(The annotations to this game, by L. A.

Polugaevsky, are from his report on the tournament in Biel,

published in '64' (№ 18, 1986). The translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

...in the final round a trio was in the lead: V. Hort, E. Lobron and I. Hort made a quick draw
with J. Nunn; Lobron routed the out-of-form Korchnoi, while I immediately decided to fight for
victory.

Hug – Polugaevsky
11th round, 1st August 1986

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.0–0

Hug likes to play this position. His opponents most often continue here 4...Bg4. I decided to
chose a continuation leading to a more complicated struggle.

4...Bf5 5.d3 e6 6.Nc3 h6 7.Qe1 Be7 8.e4 Bh7 9.Qe2 0–0

Also possible is 9...dxe4, which, incidentally, is more expedient with White's queen's knight
positioned at c3 than it is with it developed at d2. But for the time being Black did not want, as
they say, to clarify the position.

10.Ne5 Nbd7
At first I wanted to carry out the plan with...a7–a5 and...Na6. But White's centralised knight
all the same exerts definite pressure, and at the present moment proves to be intrusive.

11.Nxd7
Here Hug offered a draw. Possibly, it would have been obtained after 11...Nxd7, but...

11...Qxd7
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+-trk+0
7zpp+qvlpzpl0
6-+p+psn-zp0
5+-+p+-+-0
4-+-+P+-+0
3+-sNP+-zP-0
2PzPP+QzPLzP0
1tR-vL-+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
12.e5
White determines his plans. Possibly, 12.f4 was more expedient.
12...Ne8 13.f4 f5
Pursuing the same aim as 13...f6. But the move in the text could persuade White that he is not
obliged to take at f6. After 13...Nc7 followed by...f7–f6 the struggle would have been level.

It appeared to me that Hug wanted to take en passant, but at the same time he did not want to
open up Black's dark-squared bishop.
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+ntrk+0
7zpp+qvl-zpl0
6-+p+p+-zp0
5+-+pzPp+-0
4-+-+-zP-+0
3+-sNP+-zP-0
2PzPP+Q+LzP0
1tR-vL-+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
14.d4
The Swiss master numbers among the ranks of temperamental chessplayers, while in such
situations most important of all is understanding of the position. Objectively stronger was 14.exf6
with play approximately as follows: 14...Bxf6 15.Nd1 Nc7 16.Nf2 Rae8 17.Ng4 Bd4+.

14...c5 15.Be3 cxd4 16.Bxd4 a6

Preparing ...Rc8–c4.

17.a4
A move that was neither forced nor necessary.

17...Rc8 18.Qd3
White wants to remove the knight and in the 'French' way to consolidate the position with the
advance c2–c3. It was all the same necessary to play 18.a5 and to prepare the raid Nc3–a4–b6.

18...Bg6 19.Bf3 Nc7

Freeing the square for the queen.

20.Be2 Qe8 21.Qf3

Preventing ...Bg6–h5.

21...Kh8
 If 21...Na8, then 22.Nxd5 is unpleasant.

22.Kg2
Once again not the most succesful move. More logical appears the plan with 22.h3 and g3–g4.

22...Na8 23.h3 Rc6

Black continues the general line, associated – after the deflection of White's force – with play on
the queen's flank.

24.Bd3 Nb6 25.Ne2 Nc4 26.Rad1

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+qtr-mk0
7+p+-vl-zp-0
6p+r+p+lzp0
5+-+pzPp+-0
4P+nvL-zP-+0
3+-+L+QzPP0
2-zPP+N+K+0
1+-+R+R+-0
xabcdefghy
26...Rc8!
A most difficult move.

27.b3 Na5 28.Be3

In some variations the bishop proves to be under attack, and therefore more exact was 28.Ba1.

28...Nc6 29.Nd4 Bh5 30.g4 fxg4 31.hxg4 Nxe5 32.Qg3 Nxg4

Here Hug discovered that if 33.Nxe6, then 33...Bh4, with Black's immediate victory.

33.Bg1
Despite the two extra pawns, a certain accuracy is demanded of Black.

33...Bb4
Not so much defending the e6–pawn as depriving the white rooks of the e1–square.

34.c4
If 34.f5, then 34...e5 35.Ne6 e4.

34...Nf6 35.Rc1 Ne4 36.Bxe4 dxe4 37.Be3 Rf6 38.Kh2 Rg6 39.Qf2 Bg4 40.Rg1 Bd6
 The simplest, in order not to have to calculate the variations arising after 40...Rc5 41.f5 or
41.Nc2.

41.Rg2 e5 42.fxe5 Qxe5+ 43.Kg1 Qh5

White resigned.