In addition to an outstanding field of current stars, the Corus super-tournament in Wijk aan Zee featured an “honorary” match among four old-timers: Victor Korchnoi, Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Jan Timman and Lajos Portisch. Without so much at stake in the outcome, these once-top grandmasters seemed to care less about following popular theoretical lines than about playing fighting chess. Ljubojevic’s encounter with Korchnoi is a prime example, and it reached a picturesque position in which both sides were simultaneously sacrificing knights on the same square on opposite sides of the board. The honorary match was won by Ljubojevic, who garnered four points. Korchnoi and Timman earned three, and Portisch two.

LJUBOJEVIC VS. KORCHNOI (White) (Black) Nimzoindian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5.e3 d5 6.a3 Bd6?! The main theoretical line, exhaustively analyzed, is 6…Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 e5!? Korchnoi probably studied it sixty years ago. The questionable move he plays here shows that he is seeking complications. 7.f4! Keeping the tension in the center is stronger than 7.c5 Be7 8.b4 (preferable would be 8. Nf3 ) 8…e5 with a good game for black. 7… a5 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Bd2 9. Ne5!? looks more natural but after 9…Nb8! black is ready to take action in the center with c7-c5. 9… 0-0 10. Be2 Keeping the option of taking on h7 with the queen, which would become impossible after 10. Bd3!? 10… Bd7 11. Ng5!? Threatening to take twice on d5 and mate on h7. Another good way to develop the initiative was 11. Ne5! 11… Be8 12.h4 h6!? A waiting move because black is not threatening to take on g5. 13.0-0-0? A serious mistake after which the advantage passes to black. Very strong instead was 13.g4! planning Ng5-h3 and g4-g5 with a strong attack.

(See Diagram)

13… Nb4! Black’s biggest problem is his knight, which was misplaced on c6. Now it takes a commanding position on b4. 14. Qb1 Acceptance of the sacrifice by14. axb4 axb4 15. Nb1 c5! (not very good was 15…Ra2 16.c5 Ba4 17. Qd3 Bxd1 18. Bxd1) 16. Nf3 b5! 17. cxd5 Rc8 was in black’s favor. 14… c5! 15.e4! cxd4 16.e5 dxc3 17. Bxc3 hxg5? Acceptance of this sacrifice passes the advantage back to white. Black had to play 17…g6! 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. axb4 (Less evil was 19. Ne4! Bxc3 20. Nxc3 Qc7! and black is much better.) 19…Bxc3 20. bxc3 axb4! with a crushing attack. 18. exf6 Na2+! 18…Bxf6 19. hxg5 Na2+ was just a transposition of moves. 19. Qxa2 Bxf6 20. hxg5 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qc7 22.g3? Losing important time. Correct was 22. Rh4! f6 (Black is defenseless after 22…f5 23. cxd5 Qxc3+ 24. Kb1 Ba4 25. Rc1 Qe3 26. Qb2!) 23. Qc2 and the attack of white is unstoppable. 22… Ba4! 23. Bd3!? White could preserve some advantage in the endgame after 23. Rd4! Rfd8 24.f5 exf5 25. Rdh4 Kf8 26. Bf3 Qc5 27. Bxd5 Qe3+ 28. Qd2 Qxd2+ 29. Kxd2 Bc6 30. Rd4 Now black’s difficulties are over. 23… Rfd8 24. Bc2 No better was 24. Rde1 Qc5 25.g6 b5! 26.f5 dxc4. 24… Bxc2 25. Qxc2 Qxc4 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qh8+ Ke7 28. Qxg7 Rac8 29. Qf6+ Kd6 30. Qe5+ Kd7 31. Rh7 Qxc3+ Draw Black’s slight would evaporate after 32. Qxc3 Rxc3+ 33. Kb2 Rxg3 34. Rxf7+ Kd6 35. Rxb7 Rf8 36. Rb6+