Game of the week

September 18, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Hoenne Open"]  [Site "Menden 2001"]  [White "Vladimir Epishin"]  [Black "Romuald Mainka"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "E11"]  [WhiteElo "2578"]  [BlackElo "2316"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "2001.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "GER"]  [SourceTitle "Rochade Europa, June 200"]  [SourceDate "2018.01.27"]  [SourceVersionDate "2018.01.27"]   1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 Bxd2+ 4. Qxd2 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 (5... O-O $1 $11) 6. Nf3  (6. Rd1 $1 $14) 6... Qe7 (6... O-O $1 $11) 7. g3 e5 (7... O-O) 8. Bg2 h6 (8...  O-O 9. Rc1 $14) 9. O-O (9. dxe5 $1 dxe5 10. O-O $14) 9... e4 $6 (9... O-O) 10.  Ne1 O-O 11. Nc2 (11. f3 $1 e3 12. Qd3 $16) 11... c6 12. Ne3 (12. d5 $1 $16)  12... Na6 13. a3 (13. f3 $1 exf3 14. Rxf3 $16) 13... Nc7 14. d5 c5 $6 (14... a5  15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Qd4 $14) 15. f3 (15. b4 $1 $16) 15... exf3 16. exf3 Bd7 $6 (  16... Qd8 17. Rfb1 Re8 18. Bf1 b6 19. b4 $14) 17. Rfe1 (17. b4 $1 $16) 17...  Qd8 18. Bf1 Re8 (18... a6 19. b4 $14 {is a small improvement for Black}) 19.  Bd3 (19. b4 $14) 19... Rb8 20. a4 (20. b4 $5) 20... Na6 $2 (20... Re7) 21. Nb5  Nb4 $2 (21... Bxb5 22. axb5 Nb4 23. Rxa7 $16) 22. Nxd6 Rf8 23. Nef5 Nxd3 (23...  Bxf5 24. Nxf5 $18 {is a very slight improvement for Black}) 24. Qxd3 g6 $2 (  24... a6 25. b3 $18) 25. Ne7+ Kg7 26. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 $2 (26... Qxe7 27. Rxe7 Rxf7  28. Rxf7+ Kxf7 29. Qe3 $18 {would needlessly prolong Black's wretched existence  }) 27. Qxg6+ Kf8 28. Qxh6+ 1-0

Game of the week

August 28, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1988 US Junior Championship"]  [Site "Amherst, MA"]  [White "Daniel Edelman"]  [Black "Stuart Rachels"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B56"]  [WhiteElo "2421"]  [BlackElo "2466"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "64"]  [EventDate "1988.??.??"]  [EventType "tourn"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bb5 (7. Bg5  h6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bc1 Qb6 10. Qd2 e6 $11) 7... Nxe3 8. fxe3 Bd7 9. O-O e6 10.  Bxc6 bxc6 11. e5 Be7 (11... dxe5 $2 12. Qh5 Qe7 13. Nb3 $1 $18) 12. Qh5 O-O 13.  exd6 Bxd6 (13... Bg5 $2 14. Rae1 $16 {Edelman (!)-Balleisen, ICC INT 2015}) 14.  Ne4 $6 (14. Rad1 Qc7 (14... Qb6 $2 15. Nf3 $18) 15. Ne4 Be7 $11) 14... Be7 15.  Rad1 Qb6 16. Rf3 $6 (16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. Qxg5 Qxb2 $15) 16... c5 17. Rh3 h6 18.  Rg3 Kh8 19. Qe5 $2 (19. Nb3 Be8 (19... Rad8 $5 $17) 20. Qg4 Rg8 $17 {  Schaefer-Heimbuch, Germany 1988}) 19... f6 20. Qh5 Be8 21. Qg4 Rf7 22. Nf3 $2 (  22. Nxe6 f5 23. Qg6 fxe4 24. Qxe4 Qc6 $19 {would prolong the game}) 22... f5  23. Qg6 (23. Qh3 fxe4 $19 {is a very small (and irrelevant) improvement for  White}) 23... fxe4 24. Ne5 ({So is} 24. Qxe4) 24... Rf1+ 25. Rxf1 Bxg6 26.  Nxg6+ Kh7 27. Nxe7 Qxb2 28. Ng6 Qxa2 29. h4 a5 30. Nf8+ (30. Rf7 {is the way  to prolong the game (but, given the hurt he's suffering, why would White want  to?)}) 30... Kg8 31. Nd7 a4 (31... Qxc2 {is stronger but just rubs it in}) 32.  Nxc5 Qd5 0-1

