Round six.

Timman - Khalifman [B31]

1. e4 c5

The French Defence with 1... e6 has already done its part, having brought 2 points of 2 to the FIDE World Champion.

2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

J. Timman preferred a closed position to main variations of the Sicilian Defence.

3... g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. e5 Ne8 8. d3 Nc7 9. a4 b6 10. Bxc6

After 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Ne4 Ne6 12. Bg3 Ncd4 Black got a convenient position for his pieces in the centre.

10... dxc6

11. a5

A new move. In the game Ljubojevic - Hendriks (Holland, 1996) there was 11. h3 Be6 12. Qe2 Qd7 13. Bd2 Bd5 14. Ne4 Ne6 15. Qe3 f5 16. exf6 exf6 17. Nc3 Rae8 with an approximately equal position.

11... Bg4

Black made use of an opportunity to simplify the play a little.

12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Ne6 14. Be3 Qc7 1/2-1/2

Draw, securing for J. Timman the second place.

Polgar - Galkin [D42]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4

White chose the Panov Attack to struggle against the Caro-Kann Defence.

4... Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Nf6

The line 10... Bf6 11. Be4 Nce7 occurs now more often.

11. a3 b6 12. Bg5 Bb7 13. Bc2 Nd5 14. Qd3 g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1

16... Nxc3 17. Qxc3

White did not venture on a pawn sacrifice which was required by the most fundamental line with 17. bxc3. After 17... Bxa3 (a refusal to capture 17... Qd5 after 18. c4 Qh5 19. Bc1 Bf6 20. h3 Rad8 21. d5 also gained a better play for White in the game Larsen - Najdorf (Palma de Mallorca, 1969)) 18. Ng5 Be7 19. Qg3 Bf6 20. Qf4 Na5 21. Re3 Qe7 22. Rde1 Bg7 White managed to develop a decisive attack against the black king with 23. Nxh7! in the game I. Novikov - Kourkounakis (Isle of Man, 1996).

17... Bf6 18. Be4 Rc8 19. Qe3 Na5 20. Ne5 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Nc4 1/2-1/2

Draw. Black is at the least no worse here.