Game of the week

September 13, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1971 Canadian Open"]  [Site "Vancouver, BC"]  [White "Hans Ree"]  [Black "Edward Formanek"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A12"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "1971.08.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "Canbase"]  [SourceDate "2015.08.19"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2015.08.19"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 Bf5 (4... dxc4 $1 5. bxc4 e5 6. Nc3 (6. Nxe5  $4 Qd4) 6... Bd6 $11) 5. Ba3 $5 (5. Bg2 Nbd7 $11) 5... Nbd7 (5... dxc4 $5) 6.  Bg2 e5 7. Bxf8 Kxf8 8. O-O Kg8 $146 ({Stockfish recommends} 8... dxc4 $11 {  as best}) (8... g6 9. d3 Kg7 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Qc2 Qb6 $11 {Johansson-Pomar  Salamanca, Lugano 1968}) 9. d3 h6 (9... g6 $5) 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Qc2 d4 $6 (  11... Kh7 12. e3 Re8 $11) 12. b4 $6 (12. Rae1 c5 13. e3 $14) 12... g5 $6 (12...  a5 $1 $11) 13. Nb3 Qe7 $6 (13... b6 14. e3 c5 15. exd4 exd4 16. h4 $14) 14.  Rab1 (14. a3 $1 $16) 14... Rc8 $6 (14... Kg7 15. Rfe1 Rhe8 16. Na5 Rab8 17. e3  $14) 15. Rfe1 g4 (15... Kg7 16. e3 $16) 16. Nfd2 $6 (16. Nh4 $16) 16... b6 17.  e3 dxe3 $5 (17... c5 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Na5 $16) 18. Rxe3 Qxb4 19. d4 $1 (19.  Nd4 Qd6 20. Nxe6 $14) 19... Qd6 20. Qc3 exd4 ({Slightly better is} 20... e4 21.  Rbe1 $1 $16 {stronger than the immediate} (21. Nxe4)) 21. Nxd4 c5 22. Nxe6 fxe6  23. Ne4 (23. Rbe1 $1 {is even stronger}) 23... Nxe4 $2 (23... Qe7 24. h4 $16)  24. Rxe4 h5 25. Rxe6 $1 Qd4 $2 (25... Qxe6 26. Bd5 Qxd5 27. cxd5 {offers the  best chance (i.e., none)}) 26. Qc2 Rh7 $2 (26... Nf8 {is a full two  (irrelevant) pawn equivalances better}) 27. Rd1 Qh8 $2 {Black just wants to be  put out of his misery} 28. Bd5 1-0