Game of the week

August 21, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "North Carolina 1991"]  [White "Alexander Ivanov"]  [Black "Roman Dzindzichashvili"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B01"]  [BlackElo "2555"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "79"]  [EventDate "1991.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Be2 Nxd5 5. d4 Bf5 (5... c5 $1 6. c4 Nf6 7.  d5 e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 $11) 6. Nf3 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 O-O 9. c4 Nb6 10. Nc3 Bg4 (  10... Nc6 11. Be3 Bf6 12. b4 Bg4 13. Ne4 Bxf3 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. Bxf3 Rfd8 (  15... Nxc4 $2 16. Rc1 Nd6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Rxc6 a5 19. Rxc7 $16) 16. Bxc6 bxc6  17. Qb3 $14) 11. Ne5 (11. h3 $1 $14 {Kosintseva-Mohota, Dresden 2008}) 11...  Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Qxd4 13. Rd1 Qh4 14. Nb5 (14. g3 $5) 14... Nc6 $6 (14... Bd8 15.  Rd4 Qe7 $11) 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rd4 Qf6 17. Rf4 Qg6 $6 (17... Qh6 18. Rg4 $14)  18. Rg4 Qf5 $6 (18... Qxg4 19. Qxg4 cxb5 20. cxb5 $16) 19. Nd4 Qc5 20. Be3 Qd6  (20... g6 21. Nxe6 $18 {is a marginal improvement for Black}) 21. c5 Qd5 22.  Nf3 $2 (22. cxb6 $18) 22... Nc8 $2 (22... h5 $1 23. Rd4 Qxc5 24. Rd7 Nxd7 25.  Bxc5 Bxc5 26. Rc1 $14) 23. Rd1 Qh5 24. h3 Bf6 (24... f5 25. Ra4 $18 {is a bit  better than the game for Black}) 25. Bg5 Bxg5 $2 (25... Qg6 26. Nh4 Qxg5 27.  Rxg5 Bxg5 28. Nf3 $18 {is a lot better than the game for Black (but still  quite miserable and lost)}) 26. Rxg5 $2 (26. Nxg5 Ne7 27. Nxe6 Ng6 28. Nxf8 $18  {is curtains}) 26... Qh6 27. Rd7 Qf6 $2 (27... Re8 28. h4 $16) 28. Qe5 Kh8 (  28... Qxe5 29. Nxe5 {puts up more (futile) resistance}) 29. Rxc7 (29. Rg4 $18 {  is quicker}) 29... a5 (29... Re8 {is a meaningless improvement}) 30. Rg4 a4 $2  (30... Ra7 {is a more meaningful but still insufficient improvement}) 31. Rf4  Qg6 $2 (31... Qxe5) 32. Qc3 $6 (32. Nh4 $18 {and it's over}) 32... Ra7 33.  Rfxf7 $1 Qxf7 34. Rxf7 Raxf7 35. Ng5 Rxf2 $6 (35... Rf6) 36. Nxe6 (36. Qd3 $1)  36... Rf1+ 37. Kh2 Rg8 (37... R8f7 38. Qe5 {and Black might get a few more  miserable breaths}) 38. Qd3 Rf6 $2 (38... Rff8) 39. Ng5 g6 40. Qd4 ({It  doesn't matter in the least but the quick mate is} 40. Qd7 Rg7 41. Qd8+ Rg8 42.  Qxf6+ Rg7 43. Qf8+ Rg8 44. Nf7#) 1-0

