Arthur Wang

    Arthur Wang (born in 1943) passed away on Monday, December 12, 2011 after an 11 month long battle with esophageal cancer. He was a long time Master dating back to the days when Masters were rare. His style was positional and he leaned towards playing endings; he was a mini-Smyslov. 

    Besides chess, his hobbies were golf, pool, archery, knife and ax throwing, and shooting. He was also known for his willingness to bet on sporting events and just about anything else, including which elevator would arrive first. 

    Wang was born in Chung-king, China and came to the United States in 1946 with his mother and older brother. His father stayed behind as head of security for Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), a politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China and the Generalissimo of the National Revolutionary Army. 

    In October of 1949, after a string of military victories, Mao proclaimed the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China and Chiang Kai-shek and his forces fled to Taiwan. 

    Shortly after sending his family to the United States in 1946, Wang; father perished. Wang's mother had lost everything except a small inheritance and the family finally ended up in Berkeley, California. 

    Wanf learned to to play chess thanks to George Koltanowski's chess program in California. He regularly played at the Berkeley YMCA, and later at the famous Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco. 

    Wang played in the 1957 US Junior Championship (won by Bobby Fischer). Wang shared places 5-10 with a score of 5.5-3.5. In 1960, he won the California Junior Championship and that same year he tied for first with William Addison in a Mechanics' tournament. 

    The year 1962 was a busy one: Wang enlisted in the Army, got married and started a family with his first wife and mother of his three children. He then disappeared from the chess scene until the late 1960s. 

    In 1975, Wang went to Vietnam to evacuate 19 family members just one day prior to the unmitigated disaster known as the Fall of Saigon. I remember watching with horror as the events of that day unfolded. 

    After his time in the Army Wang had worked at the Radiation Lab in Berkeley. He and his wife also started an import business from Vietnam which explains why he was in Vietnam. 

    He took up residence in Palo Alto, California in 1978 where he was a financial executive with a stock brokerage firm. He met his second wife in Singapore and they were married in February of 1979 and enjoyed traveling throughout Asia, Europe, Argentina and the U.S. He also lived in various countries including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

 

     The following game was played in the 1959 US Open in Omaha, Nebraska. Wang scored 7-5 and tied for places 27-43. His opponent scored 7.5-4.5 and finished tied fir places 18-26. Richard Kause (September 5, 1934 – September 7, 1996, 62 years old) was an Expert (2000-2199 Elo) from Cleveland, Ohio, who was a fixture at local and state tournaments for many years. I remember playing on a board next to Kause probably sometime in the early 1970s. He was overweight and although he did not seem bothered by it, during the entire time he was wheezing with every breath as if he were having difficulty breathing. 

[Event "US Open, Omaha, Nebraska"] [Site "Omaha, NE USA"] [Date "1959.07.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Arthur Wang"] [Black "Richard Kause"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E87"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "1959.??.??"] {E87: King's Indian: Saemisch} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 { The Saemisch often leads to very sharp play with castling on opposite wings taking place. Black has a variety of pawn breaks at his disposal ( ...e5, ... c5 and ...b5 after being prepared by ...c6 and/or ...a6).} O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 f5 9. exf5 gxf5 10. O-O-O f4 {This move foes not turn out well for white because is ends up giving white's N some very strong squares on the K-sdie. Both 10...a6 or 10...Nd7 are better.} 11. Bf2 Bf5 (11... Nf6 12. Kb1 Bf5+ 13. Bd3 Bxd3+ 14. Qxd3 Nbd7 {as in Frost,P-Yu,S Mount Buller 2004. White is better.}) 12. Bd3 (12. g4 {This sharp move causes black more headaches.} fxg3 13. hxg3 Bg6 14. Be2 Nf6 15. Nh3 Qe7 16. Ng5 {White has good attacking chances.}) 12... Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nd7 14. g4 Nhf6 15. h4 (15. Qc2 Nb6 (15... e4 16. Bd4 Qe7 17. g5 Ne8 18. Nxe4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 {and white has a very strong attack.}) 16. b3 a5 17. Nh3 a4 18. Ng5 {White's attack is more virile.}) 15... Nc5 {This looks quite logical, but it ignores the brewinbg storm on the K-side and as a result it can be cinsidered the devisive mistake.} (15... Qe8 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Nf6 18. g5 Ng4 19. Nh3 f3 {and black can survive because white's K-side attack is stalled and he must now try his luck elsewhere and play 20.c5} ) 16. Qc2 {Wand wants to play for the attack. A bit surprising since hius style would normally be to go for the ending thta arises after 16.Bxc5} (16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Nh3 Qe7 18. Ng5 e4 19. Ncxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxe4 21. Nxe4 Bd4 22. Kc2) 16... a5 17. Nh3 {[%mdl 32] Heading for the outpost e6} Qe7 (17... h6 { to keep the N from going to g5 rins into} 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. g5 Nh7 20. gxh6 Bxh6 21. Ng5 {Anyway! The N is immune.} Nxg5 22. hxg5 Qxg5 (22... Bxg5 23. Qh7# ) 23. Rdg1) 18. Ng5 Kh8 19. Bxc5 $18 dxc5 20. Nce4 Rfd8 21. Nxf6 Bxf6 22. Ne6 Rg8 23. g5 Bg7 24. h5 {[%mdl 32]} Ra6 {Meaningless, but there is no real defense, but 24...h6 would force white to play accurately.} (24... h6 25. Qf5 hxg5 26. d6 cxd6 27. Nxg5 Bf6 28. Ne4 Raf8 29. Rxd6 Bg5 30. Qh3 Qh7 31. Rg6 Rxg6 32. hxg6 Qxh3 33. Rxh3+ Kg7 34. Nxg5) 25. h6 Bf8 26. Qf5 Rxe6 (26... Rg6 27. Qxf8+ Qxf8 28. Nxf8 Rxg5 29. Ne6 Rg6 30. Nxc7 {with a easy win.}) 27. dxe6 Rxg5 28. Qf7 {Black resigned.} (28. Qf7 Rg6 29. Rd7 Qxf7 30. exf7 {leaves black hopelessly lost.}) 1-0

Bernardo Wexler

    International Master (awarded in 1959) Bernardo Wexler (April 1, 1925 – June 30, 1988) was born in Bucharest, but his family emigrated to Argentina when he was seven years old. 

    It was a good time to leave Europe. In February of 1932 hints of what was to come were taking place. A conference began in Geneva. The main issue was the demand made by Germany to abolish the part of the Treaty of Versailles that had disarmed the country. The French were vehemently opposed. 

    When the German presidential election was held Paul von Hindenburg ws reelected, defeating Hitler. In April, the German Chancellor Heinrich Bruning banned the SA and the SS because they were chiefly responsible for the wave of political violence in Germany. 

    Nothing is known of Wexler’s early chess career and his first known games seem to be in 1951 when he tied for 6th and 7th places (out of 23) with Jacobo Bolbochan at the Zonal tournament in Mar del Plata. The event was won by Julio Bolbochan and Erich Eliskases. 

    He remained very active in Argentine chess throughout the 1950s and in 1959, Wexler won the Argentine Championship in Buenos Aires. He also participated in almost all the international tournaments in Buenos Aires in the 1950s and ‘60s. Wexler played for Argentina in three Chess Olympiads in 1956, 1960 and 1984.

    He retired as a court official and died in Buenos Aires on June 30. 1988. His last known game was played in 1987 

 

    In the following hair raising game from the 1953 Argentine Championship he defeats Albert Fogulaman (1923-2013, 80 years old) who was awarded the IM title in 1963. In 1966, Fodulman tied with Henrique Mecking, Julio Bolbochan and Oscar Panno in the South American Zonal tournament/ Mecking won the playoff. The game was far fro perfect, but that only adds to its enjoyment. 

