The Chess Greats of the World

PETERLEKO

Copyright © by CAI S SA KFT

English text, diagram titles and layout: Zoltan Molmir

Consultant: IM Tamas Erdelyi

Front cover photo by Frederic Friedel

I SBN: 978 963 87141 69

Publisher: CAI S SA KFT

H-6000 Kecskemet,

Gyenes ter 18. TelIFax: 0036-76-481-685

E-mail: postmaster@caissa.t-online.hu

Home page: caissachessbooks.com

Kecskemet 2007

Printed and bound in Hektograf Nyomda,

Piisp6kladany

THE CHESS GREATS OF THE WORLD

PETER LEKO

Edited by Daniel Lovas

CAISSA CHESS BOOKS

Dear reader, this is an interactive book. It

contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the exciting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is always shown on the page after the diagram. Have fun!

* * *

Peter Leko is the most successful Hungarian chess player of our days.

* * *

Kedves Olvaso! Ez egy interaktiv kiinyv: 50 sakkabrat tartalmaz, mindegyiken egy kritikus alias sal, melyben egy nagyon eros lepes kiivetkezik. On is reszese lehet az izgal­mas sakkcsataknak azzal, hogy megprobalja megtalalni a kerdeses lepest. Magat a jatsz­mat mindig a diagramot kiiveto oldalon ismertetjiik. Jo szorakozast!

Publisher's Note

Our aim in compiling this serial is double . Firstly, we wish to raise a monument to the memory of the one-time greats of chess and to introduce some notabilities of our days, too. Secondly, by showing the finest and most typical games of these genial players, we'd like to delight the populous camp of chess fans, assisting, at the same time, the development of the young chess generation. We wish that yo will make good use of these volumes and, forgetting the day's troubles, you will recreate yourselves by taking a trip to the "O�sis of Beauty", as Bobby Fischer called chess.

Dr. Tamas Erdelyi

5

A kiad6 eloszava

E sorozat szerkeszteseben kiad6nkat kettos cel vezerli. Egyreszt emleket kivanunk alli­tani a sakkozas egykori nagyjainak es bemu­tatni napjaink nehany kival6sagat. Masreszt, e zseniaIis sakkoz6k legszebb, legjellegzete­sebb jatszmainak ismertetesevel, gyonyor­kodtetni szeretnenk a sakkjatek rajong6inak nepes taborat, egynttal elosegitve az ifju sakknemzedek tudasbeli gyarapodasat is. Kivanjuk, hogy sorozatunk kOteteit forgas­sak haszonnal, s feledve a mindennapok megannyi gondjat-bajat, nyerjenek feludu­lest a "szepseg oazisa" -ban, ahogy Bobby Fischer nevezte a sakkjatekot.

Dr. Erdelyi Tamas

6

The Career of P eter Lek6

Peter Le,k6 was born in 1979 in Szabadka, Vajdasag territory, but was brought up from his childhood in Szeged in Southern Hun­gary. It was here, in Geza Mar6czy's native town, that he and his family found a home, and some years ago he was elected a hon­orary citizen. He learned to play chess at age seven, and his special talent blossomed out very quickly. His parents did their best to help his development, engaging coaches for him and taking him even to remote countries to play in tournaments there . For years he was living in Kecskemet, a town known for its teeming chess life, where he found excel­lent coaches and played the first serious tournament games of his life in Caissa Chess Centre. Before long, the wunderkind win-

7

ning strong adults' tournaments figured on the front-page of the newspapers from Aus­tralia to South America. In 1994, at the age of fourteen, he was awarded the title Inter­national Grandmaster, breaking herewith Fischer's record.

The young grandmaster became a con­stant invitee of the strongest tournaments and he moved forward rapidly on the world ranking list. In 1995 he took a sensational 3rd place at the Grandmaster event in Dort­mund, and, at age 16, he won the World Champion title in his age group. Then he won Gradmaster events in Copenhagen, Ha­vana and Yopal. In 1997 in Tilburg and Madrid he came third, in 1998 in Tilburg second. The next great breakthrough came in 1999, at age 20. In the Category 19 Dort­mund event he came first ahead of Kramnik, Anand, Adams and Karpov.

8

In the Hungarian olympic team he made his debut at the Moscow Olympiad. In Baku he was already the determinant personality of the silv.er-medalist Hungarian team of the European Championship, whilst at the Bled Chess Olympiad he was the unbeaten top­board player of the silver-medalist Hunga­rian team.

The incredibly quick career did not make the young grandmaster's life one-sided. Once he expressed his views on sports like this: ,,1 am almost as fond of taking exercise as playing chess." His favourite completive sports are football and tennis. Besides, his life is filled by music, reading and domes­ticity. In 2000 he married the daughter of the captain of the Armenian chess team. By now, Sophie is already a Hungarian citizen, and her father, Arshak Petrosian, is also a frequent visitor in the Szeged home of the

9

Lek6 fam ily. Fo r many yea rs now the Armen ian grandmaster has been the d irector of Peter's preparat ions and the leader of the Lek6 team do ing all the profess ional back­ground work.

Peter Lek6 started h is march for the world t itle in 2000. In Budapest in a s ix­game match he defeated Khal ifman, the w inner of the Las Vegas World Champ i­onsh ip of FI DE, by 4.5-1.5. In January of 2001, he played a 12 -game rap id match with Vlad im ir Kramn ik, wh ich he then lost in a great struggle by 7-5. One year later, in Dortmund, he won the Can d idates' Tour­nament, becom ing the challenger of Kram­n ik offic ially, too. The ir match took place in 2004 in Br issago, Italy. In the beg inn ing Lek6 wavered but was able to recover from the shock of los ing the first game. In the fifth he equal ized, and w ith h is splend id win

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scored in game e ight he was in t he lead all along unt il game 14 and needed only half a po int to w in the world t itle. But h is experi­enced opponent mustered all h is strength, and in a dramat ic fight won the last game. Thus, w ith a 7-7 draw, Vlad im ir Kramn ik defended h is throne.

But Lek6 was not left w ithout a wo rld t itle, e ither. As fa r back as 2001, he beat M ichael Adams in an e ight -game match in Fischer Random Chess, at the Chess Class ic tournament in Ma inz. It was then that he was awarded - be ing the first to earn it - the Fischer Random World Chess Champ ion t itle.

During the period of the great march for the class ic wo rld t itle the Hungarian grand­maste r ac h ieved splend id results in the world's st rongest chess events. In 2002, he won the Grand Prix rap id tournament in

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Dubai, in Essen he came second. In 2003, he fin ished first in L inares, where h is com­bat ive approach compelled general admira­t ion. From January 2004 he soared aga in. In Wijk aan Zee he fin ished second beh ind Anand, undefeated. He was for long in the lead at the L inares super-tournament, too, but h is ill-fated loss to Kramn ik kept h im from repeat ing h is former success. In Janu­ary 2005 h is old dream was ful filled when he came fi rst undefeated in Wijk aan Zee ahead of Kramnik, Anand and Topalov. Thus he jo ined the five players who could w in in the three greatest world events: Wijk aan Zee, L inares and Dortmund. In the Fall of 2006 he also came first in the Tal Memorial in Moscow.

On the FI DE rank ing l ist the Hungarian grandmaste r can be long s ince found among the best 10; in the January 2007 l ist he was

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ranked 6th w ith h is 2749 Elo -points. C hess compet ito rs seldom rece ive h igh state awards, but Peter Lek6 is an except ion even in th is. The Pres ident of the Hungar ian Re­publ ic rewarded h im, as the best nat ive chess player, w ith the Kn ight's Cross of the Hungar ian Order of the Republ ic.

Lek6 made a good start in the year 2007, too. He won in Odessa, at the first rap id World Cup of PCA. In t he knock -out system event, to get among the best e ight he won aga inst Sokolov, beat Rubevsky 2 -0, and then, in the 'sudden death' game aga inst Gelfand, he succeeded in fight ing h is way to qual ify ing for the final. There he faced Ivan­chuk of Ukra ine, w ith whom, after three draws, he won the fourth game and w ith it the tournament, too.

In the years past, in M iskolc, a c ity in Northern Hungary, Lek6 sta rted a ser ies of

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rapid match -tournaments exciting keen in­terest. In the first match in 2005, against Adams of England, he equal ized w ith a stormy finish. In the end, after further exc it­ing games, the ir duel resulted in a 4 -4 draw. H is next opponent in 2006 was ex World Champion Karpov, whom he defeated by 4.5 -3.5. And in 2007, Peter Le k6's opponent w ill be none other than Vlad imir Kramnik. At the t ime of the agreement about the match in M iskolc the organ izers could not yet know that Kramn ik would acqu ire the overall world title by beat ing Topalov. And Lek6, for his part, sta rted th is year by win­n ing the rap id World Cup. So the rapid match organ ized in April 2007 in Miskolc p rom ises to be one of the highest -ran king chess encounters of the year.

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Lek6 Peter palyafutasa

Lek6 Peter 1979-ben a vajdasag i Szaba dkan szuletett, de k isgyennek korat61 a del -ma­gyarorszag i Szegeden nevelkedett. Csalad­javal itt, Mar6czy Geza szulovarosaban ta­lalt otthonra, mely nehany eve diszpolga­rava vaIasztotta. Hetevesen ismerkedett meg a lepesekkel, es kulonleges sakktehetsege nagyon gyorsan k ibontakozott. Szule i m in­dent megtettek, hogy segitsek fejlo deset. Edzoket fogadtak melIe, tavol i o rszagokban rendezett versenyekre is elv ittek. Evekig a sakkelete rol nevezetes Kecs kemeten elt, ahol k ivaI6 e dzokre talaIt, es a Ca issa sakk­centrumban eIete elso komoly verseny­jatszma it vivta. Hamarosan AusztraI iat61 Del -Amerikaig az ujsagok cimlapjara kernlt a rangos felnott tomakat nyero cso dagyerek.

1 5

1994 -ben t izennt!gy evesen kapta meg a nemzetkoz i nagymesteri cimet, megdontve ezzel Fischer reko rdjat.

Az ifju nagymester a legerosebb tomak alland6 meghivottja lett, es nagy lendtilettel lepkedett elore a v ilagrangl istan. 1995-ben szenzac i6s 3. helyezest ert el a dortmund i nagymesterversenyen, s 16 evesen ko roszta­lyos v ilagbajnoki cimet szerzett. Ezutan Koppenhagaban, Havann ab an , majd Yopal­ban nyert nagymesterve rsenyt, 1997 -ben T ilburgban es Ma d ridban harmadik, 1998 -ban T ilburgbaJ;l masod ik lett. H uszevesen, 1999-ben kovetkezett az ujabb nagy attores. Kramnyik, Anand, Adams es Karpov elott gyozott a 19-es kateg6riaju dortmun di to r­nan.

A magya r valogatottban a mosz kva i sakkol imp ian mutatkozott be eloszor. Baku­ban mar az Eur6pa -bajno ki eztistermes ma -

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gyar csapat meghataroz6 egyen isege, a bled i sakkol imp ian ped ig az eziistennet szerzett magyar valogatott veretlen eltablasa volt.

