SOLITAIRE

CHESS
 SOLITAIRE
CHESS
BRUCE PAN1lOLFINI

RANDOM HOUSE
PUZZLES & GAMES

NEW YORK TORONTO LONDON SYDNEY AUCKLAND

Copyright © 2005 by Bruce Pandolfini

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 CONTENTS

Index of Games vii

Introduction xiii

Scoring Yourself with Solitaire Chess xviii

Explanation of algebraic notation xix

The Games 1

Review Test 220

Checkmate Test Answers 227

Acknowledgments 229
 INDEX OF G A M ES
(with ECO references)

Game1
G. Atwood vs. J. Wilson, London 1 798, Match, Philidor's Defense C41

Game2
J. Cochrane vs. H. Staunton, London 1 84 1 , 'fraining Game, Bishop's
Opening C23

Game3
P. Morphy vs. Consultants, Paris 1 858, The Opera Game, Philidor's De-
fense C41 ...

Game4
W. Steinitz vs. A. Mongredien, London 1862, Center Counter Defense
BOt

Game5
P. Morphy vs. J. A. de Riviere, Paris 1863, Evans Gambit Accepted C51

Game6
A. Anderssen vs. J. Zukertort, Barmen 1869, Evans Gambit Accepted C51

Game7
J. H. Zukertort vs. Rev. J. Owen, Chistlehurst 1878, Sicilian Defense B46

Games
Em. Lasker vs. J. Bauer, Amsterdam 1 889, Bird's Opening A03

Game9
J. Blackburne vs. c. Blanshard, London 189 1 , King's Gambit Declined
C30

vii
Gameto
H. Pillsbury vs. J. Hanham, Hastings 1895, Stonewall Attack DOO

Garnett
H. Pillsbury vs. G. Marco, Paris 1 900, Queen's Gambit Declined D55

Gamet2
W. Napier vs. J. Mortimer, Monte Carlo 1902, Ruy Lopez C65

Gamet3
S. Levitski vs. A. Nikolaev, Kiev 1903, Russian Championship, Vienna
Game C26

Gamet4
F. Marshall vs. H. Pillsbury, Cambridge SpriNgs 1904, Pirc Defense B09

GarnetS
F. Marshall vs. E. Delmar, Cambridge Springs t904, Dutch Defense ASS

Gamet6
S. Tarrasch vs. Em. Lasker, Munich 1 908, World Championship Match,
Game 1 0, Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense C67

Gamet7
R. Reti vs. P. Meitner, Vienna 1909, Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense C67

Garnets
A. Alekhine vs. 0. Duras, St. Petersburg 1 9 1 3, Ruy Lopez C77

Gamet9
A. Nimzovich vs. C. Behting , Riga 1919, Greco Counter Gambit C40

Game20
M. Euwe vs. A. E. van Foreest, Netherlands 192 1 , Giuoco Piano C53

viii
Game21
R. Spielmann vs. E. Griinfeld, Teplitz-Schonau 1922, King's Gambit Ac­
cepted C38

Game22
G. Maroczy vs. J. Mieses, Teplitz-Schonau 1 922, Dutch Defense A81

Game23
R. Reti vs. K. Opocen:Sky, Pistyan 1 922, Queen's Gambit Declined 010

Game24
R. Reti vs. J. Capablanca, New York 1924, Reti Opening AlS

Game25
Em. Lasker vs. R. Reti, New York 1 924, fJench Defense C12

Game26
E. Colle vs. S. Landau, Belgium 1 928, Match, Colle System A47

Game27
S. Reshevsky vs. R. Fine, Detroit 1 933, Queen's Indian Defense El6

Game28
S. Thrtakover vs. M. Ferenz, Paris 1 933, English Opening A18

Game29
K. Gilg vs. A. Becker, Bad Liebwerda 1934, Queen's Gambit Declined,
Noteboom Variation 031

Game30
S. Landau vs. M. Feigin, Kemeri 1 937, Queen's Gambit Declined 046

Game31
R. Fine vs. S. Flohr, Holland 1938, AVRO Tournament, French Defense
C17

ix
Game32
I. Bondarevsky vs. G. Lisitsin, Moscow 1940, 12th USSR Championship,
catalan Opening E09

Game33
I. Boleslavsky vs. A. Lilienthal, Leningrad 1941, Queen's Pawn Counter
Gambit C40

Game34
M. Euwe vs. H. Steenis, The Netherlands 1942, Queen's Gambit 045

Game35
A. Alekhine vs. K. Junge, Lublin 1942, Ruy Lopez C86

Game36
G. Ravinsky vs. V. Panov, Moscow 1943, Sicilian Defense BSO

Game37
V. Smyslov vs. M. Euwe, The Hague/Moscow 1948, World Championship
Tournament, 19th round, Ruy Lopez C81

Game38
S. Reshevsky vs. M. Najdorf, New York 1952, Match, King's Indian De­
fense E69

Game39
R. Fischer vs. B. Larsen, Portoroz 1958, Interzonal Tournament, Sicilian
Defense, Dragon Variation B77

Game40
I. Boleslavsky vs. B. Gurgenidze, Rostov-on-Don 1960, 28th USSR Semi­
final, Sicilian Defense B32

Game41
R. Fischer vs. J. Bolbochan, Stockholm 1962, Interzonal Tournament, Si­
cilian Defense, Najdorf Variation B90

X
Game42
M. Tal vs. J. Broderman, Havana 1963, caro-Kann Defense B15

Game43
B. Larsen vs. L. Portisch, Amsterdam 1964, Interzonal Tournament,
French Defense COt

Game44
M. Tal vs. A. Lutikov, Moscow 1964, Queen's Pawn Counter Gambit C40

Game45
P. Benko vs. K. Smith, New York 1972, Philidor's Defense C41

Game46
P. Keres vs. H. Westerinen, Tallinn 1973, Modern Defense B06

Game47
P. Motwani vs. P. Rockwell, Dundee 1974, Sicilian Defense, Smith-Morra
Gambit B21

Game48
I. Csom vs. M. Chandler, Plovdiv 1983, Queen's Pawn Opening 002

Game49
R. Vaganian vs. K. Bischoff, Germany 1993, English Opening A17

Game50
Deep Blue vs. G. Kasparov, New York 1997, Match, Game Six, Caro-Kann
Defense B17

xi
 INTR ODUCTI ON

Chess players, it seems, like to test themselves. That must explain why so
many of them suggested that I compile a collection of my monthly Soli­
taire Chess columns from Chess Life magazine. After years of being
nudged and prodded, I did.
Solitaire Chess works like this: You are shown the first few moves
and a diagram, and are then invited to figure out the remaining moves,
one at a time, earning points in the process. When you add up your
points, the total corresponds to a particular USCF (United States Chess
Federation) rating category. This way, you get an idea of the level at
which you've performed.
Taking tests is one purpose of Solitaire Chess, but there's a bit more
to it. Because you are trying to determine the best moves, you are put in
the active role of player. This transformation is aided and abetted by the
accompanying comments following the games. There are 26 notes for
each game, labeled "A" to " Z ." Those annotations enable you to gain
supplementary "bonus points" for visualizing good moves that weren't
played.
It's not all gravy, however. You can also lose points for intending to
play blunders, for overlooking countermoves, or for failing to spot oppor­
tunities for winning attacks. That adds a layer of textured complexity,
since, in addition to finding the right moves, you can benefit from the ac­
curacy and depth of what you have analyzed. As in real games, working
harder and doing a superior job at assessing and calculating increases
winning chances.
But Solitaire Chess is not just a test, practical or analytic. Beyond the
points and analysis are the alternative reasons and guiding logic of the
game. These are discussed in the commentary, which is appropriately de­
signed to be instructional as well as informative.
You can turn to Solitaire Chess for different reasons. You can test
yourself for points to ascertain how well you're doing. You can read the
explanations for training and guidance, to understand the strategies and
tactics of serious chess. Or you may read for pure entertainment, since

xiii
well-played, fiercely contested chess games can be fun to play over, with
or without points or elucidating remarks.
This book gathers SO Solitaire Chess columns, selected from a total
of 155, written between July 1991 ahd February 2005. For the sake of di­
versity I've taken into account a wide range of openings; players, to show
the gods of chess at their best (and worst); and historical periods, to place
the contests in context. I've tried to pick those games that provided a kind
of narrative arch to the sport of chess and its trends. I also wanted to
make sure that the selected columns integrated agreeably when orga­
nized into a book.
In this work, each game has a heading, an introductory paragraph,
a diagram showing the moment at which the reader should start deter­
mining the moves for points, and a chart of the remaining moves of the
game. In order to play through the chart without revealing the moves be­
fore you've had a chance to think about them, it helps to have an index
card, or something like it, to keep your place and hide the following
moves. (The same index card may prove handy to cover the upcoming
notes so that you are not tipped off to moves or suggestions before
they're played.)
Headings include the game number; the names of the players (the
player with the White pieces is named first); where and when the game
was played; the name of the tournament, match, or exhibition; and the
name of the opening, including its ECO (Encyclopedia qfChess Openings)
code. You do not have to know anything about the various ECO codes and
the methodology underlying them in order to use Solitaire Chess. I merely
include them for completeness and as a gauge for those players who are
conversant with the system and who wish to use them for subsequent
study.

How to Play Solitaire Chess

Each game begins with an introduction in which I introduce the opening
and often touch upon some principle or fundamental chess truth. In most
cases the introduction emphasizes the importance of the game or its place
in history. In writing these snippets, I often tried to bring out the rela­
tionship between the players while keeping in focus their contributions to
the development of chess.

xiv
 Following the introductory paragraph is a diagram and the first few
moves. The diagram shows the starting position of the test with White to
move next. From the diagram, you must try to find the next White move.
It will help you follow the game if you play out the moves (and analysis)
with a real chessboard and set. But, I must also add, it's wise to do as
much as you can in your mind, without moving the pieces. That way, you
simulate game conditions, where trying out variations on the board to see
if they work is not tolerated. Furthermore, by constantly doing such ex­
ercises in your head, you gain experience that could improve your ana­
lytic vision and ability. It is further recommended that you try to see at
least three half moves ahead. That is, you should determine your next
move, your opponent's likely response, and your response to that re­
sponse. Accordingly, some of the notes may reflect situations yet to occur
in the actual game as when players analyze possibilities during competi­
tion.
But if you're going to move the pieces around anyway, trying out
different lines after thinking about them, you can do so effectively using
chess software. Playing out the moves of Solitaire Chess on a computer
increases opportunities for extensive analysis without fear of losing your
place. You can try out this and that, and never have to reset the board. At
a keyboard, all you have to do is click back, and everything is as it was.
By saving energy, mental and physical, the overall process becomes far
more productive for exploring intricate sequences and the calculation of
their side variants.
Of course, we can't always work with a computer, nor is it necessary
to do so in order to improve your game with Solitaire Chess. Indeed, many
of the original columns were composed before chess software became
popular and readily accessible.
Playing Solitaire Chess is reasonably straightforward. You simply
try to settle on White's best move, preferably in your head, and then
move the index card slightly to confirm if you've decided correctly on the
move that was played. If you have, you get the number of designated
points appearing in the column to the right of White's move. If there's a
note on the move, and a chance to score more points or to clarify an idea,
a lowercase letter in parentheses will show up immediately after White's
move and before the points column.

XV
 For example, let's say White's move is 12. Bg5. There might then
appear (a) or (d) or some other parenthetically enclosed lowercase letter.
You would then turn the page to the notes to see what is said about (a)
or the lowercase letter in question. If the note contains variations and
possibilities to earn or lose points, add or deduct them based on what you
had previously analyzed or failed to see. And when you've fmished with
a specified note, head back to the chart, keeping White's next move hid­
den (don't forget the index card) , until you've had an opportunity to es­
tablish what it might be. The process is self-sustaining. At the end of the
game, total your points and see where your score falls on the rating chart
appearing on page xviii. It's that easy.
Obviously, even the most carefully devised tests can be somewhat
arbitrary. For chess, they can't quite capture the full feel of competitive
play, and they're also subject to the biases and actual mistakes of the test
creator. I take responsibility for all thr: misjudgments and errors con­
tained within, and I suggest that you take any particular result with a
grain of salt. Nevertheless, you might want to keep a record of your over­
all results. While none of the tests individually should be trusted with
complete confidence, taking the cumulative scores is likely to produce a
more reliable indication of a definite level of play.
You will probably get the clearest possible picture if you average out
the scores by taking the median results, rather than a true average. You
can also make your tests more meaningful if you comply with two addi­
tional parameters: Try to take the tests first without moving the pieces,
and then under time restraints. The tests are fashioned to work most ac­
curately if completed over a 60-minute period. Moreover, penalties
should be imposed for exceeding the time limit. That is, you should lower
your test score by five points for every 15-minute segment for which you
run over. You don't have to do that, of course, but for test-taking to be
more like game-playing, you should try to be rigorous in applying the
recommended standards. As a rule, it's usually a good idea to train by
placing yourself in circumstances that closely resemble actual game con­
ditions. Naturally, no test can ever fully take the place of real competition,
with all its psychological and emotional aspects. Those elements are just
too elusive to reproduce in practice.

xvi
 Because the instructor in me believes in follow-up, I've included one
last test. At the back of the book is a section of SO diagrams (numbered
1-50), each related to a game of the same number: Problem 1 relates to a
possibility arising in Game 1, Problem 2 comes from a variation in Game
2, and so on. But whereas all the games are presented from White's point
of view, all of the puzzles are offered from Black's. That adjustment puts
a little twist on the material, so that the correct idea is additionally buried,
requiring you to work a tad harder to find the solutions, changing per­
spective in your mind. And, to keep you focused on the main objective of
chess-the opposing king-all the examples end in checkmate. For scor­
ing purposes, each example is worth two points.
The core of the book consists of the actual games. Arranged chrono­
logically, they begin in 1798 and take us to 1997, with Deep Blue's his­
toric win over Garry Kasparov in their man vs. machine match. They also
give us snapshots of great players, such a� Staunton, Anderssen, Mor­
phy, Zukertort, Steinitz, Lasker, Tarrasch, Marshall, Pillsbury, Nimzovich,
Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Reti, Spielmann, Reshevsky, Fine, Tal, Fis­
cher, Kasparov, and yes, Deep Blue. They show a range of openings, in­
cluding notable games in the Ruy Lopez, the Sicilian Defense, the King's
Indian Defense, the English Opening, the French Defense, the Caro-Kann
Defense, and many other systems on the cutting edge of theory. And they
are drawn from some of the most celebrated chess events: for example,
Hastings 1895, New York 1924, AVRO 1938, and Stockholm 1962.
There's even Morphy's 1858 opera encounter, the best known chess
game ever played. Finally, the instruction reveals many of the basic prin­
ciples. There are discussions about the center, development, king safety,
open lines, the initiative, two bishops, passed pawns, and the art of nurs­
ing home advantages.
The material should meet the needs and levels of play of most read­
ers, while also providing enough challenges for self improvement. What­
ever your reasons for reading and playing through Solitaire Chess, I hope
at least you come away with a sense of stimulation and the kind of men­
tal pleasure that comes from time well spent.

Bruce Pandolfini

xvii
 SC ORING Y OURSELF
WITH SOLITAIRE CHESS

Solitaire Chess lets you test your skill against the world's top players. It's
easy and instructive. Play through the opening moves and then, using a
slip of paper or an index card, cover White's moves. Play Black's move
and guess at White's reply. Expose White's move and record your score.
If correct, you earn the par score from the center column. Check the game
notes on the successive pages for bonuses, partial credits, and deduc-
tions.

Score and Rating Category Correspondence

.,

SCORE RATING SCORE RATING

Over 95 2400+ 36-50 1600-1799

81-95 2200-2399 21-35 1400-1599

66-80 2000-2199 06-20 1200-1399

51--65 1800-1999 0-05 Under 1200

Warning: Before proceeding any further, please have your index c:;ard
ready, to block out successive moves, and a chess set poised for action, if
you wish to corroborate the moves. And good luck-not that chess allows
for very much of that.

xviii
 EXPLANATI ON OF
ALG EBRAIC N OTATI ON
Algebraic Notation

In algebraic notation the board is viewed as an eight-by-eight grid. Every

square on the grid has its own name, based on an intersecting file and
rank. Files are lettered a through h. Ranks are numbered 1 through 8.
Squares are named by combining those letters and numbers. Letters al­
ways precede numbers and are lowercase. All squares are named from
White's perspective. The a-file is on White's left and the first rank is the
one closest to White and farthest from Black. Readers may find it helpful
to photocopy the following grid and use it as a reminding bookmark or
screen to hide the moves yet to be guessed.

Black

White

xix
Other Symbols

SYMBOL MEAMNG
K king

Q queen

R rook

B bishop

N knight

p pawn

X captures

+ check

# checkmate

0-0 castles kingside

0-0-0 castles queenside

good move

? bad move

!! brilliant move

?? blunder

!? probably a good move

?! probably a bad move

e.p. en passant

1-0 White wins

0-1 Black wins

Note that in algebraic notation (as opposed to descriptive notation) P and

e.p. are not usually needed to keep score.

XX
SOLITAIRE
CHESS
THE GAMES
 GAME

1
G. Atwood vs. J. Wdson
London 1798, Match
Philidor's Defense C41

HE YEAR IS 1 798 and the city is London. You are George At­

rn wood and love to play chess. You are playing your good friend
Joseph Wilson and have the White pieces. The pieces are not of
Staunton design, because that type of set hasn't been invented yet. Nei­
ther has Howard Staunton ( 1810-74) ! Chess set and Howard Staunton
aside, you start with a king-pawn opening and your opponent elects to
answer with a double king-pawn response, which soon becomes Phili­
dor's Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6) . After 3. d4 f5 (a) , you arrive at the fol­
lowing position, ready for combat.

3
 WHITE 'S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. f5 (a)
4. dxe5 (b) 5 fxe4 (c)
5. Ng5 (d) 4 d5 (e)

6. e6 (f) 5 Nh6 (g)

7. Nc3 5 c6 (h)
8. Ngxe4 (i) 6 dxe4 (j)
9. Qh5+ 5 g6 (k)
10. Qe5 OJ 4 Rg8

11. Bxh6 (m) 5 Bxh6 (n)

1 2. Rd1 5 Qe7 (a)

13. Bc4 (p) 5 b5 (q)

14. Bb3 (r) 5 a5

15. Nxe4 (s) 6 a4 (t)

16. Nf6+ (u) 5 KfB (v)
1 7. Nxg8 5 Kxg8 (w)
18. Rd8+ (x) 6 Qxd8 (y)
19. e7+ 5 Qd5

20. e8/Q+ (z) 5 BfB

21. Qh8+ 6 Kxh8

22. QxfB+ 4 Qg8

23. Qxg8 mate 4 (1-0)

4
( a) Philidor's Counterattack. It assails the center but exposes Black's king
to real danger.

(b) Full credit for 4. exf5, 4. Bc4, or 4. Nc3. They all keep White's initia­
tive.

(c) Add 1 bonus point for seeing 4. ... dxe5? 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nxe5,
when Black loses a pawn and the ability to castle.

( d) Only 3 points part credit for 5. Nd4, hoping for 5. ... dxe5? 6. Qh5+
and 7. Qxe5. No credit for the interpolation 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7,
which helps Black develop.

( e) Tack on 1 bonus point if you analyzed 5. ... dxe5? 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8

7. Nf7+.

(f) Accept 1 bonus point if advancing e5-e6 was your intention when
playing 5. Ng5. Get only 2 points part credit for 6. c4, when 6 . ...Bb4+
is annoying.

( g) 1 bonus point if you were going to rebuff 6. ... Bc5 by 7. Nxe4 dxe4
8. Qh5+, forking the king and c5-bishop.

(b) Solidifying the d-pawn. 1 bonus point for planning to meet 7. ... Bb4
by 8. Qh5+, when the blocking move 8. ... g6 hangs the h6-knight.

( i) 1 bonus point if you considered 8. Nxh7 Rxh7 9. Qh5+ Ke7 10. Bg5+,
skewering the king and queen. 1 bonus point more for rejecting
8. Nxh7 because of 8. ... Bxe6!.

(j) If Black wanted to decline the sacrifice he could play 8. ... Nf5, but this
remains untested and looks unclear.

(k) Add 1 bonus point for realizing 9. .. Ke7?? loses the queen to
.

10. Bg5+.

(1) .Award yourself 1 bonus point if you had this queen centralization in
mind, with its threat to the h8-rook, when sacrificing the knight on e4.

(m) Full credit for the alternative, 11. Bg5.

( n) Black threatens mate in one move, at d2. Hope you saw it before read­
ing this note!

5
(o) 3 bonus points for seeing that 12. ... Qb6 13. Nxe4 Bg7 14. Nd6+ wins.
If 14. ... Kf8 or 14.... Kd8, then 15. e7+. And if 14. ... Ke7, then
15. Nxc8+ Rxc8 16. Qxg7+.

(p) No credit for 13. Nxe4, when Black removes the e6-pawn (13. . . .
Bxe6), and after 14. Nf6+ Kf8 15. Nxg8 Bxg8, he also trades queens
and has a slight material edge.

(q) A better try for Black was 13. ... Bg7, trying to reinforce some of the
soft spots.

(r) Full credit for 14. Nxe4, when 14. ... Bg7 is met by 15. Nd6+ Kd8
16. Nxb5+.

( s) Only 2 points part credit for saving the bishop by advancing the a­
pawn.

(t) 3 bonus points if you saw 15. ... Bg7 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Qf4+ Qf6
18. Nxc8 Qxf4 19. Rd8 mate. 3 bonus points more for also seeing
15. ... Bg7 16.Nd6+ Kd8 17. QcS!, threatening to win Black's queen. (Note
that 17. Nf5+ Ke8 18. Nxe7 Bxe5 19. Nxg8 a4 traps White's bishop.)

(u) Full credit for 16.Nd6+. It's a little different, but it wins too.

(v) 1 bonus point for seeing that 16 . ... Qxf6 17. Qxf6 axb3 allows three
different mates in one move (two mating checks at d8 and one at f7).

(w) There's still no time to take the b3-bishop because the Black queen is
attacked. Meanwhile, moving the queen results in e6-e7 + (add 1 bonus
point for being mindful of this).

(x) Increase your score by 1 bonus point if you saw this rook check possi­
bility when playing 16. Nf6+.

(y) 2 bonus points for realizing that the interposition 18. ... Bf8 fails to
19. Rxf8+ Qxf8 (19. ...Kxf8 allows 20. Qh8 mate) 20. e7+, a brutal dis­
covery.

(z) Full credit for 20. Bxd5+. It's a forced mate no matter what. Add 2
bonus points if you've worked out the way the game actually con­
cluded: A) 20. .. cxdS 21. e8/Q+ Bf8 22. Qh8+ Kxh8 23. Qxf8; or for
.

any of the other mating variations, such as B) 20. ... Be6 21. Bxe6
mate.

6
 GAME

2
J. Cochrane vs. H. Staunton
London 1 84 1, Training Game
Bishop's Opening C23

FTER A PROLONGED STAY in India, the Scotsman John

Cochrane ( 1 798-1878 ) returned to London in the early 1 840s.
There he met rising star Howard Staunton. Together these two
contested hundreds of games, many of which were recorded. For
Staunton, these constituted excellent training, and at the end of the series
he was a world-class gladiator, ready to meet the leading French player,
Saint Amant. In the following game, played in 184 1 , Staunton, the future
world champion, takes it on the chin, with Cochrane (White) displaying
the fiery attacking style that made him famous 20 years earlier. The fire­
works began 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. d4 (a) Bxd4.

7
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. Bxd4

4. Nf3 (b) 6 Qf6 (c)

5. 0-0 (d) 6 Bb6 (e)

6. Nc3 (f) 6 c6 (g)
7. Bg5 6 Qg6

8. Nxe5 (h) 7 Qxg5

9. Nxf7 (i) 5 Qc5

10. Bb3 (j) 5 d5 (k)

1 1 . Nxh8 m 5 Nf6 (m)
12. exd5 6 cxd5

13. Nxd5 (n) 6 Nbd7 (o)

14. Qe2+ (p) 6 Kf8 (q)

15. Rae1 (r) 6 a6 (s)

16. Nxf6 (t) 6 Nxf6

17. Nt7 6 Bd7 (u)

1 8. Ng5 (v) 6 Re8 (w)
19. Qxe8+ (x) 7 Nxe8 (y)
20. Nxh7# (z) 5 {1-0)

8
(a) An experimental pawn sacrifice for development .

(b) Intending 5. Nxd4 exd4 6.Qxd4, regaining his pawn. No credit for
chasing the bishop, 4. c3. After 4. ... Bb6 5. Qd5 Qe7 (or Qf6) , Black
has everything under control.

( c) 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 4. ... Bb6? with 5. Nxe5. An­
other 1 bonus point if you were going to answer 4. ... c5 with 5. c3,
when 5. ... QaS is met by 6. 0-0, winning the trapped d4-bishop. Still,
4. ... Qf6 will lose time later on, when White develops and attacks the
Black queen.

( d) Only 3 points part credit for either 5. Nxd4 or 5. Bg5 (when Black can
respond 5. ... Qb6) . These moves can be held in reserve until after
White castles.

(e) 1 bonus point for seeing the possibility of 6. Nxd4 exd4 7. e5, since
7 .... Qxe5? is met by the pin, 8. Rel.

(f) Only 5 points part credit for 6. Bg5, which isn't bad, but White's look­
ing for better and more natural ways to sustain the initiative (such as
Nc3-d5).

(g) 2 bonus points if you noticed 6 .... d6 7. Bg5! Qg6 8. Nxe5!. If 8. ...
dxe5?, then 9. Qd8 mate; if 8. ... Qxg5, then 9. Nxf7, forking the queen
and rook.

(h) Deduct 1 point for the flashy 8. Bxf7 +?, which can be rebuffed by 8. ...
Qxf7 (not 8.... Kxf7 because of 9. Nxe5+) .

(i ) 1 bonus point if you saw this fork in advance.

(j) Only 2 points part credit for 10. Nxh8 Qxc4 11. Qh5+ Kf8, when
White's attack has lost much of its strength.

(k) An attempt to close down the a2-g8 diagonal. It doesn't work because
White has more soldiers on d5 than Black does.

(I) Time to take the rook. No credit for anything else.

(m) 1 bonus point if you saw that 11.... dxe4? meets up with 12. Bxg8.

9
(n) The pawn is won, for if 13. ... Nxd5, then 14. Q (or B) xd5. Black has a
bishop for two pawns, but his king is exposed. Score 1 bonus point if
you worked this out ahead of time.

(o) Trying to develop and exchange off some of the attacking force, hoping
that White obliges by playing 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6. The drawback of the
knight move to d7, however, is that the c8-bishop gets blocked and the
light squares in Black's camp become vulnerable.

(p) Only 2 points part credit for 14. Re1+, which weakens f2.

(q) Add 1 bonus point for seeing 14. ... Kd8? 15. Nf7 mate-the forgotten
knight comes back to do productive service.

(r) Increasing the pressure. Full credit for 15. Qe6, threatening mate at f7.

(s) 1 bonus point for seeing that 15.

. .. NxdS? loses to 16. Qe8 mate. Add
2 bonus points for planning to answer 15. ... g6 by 16. Qe6, when
16 . ... Kg7 17. Qf7+ Kxh8 18. Nxf6 Nxf6 19. Qxf6 is mate, pure and
simple.

(t) Full credit for 16.Qe6, as well as for 16. Nf4, after which the latter
poses dual threats: 17. Ne6+, and 17. Ng6+ (either White knight) hxg6
18. Nxg6 mate.

(u) In the event of 17. ... Bg4, White could move his queen to c4, d2, d3, or
eS, and go on to win with his material advantage. Staunton's bishop
move (Bd7) is more subtle. The intention is to force the closing of the
b3-g8 diagonal by 18. ... BbS. After 19. c4, Black would then follow
with 19. ... Bc6 20. NeS Re8, pinning the knight to the queen, with the
irksome Bb6-a5 hovering in the background.

(v ) 1 bonus point for seeing 18. ... QxgS? 19. Qe7 mate, and 1 point more
if you spotted 18. ... BbS? 19. Ne6+ (gaining big material).

(w) 1 bonus point for planning to answer 18. ... h6 with 19. Qe6!. Add 2
bonus points if you saw 19. ... Qxf2+ 20. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Bxe6
22.Nxe6+. Give yourself 1 bonus point for seeing 19. QhS! when ei­
ther 19. ... QxgS or 19. ... hxgS is dismissed by 20. Qf7 mate. Take 1
bonus point for visualizing 19. Qh5 NxhS 20. Nh7 mate, and also 1
bonus point for seeing 19. QhS Be8 20. Rxe8+ and 21. Qf7 mate.

10
(x) Full credit for 19. Qh5. If 19. ... Nxh5, then 20. Nxh7 mate; if 19 . ...
Qxf2+, then 20. Kh1 (not 20. Rxf27 Rx.e1 mate) 20.... Re7 21. Nxh7+
Nxh7 22. Rxf2+; and if 19.... Re7, then 20. Nxh7+ Nxh7 21. Qxh7,
threatening 22. Qg8 mate.

(y) 1 bonus point for seeing 19 . .. BxeS 20. Ne6+, and White gets to take
.

Black's queen with discovered check.

(z) 1 bonus point if you visualized the fmish when playing 18. Ng5.

11
 GAME

3
P. Morphy vs. Consultants
Paris 1858, The Opera Game
Philidor's Defense C41

0 YOU THINK YOU know the most famous chess game of all
time? Let's see how well you really know it by taking a little test.
The year is 1858. The setting is a box at the Paris Opera, be­
tween acts of the Barber Q/ Seville. You and your partner, Paul Morphy,
have the White pieces. Your opponents, a team formed by the Duke of
Brunswick and Count Isouard, have Black. You listen to some music, take
a break to play a casual game of chess, and wind up becoming a funda­
mental part of world history. The tour de force began with 1 . e4 eS 2. Nf3
d6 3. d4 Bg4.

3
2

a c e 9

12
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. Bg4

4. dxeS (a) 7 Bxf3 (b)

5. Qxf3 (c) 6 dxe5 (d)
6. Bc4 (e) 7 Nf6 (fJ
7. Qb3 (g) 7 Qe7 (h)
8. Nc3 (i) 8 c6 OJ
9. Bg5 (k) 7 b5 OJ
10. Nxb5 (m) 8 cxb5 (n)
1 1 . Bxb5+ (o) 6 Nbd7 (p)
12. 0-0-0 (q) 7 Rd8 (r)
13. Rxd7 (s) 8 Rxd7

14. Rd1 (t) 6 Qe6 (u)

15. Bxd7+ (v) 7 Nxd7 (w)
16. Qb8+ (x) 9 Nxb8 (y)
17. Rd8# (z) 7 (1-0)

13
( a) Black's last move was questionable. Thke 1 bonus point for realizing
that 4. ... dxe5 loses a pawn to 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nxe5.

(b) A dubious gambit here is 4. ... Nd7 5. exd6 Bxd6, occasionally played
by Blackburne to try to steal the initiative.

(c) Only 4 points part credit for 5. gxf3 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. f4.

( d) Black has maintained a pawn at e5, retaining an equal share of the cen­
ter, but at the cost of development and light-square weaknesses.

(e) Developing with a gain of time by threatening mate at f7.

(f) A mistake. The queen should have guarded f7 instead (with either Qf6
or Qe7). Now the trouble begins.

(g) 1 bonus point if you considered, when the queen was still on f3,
White's main threat here (Bxf7 + and Qe6 mate) .

(h) Add 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 7 . ... Qd7 with 8. Qxb7
Qc6 9. Bb5, pinning her majesty to an ignominious end.

(i ) 5 points part credit for 8. Qxb7 (or for 8. Bxf7+ Qxf7 9. Qxb7). Either
variation wins at least a pawn, but allows Black to solve some problems
via 8. ... Qb4+, trading queens. As a rule, the defender wants to reduce
the oncoming attacking force.

(j) Deduct 5 points if you missed the point of this move, to defend b7 with
the queen.

(k) Only 4 points part credit if you tried to restrain the advance b7-b5 by
9. a4.

(1) 2 bonus points if you analyzed 9. ... Qc7 10.0-0-0 BcS 11. Bxf7+ Qxf7
12. Rd8+.

( m) Get only 3 points part credit for retreating the c4-bishop. 1 bonus
point if you had the sacrifice on b5 in mind when playing 9. Bg5.

(n ) Black should have swallowed his pride with 10. ... Qb4+, trading
queens and snuffing out some of White's force.

(o) Deduct 3 points for the faulty 11. Bd5?, aiming for the aS-rook. Black
wiggles out by 11 .. Qb4+ (getting out of the pin on the f6-knight ) and
. .

Nxd5.

14
(p ) 1 bonus point for answering 11. ... Kd8 by 12. Bxf6, followed by
13. Qd5+.

(q) Connecting the rooks and threatening to take on d7.

(r) 1 bonus point for demolishing 12. ... 0-0-0? by 13.Ba6+ Kc7 14. Qb7
mate.

( s) Only 4 points part credit for the slower way to double rooks, 13. Rd3
and 14. Rhdl. It wins, too, but gives Black a chance to catch his breath.

( t) Deduct 3 points for 14. Bxf6? Qxf6 15. Rd1, when Black escapes with
Bd6.

(u) 1 bonus point for seeing 14.. .. Qb4 15. Bxf6 Qxb3 (or 15. ... gxf6
16. Bxd7+ Kd8 17. Qxf7) 16. Bxd7 mate.

(v) Add only 5 points part credit for 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Bxd7+. It wins the
queen, but wouldn't be that historic.

(w) 3 bonus points for working out 15. ... Qxd7 16. Qb8+ Ke7 17. Qxe5+:
A) 17. ... Qe6 18. Qc7, and mate next move; B) 17 .... Kd8 18. Bxf6+,
gaining big material.

(x) Perhaps the most famous queen sacrifice ever. I'm thinking about tak­
ing out the word "perhaps."

(y) No choice. The knight must capture, clearing the d-file for the intrusion
of major frre power.

(z) Put the icing on your score with 2 bonus points if you saw this conclu­
sion when playing 15. Bxd7+.

15
 GAME

4
W. Steinitz vs. A. Mongredien
London 1 862
Center Counter Defense B01

ILHELM STEINITZ ( 1 83 6- 1 900) was the first official

world chess champion (1886-94) and one of the game's
greatest teachers. Indeed, it was Steinitz who put forth the
theory of positional chess, which advocates the steady accumulation of
small advantages and is at the heart of grandmaster play. But in the early
days, the man dubbed the "Austrian Morphy" was an impatient young
man, and he couldn't wait to put his adversaries away. An illustration of
this dynamic style is his contest against Augustus Mongredien (Black) ,
played in London in 1 862. It began 1 . e4 dS 2. exdS QxdS 3. Nc3 Qd8
4. d4 e6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Be3 b6 9. NeS Bb7.

16
 WHITE'S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

9. Bb7

10. f4 (a) 5 Nbd7 (b)

1 1 . Qe2 (c) 5 Nd5 (d)
12. Nxd5 (e) 5 exd5 (f)
13. Rf3 (g) 5 f5 (h)
14. Rh3 (i) 5 g6 (j)
15. g4 (k) 6 fxg4 m
16. Rxh7 (m) 7 Nxe5 (n)

17. fxe5 3 Kxh7

18. Qxg4 (o) 4 Rg8 (p)

19. Qh5+ (q) 5 Kg7

20. Qh6+ (r) 5 Kf7

21. Qh7+ (s) 5 Ke6 (t)

22. Qh3+ (u) 5 Kf7

23. Rf1+ (v) 5 Ke8 (w)

24. Qe6 (x) 5 Rg7

25. Bg5 (y) 6 Qd7 (z)

26. Bxg6+ 5 Rxg6

27. Qxg6+ 5 Kd8

28. Rf8+ 5 Qe8

29. Qxe8# 4 (1-0)

17
( a) Full credit for 10.Qe2.

(b) 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 10. ... Nd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 by
12. Qe2, with the idea to expel Black's queen by an eventual c2-c4.

( c) Completing development and connecting the rooks.

(d) 2 bonus points if you were ready for the line 11. ... c5 12. Rad1 cxd4
13. Bb5 dxe3? 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Rxd7.

( e) No credit for the crude mate threat 12. Qh5. Black counters easily with
12. .. . N7f6.

( f ) 1 bonus point if you understood that Black plans to put a knight on e4.
Then 2 bonus points if you considered the line 12 ....Bxd5 13. Rad1 c5
14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. c4 Bc6 17. Bxh7+, uncovering an at­
tack on the queen.

(g) Only 3 points part credit for either 13. Ba6 or 13. c4. After 13. R£3,
there's a perk of 2 bonus points for seeing the possibility of 14. Bxh7+
Kxh7 15. Rh3+ Kg8 16. Qh5. Full credit if you evaluated 13. Qh5 Nf6
14. Qh3 Bc8 15.f5 as attractive for White.

(h) 3 bonus points if you considered 13. ... Nxe5 14. fxe5 f6 15. Rh3 g6
16. Rxh7! Kxh7 17. Qh5+ Kg7 18. Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Qh7 mate. 1 bonus
point for seeing that 13. ... Nf6 14. Rh3 threatens 15. Bxh7+ Nxh7
16. Qh5.

(i) 1 bonus point if you saw ahead that 14. ... Nf6? drops a pawn to
15. BxfS. Add 2 bonus points if you also determined that 14.... Qe8
runs into 15. Bb5 Bc8 16. Bc6 Rb8 17. Bxd5+.

(j) 3 bonus points if you analyzed 14. ... c5 15. Qh5 Nf6 16. Qxf5 Bc8
17. Qxh7+ Nxh7 18. Bxh7+ Kh8 19. Ng6 mate.

(k ) Steinitz plays vigorously, looking to smash open attacking lines for his
pieces.

(1) Under pressure, Black cracks. His last line of defense was 15. ... Nxe5
16. fxeS Bc8.

18
( m) Only 5 points part credit for 16. Qxg4, though White is still on top.
Award 2 bonus points for seeing the continuation 1 6 . Qxg4 Nf6
1 7. Qg2 Bc8 1 8. Rxh7 Kxh7 ( 1 8 . . . . Nxh7 19. Qxg6+ Kh8 20. Qxh7
mate) 19. Qxg6+ Kh8 20. Khl ! , and there's no defense against the com­
ing 2 1 . Rgl .

( n) Best. There's nothing to be gained by placing the knight at f6. An im­

mediate 1 6 . ... Nf6 allows the rook to withdraw, 1 7. Rh6. 3 bonus
points for investing analysis on 1 6 . .. . Kxh7 1 7. Qxg4 Nf6 18 . Qxg6+
Kh8 1 9. Kh 1 (or 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. Kh 1 ) 1 9 . ... Qe8 20. Qh6+ Kg8
2 1 . Rg1 +, and it's soon over.

( o) 1 bonus point for seeing the threat: 1 9. Qxg6+ Kh8 20. Qh7 mate. 3
bonus points if you saw 1 8 . . .. Rf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Qxf5+ Kh8
2 1 . Qh5+ Kg8 22. Kh l .

( p) If you considered 1 8. . . . Qe8 19. Qh5+, take 3 bonus points for seeing
1 9. ... Kg8 20. Bxg6 Rf7 2 1 . Kh1 Bf8 22. Rg1 Bg7 23. Bh6 Qd7
24. Bxf7+ Qxf7 25. Rxg7+ Qxg7 26. Bxg7. Add 3 bonus points if you
ventured into 1 9 . . . . Kg7 20. Bh6+ Kg8 (20 ....Kf7 2 1 . Qxg6 mate; or
20. ... Kh7 2 1 . Bxf8+ Kg8 22. Bxg6 Qxf8 23. Qh7 mate) 2 1 . Bxg6 Qd7
22. Kh1 Ba6 23. Rg1 Rf1 24. Bf7+ Kh7 25. Bf8 mate.

( q) 1 bonus point if you saw this check coming in advance. Full credit for
19. Rf1 , threatening 20. Qh5+ Kg7 2 1 . Qh6 mate. 1 bonus point if you
saw 1 9 . . . . Rg7 20. Rf7!. And 3 bonus points if you worked out the
main line 20 . ... Rxf7 2 1 . Bxg6+ Kg8 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. e6+ Kf6 (it's
mate after 23 . . . . Kf8 24. Bh6+ Ke8 25. Qg6 mate or 23 . . . . Ke8 24. Qg6+
Kf8 25. Qf7 mate) 24. Bg5+ Kg6 25. Bxe7+, winning the queen.

(r) Deduct 4 points for the hasty 20. Qxg6+??, losing the queen to a pin
after 20 . ... Kh8. Also deduct 1 point for 20. Bh6+, when 20 . ... Kh8
2 1 . Bxg6 Rxg6 22. Qxg6 Qg8 is not likely to appeal to Steinitz.

(s) Only 2 points part credit for 2 1 . Rf1 +. There's a mate if Black plays
carelessly, 2 1 . . . . Ke6?? 22. Qh3 mate. But after 2 1 . . . . Ke8, Black may
be able to escape. 2 bonus points if you examined and rejected
2 1 . Rf1+.

19
( t) 2 bonus points if you analyzed 2 1 . . . . Rg7 22. Bxg6+ Kf8 (22 . ... Ke6
23. Qh3 mate) 23. Qh8+ (or 23. Bh6) 23 . ... Rg8 24. Bh6 mate. Black
may also just let his rook go by 2 1 . ... Ke8 22. Qxg8+ Kd7. In that case,
White should instead first tighten the screws by 22. e6! Qd6 (or 22 . ...
Rf8 23. Qxg6+ Rf7 24. Qxf7 mate) 23. Qxg8+ Bf8 24. Bg5, and there is
hardly any escape from the three mate-in-one threats. 2 bonus points
for figuring this out.