[Event "Argentine Chp, Buenos Aires"] [Site "Buenos Aires"] [Date "1953.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Alberto Foguelman"] [Black "Bernardo Wexler"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B83"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "1953.??.??"] {Sicilian Scheveningen} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 e6 {In the Scheveningen black setting up a small center with Pawns on d6 and e6.} 7. Be2 {In this, the main line, white plans to build up a K-side attack, typically by means of g2–g4–g5, Qd1–e1–h4, Bg2, Qh5, Rf3–h3, etc. Black aims for ato counter on the Q-side using the semi-open c-file, or strike in the center.} Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. f4 a6 10. Kh1 Qc7 11. Qe1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Qg3 Bb7 14. e5 {While this can hardly be called bad, it is, perhaps, a bit premature. White usually plays 14.a3} (14. Bd3 g6 15. a3 Nh5 16. Qf2 Nxf4 17. Qxf4 e5 {and black has a slight advantage. Yu,R (2548)-Wang,Y (2717) China 2014}) 14... Ne8 (14... dxe5 {as in Kushagra,M (2395)-Arabidze,M (2422) chess.com INT 2022 is playable and resulted in equal chance after} 15. Bxe5 Qb6 {[%eval -34,21] [%wdl 1,968,31] [%emt 0:00:07]} 16. Bf3 Bxf3) 15. Bd3 d5 {This is too ambitious.} (15... dxe5 {with full equality.} 16. Bxe5 Qb6 17. Ne4 f6 18. Bc3 b4 {Travenec,I (2196) -Stranz,R (2196) Vienna AUT 2012}) (15... Rd8 {is equally playable. Travenec,I (2196) -Stranz,R (2196) Vienna 2012 continued} 16. f5 dxe5 17. Bxe5 Bd6 18. Bxd6 {and now black should have rcaptured with the R and not the Q.} Rxd6 (18... Qxd6 19. fxe6 Qxg3 (19... Qxe6 20. Qh4 {with a decisive advantage.}) 20. hxg3 fxe6 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Rxf8) 19. fxe6 Rxe6 {is completely even.}) 16. f5 exf5 $16 17. Rxf5 g6 18. Rh5 { This lets black off the hook.} (18. Ne2 Ng7 19. Rf3 Rae8 20. Raf1 Ne6 21. c3 { White has the more active position.}) 18... Ng7 19. Rh6 {It looks like white has serious threats on the h-file, but looks are deceiving. The position is one of headf whirling complicatiosn.} Qd7 {[%mdl 8192] And, after this white does have serious (devisive) threat on the h-file!} (19... Ne6 {is a must play. } 20. Ne2 ({This simply does not work...} 20. Qh3 Nxd4 21. Rxh7 Qxe5 {guards against the mate and black has won material and is clearly winning.}) 20... Bg5 21. Rh3 Bc8 22. Bc3 a5 {A nice P offer.} 23. Bxb5 Qc5 24. Bd3 d4 {White is under a lot of pressure.}) 20. e6 {Now its' white's turn to let his opponent off the hook!} (20. Rf1 Rae8 21. Nd1 a5 22. Ne3 Bc8 23. h4 {In spite of all black's pieces huddled arounf the K white is winning. Here's a sample line...} Ne6 24. Rf5 Nxd4 25. Rfh5 Bd6 26. exd6 Rxe3 27. Qxe3 Re8 28. Qf2 Nf3 29. gxf3 Qh3+ 30. Kg1 gxh5 31. Rxh5 f6 32. Qg2+ Qxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Be6 34. Rxh7 {White has a won ending.}) 20... Qxe6 {This is the correct capture.} (20... Nxe6 21. Bf5 Qe8 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rxh7 e5 (23... Kxh7 24. Qh3+ {mates}) 24. Qh3 exd4 25. Qh6 Bf6 26. Rxb7 Rf7 27. Nxd5 Bg7 28. Qxg6 Qf8 (28... Rxb7 29. Nf6+) 29. Qxf7+ Qxf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 {White is winning.} 31. Rf1+) 21. Re1 Qd6 22. Qh3 {Somewhat better would have been 22.Be5 then reposition the N with Ne2} Bf6 {This move is the only one that saves the game!} (22... Ne6 23. Rxh7 Nxd4 24. Rh8+ Kg7 25. Qh6+ Kf6 26. Rh7 Nf5 27. Bxf5 Kxf5 28. Qh3+ Kg5 29. Qe3+ Qf4 30. h4+ Kf5 31. Rxf7+ Kg4 32. Qxf4+ Kh5 33. Rh7#) 23. Rxh7 Nh5 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Rxh5 gxh5 26. Qxh5 Rfe8 27. Rf1 Qg7 {[%mdl 128] The air has cleared and the materially unbalanced position coukld go either way.} 28. Nxd5 {Voluntrily walking into a pin for the sake of winjning a P is, if not fatal. very risky. Best was 28.Ne2} Re6 {Bringing the R into play. White's best move is now one that looks like it might be the worst!} 29. Rf3 {[%mdl 8192] This loses for real.} (29. h3 { This looks horribly weakening, but black's advantage is now minimal after} Rae8 30. Be4 Rh6 (30... Rxe4 31. Nf6+ Kf8 32. Nd7+ Ke7 (32... Kg8 33. Nf6+ {with a repitition. Even} Kf8 34. Nh7+ {draws.} Ke7 {This loses, so black has to rtepeat moves.} 35. Qc5+ Ke6 36. Ng5+ Kd7 37. Rd1+ Rd4 38. Rxd4+) 33. Qc5+ Kd8 (33... Kxd7 34. Rd1+ Rd4 35. Rxd4+ {wins}) 34. Qb6+ Kc8 35. Qc5+ {draws}) 31. Qf3 Ree6 32. Ne7+) 29... Rd8 30. Nf4 (30. Nf6+ {is tricky, but black should be able to sidestep all the tricks.} Rxf6 31. Rg3 Rxd3 {The only move that will win!} (31... Rg6 {results in equal chances.} 32. Bxg6 fxg6 33. Rxg6 Rd1+ 34. Qxd1 Qxg6 {A crazy position!}) 32. Rxg7+ Kxg7 33. h3 Rg3 34. Qe2 Re6 35. Qf2 Rxg2) 30... Bxf3 31. Bh7+ Kh8 {White resigned.} (31... Qxh7 32. Qg5+ Qg7 33. Qxd8+ Kh7 {and black is winning.}) (31... Kh8 {white can only wait fort he nate in 7 to unfold.} 32. Bd3+ Bxh5 33. Nxe6 fxe6 34. Kg1 Rxd3 35. cxd3 Bf3 36. g3 Qe5 37. Kf1 Qe2+ 38. Kg1 Qg2#) 0-1

Precision Play by Anthony Santasiere

    Owing to his college studies Larry Evans, club kingpin for the past three years, was unable to defend his title in the 1950/51 Marshall Chess Club Championship in New York City. That left the quest for the title wide open and playing in his best, form Milton Hanauer triumphed. 

    Second place fell to John W. Collins, a former United States Correspondence Champion, who, after an indifferent start, came back strong in later rounds. 

    The third prize winner was Carl Pilnick. Bernard Hill, former titleholder of the New York Academy of Chess and Checkers, was a strong threat from the beginning and actually lead for most of the way, but spoiled his chances when he dropped his last two games to Joseph Richman and Dr. Ariel Mengarini, a former national amateur champion. 

    Anthony Santasiere, former United States Open champion and frequent champion of the Marshall, finished in a disappointing fifth place. Eliot Hearst was the New York State champion and captain of the Columbia University team which had taken intercollegiate top honors. 

 

 

    The club’s new Junior Champion was Karl Burger of Columbia University who score of 6-2 to edge Philip Schwartz by half a point. 

    Anthony Santasiere (1904-1977) was an original thinker, but he was often dogmatic and exaggerated the value of novelties and sometimes insisted that it took bizarre opening moves in order to play “Romantic” chess. 

    In 1941, Al Horowitz ans Samuel Reshevsky played a match for the US Championship which Reshevsky won with a +3 -0 =13 score. I remember reading a magazine article by Santasiere on the match in which he castigated both players for playing 13 draws and playing the Queen’s Gambit with nary a King’s Gambit, Evans’ Gambit or any other real gambit. 

    But, that’s what Santasiere did; he was always chastising the great players for what he deemed to be cowardice in the openings. Ruy Lopez' and Queen's Gambits were almost always blasted. In his writings he advocated romantic openings and gambits, but he, himself, played stuff like the English and Reti.

   Thus, in the mid-1960s Larry Evans was moved to write of Santasiere, "His games are characterized by plodding, timidity and opening repetition. He enters even 'romantic debuts' such as the Vienna and King's Gambit with reams of prepared analysis, strives constantly to keep the draw in hand and prevent complications from getting away from him over the board. Where are the glorious games which qualify Santasiere as the darling spokesman of romanticism?" 

    In the following game we see Santasiere play, not a gambit, but a solid English opening, but he did play it with precision.