A h ihetetleniil gyors karr ier nem tette egyoldaluva a fiatal nagymester eletet. Egy helyiitt azt ny ilatkozta a sportolasr61: " Majd­nem annyira szeretek mozogn i, m int sak­kozn i." Kedvenc k iegeszito sportaga i a foc i es a ten isz. Emellett a zene, az olvasas es a csalad tolt i k i eletet. Az onneny sakkvaloga­tott kap itcinyanak leanyat 2000-ben vette felesegiil. Szofi az6ta mar magyar allampol­gar, es edesapja, Arshak Petroszjan is gyak­ran megfordul a Lek6-csalad szeged i ott­honaban. Az onneny nagymester evek 6ta felkesziilesenek iranyit6ja, a szakmai hatter­munkat vegzo Lek6-team vezetoje.

Lek6 Peter 2000-ben kezdte meg mene­teleset a v ilagbajnok i dm elnyereseert. Bu­dapesten hatjatszmas parosmerkozesen 4,5-

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1,5 aninyban legyozte a FI D E Las Vegas -i v ihigbajnoksaganak gyozteset, Hal ifmant. 2001 janmirjaban 12 jatszmas rap id meccset jatszott Vlagy im ir Kramnyikkal, melyen ek­kor nagy kuzdelemben 7-5 -re kikapott. Egy ev m ulva Dortmundban megnyerte a v ilag­bajnokjeloltek tomajat, es ezzel hivatalosan is Kramny ik kihiv6ja lett. Merkozesiikre 2004 -ben az olaszorszag i Br issag6ban ke­riilt sor. Lek6 a kezdesnel b izonytalanko­dott, de s ikeriilt kihevem ie az elso jatszma elvesztese okozta so kkot. Az otod ik part iban kiegyenlitett, majd a nyolcad ikban aratott remek gyozelmevel egeszen a 14. jatszma ig vezetett, es mar csak fel pont h ianyzott a v ilagbajnoki dm megszerzesehez. Rut inos ellenfele azonban m inden erejet osszeszed­ye, drama i kiizdelemben megnyerte az utol­s6 jatszmat. Ezzel Vlagyimir Kramny ik 7-7-es dontetlennel megvedte tr6njat.

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Lek6 azonban igy sem maradt v ihigbaj­nok i dm nelkiil. Meg 200 I -ben legyozte Michael Adamst egy nyolcpart is meccsen Fischer- R�dom sakkban, a ma inz i Chess Class ic tormm. Ekkor kapta - elsokent - a Fischer-Random sakkv ilagbajnok i cimet.

A klassz ikus v ilagelsosege rt folytatott nagy meneteIes idoszakaban a magyar nagy­mester remek ere dmenyeket e rt el a v ilag legerosebb sakktoma in. A 2002 -es ev szep s ikere i: Duba iban G rand Prix rap id toman gyozott, Essenben masod ik lett. 2003-ban L inaresben elsokent vegzett, es harc ias ja­tekfelfogasaval k ivivta az altalanos el isme­rest. 2004 januarjat61 ismet szamyalt. Wijk aan Zee -ben veretleniil lett masodik Anand mogott. Soka ig vezetett a l inares i szuper­versenyen is, de Kramny ik elleni balszeren­cses veresege meggatolta elozo evi s ikere­nek meg ismetleseben. 2005 januarjaban reg i

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aIma teljesiilt, m idon veretleniil lett toma­gyoztes Wijk aan Zee -ben Kramnyik, Anand es Topalov elott. Igy bekeriilt azon ot jatekos koze, ak ik gyozni tudtak a harom legna­gyobb v ilagversenyen: Wijk aan Zee -ben, L inaresben es Dortmundban. EIso lett 2006 oszen a moszkva i Tal -emIekversenyen is.

A FI D E v ilagrangl istajan hosszu ideje a legjobb 10 kozott talaIhat6 a magyar nagy­mester, aki a 2007-es janmiri vilagrangl istan 2749 Elo -ponttal a hatod ik helyen allt. A sakkversenyzok ritkan kapnak magas allami k itUnteteseket, de Lek6 Pete r ebben is kive­tel. A Magyar Koztarsasag elnoke iden a Magyar Koztarsasag i Erdemrend Lovagke­resztje k itUntetest adomanyozta a legjobb haza i sakkoz6nak.

Lek6 j61 kezdte a 2007 -es esztendot is. Ogyesszaban, a Pro fi Sakkoz6k Szovetse­genek elso rap id v ilagkupajan gyozott. A ki-

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eseses rendszerii versenyen a legjobb nyoJc koze jutasert Szokolov ellen nyert, Rubev­szk ijt 2 -0 -ra verte, majd Gelfand ell en a

"h irtelen halal" part iban s ikeriilt kiharcoln ia a tovabbjutast. A dontoben az u kran I van­csuk ell en harom dontetlen utan megnyerte a negyed ik jatszmat, es ezzel a versenyt is.

Az elmult evekben Lek6 nagy erdeklo­dest k ivalt6 rap id parosmerkozes -sorozatot kezdett az eszak -magyarorszagi nagyvaros­ban, Miskolcon. A 2005 -os elso merkozesen az angol Adams ellen fergeteges hajraval egyenlitett k i. Vegiil izgalmas part ikat kove­toen 4 -4 -es dontetlennel zarult a parharcuk. Kovetkezo ellenfele 2006-ban az exv ilag­bajnok Karpov volt, ak it 4,5 -3,5 aranyban legyozott. 2007-ben ped ig nem mas lesz Lek6 Peter ellenfele, mint Vlagy imir Kram­nyik. Amikor megszu letett a megegyezes a miskoic i merkozesrol, a szervezok meg nem

21

tudhatuik, hogy Topalov legyozesevel Kram­ny ik megszerz i az abszolut v ihigbajnoki ci­met. Lek6 ped ig eppen a Rap id Vihigkupa megnyeresevel kezdte az evet. igy az esz­tendo egy ik legrangosabb v iadala lesz a 2007 april isaban rendezendo m isko lc i rap id parosmerkozes.

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Game 1

Tactical Nicety

Taktikai finomsag

P. Lik6 - V. Kramnik

Belgrade 1995

White to play: 19 ?

23

Game 1 P. Lik6 - V. Kramnik

Belgrade 1995 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 flc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 flc3 d6 6 �g5 e6 7 �d2 �e7 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 f4 h6 10 �4 tMJ6?! 11 flxc6! bxc6 12 e5 dxe5 13 fxe5 fle4 14 flxe4 �4 15 �f4! �e7 16 �d3 Hb8 17 b3 �c7 18 wbl! c5 19 flf6t! wh8 20 �e4± g6 21 h4 �b7 22 �f4 wg7 23 flg4 Hh8 24 Hdfl HbfS 25 flf6 �d8 26 �g3 h5 27 �g5 Hh7 28 Hf4 wh8 29 Hhfl �f6 30 Hxf6 Hg8 31 g3 �e7 32 �f4 Hgg7 33 Hf2 �d5 34 wb2 �c6 35 �c4 �b7 36 Hd2 Hg8 37 Hd6 �e8?! 38 �f2+- �e4 39 �xc5 �e7 40 �d4 �f5 41 Hd7 �e8 42 �xa7 HfS 43 a4 wg8 44 a5 �c8 45 a6 �c6 46 �c7 �g2 47 �xe6! �e6 48 Hxe6

1 - 0

24

Game 2 Fatal Pin

Vegzetes kotes

P. Lek6 - M. Tratar

Kecskemet 1991

White to play: 40 ?

25

Game 2 P. Lek6 - M. Tratar

Kecskemet 1991 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 �f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 �d4 �6 5 �c3 e6 6 f4 a6 7 �f3 \Wb6 8 a3 �c6 9 �xc6 bxc6 10 b3 rtie7 1 1 rtid3 e5 12 f5 h5 13 rtie3 �c7 14 0-0 �g4 15 rtid2 rtib7 16 g3 Hd8 17 wg2 d5 18 Hfel �6 19 He2 0-0 20 h3 Hfe8 21 g4 dxe4 22 �e4 c5 23 Hfl c4 24 bxc4 �e4 25 rtixe4 rtixe4 26 �xe4 Hd4 27 �f3 hxg4 28 hxg4 �xc4 29 wh3 e4 30 �f2 rtixa3 3 1 rtie3 Hd5 32 Hfel f6 33 wg2 rtic5 34 Hhl rtixe3 35 �xe3 �c7 36 �b3 �f7 37 �h3 wfS 38 �a3t �e7 39 Hh8t wf7 40 �b3!

1 - 0

26

Game 3

Stepping up the Pressure

Peti fokozza a nyomast

P. Lek6 - I. Smirin

Wijk aan Zee 1993

White to play: 37 ?

27

Game 3 P. Lek6 - I. Smirin Wijk aan Zee 1993

Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 �fJ d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 �d4 �6 5 �c3 a6 6 �e3 e6 7 f4 b5 S tWfJ �b7 9 �d3 b4 10 �e2 �bd7 11 g4 e5 12 �b3 exf4 13 �xf4 tWe7!? 14 0-0-01 �e5 15 tWg3 HcS 16 �ed4 tWc7! 17 wbl g6 IS Hdel? �fxg4! 19 �d2 1JNb6 20 Hhfl �g7 21 h3 �f6 22 �5 �f8 23 @h4 �fd7 24 �h6 �g7 25 tWf4 �c5 26 �xc5 dxc5 27 �c4 f6 2S �d5 HdS' 29 �xb7 tWxb7 30 h4 tWe7 31 �cl wd7? 32 �g4 �g4 33 tWxg4t tWe6 34 tWgl!± wc6 35 h5 HdgS 36 hxg6 �f8 37 e5! Hxg6 3 S tW h 1 t tWd5 39 tWh3! f5 40 tWxf5 �g7 41 Hd I! tWxe5 42 tWd7t wb6 43 Hf7+- �h6 44 He7! IJNbs 45 He6t

1 - 0

28

Game 4

A Cruel Riposte

Kegyetlen riposzt

P. Lek6 - J. Piket

Tilburg 1997

White to play: 30 ?

29

Game 4 P. Lek6 - J. Piket

T ilburg 1997 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 flc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 g6 5 c4 �g7 6 �e3 flf6 7 flc3 flg4 8 \Wxg4 flxd4 9 \Wdl fle6 10 Hcl \Wa5 11 a3!? b6 12 �d3 g5 13 0-0 �b7 14 Hc2 �xc3!? 15 Hxc3 \We5 16 Hel h5 17 �d2 Hh6 18 h4?! Hg6! 19 hxg5 flxg5 20 \Wxh5 \Wg7 21 'i9f1? fle6 22 g3 0-0-0 23 �e3 Hh8 24 \Wf3 Hh2!! += 25 c5 Hf6 26 cxb6t 'i9d8! 27 �f4 fld4 28 \We3 \Wg4! !-+ 29 \Wxd4 \Wf3?? 30 \Wxd7t! (30 \Wxd7t 'i9xd7 31 �b5t)

1 - 0

30

Game 5

A Nasty Thrust in Time Trouble

Idozavaros cwni

P. Lek6 - L. Van Wely

Tilburg 1997

White to play: 40 ?

