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
No comments:
Post a Comment