Arlington Chess Club
Est. 1954
“Strategy requires thought, tactics require observation”
(Max Euwe)
“I don’t believe in psychology, I believe in good moves”
(Bobby Fischer)
ACC is
OPEN
this
Friday
ARCHIVES - Annotated Games
On this page you will find annotations from Club members sharing notable or novel games.
Do you have an instructive game to share with the club? PLEASE send us your annotated games ! !
The First Queen Sacrifice
By Matt Grinberg, 3/2/2024
The Alien Gambit is a Caro-Kann line that was recently introduced to me by Larry Horgan. It has been gaining in popularity. It is one of those lines that, while perhaps not theoretically sound, puts the opponent on the defensive and has good practical results.
I am not going to analyze the gambit. I am just showing a game. If you want a more in depth look you can check some sites online by searching for Alien Gambit.
The game I analyze came from this site:
YouTube Video.
In spite of the players in this game both being Masters, the wild opening and blitz play leads to a lot of mistakes, but if you like wild chess, this is it!
Choukri, Adel (2311) - Velten, Paul (2480), 0-1
French Championship Blitz Online Qualifier, 2020
Caro-Kann Defense, Alien Gambit
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Ng5!? This is played to goad Black into weakening his position by playing h6.
[The normal line is 5. Nxf6 exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O White has better pawn structure, but he is behind in development. White has his normal small opening advantage.]
5... h6!?
[He would be better off continuing his development. 5... Bf5]
6. Nxf7?! This is called the Alien Gambit. It’s interesting, but not really sound. But for a blitz game this might be a good idea. The pawn and the severe weakening of Black's light squares give White reasonable compensation, but it is not enough.
[6. N5f3 Bf5 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9. Ne2 Qb6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nc4 Qa6 12. Bf4 b5 13. Nd6 Bxd6 14. Bxd6 Nb6 15. O-O O-O-O 16. Bb4 Nfd5 17. Bd2 Qb7 18. b3 g5 19. c4 Nc7 20. a4 c5 21. axb5 Rxd4 22. Nxd4 Rd8 23. Bc3 cxd4 24. Bxd4 Kb8 25. Qe3 f5 26. Rfe1 f4 27. Qe5 f3 28. Qf6 Qc8 29. Bxb6 axb6 30. Qxf3 Rd6 31. Red1 Qd8 32. c5 bxc5 33. b6 Nd5 34. Ra6 Rxb6 35. Rxb6 Qxb6 36. Qf8 Kb7 37. Rc1 Kc6 38. Qxh6 Nf4 39. Rb1 Qb5 40. Qh7 Qe2 41. g3 Nd3 42. Rf1 Ne1 43. Qf7 g4 44. Qf4 Nf3 45. Kg2 Nxh2 46. Rc1 Nf3 47. Qa4 Kd6 48. Qf4 1/2-1/2, Zubarev, Alexander (UKR) 2594 - Litvinov, Yuriy (RUS) 2307, Novosibirsk (Russia) 2012.07.24]
6... Kxf7 7. Nf3 e6?! Giving e5 over to White's knight is not a good idea.
[7... Nbd7 8. c3 e6 maintains Black's advantage; 7... Be6?! has been played before, but is also dubious.]
8. Ne5 Kg8 9. Bc4?! Here White starts to go off course by going after the e-pawn. The weak point that Black can't defend is g6.
[9. Ng6! is better. 9... c5 10. Nxh8 Kxh8 11. dxc5 Qxd1 12. Kxd1 Bxc5 Black has two knights for a rook and pawn. But the fact that White's king is stuck in the center and he is behind in development gives Black the advantage.]
9... Bd6?! But Black returns the favor.
[9... c5 10. dxc5 Qxd1 11. Kxd1 Bxc5 12. Ng6 Rh7 13. Re1 Kf7 14. Bd3 Bxf2 15. Re2 White's pieces are quite active, but it is not enough for a knight.]
10. Ng6 White has only a pawn for a knight, but his position is so much better that the game is even. 10... Rh7 11. O-O Na6 12. Qe2 Nc7 13. Bb3 a5 14. a4 Nfd5 15. c4 Nb4 16. Bf4 Bxf4 17. Nxf4 g5 18. Nh5 Ne8 19. f4? While the opening of the f-file leading to Black's king in exchange for White's d-pawn may look good, it will likely lead to rook exchanges - not what you want to do when down in material.
[Defending the d-pawn is much better. 19. Qe4 Rf7 20. Qg6 Ng7 21. Rae1 The game is still about even.]
19... b6? Black, too concerned about the f-file, returns the favor and then some.
[19... Qxd4 20. Kh1 Qd3 forces a trade of queens and likely wins.]
20. fxg5?!
[Again he should defend the d-pawn. 20. Qe4 Now White is better.]
20... hxg5 21. Rf2 Qxd4??? It is too late for this capture!
[He should stick with the plan he started at move 19. 21... Raa7 22. c5 Rhf7 Black is better.]
22. Raf1??? Again the favor is returned.
[Black has no good place for his queen after 22. Rd1! Qh4 (22... Qxd1 23. Qxd1 Rf7 24. Qd8 Bb7 25. Qxg5 Kf8 26. Qh6 Ke7 27. Rxf7 Kxf7 28. Qh7 Kf8 29. Qxb7 White wins; 22... Qh8 23. Qf3 Rc7 24. Rd8 Bb7 25. Qf8 Kh7 26. Rf7 Kg6 27. Qxh8 Rxf7 28. Rxa8 Nf6 29. Rg8 Nxg8 30. Qxg8 Kxh5 31. Qxf7 White wins; 22... Qc5 23. Rd8 Qf8 24. Rxf8 Kxf8 25. Qe5 White wins) 23. Qf3 Black has no good answer to the mate threat. 23... Qxf2 24. Qxf2 Rf7 25. Qxb6 Kh7 26. Qd8 Bb7 27. Qxg5 White wins.]
22... Rf7 23. Kh1 Rxf2 24. Rxf2 Ra7? There is a better way to secure his kingside.
[24... Qd3! 25. Qe1 Ra7 (Not 25... Qxb3?? 26. Qf1 Ra7 27. Rf8 Kh7 28. Rxe8 Qd3 29. Qxd3 Nxd3 30. Rxc8 When the game is up in the air again) 26. Rf3 Qg6 secures his position still a piece up.]
25. c5?
[25. Qf3 Qd6 26. c5 Qxc5 27. Nf6 Nxf6 28. Qxf6 Kh7 29. Rf3 Qc1 30. Rf1 Qe3 31. Rf3 Qe1 32. Rf1 Qd2 33. Qf3 (Not 33. Rf3? g4 34. Rf1 Rg7 Black wins) 33... Qd8 34. Qe4 Kh8 35. Qe5 Kg8 36. Bxe6 Gives White some hope.]
25... Rf7 We have finally emerged from the wildness created by the Alien Gambit. Black maintains his advantage the rest of the way. 26. Rxf7 Kxf7 27. cxb6 Qxb6 28. Qe5 Qf2 29. h3 Nd5 30. Qh8 Ke7 31. Qh7 Kd8 32. Qg8 Qe1 33. Kh2 Qe5 34. Kh1 Nf4 35. Nxf4 Qxf4? Evidently he didn't want to give White a passed pawn.
[Obviously holding the e-pawn with 35... gxf4 is better.]
36. Bxe6 Qc1 37. Kh2 Qf4 38. Kh1 Bxe6 39. Qxe6 Qd6 40. Qe1 Qd5 41. b4 axb4 42. Qxb4 Nc7 43. Qf8 Kd7 44. Qg7 Kc8 45. Qh8 Kb7 46. Qb2 Ka6 47. Qb4 Ne6 48. Kh2 Nf4 49. Qb2 Ka5 50. h4?! This is a clever move in a desperate situation, but even though Black falls for it, White is still lost. He wants to undermine the defense of the knight in the hope of picking it off.
[Better, but still losing, is 50. Qc3 Kxa4 51. Qc2 Kb5 52. Qb2 Kc5 53. Qf2 Kd6 54. g3]
50... gxh4 51. Qc3 Kxa4? This is what White was hoping for with his 50th move.
[51... Ka6 52. Qb2 Qxg2 53. Qxg2 Nxg2 Black wins easily.]
52. Qc2 Ka5 53. Qc3 Ka6 54. Qa3 Kb6 55. Qb4 Kc7 56. Qxf4?? He ends up falling for his own trap by taking the knight at exactly the wrong time.
[After 56. Qe7 Black likely wins anyway, but he has a lot of work ahead of him]
56... Qd6! The trade of queens is forced and the game is effectively over.
57. g3 Qxf4 58. gxf4 c5 59. Kh3 c4 60. Kxh4 c3 61. Kg3 c2 62. Kf2 c1=Q White resigned.
[0:1]
Would anyone like to try this fun line?
A Catalan At DCCL
By Tom Beckman, 3/18/2024
4…Bb4+! This fine move [in the Catalan] disrupts White’s development. It first came to my attention from Larry Kaufman’s excellent 2004 opening repertoire book, “The Chess Advantage in Black and White.”
So many issues…my evaluation function wasn’t working…neither were tactics…nor positional play. My opponent played well but missed some tactics.
[ I hope folks find this instructive! ]
Beckman, Tom - Desmonais, Nicolas,0-1
DC Chess League, 3/16/2024
Arlington Fury v. DC Phoenix, Rd 5, Bd 1
Catalan
1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 OK, a Catalan it is.
4…Bb4+! This fine move disrupts White’s development. It first came to my attention from Larry Kaufman’s excellent 2004 opening repertoire book, “The Chess Advantage in Black and White.”
5.Bd2 White’s QB is in the way on d2. Another plan played on occasion by Alex Lenderman is 5.Nbd2.
5… Be7 Considered best although 5…a5 is interesting.
6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O
7…Nbd7 Here, Larry and most other GMs, and Stockfish slightly prefer 7…c6 over 7…Nbd7, but they likely will transpose. 7…b6 is weaker after 8.cxd5
8.cxd5(?!) Slightly better and most popular is 8.Qc2. There are two reasons to delay cxd5: 1. Now Black’s QB can be much more active on the c8-h3 diagonal, and 2. The b6 square is not occupied by a P and the N perhaps can proceed to b6-c4
8…exd5 9.Nc3 c6
10.Qc2 Re8 Black has completely equalized.
11.Rab1(?!) White should consider either 11.Bf4 or 11.Rfe1
11…a5 11…Nb6 -/= was indicated.
12.a3(?!) I no have advantage, and should be scaling back my ambitions. Instead, I blindly mounted a minority attack motif. I will admit that I wasn’t sure how good it would be, but I completely overlooked the weakened c4 square that was my undoing after Nb6-c4. 12.a3 also makes a later b3 impossible to prevent Black’s N rolling into c4. Note how my fianchettoed KB cannot easily cover c4. Well played by my opponent. The other option was to play for e4, but that didn’t look too promising either as it leaves me with an isolated QP…
12…Bd6 This might be premature as the best square for the KB is not certain yet. Note that after I play e4, that my QP becomes weak. 12…Nb6 is preferable because the N is drawn towards the juicy c4 square.
13.Nh4(?!) White feels the need to break at e4 but this is rather slow…Perhaps I should have played 13.e4 right away or played prophylactively with 13.Rbd1 covering the d-pawn…
13…Nb6 14.f3?! My best plan is to sit tight and improve my pieces. My Bishop at d2 is a bad Bishop with no scope. Therefore, 14.Bg5 is best.
14…Nc4! Yes, occupy the weakness that I created at c4 and looking towards e3 and b2. Another excellent idea pointed out by Stockfish goes after the N at h4 and the sac at g3 and weak square at e3: 14... Nh5 15.Nf5 Bf8 16.g4 Qf6 17.Rf2 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qxf5 19.gxf5 Nc4 20.e4 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Nxd2 22.Rxd2 Rad8 -0.63
15.e4?! This makes my QP even weaker. My attacking gestures have simply weakened my position.
15…dxe4 I prefer 15…Qb6 although my opponent may have predicted that I would recapture with the f-pawn.
16.fxe4? And now the game should be game over…With 16.Nxe4 I might be able to hold on after 16.Nxe4 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 Be7 18.Rbe1 Be6 19.f4 Qb6 20.Nf3 Bc4 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6 22.Rf2 Rxe1+ 23.Qxe1 Bxd4 24.Nxd4 -.75
16…Bxa3?! We both fixated on the Q-side and missed Black’s best move. 16…Bxa3 wins an unimportant pawn at the cost of a tempo. However, 16…Ng4! is crushing as it exploits the e3 square after ...
[-1.45 16... Ng4 17.Nf3 Nge3 18.Bxe3 Nxe3 19.Qd3 Nxf1 20.Rxf1 Be6 21.e5 Be7 22.Rf2 Qd7 23.h4 h6 24.Qe3 Rad8]
17.Ne2?! The only try was 17.Nf3 Nxd2 18.Qxd2 Bb4 19.e5 Nd5 20.Ng5 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Bxc3 -.89/45
17…Nxd2 18.Qxd2 Bb4 19.Qf4
19…Be6?! Black misses a stronger move with 19…Bg4! – destroy the defender!
20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.Qxf5 Qd7
22.Qf4 The best practical chance.
22…Qg4 Stockfish prefers 22…Rad8 23.e5 Nd5 24.Qe4 f6 25.Kh1 fxe5 26.dxe5 Nc7 -.93
23.Qxg4? Another error.
[I should have tried: -0.71 23.e5 Qxe2 24.exf6 g6 25.d5 Rad8 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.Qf3 Rd6 28.Rfc1 Qxf3 29.Bxf3 Rxf6 30.Bxc6 Re2 31.Bb5]
23…Nxg4 24.Bf3
24…Nf6?! My bluff worked! 24…Ne3 was winning. Now I’m almost back in the game.
25.e5 Nd7 26.Nf4 Rad8 27.Nd3 Slightly better is 27.Rbd1
27…Bf8 A bit passive perhaps. Stockfish prefers 27…Nb6 or 27…g6
28.Ra1?! Tempting, but superficial. I needed to play 28.Rfd1 to defend the d-pawn
28…Nb6 29.d5? The only faint hope is 29.Rxa5 …don’t know why I didn’t play it.
29…Nxd5 30.Rfe1 Nb4 31.Nxb4 Bxb4 32.Re2 Re7
0-1
So many issues…my evaluation function wasn’t working…neither were tactics…nor positional play. My opponent played well but missed some tactics.
The First Queen Sacrifice
By Matt Grinberg, 1/15/2024
The following is the first game in "The Golden Treasury of Chess" by Francis J. Wellmuth. It was the first chess book given to me by my father 56 years ago and is still one of my favorite chess books. It was published in 1943. If you don't have it, you should get it! It has been updated since the original publication.
The winner is Alexander Petroff (or Petrov), the best Russian player of the mid-19th Century. The Petrov (or Russian) Defense (1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nf6) is named after him. The game is called Petoff's Immortal. Both sides play very aggressively, but at a critical moment Petroff sees much deeper into the position.
Wellmuth introduces the game with this comment.
"As long as we continue to be charmed by the triumph of mind over matter, such combinations will fascinate us. The idea of readily surrendering the queen in order to hound the hostile King with the lesser pieces has been utilized fairly often; but Petroff's sacrifice was one of the first, if not THE first example of this appealing combinative theme. All honor to his originality!"
In spite of what Wellmuth says, I am sure this is not the first queen sacrifice. But given that there is not a record of many games played before 1844, it may be the earliest known example.
Hofman - Petroff, Alexander,0-1
Warsaw, Poland 1844
Giuco Piano
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 Giuoco Piano Opening 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5
[More common is 6. cxd4 Bb4 7. Bd2 Bxd2 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. O-O O-O=]
6... Ne4!? The aggressive play starts!
[The normal move (these days) is 6... d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. O-O=]
7. Bd5 Nxf2! This is the only way his previous move can be justified. 8. Kxf2 dxc3 9. Kg3!? He wants to keep his first rank clear for his king rook.
[But slightly better is 9. Kf1 cxb2 10. Bxb2 O-O 11. Nbd2 White has a knight for three pawns and is ahead in development, but he will lose time finding a safe place for his king]
9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 Ne7
[10... O-O 11. Nbd2 Ne7 12. Qc2 d6 13. Be4 g6 14. h3 Nf5 15. Kh2 Be3 16. g3 Bh6 17. exd6 Qxd6 18. Be5 Qb6 19. Nc4 Qc5 20. g4 Ne3 21. Nxe3 Qxe3 22. Rhe1 Qa3 23. Qxc7 Bg7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Bd5 Be6 26. Qe5 Kg8 27. Re3 Qa6 28. Bxe6 fxe6 29. Ng5 Rae8 30. Qc7 Rf6 31. Qxh7 Kf8 32. Qh8 Ke7 33. Qg7 1-0, Khalesi, Vahid (IRI) 2221 - Bahadori, Abdollah (IRI) 2029, Bandar Abbas (Iran) 2012.12.23]
11. Ng5N?? With more active pieces and a knight advantage, White plays aggressively, but he overlooks Black's brilliant 12th move.
[11. h3! White retains a small edge. 11... d6 12. Re1 O-O 13. Be4 d5 14. Bc2 c6 15. Nbd2 Qb6 16. Nb3 Bf2 17. Kh2 Bxe1 18. Qxe1 Qc7 19. Ba3 b6 20. Bd6 Qb7 21. Bxh7 Kxh7 22. Qh4 Kg8 23. Bxe7 Bf5 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Nbd4 Bg6 26. e6 f6 27. Qg4 Be4 28. Nh4 Qc7 29. Kh1 Qe5 30. Rd1 Qg5 31. Nxc6 Qxg4 32. hxg4 Re8 33. Nd4 g6 34. Rc1 Re7 35. Nhf3 Kg7 36. Kg1 f5 37. g5 Bd3 38. Ne5 Bc4 39. Nxc4 dxc4 40. Rxc4 Kf8 41. Rc8 Re8 42. Rxe8 Kxe8 43. Kf2 Ke7 44. Ke3 Kd6 45. Kf4 a6 46. Nxf5 Kxe6 47. Nh4 Kf7 48. Ke5 1-0, Rojano, Alfonso Carlos (ESP) 1952 - Font, Piera Gabriel (ESP) 1822, Cerdaniola del Valles (Spain) 2010.10.09]
11... Nxd5 12. Nxf7
12... O-O!! Also good for Black, but not nearly as good as this is Qe7.
[White no doubt expected 12... Kxf7?? 13. Qxd5 Ke8 14. Qxc5 Qg5 15. Kf2 b6 16. Qd5 Rf8 17. Ke1 Bb7 18. Qxb7 Qe3 19. Kd1 Rf2 20. Qa6 Qe4 21. Bc3 Qc2 22. Ke1 Rxg2 23. Bd2 Qe4 24. Kd1 Rxd2 25. Nxd2 Qxh1 26. Qf1 Qxh2 With four pawns for a knight, Black is better anyway]
13. Nxd8? Taking the queen is another mistake, but he is dead busted anyway.
[Better is 13. Rf1 Rxf7 14. Rxf7 Qg5 15. Qg4 Qxg4 16. Kxg4 Kxf7 Black wins; Or 13. Qxd5 Rxf7 There is no good defense to the mate threats involving Bf2+ followed by Qh4 or Qg5+ followed by either Qh5 or d6. 14. Qxf7 (14. h3 is the only other move that avoids a quick mate. 14... Qg5 15. Kh2 Qf4 16. g3 Qf2 17. Qg2 Qxg2 18. Kxg2 Rf2 19. Kg1 b6 20. Ba3 Be3 21. Bc1 Bd4 22. Bb2 Rxb2 23. Kf1 Ba6 24. Ke1 Re2 25. Kd1 Bxa1 Black wins) 14... Kxf7 Black wins]
13... Bf2 14. Kh3 d6 15. e6 Nf4 16. Kg4 Nxe6 17. Nxe6
[He could drag it out a few more moves with 17. Nf7 Rxf7 18. g3 Nd8 19. Kg5 Rf5 20. Kg4 Rf6 21. Kh4 Rf4 22. Kg5 Ne6 23. Kh5 g6 24. Kh6 Rh4 25. gxh4 Be3#]
17... Bxe6 18. Kg5 Rf5 19. Kg4 h5 20. Kh3 Rf3#
[0:1]
The Greek Gift
By Matt Grinberg, 11/5/2023, 1/7/2024
The Greek typically occurs due to pattern recognition – one of the most important tools towards chess excellence.
At the Kingstowne Chess Club in Virginia one Tuesday evening Hrayr Sayadian, Quentin Moore and I were going over games Quentin had played in a recent tournament. We were all experts. But while Hrayr (pronunced like "Friar") and I were old, experienced players, Quentin was a youngster of 14 - talented, but without a lot of chess experience or knowledge. We started going through one of Quentin's games he won as White.
Stafford Gambit
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Nbc6 8. Bd3 O-O
Quentin got to this position and Hrayr and I both knew what was going to happen next. Quentin continued with 9. O-O. Hrayr and I looked at each other incredulously. Hrayr said, "Wait Quentin, there is something much better than castles."
Quentin put the king and rook back, thought a while and played 9. Ng5. "The attack on h7 is the right idea," I said, "but there is a much better move." "Well," he said, "the only other move is Bxh7, but does that work?" "Yes!!"
This is another example of how the better, or at least more experienced, player uses his knowledge as a short cut in playing the game. Any experienced player is going to look at the position above, recognize the pattern of the Greek Gift and immediately have the idea of the sacrifice on h7.
9. Bxh7! In my database there is a game where an International Master, Krystian Kuzmicz, castled here instead of playing the bishop sacrifice, just like Quentin. Mind boggling! The following are a couple of examples from my database of games played from here.
9... Kxh7 10. Ng5 Kg8!
[10... Kg6 11. h4 Qe8 12. Qd3 f5 13. Qg3 Rh8 14. h5 Kh6 15. Nxe6 1-0!, Sagdeev, Rinel (RUS) 2017 – Varkvasov, Valery (RUS) 1969, Angarsk (Russia) 2009.11.01]
11. Qh5 Re8 12. Qh7 Kf8 13. Qh8 Ng8 14. Nh7 Ke7 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Qxg7 Qa5 17. O-O Qxc3 18. Nxf6 Qxd4 19. Nxe8 Kxe8 20. Qg8! 1-0, Just, Anita (GER) 1990 – Berthold, Katrin, Germany 2009.12.05
Why is this called the Greek Gift? Because it is reminiscent of the Greeks brining the Trojan Horse to the gates of Troy.
So what is the pattern of the Greek Gift that Hrayr and I immediately recognized?
1. Black has a normal castled king side position with his king on g8, three pawns in front and the rook on f8.
2. Black does not have a knight on f6 and can’t safely move one there, which means that usually White has a pawn on e5.
3. White has a knight on f3.
4. White has his queen on d1 or e2 and the only thing blocking the diagonal to h5 is the knight on f3.
5. White has his king bishop on the b1 to h7 diagonal and its path to h7 is not blocked.
6. White's knight on f3 can safely go to g5, which usually means that g5 is covered by White’s bishop on the c1-h6 diagonal, or White’s pawn on h4.
If all of these conditions are met, any experienced player is going to instantly recognize it and think in terms of the Bxh7+ sacrifice (except that IM referred to above). Of course you always have to consider the possibility that there is something about the particular position that will make the sacrifice not work, but generally Black will be checkmated or be forced to give up his queen to avoid checkmate. Even if only some of the conditions are met, the experienced player will recognize it and look for a way to make the combination work.
Here is another example of the Greek Gift from one of my games.