31

Game 5 P. Lek6 - L. Van Wely

T ilburg 1997 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 tf)f6 5 f)c3 a6 6 f4 Ybc7 7 Ybf3 g6 8 �e3 b5 9 �d3 �b7 10 g4 b4 11 flce2 �g7 12 0-0-0 �bd7 13 flg3 flc5 14 wbl flfd7 15 flb3 Hc8 16 Ybf2 fla4 17 �cl fldc5 18 h4! a5 19 h5 Hg8?! 20 hxg6 hxg6 21 Elli7? flxd3 22 cxd3 �a6 + 23 flfl!? �b5 24 Ybe2Yba7 25 e5! Yba6 26 fld4 dxe5 27 fxe5 flc5 28 flxb5 Ybxb5 29 fle3! fld7 30 flc4

Ybd5 31 (fih6 �h6 32 Hxh6 Hc6 33 Hc 1 flfS 34 Elli3 fle6 35 tMIc2 wfS 36 Hfl flg5 37 Hhhl! wg7? 38 Ybh2! Ybxd3t 39 wal flh3 40 e6!? HfS? 41 fle5

1 - 0

32

Game 6

A· Staggering::PQnch

Agyrengeto pofon

P. Lek6 • Computer FritzlPrimergy K8000 Frankfurt 2000

White to play: 47 ?

Game 6 P. Lek6 - Computer FritzlPrimergy K8000

Frankfurt 2000 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 e5 2 'flf3 e6 3 d3 'fle6 4 g3 g6 5 �g2 �g7 6 0-0 'flge7 7 Hel d6 8 e3 e5 9 a3 0-0 10 b4 h6 11 'flb d2 �e6 12 'fle4 b5 13 'fle3 a5 14 bxe5 dxe5 15 e4 b4 16 'fld5 �d6 17 �b2 Hfb8 18 a4 �g4 19 h3 �e6 20 'fld2 'fld4 21 �xd4 exd4 22 'flb3 Ha7 23 �d2 c;!;>h7 24 He2 'fle8 25 f4 �e6 26 f5 gxf5 27 exf5 �d5 28 �xd5 �f6 29 Hf2 �f8 30 c;!;>g2 'flb6 31 �e4 'fld7 32 He 1 'flc5 33 �a2 c;!;>g8 34 Hf3 �d6 35 h4 He7 36 c;!;>h3 c;!;>h7 37 'flxe5 �e5 38 g4 b3 39 �g2 c;!;>h8 40 g5 �d6 41 �g4 �d7 42 �h5 �f8 43 Hg3 �d6 44 Heg 1 b2 45 e5 Hxe5 46 gxh6 �xh6 47 Hg6! �xg6 48 fxg6 c;!;>g7 49 gxf7t

1 - 0

34

Game 7

Nice and Obvious

Kezenfekvo es szep

P. Lek6 - E. Magbami

Yerevan 2001

White to play: 25 ?

35

Game 7 P. Lek6 - E. Maghami

Yerevan 2001 Sicilian Defence

] e4 e5 2 flf3 d6 3 d4 ex d4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 fle3 a6 6 �g5 e6 7 f4 b5 8 e5 dxe5 9 fxe5 �e7 10 exf6 �e5 t 11 �e2 �xg5 12 0-0 Ha7?! 13 �d3 Hd7 14 fle4 �e5 15 flf3 �xb2 16 �e3 �b7 17 a4 b4 18 Habl �xe2 19 flfg5! �e7 20 Hxb4!! �xe4 21 flxe4 �b4 22 fxg7 Hg8 23 flf6t wd8 24 flxg8 �e5 25 flf6! �xe3 t 26 whl we8 27 flxd7

1 - 0

36

GameS

The' Last Finesse

Az utols6 finomsag

P. Lek6 - R. Kasimdzhanov

San Luis 2005

White to play: 42 ?

37

Game 8 P. Lek6 - R. Kasimdzhanov

San Lu is 2005 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 e5 2 �f3 e6 3 d4 exd4 4 �xd4 a6 5 �d3 �e5 6 �b3 �a7 7 �e2 �6 8 �e3 d6 9 f4 �e7 10 0-0 �f6 1 1 �a7 Hxa7 12 �e3 b5 13 a4 b4 14 �dl a5 15 �3 0-0 16 whl �b7 17 �g4 �g4 18 �xg4 Haa8 19 Hael �e7 20 He3 g6 21 �g3 Hfe8 22 �b5 Hae8 23 e3 Hed8 24 f5 bxe3 25 bxe3 Has 26 f6 �f8 27 �f4 h6 28 Hh3 g5 29 �e3 �e5 30 Hh5 �g6 3 1 �3 �xe4 32 �d2 �e2 33 Hxh6 Hae8 34 Hh5 He5 35 Hel g4 36 �xg4 �f5 37 �g3 d5 38 �b3 Hee8 39 �d4 �e4 40 �e6 Hxe6 41 �xe6 �d6 42 �g5! �f4 43 �xf4 �f4 44 Hg5t wh7 45 �b5 wh6 46 h4 �g2 47 Hxg2 Hg8 48 Hee2

1 - 0

38

Game 9

The Decisive Blow

A donto csapas

P. Lek6 - J. Polgar

San Luis 2005

White to play: 21 ?

39

Game 9 P. Leko - J. Polgar

San Lu is 2005 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 £lf3 e6 3 d4 cx d4 4 � d4 £lc6 5 £lc3 Wlc7 6 �e3 a6 7 Wl d2 £l f6 8 0-0-0 �b4 9 f3 £le7 10 £l de2 b5 11 g4 h6 12 Hgl £lg6 13 a3 �e7 14 f4 b4 15 axb4 �xb4 16 Wl d4 Wla5 17 wb 1 ID>8 18 g5 £lh5 19 gxh6 Hxh6 20 Hg5 Wlc7 21 £lb5! Hxb5 22 Hxb5 axb5 23 Wlxb4 £lhxf4 24 £lc3 Hxh2 25 �gl

1-0

40

Game 10

Finishing Black off

Sotetet kicsimiljak

P. Lek6 - T. Radjabov

Linares 2006

White to play: 45 ?

41

Game 10

P. Lek6 - T. Radjabov L inares 200 6

Sicilian Defence

1 e4 cS 2 flf.3 flc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 f)xd4 �6 5 flc3 e5 6 fldb5 d6 7 �g5 a6 8 fla3 b5 9 fld5 0.e7 10 �6 �x f6 ] 1 c3 0-0 12 flc2 �g5 13 a4 bxa4 14 Hxa4 as 15 �c4 m,8 16 b3 wh8 17 �ce3 �e6 18 h4 � f4 J 9 flf5 g6 20 flfe3 wg7 21 g3 �6 22 flg4 f5 23 fuh6 0xh6 24 h5 g5 25 ex f5 �x f5 26 fle3 �c8 27 YJa2 fle7 280-0 ftf6 291M'e2 tJYb6 30 Hfa1 tJYc6 31 Hxa5 �b7 32 �d5 �d5 33 �xd5 �xc3 34 flg4t tlg7 35 Ha7 �e6 36 'l»c4 \Welt 37 wg2 �e7 38 �xb7 �exb7 39 �xd6 �f8 40 h6t wh8 41 'MId5 �b8 42 tJYd3 tJYb4 43 lld7 e4 44 @d5

�5 45 flf6! (45 ... Hxf6 46 Hd8t Hj8 47 tJYj7+-)

1-0

42

Game 11 As Clear as Daylight

Napmil vililgosabb

P. Lek6 - B. Gelfand

Odessa 2007

White to play: 25 ?

43

Game 1 1 P. Lek6 - B. Gelfand

Odessa 2007 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flfl d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 flc3 a6 6 fl e5 7 flb3 �e6 8 �e3 flbd7 9 'MJd2 b5 10 0-0-0 h5 11 wb 1 Hc8 12 �d3 flb6 13 h3 h4 14 f4 b4 15 fld5 �d5 16 exd5 flc4 17 �c4 Hxc4 18 'MJe2 'MJc8 19 fxe5 dxe5 20 �d4 �d6 21 fla5 Hxd4 22 Hxd4 0-0 23 Hxh4 e4 24 Hfl He8 25 H xf6! gxf6 26 'MJh5 wfS 27 flc6

1 - 0

44

Game 12

In Cold Blood

Hidegverrel

P. Lek6 - J. Pinter

Budapest 1997

White to play: 37 ?

45

Game 12 P. Lek6 - J. Pinter

Budapest 1997 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 ffi flc6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 fl f6 5 0-0 �e7 6 Hel b5 7 �b3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 fld7 10 d4 � f6 11 a4 fla5?! 12 �c2 �b7 13 d5!;t �e7!? 14 fla3 c6 15 b4 flc4 16 fu.c4 bxc4 17 dxc6 �c6 18 fld2! d5 19 exd5 �d5 20 ffi!± �xf3 211M'xf.3 1M'c7 22 a5! wh8 23 �a4 Hac8 24 1M'd5 Hcd8 25 1M'c6 1M'xc6 26 �xc6 flb8 27 �f.3 f5!? 28 Hxe5 � f6 29 Hx f5 Hfe8 30 Hx f6!? Hel t 31 wh2 gx f6 32 �g5! He6 33 He I! Hdd6 34 Hxe6 Hxe6 35 � f4 fld7 36 �d5 He2 37 �xc4!! He4 38 �d3 Hx f4 39 wg3 fle5 40 cBx f4 flxd3t 41 we4 flb2 42 wd5

1-0

46

Game 13

Utter Ruin

Vegromhis

P. Lek6 - M. Adams

Dortmund 1999

White to play: 28 ?

47

Gamel3 P. Lek6 - M. Adams

Dortmund 1999 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 eS 2 ffi flc6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 flf6 5 0-0 �e7 6 He 1 b5 7 �b3 0-0 8 c3 d5 9 exd5 flxd5 10 �xe5 flxe5 11 �xe5 c6 12 d4 �d6 13 f!e I Wh4 14 g3 \Wh3 15 He4 �b7? 16 Hh4 IWe6 17 fld2 f5N 18 \Wh5! h6 19 f)f3'�e7 20 ljh3 c5!

21 dxc5! �c5 22 �f4! gae8 23 �dl! �e7 24

�g5! Hd7 25 �el !MJb6 26 �e2 wh7 27 ID14!! a5 28 �xh6!! \)!Jxh6 29 Wlg5 a4 30 �e6

1-0

48

Game 14 With a Firm Hand

Erelyes kezzel

P. Lek6 - A. Beliavsky

Bled 2002

White to play: 34?

