Nothing New Under the Sun

  

     Pre-arranged results are nothing new. The fifth American Chess Congress (a double round event) was held in New York on January 6–26, 1880, and won by George H, Mackenzie after he beat James Grundy in a tiebreak match, 2–0. 

     The fight for first place turned out to be a close race and in the final round James Grundy was paired against Preston Ware. According to Ware he was walking down the street with Grundy who remarked to Ware that he was poor and really needed the second place prize money ($300, or over $9,000 in today’s currency). 

     Grundy added that when Ware beat him in their first game it had knocked him out of the running for first place ($550, or a little over $15,000 today). He also added that both Charles Mohle and Max Judd were well off. So, if Ware were to take it easy on Grundy it would assure him second prize and earn Ware $20 in bribe money...a little over $500 today). 

     The two agreed to play very slowly and to move back and forth to prolong the game until the other games were finished. The game was adjourned and was to be resumed later that evening after a meal break. At the meal Grundy told him that he (Grundy, who had plenty of time on his clock) would arrive late and Ware should go ahead and start his clock. 

     Then, instead of arriving late, Grundy arrived on time and when they began playing, Ware started shifting piece as per their agreement, but then he realized that Grundy was making a desperate effort to win, which he finally did and as a result he managed to tie for first. 

     The tournament book summed up the case by stating that Ware’s allegation, which implicated himself as an accomplice in the crime “in the undignified transaction” were opposed by a firm denial on Grundy’s part. The tournament book concluded that the case became a question of veracity between two individuals, one of whom freely admitted his guilt while the other pronounced the story as a complete fabrication. In the absence of any corroborative testimony the tournament committee could not impose any penalty upon either player. My guess is that Ware didn’t get his $20 either. 

 

     In any case, even though the game was riddled with mistakes it was quire interesting. Take a look... 

[Event "5th American Congress, New York"] [Site "Manhattan, New York USA"] [Date "1880.01.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Preston Ware"] [Black "James Grundy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "128"] [EventDate "1880.01.06"] {QP Opening} 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Nc6 3. e3 a6 4. h3 Nf6 5. Nc3 {The opening is similar to an irregular Torre Attack} Bf5 6. Bd3 Bg6 7. a3 Qd7 8. Nf3 Ne4 9. Bf4 (9. Bxe4 Bxe4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Nd2 f5 {White has not accomplished much owing to the exchange of minor pieces.}) 9... f6 {This is a bist risky. Simply 9...Nxc3 was good.} 10. Bxe4 dxe4 {Taking with the B was better.} 11. Nd2 f5 { Unlike in the previous note this is now quite bad because white has sufficient minor pieces to actually work uip an attack against black's weakened K-side.} ( 11... e6 12. Ndxe4 O-O-O 13. Qe2 e5 {Black is a P down, but at least he has some play.}) 12. d5 Nd8 13. Nc4 Nf7 14. Qe2 h6 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bf7 17. Rd1 c6 18. dxc6 (18. f3 {This attacks the weakened P-chain and keeps the advantage.} cxd5 19. fxe4 fxe4 20. O-O e6 21. Nxe4 {with an excellent position. }) 18... Qxc6 19. O-O {Oddly enough, as bad as black's position looks he actually has sufficient play that the position can be considered equal.} Rg8 ( 19... Bc4 {leads to interesting play after} 20. Qh5+ g6 21. Qh4 Bxf1 (21... Rg8 22. Rfe1 g5 23. Qh5+ Bf7 24. Qe2 Rc8) 22. Bxh8 Bc4) 20. Qd2 {Now come maneuvering to kill time as per their agreement.} e6 21. Qe2 Qc5 22. Qd2 Qc6 23. Qe2 Be7 24. Rd2 Qc5 25. Bg3 g5 26. Rfd1 {White's position is the more promising. Black should bow offer to exchange Rs with 26...Rd8} e5 {This is too loosening especially with his K in the center.} 27. Nd5 f4 {Grundy clearly has some ideas about attacking...the correct decision because white stands very well.} 28. b4 {Not the best; it loses most of his advantage.} (28. exf4 exf4 29. Qxe4 Bxd5 (29... fxg3 {results in disater.} 30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Nd7+) 30. Rxd5 Qc6 31. Bh2 Qg6 32. Qe2 Kf8 33. Rd7 {White is much better.}) 28... Qc6 $16 29. Bh2 Rd8 30. c4 Bg6 31. c5 (31. exf4 {is not as good because complications arise and black gets good play after} gxf4 32. c5 e3 33. fxe3 Be4 34. Nxe7 Rxd2 35. Qh5+ Kxe7 36. Rxd2 Rg5) 31... h5 {This results in white gaining what should have been a decisive advantage.} (31... Bf7 {keeps white's advantage to a level had is far from decisive.} 32. Nxe7 Kxe7 33. Rd6 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Qe8 35. Rxh6 Qd7 36. Rd6 Qf5) 32. Nxe7 Kxe7 33. Rd6 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Qc8 35. Qb2 Qf5 36. Qd2 {A passive move that allows black to equalize.} (36. b5 {keeps up the pressure.} axb5 37. Qxb5 Qc8 38. Qb3 Bf7 39. Qc3 {leaves black struggling.}) 36... Be8 (36... Bf7 {was much better. For example...} 37. Rb6 Qd7 (37... Rb8 38. Qd6+) 38. Qxd7+ Kxd7 39. Rxb7+) 37. Qc3 (37. Qd5 {was the winner.} Kf8 38. Qxb7 g4 39. Qxa6 {The threat is obviously Rg6+ Black has no good move.}) 37... Bc6 38. Qd2 g4 39. exf4 {[%mdl 8192] White's passive play has allowed black to equalize, but this move, opening up hus K's position, is a serious mistake. 39. b6 was good.} gxh3 {Black counters his opponent's last move by missing the winning line.} (39... e3 40. Qd1 (40. fxe3 gxh3 41. g3 Qb1+ 42. Qd1 Qe4 43. Kf2 Qg2+ 44. Ke1 Qxh2 {and wins.}) 40... gxh3 41. Bg3 Qg4 42. Rd3 Qxd1+ 43. Rxd1 exf4 44. Bh4+ Kf7 45. g3 exf2+ 46. Kxf2 h2 {wins}) 40. Bg3 exf4 41. Bh4+ Kf7 { [%mdl 8192]} (41... Kf8 {and black has nothing to worry.} 42. Qd4 (42. Rf6+ { would be a serious mistake!} Qxf6 43. Bxf6 Rxg2+ 44. Kh1 e3 45. Qd8+ Kf7 46. Qc7+ Kg6 47. f3 Bxf3 48. Qxf4 Bc6 49. Qb8 Rd2+ 50. Kg1 h2+ 51. Qxh2 Rd1#) 42... Rxg2+ 43. Kh1 e3 44. Rf6+ Qxf6 45. Qxf6+ {The position of white's Q and B make all the difference. Compare this position to the one after white wins the Q in the sub-variation (43.Bxf6).} Kg8 46. Qe6+ {draws} (46. Qd8+ Kh7 47. Qd3+ Kh6 48. Qd6+ Rg6+) 46... Kh7 47. Qf5+ Kg8 (47... Rg6+ 48. Kh2 {white wins}) 48. Qe6+ {etc.}) 42. g3 {[%mdl 8192] This is a horrible move!} (42. Qa2+ {was the only winning move.} Kf8 43. Rd8+ Be8 44. Rxe8+ Kxe8 45. Qxg8+ Kd7 46. Qd8+ Ke6 47. gxh3 Qg6+ 48. Kh2 {White has a won ending.}) 42... e3 {This looks good, but it misses the win.} (42... fxg3 43. fxg3 Rg6 44. Rxg6 Qxg6 45. Qf2+ Kg7 { with a won ending.}) 43. Qa2+ Kg7 44. fxe3 {[%mdl 8192] A gross blunder.} (44. Bf6+ {forces black to surrender his Q, but he gets sufficient compensation for it.} Qxf6 (44... Kf8 45. Rd8+ Be8 46. Rxe8+ Kxe8 47. Qxg8+ Kd7 48. Qd8+ { wins...just one example...} Kc6 49. Qb6+ Kd5 (49... Kd7 50. Qd6+ {mste next move.}) 50. Qd6+ Kc4 51. fxe3 Qb1+ (51... fxe3 52. Qf4+) 52. Kh2 fxg3+ 53. Kxh3 Qf1+ 54. Kxg3 {and wins.}) 45. Rxf6 Kxf6 46. Qxg8 exf2+ 47. Kxf2) 44... fxg3 45. Bxg3 Kh7 (45... h4 {was even better.} 46. Bf4 Kh7+) 46. Rh6+ Kg7 47. Qe6 Qxe6 48. Rxe6 Kf7 49. Rxc6 bxc6 {[%mdl 4096] The ending is won for black and he plays the remainder of the game in a decent fashion.} 50. Kh2 Kg6 51. e4 Kg5 52. Kxh3 Rf8 53. a4 Rf3 54. Kg2 Kg4 55. Bd6 Rb3 56. b5 axb5 57. axb5 Rxb5 58. e5 Rb2+ 59. Kh1 Re2 60. Kg1 h4 61. Kf1 Kf3 62. Kg1 h3 63. Kh1 Kg4 64. Kg1 h2+ { Ware resigned} (64... h2+ 65. Kf1 Rb2 {mate next move.}) 0-1

Attacking the Fianchettoed King

     Friday afternoon was warm and sunny. However, during the hour and a half drive to see my favorite high school lose their championship football game in the closing minutes it clouded up. Add to that the fact that we sat through the game in a chilly, misty rain and it was not really a fun trip. We have not seen the sun since Friday afternnon although I am sure it’s shining...it’s just obscured by thick dark clouds that have drizzled rain off and on for the last three days. A good day to blag! 

