Game of the week

November 29, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1973 Canadian Open"]  [Site "Ottawa"]  [White "Ken Rogoff"]  [Black "Duncan Suttles"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B06"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "94"]  [EventDate "1973.07.28"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "Canbase"]  [SourceDate "2015.08.19"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2015.08.19"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bc4 (4. c3 $1 $14) 4... Nf6 5. Qe2 O-O 6. O-O  Bg4 7. c3 Nc6 (7... Nbd7 $5) 8. Bb5 (8. h3 $5 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 e5 $11) 8... a6 (  8... Qe8 $5 9. Nbd2 a6 (9... Nh5 $1 $11) 10. Bd3 (10. Bxc6 Qxc6 $11 {  Torre-Hort, Amsterdam 1979}) 10... Nh5 $11 {Kovacevic-Planinec, Zagreb 1077})  9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nbd2 a5 11. e5 $146 (11. Re1 $5 {Lutikov-Razuvaev,  Cheliabinsk 1972 and Chernuschevich-Hamdouchi, Belfort 2010}) 11... Nd5 12. c4  $2 (12. h3 $11) 12... Nb4 13. h3 Bf5 14. Ne4 c5 $1 {"Things fall apart; the  centre cannot hold;"} 15. d5 (15. dxc5 dxe5 16. Rd1 Qc8 17. Ng3 Qe6 $17) 15...  c6 16. e6 (16. Rd1 cxd5 17. cxd5 dxe5 18. d6 h6 $1 19. d7 Qc7 20. a3 Na6 $17)  16... fxe6 17. dxe6 Qc8 (17... d5 $1 18. Nxc5 Qd6 19. Nd7 dxc4 20. Nxf8 Bd3 21.  Qd2 Rxf8 22. Rd1 a4 $1 $19) 18. a3 Na6 19. Neg5 $6 (19. Bd2 Nc7 $15) 19... Nc7  20. Re1 Rb8 $6 (20... h6 21. g4 (21. Ne4 Qxe6 22. Bd2 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24.  Rxe4 e5 $17) 21... hxg5 22. Nxg5 (22. gxf5 Rxf5 23. Rb1 Bf6 $19) 22... Bd4 23.  gxf5 Rxf5 $17) 21. Nh4 $6 (21. Nf7 $1 Qxe6 22. Nh6+ Kh8 23. Qxe6 Bxe6 24. Ng5  Bxc4 25. Rxe7 Nb5 $15) 21... Rb3 22. Nxf5 (22. Nf7 $5 Qxe6 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24.  Qxe6 Nxe6 25. Nxd6 exd6 26. Rxe6 Be5 $17) 22... Rxf5 23. Nf7 (23. Rb1 Qf8 24.  Bd2 Bd4 25. Rf1 a4 $17) 23... Rf6 (23... Nxe6 $142 24. Nh6+ Bxh6 25. Bxh6 Kf7  $17) 24. Nh6+ Kf8 25. Qc2 (25. Bg5 Rxe6 26. Qg4 Bxb2 27. Qf4+ Bf6 28. Bxf6 exf6  (28... Rxf6 $2 29. Qh4 Ne8 30. Ng4 Rf7 31. Qh6+ Kg8 32. Qg5 Kf8 33. Qh6+ $11)  29. Ng4 Qd8 $17) 25... a4 26. Ng4 Rxe6 27. Bh6 Bxh6 28. Nxh6 Kg7 29. Qd2 Qf8 (  29... Rb7 $1 $17) 30. Ng4 $2 (30. Rad1 Rb7 $17) 30... h5 31. Nh2 (31. Ne3 {  puts up more resistance}) 31... Qf6 32. Qa5 ({as does} 32. Rab1) 32... Rxb2 (  32... Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Rxb2 {is even stronger}) 33. Nf3 (33. Rf1 Rxf2 $1 {  is bad for White but not quite so bad as the game}) 33... Rxe1+ 34. Rxe1 Ne6  35. Qa7 (35. Qxa4 Nd4 36. Qd1 Nxf3+ 37. Qxf3 Qxf3 38. gxf3 Kf6 $19 {is  irrelevantly better}) 35... Kh6 $2 (35... Ra2 $1 $19 {is the quick method}) 36.  h4 Ra2 37. Qd7 $6 (37. Qxa4 Nd4 $19 {leaves Black with more work to do}) 37...  Ra1 38. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 39. Kh2 Nd4 $2 (39... Qf6 $19 {I'm guessing that the  players were in a time scramble}) 40. Nxd4 (40. Ng5 $1 Ne2 41. Nh3 Qe5+ $17)  40... Qxd4 41. Qxe7 Qxc4 $2 {Grabs the wrong pawn!} (41... Qxf2 42. Qg5+ Kg7  43. Qe7+ Qf7 44. Qxd6 Qxc4 $17) 42. Qe3+ $2 {misses the draw!} (42. Qf6 $1 $11)  42... Kg7 43. Qe7+ Qf7 44. Qxd6 Qxf2 45. Qe7+ Qf7 46. Qxc5 Qf4+ 47. g3 Qe4 $17  {Stockfish rates this position as -1.24 after 32 ply. It certainly seems like  resignation is premature. Possibly the time control was at move 50 and White  overstepped. Or maybe the scoresheets became illegible at this point Who  knows? But it was certainly an interesting game to this point.} 0-1