Game of the week

August 14, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "National Open 1985"]  [Site "Las Vegas"]  [White "John Donaldson"]  [Black "Viktors Pupols"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D30"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "70"]  [EventDate "1985.03.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Bf4 (4. e3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 c5 $1 6. cxd5 exd5 7. b3  Bd6 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Rc1 Bd6 $11) 4... dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 $6 (6.  Be2 Be7 $11) 6... Nd7 (6... Bb4+ $1 7. Nc3 Nf6 $15) 7. Be2 Bb4+ 8. Kf1 $6 (8.  Nc3 Ngf6 $15) 8... Ngf6 (8... Bb7 $5 $17) 9. b3 c3 $6 (9... O-O 10. axb5 cxb5  11. bxc4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Bb7 $17) 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Bxb5 Bb7 12. Na3 (12. Qc2 Rc8  $17 {puts up slightly more resistance}) 12... O-O (12... Qb6 $1 $17) 13. Nc2  Be7 (13... Qb6 $17) 14. Ke2 (14. Qe2 a5 $17 {is a small improvement for White})  14... Ne4 (14... Qb6 $1 $19) 15. Bg3 (15. Bd3 a5 $19) 15... h5 $6 (15... a5 $19  ) 16. Ne5 $2 (16. Ba6 Bxa6+ 17. Rxa6 h4 18. Be5 Qc8 $19 {puts up more  resistance}) 16... Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Nd2 18. f3 Nxb3 (18... h4 $19 {is the quick  method}) 19. Ra4 Na5 $2 (19... Nd2 $19) 20. Qa1 Nc6 21. Bg3 $2 (21. Qxc3 Rc8  $17) 21... a5 (21... h4 $1 {is a lot stronger}) 22. Qxc3 Nb4 (22... Qb6 $1) 23.  Nxb4 axb4 24. Rxa8 Qxa8 25. Qa1 Bc6 $2 (25... h4 26. Qxa8 Rxa8 27. Be1 Ra1 $19)  26. Bd3 $2 (26. Bc4 Bd5 27. Bd3 Qb7 $17) 26... Qb7 27. Qb2 (27. Qb1 Ra8 $19)  27... h4 28. Be1 $6 (28. Bf4 h3 $19) 28... Ra8 (28... h3 $1 $19 {is even  stronger}) 29. Bd2 $2 (29. Kf2 h3 $19 {is an irrelevant improvement.}) 29... h3  30. e4 $2 (30. Rb1 {is also irrelevantly better}) 30... hxg2 31. Ra1 $6 (31.  Rd1) 31... Rxa1 32. Qxa1 Bb5 33. Be3 $2 ({and Stockfish says White is only  down 20.4 pawn equivalences vs. 51.89 with the move played} 33. Kf2) 33...  Bxd3+ 34. Kxd3 Qb5+ 35. Kd2 b3 0-1