49

Game 14 P. Lek6 - A. Beliavsky

Bled 2002 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 ffi �c6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 �f6 5 0-0 �e7 6 Hel b5 7 �b3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 �b8 10 d4 �bd7 11 �bd2 �b7 12 �c2 He8 13 �f 1 � 14 �g3 g6 15 b3 �g7 16 d5 �b6 17 Hbl!;t c6 18 c4 \Mic7 19 �d3 �d7 20 �e3 �c5 21 �f1 bxc4 22 bxc4 �bd7 23 \Mid2 Hab8 24 �h6! �xh6 25 \Mixh6 ffi 26 h4! cxd5 27 cxd5 �c8 28 Hxb8! \Mixb8 29 h5 \Mic7 30 �2!!± �d7? 31 �c4! f6 32 He3! He7 33 hxg6 hxg6 34 �h5! gxh5 35 Hg3t �g4 36 \Mixh5 �xe4 37 \Mixg4t �g5 38 �e3 e4?! 39 \Mif4 (39 . . .

fth7 40 �g4+-) 1-0

50

Game 15/1

Fighting Chess

Kiizdosakk

P. Lek6 - R. Kasimdzhanov

Essen 2002

"White to play: 61 ?

51

Game 15/1 P. Lek6 - R. Kasimdzhanov

Essen 2002 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 M 'fJc6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 'fJf6 5 0-0 'fJxe4 6 d4 b5 7 �b3 d5 8 dxe5 �e6 9 'fJbd2 �c5 10 tM'e2 'fJxd2 11 �xd2 0-0 12 Had 1 He8 13 h3!? tM'd7 14 c3!? Had8 15 �g5 �e7 16 Hfe 1 h6 17 �c 1 �c5 18 tM'd3 'fJe 7 19 'fJd4 �xd4 20 tM'xd4 'fJf5 21 tM'c5! d4!? 22 �c2 �d5 23 cxd4 'fJh4 24 �e4 �xe4 25 Hxe4 'fJg6 26 Heel! He6 27 tM'c2 'fJe7 28 �e3 f5!? 29 exf6 Hxf6 30 f3!± 'fJd5 31 �f2 HdfS 32 �g3 Hc6 33 tM'e4 'fJf6 34 tM'd3 'fJd5 35 He5 Hcf6 36 Hde1 tM'f7 37 tM'e4 c6 38 a3 a5 39 wh2 a4 40 tM'c2 Hg6 41 H5e4 tM'f5 42 tM'f2 wh7 43 �e5 wg8 44 tM'e2 h5 45 Hfl tM'g5 46 tM'f2 tM'f5 47 Hfe 1 He6 48 tM'e2 Hg6 49 �g3 tM'f7 50 tM'd2 tM'f6 51 HI e2!? tM'f5 52 tM'e 1 tM'f7 53 Hc2 tM'f5 54 Hc5 tM'f7 55 tM'cl tM'd7 56 tM'c2 Hf5 57 �e5 Hfg5 58 He2 h4 59 tM'e4 Hh6 60 Hec2 wh8 61 �f4!?

'

52

Game 15/2

More than Enough

Tobb, mint elegendo

P. Lek6 - R. Kasimdzhanov

Essen 2002

White to play: 68 ?

53

Game 15/2 P. Lek6 - R. Kasimdzhanov

Essen 2002 Ruy Lopez

6 1...He6 62 �g5 Hxe4 63 fxe4 tWd6t 64 whl �b6 65 �e3 tWe6! 66 e5 �c4 67 �gl tWf5? 68

H2xc4! bxc4 69 Hxc6+- tWc2 70 e6 tWe4 7 1 Hxc4 tWxe6 72 d5 tWxd5 73 Hxh4t wg8 74 Hxa4 wfl 75 Hb4 we6 76 a4 tWa2 77 b3 wd5 78 Hb5t we4 79 a5 wd3 80 b4 wc4 8 1 Hb6 g5 82 a6 wb3 83 Hg6 g4 84 a7 gxh3 85 Hg8 h2 86 Wxh2

1- 0

54

Game 16

Too Many Pins

Kotes kotes hat8n

P. Leko - A. Morozevich

Cannes 2002

White to play: 42 ?

55

Game 16 P. Lek6 - A. Morozevich

Cannes 2002 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 ffi �c6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 �f6 5 0-0 b5 6 �b3 �c5 7 a4 Hb8 8 c3 d6 9 d4 �b6 10 �a3 0-0 11 axb5 axb5 12 �xb5 �g4 13 �c2 h6?! 14 d5! �7 15 h3 �h5 16 whl!! �xe4!? 17 �e4 f5 18 �c2! �e8! 19 �a4 e4 20 �xc7 �f7 21 �e6 exf3 22 gxf3 �f6!? 23 �xfS HxfS 24 �b5! �h4 25 wg2 g5? 26 Ha4 f4 27 �d7 �g6 28 He4 �e5 29 Hxe5+- dxe5 30 �d3 wg7 31 �e4 �c7 32 �f5 Hf6 33 c4 �f7 34 c5 h5 35 d6 g4 36 fxg4 �g6 37 Hgl �d8 38 �xe5 f3t 39 wxf3 �xh3t 40 we2 hxg4 41 Hxg4 �h5 42 �g5! �xf5 43 �xf6t wf7 44 f3

(44 . . . fuj6 45 �d5t!)

1-0

56

Game 17

A Terrible Horse's Kick

Rettenetes 16rugas

P. Lek6 - M. Adams

Miskolc 2005

White to play: 32 ?

57

Game 17 P. Lek6 - M. Adams

M iskole 2005 Ruy Lopez

I e4 e5 2 ffi tfJe6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 tfJf6 5 0-0 �e7 6 Hel b5 7 �b3 d6 8 e3 0-0 9 h3 tfJa5 10 �e2 e5 11 d4 Wte7 12 tfJbd2 exd4 13 exd4 tfJe6 14 tfJb3 a5 15 �e3 a4 16 tfJbd2 �d7 17 Hel Hae8 18 tfJfl Wtb8 19 �bl He7 20 Wtd2 exd4 2 1 tfJxd4 tfJxd4 22 �xd4 Hxe I 23 Hxe I He8 24 Hel �e6 25 tfJe3 tfJd7 26 f4 �f6 27 Hdl Wta8 28 �f6 tfJxf6 29 Wtxd6 g6 30 f5 tfJxe4 3 1 �e4 Wtxe4 32 tfJg4!

1 - 0

58

Game 18

In Attacking Vein

Tamad6 szellemben

P. Lek6 - L. Bruzon

Wijk aan Zee 2005

White to play: 22 ?

59

Garne 18 P. Lek6 - L. Bruzon Wijk aan Zee 2005

Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 flf3 �c6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 �f6 5 0-0 �e7 6 Hel b5 7 �b3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 �a5 10

�c2 c5 1 1 d4 Y}}c7 12 �bd2 cxd4 13 cxd4 �d7 14 �f1 Hac8 15 He2 �c6 16 a3 exd4 17 �xd4 Hfe8 18 �g3 d5 19 �xc6 �xc6 20 e5 �e4 21 �f4 g5 22 �f5! gxf4 23 Hxe4 wh8 24 He 1 �d7 25 e6

1-0

60

Game 19

Dashed Cruel

Pokolian kegyetlen

P. Lek6 - N. Short

Wijk aan Zee 2005

White to play: 37 ?

61

Game 19 P. Lek6 - N. Short Wijk aan Zee 2005

Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 �f3 �e6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 �f6 5 0-0 �e7 6 Hel b5 7 �b3 d6 8 e3 0-0 9 h3 �b8 10 d4 �bd7 11 �bd2 �b7 12 �e2 He8 13 �f 1 �f8 14 �g3 g6 15 b3 �g7 16 d5 Wte7 17 e4 e6 18 �e3 Hee8 19 Hel a5 20 Wtd2 bxe4 2 1 bxe4 exd5 22 exd5 �e5 23 �d3 h5 24 �xe5 dxe5 25 Wtg5 He7 26 tfJf 1 Hae8 27 �ld2 �e8 28 Wtxe7 Hxe7 29 tfJc4 �a6 30 ffxe5 �xe5 3 1 tfJxe5 e4 32 �xe4 Hxe5 33 �xa6 Hxe 1 34 Hxc 1 Hxe4 35 f3 He5 36 He5 h4 37 d6! [37 ... "f1xc5 (37 ... Helt 38 rJlj2 Hdl 39 Hc8 rJlfB 40 �b5+-) 38 d7+-}

1- 0

62

Game 20

Tactical Acumen

lraJctilkai eleslatas

P. Lik6 - G. Kamsky

Wijk aan Zee 2006

White to play: 41 ?

63

Game 20 P. Lek6 - G. Kamsky

W ijk aan Zee 2006 Ruy Lopez

I e4 e5 2 ffi �c6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 �f6 5 0-0 �e7 6 Hel b5 7 �b3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 �a5 10 �c2 c5 11 d4 Y}}c7 12 �bd2 �d7 13 ffl Hac8 14 �e3 cxd4 15 cxd4 fJc6 16 d5 �b4 17 �bl a5 18 a3 �a6 19 b4 axb4 20 axb4 YJJb7 21 �d2 �d8 22 �d3 �b6 23 �2 h6 24 �4 �h7 25 Y}}f3 �g5 26 Y}}g3 fJc7 27 fJe3 Has 28 fJef5 Hxal 29 �e7t wh8 30 Hxal �7 3 1 Y}}f3 fJf6 32 �6· Has 33 Hfl fJce8 34 �c I Hal 35 �5 Y}}c7 36 �d2 Hxflt 37 Wxfl g6 38 �e3 wg7 39 g4 �7 40 wg2 Y}}b7 41 fJc4! g5 42 fJa5 Y}}a8 43 ff5t wf'8 44 h4 �d8 45 �6 f6 46 hxg5 f5

1 - 0

64

Game 21

A Crusher

Hahilos dafes

P. Lek6 - I. Sokolov

Odessa 2007

White to play: 21 ?

65

Game 21 P. Lek6 - I. Sokolov

O dessa 2007 RuyLopez

1 e4 e5 2 �f3 �c6 3 �b5 �c5 4 c3 f5 5 d4 fXe4 6 �xc6 dxc6 7 �e5 'M'd5 8 0-0 ff6 9 �4 � d6 10 c4 'M'e6 11 c5 �e7 12 �c3 'M'f5 13 �g3 �e6 14 f3 exf3 15 Hxf3 'M'h5 16 'M'e2 �f5 17 Haft g6 18 'M'c4 HfS 19 d5 � d7 20 �xd7 �d7 21 d6!

1 - 0

66

Game 22

And this is the End of it Es nines tovilbb

P. Lek6 - M. Adams

Dortmund 2002

White to play: 45 ?