Grinberg, Matthew M (2069) - Stokes, William (2017) 1-0
Arlington CC Ladder, 1/2/2004
1. e4 b6 Black plays in the Hypermodern style allowing White to get a strong pawn duo in the center with the intention of undermining it later.
2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Qe2 d6!? But this is taking the Hypermodern approach a little too far. It's time to strike at White's center.
[6... d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bd2 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be7 10. O-O O-O Note that the Greek Gift would not work for White here because Black's queen and bishop control the g5 square. 11. a4 Nd7 12. Rfe1 c5 13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Qxe4 Rc8 15. Qd3 Nf6 16. Rab1 Qc7 17. a5 bxa5 18. Qa6 cxd4 19. Rb7 Qd6 20. Qxa5 dxc3 21. Bxc3 Nd5 22. Be5 Qc6 23. Rb2 f6 24. Bd4 e5 25. Bxa7 Ra8 26. Qb5 Qxb5 27. Rxb5 Rxa7 28. Rxd5 Rc8 29. Nh4 Rxc2 30. Nf5 Bc5 31. Rf1 Raa2 32. Rd7 Rxf2 0-1, Severiukhina, Zoja (RUS) 2318 - Andreikin, Dmitry (RUS) 2603, Belgorod 10/ 6/2008 Ch Russia (students) (team)]
7. O-O Bxc3 8. bxc3 O-O!? Apparently oblivious to the Greek Gift idea. I instantly recognized that I would have a Greek Gift sacrifice if I could just force the knight off of f6. So...
9. e5! Nd5? Fatal. He still has a chance if he takes the pawn first to undermine White's center.
[9... dxe5 10. dxe5 Nfd7 11. Bxh7 Kxh7 12. Ng5 Kg6 13. Re1 Nxe5 14. Qxe5 f6 15. Qxe6 Qd5 White has a good advantage]
10. Bxh7! Kxh7
[Or 10... Kh8 11. Ng5 Nd7 12. Qh5 N7f6 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Qh4 White wins]
11. Ng5 Qxg5 He has to give up his queen to avoid mate.
[11... Kg8 12. Qh5 Qxg5 13. Bxg5 White wins.;
11... Kg6 12. Qe4 f5 13. exf6 Kxf6 14. Qxe6#;
11... Kh6 12. Nxf7 Kh7 13. Nxd8 White wins.]
12. Bxg5 dxe5 13. dxe5 c5? This is another blunder that loses the knight on d5.
[13... c6 is better, but still loses]
14. Qe4 Kg8 15. c4 Nd7 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Qe2 f6 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Bh6 Ne5 20. f4 Bc4 21. Qh5
[1:0]
Stafford Gambit
By Matt Grinberg, 11/26/2023
Larry Horgan recently introduced me to the Stafford Gambit. I was caught off guard and stupidly allowed a mate in one in a position where I should have won. Larry then reminded me he had played it against me once before!
The Stafford Gambit has recently become popular with some players, especially American IM Eric Rosen. It seems to be not so much an opening line as an opening idea.
It starts with 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3. Then instead of defending his e-pawn, Black gives it up for development and open lines. Here is a link to Rosen showing how White can
easily get trapped in the Stafford Gambit ...
YouTube Video.
I looked it up in my database and, yes, most of the games that follow this pattern are since the year 2000, but I could only find two examples between World Class players - the following fun game between Carl Schlechter and Frank Marshall 120 years ago and a recent game between Alexander Grischuk (2785) and Ruslan Ponomariov (2731). The game between me and Larry is in the notes.
Marshall was one of the best players in the early 20th Century. He held the US Chess Championship from 1908 to 1936. Schlechter was from Hungary and was one of the World's best players around the turn of the Century and drew a World Championship match with Emanuel Lasker in 1910.
Marshall, as was typical of him, plays aggressively from the start. Schlechter seems to ignore Marshall and play a solid game. But when Marshall castles queenside, Schlechter goes for an attack on Marshall's king and the game turns crazy with both sides missing opportunities. Not great chess, but fun chess!
Schlechter, Carl - Marshall, Frank, 1-0
Monaco, 1903
Stafford Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5
[More common is the Four Knights Game. 3... Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4=]
4. Nxe5 Nf6 Black declines to take back and at this point this is definitely a Stafford Gambit. Typical of Marshall, he is playing for a wild game.
[The obvious continuation is 4... Nxe5 5. d4 Bd6 6. dxe5 Bxe5 when White has a small edge]
5. Be2?! Schlechter not so much.
[Better, but playing into Black's plan is 5. Nxc6 dxc6 This is how my game with Larry continued. 6. Be2?! (Better is 6. Qe2 Ng4 7. Nd1 Be6 8. d3 Qe7 9. h3 Nf6 10. Be3 O-O-O 11. c3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 g6 13. Qc2 c5 14. O-O-O White has a solid position and Black does not have enough for the pawn) 6... h5!? (Simply playing to win back the pawn is better. 6... Qd4 7. O-O Nxe4 8. Nxe4 Qxe4 9. Bf3 Qh4 10. Qe2 Be6 11. g3 Qf6 12. Bg4 O-O 13. Bxe6 Qxe6 14. Qxe6 fxe6 15. Kg2 e5 16. d3 Rae8 17. f3 Bd4 18. Bd2 b5 19. Bc3 c5 20. Ba5 c6 21. c3 Be3 22. Rfe1 Bg5 23. Bc7 Bf6 24. Bd6 Rf7 25. f4 c4 26. fxe5 Be7 27. dxc4 bxc4 28. Rad1 Rf5 29. Rf1 Rxf1 30. Kxf1 Kf7 31. Kf2 Bd8 32. Kf3 Bb6 33. Ke4 Ke6 34. Rf1 Rc8 35. Bf8 Rc7 36. Rd1 Kf7 37. Bd6 Rc8 38. Kf5 g6 39. Ke4 h5 40. Rf1 Kg7 41. e6 1-0, Artamonova, Viktoria (FRA) 2188 - Shianovsky, Vladislav I (UKR) 2295, Kiev (Ukraine) 2002) 7. d3 Bxf2?? This is in the spirit of the Stafford Gambit, but it should have lost. (Better is 7... Ng4 8. Bxg4 hxg4 9. Qe2 Be6 10. Be3 Bb4 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. a3 Be7 13. d4 Rh5 14. O-O-O O-O-O 15. f3 Rdh8 16. Bf4 Qe8 17. fxg4 Bxg4 18. Rde1 Qf8 19. Nb1 Bd7 20. Rhf1 b6 21. h3 Kb7 22. Nc3 g5 23. Bg3 g4 24. hxg4 Ra5 25. Nb1 Be6 26. Bf4 Ba2 27. Re3 Bc4 28. Rd1 f6 29. Rc3 Be6 30. d5 Bxg4 31. dxc6 Ka8 32. Re1 Qc8 33. Qf2 Rah5 34. Nd2 Qe6 35. Kb1 Rh1 36. b4 Bd8 37. Rxh1 Rxh1 38. Kb2 Bh5 39. Qd4 Qc8 40. Rd3 Be7 41. Qd7 1-0, Hinks-Edwards, Thom (ENG) 2393 - Pletanek, Jan (CZE) 2242, Czech Republic 2009.10.18) 8. Kxf2 Ng4 9. Bxg4 hxg4 10. Bf4 Qd4 11. Ke2 g3 "He threatens Bg4+! Ah, I know what to do." 12. h3??? (12. Qg1 Qxg1 13. Raxg1 gxh2 14. Rxh2 Rxh2 15. Bxh2 White wins) Before Larry could play 12... Qf2# I resigned. Matt Grinberg - Larry Horgan, 0-1, Alamogordo Chess Club, 2023-11-20]
5... Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. O-ON?! Schlechter is either playing it too safe or he is returning the favor by giving up one of his own pawns for development.
[Better is 7. dxe5 Bxe5 8. Qd3 d6 9. Nd1 Nd7 10. f4 Bf6 11. Be3 O-O 12. c3 Re8 13. Nf2 Nf8 14. O-O-O=]
7... Nc6 8. e5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Bxe5 10. Bd3 d6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 g5?! Marshall wants to castle queenside and go for a kingside attack, but he would have been better off safely castling kingside and then playing for a win based on his extra pawn.
[Simple play keeps his options open. 12... Be6 13. Qe1 O-O 14. Ne4 Bd5 15. Nxf6 Bxf6 16. Qa5 c6 17. Qxd8 Bxd8 18. Bg3 Bc7 White has almost nothing for the pawn]
13. Bg3 Bg4 14. Qd2 Qe7!? Putting his queen on the open e-file is dubious.
[14... Nd7 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Ne4 Qe7 With a pawn blocking the e-file, this is now safe. 17. Qa5 Nb6 18. b3 O-O= Black still has an extra pawn, but his bad kingside pawn structure gives White compensation]
15. Rae1!? He is playing to take advantage of White's last move, but there is a better way to do it.
[15. f4! gxf4 16. Rxf4! Bxf4 17. Qxf4 Rg8 18. Re1 Be6 19. Bh4 Rg5 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. Qxg5 White's pieces are much more active]
15... O-O-O?! This is the fulfillment of Marshall's plan since move 12. It was a bad idea then and is still a bad idea now.
[He can castle queenside, but it needs a little more preparation. 15... Be6! The point of this pawn sacrifice is to block the e-file with his bishop. 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Rxe5 O-O-O 18. Qe3 Kb8=]
16. Qe3?
[Ironically the best way to attack the queenside is to attack the center first. 16. f4! gxf4 17. Rxf4! Bxf4 18. Qxf4 Be6 19. Bh4 Nh5 20. Qf2 Qd7 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 22. Be2 Ng7 23. Qxa7 Black is in trouble]
16... b6?! Weakening his castled position is not a good idea.
[16... Kb8 17. h3 (17. Nb5 b6 18. Qd4 a6 19. Rxe5 dxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxe5 21. Bxe5 axb5 22. Bxf6 Rxd3 23. cxd3 Re8=) 17... Bd7 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Qxe5 dxe5 20. Rxe5 Rhe8=]
17. a4?! Advancing the pawn to a5 is standard in this kind of position, but again he would do better attacking in the center.
[17. h3 Bd7 18. f4 gxf4 19. Bxf4 Bc6 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Qxe5 Qxe5 22. Rxe5 Black's messed up kingside pawn structure gives a clear advantage to White]
17... Kb8 18. a5 Bc8 19. axb6 axb6 20. Nb5 Bb7 21. Be2!? He wants to get his queen to the a-file, but in spite of the check on a7, it doesn't accomplish anything.
[Better is simply winning back the pawn. 21. Bxe5 dxe5 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxe5=]
21... Rhe8 22. Qa3 c6?! He plays another weakening pawn move.
[Since the check on a7 doesn't really do anything, he would be better off removing the pin from his bishop on e5. 22... Qd7 23. Qa7 Kc8 24. Qa4 c6 25. Na3 Kc7 White has accomplished nothing and still does not have enough for the pawn]
23. Qa7 Kc8 24. Na3
24... Kc7? Marshall starts to get himself into serious trouble. This cuts off his queen from defending the bishop.
[He should stop White's bishop from getting to a6. 24... b5 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Nxb5 cxb5 27. Bxb5 Qc7 28. Bxe8 Rxe8 The position is highly imbalanced, but roughly equal]
25. Ba6 Rb8 26. Nc4 Nd7? This is a knee jerk reaction to the threats on b6 and e5.
[26... Nd5!! Is much better even if he has to give up his queen. 27. Rxe5 dxe5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5! 29. Nxe5 Rxe5 30. Bxb7 Rxb7 31. Qa3 White should win with a queen for a rook and knight, but Black has chances]
27. Rxe5?? I am not sure what he was thinking, but this is the wrong capture.
[He wins by capturing with the bishop. 27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. Rd1 Red8 29. Rd6 b5 30. Bxb7 Rxb7 31. Rxc6!! Kxc6 32. Na5 Kd6 33. Nxb7 Ke6 34. Rd1! Black has no good defense to the threat of 35. Qa6+ Kf5, 36. Qxh6, when the threat of 37. Nd6 will force Black to give up his queen to avoid mate. 34... Rh8! This is the best try. 35. Rxd7! Kxd7 36. Nc5 Ke8 (or 36... Kd6 37. Ne4 Ke6 38. Qa6 Kd7 {38... Kf5? 39. Ng3 Kf4 40. Qc6 e4 41. Qd5 Qe6 42. Ne2 Kg4 43. f3 Kh4 44. g3 Kh3 45. Nf4 gxf4 46. Qh5#; 38... Kd5? 39. Qxb5 Ke6 40. Qc6 Qd6 41. Qxd6 Kf5 42. Ng3 Kf4 43. Qb4 e4 44. Qxe4#} 39. Nf6 Qxf6 {39... Kd8 40. Qa8 Kc7 41. Qa7 Kc8 [41... Kd8 42. Qb8#] 42. Qxe7 White wins} 40. Qxf6) 37. Qb8 Qd8 38. Qxe5 Kf8 39. Qxh8 Ke7 40. Qxd8 Kxd8 White wins]
27... dxe5 28. Bxe5? Now he has given the advantage to Black!
[28. Rd1 b5 29. Bxe5 Nxe5 30. Qb6 Kc8 31. Nd6 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Bxa6 33. Rxc6 Nxc6 34. Qxc6 Kd8 35. Qd6 Kc8 36. Qxa6 Kc7 37. Qa5 White is better because Black's king is exposed]
28... Nxe5 29. Qxb6 Kd7? Black returns the favor.
[29... Kc8 30. f4 gxf4 31. Nxe5 Qc7 (Not 31... Qxe5? 32. Qxc6 Kd8 33. Rd1 Ke7 34. Bxb7 The position is unclear) 32. Bxb7 Rxb7 33. Qxc7 Kxc7 34. Nd3 White has chances only because of Black's bad pawn structure]
30. Bxb7? Yes, this wins a piece, but there is a better way to do it.
[30. Rd1 Ke6 31. Nxe5 Kf6 32. Nd7 Kg7 33. Nxb8 Bxa6 34. h4! (Not 34. Nxa6??? Qe1 35. Rxe1 Rxe1#) 34... Bb7 35. Nxc6 Qe2 36. Ra1 Bxc6 37. Qxc6 gxh4 38. Qc3 Kg6 39. b4 The connected passed pawns will win]
30... Ke6 31. Nxe5?! There goes his advantage.
[Better is 31. Re1 f6 32. Qxc6 Kf7 33. Rxe5 fxe5 34. Nd6 Kg8 35. Nxe8 Qxe8 36. Qe4 Kg7 37. b3 The pawn structure gives White the better game]
31... Qxb7 32. Qe3
32... f6?? After this blunder he is dead lost.
[32... Qb6 33. Qg3 f5 34. Re1 Qxb2 35. Nxc6 (Going for the queen fails because of White's hanging rook on e1. 35. Nd3!? Kf7 36. Qc7 {36. Nxb2?? Loses his rook. 36... Rxe1#} 36... Kg8 37. Qxc6 Rxe1 38. Nxe1 Qg7 Black is better) 35... Kf7 36. Qc7 Kg8 37. Ne7 Kh8 (37... Rxe7 38. Qxe7 Rf8 {38... Qxc2?? 39. Qe6 Kh7 40. Qd7 Kh8 41. Qd4 Kg8 42. Qd5 Kh8 43. Qe5 Kh7 44. Qxb8 White wins} 39. c4 The passed pawn and Black's exposed king decides the game for White) 38. Ng6 Kg8 39. Ne7 Kh8 40. Ng6 Kg8 41. Ne7 Draw by repetition]
33. Nc4 Kd5??
[33... Kf7 would drag it out longer. 34. Nd6 Kf8 35. Qxe8 Rxe8 36. Nxb7 Rb8 37. Nd6 Rxb2 38. c4 The extra knight wins]
34. Qd3??
[34. Rd1! is much faster. 34... Kxc4 35. b3 Kb5 36. c4 Kb4 37. Qd2 Kc5 38. Qd4 Kb4 39. c5 Kxb3 40. Rd3 Ka2 41. Qa4 Kb1 42. Rd1 Kb2 43. Rd2 Kc3 44. Rc2 Kd3 45. Qc4#]
34... Kc5 35. Nd6 Qxb2?? He is lost anyway, but this brings it to an end quickly.
[35... Qe7 36. Qa3 Kb6 37. h3 Qa7 38. Qb4 Kc7 39. Nxe8 Rxe8 40. Rd1 White's extra pawn and Black's exposed king assure victory for White]
36. c3! He threatens mate in one and there is no longer any defense to the attack. 36... Kb6
[The best try ends up losing his queen anyway. 36... Re4 37. Nxe4 Kb6 38. Qd4 Ka6 39. Nc5 Kb5 40. c4 Ka5 41. Ra1 Qxa1 42. Qxa1 White wins]
37. Nc4 Marshall resigned.
[1:0]
Wow, that was one wacky game!
The Greatest Move Ever!
By Matt Grinberg, 11/19/2023
Okay, MY greatest move ever. But my 21st move is a doozy and like the solution to the Cairo Problem last week, computers just don't get it. The game is also notable because it is one of the few games I have played against 2400+ players where I didn't lose.
We have all heard the saying, "Attack is the best defense." Then there is my chess version of the saying, "When you see that your opponent has a threat, the first thing you should do is ignore it and see what you can do to threaten him. Only if that line of thought doesn't come up with anything good should you start thinking of defense." This game is a perfect example of how that works.
The Dragon Variation with the two sides castled to opposite wings is extremely sharp. Both sides go for a direct attack on the opponent's king. Dov Gorman played a line unfamiliar to me. Gradually I drifted into a very dangerous looking position. The question arose, "What do you do when your opponent has an irresistible attack against your king?" ATTACK!!
An interesting side light to this game is I was confused about the start time. I got to the playing site half an hour early, or so I thought, only to find that my clock was running and I was half an hour late.
Grinberg, Matthew M (1983) - Gorman, Dov (2402), 1/2-1/2
Virginia Closed Championship, Round 4
Springfield, VA, September 2004
Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 The Dragon Variation leads to vary sharp play. 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Developing his bishop to an active position on the a2-g8 diagonal, White prevents the d6-d5 advance and plans queenside castling followed by a kingside attack by h2-h4-h5 and Be3-h6. Black plays on the queenside utilizing his dark square bishop on the long diagonal and the half open c-file. 9... Bd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 Unusual but not bad.
[More common is the Soltis Variation. 10... Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 h5 White has his normal opening advantage]
11. Bb3 Na5 He goes for the bishop, but this makes my next move possible.
[11... Rfc8 is the more common move. 12. h4 Na5 13. h5 Nxb3 14. axb3 b5 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. g4 b4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Qa5 19. Kb1 Qxd5 20. Qh2 Qe5 21. Qxh7 Kf7 22. f4 Qxe3 23. f5 gxf5 24. Nxf5 Bxf5 25. Qxf5 Ke8 26. Qg6 Kd7 27. Qxg7 Rxc2 28. Rxd6 Kxd6 29. Qg6 Kd7 30. Qf5 e6 31. Qxc2 Re8 32. Rd1 Ke7 33. Qh7 Kf6 34. Rf1 Ke5 35. Qh5 Kd6 36. Rd1 Ke7 37. Qh4 Kf7 38. Rd7 Kg6 39. Qh5 1-0, Stets, Dmitry (UKR) 2340 – Vesselovsky, Serguei (CZE) 2339, Kosice (Czech Republic) 1997]
12. Bh6 Nc4!?
[Simply taking the bishop is better. 12... Nxb3 13. axb3 Bxh6 14. Qxh6 White has a small edge]
13. Bxc4 Qxc4 14. Bxg7
[Also good is 14. h4 Rfc8 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. h5 Rc5 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Qh6 Kg8 19. Nb3 Rc7 20. Rh4 Qf7 21. Qe3 Be6 22. e5 dxe5 23. Qxe5 Rac8 24. Rd8 Kg7 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Nc5 Bd5 27. Nxd5 Rxc5 28. Rxh7 Kxh7 29. Nxf6 exf6 30. Qxc5 b6 31. Qd6 f5 32. a4 Qa2 33. Qd7 Kh6 34. c3 Qc4 35. Kc2 a5 36. Qd2 Kh5 37. b3 Qf1 38. g3 g5 39. Qd3 Qf2 40. Kb1 Qe1 41. Kb2 Qf2 42. Ka3 Qxg3 43. Qxf5 Qd6 44. Kb2 Kh6 45. Kc2 Qh2 46. Kd3 Qc7 47. Qd5 Kh5 48. Qe6 1-0, Del Rio, Angelis Salvador G (ESP) 2487 - Garcia, Martinez Silvino (CUB) 2365, Habana 2002 Memorial Jose Raul Capablanca (b) (cat.9)]
14... Kxg7 15. h4 b5!? This is a bold but dangerous move.
[The defensive 15... h5, like the Soltis Variation, is better. 16. Qg5 Rac8 17. Rhe1 White has the advantage]
16. h5! b4! Both sides are following their attacking plan against the opposing king. 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5? This "obvious" move is where I lose my advantage.
[I should immediately go for the attack on his king. 18. hxg6!! Nf6 19. Qh6 Kg8 20. gxh7 Kh8 21. Kb1 Rac8 22. g4 Be6 23. b3 Qc5 White has only a pawn for a bishop, but Black's king is in serious trouble!]
18... Qxa2 19. Nb3
[The only reasonable alternative leads to a wacky line similar to what happened in the game. 19. Qf4 Kh8 20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Rxh7 Kxh7 22. Rh1 Kg7 23. Qh6 Kf7 24. Re1 Rae8 25. Ne6 Qa1 26. Kd2 Qxe1 27. Kxe1 Bxe6 28. dxe6 Kf6=]
19... Bf5 It was after this move that I realized my king was in deep trouble and I took a long think. It seemed clear that simply defending against his threats on the back rank, the c-file and b3 was hopeless. My only hope was to prosecute my own attack as quickly as possible to keep him off balance. Before playing my next move I planned on the following rook sacrifice and analyzed as far as my 30th move. Once I had decided on this plan, it was not difficult to analyze 11 moves ahead because both sides are severely limited in the moves that will keep them on plan. It took me about 20 minutes of my precious time to calculate this. When I give this to the computer to analyze, it is convinced that Black is winning. Why, because the computer looks at everything and thus has trouble looking that far ahead. It is only when I give the computer 1.5 hours to think about the position that it discovered the value of the rook sacrifice and that Black's position is not as good as it seems. The computer gets its revenge in positions where there is no clear plan. In those positions the human can be embarrassed by overlooking something only a couple of moves ahead. 20. hxg6! Bxg6 He has to capture with the bishop to keep the h-pawn defended. I take the h-pawn anyway! There are several games that reach this position in my database. In no case did White play my move and in every case White lost. 21. Rxh7N!!! In spite of what the computer "thinks" this line seems to end in a forced draw.