     Today we’ll be taking a look at a typicle attack against a fianchettoed King’s position. In the game C.H.O’D. Alexander (1909-1974) launches an instructive attack against Ludek Pachman’s fianchettoed King. 

     The Irish born Alexander was famous for having been a cryptanalyst at Bletchley Park during World War II and after the war he was the head of the cryptanalysis division at the Government Communications Headquarters for 25 years. An IM of GM strength, Alexander won the British Championship twice: in 1938 and 1956. He played for England n the Chess Olympiad six times: 1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1954 and 1958. 

     He was also awarded the Correspondence IM title in 1970. He was a chess author and columnist for The Sunday Times in the 1960s and 1970s. 

     Alexander’s opportunities to play outside of England after the war were limited because he was not allowed to play in the Soviet bloc because of his secret work in cryptography. 

     Chessmetrics estimates his highest ever rating to have been in 1955 when his estimated rating was 2610 placing him at number 53 in the world. 

     Czech, later West German, GM Ludek Pachman (1924-2003) was a chess writer and author who became a political activist. 

     In 1972, after being imprisoned and tortured almost to death by the Communist in Czechoslovakia, he was allowed to emigrate to West Germany where he remained for the rest of his like. Chess metrics estimates his highest ever rating to have been 2695 in 1959 placing him number 15 in the world. 

 

 

     When the King is castled behind a fianchettoed formation it has both good and bad points. On the good side there is the ability to resist an attack along the b1-hg7 (or the b8-h2) diagonal, plus the squares f6 and h6 (or (f3 and h3) are guarded by the B. Additionally, the Bishop is not exposed to attack and it can also perform a function on the long diagonal. Also, if the h-file is open the Bishop guards against a possible mate on h8 (or h1). 

     On the other hand, the presence of the g-Pawn on g6 (or g3) makes it easier for the attacker to open the h-file by the advance of his h-Pawn. Also, as Alexander shows here, if the fianchettoed Bishop gets eliminated the entire castled position is seriously weakened. 

[Event "Hilversum Zonal"] [Site "Hilversum NED"] [Date "1947.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "C.H.O'D. Alexander"] [Black "Ludek Pachman"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C97"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "1947.??.??"] {C98: Ruy Lopez: Chigorin Defense} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {[%mdl 32]} a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. d5 Bc8 14. Nf1 Re8 {All book so far.} 15. Kh2 (15. a4 Bd7 16. Ne3 c4 17. g4 g6 18. Nf1 Bf8 19. Ra3 Nb7 20. Bg5 Bg7 {equals. Bulski,K (2389)-Gumula,D (2341) Barlinek 2006}) (15. g4 Kh8 16. Ng3 Nb7 17. Kh1 Bf8 18. Rg1 {White has a strong attack in the mkaing. Averbakh,Y-Zagoriansky,E Moscow 1949}) 15... g6 16. Ne3 Bf8 17. g4 {Aggressive play...typical of Alexander's style.} Bg7 18. Rg1 Kh8 {Safety first. Another plan was 18...c4 then maneuver the N via b7 to c5.} 19. Ng5 Rf8 {This overprotects the f-Pawn, but a more aggressive defense was 19...Bh6} (19... Bh6 20. h4 Nc4 (20... Bxg5 21. hxg5 Ng8 22. Rh1 {and black is in danger on the h-file.}) 21. Nxc4 bxc4 22. Qe2 Qe7 { White is better, but blacks defensive chances have improved.}) 20. h4 Ng8 { Black's K's position is quite congested after this so he still should have tried 20...Nc4} 21. Qe2 Bd7 {It wasn't too late for ...Nc4 either here or on his next move.} 22. Bd2 Ne7 {The position is now ripe for white's final assault.} 23. Nf5 {A typical sacrifice in these types of positions. On f5 the N attacks g7 and h6 and, at the same time, threatens to eliminating the fianchettoed B. If black doesn't accept the sacrifice white gets a very strong attack.} gxf5 {[%mdl 8192] A horrible, and surprising, decision by Pachman who even at the age of 22 was certainly strong enough to have known that this leads to a lost position.} (23... f6 {offers a much tougher defense.} 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 {forces the N to retreat and now after} 25. Nh3 h6 26. b3 {This in-between move prevents black for getting counterplay with the previously mentioned ...Nc4} g5 {The idea is to clog up the K0side and if the h-file becomes opened black can oppose Rs on it. White is better here, but he is a long way from winning.}) 24. gxf5 {...and wins might be added here.} f6 { There was nothing better.} 25. Nxh7 {[%mdl 512] A necessary followup.} (25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. fxe6 Nc4 {White's advantage is only marginally better.}) 25... Be8 { The only defense as the Q must not be allowed to reach h5.} (25... Kxh7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rxg7+ Kxg7 28. Rg1+ Ng6 29. Qxg6+ Kh8 30. Qh6#) 26. Rxg7 {[%mdl 512] The fianchettoed B is removed. He could probably win bt takiung the R, but it would be much less clear.} Kxg7 (26... Rg8 {is no better.} 27. Nxf6 Rxg7 28. Nxe8 Rxe8 29. Qh5+ Rh7 30. Qxe8+ Ng8 31. Bg5 {Black's position is hopeless. }) 27. Nxf8 Kxf8 28. Bh6+ {White's position is overwhelming and black can offer only tokes resistance.} Kf7 29. Qh5+ Ng6 30. fxg6+ Kg8 31. Qf5 {White wants to mate with Qe6+.} Qe7 32. Rg1 Nc4 {It's way too late for this to be effective!} 33. Bc1 Bd7 34. Qf3 Rf8 35. b3 Nb6 36. h5 f5 37. Bg5 fxe4 38. Qe2 ( 38. Qxe4 {wins but offers black some spite checks, but it's easier for white if he just avoids them.} Rxf2+ 39. Kg3 Qxg5+ 40. Kxf2 Qd2+ 41. Kf3) 38... Qe8 39. Bxe4 Bf5 40. Bh6 Rf6 {This move may have been played at the end of the time control. It loses a piece...not that it matters.} (40... Nd7 41. Bxf8 Qxf8 42. g7 Qf6 43. Bxf5 Qxf5 44. Qg4 {wins easily.}) 41. Qf3 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.33/Black=0.76} (41. Qf3 Nd7 (41... Bxe4 42. Qxf6 Qe7 43. Qxe7 {mate next move.}) 42. Bxf5 {Whire has won a piece.}) 1-0

And, the Winner Is...Joel Fridlizius

     Do people still buy chess books and play through the games using a board and pieces? Or, do they do everything electronically? It’s been years since I have actually fondled chess pieces...in fact, I no longer own a chess set. 

     My old laptop has the ancient Master Chess 8000 on it. The program was distributed by Chess4Less which is owned and operated by an old friend, Paul Azzurro. Also on my laptop are ChessOK Aquarium 2014, Aquarium 2020, Chess Assistant, ChessBase 16, Fritz 12 and my “go to” program Fritz 17. 

     Most of my chess books were either given away or destroyed when our house flooded. One book that remains is Al Horowitz’ Golden Treasury of Chess that was first published in 1943. I no longer have the original edition, but the one that was reprinted in 1971. It has 322 games in descriptive notation up to 1966. The games themselves have a brief and glowing introduction describing how delightful the games is. A lot of the games won’t be found elsewhere...many of them are long forgotten gems that are just fun to play over. 

     The book has an interesting history that was given by chess historian Edward Winter in an article titled The Horowitz-Wellmuth Affair. 

     Let’s take a look at a game chosen more or less at random...Joel Fridlizius vs. Alexander Alekhine (the loser!) from the tournament Stockholm 1912; the game won the brilliancy prize. Stockholm 1912 was Alekhine's first victory in an international tournament. 

 

 

     Joel Fridlizius (December 3, 1869 – January 6, 1963) was a Swedish master and a correspondence player. He won the first correspondence tournament in Sweden that was played from1897 to 1900. He then won the 1st Nordic correspondence tournament (1900-1902). 

     Fridlizius' best OTB resulte was second place at the 3rd Nordic Championship in Gothenburg 1901. Fridlizius was editor of the chess column in the newspaper Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfarts-Tidning. In later years he lived in Skara, Sweden, a town of about 18,500 inhabitants that is located about 220 miles west of Stockholm. He won the club championship there in 1954 at the age of 85.

