Game of the week

November 5, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Romania vs. Hungary"]  [Date "Bucharest 1963"]  [White "Florin Gheorghiu"]  [Black "Lajos Portisch"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B33"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "1963.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 2.88"]  [Source "Pickard & Son"]  [SourceDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 (5. c3 $5) 5... Nf6 6. Nc3 e6  7. Be3 Qc7 (7... Qd8 8. a3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Qd2 $16 {Rozo-Hjorth, ICCF  email 2018}) 8. a3 a6 9. f4 d6 10. Bd3 (10. g4 $1 d5 11. Bg2 $14) 10... b5 11.  Qf3 Bb7 (11... Be7 $5) 12. O-O Nd7 $2 (12... Be7 $11) 13. Rad1 (13. Qh3 $1 $16)  13... Be7 14. Qg3 O-O 15. Qh3 Nc5 (15... b4 $1 16. Nd5 $1 exd5 17. exd5 Nf6 18.  dxc6 Bc8 $11) 16. Nxc5 dxc5 17. e5 h6 18. f5 (18. Rf3 $1 Nxe5 19. Rg3 Nxd3 20.  Qxh6 Bg5 21. Qxg5 f6 22. Qg4 Nxb2 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Nd5 $16) 18... Qxe5 19. f6  (19. Bf4 $1 Qf6 20. fxe6 $16) 19... Bxf6 20. Bf4 Qd4+ 21. Kh1 (21. Rf2 Be7 $11)  21... c4 $2 (21... Rad8 22. Be2 b4 $1 23. Rxd4 Nxd4 $11) 22. Be4 Qb6 ({  Stockfish suggests dumping the queen with} 22... Qxd1 23. Nxd1 $18 {as Black's  best course. In other words, time to resign}) 23. Bxh6 Rfd8 24. Be3 (24. Bg5 $1  {is the quick method}) 24... Nd4 $2 ({Not that it matters but} 24... Rxd1 25.  Rxd1 {would prolong the game}) 25. Qh7+ Kf8 26. Bxb7 Qxb7 27. Rxf6 (27. Ne4 {  is even stronger, according to Stockfish}) 27... gxf6 28. Bxd4 1-0

Game of the week

October 29, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Site "USA 1976"]  [White "Jay Bonin"]  [Black "Leonid Shamkovich"]  [Result "0-1"]  [EventCountry "USA 1976"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 2.88"]  [Source "Pickard & Son"]  [SourceDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8.  Qe2 a6 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. Bb3 O-O 11. Rhg1 {The main line for many years  although Stockfish prefers} (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. g4 a5 13. g5 Ba6 14. Qf3 Nd7 $11  ) 11... Nd7 12. g4 Nc5 13. g5 $6 (13. Nf5 b5 (13... exf5 $2 14. gxf5 Nxb3+ 15.  axb3 $16) 14. Nxe7+ ({ECO (2021 ed.) regards} 14. Bd5 {as the main line, e.g.,}  Bb7 ({Stockfish prefers} 14... exd5 15. Nxd5 Qb7 $44 {Kogan-Roser, France 2005}  ) 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 (16... exd5 $2 17. exd5 Bb7 18. Bxc5 $14) 17.  Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. exd5 Rac8 $11)) 13... Nxb3+ (13... Bd7 $1 $11) 14. axb3 b5 15.  Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Bd4 (16. Qh5 $1 g6 17. Qh6 Re8 $11) 16... b4 $6 (16... Re8 17.  Qh5 e5 18. Nd5 $1 Be6 (18... exd4 $4 19. Nf6+ $18) 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. gxf6 Kh8  21. Bc3 Qxe4 $11) 17. Bf6 $2 (17. Qh5 Bb7 (17... bxc3 $2 18. Qh6 cxb2+ 19. Kxb2  e5 20. Bxe5 Qxc2+ 21. Kxc2 dxe5 22. Qb6 $16) 18. Rg4 bxc3 19. Rh4 cxb2+ 20.  Kxb2 Qxe4 21. Rxe4 Bxe4 22. Qe2 $14) 17... Re8 18. Rd3 $2 {White's attack  looks strong but looks can be deceiving} (18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Na4 a5 $11) 18...  bxc3 19. Rh3 $2 ({There is no attack so White should at least grab back a pawn  } 19. bxc3 Bb7 $19) 19... Bf8 (19... Bb7 {wins, e.g.,} 20. Rxh7 Kxh7 21. Qh5+  Kg8 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qh6+ Kg8 24. g6 cxb2+ 25. Kb1 Qxc2+ $1 26. Kxc2 Bxe4+ 27.  Kd2 (27. Kxb2 Bf6+ 28. Ka2 Bxg6 $19) 27... Bxg6 28. Rxg6+ fxg6 29. Qxg6+ Kf8 {  and White will quickly run out of checks, leaving Black with too much wood for  the queen}) 20. Rxh7 $4 {There is no attack. White has delusions of grandeur.}  (20. Rh4 $1 cxb2+ 21. Kxb2 g6 22. Rxh7 {Now White can make this sac} (22. Qg4 {  is also eequal according to Stockfish}) 22... Kxh7 23. Rg4 Kg8 24. Rh4 Bg7 25.  Bxg7 f5 (25... Kxg7 $2 26. Qf3 $18) 26. gxf6 Ra7 27. Qe3 Rc7 28. c4 $11 {  according to Stockfish despite Black's extra rook}) 20... Kxh7 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22.  Rg4 Qb5 $8 23. bxc3 Qe2 24. g6 (24. e5 {would prolong the game}) 24... fxg6 25.  Qxg6 e5 26. Rg3 Re6 27. Qg5 Rxf6 (27... Rxf6 28. Qxf6 Qxe4 {and the bishop  pair is especially powertul when the other side has no bishops (or knights)})  0-1

