The King-Hunt

John Nunn & William Cozens

Algebraic Classics Series
Seres Editor: Dr John Nunn GM
B. T Batsford Ltd, London
The King-Hunt by WCozens was published by G. Bell ad Sons in 1970
This selection of algebraicised games B. T Batsford 196'
Additiona material John Nunn 1996
ISBN 0 7134 7945 0
British Librar Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.
A catalogue record for tis book is
available fom the Brtish Libray.
All rights resered. No pat of this book may b
reproduced, by any means, without prior permission
of the publisher.
Tpeset by John Nunn
and prted in Great Britan by
Redwood Boks, Trowbridge, Wilts
for the publishers,
B. T. Batford Ltd,
4 Fithadinge Steet,
London Wl H OAH
A BATSFORD CHSS BOOK
Editorial Panel: Mak Dvoretsky, Jon Spelman
Specialist Adviser: D John Nunn
General Adviser: Raymond Keene OBE
Commissioning Eitor: Graha Burgess
Contents
Intoucton 5
1 Hofman-Petrof, Giuoco Pian, Warsaw 1844 7
2 Staunton-Amateur, Muzio Gambit, c. 1850 8
3 Matschego-Fakbeer, Kieseritzk Gambit, Viena 1853 11
4 Max Lange-von Schierstedt, Scotch Gambit, c. 1856 12
5 Morhy-Amateur, Two Knights Defence, New Orleans 1858 15
6 Anderssen-Kolisch, Petrof Defence, Pais 186 16
7 Steinit-Rok, Evans Gabit, London 1863 19
8 Anderssen-Mayet, Evans Gambit, Breslau 1867 21
9 Steinit-Anderssen, Venn Game, Baden-Baden 1870 23
10 Riemann-Tarasch, King's Gambit Declined, Breslau 1880 27
11 Wae-Weiss, Stonewall Attack, Vienna 1882 29
12 Dorrer-Chigorin, Steinitz Gambit, Corespondence 1884 32
13 Taubenhaus-Pollok, Allgaier Gambit, Nottingham 1886 34
14 Schlechter-Marco, Queen's Gambit Declined, Vienna 1898 37
15 Em. Laker-Lee, Caro-Kann, London 1899 39
16 Kurz-Treybal, Salvio Gambit, Pague 190 41
17 Chajes-Taower, King's Inian, Karlsbad 1911 43
18 E. Laker-Thomas, Dutch Defence, London 1912 47
19 Niowitsch-Tarasch, Queen's Gambit Declined,
St Petersburg 1914 49
20 Alekhine-Yates, King's Indian, Kalsbad 1928 51
21 Mashall-Bogoljubow, Queen's Gambit Declined, New York 1924 55
22 Richter-Kretschmar, Richter-Veresov Attack, Berlin 1925 57
23 Spielmann-S. Rubinstein, Queen's Gambit Declined, Vienna 1933 60
24 Botvinnik-Chekhover, Reti's Opening, Moscow 1935 62
25 Chekhover-Kasparian, King's Indian, Match 1936 6
26 Machate-Bogoljubow, Giuoco Piano, Bad Elster 1936 68
27 Ichim-Rosselli, Slav Defence, Munch Tea Touaent 1936 71
28 Yaofsky-Dulanto, French Defence, Buenos Aires 1939 74
29 Szabo-Euwe, Queen's Gambit Accepted, Groningen 1946 76
30 Tarkower-Euwe, Giuoco Piano, Venice 1948 78
31 Smyslov-Floria, Grinfeld Defence,
Moscow v Budapest Match 1949 81
32 Averbakh-Kotov, Old Indian, Zurich Ct 1953 83
33 Tal-Simagin, Pirc; Czech Variation, USSR Ch, Leningad 1 956 86
34 Botvinnik-Gligoric, English Opening, Moscow Olympiad 1956 88
35 D. Byre-Fischer, Gronfeld Defence,
Rosenwald Touament, New York 1956 91
36 Ta-Panno, Ruy Lpez, Portoroz Interonal 1958 93
37 lvkov-R. Bye, French Defence, Vaa Olympiad 1962 96
38 Moser-Underood, Sicilian, Corespondence 1962 10
39 Penrose-Popov, Sicilian, Enschede Znal 1963 103
40 Stein-Korchnoi, Sicilian, Moscow Zonal 1964 106
41 Pns-Laurence, Sicilian, Lugano Olympiad 1968 108
42 Sporish-Sorokin, Sicilian, USSR 1968 1 1 1
43 Ostapnko-Yaev, Sicilian, USSR 1969 1 14
44 Lukin-Vorotnikov, Ruy Lpez, USSR 1973 1 17
45 T. Espig-Zinn, Modem Defence, East Germany 1973 121
46 0st Hansen-Nunn, Venna, Teesside Student Olympiad 1974 125
47 Gusev-Zhuravlev, Sicilian, USSR 1976 129
48 Smagin-Bukhtin, Sicilian, USSR 1982 133
49 Kopylov-Korolev, Sicilian, Corespondence 1983 135
50 Kapaov-Porisch, Queen's Indian, Nikic 1983 140
51 Short-Ljubojevic, Sicilian, Amsterdam (Euwe Memora) 1988 144
52 Shumakna-Taheva, Semi-Slav, USSR 1990 147
53 Rohde-Zu. Polga, English, New York 1992 150
54 Topalov-Baeev, French Defence, Linaes 1994 153
55 Cifuentes-Zviagintsev, Semi-Slav, Wijk a ZeOpn 1995 156
Symbols
1-0 White wins
0- 1 Black wins
lf-1f Draw
! ! Excellent move
Good move
!? Interesting move
?! Dubious move
? Bad move
?? Blunder
+ Check
++ Double check
Introduction
The original edition of this bok, written by Willia Cozens, was published
in 1 970. At the time I was an aspirng young player spending long hours
studying te nuaces of the Sicilian Defence and te Benoni. Cozens's bok
was like a breath of fesh air. Reading this book tansported me into a fanty
realm in which material was of little or no consequence. The only thing that
mattered was to drive the enemy king into the opn and pursue him to his
death. I enjoyed the book enormously and played over every gae, but fnaly
I had to retun to the compaative tedium of opnng theory.
When Batford stted a proga of agebraicising clasic books, I imme
diately suggested The King-Hunt as a candidate. To my delight, this project
cae to fruition and you ae holding the result in your hands. The origina
book has been converted to algebraic and re-edited. I then checked over the
analysis, which in some cases has led to a substntia revision of the annot
tions. Four of the origina 45 gaes were eliminated during this phase. Fi
nally, I added 14 new annotated games, taking the history of the king-hunt
fom 1968, where Cozens left it, up to the present day.
I selected the new king-hunt manly on aesthetic grounds, altough I did
employ the purely formal crterion that te king had to reach at leat te fft
rak durng the hunt. In many king-hunts it is quite obvious that the king is
going to be mated. This applies to some of the ealy examples in this book
(the gaes ae in chronological order), when the a of the king-hunt was stll
fairly primitive. I regard this as an atistic faw, in that the excitement of the
chase is severely diminished if the odds ae so heavily stacked against the
quar y that the result is a foregone conclusion. The hunter may face difcul
ties because of counterplay by te opponent-for example, if he is himself is
under threat of mate in one the hunt ofen has to be conducted using only
checks. However, the most common reason for uncertainty about the out
come is simply lack of attacking materia. Extacting te king fom its nor
position usually involves sacrifces, and each investent of materal reduces
the possibilities available to te attacker. If, in addition, the defender's pieces
contol vit squaes in the attacker's cap, administering the coup de grdce
may prove unexpctedly toublesome.
Of course, opportunities to conduct a full-blooded king-hunt ae rare in
deed, but if one ases in one of you gaes, be sure to make the most of it. A
6 Introduction
lifetime of war memories awaits if you cary the hunt through to a success
ful conclusion, and a lifetime of vain regrets if you make a mess of it.
Four tips for asping king-hunters:
1) In most caes material sacrifce will b requied to drive the enemy king
into the open. If the attack looks promising, don' t be too lazy to caculate it to
a conclusion, one way or the other. In quiet positions one can often rely on
one's instinct, but tere is no substitute for caculation in a king-hunt.
2) Unless you ae under threat of immediate mate yourself, it may be bet
ter to play a quiet move than to keep checking. Cutting off the wandering
king's escape route is often the bst way to tighten the noose.
3) King-hunts can lead to a bewildering thicket of variations, yet the same
mating patterns often arse in diferent lines. Try to reduce the burden of cal
culation by noting transpositions and spotting ways you can force the play
into previously calculated variations. You may miss the quickest mate, but
better a slower mate than no mate at all.
4) Don't over-sacrifce. The temptation to add the icing to the top of the
cae may be had to resist, but a switch to simple chess may b btter than a
dodgy 'brilliancy' . In game 26, for example, White's frst sacrifce was cor
rect, but the second one only jeopadised te win.
I hope that readers will enjoy the 55 games in this book as much as I have,
and will be inspired to pursue a few kings themselves.
Happy king-hunting!