Game of the week

August 7, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "New York"]  [Site "Marshall CC 1981"]  [White "Maxim Dlugy"]  [Black "Sunil Weeramantry"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A42"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "61"]  [EventDate "1981.??.??"]  [EventRounds "15"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [EventCategory "4"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nc6 (4... e5 5. d5 a5 6. Bd3 Na6 7. a3 $14)  5. d5 Ne5 (5... Bxc3+ $1 6. bxc3 Na5 7. Bd3 $14) 6. f4 (6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Nd7 8.  dxe6 fxe6 9. Qc2 $14) 6... Nd7 7. Nf3 c6 (7... e5 $1 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. g3 $14) 8.  Be2 (8. Be3 $1 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Ngf6 10. Bd3 $16 {Luehrig-Fritsche, DESC email  2004}) 8... cxd5 (8... Nc5 $1 9. e5 $14) 9. cxd5 Qb6 10. Bd3 $6 (10. Nd2 Bxc3  11. bxc3 $14 {Kaczmarek-Vajas, ICCF email 2017}) 10... Nc5 11. Bb5+ $6 (11. Rb1  $14) 11... Kf8 (11... Bd7 $1 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 $11) 12. e5 (12. Bd3 $5 Nxd3+ 13.  Qxd3 Bg4 $11) 12... Bg4 (12... a6 $5 13. Be3 axb5 14. b4 Ra3 15. Rc1 Qd8 16.  Qd2 Na6 (16... Nd7 $6 17. Nxb5 $2 $16) 17. Qb2 Rxc3 18. Qxc3 Bd7 $11) 13. Be3  dxe5 $2 (13... a6 14. Be2 (14. b4 axb5 $11) 14... Qxb2 $11) 14. fxe5 Bxe5 $2 (  14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bxe5 16. O-O $16) 15. Nxe5 $1 Bxd1 16. Bxc5 Qc7 (16... Qa5  17. Rxd1 $18 {is a trivial improvement for Black. White has plenty of wood for  the queen.}) 17. Nd7+ Kg7 18. Rxd1 f6 19. O-O Qa5 $2 (19... Rd8 20. d6 $18 {  would prolong the game}) 20. Rf4 (20. d6 $1 {is the quick method}) 20... Rd8 $2  (20... h5 21. d6 $18 {is another way that Black could prolong his suffering})  21. Ra4 Qc7 ({Black's position is so bad that Stockfish recommends the  piece-down position after} 21... Qxb5 22. Nxb5 Rxd7 23. Rxa7 $18 {as  preferable to the game}) 22. d6 Qc8 $6 (22... exd6 23. Bxd6 Rxd7 (23... Qc8 24.  Rc4 {gets truly ugly}) 24. Bxd7 $18 (24. Bxc7 $18)) 23. dxe7 Rxd7 $2 (23... Re8  24. Rc4) 24. e8=N+ $1 Kh6 $2 (24... Qxe8 25. Rxd7+ $18 {prolongs the game but  why?}) 25. Be3+ $6 ({The quick method is} 25. Bf8+ Kg5 26. Rd5+ Rxd5 27. h4+  Kh5 (27... Kf5 28. Ng7+ Ke5 29. Re4#) 28. Ng7+ Kh6 29. Nf5+ Kh5 30. g4#) 25...  g5 26. Bxd7 Qb8 27. Nd6 (27. Re4 $1) 27... Kg6 (27... Kg7 {is better but who  cares?}) 28. Bf5+ (28. Bxa7 $1) 28... Kh5 (28... Kg7) 29. Nf7 Ne7 ({After}  29... Nh6 {, White needs twelve moves to checkmate Black}) 30. g4+ Kh4 31. Bf2+  1-0

