Kramer vs. Soudakoff, Complications Galore

    The 1948 US Championship was held in South Fallsburg, New York which is located in the Catskill Mountains in SE New York. 

    The country’s top players, Samuel Reshevsky and Reuben Fine, did mot participate. Reshevsky demanded financial stipulations which the tournament committee simply could not meet. Negotiations with Fine met a similar fate. Another top player, Arnold Denker, was participating in Mar del Plata in Argentina, That event was won by Erich Elisjases while Denker finished tied for places 16-17 out of 18 with a +2 -7 =8 score.  Also missing were Albert Pinkus and I.A. Horowirz. 

    With the exception of Isaac Kashdan and Olaf Ulvestad who were seeded as last minute replacements, the players had to qualify from preliminary events held throughout the country. In the finals Herman Steiner took first a half point ahead og Kashdan. The following game was played at the Marshall Chess Club in what was the qualifier fpr what was termed Area 7. The top 7 finishers qualified, They were Anthony Sanatasiere, George Shainswit, Larry Evans, Irving Heitner, George Kramer, Dr. Joseph Platz and L. Walter Stephens. 

    George Kramer (1929-2024, 94 years old) won the 1945 New York State Championship, the 1951-52 Manhattan Chess Club Championship and the 1964, 1967 and 1969 New Jersey State Championships. Not a lot is known of New York Master Jack Soudakoff. His obituary states that he passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on November 19, 2005 and that he was a WWII veteran and a long time N.Y. Subway systems analyst. 

    What makes the game interesting and difficult is the unusual material imbalance. A Queens can dominate against multiple pieces, especially in open positions. It is usually superior to a Rook and minor piece, but two Rooks or three well coordinated minor pieces can hold their own or sometimes even out perform the Queen. In this game white’s pieces beat the Queen. Plus. there are some passed Pawns thrown in just to complicate things. 

 

[Event "US-ch Preliminary, New York City"] [Site ""] [Date "1948.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "George Kramer"] [Black "Jack Soudakoff"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C88"] [Annotator "Stockfish 18"] [PlyCount "107"] [EventDate "1948.??.??"] [Source "Chess Life, 20 M"] {C88: Closed Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall Systems} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4 {White usually plays 8.c3. The text is designed to prevent the Marshall Attack. For many years, 8.a4 was the most common owing to Garry Kasparov's victory over Nigel Short in the 1993 World Chess Championship. Recently, however, the viability of 8... b4 in response to 8. a4 has led to increased use of 8. h3 insted.} (8. c3 d5 { is the once feared Marsahll Attack which today results in a lot of draws.}) 8... exd4 9. e5 Ne8 10. Bd5 Rb8 11. Nxd4 {White does better with 11.Bxc6 or he can try the interesting P gambit 11.c3} Nxd4 12. Qxd4 {Not bad, but he loses time with his Q so 12.Bf4 was slightly better.} d6 13. Nc3 dxe5 14. Qxe5 Bd6 ( 14... Bf6 {It's difficult for humans to evaluate, but this is more precise according to engines.} 15. Qe2 b4 16. Rd1 bxc3 17. Bxf7+ Kxf7 18. Rxd8 Bxd8 { White has a Q+P vs. R+B+N}) 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Qe4 {[%mdl 2048]} Qf5 {Here the safest move fpr white is 17.Qxf5. Instead, he takes the plunge into complications.} 17. Qxe8 {Qe3 is the strong threat.} Qxg5 (17... Rxe8 18. Rxe8+ Bf8 19. Be7 g6 20. Bxf8 Be6 21. Rxb8 h6 22. Bc5+ Kg7 23. Bd4+ f6 24. Re8 Bxd5 25. Nxd5 Qxd5 26. Re7+ Kf8 27. Rae1 Qd6 28. R7e6 {wins}) 18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Ne4 Qg4 (19... Qe5 {results in head whirling complications...} 20. Qxe5 Bxe5 21. c3 (21. Bb3 Bxb2 22. Rad1 Bf5 23. Nc5 {is equal}) 21... Rxf7 {with equal chances.} ) 20. Nxd6 Bb7 {Threatening 21...Qxg2#} 21. Qxf8+ Rxf8 22. Nxb7 {White has a R+B+N vs, a Q. Who is better and by how much? Wngines favor white. Stockfish (2.18), Reckless (1.39), PlentyChess (1.20) and Fritz 20 (1.91). Even the more human-like Lc0 prefers white by a score of 1.41.} Qd7 {Stronger was 22...Qf5 eyeing white's f-Pawn.} 23. Be6 (23. Bh5 {was much more powerful.} Qd4 24. Bf3 Qxb2 25. Nc5 Qxc2 26. Nd7 Rg8 27. h4 c5 28. Bd5 Rd8 29. Re7 Qd2 30. Rae1 Qxd5 31. Re8+ Rxe8 32. Rxe8+ Qg8 33. Rxg8+ Kxg8 {but calculating this line is beyond human capability.}) 23... Qc6 24. Na5 Qxc2 25. b4 Qxf2+ {Doubling pieces on the 2nd rank with 25...Rxf2 was a smidgen better.} 26. Kh1 c5 27. a3 c4 28. Nb7 {White s plan is to go after the Q-side Ps.} h6 {This goves his K a flight square, but to that end a dark square with 28...g6 would have been a bit better.} 29. Bd7 ({White should try} 29. Nc5) 29... Qd2 30. Nc5 a5 (30... c3 {would give white payse for thought and so was a better defense.} 31. Rad1 Qa2 32. Ra1 Qd2 {White can take the draw by repeating moves or go for the win with 33.Be6} 33. Be6 Re8 34. Rad1 Qb2 35. Nd3 Qxa3 36. Ra1 Qxa1 37. Rxa1 Rxe6 38. Rc1 Rc6 {Theoretically white is winning, but it's going to take time.}) 31. Rad1 Qc3 32. Ne6 Rf2 33. Bc6 (33. Bxb5 {would be wrong.} Rd2 34. Rc1 Rc2 35. Rb1 Rb2 {and white can make no progress.}) (33. bxa5 $18 {Black must now prevent a6.} Qxa5 34. Bc6) 33... Rd2 34. bxa5 Qe5 {Of course white is not going to fall for 35,Re5 so black should have ca[tured on a5. Now black's position is no lomger bad, it's lost.} 35. Nd8 {Make that should have been lost! After this the chances are equal.} (35. a6 {leaves black helpless.} Rxd1 36. Rxd1 Qxe6 37. a7 Qxc6 38. Rd8+ Kh7 39. a8=Q) 35... Kh7 (35... Rxd1 { keeps things equal.} 36. Rxd1 Qe7 37. Bxb5 c3 38. Ba4 Qe4 39. Bb3 Qe2 {and with careful play white should draw.}) 36. a6 (36. Rxe5 Rxd1+ 37. Re1 Rxe1#) 36... c3 {[%mdl 8192] Black has over estimated the strength of this P and underestimated the strength of white's a-Pawn.} (36... Qe3 {holds up the a-Pawn's advance.} 37. Ra1 Ra2 38. Rab1 Rb2 {White has to take the draw.}) 37. Rc1 (37. Rxe5 {gets mated.} Rxd1+ 38. Re1 Rxe1#) (37. a7 {does not work.} c2 38. Rc1 Qxe1+ 39. Rxe1 Rd1 40. Be4+ g6 41. g3 Rxe1+ 42. Kg2 c1=Q 43. a8=Q { with a likely draw.}) 37... Qc5 38. Be4+ g6 39. Nc6 Qxa3 40. a7 b4 {White's problem now is how to get the ( to a8.} 41. Na5 {[%mdl 512]} Rd8 42. Ra1 Qb2 43. a8=Q Rxa8 44. Bxa8 c2 {An amazing position, but Kramer has everything under control.} 45. Nc4 Qd4 46. Ne3 b3 47. Nxc2 bxc2 48. Be4 Qd2 49. Bxc2 { Of course the B cannot be taken because black would get mated.} h5 {A picturesque position. White now executes a problem-like finish.} 50. Rac1 Kh6 51. Red1 Qe3 52. Bb1 h4 53. Rc6 h3 {The last hope: ...hxg2+} 54. Rxg6+ { Black resigned. Kidos to both platers for an exciting game.} (54. Rxg6+ Kh7 55. Rd7+ Kh8 56. Rd8+ Kh7 57. Rg3+) 1-0

The Tournament That Never Was

    In mid-1941, Chess metrics estimates the best players in the world to have been Mikhail Botvinnik (2786), Reuben Fine, Samuel Reshevsky (2748), Paul Keres (2737) and Max Euwe (2723). World Champion Alekhine was #6 at 2718 and former Champion Capablanca was #12 at 2677. 

    In early 1941, Capablanca was in New York and was interviewed by George Sturgis (ISCF President), L Walter Stephens (Vice-President) and chess journalist Hermann Helms about the possibility of holding a world championship tournament in the United States. 