Notation
Chess notation is written using a co
ordinate system. Thus the starred
square is written 'c5' . A move con
sists of a fgurine indicating the
piece being moved, followed by the
destination square. Thus the indi
cated knight move is written 'l3' .
The fgurine i s omtted in the case of
a pawn move, so the indicated pawn
move isjust 'e'. 'x' means acaptre
and'+' means a check.
John Nunn
London, 1996
Hofan -Petrof 7
Gamel
One of te fathers of modern chess was Ale
x
ander Petroff (bor 1794 ), the
Russia afte whom the defence 1 e4 e5 2 lf
l
f6 is named. He wa an in
dependent tinker and never feaed to disagree with the teachings of te great
Philidor, the king of 1 8th-century chess. Not many of his gaes have sur
vived but among them is this evergreen which appropriately begins our col
lection of king-hunts.
He0man- Fetre0
Casual Game, Warsaw 184
Giuoco Piano
m e5
2 v
J 3c4 3c5
4 c
This way of playing the opening
is forte rather than piano. The genu
ine Piano development is 4 d3, an ex
ample of which is shown in Gae
26.
4 ... v6
If Black prefers solid defence he
can play 4 . . . ib6 followed by 5 ... 1e7
as Euwe does in Game 30. The line
chosen here attacks the white e
pawn instead.
5 d4 exd4
6 e5
The best move is 6 cxd4, as Greco
had shown more than two hundred
years before this gae was played.
To the present move Black ha a ex
cellent reply.
6 . l
But this isn't it, and 6 . . .
l
g4 is
even worse. The corect move is the
counterattack 6 . . . d5 ! .
7 3d5(D)
7 ... l
B
Evidently this move had been
Petrof's intention. King-hunts be
yond number have begun with the
sacrifice of knight or bishop on f
or f. To question its soundness in
the present case would be perick
ety: this was before te days of tour
nament chess and te game was
more importt than the result.
8 dc+
9 gJ
Although not wrong it itself, this
is an unnecessar risk. 9 fl would
have left him with a knight against
three pawns, ad prospects as good
as Black's.
9
0 3xb2
vg5?
cxb2
l7
A mistake, although it requires
brilliant play to exploit it. After 1 1
8 Game2
.e4 the position would b roughly
equa.

d
At fst sight 1 l ...ll 5+ 12 f4
.e3+ is very temptng, but White
can coolly reply 13 xf5 'xg5+ 14
e4 c6 1 5 .xf7+, followed by 16
1f3+, leading t o an unclea posi
ton.
2 (D)
With sadonic satisfaction, no
doubt, White returns the compli
ment of Black's 7th move. He is at
tacking queen, rook and knight,
and if 12 . . . xf7 White will get two
pieces in retur, with a winning posi
tion.
8
2 . 0-0II
This completely unexpected re
source leaves White with noting
better tan take the queen, after
which his king will be hunted down
by four black pieces ad inevitbly
mated.
J d
4 bJ
15 e
If 15 g4 Black has the exquisite
15 . . . f4#.
15
6 g4
7 e
17 g3 is a slightly more tenacious
defence, guading f4 and h4. How
ever, Black can force mate in eight
by 17 . . . xd8+ 18 g5:5+ 19 g4
(or 19 M lf4+) lf6+ 20 h4
lf4+ 21 g5 6 22 h5 g6+ 23
h6 lh4+! 24 gxh4 .e3#. In this
mating position, titeen moves a
ter the diagram, Black is still vitu
aly a whole queen down.
After te move played Black
mated in four by:
7
8 g5
19 g4
20 bJ
Game 2
In the 1840s English chess was dominated by Howad Staunton (bor 1810),
a social lion but also a consideable scholar-not by any meas only in the
feld of chess-who had read al the known literate of the gae. At his peak
he wa the world's leading player at a tme when the title of World Chapion
did not exist. His style in match play was, like tat of may a master since,
cafl to the point of dullness; but he visited many provincial chess clubs and
did geat work for the game by exbition play in a ver difernt style.
Staunton -Ateur 9
Here is a Muzio Gambit, typical of the time. This obsolete opning re
mains the best stdad exaple of advantges in space and time being more
tan adeuat to overcome supriorty of dead pieces.
5unmn~Amaur
Eibition Ga, about 1850
Muzio Gabit
m e5
2 f4
Philidor had lad down the princi
ple that 2lf3 wa inferior bcause it
obstucted the f-pawn. The corre
sponding principle on the queenside
is still generaly accepted today, but
it is a matter of experience that the
Kng's Gabit leads to so much tc
tcal skshing tat psitiona con
siderations take second place, ad
almost all masters have prefered 2
lf3 throughout the 20th century.
Akiba Rubinstein was a notable ex
ception.
2 ... eM4
Game 10 features the declined
form of the King's Gambit.
J M g5
This is the classical method of
holding on to the pawn. Much of te
romace of te opning ha been de
stoyed by the modem defences 3 . . .
d5 ad 3 ... lf6.
4 3c4 g4
5 0-0
Black has moved only pawns, and
White can aford to sacrifce a piece
as early as the ffth move. Centuries
of anaysis have never really refted
the Muzio Gabit. Instead of ca
tling White can offer the knight in
two other ways: 5 l3 ad 5 d4.
5 ..

6 WM Wf6
Black's position is critical, even
though he is a piece up. The queen
move defends fand even threatens
to win a second piece by . . . 1d4+.
White replies with a pawn sacrifce,
opning yet more lines.
7 e5I Wxe5
8 d
Many games have been won at
this point by 8 3xf+and 9 d4, but
White's gae is so strong that there
is no need to try to force it in this
way.
8 ... 3h6
m?
Yet another Black pawn move, af
ter which his chances of surviva are
practically nil. His idea of resticting
the c3-knight and preparing .. . d5 is
fa too leisurely. It was essentia to
block the e-fle by 9 .. . l7, when
modem theory considers the posi
tion to be roughly level.
0 3M4
So as to meet 10 ... .xf4 by 1 1
lael .
0
h
2 2e+
J Bm
Wd4+
3M4(D)
v7
Much btter tan 13 1xf4, which
would allow Black the exchange of
queens.
J Wg7
4 WM4
10 Game 2
w
Deliberately allowing the fork.
When one has every piece in stong
play and the opponent has virtually
none, this sort of luxury is permissi
ble.
4 ... d5
Now Black's position is demol
ished by a further double sacrifce.
Though a rook and bishop ahead he
is given no chace to move ayting
except his kng.
5 3xd5I
6 2xe7+I
7 vxd5+?
cxd5
xe7
The frst sign of faltering. White
could have won by 17 "i c7+ id7 (or
1 7 . . . e6 1 8 lb5) 18 lxd5+ e6
1 9 le 1 + f5 (or 1 9 . . . xd5 20 c4+
d4 21 Wd6#) 20 "i f4+ g6 21
"i g3+ h6 22 'h4+ g6 23 le7#.
7 ... e
Relatively best, since 17 . . . f8
would b followed by 1 8 "i d6+ g8
19 le7+ f8 20 "i d8#.
8 We4+?
Now White is no longer winning.
The fa fom obvious line 18 lf6!
e7 19 Wc7+ e6 20 le4! would
still have been decisive.
8 ... d7?
Had the black queen interosed
she would have ben lost for noting
a 19lf6+, but 18. . .d6! 19 'e7+
xd5 20 lf6 ie6 21 lxe6 fxe6 22
Wxg7 lc6 would have been slightly
better for Black.
w
9 We7+ c (D)
20 Wc7+?
Once again White msses the w:
20 lb4+! b6 (20 . . . b5 21 a4+
b6 22 "i d6+ l6 23 l+ mates
in a few moves) 21 lf6+ 'xf6 22
"i xf6+ l6 23 'xb8 lxb 24 Wd4+
b5 25 Wc4+ a5 26 'c5+ b5 27
a3, picking up the kight.
20 . xd5
Not 20 . . . b5 21 Wc4+ a5 22
'b4+ a6 23 "i a4#.
2 c4+ d4??
An awful blunder alowing Whte
to mate in four. After the corect
move 21 . . . e6, the only question is
whether White has sufcient attack
to force a draw. It is had to answer
this defnitely, but I see no guaan
teed draw after 22 d4 (thratenng
d5#) Wxd4 (22 . . . l7 forces an im
mediate draw after 23 le 1 + f6 24
'f4+ g6 25 Wg3+) 23 Wxf+
d6 24 .f6+ c5 25 1e7+ xc4
26 b3+ (26 'i e2+ c5 27 'i e7+
b5 28 'i e2+ a5 29 1el + a4
evades White's checks) d3! (not
26 . . . b5?? 27 a4+ a5 28 'i el+
'ib4 29 1e5+ b5 30 'i c7#) 27 lf3+
d2 and te checks ae rnning out.
White's problem is that he must do
more than win Black's queen for his
rook.
Matschego - Falkeer 11
22 'i d6+ e3
2J 'f4 e2
Or 23 . . . xd3 24 .dl+ and 25
'd2#.
24 + e
25 'd
This pursuit of the king right
across the boad to the eight rank
recurs many times in the course of
this book.
