A Brilliancy Prize for Bobby Fischer

    The year 1962 started off with Mikhail Botvinnik winning the Hastings Congress and Viktor Korchnoi winning the Soviet Championship, held in Yerevan. Larry Evans won the US Championship; Bobby Fischer did not play. 

    For some players, it was just a plain bad year. On March 11, 1962, Soviet GM Vyacheslav Ragozin (1908-1962) died in Moscow at the age of 53. On April 3, 1962, Ernst Grünfeld (1893-1962) died in Vienna at the age of 68. On May 4, 1962, the strong Czech master Josef Rejfir (1909-1962) died at the age of 52. On October 9, 1962, Dr. Milan Vidmar (1885-1962) died in Ljubljuna, Yugoslavia at the age of 77. On November 30, 1962, Ossip Bernstein (1882-1962) died in France at the age of 80. 

    On October 25, 36-year-old strong coffeehouse player, Senior Master Abe Turner (1924-1962), who had been employed by Al Horowitz at Chess Review for two weeks, was murdered. He was stabbed in the back 9 times and beaten with a hammer and his 280 pound body stuffed in a large safe in the basement. 

    He and another employee had been taking the trash out of the Chess Review office. Turner’s body was found by the building superintendent that afternoon after he followed a trail of blood. 

    The murderer was a fellow employee who had been as a handyman at Chess Review for six months. His name was Theodore Smith, an ex-mental patient who had not long before been released from an insane asylum. 

    Smith was arrested that night and he led police to the murder weapon, a hunting knife, he had buried in Central Park. He told police that Turner was a Communist spy and had to be killed on orders from the Secret Service. Smith was sent to Bellvue Mental Hospital and from there the trail goes cold. 

    For Bobby Fischer the results were mixed. In April, 1962, the 18-year old Fischer dominated the Stockholm Interzonal, finishing 2.5 points ahead of the field. But, it was Tigran Petrosian who won the Curacao Candidates while Fischer finished in 4th place. He later accused the Russians of cheating by pre-arranging the results of games among themselves. 

    In the following game from Interzonal Fischer’s opponent was Julio Bolbochan (1920-1996), of Argentina. He was born in Buenos Aires and was Argentine Champion in 1946 and 1948. He was awarded the IM title in 1955 and an honorary GM title in 1977. At Stockholm 1962 he finished in 13th place and although he was slated to play at Sousse 1967, illness prevented him from participating. Other than this, most of his chess was in South America. He was the younger brother of Jacobo Bolbochan. 

    The game features a rare sideline against the Sicilian that Fischer had obviously prepared and it won him a brilliancy prize.

 

 

ChessBase

Robert Fischer–Julio Bolbochan1–0B90Stockholm Interzonal21Stockholm SWE03.03.1962Stockfish 16

B90: Sicilian Najdorf 1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 a6 6.h3 In a previous game from the same event against Sam Schweber Fischer chose the usual 5.Be3, but here he plays a rare sideline. c6 At the time the recommended continuation was 6...e5 7.Nde2 which was believed would give black an edge. But then later it was discovered that very much the opposite was true and white obtained a distinct advantage. Since then though it's known that the position is equal. So, based on the theory at the time Bolbochan tried something else/ 6...e5 7.de2 h5 8.g5 e6 9.f4 bd7 with equal chances. 7.g4 xd4 8.xd4 e5 9.d3 e7 Fischer correctly claimed that that the immediate 9...Be6 was more accurate. 9...e6 10.g5 d7 11.f4 exf4 12.xf4 e7 and eventually Kuzubov,Y (2615)-Korobov,A (2679) Plovdiv BUL 2012 agreed to a draw. 10.g5 Best. 10.d5 xd5 11.xd5 c7 12.c4 e6 13.d3 Tarnowski,A-Drozd,R Katowice 1961. Black's position is better. 10.g2 e6 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 b5 13.0-0-0 b4 14.e2 Was played in an old game, Gereben,E-Geller,E Budapest 1952, and black stands better. 10...d7 11.e3 c5 11...xg5 allows white to obtain a promising game. 12.xg5 xg5 13.xd6 and white can rely on his Q-side P-majority to give him a slight edge. 12.d2 e6 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.f3 c8 15.b1 Fischer explained this move by saying that amateurs are often puzzled by this apparently needless move, but it's a handy defensive move, getting out of the pin on the c-file which could become annoying after ...b5-b4. He assed, "One never knows when lightning will strike!" d7 16.h4 b5 17.h3 xh3 Unfortunately for black there is no way he can escape trading off his good B. In any case, he is in serious positional trouble. He possibly had hopes of abandon his d-Pawn hoping to put up stiff resistance in a R endgame. 17...b4 falls short. 18.d5 a5 19.h5 a4 20.xe6 fxe6 21.h6 g6 22.xe7+ xe7 23.xb4 18.xh3 b6 19.xb6 xb6 20.d5 White has a strategically won game; his N cannot be dislodged. -- Fischer d8 21.f4 Interesting...Fischer does not cash in his positional advantage for a difficult ending, but instead plays for an attack. 21.xe7+ xe7 22.h2 22.xd6 loses immediately. fd8 22...c6 23.h5 fc8 24.c3 b4 25.cxb4 c4 26.a3 d4 27.c1 d7 28.xc8+ xc8 29.c1 This ending is won, but white still has some work to do. 21...exf4 22.xf4 d7 23.f5 Black may have expected 23.Nf6+ 23.f6+ gxf6 24.gxf6 h8 25.a3 g8 25...d8 26.g3 e6 27.xd6 e8 28.h6 g8 29.g7 wins 26.fxe7 xe7 27.xd6 g1+ 28.a2 A result of having played 26.a3 xc2 29.hd3 c8 30.xa6 White is winning, but, again, he has to work for it. 23...cd8 This is Black's only move. 23...xf5 24.xe7+ h8 25.xf5 and white has won a piece. 24.a3 24.c3 g6 25.f3 e6 26.c7 de8 is also a win for white, but his text move deflects black's Q to a remote location. 24...a7 25.c3 g6 25...d7 26.c7 xf5 27.xe7+ as before. 26.g4 d7 27.f3 27.xd7 xd7 White is clearly better, but he wants his R on c7 28.e5 d8 28...dxe5 29.f6+ 29.c6 is decisive. 27...e6 28.c7 de8 29.f4 An excellent move! The N abandons its fine post on d5 and goes to a square where it stays for the rest of the game. What the move does is clear d5 for the R. e5 30.d5 The black Q is driven to oblivion!.Just 6 moves ago is was uselessly sitting on a7. h8 31.a3 White pauses to avoid lightening striking on the first rank. Also, it's up to black to try and come up with a useful move, but there isn't one. h6 32.gxh6 xh6 33.h5 g5 34.hxg6! The N is bait, but it can't be taken. fxg6 34...xf4 35.gxf7+ xf7 36.xf7 xf7 37.h5 g6 38.xf4+ and white is goping to win this ending one way or another. e7 39.g5 f7 40.f5 e6 41.e3 a8 42.b6 c8 43.h5 f7 44.xd6 35.b3 The coup de grace.--Fischer. xf4 35...h8 36.xg5 xf4 37.c3+ g8 38.b3+ h8 39.d5 fxe4 40.xd6 c4 41.xc4 bxc4 42.xc4 g7 43.xa6 etc. 36.e5+ f8 37.xe8+ Black resigns. It's mate in 3. Pue Fischer genius. 37.xe8+ xe8 38.e6+ f8 39.c8+ d8 40.xd8# 1–0

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A Delicate Touch by Salas Romo

    Back in 1951, unemployment was low as was the inflation rateand the average household income was $3,510 a little over $41,000 in today’s dollars. By comparison the average household income in the United States last year was a little over $67,500. Are we any better off? 

    In any case, in 1951, Americans were buying houses in the suburbs, television, refrigerators and new cars which average $1,500, a cheap $17.600 today. Gas was 10 cents a gallon, $2.23 in today’s dollars which made it cheap even in 1951.

    On January 27, nuclear testing officially began at the Nevada Test Site. Between 1951 and 1992, the US government conducted a total of 1,021 nuclear tests there. I started school in 1951 during the Cold War and remember the “Duck and Cover” precautions were were to take in the event of a nuclear attack. We were taught to hide under a desk or against a wall and cover our neck and face; It would keep us safe. Teachers emphasized that the nearest lage ciyt, some 60 miles away, was targeted by the Russians, so it was very important that we pay attention to the training films we had to watch. You can watch one HERE.

    American citizens Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted and sentenced to for conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. Eventually, on June 19, 1953, Julius died in the electric chair on the first jolt. Ethel's execution wasn’t as smooth. She was given the normal three shocks and the equipment was shut down. However, a doctor determined that she was still alive so she was hooked up again and zapped twice more. Smoke rose from her head and she was pronounced dead.. 

