Max Victor Behnisch

     Zeppelins were a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. His ideas were first formulated in 1874 and developed in detail in 1893. They were patented in Germany in 1895 and in the United States in 1899.

     Zeppelins were first flown commercially in 1910 by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG, the world's first commercial airline. During World War I, the German military made extensive use of Zeppelins as bombers and scouts, resulting in over 500 deaths in bombing raids in Britain. 

     The defeat of Germany in 1918 lead to the airships being surrendered under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which also prohibited Germany from building large airships. An exception was made allowing the construction of one airship for the United States Navy. In 1926, the restrictions on airship construction were lifted. 

      In January 1913 Admiral von Tirpitz, Secretary of State of the German Imperial Navy, got Kaiser Wilhelm II to agree to a five-year expansion program of German naval airship strength. One requirement was that the craft should be capable of bombing England. 

     On October 17, 1913, LZ-18 (Length: 518 ft. 2 in., Diameter: 54 ft. 6 in.), was removed from its hanger for a test flight, but one of the engines would not start. The delay of two hours while the engine was repaired allowed the morning sun to heat the hydrogen, causing it to expand. This caused the airship to ascend rapidly to 2,000 feet. 

     At 2,000 feet horrified observers on the ground saw a flame leap out of the forward engine which caused an explosion of some of the gas bags. Halfway to the ground there was a second explosion and as the wreckage hit the ground further explosions followed as the fuel tanks ignited. 

     The accident was determined to have been caused by the rapid ascent leading to venting of hydrogen through the relief valves and some of the vented gas was then sucked into the engine where it ignited, the fire then spreading to the gas bags.

     Three survivors were pulled from the blazing wreckage, but two died shortly afterwards and the third died that night in hospital. In all 28 men died, including the new chief of the Admiralty Aviation Department, Korvettenkapitan Behnisch. As a Naval officer Behnisch was known to be very efficient and he was destined to become a leading officer in naval affairs. 

     The loss of Behisch's craft occurred six weeks after the loss of another Zeppelin along with most of its crew. The two disasters deprived the German Navy of most of its experienced personnel and led to the suspension of the planned expansion program. 

     Max Victor Behnisch (1873 - October 4, 1913) was a decent chess player. At that time, world champion Emanuel Lasker was constantly on the move playing in tournaments and giving simultaneous displays. 

     Behnisch was one of the strongest members of the Berlin Chess Club and though not of master rank, he was highly respected and considered to be "an exceedingly clever amateur." He never reached the top ranks because he rarely had the chance to compete in important tournaments. 

     In 1902, Behnisch defeated Pillsbury in a 12-player blindfold simultaneous display and in 1912, he was a participant in the B tournament in Breslau. After the conclusion of the Breslau tournament, Breslau organizers put together a quadrangular tournament; the results were: 1)Suechting, 2) von Holzhausen, 4) Behnisch and 4) Hartlaub. 

     Behnisch had the distinction of having been the only player within the past year who had been able to defeat Lasker in any of his exhibition games. In defending with the Center Counter Gambit, as the Scandinavian was called back then, Behnisch managed to obtain good development and excellent attacking possibilities. His attack gained momentum until Lasker was forced to resign after 31 moves.

Emanuel Lasker - Max V. Behnisch

Result: 0-1

Site: Simultaneous, Berlin

Date: 1912.11.17

Center Counter Gambit

[...] 1.e4 d5 Today this is known as the Scandinavian Defense. It's the oldest opening by black recorded in modern chess. The idea of the defense is to prevent white from controlling the cente with pawns and thereby forcing an open game, while allowing black to build a strong P-structure. 2.exd5 The Main Line. Black has two major continuations: 2... Qxd5 and 2...Nf6 which is the modern way. The rare Blackburne-Kloosterboer Gambit (2...c6) is thought to be unsound and is almost never seen. 2...♘f6 The idea is to delay capturing the P on d5 for another move, avoiding the loss of time that Black incurs in the ...Qxd5 lines after 3.Nc3. Now white has several possibilities. 3.c4 The modern way is 3.d4, but Lasker's move is not bad. 3...c6 4.dxc6 Modern theory frowns on this move, preferring 4.Nc3 or 4.d4 4...♘xc6 5.♘c3

