A Seesaw Battle

    My knowledge of players only goes back to Siegnert Tarrasch because I had Fred Reinfeld’s excellent book on Tarrasch’s best games. Steinitz, Staunton and Morphy are familiar names, of course, but not their games. 

    I confess to having no knowledge of the players of today’s game. The loser was Hyacinthe Boncourt (1765? - 1840), who was one of the leading players in France between 1820 and 1840, but not much is known about his life. Even the date of his birth is uncertain. 

    Boncourt was a contemporary of Philidor, but the two never played because the latter hademigrated to England and although Boncourt traveled around Europe, but he never visited London. He was a civil servant, and chess was mostly a hobby for him. 

    Pierre de Saint-Amant (1800-1872) was a regular player at the Cafe de la Regence and studied under Alexandre Deschapelles and Schlumberger. He was the editor of the chess periodical Le Palamede. Whilst visiting England in 1843 he lost a casual match to John Cochrane (+4 -6 =1) and defeated Howard Staunton (+3 -2 =1) in a casual match. Later u 1843, he lost a formal match to Staunton (+1 -6 =4). 

    Note: I came across this game in an old chess book that was published in 1952. The book and the author will remain anonymous because while the games themselves are interesting, the annotations are atrocious. Still, the games was a tremendous seesaw fight. 

 

[Event "Paris"] [Site ""] [Date "1837.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Hyacinthe Boncourt"] [Black "Pierre Saint-Amant"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C53"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "1837.??.??"] [Source "Bell's Life in L"] {C54: Giuoco Piano} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 Bb6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 d6 8. b4 {This is the usual move here, but in this game it's odd that it comes to pass that it results in a weakened white Q-side.} Be6 9. Nbd2 $14 h6 10. Bh4 Kh7 {The purpose of this move i to support a K-side attack with ...Rg8 and ...g5, but white has no weaknesses there and so such an attack is not likely to succeed.} (10... Qe7 {is usual.} 11. Bb3 a5 12. b5 Nb8 13. Nc4 Nbd7 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bxe6 Qxe6 {Limanovska,E (2169)-Nazarova, A (2261) Helsinki FIN 2019 is about equal.}) 11. a4 a6 12. Kh1 Rg8 13. Qc2 g5 14. Bg3 h5 15. h3 {While not bad, this move helps blck's plan. Better would have been 15. h4. Black would have nothing to gain by closing the K-side with 15...h4 and 15. ..gxh5 16.Bxh5 leaves him in an uncomfortable pin and facing a potential Ng5+} h4 16. Bh2 Nh5 {The more forceful 16...g4 would have been even better.} (16... g4 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nxh4 Nh5 19. g3 Qg5 20. d4 Nf4 21. hxg4 Qxg4 {The position is rife with complications and who knows what would happen?}) 17. d4 { White takes advantahe of black's last m move...a strategy designed to interfer with black's attacing plans.} g4 {Saint-Amant presses on.} 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. hxg4 Rxg4 20. dxe5 (20. b5 {This is the winning move, but it's one that's impossible to calculate over the board!} axb5 21. axb5 Ne7 22. Rxa8 Qxa8 23. dxe5 Qg8 24. exd6 cxd6 25. Qd3 Rxg2 26. Qxd6 Nc8 27. Qd7+ Kh6 (27... Kh8 28. Be5+) 28. Ne5 Rg7 29. Qd3 {Theoretically white is winning...the emphasis is on theoretically.}) 20... dxe5 {There are complications galore. Should white take the e-Pawm, put his R opposite black's Q, play 21.Nc4?} 21. Nc4 (21. Nxe5 { This turns out to favor black after} Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Ng3+ 23. Kh2 Nxf1+ 24. Nxf1 Qg5) (21. Rad1 {This solid move gives white a nice advantage after} Qf6 22. b5 axb5 23. axb5 Ne7 24. Nxe5) 21... Ng3+ {In one classic book the author gushed over this move calling it splendid and how the resulting position gives black many mating possibilities. Don't believe it! The move should have lost. This is another case of an annotator making comments based on the game's result and not analysis. In the age we live in any Patzer with an engine can easily refute such claims.} (21... Qf6 {is his best try.} 22. Qe2 Rag8 23. Nxb6 (23. Rg1 {is faulty...} Bxf2) 23... cxb6 24. b5 h3 25. g3 Nd8 {There is no way for black to break through on the K-side so white maintains the advantage.}) 22. fxg3 hxg3 {White appears to be in grave danger, but he is, in fact, winning!} { Not as string as 23...b5 or 23...Nxc5, but it's still a good move.} 23. Rad1 ( 23. Bg1 {gets him mated...} Rh4+ 24. Nh2 Rxh2+ 25. Bxh2 Qh4 {and mate follows.} ) 23... Qe7 {Black hopes to continue with ...Rh4.} 24. b5 {This is just one of several good moves at white's disposal.} Rh4 {The annotator in the book described how black is winning here. In fact, he is dead lost to the tune of nearly 4 Pawns according to Stockfish.} 25. Nxb6 {This move says goodbye to all but a vestige of his advantage.} (25. Rd7 {The solid 25.Rd3 also keeps the win in hand, but this is prettier.} Rxh2+ (25... Qxd7 26. Nxh4 gxh2 27. bxc6 { and white has a won ending.}) 26. Nxh2 Qxd7 27. bxc6 Qg7 28. Qd3 gxh2 29. Qh3+ {wins}) 25... Rxh2+ 26. Kg1 Qc5+ {According to the book white has escaped from one bad pin only to run into another just as bad. That's completely wrong... true, he no longer hs a won position, but here the chances are quite equal. This was confirmed in Shootouts in which white scored +1 -1 =3.} 27. Rf2 $1 cxb6 28. Nxh2 axb5 (28... gxh2+ {would actually lose.} 29. Kh1 Rf8 30. Rxf8 Qxf8 31. bxc6 bxc6) 29. axb5 Rf8 {An inaccuracy, but white msut be careful.} ( 29... gxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Nxd8 {and black should be able to hold the draw.}) 30. Nf3 (30. Rd7+ {was an alternative.} Ne7 31. Ng4 gxf2+ 32. Nxf2 { with about equal chances.}) 30... Na5 31. Qe2 Nc4 32. Ng5+ Kg6 33. Nf3 Rf4 { [%mdl 2048] Black has good play, but white should be able to defend without any major problems.} 34. Rd3 gxf2+ 35. Qxf2 Qxf2+ (35... Qxb5 {would be a catastrophic error.} 36. Qg3+ Kf7 37. Kh2 Rf6 38. Ng5+ Ke7 39. Qh3 Qe8 40. Qh7+ Rf7 41. Nxf7 Qxf7 42. Rd7+ Kxd7 43. Qxf7+) 36. Kxf2 Rxe4 37. Rd7 Rf4 {After a seesaw battle a draw has been reached. All white has to do is remove his K to the e-file. Instead, he grabs a P which is a gross blunder in a likely drawn position.} 38. Rxb7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} e4 39. Kg3 exf3 {White resigned. Hardly the brilliant conclusion to a tremendous game that the nook's annotator claimed!} 0-1

Russsian Chess Sets

 

    The Soviet and Late Tsarist Chess Sets site is worth a visit. It has photos and the history of many different Soviet chess sets from different eras that makes for an interesting visit.

Corzo - Capablanca Match of 1901

    In 1901, the 13-year ols prodigy Jose Capablanca played an exhibition match against Juan Corzo (1873-1941). 

    Corzo was born in Madrid and emigrated to Cuba in 1887 and won the Cuban championship five times (in 1898, 1902, 1907, 1912, and 1918). He is best remembered though for having lost the match against Capablanca.  

    Today’s game is ftom that match and it appears in Fred Reinfeld’s old nook, Attack and Counterattack in Chess. The old book was one of his “pot boilers”, in which he illustrates basic strategic principles with illustrative game. It’s annoying that he did not give players’ names, the event or the date. They are just labeled White and Black. 

    It’s a decent book with mostly verbal explanations. Of course, like all old books there are quite a few mistake in analysis, but the games themselves are interesting. I was able to identify this game because it was referenced in the tactical analysis performed by the Fritz program. 

