More thievery worthy of opprobrium!

     My October 22nd post addressed the issue of early draws and how some thought them to be dishonest. Shortly after making that post I came across an old article in which Samuel Reshevky lamented the fact that he was hornswoggled out of a chance to tie for first at Maribor 1967 when Udovcic agreed to a 14-move draw in the last round against Unzicker. We also learned in that article that Reshevsky did study openings although legend has it that he never did. 

     Maribor is the second-largest city in Slovenia. In 1941 it was in a region annexed by Nazi Germany. German troops marched into the town at 9pm on April 8, 1941. On April 26th Adolf Hitler visited Maribor and a grand reception was organized by the local Germans. Immediately after, Nazi Germany began mass expulsions of Slovenes to Croatia, Serbia and later to the concentration and work camps in Germany. 

     The Nazi goal was to Germanize the population of after the war. Slovene patriots were taken hostage and many were shot in the prisons of Maribor and Graz. Maribor was the site of a German prisoner-of-war camp from 1941 to 1945 for British, Australian, and New Zealand troops who had been captured in Crete in 1941. 

     In 1944, the largest mass rescue of POWs of the war in Europe took place when 105 Allied prisoners from the camp were freed by Slovene partisans. The city was systematically bombed by the Allies in the closing years of World War II.

     The raids devastated nearly half of the city and by the end of the war Maribor was the most war-damaged major town of Yugoslavia. After the War the German-speaking population, except those who had actively supported the resistance, was expelled in May 1945 and Croatian Home Guard members and their relatives were executed by the Yugoslav Army. 

     After Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia in 1991, the city's economy was severely strained and unemployment was at nearly 25 percent. In 2012–13 protests over the economy in Maribor spread to all of Slovenia. 

     In 1967 things were calmer and the big chess tournament held there (at the time Maribor was in Yugoslavia) was won by the man Karpov called “the world champion of amateurs”, Wolfgang Unzicker (1925-2006) of West Germany. Professionally Unzicker was an administrative judge in Munich. 

     He won seven West German Championships from 1948 until 1965 and in the 1950s was among the world's top twenty best players and in the 1960s and 1970s, the world's top fifty. He died on April 20, 2006, at the age of 81, during a vacation trip to Albufeira, Portugal. 

     Just before the start of the event the organizing committee was anxious to have the event classified as a 1A tournament which required the participation of eight GMs and four IMs. The problem was they had made a mistake in thinking one of the US invitees, William Addison of San Francisco was an IM, but he was not. 

     According to a Chess Life article, as a result Yugoslav Master Stojan Puc was uninvited and IM Nickolay Minev of Bulgaria and later of the United States, was substituted for Puc. Minev was in Yugoslavia and was contacted just as he was at the airport and was about to depart. I am not sure about this report because according to Wikipedia, Puc was awarded the IM title in 1950 and made an Honorary GM in 1984. What ever the circumstances, Minev's inclusion made it possible to obtain the IM title with a fifty percent score (7.5 points). 

     It's interesting to note that before the tournament started Addison told Reshevsky that he thought the field was relatively weak, but as the tournament progressed he was forced to change his tune. Addison did qualify for his IM title in this tournament, but only by the skin of his teeth when he made the required 50 percent score. 

     Unzicker's play in this tournament was steady and conservative and he and Yugoslav's Aleaxander Matanovic were the early leaders until the later lost to East German IM Lothar Zinn. Reshevsky lost one game, to Yugoslav GM Dragoljub Janosevic after he (Reshevsky), thinking he had made 40 moves but it was actually only 39, lost on time. 

     Reshevsky was irked when in the last round Yugoslav GM Mario Udovcic, who had nothing to lose by playing for a win, offered Unzicker a draw after 14 moves and so deprived Reshevsky of a chance at tying for first place. 

     At the time Maribor's population was around 100,000 and attendance was small, but noisy and enthusiastic especially when local players Crepinsek and Musil won or drew and the crowd's applause was thunderous. 

 

    It's said that Reshevsky never studied openings, but that's not true...he just wasn't very good at retaining them! Pal Benko once reported working on openings with Reshevsky and after a break from their morning session, by the afternoon Reshevsky had forgotten most of what they had gone over in the morning! 