[Event "Marshall CC Chp, New York"] [Site "?"] [Date "1950.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Anthony Sanatsiere"] [Black "John W. Collins"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A28"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "1950.??.??"] {A28: English Opening: Four Knights Variation} 1. c4 {Back in the days when I started playing in tournaments this was always my first move. I thought it was safe and solid and not a lot of opening knowledge was required.} e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Re8 8. O-O $1 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qe7 10. Bf4 (10. Qa4 Ne4 11. Qc2 d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be3 {Black’s position is preferable. Bareev,E (2670)-Kotsur,P (2500) Luzern 1997}) 10... Nxd4 { Straightening out white's Ps looks like a poor decision, but there was not really a lot of choice.} (10... Ne5 {would have given white something about which to think, but in the end black still ends up undoubling white's Ps.} 11. Nf5 Qe6 12. Ne3 d6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 Qg6) 11. cxd4 d6 12. Re1 c6 (12... Ne4 {would not have prevented the eventual advance of white's e-Pawn, but it was black's most promising continuation.} 13. f3 Ng5 {the threat is ...Nh3+} 14. e4 (14. Bc1 Nh3+ 15. Kf1 c6 16. e4 h5 {with equal chances.}) 14... Nh3+ 15. Kf1 Nxf4 16. gxf4 Qh4 {is good for black.}) 13. e4 {White has achieved a meaningful superiority in space, but so far the game can only be described as . .. boring.} Bg4 14. f3 Bd7 15. Qd2 Rad8 16. Qf2 {Intending d5 attacking the a-Pawn.} Bc8 17. d5 c5 (17... a6 18. Be3 Bd7 19. Rab1 cxd5 20. cxd5 Bb5 { is not especially favorable for black.}) 18. e5 dxe5 19. Rxe5 {Equally good was 19.Bxe5} Qf8 {Black has been beaten back into a very passive position. Passive does not equate to lost however!} 20. Rae1 Rxe5 21. Bxe5 Nd7 (21... b5 {Getting some counterplay was much better.} 22. Bc7 Re8 (22... Rd7 23. d6 { is very good for white.}) 23. Rd1 bxc4 24. d6 Nd7 25. f4 c3 26. Bc6 {Things look quite grim for black, but oddly the position is evaluated as equal. In Shootouts from this position white scored +0 -1 =4}) 22. Bc7 {[%mdl 2048]} Re8 23. Bh3 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Nb6 {The N would have been better placed on the other side...so the better move was 24...Ng6 keeping white's advantage at a minimum.} 25. Bxc8 (25. Bxb6 Bxh3 26. Bxa7 Bd7 27. Qe3 b5 28. Bxc5 Qb8 29. cxb5 Qxb5 30. Kg2 Qb2+ 31. Qf2 Qb5 {Owing to Bs of opposite color black has drawing chances. It's true...five Shootouts were drawn.}) 25... Nxc8 26. Qe5 (26. Qd2 {to support the advance of the d-Pawn was better.} Qe8 27. d6 Qd7 28. Qd5 b6 { and white has his work cut out to sore the point. Shootouts confirmed that white is winning as he won all five games.} 29. g4 Kf8 30. h4 Ke8 31. Kf2 Qe6 32. Qc6+ Qd7 33. Qe4+ Qe6 34. Qc6+ Qd7 35. Qe4+ Kf8 36. Qd5 h6 37. h5 Ke8 38. Qe5+ Kf8 39. a4 Qxa4 40. Qf5 Qa2+ 41. Kg3 Nxd6 42. Bxd6+ Kg8 43. Qc8+ Kh7 44. Qf5+ Kg8 45. Qe4 Qa1 46. Qe8+ Kh7 47. Qe4+ Kh8 48. Qe8+ Kh7 49. Qe2 Qg1+ 50. Kf4 Kg8 51. Be5 Qc1+ 52. Ke4 Qa3 53. Kd5 Qa4 54. Kd6 Qe8 55. Qe4 Qe6+ 56. Kc7 b5 57. Qa8+ Kh7 58. Qe4+ Kg8 59. Bd6 Qxc4 60. Qxc4 bxc4 61. Be5 a5 62. Bc3 a4 63. Kc6 f6 64. Kxc5 a3 65. Kxc4 a2 66. Kb3 Kf8 67. Kxa2 Kf7 68. Kb3 Ke6 69. Kc4 Kd6 70. Kd4 Ke7 71. Ke4 {White has a won ending.}) 26... b5 {[%mdl 8192] This is a gross blunder that loses at once.} (26... Ne7 {Here's how white won in a Shootout at 15 plies.} 27. d6 Nc6 28. Qxc5 Qc8 29. Qd5 h5 30. Ba5 Nb8 31. Bc3 Qe8 32. Kf2 Qa4 33. Qe5 f6 34. Qe6+ Kh7 35. Qf5+ Kg8 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Bd2 h4 38. Qf5+ Kh8 39. Qc8+ Kh7 40. Qxb7 Nd7 41. Qe4+ Kg8 42. Qd5+ Kf8 43. Qa8+ Kf7 44. Qd5+ Kg6 45. gxh4 Ne5 46. h5+ Kh7 47. c5 Qb5 48. Bc3 Nd7 49. Qe4+ Kh8 50. c6 Qc5+ 51. Kg2 Qxd6 52. cxd7 Qxd7 53. Qg6 Qe7 54. h6 {and wins.}) 27. d6 { Forcing black to sacrifice his N for the P. Black resigned. A typical plodding Santasiere games which Fritz 17 awardwd a weighted error value of 0.20 (precise).} 1-0

Average Players Slug it Out

    It was said of this game that back in the mid-1800s it might have been hailed as an immortal game because sacrificial play triumphed. Jump forward to the mid-1900s when it was played and it was recognized that white’s triumph was only the result of his opponent’s feeble defense. Moving even further forward to the days of Stockfish we find the play of both players was pretty feeble. Nevertheless, it’s a fun game to play over. 

    The game was played in an unknown tournament in an unknown city in Ohio. The names of the players are known, but they are not, if you know what I mean. The 1951 USCF rating list did not have a rating for Wetman, but there was an R. Schaeffer from Ohio listed with a rating of 1611.

 

 

[Event "Ohio"] [Site "?"] [Date "1949.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "M. Wetman"] [Black "R. Schaeffer"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A03"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "1949.??.??"] {A03: Bird's Opening} 1. f4 {The Bird is rare and has little theory and it does offer white some attacking chances.} d5 {After this the game can become a reversed version of the Dutch Defense, but not in this game.} 2. e3 Nc6 { More ususal are either 2...Nf6 or 2...c5} 3. Bb5 Bd7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. b3 e6 (5... g6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. Ne5 {equals. Silva,M (2207)-D'Arruda, R (2271) chess.com INT 2022}) 6. Bb2 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d3 (8. Ne5 Bc5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. O-O {equals. Vahtra,T-Kaniak,M Budva 2003}) (8. O-O Bd6 9. d3 Qe7 10. Nbd2 O-O-O 11. Ne5 {equals. Merle, S-Geronimi,P (1708) Calvi 2007}) 8... Bc5 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Ne5 Bb5 {Better was the immediate 10...Be8. The text allows white to gain a tempo.} 11. a4 Be8 $1 12. Nd2 Nd7 13. O-O f6 14. Nef3 Bh5 15. d4 { Apparently white wanted to prevent ...e5, but 15.h3 would have allowed him to met 15...e5 with 16.g4 and play on the K-side.} Bd6 16. c4 b6 17. Qe1 Qe8 18. Qh4 Kh8 19. e4 Rg8 {This move eventually causes black a lot of problems because his K gets trapped on h8. He can keep things even with 19...Bb4} (19... Bb4 20. cxd5 exd5 21. e5 fxe5 22. dxe5 Bg6 {offers equal chances.}) 20. g4 (20. cxd5 {offers excellent chances.} exd5 21. e5 g5 22. Qf2 Be7 23. f5 Rc8 24. Rac1 c5 25. exf6 Bxf6 26. Rfe1 Qd8 27. Ne5 {with a promising position.}) 20... Bf7 21. e5 $16 g5 22. fxg5 fxe5 23. Nxe5 {[%mdl 8192] White would have done better to keep the N and play instead 23.dxe5} Nxe5 24. dxe5 Bc5+ 25. Kg2 dxc4 26. Nxc4 Rd8 27. Rad1 {[%mdl 8192] This move attacking the Q is quite logical looking, but it is seriously flawed. Instead, white missed a nice tactical shot.} (27. Nd6 {Instead of this he could have also played it safe with the benign 27.Qg3} cxd6 28. g6 Bxg6 29. Qf6+ Rg7 30. exd6 Qg8 31. Rad1 {The position is rife with complications, but the chances are equal. Shootouts were Inconclusive! White scored +1 -1 =3}) 27... Qc6+ (27... Rxd1 {is an alternative that is equally good.} 28. Rxd1 Qc6+ 29. Kg3 {and only now} Bg6 30. Rf1 Rd8 31. Rf3 (31. Nd6 cxd6 32. exd6+ Kg8 {leaves white with a lost position. }) 31... Rd1 {The Rs penetration is decisive.} 32. Ne3 Rg1+ 33. Ng2 Qe4 34. Qh3 Qe1+ 35. Kf4 Qd2+) 28. Kg3 Bg6 {Questionable play on both sides has brought about a unique position in which both Kings are insecurely posted. White is the first to take advantage of the situation.} (28... Rxd1 {practically secures the win.} 29. Rxd1 Qe4 {and it's white who is in serious difficulties.} 30. g6 Rxg6 31. h3 Kg7 32. Bc1 Qc2 33. Rf1 Qxb3+ {wins}) 29. Nd6 cxd6 {Black is much too obliging!} (29... Rdf8 30. Qh3 Be3 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rxf1 33. Rxf1 Rd8 (33... cxd6 34. exd6+ Bd4 35. Bxd4+ e5 36. Bxe5+ Rg7 37. Rf8#) 34. Rf3 Bc5 35. Nf7+ Bxf7 36. Rxf7 Rd2+ {with a decisive advantage.}) 30. exd6+ Rg7 { This is a very tricky position!} 31. Qh6 (31. Bxg7+ {looks reasonable, but it would be a mistake.} Kxg7 32. Qh6+ Kg8 {and white is out of plausible moves.} 33. Qh3 Bxd6+ 34. Kh4 Qc2 35. b4 Qb2 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 Rd7 {Much better than taking the b-Pawn.} (37... Qxb5 38. Qe3 Bf7 39. Qf2 Qe8 40. Qxb6) 38. Rf6 Bf4 39. Rxf4 (39. Rxd7 Qf2+) 39... Rxd1 {and black is clearly winning.}) (31. Kh3 {is his only defense. After} Kg8 32. Qe1 Rxd6 33. Qe5 Qc7 {and the position is even.}) 31... Bxd6+ 32. Kh4 Rdg8 33. Rd2 {This prevents ...Qg2} Qc7 {Missing his chance to strike at the exposed white K. Black drifts into the main line of his opponent's tactical idea.} (33... e5 34. Rf6 Qe4 35. Rdxd6 Qe2 {The threat of mate (...Qxh2#) is too much to handle.} 36. Rd2 Qxd2 37. Bxe5 { h2 is covered, but...} Qe1+ 38. Bg3 Qe2 {White is out of reasonable moves.}) 34. Rc1 {Once again we are back to equal chances...if black plays his cards right.} Qb8 {[%mdl 8192] ...which he does not! Instead, he commits suicide.} ( 34... Qf7 35. Bxg7+ Rxg7 36. Rc8+ Bf8 37. Rdd8 Qf2+ 38. Kh3 Qf1+ {draws}) 35. Rxd6 {[%mdl 512] Decisive.} Qxd6 {The threat is mate with ...Qxh2} 36. Qxg7+ { The right way.} (36. Bxg7+ {is the wrong way.} Rxg7 37. Rc8+ Rg8 {Black wins.}) 36... Rxg7 37. Rc8+ {Black resigned. A see-saw battle that's typical of most non-master games.} 1-0