    The chess year of 1951 started off with West Germany’s Wolfgang Unzicker winning at Hastings. 1951 was the year the title of International Arbiter was created and the International Braille Chess Association was founded. 

    Also in January a seven year old Bobby Fischer played Senior Master and US Speed Chess Champion Max Pavey in a simultaneous exhibition. Fischer blundered his Queen 15 minutes into the game. A 14-yea3 old future GM, Edmar Mednis was also playing Pavey and managed a draw. 

    Milton Hanauer won the 1950-51 Marshall Chess Club championship. and Arnold Denker won the Manhattan Chess Club championship. Seventeen year old James Sherwin won the New York state championship. Mary Bain was the women's champion. 

    In Connecticut a 22-year old future strong master named James Bolton was the first person in the state to get arrested for draft evasion case under the new Selective Service Act after the outbreak of the Korean War. His defense was that the law was unconstitutional. It wasn’t and he spent one year and a day in jail.

    Problemist Alain C. White, Alain (born in 1880) died in Sumerville, South Carolina on On April 23, 1951. Geza Maroczy (1870-1951) died in Budapest at age 81. 

    In Moscow, Mikhail Botvinnik drew a match with David Bronstein to retain his world championship. Paul Keres won the 19th USSR Championship in Moscow The Staunton Centenary tournament in England was won by Svetozar Gligoric. Yugoslavia’s Boris Ivkov, age 17, won the first World Junior championship, held in Birmingham, England. 

    Samuel Reshevsky won the Wertheim Memorial in New York. Larry Evans won the US Championship, also held in New York. Evans also won the US Open, held in Fort Worth, Texas. 

    Not many of the world’s chess players noticed, but down in Chile Rene Letelier (1915-2006) won the championship of Chile. He was awarded the iM title in 1960.

 

 

    In the following game Julio Salas Romo (1913 – 1996) defeats his opponent, about whom I could find no information, with a N+B and a passed Pawn which proved too much for his opponent’s Rook. It’s also amusing top watch the wandering of his opponent’s King. From the late 1930s to the early 1960s, Salas Romo was one of Chile's leading chess players. In 1937, he won his Chile Championship and n repeated in 1954, 1955, and 1962.

ChessBase

Julio Salas Romo–Hugo Zamora1–0B50Chile Championship, Santiago1951Stockfish 16

B50: Sicilian Defense 1.e4 c5 2.b3 c6 3.b2 d6 4.f3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 f6 White gets a better P-formation after this, so 6...Bd7 might e a better idea. 7.xc6 bxc6 8.e5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 Watch the King...it's going to mosey up to e5. 10.xe5 g4 10...b4+ 11.c3 c5 12.e2 e7 13.f3 d7 14.d2 hc8 White is better. Varga,Z (2534)-Pogorelov,R (2449) Balaguer 2003 11.b2 c5 12.e2 Very nice! This takes advantage of the undefended N. f6 12...xf2+? 13.f1+- and black must lose a piece. 12...xf2 does not work either. 13.f1± 13.xg7 g8 13...e4 14.xf7 b4+ 15.c3 d6 16.xg7 xh2 17.c4 e5 18.c3 g3+ 19.d1 f2+ 20.d2 f4+ 21.e1 e3 22.f7 g4 23.e4 h6 24.d1+ d4 25.xd4 1-0 Krejci, J (2530)-Fuchs,M (2206) Aschach AUT 2014 13.0-0 e7± 14.c3 d8 15.a4 d6 16.ad1 b7 17.f3 ac8 18.d4 Black's weak Q-side Ps are a cause for concern. a6 19.c4 White would like to be able to play Nc5. c5 19...h6 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5+ e8 22.xd8+ xd8 23.d1+ c7 24.xa7 and white would be winning. 20.c3 Keeping the pressure on the v-Pawn with 20.Be3 would have been more accurate. d7 21.fe1 b7 This repositioning of the B males sense, but it's a tactical mistake as white alertly demonstrates. Black had to stay passive and defend with 20...Ne8 22.xd6 xd6 22...xd6 23.xb7 c7 24.f3 c8 The endings were ratjer tedious, but white prevailed in 5 Shootouts as the black R was no match for the two Bs. 25.h3 23.d1+ d5 23...c7 24.e5+ d8 25.xd7+ xd7 26.xb7 xe5 27.xc8 xc8 28.xc5 with a won N+P ending. 24.cxd5 xd5 25.xd5 exd5 26.xg7 e7 27.b2 d4 28.a3 d5 29.f1 Safety first...he eliminates any possibility of a first rank mate plus it brings the K closer th the blacks Ps...a handy thing in a few moves. He is now ready to add the R to the attack on che c-Pawn. e6 30.c1 c4 Blacj is defending very well...his Ps offer him some play. 31.b2 Very well played! 31.bxc4+ not only makes white task more difficult, but it allows the advantage to swing over to black. xc4 32.xc4 xc4 33.c5 h6 34.h3 g6 35.g3 d3 36.e1 g5 37.d1 e5 38.b7 e2 and black is better. 31...c3 32.d3 e4 33.f3 e3± 34.b4+ e6 35.e1 Black's R is too well placed to leave it on the board. 35.c2 d3 36.e1+ d7 37.c1 And noe black has a magic move that equalizes! d2 38.xd2 38.b4 a5 39.d5 d6 40.f4 xa2 38...cxd2 39.d1 xc2 40.e2 xa2 White has to be caresult that he doesn;t lose by playing 41.Rxd2 41.d3 41.xd2 xd2+ 42.xd2 c6 43.d3 b5 44.xd4 b4 and wins. 41...b2 42.xd4 xb3 43.xd2 b5 44.a2 a5 45.c4 c6 This position is drawn. 35...xe1+ 36.xe1 c5 37.e2 A tiny slip that allows black to equalize! 37.c1 leaves black tied up...However, the possibilities are enfless! a5 38.d3 c8 39.d1 g8 39...h5 40.f4+ d6 41.xh5 h8 42.g4 d3 43.f4+ d5 40.f4+ e5 41.e2 h6 42.d3 d8 43.g3 d7 44.e2 h5 45.f4+ d5 46.xd4 37...a5 A subtle error...this is the wrong Rook file! 37...h5 38.h3 g5 39.g4 e5+ 40.d3 e3+ 41.xd4 xf3 42.d3 c2 43.c1 g3 44.d2 f6 45.c3 xh3 46.xc2 with a likely draw. 38.c2 d5 39.d3 f5 40.f8 White is clearly winning. a6 41.a4 e6 42.b4 42.g7 is not quite as precise/ d5 43.xd4+ f7 44.h6 c2 45.c4 d7 46.xc2 42...d5 43.xd4+ f6 44.xc3 d8 45.b4 e5 46.b5 axb5 47.axb5 f4 48.c4 g8 49.g4 Black resigbed. A touchy ending that was played quite well by both players! 1–0

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Reshevsky Returns to Detroit

    Reshevsky first arrived in Detroit in 1920 and a nationally known checker player named Morris Steinberg took an interest in the chess playing boy wonder and in turn interested Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932), a businessman, philanthropist and part owner of Sears in the prodigy.

    Rosenwald determined that it was in that the boy’s best interest to tale a break fro chess and get his education and enjoy “a normal boyhood.” 

    Consequently, between the years 1924-1931 Reshevsky played only occasionally during school breaks. He entered Northern High School in Detroit, from which he graduated with honors. 

    He then entered the University of Chicago and in 1934 earned his accounting degree from the university's School of Commerce after which he revived his chess career. 

    The year before he graduated from college he returned to Detroit to compete for the Western Open title. Reshevsky was asked if he expected to win the tournament and even though Reuben Fine was playing, Reshevsky’s reply was "Who is there to beat me?" He was right in one respect, nobody did beat him and he even defeated Fine, but he did not win the tournament...Fine did! 

    In the last round Fine, as expected, defeated local master Leon Stoltzenberg. Reshevsky was expected to defeat Chicago master Albert Margolis. Instead, Reshevsky narrowly escaped defeat and was lucky to draw. The result was Fine finished first with 12 points and Reshevsky finished second with 11. Arthur Dake was a distant third with 9.5. 

 

    In the following game Reshevsky defeats Egil Opsakl (1902-1984), a Norwegian born electrical engineer. He arrived in the US in 1927 and settled in Detroit. Opsal enlisted in the US Navy and served from 1942 to 1945. His older brother, Haakon Opsahl (1905-2001, 95 years old) was a master player who ended up in Canada. 

    The closed nature of the game made it very difficult to analyze even with the powerful Stockfish engine and in many cases the positions were unclear. 