[Not 21. Qg5? as in the following two games. 21... Rac8 22. Nd4 Rxc2 23. Nxc2 Rc8 24. Kd2 Rxc2 25. Ke1 Qxb2 26. Qxe7 Rxg2 27. Qe3 Qc3 28. Qxc3 bxc3 29. Rc1 c2 30. f4 (30. Rh4 Kf6 31. Ra4 Ke5 32. Rxa7 Kxd5 33. Rca1 Ke5 34. Kf1 Rh2 35. R7a4 Bd3 36. Kg1 Rd2 37. Re1 Kf5 38. Ra7 f6 39. Rc7 h5 40. Rc6 h4 41. Rc8 h3 42. Ra8 Kf4 43. Ra7 h2 44. Kh1 Rd1 45. Ra1 Rxa1 46. Rxa1 Kxf3 47. Re1 Kf2 48. Ra1 Kg3 49. Re1 Be4 0-1, Eichner, Sebastian (GER) 2319 – Becker, Michael (GER) 2079, Germany 3/ 9/2003 Oberliga East A 2002/03) 30... Bd3 31. Rh3 Re2 32. Kf1 Rh2 33. Rxd3 Rh1 34. Ke2 Rxc1 35. Rc3 Rh1 0-1, Wilhelm, K – Schubert, Dietmar, Germany 1989 Bundesliga 1989/90; The computer's choice is 21. Qxb4? Rfc8 22. Nd4 Qxd5 23. g4 Qxf3 24. Nf5 Kf8 25. Qd4 f6 26. Rh2 Bxf5 27. gxf5 Qxf5 Black is winning]
21... Bxh7 22. Rh1 Rh8 23. Qh6 Kg8 24. Rh3 Qa6 Finally, here the computer concedes that Black has no advantage and with correct play this leads to a draw.
[An alternative is 24... a5 25. Nd4 Qxd5 26. Rg3 Bg6 27. Rxg6 fxg6 28. Qxg6 Kf8 29. Ne6 Qxe6 30. Qxe6 This position is similar to where we got in the game, but this gets there faster and seems to lead to a draw too]
25. Rg3 Bg6 26. Rxg6 fxg6 27. Qxg6 Kf8 28. Nd4 Qf1 29. Kd2 Qf2 30. Kd3 This is as far as I analyzed before my 20th move and it was clear to me that he would either have to take a draw by perpetual check or risk giving up his queen for my knight. 30... Qf1 31. Kd2 Qf2 32. Kd3 The moment of truth for Black. Does he simply take a perpetual check or does he risk playing for a win? Going into this game we were both 2-1. As the top rated player, Gorman was going for the state championship and had to play for a win.
32... Qxd4!? He goes for the gusto, giving up his queen to try for a win. Besides his desire to win the Virginia Championship, it is likely that his decision was influenced by my lack of time approaching the time control at move 40.
[32... Qf1 with a draw by threefold repetition is the prudent course]
33. Kxd4 After the complications the material is even, but White is better because White's king and queen are more active than Black's king and rooks, White has a strong center because of the d5-pawn and Black's king is exposed to attack. In spite of this, due to my lack of time and the 300 point rating difference, I am just looking for a draw by repetition. Dov, on the other hand, tries to squirm out of the perpetual threats and generate some winning chances. 33... a5 34. b3 Rg8!?
[If he is playing for a win, he should get the rook more active. 34... Rh1 35. Qf5 Kg7 36. Qd7 Re1 Though White is still better]
35. Qf5 Ke8 36. g4 Rf8?! He is trying to stop any attempt at a perpetual, but this move puts him in serious risk of losing.
[He should instead get his other rook into the game. 36... a4! 37. bxa4 Rxa4 38. Qc8 Kf7 39. Qe6 Kf8 Of course White has a perpetual if he wants it, but he can also play for a win. 40. Kc4! Ra1 41. Kxb4 Rf1 42. Qf5 Kg7 43. Qe4 Rb8 44. Kc3 Rb7 Black is now down a queen and two pawns for two rooks, but at least both rooks are active]
37. Qg6 Kd8 38. Ke3?! The time control is at move 40. It begins to affect my play. The king was fine where it was, and there is no need to defend the f-pawn since taking it would be answered by Qg8+ winning the rook on a8.
[38. Qh6 Kc7 39. Qe6 Rae8 40. Ke3 Rg8 41. Qe4 Kd7 42. c4 bxc3 43. Qa4 Kc8 44. Qxa5 c2 45. Qc3 Kb8 46. Qxc2 With two passed pawns and Black's rooks still not doing much, White has excellent winning chances]
38... Rc8 39. Qe4!? Another inept retreat. I was still worried about the f-pawn. There are other things I should be watching for. He threatens to move his rook to the open h-file. I should head my king to g2 where it takes away the rook's entry squares and leaves the queen in its strong position.
[39. Kf2 Rc3 40. Qe4 White retains a small edge. Going for the pawn endgame loses. 40... Rcxf3?? 41. Qxf3 Rxf3 42. Kxf3 e6 43. dxe6 Ke7 44. Ke4 Kxe6 45. Kd4 Kf6 46. Kd5 Kg5 47. Kxd6 Kxg4 48. Kc5 Kf3 49. Kb5 Ke3 50. Kxa5 Kd2 51. Kxb4 Kxc2 52. Kc4 White wins]
39... Rc5? He misses a chance to tie me up by going after my c-pawn.
[39... Rh8 40. Kd2 Rh2 41. Kc1 a4 42. Qxb4 Rcxc2 43. Kb1 Rb2 44. Kc1 Rhc2 45. Kd1 axb3 White will have to go for a perpetual check to avoid losing]
40. f4? On my last move before the time control, I miss the best move. The third bad move in a row, but at least I got to the time control. With both kings now exposed to attack, the position, though a very double edged, is likely a draw.
[Obviously if I am going to advance any pawn it should be the passed pawn. 40. g5 Rf7 (40... Rc3 Playable 41. Kf2 Rfxf3?? But this move by the computer is a gross blunder that loses by force. {This line is playable for Black. 41... Ke8 42. g6 Rf6 43. f4 Kf8 It will be hard for White to make progress with his pawns under attack} 42. Qxf3 Rxf3 43. Kxf3 e5 44. dxe6 Ke7 45. Ke4 Kxe6 46. Kd4 Kf5 47. Kd5 (For some reason the computer thinks 47. Kc4 is best and Black is still in the game, but I think even this line wins for White) 47... Kxg5 48. Kxd6 Kf6 49. Kc6 Ke6 50. Kb6 Kd6 51. Kxa5 Kc5 52. Ka4 Kc6 53. Kxb4 White wins) 41. g6 Rg7 42. Kf4 e5 43. Kg5 Rc8 44. Kh6 Rg8 45. Qh4 Kd7 46. Qg4 Kc7 47. g7 Kb6 48. Qe6 Rgd8 49. Qe7 Ka6 50. Kh7 Kb6 White seems to be better with his passed pawn on the seventh rank, but there does not seem to be a way to make progress]
40... Rh8 41. g5 Rh2 42. Kf3 Rcxc2 43. Qd4 Rh3!? This attempt to play for a win gets him in trouble again.
[43... Ke8 44. g6 Rcf2 45. Ke4 Re2 46. Kf5 Rh5 47. Kg4 Rh6 48. Kg5 ( 48. g7 would end up losing the pawn after 48... Kf7) 48... Reh2 49. Qb6 R2h5 50. Kg4 Rh4 51. Kf5 R4h5 52. Kg4 Rh4=]
44. Kg4 Rxb3 45. Qb6 Ke8 It seems that he has finally decided to allow the draw I have been looking for since move twenty.
[But avoiding the draw is good for White anyway. 45... Rc7 46. Qxa5 Rb1 47. Qb6 Rb2 48. g6 Rg2 49. Kh5 Rh2 50. Kg5 Kd7 51. Qxb4 White is definitely not in danger of losing]
46. Qb8 Kd7
[Trying to get away from the queen fails miserably. 46... Kf7?? 47. g6 Kxg6 48. Qg8 Kf6 49. Qe6 Kg7 50. Qxe7 Kg8 51. Qg5 Kf7 52. Qf5 Ke7 53. Qxc2 White wins]
47. Qb5 Kc8 48. Qa6 Kd7 49. Qb5 Kc8 50. Qa6?! I pass up on another chance to play for a win.
[50. Qe8 Kb7 51. Qxe7 Rc7 52. Qxd6 Rd3 53. g6 b3 54. Qe5 Rc2 55. g7 Rg2 56. Kf5 Rdg3 Again White no doubt has a draw if he wants it, but can he win?]
50... Kd7 51. Qb5!? I claimed a draw by threefold repetition and breathed a sigh of relief!
[If I was not freaked out and wanting to end the game, I could still have played for a win by taking the a-pawn, but in no case would it have led to a clear win and doing so would have given up the clear draw. 51. Qxa5 Rg2 52. Kf5 Rb1 53. Qb5 Since White has a perpetual anytime he wants it, Black has no winning chances. But there is no clear path to a win for White either]
[½:½]
After I decided on the plan to sacrifice my rook to go for a mating attack, I really had no options for the next 14 moves. The same goes for Gorman's defense. So, it was really not all that difficult to analyze that deeply. The difficult part was deciding to go for that plan rather than trying to defend my own king. Except perhaps in simple endgames, I doubt that I have ever analyzed that deeply.
Computer programs have much more difficulty analyzing that kind of position because they don't have plans. They pretty much analyze everything and then try to figure out which line is best. In typical middle game positions, looking up to say 10 moves ahead, that works much better than human analysis. But when you get up to 13 or 14 moves ahead, computers are clueless unless you give them an hour or more.
In the end Gorman won his last two games, but fell half a point short of tying for the Championship - the half point he gave up to me. I split my last two games and tied for 10th.
Even Super GMs Can Oops
By Matt Grinberg, 10/29/2023
Matt Kolasinski sent this game to me about a month ago. I finally got around to putting it in the newsletter. Here's Matt's introduction.
Hi Matt, ... Been meaning to send you a copy of this game, first heard of it at YouTube, the same YouTube channel the backward puzzle came from. Jerry finds some interesting games. What he has to say about it in his Jun 24, 2023 post, "Featured is the game between Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik from the 1994 Novgorod Tournament. Starting from a Sicilian Sveshnikov, the players eventually reach an opposite sides castles position, where Kasparov launches an attack on Kramnik's kingside. The winning tactical combination executed by Kasparov is particularly aesthetic, rendering Stockfish unable to fully appreciate its depth."
In spite of the extremely wild game, World Champion Gary Kasparov plays an almost flawless game. Future World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik, generally plays well, but has two oopses. There are other web sites with this game besides the one Matt Kolasinski mentions. I noticed that one is titled "Vlad the Impaled" - Chess.com.
Kasparov, Garry - Kramnik, Vladimir, 1-0
Novgorod Tournament (category 19), Round 4
Novgorod, Russia, August 1994
Sicilian Sveshnikov Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 Sicilian defense Sveshnikov Variation - Black is willing to concede the d5 square to White in order to claim e5 for himself and fight for d4. 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5.
[9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. a4 O-O 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Nce3 Qb7 18. g4 Ne7 19. Bg2 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 Qe7 21. h4 Rc8 22. g5 Rc5 23. Be4 d5 24. Nxd5 Bxd5 25. Bxd5 e4 26. Ke2 Qe5 27. Bb3 Qc7 28. Qg1 b4 29. g6 hxg6 30. Qxg6 Kf8 31. Qg3 Qxg3 32. fxg3 bxc3 33. bxc3 Rxc3 34. Bd5 Rxg3 1/2-1/2, Kasparov, Garry (RUS) 2849 - Leko, Peter (HUN) 2743, Wijk aan Zee 2000 It (cat.18)]
9... Be7 10. Bxf6 White is willing to give up a bishop for a knight to maintain his strong outpost on d5. 10... Bxf6 11. c3 O-O.
[11... Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Qe2 Bg6 20. Rd1 Qc8 21. Nce3 e4 22. Bb5 Ne5 23. Rxa5 Nd3 24. Rf1 Bd8 25. Ba6 Qc6 26. Ra3 Bg5 27. Bc4 Ne5 28. Ra6 Qd7 29. b4 Bh4 30. Ra2 h6 31. Bb3 Qe8 32. Qa6 Qe6 33. Qa7 Bh7 34. Qd4 Qg6 35. Kh1 Rb7 36. Nf4 Qe8 37. Ne6 Rf6 38. Qd5 Rb8 39. Qxd6 Nd3 40. Ng4 Rg6 41. Ne5 Nxe5 42. Qxe5 Bg8 43. Nf4 Rc6 44. Qxe8 Rxe8 45. Ba4 Bxa2 46. Bxc6 Rc8 47. Bb7 Rc7 48. Ng6 Kg8 49. Nxh4 Rxb7 50. Nf5 Rd7 51. Ne3 Rd2 52. h4 Kf7 53. Kh2 Ke6 54. Kg3 Ke5 55. Rd1 1-0, Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) 2748 – Kramnik, Vladimir (RUS) 2739, Monaco 2005.03.19]
12. Nc2 To here this is all standard book in the Sveshnikov. 12... Rb8 Even though not as popular, this may be better than the standard 12... Bg5.
[12... Bg5 13. a4 (Or 13. h4 Bh6 {13... Bxh4? 14. Qh5 Bxf2 15. Kxf2 h6 16. Nce3 With a knight for two pawns and a strong center, White should win in spite of losing his castling privilege} 14. g4 Bf4 15. Qf3=) 13... bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O White has his normal opening advantage]
13. h4 The plan to castle queenside followed by a kingside attack is typical of Open Sicilian variations.
[Here is another game between the same two players in the same year. 13. a3 a5 14. h4 Ne7! 15. Nce3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Be6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Bg2 Bd8!= 19. O-O Bb6 20. Qd2 Rfc8 21. Rfd1 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. Qxd6 Qg4 25. Qd3 bxc3 26. bxc3 g6 27. Rab1 Rd8 28. Qf3 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 Qxf3 30. Bxf3 Rc8 1/2-1/2, Kasparov, Garry (RUS) 2805 – Kramnik, Vladimir (RUS) 2725, Moscow (Russia) 1994]
13... Ne7!? In spite of the fact that this gives up the bishop pair and allows Black's kingside pawn structure to be wrecked, this is popular among high rated players. One thing is for sure, the play is going to get crazy. In the 368 games that reach this position in my database, this is played 55 times.
[Not 13... Bxh4? 14. Qh5 winning the bishop, though Black gets two pawns for it. 14... Bxf2 15. Kxf2 h6 16. Nce3 With a knight for two pawns and a strong center, White should win in spite of losing his castling privilege.
The most popular and safe line is 13... Be7 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Qf3 Qd7 16. Rd1 Bd8 17. Be2 Ne7 18. h5 h6 19. O-O Qc8 20. Nxe7 Bxe7 21. b3 Bg5 22. Rxd6 Qxc3 23. Rxa6 Bxe3 1/2-1/2, Jakovenko, Dmitry (RUS) 2710 – Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) 2787, Foros (Russia) 2007.06.22]
14. Nxf6 gxf6 15. Qd2 Bb7.
[15... f5 16. Qg5 Kh8 17. Qf6 Kg8 18. O-O-O Be6 19. Bd3 Nc6 20. Qh6 f4 21. g3 f3 22. Qg5 Kh8 23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 24. b3 a5 25. Kb2 b4 26. c4 Kg7 27. Bf1 a4 28. Bh3 Ra8 29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. Rd3 Ra6 31. Rxf3 Rda8 32. Ra1 axb3 33. axb3 Rxa1 34. Nxa1 Nd4 35. Rd3 Kf6 36. Nc2 Nxc2 37. Rf3 Ke7 38. Kxc2 Ra2 39. Kd1 Ra1 40. Ke2 Ra2 41. Kf1 h5 42. Rd3 Rc2 43. Kg2 Rc3 44. Re3 Rc2 45. Kf3 Rd2 46. Kg2 Rc2 47. Rd3 Rc3 48. Rf3 Rc1 49. Kh2 Rf1 50. Kg2 Rc1 51. Re3 Rc2 1/2-1/2, Kamsky, Gata (USA) 2717 – Benjamin, Joel (USA) 2554, San Diego 11/30/2004 Ch USA]
16. Bd3 d5! Black is willing to open the diagonal in order to free up his own pieces. 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. O-O-O e4 19. Be2 Qxa2 20. Qh6 Qe6 21. Nd4 Qb6.
[21... Qe5 22. f4 exf3 23. Bd3 Ng6 24. g3 Be4 25. Bxe4 Qxe4 26. h5 Ne5 27. Qxf6 Qe3 28. Kb1 Ng4 29. Qf5 Nh6 30. Qf6 Ng4 31. Qf5 1/2-1/2, Garcia, Gildardo (COL) 2540 – Illescas, Cordoba Miguel (ESP) 2590, Linares 1994 It]
22. Rh3N After 22 moves, finally a new move. We now have an extremely sharp position.
[22. g4 Kh8 23. Nf5 Nxf5 24. gxf5 Rfd8 25. Bh5 e3 26. Rhg1 Rxd1 27. Bxd1 Rg8 28. Rxg8 Kxg8 29. Qxe3 Qc6 30. h5 b4 31. h6 bxc3 32. bxc3 Bc8 33. Qd4 Bd7 34. Bb3 1/2-1/2, Zaverniaev, V – Pankratov, Valery (RUS), corr. 1997]
22... Kh8 23. Bg4 Rg8 24. Ne6? Blocking Black's queen from defending f6 is a good idea, but this is the wrong piece.
[24. Be6 Rg7 25. Rg3 Rxg3 26. fxg3 Ng8 27. Qf4 Rf8 28. Bf5 b4 29. cxb4 Qxb4 30. Bxe4 Bxe4 31. Qxe4 Chances here seem to be about equal]
24... Rg6.
[Not 24... fxe6?? 25. Qxf6 Rg7 26. Rd7 Rbg8 27. Bxe6 Nd5 28. Qe5 Qxe6 This is the only way Black can avoid immediate, total disaster. 29. Qxe6 Bc8 30. Rg3 Bxd7 31. Qxd5 White wins]
25. Qf4 Re8?? Oops! Kramnik squanders the one chance he had in the game.
[25... Bd5! 26. Bh5 Bxe6 27. Bxg6 Nxg6 28. Qxf6 Kg8 29. Re3 (Going after the knight fails. 29. Rg3? Qa5 30. h5 Bb3 31. Kd2 Rd8 32. Ke3 Rxd1 33. h6 Re1 34. Kd2 Kf8 35. Rxg6 hxg6 36. h7 Rh1 37. h8=Q Rxh8 38. Qxh8 Ke7 39. Qh4 f6 40. Qxe4 Kf7 White has no perpetual check. Black's extra bishop will win) 29... Qa5 30. Rxe4 Bb3 31. Rd6 Qa1 32. Kd2 Qxb2 33. Ke3 h5 34. Rd8 Rxd8 35. Qxd8 Kh7 36. Qd2 White's attack has come to an end and he has to offer a trade of queens to save his king. The bishop and knight for a rook give Black a clear advantage]
26. Rd6 Except for Kramnik's game ending oops, every move from here on for both sides is forced. Did Kasparov calculate it all out from here? 26... Nd5 "You attack mine, I'll attack yours."
27. h5!! I'll bet Kramnik didn't expect this spectacular intermezzo.
[Kramnik likely expected the obvious, 27. Rxb6 leading to an even position. 27... Nxf4 28. Nxf4 Rxg4 29. Rxf6 Re7 30. Kd2 Kg7 31. Nh5 Kf8 32. Nf4 Kg7 33. Nh5=]
27... Nxf4 28. hxg6 Qxd6 Black is a queen up and White has two pieces hanging, yet White is winning!
[28... Rxe6? 29. Rxh7 Kg8 30. gxf7 Kxh7 (30... Kf8? 31. Rh8 Kxf7 32. Bxe6 Nxe6 33. Rxb6 White is up two exchanges) 31. Rxb6 Kg7 32. Bxe6 Nxe6 33. Rxe6 Kxf7 34. Rb6 White is an exchange up and will win the a-pawn].
29. Rxh7 Kg8 30. gxf7 Kxh7 31. fxe8=Q Nxe6 32. Bf5! Better than just taking the knight. 32... Kg7 33. Qg6 Kf8 34. Qxf6 Ke8 35. Bxe6 White has regained all of his material plus a pawn. Kasparov's extra and passed pawn plus safer king should win anyway, but Kramnik's next move is one of the worst played by a World Champion.
35... Qf8?? Oops! Kramnik realizes the blunder he made and resigned before Kasparov could respond.
[Playable is 35... e3 36. fxe3 Bxg2 37. Bf7 Kd7 38. Be8 Kc7 39. Qg7 Kd8 40. Bxb5 axb5 41. Qxg2 Though the open position gives Kramnik some hope for a perpetual, Kasparov is definitely winning]
[...]
[If the game had continued... 36. Bd7! Kxd7 37. Qxf8 The end!]
[1:0]
Thanks Matt Kolasinski for suggesting this great game!
The Right Frame Of Mind
By Matt Grinberg, 4/15/2014
Last week at the club Dan Parrish beat me decisively. I was on the White side of an Open Sicilian. Dan played the standard equalizing move, d5. Instead of doing something simple and obvious, leading to an equal game, I did something cute and dumb. Immediately upon releasing the piece I realized that the move led to the loss of a knight for a pawn. Instead of calmly assessing the situation and looking for good moves, which might have saved the game, I freaked out. Instead of looking for strong moves to make the most of the situation, I focused on trying to avoid exchanges by retreating my pieces and trying to "make something happen" by making weakening pawn moves. The result was that my position quickly went downhill against Dan's expert play. In a position that was already beyond hope, I hung my queen.
After the game Dan revealed that it was not until the last few moves that he realized he was a knight up! Dan misunderstood the position, but played strong moves and won the game because he was in the right frame of mind. I understood the position but lost because I was in the wrong frame of mind. This brought back to mind a game I played at the Arlington Chess Club 27 years ago. In this game I not only was down in material, but I didn't even realize that I was down in material. Yet with a confident frame of mind, I consistently found good moves and ended up winning the game! It taught me a lesson it would have been well to remember last Thursday.
What I show in these notes is not an objective analysis of the game, but rather what I was thinking during the game. The lesson here is not the moves on the board, but rather the moves in my brain.
Long, Dave - Grinberg, Matthew M., 0-1
Arlington Chess Club, Ladder, 2003
Arlington, VA
Ruy Lopez, Breyer Defense
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5!? This is considered to be premature, but I have a pet line in mind.
[The normal Closed Ruy Lopez is 5... Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 White has a small edge.]
6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Dave allows a transposition back to normal lines.
[My pet line: 7. Ng5 d5 8. exd5 Nd4 9. Re1 Bc5 10. Rxe5!? (The safe alternative is 10. d3 O-O=) 10... Kf8 Yes, Black is down two pawns and has lost his castling privilege, but White's pieces are disorganized and vulnerable to attack. The position is quite unbalanced and unclear.]
7... Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 We are now back to the Closed Ruy Lopez.
9... Nb8 The Breyer Defense.
[More common is 9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Again, White has a small edge.]
10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 c5 13. d5 c4 14. Nf1 Qc7 15. Ne3 Rfc8 Since I have more space on the queen side, that is where I want to play. 16. Nf5 While Dave is looking for a king side attack.
16... Bf8 17. g4 a5 18. g5 Ne8 19. N3h4 b4 20. Qg4 Nc5 21. Be3 Nd3 I strike first.
22. Bxd3 bxc3!
[I could play 22... cxd3 23. cxb4 axb4 24. Bd2 Qb6 25. Qf3 Ba6 but I was looking for more.]
23. Rac1
[If 23. Bc2 cxb2 24. Rab1 c3 then I would have two connected passed pawns on the 6th and 7th ranks. I figured that was more than enough for the knight I gave up.]
23... cxb2!
[I could play 23... cxd3 24. Rxc3 Qb8 25. Rxd3 Ba6 26. Rd2 I might have compensation for the pawn because my rook and queen are lined up on the open b and c files, but it is not clear.]
24. Rxc4 Qxc4! I am perfectly happy to give up my queen for a rook, bishop and a passed pawn on the 7th rank.
25. Bxc4 Rxc4 26. Rb1 Dave prefers getting rid of my passed pawn to making an effort to hold his center pawns.
[26. Qg2 Ra4 27. Rb1 Rxa2 The passed pawns should win.]