67

Game 22 P. Lek6 - M. Adams

Dortmund 2002 Petroff Defence

1 e4 eS 2 flf3 flf6 3 flxeS d6 4 flf3 flxe4 S d4 dS 6 �d3 fle6 7 0-0 �e7 8 e4 flf6 9 h3 0-0 10 flc3 flb4 11 �e2 dxe4 12 �e4 e6 13 �gS flbdS 14 He 1 �e6 IS 'M'b3 'M'b6 16 flxdS exdS 17 'M'xb6 axb6 18 �b3! h6 19 �f4!? Hfe8 20 fles gS!? 21 �h2!t �b4?! 22 He2 fle4 23 fld3 �fS 24 Hae 1 �g7 2S �eS �xeS 26 flxeS wg7 27 fld3 He7 28 flb4 Hd8 29 g4!± flf6 30 wg2 Hd6 31 f3 �d7 32 wg3 wfS 33 h4 �bS 34 HeS gxh4t 3S wxh4 �e4 36 �e2 �bS 37 a3 Hd8 38 wg3 wg7 39 �fS wfS 40 Hhl wg7 41 flc2!+- He8 42 fle3 Hee7 43 wf4 �e6 44 �e2 �d7 45 g5!

1 - 0

68

Game 23

A Nice Touch

Tetszetos stilusban

P. Lek6 - A. Grischuk

Wijk aan Zee 2002

White to play: 29 ?

69

Game 23 P. Lek6 - A. Grischuk

Wijk aan Zee 2002 Petroff Defence

1 e4 e5 2 �f3 �f6 3 fOCe5 d6 4 ffi �xe4 5 d4 d5 6 �d3 �e6 7 0-0 �e7 8 e4 �b4 9 �e2 �e6 10 �3 0-0 11 �e5 f6 12 �f3 wh8 13 a3 fOCe3 14 bxe3 �e6 15 �d2 f5 16 Hel �f6 17 a4 �g8 18 e5 He8 19 ffi h6?! 20 Hbl! Hb8 21 �d3 Hxe 1 t 22 WJxe 1 WJd7 23 �f4 He8? 24 WJd2 g5 25 Hxb7! He8 26 h4 gxf4 27 WJxf4 �g7 28 �xf5! WJd8 29 �g5! hxg5 30 hxg5 WJf8 31 WJh3t �h6 32 �f5 He8 33 Hxe7 Helt 34 wh2 �7 35 g4 �e6 36 WJxh6t WJxh6t 37 gxh6 fOCf5 38 gxf5 �xf5 39 Hf7! �g6 40 Hxa7 Hc1 41 wg3 Hxe3t 42 wf4 �h5 43 we5 Hf3 44 e6 �g4 45 a5 Hxf2 46 a6 He2 47 He7 (47 . . . Ha2 48 a7)

1 - 0

70

Game 24

The Force of the Pawns

A gyalogok ereje

P. Lek6 - A. Khalifman

Istanbul 2000

White to play: 66 ?

71

Game 24 P. Lek6 - A. Khalifman

Istanbul 2000 French Defence

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 flc3 �b4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 �a5 6 �g4 fle7 7 dxc5 �xc3t 8 bxc3 flg6 9 flfl fld7 10 �d3 �c7 11 0-0 flxc5 12 a4!? 0-0 13 �a3 b6 14 �fel f5! 15 exf6 flxd3! 16 cxd3 �xf6 17 �g3!? �xg3 18 hxg3± �d7 19 �d6! �c8 20 �e5!? flxe5 21 flxe5 �e8 22 �a3 �c5 23 fl �a5 24 �eal wfS 25 wf2 we7 26 d4 �d7 27 we3 �fS 28 wd2 �b8 29 �3a2 �e8 30 fld3 �c8! 31 fle5 wd6 32 wc2 wc7!? 33 wb3 wb7 34 g4.h6 35 f4 �c7 36 wb4 wa6 37 �a3?! �7! 38 wb3 �c7 39 �3a2 wb7 40 wb4 wa6 41 f5! exf5 42 gxf5 h5 43 �f1 �7 44 fld3 �c7 45 fle5 �b7 46 fld3 �c7 47 wb3 wb7 48 �e I! �c6 49 �e6 �d7 50 �e5 �c6 51 flf4 h4 52 fle6 �d7 53 �e3 wc8! 54 g4 �e7! 55 �h3 �d7 56 ffi �e4? 57 flxd7 wxd7 58 �xh4 we7 59 �g2 b5 60 �7! wfS 61 g5 bxa4t 62 wb4 �a6 63 f6!? a3 64 �xg7 �ee6! 65 �7!+- a2 66 g6! �a4t 67 wb3 (67. .. �a3t 68 wc2 fuc3t 69 w b2)

1 - 0

72

Game 25

Mate in Eight

Matt nyolc lepesben

P. Lek6 - P. Nikolic

Bastia 200 1

White to play: 25 ?

73

Game 25 P. Lek6 - P. Nikolic

Bast ia 2001 French Defence

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 fle3 �b4 4 e5 e5 5 a3 �e3t 6 bxe3 fle7 7 �g4 wfS 8 �d2 �e7 9 � d3 b6 10 flh3 �a6 11 flf4 �xd3 12 ex d3 flg6 N 13 flh5 flc6 14 0-0 flee7 15 flg3! � d7 16 h4!? �a4 17 Hfel flc6? 18 h5! flgxe5 19 �f4 flx d3 20 � d6t wg8 21 Hxe6!? fxe6 22 �xe6t wfS 23 h6! +-Hg8 24 hxg7t Hxg7 25 �h6 fl d8 26 �g7t cJ?xg7 27 flf5t

1 - 0

74

Game 26

Splendid and Forced

GyonyorU es Fonalas

P. Lek6 - T. Radjabov

Linares 2003

White to play: 32 ?

75

Game 26 P. Lek6 - T. Radjabov

L inares 2003 French Defence

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 �3 �6 4 �g5 �b4 5 e5 h6 6 �d2 �e3 7 bxe3 �4 8 �g4 g6 9 �d3 �d2 10 wxd2 e5 11 h4 �d7 12 h5 g5 13 f4 �6 14 fxg5 �a5!? 15 dxe5! d4 16 �f3 0-0-0 17Habl! dxe3t 18 we2 Hhg8 19 �e4! �e7! 20 g4! fle7! 21 �b5! hxg5 22 Hb3! �d5 23 Hhbl �e6? 24 �e6 �xe6 25 �d4!+­'Mia6t 26 we 1 Hd7 27 e6 He7 28 Hxb7 Hxb7 29 Hxb7 �b6 30 �h7 HfS 31 �g7 �a3 32 �xf8t! (32 ... �xj8 33 �5 �c5 34 frl6f wd8 35 c7f �xc7 36 fuc7 wxc7 37 h6)

1-0

76

Game 27

Pete Means Business

Peti nem lacafac8zik

P. Lek6 - A. Kharlov

Budapest 1992

White to play: 26 ?

77

Game 27 P. Lek6 - A. Kharlov

Budapest 1992 Caro-Kann Defence

1 e4 c6 2 flc3 d5 3 flf3 g6 4 d4 tJig7 5 h3 flh6 6 tJif4 f6 7 1Mld2 flf7 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 wb 1 b5 10 exd5 b4 11 fla4 lMla5 12 flc5 cxd5 13 g4 e5 14 tJie3 e4 15 flel fte8 16 f3 fld7 17 flb3 1Mla4 18 fxe4 dxe4 19 flg2 tJib7 20 flf4 g5 21 flh5 tJid5 22 h4 h6 2J 1Mlf2 fld6 24 hxg5 fxg5 25 fJxg7 wxg7 26 ftxh6!! Wxh6 27 1MJh4 t

1 - 0

78

Game 28

There is No Mercy

Nines kegyelem

P. Lek6 - V. Bologan

Wijk aan Zee 2004

White to play: 26 ?

79

Game 28 P. Lek6 - V. Bologan

Wijk aan Zee 2004 Caro-Kann Defence

I e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 �3 dxe4 4 �e4 �d7 5 �g5 �gf6 6 �d3 e6 7 �1f3 �d6 8 We2 h6 9 �4 �xe4 10 Wxe4 Wc7 1 1 0-0 b6 12 Wg4 Wf8 1 3 b3 �b7 14 �b2 �f6 1 5 Wh4 c5 16 dxc5 Wxc5 1 7 �xf6 gxf6 18 Wxf6 Wh5 ! 19 Hfe l Hg8? 20 �e4± Hxg2t? 2 1 wxg2 Wg4t 22 wh l �e4 23 Hxe4 Wxe4 24 He l Wh7 25 �4+- we8 26 �xe6! wd7 27 Wf3 Hb8 28 �4 Hc8 29 Wh3 t f5 30 �f5

1 - 0

80

Game 29/1 Battering-Ram

Faltoro kos

P. Lek6 - B. Gelfand

Moscow 2006

White to play: 32 ?

81

Game 29/1 P. Lek6 - B. Gelfand

Moscow 2006 Queen s Gambit

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 flf3 flf6 4 flc3 dxc4 5 a4

�f5 6 e3 e6 7 �xc4 �b4 8 0-0 flbd7 9 !We2 �g4 1 0 h3 �f3 1 1 !Wxf3 0-0 12 Hd l Hc8 1 3 e4 e5 14 �e3 !Wa5 1 5 !Wf5 exd4 16 !Wxa5 �xa5 1 7 �xd4 Hfe8 1 8 f3 a6 1 9 wf2 fle5 20 �e2 Hcd8 2 1 �e3 h5 22 g4 hxg4 23 hxg4 flg6 24 Hxd8 Hxd8 25 wg3 He8 26 Hd l �c7t 27 wf2 He7 28 �f1 flf4 29 g5 flh7 30 �xf4 �f4 3 1 Hd8t flfS 32 g6!

82

Game 29/2 Hard-Fought Battle for the Full Point

Heroikus kiizdelem a teljes pontert

P. Lek6 - B. Gelfand

Moscow 2006

White to play: 43 ?

83

Game 29/2 P. Lek6 - B. Gelfand

Moscow 2006 Queen s Gambit

32 ... b5 33 �h3 fxg6 34 Has bxa4 35 �f1 wf7 36 �c4t �6 3 7 fle2 �d6 3 8 f4 wf6 39 e5t �e5 40 fxe5t wxe5 4 1 �xe6 wxe6 42 Hxa6 Hb7 43 �f4t we5 44 we3 c5 45 �3 t wd5 46 Ha5 wd6 47 Hxa4 wd5 48 Ha5 wd6 49 Ha4 wd5 50 wd2 c4 5 1 �b4t we4 52 wc3 g5 53 fr6 g4 54 Hxc4t wf5 55 �d4t wf4 56 �c6t wf5 57 �b4 g3 58 �d5 we5 59 �3 Hf7 60 Hg4 Hc7t 6 1 �c4t wf5 62 Hxg3 g5 63 Hf3t we4 64 Hf7 Hc8 65 Hg7 wf4 66 wd3 Hd8t 67 we2 He8t 68 wf2 Hb8 69 Hf7t we4 70 Hd7 g4 7 1 b3 Hb4 72 �2t wf4 73 Hd3 wf5 74 wg3 we5 75 �c4t we4 76 He3t wd4 77 wxg4 Hb8 78 wf3 Hh8 79 we2

0-1

84

Game 30 Tolya can Shake Hands

Tolja Dylijthatja a kezet

P. Lek6 - A. Karpov

Miskolc 2006

White to play: 51 ?