5.♘f3 e5 6.d3 e4 7.dxe4 ♕xd1+ 8.♔xd1 ♘xe4 9.♗e3 Black is slightly better. Chandler,M (2585)-Adams,M (2505)/Hastings 1989

5...e5 6.d3 White is behind in development and is having a bit of a problem finding active play for his pieces. 6...♗c5 7.♗e3 ♘d4 8.♘f3 ♘g4 Solid would have been 8...O-O followed by ...Bf5, but the text, while it gives white the advantage, is tricky and worth a try in a simul. 9.♗xd4 exd4 10.♘e4 ♗b4+ 11.♘fd2 White has a cramped position, but now his one real weakness, the P on e3, is no longer exposed. (11.♘ed2!?11...O-O 12.a3±) 11...O-O 12.♗e2 One might expect the N to meekly retreat fo f6 after which white has a solid, if cramped, position...plus he is a P up. 12...♘e3 13.fxe3 dxe3 14.O-O exd2 15.♘xd2 For the moment white is two Ps up, but black has a strong initiative. 15...♕d4+ 16.♔h1 ♕xb2 17.♘e4 ♕d4 18.♖b1 a5 AT this point white is only a P ahead, but his position remains cramped so the chances are about equal. 19.♖f4 A simple tactical error.

19.♕c1 was his best chance of getting any play. 19...♖a6 20.a3 ♗e7 21.♕c3 ♕xc3 22.♘xc3 ♗xa3 23.d4 Black still has better chances, but at least by returning th eP white has gotten some activity for his pieces.

19...f5 The R is undefended so the N can't move. 20.♕b3

20.c5 was worth a try. 20...fxe4 Correct is 20...Bxc5, but if black carelessly plays this white is right back in the game after 21.♕b3+ and black has to return the piece with. .. 21...♗e6 22.♕xe6+ ♔h8 23.♖xf8+ ♖xf8 24.♖f1 with equal chances.

20...♗e6

20...♕e5 keeps an even firmer grip 21.♖bf1 fxe4 22.♖xf8+ ♗xf8 with a winning advantage.

21.♘g5 (21.a3 doesn't improve anything 21...♗d6 22.♘xd6 ♕xf4) 21...♕xf4 22.♘xe6 ♕e5 Here the correct move was 22...Qe3 with a decisive advantage. This move should have allowed Lasker to all but equalize; instead, he blunders. 23.♘xf8 Losing quickly.

23.♗f3 Saves the game. After 23...♖fe8 24.d4 ♕f6 25.♗xb7 Black has a slight advantage. From this position Shootouts resulted in white scoring +0 -1 =4, so he has good drawing chances.

23...♕xe2 Alertly played! (23...♗xf8 allows white to equalize after 24.♗f3 ♖e8 25.g3)

23...♖xf8 is easily refuted 24.♗f3 ♔h8 (24...b6 25.c5+ wins after 25...♔h8 26.cxb6) 25.♗xb7 ♖e8 and black's advantage is minimal.

24.♘d7 ♗e1 24...Rd8 was also a hard lick. 25.c5+ ♔h8 26.h3 ♕f1+

26...f4 also wins after 27.d4 ♕f1+ 28.♔h2 ♗g3+ 29.♕xg3 fxg3+ 30.♔xg3 ♕xb1

27.♔h2 f4 28.♖xe1 ♕xe1 29.d4 ♕g3+ This finishes him off. 30.♕xg3 fxg3+ 31.♔xg3 ♖d8 Lasker resigned.

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A Difference Of Opinion

     A while back while thumbing through Purdy's The Search for Chess Perfection I noticed an interesting diagrammed position in the section containing a selection of Purdy's games. 