 

[Event "Stockholm"] [Site "Stockholm SWE"] [Date "1912.06.27"] [Round "3"] [White "Joel Fridlizius"] [Black "Alexander Alekhine"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "1912.05.26"] {C77: Ruy Lopez} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. O-O b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. d3 Bg4 9. Be3 {This is the standard move, but engines prefer 9.h3} (9. h3 Be6 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 Bxd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 {Draw agreed. Mamedov,N (2405)-Mamedyarov,S (2503) Oropesa del Mar ESP 2001}) (9. Bg5 Nd4 10. Nd5 c6 11. Ne3 Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 {Black is better. Klundt,K (2325)-Gergel,V (2202) Katerini GRE 2014}) 9... Nd4 $11 10. Bxd4 Bxd4 11. h3 {Black should now play 11...Bx3 or first 11...Bxc3 or even 11...Bh5 is OK. Instead, Alekhine bluffs his opponent with an unsound B offer.} h5 12. Qe2 (12. hxg4 {wins as blacj really has no good way of following up the sacrifice.} hxg4 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Ne2 Nd7 {to open a line for the Q.} 15. Ng3 Qh4 16. Re1 Ne5 17. c3 dxc3 18. bxc3 O-O-O 19. d4 Ng6 20. Qd2 {Black has no attack.}) 12... Nd7 {Strange...now if the B is taken white has no advantage anbd the chances would be equal!} 13. Nd1 (13. hxg4 hxg4 14. Nxd4 Qh4 {mates as follows...} 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. f4 g3 17. fxe5+ Kg8 18. Rf8+ Rxf8 19. Qh5 Qxh5 {20.any Qh1$}) (13. a4 {is quite satisfactory because after} Rb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. hxg4 {Also good is 15.Nd5} hxg4 16. g3 {He can't allow ...Qh4} Bxc3 17. bxc3 gxf3 18. Qxf3 {the game is completely even.}) 13... Nf8 (13... Qf6 {After this white should avoid taking the B.} 14. hxg4 (14. c3 Bb6 15. Bd5 Rb8 16. Bc6 {with equak chances}) 14... hxg4 15. Re1 gxf3 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 {Black is better,}) 14. c3 (14. hxg4 { leads to more than equality after} hxg4 15. g3 gxf3 16. Qxf3) 14... Ba7 15. Ne3 {This is better than taking the B which was possible, but it would lead to no more thanb equal chances. After the text white gains the advantage.} (15. hxg4 $6 hxg4 16. g3 gxf3 17. Qxf3) 15... Bd7 {the either had to reteat of capture on f3.} 16. d4 {Fridlizius' restraint in not taking the B has lead to his gaining the initiative thanks to Alekhine's loss of time with his Bs having been driven back.} Ng6 17. Qd2 (17. Rad1 {was a bit more precise.} exd4 18. Nxd4 Kf8 (18... Qg5 19. Nd5 Rc8 20. e5 {and white should win.}) 19. Kh1 Bxd4 20. cxd4 Nf4 21. Qf3 Qh4 22. e5 Rd8 23. Rc1 {with a clear advantage.}) 17... Bc6 18. Nd5 Rc8 19. Rad1 O-O 20. Kh2 (20. dxe5 {was even better.} Nxe5 21. Qf4 Nxf3+ 22. gxf3 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 {with a dangerous attack.}) 20... Bb7 21. Rg1 { The indicates the point of white's last move...he wants to play g4, but the plan is not feasible.} (21. dxe5 {offered better chances. Even then, black can still defend quite strongly.} dxe5 22. Qc1 c5 23. c4 (23. Nf4 Qb6 24. Nd5 Qd8) 23... Bb8 24. g3) 21... c6 22. Ne3 {[%mdl 32]} Qf6 23. Nf5 d5 {At this point, thanks to a few not quite precise moves by Fridlizius, Alekhine has managed to achieve equality.} 24. Ng3 h4 25. Nh5 Qd6 26. Qg5 exd4+ 27. e5 Qe6 {But this moves allows white the opportunity to set up a very strong attack.} (27... Qd8 {offering the exchange of Qs blunts the force of white;s attack and keeps the chances equal.} 28. Qxd8 Rfxd8 29. cxd4 c5 {is equal.}) (27... Qd8 28. Qf5 { Avoiding the exchange if Qs also allows black to solidify his position as follows...} d3 29. Qxd3 Qc7 30. Bc2 Rce8 {and black;s defense will hold.}) 28. cxd4 c5 {Again, offering to trade Qs (28...Qe7) would have been a little better.} 29. Nxh4 cxd4 (29... Qe7 {runs into} 30. Nf6+ gxf6 31. exf6 Qd6+ 32. g3 Rc6 33. Nxg6 {and wins because black cannot play} fxg6 34. Qxg6+ Kh8 35. Qg7#) 30. Rge1 Bb8 (30... Qe7 {loses to} 31. Nf6+ {Again.} gxf6 32. exf6 { as in the previous note...}) 31. f4 Qe7 {Guess what's coming.} 32. Nf6+ { [%mdl 512] Not unpredictable, but still beautiful.} gxf6 33. exf6 Bxf4+ 34. Qxf4 Qxe1 $2 35. Nxg6 Qe4 36. Ne7+ {White mates in 8 moves at most.} Kh8 37. Rxd4 Qh7 (37... Qxf4+ {leads to a pretty mate.} 38. Rxf4 Rc4 39. Bxc4 dxc4 40. Rh4#) 38. Qh4 Rc4 39. Bxc4 dxc4 40. Qxh7+ Kxh7 41. Rh4# {A memorable performance by Ffidlizius!} 1-0

Harold Morton

     Harold Morton (January 10, 1906 - February 17, 1940, 34 years old) was a strong from Providence, Rhode Island. 

     Even though he was a strong payer, Morton had dismal performances in the two US Championships in which he participated. In the first modern 1936 championship which marked Frank Marshall’s retirement Morton finished last with a +1 -10 =4 score. His result in the 1938 championship was a bit better; he scored +3 -9 =4 and finished next to last. 

     I. A. Horowitz and Morton frequently traveled together giving tandem simultaneous exhibitions in which they would alternate making moves. On February 17, 1940 while enroute to Minneapolis, Minnesota after touring in the south and west, they were involved in a car accident on highway 30 about seven miles west of Carroll, Iowa when the car apparently skidded on a curve and collided with a van driven by Frank S. Robbins of Denver, Colorado. 

 

 

     Robbins was uninjured. Morton, who was driving, was thrown from the car and killed outright. He had the dubious distinction of being the county’s first traffic fatality of the year. 

     Horowitz was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital in Carroll where he was able to give his name. He had, among other injuries, a skull fracture and he was initially not expected to recover.. He was hospitalized for some time and during his stay in the hospital his brother, Irving, went to Iowa to be with him. The US Championship was held in April in 1940, but Horowitz still had not recovered sufficiently to play in it. 

     Morton’s opponent in the following game was Augustus N, Towsen (1905-1991, 85 years old). He was champion of Central Pennsylvania in 1930. He was a medical technician in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), almost forty thousand men and women from fifty-two countries, including 2,800 Americans, volunteered to travel to Spain and join the International Brigades to help fight fascism. The US volunteers served in various units and came to be known collectively as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. 

     Towsen was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and attended Albright College and possibly Millerville University in the summer of 1927. He received passport on May 17, 1937 which listed his address as 264 North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. On May 19, 1937 he sailed aboard the Normandie and arrived in Spain on May 29, 1937 and began serving with Medical Services. He returned to the US on August 14, 1938. 

     After WWII he served as an urban renewal activist. Urban renewal was a nationwide program in which the Federal government cities in the 1950s and '60s. The federal government gave cities billions of dollars to tear down blighted areas and replace them with affordable housing. At least, that's what was supposed to happen. Towsen died in Spalding, Georgia. 

 

[Event "ACF Congress. Prelim A, Milwaukee"] [Site "Milwaukee, WI USA"] [Date "1935.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Augustus Towsen"] [Black "Harold Morton"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D95"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "1935.??.??"] {Gruenfeld Defense} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Qb3 c6 7. Bd3 b6 {Both 7...e6 and 7...dxc4 can be considered the main lines.} 8. cxd5 (8. O-O Be6 9. Bd2 h6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rfc1 {White stands well. Cvek,R (2517) -Walek,M (2350) Czechia 2010}) 8... cxd5 9. Bd2 Bb7 10. Rc1 Ne4 11. Rc2 { Castling was to be preferred. Oddly enough white never doubles Rs on the c-file. And, eventually this R on c2 will be a problem for white.} e6 (11... e5 {Grabs the initiative. After} 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 {This is perfectly safe because white's K-side attacking prospects are zero.} 13. Bxe4 (13. dxe5 Nc5 {Black wins heavy plastic.}) 13... dxe4 14. dxe5 Nd7 15. O-O Nxe5 {Black can claim a slight advantage.}) 12. Ke2 {[%mdl 8192] This strange move leaves his K vulnerable even though it is not yet apparent exactly how.} (12. O-O Nc6 13. Rfc1 {with a perfectly even position.}) 12... Nc6 13. a3 e5 {[%mdl 32]} 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 Na5 16. Qd3 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 f5 18. Qh4 e4 19. Ng5 {This loses the N!} (19. Qxd8 {is the only way for white to try and stay in the game.} exf3+ 20. Kxf3 Raxd8 21. Bxa5 bxa5 22. Rhc1 f4 {Black is clearly better.}) 19... h6 20. f4 hxg5 21. fxg5 Rc8 22. Bc3 (22. Rhc1 {would have hels out longer, but he would still be lost.} Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Qd7 24. Bxa5 bxa5 25. Qf4 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Qxc8 27. Kd2 Qa6 28. Qb8+ Bf8 29. Qb3+ Kg7 30. d5 a4 31. Qc3+ Kh7 32. Qd4 Bg7 33. Qc5 Qd3+) 22... Qd5 {Notice how vulnerable the R on c2 is.} 23. Qf2 (23. Qf4 {prevents black's next move, but after} Qa2 24. Rd2 (24. Rhc1 Nb3 25. Rd1 Rxc3 {wins easily.}) 24... Nb3 25. Rhd1 Nxd2 {with an easy win.}) 23... f4 24. exf4 Bxd4 (24... Nb3 {was also good...} 25. Rd1 e3 26. Qf3 Qf5) 25. Qg3 (25. Qxd4 Qxd4 26. Bxd4 Rxc2+ {That vulnerable R again.}) 25... Qb5+ {[%emt 0: 00:33] White resigned.} (25... Qb5+ 26. Kd2 Bxc3+ 27. bxc3 Nb3+ 28. Ke1 Nc5 29. Qe3 (29. Rd2 e3 30. Rd1 Nd3+) 29... Nd3+ 30. Kd2 Rxf4 {and black's pieces are swarming all over white.}) 0-1

Russell Chauvenet

  

     Besides being an Expert chess player Louis Russell Chauvenet (February 12, 1920 – June 24, 2003) was one of the founders of science fiction fandom. 