Game of the week

September 6, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Plovdiv 1977"]  [White "Ivan Radulov"]  [Black "Bozidar Ivanovic"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B66"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "65"]  [EventDate "1977.??.??"]  [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. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.  O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f3 Qc7 (10... Nxd4 $5 11. Bxd4 b5) 11. Kb1 Be7 12. g4  Ne5 ({The immediate} 12... b5 {is better}) 13. h4 (13. Rg1 $5) 13... b5 (13...  d5 $5) 14. Bd3 (14. a3 $1 $16) 14... Rb8 (14... Qb7 $5) 15. g5 (15. Rdg1 $5 $16  ) 15... Ng8 $6 (15... Nh5 16. gxh6 gxh6 17. a3 $16) 16. f4 Nc4 $6 (16... Nxd3)  17. Bxc4 (17. Qf2 $5) 17... bxc4 18. Qg2 d5 $6 (18... e5 19. Nf3 Qb7 20. Bc1  exf4 21. Nd5 $18 {loses more slowly}) 19. Ka1 $2 {Throwing away the bulk of  White's advantage} (19. f5 Bb4 20. Ncb5 $1 Qe5 (20... axb5 $2 21. gxh6 Nxh6 22.  Qxg7 $18) 21. fxe6 fxe6 22. exd5 Bxb5 (22... axb5 $2 23. dxe6 Bxe6 24. Qc6+ $18  ) 23. gxh6 $18) 19... dxe4 20. Bc1 $6 {Throwing away a little more of White's  advantage} (20. gxh6 Rxh6 21. f5 $18) 20... hxg5 ({Somewhat better is} 20... e3  21. Qe4 $18 (21. Bxe3 $2 Qb7 22. Qxb7 Rxb7 23. Bd2 $14)) 21. fxg5 Qb7 (21...  Qb6 {puts up more resistance}) 22. h5 (22. Qg3 $1) 22... Bb4 ({It really  doesn't matter but} 22... e5 23. Nde2 e3 24. Qg3 $18 {is better}) 23. Nxe4 $1 (  23. Qxe4 $2 Bxc3 24. Qxb7 Rxb7 25. bxc3 $14) 23... e5 24. Qe2 $1 f5 (24... c3 {  is better}) 25. gxf6 $2 (25. Nc5 $1 Bxc5 26. Qxe5+ {is a bone-crusher while  the text tosses away most of White's advantage (but not enough to endanger the  victory)}) 25... Nxf6 26. Nxf6+ $2 {This begins to endanger the victory} (26.  Rh4 $18) 26... gxf6 27. Qxc4 $6 (27. Rhg1 $18) 27... Bd2 $2 (27... exd4 28.  Qxd4 Qc6 29. Qd3 Kd8 30. Rh4 $18 {White is still up two pawn equivalents but  it was seven}) 28. Qd3 Bh6 $2 (28... Bxc1 29. Qg6+ Kd8 30. Qxf6+ Kc7 31. Qxe5+  $18 {prolongs the game a bit}) 29. Qg6+ Ke7 30. Rhf1 (30. b3 $1 {ends the game  a bit faster}) 30... Qb6 31. Nf5+ ({Again} 31. b3 $1) 31... Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Bf8  $2 (32... Rhd8 {only prolongs the agony}) 33. Rxe5+ $1 1-0

Game of the week

August 30, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1985 US Open"]  [White "Boris Spassky"]  [Black "Sturart Rachels"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B25"]  [WhiteElo "2690"]  [BlackElo "2445"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "67"]  [EventDate "1985.08.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "12"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nge2 e5 7. O-O (7. Nd5 $5  Nge7 8. Bg5 (8. Nec3 O-O 9. h4 h5 $11 {Spassky-Kiril Georgiev, Dubai 1986})  8... h6 (8... Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qd8 $11) 9. Bf6 Bxf6 (9... O-O $11 {  Spassky-Christiansen, Linares 1985}) 10. Nxf6+ Kf8 11. f4 Kg7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13.  O-O Be6 $11 {Emma-Panno, Mar del Plata 1958}) 7... Nge7 8. f4 exf4 $6 (8... O-O  9. a4 Bg4 $11) 9. Bxf4 O-O (9... Ne5 $5) 10. Qd2 Be6 (10... Bg4 $5) 11. Bh6 Qd7  $6 (11... Bxh6 12. Qxh6 Qb6 13. b3 $14) 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Nf4 Rab8 14. Rae1 (  14. Rf2 $1 b5 15. Nd1 a5 16. Ne3 $16) 14... b5 15. Ncd5 (15. a3 $1 $14) 15...  Bxd5 16. exd5 Ne5 17. Bh3 (17. h3 $5 Z0 $140 18. g4) 17... Qb7 (17... Qd8 $5)  18. c3 (18. g4 $5) 18... a5 $6 (18... Ng8 19. b3 c4 $1 $11) 19. b3 b4 $6 (19...  Ng8 20. d4 $14) 20. c4 Qa7 $6 (20... Rbe8 21. d4 cxd4 22. Qxd4 Kg8 23. c5 Qa7  24. Re4 $16) 21. Qb2 Qc7 22. d4 $18 cxd4 23. Qxd4 Kg8 (23... Rbe8 24. c5 $18 {  puts up more resistance}) 24. c5 f6 $2 (24... Qa7 {also puts up more  resistance in a lost cause}) 25. Ne6 dxc5 (25... Qa7) 26. Qd2 (26. Qh4 {  is even stronger}) 26... Qd6 $2 ({According to Stockfish} 26... Qd7 {is three  (irrelevant) pawn equivalances better}) 27. Qh6 Rf7 28. Rxf6 $1 Nf5 29. Bxf5  Nf3+ 30. Kf2 Nxe1 $2 (30... Qe7 {is the move if Black wants to prolong his  suffering but he obviously doesn't}) 31. Rxf7 (31. Rxg6+ $1 {checkmates  quickly, e.g.,} Kh8 (31... hxg6 32. Qxg6+ Kh8 33. Qxf7) 32. Rg7) 31... Kxf7 32.  Qxh7+ Kf6 33. Qxg6+ Ke5 34. Be4 1-0