     In Maribor Reshevsky stated that he played his first serious games in six months and that, "I experimented successfully with some new openings...". And it was for that reason that Reshevsky, who hadn't been in Yugoslavia since the 1950 Dubrovnik Olympiad, was at Maribor. He was seeking to upgrade his opening theory and get some tournament practice for the upcoming Interzonal at Sousse in 1967. That's the tournament in which Fischer famously walked out while leading. It was won by Larsen. 

     As for his coming to Maribor for "training", Yugoslav GM Dr. Petar Trifunovich was critical because Reshevsky, who played a large number of short draws, paid more attention to his score than anything else. All of which failed to prove, according to Trifunovich, that he could take the strain of grinding out five hours of play every day. Nor did his play demonstrate the hair-raising, sharp struggles in difficult positions in which he famously excelled. It appears to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black because Trifunovich had a reputation for drawing games...at Leipzig in 1965 he drew all 15 of his games. 

     Trifunovic's opinion aside, after a first round defeat by Janosevic, Reshevsky lost no more games and finished second. When Reshevsky played at Sousse he finished tied for sixth with Hort and Stein and they had a playoff in 1968 in Los Angeles which was also tied. Owing to his better tiebreaks Reshevsky advanced to the Candidates where he was defeated by Korchnoi who scored +3 -0 =5. All in all, Reshevsky's performance in 1967 and 1968 wasn't bad for a man in his mid-50s.

     In the following game black's difficulty was his inability to develop his light-squared B and R on a8. Additionally, Udovcic's weak d-Pawn was under constant pressure. Mijo Udovcic (September 11, 1920 - April 8, 1984), professionally a judge, was a Yugoslav IM who became the first Croatian GM in 1962. He tied with Borislav Ivkov for the Yugoslav championship in 1963. 

 

Samuel Reshevsky - Mijo Udovcic

Result: 1-0

Site: Maribor, Yugoslavia

Date: 1967

Classical Dutch

[...] 1.d4 f5 Reshevsky didn't recommend this defense because it was too difficult for black to play. 2.g3 ♘f6 3.♗g2 e6 4.♘f3 ♗e7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6 Best because after the seemingly logical 6...d5 white will soon gain the initiative on the Q-side by working in b2-b4. 7.♘c3 a5 8.♕c2

8.♖e1 With the idea of playing e4 was chosen by Reshevsky against Larsen in the 1966 Piatigorsky Cup, but in that game he was unable to make any headway and a draw was soon agreed.

8...♘c6 9.e4 ♘b4 10.♕e2 fxe4 11.♘xe4 ♘xe4 12.♕xe4 Black has a couple of reasonable alternatives here: 12...Bf6, 12...d5. 12...e5 (12...d5 13.♕e2 dxc4 14.♕xc4 b5 15.♕e2 ♗b7 and white is better.) (12...♗f6 13.♗f4 d5 14.♕e2 and here lso white is better.) 13.g4

13.dxe5 ♗f5 14.♕xb7 ♖b8 15.♕a7 Reshevsky was guilty of some really sloppy analysis here. Honesly, I think he annotated the game blindfolded considering the continuation he gave! 15...♘c6 (15...♗e4 is correct. The chances would then be about equal.) 16.♕a6

16.♕e3 Honestly, how could Reshevsky have missed this retreat after which white has a considerable advantage?!

16...♖b6 Trapping the Q.

13...c6

13...exd4 This is also satisfactory. 14.♘xd4 ♗f6 15.♘e6 ♗xe6 16.♕xe6 ♔h8 17.♗xb7 ♖b8 Arkell,K (2460)-Naumkin,I (2460)/ Cappelle la Grande 1992. Black has equalized.

13...h5 This hyper-aggressive move is also satisfactory for black. After 14.h3 hxg4 15.hxg4 with equal chances. Fedorowicz,J (2432)-Hoshall,S (2061)/Orlando 2019.

14.h3 Freeing his Q from the need to defend the g-Pawn.

