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ATTACKING THE KING 15this move is a serious error in view of White’sreply. Much midnight oil has been expended onvariations beginning 11...Ëxg5 12 Ëf3 0-0-0,although practical experience suggests thatWhite’s chances are preferable. These days,opening fashions change rapidly, but at thetime of writing, Black tends to be avoiding thiswhole line and preferring 10...Íg4, rather than10...d4.W12 Ìxf7!This sacrifice traps the black king in the centre,where it will be subject to a ferocious attack.12...Êxf7The only move, since after 12...Íxf7, Whiteimmediately regains his piece by 13 Íxf7+Êxf7 14 Ëf3+ and 15 Ëxc6, remaining withan extra pawn and the black king trapped in thecentre.13 Ëf3+ Êe6 (D)Again forced, so as to defend the d5-bishop.White now has to consider how to prosecute theattack further. Clearly, it will be necessary tobring up some further reserves in due course,but first, Polgar forces Black to make a choicewith his king.Wr+-wkv-t+-z-+pzpp+n+-+-++pslZ-S--+-z-+-++LZ-+-+-PZ-S-ZPZT-VQ+RM-r+-w-v-t+-z-+-zpp+n+k+-++pslZ-+--+-z-+-++LZ-+Q+-PZ-S-ZPZT-V-+RM-14 Ëg4+ Êf7?!The alternative retreat 14...Êe7 is better, butWhite still has a near-decisive attack. A previousgame Svidler-Anand had continued 15 e6!,and White soon achieved a winning advantage.15 Ëf5+ Êe7If the king goes to e8 or g8, the reply 16 e6wins immediately, since Black cannot defendboth the mate threat on f7 and the attackedbishop on d5.16 e6 (D)Br+-w-v-t+-z-m-zpp+n+P+-++psl+Q+--+-z-+-++LZ-+-+-PZ-S-ZPZT-V-+RM-The most important thing in such positions isnot to give the defender any breathing space,and Polgar demonstrates this admirably. Herlast move attacks the d5-bishop, as well as liningup a possible check on f7 at some point. Dependingon how Black replies, she intends tobring the d2-knight into the attack, in turn openingthe way for the c1-bishop to give a potentiallydeadly check on g5. If Black captures thee6-pawn, this will open the e-file, and allowWhite’s rook to become very active from e1.This is a typical example of how the initiativeflows in such positions – by constant threats,the attacker deprives the defender of time to unravelhis position and bring additional units intothe defence.16...Íxe6As noted above, this opens an important additionalline against the black king, but Blackhad to do something about his attacked bishop.The alternative was 16...Ìxb3, which wouldeliminate one of the attacking pieces. However,this exchange also eliminates one of Black’sdefensive pieces, and after the reply 17 Ìxb3,the white knight would join the attack, and thec1-bishop would also be ready to jump in.Polgar continues the variation by 17...Íxe6 18