     The Australian IM, Correspondence GM and writer Cecil John Seddon Purdy (March 27, 1906 - November 6, 1979) was the winner of the first world correspondence championship. An excellent analyst, he was an influential chess magazine writer, editor, and publisher. 

     Purdy began his chess career at the age of 16 and soon decided to become a full-time chess writer and player. Initially strictly an OTB player he also added postal play. He was a four-time winner of the Australian Championship (1935, 1937, 1949, and 1951) and he won the first two Australian Corresponence Championships (1938 and 1945). He also won the New Zealand Championship in 1924/25. In 1952 in Auckland Purdy drew a match with Ortvin Sarapu, at the time by far the best player in New Zealand and they were thus declared Australasian co-champions. 

 

Purdy

   Purdy had two children, Diana, and John (1935–2011) who won the Australian Championship in 1955 and 1963. Diana was also a player and she was married to the leading New Zealand player Frank Hutchings in 1960. 

     Purdy founded and edited the magazine Australasian Chess Review (1929–1944) which became Check (1944–45) and finally Chessworld (1946–1967). He was described by Bobby Fischer as being a great chess instructor. 

     His opponent in the following game was National Master Frank A. Crowl, who was described as the Australian Nimzovich because he was a player who "cared absolutely nothing for orthodox theories" and even went so far as to claim the perfect game would be won by black! Crowl once stated, "I have nearly reached the conclusion that this is the only opening left now which offers white winning chances." The opening he was referring to was 1.b4! 

Crowl

     Crowl was born in Melbourne in 1902, but spent his boyhood in Shanghai where he won the junior championship at the age of 10 and again at the age of 11. At the age of 14 he won the major championship of Shanghai. 

     Not long thereafter and through his late teens he lived in London and played top board for his team. His early twenties saw him seeing most of the world, sailing as a stowaway when his money ran out. 

     Finally, in 1927, at the age of 25, he settled in Brisbane and suddenly resumed his chess activities. His absence from the game had caused his play to deteriorate to the point that he was accepting Pawn and move odds from Brisbane's best player, 20-year old Gary Koshnitsky. In a few months he had regained his strength and in 1928 he was back in Melbourne where he won the city championship. He passed away in 1965. 

     As for the following game it shows how differently two masters can judge the same position. Purdy thought black had absolutely nothing after move 16 and that white stood much better. From Crowl's point of view, he had a good position and it was his optimism that caused him to play the rash 16...g5 that ultimately lead to his defeat.

CJS Purdy - Frank Crowl

Result: 1-0

Site: Private Match, Sydney

Date: 1938

Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense

[...] 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 ♘f6 4.O-O d6 5.d4 ♗d7 6.♖e1 ♗e7 7.c4 This was a novelty the aim of which is to prevent black from playing the freeing move ... d5. It seems to be of no particular significance.

7.d5 ♘b8 8.♗xd7+ ♘bxd7 9.c4 O-O 10.♘c3 is only equal. Szabo,K (2492)-Grecescu,G (2396)/Hungary 2007

7.♘c3 This is by far the most common, the main line running 7...exd4 8.♘xd4 O-O 9.♗xc6 bxc6 10.♗g5 with equality.

7...O-O

7...exd4 would have been slightly better. 8.♗xc6

8.♘xd4 leads nowhere after 8...O-O 9.♘c3 ♘xd4 10.♗xd7 ♘xd7 11.♕xd4 with a completely equal position. Bezgodov,A (2543) -Basagic,Z (2345)/Ohrid 2001

8...bxc6 9.♕xd4 c5 10.♕d3 O-O 11.h3 ♗c6 12.♘c3 ♘d7 13.♗f4 with a fully even position. Kotronias,V (2590)-Campora,D (2555)/Buenos Aires 1997

8.♘c3 ♖e8 9.♗xc6 When annotating this game Australian Master Maurice Goldstein made the instructive comment that this exchange is justified by the fact that black's N is influencing the center whereas white's B is hindered because the center is clogged with white Ps. Hence, white's light-squared B is of lesser value than black's N. 9...♗xc6 10.h3