Game of the week

August 23, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1997 Chicago Open"]  [White "Lev Psakhis"]  [Black "Walter Browne"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A25"]  [BlackElo "2540"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "78"]  [EventDate "1997.05.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "7"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Rb1 a5 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d3 f5 7. e3 Nf6 8. Nge2 d6  9. a3 O-O 10. O-O Ne7 11. b3 (11. Bd2 c6 $11) 11... g5 $5 (11... c6 $11) 12. f4  h6 (12... gxf4 $1 13. exf4 c6 $11) 13. h3 (13. Na4 Rb8 14. b4 axb4 15. axb4 b6  $11) 13... Ng6 (13... c6 $11) 14. Qd2 c6 15. d4 e4 16. d5 c5 (16... gxf4 17.  exf4 h5 $5 $11) 17. b4 (17. Nb5 Qe7 18. Nec3 gxf4 19. exf4 Bd7 $11) 17... axb4  18. axb4 b6 (18... gxf4 19. exf4 b6 $11) 19. Qc2 (19. Bb2 Qe7 $11) 19... gxf4  20. exf4 $6 (20. Nxf4 Nxf4 21. gxf4 Kh7 $11) 20... h5 $1 21. bxc5 bxc5 22. h4  $2 (22. Rb3 Ra1 23. Nd1 h4 $15) 22... Ng4 {"Thank you for this nice square for  my knight."} 23. Bh3 Nxh4 $1 24. Bxg4 (24. gxh4 Rf6 $5 (24... Qxh4 25. Bxg4  fxg4 {transposes to game}) 25. Kg2 Rg6 26. Ng3 Qxh4 $17) 24... fxg4 25. gxh4  Qxh4 26. Rf2 $2 (26. Nxe4 Bf5 27. Rb7 Bh8 $1 $19 {is the best defense}) 26...  Bf5 $2 (26... e3 $1 27. Bxe3 Bf5 $19) 27. Be3 $2 (27. Qd1 e3 28. Rh2 Qe7 $19)  27... Qh3 28. Qd2 g3 29. Rg2 $2 (29. Nxg3 {is irrelevantly better, e.g.,} Qxg3+  30. Rg2 Qh4 31. Re1 (31. Rg5 Kh8 32. Nb5 Bg4 33. Qh2 Qxh2+ 34. Kxh2 Ra2+ 35.  Kg3 Re2 36. Bc1 Bf6 $19) 31... Ra3 32. Nb5 Rd3 $19) 29... h4 30. Qe1 $2 {  Another irrelevant error} (30. Nxg3 hxg3 31. Qe1 Rf6 $19) 30... Bg4 31. Qf1 Bf3  32. Rd1 $6 ({Stockfish says} 32. Bf2 {is better but who cares?}) 32... Ra3 33.  Bd2 Rb8 (33... Qg4 {is even more gruesome for White}) 34. Rc1 Rbb3 35. Rc2 Ra1  36. Bc1 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Bxe2 38. Qe1 Bxc3 39. Qxc3 Bf3 0-1

Game of the week

August 16, 2020August 22, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Because Botvinnik’s 109th birthday is tomorrow. I only feature games that are not in ChessBase’s Mega Database and it’s hard to find games that they missed by players of Botvinnik’s stature. But here’s one from his youth.