Game of the week

October 22, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "USA 1945"]  [White "Anthony Santasiere"]  [Black "Arthur Bisguier"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A00"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "83"]  [EventDate "1945.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 2.88"]  [Source "Pickard & Son"]  [SourceDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 (4... Nbd7 $5) 5. a3 (5. c4 $5 c6 (5...  Bxb4 6. cxd5 Qxd5 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. Bb5 Qe4 $11) 6. c5 a5 7. a3 b6 $11) 5... a5 (  5... Be7 6. Be2 h6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. c4 c6 $11 {Mahdy-Kreindl, Oberwart 2002}) 6.  b5 c5 (6... Nbd7 $1 $11) 7. Be2 h6 8. d3 (8. O-O $5) 8... Nbd7 9. Nbd2 Qc7 10.  c4 Bd6 11. cxd5 (11. a4 O-O $11) 11... exd5 12. Rc1 O-O 13. h3 $2 (13. a4 $11)  13... a4 (13... Rfe8 $15) 14. g4 $6 (14. O-O Bh7 $15) 14... Be6 (14... Bg6 $1  $17) 15. Qc2 $6 (15. g5 hxg5 16. Nxg5 Bf5 $15) 15... Qa5 16. Rb1 d4 (16... Qd8  $1 17. g5 hxg5 18. Nxg5 Bf5 $17) 17. exd4 (17. O-O $1 dxe3 18. fxe3 Rfe8 $15)  17... cxd4 $2 (17... Nd5 $17) 18. O-O Qxb5 19. Nxd4 (19. Nc4 $1 Bc7 $11) 19...  Qg5 (19... Qa6 $1 $11) 20. N2f3 Qg6 (20... Qc5 $5) 21. Nh4 Qg5 22. Nhf5 (22.  Nhf3 {with its tacit draw offer is what Stockfish prefers slightly}) 22... Rac8  $6 (22... Bxf5 23. Nxf5 Qf4 24. Nxd6 Qxd6 $11) 23. Qd1 $6 (23. Qxa4 $14) 23...  Qf4 24. Nxd6 Qxd6 25. Qd2 $6 (25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Qxa4 Nd5 $11) 25... h5 $2 (  25... Nd5 26. Rfe1 Nc5 $15) 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Rfc1 $6 (27. gxh5 Qd5 28. Bc1  Nxh5 29. Rb4 b5 30. Qe3 Nhf6 $11) 27... Ne4 28. Qb4 Ndc5 $4 (28... Qxb4 29.  axb4 Nd2 $15) 29. Qd4 $4 (29. dxe4 $18) 29... Qxd4 30. Bxd4 Nd2 (30... Nb3 $1  $11) 31. Rb4 $6 (31. Rb5 Ndb3 32. Rc4 Ne4 33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Bxg7 Nc3 35. Bxc3  Rxc3 36. Rg5+ $14) 31... Ndb3 32. Rcc4 (32. Rb1 $5) 32... Nxd4 $6 (32... Na6  33. Rxc8 Rxc8 34. Rxa4 b5 35. Rxa6 Nxd4 $11) 33. Rxd4 Rfd8 $6 (33... hxg4 34.  Rxg4 $14) 34. gxh5 e5 $6 (34... Rxd4 35. Rxd4 e5 36. Rg4 $16) 35. Rg4 (35. Rdc4  $1 $16) 35... Kh7 $6 (35... Rc6 36. d4 Rxd4 37. Rbxd4 exd4 38. Rxd4 $16) 36.  Rg5 (36. Rgc4 $1 $16) 36... Nxd3 $2 (36... Ne6 37. Rxe5 Nd4 38. Rxb7 Rc1+ 39.  Kg2 Re1 40. Rb2 $14) 37. Rxb7 Rc1+ $6 (37... Kh8 38. Rgxg7 Rg8 39. h6 $18) 38.  Kh2 Nxf2 $2 (38... Nf4 39. Rgxg7+ $18 {would prolong the game without changing  the outcome}) 39. Rgxg7+ Kh8 40. Rh7+ Kg8 41. Rbg7+ Kf8 42. h6 1-0