Game of the week

July 24, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "World Opem 1988"]  [White "Nick De Firmian"]  [Black "Lev Alburt"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B04"]  [WhiteElo "2515"]  [BlackElo "2535"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "71"]  [EventDate "1988.06.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CH, Sept-Oct 1988"]  [SourceDate "2017.06.10"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2017.06.10"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4 (7. Qe2 O-O  8. a4 dxe5 9. dxe5 Bg4 10. e6 f5 11. a5 $14) 7... a5 (7... dxe5 $1 8. a5 N6d7  9. Bxf7+ (9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Bxf7 e6 13. Bg5+ Kd7  14. Ra3 Nc6 15. Rd3+ Bd6 16. Rh3 Ne5 17. Bf6 Rf8 18. Bxe5 Rxf7 19. Bxd6 cxd6  20. O-O Ke7 $11 {Osipov-Bendig, LSS email 2013}) 9... Kxf7 10. Ng5+ Kg8 11. Ne6  Qe8 12. Nxc7 Qd8 13. Nxa8 (13. Ne6 $11) 13... exd4 14. c3 h6 15. O-O Kh7 16.  Bf4 (16. cxd4 Nf6 17. Nc3 Bf5 18. Re1 Na6 19. Bf4 Re8 20. Qb3 Qxa8 $11 {  Kloster-Bonifissuto, ICCF email 2011}) 16... e5 17. Bg3 Nc6 18. Re1 h5 $11 {  Osipov-Gesicki, LSS email 2016}) 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 (9. Nc3 $1 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3  11. Qxf3 Nc6 $14 {Jimenez Molina-Ramos Verdu, ICCF email 2013}) 9... Nc6 (9...  dxe5 $1 10. Nxe5 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. c3 Re8 $11) 10. Qe2 dxe5 (10... Bf5 11.  Re1 (11. Nc3 Nb4 12. Bg5 $14 {Bellin-Solozhenkin, Montecatini Terme 1997})  11... Qd7 (11... Qc8 12. Nc3 (12. Na3 $1 $14) 12... dxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 $6 (13...  Be6 14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Nb5 $14) 14. e6 $16 {Fedorowicz-Alburt, USA-ch 1989}) (  11... dxe5 $5) 12. Nbd2 (12. Na3 $1 $14) 12... Rad8 (12... dxe5 $1 13. dxe5 Be6  14. Bxe6 $11) 13. Ne4 $14 {De Firmian-Alburt, USA-ch 1989}) 11. dxe5 Nd4 (11...  e6 12. Rd1 $14 {is a small improvement for Black. Garcia Fernandez-Hernandez,  Benidorm 2004}) 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Re1 Bd7 14. c3 Qc5 $6 (14... Qh4 15. Nd2 Bc6  16. Nf3 Qh5 17. e6 (17. Bd1 $5) 17... f5 18. Ne5 Qxe2 19. Rxe2 $14 {  Vanttaja-Aho, ICCF email 2007}) 15. Nd2 (15. e6 $1 Bxe6 $6 (15... Be8 16. Bf4  $14) 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6+ $16 {Wahls-Timmer, Bern 1994}) 15... Bc6 16. Nf3  Bd5 $6 (16... Bxf3 17. Qxf3 $14 {Almasi-Rizvi, Rimavska Sobota 1992}) 17. Be3  Qc6 $6 (17... Bxf3 18. Qxf3 $16) 18. Nd4 Qd7 19. c4 Bc6 $6 (19... Be6 20. Rad1  $16) 20. Red1 (20. e6 $1 $18) 20... Rad8 (20... Qc8 21. Rd2 Rd8 22. Bg5 $16)  21. f4 (21. e6 $1 $18) 21... Qe8 $6 (21... e6 22. Bc2 $16) 22. Nb5 Rxd1+ (22...  Na8 23. e6 $18 {is only a tiny improvement for Black}) 23. Rxd1 Qc8 (23... Na8  24. e6 $18 {is a bigger improvement for Black this move}) 24. c5 Nd7 $2 (24...  Nd5 25. Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 c6 27. Na7 Qb8 28. Rd7 Qxa7 29. Rxe7 $18 {puts up a  better fight}) 25. Na7 $6 (25. e6 $18 {is stronger. Funny how White keeps  missing this move.}) 25... Qb8 26. Nxc6 bxc6 27. Bc4 (27. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 28. e6  $18) 27... Rd8 $2 (27... Qc8 28. Qd2 Nb8 29. Qxa5 $18 {would prolong the game  (and Black's pain)}) 28. Qd2 e6 29. Qxa5 (29. Bf2 $1 {is the quick method})  29... g5 (29... Bf8 {is better but who cares?}) 30. Qd2 Bf8 31. f5 Be7 32. Bxg5  (32. fxe6 Nxe5 33. exf7+ Kf8 34. Bd4 Nxc4 35. Qd3 Rxd4 36. Qxd4 $18 {mops  Black up even faster}) 32... Nf6 ({If Black were a glutton for punishment and  wanted to prolong his agony, he would play} 32... Nxe5 33. Qxd8+ Bxd8 34. Rxd8+  Qxd8 35. Bxd8 Nxc4 36. fxe6 fxe6 37. b4 $18) 33. Qxd8+ Bxd8 34. exf6 exf5 35.  Bxf7+ $2 (35. Rd7 $18 {ends the game}) 35... Kh8 $2 (35... Kxf7 36. Rd7+ Ke6  37. Rxh7 {and all of the sudden White has to put in a little work (but not  much) to secure the win}) 36. Bg6 1-0