    The Fritz program has a Shootout Mode in which the engine plays a series of games against itself. When setting up these Shootouts there are a some variable that you can adjust (blitz and long time controls and fixed depth where you can adjust the number of plies). I prefer the latter method and with the minimum plies set at 7 and the maximum at 15 the result is 5 games are played at lightening speed...engines rip through plies extremely fast. Of course, the results may or may not be what would happen if humans were playing! 

    Analyzing this game with Stockfish was extremely difficult; it suggested moves that were only a fraction of a Pawn better at almost every move! Also, some variations, while the engine evaluated them as clearly superior, I think in practical play things would not gave been at all that clear! See what you think. 

ChessBase

Samuel Reshevsky–Egil Opsahl1–0A46Western Championship, Detroit8Detroit, MI USA28.09.1933Stockfish 16

Stonewall Attack 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.d3 b7 5.0-0 d5 6.e5 bd7 7.f4 The Stonewall P-formation (Ps on c3, d4, e3 and f4) give white a good N outpost on e5 and may provide him with ab opportunity launch a primitive K-side attack. On the other hand, its a rather inflexible P-structure, long-term light square weaknesses and the bad dark squared B can tell against him. a6 An aimless move. 7...e7 8.d2 0-0 9.f3 e4 10.h3 xe5 11.fxe5 f5 12.exf6 xf6 favors black. Mamedyarov,S (2767) -Warmerdam,M (2599) chess.com INT 2021 8.f3 By placing the Q here Reshevsky hopes to use it for attacking purposes. The strategy is successful, but only because of black's cooperation. 8.d2 e4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.c4 g6 11.g4 is equal. Fernandez Hernandez,A (2303)-Janssen,R (2524) Havana CUB 2010 8.g4 might look inviting, but after e4 9.d2 xe5 10.dxe5 c5 white has no real prospects pf a K-side attack. In fact, it's black who does. 11.e2 f6 12.exf6 xf6 Black will play ...O-O-O and then try to take advantage of white's weakened K-side limited in scope pieces. 8...g6 The fianchetto seems to be a good defensive plan against both the Stonewall and the Colle. 9.d2 c5 10.c3 c7 11.h3 g7 12.df3 Neither side can boast of any advabtage here, but Opsahl's next move is an harbinger of trouble. Why he neglects castling is hard to understand. h6 12...0-0 13.g5 d6 14.f3 h6 15.gxf7 xf7 16.xf7 xf7 17.g4 e4 White has no effective way to continue. Five Shootouts from this position resulted in white scoring +1 -3 =1, but the games were very long and arduous. 13.d2 13.xg6 was certainly a possibility. fxg6 14.xe6+ d8 15.f7+ c8 16.xh8 xh8 with a highly unbalanced material situation...a R+2Ps vs. B+N. In Shootouts white scored +1 -0 =4 13.xf7 was the correct sacrifice. After xf7 14.e5+ e8 15.xg6+ d8 16.f7+ 16.xe6 f8 17.h3 c8 Black has a nearly equal position. 16...c8 17.xh8 xh8 18.xh6 White's position is very promising. In 5 very messy and very long Shootout games white scored +4 -0 =1 13...e4 There is no reason not to castle. Black undefended f7 is a sore point. 13...f8 14.e1 0-0-0 15.g3 e4 16.xe4 dxe4 17.xd7 xd7 18.e5 leaves black rather breezy on the Q-side. It's going to take white some time though to get his B and Q into play, but in the long run black's position looks tenuous. 13...0-0 looks perfectly safe as although white has the initiative an attempt by white to dig out the K does not seem to work. 14.g4 e4 15.e1 xe5 16.xe5 cxd4 17.cxd4 e7 18.h4 e8 19.xe4 dxe4 20.c4 c6 14.a4 14.xg6 is interesting, but inconclusive. xd2 15.xh8 xf3+ 16.xf3 xh8 17.xh6 0-0-0 18.g4 Stockfish give white s slight edge here, but very messy Shootouts resulted in white scoring + 3 -1 =1 14...df6 15.e1 e7 15...0-0-0 16.dxc5 xc5 17.e2 ce4 is about equal/ 15...0-0 also seems satisfactory. 16.g4 a5 and black has sufficient resources to defend the K-side. 16.h1 16.xf7 is still playable. xf7 16...xf7 17.e5 g8 17...e7 18.xg6 h7 19.f5 with a strong initiative. 17.e5+ g8 18.xg6 e8 19.xh8 xh8 but white's advantage is minimal. 16...g5 Opening up the K-side is the wrong strategy. 16...c4 closing the Q-side followed by Q-side castling would have been a much safe course. 17.g1 0-0-0 ...c4 here or on the next move would have left his K a bit safer. 18.f3 Even though his K has left the area it is disadvantageous for black to open up the K-side, OTB that would be hard to judge. Engines give white a two P advantage after 18...g5 h5 19.fxg5 xg5 20.f4 fe4 21.xe4 21.xf7 is bo longer feasible. hf8 22.xd8 xf4 23.exf4 xd8 24.fxg5 xg5 Technically the position offers equal chances, but nobody likes parting with their Q without seeing a clear advantage. 21.h4 was the correct move. f6 with a clear advantage. 22.g6 21...xe5 22.xe5 22.dxe5 Taking with the Q loses most of his advantage, but taking with the P leaves white with a clearly better position. xe4 23.h4 f6 23...f8 24.xd8 xd8 25.xf7 24.exf6 f7 25.f3 df8 26.e5 c7 27.g6 22...xe4 23.f4 f6 24.g3 xg3+ The vigorous 23...e5 appears to be a worthwhilw try. 24...e5 25.f5+ b8 26.h4 df8 27.dxe5 xe5 and black should have no difficulties. 25.xg3 dg8 26.h4 g6 27.f2 d7 Now that white has been neutralized white on the K-side, Opsahl turns his attention to getting play on the Q-side, but the correct course would have been to keep the Q0side closed with 27...a5 28.a5 It;s white who strikes on the Q-side! b5 29.dxc5 hg8 With white having gained the advantage on the Q-side black turns his attention back to the K-side...tripling pieces on the g-file 30.e2 Too slow! 30.xh5 g7 31.f3 c7 32.e2 d4 33.e4 f5 and we are back to equal chances! 30...g4 Suddenly Reshevsky is facing problems on g2! 31.h3 d4 32.f4 32.xd4 Paradoxically this is better! xg2+ 33.xg2 xg2 34.d1 c7 35.b4 d7 Of course the Q cannot be taken. 36.xe6 xe6 37.xe6+ c8 38.f4 and white has a fighting chance. 32...xc5 Black misses a golden opportunity! 32...e5 33.d3 c7 Allowing the R to move. 34.e4 xe4 35.e1 xc5 and the attack on g2 leaves white in serious trouble. 33.cxd4 is the wrong way to capture. 33.exd4 f5 34.xh5 xh5 35.xh5 xg2 36.xf6+ d8 37.xg2 xg2 38.h4 f2+ 39.g1 xf6 The situation is, again, black shpould win...theoretically any way! 33.d1 Nxh5 Nxf6+ c7-+ Nxg8 33...c6 It's quite logical to increase the pressure on g2, but oddly enough this move leaves white with a decisive advantage! 33...f5 keeps the chances even after 34.e4 xe4 35.d5 xd5 36.xd5 xd5 37.e3 xg2 37...d4 relieves the pressure on g2 and it;s a whole new game after 38.h3 g5 39.af1 e5 38.a7+ and as bad as things look for white, black's K cannot escape the Q checks. 34.d1 34.xh5 xg2+ 34...xg2 35.xf6+ d6 36.d5 wins. 35.xg2 xg2+ 36.xg2 xg2 37.xf6+ d6 38.xg8 xg8 is also decisive for white. Much less strong is 34.xh5?! c8+- 34.d5 exd5 35.xh5 35.xh5 c8± 35...f5 36.xf5 34...xf4 34...c8 is a better chance. 35.f3 4g5 36.d5 exd5 37.fd2 d4 38.xc6+ xc6 39.c2 b7 40.xd4 In spite of appearances black is still in serious trouble after f5 41.d6 e4 42.b6+ a7 43.d2 5g7 44.h3 h7 45.e6 b7 46.dd6 xg2+ 47.h2 xb6 48.axb6+ b7 49.c5+ c8 50.d7 g6 51.b4 f3 51...g8 52.c7+ d8 52...b8 53.d7+ a8 54.a7# 53.e6+ e8 54.c8+ ans wins 52.b7+ b8 53.d8+ 35.exf4 c4 36.f5 a4 37.fxe6+ White is clearly winning. e7 38.xh5 g7 39.d5 Black resigned. An abrupt end to a massively complicated game. 1–0

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Even Tal Couldn’t Top This

    William M. de Visser (November 5, 1855 0 December 4, 1922, 68 years old) was a charter member of the Manhattan Chess Club, an expert player and organizer. In 1899, he won the New York State Championship. 