Game of the week

October 8, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

In memory of Jeremy Silman, who passed away recently.

[Event "San Francisco, Mechanics Institute 1982"]  [White "Jeremy Silman"]  [Black "Kerry Lawless"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "E95"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "83"]  [EventDate "1982.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 2.88"]  [Source "Pickard & Son"]  [SourceDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Re1  c5 $2 (8... exd4 9. Nxd4 Nc5 10. Bf1 Ne6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. e5 dxe5 13. Bg5 b6  $11) 9. dxc5 $6 (9. d5 $1 Ne8 10. Bg5 $16) 9... Nxc5 10. Qc2 Nh5 $2 (10... b6  11. Be3 Bb7 $11) 11. b4 (11. Bg5 $1 Qd7 12. Rad1 $16) 11... Ne6 12. Bb2 (12.  Bd2 $1 $14) 12... Nhf4 (12... Nef4 $1 13. Bf1 Bg4 $11) 13. Bf1 Nd4 $2 (13... a5  $1 14. a3 g5 $11) 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Nd5 (15. Nb5 $1 Ne6 16. Red1 $16) 15...  Nxd5 16. exd5 a5 ({Better is} 16... Bf5 17. Qd2 Qb6 18. Red1 $14) 17. a3 (17.  b5 $1 Bf5 18. Qd2 Qb6 19. Red1 $16) 17... axb4 18. axb4 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Bf5 20.  Qd2 Qb6 21. Ra4 (21. g3 $1 $14) 21... Rc8 22. h4 (22. g3 $1 $14) 22... h5 23.  Ra1 Re8 24. b5 (24. g3 $5) 24... Rc8 $2 (24... Qd8 $1 $11) 25. Rd1 d3 $6 (25...  Qc5 26. Bxd4 $16) 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Bxd3 (27. Qc3+ Kh6 28. Bxd3 $16 {is even  stronger}) 27... Bxd3 (27... Qd4 $1 {the reason for the last note}) 28. Qxd3  Qc5 (28... Qd8 29. g3 $16 {is a marginal improvement for Black}) 29. Qc3+ Kg8  30. Re1 (30. Rc1 $1 $16) 30... Qxb5 31. Qf6 $2 (31. Re7 $1 Qb1+ 32. Kh2 Qf5 33.  Qd4 $14) 31... Qxc4 32. Qxd6 Qc7 $6 (32... Qxh4 33. Qe5 Rc2 34. g3 Qd8 $15) 33.  Qf6 Qd8 34. Qe5 Qd7 $2 (34... Qa5 $11) 35. d6 Rd8 (35... Qe6 36. Qxe6 fxe6 37.  Rxe6 $18 {is Black's best defense (though insufficient)}) 36. Qf6 Rf8 $2 (36...  b6 {delays the inevitable (but not by much)}) 37. Re7 Qd8 38. d7 b5 39. Rxf7 $2  (39. f4 b4 40. f5 {is the quick method}) 39... Qxf6 40. Rxf6 Rd8 41. Rxg6+ Kf7  42. Rb6 {Why resign now? Or maybe Black lost on time? He's lost but he's in  far better shape than just a few moves ago (before White's 39th move).} (42.  Rb6 Rxd7 43. Rxb5 Kg6 44. g3 Rd2 {etc.}) 1-0

Game of the week

September 24, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

A tribute to Kate Gasser (1947-2022), one of the US’s top women players in the 1970s, whose death I only recently learned of.