Game 3
Erest Fakbeer (born 1829) is, like Petrof, remembered for a defence which
is still played today: 1 e4 e5 2 f4 d. He was a Hungaian but lived for many
years in England. The following game, in which he does not employ te Falk
beer Counter-Gambit, shows him trifing with weak opposition; but the
breatless nne-move chase, intoduced by a queen sacrifce, is far too go a
king-hunt to be omitted.
Mamhege- Falkber
Casual Game, Venna 1853
Kieseritky Gambit
1 m e5
2 f4 eM4
J lf g5
4 h4
4 c4, as played in Game 2, a
lows Black a free choice between
pushing on with 4 . . . g4 or setting up a
pawn chain with the moves . . . g7
and . . . h6. The present move, by con
trast, forces Black's hand.
4 .. g4
5 ve5
This is the Kieseritzky Gambit.
One alternative is the Allgaier Gam
bit 5 lg5, when White is committed
to the sacrifce of the knight since it
has no reteat. An exaple is shown
in Game 13.
5 6
6 J
A developing move, but not a
good one, for the knight on e5 will
now be driven backwards to a poor
square. 6 d4 is better; another supe
rior move would be 6 c4 attacking
f.
6 d6
7 4 e7
s d4 vh5
Black defends his font f-pawn,
attacks the h4-pawn, and opns what
is in fact nothing less than a mating
attck.
9 e2
10 d
1 d3
12 Gae 4
Appaently the only way to avoid
a disastous loss of material afer
1 l...f3+.
..
Black conjures up another deadly
threat: 12 . . . .b4+ 13 Wd2 f3+ 14
l
e3 3D.
2 a 3Q(D)
Objectively speaking, this pla is
wrong, since Black has a simple win
by 12 . . . f5, ripping through White's
pawn cente to get at his king.
w
J v5 3xd4
4 vxc7+ Gd8
5 vd5
White decides to recentalise his
knight. It would have been better to
try taking the rook, but after 1 5
.xa8 d! 16 c3 dxc4+ 17 Wc2.g3
Black still ha a very dangerous in
itative.
5 ... f5
The rght idea.
B
6 d6 fe
7 Gc4(D)
Trying to save his knight-but
unsuccessfully!
7 ... W xd5+II
Of course, White can also resign
after 17 . . . .e6, but there is never
anything wrong with a forced mate!
The white king is drawn into te cor
don of black pieces, and the whole
of the nine-move king-hunt rns like
clokwork. Ever white move is ab
solutely forced. It mght almost b a
composed ending in the style of the
prio.
8 Gxd5
19 Gc4
20 Gb5
2 Ga4
22 vxb5
2J Gxb5
24 Gxc6
25 Gd6
vf6+
3e6+
a6+
b5+
b5+
2a5+
3d5+
vM
Game 4
Yet aother 19th-centur master whose nae is immortalised by a opning
is Ma Lange (br 1 832). His famous attck, which can as in half a dozen
Ma Lnge - V on Schierstedt 13
diferent ways (by trasposition), kept te aalysts busy for half a century. He
was a ver stong player, a match for most of his contemporary maters. The
following game, however, is played against an aateur and Max Lange gives
full rein to his imaginaton.
MLange- V en5chientedt
Ehibition Game, about 1856
Scotch Gambit
e4 e5
I r
6
J d4 exd4
4 3b5
If White does not wish to play 4
lxd4 the usual moves ae 4 .c4 and
4 c3. The text move produces a crude
sort ofRuy Lopez. By 4 . . . lf6 Black
could transpose into the Berlin De
fence, but his chosen line is probably
better.
4 3c
5 0-0 vge7
6 vbd
Players of this line often try 6
lg5 here, treatening to sacrfce on
f7 and then pick up the loose bishop
by 'h5+. Max Lange prefers to de
velop the other knight, but plays te
sae combination a few moves later.
6 d5
7 exd
Wxd5
8 3c4
Wd8?
Too passive. The queen should
have moved to f5 or h5.
9 vg5 ve5
9 . . . 0-0 was out of the question be
cause of 10 'h5, but now White re
gains the gambit pawn, leaving the
black kng expsed.
0 v
.x+
I W5+ g6
J Wxc5
Material is equal. Black has the
queenside pawn majority, but what
car es more weight is the diference
between the two king positions, es
pecially given the presence of bish
ops of opposite colous.
J vc6
4 lf 2e8
5 3h6
With this move White makes the
corner uninhabitable for Black's
king. He threatens 16 lg5+ afer
which 16 .. .'g8 would lose outght
to 17 'c4+. The opposite-coloured
bishops, as usual, strongly favour
the attacker.
5 ... 3f5
6 2ae1?I
A very strange move, because
tere is no reason why White should
not play 16 lg5+ f6 17 lxh7+
f, and only then 1 8 lae 1, reach
ing positions similar to the gae,
but with a exta pawn.
6 Wd7
7 Wc4+ 3
8 vg5+ 6
9 W eI
This looks like deliberate provo
cation, in full expcttion of Black's
next move. In fact, 19 'c5 ! would
have ben stonger.
9 .
As atcipated.
3g4(D)
14 Gae 4
w
I0 OI?
The idea of sacrificing the queen
in order to open the f-fle is beauti
fully conceived but objectively not
the bst.
I0 . 2xeI
Black correctly accepts the sacri
fice. 20 . . . .f5 would have forced
White to fnd another way to make
progress, and then he might have
hit on the strongest line: 21 t4+
fl 22 'i c4+ .e6 23 tg5+ f6 24
'i c5! with a very dangerous attack.
The rest of the game is fascinat
ing to watch. The four white pieces
cordon off the black king and with
relentless subtlety shepherd him
across the board towads a2. One
intriguing feature of the play is that
Ma Lage maes no fewer than fve
non-checkng moves durng his mat
ing attack-ne of them an elegant
knight sacrifce.
I fxg4+ e
There is no safe route backwads
for te kng.
II BxeI+ d5
22 . . . d6 loses the queen after 23
+ and 24 tf6+.
IJ
Threatening to fork the king and
queen.
IJ ...
a4I
c4
Cutting of escape via b5. Now
Black ties in van to get away to .
I4 W xg4
I5 bJ b4
I6 .d2+ a
I7 I(D)
Threatening 28 la1 + with the
twin sequels 28 . . . b2 29 la2# or
28 . . . b 29 #. At te sae time
he defends the rook on e2. If Black
takes the knight, White brings a
bishop to c3 instead and the net is
drawn tight.
8
I7 .. dxcJ?
This leads to instant death. Black
had two reasonable defensive ties:
1) 27 . . . b2 28 h3 'i xe2 (forced,
because if the queen is not attack
ing e2, White mates by 29 lb1+
xc2 30 .el + d3 3 l ldl#; thus
28 . . . 'i h5 loses to 29 g4! ) 29 txe2
xc2 30 .g5 ! and, while Wt un
doubtedly has the advantage, this
position is by no means a sure win.
Black has two pawns for the piece,
his king is active and the d-pawn is
dagerous.
2) 27 . . .'b4! and it is doubtfl if
White has anying better than to re
peat moves.
I8 3xcJ vb4
Still Black fmds an answer to the
threat of 29 :al#.
Morphy-Amateur 15
I9 2+
J0 2xa+I
J 2e

xa
-0
For now :al# is inevitable. Com
pae Gae 39 in which, a century
later, Popov's king found itself in a
very simila situation against Pen
rose.
GameS
Paul Morphy (bor 1837) is at once the most glamorous ad one of the most
baffing fgures in the whole histor of chess. The story is well known: his
prodigious powers as a teenager; his defeat of all corers in Europe and Amer
ica by the age of21; his subsequent horor of the tint of professionalism; his
eventual revulsion fom chess and hs abandonment of it when he wa about
30; then the shadows closing in upon his last ffteen years up to his death at
the age of 47.
Almost the whole ofMorphy's serious chess is to b found in one toura
ment (New York 1 857) and two major matches (against Harrwitz and An
derssen) and it is here tat one must look in making ay attempt to assess his
stature as what would now be called a gandmater. But his fae rests amost
equally upon some te hundred other encounters-xbition gaes, most
of them played blindfold-odds gaes and miscellaeous fendlies. We se
lect an odds game-a mere trife.
Meqhy-Amateur
Ods Game, New Orleans 1858
To Knights Defence
First the rook on al is removed from
the board. Then play bgins:
e4
I v
J 3c4
4 vg5
5 exd5
e5
6
6
d
d5?
A well-known mistake, allowing
te Fegatello sacrifce which was fa
milia may yeas before Morhy's
day. Here Black has vaious play
able moves, for exaple 5 . . . v,
5 . . . 4 or 5 .. . b5.
6 vxO
Theory (with te rook on al ! ) rec
ommends 6 d4, but in a odds gae
Morhy plays the most forcing line.
6 ... G
7 WO+
The whole point of the varaton
is that this kng move is Black's only
way of preventing a complete disa
ter by losing the knight on d5, so a
king-hunt is aleady in full swing. It
16 Gae 6
does not often end as decisively nor
as pretly a in te present case.
8 vJ 4?
The best way of making a real
fght of it would have been 8 ... tb 9
Wc4c6 10 a 6 1 1 d4 7 etc.
9 3xd+
d6
0 WOI
With the attractive threat of 1 1
#.
