Simple logic tells us that if one side is attacking, the other has to be defending. But the best defense is offense, so the simple logic is flawed. A better way of looking at chess is as contest of wills. The outcome of a struggle depends upon who can successfully impose his will on his opponent. We see a perfect illustration of such a contest in the recently concluded championship of Russia.

TIMOFEEV VS. VITIUGOV

(white) (black)

S i c i l i a n De f e n s e

1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.a4 b6 11.h3 Bb7 12.g4 Rc8 13. Ng3 Nc5 14.g5

White reveals his aggressive intensions. Deserving of attention was the less straightforward 14.f4!?

exf4 15. Bxf4; or 14. Be3!? planning 15. Nd5. 14… Nfd7 15.h4?! This is too slow. Black will cover the f5 square on the next move, stopping white’s assault. Better was the immediate 15. Nf5!? Bxg5 16. Qg4 f6 (16…Ne6 17. Bxg5 Nxg5 18. Rad1) 17.h4 g6 with a complicated struggle. 15… g6! 16. Be3?! Again, white’s preparations are too slow. He had to play immediately 16.f4!? Too risky was the sacrifice 16. Nf5 gxf5 17. exf5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 f6! and black has enough resources to defend himself 16… Ne6 17. Bh3 Nf4! With this pawn sacrifice black starts a brilliant counterattack. 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Nge2 f3! 20. Nd4

(See Diagram)

No better was 20. Ng3 Ne5! 21. Bxc8 Qxc8 22. Kh2 Qg4 with a big advantage for black. 20… Bxg5! 21. hxg5 Qxg5+ 22. Kh1 There is no defense after 22. Kh2 Qf4+ 23. Kg1 Ne5! 24. Re1 Rc4! 25. Re3 Rxd4 26. Qxd4 Qh4 either. 22… Rxc3! 23. bxc3 Qh4 24. Kh2 Ne5 25. Rg1 White has nothing better. He would lose immediately after 25. Nxf3 Qf4+ 26. Kg2 Nxf3 27. Qxf3 Bxe4. 25… Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Qh4 27. Kh2 Qf2+ 28. Kh1 Qh4 29. Kh2 h5! Less resolute was 29…f2 30. Rg3 Bxe4 31. Qd2 f5 32. Qg5! Now black is winning. 30. Nxf3 No significant difference would have been made by 30. Nf5 Qf4+ 31. Rg3 h4 32. Nxh4 Qxh4 33. Qxd6 Qf4 and black still wins. 30… Qf4+ 31. Rg3 Bxe4 32. Ng5 Black also had a winning endgame after 32. Nxe5 h4 33. Qg4 hxg3+

34. Qxg3 Qxe5. 32… h4 33. Nxe4 hxg3+ 34. Nxg3 Nf3+ 35. Kg2 Nh4+ 36. Kh1 Qxg3 37. Qg4 Qxc3 38. Rf1 Qc6+ 39. Kg1 Qc5+ 40. Rf2 Nf5 41. Qf4 Re8 42. Bxf5 Qxf5 43. Qxf5 gxf5 44. Rd2

Equally hopeless was 44. Rxf5 Re1+

45. Kf2 Rc1. 44… Re6 45.c4 Re4 46. Rxd6 Rxc4 47. Rxb6 Rxa4 48. Kf2 Kg7 49. Kf3 a5 50. Ke3 f6 51. Kf3 Kg6 52. Rb8 Ra1 53. Rg8+ Kf7 54. Rg2 a4 55. Kf4 Rf1+ 56. Kg3 Rb1 57. Rc2 a3 58. Kf4 Rb4+ 59. Kxf5 Rb5+ 60. Kf4

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