     He was the US Amateur Champion in 1959, as well as state champion for Virginia in 1942 through 1948 and for Maryland in 1963, 1969 and 1976. He also wrote columns for Chess Life. When he won the title in 1963, his son also took the state's Junior title.

     In 1991, Chauvenet won the National Deaf Championship in Austin, Texas. In 1992, at Edinburgh, Scotland, the International Committee of Silent Chess awarded him its Grandmaster title. 

     Chauvenet represented the US at the World Individual Deaf Championship four times: (1980, 1984 where he won the Silver medal, 1988 where he won the Silver medal and 1992. In addition, he also won three US National Tournaments of the Deaf: 1980, 1983 and 1987. 

     Besides chess, Chauvenet was an award winning runner. After his retirement, he resumed his college running career with the Montgomery County (Maryland) track club. He was honored in the Washington D.C. area and recognized as a "1,000K Man" when he completed his 100th 10K race (all between the ages of 62-75). 

     He was the founder of Boston's The Stranger Club, a science fiction club active during the 1940s. He also co-founded the National Fantasy Fan Federation. 

     It was Chauvenet who coined the terns “fanzine” (in 1940) and “prozine, a term for professionally published magazines containing science fiction stories.

     Chauvenet was also a sailor and even built his own Windmill class sailboat and participated in regattas. The Windmill is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of plywood or fiberglass in the form of a double hull with a foam core, resulting in an unsinkable boat. In addition to other positions he served as editor of the Windmill Class Association newsletter. 

     Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he became completely deaf in 1930 at age 10 after suffering cerebro-spinal meningitis. He attended a special school for the deaf before graduating from Belmont Hill Preparatory School in Belmont, Massachusetts and then went on to Harvard, Boston College and the University of Virginia, receiving a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1943 and a Master of Science in chemistry in 1948. 

     From 1943-1946 he was employed by the Calco Chemical Company in New Jersey, after which he worked with computers as a civilian employee of the US Department of Defense from 1948 until his retirement.

     In the following game he defeated Walter Suesman (1918-1984) who once played in the US Championship in 1938; he finished last (17 players) with a +1 -13 =2. He defeated Isaac Kashdan (!) and drew with George Treysman and George Shainswit. Reshevsky won the tournament a half point ahead of Fine. Suesman, a solid Master, won the 1960 Rhode Island state championship. 

[Event "Ventnor City"] [Site "Ventnor City, NJ USA"] [Date "1942.06.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Walter B. Suesman"] [Black "L. Russel Chauvenet"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D10"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "1942.??.??"] {D12: Slav Defense} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Qb3 Qc7 7. Bd2 b6 {An inferior continuation. Correct is 7...Nbd7} 8. Rc1 {The threat is 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nxd5 sso now the Q has to move to an ineffective square.} Qb7 9. Qa4 {Rather pointless. Simply 9.Nh4 gaining the two Bs was satisfactory.} Bd6 10. Be2 {Here or next move he should still try Nh4} O-O 11. O-O a6 12. Ne5 dxc4 {This should worj out to be in white's favor.} (12... b5 13. Qb3 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Nfd7 15. cxd5 cxd5 {keeps things even.}) 13. Nxc4 $16 Bc7 14. Qb3 Nbd7 { White now has the more active position.} 15. f4 (15. Na5 {Interestiong, but tricky!} Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2 Qc7+ 17. Kg1 bxa5 {White should be OK because of all black's weak Ps.}) 15... b5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 {Taking with B was a little more precise because his Ns would do better in the closed position.} 17. fxe5 { By capturing with the f-Pawn white hopes to use the open f-file to cocnduct a K-side attack.} Ne4 18. Be1 {Too passive.} (18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 {and there doesn't seem to be any way for white to take advantage of black's backward c-Pawn.} a5 21. Qe4 Ra6 22. Rc5 Rc8 23. Rfc1 Bd8) 18... Bb6 19. Bf3 { After this the position is only equal, so white should have played 19.Nxe4 and he would have had slightly the better of it.} (19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bb4 Rfd8 21. Bd3 c5 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Bxe4 Qxe4 24. Rf4 Qb7 {and either way white takes on c5 he has a very slight advantage.}) 19... Ng5 20. Be2 c5 {[%mdl 32] Black commences his counterplay.} 21. Bh4 {He simply cannot afford to ignore blak's Q-side activity.} (21. dxc5 {and white has nothing to worry about.} Bxc5 22. Nxb5 Qb6 (22... axb5 23. Rxc5 {and white has the advantage.}) 23. Nd4 Bxd4 24. exd4 Qxd4+ 25. Bf2 Qxe5 {with an equal position.}) 21... Ne4 (21... cxd4 { This takes advantage of white's slip.} 22. exd4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh1 Be4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. Bxg5 Qxe2 26. Be7 (26. Rfe1 Qxb2 27. Qxb2 Bxb2 {with a won ending.}) 26... Rfc8 {Black has a active and theefore promising position.}) 22. Nxe4 Qxe4 23. Rf4 {After this white quickly finds himself in hot water.} (23. dxc5 { Neutralizes black's Q-side play and after} Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Qxh4 {neither side can demonstrate an advantage.} 25. Qc3) 23... c4 {Of course the Q cannot retreat.} (23... Qb7 24. Bf3 Qa7 25. Bxa8) 24. Qc3 (24. Rxe4 cxb3 25. Rf4 bxa2 26. Ra1 Bb1 {is not at all good for white.}) 24... Ba5 {[%mdl 512] A well played followup to his last move as his Q still cannot retreat.} 25. Rxe4 Bxc3 26. Rxc3 Bxe4 27. Bf3 {Trading off his good B only makes things worse, but in the long run black would still be winning after, say, 27.Be7} Bxf3 28. gxf3 { [%mdl 4096]} Ra7 {White's mass of center Ps will prove no match for the exchange.} 29. Kf2 Rc8 30. e4 b4 31. Rc2 Rac7 32. d5 Rd7 33. d6 f6 {Excellent! Black undermines white’s P’s and makes inroads for his R’s.} 34. Bg3 (34. exf6 gxf6 35. Bxf6 Rxd6 {and black is in full control.}) 34... Rc5 35. f4 Kf7 36. Ke3 c3 37. bxc3 $2 (37. Kd4 {is also insufficient, but it would hold out longer.} Rc8 38. bxc3 Rxc3 39. Rxc3 bxc3 40. Kxc3 fxe5 41. fxe5 Rb7 {wins the endin. For example...} 42. Bf4 Rb1 43. Bg5 Ke8 44. h4 Ra1 45. Kb3 Kd7 46. Be7 Re1 47. Kb4 Rxe4+ 48. Ka5 Kc6 49. a3 Re3 50. d7 Kxd7 51. Bf8 Kc6 52. Kxa6 g6 53. Ka5 Rxe5+ 54. Kb4 Re4+ 55. Kb3 Rxh4) 37... Rxc3+ 38. Rxc3 bxc3 39. Kd3 Rb7 40. Kxc3 {This position is very similar to the one reached after move 40 in the the note to move 37.} Ke8 41. Kc4 {White resigned. His resignation is possibly a little premature, but in the long run his position is lost.} (41. Kc4 fxe5 42. f5 {As has been seen, fxe5 leads nowhere.} exf5 43. exf5 Kd7 44. Bxe5 Rb5 45. Kd4 g6 46. fxg6 hxg6 47. Bg3 Ra5 {Black wins. One example...} 48. Kc4 Rxa2 49. Kb3 Rg2 50. Be5 Re2 51. Bf4 Rf2 52. Be5 Rf5 53. Bd4 {White cannot allow the sacrifice of th exchange because the K+P ending is lost.} (53. Bg3 Rf3+ 54. Ka4 Rxg3 55. hxg3 Kxd6) 53... Rh5 54. Bg1 Kxd6 55. Kb4 Rh4+ 56. Kb3 ( 56. Ka5 Kc6 57. Ba7 (57. Kxa6 Ra4#) 57... Rxh2) 56... Kc6 57. Ka3 g5 58. Kb3 g4 59. Kc3 Kd5 60. Kb3 Ke4 61. Kb4 Rh5 62. Kb3 Kf3 63. Ba7 Rxh2 {and wins}) 0-1

Dentist to the (Chess) Stars

     Here is an interesting article by Howard Langer about his grandfather Dr. Samuel Greenberg, a New York dentist, that appeared in Tablet Magazine, a conservative online magazine focused on Jewish news and culture. Read article...

     There seems to be very little information available about Dr. Greenberg, but I did find the following game played in 1962 in the Manhattan Chess Club Championship Preliminaries that he lost against William Goichberg. It features a pleasing mating attack by Goichberg. 

