A Nice Finish by Carlos Guimard

    In 1938, tensions in Europe were escalating and growing Nazi aggression dominated world events. In the U.S. things were heavily influenced by the Great Depression and the looming threat of war. 

    In pop culture radio programs like the comedy Amos 'n' Andy, soap operas and sporting events were popular. Hollywood movies, including musicals and gangster pictures, provided entertainment Also, comic book, like Superman, were beginning to appear. 

    It was the year Orson Welles' War of the Worlds was broadcast and it caused widespread panic as some listeners believed the alien invasion was real. 

    In South America there was a a complex web of political, economic, and social shifts, largely influenced by events in Europe and the looming threat of World War II. 

    In Uruguay the situation was no different. General elections were held, resulting in the subsequent presidency of Alfredo Baldomir, a soldier and architect who served as President of Uruguay from 1938 to 1943. 

    Montevideo was the scene for the eighth South American Championship (Torneo Sudamericano) that took place in March. Alekhine was undefeated and finished 1.5 points ahead of Carlos Guimard. The other players were mostly known only in South America. The event was actually held in an elegant seaside resort Carrasco, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Montevideo. 

    The featured game today has a nice finish. The winner was Carlos Guimard (1913-1998, 85 years old) of Argentina. He was awarded the GM title in 1960 and was he was Argentine champion in 1937, 1938 and 1941.

 

    His opponent was an Argentine National Master. Bensadon played aggressively, jis N on d5 cancelled out Guimard’s two Bs as both sides attacked their opponent’s King. The, right when things were looking drawish, Bensadon struck a snag when he miscalculated the strength of his passed e-Pawn and sacrificed his B in order to Queen it, but Guimard blocked the P and was left a piece up.

 

[Event "S. American Chp, Montevideo"] [Site ""] [Date "1938.03.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Rafael Bensadon"] [Black "Carlos Guimard"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A47"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "1938.03.07"] {A47: London and System} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. c3 { White's amorphous opening will transpose into the London Systen when he plays 7. Bf4} e6 6. O-O Be7 7. Bf4 {This move is characteristic of the London System, an opening that is solid, easy to learn, and versatile against various black setups. The system's main idea is to create a stable P-structure in the center with Ps on e3 and c3. The opening usually results in a closed game, and often involves a plan to put a N on e5.} O-O 8. Re1 d5 9. Ne5 Nbd7 {The position is equal.} (9... Nc6 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. Nd2 Qc8 12. Nf3 Rd8 13. Ne5 {is equal. Buyukasik,D (2074)-Yaran,S (2179) Kocaeli TUR 2015}) 10. Nd2 {[%mdl 32] It's hard to believe this N will end up on c6.} Nh5 11. e3 Nxf4 12. gxf4 {This is the wrong capture because it weakens his K's position even if ever so slightly. } cxd4 13. exd4 {It's rather surprisubg that thius move which keaves him with a weakl K-side and teo isolated Ps is not a really bat mistake in judgment, but does,'t seem to be any way for black to take advantage of it given the fact that his pieces are not aggressively placed, being all confined to the last two ranks.} Nxe5 (13... Nf6 {doesn't lead to anything really significant.} 14. Re3 {An instructive R lift.} g6 15. Rh3 Qe8 16. Kh1 Kh8 {Both Ks are safely off the g--file.} 17. Qf3 Rg8 18. Rg1 {Neither side can claim any advantage. Five Shootouts lead to long, tedious draws.}) 14. fxe5 Bg5 15. Nc4 f6 {Stockfish does not care for this move, preferring the innocuous 15...Ba3. Practically speaking though it seems that the only way black can hope to make any progress is to chip away at white’s center with this move which even by engine standards is not bad.} ({doesn't accomplish anything.} 15... dxc4 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Bg2 b5) 16. Nd6 {You would think the N occupying an outpost this deep in enemy territory would confer a huge advantagem but that's not the case here; the position is too closed for either side to hope to accomplish much.} Ba6 17. c4 fxe5 18. dxe5 {White threatens to win with 19.Qg4 attacking the B and e-Pawn.} Bh4 19. Qg4 {[%mdl 2048] Has white blundered?} Bxf2+ 20. Kh1 { No,he has not blundered!} Qe7 (20... Bxe1 21. Qxe6+ Kh8 22. cxd5 {loses outright.} Qh4 23. Nf5 (23. Nf7+ Rxf7 24. Qxf7 Bg3 25. h3 Bxe5 {Black is winning.}) 23... Rxf5 24. Qxf5 Bg3 25. Qh3 Qxh3 26. Bxh3 Bxe5 {wins}) 21. Bh3 Kh8 (21... Bxe1 22. Qxe6+ Qxe6 23. Bxe6+ Kh8 24. Rxe1 Bxc4 {is unclear, but a draw would not be an unreasonable outcome.}) 22. Qxe6 Qh4 23. Red1 Bxc4 { Now ...Be2 is threatened.} 24. Nf7+ Rxf7 {[%mdl 512]} (24... Kg8 {is disastrous.} 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Qg8+ Rxg8 27. Nf7#) 25. Qxf7 Be3 26. Rf1 Bxf1 ( 26... Qxh3 27. Qf8+ Rxf8 28. Rxf8#) 27. Rxf1 {White wants to mate, but black has a defense.} h6 28. Qxd5 Rd8 (28... Qxh3 {The B still cannot be takem.} 29. Qxa8+ Kh7 30. Qe4+ Kg8 31. Qd5+ Kh7 32. Rf8 h5 33. Qe4+ Kh6 34. e6 {wins}) 29. Qf3 Bd4 30. e6 Bxb2 31. Qf2 {[%mdl 8192] White is overconfident in the strength of his e-Pawn. The problem is that now the B can be taken!} (31. Qg4 { This is the easiest way to assure the draw.} Qxg4 32. Bxg4 Ba3 {The Bs of opposite color pretty much assure the fraw.}) 31... Qxh3 32. e7 Re8 33. Qf8+ Kh7 {Now it's clear that white has completely miscalculated!} 34. Re1 (34. Qxe8 {is, of course, out of the question...} Qxf1#) 34... Bf6 {[%mdl 512] White resigned.} (34... Bf6 35. Qxe8 Qf3+ 36. Kg1 Bd4+ 37. Re3 Bxe3#) 0-1