Game of the week

November 22, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Philadelphia Open 1994"]  [White "Michael Rohde"]  [Black "Nasser Abbasi"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B22"]  [WhiteElo "2641"]  [BlackElo "2324"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "1994.03.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e5 $2 (  7... e6 $11 {is the main line here}) 8. O-O $6 (8. Nc3 $1 $16 {is even stronger  }) 8... e4 $6 (8... Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qxd4 10. Qe2 $14) 9. Nc3 exf3 $1 (9... Qd7 $2  10. Nxe4 Rd8 11. Re1 Be7 12. Be3 $18) 10. gxf3 $6 (10. Nxd5 fxe2 11. Re1 O-O-O  12. Nb6+ axb6 13. Qa4 $16) 10... Qxd4 11. fxg4 O-O-O $2 (11... Bc5 12. Qc2 $14)  12. Qb3 $6 (12. Be3 $16) 12... Bd6 $6 (12... Qe5 13. Qxf7 Nf6 14. Kh1 $14) 13.  Qxf7 (13. Nb5 $1 $16) 13... Qe5 (13... Nf6 {is slightly better}) 14. Qf5+ $2 (  14. f4 $1 $16) 14... Qxf5 15. gxf5 Nd4 16. Be3 (16. Bg5 $5) 16... Nxe2+ $6 (  16... Be5 17. Rae1 Nc2 18. Bg5 Bf6 19. Rc1 $14) 17. Nxe2 b6 18. Rfd1 (18. Nd4  $5) 18... Nf6 (18... Ne7 $5) 19. Nd4 (19. b3 $5) 19... Kb7 $6 (19... Ng4 20.  Bg5 Bxh2+ 21. Kg2 Rd7 22. b3 Be5 23. Rac1+ Kb7 24. Ne6 $16) 20. Ne6 Rd7 21. Bd4  (21. Bg5 $1 Be5 22. Rxd7+ Nxd7 23. Rd1 $16) 21... Rc8 $2 (21... Re8 22. Kh1 $1  Ree7 23. Rg1 $16) 22. Bxf6 (22. Bc3 $1 $18) 22... gxf6 23. Rd4 Re8 $2 (23...  Rc2 24. Rad1 Kc6 25. Kf1 Rxb2 26. Nf8 $18 {puts up more resistance}) 24. Rad1 (  24. b4 $1 $18 {immediately is the quick method}) 24... Kc6 25. b4 a6 $2 (25...  b5 26. a4 $1 bxa4 27. b5+ $18 {would prolong the game}) 26. a4 b5 $2 (26...  Ree7 27. b5+ $18 {is an irrelevant improvement}) 27. Rc1+ Kb6 28. a5+ 1-0

