Attacking on the h-file

    The formation with Rook on h1 and Pawn on h4 is an important one to be familiar with. If an opponent’s Pawn captures a piece and the h-file is opened up for the Rook a battery can be formed by placing another Rook or the Queen on the file. Sometimes, too, an attacking piece can be placed on the square covered by the Pawn, creating threats which induce or force the opponent to take it. 

    There are a couple of other ways of exploiting the formation of the Rook and Pawn. One is to simply advance the Pawn and the other involves switching the Rook on to another file using a Rook lift. The following game is a classic example of the first method. 

    The winner was Vladimir Vukoviv (1898-1975), a Yugoslav IM (title awarded in 1951) ans an International Arbiter (1952). He was also a chess writer and journalist who is best known as the author of The Art of Attack in Chess published in "965)and The Chess Sacrifice published in1968. As is often the case today, engines have rendered some of his analysis erroneous both books are worth reading. 

    His opponent was Arpad Vajda (1896-1962), a Hungarian IM (1950) who was Hungarian Champion in 1928. He served as police chief in Budapest and passed away in that city. 

 

 

    The game was played in the Debrecen, Hungary tournament in 1925. It was was probably Hans Kmoch’s (1874-1974) greatest success. Originally an Austrian-Dutch IM, IA and chess journalist and author, he eventually ended up in New York City and for many years his annotations appeared in Chess Review magazine

 

ChessBase

Vladimir Vukovic–Arpad Vajda1–0D64Debrecen12.08.1925Stockfish 17

D64: Queen's Gambit Declined: Classical Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.c3 f6 4.g5 bd7 5.e3 e7 6.f3 0-0 7.c1 c6 8.a3 a6 9.c2 dxc4 Black should delay this until after white has developed his B with Bd3. Usual is 9...Re8 10.xc4 b5 11.a2 White plays the B here because of the potential of setting up a B+Q battery after Bb1 c5 12.d1 12.0-0 b7 13.dxc5 xc5 14.fd1 b6 15.b1 Black should now block the diagonal with 15...Nce5. Instead he plays what looks like a more natural move.. g6 Very bad! 16.b4 ce4 17.xe4 xe4 18.b2 This is what black overlooked. xb1 19.xf6 xf6 20.xf6 f5 21.e5 Threatening a fork on e7. a7 22.d7 d8 23.xd8 xd8 24.f6+ There is a nice finish... g7 25.h5+ gxh5 26.xd8 1-0 Bitkinin,L (2128)-Yaksin,O (2322) Kazan 2008 12...c4 A small, but important, point is that this is not a very good move because it removes the pressure on white's center. As will be seen in a few moves, this gives him no counterplay and white has a free hand on the K-side. Hitting hte N with 12...b4 was better. 13.b1 Black should not touch anything on the K-side and play 13...Bb7 with approximate equality. Instead he fatally weakens his K-side. h6 How should white handle this attack on his B? 13...g6 While this does not lose outright it gives white excellent attacking prospects after 14.h4 b7 15.h5 xh5 This loses outright.. 15...Ng4 offers better prospects of defending himself. 16.xe7 xe7 17.xh5 gxh5 18.xh7# 14.h4 This is not a real sacrifice because if black takes the B after 15.hxg5 white regains the piece because if the threat of Qh7#. After white regains the piece with gxf6 he would have excellent attacking chances on the h-file. e8 14...hxg5 15.hxg5 g6 16.e5 Stronger than the immediate recapture. 16.gxf6 xf6 17.e4 b8 18.f4 Threatening Qh6 g7 19.g5 f6 20.h4 d8 Black has managed to organize a defense, dut white's advantage is still a decisive one. 16...xe5 17.dxe5 d7 18.e4 xg5 19.xa8 g7 20.f4 e7 21.f3 h8 22.f2 White is winning/ 15.e5 b7 Black is wise to consistently refuse offered N. He hopes that eventually tjr B will retreat. However, in any case he has a poor position. 16.h3 This is a maneuver designed to bring the Rs into the game as quickly; it's characteristic formation with a R on hl and P on h4. f8 Black lacks a good defense. Now it's white to play and win. 16...hxg5 17.hxg5 Nate is threatened (Qg7#) so the N is lost and after f8 18.gxf6 xf6 19.h8+ xh8 20.xf7+ 17.xh6 This piece offer cannot be accepted either. h5 17...gxh6 18.g3+ g6 19.xf7 Another offer that nust be refused. Even so black is dead lsot no matter what he plays. xf7 20.xg6+ f8 21.g7# 18.e2 g6 19.g4 g7 20.h5 Ripping apart black's K-side. f6 Black gives up a second pawn, but he can do nothing to save his position. 21.hxg6 xe5 22.gxf7+ xf7 23.dxe5 a5 All that remains is for white to mop up. 24.e4 24.xg7 is even more ruthless. xg7 25.g5 ad8 26.xd8 xd8 27.h5 mate is looming after h6. 24...e7 25.g5 d7 26.f3+ g8 27.f6 Black must now prevent Rxd7. b4 28.axb4 xb4 29.xd7 xd7 30.e3 f8 31.g5 c5 32.g6 a7 33.h7 c6 34.h6 Black resigned. 34.h6 d3+ 35.xd3 cxd3 36.h8+ f7 37.xf8+ xf8 38.h8+ f7 39.xg7+ e8 40.g8+ d7 41.d8# 1–0

Download PGN

Sometimes It’s Wrong to Resign

    The other day I was playing over some of my old OTB games from 1976 and in one tournament one of my wins came when my opponent overstepped the time limit in an ending where I had a R+B+2Ps vs. R+B+P, but my extra P was a useless a-Pawn and the Bs were opposite color. It was a dead draw. 

    Another win came when my opponent resigning in a position that was also drawn! How lucky can you get? 

    FM Dennis Monokroussos said there may be nothing worse than resigning in a winning position and Tim Krabbe once discovered 35 examples where it happened.

    Monokroussos also added that resigning in a drawn position, as my opponent did in this game, doesn't feel very good either. He wisely added that it isn't always obvious that the position ought to be drawn, so vigilance is needed to the very end.

    At Dos Hermanas in 1999 Peter Svidler took a draw against Anand when he had a forced win. And, in his match against Deep Blue in 1997 Kasparov first resigned a game he could have drawn, then later in a tournament took a draw against Joel Lautier in a position that he could have won. At least my opponent in the following game was not alone. 

ChessBase

Tartajubow–Opponent1–0C12Cincinnati1976Stockfish 17

C12: French: Classical System: McCutcheon Variation 1.e4 e6 When this game was played Botvinnik's 100 Selected Games was ny constant companion and so I was happy to see this because as black I usually played the French myself. 2.d4 d5 3.c3 f6 The Classical Variation. White's main options are 4.e5 and 4.Bg5 4.g5 The threat is 5.e5, attacking the pinned N. Black has a number of ways to meet this threat. b4 The McCutcheon Variation in which black sharpens the play very early and indicates his wish to win. Black ignores white’s threat and prefers to threaten white’s center himself. This interesting and sharp strategy gave Viktor Korchnoi a number of fine victories. 5.e5 h6 6.exf6 The main line used to be 6.Bd2, but nowadays 6.Be3 is preferred. The text doesn’t work out very well in practice. hxg5 7.fxg7 g8 8.h5 A better move would have been 8.h4 f6 9.f3 There was no time to retreat. After this black is better. 9.h7 keeps things equal. xg7 10.h8+ f8 11.h4 g4 12.h5 9...xg7 10.h4 g4 10...gxh4 11.xh4 d7 12.0-0-0 c6 and black gas only equality. 11.e5 d7 12.xd7 12.Bd3 was worth a try. xd7 13.0-0-0 xc3N After this any advantage black may have had has disappeared. He would have done better to attack my Q with 13...Rh8 13...h8 14.e5 xe5 15.dxe5 c5 ow white’s e-and f-Pawns are hard to defend. 14.bxc3 h8 15.e5 xe5 16.dxe5 c5 Against Rd4 17.e2 g8 18.f3 g3 He should have played 18...gxf3. Black was hoping to keep by B limited and at the same time attack the h-Pawn. 19.f4 e7 20.h3 The idea is to play both Rs to the third rank and attack the g-Pawn before advancing my h-Pawn. g7 21.d3 This allows black the opportunity to get the advantage which he does immediately. Advancing the h-Pawn would have been more effective. b5 Eliminating his bad B. 22.d2 xe2 23.xe2 g4 24.e3 xf4 25.exg3 I thought I was winning here, but the engines give black a small advantage. Apparently the discombobulated g-and h-Pawns aren’t going anywhere and all my other Ps are weak as kittens. h8 26.h5 f5 There goes a P. 27.h6 xe5 28.g7 e1+ After this black’s advantage ceases to exist. 28...f6 keeps the upper hand. 29.g4 g5 30.f3+ f5 31.h3 e7 Of course black does not want to repeat moves. 32.a4 f1+ Black has some winning chances because of white's weak Ps. Practically speaking though double R endings are difficult. In Shootouts white scored +0 -2 =3 29.b2 This keeps black's R from attacking the a-Pawm, but 29.Kd2 was equallyplayable. f1 30.h7 Now after a couple of minutes thought black, seeing no way to stop 31.Rg8, resigned. Somehow he missed the obvious 30...Kf8. Ot's interesting that a tactical analysis using Stockfish gives white a Weighted Error valie of ).25 (precise and black 0.31! 30.h7 f8 31.hg3 31.gg3 Black can mobilize his Ps to create winning chances. 31...e7 And there is no way for either side to make progress. 1–0