    Reinfld used the game as an example of how to play against gambits, claiming that knowing how “is one of the most important qualifications for playing the black pieces skillfully.” Reinfeld ststed that “in order to succeed against a gambit, you must keep two valuable principles in mind. They are 1) the initiative is much more important than a material advantage and 2) the extra material can be used as a means of seizing the initiative yourself, often by returning it. Returning the extra material works because the opponent needs time to get it back and you can use that extra move or two to your advantage. 

    Capablanca’s game against Corzo is fascinating because of the way that he handled Corzo’s adventurous Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit which can lead to some real fireworks.

 

[Event "Match, Havanna"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1901.??.??"] [Round "8"] [White "Juan Corzo"] [Black "J.R. Capablanca"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C25"] [Annotator "Fred Reindeld/Stockfish"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "1901.11.17"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "CUB"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceVersion "2"] [SourceQuality "1"] {C25: Vienna Game: Alternatives to 2...Nf6} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. h4 {Anothetr often seem move is 5.d4. The idea of the text is to undermine black's P-structure.} g4 6. Ng5 {Having come down this road, white shouldn't even consider turning back with 6.Ng1} h6 7. Nxf7 {White is betting everything on a quick mating attack while black whill try to defend himself.} Kxf7 {Black's K is exposed to attack. He is a piece ahead, but white can pick up some Ps leaving him almost equal in material. Therefore, black's maim problem is that he is likely to fall badly behind in development. Statistically in my database white scores an overwhelming 60% in this position while black only manages to win a scant 26%. That only leaves 13% draws. It would seem Corzo has made a good opening choice against his young opponent.} 8. d4 {Excellent! This is the only move white has that gives him the advantage.} ( 8. Bc4+ {This looks like a reasonable move, but after} d5 {white does not have a good reply.} 9. Bxd5+ Kg7 10. d4 Bd6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. e5 f3 {It's white's K that is exposed tp a strong attack after ...Be7 and ...Bxh4+. Note that taking the B is really bad!} 13. exd6 fxg2 14. Rg1 Qxh4+ 15. Kd2 Qf2+ 16. Ne2 Nf6 { and black is winning. A sample line...} 17. Qe1 Ne4+ 18. Kd1 Rf8 19. Qxf2 Rxf2 {And it should be clear that black is winning.}) 8... d5 {Black has also played 8...Nf6 and 8...d6 here. The idea of ...d5 is to open up lines to white's K.} 9. exd5 {Instead of this move which opend up a line against his K or even 9.Nxd5 white should try and finish his development with 9.Bxf4.} Qe7+ $19 {The situation jas changes from a few moves back...niw it's white's K that is dangerously exposed.} 10. Kf2 {Although white's position is not very good, this is no improvement over 10.Be2 that Corzo played two games earlier and managed a draw.} (10. Be2 {As played in game 6} f3 11. gxf3 gxf3 12. O-O Qxh4 13. Bxf3 Nf6 14. Bh5+ Ke7 {Better was side strepping to g97} 15. Qe2+ Kd8 16. Rxf6 Rg8+ {Missing the winning line of ...Bg7 and ...Bxd4+} 17. Rg6 Rxg6+ 18. Bxg6 Qg3+ 19. Qg2 Qe1+ 20. Qf1 {½-½ Corzo,J-Capablanca,J Havana 1901, game 6} ) 10... g3+ 11. Kg1 {Reinfeld wrote that a glance at the position gives the impression that black has virtually committed suicide. He has lost two Ps for the sacrificed piece and after his attacked N moves he will lose two more Ps. Worse yet, black will be hopelessly behind in development.} Nxd4 {[%mdl 512] A "magnificent resource" with which black "reveals that he understands very well how to free himself from an uncomfortable bind." (Reinfeld) The sactifice is omly temporary though.} 12. Qxd4 Qc5 {This is the point of Capablanca's cunning play.} 13. Ne2 (13. Qxc5 {allows mate.} Bxc5+ 14. Be3 Bxe3#) 13... Qb6 {[%mdl 128]} 14. Qxb6 (14. b4 {This P sacrifice is white's best try.} Bxb4 ( 14... Qxd4+ 15. Nxd4 Bxb4 16. Bxf4 {with abour equal chances.}) 15. Be3 fxe3 16. Qxh8 Qf6 17. Qxf6+ Nxf6 18. Nxg3 {Black is better, but white has kept the damage to a minimum.}) 14... axb6 {Black still threatens mate with ...Bc5#} 15. Nd4 Bc5 16. c3 {White seems to have survived. material is equal and he gas managed to defend against the mate threat.} Ra4 {[%cal Ra4d4] A remarkable move! He threatens ...Rxd4 and adter cxd4 then ...Bxd4 is still mate.} 17. Be2 (17. b4 {is no defense because} Rxb4 {simply renews the mate threat.} 18. cxb4 Bxd4+ 19. Be3 Bxe3#) 17... Bxd4+ 18. cxd4 Rxd4 19. b3 Nf6 20. Bb2 Rd2 21. Bh5+ (21. Bxf6 Kxf6 22. Bc4 {Avoids the loss of a piece, but leaves him without counterchances in the ending.} Re8 23. Rc1 Bg4 {is hopeless for white.}) 21... Nxh5 22. Bxh8 f3 23. gxf3 Nf4 {The concentrated attack of Black's pieces must be decisive. - Reinfeld} 24. Be5 (24. Re1 {allows a forced maye.} Rg2+ 25. Kf1 Rf2+ 26. Kg1 Bh3 27. Re7+ (27. Rxh3 Nxh3+ 28. Kh1 Rh2#) 27... Kxe7 28. d6+ Kf7 29. Rxh3 Nxh3+ 30. Kh1 Rh2#) 24... Rg2+ 25. Kf1 Rf2+ 26. Ke1 Nd3+ {White resigned. Bearly perfect play by Capablanca.} (26... Nd3+ 27. Kd1 g2 28. Rg1 Nxe5) 0-1

B.H. Wood Clubs Winter

    The 1948 British Chess Championship was held in London ot turned out to be the last time the championship was contested as a round robin tournament. It was won by Reginald J. Broadbent. The Ladies' Championship was won by Edith Price at the age of 76, making her the oldest player ever to win a national championship. 

     Reginald Broadbent 1906-1988, 82 years old) was born in Durban, South Africa. He won scored many local successes in the 30’ and 40s. 

    The winner of today’s game, Baruch H. Wood (1909-1980, 79 years old) was born in Sheffield, England. He founded CHESS magazine in 1935 and was its editor until 1988, when it was sold to Pergamon Press. Wood served an an Arbiter for FIDE, a correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, and wrote a weekly column for Illustrated London News from 1949 to 1979. He co-founded the Sutton Coldfield Chess Club. His best playing years were in the 40’s and 50’s. His son and daughter are both strong players.

 

  

    The colorful William Winter (1897-1955, 58 years old), a man with a fondness for drink, was born in Medstead, England. FIDE awarded him the IM title at its inception in 1950. He was the nephew of Sir James M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. 

    Winter won the British Open in 1934 and the British Championship in 1935 and 1936. A chess journalist by profession Wint authored a few chess books. At the outbreak of World War One he left college to serve in the Army. After the war he returned to his studies at Cambridge. The rumor goes that while there he came under the influence of an older woman and left the university and hisjob so he could air his Socialistic views. As a result, in 1921, Winter, an active member of the Communist Party, was sentenced to six months in prison for his seditious speeches.  