Game of the week

November 8, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Berlin Championship 1940-41"]  [White "Friedrich Sämisch"]  [Black "Kurt Richter"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D08"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "52"]  [EventDate "1941.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 $6 {or is that !? ?} 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bf5 $6 (  5... Nge7 6. Nb3 Ng6 7. a3 Be7 8. Nbxd4 Ngxe5 9. Bf4 $14) 6. a3 Qd7 $6 (6... g6  7. g3 $14 {is better}) 7. g3 (7. b4 $1 $16) 7... d3 (7... Nge7 8. b4 $16 {  is better}) 8. e3 $2 (8. exd3 Bxd3 9. b4 O-O-O (9... Bxf1 10. Kxf1 Qh3+ 11. Kg1  O-O-O 12. b5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Rxd4 14. Qf3 Qd7 15. Ne4 Rxc4 16. Bg5 $18)) 8... f6  $5 (8... a5) 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Bg2 (10. b4 $1 $16) 10... Bh3 11. O-O Bxg2 12.  Kxg2 h5 (12... a5 $1) 13. h4 Ng4 14. b3 $2 (14. b4 $1 $16) 14... Be7 $6 (14...  O-O-O $1 $11) 15. Ne4 $6 (15. b4 $1 $14) 15... O-O $6 (15... O-O-O $1 $11) 16.  Nfg5 $6 (16. Ra2 $1 $14) 16... Rad8 17. f3 $2 (17. Bd2 $11) 17... Bxg5 18. hxg5  (18. fxg4 {is slightly better, e.g.,} Rxf1 19. Qxf1 Rf8 20. Qd1 Bxh4 $1 $17 21.  gxh4 $6 Ne5 $19) 18... Nce5 (18... Qe6 $1 {is even stronger}) 19. fxg4 $4 (19.  Bd2 Qe6 $17) 19... Qc6 20. Rf4 Rxf4 21. gxf4 Qxe4+ 22. Kg3 h4+ 23. Kh3 d2 24.  Bxd2 Nf3 25. Ra2 ({White decides to commit hari-kari rather than endure} 25.  Qh1 Rxd2 26. Rf1 Rh2+ $19) 25... Nxd2 26. Qe2 (26. Rxd2 Qxe3+) 26... Rd3 {  The text leads to mate in 18 whereas} (26... Qh1+ {leads to mate in five}) 0-1

Game of the week

November 1, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Friday was the 138th anniversary of the birth of Oldřich Důras.