0 ..
3x
3
(D)
Black has contved-perhaps un
wisely-to exchage of a pai of
bishops, on the principle that this
gives added weight t h rook odds.
But he will never get round to using
his ods; te rest of the gae is head
long fight.
2 l d5
w
J c4+I e4
4 Wx Wd4
5
'ig
4 dJ
6 We2+ c
7 dJ+ cI
8 0-WI
Compae with Gae 41 in which
White resigns just in time to avoid
te move ... 0-0-0.
Game6
Adolf Anderssen (bor 1818) was undoubtedly one of the game's gretest
natual players. In his insatiable zest for play and in creative imagination he is
to b compaed only with Labourdonnas bfore him and with Aekhine, Ta
and Kasparov since. He was a Breslau mathematcian, ad the wonder is tat
he remained very little known outside his own country until he was over 40.
In tose days there was no ofcia World Championship but there is no doubt
that after Morhy's withdrawal fom chess, Anderssen was the strongest
player in the world. In 1 866 he narowly lost a match to Steinit, but An
derssen cae back to win the touaent at Baden-Baden in 1 870 (see game
9), the best result of his whole caeer.
Over seven hundred of Anderssen's gaes ae on record and to play
through them leaves the brain reeling at his inexaustible fertlity. His oppo
nent in the following game-Baron Kolisch-was, unlike te losers of our
five gaes so fa, himself of master strength. The gae was one of severa
played during Anderssen's visit to Pars in April, 1860. It develops into a gi
gantic king-hunt, with the black king hounded over seven fles ad all the
eight raks.
Andem n- Kem
Casul Game, Paris 1860
Petof Defence
m e5
2 r 6
This counter-attack is a solid way
of avoiding the Ruy Lopez.
J We7?
Immediately regaining the pawn
with 3 . .. lxe4 is bad, leaving Black
in difculty after 4 1e2. The stand
ard continuation is 3 . . . d6 and then
4 . . . lxe4. Kolisch's move results in
Black losing tme with his queen.
4 r Wxe4+
5 ie2 ic
6 0-0 0-0
7 d4 3b6
8 c4 m
We7
Black is well behind in develop
ment and White's next move puts
him in real difculty.
0 3g5
A highly unpleasant pin. Black
adopt a radical solution of te prob
lem.
0
h6
3h4 g5
2 3gJ
In addition to his backwad devel
opment Black now has a seriously
weakene kingside. There is bound
to b touble in store.
2 ... d5
A predictable reaction from te
aggressive Kolisch. He strikes out
bravely for freedom but in his da
gerous situation the cautious 12 . . . d6
might have ben more prudent.
Anderssen - Kolisch 17
J l
4 cxd5
5 d5
6 f4
bd7
d5
cxd5
Anderssen is in his element: he
breaks up the black kingside still
more and opens a file for his own
rooks. But there is a definite risk
involved in leaving his d4-pawn
pined.
6

4
7 d7
He must make tis exchage, for
17 .xf4 loses a piece: 17 . . . lxe5 18
.xe5 1xe5. Most masters would
have unpinned the d-pawn by 16
'h1 before embarking on f4, but
Anderssen was never happier than
when juggling with disaster.
7 DgJ
8 6+I
The enemy king was always An
derssen's priority. In ay case 18
lxf8 would have been not only
petty but deidedly bad, for Kolisch
would not have missed the opportu
nity of playing 1 8 . . . 1h4! 1 9 h3
ixd4+ 20 'h1 .xh3!-knockout!
8 . '
g
WdJ
The frst mating threat appars.
. 2h8(D)
20 3h5
White steps up the pressure and
cleas the e-fle for pssible rok a
tion. 20 lxd5 would again have al
lowed the annoying 20 . . . Wb4;this is
presumably why Kolisch deliber
ately refained fom 19 . . . gx2+.
20 3
2 WxgJ+ '
18 Gae 6
w
22 W
Typical of Anderssen's style was
his subtle use of prepared batteries.
In the present position the knight on
f6 is screening potential attacks
against f and h8, so tere is a deadly
threat of 23 lxd5.
22 . _c7
2J WeJ?I
Surprisingly, Anderssen reteats
just when he could have won the
gae with a pretty combination: 23
l
d7+ g8 24 Jxf7+! Jxf 25
_e7 lh7 (25 . . . Jxd4+ 26 hl only
intoduces the extra threat of lf6+
winnng te queen) 26 lf6+ h8 27
_xc7 Jxc7 28 xh7 with a deci
sive material advatage.
2J .. Wd6
4
Given the initiative and some ta
gets to shoot at, the most complex
winning schemes proliferated in
Anderssen's bran. Here he is not
only doubling rooks but also pre
paing 'i g3 with another subtle bat
tery aimed at the undefended black
queen. He wa a consistently fa-see
ing player in the tactical rather than
the stategic sense.
24
25 :a
26 WgJI
lc
lc7
Anderssen now threatens to open
his two batteries with successive
sacrifces, thus: 27 h7+ lxh7 28
lxf+ Jxf 29 'ixd6+. Kolisch ap
parently missed the threat; in any
case the white attack is bound to win
through before long.
26 2c4
27 7+I e
28 Wg7(D)
Attacking the rook, putting a
fourth attack on the f-pawn, and at
the same time caually defending his
own d-pawn. Someting has to go.
8
28
2 _xb7
l7
8d4
Black also lays a battery, hope
fully threatening to win both rooks
by 30 . . . lxf4+. But now comes the
king-hunt.
J0 3x+
J Wx+
J2 Wg8+
JJ +
J4 We8+
J5 bl
Jx
d8
c7
c
c
2b4
Kolisch defantly continues wit a
mating threat of his own. But now
the pursuit is resumed in eaest ad
a blaze of eleven consecutive checks
brings the gae to an end.
J6 2c+ 8c4
J7 b4+
'xb
Or 37 . . . 'd4 38 .dl + 'c3 39
.f3+, mating i te more moves.
J8 2b+ GaJ
J .f+ 't
Steinitz - Rock 19
No craven resignations in those
days; they were game to the end. By
now the moves were probably com
ing at table-tennis tempo.
40 We2+I Gxb
4 B bJ+ ' c
42 We+ &c2
4J 1 + 'd
44 2dJ+ +e2
45 Wd+ '
46 .f
Game7
Wilhelm Steinitz (born 1836) bestrode the second half of the 19th century
like a colossus. Afer beating the ageing Anderssen 8-6 in a match which had
gone 4-all, 5-all and 6-all, he was regaded a World Champion and defed all
challengers for twenty-eight yeas, yielding at last, at the age of 58, to
Emanuel Lasker, thirty-two yeas his junior. Steinitz found chess a happy-go
lucky game to b played by the light of nature; he left it a thorough-going sci
ence.
What is not so well remembered today is the fact that he had his own ro
mantic perod as a young man in Viena, where he gloried in the nae of 'The
Austrian Morphy' . The following game was played in an exhibition in Lon
don and nothing annoyed Steinitz more than its attribution to Morhy by sev
era chess writers.
5teinitz- Reck
Exhibition Game, Lndon 1863
Evans Gambit
1 e4 e5
2 lf v6
J Ac4 3c5
4 b4
For sixty or seventy years this
gabit held its own in frst-class
master practice and produced brilli
ancies galore, White winning the
short games and Black te long ones.
In the end it was the cold appraisal
of Lasker which evolved a simple
treatment of the defence which was
tantamount to a refutation-until
Kasparov's successful revival in the
1990s!
4
5 c
6 0-0
7 AaJ
3xb4
3a5
vf6
In the Evans Gambit the stand
ad attacking moves d4, 0-0, .a3,
1b3, etc., can be transposed in a
20 Gae 7
bewildering number of ways, pro
viding plenty of chaces for Black to
go wrong. 7 .a3, as played here by
Steinit, is less forcing ta 7 d4 but
it succeeds brillianty because Black
allows his king to be caught in the
cente.
7 ... .b?
7 . . . d6, to be followed by . . . 0-0,
should give Black a safe gae.
8 d4
exd4
'i 3 dS?
0 exd5
When White plays 'ib3 in the
Evans Black always likes to b able
to counter with . . . la5, hoping to
destroy the light-squared bishop.
No doubt it was with this in mind
that Black vacated the squae with
7 . . . ib6. But this time Steinitz is
ready with an astonishing answer.
2e+
Black's plan has more than one
refutation: the simple 1 1 ib5+ c6
1 2 dxc6 bxc6 1 3 le1+ .e6 14
lxe6+ would also have forced res
ignation.
... .(D)
This must have been Black's in
tenton, for i 12 ib Black escapes
with 12 . . . lxc4 1 3 'ixc4 'i xd5. I
any case it is Black's only chance;
the alterative 1 1. . .d7 is hopeless:
1 2l5+ e8 13 ib5+ c6 14 dxc6.
However, as in many chess brillian
cies, someone ha been taking too
much for ganted.
