 28 N-B7ch K-R2 29
NxR QxN 30 QxP, and what You see how easy it is to look
can Black do with his two pieces fourteen moves ahead! In this case,
against the Rook? White picks up a at least. As an exercise, go back to
pawn on the Queenside and gets an the diagram after the 17th move
irresistible passed pawn, for in­ and try to "see" the game continu­
stance 30 ... P-N3 31 P-R6 Q-Kl ation up to here without use of the
32 Q-N7. board.
During the game, it was Saidy's
22 P-B3
impression that I had given up a
23 PxP PxP
clear positional advantage for a
24 B-B4! QXB
rather worthless pawn. But I still
Forced, for 24 ... Q-Rl? 25 have a positional advantage! The
RXR QXR 26 R-QBl Q-Rl 27 extra pawn, per se, is not too im­
Q-K6ch K-Rl 28 R-B7 is a fate portant, but certainly the passed
worse than death. QP is very strong, and the Black

135
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

King's position has been weakened. GAME 51

Also, there is the danger of the
White Knight getting to K6 (for White: Mario Campos-Lopez
instance 31 ... Q-B7? 32 Q-Rl). Black: Henrique Mecking

31 Q-B4 Sicilian Defense

32 Q-KB4 K-N2
Notes by Larsen
A clever trap: 33 N-Q4? RXP! 34
N-K6ch K-B2 35 NXQ?? RXRch 1 P-K4 P-QB4
36 K-R2 B-Q3. Better is 35 RXR 2 N-KB3 P-Q3
QXR 36 NxB KxN 37 QxPch 3 P-Q4 PXP
K-Nl 38 Q-N6, but it would be 4 NXP N-KB3
either impossible or very difficult 5 N-QB3 P-QR3
to win this ending. 6 B-K2 P-K3
The answer to 32 ... B-K2
Najdorf's idea (which may have
would also have been Q-K4.
originated even earlier with the
Czech master Opocensky) with 5
33 Q-K4! K-Rl
... P-QR3 was to play 6 ... P­
K4, but it is remarkable how many
Saidy was now in desperate time
modern masters prefer the text
pressure. But he saw that 33 ...
move.
QXRP 34 N-Q4 was more than un­
pleasant.
7 B-K3 B-K2
8 P-KN4?!
34 P-KN4 QXRP
35 Q-K6 Q-B6 Not as aggressive as it looks.
Compare with the Keres Variation
I expected 35 ... R-Q3 36 Q­ (5 ... P-K3 6 P-KN4!?): Black's
B7 Q-Ql 37 R-Kl R-Q2 38 R-K8 moves P-QR3 and B-K2 are known
RXQ 39 RXQ K-N2 40 P-Q6 as useful in that variation, but
with a winning position. White does not always play B-K2.
So, White is playing this variation
36 K-N2! R-Q3 "half a tempo" down, and in such
37 Q-B7 Q-Bl sharp variations this is not unim­
38 R-QBU Forfeit portant. Mecking does not play 8
... P-R3 to hinder P-N5 for if the
Of course, the position is hope­ White KNP stays where it is,
less. But he had no time left to White's move B-K2, protecting it,
realize it! will be justified.

136
 ROUND SEVEN

8 N-B3 Typical of Black's play in many

9 P-NS N-Q2 variations of the Sicilian, he only
10 R-KNl castles when he has already built
up such an active position that

Not strictly necessary at the mo­ White cannot concentrate on the

ment (if Black plays BXP, White attack against the Black King. Of

has NXP!). And R-KNl followed course, for weaker players it goes

by Q-Q2 looks a little uneconomi­ against a very practical rule to keep

cal. Maybe 10 Q-Q2 was better. the King in the center for so long
- but nobody calls the Sicilian an
easy defense.
10 . . . .. . Q-B2

21 B-Q2 N-B4
A little of the same kind of logic
as on move 8. The White KNP is
Allowing White's misplaced
solidly protected, so Black sees no
Knight to be exchanged, but ob­
point in keeping the Queen on Q 1.
taining new advantages.

11 Q-Q2 P-N4
22 NXN PxN
12 0-0-0
23 N-B3 P-BS

It is easy to suggest P Q R3 in­ -

stead, but I believe that Black

stands better already.

12 P-NS
13 N-R4 R-QNl
14 K-Nl N-R4
15 P-KB4 B-N2
16 B-Q3 N-BS
17 BXN QXB
18 Q-Q3 R-QBl
24 PXP
The Black maneuvers are very
simple and very strong. White's When you see Black's next move,
NR4 is misplaced, his KP is weak, you ought to wonder why White
he has no attacking chances did not play 24 QxP. Then you
may even find the answer yourself
19 P-N3 Q-B2 (if you are not too ready to believe
20 KR-Kl 0-0 that White didn't think!). The an-

137
 SAN ANTONIO '72

swer is: 24 QXP Q-R4! 25 Q-K2 40 K-Q4 B-Nl

RXP! with a winning attack. A 41 B-Q2 B-R2ch
neat little point hidden in a game 42 K-Q3 B-B4
that "plays itself," so that both 43 B-Kl K-K4!
annotator and reader are tempted 44 B-Q2 K-B4
to let their brains have a rest. 45 B-Bl

24 KR-Ql Zugzwang!
25 Q-N3 QxQBP
26 N-KS QxQch 45 B-B7
46 B-Q2 P-QR4
"Repairing" the White pawns on 47 P-B3 PXP
the Queenside, but Black wins the 48 BxP KXP
KP and secures a sufficient ad­ 49 BxP KxP
vantage to win. SO P-N4 K-K3
51 P-NS K-Q3
27 RPXQ R-QS 52 K-K2 B-QS
28 B-K3 RXReh 53 K-Q3 B-N8
29 RXR BXP 54 B-N4ch K-B2
30 N-B4 B-Q4 55 B-RSch B-N3
56 B-B3 K-Q3
Certainly there were other win­ 57 B-N4ch K-K3
ning continuations, but Mecking 58 B-Q2 P-R4
sees quite correctly that the Bishop 59 B-B4 P-B3
ending is easy. 60 P-R4 K-B4
61 B-Q2 P-N4
31 N-N6 R-Ql 62 B-Kl K-NS
32 NXB RXN 63 B-B3 PXP
33 RXR PXR 64 BXP P-R6
34 P-BS P-N3 65 B-KS K-B6
35 P-B6 B-Q3 Resigns
36 P-R3 K-Bl
Well played by Mecking, but not
Though computer chess is still too difficult. A typical Black win
on a very low level, I suppose that against inexact White play in the
several computers could win this. Sicilian.

37 K-Bl K-Kl
38 K-Q2 K-Q2
39 K-Q3 K-K3

138
 ROUND SEVEN

GAME 52 31 P-K4 Q-QN4

32 RXR QXR
33 B-K3 Q-N4
White: Duncan Suttles
34 K-N2 P-N3
Black: Paul Keres
35 Q-Ql P-R4
36 Q-Q6 Q-N2
Reti Opening 37 K-B3 Draw
(by transposition)

1 P-QB4 P-K3
GAME 53
2 P-KN3 P-Q4
3 B-N2 N-KB3
4 N-KB3 PXP White: Donald Byrne
5 Q-R4ch QN-Q2 Black: Julio Kaplan
6 0-0 P-QR3
7 N-B3 P-B4
English Opening
8 N-K5 R-QNl
9 NxN QxN
10 QXBP P-QN4 1 P-KN3 P-KN3
11 Q-B4 B-Q3 2 B-N2 B-N2
12 Q-N5 0-0 3 P-QB4 N-KB3
13 P-Q3 B-N2 4 N-QB3 0-0
14 BXB RXB 5 P-K4 P-B4
15 Q-R4 R-Bl 6 KN-K2 N-B3
16 P-R4 B-K2 7 P-Q3 P-Q3
17 PxP PXP 8 0-0 R-Nl
18 Q-R3 P-R3 9 P-KR3 P-QR3
19 Q-N2 P-N5 10 P-QR4 N-Kl
20 N-K4 P-B5 11 B-K3 N-B2
21 PXP RXP 12 P-Q4 PXP
22 R-R8ch R-Bl 13 NXP NxN
23 RXRch QxR 14 BXN N-K3
24 NxNch BxN 15 BxB KXB
25 P-N3 R-Q2 16 N-Q5 P-QR4
26 Q-B3 B-B6 17 P-B4 N-B4
27 Q-K4 Q-R3 18 K-R2 B-Q2
28 Q-B2 Q-N4 19 P-N3 B-B3
29 R-Ql Q-KB4 20 R-QNl K-Nl
30 R-Q3 K-R2 Draw

139
 SAN ANTONIO '7
2

GAME 54 GAME 55

White: Svetozar Gligoric

White: Tigran Petrosian Black: Larry Evans
Black: Anatoly Karpov
King's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense 1 P-Q4 N-KB3

2 P-QB4 P-KN3
3 N-QB3 B-N2
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 4 P-K4 P-Q3
2 P-QB4 P-K3 5 B-K2 0-0
3 N-KB3 P-QN3 6 B-N5 P-KR3
4 P-K3 B-N2 7 B-K3 P-K4
5 N-B3 P-Q4 8 P-Q5 P-QR4
6 B-Q3 B-K2 9 P-KR3 N-R3
7 0-0 0-0 10 N-B3 N-B4
8 P-QN3 P-B4 11 N-Q2 B-Q2
9 B-N2 PXQP 12 0-0 N-R2
10 KNXP PxP 13 N-N3 P-N3
11 BXP P-QR3 14 Q-Q2 P-R4
12 B-K2 P-QN4 15 B-Ql K-Rl
13 B-B3 R-R2 16 B-B2 P-B4
14 BXB RXB 17 PXP PXP
15 Q-B3 R-Q2 18 P-B4 NxN
16 P-QR4 PxP 19 PxN P-K5
17 NxRP Q-B2 20 B-Q4 R-KNl
18 KR-Bl Q-N2 21 N-K2 BXB
19 N-QB5 QxQ 22 QxBch R-N2
20 PXQ BXN 23 P-QN4 PXP
21 RXB P-R3 24 RXR QxR
22 K-N2 R-N2 25 N-N3 Q-Kl
23 P-B4 K-R2 26 R-B2 P-R5
24 QR-QBl R-Ql 27 N-Bl Q-Rl
25 R(l)-B2 N-K5 28 N-K3 Q-R4
26 R-B7 R-Q2 29 R-Bl K-Nl
27 RXR(N7) RXR 30 K-B2 K-B2
28 B-R3 P-N4 31 B-Ql N-B3
29 K-B3 N-KB3 32 B-K2 R-Nl
Draw 33 R-KNl Q-B4

140
 ROUND SEVEN

34 QXQ QPxQ 11 Q-Kl P-R3

35 R-QRl K-K2 12 P-K4 B-R2
36 R-R7 K-Q3 13 Q-K2 KN-Q2
37 B-Ql N-Kl 14 N(5)-B3 B-B3
38 R-R8 N-B3 15 P-K5 B-K2
39 R-R7 N-Kl
40 R-R8 K-K2 Polugaevsky has won similar
41 B-K2 Draw positions with White several times,
slowly building up an attack on the
Black sealed 41 . . . N-B3 but Kingside.
agreed to a draw without resump­
tion of play. 16 N-Q4 N-R3
17 P-KB4 N-N5
18 QR-Bl
GAME 56
18 N(2)-B3 looks more natural,
White: Lajos Portisch but Black has the strong reply 18
Black: Kenneth Smith ... P-QB4! 19 N-QN5 P-B5.

Reti Opening 18 B-QB4!?

19 K-Rl P-QN4
Notes by Larsen
Black has to get some play on
1 N-KB3 P-Q4 the Queenside quickly. Considera­
2 P-KN3 P-QB3 tions such as: do not give up the
3 B-N2 B-B4 Bishop pair or do not exchange
4 0-0 N-B3 center pawns for flank pawns, are
5 P-Q3 P-K3 quite secondary.
6 QN-Q2 B-K2
7 P-N3 P-QR4 20 PXP BXN
8 P-QR4 21 BXB PXP
22 P-N4?
It is still not clear if 8 P- Q R 3 is
better. After the text move Black Much too optimistic. White un­
can always get some counterplay derestimates Black's threats. Much
on the Queenside. better was 22 N-B3, for instance
22 . . . R-Bl (threatening RXP!)
8 0-0 23 Q-Q2 Q-B2 24 B-N2.
9 B-N2 N-R3
10 N-K5 N-B4 22 ..... . R-Bl!

141
 SAN ANTONIO ' 72

Better than 22 ... Q-B2 23 P­ With good winning chances!

B5! We notice again the neat trick
26 NxB
23 N-B3? RXP! So White has to
27 NXN Q-N3
make a very passive move:
28 P-B3 R-B2
29 KR-Kl
23 Q-Ql Q-B2
24 N-B3!? Nowadays everybody can make
mysterious Rook moves a la Nimzo­
Portisch, not satisfied with his vich. White simply wants to prevent
score, plays sharply for a win. 24 Black's P-B3.
B-N2(!) would probably have led to
a draw by repetition: 24 ... N-R7 29 K-Rl
25 R-Rl N-N5 26 R-Bl. 30 P-R4 N-Nl
31 N-B2

31 P-B5 N-B3 is unclear, so

White prefers to wait.

31 N-B3
32 P-Q4 BXN
33 RXB KR-Bl
34 R-N2 N-K2
35 R-K3 R-Bl
36 P-R5 P-B4
37 PXPe.p. RXKBP
38 Q-Kl R-B3
24 . . . . . . P-R5? 39 R(2)-K2 N-Nl
40 P-N5?! RXKBP
After 24 .. . N-R7 the Hun­ 41 RXP
garian grandmaster intended an Ex­
change sacrifice, probably 25 Q-Q2.
Not the most correct sacrifice in
the world, but what can you do
when you want to play for a win?
Good enough for a draw seems 24
... N-R7 25 R-Rl QxBP 26 QXQ
RXQ 27 N-Kl R-Q7 28 B-K3 R­
N7 29 B-Q4.

25 Q-Q2 N-QB3
26 P-N4

142
 ROUND SEVEN

41 ..... . RXR?? 49 R-K6

50 R-B5!
This loses, while 41 ... R-R5ch!
offered good chances, e.g. 42 QXR Easier than 50 RXP, as White
RXR or 42 K-Nl RXRP. gets his King into play.

42 RXR Q-Ql
50 P-R6
43 PXP!
51 K-B2 P-R7
52 R-R5 RXP
Very simple, for if 43 ... NXP?
53 RxRP R-Q6
44 R-K8ch or 43 ... PXP 44 Q­
54 R-N2
K5ch.

43 Q-R5ch The classical rule: Rook behind

44 QxQ RxQch the passed pawn.
45 K-Nl N-B3

54 RXP
45 ... RXRP 46 PxPch KXP 55 P-N5 R-KR5
47 R-N6 is not better for Black. 56 K-K3

46 R-N6 N-K5
There went Black's last hope: 56
47 BXN RXB
P-N6?? R-R7ch.
48 PXPch KxP
49 RXP
56 RXP
49 K-B2 was also an easy win, 57 P-N6 R-Rl
for instance 49 ... R-K2 50 RXP 58 P-N7 R-QNl
R-R2 51 RXP P-R6 52 R-N5ch 59 K-Q4 K-B2
and 53 R-Nl. 60 KXP Resigns

Standings After Seven Rounds

6 Karpov, Keres
5 Gligoric
41h Larsen, Mecking, Petrosian
4 Hort, Portisch, Suttles
31h D. Byrne
2 Browne, Evans, Kaplan, Saidy
11h Campos
1h Smith

143
 S AN ANTONIO '72

ROUND EIGHT

Wednesday, November 29th

White Black Opening Result Moves

57 Hort (4) Smith (Y2) Old Indian Defense 1-0 37
58 Evans (2) Portisch (4) Sicilian Defense Y2-V2 41
59 Karpov (6) Gligoric (5) Ruy Lopez 1-0 52
60 Kaplan (2) Petrosian (4Y2) Sicilian Defense Y2-V2 23
61 Keres (6) D. Byrne (31/2) Gruenfeld Defense 1-0 33
62 Mecking (4Y2) Suttles (4) Pirc Defense 1/2-l/2 21
63 Saidy (2) Campos (1V2) Benoni Defense 0-1 53
64 Browne (2) Larsen (4Y2) Caro-Kann Defense 1-0 43

GAME 57 t6 QR-Qt B-Bt

t7 P-R3 P-KN3
White: Vlastimil Hort t8 K-R2 B-N2
Black: Kenneth Smith t9 B-B2 N-R4
20 B-B3 N-B3
Old Indian Defense 2t R-Q2 B-Bt
22 R(2)-K2 Q-Q2
t P-QB4 N-KB3 23 B-N2 N-R4
2 N-QB3 P-B3 24 N-B3 Q-B2
3 P-K4 P-K4 25 P-QN4 PxP
4 N-B3 P-Q3 26 PXP N-Q2
5 P-Q4 QN-Q2 27 N-QR4 P-QB4
6 P-KN3 B-K2 28 N-B3 PxP
7 B-N2 0-0 29 N-Q5 Q-R4
8 0-0 R-Kt 30 Q-Nt P-N6
9 P-KR3 Q-B2 3t QxP N-B4
10 B-K3 B-Bt 32 Q-Nt Q-R5
11 R-Kt PxP 33 P-KN4 NXBP
12 NxP N-B4 34 NxN QxP
13 Q-B2 P-QR4 35 R-B2 Q-R5
t4 P-B4 B-K3 36 R-R2 Q-B3
t5 P-N3 QR-Qt 37 B-R4 Resigns

144
 ROUND EIGHT

GAME 58 den paths for quite some time.

White: Larry Evans 6 B-NS P-K3

Black: Lajos Portisch 7 P-B4 B-K2
8 Q-B3 Q-B2
Sicilian Defense 9 0-0-0 QN-Q2
10 B-Q3
Notes by Larsen
10 P-KN4 is still the main con­
Among the games I was asked tinuation, but the text has been used
to annotate, this one puzzled me in several spectacular games this
most. I don't understand it! With year. One possible continuation is
Black, without any difficulty, Por­ 10 . .. P-N4 11 KR-Kl B-N2 12
tisch gets a clear positional advan­ N-Q5!? PxN 13 N-B5, with which
tage. OK, that happens; White White won brilliantly in Enevold­
could have played better somewhere sen-Hamann, Danish Championship
between move 12 and move 18, but 1972. But a month earlier, in the
I am not terribly interested, since Yugoslav Championship, Ljubojevic
I do not play this variation with played 12 ... NXN 13 PXN BXB,
White and I have not played it with and though 14 RxPch!? led to vic­
Black for many years. But what tory for Velimirovic, Yugoslavia's
happens afterwards? Evans does wildest attacking player, later anal­
not do very much; Portisch tries ysis indicates that Black can at least
but doesn't accomplish anything. hold the position. It was remarkable
White makes a draw without doing that, in the 15th match game in
anything. The difficult problem for Reykjavik, Fisher was ready to go
the annotator is to find out what into this with Black, but Spassky
Black missed. I have not really played 12 Q-N3!?
found it, but I have promised to We may never know what Evans
annotate this game, so here goes ... was planning, for Portisch avoids
these variations.
1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 P-Q3 10 P-R3
3 P-Q4 PXP 11 B-R4 P-KN4!?
4 NXP N-KB3 12 PxP
5 N-QB3 P-QR3
The sharpest continuation is 12
The Najdorf Variation again. P-K5. It is remarkable that Evans
After this move it would not be does not choose it, for he was on
surprising if the game follows trod- the Black side of this against West-

145
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

erinen in the Olympiad 1970 and

annotated the game in Chess Life &
Review, pointing out many promis­
ing possibilities for White.

12 N-K4
13 Q-K2 N(3)-N5

Some years ago this variation

had a bad reputation for Black, but
it gradually improved.I do not like
Evans's next move; I would prefer
14 P-KR3, to have that Knight 23 R-R3 K-Nl
lured away from the important 24 P-R5 R-R3
square.
As mentioned, this annotator un­
14 N-B3(?) NxN derstands very little of this game,
15 PxN PxP but feels a strong desire to suggest
16 B-N3 N-K4 some improvements on Black's play.
17 P-B4 PXP Well, here is one: 24 ... B-KN4!?
18 BXBP B-Q2
19 K-Nl 0-0-0 25 B-K2 B-KN4
26 P-R3 R-Bl
Black stands better! The White 27 R(3)-Q3 R-B3(?)
passed pawn on the KR file is not
worth very much and the Black If I understand just a little, this
center pawns may become strong. idea is the main reason that Por­
tisch does not get any winning
20 Q-B2 QR-Bl chances. So, another suggestion: 27
21 P-KR4 B-QB3 . . R(3)-Rl.
.

22 BXN PXB
28 Q-N2 B-R3
(See diagram next column.) 29 R-N3 R-B5
30 R-N8 K-R2
Black has a clear superiority in 31 Q-Nlch!
the center and on the dark squares
in general. White's minor pieces I like that; it softens the Black
seem limited to defending the KP. King's position, activating the White
The Knight really does nothing else minor pieces a little, especially the
for the rest of the game. Bishop.

146
 ROUND EIGHT

31 P-N3 In my personal opm1on, it is a

32 B-Q3 R-RS pity that Gligoric plays this pas­
33 RXR QxR sive defense in almost all his games
34 Q-B2 R-BS against 1 P-K4. His play against 1
35 Q-N3 Q-QN1 P-Q4 is much more interesting, and
with the King's Indian he has won
Finally, the White Knight pro­ many nice attacks.
duced a threat: N-K2.
6 R-Kl P-QN4
36 R-Nl B-QN2 7 B-N3 P-Q3
37 K-R2 R-B3 8 P-B3 0-0
38 Q-R4 Q-KRl 9 P-KR3 N-Nl
39 R-N8!? QxR
40 QxR Q-N2 For quite some years, the Yugo­
41 QxQ Draw slav grandmaster's favorite line has
been Smyslov's P-R3. But after the
The game was adjourned, so both match in Reykjavik, about which
players had time to find out that he wrote a bestseller, Gligoric has
neither had any winning chances. used several of the openings played
If the game had continued, perhaps there, and here he follows Spassky
that Knight would have gone to in choosing the Breyer line. We do
war, for instance 41 ... BXQ 42 not get to see for how many moves
N-Ql. he was ready to follow the 13th
game Fischer-Spassky, as Karpov
deviates with his next move.

GAME 59 10 P-Q3!?

White: Anatoly Karpov White plays P-Q4 later, so why

Black: Svetozar Gligoric not at once? One answer could be
that he wants to give his KP solid
Ruy Lopez protection first. Another, that he
wants to get out of the most-anal­
Notes by Larsen yzed continuations.

1 P-K4 P-K4 10 QN-Q2

2 N-KB3 N-QB3 11 QN-Q2 B-N2
3 B-NS P-QR3 12 N-Bl N-B4
4 B-R4 N-B3
5 0-0 B-K2 This Knight has to retreat later,

147
 SAN ANTONIO '72

but as it drives the White Bishop White is building up his position

to a more passive position, this is very quietly maybe it need not be
not a simple case of a lost tempo. fatal to lose this tempo - but with
it, Black plans to lose much more
13 B-B2 R-Kl time!
14 N-N3 B-KBl In connection with R-Bl, the log­
15 P-N4 N(4)-Q2 ical continuation was 19 ... PXP
16 P-Q4 P-R3 followed by P-B4. It seems to me
- and remember, I am not an ex­
In this variation, which I never pert on the Closed Ruy - that this
play, who am I to critize Gligoric's would have given him an absolutely
moves? Even so, I must say that satisfactory game. Positions like
this move would not even be my that resulting from 19 ... PXP 20
second choice in this position. I PXP P-B4 21 NPXP!? PXP 22
would prefer either 16 ... P-N3 P-Q5 are very difficult to assess;
or the sharper 16 ... P-QR4!? I the fight between a strong flank
do not see the need for P-R3 as majority and a pawn majority in
long as White has not played B­ the center. In this case, the Black
QN3. pieces seem quite well placed.
Maybe Karpov's last move, pro­
17 B-Q2 N-N3 tecting the KP once more, indicates
18 B-Q3 R-Bl that after 19 ... PXP he intended
19 Q-B2 to play 20 NxP!?, but also then
20 . . P-B4 looks good for Black.
.

So does 20 PXP P-B4 21 P-Q5

N-B5.
I am not too sure that Karpov's
last three moves were the best. So,
even if I think that 19 ... PXP
would have given Black an even
game, I am stubborn enough to
maintain my criticism on Black's
16th.

20 QR-Ql Q-B3?
19 ..... . Q-Q2?? 21 B-K3 N-RS

This is the move Gligoric called 21 ... N-B5 22 BXN QXB? 23

the reason for his defeat.The move P-Q5 leads to disaster for the ad­
itself is just a loss of time, and as venturous Black Queen. But the

148
 ROUND EIGHT

text move does not lead to any­ 36 P-NS PXP

thing; Black is in a blind alley. 37 PXP N-Q2
38 B-N4 R-KNl
22 R-QBl N-N3 39 K-B2 R-KRl
23 Q-Nl Q-Q2 40 R-KRl QR-KNl
24 N-Q2 P-B4
Poor Black cannot do a thing. If
Leads to an almost hopeless posi­ he moves a pawn on the Kingside
tion, but probably 24 . .. P-N3 he just helps White. And on the
was no better as White was ready Queenside, it is White who decides
for 25 P-QB4. when to start hostilities.A try would
be to get the QRP to the 6th, but
25 NPxP QPXP it is not possible.
26 P-QS N-RS
27 P-QB4 P-N5 41 Q-Ql K-Ql
28 R-Bl Q-B2 42 Q-Nl N-N3

28 ... B-Q3 29 N-B5 B-B2 30 42 ... P-R4!? 43 P-R3?! RXR

N-QN3 is also very unpleasant for 44 QXR P-R5 is not too clear (45
Black. PxP PXP 46 P-B5 NXP), but
White can simply play 43 B-Ql,
29 P-B4 N-Q2 and if 43 ... N-N3, then 44 P-R3.

The fact that the Black position 43 R-R2 Q-K2

collapses slowly should not lead 44 N-N3 K-B2
you to believe that it is a real fight. 45 K-B3 N-Q2
Black has very little space and even
less counterplay. After, for instance,
29 ... PXP 30 BXKBP B-Q3 31
BXB QXB 32 N-B5 Q-Ql 33 N­
B3, the decline and fall would
probably have happened more
quickly.

30 Q-B2 N-B6
31 P-BS N-B3
32 N-K2 NxNch
33 BXN B-Q3
34 P-N4 K-Bl Black has obtained about as good
35 P-KR4 K-K2 a defensive position as possible-

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 SAN ANTONIO '72

now look how quickly it collapses! 5 N-QB3 P-Q3

6 B-KN5 P-K3
46 P-R3! PXP 7 Q-Q2 P-KR3
47 R-R2 R-R5 8 BXN PXB
9 0-0-0 P-R3
Nothing but a demonstration, but 10 P-B4 B-Q2
even after 47 . . . R-Rl 48 RXP 11 K-Nl B-K2
KR-QBl the Black position would 12 P-B5 NxN
not last long. 13 QxN Q-R4
14 B-K2 P-R4
48 RXP R(l)-KRl 15 KR-Kl Q-B4
49 R-Nl R-QNl 16 PxP PxP
50 Q-Kl RXB 17 QxQ PXQ
18 B-B3 0-0-0
Desperation. 19 N-K2 B-Kl
20 RXRch BXR
51 KXR B-Bl 21 P-K5 P-B4
52 Q-R5ch Resigns 22 N-B4 B-KB2
23 P-B3 Draw
For instance, 52 R-N3 53
NXP BXN 54 RXR BXR 55
BXBch NxB 56 P-B5.
This must have been a very de­ GAME 61
pressing game for Gligoric, but it
did not make him give up the White: Paul Keres
Closed Ruy; he played it again two Black: Donald Byrne
rounds later.
Gruenfeld Defense

GAME 60 Notes by Keres

White: Julio Kaplan 1 P-Q4 N-KB3

Black: Tigran Petrosian 2 P-QB4 P-KN3
3 N-QB3 P-Q4
Sicilian Defense 4 N-B3

1 P-K4 P-QB4 The modern line 4 B-N5 N-K5

2 N-KB3 N-QB3 5 B-R4 has been analyzed and
3 P-Q4 PXP played too much in recent months
4 NXP N-B3 to be successful.

150
 ROUND EIGHT

4 B-N2 A good way of protecting the

5 P-K3 pawn on Q5. Now, after 12 ...
NXB 13 QxN BXN 14 PXB the
A modest continuation, leading capture 14 ... NXP? loses a piece
to a quieter game than 5 B-B4 but to 15 QR-Ql and 14 ... QxP 15
one which is not without problems BXP would leave White with a

for both sides. favorable game.

5 0-0
12 P-KR3
6 PXP NxP
13 B-K3
7 B-B4 N-N3

After 13 B-KR4 P-N4 14 B-N3,

It is a matter of taste whether
Black could take the pawn with 14
Black prefers here the text continu­
... NxB 15 QXN BXN 16 PXB
ation or plays 7 ... NxN 8 PXN
QxP. But 13 B-KB4 was probably
P-B4 followed by ... Q-B2. In
preferable to the text since Black
both cases Black will get a reason­
would then be unable to gain a
able game.
tempo with ... N(3)-B5 as he does
later in the game.
8 B-N3 P-B4
9 0-0
13 . . . . . . B-NS
It is not in character with White's
opening strategy to capture on QB5. Now the attempt to win the QP
Moreover, after 9 PXP, Black soon
would fail because of Black's weak
regains the pawn with a good posi­ pawn at KR3.
tion.

14 P-KR3 BXN
9 PxP
15 QxB N(3)-B5!
10 PxP N-B3
16 B-Bl NxB

Black cannot preven t the pawn

push P-Q5 and White is not in a 16 ... Q-N3 would not do be­
position to delay the thrust, as 11 cause of 17 B-B2! when Black can­
B-K3 B-N5 would increase the not make the capture 17 ... NXP
pressure against White's Q4 square in view of 18 R-Nl winning a
in a most uncomfortable way. piece. But 16 ... R-Bl could have
been played first.
11 P-QS N-R4
12 B-NS! 17 PxN N-Q3

151
 SA N A NTO NIO ' 72

Also worthy of consideration was

22 B-K5 P-QR4 23 P-R4 so as to
operate with the Rook along the
fourth rank. But White does not
want to free the KB5 square for
Black's pieces.