     Dr. Greenberg’s name appeared in the USCF’s 1964 rating list...it was Class A (Elo 1905). National Master Bill Goichberg (born November 11, 1942) is a tournament organizer and director. He founded the Continental Chess Association which runs the annual World Open and other large tournaments. He is also a former president of the United States Chess Federation.

[Event "Manhattan CC Prelims, New York"] [Site "?"] [Date "1962.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "William Goichberg"] [Black "Dr. Samuel Greenberg"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D46"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2023.10.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.10.24"] {D46: Semi-Slav} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 {In the Semi-Slav black's Ps sre a mixture of the Orthodox Q-Gambit (...e6) and the Slav (...c6). Black is threatening to capture the c-Pawn and hold it with ...b7–b5. White can avoid this in a number of ways.} 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 { Aggressive and somewhat risky. Solid is 8.Qc2} dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bc2 g6 {This weakens the K's position. He should play 11...h6 or even 11... c5} 12. Bg5 (12. b3 {is also good.} Qc7 13. Bb2 Rd8 14. Qe2 Nh5 15. Rad1 { and white went on to win in a handful of moves in Duong,T (2415)-Hj,S (2339) Bandar Seri Begawan BRU 2010}) 12... Be7 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Rad1 Bd7 {This turns out to be too passive. For what it was worth he should have tried 14...b5} ( 14... b5 15. c5 Nd5 16. Bh6 Rd8 17. h4 {with a promising attack.}) 15. a3 Nh5 { This leads to a lost position...immediately! He should still have tried ...b5} 16. Bh6 {White must have blitzed this one out otherwise he would have simply played 16.Bxe7} Ng7 17. Rfe1 Bf6 18. Ne5 Rfe8 19. Qf3 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Nf5 21. Bg5 c5 22. g4 {This turns out to be a key move!} Ng7 (22... Nd4 {puts up a bit of a fight. For example...} 23. Qf6 Qd8 24. Qxd8 Rexd8 25. Bxd8 Nxc2 26. Rxd7 Nxe1 27. Bf6 {and white should win the ending.}) 23. Bf6 {Mate is on the horizon.} h6 24. Qh3 Kh7 25. Re3 {Moving in for the kill.} Rh8 {This allows a nifty finish, but he was lost anyway.} 26. Qxh6+ {[%mdl 512]} Kxh6 27. Rh3+ Nh5 28. Rxh5+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} gxh5 29. g5# {His 22nd move paid off!} 1-0

Kashdan Conjures Up an Attack

     Back in 1930m between April 19th and May 4th a match in which the first player to win five games, draw not counting, was played in the Manhattan Chess Club. 

     One contestant was 26-year-old Lajos Steiner who had come to the United States to participate in the 1929 Bradley Beach (located in New Jersey) tournament. There Steiner had finished second to world champion Alexander Alekhine. 

     His opponent was 24-year old Isaac Kashdan, a the 1929 Manhattan Chess Club champion and a rising star. He had been the first board of the American team at the 1928 Chess Olympiad where he scored an impressive +12 -1 =2.

     Lajos Steiner (1903-1975) was born in Hungary. One of four children, his elder brother Endre Steiner was also a master. 

     Lajos was educated at the Technical High School in Budapest and graduated in 1926 with a diploma in mechanical engineering from the Technikum Mittweida in Germany. He emigrated to Australia in 1939, and won the Australian Championship in 1945, 1946/47, 1952/53, and 1958/59. He also won nine of his ten attempts at the New South Wales title (1940–41, 1943, 1944, 1945–46, 1953, 1955, 1958).

     Isaac Kashdan (1905-1985) was twice U.S. Open champion (1938 and 1947), but even though he was once considered world championship material he never won the US Championship. On the November 1932, Chess metrics estimated his rating to have been 2738 placing him at number 2 on the list behind Alekhine (estimated rating 2826). 

     He was called der Kleine Capablanca (German for The little Capablanca) in Europe because of his ability to extract victories from seemingly even positions. Watch him conjure up a winning attack from almost nothing in the following game and you’ll see what they meant. Alekhine named him one of the most likely players to succeed him as World Champion. 

     Kashdan’s peak year coincided with the Great Depression and so for financial reasons he was unable to make chess a career. Then later he moved to California because the climate was better for his son’s health. 

     Besides the Steiner-Kashdan match, in 1930, an international tournament was held in San Remo; it was won by Alexander Alekhine. 

     On May 2, 1930, former German champion Isidor Gunsberg (1854-1930) died in London. On August 17, 1930, former Hungarian champion Leo Forgacs died in Hungary at the age of 48. 

     The 3rd Tournament of Nations (aka the Chess Olympiad) was held in Hamburg, Germany. It was won by Poland (Rubinstein, Tartakower, Przepiorka, Frydman). Jungary was second and Dermany third. The US team (Isaac Kashdan, Frank Marshall, Harold Phillips, Herman Steiner and James Anderson) finished 6th (out of 18 teams). 

     The 2nd Women’s World Championship took place during the Olympiad and Vera Menchik successfully defended her title. 

     The Western Chess Association (forerunner of the US Open) was held in Chicago. Norman Whitaker and Samuel Factor tied for 1st. 

     On December 29, 1930, Alekhine almost killed himself when he fell asleep with a lit cigarette in his mouth in a hotel bed in Esseg, Yugoslavia. The cigarette fell out of his mouth onto the bed which caught fire. Alekhine awoke and tried to get out of the room, but passed out on the floor. A hotel clerk responding to the fire managed to get Alekhine out of the room and extinguish the fire. 

 

     Kashdan considered this game, the third game in his match with Steiner, to be one of his best.

 

[Event "Match, New York"] [Site "New York, NY USA"] [Date "1930.04.22"] [Round "3"] [White "Isaac Kashdan"] [Black "Lajos Steiner"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D52"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "1930.04.19"] {D52: Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Variation} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 {This is te Cambridge Springs Defense and even today is the most popular reply in the QGD.} 7. Qb3 {The usual reply is 7.Nbd2 is the usual reply with 7.cxd4 a close second. The text avoids the more complicated attacks, but it allows black to obtain easy development.} Ne4 8. cxd5 (8. Bh4 Bb4 9. Rc1 Nb6 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nxc4 12. Qxc4 Nd6 {equals. Werle,J (2481)-Gurevich,M (2641) Zwolle 2002}) 8... exd5 9. Bd3 Bb4 {Kashdan was of the opinion that this B belongs on e7.} (9... Nxg5 10. Nxg5 Be7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O {with complete equality. Djukanovic,S (2294) -Blagojevic,D (2532) Tivat MNE 2011} Re8 {½-½ (38)}) 10. Rc1 Nxg5 $11 11. Nxg5 h6 12. Nf3 O-O 13. O-O Re8 14. a3 Bxc3 {The main option was 14...Bd6 and while there is nothing really wrong with the move played Kashdan thought it gives white the advantage because of his better development and also because of the mobility of his Q-side Ps, which threaten to advance and create weaknesses in black's position. Hence Kashdan felt it was better to retreat.} 15. Qxc3 Qxc3 16. Rxc3 Nf6 17. b4 Be6 18. Rfc1 Ne4 19. Bxe4 {Several years after this game Kashdan said that if he were "playing this position today (i.e. in 1936) he would prefer 19.R(3)-b2 because his B would be useful to enforce b4-b5 and black's N can always be gotten rid of anyway. Engines prefer 19.Bx35, but only by a hair's breadth.} dxe4 20. Nd2 Bd5 21. Rc5 {Perhaps initiating a Minority Attack with 21.a4 followed by b4-b5 was more accurate, but Kashdan played the text in order to induce 21...b6 which he judged would be weak for black.} b6 {A sounder idea was 21...f5 followed by ...f4} 22. R5c3 a5 23. Nc4 { Kashdan judged that now black's Ps are seriously weakened and subject to attack, whether his N is exchanged or not. According to Stockfish the position id dead equal.} axb4 24. axb4 Ra6 {Played with the (correct) belief that he can set up a sufficient defense.} (24... Bxc4 {is inferior. It's main practical advantage is that the resulting double R ending would by difficult to play for both sides.} 25. Rxc4 Ra4 26. h4 Kf8 27. Rxc6 Rxb4 28. Ra1 f5 29. Ra6 Rb1+ (29... Rb8 30. Rc7 f4 31. Raa7 {White is winning.}) 30. Kh2 Rb2 31. Kg3 b5 32. Rc5 {White is better.}) 25. Ne5 Re6 {Excellent defense by Steiner. Defending the P, which cannot yet be taken because of the mating threat, and intending ...b5 after which everything would be secure. If Kashdan wants to win he cannot untake it quickly.} 26. b5 {Very interesting and innovative. The P sacrifice had to be accurately calculated because if Kashdan's attack fails the P will become a Q!} ({But not} 26. Nxc6 $2 Bxc6 27. f4 Bd7 $19) 26... cxb5 27. Rc8+ {Kashdan is attacking with opnly two Rs and a N...will it succeed?} Kh7 28. Rd8 {[%mdl 1024] An excellent move! It gains an important tempo and it's an essential patt of his idea.} (28. Nxf7 {does not accomplish anything as after} b4 29. h4 (29. R8c7 b3 30. Rb1 b2 31. Rc2 Rc6 32. Rbxb2 Bxf7 { and black wins}) 29... b3 30. Kh2 Ra8 31. Rxa8 Bxa8 32. Ne5 Bd5 33. Rb1 { with a likely draw.}) 28... Bc4 {Seemingly the most natural square as it blocks the open file, but the move allows white q slim advantage...something Kashdan was famous for exploiting. In fact, Kashdan claimed the move loses quickly!} (28... f6 {This is actually the best move as it does not allow white to really accomplisj anything. For example...} 29. Rxd5 fxe5 30. dxe5 Rc6 31. Rb1 Rc5 32. Rd2 Rxe5 {and neither side will be able to make any headway.} 33. h3) 29. Nd7 {[%mdl 2048] Threatening to win the exchange, which strangely enough cannmbe avoided despite the mobilty of black's R.} Kg6 (29... Rc6 30. Nf8+ Kg8 31. Nd7+ Kh7 32. Nb8) (29... Rd6 {This is best. The ensuing ending is extremely complicated!} 30. Nf8+ Kg8 31. Nd7+ (31. Rxd6 Kxf8 {and black has compensation for the exchange.}) 31... Kh7 32. f3 exf3 33. Nf8+ Kg8 34. Rxd6 Kxf8 35. e4 fxg2 36. d5 Ke7 37. Rc6 f5 38. Rc7+ Kd8 39. Rxg7 fxe4 40. Kxg2 Ra2+ 41. Kg3 e3 42. d6 e2 43. Kf2 e1=Q+ 44. Kxe1 Rxh2 45. Rh7 {Theoretically at least, this position is drawn.}) 30. d5 {[%mdl 32] Gaining time, as the R still cannot escape. Very instructive.} Re7 (30... Bxd5 31. Nf8+ Kf6 32. Rxd5 { wins easily.}) 31. d6 Rxd7 32. Rxd7 {Kashdan has made something out of nothing. } Bd3 {This loses at once.} (32... Ra3 {keeps fighting...} 33. Re7 Rd3 34. Rxe4 Rxd6 35. h4 Kf6 36. Ra1 Rd2 37. Ra7 Be6 {and the gane could go on forever.}) 33. Rb7 Kf6 {White has more than one way to skin the cat!} 34. f3 {Black resigned} (34. f3 Bc4 35. Rd1 Ra8 36. Rxb6 exf3 37. gxf3 Rd8 {and the enbding is hopelss.}) (34. d7 {also wins.} Ke7 35. f3 Bc4 36. Rd1 Bd3 37. fxe4 Ra3 38. e5 b4 39. Rxb6 Kxd7 40. Rd6+ Ke7 41. R6xd3 {etc.}) 1-0