[Event "1978 US Women's Championship"]  [Site "Rochester, NY"]  [White "Karen Street"]  [Black "Kate Gasser"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B08"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "82"]  [EventDate "1978.07.??"]  [EventType "tourn"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CH, Sept-Oct 1995"]  [SourceDate "2014.06.24"]  [SourceVersionDate "2014.06.24"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. a4 Qc7 8. h3 e5  $5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Bg5 (10. Bc4 $1 b6 11. Be3 $14) 10... Nbd7 (10... Nh5 $1  $11) 11. Bc4 ({Stockfish prefers} 11. Be3 {very slightly}) 11... Nc5 (11... Rd8  $5 $11) 12. Qe2 Ne6 (12... Nh5 $1 $11) 13. Bh4 $6 (13. Be3 $1 Nh5 14. Rfd1 Nhf4  $11) 13... Nh5 (13... Nf4 $5) 14. Rfd1 $6 (14. Nb1 Kh8 15. Qe3 f6 $15) 14...  Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Na2 (16. Nb1 Qf4 17. g3 Qh6 $15 {is a small improvement  for Black}) 16... Qf4 17. g4 $2 (17. g3 Qh6 $15) 17... g5 18. Rd3 $6 (18. Bg3  Nxg3 19. fxg3 Qxg3+ 20. Qg2 Qxg2+ 21. Kxg2 $17) 18... gxh4 19. gxh5 Be5 (19...  Be6 $1 $19) 20. Qf3 Qh2+ 21. Kf1 Be6 $6 (21... Kh8 $1 22. Ke2 Bg7 23. h6 Bxh6  24. Qf6+ Bg7 25. Qxh4 f5 $19) 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Qg2+ Qxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rf4 25. Rg1  (25. Rf3 Rxe4 $17 {is a incremental improvement for White}) 25... Kg7 $6 (25...  Raf8 26. Rd2 Kg7 $17) 26. f3 $2 (26. Rf3 Kh6 $17) 26... Kh6 (26... c5 $5) 27.  Kf2 $6 (27. Nc1 c5 28. Ne2 Rf7 $19) 27... Rff8 $2 (27... c5 $19 {is the quick  method}) 28. Rg4 (28. Nc1 $1 Bg3+ $17) 28... Kxh5 $2 (28... c5 29. Rxh4 c4 $19)  29. Rb3 $6 (29. Nc1 Rf7 30. Nb3 Raf8 $15) 29... b6 (29... Rf7 $1 $17) 30. a5 (  30. Nb4 $1 c5 $17 {is an improvement for White}) 30... b5 $6 (30... bxa5 31.  Rb7 Bg3+ $15) 31. Nb4 Rac8 32. Nd3 Bg3+ 33. Kg2 $6 (33. Ke2 $1 $11) 33... Rg8 (  33... Rc7 34. f4 Rcf7 35. Nc5 Rxf4 36. Rxf4 Bxf4 37. Nxe6 Rg8+ $11) 34. Nc1 $2  (34. Nc5 e5 $11) 34... Bf4 (34... Bd6 $1 $17) 35. Ne2 $2 (35. Nd3 Be3 $17)  35... Be3 36. Rd3 e5 (36... c5 $1 $19) 37. f4 $6 (37. b4 c5 38. bxc5 b4 39.  Rxg8 Rxg8+ $19 {puts up more (futile) resistance}) 37... Rxg4+ 38. hxg4+ Kxg4  39. fxe5 ({So does} 39. f5 c5 $19) 39... c5 (39... Rf8 {is the quick method})  40. a6 $2 (40. e6 Rf8 41. e7 h3+ 42. Kh1 Re8 {would prolong the game}) 40...  h3+ ({Again,} 40... Rf8 $19 {is the quick method}) 41. Kh2 $2 (41. Kh1 {  and after 27 plies, Stockfish rates the position as -13.45, which is (I  suppose) better than getting mated right away}) 41... Rf8 {Mate in 7,  according to Stockfish} 0-1

Game of the week

September 17, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

In memory of Joel Johnson (1955-2023), another (former) New England master who recently passed on.