22 P-QR4
23 B-KS R-B4
24 R-KB4 BXB

The position has now taken on White dominates the Kingside

the character of a Tarrasch Defense and the center, therefore Black
with colors reversed, with White must seek some counterplay on the
having the somewhat better pros­ Queenside. But the exchange on
pects. The pawn at Q5 keeps Black's K4 makes White's task easier.
position, especially the KP, under Better seems to be 24 .. . P-QN4
severe pressure. at once, for the continuation 25
BXB KXB 26 N-K4 NXN 27
18 R-Kl R-Kl RxPch K-Nl 28 RxN QxP is not
19 B-K3 P-N3 immediately decisive.

This is not the best way to pro­

25 RXB P-QN4
tect the QRP. Firstly, it will remain
26 Q-K3 Q-B2
attacked by White's Rook, and sec­
27 R-B3!
ondly, the QB3 square is weakened.
A better move was 19 ... P-QR4.
Black now has no comfortable
20 B-B4 Q-Q2 way to protect his KRP. On either
21 R-R4 27 . .. K-N2 or 27 .. . K-R2
White can increase his pressure
The Rook is not very effectively with 28 P-R4 or 28 Q-B4. At the
placed here. Better therefore was same time Black has no effective
21 P-KN4 at once, and also the counterplay on the Queenside.
positional plan 21 B-K5 was to be Black therefore decides to make
considered. use of the positions of White's
Queen on K3 and his Rook on K5
21 QR-Bl to launch a desperate counterattack,
22 P-KN4 which is nicely refuted.

152
 ROUND EIGHT

27 P-NS
28 N-K2 P-RS

The idea of this counterattack is

that White cannot capture 29 PXP
because of 29 ... N-B5 and thus
Black obtains a dangerous passed
pawn on the QR-file. But all this
happens at the expense of Black's
King position, against which White
now launches a decisive attack.

29 QXP P-R6 32 P-R8=Qch

30 PXP PXP 33 K-N2 Resigns
31 R-NS!
In spite of his two Queens Black
On 31 N-B4 P-R7 32 NxP Black has no adequate defense against the
has the defense 32 ... P-RS=Qch mating threat on KR7 since captur­
33 K-N2 QXR!, and 31 R-K6 P­ ing the Rook would lead to mate
R7 32 RXBP P-RS=Qch 33 K-N2 in two.
KXR! leads to nothing. (Keres was awarded the $150
Turover Brilliancy Prize for this
31 . . . . . . P-R7 game. -Ed.)

Black chooses the worst variation GAME 62

but there was already no adequate
defense against the threat of 32 White: Henrique Mecking
RXP! For instance, if 31 ... Black: Duncan Suttles
P-K3 then 32 R-B6 will decide (32
... R-K2 33 R(5)XPch!), and on Pirc Defense
31 ... R-BSch the continuation 32
K-N2! Q-B7 33 NXR is decisive. 1 P-K4 P-KN3
2 P-Q4 P-Q3
3 N-QB3 B-N2
(See diagram next column.)
4 N-B3 N-KB3
5 B-K2 0-0
32 RXP! 6 0-0 B-NS
7 B-K3 N-B3
The decisive blow which leads to 8 Q-Q2 N-Q2
immediate mate. 9 QR-Ql P-K4

153
 SAN ANTONIO '72

10 PXP PXP 14 . . . P-R3 would weaken the

11 N-Q5 8XN Kingside, while the text move pre-
12 8X8 N-Q5 pares to mobilize the Queenside as
13 P-83 Nx8ch soon as possible.
14 PxN R-81
15 KR-Kl K-Rl 15 Q-Q2
16 N-K7 QxN
17 QXN Q-83 Better was 15 K-Rl immediately.
18 K-N2 P-KR4
19 R-Q5 P-N3 15 8XN
20 R-Ql K-R2 16 8X8 P-QR3
21 P-N4 8-R3 17 8-K2
Draw
Had White played 15 K-Rl he
could now have tried 17 Q-K2.

17 P-N4
GAME 63 18 PXP PxP
19 K-Rl P-N5
White: Anthony Saidy
Black: Mario Campos-Lopez Ceding White's QB4 but forcing
his Knight to a less effective square.
8enoni Defense
20 N-Ql Q-K2
Notes by Campos
Threatening N(2)XP.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3
2 P-QB4 P-84 21 8-Q84 R-Rl
3 P-Q5 P-Q3 22 N-82
4 N-QB3 P-KN3
5 P-K4 B-N2 If 22 N-K3 NxKP.
6 B-K2 0-0
7 N-83 P-K3 22 . . . . . . Q-81
8 0-0 PXP
9 BPXP R-Kl Intending N-Q2-N3 or K4.
10 N-Q2 N-R3
11 P-83 N-82 23 8-84 N-Q2
12 P-QR4 P-N3 24 N-N4 N-N3
13 N-84 B-QR3 25 8-K2 P-R4
14 8-N5 R-Nl 26 N-82 Q-K2

154
 ROUND EIGHT

Again threatening NXP or Q-B3. With the fall of the central pawn
White's position crumbles.
27 B-KN5 Q-Q2
28 P-N4 43 R-Bl Q-K3
44 P-N5 K-N2
A double-edged move, threaten­ 45 B-B2 N-Q6
ing a strong attack on the KN file. 46 BXBch RXB
47 P-R3 R-B5
48 Q-N2 RXReh
28 . . . . . . P-R5

Faster was 48 ... N-K8.

Because of the mentioned threat,
this is necessary to keep the KN
49 QxR Q-Q4ch
file closed.
50 K-R2 QxP
51 P-N3 Q-K4ch
29 BXP N-N4
52 K-N2 Q-K5ch
30 BXN QXB
53 Q-B3 N-K8ch
Resigns
Now Black's counterplay is
strong enough to compensate for
the pawn. The threat is ... N-B5
GAME 64
or to mobilize the pawn majority
by ... P-B5-B6.
White: Walter Browne
Black: Bent Larsen
31 Q-Q3 P-B5
32 Q-K2 Q-B4 Caro-Kann Defense

Now ... RXR followed by Notes by Browne

NxP is a possibility.

1 P-K4 P-QB3
33 KR-Ql RXR 2 P-Q4 P-Q4
34 RXR NXP 3 PXP PXP
35 B-N3 N-N3 4 B-Q3 N-QB3
36 N-Ql P-Q4 s P-QB3 N-B3
37 R-Bl PxP 6 B-KB4 B-NS
38 PXP Q-B3 7 Q-N3 Q-Bl
39 N-B2 B-Q5
40 R-Kl N-R5 The usual move. Fischer-Petro­
41 N-Ql N-B4 sian, Belgrade 1970, went instead
42 Q-B3 RxP 7 ... N-QR4?! 8 Q-R4ch B-Q2 9

155
 SAN ANTO NIO '7 2

Q-B2 P-K3 10 N-B3 Q-N3 11 P­ while Black's are smothered; or

QR4! with the better game for (iii) 12 ... N-Q2 13 Q-B2 P-KN3
White. (after 13 ... P-KR3 14 P-KR3
B-R4 15 P-KN4 B-N3 16 BXB
8 N-Q2 P-K3 PXB 17 BXP NxP 18 QR-Kl N­
9 KN-B3 B2 19 B-K3 P-KN4 20 P-KB4
White's position is clearly better)
If 9 P-KR3, Black can retreat
14 P-KR3 B-KB4 15 BXB NPXB
either to KB4 or KR4 and then
16 B-R6 R-Ql 17 N-B3, and
KN3.
White's game is again superior. The
idea is that if Black plays ... K-Rl
9 B-K2
I have the option of N-N5 or B-N5
If 9 ... N-KR4 10 B-K3 B-Q3 and in the meantime I have the
11 N-K5! and now: (i) 11 ... threat of QR-Kl, R-K3, N-N5 and
NxN 12 PXN BXP 13 Q-R4ch R-N3 with a crushing attack.
winning the Bishop; or (ii) 11 ...
BXN 12 PXB (threatening 13 P­ 12 Q-B2!
KR3 B-B4 14 BXB PXB 15
QxQP), when 12 ... NXP allows A critical move. If 12 QR-Kl
13 B-N5ch K-Bl 14 P-KR3 B-B4 NXN 13 BXN B-N3 and White is
15 P-N4 forking two pieces, and only slightly better because Black
12 . . . 0-0 is also unsatisfactory gets to trade things off. With my
because of 13 P-KR3 NxP 14 move I force ... B-N3 so that I can
BXPch KXB 15 PXB winning. trade my Knight for Black's Bishop.

10 0-0 12 B-N3
13 NXB RPXN
Less incisive is 10 N-K5 NxN
14 N-B3 N-KR4
11 BXN 0-0 12 Q-B2 B-KB4 13
15 B-K3 Q-B2
BXB PXB 14 0-0 P-KN3 with
an even game. Matulovic-Vukic,
Yugoslavia 1971.

10 0-0
11 N-KS B-R4

Or 11 ... NXN 12 PXN and

now: (i) 12 . .. N-R4 13 B-K3
is similar to the game; (ii) 12 ...
N-Kl is a joke - 13 P-B4 leaves
all White's pieces on good points

156
 ROUND EIGHT

16 P-KN3! 20 N-NS

After 16 QR-Kl? N-B5 Black Even stronger than 20 N-K5.

has equalized. Now Larsen started
to make some strange moves. 20 B-Q3
21 P-KB4 N-Q2?!
16 ..... . QR-Bl? 22 N-B3

Preferable is 16 ... QR-Nl, Even stronger was 22 P-KR4!,

playing for ... P-QN4 although e.g. 22 ... N-Bl 23 P-R5 PXP
... P-N5 might need to be pre­ (or 23 ... P-B3 24 PXP PXN 25
pared by .. . P-R4. The text Q-R5 P-N5 26 K-N2 followed by
threatens 17 ... N-N5 so it forces R-Rl, etc.) 24 QXRP P-KN3 (or
me to move my Queen to the King­ 24 ... P-B4? 25 BXBP winning)
side which is what I wanted to do 25 Q-R6 threatening K-N2 and
in any case. R-Rl with advantage; or 22 ...
N-B3! 23 K-N2 N-K2 24 P-KN4
17 Q-K2 (after 24 R-Rl N-R4! White's
position is clearly superior, but 24
Now I got another shock when I P-KN4 is conclusive) and Black
came back to the board. has no defense to the threat of Q­
B3, R-Rl and P-R5.
17 .. . . . . P-R3
22 N-Bl
Too slow. Black should be pre­ 23 N-KS N-K2
paring for White's onslaught on the
Kingside. But probably there is no After 23 ... NXN (or BXN) 24
way. Maybe White already has a BPXN, every one of White's pieces
strategically won position. is bearing down on the Kingside
and Black's Queenside play is too
18 QR-Kl KR-Kl slow. He's really sweating!
19 B-Bl!
24 K-N2 P-B3
Threatening 20 N-K5 NXN 21 25 N-B3
PXN when the Black Knight on
KR4 is in very dire straits. Black, Not 25 P-KR4 PXN 26 BPXP
realizing this danger to his life, B-R6! 27 PXB QXBP, when Black
plays has been given some unnecessary
counterplay. When the enemy is in
19 N-B3 retreat do not give him any chance.

157
 SAN A NTONIO '7 2

25 R-Nl through. The immediate threat is

26 P-KR4 34 B-N5 winning the Exchange.

33 QxP
34 N-R4! PXP

If 34 ... P-N4?! then 35 PXP

N-B4 36 NXN PXN 37 Q-B3 wins;
if 34 ... N-B4 then 35 PXP wins;
or 34 ... P-K4?! 35 BPXP PXKP
36 PXKP N-B3 37 PXP RXP 38
Q-B3 with the deadly double threat
of 39 Q-B7ch and 39 RXR and 40
QXPch.
26 P-QN4
27 P-R3! N-B3 35 QXP KR-Bl
28 Q-QB2 N-K2
29 Q-K2 Intending Q-Kl or ... R-
B7ch.
After 29 R-Rl P-R4 30 P-R5
P-N4!? 31 PXP BXNP 32 R(K)­ 36 P-B5!
N1 ! White is clearly better but
Black has some swindling chances.

29 Q-B3?!

29 ... N-B3 is an alternative

even though White is winning after
30 R-Rl P-K4 31 BPXP PXP 32
PXP NXP 33 NXN RXN 34 Q-B3
Q-N2 35 RXR BXR 36 P-R5.

30 R-Rl P-R4
31 P-R5 P-N5! Sharp, to the point, and the best
32 BPXP PXNP move.
33 P-R4!!
36 ..... . Q-N6?!
The Black Queenside attack is
momentarily halted so that White This loses quickly. Other tries
can achieve a Kingside break- are: (i) 36 ... P-K4 37 PXP BXP

158
 ROUND EIGHT

38 N-N6 (threat 39 NXN(7)ch) 38 by 38 Q-B7ch or 38 Q-R8ch KxQ

... N(2)XN 39 PXN R-B7ch 40 39 N-N6ch, etc .
K-Bl winning (and not 40 BXR?
QXBch and 41 ... QXKNP); (ii) 38 Q-R7ch K-B2
36 ... PXP 37 RXN BXR 38 39 Q-R5ch K-Bl
NxP R-Kl 39 N-R6ch PXN 40
QxPch K-Rl 41 Q-B7 winning;
39 ... K-Nl loses to 40 RXN
(iii) 36 ... Q-Kl 37 N-N6 PXP
QXB 41 RXB R-B7ch 42 K-R3.
38 BXP N(l)XN 39 RXN winning;
or (iv) 36 ... R-B7ch 37 BXR (37
40 N-N 6ch K-Kl
K-Nl!? is also possible) QxBch 38
41 RXN
R-K2 Q-Q6 39 PXP QxPch 40
K-Bl P-N3 41 Q-R6 R-Bl 42 B-Q2
R-Rl 43 N-N2! winning. The sealed move!

37 PXP NXP 41 K-Q2

42 RXNch BXR
If 37 ... QXB White can mate 43 Q-B5ch Resigns

Standings After Eight Rounds

7 Karpov, Keres
5 Gligoric, Hort, Mecking, Petrosian
4112 Larsen, Portisch, Suttles
31/z D. Byrne
3 Browne
21/z Campos, Evans, Kaplan
2 Saidy
112 Smith

159
 S AN ANTONIO '7 2

ROUND NINE

Thursday, November 30th

White Black Opening Result Moves

65 Larsen (41h) Hort (5) King's Indian Defense 1-0 48
66 Campos (2V2) Browne (3) Sicilian Defense 1-0 61
67 Suttles (41h) Saidy (2) King's Indian Attack 1-0 43
68 D. Byrne (31h) Mecking (5) Queen's Gambit Declined 1h-1h 20
69 Petrosian (5) Keres (7) English Opening V2-V2 13
70 Gligoric (5) Kaplan (2V2) King's Indian Defense 1/2-V2 53
71 Portisch (41h) Karpov (7) Nimzo-Indian Defense 1-0 26
72 Smith (V2) Evans (21h) Sicilian Defense 0-1 40

GAME 65 It will take more master games

White: Bent Larsen
Black: Vlastimil Hort
King's Indian Defense
before it can be decided if N-B3
or P-B4 is better here. In round
14, Kaplan got a good game with
N-B3 - against Hort!
7 P-QS P-QR4

Notes by Larsen
And here 7 N-R4 deserves
closer study.
1 P-QB4 P-KN3
2 N-QB3 B-N2 8 P-B3 N-R3
3 P-Q4 P-Q3 9 B-NS P-R3
4 P-K4 N-KB3 10 B-K3 P-B3
5 B-Q3?! 11 Q-Q2 K-R2

Completely unusual. The move The game has transposed into a

does not look bad, but it cuts off Saemisch variation, in a rather
the Queen's protection of the QP. favorable version for White. The
I have never played this move in a move P-R3 may prove a weakness
tournament game and just decided in the Black King's position.
to get out of the books.
12 P-KN4 N-B4
5 0-0 13 B-QB2 PxP
6 KN-K2 P-K4 14 BPXP B-Q2

160
 ROUND NINE

Black decides to remain passive Passive defense. More active

on the Kingside.The alternative was seems 21 ... N-N4, but Black did
14 ... P-R4 15 P-KR3, when there not like the answer 22 B-R4.
would be constant danger of White
22 KR-Bl KR-Bl
opening lines.
23 B-Ql Q-Ql
24 B-K2 B-Bl
15 N-N3
25 K-N2 NXN

In similar positions, P-QR4 de­ 25 ... R-B2 looks a little better.

serves attention. But here, the an­
swer 15 ... Q-N3 looks rather 26 BxN N-B4

annoying. 27 BXN RXB

28 RXR PXR

15 P-QN4
16 P-KR4 P-N5
17 N-K2 N-Kl
18 P-R5!

It is difficult to open a line on

this flank, so instead White closes
the position in a favorable manner.

18 P-N4
19 0-0

White has a clear positional ad­

The White King has found a safe
vantage, but there is a certain dan­
spot, the Black KB is the most
ger that the position will be too
passive minor piece on the board,
blocked to win. One idea is to ex­
and White has a chance to occupy
change the white-squared Bishops,
KB5 with a Knight, while Black
heading for an ending with a very
cannot hope to get a Knight to his
strong Knight against a very bad
KB5. Even if it got there it would
Bishop. But first the Knight must
not be doing very much, while a
be moved to a better square, where
White Knight on KB5 will attack
it looks in two directions, Kingside
two Black pawns.
and Queenside, or QB4 and KB5.

19 Q-N3 29 Q-K2 R-Nl

20 N-Bl N-B2 30 N-Bl B-Q3
21 N-Q3 N(2)-R3 31 N-K3 K-Nl!

161
 SAN ANTONIO ' 72

Well played. The . King has to White King gets Black into zug­
participate in the defense. zwang.)

32 N-B4 B-Kl 41 QxB QxQ

33 R-QBl K-Bl 42 PXQ RXP
34 Q-K3 R-Bl
35 P-R3 K-K2
36 R-QRl R-Rl
37 Q-K2 B-Q2
38 N-K3 Q-N3
39 P-R4!

Making B-N5 possible - but

doesn't the position get too blocked?
No; analysis proves that there is
just enough play.

39 R-QNl 43 K-Bl!
40 B-N5! BXB?!
Not 43 N-B5ch? K-Q2 44 NXP
Hoping for counterplay - but it P-B5! with strong counterplay. The
is not there. After 40 ... B-Bl, White King goes to the Queenside
how could White win? There is to make sure Black does not get a
only one plan: to attack the QBP, dangerous passed pawn, and the
and then play B-B6 at the critical rest is easy.
moment.This leads to exchange of
Bishops at the expense of a pawn. 43 P-N6
Hort estimated that the resulting
position was lost, and deeper analy­ If Black plays passively, the
sis seems to show that he was right. White King just goes to QB4, then
Play might continue like this: 40 Black cannot hold all his pawns;
... B-Bl 41 P-N3 Q-R2 42 R-QBl either the QRP, QBP or KRP will
R-Rl 43 R-B2 R-Nl 44 Q-Bl R-Rl go first.
45 N-B4 B-N2 46 N-N2 R-QBl 47
N-Q3 R-B2 48 Q-Bl R-Bl 49 B-B6 44 K-K2 B-B2
BXB 50 PXB RXP 51 N-N2, with 45 R-R4 K-Q2
a winning position in spite of the
pawn minus. (The ending, without Or 45 ... R-N5 46 RXR BPXR
Rooks and Queens, is a win for 47 K-Q3 P-R5 48 K-B4 and the
White! With triangle maneuvers the King takes care of the Black pawns.

162
 ROUND NINE

46 K-Q3 R-N3 22 RXR R-B3

47 K-B3 R-N4 23 P-R3 P-KR4
48 N-B4 K-Kl 24 Q-Q3 P-R5
25 N-Q5 Q-Bl
This was Black's sealed move. 26 N-B3 N-R4
Black resigned without further play. 27 N-Bl N-N6ch
He did not want to look at that bad 28 K-R2 Q-N2
Bishop any longer! 29 P-N3 Q-Bl
30 N(l)-K2 NXN
31 NxN RXP
32 RXP B-N4
33 R-R4 R-Q7
GAME 66 34 Q-KB3 Q-B3
35 R-N4 Q-B2
White: Mario Campos-Lopez 36 R-B4 Q-Nl
Black: Walter Browne 37 Q-N4 P-Q4
38 QxB PxR
Sicilian Defense 39 P-B6 P-N3
40 QXR PxP
1 P-K4 P-QB4 41 Q-R6 Q-KBl
2 N-KB3 P-Q3 42 QxQch KxQ
3 P-Q4 PXP 43 P-N4 K-Kl
4 NxP N-KB3 44 K-N2 K-Q2
5 N-QB3 P-QR3 45 K-B3 K-B3
6 B-K2 P-K4 46 K-K3 K-B4
7 N-N3 B-K3 47 K-Q3 K-N5
8 P-B4 Q-B2 48 N-B3 P-N7
9 P-QR4 B-K2 49 N-Nl K-N6
10 P-B5 B-B5 50 N-Q2ch K-R7
11 0-0 QN-Q2 51 K-B3 P-N4
12 B-K3 0-0 52 K-B2 K-R8
13 P-R5 P-QN4 53 K-N3 P-N8=Qch
14 PxP e.p. NxNP 54 NxQ KxN
15 K-Rl QR-Bl 55 K-B4 K-B7
16 BXN QXB 56 K-Q5 K-Q6
17 BXB RXB 57 KxP K-K6
18 Q-K2 KR-Bl 58 K-B5 K-B6
19 R-R2 B-Ql 59 P-K5 K-N6
20 R(l)-Rl Q-N2 60 P-K6 PxPch
21 R-R4 RXR 61 KXP Resigns

163
 SAN ANTONIO '72

GAME 67 Black should either open the cen­

ter with 13 . . PXP or continue
.

White: Duncan Suttles his Queenside expansion with 13

Black: Anthony Saidy . .
. P-QR4.

14 P-KS N-Kl
King's Indian Attack
15 P-KB4 BXN!?

Notes by Suttles
An interesting idea. Black hopes
to establish a firm blockade on his
1 P-KN3 N-KB3
KB4 square.
2 B-N2 P-Q4
3 P-Q3 P-B3
16 PXB B-B4
4 N-KB3 B-B4
17 P-R3 P-N3
5 P-N3!?
18 R-B3 P-QR4
19 R-KN1 N-N2
In this theoretical position White
20 N-Bl P-B4
attempts to gain a tempo by fian­
21 R-N3 P-BS?!
chettoing his QB before Black has
castled (see the note to Black's 9th
move).

5 P-KR3
6 B-N2 P-K3
7 QN-Q2 QN-Q2
8 0-0 B-R2
9 P-QR3 B-K2

Black concedes the tempo. Per­

haps 9 ... P-QR4! was better. Now
White can move his Queen directly After the game it was felt that
to K2 rather than indirectly via 21 ... P-R4 was necessary in order
Kl because the early fianchetto of to block the Kingside. Then White
the White QB attacks the KNP in­ would have to take defensive meas­
directly. ures on the Queenside, possibly
commencing with 22 Q-B2.
10 P-K4 0-0
11 Q-K2 P-QN4 22 P-RS! PxQP
12 K-Rl Q-N3 23 PxQP K-R2
13 N-R4 QR-Ql?! 24 B-KB3 R-KN1

164
 ROUND NINE

25 N-K3 R-QBl 38 RXR KXR

26 PxPch PXP 39 P-B5 PXP
27 P-Q4! 40 QXRP P-K6ch
41 K-Nl Q-B6
This move is necessary to prevent 42 Q-N6ch K-Bl
Black from infiltrating White's 43 R-B8ch Resigns
Queenside.

27 N-Bl
28 P-KR4 Q-Ql
29 Q-R2 B-K5!

An excellent try to utilize the GAME 68

light square weaknesses in White's
position. By now Black was very White: Donald Byrne
short of time. Black: Henrique Mecking

30 BXB PXB Queen's Gambit Declined

31 R-N4 N-B4 (by transposition)
32 Q-R3 R-B2?
1 P-KN3 P-Q4
A weak move in time pressure. 2 N-KB3 P-QB4
32 . . . P-R4 maintains the block­ 3 B-N2 N-KB3
ade and leaves White's Bishop with 4 0-0 N-B3
little to do. 5 P-Q4 P-K3
6 P-B4 PxQP
33 P-R5 NxN 7 NxP B-K2
34 QxN Q-Q4 8 PXP PXP
35 B-Bl! 9 N-QB3 0-0
10 P-N3 B-KN5
Black has blocked one diagonal 11 P-KR3 B-K3
but it is impossible to block the 12 B-N2 Q-Q2
other. 13 K-R2 KR-Qt
14 R-Bl QR-Bl
35 RXB 15 Q-Q3 NXN
16 QxN B-QB4
Desperation. 17 Q-KB4 B-Q3
18 Q-Q4 B-QB4
36 RXR PXP 19 Q-KB4 B-Q3
37 R-B7ch N-Q2 20 Q-Q4 Draw

165
 S AN ANTONIO '7 2

GAME 69 more reliable equalizing method.

The game Gligoric-Evans from
White: Tigran Petrosian round seven (game 55) continued 7
Black: Paul Keres B-K3 P-K4 8 P-Q5 P-QR4 9 P-KR3
N-R3 10 N-B3 N-B4 11 N Q2 B­ -

English Opening Q2 12 0-0, and White has no ad­

vantage. But Black would have ex­
1 P-QB4 N-KB3 perienced more difficulties after 9
2 N-QB3 P-K3 P-KR4 followed by 10 P-R5, or 9
3 N-B3 P-B4 P-KR4 P-R4 10 P-B3 intending an
4 P-KN3 B-K2 eventual P-KN4 with an attack.
5 B-N2 0-0 Gligoric had some trouble against
6 P-Q4 P-Q4 Uhlmann (White) with 6 . . . P­
7 PxQP NXP KR3 7 B-K3 P-B4 8 PxP Q-R4 9
8 0-0 N-QB3 B-Q2 QxBP, but I cannot believe
9 NxN PXN that such a slow form o f the
10 PxP BXP Maroczy Bind can give Black any
11 Q-Q3 P-KR3 trouble. I was hoping to play this
12 P-QR3 P-QR4 line without the weakening . . . P­
13 B-Q2 P-QN3 KR3, but Gligoric chose a different
Draw system.

7 P-QS P-QR3
GAME 70 8 P-QR4 Q-R4
9 B-Q2 P-K3
White: Svetozar Gligoric 10 N-B3 PXP
Black: Julio Kaplan 11 KPXP

King's Indian Defense After 11 BP XP we would reach

a Benoni-type position in which the
Notes by Kaplan play is very double-edged. Experi­
ence with Gligoric's move shows
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 that White has very little play, but
2 P-QB4 P-KN3 Black has even less; thus it is an
3 N-QB3 B-N2 unpleasant move to face. Still, in
4 P-K4 P-Q3 the game I managed to activate my
5 B-K2 0-0 pieces.
6 B-NS P-B4
11 B-NS
6 . . . P-KR3 is considered a 12 0-0 QN-Q2

166
 ROUND NINE

13 P-R3 BXN but the advance of the KBP weak­

14 BXB Q-B2 ens White's K4 and K3 squares.
15 P-R5
17 B-Q5ch
Cramping Black's Queenside. In 18 K-R2 N-N2
an endgame White could play N­ 19 B-Q3 QR-Kl
QR4 and P-QN4; after Black re­
plies PxNP White plays Only now, when Black has
BxNP with the threat of P-B5 found good squares for his minor
creating a passed pawn. Meanwhile pieces and White has weakened
White's QRP holds two Black himself, is this move good.
pawns.
Of course all this is far in the 20 Q-B3 N-B3
future, but an immediate conclu­ 21 R-R2 P-R4
sion can be reached: Black must 22 N-K2 N-N5ch?!
avoid the stereotyped occupation of
the K-file since that would only Surprising, flashy ... and prob­
lead to the exchange of major ably weak! The solid 22 ... N-K5!
pieces. Instead, Black must concen­ 23 B-Kl B-B3 would give Black a
trate on finding good squares for very good game since White is very
his minor pieces. cramped.

15 N-Kl! 23 K-Rl
16 B-K2 P-B4
Not 23 PXN?? RPXP 24 Q-N3
N-R4 25 Q-Kl P-N6ch and 26 ...
Q-R2, or 25 Q-R4 B-B3 26 Q-B2
P-N6ch 27 NxP B-R5 winning.

23 N-K6
24 R-KNl?!

Better 24 R-Kl!

24 R-K2
25 NXB PxN
17 P-B4 26 P-QN3 N-Kl

In order to play 18 B-Q3 without The Knight steers for K5. 26

having to cope with 18 ... N-K4, R(l)-Kl would leave the horse

167
 SAN ANTONIO '72

without any squares to hop to; and

26 ... P-R5 is risky because of 27
P-N3, although Black can probably
defend himself against a Kingside
attack.

27 R-Kl?! N-B3
28 BxN?

White's last two moves are the

product of miscalculation. Gligoric 34 B-Bl P-R5
thought that he was winning a 35 Q-Q4 Q-K8
pawn. Correct was 27 B-QBl N-B3 36 K-Nl K-Bl
28 B-N2 Q-B4 29 P-QN4! Q-R2! 37 Q-N6 Q-Kl
when White has the better chances 38 Q-Bl N-B3
since he can slowly build up an 39 B-Q3
attack against the QP, while Black
cannot find a concrete plan of Or 39 QXP Q-K6ch 40 Q-B2
action. This clearly shows that QXNP and the passed QRP is very
Black's 22nd move was not correct. powerful.