85

Game 30 P. Lek6 - A. Karpov

Miskole 2006 Queen:'I Indian Defence

1 d4 �f6 2 e4 e6 3 �f3 b6 4 g3 �a6 5 b3 �b4t 6 �d2 �e7 7 �g2 0-0 8 0-0 e6 9 �e3 d5 1 0 �5 �d7 1 1 �xd7 �d7 1 2 �d2 He8 1 3 e4 e5 14 exd5 exd5 1 5 dxe5 dxe4 16 e6 exb3 1 7 He l b2 1 8 �b2 �e5 1 9 fr4 �xe4 20 tMig4 �f6 2 1 �xf6 tMixf6 22 tMixe4 Hfd8 23 Had l Hxd l 24 Hxd l g6 25 �d5 wg7 26 wg2 He7 27 Hd4 g5 28 h4 h6 29 hxg5 hxg5 30 Hg4 tMif5 3 1 tMid4t f6 32 �f3 �e6 33 tMie3 �e5 34 Hd4 tMie6 35 tMid2 tMie7 36 wg l tMie6 37 Hd8 tMie 7 3 8 tMid5 tMif7 39 tMid6 tMie 7 40 tMid5 tMie6 4 1 tMid2 He7 4 2 wg2 �4 43 tMib4 fr5 44 tMid4 tMie5 45 tMid2 �e4 46 tMie2 �5 47 tMie4 He7 48 tMig8t wh6 49 tMih8t Hh7 50 tMif8t Hg7 51 �d7!

1 - 0

86

Game 31 Penetration

Benyomulas

P. Lek6 - M. Carlsen

Linares 2007

White to play: 37 ?

87

Game 31 P. Lek6 - M. Carlsen

L inares 2007 Queen S Indian Defence

1 d4 �6 2 ffi e6 3 c4 b6 4 g3 �b4 t 5 � d2 � d2 t 61M'x d2 �a6 7 b3 0-0 8 �3 d5 9 cxd5 ex d5 10 �g2 He8 11 fle5 c5 12 0-0 �b7 13 Hf dl fla6 141M'f4 flc7 15 flg4 flxg4 161M'xg4 IM' f6 17 e3 Had8 18 Hac 1 IM'e 7 19 dxc5 bxc5 20 IM'a4 H d7 21 fle4 d4 22 exd4 �e4 23 �e4 fle6 24 d5 fld4 25 He 1 IM' d8 26 <Y fl H de7 27 � d31M'c8 28 g4! Hxel t 29 Hxel HfS 30 h3 IM' d8 31 �e4 IM'b6 32 �g2 g6 33 <Ygl <Yg7 34 IM' d7 H d8 35 IM'e7 a5 36 <Yh 1 flb5 37 He6! fld6 38 IM' f6t <Yg� 39 He7 a4 40 bxa4? (40 fuj7 /+-) 40 c4 41 <Yh2 IM'b8 42 f4 IM'c8 43 He3 He8 44 Hxe8t flxe8 45 IM'c6lM'xc6 46 dxc6 <YfS 47 <Yg3 <Ye7 48 <Yf2 <Y d6 49 <Ye3 <Yc5 50 g5 flc7 51 a3 fle6 52 �e4 c� 53 f5

1 - 0

88

Game 32 The Strike of the Pole-Axe

Lesujt a tag16

P. Lek6 - A. N aiditsch

DortmWld 2006

White to play: 34 ?

89

Game 32 P. Lek6 - A. Naiditsch

Dortmund 2006 Catalan Opening

1 d4 �f6 2 e4 e6 3 g3 �b4t 4 �d2 e5 5 �xb4 exb4 6 �g2 0-0 7 ffi d6 8 0-0 �e6 9 d5 exd5 1 0 exd5 �e7 1 1 �h4 !MIb6 12 e4 �g4 1 3 tMlb3 a5 14 h3 a4 1 5 !MId3 �d7 16 He 1 Hfe8 1 7 ffi �g6 1 8 �bd2 a3 1 9 Hab 1 �a4 2 0 !MId4 !MIxd4 2 1 �d4 �e2 22 Hbe 1 �d3 23 Hxe8t Hxe8 24 bxa3 bxa3 25 f4 h5 26 He3 �a6 27 wf2 h4 28 �f3 Het 29 e5 dxe5 30 fxe5 �d7 3 1 e6 fxe6 32 dxe6 �e5 33 e7 He8 34 �h5!

1 - 0

90

Game 33 His Majesty's Throne is Tottering

Inog a tr6nus ofelsege alatt

V. Ivanchuk - P. Lek6

Monte Carlo 2001

Black to play: 34 . . . ?

91

Game 33 v. Ivanchuk - P. Lek6·

Monte Carlo 200 1 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 �f3 �c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 �xd4 'ff6 5 �3 e5 6 fldb5 d6 7 �g5 a6 8 �a3 b5 9 �xf6 gxf6 1 0 �d5 f5 1 1 c3 �g7 1 2 exf5 �f5 1 3 fr2 �e6 1 4 g3 0-0 1 5 �g2 f5 1 6 0-0 a5 1 7 He l Hc8 1 8 �3 �a7 1 9 �d2 e4 20 Had l �e5 2 1 �c2 wh8 22 �6 �e8 23 �ce3 �c6 24 a3 �g6 25 �4 �f7 26 Hd2 Hb8 27 Hed l �xd5 28 Hxd5 �e7 29 H5d2 Hg8 30 wh 1 Hg6 3 1 f4 exf3 32 �f3 �g7 33 �5 ·HfS 34 �g2 �xg3! 35 �f3 �h6 36 �fl Hfg8 3 7 �d3 �f4 38 �xf5 �f5 39 �5 �d2 40 �g6 �xg6 4 1 �d5 �e3

0 - 1

92

Game 34 Large Diagonal

Nagyatl6

T. Luther - P. Lek6

Essen 2002

Black to play: 24 . . . ?

93

Game 34 T. Luther - P. Lek6

Essen 2002 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 4Jf3 4Jc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 4Jxd4 4Jf6 5 4Jc3 e5 6 4Jdb5 d6 7 �g5 a6 8 4Ja3 b5 9 �xf6 gxf6 1 0 4Jd5 f5 1 1 �b5 axb5 1 2 fub5 Ha4 1 3 b4 Hxb4 14 4Jbc7t wd7 1 5 0-0 Hg8 ! 1 6 g3 ! ?N Hb7 ! 1 7 \Wh5 \Wg5 ! 1 8 \Wxf7t �e7 1 9 4Jxe7 4Jxe7 2 0 4Je6 \Wg6 2 1 4JfSt HxfS 22 \WxfS fxe4 23 Hfb 1 Hc7 24 a4 e3! 25 fxe3 \We4

0 - 1

94

Game 35 White Is Outwitted

Vilagosnak tUljamak az eszen

A. Shirov - P. Lek6

Dortmund 2002

Black to play: 30 . . . ?

95

Game 35 A . Shirov - P. Lek6

Dortmund 2002 Sicilian Defence

I e4 c5 2 flf3 flc6 3 �b5 g6 4 �c6 dxc6 5 d3 �g7 6 h3 flf6 7 flc3 0-0 8 �e3 b6 9 IM'd2

e5 1 0 �h6 IM'd6 1 1 0-0-0 a5 1 2 �xg7 wxg7 1 3 g4 a4 14 fle2 b5 1 5 flg3 b4 1 6 IM'g5 He8 1 7 fl<i2 a3 1 8 bxa3? h6 1 9 1M'e3 �e6 20 flb3? ! Hxa3 ! 2 1 IM'xc5 IM'b8 ! 2 2 wb2 fld7 2 3 IM'e3 flb6 24 Ha l c5 ! -+ 25 wc l c4 26 dxc4 flxc4 27 lM'e l IM'a7 28 IM'xb4IM'xf2 29 flf5t gxf5 30 gxf5 Hc8! 3 1 fxe6 fle3 ! [32 wb2 IM'xc2t 33 wxa3 Ha8t 34 lM'a4 (34 fla5 fr4t) 34 ... lM'c3! 35 IDzglt wh7 361M'xa8 fr2t 37 wa4lM'b4#}

0 -1

96

Game 36

Pete Stands No Funny Business

Petivel nem lehet packami

J. Polgar - P. Lek6

Budapest 2003

Black to play: 34 . . . ?

97

Game 36 J. Polgar - P. Lek6

Budapest 2003 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 flc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 flc3 e5 6 fldb5 d6 7 �g5 a6 8 fla3 b5 9 �xf6 gxf6 1 0 fld5 f5 1 1 �d3 �e6 1 2 iJNh5 Hg8 1 3 g3 Hg5 14iJNd l �xd5 15 exd5 fle7 16 flxb5 ! ?

\Wb6 1 7 fla3 ! iJNxb2 1 8 flc4 iJNc3 t 1 9 wfl Hd8 20 Hb l e4 2 1 �e2? f4 ! 22 Hb3 iJNf6 23 gxf4 iJNxf4 ! ? 24 fle3 �g7 25 �xa6 flf5 ! � 26 flg2 iJNe5 27 h4 Hg6 28 Hhh3 wf8+ 29 \Wb I ! ? �f6

30 h5 ? Hg8+ 3 1 �e2? fld4 32 Hbe3 �g5 33 \Wb6 He8 34 Heg3 f5!-+ 35 flh4?! flxe2 36 Wxe2 f4 37 Hb3 f3t 38 wfl iJNxd5 39 tfJxf3 iJNc4 t 40 Hd3 exd3 4 1 iJNxd6t �e7 42 iJNh6t Hg7 43 Hg3 dxc2t 44 wg2iJNc3

0-1

98

Game 37 The Decisive Breakthrough

A donto attores

s. Karjakin - P. Lek6

Dortmund 2004

Black to play: 31 . . . ?

99

Game 37 S. Karjakin - P. Lek6

Dortmund 2004 Sicilian Dejimce

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 flc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 flc3 e5 6 fldb5 d6 7 �g5 a6 8 �xf6 gxf6 9 fla3 b5 1 0 fld5 f5 11 �d3 �e6 12 0-0 �xd5 1 3 exd5 fle7 14 Wlh5 e4 1 5 �e2 �g7 16 c3 0-0 1 7 �c2 �c8 18 fle3 f4 19 flf5 �e8 20 a4 flg6 2 1 axb5 axb5 22 �xb5 �e5 23 Wlh3 �b8 ! 24 c4 Wlf6 2 5 flxg7 wxg7 26 �a7 �f8 27 �d7 �g5 28 b4 Wld4 29 c5 dxc5 30 b5 f3 3 1 g3 e3!-+ 32 fxe3 Wlxe3 t 33 wh l Wle2 34 �fa l �xd5 35 WIn �d2 36 WIg I fle5 37 �h3 fld3 38 �n flf2t 39 �xf2 Wlxf2 40 Wlxf2 �xf2 41 wg I �2 42 �n Hd8 43 �a3 f2t 44 wg2 �dl 45 �f3 �dd2 46 �f4 �d4 4 7 �f3 �d I 48 b6 �xb6 49 wxf2 �c1

0-1

100

Game 38 Tactic is the Salt of Chess

A taktika a sakkjatek sava-borsa

V. Anand - P. Lek6

Wijk aan Zee 2005

Black to play: 26 . . . ?