2 dII
A gae won by Staunton from
Cochrane some twenty years before
(which may have been known to
w
Steinitz) ran, after White's 6 0-0
above: 6 . . . .b6 7 .a3 d6 8 d4 exd4
9 cxd4 lf6 10 e5 dxe5 1 1 'ib3 'i d7
1 2 dxe5 la5 13 exf6! ! lxb3 14
le1+ d8 15 .e7+ e8 16 fxg7
lg8 17 if6+ 'i e6 1 8 .xe6 .xe6
19 axb3 with an extra piece for
White. The sacrifce as played by
Steinitz leads to an even more sum-
mary exeution.
2 lb3
J eM++ d7
4 .+ c
IS l5+ bS
6 ic4+ a
7 .b+ a4
8 ab3
Some sources claim that this
gae was played at queen's rook
odds. Curiously enough this would
make no diference, for Steinitz dos
not get round to developing even
his queen's knight, and altough the
rook does give check on the lat
move it would still be mate even if
the rook were not there. One sus
pects that some journalist, noticing
this, intoduced the 'queen's rook
odds' in an attempt to gild what is
already a perfect lily as it stands.
Other sources give the gae as hav
ing been played at queen's kight
odds; still the mate holds good. It
Anderssen -Maet 21
only remains for someone t suggest
odds of queen's rook and queen's
knight. It would still be mate!
GameS
We revert now to Anderssen and one of his greatest chess frends-ad
Mayet (born 1 810)-who was one of the group of seven Berlin masters
known as 'The Pleiades' . Anderssen and Mayet used to visit one another in
Berlin and Breslau and they must have played hundreds of light-heated
games together. Their last meeting was in Breslau in August, 1 867, ad the
following game is possibly the last they ever played. It is an exhibition of glo
rious skittles, not to be judged by the standads of tournaent chess. At te
fnish Mayet is tee pieces up, with his king mated on c 1.
Andemen- Mayet
Casual Game, Breslau 1867
Evans Gambit
m
2 ll
J 3c4
4 b
5 cJ
e5
l
.cS
.xb
.f
This is an experiment, of course,
and Anderssen is only too happy to
accept the challenge to refute it. Ste
initz also tried out tis move-as one
might expect-as well as 5 . .. .e7
ad 5 . .. .d6 in his continual attempts
to improve on the usual lines of de
fence.
6 d4 exd4
7 0-0 v5
As in the previous game, Black
adopts this method of tying to re
move the bishop from its stong di
agona, and again he receives a
unpleasant reply, though in the pre
sent case he must surely have been
half expcting it fom Anderssen.
8 .x+
A move which Anderssen would
make without a second thought. Ob
jectively speaing, it is probably un
sound, but it creates many practica
difculties for Black.
8
9 tS+
0 cxd4
W a4
2 w
J f4
r
e7
'i e
b
c
White has an enormous lead in
development, but opening lines is
by no meas easy.
J ... d6
4 .a3 d8
A caual spectator at this point
might have been excused for thin
ing that Black had set up his kng
and queen on the wrong squares to
begin the gae. Seventy yeas later
a simila state of affairs arose as
follows: (Vecsey-Nagy, Budapest
1 937) 1 c4 e5 2lc3 f5 3 e f6 4
exfS d6 5 g4 hS 6 g5 g8 7 .h3
22 Game 8
'ixgS 8 d4 'i f6 9 dS 'i t7 10 f3
d8 1 1 gS 'i e8 (D)
w
Compae this position with An
derssen-Mayet: it is even more re
markable. Although this game is by
no means a king-hunt its fnish is
noteworthy: 12 dxeS "xeS+ 13 fl
h6 14 6+ .xe6 15 fxe6 We4 16
.gS+ c8 17 e7+ g4 18 .xg4+
hxg4 19 'i xg4+ 'i xg4 20 e8'i #.
Back now to Anderssen-Mayet:
15 f 3d7
16 2ad1
&c7
The king is being hunted at long
range and is already on the run.
17 d5I(D)
White is still a clear bishop in a
rears, but no doubt quite happy. In
order to have any chance, he must
break opn te position before Black
can mobilise his dormant kingside
pieces.
17 .. c
8 'c2 b5
When Black wins an Evans Gam
bit it is usually because of his queen
side pawn majorty. The black pawns
are potentially quite dangerous, and
already he seems to be threatening
B
19 . . . b, but this is a little rsky. He
should have taken te chance to de
velop a kingside piece.
1 e5 a6
On second thoughts Mayet de
cides that his 'threat' of. . .b4 had bet
ter not be carried out! After 1 9 . . . b4
20 .xb4! cxb4 21 bS+ b6 22
c7! lc8 23 "f2+ c7 24 'xa7+
White's attack is vey dangerous.
20 $c8
The only piece which ventured
of the edge retires to base.
21 v4?I
White has worked up quite a da
gerous initiative, but the impending
. . . c4 makes it hard for him to
break through. The move played
aims to activate the f3-knight, but it
has a fatal tactical flaw. 21 eS ! ?
dxeS 22 e4 might have ben a bet
ter chance.
21 ... b7?
Had Black played 21. . .cxd4, te
drastic sequel would have ben 22
xbS+ b6 23 1c7+ xbS 24
lb1 + a4 25 'i c2+ xa3 26 1b2+
and 27 'ib4#. However, by playing
21 . . . 4! Black would theaten
both . . . xa3 and . . . cxd4, thereby
winning another piece and probably
the game. The move played is less
clear-cut.
22 vf6
Development at last!
2J vg5
vxd5
24 vf5 3xe6
Black has been busily picking off
pawns and now has a colossal ma
jority of 4-1 on the queenside, but
he has also opened lines for White's
pieces.
25 2fe 3xf5I
Well played; by now May et must
have had hopes of turning the tables
after all, for he is still a bishop and
two pawns ahead.
26 Wxf5 ve7
27 k b6?I
Black stats to go astray; after
27 . . . b8 White would have had
problems justifing his sacrifces.
28 2xd6+I
A stunning blow. If 28 . . . .xd6,
White continues 29 'i xc5+ a 30
'i c3+ lb6 31 'i c7#! Why did tese
gorgeous opportunities always hap
pen to Anderssen?
28 ... ??
Anderssen -Mayet 23
Possibly shocked by the previous
move, Black recklessly exposes his
king. 28 . . . .c6 29 .xc5+ lxc5 30
'ixc5+ 'b7 would still have fa
voured Black.
2 Wc2I vxd6(D)
w
29 . . . .c6 was the lat chance, but
Black can be forgiven for overlook
ing the next move, which forces
mate in seven.
3 3b4+I I
J1 Wc7+
J2 v5+
JJ Wa5+
3 Wxb4+
J5 2e2+
J6 We#
cxb4
a4
aJ
b2
c2
c
Game 9
All our examples so far have been casual or exhibition gaes. Tournament
chess is made of sterner stuff and only occasionally produces the really big
king-hunt; nevertheless most of the games to come are tournament games.
The next is a historic one which played a decisive pat in the great intera
tional congress at Baden-Baden in 1 870. This was a double-round toua
ment of nine heavyweights. Anderssen, now aged 52, scored his greatest
triumph by winning it with a score of 1 1/16. When his last round gae
against Louis Paulsen-ne of the greatest of al defensive players-bgan to
24 Gae 9
look drawish, Anderssen cheerflly stake his chances of fst prize on a in
tuitive sacrfce of the exchange, and won.
But what pleased h most, no doubt, wa his cracking pai of wins against
Steinit, who had recenty defeated him in match play for te World Chapi
onship. Bot gaes were very fne, but in te second one Steinit was made
to sufer as few World Champions have ever done. He had to watch helplessly
while his king performed a lively dance over fourteen of the sixteen squaes
in his quater of the boad with the old asassin fom Breslau shooting at hs
feet all te way.
5lnlb-Andemen
Baen-Baen 1870
Venna Gae
e4 e5
2 J 3c5
Black ha considerable choice in
the Vienna, White's second move be
ing less forcing than 2 f3. After
2 . .. c6 3 f4, many of the normal
King's Gambit lines ae playable.
The most active defence is 2 . . . f6,
aing at an ealy . . . d5. The theme of
Anderssen's move is to play the solid
. . . d6 without shutting in the bishop.
J f4 d6
4 f 6
5 3c4 c6
Other moves commonly played
here ae 5 . . . 0-0 and 5 . . . c6. An
derssen selects an elastic pawn for
mation, for which both he and
Steinitz had a predilection. Steinitz
commonly used it, for instance, on
the white side of the Ruy Lopz.
6 fxe5
Unnecessarily releasing the ten
sion. He could have continued to
build up wit 6 d3.
6
de5
7 We2
He cannot win te pawn: 7 xe5?
1d4.
7 ...
8 d
bd7
b5
Anderssen begins a big queenside
advance, which leads eventually to
a breakthrough in this sector, the
white king being meanwhile unable
to catle.
w
3bJ
0 a

12 3a2
J J
14 f5
a
6
a4
0-0
3a6(D)
Steinitz has aggressive inten
tions of his own on the kingside but
Anderssen keeps him too busy else
where.
4
15 ub
16 c
b!
1xb
1a
Since he goes to b6 two moves
later, he might ver well have moved
there diect; however, the temp lost
doesn' t have a great deal of signif
cance.
1
7
lgS d8
18 1f 1
19 ib1 a?