 

[Event "British Championship, London"] [Site ""] [Date "1948.08.30"] [Round "1"] [White "Baruch H. Wood"] [Black "William Winter"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B58"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "1948.08.30"] {B72: Sicilian, Dragon Variation} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. f3 a6 11. g4 b5 { Black moves quickly to get his counterplay on the Q-side underway.} (11... Rc8 {is a bit too slow. After} 12. h4 Ne5 13. h5 b5 14. Kb1 e6 15. Rdg1 b4 16. Nd1 a5 17. Bh6 {White has the initiative, but later managed to lose. Czarnota,D (2238)-Worek,J (2267) Leba POL 2004}) 12. h4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b4 {This is a typical counterattacking move, but here it's not so goo. Much better was 13... e5 because it would allow black to keep his vutal B.} (13... e5 14. Be3 b4 { Now this is the correct move.} 15. Nb1 Qa5 16. h5 Rfc8 17. hxg6 {with the initiative.}) 14. Nd5 Nxd5 {After his last move black has an inferior position, but this move is questionable because it allows the exchange of the B which seriously weakens his K's position.} (14... Be6 {gives up a P, but black probably has a better chance of suvivng a P down than he does facing aa K-side attack.} 15. Nxb4 Qa5 16. Nd5 Qxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Bxd5 18. exd5 Rfc8 19. g5 Nh5 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 {Black's B has been replaced by the N and white clearly has the better position, but at least there is no immediate forced win for white owing ti the reduced material.}) 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. exd5 Bb5 17. h5 Bxe2 {Wood concludes the game with great verve.} 18. hxg6 {Very nice!} fxg6 (18... Bxd1 { gets him mated.} 19. Rxh7+ Kg8 20. Qh6 {mates next move.}) 19. Qh6+ Kf6 { He can run, but he can't hide. Just as boxer Joe Louis' powerful punches found therir mark against his opponent Billy Conn, Woods find their mark against Winter.} 20. g5+ Kf7 21. Qxh7+ Ke8 22. Qxg6+ Kd7 23. Qe6+ Ke8 (23... Kc7 24. Qxe2 Kb8 {Otherwise 25.Qc4+} 25. Rd4 Qb6 26. Qxe7 {Black has avoided mate, but is still completely lost.}) 24. Qxe2 {Black resigned. He never had a chance against Wood's 94% Accuracy Rating.} 1-0

Oldies But Goodies

`Here are a collection of old sites that are still ganging around that you might find interesting or even useful. 

 

Tom's BDG Pages 

About the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and other chess foolishness... 

Last post in 2012 

 

Kindred's Kaleidoscope 

Chess for fun; its a square world we live in. 

Last post 2013 

 

John Saunders' Chess Blog 

Miscellaneous chess writings 

Last post 2024 

 

Purdy’s Chess Tips 

Helpful tips from one of the greatest chess teachers ever. 

Last post 2016 

 

The Chess Museum 

A blog about chess products as well as recommendations and opinions by the late chess publisher Bob Long who was murdered in 2019. 

Last post 2011 

 

chessexpress 

A blog mainly devoted to chess. This Blog has been around since 2007. 

Last post 2025 

 

Tim Krabbé's CHESS CURIOSITIES 

A Blog of...well, chess curiosities. 

Last post 2022

Bernard Parham and the Matrix System

 

    Born in 1946, Bernard Parham passed away on June 19, 2024 at the age of 77 in Lafayette, Indiana which is near Indianapolis. He was a National Master and the Indiana champion in 1967.     

    He is best remembered as the inventor if the Matrix System, a method of analyzing a position.  The system views the board as a Cartesian plane. A Cartesian plane is a two dimensional plane defined by two perpendicular lines. the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis. These axes form a grid system that allows for the precise location of any point. 

    Param’s system uses geometric patterns and vectors to analyze piece movement and attacking routes, especially towards the enemy King. It assigns point values to pieces based on their geometric capabilities that sometimes differs from their traditional values (e,g, traditionally a Rook equals 5 Pawns). The matrix provides a visual representation of attacking and defensive moves which serve as an aid to strategic decision making. 

    Confused? Intrigued? You will want to check out Chess Drum’s great article about Parham and his system HERE. 

    What’s the best way to meet 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5? Here is the result of 30 minute’s analysis by Stockfish which has been incorporated into an actual GM game. As you can see, 2.Qh5 is not a bad move and there is no refutation. In fact, the top three lines result in equality.

Marshall Surprises Mlotkowski

    In 1915, World War I (1914-1918) limited international play, but there was still some activity. There was some activity in the United States...it wasn’t until April 2, 1917, that President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint session of Congress and requested a declaration of war against Germany. 

    A major tournament in New York was won by Capablanca ahead of Marshall. There followed by Oscar Chajes and Abraham Kupchik (tied). Edward Lasker and Jacob Bernstein (tied) and Einar Michelsen. It was also the year the Marshall Chess Divan (later the Marshall Chess Club was established. 

    In 1915, Marshall was active, giving simultaneous exhibitions a;; across the country including the following echibition game. Stach Mlotkowski (1881- 1943, 62 years old) born in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania ajd died in Gloucester City, New Jersey. In 1904, he won theWestern Chess Association championship and in 1923, he ties for first with Norman Whitaker in the Western Chess Association championship, held in San Francisco. He wwas the California State Championship om 1923  

 

[Event "Exhibition Game, Los Angeles"] [Site ""] [Date "1913.07.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Frank Marshall"] [Black "Stasch Mlotkowski"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C21"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "41"] [EventDate "1913.??.??"] {C21: Danish Gambit} 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 {This was often played by Marshal and even Alekhine used it on occasion. Marshall often used it in exhibition hames, but when his opponents started getting booked up on it he gave it up. White will sacrifice a P or two for rapid development and an attack. With careful play black can survuve and use his extra material to secure the win. In my database the odds are 50-50 with few draws.} dxc3 4. Bc4 {It's somewhat surprising, but this move and the safer 4.Nxc3 have about the same success rate in my database. Very few games in in draws with wither move.} d5 {Black has played just about every reasonable move you can thin of here. 4.. .cxb2 can transpose into the game.} (4... cxb2 5. Bxb2 d5 {This is the usual move, but 5...Nf6 is better. Even so, black's advantage is minimal.} (5... Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qf3+ Ke8 9. Qxe4 {is mearly equal.}) 6. Bxd5 Bb4+ { as in the game.}) 5. Bxd5 cxb2 6. Bxb2 Bb4+ {Mlotkowski had been shown this defense many years ear;ier by Max Judd (1851-1906) of St. Louis and one of the country’s best players. The idea is that if white interposes a piece black captures it and white is simply a P down with nothingh to show for it. Although the text is quite effective, the main line remains 6...Nf6} 7. Kf1 { This move was based some faulty analysis of a previous Mlotkowski game.} (7. Nd2 {leaves white slightly better.} Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 Nf6 9. Qc3 O-O 10. Rd1) 7... Nf6 8. Qb3 Qe7 {Black is clearly better.} 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. a3 Bc5 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Rc1 Bb6 {Black has the advantage, but an old English proverb says there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, meaning that even when a good outcome seems certain, things can still go wrong as we are about to se.} 13. h4 Bg4 { A natural developing move, but he would do better playing 13...Re8 causing white to give thought to his e-Oawn.} 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Ne5 Rad8 16. Ndc4 { Black has a significant advantage, but now comes the slip/} Nxe4 {A miscalculation that loses a piece, but not the game. If black follows up correctly, which he does not, the chances would be equal.} (16... Be6 {Elo, imates all danger and should be enough to win.} 17. Qb4 Bxc4+ 18. Nxc4 Qxb4 19. axb4 Nxe4 {with a winning advantage.}) 17. Nxg4 {Now the position is equal after 17...Qe6. Instead, black makes a fatal error,} Nd2+ {[%mdl 8192]} (17... Qe6 18. Nge3 Rd2 19. Kg1 Rxf2 {with complications where either side could go wrong!}) 18. Nxd2 Rxd2 {This is the position Mlotkowski aimed for when he played 16...Nxe4, but he has overlooked a clever tactical reply.} 19. Nh6+ { [%mdl 512] A fantastic finish.} Kh8 {At first glance the K looks safe, but Marshall has another trick up his sleeve.} (19... gxh6 20. Qg3+ Qg5 21. hxg5) 20. Bxg7+ {[%mdl 512]} Kxg7 21. Nf5+ {Black resigned.} (21. Nf5+ Kh8 22. Nxe7 Rxf2+ 23. Ke1 Re8 {White has two good replies (24.Rc2), but this is the easiest.} 24. Qxb6 Rxe7+ 25. Kxf2 cxb6 {and he is a R down.}) 1-0

Euwe Trashes Tartakower

    The book was first published in English in 1953 and it’s been in my library for decades, but I have never read it. It’s Euwe’s Judgment and Planning In Chess. 

    An Amazon review says Euwe examines positions “from the point where the opening stage has come to an end and he describes the characteristics of the position. He explains why one side stands better and gives practical advice.” 

    Except for readers too lazy to learn Descriptive Notation, reviewers on Amazon give it good reviews, but I don’t like it. To me, Euwe’s writing is dry and boring. Naturally those of us who go over the games with engines will find errors in his analysis. That’s the case with all these old books. You can still learn from them because you are learning patterns and ideas. Besides, the games are usually interesting because they illustrate a point of some kind. 

