Chess

FROM e1 to e8 in 40 moves may not be a world speed record for a white king, but to do that and win the game is a most unusual accomplishment. The third game of the Spassky-Polgar match in Budapest was full of interesting twists, though.

The excitement started with Polgar's 11 . . . a6]? Instead of defending her h-pawn with h5 or Kh7, Judit sacrificed it in an attempt to seize the initiative. After 14 . . . Qe7, Black had a real threat of b4, which Spassky countered imaginatively. After 15. Ng5] b4, White has the powerful 16. Nce4]

Black's next two moves continued her attack, but Spassky sidestepped all the threats with 17. 0-0-0] (Yes, you can castle long even if b1 is attacked.) Polgar had to enter an endgame a pawn behind, but the fun continued as, despite the diminished material, she launched a bold attack.

Taking the bait, Spassky guided his monarch down a gauntlet of knights and rook to reach safety on e8, then come out on the other side at f7.

The whole thing was a delightfully uninhibited game on both sides. After five games, Polgar leads the match 3-2.

----------------------------------------------------------------- White: Spassky Black: Polgar ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 d4 Nf6 24 Nxb5 Rxa2 2 c4 g6 25 Kb1 Ra4 3 Nc3 Bg7 26 Nxd6 Nfxd5 4 e4 d6 27 Ndxf7 Rb4 5 Be2 0-0 28 Rd2 c4 6 Bg5 c5 29 Kc1 Ra4 7 d5 h6 30 Ne5 Ra1+ 8 Be3 e6 31 Kc2 Nb4+ 9 h3 exd5 32 Kc3 N4d5+ 10 exd5 Re8 33 Kd4 Ra4 11 Qd2 a6 34 Kc5 Ra5+ 12 Bxh6 Bxh6 35 Kc6 Ke7 13 Qxh6 b5 36 h4 Kf6 14 Nf3 Qe7 37 Ngf3 Nc8 15 Ng5 Bf5 38 Nxc4 Nde7 16 g4 Bd3 39 Kd7 Ra7+ 17 0-0-0 Bxe2 40 Ke8 Ra8 18 Rhe1 Qf8 41 g5+ Kf5 19 Qxf8+ Kxf8 42 Kf7 Ra7 20 Rxe2 Rxe2 43 Nd4+ Kg4 21 Nxe2 Nbd7 44 Nb5 Ra4 22 Nc3 Nb6 45 Rd4+ Kh5 23 cxb5 axb5 46 Ne5 1-0 -----------------------------------------------------------------