Falling Off The Tightrope

 

   When it came to the US Championship nobody had worse luck than Reuben Fine. Once when asked why Fine never won the US Championship, Samuel Reshevsky replied, "Because I was playing." But, even when Reshevsky wasn't playing Fine's luck was no better. 

     In the 1944 Championship he scored an excellent 14.5-2.5, but lost to Denker and finished a half point behind him. In the first Championship in 1936 he only managed to tie for 3rd-4th with George Treysman behind Reshevsky and Albert Simonson. Fine suffered only one defeat...against Simonson, who's only previous claim to fame was a mediocre performance on one of the U.S. Olympiad teams, but in this event had the best result of his career. 

     In the 1938 championship and Fine's luck wasn't any better. He lost two games: to also-rans Anthony Santasiere and Milton Hanauer. The 1940 championship was a personal duel between Reshevsky and Fine and their last round draw gave Reshevsky the title. 

 

Denker

   In the 1944 championship Reshevsky wasn't playing because he was preparing to take his CPA exams. That meant Fine was by far the favorite with Herman Steiner, Al Horowitz, Arnold Denker and Albert Pinkus given only remote chances. Isaac Kashdan would have been a favorite, but he had to withdraw on doctor's orders. 

     In the 1944 tournament most of the players were barely of master strength. Only 18 had entered the preliminaries meaning that anyone with a half way decent score qualified for the finals. Louis Persinger was a good example. When the USCF published its first rating list in November of 1950, Persinger had a Class A rating of 1909. Sven Almgren was rated an Expert at 2137. Boris Altman was listed as inactive and rated at 2214 which at the time was considered an Expert.

     It was no surprise that the five top masters (Fine, Steiner, Pinkus, Horowitz and Denker) started out with a bang and were soon far ahead of the field although Fine struck a snag in the first round when he got into trouble against Pinkus and had to work for the draw. Denker moved into first after he defeated Horowitz and after six rounds he had a half point lead over Fine. They met in round seven and Denker won which essentially put Fine out of the running.

     There was an "incident" in round 8 in the Adams vs. Denker game where it was reported by Chess Review that thinking he had the advantage in the ending, Adams "lost his poise" when Denker repeatedly offered a draw. Adams brushed aside the last offer with a wave of the hand and by trying to show Denker he could win, he ended up losing. 

Fine vs. Horowitz

     In a letter to the editor of of Chess Review (Al Horowitz) Manhattan Chess Club Director Sidney Kenton took umbrage with Chess Review's version of the incident, stating it was directly contrary to the facts. 

     He stated that according to Denker, one offer of a draw was made at adjournment and one later through L. Walter Stephens, the tournament director, and Adams himself said that Denker made two offers of a draw after adjournment. Thus, two offers of a draw in a drawn position in a game lasting 77 moves, were not too many. 

    Kenton said Adams told him that he felt his position was always secure and he could always get a draw, but he overestimated his position and a few weak moves on his part and few strong ones by Denker enabled the latter to win. Kenton also stated that Denker told him when Adams resigned he said, "Well, I guess I tried too hard to win a drawn game." but, Adams did not remember making the remark. 

     Horowitz stood by his report and replied that Kenton had discovered players often forget what happened during a game and the magazine's reports were "not based on the testimony of others, but on observation." Horowitz wrote, "It is obvious that Adams showed poor judgment in not accepting a draw. It was equally obvious that his judgment was affected by the suggestions, even though correct, that he was trying to win a drawn game. He brushed aside the final offer of a draw with a petulant wave of his hand, If you know Adams, that means he was annoyed." 

     The round 3 game between Adams and Pinkus was a tactical melee. At move 31 in a complicated position, Pinkus wrote that he had to "wade through a maze of variations and with the time control pressing both players he went for a simple continuation." 

     As often happens, Pinkus considered the correct move, but chose a different one...one that should have lost! Instead of finding the refutation, Adams fell off the tightrope and lost.

Weaver Adams - Albert Pinkus
Result: 0-1
Site: US Championship, New York City
Date: 1944.04.17
Vienna Game

[...] 1.e4 e5 2.♘c3 ♘f6 3.♗c4 ♘c6 4.d3 For a long time Adams was firmly convinced the Vienna won for white, but he had little success with it, mainly because black's defense is easy. Pinkus stated Adams' persistence in playing it was not to be commended. 4...♘a5 5.♕f3 ♘xc4 6.dxc4 ♗b4 7.♘ge2 d6 8.h3 ♗e6 9.b3 h6

9...♘d7 10.O-O ♗xc3 11.♘xc3 O-O 12.♕g3 f5 Though white is better Caruana,F (2822)-Aronian,L (2767)/chess.com 2018 was eventually drawn.