[Event "1976 Boylston Chess Club Championship"]  [Site "Boston, MA"]  [White "Joel Johnson"]  [Black "Harry Lyman"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C56"]  [WhiteElo "1911"]  [BlackElo "2150"]  [Annotator "GotW"]  [PlyCount "47"]  [EventDate "1976.??.??"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "www.chessjamaica.org"]  [SourceDate "2008.07.12"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.01.01"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8.  Nc3 Qh5 9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Bg5 Bd6 11. Nxd6+ (11. h4 $5) 11... cxd6 12. Bf4 Qd5  13. c4 $6 (13. c3 Qf5 14. Bd2 O-O 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. cxd4 Rac8 17. Bc3 Rfe8 $11)  13... Qxc4 14. Bxd6 O-O-O $2 (14... Qd5 15. Be5 O-O 16. Bxd4 Rfd8 $15) 15. Bg3  (15. Rc1 $1 $18) 15... Bg4 $2 (15... d3 16. Rc1 $16 {Stelmaszyk-Sonis, chess.  com 2021}) 16. Rc1 (16. Qd2 $1 Bxf3 17. Qf4 Rd7 18. Rac1 $18 {is the quick  method}) 16... Qb4 17. a3 (17. h3 $1 Be6 (17... Bh5 18. Re5 g6 19. Qd3 $18) 18.  Ne5 $18 {is another quicker win}) 17... Qxb2 $6 (17... Qb6 18. h3 Be6 19. b4  $18 {would slow White down without changing the outcome}) 18. Qd3 Bxf3 $2 (  18... Qb6 19. Ne5 $18 {but Black is a dead man limping (or crawling) in any  case.}) 19. gxf3 $6 (19. Qf5+ Rd7 20. Qe5 $18 {is the quick and humane way})  19... Rd5 20. Qe4 (20. Rb1 {is even better}) 20... Rhd8 21. Qf4 ({So is} 21.  Qg4+) 21... Qb6 22. Rb1 $2 {Almost throwing away the win} (22. a4 $1 $18) 22...  g5 $4 (22... Qa5 $1 23. Qxf7 R5d7 24. Qf4 g5 25. Qf6 $16) 23. Qxf7 R5d7 24. Qe6  1-0

Game of the week

July 16, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1989 Constitution State Open"]  [Site "Waterbury, CT"]  [White "Michael Rohde"]  [Black "Richard Bauer"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D45"]  [WhiteElo "2681"]  [BlackElo "2433"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "45"]  [EventDate "1989.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "4"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CH, Jan-Feb 1990"]  [SourceDate "2015.04.19"]  [SourceVersionDate "2015.04.19"]   1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Be2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. b3  dxc4 $6 (8... b6 $1 9. a4 Bb7 10. Ba3 c5 $11) 9. bxc4 e5 10. h3 Qe7 (10... exd4  11. exd4 c5 12. d5 $14) 11. Qc2 (11. a4 $1 $14) 11... e4 $6 (11... Re8 $1 $11)  12. Ng5 (12. c5 $5 $14) 12... b5 $2 (12... Re8 13. c5 Bxc5 14. Bc4 $1 Nd5 15.  Ngxe4 Bb6 16. Nxd5 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Rxe4 18. Nxb6 axb6 (18... Nxb6 $6 19. Bd3 $16)  19. f3 $14) 13. Bd2 $6 (13. Ncxe4 h6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Nf3 $18) 13... Re8 14.  f3 exf3 (14... b4 $5) 15. Bxf3 Ba6 $2 (15... b4 16. Nce4 h6 17. Nxf7 $1 Nxe4 (  17... Kxf7 $2 18. Nxf6 Nxf6 19. Bxc6 $18) 18. Qxe4 Qxe4 19. Bxe4 Bh2+ 20. Kxh2  Rxe4 21. Bxb4 $16) 16. Bxc6 Rac8 (16... Nf8 17. e4 h6 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. exd5  hxg5 20. Rae1 $18) 17. Bxd7 Qxd7 $2 (17... g6 18. Bxe8 $18 {is an irrelevant  improvement for Black}) 18. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 $2 (18... g6 19. Raf1 $18 {would  prolong the game for no good reason}) 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Qh8+ (20. Nd5 {is the  quick method with mate in five}) 20... Ke7 21. Nd5+ Kd8 22. Qxf6+ $2 Be7 (22...  Qe7 {would stave off mate for an additional ten moves}) 23. Nxf7# 1-0