(u) The king cannot be allowed to reach d7; from there it might be able to
escape to cB or c6.

(v) Full credit for 23. e6+.

(w) 1 bonus point if you saw 23 . . . . Kg7 24. Qh6 mate.

(x) Black's next move is ugly, but pretty much forced.

(y) 5 points part credit for either 25. Bb5+ or 25. Bh6.
(z) If Black does nothing, White wins with Rf4-h4-h8. But after 25 . ... Qd7,
you can close the deal with 2 bonus points if you foresaw the final four
moves of the game.

20
 GAME

5
P. Morphy vs. J. A. de Riviere
Paris 1 863
Evans Gambit Accepted C51

ILHELM STEINITZ AND PAUL MORPHY MET only

once, and they didn't play chess. To be sure, Morphy for­
bade the subject from coming up as a precondition to meet­
ing at all. Supposedly, upon hearing of Steinitz's arrival in New Orleans,
Morphy's only words were: "Steinitz, I know him. His gambit's un­
sound. " The following gambit, on the other hand, seems very sound. It
was played in 1863 by Morphy in Paris against Jules Arnous de Riviere
(Black) , with the reticent American using every gained tempo to craft a
finely executed win. The gambit began 1 . e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
4. b4 Bxb4.

21
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

4. Bxb4

5. c3 (a) 5 Bc5

6. 0-0 (b) 5 d6

7. d4 5 exd4 (c)

8. cxd4 (d) 4 Bb6

9. Nc3 (e) 5 Qf6 (f)

10. Nd5 (g) 5 Q g6

1 1 . Nf4 (h) 5 Qf6 (i)
12. e5 (j) 5 dxe5

13. dxe5 4 Qf5 (k)

14. e6 (1) 6 f6 (m)
15. Nh4 (n) 5 Qc5 (a)

16. Be3 (p) 6 Q g5 (q)

17. Nf3 (r) 5 Q a5 (s)

18. Bxb6 (t) 5 Qxb6 (u)

19. Nd5 (v) 5 Q a5
20. Nd2 (w) 6 Nd4

21. Nb3 5 Nxb3

22. axb3 4 Q c5 (x)

23. Qh5+ 5 Kd8 (y)
24. Rad1 (z) 5 (1-0)

22
( a) No credit for other moves. In the Evans, White sacrifices the b-pawn to
gain time, in order to build a pawn center. By retreating the bishop to
c5, Black keeps aS clear, so that NaS becomes a possibility against Qb3.

(b) Full credit for 6. d4, which is the preferred move. In Morphy's day the
two moves (6. 0-0 and 6. d4) were virtually interchangeable.

( c) The move 7 . ... Bb6 had already been played in the 26th game of the
t834 Macdonnell-Labourdonnais Match. Black lost that game, so
everyone forgot about the retreat until the world champion, Emanuel
Lasker, revived it in t89S.

( d) Only 2 points part credit for the inconsistent 8. Nxd4. After Black
withdraws his bishop to b6, we reach the so-called "Normal Position" of
the Evans Gambit.

(e ) Only 4 points part credit for either 9. Bb2 or 9. dS, both of which were
played by Morphy in other games. Only 2 points part credit for 9. h3,
stopping Bg4, but too slow for gambit play.

( f ) An experiment with the queen. Either 9 . ... NaS or 9. . . . Bg4 were less
experimental.

(g) No credit for anything else. Black's safest reply is to . ... Qd8, but as
Morphy later alluded, only a lab specimen would play like that.

(h) 2 points part credit for tt. Nh4. Full credit for tt. Rbt, threatening
t2. Rxb6, to be followed by a knight fork at c7. Add 2 bonus points if
you further considered tl . . . . BaS t2. Nf4 Qf6 t3. dS NeS t4. NxeS
dxeS tS. Qa4+ Bd7 t6. QxaS exf4 t7. Rxb7, when Black's position is
being reduced to the elements.

( i) If t l . . . . Qxe4, then t2. Ret pins the queen (1 bonus point) . If t l . ...
Qh6, then the discovery t2. Ne6; and if t2. ... QhS, then t3. Nxg7+ ( 1
bonus point) . I f instead t2 . . . . Qf6, then t3. BgS Qg6 t4. Nf4 Qxe4
tS. Ret nails the queen again (2 bonus points) . After tl. . . . Qh6
t2. Ne6 Qg6, there follows t3. Nh4 Qxe4 (t3 . ... Qf6 t4. BgS) t4. Ret
Qxh4 tS. BgS , and the queen is trapped (2 bonus points) . Finally, if
t l . ... Qg4, then t2. h3 Qd7 t3. BbS a6 t4. Ba4, and there are no de­
fenses against tS. dS (2 bonus points) .

(j) With Black's king still uncastled, White plays to open the center.

23
(k) 1 bonus point for seeing 1 3 . . . . Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Re1 , once
again pinning the queen to the uncastled king. 2 bonus points for see­
ing 1 3 . ... Qd8 1 4. Qb3 NaS 15. Bxf7+ Kf8 1 6. Ne6+ Bxe6 1 7. Qxe6,
with White in the catbird seat. Take 3 bonus points for 13 . . . . Qd8
1 4. Qb3 Nh6 1 5 . Rd1 Nd4 ( 1 5 . ... Bd7 16. e6 is unpleasant) 1 6. Nxd4
Bxd4 1 7. Ne2 c5 1 8. Nxd4 cxd4 1 9. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Bxf7+.

(1) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 1 1 . Nf4. Take full
credit if you opted for 1 4. Bd3 Qd7 15. e6 fxe6 16. Nxe6 (on 1 6 . . . .
Qxe6, the queen is pinned, 1 7. Re 1 ) .

( m) 3 bonus points if you weighed 1 4 . ... fxe6 1 5 . Nxe6 Bxe6 1 6 . Bxe6 Qf6
( 1 6 . ... Qxe6 1 7. Re 1 , pinning) 1 7. Bb2! Qxb2 ( 1 7 . . . . Qg6 1 8. Nh4 or
1 7 . ... Qe7 1 8. Ba3) 18. Qd7+ Kf8 1 9. Qf7 mate.

(n ) 4 points part credit for either 15. Bd3 or 15. Nd5. They're both good,
but ultimately less funny.

(o ) 1 bonus point if you spotted 1 5 . . . . Qg5 16. Nfg6, with a discovery to

the queen. Yes, 1 5 . . .. QaS or 1 5 . ... Qe5 were also possible, but neither
were deemed humorous enough to be played in this game.

(p ) 1 bonus point if you saw this move when playing 15. Nh4.

(q) 4 bonus points for seeing 1 6 . . . . Qxc4 1 7. Qh5+ Kd8 ( 1 7. ... Kf8 1 8. Qf7
mate or 1 7 . ... g6 1 8. Nhxg6) 1 8. Rad 1 + Nd4 1 9. Nhg6 hxg6 20. Qxh8
Bxe6 2 1 . Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4+! Qxd4 23. Nxe6+ and 24. Nxd4. No
extra credit for being able to read what I just wrote.

( r) 1 bonus point for rejecting 1 7. Nfg6 Bxe3.

( s) 1 bonus point for seeing that 1 7. . .. Qg4 1 8. h3 Qf5 19. Nd5 is explo­
sive.

(t) Removing a defender of the c7-pawn.

(u) The queen will not be able to keep her grip on c7. Black had to try
1 8 . ... axb6 1 9. Nd5 b5 20. Bxb5 (take 1 bonus point for realizing that
20 . ... Qxb5? fails to the forking 2 1 . Nxc7+) . 20 . . .. Bxe6 and 20 . ...
Nge7 are worth examining-but not here.

(v) Hitting the queen and c7. Black's next is his only move.

24
( w ) The knight threatens to drive the queen from as. In addition, the diag­
onal of the White queen is opened for her entrance to h5. Black plays to
remove the knight when it gets to b3, but then the at-rook appears on
the scene to harass Black's queen.

(x) Again, Black plays an only-move.

(y) 1 bonus point for seeing 23.... Kf8 24. Qf7 mate. 1 bonus point more
for seeing 23. ... g6 24. Nxf6+.

(z) White threatens to move the knight, unmasking two discoveries: one to
the king along the d-fiJ.e, and one to the queen along the fifth rank.
There is no defense. 2 bonus points for realizing 24. Radl was termi­
nal.

25
 GAME

6
A. Anderssen vs. J. Zukertort
Barmen 1 869
Evans Gambit Accepted C51

rn T'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO discuss the Romantic Period in

chess without mentioning the name of Adolf Anderssen
( 1 8 1 8-79) , who played some of the most dazzling combinations
and sacrifices ever. Several of his games were so distinctive, they have
their own descriptive names: the Immortal Game and the Evergreen
Game. The following contest, played at Barmen in 1 869 against his vir­
tuoso student. Johann Zukertort ( 1842-88) , has no special handle, but it
too is hard to forget. The no-name contest began 1 . e4 eS 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 BcS 4. b4 Bxb4 5 . c3 BaS 6. d4 exd4 7. 0-0 Bb6 8. cxd4 d6 9. dS
NaS 10. Bb2 Ne7 1 1 . Bd3 0-0 12. Nc3 Ng6 13. Ne2 cS.

26
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

13. c5

14. Qd2 (a) 5 f6 (b)

15. Kh1 (c) 5 Bc7 (d)
16. Rac1 (e) 4 Rb8

17. Ng3 5 b5

18. Nf5 (f) 5 b4 (g)

19. Rg1 (h) 5 Bb6 (i)
20. g4 (j) 5 Ne5

21. Bxe5 (k) 5 dxe5 OJ

22. Rg3 (m) 5 Rt7 (n)
23. g5 (o)· 6 Bxf5 (p)
24. exf5 3 Qxd5 (q)

25. gxf6 (r) 5 Rd8 (s)

26. Rcg1 (t) 6 Kh8 (u)

27. fxg7+ 5 Kg8 (v)
28. Qh6 (w) 6 Qd6

29. Qxh7+ (x) 6 Kxh7

30. f6+ (y) 5 Kg8

31. Bh7+ (z) 6 Kxh7

32. Rh3+ 4 Kg8

33. Rh8 mate 4 (1-0)

27
(a) Black has an extra pawn, White has more central space. Black will ad­
vance on the queenside, White will play for mate.

( b) 1 bonus point if you sensed White wanted to play 15. Ng3 and
1 6. Bxg7, to be followed by Nh5 and Qh6.

( c) Preparing a kingside build-up. White plans Rg1 and g4.

( d) Unblocking the b-pawn and clearing its path for advance.

(e) Designed to discourage c4, while providing a retreat for the light-square
bishop at b 1 , without locking in a rook.

(f) A menacing knight, which White will have to remove sooner or later.

(g) After the game, Zukertort demonstrated an improvement, 1 8 . ... c4! .

Anderssen, a s Black, used the idea two days later to defeat Wilfred
Paulsen.

(h) 1 bonus point for having seen the idea (when the gl -rook was still on
f1 ) : 1 9 . ... c4 20. Bxc4 Nxc4 2 1 . Rxc4 Ba6, skewering the rooks.

( i) Zukertort looks ahead to his 2 1 st move, when he wants his cS-pawn to

be guarded.

(j) The attack is taking shape. Now, in the event of 20 . . . . Bxf5, the recap­
ture 2 1 . gxf5 opens the g-file.

(k) 2 points part credit for 2 1 . Nxe5. After 2 1 . ... fxe5, the b2-bishop
needs to be activated.

(1) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 2 1 . ... fxe5 with 22. Ng5-e6.

(m) Envisaging the doubling of rooks on the g-file.

( n) This defends g7, while blocking the a2-g8 diagonal.

(o ) Black may have thought he had prevented this move, since he can now
take on f5 and then d5.

(p) Better to hold off one move and create a time-gaining diversion: 23 .. . .

c4 24. Bxc4 BxfS 25. exf5 ReB .

(q) Now 24 . ... c4 doesn't work because the bishop goes to e4. Still, Black's
centralizing queen capture looks strong.

28
( r) 2 points part credit for 25. Bc4. Black may be able to give up the ex­
change, 25 . ... Qxd2 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7, since he has two pawns for it.

( s) 1 bonus point for perceiving 25 . ... Rxf6? 26. Bc4!, winning the queen.

(t) Black's counterplay in the center seems impressive, but it's not enough
to hold White off. Deduct 4 points for 26. Qh6?, which is met by 26 . ...
Qxf3+!, and the pin on g7 will end.

(u) Score some bonus points if you had considered how to play against
26 . ... Qxd3. That is, add 2 bonus points for calculating 27. Rxg7+
Rxg7 28. Rxg7+ Kf8 29. Rg8+ Kxg8 (29 . . . . Kf7 30. Nxe5+) 30. Qg5+,
with mate to follow; and add 2 bonus points more for analyzing
27. Qh6 Qxf5 28. Rxg7+ Kh8 29. Ng5.

(v) Black tries to shelter his king behind the g-pawn. 2 bonus points if you
calculated the capture 27 . ... Rxg7, which breaks down after 28. Qh6
(28. Rxg7 also works) 28 . ... Rdg8 (or 28 . . . . Rxg3 29. Qf6+) 29. Be4!
Qxe4 (now g8 is not guarded by Black's queen) 30. Qh7+ Kxh7 (30 . . . .
Rxh7 3 1 . Rxg8 mate) 3 1 . Rh3+, and mate next move.

(w) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat: 29. Qxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rh3+ Kg8
3 1 . Rh8 mate.

(x) Only 3 points part credit for the less efficient 29. f6 Qxd3 30. Ng5.

(y) Only 3 points part credit for 30. Rh3+ Qh6 3 1 . f6+ Kg8 32. Rxh6,
when Black can delay mate by 32 . . . . Rxf6.

(z) The final finesse and the last score ( 1 bonus point) , but only if you saw
3 1 . Bh7+ when sacking the queen. Anderssen did.

29
 GAME

7
J. H. Zukertort vs. Rev. J. Owen
Chistlehurst 1878
-<¥ Sicilian Defense B46

[] OHANN ZUKERTORT ( 1 842-88) was an ingenious attacker,

who, in the 1 870s and early 1 880s, was maybe the second-best
player in the world behind Steinitz. He actually lost two matches
to the champ, but his supporters rationalized his defeats. They said he
lost the first match (in 1872) because he hadn't yet become Zukertort,
and he lost the second (in 1 886) because he was no longer Zukertort.
Fortunately, when he played the first game of his 1 878 match in Chistle­
hurst, England against the Reverend John Owen (Black) , he was very
much himself. The validation of his identity began 1 . e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6
3 . Nf3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. Be2 Bb4 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nxc6 bxc6
9. eS Bxc3 1 0. bxc3 NdS 1 1 . Qd4 aS.

5 5

3 3

30
 WHITE'S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

11. a5

12. Ba3 (a) 6 f5 (b)

13. Rab1 (c) 5 Kt7

14. c4 (d) 5 Nb4 (e)

15. Rb2 (f) 4 Qe7 (g)

16. c3 (h) 5 c5 (i)
17. Q e3 3 Bb7 (j)
18. Rd2 (k) 5 Na6 OJ
19. Rd6 (m) 5 Rhc8 (n)
20. Rfd1 5 Rc7

21. Bf3 (o) 6 Bxf3 (p)

22. Qxf3 3 Raa7 (q)

23. Rb1 (r) 6 Qd8

24. Bet (s) 5 g6

25. g4 (t) 5 Q a8

26. Qh3 (u) 5 Kg8 (v)

27. gxf5 5 exf5 (w)

28. Rbb6 (x) 6 Rc6

29. Rbxc6 5 dxc6

30. Bg5 5 h6 (y)

31. Rxg6+ (z) 6 (1-0)

31
( a) Taking advantage of the absence of Black's dark-square bishop to pre­
vent castling.

(b) Preparing to castle by hand, by Kf7, R8, and then Kg8. Also possible
was 1 2 . ... f6.

( c) White improves the position of the rook, bringing it to the open file.

( d) Pushing Black's knight out of the center. Full credit for 14. Bd6, if you
planned to follow it by 1 5 . c4.

( e) The knight is used to close the diagonal of the a3-bishop and the file of
the b 1 -rook.

(f ) 1 point part credit for 15. Bxb4 axb4 1 6. Rxb4 Rxa2, as Black has
some activity and is doing better than the game continuation.

(g) 1 bonus point if you saw Black's threat: 1 6 . ... Nxc2, hitting White's
queen and discovering an attack to the a3-bishop. Deduct 1 point if
you missed it.

(h) Trying to exploit the pin on the knight.

(i ) 2 bonus points if you were prepared for 1 6 . ... Nc2: A) 1 7. Rxc2 Qxa3
1 8. Rbl , threatening to trap the Black queen by 19. c5 and 20. Rb3; or
B) 1 7. Bxe7 Nxd4 18. cxd4 Kxe7 19. cS, when White has a spatial and
positional edge.

(j) Cleverly played. Black activates his bishop, inviting White to take on b4.

(k) 1 bonus point if you realized that 1 8. cxb4 axb4 regains the piece.

(I) Now the knight is threatened for real. 1 bonus point for seeing 1 8 . ...
Nc6? hangs the c-pawn, 1 9. BxcS! . 20. QxcS.

(m) Full credit for 1 9. Rfd 1 , menacing the d-pawn.

(n) Black's king-rook arrives just in time to defend the weak points at c5
and d7.

(o) An excellent positional move, bringing about a trade of Black's best

placed piece-his b7 -bishop.

(p) 1 bonus point if you realized that Black had to respond to White's
threat to capture on b7 and then cS.

32
(q) It seems that Black has covered himself, but his pieces are passive.

( r) 1 bonus point if you perceived the idea 24. Rbb6, winning the knight.

( s) As Black's pieces are drawn to the queenside, White's head for the king-
side.

(t) Black's king looks seriously compromised, so he offers a queen trade to

lessen the pressure.

(u) No credit for 26. Qxa8. Exchanging queens is a sure way to kill White's
attack.

(v) 2 bonus points if you saw the mate threat: 27. Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Bh6+
Ke8 29. Qg8+ Ke7 30. Bg5 mate.

(w) The counterattacking move, 27. ... Qe4, had to be considered. Add 2
bonus points for weighing 28. f6 Qxb 1 29. Qh6, when White is win­
ning. Add 3 bonus points for seeing 28. f6 Qxe5 29. Qh6 Qxf6
30. Rxa6! Rxa6 3 1 . Rb8+ Kf7 32. QfS mate.

(x) 1 bonus point for spotting the threat: 29. Rxg6+, with mate to follow
shortly.

(y) Th.ke 3 bonus points if you determined that trying to save the queen by
30 . ... Qb7 loses to 3 1 . Rd8+ Kg7 32. Qh6+ Kf7 33. Qxh7+ Ke6 34. Re8+
Qe7 35. Rxe7+ (or 35. Qxe7+, if you want to get fancy) 35 . ... Rxe7 36.
Qxe7 mate.

(z) Playing for mate is stronger than winning the queen. Only 4 points
part credit for 3 1 . Rd8+. Add 2 bonus points for seeing 3 1 . . . . Kf7
32. e6+ Kxg6 33. Qxh6 mate. 3 bonus points for picturing 3 1 . . . . Rg7
32. Rxg7+ Kxg7 33. Qxh6+ Kg8 34. Qg6+ Kf8 35. e6 Qe8 36. Bh6 mate
(or 35 . . . . Qb7 36. Bh6+ Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Ke8 38. Qd7 mate) .

33
 GAME

8
Em. Lasker vs. J. Bauer
Amsterdam 1 889
Bird's Opening A03

MANUEL LASKER ( 1 86 8- 1 94 1 ) , the second world cham­

pion, held the title for 2 7 years ( 1 894-1 92 1 ) , longer than any
other person. Famous for luring his opponents into overconfi­
dent play and then punishing them (with chess moves) , Lasker often
spun deadly attacks of his own. An example of his poker-face cunning
was this game against Johann Bauer (Black) at Amsterdam in 1 889. The
enticement began 1 . f4 dS 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. Bd3 b6 6. Nc3
Bb7 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Ne2 c5 1 0. Ng3 Qc7 1 1 . NeS NxeS
12. BxeS Qc6 13. Qe2 a6.

34
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

13. a6

14. Nh5 (a) 6 Nxh5 (b)

15. Bxh7+ (c) 6 Kxh7 (d)
16. Qxh5+ 4 Kg8

17. Bxg7 (e) 7 Kxg7 (tJ

18. Qg4+ (g) 5 Kh7 (h)
19. Rf3 (i) 5 e5 (j)
20. Rh3+ 5 Qh6

2 1 . Rxh6+ 3 Kxh6 (k)

22. Qd7 OJ 5 Bf6 (m)
23. Qxb7 4 Kg7 (n)
24. Rf1 (o) 5 Rab8 (p)
25. Qd7 (q) 5 Rfd8 (r)
26. Qg4+ 5 Kf8 (s)
27. fxe5 (t) 5 Bg7 (u)
28. e6 (v) 5 Rb7 (w)
29. Qg6 (x) 5 f6

30. Rxf6+ 6 Bxf6 (y)

31. Qxf6+ 4 Ke8

32. Qh8+ 5 Ke7

33. Qg7+ (z) 5 (1-0)

35
( a) 1 bonus point if you saw that 14 . ... NeB fails to 15. Bxg7 Nxg7
16. Qg4.

(b) 3 bonus points for considering 1 4 . ... d4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nxf6+ gxf6,
when White shouldn't continue 1 7. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg7
19. Qg4+ Kh6! 20. R.f.3 because of 20 . ... Qxf.3 ! 2 1 . gxf.3 Rg8 (note on
2 1 . Qh4+ Black has 2 1 . . . . Qh5, saving his queen) . 3 bonus points
more if you were patient, realizing that a better way to go is 1 6. Qg4
Kh8 1 7. Rf.3 Rg8 18. Rh3 Be7 19. Nf6! h6 20. Be4 (to safeguard g2)
Qc7 2 1 . Qg5, and Black is helpless against the coming sacrifice at h6.

(c) Only 2 points part credit for 15. Qxh5, which is countered by 15 . . . . f5.

( d) 1 bonus point for seeing that 1 5 . . . . Kh8 1 6. Qxh5 threatens mate in

two moves.

( e) Obtain 1 bonus point if you saw this second bishop sacrifice (Bxg7)
when making the first one (Bxh7+) .

(f) 3 bonus points if you determined that declining the sacrifice by 17 . ...
f6 doesn't help: 18. R.f.3 Qe8 19. Qh8+ Kf7 20. Qh7; add 1 bonus point
for finding 1 7 . ... f5 1 8. Be5 QeB 19. Qh8+, and mate next; and finally,
add 3 bonus points for analyzing 1 7. ... f5 1 8. Be5 Rf6 1 9. Rf.s Kf8
20. Rg3, threatening 2 1 . Qh8+ Kf7 22. Rg7 mate.

(g) This forces the Black king to the h-file, so that White can aim for a lin­
ear mate.

( h) 1 bonus point for visualizing 1 8 . ... Kf6 19. Qg5 mate.

( i) Planning to mate at h3. Black has only one defense.

(j) This is Black's defense: opening the sixth rank for the queen to come
across.

(k) True, the position is roughly equal in material, but Lasker saw further.

(1) 2 bonus points if you saw this famous fork of both bishops in advance.

( m) Saving the dark-square bishop and hoping to get in exf4 with a discov-
ery attack on the at -rook.

(n) 1 bonus point if you calculated 23 . ... exf4 24. Qxb6 Kg7 25. Rf1 .

36
( o) Removes the rook from the long diagonal and prepares for play on the
f-frle.

( p) It's hard to give Black good advice; perhaps 24 . ... e4, trying to keep the
_
position bottled up, might be the right way to go.

(q) 2 points part credit for taking one of the loose pawns at a6 or d5.
White is angling for another mating attack.

( r) Apparently, chasing the queen where she wants to go, but Black needs
to escape at f8.

( s) Bauer has already seen Rfl-� earlier in the game; he doesn't need to
see it again.

(t) Opens the f-frle and wins a pawn.

(u) If he takes back, 27 . . . . Bxe5, he loses the bishop to 28. Qe6 (28. Qf5,
or 28. Qh5 would also do) f6 29. Qxe5, and the f-pawn is pinned. 1
bonus point for spotting any of these.

( v ) Targeting the Black king's chief defender, the f-pawn.

( w) 1 bonus point for seeing 28 . ... f6 29. e7+ Kxe7 30. Qxg7.

(x) White continues to mount pressure against f7.

(y) Or 30. ... Kg8 3 1 . Rf7 Rxf7 32 Qxf7+, and 33. e7 wins. Size up 1 bonus
.

point for seeing this.

(z) The b7-rook gets skewered. 1 bonus point if you worked it out when
playing 30. Rxf6+.

37
 GAME

9
J. Blackburne vs. C. Blanshard
London 1891
King's Gambit Declined C30
[Q] NE OF THE LEADING competitors in the world in the 1870s
and 1 880s (and 1 890s, finishing tenth at Hastings 1895 and
beating Emanuel Lasker) was the Englishman, Joseph Henry
Blackburne ( 1 84 1-1 924) . Blackburne (the very name commands re­
spect) was an outstanding simultaneous exhibition performer and spec­
tacular blindfold player. He provided many lovely illustrations of attack
and clever combining, which eventually earned him the nickname "The
Black Death." It turns out he was pretty good at bringing about demise
with the White pieces as well, as C. Blanshard found out in the following
game, contested in London in 189 1 . The grim reaping began 1 . e4 eS
2. f4 BcS.

38
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

2. Bc5

3. Nc3 (a) 6 Nc6 (b)

4. Nf3 (c) 6 exf4 (d)
5. d4 (e) 6 Bb4 (fJ
6. Bxf4 (g) 6 d5 (h)
7. e5 (i) 6 Bxc3+ (j)
8. bxc3 5 Be6 (k)
9. Bd3 OJ 6 h6 (m)

10. 0-0 (n) 6 Nge7 (o)

1 1 . Rb1 (p) 7 b6 (q)

12. Qd2 (r) 6 0-0 (s)

13. Bxh6 (t) 8 gxh6 (u)

14. Qxh6 (v) 6 Ng6 (w)
15. Ng5 (x) 7 ReB (y)
16. Rxf7 (z) 7 Bxf7

17. Qh7+ 6 Kf8

18. Qxf7 mate 6 (1-0)

39
( a ) Full credit for 3. Nf3. Deduct 3 points for 3. fxe5? Qh4+ 4. g3 (4. Ke2
Qxe4 mate) 4 . ... Qxe4+ and 5 . ... Qxh l . Tack on 1 bonus point if you
knew to avoid this ancient trap.

(b) 2 bonus points if you understood that 3 . ... Bxg1 4. Rxg1 Qh4+ 5. g3
Qxh2 6. Rg2 Q-moves 7. fxe5 favors White.

(c) Only 3 points part credit for 4. fxe5, when Black offers a promising
gambit for development, 4 . . . . d6! 5. exd6 Qxd6. 1 bonus point if you
picked up on Black's intention.

(d) Simply 4 . ... d6 was in order. The text gives White what he wants, the
center.

(e) No credit for other moves. If you're offered the center, take it.

(f ) 3 bonus points if you considered the sacrifice 5 . ... Nxd4 6. Nxd4 Qh4+
and judged it to be unsound. After 7. Ke2, White will experience some
awkward moments, but he should be able to beat back the threats, as in
the line: 7. ... b6 8. Qd3 aS 9. Nf3 Qf2+ 1 0. Kd1 Ba6 1 1 . Qd2 etc.

(g) Only 5 points part credit for 6. d5. The text move is simpler and better.

(h) This is probably what Black had in mind when he played 4 . . . . exf4. He
wants to free his game and break up the White pawn center.

( i) 4 points part credit for 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. Bxc7, clipping a pawn at the
expense of development.

(j) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 7. ... f6 with 8. Bb5, pinning
the c6-knight. On 8 . . . . fxeS, White replies 9. NxeS.

(k) Having doubled White's c-pawns, Black wants to make sure that White
cannot readily undouble (c3-c4) . Hence the bishop plays to e6, rather
than to fS.

(I) Developing and preparing to castle. In the event Black castles kingside,
the bishop will be aiming at the h 7-square.

(m) Removing the h7-pawn from the d3-bishop's line, but creating a target
at h6.

(n ) Castling serves to protect the king, and in this instance the rook auto­
matically winds up on an open file.

40
(o ) The effect of White's seventh move (e4-e5) is being felt. The Black
king-knight cannot reach its optimal square, f6, and must settle for sec­
ond best, e7.

(p) Only 5 points part credit for 1 1 . Qd2, which is also okay.

(q) 1 bonus point if you understood that, with 1 1 . ... Rb8, Black loses the
option of castling queenside. 1 bonus point more if you grasped that
moving the b-pawn leaves the c6-knight without pawn protection.

( r) The queen leaves the home rank and connects the White rooks. This is
the signal that White has completed opening tasks and is ready for the
middlegame. Black still has a way to go before his opening chores are
finished.

( s) A case where castling actually puts the king in danger. Better is 12 . ...
Qd7, with the idea of castling queenside. Another thought is 1 2 . ... NaS,
intending 13 . . . . Nc4.

( t) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 12. Qd2.

(u) If Black doesn't take, he's just a pawn down for nothing, facing a strong
attack. Still, it was better not to take.

(v) 1 bonus point for seeing ahead of time this bust-up, and the threat
1 5. Qh7 mate.

(w) Black must try to block the b 1 -h7 diagonal. 1 bonus point for seeing
A) 1 4 .. f5 15. Ng5 (better than 15. Qxe6+) Rf7 1 6 . Qxe6, and 1 bonus
. .

point more for seeing B) 14 . ... N (or B)f5 1 5. BxfS B (or N)xf5 1 6. Qxc6.

(x) Only 5 points part credit for 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kh8 1 7. Qh6+
Kg8 18. Qxe6+, followed by taking the knight on c6. Blackburne shuns
material for a direct attack to the opposing king. The threat is now
16. Qh7 mate.

(y) There's nothing else unless Black wants to give up his queen, Qxg5,
though something tells me that doesn't provide much hope.

(z) Only 6 points part credit for the less elegant 16. Qh7+, and only 5
points part credit for the brutal 1 6. Bxg6. Finally, take only 5 points
part credit for the pedestrian 16. Nh7, with the idea of 1 7. Nf6+.

41
 GAME

10
H. Pillsbwy vs. J. Hanham
Hastings 1895
Stonewall Attack DOO

OW HARRY NELSON PILLSBURY ( 1 872-1 906) came out of

nowhere to surprise the world and win the great Hastings 1895
tournament (which may have been the strongest chess compe­
tition ever) , ahead of everyone who was anyone. But did he play any
chess before that? The following game against James Hanham (Black)
proves that he did. The setting is New York in 1 893, and the opening,
though standard, was one that Pillsbury usually handled with extraordi­
nary precision. However quotidian, the first 1 1 moves were 1 . d4 d5 2. e3
e6 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. f4 Bd6 5. Nf3 b6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. c3 c5 8. Ne5 Qc7 9. Nd2
Nc6 1 0. Rf3 Bb7 1 1 . Rh3 cxd4.

42
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

11. cxd4

12. Bxh7+ (a) 6 Nxh7 (b)

13. Qh5 (c) 5 Rfe8 (d)
14. Qxh7+ 4 Kf8

15. exd4 (e) 4 f6 (tJ

16. Ng6+ (g) 5 Kf7

17. Rg3 (h) 5 Rg8 (i)

18. Nf3 5 Ne7

19. N3h4 5 Nxg6

20. Nxg6 (j) 4 Ba6 (k)

2 1 . Bd2 (1) 5 Qc4 (m)
22 Ret (n) 5 Qxa2 (o)

23. Nh8+ (p) 6 Kf8 (q)

24. Qg6 (r) 6 Rxh8 (s)

25. Qxg7+ 5 Ke8

26. Rxe6+ (t) 5 Kd8 (u)

27. Rxd6+ 5 Kc8

28. Rc6+ (v) 5 Kd8 (w)

29. Qc7+ (x) 5 Ke8

30. Re6+ (y) 5 Kf8

31. Qg7# (z) 5 (1-0)

43
( a) Take only 2 points part credit for the automatic recapture, 12. exd4.
Save the mechanical play for the Friday night rapids.

(b) Not capturing, 1 2 . ... Kh8, at best loses a pawn, as after 13. Bc2+ Kg8
14. exd4.

( c) Deduct 3 points for 13. Rxh7. There's no need to sacrifice the house or
even a piece looking like a house.

( d) If you felt short-changed, take 1 bonus point for seeing 13 . ... Nf6
1 4. Qh8 mate.

(e ) Only 2 points part credit for 15. cxd4, which hampers the bishop.
Deduct 2 points for the feckless check, 15. Qh8+. After 15 . . . . Ke7
1 6. Qxg7 Nxe5 1 7. fxe5 Bxe5, the initiative passes to Black.

(f) Add 1 bonus point if you saw that 15 . ... Nxe5? 1 6. fxe5 loses the d6-
bishop, since1 6 . ... Be7? obstructs the Black king's escape and allows
1 7. Qh8 mate. But 15 . ... Bxe5, eliminating a dangerous invader, was
probably better than f6.

(g ) With 16. Qh8+ Ke7 1 7. Qxg7+ Kd8 1 8. Qxf6+ you can have full credit
and three extra pawns for dessert. Pillsbury has his mind on the main
course.

(h) Full credit for 1 7. Nf.3, intending mayhem with 18. Nfe5+ fxe5 1 9. fxe5
and 20. Rf.3 mate.

(i ) Post 1 bonus point if you understood that Black had to guard g7

against the threat of 18. Nh8+ and 1 9. Rxg7+, or 18. Ne5+ followed by
19. Qxg7+.

(j) Only 2 points part credit for 20. Qxg6+ or 20. Rxg6. They're simply
not as good as the text, not that the text is Shakespeare or anything.

(k) Partly to keep the White rook off fl , partly to develop light-square coun­
terplay, and partly to avoid losing on time.

(I) White has to complete the development of his queenside, otherwise his
attack goes nowhere. No credit for 2 1 . Be3, allowing Black's bishop to
switch diagonals by moving to d3.

(m) Hoping to get lucky with 22. Bel?? Qfl mate. Take 1 bonus point for
fantasizing this.

44
(n) Mobilizing his last piece, preventing Qe2, and inviting Black to take the
a2-pawn. Get only 4 points part credit for 22. Qh5, which threatens
23. Ne5+ and sends the Black queen scurrying back to c7.

( o) 1 bonus point for seeing that 22 . ... Qd3 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 is made risible
by 24. Ne5+. Get 3 bonus points for seeing that Black would be made
miserable after 22 . ... Qc7 23. Nh8+ Kf8 24. Rxe6 Bxf4 25. Bxf4 Qxf4
26. Ng6+ Kf7 27. Re7 mate (if you missed the mate you could always
take the queen) .

(p) Only 5 points part credit for 23. f5 and 4 points part credit for
23. Qh5. But add 1 bonus point if you saw that 23. Qh5 threatens
24. Ne5+ Ke7 25. Qf7+ Kd8 26. Qd7 mate.

(q) 1 bonus point for analyzing 23 . ... Rxh8 24. Qxg7+. Earn 1 bonus
point more for considering 23 . ... Ke7 24. Rxg7+ Rxg7 25. Qxg7+ Kd8
(25 . ... Ke8 26. Rxe6+ leads to checkmate) 26. Qg8+, which skewers the
king and rook at aS.

(r) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 23. Nh8+. Clear
your head if you didn't have anything in mind when playing 23. Nh8+.

( s) 1 bonus point for realizing that 24 . ... Ke7 25. Qf7+ Kd8 26. Qxg8+ is
bad for Black and all his supporters.

(t) Playing for mate. 3 points part credit for 26. Qxh8+.

(u) 1 bonus point for remembering that 26 . ... Be7 is rebuffed by 27. Qxe7
mate.

(v) Only 2 points part credit for 28. Qd7+ Kb8, when the attack stalls for
lack of a follow-up check. Only 4 points part credit for taking the
longer route to mate: 28. Qxh8+ Kc7 29. Qg7+ Kxd6 30. Qxf6+ Kc7
3 1 . Rg7+ Kb8 32. Qd6+ (or 32. Qd8+ Bc8 33. Qc7 mate) Kc8 33. Qc7
mate (or 33. Qf8 mate) .

(w) 1 bonus point for seeing that 28 . ... Kb8 29. Qc7 is mate and offers
Black little to play for.

(x) Only 3 points part credit for 29. Re3, but no more.

(y) Only 4 points part credit for settling on the option 30. Re3+ Kf8 3 1 .
Rxf6+ Kg8 32. Rg3 mate.

45
(z) Full credit for 3 1 . Qe7 mate. The Sun of London of December 23, 1 893
reports: "The winner announced a mate in six moves, after 25 moves
had been recorded." In fact, after 24 . RxhB, it's a forced mate in seven
. . .

moves. Award yourself 3 bonus points if you saw it all, right to the last
move.

46
 GAME

11
H. Pillsbwy vs. G. Marco
Paris 1 900
Queen's Gambit Declined D55

NE OF HARRY NELSON PILLSBURY'S FAVORITE stunts

[Q] was to play 20 games of chess, 20 games of checkers, and a

hand of whist-all simultaneously. He would cap the display by
memorizing a list of 40 sesquipedalians (long words) , made up at the start
by the audience. Then he'd recite the list backward and forward at the ex­
hibition's end. The stopper was that throughout the entire event he had to
carry on witty conversation. The following game, against Georg Marco
(Black) in Paris 1900, wittily speaks for itself. The fun began with 1 . d4 d5
2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. BgS Be7 5. e3 0-0 6. Nf.3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. cxd.S exdS.

47
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

8. exd5

9. Ne5 (a) 5 Nbd7 (b)

10. f4 (c) 5 c5 (d)
1 1 . 0-0 5 c4 (e)

12. Bc2 4 a6 m

13. Qf3 (g) 5 b5

14. Qh3 (h) 5 g6 (i)

1 5 . f5 (j) 5 b4 (k)
16. fxg6 (1) 6 hxg6 (m)
1 7. Qh4 (n) 6 bxc3 (o)

18. Nxd7 (p) 4 Qxd7 (q)

1 9. Rxf6 (r) 6 a5 (s)

20. Raft (t) 5 Ra6 (u)

2 1 . Bxg6 (v) 6 fxg6 (w)

22. Rxf8+ (x) 5 Bxf8

23. Rxf8+ 6 Kxf8

24. Qh8+ 5 Kt7

25. Qh7+ 5 Kill (y)

26. Qxd7 4 c2

27. Bh6+ 4 Kg8

28. Qg7# (z) 4 (1-0)

48
( a) Full credit for 9. Qc2, 9. Bxf6, or 9. 0-0. Pillsbury is aiming for his fa­
vorite setup.

(b) Developing and attacking the e5-knight, which Pillsbury now supports.

(c) 1 bonus point if you recognized this to be an improved version of the

Stonewall Attack, with White's dark-square bishop developed outside
the pawn chain.

( d) A superior defense here is 1 0 . ... NeB 1 1 . Bxe7 Qxe7 1 2. 0-0 Nxe5

13. fxe5 f6.

(e) 1 bonus point if you realized that 1 1 . ... c4 was a strategic error, re­
ducing the tension against White's d4-pawn.

( f ) Preparing b7-b5, and possibly b5-b4. Marco wants to mobilize his

queenside majority.

(g) Only 3 points part credit for 13. a4. White should ignore the queenside
in favor of the kingside. 1 bonus point for seeing the incidental threat:
1 4. Nxc4 dxc4 15. Qxb7.

(h) 1 bonus point if you were aware of the threat, namely to capture on d7
with the e5-knight.

( i) 1 bonus point if you realized that 14 . ... h6 runs into 15. Bxh6 gxh6
16. Qxh6, followed by a rook lift, 1 7. Rf3. Add 2 bonus points for see­
ing 1 4 . ... Nxe5 15. Bxf6 Ng6 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 1 7. f5, followed by f5-f6.

(j) Immediately attacking the new target and trying to open the f-ftle.

(k) Expecting the c3-knight to move, after which Black can block up by
Ne4.

(I) 3 bonus points if you worked out 16 . ... bxc3 1 7. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Rxf6
fxg6 ( 1 8 . ... Bxf6 1 9. Qxh7 mate) 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Rxg6 mate.

(m) 1 bonus point for figuring out 1 6 . . . . fxg6 1 7. Qe6+ Kg7 1 8. Nxd7.

(n) Taking aim at the f6-knight, and ultimately the soft spots around
Black's king.

( o ) 2 bonus points for seeing 1 7. ... Nxe5 1 8. dxe5 bxc3 19. exf6 Bd6
20. Qh6.

49
(p ) Knocking out the props from under Black's f6-knight.

(q) 2 bonus points for analyzing 18 . ... Nxd7 1 9 . Bxe7 QaS 20. b4 Qa3
2 1 . Rf3, with mate along the h-file threatened. 1 bonus point for also
determining that 1 8 . ... cxb2 1 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nxf6+ doesn't help
Black much.

(r) Just 3 points part credit for the weaker 19. Bxf6.

(s) 1 bonus point for understanding that 1 9 . ... Bxf6 20. Bxf6 wins.

(t) 1 bonus point for spotting 2 1 . Bxg6 fxg6 22. Rxg6 mate.

(u) 1 bonus point if you thought out 20. ... Qe8 2 1 . Rf3, to be followed by
22. Rh3 and a mate threat at h7 (or possibly h8) .

(v) Only 3 points part credit for finding 2 1 . Rxa6 Bxg5 22. Qxg5 Bxa6
23. bxc3, and White is up a pawn. Add 1 bonus point for weighing
23. Rf6 (with Bxg6 in mind) , instead of 23. bxc3.