White intended to step up the
pressure on Black's weak a-pawn by
.c2, but Black could have coun
tered this by 19 . . . 1b5 followed by
... lb6. Instead, Black panics and
offers a piece sacrifce.
20 b!
Accepting the ofer is bt bt he
could also have played safe with 20
bxa3. I Black then continued with
20 .. .'b3, he could play 21 d4. How
ever, Steinitz tended to accept any
sacrifce which was not obviously
sound (ad a few which were).
20
ixb
The necessay consequence of te
previous move.
2 cxb4 1xb+
22 e2
Since 22 id2 would be met by
22 . . . 'b2, the king's tavels bgin.
22 a! (D)
The bst practical chance of con
fsing the issue.
2J id!
Again the best move, gaining a
usefl tempo. 23 lxa2 'xbl (not
23 . . . l5 losing to 24 .a3) 24 Jxa6
l5 25 Jxc6 1a2+ 26 1 1c2 27
Jxc5 1xc5 28 e2 aso favours
Steinitz -Anderssen 25
w
White, but not 23 .xa2? 5 24
le7+ h8 25 lxc6 1c3 26 .d2
ixd3+ 27 e3 'b2! with advan
tge to Black.
2J . W5
J
Not bad, but a simpler line wa 24
.xa2lb6 (24 . . . 5 25 ic4 wins)
25 Jhbl 'xd3+ 26 'xd3 ixd3+
27 et ixbl 28 Jxbl retung
some material in order to reach an
ending which should be a fairly
comfortble win for White.
24 . l
The theats ae mounting, ad not
ony aganst the d-pawn; Black may
also drive away the knight by . . . h6
and ten play . . . lfxe4. Steinit de
cides on a policy which was to win
or save many a diffcult game for
him later in his caeer-to retu
some of his winnings. Nevertheless,
in this cae it is a serious mistake.
After 25 J! 'b6 26 'e3! Black's
position collapses, since 26 . . . Jxd3
loses to 27 .xd3 .xd3+ 28 1xd3!
lxd3 29l7+h8 30lxf+! and
Wte forces mate.
25 6? 1xa6
2 ib? (D)
26 Gae 9
All pat of the typical Steinitz de
fensive scheme. He intends to swap
off the dangerous knight, but A
derssen seizes the opportunity to
tu te tables. Simply 26 'g3 g6 27
le7+ g7 28 .c3 would have
given White an enormous attack on
the dak squaes.
B
26 ... Zb8II
Thus Anderssen fnally achieves
his long-range object of outfanking
the stranded king on the queenside
and now, absolutely in his element,
follows up the attack wit blow aer
blow.
27 3xc5
8b2+
28 eJ Wa5I
With the threat of 29 . . . 'i d2# he
now regains one piece.
2 2d1 1xc+
J0 d4 exd4+
J G4
If 3 1 lxd4, then Black mates in
four: 3l. . .'i c1 + 32 d3 1d2+ 33
c4 1b4+ 34 d3 1b3#. Or if 31
lxd4, Black simply takes the other
knight, winning easily.
J1
h6I
J2 vhJ I
Threatening 33 . . . We5#.
JJ WdJ g5+
3 g4+
J5 gJ m
J6 H (D)
36 lxh6+ is useless, for after
36 . . . f Black is threatening to play
37 . . . le3+.
B
J6 . We5+
J7 h4 gxhJ+
By a neat piece of play Black ha
contrived to take the knight wth
check. White cannot reply 38 .xe4
because of the reply 38 . . .txe4+ 39
xh3 g4#.
J8 J bJ+
And now if 39 .d3 Black wins
the knight by 39 . . . lf4!.
J gJ f4I
The sae move is still playable.
W h6 f
41 Wc4
Steinitz has somehow managed
to conjure up a double threat of his
own: 42 'i xf# or 42 Wxb3. But his
suferings are not yet over.
41 ... 4+II
42 g
If 42 xh4, then 42 . . . 'i h5#.
42
4J xh2
4 h1
45 g1
0-1
xh2+I
WxgJ+
WhJ+
gJ+
Riemann - Tarrasch 27
The end of the dance would have
ben 46 f lg2+ 47 e1 1g3+ 48
.n 1f2#the fnal phase of the
hunt was conducted under threat of
mate in one.
Game 10
Another of the game's most famous players now appears as victim of the
hunt. Tarrasch was in fact not yet twenty yeas of age. He reappas a the
hunter in a famous chase in Game 19.
Frt Riemann (bor 1859) wa only three years older than Tar asch, who
fa outstripped him as a player in later yeas. In the present gae, however,
Riemann certainly shows to great advantage.
Remann - Tarrch
Casual Game, Breslau 1880
King's Gambit Declined
1 m e5
2 f4 3c5
This quiet way of declining the
King's Gambit puts difculties in
the way of White's castling.
J lf d6
4 cJ
Equally playable is 4 lc3, a line
in which White has the option of
eliminating the black bishop by
la4.
4 3g4
5 3e2
At this point Mashall later intro
duced a complicated line bginning
5 fxe5 dxe5 6 1a4+.
5
6 3xO
7 dJ
8 We2
D
3xO
v
vf6
0-0
This constricting advance is ofen
used by White in the Kng's Gabit
Declined and Vienna Opening. In
the present case it would seem to
achieve little, since Black has al
ready exchanged his light-squaed
bishop, but in fact it works out very
well.
h6
In later years Tar asch would cer
tainly have reacted imediately
with 9 . . . d5, an advace which he
never achieves in the present game.
10 g4I 7
11 h4I f6
Black is playing to prevent White
from advancing g4-g5, but he does
not long succeed.
12 b4I
Riemann proceeds in masterly
fashion to gain ground on both sides
of the board, leaving his king in the
cente for the time being.
12 3b6
1J a4
28 Gae 10
It is most unusual to see a double
outfanking manoeuvre carried out
so ealy in the game. At move 13
White has aready moved ever
pawn.
J . a6
4 1d1 (D)
Encouraged by this removal of
one guad from the squae g5, Rie
man now decides to sacrifce a pawn
and then ty for an immediate mating
attck on the h-fle.
w
5 g5I
6 hxg5
7 Sxg5
8 Sh5I
fxg5
xg5
hxg5
The attack is very strong. When
this bishop goes to g6 there will b
an immediate threat of .hS+ fol
lowed by 1h5+ and 1h7#. Black
just manages to stave of the worst,
helped by the fact that Riemann has
not catled, ad so has to spend a
move mobilising his other rook.
8 8I
Sg6 l
20 0-0-0
It is had to see why Wte did not
fst play , so as to remove te
pawn from the attack of Black's
queen with gain of tempo.
20 vh6
When annotating the gae a
dozen yeas later Tar asch realised
that this last defensive move was
superfuous and that he could have
played 20 . . . 1xa4 instead. He gives
analysis to show that the black king
could have weathered the storm and
that when the immediate kingside
treats had subsided he could have
ten over the initiatve; but tis sor
of thing is not so easy to see in the
heat ofbattlespcially for a teen-
ager.
2 1a+ h8
22 4 3a7
2J .d b5(D)
At last Tarasch fnds time to be
gin a counter-action, but it comes
too late: he is over-run.
w
24 Bdh2II
25 R 6+I
2 R 6
27 WI
bxc4
gh6

W
1g7
Tarasch pointed out that by in
terplatng 27 . . . .e3+ he could have
given Riemann more touble in the
later stages, as the g-pawn would
have ben defended.
2 d4I
This is masterly play, shuttig out
the bishop. The tempting 28 :h7 on
the other hand would have ben a
blunder: 28 .. .'i xg6! ! 29 fxg6 :n+
and 30 . . . :f+, when Black wins.
2 ...
exd4
After 28 . . . :f6 29 :h7 :xg6 30
fxg6 1f6 31 g7! White has a deci
sive attack.
w
2 3 h7+ r (D)
3 f6I I
With a beautifl piee of queen
vosity i view: 30 . . . 'i h8 31 '+
e6 32 'i g4+ n 33 1d7#; or
32 . . . e5 33 'i f5#. Tarasch sees it
Riemann - Tarrch 29
and gives up his queen instead, re
maining indeed with two rooks for
the queen, only to succumb to the
big kng-hunt.
J0 ..
J 26
When one's king is a expsed a
this, a queen is a much deadlier en
emy tha two roks, espcially with
a bishop and advaced pawns to pro
vide suppor.
J2 ..6
JJ W xg5+
3 3 f5+
J5 3 e6I
e7
d7
c6
The key move, threatening 36
1d5+ b6 37 a5#. The non-check
ing move shows the master-had, as
usual.
J5 b7
J6 3 d5+ c6
J7 1g7+ b
J8 a5+ b5
J Wb7+ a4
40 1xc a
4 W xc4 -0
4l . . .a4 42 'ib3+ b5 43 c4#.
Tarasch generously included this
gae in his own collection Drihu
dert Schachparien.
Gae 11
Visits to Europe by America chess players in the 19th centur were ex
temely rae. One of them was te ent of Peston Ware i te Venna Tou
naent of 1882. This wa one of the stongest metngs ever, wit eighten of
the world's best players in a double-round touraent. Wae would amost
cerainly have fnished in lat place but for te fact that two players withdrew
at the halfway pint ad defaulted all te rest of their games. However, he ha
the consolation of a win aganst te World Chapion (who also won te tour
naent) ad he must cerainly also have enjoyed te following gae.