Game of the week

May 21, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1992 Nor'Easter Open"]  [Site "Watertown, MA"]  [White "Maxim Dlugy"]  [Black "Boris Belopolsky"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C06"]  [WhiteElo "2685"]  [BlackElo "2297"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "63"]  [EventDate "1992.04.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "4"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CH May-June 1992"]  [SourceDate "2009.07.13"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.07.13"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 b6 7. Ne2 Ba6 8. Bxa6  Nxa6 9. O-O (9. Nf4 $1 Be7 10. Qg4 $14) 9... cxd4 $6 (9... Be7 10. Nf4 $14) 10.  Nxd4 $1 Nac5 $6 (10... Nxe5 $2 11. Qa4+) (10... Rc8 11. Qe2 Nab8 12. f4 $14)  11. f4 (11. b4 $5) 11... g6 (11... b5 $5 12. Nxb5 Nd3 13. Nd4 Bc5 14. N2b3 $16)  12. c4 (12. b4 $1 Nd3 13. Qe2 Nxc1 14. Raxc1 $16) 12... Nb8 $1 (12... Nd3 $6  13. cxd5 exd5 14. N2b3 $18) 13. Qf3 a6 $2 (13... Nba6 14. Rd1 $16) 14. cxd5 $2  (14. b4 dxc4 15. Nc2 Qd5 16. bxc5 $18) 14... Qxd5 15. Qxd5 exd5 16. N2f3 Ra7 $2  (16... Ne6 17. Kf2 a5 18. Be3 $14) 17. Be3 Be7 (17... Bh6 $5) 18. Rac1 (18. f5  $1 $16) 18... O-O 19. Rfd1 Rd8 (19... a5 $5) 20. a3 (20. e6 $1 Bd6 21. exf7+  Rxf7 22. Ne5 $16) 20... Rb7 21. h3 (21. b4 $1 Ne6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Nd4 $16)  21... Kf8 $2 (21... Bf8 22. Rc2 a5 23. g4 $16) 22. g4 $6 (22. b4 Ne6 23. f5 $1  $18) 22... Ke8 $2 (22... Kg8 23. b4 $16) 23. f5 Ne4 (23... a5 24. Kg2 $18 {  is marginally better}) 24. e6 (24. b4 $1 $18 {is even stronger}) 24... gxf5 (  24... Bf6 {puts up the stiffest (though insufficient) defense}) 25. gxf5 (25.  Ne5 $1 {would end the game quicker}) 25... Bf6 (25... Nd6 {is another marginal  and irrelevant improvement}) 26. Rc2 ({So is} 26. Bf4) 26... Nd6 $6 {Hastening  the inevitable} (26... a5) 27. b3 $2 (27. Bf4 {would also hasten the inevitable  }) 27... fxe6 28. fxe6 Rg7+ $6 (28... Ke7 {would delay the inevitable}) 29. Kh2  a5 (29... Rg8 {is yet another irrelevant improvement}) 30. a4 (30. Bf4 $1 {  would end the game quicker}) 30... Ne4 $2 (30... Na6 {puts up more resistance  but why?}) 31. Nf5 Rb7 $2 ({If Black wanted to suffer longer, he could play}  31... Nc5) 32. Rg1 1-0