10.dxe5 does not win the e-Pawn. 10...dxe5 11.♘xe5 ♕xd1 12.♖xd1 ♗xe4

10...h6 In order to make room for the R on the e-file after ...exd4 black needs to play ...Bf8 and this move prevents the pin with Bg5. 11.♕c2 ♗f8 12.b3 ♗d7 One advantage of Purdy's 9.Bxc6 is that black has to lose time with this B in order to get any counterplay. Note that thanks to Purdy's 10.h3 this B has been reduced to having little scope. 13.♗b2 c6 14.♖ad1 ♕c7 Crowl has set up the Hanham formation and thought he had the better position. For example, he has the two Bs, but as th egame progresses it turns out that his missing N would have been more valuable than white's light-squared B had Purdy not made the exchange 9.Bxc6. Purdy, on the other hand, though black's position looks good on the surface, but, in fact, he has no good plan. 15.♖d2 ♖ad8 16.♖ed1 Who was correct in their evaluation of this position? Purdy or Crowl? Komodo evaluates the position as quite even. The light notes to the game noted that 16...Bc8 was unsatisfactory and Crowls' recommendation of 16... Nh7 was not entirely satisfactory either. 16...g5 This move was motivated by Crowl's optimism, but in playing it he only succeeds in weakening his Ks position. (16...♗c8 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.♖xd8 ♖xd8 19.♖xd8 ♕xd8 20.♘xe5 wins the e-Pawn.)

16...♘h7 This was suggested by Crowl and it seems a reasonable move. 17.♘e2

17.c5 was recommended, but it results in no more than equality after 17...dxc5 18.dxe5 ♘g5

17...♘g5 18.♘xg5 hxg5 19.♘g3 with about equal chances.

16...b5 This aggressive counterattacking move is likely to yield the best chances. For example... 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.♘e2 bxc4 19.bxc4 ♖b8 The position is dead equal.

17.c5 Meeting a K-side attack by a counter in the center. 17...g4 Closing his eyes to the lurking danger.

17...dxc5 keeps him in the game. 18.dxc5 ♗xc5 19.♘a4 ♗b4 20.♖d3 b5 with a fully playable position.

18.cxd6 ♗xd6 19.dxe5 gxf3 20.exd6 Equally good was 20.Rxd6 20...♕a5 21.♖d3 ♘xe4 22.♘xe4 ♖xe4 23.♖xf3 White's strong passed P will prove decisive and even Bs of opposite color won't save black. Komodo evaluates this position at 7.5 Ps in white's favor...more than enough to secure the win. 23...♗f5 24.b4 The P can't be taken without losing the B. 24...♕d5 25.♖xd5 This is good enough, but he missed a crusher!

25.♖g3+ ♔f8 26.♗f6 ♖xd6 27.♖xd5 ♖e1+ 28.♔h2 ♗xc2 29.♖xd6 and white is up a R.

25...♖e1+ 26.♔h2 ♗xc2 27.♖d2 ♗g6 28.♗f6 ♖d7 29.h4 ♖e6 30.♗e7 ♖e4 31.b5 Purdy is trying to maneuver into a promising position where his pieces will be active and while black is tied up, white can also utilize his K. As it turns, out Purdy's plan leaves black some wiggle room. 31...cxb5 32.♗f6 h5

32...♖e6 33.♗e7 leaves him some faint hope of utilizing his Q-side Ps. 33...b4 34.g4 a5 35.h5 ♗b1 In reality though, black is lost...in Shootouts white scored +4 -0 =1.

33.♖c3 ♖c4 34.♖e3 ♗e4 35.♖g3+

35.f3 was even better. 35...♗c6 36.♖e5 with a decisive bind.

35...♔h7 36.♖g5 a6 37.f3 (37.♖xh5+ ♔g6 wins) 37...♗b1

37...♗g6 was not much better . If 38.♖e5 ♖f4 39.♗g5 ♖c4 40.g4 and white is winning.

38.♔g3 It's quite likely that Purdy was in his usual time pressure hereabouts.