Bagby Bashes Fink

    A lot of bad things happened in 1939; most notably World War II began on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland. But, before that the year started with the great Hungarian GM Laszlo Szabo taking first at the 1938/39 Hastings tournament. He was undefeated and finished head of Dr. Max Euwe who was a full point behind. 

    In April an international tournament was held in Margate, England; there it was the legendary Paul Keres who finished ahead of Jose Capablanca and Salo Flohr. The USSR Chess Championship, held in Leningrad, was won by Mikhail Botvinnik. The US Open, held in New York, was won by another legend, Reuben Fine ahead of Samuel Reshevsky and I. A. Horowitz. 

    The Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires, Argentina was held between August 21 and September 19. The finals commenced on September 1st, the same day the war broke out. The English team was the only team to return home immediately. The US was not playing. 

    Germany (Eliskases, Michel, Engels, Becker, Reinhardt) won the gold medal, Poland silver, and Estonia bronze. Vera Menchik-Stevenson won the Women’s World Championship. At the conclusion of the Olympiad many participants decided to stay in Argentina or moved elsewhere in South America. 

    On December 27, 1939, the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation formed the United States Chess Federation. 

    In a far away land called California, a couple of neglected and long forgotten masters played a match that ended up tied. They were Adolph J. Fink (1890-1956) and Charles Bagby (1903-1975), both of San Francisco.

 

 

    Both were largely neglected "minor" masters, but Fink was an internationally known problem composer and both were prominent figures in California chess for many years. 

    During World War One Fink served as a Corporal in the Army in France and upon his return was Vice-President of the Good Companion Chess Problem Club. Like many problemists Fink excelled in the ending and for many years he performed adjudications for California events. 

    He won the California State Championship in 1922, 1928, and 1929, tied for first in 1945 and finished in second place in 1923, 1925, 1926 and tied in 1948.

    In 1932, in the Pasadena international tournament Fink finished last, scoring 3-8, but that was a creditable score against players like Alekhine, Kashdan, Dake, Reshevsky and Fine. 

    In1906, there was a great earthquake and fire in San Francisco in which the death toll was estimated at over 3,000 and about 200,000 people were left homeless. After the earthquake Fink and his family, along with thousands of others, sought refuge and camped out in the hills surrounding the city. It was during that time that he began studying chess. 

    Upon return to normalcy Fink improved his play by joining the Mechanics' Institute. He was strong enough to have drawn Capablanca, Marshall and Kostic in simultaneous games. 

    Charles L. Bagby was a San Francisco lawyer. His victories included the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club championship in 1923, the Northern California Championship in 1949 and 1950, and the California championship in 1958. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Mechanics’ Institute starting in 1940 and served until his death, longer than any Trustee in the history of the Institute. 

    “Mr. Bagby” as he was always known in his later years was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, a graduate of the University of Washington and he practiced law in San Francisco for nearly 40 years. Besides chess, Bagby had interest in mathematics, classical languages and the American Civil War. 

    As mentioned, Bagny was an underappreciated player. In 1971, while he was still alive, the then USCF Executive Director Ed Edmonson was approached and asked about honoring Bagby with the title Master Emeritus. Edmonson’s haughty reply was, "Not a chance! Don't waste your time applying for it." 

[Event "Match, San Francisco"] [Site ""] [Date "1939.04.26"] [Round "2"] [White "Charles L Bagby"] [Black "Adolf J. Fink"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D57"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "1939.??.??"] {D57: Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense} 1. d4 {This game is pretty boring for a while, but there is some excitement coming.} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4 Ne4 {This is Lasker's Defense; it's a solid variation that often leading to the exchange of two sets of minor pieces.} 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 exd5 12. Qb3 c6 13. Bd3 Nd7 (13... b6 14. O-O Nd7 15. c4 dxc4 16. Bxc4 c5 17. a4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nc5 { and the players shook hands. Unzicker,W (2510)-Spassky,B (2615) Bad Kissingen 1980}) 14. O-O (14. a4 Nf6 15. Qa3 Qxa3 16. Rxa3 Ne8 17. O-O {is equal. Supi,L (2546)-Matsuura,F (2248) Florianopolis BRA 2019}) 14... Re8 {Equally playable was 14...Nf6} 15. c4 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Nb6 17. Bd3 Be6 18. Qb2 Bd5 19. a4 Nc4 20. Qc2 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Nd6 22. Kh1 {White has plans involving the g-file.} Qf6 23. Be2 Nf5 24. Rab1 Re7 25. Rg1 Rae8 {A microscopic slip. The Rs have no future on the e-file, so the more active. 25...c5 would have been better.} 26. Rg4 { The strong threat is Rf4} Nh4 {Not a good move at all.} (26... Nxe3 {Thus little tactical shot is probably better than a passive defense with 26...g6} 27. fxe3 Rxe3 28. Rg2 Qxd4 29. Rxb7 Rxf3 {and after 30.Rb1 or 30.Qb2 black can fight on. White must avoi playing} 30. Bxf3 Re1+ 31. Rg1 Rxg1#) 27. Rbg1 g6 { Suddenly black has landed in serious difficulties.} 28. f4 {This dissipates all of white's advantage.} (28. Bc4 {keeps up the pressure.} Kh8 29. Rf4 Nf5 30. Bd3 (30. e4 {runs into} Nxd4) 30... Rg8 31. Rgg4 Ree8 32. h4 {with a dnferous attack brewing.}) 28... Qf5 (28... Kh8 29. Bd3 Nf3 30. R1g3 Ne1 31. Qb1 Nxd3 32. Qxd3 {and black has survived.}) 29. Qxf5 Nxf5 30. Bd3 Kh7 (30... Nd6 31. Bxg6 fxg6 32. Rxg6+) (30... Ng7 31. f5 Rd7 32. fxg6 f6 33. Rh4 { is decisive.}) 31. h4 {Even with the Qs off white still has an attack, but black still may be able to survive.} (31. Bxf5 {would be a terrible mistake. After} gxf5 32. Rg7+ Kh8 33. R7g3 Rc7 {Black’s Q-side P-majority assures him of at least equal chances.}) 31... Ng7 (31... h5 {was a better defense.} 32. Rg5 Nxe3 33. fxe3 Rxe3 34. Bb1 Kg7 35. f5 Rh3+ 36. Kg2 Rxh4 37. fxg6 fxg6 38. Rxg6+ Kf7 39. Rf1+ Ke7 40. Rg7+ Kd6 41. Rf6+ Kd5 42. Rxb7 Rg8+ 43. Kf1 Rh1+ 44. Ke2 Rh2+ 45. Rf2 Re8+ 46. Kf1 Rxf2+ 47. Kxf2 Kxd4 48. Rxa7 c5 {and black might survive after all.}) 32. h5 Nxh5 33. f5 gxf5 34. Bxf5+ Kh8 35. Rh4 Ng7 36. Rxh6+ Kg8 37. Bd3 Rd7 38. Rh7 f6 39. Rh6 {Black resigned.} (39. Rh6 Rf8 40. Bc4+ Rff7 41. Rxf6 {etc.}) 1-0

Anthony Guest, Amateur Champion

    Anthony Guest (1856 – January 29, 1925, 68 years old) was a strong British amateur and the 1888 British Amateur Champion. 