Game of the week

July 17, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "New York match 1931"]  [White "Reuben Fine"]  [Black "Arthur Dake"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "E43"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "34"]  [EventDate "1931.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 (5. Nge2 Ba6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Nxc3  d5 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Qb4 Qc7 $11) 5... Bb7 6. Nge2 $2 (6. Nf3 Ne4 7. Bd2 Nxd2 8.  Qxd2 d6 9. e4 Nd7 $11 {Clarke-Hampton, England 1997}) 6... Bxg2 7. Rg1 Be4 $6 (  7... Bf3 $1 8. Qc2 (8. Rxg7 $6 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nh5 $17) 8... g6 9. a3 Bxe2 $15)  8. Bxe4 $6 (8. a3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bxc3+ 10. Nxc3 O-O $11) 8... Nxe4 9. Rxg7 $2 (9.  Bd2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 O-O $17) 9... Nxf2 $1 10. Qc2 (10. Kxf2 $2 Qf6+ $19) 10...  Qh4 11. Kf1 $2 (11. Ng3 Bf8 $19 {would prolong the game}) 11... Ng4 12. Ng3 $2  (12. Nf4 Kf8 13. Rxg4 Qxg4 $19 {would also prolong the game}) 12... Qf6+ 13.  Kg1 $2 (13. Ke1 {is an irrelevant improvement}) 13... Qxg7 14. Nb5 Na6 15. Qa4  $2 (15. Qg2 c6 $19 {is another irrelevant improvement}) 15... c6 (15... Nxh2 $1  {is the quick method}) 16. Qxa6 $2 {It doesn't matter. White just wants a  quick death.} cxb5 $2 (16... Nxh2 {would give White what he wants}) 17. Qb7 Rd8  {White has had enough} 0-1

Game of the week

July 10, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Philadelphia 1979"]  [White "Lawrence Day"]  [Black "Calvin Blocker"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C34"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "61"]  [EventDate "1979.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d6 {Bobby Fischer famously claimed  this move to  "bust" the King's Gambit.} 4. d4 g5 5. h4 (5. g3 $5 g4 6. Nh4 f3 7. Nc3 Be7 8.  Be3 Nc6 $15) 5... g4 6. Ng1 Bh6 7. Ne2 Qf6 8. Nbc3 Ne7 (8... f3 9. Ng3 Nc6 10.  Bxh6 Qxh6 $15) 9. Qd2 Nbc6 10. g3 (10. Nb5 O-O 11. Nxc7 Rb8 $15) 10... f3 $2 (  10... Bg7 11. Qxf4 Nxd4 12. Qxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Nb5 Bb6 $15 {  Ledford-Barclay, ICCF email 2018}) 11. Qxh6 Qxh6 12. Bxh6 fxe2 13. Nxe2 f5 14.  e5 dxe5 15. dxe5 Be6 $6 (15... Nxe5 16. O-O-O Kf7 17. Bg2 c6 18. Rhe1 $16) 16.  Nf4 Bd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. O-O-O (18. Bd3 $1 Nde7 (18... Nxe5 19. Bxf5 $18) 19.  O-O-O $18) 18... Nce7 (18... Rd8 $5) 19. Rh2 $6 (19. Bd3 Rd8 20. Rhf1 $18)  19... c6 $2 (19... f4 20. Bxf4 Nxf4 21. gxf4 h5 22. Rhd2 $16) 20. Rhd2 $2 (20.  c4 Nb6 21. Rhd2 $18) 20... b5 21. c4 (21. a4 $1 a6 22. Rd4 $16) 21... bxc4 22.  Bxc4 Rg8 (22... a5 $1 23. Rf1 $16 {is a small improvement for Black}) 23. h5 (  23. Rf1 $1 $16 {is a small improvement for White}) 23... Kf7 (23... a5 $5) 24.  e6+ $6 (24. a3 $16) 24... Ke8 $2 (24... Kf6 25. Re2 $14) 25. Bb3 (25. Ba6 $18 {  is just a wee bit stronger according to Stockfish}) 25... Rd8 $2 (25... Rb8 26.  Ba4 Nb6 27. Rd4 a5 28. Bc2 $18 {puts up more resistance}) 26. Ba4 Rd6 27. Rxd5  $1 Nxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxe6 29. Bd2 Ke7 (29... Rg7 {is best but does it matter? It  does not.}) 30. Rxf5 Rd8 $6 {Because Black wants to shuffle off this mortal  coil as quickly as possible} (30... Re2 31. Ra5 $18) 31. Bg5+ 1-0