26... Bxd5 27. Rxb2 Rxe4 28. Qh5? Desperate to get some counter play, Dave plays his queen into a tight corner.
[He still has a decent position after 28. Qd1 Be6 29. f3 Rc4 30. Bf2]
28... g6 29. Nh6 Bxh6 30. Qxh6 Rb4 31. Rc2 Rb1 32. Bc1 Losing the a-pawn, but there is no way to hold it anyway.
32... Bxa2 33. Rxa2 Rxc1 34. Kg2 Rc4 35. Nf3 Ng7 36. Nh4 a4 37. Ra3 Rf4 38. Kf1 Rb8 39. Rc3 Ra8 40. Ng2? Apparently he decided it was better to give up his useless queen for an active rook than to effectively be a queen down.
[40. Ra3 probably loses because he can never get his queen into play, but at least it doesn't give up the queen.]
40... Nf5! 41. Nxf4 Nxh6 42. gxh6 exf4 43. Ra3 At this point I stopped to assess the position. I looked at the captured pieces beside the board. "Let's see, in the early middle game I gave up my queen for a rook and a minor piece. I just won his queen for a rook. That means I am now ahead a minor piece, right? So where is my extra piece?" I didn't see it beside the board. "Is it on the board? Nope, it's not there either. What's going on here?" I went back over my score sheet and suddenly realized I gave up a knight with my 21st through 23rd moves and had completely forgotten about it. "Gad! I played the whole game down a queen for a rook!" That was a kick in the stomach! I suddenly thought I must be losing. But looking back at the board I saw that I was three pawns up.
43... g5 44. Kg2 f6 45. Kf3 Kf7 46. Kg4 Kg6 47. h4 Ra5 48. hxg5 fxg5 49. Rd3 Kxh6 50. Rxd6 Kg7 51. Rd7 Kf6 52. Rxh7 a3 53. Rh6 Ke5
[0:1]
Dave resigned. His rook will be forced to go back to a1 to stop my a-pawn. With his rook effectively out of the game, it will be an easy win.
Duking It Out In 1834,
Alexander MacDonnell (Ireland) and Louis De La Bourdonnais (France)
By Matt Grinberg, 6/25/2023
In 1834 the two leading chess players, Alexander MacDonnell (Ireland) and Louis De La Bourdonnais (France), played what could be considered the first World Chess Championship. Okay, the official World Championship didn't start until Wilhelm Steinitz defeated Johannes Zukertort in 1886, but if there had been a World Chess Federation and World Chess Championship in 1834, this would have been it.
They played a series of 6 matches, though the last one was not completed. MacDonnell won the second match and was leading in the unfinished match. The overall game score was De La Bourdonnais 47, draw 13, MacDonnell 27. De La Bourdonnais clearly established himself as the best player of the time.
I have used some of the comments from this site. When I do, I put the comment in quotes. I note that some of the comments are by Howard Staunton, also one of the best players of that period. His comments come from the "Chess Player's Chronicle" published in 1843.
The outstanding thing about this game is that De La Bourdonnais sacrifices his queen to get three connected passed pawns on the seventh rank. What reminded me of this game is my article "Most Promoted Pawns in a Game" a few weeks ago where the winner missed a similar opportunity to have three connected passed pawns on the seventh rank.
This has been described as the first great chess game. I was aware of it and the way it ended a long time ago. But I never thoroughly checked it out until now. Wow! Not only was it the first great chess game, but I would say it is still among the top ten.
Okay, I admit I did this game for the newsletter before, but I think this is a better version.
McDonnell, Alexander - De La Bourdonnais, Luis, 0-1
MacDonnell - De La Bourdonnais Match 4, Round 16
London, England, 1834
Sicilian Defence, Löwenthal Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 This is certainly aggressive and forces the knight off its strong position, but Black is left with a backward d-pawn and has ceded control of d5 to White.
5. Nxc6!? "This is not so good as retiring the Knight" (Staunton)." Perhaps true, but retreating would give away White's opening advantage. The main problem with the move is that it returns the advantages White gained from Black's last move without getting anything in return. Black's d-pawn is no longer backward and after recapturing with the c-pawn, he will be able to fight for control of d5.
[This is best and the standard line today 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5 Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 Black has the bishop pair and an extra center pawn, but his d-pawn is backward and White has it blocked with his knight. White has his normal opening advantage. To give you an idea of how popular this line has become, in my Huge Base there are over 5,000 games that reach this position!]
5... bxc6 The dominance of Blacks center pawns, that will ultimately decide the game, is beginning to take shape.
6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Bg5?! He is fighting for control of d5, but at the same time he leaves his e-pawn undefended.
[Either 7. O-O; or 7. Nc3 maintain equality]
7... Be7?! He renews the threat to the e-pawn, but this is a weak development for the bishop.
[It seems that both sides missed this move 7... Qa5!, checking, unpinning the knight and getting the queen active.
8. Bd2 This may be what discouraged De La Bourdonnais from playing Qa5, but he still ends up winning a pawn.
(Or 8. Qd2 Bb4! 9. c3 Nxe4 10. cxb4 Nxd2 11. Bxf7 Kxf7 12. bxa5 Nc4 13. b3
{13. b4 Trying to hold the a5-pawn is no better. 13... Ba6 14. O-O Nb2 15. Re1 Nd3 16. Rd1 d5 17. a3 d4 18. Nd2 c5
19. Nf3 Rhe8 20. bxc5 Rac8 21. Bd2 Nxc5 Black's strong center and White's doubled a-pawns give Black a clear advantage even if the material is even
(13... Nxa5 The extra pawn and the strong center give Black a strong advantage)}
8... Qb6 9. O-O Qd4 10. Bb3 Nxe4 In spite of Black's lack of development, his extra pawn and strong center give him the advantage.
Another game from the MacDonnell - De La Bourdonnais match that takes a different path. 7... Bc5 This is not as strong as 7... Qa5, but at least it is a better place for the bishop than e7. 8. O-O h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nc3 a5 11. Kh1 d6 12. Qd2 g5 13. Rad1 Ke7 14. Na4 Bd4 15. Qd3 h5 16. Qb3 h4 17. f3 h3 18. g3 Bd7 19. c3 Rab8 20. Qc2 Ba7 21. Qd2 Rhg8 22. b3 Rbd8 23. Nb2 Rg7 24. Be2 Qg6 25. Nc4 Bc5 26. Nxa5 Rb8 27. b4 Bb6 28. Nc4 Qf6 29. Nxd6 Rgg8 30. Nxf7 Be6 31. Nd6 Rgd8 32. c4 Bxc4 33. Bxc4 Rxd6 34. Qxd6 Qxd6 35. Rxd6 Kxd6 36. Rb1 Bd4 37. Bf1 Ra8 38. Bxh3 Rxa2 39. Bg2 Rb2 40. Rxb2 Bxb2 41. Bf1 Ke6 42. Kg2 Kf6 43. Kh3 Bc3 44. b5 cxb5 45. Bxb5 Bd4 46. Kg4 Be3 47. h4 gxh4 48. Kxh4 Bc5 49. Kg4 Bf2 50. f4 Bd4 51. Kf3 Bc3 52. Kg4 Bd4 53. Kh5 Bf2 54. Kg4 Bd4 55. Bd3 Be3 56. Kf3 Bd2 1/2-1/2, MacDonnell, Alexander (ENG) - De La Bourdonnais, Louis C (FRA), London (England) 1834]
8. Qe2!? Allowing Black to play d5 is not good. He was concerned about his e-pawn, but there is better way to handle it.
[8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. O-O White has a small edge because he still blocks Black from playing d5]
8... d5N The domination of the center by Black's pawns starts to take shape.
9. Bxf6!? Now that Black has played d5, exchanging his bishop for a knight is pointless.
[Better is 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7=]
9... Bxf6 10. Bb3 O-O 11. O-O a5 12. exd5 cxd5 In addition to the bishop pair, De La Bourdonnais has two center pawns to none for MacDonnell.
13. Rd1 d4 14. c4!? "Queen's Bishop's Pawn one square [i.e. 14.c3] would have been better play (Staunton)". MacDonnell had two pawns to challenge Black's center. Now he has only one, his f-pawn.
[Either 14. Nc3; or 14. c3 is better]
14... Qb6 15. Bc2 Bb7
[15... Qxb2?? 16. Bxh7 wins]
16. Nd2 Rae8! Though this blocks in his king rook, it is best because he eventually plans to use it to support the advance of his f-pawn to support the advance of the e-pawn.
[16... Qxb2!? while playable is still not best. 17. Qd3 The threats of 18. Qxh7# and 18. R(d)b1 winning the queen, force Black to return the pawn giving up on of his strong center pawns. 17... e4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 g6=]
17. Ne4 Bd8 Black is now ready to advance his f-pawn supporting his center pawns.
18. c5 White starts his own passed pawn marching. 18... Qc6
[18... Qxb2? 19. Nf6 Kh8 (19... gxf6? 20. Bxh7 Kxh7 21. Qxb2 White is up a queen for two bishops) 20. Nxe8 Rxe8 White is an exchange up]
19. f3 Be7 20. Rac1 f5! His plan of rolling up the center with his pawns continues.
21. Qc4 Kh8!
[21... Qd5?! 22. Bb3 Qxc4 23. Bxc4 Kh8 24. Nd6 Bxd6 25. cxd6 Rd8 26. f4 Rxd6 27. fxe5 With Black's center pawns broken up, White is better]
22. Ba4!? When your opponent begs you to play what looks like a strong move, you should be dubious.
[22. Nd6! is best. 22... Bxd6 23. Ba4 Qxc5 24. Qxc5 Bxc5 25. Bxe8 Bb6 26. Bb5 e4 This unbalanced position is roughly equal]
22... Qh6 "Black's play from this point to the end of the game is well deserving attention (Staunton)."
23. Bxe8 fxe4 24. c6 exf3! 25. Rc2 This move is critical to the defense of his king. "If White had ventured to take the bishop, 25.cxb7, he would have been mated by force in five or six moves (Staunton)".
[25. cxb7?? Qe3 26. Kh1 fxg2 27. Kxg2 Rf2 28. Kg1 Rxb2 29. Kh1 Qf3 30. Kg1 Qg2#
(25... Qe3?! This is certainly the obvious move, but it actually turns the game in White's favor.
{Okay, he was playing for a win. But the best he has at this point is a draw.})
(25... f2! 26. Rxf2 White can't avoid the draw.
{26. Kh1?? Bxc6 27. Bxc6 Qxc6!! 28. Rf1 Qxc4 29. Rxc4 Bb4 30. g3 Be1 Material is even, but Black's three connected passed pawns will win};
{26. Kf1?? Qxh2 27. Rxf2 Rxf2 28. Kxf2 Bh4 29. Ke2 Qxg2 30. Kd3 Bf6 31. Re1 e4 32. Rxe4 Qf3 33. Kc2 Qxe4 34. Qd3 Qg2 35. Kd1 Bxc6 Black wins}
26... Rxf2 27. cxb7
{or 27. Kxf2 Qxh2 28. cxb7 Qf4 29. Kg1 Qe3 30. Kh2 (30. Kf1 Qf4 31. Kg1 Qe3 Draw)
30... Qh6 31. Kg1 Qe3 Draw}
27... Qe3 28. Kh1 Rxg2 29. Bc6 Rxh2 30. Kxh2 Qf4 31. Kg1 Qg3 32. Kf1 {32. Bg2 Qe3 33. Kf1 Qf4 34. Kg1 Qe3 Draw}
32... Qf4 33. Ke2 Qe3 34. Kf1 Qf4 Draw)].
26. Kh1? Up to here the game has gone back and forth. Both made missteps, but there have been no clear mistakes. This mistake leaves White in a very difficult position, though there still may be drawing chances. Yes, it is nice to get the king off the line of Black's queen, but now the king is stuck in the corner where it is vulnerable to mate and can no longer help defend against the advancing pawns.
[Better is 26. Rf2 Bc8 (Or 26... fxg2 27. Qe2 Qxe2 28. Rxe2 Bc8 29. Bd7 Bf6 30. Kxg2 White is up an exchange for a pawn and 30... Bxd7 31. cxd7 Rd8 fails to 32. Rc1) 27. Bd7 Bxd7 28. cxd7 h6 29. Qd3 Rd8 30. gxf3 Black's pawns have been stymied and he doesn't have enough for an exchange]
26... Bc8!? This is good.
[But 26... d3! is even better. 27. Qxd3 Qxd3 28. Rxd3 f2 29. Rxf2 Rxf2 30. Rd1 Ba6 Black is up a bishop for a pawn and still has a strong attack]
27. Bd7 f2 Black now has three connected passed pawns. The fact that they dominate the center makes them even stronger. The fact that White is up an exchange for a pawn is almost meaningless.
28. Rf1 d3 29. Rc3? This is a serious strategic mistake.
[He should give back the exchange in order to get bishops of opposite color. The strength of Black's pawns plus having major pieces still on the board means that Black will likely win, but it al least gives White some hope. 29. Bxc8 dxc2 30. Ba6 Bd6 31. Qxc2 e4 32. Qc3 Qh6 Sorry, no queen trade. 33. Qh3 Qf4 Ditto. Material is even and the opposite color bishops make it difficult for Black to find a win, but the beastly pawn on f2 and White's king being stuck in the corner make White's defense very difficult]
29... Bxd7 30. cxd7? Any hope of saving the game is gone with this move. The main threat to White is the advance of the central pawns not the bishop.
[Though Black should win, it is still a difficult game after 30. Rxd3 Be6! 31. Qc2 Qb6 32. Rdd1 Bc5 33. c7 Be3]
30... e4 With all three of Black's passed pawns now secure, the end it in sight.
31. Qc8! White tries to distract Black from his attack. 31... Bd8? He succeeds! This is the wrong piece.
[31... Rd8! easily secures the win. 32. Rcc1 d2 33. Rcd1 Qe1 34. Qc3 The queen is forced to come back to defend anyway. 34... e3 35. Rfxe1 fxe1=Q 36. Rxe1 Bb4 37. Qxd2 exd2 38. Rd1 Rxd7 Black wins]
32. Qc4?? But he squanders what he gained from his last move. After this blunder he is not just lost, he is dead.
[32. Qc5 keeps him in the game for a while. 32... Qxc5 33. Rxc5 e3 34. Re5 e2 35. Rxf2 Kg8 36. Re8 e1=R 37. Rxe1 Rxf2 38. Kg1 Rf8 Black wins 39. g3 Bb6 40. Kh1 d2 41. Rd1 Rf2 42. Kg1 Rf7 43. Kg2 Rxd7 etc. [32... Qe1! 33. Rc1 d2 34. Qc5 Rg8 He is actually forced into playing a little defense! 35. Rd1 e3 36. Qc3 [Giving the king some breathing room works no better. 36. h3 e2 37. Rdxe1 dxe1=Q 38. Rxe1 fxe1=Q 39. Kh2 Qf1 40. Qc3 e1=Q 41. Qxe1 Qxe1 42. g3 Qf2 43. Kh1 Bb6 44. b3 Qg1#] 36... Qxd1! 37. Rxd1 e2! The dreaded three connected passed pawns on the seventh - MacDonnell sees mate coming and resigns. "Kasparov notes it is enormously regrettable that both these outstanding players died soon after, while still relatively young. They are buried near one another in Kensal Green Cemetery, where amongst others they join Charles Babbage, the Victorian computer scientist whose difference engine was a forerunner of the modern chess engine that so enhances an appreciation of their remarkable game."
[...]
[The conclusion would be 38. h4 exd1=Q 39. Kh2 f1=Q 40. Qc4 Qxc4 41. g3 Qde2 42. Kh1 d1=Q#]
[0:1]
One more note before signing off - One night about 50 years ago at the Arlington Chess Club in Arlington, Virginia, I and some other folks were watching the only game still in progress. In the endgame Black had two connected passed pawns on the sixth and seemed likely to win. But he fumbled it away and eventually lost.
When the game was over, one of the spectators asked, "How could you lose with two connected passed pawns on the sixth?"
He responded, "On the whole I prefer three connected passed pawns on the seventh."
I immediately thought of the MacDonnell - De La Bourdonnais game and his response has been stuck in my brain ever since.
Most Pawn Promotions in a Game
By Matt Grinberg, 6/5/2023
I often have strange chess thoughts. I was wondering to myself recently, "What's the most pawns ever promoted in a game?" Hence, this week’s article; it is a fascinating game with strategies and tactics you probably have not thought of before.
After a little checking I found this game in my Huge Base. Six pawns promote to queens during the game! Including the original two queens, that makes a total of 8 queens during the game, though no more than 3 are on the board at the same time.
The game starts as a Sicilian Dragon. As is usually true with amateurs playing extremely sharp lines, the game goes back and forth. But aside from the queening of 6 pawns, there is something else that makes this game great! White's 50th move that costs her the game is at the same time subtle, spectacular and instructive.
Kubikova, Alena (2082) - Novy, Vaclac (2098), 0-1
International Tournament, Round 9
Pilsen-Lobzy, Czech Republic, 2003
Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation
We start the game with two queens. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 The Dragon Variation is characterized by developing the f8-bishop on the long diagonal. Unlike in the Scheveningen Variation, in which the Black dark-square bishop sometimes remains passive for a long time, in the Dragon it is active from the opening, keeping under fire the white center and the queenside. 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Developing his bishop to an active position on the a2-g8 diagonal, White prevents the d6-d5 advance and plans a queenside castling followed by a kingside attack involving h2-h4-h5 and Be3-h6. In his turn, Black tries to create counterplay on the queenside.
[The main alternative is 9. O-O-O but that allows 9... d5 Either line gets very messy with both sides attacking the king castled on the opposite wing]
9... Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 h5 The Soltis Variation, named after American Grandmaster Andrew Soltis. This move cannot stop the opponent's attack because White would breakthrough with g2-g4 anyway, even at the cost of one or several pawns. Nevertheless, h7-h5 will slow down White's attack thus giving Black time for his counter play on the queenside.
[12... Nc4 Forces White to trade a bishop for a knight, but also allows White to strike faster on the kingside 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. g4 Nf6 16. Bh6 (16. Nde2 first is safer) 16... Nxe4! It's getting wild!]
13. Kb1 White is playing it safe by getting the king off the half open c-file.
[More aggressive moves are 13. Bg5; or 13. Bh6]
13... a5!? Now we are getting a little off track. I am not even sure what the point of this is. A more common plan for Black going after White's queenside in the Dragon is a6, b5, b4.
[The usual move is 13... Nc4 as in the following GM game. 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15. Nde2 Qc7 16. Bd4 Be6 17. b3 Rc6 18. Nb5 Qd7 19. Bb2 Rfc8 20. c4 Rc5 21. Nxa7 Ra8 22. Nb5 d5 23. cxd5 Rxd5 24. Nbd4 Rd6 25. Qe3 Ne8 26. Rd2 Qd8 27. Rhd1 Qa5 28. Nc3 Bd7 29. Qg5 b5 30. a3 Bf6 31. Qc5 Rc8 32. Qb4 Qxb4 33. axb4 Nc7 34. g3 Bxd4 35. Rxd4 Rxd4 36. Rxd4 Be6 37. Kc2 Na6 38. Bc1 f6 39. Kb2 Rb8 40. Bf4 Rb7 41. Rd8 Kg7 42. Ka3 Nc5 43. Be3 Nd7 44. f4 Nb8 45. Bc5 Nc6 46. Ra8 Kf7 47. Ra6 Bd7 48. Kb2 Nb8 49. Ra1 Bc6 50. e5 fxe5 51. fxe5 Ke6 52. Re1 Nd7 53. Bd4 Bf3 54. Re3 Bg4 55. Ne4 Kd5 56. Bc3 Rb8 57. e6 Bxe6 58. Nf2 Bf5 59. Rxe7 Kd6 60. Re1 Rf8 61. Bd4 Kc6 62. Nd1 Bg4 63. Nc3 Rf3 64. Ra1 Rd3 65. Ra6 Kb7 66. Rd6 Rxg3 67. Rxg6 Rh3 68. Nxb5 Rxh4 69. Nd6 Kc7 70. b5 Rh2 71. Ka3 Bf3 72. b6 Kd8 73. Be3 Ne5 74. Rg7 Rg2 75. b7 1-0, Bruzon, Lazaro (CUB) 2692 - Cmilyte, Viktorija (LTU) 2524, Wijk aan Zee (Netherlands) 2012.01.20]
14. Bg5 Rc5 15. g4?! Now it is White who gets off track giving away her advantage.
[Both 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. f4; and 15. a4 Nh7 16. Bf4 maintain a small advantage for White]
15... hxg4 16. f4N= This is a novelty in this position, but seems best.
[Here is an alternative that didn't work well. 16. h5 Nxh5 17. Rxh5 gxh5 18. Qh2 Rxc3 19. bxc3 a4 20. Bd5 Qb6 21. Kc1 e6 22. Nf5 exf5 23. Qxh5 Nxf3 24. Rh1 Nxg5 25. Qxg5 Re8 26. Rh8 Kxh8 27. Qh5 Kg8 28. Qxf7 Kh7 29. Qh5 Bh6 0-1, Weidemann, Christian (GER) 2344 - Nordsieck, Thomas (GER) 2335, Telgte 1990 Ch NRW (juniors) (under 20)]
16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. e5 Bc6 19. Nxc6 Rxc6? Not best.
[19... bxc6 Strengthens his center and keeps the rook more active]
20. exf6 White has a strong attack even though she has to give back the extra piece.
[Even better is 20. f5! Rxc3! (If Black retreats his knight, White will play the strong 21. Nd5) 21. Qxc3 Ne4 Now it is Black that gets the strong knight move, but it is not enough for an exchange. 22. Qe3 Nxg5 23. Qxg5 gxf5 24. Qxf5 Qc8 25. Qg5 dxe5 26. h5 Kh7 27. Qxe7 Qe6 28. Qxb7 White is a full exchange up]
20... exf6 21. Nd5 fxg5 22. hxg5 The opening of the h-file does not bode well for Black. 22... Rc5?
[Clearing an escape path for his king is better. 22... Re8 23. Qh2 Kf8 24. Qh7 Rc8 25. Rhe1 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Rc4 27. b3 Rxf4 28. Nxf4 Qxg5 29. Rf1 Bf6 (29... Qf6?? 30. Nxg6 Ke8 31. Rxf6 Bxf6 White wins) 30. Nd3 Qh4 31. Qxh4 Bxh4 With a rook and a knight for a bishop and three pawns, White will win]
23. Nf6 Bxf6 24. Qh2 Re8 25. Qh7 Kf8 26. gxf6 Qxf6 27. Qh8! Whether Black takes the queen or not he ends up losing a rook. 27... Ke7 "Which rook should I play to e1?" 28. Rde1? Unfortunately this is the wrong one. It would be better to get both rooks centralized.
[28. Rhe1 Re5 29. Rxe5! Qxe5 (or 29... dxe5 30. Rd7 This is the key reason it was best to leave the rook on d1. 30... Kxd7 31. Qxf6 exf4 32. Kc1 Re7 33. Qg5 Re6 34. Qxg4 White wins) 30. Qxe8 Kxe8 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Re1 f6 33. Re4 White will win one of the pawns and the game]
28... Re5 29. Qxf6 Kxf6 30. fxe5 dxe5 White still has an advantage, but is it enough to win? This endgame is so wild and unusual that I don't think the computer gets it much better than me. But we did our best.