[Event "Prague 1911"]  [White "Oldřich Důras"]  [Black "Amos Pokorný"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B01"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "65"]  [EventDate "1911.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bc4 (5. Nf3 $14) 5... Bf5 (5...  e6 6. Nf3 a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 9. Bf4 $14) 6. Qf3 Qc8 $6 (6... e6 $5 7. Qxb7  Nbd7 8. Nf3 $14) 7. Bf4 (7. Nge2 $5 c6 8. Bg5 Bxc2 9. Rc1 $14) 7... c6 ({  Somewhat better is} 7... e6 8. Nge2 $14) 8. Bb3 (8. Qe2 e6 9. Nf3 Be7 $11) (8.  Nge2 $1 $14) 8... e6 9. a3 (9. Nge2 $1 $14) 9... Nbd7 (9... Be7 10. Nge2 O-O  $11) 10. h3 Nb6 (10... Be7 $11) 11. Nge2 a5 12. Rc1 ({Stockfish prefers} 12.  O-O-O {slightly}) 12... Nfd5 (12... a4 $5) 13. Bh2 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 (14. Nxc3 $5)  14... Qd7 (14... Be7 $11) 15. Qg3 (15. O-O $5) 15... a4 16. Ba2 Nc8 $2 (16...  Bg6 17. Qe5 Qd8 18. O-O Be7 $11) 17. c4 (17. O-O $1 $16) 17... Nd6 (17... Bg6  $1 18. Qe5 f6 19. Qe3 $14) 18. O-O Ne4 $6 (18... Bg6 19. Qf3 $14) 19. Qe3 Bd6 (  19... Be7 20. g4 Bg6 21. Nf4 Bg5 22. f3 Nf6 23. h4 Bxf4 (23... Bxh4 $4 24. Ng2  $18) 24. Bxf4 $16) 20. g4 (20. Bxd6 $1 Nxd6 (20... Qxd6 $2 21. Bb1 Nf6 22. Bxf5  $18) 21. g4 Bg6 22. d5 $18) 20... Bg6 (20... Bxh2+ 21. Kxh2 Bg6 {is slightly  better}) 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 (21... Nxd6 {transposes to the note to White's 20th move  }) 22. Nf4 Nf6 23. d5 cxd5 24. cxd5 e5 25. Rfe1 Nd7 $2 (25... O-O 26. Qxe5 Ne8  27. h4 Qxe5 28. Rxe5 Nd6 29. Re7 $18 {puts up more resistance}) 26. Ne6 $1 fxe6  $2 (26... Ke7 27. Nc7 (27. Nd4 $5) 27... Ra5 28. f4 $18 {is grim for Black but  the game is even grimmer}) 27. dxe6 Nf6 $6 (27... Nc5 28. Rxc5 $18 {is  irrelevantly better}) 28. Red1 Qe7 29. Qxe5 Rd8 (29... O-O {(on move 29!) is  best but still resignable after} 30. Rc7) 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. e7 Qa8 $2 ({  At least, Stockfish doesn't see pending checkmate after} 31... Qb6) 32. Rc7 Bd3  33. Qe6 $6 ({missing} 33. Bf7+ Kxf7 34. e8=Q#) 1-0

Game of the week

October 25, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Today would have been Grandmaster Honfi’s ninetieth birthday.