39 N-R4
28 ...... KR-Kl!
40 P-QN4 Q-B3
41 Q-K3 K-Bl
Gligoric thought that this was im­ 42 K-Bl Q-N7ch
possible because of 29 Q-N3, but
he missed the simple 29 ... K-B2! The sealed move.I thought that
30 B-B2 RXR 31 BXR R-K6. Now the position was an easy win for

Black has the advantage again. Black but I missed an important

trick (see move 48) thanks to which
White can hold the position.
29 QR-Kl RXB
30 RXR PxR 43 K-B3 QXP
31 RXP QxRP 44 Q-K6 Q-R6
32 RXRch NXR 45 K-Bl! NXP
33 Q-K3 K-Bl

If45 ... QXB46 QxQPch K-N2

47 Q-K7ch K-R3 48 Q-N5ch K-R2
(See diagram next column.) 49 Q-K7ch N-N2 50 QXPch K-Nl

168
 ROUND NINE

51 Q-Q8ch with perpetual check. Returning the compliment! After

51 ... NxNP! 52 Q-Q8ch K-R2
46 Q-B6ch K-Kl 53 BXP N-K8ch Black has excel­
47 Q-R8ch K-Q2 lent winning chances because of the
48 BxPch! exposed White King and the beauti­
ful coordination of his Queen and
Knight. Going back to the note to
White's 49th move, we see that this
line would be no good with Black's
King on QB2 because after Q-K7ch
White picks up the QP with check.
Now we reach a Queen ending
marginally better for Black because
of his more sheltered King, but
being in time pressure I preferred
to take a draw.

52 KXN Q-B8ch
The point of White's defense. If 53 K-K3 Q-B8ch
48 ... PXB 49 Q-R7ch K-Bl 50 Draw
QXBPch K-B2 51 Q-B7ch K-N3
52 QxN and White stands no
worse (if 52 ... Q-N6ch?? then 53 GAME 71
QXQ PXQch and now not 54 KXP
P-R4, but 54 K-K3). In this line, White: Lajos Portisch
White must not play 51 QXN be­ Black: Anatoly Karpov
cause of 51 ... Q-N6ch! 52 QXQ
PxQch 53 K-K3 P-N3! with good Nimzo-lndian Defense
winning chances.
Notes by Portisch
48 K-B2
49 Q-R7ch? 1 P-Q4 N-KB3
2 P-QB4 P-K3
This gives new chances. Correct 3 N-QB3 B-N5
was the immediate 49 QXP, leav­ 4 P-K3 P-B4
ing the Black King on QB2. 5 B-Q3 0-0
6 N-B3 P-Q4
49 K-N3 7 0-0 PxBP
50 QxRP Q-N7ch 8 BXP QN-Q2
51 K-B3 QxPch? 9 Q-K2 PxP

169
 SA N ANTONIO ' 72

Slightly unusual. 9 ... P-QN3 at play 15 B-KN5 Q-K2 16 QxQ

once is the normal move.
10 PxP P-QN3?!
Rather dubious. In a recent Hun­
garian team tournament M. Kovacs
played 10 ... N-N3 against me.In
any event White has good compen­
sation for the isolated QP but after
Black's move the problem of the
isolated pawn is immediately solved.
BXQ 17 KR-Kl, but after 17 ...
B-Q3 I analyzed a position in my
mind in which my QB was still on
QBl and I could find nothing better
than 18 R-Ql. But of course with
the Rooks united, I would leave my
KR on Kl and play 18 QR-Ql with
a very good game.
15 Q-B2
16 P-R3

11 P-Q5 BXN 16 B-KN5 B-KN5 17 BXN PXB

12 PxP B-N5 18 R-Q4 B-R4 gives White nothing.
13 PxN QXP
14 P-QR3! 16 B-N2
17 B-K3 QR-Kl
After 14 N-K5 Q-B4 Black has
equalized completely (15 B-Q3 Q­ At this point Karpov thought
K3). My move forces the Bishop that he had the better game, so he
to a less favorable square. If it gave me some chances by trying
retreats to K2 the Black Queen has for a win. But in fact the position
no good square. is equal.
Instead of the text, 17 ... QR­
Bl 18 B-QR6 leaves White with the
smallest of advantages.

18 QR-Bl Q-Nl
19 B-QN5 R-K2
20 B-B6

A risky move because now the

coming sacrifice is forced.

20 .. . . . . BXB
14 B-Q3
15 R-Ql? Better than 20 ... B-B4!? 21
N-Q4 BXN (21 ... Q-K4 22 Q­
A hallucination. I had wanted to B3) 22 RXB R-Bl 23 R(4)-QB4

170
 ROUND NI NE

B-R3 24 B-QN5 with a slight ad­ 24 Q-K4

vantage to White. 25 Q-B3 K-Rl??

21 RxB B-B4 25 ... P-B4 was essential: 26 R­

Q5 QxP 27 B-Q4 Q-B8ch* 28 K­
R2 R-K3 29 RXP and White has
compensation for the Exchange in
his control of Black's weak dark
squares and his attacking prospects
against Black's King, e.g. 29 ...
P-B3? 30 Q-QN3! or 29 ... R-N3
30 P-KR4.

26 R-Q5 Resigns

There is no defense to the mate

22 RXN threat. If 26 ... QxP 27 B-Q4 Q­
B8ch 28 K-R2 followed by BXPch,
Necessary. If 22 N-Q4 Q-K4! etc.
and White has some problems.
*Editor's note: In his analysis of
22 . . . . . . PXR this game in The New York Times,
Robert Byrne suggests 27 . .. Q­
If 22 ... BXB then 23 R(6)-Q6
N8ch 28 K-R2 P-B3 29 RXP Q­
B-N4 24 Q-Q3 B-B3 25 P-QN4
K5 as better for Black, and casting
with a slight plus for White, but
doubt on the Exchange sacrifice.
Black's game would be tenable.

23 N-Q4 BXN
GAME 72
The only move.If White's Knight
is allowed to reach KB5 Black's White: Kenneth Smith
Black: Larry Evans
game collapses.

24 RXB Sicilian Defense

Stronger than 24 Q-N4ch K-Rl Notes by Evans

25 BXB R-K3! White needs his
Rook in the middle of the board 1 P-K4 P-QB4
from where it can quickly come 2 P-Q4 PXP
into the attack. 3 P-QB3!?

171
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

The Smith-Morra Gambit, on 8 P-KR3 is too slow, and 8 Q­

which Smith has written a mono­ K2 B-N5! is good for Black.
graph attempting to show White
gets compensation for his pawn in 8 . . . ... P-K3
all lines.After 3 N-KB3 P-K4!? 4
P-B3 (not 4 NXKP? Q-R4ch win­ Now and only now does Black
ning a piece) White is okay, so close the diagonal for his QB. Not
Black does best to transpose into 8 ... B-N5 9 Q-N3! P-K3 10 QXP
main lines with 3 ... P-Q3 or 3 N-QR4 11 Q-N4, regaining the
.. . N-KB3. pawn with advantage.

3 ..... . PxP 9 Q-K2 P-R3!

"The best way to refute a gambit An improvement over 9 . . . B­

is to accept it," so it is writ. Black K2 10 KR-Ql (threatening P-K5)
can decline with 3 . .. P-Q6 or 3 10 .. . P-R3 11 B-K3 P-K4 12
... P-Q4 or 3 .. . N-KB3, but P-QN4! 0-0 (12 ... NxNP? 13
why? NXP) 13 P-QR4 with some com­
pensation for the pawn.
4 NxP N-QB3
10 B-R4!?
Black develops his Knight to a
solid post, keeping flexible. Loses the initiative. On 10 B-K3
N-KN5! (the point) 11 B-Q2 KN­
5 N-B3 P-Q3 K4 Black's position is very solid
anyway.
Black's order of moves is quite
deliberate. Inaccurate is 5 . .. P­ 10 P-KN4!
K3. Black must threaten . . . B­ 11 B-KN3 N-KR4!
KN5 .. or at least worry White
with that eventuality. Black leaves his King in the
center and refrains from developing
6 B-QB4 P-QR3 his KB until its best post (K2 or
KN2) is suggested by the course
A handy consolidating move. Not of the game.
6 . .. B-N5? 7 BxPch! KxB 8
N-N5ch Kany 9 QXB, etc. 12 KR-Ql

7 0-0 N-B3 Tame. But if 12 QR-Ql NXB

8 B-KNS 13 BPXN P-N5! 14 N-KR4 (14

172
 ROUND NINE

N-Q5!??) . .. N-K4, Black domi­ Also good is 20 ... N-B6! 21 B­

nates the dark squares. R4ch! (21 QxP? QXQ 22 RXQ
R-R8ch 23 K-K2 RXR) 21 ...
12 NXB K-Bl (21 ... K-K2 22 PXN!
13 RPXN P-N5 threatening N-Q5ch) with play sim­
14 N-Kl N-K4 ilar to the note to Black's 21st.
15 B-N3 P-KR4

21 QR-Bl
Black is a pawn up and has an
attack looming.
To prevent Black from castling
Queenside. Again not 21 QxP?
16 N-Q3 B-N2
QXQ 22 RXQ R-R8ch winning a
whole Rook.
Now it is clear why Black did
not rush with an early ... B-K2.
21 . .... . R-Ql
17 N-B4

Quicker is 21 ... N-B6! 22 Q­

White has run out of gas. Q3 (not 22 PXN? PXP! threaten­
ing R-R8 mate; or 22 Q-KB2 R­
17 P-R5 R8ch 23 K-K2 N-N8ch! 24 RXN
18 Q-Q2 PXP QXQch 25 KXQ B-Q5ch 26 K-K2
19 PXP Q-N3ch RXR winning the Exchange) 22
20 K-Bl ... Q-N8ch 23 K-K2 N-Q5ch 24
K-Q2 Q-B7ch, with variations simi­
Not 20 Q-B2 R-R8ch wins. lar to the actual game.

22 K-K2 N-B6
23 Q-Q3?

Not 23 QXP? N-Q5ch! winning

the Exchange. The best defense is
23 Q-K3 B-Q5 24 Q-Q3 BXN (un­
clear is 24 . .. B-N8 25 RXB
NXRch 26 K-Ql!) 25 QXB B­
N4ch 26 B-B4 BXBch 27 QXB
N-K4 28 Q-B3 K-K2 and Black's
extra pawn should win in the long
20 ..... . B-Q2 run.

173
 SA N ANTONIO '7 2

23 N-Q5ch 31 RXB B-B3

24 K-Q2 NxBch 32 N(2)-B3 K-Q2
25 PxN Q-B7ch 33 N-B6ch

25 . . . QXP is also strong, but

33 K-K3 R-R3 34 R-Bl R-KBl
the text wins the Exchange.
also wins for Black. Now the rest is
a matter of technique.
26 QN-K2

If 26 Q-K2 QXP(6) wins. Or 26 33 '.K-K3

KN-K2 B-R3ch 27 K-B2 BXR 28 34 NxP P-B4
KXB Q-QB4 does the trick. 35 PXPch KXP
36 N-K3ch K-K3
26 B-N4 37 P-KN4 P-Q4
27 Q-K3 QxQch 38 N-K2 P-Q5
28 KxQ P-K4 39 N-B4 QR-KNl
29 N-Q5 B-R3ch 40 K-N3 R-N4
30 K-B2 BXR Resigns

Standings After Nine Rounds

7th Keres
7 Karpov
51h Gligoric, Larsen, Mecking, Petrosian, Portisch, Suttles
5 Hort
4 D. Byrne
31h Campos, Evans
3 Browne, Kaplan
2 Saidy
1h Smith

174
 ROUND TEN

ROUND TEN

Friday, December 1st

White Black Opening Result Moves

73 Hort (5) Evans (31/2) Nimzo-Indian Defense 1f2-1h 42

74 Karpov (7) Smith (lh) Sicilian Defense 1-0 70
75 Kaplan (3) Portisch (51h) Sicilian Defense 0-1 55
76 Keres (7Vz) Gligoric (5Vz) Ruy Lopez Vz-112 40
77 Mecking (5112) Petrosian (51/2) French Defense 0-1 86
78 Saidy (2) D. Byrne (4) Gruenfeld Defense 0-1 72
79 Browne (3) Suttles (5Vz) Pirc Defense 1f2-Vz 39
80 Larsen (5Vz) Campos (3Vz) English Opening 1-0 30

GAME 73 18 N-Nl B-N4

19 RXR BXR

White: Vlastimil Hort 20 Q-B2 B-Q3

21 P-N3 R-B2
Black: Larry Evans
22 N-Q2 B-N4
23 Q-N3 RXR
Nimzo-Indian Defense
24 BXR Q-B2
25 B-N2 Q-B3
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 26 N-Q3 B-R5
2 P-QB4 P-K3 27 Q-B3 QxQ
3 N-QB3 B-N5 28 BXQ P-QN3
4 P-K3 0-0 29 P-B3 N-Kl
5 N-K2 P-Q4 30 K-B2 N-B2
6 P-QR3 B-K2 31 K-K2 K-Bl
7 N-B4 P-B3 32 B-N2 K-Kl
8 P-QN4 QN-Q2 33 P-K4 B-N4
9 PXP BPXP 34 K-K3 B-K2
10 B-Q3 N-N3 35 P-KR4 P-B3
11 R-R2 B-Q2 36 B-B3 B-R5
12 0-0 R-Bl 37 B-N2 K-Q2
13 R-B2 R-B2 38 N-Nl N-N4
14 B-N2 Q-Nl 39 P-K5 B-B7
15 Q-Q2 KR-Bl 40 N-B3 NxN
16 KR-Bl N-B5 41 BXN P-B4
17 BXN RXB 42 B-Q2 Draw

175
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

GAME 74 32 K-Nl B-B2

33 R-Q3 P-QN3
34 B-B2 K-N2
White: Anatoly Karpov
35 P-B3 PxP
Black: Kenneth Smith
36 RXBP B-K2
37 R-Nl KR-Nl
Sicilian Defense
38 Q-N2 QxQch
39 KxQ N-R2
1 P-K4 P-QB4 40 RXR NXR
2 N-KB3 P-Q3 41 N-B3 B-Ql
3 P-Q4 PXP 42 B-K2 N-K2
4 NxP N-KB3 43 B-B4 BXB
5 N-QB3 P-K3 44 PXB R-Rl
6 P-KN4 P-KR3 45 R-KRl K-B3
7 P-N5 PxP 46 K-N3 R-R2
8 BXP P-R3 47 B-K3 R-Rl
9 Q-Q2 B-Q2 48 K-N4 R-R2
10 0-0-0 N-B3 49 N-Q5 NXN
11 P-KR4 Q-B2 50 BPxNch K-N2
12 B-K2 0-0-0 51 K-N5 B-B2
13 P-B4 B-K2 52 P-R4 R-Rl
14 P-R5 K-Nl 53 B-Q2 R-R2
15 K-Nl B-Kl 54 B-N4 R-Rl
16 B-B3 N-R4 55 R-KNl R-R2
17 Q-K2 N-B5 56 R-N6 B-Nl
18 KR-Kl R-QBl 57 P-R6 PxP
19 R-Q3 N-Nl 58 RXBP P-R4
20 Q-N2 B-Bl 59 BxP BXB
21 R-Rl N-K2 60 RXB P-R5
22 P-N3 N-R6ch 61 RXPch K-R2
23 K-N2 N-N4 62 R-N6 P-R6
24 QNxN PXN 63 R-Nl R-R5
25 Q-Q2 Q-N3 64 R-N7ch K-Rl
26 B-R4 P-N5 65 P-B6 R-B5
27 B-B2 Q-R4 66 P-B7 P-R7
28 B-Kl P-K4 67 R-R7 RXBP
29 N-K2 N-B3 68 RXP R-B5
30 P-B5 P-B3 69 P-Q6 RXP
31 R-Q5 Q-R6ch 70 R-R8ch Resigns

176
 ROUND TEN

GAME 75 If 19 N-K4 B-QB3 20 N-Q6

PXP! 21 N-KN5 BXN(4) 22 BXB
White: Julio Kaplan Q-Q2 23 R-B4 P-B3, and Black's
Black: Lajos Portisch Knight defends all the weak spots
near his King.

Sicilian Defense
19 BXP
20 NXB PXN
Notes by Levy
21 RXR RXR
22 N-Q4 Q-Q2
1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 P-Q4 PxP
4 NXP N-KB3
S N-QB3 P-QR3
6 B-K2 P-K3
7 P-B4 Q-B2
8 0-0 B-K2
9 K-Rl N-B3
10 B-K3 0-0
11 P-QR4 K-Rl

A little unusual at this early stage

but nevertheless a useful move in 23 P-R3
view of White's coming Kingside
attack. Not 23 RXP? R-R8ch 24 B-Nl
RXBch 25 KXR QxNch 26 K-Rl
12 Q-Kl B-Q2 P-N3 27 Q-R3 P-R4 when Black's
13 Q-N3 P-QN3 two pieces should triumph over
14 N-B3 N-QNS White's Rook.
15 B-Q3 NXB
16 PXN P-QN4 23 P-B4
17 P-KS 24 R-Bl R-RS?

17 QR-Bl Q-N2 gives White Hoping to win the QP, Portisch

nothing. throws away the initiative and
hands the advantage to his op­
17 PxKP ponent. Better was 24 ... B-Bl
18 PxKP N-Nl followed by ... N-K2 and ...
19 PXP N-Q4.

177
 SAN A NTO NIO '72

25 Q-B2 B-Bl QBl 39 QxN QxQ 40 RXQ RXP

26 N-B3 R-Rl 41 RX P and White should win the
27 B-B5 R-Bl ending.
28 P-Q4 N-K2
29 R-Rl N-B3
37 QxP
30 Q-K2 BXB?!
38 N-Q6 R-KBl
39 R-QBl Q-Rl
Better was 30 ... P-N5, but by
40 P-N5 P-B5
now Kaplan was in his usual time
41 Q-QB2?
trouble and Portisch was making
the classic mistake of trying to rush
Overlooking the force of Por­
him.
tisch's reply, Kaplan makes what is
probably the losing move. 41 Q-Q3
31 PXB N-N5
was sufficient to maintain the bal­
32 R-Ql N-Q4
ance.
33 P-QN4 R-Rl
34 Q-Q2?
41 Q-R6!
42 R-KNl Q-KN6
34 N-Q4! N-B6 35 Q-B3 was
43 N-K4 Q-K6
considerably stronger.
44 Q-B5 R-B4
45 QxQ PXQ
34 P-R3
46 N-Q6?
35 N-Q4 R-Ql
36 P-B6 Q-Bl
After 46 R-Kl RXP 47 N-Q6
K-Nl 48 N-B4 White has chances
for a draw.

46 R-B5
47 R-Kl R-QN5
48 P-N3 K-Nl
49 K-N2 P-N4
50 P-N4 N-B5ch
51 K-B3 P-K7
52 R-QRl R-N6ch
53 K-B2 R-N7
37 NxNP? 54 R-R8ch K-N2
55 R-R7ch
Missing a tremendous opportun­
ity: 37 NxKP! QXN 38 P-B7 R- White overstepped the time limit.

178
 ROUND TEN

GAME 76 The Breyer Variation, as against

Karpov. But with Keres' next move,
White: Paul Keres the most common in this position,
Black: Svetozar Gligoric we leave that game.

10 P-Q4 QN-Q2
Ruy Lopez
11 QN-Q2 B-N2
12 B-B2 P-B4
Notes by Larsen
13 N-Bl R-Kl
14 N-N3 P-N3
1 P-K4 P-K4 15 B-R6 B-KBl
2 N-KB3 N-QB3 16 Q-Q2 Q-K2
3 B-NS P-QR3
4 B-R4 N-B3 All this has been played before.
5 0-0 B-K2 I am not quite sure when our game
gets its own face. Gligoric is one
Gligoric does not believe that of the greatest experts ever on
Black has the right to be very ag­ Black's play in the Closed Ruy, and
gressive in the opening. He chooses Keres plays it very much both with
the Closed Variation again, and White and with Black. I have played
should Keres follow Karpov's foot­ it twice with White in the last 15
steps (see game 59), then he has an years, so I am not, as previously
improvement ready, of course. mentioned, an expert on this open­
ing.
6 R-Kl P-QN4 In my opinion, both players have
7 B-N3 P-Q3 a bad game! Look at the White
QN: it took three moves to get to
As far as I know, Gligoric has a square where it does nothing but
never played the M arshall Gambit defend the KP. And why send it
(7 ... 0-0 8 P-B3 P-Q4!?). It was to the Kingside before starting an
quite popular after the match Tal­ action on the Queenside? I also feel
Spassky in the Candidates' Tourna­ pity for the Black QB. White can
ment 1965, but most grandmasters play P-Q5 at an opportune moment,
have given it up now. Too much and what does that Bishop do then?
analysis, too many good lines for
White. Anyway, it is not Gligoric's 17 P-QR4 B-B3
style.
Your annotator does not under­
8 P-B3 0-0 stand this move and would have
9 P-KR3 N-Nl preferred N-N3. But when I don't

179
 SAN ANTONIO '72

understand, maybe I should just (I had White in a Closed Ruy

remain silent? against Keres in Zurich 1959, in
which he made a similar pawn
18 P-N3 BxB! sacrifice and drew).
But do not believe all those
But here I think I can follow the stories about the master seeing
thoughts of the players. First of all, everything at a glance and playing
18 ... PXRP? 19 P-Q5! B-QN2 just as well in exhibitions as in
(PXNP or B-N4 loses a piece) 20 tournament games, or playing his
RxP leaves Black with a very weak best in crazy time scrambles! The
QRP. Secondly, as will be shown a game takes a different course, and
little later, the text is the beginning looking for the reasons behind the
of a clever defense against some masters' moves, what do I find?
White threats on the Queenside. Black is not at all forced to sacri­
Now that the opening is behind us, fice. He can play (24 Q-Q2) RXR!
your annotator wakes up and begins 25 RXR P-N5! and if 26 PXP, then
to see interesting details in the posi­ 26 ... BXP! (27 PXB P-K5).
tion. After writing the above, I asked
Keres, and he told me that 27
19 QXB Q-Bl B-N5! gives White a clear plus, that
20 Q-NS Q-N2 24 Q-Q2! was the right move, and
21 P-Q5 B-N2 that Gligoric would have played 24
22 PXP PxP ... P-B5. It is not easy to annotate
23 B-Q3 P-R3 other masters' games!

24 Q-K3 P-N5
25 B-N5

After 25 RXR RXR 26 PXP

PxP 27 Q-Q 2, the simplest is to
defend the pawn with 27 ... R-Nl;
unclear is 27 ... N-B4 28 B-B4,
where Black loses the pawn but gets
active play.

25 PXP
During the game, I looked at this 26 QXP(3) Q-Bl
position.I expected 24 Q-Q2 P-B5,
which would give White an almost Black has solved his problems
(but not quite) worthless plus pawn and has a very solid position. A

180
 ROUND TEN

draw is to be expected, and your mally in a peaceful mood. But, of

annotator begins to lose interest course, if the opponent gets too
again optimistic ...

27 N-Q2 P-R4 5 NXP B-K2

28 Q-K3 RxR 6 NxNch
29 RXR R-Nl
30 R-R7 N-N3 Most experts consider 6 BXN
31 Q-Q3 N-Bl stronger, but Petrosian is a con­
32 R-RS Q-Ql noisseur of the continuation 6 . . .

33 Q-QB3 N-N3 PXB?!, even getting the advantage

34 N(3)-Bl B-Bl with Black against Fischer in their
35 N-K3 B-Q2 3rd match game.
36 B-Q3 R-Rl
37 B-R6 N-Kl 6 BXN
38 N(3)-B4 NxN 7 BxB QxB
39 NXN Q-Nl
40 N-Q2 Q-N3 Not a very interesting position.
Draw White's best move is probably 8
N-B3, but Mecking gets another
idea.
GAME 77
8 P-QB3 0-0
White: Henrique Mecking 9 B-Q3 N-B3
Black: Tigran Petrosian
White cannot stop P-K4, so Black
French Defense has a satisfactory position already.

Notes by Larsen (Moves 1-40) 10 Q-RS!? P-KN3

and Petrosian 11 Q-B3 Q-N2!
(Petrosian's notes translated by
Hanon Russell) After ... QxQ, White would
have a slight edge. Black's Kingside
1 P-K4 P-K3 has been weakened a little, but the
2 P-Q4 P-Q4 White pieces are not very well
3 N-QB3 N-KB3 placed.
4 B-NS PxP
12 N-K2 P-K4
When Petrosian plays this (in­ 13 P-QS N-K2
stead of 3 . . . B-N5), he is nor- 14 0-0 P-KB4

181
 SAN ANTONIO ' 72

15 B-B4 K-Rl 21 PXP RXP

16 QR-Ql P-B5!? 22 N-N3 B-N5
23 N-Q4! QR-KBl

Very sharp! The White Knight

cannot quickly get to K4, and in 23 ... R-B5 24 Q-K3 was very

some variations Black plays N-B4- good for White.The Exchange sac­

R5 followed by P-B6. rifice is Black's only logical con­

tinuation, but it was probably not
the idea when he played his 20th
17 KR-Kl N-B4
move. I have been told that each
18 N-Bl N-Q3
player offered a draw twice; if this
is true my guess that Mecking's
Here, 18 ... N-R5 was not good
first offer came around move 16,
because of 19 Q-K4.
and Petrosian's here!

19 B-Bl P-K5 24 NXR BXN

20 Q-K2 25 Q-Q2 Q-Q2

If Black takes back the Exchange,

his KP will be a weakness.

26 P-KR3 K-Nl!?

This is Petrosian! He removes

his King from some annoying
checks-and waits! Probably White
could play 27 R-Bl now, but after
27 ... R-B4 28 P-B4 R-R4 29
Q-B4 RXRP we see another point
to Black's King move: White has no
20 ..... . P-B6?! mate on KB8. However, with 30
B-N2 White may play for a win,
Very impatient and un-Petrosian­ though the position remains un­
like! With 20 ... B-Q2 followed by clear.
QR-Kl he would get a very strong
position, though White may ex­ 27 R-K3?! BXR
change Queens with Q-Q2-Q4.The 28 QXB Q-B4
text move offers some tactical
chances, but White gets counter­ Black has a very active position
play. now.

182
 ROUND TEN

29 R-K2?! Q-N4ch White ought to have taken this

30 B-N2 R-B4 chance, though Black keeps some
advantage with 41 K-K2 QxPch
Black attacks the advanced White 42 K-Bl Q-R8ch 43 K-K2 Q-N7ch
center pawn before White can cre­ 44 K-Kl Q-K4ch 45 K-Bl Q-Q5!
ate threats against the Black KP.
The result is a very favorable ex­ 40 ...... N-B4
change.
Black has a wonderful position,
31 P-QB4 NXP with centralized pieces and weak
32 RXP N-Q3 White pawns.

White has three isolated pawns, 41 Q-NS K-N2

and the Knight is better than the 42 K-N2 Q-B3
Bishop. Black has good winning
chances. I am still wondering-can (From here on, the analysis is by
it be true that Petrosian offered a Petrosian.)
draw twice?

33 R-K3 R-K4
34 RXR QXR
35 Q-QBl Q-K2
36 Q-B3 P-N3
37 P-N3

I would have preferred 37 P-N4.

37 ..... . P-QR4

Now the Black pawn chain is Black's positional advantage is

perfect; he only has to keep the BP striking. As Capablanca would have
protected. said, White has three "pawn is­
lands," with the Queen pawn espe­
38 K-Bl Q-N2! cially weak and needing defense.
39 Q-Bl Q-K4?! Besides this, the weakness of the
40 B-B3 dark squares allows Black to maneu­
ver quietly creating threats against
Just before the time control. I see the White King and the pawn on
no clear win for Black after 40 Q5. It should be noted that White
QXP Q-R8ch, etc., and I think is practically forced to avoid ex-

183
 SAN ANTONIO '72

changing Queens until he has fixed 49 B-B3 K-B2

a pawn on KB4, which would block 50 Q-N3 K-N2
the path of his opponent's King into
his position. At first glance, Black's last two
moves seem to have been a waste
43 Q-B4 Q-Q3 of time. But sometimes it is neces­
sary to play just like this.There is

The pawn endgame after 43 no direct attempt available to

N-R5ch 44 K-N3 QxQch 45 KxQ strengthen the position; a King
NX B 46 KXN K-B3 47 K-K4 suits move does no good ... but sud­
White fully. His King is very active. denly my opponent falters ...

51 Q-Q3 K-B3
44 Q-K4
52 B-Ql N-B4
53 B-B2
Somewhat better was 44 Q-QR4,
so as to maintain the Queen on the
Now you see where White loses
fourth rank, where it to some extent
his nerve. Either bored by events
holds the activity of the Black
or not finding them to his liking,
pieces in check and is itself more
he shifts his Bishop to another posi­
actively placed along the QR4- K8
tion where it is doubtful if it is
diagonal.
placed any better.

44 K-B3
53 K-N4
45 Q-QB4 Q-K4
54 Q-Q2ch Q-B5
55 Q-B3
This gives White the opportunity
to exchange a pair of pawns after White of course cannot allow the
which there arises a position where exchange of Queens. The Black
there are not many pawns, and this King would find itself a very nice
is to the advantage of the defending spot on KB5.
side.On the other hand, White loses
the chance to exchange his Bishop 55 N-R5ch
for Black's Knight, on the activity 56 K-Bl N-B6
of which Black has pinned his
hopes of winning. The Black Knight takes advan­
tage of the fact that the Bishop has
46 P-N4 PXP left its post. Now, of course, im­
47 QXNP P-R4 possible is 57 K-N2 Q-R7ch and
48 B-K4 N-Q3 Black wins immediately.

184
 ROUND TEN

57 Q-Q3 Q-B8ch of advancing, the King would have

58 B-Ql N-K4 had to move either to one side or
back. Now, however, the KN pawn
is defended by the Knight, and the
King occupies KB5.