31. Kc1? Maybe not now. Yes, she needs to get her king into play, but there is a more important matter.
[It would be better to play something more aggressive 31. Rh7 By attacking the f-pawn and indirectly attacking the b-pawn, this forces Black to waste a move defending his f-pawn before he can get his kingside pawns rolling]
31... Kg5 32. Rh7 Now this is a move late, but there is nothing better. 32... f5! Black recognizes that getting his own pawns rolling is much more important than defending the b-pawn. 33. Rxb7 g3 34. Kd2 Kg4 35. Rb3?? Trying to defend against the phalanx of pawns is futile.
[She has to get her own pawns marching forward. 35. b4 axb4 36. Rxb4 f4 37. a4 g2 38. Ke2 From the human point of view, this is as clear as mud. The computer comes up with the following draw. 38... Rc8 39. c4 Kg3 40. Rb3 Kh2 41. Kf3 Rxc4 42. Re2 Kh1 43. Rb1 g1=Q 44. Rxg1 Kxg1 45. Rxe5 Rxa4 46. Rg5 Kf1 47. Rxg6 Rb4 48. Rf6 Ke1 49. Rxf4=]
35... f4 36. c4 e4 37. c5 e3 38. Kd3?
[Giving back the extra rook is a little better, but still loses. 38. Rbxe3 fxe3 39. Ke2 g2 40. c6 Rc8 41. a3 Kg3 42. b4 Rxc6 43. b5 Rb6 44. Rb1 Kh2 45. Kxe3 Rxb5 46. Rxb5 g1=Q Black wins]
38... Rd8? Good enough.
[But 38... g2 wins faster. 39. Rb6 g5 40. Rh6 f3 41. Rh2 e2 42. Kd4 Rd8 43. Ke4 Rd1 44. Rxe2 g1=Q Black wins]
39. Ke4 g2 40. c6 e2 41. c7 Rc8 42. Rc3 f3 43. Ke3 Kg3 44. Rc5? White gives up what little fighting chance she had.
[44. Rb1 g5 45. a4 g4 46. b3 Rxc7 47. Rxc7 f2 48. Kxe2 g1=Q 49. Rcc1 Qg2 Though Black is winning, it will take some work]
44... Re8 45. Kd2
45... Kf2??? The game flips on its head!!! Now it's White that's winning!!!
[45... f2! Three connected passed pawns on the seventh rank as in MacDonnell, Alexander - De La Bourdonnais, Louis C, Round 16, London, 1834. If you have never checked it out, you should. 46. Rg5 Kf3 47. Rxg2 Kxg2 48. c8=R fxe1=Q 49. Kxe1 Rxc8 Black wins]
46. c8=Q Queen #3. 46... Rxc8 47. Rxc8 g1=Q Queen #4. 48. Rxg1 Kxg1 49. Rc1 Kf2 White's king is stuck on d2 and the rook is stuck on the first rank. Meanwhile Black has a passed g-pawn that will inevitably queen costing White her rook. The only way for White to stay in the game is to advance her queen pawns to create a passed pawn of her own. She tries the normal plan for creating a passed pawn with this kind of pawn structure. But this is not the normal kind of position where you are trying to create a passed pawn for strategic purposes - to tie up your opponent's pieces. This is a position where the object is tactical - create a passed pawn and promote it before your opponent promotes his own. When you have a race between passed pawns the most important factor is time - you have to promote your pawn as quickly as possible.
50. b3??? The game flips on its head again!!! She tries the normal plan for creating a passed pawn with this kind of pawn structure - b3, a3, b4 which takes 4 moves to create a passed pawn. But with correct play it can be done in three moves. The single lost tempo turns the position from a clear win for White to a clear win for Black.
[Correct is 50. a4! g5 51. b4! the tactical way to victory! 51... g4 52. bxa5 g3 53. a6 g2 54. a7 g1=Q 55. Rxg1 Kxg1 56. a8=Q e1=Q (Or 56... f2 57. Qg8 Kf1 58. Qc4 Kg1 59. Qxe2 f1=Q 60. Qxf1 Kxf1 61. a5 White wins) 57. Kxe1 f2 58. Kd2 f1=Q With both sides having a queen and White's lone pawn an a-pawn, it looks like Black has good drawing chances. But Black can't avoid a trade of queens when the a-pawn will win. 59. Qg8 Kh2 60. Qh7 Kg1 (Or 60... Kg2 61. Qe4 Kg1 62. Qe1 Qxe1 63. Kxe1 White wins) 61. Qg6 Kh2 62. Qh5 Kg2 63. Qe2 Qxe2 64. Kxe2 White wins]
50... g5 51. a3
[Getting the rook active in the defense allows White to last a little longer, but there is still nothing she can do to stop the three connected passed pawns. 51. Rh1 g4 52. Rh2 Kf1 53. Rh1 Kg2 54. Rh8 g3 55. Ke1 f2 56. Kxe2 f1=Q Black wins]
51... g4 From here on both sides play pretty much the best moves. Black plays the moves that mate fastest, while White plays the moves that put off mate as long as possible. It is just a matter of time before White is mated or throws in the towel. In only three of the last 21 moves played by the two sides did the move played differ from the move recommended by the computer. In none of the three cases did the move have any impact on the outcome. 52. b4 axb4 53. axb4 g3 54. b5 g2 55. b6 g1=Q Queen #5. 56. Rxg1 Kxg1 57. b7 f2 58. b8=Q Queen #6 58... e1=Q Queen #7 59. Kc2 Qe2 60. Kc3 Qe3 61. Kb4 f1=Q Queen #8. The tempo White lost at move 50 in effect cost her two queens. Played correctly, White would have ended up a queen up. As it is she is a queen down. The is no hope for a perpetual check, so White resigned. [...]
[The conclusion would be 62. Qg8 Qg2 63. Qxg2 Getting one of the queens off the board is the best she can do. 63... Kxg2 64. Kb5 Qe6 65. Kc5 Kf3 66. Kd4 Ke2 67. Kc3 Qg4 68. Kb2 Qb4 69. Ka1 Kd3 70. Ka2 Kc3 71. Ka1 Qb2#]
[0:1]
Development!
By Matt Grinberg, 3/13/2023
We all know the importance of developing our pieces quickly to active positions in the opening and that you should not move a developed piece a second time while you still have undeveloped pieces. But even strong players sometimes forget.
I was looking at my database the other day and came across this cute game. I beat my near master opponent in just 17 moves! Black only makes only one big mistake, but it results from not only his failure to actively develop his pieces, but also backing up the pieces he has already developed.
Grinberg, Matthew (2018) - Hoo, Bing (2185), 1-0
US Open, Round 10
Somerset, New Jersey, 8/13/1986
Sicilian Defense, Paulsen Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 Paulsen Variation. This opening system, introduced into practice by Louis Paulsen, a famous German player of the 19th century, is characterized by the black pawn moves e7-e6 and a7-a6, with the d-pawn being delayed at d7. As is true of most lines against the Open Sicilian, Black's goal is to set up a solid position where his extra center pawn will give him an advantage as pieces are traded off.
5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. f4 d6 10. Bf3 Rd8 Since White is going for a kingside attack, the rook should stay on f8. I would not say this is a mistake, but it is the start of a series of moves where he seems to be more interested in rearranging his already developed pieces than in completing his development. Clearly, I am not the only person who finds this move odd because in the 620 games in my database that reach the position before this move, Rd8 is only played 5 times.
[By far the most popular, and probably best, move is Nc6 as in this draw between GM Nigel Short and former World Champion Gary Kasparov. 10... Nc6 11. Kh1 Bd7 12. g4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc6 14. g5 Nd7 15. Bg2 b5 16. a3 a5 17. Qe2 Rab8 18. b4 Rfe8 19. Rad1 Bf8 20. Rd3 e5 21. Be3 exf4 22. Bxf4 Ne5 23. Rh3 Bd7 24. Nd5 Qc4 25. Qxc4 Nxc4 26. Rd3 a4 27. h4 Rbc8 28. h5 Bg4 29. Bf3 Bxf3 30. Rdxf3 Rxe4 31. Nc3 d5 32. Nxb5 d4 33. Rd1 Ne5 34. Rff1 Rxc2 35. Nxd4 Rc4 36. Bxe5 Rxe5 37. Nf3 Re8 1/2-1/2, Short Nigel D (ENG) 2660 - Kasparov Garry (RUS) 2770 , Amsterdam 1991 It (cat.16)]
11. Qe2 Bd7N Again I would not say this is a mistake, it does after all develop the bishop. However, it blocks his rook and weakens his defense of b7.
[Perhaps better is 11... Nbd7 which splits even in the following two games. 12. Rad1 (12. g4 Nb6 13. g5 Nfd7 14. Rad1 Nc4 15. Bc1 b5 16. Bg2 b4 17. Nb1 a5 18. Rf3 Bb7 19. Rh3 g6 20. b3 Ncb6 21. c4 Nc5 22. f5 exf5 23. Nxf5 Bf8 24. Bb2 Ne6 25. Qg4 Qc5 26. Kh1 Qf2 27. Bf6 Nf4 28. Bd4 gxf5 0-1, Arnason Jon L (ISL) 2497 - Oll Lembit (EST) 2600 , Helsinki 1991 It (cat.9)) 12... Rb8 13. a3 b5 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nc6 Bf8 16. Nxd8 Qxd8 17. fxe5 Ne8 18. Ba7 Rb6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. Kh1 Qc7 21. Rfe1 g6 22. Ne4 Nb6 23. c3 Nc4 24. Rd3 Qxe5 25. Rd8 Ncd6 26. Nxd6 Nxd6 27. Qxe5 1-0, Bauer Hans - Soelch Rudolf, Stade 1992 Ch Bahn (S)]
12. Qf2
[White could try to exploit the weakness of b7 with 12. e5!? but it leads to an equal game. 12... dxe5 13. fxe5 Qxe5! 14. Bxb7 Ng4 15. Nf3 Qxe3 16. Qxe3 Nxe3 17. Bxa8 Bc5 18. Kh1 Nxf1 19. Rxf1=]
12... Be8 Now we know the point of his last two moves. This unmasks the rook and defends f7. But this still does nothing about developing his queen rook and knight.
13. Rad1 In spite of his slow development he has a typical solid Open Sicilian position. If he develops his last two pieces, he is fine.
13... Nfd7?? What? With White ready to strike on the kingside he backs off from the defense. It's the other knight that should go here.
[Obviously 13... Nbd7 followed by Rc8 and White has only his normal opening advantage]
14. f5! Nf8? At least we now know what the point of his last move was. But he was lost anyway. All of White's pieces are poised for an attack on Black's king. The only pieces effectively defending are the two bishops and one knight. Generally, if you have three more pieces attacking your opponent's king than he has defending, you should have a forced mate. Here it's 7 to 3.
[The best try is to move the knight back where it belongs. But because that drops the e-pawn for nothing, White wins anyway. 14... Nf6 15. fxe6 Nc6 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Nf5 Nxf3 19. Qxf3 f6 20. Qf2 Black has no good defense to the threat of Bb6. If he moves the d8 rook to b8 or c8, Bb6 will win the bishop in e7. 20... b5 21. Bb6 Qb7 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 White is up an exchange and pawn and still has threats on the kingside]
15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Bg4 Qc4?
[Better but still losing is 16... Qd7 17. Nd5 There is no good defense to the threat of Nb6. 17... Bh5 He tries to deflect the bishop. 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. Bxh5 White is up two bishops for a knight and still has a strong attack]
17. Bg5! Black resigned. No matter what he does he loses massive material.
[Cuter, but not quite as good, is 17. Qxf8!? Bxf8 18. Bxe6 Bf7 19. Rxf7 Qxe6 20. Nxe6 Kxf7 21. Nxd8 White wins]
[...]
[For instance - 17... Qc7 18. Bxe6 Nxe6 19. Nxe6 White threatens the queen and mate in two on f8]
[1:0]
The Najdorf is Scary
By Matt Grinberg, 4/8/2023
I was looking at my old games recently and came across the game I won from IM Walter Morris (2440), the highest rated player I ever beat. Morris as Black played the Sicilian Najdorf Defense. I have long held that average players can’t play either side f the Najdorf without blundering as soon as they get out of book. Judging from this game, IMs don’t handle well either, hence “The Najdorf is Scary.”
This game was played in the ACC Quick Championship 2005 (G/15). [...] I belonged to the club for 40 years and played in many of their tournaments. I was looking forward to this tournament until I saw my first-round pairing - IM Walter Morris, the highest rated player. At least I had the White pieces.
The game "quickly" ended up in a Sicilian Najdorf. The Najdorf is one of the sharpest opening lines. Only masters can play this well. When average players, like me, play it they usually start blundering as soon as they get out of the book they know. It didn't look good for me.
Grinberg, Matthew (2012) - IM Morris, Walter (2440), 1-0
Arlington Chess Club Quick Championship, Round 1
Arlington, Virginia, 7/31/2005
Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bg5 a6 Najdorf Variation - It was named after the great Polish/Argentine player Miguel Najdorf. White has more space and more active pieces, but Black has a solid position and an extra center pawn. White has his normal opening advantage. 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Nc6 This is not bad, but it is a little unusual and already took me out of what I knew.
[The standard line is 8... Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 The two sides launch attacks on opposite sides of the board. 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13. f5! Yes, White gives up his g-pawn with check, but the position is extremely sharp with White still holding a small edge]
9. O-O-O White signals that he is going for a kingside attack. 9... Qc7 10. Be2!? Already I don't know what to do.
[White maintains his advantage after 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Ne4 O-O]
10... Nxd4
[The more common move is 10... Bd7 11. Kb1 O-O 12. Qg3 Rac8 13. Bh6 Ne8 14. f5 Nxd4 15. Rxd4 Bf6 16. Rc4 Bc6 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Bg4 Qe7 19. a4 Be5 20. Qh3 Nc7 21. Bc1 Rce8 22. Be2 Qd7 23. Rd1 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Rc5 dxc5 26. Rxd7 Bxd7 27. Qh5 Bd4 28. Nd1 Bc6 29. Bf3 e5 30. c3 Bg1 31. Be3 Bxe3 32. Nxe3 Rf4 33. Nf5 g6 34. Qh6 Ne6 35. Ng3 Rd8 36. Kc1 c4 37. Nf5 Rd7 38. Ne3 Bxe4 39. Ng4 Nc5 40. Nxe5 Nb3# 0-1, Garcia, Gildardo (COL) 2515 - Xu, Jun (CHN) 2540, Manila 1992 Olympiad]
11. Rxd4 O-O!? He castles into my attack!? Now I begin to think that I could win this game. Black's plan in open Sicilian positions like this is to counter White's kingside attack with a queenside attack. But in this game Morris never gets his queenside attack off the ground.
[Either of the following may be better, putting off the decision of what to do with his king until later:
11... b5 12. e5 Bb7 13. Qg3 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qxg7 O-O-O 18. Qg3 Rhg8 19. Qc3 Kb7 20. Bf3 Qg5 21. Qd2 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Bxf3 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. gxf3 Rd4 25. Rg1 Rf4 1/2-1/2, Hoepfl, Thomas (GER) 2357 – Kleinegger, Frank (GER) 2206, Dortmund 1992 It (Open);
11... h6 12. Bh4 Bd7 13. Rhd1 Bc6 14. Qg3 g5 15. fxg5 Rg8 16. Qe3 hxg5 17. Bg3 e5 18. R4d2 Rc8 19. Kb1 Bd7 20. h3 Be6 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Bf5 23. Bd3 Bg6 24. Qf3 Bd8 25. Rf1 Qe7 26. Qg4 Rc5 27. Bf5 b5 28. b3 Rg7 29. Qe4 Bxf5 30. Rxf5 f6 31. h4 Qf7 32. Bf2 Rc8 33. hxg5 Rxg5 34. Be3 Rxf5 35. Qxf5 Rc3 36. Bf2 Qd7 37. Qg6 Qf7 38. Qf5 Qd7 39. Qg6 Kf8 40. Kb2 b4 41. Be3 Qf7 42. Bh6 Ke8 43. Qe4 a5 44. g4 Bb6 45. Rh2 Rg3 46. Bc1 Qg8 47. Qf5 Rxg4 48. Qxf6 Rg6 49. Qf5 Kd8 50. Rh8 Qxh8 51. Qxg6 Bd4 52. Kb1 Qf8 53. Qd3 Qg7 54. Qa6 Qc7 55. Qa8 Kd7 56. Bg5 Qb6 57. Qg8 Bc3 58. Qf7 Kc8 59. Qe8 Kb7 60. Qd7 Qc7 61. Qb5 1/2-1/2, Almasi, Istvan (HUN) 2280 – Vasilchenko, Oleg (RUS) 2405, Budapest (Hungary) 1991].
12. f5N!? Yes, I have good attacking chances against his king, but it is a good idea to get all your pieces into play before striking.
[12. Rhd1! Ne8 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. e5 d5 15. f5 f6 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qxd5 Kh8 18. e6 g6 19. Qd8 Qxd8 20. Rxd8 Kg7 21. g4 Rb8 22. R1d3 Nc7 23. Bf3 Re8 24. R8d7 Bxd7 25. Rxd7 Kh6 26. Rxc7 gxf5 27. gxf5 Kg5 28. Bxb7 Kxf5 29. Bc6 Rg8 30. e7 Kf4 31. Ra7 f5 32. Rxa6 Ke3 33. Ra3 Ke2 34. Rg3 Rge8 35. Bxe8 Rxe8 36. Rg5 f4 37. Re5 Kf2 38. Kd2 f3 39. c4 Kf1 40. Ke3 f2 41. Kf3 Kg1 42. Rg5 Kf1 43. Rg2 Rxe7 44. Rxf2 Ke1 45. Rc2 1-0, Karjakin, Sergey (UKR) 2694 – Polgar, Judit (HUN) 2708, Bilbao 10/17/2007 It "Blindfold World Cup"]
12... Bd7N
[The immediate 12... b5 didn't work out well for GM Lubomir Kavalek in this game. 13. a3 Bb7 14. Qg3 Rac8 15. Bf3 Kh8 16. Rhd1 a5 17. e5 Nd5 18. Bxd5 dxe5 19. Rh4 e4 20. Qg4 exd5 21. f6 Qe5 22. Qh5 Qxg5 23. Qxg5 Bxf6 24. Qh5 Bxh4 25. Qxh4 b4 26. Nxd5 bxa3 27. bxa3 Rce8 28. Ne3 f5 29. Rd7 Bc8 30. Rc7 Be6 31. Qg5 Rg8 32. h4 h6 33. Qg6 f4 34. Rxg7 Rxg7 35. Qxe8 Bg8 36. Nf5 Rxg2 37. Qe5 Kh7 38. Qe7 Kg6 39. Qg7 Kxf5 40. Qxg2 Be6 41. Qh3 Ke5 42. Qc3 Kf5 43. Qxa5 Kg4 44. Qb6 Bf5 45. Qxh6 Kf3 46. Qg5 Bg4 47. h5 e3 48. h6 e2 49. Kd2 Kg3 50. Qxg4 1-0, Tatai, Stefano (ITA) 2430 - Kavalek, Lubomir (USA) 2565, Manila 1973 It]
13. Rhd1 Bc6 14. Qg3 e5?! He is trying to stop his kingside from being weakened, but this weakens his center.
[What he should do is play for an attack on the queenside. 14... b5! 15. Kb1 Rac8 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Bg4 Nxg4 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Qxg4 Rcd8= White's pressure on the center is strong, but Black has an extra center pawn and a bishop for a knight in an open position]
15. Rxd6? I am getting giddy with my attacking chances.
[Simply 15. Bxf6! Bxf6 16. Rxd6 wins a pawn, and he has nothing to show for it. I saw this idea but thought my "brilliant" exchange sacrifice would get me more]
15... Bxd6?? My next move is obvious. Did he really think he could survive, or did he completely miss it?
[With 15... Nxe4! he throws a monkey wrench into my plan and actually gains the advantage. This is the move I overlooked when playing my sacrifice. 16. Rxc6 (Or 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. R6d2 Bxf5 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 when he is a clear pawn up) 16... Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Qxc6 18. Nxe4 Qxe4 19. Bf3 f6 20. Bxe4 fxg5 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Bd5 Kh8 He has an exchange for a pawn. All I have is drawing chances]
16. Bxf6 Of course. 16... g6
17. Bh5?? This is the right idea, but it needs one move of preparation.
[Immediately decisive is 17. Qh4! with the threat of Qh6 and Qg7 mate. 17... Rfc8 (Or 17... h5 18. Bxh5! Now this move makes sense. 18... Be7 19. Bxe7 f6 20. fxg6 Qxe7 21. Bg4 Threatening Be6+. 21... Rf7 22. gxf7 Kg7 23. Bh5 Qf8 24. Rf1 Qd8 25. Qg4 Kh8 26. Qg6 Qf8 27. Qxf6 Qg7 28. f8=Q Rxf8 29. Qxf8 Qxf8 30. Rxf8 White wins) 18. fxg6 fxg6 19. Bc4 Kf8 20. Rf1 Ke8 21. Qh3 Qd7 22. Be6 Qc7 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Qxh7 Qc7 25. Qg8 Kd7 26. Qxa8 White wins]
17... Rac8?? But the International Master immediately returns the favor. That's one nice thing about being on the attack; it is usually more difficult for the defender to find the best moves, especially when there is little time on the clock.
[17... Be7! 18. Bxe5 Bh4! 19. Bxc7 Bxg3 20. Bxg3 gxh5 21. Nd5 f6 22. Ne7 Kf7 23. Nxc6 bxc6 24. Rd7 Kg8 Material is even, but White has better pawn structure]
18. Qg5 Rfe8?
[If there was any hope it was with 18... Be7 19. Bxe7 f6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21. Qxf6 gxh5 22. Rd3 White is two pawns up and Black's king is still exposed to a deadly attack]
19. fxg6 fxg6 20. Bxg6 hxg6
[Or 20... Re7 21. Bf5 Kf8 22. Qh6 Ke8 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Rxd6 Qf7 25. Re6 Kd8 26. Qh4 Kc7 27. Re7 Game over]
21. Qxg6 Kf8 22. Rxd6!? The rook can't be taken, but...
[Even better is 22. Nd5!! Bb4 (22... Bxd5 23. Qh6 Kg8 24. Qh8 Kf7 25. Qg7 Ke6 26. exd5 Kf5 27. Qg5 Ke4 28. Qg4 Ke3 29. Qf3#) 23. Qh6 Kg8 24. Rd3 Bd2 25. Kxd2 Qa5 26. b4 Kf7 27. Qg7 Ke6 28. Bxe5 Qxb4 29. Nxb4 Bd5 30. Qf6 Kd7 31. Rxd5#]
22... Qf7? He allows mate in two.
[But after 22... Re7 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Rf6 Qxf6 25. Qxf6 he is dead busted anyway]
23. Qh6 Morris resigned. [...]
[23... Kg8 24. Qh8#; or 23... Qg7 24. Qxg7#]
[1:0]
Walter Morris is the highest rated player I ever beat.
So, after this brilliant first round win I went on the win the tournament, right?
Not quite, I only won one more game and finished 2-4. Morris won 3 of his last 5 to finish 3-3. Tough tournament!
One more thought. Walter Morris is probably the strongest player ever to come out of Iowa. Numbers 2 and 3 are Jon Frankle and Dan Harger. Jon, Dan, and I were in high school in Iowa at the same time. We played against each other in various tournaments. I lost all of my games against Jon and Dan. Walter is 6 years younger than me. I didn’t get a chance to play him until he moved to the Washington, DC area years later.
White to Play & Win
By Matt Grinberg, 3/5/2023
This is a Benko's Baffler sent to me by Steve Young. The two Matts (me and Matt Kolasinski) both solved it, but only with the help of our computer programs - Stockfish for Matt K. and Houdini for Matt G. Comments from Matt Kolasinski.