[Event "Hungary 1976"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Karolyi Honfi"]  [Black "Laszlo Eperjesi"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A41"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "73"]  [EventDate "1976.??.??"]  [EventType "schev"]  [EventRounds "3"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c6 2. c4 e5 (2... d5 $11) 3. d4 (3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Nxe5 $14) 3...  d6 (3... Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nc5 $11 {Gasik-Jorgensen, Dos Hermanas 2004})  4. Nc3 Nd7 $6 (4... exd4 5. Qxd4 $14) 5. Nf3 g6 (5... Ne7 6. Be3 Ng6 $14) 6. g3  (6. d5 $14) 6... Bg7 (6... Ngf6 $1 $11) 7. Bg2 (7. d5 $1 $14) 7... Nh6 $2 (7...  exd4 8. Nxd4 Ne5 $11) 8. O-O (8. d5 $1 $16) 8... O-O $6 (8... exd4 9. Nxd4 $14)  9. Rb1 (9. d5 $1 $14) 9... a5 (9... Qc7 10. d5 $14) 10. h3 (10. dxe5 $5) 10...  Qe7 $2 (10... f5 11. Bg5 Qe8 12. Re1 f4 $11) 11. Re1 (11. Be3 $1 $16) 11... f5  (11... f6 $1 12. Qc2 $14) 12. b3 (12. exf5 $1 Nxf5 13. b3 $16) 12... Nf7 $6 (  12... exd4 13. Bg5 Qf7 14. Nxd4 $14) 13. Ba3 $6 (13. exf5 $5 gxf5 14. Nh4 $16)  13... b5 $2 (13... Qf6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bxf8 Bxf8 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nh4 $14)  14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Nxb5 $6 (15. exf5 $1 b4 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Bc1 $18  {is even stronger}) 15... fxe4 16. Nxe5 $6 (16. Rxe4 $18 {is simpler and  stronger}) 16... Ndxe5 17. dxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe4 (18. Rc1 $1 $18) 18... Rb8 19.  Nd4 Ng5 20. Bd5+ Kg7 21. Nf3 Nxh3+ 22. Kg2 Qa7 (22... Qf6 23. Rxe5 dxe5 24.  Bxf8+ $18 {is irrelevantly better}) 23. Rb2 $2 (23. Qd2 $1 Rf6 24. Rxe5 $1 dxe5  25. Bb2 Nxf2 26. Qxf2 Bh3+ 27. Kg1 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 $18) 23... Bg4 24. Rh1 $2 (  24. Qd3 Rf5 25. Re3 Rbf8 (25... Bxb2 26. Bxb2+ Kh6 27. Be6 $16) 26. Rxe5 dxe5  27. Bxf8+ $16) (24. Rc2 Rf5 25. Re3 Rbf8 26. Qd3 h5 27. Rxe5 $16) 24... Bxf3+  25. Bxf3 Ng5 $2 (25... Rxf3 $1 26. Qxf3 Rf8 27. Qe4 Rxf2+ 28. Kxh3 Bxb2 29.  Bxb2+ Rxb2 $15) 26. Bd5 Nf7 (26... Bf6 27. Qd2 Qd7 28. Rc2 $18 {is slightly  better}) 27. Re2 Rbc8 28. Rh4 Qb6 (28... Qd7 29. Qd2 $18 {is an insufficient  improvement for Black}) 29. Qd2 (29. Rhe4 $1 $18) 29... h5 $6 (29... Rc7 {  puts up more resistance}) 30. Ra4 (30. Rhe4 $1 {is even stronger}) 30... Bc3 (  30... Qd8 31. Qxa5 $18 {is a small improvement}) 31. Bb2 Bxb2 (31... Be5 32. f4  $18 {is a larger (but still insufficient) improvement}) 32. Qxb2+ Kh7 (32...  Kh6 {is another insufficient improvement}) 33. Re7 Rc7 34. Rae4 Qc5 35. Rxc7  Qxc7 36. Qf6 Qc2 37. Re7 1-0

Game of the week

October 18, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Site "New York 1982"]  [White "James Rizzitano"]  [Black "Igor Ivanov"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B21"]  [WhiteElo "2330"]  [BlackElo "2505"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "39"]  [EventDate "1982.07.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "10"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CH, Sept-Oct 1976"]   1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 (6. Bb5 $5) 6... e6  7. O-O Nge7 (7... Be7 $44) 8. Bg5 h6 $2 (8... a6 9. Rc1 h6 10. Be3 Rb8 $44) 9.  Nb5 $1 {And suddenly it's over for Black} d5 (9... hxg5 10. Nxd6+ Qxd6 (10...  Kd7 11. Nxb7+) 11. Qxd6 $18) 10. exd5 (10. Bf4 $1 {is even stronger}) 10...  hxg5 11. dxe6 $1 (11. dxc6 Nxc6 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rad1+ $16) 11... Bxe6 12.  Bxe6 Qxd1 13. Raxd1 fxe6 14. Nd6+ Kd7 15. Nf7+ Nd5 16. Nxh8 g4 17. Ng5 Bc5 (  17... Be7 {is irrelevantly better}) 18. Ng6 (18. Rfe1 $1 Re8 (18... Rxh8 19.  Nxe6 $18) 19. Ng6 {is irrelevantly stronger}) 18... Bd4 $6 (18... Be7 19. Nxe7  Kxe7 20. Rfe1 {is slightly less horrific for Black}) 19. Rfe1 Re8 20. Nxe6 1-0

Game of the week

October 11, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Wesley So turned 27 on Friday.