Download PGN

Bisguier Suffers Shingles – Slaughtered by Szabo

    The 1955 Buenos Aires tournament, held at the Argentina Chess Club, was another in a string of successes for the twenty-two year old Borislav Ivkov. All he needed was a draw in the last round to clinch first which he duly obtained. 

    Fellow Yugoslav Svetozar Gligoric came a close second while third place finisher Herman Pilnik of Argentina was in remarkably good form. He started by defeating U.S. Champion Arthur Bisguier in the first round and stayed near or at the top all the way. 

    A youthful Oscar Panno, age 20, must have been disappointed, though he did make a plus score. Panno had won the World Junior Championship in 1953, finishing ahead of such future strong GMs as Borislav Ivkov, Bent Larsen and Fridrik Olafsson. He also won the championship of Argentina in 1953. 

 

 

    Bisguier’s showing was disappointing, but he had come down with a case of shingles. The rash itched horribly and made it impossible for him to sleep at night. His first round loss was indicative of what was to come. In the first half of the tournament he didn't win a single game, but he did pull up from a three point deficit to finish with a respectable score by defeating Gligorich in round 8, Sanguinetti in round 11, Reinhardt in round 13 and Donner in round 14. 

    Szabo's defeat of Bisguier was an instructive game. Bisguier repeated the passive defense that he had played earlier against Trifunovic. In that game, true to his style, Trifunovic also played passively resukting in a quick draw. Bisguier repeated the same line against Szabo who was not as peaceably inclined as Trifunovic had been. The result was a quick, smashing attack that sent Bisguier down in just a few more moves. 

ChessBase

Laszlo Szabo–Arthur Bisguier1–0D46Buenos Aires03.05.1955Stockfish 17

D46: Semi-Slav 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.f3 f6 4.c3 e6 When black plays this without developing his B it’s the Semi-Slav. Black is threatening to capture the white pawn on c4, and hold it with b7-b5, but white can avoid this in many ways. 5.e3 bd7 Both 5...Bd6 and 5...Be7 are seldom seen, as masters realized early on that at e7, the B was passively placed and does nothing to further one of black’s aims, the freeing move ...e5. 6.d3 d6 The main variation of the Semi-Slav is the Meran Variation, 6... dxc4. 7.e4 Seldom seen, this aggressive move has given white good results in practice. dxe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 Here, as on the previous moves, both sides have had many alternatives.) f6 10.c2 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 This position has been reached many times and the outcomes have not been very favorable for black; his position is simply too passive. 0-0 At first glance it may not look like it, but this position is very much in white’s favor because he is superior in the center and his B has excellent prospects. On the other had, black’s B has almost no immediate prospects. 13.e5 Szabo will castle Q-side and launch a K-side P-storm. 13.0-0 was played in Petar Trifunovic-Arthur Bisguier Buenos Aires, 1955 c7 14.e3 b6 15.e5 b8 16.g5 a6 17.b3 c5 with a quick draw. 13...c7± 14.0-0-0 c5 15.e3 b6 This is too passive. Black must play vigorously wuth 15...b5 although white would still habe the better prospects. 16.dxc5 bxc5 Now that the situation in the enter has been clarifies Szabo launches what quickly becomes an irresistible attack on Bisguier's K. 17.g4 Practically ending the game. b8 18.hg1 b6 19.b3 b7 19...g6 prevents white's next move, but white maintains a winning position. 20.h4 c7 21.g5 h5 22.d2 e8 23.gd1 White will play f4 and black is at a loss for any reasonable continuation. 20.g5 e8 21.xh7+ Bisguier, an excellent tactician, must have been ill because otherwise there is no way he could have missed this conclusion! xh7 22.h3+ g8 23.g4 Mate is looming so black resigned. 23.g4 a5 24.h4 a3+ 25.b1 xb3+ 26.axb3 xb3+ 27.xb3 b7 28.h3 e4+ 29.c1 h7 30.xh7 g6 31.h8+ g7 32.h6# 1–0

Download PGN

My Engine vs. His Engine

    On 12-23 I posted that I had entered a correspondence match against an OTB and Correspondence IM in order to test the Berserk engine. Fortunately, my opponent was prompt in his replies and used the site’s feature that allows you to play “if/then” moves. 

    This feature allows you to anticipate an opponent’s move so that if he plays the expected move you can automatically reply with your next move. This speeds up the game dramatically especially in the case when engines are involved. He only ceased the “if/then” sequence when we reached a position where I had more than one good option. 

    I wanted to play openings offering tactical possibilities, but also wanted to avoid risky variations. Consequently, I played the King’s Gambit and not the Urusov Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4).

    In both games I let the engine analyze until it reached 30-40 plies and again at the end of my opponent’s sequence of “if/then” moves the analysis was rechecked, but there was usually no change. 

    The King’s Gambit (I was white) fizzled out to an uneventful 27 move draw which when analyzed with Stockfish gave both sides a Weighted Error Value of nearly 0.00 (flawless). This indicates that Bersek and Stockfish were almost always in agreement on the best moves. 

    As black I though about answering 1.d4 with the Budapest Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5), but in my experience black struggles to get back the P and white seems to end up with the better game. Still, I did not want to play a prosaic Queen’s Gambit, so chose the Symmetrical Defense (1.d5 d5 2.c4 c5). Oddly, it turned out to be a bit more involved that the King’s Gambit. 

    With Berserl by move 20 my opponent (white) was starting to register a slight advantage of 1/4 to 1/3 of a Pawn and my feeling was that we were nearing an ending and Berserk was starting to lose control so it was time to switch to Stockfish which gave a different evaluation...of nearly 0.00. 

    This game was also drawn in 27 moves. Conclusion: For the average user Stockfish is still the best choice. 