    Capablanca informed them that he did not favor the idea of holding a round-robin tournament to decide the championship and stated that he would refuse to play in such a tournament because it wouldn't be a “fair test of the real caliber of the competitors.” He called attention to AVRO 1938, as highlighting the inadequacy of this type of competition. Sounds like sour grapes’ Capablanca finished next to last with a minus score. 

    Capablanca wanted the USCF to help fund a match between Alekhine and, of course, himself and he even told them how to go about it. They should form a committee of three and draw up regulations and make plans for the match. He also suggested hat the USCF use its influence to persuade Alekhine to play for a purse of $10,000 (over $218,000 today) in American money. Alekhine wanted a guaranteed purse of $10,000 in gold, which would have been the equivalent of about $17,000 in 1941 US dollars (abut $371,000 in today’s dollars). 

     USCF officials decided to take no action on Capablanca’s suggestions but to hold the matter in abeyance. If Alekhine showed up in the United States they would discuss it with him. 

    Stephens told Capablanca that he thought a match between Alekhine and Reshevsky would be more interesting to American and he (Stephens) would prefer to raise money for that match if a tournament could not be arranged. 

    What was Capablanca’s reaction to Stephens declaration? In the discussion that followed Capablanca recommended that American chess authorities should take a firmer hold in tournaments “in order to raise the dignity and decorum of such events to a higher level.” Stephens agreed with him. 

    In 1941, the United States was hesitant about getting involved in the war and initially maintained a policy of neutrality. However, President Roosevelt recognized the growing threat posed by Nazi Germany and sought ways to support Allied nations. Then on December 7th the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan changed everything. 

    On a side note, on January 11, 1941, Emanuel Lasker, holder of the World Championship from 1894 to 1921 died in New York at the age of 72. One tournament that was held in 1941 was the one held in Ventnor City, New Jersey. It had an exciting finish when 36-year old lawyer Jacob Levin, of Philadelphia, upset all expectations by winning first prize. 

 

 

    In the final round, Levin quickly won his game against Robert Durkin, making it necessary for Anthony Santasiere to win from Milton Hanauer in order to tie, but he ended up losing. Fred Reinfeld slipped into second when he won his last round game against Weaver Adams. 

     Of the following game Pinkus wrote, “While not an example of perfect chess, this game is certainly one of the most interesting produced in the past few years.” He was right about it not being perfect and it is kind of interesting. Nor was it the one sided drubbing that Pinkus made it ouy to be. Durkin’s only really nig mistake came on move 22 which list instantly. Of course, these days any Patzer with an engine can criticize. Let’s take a look. 

 

[Event "Ventnor City"] [Site ""] [Date "1941.07.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Albert Pinkus"] [Black "Robert Durkin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [Annotator "Pinkus/Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "1941.??.??"] {C13: French Defense} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 {A rather inisual move that Tarrasch dismissed as theoretically unsound because he believed black will be unable to break up white's center. He appears to have been right; in my database white scores twice as many wins as black.} 4. Nxe4 Nd7 {Black avoids the immediate 4...Nf6 because of 5.Nxf6+ when he hs to either accept doubled Ps of bring his Q out too early.} 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 b6 {In a brief annotation I saw this move was, perhaps unfairly, slapped with a question mark. Theoretically it's just OK, but in practice it has not worked out well at all. White wins 53% of the database games; black 22%. But then the usual 6...c5 and 6...Nxe4 don't do any better!} 7. Bg5 {While this move is frequently seen, the exchanges that result from it only favor black. Hence, 7.Qe2 seems preferable.} Bb7 8. Qe2 Be7 {White has played at least a half dozen different moves here. Again, the position is equal, ober the long haul black's lack of any real counterplay tells agaist him.} 9. Bxf6 {There was no reason to play this unprovoked exchange as black now is equal.} (9. h4 {is white's most interesting try.} Nxe4 {The exchanges only help black.} (9... h6 10. Nxf6+ Nxf6 11. Bf4 Nd5 12. Bd2 Nb4 13. Bb5+ c6 14. Ba4 {is equal.}) 10. Bxe4 Bxe4 11. Qxe4 O-O (11... Bxg5 12. hxg5 g6 13. O-O-O {White gas a nearly won position.}) 12. O-O-O {with equal chances.}) 9... Nxf6 10. O-O O-O 11. c4 {What are the plans for both sides? White has control of the center and he can either play for the endgame using his Q-side P-majority or he can try to build up a K-side attack. For his part, black, who has a cramped but solid position anf the twi Bs, must at the moment attempt to get rid of white's d-Pawn and so needs to think about playing ...c5 which he should play at once.} Qc8 {The purpose of this odd looking move is to make d8 available for the R. It's not a bad move, but Durkin is playing very passively. The correct plan, as mentioned, was to play 11...c5} 12. Rad1 Rd8 13. Ng3 {This, too, is rather passive. 13.Ne5 suggests itself.} Bf8 {Of course he couldn't take the d-Pawn. In spite of the fact that black's position looks gead, it's solid and should prove a tough nut to crack!} 14. Ne5 c5 {Finally!} 15. Nh5 {White threatens Nxf6+ and mate.} Ne8 {This meets the threat, but it puts one too many pieces on the back rank!} (15... a6 {A pass to demonstrate the threat.} 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 {White has a forced mate.} 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Qh5 Bh6 19. Qxh6 Rd7 20. Bc2+ Kg8 21. Rd3 Bf3 22. Rxf3 Rxd4 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qxf7#) (15... Qc7 {Eliminates the threat.} 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 (18... Bh6 19. Nxf7 {wins}) 19. Rd3 fxe5 20. Rh3 Bg7 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Rg3 exd4 23. Qxg7+ Ke7 24. Qg5+ Kd7 {The K has given white the slip and black is left with a winning position.}) (15... Qc7 16. d5 Nxh5 17. Bxh7+ (17. Qxh5 g6 {Black is better.}) 17... Kxh7 18. Qxh5+ Kg8 19. dxe6 fxe6 {Surprisingly, white can't seem to make any headway in this position and so black has equalized.}) 16. Nf4 {This is not the most energetic, but Pinkus is relying on what he described as a trap.} (16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Nxf7 {leaves black with no good reply.} Rd7 18. Ng5+ Kg8 (18... Kh8 19. Nf4 {Here, too, white is winning.}) 19. Qxe6+) 16... g6 17. dxc5 {Durkin's next move is what Pinkus was relying on. While it's not a gross blunder, it is not the strongest move. Instead of retaking with the B which is helping to defend his K. Durlin makes the logical decision to retake with the Q.} Qxc5 {Pinkus gave this a ??, but it's not that bad!} (17... Bxc5 {White still has the N sacrifice, but it leads to no more than equality.} 18. Nxf7 Kxf7 {And now white has only one way to continue and that is to play another sacrifice.} 19. Bxg6+ hxg6 {Taking with the K leaves it badly exposed after 29.Nxe6. After the text the e-Pawn is protected because the Q is on c8.} 20. Rxd8 {Removing the e-Pawn's protection.} Qxd8 21. Qxe6+ Kf8 22. Nxg6+ Kg7 {White is able to hold his own in this materially unblanced position, but he must find the one move that accomplishes the task (22.Ne5). Here is a sample line...} 23. Ne5 Nd6 24. Qg4+ Kf6 25. Nd7+ Ke7 26. Qg7+ Ke6 27. Qg4+ Kf7 28. Re1 Ne4 {and white has to take the perpetual check.}) 18. Nxf7 {The crusher according to Pinkus, but while it is the best move and it leaves black at a disadvantage, he might be able to find a satisfactory defens. For his part white must now find moves that keep up the pressure.} Kxf7 19. Bxg6+ {[%mdl 512]} (19. Nxe6 {is just a bit less effective. } Qe7 20. Nxd8+ Rxd8 {White is only slightly better.}) 19... hxg6 20. Qxe6+ Kg7 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 {It's amazing, but this position is evaluated at being completely equal which is not the same as being drawn. As usual, being on the defensive puts a lot of pressure on black.} 22. Qf7 {[%mdl 1024]} Be4 {[%mdl 8192] This unfortunate move loses instantly. Pinkus wrote, "Where thetre are no good moves, bad ones will be found." While that may be true, here there is a relatively good move; ,but Durkin didn't play it.} (22... Bg7 {Returning some plastic; the best white has is to take on b7} 23. Qxb7 Qxc4 24. g3 Qc7 25. Qf3 Qf7 {with a crazy position, but one in which 5 Shootouts were drawn.}) 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Ne6 Nd6 {Even the better 24,,,Qe7 would not have saved the game.} 25. Qf6+ {Black resigned.} 1-0

Fine, the First U.S. Lightening Champion

    The first U.S. Lightening Championship (10 seconds per move) took place in New York in 1942. Reuben Fine had long been conceded one of the top, if not THE top, lightning chess players in the country and this even official gave him the title. After a long, hard fought encounter with Samuel Reshevsky he emerged first from an original field of 48 at the Hotel Capitol in Manhattan. 