    Guest was the best of the British amateur players players of his day and at the time was well known because of his popular chess column in the Morning Post. He was also editor for a short time of the chess columns in several other publications.

    In about 1876 he was receiving Rook odds from Isadore Gunsberg and J.H. Blackburne and Knight odds from master and chess journalist William Potter. However, it wasn’t long before he improved to the point that such odds were not necessary. 

    He gained his practice playing sped chess at local chess clubs where local businessmen met for lunch and a few quicjk games. Guest found it relaxation from business on the Stock Exchange where he was at one time a member. 

    His first attempt at serious play was an unsuccessful appearance in a handicap at the City of London Chess Club. Later he won two handicaps at a local club. 

    In 1884, receiving Pawn and move, he finished second behind James Mason in the handicap at the famous Simpson's Divan. In that even Blackburne was among the participants. 

    In 885, Guest played top board in the first match played in Paris between representatives of England and France. Guesst had a superior position, but let is slip. The game was unfinished and was eventually adjudicated as a draw. 

    The following year after he won the Amateur Championship, Guest started the Bohemian, a paper which dealt with all matters of current interest and, also, featured chess. He resigned as editor after about six months, and was succeeded by James Mortimer. The paper, although very popular among chess players, did not find support from the general public and was discontinued. 

    Over the years Guest took part in a number of competitions, both masters and amateurs. with varying success. He also composed several problems. 

    Guest was also an artist and some of his drawings appeared in various magazines. He wrote many articles for photography magazines and he published (or had his stories published) in many books including some children's books. 

 

 

    n the following game he defeats Wordsworth Donisthorpe (1847-1914, 66 years old). In addition to being a chess enthusiast, he was an English barrister, individualist anarchist, inventor, and pioneer of cinematography. In 1885, he co-founded both the British Chess Association and the British Chess Club. He died in Shottermill, England. 

[Event "B.C.A Amateur Chp, Bradford"] [Site ""] [Date "1886.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Antony Guest"] [Black "Wordsworth Donisthorpe"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B00"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "1886.??.??"] [Source ""] {B00: Owen's Defense} 1. e4 b6 {This is aka as the Queen's Fianchetto Defense, today it has a dubious reputation. At the time, the strong British amateur Rev. Joh n Owen (1827-1901) played it on a regular basis as his main defense for mosty of his career.} 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 {[%mdl 32]} e6 4. Be3 d5 (4... c5 5. dxc5 bxc5 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. f4 Nf6 {equals. Petakov,U (2346)-Bokros,A (2483) Novi Sad 2017}) (4... d6 5. Ne2 g6 6. c4 Bg7 7. Nbc3 Nc6 8. Bc2 Nf6 { equals. Nukin,T (2093)-Isanzhulov,A (2305) Almaty KAZ 2019}) 5. e5 c5 (5... Ba6 6. Nf3 c5 7. c3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Nc6 9. O-O Qd7 {equals. Rodrigo Yanguas,M (1999) -Mestre Bellido,H (2284) Padrun 2008}) 6. c3 c4 {This move, releasing pressure on white's center, is not a very good idea. Simply 6...Nc5 was OK.} 7. Bc2 $16 b5 8. Nf3 {One already suspects that trouble is brewing for black.} a5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Ng5 h6 {This unfortunate little move loses outright.} (10... g6 { is a must. White will get a string attack going, but at least it avoids the immediate disaster that follows.} 11. Qf3 Qd7 12. a3 h6 13. Nh3 a4 14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Rae1 Kb8 16. Nf4 {White is better, but he cannot lay claim to a huge advantage.}) 11. Qh5 {Effectively ending the game. There is no defense to the attack on f7.} g6 (11... Qd7 12. Nxf7 Qxf7 13. Bg6) (11... hxg5 12. Qxh8 Nh6 { just loses a R with no compensation.}) 12. Bxg6 {[%mdl 512]} hxg5 (12... fxg6 13. Qxg6+ Kd7 14. Qxe6+ Kc7 15. Nf7 {and there is no reason for black to play on.}) 13. Bxf7+ Kd7 14. Qxh8 Nh6 {Black could resign here, but nobody likes to to victim of a miniature so he plays on.} 15. Bh5 (15. Bxe6+ {was also quite good, but it requires a bit of calculation to arrive at} Kxe6 16. f4 Nf5 17. fxg5 Bg7 18. Qh7 Nce7 19. Rxf5 Nxf5 20. Qg6+ Ke7 21. Qxf5) 15... Qe7 16. Qf6 Qxf6 17. exf6 Bd6 18. Bxg5 Nf5 19. Nd2 Rh8 20. g4 {[%mdl 32]} e5 21. Bg6 Nh4 22. Bxh4 Rxh4 23. Bf5+ Kc7 24. Nf3 Rh6 25. g5 Rh8 26. g6 e4 27. g7 {Black finally resigned.} (27. g7 Rg8 28. Ng5 Bc8 29. Bh7 {etc.}) 1-0

Sydney T. Sharp

    It’s unlikely that the name Sydney T. Sharp (1885-1953, 68 years old) will be familiar to anyone, but he was long recognized as one of the country’s best players and his record in Pennsylvania was unequaled. 

    He won the state championship 10 times (1908, 1913, 1915, 1916, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1932 and 1937). Thee merit of that achievement is enhanced by the fact that in those days it was a knockout affair in which the loss of a point-and-a-half meant elimination. 

    A steady player with a thorough knowledge of opening theory, his style was positional and he was content with minute advantages. But, when the time came he could engage in tactics with the best. 

    Sharp learned the game at the age of 15 from his father. In 1900, chess in Philadelphia was flourishing and the Franklin Chess Club was the gathering place for all the notable enthusiasts who met almost daily. Sharp entered this scene in 1900 and some of his progress was attributed to playing against the club’s best players.

    Sharp played a lot of visiting luminaries in simultaneous play and he scored victories against Lasker, Capablanca and Marshall. 

    In the following game a rising young star named Isaac Kashdan fell to Sharp in the 1926 Manhattan vs Philadelphia team match. 

[Event "Manhattan CC - Franklin CC"] [Site "New York, NY USA"] [Date "1926.02.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Isaac Kashdan"] [Black "Sydney T. Sharp"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C43"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "1926.??.??"] {C43: Petroff Defense} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Black avoids several white openings and counterattacks the centrer. This defense has has a drawish reputation, but there are a few sharp lines.} 3. d4 {The Classical Variation is .Nxe5 while the text is the Steinitz Variation although it was known long before him. Statistically there's not much difference between the two.} Nxe4 {Black can capture either Pawn. 3...d6 transposes into the Philidor Defense.} 4. dxe5 d5 5. exd6 {Very benign and typical of Kashdan's circumspect style.} Bxd6 6. Bc4 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 {[%mdl 32] In this position it appears that nothing is happening and white's next move occupying the open file and chasing the N away looks plausible, but it's a slight mistake that allows black to get slightly the better of it. White should play 8.Nbd2} 8. Re1 Bg4 {This is annoying to white; the threat is ... Ne5. It's somewhat surorising, but this position is very tricky for white.} 9. h3 {[%mdl 8192] A tactical blooper!} (9. Nbd2 {Watch this...} Nxd2 10. Bxd2 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Qh4 12. Bb3 Qxh2+ 13. Kf1 Qh1+ {0-1 Gibbs,J-Cunningham,T Lincoln 1969}) (9. Be3 {is white's best defense, but black stands well after} Qf6 10. Bd5 Rae8 11. Bxe4 (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qd4 Qg6 13. Nbd2 f5 {with a good game.}) 11... Rxe4 12. Nbd2 Re7 13. c3 Qg6 {Black stands well.}) 9... Nxf2 {[%mdl 512] An unexpected gut punch.} (9... Bxf3 {This is probablt what Kashdan expected with equality resulting after} 10. Qxf3 Nf6) 10. Qe2 (10. Kxf2 {is met by} Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Qh4+ 12. Kf1 Qxc4+ 13. Qe2 Qh4 {with a winning position.}) 10... Nxh3+ {[%mdl 512]} 11. gxh3 {Sharp conducts the remainder of the game with great precision.} Nd4 {[%mdl 512] What a great move!} 12. hxg4 {This is the best he has, but he is still lost no matter what he plays.} (12. Qe4 Nxf3+ 13. Kg2 Nxe1+ 14. Qxe1 Bxh3+ 15. Kxh3 Qd7+ 16. Kg2 Qg4+ 17. Kf1 Qh3+ 18. Kg1 Bh2+ 19. Kf2 Bg3+) 12... Nxe2+ 13. Rxe2 {White has three pieces for the Q (not counting black;s two extra Ps), but his K is exposed and three of his pieces are undeveloped. Black is winning.} Qd7 14. Rg2 Bc5+ 15. Kh2 Qd1 {White is bound hand and foot.} 16. Nbd2 Rad8 17. Bd3 Rfe8 18. Ne4 Qxf3 19. Nxc5 Re1 {The threat is ...Rd4} 20. Nb3 c5 21. Bg5 Rxa1 22. Nxa1 Re8 23. Nb3 {Kashdan has finally managed to get all his pieces into play, but Dharp now demonstrates that he has everything under control.} Qd5 {Threatening ...c4} 24. Bf5 g6 { The B has to retreat and we're back to black playing ...c4, right?} 25. Bh6 { No! White sets an trap...obvious, but it's still a trap.} Re1 (25... gxf5 26. gxf5+ Qxg2+ {The snag in white's trick.} (26... Kh8 27. Bg7+ Kg8 28. Bh6+ Kh8 29. Bg7+ Kg8 30. Bh6+ {Draw by 3-fold repitition.}) 27. Kxg2 Re2+ 28. Kf3 Rxc2 29. a3 Rxb2 {and black has an easy win.}) 26. c4 Qd8 27. Kg3 {Prevents ...Qh4+. } (27. Bc2 Qh4#) 27... gxf5 28. gxf5 {Kashdan has one more trick up his sleeve. } Kh8 {Prudent!} (28... f6 {And the tables are turned.} 29. Kf2+ Kf7 30. Rg7+ Ke8 31. Rg8+ Ke7 32. Rxd8 Kxd8 33. Kxe1 {White wins.}) 29. Rd2 {Prevents ... Qd3+.} Qf6 30. Bf4 h5 31. Rd5 Qg7+ {Forcing mate so white resigneed.} (31... Qg7+ 32. Kf2 Qg1+ 33. Kf3 Qg4+ 34. Kf2 Re2+ 35. Kf1 Qg2#) 0-1