14.a3 d5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.♕xe5 ♘c6 17.♕h5 is roughly equal. Krueger,E (2239)-Koksch,G (2137)/ Dresden 2004

14...exd4 15.a3 Forcing black to make a critical decision. Retreat the N to a6 or play the plausible 15...d5. 15...♘a6

15...d5 16.♕b1

16.cxd5 cxd5 17.♕b1 ♘c6 black's game is preferrable according to Reshevsky.

16...dxc4 leads to an unbalanced material situation that Reshevsky felt favored black. 17.axb4 ♗xb4 18.♕c2 ♗e6 But the engines disagree believing white is better. In fact. from this position Stockfish scored +4 -0 =1 in Shootouts.

16.♘xd4 ♘c5 17.♕c2 ♗f6 18.♗e3 It's interesting to note the difference of opinions between GMs and engines. Reshevsky states that in view of black's problems of completing his development, his weak d-Pawn and white's control of more space, white has excellent prospects. Engines on the other hand evaluate the position and quite equal. 18...a4 The position has evolved into something resembling a K-Indian and this move is a thematic one, the purpose of which is to ensure the position of his N by preventing b4, but as it turns out black's N on c5 doesn't accomplish much.

18...h5 leads to some interesting play. Stockfish 12: 19.♖ad1 hxg4 20.♘xc6 bxc6 21.♗xc5 ♗e5 22.♗xc6 ♗f5 23.♕e2 ♖c8 24.♗d5 ♔h7 25.♗d4 ♖e8 and it seems that black can, at least according to Komodo, survive the complications unscathed. Practical play is another matter.

19.♖ad1 Black's d-Pawn is coming under pressure. 19...♕e7 20.♖fe1 ♕c7 21.♕d2 ♕a5 22.♕c2 ♗e5 After this black is lost because the B is in a vulnerable position.

22...♕c7 Was recommended by Reshevsky after which he intended 23.♘f3 ♘e6 where black has a awkward position, but it's far better than what happened in the game.

22...♗d7 is his best try. After 23.♖e2 ♕c7 24.♖ed2 ♖ad8 25.b4!25...axb3 26.♘xb3 black's position is critical.

23.♘f3 ♘b3 This N outpost is useless, but there was nothing better. (23...♘e6 24.♘xe5 ♕xe5 25.♗d2 ♕f6 26.♗c3 is the end.) 24.c5 A nifty little tactical shot. 24...♕c7 (24...♘xc5 25.♘xe5 dxe5 26.♗xc5) 25.cxd6 ♗xd6 26.♘g5 Threatening mate with 27.Qxh7 26...g6 27.♕c4 ♔h8

27...♔g7 loses, too. 28.♗d4 ♘xd4 29.♕xd4 ♔h6 30.♘f3 ♗f4 31.g5 ♗xg5 32.♘xg5 ♔xg5 33.♖e5 with a winning attack.

28.♔h1 Played to prevent ...Bh2+, but it really wasn't necessary. (28.♖xd6 ♕xd6 29.♘f7 ♖xf7 30.♕xf7 ♗e6 31.♕f6 ♔g8 32.♗h6 ♕c7 33.♖xe6 wins.) 28...♗e5 Reshevsky now concludes the game in an efficient fashion. 29.♗b6 ♕xb6 30.♖xe5 ♕xf2 After this white has a mate in 6, but black was dead lost anyway. 31.♖f1 Black resigned. (31.♖e7 ♕xg2 32.♔xg2 ♖f2 33.♔xf2 ♗e6 34.♖xh7 ♔g8 35.♕xe6 ♔f8 36.♕f7#)

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The Philidor Defense

     A reader recently asked if I planned on presenting a game with the Philidor Defense to which I replied that the answer was probably not because I don't select games by opening. But, then, like Bent Larsen once did, I asked, "Why not the Philidor?" 

     That was the title of a pamphlet he published back in 1971. In it he stated that its chief advantage is that it avoids the Ruy Lopez, "which gives white a protracted initiative in the struggle for the center." It originally sold for $1.95, but I saw the pamphlet advertised on the Amazon for $156.52 (new) and $36 (used). Do people actually pay those prices?! 

