Kasparov takes a commanding lead in Candidates' match

After draws in the first two contests, the third game of the final Candidates' match produced a decisive result, with 20-year-old Gari Kasparov of the Soviet Union defeating his countryman, Vassily Smyslov, to take a lead which he has continued to hold. The match is being staged in Vilnius, in the Soviet Republic of Lithuania, and the first player to score 81/2 points will be the victor, with a point awarded for a win and a half-point for a draw. The winner will then go on to challenge World Champion Anatoly Karpov, also of the Soviet Union, in September.

Smyslov, a former world titlist, avoided one of Kasparov's pet opening lines and played the ancient Cambridge Springs Defense. This did not faze Kasparov, who characteristically replied with the most aggressive continuation. Smyslov, whose 63rd birthday was March 24, declined the younger player's invitation to win material but in the process conceded his opponent a superiority in space and mobility. Kasparov, playing with Casablanca-like precision, increased his advantage despite Smyslov's resistance. Then both players slipped. Since these oversights occurred on moves 31 and 32, I would surmise that Smyslov was short of time and that Kasparov - one of the world's best speed players - played quickly to pressure the veteran.

When Smyslov erred for the second time at move 32, for practical purposes the game was over. Most observers felt that this disheartening defeat would probably stamp quietus on any hopes Smyslov, the sentimental favorite, had of winning the match against his heavily favored adversary. Indeed, Kasparov came right back to win Game 4 and draw the next three to build a 4 1/2-2 1/2 margin.

Queen's Gambit Declined Kasparov Smyslov 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. N-KB3 N-KB3 3 P-B4 P-B3 4. N-B3 P-K3 5. B-N5 QN-Q2 (a) 6. P-K3 Q-R4 (b) 7. PxP (c) NxP 8. Q-Q2 B-N5 (d) 9. R-B1 O-O 10. B-Q3 P-K4 11. O-O PxP 12. PxP P-B3 13. B-R4 R-Q1 14. P-QR3 BxN 15. PxB N-B1 (e) 16. B-N3 B-K3 17. KR-K1 B-B2 18. P-B4 QxQ 19. NxQ N-QN3 20. N-N3 N-R5 21. B-B1 R-Q2 22. N-R5 N-K3 23. P-Q5 N-Q5 (f) 24. PxP NxP 25. NxN PxN 26. P-B5 (g) R-K1 27. RxR ch BxR 28. B-Q6 B-B2 29. R-N1 B-Q4 30. R-N8 ch K-B2 31. R-B8 ch K-K3 (h) 32. P-N3 (i) P-N3 (j) 33. B-R6 RxB (k) 34. PxR KxP 35. RxP ch K-K4 36. R-B8 P-B4 37. R-K8 ch K-Q5 38. R-Q8 K-K4 39. P-B4 ch K-K5 40. B-B1 B-N6 41. K-B2 N-N7 & Black resigns

A. Smyslov avoids 5. . . . PxP; 6. P-K4, P-N4; 7. P-K5, P-KR3; 8. B-R4, P-N4; 9. NxKNP, PxN; 10. BxNP, the Anti-Meran variation, a known favorite of Kasparov as White.

B. Instead he opts for the hoary Cambridge Springs variation.

C. More usual for White is 7. N-Q2, immediately unpinning. The aggressive text offers a pawn for an interesting initiative in many critical variations (see next note). A trap that has snared many an unwary neophyte is 7. Q-B2, N-K5 ; 8. B-Q3, NxB; 9. NxN, PxP and Black will win a piece.

D. A 1935 match game between Alekhine and Euwe continued 8. . . . N(2)-N3; 9. B-Q3, NxN; 10. PxN, N-Q4; 11. R-QB1, NxBP; 12. O-O, B-N5; 13. P-QR3, QxP; 14. R-R1 with an unclear position.

E. It would be risky for Smyslov to accept the proffered pawn in view of 15. . . . QxRP; 16. P-B4, N/4-N3; 17. P-B5, N-Q4; 18. B-B4 and the Black Queen is in great danger. Basically the same theme is applicable on the following move.

F. Better than 23. . . . PxP; 24. PxP, RxP; 25. NxP which should win for White in view of the threatened 26. B-QB4 and 26. N-Q6.

G. Setting up an outpost on Q6 and preventing the Black Knight from retreating to QB4.

H. The unprepossessing 31. . . . K-N3 is marginally better. Though Black stands badly, the win still has to be demonstrated.

I. 33. B-R6 would immediately win the exchange.

J. Black could still resist with 32. . . . P-B4; 33. B-R6, R-KB2; 34. B-B8 ch , K-B3. Here 33. RxP, KxR (not 33. . . . RxB; 34. PxR, KxR; 35. P-Q7); 34. B-R3 ch, K-K5; 35. BxR, K-Q5 is unconvincing.

K. Now 33. . . . R-KB2; 34. B-B8 ch and the Black King has nowhere to hide, so Smyslov yields the exchange, plays on until the time control is reached, and then resigns his hopeless position.