38.♖g7+ brings about a quick finish. 38...♔h6 39.g4 hxg4 40.fxg4 ♖c2 41.♖xc2 ♗xc2 42.♗e5 b4 (42...♖xd6 43.g5+ ♔h5 44.♗xd6 ♔xh4 45.♗e7) 43.♔g3 a5 44.h5 a4 45.♔h4 mates in two

38...♖c6 39.♗e7 f6 39...Bg6 would have held out a bit longer. 40.♖xh5+ ♔g6 41.♖h8 ♔g7 42.♖f8 ♗g6 43.♔f2 f5 44.g4

44.♖d8 and the rest is a matter of technique 44...♖xd8 45.♗xd8 ♗e8 46.d7

44...fxg4 45.fxg4 ♗f7 46.h5 ♖cxd6 47.♗xd6 ♖xd6 48.♖xf7+ Finishing him off. Black resigned.

48.♖xf7+ ♔xf7 49.♖xd6 ♔e7 50.h6 ♔xd6 51.h7 b6 52.g5 b4 53.g6 b3 54.axb3 b5 55.g7 ♔d5 56.g8=♕+ ♔c5 57.h8=♕ ♔b4 58.♕g3 ♔a3 59.♕a1+ ♔b4 60.♕gc3#

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Editorial

     It is with great sadness that I write this. I loved my brother-in-law like my own brother and when we received a call at 7am last Sunday morning (10-25) that he had passed away at the age of 48 of complications stemming from COVID-19 I was devastated. 

     Granted, he had been suffering from several health issues over the last few years and had been forced to quit his beloved high school coaching job, but the virus was simply more than his weakened immune system could handle. 

     The announcement of his passing that appeared on Facebook resulted in nearly 800 comments, many from former students. Many of them told how he had been a father figure to them or how he had encouraged them when they were going through a difficult time in their life. For others, it was his upbeat attitude that they admired or he was simply a friend they could count on. 

     This thing is not a hoax or a conspiracy theory; it is real. And if there is even the slightest chance that COVID-19 protocols (vaccine, masks, etc.) work, I will willingly follow them because if they save even one life then the inconvenience is a small price to pay so that nobody else will have to suffer through the sorrow of losing a loved one.

Albert Hodges Defeats Pillsbury

Albert B. Hodges

     The following game in which Hodges absolutely smashed Pillsbury was played in the 1st City Chess Club tournament which took place in the Cafe Manhattan on Second Avenue in New York City. 

     When the game was played on December 19, 1893, the weather was clear and in the upper 20's, rising to the lower 30's. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of that date had several interesting stories, one of which was front page news. 

     A wealthy Englishman, a Wall Street speculator and wine merchant named Louis A. Morganthal, was found dead in his apartment in the Graham House, an apartment filled with moneyed residents whose names frequently appeared in the newspaper society columns. 

     He was found by his wife, Minnie Morganthal, whom the paper described as "a sweet-faced woman with a mass of black, flowing hair," adding that "she looked like a Jewess." Obviously that was in the days before political correctness! 

     Apartment residents said they were a quiet and seemingly happy couple, but nobody knew what business Mr. Morganthal was in. It was only when a snooping bellboy arrived at the scene and discovered a telegram in the wastebasket that was on stock exchange letterhead and blabbermouthed the contents to friends that it was discovered what he did. In the telegram Mr. Morganthal stated that all was well and he had made $100 on the election. 

     Minnie was the daughter of a London diamond merchant who had made a fortune from the African diamond mines. The evening of the 18th Minnie had celebrated her 22nd birthday by attending the theater, but not with her husband; she was escorted by another Englishman named Mr. Noeltz. 

     Louis Morganthal arrived at the apartment around 9:30pm on the 18th "a bit tipsy" and invited several people in for a drink. He “was in a talkative mood,” and “said his wife was the best woman in the world.” At 11:00pm he retired for the evening. 

