On Guard

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

World champion Alexander Alekhine once explained that for an opponent to win a game against him he actually had to win three games: in the opening, in the middle-game, and in the ending. The fact is that playing against a strong player one has to be vigilant until the end. If one is not, disaster can strike at any moment. At the just concluded European team championship in Crete, Sergey Volkov made the mistake of momentarily letting down his guard in a winning position against Sergei Rublevsky and the result was a spectacular disaster.

VOLKOV VS. RUBLEVSKY (white) (black)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5. Nbd2 Bf5 This is better than 5…b5?! 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.a4 b4 9. Nb3 and white obtained a superior position in Karpov-Shirov. 6. Qb3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9.0-0 Nbd7 In the next round of this tournament, Svidler as black equalized against Ivanchuk after 9…Be7! 10.e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nbd7 12. Bg5 0-0 13. Bh4 Qd8! 14. Nc3 b5! 10.b3 Bb4?! This move would make sense as a way to fight for the e4 square if the white knight were situated on c3. But on d2 it is supported by the f3 knight. Better here was 10…Be7 transposing into the position that arose in Svidler’s game. 11.e4! Bxd2?! Black probably did not like 11… dxe4 12. Nxe4 0-0?! 13.c5!? and the black bishop is misplaced. But it was not too late to return to Svidler’s set up, minus a tempo, by playing 12…Be7! 12. Nxd2 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 0-0 In case of 14…Nf6 15. Qh4 the position of the knight on f6 is shaky. White threatens 16. Bh6! 15. Bf4 Qb6 Black would lose a pawn after 15… Nf6?! 16. Qxh7+! 16. Bd6 Rfd8 17. Qf4 Nf8? Black overlooks a pretty combination. In case of the correct 17… Rac8 18.b4 Re8 (bad is 18…Nf8? 19. Bc5 Qc7 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Bb6) 19.a4 white would have significant pressure. 18. Bc7! Qxd4 Even worse was 18…Rxd4 19. Qg3 Qc5 20. Be5 with a winning position for white. 19. Qg3! Ng6 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. Qc7! Nf4 22.g3?! A serious inaccuracy after which it is very difficult for white to activate his rooks. Correct was 22. Rae1! Nd3 23. Re3 Nc5 24.b4 Rd7 25. Qb8+ Rd8 26. Qa7 with a big advantage for white. 22… Nd3! 23. Rad1 h5! 24. Qxb7 In case of 24. Qe7 Rd7 25. Qg5 g6 26. Rd2 e5! the knight on d3 supported by the e4 pawn would be sufficient compensation for the rook. 24… Qe4 25. Qe7 Rd4 26. Qe8+ White wins yet another pawn. White didn’t have 26. Qg5? Nxf2! 27. Kxf2 Qc2+, but possible was 26. Qh4!? Qxh4 27. gxh4 e5 28.f3 and white still has a winning chances. 26… Kh7 27. Qxf7 Qe2! 28. Qa7? After this inaccuracy white’s position is no longer winning. Correct was 28. Qe7! h4 (hopeless for black 28…Nxf2?! 29. Rde1! Nh3+ 30. Kh1 Nf2+ 31. Kg2 Qd2 32. Qxe6) 29. Rxd3! Qxd3 30. Qxe6 still keeping a decisive advantage. 28… Re4 29.f3?

See Diagram

White’s move gives black a chance to unveil an astonishing sacrifice of his last remaining rook. But even 29. Rxd3 Qxd3 30. Qf7 Qe2 did not give a winning hand to white, and after 29. Kg2 Nf4+ 30. gxf4 Qg4+ 31. Kh1 Qf3+ 32. Kg1 Rxf4 white still has to fight for a draw. 29… Rh4!! Black is suddenly winning. 30. gxh4 Nf4 31. Qf2 Or if 31. Rf2 Qxd1+ 32. Rf1 Qc2 33. Rf2 Qg6+ 34. Kh1 Qb1+ mate follows in three moves. 31… Nh3+ 32. Kg2 Nxf2 33. Rde1 Qd2! The rest happened only because white could not believe that he lost such a winning position. 34. Kg3 Nd3 35. Rxe6 Qxa2 36.c5 a5 37. Re3 Qxb3 38.f4 Qc4 39. Rff3 Nxc5 40. Kh3 Ne4 0-1


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