    When he died at his country residence in Brentwood on Long Island, New York, chess circles in the New York area lost one of the outstanding figures who for 30 years had been President of the Metropolitan Chess League. 

    As an active member of the Brooklyn Chess Club he occasionally played on its teams. He was also elected an honorary member of the Manhattan Chess Club with which he had been identified in one way or another for nearly 40 years. 

     He captained the first Manhattan team in the first cable match ever played between the Manhattan and British chess clubs. Later, when the Brooklyn Chess Club perfected the system of conducting those matches, he was helpful in furthering the annual international matches between the Brooklyn Chess Club and the City of London Chess Club. 

    de Visser was born in New Orleans, but moved to New York in his youth. He was senior member of the importing and commission house of Thomas J. Owen & Co. in New York. A commission house was a company that executes orders to buy and sell listed securities or commodity future contracts. In that position he succeeded his father0in-law Charles A. Gilberg, a well known problem composer and chess book collector. 

    de Visser’s opponent in the following game was Walter Penn Shipley (1860-1942), a well known organizer and chess patron who was friendly with many famous players. He was the president) of the Franklin Chess Club in Philadelphia. Shipley was also a very strong amateur player. 

    This game ends with de Visser playing a long and entertaining double check, double Bishop mating combination that includes a sham queen sacrifice. I don’t think even Tal ever played such a brilliant game! 

 

ChessBase

William de Visser (Manhattan)–Walter Penn Shipley (Franklin)1–0B20Club MatchNew York, NY30.05.1900Stockfish 16

B20: Sicilian: Wung Gambit 1.e4 c5 2.b4 This takes the opponent out of the book and allows white to play d2-d4 and set up the classical P-center with Ps on e4 and d4. Additionally, white also gets quick development if black accepts the gambit. In my database wthe gambit enjoys a giid success rate... among amateurs, of course. cxb4 2...e6 3.bxc5 xc5 4.d4 e7 4...b6 is probably not a good way to decline the gambit because black's B is not especially well placed on b6. 5.d3 c6 6.c3 is unexplored. Black can play 6...e5 or 6...Nf6 3.a3 This is the most often seen move, but white also has other reasonable options. e5 3...d5 is probably the best way to decline the gambit. 4.exd5 xd5 Now white should play 5.Nf3 when black is only slightly better. But what he must NOT play is 5.axb4 e5+ 0-1 Kamran Shirazi-John Peters, US Championship, 1984 3...bxa3 4.xa3 d6 5.b2 c6 6.d4 f6 7.d3 e6 8.f3 e7 9.0-0 0-0 The position id about equal. 4.f3 c6 5.axb4 xb4 6.c4 6.c3 e7 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 g4 10.e2 b6 11.e3 Black has only a slight dvantage, but in Tiarks,J (2231)-Jaskolka, T (2238) chess.com INT 2023 he nursed it to a win. 6...f6 7.e2 7.c3 e7 8.b3 8.d4 0-0 9.d5 a5 10.xa5 xa5 11.d6 d8 12.0-0 Black is considerably better. Nanu,C (2325)-Bernat,R (2140) Szeged 1998 8...0-0 9.g5 e8 10.0-0 favors black. Gorovykh,E (2447)-Yemelin,V (2571) St Petersburg RUS 2010 7...0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.exd5 xd5 10.xe5 d4 11.d3 f4 11...c5 was a bit better. After 12.c3 f4 13.e4 h4 14.h1 14.d3 f5 wins. 15.xb7 ab8 16.a6 16.c7 b6 16...h3+ 17.gxh3 xh3 18.cxd4 xd4 19.d6 xf1 20.e3 xa1 21.xf1 xb1+ 14...f5 15.e3 c2 and the complications are head whirling! Jist a sample of the possibilities... 16.xc5 xa1 17.d3 ac8 18.xa7 xg2 19.xf7+ h8 20.a3 f6 21.xf8 xe5 22.xg7+ xg7 23.xa1 xd3 12.e4 fe2+ Correct was the solid 12.. .Be6 13.xe2 f5 14.e3 xc2 This is the point of black's 12th move, but he has completely misjudged the position; white has a decisive advantage! 15.f4 xa1 16.xf5 This is the right B to capture! 16.xb4 allows black to equalize after c2 17.f4 17.xb7 is too risky. b8 18.xa7 d5 19.c7 19.f3 xb1 19...xb1 20.c4 b7 21.xd5 xc7 favors black, but it's still a very complicated position to play! 17...d4 18.c4 e6 an unbalanced position that offers about equal chances. 16...c7 At first glance it may be hard to believe, but white is winning. 17.b2 b3 18.d3 It's rather amusing that both the Q and now the B have occupied this square in front of the d-Pawn which has not made the thematic advance to d4 and bever does. g6 Incredibly tjis allows a mate in 13! 18...fe8 avoids the mate, but still loses. 19.xh7+ f8 20.h8+ e7 21.xg7 d8 22.xf7+ c8 23.f5+ b8 24.e5 White wins/ xe5 25.h8+ f8 26.xf8+ e8 27.xe8+ c8 28.xc8# 19.g4 19.f6 is a forced mate as follows... c3 20.xc3 xc3 21.xc3 xd2 22.g4 h5 23.h6+ h7 24.xf7 g8 25.g5+ h6 26.e6 f3+ 27.gxf3 h7 28.e5 h6 29.g5+ h7 30.xh5# 19...c3 The only move to avoid immediate disaster...it prevents Nf6# 19...gxf5 20.f6+ 20.f6 A brilliant riposte. xf6 21.xf6+ g7 21...h8 22.e8+ 22.e8+ g8 23.xc7 ad8 24.e4 xd2 25.xd2 xd2 26.c3 e2 27.d5 f5 28.d3 a2 29.c4 a4 30.e7# A brilliant win by de Visser. 1–0

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A Rococo Finale by Devos

    In 1948, in the small town (population less than 25,000) of Baarn, located about 22 miles southeast of Amsterdam, Paul Bevos and Baruch H. Wood met. Devos won the Brilliancy Prize in a game in which the final position was described as being positively bizarre or fantastic. 

    The final position was also described as “rococo” which was a new word to me. It has three meanings: 1) an 18th century style of architecture 2) an 18th century musical style and 3) excessively ornate or intricate. 

    In any case, in regards to the final position, tale you pick of descriptions: bizarre, fantastic or rococo. They all seem to fit! 

 

    Paul Devos (1911-1981) was seven times Belgian champion in 1933, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1945 and 1948. 

    Baruch H. Wood (1909-1989) was an English player, editor and author. Between 1938 and 1957, Wood was the champion of Warwickshire eight times. In 1948, he tied for second place at the British Championship and he won the British correspondence championship in 1944–45. In 1935, Wood founded the magazine CHESS, which became one of the two leading chess magazines in Great Britain. He also held various administrative position in various British chess organizations.

 

ChessBase

Baruch H. Wood–Paul Devos0–1E37Baarn21.04.1948Stockfish 16

E37: Nimzo-Indian: Classical 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 d5 5.a3 xc3+ 6.xc3 e4 7.c2 c5 8.dxc5 c6 This line in the Noa Variation usually gives rise to complicated positions requiring subtle play. At the time it was thought the P sacrifice was not sound. 9.cxd5 exd5 10.f3 f5 Black can regain the P with 10...Qa5+, but the text is more aggressive 10...a5+ 11.d2 xc5 12.xc5 xc5 with a benign position. 11.b4 0-0 12.b2 d4 Devos continues his aggressive play. 12...e8 is solid. 13.d1 b6 14.e3 bxc5 15.b5 b6 with equal play. Ivanchuk,V (2717)-Topalov,V (2718) Monte Carlo 2001 13.c4 e8 14.xd4 This turns out to be the losing move. White is under too much pressure ti be be able to afford taking the second P. 14.d1 is the correct move, but even here white cannot afford a misstep! g4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 e7 17.e3 The Q had to go to b2. Or, even e5 then is black exchanges on e5 white has a P-fork with e3 ad8 18.d2 Instantly fatal. The N had to go to d4. d7 19.b3 xd2 20.c2 xe2 White resigned; he is losing lots of material. Brown,M (2121)-Bodek,M (2191) Crossville USA 2011 21.xd2 xf1+ 22.d1 g4+ 23.f3 xg2 24.xd8 xd8+ 25.c1 xh1 etc. 14...f6 Black has a decisive advantage. 15.a2 The worst of the evils facing white is apparent after this move, the idea of which is to defend the B and free the N to move. However, it really doesn't matter because white's position is lost whatever he plays. e6 16.xe6 xf2+ 16...xe6 Was this what white was expecting? 17.xe6 xe6 18.f3 f6 19.e4 and it's white who is winning. 17.d1 xe6 18.c3 Unmasking his R. d8+ 19.c2 On the surface it looks like white might be able to defend himself, but the engines demonstrates a forced mate in 10/ e3 A "slip" that leaves black only a little more than a R+P advantage according to the engine. 19...xc3 20.a1 e3 21.c1 b5 22.a1 f6 23.b1 c3+ 24.c1 a4 25.a2 c3+ 26.c2 xc4 27.b1 xc2 28.xc2 b2# 20.h4 White tries to free himself from black's merciless grip, but it's fr too late' Black now generates a crushing attack. d2+ A brilliant sacrifice. 21.xd2 xd2+ 22.b3 d4+ Black mates...in 16 moves. 23.a4 This shortens the agony...it's mate in 2 23.xd4 xd4 24.h3 d1+ 25.c2 b1+ 26.b2 d2+ 27.c3 c1+ 28.c2 b1+ 29.b3 xa3+ 30.c4 e4+ 31.d5 xb4 32.d3 a3 33.b2 c4+ 34.d6 e6+ 35.c7 c6+ 36.b8 e8+ 37.d8 xd8+ 38.xa7 a6# 23...d1+ After this it's now mate in 3 23...c3+ 24.xc3 a6# 24.a5 a6+ 24...a4+ 25.xa4 c3+ 26.xc3 26.a5 c6# 26...a6# 25.xa6 It's still mate in 3 a4+ 26.xa4 c3+ 27.a5 b3# Rococo does seem the best description of the finale. 0–1