62 K-K2 K-B5
63 P-KR4

Now White cannot do without

this move, for otherwise Black
would play his pawn to KR5 and
proceed, as in the game, to ex­
change the Rook pawn for the

At this point the game was again Bishop pawn and then take advan­

adjourned and White had to seal tage of the unfortunate King posi­

his move. Mecking did this rather tion to win the Queen pawn and

quickly and there did not seem obtain a won endgame.

much doubt to me that the sealed

63 P-KN4
move was 59 Q-N3ch. Then on 59
64 PXP KXP
.. . K-B4 there would follow 60
65 K-K3 N-N5ch!
Q-N3 and on 59 ... K-B3, simplest
is 60 Q-R4ch K-B4 61 Q-Q4 and it
This check is the point. The
is not obvious that Black has any
White King cannot advance, but is
real chances to win.
forced to return home.

59 Q-Q4 66 K-B3 P-R5

67 B-Ql
When the envelope was opened,
it became clear that Mecking had Here Mecking leaves himself the
sealed the losing move. possibility of escaping with the vari­
ation 67 ... P-R6 68 K-N3 P-R7
59 Q-B5ch 69 B-B3, and White is in no danger.
60 QxQ NxQ
61 B-B2 N-K4 67 N-B3!
68 B-N3 K-B4
Now it becomes clear that it was 69 K-N2 K-N5
necessary to keep the Black King 70 B-Qlch K-B5
off KB4. White's last move would 71 B-N3 N-K5
have been with check and instead 72 B-B2 N-B6

185
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

Black could even play 72 ... B-B6 K-K4 90 B-N7 N-Q5 followed
P-R6ch 73 KxP NxPch 74 K-N2 by N-B7 and N-K6, winning both
N-N5 and Black should win. But White pawns.
this was the last move before the
time control and I did not want to
force the play unnecessarily. GAME 78

73 B-N3 N-K5 White: Anthony Saidy

74 B-B2 N-B3 Black: Donald Byrne
75 B-N3
Gruenfeld Defense
White's best chance was 75 K­
R3 and if NxP 76 KxP N-N5 77 Notes by Larsen
B-Nl, but I had planned to go in
for 75 . . . K-N4 76 B-N3 N-K5 1 P-Q4 N-KB3
77 K-N2 K-B5 etc. 2 P-QB4 P-KN3
3 N-QB3 P-Q4
75 K-N5 4 N-B3 B-N2
76 K-R2 N-K5 5 Q-R4ch!?
77 K-N2 P-R6ch
78 K-Nl K-B6 One of those rare variations you
79 B-Qlch K-B5 can make a special study of and
80 B-B2 N-B3 use as a surprise weapon. However,
81 B-N3 N-N5 after 5 ... B-Q2 6 Q-N3 PXP
82 B-R4 7 QxBP 0-0 8 P-K4 B-N5 Black
can reach the Smyslov Variation,
White tires of holding back the both sides having lost a tempo
fatal check and decides to give his compared to 5 Q-N3 PxP 6 QXBP
Bishop a new role. 0-0 7 P-K4 B-N5. Also completely
playable is 5 ... P-B3 6 PXP NXP
82 P-R7ch 7 P-K4 NxN 8 PXN 0-0, with
83 K-N2 NXP a later P-QB4. Byrne chooses a
84 KXP N-Q6 more unusual reply, which can
85 K-N2 K-K6 probably not be directly refuted but
86 K-N3 N-B8 gives Black some problems in the
center, as it blocks his QBP.
In this position, White over­
stepped the time limit. But his posi­ 5 N-B3?!
tion is hopeless: for example 87 6 B-B4 0-0
P-R3 N-K7ch 88 K-N4 K-K5 89 7 P-K3 PXP!?

186
 ROUND TEN

Giving up the center in order to 22 B-K2 P-KR4

get the two Bishops. This may be 23 QR-Bl B-B3
best under the circumstances, but 24 N-N3
Black does not get an easy game.
Probably better is 24 P-B4.
8 KBXP N-KR4
9 B-KN5 P-KR3 24 K-N2
10 B-R4 P-KN4 25 N-B5 Q-Rl
11 B-KN3 NXB 26 N(5)-K4 P-R5!?
12 RPXN B-B4
That man is dangerous! He wants
Black gets his pieces into play, an attack, no matter how high the
and the two Bishops defend the price. And really, in time pressure
weakened King's position very well it is not so easy to find the right
-but he has problems in the center. defenses.

13 P-Q5! N-Nl 27 NXR BPXN

14 Q-N3 N-Q2?!
Black's position looks wonderful,
An incorrect sacrifice. 14 if you don't count the material.
Q-Bl was necessary.
28 R-Q4 Q-R3
15 N-Q4! B-N3

15 ... BXN would weaken the

Kingside too much.

16 QXP N-K4
17 Q-R6 Q-Nl
18 B-N5 R-Ql
19 0-0 R-Q3
20 Q-R3 P-N5!?

White has a solid position and a

pawn more, but Black is not beaten. 29 PXP?
The text move is the beginning of
an attack on the Kingside, which Necessary was 29 R-KB4 R-Rl
creates new problems for White. 30 B-Bl.

21 KR-Ql P-R3 29 ..... . N-B6ch?

187
 SAN A NTONIO '72

Very elegant, but 29 . . . QXRP playing for a win.

was stronger and ought to win, for
there are too many White pieces on 43 R-QBl B-N4
vacation on the Queenside. 44 R-B7 R-R5!

30 BxN BXR 44 . . . K-B3? 45 R-R7 R-R5 46

31 BXP BXP P-R4! offers White some chances.
32 R-Bl B-QB4
33 Q-R4 QxP 45 P-R3 K-B3
34 B-R3 Q-N4 46 B-B8 R-Q5!
47 R-R7?? R-Q8ch
The ending after QXQ would 48 K-R2 R-R8
not be bad for Black, in spite of
the pawn minus. The Bishops are Winning a pawn.
strong and the White QP weak.
49 B-Q7 BxB
35 N-K4 50 RxB RXP
51 R-N7 P-K5
White realizes that he no longer 52 P-N5 PXP
has any advantage, so he gives up 53 RXNP P-K4
his pawn in order to exchange off
one of the Bishops.

35 QXP
36 NxB QxN
37 P-QN4

Time pressure. 37 R-Kl looks

better.

37 Q-Q5
38 R-Ql Q-K4
39 Q-B6 B-K5 In such positions with three
40 Q-N6 R-Rl against two, there are winning
41 Q-K3 B-B3 chances when the plus pawn is in
42 QxQch PxQ the center. That Black has a double
pawn is not a serious handicap.
A drawish ending, but Saidy soon There is no easy draw for White
walks into a trap. It was my im­ with 54 R-N4 K-B4 55 P-N4ch?;
pression at adjournment that he was after 55 . . . K-B5 56 R-N7 P-B3

188
 ROUND TEN

I believe this pos1t1on is a win the White King being only a specta­
for Black, but it would require very tor.
much analysis to prove it. My ex­
perience with such positions stems 65 R-Q7
mainly from adjudicating games 66 K-Nl K-N6
from the Danish team champion­ 67 R-R3ch R-Q6
ship. 68 R-Rl P-B5
White's difficulty number one is 69 K-Bl R-Q7
that he cannot activate his King. 70 R-R8 R-B7ch
71 K-Nl RxPch
54 R-Nl K-N4 72 K-Rl R-Q7
55 R-N6(?) Resigns

White's last move looked like a Not a perfect game, but a good
preparation for K-Nl, which he fight.
ought to have tried.

55 ...... R-R7! GAME 79

White: Walter Browne

The bulletin says R-R2, but that
Black: Duncan Suttles
does not make sense.
Now, 56 K-N3 P-B4 is hopeless. Pirc Defense

56 K-Nl R-R8ch Notes by Levy

57 K-R2 R-KB8!
58 R-N2 K-B5 1 P-K4 P-KN3
2 P-Q4 P-Q3
White is completely tied up, and 3 N-QB3 B-N2
Black has a clearly won position. 4 N-B3 N-KB3
5 B-K2 0-0
59 R-K2 P-B4 6 0-0 P-N3?!
60 R-R2 P-K6
61 PxPch KXP Suttles got this idea from the
62 R-R3ch K-B5 game Zuidema-Timman, Wijk aan
63 R-QN3 P-K5 Zee 1971, which continued 7 P-K5
64 R-QR3 R-Q8 KN-Q2 8 B-KB4. Browne finds a
65 R-R4 stronger continuation which was
not mentioned by Kurajica in his
Or 65 R-QN3 P-K6 66 R-N4ch notes to that game in Informator
K-N4 67 R-N2 K-N5 and P-B5-B6, 11.

189
 SAN AN TONIO '72

7 P-KS! KN-Q2 has excellent winning chances.

8 P-K6!
13 N-Kl
Browne had also considered 8 14 B-B4
B-KB4 N-QB3 9 B-QN5 (the Zuid­
ema-Timman game went 9 R-Kl
B-N2 10 B-KBl NXQP!? 11 NXN
PXP 12 B-KN5 PXN 13 BXP and
White eventually won.) 9 ... B-N2
10 BXN BXB 11 P-Q5, but he
preferred to cramp Black's game
by the text move.

8 PXP
N-KNS
9 N-KB3
10 B-B3 P-Q4
11 R-Kl Q-Q3 14 RXB
12 Q-K2 15 PXR BXP

12 N-N5 is also interesting, e.g. 15 .. . QXP fails to 16 NXKP

12 ... Q-B3 13 P-B4 P-KR3 14 BXN 17 QXBch K-Rl 18 Q-B8.
N-KR3 P-R3 with an unclear posi­
tion. 16 NxKP B-B3
17 B-N4
12 P-B3
13 P-KN3 The piece sacrifice 17 NXP PXN
18 Q-N5 is refuted by 18 ... B-Q2
13 B-Q2 also came into serious 19 QxQP QxQ 20 BXQ B-B3.
consideration, e.g. 13 ... N-R3 14
NxKP BXN 15 QxBch R-B2 16 17 N-Q2
QXQ PXQ and White probably has 18 QR-Ql BXN
a slight advantage. But Black's best
plan is to bring his KN to the de­ Perhaps 18 .. . N-Bl was better,
fense of his forward KP: 13 ... e.g. 19 N-K4 Q-N5 or 19 NXN
N-Kl 14 NxKP BXN 15 QXBch KXN 20 N-K4 Q-N5.
QXQ 16 RXQ N-Q3! 17 NXP (or
17 RxKP N-B4! and Black is a 19 PxB N(2)-B3
little better) 17 ... RXB! 18 N-B7 20 B-B3
R-Bl 19 NxR N-R3 20 NXP
PXN 21 RXKP BXP and Black Not 20 B-R3? N-K5.

190
 ROUND TEN

20 ..... . P-QN4! 24 PXQ N-Q3

25 K-N2 N-B5
To remove the threat of P-B4 by 26 P-QR4 N-N7
White. 27 R-Rl NXP
28 P-B4 R-Bl

28 ... N-N3 29 PxNP PXP 30

R-R6 would give White very good
winning chances.

29 RXN

Forced, otherwise Black gets the

opportunity to prove that his pawns
are of more value than White's Ex­
change. But now there is no hope
21 K-Rl? of a win for Black.

21 N-Q4! K-Bl 22 NXBP is 29 PXR

much more promising: 22 ... 30 R-QRl PXP
QXN 23 QXPch K-Nl 24 RXP! 31 RXP R-B2
B-N2! 25 R-Q3 QXB 26 RXQ 32 RXBP P-B4
BXR 27 R-K6 N-R4 28 R-R6 33 K-N3 K-N2
N(l)-N2 29 RXRP R-Kl 30 Q­
B7ch K-Rl 31 R-K7 R-Ql 32 Better was 33 ... P-N4 so as to
R-Kl and White should win. But keep White's King out of his K5
24 BXPch (instead of 24 RXP!) square. But even then Black would
would be insufficient: 24 ... N XB have no real winning chances be­
25 QxNch QxQ 26 RXQch K-B2 cause his Rook is too passive.
27 RXB (after 27 R-Q8? N-N3
Black is better) 27 ... RxR 28 34 K-B4 N-Kl
RXN and the ending is drawn. 35 K-K5 N-Q3
36 R-QR4 N-Bl
21 BxN 37 R-R5 N-N3
22 QxBch K-Bl 38 B-K2 P-N4
23 P-B5 QxQ 39 P-QB3 Draw

191
 SA N ANTO NIO '72

GAME 80 8 R-QNl

White: Bent Larsen Unnecessary. Next time I will

Black: Mario Campos-Lopez probably play 8 P-N3.

English Opening 8 0-0

9 P-N3 P-Q3
Notes by Larsen 10 B-N2 P-R3
11 P-Q3 R-Nl
1 P-QB4 P-QB4 12 Q-Q2 P-QN4
2 P-KN3 P-KN3 13 0-0 P-NS
3 B-N2 B-N2
4 N-QB3 N-QB3 It is very difficult for either side
to undertake anything special. Black
As shown again by several games could very well play a move like 13
in this tournament, this symmetrical ... B-Q2, waiting.
defense is absolutely playable for
Black. I have several times played
14 N-Ql!
5 P-QR3 here, for instance 5 ...
P-QR3!? 6 R-Nl R-Nl 7 P-QN4
On QR4 this Knight would be
PXP 8 PXP P-QN4 9 PXP PXP 10
very far away from Q5, and Black
N-B3, trying to transpose into Lar­
could then very well play P-K4 and
sen-Ivkov, Majorca 1967 (see my
start something on the Kingside.
book "Selected G ames 1948-69"),
but instead of 10 ...N-B3 11 0-0
14 . . . . . . P-K4
0-0 12 P-Q4! Black can play 10
... P-K4! I decided to try some­
Black does not want to exchange
thing else, and I have the impres­
off the Bishop that defends his
sion that my opponent considered
King's position. But now there is a
my next such an ugly move that he
hole on his Q4 square.
had to break the symmetry!

5 N-R3!? P-K3 15 N-QS N-B4

6 N-B4 KN-Kl
7 P-KR4 P-KR3! After 15 NxN, I would
probably have played PXN and
The right answer. After 7 N-K3-B4.
P-KR4 followed by N-B4, Black's
P-K3 would look like a wasted 16 N(l)-K3 N(3)-QS
move. 17 NXN NxN

192
 ROUND TEN

does not necessarily admit anything.

18 P-QR4
19 P-R3 PxP?

Illogical. If Black wanted to play

this, his QR Pawn would have been
safer on QR3, where it was pro­
tected by the Bishop. But his best
buy was probably something like 19
... N-Q5 20 BXN KPXB 21 PXP
RPXP 22 R-R7 B-N2, though both
All this has been pretty much
23 N-B4 (to get an ending with a
routine. Now comes the best move
strong Knight on Q5 against a
in this game. White may have a
rather bad Bishop) and the more
slight advantage because of the Q5
aggressive 23 Q-B4!? offer White a
square, but Black has closed the
strong initiative.
Queenside and will probably be
able to defend against a direct at­
20 RXP B-K3
tack on the Kingside. I considered
18 P-K4 followed by P-B4, but it After 20 N-Q5 21 BXN
did not seem very promising. For KPXB 22 R-Nl, White wins a
instance, 18 P-K4 N-Q5 19 BXN pawn.
KPXB 20 P-B4 B-K3 might easily
lead to a drawish position with 21 B-QB3 BXN(?)
Bishops of opposite colors. 22 BXB N-Q5
23 P-K3(!)
18 R-Rl!!
Other good continuations were
White wants to combine play on BXN, Q-R2 and R-Nl. But the
both wings. Very logical, since a text move, based upon some neat
Knight or Bishop on Q5 will be combinations, is the quickest. After
much stronger if there is something 23 ... N-B4 White gets a tremen­
happening on both flanks.This move dous position and a plus pawn.
illustrates very well how you must
"forget" the previous part of the 23 RXP(?)
game and only look at the present
position. Maybe White's 8th move Or 23 NxP(?) 24 Q-R2
was doubtful, but he should be Q-N3 25 R-Nl P-R5 26 RXP,
ready to admit that; besides, mak­ winning a piece (one threat is R­
ing the best move in the position R6).

193
 SAN ANTONIO '72

24 RXR NxR
25 Q-R2 Q-N3
26 R-Nl R-Nl
27 BXRP! Q-R3
28 RxN RXR
29 QXR QXB
30 Q-N8ch Resigns

There could follow 30 ... K-R2

31 BXP P-R4 32 QXP or 30 ...
B-Bl 31 Q-N7.
The final position is
a monument for a typical kind of
positional advantage in this open­ Final Position
ing, a Bishop or Knight on QS.

Standings After Ten Rounds

8 Karpov, Keres
61h Larsen, Petrosian, Portisch
6 Gligoric, Suttles
5th Hort, Mecking
5 D. Byrne
4 Evans
3 Yz Browne, Campos
3 Kaplan
2 Saidy
th Smith

194
 ROUND EL EVEN

ROUND ELEVEN

Sunday, December 3rd

White Black Opening Result Moves

81 Campos (3112) Hort (5112) Pirc Defense 0-1 43

82 Suttles (6) Larsen (6V2) Sicilian Defense 1/2-V2 66
83 D. Byrne (5) Browne (31/z) King's Indian Attack 0-1 28
84 Petrosian (61/z) Saidy (2) English Opening 1-0 56
85 Gligoric (6) Mecking (51/z) Nimzo-Indian Defense llz-112 31
86 Portisch (6112) Keres (8) EnglishOpening 1-0 32
87 Smith (112) Kaplan (3) Robatsch Defense 1-0 41
88 Evans (4) Karpov (8) EnglishOpening 1/z-1/z 34

GAME 81 7 0-0-0 Q-R4

8K-Nl QN-Q2
White: Mario Campos-Lopez 9 N-QS
Black: Vlastimil Hort
A little surprising after the pre­
Pirc Defense ceding sharp play.Obviously, White
wants to gain half a point ...
Notes by Larsen
9 QxQ
1 P-K4 P-Q3 10 NXNch BXN
2 P-Q4 N-KB3 11 RxQ 0-0
3 N-QB3 P-KN3 12 P-KR4 N-N3
4 P-B3 B-N2 13 B-R6
5 B-K3 P-B3
Rather time-consuming.
5 . . . 0-0 is very dangerous in
this position, for White can im­ 13 R-Ql
mediately start a strong attack. It 14 P-RS P-K4!
is better to prepare counterplay on
the other flank, where the White The world famous medicine
King must seek shelter in case against flank attacks: counterplay
White wants to attack his Kingside in the center. Of course, 14 ...
pawns. P-N4? would lose a pawn after 15
P-KN4 and N-R3. This was the
6 Q-Q2 P-QN4 reason for White's 13th move. But

195
 SAN A NTO NIO '72

he should rather have played 13 22 P-QN3 R-Ql!

P-KN4, trying to build up a certain 23 K-Bl N-B4
superiority in space on the King­
side, as Black has already done on
Again, the unhappy Knight can­
the other side.
not move towards the center: 24
N-B2? NXPch.
15 RPXP RPXP
16 PxP PXP
24 B-K2 B-Bl
17 RXRch BxR

Making room for the Knight.

With only one Rook left, White
White's next move seems to indi­
cannot do anything dangerous on
cate that he was afraid of 25 R-Ql
the KR file. When did Campos
BxN!? He would get a rather weak
realize that he was getting into a
pawn structure, but this might have
difficult position? Probably not yet,
been the lesser evil.
as his next two moves do not look
as though he was afraid of any­
thing.Or rather, the only thing he 25 P-KN4?! P-N4
was afraid of was to get the Bishop 26 R-Ql K-B2
on R6 caught after a Black P-N4. 27 B-Kl R-Rl
But if so he ought to play 18 B-K3!,
for example 18 ... B-K3 19 N-R3!
Remember how eager White was
N-B5? 20 BXN BXB 21 R-Ql with
to open this file?
advantage, or 19 ... P-B3 20 N-B2
and the Knight is well placed; when
28 B-Bl N-K3
it gets to Q3 it will be looking at a
29 P-B3 K-K2
little hole in the Black pawn struc­
ture. In the game continuation, the
White Knight never finds a good It is a big advantage for Black
square. that his King can guard the squares
that the White Rook might use to
18 B-Q2? B-K3 penetrate. 29 R-Q6? was impossible
19 B-B3? P-B3 because of N-Q5 followed by K-K2
20 N-R3 N-R5! or B-B2.
21 B-Q2? B-N3

30 P-N4 P-R4
Now it begins to look serious. 31 P-R3 P-R5
White ought to have played 21 B­ 32 B-Q2 B-Q2
K l, to help the Knight to B2. 33 R-Kl

196
 ROUND ELEVEN

White's next is probably an over­

sight. I asked Hort how he would
have won if White had remained pas­
sive. His answer was clear enough:
K-Q3-B3 and then B-K3, with a
mating attack!

43 P-NS B-B7
Resigns

In fact, the game was adjourned

White is ready to play B-K3, and White sealed 44 R-Bl. But
which would offer some drawing there is no hope, for instance 44
chances. ... B-R6 45 BxNP BXR 46 BXB
R-RS 47 K-K2 B-K6.
33 ..... . N-BS!

Exchanging the unlucky White

Knight, but preventing B-K3 and GAME 82
opening the road for the Black
Rook. White: Duncan Suttles
Black: Bent Larsen
34 NxN NPXN
35 P-B4 B-QS Sicilian Defense
36 K-B2 R-R7
37 PXP PxP Notes by Larsen
38 R-K2 R-R8
39 R-Kl R-N8 1 P-KN3 P-KN3
40 B-B3 B-N3(!) 2 B-N2 B-N2
3 N-QB3
Black prefers to keep the bind.
He could have won a pawn with I cannot criticize this move, as I
40 . .. BXB 41 KXB R-N6 42 have played it many times myself.
B-K2 BXP. But I do not know a name for this
opening.
41 B-K2 R-N7
42 K-Ql R-R7 3 P-Q3
4 P-Q3 P-K4
Of course, White must not get 5 P-K4 N-K2
the KR file. 6 B-K3 P-QB4

197
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

Breaking the symmetry and mak­ My opponent pointed out after­

ing the opening a sort of closed wards that 19 Q-B7! QXQ 20 RXQ
Sicilian. PxP 21 P-KR3! would almost cer­
tainly have led to a draw.

7 Q-Q2 P-KR4
8 P-B4 QN-B3 19 PxP

9 N-B3 N-Q5 20 PxP Q-R2

10 0-0 B-N5 21 Q-N2 N-B3

11 QR-Kl(?) 22 B-N5 QR-Kl

23 B-N4ch K-Nl
24 R-K3 B-N2!
Better 11 Q-B2.

11 Q-Q2
12 Q-B2 BxN

Avoiding 12 0-0-0 13 N-
KN5.

13 BXB 0-0-0
14 B-Ql

Sometimes Suttles'moves are hard

to understand.
Vacating a good square for the
Knight. Black ought to win rather
14 P-B4 easily now.
15 PxKP BXP
16 N-Q5 PxP 25 B-Q7 B-R3!
26 BXB QxB
16 .. . NxN 17 PxN P-R5 18 27 R-K2 R-K4!
PXP! is good for White.

The idea behind move 24, for 28

17 NxNch QXN BXN loses the Queen after 28
18 PXP P-R5?! R-R4!

Probably best is 18 . .. N-K3 28 P-KN4 N-Ql

with the idea 19 P-B3 N-N4 20 29 R-B6 Q-N4
Q-N2 P-R5 21 PXP NXP! 30 R(2)-KB2 K-B2
31 B-N5 Q-B8ch
19 P-B3? 32 B-Bl N-K3

198
 ROUND ELEVEN

33 RXP N-N4 the tempting 43 P-K5?, after which

34 Q-N3 N-R6ch R-R2! wins very quickly. But he
35 K-N2 NxR had not.
36 QxN Q-N8
37 Q-B7ch K-Nl 43 B-B3 R-R2
38 R-N8ch RXR 44 K-B2! Q-B8
39 QxRch K-B2
40 Q-B7ch K-N3? There is no easy win now, e.g.
44 ... R-R7ch 45 K-N3 QXNP
46 Q-B7ch K-N3 47 P-K5.

45 P-K5 Q-Q7ch
46 K-Bl Q-Q6ch
47 K-N2 P-N4
48 PxPch KxP
49 Q-N8 Q-Q7ch
50 K-Bl Q-B8ch
51 K-B2 QxPch
52 K-Bl Q-B8ch
53 K-B2 Q-B7ch
Very stupid. I had several minutes 54 K-Bl Q-Q6ch
left and was almost sure that K-B3 55 K-N2
was the right move (41 B-N5ch
K-N3!), but it was nice to get past Same position as before, with the
the time control, and I expected exception that Black has won a
Suttles to repeat moves. pawn. But the win is still difficult.
40 ... K-B3 would have won
easily. 55 K-B2
56 Q-K6
41 Q-N3ch K-B2
42 B-K2!

Grateful for the possibility to

protect both the Queenside pawns
and the KP.

42 . . . . . . R-K2

Suttles now sealed his move very

quickly. I was hoping he had played

199
 SAN ANTONIO '72

56 ...... Q-Q2?? 6 NXN NPXN

7 0-0 R-Nl
Much stronger is 56 . . . Q-Q3! 8 N-Q2 N-B3
57 Q-K4 R-R7ch 58 K-Bl RXP. 9 P-QB4 0-0
10 Q-R4?
57 Q·QR6 K-Nl
58 Q-KB6 K-B2 A stupid move.

59 Q-QR6 K-Ql
10 . . .. . . Q-N3
60 Q-B6ch R-K2
11 N-N3?
61 Q-B4! Q-B2
62 Q-B8ch R·Kl Another stupid move.
63 Q-B6ch K-Bl
64 Q-R6ch K-Q2 11 . ..... P-B4
65 QxPch K-K2?? 12 N-Q2

So I started going back in a big

There were still some winning
hurry, recognizing that my last two
chances with 65 . . . K-Ql!
moves were terribly bad.

66 B-B6
12 B-N2
13 BXB RXB
It is typical for my play in the
14 Q·B2 Q-K3
last rounds that I did not see this
15 R-Kl Q·R6
at all.
16 R-Nl N-N5
Draw
17 N-Bl R-N3
18 P-B3??

GAME 83 Overlooking Browne's reply. Nec­

essary was 18 B-K3 when Black has
White: Donald Byrne only a very slight advantage.
Black: Walter Browne

King's Indian Attack

Comments by Byrne

1 P-KN3 P-QB4
2 B-N2 P-KN3
3 N-KB3 B-N2
4 P-Q4 PxP
5 NXP N-QB3

200
 ROUND ELEVEN

18 NxP Here was quite a good opportun-

19 NxN QxPch ity to break the symmetry. After 8
20 K-Bl QxN ... PxP 9 PxP P-Q4 it would be
21 Q-K4 B-B3 a position where the White KB
22 Q-N4 B-R5 ought to be on Q3. I am rather
23 B-K3 P-B4 sure that Petrosian would have
24 Q-Nl Q-R6ch played 9 NxP.
25 Q-N2 QxQch
26 KxQ BxR 9 QPXP BXP
27 RXB RXP 10 QN-Q2
28 BxP RXP
Resigns Finally the symmetry is broken.

I cannot remember playing a

10 N-B3
worse game in my whole life.

Now there is a rather clear dif­

ference between the two positions,
the Black QN blocks the diagonal
GAME 84
of the QB. But nothing is wrong, of
course.
White: Tigran Petrosian
Black: Anthony Saidy
11 PXP QxP

English Opening
The White pieces are not ready
for an attack, so Black is not afraid
Notes by Larsen
of 12 BXN.

1 P-QB4 P-QB4
2 P-QN3 P-QN3!? 12 P-QR3 KR-Qt
13 Q-Nl B-K2

In symmetrical openings White 14 R-Ql QR-Bl

has a theoretical advantage, but in

many of them it is only theoretical. A good idea was probably 14
... Q-KB4 15 Q-R2 N-KN5.

3 B-N2 B-N2
4 N-KB3 N-KB3 15 P-QN4 Q-KB4
5 P-K3 P-K3 16 Q-R2 N-K5
6 B-K2 B-K2 17 NXN QxN
7 0-0 0-0 18 Q-N3 P-KR3
8 P-Q4 P-Q4 19 P-R3!?

201
 SAN ANTONIO '72

32 Q-Rl 8-N2
33 8-Q2 8-K2
34 8-K3 R-Ql
35 8-N6 R-Q2
36 Q-83 8-83
37 Q-81 8-N4
38 P-84

So, already before adjournment

Petrosian has made up his mind to
advance the K ingside pawns. If this
Lulled to sleep by Petrosian's was not his plan, a player like the
quiet play, Saidy does not discover Armenian ex-world champion would
that this move contains a threat. Of not play the text move. A pawn
course, Black's position is 100% move cannot be taken back!
healthy. One possible continuation
was 19 . . . N-Nl. 38 8-K2
39 8-85 8-Ql
19 RXReh?! 40 8-K3 8-K2
20 RXR R-Ql?? 41 P-N3 K-R2
21 8-Q3 Q-Q4 42 P-K5 K-Nl
43 8-85 8-Ql
After White's P-KR3, Black does 44 8-Q6 8-N3
not have KN5 for the Queen. 45 N-85!

22 8-R7ch KX8 This is certainly a case where

23 RXQ RXR opposite-colored Bishops do not
help the defender. Black can only
The Black position is very solid, wait.
so the win takes time. But it is not
as difficult as it looks. 45 8XN
46 Qx8 N-R2
24 8-83 P-R3
25 N-Q2 K-Nl A little joke, an echo of the
26 Q-N2 8-KBl blunder on move 20.
27 P-83 R-Q2
28 K-82 P-QN4 47 K-82 N-81
29 N-N3 N-Ql 48 P-N4 K-R2
30 P-K4 N-83 49 P-KR4 K-Nl
31 K-K2 8-81 50 P-85 K-Rl(?)

202
 ROUND ELEVEN

Resignation. 50 ... P-KR4 would 6 N-B3 BXNch

make it a little more difficult for
White. Huebner's variation, which has
recently been in vogue.