(w) 1 bonus point for realizing that Black had no choice because of 22. Qh7
mate.

(x) Deduct 4 points if you wanted to play 22. Rxg6+??, missing 22 . ...
Rxg6.

(y) 2 bonus points if you saw that either 25 . ... Ke8 or 25 . ... Ke6 allows
immediate mate with White's queen.

(z) For the record, Marco resigned at move 25. In fact, Pillsbury had already
announced mate in six moves when playing 23. Rxf8+. Add 2 bonus
points if you also announced mate in six. Finally, present yourself with
3 bonus points if you announced mate in eight when playing 2 1 . Bxg6.

50
 GAME

12
W. Napier vs. J. Mortimer
Monte Carlo 1 902
Ruy Lopez C65

ILLIAM NAPIER ( 1 88 1- 1 952) was an English-born

American player who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, the
borough that gave rise to Bobby Fischer. Napier competed in
three international tournaments (Monte Carlo 1 902, Hanover 1902, and
Cambridge Springs 1 904) , and in each of these events distinguished him­
self by winning a brilliancy prize. An illustration of his incandescent tal­
ent is this radiant win from Monte carlo against James Mortimer (Black)
from round 5. Before the glitter came the first ten moves: 1 . e4 e5 2. Nf.3
Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. 0-0 Be7 6. e5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 NcS (a) 8. Nf5
Ne6 9. Re1 g6 (b) 10. Nxe7 Nxe7.

1
�������

51
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

10. Nxe7

1 1 . Nc3 (c) 5 a6 (d)

12. Bc4 (e) 4 b5

13. Bxe6 (f) 4 fxe6

14. Qf3 (g) 5 Nc6 (h)

15. Ne4 6 Qe7 (i)

1 6 . Bg5 (j) 6 Qf7 (k)

17. Nf6+ (1) 5 Kf8 (m)
18. Bh6+ (n) 5 Ke7

19. Rad1 (o) 6 Rd8

20. Bg5 5 Kf8

2 1 . Qxc6 (p) 6 dxc6

22. Rxd8+ (q) 4 Kg? (r)

23. Ng4 (s) 6 h5 (t)

24. Bf6+ (u) 5 Qxf6

25. Nxf6 (v) 4 Kf7

26. Red1 5 g5 (w)

27. Rh8 (x) 5 Bb7 (y)

28. Rxa8 (z) 4 Bxa8

29. Rd8 5 Bb7

30. Rb8 5 (1-0)

52
( a) If 7. ... Nxe5?, then 8. Ret skewers knights on the e-file. Better for
Black is 7 . . . . 0-0.

(b) Weakening the dark squares doesn't help. Probably 9 . ... 0-0 is best.

(c) Only 2 points part credit for 1 1 . Bh6. It's not convincing because of
1 1 . . . Nf5 12. Qd2 Nxh6 13. Qxh6 Qg5, forcing a favorable trade of
.

queens.

( d) 1 bonus point if you saw that 1 1 . ... 0-0 is answered strongly by

12. Bh6 Re8 13. Ne4, threatening 14. Nf6+. With the text move Black
tries his luck on the queenside, driving out the bishop.

(e) Only 2 points part credit for the less exact 12. Ba4.

( f ) Full credit for 13. Qf3.

(g) 1 bonus point if you analyzed 1 4 . ... Rb8 15. Ne4 Bb7 1 6. Nf6+ Kf7
1 7. Qf4, threatening a serious discovery.

(h) 1 bonus point if you were mindful of 1 4 . ... d5? 15. exd6.

( i) 1 bonus point if you knew of the potential threat to the queen, Bg5.

(j) Full credit for 1 6. Nf6+, which forces Black's king to move cumber-
somely.

(k) 2 bonus points for seeing that 1 6 . ... Qb4 fails to 1 7. Nf6+, followed by
1 8. Nd5+, winning the invasive queen.

(I) No credit for 1 7. Qxf7+ Kxf7. By trading queens, White kills his own
attack.

( m) Both 1 7 . ... Ke7 and 1 7 . . . . Kd8 are unpleasantly met by the discovery
1 8. Nxd7+. 1 bonus point for knowing that.

( n) 1 bonus point for realizing that Bh6+ also stops Black from playing h7-
h6.

( o) 1 bonus point if understood that Black can't play 1 9 . ... Bb7 now be­
cause of 20. Rxd7 mate.

( p) Only 3 points part credit for 2 1 . Nxh7+.

53
(q) 1 bonus point if you thought this position might arise when playing
1 9. Rad l .

( r) 1 bonus point if you saw that 22 . ... Ke7 leads to either 23. Nd5 mate
or 23. Ng8 mate. It doesn't matter which-mate is mate.

(s ) Only 4 points part credit for 23. NeB+ Kg8 24. Nd6+ Qf8, getting a
queen for a rook. Napier's move obtains the queen for a minor piece
plus a chance for a quick mate. 1 bonus point for seeing the threat:
24. Bh6 mate.

( t) 1 bonus point for spotting 23 . ... Qf5 24. Bf6+ Kf7 25. Nh6 mate.

(u) 1 bonus point for being prepared to answer 24 . ... Kh7 with 25. Rh8
mate.

(v) Only 3 points part credit for 25. exf6+, although it too is good enough.

(w) Gives the king some air. Score 1 bonus point for seeing 26 . ... Bb7
27. Rld7 mate.

(x) Full credit for the other rook moves, 27. ReB or 27. Rg8.

(y) 1 bonus point if you decided that otherwise White plays 28. Rld8.

(z) Only 3 points part credit for 28. Rd7+. The actual game concluded
28 . ... Bxa8 29. Rd8 Bb7 30. Rb8, trapping the bishop, so Black re­
signed.

54
 GAME

13
S. Levitski vs. A. Nikolaev
Kiev 1 903? R ussian Championship
Vienna Game C26

rn N THE VIENNA GAME ( 1 . e4 eS 2. Nc3) , White keeps the f­

pawn unblocked so that it remains free to move. Once it does,
Black often strikes back in the center with a counter pawn move,
d7-d5. Without that retort, the defender's position can soon become con­
stricted and stagnant. A frontispiece for the kind of kingside bombard­
ment White can muster (albeit with the f-pawn not moving until move 9)
was the game S. Levitski vs. A. Nikolaev, from the Third Russian Cham­
pionship, Kiev, 1 903. The contest began 1 . e4 eS 2. Nc3 Nf6 3 . Bc4 Nc6
4. d3 Bb4 5. Ne2 d5 6. exdS NxdS 7. 0-0 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bd6 9. f4 0-0
1 0. fS Qh4 1 1 . BdS Ne7.

55
 WHITE 'S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

11. Ne7

12. Be4 (a) 4 Qh5 (b)

13. Qe1 (c) 6 f6 (d)
14. Be3 (e) 6 Kh8 (f)

15. Rf3 (g) 5 Qt7

16. c4 (h) 5 c6

17. Qf2 (i) 5 a6 (j)

18. c5 5 Bc7

19. c4 (k) 5 Rd8

20. Kh1 m 6 Ba5 (m)

21. Rg1 (n) 5 Nd5 (o)

22. Bc1 (p) 5 Nc3

23. Nxc3 4 Bxc3

24. g4 (q) 6 Bd4

25. Be3 (r) 4 Bxe3

26. Qxe3 (s) 4 h6 (t)

27. h4 (u) 5 Rf8

28. g5 (v) 6 fxg5 (w)

29. hxg5 (x) 4 hxg5

30. Rxg5 4 Bd7 (y)

31. f6 (z) 6 (1-0)

56
( a) Take only 3 points part credit for 12. g3, attacking the queen. If 1 2 . ...
Qh3, then 13. Bg2 Qh5 1 4. Bf3 sets a trap. Gain 1 bonus point if you
saw 1 4 . ... Qxf5? 15. Bxb7.

(b ) Going after the f5-pawn: three attackers vs. two defenders. Three usu­
ally beats two.

(c) Only 3 points part credit for 13. Ng3, allowing a queen trade by 1 3 . ...
Qxd1 14. Rxd 1 . White's spatial edge on the kingside gives him excellent
prospects for attack, therefore major trades should be avoided.

(d) 1 bonus point if you saw the danger, 1 4. Rf3, with 15. Rh3 Qg4
16. Rh4, trapping the queen. 1 bonus point for seeing 13 . ... Nxf5?
14. Bxf5 Bxf5 15. Ng3, winning a piece.

( e) Developing a new piece and securing the a7-g1 diagonal. White's pawn
complex holds the center.

(f) Nikolaev seemed to think his king was safer on h8 rather than g8. It's
too late to ask him.

(g) Mobilizing the heavy pieces. 1 bonus point if you pondered the possi­
bility of 16. Rh3 Qf7 1 7. Qh4 h6? 1 8. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qxh6+.

(h) 1 bonus point if you saw the planned trap, 1 7. c5.

( i) Marshalling the queen with a gain of time. Black must guard his a7-
pawn.

(j) Weakening the dark squares, but 1 7. ... b6 would meet up with an
eventual a4-a5, if not right away.

(k) Looking to keep the Black knight from d5. As the game goes, it doesn't
quite work, but the move is nevertheless correct. The d3-pawn keeps
everything solidly anchored. Not all pawn realignments are bad. Here,
White seems to have the "advantage of the doubled pawns. "

(1) Black also played his king to the corner, but we're not sure why. White's
king move has a well-founded reason.

(m) Starting here, and extending over the course of the next six moves,
Black has a plan of getting value out of his dark-square bishop and his
knight, which otherwise are doing nothing.

57
(n) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 20. Kh l . With this
move White mobilizes his last heavy piece and prepares to throw for­
ward his g-pawn.

(o ) Surprise. The knight gets to d5 in spite of the c4-pawn.

( p) Only 2 points part credit for 22. cxd5. The move is not all that great
since 22 . ... cxd5 gets the piece back with undeserved play in the cen­
ter. Black, having the cramped position, should tend to exchange off his
inferior pieces.

(q) Going for it. There's a target at f6, and when the g-flle opens, there's
another target at g7. Sometimes you have to move the pawns near your
king to get the play you need.

( r) Deduct 2 points for moving the queen, allowing Black to win the ex­
change, 25 . ... Bxgl .

( s) Black has cleverly managed to trade off two useless pieces for two good
White ones, but his basic problems remain. His queenside forces are as
yet undeveloped and his king is about to come under attack.

( t) Hoping to dampen the fire. But White also has an h-pawn to fan the
flames.

(u) No good to get cold feet now.

(v) 1 bonus point for determining the threat: 29. gxh6 gxh6 30. Qxh6+.
Also take 1 bonus point for having seen earlier that 28 . ... Kh 7?? is met
by 29. g6+.

(w) 3 bonus points if you saw that 28 . ... hxg5 29. hxg5 Bd7 is a loser after
30. g6 Qe7 3 1 . Rh3+ Kh8 32. Rh8+ Kxh8 33. Qh3+ Kg8 34. Qh7 mate.

(x) The threat is still 30. gxh6, so Black has to take on g5.

(y) This loses on the spot.

(z) The main threat is to capture on g7. Here are the lines: A) 3 1 . ... Qe6
32. fxg7+ Kg8 33. gxf8/Q mate; B) 3 1 . ... g6 32. Bxg6 Qe6 33. Rh5+
Kg8 34. Rh8+ Kxh8 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. Qg7 mate (or 36. Qh7 mate) ; C)
3 1 . ... gxf6 32. Rh3+ Bxh3 33. Qxh3+, and mate next move. 2 bonus
points each for seeing these final lines.

58
 GAME

14
F. Marshall vs. H. Pillsbwy

B09
Cambridge Springs 1 904
Pirc Defense

RANK JAMES MARSHALL ( 1 8 77-1 944) and Harry Nelson

[E] Pillsbury ( 1 872-1 906) were two of America's greatest players

and their exploits are celebrated. What of their battles together?
From 1900 to 1 904 those two legends played 1 1 times, with Marshall
having the edge (five wins, four losses, two draws) . Their very last meet­
ing took place in 1 904, at Cambridge Springs, a tournament won by Mar­
shall, as Pillsbury (Black) was already starting to show signs of his fatal
illness. The game that tipped the lifetime balance in Marshall's favor
began 1 . d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3 . Nc3 g6.

59
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. g6

4. f4 (a) 5 Bg7

5. e5 (b) 5 dxe5 (c)

6. fxe5 (d) 4 Nd5

7. Nf3 (e) 5 Nc6 (f)

8. Bc4 (g) 5 e6 (h)

9. Bg5 (i) 6 Nxc3

10. bxc3 (j) 4 Ne7

1 1 . 0-0 5 h6 (k)
12. Bf6 OJ 4 Bxf6

13. exf6 (m) 4 Nf5 (n)

14 Qe2 (o) 5 Qxf6 (p)

15. g4 (q) 6 Nd6 (r)

16. Ne5 (s) 5 Qe7

17. Bd3 (t) 5 0-0

18. Rf2 (u) 5 Kg1

19. Raft (v) 5 Bd7

20. Rf6 (w) 6 Rg8 (x)

21. Nxg6 (y) 6 Qxf6

22. Rxf6 4 Kxf6

23. Qe5# (z) 6 (1-0)

60
( a} Full credit for any of the other reasonable fourth moves: 4. Nf3, 4. Be3,
4. Bg5, 4. f3, or 4. Bc4. Marshall aims to enforce the plan e4-e5, which
we now call the Austrian Attack.

(b) Getting down to business. Also good is developing, 5. Nf3, which gets
full credit.

(c) To open the d-frle and make a guarded place for the knight at d5. Since
then we have learned that 5 . ... Nfd7 is quite playable, hoping to under­
mine White's center with c7-c5.

(d) Taking toward the center opens the f-file and displaces the knight from
f6. David Bronstein has shown that 6. dxeS (full credit) 6 . ... Qxdt+
7. Kxdl Ng4 8. Ke1 also contains a drop of poison, but the early trade
of queens was not Marshall's thing.

(e ) Get only 2 points part credit for 7. NxdS QxdS, which promotes Black's
development. But 7. Bc4 (full credit) , attacking the d5-knight, would
be reasonable. Also coming into consideration is 7. Ne4 (again full
credit) .

(f) More flexible is 7. ... 0-0, a move Black has to play in any event. That
gives him the option of advancing his c-pawn; e.g., 8. Bc4 Nxc3 9. bxc3
cS, with central pressure.

(g) The main alternative is 8. Ne4 (full credit) , so that White can secure the
center with 9. c3. If 8 . ... Ndb4, then 9. a3 Bf5 10. axb4 Bxe4 1 1 . c3
leaves White's center solid.

(h) To support the knight at d5. Today, no self-respecting Pirc player would
consider moving the pawn to e6, mainly because of the weakness cre-
ated at f6. He'd instead try 8 . ... Nxc3, 8 . ... Nb6, or 8 . ... Be6, the latter
threatening the discovery 9 . ... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc4.

(i) If you had analyzed this move, take 1 bonus point each for any of the
following conclusions seen ahead of time: A) 9 . . . . f6 1 0. exf6 leaves
Black with a weak e6-pawn; B) 9 . . . Qd7 blocks the development of the
.

c8-bishop; C) 9 . . . . Nde7 invites 1 0. Ne4 with 1 1 . Nf6+ in the offing; D)

9 . . . Nce7 loses the castling privilege after 1 0. BxdS exd5 1 1 . Bxe7
.

Kxe7 ( 1 1 . . . . Qxe7 12. Nxd5) . Pillsbury decides to block at e7, but first
he has to get rid of White's c3-knight, so it can't go to e4.

61
(j) And not 10. Bxd8? (deduct three points) , for 10 . ... Nxd1 gains a
piece.

(k ) Marshall has accomplished his opening objectives. He's castled, he's

ahead in development, and he controls the center. Black had to relieve
the pin. If he had castled, White would follow with Qd2, stopping h7-
h6.

(I) Full credit for the retreat, 12. Bh4. Add 2 bonus points if you intended
to answer 12 . ... g5 with the sacrifice 13. Bxg5 hxg5 14. Nxg5, assail­
ing f7. Note that 1 4 . ... Nf5 could be met by 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Rxf5+.
Take 1 bonus point if you understood Marshall's move is a pawn sac­
rifice, consistent with his style.

(m ) Part of the deal (willingly sacrificing a pawn on f6) is that White gets
the outpost square e5 for his knight, plus the open e-file may prove
helpful to White's aggression.

( n) Among other things, this move threatens to win the exchange by Ne3.

(o ) Full credit if you thought of ceding the Exchange and retaining the f6-
pawn as a beachhead: 14. Ne5 Ne3 15. Qd3 Nxf1 16. Rxfl .

(p) Pillsbury also plays his preplanned move. But it might have been better
to first secure the knight's station by 1 4 . ... h5.

(q) Pushes the knight away and clears the f-flle for the rooks. If instead
15. Ne5, Black has time to slip in 15 . . . . h5.

( r) The only move. 1 bonus point for seeing that 15 . ... Nh4? 1 6. NeS un­
covers a menacing discovery along the f-flle.

( s) White centralizes his knight, while discovering on the queen. 2 bonus

points if you saw ahead that on 1 6 . ... Qg5 White can already sacrifice,
1 7. Nxf7 Nxf7 18. Bxe6 Bxe6 19. Qxe6+ Qe7 20. Qxg6 (the threat of
2 1 . Rael ensures recovery of the piece) 20 . ... Qe3+ 2 1 . Khl 0-0-0
22. Rxf7 Qxc3 23. Rd1 , and the d4-pawn is immune.

( t) In general, the aggressor does not want to allow indiscriminate ex­

changes of pieces, especially after sacrificing. Trades reduce the attack­
ing force and ease the defender's task.

62
(u) 2 bonus points for considering 1 8. c4, looking to dislodge the knight
from d6.

(v) Marshall's plan is simple and irresistible: double rooks on the f-file and
threaten to take on g6 (especially if the f-pawn remains pinned) . 1
bonus point if you saw there's already a threat: 20. B (N)xg6 fxg6
2 1 . Rxf8. Black now connects the rooks, but that ties down his queen to
defending the bishop.

(w) 2 bonus points for seeing 20 . ... Qxf6 2 1 . Rxf6 Kxf6 22. Nxd7+, pick­
ing up the bishop and winning the Exchange with a fork.

(x) 3 bonus points for determining that 20. ... NfS 2 1 . ext'S Kxf6 (or
2 1 . ... Qxf6 22. Nxd7) 22. Nxd7+ Qxd7 (22 . ... KgS gets mated after say
23. Qe3+; and if 22 . ... Kg7, then 23. f6+) 23. fxe6+ wins the queen by
discovered check. 1 bonus point if you saw that because of the pin on
the f-pawn, 20 . ... Be8 2 1 . Nxg6 fxg6 22. RxfB gains the Exchange.

(y) 1 bonus point if you realized that 2 1 . ... fxg6 22. Rxg6+ is decisive.

(z) This was Marshall's final idea. 1 bonus point if you visualized it in ad­
vance, when playing 2 1 . Nxg6.

63
 GAME

15
F. Marshall vs. E. Delmar
Cambridge Springs 1 904
Dutch Defense A85
[] N THE DUTCH DEFENSE ( 1 . d4 fS) , Black aims to dissuade
White from playing e2-e4, directly and aggressively. When
things go well for Black he gets a kingside attack using the f-file,
possibly the square at e4, and sometimes the e8-h5 diagonal to activate
his queen. But things don't always go that well for the defender. Frank
Marshall's play against Eugene Delmar (Black) at the 1 904 Cambridge
Springs International is an example of Black's plan gone awry. The con­
frontation began 1 . d4 e6 2. c4 fS 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. BgS Be7 5. e3 0-0 6. Bd3
Ne4 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. Bxe4 fxe4 9. Nxe4 dS 1 0. cxdS exdS.

64
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

10. exd5

1 1 . Nd2 (a) 5 Qg5 (b)

12. Ngf3 (c) 5 Qxg2 (d)
13. Rg1 (e) 5 Qh3

14. Rg3 (f) 5 Qh6 (g)

15. Qb3 5 Nc6 (h)
16. Qxd5+ 5 Be6

17. Qg5 (i) 5 Qxg5

18. Nxg5 (j) 5 Bf5

19. Rc1 (k) 5 h6 m

20. Ngf3 5 Rt7 (m)
21. a3 (n) 5 ReB (o)
22. Nc4 (p) 5 Be4

23. Nce5 (q) 5 Nxd4 (r)

24. Nxt7 (s) 5 Nxf3+

25. Ke2 (t) 5 Bc6 (u)

26. Nxh6+ (v) 5 Kh7

27. Nf5 (w) 5 g6 (x)

28. Rxf3 (y) 5 gxf5
29. Rxf5 5 Kg6

30. Rf4 (z) 5 (1-0)

65
{ a) Deduct 1 point for 1 1 . Ng3?, permitting 1 1 . ... Qb4+, when 12. Qd2
Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Rxf2+ is malodorous. Take only 3 points part credit
for 1 1 . Nc3 or 1 1 . Nc5.

(b) 1 bonus point if you anticipated this attack on the g2-pawn.

{c) Only 2 points part credit for 1 2. g3. It weakens the light squares, ex­
posing them to Black's queen-bishop.

{d) Delmar takes back his pawn and attacks the rook, but this capture is
two-sided.

{e) Deduct 2 points for 13. Rf1 . It allows 13 . ... Bg4, which pins and threat­
ens to win material. If then 14. Rg1 Qxg1 + gains the Exchange. Post 1
bonus point if you had reasoned that 1 1 . Nd2 would make it easier to
secure n.

{f) It's best to chase the queen back, with Bg4 looming menacingly.

{g) Obviously, Black could have tried 1 4 . ... QhS, but was probably careful
to avoid placing the queen where it could be annoyed by a subsequent
RgS with tempo.

{h ) More prudent would have been 1 5 . ... c6. Now Marshall takes the pawn
with a clear course of action-to exchange pieces and avoid complica­
tions.

(i) Trade anyone? Marshall continues with his plan to exchange down to a
clear and definite endgame.

{j) 1 bonus point if, when planning the queen exchange, you realized
you'd gain a tempo with the threat to the e6-bishop. 2 points part
credit for 1 8. RxgS, when 1 8 . ... Nb4 has some bite to it.

{k) 3 points part credit for 19. a3. With the text move, White's rook is
more active.

{1) 2 bonus points if you analyzed that 1 9 . ... Nb4 20. Rxc7 Nxa2 2 1 . Ne6
Rf7 (2 1 . ... Bxe6? 22. Rgxg7+ Kh8 23. Rh7+ Kg8 24. Rcg7 mate)
22. Rxg7+ Rxg7 23. Rxg7+ Kh8 24. Re7 is good for White.

{m) To guard c7 so that he can eventually move his knight.

{n) This puts an end to any possibility of Nb4.

66
( o) By placing his rook on the e-ftle, opposite White's king. Black hopes for
some tactical trick, such as a pin or discovery, possibly regaining his
lost pawn.

(p) Intending to post a knight on e5 and thereby smother the action of the
Black rooks.

(q) Full credit for 23. Nfc5.

( r) Correct was 23 . . . . Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Rfe7. Understandably, Delmar doesn't

want to deal with an inviolable knight at e5, which virtually shuts down
all Black counterplay. 1 bonus point if you took the sacrifice on d4 into
account when playing 23. Nce5.

( s) Deduct 1 point for either 24. Nxd4? Rxe5 or 24. exd4? B:x£'3.

( t) 2 points part credit for 25. Rxf3 B:x£'3 26. Rxc7. Add 2 bonus points if
your analysis continued with 26. ... Re6, threatening 27 . ... Bh5 28.
Nd8 Rd6 (double threat) . 2 bonus points more for seeing (after 25.
Ke2) 25 . ... Kxf7 26. Rxc7+ Kf6 27. Rxf3+ B:x£'3 28. K.x£3, and White is
winning.

(u) About all Black can do is play for traps.

(v) Deduct 2 points if you fell for 26. Rxc6? Nd4+, exploiting the e-file pin.
2 points part credit for 26. Rxf3 B:x£'3+ 27. K.x£3 Kxf7 28. Rxc7+,
which is good enough, but thanks to the pin on the g-pawn, taking the
h6-pawn first is better.

(w) White's advantage has increased. He's up a pawn and the Exchange,
and he still has threats. 1 bonus point if you concluded that in the
event of 27 . . . . Ne5, a reasonable way to proceed would be to eliminate
the bishop, 28. Nd4, threatening 29. f4.

(x) Saves the g-pawn, but now Marshall is ready to return some material in
order to simplify. It's called technique.

(y) On 28 . ... B:x£'3+ 29. K.x£3 gxf5, White invades with 30. Rxc7+, so Del­
mar decides to keep his bishop.

(z) White is now up the Exch�nge and two pawns, and there are even po­
tential mating threats with Rgl + coming up. It's time to break for din­
ner.

67
 GAME

16
S. Tarrasch vs. E. Lasker
Munich 1 908, World Championship Match Game 1 0
Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense C67

BACKWARD PAWN CAN RUIN anyone's day. When the op­

ponent has the possibility of strong frontal pressure, the conse­
quences can be especially bleak for any defender, even a
resilient one like the great Emanuel Lasker (Black) . Here, one of the
game's leading intellectuals, and a peripatetic associate of Albert Ein­
stein, gets his weakness handed to him by a long-time nemesis, Dr. Sieg­
bert Tarrasch (White) , in the tenth game of their 1 908 match played in
Munich. The burdens were spawned after 1 . e4 eS 2. Nf.3 Nc6 3. BbS Nf6
4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxeS Nb7 9. Nc3 0-0
10. Re1 NcS 1 1 . Nd4 Ne6 12. Be3 Nxd4.

68
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

12. Nxd4

13. Bxd4 5 c5 (a)

14. Be3 3 d5 (b)
15. exd6 4 Bxd6 (c)

16. Ne4 (d) 6 Bb7

17. Nxd6 (e) 5 cxd6 (fJ

18. Rad1 (g) 5 Qf6 (h)
19. c4 w 5 Rfe8 (j)
20. Qg4 (k) 6 Bc6 OJ
21. Re2 (m) 7 Re4 (n)

22. Qg3 (o) 4 Qe6 (p)

23. h3 (q) 7 Rd8 (r)
24. Red2 (s) 5 ReS (t)

25. Bh6 (u) 6 Qg6 (v)

26. Bf4 (w) 6 Re6

27. Bxd6 5 Qh5

28. Qg4 (x) 6 Qxg4

29. hxg4 3 Re4

30. Bxc5 5 Rxd2 (y)

31. Rxd2 3 h5

32. Rd6 (z) 6 (1-0}

69
(a) Black is cramped. Add 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 1 3 . ...
d5 with 14. Na4.

(b) Now 15. Na4 is met by 1 5 . . . . d4, so White decides to capture en pas­
sant.

(c) Add 1 bonus point if in response to 1 5 . . . . cxd6 you'd have won a pawn
with 16. Bxc5, uncovering a double attack on e7.

(d) Only 5 points part credit for the moves 1 6. f4, 16. Qh5, and 16. Rad l .
Add 2 bonus points for concluding that (after 16. Ne4) 1 6 . ... Bxh2+
1 7. Kxh2 Qh4+ 1 8. Kg1 Qxe4 19. BxcS Qxe2 20. Rxe2 gives White the
better endgame.

(e) Deduct 3 points if you fell into Lasker's trap: 1 7. NxcS? BxcS 18. BxcS
Qg5, threatening the bishop and mate at g2.

(f ) Black's c-pawns have become undoubted, but the new d-pawn is going
to be a target.

(g) The rooks begin gravitating to the open d-file, to pile up on d6.

(h) Black's queen slips out of the dl -rook's line and attacks b2.

( i) Taking control of d5 and fixing the pawn on d6, while opening the sec­
ond rank to be able to guard b2.

(j) Black takes the open file and pins the bishop.

(k ) 3 bonus points for determining that 20 . .. . Qxb2 fails to 2 1 . Rb 1 Qc3

22. Reel Qa3 23. Bh6 (not 23. Rxb7 Qxcl+! 24. Bxc1 Ret mate) 23 . ...
g6 24. Qf4, guarding c l and threatening both 2 5. Rxb7, and 25. Qf6.

(I) 3 bonus points for working out 20 . ... Re4 2 1 . Qd7 Qxb2 22. £3 !
(22. Rb l Rxe3! , when 23. fxe3 allows 23 . . . . Qxg2 mate) Re6 23. Rb l
and 24. Qxb7.

(m) Outwardly, a simple move, guarding b2 and preparing Red2, but there's
a subtle point.

( n) 2 bonus points for analyzing that 2 1 . . . . Re6 22. Bg5 Qg6 23. Rxe6
wins a pawn because the White rook was at e2. If it had been on el ,
Black could have interpolated 22 . ... Rxe1+.

70
( o) The queen moves out of danger and in turn gangs up on the d6-pawn.

(p) 2 bonus points if you saw 22 . ... Rxc4 23. Rxd6 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8
25. h3, threatening 26. Bh6 and Rd2, and nullifying 26 . . . . Qdl +, be­
cause 27. Kh2 Qxe2 fails to 28. Qb8+.

(q) Deduct 4 points for 23. b3?, overlooking 23 . ... Rg4 (deduct 2 points
for 23 . Qxd6 Rg4) . Take only 5 points part credit for 23. Rxd6 Qxc4
24. Red2 Rg4 25. Rd8+ Be8 26. Qxg4 Qxg4 27. Rxa8 Qe4 28. Rad8.

( r) 3 bonus points for investigating 23 . . . . Qxc4 24. Bh6 g6 25. Rxe4 Qxe4
26. Rxd6, threatening 27. Rxc6 Qxc6 28. Qe5 f6 29. Qe7.

(s ) 2 bonus points for finding 24 . .. . Qxc4 25. Bh6 g6 26. Rxd6 Rxd6
(26 . ... ReB 27. Rxc6) 27. Qxd6.

( t) 2 bonus points for seeing 24 . . . . Rxc4 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6 Qe8
27. Qg5. Note the importance of 23. h3 for all these lines. It avoids mate
by providing an escape hatch and stops Rg4.

(u) This mate threat is even better than 25. Bf4. Black's queen is diverted
from the e-frle.

(v) 1 bonus point for realizing that 25 . . . . Qxh6 meets up with 26. Qxe5! ,
capitalizing o n the d-frle pin.

(w) Deduct 5 points for 26. Qxe5?? because of 26 . ... Qxg2 mate.

(x) Deduct 5 points if you played 28. Be5?. You just fell for another Lasker
trap, starting with an x-ray capture: 28 . . . . Qxd l + 29. Rxdl Rxdl +
30. Kh2 Rg6, winning.

(y) 3 bonus points for planning to handle 30 . ... Rel + by 3 1 . Rxe l Rxd2
32. b4 Rxa2 33. b5 Bd7 34. Rdl Be8 35. Rd8 Re2 36. Bxa7, and White's
pawns decide.

( z) No credit for 32. gxh5 Rxc4 33. Bxa7 Rg4 34. g3 Ra4, and Black is still
resisting. White's actual rook move (32. Rd6) drives home the point.
Black is two pawns down for nothing.

71
 GAME

17
R. Reti vs. P. Meitner
Vienna 1 909
Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense C67

[I] N THE BERLIN DEFENSE of the Ruy Lopez ( 1 . e4 eS 2. Nf3

Nc6 3. BbS Nf6) , Black opts for an immediate counterattack
against White's center pawn. It was a typical way to cope with
the Lopez in the late 1 800s and early 1900s, and its advocates included
Emanuel Lasker. The variation went out of style by the First World War,
but then experienced a renascence in the past decade, and particularly
after the year 2000, when one world champion (Kramnik) used it seven
times against another (Kasparov) . While less renowned, the contest Reti
(White) vs. Meitner, Vienna, 1 909, shows how easy it is for Black's game
to become lifeless. That game continued 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Be7.

72
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

5. Be7

6. Qe2 (a) 5 Nd6 (b)

7. Bxc6 (c) 5 bxc6 (d)
8. dxe5 4 Nb7 (e)
9. Nc3 (fJ 5 0-0 (g)
10. Nd4 (h) 5 c5 (i)
1 1 . Nf5 (j) 3 d6 (k)
12. exd6 (1) 5 Bxd6 (m)
13. Nxd6 4 cxd6 (n)
14. Qf3 (o) 6 Rb8

15. Bf4 (p) 6 Be6

16. Rad1 5 Qb6 (q)

17. Qg3 (r) 5 Kh8

18. Ne4 (s) 6 Rbd8 (t)

19. Nxd6 5 Rd7

20. Ne4 (u) 5 Rfd8 (v)

21. Rxd7 (w) 4 Rxd7 (x)
22. Be5 6 f6

23. Nxf6 (y) 6 Qd8

24. Nxd7 4 Qxd7

25. Ret (z) 6 (1-0)

73
(a) First White deals with the e4-knight. He will recover his pawn after
that.

(b ) 1 bonus point if you examined 6 . ... f5 7. dxe5 0-0 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. Qc4+
Kh8 1 0. Qxc3, with the better game for White.

( c) Deduct 1 point for deciding on 7. Ba4?, when Black has the strong
reply 7 . ... e4! .

(d) 1 bonus point for analyzing 7 . . . . dxc6 8. dxe5 NfS 9. Rd1 Bd7 10. e6
fxe6 1 1 . Ne5, with strong pressure against Black's position.

( e) 1 bonus point if you saw 8 . . . Nf5 9. Qe4!. And 1 bonus point for
.

planning to answer 8 . . . . NbS by 9. a4 (or 9. c4) .

(f) 2 bonus points if you intended to sacrifice the Exchange after 9 . . . NcS
.

by 10. Nd4 Ba6 1 1 . Qg4 Bxf1 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13. Kxf1 , with Qxh7 and
Bh6 in the offing.

(g) Once he's castled, Black is ready to advance in the center with d7 -dS.

(h) 1 bonus point if you realized that 10. Nd4 stops 10 . ... d5 because of
1 1 . Nxc6.

( i) Instead of the text, a better way to attack the d4-knight was by 1 0. ...
BcS.

0) 2 bonus points if in playing this you've considered the follow-up, Qg4.

( k) 2 bonus points for looking at 1 1 . .. . g6 1 2 . Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. Nd5 Qd8

14. Nf6+, when 14 . .. . Kh8 drops the Exchange to 15. Bh6, and 1 4 . ...
Kg7 is met by 15. Qe3.

(1) Only 2 points part credit for the less efficient 1 2 . Nxe7+.

(m) 1 bonus point for sensing that 1 2 . ... Bxf5? meets up unpleasantly with
13. dxe7.

( n) Black has undoubted his c-pawns but accepted a weak backward d­

pawn.

( o) Holds the d6-pawn in place by controlling d5, and also restrains the
bishop.

(p ) Prevents the target from moving by pinning the d6-pawn to the rook.

74
(q) Seeing that the d-pawn is falling, Black tries to counterattack the b2-
pawn.

( r) 1 bonus point for seeing the threat, 1 8. Bh6. The move also piles up on
d6.

( s) Only 2 points part credit for guarding the b-pawn. It's not necessary.

(t) Increase your score for seeing that after 1 8 . ... Qxb2 1 9. Nxd6, White
has three distinct threats: A) 20. BeS ( 1 bonus point) ; B) 20. Rbl ( 1
bonus point) ; and C) 20. Nxf7+ (1 bonus point) . And take 1 bonus
point for realizing that 1 9 . . . . Nxd6 20. Bxd6 forks Black's rooks.

(u) Having won a pawn, the knight backs out with a threat that Black
misses.

(v ) A better try is 20. ... Rxd1 2 1 . Rxd1 f6, playing on a pawn down.

(w) Only 2 points part credit for 2 1 . Be5, when Black defends with 2 1 . ...
Rg8.

(x) 1 bonus point for determining that 2 1 . ... Bxd7 is answered by 22. Bc7.

(y) 1 bonus point if you saw 23. Nxf6 in advance. 1 bonus point for hav­
ing calculated the line 22 . . . . fS 23. Nf6 Rf7 24. Nh5.

(z) 1 bonus point if you pondered White's threat to simplify: 26. Qxg7+
Qxg7 2 7. Bxg7+ Kxg7 28. Rxe6. Finally, add 1 bonus point for analyz­
ing 25 . ... Bg8 26. Qxg7+ Qxg7 2 7. Bxg7+ Kxg7 28. Re7+ and 29. Rxb7.

75
 GAME

18
A. Alekhine vs. 0. Duras
St. Petersburg 1 9 1 3
R uy Lopez C77

T HIS MOST FEARSOME-in the early 1 930s, and just before

having eaten-Alexander Alekhine was surely the most fero­
cious attacking player in the physical universe. It never took
much. All he seemed to need was a tidbit of vulnerability and one was
done for. But he was not to be trifled with even as an unheralded young
man, as aldrich Duras (Black) discovered in this 1 9 1 3 game played in St.
Petersburg. The juggernaut began 1 . e4 e5 2. Nf.3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. Qe2 bS 6. Bb3 BcS 7. a4 Rb8 8. axbS axbS 9. d3 d6 10. Be3 Bg4
1 1 . h3 BhS 12. Nbd2 0-0 13. 0-0 Nd4.

76
 WHITE 'S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

13. Nd4

14. Bxd4 (a) 6 Bxf3 (b)

15. Nxf3 (c) 6 exd4 (d)
16. e5 (e) 9 Qe7 (f)
17. Rfe1 (g) 7 Rbe8 (h)
18. Qd2 (i) 7 dxe5 (j)
19. Rxe5 (k) 6 Qd6 OJ
20. Qg5 (m) 8 Rxe5 (n)

21. Nxe5 (o) 6 Qb6 (p)

22. g4 (q) 9 Bd6 (r)

23. Nxf7+ (s) 8 Rxf7 (t)
24. Qf5 (u) 8 g6 (v)
25. Qe6 (w) 6 Kg7 (x)
26. Qxf7+ (y) 6 Kh6

27. Be6 (z) 8 (1-0)

77
( a) The knight is too strong and has to be removed. Deduct 4 points for the
faulty 1 4 . Nxd4?, dropping the queen to 1 4 . . . . Bxe2.

(b) Black must interpolate this in-between capture, else his bishop will be
shut out of the game. 2 bonus points if you saw why: 14 . . . . Bxd4
15. g4 Bg6 1 6. Nxd4 exd4 1 7. f4: or 1 4 . . . . exd4 15. g4 Bg6 16. Nh4,
and then f2-f4.

( c) Only 1 point part credit for 15. gxf3 , busting up the castled position.
Slightly better is 15. Qx£3, which is worth 3 points part credit. Taking
with the knight is best.

(d) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 15 . . . . Bxd4 with 1 6. Nxd4

exd4 1 7. f4, expanding on the kingside.

(e) Take 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 1 6 . . . . dxeS with

1 7. QxeS, attacking the bishop, which then has no good move ( 1 7. ...
Bb6 1 8. QxbS or 17 . . . . Bd6 1 8 . Qxd4) . So Black has to guard with the
queen, 1 7. . . . Qd6, when 1 8. Qxd6 cxd6 19. Rfe1 is favorable for White,
considering Black's messed up pawns. Add 1 bonus point if you saw all
that and evaluated so.

(f) After 16 . ... Re8 instead, gain 1 bonus point for seeing 1 7. e6 fxe6
1 8. Bxe6+, when Black must play 1 8 . . . . Kf8 ( 1 8 . . . . Kh8 is met by
1 9. Ng5, threatening 20. Nf7+) . Add 2 bonus points if you spotted
19. b4! Bxb4 20. Nxd4, threatening 2 1 . Nc6. Take an additional 3 bonus
points if you analyzed the rest of Alekhine's note: 20 . . . . Rb6 2 1 . Qf.3
(unpinning) 2 1 . . . . Bc3 22. Nc6 Rxc6 23. Qxc6 Bxa1 24. Rxa 1 , when
the capture 24. . . . Rxe6 is refuted by the pinning 25. Ra8.

(g) Deduct 4 points for 1 7. exf6? Qxe2. Add 1 bonus point for seeing
1 7. ... Bb4 1 8. exf6.

(h) Once again pinning the e-pawn. The f8-rook is left where it is, to guard
f7.

(i ) Deduct 3 points for 18. exf6 Qxe2 1 9. Rxe2 Rxe2, dropping the Ex­
change.

(j) 1 bonus point if you determined that 1 8 . . . . Nd7 19. e6 fxe6 (otherwise,
the pawn takes something) 20. Rxe6 is seriously fatal for Black.

(k) 4 points part credit for 19. NxeS, which is met by 19 . . . . Qd6.

78
(1) The only move. The queen has to save herself and guard the bishop.

(m) 1 bonus point if you saw 20 . . . . Bb6 2 1 . Rxb5. Only 5 points part
credit for 20. Rxe8, pretty much forcing 20 . . . . Nxe8. If instead, 20. ...
Rxe8, White has 2 1 . Ng5, followed by A ) 2 1. ... Rf8 2 2 . Nxf7 Rxf7
23. Ra8+, or B) 2 1 . . . . Nd5 22. Ne4 Qc6 23. Qg5, skewering knight and
bishop. 2 bonus points if you calculated all that.

( n) Tickling the queen with 20 . . . . h6 gets nowhere after 2 1 . Qf5. If 2 1 . ...

g6?, take 1 bonus point for seeing 22. Qxg6+, when the f-pawn is
pinned and can't take on g6.

( o ) 1 bonus point for foreseeing the threat: 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Ra8+.

(p ) To interpose the bishop at f8 after 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Ra8+ Bf8. Take 1
bonus point for visualizing 2 1 . ... Nd7 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxc5.

(q) A real Alekhine move, with a hidden point. Don't be too concerned if
you didn't fmd it. Mere mortals aren't supposed to. Take only 3 points
part credit for 22. Qf5, after which Black can try 22 . ... g6 and 23 . . . .
Kg7.

