Daring Tactics by Anthony Suraci

 

     Anthony Suraci of East Haven, Connecticut played in the 1948 US Championship where he scored +3 -16 =0 and finished in 19th place out of 20. He was the 1951 state champion. Other than that nothing is known about Suraci. 

     However, the July 30, 1964 issue of the New York Times chess column headlined, “An Unknown Becomes Known Through Some Daring Tactics”. 

     So, he was an unknown local player. Chessgames.com has 27 of his games, mostly from the ‘48 championship and a couple of US Opens, the last being in 1962.

     Here is Suraci’s game featuring those daring tactics. His opponent was Harry Lyman (1915-1999), many time champion of New England and the 1957 US Amateur Champion who is remembered as the Dean of Boston chess. He was the uncle of Shelby Lyman. 

     At the time, Lyman was the champion of the Marshall Chess Club and was, himself, a fearless and dangerous tactician. When the two met and both were bent on complications a fierce battle ensued. The symmetrical opening meant a slow start, but things heated up after black’s 13th move.

 

ChessBase

Harry Lyman–Anthony Suraci0–1A00Central New England Open, Fitchburg1951Stockfish 16

A05: Reti Opening 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.0-0 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.bd2 e5 7.e4 g4 8.h3 d7 9.c4 c8 9...c6 10.c3 e8 11.h2 f5 12.exf5 xf5 looks to be about equal. Apatoczky,P (2250)-Ponyi,A (2095) Hungary 1993 10.h2 c6 11.c3 e6 12.h4 The prelude to a K-side attack that never materializes. Probably his best course was to continue the slow maneuvering with 12.Ne3 h5 12...xe4 is the engine's preference, but after 13.xe4 d5 14.xe5 dxe4 15.xc6 bxc6 it's unlikely that a human would prefer black. 13.f4 Typical of Lyman's aggressive play, but here it opens up the K-side in black's favor. Again, 13.Ne3 was a solid continuation. b5 This is irrelevant and should have only served to drive white's N to a good square on e3. 13...exf4! and life is bright. 14.gxf4 xc4 15.dxc4 e6 14.a3 This places the N offside...it needs to be on e3 after which white's game would have been slightly better. exf4 15.gxf4 d8 16.f3 b8 With little to be immediately accomplished on the Q-side Suraci switches to the Q-side... real master play! 17.d4 b4 18.c2 c4 19.f2 bxc3 20.bxc3 a6 21.e5 This natural looking P push is the wrong one and it leaves white with a lost game. 21.f5 keeps white in the game. e7 22.e3 c8 23.g1 d5 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.e5 c5 and it's still a fight. 21...dxe5 22.a3 e4 Offering the exchange, but white does not immediately accept it. 22...xf4 This was an alternative. 23.xf8 xf8 24.xe5 xe5 25.dxe5 e8 with an active position. 23.g5 This is more of a gesture than anything. The immediate capture of the R was also playable. f5 24.xf8 xf8 25.f1 d6 26.xe4 This only hastens the end, but it makes little difference what he plays. fxe4 27.xa6 xf4 28.c4+ g7 29.h1 h4 The climax of black’s attack 30.f1 xh3 31.f7+ h6 31...h8 lessens the force of his attack because white can trade Qs 32.f6+ xf6 33.xf6 b2 34.b3 But even here black's advantage is decisive. 32.e1 g3 33.d2+ g5 34.e6 f4+ 35.g1 d8 36.e3 Black still has toi be alert...allowing 37. Nf5 would be a tragedy. g6 37.g7+ Is black in trouble? f6 Not after this move! 37...xg7 38.f5+ f6 39.xh4 dxe6 40.g2 h3+ 41.h1 f2+ and black has to take the draw. 38.b3 xb3 39.axb3 h3+ 40.f1 Not that it matters, but 40.Kg2 holds out a bit longer. f4+ 41.g2 f3+ 42.xh3 f2+ It's mate in 2 so White resigned. Yes, 42...Bf4 was mate. 0–1

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