 

 

    While browsing the book the other day I noticed the following game and after examining it more closely it turned out to be pretty interesting. Euwe played the opening poorly and Tartakower got an excellent position, but then got sidetracked by defending against a not very dangerous attack by Euwe. In trying to defend against the “attack” Tartakower weakened his own position and ended up with a lost one. Euwe’s conduct of the concluding attack was not perfect, but it was good enough. 

[Event "Venice"] [Site ""] [Date "1948.10.??"] [Round ""] [White "Savielly Tartakower"] [Black "Max Euwe"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C53"] [Annotator "Euwe/Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "1948.10.03"] {C53: Giuoco Piano} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Bb6 5. d4 Qe7 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Nf6 8. Re1 O-O {This is a well known setup: white has Ps in d4 and e4, black has Ps on e5 and d6. Whits has two options: either play d5 or dxe5. However, he should not play either one because it would open up the diagonal for black’s B on b6. Therefore, he should try to force black to play ...exd4} 9. Na3 {The idea is to play Nc2-e3-d5} Nd8 {Euwe, by his own admission, is embarking on a very poor plan.} (9... h6 10. Bb3 a6 11. Nc4 Ba7 12. Ne3 Qd8 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 {is completely equal. Grosar,A (2470)-Gostisa,L (2470) Slovenia 1993 was eventually drawn.}) 10. Bf1 {An odd move!} (10. Bd3 c6 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. b3 b5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Ba3 {White is better. Rossolimo,N-Muhring, W Hastings 1948}) 10... Ne8 {The idea of this move is to support the e-Pawn with ...f6, but best was 10...exd4 which is preferable to Euwe’s suggested waiting move 10...Kh8} (10... exd4 11. Nxd4 Re8 12. Bg5 Ne6 {and white is only slightly better.}) 11. Nc4 f6 {It’s interesting that Euwe’s observation that white’s plan as noted at move 9 has not accomplished much. Engines are at loggerheads with Euwe here. Stockfish gives white a 2.5 P advantage as does Dragon by Komodo. As for ``...f6 itself, it's the top engone choice.} 12. a4 { This is a commonly seen move that here has a tactical point.} c6 {The same result comes after 12...a6} 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Qb3+ Ne6 15. Qxb6 {Here is the flaw in 10...Ne6. Had black played 10...Nbd7 he would not have lost a P.} g5 { Given his inferior position this attack on the K-sdie is his best practical chance as he has little to lose.} 16. Bc4 {Euwe accuses Tartakower as taking black's plan of a K-side attack too lightly. Perhaps that may be so, but this move is not at fault as white still retains a considerable advantage. Perhaps though 16.a5 is more consistent.} h6 17. h4 Kh7 {The plan is to open the g-file.} 18. hxg5 {Euwe was rightfully critical of this move which opens the h-file for black. Indeed, it lessens considerably white's advantage.} hxg5 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Be3 Rh8 21. g3 {Over the last couple of moves Tartakower has completely lost the threat of the game. This move further weakens the position of his K and at this point almost all of his advantage has disappweared anbd things are only going to get worse.} Kg6 22. Kg2 {The point of his last move. He intends to challenge black on the h-file witg Rh1. But, as Euwe put it, black has more strings in his bow.} Nf4+ {A fairly obvious sacrifice. It eliminstes a defender (the P at g3), exposed white's K and at the same time allows black's B to join the attack with a gain of time. At this point the chances are equal, all of white's advantage having evaporated owing to his defensive policy.} 23. gxf4 {Euwe makes no comment on ths move which is a gross blunder! Did Euwe miss the correct defense or did ge deliberately avoid commenting?} Bh3+ 24. Kg3 {Stepping back to g1 is just as bad.} exf4+ 25. Bxf4 Qd7 {The threat of mate forces white to further weaken his position.} 26. Nh2 gxf4+ 27. Kxf4 Rh4+ {Euwe commented that black must proceed with the utmost energy. That;s quite true, but he missed the most energetic line.} 28. Ke3 Bg2 $1 29. Nf3 {Tartakower has been stoutly defending a lost position, but now Euwe takes advantage of the K's vulnerable position with a nice tactical blow.} Rxe4+ $1 {[%mdl 512] This is even stronger than winning the N on f3.} 30. Kxe4 Nd6+ 31. Kd3 Qf5+ 32. Kd4 Qf4+ 33. Kd3 Qxc4+ {Euwe makes no comment on this move which is a major slip. Black's position has gone from winning to just better.} 34. Kc2 Bxf3 {Euwe acknowledged that his attack was over, but correctly observed that his position is very promising.} 35. b3 Be4+ 36. Kb2 Qd3 37. Rg1+ Kf7 38. Rac1 {This allows an elegant finish, but the game is already over.} Qd2+ 39. Ka3 Nc4+ {[%mdl 512] The offer with this coupled with the next move destroy white's defenses.} 40. bxc4 Rxa4+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} 41. Kxa4 Qa2+ 42. Kb4 Qb2+ {White resigned.} 0-1

Helms – Frere, an Exciting Slugfest

    The name Hermann Helms (1870-1963, 93 years old), the Dean of American Chess, is fairly well known as the long time chess columnist for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle which carried his column from 1895 to 1955. He also served as editor of the American Chess Bulletin from 1904 until his death in 1963. 

    The little known Walter Frere (1874-1943, 69 years old) was a strong New York City amateur. His father had helped organize the First American Chess Congress of 1857 that was won by Paul Morphy. Ferer had been wanting to meet Helms in a match because when the last club junior championship had been held Frerer had been ill and unable to participate; hence, his desire to meet Helms in a match. 

    In October of 1893 one was finally arranged. Helms was the junior champion of the Brooklyn C. C. and Frere was the youngest player in the club. Frere had performed well the previous year. having defeated one of the club’s strongest players in a match. He had also finished third in a New York state handicap tournament. 

    The match started on September 19, 1893, and the winner was to be the first to win five games, draws not counting. With the score tied 4-4 the match was extended and the 6-6 result stood.. 

    The games were sharp and curiously several were quite short! Ferer lost the 2nd game in 18 moves, the 4th in 25 moves and the 7th in 29 moves. Helms lost game 9 in 13 moves, game 10 in 15 moves and game 13 in 22 moves! With the exception of the first game where the opening was a Scotch Game, all the games were either a Ruy Lopez or an Evans Gambit. Here is the exciting 7th game.

 

Torre-Kupchik Match, Kupchik Got Cheated

    The name Carlo Torre (1904-1978) is fairly well known even if his brilliant games are not. The name of a very strong New York City master Aberaham Kupchik (1892-1970) has faded into obscurity. 

    Torre was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. He learned to play chess at the age of six, and in 1915 he went to the United States to attempt to prove himself against America's best players. His chess career ended when he was stricken by mental illness in 1926, but in 1977 FIDE awarded him the GM title. 

    Aberaham Kupchik (1892-1970) was born in what was the Russian Empire, now Belarus. In 1922, His family migrated to America. Kupchik wa barely five feet tall and weighed less than 115 pounds, and according to Arnold Denker, Kupcjik was a “timid, tiny whisper of a man” and a “frightened little rabbit.” Nevertheless, at the time he was one of the country’s best players. His style was thoroughly defensive and non-aggressive. 

 In 1925, the two met in a match in which there was a lot at stake. When Capablanca (living in New York) declined his invitation to the 1925 Baden Baden tournament it was decided to send in his place either Torre, the New York State and Western Open champion or Kupchik, the Manhattan Chess Club champion. 

    To make the final choice a match between the two was arranged. In addition to the tournament and travel expenses and the winner would collect $500 (over $9,000 today). 

    Naturally, both players were eager to win and as author Gabriel Velasco wrote in The Life and Games of Carlos Torre, for the first time in his career Torre had to change the way he thought about chess; he had to be concerned with results rather than just giving free rein to his imagination and relying on his natural ability. 

    The match started with Kupchik winniing the first game and Torre the second. Then came four dull positional draws after which the match was terminated. Before the 7th game came a shocking telegram from Dr. Tarrasch saying that two places had been allotted for Americans and they were Frank Marshall and Torre. Naturally the news didn’t sit well with Kupchik, but he had no choice but to accept it. 

    The 21-player Baden Baden event was won by Alekhine ahead of Rubinstein, Saemischm Bigoljubow and Marshall. Torre finished 10th with 10.5 points.