7 PXB P-Q3
8 P-K4 P-K4
9 P-Q5 N-K2
10 N-R4 P-KR3
11 P-B4

Spassky's choice in the fifth game

of his match with Fischer. The
older move, 11 P-B3, was thought
until very recently to give White a
51 B-B8 K-Nl very good game: 11 ... P-KN4 12
52 P-B6 R-Q7ch N-B5 BXN 13 PXB Q-R4 14 Q­
B2! 0-0-0 15 P-KR4 P-K5 16
Or 52 ... PxP 53 BxP etc. BXKP (16 PXKP is even stronger,
according to Donner) 16 . . N XB
.

53 K-Kl R-Q4 17 PXN QR-Kl 18 K-B2 P-B3 19

54 Q-B7 KXB B-K3 K-Nl 20 P-K5!! and White
55 QXB RXPch won easily in Donner-Damjanovic,
56 K-B2 Resigns Cienfuegos 1972. At the Skopje
Olympiad (held a few months after
the Cienfuegos tournament), Donner
GAME 85 tried his 11 P-B3 against Portisch
and was met by a very convincing
White: Svetozar Gligoric innovation: 11 ... Q-R4 12 Q-B2
Black: Henrique Mecking P-KN4 13 N-B5 NxN! 14 PxN
B-Q2 15 P-KR4 P-N5 16 PXP?!
Nimzo-Indian Defense (better is 16 P-R5 even though
Black would still have a perfectly
Notes by Levy good game) 16 ... NxNP 17 B­
K2 R-KNl! and Black had the ad­
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 vantage.
2 P-QB4 P-K3
3 N-QB3 B-N5 11 N-N3
4 P-K3 P-B4 12 NXN PXN
5 B-Q3 N-B3 13 0-0!

203
 S AN ANTONIO '72

Gligoric's important improvement theoretical innovation and built up

on the Spassky-Fischer game, which a clearly superior position, he al­
continued 13 PXP PXP 14 B-K3. lowed his advantage to slip when
His idea is to avoid blocking the he overlooked Mecking's simple
position and to retain some options liquidating idea. 21 B-B4 would
on the Kingside and in the center. have kept White's grip on the posi­
tion and allowed Black very little
13 0-0 play.Now Mecking can draw with­
14 P-B5 PxP out any difficulty.
15 PXP P-K5
16 B-K2 Q-K2 21 Q-B3

17 B-K3 B-Q2 22 P-KR4

18 Q-Kl N-R2
Now 22 B-B4 can be met by 22
19 P-N4 N-N4
... P-K6!
20 Q-N3 QR-Kl
22 N-B6ch
23 BxN PxB
24 RXP QxQBP
25 R-QBl Q-N7
26 R-KB2 Q-R6
27 B-B4 QxQch
28 BXQ R-K5
29 BXP RXPch
30 R-N2 RXReh
31 KXR Draw

A game of great theoretical im­

21 QR-Kl? portance.

In one respect this move is symp­

tomatic of Gligoric's play through­ GAME 86
out the tournament. He was suffer­
White: Lajos Portisch
ing from bronchitis since leaving
Black: Paul Keres
Belgrade and during the entire
tournament. When he came to the
English Opening
tournament hall each day he was
almost petrified by the fear that the Notes by Portisch
state of his health would cause him
to make some colossal blunder. 1 P-QB4 N-KB3
Here, having produced a strong 2 N-QB3 P-K3

204
 ROUND ELEVEN

3 N-B3 P-B4 changes twice on his Q5 square

4 P-KN3 N-B3 White has a good game.
5 B-N2 B-K2
6 0-0 0-0 15 P-Q5
7 P-Q4 P-Q4 16 PXP BXN
8 PxQP KNXP 17 QXQB NXP
9 NxN PXN 18 Q-R5
10 PXP BxP
11 B-N5 P-B3

I have played this variation as

Black and I prefer 11 .. . Q-N3
which I played against Darga at
Beverwijk 1964: 12 R-Bl P-Q5
13 N-Q2 KR-Kl 14 N-N3 B-Bl
15 Q-Q3 P-QR4!, with good play
for Black.
The text weakens the KN1-QR7
diagonal.
18 Q-Q2
12 R-Bl B-N3
13 B-Q2 18 P-N3 is nonsense: 19 Q-
Ql and Black has only succeeded
This appears to be a little passive in weakening his Kingside. It is
but I wanted to leave the KB4 better to keep the move . . . P-N3
square free because in some varia­ in reserve for a more opportune
tions my Knight can get there via moment.
Kl and Q3. In the game Petrosian­
Keres, Moscow 1966, White played 19 QR-Kl
13 B-B4 B-K3 14 N-Kl R-Kl 15
N-Q3, and now 15 ... P-Q5! 16 The most difficult move of the
P-QR3 B-Q4 would have been the game. 19 QR-Ql would not be so
simplest way to equalize. good because it deprives the White
Queen of her best square.
13 B-N5
14 Q-N3 K-Rl 19 KR-Kl
15 P-K3
If 19 KR-Ql then 20 B-N4
The point. Now I threaten B-B3 R-Kl 21 RxRch RXR 22 Q-Q5,
followed by N-Q4 and if Black ex- with the idea of reaching an ending

205
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

with two Bishops against Bishop 24 P-KR3

and Knight. 25 B-QS K-R2
26 Q-N8ch K-N3
20 BXP RXR 27 B-B7ch K-N4
21 BxQR

If 27 ... K-B4 28 Q-B8ch K-N4

21 RXR P-N3 (now that move is
29 RXR QXPch (29 ... QXR 30
useful!) 22 Q-Q5 QxQ 23 BXQ
P-B4 mate) 30 K-R3 QXR 31 Q­
R-Ql 24 B-N2 N-B6ch 25 BXN
N4 mate.
RXB 26 R-K2 RXR 27 BXR is a
dead draw.
28 QxPch

21 N-K7ch??
28 Q-R7 is a more elegant finish.
Weak. Black had overlooked my
24th move.Instead he should have 28 K-B4
played 21 ... R-Kl 22 Q-Q5 (not 29 B-RS K-K3
22 B-N2? N-K7ch 23 K-Rl R-K4 30 B-N4ch P-B4
winning the Bishop at Q7) 22 ... 31 BxPch KXB
QXQ 23 BXQ R-Ql (23 ... N­ 32 Q-B7ch Resigns
K7ch is not so good because later
White's Rook will come to the K-
file with gain of tempo) 24 R-Kl GAME 87
P-N3 25 B-N2 (25 B-R6? N-B4!)
N-B6ch 26 BXN RXB, with a dead White: Kenneth Smith
draw as in the last note. Black: Julio Kaplan

22 K-N2 NXP Robatsch Defense

23 RPXN QxB
24 Q-B7 Notes by Smith

1 P-K4 P-KN3
2 P-Q4 B-N2
3 N-QB3 P-QB3
4 P-B4 P-Q4
5 P-KS P-KR4

Described as the Gurgenidze Sys­

tem in Keene and Botterill's "The
Modern Defense." Since I am the
U.S. publisher of this excellent book,

206
 ROUND ELEVE N

permission to quote comes easily! 7 P-KR3 BXN

"The strategic problems posed by 8 QxB P-K3
the Gurgenidze System are complex
and by no means fully resolved ... To prevent 9 P-B5.
play unfolds at slow motion on a
wide front, and slightly inaccurate 9 B-K3
strategic decisions taken at long
range are often revealed as irre­ Fischer-Petrosian, Belgrade 1970

versibly fatal in view of the rather continued: 9 P-KN3 Q-N3 10 Q-B2

rigid postures into which the oppos­ N-K2 11 B-Q3 N-Q2 12 N-K2

ing pawn structures are cast." 0-0-0 13 P-B3 P-B3 14 P-N3

N-KB4 15 R-KNl P-B4 16 BXN
KPXB 17 B-K3 Q-R3 with a slight
6 N-B3
advantage to Black.

Part of Black's strategy in this 9 P-RS

system is the exchange of the light
squared Bishops, usually from KB4,
e.g. 6 B-Q3 (instead of 6 N-B3 as
played), 6 ... N-KR3 7 N-B3 B-B4
8 0-0. Now Black must play 8 ...
BXB 9 QXB P-K3 with only a
slight advantage for White. Not 8
... N-Q2 9 N-KR4! (White keeps
his KB, for if 9 ... BXB 10 QXB
P-K3 then 11 NXNP is exceedingly
dangerous-Keene) 9 ... P-K3 10
NXB NXN 11 N-K2 B-Bl 12 P­
Even though this move has been
played by Benko and Smyslov, in
my opinion it is weak. White is not
bothered by this restriction on the
Kingside for the other side offers
enough expansion possibilities. This
pawn will be a permanent weakness
as White keeps an eye on both
sides of the board.
10 B-Q3 N-Q2

B3 P-B4 13 K-Rl with advantage 11 0-0 N-K2

to White (Krogius-Bronstein, Tillis 12 K-Rl

1967).
The idea of this move was to get
White's Knight to KB3 via K2 and
6 B-NS KNl. But Black's active Queenside
play results in a different plan.
Black chooses an immediate pin.
He could have angled for the above 12 N-KB4
variation as discussed or he could 13 B-B2 Q-N3
have played 6 ... N-KR3 which 14 B XN NPXB
usually transposes into that line or 15 N-R4 Q-R3
the one actually played. 16 P-QN3!

207
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

White's idea is to attack the head nally wins it. Of course, as men­
of Black's pawn chain (the QP) tioned in the note to the 21st move,
with P-B4 or to initiate a general Black could have diverted a piece
Queenside advance. Play will show from the Queenside to defend it,
that the latter plan is used by White. but then White would transfer his
heavy pieces for a direct attack on
16 B-Bl Black's King.
17 N-B5 BxN
18 PXB Q-R6 23 R-Rl
24 BXP Q-R3
Before castling, Black restricts 25 B-K7 Q-B5
the mobility of White's pawns. 26 B-Q6ch K-N2
27 P-QR4 QR-KN1
19 Q-K3 0-0-0
Black switches to the Kingside
20 P-B3 K-B2
with the hope of creating counter­
21 P-QN4 P-N4?
chances.

With his desire to blunt White's

28 R-B3 Q-N6
Queenside play, Black forgets about
29 P-R5 Q-B7
his Kingside weakness. Necessary
was 21 ... N-Bl or 21 ... R-R2
Slightly better would have been
to protect the KRP.
29 ... Q-N7 so as to be able to
play (after 30 Q-KBl?) RXNP!
22 PXP e.p.ch PXP
White intended to meet 29
23 Q-Kl!
Q-N7 with 30 R-B2.

30 Q-KB1 P-N4
31 K-R2 K-R3
32 Q-B2 QxQ
33 RXQ N-Bl
34 R-KN1 N-Q2

Time trouble, but Black is lost

in any case.

35 R-B3!

White has kept his eye on Black's The correct idea, trading off so
weak KRP since move nine and by as to be able to advance the King­
diverse Queenside action White fi- side pawns.

208
 ROUND ELEVEN

35 P-83 7 N-83 P-K4

36 R-N3 PXP 8 0-0 KN-K2
37 PXP P-84 9 P-Q3 0-0
38 RXR RXR 10 B-Q2 R-Nl!?
39 P-N4! KBPXP
40 RXP R-KRl Black could also play 10 . . . P­
R3, preparing for B-K3. But as N­
With his flag hanging by a thread Kl is probably White's next move,
Black makes his 40th move. White Black tries to save P-R3 and make
sealed ... a more useful move.

41 R-N7
11 N-Kl B-K3
12 N-82
Black showed up at the next ses­
sion just to make sure that White
12 N-Q5 P-QN4! would prove
had sealed a legal move and then ...
that Black's 10th move was very
useful.
41 Resigns

12 P-Q4

In time, before White can take

GAME 88
the initiative with P-QN4.

White: Larry Evans

Black: Anatoly Karpov 13 PXP NxP
14 NxN BXN
English Opening 15 P-QN4 BxB
16 KxB P-QN4!
Notes by Larsen
To exchange twice would leave
1 P-QB4 P-QB4 Black with a weak QNP. Now he
2 N-QB3 N-QB3 is ready to play BPXP followed by
3 P-KN3 P-KN3 P-R5, and 17 PXBP Q-Q4ch gives

4 B-N2 B-N2 him a very comfortable game. If

5 P-QR3 P-Q3 you are looking for a good defense

6 R-Nl P-QR4 against this opening, study Karpov's

play in this game carefully!

It is not easy for White to ex­

ploit this weakening of the Queen­ 17 PxRP! NxP
side. 18 N-K3 R-Kl

209
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

18 . . . N-B3 19 Q-B2 N-Q5 is moves. So, the annotator who likes

playable for Black, but White can "Knight vs. bad Bishop " has not
improve with 19 P-QR4!, with some yet found an improvement on
advantage. White's play.

19 Q-Bl B-Bl 22 Q-RS!

20 BxN 23 P-B4 Q-QS

White's hope is the famous White has a strong Knight, in­

"Knight against bad Bishop." Black deed, but some weak pawns, too.
was ready to play N-B3 with a very Black is threatening P-B5.
fine game.
24 PXP QxKP
25 R-B3 R-R3
26 R-N3 P-B4
27 Q-QNl

Attacks and defends.

27 R(l)-Rl
28 RXNP RXP
29 R-N7 R-R7ch
30 R-B2 RXReh
31 KXR PxP
32 PxP P-BS

The Bishop 1s not so bad any

22 P-K4 more.

Very thematic, supporting the 33 K-N2 R-Bl

Knight and fixing the Black KP on
a square of the same color as the
Bishop. But a very interesting alter­
native was 22 P-B4!?, for instance 22
... PXP 23 QXKBP!? RXPch 24
K-B3 Q-Q7!? 25 N-B6ch K-N2 26
QXR P-R4!-and we have reached
the point where we have to go back
and take away the !s, leaving only
the ?s at those interesting White
34 N-N6 R-Kl
Draw
Because of 35 NXP. 35 N-Q7
Q-Q5 36 P-K5 B-N2 is risky for
White.
In a way, this was one of the
best-played games of the tourna­
ment. But neither player had to
solve very difficult problems.

210
 ROUND ELEVEN

Standings After Eleven Rounds

81/2 Karpov
8 Keres
71/z Petrosian, Portisch
7 Larsen
61/z Gligoric, Hort, Suttles
6 Mecking
5 D. Byrne
4112 Browne, Evans
31/z Campos
3 Kaplan
2 Saidy
1112 Smith

211
 SAN ANTONIO '72

ROUND TWELVE

Monday, December 4th

White Black Opening Result Moves

89 Hort (6Y2) Karpov (8Y2) Sicilian Defense 1/2-1h 18
90 Campos (31/2) Suttles (6Vz) Pirc Defense 0-1 39
91 Keres (8) Smith (Vz) English Opening 1/2-Vz 73
92 Mecking (6) Portisch (71/2) Ruy Lopez Y2-Vz 31
93 Browne (4Y2) Petrosian (71h) Sicilian Defense 1h-Vz 27
94 Saidy (2) Gligoric (6Y2) Queen's Gambit Declined 0-1 53
9 5 Larsen (7) D. Byrne (5) English Opening 1-0 40
96 Kaplan (3) Evans ( 41/2) Sicilian Defense 1-0 41

GAME 89 GAME 90

White: Vlastimil Hort White: Mario Campos-Lopez

Black: Anatoly Karpov Black: Duncan Suttles

Sicilian Defense Pirc Defense

1 P-K4 P-QB4 Notes by Larsen

2 N-QB3 P-K3
3 N-B3 N-QB3 1 P-K4 P-KN3
4 P-Q4 PxP 2 P-Q4 P-Q3
5 NXP P-QR3 3 N-KB3 B-N2
6 P-KN3 KN-K2 4 P-B3 N-KB3
7 B-N2 NXN 5 QN-Q2 0-0
8 QXN N-B3 6 B-K2 QN-Q2
9 Q-K3 P-Q3 7 0-0 P-K4
10 P-N3 B-K2 8 R-Kl P-N3
11 B-N2 0-0 9 PxP PxP
12 0-0 R-Nl 10 P-QR4 B-N2
13 N-K2 P-QN4 11 Q-B2 P-QR4
14 QR-Bl Q-R4
15 P-QR3 Q-N3 A very quiet opening.
16 Q-Q2 P-QR4
17 KR-Ql R-Ql 12 P-QN3 N-B4
18 N-B4 Draw 13 B-B4 N-Kl

212
 ROUND TWELVE

14 P-QN4!? PXP 20 Q-Q3

15 PxP N-Q2
16 B-R3 N-Q3 20 R-K2!? was to be considered.
17 B-N3 P-QN4
20 R-Bl!

Ready to answer B-Q5 with P-B3.

21 P-R3(?) Q-K2
22 N-R2 K-Rl
23 P-B4?

Ruining an already not very good

position. The idea seems to be 23
... PXP 24 P-K5 N-KB4 25 QXP.
Even that would not be very good,
but Black has a "zwischenzug."
18 P-R5?
23 KR-Ql!
White begins to ruin his own posi­ 24 Q-K2 PXP
tion. The passed pawn is not very 25 P-K5 N-KB4
strong as Black has an ideal block­ 26 N(Q)-B3
ader ready.
He might just as well try 26
18 N-Nl! QxP. Black has many good an­
19 QR-Bl(?) swers, but the simplest is 26 ...
P-QB3 27 Q-K2 N-Q5 28 Q-B2
The only plan for White was to N-N4 29 B-N2 NxP.
exchange that Knight as quickly as
possible. Probably best was 19 R­ 26 P-QB3
K2 N-R3 20 N-Kl !, with the idea 27 N-N4 N-N6
N-Q3-B5. 28 Q-KB2 R-Q6
29 R-Nl P-QB4
19 N-R3
With a pawn more and an over­
A very good blockading Knight, whelming position, Black has an
in accordance with Nimzovich's easy job.
"System." It is important that the
Knight not only blockades. Here it 30 B-Bl BXN
threatens the White QNP. 31 PXB NxP

213
 SAN ANTONIO '72

32 N-B6 R-Q5 3 P-K4 P-Q4

33 QBXP N-B4 4 P-K5 P-Q5
34 QR-Ql 5 PxN PxN
6 PxNP

Nimzovich long ago assessed this

line as equal after 6 NPXP KPXP
7 P-Q4 B-Q3 8 B-Q3 0-0 9 N-K2
R-Kl. The text move attempts to
pose Black more problems.

6 PxPch
7 BXP BxP
8 Q-B2 N-Q2
9 N-K2 N-B3
34 RXB!
35 R-Q7 BXN! Better is 9 Q-N3 and after
10 N-B3 Black can play 10 ...
35 ... Q-Bl was possible, but N-B3 or if 10 B-B3 BXB 11 QXB
why give White any chances? (or 11 NXB) N-B3.

36 RXQ BXR
10 N-N3 Q-B2
37 R-K4 P-B5!
11 B-Q3 B-Q2

Threatening B-B4. 12 B-B3 0-0-0

13 0-0-0 N-Kl
38 Q-QN2 RXP 14 KR-Kl
39 B-Ql B-B4ch
Resigns White plays a solid developing
move and does not allow Black
counterplay as in the following
GAME 91 lines: (i) 14 BXP BXB 15 PXB
with a weak pawn structure and ex­
White: Paul Keres
posed King, but he does have a
Black: Kenneth Smith
pawn; (ii) 14 BXB NXB 15 BXP
P-KB4! with counterplay for the
English Opening
pawn.
Notes by Smith
14 P-K3
1 P-QB4 N-KB3 15 BXB NxB
2 N-QB3 P-B3 16 Q-B3

214
 ROUND TWELVE

Again White rejects the pawn, 24 P-B4

for after 16 BXP P-KB4 White's
Bishop is in trouble. Better than 24 NXP RXP, etc.

16 N-B4 24 R-N5
17 Q-B6 KR-Bl 25 K-Q2 RXP
18 R-K5 K-Nl! 26 P-KR3 K-Q3?

Preparing a tactical defense to Better was 26 R-R5 and if

save Black's game. The effect of 27 NXP? R-R4!
this move is seen at move 20.
27 R-R5 P-QR3
19 BXN PXB 28 K-K3 R-R5
20 Q-Q6 29 NxPch BXN
30 RxB K-K3
After 20 NXP BXN Black has 31 R-KN5 R-R3
adequate defensive resources, e.g. 32 K-K4 R-R5ch
(i) RXB RXRch 22 KXR Q-Q2ch! 33 K-K3 R-R3
followed by . .. R-Ql; or (ii) 21 34 K-Q4
QXB RXRch 22 KXR Q-Q3ch!
followed by ... R-Ql. Notice that Now 34 R-R5ch is met by
in both lines Black brings his Queen 35 K-B5!
to the Queen file with check. He
would employ the same idea against 34 R-N3
21 RxRch RxR 22 RxB (or 22
QXB).

20 B-K3
21 QxQch KxQ
22 P-N3

Of course 22 NxP allows 22 ...

BXP, but this would have been
better than the text move.

22 RXReh
23 KXR R-KNl!
35 R-K5ch
Suddenly
game.
Black has the better I Short of time, White could not

215
 SAN ANTONIO '72

be sure that the King and pawn Now both players were in time
ending was a win even though it is trouble.
full of possibilities for White: 35
RXR BPXR 36 K-B5 K-Q2 37 36 P-B5ch K-02
K-N6 K-Bl 38 P-QN4. Now the 37 P-KN4 R-R3
gamewould revolve around whether, 38 R-B5 K-K3
and how, Black moves his Kingside 39 R-B3 R-B3
pawns in answer to White's own 40 R-K3ch K-Q2
advance on the Kingside.The situ­
ation on the Queenside is also im­ Both flags stay up and White now
portant: (i) 38 ... P-R3? (or P­ moved quickly so as to force Black
KR4) 39 P-QR4 K-Nl 40 P-N5 to seal.
RPXP 41 RPXP PXP 42 KXP!
K-B2 43 P-B5! K-Nl 44 K-N6 K­ 41 R-K5
Bl 45 P-B6 PXP 46 KXP followed
by marching his King along the Having read the many tales of
sixth rank to win Black's pawns; or Keres's powers of analysis in ad­
(ii) 38 ... K-Nl (leaving the King­ journed positions, the pressure was
side pawns in place) 39 P-N4 K-Bl on to find not only a correct move
40 P-KN5 K-Nl 41 P-R3! K-Bl to seal but one that would allow me
42 P-QR4! K-Nl 43 P-N5 RPXP to examine the possibilities from a
44 RPXP PXP 45 PXP K-Bl 46 forcing situation. I discovered the
K-R7 K-B2 47 P-N6ch K-B3 48 correct move:
P-R4! and White wins.
So is the game a win for White? 41 R-R3
Not necessarily, because Black 42 R-K3 R-B3
could have improved in line (ii) 43 K-K4 K-K3
with 39 ... P-N4!, and with his
extra tempo Black would win if Not 43 ... R-B7 because of 44
White continued to play as in line R-KB3 R-K7ch 45 K-Q3! winning;
(ii) or draw if White played as in nor 43 ... R-B8 44 R-KB3 R-K8ch
line (i).There follows one example 45 K-B5 and White's King goes
of Black's strategy and the reader after the weak Black pawns.
may work out the rest: 38 ...
K-Nl 39 P-N4 P-N4 40 P-QR4 44 R-Q3 R-B7
K-Bl 41 P-N5 RPXP 42 RPXP 45 R-Q6ch K-K2
PXP 43 KXP K-B2 44 P-B5 (44
K-B5 P-N3ch!) 44 ... P-R3! draw. Midnight oil from the adjourn­
ment analysis had been responsible
35 K-Q3 for finding the preceding moves and

216
 ROUND TWELVE

I expected it to have solved my 56 K-N2 R-B4

future problems as well. But now 57 P-R4 P-R3
Keres comes up with a move that 58 R-Q7 P-B3
made my heart skip a beat - I had 59 R-Q6 K-N2
analyzed only 46 R-R6 and 46 P­ 60 P-R5 P-B4!
QR3 and found easy draws in both 61 R-N6ch K-R2
cases. 62 PxP RxP
63 RXP RXP
46 R-Q4! 64 P-N4

White's best winning try. The draw may look easy from
this position, but believe me -
46 RXP against a Keres it is not.
47 R-N4 K-K3
48 RXP R-K7ch!
64 R-KN4
65 R-B5 R-Nl
The drawing idea of forcing
White to allow the Black King to
65 ... K-N3 loses to 66 RXRch!
become active along the fourth rank.
PXR (66 ... KXR? loses to 67
P-N5) and after both players pro­
49 K-Q4 R-Q7ch
mote White wins Black's Queen
50 K-B4 R-B7ch
with Q-N8ch.
51 K-N4

Had White played to the third 66 P-N5 K-N3

rank at any of his last three moves, 67 K-B3 P-R4
Black would have replied R­ 68 P-N6 P-R5
KR 7. 69 K-Q4 R-Qlch
70 K-B4 P-R6
51 P-R4ch 71 K-N5 P-R7
52 KxP RxPch 72 R-Bl K-N4
53 K-N4 R-B8 73 P-N7
54 R-B7 K-B3
I had expected 73 R-KRl R-KRl
Black can safely go to the King­ 74 P-N7 K-N5 75 RXP!, but Black
side because White can make no draws with 75 ... RXR! and if
headway on the Queenside, e.g. 55 White makes a new Queen he loses
K-R5 R-B6 56 P-N4 R-B5! to ... R-N7ch. But of course
White would have played 76 K-B6
55 K-R3 K-N3 with a draw.

217
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

73 R-QNl 23 Q-B2 QR-Kl

Draw 24 B-R2 Q-Ql
25 K-Bl Q-K2
To me this was an exciting draw 26 QR-Ql NxP
for it was against the great Keres, 27 NXN BXN
my boyhood idol, who in my opinion 28 RXB RXR
is the one man living who should 29 BXR QxB
have been world champion but 30 QxQ RXQ
never was. 31 BXP R-QN5
Draw

GAME 92
GAME 93
White: Henrique Mecking
Black: Lajos Portisch White: Walter Browne
Black: Tigran Petrosian
Ruy Lopez
Sicilian Defense
1 P-K4 P-K4
2 N-KB3 N-QB3 1 P-K4 P-QB4
3 B-N5 P-QR3 2 N-KB3 P-K3
4 B-R4 N-B3 3 N-B3 N-KB3
5 0-0 B-K2 4 P-Q4 PXP
6 R-Kl P-QN4 5 NxP P-Q3
7 B-N3 0-0 6 P-KN 3 N-B3
8 P-B3 P-Q3 7 B-N2 B-Q2
9 P-KR3 P-R3 8 0-0 B-K2
10 P-Q4 R-Kl 9 R-Kl 0-0
11 B-K3 B-Bl 10 NXN BXN
12 QN-Q2 B-N2 11 P-QR4 Q-Q2
13 Q-Nl N-Nl 12 R-K3 KR-Ql
14 B-B2 QN-Q2 13 R-Q3 N-K l
15 P-QR4 P-B4 14 P-N3 P-QN3
16 P-QN3 P-N5 15 B-QR3 P-QR3
17 PxKP PXBP 16 Q-Q2 Q-B2
18 PXN PXN 17 R-Kl KR-Bl
19 NXP NXP 18 N-K2 B-Bl
20 B-B4 P-N3 19 B-N4 N-B3
21 Q-Ql R-K3 20 N-Q4 B-N2
22 B-Q3 Q-Q2 21 P-QB4 N-Q2

218
 ROUND TWELVE

22 P-B4 N-B4 3 N-B3 P-Q4

23 R(3)-K3 R-Kl 4 P-Q4 P-B3
24 K-Rl QR-Bl 5 PxP KPxP
25 P-RS B-Rl
26 PXP QxP The opening is now defined as
27 B-RS Draw the Queen's Gambit Declined, Or­
thodox Defense, Exchange Varia­
tion - a dull game that I know
GAME 94 very well. On this occasion, weary,
I would be quite content with a dull
White: Anthony Saidy draw. But it's a mystery why Gligo
Black: Svetozar Gligoric allowed it. He almost always plays
the King's Indian.
Queen's Gambit Declined
6 B-NS B-KB4!?
Notes by Saidy
Perhaps a bit premature. Usual is
When one of the elite grand­ 6 ... B-K2 7 Q-B2 P-KN3 8 P-K3
masters blunders a piece to you, at B-KB4 9 B-Q3 BXB 10 QXB, and
first you can hardly believe your Black should equalize without much
eyes. Granted: there was enough trouble, as in Saidy-Benko, Netanya
material compensation.But it should 1969.
be impossible to lose with a piece
ahead. 7 Q-N3 Q-N3
Yet, when I received such gener­ 8 BxN PxB
osity in this game, I at first ne­ 9 P-K3 N-Q2
glected the sharpest continuation.
In time pressure, my understanding White has carefully avoided cap­
was so limited that I refused a fair turing Black's Queen, which would
offer of a draw and soon after allow a dangerous open file and
ruined the entire game with a colos­ pawn roller (. .. P-QN4-5, etc.).
sal error just before the time con­ He hopes to gain an edge by play­
trol. ing on Black's weak KB4 square.
You can call it bad luck. But in Here, 9 ... N-R3 might well equal­
a losing streak there is a funny ize, e.g. 10 N-KR4 QxQ 11 PxQ
feeling that, no matter what you do, N-N5 12 K-Q2 B-B7 13 R-R3 B-K2
cruel fate will supervene. 14 P-N3 P-KB4 15 N-N2 B-K5.

1 P-QB4 N-KB3 10 R-Bl B-K2

2 N-QB3 P-K3 11 N-KR4!?

219
 SAN ANTONIO '72

More accurate is 11 P-N3 0-0 A few moves later I realized that

12 N-KR4 QxQ 13 PXQ B-K3 (or I could have gained a probably de­
13 ... B-N3 14 B-R3) 14 B-Q3, cisive tempo for the attack via 20
with a slight advantage for White. R-B2, later swinging the Rook to
KR2.It is simply necessary to pre­
11 B-N3 vent Black from reactivating his
12 P-N3 P-KB4 Knight via ... N-Q7. The condi­
13 N-N2 N-B3 tion of this Knight and the immo­
14 B-Q3 QXQ bility of Black's pawns still give
15 PXQ N-K5 White all the chances. The next
16 P-B3 N-N4? moves are all logical enough.

