ODT100420

=**7th World Champion Smyslov dies**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in three.

Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov (1921-2010), the seventh World Chess Champion, died last month in Moscow at the age of 89. While most famous for his head-to-head rivally for the world title with fellow-soviet Mikhail Botvinnik through the 1950s, Smyslov had a long and distiguished playing career.

He first came to prominence by wining the Soviet Youth Championship in 1938, and was well established by the end of the Second World War. He took part in the 1948 World Championship Tournament, finishing second only to Botvinnik. Smyslov eventually won through to become Botvinnik's challenger in 1954, tying the match 12-12 allowing the latter to remain champion. He earned a second challenge in 1957, this time convincingly winning 12½-9½ to become World Champion. Botvinnik exercised his right at that time to a return match in 1958, and was able to defeat Smyslov 12½-10½ to regain the title. Though he continued to win many prestigeous events, Smyslov never again managed challenge for the world championship. He came closest in 1983 at the remarkable age of 62, when he advanced to the final of the Candidates cycle, only to lose the following year to the 21 year old Garry Kasparov on his way to his own long reign as World Champion.

Today's game is from the fourteenth Soviet Championship in Moscow 1945, where Smyslov is playing White against Iosef Rudakovsky. With so many great games to choose from, this one is extremely instructive and demonstrates the harmony and logic of Smyslov's play. media type="custom" key="26275492" The Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence, characterised by Black's small pawn centre is less popular nowadays because of White's attacking potential after 6 g4!? (the Keres Attack). However the quieter approach chosen by Smyslov still has considerable danger for Black. With the well-known plan of transferring the queen to active duty on the kingside. Black's response is similarly standard, claiming some central space. But this move just invites White's f-pawn forward with again of tempo. 12...exf4 vacating the e5 square for his own pieces is better. Executing his plan to exchange bishops – which is positionally incorrect due to the weakness of the d5 square. Forcing the exchange of bishop for the only remaining defender of d5. White's own knight becomes invincible on the magnificent central outpost. If 17...Qxc2? then 18 Rf2 Qc5 19 Rc1 followed by the knight fork on c7 wins the exchange. If here or previously 21...f6, with his bishop shut in Black would have been condemned to passively wait while White transfered his heavy pieces to the kingside. But now the way is open to a faster assault. The pawn barrier around the king is breached. If 22...g6? then 23 Qd2 threatening 24 Qh6 soon wins. Forcing Black's reply as mate is threatened by both 26 Qxh7+! Rxh7 27 Rg8 and 26 Rxg7 Kxg7 27 Qxh7+! Kxf6 28 Rf1+ Ke7 29 Qxf7. After 28...Rxg7 29 Rxd5 the threat of mate on d8 wins the black queen.
 * 1.e4 c5**
 * 2.Nf3 e6**
 * 3.d4 cxd4**
 * 4.Nxd4 Nf6**
 * 5.Nc3 d6**
 * 6.Be2 Be7**
 * 7.O-O O-O**
 * 8.Be3 Nc6**
 * 9.f4 Qc7**
 * 10.Qe1 ---**
 * 10.--- Nxd4**
 * 11.Bxd4 e5**
 * 12.Be3 Be6?!**
 * 13.f5 Bc4?**
 * 14.Bxc4 Qxc4**
 * 15.Bg5! ---**
 * 15. --- Rfe8**
 * 16.Bxf6 Bxf6**
 * 17.Nd5! Bd8**
 * 18.c3 b5**
 * 19.b3 Qc5+**
 * 20.Kh1 Rc8**
 * 21.Rf3 Kh8**
 * 22.f6! gxf6**
 * 23.Qh4 Rg8**
 * 24.Nxf6 Rg7**
 * 25.Rg3! ---**
 * 25.--- Bxf6**
 * 26.Qxf6 Rcg8**
 * 27.Rd1 d5**
 * 28.Rxg7! Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qg7+ (or 1 Qf6+) Ka2 (1...Qb2 2 Qa3+ and 3 Qxb2#) 2 Qa7+ and 3 Qa(x)a3#.