Here is Fischer’s article claiming a bust to the King’s Gambit

Game of the week

July 3, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Boston 1973"]  [White "John Curdo"]  [Black "Jack Peters"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C49"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "83"]  [EventDate "1973.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Qd6 (  7... Bg4 8. a3 Bd6 $11) 8. Ne2 (8. h3 $5) 8... Bg4 (8... Re8 9. Ng3 Qd8 $11) 9.  Ng3 (9. a3 $5) 9... Nh5 10. h3 (10. Nf5 $5) 10... Nxg3 11. fxg3 Bxf3 (11... Be6  $1 $11) 12. gxf3 f5 ({Slightly better is} 12... Bc5+ 13. Kg2 f6 $11) 13. exf5  Rxf5 14. Kg2 Raf8 15. Qe2 (15. Be3 $14) 15... Qd5 $6 (15... Bc5 $11) 16. a3 (  16. Be3 $1 $14 {is a bit stronger}) 16... Bc5 17. Bd2 (17. Be3 $14) 17... Bd4  18. c3 (18. a4 $14) 18... Bc5 (18... Bb6 19. Rae1 Rd8 $11) 19. b4 Be7 20. Qe4 (  20. Rae1 Rd8 21. d4 Bd6 $11) 20... R5f7 $6 (20... R5f6 21. c4 Qxe4 22. dxe4 Rd6  $11) 21. c4 Qd7 22. Bc3 Bf6 23. Rad1 Rd8 $6 (23... g6) 24. Rf2 (24. h4 $14)  24... Re7 (24... g6) 25. Rb2 (25. Re2) 25... Qe8 (25... g6) 26. Re2 Rd6 (26...  a6 27. Rde1 $14) 27. Ree1 (27. h4 $5) 27... Qd8 (27... b6 28. h4 a6 29. Re3 $14  ) 28. b5 (28. a4 $5) 28... c5 $6 (28... Ree6 29. a4 $14) 29. h4 c6 $6 (29...  Qe8 $5) (29... b6 $5) 30. a4 $6 (30. bxc6 bxc6 (30... Rxc6 31. f4 $16) 31. a4  $16) 30... cxb5 31. axb5 h6 $6 (31... Qd7 32. Rd2 b6 33. Ra1 $14) 32. Re2 Rd4  33. Qf5 (33. Bxd4 $2 exd4 $19) (33. Qe3 $1 $14) 33... Rxc4 $2 (33... Rd6 34.  Rc2 $14) 34. dxc4 Qxd1 35. Rd2 Qb3 $2 (35... Qc1 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Qd3 $18 {  puts up more (futile) resistance}) 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Qd3 e4 $2 (37... h5 38. g4  $18 {would prolong the game but wouldn't change the result}) 38. Qd5+ Re6 39.  Rd7+ Be7 40. Qf5+ Rf6 41. Bxf6 (41. Qe5 $1 {leads to mate}) 41... exf3+ $2 (  41... Qxf3+ 42. Qxf3 exf3+ 43. Kxf3 Kxf6 44. Rxb7 {allows Black to escape into  a hopeless ending}) 42. Kh3 1-0

Game of the week

June 26, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

National master Mark Samuelian unfortunately passed the other day. He grew up in Massachusetts before moving to Florida and was a regular at Massachusetts tournaments during the 80s. This week’s game is a tribute to him.