[Event "Leningrad 1st cat 1925"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Mikhail Botvinnik"]  [Black "B. Riblin"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D64/01"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "65"]  [EventDate "1925.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "chesuotaku.org/games/gam"]  [SourceDate "2012.01.01"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2012.01.01"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Rc1 O-O 7. Nf3 c6 8. Bd3  dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qc2 {De Firmian in MCO-15 calls this move  "insipid" but isn't this whole line?} (11. Ne4 {is the main line}) 11... b6 $5  (11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 c5 $11) 12. Nxd5 cxd5 $6 (12... exd5 13. Bd3 Nf6 $11) 13.  Bd3 h6 $6 (13... Nf6 14. O-O $14) 14. O-O (14. Qc6 $1 $16) 14... Re8 $6 (14...  Nf6 15. g3 Bd7 16. Ba6 Qb4 17. Qe2 $14) 15. Qc7 (15. Qc6 $1 Rb8 16. Qc7 $14)  15... Nf6 16. Rc2 Bb7 $6 (16... Bd7 17. Ne5 Rec8 18. Qb7 Rcb8 19. Qa6 Rc8 20.  Rfc1 Rxc2 21. Rxc2 $14) 17. Rfc1 Kf8 $2 (17... Ne4 18. Bb5 Qxc7 19. Rxc7 $16)  18. Ne5 Ne4 $2 ({Stockfish says that} 18... Kg8 {is best, which just goes to  show how tied up Black is}) 19. Bb5 (19. Bxe4 $1 Ba6 (19... dxe4 20. Nd7+ Kg8  21. Qxb7 $18) 20. Bg6 Bc4 21. Qc6 Rec8 22. Qa4 $18) 19... Qxc7 20. Rxc7 Rec8  21. Rxf7+ (21. Nxf7 $1 $18) 21... Kg8 22. Rcc7 Rxc7 23. Rxc7 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ (24.  Rxb7 $1 Rc1+ 25. Bf1 Nd2 26. g4 Rxf1+ 27. Kg2 Rb1 28. h4 g5 (28... Rxb2 $2 29.  Rb8+ Kh7 30. h5 g5 31. hxg6+ Kg7 32. Rb7+ {and Stockfish sees a mate in 12})  29. Nf7 $18) 24... Bxc8 25. Nc6 a6 26. Ne7+ Kf7 27. Nxc8 axb5 28. Nxb6 (28. f3  {is a but stronger (not that it matters)}) 28... Ke7 29. a4 bxa4 30. Nxa4 Kd7  $2 {Black apparently doesn't want to suffer through a lost knight-and-pawn  ending so he opts for a quick death in a lost king-and-pawn ending} 31. Nc5+  Kc6 32. Nxe4 dxe4 33. f3 1-0

Game of the week

August 9, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Nuremberg 1953"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Lodewijk Prins"]  [Black "Edward Lasker"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C45"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "70"]  [EventDate "1953.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 (4. Na4 $5) 4... exd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 $6 (5...  Nf6 $11) 6. Nxc6 $6 (6. Be3 $14) 6... bxc6 7. Bc4 (7. Na4 $5) 7... h6 $6 (7...  Qh4 8. Qf3 Nf6 $11) 8. O-O Nf6 (8... Qe7 $5 9. Na4 Bb6 10. Qf3 $14) 9. Na4 Bb6  10. e5 $1 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Bxf7 Bf5 13. Bb3 (13. b3 $5 Bxc2 14. Ba3 $14)  13... Re8 (13... Ne4 $1 {is a bit better}) 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 $1 $14) 14... Kc8 (  14... Ne4 $1 {again is better}) 15. Nxb6+ $6 (15. Be3 Nd5 16. Rae1 $14) 15...  axb6 16. f4 (16. f3 Kb7 17. Rae1 b5 $11) 16... e4 (16... Ne4 $5) 17. Bc3 (17.  h3 Kb7 $11) 17... Re7 18. h3 h5 19. Kh2 (19. Rfe1 Kb7 $11) 19... Kb7 20. Kg3 $6  (20. Rad1 e3 21. Rfe1 $11) 20... e3 21. Bxf6 $6 (21. Kh4 $1 e2 $15) 21... gxf6  22. Rae1 ({Believe it or not, Stockfish thinks} 22. Rg1 {is the best move, e.g.  ,} c5 23. Bd5+ c6 24. Bf3 Rg8+ 25. Kh2 h4 $17) 22... c5 (22... b5 $1) 23. a4 c4  $2 (23... c6 24. Kh4 Rd8 $15 25. Kxh5 $4 Rh8#) 24. Bxc4 Bxc2 25. b3 (25. Bd5+  c6 26. Bxc6+ Kxc6 27. Rc1 {is also equal}) 25... Rae8 $6 (25... Rh8 $11) 26.  Re2 Bf5 27. Rfe1 $6 (27. Rc1 $1 Rg7+ 28. Kh4 $14) 27... c6 28. Kh4 (28. Rc1 $5)  28... Kc7 29. Ra2 Kd6 30. Be2 Be6 31. Bxh5 $5 (31. Rd1+ $11) 31... Rh8 32. Rb2  (32. g4 $1 Bxb3 33. Ra3 $11) 32... Bf7 (32... Kd5 33. Rxe3 $1 Rxh5+ 34. Kxh5  Bf7+ $11) (32... Bf5 $1 33. g4 Kd5 34. Rd1+ Ke4 $15) 33. g4 Bxh5 (33... Kd5 $5)  34. gxh5 Reh7 35. Rxe3 $4 (35. Kg3 Rxh5 36. Rh2 $11) 35... Rxh5+ {White loses  a rook} 0-1