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Who was F. R. Chevalier?

    He was a Harvard, class of 1929, graduate who won the precedent, setting Harvard, Yale, Princeton and West Point College Chess League’s first organized individual championship tournament in the history of college chess in the United States. The game were played in the Manhattan Chess Club on April 8, 9 and 10, 1929. 

    Chevalier of Harvard demonstrated a clear superiority over all of his rivals by defeating them in five consecutive rounds and emerging with a perfect 5-0 score., thereby earning him the earned the distinction of being the first American college champion. His efforts earned him a silver cup donated by W. M. Vance of Princeton and a gold medal, the gift of L. Walter Stephens, also of a Princeton graduate and director of the tournament. 

    Competition for second place was exceedingly close and in the end resulted in a triple tie between Sherman and Vance of Yale and Kimm of West Point. Both of the Princeton players were off form and fifth and sixth places were their portion.

 

    But, who was F. R. Chevalier? What happened to him and where are his games? Who knows?! In fact, the same could be said of all the participants who seemed to have disappeared from the chess world. 

    In 1925, Chevalier drew a game in a simultaneous exhibition in Boston by the then rising Mexican star Carlos Torre. The only other mention I discovered on Chevalier was that he played for Boston in a 1934 team match they lost to Philadelphia. Chevalier’s name was mentioned with Boston stalwarts John F. Barry, Harold Morton and Weaver Adams. 

    The only game I could find from this historic event is the one below which also happens to be the only game of Chevalier that I could find and it was full of complications and a lucky escape for him! The only thing known about T.H. Vance is that at the time he played second board on Yale’s chess team behind another unknown, J.M. Miller, Jr. who had been expected to play in this event, but was unable to make it.

ChessBase

T.H. Vance–F.R. Chevalier0–1D66Intercollegiat Champ, New York1929Stockfish 16

D66: Queen's Gambit Declined: Classical: Main Line 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.c3 c6 5.g5 bd7 6.e3 e7 7.c1 0-0 8.d3 a6 9.0-0 dxc4 10.xc4 b5 11.d3 b7 12.b1 c5 13.dxc5 xc5 Both players are well booked, but white's next move is not the expected 14.Qc2 aiming at h7. 14.e2 14.c2 ce4 15.fd1 b6 White keeps things equal with 16.Bxe4. Instead he makes a losing blunder. 16.d7 xd7 17.xe7 fc8 18.d1 df6 19.d4 g6 20.d3 xc3 21.bxc3 d5 22.a3 xc3 White resigned. Kovalenko,V (2198)-Rjanzin,M (1877) Saratov 2008 14.xd8 doesn't offer much. fxd8 15.fd1 h6 16.f4 xd1+ 17.xd1 d8 18.xd8+ xd8 Boring. Burgess,E-Sandagsuren,G Dos Hermanas 2004 14...c8 14...b4 was a good possibility. 15.xf6 xf6 16.b5 e7 16...axb5 17.xc5 is equal. 17.bd4 ac8 15.fd1 b6 16.b4 16.e4 Things quickly fizzle out after this. h6 17.e3 g4 18.d4 b4 19.a4 a5 20.xc5 xc5 21.xc5 xc5 22.xc5 xc5 16...a4 17.xa4 bxa4 18.e4 Probably played to fd8 Black has a wide choice of moves here, but 18... h6 to be followed by ...Qxb4 looks to be the best. 19.e5 Strongly threatening Rxc8. xd1+ 20.xd1 d5 White must now prevent ...Nc3. 21.xe7 xe7 21...c3 22.d3 xb1 22...xd1 23.xh7# 23.c5 c7 24.xb1 and white has won a piece. 22.g5 White's attack on the K-side doesn't amount to anything if black defends stoutly...which he doesn't. h6 23.e4 23.h7+ would lose! f8 24.e4 c6 25.e3 c2 26.f1 xe4 27.xe4 xa2 with an excellent ending. 23...c6 The hidden mate threat on g2 is easily defended against. Removing the annoying N with 23...Bxe4 was correct. 24.g4 Nd6 is the strong threat. f5 25.f6+ This fails to accomplish anything. 25.h4 Black has to defend carefully, but he can keep things pretty much equal as follows... c7 26.c5 c6 27.xf5 exf5 28.xf5 e8 29.d6 b5 30.e4 c4 25...h8 26.h5 g6 Safer was 26...Rg8 27.f4 g7 Only an engine would choose the slightly better 27...g5 28.h4 b6 This should lose! 28...h8 holds without much trouble. 29.h5 29.xf5 gxf5 30.h5 g7 White cannot break through. 29...g5 30.d5 b5 31.f6 xe5 32.d7 f4 A complicated position with equal chances. 29.h5 g5 Now ...Ne3 is a threat. 30.xf5 30.a3 A pass to demonstrate the consequences of allowing ...Ne3 e3 31.fxe3 xe3+ 32.h2 xe5 33.g3 e3 34.g2 f2 35.d4+ xd4 36.xd4 c1 White is in trouble. 37.g6 c6 38.d3 d1 30...exf5 31.xf5 The threat is to play the killer Rd7 gxf4 32.d6 Prevents Qc6. 32.d7 is now weaker, but still winning... d5 33.xd5 e6 34.xe6 fxe6 35.a5 c1+ 36.h2 e1 37.f3 e2 38.a3 e3 39.xa6 xa3 40.xe6 b3 41.g6+ f7 42.b6 a3 43.xh6 xb4 44.a6 b3 White wins the ending. 32...b5 White is winning, but his next move throws it away and allows black to equalize. 33.f6+ 33.xf4 e8 33...h8 34.f6+ g8 35.d8+ mates 34.xh6+ g8 35.g5+ f8 36.h6 xe5 37.xe5 xe5 38.d8+ e7 39.h7 e1+ 40.h2 xd8 41.h8+ wins for white. 33...g8 34.e6 This looks crushing, but it has a tactical flaw. 34.xf4 This is still the correct move, but unlike in the previous note black is able to wiggle out. e8 The difference here is that his K is on g8 and not g7 so white cannot gain time with a check on h6. 35.g3+ 35.xh6 xe5 36.d8+ e8 37.xe8+ xe8 Theoretically this position favors black, but in practice who knows? 35...f8 36.f4 e6 37.d8+ e8 and a draw would be a reasonable outcome. 34.f3 blocking the Bs diagonal would also have resulted in a likely draw. e8 35.e6 The only move as is black's next. 35.xf4 Unlike in previous variations this loses. xe5 36.xe5 36.xh6 e1+ 37.h2 h4+ 38.g1 e1# 36...xe5 37.xh6 b5 38.a3 g7 39.d6 xh5 is winning for black. 35...xe6 36.xe6 fxe6 37.xe6+ g7 38.g6+ and white can draw. 34...c1+ 35.h2 h1+ Here is the difference between this and the previous variations. Black's P is still on f4 cutting off the K's escape and, also, the B is attacking the vulnerable g2 square. 36.xh1 f1+ 37.h2 xg2# A lucky escape for Chevalier! 0–1

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Chess On the High Seas

    I don’t think I have ever presented a game from this far back…April 11, 1853. That was the year Howard Staunton went to Brussels to meet with Tassilo von der Lasa, Germany’s leading player, to standardize the rule. Staunton also lost a match (+4 -5 =3) to von der Lasa. Chess historian Bill Wall noted that the matych was supposed to be longer, but Staunton was feeling ill (heart palpitations) and returned to London. 