      The opening is named after the 18th-century player Francois-Andre Danican Philidor, who advocated it as an alternative to 2...Nc6. His original idea was to challenge white's centre by the Pawn thrust ...f7–f5. Today, the Philidor is considered solid but passive and a good opening for amateurs looking for a defensive strategy that is simple and easy to understand. The move order is usually 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 (or 3...Nd7), but the newer way to enter the Philidor is by the move order 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 (or 3...Nd7) which is supposed to eliminate the main variations that worried black previously. However, the "new" way of playing the defense comes with its own set of problems. 

     In 1994 there was a strong Swiss event held in Buenos Aires that was won by by Daniel Campora (born 30 June 1957), an Argentine GM. In 1975 he the Argentine junior champion and was twice Argentine champion (1986 and 1989). He was runner-up in 1978 and 1987. 

     In the following game he thrashed GM William Lombardy in a type of what is known as "Blackburne's Trap" which refers to a couple different traps that occur out of the opening and feature a centralized N with a pair of Bs (or Q) raking the board. The game is unusual because it's not often that one sees a checkmate actually occur, especially against a GM...and especially against one that was as cautious and deliberate as Lombardy.

William Lombardy - Daniel Campora

Result: 0-1

Site: Buenos Aires

Date: 1994

Philidor Defense

[...] 1.e4 e5

1...d6 is the modern way of reaching the basic Philidor position. 2.d4 ♘f6 3.♘c3 e5 Shirov has introduced a most interesting P-sac. 4.♘f3 ♘bd7 5.g4 with a double edged position.

2.♘f3 d6 Here white can play 3.Bc4 which gives rise to P-structures similar to those in the Bishop's Opening or th Giuoco Piano. White can also play 3.Nc3, but he cannot delay playing d2-d4 for long. 3.d4 3.Bc4 is a distant second choice for white that in my database offers results that are on a par with 3. d4. At one time the move order played here was the only way to reach the basic Philidor setup, but in more modern times it's known that this move order is quite risk free for white. Black has a gaggle of options on his 3rd move: 3. ..Nc6, 3...Bg4, 3...f5 and 3.. .Nf6. 3...♘f6 4.♘c3

4.dxe5 ♘xe4 5.♕d5 This is best as it gives white better winning chances than 5.Bc4

4.dxe5 dxe5 5.♕xd8 ♔xd8 is also possible, but black's K in the center isn't much of a concern with Qs off the board.

4...♘bd7 5.♗c4 The solid, tried and tested strategic approach

5.g4 Is Shirov's idea. 5...♘xg4 6.♖g1 ♘gf6 7.♗c4 h6 8.♗e3 c6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.♕d3 b5 11.♗b3 ♕a5 12.O-O-O In this position things can go either way, but here's an amusing game. 12...♗a6 13.♘e2 b4 14.♗xf7 ♔xf7 15.♕b3 ♔e7 16.♘ed4 exd4 17.♘xd4 ♖c8 18.♕e6 ♔d8 19.e5 c5 20.♘c6 Black mistakenly resigned in Li,C (2628)-Ponkratov,P (2558)/Moscow 2009. Actully he shouldn't have! After 20... Rxc6 21.Qxc6 Qb6 the chances are even.

5...♗e7 6.O-O O-O 7.♖e1 c6 This is the Hanham Variation named after the American master James M. Hanham; it was a favorite of Nimzovich. The idea is to maintain black's pawn on e5. 8.a4 Preventing ...b5 8...b6 9.b3

9.d5 This is the main line and is probably white's best option. 9...cxd5 10.♘xd5 ♗b7 11.b3 with equality.

9...♗b7 10.♗a3 a6 11.♗f1 Why this odd move? Lombardy wants to post his Q on d3, but to do that the B has to to either e2 or f1. On f1 it doesn't block the R and so .. .exde is hindered.

11.♗d3 c5 12.dxe5 ♘xe5 13.♘xe5 dxe5 14.♗c4 Dreev,A (2698)-Azmaiparashvili,Z (2672)/Internet game 2004. White is slightly better, but made a gross blunder and lost in 25 moves.

(11.♕d3 b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.♗xb5 cxb5 14.♘xb5 ♕b6 is good for black.)

11.♗e2 All in all this is not really a bad move. 11...♖e8 12.♕d3 b5 13.b4 ♕c7 14.♗f1 Anyway. 14...exd4 15.♘xd4 is equal.