    Reuber Fine (1914-1993, 78 years old) grew up in New York City and first learned to play chess at the age of eight. After winning several strong American tournaments in his youth, Fine then entered international competition where he also achieved great success. 

    In 1942, Fine won the newly created title of U. S. Lightning Chess Champion when he defeated National Champion Samuel Reshevsky in the semi-final round.

    Staged by the U. S. Chess Federation and directed by L. Walter Stephens, all games were played in a single day at the rate of ten seconds per move. Over 100 spectators watched the 48 entries play in qualifying sections. There were two sessions of 3 and a half hours each. 

 

 

    Playing against the country's leading masters, the Canadian Champion (Yanofsky) and a strong field of experts, Fine qualified with a score of 10-1 in the preliminaries, then piled up ten straight wins in the Championship Finals. In the last round, with the honors already decided after his defeat of Reshevsky, Fine let down his guard and lost to Seidman in the following game. 

    Herbert Seidman (1920-1995, 74 years old) was a U.S. Senior Master who was born in New York City. At his peak, he was ranked among the top ten players in the country and played in eight U.S. Championships from 1940 to 1968. 

[Event "1st US Lightening Champ, New York"] [Site "?"] [Date "1942.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Herbert Seidman"] [Black "Reuben Fine"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C13"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] {C10: French Defense} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bd3 {Sideman Seidman, as Chess Review once called him, chooses a se;dom played variation that has not fared well in practice. Normal is 6.Bxf6} b6 (6... O-O { is OK, but it resulted in the following amusing miniature...} 7. c3 Nxe4 8. Bxe7 {Now 8...Qxe7 is equal, but black tried to get fancy with...} Nxf2 { wich is refuted by...} 9. Bxh7+ Kh8 10. Qh5 Qd5 11. Bf5+ {1-0 Ruzicka,T (1783) -Wagner,A Tabor 2008}) 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. Qe2 Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rfe1 h6 11. Bh4 Nd5 12. Bg3 {All pretty routin so far. The reason for Fine's next move is rather obscure. 12...Nb4 seems logical.} Kh8 13. a3 {Preventing ...Nb4. Black's Q-side fianchetto has resulted in a rather passive position and it's hard to suggest an active plan.} f5 $2 {Very risky. It would have been much safer to have tried to initiate exchanges with 13...N5f6} 14. Nc3 {In his turn Seidman misses his chance to seize the initiative with the active `4.c4 instead of this meek retreat.} (14. c4 {Now the safe way would be to play 14... N5f6 when white has a significant advantage, so black's best plan might be to stir things up and play...} Nb4 15. axb4 fxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxb4 18. Re3 {Hoping to play the R over to the K-side.} Re8 19. Qg4 {White has a cosiderable advantage.}) 14... f4 15. Qxe6 N7f6 {[%mdl 8192] This loses. The position is fascinating!} (15... fxg3 {would have resulted in equal chances after} 16. hxg3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bd6 {White is a piece down, but after} 18. Qg6 Nf6 19. Re6 {The threat is mate on h7 after Rxf6; black has to play...} Kg8 { and white has equality, but not more. For example...} 20. Rxf6 Qxf6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. Re1 b5 {To stop Bc4+} 23. Nh4 Qg5 24. Bg6+ Kf6 {White has to find the one move that does not leave him with a lost ga,e and that is} 25. Nf5 { Threatening Qxg7#} Rg8 26. Re5 {Again, the only move.} Bxe5 27. dxe5+ Ke6 28. f4 Qd8 29. Nxg7+ Rxg7 30. Qxg7 {Now it's black's turn to find the only move that doesn't lose!} Kd5 31. e6 Kc5 32. e7 Qd5 33. Qd4+ Qxd4+ 34. cxd4+ Kxd4 { The point of the K maneuver!} 35. e8=Q Rxe8 36. Bxe8 {and a draw would be a reasonable outcome. Of course, all this is impossible to see at 10 seconds a move.}) 16. Bh4 Bc8 17. Qe2 g5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 (18... gxh4 19. Nxe7 Re8 20. Qe5 Qd6 21. Nxh4 Qxe5 22. dxe5 Nh5 23. Nxc8 Raxc8 24. Bg6 {with a decisive advantage.}) 19. Qe4 Rf7 20. c4 gxh4 21. cxd5 Rb8 22. Qg6 Qf8 23. Ne5 {Black resigned. A crushing defeat of a player who in 1942 was still considered one of the best players in the world.} (23. Ne5 Rg7 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Ng6 {Ends the game; black has to shed heavy plastic.}) 1-0

Who was F. R. Chevalier?

    He was a Harvard, class of 1929, graduate who won the precedent, setting Harvard, Yale, Princeton and West Point College Chess League’s first organized individual championship tournament in the history of college chess in the United States. The game were played in the Manhattan Chess Club on April 8, 9 and 10, 1929. 

    Chevalier of Harvard demonstrated a clear superiority over all of his rivals by defeating them in five consecutive rounds and emerging with a perfect 5-0 score., thereby earning him the earned the distinction of being the first American college champion. His efforts earned him a silver cup donated by W. M. Vance of Princeton and a gold medal, the gift of L. Walter Stephens, also of a Princeton graduate and director of the tournament. 

    Competition for second place was exceedingly close and in the end resulted in a triple tie between Sherman and Vance of Yale and Kimm of West Point. Both of the Princeton players were off form and fifth and sixth places were their portion.

 

    But, who was F. R. Chevalier? What happened to him and where are his games? Who knows?! In fact, the same could be said of all the participants who seemed to have disappeared from the chess world. 

    In 1925, Chevalier drew a game in a simultaneous exhibition in Boston by the then rising Mexican star Carlos Torre. The only other mention I discovered on Chevalier was that he played for Boston in a 1934 team match they lost to Philadelphia. Chevalier’s name was mentioned with Boston stalwarts John F. Barry, Harold Morton and Weaver Adams. 

    The only game I could find from this historic event is the one below which also happens to be the only game of Chevalier that I could find and it was full of complications and a lucky escape for him! The only thing known about T.H. Vance is that at the time he played second board on Yale’s chess team behind another unknown, J.M. Miller, Jr. who had been expected to play in this event, but was unable to make it.