 

CCLR ratings 

 

CEGT ratings

 

 

ChessBase

Int'l Master–Tartajubow½–½Correspondence Match2024Berserk/Stockfish

D06: Queen's Gambit: Symmetrical Defense 1.d4 d5 The King's Indian offers active play with tactical opportunities, but I am not that well versed in its intricacies. One correspondence GM stated that objectively the KID has some serious problems in correspondence play. His advise was not to blindly trust engines in the opening. And, although the KID might be good OTB, in some lines white seems to do better and so it’s best to avoid the KID in correspondence play. 2.c4 c5 First described way back in 1604, this is sometimes called the Austrian Defense. It’s an uncommon variation that poses a purest test of Queen's Gambit. The question is whether black can equalize by simply copying White's moves. Generally it’s believed white should gain the advantage and the best black can do is draw. 3.cxd5 The most usual move is 3.Nf3, but other moves are playable and often lead to transpositions. f6 More popular is 3...Qxd5, vut there is lottle difference (either statistically or in evaluation) between the two moves. 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 xd5 Black cannot very well avoide the exchange of Qs. 5...xd5 6.e4 c7 7.xd8+ xd8 8.c3 with a slight advantage. 6.c3 xd4 7.xd4 a6 Necessary to prevent the annoying Ndb5 attacking c7 7...d7 8.db5 a6 9.e4 Black's position is rather awkward. 8.g3 This is the main line and the B on the long diagonal is well placed. e5 9.b3 c6 10.g2 a5 10...e6 11.0-0 Black has tried several moves here, but best is 0-0-0 12.e3 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.ac1 xg2 15.xg2 d5 with equality. Gligoric,S-Padevsky,N Moscow 1956 10...b4 11.a4 b4+ 12.d2 e6 13.ac5 13.b6 doesn't accomplish anything. a6 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.a4 xb3 16.axb3 e7 with complete equality. 13...xb3 14.xb3 e7 With the endgame approaching keepng the K in the center is the best decision. 15.0-0 xd2 16.xd2 hd8 17.c4 e4 18.fc1 ab8 Anticipating ...b5 to gain space on the Q-side. 19.f1 d5 A rather kebgthy analysis of 19...b5 convinced me that it did not accomplish anything. 20.e3 In the saved analysis this move was not anticipated by Berserk. At this point Berserk was starting to show that white was getting a very slight advantage and Stockfish agreed. Consequently, I felt it was a good idea to switch engines and use Stockfish which gives white 1/4 of a P advantage. e5 21.c4 f8 Making room for the other R at e8. 22.d1 be8 23.a4 e7 24.b4 f5 25.xf5 xf5 26.cd4 g6 27.c1 Wite's draw offer was accepted. Weighted Error Value: White=0.01 (flawless) /Black=0.01 (flawless) 27.c1 axb4 28.xb4 e7 29.cb1 a5 30.xb7 xb7 31.xb7 xa4 is a draw. ½–½

Download PGN

Rothman Slips Against Reshevsky

    In 1946, from September 1-4, the US team suffered a sever (4.5-15.5) beating by the Soviet team in a radio match. Shortly afterwards players assembled in New York City for the US Championship. 

    This one was a little different in that only eight of the 19 players in the finals were from New York and, as might be expected, it was another duel between Reshevsky and Kashdan for first. One surprise was the fourth place finish of Jacob Levin of Philadelphia who was playing in only his second US championship. 

 

    In the following game the truly unknown Aaron Rothman (1935-1961, dates uncertain) of the Bronx, New York was in a difficult position when either he outright blundered or valiantly tried to hornswoggle Reshevsky with an exchange sacrifice that failed. According to chess historian Edward Winter, Rothman claimed to know the entire opening manual Modern Chess Openings by heart. 

ChessBase

Aaron Rothman–Samuel Reshevsky0–1D82US Champ, New York30.10.1946Stockfish 17

D82: Gruenfeld Defense 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 At the time Reshevsky like this defense because of its fighting qualities. 4.f4 Though seldom played since its heyday in the 1930s, this is a good, safe continuation especially if white wants to avoid the complexities of the Exchange Variation (4.cxd5). With 4.Bf4 white hopes to take the initiative on the Q-side with a smaller P- center. g7 5.a4+ Usual, bit not relly better, is 5.e3 5.e3 0-0 Offering the Gruenfeld Gambit. Otherwise he can play 5...c5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.xc7 with equal chances. 5...d7 6.b3 The point...the b-Pawn is threatened. Should black waste time defending it and if not, should white risk taking it? c6 6...c6 7.e4 e6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.g5 dxe4 10.d5 0-0 11.dxc6 xc6 White has what should be a decisive advantage, but in Karpov,A (2651)-Svidler,P (2738) Moscow 2008 white manages to lose in 36 moves. 7.cxd5 The solid 7.e3 was better. 7.xb7 is just too risky. b8 8.xc7 xc7 9.xc7 xb2 10.0-0-0 b7 11.g3 0-0 Black is better. De Waal,M (2280)-Westerweele,M Vlissingen 1996 7...xd4 8.d1 A sad retreat, but the only good one. b5 9.xb5 xb5 White's opening looks like it has been a disaster. He is weak on the a1–h8 diagonal, his d-Pawn is threatened and he has the almost impossible task of developing jis K-side. Yet somehow he manages to survive. 10.e4 Very good! Or, rather, it's the nest he has! xf1 11.xf1 0-0 12.c2 c8 13.d1 c6 14.d6 exd6 15.xd6 e8 16.e5 d5 In spite of everything white has survived with minimal damage in that there is no immediate forced win available to Rershevsky who immediately deals with white's apparently well placed B supported by the P on e5. 17.f3 f6 18.exf6 This turns out to be a real slip. 18.e1 was a much better defense. fxe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.xe5 Incredibly white has survived with no damage! 18...xf6 19.c5 White's center has disappeared, but he still has a problem with getting his K out of the center and to safety. a5 20.c4 20.a3 defending the a-Pawn is met by b5+ 21.g1 e2 22.d2 ce8 23.xe2 xe2 24.c1 xb2 and there's no way to meet ...Rb1 20.d2 was his best try. After b6 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 b5+ 23.g1 e2 24.d2 ce8 Black has an active position and white still faces difficulty getting his R into play. 20...xb2 Clearly black has the better position, but with 21.Bd4 or 21.g3 white could hope to play on. Instead he miscalculates a tactical sequence and loses quickly. Or, did Rothman see the refutation and he was just trying to trick Reshevsky? 21.xd5 cxd5 22.xd5+ Reshevsky's next move gets a ! or two because it is the only one that keeps the win alive. h8 White resigned. There is no effective followup to this move. 22...h8 23.d4+ xd4 24.xd4+ g8 White is the exchange down and black dominates the position. 22...g7 results in a different outcome. 23.f8+ This gets tricky! f6 24.xa5 c1+ 25.e1 c3 26.g7+ xg7 27.c7+ g8 28.g4 exe1+ 29.g2 xh1 30.d8+ g7 31.d7+ h6 32.e7 is a draw 22...g7 23.xb7+ This, too, is pretty tricky! h6 24.e3+ xe3 25.xc8 b5+ 26.g1 d3 27.c2 Here, too, a draw is likely. 0–1

Download PGN

Going Berserk

    I gave up correspondence play a couple years back because it got boring playing 99% draws, but the other day I read a rather lengthy article by a strong correspondence player in which he recommended using four engines. 

    Actually he recommended three engine, the first one is not a real engine...it’s your brain, but your brain had[s to be coupled with the right chess software. In my case, the “brain” engine is a really weak one that probably wouldn’t contribute much. 

    As for the real engines, they have different playing styles and their programming affects the types of positions in which they will achieve the best results. His preference was to use Dragon by Komodo, Berserk and for endings he uses Stockfish. 

    Berserk may not be well known. It can be downloaded (free) HERE. On the CCLR 40/15 rating list Berserk ranks behind Stockfish 20230613 64-bit 4CPU, Torch v3 64-bit 4CPU, Dragon by Komodo 3.3 64-bit 4CP and Obsidian 14.0 64-bit 4CPU. 

    Note that Stockfish is a developmental version and they are all running on 4 CPUs. Obsidian is unfamiliar to me, but it is described as playing a strategically sound style. It prefers strategy over aggressive tactics, focuses on good piece placement and controlling key squares and is particularly adept at navigating complex positions. On the CCLR list it seems to hold its own against Stockfish and Dragon by Komodo. 

    The highly aggressive Berserk often seeking out complex tactical opportunities and prioritizing attacking play over positional consideration. This supposedly makes it the most human-like. 

    It has a penchant for finding surprising and creative moves and is not afraid to take risks. It often finding deep tactics that other engines miss. In the opening Berserk can generate original and unexpected moves. 

    Really highly rated CC players use powerful dedicated computers, but most us have off the shelf laptops and that alone puts us out of the running for a high correspondence rating! Of course, you can rent computer time online, but that’s going to the extreme. 

    I wanted to compare the Weighted Error Value that the Fritz program assigns after completing a tactical analysis, so I let it analyze (at 15 seconds per move) a 17 move online game I played. The WEV’s were only a smidgen higher for Berserk compared to Stockfish, so there’s not much difference in using the two for general analysis. 

    All this piqued my interest and so I decided to play a two game correspondence match. My opponent is an International Master rated 2300+ FIDE who is also an ICCF Correspondence Master. The goal is to test Berserk and my plan is to play openings that are highly tactical. Let’s see what happens!