[Event "Toronto 2012"]  [White "Raja Panjwani"]  [Black "Wesley So"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A18"]  [WhiteElo "2493"]  [BlackElo "2668"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "2012.07.15"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "7"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "CFC 2003.10"]  [Source "CFC"]  [SourceDate "2003.10.??"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.10.??"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. Nf3 (7. d4 {  is the main line}) (7. Bd3 $5) 7... e5 8. Qe2 (8. d4) 8... Nc6 9. d4 Bg4 10. d5  Bxf3 (10... Be7 $1 11. dxc6 $2 e4 $15) 11. gxf3 Nb8 (11... Ne7 12. Rb1 O-O-O {  Perez Fungueiro-Adla, Nigran 1998} 13. Qe4 $14) 12. f4 (12. Rg1 $5) 12... Nd7  13. Bh3 (13. fxe5 $5) 13... Bd6 14. Bxd7+ $6 $146 (14. O-O O-O-O $11 {  Petursson-Lagunow, Bern 1996}) 14... Kxd7 15. c5 exf4 16. Qb5+ $6 (16. Qg4+ Kd8  17. cxd6 Qxc3+ 18. Kf1 cxd6 (18... Qxa1 19. dxc7+ Kxc7 20. Kg2 Kd8 $8 21. Bxf4  Qxa2 $44) 19. Qg5+ f6 20. Qxf4 Qxa1 21. Qxd6+ $11) 16... c6 $2 (16... Kd8 17.  Kd2 Be5 $17) 17. Qxb7+ Bc7 18. Bxf4 (18. d6 $1 Qxc3+ 19. Kf1 Rhc8 (19... Qh3+  20. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) (19... Qxa1 $2 20. Qxc7+ Ke6 21. Kg2 $18) 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21.  axb3 Bd8 $11) 18... Rae8+ (18... Rhe8+ {is slightly better}) 19. Be3 $2 (19.  Kd1 Qxf4 20. Qxc6+ Ke7 21. Re1+ Kd8 22. d6 Rxe1+ 23. Kxe1 Re8+ 24. Kf1 Qc4+ $11  ) 19... Qxc3+ 20. Ke2 Qc4+ 21. Ke1 cxd5 22. Rd1 ({Slightly (and irrelevantly)  better is} 22. Qb3 Qe4 $19) 22... Re5 23. Qxa7 $2 (23. c6+ Kd6 24. Qxa7 Kxc6  $19 {would at least make game last a little longer}) 23... Rhe8 24. Qa3 $6 ({  Another irrelevantly better continuation is} 24. c6+ Kxc6 $19) 24... Ba5+ 25.  Qxa5 $2 (25. Rd2 {is better but would only prolong White's suffering and to  what end? He chooses a quick death.}) 25... Rxe3+ 26. fxe3 Rxe3+ 27. Kf2 Qe2+  28. Kg1 0-1