1856 New York City Chess Club Championship

    This knock-out tournament charges a $3.00 entry fee which made up the prize fund. The entry fee in 1856 was equivalent to about $108.0 today. The competitors were paired by lot. The winner of a match was the player who scored three wins. Draws had to be replayed and the second result stood. There was the stipulation that in the last match the winner had to win five games. The games were played at the chess club and at least one game per week had to be played. Unless a player could prove he was sick, not showing up for a game meant a forfeit. 

    The eight participants were: C.E. Anderson, William J.A. Fuller, Albert R. Gallantin, Adelmour W. King, Thomas Loyd, Napoleon Marache, Frederick Perrin, and W.S. Wheelwright. 

    The tournament took months. In April of 1856, Marache and Perrin were the finlist, but the match was not concluded until August of1856, Marache won a silver cup. 

 

    Frederick Perrin (December 5,1815 – January 27m 1889) was born in London; he moved to the United States in 1845. He played in the American Chess Congress at New York 1857 (Morphy won) and om Chicago in 1874 (George H. Mackenzie won). He participated several times in the New York Chess Club tournament, winning in 1859. 

    Perrin, who was fluent in English, French and German ,was a professor of languages at Princeton College. In the 1850s he was president of the New York Chess Club and in his later years he was an honorary member of the Brooklyn Chess Club. 

Location of Perrin's home today

    He died of pneumonia at home in Brooklyn after having been ill for three weeks. 

    Napoleon Marache (June 15, 1818 – May 11, 1875) was a player, problem composer and journalist. He was born in France and moved to the United States at around age of 12. 

    He learned to ply chess around the late age of 26. It was said his progress was so rapid that within 3 weeks he was giving his tutor odds of a Rook! Within a year began composing problems and writing about the game the following year. 

    In 1866, he published Marache's Manual of Chess, which was one of the country's first chess books; it also had a section on backgammon making it one of the country’s first books on that game also. 

    In 1846, he started publishing the periodical The Chess Palladium and Mathematical Sphinx. At approximately the same time, Charles Stanley started publishing The American Chess Magazine. 

    A brazen feud erupted between the two. Stanley called the rival magazine, "a most ridiculous jumble of unintelligible nonsense" and "sixteen pages of soiled waste-paper." He might have been right; only three issues of Marache's magazine were published (October, November, and December 1846). Stanley’s magazine did better; it ceased publication in 1847. 

    In the 1850s and 1860s, Marache was the chess editor and chess columnist for several newspapers. In 1865, he wrote the chess section for a Hoyle's guide to games. 

    After the end of the Civil War, Morphy went to New York to work on a collection of his games and was assisted by Marache and Charles A. Gilberg, but the book was never published owing to a dispute between Morphy and the publishers. 

[Event "New York City CC Champ (Finals)"] [Site "?"] [Date "1856.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Frederick Perrin"] [Black "Napoleon Marache"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C40"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "1856.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2024.01.24"] {Latvian Gambit} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 {Marache played this (the Latvian Gambit) several times in this match. Im the old daysit was known as the Greco Countergambit. While aggressive, it has long been condemned by authorities as weak and unsound. However, it's one of the oldest openings, having been analysed in the 16th century by Polerio and then the 17th century Greco. Dutch GM Paul van der Sterren observed that what is needed to play the Latvian is a sharp eye for tactics and a mental attitude of total contempt for whatever theory has to say about it. The main, and best, line is 3,Nxe5} 3. exf5 Qf6 { While this move is frequently played here in the main line, in this variation it is a very poor choice.} (3... Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. Qxd4 Nf6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bc4+ Kh8 10. O-O-O c6 11. Rhe1 {1/2-1/2 (30) Mayet,C-Von Heydebrand und der Lasa,T Berlin 1839}) (3... e4 {is black's best response.} 4. Nd4 Qf6 {Goos now ...it attacks the N/} 5. Qh5+ {This should favor black. 5. Nb5 leaves white with a slight edge.} g6 6. fxg6 hxg6 7. Qd5 Ne7 8. Qxe4 Rh4 { Black went on to lose even at this point he has a significant advantage. Larry Evans-Kon Grivainis, Munich 1958}) 4. Qe2 d6 5. d4 Nc6 6. dxe5 dxe5 (6... Nxe5 {was of about equal value.} 7. g4 (7. Bg5 Qxf5 {with only a slight edge for white.}) 7... Ne7 8. Nc3 Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 h5 10. h3 g6 {and white's advantage is practically decisive.}) 7. g4 h5 {Slightly better would have been 7...h6} 8. Bg5 Qd6 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. Nb5 {There can be little doubt that black's opening strategy has been a total bust.} Qe7 11. Nh4 {Well played; after this move, we cannot say much in favor of Black's game.} Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Qxe7+ Bxe7 14. Ng6 Rh7 15. O-O-O Bd6 16. Bxf6 (16. Bb5+ {was an even more solid blow} Bd7 17. Rhe1+ Kd8 18. Bxd7 Kxd7 19. Ne5+ Kc8 20. Nc4 Bb4 21. c3 b5 (21... dxc3 22. Re8+ Nxe8 23. Rd8#) 22. cxb4 bxc4 23. Rxd4 {with a winning position.}) 16... gxf6 { Now practically any reasonable move leaves white with a won position.} 17. f3 { [%mdl 32]} hxg4 18. fxg4 Bd7 {As is often the case, white's ganme will ot win itself and care must be taken. For example, the good looking 19.Rxd4 would be horrible!} 19. Bg2 (19. Rxd4 Bc6 20. Rg1 Bxh2 {wins the exchange and leaves black better.}) 19... O-O-O 20. h4 {[%mdl 32]} (20. Rxd4 {is not as bad as it would have been last move, but it would diminish white's advantage.} Rxh2 21. Rxh2 Bxh2 {White has an endgame advantage, but black is far from being ready to resign.}) 20... Bc5 21. h5 Bb5 22. Rhe1 d3 23. cxd3 Bxd3 24. Nf4 Rhd7 25. Ne6 {The knockout punch.} (25. Nxd3 {is much less strong.} Rxd3 26. Rxd3 Rxd3 $16 27. g5 fxg5 28. f6 Re3 29. Rh1 Re8 30. h6 Rh8 31. h7 g4 {and black can hold out for a long time. In Shoorouts white scored +4 -0 =1, but the games were long (some well over 100 moves) and arduous.}) 25... Bf8 26. Nxf8 (26. Nxd8 {As mentioned previouisly, having a winning position does mean one can relax!} Bh6+ 27. Rd2 Bxf5 {and black has equalized after either 28.Red1 or 28. Ree2. But he must not play...} 28. gxf5 Bxd2+ 29. Kd1 Bxe1+ 30. Kxe1 Rxd8 { and black should win.}) 26... Rxf8 27. Re3 Bc4 {Another oversight...not that it matters because after 27...Rfd8 he is still lost.} 28. Bxb7+ Kd8 29. Rxd7+ Kxd7 30. Bg2 Rg8 31. Bf3 Bxa2 {Trapping his own B...not that it matters.} 32. b3 Bxb3 33. Rxb3 Ke7 34. Rb7 Kd6 35. Rxa7 Rg7 36. Kd2 {Black resigned. It will take a while, but the ending is hopeless.} (36. Kd2 Kc5 37. Ra6 Kd4 38. Re6 Rf7 39. Re4+ Kc5 40. Ke3 Kb5 41. Be2+ Ka5 42. Kd4 Kb4 43. Kd5+ Kc3 44. Ke6 Rf8 45. Ke7 Rb8 46. Kxf6 {etc.}) 1-0

A Lucky Win for Lionel Joyner

    In California in 1952, Larry Evans retained his US title when he smashed his predecessor Herman Steiner 10-4 in a match. Yugoslav GM Svetozar Gligoric won the Hollywood International. 