A Queen Sacrifice Based on Intuition

    The great attacking genius Mikhail Tal once told another player, "You calculate variations excellently, but you really must work on your intuition.” 

    What’s intuition? It’s the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. Viswanathan Anand explained it when he said, "Intuition is the first move I think of." 

    For chess players intuition comes from the knowledge of chess and experience. In simple or familiar positions we often play automatically, but when things get complicated we have to calculate variations. 

    It happens that some times our calculations don’t go very deep and we make a decision based on other factors. The strong English GM John Nunn said of a game he played that aside from checking a few minor things he had calculated almost nothing the entire game. 

    When the following game was played the Queen sacrifice instigated at move 11was known, but whenever it was first played in pre-engine days its soundness had to be based on intuition. When this game was played in 1999 engines had reached the level where even GMs had a hard time beating them. Still, at that time the soundness of white’s Queen sacrifice was open to question. 

    The little known GM (title award in 1978) Adrian Mikhalchishin (born in 1954) was born in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, around 43 miles from the border with Poland. 

    His opponent was GM (title awarded in 1999) Dusko Pavasovic (born in 1976). He was born in Split, Croatia, but he plays for Slovenia and was the Slovenian champion in 1999, 2006 and 2007. He is also an FIDE Trainer. The game was played in the 1999 Nova Gorica (Slovenia) Open. It was won by GM Zdenko Kozul a half point ahead of seven others, including Pavasovic. In spite of winning this fantastic game Mikhalchishin only scored 4 points and finished in 50th place.

 

ChessBase

Adrian Mikhalchishin2518–Dusko Pavasovic25391–0D45Nova GoricaNova Gorica1999Stockfish 17

D45: Semi-Slav: e3 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c6 4.e3 f6 5.f3 bd7 6.c2 d6 7.e4 xe4 8.xe4 dxe4 9.xe4 e5 10.dxe5 0-0 This is a well known position and white has now tried developing both Bs to different squares, but his next move surrendering the Q is the most popular. 11.exd6 Even though white does not quite get full material compensation for the Q there are other factors to be considered so the position is considered to be one that offers equal chances to both side. e8 12.xe8+ xe8+ 13.e3 For the Q white has a R+B+P which is very neary enough compensation materially, but he has problems with his development and K safety. Engines evalaute the position as equal, but practically speaking GMs differ. Some think the position is good for black while other maintain that the P on d6 is a valuable weapon and white should have a good game. b5 Thus move is a novelty, but mot an especially good one. even though white's K might come under attack. 13...e5 is black's black's best move and it was Stockfish's top choice after about 20 minutes of analysis. 14.0-0-0 xf3 15.gxf3 d7 16.d3 e5 17.hg1 g6 is equal as was played in Mikhalchishin,A (2490)-Flear,G (2320) Mexico 1980 14.0-0-0 This is quite risky as it plays into black's hands by exposing his K to attack. A safe course was 14.Be2 and then castling K-side. f6 15.d4 The idea behind this move is to eliminate the black pieces that are blockading the d-Pawn. Nevertheless, it might have been a better idea to support the d-Pawn with 15.c5. And now black might have better played 15...c5 himself to prevent white from protecting the d-Pawn. e6 16.xf6 According to plan, but 16.c5 was still a good option. gxf6 Oddly, the doubled Ps are not a serious weakness here because white his more important things to tend to. 17.c5 Finally. The protected passed P is a bone in black's throat. Still, Black has a Q vs, R+N+P, so the chances remain about equal/ b4 Black finally makes a bad move! 17...xa2 18.d3 a5 19.he1 d7 20.d4 Technically the position is even, but practically speaking you have to like white's centralized pieces and extra space. Still, it's interesting that Shootouts lead to some interesting play, but white only managed to score +0 -1 =4! 18.b1 Now that his K os safe and the P is protected white can claim a bit pf an advantage. d8 18...f5+ was better because after 19.a1 e4 20.a6 Threatening Bb7 d7 21.he1 f5 22.c1 Black has sufficient defensive resources. f8 19.d4 Of course he wants to eliminated the B...see the next note. d5 20.c1 This somewhat odd looking move is actually quite brilliant..it prepared the exchange of Bs. Black's B is hindering the advance of the d-Pawm. Refer to the note back on move 15! a5 21.b3 d8 Black has no really satisfactory move. 21...xb3 22.axb3 f8 23.d3 h5 24.he1 e8 25.e4 a6 26.c4 and white is winning; black cannot defend everything. 22.c4 e4+ Naturally black wants to keep his B. 23.a1 d7 24.f3 White is clearly winning. f5 25.d4 e8 25...g6 keeps the B, but it's way out of place on h6. After 26.ce1 d8 27.e7 The P on d6, the attack on f7 and the control of the e-file assure white of the win. 26.he1 26.xf5 xf5 27.hd1 would also be a win for white. 26...e5 27.xe5 fxe5 28.xf5 xf5 29.d1 d7 Holding up the d-Pawn. or so ot seems. 30.b5 This problem like move made black resign. 30.b5 f8 30...cxb5 31.c6 xc6 32.d7 and the P queens. 31.xc6 d8 32.b5 clearing the way for the c-Pawn. a5 33.c6 xb5 34.d7 1–0

Download PGN

Weak Squares

`In 1925, Aron Nimzovich’s My System was published in Germany. The English edition (translated by Philip Hereford and published by G. Bell and Sons, Ltd.) wasn’t published until 1929. In it he expounded his theories of prophylaxis, blockade and much more, while providing ground-breaking insights in Pawn structures. 

    Nimzovich’s followup companion book, Chess Praxis, was originally published in German in 1929. It was an exposition of his theories filled with 109 of his well annotated games. At some point World Champion (1963-1968) Tigran Petrosion got a copy of the book and it had a great influence on his development. 

    Needless to say, to some extent the material is outdated and, as might be expected, engines have punched holes in some of the analysis, but unless you are a Grand master many of his explanations are enlightening. 

    As a player Nimzovich is not highly esteemed today, but at the height of his career in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s Chessmetrics ranks him in the top five in the world. 

    The following game was an example of weak squares of the same color. Mieses seems to have a satisfactory position attacking in the center and, but Nimzovicj’s counterattack on the weakened light squares on the Q-side lead to victory. The game was played at Hanover in 1926 in celebration of the local club’s fifty year anniversary. Eight players were invited, including two very strong foreigners, Nimzovich and Rubinstein. 

 

