Here is a notable win by Robson, White, in the 3d round against Aditya Udeshi of India. In this game, Udeshi offers the Sicilian as a defense in an unusual gesture, making all pawn moves in his first five moves. This approach defines the pawn structure in the game. Black’s strong point is on e4, his weakness on d5. Robson correctly blockades the e4 square and a fairly even game ensues. However, greed overcomes Udeshi. He captures a pawn and puts his queen’s bishop offside. Faced with a problem-like position, Robson comes up with a beauty of an idea on move 24. The curtains soon fall on that game.

a) Perhaps Black wants to transpose to a Najdorf Sicilian, and that is why he plays this early . . .a7-a6. However, in the closed Sicilian that occurs this move is a slight loss of time.

b) White has a slight advantage thanks to his better placed pieces. Still, the position is perfectly playable for both sides.

c) As we soon see, it is dangerous for the bishop to stay on this square for too long.

d) White could also have played the more straightforward 19.d4, but this move dares Black to take a very dangerous pawn. . .

e) . . .which Black captures to his chagrin. This is very poor judgment.

f) Now the threat of 21.Nh6+ is very hard to meet, and 20. . .Bg7 21.Bg5 followed by 22.Nf6+ is very favorable for White.

g) Black must have seen this position and believed he could hang on, with the idea of meeting 24.d5 by 24. . .Ne5 or 25Re7. But with his pieces so discombobulated, it is not surprising that there is a way for White to crash through.

h) Or 25. . .Be6 26.d5, or 25Ba2 26.Re2.

i) There is no way for Black to defend against 27.Rxf7# and also save his queen.