     When Minnie returned home around 1:00am on the 19th and went upstairs she found her husband sitting in a chair with a 22-caliber bullet hole in his head. It was ruled suicide. 

     The odd thing is, less than five months later a guy named Max Meyer of Selma, Alabama arrived at the Graham House with his male nurse and his married daughter. He had come to New York seeking help from a specialist in nervous disorders and had suffered from insomnia for several years. 

     His two sons, one of whom lived in New York, decided to place their father into an asylum. When Meyer discovered the plans, before his nurse could stop him, he jumped up and dived out of the window. 

     In other news, in my home state of Ohio, it was pointed out that in the small town of Wellington (about 45 miles SW of Cleveland) a school teacher named Minnie Cleghorn was a second cousin to Queen Liliuokalani, the only queen and the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. A relative of Ms Cleghorn had married into the family. 

     Then, heading about 35 miles SE of Wellington, in the city of Wooster, Ohio, Delia Sloane, the oldest woman employed by the government died. She was the daughter of John Sloane, Treasurer of the United States under President Zachary Taylor in 1853. 

     The legendary Albert B. Hodges (July 21, 1861 – February 3, 1944) was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was one of the most well-known American players of the late 19th and early 20th centuries because he played an important role in transforming chess from a pastime into a social institution. Hodges died of a heart attack at the age of 82 at his Staten Island home on February 3rd, 1944. 

     After losing a US Championship match to Jackson W. Showalter by an 8-9 score in 1894, he won a re-match the same year (5.5-3.5) and so became the US Champion, but he never defended the title. Pillsbury challenged him in 1895, but Hodges declined for business reasons and announced his retirement in 1896.

     Hodges learned chess when he was 19 and at the age of 28 moved to New York. There he became the hidden operator ofAjeeb, the Chess Automaton, playing all comers at chess and checkers. Shortly thereafter, he won the championship of the Manhattan Chess Club and also became State Champion. 

     He took part in all thirteen of the cable matches with England without losing a single game. He founded the Staten Island Chess Club and served as its President for 12 years Outside of chess.

     Hodges was an accountant and he also served as the secretary for Sailor's Snug Harbor, a collection of architecturally significant 19th-century buildings on Staten Island. 

     With all this going on, the tournament and Hodges victory over Pillsbury received scant coverage. At the end of the tournament the paper did mention that the 21 year old newcomer had been the favorite for first notwithstanding the number of strong players in the event. The paper added that his victory had earned him the title of the "Morphy of the North." 

 

     The paper predicted a great future for him and added that he was also a fine checker player, "being, in fact, one of the best exponents of the game in this country."

     The December 30, 1893 edition of the Eagle mentioned that Clarence H. Freeman (1859-1909) of Providence, Rhode Island, who was a checker player of renown, stated that Pillsbury was "very expert and hard to beat" in checkers. Some sources say that Freeman was of Indian and African descent and others list him as being a full blooded Pequot Indian. He died at the age of 46 in a Providence hospital after a six week illness with bladder trouble.

 

 

Albert Hodges - Harry N. Pillsbury

Result: 1-0

Site: 1st City Chess Club Tmt, New York

Date: 1893.12.19

Ruy Lopez, Fianchetto Defense

[...] 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 g6 A defense with many names: Smyslov Defense, Fianchetto Defense, Barnes Defense or Pillsbury Defense. It's a quiet positional system that was played occasionally by Vasily Smyslov and Boris Spassky; it enjoyed brief popularity in the 1980s. 4.♗xc6 This line offers white little chance of gaining an advantage.

4.c3 was popular, but was abandoned when it was shown that 4.c3 a6 gives black a good game. Since then improvements for white have been discovered and white still does well. 4...a6 Against 4.c3 this remains black's best try. 5.♗a4 d6 6.d4 ♗d7 7.O-O ♗g7 and white best reply is now 8.Re1 which leaves him with slightly better chances.