James Allan Anderson, a Long Forgotten Player

  

     If you never heard of James Allan Anderson (June 28, 1906 – December 23, 1991, 85 years old), a three-time St. Louis Chess Champion who defeated Alexander Alekhine in a simultaneous exhibition in 1929, you are not the only one.

     In the 1929 Western Chess Association Championship (US Open) Finals held in St. Louis, Missouri, Anderson tied for second with stalwarts Herman Steiner and Norman Whitaker behind Harold Hahlbohm.

     In 1930, at reserve board in the 3rd Chess Olympiad in Hamburg, won by Poland (Rubinstein, Tartakower, Przepiorka, Frydman), Anderson scored +3 -7 =7. The US team consisted of Isaac Kashdan, Frank Marshall, Harold Phillips, Herman Steiner and Anderson; the team finished 6th (out of 18 teams). 

     The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (July 31, 1930 edition) mentioned that in view of the fact that Anderson lost all of his last five games it was clear that “the severe strain of the long grind was too much for him.” Is that a hint at the reason he disappeared two years later

 

     Anderson finished fourth (score 5.5-3.5) at the 1931 Western Chess Association Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event was won by Samuel Reshevsky followed by Samuel Factor and Norman Whitaker. Anderson lost only to Reshevsky and Factor. 

     Anderson won the St. Louis championship in 1932 with an5.5-0.5 score and then he seems to have disappeared at the age of 26. 

     His opponent in the following game was Ilmari Rahm (1888-1939) a Finnish doctor, chess player and journalist. Somerime in the 1890s Rahm’s parents moved to Helsinki, where he spent most of his life. After receiving his medical degree he served in the Finnish army as a navy medical captain from 1918 until 1921. After Rahmi's health began to falter during 1929, he gradually had to give up all things associated with chess. As a result of his poor health he only scored 3.5-10.5 at Hamburg. 

 

[Event "Hamburg Olympiad"] [Site "Hamburg GER"] [Date "1930.07.15"] [Round "3"] [White "Ilmari Rahm"] [Black "James Allan Anderson"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D37"] [Annotator "Stockfish 15"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "1930.07.13"] {D37: Queen's Gambit Declined} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Qc2 O-O 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 c5 9. O-O a6 {This is considered best even today.} (9... cxd4 10. exd4 Nb6 11. Bd3 Bd7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Nbd5 {was quickly drawn in Kurajica,B (2520)-Cvetkovic,S (2470) Cetinje YUG 1991}) 10. a4 b6 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. Ng5 {This move serves no purpose and only loses time.} (12. dxc5 {also favors black after} Bxc5 13. b3 Qc7 {Better was 13...b5 with a slight advantage.} 14. Bb2 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Nd5 {equals. Dzhumaev,M (2428) -Malygin,V (1995) Almaty KAZ 2019}) (12. d5 {results in equal chances after} exd5 13. Bxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Rxd5) 12... h6 {Evidently white thought he has induced black into weakening his K's position with this move, but that is not the case because white is in no positiob to take advantage of it after the better 13.Nf3} 13. Nh3 {The N is badly misplaced here.} Qc7 14. Be2 { Another time wasting move, but his position is already showing that he has difficulties.} (14. d5 Ne5 15. b3 Nxc4 16. bxc4 exd5 17. cxd5 Bd6 {leaves white in difficulties.}) (14. Qe2 Bd6 15. f4 cxd4 16. exd4 Rfe8 17. Be3 Ng4 { with the initiative.}) 14... Bd6 15. f4 cxd4 16. Rxd4 {Recapturing with the P was not much bvetter...black would also have had a very active position.} Bc5 17. Rc4 {Thgis is a gross oversight. Retreating to d1 was better although black would still have had the upper hand.} Bd5 18. Nxd5 exd5 {[%mdl 32]} 19. b4 (19. Rc3 {is met by} Ne4 20. Nf2 (20. Rd3 Bxe3+ {winning the Q}) 20... Nxc3 {winning the exchange.}) 19... dxc4 20. bxc5 Qxc5 21. g4 {Black has a R+P against a B so it's obvious that he is winning. Therefore white throws everything into a desperate attack.} Nd5 22. Qf5 (22. Qxc4 Rfe8 23. f5 Rac8 24. Qxc5 Nxc5 {is hopeless for white.}) (22. g5 Nxe3 23. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 24. Kg2 Nc5 25. gxh6 Rad8 26. Ng5 (26. hxg7 Rd2 27. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 28. Qxc4 Rxe2+ {wins immediately.}) 26... Nd3 {and white's attempted attack is over.}) 22... Nc3 23. Qxc5 Nxc5 24. Bxc4 {White has managed to reach an ending the exchange down, but his position is devoid of any counterplay and so he is lost as long as black plays carefully.} b5 25. Ba3 (25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Bxb5 Ra1 { wins the B}) 25... Rfc8 26. Bb4 (26. axb5 axb5 27. Bb2 (27. Bxc5 Rxa1+ 28. Bf1 Rxc5) 27... bxc4 {Black is a full R up.}) 26... N5xa4 (26... bxc4 27. Bxc3 Re8 {would also secure the win.}) 27. Bd3 a5 28. Ba3 b4 29. Bf5 (29. Bc1 Nc5 30. Bf5 Nb3 {wraps it up.}) 29... bxa3 30. Bxc8 Rxc8 31. Rxa3 Rc5 32. Nf2 Nb2 { Prevents Nd3.} 33. Kg2 a4 {[%mdl 32]} 34. h4 Nb5 35. Ra2 a3 36. Ne4 Rc4 37. Kf3 Rxe4 $1 {This finally convinced white to resign. to resign.} (37... Rxe4 38. Kxe4 Nc3+) 0-1

RIP Tom Wozney

Wozney circa 1966

      It was with sadness that I learned that veteran master Thomas Wozney of Parma, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb, passed away at the age of 82 on March 1st this year. He was retired from East Ohio Gas Company after many years of service. 

     Chester Thomas Wozney, born April 20, 1940, was a US Army Specialist 4th Class when he won the US Armed Forces Championship in 1966. At that time he was with the 51st Signal Battalion, Company A, stationed in South Korea. For those not familiar with Army ranks, he was the equivalent rank of a Corporal except specialists are not considered a Non-commissioned Officer; the specialist's job is focused on technical expertise and they normally have less personnel leadership responsibilities than Corporals. 

     Besides having many Midwest tournament victories to his credit, in 1964 Wozney tied for first in the Ohio Championship (with Richard Kause, George Kellner, James Harkins and David Presser). 

     He won the title won outright in 1967 and in 1969 he eked out a tiebreak victory over Robert H. Burns, Jr and Richard Garber. 

     Then in 1971 he again tied for first with Robert Burns and Ross Sprague, Burns getting the title on tiebreaks. 

     In 1972 he won the State title on tiebreaks over Ross Sprague, Richard Kause and Jerry Fink. In 1974 he again tied for first with Robert Burns, Jerry Fink, James Voelker and Arthur Keske with Burns again gaining the title on tiebreaks. 

     I never met Wozney persoanlly, but saw him many times at tournaments in the 60s and 70s and he struck me as being a pleasant, quiet and reserved individual. This game features a snazzy win by Wozney from the 1973 US Open. 