ChessBase

Aron Nimzovich–Jacques Mieses1–0A28Hannover15.08.1926Stockfish 17

A28: English Opening: Four Knights Variation 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 Nimzovich called this his special Dresden Variation. Today it has come to be known as the Nimzovich Variation. It's characterized by this early center P advance and the development of the Ns by both sides. It often leads to closed positions and a more strategic and less tactical game. Both players aim to control the center with Ps and Ns. The P-structure can vary greatly which leads to different middlegame plans. One of the main ideas for white is to expand on the Q-side, while black often looks for counterplay on the K-side or in the center. b4 5.d3 d6 6.g3 c5 7.g2 Nimzovich thought the preventative 7.h3 was also worth considering. However, that move seem to have been rarely tried in this position. In any case it does not lead to more than equality. g4 Normal moves here are 7...Nd4 and 7...Bg4. The "threat" of capturing on f2 is innocuous. 8.0-0 f5 Typical risky play by Miese. Castling was a safe option. Nomzovicj comments that this position is hard to evaluate: Black appears strong on the dark squares (f2 and d4), but white seems to be in a position to initiate some counterplay based on the light squares. Engines prefer white by about a P and a half. 8...xf2 This is rarely a good idea. 9.xf2 xf2+ 10.xf2 0-0 When discussing this type of situation (B+N vs. R+P_ GM Arthuir Bisguier once commented that he belueved that against a weaker opponent he could win with either side. Of course, that's usually the case, but here engines give white a consoderable advantage. 9.d5 This results in equality. According to Nimzovich two other moves worth considering were 9.exf5 and 9.Bg5 which is preferred by Stockfish and keeps the advantage in white's favor. h6 This is highly questionable because as Nimzovich points out it damages his dark square as it is a loss of time and it also helps white with his light squared plans: Again, castling seems almost obvious. 10.exf5 xf5 Already the engines are declaring a decisive advantage for white! Great! The N is headed for g6. 11.h4 e6 12.g6 g8 13.h3 Nimzovich wrote that now that he has control of all the light squares, hr now sets about driving his opponent off the dark. ones. However, this move loses most all of his advantage! 13.e3 For reasons only known to Stockfish this move is rated much higher as black cannot capture the B. xe3 14.fxe3 xe3 15.xe3 g5 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.f3 is winning for white. 13...f6 14.e3 Preparing for b4, because if he had played it straight away the reply 14...Nd4 would have been possible. At this point white's advantage consists of a strong initiative. xd5 This is the wrong capture. Nimzovich wrote that it seems 14...Bf7 was necessary. He commented that while black is defending against the individual threats he is not achieving anything by way of clearing up the situation on the light squares. All this seems somewhat esoteric, but it IS a bad move. 14...f7 and apparently Nimzovich overlooked 15.xe5 xe5 16.xc5 Black has three captures (16...cad5, 16...Bxd5 and 16...Nxd5), but white retains a clear advantage after each one. Just ti guve inr variation... xd5 17.cxd5 dxc5 18.e1 e7 19.d4 cxd4 20.xd4 0-0-0 21.xe5 f6 22.ae1 with what should be a decisive advantage, 14...xe3 This move (not mentioned by Nimzovice, perhaps deliberately) very nearly equalizes. 15.fxe3 xd5 16.cxd5 e7 and white cannot claim ant really significant advantae; in Shootouts white scored +1 -0 =4 15.cxd5 d4 16.f4 d7 17.b4 b6 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.xe5 e7 20.c4 Black is of course lost, but Mieses' inventiveness in looking for a way to save the game is commendable. d8 Q-side castling is out of the question. 20...0-0-0 21.xb6+ axb6 22.xd4 xd5 23.b3 d6 White is clearly winning. 24.ae1 21.a4 This is not as bad as Nimzovich seemed to think when he stated (cirrectly) that there is a win with 21.Re1 or even the fancier 21.d6 21.d6 cxd6 22.e1 c7 23.xb6 xb6 with a clear win. 24.d2 21...e8 22.h2 e2 23.d6 White let himself be hoodwinked. Simply 23.Qxe2 would have won quite easily. (Nimzovich) 23.xe2 xe3 24.b2 d7 25.fe1 g5 26.e5 e7 27.d4 To the untrained eye it may look like black os OK, but Nimzovich and the engines realize "white is clearly winning." 23...cxd6 24.e1 This is also a poor move! Capturing on b6 with either piece is better, but there is an even better continuation. 24.f3 c3 25.b3 cd5 26.xb6 xb6 27.d4 e6 28.xe6 xe6 29.a5 bd7 30.a6 and threats along the a8-h1 diagonal prove decisive. A hard line to spot! 24.xe2 is simplest. xe3 25.f3 pinning the B. If d5 26.fe1 d4 27.b5 b8 28.b6 axb6 29.ab1 White has broken through. 24...xe3 25.xe2 g1+ 26.xg1 xe2 Unfortunately for black, white's "loss of the exchange has force the game away from the normal course of development, but it made no difference to the essential element of the situation - namely the attacking possibilities on the (ligjt) squares." Nimzovich 27.xd6 e7 28.a5 28.d4 leads to a quick knocjout. d7 29.xb7+ e8 29...c8 30.c1+ b8 31.f4+ mates 30.c4 xd3 31.c6 28...d7 29.e1 d2 30.c4 xb4 31.a6 The attack is not over and this is the breakthrough. c8 32.b1 It's not over 'til it's over. - baseball player Yogi Berra 32.axb7 xb7 33.xb7 xb7 34.d4+ d7 35.e5 c7 And black is still fghting...for all practical purposes it might even be said he has equalized! 32...a4 33.axb7 Nimzovich now proves he can win a won game. b8 34.c5 c7 35.d4+ d7 36.xg7 c5 37.h8+ c7 38.xh6 c2 39.d6+ d8 40.f1 e8 41.f8+ Brilliant! It's mate in 9, so Mieses resigned. 41.f8+ OK, so the prosaic 31.Qe5+ mates 3 moves sooner...this is prettier. xf8 42.xb8+ f7 43.f4+ g7 44.b8 xg2+ 45.xg2 e6 46.fd6 c8 47.xc8 f4+ 48.gxf4 a6 49.cf8+ h7 50.dh6# 1–0

Download PGN

A Maze of Complications

    When it comes to World War II one rarely thinks of Cuba, but the country became involved in 1939 because of its geographical location at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. Havana's role as the principal trading port in the West Indies and Cuba's natural resources made it an important participant in the American Theater. 

    Consequently, Cuba was one of the greatest beneficiaries of the United States' Lend-Lease program. Still, Cuba did not declare war on the Axis powers until December 1941, making it one of the first Latin American countries to enter the war. Cuba lost six merchant ships during the war and the Cuban Navy was credited with sinking one German submarine. 

    Before Cuba got fully involved in the war, there was a tournament held in Havana toward the end of January in 1940 that aroused great interest, but only in Cuba. The only major chess magazine in the U.S. in those days was Chess Review and despite the fact that Isaac Kashdan who was one of the country’s top players (along with Samuel Reshevsky and Reuben Fine) won the tournament it received scant mention and only a few games survive. 

    The event was held in one of the mo st beautiful buildings in Havana, the Centro Asturiano. During the evening tourists watched the games. The players we re entertained by various government offices and they were taken on outings by the city’s notable citizens. 

    In the following game Kashdan defeats a player known only as “Paz” in a game that at one point had a maze of tactical possibility that never happened. I was unable to locate any information on Señor Paz, but his play in this game was quite impressive ans he made a good account of himself and nearly succeeded in holding the formidable Isaac Kashdan to a draw.

 

ChessBase

Isaac Kashdan–Paz1–0C14Havana InternationalHavana CUB01.1940Stickfish 17/Dragon by Komodo