[Event "Framingham Saturday Swiss"]  [Date "1983.12.17"]  [White "John Curdo"]  [Black "Mark Samuelian"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B52"]  [WhiteElo "2452"]  [BlackElo "2143"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "84"]  [EventDate "1983.12.17"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "4"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "FCC Bulletin?"]  [SourceDate "2009.01.01"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.01.01"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. d4 (6. O-O e5 7. d3  g6 $11) 6... cxd4 (6... Qg4 $1 7. O-O Nxd4 (7... Qxe4 $2 8. Nc3 Qf5 9. Nb5 $16)  8. Nxd4 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 cxd4 10. Rxd4 g6 11. Be3 Bg7 12. Rd2 Nf6 13. f3 O-O (13...  Rc8 $11 {Schlemermeyer-Muse, Germany 2008}) 14. Na3 Rfc8 $11 {Quillan-Ward,  England 1996}) 7. Nxd4 g6 (7... a6 8. Nc3 e6 9. Be3 Be7 10. O-O Nf6 11. Qe2 O-O  $11) 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. Be3 Nf6 (9... a6 $5) 10. f3 O-O 11. O-O Rac8 (11... a6 $11)  12. b3 Rfd8 (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 a6 14. a4 $14) 13. Rc1 (13. Qd2 Qc7 14. Rad1  $14) 13... e6 14. Qd2 $6 (14. Re1 $14) 14... d5 $1 15. exd5 exd5 16. c5 $6 (16.  Nxc6 bxc6 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bd4 Bxd4+ 20. Qxd4 a5 $11 {draw  agreed, Delavekouras-Millstone, ICCF email2014}) 16... Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Ne4 $1 18.  fxe4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxd4+ 20. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 f5 (21... b6 $1 22. cxb6 Rxc1  23. Rxc1 Bxb6 $15) 22. Nd6 Rxc5 ({Somewhat better is} 22... Rc7 23. b4 Rcd7 $11  ) 23. Nxb7 $6 (23. Rxc5 Bxc5 24. Nxb7 Rd5 $11) 23... Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Be3 $6 (  24... Re8 25. g3 Re2 $15) 25. Re1 $2 (25. Nxd8 Bxc1 $11) 25... Rd2 26. a3 (26.  a4 $5 Kf7 $17) 26... Rb2 (26... f4 $1 $17) 27. b4 (27. Na5 Bb6 28. b4 Bxa5 29.  bxa5 Rb5 $17 {is a small improvement for White}) 27... f4 (27... Ra2 $1 $17)  28. Na5 $6 (28. g3 Ra2 $17) 28... Rc2 29. h3 (29. Rd1 Kf7 30. b5 Ke6 $19 {  puts up stiffer resistance}) 29... Kf7 30. g3 $6 (30. Nb7 h5 $19) 30... Bf2 31.  Re4 $6 (31. Rf1 fxg3 $19) 31... fxg3 $2 (31... Bxg3 {with the threat of} 32. Z0  f3 {and} 33. Z0 Rc1+ {would end the game immediately}) 32. Nc4 g5 $2 (32... Kf6  {is quicker}) 33. Kg2 $2 (33. Nd6+ Kf6 $19 {still leaves Black with some work  to do}) 33... Be1+ $2 (33... Bd4+ 34. Kxg3 Rxc4 $19 {wins a piece and ends the  game}) 34. Kf3 Rc3+ 35. Kg2 Rc2+ $6 (35... Rc1 36. Nd6+ Kf6 $15) 36. Kg1 $2 (  36. Kf3 Kf6 37. Rxe1 Rxc4 38. Re3 Kf5 $11) 36... Bf2+ 37. Kf1 (37. Kg2 {  repeats the position for the second time. Maybe White could get lucky  (especially if Black is in time trouble)}) 37... h5 (37... Kg6 $1 $19) 38. Kg2  (38. Nd6+ {would prolong the game to no good end}) 38... Kg6 $6 (38... Bd4+ 39.  Kxg3 Rxc4 $19 {again wins a piece}) 39. a4 ({Dumping a piece with} 39. Kf3 g2  40. Kxg2 Bd4+ {is irrelevantly better}) 39... Kf5 $2 (39... Bd4+ {once again  wins a piece}) 40. Nd6+ Kf6 41. Nc4 ({After} 41. Rc4 Rxc4 42. Nxc4 Ke6 $19 {  White still has a little (very little) fight left}) 41... h4 ({Black simply  refuses to win a piece with} 41... Bd4+) 42. b5 $2 (42. Kf3 {is best when  Black should still take the piece with} g2 43. Kxg2 Bd4+) 42... Bc5+ 0-1

ALL THINGS HUMAN

HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

Category Archives: chess

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week

Game of the week