 

[Event "Match, New York"] [Site ""] [Date "1925.03.05"] [Round "2"] [White "Carlos Torre"] [Black "Abraham Kupchik"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A53"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "1925.??.??"] {A55: Old Indian Defense} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 c6 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e4 e5 { The Old Indian Defense is sound, but far less dynamic than the King's Indian.} 6. Be2 Be7 {Characteristic if the Old Indian. He might still have transposed into the King’s Indian with 6...g6} 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 Qc7 9. Be3 Re8 10. Qc2 Nf8 {Here we see a major difference between the two Indian Defenses. In the Old Indian black does not aim for a rapid K-side attack. Instead, he develops quietly and will try to counterattack white's center when given the opportunity. Black actually does better with 10...a6 although neither move is entirely satisfactory because blacl's position is quite passive.} (10... a6 11. Rfd1 b5 12. a3 Bb7 {but here, too, white stands well.}) 11. Rad1 Ng6 $146 ( 11... h6 {is the main alternative.} 12. d5 a6 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. c5 dxc5 15. Bc4 Be6 {with equal chances. Airapetian,G (2463)-Basencyan,M (2135) St Petersburg RUS 2011}) 12. Rd2 Bd7 13. Rfd1 {\} Rad8 14. a3 h6 15. b4 {White has a spatial advantage on the Q-side and his plan is to open a file there to obtain play for his Rs.} Bf8 16. Qb1 b6 {This excellent little move move makes it difficult for white to open a file on the Q-side and at the same time prepares the thematic counter against white's center with ...c5} 17. a4 Bc8 18. Ra2 { Too slow!} (18. d5 c5 19. a5 {allows white ti carry out his plan.}) 18... exd4 {Torre wrote that with this move black changes his waiting policy and assumes the initiative.} 19. Nxd4 c5 20. Ndb5 {Torre's observation aside, white is still a little better in this position.} Qb8 {Keeping the Q centralized with 20...Qe7 seems more prudent.} 21. Rad2 {Torre noted that this is the only move that allows him to regroup his pieces and continue to fight in the center.} ( 21. Nd5 {is the nain alternative, Aftetr} Nxd5 22. exd5 a6 23. Nc3 {the position is equal.}) 21... cxb4 (21... a6 {leads to complications. The best line is} 22. bxc5 axb5 23. Qxb5 Qa8 24. cxb6 Ba6 25. Qb1 Nxe4 26. Nxe4 Rxe4 { White is better.}) 22. Qxb4 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Nxd6 {This move has the appearance of being risky, but it was played with the intention of exchanging the Q for the two Rs. - Torre. It's not clear exactly how he intended to accomplish that, but it's probably the best decision because the defensive retreat of the Q to b3 is no more than equal.} Rxd6 (24... Rh4 {This very interesting move is hard to spot.} 25. a5 Be6 26. g3 Qa8 {with complications. White has two main choices. One being 27.axb6, but after the obvious} 27. gxh4 Nxh4 28. f3 Nxf3+ 29. Kf2 Nxd2 30. Rxd2 Qh1 {the position is not very clear and the chances would be even.}) 25. Rxd6 Bxd6 26. Rxd6 {The exchanges have resulted in black having pretty much equalized, but his pieces are disorganized. White's threat is 27.a5.} Qc7 (26... a5 {stops a5, but after} 27. Rd8+ Kh7 28. Qb1 f5 29. Bd3 {white is winning.} Re5 30. c5 {Black is unable to cope with all the pins.}) 27. a5 bxa5 {There is little choice but to make this capture.} 28. Qd2 Be6 {Not the best.} (28... a4 29. c5 a3 30. Bd3 Re6 31. Rd4 Bb7 32. Bc4 Re7 {Black's a-Pawns have created a diversion that resukts in his having equalized.}) 29. c5 {[%mdl 1024] An excellent move that increases the mobility of hid Bs.} Ne5 (29... a4 {With the B on e6 this is no longer possible.} 30. Bd3 {and the R has nowhere to go.} Re5 (30... Rh4 31. Bxg6 fxg6 32. Rxe6) 31. Bxg6 fxg6 32. Qd4 {wins material.}) 30. f3 Rb4 {According to the terms of the match the game was adjourned here and this was Kupchik's sealed move. White is clearly better.} 31. f4 {[%mdl 2048] An important move that drives the N back with a gain of time.} Nd7 32. c6 Nf8 33. Rd8 {Threatening 34. Bc5.} Qe7 (33... Rb1+ {won't quite do.} 34. Kf2 $16 a4 35. Bc5 Rb8 36. Rxb8 Qxb8 37. Qd6 Qxd6 38. Bxd6 Bc8 39. Bb5 g5 40. Bxa4 {White's two Bs anf the afvanced passed P give him a significant advantage.}) 34. Ra8 {At this point black is lost.} Bf5 35. Qc3 Kh7 36. c7 Ng6 37. Bg4 Rb1+ 38. Bc1 Bxg4 {This results in an abrupt end to the game.} (38... Qf6 {isn't really amy better, but it contains a trap.} 39. Qxf6 (39. c8=Q {This is the winning move.} Bxc8 40. Qxc8 {and white is winning.}) 39... Rxc1+ 40. Kh2 gxf6 41. Bxf5 Rxc7 42. Rd8 a4 43. Rd5 Rc4 44. Rd7 Kg8 45. Rxa7 Nxf4 46. Bd7 {draws}) 39. hxg4 Nxf4 { The game still isn't over because Kupchik has set a trap.} 40. Rh8+ {[%mdl 512] Avoiding the snare.} (40. Qc2+ {looks like it picks up the R, but...} g6 41. Qxb1 (41. Kf2 {is no better!} Rxc1 42. Qxc1 Nd3+ 43. Kf3 Nxc1 44. c8=Q Qe2+ 45. Kg3 (45. Kf4 Nd3+ 46. Kg3 Qe3+ {draws}) 45... Qe1+ {draws}) 41... Qe1+ 42. Kh2 Qh4+ {draws}) 40... Kg6 41. c8=Q Ne2+ 42. Kf2 {Black resigned. He gets mated.} (42. Kf2 Qh4+ 43. Kxe2 Qe7+ 44. Be3 Rb2+ 45. Qxb2 Qxe3+ 46. Kxe3 Kg5 47. Qe5+ Kh4 48. Qh5+ Kg3 49. Qh3#) 1-0

Fischer the Best? No, Maybe Reshevslky...

    After winning the 1957/58 US Championship on his very first try Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) was asked if that made him the best player in the country. He replied, "No, one tournament doesn't mean much.” Who was the best player in the country? " he said. "Maybe Reshevsky .... " was his reply. 

    The victory made him the youngest US Champion ever at the age of 14 and it was assumed that hewould at some point reach GM level, but would he become better than Reshevsky, Evans, Robert and Donald Byrne or Bisguier? Or how would he stack up against his contemporaries: William Lombardy and Raymond Weinstein? Few people thought he would be that good. 

    Previously, in 1956, had seen his introduction to top level competition in the 3rd Lessing Rosenwald Invitational in New York. In that event Fischer lost four games; three of them badly. The following summer Fischer drew Bisguier, who had mauled him in the Rosenwald, and thereby nosed out Bisguier the defending U.S. Open and U.S. Invitational champion, for the U.S. Open title. Interestingly, Fischer won the next 13 games in a row against Bisguier. 

    1957 was the 100th anniversary of the First American Congress, and like Paul Morphy, Fischer was to become the dominating champion. Every year there had been doubts as to whether there would be a championship that year. Financial crises and poor organization were the causes. The USCF only had 2,000 members, so money was scarce. 

 Fortunately a small group of wealthy men, collectively known as the American Chess Foundation kept the three year championship cycle going. They promised they would choose the best players for small, topflight events and finance them. As a result three strong Rosenwald invitational tournaments and three Matches were held. 

    Reshevsky won two of the tournaments, finishing third in the other behind Evans and Bisguier, and defeating Lombardy, Bisguier and Donald Byrne in the matches. It was obvious from these events that Reshevsky was far superior to everyone else: He never lost more than one game in each event. 

    Somewhat reluctantly the USCF agreed to let the fourth Rosenwald be designated as the 10th U.S. championship. This was especially fortunate because the tournament also served as a FIDE zonal where the first two finishers would qualify. 

    Fischer had played a lot during 1956 and 1957 giving simultaneous exhibitions, and winning the 1957 U.S. Open and losing a two-game match to former world champion Max Euwe, but nobody expected him to do well in the Rosenwald. Bisguier declared Reshevsky was favorite and almost everyone agreed with him. Evans was also considered a contender as were Lombardy and Robert Byrne. Unfortunately Byrne declined his invitation.