[Event "Intercollegiat Champ, New York"] [Site "?"] [Date "1929.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "T.H. Vance"] [Black "F.R. Chevalier"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D66"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "1929.??.??"] {D66: Queen's Gambit Declined: Classical: Main Line} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Be7 7. Rc1 O-O 8. Bd3 a6 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Bb1 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 {Both players are well booked, but white's next move is not the expected 14.Qc2 aiming at h7.} 14. Qe2 (14. Qc2 Nce4 15. Rfd1 Qb6 {White keeps things equal with 16.Bxe4. Instead he makes a losing blunder.} 16. Rd7 Nxd7 17. Bxe7 Rfc8 18. Rd1 Ndf6 19. Rd4 g6 20. Qd3 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Nd5 22. Ba3 Rxc3 {White resigned. Kovalenko,V (2198)-Rjanzin,M (1877) Saratov 2008}) (14. Qxd8 {doesn't offer much.} Rfxd8 15. Rfd1 h6 16. Bf4 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {Boring. Burgess,E-Sandagsuren,G Dos Hermanas 2004}) 14... Rc8 (14... b4 {was a good possibility.} 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nb5 Qe7 (16... axb5 17. Rxc5 {is equal.}) 17. Nbd4 Rac8) 15. Rfd1 Qb6 16. b4 ( 16. e4 {Things quickly fizzle out after this.} h6 17. Be3 Ng4 18. Bd4 b4 19. Na4 Qa5 20. Nxc5 Bxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxc5 22. Bxc5 Qxc5) 16... Na4 17. Nxa4 bxa4 18. e4 {Probably played to} Rfd8 {Black has a wide choice of moves here, but 18... h6 to be followed by ...Qxb4 looks to be the best.} 19. e5 {Strongly threatening Rxc8.} Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Nd5 {White must now prevent ...Nc3.} 21. Bxe7 Nxe7 (21... Nc3 22. Qd3 Nxb1 (22... Nxd1 23. Qxh7#) 23. Bc5 Qc7 24. Rxb1 { and white has won a piece.}) 22. Ng5 {White's attack on the K-side doesn't amount to anything if black defends stoutly...which he doesn't.} h6 23. Ne4 ( 23. Bh7+ {would lose!} Kf8 24. Ne4 Qc6 25. Qe3 Qc2 26. Rf1 Bxe4 27. Bxe4 Qxa2 { with an excellent ending.}) 23... Qc6 {The hidden mate threat on g2 is easily defended against. Removing the annoying N with 23...Bxe4 was correct.} 24. Qg4 {Nd6 is the strong threat.} Nf5 25. Nf6+ {This fails to accomplish anything.} ( 25. h4 {Black has to defend carefully, but he can keep things pretty much equal as follows...} Qc7 26. Nc5 Bc6 27. Bxf5 exf5 28. Qxf5 Re8 29. Rd6 Bb5 30. Ne4 Bc4) 25... Kh8 26. Nh5 g6 {Safer was 26...Rg8} 27. Nf4 Kg7 {Only an engine would choose the slightly better 27...g5} 28. h4 {[%mdl 32]} Qb6 {[%mdl 8192] This should lose!} (28... Kh8 {holds without much trouble.} 29. h5 (29. Bxf5 gxf5 30. Qh5 Kg7 {White cannot break through.}) 29... g5 30. Nd5 Qb5 31. Nf6 Qxe5 32. Nd7 Qf4 {A complicated position with equal chances.}) 29. h5 g5 { Now ...Ne3 is a threat.} 30. Bxf5 (30. a3 {A pass to demonstrate the consequences of allowing ...Ne3} Ne3 31. fxe3 Qxe3+ 32. Kh2 Qxe5 33. g3 Qe3 34. Ng2 Qf2 35. Qd4+ Qxd4 36. Rxd4 Rc1 {White is in trouble.} 37. Bg6 Bc6 38. Bd3 Rd1) 30... exf5 31. Qxf5 {The threat is to play the killer Rd7} gxf4 32. Rd6 { Prevents Qc6.} (32. Rd7 {is now weaker, but still winning...} Bd5 33. Rxd5 Qe6 34. Qxe6 fxe6 35. Ra5 Rc1+ 36. Kh2 Re1 37. f3 Re2 38. a3 Re3 39. Rxa6 Rxa3 40. Rxe6 Rb3 41. Rg6+ Kf7 42. Rb6 a3 43. Rxh6 Rxb4 44. Ra6 Rb3 {White wins the ending.}) 32... Qb5 {White is winning, but his next move throws it away and allows black to equalize.} 33. Qf6+ (33. Qxf4 Re8 (33... Rh8 34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. Rd8+ {mates}) 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 35. Qg5+ Kf8 36. h6 Qxe5 37. Qxe5 Rxe5 38. Rd8+ Ke7 39. h7 Re1+ 40. Kh2 Kxd8 41. h8=Q+ {wins for white.}) 33... Kg8 34. e6 { [%mdl 8192] This looks crushing, but it has a tactical flaw.} (34. Qxf4 { This is still the correct move, but unlike in the previous note black is able to wiggle out.} Re8 {The difference here is that his K is on g8 and not g7 so white cannot gain time with a check on h6.} 35. Qg3+ (35. Qxh6 Rxe5 36. Rd8+ Re8 37. Rxe8+ Qxe8 {Theoretically this position favors black, but in practice who knows?}) 35... Kf8 36. f4 Re6 37. Rd8+ Re8 {and a draw would be a reasonable outcome.}) (34. f3 {blocking the Bs diagonal would also have resulted in a likely draw.} Re8 35. e6 {The only move as is black's next.} (35. Qxf4 {Unlike in previous variations this loses.} Qxe5 36. Qxe5 (36. Qxh6 Qe1+ 37. Kh2 Qh4+ 38. Kg1 Re1#) 36... Rxe5 37. Rxh6 Rb5 38. a3 Kg7 39. Rd6 Rxh5 { is winning for black.}) 35... Rxe6 36. Rxe6 fxe6 37. Qxe6+ Kg7 38. Qg6+ { and white can draw.}) 34... Rc1+ 35. Kh2 Rh1+ {Here is the difference between this and the previous variations. Black's P is still on f4 cutting off the K's escape and, also, the B is attacking the vulnerable g2 square.} 36. Kxh1 Qf1+ 37. Kh2 Qxg2# {A lucky escape for Chevalier!} 0-1

Ventnor City 1940

    In 1940, in the United States the military draft went into effect. The first Social Security checks were mailed on January 30th. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, the first multi-lane in the country opened. The first McDonald's hamburger stand opened in Pasadena, California. 

CBS demonstrated color television in New York City and WNBT, the first regularly operating television station, debuts in the city with an testimated 10,000 viewers. Superman, the radio show debuted as did he first Bugs Bunny cartoon. In the world of science freeze drying was adapted for food preservation. Plasma was discovered to be a substitute for whole blood in transfusions. 

    On February 17, 1940, New England champion Harold Morton died in a car accident in Iowa and his passenger, I.A. Hprpwirz, was seriously injured. On April 9, 1940, the strong amateur player John F. Barry (1873-1940) died in West Roxbury, Massachusetts at the age of 66. 

    Adele Rivero won the US women's championship. Arnold Denker won the Manhattan Chess Club championship for the second year in a row. Samuel Reshevsky won his third US Championship. Reuben Fine took won the US Open in Dallas. 

    In the resort town of Ventnor City, New Jersey the second Ventnor tournament was held in early July. The players were especially pleased because the bonus money for non-prize- winners had been increased. 

    Shortly before the tournament was slated to start, it suffered two minor setbacks when Jacob Levin and Fred Reinfeld, who had originally accepted invitations, became unavailable at the last moment for business reasons. Fortunately two other players, the strong Jeremiah Donovan and the not so strong L. Walter Stephens, were available. Jeremiah Donovan’s performance was a pleasant surprise as he reinforced the good impression he had previously made in the Marshall CC Championship. 

    An innovation of the tournament was the exclusive use, for the first time in tournament history, of all-electric clocks which were designed and made by one of the tournament officials, Gerald Phillips. The clocks worked very well, but they never caught on.

 

    The finish was exciting because both Sidney Bernstein and Milton Hanauer had to win their last round games in order to to tie for first. 

 

[Event "Ventnor City"] [Site "?"] [Date "1940.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Anthony Santasiere"] [Black "Milton Hanauer"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A29"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "1940.??.??"] {A29: English Opening: Four Knights Variation} 1. c4 {Although Santasiere was critical of players who played, dull, boring chess, he, himself, was guilty of playing a plodding style. In a dispute they had, Larry Evans asked where werre the games that qualified Santasiere as the spokesman fore Ropmaticisim?} e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. g3 Be7 7. Bg2 Be6 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 f6 {The openig is similar to a Dragon Sicilian Reversed.} 10. Qc2 (10. e4 Nb6 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Bxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 c5 14. Nf4 {with a slight advantage for white. Agrest,E (2605)-Chuchelov,V (2608) Mainz 2003}) 10... Qd7 11. Ne4 { White wants ti invade on c5.} b6 {A bold decision...it opens up the diagonal and weakens the c-Pawn, but at the same time black himself figths for play on the c-file.} 12. b4 {Hanauer did not like this move because it neglects development and it's not so important that it cannot be delayed. He favored 12. Bd23 followed by Rc1. Giving the move a ? was a bit harsh though.} (12. e3 { ios the modern GM's move.} a5 13. b3 Rad8 14. Bb2 Na7 15. d4 {as in Filippov,A (2598)-Grishchenko,S (2464) Dagomys RUS 2010 where wgite's strong initiative lead to a win.}) 12... a5 (12... Nd4 {was a better way to take advantage of white's last move.} 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bb2 f5 15. Nd2 c5 {with an aggressive position.}) 13. b5 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. a4 (15. Bb2 {keeps the balance.} Qxb5 16. Bxd4 c5 17. Nc3 Qd7 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5+ Qxd5 20. Be3) 15... Rac8 { [%mdl 32] Putting into action the plan mentioned in the note to move 11.} 16. Nd2 c6 17. bxc6 Rxc6 18. Qb2 {Moving the Q away from the R makes sense, but after this white lands in serious difficulties.} (18. Nc4 Rfc8 19. Bd2 { Black stands well, but there is no clear way for him to make progress.}) 18... Nc3 {Not bad, but both players have overlooked the tactical shot 16...Bb4!} ( 18... Bb4 {There is no way to meet ...Bc3} 19. Nb1 (19. Ra2 Nc3 20. Ra1 (20. Bxc6 Nxe2+ 21. Kh1 Qxc6+ 22. f3 Bh3 23. Re1 Bxd2 {mates in 5} 24. Rf1 Bxf1 25. Qb3+ Kh8 26. Qd5 Qxd5 27. h3 Qxf3+ 28. Kh2 Qg2#) 20... Nxe2+) (19. Nf3 Bc3 20. Qb1 Bxa1 21. Qxa1 Nc3 {with a decisive advantage.}) 19... Rfc8 20. Ra2 Rc5 21. Bd2 Bc3 22. Nxc3 dxc3 23. Bxc3 Nxc3 {and wins}) 19. Re1 (19. Bxc6 Nxe2+ 20. Kh1 Qxc6+ 21. f3 Nc3 {Materially black only has a B+P agaonst a R, but his active play assures him of an advantage. Shootouts from this posion resulted in white scoring +0 -3 =2}) 19... Bb4 {This is less effective than it would have been last move.} 20. e3 {[%mdl 8192] this allows black to gain a decisive advantage. } (20. Bxc6 {Oddly enough, after black's last move this is now white's correct reply because after} Qxc6 21. Nf3 Bh3 22. e4 dxe3 23. Rxe3 Nd5 24. Re4 { Black should probably take the draw by repeating moves.}) 20... dxe3 21. fxe3 ( 21. Rxe3 Rd6 22. Qc2 Rc8 23. Nc4 Nxa4 {is winning for black.}) 21... Rd6 { Black is not interested in winning a mere P with 21...Nxa4} 22. d4 Rc8 23. Rf1 Ne2+ {Black is clearly winning.} 24. Kf2 Bc3 25. Qb1 Nxc1 (25... Bxa1 {is also good.} 26. Qxa1 Nc3) 26. Rxc1 Bxd2 27. Rxc8+ Qxc8 {Being a piece up the win is only a matter of technique for black.} 28. Qd3 Bb4 29. d5 Bf5 30. e4 Qc5+ 31. Qe3 Qc2+ 32. Qe2 Bc5+ 33. Kf1 Qc3 34. Rd1 Bd7 35. Rd3 Qa1+ 36. Rd1 Qxa4 { White resigned.} 0-1

A Lucky Win for Horowitz

    When the US joined World War II the demand for just about everything skyrocketed. Among these were the metal needed for tin cans as well as the things that went into them. Meat, chocolate, coffee, coffee, cooking oils, sugar and other foods, even Girl Scout cookies, were limited or disappeared altogether. 

