Fine’s Preposterous Opening

    Reuben Fine (1914-1993) was a formidable player with a solid style. Arnold Denker compared him to Bobby Fischer because both were active positional players who possessed a universal style and were able to win in a variety of ways.

    Fine always aimed for precision without regard for where it lead tactically, positionally or into the ending. Tatrtakower observed that Fine, like Capablaca, was often able to make something out of nothing in his games. Denker even went so far as to claim that Fine was better than Reshevsky because he had a better understanding of the game. According to Denker, Reshevsky had the better record only because Fine lacked the tenacity and singleness of mind that Reshevsky had.

    Today Fine is probably remembered more for writing Basic Chess Endings than anything else. It's hardly entertaining reading because it's like a text book on a boring college subject. It focuses on endings that occur most frequently and offers tried-and-tested rules. Over the years mistakes in analysis were found, but the value of the book has not diminished and a great deal can be learned from it.

    Before he became one of the world's best players, in his college days the teenage Fine sometimes played some pretty bizarre openings as the following game show. The game was played in the 1931/32 Intercollegiate Championship that was won by City College of New York; Fine played board 1. 

    Even when playing an irregular opening the objective must be based on sound opening principles. So, after the move 1.f3 against Rappaport, Fine did not neglect the center. When his opponent failed to take advantage of the opportunity to gain space with 3...d4 Fine was able to gain control of the center himself. 

 

[Event "Intercollegiate Chp 1931/32, New York"] [Site "USA"] [Date "1931.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Reuben Fine"] [Black "J. Rappaport"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A00"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "1931.??.??"] {Barnes Opening} 1. f3 {Named after Thomas Barnes (1825-1874), an English player who had an impressive eight wins over Paul Morphy, including one game where Barnes answered 1.e4 with 1...f6, known as Barnes Defense. Edmar Mednis called it the worst possible opening because it does not develop a piece, doesn’t open any lines and actually hinders the development of white’s N. If that is not enough, it also weakens the K-side P-structure, opens the e1-h4 diagonal against the uncastled K and opens the g1-a7 diagonal against white’s potential K-side castled position.} d5 2. e4 e5 3. Nc3 c6 {3...d4 would gain space and is best. Evifemtly black wants to keep the position open. However, after 3...c6 Fine manages to trades Qs which greatly reduces black’s attacking chances.} (3... d4 4. Nb5 c5 5. d3 a6 6. Na3 Nc6 {Black has the advantage. Mustiola,N-Velez,E Villa Giardino 2002}) 4. d4 dxe4 5. dxe5 Qxd1+ $1 6. Nxd1 exf3 {Amazingly, this position is equal no matter which way white captures on f3!} 7. gxf3 {Fine intends to support the e-Pawn with a P and perhaps create chances by advancing the e- and f-Ps.} Be6 8. Bh3 Bd5 { After this move, which looks quite reasonable, Fine manages to build up a very strong center formation. Black should have played 8...Bxh3 which has the merit of leaving white's N not so well place.} 9. Ne3 Bc5 {Better was 9...Be6} 10. c4 {It would have been better to play 10.Nxd5 gicing black an isolated d-Pawn which, now that the Qs are off the board, would leave white with a favorable endgame.} Bxe3 {Retreating to e6 was still the best option. White's two Bs will come in handy.} 11. cxd5 Bxc1 (11... Bd4 {is met tactically and was no better.} 12. Ne2 Bxe5 13. f4 Bc7 14. Bc8 Nd7 15. Bxb7 Rb8 16. Bxc6 {White has won a P.}) 12. Rxc1 Nd7 13. f4 {Well polayed!} (13. dxc6 {is not nearly as good because after} bxc6 14. Rxc6 Nxe5 {material is equal and it will be difficult for white to demonstrate any advantage}) 13... cxd5 (13... Ne7 { As bad as this is it's his best chance.} 14. d6 Nd5 15. Ne2 {Even here black can do much except to sit tight.}) 14. Rc7 {The R on the 7th rank spells disaster for black. One is almost left wondering how black has gotten into such a bad position so quickly when white’s opening was one of the worst possible!} Nb6 15. Rxb7 Ne7 16. Ne2 Nc6 17. Rg1 g6 18. Kf2 Ne7 {Castling would have been a bit better.} 19. Rc1 Nc4 {Obviously white cannot be allowed to double Rs on the 7th.} 20. b3 Na5 21. Rxe7+ Kxe7 22. Rc5 {Winning the N so black gets what he can for it} Nxb3 23. axb3 {Materially speaking white has a B+N vs R+P which is of about equal value, but here it's the mobility of white's pieces that is important.} a5 24. Rc7+ {Forcing the K to the back rank and leaving the R on h8 useless.} Ke8 25. Nc3 Rb8 26. Nxd5 Kf8 27. e6 {Black has no defense.} f5 (27... fxe6 28. Bxe6 Rb5 (28... Rxb3 29. Nf6 Rb2+ 30. Ke3 { Black is in a mating net.}) 29. Nf6 {mates}) 28. Nf6 {Black resigned. Mate on f7 can’t be avoided. An amazing demonstration by Fine.} 1-0