10.♗b2 ♕e7 11.g4 A doubtful waiting move. Adams probably hoped for 11...O-O-O after which he could continue with Ng3 and have a good grip on the position. In view or the attack that black now develops either 11.O-O-O or 11. a3 were better. 11...h5 12.O-O-O O-O-O Pinkus thought this was better than 12... hxg4, but it isn't.

12...hxg4 13.hxg4 O-O-O 14.♘d5 ♘xd5 15.cxd5 ♕g5 16.♔b1 ♕xg4 and black is better.

13.♕g2 Pinkus claimed that here again 13... hxg4 was drawish and so he decided on a P-break in the center and/or on the Q-side. Actually, taking on g4 was OK. 13...c6 (13...hxg4 14.hxg4 ♘xg4 15.♘d5 ♗xd5 16.cxd5 f5 and black stands well.) 14.f3 a6 15.♔b1 ♗c5 16.♖d3 Here Pinkus carries out his planned breakthrough, but again, taking on g4 was better. 16...b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.♖hd1

18.g5 closing the K-side was probably safer. Then if 18...♘d7 19.f4 f6 the position is drawish.

18...♔c7 19.a4 b4 20.♘a2 ♗c8 21.♘g3 g6 22.♘f1 Too passive. More aggressive, and therefore better, was 22.c3 22...♗a6 23.♖3d2 ♘d7 24.♘c1 hxg4 25.hxg4 Pin kus now thought he should have played 25...Qf6 to prevent 26.f4, or perhaps 25...f6 shoring up his center. 25...♘f8 (25...♕f6 26.♘d3 ♗xd3 27.♖xd3 followed by ...Nf8, ...Ne6 is equal.) (25...f6 26.♘d3 ♗xd3 27.♖xd3 ♘f8 is also equal.) 26.f4 Grabbing the initiative, but as Pinkus stated, black's defensive resources are sufficient. 26...f6 27.g5 ♘e6 28.gxf6 ♕xf6 29.fxe5 dxe5 30.♕g3 ♘f4 31.♘e3 Here is where Pinkus went astray and played what he thought was a simple move. He considered both 31...Rh3 and 31...Rxd2. 31...♗d4 This is nowhere near as good as 31...Rxd3, but it is also not nearly as bad as 31...Rh3. However, 31...Bd4 still leaves black with an inferior game.

31...♖h3 is complicated, but it loses after 32.♖xd8 ♖xg3 33.♖1d7 ♔b6 34.♖b8 ♔a5 35.♘c4 ♗xc4 36.bxc4 ♗g1 37.c3 and the best continuation is 37...♘d3 38.c5 ♗xc5 39.♘b3 ♔a6 40.♖a8 ♔b6 41.c4 ♕f1 42.♗c1 Threatening 43.a5 mate so black is forced to give up his Q with 42...Qxf1+

31...♖xd2 This is the correct move after which the chances would be equal. 32.♖xd2 ♖h3 33.♘g4 ♖xg3 34.♘xf6

32.♘g4

32.♗xd4 was even better. 32...exd4 33.♘f5!!33...gxf5 34.♕xf4 ♔b6 35.a5 ♔b7 36.e5 ♕h6 37.♕xf5 and white is better.

32...♕g5 33.♗xd4 ♖xd4 34.♖xd4 exd4 The position is tense and very difficult. Stockfish's top 8 or 10 choices all result in equality. 35.♘d3 This unfortunate move loses immediately. 35...♗xd3 36.cxd3 ♖h3 The beginning of a nice conclusion to the game. 37.♕g1 ♘e2 38.♕g2 ♘c3 39.♔c2 ♘xd1 40.♕xh3 ♕xg4 Of course the Q cannot be taken, but it really doesn't matter. Hence, Adams resigned.

40...♕xg4 41.♕h2 ♔b7 42.♕h7 ♔b6 43.a5 ♔a6 44.♕g8 ♘e3 45.♔b1 ♕d1 46.♔b2 ♕e2 47.♔b1 ♕xd3 winning easily.

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