    To buy rationed foods, shoppers had to produce the right ration stamps or coupons. To control spending and discourage hoarding coupons and stamps were only good for certain periods of time. Just because shoppers had coupons there was no guarantee the items would be on the shelves at the grocery store. 

    In 1943, the average life expectancy for men was 62.4 and 64.4 for women. The average movie theater ticket cost 30 cents. A gallon of gas cost 21 cents. A dozen eggs cost 57 cents. 

    A mystery involved a Navy ship, the USS Eldridge, in the Philadelphia Navy Shipyard happened...it involved invisibility and teleportation. Was it a hoax? The Philadelphia Experiment 

    In the chess world in 1943, the US Amateur championship was won by Ariel Mengarini and Herman Steiner won the California Open State Championship with the score of 17-0. Israel A. Horowitz won the 44th US Open, held in Syracuse, New York. 

    The FBI prevented Humphrey Bogart from playing postal chess because they believed chess notation miht be a secret code. One wonders if they were not just harassing him. Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, was a weird man, so who knows? 

     On March 3, 1943, Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) was born in Chicago. On April 24, Walter Frere (born in1874) died in New York at the age of 69. He was one of the top amateur chess players in New York City. His father had helped organize the First American Chess Congress of 1857 that was won by Paul Morphy. Another American player lost that year was Stasch Mlotkowski (1881-1943 who) died in Gloucester City, New Jersey at the age of 62. 

     Due to the war a gaggle if foreign masters were lost: Henryk Pogoriely (1908-1943) was murdered by the Nazis in Pawiak prison in Warsaw. Abram Rabinovich (1878-1943) starved to death in Moscow. Alexander Romanovsky (1880-1943) died in Russia. Romanian master Emmanuel Sapira (1900-1943) died in Belgium. 

    Mirko Broeder (1911-1943) was murdered by the Nazis. Vasily O. Smyslov (1881-1953), the future World Champion’s father, died in Russia. Polish master Abram Szprio (1912-1943) died at Auschwitz as did Belgian-French master Leon Monosson (1892-1943). 

    Gunnar Gundersen (1882-1943) died in Melbourne. Karlis Betins (1867-1943) died in Riga, Latvia. Mexican-British master Adrian Garcia Conde (1886-1943) died in London. Latvian master Vladimir Petrov (1907-1943) died in a Russian gulag. 

    Karl Berndtsson (1892-1943) died on Gothenburg, Sweden. Jan Kotrc (1862-1943) died in Czechoslovakia. Heinrich Wolf (1875-1943) died in Austria.r. Polish master Edward Gerstenfeld was shot by the Nazis in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. 

    Mikhail Barulin (1897-1943) died in a Russian prison. He had been arrested. Because he refused to sign a confession or denounce other chess problemists. Botvinnik supported Barulin’s arrest. 

    The US Champion Samuel Reshevsky annexed the Metropolitan (New York City) Speed Championship which was played at the home of L. Walter Stephens, a major organizer who financed many national tournaments. 

    Stephens is best remembered as the tournament director who wrongly forfeited Arnold Denker after Reshevsky 's flag had fallen during their game in the 1942 US Championship. 

    Stephens picked up the clock from behind and turned it around to look at it. When he did so, the fallen flag was on Denker’s side of the board, so Sthephens forfeited Denker. Howls of protest from everybody (except Reshevsky) did not sway Stephens who flat out refused to change his decision. 

 

    The New York City speed tournament was a double round robin with the games played at a ten seconds a move. Reshevsky’s play was ruthless and only Weaver Adams, Isaac Kashdan and Al Horowitz managed to nick him for a draw. For his efforts Reshevsky was rewarded with first prize of $40.00 which had the buyinmh power of about $709 today! What kind of chess did they play at 10 seconds a move? Check out Horowitz’ lucky win in this game.

 

[Event "New York City Speed Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "1943.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Weaver W. Adams"] [Black "I. A. Horowitz"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C28"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "1943.??.??"] {C28: Vienna Game} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 {The original idea of the Vienna Game was to play a delayed King's Gambit, but in modern play ehite often plays more quietly by fianchettoing his King's bishop. Adams famously claimed that the Vienna Game led to a forced win for white.} Nc6 4. d3 {[%mdl 32]} Na5 5. Qf3 {Adams goes his own way . 5.Nge2 is the main line.} Nxc4 6. dxc4 c6 7. Nge2 d6 8. h3 Be6 9. b3 d5 {Perhaps this is a bit premature. Black has several safer moves, 9...O-O, for example.} 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Bg5 ( 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. O-O Nxc3 13. Nxc3 {with a slightly better gane.}) 11... dxe4 {More exact was 11...d4} 12. Nxe4 Be7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 {Evidently Horowitz was hoping that his two Bs and the semi-open g-file would give him attacking chances, but things should not have worked out that way.} 14. N4g3 (14. N2g3 { stays on course.} Qa5+ 15. c3 O-O-O 16. O-O {with about equal chances.}) 14... Qa5+ 15. c3 O-O-O 16. O-O {The small difference between this position and the one after 14.N2g3 is that white has a well placed N on d4 and here he does not. It's enough of a difference that here black is better.} Rhg8 (16... Qd5 { leads to a strong position after} 17. Qe3 f5) 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. c4 {[%mdl 8192] This blooper should lose. Oddly, the next tine this P moves it will lose for real.} (18. Neg3 {keeps things equal. For instance...} Qd5 19. Ne4 Qd3 20. Ne3 Bd5 21. Qf5+ Be6 22. Qf3 {etc.}) 18... Bc5 (18... e4 {wins the N on f4!} 19. Qxe4 Bxf5) 19. Nfg3 Bd4 {Now the advantage swings over to white.} (19... h5 { keeps the balance.} 20. Ne4 f5 21. Nxc5 Qxc5) 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Qxf6 Qc5 { Horowitz is preparing a sacrificial attack with this move, but actually allows white to gain a decisive advantage.} (21... Rg6 22. Qf3 Rd8 23. Rae1 f5 { and black is holding on.}) 22. Rae1 Rxg3 {The point behind his last move, but the whole idea is flawed.} 23. Rxe5 (23. fxg3 {is not playable...} Rf4+ 24. Kh2 Rxf6 25. Rxf6 {and in the long run white'. two Rs will be no match against the Q and B.}) 23... Qb6 {Maintaing the on on the f-Pawn...or so it seems.} 24. c5 {[%mdl 8192] This closes the diagonal and makes fxg3 possible, but it loses the game.} (24. fxg3 {Things are not always what they seem!} Rf4+ {is met by} 25. c5 Rxf1+ (25... Rxf6 26. cxb6 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 {White has a won ending.}) 26. Qxf1 Qc6 27. Qe2 {and white has a winning position.}) 24... Rxg2+ {[%mdl 512] Thanks to white's last move black's idea proves successful...bnut only with this sacrifice.} 25. Kh1 (25. Kxg2 {is even worse.} Bxh3+ 26. Kxh3 Qxf6) 25... Qc6 26. f3 Rdd2 27. Qh8+ Kc7 {White resigned. There is a mate in 11.} (27... Kc7 28. Rg5 Rxg5 29. Qf6 Rxc5 30. Qf4+ Qd6 31. Qxd6+ Kxd6 32. Rd1 Rxd1+ 33. Kg2 Rc2+ 34. Kg3 Rg1+ 35. Kf4 Rc3 36. Ke4 Bd5+ 37. Kd4 Rxf3 38. b4 Rd1#) 0-1

A Flurry of Tactics by Reshevsky

 

     The 1942 U.S. Championship was the most controversial ever. In January the USCF had canceled the tournament because the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, and the government had issued a call for an all-out struggle in the war. In an attempt to comply, the USCF stated that because our way of life was in great peril, it was not a propitious time for holding the championship. 