"I got to take a look at this puzzle. I wasn't finding anything like any mate in 4, or even 10."
"Not sure I like this one much as a 'puzzle'; the objective would appear to be for a human to find the optimal first move from the starting position at the beginning of a longish endgame. There are too many play options in this one to make a really good puzzle. Puzzles usually involve a limited number of forced moves with a fixed outcome. This one just isn't that clear."
"But it is true that black isn't necessarily in as good a shape as it might appear at first glance and white shouldn't be throwing in the towel just yet, not unless they're hungry and anxious to get out of the tournament hall to go grab some lunch. I could maybe see sweating through this in an international tournament with a $1M pot at stake but have my doubts even at that level that anybody would be putting that much depth of thought into a solution, likely run more on instincts."
"I gave up and ran it through Stockfish."
"After 1. Nb5, black has to move his king. If black chooses to push the h pawn, there is a forced white mate in something like 24 moves, would look something like - 1. Nb5 h2 2. Nac3 h1=Q 3. Nd4 Qc1+ 4. Kb3 Qb2+ 5. Kc4 b5+ 6. Kd3 Qa3 7. Nc2+ Kb2 8. Nxa3 Kxa3 9. g4 b4 10. g5 bxc3 11. Kxc3 b5 12. g6 b4+ 13. Kd3 b3 14. g7 b2 15. Kc2 b1=R 16. Kxb1 Ka4 17. g8=Q Kb5 18. Qe6 Kc5 19. Kb2 Kb5 20. Kb3 Kc5 21. Kc3 Kb5 22. Qd6 Ka5 23. Kc4 Ka4 24. Qb4#"
"Well, that's my 2 cents on this one. Looking forward to seeing what solutions might be found. 'Best wishes, Matt.' "
I agree with Matt K's comments. But it is amazing that Pal Benko could compose and solve this problem way back in 1972 when the chess programs were bad. I am sure he didn't use one.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun even if it was beyond the difficulty level of any problem I have ever seen.
Here we are at the starting position. White has two obvious plans.
1. Mate with the two knights, which as we showed recently is possible so long as Black has pawns on the board.
2. Advance one of his pawns up the board to get a queen.
Unfortunately, neither works because Black's h-pawn will queen and stop White's plan. If White could stop the h-pawn before it could queen, then he would be good. But unfortunately, White's own pawns stop his knights from getting to a position where they could stop the h-pawn.
So the only thing left is the Super Duper Grandmaster plan - Get the knights into a position where Black will have to give up his queen to stop mate!
I am sure Benko had been playing around with the two knight versus pawn endgame when he came up with the idea for this problem.
1. Nb5!! Other moves may hold, but they don't win.
[For instance: 1. Nxb6 h2 2. Nbd5 (2. Kb3 h1=Q 3. f4 Qf3 4. Kb4 Qxg3 5. Ncd5 Qg1 6. Kc4 Qb1 7. Kc5 Qg6 8. Kc4 Qc2 9. Kd4 Qf5 10. Ke3 Kb2 11. Kd4 Kc1 12. Nc4 Qd7 13. Ncb6 Qe6 14. Kd3 Kb1 15. Kd4 Kc1 16. Kd3=) 2... h1=Q 3. Kb3 Qf3 4. g4 b5 5. Ne3 Qf7 6. Ncd5 Qxf2 7. Kb4 Qb2 8. Kc5 Kb1 9. g5 b4 10. Nxb4 Qe5 11. Nbd5 Qxg5=]
1... h2
[Or 1... Kb1 and White wins with this line pointed out by Benko. 2. Nac3 (2. Nbc3 Ka1) 2... Kc2 3. Nd4 Kxc3 4. Ne2 (4. Nf3? b5 saves Black) 4... Kd2 5. Ng1 h2 6. Nf3 Ke2 7. Nxh2 Kxf2 8. g4 wins]
2. Nac3
[2. Nd4 h1=Q 3. Nb3 Kb1 4. Nc3]
2... h1=Q 3. Nd4! White threatens mate. 3... Qc1 4. Kb3 Qb2 5. Kc4 b5 When I was trying to solve this without the help of the computer, this is where I gave up. 6. Kd3 Qxf2 This is Benko's main line.
[The computers head off in this direction. 6... Qa3 7. Nc2 Kb2 8. Nxa3 At this point White is clearly winning. Both Matts got here with the help of their computers. From here this is the solution by Houdini. 8... b4 (This is the solution by Stockfish. 8... Kxa3 9. g4 b4 10. g5 bxc3 11. Kxc3 b5 12. g6 b4 13. Kd3 b3 14. g7 b2 15. Kc2 b1=R 16. Kxb1 Ka4 17. g8=Q Kb5 18. Qe6 Kc5 19. Kb2 Kb5 20. Kb3 Kc5 21. Kc3 Kb5 22. Qd6 Ka5 23. Kc4 Ka4 24. Qa6#) 9. Nc4 Kc1 10. Na2 Kd1 11. Nxb4 White wins]
7. Nc2 Kb2
8. Nd1 White wins; he will take the queen then queen his g-pawn. Benko writes "Now it can be seen that Black's Queen has been led into a trap."
[1:0]
Wow! What an amazing problem! It may have been a trap, but there was no way out.
Two Knights Versus Pawn Endgame
By Matt Grinberg, 1/29/2023
I was recently reminded of the dreaded two knights versus pawn endgame. If you think it has to be a draw, read on in “Two Knights versus Pawn Endgame.” The sample game is rather long.
Recently Steve Greanias sent me a game that ended up with a 2 knights versus pawn endgame. The whole idea of this endgame has intrigued me since I first read about it over 50 years ago.
It is well known that a king and two knights cannot force mate against a lone king. The best they can do is force it into a corner and deliver stalemate.
So how is it possible for two knights and a king to force mate against a king and pawn? In most positions it can't be done. But in many it can [ ! ]. Here's how it works.
If one of the knights can step in front of the pawn before it has gone too far up the board, then the king and the other knight gradually work the king into a trapped position in a corner, then the other knight moves releasing the pawn but delivering mate before a promoted pawn can get into play. It is not easy, especially since most players have never bothered to study it, but it is often possible.
The first person to make a rigorous study of this endgame was Alexey Alexeyevich Troitsky, a Russian theoretician and endgame composer. He worked it out over a century ago. Subsequent computer analysis has shown that his analysis was astonishingly accurate.
The key to determining whether or not the forced mate is possible is known as the Troitsky Line. If the pawn can be blocked by a knight before it gets past the Troitsky line, then the knights will win. If the pawn can get past the Troitsky Line before the king is trapped in a corner, then the game will be drawn. The Troitsky Line is not absolute, as demonstrated by the following game, but it works most of the time.
See the diagram right from Wikipedia. Each black dot indicates the furthest a Black pawn can be advanced when it is blocked by a knight for the White knights to win.
Topalov, Veselin - Karpov Anatoly, 1-0
Melody Amber Active, Round 8
Monaco, 2000
Queen's Gambit
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6
[7... Nh5 8. Be5 c6 9. g4 Nhf6 10. Rg1 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. f4 b6 14. b4 a5 15. a3 axb4 16. axb4 Qb8 17. g5 bxc5 18. bxc5 Qb4 19. Rc1 Ra3 20. Qd2 Bd8 21. Nd1 Qxd2 22. Kxd2 Ba5 23. Ke2 Rb8 24. Kf3 e5 25. fxe5 Bf5 26. Rg2 Be4 27. Kf4 Bxg2 28. Bxg2 Ra2 29. Bf3 Bd2 0-1, Anand, Viswanathan (IND) 2803 - Nakamura, Hikaru (USA) 2816, Zurich 2/19/2015 It (cat.22) (tie-break)]
8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Bxd3
[More common is 12... Qb7 13. Rb1 axb4 14. axb4 Rfc8 15. b5 cxb5 16. Nxb5 Ne4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 bxc5 19. Qg4 Nf6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd6 Qc7 22. Bxa6 Qxd6 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. dxc5 Qxc5 25. Rb7 g6 26. Rfb1 h5 27. Qf4 Qc3 28. Qa4 Be5 29. g4 hxg4 30. hxg4 Qc4 31. R7b4 Qe2 32. Qd1 Qxd1 33. Rxd1 g5 34. Kg2 Kg7 35. Rb5 Rc4 36. Kf3 Kg6 37. Rd2 f5 38. gxf5 Kxf5 39. Ra2 Rh4 40. Ra8 g4 41. Ke2 Rh2 42. Rf8 Ke4 43. Rb6 g3 44. Rxe6 Rxf2 45. Rxf2 gxf2 46. Kxf2 d4 1/2-1/2, Kramnik, Vladimir (RUS) 2780 – Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR) 2754, Nice 3/24/2010 It "Amber" (active)]
13. Qxd3 axb4 14. axb4 Qb7 15. Qc2 Rfc8N
[This amateur game is the only other that continues from this position. 15... Rxa1 16. Rxa1 Ra8 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Qa4 Qxa4 19. Nxa4 bxc5 20. dxc5 Ne8 21. Nd4 Bf6 22. Nxc6 e5 23. Bg3 d4 24. exd4 exd4 25. Kf1 d3 26. Ke1 Ba1 27. Kd2 1-0, Manafov, Vugar (AZE) 1833 – Muradyan, Robert (ARM) 1664, Batumi (Georgia) 2014.10.22]
16. Rfb1 Bd8 17. Nd2 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Ra8 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Qa2 Qxa2 21. Nxa2 Ne8 22. Nb3 Nc7? This error results in the loss of a pawn.
[The game is equal after 22... Kf8 23. Nc3 bxc5 24. bxc5 Bc7 25. Bxc7 Nxc7=]
23. cxb6 Nxb6 24. Na5 Nb5 25. Nxc6 Bf6 Black is not quite the equivalent of a pawn down because he has the better bishop and White's extra pawn is isolated. In the next phase of the game both sides work to improve the position of their pieces keeping in mind that White's passed b-pawn is the key feature of the position. 26. Kf1 Kf8 27. Ke2 Ke8 28. Kd3 Kd7 29. Na5 Be7 30. f3 Nc8 31. Kc2 h5 32. Kb3 Bd6 33. Bxd6!? This is dubious. It gives Black control over the d6 and b5 which effectively stops White's b-pawn dead in it's tracks.
[Better is 33. Be5! Bxe5 (or 33... f6 34. Ka4 Nc7 {34... fxe5!? 35. Kxb5 Ne7 36. g4 hxg4 37. fxg4 With his passed b-pawn and a potential passed pawn on the kingside, White should win; or 34... Bxe5?! 35. Kxb5 Bg3 36. Ka6 Bf2 37. b5 Bxe3 38. Nb3 Kc7 39. Nb4 g5 40. Ka5 Bf4 41. Na6 Kb7 42. Nac5 Ka7 43. Nxe6 White wins} 35. Bxd6 Nxd6 36. Nb3 White is up a pawn, but it will be difficult to make progress) 34. dxe5 Ne7 35. Ka4 Nc7 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 Ng6 38. f4 Nh4 39. b5 Na8 White is better, but it will be difficult for him to advance the b-pawn and also hold the critical e3-pawn]
33... Ncxd6 Thanks to White's last move, Black threatens Nf5, which compels White's next move. 34. g4 This is forced but now the kingside opens up giving Black counter chances. 34... hxg4 35. hxg4 f5 36. Kc2 fxg4 37. fxg4 Ne4 Black will win the g-pawn equalizing the game. 38. Nb3 Nf6!? This wins the pawn back, but there is a better way to do it.
[38... Na3! 39. Kd3 Nf2 40. Ke2 Nxg4=]
39. Nc5 Kd6 40. g5 Nh7 41. g6 Nf8 42. Kb3 Nxg6!? This is obvious, but premature.
[Busting up White's center first is better. 42... e5! 43. Ka4 Kc6 44. dxe5 Nxg6 45. Ne6 Nxe5 46. Nxg7 Nd6 47. Nc3 Ng4 48. Nd1 Black's pieces dominate the center. In spite of the pawn deficit he should be able to draw]
43. Ka4 Na7 44. b5 Nc8 45. Ka5 e5? This is now too late.
[45... Ne5! 46. Ne4 dxe4 47. dxe5 Kc7 48. Nc3 Nb6 49. Nxe4 Nc4 50. Ka6 Kb8 51. Ng5 Nxe3 52. Nxe6 Ng4 53. Nxg7 Nxe5 White is still a pawn up, but the passed pawn will not be able to queen. The position is drawn]
46. b6
46... Nxb6! Karpov, realizing that he is in deep trouble, plays to get White's pawns off the board even if it costs him his two knights. But to be sure of the draw, he has to get rid of his own pawns. 47. Kxb6 exd4 48. exd4 Nh4 49. Nc3 Nf3 50. Nb5 Ke7 51. Nd3 g5
[I am sure Karpov considered taking the pawn, but he knew better. 51... Nxd4 52. Nxd4 This is a win for White according to Shredder because the d-pawn is behind the Troitsky line and White will eventually win the g-pawn 52... Kd6 53. Kb5 g5 54. Kb4 g4 55. Kc3 g3 56. Nf4 Ke5 57. Nfe2 g2 58. Kd3 Kd6 59. Ke3 Ke5 60. Kf2 Ke4 61. Kxg2 With the g-pawn off the board, we now have two nights versus pawn endgame. The d-pawn is blocked before the Troitsky line and according to Shredder White will mate in another 43 moves]
52. Kc5 Ke6 53. Nc3 Kf5 54. Nf2 g4 55. Nh1 Kf4 56. Ne2 Ke3 57. Nhg3 White has the g-pawn blocked, but it is already beyond the Troitsky line. The position is likely drawn. 57... Kd3 58. Nf4 Ke3 59. Nfe2 Kd3
60. Kxd5 This is White's only hope of making progress, but now the game is a theoretical draw. 60... Nxd4! This is the first position that can be verified by Shredder. It is definitely a draw. So Karpov's strategy of giving up his knights, initiated at moe 46, is justified. 61. Nxd4 The game has reached the two knights versus pawn endgame. The pawn is one square beyond Troitsky line and the position is a draw per Shredder. Karpov no doubt knew that the position should be a draw. No doubt Topalov knew that too. But the play on both sides of this endgame is quite difficult. Topalov decides to play on and test Karpov's skills.
61... Kc3 The game remains a theoretical draw until Karpov's 65th move. 62. Kc5 Kd3 63. Nde2 Kd2 64. Kc4 Kc2 65. Nd4 Kb2?? He is headed in the wrong direction and is now lost. He should try to keep his king away from the corners. According to Shredder either Kd1 or Kd2 draws. 66. Kb4 Ka2 67. Ndf5?? Topalov returns the favor.
[The correct line mates in 14 moves. White slowly but surely forces the king into the corner, then brings over the other knight to mate. 67. Nb5 Kb1 68. Kc3 Kc1 69. Na3 Kd1 70. Nc2 Kc1 71. Ne3 Kb1 72. Nc4 Kc1 73. Nb2 Kb1 74. Nd3 Ka2 75. Kb4 Kb1 76. Kb3 Ka1 77. Ne2 Kb1 78. Nc3 Ka1 79. Nb4 g3 80. Nc2# Line verified by Shredder]
67... Kb2?? Once again Karpov misses the draw and this time Topalov doesn't let him off the hook.
[67... Kb1 Draws according to Shredder]
68. Ne3 Ka2 69. Nc4 Kb1 70. Kc3 Kc1 71. Nb2 Kb1 72. Nd3 Ka1 73. Kb3 Kb1 74. Ne2 Finally the other knight gets into play. Black resigned. [...]
[The conclusion would be 74... Ka1 75. Nc3 g3 76. Nb4 g2 77. Nc2#]
[1:0]
Surprise in the Park
With Judit and Magnus Comments
By Matt Grinberg, 7/24/2022
A friend sent me another link to a video of the recent game between Judit Polgar and Magnus Carlsen.
This one was posted by Judit Polgar herself on the Chessable web site. The video has inserted
into it comments by both players.
Video
Carlsen had the Black pieces against GM Judit Polgar in a casual 3-minute game played in Retio Park in Madrid, Spain during a rest day at the Candidates Tournament.
Polgar, Judit (2736 blitz) - Carlsen, Magnus (2828 blitz), 1-0
Casual three minute game
Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain July 2, 2022
Sicilian Defense, Taimanov Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 Taimanov Variation 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. f3 Be7 9. O-O-O b5 10. g4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bb7 In this typically dynamic position in the Open Sicilian, the chances are about equal.
12. e5!?N But this daring move has not been played before. Was this the result of home preparation? Perhaps Polgar was just playing with the World Champion's mind hoping to take advantage of the short time control.
[If she is going for an attack, this is a less risky alternative. 12. g5 Nh5 13. Be5 This is similar to what happens in the game between Polgar and Carlsen, but in this position Black can take the bishop without being checkmated. (13. Bd3 O-O 14. Ne2 e5 15. Be3 g6 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. h4) 13... Qxe5 14. Qxd7 Kf8 15. Qxb7 Bxg5 16. Kb1 Qb8 17. Rd7 Qxb7 18. Rxb7 Bf6 19. a4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 bxa4 21. Bxa6 g5 22. Bb5 Kg7 23. Rg1 h6 24. h4 Rab8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. c4 Kf6 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Kb2 Nf4 29. Ka3 Ne2 30. Rg4 Ra8 31. e5 Kf5 32. c5 Nc3 33. Bd3 Kxe5 34. Rxg5 f5 35. Rg6 Rc8 36. Bc4 Nd5 37. Bxd5 Kxd5 38. Kxa4 Rxc5 39. Kb3 Rc6 40. Rg1 Ke5 41. c4 Kd4 42. Rd1 Ke3 43. Kb4 Kxf3 44. Re1 f4 1/2-1/2, Almasi, Zoltan (HUN) 2694 - Hansen, Eric (CAN) 2593, Linares (Spain) 2014.09.09;]
12... Nxg4
[12... Nd5 may be even better.
13. Ne4 Nb4 14. Kb1 Bxe4 15. fxe4 O-O White's doubled,
isolated e-pawns make is difficult for her to make use of her bishops. Black is better;
Not 12... Bxf3? 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Bg2 Bxd1 15. Bxa8 Bxg4 16. Ne4 Qd8 17. Qg2 Bf5 18. Qg7 Rf8 19. Bxf6 Bxe4 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21.
Bxe4 f5 22. Qxe7 Kxe7 23. Bf3 White is up a bishop for two pawns, but Black's strong center gives him reasonable chances]
13. Rg1 Nh6 Black's was interesting but uncharacteristically passive for Magnus. He could have played b4 or Bxf3 just as well. Maybe Magnus was being gentlemanly.
[13... Bxf3 is more aggressive, but also risky. 14. Bg2 Nxh2
(Or 14... Bxd1 15. Bxa8 Bxc2 16. Qxc2 h5 17. h3 Nxe5 18. Rxg7 The position is about as clear as mud;
14... Qc6? 15. Bxf3 Qxf3 16. Rg3 Qc6 (16... Qf5? 17. Qg2 O-O 18. Rxg4 is worse)
17. Rxg4 Rg8 White is up a knight for two pawns)
15. Qf4 Bxd1 16. Bxa8 Bg4 17. Qxh2 f5 With three connected passed pawns for a knight, Black is better;
13... b4!? seems to give away Black's advantage. 14. fxg4 bxc3 15. Bxc3 O-O 16. Kb1
Both castled kings will come under attack. The chances are about equal. (Not 16. Qxd7?? when
16... Bg5 17. Kb1 Rfd8 wins)]
14. Bd3
14... Bf8 I can't say this move is bad, but again it is passive and it sets him up for the blunder on the next move. Carlsen is not familiar with two of my axioms of chess. 1. A pawn that can only be defended awkwardly is not worth defending. 2. After you have determined what threats your opponent has, the first thing you should do is ignore them and figure out how you can threaten him.
[Better is ignoring the threat on the g-pawn, and threatening White's knight. 14... b4 15. Rxg7 bxc3 16. Bxc3 Bf8 17. Qxh6 Qc5 18. Kb1 Bd5 19. f4 Rb8 20. Ka1 Bxg7 21. Qxg7 Qf8 22. Qxf8 Rxf8 In spite of White's bishop pair, with a rook for a bishop and pawn, Black is better]
15. Be4 They are still pretty much even up to 15... Rc8??? Is this the worst blunder ever by a reigning World Champion? Okay, it is a 3 minute game, but you would think he would have some awareness of his weakness on d7.
[Magnus needed to find Bc6 to cover d7.
15... Bc6!? 16. Ne2 Rb8 17. Kb1 Rb7 18. Qf4 Ng8 19. Ng3 Ne7 20. Bc5 Ng6 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Bxf8 Rxf8=
In spite of his awkward position, Black has a bishop for a knight in an open position and solid pawn structure;
But 15... Bc6 is again a passive move. Slightly better is 15... Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Nf5 17. Bb6 Qc6 Black has a small edge]
16. Bb6! Surprise! I bet Judit was feeling good! Note that if Carlsen had omitted his last two moves this move would not have worked. Also, the only other move besides his last move that would have allowed this combination was 15... Kd8??? 16... Bxe4 It seems pointless to play this out when he can't hope for anything better than being down a queen for a bishop.
17. Bxc7 Bc6 18. Bd6 Nf5 19. Ne4 Carlsen decides to resign rather than embarrass himself further. [1:0]
The two meeting in a park reminds me of the final scene from The Queen's Gambit with the chess players on the street in the snow in Moscow. I have my own favorite game in a park for next week.
Stalemate 2
Spectacular Stalemate Combination!
By Matt Grinberg, 11/20/2022
Like the Pilnick - Reshevsky game last week, Black in a winning position makes a mistake that allows White to hold with a stalemate. But unlike last week's game, White's salvation is far from simple. Both sides thread their way through a very complex line that leads to a stalemate. And unlike the game last week, the players don't agree to a draw before getting to the stalemate.
The opening is a tame Giuoco Piano, but as the game progresses, it becomes clear that both sides are trying for a win. The position goes back and forth between the two players. At move 64, Black has achieved a winning position. But then he makes the mistake that sends the game into the mind boggling stalemate combination.
If you just want to check out the spectacular stalemate combination, go to the first diagram.
GM Bojkov, Dejan (BUL) (2516) – GM Borisek, Jure (SLO) 2514, 1/2-1/2
European Team Championship, Round 5
Goteborg, Sweden, 2005-08-03
Giuoco Piano
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 Giuoco Piano - it can be tame or exciting depending on White's next move. 4. O-O Tame.
[The exciting line is 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4=]
4... Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 Nf4 13. Ng3 g6 14. Nh2 h5 15. Ne2 Bxe3 This is all pretty much normal stuff to here. White has a small advantage. In the only other game I know of that reached this position, Grandmasters Sergey Kudrin and Boris Gulko agreed to a draw. 16. fxe3N But Borisek chooses to play on. The pawn capture, leaving White with doubled pawns and a half open file for his major pieces, has made the position unbalanced so that both sides could develop winning chances. 16... Nxe2 17. Qxe2 Kg7 18. Rf1 Qe7 19. d4 Bd7 20. Rf2 Na5 21. Bc2 c5 22. d5 White plays to keep the center closed so he can focus on the f-file. 22... b5 23. Raf1 c4 24. Qf3 Nb7 25. Qg3 h4 26. Qf3 Qg5 27. Kh1 Nc5 28. Qe2 Rab8 29. Qe1 f6 30. Rf3 a5 31. Qf2 Rf7 Not much has happened since move 16. The chances are still pretty much equal. 32. g3?! He thinks he is opening the g-file for his attack, but he is really opening the h-file for Black's counter attack.