( r) 2 bonus points if you figured out that 22 . . .. g6 can be answered by

23. Qh6, controlling f8 and setting up 23. Nxf7 Rxf7 24. Ra8+; or
23. Ra8 Rxa8 24. Bxf7+ Kh8 25. Nxg6 mate. Add 3 bonus points if in
response to 22 . . . . Be7 you found your way with 23. Nd7 Nxd7 24. Qxe7
Qd6 (24 . ... Nf6 25. Bxf7+ Rxf7 26. Ra8+) 25. Qxd6 cxd6, and the Black
pawns fall after 26. Ra5 Rb8 27. Ra7 Rd8 (27 . . . . Ne5 28. f4) 28. Rb7,
etc.

( s) This has been in the air for a number of moves. The trick is to see why
it works. The immediate threat is 24. Nxd6+ (tack on 1 bonus point for
realizing the threat) .

(t) If Black moves his bishop, say 23 . ... Bb4, White sets up with 24. Nd8+
Kh8 25. Ne6 Rg8 26. Ra8 and winning because of the pin. Get 2 bonus
points for finding that line.

(u) With two threats: 25. Qe6, and 25. Bxf7 Kxf7 26. g5. This last is the
reason for 22. g4. Take 2 bonus points if you saw it in advance.

79
(v) Trickier is 24 . ... Qc6, when White has two ways to go wrong:
A) 25. Qe6 Qd7; and B) 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. g5 Qd5. But there's a third
way which wins: C) 25. g5 Qd7 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 (26 . ... Q:xf7 27. gxf6)
27. Qf3 , maintaining the pin, to be followed by gxf6. Add 4 bonus
points if you saw your way through the complications.

(w) After this there is nothing to be done. The rook just falls. In fact, the
threat is 26. Qxf7+ Kh8 27. Q:xf6 mate.

(x) Avoids the mate, while looking to set a final trap.

(y) Alekhine has collected the rook. Now what's holding the knight?

(z) Deduct 4 points for the hasty 27. Q:xf6? Bh2+ 28. Kxh2 Q:xf6. The
bishop move seals off the sixth rank and menaces the knight, which
has no place to go. And if Black tries to defend the knight, the defender
is driven off. That is, on 27 . ... Kg5, there follows 28. h4+; and 27 . . . .
Be5 2 8 . f4 (or 28. h4, threatening 29. Qf8 mate or 29. g5+) . Add 1
bonus point for going through those moves ahead of time.

80
 GAME

19
A. Nimzovich vs. C. Behting
Riga 1 9 1 9
Greco Counter Gambit C40

HEN IT COMES TO positional chess, Aron Nimzovich

( 1886-1 935) wrote the book on it, My System. That classic,
first published in 1 925 and since revered by chess players
the world over, introduced all sorts of wonderful ideas, including re­
straint, the outpost, the seventh rank absolute, and the blockade. Six
years before his magnum opus was published, Nirnzovich presaged a
page from the great book in his use of the blockading concept to defeat
C. Behting (Black) . That 1 9 1 9 encounter in Riga began as a Greco
Counter Gambit ( 1 . e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5) and continued 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. d4 d6
5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Ne3 c6 7. Bc4 dS.

81
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

7. d5

8. Bb3 (a) 4 Be6 (b)

9. c4 (c) 6 Qt7 (d)

10. Qe2 (e) 5 Nf6 (f)

1 1 . 0-0 (g) 5 Bb4 (h)

12. Bd2 (i) 5 Bxd2

13. Nxd2 4 0-0 (j)

14. f4 (k) 6 dxc4 (1)
15. Ndxc4 (m) 4 Qe7

16. f5 5 Bd5 (n)

17. Nxd5 5 cxd5 (o)

18. Ne3 (p) 4 Qd7 (q)

19. Nxd5 (r) 7 Nxd5

20. Qxe4 (s) 4 Rd8 (t)

2 1 . f6 (u) 6 gxf6 (v)
22. Rf5 (w) 5 Kh8

23. Rxd5 4 R eB (x)

24. Rxd7 5 Rxe4

25. Rd8+ 5 Kg7

26. Rg8+ (y) 5 Kh6

27. Rf1 (z) 6 (1-0)

82
(a) Nimzovich is preparing to undermine Black's pawn center with the ad­
vance c2-c4.

(b) Thke 2 bonus points if you planned to answer 8 . ... bS with 9. NxdS
cxdS 1 0. Qh5+, and 1 1 . QxdS.

(c) No credit for other moves. The strike at the center must come now.

( d) A multipurpose defensive move: clears f6 for the knight, guards dS, and
attacks c4.

( e) Deduct 1 point if you castled. You just lost your c-pawn to 1 0 . ... dxc4.

(f) Developing and reinforcing dS.

(g) Only 3 points part credit for 1 1 . Nc3, after which the knight gets
pinned by 1 1 . ... Bb4.

(h) 1 bonus point if you realized that, after 1 1 . ... Bd6, you would be able
to exchange on dS and increase the pressure against the dS-pawn by
QbS and Nc3.

(i ) An adjustment: If 12. Nc3, then 1 2 . . . . Bxc3. So Nimzovich settles for

time-gaining development.

(j) Black seems to be consolidating; he's castled and diverted White's

knight from c3.

(k) A nasty surprise. White goes after the defender of d5: the light-square
bishop.

(1) After 14 . ... exf3 e.p. 15. Nxf3 h6 1 6. Ne5 Qe8 1 7. cxd5 cxd5, give your­
self 3 bonus points if you considered 1 8. Rxf6, and White plays
1 9. Nxd5 no matter how Black takes back.

(m) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat: 1 6. Nd6, 1 7. Bxe6+, and 18 . Nxb7.

( n) The bishop tries to stay centralized, but the dS-point turns out to be
mined.

(o ) 1 bonus point if you saw 1 7. ... Nxd5 1 8 . Ne3 Qd6 1 9. NxdS cxd5
20. Qxe4, utilizing the diagonal pin.

(p) Thke only 3 points part credit for 1 8. Ne5. Returning the knight to e3
is better.

83
(q) Apparently defending d5, but appearances are deceptive.
( r) The start of a combination. The first thing that collapses is Black's pawn
center.

( s) Now Black's knight is pinned and White threatens it with outright cap­
ture.

(t) The only way to defend the knight. But shifting the rook from f8 weak­
ens the f-file.

(u) The point of the combination. The f-pawn threatens to advance and f5
is vacated for White's rook. 3 bonus points for analyzing 2 1 . ... g6
22. f7+ Kf8 23. Qh4 Kg7 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Qf6+, winning.

(v) 3 bonus points for calculating 2 1 . ... Nc6 22. f7+ Kh8 (22 . ... Kf8
23. Qxh7-or even 23. Bxd5 first, and then 24 . Qxh7) 23. Bxd5 Qxd5
24. f8/Q+ Rxf8 25. Qxd5.

(w) Piling up on the pinned knight, which can no longer be defended.

(x) If Black moves his attacked queen, then the White queen infiltrates:
23 . ... Qc8 24. Qe7, or 23 . . . . Qc7 24. Qe6. Give yourself 2 bonus points
if you saw the neat refutation of 23 . ... Qe8: 24. Bc2 ! , gaining a rook
after 24 . ... Qxe4 25. Rxd8+, and 26. Bxe4.

(y) Chalk up 3 points part credit for 26. Rac l , and 27. Rlc8, winning the
b8-knight. Nimzovich sees something even better.

(z) Black's king has come under a mating attack. 2 bonus points for see­
ing the threat: 28. Rxf6+ Kh5 29. Bf7+ Kh4 30. Rh6 mate.

84
 GAME

20
M. Euwe vs. A. E. van Foreest,
Netherlands 1 921
Giuoco Piano C53

HE ONLY MAN TO beat Alexander Alekhine in a world cham­

[I] pionship match was Max Euwe ( 1 901-8 1 ) . He defeated

Alekhine in 1 935 and then lost the title in their 1 93 7 return
match. Euwe was an extremely knowledgeable student of the game who
was not afraid to explore the most deeply analyzed lines against their
most conversant advocates. That didn't mean his style was always scien­
tific. In this 192 1 game played in the Netherlands against A. E. van
Foreest (Black) , we see the 20-year-old Euwe putting aside patient exac­
titude to reveal his skill at audacious attack. The game began 1 . e4 eS
2. N£3 Nc6 3. Bc4 BcS 4. c3 Qf6.

a c e 9

85
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

4. Qf6

5. d4 (a) 7 exd4 (b)

6. e5 (c) 7 Qg6 (d)
7. cxd4 (e) 5 Bb4+

8. Nc3 (f) 5 d6 (g)

9. 0-0 5 Bxc3 (h)
10. bxc3 (i) 4 dxe5 (j)
1 1 . d5 (k) 7 Bh3 (1)
12. Nh4 (m) 6 Qe4 (n)

13. dxc6 (o) 5 Qxc4 (p)

14. gxh3 5 Qxh4 (q)
15. Qd7+ (r) 6 Kf8

16. Ba3+ (s) 6 Ne7

17 cxb7 5 ReB (t)

18. Qxe8+ (u) 7 Kxe8

19. b8/Q+ (v) 4 Kd7

20. Rad1+ (w) 6 Ke6

2 1 . Qxh8 (x) 5 Qxh3 (y)

22. f3 (z) 5 (1-0)

86
( a) 1 bonus point if you realized Black's last move couldn't stop d2-d4.

(b) Better is to drop the bishop back to b6. Now White gets a big pawn cen­
ter.

( c) Deduct 1 point for the automatic recapture, 6. cxd4. It just loses a

pawn.

( d) 1 bonus point if you saw that 6 . . . . NxeS? loses a piece to 7. Qe2 d6

8. cxd4. Add 1 bonus point for seeing 6 . ... Qe7 7. cxd4 Nxd4? 8. Nxd4
QxeS+ 9. Ne2, winning a knight.

( e) 1 bonus point for knowing that 7 . . .. Qxg2 8. Rg1 leaves two Black
pieces en prise: the queen and the bishop at cS.

(f) Only 2 points part credit for 8 . Kf1 . It saves the pawn, but there's no
reason to play like this.

(g) Add 1 bonus point if you thought of 8 . . . . Qxg2 9. Rg1 Qh3 1 0. Bxf7+! .

(h) The bishop serves no function at b4 once White castles, so Black takes
the knight before it jumps to dS.

(i) 1 bonus point for understanding that 1 0 . . . . Bh3 would be refuted by

1 1 . NgS, which stops mate and issues two threats.

(j) Black opens the center with his king still in it. He should have tried ei­
ther 10 . ... Bg4 or 10 . .. . Nge7.

(k) Gain 1 bonus point if you perceived the idea: to drive off the knight and
play NxeS with tempo.

(1) Receive 1 bonus point if you figured on 1 1 . . . . Nce7 1 2 . NxeS QfS

13. Re 1 Nf6 14. d6, winning.

( m) Deduct 5 points if you overlooked Black's threat, mate at g2. Full

credit also for 1 2 . NgS, which looks even simpler than the text.

( n ) 1 bonus point if you recognized that 1 2 . ... Qg4 1 3 . Qxg4 Bxg4

14. dxc6 is deleterious for Black.

(o ) Full credit for taking the knight, 13. gxh3. After 13 . . . . Nce7, White
guards everything by 1 4. Qg4 or 1 4. Qa4+.

87
(p) 1 bonus point if you saw 13 . ... Qxh4 1 4. gxh3 Qxc4 15. Qd7+ Kf8
16. Ba3+, and Black's position falls apart.

(q) Both sides keep taking. Now comes White's point at the end of the cap­
tures.

(r) 1 bonus point if you had foreseen this possibility when playing
12. Nh4.

( s) This is the type of move a strong player sees in a glance, developing a

piece with useful check.

( t) 1 bonus point for planning to answer 1 7. ... Rb8 by 1 8. Qc8+.

( u) Only 5 points part credit for the slower 1 8. Rab1 and 1 9 . b8/Q.

(v) Here Black could resign without causing any waves. He plays on from
inertia.

(w) It's not necessary, but Euwe automatically feeds a new piece into play
with check.

(x) If you bothered with 2 1 . Qxc7, take only 3 points part credit for your
efforts.

(y) 1 bonus point if you noticed the Black queen's perpetual check possi­
bilities at g4 and f3.

(z) No perpetuals today, so van Foreest resigned.

88
 GAME

21
R. Spielmann vs. E. Griinfeld
Teplitz-Schonau 1 922
King's Gambit Accepted C38

UDOLF SPIELMANN ( 1 883-1 942) was a triumphant attack­

ing player who reveled in combinations and beautiful patterns.
We find this in his canonical text The Art qf Sacrifice in Chess,
and we find it in his games, which sparkle with surprising shots and
trenchant insights. In the Teplitz tournament of 1 922, Spielmann (White)
confirmed his vision and tactical prowess against Ernst Griinfeld. That
kingly gambit began 1 . e4 eS 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. Nf3 gS 5. 0-0 h6
6. d4 d6 7. c3 Bg7 8. g3 g4 9. Nh4 f3 1 0. Nd2 Bf6 1 1 . Ndxf3 gxf3.

89
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

11. gxf3

12. Qxf3 (a) 4 Rh7 (b)

13. Ng6 (c) 6 Rg7 (d)

14. Nf4 (e) 4 Bg4

15. Qg2 (tJ 6 Bg5

16. h3 (g) 5 Bd7 (h)

17. Nh5 (i) 5 Rh7 (j)
18. e5 (k) 6 dxe5 (1)
19. Qe4 (m) 5 f5 (n)
20. Rxf5 (o) 6 Bxf5 (p)
21. Qxf5 3 Re7 (q)

22. Bxg5 (r) 5 hxg5

23. Rf1 (s) 6 Qd6

24. Bxg8 4 exd4

25. Qf8+ 5 Kd7

26. Qxa8 (t) 5 Qc5 (u)

27. Nf6+ 5 Kd6

28. Qf8 (v) 5 Qe5

29. Kg2 (w) 4 d3

30. Rf2 (x) 5 Qe1 (y)

31. Qh6 (z) 6 (1-0)

90
(a) 1 bonus point for seeing that 12 . ... Bxh4?? is met by 13. Qxf7 mate.

(b) Played to guard f7 and threaten 13 . ... Bxh4. There were two better de-
fenses: 1 2 . ... Qe7 or 1 2 . ... Bh3.

(c) Receive only 3 points part credit for any of these three: 13. Qh5,
13. Ng2, or 13. Nf5. Griinfeld probably overlooked that 1 2 . ... Rh7
would leave his g8-knight undefended.

( d) The knight cannot be taken: 1 3 . ... fxg6 14. Bxg8 A) 1 4 . ... Rg7 15. Bc4
Be7 16. Bxh6 Rh7 1 7. Bf7+ Kd7 18. Qg4 mate; or B) 1 4 . ... Rh8 15. Bc4
Rf8 (threatening 1 6 . . . . Bxd4+) 16. e5 dxe5 1 7. Bxh6 Bg7 18. Qxf8+.
Add 2 bonus points for working out each line.

( e) The knight is on its way to h5, prompting Black's next move.

(f) The best retreat square. From g2, the queen can support h2-h3, while
keeping an eye on e4.

(g) The bishop must be expelled so the knight can get to h5.

(h) 1 bonus point for seeing that 16 . ... Bxf4? 1 7. gxf4? runs into 1 7 . ...
Qh4 ! . Correct is 1 7. Bxf4 Bd7 1 8. Rae1 Qe7 1 9. e5 d5 20. Bxd5 0-0-0
2 1 . b4, with excellent attacking chances.

( i) Add 1 bonus point if you had h5 in mind for the knight when playing
13. Ng6.

(j) The rook has to keep guard over f7, but now it's back to where it was.

(k) Essentially, a vacating sacrifice. White wants e4 for his queen.

(1) Black can't allow White to open the e-ftle by exd6.

(m) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 18. e5.

(n ) 2 bonus points for going over 19 . ... Rh8 20. Bxf7+ Ke7 (20 . ... Kf8
2 1 . Bxg8+ Kxg8 22. Qg6 mate) 2 1 . d5, winning.

( o) Spielmann comments: "This is what White was planning! White will be

a whole rook down, but all the doors and gates will be opened for his re­
maining forces."

( p) If 20 . ... Qe7, then 2 1 . Rxg5 and 22. Qg6+. Add 1 bonus point for see­
ing this.

91
(q) The alternative was to defend the rook with the queen, 2 1 . . . . Qd7, but
that can be answered by 22. Be6; and 2 1 . ... Qe7 is met by 22. Qg6+!
Take 1 bonus point for each.

(r) Get only 3 points part credit for 22. Bxg8. The knight will keep while
White develops his queenside.

(s ) 1 bonus point for spotting 23 . ... Nh6 24. Nf6+ KfS 25. Qxg5 Nf7 (if
25 . ... Rh7, then 26. Nxh7+; or 25 . . . Rg7 26. Nh7+) 26. Qg8 mate.

( t) Score only 3 points part credit for 26. Nf6+ Qxf6 27. Qxf6 Rxg8.

(u) 1 bonus point if you noticed that g3 was guarded by the h5-knight.

(v) 1 bonus point for seeing the threat: 29. Ne4+.

(w) Deduct 3 points if you overlooked 29 . . . . Qxg3+.

(x) 3 points part credit for 30. Nd5. It wins the Exchange, but White has
better things to do.

(y) 1 bonus point for noticing 30 . ... Kc5 3 1 . Nd7+, forking the king and
queen.

(z) 1 bonus point if you were ready to answer 3 1 . ... d2 with 32. Ne4+ Kd7
33. Rxd2+.

92
 GAME

22
G. Maroczy vs. J. Mieses

A81
Teplitz-Schonau 1 922
Dutch Defense

EZA MAROCZY ( 1 8 70- 1 95 1 ) was one of the world's premier

grandmasters during the first decade of the twentieth century.
Best known for the Maroczy bind, a pawn formation mainly
arising in the Sicilian Defense, the Hungarian stalwart had a fine sense
for maneuvering in unclear situations. No matter how vague the circum­
stances were, it seemed he could always cash in his chips, especially in
the endgame. The following contest never reached the endgame, but
surely is an example of Maroczy's consummate positional skilL Played
against Jacques Mieses (Black) at Teplitz-Schonau in 1 922, it commenced
1 . d4 fS 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nf3 e6 5. 0-0 Bb7 6. Nbd2 Nf6 7. c4 Bd6
8. a3 Rb8 9. b4 Be7.

5 5

93
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

9. Be7

10. Bb2 (a) 5 d5 (b)

1 1 . Qc2 (c) 5 Ne4 (d)
12. cxd5 5 exd5 (e)

13. Rac1 (tJ 5 a6

14. Rfd1 (g) 5 Rc8

15. Qb3 (h) 5 Qd6

16. e3 (i) 5 h5 (j)

17. Ne5 (k) 6 h4 (1)
18. Nxe4 (m) 5 fxe4 (n)

19. Bxe4 (o) 6 Nxe5 (p)

20. dxe5 4 Qh6

21. Rxd5 (q) 6 hxg3 (r)

22. hxg3 (s) 4 Qh2+

23. Kf1 (t) 3 Rf8 (u)

24. Bg6+ (v) 5 Rf7

25. Bxf7+ (w) 5 Kxf7

26. Rd8+ (x) 5 Kg6

27. Qe6+ 5 Bf6 (y)

28. Qg4+ (z) 6 Bg5

29. Rxc8 5 (1-0}

94
(a ) The double fianchetto, an effective system against the Dutch. The bish­
ops eye the center squares while keeping out of the way of the rooks­
they will be brought to the c- and d-frles.

(b) Not the best Stonewall formation, since White can bring pressure to
bear on the c-file. Black would be better off if he had a pawn on c6 in­
stead of a knight.

(c) A multipurpose developing move: White brings pressure to bear on both

the c-frle and the f5-pawn, while vacating d1 for the king-rook.

( d) 1 bonus point if you saw that 1 1 . . . . 0-0 12. cxd5 exdS allows 13. Qxf5.

(e ) Black can keep the a8-h1 diagonal open with 12 . ... Qxd5, but it's
strategically suspect.

(f) 1 bonus point ifyou spotted the threat: 1 4. b5.

(g) 2 bonus points if you worked out 14 . . 0-0 15. Nxe4 fxe4 16. Ne5
. .

Nxe5 1 7. dxe5 c6 1 8 . Bxe4, when the bishop is safe because of the

pinned d-pawn.

(h) 2 bonus points ifyou were ready to answer 15 . .. 0-0 by 16. Nxe4 fxe4
.

1 7. NeS Nxe5 1 8. dxe5. With the dS-pawn doubly pinned, there's no

defense to 1 9. Bxe4.

( i) A typical Maroczy safety-waiting move. White solidifies his control of

d4 and f4, while waiting to see what Mieses does with his king.

(j) Mieses opts for aggression over passive resistance. Black hopes to open
the h-frle for attack. We'll see.

(k) Of course! The best answer to a flank attack is to counter in the center.

( l) Pressing ahead. The attempt to hold the line with 1 7. . . . Nxd2 1 8. Rxd2
Nd8 19. h4 leaves Black without much play. If he persists with 1 9 . ... g5
20. hxg5 Bxg5, he only succeeds in weakening his own kingside.

( m) The knight is Black's best piece, so White has to remove it in order to

make progress.

(n) 1 bonus point if you realized that 18 . ... dxe4 is shattered by 19. Qf7+
Kd8 20. Qxg7, threatening 21. Qxh8, 21. Nf7+, and caissa knows what
else.

95
(o) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 18. Nxe4. Add 1
bonus point if you grasped that 1 9 . ... dxe4 20. Qf7+ Kd8 2 1 . Qxg7 Rf8
is not so convincing, since White has already invested a bishop. In­
stead, he should enter f7 with his knight, 20. Nf7.

(p ) The line 1 9 . ... dxe4 20. Nf7 Qf6 2 1 . Nxh8 needs to be examined care­
fully. Black may continue 2 1 . ... h3, threatening 22 . ... Qf3 and 23 . ...
Qg2 mate. After 21. . . . h3, White plays 22. Qg8+ and now: A) 22 . . . . Kd7
23. Qd5+ Ke8 (or 23 . ... Bd6 24. Qf7+) 24. Qh5+ and picks off the h3-
pawn (2 bonus points) ; B) 22 . ... Bf8 23. d5! Qf3 (23 . ... Qxb2 24. Qf7+
Kd8 25. dxc6+) 24. Qe6+ Ne7 (24 . . . . Kd8 25. Nf7+) 25. Qxh3, etc. (3
bonus points) . Finally, you may have noticed 2 1 . . . . Kf8 (instead of
2 1 . ... h3) , when White would continue 22. d5 Ne5 23. Bxe5 Qxe5
24. Ng6+ (another 2 bonus points) .

(q) Deduct 5 points for the erroneous 2 1 . BxdS??. You probably over-
looked 2 1 . ... hxg3 22. Bxb7 Qxh2+ 23. Kfl Qxf2 mate. And if not that,
then 2 1 . ... hxg3 22. hxg3 Qh1+! 23. Bxh l Rxhl mate. Give yourself 1
bonus point if you saw through Mieses's trap.

( r) 1 bonus point for seeing that after 2 1 . . . . Bxd5 22. Qxd5 c5, White can
keep the h-file closed, 23. g4.

(s) Deduct 3 points for the wrong recapture: 22. fxg3? Qxh2+ 23. Kf1
Rf8+.

( t) No credit for other moves.

(u) 1 bonus point for acknowledging 23 . ... Bxd5 24. QxdS Rh6! 25. e6! . If
you took it further, give yourself 1 bonus point for 25 . ... Qh3+ 26. Bg2
Qxe6 27. Qxe6 Rxe6 28. Bh3 Kf7 29. Bxe6+ Kxe6 30. Bxg7. Give your-
self 3 bonus points for seeing 25 . . . . Rd8 26. Qf5 Qh3+ (or 26 . . . . Rd2
27. Rxc7 Kd8 28. Ra7; and if 28 . . . . Rxb2, then 29. Qd5+ leads to mate)
27. Qxh3 Rxh3 28. Bxg7 (threatenening 29. Bg6 mate) 28 . . . . Rd6.
After that, 29. Kg2 traps the rook.

(v) White's king may be in a little trouble, but Black's is more vulnerable.

(w) Deduct 5 points for 25. e6, playing to win the rook outright. Even a
pinned rook can participate in mate: 25 . ... Qxf2 mate.

96
(x) The best discovery. Only 3 points part credit for 26. e6+ Kxe6? (Black
need not take) 27. Rh5+.

(y) If 27 . ... Kh7 (or 27 . ... KhS) White takes the rook, 28. Rxc8; and if
28 . ... B£3, then 29. QfS+ forces mate, since the rook check looms at h8
(1 bonus point).

(z) The final finesse. White prevents B£3 before taking on c8.

97
 GAME

23
R. Reti vs. K. Opocensky
Pistyan 1 922
Queen 's Gambit Declined D 1 0

ICHARD RETI ( 1 889-1 929) was certainly a very innovative

thinker. He contributed valuably to the spirit of hypermodern
opening play, while creating some of the most original and aes­
thetically pleasing endgame compositions the game has ever seen. In­
deed, it can be hard not to smile upon a first viewing of Reti's diagonal
march problems. But he also was an accomplished grandmaster, who
often turned in luminous wins worthy of any top player. His game against
Karel Opocensky (Black) at Pistyan in 1 922 is a case in double exclama­
tion point. It began with 1 . d4 dS 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 BfS 5. exdS
NxdS 6. Nf3 e6 7. Bd3 Bb4 8. 0-0 Bxc3.

98
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

8. Bxc3

9. bxc3 (a) 4 Nxc3

10. Qc2 (b) 4 Bxd3 (c)

1 1 . Qxd3 4 NbS

12. a4 5 Nd6 (d)

13. Ba3 (e) 6 b6 (f)

14. Ne5 (g) 6 f6

15. Qb3 (h) 6 fxe5 (i)

16. dxe5 (j) 6 0-0 (k)
17. Bxd6 OJ 4 Re8

18. f4 5 Kh8 (m)

19. Rad1 (n) 5 Qc8 (o)

20. e4 (p) 5 g6

21. Qh3 (q) 6 c5

22. f5 (r) 6 exf5 (s)

23. exf5 4 gxf5 (t)
24. Rxf5 (u) 4 Nc6

25. e6 (v) 6 Rg8 (w)

26. Rf7 (x) 5 Rg7

27. Rdf1 (y) 5 Rxf7

28. Rxf7 (z) 4 (1-0)

99
( a) Only 3 points part credit for 9. Bxf5 exf5 10. bxc3, which is playable
but somewhat less clear.

(b) Deduct 4 points for 1 0. Bxf5, which is met by 1 0. ... Nxd l . Deduct 3
points for 10. Qb3, which is answered by 10 . ... Bxd3.

( c) The line 1 0 . ... Nd5 1 1 . Bxf5 exf5 1 2 . Qxf5 is just fine for White, who
obtains a better position with no material disadvantage. Add 1 bonus
point for so judging.

( d) Looking to block the a3-f8 diagonal. After 1 2 . ... Nc7 13. Ba3, Black
cannot castle. Receive 1 bonus point if you understood the import of
Reti's pawn sacrifice.

( e) Only 4 points part credit for 13. e4 0-0 14. e5, though it's not bad.

(f) 1 bonus point if you saw that 1 3 . ... 0-0 can be met by 14. Qb3 b6
15. Qb4. Black can try to scramble with 1 5 . ... c5 1 6. dxcS Na6, but then
1 7. Qf4 sets new problems. If 1 7 . ... NxcS, then 1 8. Rfdl . So he has to
try 1 7. ... e5 1 8. Nxe5 (not 18. Qxe5 Nc4, escaping) 1 8 . . . . Nxcs, but
1 9. Rfd1 still leaves him in trouble. 2 bonus points ifyou worked this out.

(g) Ready to answer 1 4 . ... 0-0 by 15. Nc4 c5 16. dxcS Nxc4 1 7. Qxc4, and
White recovers his pawn with the superior position. 1 bonus point for
calculating this.

(h) Just 3 points part credit for the retreat 1 5. Nc4. Deduct 1 point for the
flashy but unsound 15. Ng6.

(i) 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 1 5 . ... Qc8 with 1 6. Bxd6.

(j) Only 3 points part credit for 1 6. Qxe6+ Qe7 1 7. Qxe7+ Kxe7 1 8. dxeS.
White recoups his piece, but after 1 8 . ... cS, Black has averted the main
danger.

(k) 1 bonus point if you saw that 1 6 ... c5 is now met by 1 7. Rad l . Note
.

that after 1 6 . ... Nf5 1 7. Qxe6+ Ne7 18. Rfd 1 , White is certain to get his
piece back: A) 1 8 . ... Qc7 1 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qc8+ (2 bonus points) ; B)
18 . ... Nd7 1 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qxc6 Rd8 2 1 . e6, etc. (2 bonus points) .

(1) Only 2 points part credit each for 1 7. exd6, when 1 7 . ... Qd7 and
1 8 . . c5 shuts the bishop out. And 1 7. Qxe6+ Nf7 1 8. Bxf8 gets Black
. .

two pieces for the rook, with chances to defend.

100
(m) The king steps out of the queen's pin on the e6-pawn, else White will
push his f-pawn all the way down to f7.

(n ) 1 bonus point if you expected to meet 1 9 . ... c5 by 20. Bxc5.

(o ) 1 bonus point if you knew (or divined) White was threatening

20. Bxb8 Qxb8 2 1 . Rd7.

(p) Preparation for the advance f4-f5. But there's another sly purpose. 1
bonus point if you picked it up: The third rank is now open for the
queen to slide to the kingside (as in the sixth game of the Fischer­
Spassky World Championship Match, 1 972) .

(q) Only 2 points part credit for 21 . f5 gxf5 22. exfS exfS 23. Qf7 Qe6.

(r) No credit for anything else.

(s) 1 bonus point for seeing that White threatened 23. fxg6.

(t) In response to 23 . ... Nc6, take 1 bonus point for having determined
that 24. e6 is the correct retort.

(u) Only 1 point part credit for 24. QxfS.

(v) 2 bonus points if you noticed this particular White threat: 26. Qc3+
Nd4 27. Be5+ Kg8 28. Qg3 mate.

( w) The pawn may not be captured. Secure 1 bonus point for seeing 25 . ...
Rxe6 26. Rf8+, winning the queen.

(x) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat: 27. Q(R)xh7 mate.

(y) Only 3 points part credit for 27. Rf8+ Qxf8 28. Bxf8 Rxf8, gaining the
queen for a rook and minor piece. Only 4 points part credit for
27. Rxg7 Kxg7, when 28. Rf1 is pretty much equivalent to what was
played.

(z) After 28 . ... Qg8 (to stop 29. Qxh7 mate) , White finishes off with
29. Qc3+ Nd4 30. Be5+ Qg7 3 1 . Bxg7+ (or 3 1 . Rxg7 Ne2+ 32. Khl Nxc3
33. Rg6 mate) 3 1 . ... Kg8 32. Bxd4, and mate is coming up. 1 bonus
point for either variation.

101
 GAME

24
R. Reti vs. J. Capablanca
New York 1 924
Reti Opening A 15

HE STORY IS AN old one, inextricably woven into the fabric of

[I] chess history. After seven years of unbeaten tournament and

match play, was the "invincible" Jose Capablanca finally toppled
by Richard Reti in the great New York 1 924 tournament. Of course, Reti
(White) had help, a diabolical weapon known as the Reti Opening. The
opening of that memorable showdown began 1 . Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b4
Bg7 4. Bb2 0-0 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. 0-0 d6 8. d3 Nbd7 9. Nbd2 e5
10. Qc2 ReS 1 1 . Rfdl aS 12. a3 h6 13. Nf1 c5 1 4. bS Nf8 15. e3 Qc7
16. d4 Be4 1 7. Qc3 exd4.

8
7

1 02
 WHITE'S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

17. exd4

18. exd4 (a) 6 N6d7 (b)

19. Qd2 (c) 7 cxd4 (d)

20. Bxd4 (e) 6 Qxc4 (fJ

21. Bxg7 (g) 7 Kxg7 (h)
22. Qb2+ (i) 8 Kg8 (j)
23. Rxd6 (k) 7 Qc5 (1)
24. Rad1 (m) 7 Ra7 (n)

25. Ne3 (o) 7 Qh5 (p)

26. Nd4 (q) 7 Bxg2 (r)

27. Kxg2 (s) 6 Qe5 (t)

28. Nc4 (u) 7 Qc5 (v)

29. Nc6 (w) 7 Rc7 (x)
30. Ne3 (y) 8 Ne5

31. R1d5 (z) 9 (1-0)

1 03
(a) A forced recapture. Deduct 3 points for anything else.

(b) Capablanca hurries to unmask his bishop and pin the d-pawn. But there
was no rush. Instead, 1 8 . ... Ne6 improves the position of the knight,
when 1 9. d5? meets up with 1 9 . ... Nxd5.

(c ) The queen must get off the long diagonal. The line 19. Qb3 a4 is awk­
ward and 19. Qe3 (deduct 2 points) drops the Exchange to 1 9 . . . . Bc2.

(d) Opening the c-file, to get at the c4-pawn, is the plan. But there's a mis­
calculation here. Steadier was 1 9 . ... Rad8.

(e ) The correct recapture. Deduct 1 point for 20. Nxd4 Bxg2 2 1 . Kxg2
Qxc4, lifting a pawn.

(f) Continuing with the plan, otherwise the previous move makes no sense.
Momentarily, Black has an extra pawn and threatens to obtain a second
with Qxb5.

(g) Forcing Black into two unproductive king moves, while White improves
his position.

(h) 1 bonus point if you realized that 2 1 . ... Bxf3 allows 22. Qxh6.

(i) The intermediate check that capablanca missed, whereby White secures
his b5-pawn. 1 bonus point if you saw it in advance, before playing
1 9. Qd2.

(j) Best. Interpositions only make matters worse. 1 bonus point for con­
sidering 22 . ... Ne5? 23. Racl Qa4 24. Rd4, trapping the queen. 1
bonus point for finding 23 . ... Qe6 24. Nd4, leading to the win of the
e4-bishop.

(k) Only 6 points part credit for 23. N3d2 Qc2 24. Qxc2 Bxc2 25. Bxa8
Bxdl 26. Rxdl Rxa8 27. Nc4 ReB 28. Nfe3, after which one of the
pawns (b6 or d6) is sure to fall.

(1) 2 bonus points for examining 23 . ... Rac8 24. N3d2 Qc2 (24 . ... Qc7
25. Rxd7 and 26. Nxe4) 25. Qxc2 Bxc2 26. Bc6, when Black is in a
bind.

(m) Guards the rook while threatening 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. Rxd7, which pro­
vides 1 bonus point if foreseen.

1 04
( n) 2 bonus points if you calculated 24 . ... Ne5 25. NxeS QxeS (or 25 . ...
RxeS 26. Rxb6 Qxb6 27. Qxe5) 26. QxeS Rxe5 27. Rxb6.

(o) The knight moves off the back rank with a threat, 26. Ng4 Kh7
27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Nf6+. Score 2 bonus points if you
spotted it.

(p) With the text move, Capablanca resorts to tactical tricks in an attempt to
hold the position. The immediate threat is to take on f3.

(q) Only 3 points part credit for 26. g4, when the queen returns to cS. Full
credit for 26. Rld5 Bxd5 27. g4 Bxf3 28. gxh5 Bxh5. Black has a rook,
minor piece, and pawn for the queen, but at the end of the line, White
has 29. Bc6 (add 1 bonus point for seeing this) .

(r) The exchange of bishops is inevitable, so there's no point trying to

avoid or delay. Besides, the White king could prove vulnerable to checks
at g2, whereas at gl it's perfectly safe.

(s) Deduct 5 points for stumbling into 27. Nxg2, when it's mate by 27 . ...
Qxdl+ 28. Net Rxel+ 29. Kg2 Rgl+ 30. Kh3 Qh5 mate.

(t) 2 bonus points to your total for seeing that 27 . ... Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qxdl
loses to 29. NfS, threatening mate and the queen. 1 bonus point if you
refuted 27 . ... QcS? by 28. Nc6 Rc7 29. RldS.

(u) Guards the rook and targets both the queen and b6-pawn.

(v) Saves the queen and guards b6. On 28 . ... Qe4+, the queen gets shooed
away, 29. f3. Add 3 bonus points if you took it further: 29 . ... Qb7
30. Nc6 R7a8 3 1 . Qd2 NcS 32. Nxb6, winning the Exchange or the
queen, for 32 . ... Qxb6 runs into 33. Ne7+.

(w) Combining attack and defense. Reti can withdraw his knight next move.

(x) 1 bonus point if you analyzed 29 . ... Qxc4 30. Nxa7 before playing
28. Nc4.

(y) Shifting the queen back to the kingside is not likely to work. One pos­
sibility is 30 . ... QgS 3 1 . h4 Qh5 32. Rl dS g5 33. Qd4 NcS 34. g4 Qxh4
35. NfS, mating or winning the queen.

1 05
(z) Having in mind 3 1 . ... Nc4 32. Rxc5 Nxb2 33. Rc2 Na4 34. Nd5, gain­
ing the Exchange. No credit for using the wrong rook, 3 1 . R6d5 Nc4
32. Nxc4 (not 32. Rxc5? Nxb2, when both rooks are attacked) 32 . ...
Qxc4 33. R1d4 Qe2, and the queen escapes. 7 points part credit for
3 1 . Nxe5. The text is better.

1 06
 GAME

25
E. Lasker vs. R. Reti
New York 1924
French Defense C12

OME PLAYERS NEVER SEEM to age, and perhaps the best ex­
ample of that was the venerable Emanuel Lasker ( 1 868-1 941 ) .
At the age of 56, long past the prime of most competitors, Lasker
won the New York 1 924 tournament, ahead of the world's elite, including
his chief rivals, Jose Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine. Proof of
Lasker's dominant performance is his tenth round game against Richard
Reti (Black) . It began as a French Defense: 1 . e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Bb4 5. Ne2 dxe4 6. a3 Be7 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Nxe4 f5 9. N4c3 Bd7
10. Qd2 Bd6 1 1 . 0-0-0 Qe7 12. Ng3 Qh4.

1 07
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

12. Qh4

13. Qe1 (a) 6 Nc6 (b)

14. Nxf5 (c) 5 Qf4+

15. Ne3 4 Nxd4

16. g3 (d) 5 Qe5 (e)

17. Bg2 m 5 Nc6 (g)
18. f4 (h) 5 Qg7 (i)
19. NbS (j) 6 0-0 (k)
20. Nxd6 (1) 5 cxd6

21. Rxd6 4 Rfd8

22. Qd2 (m) 5 Be8

23 Rhd1 (n) 5 Rdc8 (o)

24. f5 (p) 6 e5 (q)

25. ffi (r) 5 Qffi (s)

26. Nf5 (t) 5 Kh8

27. Qg5 (u) 5 Rc7 (v)

28. Bxc6 (w) 5 Rxc6

29. Rd8 (x) 5 Rcc8

30. Qg7+ (y) 5 Qxg7

31. fxg7+ 4 Kg8

32. Ne7+ (z) 5 (1-0)

1 08
( a) The threat was 13 . ... Bf4, winning the queen. Deduct 4 points if you
missed it. Take only 4 points part credit for 13. Kb l .

(b) 1 bonus point if you examined 13 . ... Bxg3 14. fxg3 (not 14. hxg3??
Qxh 1 ) 14 . . . . Qg5+ 15. Kb1 , when White is threatening 16. QeS.

(c) An exchanging transaction, fS-pawn for d4-pawn. The overall result is

that White obtains two open lines (the d- and e-frles), while Black's
king is still uncastled. Plus Black's queen and knight are exposed to fu­
ture attacks. The net advantage goes to White.

(d) 1 bonus point if you foresaw that this move prepares the development
of the bishop to g2 and the advance of the pawn to f4.

(e) Just plain bad is 1 6 . ... Qf3. White answers with 1 7. Bg2, and when the
queen moves away, White has 18. Bxb7. Gain 1 bonus point if you saw
this ahead of time.

(f) Full credit for finding 1 7. f4 Qg7 1 8. Bg2. Add 2 bonus points for
spotting the trap 1 7. f4 QcS? 1 8. b4 Qb6 1 9. Ned5, driving the queen off
and winning the d4-knight.

(g) If 1 7. ... Bc6, White can play 18. f4 and then: A) 1 8 . ... QcS 19. Bxc6+
Nxc6 20. Ne4 (1 bonus point) ; or B) 1 8 . ... Qg7 19. Bxc6+ Nxc6 20. NfS
Qf8 2 1 . Nxd6+ cxd6 22. NbS 0-0-0 23. Qc3, threatening to win a pawn
(3 bonus points) ; or C) 1 8 . ... Qf6 19. Bxc6+ Nxc6 20. Ne4 Qe7 2 1 . Qc3
0-0-0 22. Rhe1 , threatening 23. Nf5 (3 bonus points) .

( h) 1 bonus point for corning up with 1 8 . ... QcS 1 9. Ne4, and 1 bonus
point for 1 8 . ... QaS 1 9. Nc4.

(i ) If 1 8 . ... QhS, then White has some choices: A) 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nd5,
and if 20 . ... exd5?, then 2 1 . Nf6+, winning the queen (1 bonus point) ;
or B) 19. Ned5 0-0-0 20. Nf6 Qg6 2 1 . Nxd7 Rxd7 22. Bxc6, messing up
Black's pawns ( 1 bonus point) ; or C) 1 9. Nc4 Be7 20. Rxd7 Kxd7
2 1 . Bxc6+ Kxc6 (or 2 1 . ... bxc6) 22. Ne5+, with a strong attack ( 1
bonus point) .