30 Game 11
Ware -Wei
Venn 1882
Stonewall Attack
1 d4 d5
2 f4
These two pawn moves, together
with the supporting moves e3 and
c3, form te Stonewal, which can be
used either by White or by Black. It
was with this same pet opening that
Ware succeeded in winning a maa
thon game aganst Steinitz.
2
J tf vf6
4 eJ 3d6
5 3dJ c5
6 c v
7 0-0 a6
8 .d
In an opning which sets six white
pawns on the dark squares, the prob
lem piece is certainly the queen's
bishop, which would seem to have
no prospects at all. Wae used to
tackle the problem methodically,
playing the bishop outside the pawn
chain through the one gap which re
mains-to h4.
8 ... 0-0
a
Now he has seven pawns on dark
squares.

10 hJ
11 3e
12 tbd
1J 'xd
b
3b7
9e4
txd
5
Black's knight play is unfortu
nate. First he gatuitously exchanges
of the one which was a key defender
at f6; now he starts a pointless raid
with the other one. The threat of
. . . tb3 is an empty one, White hav
ing time to evade it, while at c4 the
knight will b out of play. He would
have been wiser to play this reman
ing knight across to the deserted
kingside.
14 2d1
15 W e2
16 3h4
With the problem of this piece
solved White now has a powerful
kingside attack in the making.
16 ... Wc7
17 tg5
The fortress of the black king is
now certain to be destroyed. This
method of attack is sounder than
17 .xh7+ 'xh7 1 8 tg5+ 'h6! ,
which i s not at all clea.
17 ... h6
18 W5I 94(D)
This knight alone has wasted
enough time to lose the gae ir evo
cably. The excuse for returning to
c4 is the possibility of a fork at e3 or
b2. Meanwhile his house is on fre.
w
1 txe! b
He has little hope now of surviv
ing, with the white rooks ready to
join the attack.
20 Wg6I
Threatening the simple 21 "ih7+
f 22 .g6#. White's dak-squared
bishop turns out to b a ver power
fl factor in the attack.
20 :
21 Wxe6+ :n
22 Wg6
Now the threat is 23 "ih7+ f8
24 Wh8#.
22 ... f
2J W7 e
Only by fight can the king avoid
mate.
24 3g6 .f (D)
w
Protecting the g-pawn; but now
the white f-pawn theatens to com
plete the destruction of the position
by marching to the sixth ran. The
pinned rook is beyond salvation, so
te black king continues hs flight.
25 D d7
26 3x lle
So the knight achieves his abi
tion at last. The exchage will b re
gained, but te king is homeless.
Ware - Weiss 31
I7 3e6+
This allows Black's king to es
cape, at least temporarily. White
could have won straight away by 27
Wg6! (cutting off the king's escape
route) "i d6 28 .e6+ c6 29 .g3
1e7 30 :del .
I7 c6
2 Wg6I 3d6
Desprately tying to improvise a
new shelter, but this in turn will be
violently destoyed.
29 e vxd1
c4 (D) J0 8d1
w
Black has emerged only a pawn
down, and now he ties to delay the
opning of fles on the queenside.
J1 .xd5+I I
With a new ad fatal extension of
the king-hunt, Wae brings the gae
to its close. The black queen's rook
never has a chace to show that it
even exists.
J1 xd5
J2 We6+ c
JJ xc4+ d7
3 .e c
All the time the bishop on h is
playing its pa.
32 Game 12
J5 d5+
J6 We2+
J7 Wc2+
b5
a4
b5
J8 a4+ -0
38 . . . 39 b4+ xb 40 cxb4+
xb 41 el + a42 :al#.
Game 12
Our next game intouces one of the most original and creatve players in te
whole of chess history-Mikhail Chigorin (bor 1850). His fll stength de
velopd late, and few gaes remain even fom his twenties, but eventally he
came to challenge many of the more dogmatic apct of te teachings of Ste
initz. At about the age of 40 he played much superb match chess, including
two good attempts at the World Chapionship and a drawn match with Ta
rach.
Derrer- Chlgerln
Correspondence, 1884:
th game lsted eight months
Steint Gabit
1 e4 e5
2
Compae the note at this stage in
Gae 9. I the present position 3 f4
is often played, and some of the
usual defences to the Kng's Gambit
also hold go here. There ae, how
ever, some diferences, and the pre
sent game illustates one of them.
J f4 eM4
4 d4
The Steinit Gabit. With the two
knights still at home this move
would be unplayable. Steinitz tied
stubborly for may years to prove
that it is good in the present psition,
but although White won some fne
victores, aalysis eventualy drove
the opening out of use.
Steinitz was prepaed to accept
the immediate displacement of his
king to e2, mantanng tat it was in
no great danger. In te prsent gae
Chigorin sees that it does not stop
there, but is driven up to d4, back to
bl , up to the cente again and fnally
right away to be mated on a7-a six-
teen-move tour.
4 ..
5 e2
Chigorin experimented tirelessly
in all the gambits, bot with White
ad Black, ad the present move is a
cae in point. Commoner lines were
S . . . gS, S . . . b6, S . . . dS and, probably
best, s . . . d6.
6 g5
7 l
This is one common theme of
White's play in the Steinit Gabit.
The ealy move of the black queen
ha lef c7 undefended. I some vai
atons Black prit the fork.
7 .. d8
8 gJ v7
Black prepaes to expl te white
knight ad then to break up the
white cente pawns, letting the ga
bit pawn go.
9 vxe7
10 gf4
1 ve
12 .g2
3xe7
g4
vf6
d5
The frst assault on the centre
pawns.
1J e5 t
14 eJ(D)
Quite in the spirit of the gambit.
' The king is a strong piece,' declared
Steinit.
B
14 . f6
At frst sight Black could have
won material with the combination
14 . . . tf2 15 xf2 g3+, but White
would reply 16 e3! 'xd1 17 .f3,
regaining the queen with a roughly
level endgame.
15 c4? fxe5?I
However, now there seems to be
nothing wrong with 15 . . . tf2! be
cause the black queen could escape
to a4. Therefore, White would lose
the exchange for noting.
16 dxe5 e8I
This quiet move bears all the
hallmaks of corespondence chess.
Dorrer - Chigorin 33
Chigorin safeguards his cental po
sition by simply avoiding te check,
visualising 17 'xd5 .c5+ 18 xe4
.f5#.
7 t d4+I
This is the touble with using the
king in mid-board. In any hands but
those of Steinit himself (and some
times even in his) it gets too hot to
hold.
18 d4
To 18 xe4 Black replies 18 . . . c5!
threatening 19 . . . .f5#.
18 .rs
19 3xe4 d8+
20 3d m
2 b b5
With the white king on d4 and al
the long-range black pieces still on
the boad Black of course plays to
brea up the psition. Chigorin is in
his element in this sort of game.
Watch his queenplay.
22 cJ d
2J c5
Dorer plays to keep lines closed.
2J WJI
WH d4+
25 c2 W6I
26 .d WI
Threatening to win a piece by
27 ... 'c4+.
27 b2 Wc4
28 1 d
29 c Wd5
J0
t
.e6
Now the threat is 3 l . . .'xa2+ 32
c3 'b3#.
J1 21 a5I
Reinforcements are ariving al
the time. Since White cannot play 32
34 Gae 13
a3 because of mate in two by means
of 32 . . . 'ib3+, nor 32 bxa5 because
of 32 . . . ixc5 Black is bound to get
the a-fle for his rooks.
J2 WO axb4
JJ 3xb4 Ba8
Black is now threatening to win
the queen by 34 . . . lxa2+.
B
J4 b1 2a4
J5 a
(D)
J5 .. d2II
Cleaing the lines beautifully for
the fnish. If now 36 'i xd2 the queen
is overloaded: 36 . . . lxb+! 37 'xb4
'xg2 while 36 ixd2 creates a self
interference: 36 . . . 'b3+ 37 lcl
lc4+.
J6 c2
J7 b4
J8 Gxd
J9 eJ
40 e4
41 d5
2xb4I
WbJ+
Wb2+
WcJ+
3f5+I
If 41 xf5, then Black replies
41 . . .'i d3+ with mate the following
move. But it makes little diference
now.
41
42 c6
4J b6
44 a6
45 a7
0-1
It is mate next move.
WdJ+
Wd7+
3d8+
Wc6+
3e4
Game 13
Jean Taubnhaus, Polish born ( 1850), spnt most of his life as a chess profes
sional in Paris, competing in a dozen tournaments between 1885 and 1 914.
Here he has a rae old set-to with Pollock. First White has his king driven to
te tird rank ad bot rooks captured by te black queen; then te tide of bat
tle ts and the black king ha to start rnning. A skittle? Not a bit of it: this
was an important interational tournament game!
Taubmaus- Feeck
Nottinghm 1886
Allgaier Gabit
1 e4 e5
2 f4
ex4
J g5
4 h4 g4
5 9g5
The Allgaier Gambit, delibrately
offering the knight which could be
safeguaded by 5 te5, as played in
Gae 3.