C14: French: Classical System 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.c3 f6 4.g5 e7 5.e5 fd7 6.xe7 xe7 7.d2 a6 8.f4 c5 9.f3 c6 10.g3 White usually plays 10.dxc5, but the slower text has actually yielded better results. b5 11.e2 Usual is the immediate 11.Bg7 b6 12.b3 b7 12...b4 13.c1 c4 with complete equality. 13.h3 A P offer which black refuses although he could have safely accepted it. g6 13...xd4 14.exd4 cxd4 15.xd4 d7 16.0-0 c5 White has no continuations that offer more than equality. As for black's extra P, due to the blocked nature of the position and his cramped pieces he has little chance of putting the P to good use. Five Shootouts were uneventful draws. 14.0-0 c8 The game Is taking a normal course fir the French. White Is planning a K-side attack while black counters on the Q-side. However, black might have considered capturing twice on d4 which would have simplified the position a bit. 15.f2 A real GM move, This plans to defend the c-Pawn and, at the same time, prepares to double Rs on the f-file. d7 16.e1 Evidently this is designed to prevent ...f6 cxd4 The correct continuation. 16...f6 17.dxc5 fxe5 18.xe5 xc5 19.xc6 xc6 20.xe6 xe6 21.d4 d7 22.f5 and white is winning. 17.fxd4 This is interesting, but not better than the text. 17.f5 gxf5 18.xf5 Black should now play ...h5-h4 with interesting play, but he must not play exf5 19.fxd4 dxe5 20.xc6 xc6 21.d4 f6 22.xf5 c7 23.h6 with a winning attack. A likely continuation might be g8 24.d4 d6 25.xf6 xf6 26.xf6 g7 27.xe5+ e7 28.e6 d6 29.f8+ d7 30.d8+ c6 31.d4+ c5 32.b4+ etc. 17...c5 A well-played move that keeps things equal. White must now prevent ...Ne4. 18.g2 xd4 19.xd4 e4 An interesting position. In Chess Review magazine an unidentified annotator called this a positional error because black's Ps are all on the same color as his N which means it is very limited in scope. He added that in addition after the exchange black's P on e4 is very weak and will probably be lost in any resulting ending. Stockfish, however, finds no fault with wither 19...Ne4 or 19...O-O and evaluates the position at dead even. In its evaluation Dragon by Komodo aggres with Stockfish. 20.xe4 dxe4 21.b4 An important restraining move. It also opens up the possibility of Nb4-c5 should the need arise. d8 22.c3 c7 23.e3 h5 24.h4 0-0 Here or at some point black could also consider repositioning his B with ...Bd5-c4 25.h2 g7 26.ef1 26.f5 is tempting, but it doesn't seem to lead to anything either. After xe5 27.ef1 d5 28.f6+ h7 29.f3 c7 30.g5+ g8 31.xe4 h7 White has to take the draw with 32.Ng5+ 26...c8 With this logical looking move attacking the c-Pawn black finally has slipped up. 26...g8 renders 27.f5 innocuous. 27.f5 exf5 28.g5 f8 29.h6+ e7 30.e6 e8 31.exf7+ xf7 32.xf5 gxf5 33.xf5 g6 34.xg6+ xg6 35.f8+ e7 36.8f7+ e6 37.xb7 and the double R ending will most likely be drawn. 27.f5 Now this is a knockout punch as it leads to a winning attack. d5 With this and his next move black avoids some violent white threats, but the ensuing exchanges allow white to obtain a fairly easy ending. 27...xc3 is no better. 28.xc3 xc3 29.fxe6 c7 30.exf7 d5 31.e6 and white is winning. 28.g5 Wham!! The addition of the Q to the attack is fatal. Black is mow faced with a maze of choices, but none of them help him save the game. d8 Faced with a maze of choices, Paz chooses the best try. It's not sufficient to save the game, but it's still the best move available. 28...xc3 This is just as bad as before. 29.fxg6 fxg6 30.e7+ h6 31.xf8 mates in d2+ 32.1f2 e3 33.2f7 Black can only avoid mate by tossing material. 28...xe5 is met by 29.f6+ h7 30.xe5 28...exf5 Stockfish spots a mate in 29.xf5+ g8 30.f6 xe5 31.xe5 f6 32.xd5+ h8 33.d7 g8 34.d6 g7 35.xc8+ g8 36.d7 g7 37.d8+ h7 38.xe4 g5 39.xf6+ g6 40.h8 a7 41.xh5+ g7 42.h7+ f8 43.h5+ e8 44.f8# 28...e3 This is also a good try as there is no forced win and it leads to complications. For example... 29.xe3 ce8 30.g5 exf5 31.xf5+ g8 32.d1 a8 33.h6+ h7 34.d6 xe5 34...e6 35.xe6 fxe6 36.xf8 35.xe5 b7 Threatening mate on h1 36.d1 xh6 37.f4+ h7 White is the exchange up and theoretically at least should win. 29.fxe6 Kashdan misses a stronger, but hard to see, line. 29.e3 is more deadly. c7 30.g5 d8 and white has a nice finish. 31.xe6+ xe6 32.fxe6 xg5 33.xf7+ xf7 34.xf7+ g8 35.hxg5 xc3 36.f6 c7 37.g2 White picks off the e-Pawn and wins the ending. 29...xg5 30.hxg5 White now has only a modest advantage, but Kashdan was one of the best endgame players in the world and so practically speaking black us facing a difficult task trying to hold the game. 30.xf7+ is not nearly as god as the text! xf7 31.xf7+ g8 32.hxg5 xe6 33.f6 g4 34.xg6+ h7 35.c6 e8 36.e6 e3 37.g2 e2 It's doubtful that white can win. In Shootouts white scored +1 -0 =4 30...fxe6 Missing his last chance to try and save the game. 30...c7 keeps white's advantage at a minimum after 31.g1 e3 32.xf7+ cxf7 33.exf7 xf7 34.e1 White needs to keep the R on if he wants to have any chance at winning. f2 35.xe3 g2+ 35...xa2 at once would lead to an eventual loss. 36.e6 f8 Black has problems in that his R is out of play. 37.e2 e7 38.f4 c4 39.xg6+ 36.f1 xa2 31.xf8 xf8 32.xf8 xf8 Kashdan now gets to strut his stuff in the ending. 33.a3 e3 34.g1 e7 35.c2 e2 36.f2 c4 37.e3 Played to bring the K to a strong square. 37.d4 was sufficient to win though as it wins the e-Pawn. d7 38.xe2 c6 39.f4 a2 40.e3 followed by Kd4 keeping the black K out and then a K-side P falls.. 37...d3 38.g2 c4 39.f4 d7 40.xg6 e8 41.f4 f7 42.xh5 g6 43.f4+ xg5 44.xe2 f5 45.e3 xe5 46.f4 f5 47.d3 Black resigned. The threat is Nc5 winning the a-Pawn. Paz put up a good fight, but Kashdan's play was just a bit more precise. 47.d3 xd3 48.xd3 g4 49.e4 xg3 50.e5 f3 51.xe6 e3 52.d5 d3 53.c6 xc3 54.b6 b3 55.xa6 c4 56.a5 and the b-Pawn falls, 1–0

Download PGN

A Paul Keres Correspondence Brilliancy

    The legendary Estonian Paul Keres (1916-1975, 59 years old) was one of the strongest players never to win the World Championship. He was universally admired for his clear-cut style of play and chivalrous personality. Born in Narva, Estonia his family moved back to Parnu roght after WW I. 

    He was very active in correspondence play during his youth and the following brilliancy prize game is an example of his correspondence play in which he defeated a prominent correspondence player of the era. The game was played in an international correspondence tournament. 

    Fred Reinfeld claimed that this game is the earliest known game in which Keres carries out an attack in the grand manner that he was known for. Reinfeild added that, "One can only marvel at the poise and sophistication of the youthful victor.” You can view a post card sent by von Feilitzsch HERE.

ChessBase

M. von Feilitzsch–Paul Keres0–1C22Int'l Correspondence Tmt1932Stockfish 17

C22: Center Game 1.e4 e5 2.d4 This antiquated opening was mostly abandoned by 1900 because it gives white no advabtage. In the 1980s strong tactical players like Alexander Shabalov and later Alexei Shirov, Michael Adams, Judit Polgár and Alexander Morozevich revived it, but it never caught on. exd4 3.xd4 c6 This is the nearly universal reply; white loses a tempo. 4.e3 This, the Paulsen Attack, is undoubtedly the best place for the Q. f6 5.c3 b4 6.d2 0-0 7.0-0-0 e8 8.c4 Usual is 7.Qg3, but the move played is an attempt to obtain a speculative attack at the cost of a Pawn. d6 Keres suggested 8...Na5 and ...d5 8...xc3 9.xc3 xe4 10.f4 with equal chances as in Winawer-Steinitz, Nuremberg, 1890., but Keres prefers to take the offensive 8...a5 was a suggestion of Keresm but after 9.e2 d5 Also suggested by Keres. 10.xd5 xd5 11.d3 f6 12.xd5 the chances are equal. 9.f3 Instead of this defensive move white should probably have developed with 9.Nf3 a5 9...e5 wa superior. 10.b3 a5 11.a4 c6 12.ge2 b5 and black is developing a dangerous initiative. 10.d3 10.b3 xb3+ 11.axb3 a5 12.f2 d7 13.ge2 a4 14.bxa4 xa4 15.b1 Black is better. Romero Holmes,A (2490)-Karpov,A (2725) Madrid 1992 10...d5 Freeing himself. 11.g5 h6 11...d4 White should now play 12.Nd5 with equal chances and not 12.ce2 h6 13.g3 xd2+ 14.xd2 c5 15.c3 c6 16.b5 a5 17.xc6 bxc6 and black has a decisive advantage. Rudd,J (2288)-Rayner,F (2166) Hastings ENG 2013 12.h4 d4 13.ce2 Too passive. 13.Nd5 was better. xd2+ 14.xd2 c5 White is not only sadly lagging in his development, but he is also facing aP- storm against jis K. 15.c4 This only makes matters worse as it weakens his dark squares, but ot's hard to suggest anything that could really be considered better. e6 16.b3 It's futile to try and avoid this weakening move. b5 The attack begins in earnest. Black is winning. 17.f4 Making way to develop the other N. bxc4 18.xe6 xe6 19.bxc4 b8 20.e2 b6 Black's P advances gave resulted in the opening of the b-file which he now proceeds to exploit. 21.d1 b4 22.g3 d7 There is more to this unassuming move than meets the eye. It defends the R and in doing so freeing the Q-and at the same time makes room for his other R along the third rank. But it also prepares some spectacular play/ 23.c2 a3 24.f4 There is nothing better, but Keres refutes it in spectacular fashion. g6 25.f3 Watch this... xg2 This R cannot be taken. 26.e5 A last hope. This keeps the R under attack and threatens to win black's Q with Bh7+ 26.xg2 xd3+ 27.d2 b1+ 28.c1 a3 29.c2 d3 wins. 26...b1+ A nice finale. 27.c1 xc4 28.xb1 e3+ 29.xe3 dxe3 30.c4 a4+ 31.b3 e4 32.b2 Keres is not done with impressive moves! xe2 White resigned. 32...xe2 33.xe2 33.xe2 b1# 33...xh1 34.xe3 c1+ 0–1

Download PGN

Mikhail Yudovich, Sr.