(j) Add 1 bonus point for seeing that Bc5 (or Be7) is met by 20. Nxc7+.
Deduct 1 point if you tried 19. NfS, overlooking 1 9 . ... Bxf4+ 20. gxf4
Qxg2.

1 09
(k) 1 bonus point for determining that 1 9 . ... Qf8 is rebuffed by 20. Nf5.
On 19. .. . 0-0-0, White may take on d6 or play 20. Bxc6 Bxc6
2 1 . Nxa7+. Add 1 bonus point for seeing this last option.

(1) White collects his pawn. No credit for anything else.

(m) Deduct 1 point for 22. Qc3, pursuing the principle "when ahead, trade
queens" too mechanically. After 22 . ... Qxc3 23. bxc3, White's winning
chances are actually reduced.

(n) Deduct 1 point for 24. Rxd8, again blindly following the idea of trad­
ing when ahead. White would merely be turning over control of the d­
file to his opponent.

(o) If Black plays 24. ... Rxd6 25. Qxd6 Rd8, then 26. Qc7 (1 bonus point)
is very strong. And on 26 . . . . Rxd1+ 27. Nxd 1 , Black loses more mate­
rial.

(p ) If 24 . ... Qh6, then 25. fxe6 fxe6 26. Rxe6 Qxe6 27. Bd5, pinning the
queen to the king (2 bonus points) .

(q) After 24 . ... exf5 25. N:xf5, add 1 bonus point for each of the follow-
ing: A) 25 . ... Qg4 26. Nh6+; B) 25 . ... Qf8 26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. Qf6+ Kg8
28. Nh6+; C) 25 . ... Qh8 26. Qg5+ Kf8 27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Bxc6 Bxc6
29. Ne7 mate; D) 25 . ... Qe5 26. Qg5+ Kh8 (or 26 . . . . Kf8) 27. Rf6,
threatening 28. Qg7 mate.

(r) The advanced pawn acts as a powerful wedge in the Black camp. White
is poised to score.

(s) 2 bonus points for seeing Black's threat: 26 . ... Nd4 27. RdS Nb3+,
winning the queen because of the pin.

(t) Only 3 points part credit for 26. Bxc6. It is better to hold Bxc6 in re­
serve for when it can be made as part of a threat. Lasker's move is more
aggressive and meets the threat as well, 26 . ... Nd4? 25. Nxd4 Qxd6
26. Qg5+ and 27. Qg7 mate ( 1 bonus point) .

(u) White is prepared to set up a mate by 28. Be4, 29. Qh4, and 30. Ne7.
Take 2 bonus points for scheming the sequence.

1 10
(v) With 27 . . . . Rd8, White is ahead after 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rxd8 Nxd8
30. Ne7, winning the e-pawn (2 bonus points) . Yet another way was
28. Bxc6 Rxd6 (28 . . . . Bxc6? 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Qxd8 3 1 . Qg7
mate) 29. Nxd6 Bxc6 30. Qxe5 (2 bonus points) .

(w) If 28 . ... Bxc6, then 29. Rd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Be8 3 1 . Rxe8 and 32. Qg7
mate (2 bonus points) .

(x ) Only 3 points part credit for 29. Qg7+ Qxg7 30. fxg7+ Kg8 3 1 . Ne7+,
winning the Exchange. Lasker figures he can do better and win a whole
rook.

(y) Full credit for 30. Rxc8 Rxc8 3 1 . Qg7+, transposing.

(z) Culminate in full credit for 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Ne7+ Kxg7 34. Nxc8,
again transposing. Perk up with 2 bonus points if you saw the finish
when playing 28. Bxc6.

111
 GAME

26
E. Colle vs. S. Landau
Belgium 1 928, Match
Colle System A47

DGAR COLLE ( 1 8 9 7- 1 932) was a superb attacking player

and coincidentally the inventor of the Colle System, where White
essentially plays the moves d4, Nf.3, e3, Nbd2, c3, and Bd3,
seemingly no matter what Black does. Actually, many more players ig­
nore their opponents' moves than you might think. Here, in a 1 928 match
game against Salo Landau (Black) , the Belgian master did think, and it
was down hill from there for his opponent. Colle's reasoning began 1 . d4
Nf6 2. Nf.3 b6 3. e3 Bb7 4. Bd3 d6 5. 0-0 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 e5 7. e4 exd4
8. Nxd4 g6 (a) .

1 12
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

8. g6 (a)
9. Bb5 (b) 6 a6 (c)
10. Bc6 (d) 3 Qc8 (e)
1 1 . e5 (tJ 7 dxe5 (g)
12. Qf3 (h) 6 Bxc6

13. Nxc6 3 Bd6

14. Nc4 (i) 6 e4 (j)

15. Re1 (k) 4 h6 (1)
16. Qc3 (m) 6 Qb7 (n)

17. Nxd6+ (o) 5 cxd6

18. Rxe4+ 6 Kf8 (p)

19. Re7 (q) 6 Kg7 (r)
20. Bf4 5 Rac8 (s)

21. Qb3 (t) 4 d5 (u)

22. Ne5 (v) 5 Rae8 (w)

23. Rxf7+ 4 Kg8

24. Qg3 (x) 5 g5

25. Bxg5 6 Rxe5 (y)

26. Bxf6+ 4 Kxf7

27. Qg7+ 5 Ke6

28. Bxe5 (z) 4 (1-0}

1 13
(a) Black's last move is a mistake. He should have played 8 . ... a6.

(b) This is why Black should have played 8 . ... a6. Now White aims at the
weak square c6.

(c ) 1 bonus point if you realized that the e-pawn is immune because of the
pin Rel .

(d) Deduct 3 points for 1 0. Nc6?, since the knight is lost after 1 0 . ... Qc8
1 1. Ba4 b5.

(e ) The queen ends up on c8 anyway after 10 . ... Bxc6 1 1 . Nxc6 Qc8.

(f) A line opening sacrifice to get at Black's king. Morphy and many others
would approve.

(g) 2 bonus points for analyzing 1 1 . ... Bxc6 12. Nxc6 Nxe5 13. Re1 Qd7
14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Rxe5+ Be7 16. Qe2, when Black's king is stuck in
the center. Another 2 bonus points for considering 12 . . . . dxe5 13. Re1
Bd6 14. Nc4, since Black can't castle because of 15. Nxd6 cxd6
1 6. Ne7+. And 3 bonus points for realizing that, after 14. Nc4, White
threatens 15. Qxd6! cxd6 1 6. Nxd6+ Kf8 1 7. Bh6+ Kg8 18. Ne7 mate.

(h) Receive 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 1 1 . e5! .

( i) Get 1 bonus point for seeing 14 . ... 0-0? 1 5. Nxd6 cxd6 1 6. Ne7+.

(j) 1 bonus point for spotting 14 . ... Qb7 15. Ret 0-0? 16. Ne7+.

(k) 2 bonus points for calculating 1 6. Rxe4+ Nxe4 1 7. Qxe4+ Kf8 1 8. Bh6+
Kg8 19. Nxd6 cxd6 20. Ne7 mate.

(I) The advance of the h-pawn keeps White's bishop out of h6.

(m) A new attacking idea: add 1 bonus point if you saw 1 7. Rxe4+ Nxe4
1 8. Qxh8+.

(n) 1 bonus point for visualizing 1 6 . ... Rh7 1 7. Be3 Qb7 1 8. Radl Qxc6
1 9. Nxd6+, which snares Black's queen.

(o) Eliminating the bishop, both to guard the c6-knight and to prepare an
invasion on e7.

(p) 1 bonus point for sensing the badness of 1 8 . ... Nxe4 19. Qxh8+ Nf8
20. Bxh6.

1 14
(q) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 1 7. Nxd6+.

(r) 1 bonus point for realizing that Black's move meets White's threat to
play Qxf6.

(s} Is Black breaking out of captivity with the pin on the c6-knight?

(t) Gain 1 bonus point for seeing that White had this saving mate threat
when playing 20. Bf4.

(u) 1 bonus point if you planned to meet 2 1 . . . . Rhf8 by 22. Nd4 and
23. Ne6+.

(v) Playing on the pin of the d7-knight to assail f7.

(w) 2 bonus points if you saw that 22 . ... Rhf8 is refuted by 23. Qh3 ! RedS
24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Nxg6.

(x} Threatening mate at g6. Black's position is crumbling.

(y) Add 1 bonus point for seeing 25 . ... hxg5 26. Qxg5+. Add 2 bonus
points more for considering 25 . ... Ne4 26. Bxh6+ Nxg3 27. Rg7+ Kf8
28. Ng6 mate.

(z) The position has become impossible to defend. After 28 . ... Rf8 29. Re1 ,
White menacingly eyes 30. Bc7+ Kf5 3 1 . g4 mate. 1 bonus point.

1 15
 GAME

27
S. Reshevsky vs. R. Fine
Detroit 1 933
Queen 's Indian Defense E16

AMMY RESHEVSKY AND Reuben Fine-at various times each

could claim to be the best American player. For example, Fine
tied for first with Keres at AVRO in 1 938, among the strongest
tournaments ever held, but Reshevsky won the U.S. Championship eight
times, something Fine was unable to do even once. Here is an early game
between the two, played at the 1 933 Western Open in Detroit. Reshevsky
had White. Their game began 1 . d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2
Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 b6 6. g3 Bb7 7. Bg2 0-0 8. Nc3 Qe7 9. 0-0 d6 10. Qc2 cS
1 1 . dxcS bxcS 12. Rad1 Nc6 13. e4 Rfd8 14. Rd2 Ng4.

a b c d e

1 16
 WHITE' s PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

14. Ng4

15. Rfd1 (a) 5 Nge5 (b)

16. Nxe5 (c) 5 Nd4 (d)
17. Ng6 (e) 6 hxg6 (f)
18. Qd3 (g) 4 e5 (h)
19. Rf1 (i) 5 Bc6 (j)
20. f4 (k) 5 Rab8 m
2 1 . f5 (m) 5 Qg5 (n)
22. f6 (o) 6 Rb7 (p)
23. Rdf2 5 gxf6

24. b3 (q) 5 f5 (r)

25. exf5 4 Bxg2

26. Kxg2 5 gxf5

27. Rxf5 (s) 6 Nxf5

28. Rxf5 (t) 4 Qh6

29. Qe4 (u) 5 Re7

30. Qg4+ (v) 5 Kf8

3 1 . Rh5 (w) 5 Qg7

32. Qh4 (x) 5 Ke8

33. Nd5 5 f5 (y)

34. Nxe7 (z) 5 (1-0)

1 17
(a) White has only one open file, and that's where he has to put his rooks.

(b) 1 bonus point if you grasped Black's idea: he wants to trade off White's
f3-knight and plunk his own knight in at d4.

(c) Deduct 1 point if you overlooked Black's threat to win the c-pawn,
Nxc4.

(d) 1 bonus point if you saw this move coming in advance. Add 1 bonus
point for spotting 16 . ... Nxe5? 1 7. NbS, when White wins the d-pawn.
Tack on 1 bonus point for realizing that after 1 6 . ... dxe5 White must
trade rooks, 1 7. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8. In the resulting position,
Black's knight will get to d4, and compensate for his weak pawns.

(e ) Deduct 2 points for the erroneous 1 7. Rxd4? cxd4. Take only 3 points
part credit for 1 7. Qbl . After 1 7. ... dxe5, Fine gets pretty much what
he wanted: a knight cemented on d4, and control of the d-file.

(f) 1 bonus point for realizing that 17 . ... Nxc2? 1 8. Nxe7+ Kf8 19. Rxc2
leaves White a piece ahead.

(g) Deduct 5 points if you forgot your queen was still under fire.

(h) Anticipating a possible Ne2 and Nxd4, Black gives his knight additional
support.

(i) Full credit if you went 1 9. f4 right away. No credit for 19. Nd5 Bxd5,
which leaves White with the classic bad bishop vs. good knight situa­
tion.

(j) 1 bonus point if you considered playing 19 . . . . g5, directed against the
coming f2-f4.

(k) A must move. If White doesn't get this in, his game is lifeless. Deduct
1 point for the strategic error 20. Nd5 Bxd5.

(1) 1 bonus point if you examined 20. ... f5 and concluded that, after
2 1 . exf5, White can trade bishops and then stick his knight on d5, when
it means something.

(m) Full credit for the preparatory moves 2 1 . b3 and 22. Rdf2 (or in reverse
order) . 1 bonus point if you examined and rejected 2 1 . fxe5 dxe5
22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. cxd5. After 23 . ... Rb4 24. b3 c4! 25. bxc4 Qc5
26. Kh1 Rxc4, Black is coming in too fast on the queenside.

1 18
(n ) After 2 1 . ... gxf5 22. exf5, the bishops are traded, and then White gets
control of the light squares e4 and d5. Fine intends to neutralize the f­
flle by f7-f6, but first he wants his queen active, outside the pawn
chain.

(o) Reshevsky strives for a foothold on the f-frle, namely the square f6.

(p) Played to secure the f7-square. Reshevsky's comment was: "If 22 . ...
gxf6, 23. Rdf2 regains the pawn advantageously. " Was Sammy over­
reaching?

(q) 2 bonus points for rejecting 24. Rxf6 Rxb2 25. Rxf7 Rd2! 26. Qbl
Qe3+ and 27 . ... Qxc3, winning a piece for Black.

( r) 1 bonus point if you examined 24 . ... Kg7 25. Rxf6 Qxf6 26. Rxf6 Kxf6
and decided Black was doing well. 1 bonus point if you realized that
after 24 . . . . Kg7 White should insert 25. h4.

(s) 1 bonus point if you saw this Exchange sacrifice in advance. Fine
didn't.

( t) Postgame analysis established that Black's best chance was 28 . ... Qg7
29. Nd5 Kf8 30. Qe4 f6! , giving up the f-pawn in order to slide the rook
over for defense.

(u) 1 bonus point for seeing that 29 . . . . Qd2+ fails to 30. Rf2 Qxc3
3 1 . Qxb7 Rf8 32. Qxa7.

(v) 1 bonus point for seeing both pins: 30 . ... Kh7 3 1 . Rh5 and 30 . ... Qg7
3 1 . Rg5.

(w) Black's problem is that he has only the queen available for defense. If
the queen stays close to the king, then it becomes a target. And if it runs
away, the attack just rolls on. A plausible line would be 3 1 . ... Qd2+
32. Kh3 Re6 33. Qh4 Rde8 34. Ne4 (this is why White is in no rush to
play Nd5, since the e4 square is also useful) 34 . ... Qe3 35. Rh8+ Kg7
36. Qh7 mate. Add 2 bonus points if you saw the general outline of
White's attack.

(x) 1 bonus point for analyzing 32 . . . . f5 33. Rh8+ Kf7 34. Rh7.

1 19
(y) Desperation, but nothing else works anyway. White threatened
34. Qxe7 mate, and there were lots of other mates hovering around:
A) 33 . ... Kd7 34. Qxe7+ Kc6 (or 34 . . . . Kc8) 35. Qc7 mate; B) 33 . ...
Re6 34. Rh8+ Kd7 35. Qxd8+ Kc6 36. Qc7 mate is another version; C)
33 . ... R8d7 (or 33 . ... Red7) 34. Rh8+ Qf8 35. Rxf8+ Kxf8 36. Qh8
mate. Give yourself 1 bonus point for fmding each of these (not to ex­
ceed three points) .

(z) Black can't afford to recapture, plain and simple. End with 1 bonus
point for realizing this. If 34 . ... Qxe7, then 35. Rh8+ Kd7 (or 35 . ... Kf7
36. Rh7+, skewering) 36. Rh7, pinning. Meanwhile, Black is a piece
down, still facing a powerful attack.

1 20
 GAME

28
S. Tartakover vs. M. Ferenz
Paris 1 933
English Opening A 18

T THE TOP OF his game, in the early 1 930s, Savielly Thr­

takover ( 1 88 7-1 956) was among the ten best players in the
world, but he is best known for his witty and insightful com­
mentary. Let's not forget, "Tactics are what you do when you know what
to do, and strategy is what you do when you don't." In the following
game against M. Ferenz (Black) , played in Paris in 1 933, Thrtakover cer­
tainly shows us he knew what to do. Without an aphorism, it began 1 . c4
Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 dS 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e5 d4 6. exf6 dxc3 7. fxg7 cxd2+
8. Bxd2 Bxg7 9. Qc2 Nc6 1 0. Nf3 Bg4 1 1 . 0-0-0 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nd4
13. Qe4+ Qe7 14. Qxe7+ Kxe7 15. Bb4+ Ke8.

121
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

15. Ke8

16. Bb5+ (a) 6 c6 (b)

17. Rhe1+ (c) 5 Ne6 (d)
18. Bc4 4 Rd8 (e)

19. Bxe6 (f) 5 Rxd1+ (g)

20. Kxd1 (h) 4 fxe6

2 1 . Rxe6+ 5 Kd8 (i)

22. Re7 (j) 6 Bxb2 (k)

23. Rxb7 (1) 5 Bd4

24. Bc5 (m) 6 Kc8 (n)

25. Rxa7 (o) 5 Kb8 (p)

26. Bxd4 (q) 5 Rd8 (r)
27. Rxh7 (s) 6 Rxd4+

28. Ke2 4 Ra4 (t)

29. h4 5 Rxa2+

30. Ke3 (u) 4 Kc8 (v)

31. h5 5 Kd8

32. h6 5 Ke8 (w)

33. Rb7 (x) 5 Kf8

34. h7 5 Ra3+ (y)

35. Kf4 (z) 5 (1-0)

122
(a) This is fastest and best. 3 points part credit for any of the following:
16. Rd3; 16. Re1 +; 16. Rg1 ; 16. BcS; 16. Bc3; 16. Bg2; 16. Bh3 ; or
16. f4.

(b) Take 1 bonus point if you realized 1 6 . . .. NxbS 1 7. Rhe 1 + BeS 18 . RxeS
is mate. Take 1 bonus point more for seeing that 1 6 . ... Kd8 1 7. BcS
wins the knight (but not 1 7. Bc3 cS) .

(c) The only consistent follow up to his previous move. No credit for any­
thing else.

(d) 2 bonus points if you saw 1 7 . . .. Kd8 and rejected 18 . Bc4 b6 19. Bxf7
c5 because it leaves Black with a grip on d4 that compensates for his
lost pawn. 2 bonus points more if, after 1 7 . . . . Kd8, you intended to
continue 1 8. BcS! cxbS 1 9. Bxd4 Bxd4 ( 1 9 . ... Bh6+ 20. Be3+)
20. Rxd4+, with White thinking about doubling on the seventh rank.

(e ) 1 bonus point for determining that 1 8 . .. . c5 19. BxcS Rc8 backfires

after 20. BbS+.

(f) Only 3 points part credit for 1 9. Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. Bxe6 fxe6 2 1 . Rxe6.
But add 2 bonus points if you saw the problem. After 2 1 . ... Re8!
22. Rxe8+ Kxe8 the endgame is likely drawn, even though White is a
pawn up.

(g) 1 bonus point if you analyzed that the gratuitous check, 19 . ... Bh6+,
gets nowhere after 20. Kc2 Rxd 1 2 1 . Kxd 1 fxe6 22. Rxe6+. On the im­
mediate recapture, 19 . . . . fxe6, score 1 bonus point for seeing
20. Rxe6+ Kf7 2 1 . Re7+ Kf8 (g8) 22. Rxd8 mate; grab 1 bonus point
more for finding 2 1 . . .. Kg6 22. Rg1 +, followed by either rook taking on
g7; and 1 bonus point for seeing 2 1 . ... Kf6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxb7,
with lots of threats.

(h ) Deduct 1 point for 20. Rxd1 ?, pulling the rook away from e6.

(i) 1 bonus point for seeing 2 1 . . . . Kd7(f7) 22. Re7+.

(j) Only 3 points part credit for 22. b3, just playing to maintain the extra
pawn. It may not be enough to win after 22 . . .. Re8 23. Rxe8+ Kxe8.

(k) 2 bonus points for working out 22 . . . . Bf8 23. Rxb7 Kc8 (23 . . . . Bxb4
24. Rb8+) 24. Rxa7 Kb8 25. Ra4.

1 23
(I) 1 bonus point for visualizing the threat: 24. BaS+ and 25. Rxb2.

(m) Better than 24. Rb8+ (only 3 points part credit) 24 . ... Kc7 25. Rxh8
Bxh8, and victory is still problematic.

(n) 2 bonus points for realizing that 24 . . . . BxcS is met by 25. Rb8+.

(o) Only 4 points part credit for 25. Bxd4. After 25 . ... Rd8 26. Rb4 c5
27. Rc4, White is still pressing for the win, but why pass up the a7-
pawn?

(p) 1 bonus point if you understood that 25 . ... BxcS is still no good be­
cause of 26. Ra8+. Add 1 bonus point for seeing 25 . ... Rd8 26. Ra8+
Kc7 27. Rxd8, which wins material.

(q) Only 4 points part credit for 26. Ra5. Tartakover prefers his rook on
the seventh rank.

( r) Regaining the piece while making sure to avoid loss of his rook.

( s) Only 5 points part credit for 27. Ra4 c5 28. Ke2 cxd4 29. Kd3, though
White is still winning.

(t) 3 bonus points for reviewing the possibility 28 . ... c5 29. Ke3 Rdl
30. Rh5 c4 3 1 . ReS Rcl 32. Kd4, and the pawn is lost. After 32 . . . . Rc2
33. Rxc4 Rxf2 34. Ke3, Black can resign.

(u) Deduct 2 points for 30. Kfl , intending 30 . ... Rat 3 t . Kg2, hiding from
the checks. It can't be right to trap your own king on the back row.

(v) In the event of 30. ... c5, the king at e3 is ready to lend a defensive
hand. Meanwhile, passed pawns must be pushed.

(w) t bonus point for realizing it's too late for 32 . ... Rat 33. Rg7 Rhl .
White just continues 34. h7, threatening 35. Rg8+ and 36. h8/Q.

(x) Full credit for 33. Rc7 Kf8 (33 . . . . Kd8 34. Rg7) 34. h7, as in the game.
But no credit for 33. Rg7 Kf8, when there is still a lot of work to do.

(y) A final spite check before resigning.

(z) 1 bonus point for seeing 35 . ... Ra4+ 36. Kg5Ra5+ 37. Kf6(g6) , and
Black is out of resources.

1 24
 GAME

29
K. Gilg vs. A. Becker
Bad Liebwerda 1934
Queen 's Gambit Declined, Noteboom Variation D31

rn N MANY DOUBLE QUEEN-PAWN openings, where Black

plays an early c7-c6, White must be on alert. There is often the
possibility that Black might capture on c4 and try to hold onto
the extra pawn. Either White tries to avoid the potential loss of that pawn
directly, or allows it, aiming for significant counterplay. The latter strat­
egy may work if Black wastes too much time and/or overextends his
forces, trying to keep the material. In the game K. Gilg vs. A. Becker, Bad
Liebwerda, 1 934, White manages to push his initiative successfully, in a
melange of themes. The medley began 1 . d4 dS 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3
dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 bS 7. Bd2 aS 8. axbS Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxbS 10. b3 Bb7.

������� 1

1 25
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

10. Bb7

1 1 . d5 (a) 5 f6 (b)
12. bxc4 (c) 5 b4 (d)
13. Bxb4 (e) 6 exd5

14. Ba3 (tJ 4 Ne7 (g)

15. Nd4 (h) 6 Qd7 (iJ
16. Qh5+ OJ 5 g6

17. Qh6 4 Kf7 (k)

18. Bd3 (1) 5 Nbc6 (m)

19. Nb5 (n) 5 Nb4 (o)

20. Bxb4 5 axb4

2 1 . 0-0 (p) 4 Ra6 (q)

22. c5 (r) 6 Rxa1

23. Rxa1 4 Nc8 (s)

24. Nd4 (t) 5 Ne7 (u)

25. Ra7 (v) 6 Qc8

26. Nb5 (w) 5 Ke6 (x)

27. Qg7 5 Rg8 (y)
28. Nd4+ 5 Kd7

29. Bb5+ 5 Kd8

30. Qxf6 (z) 5 (1-0)

1 26
( a) Unmasks the bishop to threaten 12. Bxg7 ( 1 bonus point for seeing the
threat) . Full credit for 1 1 . bxc4.

(b) The better way was 1 1 . ... Nf6, developing and preparing to castle. This
very game shows what's wrong with 1 1 . ... f6.

(c) Only 2 points part credit for the less effective 12. dxe6 Qxd1+
13. Rxd1 (or Kxd 1 ) 13 . ... b4, and Black gets an obnoxious protected
pawn at c3. Tricky is 12. Nd4 (though worth only 4 points part credit) ,
threatening b5 and e6.

( d) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 12 . ... exd5 with 13. cxb5 and
14. Nd4, with a central blockade. The b-pawn advance is thematic in the
Noteboom Variation, but here it fails for tactical reasons.

(e) The move that Becker missed. 2 bonus points for working out 13 . ...
axb4 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Qa4+ Nd7 1 6. dxe6, and White regains his
piece, with a winning advantage. Had the Black pawn remained at f7,
he could reply 16 . . . . fxe6.

(f) Deduct 2 points for 1 4. cxd5?, when Black can take the bishop safely,
1 4 . ... axb4 ( 1 5. Rxa8 Bxa8 1 6. Qa4+ Nd7) .

(g) Hoping to have time to get castled.

(h) Prevents 15 . ... 0-0, due to 1 6. Ne6 (worth 1 bonus point) , forking the
queen and rook.

(i ) To prevent the knight entry at e6.

(j ) You may have only 4 points part credit for 16. cxd5 (threatening
1 7. Bb5) . The text move is more ambitious in that the Black king be­
comes a target.

(k) The king comes up to prevent Qg7.

(I) On 1 8 . ... Ng8, to drive the queen back, White has 19. Bxg6+ hxg6
20. Qxh8 (1 bonus point) . White also intends to move his knight, in
which case . . . Nf5 can be met by Bxf5.

(m) Connecting the rooks (h8 is now guarded) , while looking to obtain re­
lief by trading knights.

(n) Menacing Black with an invasion at d6, supported by the bishop.

127
(o ) Blocks the action of the a3-bishop, while threatening 20 . ... Nxd3+. In­
stead, 1 9 . ... NcB?, disconnecting the rooks, revives the menace of
20. Bxg6+ ( 1 bonus point) .

(p) Finally, White gets around to castling and connecting his own rooks.
Only 2 points part credit for 2 1 . Rxa8 Bxa8 (not, of course, 2 1 . ...
Rxa8?, because of 22. Qxh7+) .

(q) Get 2 bonus points for seeing 2 1 . ... dxc4 22. Bxc4+ Bd5 23. Rxa8 de­
flects the h8-rook from defense of h7.

(r) Threatens 23. Nd6+, with 24. Bxa6 (1 bonus point) , thereby forcing
Black to trade rooks and tum over the a-file.

(s) He can't allow 24. Nd6+.

(t) The blockading square d4 (in front of Black's isolated d5-pawn) turns
out to be an excellent pivot for White's forces. Receive 1 bonus point
for spotting the new threat, 25. Bb5, followed by c5-c6. No credit for
24. Bxg6+ hxg6 25. Qxh8, since the knight at b5 hangs, 25 . ... Qxb5.

(u) To cover c6 and g6.

(v) The threat is 26. c6 Nxc6 27. Bb5 (1 bonus point) .

(w) He's back again, threatening to fork, 26. Nd6+ ( 1 bonus point) .

(x) Black is out of resources. The text is meant to answer 27. Nd6 (no
check) by 27 . ... Qxc5 (1 bonus point) but it lets the White queen in
and marks the final stage.

(y) Hoping to buy White off with the h-pawn, but he has better.

(z) White threatens 3 1 . Ne6+, gaining the queen, or even better, 3 1 . Qd6+,
winning the queen and also mating. Close with 2 bonus points.

1 28
 GAME

30
S. Landau vs. M. Feigin
Kemcri 1 937
Queen 's Gambit Declined D46

[Q] NE OF THE MOST awesome assault weapons in chess is the

combined action of two bishops. When lined up against the
enemy king's position, the zone between becomes a no-man's
land, uninhabitable by opposing forces. Under such conditions, it can be
hard to get out of the trenches, and kings wisely stay in hiding. The game
S. Landau vs. M. Feigin, played at Kemeri in 1 93 7, illustrates this united
bishop collaboration. The diagonal dominance began 1 . d4 d5 2. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2
Bb7 10. Qe2 Rac8.

1 29
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

10. Rac8

1 1 . Rad1 (a) 5 Qc7

12. Ne5 (b) 6 Nxe5 (c)

13. dxe5 (d) 2 Nd7 (e)
14. f4 (tJ 4 Rfd8 (g)

15. Rf3 (h) 5 NfB

16. Rh3 (i) 5 f5 (j)

17. exf6 (k) 5 Bxf6

18. cxd5 6 exd5 (1)

1 9. Qc2 (m) 5 h6 (n)

20. Bf5 (o) 6 Ra8 (p)

2 1 . Nxd5 6 Rxd5 (q)
22. Bxf6 (r) 6 Rxd1+ (s)

23. Qxd1 2 Qf7 (t)

24. Rxh6 7 Bc8 (u)
25. Bxc8 5 gxh6 (v)
26. Qg4+ 5 Kh7 (w)
27. Bd4 (x) 5 Qg8 (y)
28. Bf5+ 5 Ng6

29. h4 (z) 6 c5

30. Be5 4 (1-0)

1 30
( a ) Full credit for the rook deployment, Rac 1 , as well as for the center
break, e3-e4.

(b) White's plan is borrowed from the Stonewall Attack. First the knight
moves into e5, then it's backed up by the f-pawn, the king-rook is lifted
up and over, and the g-pawn is advanced for attack.

(c) Black eliminates the knight before White gets the chance to defend it
with the f-pawn.

(d) Having a pawn on e5 is almost as good as having a knight on eS. The

pawn dislodges the f6-knight.

(e) 2 bonus points for seeing in advance 13 . . . . Qxe5? 1 4 . Nxd5! Qd6

15. Nxf6+, followed by the discovery 16. Bxh7+ and 1 7. Rxd6.

(f) Deduct 1 point for 14. QhS?. The crude mate threat is stopped by g7-
g6, and Black picks up the e-pawn.

(g) Preparing to bring the knight back to f8 to defend the king.

(h) A standard rook lift. Already Black must think about a classic bishop
sacrifice at h7, with Rh3+ and QhS on the way.

( i) 1 bonus point if you realized that White threatens 1 7. Bxh7+ Nxh7

1 8 . QhS.

(j) 'Iiying to block the b 1 -h7 diagonal. White can meet 1 6 . ... g6 by 1 7. g4,
threatening f4-f5.

(k) No credit for other moves. White needs open lines. The goal now is to
unleash the b2-bishop.

(I) 2 bonus points for 18 . ... cxdS 1 9 . NbS!. If 1 9 . . . . Qb8, then 20. Bxf6
gxf6 2 1 . Qg4+ Kh8 22. Qh4!, and Black can't adequately guard both f6
and h7.

(m) Forcing a further weakening of Black's kingside and preparing the en­
suing combination.

( n) 1 bonus point for planning to meet 1 9. ... g6? by 20. Nxd5!, discover­
ing to the f6-bishop.

( o) Pushing the c8-rook from the defense of the queen.

131
(p ) 3 bonus points for 20 . ... Nd7 2 1 . Be6+ Kh8 22. Qg6, menacing
23. Rxh6+ gxh6 24. Qxh6 mate. On 22 . ... Nf8, then 23. Rxh6+ anyway,
for 23 . ... gxh6 ends in 24. Qg8 mate.

(q) 1 bonus point for prefiguring 2 1 . ... cxd5?? 22. Qxc7.

( r) Deduct 2 points for playing 22. Rxd5?, which is answered by 22 . ...

Bxb2!.

( s) 3 bonus points if you considered 22 . ... Rxf5 23. Qxf5 Bc8 24. Qe5
Qxe5 25. Bxe5 Bxh3 26. gxh3. Black has a bad ending, but at least he
doesn't get mated.

(t) 4 bonus points if you calculated: 23 . ... gxf6 24. Rg3+ Kh8 (or 24 . ...
Kf7 25. Qh5+ Ke7 26. Rg7+) 25. Qh5 Nh7 26. Qxh6 Rg8 27. Rh3 Rg7
28. Qxf6, threatening to take safely on h7 with check.

(u) 1 bonus point for analyzing 24. ... gxh6 25. Qg4+ Ng6 26. Be6, pin­
ning the queen. Add 2 bonus points for working out 24. . . . gxf6
25. Qg4+ Qg7 26. Be6+ Nxe6 27. Qxe6+ Qf7 (or 27 . . . . Kf8 28. Rf6+)
28. Rg6+ Kf8 29. Rxf6.

(v) 3 bonus points for mentally toying with 25 . ... Rxc8 26. Be5 gxh6
27. Qg4+ Qg6 28. Qxc8 Qbl + 29. K� Qxa2+ 30. KO Qxb3 3 1 . Qxc6,
when White's extra pawn and queen and bishop battery should win.

(w) 2 bonus points for winning the queen by 26 . ... Ng6 27. Be6, or by
26 . ... Qg6 27. Be6+ Kh7 28. Bf5.

(x) Placing the bishop on a protected square. White sets up for Bf5+.

(y) 3 bonus points if you saw 27 . . . c5 could be met by 28. Bf5+ Ng6
.

29. Bxg6+ Qxg6 30. Qd7+ Kg8 3 1 . Qd5+!, picking up the rook with
check (if 3 1 . . . . Kh7, then 32. Qb7+!).

(z) The last straw. Black cannot stop h4-h5.

132
 GAME

31
R. Fine vs. S. Flohr
Holland 1938, AVRO Tournament
French Defense C1 7

EUBEN FINE WAS AN outstanding player, and his most sig­

nificant performance came in 1 938, when he tied for first with
Paul Keres in the AVRO tournament. Fine's chess was charac­
terized by a direct, pragmatic approach to solving a game's problems. For
him, chess beauty consisted in finding what worked, not what theory
said was correct. An example of his levelheaded practicality came at the
AVRO event, in his game against positional specialist Salo Flohr (Black) .
But before the American could show his love for simple chess logic, the
following moves had to be played: 1 . e4 e6 2. d4 dS 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. eS cS
5. Bd2 Ne7 6. Nf3 NfS (a) 7. dxcS BxcS 8. Bd3 Nh4.

1 33
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

8. Nh4

9. 0-0 (b) 5 Nc6

10. Ret (c) 5 h6 (d)

1 1 . Na4 (e) 6 Bf8 (fJ

12. Ret (g) 6 Bd7

13. Nxh4 (h) 5 Qxh4

14. c4 5 dxc4 (i)

15. Rxc4 4 Qd8 (j)

t6. Qh5 (k) 6 Ne7 (1)
17. Rd4 6 g6 (m)
18. Qf3 (n) 3 Qc7 (o)

19. Nc3 (p) 5 Nf5 (q)

20. Nb5 (r) 5 Qb6 (s)

21. Rxd7 (t) 6 Kxd7

22. g4 5 Nh4 (u)

23. Qxf7+ 3 Be7

24. Bb4 5 Rae8 (v)

25. Bxe7 (w) 5 Rxe7 (x)
26. Qf6 3 a6

27. Rdt (y) 6 axb5

28. Be4+ (z) 5 (t-O)

1 34
(a) This turns out to be a loss of time. Better is either 6 . ... Nbc6 or 6 . ... 0-0.

(b ) Deduct 2 points if you overlooked Black's threat, Nxg2+.

(c) 1 bonus point if you saw Black's threat, 10 . ... Nxf.3+ and 1 1 . ... Nxe5,
winning a pawn.

(d) 2 bonus points if you saw that 10 . . . . 0-0? leads to 1 1 . Bxh7+ Kxh7
12. Ng5+, the old Greco sacrifice, also known as the classic bishop sac­
rifice. 3 bonus points more if you knew how to finish it off: A) 1 2 . ...
Kh6 13. Nxe6+, winning the queen by discovery; B) 12 . ... Kg6 13. Qg4,
with many threats; and C) 12 . ... Kg8 13. Qh5 Re8 14. Qxf7+ Kh8
15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Qh7+ Kf8 1 7 . Qh8+ Ke7 18. Qxg7 mate.

(e) Once Black gets castled he's in good shape, so Fine has to think of
something fast.

(f) 1 bonus point for seeing 1 1 . ... Be7 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Qg4; and an­
other for finding 1 1 . . . . Nxf3+ 12. Qxf.3 Be7 13. Qg3 ( 1 bonus point) ,
when Black still can't castle because of Bxh6.

(g) Add 1 bonus point if you had this move in mind when playing 1 1 . Na4.

(h) Fine trades on h4 so that his queen isn't deflected to f3, abandoning de­
fense of a4.

(i ) Take 1 bonus point for working out that 1 4 . ... Nb4 can be met by
15. Bb1 dxc4 1 6. Re4, forking the queen and c4.

(j ) Even as he retreats his queen, Flohr has a threat: the pawn fork b7-b5.

(k) 2 bonus points if you were ready to meet 16 . ... b5 by 1 7. Rf4 g6

1 8. Bxg6.

(I) Bolsters g6 and revives the b7 -b5 threat. Later on, the knight can
emerge at d5 or f5.

(m) 1 bonus point for seeing that 1 7 . ... Nd5 is defeated by 18. Rxd5 exd5
19. e6, when the f7-pawn is pinned by White's queen.

(n) Saves the queen and attacks the b7 -pawn.

(o) Again, 1 8 . . . . Nd5 fails to 19. Rxd5 exd5 20. e6: A) 20 . ... Bxe6
21 . Bb5+; B) 20 . ... fxe6 2 1 . Bxg6+ Ke7 22. Bb4 mate. 2 bonus points
for seeing that.

1 35
(p ) 2 bonus points if you eluded 1 9. Qf6 Rg8 20. Rf4 because of 20. ... NfS
2 1 . BxfS Be7, engulfing White's queen.

(q) 2 bonus points for seeing ahead of time 19 . . . . Bc6 20. NbS BxbS
(20. . . . Bxf3?? 2 1 . Nxc7 mate) 2 1 . BxbS+ Nc6 22. BaS, deflecting
Black's queen from c6.

( r) Only 3 points part credit for the premature Exchange sacrifice

20. Rxd7 Kxd7 (but not 20 . . . . Qxd7 because of 2 1 . BbS, pinning the
queen) .

( s) 2 bonus points if you were ready to shift to the endgame after 20 . ...
Qc6 21. Qxc6 bxc6 (2 1 . ... Bxc6? 22. Nc7+) . The ending after 22. Nc7+
Kd8 23. BxfS Kxc7 24. BaS+ Kc8 2S. Red l should be winning.

( t) 1 bonus point if you were planning this Exchange sacrifice all along.

(u) 1 bonus point for refuting 22 . ... Nd4 by 23. Nxd4 Qxd4 24. Qxb7+.

(v) 3 bonus points if you analyzed 24 . ... Nf3+ 2S. Kh1 Nxel 26. Qxe7+
Kc8 27. Nd6+ Kb8 28. BaS (trying to divert Black's queen from the b7-
pawn's defense) 28 . . . . Qc6+ 29. Be4 ReB 30. Bc7+, forcing mate
(30 . . . . Qxc7 3 1 . Qxe8+ and mate next move) .

(w) Deduct 3 points if you missed Black's threat: 2S . . . . Rhf8, skewering

the queen and f2.

(x) 3 bonus points for working out 2S . ... Nf3+ 26. Khl : if 26 . . . . Rxe7,
then 27. Qxf3 leaves White materially ahead; and if 26 . ... Qc6, then
27. Bd6+ Kd8 (or 27 . . . . Kc8 28. Nxa7+ Kd8 29. Nxc6+ and mate next)
28. Bc7+ Kc8 29. Nxa7 mate is bad news.

(y) Also good is 27. Nd6, threatening Qh8 and Qc8 mate.

(z) White is a rook down for the moment, but this bishop check regains
everything with interest. 1 bonus point for analyzing 28. ... Kc8
29. Qxh8+ Kc7 30. Qd8 mate. 2 bonus points more for 28 . ... Kc7
29. Qxh8 (or 29. Qxe7+ and 30. Qxh4) 29 . . . . Rd7 30. Rcl+.

1 36
 GAME

32
I. Bondarevsky vs. G. Lisitsin

E09
Moscow 1 940, 12th USSR Championship
Catalan Opening

[] GOR BONDAREVSKY ( 1 9 1 3-79) was one of those great So­

viet players who in the 1 930s and 1 940s helped cut a path
through the jungle of modern chess opening theory. A sensibly
evenhanded aggressor, he could mix it up with the best of them, regard­
less of his opponent's character or style. Perhaps his most dazzling suc­
cess came in the Soviet Championship of 1 940, when he tied with
Lilienthal for the title. In the following game from that event, played
against G. Lisitsin (Black) , Bondarevsky's two-way prowess was not
quite needed. What amounted to a crush began 1 . d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
dS 4. Bg2 Be7 5. NO Nbd7.

5 5

137
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

5. Nbd7

6. 0-0 (a) 5 c6 (b)

7. Nbd2 (c) 5 0-0

8. Qc2 (d) 5 b6 (e)

9. e4 (tJ 5 Nxe4 (g)

10. Nxe4 4 dxe4

1 1 . Qxe4 (h) 4 Bb7 (i)

12. Ret (j) 5 ReB (k)
13. Qc2 5 g6 OJ
14. Bf4 (m) 5 c5 (n)

15 d5 6 exd5

16. cxd5 (o) 4 Bf6

17. Rxe8+ (p) 5 Qxe8

18. Ret 5 Qf8 (q)

19. Qa4 (r) 6 Qd8 (s)

20. Nd2 (t) 6 g5

21. Ne4 (u) 7 Bxd5 (v)

22. Rdt (w) 5 Bd4 (x)
23. Bxg5 4 f6 (y)
24. Bxf6 6 Qxf6 (z)
25. Nxf6+ 3 (t-O)

1 38
(a ) If Black now takes the c-pawn, 6 . ... dxc4, White gets it back by 7. Qa4
( 1 bonus point) .

