The Icelandic candidate: Olafsson’s saga

The Icelandic Grandmaster Fridrik Olafsson died on 4 April at the age of 90. Born in 1935, Olafsson’s distinguished career included qualification for the 1959 world championship Candidates’ tournament (of which he was the last survivor) as well as election to the position of President of FIDÉ, the World Chess Federation. His victims across the board included four world champions: Tal, Petrosian, Fischer and Karpov. Olafsson’s tournament triumphs embraced laurels in numerous Icelandic and Scandinavian championships, as well as several international grandmaster events.

The Chess Saga of Fridrik Olafsson by Oystein Brekke, published by Norske Sjakkforlag, pays tribute to the nonagenarian Grandmaster, who was a legend in his native Iceland and anelegant attacking player. The biography contains 118 games, many annotated by Olafsson himself. The book is much more than a collection of games; many writers contribute to describe his long life and varied career, not all in chess. A saga indeed, and an affectionate and beautiful book in every way.

This week I give links to a selection of Olafsson’s most impressive victories.

Fridrik Olafsson vs. Robert James Fischer (Interzonal, 1958, Portoroz, rd. 11)

Fridrik Olafsson vs. Tigran Petrosian (Candidates, 1959, Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade, rd. 8)

Fridrik Olafsson vs. Mikhail Tal (Moscow, 1971, rd. 1)

Mikhail Tal vs. Fridrik Olafsson (Las Palmas, 1975, rd. 11)

Fridrik Olafsson vs. Anatoly Karpov (Clarin, 1980, Buenos Aires, rd. 12)

Our featured game is a crackling Sicilian, annotated by Grandmaster Emeritus Harry Golombek OBE, from his book of the 1959 Candidates tournament (published by Hardinge Simpole). Being a highly tactical contest, inevitably our modern engine also has occasional interventions and suggestions. These are differentiated in italics.

Fridrik Olafsson vs. Robert James Fischer

Candidates, 1959, Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade, rd. 5

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6

2.a3

Fischer, who played this variation throughout the Candidates’, was wont to play Bb3 here. The pawn move originates with Darga, Olafsson’s second, and not only safeguards the Bishop from exchange but hinders Black from playing …b5-b4.

7… Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ba2 b5 10. f4 Bb7 11. f5 e5

12. Nde2 Nbd7

Acceptance of the pawn sacrifice leads to a fierce attack for White after 12… Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Ng3 Bb7, when White can choose between 15. Nh5, threatening Qg4, and the further sacrifice 15. f6 Bxf6 16. Nh5.

This is not necessarily accurate, as Black can improve on his fourteenth move. After 14… d5! 15. f6 Qb6+ 16. Kh1 Bxf6 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qg4 Qc6 19. Bd2 e3 20. Bxe3 Nd7 21. Rf5 Rae1 22. Raf1 e4 23. c3, the position is completely level.

13. Ng3 Rc8 14. Bg5 Nb6

14… Nb6 is a minor inaccuracy. If instead, 14… Rxc3 15. bxc3 Bxe4 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Qd3 Nf6 19. Bd5 Qb6+ 20. Kh1 h5 21. a4 Qc5 22. Bb7, Black retains his slight edge.

15. Nh5 Rxc3

A promising sacrifice which fails only because it is incorrectly followed up. He could also have played 15… Nc4, with good prospects.

Both 15… Nc4 and …Nxh5 were stronger continuations. What will later become apparent is that this routine exchange sacrifice fails to adequately deliver any advantage.

16. bxc3 Nxh5

Better was 16… Nxe4 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg4 Qg5; as played Black soon loses the initiative.