Game of the week

August 2, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1974 Goldwater-Marshall Invitational"]  [Site "New York, NY"]  [White "Andrew Soltis"]  [Black "Orest Popovych"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B87"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "75"]  [EventDate "1974.02.??"]  [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 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O  Be7 9. Qf3 Qb6 (9... Bb7 $2 10. Bxe6 $1 {is an old trap}) 10. Be3 Qb7 11. a3 ({  The main line is} 11. Qg3) 11... Bd7 (11... O-O $11) 12. Rad1 (12. Qg3 {  is slightly better and if} Nc6 13. f4) 12... Nc6 13. Qg3 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 (14.  Rxd4 $5) 14... Bc6 $6 (14... O-O 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Rad8 $11) 15. Bxf6 gxf6  $6 (15... Bxf6 16. Rxd6 $14) 16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Rfe1 O-O-O (17... h5 $5 18. Nd5 $1  Bxd5 (18... exd5 $2 19. exd5 Bd7 20. Rxe7+ Kxe7 21. Re1+ $18) 19. exd5 e5 20.  Qh7 $16) 18. Qxh7 $6 (18. Nd5 $1 Kb8 (18... exd5 $2 19. exd5 Be8 20. Re3 f5 21.  Rde1 Rd7 22. Kf1 $18) 19. c3 h5 20. Nxf6 h4 21. Rd4 $16) 18... f5 $2 (18...  Rde8 $1 $11) 19. Bd5 (19. exf5 $1 Bxg2 20. Rd3 $14) 19... exd5 20. exd5 Be8 21.  Qxf5+ $2 (21. Qg7 $1 b4 22. Na2 Bb5 23. Nxb4 Rde8 24. c4 Ba4 25. b3 Bxb3 26.  Rb1 a5 27. Nc6 Bd8 28. h4 $16) 21... Qd7 $6 (21... Bd7 22. Qf4 Rde8 $15) 22.  Qe4 $6 (22. Qf4 $11) 22... Bf6 23. a4 Bxc3 24. bxc3 f5 25. Qh4 $6 (25. Qd4 Qc7  $15) 25... Qg7 $2 (25... Qc7 26. Re7 Rd7 $15) 26. axb5 Bxb5 27. c4 Ba4 28. c5  Rg8 $2 (28... Bb5 29. c6 Rh8 30. Qf4 Qg4 $11) (28... Bxc2 29. cxd6 Bxd1 30.  Qc4+ Kb8 31. Re7 Rd7 32. Rxg7 Rxg7 $11) 29. g3 Qg4 $6 (29... Bxc2 {is better  but still losing}) 30. Qe7 Rd7 31. Qe6 Rg6 $6 ({Ditto for} 31... Qg6) 32. Qe3  Rh7 (32... f4 {is the best try, e.g.,} 33. Qe8+ Rd8 34. Qxa4 dxc5 35. Qc4 $18)  33. cxd6 Qb4 34. Rb1 Qxd6 35. Qd4 $2 (35. Qc3+ {is the real bone-crusher, e.g.,  } Qc7 (35... Rc7 36. Qh8+) 36. Qa3 Bb5 37. Rxb5) 35... Rg4 $2 (35... Bb5 {  makes White work for the full point, e.g.,} 36. c4 Rg4 37. f4 Qh6 38. Qf2 Rxg3+  39. Qxg3 Rg7 40. cxb5 Qb6+ 41. Kg2 Rxg3+ 42. hxg3 axb5 43. Re6 $18) 36. Qc3+  Qc7 (36... Rc7 37. Qh8+ Qd8 38. Rb8+ $18) 37. Qf6 $1 Rg8 (37... Bb5 38. Rxb5  axb5 39. Qa6+ Kd8 40. Qa8+ Qc8 41. Re8+) 38. Qe6+ 1-0