(b) 1 bonus point if you realized Black is now threatening to take on c4.

(c) Guards the c4-pawn, while setting up an eventual e2-e4.

(d) Full credit if you played the seventh and eighth moves in reverse order.

(e ) Getting ready for 9 . ... Bb7, and a subsequent breakout with c6-c5.

(f) Full credit if instead you chose either 9. b3 or 9. Rdl .

(g) Lisitsin chooses to open the center. The modern treatment is 9 . . . . Bb7
10. e5 NeB. Black is cramped, but it's not so easy to break in.

(h) The center has cleared and White has more space. The next phase will
revolve around Black's attempt to free himself with c6-c5.

(i) 1 bonus point if you understood Black's intention: to play 12 . ... Nf6,
driving off White's queen, followed by 13 . ... c5.

(j) Add 1 bonus point if you sensed the point of this mysterious rook
move: 12 . ... Nf6 13. Qe2! c5 14. d5! exd5? 15. Qxe7. Full credit for the
alternate rook move, 12. Rdl .

(k) Lisitsin sees the point. He protects his e7-bishop. The threat is 13 . . . .
Nf6 and 1 4 . ... c5.

(I) 1 bonus point if you had planned to answer 13 . ... c5? by 14. Ng5!.
'lake 2 bonus points more for taking it further: 14 . . . . Bxg5 15. Bxb7
Rb8 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 1 7. Bc6.

(m) White develops, getting ready to bring his queen-rook to the d-flle.

(n ) Black cannot wait for Radl . If he wants to break out, he's got to do it
now.

(o) The d5-pawn keeps Black boxed in. He can't afford to take it, as 1 6 . ...
Bxd5? fails to 1 7. Rad l . Increase your score for having seen each of the
following variations: A) 1 7. ... Bxa2 18. b3 (1 bonus point) ; B) 1 7 . ...
B� 1 8. B� Rc8 1 9 . Bb7 (1 bonus point) ; C) 1 7 . ... Bc6 18. Ne5 Bxg2
19. Kxg2 (1 bonus point) ; D) 1 7. ... Be6 1 8. Ne5 Rc8 19. Nc6 (1 bonus
point) ; E) 1 7. ... Nf6 1 8. Ne5, with the threat of 1 9 . Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Qc4
(2 bonus points) .

139
(p ) Exchanging to gain control of the e-file.

(q) 1 bonus point if you saw Black's intention, to play 1 9 . ... ReS, chal­
lenging the e-file.

(r) Stopping Black's plan. If 1 9. ... ReS? Then 20. Qxd7!. And 1 9 . ... Ne5?
just drops the knight outright, while 1 9 . ... NbS loses the queen to
20. ReS. Add 1 bonus point for seeing all this.

(s) The only move. If 1 9 . ... QcS?, then 20. Bh3! (1 bonus point) ; if 1 9 . ...
RdS?, then 20. Bc7! (1 bonus point) .

(t) Heading for d6 through c4 or e4. Take 3 bonus points for calculating
20 . ... Bxb2 2 1 . Nc4 Bc3 22. Re3 Bd4 23. Nd6 Bxe3 24. Nxb7, and
White stays a piece ahead.

(u) 2 bonus points if you saw this in advance. It's a recurring theme:
2 1 . ... gxf4 22. Qxd7! Qxd7 23. Nxf6+ and 24. Nxd7, winning a piece.

(v) Moving the knight doesn't help. For example, if 2 1 . ... Ne5, then
22. Nxf6+ and 23. Bxe5 ( 1 bonus point) ; and if 2 1 . ... NbS, then
22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qe8+ Kg7 24. Be5 (2 bonus points) .

(w) Only 2 points part credit for 22. Qxd7 (22 . ... Bxe4, killing the killer
knight) ; only 2 points part credit for 22. Nf6+ Nxf6 23. Bxg5 Bxg2
24. Qh4! Qd4 ! .

(x) This blocks the d-flle, but leaves the g5-pawn undefended.

(y) 3 bonus points if you figured out the best try: 23 . . . . Qc7 24. Rxd4 cxd4
25. Qxd7 Qxd7 26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Nxd7. White has two pieces for
Black's rook, so there would be technical difficulties to overcome in the
ending.

(z) It's hopeless. 2 bonus points for seeing 24. . .. Qc7 25. Bxd4 cxd4
26. Qxd7 Qxd7 27. Nf6+ Kg7 28. Nxd7.

1 40
 GAME

33
I. Boleslavsky vs. A. Lilienthal
Leningrad 1 941
Queen 's Pawn Counter Gambit C40

[Q] NE OF THE MOST creative players in the 1 940s and early

1 950s was Isaac Boleslavsky ( 1 9 1 9-77) . The Russian grand­
master was at the heart of theory in both the Sicilian and King's
Indian Defenses, especially in unearthing resources for Black. When I
was growing up, his untranslated game collection was among the most
prized of all chess books. (I managed to get a copy for a lot of rubles.) In
the following 1 941 game played in Leningrad, it is his opponent, Andor
Lilienthal, who tries something sharp for Black, but it turns out
Boleslavsky could play the White pieces, too. The reversal of fortune
began 1 . e4 eS 2. N£3 dS.

141
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

2. d5

3. Nxe5 (a) 6 Qe7 (b)

4. d4 6 f6 (c)
5. Nd3 (d) 5 dxe4 (e)

6. Nf4 (fJ 5 Qf7 (g)

7. Nd2 (h) 7 Bf5

8. g4 (i) 8 Bg6 (j)

9. Bc4 (k) 7 Qd7

10. Qe2 OJ 8 Qxd4 (m)

1 1 . Ne6 (n) 7 Qb6 (o)

12. Nxe4 (p) 6 Nd7 (q)

13. Bf4 (r) 7 Ne5 (s)

14. 0-0-0 (t) 6 Bf7 (u)

15. N4g5 (v) 9 fxg5 (w)

16. Bxe5 (x) 5 Bxe6 (y)

17. Bxc7 (z) 8 (1-0)

1 42
(a) Full credit for 3. exd5. Plus 1 bonus point if you planned to answer
3 . . . . f6? with 4. Qh5+, when 4 . ... g6 is met by 5. Nxg6, winning mate­
rial.

( b) 1 bonus point if you were going to reply to 3 . ... dxe4 with 4. Bc4, since
the complications run in White's favor.

(c ) Pushes the knight out of Black's territory. 1 bonus point if you in­
tended to counter 4 . ... dxe4 by 5. Bc4.

(d) Only 3 points part credit for 5. Nf3, the book move at the time. Deduct
2 points if you played 5. Qh5+?. It doesn't work because of 5 . ... g6
6. Nxg6 Qxe4+ and 7 . ... Qxg6.

(e ) Note that 5 . ... Qxe4+ just helps White develop after 6. Be3 and 7. Nc3.

(f) The fourth move by the White knight, but it has landed on a good
square and can look forward to even better ones.

(g) A better idea was to uphold e4 by 6 . ... f5 and 7 . ... Nf6.

(h ) 3 points part credit for 7. Nc3, when the knight gets pinned by 7 . ...
Bb4.

( i) A grandmaster move. The object will become clear shortly.

(j) To keep guard over the e4-pawn, the bishop has to leave the c8-h3 di­
agonal.

(k) 3 points part credit for 9. Bg2. By 9. Bc4, White develops with tempo
and takes control of e6. Add 1 bonus point if you understood this when
driving the bishop to g6.

(1) 3 points part credit for 10. Nxg6 hxg6 1 1 . Nxe4. It wins a pawn, but
White wants more.

(m) Black is losing his e4-pawn, so he takes the d4-pawn to balance things
out. But White soon takes over the d-ftle, which Lilienthal has conve­
niently opened.

(n) This is a monster knight. The immediate threats are to d4 and c7.

(o ) 1 bonus point if you figured on answering 1 1 . ... Qe5 with 12. Nb3,
threatening Bf4.

1 43
(p) White recovers his pawn, opens the e-file, and discoveries are in the air.

(q) Black's plight is serious. This is just about the only developing move he
can make.

(r) White brings his last minor piece into the game and targets c7. Add 1
bonus point if you foresaw this when playing 1 1 . Ne6.

(s) 1 bonus point if you examined 13 . ... Qxb2 and concluded that 14. 0-0
is very strong.

(t} 1 bonus point if you analyzed 1 4 . ... Ne7 1 5. Nxc7+ Qxc7 16. Nd6+
Kd8 (or 1 6 . . . . Kd7) 1 7. NbS+, winning the queen.

(u} 1 bonus point if you were turned off to 1 4 . ... Bd6, because of lines like
15. Nxg7+ Kf8 1 6. Ne6+ Ke7 1 7. Nxf6 Kxf6 (or 1 7. . . . Nxf6 18. BxeS)
18. Bxe5+ BxeS 1 9 . g5+ KfS ( 1 9 . ... Kf7 or 1 9 . ... Ke7 20. QxeS)
20. Qf3+ Bf4+ 2 1 . Qxf4 mate.

(v} Deduct 2 points for 15. Nxf8, overlooking 15 . ... Bxc4 and 1 6 . . . . Kxf8.
Add 1 bonus point if you realized that, after the text, White threatens
1 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 (or 1 6 . . . . Nxf7) 1 7. Nxc7+.

(w) Naturally, if 15 . ... Bxe6, then the knight gets replaced by 1 6. Nxe6.

(x) With the fall of the eS-knight, White's key lines are opened once again.

(y} At last the e6-knight is gone, but it's too late to make any difference.

(z) Take 1 bonus point for seeing 1 7. ... Qc6 1 8. BbS, pinning and winning
the queen. Add another bonus point for 1 7. ... Qxc7 1 8. Qxe6+, when
Black can lose by 1 8 . ... Qe7 19. BbS mate; or 1 8 . ... N (B)e7 19. Qf7
mate. Finally, disappear with 1 bonus point if you had this worked out
when playing 15. N4g5.

144
 GAME

34
M. Euwe vs. H. Steenis
The Netherlands 1942
Queen 's Gambit D45

F YOU'RE BETTER DEVELOPED than your opponent, you

rn should be opening the game to exploit your superior piece place­

ments. Your opponent, meanwhile, hopes to keep the position
closed, until his or her own forces join the play. Naturally, the attacker
may be willing to sacrifice in order to clear lines and catch the other side
unprepared. In his 1 942 game against Hendrik Steenis (Black) , Max
Euwe does just that, sacking and blasting through the barricades. The
siege began 1 . d4 dS 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 a6 6. c5 Nbd7
7. b4 Ne4 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 fS 1 0. f3 exf3 1 1 . Qxf3 Nf6 12. Bc4 Be7
13. 0-0 NdS.

1 45
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

13. Nd5

14. e4 (a) 6 Nxb4 (b)

15. Bb2 5 Nc2 (c)

16. exf5 (d) 6 0-0 (e)

17. Rad1 (fJ 4 Nxd4

18. Qg4 (g) 4 Bxc5

19. Ne4 (h) 6 Ba7 (i)

20. f6 (j) 6 g6 (k)
2 1 . Ng5 6 c5 (1)
22. f7+ (m) 5 Kg7

23. Qf4 (n) 6 Bb8 (o)

24. Rxd4 (p) 6 cxd4 (q)

25. Bxd4+ 4 e5 (r)
26. Bxe5+ 4 Bxe5

27. Qxe5+ 4 Kh6

28. Ne4 4 b5 (s)

29. g4 (t) 6 Bxg4 (u)

30. Nf6 (v) 5 Bf5 (w)

3 1 . Ng8+ (x) 5 Rxg8 (y)

32. fxg8/Q (z) 4 Qg5+

33. Qg3 4 (1-0)

1 46
( a) Only 3 points part credit for 14. a3, giving Black a chance to castle. 1
bonus point if you evaluated 1 4 . . . . f:xe4 15. Qf7+.

(b) 1 bonus point for considering 1 4 . . . . Nb6 15. cxb6 Qxd4+, hitting the
at -rook. 2 bonus points if you analyzed 1 4 . ... Nb6 15. Bb2 Nxc4
1 6 . Nxc4 0-0 1 7. Nb6 Rb8 1 8 . Qg3 Bd7 1 9. d5, threatening mate at g7
and who knows what else.

(c) 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 15 . . . . 0-0 by 1 6. Qb3, attack­

ing both the knight and the e6-pawn.

( d) 1 bonus point if you had 1 6 . exf5 in mind when playing 15. Bb2.

(e ) 3 bonus points if you analyzed 1 6 . . . . Nxa1 1 7. Qh5+ g6 18. fxg6 Kd7

(the best chance) 19. Bxe6+! Kc7 ( 1 9 . ... Kxe6 20. Qf5 mate) 20. Qe5+
Bd6 2 1 . cxd6+.

(f) Raise you score by 1 bonus point if you realized 1 7. Radl threatens
1 8. Qc3.

(g) Deduct 4 points if you missed the threat to your queen, 1 8. ... N:x£3+.

(h) Only 3 points part credit for 1 9. Kht .

(i) Saving the bishop is best, since at the moment there is no good discov­
ered check.

(j) Threatens 2 1 . Qxg7 mate. 1 bonus point if you thought about this ear­
lier.

(k) 1 bonus point if you worked out 20 . ... Nf5+ 2 1 . Kh1 Qb6 22. Rxf5
Qxb2 23. Qxg7 mate.

(I) 2 bonus points if you calculated 2 1 . ... Nf5+ 22. Kh1 Ne3 23. Rxd8
Nxg4 24. f7 mate (note the f8-rook is pinned and can't take on f7) .

(m) Full credit for 22. Qh4 h5 23. Ne4, bullying an infiltration by the
queen.

(n) 2 points part credit for 23. Qh4, which leads to a trade of queens.
3 points part credit for either 23. Nxe6 or 23. Bxe6. Euwe's actual
move is still better.

(o) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat: 24. Qe5+ Kh6 25. Bel .

147
(p) 2 bonus points if you had this planned when playing 23. Qf4. Take
only 2 points part credit for 24. Qe3. Black then supports his knight by
24 . ... e5.

(q) Take 2 bonus points if you labored through 24 . ... Bxf4 25. Rxf4+ (it's
a discovered check) 25 . . . . Kh6 26. Rh4+ Kxg5 27. g3 Qd4+ 28. Rxd4
cxd4 29. Bel + Kg4 30. Be2+ Kh3 3 1 . Rf4 g5 32. Bfl mate. Add 2 bonus
points if you saw Black's attempt to improve: 24 . ... Bxf4 25. Rxf4+
(possibly best is 25. Rxd8+) 25 . . . . e5! . Complicated stuff.

(r) You're entitled to 1 bonus point if you saw 25 . ... Kh6 26. Qh4 mate.

(s) 1 bonus point for analyzing 28 . ... Bf5 29. Nf6, threatening 30. Ng8+,
and 1 bonus point for analyzing the equally interesting 28. ... Bf5
29. Rxf5 gxf5 30. Nd6.

(t) No credit for 29. Nf6, leading to 29. ... bxc4 30. Ng8+ Rxg8
3 1 . fxg8/Q{N+) Qxg8. Only 3 points part credit for 29. BdS.

(u) 2 bonus points for seeing 29 . ... bxc4 30. g5+ Kh5 3 1 . Nf6+.

(v) 1 bonus point if you saw that by entering f6 now the knight gains a
tempo on the bishop, threatening 3 1 . Nxg4 mate.

(w) 1 bonus point if you grasped that 30 . ... Qc8 can be answered by
3 1 . Ng8+; add 1 bonus point for realizing that 3 1 . Qf4+ also works.

(x) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 30. Nf6.

(y) The alternative was to allow mate: A) 3 1 . ... Kh5 32. Be2+ Kg5 33. Qf4
mate (or 32 . ... Kh4 33. Qg3 mate) ; B) 3 1 . ... Kg5 32. Qf4+ Kh5
33. Qh6+ (or 33. Be2+ Bg4 34. Qxg4 mate) 33 . ... Kg4 34. Be2 mate.
Add 2 bonus points if you worked all this out-that's 1 bonus point
for A) and 1 bonus point for B) .

(z) Full credit if you played 32. fxg8/N+. In the end, Black is going to wind
up at least a rook down.

1 48
 GAME

35
A. Alekhine vs. K. Junge
Lublin 1 942
Ruy Lopez C86

ERHAPS NO PLAYER HAS contributed more model perfor­

mances to the chess lexicon than Alexander Alekhine ( 1 892-
1 946) . And to defeat him, they say he had to be beaten three
times: "once in the opening, once in the middlegame, and once in the
endgame. " Irrepressibly incomparable in all phases of chess, it was un­
canny how the fourth world champion could always find resources to fin-
. ish off an attack, once he got the slightest lead. An illustration of his
commanding presence and push-it-to-the-edge approach was this game
against Klaus Junge (Black) , from Lublin in 1942. It took off from the
moves 1 . e4 eS 2. N£3 Nc6 3. BbS a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Qe2 bS
7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 dS.

8
7

1 49
 WHITE 'S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

8. d5

9. d3 (a) 5 dxe4

10. dxe4 4 Bg4

1 1 . h3 (b) 5 Bh5 (c)

12. Bg5 (d) 5 NeB

13. Bxe7 (e) 5 Bxf3 (tJ

14. Qxf3 (g) 4 Nxe7 (h)
15. Rd1 5 Nd6

16. Nd2 5 c6 (i)

1 7. Nf1 5 Qc7

18. a4 (j) 5 Rad8 (k)

19. Ng3 OJ 5 Nec8

20. axb5 5 axb5

2 1 . Nf5 (m) 5 Nb6 (n)

22. Qe3 (o) 6 Nxf5 (p)

23. exf5 c5 (q)
24. f6 (r) 6 gxf6 (s)

25. Qh6 (t) 5 f5 (u)

26. Bxf7+ (v) 6 Qxf7 (w)

27. Rxd8 (x) 5 Na4 (y)

28. b3 (z) 5 (1-0)

1 50
{ a) Only 3 points part credit for 9. d4. Add 1 bonus point if you knew that
9. exd5 (only 2 points part credit for making this move) allows Black
excellent attacking chances after 9 . ... Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Bb7 (or 1 0 . . . .
Nf4) .

(b) 4 points part credit for 1 1 . Rd1 , and only 3 points part credit for ei­
ther 1 1 . Bg5 or 1 1 . Nbd2.

(c) Win 1 bonus point if you evaluated 1 1 . ... Bxf3 12. Qxf3 as slightly in
White's favor.

(d) Full credit for 12. Rdl . Gain 2 bonus points if you considered 12. Bg5
Na5 13. g4! Nxb3 14. axb3 Bg6 15. Nxe5 Bxe4 (not 15 . ... Nxe4?
16. Nc6) 1 6. Bxf6 gxf6 ( 1 6 . ... Bxf6 1 7. Qxe4 drops a piece) 1 7. Qxe4
fxe5 1 8. Qxe5, winning a pawn.

( e) Give yourself only 4 points part credit for 1 3 . Rdl , and only 3 points
part credit for 13. Be3.

{f) 3 bonus points if you realized that this was essentially forced.

(g) Only 2 points part credit for 14. Bxd8 Bxe2, which only makes sense
if White is playing for a draw. No credit for 1 4 . gxf3, a self-inflicted
wound, which also makes little sense.

(h) The text move is better than 14 . . . . Qxe7, which allows the annoying
pin 15. Bd5.

(i) If Black had played 1 6 . ... Kh8, earn 1 bonus point if you intended
1 7. Qe3, and 1 bonus point if you saw the line 1 7 . ... Ng6 18. Nf3 f5?
1 9. exf5 Rxf5 20. Bc2 Rf6 2 1 . Bxg6, gaining the e5-pawn.

(j) 1 bonus point if you understood that 1 8 . ... bxa4 1 9. Bxa4 1eaves Black
with weak queenside pawns.

(k) Planning to get his e7-knight into play by Nec8 and Nb6. An immediate
1 8 . . . . Nec8 disconnects the rooks and allows 19. axb5 cxb5, turning
over the d5-square. 1 bonus point if you realized this. Get 1 bonus
point for expecting to answer 1 8 . ... Ng6 by 1 9. g3, intending h2-h4
and h4-h5.

(1) Only 3 points part credit for 1 9. Ne3.

151
(m) Full credit for 2 1 . Qe3, which transposes to the game after 2 1 . ... Nb6
22. Nf5.

( n) Take 1 bonus point if you knew to answer 2 1 . ... Nxf5 with 22. exf5 ! ,
threatening to disrupt Black's kingside with 23. f6. Get 2 bonus points
if you saw that 2 1 . ... g6 is met by 22. Nh6+ Kg7 (22 . ... Kh8 23. Qf6
mate) 23. Ng4 (threatening 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Nh6 mate) 23 . ... f6
24. Qe3, menacing an invasion at h6.

(o) Only 4 points part credit for 22. Qg3. After 22. Qg3, receive 2 bonus
points if you saw that 22 . ... NeB? was not a valid defense, as after
23. Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Nh6+ Kh8 25. Nxf7+.

(p) A change of plan. 1 bonus point if with Black you would have played
22 . ... Nbc4.

(q) Playing to shut out the bishop with 24 . ... c4, but it looks like the deci­
sive mistake. 1 bonus point if you had determined that 23 . ... Nd5
would have been a better idea for Black.

( r) Breaking up Black's castled position. Add 1 bonus point if you had this
in mind when recapturing, 23. exf5.

( s) There's no time for 24 . ... c4. White mates by 25. Qg5 g6 26. Qh6 and
27. Qg7 mate. Add 1 bonus point for seeing this.

(t) 1 bonus point for spotting the threat, 26. Bc2, and realizing that
Black's f-pawn must go to f5.

(u) Overlooking Alekhine's combination, but the game was hard to save.
The best he can do is prolong the contest by 25 . ... Rxdl+ 26. Rxdl f5.
In that case White must relocate his queen to f6 by 27. Qg5+ Kh8
28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Qxf5. Add 1 bonus point if that's how you intended
to continue.

(v) The offer cannot be declined. If 26 . ... Kh8, then 27. Qf6 mate. Add 1
bonus point for seeing this.

(w) Add 1 bonus point for seeing 26 . . . . Kxf7 27. Qxh7+ and 28. Qxc7.
Thke 1 bonus point for planning to meet 26 . . .. Rxf7 by 27. Qg5+ and
28. Rxd8+.

1 52
(x) 1 bonus point if you were ready to answer 27 . ... Rxd8 with 28. Qg5+,
29. Qxd8+, and 30. Qxb6, emerging a full rook ahead.

(y) 1 bonus point if you saw that 27 . ... Nc4 is met by 28. Raa8 , leading to
mate.

(z) The most accurate move. If 28 . Nxc3, the a-file opens and 29. Raa8
...

finishes Black off. 1 bonus point for seeing this.

1 53
 GAME

36
G. Ravinsky vs. V. Panov
Moscow 1 943
Sicilian Defense BBO

PAWN, A PAWN, a pawn, my kingdom for a pawn: That's the

story of so many chess games. One player goes out of his way
to steal a one-point unit, the other tries to find compensation
by gaining time, developing pieces, and sustaining an attack. Such a sit­
uation is almost standard fare in the fighting lines of the Sicilian Defense.
An instance of this material-for-attack scenario occurred in the game
G. Ravinsky vs. V. Panov (Black) , Moscow 1 943. That Sicilian dance of
death began 1 . e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3
Nc6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. 0-0 a6 9. Be3 Rc8 10. Qe2 b5 1 1 . a3 Ne5 12. Radl Nc4
13. Bel Nxa3 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nc6 Qc7 1 6. Nxe5 Nc4.

1 54
 WHITE'S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

16. Nc4

17. Nxd7 (a) 4 Nxd7

18. Nd5 (b) 5 Qa7 (c)

19. Nf4 (d) 5 Nce5 (e)

20. Rxd7 (f) 6 Nxd7 (g)

21 . Nxe6 (h) 6 fxe6

22. Qxe6+ 4 Be7 (i)

23. Re1 (j) 5 Qc5 (k)
24. b4 (1) 6 Nf8 (m)

25. Qg4 (n) 4 Qc3 (o)

26. Rxe7+ (p) 6 Kxe7

27. Bg5+ (q) 5 Kd6 (r)

28. Qd1+ (s) 5 Kc7

29. Bf4+ 5 Kb6

30. Qd6+ (t) 5 Ka7

3 1 . Qe7+ (u) 5 Rc7

32. Bxc7 (v) 5 Qa1+

33. Bf1 4 Ng6

34. Qc5+ (w) 4 Kb7

35. Ba5 (x) 6 Rf8 (y)

36. Qb6+ (z) 5 (1-0)

155
(a) Deduct 3 points if you missed Black's threat to eS. Receive only 2
points part credit for 1 7. Nxc4 Qxc4, when White must lose a move to
avoid a queen trade.

(b ) Go ahead and grab 1 bonus point if you had this in mind before
1 7. Nxd7.

(c) 1 bonus point if you realized that moving the queen to b7, c6, or d6
would lose to a discovered attack, 19. Nf6+.

( d) The knight is repositioned to menace intrusive behavior at e6 and hS.

How rude can it get?

(e ) In response, Black anticipates b2-b3 and Bb2, and backs his knight out
as well, blocking the e-file. Perhaps 1 9 . ... Qb6 or 1 9 . ... Be7 might have
turned out better.

(f) That's one way to force clearance of the e-file.

(g) If 20 . ... Qxd7, then 2 1 . QxeS gives White two pieces for the rook plus
the attack. On 2 1 . ... Rxc2 22. Be3, take 1 bonus point if you evaluated
White's position as clearly better.

(h) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 20. Rxd7. Add 1
bonus point if you thought about the e6-sacrifice when playing
19. Nf4.

(i) 3 bonus points if you analyzed that 22 . ... Kd8 runs into mate after
23. Bg5+, a possible conclusion being 23 . ... Kc7 (23 . . . . Nf6 24. Rd1+)
24. Qc6+ Kb8 25. Bf4+ Rc7 26. Bxc7+ Qxc7 27. Qa8 mate.

(j) Deduct 2 points for 23. BgS?. Black answers with 23 . ... QcS, defend­
ing e7 and attacking g5, gaining time to hold the Black position to­
gether.

(k) An alternative was 23 . ... Nb6, opening up the seventh rank, along
which the queen can defend while guarding the rook at c8. You may
have 1 bonus point if you considered this and planned to answer it
with 24. Be3.

(1) To deflect the queen from gS. Not any easy move to find.

1 56
(m) A possible defense was to give up the queen, 24 . . . . Qxb4 25. Bg5
Qxe l +! 26. Qxel Nf6. While Black may lose in the long run, he has
plenty of fighting chances.

( n) The queen backs out, keeping an eye on the c8-rook and the g7-pawn.
Add 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 25 . ... h5 with 26. Qxg7,
when Black's queen and h8-rook are hanging.

( o) 3 bonus points if you had thought of meeting 25 . ... Qc7 by 26. Bg5
(26. Rxe7+ Kxe7 is not convincing here, as the Black queen controls f4)
26 . . . . Ng6 (26 . ... h5 27. Qe4) 27. Bxe7 Nxe7 28. Qxg7 Rf8 29. Bc6+
Kd8 30. Rdl + and wins. With the text move Black attacks the rook and
forces the issue.

( p) Ravinsky rises to the challenge, stripping away the last defender in

front of the king, which will now be exposed to a barrage of diagonal
checks.

(q) 2 bonus points if you envisioned replying to 27 . . . . Kf7 by 28. Bd5+

Ke8 (28 . ... Kg6 29. Bh4+ Kh6 30. Qg5 mate) 29. Qe2+ Kd7 30. Qe7
mate.

( r) 3 bonus points if you calculated 27 . . . . Ke8 28. Qe2+ Kf7 29. Bd5+ Kg6
30. Qe4+! Kxg5 3 1 . Qf4+ (here's where control of f4 is important)
3 1 . ... Kh5 32. Bf7+ Ng6 33. Qh4 mate.

( s) 1 bonus point if you saw this in advance. Other checks are murky. Now
if 28 . . . . Ke6 (e5) , White mates in the center of the board, 29. Qd5 mate.
Foreseeing that gets you 1 bonus point.

( t) The queen moves up to close range. 1 bonus point if you pictured

30 . ... Rc6 3 1 . Qb8 mate.

(u) 1 bonus point for seeing 3 1 . ... Kb6 32. Qb7 mate. Less tasty would be
the 4 points part credit you'd get for 3 1 . Be3+ Qxe3 32. fxe3 Ne6
33. Qxe6 Rc7, when the mating attack is over and White wins by
munching on material.

(v) Full credit for the sharper 32. Be3+. Gain 2 bonus points if you
worked out the mate: 32 . ... Kb8 33. Qd8+ ReS 34. Qb6 mate. There's 1
bonus point if you grasped that the bishop capture menaces 33. Bb6+
and 34. Qb7 mate, among other threats. But mate is what the game is
about, right?

157
(w) 2 bonus points for determining that 34 . ... Ka8 gets mated after
35. Qc6+ Ka7 36. Bb6+ Kb8 37. Qc7+ Ka8 38. Qa7 mate. Full credit for
34. Qd7 (instead of 34. Qc5+) , retaining all the threats of the position.
If then 34 . ... Ka8, take 1 bonus point for seeing 35. Bb6, settling mat­
ters.

(x) No credit for 35. Qb6+ Kc8 and White is not progressing.

(y) 2 bonus points by seeing that 35 ... ReB drops the queen to 36. Qb6+
.

Ka8 37. Qxa6+ Kb8 38. Bc7+ and 39. Qxal . If 35 . . . . Qe5, add 1 bonus
point for fmding 36. Qb6+ Ka8 (36 . ... Kc8 37. Bh3+) 37. Bg2+.

(z) Forces mate and leads to 2 bonus points for seeing 36. ... Ka8 37. Qc6+
Kb8 38. Bc7+ Kc8 39. Bb6+ Kb8 40. Qc7+ Ka8 4 1 . Qa7 mate.

1 58
 GAME

37
V. Smyslov vs. M. Euwe
The Hague/Moscow 1 948,

C81
World Championship Tournament, 1 9th round
Ruy Lopez

rn N 1 948, FIVE OF the best players in the world (Mikhail Botvin­

nik, Max Euwe, Paul Keres, Sammy Reshevsky, and Vassily
Smyslov) squared off in a five-way set of matches to determine
the next world champion. The title had been vacant since Alekhine's
death in 1946, and it was time for someone to assume the top spot. The
new title holder would be Botvinnik, but in the 19th round of that historic
event, it would be future champion Smyslov (White) giving former cham­
pion Euwe a hard time. That contest began 1 . e4 e5 2. N£3 Nc6 3 . Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5.

1 59
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

6. b5

7. Bb3 (a) 4 d5 (b)

8. dxe5 (c) 4 Be6

9. Qe2 (d) 5 Nc5 (e)

10. Rd1 (f) 5 Nxb3

1 1 . axb3 4 QcB (g)

12. c4 (h) 6 dxc4

13. bxc4 4 Bxc4 (i)

14. Qe4 (j) 6 Ne7 (k)
15. Na3 OJ 6 c6 (m)

16. Nxc4 5 bxc4

17. Qxc4 (n) 5 Qb7 (o)

18. e6 (p) 6 f6 (q)

19. Rd7 5 Qb5 (r)
20. Qxb5 (s) 5 cxb5

21. Nd4 (t) 5 ReB (u)

22. Be3 (v) 5 Ng6 (w)

23. Rxa6 5 Ne5

24. Rb7 4 Bc5 (x)

25. Nf5 5 0-0 (y)
26. h3 (z) 6 (1-0)

1 60
(a) Only 2 points part credit for 7. Nxe5, since 7 . ... bxa4 is met by 8. Nxc6
dxc6 9. Ret , pinning the knight to the king.

(b ) 2 bonus points if you knew to handle 7 . ... exd4 with 8. Ret d5 9. Nc3!.

(c) 2 points part credit for 8. Nxe5 or 8. a4 (the latter is answered by 8 . ...
Nxd4!).

(d) Introduced by Keres three rounds earlier. Full credit for 9. c3 or

9. Nbd2.

( e) In his game against Keres, Euwe played 9 . .. Be7, and there followed
.

10. Rd1 0-0.

(f) The rook stands opposite the Black queen and prepares the advance c2-
c4.

(g) This gets off the rook's line and apparently stops the push of the c­
pawn.

(h ) Pushed anyway! Only 2 points part credit for the less effective 1 2 . Nc3
or 1 2 . Bg5.

(i) Black has an extra pawn, but White has open lines for his pieces and e4
for his queen.

(j) If 1 4 . ... Qe6, then White's rook runs interference with 15. Rd6! (2
bonus points) , and the c6-knight suddenly hangs. And if 14 . ... Qb7,
then 1 5. Nc3, threatening 1 6. e6 Bxe6 1 7. Ne5 (2 bonus points) .

(k) 2 bonus points if you had considered meeting 14 . ... Nb4 by 15. Na3
Bb3 16. Nxb5! Bxd1 1 7. Nxc7+ Qxc7 t 8. Qxa8+, etc. This is risky-for
both sides.

(1) 1 bonus point if you saw 15 . ... Bb3 1 6. Rd3 Be6 1 7. Nxb5! axb5?
18. Rxa8.

(m) Black can't afford to move the bishop, so he bolsters b5 while closing
the diagonal to aS.

( n) White has regained his gambit pawn with a better position. Black's
queenside pawns are split, he's behind in development, and his king is
still uncastled.

161
( o) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 1 7 . ... Qe6 with 1 8. Qxe6 fxe6
19. Ng5. Add 3 bonus points if you also saw 1 7. ... Qe6 1 8. Rxa6! Qxc4
19. Rxa8+ Nc8 20. R.xc8+ Ke7 2 1 . Rc7+ Ke8 (21 . ... Ke6 22. Rxc6+)
22. Bg5, with a mating attack.

(p) 1 bonus point for seeing the threat: 19. exf7 mate. If 1 8 . ... fxe6, then
19. Qxe6 or 19. Ng5.

(q ) Trying to keep the lines closed and the knight out of e5 and g5.

( r) Looking to ease the pressure by trading queens.

( s) Simplest. Black's best piece is removed from the board, but White's at­
tack continues.

( t) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when trading queens.

(u) The rook is practically forced to move, leaving the a6-pawn unguarded.

(v) Deduct 5 points for the hasty grab 22. Rxa6??, allowing 22 . ... Rxc1
mate.

(w ) Earn 1 bonus point for analyzing 22 . ... Nc6 23. Rc1 Ne7 24. Rxe7+
and 25. Rxc8.

(x) Finally, the bishop comes out, threatening 25 . ... Bxd4 26. Bxd4? Rc1
mate. Hope you saw it.

( y) 1 bonus point for calculating 25 . ... Bxe3 26. Nd6+, when Black is
likely to go down quickly: A) 26 . ... Kd8 27. e7 mate; or B) 26 . ... Kf8
27. e7+ Kg8 28. Nxc8 Kf7 29. e8/Q+ Kxe8 30. Nd6+ and 3 1 . Ra8 mate.

(z) Eliminates all back-rank mate tricks. Score 1 bonus point for 26 . ...
Bxe3 27. Ne7+. Add 2 bonus points for 26 . ... g6 27. Nh6+ Kh8
28. Bxc5 RxcS 29. Raa7. Doubling rooks on the seventh rank is deci­
sive.

1 62
 GAME

38
S. Reshevsky vs. M. Najdorf
New York 1 952, Match
King's Indian Defense E69

AMMY RESHEVSKY ( 1 9 1 1 -92) was one of the game's ster­

ling prodigies. He learned how to play chess at four years of age,
impressed Akiba Rubinstein at six, and gave unsurpassed
blindfold exhibitions at eight. He went on to win more U.S. Champi­
onships (eight) than anyone except Fischer (nine) . Noted for his solid
play, Reshevsky would milk a position dry before converting to a winning
attack. Here he shows Miguel Najdorf (Black) in their 1 952 Match held in
New York how to nurse home a small advantage. The artist and his work
began 1 . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 0-0 5. NO d6 6. g3 e5 7. Bg2
Nbd7 8. 0-0 c6 9. h3 Nh5 1 0. Be3 Qe7 1 1 . Ret Kh8 12. Qe2 Qe8.

1 63
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

12. Qe8

13. Rad1 (a) 5 f5 (b)

14. exf5 (c) 5 e4 (d)

15. Nxe4 (e) 6 Qxe4

16. Nh4 (f) 5 Qe8 (g)

17. fxg6 (h) 5 Nhffi (i)
18. Qc2 (j) 5 Qd8 (k)
19. Bf4 (1) 5 Nb6

20. gxh7 (m) 5 ReB (n)

21. Bg5 (o) 5 Bd7 (p)

22. b3 (q) 5 Rxe1+ (r)
23. Rxe1 4 Be8 (s)

24. Be4 5 Nbd7 (t)

25. Bg6 5 Bxg6 (u)

26. Nxg6+ (v) 4 Kxh7

27. Ne7+ 5 Kh8

28. Re4 (w) 6 Bh6

29. Rh4 (x) 5 Qxe7

30. Rxh6+ 5 Kg8 (y)

31. Qg6+ 5 Qg7

32. Bxf6 (z) 5 (1-0)

1 64
( a) Only 3 points part credit for 13. dxe5, which reduces the central ten­
sion needlessly.

( b) 1 bonus point if you knew this advance was coming. Take another
bonus point if you realized Black is now threatening 1 4 . ... f4.

(c) 3 points part credit for 14. dxe5. And 2 bonus points if you saw the
problem, 1 4 . ... f4! 15. gxf4 dxe5, with control of f4.

(d) 2 bonus points if you spied 1 4 . ... gxf5 1 5. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nxe5! Nxe5
( 1 6 . ... Qxe5 1 7. Qxh5) 1 7. Bd4, and the pin insures getting the mate­
rial back.

( e) Only 2 points part credit for moving the attacked knight. 1 bonus
point if you had the knight sacrifice in mind beforehand.

(f) A double unmasking: the bishop strikes at the queen and the White
queen at the h5-knight.

(g) 1 bonus point for analyzing 1 6 . ... Qe7 1 7. fxg6 hxg6? 1 8. Nxg6+.

(h) Get 1 bonus point for seeing 1 7 . ... hxg6 18. Qc2 Kh7 19. Nxg6 Qxg6
20. Be4; and take 2 bonus points for seeing (after 1 7 . . . . hxg6 1 8. Qc2)
1 8 . . . . Rf6 1 9 . Bg5 Re6 20. Rxe6 Qxe6 2 1 . Nxg6+. Finally, add 3 bonus
points if you took it further: 2 1 . . . . Kg8 22. d5 Qe8 (or 22 . . . . Qf7)
23. dxc6 bxc6 24. Bxc6 Rb8 25. Bd5+ Kh7 26. Nf8+ Kh8 27. Qh7 mate.

(i) Since Black can't play 1 7. ... hxg6 as per the previous note, Black's
knight must be withdrawn to safety.

(j) A double purpose move: the queen clears the e-frle for the rook, while
taking aim at g6.

(k) 1 bonus point if you realized White was threatening 19. Bf4 and
20. Bxd6.

(1) This simple attack on the d6-pawn proves deceptively strong. In order
to defend the pawn, Black has to move his d7-knight away from the
kingside.

(m) 1 bonus point if you had seen the threat to win the Exchange
(2 1 . Ng6+) ahead of time.

1 65
( n) 1 bonus point for calculating 20 . . . . Rf7 2 1 . Ng6+ Kxh7 22. Ne5+, win­
ning the Exchange.

(o) Deduct 1 point for the premature 2 1 . Ng6+ Kxh7. White then has no
good discovery with the knight. Reshevsky's move does not merely pin
the f6-knight, but threatens to take it: 22. Bxf6 Rxe l + 23. Rxel Bxf6
(23 . ... Qxf6 24. Re8+) 24. Ng6+ Kxh7 25. Ne5+ Kg8 26. Qg6+ Bg7
27. Nf7 Qf8 28. Nh6+ Kh8 29. Be4, mating or winning the queen. 2
bonus points for calculating all this.

( p) Defending the e8-rook with the bishop, so that in the event of Bxf6,
Black can take back with queen, Qxf6.

( q) Relieves the White queen from the defense of the c4-pawn.

( r) Intending to play his bishop over to the kingside. The downside is that
Reshevsky gets the open e-file.

( s) Guarding against the knight check at g6. But now at last White knows
what he has to do: eliminate the enemy light-square bishop.

(t) The knight comes back from oblivion to try to defend the king.

( u) A cooperative capture, but it's doubtful if even 25 . ... QaS slows White
down.

(v) Full credit for 26. Qxg6, preserving the h7-pawn and intending to at­
tack the g7 -bishop by Nf5 and Re7. Collect 1 bonus point for following
up with 26 . ... Nf8 27. Qf7 N8xh7 28. Ng6 mate. Add 2 bonus points
for working out 26 . ... Qf8 27. NfS Re8 28. Rxe8+ Nxe8 29. Be7, trap­
ping the queen.

(w) Threatens 29. Rh4+, when Black's king lacks suitable shelter. 1 bonus
point if you saw 28 . ... Nxe4 29. Ng6+ and 30. Bxd8.

(x) Staying with the original plan. Only 3 points part credit for analyzing
and deciding on 29. Bxh6 Nxe4 30. Qxe4.

(y) 1 bonus point for realizing that 30. ... Kg7? 3 1 . Qg6+ Kf8 32. Rh8+
Ng8 33. Rxg8 mate is not good for Black.

(z) 2 bonus points for analyzing 32 . . . . Qxg6 33. Rxg6+ Kf7 34. Rg7+ Kxf6
35. Rxd7, with an easily won ending.