    The obscure Soviet Master, writer and journalist Mikhail Yudovich (1911-1987) was born in Roslavl in central Russia and is known mostly as co-author with Kotov of the book The Soviet School of Chess. 

    In 1930, he tied for 5–9th in the Moscow Championship and in 1931, he took 4th in the same event, and shared 3rd in the USSR Championship in Moscow (Botvinnik won). He was the Soviet Correspondence Champion in 1966. 

    Yudovich was awarded the titles of International Master in 1950, International Correspondence Master in 1961, and International Correspondence Grandmaster in 1973. His son, Yudivuch, Jr. (1932-1992) was also a strong player. And that;s about ll that is known of him. Chessnetrics estimates his highest ever world rank to have been #46 in 1937 with a rating of 2580. 

    The following game was played in 1937 in a small tournament held in Moscow as a sort of tuneup for some of the Soviet players for upcoming tournaments in Margate, England, Kemeri, Latvia and the International Team Tournament. 

    Reuben Fine was visiting Russia and besides the Moscow event participated in another small tournaments in Leningrad which he also won. 

    During his brief stay in Russia his time was occupied principally with chess, but he wrote that he also had many deep impressions of life in Russia. One thing he commented on was the “thirst for knowledge”; for example, studies of mathematics, languages and engineering. Aside from that, what caught his attention was people’s enthusiasm for work and for life itself. He saw it as a sign of a new, rising culture. 

    One wonders if Fine was aware that in 1937, Russia was in the midst of the Great Purge, a period of political repression that took place from 1936 to 1938. It was a way for Joseph Stalin to consolidate his power and eliminate his political opponents. Some of the events that took place included the arrest of worker responsible for what was considered a harmful population growth. 

    Then there were the Moscow trials that saw many party, government and economic activists branded as enemies. In the Polish Operation the NKVD arrested people of Polish background, including peasants, railway workers, industrial laborers and engineers. 

    Fine wrote that one of the signs of this new culture was particularly apparent in the field of chess. Chess books were being sold in the tens of thousands and every chess player considered it necessary to read all the books on chess that they could get. 

    He also observed that practically everyone in the county was interested in chess and spectators at tournaments displayed extraordinary interest and applause was a common occurrence. 

    Fine was impressed with the Soviet masters who, he said, confirmed his observations that they all apply themselves diligently and persistently. They were not only familiar with all the Soviet chess literature, but also with the foreign. 

    Fine was invited to play in these two tournaments to test the young, inexperienced Soviet players. The head of Soviet chess Nikolai Krylenko was very angry with the their play. When he asked, "Can't somebody beat Fine?",  Yudovich announced that he would. When asked how he expected to do it, Yudovich showed Krylenko an obscure game that Fine had won and future GM  Ragozin had found a mistake in Fine's play that refuted the line.

    Fine gave the following game he lost to Yudovich as an example. Yudovich “bluntly refuted” one of Fine’s favorite variations. Fine also found it interesting that practically all the Soviet masters favored energetic attacking play and did not fear a loss. 

 

Tactical Blows by Kotov

    Today’s game is another instructive win by Alexander Kotov. This time the victum was the English IM Harry Golombek (1911-1995, 83 years old). Born in London, he warded the IM title at its inception in 1950 and an Emeritus GM title in 1985. Golombek was British Champion in 1947, 1949 and 1955. He was an accomplished author with biographies on Capablanca and Reti as well as other lesser known chess books. 

 

 

 

 

 

    In this game Kotov again demonstrates his tactical prowess. We all enjoy tactics and this game shows how sometimes in a very deeply calculated variation a surprise tactic is lurking. And, sometimes they are found only by accident. In this game Kotov used a tactical blows to solve a comp1icated strategical problem.

 

ChessBase

Alexander Kotov–Harry Golombek1–0E24Venice ITA11Venice ITA10.1950Stockfosh 17

E24: Nimzo-Indian: Saemisch 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.a3 This sharp move, the Saemisch Variation, has fallen into disuse in favor of the Rubinstein Variation (4,e3) or the Capablanca Variation (4.Qb2). Originally 4. a3 was a direct attempt to refute the Nimzo0Indian. White accepts doubled Ps to get the two Bs. xc3+ 5.bxc3 Black has several possibilities; the most common is to blockade the c-Pawns with 5....c5 and then proceed to attack them with ...b6, ...Ba6, ... Nc6-a5 and ...Rc8. As compensation, white gets a strong P-center. d6 This seldom played move has not proven very successful. 6.f3 6.e4 This is an interesting move suggested by Stockfish which has been played only rarely. In the few example I foind black always played 6...e6, bit theengine line looks intriguing. xe4 7.g4 f5 8.xg7 f6 9.xf6 xf6 10.d3 with equal chances. 6...e5 Golombek choose a system that aims to restrict the advance of white;s Ps. White's goal is now to break thorough while black will try to consolidate his position. 6...c5 is an alternative. 7.e4 c6 8.e3 b6 9.d3 and black can play either 9...Na5 or 9...e5 with equal chances. 7.e4 c6 8.e3 8.g5 e7 9.e2 d7 10.g3 h6 with equality. Bosiocic,M (2562)-Postny,E (2662) 13. EICC Plovdiv BUL 2012 8...b6 9.d3 0-0 9...a5 10.e2 c5 11.g4 e7 12.h4 a6 13.d5 0-0-0 equals. Malinovsky,P (1971)-Rocha,S (2316) World Senior 50+ 2022 Assisi ITA 10.e2 a6 10...a5 11.g3 c5 12.d5 a6 13.e2 c7 White has the more active position. Dimitrov,R (2437)-Emiroglu,C (2260) 52. World Juniors Kocaeli TUR 2013 11.g3 This makes room for the Q on e2 in the event black plays ... Na5 with a double attack on the P on c4. In failing to play 11...Na5 Golobek's position begins to deteriorate. d7 The Q is badly placed here as it allows white to carry out a P maneuver which secures him a positional advantage. 12.f5 Even better was 12.O-O and 13.f4 e8 This move is too pssive. On order to stay in the game b;ack needs to play energetically. 12...h8 A high class waiting move. 13.g5 13.f4 would be a mistake because after exf4 14.xf4 xe4 15.xe4 ae8 16.0-0 16.f3 xf5 16...xe4 Black is much better/ 13...h5 14.d5 a5 with equal chances. 12...h5 13.f4 f6 13...exf4 This is ineffective with the N on e8 and not f6. 14.xf4 e7 15.xe7+ xe7 16.0-0 with an active position. 13...e7 Challenging the N on e5 is his best try. After 14.xe7+ xe7 15.0-0 Black has two moves that give him some active play: 15...f5 and 15...c5?! 14.d5 White has to play vigorously or else black will generate counterplay on the Q-side. Consequently, Kotov decides to block the center which sets a clever tactical trap. a5 Attacking the c-Pawn is routine and quite logical, but Golombek has not noticed the lurking dangers. Although white still has the better of it, challenging the N on e5 with 14...Ne7 was better. 15.c5 Kotov makes an astute observation stating that "tactics are the service of strategy. " With this move white turns the weak c4 square into a strong styrategic outpost. that practically decides the outcome. Whi te's strong P-formation separates so that they are unable to offer any coordinated resistance. xd3 16.c6 Driving a serious wedge in black's position. d8 17.xd3 Notice how poorly placed all of black's pieces are. g6 18.h6+ g7 19.f5 Beginning the final assault against which black is destitute of any real defensive resources. g5 WIth the pitiful hope yjay his opponent will allow the K-side to be locked up. 20.h4 20.g4 h5 21.f2 b3 and black can offer some resistance. 20...b3 Of course the N cannot be taken. 20...xh6 21.hxg5+ g7 22.g6 h8 23.e2 White adds his Q to the fray. g8 24.g4 g7 25.h6 Intending to double on the h-file. e7 26.h4 wins. 21.b1 c5 22.xc5 dxc5 Black is completely helpless. 23.g3 h8 23...g4 is just a fraction better. 24.xg4 e7 25.f2+ h8 26.e3 g8 with a very faint hope that he can use the g-file to beat back the attack. 27.g4 ...but it's not likely; black's pieces are just too limited in scope. 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.g4 f6 26.xe5 d6 Leading to mate is 26 ... Qe8 27 Nxf6 Qxe5 28 Rxh7. Now, however, the exchange of queens and knights is forced, after which the rook ending is won without difficulty for White thanks to the menacing c6 pawn. 26...e8 hoping to trade Qs is met by 27.xf6 which eventually leads to mate. Black cannot play xe5 28.xh7# 27.xd6 cxd6 28.xf6 xf6 Golombek has successfully beaten off the attack and reached a double R ending whicj are often difficult for the superior side to win. but here white plays with gfreat finesse and opens files for his Rs while black's are powerless. 29.d2 e8 30.d3 g7 31.a4 Kotov begins a very clever winning maneuver. f7 32.a5 bxa5 33.g4 fe7 34.he1 f6 One might expect white to attempt some sort of a R invasion on the a- or h-file, nut he has a tactical trick up his sleeve that results in two connected passed Ps on d5 and c6 which are decisive. 35.e5+ Decisive. Golombek's play was actually quite good, but Kotov's was even better! 35.e5+ A sample line might be dxe5 36.e4 Black has no useful move. d8 37.h1 f7 38.d6 There was no way to prevent this. a4 39.c7 c8 40.h6+ g7 41.b8 xh6 42.xc8 a3 43.g8 a2 44.c8 a1 45.e6+ f6 46.xf6# 1–0