    Chessplayers lost that year were the leading Philadelphia player Chales Verzin (1781-1853) and the great German player Lionel Kieseritzky (1806-1853) who died in Paris at the young age of 47. He was committed to a mental home in Paris and was buried in a pauper's grave. 

    In New York City that year an 8-player knockout tournament was held. One interesting aspect was that some of the players were given material odds by the better players. James Thompson defeated Adolphe Möhle by a score of 3-0. Both players won a chess set as their prize. 

     The following game was played by a Mister McCoombe who was saileing from Glasgow, Scotland to Melbourne in Australia. The ship was in the Bay of Biscay which is located west of France and north of Spain. Just a note in passing, according to Bill Wall1853 was the year the first time a chess game was played using signals at sea between ships. 

    The Bay’s average depth is 5,722 feet and its maximum depth, a little south of its center, is 15,525 feet. The Bay is noted among sailors for its rough seas. Gales can be severe and winds may exceed 70 miles per hour. Squalls are also a hazard and may occur at any time of year. Not the place to be, especially on an 1850s ship! 

    Mister McCoombe’s opponent was a Frenchman, Monsieur Luiser, who was in an adjoining cabin. It was to be a 10,000 mile trip, so they played a lot of chess.

    After white played his 10th move in the following game it was adjourned at Monsieur Luiser’s request because the ship was encountering very rough seas and the pieces would not stay put. The game was continued the next day. 

    As Mister McCoombe humorously told it, after adjournment as he was packing up the pieces, Monsieur Luiser scampered towards the bow of the ship. Just as he was about to climb up to the The forecastle (the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast. Historically, it is the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters) a huge wave hit the ship causing it to rise and fall with tremendous violence. Monsieur Luiser was knocked down and soaked and slowly staggered back to his cabin. I guess you had to be there. By the way, for an idea of what heavy seas look like, check out my post HERE! 

    Playing through the game quickly gave the impression that white had a pretty easy win, but analysis showed it was filled with complications galore! Thinking about the conditions under which it was played makers you wonder how they players managed to play as well as they did! 

 

ChessBase

A.G. McCoombe–Monsieur Luiser1–0C23The ship Abdalla, in the Bay of Biscay11.04.1853Stockfish 16

C23: Bishop's Opening: 2...Bc5 1.e4 e5 2.c4 In the Bishop's Opening white atta ks f7. It’s one of the oldest openings to be analyzed, dating back to the late 1400’s and early 1500s. In modern time Weaver Adams once advocated it as winning, but when he couldn’t prove it, he switched to the Vienna as a winning opening, but he couldn’t prove that either. In more recent time some attacking players (Larsen, Kasparov, Nunn and Leko) have used it as a surprise, but it really only leads to equality. c5 The most popular move is 2...Nf6 (the Berlin Defense) because it forces white to devide how to defend his e-Pawn. The text is the Classical Defense; it offers white a slew of possibilities. 3.e2 When I first saw this I thought beginner's move!. But I was wrong! It shows up in my database with white scoring +5 -3 =0. d6 3...e7 4.xf7+ f8 Losing. He needed to take the B. 5.c4 d6 6.c3 d7 7.d3 b6 8.b3 b4 9.h5 c5 10.d1 1-0 Castillo,D (2041)-Tanha,T Dresden 2008 4.f4 While hardly bad, this may be a bit too aggressive. 4.d3 f6 Equally good is 6...Nc6 5.c3 a6 6.g5 with equal chances. Gohlke,H (2166) -Gilde,G (1630) Sottrum 2005 4...exf4 5.f3 g5 While this move is seen in similar positions in the K-Gambit, here it's not good because of white's next move. The solid 5...Nc6 was much safer. 6.d4 6.b4 is an interesting alternative. b6 6...xb4 7.b2 f6 8.xg5 e7 9.xf7+ and black is in a difficult situation. 7.b2 f6 8.xg5 e7 9.xf7+ etc. 6...b6 6...g4 fails against 7.dxc5 gxf3 8.xf3 e6 9.xe6 fxe6 10.xf4 At first glance black's position looks safe enough, but he is, in fact, losing because his K has nowhere that's safe. e7 11.cxd6 cxd6 12.c3 0-0 13.g3+ h8 14.xd6 7.g3 Terrible, but things are a little tricker than they appear! 7.h4 keeps the pressure on black. c6 7...g4 8.g5 h6 9.xf4 and black's position is on the verge of collapse. 8.hxg5 xd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xf7+ xf7 11.c4+ e8 12.xd4 xg5 White can easily fall into a trap here! 13.0-0 13.xh8 xg2 14.f1 g3+ 15.f2 g1+ White has to consent to the draw here and not play 16.e2 g4+ 17.d3 g3+ 18.c4 e6+ 19.b5 xf2 20.a4 b5+ 21.a3 xc2 22.c3 a5 23.b3 b4+ 24.a4 d7+ 25.b5 xb5+ 26.xb5 c5+ 27.a4 c6# 13...f6 14.d3 e7 15.xf4 White's better, but black has chances of surviving. 7...fxg3 Very obliging on black's part. 7...g4 8.h4 xd4 8...f3 is also OK. 9.d3 f6 10.e3 with the slightly better position. c6 9.xf7+ xf7 10.c4+ e6 11.xd4 f6 Black is slightly better. 7...c6 Developing is his best course of action. 8.c3 and now g4 9.h4 f3 and in this position it's black who stands slightly better. 8.xg5 8.hxg3 was not nearly as good. g4 9.d3 c6 10.xg5 f6 11.h4 d7 followed bo ...O-O-O and black has nearly equalized. 8...h6 This should have lost quickly. 8...f6 was necessary. 9.xf7+ f8 10.hxg3 c6 11.c3 e7 12.h5 and, at leaset, black has avoided immediate defeat. 9.0-0 After this move white's advantage completely disappears! 9.hxg3 attacking the N wraps it up. g8 10.xf7+ f8 11.xg8 xg8 11...xg8 12.f2+ f6 13.xf6+ e8 14.f7+ d8 15.xg8+ d7 16.xh7+ c6 17.d5# 12.c3 c6 13.f4 f6 14.0-0-0 With all his pieces in play white is ready to launch the final assault. After a break to to get a coffee this is Stockfish's continuation... d5 15.exd5 h6 16.ge4 g6 17.c4 d8 18.dxc6+ f7 19.c7 xc7 20.f6+ g7 21.h5+ g6 22.xf7+ xf7 23.xc7 g6 24.df1 d7 25.f4+ h7 26.e6 g8 27.f4 g6 28.c7 b8 29.7d5 with a clear win. 9...0-0 Black counterblunders. It's odd that castling is a blunder! 9...g8 and black has nothing to worry about. 10.h5 10.xh7 xd4+ 11.h1 g2+ wins 10...g6 11.h3 d7 11...xd4+ 12.g2 d7 13.xh7 is good for white. 12.c3 12.xh7 g2 13.f3 e5 14.xh6 xd4+ wins for black. 10.h5 At this point the game was adjourned due to rough seas, but white is already winning. xd4+ 11.h1 This is another mistake after which the chances remain about equal. 11.g2 keeps the win in hand. g7 12.xf7 xf7 13.xf7+ xf7 14.xf7 e6 15.xg7+ xg7 16.h6+ f7 17.g5 f8 18.f6+ g8 19.xe6+ 11...g7 12.xf7 12.xf7 Now it's clear why the K should have gone to g2. xf7 13.xf7+ h8 and he has to play Kg2 anyway in order to defend the R and so black can equalize. 14.g2 d7 15.hxg3 g4 12...xf7= 13.xf7 xf7 14.xf7+ Once again the chances of both sides can be considered equal. f8 Also good was 14...Kh8 15.g5 Black needs to defend precisely. f6 Which he does not! 15...d7 16.d5 c6 17.c3 Essential...white must bet his R into play. 17.b3 g2+ 18.g1 d4+ 19.xg2 h3+ 20.xh3 xh3+ 21.xh3 xb2 wins for black. 17...cxd5 18.f1+ g8 19.xd5 c6 20.f4 g2+ 21.g1 d4+ 22.xg2 h3+ 23.xh3 xh3+ 24.xh3 xb2 White's and black's chances are comparable. 16.c3 Once his R gets into play the game will be over. xg5 17.xh7 g2+ 18.xg2 f4 18...h3+ was a long shot for if 19.xh3 d7+ 20.g3 xf7 he can play on...for a while anyway. 19.g8+ White now has a mate in 7 which he pulls off precisely. e7 20.d5+ d7 21.e8+ Nice! xe8 22.f6+ c6 23.c4+ b6 24.d5+ a5 25.b4+ a6 26.xc7# What a game!! 1–0

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Waltuch Wallops Gurnhill

    Needless to say, with WWII going on there wasn’t a lot of chess activity going on, especially in England. 