20 0-0
21 N-B4 B-Q3
22 R-R2 K-N2
23 K-B3 KR-Kl
24 R(l)-KRl K-B3
25 B-B2 N-R4
26 P-N3 QR-Qt

Preparing B-NS which if

played now would have lost to
(either) NXPch.
White's pieces having reached
A rare blunder for Gligoric, who optimal positions, he at last takes
was not feeling well during much of the helpless Bishop and pushes his
the tournament. Here he reckoned initiative to a critical point. (Had
only with 17 N-KR4? P-BS! the tempo been saved on move 20,
If he had played 16 ... N-Q3 Black would have had to post his
and offered a draw, it would have King on KN2 and his KR on KRl
been one of my more pleasant in an attempt to hold the KR file.)
days in fair San Antonio. But now
the gauntlet was thrown down. I 27 PXB RPXP
had to take the piece and play for a 28 R-R7 B-N5
win. 29 N-Ql P-B4!

17 P-R4! NXPch Black's counterplay comes just

18 K-B2 N-Q7 in time.If now 30 N-Q3 N-B3! 31
19 P-R5 NXP PXP N-K4ch 32 NxN RXN, Black
20 QR-Ql?! has no real problems.

220
 ROUND TWELVE

30 R(l)-R6!? PXP Gligo later said he had not seen

31 PXP that White could force off a pair of
Rooks in this way, thus preventing
trouble on the King file. If now
33 . . . R-K2 34 N-K3 B-Q7 35
NXP BXR 36 NXR(6) K-N2 37
R-QB8 B-K6 38 NXNP NXPch
and draws.

33 R(3)-K3
34 RXR RXR
35 N-K3 B-Q7
36 NxPch K-N2
37 R-Rl

Alas, after much thought, leaving

At this point, with about two
myself only 13 minutes for the next
minutes for four moves, I was of­
9 moves, I concluded that my at­
fered a draw - very legitimately.
tack at its maximum was insuffi­
So, in addition to deciding on
cient to win. Consider these exciting
moves, I had to consider a draw
but inadequate possibilities:
offer. In an instant, the following
(i) 31 BXP?! N-B3 and Black's
thoughts went through my mind:
resource of ... N-K4ch stops the
"He's just refused my offer -
would-be mate;
now he's after a draw.Does it mean
(ii) 31 N-R5ch!? K-N4 32 N-B2!
he has blundered a pawn away?
RXPch 33 K-N2 R-K7 34 B-Ql
Maybe he can regain it. So what?
R-Q7 35 K-B3! (threatening N-R3
How can I possibly lose anyway?"
mate) RxNch 36 KXR B-Bl! (a
So I determined to play on -
terrific resource, saving the game
to my doom!
though a Rook down) 37 R-R8
PXN 38 RXPch K-B3 39 B-B2,
and it is White who is trying to re­ 37 R-Ql
store material equality. 38 R-Ql B-R4
Now, White's forces must fall 39 N(5)-B4?!
back and on the next move, Black
refuses a draw. Logical, but inferior. A minimal
advantage could be preserved via
31 N-B3 39 P-QN4! BXP 40 NXB NXN
32 N-K2 R-Q3 41 B-R4, retaining the passed QP.
33 R-R8 Now the pawn must go.

221
 SAN ANTONIO '72

39 B-N3 the only chance, hoping for a repeat

40 P-QS?? of the position.To his credit, Gligo
did not even repeat the position
Oh, cursed time trouble! With once, so as to find the win calmly
more time, I would have seen that at home, but sealed the winning
this move allows the Knight fatal move.
threats.An easy draw was still avail­
able with 40 P-KN4. 42 K-B3 N-K6!
But, as Alekhine said about time
trouble, my using it as an excuse
Not 42 ... R-KRl? 43 N-Q4!
for losing is as faulty an argument
R- R7 44 BXP!
as that of a criminal who pleads
drunkenness (he should know).
43 R-Q2

40 N-K4ch
41 K-N2 N-NS After the game, Gligoric said that
43 R-QBl is a better choice, but
still loses to 43 P-N4.

43 P-N4
44 B-Nl

White is helpless, e.g. 44 N-N2

N-B8!, threatening both mate in
one and the Rook. There is no
escaping the mating net without
heavy material loss.

The harmless Knight has sud­

44 P-NSch!
denly become lethal.The time con­
45 K-B2 NxPch!
trol reached, I now took over a
46 K-Kl
half hour for my next move (Gli­
goric had played rapidly). During
Or 46 K-Bl N-K6ch 47 K-Kl
that time I soon recovered my
R-KRl! and wins.
senses, and realized I had ruined
my position.If I attempted to avoid
the fork via 42 R-Q2, then 42 ... 46 B-R4

R-KRl would be murderous, e.g. 47 B-Q3

43 K-B3 R-R7 44 N-Q3 N-K4ch

45 NXN R-B7 mate. So I played Or 47N-Q3 R-KRl and wins.

222
 ROUND TWELVE

47 N-K6 previous round, where he played

48 N-R5ch K-R3 the same position with a tempo
49 N(2)-B4 K-N4 extra and lost terribly; he was ill.
50 K-K2 BXR
51 KXB N-B8ch 4 P-KN3
52 K-K2 NxPch 5 P-K4!? NXN
53 NxN KXN 6 NPXN B-N2
Resigns
I like positions with a central
Before the pawn onslaught. pawn majority, but what can White
It was flawed, but interesting do with it in this case? 7 P-Q4 P­
chess. At least I kept intact my QB4 leads to an old-fashioned vari­
consistent record of playing more ation of the Gruenfeld where White
moves than anyone else in a given has all the problems, and 7 B-B4
tournament. 0-0 8 0-0 P-B4 followed by N-B3
Wait till next time! looks very pleasant for Black, too.
I decided to do something strange.

7 Q-R4ch!? N-Q2
GAME 95

It worked! I got the Black Knight

White: Bent Larsen
away from its best square, QB3.
Black: Donald Byrne
Against 7 . . . P-B3 I might have
played 8 P-Q4, but I do not quite
English Opening know what it is worth.

Notes by Larsen 8 B-K2 0-0

9 0-0 P-QB4
1 P-QB4 N-KB3 10 Q-B2 Q-B2
2 N-QB3 P-Q4 11 P-Q3 P-N3
3 PXP NxP 12 P-QR4 B-N2
4 N-B3 13 N-Q2 B-QB3(?)

I honestly believe that 4 P-KN3 My opponent was not at all satis­

P-KN3 5 B-N2 NXN 6 N PXN 0-0 fied with this move afterwards.
7 R-QNl is very good for White, Probably 13 . . . P-QR3 is more
but I know that Donald Byrne has exact. But this is one of those errors
played this with very good results the psychological effect of which is
with Black. Do not judge him by the most important one. Black had
his game against Browne in the already used over an hour, and tak-

223
 SAN ANTONIO '72

ing quite some time for his next the threat N-N4) leads to a very
four moves he was well on his way simple position with few problems
to serious time pressure. and almost a sure draw.

14 B-N2 P-K3
15 P-Q4

It is hard to suggest another plan

for White.ThoughI felt that Black's
13th move had been inexact, I saw
no advantage in the position - ex­
cept for an hour's advantage on the
clock!

15 P-QR3
16 B-B3
20 B-K2!? NXP?

I could not find a good arrange­

Already short of time, Black
ment of my pieces to keep the ten­
chooses what seems to be the sim­
sion in the center. A noteworthy
plest continuation. However, 20 ...
detail is that if a White Rook goes
PXBP was stronger. An interesting
to QBl, Black can be annoying
continuation with an unclear pawn
with B-KR3.
sacrifice for White is 21 P-B4 N-Q6
22 BXB KxB 23 NXP!? (23 QxP
16 B-N2 N-N5 is pleasant for Black) NXP
17 P-Q5 PxP 24 P-Q6 NX Bch 25 QXN Q-Q2
26 QR-Ql (26 N-N6 QxP cer­
Time: White 52 minutes, Black tainly offers no winning chances for
113. White).
After the text move, finally,
18 PxP N-K4 White has the initiative.
19 P-B4 P-QN4
21 NxN PXN
Black does not want to allow 22 BXB KXB
White a solidly protected passed 23 P-Q6! Q-Q2
pawn in the center. 20 RPXP PXP 24 KR-Ql
21 PxP NxBch 22 NXN BXP 23
BXB KXB 24 Q-B3ch P-B3 (better 24 BXP would probably trans-
than 24 ... K-Nl 25 N-K5 with pose into the game continuation,

224
 ROUND TWELVE

while the attempt to get a draw by would not get out of the bind. But
24 ... BXP? is refuted by 25 Q­ he has only two minutes!
B3ch.
28 R-R3 B-Rl??
24 KR-Kl
25 BXP K-Nl Yes, these things happen when
26 Q-B3 QR-Ql you are in a hurry . .. The right
move was 28 ... B-R6. With his
strong passed pawn White can
hardly lose, but with his exposed
King he probably cannot win either.
Against 29 P-B3 Black simply de­
fends his QR pawn with 29 ...
R-Rl!

29 R-KN3

I was thinking of the game Keres­

D. Byrne (game 61), where White
No doubt White has an excellent also got his Rooks working on the
position with winning chances, but position of the Black King and
my next move is a mistake. Byrne Byrne, short of time, did not find a
had only four minutes left for four­ defense.
teen moves, so I thought it was a Here, there is no defense. Byrne's
good idea to plunge into complica­ original plan was 29 ... R-Nl, and
tions. Instead, I ought to have afterwards he regretted not playing
played something like 27 P-R5, for it. However, White wins with 30
instance 27 ... R-K5 (plan: R-Q5) P-R4!, for instance 30 ... R-N5
28 QR-Nl R-N5 29 P-B3 (29 B-Bl 31 P-KR5!
is also very good) BXP 30 QxB
RXB 31 R-N7 Q-B4 (31 ... Q­ 29 ..... . R-KBl(?)
K3? 32 R-K7 Q-B4 33 P-Q7! and
wins, for instance 33 ... K-Bl 34 Allowing an easy combination.
R-K8ch!) 32 QxQ PXQ 33 R-N6
with good winning chances. 30 RxPch! PXR
31 QxNPch K-Rl
27 Q-B6? BxP! 32 Q-R6ch

Black's only chance, but quite Clearer than 32 Q-R5ch K-N2 33

sufficient. After other moves Black R-Q3 K-B3!

225
 SAN ANTONIO '72

32 K-Nl 11 N-B3 Q-B2

33 R-Q3 Q-N5ch 12 B-K3 BXB
34 R-N3 QxRch
35 BPXQ B-K5 After 12 N-B5 13 Q-Q2
BXB 14 QXB NxB 15 QxN P-Q3

There was no other remedy Black has a good game. Evans's

against Q-N6ch followed by BXBP move is also good; Black is trying

- nor against B-Q3. to give his opponent a "bad" Bishop.

13 QXB P-Q3
36 Q-N5ch K-R2
37 Q-R4ch K-N2
In view of the following move,
38 QXB RXP
13 . . . P-K4! was more precise,
39 Q-K5ch R-B3
leaving White's Knights poorly
40 P-N4 Resigns
placed. Black would then have a
slight advantage. Now White re­
covers from his poor opening play
GAME 96
and obtains a good game again.

White: Julio Kaplan

14 N(B3)-Q4 P-K4
Black: Larry Evans
15 N-KB5 B-K3
16 P-N3 P-B3
Sicilian Defense
17 Q-B3

Notes by Kaplan
This prevents the continuation 17
. . . BXN( 4) 18 PXB N(N3)-K2
1 P-K4 P-QB4
followed by . . . P-Q4. At the same
2 N-KB3 P-K3
time, White begins the fight for his
3 P-Q4 PXP
Q5 square.
4 NX P P-QR3
5 B-Q3 B-B4 17 QR-Ql
6 N-N3 B-N3 18 N-K3 N(B3)-K2
7 0-0 N-K2
8 QN-Q2 A very ambitious move. Black
wants to play . . . P-Q4, and he is
The usual 8 Q-K2 followed by 9 also ready to answer 19 N-Q5 with
B-K3 is better. 19 ... NXN 20 PXN B-Bl pre­
serving his Bishop. At the same
8 QN-B3 time, Black's last two moves leave
9 P-QB3 0-0 his Queenside a little bare, requir­
10 Q-K2 N-N3 ing him to play with great caution.

226
 ROUND TWELVE

19 P-B4 P-QR4? The key. This removes the main

defender of Black's Queenside; all
his other pieces are thrown into
passive positions.

23 QXQ
24 PXQ P-N3
25 R-B7 B-R5
26 N-Q2 R-Nl
27 QR-QBl KR-Ql
28 B-Bl N-Bl
29 B-R3

Preventing N-Q2-B4, for if

A horrible move. Just when the 29 ... N-Q2? 30 P-N3 B-N4 31
first faint signs of danger appear in P-R4 wins a piece. Black achieves
his Queenside, Black rushes to push this placement of the Knight at the
a pawn in that sector! From an cost of exchanging Bishops and giv­
even position Black goes in one ing up the square QB3.
move to a very difficult, perhaps
lost one. 29 B-Q2
Maybe my bad play in the earlier 30 BXB NXB
rounds and in the opening of this 31 R(l)-B6 N-B4
game caused this attack of over­ 32 R-R7 K-Rl
optimism in my usually careful op­
ponent. In order to answer R(6)-B7 with
... R-Nl.
20 N-Q5! NXN
33 K-N2!
Black could gain a tempo with
20 ... BXN. But then White's White's last piece joins the bat­
Bishop would be extremely strong tle. The threat is K-B3 followed by
after the eventual B-Bl-R3. In par­ N-B4 winning a pawn.
ticular, it would control the square
QB8; this would make it impossible 33 P-R5
for Black to challenge the QB-file. 34 K-B3 P-QN4
35 P-QN4 PXPe.p.
21 BPXN B-Q2 36 NXP!
22 KR-Bl Q-N3
23 Q-K3! The exchange of Black's only well

227
 SA N A NTONIO '7 2

posted piece spells his defeat. If 45 R-B7 R-Q7 46 P-N4 P-N3 47

Black takes on QN6 White will be P-N5 PXP 48 PXP, and Black
able to double his Rooks on the must lose his KP ; (ii) 44 ... P-R4
sixth rank winning the QP. Evans 45 R-B7 R-Q7 46 P-N4 PXPch 47
chooses the best defense but it is KXP P-N3 48 P-R5 PXPch 49
also insufficient. KXP R-KN7 50 P-Q6 R-Q7 51
K-N6, etc.; (iii) 44 ... P-R4 45 R­
36 R(N)-Bl B7 R-Q7 46 P-N4 PXPch 47 KXP
37 NxN PXN R-KB7 48 P-Q6 R-Q7 49 P-Q7 K­
38 R(7)-QB7 R2 50 K-B5 R-Q3 51 P-R5! (zug­
zwang!) K-R3 52 R-B8. If Black
ignores the advance of the KRP he
also loses: (iv) 44 .. . R-Q7 45
R-B7 K-Bl 46 P-R5 K-Nl 47 K­
N4 R-KB7 48 P-Q6 R-Q7 49 P-Q7
K-Bl 50 K-B5 K-K2 (or 50 ... R­
Q3 51 R-B8ch K-K2 52 P-Q8=Qch
RXQ 53 RXR KXR 54 P-R6) 51
P-Q8=Qch KxQ 52 RXP R-KB7ch
53 K-K6 R-B6 (53 .. . P-R3 54
R-N6) 54 RXP RXKP 55 R-KN7!
and wins.
38 . . . . . . R-Rl We must conclude that Black
could put up stiff resistance, but
After the game Evans said that had to lose in the end. It seems
this was the decisive mistake. In­ probable that 19 ... P-QR4 was
deed, it makes the win very easy the losing move.
but I think that Black is lost in any
event.Evans suggested 38 ... RXR 39 P-Q6 RXRP
39 RXR P-B5 40 R-B5 K-Nl (if 40 R-B8 R-Nl
40 ... R-QNl? 41 P-Q6! wins) 41 41 P-Q7 R-Q7
RXNP P-B6 42 R-B5 R-Rl 43
RXP RXP 44 P-R4. Now the re­ The sealed move. Evans came to
sult hinges on whether White can the second session just for the for­
force an entrance for his King. As mality of signing the scoresheets.
the following variations show, Black
cannot prevent it: (i) 44 ... P-R4 Black Resigns

228
 ROUND TWELVE

Standings After Twelve Rounds

9 Karpov
81h Keres
8 Larsen, Petrosian, Portisch
7V2 Gligoric, Suttles
7 Hort
61h Mecking
5 Browne, D. Byrne
41h Evans
4 Kaplan
31h Campos
2 Saidy, Smith

229
 SAN ANTONIO '72

ROUND THIRTEEN

Tuesday, December 5th

White Black Opening Result Moves

97 Suttles (7V2) Hort (7) English Opening 112-V2 21
98 D. Byrne (5) Campos (3112) English Opening 1-0 31
99 Petrosian (8) Larsen (8) Dutch Defense 1-0 61
100 Gligoric (7112) Browne (5) Benoni Defense 1-0 37
101 Portisch (8) Saidy (2) Queen's Gambit Declined 1-0 43
102 Karpov (9) Kaplan (4) Sicilian Defense 112-V2 35
103 Evans (4V2) Keres (8112) Nimzo-lndian Defense 1-0 35
104 Smith (2) Mecking (6V2) Sicilian Defense 0-1 19

GAME 97 19 K-Q2 P-B4

20 PXNP QXP
White: Duncan Suttles 21 Q-RS Draw
Black: Vlastimil Hort

English Opening GAME 98

1 P-KN3 P-QB4 White: Donald Byrne

2 B-N2 N-QB3 Black: Mario Campos-Lopez
3 P-QB4 P-KN3
4 N-QB3 B-N2 English Opening
5 R-Nl P-K3
6 P-QR3 P-QR4 1 P-KN3 P-KN3
7 P-Q3 KN-K2 2 B-N2 B-N2
8 P-R4 P-R3 3 P-QB4 P-QB4
9 N-R3 P-K4 4 N-QB3 N-QB3
10 P-RS P-Q3 5 P-Q3 P-K4
11 P-K4 N-QS 6 P-K3 KN-K2
12 N-Nl B-K3 7 KN-K2 0-0
13 B-R3 Q-Q2 8 0-0 R-Nl
14 P-R4 0-0-0 9 P-N3 P-Q3
15 B-K3 K-Nl 10 B-N2 P-QR3
16 BXB QXB 11 Q-Q2 B-R3
17 P-N3 KR-Bl 12 QR-Ql N-QS
18 N-QS KN-B3 13 P-B4 NxNch

230
 ROUND THIRTEEN

14 QxN B-K3 quite impossible to rectify, as after

15 N-K4 P-B4 the tournament the players had dis­
16 N-N5 B-Bl persed to their various corners of
17 N-B3 PXP the globe. Making a virtue of ne­
18 KP X P R-Kl cessity, however, we consider the
19 P-Q4 N-B3 combined annotations below to offer
20 Q-Q2 B-N 2 the reader a most interesting and
21 PXP PXP rare opportunity to literally com­
22 Q-KB2 Q-R4 pare notes of two great players.
23 BXB KXB The letters following the individ­
24 Q-N2ch N-Q5 ual annotations refer to the authors:
25 NXN PXN (P) for Petrosian, (L) for Larsen.
26 RxP K-R3 Petrosian's notes were translated
27 R-Q5 Q-N3ch from the Russian by Hanon Russell.)
28 P-B5 Q-B2
29 P- KR3 B-Q2 At the start of this game the
30 Q-B6 R-K3 tournament standings of the two
31 Q-B7 Resigns opponents were equal. After a series
of failures (against Keres, Mecking
and Browne), Larsen began to win
GAME 99 one game after another, and drew
close to the tournament leaders. But
White: Tigran Petrosian I had not been able to break out
Black: Bent Larsen of my "prison of draws." Two or
three more rounds of this and I
Dutch Defense wasn't sure if my tournament per­
formance would finish creditably.
Notes by Petrosian and Larsen These are the thoughts that ran
through my mind before the first
(Editor's Note: Due to an ap­ move. (P)
parent misunderstanding, both Lar­
sen and Petrosian submitted notes 1 P-Q4 P-K3
to this game. Because the game as­ 2 N-KB3 P-KB4
signments had been carefully worked
out during the tournament, when Oh, what a delight! I really like
Larsen's notes arrived we considered to play against the Dutch Defense
this game "finished." A few days with White. (P)
later Petrosian's notes were deliv­
ered and we realized that there had 3 P-KN3 N-KB3
been some kind of slip-up. It was 4 B-N2 P-QN4

231
 SAN ANTONIO '72

(L) gives ?!, (P) gives !!?? 6 ..... . Q-N3

Many years ago, in Portoroz
1958, I invented 1 P-KB4 P-Q4 2 (L) and (P) give !
N-KB3 N-KB3 3 P-K3 P-KN3 4 Very strong. White is forced to
P-QN4!?, and I intended to play it waste a tempo with the uninspiring
then against Petrosian, but he played P-QB3 or P-K3 to defend the Queen
3 . . . B-N5. Now I have the op­ pawn, after which Black will man­
portunity, but with Black the move age to play B-N2 and P-B4 with
is not very good. (3 . . . P-QN4 a beautiful game. If White had
would have been very bad because previously played P-QR4, forcing
of 4 P-Q5!) (L) P-N5, he would now be able to play
Black's last move can hardly be N(2)-B4. (P)
endorsed. There are certain discom­ Now 7 P-QB3 B-N2 looks satis­
forts one puts up with because of factory for Black. Petrosian thought
the "Dutch" pawn on KB4, and for half an hour. The provocation
these are but intensified by the was too strong. Saidy later said that
placing of another pawn on the this was the first time in Petrosian's
fourth rank. However, in return, career that he made an incorrect
White has to cope with the new pawn sacrifice - but I am not sure
situation over the board, and this it is incorrect. (L)
will demand time and energy. (P)

7 P-K4
5 N-KS

(L) gives !?, (P) gives ?!

(L) gives !
Neither during nor after the game
Simple and good. But it would
did I overestimate White's prospects
have been better first to play P­
after the pawn sacrifice. White ob­
QR4 and only then to follow with
tains a big advantage in develop­
the plan of N-K5 and N-Q2. (P)
ment, but it is difficult to make use
of this. Black has no weaknesses
5 P-B3
and the pawn configuration QN4-
6 N-Q2
QB3-Q2-K3 keeps White's pieces
out of Black's camp. Larsen's next
(L) gives ?!
moves are very good. (P)
I believe that 0-0 is stronger, but
after only one game, who knows?
(L) 7 ...... QXP

If White gets in P-K4, Black will

be duly punished for his experi­ Worse is 7 P-Q3 8 N-Q3.
ment. (P) (P)

232
 ROUND THIRTEEN

8 N(5)-B3 Q-B4 14 Q-B2

15 R-K2
It will be necessary to recapture
on KB4 with the Queen, since after, (L) gives ?
for example, 8 ... Q-N3 9 PXP I was expecting something like
PXP 10 0-0, the appearance of the 15 B-N5! B-B3 16 N-B5 K-Ql,
White Queen or Rook on the King with an unclear position. But the
file makes things unpleasant for point is that I have succeeded in
Black. (P) creating a type of position the ex­
world champion does not like. (L)
9 PXP QXKBP
10 0-0 N-Q4 15 0-0
16 N-K5 Q-R4
(P) gives !
Blocking the diagonal, this is If 16 ... Q-Kl then 17 NxNP
probably best, though it would be and if 17 ... PXN 18 BXN. (P)
nice to get some other minor pieces
into play. (L)
17 P-KB4 B-B4
18 K-Rl B-N2
11 N-Q4 Q-B2 19 N(4)-B3 B-N3
12 N(2)-B3 Q-R4
(L) and (P) give ?
(L) and (P) give !
An error. It was better to retreat
Losing more time, but it disturbs
the Bishop to K2. On QN3 the
White's development. (L)
Bishop becomes an object of at­
tack. Now White has something to
13 R-Kl B-K2
aim at. (P)
Had I thought of White's next
Not 13 ... B-Q3?? 14 NxNP!
move, I would have found a better
PXN 15 P-KN4 and wins! (L)
move. One of them is 19 ... Q-Kl,
preparing N-R3-B2 (and then, fi­
14 R-K5
nally, P-Q3). Against 20 Q-Q3 B-K2
is good. (L)
White is using an extra move to
get the Rook to K2, but this is not
20 P-QR4

the loss of time it seems to be, for (L) and (P) give !
otherwise after castling, the Queen
would "circle back" to Kl. (P) 20 . . . . . . P-QR3

233
 SAN ANTONIO '72

(P) gives?
Another error, more serious than
the first. It was better to play P-NS
or to take the RP. (P)
Not nice; maybe P-NS is better.
(L)

21 P-B4 N-B3
22 N-N5

Now it is clear that White has a

splendid position. The question is, We were both getting a little
where will the crushing blow come short of time. Petrosian looked at
from? (P) 28 B-Nl P-B4! for a couple of
minutes, and when he saw there
was no mate he retreated to N2.
22 PXRP
He completely forgot to look at
23 B-B3 Q-Kl
28 B-N6! followed by Q-B2, which
24 B-K3
wins easily. (L)
It is necessary somehow to de­
(L) gives !
velop the Queenside. The Knight
Black is weak on the dark squares
must go to Q2. (P)
and has great difficulties with the
development of his Queenside. The
28 B-N2
plan chosen by Black should lose
quickly. (L)
(P) gives ?, (L) gives ??
White should have been aware
24 BXB of the tremendous weakness of the
25 RXB P-R3
QN1-KR7 diagonal, especially the
squares KN6 and KR7. But I was
You recall that earlier I said that so pleased with my position here
Black had no weaknesses. Now his that I did not even notice that after
position is riddled with them. Just 29 B-N6 Q-K2 30 Q-B2!, White
to make clear how bad his position wins quickly. (P)
is, it should be noted that in this
position, so difficult to defend, Black
is two pawns ahead. (P) 28 N-Q2
29 RXP P-B4
26 N-K4 NXN
27 BXN P-Q4 (L) gives?!

234
 ROUND THIRT EEN

White probably has compensa­ The Black Knight has moved at

tion for the pawn, and a draw is
the most likely outcome. I knew
the text move was a bit of a gamble,
but I underestimated White's 32nd
move. Probably best was 29
P-QR4. (L)
Better was 29 ... NXN. (P)
30 PxP N-N3
31 R-RS NXP
a dizzy pace from QNl to Q8, but
the White Rooks have not been
sleeping either. In one more move
the other Rook will set itself down
... next to its comrade on the seventh
rank. (P)
36 . . . . . . N-K6
Not 36 ... Q-Ql 37 R-Q7, and
an easy refutation (but not the only

As planned. 31 ... BXP would one) of 36 ... Q-R4 is 37 R(6)-R7

give White a slight edge. (L) N-B7ch 38 K-Nl Q-Q8ch 39 B-Bl!?

(L)
If 36 ... Q-R4, then 37 R(6)-R7
32 R-N3
N-B7ch 38 K-Nl Q-Q8ch 39 B-Bl!
and White wins. (P)
(L) gives !
Black has a difficult position.
37 R(6)-R7 N-B4
Larsen sets a trap. (P)
38 P-N4 Q-Ql

32 R-Ql

32 ... R-Nl 33 RXB! is bad,

and what else is there? I almost
decided to sacrifice the Exchange
with 32 ... Q-K2, but it cannot be
good enough, so I went in for the
ensuing complications. I had 8 min­
utes left, Petrosian 16. (L)

33 RXB
39 P-R3
(L) gives !
(L) gives ??, (P) gives ?
33 N-K6 After 39 B-B3 Black could re­
34 Q-K2 R-Q8ch sign. (L)
35 QXR NXQ 39 B-B3! is immediately decisive.
36 RXRP (P)

235
 SAN ANTONIO '72

39 ..... . Q-Q8ch (L) gives !?

The only try. Surprisingly, Pe­
(L) gives ?? trosian thought for a long time. He
With 39 ... Q-Q7! Black had at had not analyzed! Well, it was late
least a draw! White cannot play 40 in the tournament and the players
N-N6? Q-K8ch 41 K-R2 Q-N6ch were getting tired. (L)
followed by R-Ql. (L)
If 39 ... Q-Q7, then 40 N-B3 46 P-N5
Q-B8ch 41 N-Nl with good chances
for White. (P) (P) gives ?, (L) gives ??
Even more surprising! I had an­
40 K-R2 Q-Q5 alyzed this without finding a win
41 N-N6 for White. 46 K-N3! is the only
correct move. (L)
Here the game was adjourned. Correct was 46 K-N3. (P)
Analysis showed that Black's strong­
est move is 41 ... R-Ql which,
46 P-R5
after 42 PXN PXP 43 P-N3, leaves
47 K-Nl P-K4
White with the better chances. Lar­
sen sealed a bad move. (P)
(L) and (P) give !
Breaking up White's pawns, after
41 ..... N-K6
which Black's Knight is activated,
.

which leads to a drawn position. (P)

The sealed move. There was
nothing better, but the ending is
48 PXP
lost. (L)

48 K-B2? PXP 49 B-K2 N-B4!

42 RXPch QXR
(L)
43 RXQch KXR
44 NxR KXN
45 B-B3 48 N-B5
49 K-B2

Now after 45 ... N-B5 46 P-N3

N-Q7 47 B-Ql K-K2 48 K-N2 P­
BS 49 P-N4, White wins without
much difficulty, thanks to his passed
pawns on both flanks. Larsen again
sets a trap. (P)
Or 49 P-K6 NXP 50 P-N6 P-B5
51 B-Q5 P-B6 52 B-N3 N-Q6 53 P­
K7ch KXP 54 P-N7 P-B7 55 BXP
K-B2 and draws. White is left with
the wrong Rook's pawn. (L)

45 ..... . P-R4 49 ..... . NXKP

236
 ROUND THIRTEEN

Simplest of all. (P) 57 K-Q5 KxP

58 KxP K-B4
50 B-K4 K-N2 59 P-N4 K-B5
51 P-N3 N-B2 60 P-N5 K-N6
52 P-N6 N-N4 61 P-N6 Resigns

GAME 100

White: Svetozar Gligoric

Black: Walter Browne

Benoni Defense

Notes by Gligoric

(P) gives ??, (L) gives ??? 1 P-Q4 N-KB3

Losing for the third time! 52 ... 2 P-QB4 P-B4
N-K4 draws, for instance 53 K-K3 3 P-Q5 P-K3
NxP! 54 BXN KXB 55 K-K4 4 N-QB3 PXP
K-N4 56 K-K5 K-N3 57 K-Q5 5 PxP P-Q3
K-B4 58 KXP K-B5, etc., or 55 6 N-B3 P-KN3
K-B4 K-B3 56 K-N4 K-K4, etc. I 7 P-K4 B-N2
played very quickly. I had just mis­ 8 B-K2 0-0
played the adjourned game against 9 0-0 R-Kl
Suttles and was not in the mood to 10 N-Q2 QN-Q2
play chess. (L) 11 P-QR4
Correct was N-K4 or N-Q3. Now
White wins. (P) M y improvement on the third
game of the Spassky-Fischer match
53 B-B5 K-B3 which went 11 Q-B2 N-R4! 12
54 K-K3 BXN PXB 13 N-B4 N-K4 14 N­
K3 Q-R5 15 B-Q2 N-N5! 16 NXN
Larsen obviously overlooked this. PXN with a perfectly satisfactory
The Bishop cannot be taken. (P) game for Black. The last time I
tested this move was against Kava­
54 N-K3 lek at the recent Olympiad in
55 BXN KXB Skopje. Surprisingly, Browne had
56 K-K4 K-B3 not seen that game.