 

[Event "US Open, Chicago"] [Site "?"] [Date "1973.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Marvin Rogan"] [Black "Thomas Wozney"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B80"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "1973.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.10.20"] {B80: Sicilian Scheveningen} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. g3 {This line is not difficult to meet and is not very challenging to black. 7. Bd3 is the main line.} Be7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Qe2 {White might actually served better by 10.f4} (10. f4 d6 11. Kh1 Bd7 12. Nb3 b5 13. a3 b4 14. axb4 Nxb4 15. g4 {with equal chances. Guseinov,G (2625) -So,W (2640) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2009}) 10... d6 {[%mdl 32]} 11. Rad1 Bd7 { [%mdl 32]} 12. f4 Rac8 13. g4 {This allows a tactical shot that wins a Pawn.} ( 13. f5 b5 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Bh3 Nxd4 16. Rxd4 {Black is slightly better. Honfi, K (2390)-Ribli,Z (2590) Baden-Baden 1981}) (13. Kh1 b5 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. a3 Qb7 16. Bd4 {equals. Markosian,D (2406)-Bairachny, R (2442) Tula 2000}) 13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 {This move looks logical, but he actually does better by capturing with the R. In any case, black wins a Pawn.} (14. Rxd4 e5 15. Rd2 Bxg4 16. Qe1 Be6 17. f5 Bc4 18. Rf3 Rfd8 19. Rg3 {Theoretically black should be able to defend himself, but in Kamishov,M-Baturinsky,V Moscow 1945, he couldn't manage it anbd lost.}) 14... e5 {Picking off the g-Pawn.} 15. fxe5 dxe5 (15... Bxg4 { would be less effective.} 16. exd6 Bxd6 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 Be5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Rdf1) 16. Be3 Bxg4 17. Bf3 Be6 {Threatening a pin with ...Bc4} 18. Qg2 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20. Kh1 Rfd8 21. Rg1 {This attack on g7 is harmless...white simply has no way to follow it up.} g6 22. Rdf1 Qe3 {Plunging right into the guts of white’s position and generating tactical threats. Hoping for ...Rd2.} 23. Be2 {Attacking the N on f6, but missing a pretty continuation.} (23. Qg3 { was no better though.} Rd2 24. Qxe5 Nd7 25. Qg3 Rxc2 {Black's advantaghe will prove decisive.}) 23... Rxc3 {Black is clearly winning.} 24. bxc3 Nxe4 25. Rf3 Qc5 (25... Bd5 {is cute...if} 26. Rxe3 Nf2#) 26. Rd3 {This loses immediately to a nifty little combination, but there wasn’t much else.} Rxd3 27. cxd3 Nf2+ {White resigned. Near flawless play by Wozney.} (27... Nf2+ 28. Qxf2 Qxf2 29. Bf1 Bd5+ 30. Bg2 Bxg2+ 31. Rxg2 Qf1+ 32. Rg1 Qxd3) 0-1

Dog Fight!

     1895...that was the year legendary baseball player Babe Ruth and a silent film star named Buster Keaton were born. Jell-O was invented. Irish poet, novelist and playwright Oscar Wilde was arrested for "sodomy and gross indecency" and sentenced to prison. 

     Mintonette was invented in Holyoke, Massachusetts. We known it by its later name, volleyball. The first automobile race took place in France. The winner traveled 732 miles in 48 hours and 47 minutes. 

     A Sears catalog from 1895 shows you could get a shirt for as little as 50 cents. A carpenter made around 32 cents an hour and an unskilled laborer made about half of that. 

     That was the year World Champion Lasker moved back to England, first to London and later to Manchester. In the US, Jackson W. Showalter won the 5th US championship by defeating Samuel (or Salomon) Lipschultz in a match by a score of 7-4. 

     In March the leading English player of the 1870s, William Potter died. In May Martin From died in Copenhagen. He was an analyst and is remembered for the Fromn Gambit (1.f4 e5). Problem composer and the 1886 Scottish champion Georges Barbier died in France. 

    In 1895, in December, Harry N. Pillsbury contracted syphilis in Russia and in June of 1906, he died from it. Back in those days mercury was the treatment of choice for syphilis. In the early stages of the disease topical applications may have occasionally aborted the infection, but it was undoubtedly ineffective in curing secondary syphilis. Besides that, the problem was mercury’s toxicity to the central and peripheral nervous systems. It could produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys and it could be be fatal. 

     Before his trip to Russia, the Hastings international tournament was won by Pillsbury. At that time the tournament was not played over Christmas and New Year; it was played from August 5th to September 2nd. 

 

     Today’s’ game was played in that tournament. I remember when I first saw this game (probably back in the early 1960’s) how much I enjoyed it. Recently I played through it again and nothing has changed. The game won Second Brilliancy Prize despite Tarrasch’s rather inept conduct of most of the game. However, his brilliant combination at the end after Walbrodt mishandled the attack, allowed Tarrasch to redeem himself. 

     Tarrasch's opponent, Carl Walbrodt (November 28, 1871 - October 3, 1902), was a leading German master of the period who participated in many tournaments and matches and wrote several chess columns. In real life he and his brother owned a pantograph factory. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the early 1890's and ultimately died from it. 

     Enjoy the complications! 

[Event "Hastings"] [Site "Hastings ENG"] [Date "1895.08.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Siegbert Tarrasch"] [Black "Karl Walbrodt"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "1895.08.05"] {C77: Ruy Lopez} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. d4 { Black has a wide choice here: 6...Bd7, 6...Nd7, 6...Bd7 and 6...exd4} Bd7 { This transposes into the Steinitz Defense Deferred. It's an interesting and still relatively unexplored system. It appears somewhat passive, but it is extremely solid and flexible.} 7. Bxc6 $16 Bxc6 8. Qe2 exd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. O-O Be7 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 b5 {[%mdl 32] One early annotator dubbed this a sly move threatening...c5, ...b4 and ...Bb5 winning the exchange. Not true.} (12... Re8 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. Qd3 Qe7 15. Rfe1 Rad8 {was played in Marco,G-Taubenhaus,J Ostende 1905. The position is equal.}) 13. a4 (13. Rad1 c5 {Not the best move. Both 13...Re8 and 13...h6 are good.} 14. Nf5 b4 {Taking the N is a little better.} 15. Na4 Bb5 {This loses. 15...Bxf5 leaves white slightly better.} 16. Qf3 Ne8 (16... Bxf1 17. Kxf1 c4 18. e5 {is decisive. Hust va samplke line...} Ne8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qxa8) 17. Qg3 Bg5 18. Rfe1 g6 19. h4 Bf6 20. e5 Bg7 21. exd6 Bxb2 22. Ne7+ Kh8 23. Nxb2 Qd7 24. c4 bxc3 25. Qxc3+ f6 26. a4 Bc6 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. d7 Ng7 29. b4 {White is winning.}) 13... b4 {This not only drives back the N, but it also gains space.} 14. Nd1 (14. Nd5 c5 15. Nf3 (15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nf3 Qxe4 {black has won a P.}) 15... Nxd5 16. exd5 Bf6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Rae1 Rfe8 {Black stands slightly better.}) 14... c5 15. Nf3 (15. Nf5 { was better.} Bxf5 16. exf5 d5 17. Ne3 d4 18. Nc4 {with about equal chances.}) 15... Bc6 {[%mdl 2048] In spite of having a backward d-Pawn, black has a nice position.} 16. Nd2 d5 17. e5 {With this move Tarrasch is striving for a closed position where Walbrodt’s two B’s don’t have a lot of scope, but the idea fails.} (17. exd5 {This has been recommended.} Nxd5 18. Nc4 Re8 19. Nde3 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Nf4 21. Bxd8 Nxe2+ 22. Kh1 Raxd8 {Black has the more active position.}) 17... Ne8 18. Ne3 Qd7 19. Rad1 d4 {This move gives white’s N a good outpost on c4, but is gives black's light-squared B a great diagonal plus it also shuts white’s B out of the game. The real surprise is that it is the buried B on c7 that is going to win the game for Tarrasch!!} 20. Nec4 Qe6 21. f4 {This looks right...it's part pf Tarrasch's pan to keep the game closed.... but it's actually a poor move.} (21. Rde1 {keeps the game about equal.} Bd5 22. Qd3 Qc6 23. f3 {and it's hard to see how either side can make any headway.}) 21... f5 {Excellent! The position is closed, but Walbrodt's position has a lot of freedom and he uses it to build up a promising attack.} 22. Na5 Bd5 23. Qd3 Kh8 {This is the kind of move that engines do not readily find. Black’s plan is to open up the g-file for an assault on White’s K.} 24. Qg3 {In view of black's plan the Q is not well placed here and so 23.Nac4 was better.} Ra7 { Another great move. Because he in control of the game Walbrodt is preparing to bring the R over to the K-side before undertaking an immediate attack.} (24... g5 {This immediate assault is also extremely good!} 25. Nf3 gxf4 26. Qxf4 Rg8 { with good attacking chances.}) 25. Nac4 Rg8 26. Rde1 g5 27. Re2 Bd8 28. Qd3 Rag7 29. g3 gxf4 {This move was criticized as a mistake by Tarrasch and Reinfeld. Tarrasch recommended ...g4 followed by the advance of the h-Pawn, saying it would have lead to a quick win, but that does not appear to be the case. In fact, 29...gxf4 is the best move in thsi position and it leaves black with a clear advantage.} (29... g4 30. Nd6 Rf8 (30... Nxd6 31. exd6 Qxd6 32. Qxf5 {with equal chances.}) (30... h5 {is bad for black...} 31. Nxf5 Rf7 32. Nd6 {with a significant advantage.}) 31. Qxa6 Re7 32. Rff2 h5 {and black's advantage is minimal.}) 30. Rxf4 {[%mdl 32] White's pressure on the f-Pawn is not quite enough to equalize.} Rg5 {This defends the f_Pawnm but it is a small slip that loses some of his advantage.} (30... Rg4 31. Qxf5 Rxf4 32. Qxf4 (32. Qxe6 Bxe6) 32... Nf6 33. Nd6 Nh5 34. Qf2 Bg5 35. Qf5 Qxf5 36. Nxf5 Rf8 { positionally black has the advantage. White has a nifty tactical shot here...} 37. Nxd4 cxd4 38. Bxd4 Ng7 39. e6 Be7 40. Ne4 {but his chances are only marginally improved.}) 31. Ref2 Ng7 32. Nd6 Qxe5 {This is probably not the most effective move. That said, suggesting anything a lot better is a challenge!} (32... Bc7 {was recommended without futyher comment by Reinfeld.. After} 33. Nf3 Bxf3 34. R4xf3 Bxd6 35. exd6 Qxd6 36. c3 bxc3 37. Bxc3 {Black is a P up, but it's hard to see how he will make further progress.}) (32... Rg6 {is the engine suggestion, but it only keeps the advantage while noit undertaking anything concrete.} 33. Nf3 Rf8 34. Kf1 Be7 35. Qxa6 Bxf3 36. R4xf3 Qxe5 37. Nc4 Qd5 38. Qb5 f4 39. Nb6 Qh5 40. Bc1 Ne6 41. Qe2 Qh3+ 42. Ke1 Ng5 43. Rxf4 Re6 44. Rxf8+ Bxf8 45. Bxg5 Rxe2+ 46. Rxe2 {Black is clearly better... theoretically at least, but the position is very difficult.}) 33. Nxf5 Nh5 { [%mdl 8192] This is a blunder that loses immediately.} (33... Ne6 {keeps a slight advantage.} 34. Re4 Bxe4 35. Qxe4 Qxe4 36. Nxe4 R5g6 37. Nxc5 Nxc5 38. Bxd4+ Rf6 39. Bxc5 Rc6 40. Bd4+ Bf6) 34. Rxd4 {[%mdl 512] An amazing change of fate!} Nxg3 {Perhaps this was the move Walbrodt was relying on, but it is insufficient.} 35. Nxg3 {Rh4 is the strong threat.} Rxg3+ 36. hxg3 Rxg3+ 37. Kf1 Rxd3 38. Rg4 {This is the winner...it leads to mate in 9, so Walbrodt resigned.} (38. Rxd3 {would have been a horrible mistake!} Qxb2 39. Rxd5 Be7 40. Ne4 {and black should be able to draw.}) (38. Rg4 h5 (38... Qxb2 39. Rf8+ { mate next move.}) 39. Bxe5+ Bf6 40. Bxf6+ Kh7 41. Rg7+ Kh6 42. cxd3 c4 43. Nxc4 h4 44. Rh2 Bf7 45. Rxh4+ Bh5 46. Rg5 a5 47. Rhxh5#) 1-0