    The North won the annual North-South team match by a score of 32-27; Vladimir Pafnutieff of the North lost to Herman Steiner of the South. Henry Gross and Irving Rivise tied for the California State Championship and Sven Almgren won the California Open Championship. The Santa Monica CC beat Long Beach CC in a match by a score of 10.5-9.5. 

    The Los Angeles County Championship whet to Lionel Joyner after he defeated Morris Gordon 3-1 in the playoff. Here’s a Joyner win from that event. 

 

    Lionel Joyner ( 1932 – 2001) was born on the 28th of March 1932 in Montreal, Canada. He was Canada's representative to the first World Junior Championship in 1951. 

    He scored 5-4, tying for fourth, in the 1952 Hollywood International and in 1958, he played on the Canadian team as alternate at the Chess Olympiad where he scored 7-6. 

    Joyner shared first place in the 1975 Paul Keres Memorial Tournament in Vancouver. He was Canadian Closed Champion in 1961 and the Canadian Open Champion in 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1960. 

    He was a strong postal player and won the prestigious Chess Review’s Golden Knights Postal Tournament in 1961-62. 

    I could not locate anything on his opponent, Morris Gordon, other than he was the Los Angeles City Champion in 1946. 

     In his annotations Joyner did not think Gordon handled the opening well, but, in fact, the chances were quite equal until move 21 when Gordon launched an ill conceived K-side attack After a few vicissitudes by both sides Joyner managed to secure a clearly won position. But...at move 37 he blundered when he overlooked a tactical shot that would have won the game for Gordon. As for Gordon, he counterblundered and overlooked the same tactical shot and so ended up losing.

[Event "51-52 Los Angeles County Champ"] [Site "?"] [Date "1951.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Morris Gordon"] [Black "Lionel Joyner"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C02"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "1951.??.??"] {C02: French: Advance Variation} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {The Advance (sometimes called the Steinitz) Variation offers white no particular advantage. It's quiet and solid and it's a good choice for players who don’t know a lot theory on the French or those who prefer strategic battles over tactical ones.} c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 {The alternative is 5...Bd7. There's not much difference between them.} 6. Be2 (6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 {is considered the Main Line. Note that the difference between this position and the one reached in the game after 8... Nf5 is that here white has expanded on the Q-side which gives him more play.}) 6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Nge7 8. Nc3 Nf5 9. Bb5 (9. Na4 {While white's text move is not bad and is not new, this seems more precise.} Qa5+ {Here white has a choice of equalizing moves: 10.Kf1, 10. Bd2 and 10.Nc3}) 9... Bb4 (9... Bd7 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O c5 12. Na4 Qa5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Qxc5 {with equalk chances as in Keitlinghaus,L (2515)-Hoang Thanh Trang (2360) Budapest 1996}) 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. O-O c5 {This is premature because it should have allowed white to seize the initiative and obtain a strong position on the Q-side.} (11... Ba6 {and Black has nothing to worry.} 12. Re1 O-O {is equal.}) 12. a3 {White misses a chance to grab an advantage.} (12. Na4 Qc7 13. a3 Ba5 14. Nxc5 (14. dxc5 {threatening to trap the B is equally good.} Qd7 15. b4 Bc7 {and white is clearly better.}) 14... Bb6 15. b4) 12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6 14. Re1 O-O 15. a4 {White wants to occupy the diagonal and eyes d6 as a potential square for his B.} Rfc8 {[%mdl 32]} ( 15... Rfb8 16. g4 Nh6 17. Bxh6 gxh6 {as in Kieran,R (2084)-Shaw,D (2165) London 2004 where white is better.}) 16. Ba3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Rc3 {An attemot to seize the initiative. It succeeds because white doe snot find the best defense. } 18. Rb1 Qc6 19. Bc5 Rd3 20. Qc1 Qxa4 21. Qg5 {This is not really a blunder, but the action is on the Q-side and white really has no more than slender chances of launching a successfull attack on black's K.} (21. Ra1 Qc4 22. Qb2 { is equal. Black's extra P on a7 is superfluous.}) 21... Qd7 {This is overreaction to a preceived threat!} (21... Rxf3 {A clever reply. After} 22. gxf3 h6 23. Qd2 Bc4 24. Ra1 Qb3 25. Ra3 Qb8 26. Rea1 a6 {A dicey position! In Shootouts white scored +o -2 =3}) 22. h3 {Here ot on the next move Qf4 was a safer alternative, but white is intent on attacking.} Bc4 23. Nh2 Nxd4 { This results in needless complications. The straightforward advance of the a-Pawn was much better.} (23... a5 24. Ng4 Qc7 (24... a4 25. Nf6+ {wins}) 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Nh5 h6 27. Qf4 {The attack has been beaten back anbd black can proceed with...} a4 {with a clear advantage.}) 24. Ng4 Kh8 25. Bxd4 {[%mdl 8192] After this white's positionnis clearly inferior.} (25. Be7 {keeps him in the game. For example...} Nf5 26. Bf6 gxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Qg5+ {draws by repetition. But not...} Kf8 29. Nf6 Qc6 30. Nxh7+ Ke8 31. Nf6+ Kf8 (31... Ke7 32. Rec1 {Whits has all kinds of tricks.} a5 33. Rb6 Qxb6 34. Nxd5+) 32. h4 { with a decisive advantage.}) 25... Rxd4 26. Re3 Qd8 27. Qh5 Bd3 {White is lost because of the threat ...Bg6 trapping his Q.} 28. Rxd3 {Eliminating the B was his only feasible option.} Rxd3 29. Qxf7 Qe8 30. Qc7 Qc8 31. Qf7 Qg8 32. Qc7 { Of course white cannot afford to trade Qs. Now the attack on black's K is over. ..or is it?!} Rd4 33. Rb7 a5 34. Qe7 Rf4 35. g3 Rff8 36. h4 a4 37. h5 { Threatens to win with h6.} a3 {[%mdl 8192] The chess term for this kind of move is "blundering in a won position." We'v all done it.} (37... h6 { eliminates all danger.} 38. Ra7 Rxa7 39. Qxa7 Ra8 {advances the a-Pawn and wraps it up.}) 38. Nf6 {When he annotated this game for Chess Life it's surprising that Joyner completely missed this move. In fact. he was sure he was winning and all he had to do was advance yje a-Pawn.} (38. h6 {...and wins! } gxh6 39. Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:04] is mate in} Rf7 40. Qxf7 Qxf7 41. Rxf7 Ra7 42. Rxa7 a2 43. Rxh7#) 38... gxf6 {Things now are a bit tricky, but black has the win in hand.} 39. exf6 (39. Rb1 {holds out a wee bit longer, but it, too, is hopeless.} Qf7 40. Qb4 a2 41. Ra1 fxe5 42. Qb2 Qxh5) 39... Rf7 {[%mdl 512] Of course 39...a2 also wins.} 40. Qxf7 Qxf7 41. Rxf7 h6 {Even better was 41...a2} 42. Re7 a2 43. f7 a1=Q+ {White resigned} 0-1

The Amazing Edith Price

    Edith Price (1872-1956, 84 years old) won the British Women's Championship five times: 1922, 1923, 1924, 1928,\ and 1948). When she won the championship in 1948, at the age of 76 she became the oldest player ever to win a national championship. 

    She played in her first Ladies Championship in 1912, finishing second and almost took the title in 1920 and 1921, when she narrowly missed out in the playoffs, after tying for first. 

    In 1898 she founded the Gambit Chess Room for men only except for waitresses. The club was open every day except for two days in 1940 when it was bombed during a Nazi air raid. 

    In addition to here chess she was a prolific author and illustrator of children's books. In the field of children’s books she was best known for the imaginative stories and illustrations she created for 37 different books and stories. 

 

 

    Her grandfather was landscape painter William Trost Richards, who first inspired her to draw. Price received her training in the United States at the Boston's School of the Museum of Fine Arts and the New York Art Students League and the National Academy of Design. Her early works were often published in in general interest magazines and those aimed at children. 