237
 SAN ANTONIO '72

11 ..... . P-QR3 18 N-B3 Q-K2 leaves White's

Knight on KB3 misplaced.
Kavalek played 11 ... N-K4 12
Q-B2 N-R4 13 BXN PXB 14 N-Ql 18 ..... . PXN
Q-R5 15 N-K3 N-N5 16 NxN 19 N-B4
PXN 17 N-B4.
19 P-K5, intending N-K4 prob­
12 Q-B2 N-R4 ably doesn't work.
13 BXN PXB
14 N-Ql!
19 Q-K2
20 P-K5 PXP
21 PxP BxP
22 NXB QXN
23 QXP QR-Bl

Not 23 . .. B-B3? 24 Q-N4

QXQP 25 QxPch K-Rl 26 B-N5
with an immediate win.

24 Q-KB2 P-B4

If 24 ... QXQP 25 R-Q3 QXR

The point. Now that Black's KN
26 QXPch K-Rl 27 Q-B6ch K-Nl
has gone from KB3 and White's KP
28 B-R6 QXRch 29 QxQ (threat­
is therefore under less pressure, the
ening 30 Q-B6 as well as B-Q2-B3)
White QN is no longer serving any
and White is better.
useful purpose on QB3.Its correct
square is clearly QB4.
25 P-R3!

14 N-K4
15 N-K3 Q-R5
16 R-R3! B-Q2
17 P-B4

White must play actively to

counteract Black's threat of
P-QN4.

17 N-N5
18 NXN

238
 ROUND THIRTEEN

A very fine move. White must 30 Q-Q2 Q-Q5

open up the KB-file, otherwise he
has no play. If now 25 ... P-KR4 30 ... R-QS is met by 31 Q-B3.
26 Q-R4.
31 QXQ RXQ
25 R-B5 32 R-K5 RXRP
26 B-B4!
If 32 ... R-B4 33 RXR BXR
Cutting the Rook off from the 34 B-KS wins a piece. 32 ... P-RS
defense of the KNP and thereby is also insufficient: 33 R-N5ch K­
forcing Black to recapture with the R2 34 R-Kl!
pawn.
33 R-N5ch K-R2
26 Q-N2 34 RXPch K-N2
35 R-N5ch K-R2
26 ... QXQP loses to 27 PXP 36 K-N2 R-B3
PXP 28 B-R6, etc. 37 R-Kl Forfeit

27 PXP PXP

If 27 ... R(l)-K5 28 R-B3 PXP GAME 101

29 B-R6 wins.
White: Lajos Portisch
28 R-K3 Black: Anthony Saidy

It is important for White to fight Queen's Gambit Declined

for this central file.
Notes by Larsen
28 ..... . R-KBl
1 P-Q4 P-Q4
If Black exchanges Rooks, White 2 P-QB4 P-QB3
has too many threats, e.g. 28 ... 3 N-QB3 PXP
RXR 29 QXR Q-QS 30 QXQ
RxQ 31 B-R6 winning. A very rare variation nowadays,
because it is considered favorable
29 P-KN3 P-KR4 for White. I avoided it in my game
against Saidy, with 3 P-K3. If Por­
Making some space for his King tisch had done the same, the answer
and threatening ... P-RS. By now would probably have been 3 ...
Browne was in terrible time trouble. B-B4 this time.

239
 SA N ANTONIO '72

4 P-K4! four pawns against three than with

The only try for an advantage.
4 P-K3 P-QN4! is at least satisfac­
tory for Black, and 5 NXP? PXN
6 Q-B3 Q-B2 7 QxR B-N2 8 QxP
P-K4! even a forced win, as demon­
strated in master games almost forty
three against two.
Is White's plus big enough for a
win? For the practical player this
is not a very important question.
The Black position is so difficult
that he will probably draw just as
many as he will lose, not winning

years ago. any.

15 P-QR3 P-KR3
4 P-K4
16 R-B2 BxN
5 N-B3 PxP
6 QXP QXQ
It is hard to say if 16 ... QR-Ql
7 NXQ B-QB4
was better.

Also 7 ... P-QN4 does not keep

17 BXB B-K3
the plus pawn after 8 P-QR4.
18 BXB PXB
19 BXN(N6) PXB
8 B-K3 N-B3
9 P-B3 QN-Q2 White now takes control of the
only open file.Also, the Black pawn
Again, P-QN4 is not better. The majority now cannot produce a
right answer seems to be 10 P-QR4 passed pawn in a pure King and
P-N5 11 N-R2! B-R3 12 N-B2, re­ Pawn ending. Finally, Black has
gaining the pawn with advantage, three groups ("islands") of pawns,
as the Black Queenside majority is White only two. All in all, it is
not worth very much. probably enough to win.
Saidy said after the game that
10 BXP 0-0 he had not realized how difficult
11 K-B2 N-N3 a position he got out of the open­
12 B-N3 R-Kl ing. About now he must have real­
13 KR-Ql B-Q2 ized it.
14 QR-Bl QR-Bl
20 N-R4 P-QN4
What is wrong with Black's posi­ 21 N-B5 R-B2
tion? White's advantage can be de­ 22 R(2)-Q2 K-B2
scribed in several ways. His center 23 K-K3 K-K2
pawn limits the scope of the Black 24 P-B4!? P-QN3
pieces. There is more play with 25 N-Q3

240
 ROUND THIRTEE N

29 P-B5 P-B5
30 K-Q4 R-Bl
31 R-K2 N-Q2
32 NxN R-Ql
33 R-Q2 RXNch
34 K-B3 R-B2
35 R-Q4 R-B4
36 P-QR4! PxP
37 RXP R-R4

Of course, exchanging Rooks

An interesting position. I heard loses.
"on the grapevine" that Black could
have drawn with 25 ... N-N5ch!? 38 R-B6 PXP
Closer study reveals that 26 K-B3? 39 NPxP
NXPch 27 K-N3 R-Q2 28 KxN
R(l)-Ql 29 K-N3 P-B4 30 K-B3 These connected passed pawns
P-B5 does not offer winning chances win easily.
for White - but 26 K-K2! NXP
27 N-B2 P-R4 28 R-KRl N-N5 29 39 P-R6
RXP does! For instance: 29 ... 40 R-K6ch K-B2
NxN 30 KxN R-Ql 31 RXR 41 PXP RXPch
KXR 32 R-N5 (also good is 32 42 K-Q4 R-R6
R-R8ch and R-QN8) K-Kl 33 R­ 43 RXNP Resigns
N6 K-B2 34 P-B5 PXP 35 PXP.
Black is condemned to passivity; Actually, the game was ad­
White advances his KNP and his journed, but Black resigned without
King, and he must win. further play.

25 R-Ql
26 N-K5 RXR GAME 102
27 RXR P-B4
White: Anatoly Karpov

White has a winning position, Black: Julio Kaplan

why use question marks?

Sicilian Defense

28 P-KN4 P-N4 Notes by Kaplan

Otherwise, White continues with 1 P-K4 P-QB4

P-KR4. 2 N-KB3 N-QB3

241
 SAN ANTONIO '72

3 P-Q4 PXP 11 P-B3 P-B4

4 NxP P-KN3 12 PXP BXP
5 P-QB4 N-B3 13 N-K3 N-Q5
6 N-QB3 P-Q3 14 NXB NxN
7 N-B2 15 R-Nl P-K3
16 Q-Kl P-QR3?
This particular form of the Ma­
roczy Bind gives Black an easy On the wrong track. I was trying
game, but recent games have shown to get my Bishop to Q5 and secure it
that the more popular 7P-B3 is not against N-N5. I should have secured
dangerous either. instead my powerful Knights which
exercise a cramping effect, with 16
7 B-N2 . .. P-QR4. Then, after 17 B-Q2
8 B-K2 0-0 P-Q4! White has a miserable game.
9 0-0?
17 K-Rl B-Q5
This natural move is an error 18 B-Q2 Q-K2
which gives Black a very good 19 P-B4 QR-Kl
game. Correct is 9 B-K3 N-Q2 10
Q-Q2 N-B4 11 P-B3 with chances
for both sides.

9 N-Q2
10 Q-Q2?!

After the passive 10 B-Q2 N-B4

11 P-B3 P-B4 12 PXP BXP, the
weakness at Q3 gives Black a slight
advantage, but that is probably
White's best course. The text move
leaves his pieces in a tangle since it Black is hoping to open the K-file
is difficult to fianchetto the QB. before White can coordinate his
Bad would be 10 B-K3 BXN! 11 pieces. But it was still better to play
PXB N-B4 when Black has all the 19 ... P-QR4 with a good game.
chances; the weak dark squares Now White has the advantage.
around Black's King are not enough
compensation for the doubled 20 P-QN4 N-Q2
pawns. 21 B-Q3 P-K4
22 PXP NXP
10 N-B4 23 Q-K4 B-R2

242
 ROUND THIRTEEN

24 Q-Q5ch K-N2 better endgame, for the Bishop is

25 QR-Kl? better than the Knight and White's
Queenside is weak.
After 25 BXN RXB 26 RXR The line Karpov plays also gives
PXR 27 R-KBl, Black is in trouble. him a difficult game, so best is 31
Now it is White who has to be care­ RXR KXR 32 N-B6ch with equal­
ful. ity. Karpov was probably trying to
exploit my time pressure but that is
25 Q-KB2! a dangerous policy.

The tempting 25 . . . Q-R5 26 31 R-KBl R-K7

BXN N-N5 fails after 27 Q x Pch 32 RxPch K-K3
K-Rl 28 P-KR3! but not 28 BXN?? 33 R-R5 PxP
QXR! and wins. 34 PXP BXP
With the text Black steers for an 35 P-QR4 Draw
endgame in which his many isolated
pawns are hard to attack, while the Here Karpov offered a draw. I
White pawn at QB4 is very sick. had about three minutes left and
decided to see if I could quickly
26 BXN QxQ find a forced win. Engrossed in the
27 NxQ RXB analysis, I forgot about the clock
28 B-B3 K-B2 and almost Jet my flag fall! Having
29 Rx Reh PXR only a few seconds left I was happy
30 P-B5 N-Q6! to accept the offer. There was an

unfortunate lapse of concentration

(or perhaps too much of it) for
after 35 . . . R-QB7 White is in
great difficulties.

GAME 103

White: Larry Evans

Black: Paul Keres

Nimzo-Indian Defense

The key to the defense! Now 31 Notes by Evans

RXR KXR 32 PXP N-B7ch 33
K-Nl N-K5ch 34 K-Bl NxB 35 1 P-Q4 N-KB3
NXN K-Q2 leaves Black with the 2 P-QB4 P-K3

243
 SAN ANTO NIO '72

3 N-QB3 B-N5 although White retains a space ad­

4 P-K3 P-B4 vantage.
5 N-K2 P-Q3
10 NPXBP PXP
A dubious idea which preserves 11 B-KN2 PXP
the two Bishops at the cost of a 12 PXP 0-0
permanent cramp. More stable is 5 13 0-0 Q-K2
... PXP 6 PXP P-Q4. 14 Q-R4 R-R3
15 R-Kl!
6 P-QR3 B-R4
7 R-QNl N-B3 Discouraging the freeing maneu­
8 P-QN4 B-B2 ver 15 ... P-K4 16 P-Q5 N-Q5 17
NXN with a fatal pin on the K-file.
If 8 ... B-N3 9 N-R4 holds the Black now can find no happy square
edge, e.g. 9 ... 0-0 10 NXB PXN for his Queen. Not 15 B-N5 P-R3
11 P-Q5 N-K4 12 N-N3 P-QN4 13 16 QBXN QXB 17 N-K4 Q-K2 18
PXKP BXP 14 PXNP PXP 15 N-B5 NXP!
PXP B-R7 16 R-Rl with an ex­
cellent game for White. Gligoric­
Wade, Teesside 1972. Or 8 ...
PXNP 9 PXP BXP 10 RXB NXR
11 Q-R4ch N-B3 12 P-Q5, winning
two pieces advantageously for Rook
and two pawns.

9 P-N3

White pursues development in­

stead of 9 QPXP PXP 10 QxQch
BXQ 11 PXP B-K2 (12 N-N5 0-0
13 N-Q6 BXN 14 PXB R-Ql re­ 15 R-Ql
gains the pawn). 16 N-N5 B-Nl

9 P-QR4'? Black's pieces are misplaced on

the Queenside and White therefore
Black gave this considerable refused the offer of a draw here.
thought, but it is a grave strategical Curiously this position is reached
error creating Queenside weak­ again on move 21 with White's
nesses.An alternative is 9 ... 0-0 Bishop on K3 and a pawn on KR3
10 B-KN2 PXQP 11 PXP P-K4, opposed to a Black Knight on Kl.

244
 ROUND THIRTEEN

17 B-N2 N-R2 27 RXN

18 N(5)-B3 Q-B2
19 B-QBl Q-K2 If 27 BXN 28 RXB R-Rl
20 P-R3 N-B3 29 RXR(Q8) RXR 30 R-Ql N-B2
31 N-B4 with a decisive pin on the
Black might try to ease his con­ Q-file. Or 27 ... B-R2 28 N(2)-B4
gestion with 20 . . . P-QN3. His threatening B-KBl.
QNP is weak no matter what.
28 RXB K-Bl
21 B-K3 N-Kl 29 BxR BxB
22 P-Q5 N-K4 30 N-Q4 K-K2
23 P-B5 Q-Q2 31 R(l)-N6 R-R2
32 B-B4 N-B6 ch
Keres pondered thirty-two min­
utes and decided his position was If 32 ... N-Q2 33 N-B5ch K-Bl
lost. Necessary but unpleasant is 23 34 B-Q6ch mates.
... PxP 24 NxP Q-Bl 25 Q-R4
P-B3 26 N-N6 sealing Black's QR. 33 NXN BXN
Not 25 ... N-KB3? 26 NxNch 34 P-B6 N-Q3
RXN 27 B-N5. 35 P-B7 Resigns

24 QXQ BXQ
GAME 104
Equally hopeless is 24 ... R XQ
25 P-B6. White: Kenneth Smith
Black: Henrique Mecking
25 RXP PXP
26 NxP B-K3 Sicilian Defense
27 R(l)-Nl
Notes by Levy

1 P-K4 P-QB4
2 P-Q4

Third time lucky?

2 PxP
3 P-QB3 PxP
4 NXP N-QB3
5 N-B3 P-Q3

245
 SAN ANTONIO '72

6 B-QB4 P-QR3
7 0-0 N-B3
8 P-QR3?

What kind of a move is this?

Normal is 8 B-KNS.

8 P-K3
9 Q-K2 P-R3
10 R-Ql P-K4
11 N-QS B-K2
12 B-K3 NXN
13 PXN N-Nl 14 PXN
15 P-B4 PXP
(Sec diagram next column.) 16 P-Q6 PXB
17 QXP N-B3
14 NXP? 18 B-QS 0-0
19 BXN? B-N4
Totally unsound. White should Resigns
have tried doubling Rooks on the
QB file.

Standings After Thirteen Rounds

91h Karpov
9 Petrosian, Portisch
8Vz Gligoric, Keres
8 Larsen, Suttles
71h Hort, Mecking
6 D. Byrne
51/2 Evans
5 Browne
41/2 Kaplan
31/2 Campos
2 Saidy, Smith

246
 ROUND FOURTEEN

ROUND FOURTEEN

Friday, December 8th

White Black Opening Result Moves

105 Hort (7112) Kaplan (4Vz) King's Indian Defense 1-0 36

106 Keres (81/z) Karpov (9Vz) Nimzo-Indian Defense Vz-Vz 21
107 Mecking (7Vz) Evans (5Vz) Sicilian Defense Vz-Vz 41
108 Saidy (2) Smith (2) Caro-KannDefense 1-0 43
109 Browne (5) Portisch (9) Sicilian Defense Vz-112 65
110 Larsen (8) Gligoric (8Vz) King's Indian Defense lf2-Vz 60
111 Campos (3Vz) Petrosian (9) French Defense 0-1 33
112 Suttles (8) D.Byrne (6) EnglishOpening Vz-Vz 59

GAME 105 After 9 NxN PxN 10 N-K2

N-R4 11 0-0 P-QB4 12 PXP e.p.
White: Vlastimil Hort PXP Black has at least equal
Black: Julio Kap lan chances.

King's Indian Defense

9 N-R 4
10 Q-Q2 P-QB4
Notes by Levy

1 P-QB4 P-KN3 Better is 10 P-KB4 11 B-

2 P-Q4 B-N2 QN 1 when the position is roughly
3 N-QB3 P-Q3 equal. Now Black's Q3 and Q4
4 P-K4 N-KB3 squares become weak.
5 B-Q3 0-0
6 KN-K2 N-B3!
7 P-B3 11 PXPe.p. PXP
12 P-QN4 P-KB4

Not 7 0-0 P-K4 8 P-Q5 N-Q5! 13 PxP

9 NXN PXN followed by ... R­

Kl, when Black has a great game. Naturally not 13 P-N5 P-B5!

7 P-K4
8 P-QS N-QS 13 PXP
9 B-K3 14 0-0

247
 '7 2

r� �!lo:
SAN ANTONIO

.i� II •
wa, • • s• i
21 BXN PXB

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L.�

l!! ·'li
J

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'I.
<. . . • .
22 PXBP Q-R5

•
�

•
" �
7,
�--� � �
23 P-KR3 B-B4

• • -� �•1 • ��
� ' - �
24 N-K4 R-QBl

• •
25 QR-Nl BXN
i$% �L"

• ���-
�� 26 PXB Q-K2
�-� 27 R-N7 Q-Kl

�• m�•� ��
�§
0. �
� 28 Q-Q5ch K-Rl
29 P-B5 B-Bl

; '
�.'""•!
� � ,
ri:l , '
30 P-B7 Q-Q2
31 B-N5 Q-K2
32 R-KBl R-B3
This position is possibly critical
33 RXR QxR
for the variation. In their post-
34 B-B4 Q-N4
mortem analysis the players con-
35 Q-Ql Q-K2
sidered it to offer roughly equal
36 Q-N4 Resigns
chances.

14 NXNch
GAME 106
15 BXN N-B5
16 KR-Qt R-B3
White: Paul Keres
17 B-Bl R-N3
Black: Anatoly Karpov
18 K-Rl N-R4
19 P-N5 P-B5?
Nimzo-Indian Defense

Correct was 19 ... B-N2 20

1 P-Q4 N-KB3
P-B5 P-Q4 21 PXP BXP 22 NXP
2 P-QB4 P-K3
P-B5 23 B-B2 P-K5 (or possibly
3 N-QB3 B-N5
23 ... N-N6ch at once) 24 PXP
4 P-K3 P-B4
N-N6ch with great complications.
5 B-Q3 0-0
Now Black has no real Kingside
6 N-B3 P-Q4
play and White crashes through in
7 0-0 PXBP
the center.
8 BXP PxP
9 PXP P-QN3
20 B-B2 N-N6ch 10 B-KN5 B-N2
11 Q-K2 QN-Q2
This just loses. Relatively best 12 QR-Bl R-QBl
was 20 ... B-N2 but then 21 13 N-K5 P-KR3
B-Q3 followed by B-K4 increases 14 B-B4 NxN
White's hold on the position. 15 BXN Q-K2

248
 ROUND FOURTEEN

16 B-R6 BXB 26 K-Nl N-B4

17 QxB BXN 27 K-B2 R-QNl
18 PXB N-Q4 28 B-B4 R-Ql
19 P-QB4 N-N5 29 R-Ql RXR
20 Q-R3 P-B3 30 KXR K-Q3
21 B-N3 Draw 31 K-Q2 P-N4
32 B-N8 P-R3
33 B-R7 K-K3
GAME 107 34 B-N8ch K-Q3
35 B-B7 K-K2
White: Henrique Mecking 36 B-N6 K-B3
Black: Larry Evans 37 B-K8 K-K2
38 B-N5 K-Q3
Sicilian Defense 39 B-B4 P-K5
40 PXP NXPch
1 P-K4 P-QB4 41 K-B2 N-B4
2 N-KB3 P-Q3 Draw
3 P-Q4 PXP
4 NXP N-KB3
5 N-QB3 P-QR3 GAME 108
6 B-K3 P-K4
7 N-N3 B-K3 White: Anthony Saidy
8 Q-Q2 B-K2 Black: Kenneth Smith
9 P-B3 QN-Q2
10 0-0-0 P-QN4 Caro-Kann Defense
11 N-Q5 BXN
12 PXB N-N3 1 P-QB4 P-QB3
13 BXN QxB 2 P-K4 P-Q4
14 N-R5 R-QBl 3 KPxP PxP
15 N-B6 NxP 4 P-Q4 N-KB3
16 NxB NxN 5 N-QB3 P-K3
17 QXP QxQ 6 N-B3 B-K2
18 RXQ N-B3 7 PXP PxP
19 P-B3 K-K2 8 B-N5ch N-B3
20 R-Q2 KR-Qt 9 N-K5 B-Q2
21 RXR RXR 10 Q-R4 Q-Bl
22 B-K2 P-B4 11 B-N5 P-QR3
23 P-QR4 PXP 12 BxQN PXB
24 BXP N-R4 13 0-0 0-0
25 B-N5 N-N6ch 14 BXN BXB

249
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

15 NxQP B-Ql 3 N-B3 P-QR3

16 NXB QXN 4 P-KN3 P-QN4
17 N-K3 Q-N2 5 B-N2 B-N2
18 P-QN3 B-N3 6 P-Q3 P-Q3
19 QR-Bl QR-Bl 7 0-0 N-KB3
20 N-B5 R-B2 8 P-K5 PXP
21 RXP P-N3 9 NXKP BXB
22 RXR QXR 10 KXB QN-Q2
23 N-K3 Q-R2 11 NxN QxN
24 N-B2 R-Ql 12 Q-B3 R-Ql
25 R-Ql R-QBl 13 P-N3 B-K2
26 N-K3 R-Ql 14 B-N2 0-0
27 N-B2 R-QBl 15 QR-Ql N-Kl
28 N-Kl P-N4 16 N-K2 B-B3
29 P-KR3 P-KR4 17 P-Q4 Q-R2
30 Q-N4 R-Ql 18 P-B3 N-B2
31 N-B2 R-Q4 19 PXP QxP
32 Q-B4 R-Q2 20 N-B4 P-R3
33 Q-K2 P-R5 21 KR-Kl N-Q4
34 Q-R5 B-Ql 22 NXN PXN
35 R-Kl B-K2 23 R-Q3 R-Q3
36 Q-N4 P-B3 24 R(l)-Ql KR-Ql
37 Q-K6ch K-Bl 25 B-Bl Q-B3
38 P-Q5 R-Q3 26 B-B4 R(3)-Q2
39 Q-K4 P-B4 27 P-KR3 P-QR4
40 QxPch R-B3 28 R-QBl Q-K3
41 Q-B8ch K-N2 29 R-K3 Q-N3
42 N-K3 B-B4 30 R-Q3 P-R5
43 Q-N4 Resigns 31 R(l)-Ql Q-B3
32 K-Nl Q-K3
33 K-N2 PXP
GAME 109 34 PXP P-Q5
35 PXP BxP
White: Walter Browne 36 B-B7 RXB
Black: Lajos Portisch 37 RXB RXR
38 RXR R-B4
Sicilian Defense 39 R-Q8ch K-R2
40 Q-Q3ch Q-N3
1 P-K4 P-QB4 41 QxQch PxQ
2 N-KB3 P-K3 42 R-QNS P-N4

250
 ROUND FOUR TEEN

43 P-QN4 R-B4 A rather rare continuation. Some

44 P-N4 R-K4 experts recommend a Black setup
45 R-N6 K-Nl with P-QB4, but I have seen several
46 R-N7 K-R2 times that Gligo prefers P-K4.
47 K-N3 R-Q4
48 P-B3 K-N3 5 0-0
49 K-B2 R-K4 6 B-N5 QN-Q2
SO R-Q7 K-B3 7 N-B3 P-K4
51 K-N3 R-K2 8 P-QS P-QR4
52 R-Q8 R-K4 9 P-KN4!?
53 R-QN8 R-Q4
54 K-B2 R-K4 More energetic than 9 B-K2,

55 R-N6ch which might transpose into Gligoric­

K-B2
56 K-N3 R-Q4 Evans (game 55).
57 P-R4 PXPch
58 KXP K-K2 9 N-B4

59 K-N3 K-B2 10 N-Q2 P-B3

60 P-B4 11 B-K2 B-Q2

P-N4
61 K-B3 PXP 12 N-N3!

62 K-K4 P-B6
One move earlier, 11 N-N3? P­
63 KXP P-R4
R3! would have been very satisfac­
64 K-K4 R-N4
tory for Black. Now, however, 12
65 PXP Draw
... P- R3 13 NxN PXB 14 NxB
QxN 15 Q-Q2 would favor White.

12 NxN
GAME 110
13 QxN Q-B2
14 0-0-0
White: Bent Larsen
Black: Svetozar Gligoric White stands better! The ending
after 14 ... PXP 15 BXN PXBP
King's Indian Defense 16 QxBP QxQ 17 BXQ BXB 18
RXP B-N4ch 19 K-Nl B-QB3 20
Notes by Larsen B N5 is unpleasant for Black, so
-

he decides to close the position.

1 P-QB4 P-KN3
2 N-QB3 B-N2 14 P-R5
3 P-Q4 N-KB3 15 Q-R3 P-B4
4 P-K4 P-Q3 16 QR-Nl Q-R4
S P-KR3 17 P-B3?

251
 SAN ANTONIO ' 72

A quickly played routine move. only a win could give me one of the
During the last days of the tourna­ first places. F ifth or eighth, what is
ment I had a bad cold and was not the difference?
playing very well. Much stronger
was 17 P-R4!, and after 17 ... 24 K-B2 R-B2
Q-N5 not 18 P-R5? P-R3! 19 B-Q2 25 K-B3 R-K2
QXQ 20 PXQ P-KN4 and Black 26 R-R2 N-B2
can defend, but 18 B-Q2! 27 K-B4 K-R2
28 B-Ql N-Kl
17 KR-Bl
18 P-R4 Here something incredible hap­
pened. Gligoric made this move and
18 B-Q2 was probably better. left the table. Before making my
29th move, I left the tournament
18 Q-NS hall to go to the washroom, and
19 B-Q2 P-R4! when after several minutes Gligoric
20 P-NS N-Kl returned to the board, seeing I was
21 N-NS QXQ not there he thought I had already
22 PxQ?! made a move and forgot to push
the clock. He wrote down a move,
There was still a slight advantage maybe it was 29 R-R2, and played
with 22 NXQ N-B2 23 K-Nl QR­ R(l)-R2! At this moment, however,
Nl 24 N-N5. It is worth noting I returned, and I quickly persuaded
how Black's P-KR4 had something my opponent to take back his last
to do with the play on the Queen­ move. (If the illegal move had been
side: if White allows Black to play discovered only later, the game
P-QN4, this may lead to exchange would have had to start anew from
of the white-square Bishops. This this position, according to the FIDE
ought to be good for White, but rules.)
in this case Black could play R­
KB 1 and P-B3, with very good 29 B-B2 R(l)-R2
counterplay, because the White PB3
is not protected by the Bishop any Bridge players, thinking of "pen­
longer. alty cards," may believe that my
opponent was under some kind of
22 BXN! obligation to play this move, but
23 PXB P-N3 that is not the case.

The game might have been given 30 R-B2 K-Nl

up as a draw here.But at this stage, 31 R-Nl R-Rl

252
 ROUND FOURTEEN

32 K-Q3 R(l)-R2 After 44 B-Q3 R-Kl Bl a ck could

33 B-Ql R-Rl play for a win, preparing P-B3.
34 B-K3 N-B2
35 R-B2 N-Kl 44 R-R4
45 P-KS! NxNP
Even after the White Rooks have
left the Kingside, it would not be
A difficult choice. Afterwards,
advisable for Black to play P-B3.
Gligoric regretted not playing 45
So he waits.
. .. NXPch 46 K-K4 N-K2, but
the position after 47 PXP N-B4 48
36 R-B4 R(2)-R2
R-Ql does not look bad for White.
37 B-Q2 N-B2
Also 46 .. . N-B2 47 PXP is very
38 B-B3 N-Kl
unclear.
39 K-K3 K-Bl
40 B-B2 K-Nl
46 RXN

Played without hesitation. There

is nothing else.