101

Game 38 V . Anand - P. Lek6 Wijk aan Zee 2005

Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 flc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 flc3 e5 6 fldb5 d6 7 �g5 a6 8 fla3 b5 9 �xf6 gxf6 1 0 fld5 f5 1 1 c3 �g7 12 exf5 �xf5 13 flc2 0-0 14 flce3 �e6 15 �d3 f5 1 6 0-0 Ha 7 1 7 a4 fle7 18 flxe7t Hxe7 1 9 axb5 axb5 20 �b5 d5 2 1 Ha6 f4 22 flc2 �c8 23 Has tMld6 24 flb4 �b7 25 Ha7 d4 26 �a6 �xg2! 27 �c4t wh8 28 Ha6 tMlc5 29 Wxg2 f3t 30 whl tMlxc4 3 1 Hc6 tMlb5 32 Hd6 e4 33 Hxd4 �xd4 34 tMlxd4t tMle5 35 tMlxe5 t Hxe5 36 flc2 Hb8 37 fle3 Hc5 38 h3 Hxb2 39 c4 Hg5 40 wh2 wg8 4 1 h4 Hg6 42 wh3 wil 43 flf5 Hc2 44 fle3 Hd2 45 c5 we6 46 c6 Hg8 47 c7 Hc8 48 wg3 Hxc7 49 wf4 Hd4 50 Ha l Hilt 5 1 wg3 Hd8 52 Ha6t we5 53 flg4t wd5 54 flf6t Hxf6 55 Hxf6 we5 56 Hh6 Hg8t 57 wh3 e3

0-1

102

Game 39 Knight Fork is an Ugly Motif

A sakk-sekk csfulya motivum

V. Topalov - P. Lek6

Monte Carlo 2006

Black to play: 26 . . . ?

103

Game 39 V. Topalov - P. Lek6

Monte Carlo 2006 Sicilian Defence

1 e4 c5 2 flf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 flxd4 flf6 5 flc3 a6 6 �e3 e5 7 flb3 �e6 8 \Wd2 flbd7 9 0-0-0

b5 1 0 f4 �c8 1 1 wbl \Wc7 1 2 h3 h5 1 3 �d3 h4 14 fld5 �xd5 1 5 exd5 e4 1 6 �e l �e7 17 �e2 flb6 18 �g4 flc4 1 9 \Wf2 flxg4 20 hxg4

h3 2 1 �d4 h2 22 c3 \Wb7 23 \We2 wfS 24 g5 a5 25 \Wxe4 a4 26 flc l �xg5! 27 g3 �f6 28 �f6 gxf6 29 fld3 \Wd7 30 \Wg2 \Wh3 3 1 \Wxh3 �xh3 3 2 �1 �e8 33 flf2 �xg3 34 �xh2 �e2 35 flg4 �xh2 36 flxh2 �g2 37 ffi �xb2t 38 wa l a3 39 fld4 fle3 40 �b l �f2 41 �xb5 �xf4 42 � 1 �f2 43 �c 1 f5 44 flb5 flc4 45 fld4 f4 46 flf5 fle3

0 - 1

104

Game 40 Superior Force

Tulero

V. Kramnik - P. Leko

Brissago 2004

Black to play: 26 . . . ?

105

Game 40 V. Kramnik - P. Lek6

Brissago 2004 Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 flfJ flc6 3 �b5 a6 4 �a4 flf6 5 0-0 �e7 6 He 1 b5 7 �b3 0-0 8 c3 d5 9 exd5 flxd5 1 0 fue5 flxe5 ] 1 Hxe5 c6 12 d4 �d6 1 3 He 1

\Wh4 14 g3 tWh3 15 He4 g5 16 tWfl ! ? tWh5 17 fld2 �f5 1 8 fJ flf6 19 He 1 Hae8 20 Hxe8

Hxe8 2 1 a4 ! ? tWg6 ! 22 axb5 �d3 23 tWf2? He2 24 tWxe2 �e2 25 bxa6 tWd3 ! ! 26 wf2 �xf3! 27 fufJ fle4t 28 we l flxc3 ! 29 bxc3 tWxc3 t

30 wf2 tWxa l 3 1 a7? ! h6 32 h4 g4

0 -1

106

Game 41

An Infantryman Dashes Forward

Egy baka nekil6dul

V. Topalov - P. Lek6

Wien 1 996

Black to play: 15 . . . ?

107

Game 4 1 V. Topalov - P. Lek6

Wien 1996 Caro-Kann Defence

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 f)f6 5 tfJc3 f)c6 6 �g5 �e6 7 a3 �d7 8 �xf6 gxf6 9 g3 ? ! O-O-O ! 1 0 �g2 �g4 1 1 f3 �e6 1 2 c 5 �f5 ! 1 3 b4 e5 14 f)ge2 �e6 ! + 1 5 dxe5 d4! 1 6 f)e4 d3

1 7 f)f4 d2t ! 1 8 wf2 �c4 ! ! -+ 1 9 �h3 �xh3 20 f)x.h3 �d4 t 2 1 wg2 f)xe5 22 �3 f)c4 23 mtd l f5 24 f)eg5 Hd7 ! 25 f4 �g7 ! 26 tfJf2 �d5t 27 ffi �xal 28 Hxa l He8

0 - 1

1 08

Game 42 Exploiting the Pin

A kotes kihasznaIasa

N. Short - P. Lek6

Sarajevo 1999

Black to play: 35 . . . ?

109

Game 42 N. Short - P. Lek6

Sarajevo 1 999 Caro-Kann Defence

1 e4 c6 2 �3 d5 3 d3 ! ? g6? ! 4 g3 �g7 5 �g2 �6? ! 6 e5 ! �g4 7 f4 f6 ! ? 8 �f3 fxe5? ! 9 h3 �6 1 0 fxe5 W ! ? 1 1 'We2 e6 12 h4 h6 13 d4± Hg8 14 �e3 b6 15 0-0-0 �a6 1 6 'Wd2 'We7 1 7 �e2 �d7 1 8 �f4 �fS 19 'Wc3 wd7 20 �h3 Hc8 ! 2 1 Hd2 Hc7 22 Hf2 wc8 23 a3 ! ? wb8 24 1JNb4 'We 8 ! 25 �2 �d8 ! 26 �f1 ! �xf1 27 Hhxfl �b7 28 �3 �d7 29 wbl HfS 30 c4 ! Hxf2 3 1 Hxf2 g5 ! ? 32 hxg5 'Wg6 33 'Wb3 ! c5? ! 34 gxh6 �xh6 35 �xh6 cxd4! 36 HfSt �fS 3 7 �xfS �a5 38 'Wc2 �xc4 != 39 �xc4 Hxc4 40 �d6t was 4 1 1JNb3 'Wxg3 42 wa2 'We3 43 a4 'Wd2 44 �b4 11 [44 'Wb5! 'Wxd3 45 'We8t (45. a5? 'Wc2-+) 45 . . . wb 7 46 'Wd7t was (46 . . . wa6? 47. �b8+-) 4 7 'We8t=1 44 . . . Hc3 !

0 - 1

110

Game 43

Deadly Chase

HalaIos hajsza

V. Kramnik - P. Lek6

Tilburg 1998

Black to play: 41 . . . ?

1 11

Game 43 V. Kramnik - P. Lek6

Tilburg 1 995 King s Indian Defence

1 d4 �6 2 c4 g6 3 f3 e5 4 dxe5 flh5 5 flh3 flc6 6 �g5 �e7 7 �xe7 'Wxe7 S flc3 'Wxe5 9 g4 flg7 1 0 f4 'We7 1 1 fld5 'WdS 12 'Wd3 0-0 13 'Wc3 fles 14 g5 fle7 1 5 �6t flxf6 16 gxf6 flf5 1 7 e4 HeS I S flg5 c5 1 9 0-0-0 fld4 20 e5 d6 2 1 ffi �g4 22 flxd4 �d 1 23 flb5 dxe5 24 fxe5 �a4 25 fld6 He6 26 �g2 Hxd6 27 exd6 'Wxd6 2S �b7 HeS 29 b3 'Wf4 t 30 wb2 He3 3 1 Hd l h5 32 'Wa5 He2t 33 wa3 'Wf2 34 'WdSt �eS 35 Hd2 ! Hxd2 36 'WxeSt wh7 3 7 'Wxfit wh6 3S wa4 Hxa2t 39 wb5 'We3 40 �d5 'Wxb3 t 4 1 wc6 Ha6t! 42 wd7 'Wh3 t ! 43 �e6 'Wd3 t 44 weS 'Wd6 45 'We7 'Wxe6 (46 f7 'Wc8t 47 'Wd8 He6t 48 wj8 'Wxd8#)

0 -1

1 12

Game 44

Black Wins in 1\vo Moves

Sotet ket lepesben nyer

L. Ljubojevic - P. Lek6

Monte Carlo 2003

Blqck to play: 34 . . . ?

1 13

Game 44 L. Ljubojevie - P. Lek6

Monte Carlo 2003 Queen S Indian Defence

1 e4 e5 2 �fl �f6 3 �e3 e6 4 g3 b6 5 �g2 �b7 6 0-0 �e7 7 He l d5 8 exd5 exd5 9 d4

0-0 10 �4 �bd7 1 1 dxe5 �e5 1 2. �d4 �e4

1 3 fue4 dxe4 14 @a4 �f6 15 Hed l @e8 16

tlYxe8 Hfxe8 17 �b5 He7 1 8 a3 e3 19 fl a5 20 �d6 �d6 2 1 Hxd6 �a6 22 �3 Hb8 23 f4

�e4 24 Had l h6 2S � b5 26 H l d4 He7 27 wg2 b4 28 �e4 �xe4 29 Hxe4 �e6 30 Hxe3

He2 3 1 axb4 axb4 32 b3 He3 33 Hxe3 bxe3 34 He6 He8! 35 Hxe8t �e8 36 �e4 �b7

0 - 1

1 1 4

Game 45

Beautiful and Strong

Szcp cs eras

F. Vallejo-Pons - P. Lek6

Morelia 2006

Black to play: 21 . . . ?

1 1 5

Game 45 F. Vallejo-Pons - P. Lek6

Morelia 2006 Nimzo-Indian Defence

1 d4 ff6 2 e4 e6 3 �e3 �b4 4 lM'e2 0-0 5 e4 d5 6 e5 �e4 7 a3 �e3 t 8 bxe3 e5 9 �d3 lM'a5 1 0 �e2 exd4 1 1 exd5 exd5 1 2 f3 �e3 13 �d4 �e4t 14 we2 ·f5 1 5 �e3 �6 16 �xe6

bxe6 1 7 IDlel Hb8 1 8 wd l Hd8 19 �d4 �e6 20 Hab 1 Hxb 1 2 1 Hxb 1 c5! 22 Hb5 lM'xa3 23 �b2 lM'a2 24 �e2 �d7 25 fxe4 �b5 26 �xb5 Hb8 27 �e6 lM'xb2 28 �d5t wh8 29 lM'xb2 Hxb2 30 exf5 Hb4 3 1 we2 Hd4 32 �f7 He4 33 e6 h5 34 �xh5 wg8 35 g4 wfS 36 g5 we7 37 h3 a5 38 �g4 a4 39 f6t gxf6 40 g6 wfS

0 - 1

1 16

Game 46 Time to Resign

Lehet foladni

z. I1incic - P. Lek6

Belgra de 1996

Black to play: 40 . . . ?