Game of the week

July 26, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "Czechoslovakia 1940"]  [White "Alfred Beni"]  [Black "Ludek Pachman"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D97"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "36"]  [EventDate "1940.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8. h3  (8. Be2 {is the main line}) 8... c5 (8... b5 $5) 9. dxc5 (9. Be3 $5 $11) 9...  Qa5 (9... Be6 10. Qb5 Nd7 $11) 10. Be3 $2 (10. Qb5 $1 $11) 10... Nxe4 11. Nd2  $2 (11. Nd4 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 (12. bxc3 Rd8 13. Rc1 Nxc5 $19) 12... Qxc3+ 13. bxc3  Nxc5 $17) 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 ({Not that it matters (it doesn't) but} 12. Nb3 {  is somewhat better}) 12... Be6 13. Qe4 (13. Qf4 {is also better but not by  nearly enough to make a difference}) 13... Nxc5 14. Qc2 $2 ({You know your  goose is cooked when the best you have is} 14. Qb4 Qxb4 15. cxb4 Bxa1 16. bxc5  {leaving you an exchange and a pawn down}) 14... Bf5 (14... Bxc3 $1 {is even  stronger}) 15. Qd1 (15. Qb2 {improves but allowing White to limp into a  hopeless endgame after} Bxc3 16. Qb5 Qxb5 (16... Qa3 $5) 17. Bxb5 Bxa1 18. Bxc5  ) 15... Rfd8 ({Again} 15... Bxc3 {is stronger}) 16. g4 (16. Rc1 {would only  prolong White's suffering}) 16... Bxc3 17. gxf5 Ne4 18. fxg6 {"Let's get it  over with!"} Bxd2+ 0-1

Game of the week

July 19, 2020 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

[Event "1993 Grumette Memorial"]  [White "John Watson"]  [Black "Artashes Minasian"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A69"]  [WhiteElo "2451"]  [BlackElo "2645"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "68"]  [EventDate "1993.05.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "Starbase?"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 {Stockfish prefers the Benko Gambit} 4. Nc3 d6 5.  e4 Bg7 6. f4 $5 ({Stockfish prefers} 6. Nf3 $14) 6... O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. Be2 (8.  dxe6 $5) 8... exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 (9... b5 $5) 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Ng4 12. e6  fxe6 13. d6 (13. Bg5 $5) 13... Rf8 14. Bg5 $6 $146 ({The main line runs} 14.  O-O Nc6 15. Bg5 Bd4+ (15... Rxf3 $5 16. Bxd8 Rxf1+ 17. Qxf1 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Nf2+ {  is a forced draw}) 16. Nxd4 Rxf1+ 17. Qxf1 Qxg5 $11) 14... Qb6 15. Qd2 (15. Na4  $1 $11) 15... Bd7 16. Be7 $6 (16. Rc1 $1 $11) 16... Rf5 17. Ng5 $6 (17. h3 Ne5  $15) 17... Re5 $6 (17... Qb4 $1 18. h3 Ne5 19. O-O-O Nbc6 $17) 18. Qf4 $2 (18.  Nge4 $11) 18... Qxb2 19. Qf7+ $2 (19. O-O Rf5 20. Qxg4 Qxc3 21. Rac1 Qe3+ 22.  Kh1 Nc6 $17) 19... Kh8 20. O-O Rxg5 $6 (20... Rf5 {is quicker}) 21. Bxg5 Ne5  22. Qxg7+ $2 (22. Qf4 Qxc3 23. Bf6 Nbc6 {puts up more resistance}) 22... Kxg7  23. Bf6+ Kg8 24. Bxe5 Nc6 25. Rab1 (25. Bf6 {is an irrelevantly slight  improvement}) 25... Qd2 26. Bf6 Rf8 27. Kh1 ({as is} 27. Rf2 Rxf6 28. Ne4 Rxf2  29. Nxd2 Rxe2) 27... Rxf6 28. Rxf6 Qxc3 29. Rbf1 Ne5 30. Bg4 $2 (30. R6f2 {  would prolong the game a bit (assuming White isn't ready to resign)}) 30...  Nxg4 31. Rf8+ Kg7 32. R8f7+ Kh6 33. Rxd7 $6 (33. R7f3 {allows mate in 19; the  move played in only seven but White undoubtedly wants to be put out of his  misery}) 33... Qe5 34. g3 Qe2 0-1