11...♖e8

11...b5 12.♗b2 ♖e8 13.axb5 axb5 14.b4 exd4 15.♘xd4 g6 Recuero Guerra,D (2350) -Llorente Zaro,A (2419)/Mondariz 2006 is equal.

12.♕d3

12.♕d2 ♕c7 13.♖ad1 ♖ac8 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.♗xe7 ♖xe7 16.♘h4 g6 17.♕g5 Firman,N (2361)-Kasparov, S (2464)/Pavlograd 2000. White is slightly better.

12...b5 13.♗b2 (13.axb5 axb5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.♗xe7 ♕xe7 16.♖xa8 is dead level.) 13...b4 Where should the N make its retreat? 14.♘b1 This turns out to be the wrong square. 14.Nd1 eyeing e3 was better. Black now grabs the initiative and doesn't let go. 14...exd4 15.♗xd4 Recapturing with the N where it can potentially go to f5 offered better chances, but black would still be better.

15.♘xd4 ♘c5 (15...c5 16.♘f5 ♗xe4 17.♖xe4 ♘xe4 18.♘xg7 is only equal.) 16.♕d1 ♘fxe4 and black is much better.

15...c5 16.♗b2 ♘xe4 17.♘bd2 d5 18.♖ad1 f5 Black has an active position, but this move is a mistake that should have allowed white to equalize. (18...♘df6 19.♘xe4 ♘xe4 20.♘e5 ♗f6 21.f4 ♕c7 with an excellent position.) 19.♘c4 Letting the wind out of his own sails.

19.♘xe4 would have allowed white to equalize, but the sequence is difficult to calculate over the board, so it's hard to fault Lombardy. His move makes sense. 19...fxe4 20.♖xe4 dxe4 21.♕xd7 ♕xd7 22.♖xd7 exf3 23.♖xb7 fxg2 24.♔xg2 ♗f6 25.♗xf6 gxf6 26.♗d3

19...d4

19...dxc4 leads to some great complications. For example... 20.♕xd7 ♕xd7 21.♖xd7 c3 22.♗c1 ♗c8 23.♗c4 ♔h8 24.♖dd1 ♗f6 25.♗d5 ♖a7 26.♘g5 ♗d4 27.♘f7 ♖xf7 28.♗xf7 ♗xf2 29.♔f1 ♖f8 30.♖e2 ♗d4 31.♗c4 In this very complicated position a 5 game Shootout using Stockfish resulted in white scoring +1 -2 =2.

20.♘xd4 Shooting himself in the foot. This is either a miscalculation or uncalled for desperation. White does not get enough for the piece and the attack on g7 is easily met. Better were either 20. Nfd2 or 20.g3 both of which give him a reasonable chance of defending. 20...cxd4 21.♕xd4 ♘df6 22.♕e5 There was no longer any defense. Black now sets up the trap. 22...♗c5 23.♕xf5 ♕c8 24.♕xc8 Exchanging Qs in no way helps white, but it allows a nice finish. (24.♘d6 ♕xf5 25.♘xf5 ♗xf2 wraps things up.) 24...♗xf2 25.♔h1 ♖axc8 26.♖e2 ♖c5 White can resign here, but Lombardy prefers to allow black a little joke. 27.g4 ♘g3#

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It's not Horseplay. It's thievery worthy of opprobrium!

     In 1948, Chess Life's editor, Montgomery Major, complained about a growing concern: the tendency of "lazy tournament players who refuse to accept the full responsibilities of their position" and agree to draws in a few moves in positions that may be equal, but still have the possibility of a lot of play. Major stated that any player who offered or accepted such a draw is a cheat and a thief. 

     His reasoning was that by doing so, the drawing players deprived the other contestants, who earn their points "by the sweat of their brow" and do not glean their points by "indolence," of their rights. 

     When Larry Evans and Walter Shipman agreed to a 13 move draw in round 3 of the 1948 US Championship Fred Reinfeld asked, "Is it chessplay or horseplay?" They both scored 11.5-7.5 and finished tied for places 8-10 with Weaver Adams. Reinfeld, himself, wasn't above taking a quick draw on occasion: against Reuben Fine in the 1931 New York State Championship (18 moves) and 20 moves in the 1932 Western Championship, also against Fine. In the 1938 US Championship he took draws in 24 moves against Harold Morton and Anthony Santasiere. 