    January was the start of the nocturnal Luftwaffe bombing offensive chiefly targeted at the Greater London area which lasted until May. Later, in September, the first V-2 rocket attack on London was launched from The Hague. And, on June 6th, D-Day for the Normandy landings was launched. It involved 155,000 Allied troops. 

    In other British news, in February a pay as you earn system of tax collection introduced and in May the prohibition on married women working as teachers was lifted. Instituted in primary schools in 1923, the practice, known as the Marriage barm was a way of tying women to the home after marriage, It was a common practice in teaching and the civil service in the UK at the time. 

    The last English championship had been held in Brighton in 1938 and it was won by C.H.O’D. Alexander and Minnie Musgrave was the women’s champion. Elaine Saunders (later Pritchard) won the 1939 women’s championship that was held in Bournemouth. No further championships for either men or women were held until Nottingham 1946 when Robert F. Combe and Elaine Saunders won. 

    One of the few exceptions was a small event held in Blackpool on England’s west coast in July of 1944. It consisted of a Premier tournament, a Major tournament and a First Class tournament. The Premier and Major sections consisted of six players while the First Class was divided into six sections. The Major section was won by Leslie Dewing.

 

 

    David Hooper’s success on the Premier was notable and fully deserved. Victor Wahltuch demonstrated his uncompromising and attacking style (he was the only player with no draws) with had been bringing him much local success for decades.

    The triple tie for third place was a fierce struggle. The failure of the 79-year old Jacques Mieses showed that his advanced age was just too great a handicap and that he no longer had the stamina for even a short tournament. 

`The game between Wahltuch and Gurnhill was an exciting one. It started out with a slow Colle System in which Gurnhill with black equalized early. Wahltuch’s aggressive play was not quite sound and his opponent got the advantage. However, Gurnhill didn’t play aggressively enough and his advantage vanished. Then, even worse, he underestimated Wahltuch’s resources and made what turned out to be the losing move at move 28. 

    The winner, Victor Wahltuch (1875-1953) was the son of the prominent Manchester physician Adolphe Wahltuch (1827-1907), an Russian-born English physician and chess writer. He was known as a successful practitioner and as a prolific writer of medical works. An avid chess player, he edited the chess column in the Manchester Weekly Times and founded several chess clubs in the city. .

    Victor shared first at Blackpool 1907, won at Blackpool 1908 and tied for 3rd-4th at Blackpool 1910. In the 1912 British Championship he tied for 9-10th. After World War I, he played in several international tournaments held in England with modest success. He also played for England in the Olympiad at Prague on 1931. 

     His opponent, Charles Gurnhill (1891-1972) was a Sheffield player who, in his day, was one of Sheffield's strongest players. 

 

ChessBase

Victor Wahltuch–Charles Gurnhill1–0D04Blackpool Premier2Blackpool18.07.1944Stockfish 16

D04: Colle System 1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 A major theme of the Colle is the to play a well-timed e3-e4. White can also opt for the Zukertort system by fiachettoing his c1B. Used mostly by amateurs, the Colle is no longer the dreaded weapon it was back in the old days when Edgar Colle and George Koltanowksi and others used it with great success. In modern time English GM John Nunn called it innocuous. I think the more aggressive Torre Attack (3.Bg5) is more likely to produce good play for white. f5 More popular are 3...e6 and 3...c5. The text is an obvious attempt to neutralize the B on d3 which eyes h7. In my database 3...Bf5 enjoys a much better success rate than either of these two move. Hiwever, the defense with the highest success rate is 3... g6. 4.d3 e6 4...xd3 5.cxd3 e6 6.c3 c5 offers little to either side/ 5.xf5 exf5 White's intention of playing e4 has now been ruled out. 6.d3 c8 6...g6 This careless move is met by 7.b5+ picking up the b-Pawn. Black can harass the Q, but it will not gain him any advantage. 7.bd2 7.0-0 c6 8.c4 dxc4 9.xc4 d6 10.c3 0-0 11.a4 as played in Breyer, G-Rubinstein,A Gothenburg 1920 only lead to a long, boring draw. 7.c4 dxc4 8.xc4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 bd7 11.a3 as played in Landau,S-Euwe,M Amsterdam 1931 had the same result. 7...e7 8.f1 0-0 9.d2 e4 10.c4 c6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.c1 c6 13.a3 d7 14.c3 ac8 15.3d2 a6 So far this has been the kind of game Jiohn Nunn was thinking about when he called the Colle innocuous. White could have kept it that way with 16.Ng3 16.xe4 This is not good because black now has a space advantage and some attacking possibilities. fxe4 17.e2 f5 18.f4 Further weakening his position. Either 18.Ng3 ot even 18.g3 were called for. h4+ 18...exf3 was mucj more advantageous. 19.gxf3 f4 and black's advantage borferd on decisive! 20.d1 ce8 21.d3 b5 black is attacking on all fronts! 19.g3 f6 20.d1 f7 Black is better here, but if white plays 21.Nd2 making progress will prove very difficult. 21.g4 Technically this is not a good plan; it opens up the position where black is bvetter placed. Practically speaking though it might be good idea...black goes astray defending himself so things worked out for white after all. h4+ 22.d2 h6 ...and just like that black's advantage has disappeared! 22...c7 With nothing to be done on the K-side at the moment this move, switching to the Q-side and intending ...Na5-c4 cause white some consternation. 23.g3 23.b4 xd4 23...a5 24.e1 He can run, but he can't hide...statement attributed to boxer Joe Louis of his challenger Billy Conn in 1946. 24.xa5 xa5+ 25.b4 a4 26.c1 xa3 and black is winning. 24...c4 25.c1 f6 26.g5 c6 27.f2 h6 White has no usefull moves. 23.g3 g6 24.gxf5 gxf5 25.g2 h7 So as to be able to challenge white on the g-file. 26.h3 e7 27.hg1 b5 28.g2 a5 This is a gross blunder. Gurnhill has completely underestimated the possibilities in white's position. 28...f6 This save the game. Now after... 29.dg1 29.xf5 just loses a piece. xf5 29...h4 and black has avoided all danger. 29.dg1 Threatening mate with Nxf5! e6 29...b4 30.xf5! bxc3+ 31.e1 f6 32.g7+ h8 33.7g6 xg6 34.xg6 h4+ 35.xh4 f7 36.xh6+ h7 37.xh7+ g8 38.g7+ f8 39.h8# 29...g8 fails to 30.xf5 xg2+ 31.xg2 f8 32.xh6 xh6 33.xc8 with a won position. 30.xf5 White wants to mate with Rg7+. f6 30...f7 31.g6 xg6 32.xg6 xg6 33.h4+ xh4 33...f6 34.xc8 34.xc8 White is winning. 30...xf5 31.g7+ h8 32.xh6+ h7 33.xh7# 31.g7+ White mates. h8 32.g3 xf5 33.h7+ Black resigned. 1–0

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The Naegeli Syndrome and Chess

    Dr. Oskar Naegeli (January 25, 1885 - November 16, 1959), was a Swiss player and dermatologist. 

    In the field of dermatology, the Naegeli–Franceschetti–Jadassohn syndrome is named after him. It is a rare condition characterized by reticular skin pigmentation (distinct brown or pink-red areas or raised bumps that form a net-like pattern), diminished function of the sweat glands, the absence of teeth and thickening of the skin of the palms and soles of the feet. One of the most striking features is the absence of fingerprints. It’s caused by mutations of a gene. Treatment is based on an individual's symptoms. 

    Naegeli was the son of the physician Otto Naegeli (1843-1922) and the brother of the \Otto Naegeli (1871-1938) who were prominent hematologists (specialists in diagnosing, treating and managing diseases that affect the blood). 

    He studied at Geneva, Zurich, Munich, and Heidelberg, obtaining his medical doctorate at Zurich in 1909. He worked in Freiburg at the pathological institute. Later he worked at the university dermatological clinic at Bern. His work concerns immunity research in dermatology and the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis.

    Chesswise, he represented Switzerland at the Chess Olympiads in 1927, 1928, 1931 and 1935 as well as at the unofficial Olympiad in 1936 at Munich.

    Naegeli won Swiss Chess Championship in 1910 and 1936. He lost a match to Dr. Ossip Bernstein by a score of 1-3 in 1932 and to Salo Flohr (by a score of 2-4) in 1933. He participated in the strong international tournaments at Berne 1932 and Zurich 1934, both won by Alekhine. 