Download PGN

Losing in the Opening

    The earliest known work on theory was by the Spaniard Luis Ramirez de Lucena, published around 1497. It included, among other things, analysis of eleven openings. Although he did not use the names they are known by today, the analysis included the Giuoco Piano, Ruy Lopez, Petrov's Defense, Bishop's Opening, Damiano's Defense and the Scandinavian Defense. 

    Appearing at about the same time was the Gottingen Manuscript which includes openings now known as Damiano's Defence, Philidor's Defense, the Giuoco Piano, Petrov's Defense, the Bishop's Opening, the Ruy Lopez, the Ponziani Opening, the Queen's Gambit Accepted, a form of the London System, Bird's Opening and the English. 

    The first author to attempt a comprehensive survey of the openings was Aaron Alexandre in 1837. The Russian player CarlJaenisch produced the first openings analysis on modern openings in 1842. 

    In 1843, Paul von Bilguer published the German Handbuch des Schachspiels, which which went through several editions, the last being published in 1916 It was one of the most important opening references for years. 

     In 1911, R. C. Griffith and J. H. White published the first edition of Modern Chess Openings. It was the standard reference for decades and sometime annotated games included the location in MCO where the line could be found. MCO-11 was the opening book I grew up with!

    In 1943, Reuben Fine published Ideas Behind the Chess Openings which sought to explain the principles underlying the openings. In 1948, he published Practical Chess Openings, a competitor to MCO.

    In 1964, I.A. Horowitz published Chess Openings: Theory and Practice, which in addition to opening analysis includes a large number of illustrative games. Neither Fine’s nor Horowitz’ opening books succeeded in taking the place of MCO.

    A major advance in opening theory came in the days of Nimzovich and the Hypermoderns who claimed control of the center from the flanks, rather than its occupation, was effective.

    Alekhine et al also contributed to opening theory. Their idea idea was that it was necessary to take into account a11 the features of the position and look at all its characteristics. Only then was it possible to select the best move. As a result, sometimes it was possible to establish a winning position right in the opening and that is exactly what Kotov accomplished in the following game. The game lasted 33 moves, but white was lost at move 8! 

    Alexander Kotov was born in Tula. He was a Soviet Champions and two time participant in the Candidate tournaments. A prolific author, he is probably best remembered for his book Think Like A Grand master. 

     His opponent, Bukhuti Gurgenidze (1933-2008, 74 yeas old) was awarded the IM title in 1968 and the GM title in 1970. He won the Georgian Championship twelve times between 1955 and 1973. This game was played in 1954 in the Semi-Finals of the USSR Championship which was won by Vladimir Antoshin ahead of Kotov. Gurgenidze finished tenth (out of 16)

.

ChessBase

Bukhuti Gurgenidze–Alexander Kotov0–1B23Semi-Finals USSR Chp, YerevanYerevan URS1954Stockfish 17

B23: Closed Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.c3 In this, the the Closed Variation, white doesn’t open the center with an early d2-d4. Instead, he often fianchettos the light B and plans to slowly build up on the K-side. c6 3.ge2 The setup white adopts in this game has not neem very successful and the N pn e2 is not especially well placed. f6 4.g3 This move, also, is not very highly recommended because, as Kotov explained, the white squares οn the K-side are weakened ίη that brief moment when the B is still onm f1. Kotov's mext coi[le pf moves demonstrate the concept quite clearly! d5 Kotov, realizing he has no time to lose, acts with great energy. If he doesn't act immediately then in a couple of moves white will placed his B on g2 and castle when his position would be solid. 5.exd5 d4 By threatening ...Nf3 black exploits the momentary weakness of the white squares. 6.g2 6.xd4 is not satisfactory because of... cxd4 7.b5 to which Kotov intended to answer with 7...Qb3, but has better with... e5 White has no really satisfactory reply. 8.dxe6 xe6 9.g2 c4 The N is trapped because if 10.a4 e7+ 11.e4 xe4+ 12.e2 xe2# 6...g4 7.d3 A natural move, but is is also where white starts to go wrong. In this case it's a simple one move delay in castling. 7.h3 f3 8.xf3 xf3+ 9.f1 has been seen in a few games and while theoretically the position is equal white has not done especially well indicating that practically speaking black has good chances. 7.0-0 is, as might be expected, his best continuation. f3 7...xd5 8.f3 f5 9.xd4 cxd4 10.xd5 xd5 Here, too, black appears to have something of an advantage, but it's probably not enough that he can demonstrate a clear superiority. 8.xf3 xf3+ 9.g2 d4 White's kight squares on the K-side are weakened and the d-Pawn is a goner, but b;ack, who is lagging in development, probablt cannot untilize those factors. 7...xd5 8.xd5 This loses! Gurgenidze did not realize how effective the Q will be on d5. 8.d2 was necessary, but black has the edge after f3+ 9.xf3 xf3 10.g1 e6 8...xd5 Simple and decisive. 9.f3 It was probably here that Gurgenidze realized he can't take the Q. 9.xd5 leads to mate. f3+ 10.f1 h3# 9...xf3 The game is already decided, but white can hardly resign after only 9 moves; it would just be too embarrassing. 10.f1 g2 11.e3 f3+ Things can't get much worse for white. 12.xf3 xf3 13.xc5 White has a N+P vs. a R, but worse than the material deficit is his miserable position. h5 Planning to rip white's K-side to shreds. 14.d2 g6 15.e3 h4 16.g1 hxg3 17.hxg3 h3 Mission accomplished. The next step is an invasion on the K-side. 18.b5 c8 19.e1 a6 20.bd4 g2 21.xg2 xg2 22.f4 h1 23.g1 g7 24.c4 d8 25.c2 e5 26.d4 f8 27.e2 White cannot claim to have even one well placed piece. exd4 28.cxd4 f3 29.e3 g4 30.f4 xe2 31.xe2 d2 Not only are white's three pieces useless his K is exposed. 32.c3 h5 33.d5 d4 White resigned. His opening lead to a catastrophic debacle in a nearly flawlessly played game by Kotov! 0–1

Download PGN