     Major called it neither; it was thievery because the other 18 players were entitled to expect Evans and Shipman to make an effort to win and there were no words too strong to condemn their lack of effort. 

     Despicable was another word Major used when he cited an example in a tournament in Pittsburgh where two players agreed to a draw after one move thus assuring one of first place and the other of second. 

     In another example, in the 1944 US Championship Denker assured himself of first place by agreeing to a 16 move draw against Benjamin Altman. Second place finisher Reuben Fine (who lost to Denker in their individual game) was disgusted by Denker's action and therefore offered his opponent, George Neidich, a quick draw. I don't want to throw a brick at Fine, but a check of his games in my database turns up some short draws in his games, too.

     Major opined that the players had a right to demand that Denker win his title fair and square by playing out the game. Nor was Altman without fault according to Major because his fellow tournament players had a right to expect him to try and beat Denker even if he didn't think he could. My standards aren't has high as Major's I guess because if Magnus Carlson offers me a draw in a tournament I'm taking it!

     In international chess things weren't any better and even stern TDs were helpless against such "chicanery." It was Major's hope that in the future all chess players would heap "opprobrium upon any future misdemeanors in the line of chess cheating." 

     Not all draws (either long or short) are chicanery worthy of opprobrium though. Take the following game that is known as the Immortal Draw. It was played in Vienna in 1872 between Carl Hamppe (1814-1876), an Austrian master and theoretician. By profession he was a senior government official in Vienna.

     Philipp Meitner (1839-1910) was an Austrian lawyer and master. When he studied at the Vienna Polytecnic William Steinitz was a fellow student. His daughter was Dr. Lise Meitner (1878-1968) who was an Austrian-Swedish physicist who contributed to the discoveries of the element protactinium (a scarce chemical element) and nuclear fission. 

     This game has been subjected to analysis by a number of players, but as far as I know, much of it was in pre-engine days and because of the enormous complications (and long variations!) the analysis is no longer valid. Even using Stockfish 12 and Komodo 10 it's possible I might have missed something so you may want to do your own analysis. If so, happy analyzing! Download

Carl Hamppe - Philipp Meitner

Result: 1/2-1/2

Site: Vienna

Date: 1872

Vienna Game

[...] 1.e4 e5 2.♘c3 It was Hamppe who first popularized this move. The original idea was to play a delayed King's Gambit with f4, but in modern play white often plays more quietly. Weaver W. Adams famously claimed that the Vienna Game led to a forced win for white, but of course he could't prove it because it's not so. 2...♗c5 3.♘a4 This is a premature attempt at gaining the two Bs . (3.♗c4 ♘f6 4.d3 ♘c6 5.♘f3 d6 and only now 6.Na4) 3...♗xf2 This is better than the simple B retreat 3...Be2 which would leave white's N awkwardly placed on a4. Stockfish likes the move while Komodo thinks it results in equality, but no more. 4.♔xf2 ♕h4 5.♔e3

5.g3 ♕xe4 6.♘c3 ♕xh1 7.♘f3 leaves black's Q without any moves, but there is no way to trap it and black will eventually extricate it. 7...♘f6 8.h3 (8.♕e2 d6 9.♘e4 ♘xe4 10.♕xe4 ♘d7 11.♗g2 ♕d1 12.c3 ♘f6 etc.) 8...e4 9.♘d4 ♕h2 10.♗g2 ♘c6 11.♘xc6 dxc6 etc.

(5.♔e2 ♕xe4 wins the N.) 5...♕f4 6.♔d3 d5 Best.

6...♘f6 7.♕f3 ♕h4 8.g3 ♕h6 9.c4 Or else black plays ...d5 9...♘c6 10.♔c3 White's K is quite safe and he is even a little better than equal.

6...♘c6 is also not quite adequate. 7.♘c3 ♘f6 8.♔e2 ♘d4 9.♔e1 ♘xe4 10.♘f3 ♘f6 11.d3 ♕f5 12.♘xd4 exd4 13.♕e2 ♔d8 14.♘e4 and black doesn't have enough compensation for his piece.