 

 

    Fischer started out this championship with a crushing defeat of Arthur Feuerstein, a 22-year-old computer programmer in the first round. Then he narrowly escape defeat against Herbert Seidman, then battled Reshevsky to a draw. Two points out of three was not a bad start, but then things changed. 

    He defeated Sidney Bernstein and Arthur Bisguier and was a half point behind Reshevsky with a score of 4-1. There followed a game that could have gone either way against Hans Berliner but ended in a draw. But then came a whirlwind of victories: James T. Sherwin, George Kramer Edmar Mednis William Lombardy Attilio DiCamillo all went down in defeat. 

    During Fischer's streak Reshevsky had been defeated by Sherwin and so was trailing Fischer by a half point. To win the tournament Reshevsky needed a last-round win over William Lombardy, who was battling for third behind Sherwin.     

    Abe Turner. Turner was an old blitz partner of Fischer and nobody expected Fischer to put much effort into the game. In the last round Fischer did what everyone expected he would and something would never do again in his career: he drew with Turner in 18 moves! After the game he went to the analysis room and played 5-minute games. 

    What his draw with Turner meant was that a Reshevsky win would mean a tie for first place while any other result would give Fischer a clear first. Fortunately for Fischer Lombardy played such a great game against Reshevsky that he won the brilliancy prize and so Fischer was the champion. 

    Below is Fischer’s historic first round wu\in against the strong National Master Arthur Feurstein (1935-2022, 86 years old) who was originally from the Bronx, New York, played in several U.S. Championships as well as several Manhattan Chess Club championships. 

    In 1955, he won the US Speed Championship. In 1960, the first United States Armed Forces Chess Championship was held in Washington, D.C. There were 12 participants. Air Force Captain John Hudson and Army SP4 Feuerstein tied for first place. Feuerstein was four times New York state champion. Hudson was a bombardier-navigator on B-52 bombers and a former US Amateur champion. 

    At age 21, Feuerstein won the U.S. Junior Blitz Championship, leaving newcomer Bobby Fischer in a close second place. The game between them ended in a draw. Feuerstein had a record of (+1−1=3) against Fischer. 

    In 1973, Feuerstein was involved in a car accident that left him in a coma for six weeks. When he recovered, he was unable to speak English very well, but he did remember how to play chess. Feuerstein continued to play chess after the accident, and in fact was rated as one of the top 10 players in his age group in the world when he was 65 years old. 

    I played him twice in correspondence games is Chess Review events in 1972-72. In the first game I established a much superior position then miscalculated a tactical sequence and lost. In the second game things followed a more natural course. I was outplayed from the start and lost fairly quickly. He was a prompt, courteous opponent and he took time to answer some of my questions and supply me with some analysis. 

 

[Event "US Championship 1957/58, New York"] [Site ""] [Date "1957.12.17"] [Round "?"] [White "Robert Fischer"] [Black "Arthur Feuerstein"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1957.12.17"] {King's Indian Attack} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 {Early in his career Fischer scored a number spectacular wins with the King’s Indian Attack. Feuersteub hinself also liked the KIA.} Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7 9. Qe2 Rd8 {This is probably not a good ifea because after e5 the R has few orisoects on d8. Therefore, a counterattacking move like 9...b5 seems better.} 10. e5 Ne8 (10... Nd7 {keeps the balance.} 11. h4 b6 12. c3 Ba6 13. h5 h6 14. Nf1 d4 {Jesse,I (2386)-Krums,I (1985) Riga 2022 with equal chances.}) 11. c3 b5 (11... f6 {Again, it was suggested that 11...f6 was better, but, again, all that dies is weaken the K-side. Feuerstein's move is the correct one.} 12. exf6 gxf6 13. Nf1) 12. Nf1 b4 13. Bf4 Qa5 {A small slip. Black needs an open file for his R in orfer to get counterplay and so the consistent 13... bxc3 followed by 14...Rb8 was a bit better. As it ism black's pieces end up being rather ineffectively placed.} 14. c4 {An excellent move closing the Q-side and one that helps whiite purssue his K-side plams.} Nc7 15. h4 { This Pawn has will perform the function of rippinh open the podition of black's K.} Qb6 {With this move black prepares to make a serious error!} 16. h5 b3 (16... h6 {stopping the advance of the h-Pawn would have left him with minimal damage after} 17. g4 Bb7 {White is only slightly better.}) 17. a3 dxc4 18. dxc4 Ba6 {It wasn't too late for 18...h6} 19. N1h2 {Now white should have been the one to play 19.h6; instead, he gives black another chance to play it!} (19. h6 g6 20. Bg5 Bxg5 21. Nxg5 Nd4 22. Qg4 Bb7 23. Qf4 {Fritz 19 declares white's advantage is decisive. Even so, black's resignation is a long way off!} ) 19... Rac8 20. h6 g6 21. Bg5 {The exchange of black's B greatly increases the weakness of the dark squares arounf black's K and white's attack soon becomes irresistible} Nd4 22. Qe3 Bxg5 {Black l oses quickly if he goes after the xxchange.} (22... Nc2 23. Qf4 Bxg5 24. Nxg5 Rf8 25. Ng4 Nxa1 26. Rxa1 Bxc4 27. Nf6+ Kh8 28. Nd7 {There is no defense to the threat of 29.Qf6+}) 23. Qxg5 Ne8 24. Ng4 Nf5 25. Rac1 Qc7 26. Nd2 Rd4 27. Nxb3 Rxc4 28. Rcd1 Ra4 29. Re4 Bb5 30. Rc1 Qb6 31. Nd2 Rxe4 32. Nxe4 Bd3 33. Ngf6+ {[%mdl 32] White is clearly winning.} Kh8 34. g4 {+This is the final blow. It wins a piece because the N can't move.} Bxe4 (34... Nd4 35. Rxc5 Rxc5 36. Nxe8 {Black can delay, but not prevent, mate.}) 35. Bxe4 Nd4 36. Nxe8 Qd8 {This offers a glimmer of hope . The threat is 37...Ne2+ which would allow black to recover his piece.} 37. Qxd8 Rxd8 38. Nd6 {With this move white retains the extra piece.} Ne2+ 39. Kf1 Nxc1 40. Nxf7+ Kg8 41. Nxd8 Nb3 42. Ke2 Nd4+ 43. Kd3 Kf8 44. Nc6 {Black resigned. A good example of how to conduct an attack with the King's Indian Attack..} 1-0

Practical Advice on Open Files From Pur

    It’s my hope that readers living east of the Mississippi River survived the past few scary days with no damage from the storms that seem to come out of nowhere. 

    Where I live we had tornadoes, wind gusts up to 90 mph (145 kph), trees down, power outages, drenching downpours and flooding. We were blessed that I was able to get my gasoline powered water pump that sucks up 9,500 gallons (3,600 liters) per hour up and running in time to keep the water that was flowing into the garage from coming into the house. 

    Cecil J. S. Purdy 1906-1979) was born in Port Said, Egypt.\ where hus father was a government official for England on the board for the Suez Canal. Until the age of nine Purdy was living in Hobart and then he moved to Sydney and remained there the rest of his life. 

 He did not take up chess somewhere between the ages of 13 and 15 which he first learned from the Encyclopaedia Britannica. By other accounts he received instruction from L. S. Crakanthorp, the father of Spencer Crakanthorp (Purdy’s father-in-law) who had been champion of New South Wales, New Zealand and Australia. Within a year of learning the moves Purdy was encouraged to enter tournament play. 

    Awarded the IM title in 1951 and the Correspondence GM title in 1953, he won the first Correspondence World Championship (1950-1953). He won the New Zealand Championship twice (1924-25 and 1935-36 and was Australian Champion four times (1934-35, 1936-37, 1948-49 and 1951. He was also Australian Correspondence Champion in 1940 and 1948. He was the founder, editor, and publisher of a chess magazine from 1929 to 1967. 

    While playing at a tournament in Sydney in 1979 he suffered an aneurysm that lead to his death. Purdy was an excellent analyst and one of the finest writers on chess ever and his analysis was always filled with great practical advie for non-Masters. 

