Boris Good Enough

Boris Gulko, celebrated both as a grandmaster and a former Soviet dissident, has recently completed his great trilogy of instructional volumes. They make exclusive use of the instructional value of Gulko’s own victories, which include probably more victories against Kasparov, when compared to losses, than any other major player. Lessons with a Grandmaster, Volume 3 (Everyman Chess) is the third in the series. Notes to the following game are based on those by Gulko.
 
Gulko-Kasparov: Linares 1990; King’s Indian Defence
 
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 Be3 c6 7 Bd3 e5 8 d5 b5 9 cxb5 cxd5 10 exd5 e4 11 Nxe4 Nxd5 12 Bg5 Qb6 12 … Qa5+ was seen in Timman-Kasparov, Reykjavik 1988. 13 Qd2 Nd7 14 Bc4 N5f6 (see diagram 1) 15 Nxf6+ 15 Nxd6 is the key test of Black’s idea but Gulko wished to sidestep Kasparov’s opening preparation. 15 … Bxf6 Now White stands well. It was better to play 15 … Nxf6 and keep pieces on the board. 16 Bxf6 Nxf6 17 Ne2 Re8 18 0-0-0 d5 19 Bd3 White had a better line with 19 Bb3 Qxb5 20 Nc3 Qb6 21 Qd4, killing Black’s activity. 19 … a6 20 bxa6 d4 21 Kb1 Re3 Typical of Garry, he plays the most aggressive move, but it looks like he miscalculated. Correct was 21 … Bxa6! 22 Bxa6 Rxa6 23 Nxd4 Rea8 24 Nc2 Rxa2 25 Qd4! Qe6 26 Rhe1 Qf5 27 Qd3 Qc5 28 Qd4 Qf5 29 Qd3 and neither side can avoid the repetition. 22 Bc4 Bxa6 23 Bxa6 Rxa6 24 Nxd4 (see diagram 2) 24 … Re8 Kasparov had planned 24 … Rea3, overlooking 25 Nc2 Rxa2 26 Qd8+ Qxd8 27 Rxd8+ Kg7 28 Na3 and White wins. 25 Ne2 Played to restrict the activity of the black knight. 25 … Rb8 26 Nc3 Qb4 27 Rhe1 Rd6 28 Qc2 Rdb6 29 Re2 Qf4 30 h3 Rc6 31 Qd2 Qf5+ 32 Ka1 Rb7 33 Qh6 White will slowly improve his position, not giving Black any chances. 33 … Rc8 34 Red2 Qa5 35 Qe3 Kg7 36 g4 Re8 37 Qd4 Rd7 38 Qf2 Rc7 39 Rd3 Ra8 40 Qd2 h6 41 Rd6 Rc4 42 Rd4 Rac8 43 Kb1 Qe5 44 f4 Qe6 45 Qe2 Rxd4 46 Rxd4 Qb6 47 Qd2 Qa6 48 Qd3 Qc6 49 a3 Qg2 50 Rd6 White gangs up on the knight, the final point being 50 … Ne8 51 Rxg6+! fxg6 52 Qd7+. 50 … Rb8 51 Qe2 Qh1+ 52 Ka2 Re8 53 Qd3 Re1 54 Qd4 Black resigns
 
The final Fidé Grand Prix in Khanty-Mansiysk has ended in a triple tie between Jakovenko, Caruana and Nakamura. This means that their overall Grand Prix performance qualifies both Caruana and Nakamura for the March 2016 World Championship qualifier, known as the Candidates tournament.
 
Of the remaining six places, one is reserved for the defeated challenger (and former world champion) Viswanathan Anand, while the remaining five slots are yet to be determined by means of high ratings, a further qualifying event and a wild card.