Game of the week

October 4, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Windy City Invitational"]  [Site "Chicago 1985"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Lawrence Day"]  [Black "Raymond Keene"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B11"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "50"]  [EventDate "1985.03.??"]  [EventType "tourn"]  [EventRounds "12"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [EventCategory "3"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 {The usual move} ({but Stockfish prefers} 3...  Nf6 {e.g.,} 4. e5 Ne4 5. Ne2 Qb6 6. d4 e6 7. c3 c5 $11) 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nf6  (5... e6 {is better, e.g.,} 6. Be2 d4 7. Nb1 Nf6 $11) 6. b3 (6. Be2 e5 7. d3  Bb4 $11) 6... e6 7. Bb2 (7. e5 $5) 7... Nbd7 8. exd5 $146 (8. g4 $5 {  Kitti-Labeckas, Panevezys 2012} dxe4 $11) 8... cxd5 9. Qg3 $6 (9. g4 Qa5 10. g5  Ne5 11. Qg3 Nfd7 $11) 9... a6 (9... Rc8 $5) 10. O-O-O (10. Bd3 $5) 10... Rc8  11. d4 $2 (11. Kb1 h5 $15) 11... Qa5 (11... Rc6 $5) 12. Kb1 Ba3 (12... Bb4 $17  {is even stronger}) 13. Ba1 $2 (13. Bxa3 Qxa3 $17) 13... Bb4 14. Rd3 $6 (14.  Ne2 Ne4 $19 {is somewhat better}) 14... O-O (14... Rxc3 $1 15. Bxc3 Bxc3 16.  Rxc3 Ne4 17. Rc8+ Ke7 18. Qc7 Qe1+ 19. Kb2 Rxc8 20. Qxc8 Qxf2 $19) 15. Qe3 Rc6  16. Nd1 $6 (16. Ne2 Rxc2 $1 (16... Ne4 $19 {is almost as good}) 17. Kxc2 Qxa2+  18. Bb2 Rc8+ 19. Rc3 Bxc3 20. Nxc3 Ne4 21. Bc4 Nxc3 22. Ra1 Nd1 23. Rxa2 (23.  Kxd1 $2 Qxb2 24. Rc1 dxc4 $19) (23. Rxd1 $2 dxc4 24. bxc4 Rxc4+ 25. Kd3 Qxb2  26. Kxc4 Qc2+) 23... Nxe3+ 24. fxe3 Nb6 $19 {is better (and trickier)}) 16...  Ne4 $2 ({White misses the bone crushing} 16... Rxc2 $1 {which is even stronger  with the knight on d1 instead of e2 (as in the last variation), e.g.,} 17. Kxc2  Qxa2+ 18. Bb2 Ne4 $1 ({even stronger than} 18... Rc8+ {which also wins}) 19.  Rc3 (19. Nc3 Rc8 {is even worse for White}) 19... Nxc3 20. Nxc3 Rc8 $19) 17. c3  Be7 $6 (17... Ba3 18. Qe1 Qc7 $17) 18. h4 $6 (18. g4 Ba3 $17) 18... b5 (18...  Qc7 $1) 19. b4 $2 (19. g4 b4 20. f3 Ng3 21. Rg1 Qc7 22. cxb4 f5 23. Rc3 Nxf1  24. Rxf1 fxg4 $17) 19... Qc7 (19... Qa4 $19 {is even stronger}) 20. f4 $6 ({  You know your position is bad when the computer says that} 20. Rd2 {is your  best move, e.g.,}) 20... Rc8 (20... a5 $1 {is also stronger than the move  played (but it makes no real difference)}) 21. Bb2 $6 (21. Nf2 {is  irrelevantly better}) 21... Nb6 22. Rh3 (22. Rd2 {is slightly and irrelevantly  better when Stockfish gives} Bxb4 $1 23. Bd3 Bxc3 24. Bxc3 Rxc3 25. Nxc3 Qxc3  26. Re2 Nc4 $19) 22... Nc4 23. Qe1 (23. Qe2 {is another irrelevantly better  move}) 23... Bxb4 ({And} 23... Nxb2 $1 {is irrelevantly much stronger}) 24.  cxb4 $2 (24. Rde3 Na3+ 25. Kc1 Qxf4 26. Rhf3 Qh6 {postpones resignation for a  few moves}) 24... Na3+ 25. Bxa3 Rc1+ 0-1