166
 GAME

39
R. Fischer vs. B. Larsen
Portoroz 1 958, Interzonal Tournament
Sicilian Defense, Dragon Variation B77
T WAS AT THE Portoroz Interzonal in 1958 that then 15-year­

rn old Bobby {Robert) Fischer became the youngest grandmaster of

all time. While this mark has since been shattered several times
{lastly in August 2002 by Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine, at 12 years, 7
months) it still remains a spectacular achievement when viewed in per­
spective. One of Bobby's most notable games in that 1958 event was his
win over Danish great Bent Larsen {Black) . "Sac, Sac, and mate," is how
the American wunderkind described his winning technique. The sacrifi­
cial orgy began 1 . e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Nxd4 {a) 10. Bxd4 Be6 1 1 . Bb3
QaS.

167
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

11. Qa5

12. 0-0-0 (b) 5 b5 (c)

13. Kb1 (d) 5 b4 (e)

14. Nd5 (tJ 4 Bxd5 (g)

15. Bxd5 (h) 4 Rac8 (i)

16. Bb3 (j) 6 Rc7

17. h4 (k) 5 Qb5 (1)

18. h5 (m) 6 Rfc8 (n)

19. hxg6 5 hxg6

20. g4 (o) 5 a5 (p)

21. g5 (q) 5 Nh5 (r)
22. Rxh5 (s) 6 gxh5

23. g6 (t) 5 e5 (u)

24. gxf7+ 5 Kf8

25. Be3 (v) 4 d5 (w)

26. exd5 (x) 5 Rxf7

27. d6 5 Rf6

28. Bg5 5 Qb7 (y)

29. Bxf6 5 Bxf6

30. d7 5 Rd8

31. Qd6+ (z) 5 ( 1 -0)

1 68
( a) Standard in the 1 950s, this is no longer in vogue, having been replaced
by 9 . ... Bd7.

(b) Only 3 points part credit for 12. 0-0. It's safer but packs no punch.

(c) 1 bonus point if you knew to answer 12 . ... Bxb3 by 13. cxb3 !, taking
away from the center, and White is okay.

( d) A good preventive move. The king is removed from the c-frle and c1 -h6
diagonal. 1 bonus point if you saw the attendant threat: 14. Nd5 Qxd2
15. Nxe7+, an interpolation that wins a pawn.

( e) Larsen plays to dislodge the knight from its defensive post.

(f) Only 2 points part credit for the retreat 1 4. Ne2, when White loses con­
trol of d5. Black may continue 14 . . . . Bxb3 15. cxb3 Rfd8, threatening
e7-e5 and d6-d5.

(g) If 14 . ... Nxd5, then 1 5. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. exd5. After Black moves his
bishop, White has 1 6 . Rde 1 , with strong pressure against e7, and he
still has in reserve the dangerous attack h2-h4-h5.

(h) Full credit if you took back with the pawn, 15. exd5.

(i) Better was 15 . ... Nxd5, chopping off the bishop. 2 bonus points if you
spotted the resource, 16. Bxg7 Nc3+! 1 7. bxc3 Rab8! .

(j) The bishop is preserved for the corning attack.

(k) White's attack gets under way. The idea is to open the h-frle.

(1) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 1 7. ... h5 by 18. g4 hxg4

1 9. h5.

(m) The h-pawn presses forward. There's no need to lose time preparing
with g2-g4.

( n) 3 bonus points if you knew how to handle 1 8 . ... Nxh5. It's standard
stuff: 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. g4 Nf6 2 1 . Qh6+ Kg8 22. g5 Nh5 23. Rxh5!
gxh5 24. g6 hxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Qh6+ Kg8 27. Rg1+ Qg5 28. Rxg5
mate.

(o) Only 2 points part credit for 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 2 1 . Qh6 e6! . Black's king is
safe enough and he threatens Qe5.

1 69
( p) Larsen unleashes his own attack. In another move, he will arrive at a4
to pester the bishop.

(q) But Fischer gets there first. 2 bonus points for seeing 2 1 . . . . a4
22. gxf6 axb3 23 . fxg7 bxc2+ 24. Qxc2! Rxc2 25. Rh8 mate.

(r) Withdrawing the knight to e8 doesn't help because of 22. Bxg7 Nxg7
23. Rh6!, threatening to capture on g6. After 23. Rh6!, take 2 bonus
points for seeing the continuation 23 . ... a4 24. Qh2 Nh5 25. Rxg6+.

( s) The knight must go. No credit for other moves.

(t) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when sacking the Exchange.

(u) 2 bonus points for analyzing 23 . ... e6 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7
26. Rgl+ Kh7 27. Qg2 etc.

(v) 3 bonus points if you were ready to answer 25 . ... a4 with 26. Qxd6+
Re7 27. Qd8+! Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Re8 29. BcS+! QxcS 30. Rxe8 mate (or
30. fxe8/Q(R) mate) .

(w) On 25 . ... Rd8, White has 26. Bh6. So Larsen tries to seal off the d-flle
and the a2-g8 diagonal.

(x) Deduct 2 points for the erroneous 26. Bxd5? Rxc2!. Add 1 bonus
point if you saw that after the text, 26. exdS, 26 . . . . a4 runs into 27. d6
axb3 28. dxc7, and White holds on.

(y) liying to blockade the d-pawn by 28 . ... Qd7 turns over the d5-square.
2 bonus points for fmding 29. Qd5! Rf7 30. Be7+!, cutting communi­
cation between the queen and rook.

(z) There's no defense. 2 bonus points for the mop-up variation: 3 1 . ...
Kg7 (3 1 . ... Be7 32. Qh6 mate) 32. Rgl + Kh7 33. Qxf6 Qxd7 34. Bd5,
closing the d-file and menacing Be4+. Also take full credit, plus 2
bonus points, if you found 3 1 . Qh6+ Ke7 (3 1 . ... Bg7 32. Qd6 mate)
32. Qh7+ Bg7 (or 32 . ... Kf8 33. Qf7 mate) 33. Qxg7 mate.

1 70
 GAME

40
I. Boleslavsky vs. B. Gurgenidze
Rostov-on-Don 1 960, 28th USSR Semifinal
Sicilian Defense B32

[Q] NE OF THE STRICTEST injunctions impressed upon newcom­

ers is not to bring out the queen too early. If you do, your oppo­
nent might be able to build an initiative at your expense by
developing and attacking your queen. Now there are some screwy lines
dependent on early queen development, but if they're misplayed even
slightly, they can end in instant defeat. In his game against B. Gurgenidze
(Black) , played in the 28th USSR semifinal of 1 960, Grandmaster Isaac
Boleslavsky ( 1 9 1 9-77) meted out swift punishment for his opponent's
opening transgression. The disciplining began with 1 . e4 c5 2. N£3 Nc6
3. d4 dS.

1 71
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. d5

4. exd5 (a) 7 Qxd5 (b)

5. Nc3 (c) 7 Qe6+ (d)

6. Be3 (e) 9 cxd4 (tJ
7. Nxd4 (g) 6 Qd7 (h)
8. Ndb5 (i) 8 Rb8 (j)
9. Qe2 (k) 9 f6 (1)
10. Rd1 (m) 8 Qg4 (n)

11. f3 (o) 8 Qh5 (p)

12. Bxa7 (q) 8 Nxa7 (r)
13. Nd6+ (s) 9 Kd8 (t)
14. Nxc8+ (u) 7 Kxc8 (v)
15. Qe6+ (w) 7 Kc7 (x)
16. Rd7+ (y) 7 (1-0} (z)

1 72
( a) Only 2 points part credit for 4. dxc5 dxe4, when Black's position is ac­
ceptable.

(b) 1 bonus point for realizing that 4 . ... Nxd4 loses a pawn to 5. Nxd4
cxd4 6. Qxd4.

( c) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 4. exd5. Only 2
points part credit for 5. c4, which doesn't develop a new piece.

( d) Black plays this awkward move to save the queen while gaining a
tempo.

(e) Only 5 points part credit for 6. Be2. The text prepares to activate the
queen-rook.

(f) 1 bonus point for seeing ahead of time that this deals with White's
threat, 7. d5.

(g) A forced recapture that actually fuels White's attack.

(h) 1 bonus point for appreciating that 7. ... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 helps White's
development.

(i) 1 bonus point for analyzing 8. Nxc6 Qxc6 9. Bb5, and add 1 bonus
point more for seeing Black's better response, 8 . ... bxc6!. Add 1 bonus
point if you had seen White's threat of exchanging on d7, and after
Kxd7, castling queenside.

(j) 2 bonus points if you considered 8 . ... e6 9. Qxd7+ Kxd7 1 0. 0-0-0+

Ke7 1 1 . Bc5+ Kf6 (note that 1 1 . . . . Ke8 is terminated by 12. Nc7 mate)
12. Bxf8.

(k) Only 4 points part credit for winning a pawn (9. Nxa7) , since it also
relaxes the pressure.

(I) Black has to make some room for his king. 2 bonus points for review­
ing beforehand the variation 9 . ... e6 10. Rd1 Qe7 1 1 . Nd6+ (or
1 1 . Bf4) , after which Black is lost.

(m) No credit for other moves.

( n) 1 bonus point if you saw 1 0 . ... Qf5? 1 1 . Bxa7 Nxa7 12. Nd6+.

1 73
( o) Deduct 1 point for trading queens 1 1 . Qxg4 Bxg4. No credit for
1 1 . Nc7+, which goes nowhere after 1 1 . ... Kf7.

( p) 1 bonus point for seeing 1 1 . ... Qh4+ 12. Bf2 Q-moves 1 3 . Nd6+. Add
1 bonus point for weighing 1 1 . ... Qb4 12. a3 Qxb2 12. Nd6+ (or
1 2. Rb l ) 12 . . . . exd6 (or 12 . . . . Kd8 13. Nc4+) 1 3 . Bel+.

(q) Partly to win a pawn, partly to attack the rook, and mostly to clear the
e-flle.

(r) 1 bonus point if you scoffed at 1 1 . ... QfS, knowing that you would an­
swer 12. Bxa7, threatening the rook and 13. Nd6+, winning the queen
because of the e-fiie pin.

( s) Deduct 1 point for the prosaic 1 3 . Nxa7, since it relinquishes some of

the attack.

( t) No better is 1 3 . ... Kd7. The trick now is to fmd White's best discovered
attack.

(u) That's the best discovery. White eliminates the c8-bishop to gain control
of e6.

(v) Thke 4 bonus points for visualizing the line 14 . ... Ke8 15. Nd6+ Kd8
16. NbS+ Ke8 1 7. Nc7+ Kf7 18. Qe6+ Kg6 19. RdS Qh4+ 20. g3 Qb4
2 1 . Bd3+ Kh6 22. Qh3+ Qh4 23. Qxh4 mate. Is the variation long
enough for you?

(w) 1 bonus point if this is what you planned by playing 1 4. Nxc8+.

(x) Black is reduced to one move.

(y ) 1 bonus point if you worked out 1 6 . ... Kc8 1 7. Rxe7+ Kd8 18. Qd7
mate.

(z) For the record, Gurgenidze saw what was coming and resigned at move
13.

1 74
 GAME

41
R. Fischer vs. J. Bolbochan
Stockholm 1 962, Interzonal Tournament
Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation B90

ONG BEFORE WINNING THE world championship, Bobby

[J (Robert) Fischer had other notable successes. One of his loftier

moments occurred when he won the 1 962 Stockholm Interzonal,
going undefeated and becoming the first non-Soviet player to capture a
victory in such a tournament. An example of his compelling play is this
round 20 victory over Julio Bolbochan (Black) of Argentina. The first 1 7
moves of that Fischer steamroller were 1 . e4 c5 2. Nf.3 d6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 Nc6 7. g4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 e5 9. Qd3 Be7
10. g5 Nd7 1 1 . Be3 Nc5 12. Qd2 Be6 13. 0-0-0 0-0 1 4. f.3 ReS 15. Kb 1
Nd7 1 6. h4 b5 1 7. Bh3 Bxh3.

1 75
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

17. Bxh3

18. Rxh3 (a) 4 Nb6 (b)

19. Bxb6 (c) 5 Qxb6

20. Nd5 (d) 5 Qd8

21. f4 (e) 5 exf4 (f)

22. Qxf4 4 Qd7

23. Qf5 (g) 5 Rcd8 (h)

24. Ra3 (i) 6 Qa7 (j)
25. Rc3 (k) 5 g6 OJ

26. Qg4 (m) 4 Qd7

27. Qf3 5 Qe6 (n)

28. Rc7 (o) 5 Rde8

29. Nf4 (p) 5 Qe5

30. Rd5 (q) 5 Qh8

31. a3 (r) 6 h6 (s)

32. gxh6 (t) 5 Qxh6 (u)
33. h5 5 Bg5 (v)
34. hxg6 6 fXg6 (w)
35. Qb3 (x) 6 Rxf4 (y)
36. Re5+ 5 Kf8

37. Rxe8+ (z) 4 (1-0)

1 76
(a ) 1 bonus point if you understood that Black has just traded off one of
his two pieces capable of controlling d5.

(b) Plays into White's hands, but where else is the knight supposed to go?

( c) Now Black has no minor piece capable of controlling d5.

( d) No credit for anything else. This is the position White aimed for to
achieve the situation of good knight versus bad bishop. Strategically,
White should be winning.

( e) No credit for 2 1 . Nxe7+, giving away all of White's advantage. The d­

pawn can't be won-for example, 2 1 . ... Qxe7 2 1 . Qxd6? Rfd8 and
Black wins by skewering queen and rook. 1 bonus point if you saw it.

(f) Black cannot allow the space-gaining f4-f5. Hence, Black trades pawns.

(g) 1 bonus point for realizing that 23 . ... Qxf5? is met by 24. Nxe7+, win­
ning a piece.

(h) 1 bonus point if you found 23 . . . . Rfd8? 24. Qxd7 Rxd7 25. Nb6, gain­
ing the Exchange.

( i) Full credit for 24. Rc3, which should transpose back to the game.

(j) Full credit if you intended to answer this by 25. Nxe7+ Qxe7 26. Rxa6.
Th.ke 1 bonus point if you further saw how to defend the e4-pawn after
26 . . . . Rfe8, namely by 27. a4! .

(k) Only 4 points part credit for 25. Nf6+, which wins nicely after 25 . ...
gxf6? 26. gxf6 Kh8 27. QgS Rg8 28. fxe7. But Black can hang in with
25 . ... Bxf6 26. gxf6 g6 27. Qg5 Kh8 28. Qh6 Rg8. Add 1 bonus point
for seeing the threat, 26. Rc7.

(I) 3 bonus points for going through 25 . ... Rd7 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. gxf6 g6
28. Qg5 Kh8 29. Qh6 Rg8 30. Rc8, with mate to follow.

( m) Only 2 points part credit for 26. Qf3, enabling Black to compete for the
c-file, 26 . ... ReB.

(n) 1 bonus point for seeing 27 . ... ReB? 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Nb6, forking
the queen and rook.

(o ) 1 bonus point if you saw why 28 . ... Rd7 is no defense-29. Nf4, driv­
ing off the queen.

1 77
(p) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 28 . ... Rfe8 by 29. Rfl , when
Black can hardly move.

(q) A typical changing of the guard on the outpost d5. The Black queen is
to be banished to the corner.

( r) The correct moment for making luft (creating an escape square for the
king) . The major pieces have left the home rank, and Black is about to
make his breakout.

(s) 1 bonus point ifyou planned to answer 3 1 . ... f6 with 32. Qb3, White's
key move. There could follow 32 . ... Rf7 33. Rxd6 fxg5 34. hxg5 Qe5
35. Rf6! Rf8 36. Rxf7 Rxf7 37. Rc8+ Bf8 38. Ne6, and Black is in a
deadly pin. 3 bonus points if you scanned it all ahead of time.

(t) Only 4 points part credit for 32. Qb3, when Black has chances to com­
plicate.

(u) 2 bonus points for analyzing 32 . . . . Bxh4 33. Nxg6 fxg6 34. Qb3 Rf7
35. Rf5, and the crossfire is just too much for Black to handle.

(v) 1 bonus point if you understood that 33 . ... g5, keeping the kingside
files closed down, offered longer resistance. In that case, however,
White relocates his knight to f5: Ne2-g3 (d4) -f5.

(w) 2 bonus points for considering 34 . ... Bxf4 35. gxf7+ Rxf7 36. Rxf7
Kxf7 3 7. Rh5, chasing the queen away from the bishop, since 37. ... Qf6
is met by 38. Rf5, pinning the queen.

( x) 1 bonus point for determining that 35 . ... Bxf4 fails to 36. Rh5+.

(y) 3 bonus points into your total if you figured out that 35 . ... Kh8, trying
to step out of potential discovery, walks into 36. Nxg6+ Qxg6 37. Rxg5
Rfl+ (or 37 . ... Qxg5 38. Qh3+, mating) 38. Ka2 Qxg5 39. Qh3+ and
40. Qxfl , winning. Deduct 2 points if you thought 39. Qh3+ Kg8
40. Qh7+ Kf8 4 1 . Qh8+ was winning, when you missed 4 1 . . . . Qg8+,
forcing a trade of queens.

(z) 2 bonus points if you saw 3 7. ... Kxe8 38. Qe6+ Kf8 (or 38 . . . . Kd8 and
White has three different mates on the move) 39. Qc8+ Bd8 40. Qxd8
mate.

1 78
 GAME

42
M. Tal vs. J. Broderman
Havana 1 963
Caro-Kann Defense B 15

HE NAME MIKHAIL TAL ( 1 936-9 1 ) brings to mind inge­

[I] niously initiated attacks and incomprehensible, practically im­

possible to analyze sacrifices (well, maybe not in today's
computerized world) . The eighth world chess champion seemed to have
an almost unearthly ability to produce mate out of nowhere. It was as if
he could see things no one else could, which doesn't quite explain why
some people (Pal Benko, for one) took to wearing dark glasses when fac­
ing him. Perhaps his opponent, J. Broderman (Black) , in this 1 963 game
played in Havana, might have benefited from that very strategy. It all
came into focus after 1 . e4 c6 2. d4 dS 3. Nc3 dxe4.

8
7
6

3
2

1 79
 WHITE 'S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. dxe4

4. Nxe4 (a) 4 e5 (b)

5. Nf3 (c) 5 exd4 (d)
6. Bc4 (e) 6 Nf6 (tJ
7. Nxf6+ (g) 5 Qxf6
8. 0-0 (h) 5 Bc5

9. Re1+ (i) 5 Be6 OJ

10. Bg5 (k) 6 Qt5 OJ

11. Re5 (m) 6 Qg6

12. Nh4 (n) 6 Qxg5 (o)

13. Rxg5 (p) 4 Be7 (q)

14. Bxe6 (r) 6 Bxg5 (s)
15. Bxt7+ (t) 6 Kxt7

16. Qh5+ 6 Kf6

17. Qf3+ (u) 6 Ke7

18. Nffi+ (v) 6 K:f8 (w)

19. Nd6+ (x) 6 Bf6

20. Ret (y) 6 Nd7

21. Qb3 (z) 6 (1-0)

1 80
(a) Only 2 points part credit if you decided on a gambit, 4. f.3 or 4. Bc4. It's
much simpler (and better) to take the pawn back.

(b ) Usually Black plays 4 . . . . Nd7, 4 . ... Bf5, or 4 . ... Nf6. This is something
quite different and probably not so good. Still, the motivation is clear.
Black intends to fight for the center.

(c) Only 4 points part credit for 5. dxe5. After 5 . ... Qxd1+ 6. Kxd1 , Black
is just a pawn down for nothing, so he has to play 5 . ... QaS+ and hope
to manufacture enough play.

(d ) 1 bonus point if you intended to meet 5 . ... Bg4 with 6. Bc4, threaten­
ing 7. Bxf7+.

(e) Only 5 points part credit for 6. Qxd4. Tal makes it a gambit, with three
pieces in the field to Black's none.

(f) Inthe caro-Kann, Black typically goes after the e4-knight to gain time.
On 6 . ... Bb4+, add 3 bonus points for considering 7. c3 bxc3 8. Bxf7+
Kxf7 (somewhat better is 8 . ... Ke7) 9. Qxd8 cxb2+ 1 0. Ke2 bxa1/Q,
with White retaining mating threats for the material deficit.

(g) Only 3 points part credit for 7. Neg5, attacking the f7-pawn. Black
puts a damper on the attack by 7. . . . Qe7+ 8. Qe2 Qxe2+ 9. Kxe2 Nd5
1 0. Ne5 Be6 (or possibly 1 0 . . . . f6) .

(h) 1 bonus point if you had castling here in mind when playing 6. Bc4.
The emphasis is on rapid development, early castling, and getting a
rook to the e-nle to oppose Black's uncastled king.

(i) Best. Just 3 points part credit for 9. Bg5 Qd6. As we'll see from the
game, it's better to have the Black queen tucked away on the kingside.
No credit for 9. Ng5; Black answers with a move he wants to play in
any event, 9 . ... 0-0.

(j) Black was counting on this move to shut White down the e-file. The
problem is that his queen runs short of squares.

(k ) 3 points part credit for 1 0. Ng5, whereby White succeeds in overpow­

ering e6. 2 bonus points if you saw Black's answer, 1 0. . . . 0-0 1 1. Nxe6
fxe6 12. Rxe6 (or 1 2 . Bxe6+ Kh8) 1 2 . ... Qxf2+ 1 3 . Kh 1 Kh8.

181
(I) This is an oversight. He had to play 10 . ... Qg6, which you should have
anticipated. 1 bonus point if you thought of 1 1 . g4, looking to engulf
the queen by 12. Bd3. It seems that Black can defend by 1 1 . ... 0-0
12. Bd3 fS. Add 2 bonus points if you thought of 1 1 . ReS, attacking the
cS-bishop and threatening 12. Nh4.

(m ) Black is busted. He must lose a piece and could already resign. Very
likely he doesn't relish the idea of seeing his 1 1 -move miniature pub­
lished all over the world. Perfectly understandable, in order to continue,
he has to save his queen. So the game goes on and moves into the realm
of the slightly surreal.

(n ) Only 5 points part credit if you decided to take the bishop, 12. Rxc5,
or 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. RxcS. Add 1 bonus point for spotting 12. RxcS
Nd7 13. Nh4 Qe4 1 4. 0, and the queen is trapped.

(o) If he wants to keep playing, he has to make moves. So he makes one.

(p) Deduct 4 points for anything else. Now White is ahead by a queen for
a bishop. If 13 . . . . Bxc4 then 14. RxcS keeps it that way.

(q) Saving his bishop and placing three White pieces under fire: bishop,
rook, and indirectly the knight. Certainly it's his best chance.

(r) 5 points part credit for 1 4. ReS. On 14 . ... Bxc4, Add 1 bonus point for
seeing lS. NfS Be6 1 6 . Nxg7+ and 1 7. Nxe6. On 1 4. ReS Bxh4, add 1
bonus point for seeing l S . Bxe6 fxe6 1 6. Qh5+ and 1 7. Qxh4.

(s) On 1 4. ... fxe6, White just moves his rook some place safe, such as
l S. Rxg7, since the h4-knight is indirectly protected by a queen check
at hS.

(t) Tal wrote: "If he's not going to resign, I'll just have to mate him. " The
bishop sacrifice, giving back some material, is Tal's take on the position.
Naturally, there were other moves. Only 5 points part credit for lS. Bc8
Bxh4 16. Bxb7 and 1 7. Bxa8. Receive full credit for l S. QhS, though
you can figure out your own analysis.

(u) The position Tal had in mind. He's allowed Black to have rook and
bishop for the queen, while retaining further attacking chances.

(v) Only 5 points part credit for 1 8. Ret+. Tal gives preference to the
short-stepping knight, which has to come back to civilization.

1 82
(w) Walking into discovered check, but of course he's counting on his
bishop to cover up the f-file. 1 bonus point if you saw that 1S . ... KdS
is met by the intrusive 1 9. Nd6.

(x) If 19 . ... Ke7, it's best not to get carried away by 20. Qf7+? Kxd6.

(y) Confines the king while threatening 2 1 . ReS mate (1 bonus point).
Black has to bring out his knight so that the aS-rook can guard the back
rank.

(z) Tal gets his mate after all. It's unstoppable. Get 1 bonus point for see­
ing 2 1 . ... Ne5 22. RxeS and 23. Qf7 mate; and 1 bonus point for work­
ing it out when playing 20. Rel .

1 83
 GAME

43
B. Larsen vs. L. Portisch

C01
Amsterdam 1 964, Interzonal Tournament
French Defense

ACK IN THE 1 960s, Bobby Fischer may have been the top
player in the West, but if anyone could have challenged him for
that designation it undoubtedly would have been Bent Larsen
of Denmark. At his zenith, the great Dane won five major international
tournaments in a row. An illustration of his inspiring grandmastery from
this period is his game from the Amsterdam Interzonal of 1 964 against
another chess giant, Lajos Portisch (Black) of Hungary. With Larsen at
the chess podium, the symphony began 1 . e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. exd5 exd5 5. Qf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Ne7 7. Bf4 0-0 8. 0-0-0 Na5 9. Nge2 c6
10. Bd3 b5 1 1 . h4 Nc4 12. h5 f6 13. g4 Qa5.

184
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

13. Qa5

14. Bxc4 (a) 5 dxc4 (b)

15. a3 (c) 5 Bxc3 (d)

16. Nxc3 (e) 4 Qd8

17. Rhe1 (fJ 5 a5 (g)

18. Qg3 (h) 5 Ra7

19. h6 (i) 6 g6

20. Bd6 (j) 5 Re8 (k)

21. Qf4 OJ 5 Kf7 (m)

22. Be5 (n) 5 f5 (o)

23. Bb8 5 Rb7

24. Qe5 (p) 5 Rg8

25. g5 (q) 5 b4 (r)

26. Qffi+ (s) 5 Ke8

27. Qxc6+ (t) 5 Kf7

28. Qffi+ (u) 5 Ke8

29. d5 (v) 5 Rf8

30. Qc6+ (w) 4 Qd7

31. Bd6 (x) 5 Rf7

32. Bxe7 (y) 5 bxc3

33. Bb4+ (z) 6 (1-0)

1 85
(a) Three enemy pieces swirling around the castled king position spell dan­
ger. So White eliminates the intrusive knight.

(b) 1 bonus point if you realized that 1 4 . ... bxc4 is not a serious threat.
With White's f4-bishop bearing down on b8, Black can't use the b-file
menacingly.

(c) 2 bonus points if you took into account the sacrifice 15 . ... Bxa3
1 6. bxa3 Qxa3+ 1 7. Kd2 b4; White defends himself with 1 8. Rat bxc3+
19. Nxc3 Qb4 20. Rhb l !, trapping the queen.

(d) Since the bishop is attacked and has no retreat square, Black must ex­
change for the c3-knight. Naturally, that kills his attack and improves
the position of the e2-knight.

(e ) 1 bonus point if you concluded that if Black persists with 16 . ... b4

1 7. axb4 Qxb4, 18. Rhe1 throws him on the defensive with a misplaced
queen.

(f) 1 bonus point if you spotted 1 7. NxbS cxbS? 18. Qxa8. Add 1 bonus
point if you rejected it because of 1 7. ... Qd.S, when Black obtains real
counterchances ( 1 8. QxdS NxdS, attacking f4 and g4 while overlooking
bS) .

(g) 1 bonus point if you analyzed 1 7 . ... NdS, bringing about simplification
after 1 8. NxdS QxdS 19. Qxd.S cxdS. After the further 20. f.3 (guarding
g4) , it becomes apparent that the endgame (even with bishops of oppo­
site colors) is just bad for Black.

(h) 1 bonus point if you were ready to answer 1 8 . ... b4 with 1 9. Bd6! bxc3
20. Bxe7, winning the Exchange.

(i) Not really expecting Black to take, 1 9 . . . . gxh6?, which opens the king­
side, but rather to poke a hole in Black's castled position and weaken
his dark squares.

(j) Partly to pin the knight, partly to clear f4 for the queen. Clearly, the f8-
rook has to leave the pinning line.

( k) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 20 . ... Rf7 with 2 1 . Re2 and
22. Rde 1 , doubling on the e-file, when the pressure on Black becomes
unbearable.

1 86
(1) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat, 22. Qxf6 and 23. Qg7 mate.

(m) Defense by 2 1 . ... NdS breaks down after 22. Nxd5 cxdS 23. Qxf6! Qxf6
(23 . . . . Rf7 24. Qh4!) 24. Rxe8+ Kf7 25. Rf8+ Ke6 26. Rel+! and wins.
3 bonus points for finding these moves.

( n) This simple attack on f6 forces Black into further concessions. If 22 . ...

Ng8, then 23. Ne4 piles on. And on 22 . ... Nd5 comes 23. Nxd5 cxdS
24. Bxf6 ! , overloading the queen. 2 bonus points for seeing this.

( o) Larsen has induced serious kingside dark-square weaknesses. The

trick now is to find a way for the queen to enter.

(p ) It turns out that there's more than one way to bring home the advan­
tage. Only 4 points part credit for going with 24. Ne4 Nd5 25. Nd6+
Kf8 26. Nxb7, which indeed does the job. But Larsen is playing for big­
ger game. 1 bonus point for spotting the immediate threat, 25. Qg7
mate.

(q) 'laking control of f6, another dark square entry point. On 25 . ... NdS
(seeking simplification) 26. Nxd5 cxdS, White has 27. f4, with total
paralysis ( 1 bonus point) ; or even better, 27. Bd6 (2 bonus points) ,
followed by 28. Qxd5+.

(r) The best practical chance, forcing White to be precise to maintain the at­
tack.

( s) One would never know that Black had castled earlier in the game.

( t) In answer to the check Black has several responses. Capture points for
seeing each of the following: A) 27 . . . . Qd7 28. Rxe7+ Kxe7 29. Qf6+
Ke8 30. Re l+ ( 1 bonus point) ; B) 27 . . . . Bd7 28. Qxb7 ( 1 bonus
point) ; C) 27 . . . . Rd7 28. Nd5 Kf7 29. Qf6+ Ke8 30. Bd6 ( 1 bonus
point) ; and D) 27. ... Kf8 28. Bd6 bxc3 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. Rel ( 1
bonus point) .

(u) Forcing the king back onto the e-flle. Another possibility (only 3 points
part credit) was 28. Qxc4+ Kf8 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. axb4, with two
pawns for the Exchange and a continuing attack.

187
(v) Only 3 points part credit for 29. Nd5 Qxd5 30. Bd6 Qf7 3 1 . Bxe7 Rxe7
(or 3 1 . ... Qxf6 32. Bxf6+, which drags things out the longest) 32. Qc6+
Kd8 33. Rxe7 Kxe7 (33 . ... Qxe7 34. Qd5+ and 35. Qxg8) 34. Qc7+ Bd7
35. Ret+. Larsen's move is even stronger. The idea is to ram the d-pawn
down Black's throat, d5-d6, and d6xe7. White's advantage will then be
fueled by two open center files (rooks on both) and a killer e7-pawn.
For this, Larsen is ready to abandon his bishop or his knight and maybe
both.

(w) Black's last move drove the queen from one of her pivots (f6) but she
still has the other (c6) . Add 2 bonus points for determining that 30 . ...
KfT could be met by 31. Qxc4!, with d5-d6 coming as discovered check.

(x) Threatening 3 1 . Rxe7+. Add 2 bonus points for analyzing the line
31 . ... Qxc6 32. dxc6 Ra7 33. Nd5 Rf7 34. c7 and wins the e7-knight.

(y) If 32 . ... Qxc6, then 33. Bc5+ Kd8 34. dxc6+. And 32 . ... Rxe7 fails to
33. Rxe7+ Kxe7 34. Qf6+ Ke8 35. Ret+. Since he can't take at e7, he
takes at c3 instead.

(z) 1 bonus point for realizing that 33 . ... Kd8 runs into 34. Bxa5+.

1 88
 GAME

44
M. Tal vs. A. Lutikov
Moscow 1 964
Queen 's Pawn Counter Gambit C40

0 YOU' RE NOT SUPPOSED to use your queen right away, eh?

Well what about when doing so gives you tactical superiority,
and you already have that advantage anyway because you're
Mikhail Tal? In the following game, conjured by Tal against Anatoly Lu­
tikov (Black) at a Moscow team tournament in 1 964, the wizard's magic
broke a few rules. First he engaged his queen early and often, and then
he gave it away, just like that. In the end, his opponent was left holding
an empty bag. The sleight of hand commenced with 1 . e4 eS 2. Nf3 dS
3. exdS e4 4. Qe2 fS 5. d3 Nf6 6. dxe4 fxe4 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. QbS+ c6
9. Qxb4 exf3 10. BgS cxdS 1 1 . 0-0-0 Nc6.

1 89
 WHITE' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

11. Nc6

12. Qa3 (a) 5 Be6 (b)

13. Bc4 (c) 6 Qe7

14. Nxd5 (d) 6 Qxa3 (e)

15. Nc7+ (f) 5 Ke7

16. Rhe1 (g) 6 Qc5 (h)

17. Rxe6+ 4 Kf8 (i)

18. Rxffi+ 5 gxf6 (j)
19. Ne6+ 5 Ke7 (k)
20. Nxc5 4 fxg5 m

21. Rd7+ 5 Kf6 (m)

22. Rd6+ (n) 5 Ke7 (o)

23. Re6+ (p) 5 Kd8 (q)

24. Nxb7+ 5 Kc7 (r)

25. Bd5 (s) 6 Nb4 (t)

26. Bxf3 (u) 5 Rae8 (v)

27. Nc5 5 Nxa2+ (w)

28. Kb1 5 Rxe6 (x)

29. Nxe6+ 4 Kd7 (y)
30. Nc5+ 5 Kd6

31. Nd3 (z) 5 (1-0)

1 90
( a) Deduct 4 points if you overlooked the threat to your queen. Full credit
for 12. QcS or 1 2. BbS. The text puts the queen on a protected square
and prevents castling.

(b) 2 bonus points if you intended to answer 1 2 . ... Qe7 with 13. NxdS
Qxa3 14. Nc7+, before recapturing on a3.

(c) Take only 5 points part credit for 13. Re1 , 1 3 . NbS, or 1 3 . gxf3; these
are also good. Tal's move plays on the pin of the dS-pawn and aims for
rapid development to exploit the open center and exposed Black king.

( d) Have only 2 points part credit for 14. Qxe7+, when 1 4 . . . . Nxe7 relaxes
the pressure.

( e) 1 bonus point if you saw that 1 4 . . . . BxdS could be answered by

lS. Rhe l .

(f) Get 1 bonus point if you saw that moving the king to f8 ( 1 6. Nxe6+) or
f7 ( 1 6. Bxe6+) allows White to capture on e6 with check before retak­
ing the queen.

(g ) Deduct 2 points for 1 6. bxa3 Bxc4. Claim only 5 points part credit for
16. Bxe6. If Black tries to save his queen by 1 6 . . . . Qa5 he gets mated:
16 . ... Qa5 1 7. Rd7+ Kf8 1 8. Rf7+ Kg8 1 9 . Rxf6 mate. So he has to re­
turn the queen (let's say 1 6 . . . . Qd6) , and accept an inferior ending.

(h) Other queen moves are even worse for Black. Receive 2 bonus points
for analyzing A) 1 6 . ... Qd6 1 7. Rxd6 Kxd6 1 8 . Nxe6 NeS 19. Bf4; and
3 bonus points for figuring B) 1 6 . ... Qa5 1 7. Rxe6+ Kf8 18. Bf4 Rd8
19. Rxd8+ Nxd8 20. Bd6+ Kf7 2 1 . ReS+ Kg6 22. Rxa5 fxg2 23. Bd3+,
when White at least stops the g-pawn by putting the rook on g5.

(i) 2 bonus points for considering 1 7. ... Kf7 18. Rxf6+! Ke7 19. Rf7 mate.

(j) Black's 1 8th move allows a knight fork. But the only alternative, 1 8 . ...
Ke7 19. Rf7 mate, wasn't very much of an alternative. 1 bonus point
for seeing that ahead of time.

( k) 'frying to avoid disconnecting the rooks. Be satisfied with 2 bonus

points for seeing 1 9 . ... Ke8 20. Nxc5 fxg5 2 1 . Nxb7, threatening
22. BbS.

191
(1) The dust has settled over the big combination and Tal has neither mate
nor material advantage. In fact he's slightly behind. But he still has the
initiative, and Black has some weaknesses, and that spells trouble.

(m) 1 bonus point if you saw that 2 1 . ... Kf8 carries its own brand of dan­
ger, 22. Bf7, when 22 . . . . fxg2? is finalized by 23. Ne6 mate.

(n) Deduct 4 points for 22. Rxb7?? fxg2, and g-pawn promotes. White
could eliminate the danger by taking gxf3, devaluing his pawns, but Tal
wants something better.

(o) If the Black king comes up to e4 or f5, it's subject to more harassing
checks. 2 bonus points if your eagle eye spotted the cooperative mate:
22 . ... Kf5 23. RdS+ Ne5 24. g4+ Kf4 25. Rd4 mate. Add 1 bonus point
for seeing that 22 . ... Ke5 23. Rd5+ Kf4 (or 23 . ... Kf6 24. Ne4+)
24. Ne6+ leads to loss of the g-pawn.

(p) Tal changes the attacking front, looking to drive the king to his home
rank.

(q) On 23 . ... Kf8, there's another helpmate with 24. Nd7+ Kg8? 25. Rg6
mate. Take 1 bonus point for imagining that.

( r) 3 bonus points for examining 24 . ... Kd7 25. Bd5 Nd4 26. Nc5+ Kc7
27. Bxa8 Nxe6 28. Nxe6+ Kd6 29. Nxg5 Rxa8 30. Nxf3, emerging with
knight and three pawns for the exchange.

( s) 1 bonus point if you saw in advance that 25 . . . . Kxb7 would be met by

the skewer 26. Bxc6+.

(t) It seems natural to move the attacked knight, especially when it threat­
ens the enemy bishop and undefended a-pawn. But it makes White's
task easier. A tougher defense was 25 . . . . fxg2 (or 25 . ... Nd4)
26. Rxc6+ Kxb7 27. Rg6+ Kc7 28. Rxg5 Rae8, and White still has to
work (or is it play?) .

(u) All along, Tal has been hoping to take the f3-pawn with a piece and he's
finally succeeded. Now he has three healthy pawns and a bishop for the
rook.

1 92
(v) Or 26 . ... Nxa2+ 27. Kb 1 Nb4 28. Nc5 Rad8 29. c3, and Black has to be
careful. For example, add 1 bonus point if you fantasized the line
29 . ... Nd3 30. Rc6+ Kb8 3 1 . Na6+ Kb7 (3 1 . ... Ka8? 32. ReS mate)
32. Rg6+ Kc8 33. Rg7 Rd7 (else 34. Rc7 mate or 34. Bb7 mate) 34. Bg4,
and wins.

(w ) Gain 1 bonus point for seeing 27 . ... Rxe6 28. Nxe6+ and 29. NxgS. Lu­
tikov delays things for one move, while he takes the a-pawn with
check. But that only puts his knight in a hole.

(x) Black's knight has a problem getting out. 3 bonus points for discover­
ing 28 . . . . Nb4 29. c3 ! Rxe6 (29 . ... Nd3 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 3 1 . Nxd3)
30. Nxe6+ Kd7 (30 . ... Kd6 3 1 . NxgS Nd3 32. Nf7+) 3 1 . Nc5+ and
32. cxb4.

(y) If Black's king doesn't attack White's knight, White has the time for
30. Kxa2. Take 1 bonus point for following through on 29 . ... Kd6
30. NxgS Nb4 3 1 . Nf7+ and 32. Nxh8.

(z) Wins the knight, though 3 1 . Nb7+ or 3 1 . Na6 (4 points part credit)
also win it. End with only 1 point part credit for 3 1 . Ne4+ KeS
32. Kxa2, when 32 . ... g4 is annoying.

1 93
 GAME

45
P. Benko vs. K. Smith,
New York 1972
Philidor's Defense C41
rn N ROUND NINE OF the 1 9 72 U.S. Championship, Pal Benko
had to face the Philidor Defense as White against Arthur Feuer­
stein. Then he played it as Black in round 1 2 against New York
lfmes columnist Robert Byrne. Both games were drawn. Ken Smith, who
had published a booklet Why Not the Philidor? (by Bent Larsen) , was at
the postmortem analysis for the Byrne game, and an analytic disagree­
ment ensued. As the story goes, Benko and Smith tried to settle the mat­
ter in the following ten-minute contest, where the terms were a draw for
Black was as good as a win. It seems Smith could have used some more
time. Before becoming a debacle, the rapid dispute began 1 . e4 eS 2. Nf3
d6 3 . d4 Nf6.

1 94
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. Nf6

4. dxe5 (a) 5 Nxe4 (b)

5. Qd5 (c) 5 Nc5

6. Bg5 (d) 5 Be7 (e)

7. exd6 5 Qxd6 (f)

8. Nc3 (g) 5 c6 (h)

9. Qxd6 (i) 5 Bxd6 (j)
10. 0-0-0 (k) 5 Be7

1 1 . Bc4 5 Be6 OJ
12. Rhe1 (m) 5 Nbd7 (n)

13. Bxe7 5 Kxe7 (o)

14. Nd4 (p) 5 Nb6

15. Bxe6 (q) 4 Nxe6 (r)

16. Nf5+ (s) 5 Kf6 (t)

17. Nd6 5 Rab8

18. Rd3 (u) 5 Rhf8

19. N3e4+ (v) 5 Ke7 (w)

20. Nf5+ 5 Ke8

21. Nxg7+ (x) 6 Ke7 (y)

22. Nf5+ 5 Ke8

23. Nf6# (z) 5 (1-0)

1 95
( a) Full credit for 4. Nc3, guarding the e4-pawn.

