Burkhard Malich

    Life in East Germany in 1951 was characterized by a socialist economy, limited consumer goods and strict political control under the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. While the government promoted a strong sense of national identity and loyalty, East Germans faced significant challenges of economic hardship, shortages and limited freedoms. 

    Even after rationing was officially abolished in 1950, food and other goods remained in short supply, requiring long wait times for items like cars and telephones. Some high quality goods were available in special shops that were originally for foreign visitors, but were later accessible to East Germans if they could afford them. 

    The Stasi (Ministry for State Security), formed in 1950, played a key role in monitoring dissent and suppressing political opposition. Socialist ideals were promoted through various media, including education and youth organizations. Freedom of speech, movement and the press were restricted. Organizations like the Free German Youth aimed to indoctrinate children with socialist values and limit their contact with Western culture. 

    The 1951 East German Under 20 Championship was won by Wolfgang Uhlmann (1935-2020, 85 years old) who was East Germany's most successful player between the mid-1950s and the late 1980s. He was awarded the GM title in 1959 and won the East Germany Championships 11 times.

 

 

    The winner of the following game from the 1951 East German Under 29 Championship was Burkhard Malich (born Novermebr 29, 1936) who was awarded the IM title in 1962 and the GM title in 1975. 

    He learned chess in 1948 at the age of 12 and three years later won the East German Youth Championship and repeated in 1953. Malich won the individual championship of East Germany in 1957 and 1973. At the international level, he qualified for the zonal tournaments in 1963 and 1974. He played for the East German team in all eight Olympiads between 1958 and 1972. 

    His opponent, Wolfram Bialas (1935-1998) was a German FM who was the West Berlin city champion in 1958, 1962). He played for West Germany in the Chess Olympiads in 1960, 1964 and 1964. 

 

[Event "E. German U20 Chp, Leipzig"] [Site "Leipzig"] [Date "1951.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Wolfram Bialas"] [Black "Burkhard Malich"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B53"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "1951.??.??"] {B53: Sicilian} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Bg5 e6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Qd2 a6 8. Rd1 h6 (8... Be7 {is usual.} 9. Be2 b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bg5 b4 {with equal chances. Chandias,C-Rosito,J (2417) Pereyra Puebla 2006}) 9. Bh4 b5 10. Bd3 (10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Nxd8 12. Nxe5 {is completely equal. After the text black gets slightly the better prospects.}) 10... Bb7 11. Qe2 Qa5 12. O-O Be7 13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Nd4 {More precise was 14...Nxe5} 15. Qe3 Nc6 {This loss of time has disastrous consequences. His best try was 15...Rd8} (15... Rd8 16. Ng6 {At least now this is not as devastating as after 15...Nc6} Bc5 (16... fxg6 {is unplayable.} 17. Bxg6+ Kf8 18. Rxd4 {White is winning. Note that exchanging Rs leads to nate.} Rxd4 19. Qxe6 {and black cannot prevent mate.}) 17. Qe5 Bd6 18. Qe3 Bc5 {If white wants to avoid the repetition he can get a slight advantage with} 19. Be4 fxg6 20. Bxb7 Qb6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Ne4 Be7 23. c3 Qxb7 24. cxd4) 16. Ng6 {[%mdl 512] This winner no doubt caught black by surprise!} b4 (16... fxg6 17. Bxg6+ Kf8 18. Qxe6 { Here black can prevent the mate, but the cost is too high.} Ne5 19. Qxe5 Qb6 20. Rd7 Bc5 21. Rf7+ Kg8 22. Bxf6 {wins}) 17. Nxh8 bxc3 {White has a decisive advantage, but his followup allows Malich back in the game.} 18. Rfe1 (18. Bg6 {[%mdl 512] As clever as it is deadly.} fxg6 19. Bxf6 Qf5 (19... Bxf6 20. Qxe6+ {mate next move.}) 20. Bxc3 Rd8 21. Rfe1 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Qxc2 23. Qd2 Qxd2 24. Rxd2 g5 25. Re2 {White's advantage is decisive.}) 18... Nd8 19. Ng6 fxg6 20. Bxg6+ Kf8 {Black has bulked up his defense and now it's anybody's game after either 21.b3 or even 21.bxc3} 21. Rxd8+ {[%mdl 8192] Clever, but bad!} Qxd8 $19 22. Qxe6 {Black can defend against the mate threat and black has a slight (N vs. 2Ps) material advantage which translates to a clear advantage.} Bd5 23. Qh3 Qc7 24. Qe3 Bf7 (24... Bxa2 {is a gome losing gaffe.} 25. Bxf6 cxb2 (25... Bxf6 26. Qe8+ Rxe8 27. Rxe8#) 26. Bxb2 {Black's exposed K will prove fatal. For example...} Rd8 27. Ba3 {wins material...} Kg8 (27... Bxa3 28. Qe8+ Rxe8 29. Rxe8#) 28. Qxe7 Qxe7 29. Rxe7) 25. Bg3 {There was really nothing better. White has completely collapsed!} Qc5 26. Bxf7 Qxe3 27. Rxe3 {The game is not completeyl over!} cxb2 (27... Kxf7 {This natural looking move makes life difficult for himself after} 28. Rxc3 {and white iban put up a fight.}) 28. Rb3 Rd8 {White resigned. A fighting game.} (28... Rd8 29. Kf1 Rd1+ 30. Ke2 b1=Q { wins}) 0-1