    Chessmetrics estimates his OTB high rating at a modest 2346 on the June 1980 rating list, but it's hard to say how accurate that rating really is because he never played in any European tournaments. For that reason Chessmetric's rating is against opponents mostly from Australia and New Zealand. In 1946 Purdy held Tartakower to a draw in a radio match and in 1947 he drew with Harry Golombek, also in a radio match. 

    Purdy advised that a single open file will often result in a drawish position because the heavy pieces are likely to be exchanged on it which normally leaves a balanced minor piece ending. Any attempt to win such an ending is likely to involve taking risks. 

    He advised that if you are trying to win, then you have better chances by opening a second file. He added that bringing about the second P-exchange necessary to create the second open file without compromising your position can be difficult as seen in this game. 

    We see him putting his advise on open files to use in this game. As usual, it turns out that analyzing with an engine renders some of Purdy's observations questionable, but that's not important. What's important are ideas. You can use the ideas in your own games to develop a reasonable plan and create winning chances. 

    My advice is that if you have the opportunity to purchase a book by Purdy by all means buy it! My second piece of advice is...study it! 

    Purdy’s opponent was Michael Woodhams (born 1948). He represented Australia in the Olympiads at Nice, Haifa and Buenos Aires. He was Australian Junior Champion in 1966, and 1972 and 1975 Australian Correspondence Chess Champion. 

 

[Event "Australian Championship, Brisbane"] [Site "Brisbane, Australia"] [Date "1967.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "C.J.S. Purdy"] [Black "Michael Woodhams"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E75"] [Annotator "Purdy/Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "1967.??.??"] {E74: King's Indian: Averbakh Variation} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 {Thusm along with 6.Bg5 is the Averbakh Variation.} O-O 6. Bg5 {This move prevents the immediate 6...e5.e Averbakh Variation of the King's Indian Defence.} c5 (6... e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. Bxd8 {winning the exchange.}) 7. d5 Qa5 {Purdy did not have a high opinion of this move. Statistically, he is correct as black does not score well with it. 7... h6 is the most popular move here., but it involves the sacrifice of a P that doesn’t appear to offer black much.Probably best is 7...e6} 8. Bd2 e6 9. Nf3 exd5 10. exd5 a6 11. O-O Bg4 (11... Qc7 {This is the most frequently played.} 12. h3 Nbd7 13. a3 Re8 14. Rc1 b6 15. b4 Bb7 16. Bd3 Rac8 17. b5 a5 {And in Pietzsch,W-Bilek,I Harrachov 1966, white agreed to a draw even though he stands better.}) 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nbd7 14. Be2 {Purdy intends f4 followed by f5. and with nis next move black prepares to meet f4 with ...f5} Ne8 { Instead of this pirely defenside move the more active 14... Rfe8 seems better.} (14... Rfe8 15. f4 Qd8 {renders Pursy's intended f5 ineffective and so white will play 16.Qc2, but then 16...b5 gives black sufficient counterplay.} 16. f5) 15. Qc2 {Purdy criticized this move in his analysis stating that he didn’t follow his own advice and open up a second file. Actually, it;s the engine's first choice.} (15. f4 f5 16. g4 {According to Purdy this move would threaten to either open up the g-file or to advance the P to g5 followed by opening up the h-file by advancing the h-Pawn. If black captures 16...fxg4 then white can choose which open file he wants to operate on by playing either 17. Bxg4 or 17. Pxg4. n this line white has no more than a slight advantage.}) 15... f5 { Played as plannedm but this only serves to weaken his K-side. Nore solid would have been 15...Qd8 followed by ...Bd4} 16. Rfe1 (16. Ne4 {brings the N to a strong position with a gain of time.} Qd8 17. Ng5 {Threatening Ne6, so} Nc7 18. Rfe1 h6 19. Ne6 Nxe6 20. dxe6 Ne5 21. Qb3 {with an active position.}) 16... Qd8 {After this move Woodhams commented that the position is equal, but Purdy disagreed. His reason was that white is ahead in development and he can use his lead in development to play f4 and g4 with attacking chances even though black has withdrawn his Q and made it available to defend on the K-side. Who is right? Both! Stocjfish and Komodo by Drahon give white no more than his initial half-Pawn advantage, so Woodhams is correct, Howeverm practically speaking Pursy is correct.} 17. Qc1 {Purdy still intends to play f4 but if played at once, it would block his dark squared B. So, the idea of the text move is to first get the B in front of the P. It;s not horrible, but 17...Bd4 was better.} Ne5 {Both Woodhams and Purdy condemned this move because it will allow white to gain a tempo when he plays f4.} 18. Bh6 {Purdy questions this move adding that 18.f4 was best...but then does that not call into question his reasoning behind his last move? In any case, he is correct to seek play on the K-side.} Nc7 (18... Bxh6 $15 {is playable. After} 19. Qxh6 {Black has a solid defense with 19...Ng7, ot he cn be adventerous with} g5 20. f4 Nf7 21. Qh5 Ng7 22. Qf3 Qf6 {His K-side is aolidly defended.}) 19. Bxg7 (19. g4 { does not work out well after} Qh4 {and white’s whole idea of opening up another file on the K-side for attacking purposes has come to nothing. In fact, in this position black is much better.} 20. Bf4 Qxh3 21. Qe3 Qxe3 22. Bxe3 f4 { etc.}) 19... Kxg7 {White has a small advantage mostly due to his more active pieces, abut ctually scoring the win is problematic.} 20. f4 Nd7 21. Qd2 Qf6 22. Rad1 h6 {Here Purdy admitted that the game has taken on a drawish character, but he (incorrectly) believed this is a mistake because now it is black who is trying to open up another file for attack} 23. a4 {Constraining black on the Q-side. It's clear that Purdy's attacking strategy on the K-side is bankrupt.} g5 {Woodhams has completely misjudges the position and this horrible move infuses white's, not black's position with new life. Challenging on the e0file with 23...Rfe1 was correct.} 24. Bf1 {Nor bad, but there was a stronger move.} (24. Rf1 Rae8 25. Bd3 {There is a threat to the P on f5.} g4 ( 25... b5 26. fxg5 Qxg5 27. Qxg5+ hxg5 28. Bxf5) 26. Ne2 gxh3 27. Ng3 { Threatenong to fork the Q and K} Kf7 28. Nxf5 hxg2 29. Rf3 Rg8 30. Rh3 Rg6 31. a5 {Black's extra P is meaningless as he has been completely shout down on all sectors and white has every prospect of winning.}) 24... gxf4 25. Ne2 Ne5 ( 25... f3 {was worth a try.} 26. Nf4 Qh4 27. Qc3+ Kh7 28. Qxf3 Ne5 {with defensive chances.}) 26. Nxf4 Qg5 27. Qf2 Kh7 {Avoiding potential threats from white’s Re3-g3. This is an interesting position. Engines offer two winning suggestions. A Q-side diversion with 28.b4 or the direct 28.Ne6} 28. Rxe5 { Interesting. Purdy gave this questionable move an exclamation mark stating that 1) it was the only chance to win and 2) he was fairly sure of not losing. Purdy was of the opinion that that the exchange is overrated! If one can get a P and keep one R tied up a long time it is compensation.} (28. Ne6 Nxe6 29. dxe6 Rae8 30. Rxd6) 28... dxe5 29. Qxc5 Rac8 {All of a sudden black's pieces are showing signs of life and he is right back in the game.} 30. d6 {Purdy now gave Woodhams’ next move a question mark stating that he underrated white’s position and overestimated the value of the united Ps he gets after his next move. According to engines the position is very nearly equal.} Qxf4 31. d7 (31. dxc7 {is met by} Rf7 32. Rd8 Rcxc7 {And here the exchnge and connected passed Ps do make all the difference; black is winning.}) 31... Rcd8 32. Qxc7 Qe3+ 33. Kh1 f4 {[%mdl 8192] In his notes Purdy make no comment on this move. In fact he adds almost nothing in the way of notes to the ending of the game, but it is precisely here that Woodhams goes astray and loses the game.} (33... Qb3 {Black has to switch to the defense if he is to hold the draw.} 34. Rd5 Qxa4 35. Qxb7 Rf7 {And it;s not surprising that in the Q and double R ending neither side can make progress so the game can be considered drawn.}) 34. Qxb7 e4 {Purdy was cirrect in stating Woodhams has placed too much confidence in his e- and f-Pawns.} 35. Qd5 f3 36. c5 Rg8 37. Qf5+ Kh8 38. Qf6+ Kh7 39. Qe7+ Rg7 (39... Kh8 {can also get tricj due to the array of possible Q checks.} 40. Qe5+ Kh7 41. g4 f2 (41... Rgf8 42. c6 Qf4 43. Qxf4 Rxf4 44. c7) 42. Qf5+ Kh8 43. Rd6 {wins}) 40. Qxd8 fxg2+ 41. Bxg2 Rxg2 {His last hope.} 42. Qh8+ {[%mdl 512]} (42. Kxg2 {results in a draw.} Qf3+ 43. Kg1 Qg3+ 44. Kf1 (44. Kh1) 44... Qf3+ 45. Ke1 Qe3+ 46. Kf1 Qf3+) 42... Kxh8 43. d8=Q+ { [%mdl 4096]} Kh7 {The game isn't over! White only has one way to win.} 44. Qd7+ (44. Rd7+ {would only draw.} Rg7 45. Rxg7+ Kxg7 46. Qe7+ Kg6) 44... Kg6 45. Rd6+ Kh5 46. Qf7+ {This enables white to safely take the R.} Kh4 47. Kxg2 Qg5+ 48. Kf1 Kxh3 49. Qe6+ {Black resigned.} 1-0