     Al Horowitz dissented in his magazine, Chess Review pointing out that Washington had encouraged the continuation of professional sports and that other nations at war, such as Great Britain, had continued holding tournaments. The USCF relented and the top players agreed (surprise!) to forego appearance fees and guarantees of prize money agreeing to play for modest prizes. 

     The lineup wasn't a very strong one with only seven real contenders: Reshevsky, Kashdan, Denker, Steiner, Pinkus, Horowitz and Seidman. The winner should have been Isaac Kashdan. 

     The tournament was a race between him and Reshevsky, but Kashdan got cheated out of the title. 

      In the 6th round tournament director, the infamous L. Walter Stephens, incorrectly forfeited Denker after Reshevsky supposedly exceeded the time limit...or did he? 

     Both players were in time trouble and it has often been reported that Reshevsky's flag fell when Denker made the drawing move and punched the clock. According to the report on the incident in Chess Review they "were using a battered old clock with no flag indicators." 

     Stephens, standing behind the clock, picked it up and turned it around so that the clocks were facing opposite sides and then, declaring that Denker had exceeded the time limit, ruled him to have forfeited. 

     When his mistake was pointed out, Stephens refused to change his decision. The spectators demonstrated their disapproval of Stephens' ruling with boos and jeers and Denker filed a protest because Reshevsky was not keeping score. It was all to no avail because his protest was disallowed! 

     Isaac Kashdan reported on the incident in Chess Review stating that Reshevsky defeated Denker in a drawn position when Denker overstepped the time limit and Stephans' ruling "(caused) a commotion and near riot." Kashdan wrote, "The spectators and officials all (got) a look at the clock which (was) carried about and handled by all and sundry. There (was) a wide divergence of opinion, but the referee (had) ruled and (was) later upheld by the tournament committee." 

     From beginning to end the tournament was a neck and neck race between Reshevsky and Kashdan. After nine rounds they were tied at 8.5 points apiece! Reshevsky had drawn with Matthew Green in the third round and Kashdan had drawn with Jacob Levin in the fourth. Their scores put them ahead of their closest competitors by two points. 

     The remaining rounds were a battle between the two. In the tenth round Reshevsky took the lead when Kashdan overlooked what was called a brilliant Queen sacrifice by Herman Steiner and lost. But, then in the next round Reshevsky could only draw against the last place finisher, Herman Halhbohm, a minor master from Chicago. 

     After finishing his last round game Kashdan had a 12.5-2.5 score. Reshevsky, at 12-3, adjourned his game against Horowitz who had outplayed him and was two Pawns up. But, thanks to opposite colored Bishops and a better placed King, Reshevsky had drawing chances. 

     Upon resumption Horowitz' 58th move allowed Reshevsky to draw and so tie with Kashdan. In the 14-game playoff Reshevsky took the lead after the fifth game and won the match +6 -2 =3. 

     The U.S. Women's Championship was held concurrently and, unlike the men's event, it was no contest. May Karff scored 8-0 and outdistanced the second placed finishers, Adele Belcher and Nancy Roos by two points. 

     I was going take a look at that Kashdan-Steiner game because the "brilliant Queen sacrifice" description caught my eye, but after looking at the game it turned out the Steiner only offered his Q in a won position and Kashdan didn't take it. In fact, Kashdan was forced to surrender his Q two moves later. 

     Probably the most brilliant game of the tournament was Reshevsky's win by a flurry of tactics over Herbert Seidman. Let's take look at it. 

     Reshevsky's style was often criticized because it was said he was lucky and that his play was boring. But, as they, good players are always lucky. 

     As for the boring part, back in 1940 in Meet the Master, Dr. Max Euwe wrote that Reshevsky liked boring positions and then went on to explain that many situations which other masters would abandon as won or drawn were analyzed more correctly by Reshevsky who often discovered numerous hidden possibilities.

     Reshevsky's rival, Dr. Reuben Fine, preferred to say that Reshevsky was "the tactician par excellence." Fine explained, "Regardless of the nature of the position, he is rarely prepared to accept any conventional judgment and he will exhaust all his resources before he admits that he is wrong." 

     Looked at from that viewpoint, Reshevsky's win in the following game was quite typical of his style. Herbert Seidman (1920-1995) was a Senior Master from New York City known for his swashbuckling style. He played several U.S. Championships and took the scalps of many notable players, including Benko, Bisguier, Donald Byrne, Denker, Lombardy, Mednis and Reshevsky. In the U.S. Open in 1974 he defeated the formidable Dutch GM Jan Timman on the black side of a Scandinavian Defense.

[Event "US Championship, NewYork"] [Site "New York, NY USA"] [Date "1942.04.10"] [Round "1"] [White "Herbert Seidman"] [Black "Samuel Reshevsky"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C86"] [Annotator "Stockfish 15"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "1942.??.??"] {Ruy Lopez: Worrall Attack} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 {In this, the Worrall Attack, white substitutes 6.Qe2 for 6.Re1. The idea is to use the Q to support the e-Pawn and play Rd1 to support the advance of the d-Pawn, although there is not always time for this.} b5 {[%cal Bb7b5, Bb5b4][%mdl 32]} 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bg4 {[%mdl 32]} 9. c3 O-O 10. h3 {An important move...it forces black to make up his mind whether the B will go to the K-side or return to the Q-side or if he should exchange it.} (10. Rd1 { and Fine recommended} Rb8 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Ne4 {which was not played until 40 years later in Anand,V (2690)-Kamsky,G (2655) Moscow 1992 which continued} 14. axb5 axb5 15. h3 Bh5 16. Be3 Qd7 17. Rc1 Rb6 18. Nc3 { with equal chances.}) 10... Bh5 {At the time the book move was 10...Bd7, but Reshevsky was never too concerned with such matters and he instinctively plays the move that is considered best today. Incidentally, it Stockfish's recommended move.} 11. Rd1 (11. d3 Na5 12. Bc2 Nd7 13. b4 Nb7 14. g4 Bg6 15. d4 {with equality. Varavin,V (2510)-Yemelin, V (2520) Elista 1994}) 11... b4 { The tactician, Reshevsky takes the opportunity to create complications.} (11... d5 {is also acceptable.} 12. d3 (12. exd5 {is a mistake.} Na5 13. Bc2 {and now black wins with} e4 14. Bxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nb3 16. Ra2 Bg6) 12... d4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. g4 Bg6 16. Bd5 {White is better. Shkuran,D (2383)-Podolsky,A (2127) Zhovkva UKR 2010}) 12. d4 {Strictly speaking not bad, but more exact was 12.a5 fixing the black a-Pawn and depriving the N of the important square a5.} bxc3 {This might look bad, but Reshevsky has seen that the position is deceptive and he's hoping Seidman will go astray...which he does!} 13. g4 { This is not really bad, but it is, like his previous move, not good either. Evidently Seidman was under the impression that he will either win a piece or secure an overwhelming position. The chances would have been equal after the better 13.bxc3} Qb8 {Technically 13...Rb8 was better, but his sets a subtle trap.} (13... Bg6 {This may have been what Seidman was expecting. After} 14. dxe5 {Things get complicated now and OTB things get dicey for both sides!} Nxe4 15. Nxc3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Qe8 17. Bd5 Na5 18. Nd4 dxe5 19. Bxa8 exd4 20. Bd5 d3 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Qxd3 {and white, having the initiative, is slightly better.}) 14. Bd5 {Into which Seidman falls. To paraphrase Fine, Seidman and his good position are parted.} (14. Bc4 {is the most accurate.} cxb2 15. Bxb2 Nxg4 16. hxg4 Bxg4 {This position with its unbalanced material is unclear.}) 14... Nxd5 15. exd5 Bg6 {In the complications Seidman seems to have underestimated this elementary move.} (15... cxb2 {allows white a slight advantage after} 16. Bxb2 e4 17. Nh2 Bg6 18. dxc6) 16. bxc3 Na5 {Threatening to win a piece with 17...Nb3 } 17. Nbd2 exd4 (17... e4 {was even stronger.} 18. Nxe4 Qb7 19. Re1 Qxd5 20. Ned2 Rfe8 {Black is better.}) 18. Qxe7 {White finds himself in a very difficult situation after this.} (18. Nxd4 Re8 19. Qf3 Bg5 20. Nf5 {and black is only slightly better.}) 18... Re8 {[%mdl 2048] Black is in control.} 19. Qg5 dxc3 20. Nh4 {With this move Seidman embarks upon a desperate adventure.} (20. Nf1 {is hardly an improvement though.} f6 21. Qf4 Re4 22. Qg3 c2 23. Re1 Rxe1 24. Nxe1 Qb1 25. Nxc2 Qxc2 {Black is winning.}) (20. Nd4 {this is relatively best.} h6 21. Qf4 cxd2 22. Bxd2 Re4 23. Qf3 Rxd4 24. Bxa5 Rc4 {followed by ... Bc2 and black's advantage is minimal.}) 20... f6 {Wisely avoiding capturing on d2.} (20... cxd2 21. Bxd2 Nb3 22. Nxg6 fxg6 (22... hxg6 23. Rab1 {and white is very close to equalizing thanks to the annoying pin on the N.}) 23. Rab1 Nxd2 24. Qxd2 (24. Rxb8 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Nxg5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {and white has lost a piece.}) 24... Qd8 {and black has only a minimal advantage. The heavy pieces afford white plenty of counterplay.}) 21. Qf4 Bc2 {this is even better than 21. ..cxd2} 22. Nf5 (22. Rf1 {is not much better.} cxd2 23. Qxd2) 22... Bxd1 23. Ne4 Rxe4 {Nice!} (23... Bc2 {allows white to complicate things with} 24. Nh6+ gxh6 25. Nxf6+ Kh8 (25... Kg7 26. Qxh6+ Kf7 27. Bg5 {and the position is equal. }) 26. Nxe8 Qxe8 27. Qf6+ Kg8 28. Qxc3 {Black has a decisive advantage.}) 24. Qxe4 {It should be pointed out that Seidman, while not on Reshevsky's level, was also a very good tactician and with this move he threatens to win with Qe6+.} Qe8 (24... Nb3 {A pass to demonstrate white's threat.} 25. Qe6+ Kh8 26. Bh6 Qf8 27. Bxg7+ Qxg7 28. Nxg7 Kxg7 29. Rxd1 {and white wins.}) 25. Qb4 Nb3 { ...Qe1+ is the strong threat.} 26. Rb1 Nxc1 {This is probably worthy of a question mark as it lets slip a large portion of black's advantage. The play of both sides now gets a little inexact and it's quite possible that time pressure was a factor for both players.} (26... Qe1+ {is crushing as after} 27. Kg2 Bc2 {white is out of reasonable moves.} 28. Rxb3 Be4+ 29. f3 Qe2+ 30. Kg1 Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Qxf3 {There is no good answer to the threat of mate on g2}) 27. Rxc1 c2 {Stronger that 27...Bxa4} (27... Bxa4 28. Qxc3 Bd7 29. Qxc7 Bxf5 30. gxf5 Qh5 31. Qb7 {with drawing chances.}) 28. Qb7 (28. Qc3 {makes black's job tougher.} Rc8 29. Nd4 Qe5 30. Qe3 {Black is better, but white is still alive.}) 28... Qd8 (28... g6 {would have wrapped up the game fairly quickly.} 29. Nd4 Qe1+ 30. Kg2 Rf8 31. Ne6 Bf3+ 32. Kg3 Qxc1) 29. Qb3 Rb8 (29... h5 {results in a winning R+P ending and was more precise.} 30. Nd4 Rb8 31. Qd3 hxg4 32. Nxc2 Bxc2 33. Qxc2 gxh3 34. Qxc7 Qxc7 35. Rxc7 Rb4 {and wins}) 30. Qa2 {[%mdl 8192] Missing his last chance.} (30. Qd3 Rb4 31. Nd4 f5 32. Nxc2 Bxc2 33. Qxc2 fxg4 34. h4 Qxh4 35. Qxc7 Rf4 36. Qc8+ Rf8 37. Qe6+ Kh8 38. Qf5 Qd8 39. Qxg4 { with drawing chances.}) 30... h5 31. Nd4 hxg4 32. hxg4 Qe8 33. Nxc2 Qe2 34. g5 fxg5 (34... Qg4+ {forces mate.} 35. Kf1 Be2+ 36. Ke1 Bc4 37. Qxc4 Qxc4 38. gxf6 Re8+ 39. Ne3 Qxc1+ 40. Ke2 Qb2+ 41. Ke1 Qxf6 42. Ke2 a5 43. Kd3 Qxf2 44. Nd1 Qe2+ 45. Kc3 Qxd1 46. Kb2 Rb8+ 47. Kc3 Rb3+ 48. Kc4 Qd3#) 35. Qa3 Bxc2 36. Qc3 Be4 37. Qxc7 Qg4+ {Facing mate in 2, Seidman resigned.} 0-1