(b) Start off with 1 bonus point for seeing 4 . ... d.xe5? 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8
6. Nxe5, threatening further material gain by 7. Nxf7+.

(c) Only 3 points part credit for any of the following: 5. Bd3, 5. Bc4,
5. Nbd2, or 5. Nc3. These are not quite energetic enough to cause Black
serious problems.

( d) More harassment. If 6 . ... f6, then 7. exf6 breaks up Black's pawns and
that should be a clear plus for White. 1 bonus point if you so evaluated.

( e) Four years later, at the 1 976 Biel Interzonal, Byrne had to face 6 . ...
Qd7. Then Black was Tigran Petrosian, former world champion. That
game ended in a 1 7-move draw.

(f) 3 bonus points if you saw that 7. ... Bxg5 8. Nxg5 Ne6 9. Nxe6 fxe6
(9 . ... Bxe6 10. Qxb7) 1 0. Qh5+ g6 1 1 . QeS 0-0 12. dxc7 works out in
White's favor.

(g) The Byrne-Petrosian game went 8. Qxd6 Bxd6 9. Nc3 a6 10. 0-0-0 Nc6,
and Black was able to hold the fort, essentially because he hadn't
moved his c-pawn.

(h) The move in Larsen's pamphlet, which is supposed to equalize. Benko

didn't think so.

(i ) Now that Black has moved his c-pawn, weakening d6, the queen ex­
change packs more punch.

(j) If the bishop could maintain itself on d6, Black might be okay. But it
can't be done. The c-pawn, no longer being on c7, doesn't guard d6, so
that square is weakened.

( k) Notice how White uses simple developing moves to gain time.

(I) 2 bonus points if you saw that after 1 1 . ... Bxg5 12. Nxg5 0-0
13. Nxf7, Black has the resource 1 3 . ... b5, forcing a perpetual check.

(m) Continuing to develop while indirectly protecting the c4-bishop.

(n) 1 bonus point for working out in advance 12 . ... Bxc4 13. Rxe7+ Kf8
14. Rd8 mate.

1 96
( o) 1 bonus point for seeing 13 . . . . Bxc4 1 4. Bxc5+, a discovered check.

( p) 1 bonus point if you saw in advance the chance to land a knight on fS

and then d6.

(q) Only 3 points part credit for 15. Nf5+ Kf6 16. Bxe6, when Black has
the option of 1 6 . ... fxe6 1 7. Nd6 aS. By securing his knight on cS, Black
guards both the b7-pawn and the e4-square.

( r) 1 bonus point for realizing that 15 . ... fxe6 just loses a pawn by 1 6. b4.
Once the Black knight moves somewhere on the planet, White sees land
with 1 7. R(N)xe6 (+) .

( s) Only 2 points part credit for the less effective 1 6. Nxe6.

( t) 1 bonus point for seeing 1 6 . ... Ke8 1 7. Nd6+ and 1 8. Nxb7.

(u) 1 bonus point for perceiving the threat, 19. Rf3+, which scores at f7.

(v) Collect 1 bonus point if you discerned that Black's last move sealed off
f8 as an escape square. Add 2 bonus points if you figured out that
1 9 . ... Ke5 gets blasted with 20. Ng5+ Kf4 (or 20 . ... Kf6 2 1 . Nxh7+)
2 1 . Nxh7, threatening both 22. Re4 mate, as well as 22. Nxf8. And take
1 bonus point if you looked at 1 9. . . . KeS 20. f4+ Kxf4 2 1 . Rf1+ Ke5
22. RfS mate. Although not a forced continuation, it should be invento­
ried.

(w) 1 bonus point for planning to answer 1 9 . ... Kg6 with 20. Rg3+, driv­
ing the king to the h-ftle, where it's likely to be mated (or harmed) .

(x) Eliminating a key defender. With the g7-pawn gone, nothing guards f6.

(y) Take 1 bonus point by seeing 2 1 . ... Nxg7 22. Nf6 mate, a serious dou­
ble check indeed.

(z) 1 bonus point if you had the final position in mind when playing
2 1 . Nxg7+.

197
 GAME

46
P. Keres vs. H. Westerinen
Tallinn 1973
Modern Defense B06

ETWEEN 1 88 6 and 2000 THERE were only 14 official world

chess champions (actually, there are more ways to determine
them these days, so there seem to be more) . One who should
have made it, and never did, was the Estonian great, Paul Keres ( 19 16-
75) . An ingenious tactician and resourceful fighter, Keres's games and
keenly insightful annotations have added immeasurably to the essential
literature of chess. An illustration of his nonpareil overview is his win
over Heikki Westerinen (Black) at the 1973 Tallinn tournament. The
game began as a Modern Defense ( 1 . d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7) and continued
3 . Nc3 d6 4. Bg5 c5 5. dxcS QaS 6. Qd2 QxcS 7. NdS Be6 8. c4 Nd7 9. Ret
Ngf6 10. f3 aS.

1 98
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

10. aS

1 1 . Be3 (a) s Qc8

12. Ne2 (b) s Qb8 (c)

13. Nd4 (d) s NcS

14. NbS (e) s NxdS (f)

1S. cxdS (g) 4 Bd7

16. RxcS (h) 6 dxcS

17. d6 (i) s exd6 (j)

18. Nxd6+ (k) 4 Kf8

19. Nxf7 m 6 Be6 (m)

20. NgS (n) 6 Bxa2 (o)

21 BxcS+ (p) 4 Kg8

22. b4 (q) 6 Bb3 (r)

23. Qd3 (s) s Bt7 (t)

24. Nxf7 (u) s Qf4 (v)
2S. Ng5 (w) 6 Qc1+

26. Kf2 4 Qb2+

27. Be2 4 Bf6 (x)

28. QdS+ s Kg?

29. Qxb7+ (y) s Kh6

30. Nf7+ (z) s (1-0}

1 99
( a) 1 bonus point if you understood Black's idea: 1 1 . ... Bxd5 1 2. cxd5
Qb4, seeking to trade queens. But get only 3 points part credit for
1 1 . Ne2, when 1 1 . ... Bxd5 12. cxd5 Qb4 13. Nc3, retains some posi­
tional advantage.

(b ) Only 3 points part credit for 12. Bd3. White eyes the fast use of b5.

( c) Arrange 1 bonus point for seeing that 1 2 . ... Nc5? drops the Exchange
to 13. Nb6, and take 1 bonus point for realizing that 12 . ... 0-0 drops
the queen ( 1 3 . Nxe7+) .

( d) Full credit for 13. Nec3, intending 14. NbS.

( e) It's simple, but gain 1 bonus point for seeing the threat to check on c7
with a knight.

(f) He had to remove the knight, but the better way was 14 . ... Bxd5
1 5 . .cxd5 Nfd7.

(g) Opens the c-fiJ.e for the rook. Only 2 points part credit for 15. exd5.

(h) Sacrificing to get at Black's uncastled king. (White's king is also uncas­
tled, but Black can't get at it.) Only 3 points part credit for 1 6. Bxc5
dxc5 1 7. Rxc5. That wins a pawn, but after 1 7. ... 0-0, Black's king is
safe and he has dark-square counterplay. More interesting is 1 6. Bxc5
dxc5 1 7. d6! exd6 18. Nxd6+ Ke7 19. Nxf7! Kxf7? 20. Qxd7+ (add 2
bonus points if you saw it) . Keres rejected this line in view of 1 9 . ...
Rf8! 20. Ng5 Qe5, when Black has more play than he deserves.

( i) 3 points part credit for 1 7. Bxc5. White has compensation for the Ex­
change, but that's all.

(j) This lets the knight in, but the alternatives were even more dismal: A)
1 7. ... Bxb5 18. Bxb5+ Kf8 1 9. dxe7+ Kxe7 20. Bxc5+ Kf6 2 1 . Qd7 (2
bonus points) ; B) 1 7 . ... 0-0 18. dxe7 ReB 1 9. Qxd7 ( 1 bonus point) ;
C) 1 7 . ... b6 18. Nc7+ Kd8 19. dxe7+ Kxe7 ( 1 9 . ... Kxc7 20. Bf4+)
20. Bf4 gives a brutal attack. The threat is 2 1 . Nd5+. A possible finish
might be 20. ... QcB 2 1 . Qd6+ Kd8 22. Ne6+ fxe6 23. Bg5+, and mate in
two (3 bonus points).

(k) Deduct 2 points for the recapture 1 8. Qxd6, allowing Black to trade
queens, 1 8 . ... Qxd6, after which White has no attack and is just down
material.

200
(1) Only 4 points part credit for 19. Bxc5, which has its features: A) 1 9 . ...
Be6 20. Nc8+ (stronger than 20. Nf.5+) 20. ... Ke8 (or 20. ... Kg8
2 1 . Qd8+) 2 1 . Bb5+ ( 1 bonus point) ; B) 1 9 . ... Qc7 20. Qd5 Be6
2 1 . NbS+ Kg8 22. Nxc7 BxdS 23. Nxa8 (1 bonus point) .

(m) 2 bonus points if you saw that 1 9 . ... Kxf7 20. Qxd7+ leads to mate.
For instance: A) 20 . ... Kf8 2 1 . Bxc5+ Kg8 22. Bc4 mate; or B) 20 . ... Kf6
2 1 . Bc4 ReS (21 . ... Qe8 22. Qd6+) 22. Qf7+ Ke5 23. Qf4 mate.

(n) Only 2 points part credit for 20. Nxh8, when Black has 20 . ... Qe5.

(o) 3 bonus points for seeing 20 . ... Qe5 2 1 . Bxc5+ Kg8 (2 1 . ... Qxc5
22. Nxe6+; or 2 1 . ... Ke8 22. Bb5+) 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Qc2, with
24. Bc4 in the offing. 1 bonus point more for analyzing 20 . ... Bg8
2 1 . Bxc5+ Ke8 22. Bb5 mate.

(p ) Now is the time to take the pawn with check! 1 bonus point for seeing
2 1 . . . . Ke8 22. Bb5 mate.

(q) Full credit for 22. b3 Bxb3 23. Qc2 Bf7 (23 . ... Bxc2 24. Bc4 mate; or
23 . . . . a4 24. qxb3+ axb3 25. Bc4 mate) 24. Bc4, wresting control of the
a2-g8 diagonal.

(r) 2 bonus points for analyzing 22 . ... axb4 23. Qxa2+ Rxa2 24. Bc4
mate.

(s) Full credit for 23. Qc2.

(t) Here's 1 bonus point for seeing 23 . ... Ba2 (or 23 . ... a4) 24. Qc4+ Bxc4
25. Bxc4 mate.

(u) White can jeopardize the win if he gets too fancy. 2 bonus points if you
correctly avoided 25. Qc4 Qf4 26. Nxf7 Qxf7 27. Qb5 (or 27. Qc2 axb4
28. Bc4 Bc3+) 27 . ... Bc3+, clearing g7 for the king to unpin.

(v) Since 24 . ... Kxf7 allows 25. Qd7+ and mate next move (25 . ... Kg8
26. Bc4 mate or 25 . ... Kf6 26. Qe7 mate-add 1 bonus point) , Black
takes the opportunity to put his queen in play.

(w) 1 bonus point if you realized that 25 . ... Qxg5 allows 26. Qc4+ and
mate next move.

(x) He has to open a square for his king.

201
(y) No credit for 29. Qf7+ Kh6, when White has left himself without a fol­
low-up. Only 4 points part credit for either 29. Ne6+ or 29. Qd7+.
White plays this way only if he insists on mate. Such a possible line is:
29. Qd7+ Kh6 30. Nf7+ Kg7 31. Nd6+ Kh6 32. Be3+ g5 33. Qf7 QeS
34. h4 Qf4 35. Nf5+ QxfS 36. hxg5 mate.

(z) 2 bonus points for calculating 30. ... :Kg7 3 1 . Nxh8+ Kxh8 32. Qxa8+
Kg7 33. Qf8 mate; as well as 2 bonus points for working through
30. ... Kh5 3 1 . f4+ Kh4 32. g3+ Kh3 33. Qd7 mate.

202
 GAME

47
P. Motwani vs. P. Rockwell
Dundee 1974
Sicilian Defense, Smith -Morra Gambit B21

rn N THE SMITH-MORRA Gambit ( 1 . e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3 . c3) ,

White hopes through forceful means to increase attacking
chances in the opening by expediting development and seizing
,
control of key lines of ambition. Even against scrupulous defense, White
often retains enough pressure to almost justify the pawn sacrifice. But
one inexact move on Black's part can lead to serious trouble, if not a pre­
cipitous downfall. That's basically what happened in the game P. Mot­
wani vs. P. Rockwell (Black) . Dundee 1974, a delayed variation of this
curious gambit, which began 1 . e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4.

203
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

2. cxd4

3. Nf3 (a) 7 d6 (b)

4. Bc4 (c) 6 h6 (d)

5. c3 (e) 7 dxc3 (f)

6. Bxf7+ (g) 10 Kxf7 (h)

7. Ne5+ (i) 9 Kf6 (j)

8. Qf3+ (k) 10 Kxe5 OJ
9. Qf4+ (m) 8 Kd4 (n)
10. Be3+ (o) 7 Kd3 (p)
1 1 . Na3 (q) 7 c2 (r)
12. 0-0 (s) 7 h5 (t)
13. Rad1+ (u) 8 cxd1/Q (v)
14. Rxd1+ (w) 7 Ke2 (x)
15. Qf3# (y) 7 (1-0) (z)

204
( a) Full credit for 3. c3, the Smith-Morra Gambit. Only 5 points part credit
for 3. Qxd4, getting the pawn back but losing time after 3 . ... Nc6.

(b) Black can hang onto the pawn by 3 . . . . e5. Score 1 bonus point if you
knew not to take, 4 . Nxe5? because of the fork, 4 . ... Qa5+. Better is
4. Bc4 and 5. c3, with good compensation.

( c) Full credit for 4. Nxd4, transposing into normal Sicilian lines. It's prob­
ably best. The text move, which brings out a new piece, should be rea­
sonable too.

(d) A weak move, apparently to stop Ng5, with a subsequent attack on f7.
However, it can be handled by e7-e6 after the f.3-knight goes to g5. A
stronger move was 4 . ... Nf6, developing and attacking the e4-pawn.

(e) White offers a delayed version of the Morra Gambit, but this time he has
something definite in mind if Black takes on c3. Full credit for 5. Nxd4,
which is still good.

(f) Taking the c3-pawn is egregiously bad. Black had to try 5 . ... Nf6, just
to get some pieces out.

(g) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when playing 5. c3. Black's king
is going to come under fire.

(h) If Black declines the sacrifice, 6 . . . . Kd7, White recovers his pawn,
7. Nxc3, threatening 8. Ne5+ Kc7 9. Nd5 mate. Take 1 bonus point if
you spotted this.

(i ) This is a key intention of the bishop sacrifice: a knight offer that Black
can't accept. 1 bonus point for seeing 7. ... dxe5? 8. Qxd8.

(j) Nor can the king go back: 7 . ... Ke8? 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxg6 mate. Take 1
bonus point for seeing this version of the Fool's Mate in advance. As
for 7 . ... Ke6, this can be handled by 8. Qg4+ Kxe5 9. Qf4+ (or even bet­
ter, 8. Qd5+ Kf6 9. Qf7+ Kxe5 10. f4+ Kxe4 1 1 . Nxc3+ Kd3 1 2 . Qd5+
Kc2 13. Qd1 mate; note that on 1 1 . ... Kd4, there follows 12. Qd5 mate) .
If you saw the parenthetical line, add 2 bonus points.

(k) Forcing the king farther up the board by offering the knight. Deduct 3
points for 8. Qh5?, when the knight can be taken by the pawn, 8 . ...
dxe5.

205
(1) 1 bonus point for seeing that 8 . ... Ke6?? can be disposed of by 9. Qf5
mate. It's a simple sample line, but it's important to be aware of it.

(m) 2 bonus points if you noticed 9. Qf7, cutting off the king's retreat and
threatening 10. f4+ Kxe4 1 1 . Nxc3+ Kd3 12. Qd5+ Kc2 13. Qdl mate.
The problem is that Black can play 9 . ... Nf6, after which things are not
so clear. Take 1 bonus point if you correctly rejected this variation.

( n) Once again 9 . . . Ke6 runs into 10. Qf5, a swallow's tail mate. 1 bonus
.

point if you missed it the first time around, but noticed it now. Black's
king is vulnerable and within easy reach of White's pieces.

(o) Developing with check. White feeds new attackers into the game with a
gain of time. Deduct 3 points for the impulsive check, 1 0. bxc3+, which
permits escape at c5.

(p ) 3 bonus points if you examined the alternative 1 0 . ... Kc4 1 1 . Na3+

Kb4 1 2. e5+ KaS, pushing Black's king to the left-hand edge. White has
various ways to close in and finish off: A) 13. Qc4 (threatens Qb5 mate)
13 . . . . a6 14. b4+ Ka4 15. Qb3 mate; or B) 13. b4+ Ka4 1 4. Qc4 Be6
15. QbS+ Kxa3 1 6. Bel mate.

(q) Developing with a mate-in-one threat, 12. Rdl mate, which deserves 1
bonus point if seen in your analysis. At a3 the knight guards potential
escape squares at c4 and c2.

(r) The other move with the pawn was 1 1 . ... cxb2. Add 1 bonus point if
you saw that White can then mate in three by 12. Rdl + Kc3 13. Bd2+
Kd4 14. Bb4 mate.

(s) No credit for 12. eS, threatening queen mates at d4 and c4. But take 1
bonus point if you found Black's defense: 12. e5 Qa5+ 13. b4 (or
13. Kfl ) 13 . ... QdS. castling is much better. It brings the king to safety
and allows the hl -rook to participate.

(t) Hoping to have time for 13 . ... Bg4, guarding d l . But of course, Black is
out of time.

(u) Full credit if you used the king-rook to check. Here it makes no differ­
ence.

206
(v) Proving that you can capture, get out of check, and promote, all at the
same time. Had White used the f1-rook, Black could also give check.
And he'd still be losing.

(w) That's just one of the nice things about castling and connecting the
rooks. If you lose one rook you can replace it with another.

(x) The only move. (Please note that the only officer Black has moved in
the entire game is the king.) A king shouldn't do all the dirty work.

(y) Checkmate ends the game. No extra credit for realizing that, but 2
bonus points if you envisaged the finish when playing 12. 0-0.

(z) Had White wanted to, he could have forced mate on his home rank, with
the mated king on the White king's starting square: 15. Rd2+ Kel
16. Nc2 mate. But it takes longer, and he didn't want to.

207
 GAME

48
I. Csom vs. M. Chandler
Plovdiv 1983
Queen 's Pawn Opening D02

HESS IS A GAME where the advantage can shift in a single

[Q move, and being on the attack doesn't mean one has the upper
hand. It could be that the attacker has forced the play unsoundly
and ultimate control resides with the apparent defender. The resulting
counterattack, with the initial aggressor overextended, might very well
prove conclusive. We can see this process in the following encounter be­
tween Istvan Csom and Murray Chandler {Black) in the 1 983 European
Team Championship at Plovdiv. The vicissitudes of miniature conflict
began 1 . d4 dS 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 cxd4 4. Bg2 QaS+ 5. Kf1 Nf6 6. Nxd4 eS
7. Nb3 Qb6 8. BgS Ng4 9. e3 h6 10. h3 Nxf2.

208
 WHITE ' S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

10. Nxf2

1 1 . Kxf2 (a) 4 hxg5

12. Nc3 (b) 5 Be6 (c)

13. Nxd5 (d) 5 Bxd5

14. Qxd5 4 Nc6

15. Rad1 5 Rd8 (e)

16. Qc4 (f) 4 Rh6

17. Ke2 (g) 6 Rxd1

18. Rxd1 (h) 5 Be7

19. Rf1 (i) 5 Nd8 (j)

20. a4 (k) 5 Qa6 OJ
21. Nd2 (m) 6 Qb6 (n)

22. b3 (o) 4 a6

23. g4 5 Rd6

24. Bd5 (p) 5 Ne6

25. Ne4 5 Rd8 (q)

26. a5 (r) 6 Qxa5 (s)

27. Bxb7 (t) 6 Qc7 (u)

28. Bc6+ (v) 5 Kf8 (w)

29. Qxe6 (x) 6 Bf6 (y)

30. Qc4 (z) 5 (1-0)

209
(a) Deduct 3 points if you did anything else.

(b) 1 bonus point if you rejected 12. Qxd5 because of 12 . ... Nc6 and 13 . ...
Be6, when Black gains the initiative. Only 3 points part credit for
12. Bxd5, allowing Black to take back on h3 with unnecessary compli­
cations.

(c) Preparing to take on dS with the bishop rather than lose time by having
to move the queen after Nxd5.

( d) Only 2 points part credit for recapturing 14. Bxd5. After 14 . ... Nc6, a
Black rook will come to the d-file with annoyance.

( e) Gain 1 bonus point if you saw White's threat, 16. Qd7 mate.

(f) Deduct 4 points if you forgot to move the only queen you have.

(g) The king gets away from possible checks along the f-file, while clearing
that very file for use by his own rook.

(h) Deduct 2 points for the careless error, 1 8. Kd1 ? Qxe3.

(i ) 1 bonus point for seeing the threat, 20. Qxf7+.

(j) 1 bonus point if you reasoned that 1 9 . ... Rf6 20. Rxf6 gxf6 leaves
White in position to create a passed h-pawn after a properly timed h2-
h4. 1 bonus point if you saw that recapturing with the bishop, instead
of the g-pawn (20 . . . . Bxf6) , would lead to 2 1 . Nc5 and the threat of
taking on b7.

(k) White calmly picks up space on the queenside. Later, the pawn may go
on to aS.

(1) Looking to ease the pressure by trading queens.

(m) Only 2 points part credit for either 2 1 . Qxa6, which helps Black acti­
vate his rook with tempo (by threatening the a-pawn after 2 1 . . . . Rxa6) ,
or for 2 1 . Qb5+. For the latter, play would probably continue 2 1 . . . .
QxbS 22. axb5 a6.

(n) Second thoughts about exchanging. Time pressure was adding to Chan­
dler's troubles. After 2 1 . ... Qxc4 22. Nxc4 he didn't like defending the
e-pawn by 22 . ... f6, leaving his rook cut off and out of the game at h6.

210
(o ) Deduct 1 point if you overlooked the possibility of Qxb2.

(p) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat to win the f7-pawn.

(q) 2 bonus points for seeing that 25 . ... Rd7 permits the pesky 26. Qc8+,
when blocking on dB with the rook hangs the b7-pawn.

(r) Only 3 points part credit for 26. Bxe6, messing up Black's pawns and
giving White a great knight vs. a bad bishop in the ending, but not ap­
preciating the light-square bishop's true worth in this situation.

( s) There's nothing better. 1 bonus point if you realized that 26 . ... Qc7?
drops a piece to 27. Bxe6. Take 1 bonus point for determining that
26 . . . . QbS 27. Qxb5+ axbS is met by 28. Bxb7, and White's a-pawn is
a force. 1 bonus point for seeing that 26 . ... Qa7 is bludgeoned by
27. Bxe6.

( t) 1 bonus point if you had this in mind when sacrificing the a-pawn.

(u) 1 bonus point if you saw that 27 . ... QbS? is annihilated by 28. Bc6+.

(v) Receive only 2 points part credit for 28. Qxc7 Nxc7 or 3 points part
credit for 28. Bxa6. Deduct 2 points for 28. Qxa6? Qxc2+, letting Black
back in the game.

(w) 1 bonus point if you were prepared to answer 28 . ... Rd7 with 29. Rd1 ! .

(x) 1 bonus point if you saw the win of this piece when playing 28. Bc6+.

(y) Breaks the pin of the f-pawn and threatens the queen.

(z) Only 3 points part credit if you played 30. Rxf6 gxf6 3 1 . Qxf6, dis­
playing unnecessary bravado. Also accept only 3 points part credit for
30. Nxf6 fxe6 3 1 . Nd5+ Qf7 32. Rxf7+ Kxf7. White is still clearly win­
ning, but the material imbalance (rook vs. two minor pieces) gives
Black better chances than he has after the text move. Also, 30. Nxf6?
fxe6 3 1 . NdS+ Qf7.

211
 GAME

49
R. Vaganian vs. K. Bischoff
Germany 1 993
English Opening A17
rn N THE ENGLISH OPENING ( 1 . c4) , White aims for light­
square pressure in the middle, temporarily holding back center
pawns and often following with a flank of the king-bishop.
Sometimes the English is arrived at directly, by the immediate advance of
the c-pawn. But just as often it's achieved by transposition, starting with
1 . Nf3 (as in the Reti Opening) . In this contemporary contest between
Rafael Vaganian and Klaus Bischoff (Black) , played in Germany in 1993,
the latter approach is used to set forth a fine attacking game. Play began
1 . Nf3 Nf6 2 . c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. 0-0 c5
8. d3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. e4 h6 1 1 . Nh4 gS 1 2 . Nf3 Nh7.

212
 WHITE's PAR BLACK' S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

12. Nh7

13. d4 (a) 5 Na5 (b)

14. Ne5 (c) 5 d6

15. Ng4 (d) 4 Kg7

16. f4 (e) 6 Nxc4 (fJ

1 7. fxg5 (g) 5 hxg5 (h)
18. Nffi (i) 7 Rh8 (j)
19. Qe2 (k) 5 b5 (1)
20. Bxg5 (m) 6 Nxg5 (n)

21. Qg4 (o) 4 Rh6

22. Qxg5+ (p) 4 Rg6

23. Nh5+ (q) 5 Kg8 (r)

24. Qf4 (s) 5 Qe7

25. dxc5 (t) 6 dxc5

26. Rad1 (u) 5 e5

27. Nffi+ 5 Kg7

28. Qh4 (v) 5 Qxf6 (w)

29. Rxf6 4 Rxffi

30. Bf1 (x) 6 Rh8 (y)

31. Qg5+ 4 Rg6

32. Qe7 (z) 4 (1-0)

2 13
(a ) Add 1 bonus point to your score for seeing 13 . ... g4 14. Nh4 cxd4
15. Bxh6. 1 bonus point if you understood that d3-d4 weakens the c4-
pawn.

(b) Immediately turning his attention to the c4-pawn. A safer move was
13 . ... d6.

( c) Only 3 points part credit for either 14. Nd2, 14. Qd3, or 14. Qe2.

( d) 1 bonus point if you planned to answer 1 5 . ... h5 with 1 6. Ne3, and if

1 6 . ... g4, then continuing with a subsequent f2-f3, opening the f-file.

(e ) Abandoning the c4-pawn in order to attack the Black kingside, which

was weakened by the advance of the g-pawn. To get at the Black king,
White needs to open the f-file.

(f) Black has to follow through with his plan and take the c4-pawn. Other­
wise the knight's jaunt to a5 is pointless.

(g) Opening the f-file. No credit for other moves.

(h) 1 bonus point for expecting to answer 1 7 . ... Nxg5 with 1 8. h4 Nh7
19. Bxh6+.

(i) Surprise! 1 bonus point if you saw that 1 8 . ... Nxf6 is met by 1 9. Bxg5.
Add 2 bonus points if you realized White is threatening 19. Nxh7 Kxh7
20. e5+, with a discovery to the b7-bishop.

(j) The only real defense. Guarding the b7-bishop doesn't work. 2 bonus
points for seeing 1 8 . ... Rb8 19. e5 Rh8 20. Nxh7 Rxh7 (if Black inter­
poses 20 . . . . Bxg2, White has favorable complications after 2 1 . Bxg5)
2 1 . Rxf7+ Kxf7 22. Qxh7+.

(k) Full credit if you decided on 19. Nxh7, anticipating 19 . ... Rxh7 20. e5
Bxg2 2 1 . Rxf7+.

(1) He has to save the c4-knight. As before, 1 9 . ... Nxf6 is met by 20. Bxg5.

(m) 1 bonus point for sensing that nasty discoveries against Black's queen
were in the air (2 1 . Nxh 7 or 2 1 . Nh5+) . Take 1 bonus point if you saw
20. Bxg5 in advance, when playing 1 9 . Qe2.

(n) No choice. He has to remove the bishop before it does damage.

214
(o ) 1 bonus point if you examined 2 1 . ... Qxf6 22. Rxf6 Kxf6 and con­
cluded that Black doesn't pass the examination after 23. e5+, with a
winning discovery to b7.

(p) White has gotten his piece back and stripped the Black king of some
pawn cover.

(q) Deduct 3 points if you missed that the f6-knight was hanging (23. Qh4
Rxf6 24. Rxf6 Qxf6 25. Qxf6+ Kxf6 26. e5+ dxe5 27. Bxb7) . It gets the
piece back, but Black winds up ahead.

( r) 1 bonus point if you realized that 23 . ... Kf8? loses to 24. Qxg6, when
the f-pawn is pinned and can't recapture on g6.

(s) Defense and attack. White saves the queen and threatens Qxf7+. Gain 1
bonus point if you saw this ahead of time.

( t) 2 bonus points if you elected to play 25. dxcS after analyzing the line
25. Nf6+ Qxf6 26. Qxf6 Rxf6 27. Rxf6 cxd4 28. cxd4 Ne3, when Black
gets some counterplay.

(u) The merit of Vaganian's method of play is that he gets the open d-file,
while holding Nf6+ in reserve. 1 bonus point if you had understood
this.

(v) 1 bonus point if you saw the threat: 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Rg8
3 1 . Qxg8 mate.

( w) 1 bonus point if you realized that 28 . ... Rxf6 fails to 29. Qg5+ Rg6?
30. Qxe7. Thke 1 bonus point if you saw that 28 . ... Rh8 is defeated by
29. Nh5+ Kf8 30. Rd8+.

(x) Press ahead with 1 bonus point if you saw that the e5-pawn is now
menaced.

(y) Harassment tactics. 1 bonus point if you knew that 30 . ... Ne3? drops
the knight to 3 1 . Qg5+.

(z) Black's position is crumbling. If A) 32 . . . . Ne3, then 33. Qxe5+ Kh7

(33 . ... Kg8 34. Rd8+) 34. Rd7 gives you 1 bonus point. If B) 32 . ...
Bxe4, then 33. Bxc4 bxc4 34. Qxe5+, and then 35. Qxe4 offers 1 bonus
point more.

215
 GAME

50
Deep Blue vs. G. Kasparov
New York 1 997, Match, Game #6
Caro-Kann Defense B 1 7

LTHOUGH NEITHER ENTITY played up to its or his poten­

tial, the second match between IBM's Deep Blue and the peo­
ple's Garry Kasparov was surely one of the most climactic in
history. Not even Deep Blue (White) could have calculated the final result,
or, for that matter, the final game, which was won triumphantly by the
programmed wonder. To be fair, Kasparov, perhaps the strongest biologi­
cal chess unit of all time, simply didn't play his best. As for Deep Blue, its
algorithm didn't allow for a verbal response (at that moment) . The chess
version of Armageddon began 1 . e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4.

216
 WHITE'S PAR BLACK'S
MOVE SCORE MOVE

3. dxe4

4. Nxe4 (a) 5 Nd7 (b)

5. Ng5 (c) 6 Ngf6 (d)
6. Bd3 6 e6 (e)

7. N1f3 6 h6 (fJ
8. Nxe6 (g) 8 Qe7 (h)
9. o-o (i) 7 fxe6 UJ
10. Bg6+ (k) 7 Kd8

11. Bf4 OJ 6 b5 (m)

12. a4 (n) 7 Bb7 (o)

13. Re1 (p) 7 Nd5 (q)

14. Bg3 (r) 5 Kc8 (s)
15. axb5 (t) 6 cxb5

16. Qd3 (u) 6 Bc6

17. Bf5 (w) 7 ext'S (x)

18. Rxe7 4 Bxe7 (y)
19. c4 (z) 7 (1-0)

217
(a) The natural reply. Blackrnar-Dierner garnbiters may have only 3 points
part credit for 4. n.

(b) Preparing to challenge e4 with 5 . ... Ngf6, when 6. Nxf6+ can be met by
6 . ... Nxf6.

(c) Full credit for 5. Nf.3 or 5. Bc4. With 5. Ng5, White keeps the knight and
tries to entice the weakening h7-h6. Only 3 points part credit for
5. Qe2, threatening smothered mate at d6. Black sidesteps this with
5 . ... Ndf6, and White's queen is misplaced.

(d) 1 bonus point if you intended to answer 5 . ... h6 by 6. Ne6 fxe6

7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qxg6 mate. Take 1 bonus point if you knew or saw 6 . ...
Qa5+ 7. Bd2 Qb6 8. Bd3 fxe6? 9. Qh5+ Kd8 tO. BaS, pinning Black's
queen.

(e) Take 1 bonus point if you realized that 6 . ... h6 is still answered by
7. Ne6, when 7 . . . . fxe6 is answered by 8. Bg6 mate.

(f) Provoking what follows. The safe way was 7. ... Bd6 8. Qe2 and only
then 8 . ... h6.

(g) 1 bonus point if you knew this book sacrifice. Only 3 points part
credit for 7. Ne4.

(h) Nothing much is changed if Black accepts the sacrifice here or on the
next move.

( i) Deduct 5 points if you tried 9. Nc7+, an illegal move.

(j) 1 bonus point for spotting 9 . . Qxe6? t O. Ret , pinning and winning.
..

(k) Forcing Black's king to move and jamming the g7-pawn in place.

(1) Full credit for t t . c4, taking control of the d5-square.

(m ) Since Black's kingside is boxed in by the g6-bishop, Kasparov tries to

open the queenside.

( n) Deep Blue uses the newly advanced b-pawn to open a file for the at­
rook.

( o) Kasparov begins the tragically slow process of getting his pieces off the
horne rank.

218
(p) The rook moves to the open file, targeting the weak e6-pawn.

(q) The knight looks good in the center, but one well-placed piece is not
enough to hold it all together. The rest of Black's army is in disarray.

( r) Deduct 3 points if you overlooked the threat to the undefended f4-

bishop.

( s) Black's position is too far gone and he can't find any good moves. Add
1 bonus point if you planned to answer 1 4 . . . . Qb4 by 15. Rxe6, threat­
ening ReS mate. Acquire 1 bonus point for seeing that 14. .. . Qf6 is
neutralized by the pinning 15. Bh4.

( t) A timely moment to open the a-file. The queen-rook becomes active

without moving.

(u) Development with gain of time. The bS-pawn is attacked and must be
defended.

(v) Guarding the b-pawn in this fashion opens up b7 for possible use by
Black's king.

(w) All of White's forces are in play and now the attack begins in earnest.

(x) 1 bonus point for analyzing 1 7. ... Nc7 1S. Bxc7 Kxc7 1 9. Rxe6. More­
over, pile on points for each of the following continuations: A) 1 9 . ...
Qb4 20. Rxc6+ Kxc6 21. Qe4+ (or 21. Be4+) and 22. QxaS (1 bonus
point) ; B) 1 9 . . . . QdS 20. Qc3 NbS 2 1 . Qa5+, winning Black's queen (1
bonus point) . In this last variation, Black's king is forced into a losing
discovery.

(y) Kasparov has surrendered his queen for a rook and two minor pieces,
but it's not sufficient to break Deep Blue's attack. Black's pieces are too
loose and his king is unsafe.

(z) Much better than 19. Qxf5 (3 points part credit) . In fact, there is no
satisfactory answer to the threat. Take 2 bonus points for seeing 1 9 . ...
bxc4 20. Qxc4 Kb7 21. Qa6 mate. Finally, take 2 bonus points for
working out 1 9 . . . . Nb4 20. Qxf5 bxc4 2 1 . Ne5, when there is no rea­
sonable way to deal with the coming 22. Qe6. If 2 1 . ... Bb5, then
22. Ng6, with threats to b5, e7, and hS. And if 2 1 . ... Bf6, then 22. Nxd7
Bxd7 23. QcS+ Nc6 24. d5 picks up the pinned knight.

219
 RE V IE W TEST

Each position corresponds to the game of same number and is one of the
possibilities arising in the analysis, presented with a twist: each problem
is given from Black's point of view.

g 9
1 : Black to move and mate in 3 4: Black to move and mate in 3

g g

2: Black to move and mate in 2 5: Black to move and mate in 4

g g

3: Black to move and mate in 3 6: Black to move and mate in 5

220
 g g

7: Black to move and mate in 3 11: Black to move and mate in 4

g g

8: Black to move and mate in 2 12: Black to move and mate in 2

g g

9: Black to move and mate in 3 13: Black to move and mate in 4

10: Black to move and mate in 3 14: Black to move and mate in 1

221
 g g

15: Black to move and mate in 3 1 9: Black to move and mate in 4

g g

16: Black to move and mate in 2 20: Black to move and mate in 2

17: Black to move and mate in 2 21: Black to move and mate in 2

g g

1 8: Black to move and mate in 5 22: Black to move and mate in 3

222
 8

g g

23: Black to move and mate in 3 27: Black to move and mate in 3

24: Black to move and mate in 4 28: Back to move and mate in 2

g g

25: Black to move and mate in 2 29: Black to move and mate in 2

g g

26: Black to move and mate in 3 30: Black to move and mate in 3

223
 g

3 1 : Black to move and mate in 5 35: Black to move and mate in 1

g g

32: Black to move and mate in 2 36: Black to move and mate in 3

g g

33: Black to move and mate in 2 37: Black to move and mate in 3

g g

34: Black to move and mate in 4 38: Black to move and mate in 1

224
 g g

39: Black to move and mate in 3 43: Black to move and mate in 3

g g

40: Black to move and mate in 3 44: Black to move and mate in 3

g g

4 1 : Black to move and mate in 3 45: Black to move and mate in 4

g g

42: Black to move and mate in 3 46: Black to move and mate in 2

225
 9 9

47: Black to move and mate in 2 49: Black to move and mate in 2

8
7

9 9
48: Black to move and mate in 2 50: Black to move and mate in 1

226
 C H EC K M ATE
TEST ANS WERS
( 1 ST M OV ES )

1 ) 1 . . . . Rxf1+

2) 1 . . . . Rxe1+

3) 1. ... Qb1+
4) 1 . ... Qxh2+

5) 1 . . . . Bd6+
6) 1 . . . . Qxh2+
7) 1 . . . . Rb1+

8) 1 . . . . Qh1+
9) 1 . . . . Qh2+ (or 1 . . . . Rxf2 )

1 0) 1 . . . . Ne4+
1 1 ) 1 . . . . Rxf1+

1 2) 1 . . . . Rd1+
13) 1. . . . Rh6+

1 4) 1 . . . . Qe4#
15) 1 . ... Rgxg2+
1 6) 1 . . . . Qxc1+

1 7) 1. ... Qh3+
1 8) 1 . . . . Qxf2+
1 9) 1 . . . . Rxf.5+
20) 1 . . . . Qc1+
2 1 ) 1. . . . Qn+

22) 1 . . . . Qf2+
23) 1 . . . . Qc6+

227
24) 1 . ... Qd1+
25) 1. ... Rxe1
26) 1. ... Bxh3+
27) 1 . ... Rh1+
28) 1. ... Rhe8+
29) 1 • ••• Qd3+
30) 1 . ... Qh5+
3 1 ) 1 . ... Qxf2+
32) 1 . ... Qd1+
33) 1. ... Qf6+
34) 1 . ... Bc8+
35) 1 . ... Qf3#
36) 1 . . . . Bb3+
37) 1 . ... eliQ+
38) 1 . . . . Ng3#
39) 1 . ... Qh3+
40) 1 . . . . Bd6+
41) 1 . ... Rc1
42) 1 . ... Qb6
43) 1 . . . . Bxa4+
44) 1 . . . . Rd2+
45) 1 . ... Nf4+
46) 1. . . . Qf2+
47) 1 . ... Qd4+
48) 1 . ... Nxg4
49) 1 . . . . Rd1+
50) 1 . ... Bg3#

228
 AC K N OWLED G M ENTS

The idea for Solitaire Chess didn't start with me. I believe it was AI
Horowitz, the publisher of Chess Review, who put out the first "Solitaire
Chess" columns in the 1 940s. He did it a little differently, but it was the
same thing in essence. With the merger of Chess Review and Chess Life in
the late 1 960s the column disappeared. It surfaced for a short time in the
early 1 980s. Allan Savage did the column for a year, with Frank Elley as
editor, but then it disappeared again. It didn't reemerge until Glenn
Petersen, then editor of Chess Life in 1 99 1 , proposed that I revive the col­
umn, perhaps in some new form. So we added a bunch of notes, eventu­
ally a set of accompanying problems, and the revised "Solitaire Chess"
was born. Besides journeyman Glenn Petersen and the spirit of AI
Horowitz, many others were involved in the creation and production of
the original articles and the formation of the present volume. Bruce Al­
berston worked on all of the articles, and many of the more valuable ob­
servations offered come from him. Peter Kurzdorfer, Kalev Pehme, Jean
Berniece, and a number of other staff people for Chess Life also con­
tributed significantly to the look and content, as did Jenny Olsson, Rose­
lyn Abrahams, Barbara and Ralf Thiede, Laura Yorke, Andre Bernard,
carol Ann Caronia, and Idelle Pandolfini. Numerous fine points of the
material can be attributed to the above people, and any misjudgments or
oversights in this Solitaire collection owe their origin to me. Finally, I very
much appreciate the efforts of Random House/McKay. Thanks go to Mike
Klein, who copyedited the manuscript; Burt Hochberg, America's leading
chess editor and a prized advisor; Jena Pincott, my enlightened general
editor; Sheryl Stebbins, the publisher, and Nora Rosansky, the cover de­
signer. To all these people, and all the others I've thoughtlessly left out, I
offer my sincere gratitude. Solitaire Chess wouldn't have been possible
without them.

229