46 RXR
47 PXP R(4)-R4
48 R-K4

Again, the only move. 48 P-Q7

R(4)-R2 49 BXRP is not possible,
for after 49 ... RXB 50 RXR,
Black's RXR is with check! And 50
40 . . . B-Rl would have left the
P-Q8ch leads to a lost Rook ending.
Black King better placed, but even
so White's next move is crazy.
48 R(4)-R2

41 P-B4?!
48 .. . R-Ql 49 RXP! offers
White has prepared this as well White good chances, and he was
as possible, but it was better to offer threatening R-K7 followed by K-K5.
a draw.
49 R-K7 K-Bl
41 PxPch so R-B7 RXR
42 KxP BXB 51 PXR K-K2
43 RXB N-B2 52 K-KS K-Q2
44 R-B4 53 K-B6 KxP

253
 SAN A NTONIO '72

60 K-R8 Draw

Black gives perpetual check. He

cannot win with 60 ... K-B3 61
P-R5 R-KN2? because of 62 B-Nl
P-B6 63 B-B2! and it is Black who
is in zugzwang!

GAME 111

White: Mario Campos-Lopez

I had played very quickly, and
Black: Tigran Petrosian
while most games are adjourned
soon after move 40, we got this far!
French Defense
Gligoric's sealed move was, of
course, the one I expected. Analysis
1 P-K4 P-K3
showed that I could draw, but not
2 P-Q4 P-Q4
more.
3 N-QB3 B-N5

54 KXP K-Q3 4 P-K5 P-QN3

55 KXP KXP 5 N-B3 B-Bl

56 KXP K-K4 6 B-K2 N-K2

7 0-0 N-N3
A bad idea would be to drive 8 R-Kl B-K2
the White King back with 56 ... 9 P-KN3 P-QB4
R-Rlch?, as after 57 K-N4 K-K4 10 P-KR4 P-KR3
58 P-R5 White advances the most 11 B-Q3 N-Bl
distant pawn first, and Black is in 12 P-R4 P-R3
trouble. 13 P-QR5 P-B5
14 B-Bl P-QN4
57 K-R6 P-N4
15 B-Q2 N-B3
16 B-R3 P-N5
There are several drawing lines.
17 N-K2 NxRP
But Black must avoid traps like 57
18 P-R5 N-B3
... R-Rlch 58 B-R7 P-B5 59 P-N6
19 N-R2 Q-N3
P-B6 60 P-N7 R-KNl? 61 BXR!
20 B-K3 P-R4
P-B7 62 K-R7 P-B8=Q 63 B-B7
21 P-N3 B-R3
and White wins.
22 N-QBl B-QN4
58 K-N7 P-B5 23 P-B4 P-R5
59 P-N6 R-R2ch 24 PXRP RXP

254
 ROUND FOURTE E N

25 RXR BXR 7 P-KR3

26 N-B3 N-QR2 8 P-KR4
27 P-B5 N-N4
28 R-Bl N-B6 What is the point of this move?
29 Q-Kl BXP White appears to be weakening the
30 P-B6 PXP squares on his Kingside where he
31 PXP B-Q3 intends to castle. Larsen played P­
32 Q-Q2 B-K5 KR4 in a somewhat similar position
33 N-K5 and White Resigns against Campos-Lopez in round ten.
In that game Black had a comfort­
able position until he initiated a
GAME 112 faulty plan with 14 ... P-K4.

White: Duncan Suttles

8 P-N3
Black: Donald Byrne
9 N-R3 B-N2
10 0-0 P-Q3
English Opening
11 P-R3 Q-Q2
12 P-QN4
Notes by D. Byrne

White must attack on the wing

1 P-KN3 P-KN3
and the move is tactically sound.
2 B-N2 B-N2
If Black tries to win a pawn he loses
3 P-Q3 P-QB4
at once: 12 . .. PXP 13 PXP NXP
4 P-QB4 N-QB3
14 BXB QXB 15 N-QN5 or N-K4.
5 N-QB3 P-K3
6 B-Q2 KN-K2
12 N-Q5

This position was reached in the 13 R-Nl BXB

game D. Byrne-Evans (round 5, 14 K XB

game 38). White obtained a clear

advantage when Black played P-Q4 After weakening his Kingside with
on his seventh move. Black, how­ 8 P KR4 White exchanged his KB
- ,

ever, should have no serious prob­ for Black's QB. Black now has the
lems if he avoids an early P-Q4. advantage.

7 Q-Bl 14 R-QBl
15 PxP
In the above-mentioned game vs.
Evans, White played 7 P QR3 which
- Black was threatening PXP fol­
is preferable to 7 Q-Bl. lowed by P-Q4.

255
 SAN ANTONIO ' 7 2

15 QPxP The Knight which has been mis­

16 N-Nl placed since the 16th move is finally
threatening to reach a strong square,
White does not wish to bring his K4. Had Black moved the Knight
Knight to B4 because it would to QB3, he would have saved two
block his attack on the KRP, and tempi while slowing down White's
he would like to find a more effec­ Queenside advance.
tive position for the Knight than
KR3. The Knight at least performs 25 P-N4
a better defensive function at Nl.
White is apparently worried about
16 N(2)-B4 the possibility of a Black pawn ad­
vance on the Kingside. The move
This move is superficial and is only serves to create serious weak­
decidedly a hindrance to the plan nesses in White's Kingside position.
which Black initiates on his next 25 BXN is a good alternative, clos­
move. ing the Q file, getting rid of a power­
fully posted Knight, and enabling
17 R-Ql P-B3 White to turn the action to the
18 P-R4 P-KN4 Queenside where he has already
made some progress.
White's Queenside attack gives
him good counterplay. Had Black 25 KR-Qt
not played 16 . . . N(2)-B4, he 26 Q-N2 N-K4
could now play a strong N(2)-B3.
Indirectly defending the QNP by
19 PXP RPxP the threat of N-B7. The direct de­
20 P-R5 Q-B3ch fense, R-Nl, was probably better,
21 P-K4 N-Q3 but Black, who was getting short of
22 PxP PxP time, was perversely seeking com­
23 P-B3 0-0 plications.

Now that White has opened up (See diagram next page.)

lines on the Queenside, it seems
reasonable for Black to connect his 27 R-Q2
Rooks, and Black's KR may per­
form more efficiently on the KB White now threatens to capture
file or the Q file. the QNP, but B-B2 may be a better
move. Had White played 27 B-B2
24 B-K3 N-B2 he would then be ready for QXP

256
 ROUND FOURTEEN

the dark squares at once. 32 PXN

is a subtle move which takes some
of the sting out of Black's B-Q3.

32 Q-Kl
33 Q-B3 Q-B2
34 N-R3 B-Q3
35 BXB RXB
36 R-KRl

and if 27 ... R-Nl, 28 B-N3 Since Black has just seconds left
would be strong. Black was seri­ on his clock, White tries to create
ously considering the risky 27 ... tactical threats. If 36 P-K5, then
P-B4. One variation will indicate R-Q5 and White is in trouble.
the attacking chances open to Black
is White does not proceed with
36 R-Q5
great care: 27 B-B2 P-B4 28 NPXP
37 R-QR2 R-R2
N(5)XP(6) 29 NXN NXQP 30 Q­
B2 N-B5ch 31 K-Bl BXN 32 QxB
QXP and White has more prob­ A stupid time-pressure response

lems than he can handle.Of course, by Black.

on 27 B-B2 P-B4, White could

avoid complications by playing the 38 R-R6 Q-Q2
relatively quiet 28 QXP. 39 R(l)-Rl R-N2
27 R-Nl 40 R-R8ch K-B2
28 B-B2 R-N2 41 N-B2 N-B5ch
29 B-N3 N-N3 42 K-Bl QXP

Although Black's Knight has been

Black's time pressure is over and
driven from K4, it still occupies a
he has a winning position.
strong position.

30 Q-Bl B-Bl 43 R-R8 K-N3

31 N-N5 NXN 44 Q-R3 R-N5
32 PXN 45 K-Nl

32 RXN looks like a reasonable White is trying desperately to de­

move, but then Black could reply fend himself while maintaining
32 B-Q3 and gain control of threats against the Black King.

257
 SA N ANTONIO '72

45 R-N8ch
46 K-R2 Q-N7

46 ... Q-R4 is also good and

forces the exchange of Queens and
a pair of Rooks.

47 QxQ RxQ
48 K-Nl P-K4

Now White can be saved only by

Black! 54 R-N8ch R-N2
55 R(N)-N8 R-KR2
56 R-N8ch K-B2
49 K-Bl P-N4
50 R-N8ch R-N2
51 R-N8 P-N5 Black cracks on the last move of

52 N-Ql R-K7 the time control. 56 ... R-N2 is

correct.White would then be forced
eventually to exchange a pair of
52 ... R-KR7 is a sensible al­ Rooks.
ternative, preventing White's Rook
from leaving the first rank and
57 R(N)-B8ch K-K3
tying up White's Knight.If 52 ...
58 R(B)-K8ch K-B2
R-KR7 53 N-B2, then NXP wins
59 R-B8ch K-N3
easily. Black was once again in time
pressure and decided to play di­
rectly for the position he had ana­ At this point Black realized that

lyzed in which White is in zug­ he had passed over the winning

zwang. zugzwang position and wished to

return to it. Alas! White catches
him on a threefold repetition of the
53 R(l)-R8 R-KR2
position and claims a draw. Black
could have won with some effort
In time pressure, Black loses his by bringing his King to QN3 (59
senses. If Black plays 53 ... P-N6 ... K-K2, etc.), but in his con­
White is helpless, e.g. 54 RXP R­ fusion he made the final blunder
KR2 55 N-B2 R(2 )-R7, or 54 N-B3 of the game.
R-B7 55 N-Ql R-B8 56 K-Kl P-N7
57 RXP NXPch 58 K-Q2 RXNch. Draw

258
 ROUND FOURTEEN

Standings After Fourteen Rounds

10 Karpov, Petrosian
91h Portisch
9 Gligoric, Keres
8Yz Hort, Larsen, Suttles
8 Mecking
61/2 D. Byrne
6 Evans
51/2 Browne
4Yz Kaplan
31h Campos
3 Saidy
2 Smith

259
 S AN ANTONIO '7 2

ROUND FIFTEEN

Sunday, December 10th

White Black Opening Result Moves

113 D. Byrne (61h) Hort (81h) English Opening 1h-1h 20

114 Petrosian (10) Suttles (81h) Robatsch Defense 1h-1h 10
115 Gligoric (9) Campos (31h) Benoni Defense 1-0 72
116 Portisch (91h) Larsen (81h) Benoni Defense 1-0 35
117 Smith (2) Browne (51h) Benoni Defense 0-1 41
118 Evans (6) Saidy (3) Caro-Kann Defense 1h-1h 106
119 Karpov (10) Mecking (8) Sicilian Defense 1h-1h 9
120 Kaplan (41h) Keres (9) Ruy Lopez 1h-1h 15

GAME 113 18 RXP QXR

19 QXR Q-N7
White: Donald Byrne 20 Q-RS P-Q3
Black: Vlastimil Hort Draw

English Opening
GAME 114
1 P-KN3 P-QB4
2 P-QB4 P-KN3 White: Tigran Petrosian
3 B-N2 B-N2 Black: Duncan Suttles
4 N-QB3 N-QB3
5 P-Q3 N-B3 Robatsch Defense
6 R-Nl 0-0
7 P-QR3 P-QR4 1 P-Q4 P-KN3
8 B-Q2 P-K3 2 P-K4 P-Q3
9 N-R3 P-N3 3 N-KB3 B-N2
10 0-0 B-N2 4 P-B3 N-KB3
11 N-B4 Q-Nl 5 QN-Q2 0-0
12 N-R4 R-R3 6 B-K2 QN-Q2
13 P-QN4 RPXP 7 0-0 P-K4
14 PXP Q-Rl 8 PXP QNXP
15 P-NS RXN 9 NXN PXN
16 PXN BXP 10 Q-B2 B-R3
17 BXB QXB Draw

260
 ROUND FIFTEEN

GAME 115 12 QXB QN-Q2

13 N -B4 N-N3
White: Svetozar Gligoric 14 N-K3 R-Kl
Black: Mario Campos-Lopez 15 P-B3 R-Nl
16 K-Rl N-R4?!
Benoni Defense
This finds a very energetic reply.
Notes by Larsen But a good plan for Black is not
easy to find.
1 P-Q4 N-KB3 It is worth noting that if White
2 P-QB4 P-B4 plays P-QR5 and Black later P­
3 P-QS P-Q3 QN4, after the exchange of pawns
4 N-QB3 P-KN3 the Black QRP will be much
5 P-K4 B-N2 weaker than if the QB were still
6 N-B3 0-0 there to protect it.
7 B-K2 P-K3 One of the best moves was prob­
8 0-0 PXP ably 16 ... KN-Q2.
9 BPxP
17 P-KN4!? N-BS
As is quite common, the Modern
Benoni has been reached via a Better is 17 N-B3 followed
King's Indian. by P-KR4.
The most popular continuation
for Black during recent years has 18 Q-QB2 N-Bl
been 9 . . . R-Kl 10 N-Q2 N-R3 19 N-B4 P-KN4
(see game 63). Recently other con­
tinuations have been played quite Black is now more weak on the
often, for example 9 . . R-Kl 10 . light squares than White on the
N-Q2 QN-Q2 and 9 . .. B-N5 or dark squares! Another way to ex­
9 ... P-QR3 10 P-QR4 B-N5 as in plain White's positional advantage
the present game. It is still too early is this: After White's next move,
to say anything definite, but I be­ Black has hardly any possibility to
lieve that 9 ... B-N5 is best, but open a line without greatly weaken­
without P-QR3 which may in some ing his own position, while White
continuations turn out to be a weak­ has such possibilities and can pre­
ness. pare these line-openings carefully.

9 P-QR3 20 P-RS! N-K2

10 P-QR4 B-NS 21 N-Ql N(2)-N3
11 N-Q2!? BXB 22 N-K3 N-K4

261
 SA N A NTONIO '72

A desperate try was 22 . . . P­ to occupy a stronger post with his

R4?!, but after 23 PXP N X RP 24 Knight first. More than one road
N-B5 B-K4 25 R-KNl White gets leads to Rome.
the upper hand.

23 R-R3 NxN
24 NxN N-N3
25 B-Q2 N-K4
26 N-K3 N-N3

26 ... P-N4 27 PXP e.p. would

only give Black the earlier-men­
tioned weak QRP .

27 R-N3 B-K4
28 N-B4 Q-K2
34 BXB? NXB
29 R-N6!
35 N-K3 R-Q2
36 N-B5 Q-Bl
Attacking two weak pawns and
37 Q-Q2 R-Bl
preventing all Black counterplay on
38 R-QBl R(l)-B2
the Queenside (with P-N4). As the
39 R-B2
position contains no open files, this
is more than could be expected
from a Rook. 39 P-R4 looks good, but Black
gets some counterchances with 39
. . . P-R4.
29 KR-Ql
30 B-Kl B-B5
31 B-N3 Q-B3 39 ..... . N-N3?
32 Q-B3 Q-K2
But even here, 39 . . . P-R4! was
Exchange of Queens would lose the only chance. (And for this rea­
a pawn very soon. son White's 34th move was a mis­
take.)

33 R-Kl P-B3
40 Q-B2 R-Bl
(See diagram next column.) 41 Q-N3 R(l)-Ql
42 Q-Kl
Black can only wait. White could
already play 34 P-N4, but prefers 42 P-N4!? was possible.

262
 ROUND FIFTEEN

42 N-K4 59 NXN QxN

43 Q-KBl N-N3 60 Q-B5 QxQ
44 P-N4!
Or 60 ... Q-K7 61 Q-K5ch K­
Finally! Ql 62 Q-R8ch K-Q2 63 RXPch,
etc.

44 PxP
61 PxQ R-B4
45 RXP(4) N-K4
62 RxP RxBP
46 R-N6 R-Bl?!
63 P-R4 RXRP

Desperation. White was ready to

Or 63 ... P-R3 64 PXP.
strengthen his position, for example
with P-R4.
64 RXP

47 RXR QXR By careful play, the two connected

48 NxP Q-B6 passed pawns always win in posi­
49 N-K8! K-B2 tions of this type. Campos tries to
50 NxP R-B2 cut off the White King, but by
51 P-Q6 R-B5 merely preventing the Black Rook
52 P-Q7 from attacking the White pawns
from behind, his Majesty does some­
White's King is rather open, so thing very useful, even when he
he prefers to return one of the has to stand in the corner.
pawns to regain the initiative.
64 R-R7
65 P-R5 K-Bl
52 Q-Q7
66 P-R6 K-Nl
53 P-Q8=Q QxQ
67 R-R7 R-R4
54 N-Q5 Q-QBl
68 R-N7ch K-Rl
55 R-Nl R-B7
69 K-N2
56 N-K3 R-B6
57 P-B4!
Because of the Black pawn there
is no danger of stalemate.
The end. Black's King is now
more exposed than White's.
69 R-R6
70 K-B2 R-R6
57 NXP 71 R-KB7 P-R4
58 PXPch K-Kl 72 R-R7 Resigns

Or 58 ... K-Nl 59 N-Q5! The main threat is K-N2.

263
 SAN A NTONIO '72

GAME 116 8 Q-R4ch! B-Q2

9 Q-N3 Q-B2

White: Lajos Portisch 10 P-K4

Black: Bent Larsen
Not 10 BXP? QXB 11 QXP
0-0 12 QXR Q-N3.The idea be­
Benoni Defense
hind 8 Q-R4ch was simply to lure
the black Queen and Bishop to bad
Notes by Larsen
squares.

1 P-Q4 P-K3 10 0-0

2 P-QB4 P-QB4 11 B-K2 N-R4
3 P-QS PXP
4 PxP P-Q3 Is P-QR3 or R-Kl better? As
s N-QB3 P-KN3 mentioned already, the whole vari­
ation has a rather bad reputation.
I have played this a few times,
the idea being to keep the possibility 12 B-K3 N-R3
to develop the Knight to K2. But 13 N-Q2 P-B4?!
that is probably not very good any­
way ... This turns out to be incorrect. I
have only one other suggestion: 13

6 N-B3 B-N2 ... B-Q5!?

14 PXP PXP
... so here it would probably be
wiser to play N-KB3, reaching a
Of course, not with B or R be­
normal Modern Benoni position.
cause of the fork.

7 B-B4! N-KB3 15 BXN(S) P-BS

16 0-0(!)
In the position after 6 .. . N­
KB3 7 B-B4, most experts play 7 After BXKBP the White plus
... P-QR3, to avoid the line I am pawn would be healthier, but Black
forced into now. But in the present would get more active play for his
position, 7 ... P-QR3 does not pieces.
look good because of 8 Q-R4ch
B-Q2 9 Q-K4ch Q-K2 10 QxQch 16 PXB
KxQ 11 N-K4. Also not bad is 8 17 PxP N-NS
N-K4. 18 N(3)-K4

264
 ROUND FIFTEEN

We begin to see - or maybe I QXKPch 26 K-Rl QXN Black

ought to say: during the game it would get a very strong position.
was here I realized - that White
may very soon get strong threats
against the Black King, and that he
is also planning to send this Knight
to K6. The White plus pawn is
really not very important, but his
pieces can produce threats before
Black's.
As White is ready to drive back
the Black Knight with P-QR3, Black
really has only one move.

18 P-R4 25 N-B3! QxKPch

19 N-NS 26 K-Rl N-Q6

19 P-QR4? P-N4 would help After 26 Q-K5 27 QXQ

Black a lot. PXQ 28 N-R4 the White passed
pawn costs too much.
19 P-RS
20 Q-B4 P-R3 27 QR-Kl! NXR
28 RXN Q-Q6
What else? Q-K4 was a strong
threat.

21 N-K6 BXN
22 PXB P-Q4
23 B-B7ch K-Rl
24 Q-R4 Q-K4

A desperate attempt. After 24

... N-B3 25 N-B3 Q-K2 26 Q-R5
the threat N-R4 is a killer.

(See diagram next column.) I do not know what Portisch was

planning when he gave up the Ex­
Now it would of course be very change, but here he paused to think
stupid of White to win the Ex­ for a long time. I was hoping for
change, since after 25 P-K7? 29 N-K5? BXN 30 QXPch Q-R2

265
 SA N ANTONIO '7 2

31 QxQch KXQ 32 RXB P-B5 GAME 117

33 RXP? KR-Ql! But when the
move finally came, it was one to White: Kenneth Smith
which there was no answer: Black: Walter Browne

29 Q-R5! P-R6 Benoni Defense

30 P-QN3 B-B6
1 P-Q4 P-QB4
Sheer desperation.There is noth­ 2 PXP Q-R4ch
ing to be done against P-K7, and 3 N-B3 N-KB3
30 ... RXB 31 QXR does not 4 N-B3 N-B3
help. Now I planned to resign if 5 N-Q2 QXBP
White played 31 B-N6. But nothing 6 P-K4 P-Q3
is wrong with Portisch's solution. 7 N-B4 N-KN5
8 N-K3 NxN
31 P-K7 K-N2 9 BXN Q-QR4
10 B-QB4 P-KN3
After 31 RXB 32 QXR 11 B-Q4 R-KNl
BXR, the quickest win is not 33 12 0-0 NXB
P-KS=Qch, but 33 N-KS! 13 QxN B-N2
14 Q-Q5 QxQ
32 PXR=Qch RXQ 15 NxQ K-Ql
33 BXP! BXR 16 P-QB3 P-K3
34 Q-K5ch R-B3 17 N-K3 B-Q2
35 Q-K7ch Resigns 18 P-B4 B-QB3
19 B-Q3 P-B4
For the brilliancy-prize jurors, 20 PXP NPXP
this must have been a serious rival 21 P-KN3 K-B2
to Keres-D. Byrne. 22 N-B2 P-KR4
23 QR-Kl QR-Kl
24 N-Q4 BX Neb
25 PXB P-R5
26 R-K3 PXP
27 PXP R-KRl
28 B-K2 R-R8ch
29 K-B2 R-R7ch
30 K-Kl K-Q2
31 R-B2 R(l)-KRl
32 P-KN4 B-K5
33 P-N5 R-R8ch

266
 ROUND FIFTEEN

34 B-Bl K-B3 Playable, but not very strong in

35 R-B3ch K-Q4 connection with the following ex­
36 K-Q2 KXP change (one would rather expect 9
37 K-Bl R(l)-R7 PXP PXP 10 P-B4!?). An interest­
38 RXR RXR ing idea is 9 P-QN4!?, and after 9
39 B-R3 R-R8ch . .. P-QR4 10 PXRP White gets
40 K-Q2 R-KN8 an isolated QR pawn, but active
41 K-K2 play for his pieces.

Black sealed 4 1 ... R-NS. White 9 P-QR4

Resigned without resuming. 10 PxP?! PXP
11 P-B3 Q-B2
12 N-Bl P-N3
13 P-Q4 P-K5
GAME 1 18 14 B-B4 Q-B3
15 N(3)-Q2 P-B4
White: Larry Evans 16 Q-N3 B-QR3
Black: Anthony Saidy 17 N-K3 QR-Bl

Caro-Kann Defense Black stands very well, but the

immediate 17 . . . P-R3 was prob-
Notes by Larsen ably stronger.

1 P-K4 P-QB3 18 QR-Bl P-R3

2 P-Q3 19 P-R4 K-R2
20 Q-R3 R-KB2
Some years ago this was a nice 21 P-N3 Q-B3
way to avoid theory, but now this 22 Q-Q6!
variation has been played and ana­
lyzed quite a Jot. Saidy chooses a Necessary to avoid serious trou­
very solid setup. ble.

2 P-Q4 22 QXQ
3 N-Q2 P-KN3 23 BXQ N-KB3
4 P-KN3 B-N2 24 B-Bl BxB
5 B-N2 P-K4 25 KXB N-N5!?
6 KN-B3 N-K2
7 0-0 0-0 Interesting, as 26 NXN would
8 R-Kl N-Q2 offer Black very good chances. But
9 P-QR4 if White is satisfied with a draw,

267
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

26 BXN NXNch 27 PXN is rather 41 K-Kl RXR

safe. 42 RXR NXP
43 R-Nl N-B4
26 K-K2 P-R4?! 44 RXP NXP
45 R-QB6 N-N7!
This devalues the Black pawn 46 B-B7
majority on the Kingside.

27 B-B4 K-Nl
28 N(2)-Bl N-KB3
29 KR-Ql N-B3
30 B-N5 R-Q2
31 N-N2 K-B2
32 N(l)-K3 N-KR2!
33 B-B4

Or 33 N-KB4 NXB 34 PXN

R(l)-Ql followed by B-Bl-K2 with
some initiative for Black. 46 B-Q5?!

33 N-Bl
46 ... N-Q6ch! was better, for
34 N-Bl N-K3
instance 47 K-K2 N-NS 48 R-B4
35 B-K3 R(2)-B2
(48 BXP? NXR 49 PXN R-Q3!)
36 N-B4 NXNch
NXP 49 BXP NXN with good
37 BXN R-Q2
chances.
38 N-K3 K-K3
39 P-B4?!
47 BXP BXN?!
Better wait! The White position
was very solid. Some winning chances were of­
fered by 47 ... N-Q6ch 48 K-K2
39 K-B2! P-BS! But White defends better
40 PXP with 48 K-Bl!

Also 40 NXQP NxPch 41 K-K3

48 PXB RXP
NXP 42 NXPRXR 43 RXRR-B3
49 B-B3
44 R-Q7ch K-Nl offers Black slight
winning chances.
After this, Black has no winning
40 ...... NXPch chances.

268
 ROUND FIFT EEN

49 N-Q6ch 4 B-R4 P-Q3

50 K-Bl N-K4 5 0-0 B-Q2
51 BXN RXB 6 P-Q4 N-B3
7 P-B3 P-KN3
This was less than half the game! 8 QN-Q2 P-QN4?!
Saidy enjoyed the sight of his plus 9 B-B2 B-N2
pawn for 55 moves before he finally 10 N-N3! 0-0
gave a draw on move 106.
Possibly better is 10 ... Q-K2.

GAME 119 11 PXP PxP

White: Anatoly Karpov And here 11 ... QNX P is also

Black: Henrique Mecking possible.

Sicilian Defense 12 N-B5

1 P-K4 P-QB4 Now White has a slight pull.

2 N-KB3 P-Q3
3 B-N5ch B-Q2 12 B-N5
4 BXBch QxB 13 P-KR3
5 0-0 N-QB3
6 P-B4 N-B3
7 N-B3 P-KN3
8 P-Q4 PxP
9 NxP Draw

GAME 120

White: Julio Kaplan

Black: Paul Keres

Ruy Lopez 13 Q-K2?

Notes by Kaplan Correct was 13 . . . BxN! 14

QXB Q-K2 15 B-K3 KR-Ql! (in­
1 P-K4 P-K4 tending . .. N-Q5!) 16 P-QN4!
2 N-KB3 N-QB3 with only a slight advantage for
3 B-N5 P-QR3 White. But not 13 ... QXQ?! 14

269
 SAN ANTONIO '7 2

RXQ BXN 15 PXB with much the BXP RXB 26 QXR BXN 27 Q­
better game for White. N3 N-K4 with an unclear position.

14 KR-Ql??
14 P-N4??

A blunder o f at least equal mag­

A blunder.The indicated contin­
uation was 14 PXB QXN 15 P-N5
N-KR4 16 B-K3 Q-K2 when
White's game is better. An obscure
continuation would then be 17 P­
KN3!? QR-Ql 18 Q-K2 P-B3! 19
P-R4?! PxNP 20 NxNP N-B5 21
Q-N4 P-KR4 22 Q-R4 B-R3 23
B-N3ch K-Rl 24 PXN PXBP 25
nitude.After 14 ... BXN 15 QXB
P-QR4 16 B-Q2 PXP 17 PXP N­
Q5, Black has a clear advantage.
15 B-Q3 Draw
After 15 ... B-K3! 16 Q-K2 N­
KR4! 17 P-QR4 N-B5 the chances
are equal.

270
 INDEX OF OPENINGS
(Numbers refer to games)

Alekhine's Defense: 29, 49

Benoni Defense: 31,63,100, 115, 116, 117
Caro-Kann Defense: 30, 47, 64,108,118
Dutch Defense: 99
English Opening: 14, 23, 26, 35, 38, 48, 53, 69, 80, 84,
86, 88,91, 95,97,98,112, 113
Franco-Sicilian Defense: 4
French Defense: 12,77,111
Gruenfeld Defense: 10, 40, 61, 78
King's Indian Attack: 67, 83
King's Indian Defense: 7, 24, 25, 33, 43, 55, 65, 70,
105, 110
Nimzo-Indian Defense: 71, 73, 85, 103,106
Old Indian Defense: 57
Pirc Defense: 11, 45,62,79, 81,90
Polish Defense: 3
Queen's Gambit Accepted: 16
Queen's Gambit Declined: 5,18, 39, 50,68, 94, 101
Queen's Indian Defense: 1,13, 20,54
Reti Opening: 8, 52, 56
Robatsch Defense: 28, 87, 114
RuyLopez: 46,59, 76,92,120
Sicilian Defense: 2, 6, 9, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 27, 32, 34,
36, 37,41, 44, 51, 58, 60, 66, 72, 74,
75, 82, 89, 93, 96, 102, 104, 107,
109, 119
Three Knights Game: 42

271
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Sicilian Pirc Dutch

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 "A most welcome addition to the list of
really important tournaments in the U.S."
Grandmaster Paul Keres

This historic tournament pitted the proven ability of the

experienced superstars against the sparkling ambition of
the most exciting young grandmasters. In the prime of their
careers were former World Champion Tigran Petrosian,
the legendary Paul Keres, the great fighter Bent Larsen,
the strong and solid Lajos Portisch, the vastly experienced
Svetozar Gligoric, the dynamic Vlastimil Hort, the imper­
turbable Larry Evans. Battling for their niches among the
elite were the international superstars of the future: world
championship hopeful Anatoly Karpov, the controversial
Henrique Mecking, the ambitious Walter Browne, the
original and scrappy Duncan Suttles, the hard-fighting
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The exciting games produced by this powerful group,
fighting for the highest cash prizes in many years, have
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each of whom has selected his best or most interesting
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in his bright, warm style. Other interesting battles have
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The book includes all 120 games, numerous diagrams,
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