Reshevsky Wins 1943 Metropolitan Speed Championship

     The weather was cool with occasional rain in New York City on Sunday, September 5th, 1943. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page headline read that Allied troops had seized 140 miles of Italian coast and the Italian Army troops had hightailed it into the mountains. 

     Hawks were creating problems in Brooklyn. A ten year old boy was hospitalized when he climbed a ladder carrying a .22 caliber rifle and accidentally shot himself in the foot; his nine year old brother on the ladder behind him was uninjured. The boys were going up onto the roof of their home to shoot hawks that had been killing pigeons on the roof. In another hawk related incident, a 22-year-old was given a suspended sentence for firing gun in the city. He had shot at a hawk that had been killing his father's chickens. 

     Frank D. March, the city's Salvage Director, announced that 1,185 women had responded to the waste fats day the previous week at Playland in Rockaway Beach, admission to which was a pound of fat. During World War II, the US government urged Americans to save excess fat rendered from cooking and donate it to the Army to produce explosives. 

     It was also announced that the Brooklyn Navy Yard and factories producing war related products would be ignoring the upcoming Monday Labor Day holiday and workers would not be given the day off. 

     There was plenty of work available in the city, mostly because of the war. The Pickwick Company in Brooklyn ran the following ad: 

 

BOYS OR MEN 

Essential war industry: 60 cents per hour 

plus plenty of overtime at time and a half. 

Apply Tuesday between 10 and 4 ready for work. 

Pickwick Co, 585 Dean St., Brooklyn. 

 

     I don't know what the company produced or the nature of the work, but 60 cents per was worth $9.97 today. Another ad asking for boys and men age 17-45 to perform light factory work was only paying 45 cents per hour, but they promised rapid advancement. Also, as long as she was not over 35 years old an experienced female file clerk could make 58 cents an hour. They did not have any equal opportunity laws in those days! 

     At the home of L. Walter Stephens on that Sunday, U.S. Champ Samuel Reshevsky won the Metropolitan Speed Championship ahead of a galaxy of stars. Playing with poise and equanimity, only Weaver Adams, Isaac Kashdan and Al Horowitz were able to nick him for draws. 

     The event was a double round robin and the moves were played at the sound of a gong which was struck every ten seconds. Play began at two o'clock in the afternoon and continued until the intermission at 7 p.m.; at eight o'clock play resumed and at midnight Reshevsky pocketed the $40 first prize which amounts to the princely sum of $664.75 in today's dollars. Prizes were also awarded to Kashdan, Horowitz, Shainswit and Adams. 

 

 

     Because the war was going on some entrants were in the Army: PFC George Shainswit, Sgt. Jack Soudakoff and PFC Stanley Weinstein. 

     Tartakower was right when he wrote that victory goes to the player making the next to last mistake. In the following see-saw battle Adams got swindled. At the time Al Horowitz was the National Open title holder and the New York State Champion.