A Rook Lift Goes Wrong

   

     Today’s game features a common maneuver, the Rook Lift. Rook handling is always a difficult task, especially for beginners and average players.. 

     C.J.S. Purdy pointed out that one of the goals in the opening should be to connect R’s. Most players beyond the beginner level know that. They know the rules about open files, but in many cases find difficulty in answering the question, which R? How do you decide which R goes on the open file? How often have moved the wrong one? They also know the importance of R’s on the 7th (or 2nd) rank and Rooks belong behind passed Pawns, etc. 

     Ludek Pachman wrote that R handling requires a great understanding of the strategy suited to a particular position. There’s that word, strategy...something that seems despised by many average players these days. 

     Another part of Rook handling is the R-lift where Rooks are actively placed in front of its own Pawns to attack the opponent’s King. 

     In fact, sometimes the Rook can even be placed in front of its own Pawns even when there is no thought of attacking the King. The reason for this is that Pawn advances are generally necessary to open files and in a closed, positional type of game players often try to keep Pawns on their original squares as long as possible. So, if the Rools are to operate they must do so in front of their own Pawns. This is a good idea to keep in the back of your mind when the normal methods of using them on open files is ineffective or not available. 

     I was looking for some examples of Rooks in front of its own Pawns and came across the following game in which Eperjesi did just that. However, when I saw that he lost, I was going to move on to another game, but this game has redeeming qualities. Just check out Farago’s 35th and 42nd move. 

     The game also illustrates the point that even after you have established a good position, the game will not win itself. After about 25 moves Eperjesi had a really great position but a series of weak moves let the game slip away. We all know from experience how easily that can happen! 

 

      Laszlo Eperjes (born May 16, 1943) is an International Master and International Arbiter. Ivan Farago (Aoril 1, 1946 – December 12, 2022) was born in Budapest. The Hungarian Chess Federation declared him a master in 1964. He was awarded the IM title in 1974 and the GM title in 1976. 

 

[Event "Hungarian hamp, Budapest"] [Site ""] [Date "1977.12.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Laszlo Eperjesi"] [Black "Ivan Farago"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D55"] [WhiteElo "2400"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "1977.??.??"] {D55: Queen's Gambit Declined} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1 Bb7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. O-O c5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 (12... a6 13. Bb1 Re8 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Na4 {equals. Sulava,N (2479) -Cavalcanti,F (2280) Nice 2003}) (12... h6 13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Bf5 {White has the advantage. Goncalves,D (2282)-Leiva,G (2381) chess.com INT 2023}) 13. dxe5 Ne8 14. Bf4 Nc7 (14... f6 15. Qh5 g6 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Bh6 fxe5 {White has no more than a draw. Forgacs,L-Swiderski,R Barmen 1905}) ( 14... g6 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. f4 f5 {White is much better. Vidmar,M-Martinolich,G Vienna 1907}) (14... f5 {This is black's best move.} 15. Qc2 g5 16. Bg3 f4 { This loses. Correct was 16...Ng7 with equal chances.} 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Qg6 Nf6 19. exf6 Rxf6 20. Qh5 {and white went on to win. Schlechter,C-Lasker,E Cambridge Springs 1904}) 15. Qc2 g6 16. Rcd1 {The R has no future on c1 and so White places it on a square from which it is in line with the Black Q.} Qc8 17. Bh6 Re8 18. f4 {The attacking method in this game has been known since the days of Pillsbury. White is going to play a R-lift, placing it in front of his P’s and attacking Black’s K.} c4 19. Be2 Bc5 20. Rf3 Qe6 21. Na4 {Before continuing his attack white wants to drive the B back, but he could have press on with his attack.} Be7 22. Rg3 b5 (22... Bh4 {was slightly better as after} 23. Rh3 Bd8 {white is better, but he will have to come up with a different plan of attack. For example...} 24. Bf3 Rb8 25. Nc3 b5 26. Ne2 Qb6 27. Nd4 { and now strive to play g2-g4.}) 23. f5 {Pressing on with his attack at the cost of a P. However, more preparation with moves like Ng4 and Nc3 would have offered better chances of success.} Qxe5 24. Bf4 Qg7 (24... Qe4 {was better as it shuts down white's attack.} 25. Qxe4 dxe4 {and black has equalized.}) 25. Bxc7 {With this move white's advantage slips away...there is no longer an attack and black now stands better.} (25. Nc3 Bc5 26. Bh5 {is promising. For example...} Kh8 27. Kh1 Re7 28. fxg6 fxg6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Rxg6 Qf7 31. Rf1 Rxe3 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Ng1 {White is slightly better.}) 25... bxa4 26. Bf3 { A tactical error that allows black to take advantage of the undefended e-Pawn. 26.Bf4 would have been better.} Bc5 27. fxg6 {He still should have tried 27. Bf4. After this white's attack just does not have sufficient force.} Bxe3+ 28. Kh1 hxg6 29. h4 Rac8 30. Qxa4 Qf6 (30... Qxb2 {would also win, but it invites unnecessary complications after} 31. Bg4 {and noiw black's best line is} Re4 32. Bxc8 Bxc8 33. Rf1 Qe2 (33... Bf4 34. Bxf4 Rxf4 35. Rxf4 Qc1+ {only draws}) 34. Rgf3 Bg4 {Black wins as white gains nothing on} 35. Rxf7 Bf5 36. R7xf5 gxf5 37. Qd1 (37. Rxf5 Rxh4+ 38. Bh2 Qe1+ 39. Rf1 Qxf1#) 37... Qxd1 38. Rxd1 c3 { etc.}) 31. h5 Kg7 32. Ba5 Bc6 33. Qa3 d4 34. Be1 $2 (34. Bxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxe3 Rxe3 36. Qxe3 dxe3 37. Bc3 gxh5 {withg a won ending.}) 34... Qh4+ {Black’s continuation is absolutely brilliant!} 35. Rh3 Qxh3+ {[%mdl 512]} 36. gxh3 Bxf3+ 37. Kh2 Bxd1 {Black has more than enough compensation for the Q.} 38. Bg3 Bxh5 39. Qd6 c3 40. bxc3 dxc3 {[%mdl 32]} 41. Be5+ Kg8 42. Qf6 {...a very forlorn hope.} Rxe5 $1 {Another fine move to finish off his opponent.} 43. Qxe5 c2 {White resigned.} 0-1