As we shall see on White’s 19th move, 16… Nxh5 was a perfectly sound continuation. But in the first instance, the best way forward was with, 16… Bxe4 17. Nxg7 Kxg7 18. Bxf6+ Bxf6 19. Qg4+ Kh8 20. Qxe4 Na4 21. Qb7 d5 22. Bxd5 Nxc3 23. Bxf7 Qd4+ 24. Kh1. With regard the analysis we follow after 16… Nxe4, the line quoted leads only to an equal position after,  16… Nxe4 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qg4 Qg5 19. Qxg5 Nxg5 20. Rad1 d5 21. a4 Rc8 22. a5 Nc4 23. Rfe1 Ne4 24. Bxc4 Rxc4. But White can improve significantly, varying with 18. f6! Nxf6 19. Rxf6 Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Qxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Be4 23. Re1 Bxc2 24. Rxe5 Rb8, winning.

17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qxh5 Bxe4 19. Qg4 

Prosaically, White’s strongest continuation was, 19. f6 gxf6 20. Qg4+ Bg6 21. h4 f5 22. Rxf5 Kh8 23. Rf2 f5 24. Qg5 Qxg5 25. hxg5, when Black is fine. It is Black’s erroneous 23rd move that leads to the loss of initiative described in Golembek’s note to Black’s 16th.

19… d5 20. f6 Qc5+ 21. Kh1 g6 22. Rae1 Re8 

It is imperative for Black to be in a position to bring his Queen back to f8 to ward off a threatened mate on g7. He cannot afford the time to capture either pawn: e.g., 22… Qxc3 23. Qg5 Kh8 24. Qh6 Rg6 25. Rxe4 dxe4 26. Bxf7 Qc8 27. Bxg8 Qxg8 28. f7; or 22… Qxa3 23. Qh4 Rc8 24. Rxe4 dxe4 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Qxh7+ Ke6 27. Qxg6 and Black is helpless against the threat of f6-f7 discovered check.

The need for Black’s queen to have free access to f8 is correct. However, in the first instance, it is more accurate to play 22…Rc8 in order to accomplish this. For example, after 23. Qg5 Qxa3 24. h4 Rxc3 25. Qxe5 Rc8 26. Bb3 Nc4 27. Bxc4 Qh3+ 28. Qh2 Qxh2+ 29. Kxh2 Rxc4, Black realizes full equality. Nor is it correct to think that Black cannot capture material (although 22… Qxc3 fails for the reasons given about access to f8). However, it is perfectly reasonable to play, 22… Qxa3, when after 23. Qh4 Nd7! (not …Rc8 as given above) 24. Bb3 Qd6, Black stands better. White’s best tries are, 23. Qh3 h5 24. Qe3 Kh7 25. Qxb6 Qxa2; or else, 23. Qg5 Nd7 24. Bb3 Qd6 25. c4 bxc4 26. Bxc4 Re8 27. Rd1 h5 28. Be2 Re6 29. Ra1 Rxf6 30. Rxa6 Rxf1+ 31. Bxf1, with parity. One must therefore conclude this capture is viable.

23. Qh4 h5 

The engine takes exception to 23… h5?. It calculates as preferable both:

23. a) 23… Rc8 24. a4 Qf8 25. axb5 axb5 26. Bb3 Rxc3 27. Qg5 Nc4 28. Bxc4 Rxc4; and
24. b) 23… Bxc2 24. Qh6 Qf8 25. Qe3 Re6 26. Qd2 Bf5 27. g4 Bxg4 28. Qg5 Bh5 29. Rxe5 Bg4 30. h4 Rxe5 31. Qxe5.
25. Qg5 

24… Nc4

White was threatening 25. Rxe4 dxe4 26. Qxg6+.

25. Bxc4 bxc4 26. Re3

And now he threatens 27. Rh3 Kh7 28. Rxh5+.

Since Black’s error on move 23, White has enjoyed a meaningful initiative. However, the text’s 26. Re3? discharges this completely. The strongest way forward is, 26. Rb1! Kh7 (26… Bxc2 27. Rb7 Qf8 28. Re7 Bd3 29. Qxe5 Ra8 30. Re1 Be4 31. h4 Qb8 32. Qg5 Qc8) 27. Rb7 Rf8 28. Re7 Qxa3 29. Qg3 Qa4 30. Rxe5 Rg8 31. Re7 Rf8 32. Qd6 Kg8, keeping the advantage.