7.♔c3 ♕xe4 Black is anxious to get another P, but this allws white to gain the upper hand.

7...d4 keeps this chances even. For example... 8.♔b3 (8.♔d3 f5 9.♔e2 fxe4 10.♔e1 ♘f6 favors black.) 8...♕f6 Oddly, there is no way for black to get at the white K. 9.♘f3 ♗d7 10.a3 ♕e7

10...♗xa4 11.♔xa4 An odd place for the K, but it's safe because black id undeveloped and there is just no way he can take advantage of the Ks position at the moment.

11.c4 b5 12.♘c3 dxc3 13.dxc3 is equal!!

8.♔b3 White had better chances with 8.d4.

8.d4!8...♘f6 9.♘f3 ♕g4 10.b3 The K will find a safe have on b2 and black remains without enough compensation for his piece.

8...♘a6 Wrong square.

8...♘c6 9.c3 d4 10.d3 ♕d5 11.c4 ♕a5 12.♗d2 ♕a6 Unclear. The chances are about even.

9.a3 This is too passive.

9.d4 would have left black hard pressed to demonstrate that he has anything at all. 9...exd4 (9...f6 10.♘c3 ♕xd4 11.♕xd4 exd4 12.♘b5 favors white.) 10.a3 ♗d7 11.♗xa6 ♗xa4 12.♔xa4 bxa6 13.♘f3 d3 14.b4 dxc2 15.♕d4 ♕xd4 16.♘xd4 ♘f6 17.♖a2 and white is winning.

9...♕xa4 In pre-engine days this move was subjected to extensive analysis with the conclusion that it practically forces a draw. However, Stockfish immediately sees it as a gross blunder.

9...d4 10.♔a2 ♗d7 11.c4 ♕c6 12.b3 is the best black has, but white still has the advantage.

10.♔xa4 ♘c5 11.♔b4 After this the game is a draw.

11.♔b5 After this white should win. The position is very complicated and so I ran a Shootout using Stockfish 12 at 13-25 plies and white scored +6 -1 =0) 11...b6

11...♘e7 I have not seen Soltis' analysis, but he incorrectly claimed a draw after this move. 12.♔xc5 and there is no draw. 12...a5 13.♗b5 ♔f8 14.♗c6!!14...♘xc6 15.♔xd5 and the K has given black the slip.

12.d4 exd4 13.♕xd4 ♘e7

13...a5 Here white's simplest way is to just return the Q 14.♕xc5 bxc5 15.♔xc5 ♘f6 16.♘f3 and white is winning.

14.♕xc5 ♗d7 15.♔b4 a5 16.♕xa5 ♖xa5 and white has suvived and is left with a won game.

11...a5 12.♔xc5 This keeps the draw in hand.

12.♔c3 allows black to win after 12...d4 13.♔c4 ♗e6 14.♔xc5 ♘f6 15.♗b5 ♔e7 16.♕f3 c6 Now there is only one way for white to avoid the threatened 17...Nd7 mate. 17.♕xf6 gxf6 18.♔b6 cxb5 Stockfish 12: 19.♘e2 ♖a6 20.♔xb7 ♖ha8 21.♘f4 ♗f5 22.♔c7 ♖8a7 23.♔b8 ♔d6 24.♖e1 ♖a8 25.♔b7 ♗c8#

12...♘e7 White is threatened with ...b6+ and ...Bd7 mate 13.♗b5 ♔d8 White is still threatened with mate as in the previous note. 14.♗c6 b6 15.♔b5 ♘xc6 Black has a mate threat

15...♗a6 would lose after 16.♔a4 ♘xc6 17.♔b3 and black is simply a Q down.

16.♔xc6 (16.♔a4 allows a mate in 16...♘d4 17.♕f1 ♗d7 18.♕b5 ♗xb5#) 16...♗b7 17.♔b5 ♗a6 18.♔c6 (18.♔a4 ♗c4 and 19...b5 mate can't be prevented.) 18...♗b7 Forcing the draw.

18...♗b7 19.♔xb7 and white gets mated. 19...♔d7 20.♕g4 ♔d6 and ...Rhb8 mate cannot be stopped.

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