Game of the week

September 27, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Site "Emden 1989"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Dimitri Reinderman"]  [Black "Loek Van Wely"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B07"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "40"]  [EventDate "1989.??.??"]  [EventType "game"]  [EventCountry "GER"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 ({Stockfish recommends} 5. Nge2  $5 {In light of the fact that this knight doesn't come out until White's last  hopeless move, this seems like a good suggestion}) 5... c6 (5... O-O $5) 6. f3  ({Stockfish prefers the immediate} 6. Bh6 $14) 6... b5 7. g4 $6 (7. O-O-O $14)  7... a5 $6 (7... h5 $1 $11) 8. Bh6 $6 (8. g5 Nh5 9. Nce2 $14) 8... Bxh6 9. Qxh6  b4 $5 (9... Nbd7 $11) 10. Nce2 Qb6 (10... a4 $5) 11. h4 $146 (11. Nh3 Ba6 (  11... Nbd7 {Limbos-De Vriese, Belgium 1987} 12. Nhf4 $14) 12. O-O-O Nbd7 $11 {  Prill-Di Minico, Zürich 1981}) 11... c5 $5 (11... Nbd7 $11) 12. h5 Rf8 (12...  cxd4 $2 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. g5 Nfd7 (14... Nh5 15. Rxh5 $1 $18) 15. Qg7 Rf8 16.  Rxh7 $18) 13. d5 $5 Nbd7 14. Ng3 $6 (14. hxg6 fxg6 15. g5 Ng4 $1 16. Qg7 (16.  fxg4 c4 17. O-O-O b3 18. Qh3 a4 $15) 16... Rf7 17. Qg8+ Rf8 18. Qg7 $11) 14...  c4 15. Qd2 $8 Ne5 (15... Ba6 $5) 16. Be2 $2 (16. Qf2 Nfd7 17. Qxb6 Nxb6 18.  hxg6 hxg6 $11) 16... Qc5 (16... a4 17. Kf1 a3 18. b3 Ra7 $15) (16... Ba6 $1)  17. hxg6 $2 (17. Nf1 $1 c3 18. bxc3 bxc3 19. Qe3 $11) 17... c3 $1 18. bxc3 bxc3  19. Qd1 ({White's position sucks so badly that dumping a piece with} 19. Bb5+  Qxb5 20. gxf7+ Rxf7 21. Qxc3 Ba6 $19 {is better}) 19... fxg6 20. Nh3 (20. Rb1  Nfxg4 $1 21. Bb5+ Kd8 22. Qe2 Rb8 23. a4 Ne3 24. Rc1 Rxb5 $1 {and it's curtains  }) 20... Qe3 (20... Nfxg4 $1 21. fxg4 Qe3 {is even stronger but it doesn't  matter. White's pieces are hopelessly uncoordinated and he decides to throw in  the towel despite the material equality and lack of immediate mate threats})  0-1

Game of the week

September 20, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "New York 1976"]  [White "Ken Regan"]  [Black "Thomas Costigan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B22"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "45"]  [EventDate "1976.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 (6... Nbd7 $1  7. d6 e6 (7... exd6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. Qe2+ Qe7 10. O-O Qxe2 11. Bxe2 O-O $11) 8.  Nf3 a6 $11 {Lessing-Drill, Limburg 1994}) 7. Bc4 b5 8. Bb3 Bc8 $6 (8... Bg7 9.  Nf3 Bf5 $1 10. Qe2 $14) 9. Qe2 a6 $6 (9... Bg7 10. Qxb5+ Nbd7 11. Nc3 $14) 10.  Nc3 Bb7 11. Nf3 Bg7 12. O-O Nxd5 $2 (12... b4 13. Na4 $14) 13. Qe4 $1 {Somehow  Black overlooked this?} e6 14. Bg5 {Or did he overlook this?} Qd6 15. Bxd5 Bxd5  16. Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 exd5 18. Rfe1+ Kf8 19. Rac1 f6 $2 (19... Nd7 20. Rc7 $18  ) 20. Rc8+ Kf7 21. Rc7+ Kf8 ({Black is so hopelessly lost that dumping a piece  with} 21... Nd7 {is his best move}) 22. Bf4 $2 {I hate to give this move a  queston mark but there's a big difference between being up seven  pawn-equivalancies and 50+ with} (22. Ree7 $1) 22... h5 $2 ({Again, your  position has to be pretty hopeless when Stockfish recommends dumping a piece  with} 22... Nc6 {and taking it is only the third best move behind} 23. Re6 {and  } (23. Bd6+)) 23. Nh4 (23. Bd6+ {is even stronger but Black has had enough and  throws in the towel.}) 1-0

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HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

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