    In the following game he pulls off a ni8ce win against Lacido Soler (1903-1964) who was one of the strongest players in Spain in the 1920s and 1930s. He won the Catalan Championship in 1924 and1931. He finished second in the Catalan Championship (1926).1 

    In 1926, he won the silver medal in the Catalan team Championships. In 1921, he was co-founder and first chairman of the Barcelona Chess Club. He was also a chess journalist and was the founder of the chess journal Els Escacs a Catalunya. 

 

ChessBase

Placido Soler–Oskar Naegeli0–1B83Chess Olympiad Final, London9London ENG1927Stockfish 16

B83: Sicilian Scheveningen 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 d6 6.e2 e6 This seemingly modest d6–e6 P-center gives black a solid defensive setup, controls the critical d5 and e5 squares and has the flexibility to break in the center with either ...e5 or ...d5. 7.0-0 e7 8.b3 A rare sideline that is not particularly effective. Ususal is 8.Be3 0-0 9.b2 a6 Just one of deveral reasonable moves. 9...b6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e1 b7 is equal. Apicella,M (2515)-Stefansson,H (2569) Cappelle la Grande FRA 1999 9...e5 10.f3 h6 11.d2 d4 12.c4 g4 with complete equality. Dzierzenga,S (2178)-Novak,P (2349) Jenbach AUT 2013 10.h1 White wants to play f2-f4 and so removes his K from the a7-g1 diagonal. c7 11.f3 This is hard to explain. First he placed one B in a rather passive position and now he does the same with the other one. 11.f4 is the thematic move. d7 12.f3 b5 13.a3 g4 14.d2 b6 15.h3 f6 16.e5 with an active position. Arnaudov, P (2129)-Peev,P (2320) Plovdiv 2003 11...e5 12.e2 b5 13.a3 b7 14.f4 ed7 15.f3 ac8 16.c1 Passive. 16.Qe1 and 17.Rd1 is a plausible plan. fd8 17.e2 b6 18.fd1 bd7 18...g6 This is a more active move. It prevents f5 after black play ...e5 19.f2 e5 20.de2 f8 Repositioning the B to a more active square. 21.d5 xd5 22.exd5 g7 with just a very slightly better position because his pieces a better positioned. 19.e1 c5 20.b4 cd7 21.b3 b6 22.d2 d7 For the last few moves both sides have been jockeying for position without accomplisging much. White should continue that strategy with, say, 23.Qf2. Insteaf he embarks on the aggressive idea of advancing his e-Oawn in a position where his pieces do not support such an advance. 23.e5 dxe5 24.xb7 xb7 25.fxe5 fd5 26.ce4 Clearly black is better, but it's hard to see that white's position is very close to collapsing. f4 This N is going to play a major role. 27.g4 Better was 27.Qe3 and 28.Bd4 g6 28.b3 c4 This move could not have been prevented. 29.ec5 A tactical miscalulation. 29.d4 was called for, but white would still be in serious difficulties after... c6 30.ec5 xc5 31.xc5 h5 32.d1 32.xh5 xd4 32...d5 33.c3 gxe5 29...xc5 30.xc5 This fork was probably what white was counting on because if black moves the threatened Q... xc5 ...and wins! 30...c7 31.xd7 xd7 32.d4 xd4 33.xd4 xa3 34.c3 an unclear position has been reached. 31.bxc5 xb2 32.b4 c4 33.cd1 White is lost, but thus move falls into a mate in 10! f4 A major player steps up. 34.c6 xc6 White resigned as mate cannot be avoided. 34...xc6 35.d5 35.g1 xd1 mates in 2 35...xd5 36.g1 xg2 37.c5 37.xg2 d1+ 38.g1 f3+ 39.g2 d1+ 40.e1 xe1# 37...xc5 38.h4 ge3 39.a4 xe5 40.f1 e4+ 41.f3 xf3+ 42.g1 g2# 0–1

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Fine – Najdorf Match, 1949

    In the winter of 1948, when it came to the attention of the Manhattan Chess Club that three top foreign players would be spending December in New York, a tournament was put together on short notice. 

    The masters in question were former world champion Max Euwe, Miguel Najdorf and Swedish champion Gideon Stahlberg. Unfortunately, Stahlberg would not be staying in New York long enough to participate, so he declined. His invitation went to Samuel Reshevsky, who also declined. Argentinian master Herman Pilnik found out about the tournament from Najdorf and offered to fill the empty seat and so he did. 

    When it was all over Fine had defeated Najdorf in their individual game and so took first with Najdrof finishing second. Euwe and Pilnik tied for third. 

    After the tournament Euwe went on tour giving simuls while Fine and Najdorf played a little publicized 8-game match. The hard-fought match ended in a draw.

 

    The majority of the games were played at the Manhattan and Marshall chess clubs; Edward Lasker acted as referee. Fine looked like an easy winner when he won the first two games making it three in a row (counting the tournament) that he had taken from Najdorf. Then Najdort rallied winning games 3 and 4 to tie the natch. The final four games resulted in draws. 

    In the following game, the first game of the match, Fine made quick work of his redoubtable opponent. 

ChessBase

Miguel Najdorf–Reuben Fine0–1E34Match, New York11949Stockfish 16

E34: Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 The Classical (aka Capablanca) Variation was popular in the early days of the Nimzo-Indian, and though eventually superseded by 4.e3 (the Rubinstein Variation), but it made a revival in the 1990s. White';s plan is to acquire the two Bs and at the same time avoid doubled c-Pawns. On the down side, his Q move will lose a tempo of two. d5 Besides this move b;ack has three other common replies: 4...0-0, 4...c5 and 4...Nc6 5.cxd5 xd5 Equally good is 5... exd5 6.f3 c5 7.d2 xc3 8.xc3 0-0 9.dxc5 9.e3 b6 10.d3 a6 11.xa6 xa6 12.0-0 cxd4 13.xd4 as in Li,B (2325)-Moradi,B (2178) Anzali Free Zone IRI 2019 is completely equal. 9...xc5 10.c1 c6 10...bd7 11.e4 h6 12.d3 b6 13.0-0 b7 14.e2 is equal. Dreev,A (2655)-Andersson,U (2582) Barcelona ESP 2009 11.b1 While this may look rather odd, the position is so evenly balanced that pretty much anything short of a gross blunder keeps the balance. 11.e3 d7 12.b1 e7 13.e2 d5 14.0-0 xc3 Draw agreed. Kelecevic,N (2475)-Landenbergue,C (2410) Biel 1996 11...e7 12.g3 e5 13.g2 d5 14.0-0 A draw by agreement at any time seems reasonable. xc3 15.bxc3 15.xc3 is more logical, but, again, even after Najdorf;s move giving himself an isolated P, the position is dead equal. e6 16.e4 f6 and a handshake is a reasonable outcome. 15...e6 16.fd1 ac8 17.e1 He has to make a move and this is as good as any. c4 18.d3 This gives Fine just a tiny opening. Doubling Rs on the d-file with 18.Rd2 was super-solid. f5 A sign of aggression. Black has the initiative, but not much else. Will it pay off? 19.e4 It does after this slightly risky move. 19.h4 Makes things interesting after e4 20.f4 and black has to plausible moves. e5 20...e3 21.d5+ xd5 22.xd5 exf2+ 23.xf2 c5+ Black has some play, but white should be able to hold him off. 21.e3 fd8 with a completely even game. 19...f4 20.h3! cd8 21.b4 f7 22.xd8 This proves fatal! 22.c2 f6 23.xc6 xc6 24.f5 g6 and the position doesn't offer much to either side. 25.h3 22...xd8 This excellent move may have come as a surprise to Najdorf as he may have been expecting Fine to recapture with the R. Even so, white's position is far from lost. 22...xd8?! 23.xc6 bxc6 24.d1 with a fully equal position. 23.c2 e6 The N is headed more more versant pastures. 24.f5 All of a sudden black has a decisive advantage! 24.d5 might work better. g5 25.g2 e6 26.d2 g4 27.e7+ h8 28.d6 Black is better, but there is no forced win. His advantage lies in his more active pieces. 24...c5 25.d1 h5 26.d5 A quick glance might leave on to think wjite is OK; his pieces look to be well placed. g6 The B doesn't have anywhere to go. 27.d7 Now if black plays 27...Nxd7 white gets the piece back with a N check plus he will ahve a R on the 7th rank. xd7 White resigned. Why?! 27...xd7 28.e7+ h8 29.xd7 Everything looks good for white, but...surprise! Black has a mate in 8 moves. h3 30.xg6+ hxg6 31.c1 f3 32.h6+ xh6 33.h4 c1+ 34.d1 xd1+ 35.h2 f1 36.h5 g2# 0–1

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