[The game is roughly even after 32. Qd2 b4 33. Qc1 b3 34. axb3 cxb3 35. Bb1]
32... Rh8!?
[Better is 32... hxg3 33. Rxg3 Qh6 setting up White's h-pawn as a target]
33. Rg1!?
[He should correct his mistake on the last move by playing 33. g4 to keep the g- and h-files closed]
33... Qh6?! He chickens out again.
[33... hxg3 is still best. 34. Rfxg3 Qh5 35. Rxg6 Qxg6 36. Rxg6 Kxg6]
34. b4? Why would he open up the queenside when his pieces and all the action is focused on the kingside?
[Given that Black has doubled on the h-file, the logical move is again 34. g4]
34... cxb3 35. axb3 b4? But this returns the favor.
[Given the opportunity, he should open the h-file for his major pieces. 35... hxg3 36. Rfxg3 g5 37. b4 axb4 38. cxb4 Na6 39. Rb1 Bxh3 With an extra pawn and White's king in his sights, Black should win]
36. g4 Finally! 36... g5 37. Ra1 bxc3 38. Qe1 Qg6 39. Rxa5 Rb8?! He gives away what was left of his advantage.
[Best is 39... Nxe4! It is understandable that Black would not want to leave his knight pinned to his queen, but sooner or later he will solve the problem by playing f5. 40. Kg1 Rhf8 41. Rf2 Rc8 42. Qa1 Rc7 43. Rg2 Rb7 44. Ra6 f5! 45. Bxe4 fxe4 46. Qxc3 Bb5 47. Ra8 Rbc7 48. Qd2 Qf6 49. Ra1 Bd3 Black's strong bishop and control over the f-file gives him the advantage]
40. Qxc3 Rc8 41. Qb2 Be8 42. Qb1 Rb7 43. Nf1 Qf7 44. Nd2 Qc7 45. Ra2 Bg6!?
[45... Bb5 Keeping White's major pieces off of f1 looks better]
46. Qf1 Qd8 47. Rf2 Rcc7 48. Qg2 Rb4!? The rook is not effective here. A small advantage goes to White.
[He should play 48... Ra7= to take control over the a-file]
49. Qf3 Rf7 50. Kh2 Qh8 51. Nc4 Qb8 52. Ra3 Kh7 53. Na5 Qb6? This allows White's knight to move to the beautiful outpost on c6. Now Black is in trouble.
[53... Qa8! 54. Nc4 Qb8 The position has repeated. White seems to be better because of his pressure on the f and a-files, but it is not clear how he makes progress]
54. Nc6! Rb5 55. Ra8 Nxb3?? He misses the fact that the knight is needed to defend the e6 square.
[55... Rxb3! 56. Nd8 Rf8 57. Bxb3 Qxb3 58. Ra7 Kg8 59. Ne6 Nxe6 60. dxe6 Qxe6 White is up an exchange for a pawn, but Black has drawing chances]
56. Bd3?? But White misses has chance anyway and the advantage swings to Black.
[White has a winning attack against Black's king after 56. Nd8 Nd2 57. Rxd2 Rf8 58. Ne6 Rxa8 59. Qxf6 Qa7 60. Nxg5 Kh6 61. Ne6 Kh7 62. Rf2 Rb7 63. Qxh4 Kg8 64. Qh6 Rg7 65. h4]
56... Nc5 57. Bxb5 Qxb5 58. Rb8 Qd3 59. Ra2 Bxe4 60. Qe2 Qxd5 61. Nb4 Qe6 62. Na6?? "Knight on the rim spells a trim." Why do even strong players forget this? The knight is useless after Black's next move.
[After 62. Ra1 covering his back rank and keep both rooks active, Black has only a small edge]
62... Ra7 63. Rbb2 Nd3 64. Rc2
64... d5?? This unfortunate mistake allows White to escape with a draw. Well, maybe not unfortunate because without it we would have not seen the spectacular stalemate combination!
[64... Ne1 Because of the threat of 65... Nf3, winning White's queen, White has to take the knight. 65. Qxe1 (Other tries include 65. Nb4 Nf3 66. Qxf3 Bxf3 67. Rxa7 Kh6 68. Rcc7 Be4 Black wins; or 65. Nc5 Rxa2! 66. Rxa2 (66. Nxe6 Rxc2 67. Qxc2 Nxc2 Black wins) 66... Nf3 67. Kg2 dxc5 68. Ra7 Kg6 Black wins) 65... Bxc2 66. Rxc2 Rxa6 Black's two extra pawns will win]
65. Nc5! The rest of the moves for both sides are forced and brilliant!
[65. Nc7 leads to the same place. 65... Rxa2 66. Nxe6=]
65... Rxa2!!
[If he tries to save his queen, he ends up down a rook for two pawns. 65... Qb6?? 66. Nxd3; or 65... Qf7?? 66. Nxd3]
66. Nxe6 Ra1! He threatens mate! 67. Nxg5!! The point of this move is to clear the f-file. Why? It will become apparent.
[67. Rc7 leads to the same place. 67... Kg8 68. Rc8 Kf7 69. Nxg5!! fxg5 70. Rf8!!=]
67... fxg5 68. Rc7 Kg8 If Black wants to avoid a perpetual check, he has to move towards the rook.
[68... Kh6 69. Rc6 Bg6?? 70. Qxd3 White wins]
69. Rc8 Kf7
70. Rf8!! Kxf8 He chooses to take the immediate draw rather than risk complications.
[Not taking the rook immediately likely ends up in the same place. 70... Ke7 71. Rf7 (71. Rf1 Nc1 72. Rf7 Kxf7 73. Qf1 Ke6 74. Qxc1 Rxc1 stalemate (Playing 74... Ra2 is risky, though with best play it still seems to be a draw 75. Kg1 Rg2 76. Kf1 Rc2 77. Qa1 Bg2 78. Ke1 Be4 79. Qa6 Kf7 80. Qa7 Ke6 81. Qg7 Rh2 82. Qg8 (82. Qxg5 Rxh3 83. Qg8 Ke7 84. Qg7 Kd6 85. Qf6 Kd7 86. Qf7 Kc6 87. Qf6 Kd7 88. Qf7=) 82... Kd6 83. Qb8 Ke6 84. Qg8 Kd6=)) 71... Kxf7 72. Qf1!! Rxf1 stalemate]
71. Qf1!! This was the reason for 67. Nxg5!! 71... Rxf1, ... Stalemate!
[½:½]
Wow!
Stalemate 1
By Matt Grinberg, 11/12/2022
Games don't often end with stalemate. I have had two casual games where my opponent stalemated me in an otherwise winning position, including one at the Alamogordo Chess Club recently. That's what made me think of stalemates. I don't think it has ever happened in a tournament game I played.
If the possibility of a stalemate is in the air, it is usually in an endgame with few pieces on the board and it is clear that a stalemate is the logical outcome. Usually both players recognize what's coming and agree to a draw before the final move. But sometimes the stalemate comes after a tricky combination, or the superior side blunders into it.
The most famous "stalemate" ever was between Carl Pilnick and Samuel Reshevsky in the 1942 US Championship. Okay, it doesn't actually end in stalemate because Reshevsky recognizes the blunder he has just made, in a game he should have won, and agrees to a draw one move before the stalemate. But for practical purposes it ended in a draw.
Reshevsky at the time was recognized as one of the top 10 players in the world, whereas Pilnick was a 19 year old unknown. Reshevsky tied for first in the tournament with Isaac Kashdan and then won the championship in a playoff.
The first 82 moves are routine as Reshevsky builds up a winning position against his young opponent. It's at the first diagram that things get interesting.
Pilnick, Carl - GM Samuel Reshevsky, 1/2-1/2
US Championship, Round 12
New York, New York, 1942
Gruenfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. f4 Nc6 9. d5 Nb8 10. a4 e5 11. a5 N6d7 12. Nf3 Qe7 13. Bd3 exf4 14. Bxf4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17. O-O Nd7 18. Rc1 Qd4 19. Kh1 Ne5 20. Be2 Qe3 21. Nb5 c6 22. Nd6 Rd8 23. Rc3 Qg5 24. Nxc8 Raxc8 25. Bf3 a6 26. Qb3 Rc7 27. h3 Rcd7 28. Rc5 Qe7 29. Qc3 Nxf3 30. Rxf3 cxd5 31. exd5 Rxd5 32. Rxd5 Rxd5 33. Qc8 Kg7 34. Qc3 f6 35. Rd3 Rxd3 36. Qxd3 Qe1 37. Kh2 Qe5 38. Kh1 Qxb2 39. Qd7 Kh6 40. Qd8 Qe5 41. Qd2 Qg5 42. Qd8 Qf4 43. Qf8 Kg5 44. Qc5 Qe5 45. Qc1 Kh5 46. Qd1 Kh6 47. Qd2 Qg5 48. Qd8 Qc1 49. Kh2 Qc3 50. Kh1 Qe1 51. Kh2 Kg5 52. Qb6 Qe5 53. Kh1 Qe7 54. Qb1 Kh6 55. Qc1 Kg7 56. Qd2 h5 57. Qc3 g5 58. Qd2 h4 59. Qc3 Qd6 60. Qb3 Qc6 61. Qa3 Kf7 62. Qb3 Ke7 63. Qe3 Kd7 64. Qd3 Ke6 65. Qa3 Kd7 66. Qd3 Ke6 67. Qd8 Kf7 68. Kh2 Ke6 69. Kh1 Qd5 70. Qc8 Kf7 71. Qc7 Kg6 72. Qc2 f5 73. Qa4 f4 74. Qe8 Kf6 75. Qf8 Ke6 76. Qe8 Kd6 77. Qf8 Kc6 78. Qa3 Qd2 79. Qa4 Kc7 80. Qa1 Qe3 81. Qg7 Kb8 82. Qg8 Ka7 83. Qd5 See diagram.
Early in the game Reshevsky (Black) won two pawns and for the last 45 moves has been trying to find a win in the queen endgame. Much of that time was spent running around with his king trying to find a secure place for it. That he has accomplished. At some point he has to advance his kingside pawns to win. Advancing his b-pawn would be a mistake because it would expose his king to attack again. With the diagonal to his king covered he is ready to strike!
White is in a horrible situation. He is down two pawns. He has no checks and allowing an exchange of queens would leave him in a lost pawn endgame.
83... f3! 84. gxf3
[84. Qxf3? Qxf3 85. gxf3 b5 86. axb6 Kxb6 The a-pawn can't be stopped]
84... Qe1 85. Kg2 Qg3 86. Kf1 Qxh3 With the protected passed h-pawn and his king secure; this should be an easy win for Black. Reshevsky is probably wondering why Pilnick doesn't resign.
87. Kg1 Qg3 88. Kh1 Pilnick may already have his draw swindle idea in mind here.
[Or 88. Kf1 Qf4 89. Qc5 Kb8 and White is already out of checks]
88... Qf2! Reshevsky has figured out that he has a forced win if Pilnick takes the g-pawn.
What is White to do? He can play 89. Qxg5, but then Black plays 89... Qxf3+ followed by 90... Qg3, forcing the queens off the board and easily winning the pawn endgame.
89. f4!? In a purely theoretical sense giving up another pawn is bad. But Pilnick has a crafty idea. Will Reshevsky fall for it?
[Normal moves are hopeless. 89. Qxg5 Qxf3 90. Kh2 Qg3 91. Qxg3 hxg3 92. Kxg3 Kb8 93. Kf2 Kc7 94. Ke2 Kc6 95. Kd3 Kb5 96. Kc3 Kxa5 Black wins; or 89. Qe4 h3 90. Qg4 Qg2 91. Qxg2 hxg2 92. Kxg2 b6 93. axb6 Kxb6 94. Kf2 Kc5 95. Ke3 a5 96. Kd3 a4 97. Kc3 Kd5 98. Kb4 Ke5 99. Kxa4 Kf4 100. Kb3 Kxf3 101. Kc3 Kf2 Black wins]
89... Qf1 90. Kh2 Qxf4 91. Kh1
91... Qe3 With two connected passed pawns ready to advance and his king secure, no doubt Reshevsky expected a resignation now. But maybe he should have taken a second look.
92. Qf5! Reshevsky thinks, "Still not resigning eh. Fine, you idiot, we'll play it out to mate." 92... g4??
[He wins with 92... Qf4! 93. Qc5 Kb8 94. Qe7 Qc1 95. Kg2 Qd2 96. Kf3 Qc3 97. Kg2 h3 98. Kh2 Qc7 99. Qxc7 Kxc7]
93. Qf2!! The culmination of the plan Pilnick started at move 88. Now who is the idiot? Draw agreed.
[Reshevsky no doubt expected the stupid kid to play 93. Qxg4?? Qc5 94. Qa4 (94. Qxh4 Qxa5 Black wins) 94... Qc6 95. Qxc6 bxc6 Black wins]
[...]
[93... Qxf2 stalemate is forced, unless he wants to lose]
[½:½]
Lesson? Even in a clearly winning position, be careful. You never know when your opponent may have a trick up his sleeve.
First Senior Master Win
By Matt Grinberg, 11/22/2019
(Matt was a long time ACC Member, ACC TD plus a DCCL Captain and player who retired from the DC Metro area some years ago, landing in New Mexico in 2010 along with former ACC member Pamela Lee).
This game was played in 1987, my year of greatest success. Even so my opponent, Alan Savage, is more than 250 points higher rated. Alan plays very aggressively, but I meet him blow for blow. What usually happens is the lower rated player will crack and make a blunder. But a surprising oversight by Alan turns the game in my favor. Time pressure and Alan’s continuing aggressive play make the game difficult, but in the end I find the way to win. This was my first ever win against a Senior Master (2400+).
Grinberg, Matthew M. - Savage, Alan
Arlington Chess Club Ladder, Arlington, Virginia
9/4/1987, 1:0
Nimzowitsch Defense
1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5!? Not commonly played, but a sound defense against 1. e4. where White goes for a space advantage, but at the expense of falling behind in development.
[Better is 3. Nc3 as in the following cute game. [3... dxe4 4. d5 Ne5 5. Qd4 Ng6 6. Be3 e5 7. dxe6 Bxe6 8. Nge2 Nf6 9. O-O-O Qxd4 10. Nxd4 Bg4 11. Bb5 c6 12. Nxc6 a6 13. Ba4 Bxd1 14. Rxd1 Be7 15. Nxe7 Kxe7 16. Bc5 Ke6 17. Ne2 Rhd8 18. Nd4 Ke5 19. Bb6 Rdc8 20. Ne2 Nf8 21. Bd4 Kf5 22. Ng3 Kg6 23. f4 exf3 24. c3 fxg2 25. Bc2 Kg5 26. Be3 Kg4 27. Rd4 Kh3 28. Bf5 Kxh2 29. Rh4
1-0, Jobava, Baadur (GEO) 2695 - Oleksienko, Mikhailo (UKR) 2622 , Al-Ain 12/24/2013 It (open)]3... Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 The consequence of White’s third move is that Black’s “bad bishop” is well placed outside of his pawn structure. 5. Bd3 White has to challenge Black’s bishop even if it means trading off his own good bishop. 5... Nge7 6. O-O Qd7 7. Be3!?N It is not yet clear where this bishop should be developed.
[Better is 7. c3 which contributes to White's defense by holding d4 firm and his offense by preparing a pawn storm on the queen-side. 7... O-O-O 8. b4 Kb8 9. a4 Be4 10. a5 Nc8 11. Qe2 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 a6 13. Be3 N6a7 14. Nbd2 Nb5 15. Rab1 Nca7 16. Nb3 Na3 17. Rbc1 Nc4 18. Nfd2 Nxd2 19. Bxd2 f5 20. Rfd1 h6 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. dxc5 Nb5 23. Be3 Kc8 24. c4 dxc4 25. Qxc4 Qc6 26. Qb3 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Rd8 28. Rxd8 Kxd8 29. Qd3 Ke7 30. Kf1 Qd7 31. Ke2 Qd5 32. Qxd5 Nc3 33. Kd3 Nxd5 34. Bd2 c6 35. h4 Kf7 36. Ke2 Kg6 37. Kf3 Kh5 38. g3 Nc7 39. Be3 Nd5 40. Bd2 Ne7 41. Be3 Ng6 42. Bd2 Ne7 43. Be3 Nd5 44. Bd2 Nc7 45. Bc1 Nb5 46. Bb2 Nc7 47. Bc1 g6
1/2-1/2, Gorbach, Oleg (UKR) 1969 – Buturin, Vladimir (UKR) 2268, Lvov (Ukraine) 2011.04.02]7... f6 A standard move in the Nimzowitsch where White plays e5 - Black plays to bust up White's center. 8. exf6 gxf6 9. Nc3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3
10... e5!? The pawn push is both powerful and risky.
[A low risk alternative is 10... O-O-O Black has a small advantage due to his extra center pawn. He can take his time playing for e5]
11. dxe5 If White plays anything else, e4 will follow and Black will have strong attacking chances against Black's king. 11... fxe5 Now we have a common strategic theme. Black's center pawns give him a space advantage and threaten attack White's pieces by advancing. But they have no pawn protection, will come under withering pressure from White's pieces and pushing either will potentially give White a hole for his pieces. Are the pawns a strength or a weakness? 12. Qb5?! White flinches.
[12. Rad1! Pile on the pressure! 12... O-O-O (12... d4?! 13. Ne4! O-O-O 14. Nc5 Qd5 15. Qb5 Nb8 16. c4 Qc6 17. Nxe5 Qxb5 18. cxb5 White is a pawn up and Black still cannot take the bishop on e3 because of the fork on f7. 18... dxe3 19. Rxd8 Kxd8 20. Nf7 Ke8 21. Nxh8 Bg7 22. fxe3 Bxh8 23. Ne6 Nd7 24. Nxc7 White has a rook and three pawns for a bishop and knight; 12... e4? 13. Nxe4 Black has lost a pawn for nothing) 13. Ng5 d4 14. Nf7 dxc3 15. Nxd8 Qxd8 16. Qxc3 Qe8= This position is quite similar to what eventually happens in the game]
12... O-O-O 13. Rad1 Rg8 14. Bg5 Qf5?! This tactical foray "wins" a bishop and knight for a rook and pawn, but gives up most of his kingside attacking chances.
[He has a low risk alternative which wins a bishop for a knight and keeps good kingside attacking chances. 14... a6 15. Qb3 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Rxg5 17. f4 exf4 18. Rxf4 Ng6 19. Rf2 Bc5 Black's pieces are well poised for a kingside attack, while White's pieces are disorganized]
15. Nxd5 Rxg5 16. Nxe7 Bxe7 17. Nxg5 Qxg5 18. Rxd8 Bxd8 He has his bishop and knight for a rook and pawn, but he has two weak pawns while White's position is as solid as a rock. 19. Qd5 a6 20. Rd1 Be7 21. c3 Kb8 22. g3 Qg6 23. Kg2 h5 24. Re1 Qc2 25. Qb3 Qd3 26. Qd1 Qg6 27. Qf3 I am not really trying to do anything here, just trying to make sure my higher rated opponent doesn't have anything to do. 27... h4 28. Re4 hxg3 29. hxg3 He has gotten rid of one of his weak pawns, but in return I now have a passed pawn. With the passed pawn and open files for my rook, I now start thinking I could win this. 29... Bd6 30. a3 Qe6 31. Rh4 Bc5 32. b4
32... Bb6?? "What? I thought he couldn't do that." Apparently he wanted to shield his king from attack in the g1-a7 diagonal, but he missed the greater threat.
[32... Be7 defending the critical d8 and f8 squares keeps the game equal. 33. Rh8 Nd8=]
33. Rh8 Ka7 34. Qf8 Qd5 35. Kh2 There are no more checks and he has to give up the bishop to avoid mate. 35... Ba5 36. bxa5 Qxa5 37. Qf3? I have no idea why I did this.
[37. c4 holds onto all of the pawns]
37... Qxa3 38. Qe3 b6 He has a knight and a pawn for my rook, the best he could hope for after the blunder at move 32. But with an open position and action on both sides of the board, the position favors White's rook over Black's knight. 39. Qf3?!
[Getting my passed pawn rolling is better. 39. g4]
39... Qd6 40. Kg2 a5 41. Qe4 Ka6?! Likewise his best hope to save the game is advancing his own passed pawn.
[41... b5! 42. g4 a4 43. g5 a3 44. Rh6 Qd7 45. Rh1 Kb6 46. Ra1 Qe7 47. Qe3 Kb7 With White's rook tied to defending against Black's passed pawn, it is getting tricky, but White should still win]
42. g4! Finally! 42... Ne7 43. g5 Nd5 44. Rh6 Qc5 45. c4 Nf4 46. Kf3 Qf8 47. Kg4!? By exposing the king this wastes a tempo.
[Better is 47. Kg3 Qe8 48. f3 a4 49. c5 Nh5 50. Kf2]
47... a4? Black's eagerness to advance the passed pawn causes him to miss the opportunity offered by White's last move.
[47... Qc8! 48. Kg3 Qe8 Black defends his e-pawn, covers the queening square for White's passed pawn and helps the advance of his own passed pawn.]
48. Qc6? With the time control just two moves away and both players short of time, things are really getting ragged!
[41... b5! 48. Qxe5 This not only wins the e-pawn, but also the knight. 48... Nd3 (or 48... Ng2 49. Kg3 Ne1 50. Qxe1) 49. Qxc7 Qxf2 50. Qc8 Ka5 51. Qf5 Qc5 52. Qxd3]
48... a3?
[Again better is 48... Qc8 49. Kg3 Ne2 50. Kh2 Nd4 51. Qxa4 Even though he has lost his passed pawn, he has greatly improved the position of his knight]
49. c5? The mistakes keep rolling in. But in spite of that I manage to maintain a winning position throughout the time pressure.
[49. Qxc7! Of course! 49... Ng6! 50. Rh3! (50. Rxg6?? Qf4 51. Kh5 Qh2 52. Kg4 Qf4 53. Kh3 Qf3 54. Kh2 Qxf2 55. Kh1 Qf1 Black has a perpetual check) 50... a2 51. Rb3 Qc5 52. Qxc5 bxc5 53. Ra3 Kb7 54. Rxa2 White wins]
49... Qc8 50. Kf3 Ka5! From a practical point of view this may be best because of his next move.
[But from a theoretical point of view, getting the queens off the board is better because it eliminates the mate threats. 50... Qb7 51. cxb6 cxb6 52. Qxb7 Kxb7 53. Rh1 b5 54. Ke4 Kc7 55. Kxe5 White wins, but Black's passed pawns will cause problems]
Finally I get to the time control at move 50 with a winning position. But because of the exposed position of my king and his passed pawn on the sixth rank, there are still a lot of chances for White to go wrong. 51. cxb6 Qf5! The discovered check could be deadly if I am not careful. 52. Qa8 Kb5 53. Qc6 Ka5 54. Qc5 Ka4 55. Qc4 Ka5
56. bxc7! He has no useful discovery and now I have a passed pawn on the seventh. 56... Nd3 57. Kg3
[57. Ke2?? allows a perpetual check. 57... Qxf2 58. Kxd3 Qf1 59. Kc3 Qc1 60. Kd3 Qf1 61. Kc3=]
57... Qxf2!
[Going for the rook allows me to queen my pawn. 57... Qxg5 58. Qg4 Qxh6 59. c8=Q]
58. Kg4 Qe2 59. Kf5 Qf1 60. Kg6!! Now he gets a discovery that wins my queen, but it doesn't matter! 60... Nf4 61. Qxf4! Forced, but also winning because I immediately queen, leaving me a rook up. 61... Qxf4 62. c8=Q The extra rook will easily win. 62... Kb4 63. Kg7? Dumb! I felt really stupid after playing it. But with the extra rook and his king exposed to attack, I am still winning.
