7...Na5?
7...0-0 8.Bb3 d6 leads to a
reasonable game. But not 8… Na5 9.e5 Ne8 10.Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.Ne6
dxe6 (11...Kxe6 12.Qd5+ Kf5 13.g4+ Kxg4 14.Rg1+ Kh4 15.Bg5+ Kh5 16.Qd1+
Rf3 17.Qxf3#) 12.Qxd8 as in the famous game Fischer-Reshevsky, US
Championship 1958-59. The same motif is seen in the variation on the
next move.
8.Be2
Missing 8.Bxf7+! Kxf7 9.e5
pointed out by Mike Valvo, an amateur. Now:
-
9...Ne8?? 10.Ne6Kxe6 11.Qd5+
runs into mate;
-
9...Ng8 10.Ne6 Qe8 11.Qf3+
with a winning advantage;
-
9...Nh5 10.g4 leads to a
superior game for White.
So Black can only try 9…d5.
After 10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Qf3 e6 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.h4 h5 14.Rhe1 Black’s position
is bad. A younger Keres would have played 8.Bxf7+ without hesitation. Here
the veteran is cautious, anxious about possible home preparation by Benko.
8...0-0 9.0-0 d6
Not 9...d5? 10.exd5 Nxd5
11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Nb5 Qxd1 13.Raxd1 White’s position is better (Fischer-Bertok,
Bled 1961). Keres was a participant in the same tournament and knew
this variation.
10.f4
10.g4 is a sharp alternative.
10...Bd7 11.Nb3 Bc6 12.Qd3
This mode of protecting the
e-pawn
seems artificial, yet it is the best. If 12.Bf3 Nc4 or if 12.Bd3 Nxb3
13.axb3 d5 14.e5 d4.
12...Nd7 13.Bf3 Nxb3
Now 14.axb3 is strictly
the correct course. But after 14…Nc5 15.Bxc5 dxc5 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8
the position is rather drawish.
14.cxb3
Keres recaptures this way,
preserving c2 for the queen. He is taking chances to create
complications and keep the fight going.
14… Nc5 15.Qc2 Qd7 16.e5
Rac8 17.Rad1 Qe6 18.Bxc6 Rxc6 19.Qf2 b6 20.exd6 Rxd6
21.Rxd6
Not 21.Bxc5 bxc5 22.Qxc5 Bd4+
23.Rxd4 Qe3+
21...exd6 22.Rd1 Ne4 23.Nxe4
Qxe4
Now Black has the edge and he
has to nurse the d-pawn and advance it forward.
24.h3
Not 24.Rxd6 Qb1+ 25.Qf1 Qxa2.
24...Rc8
The immediate 24...Re8 would
have saved a tempo.
25.Rxd6 Re8
25...Qb1+ 26.Kh2 Qxa2 27.Rd7
Qxb3 would only have drawn.
25...Rc2 is an option.
But Black should not go pawn hunting here. For example, 26.Rd2 Rxd2
27.Qxd2 Qb1+ 28.Kh2 Qxa2 ?? 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Bd4 and White wins with the
threat of Qf6.
26.Bd4 Bh6
26...Bxd4 draws with 27.Rxd4
(27.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 28.Rxd4 Re2) 27...Qb1+. Benko wants more.
27.Rd7!
This is a trap. The
f-pawn can not be saved with 27.Bxf4 Rxe5 28.fxe5 Be3 or 27.g3 Bf8! 28.Rd7
(28.Rf6 Be7) Qf5 29.Rxa7 Qd3 and Black wins.
In this line 28....Qb1+ 29.Kg2 Qd1! also
wins according to Russian analysis.
27...Bxf4??
Black falls into the trap.
27...Qb1+ 28.Kh2 Qxa2 draws.
28.g3 Qe6 29.Rxa7
Now Black hastens to “offer’’
a draw by inviting 29.Qxf4 Qxd7 30.Qf6 Kf8 31.Qg7+ Ke7 32.Qf6+. White
rightly refuses.
29...Bb8
29...Qxh3 fails to 30.gxf4 Qg4+
31.Kh2 Qh5+ 32.Kg3.
30.Rb7 Bxg3
Under the circumstances, this
is a fair try. The combination has pretty points, but also a plump
flaw.
31.Qf3
Keres, short of time himself, replies with a blunder. 31.Qxg3 could have won. Now:
-
31...Qe4 32.Qe3 Qxe3+
33.Bxe3 Rxe3 34.Rxb6 wins.
-
31...Qd5 32.Qe3! wins.
analysis diagram: after 32.Qe3!
Now, back to the game as it unfolded:
31...Bd6??
Black
in turn misses the opportunity to win with 31...Qe1+! 32.Qf1 Bh2+ 33.Kg2
Re2+ 34.Bf2 Qd2.
There
now follows an exchange of hammer blows, hammer blows at the clock that is,
as neither player has time to think.
32.Kg2 Bc5 33.Bc3 Bf8 34.Ra7 h5 35.a4 f5 36.b4 g5 37.Qxh5 Qd5+ 38.Kg1 Bc5+
Benko’s flag had already fallen when he banged down this correct move
leading to perpetual check.
1-0