Game of the week

April 2, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Site "Marshall Chess Club Championship"]  [Date "1969"]  [White "Andrew Soltis"]  [Black "Asa Hoffmann"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B06"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "41"]  [EventDate "1969.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "7"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 2.88"]  [Source "Pickard & Son"]  [SourceDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5 c5 (4... Nf6 {, transposing into normal  Pirc lines, is better}) 5. dxc5 Qa5 (5... Bxc3+ $1 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Ne2 Nc6 $11 {  Morales-Moujan, ICCF email 2019}) 6. Qd2 Qxc5 (6... Bxc3 $1 7. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 8.  bxc3 dxc5 9. a4 $14 {Motylev-Inarkiev, Tomsk 2004}) 7. Nd5 Be6 ({The threat is  } 7... Z0 8. Be3 Qc6 9. Bb5) 8. Be3 (8. c4 $5) 8... Qc8 9. Bd4 (9. c4 $1 $14 {  Teuton-Herbert, Montreal 1989}) 9... Bxd4 $2 (9... Nf6 10. Bxf6 exf6 11. O-O-O  $14) 10. Qxd4 f6 11. O-O-O ({Three years later Soltis chose} 11. Qd2 {That  game also resulted in a quick win for White (but 11. O-O-O is better):} Nc6 (  11... Bxd5 12. exd5 $16) 12. Nf3 (12. O-O-O $16) 12... h5 (12... Bf7 $5) 13.  O-O-O (13. Be2 $16) 13... Kf7 $6 (13... Bf7 14. Nh4 $16) 14. Bc4 (14. Nh4 $1  $16) 14... Nh6 (14... Na5 $1 15. Be2 $16) 15. Bb3 (15. Nh4 $1) 15... Qd8 $6 (  15... Kg7 16. Nh4 $16) 16. Nh4 g5 17. Nf5 (17. Nf3 {is somewhat stronger})  17... Bxd5 $2 (17... Nxf5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Nb6+ Kg7 20. Nxa8 $16) 18. Qxd5+  Kg6 19. h4 (19. g4 $1) 19... Qd7 $2 (19... g4 20. f3 $18 {would prolong the  game without changing the result}) 20. Nxh6 ({Again,} 20. g4 $1 $18 {is a  bone-crusher}) 20... Kxh6 ({Throwing in} 20... e6 {would also prolong the game,  also needlessly.}) 21. hxg5+ fxg5 22. Rxh5+ $1 {1-0, Soltis-Botterill, Graz  1972}) 11... Nc6 (11... Nd7 12. Ne2 $16 {is a small improvement for Black}) 12.  Qd2 (12. Qc3 $5 $16) 12... h5 (12... Qd8 13. Kb1 $16) 13. Ne2 (13. f4 $5 $16)  13... Nh6 $6 (13... Qd7 14. f4 $16) 14. h3 (14. Nec3 $1 $16) 14... Kf8 $6 (  14... h4 15. Nec3 $16) 15. g4 g5 (15... hxg4 16. Nef4 $18 {is a slower way for  Black to lose}) 16. f4 (16. gxh5 {is a quicker way for White to win}) 16... Nf7  17. fxg5 Nxg5 (17... fxg5 18. gxh5 $18 {puts up slightly more resistance}) 18.  Nef4 ({Again,} 18. gxh5 {is the quick method}) 18... Ne5 ({Bkack is so far  gone that Stockfish prefers dumping the exchange with} 18... hxg4 19. Ng6+) 19.  gxh5 Bf7 (19... Kf7 {is a meaningless improvement}) 20. h4 (20. Nxe7 $1) 20...  Nh7 $2 {The final blunder} (20... Nxe4 21. Qg2 $1) 21. Rg1 1-0

Game of the week

March 5, 2023 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

An international master snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

[Event "New York Open 1983"]  [White "Igor Ivanov"]  [Black "Walter Shipman"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D46"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "45"]  [EventDate "1983.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 2.88"]  [Source "Pickard & Son"]  [SourceDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.01.15"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O (7. e4 $5  dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bc2 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rd1 h6 $11  ) 7... O-O 8. b3 (8. e4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 10. Be3 b5 11. Bb3 Bb7 12. a3 a6 13.  dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bf4 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Qc7 $11 {Bergmann-Simmelink, LSS email 2014})  8... e5 (8... b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Re1 Re8 $11) 9. cxd5 cxd5 (9... Bb4 $5 10. Ne4  cxd5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 $11 {Persidsky-Bertot, San  Francisco 2009}) 10. Nb5 (10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nd4 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 $11) 10... Bb8  11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bb2 (12. Nbd4 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Ne4 $11) 12... Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 (  13. Qxf3 $4 Bg4 $19) 13... Bh3 14. Re1 $2 (14. f4 $5 $11) (14. Kh1 Bxf1 15.  Qxf1 a6 $11 {Clausen-Sorensen, Denmark 1988}) 14... Ne4 15. f4 ({Of course not  } 15. fxe4 $4 Qg5+) 15... Qh4 16. Qf3 Nd2 17. Qd1 $2 (17. Qg3 Qxg3+ 18. hxg3  Nf3+ $17) 17... Bg4 $4 (17... Re8 18. f3 Qxe1+ $1 19. Qxe1 Nxf3+ $19) 18. Qxd2  Bf3 (18... a6 19. Qc3 f6 20. Nd4 $18 {puts up more resistance}) 19. Bf5 {  Did Black overlook this move when he played 17. ... Bg4?} g6 $2 {Because Black  clearly wants to be put out of his misery} 20. Qc3 f6 21. Be6+ Kg7 22. Nd4 Be4  23. f3 1-0

ALL THINGS HUMAN

HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

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