Chess

The first week of the PCA world championship in New York has been encouraging for the challenger, Viswanathan Anand. The 25-year-old from India missed a winning chance in the third game and secured a remarkably comfortable draw with Black in game four.

Indeed, after that game Kasparov was reported to have stormed out of the playing room, refusing a request to talk to the paying spectators, some of whom were less than satisfied with the value received for their $75 tickets.

Meanwhile, Anand chatted to them in a very relaxed way and now has the crowd on his side for the rest of the match.

The fourth game itself, for all its brevity, was fascinating. Kasparov's 1.Nf3 suggested that his opening preparation is not as finely tuned as it ought to be. Nevertheless, the position he obtained after 13.b4 looked promising, with a pair of bishops and a useful initiative developing on the Q-side.

Anand found a remarkable solution. With 13...e4 and 15...Ne5, he sacrificed his e-pawn for what looked at first sight to be very little compensation. Kasparov astonished everyone by offering a draw at move 21, but a deeper look at the position revealed how correct Anand's idea was. With Black ready to play f6 and Qf7, White must choose between giving back the c- pawn or leaving queen and rook tied permanently to its defence. In the latter case, Black will put both his rooks on the d-file and have every chance of developing a strong attack. Four games, four draws. the match is now getting very interesting.

White: Garry Kasparov

Black: Viswanathan Anand

Game Four

1 Nf3 Nf6 12 Qxc3 e5

2 c4 e6 13 b4 e4

3 Nc3 Bb4 14 Nd2 Qe7

4 g3 0-0 15 b5 Ne5

5 Bg2 d5 16 Nxe4 Nf3+

6 Qb3 c5 17 Bxf3 Nxe4

7 0-0 Nc6 18 Bxe4 Qxe4

8 d3 h6 19 f3 Qe7

9 e3 Re8 20 e4 Be6

10 a3 dxc4 21 Be3 draw

11 dxc4 Bxc3