Game of the week

July 12, 2020 by Robert Huntington | 2 Comments

Generally speaking, playing bad openings against a grandmaster is a bad idea and usually will lead to an even quicker loss than a respectable opening would. While this is a quick loss, the fish in this game did have his chances (moves 7 and 9), but the end result was inevitable. By the way do you know what the word “grob” means in German? It’s fitting.

[Event "1981 World Open"]  [White "Sam Sloan"]  [Black "Tony Miles"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A00"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "44"]  [EventDate "1981.07.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. g4 $2 {In the hands of Michael Basman, this might only rate a ?! He's an  international master who can (occasionally) get away with it against grandmasters.  Sloan isn't and can't.} d5 2. Bg2 c6 ({It's best to take the pawn, e.g.,} 2...  Bxg4 3. c4 c6 4. Qb3 Nf6 5. Qxb7 Nbd7 6. h3 (6. Qxc6 Rc8 7. Qb5 e5 $17) 6...  Bf5 7. Nf3 e5 $17) 3. h3 e5 (3... h5 $5) 4. d3 $6 (4. d4 e4 5. c4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3  Ne7 7. Qb3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 O-O $15) 4... Ne7 (4... h5 $1 $17) 5. Nc3 ({The  immediate} 5. e4 {is better}) 5... Ng6 6. e4 h5 $2 (6... Nh4 $1 7. Kf1 h5 $17)  7. g5 $2 (7. exd5 $1 Bb4 (7... cxd5 8. Bxd5 hxg4 9. hxg4 Rxh1 10. Bxh1 Qh4 11.  Bf3 $11) 8. Kf1 hxg4 9. hxg4 Rxh1 10. Bxh1 Qh4 11. Bf3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 cxd5 $11)  7... Be7 (7... Nh4 $17) 8. exd5 Nh4 (8... Bxg5 $1 $11) 9. d6 $2 (9. Be4 $1 Bb4  10. Kf1 Bxc3 11. dxc6 Nxc6 12. bxc3 $14) 9... Nxg2+ 10. Kf1 Bxg5 (10... Qxd6 $1  11. Kxg2 c5 $17) 11. Kxg2 Bxc1 12. Rxc1 (12. Qxc1 {is very slightly better})  12... Qxd6 13. Nf3 (13. Qe2 {is very slightly better (as always, according to  Stockfish)}) 13... Qg6+ (13... O-O $5) 14. Kh2 Qf5 15. Kg2 Rh6 (15... c5 $1 $17  ) 16. Ne4 $6 (16. Qe2 {puts up more resistance}) 16... Qf4 17. Nfg5 $2 (17. Re1  Kf8 $17) 17... f5 {White has to give up a piece for a few spite checks} 18.  Nd6+ Rxd6 19. Qxh5+ Ke7 (19... Kd8 {is a bit quicker}) 20. Qf7+ Kd8 21. Qf8+ $6  (21. Qxg7 {is irrelevantly better}) 21... Kc7 22. Qxg7+ Nd7 0-1

ALL THINGS HUMAN

HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

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