[63. Qb7 Kc5 64. Rh7 gets my rook into play without losing my pawn or allowing a check]
63... Qxg5 64. Kh7 Qe3 65. Qb7 Kc3 66. Rc6 Kd2 67. Qb4 Ke2 68. Rc2 Black resigned. He will lose his queen for the rook or be checkmated. [1:0]
The highly tactical play combined with time pressure and winning against a Senior Master made this one of the most stressful games I ever played!
Bad Moves Sometimes Win
By Matt Grinberg, 3/10/2015
(Matt was a long time ACC Member, ACC TD plus a DCCL Captain and player who retired from the DC Metro area some years ago, landing in New Mexico in 2010 along with former ACC member Pamela Lee).
Yes, even bad moves can win - IF you know what you are doing AND your opponent doesn't!
Grinberg, Matthew M. - Karell, Leif
DC Chess League, Summer '95, Open Section
Arlington Kings vs. Coral Reef
Arlington Chess Club, Arlington, Virginia
8/3/1995, 1:0
Caro-Kann Defense
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 Leif is a very conservative player. This suits his style to a tee. If you are not familiar with this variation, the move 4... Nd7 probably looks very strange. The idea is that Black wants to play Ngf6 without allowing his pawns to be doubled. The down side to this move is that the queen bishop is hemmed in.
(The main alternative to 4... Nd7 is 4... Bf5 which immediately solves the problem of the queen bishop, but at the expense the bishop coming under attack. The line is 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. h5 Bh7 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Bd3 when the bishop is exchanged off anyway]
5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Neg5?! This move is not good, but I had in mind the following sacrifice when I played it.
[The normal moves are 6. Nxf6 which frees Black's queen bishop after 6... Nxf6; or 6. Ng3 which avoids freeing Black's position, but at the expense of retreating the knight]
6... h6 7. Ne6?! The point is that after 7... fxe6, Black's doubled e-pawns will prove to be a barrier to Black developing and organizing his pieces and Black's king will be open to attack on the h5-e8 diagonal. It's true that after 7. Nxf7, White gets a pawn for the knight, but Black will have much less trouble developing his pieces than after 7. Ne6.
I showed this to GM Larry Kaufman once. His response was "I can see how it would cause Black problems, but it can't be correct."
But chess is not about playing correct moves. Chess is about playing winning moves. I have played 7. Ne6 twice against masters (Leif was 2200 at the time of this game) and won both times! Why? First, because this sacrifice is not to be found in any book. It is my own invention (I concede that there is a game with this sacrifice in my database played in 1989 - three years before I first played it - but I had no prior knowledge of the earlier game. Thus I can be fairly confident my opponent will not know what to do. Second, this sacrifice sets Black some very difficult problems, problems he is not likely to solve with limited time on the clock. Finally, this sacrifice is particularly good against a conservative player like Leif. What Black cannot afford to do is precisely what Leif did - just hunker down a try to hold on to the extra material.
[Yes, White can avoid a loss of material with 7. Nh3 g5 8. Nhg1, but I wouldn't have played 6. Neg5 if I intended to retreat]
7... fxe6!
[Black could decline the sacrifice with 7... Qb6?! Then 8. Nxf8 (Or White can just leave the knight as a thorn in Black's side 8. Bd3!? Black has nothing better to do than take the knight anyway, but now under less favorable circumstances 8... fxe6 9. Bg6 Kd8 10. O-O The position is unclear) 8... Nxf8 White has a small edge due to the bishop pair]
8. Bd3 Kf7?! Of course he has to defend against the threatened mate, but this defensive move throws away much of his advantage.
[Instead he needs to fight for activity. 8... Qa5 9. c3! The idea is to clear c2 for the queen so as to reinforce the threat of Bg6+. (It is tempting to play 9. Bd2?! since it attacks the queen, but it just forces the queen to go where it wants to go anyway. 9... Qh5 A game I played in 1989 against Bob Fischer (the Virginia Master, not the former World Champion, Bobby Fischer) continued 10. c4 e5 11. g4? A flawed attempt to muddy the waters. I am lost after this move, but ended up winning because in a very difficult game Bob simply made the last blunder. (Instead I can force him to return the extra piece with 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qxh5 Nxh5 13. dxe5 Kf7 14. g4 Bxg4 15. Rg1! Rd8 16. Be4 Be6 17. Bg6 Kg8 18. Bxh5 Bxc4 But Black's extra pawn is more than enough compensation for his awkward position) 11... Nxg4 12. Qc2 Kd8 13. O-O-O g5 14. Bg6 Qh3 15. Nxe5 Ngxe5 16. dxe5 e6 17. Ba5 b6 18. Rd3 Qg4 19. Rhd1 Rg8 20. Rd4 Qf3 21. Be4 Qf4 22. Kb1 Bc5 23. Rxd7 Bxd7 24. Bxc6 Qf5 25. Rxd7 Kc8 26. Be4 Qxe5 27. Bc3 Qxh2 28. Bxa8 Kxd7 29. Qh7 Be7 30. Qxg8 Qg1 31. Kc2 Qxf2 32. Kb3 Qc5 33. Qb8 a5 34. Qa7 Ke8 35. Bf3 Qe3 36. Bh5 Kd8 37. Qb8 Kd7 38. Be8#) 9... g5! A key move, freeing up his kingside. 10. Bg6 Kd8 11. O-O Bg7 12. Re1 White has some compensation for the piece, but it is not enough]
9. Qe2 White immediately clamps down on the doubled pawns.
9... g6 10. Ne5?! Since the purpose of the sacrifice is bottle up Black's pieces, it makes no sense to allow Black to trade off the knight on d7.
[Better is 10. O-O Bg7 11. Re1 Nf8 12. Ne5 Kg8 13. Bxg6 Nxg6 14. Nxg6 The position is about as clear as mud]
10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd5? Giving up what was left of his advantage.
[Better is 11... Nd7 tying White to the defense of e5. 12. O-O Bg7 White's compensation for the piece is inadequate]
12. Qf3 Kg7 13. h4 h5? Throwing the advantage to White. The point is clear - to stop White from weakening Black's position by playing h5 - but playing h5 himself is also weakening AND a waste of time.
[What he needs is to develop his pieces even at the cost of giving up the pawn on g6. 13... Bd7 14. Qg4 Kg8 15. c4 Nb4 16. Bxg6 h5 17. Qg5 Bg7 18. O-O c5 The position is unclear]
14. Rh3 Nf6! Forced! There is no other playable option for defending his king.
[For instance 14... Kg8 15. Bxg6 Threatening mate in one 15... Nf6 16. exf6 exf6 17. Rg3 Bg7 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. O-O-O Material is even, but Black's position is a shambles]
15. Bf4! White's advantage is that the e-pawns make it almost impossible for Black to develop his pieces. Why give that up for a mere knight? What White needs to do is push his attack as hard as possible.
[15. exf6?! exf6 16. Qg3 f5 Black still has some problems, but he has an extra pawn, some defense for his king and is free to develop his pieces. The chances are equal]
15... Qa5 16. Kf1 Bd7 17. Rg3 Ng4 18. Qe4 Be8 19. f3 Qd5 Leif offers the piece back in order to trade queens, relieving the pressure on his king.
20. fxg4! Now that I can take the knight without undoubling the e-pawns, I am happy to oblige.
20... Qxe4 21. Bxe4 Material has returned to even, but those doubled, isolated e-pawns blockaded by my pawn on e5 are still a cloud of doom over Black's position. 21... Rd8
22. g5 After this move Leif's team mate, Sal Rosario, looked at the position and started to laugh. Black's position is a sorry sight.
22... Rd4 23. Re1 Kh7 24. Rd3 Rxd3 25. Bxd3 Bg7 26. Bc4 Rf8 27. g3 Bd7 28. Ke2 c5 29. Rd1 Bc6! I saw what was coming, but since I felt my bishop pair would easily win
against his rook, I decided to "fall" for his trap.
30. Bxe6 Bxe5 Perhaps not best, but with an extra pawn and control over the open file, White's win is inevitable anyway. Black has to try something to muddy the waters.
31. Bxe5 Bf3 32. Ke1 Bxd1 33. Kxd1 Rf1 After this move he offered a draw, which I found astounding. Did he really think I would accept a draw? It was my turn to laugh (inwardly).
34. Ke2 Rf8!? But this is contrary to his 30th move. He should keep his rook active.
[34... Rc1 35. Kd2 Rf1 White is certainly winning, but with Black's active rook on the board, things could happen]
35. Bc7 Chess NAZI: "No play for you!"
35... Kg7 36. c4 b6 37. a4 The plan is to bust up his queen side pawns, then move my king in for the kill. Another plan would be to create a passed pawn by playing 37. g4,
but I preferred to keep his king bottled up and out of the game.
37... Kh7 38. a5 bxa5 39. Bxa5 Rb8 40. Bc3 a5 41. Ke3 a4 42. Ke4 a3 43. bxa3 Rb3 44. Be5 Rxa3
[Black could try 44... Re3! I have to confess that I didn't think of this until after my last move. It's just dumb luck that it doesn't work. 45. Kd5! (Not 45. Kxe3?? stalemate) 45... Rd3 46. Kxc5 and Black's little adventure comes to an end since 46... Rd5?? allows 47. Bxd5 and there is no stalemate]
45. Bf4 "No stalemate for you!" 45... Ra1 46. Kd5 Re1 47. Bc8 Kg7 48. Kxc5 e5 49. Bd2 Re2 50. Ba5 Kf7 51. Kd5 e4 52. c5 e3 53. c6 Ra2 54. Bb4 Rd2 The last gasp. Obviously I am not going to take. 55. Ke4 Rc2 56. Bd7 e2
[Or 56... Rc4 57. Kxe3 Rxb4 58. c7 Rc4 59. c8=Q winning]
57. Kd3 Rb2 58. Bd2 Black resigned.
I consider this one of my best games. The win was largely the result of home preparation. It's not that I memorized a bunch of lines. Rather I had an idea of the plans that can arise from the sacrifice and what works (such as the bind on e5) and what doesn't (such as taking the knight on f6).
For years I kept playing 6. Neg5 hoping that my opponents would answer with 6... h6. Every time 6... h6 was played I won. Even when 6... h6 was not played (usually 6... e6 instead), I won most of the time. Whether or not my opponents played 6... h6 I would after the game show them the 7. Ne6 sacrifice and how to defend against it. In 2006 I played a lower rated player who played 6... h6. After 7. Ne6 fxe6 he defended expertly and won. After the game I praised him on his excellent defense. He responded, "Don't you remember? We played this line two years ago and you won. After the game you showed me how to defend. I just played this game according to your plan." Oops! I had completely forgotten that. Then and there I vowed never to play 6. Neg5 again.
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
GM Onishuck – Andrew Rea; ACC Simul
[Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “BO1“]
[WhiteElo “2743“] [BlackElo “2083“]
[Annotator “Andrew Rea”]
[Event Date “2011.7.10”]
1.e4 d5 2.ed Nf6 3.c4
The Arlington Chess Club hosted a simultaneous exhibition by Grandmaster Alexander Onischuk early October, Friday evening October 7, attracting some 28 opponents! The ACC Argyles of the DC Chess League scored a number of draws including this game. My relatively recent games indicated a preference for 3.d4, with fighting chances for both sides. White tends to have better development, but Black is without serious structural flaws early on. As for the move chosen by the GM, as noted recently by Abby Marshall in a recent Chess Café article, there are other problems as Black gains advantages in development and White has problems on the d-file.
3…c6
(Yes, 3…e6 is also playable, just less strong in my opinion.)
4.dc Nxc6 5.Nf3 e5
White will not have an easy time playing d2-d4, and soon has to be alert on defense. But White can take some pain with an extra pawn, and will assuredly not let d3 drop for free…
6.d3 Bc5 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.Be3
A direct challenge to Black, but the trade on e3 still leaves the pawn advance to d4 difficult for White.
8…Bxe3 9.fe Qe7
White is not interested in cheapshot chess with 10.Nh4 Bd7 as the Knight on the rim would be at risk while the White Kingside would remain underdeveloped.
10.e4
Instead White defuses …e4 potential, but this leaves d4 and d3 under pressure. Part of the Black mission is accomplished, but it will be a tooth and nail struggle to see whether Black can score a full success.
10…Bg4 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0
The White idea unfolds, and it is not to transpose to a Panov-Botvinnik Attack, that train was passed back around move 4. As played, White is safely castled, ready for Nf3-h4-f5 with pressure against the Black Kingside. The good news for Black is that this can be prevented without terrible repercussions!
12…Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.ed
White solves the problem of d3 while generating a 4v2 Queenside majority; this is not serious repercussion for Black? For now, the White Queenside is not mobile, unlike Black’s Kingside. ( It can be noted that 15.cd would be less fearsome for White as Black still gains space via …f7-f5. ) Black still does not have full compensation for the pawn, but Black is able to pose interesting problems in a dangerous sector!
15…Rad8
And now White is perhaps able to get away with the ugly 16.g4, but putting so many chips on such a move seemed improbable!
16.Qd2 f5 17.Rae1
Looks good, but 17.b4 could well be an improvement, as 17…e4 can be swatted by 18.Rae1. However, 17.b4 means Qd2 has guard duty, something White finds undesirable.
17…Rfe8 18.Qf2 b6
This limits the mobility of the White Queenside and protects a7, neither of which is to be underrated.
19.Bd1 Qf6
Here I gave consideration to …b5 with a subsequent …b4, but this does not seem to be ironclad solid. Rybka and its cohorts might think otherwise about this and other moves by both players, but of course neither of us have resort to the silicon beasts!
20.Qe3 Re7 21.b4 Rc8 22.Qg3 g5 23.Qf2 Kg7
Having f6 protected proves to be useful! Black has not been able to achieve much of late, but retaining solidity in view of the White pressure is hardly unreasonable! If some of the heavy pieces are exchanged, then it is helpful to the Black cause to be closer to the Queenside.
24.Re3 f4
White can play Re4 or Rh3, but not both, he has to declare. White decides that allowing …e4 is not in his best interest.
25.Re4 Nf5
White seems to be ready for 26.c5 now, but this would be premature, as 26.c5 bc 27.bc Nd4 is dangerous to the health of his Queenside.
26.Bf3 Rd8 27.Bg4 Nd6 28.Ree1 e4
Finally! 29.c5 e3 30.cd ef+ is awful for White, albeit not forced! 29.c5 e3 30.Rxe3 Rxe3 31.Qxe3 fe 32.Rxf6 Kxf6 (Kg7 proves to be useful!) 33.cd Rxd6 34.Bf3 Ke5 35.Kf1 Kd4 36.Ke2 h5 37.h3 g4 38.hg hg 39.Be4 Rf7 40.a3 Rf2+ 41.Ke1 Ke5 leaves White shredded, also not happening!
29.Be6
White prefers offense! With an added bonus of being ready to pounce on 29…e3? With 30.Rxe3.
29…ed 30.c5 Nc4
White finds further advances to be problematic, Black has defenses set for swift reaction against immediate forays such as d5-d6.
31.Re4 b5
(DIAGRAM)
White has the Queenside majority, but it is Black with the most dangerous pawn, well worth the pawn deficit! In other bad news for White, Be6 is less effective than he had envisioned; for example, 32.Rd4 Rxe6 is clearly unattractive.
32.Rd1 Ne3
And now White has only one move to stay in the game. It seems White had missed either 33.Rxd3 Qa1+ or 33.Rxe3 fe 34.Qxe3 Rxd5. Thus White has to lose a piece, but he gains mobility for his Queenside majority, darn!
33.Rc1 d2
(33…Nxd5 Bxd5 Rxd5 is not exactly awful for Black, and I used a pass to consider the options- and decided to win the piece.)
34.Qxd2 Rxe6 35.Rxe6 Qxe6 36.d6
I was glad to see 36.de Rxd2 37.e7 Rxg2+ 38.Kh1 Kf7 39.c6 f3 would be futile for White; for example 40.h3 Nd5 41.c7 Nxe7 42.c8Q Nxc8 43.Rxc8 Rxa2 is a winning R+P ending for Black. Of course White avoids the directly losing lines while ensuring Black has to deal with King safety and the passed Q-side pawns!
36…Nc4 37.Qd4+
Yes, 37.Qc3+ might have been more dangerous. At this stage of the simul, GM Onischuk has 4-5 players still playing, enough of a distraction to allow for less perfect play than usual. Meanwhile, he is getting to my board quicker than earlier in the simul, so I have less time for analyses, darn it again!
37…Kf7 38.Kh1 Ne5
I could not quite see how to quickly win with a forcing attack, but keeping the King relatively safe and still somewhat close to the Q-side seemed reasonable. Which it is, just likely not enough to win in this setting. But if not for the simul setting, would Black have such a good position against the Grandmaster? Likely not!
39.Qe4 Ng6 40.Qb7+ Qd7
And suddenly White has interesting play with 41.c6, especially if he is hellbent on victory, even at potential cost of defeat. Neither of us have much time for extensive analysis, but if the pawn is stopped White is lost. One example of the murk would be 41…Qxb7 42.cb Ne5 43.Rc8 Rxd6 44.Kg1 Ng4 45.Kf1 Nxh2+ 46.Ke2 Rb6 47.B8Q Rxb8 48.Rxb8 h5 49.Rxb5 Kg6, it would be White with all the winning chances. Perhaps White wanted to repeat this position and gain further time for additional analysis, as the position is unclear and one miss in the analysis would be fatal. And there is one other possibility for Black to go wrong in pursuit of the win!
41.Qd5+ Kf6 42.Qd4+ Kf7
No, Black is not anxious to run forward on the Kingside and allow the White Queen to get help from her team!
43.Qd5+ Kf6
And a draw is agreed, the only offer of this game!
1/2-1/2
Samuelson-Onischuk; Fairfax Open
[Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C28"]
[WhiteElo "2302"] [BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Andrew Samuelson"]
[EventDate "2009.01.06"]
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Na5 5. Bb3 c6 6. f4 Nxb3 7. axb3 exf4 8. Bxf4 d5 9. Bg5 !?
It was also possible to play e5, for example ... (9. e5 d4 10. exf6 dxc3 11. Qe2+ Be6 12. bxc3 Qxf6 13. Be5)
9... dxe4
Black can also chase the bishop right away with h6. This also seems to lead to an unclear position, for example (9... h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. exd5 Bb4 12. Ra4 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 cxd5 14. Ne2 O-O 15. Rf4 Qb6 16. d4 $13)
10. Nxe4 Be7 11. Qf3
I'm now threatening to damage Black's pawn structure by taking on f6, so he needs to move his knight. Another similar possibility was the line (11. Qe2 O-O 12. Nf3 Re8 13. O-O-O Be6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Rhe1 $13)
11... Nxe4
Perhaps Nd5 was a better line for Black, exchanging the dark-squared bishops rather than the knights. (11... Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Ne2 a5 14. N4c3 Nb4 15. O-O-O O-O 16. Rde1 $13)
12. Qxe4 f6
This move is necessary if Black wants to keep the bishop pair.
13. Be3 O-O 14. Qc4+ Rf7 15. Nf3 Qc7 16. O-O b5 17. Qc3 a5 18. Nd4
It was also possible to exchange the dark-squared bishops with Bc5. However, I wanted to target the c6 and b5 pawns to try and break up his queenside. (18. Bc5 Bg4 19. Rae1 Bxc5+ 20. Qxc5 $13)
18... Qe5 19. Bf2
My first thought was to play Bf4, but after (19. Bf4 Qc5 20. Qxc5 Bxc5 21. Be3) I was worried about playing an endgame where he has the bishop pair and my queenside pawn majority is crippled by the doubled b-pawns.
19... Bb7 20. Rxa5 Rxa5 21. Qxa5 c5
This is more effective than the immediate Bd6. (21... Bd6 22. Nf3 $14)
22. Nf3
The only safe move. Around here, I was a bit worried about my king's safety. However, it seems I have enough defensive resources to hold. (22. Nxb5 $4 Qd5 $19) or (22. Qxb5 $4 Bd6 $19)
22... Qxb2 23. Qxb5
(23. Ne1 Qe5 24. Qxb5 Bd6 25. Bg3 Qd4+ 26. Bf2 Qe5 $11)
23... Bxf3 24. gxf3 Qxc2 25. Ra1 Bf8 26. Qc4
Forcing a queen trade in view of the threat of Ra7. The trade also improves my queenside pawn structure. (26. Kg2 g6 27. Qc4 Qxc4 28. dxc4 $13) (26. Ra8 Qc1+ 27. Kg2 Qg5+ 28. Bg3 g6 $13) This position is about equal but also more complicated than the game.
26... Qxc4 27. bxc4 Rd7 28. Ra3 Kf7 29. Kf1 Bd6 30. h3 Rb7 31. Ra6 Rb1+ 32. Kg2 Be7 33. Rc6
After this move I'm committed to trading bishops. Ra3 was also possible, although it probably isn't stronger.
33... Rd1 34. Bxc5 Bxc5 35. Rxc5 Rxd3
The rook ending seems to be about equal. White's extra queenside pawn is balanced by Black's better kingside pawn structure and active rook. There's no objective reason I should lose from here, but a few possibly inaccurate moves left me feeling I had some problems to solve.
36. Rc7+ Kg6 37. Kg3 Rd4 38. h4 Kh6 39. Rc6 Kh5 40. Rc7 Kg6 41. Rc5 Rd1 42. h5+ Kh6 43. Rd5 Rc1 44. c5 Rc4 45. Rf5 Rc2 46. Kf4
Now that my rook is at the side of the passed c-pawn, I try to bring my king over to support it.
46... g5+
This move creates a passed h-pawn for Black, giving him counterplay.
47. hxg6 Kxg6 48. Rd5 h5 49. Kg3 Rc3 50. Kf4 Rc4+ 51. Kg3 h4+ 52. Kh3 f5 53. Rd8 Kg5 54. Rd5
It was also possible to draw by playing (54. Rh8 Rxc5 55. Rxh4 f4 56. Rh8 $11)
54... Rc3 55. Kg2 Rc2+ 56. Kh3
This is necessary to keep Black's king from invading with the White king trapped on the back rank.
56... Kf4 57. Rd3 Rxc5 58. Kxh4
We've reached a tablebase draw. Black wins the f3-pawn but the resulting position with White's king in front of Black's remaining pawn is still drawn. However, it wasn't obvious to me at this point that I could get back in time, and I was starting to worry a bit about my position.
58... Rc2 59. Rd4+ Ke3 60. Ra4 Rg2
(60... Kxf3 61. Kg5 Rc5 62. Rf4+ Ke2 63. Rxf5 $11)
61. Ra3+ Kf4 62. Kh3 Re2 63. Rb3 Ra2 64. Rc3 Rf2 65. Rc5
I can't allow Rxf3 with my rook on the 3rd rank. Now he will have to take the f3-pawn with the rook instead of the king, allowing my king back in front of the f-pawn.
65... Rxf3+ 66. Kg2 Ra3 67. Rb5 Kg4 68. Rb8 Rc3 69. Ra8 Rd3 70. Kf2 Rc3 71. Rb8 Rd3 72. Ra8 Rh3 73. Kg2 Rh7 74. Rb8 Ra7 75. Kf2 Ra2+ 76. Kf1 f4 77. Rb3
Obtaining the basic Philidor drawn position with the rook on the 3rd rank. Now I just need to wait for him to play f3 before moving my rook back to the 8th rank.
77... Rc2 78. Ra3 f3 79. Ra8 Rc1+.
1/2-1/2