117

Game 46 Z. llincic - P. Lek6

Belgrade 1 996 Grunfeld Defence

1 d4 t£lf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 c6 4 �g2 d5 5 cxd5 cxd5 6 ffi �g7 7 0-0 0-0 8 t£lc3 e6 9 t£le5

t£lfd7 10 f4 t£lc6 1 1 �e3 f6 1 2 t£ld3 t£lb6 1 3 �f2 f5 14 t£l�5

"�d7 1 5 a4 ! ? a5 1 6 tMib3 t£lb4 1 7 Hfc l tMie7 ! 1 8 t£lb5 Hfc8 1 9 Hc5 ! �fS 20 g4 ! ? fxg4 ! 2 1 Hac l ? �c6 ! + 22 H5c3 �g7 ! 23

t£lxg4 HfS 24 e3 t£lc4 ! 25 t£la3? ! t£ld2 !-+ 26 tMid l t£le4 27 �e4 dxe4 28 Hb l g5 ! 29 �g3 t£ld5 30 t£lc4 gxf4 3 1 �xf4 t£lxf4 ! 32 exf4 Hxf4 33 Hg3 HafS 34 t£lce5 wh8 35 Hc l tMid6 ! 36 tMid2 e3 37 tMixe3 Hxd4 38 Hfl Hd l 39 t£lf3 Hxfl t 40 wxfl tMixg3! (41 hxg3 fuj3t 42 tMi:x;t3 �f3-+)

0-1

1 18

Game 47 Knights at their Best

Huszarok csucsfonnilban

J. Lautier - P. Lek6

Tilburg 1997

Black to play: 31. . . ?

1 1 9

Game 47 J. Lautier - P. Lek6

Tilburg 1 997 Griinfeld Defence

I d4 ff6 2 ffi g6 3 e4 �g7 4 �3 d5 5 !Wb3 dxe4 6 !Wxe4 0-0 7 e4 a6 8 !Wb3 b5 9 e5 �fd7 1 0 h4 e5 1 1 e6 fxe6? 1 1 2 h5 ! exd4 13 hxg6 �5 1 4 !We2 1 ? Hxf3 ! 1 5 gxh7t wh8 16 gxf3 d3 ! 1 7 !Wd l �e6 1 8 �h6? �xh6 19 Hxh6 �b7«) 20 �g2 �e5 2 1 Hh3 !Wd4 22 Hg3? �e4 !

23 wfl HfS 24 wgl Hf4 ! 25 !Wel e5 26 �d l Wxh7 27 Hb l �e8 ! 28 �e3 d2 29 !We2t !Wd3 !­+ 30 !Wxd3 t �xd3 3 1 �fl �c1 ! 32 �e4 bxe4 33 Hg5? ! �f5 34 Ha l Hxf3 35 � I �e2 36 wg2 �xd l 37 Hh5t wg6

0 -1

120

Game 48

To Give Mate is Delectable

A mattadits gyonyorkodtet

A. Shirov - P. Lek6

Dortmund 1 998

Black to play: 30 . . . ?

121

Game 48 A. Shirov - P. Lek6

Dortmund 1 998 Griinfeld Defence

1 d4 ff6 2 c4 g6 3 fr3 d5 4 cxd5 flxd5 5 e4 flxc3 6 bxc3 rJig7 7 flf3 c5 8 Hb 1 0-0 9 rJie2 cxd4 ] 0 cxd4 1M'a5t 1 ] rJid2 IM'xa2 12 0-0 fld7 1 3 rJib4 flb6 ]4 fle5 f6 1 5 fld3 lM'il 16 d5 f5

1 7 flc5 fxe4 ! 1 8 d6 Hd8 ! 1 9 flxe4 rJif5 20 rJid3 rJixe4 2 1 {jJxe4 exd6 22 f4 d5 23 rJic2 flc4 24 Hb3 a5 25 rJia3 d4 ! 26 f5 fle3 27 1M'f3 Hd7 28 1M'h3 d3 ! 29 rJixd3 flxfl 3 0 fxg6 rJid4t! 3 ] whl lM'f2 (32 rJic4t wh8-+)

0 - 1

122

Game 49

The Ballad of the Stray King

Az elbitangolt kinily balladaja

G. Kasparov - P. Lek6

Frankfurt 2000

Black to play: 47 . . . ?

123

Game 49 G. Kasparov - P. Lek6

Frankfurt 2000 King s Indian Defence

1 d4 4)[6 2 ffi g6 3 c4 �g7 4 �c3 d5 5 �b3 dxc4 6 �xc4 0-0 7 e4 a6 8 �3 c5 9 dxc5 �a5 1 0 �6 �xb6 1 1 cxb6 �bd7 12 �e2 �b6 1 3 �e3 �bd7 1 4 �d4 �c5 1 5 f3 e5 16 �6 bxc6 1 7 �xc5 �d8 18 wf2 �e6 1 9 �hdl �d7 20 �e3 �f8 2 1 �d2 f5 22 �ad l �e7 23 g3 wf7 24 b3 a5 25 �c2 �f6 26 �xd8 �xd8 27 exf5 gxf5 28 �a4 �d5 29 �b6 �a8 30 �c5 �7 3 1 �xe7 wxe7 32 we3 wd6 33 �d3 f4t 34 gxf4 exf4t 35 wxf4 �f8t 36 wg5 �e5 37 �7 �xf3 t 38 wh6 �f4 39 �e2 �h4t 40 wg7 �2 4 1 �c3 �f3 42 �e4t r1lc7 43 �f6 �d4 44 �xd5t cxd5 45 �d2 wd6 46 �d3 �e6t 47 wf6 �f4t!

0 - 1

124

Game 50

In a Tight Corner

Szorul a kapca

J. Timman - P. Leko

Wijk aan Zee 2004

Black to play: 47 . . . ?

125

Game 50 J. Timman - P. Lek6

Wijk aan Zee 2004 English Opening

1 f)f3 c5 2 b3 f)f6 3 �b2 e6 4 g3 b6 5 �g2 �b7 6 c4 �e7 7 0-0 d6 8 f)c3 0-0 9 e3 f)bd7 1 0 \We2 a6 1 1 Hfd l \Wc7 1 2 Hac 1 f)e4 1 3 f)xe4 �e4 14 d3 �c6 1 5 d4 �e4 16 f)e l �xg2 1 7 £Jxg2 Had8 1 8 d5 e5 ? ! 1 9 e4 Hde8 20 Hfl \Wd8 2 1 Hce 1 �f6 22 f)e3 g6 23 \Wc2 h5 24 wh l \We7 25 �c3 �g7 26 f)g2 ! ? b5 27 f4 exf4 28 gxf4 bxc4 29 �g7 c;!;>xg7 30 bxc4 f)f6 3 1 e5 f)g4 32 e6? f)h6 ! 33 Hg l ? ! \Wf6 34 \We4 wh7 ! 35 f)e3 ? ! fxe6 36 dxe6 \Wxe6 3 7 \Wb7t Hf7 3 8 \Wg2 \We4 39 f)d5 \Wxg2t 40 wxg2 Hb8 4 1 He2? ! f)f5 42 wh3 f)d4 43 Heg2 f)f3 44 Hfl g5 ! 45 Hgf2 g4t 46 wg3 He8 47 h3 h4t! 48 wg2 f)e l t 49 wg l g3-+ 50 Hd2 Hf5 5 1 f)c7 �e3 52 Hxd6 ffi t 53 wh l f)d4 54 Hd7t wg6 55 f)d5 He2 56 wg 1 Hh2 57 f)c3 Hc2 58 f)d5 Hh2 59 f)c3 Hf7 ! 60 f5t Hxf5

0 - 1

126

Index of Opponents

Numbers refer to games. A bold number indicates that Lek6 was White .

Adams 13, 17, 22 Anand 3 8 Beliavsky 1 4 Bologan 28 Bruzon 18 Carlsen 31 Comp FritzIPrimergy 6 Gelfand 1 1 , 29 Ghaem Maghami 7 Grischuk 23 Ilincic 46 Ivanchuk 3 3 Kamsky 20 Katjakin 3 7 Karpov 30 Kasimdzhanov 8, 15 Kasparov 49 Khalifillan 24 Kharlov 27 Kramnik 1, 40, 43

Lautier 47 Lj ubojevic 44 Luther 34 Morozevich 16 Naiditsch 32 Nikolic 25 Piket 4 Pinter 1 2 Polgar, J u 9 , 3 6 Radjabov 10, 26 Shirov 3 5 , 48 Short 19, 42 Smirin 3 Sokolov 2 1 Timman 5 0 Topalov 3 9, 4 1 Tratar 2 Vallejo-Pons 45 Van Wely 5

127

Index of Openings

Numbers refer to games . A bold number indi­

cates that Lek6 was White .

Caro-Kann Defence 27, 28, 4 1 , 42 Catalan Opening 32 English Opening 50 French Defence 24-26 Griinfeld Defence 46-49 King 's Indian Defence 43 Nimzo-Indian Defence 45 Petroff Defence 22-23 Queen's Gambit 29 Queen's Indian Defence 30-31 , 44 Ruy Lopez 12-2 1 , 40 Sicilian Defence 1-1 1 , 33 -39

128

Symbols used

1" Check

, tt Double check # Checkmate

Good move ! ! Excellent move ? Bad move ?? Blunder ! ? Interesting move ?! Dubious move t White stands slightly better =+= Black stands slightly better +- Winning advantage for White -+ Winning advantage for Black ± White has the upper hand =+= Black has the upper hand 0() An unclear position co with compensation 1-0 White wins 0- 1 Black wins

129

Already available volumes of The Chess Greats o/the World:

130

Judit Polgar Bobby Fischer Paul Morphy Capablanca

Veselin Topalov Kasparov Korchnoi Kramnik

Further volumes coming out soon :

Alekhine Mikhail Tal

Other titles in CAI S SA

CHESS BOOKS :

A/tila Schneider:

Open Games Semi-Open Games The Art of Giving Mate Chess Cafe Queen's Pawn Opening - Pseudo­Benoni (in co-authorship with 1: Erdelyi)

The Complete Dragon - Yugoslav Attack The Complete Sicilian I-U ,

Andras Meszaros:

Traps in the Opening Dr. Emil Gelenczei:

The Little Book of Chess Blindness J6zsej Palk6vi:

Two Knights' Defence Sandor Videki:

The Pirc Defence

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