It was equally clear that while he was still one of the best players in the country, Samuel Reshevsky’s star was fading.
In the following game veteran Senior Master Herbert Seidman administers a solid beating to the veteran Grand master.
The game does not appear in the Chessgames.com database of Seidman’s games. Reshevsky plays the opening in a credible fashion, but n move 16 he makes a small inaccuracy that leaves him in a difficult position. Then on move 19 he makes a big mistake and Seidman finishes him off with two knockout blows. Reshevsky played on for a handful of moves just to stretch out the game and avoid the embarrassment of being victim of a miniature.
Herbert Seidman–Samuel Reshevsky1–0B931959/60 US Championship, New York1959Stockfiah 17
B93: Sicilian Najdorf: 6 f4 1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 a6 6.f4 As usual Sideman Seidman avoids main line theory, but this move is by no means bad. e5 This move is considered to be the most aggressive. 7.f3 bd7 Today this is by far the most popular reply, but at the time black usually played 7...Qc7 8.c4 The main alternative is 8.a4 hindering ...b5. The advantage of the text is that ot develops the B to its most active square. e7 Reshevsky prefers to complete his development before playing ...b5 9.0-0 0-0 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.h1 Getting the K off the diagonal is simply a safety precaution. c7 12.e2 b5 13.b3 b4 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5 b8 16.g5 This position is completely equal and black should now play either 16...Bxg5 or 16...Nf6, both of which are equally good. b6 A small error that eventually lands him in trouble. Reshevsky, no doubt, was playing for a win against his lesser opponent, but he has underestimated white's attacking possibilities. 17.b3 White thr eatens to win with 18.Nxe5 a8 17...a5 This may have been what Reshevsky originally intended, but then realized it fails badly after 18.xe5 xg5 18...xe5 19.f4 19.xf7 f6 20.g5+ h8 21.e5 There is no forced win, but white ios clearly better after, say, 21...Ba6. He must not play... xe5 21...xe5 22.xe5 22.xf8# 18.f2 Thius time the threat is Bxe7 d6 It is amazingly diffi c ult to parry threat 18...a5 A pass to show the threat. 19.xe7 xe7 20.xb6 winning a piece. 19.h4 White has another winning threat which Reshevsky misses. e6 This loses. 19...c4 Blocking the Bs diagonal was the only defense he had, but white has the upper hand after 20.h6 Another offer which cannot be accepted. His best defense is the miserable 20...f6. After gxh6 21.xh6 Black still has to play f6 which is met by 22.h4 g4 23.xf6 xf6 24.xf6 f8 25.g5+ g7 26.xc4+ h8 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xa6 with a won ending. 20.f6 This blow has a beautiful point behind it. The threat is Qg5 gxf6 20...d7 21.g5 h6 22.xe6 fxe6 23.xe6+ h7 24.f5+ g8 25.xg7 xg7 26.g4+ h8 27.g6 f6 28.xh6+ h7 28...g8 29.e6+ 29.xh7 xh7 30.xd6 and wins 21.g5 Another sacrifice! It;s the only move that wins though. fxg5 22.xg5+ h8 23.f6+ g8 24.f3 fe8 25.h6 Threatening mate with Rg3+. g4 26.g3 d7 27.f1 f8 Reshevsky has baited a trap! 28.g5+ allows black some hope after 28.xb6 h8 29.f6+ g7 30.g5 f6 31.xg4 xg4 32.xg4 ad8 with a faint hope of salvaging the game. 28...h8 29.xg4 xg4 30.xg4 What follows is only Reshevsky blitzing out moves to prolong the game. Or, perhaps Seidman was feeling some time pressure. h6 31.xf7 f8 32.e6 g7 33.xb6 ac8 34.c4! fd8 35.d5 My database shows Seidman's move as 35.Bd3 with the rest of the moves being identical. I have given the move as 35.Bd5 because that is the one that appeared in print. h6 36.h3 Rf7 is the strong threat. e8 37.g6 White threatens Rf7 and mate. ed8 38.f7 g8 39.f5 39.e6 cd8 40.f5 d1+ 41.h2 h1+ 42.xh1 f8 43.xg7# 39...gf8 40.h5 f1+ 41.h2 Black resigned. 41.h2 f6 42.xh6+ xh6 43.xf6+ h7 44.f5+ g7 45.d7+ h8 46.xc8+ g7 47.g8+ f6 48.f7+ g5 49.f5+ h4 50.g4# 1–0
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