Utut settles for another draw

Utut settles for another draw

JAKARTA (JP): Despite playing white, Utut Adianto yesterday managed only a draw against his British rival Nigel Short at the 27th move, resulting in a score of 3-1 for Short.

After a Reti defense, Short tried a new experiment at the 6th move by shifting his c7 pawn to c5. Utut answered by capturing Short's b4 bishop, allowing Short's pawns on the b file to lie one after another.

It was not a beneficial position for Short, but the world number 14 player responded by harassing Utut's a2 pawn.

Roy Pitono, an international judge who refereed the game, said he believed it was Short's tendency to break away from the theories and try experiments which led to a victory over former world champion Anatoly Karpov. "It is his advantage," Roy added.

Utut blundered at the ninth move by moving his f1 bishop to g2 instead of placing his b1 knight to d2. Short replied by locating his a8 rook to a5 to pose a danger to Utut's c5 pawn.

Had Utut put his b1 knight to d2, Utut would have been able to anticipate Short's threat by locating his d2 knight to b3 while at the same time protected his c5 pawn, Roy said after the shortest game of the duel.

To neutralize the malicious effect, Utut had to sacrifice his a2 pawn at the 20th move. This gave him a way to renew charges through the c file.

"But by the time Utut succeeded in neutralizing the effect, it was also the time he realized that his only choice was to draw," Roy said.

Hence, to speed up the draw, Utut forced a great exchange until the 27th move at which the two players were reduced to a rook and five pawns each. (arf)