26… Qf8

Another slight inaccuracy. Correct was, 26… Kh7 27. h3 (27. Rh3?! Qf8!) 27… Qd6 28. Kg1 Bxc2 29. g4 Bd3 30. Rf2 d4 31. cxd4 Qxd4 32. gxh5 Rb8 33. Qg3 g5, with full equality.

27. Rb1 Rb8

This appears to be less accurate than either, 27… Rd8 or …Qd6.

28. Ree1 Rxb1

Black’s game is discernibly slipping. Instead of 28… Rxb1?, Black should try, 28… Kh7 29. Qxe5 Re8 30. Qg3 Qxa3 31. Rb7 Rf8 32. Qe5 Qa4 33. Qe6 Kg8 34. Qe7 Qe8, which constrains White’s advantage more effectively than the text move accomplishes.

29. Rxb1 Bxc2 30. Rb7 Bf5

29. Qe3

Threatening not only the e-pawn but also the Queen by 32. Qa7 and Rb8.

31… Be6 32. Qxe5 Qxa3 33. h3

Prior to the text move, one must accept that White’s dominance amounts to a winning advantage. After 33. h3? such an advantage is very considerably reduced. As we shall see, the battle for the g5-square is paramount. White preserves his considerable momentum with, 33. h4! After which, Black has the following two lines, neither of which are sufficient:-

34. a) 33… Qc1+ 34. Kh2 Qh6 35. Qb8+ Kh7 36. Re7 Qe3 37. Re8 g5 38. Rh8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+ Kxf6 40. Rxg5 Qxg5 41. Qd8+; and
35. b) 33… Kh7 34. Qxe6 Qc1+ 35. Kh2 Qf4+ 36. Kh3 Qf5+ 37. Qxf5 gxf5 38. Rxf7+ Kg6 39. Rd7 Kxf6 40. Rxd5.

33… Qc1+ 34. Kh2 g5 35. Ra7

Approaching time control, White nearly capitulates with 35. Ra7? Necessary was, 35. h4 Qf4+ 36. Qxf4 gxf4 37. g3 f3 38. Kg1 Kh7 39. Kf2 Kg6 40. Rb6 Kxf6 41. Kxf3, still winning.

35… h4

Allowing for the same time pressures as with White’s last, this horrible error puts the final seal on the game. Instead of 35… h4? Black must play 35… Qf4+ 36. Qxf4 gxf4 37. g3 Kh7 38. gxf4 h4 39. Rxa6 Kg6 40. Ra2 Bf5 41. Kg2 Kxf6 42. Re2 Be4+, with parity incredibly restored.

36. Rxa6 Kh7 37. Ra1

37… Qf4+

Exchange of queens leads to a hopeless ending for Black, but if 37… Qxa1, 38. Qxg5, with mate to follow. Similarly, if 37… Qd2, 38. Rd1.

38. Qxf4 gxf4 39. Rf1 d4 40. cxd4 Kg6 41. Rxf4 Bf5 42. Rf3 Kxf6 43. Re3 Kg5 44. g3 Bd3

38. d5 Bf5 Black resigns 1-0

 On Tuesday May 13, there will be an evening reception and dinner at L’Escargot to celebrate the paperback launch of Chess through the Looking Glass. For further details please contact Ima Von Wenden at  secretary@snailclub.co.uk

Ray’s 206th book, “  Chess in the Year of the King  ”, written in collaboration with Adam Black, and his 207th, “  Napoleon and Goethe: The Touchstone of Genius  ” (which discusses their relationship with chess) can be ordered from both Amazon and Blackwells. His 208th, the world record for chess books, written jointly with chess playing artist Barry Martin,  Chess through the Looking Glass ,  is now also available from Amazon. 

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