    Around 1914, she was the chief founders of the Brownies, a version of the Girl Scouts for younger girls of around the age of 7 or 8. Price also recorded a large number of folk songs in 1945. 

[Event "British Ladies' Chp, Southport"] [Site "Southport"] [Date "1924.08.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Edith Price"] [Black "Rosa Banting"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [Annotator "Stockfish 16"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "1924.??.??"] {C41: Philidor Defence} 1. e4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. d4 e5 4. c3 Nf6 {This is questionable because it loses a P and white gets a superior ending.} (4... Nd7 5. h3 Bh5 6. Bc4 Ngf6 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 c6 {equals. Pichot,A (2638) -Goroshkov,M (2278) chess.com INT 2023}) 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Nxe5 Be6 8. Bd3 {White is clearly better.} Bd6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. O-O Ne5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 { It looks like a long, boring ending is coming, but that turns out npot to be the case.} 12. Be3 {But this logical developing move is a tactical mistake that should have allowed black to equalize. 12.Bd2 would gave kept a good advantage.} c6 (12... Ng4 {and Black has nothing to worry.} 13. h3 (13. Bd4 Bxh2+) 13... Bh2+ 14. Kh1 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bg3) 13. h3 h6 14. Nd2 {f4 is the strong threat.} b6 {Black ignores the threat to her detriment.} (14... g5 15. Bc4 Nd7 (15... Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Bc7 17. f4 gxf4 18. Bxf4 Nxe4 19. Rad1+ Kc8 20. Bxc7 Kxc7 21. Rxf7+ Kc8 22. Rdd7 {...and wins}) 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Rfd1 Bc7 18. Nb3 Ke7 {and black has some chance of surviving.}) 15. f4 {[%mdl 32]} Bc7 16. f5 Bd7 17. Rad1 b5 {Black has no really satisfactory defensive plan. All she can do is wait.} 18. Nb3 Re8 19. Nc5 Bb6 20. Rfe1 Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Kc7 22. Bc2 Ng8 23. e5 {[%mdl 32] Moving in for the kill!} Rad8 24. g4 a5 25. Bb3 f6 26. e6 Bc8 27. Rxd8 Kxd8 28. Bb6+ Ke7 29. Bxa5 Kf8 30. Rd1 Ke7 (30... Ne7 {avoids mate, but black would still be hopelessly lost after} 31. Bb4 g6 32. Kf2 gxf5 33. gxf5 h5 34. Ke3 h4 35. Bc5 {Black is pretty much out of moves.} Bb7 36. Rd7 Bc8 37. Rc7 Ba6 38. Rxc6 {etc.}) 31. Bb4+ {It's mate after 31...c5 32. Bxc5# and so black resigned.} 1-0

Richter’s Double Rook Sacrifice

    A major advantage of the fianchettoed King’s position is its ability to resist an attack. However, if the fianchettoed Bishop is exchanged the King’s position is seriously weakened. And, without the fianchettoed Bishop, the opening of the g-file and the weakness of f6 and g6 (or f3 and g3) can be significant. 

    Also, remember that the position of the g-Pawn can make the attacker's task of opening up the h-file by the advance of his h-Pawn a dangerous possibility. 

    Short version...without the Bishop the castled position becomes weak and vulnerable and the squares that the missing Bishop covered result in a serious weakness. 

    An attack against the fianchettoed position is typically carried out by a Pawn advance and, hopefully, the elimination of the Bishop and the breaking up of the Pawn structure in front of the King. 

Kurt Richter

    The following ame by the great attacking genius Kurt Richter shows him sacrifices both Rooks for the fianchettoed Bishop in order to finish the game by an attack on the weakened dark-squares around the King. The game is not only a delight to play over, but it’s also very instructive. Note: some sources give slight opening transpositionm but they do not affect the game. 

    Kurt Richter (1900-1969) was born in Berlin in 1900 and was awarded the IM title in 1950 on the first designation of titleholders. He was a sharp attacking player and theoretician. 

    His opponent, Leonhard Abramavisius (1900 (?) -1960) was a Lithuanian master. In 1950, he tied for 1st in the Lithuanian championship. 

[Event "Hamburg Olympiad"] [Site "Hamburg GER"] [Date "1930.07.18"] [Round "8"] [White "Kurt Richter (Germany)"] [Black "Leonardas Abramavicius (Lith)"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C11"] [Annotator "Stockfish 15"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "1930.07.13"] {Vereson Attack} 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 {In the Veresov white plays for fast development. He will often play e2-e4. And, frequently players castle on opposides making for some interesting play. Here the game reached a what appears to be a rather benign position from the French Defense. As will be seemn, appearances can be deceptive.} e6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Qe2 c5 10. O-O-O cxd4 11. g4 (11. h4 Be7 12. Neg5 (12. Kb1 Qb6 13. Ka1 Nc5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. Ng5 g6 16. f4 {as in Negi,P (2634)-Ghane, S (2375) Dubai UAE 2010. Whie has a promising position.}) 12... Nf6 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. g4 Bd6 15. f4 b6 16. Rhf1 Bb7 17. Bc4 {with equal chances. Sutovsky,E (2660)-Ivanchuk,V (2711) Moscow 2002}) (11. Nxf6+ {is playable' it results in equality.} Qxf6 (11... Nxf6 12. Nxd4 Bd7) 12. Qe4 Qh6+ 13. Kb1 Nf6 14. Qxd4) 11... g6 (11... Be7 12. h4 (12. g5 Qa5 13. Kb1 Nc5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. Rhg1 { Philippe,C (2392)-De Val,D (2149) Pula 2005. White's position us the more active.}) 12... Qc7 13. Kb1 b6 14. Nfg5 Bb7 15. Nxh7 Kxh7 16. Nf6+ {White is considerably better. Sutovsky,E (2661)-Kovacevic,A (2559) Neum 2004}) 12. h4 { Black's position is quite solid and his next move looks plausible. But, it is, in fact, a seriuous mistake.} Bg7 (12... b6 {An odd looking way to defend against the K-side attacck, but what ot does is allow black to escange off some attacking minor pieces.} 13. h5 Nc5 14. hxg6 (14. Nxc5 bxc5 15. hxg6 hxg6) 14... Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 fxg6 {The position is equal.}) 13. h5 {Black is now facing a dangerous attack.} Re8 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. g5 {It's hard to imagine the lurking danger on the h-file thanks to the defending B on g7.} e5 16. Rh4 Nf8 ( 16... b6 {is still his best defensive chance.} 17. Bc4 Nc5 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. gxf6 Qxf6 20. Rdh1 Bf5 {and black can probably survive.}) 17. Rdh1 Bf5 18. Qf1 {Planning toi sacrifice on h8} Rc8 {[%mdl 8192] Poor Abranavicius! He doesn't suspect a thing.} (18... Nd7 {had to be played.} 19. Rh8+ (19. Nfd2 Kf8 { leaves white clearly better, but there is no forced win.}) 19... Bxh8 20. Rxh8+ Kxh8 21. Qh1+ Kg8 {as in the game does not work because the N on d7 covers f6.} ) 19. Rh8+ {[%mdl 512] Brilliant!} Bxh8 20. Rxh8+ {[%mdl 512] This is the only followup that does not leave black winning!} Kxh8 21. Qh1+ Nh7 $2 (21... Kg8 { is a better defense.} 22. Nf6+ Qxf6 23. gxf6 Rc6 24. Bxf5 Rxf6 {Black is lost here, too, but he can at least make white work for the point. Here's how a Shootout variation went...} 25. Bd3 Kg7 26. Ng5 Re7 27. Qd5 Rc6 28. f4 exf4 29. Qxd4+ f6 30. Nf3 g5 31. Qxa7 Rd6 32. Qc5 Red7 33. Qf5 Re7 34. b4 Re3 35. Nd2 Rd4 36. Nc4 Re7 37. Kb2 Rc7 38. Kb3 Rcd7 39. a4 R7d5 40. Qc8 Rd7 41. Qe8 Rxd3+ 42. cxd3 Rxd3+ 43. Kc2 {[%eval 375,28] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} Rd7 44. Nd6 b6 45. Nf5+ Kg8 46. Kc3 Rc7+ 47. Kd2 Rh7 48. Ke1 Rd7 49. a5 bxa5 50. bxa5 Ra7 51. Qd8 Kf7 52. Qb6 Rd7 53. a6 Kg6 54. Nd6 g4 55. Qb1+ Kg7 56. Nf5+ Kf7 57. Nh6+ Kg7 58. Nxg4 Ng6 59. Qb6 f3 60. a7 Rxa7 61. Qxa7+ Kf8 62. Qd4 f2+ 63. Kxf2 Ne5 64. Qd8+ Kf7 65. Qxf6+ Ke8 66. Qe6+ Kd8 67. Nxe5 Kc7 68. Qc6+ Kb8 69. Nd7+ Ka7 70. Qb6+ Ka8 71. Qa6#) 22. Nf6 Kg7 23. Qh6+ {It's mate next move so black resigned.} 1-0