Chess - The Scotsman 12/05/2012

My wife, my son and I had fun watching the blockbuster movie Avengers Assemble because we all enjoy a bit of escapism and dreaming about encounters with heroes. When I think about personal chess heroes, and especially ones with whom I have had the honour and pleasure of playing a game, Grandmaster Boris Gulko comes to mind because, in addition to being a great player who’s a former Soviet and US Champion, he is also a true gentleman. Although I surprised myself by beating Boris in the Scotland vs USA match at the 2002 Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia, I knew in my heart that my opponent was still the greater player, and I was grateful for getting a further opportunity to learn when we analysed together after our game.

Now a new dream has come true, as I’m effectively having daily chess lessons from Boris Gulko simply by reading his wonderful Everyman book, Lessons with a Grandmaster, co-authored by his chess student Dr Joel R Sneed, a professor of psychology in New York. The book comprises a superb collection of 25 of Gulko’s best games, annotated by means of instructive questions, answers and dialogues between two deep-thinking men. I warmly encourage you to check it out via www.everymanchess.com.

One of my favourite battles from the book is the clash Gulko-Shabalov from Bern 1992, the event where I practically completed the GM title with a 7/9 score to finish equal 2nd in the tournament.

White: B.Gulko; Black: A.Shabalov. Opening: Caro-Kann Defence (by transposition)

1 c4 c6 2 e4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 exd5 cxd5 6 Bb5+ Nc6 In his fuller annotations in the book, Gulko explains that White would keep a slight initiative after 6...Bd7 7 Qb3 or 7 Bxd7+ Qxd7 8 Ne5 Qc7 9 0-0. 7 Qe2+! This disruptive check is well-timed, whereas 7 0-0 Bd6 8 Re1+ Ne7 would not trouble Black. 7...Qe7 “After 7...Be7 8 0-0 Nf6 9 Re1, Black’s king will be stuck in the centre.”–Gulko. 8 Ne5 Bd7 9 Bxc6 bxc6 10 0-0 Kd8 Not 10...f6? because of 11 Qh5+ g6 12 Nxg6. 11 b3! Intending 11...f6 12 Ba3 Qxe5 (12...c5 13 Bxc5! Qxc5 14 Nf7+) 13 Qxe5 fxe5 14 Bxf8, winning next the g7- and e5-pawns. 11...Qe6 12 Bb2 f6 13 Qf3 Bd6 14 Nxd7 Kxd7 15 Nc3 Nh6 16 Na4 Qf5 17 Qc3 My computer prefers 17 Qe2, planning Qa6 next. 17...Ng4?! Better is 17...Qe5!, intending 18 Qh3+ Qf5. An exchange of queens would greatly help Black by removing most of the pressure. 18 Nc5+ Bxc5 19 Qxc5 Rhe8 20 Rac1 Re6 21 h3 21 f4! is even better. 21...Ne5 22 Bxe5 fxe5 23 b4 Qd3 24 Rfe1! Threatening Rxe5! and planning 24...Qxd2 25 b5!. 24...Qa6 25 a4 Qb7 25...Qxa4 26 Ra1 and 25...Qb6 26 b5 also favour White, who enjoys superior rook-activity and king-safety. 26 b5 cxb5 27 axb5 Rc8 28 Qa3 Rxc1 29 Rxc1 Ke8 30 Rc5 Rb6 31 Qc3! Threatening Rc7 or Qxe5+. Under pressure and in time-trouble, Black now collapsed with... 31...d4? 32 Rxe5+ Black resigned.