4...dxc6 (4...bxc6 favors white after 5.d4 exd4 6.♕xd4 ♕f6 7.e5) 5.b3 ♗g7

5...c5 6.♗b2 f6 7.♕e2 ♘e7 8.c3 ♘c6 9.O-O ♗d6 Black has equalized. Bellin,R (2395)-Georgiev,K (2510)/Katerini 1992

6.♗b2 ♕e7 7.d3 c5 8.♘bd2 c6 9.♘c4 f6 10.O-O ♗e6 11.♘fd2 Now black has two moves worth considering: 11...Nh6 and 11...O-O-O (this might be considered a bit too risky). 11...g5 Instead, Pillsbury prepares a direct and violent P assault against white's K. 12.a4 h5 13.a5 ♗f8 A safety precaution against Ba3 14.♕e2 h4 15.f3 ♘h6 16.♘e3 ♘f7 17.♘dc4 Now, instead of his next move, Pillsbury might have eliminated white's N with ...Bxc4 and then maneuvered his own B to e6 via d8 thereby easing his defense. 17...♖h7 but he might have done better pressuring the P on c5 with moves like Ba3 and Qf2 18.♗c3 Hodges is angling for b3-b4 18...♘h8 19.♖ab1 ♘g6 20.b4 ♘f4 21.♕e1 ♕d7 22.♔h1 O-O-O Black pretty much has to play this in order to get the R into play. (22...♔f7 won't do because of 23.♗xe5) (22...♔e7 is met by 23.bxc5) 23.bxc5 ♗xc5 24.♗b4 ♗xb4 25.♕xb4 Hodges' plan has resulted in opening up lines on the Q-side, but now Pillsbury could have kept the chances even with 25...Qd4,. Instead he embarks on a rash K-side attack. 25...g4 with this move Black loses his initiative

25...♕d4 26.h3 This stops ...h3 26...♗xc4 27.♘xc4 ♘e2 28.♖fe1 ♘c3 29.♖b3 ♘b5 30.♖eb1 Black's K-side attack has disappeared, but at the same time he has adequate defensive resources against the attack on his own K.

26.fxg4 ♗xg4 After this the game is over.

26...♗xc4 offered better chances. 27.♕xc4 ♕d4 28.♕xd4 ♖xd4 with some chances of survival.

27.♕c5 ♔b8 28.a6 ♕e6 (28...b6 is refuted by 29.♘xb6 axb6 30.♖xb6+ ♔c8 31.♖b7) 29.♘a5 b6 30.♘xc6+

30.♖xb6+ was an even harder blow. 30...axb6 31.♕xb6+ ♔a8 32.♕xd8+ ♕c8 33.♕xf6

30...♔c7 (30...♔a8 was no better. 31.♘xd8 bxc5 32.♘xe6 ♗xe6 33.♖b5) 31.♘xd8+ ♔xd8 (31...bxc5 runs into 32.♘xe6+ ♗xe6 33.♖b7+) 32.♕f8+ ♔d7 33.♕b8 ♔c6 34.♖xb6+ axb6 35.a7 (35.♖b1 was also good. 35...♔c5 36.a7) 35...♖xa7 36.♕xa7 ♗e2 Stockfish sees a mate in 24! (36...♕c8 37.♖b1 ♕b7 38.♕xb7+ ♔xb7 39.♘xg4) 37.♖b1 ♔c5

37...b5 holds out longer. 38.♖a1 ♕c8 39.♘f5 ♕b7 40.♖a6+ ♕xa6 41.♕xa6+ ♔c7 42.♕d6+ ♔b7 43.♕c5 ♔a6 44.♘d6 ♗xd3 45.cxd3 h3 46.♕xb5+ ♔a7 47.♕b7#

38.♕c7+ Good enough.

38.♘f5 forces mate. 38...♘xd3 39.cxd3 ♗xd3 40.♕c7+ ♕c6 41.♕e7+ ♕d6 42.♕xd6+ ♔c4 43.♕b4#

38...♕c6 39.♕e7+ ♔d4 40.♘f5+ ♔c3 41.♕b4+ ♔xc2 42.♖b2+ Facing mate next move Pillsbury resigned.

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