Garbett, a national chess enigma

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 20

Garbett, a national chess enigma

By

VERNON SMALL

The 1983-84 New Zealand championship held in Auckland proved to be a clear victory for the North Shore player, Paul Garbett. It was not the first victory for the quietly-spoken graduate in political science. He has been champion on three previous occasions. However, Garbett’s play is one of the enigmas of the national chess scene. Although obviously one of the most talented players in the country, he is capable of mixing some truly terrible results with his frequent successes at the highest level.

He has, for example, managed two last places in the championship in recent years. For those who rival Garbett at the top of the chess tournaments the first few rounds are a nervous time. Will the “juggernaut” start rolling or will Paul have one of his off times and become the “bunny” of the tournament? The variation in his playing strength is frightening for those of us who need little reminding that we are mortal.

Eventually Garbett won the latest championship by a clear point from myself and the veteran Ortvin Sarapu, but not until a slow start of IVz out of 3 had some of the pundits writing him off. Although he beat none of his close rivals, he was ruthlessly efficient in disposing of the others. Those who were looking to the championship as a guide to the strength of the new generation must have been disappointed. The three New Zealand Masters in the field finished on top, while of the juniors only Sarfati, of Wellington, looked likely to challenge them before he faded at the end. The other Christchurchch player, Adrian Lloyd, had a very bad time early on, but his taste in punk t-shirts eventually told and he scored two good wins — over Sarfati and last year’s joint champion, Gollogly.

Another Christchurch player (but one who loyally plays for his old Otago club) had more success. Michael Freeman gained a clear win in the reserve championship and earned promotion to next year’s championship “elite” of 12 players. The tournament will be held at the Rolls Royce of New Zealand chess clubs, in Upper Hutt. The latest World Chess Federation rating list has just been released, and shows that for the first time the reigning champion, Anatoly Karpov, of the Soviet

Union, has slipped to second place behind his brilliant young countryman, Garrik Kasparov. These two dominate the list with a gap of 65 points to the Soviet defector, Victor Korchnoi, in third spot. Two British players, Dr John Nunn and Tony Miles, feature in the top 20 “super-Grandmas-ters.” Apart from the Soviets, only Hungary can boast a similar number in this top bracket. On the Christchurch scene, one of Christchurch’s strongest players, Warwick Norton, has won a scholarship to Cambridge, and will leave midway through the year. With an English Grand-

master, Jonathon Mestel, studying in the same department, he should not want for lack of opposition. The game detailed below features the New Zealand champion, Paul Garbett, and the top Wellingtonian, Jonathon Sarfati, in a tense struggle. White: Sarfati Black: Garbett 1. d 4 Nf6 2. c 4 e 6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e 3 0-0 5. Nf3 b 6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. 0-0 d 5 This variation of the Nimzo-Indian defence (named after the Russian Master Nimzowitsch) has long been a favourite of Garbett, although it is a little unfashionable presently. Sarfati’s opening must have been a bit of a surprise, as he has been a committed 1. e 4 player in the past. 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. b 3 a 6? A slow continuation. 9 .. .dxc4 and 10 .. ,c 5 looks more thematic.

10. Bb2 dxc4 11. bxc4 c 5 12. d 5 Bxc3 White’s last move gained space in the centre. Black must seek compensation in his three on to one queenside pawn majority. 13. Bxc3 exds 14. exds Nxds? This allows White the two bishops at no cost. After the pawn-grab 14 . .ißxds 15. Radi (15. e4,c4) Black can offer the pawn back since after 15 .. .Qe7 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Bxh7 Nxh7 18. Rxds his majority looks threatening. 15. Bxh7 KhB 16. Bb2 Nb 4 17. Qc3 Nf6? This gives fuel to the fire of White’s attack. If instead 17 ...Qf6. 18. Qd2 Qh6. 19. Bfs Sarfati, in the tournament bulletins felt White was better, but after 19 ... RadB! Black looks to be developing strong counterplay and may stand better. 18. Bfs Bxf3!? 19. gxf3 Qds Realising he is in grave danger, Garbett concedes both bishops in search of tricky play. Sarfati plays accurately, however, and builds up a crushing attack on the castled King. 20. e 4 Qd3 21. Qcl! Nbds Instead 21.. .Qc2. 22. Qxc2 Nxc2. 23. e 5 wins. 22. Rdl Qxf3 23. Rxds Ng4 Of course 23.. .nxds. 24. Qh6ch and mate in one move. 24. Qd2 c 4 Black is lost but reluctant to resign. 25. Rcl Qh3 26. Qf4 Nxf2 27. Kxf2 Qhs 28. Rc3 Resigns. The threat of Kh3 is too much.