The Nice Bobby

    In 2008, the late National Master James R. Schroeder (1927-2017), a man with an acerbic outward demeanor, but who basically had a good heart, wrote an article on Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) which he concluded with the statement, "Because of severe life-time mental illness it would have been best if Fischer had died after becoming world champion, as he had no other reason to live."

    Schroeder also made the observation, "Because he had achieved his one goal in life, he could not play any more serious chess because he might lose. It’s amazing that a person who was irrational to the point of being insane could be one of the best players of all time." 

    In 1968, people weren't so harsh when they spoke of Fischer. He won tournaments at Netanya, Israel with an undefeated score of 11.5-3.5 and then at Vinkovci, Yugoslavia with a score of 11-2. 

    After that, his only other game was when, as a favor to Arnold Denker, he agreed to play for the Manhattan Chess Club in their Metropolitan League team match against the Marshall Chess Club. To Denker's surprise, he agreed to do it for free. iFischer defeated Dr. Anthony Saidy and after that he stopped playing for 18 months. It was also the year his classic My 60 Memorable Games was published. 

    Vinkovci 1968 was Fischer's fifth consecutive tournament victory and his score was a full two points ahead of the second place finishers Hort and Matulovic. Back in those days no tournament was as interesting as one with Fischer playing and at Vinkovci, a small town near Belgrade, before the start if the tour

 

 

    And, at this tournament Fischer was at his best, not only in his play, but he gave a lot of interviews and signed hundreds of autographs. One Yugoslav journalist said that at Vinkovci Fischer took the time to speak to everyone, he was kind and the people love him. That’s not the Bobby Fischer most people think of!

    In spite of his results Fischer wasn’t satisfied with his play, claiming that if he had played the last games better he could have won by four points! 

    His opponent in the following game was Yugoslav GM Milan Matulovic (1935 - 2013) who was the third strongest Yugoslav player for much of the 1960s and 1970s behind Svetozar Gligorić and Borislav Ivkov. Ten years earlier, in 1958, he played, and lost (+1 -2 =2), a four game training match with Fischer. He was Yugoslav Champion in 1965 and 1967. 

     Matulović was involved in some controversies. He often, as in this game against Fischer, played on in hopeless positions. After the 1970 Interzonal at Palma de Mallorca, he was accused of throwing his game against Mark Taimanov in return for a $400 bribe. As a result, Taimanov advance to the Candidates matches. It didn't do Taimanov any good; he was overwhelmed by Bobby Fischer 6–0. 

    In his game against István Bilek at the Sousse Interzonal in 1967, Matulovic played a losing move, immediately recognized it as such and took it hack claiming he was adjusting his pieces. Bilek complained, but the new move was allowed to stand, earning kim the moniker of "J'adoubovic". Reportedly this taking back of moves happened several times, including in a game against Fischer. 

    Matulovic was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and served nine months in prison for a car accident in which a woman was killed. He had a sharp attacking style as demonstrated in this game against Fischer. 

 

[Event "Vinkovci"] [Site ""] [Date "1968.09.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Milan Matulovic"] [Black "Robert Fischer"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B91"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "1968.09.07"] {[%evp 13,80,16,17,-3,-4,-13,-11,-83,-77,-76,-78,-84,-86,-84,-79,-91,-109,-122, -84,-105,-70,-108,-99,-165,-150,-142,-141,-170,-166,-259,-258,-242,-242,-321, -310,-320,-312,-351,-326,-417,-394,-479,-442,-538,-498,-514,-498,-555,-561, -552,-544,-568,-565,-625,-624,-615,-614,-698,-681,-711,-705,-683,-683,-924, -900,-902,-874,-837,-798] B91: Sicilian} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 {In an earlier tournament, Monaco 1967, Fischer played 6...g6 against Matanovic but ,amaged to get only equal play.} 7. Nde2 {More flexible is 6,Bb3 because the N is in a passive position on e2. The idea behind placing the N on e2 is with the vague hope that it may support the N on c3 in the fight for d5.} Be7 8. Bg5 {Matulovic jad prepared this as a surprise. 7.Bg2 is normal.} Nbd7 {Black has support the N on f6 with this N becaise it keeps an eye on the important square d5.} 9. Bh3 {This is the point of 7.Bg5... white;s Bs create an immediate po sitional threat to make good use of the hole on d5 for his N on d5.} b5 {[%mdl 32] This aggressive move by Fischer is an unpleasant surprise for white.} (9... O-O 10. Bxd7 Bxd7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 { is the thematic line, but the position is only equal.}) 10. a4 {This move only helps b;ack acgieve an aggressive position. White should continue with his strategy.} (10. Bxd7+ Bxd7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 {with equal chance.}) (10. Nd5 {at once is also feasible. After} Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Rb8 12. Bxd7+ Bxd7 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 {the chances are also equal.}) 10... b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Rb8 { Thisposition is better for black than the one after 10.Nd5 because black;s P on b4 restricts white's N.} 13. Bxe7 (13. Be3 Bb7 14. Qd3 Nc5 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. f3 O-O {White's pieces are very passive, especially his N.}) 13... Kxe7 {This is the correct recapture because white's hope was in putting pressure on the d-Pawn, but now with the K defending the d-Pawn andm at the same time, being quite safe on e7 any pressure will not be effective and the poor placement of white's pieces will make defense difficult.} 14. Qd2 (14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. O-O {is no better because white's pieces still have no activity.} ) 14... Nf6 {[%mdl 2048]} 15. Bg2 {This is a strategic error, White should exchanfe black's strong .} (15. Bxc8 Qxc8 16. f3 {and black's advantage ism at least, jept to a minimum.}) 15... Bb7 16. Qd3 Qb6 {White's position lools defensible because black;s own B is not especially active and he still has to find a favorable set uo his Rs and Q. Howeverm for his part white has few prospects of obtaining any play and must content himself with trying to defend his poosition. The point is that in spite of his less than stellar play, white is far from lost.} 17. O-O {This is a poor move. 17.a5 isolating black's d-Pawn was better.} a5 18. Rfd1 Ba6 19. Qd2 Rhc8 {Very quickly black's pieces have begun to show some signs of life.} 20. h3 h5 21. b3 {Over the last few moves white has managed to develop a condiserable positional disadvantage.21. Rac1 was obviously better.} Bxe2 $19 22. Qxe2 Rc3 23. Rd3 Rbc8 {[%mdl 32]} 24. Rxc3 Rxc3 {White is now strategically lost.} 25. Kh2 Qc5 26. Ra2 {What a miserable place for the R.} (26. Rc1 g6 {White is reduced to shifting pieces.}) 26... g6 27. Bf1 Qd4 28. f3 Re3 29. Qg2 {White could resign here with clear conscience but true to his nature, Matulovic chooses to play on no mstter what. } Qd1 30. Bc4 Qxf3 31. Qxf3 Rxf3 {[%mdl 4096]} 32. Kg2 Re3 33. Bd3 {White is hopeful.of playing 34.Kf2 snaring the R.} Nxe4 34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. Kf2 d5 { White should resign.} 36. Ra1 d4 37. Rd1 Re3 38. h4 Rc3 39. Rd2 Ke6 40. Kg2 f5 {White resigned. Finally!} 0-1