[Event "Metropolitan Speed Champ, New York City"] [Site "?"] [Date "1943.09.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Weaver W. Adams"] [Black "I.A. Horowitz"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [Annotator "Stockfish 15"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "1943.??.??"] {Vienna Game} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 {In 1939, Adams wrote White to Play and Win in which he advocated the Bishop’s Opening, but later gave up it and advocated the Vienna instead. Adams always played his published analysis which gave his opponents the advantage of knowing what he was going to play.} Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 ( 3... Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. d4 {is the Adams Gambit. The idea was to sacrifice another P for open lines and quick development.}) 4. d3 Na5 5. Qf3 Nxc4 6. dxc4 c6 (6... d6 7. Nge2 Bg4 8. Qg3 Bxe2 9. Kxe2 Be7 10. Rd1 O-O { is equal. Rogers,I (2575)-Beliavsky,A (2620) Polanica Zdroj 1996}) 7. Nge2 d6 8. h3 Be6 9. b3 d5 {This turns out to be premature.} (9... Be7 {remains equal.} 10. O-O h5 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. Ng3 g6 13. Nf5 Nc5 14. Ba3 gxf5 15. Bxc5 f4 { Rogers,I (2576) -Howell,D (2416) England 2005}) (9... a6 10. a4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 b5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. cxb5 cxb5 {equals. Rogers, I (2569) -Hector,J (2570) Wijk aan Zee 2003}) (9... Nd7 10. O-O f6 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. a4 Be7 13. Ng3 O-O {White is slightly better. Jackson,S (2108)-Okhai,S (2090) St Clement Bay JCI 2018}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Bg5 (11. exd5 {stays on course.} Nxd5 12. O-O Nxc3 13. Nxc3 {and white is slightly better.}) 11... dxe4 (11... d4 { gaining space was better.} 12. Nd1 h6 13. Bd2 Qd7 14. c3 (14. O-O {is a mistake.} Qc6 {attacking two Ps}) 14... d3 15. Nc1 Be7 16. Nxd3 Rd8 17. N1b2 Qc6 {and black is better.}) 12. Nxe4 Be7 (12... Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qd5 {with equal chances.}) 13. Bxf6 gxf6 {Black has two Bs and probably hoped to use the g-file to his advantage, but white's position is preferable.} 14. N4g3 { Adams wants to play a N to f5, but this is the wrong one!} (14. N2g3 {keeps the pressure on.} Qa5+ 15. c3 O-O-O 16. Nf5 {with a slight advantage.}) 14... Qa5+ 15. c3 O-O-O {[%cal Oe6b3]} (15... Bxb3 16. O-O Bd5 17. Qg4 {with equal chances mainly due to black's exposed K.}) 16. O-O (16. Nf5 Ba3 17. Nh6 (17. O-O e4 18. Qe3 Qxf5 {and wins.}) 17... e4 18. Qxf6 Qa6 19. Ng4 Bb2 20. Rb1 Qd3 21. O-O Qxe2 {Black is clearly better.}) 16... Rhg8 (16... Qd5 {[%cal Rd5f3] was better. After} 17. Qh5 Qd3 18. c4 Ba3 19. Rad1 Qc2 20. Nc1 f5 {Black is clearly better.}) 17. Nf5 {This gains white enough time to equalize.} Bf8 18. c4 {[%mdl 8192] This is a blunder because it leaves the N undefended after 18.. .e4, but Horowitz missed it.} (18. Neg3 {keeps the chances even after} Qd5 19. Qxd5 Rxd5 20. Rfd1) 18... Bc5 {Correct was 18...e4 attacking the Q and exposes the N on f5 to a double attack.} 19. Nfg3 Bd4 {After the quiet 19...Kb8 the position would have been equal. Now it's white who gets the advantage.} 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Qxf6 Qc5 {Black is practically losing after this! But, at 10 seconds a move it's tricky.} (21... Rg6 {put up a tougher defense.} 22. Qf3 Rd8 23. Rae1 f6) 22. Rae1 {Here black's e-Pawn is doomed after which white would be left with a winning position. Horowitz' next move is a try at a swindle that should not have been successful.} Rxg3 23. Rxe5 {The refutation of black's attack.} (23. fxg3 Rf4+ 24. Kh2 Rxf6 25. Rxf6 {and black should win.}) 23... Qb6 {Unfortunately for Adams the refutation of Horowitz' attack initiated by 23.Rxe5 has only one continuation that doesn't lose and Adams missed it!} 24. c5 {[%mdl 8192] What a tragedy for Adams, but a triumph for Horowitz!} (24. fxg3 Rxc4+ (24... Rf4+ {fails to win the Q because of the riposte} 25. c5 Rxf6 26. cxb6 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 axb6 {and white has a won ending.} ) 25. Kh2 Rc2 26. Qh8+ Qd8 27. Qxh7 {Here, too, white should be able to win the ending.}) 24... Rxg2+ {[%mdl 512] Any other move leaves black with a lost game.} 25. Kh1 Qc6 26. f3 Rdd2 27. Qh8+ Kc7 {A see-saw battle.} (27... Kd7 $142 28. Qg8 Rxg8 29. h4 Bh3 30. Rg5 Rxg5 31. hxg5 Bxf1 32. Kg1 Qxc5+ 33. Kh1 Qxg5 34. b4 Qg2#) 0-1

An hors d'oeuvre from the 1942 U.S. Championship

      World War Two eliminated a lot of chess activity except in South America, Argentina in particular. It had become the home of many outstanding European masters who either could not or did not want to go back to their native countries. As a result, a number of first class tournaments were held there. 

     In 1942 the U.S. Chess Federation called off the U.S. Championship. George Sturgis, President, and L. Walter Stephens, Vice-president, issued a statement noting that prior to December 7, 1941 (the date Pearl Harbor was attacked) the Federation had been planning its regular biennial tournament for March of 1942, but the "momentous events of (Pearl Harbor had) completely changed plans and prospects for such a tournament." 

     They added, "The United States Government (had) issued a call for an all out struggle in a War which has been thrust upon us. It is obvious that our very national safety is at stake, and our institutions and our homes endangered. Our way of life is in great peril." 

     "In view of these facts, the U. S. Chess Federation...has decided that the present time is not propitious for holding the Championship Tournament. Rather it is a time when we should devote our entire thoughts, efforts and resources toward bringing this war to a successful conclusion. For these reasons the tournament will not be held" 

     The Editors of Chess Review (mainly Al Horowitz and Kenneth Harkness) dissented and regarded the decision as most unfortunate on the part of the USCF officials, claiming that, "in effect, the Federation announces that it has withdrawn its support of chess for the duration of the war." 

     The Chess Review editors even went so far as to claim, "The statement even tells us that we should not play chess or think of chess during the war." They went on to point out that the US government was actively encouraging sports and recreational activities and other countries at war were continuing to hold tournaments:Russia, England, France and even in Germany. 

     Others complained that the attitude of the USCF in claiming chess as an "un-American" activity would do more harm to the cause of chess than an indifferent or even hostile attitude on their part. As it was in England, chess was important for morale. 

     Fortunately, the USCF recanted and the tournament was finally held. This was the tournament of the infamous clock forfeit when tournament director L. Walter Stephens incorrectly forfeited Denker in his game against Reshevsky then refused to reverse his decision even though proven wrong. His decision cost Kashdan a clear first, and so he was co-champion with Reshevsky until he lost the playoff match some six months later. 

 

     When the preliminaries were over the final field was not as imposing as previous editions of the championship. Instead, there were a lot of younger or less experienced players participating, but even so, they caused more than one anxious moment for the better known players. Published games by the leaders are common, but here's a fun game played by a couple of the lesser lights.

[Event "US Championship, New York"] [Site "New York, NY USA"] [Date "1942.04.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Irving Chernev"] [Black "Herman Hahlbohm"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D05"] [Annotator "Stockfish 14.1"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "1942.??.??"] {Colle System} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 {White the Colle can still be a dangerous system, against careful play it should prove innocuous especially, I think, if black fianchettos his f8B.} Nc6 6. Nbd2 Be7 { Having played ...c5, it's now too late to fianchetto the B.} (6... g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. dxc5 Nd7 9. Nb3 a5 10. a4 Qe7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Nxc5 13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. Be3 {White stands well. Gorti,A (2258)-Astaneh Lopez,A (2442)/Budapest 2018 }) 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2 Re8 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. e4 e5 (10... dxe4 {is not a good idea. After} 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 f5 13. Qe2 Bd7 14. Bf4 {White is better. Hormann,G (2014)-Khanukov,B (2361)/Nuernberg 2010}) 11. exd5 Nxd5 (11... e4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Bf5 14. dxc6 Bxe4 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. Be3 Qb6 {Black did not have enough compensation for the two Ps. Burcu,C (2007)-Arslan,E (2067)/ Antalya TUR 2013}) 12. Nb3 Qb6 {Better was 12...Bb6 after which white could play either 13. Bg5 or 13.Qc2 with equal chances.} 13. Bxh7+ {In reality this should offer no more than equal chances IF black defends correctly.} (13. Ng5 Nf6 (13... g6 14. Bc4 Be6 15. Nxc5 Qxc5 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Bg5 { followed by 19.Nf6+ is a disaster for black.}) 14. Qc2 {gives white a dangerous attack.}) 13... Kxh7 14. Qe4+ Kg8 15. Qxd5 {White's 13th move has netted him a P, but black could now keep things equal with 15...Be7 guarding aginst white's Ng5.} Bf8 16. Ng5 Be6 {The losing move. The problem with it will soon become apparent.} (16... Nd8 {A hideous defensive move, but it's the best black has.} 17. Qe4 f5 18. Qd5+ Kh8 19. Re1 Qc6 20. Qxc6 Nxc6 21. Bf4 Kg8 22. Nd4 Nxd4 23. cxd4 e4 24. d5 {White has the advantage in the ending, but at least black has managed to get to and ending! In Shootouts white scored +4 0- =1, but the wins were quite lengthy and therefore OTB black has reasonable hopes of saving the game.}) 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qh4 Bg7 {With the B on g7 a superficial glance may give the impression that his K is now safe, but as Chernev demonstrates, black is completely lost.} 19. Be3 Qa6 20. Nc5 Qc4 21. Qh7+ Kf8 {This attack on e6 shows why black needed to defend it on move 16.} 22. Ncxe6+ fxe6 23. Qxg6 Nd8 24. Nh7+ {Black resigned.} (24. Nh7+ Ke7 25. Qxg7+ Kd6 26. Rfd1+ Qd5 27. c4 Re7 28. Qf6 Rxh7 29. Rxd5+ Kc7 30. Qxe5+ Kc8 31. Rad1 exd5 32. Qxd5 b5 33. Qxd8+ Kb7 34. Rd7+ Rxd7 35. Qxd7+ Ka6 36. Qxb5#) 1-0