5 h6
6 &
The king-hunt may be said to have
started, but before it reaches it con
summation White himself ha much
to sufer.
6 ...
7 d4
This move (instead of 7 .c4+)
bears the name of Edmund Thorold
of Bat, a stong aateur who seems
to have had no contact at all with
London chess. In the present gae
the move amounts to no more than a
tansposition.
7 ... O
From Black's point of view this
is the most vigorous line, seeking to
render the white king's position as
insecure as that of his opposite
numbr. Black could also play 7 . . . d6
but probably his best policy-as in
most King's Gabit lines-is the
immediate counter-sacrifce of the d
pawn by 7 . . . d.
8 3c4+ d5I
9 3xd5+ 'ie
10 gO gJ
According to contemporay the
ory, 10 . . . lf6 is the most accurate
move.
11 f4
After 21 single moves there is
only one piece of the back rank, but
there is havoc among the kingside
pawns. With the beneft of a centur
of hindsight, one ca say that 1 1 .e3
is better.
11
12 3c4
1J g1
14 WJ
v6
g2
3g4
Taubenhaus - Polock 35
The white queen, having been
driven away from her original di
agona, tkes up position on another,
with the teat of 1 5 e5, intending
either 16 exf6 and 16 1g6+. To ths
Pollok prepaes a wicked reply.
B
14 vc6I
15 e5?(D)
15 ... 4II
Threatening mate in two starting
with 16 . . . 1xh4+. White must take
te knight.
16 Wxe4 'i x4+
17 'id W O+
18 'ic W xg1
Black is now a rook ahead and
seems to have a won game. I, for in
stance 19 W g6+ 'id8 20 'if6+ 'i c8
21 'i xh8, then 2l . . .'ixd4+ 22 'ib3
la+ 23 'ia4 'i xc4+ 24 'ixa5 b.
19 3eJI
Taubenhaus begins a desperate
rescue opration involving te sacr
fce of his other rook.
19 ...
W e+?
A natural enough continuation
in the heat of battle, but it lets the
game slip. When a player has con
ducted his attack in te brlliat vein
36 Gae 13
of Pollock thus fa it seems some
how ungracious for the annotator to
point out, after quiet analysis, what
he should have done; but Black
could surely have won here by forc
ing the exchange of queens by play
ing 19 . . . if5 ! 20 'xc6+ (20 'xf5
'xe3+ and 20 'f3 'h2) bxc6 21
ixgl . Then the connected passed
pawns should certainly cary the day.
20 l g1W
21 3xg1? (D)
When one's opponent has two
queens one hurries to annihilate one
of them, but this, neverheless, is too
hasty. Now was the golden opportu
nity to interolate ig6+.
B
21 .. Wxa1?I
Makng life far more complicated
for himself. There were two better
options. Firstly, Black could have
exchaged queens, remaining with
rok against two pawns. Care would
still have been needed against the
strong white centre pawns but the
exta material should have caried
the day. Secondly, and even more
convincingly, Black could have
played 2l . ..ib4+ 22 b3 la+ 23
xb4 'ixd2+ leading to an easy
win.
Instead, with a greedy impulse
rare indeed in Pollok, Black takes
the other rook, and in the process
buries his queen away out of play.
The rest of the game is pure king
hunt.
22 Wg6+
2J Wf6+
d8
c8?I
This further slip puts in another
step in the wrong direction. Black
could have continued 23 .. . l7 24
'xh8 d7, when, compaed to the
game, Black has the extra defen
sive move . . . le7. In tis case Black
would retain a near-decisive advan
tage.
24 Wxh8 d7
25 Wh7+ 3e7?
Even here 25 . . . l7 was corect,
when Black could still lok fora
to victory. The move played fnally
dissipates Black's advantage.
26 3x
Not 26 . . . e8 27 1g8+ if8 28
1n+ d8 29 1d7#, nor 26 . . . d6
27 l4#.
27 ixe
28 d5+I (D)
Taubnaus is makg the most of
his chances. When he unwillingly
played 18 c3 he could hardly have
foreseen that, ten moves later, his
own king would be playing a usefl
pa in the encirclement of the black
one.
28 ... xd5?
A disastous move giving White a
forced mate in seven. Afer 28 . . . d7
29 dxc6+ bxc6 30 lf3 the position
8
is very unclear-a draw would be
the most likely result.
2 W f5+
Missing 29 'i f+ d6 30 o4+
d7 31 lf6+ c8 321e6+ b8 33
Schlechter -Marco 37
ld7 + c8 34 lb6+ and mate next
move, but the move played is aply
sufcient for victor.
2 . v5
Forced. 29 . . . d6 leaves White a
pleasat choice of thee mates on the
move.
J0 W xe5+ c
J1 W xe7 W xg1
Now White has mate in fve, but
there was nothing better.
J2 W e6+ b5
JJ a4+ xa4
J4 WJ a
J5 l
4
a6
J6 WaW
Game 14
Karl Schlechter (br 187 4) was one of the greatest players never to bcome
World Champion. He came within a hair's-breadth of it in 1910 when Lasker
just saved his title by halving a chalenge match 1-1 with 8 draws.
Schechter in his prme was so nearly unbatable that they called h 'The
Drawing Master' but his magnificent tournaent record and string of brilli
acy prizes bea witness to his devastating power of attack. When it came to
hunting a king he was as happy as the next man.
5chlechter- Marce
Venna Jubilee 1898
Queen's Gambit Declined
1 d4 d5
2 c4
The Queen's Gambit-and par
ticularly this method of declining
it-was the fashionable opening of
the late 1890s. Its popularity can be
ascribed largely to the influence of
Pillsbury fom Hastings 1 895 on
wads.
J l vf6
4 lf
5 3g5
6 eJ
7 3dJ
b6
3e7
0-0
3b7
Black's sequence of moves ca
lead to a debacle, as Marco found to
his cost two years later at the Paris
Tournaent of 1900.
8 0-0
Schechter quietly develops. Ma
shall's incisive line at Pais was to
omit castlng and launch an immedi
ate onslaught against h7 by 8 cxd5
exd5 9 .xf6 .xf6 10 h4! . Against
38 Game 14
Burn the result was a famous mini
ature: 10 . . . g6 1 1 h5 :es (Maco pre
fered 1 1 . . . c5 but lasted only fve
moves longer than Bu) 1 2 hxg6
hxg6 13 'c2 jg? 14 jxg6! fxg6 15
'xg6 td7 1 6 tg5 'f6 17 :h8+!
x8 18 'i h7#. Later it was discov
ered that Black should play 10 . . . c5,
because in this position the sacrifce
on h7 is not corect (see Game 23).
8 vbd7
9 'e2 c
10 2ad1 a6?
Black ought rather to have re
solved the problem of the cente here
by removing all four of the pawns.
After this loss of time White devel
ops a stong initiative.
11 dxc5I 9xc5
12 3b1I
This retreat not only safeguards
the bishop against exchange, it also
prepaes to set the queen as a projec
tile in front of the bishop gun.
12 . Wc7
1J Wc2
Already threatening to win a
piece by 14 jxf6.
1J g6
14 3M6 3xf6
15 cxd5 3xcJ?(D)
This cannot be wise. The dak
squaed bishop is vital for the de
fence of the king's position, which
will now be helpless with all its
pawns on light squaes. Black would
have done better to exchange his
other bishop: 15 . . . exd5 1 6 txd5
jxd5 ! and, although a pawn down,
the opposite-coloured bishops offer
some drawing chances.
w
16 d6I
A powerful interolation. The
black queen is drven back and a
most uncomfortable wedge is forced
into the black lines. The pawn is re
linquished almost at once but White
gains time for a decisive kingside
attack.
16
17 WxcJ
18 5I
W b8
2d8
En route for g4 and a deadly in
vasion on the dak squares. Black
would have ben in far less danger
with a bishop on g7 instead of b7.
18 2xd6
19 vg4 W d8
20 6+
21 W 8+ e7
22 Wx7 WM
To prevent 23 'xf#, but now the
rook is guarded only by the king,
who must perforce resume his head
long fight.
2J 2xd6
24 9xO+
25 ve5+
26 W 4I
xd6
c6
b5(D)
Threatening destruction by 27
'c4+.
26 3d5
27 b lb7
2 a4+I
At the cost of this pawn two more
pieces are enabled to join the hunt
and mate is in sight.
Iker-Le 39
28 ... a4
29 .c2+ a
29 . . . b5 30 .d3+ would lead to
a simila fish. Now White can
force mt in six.
30 h1+ b2
J W d4+I c2
Black continues to the bitter end.
32 W dJ+ b2
JJ WaJ+ c2
J4 lcl+ d2
J5 WcJ+
-0
After 35 . . . e2 White has the em
barassing choice of five mates on
the move. Oddly enough, Schechter
could have mated one move more
quickly by 35 "i b2#.
Game 15
Emanuel Lasker was unique aong World Chapions. Chess was no con
sumng passion with h; he was able and willing to leave the game alone for
years at a time. He founded no school, had no disciples, was no pioneer of
new opnings; yet his mastery of mddlegame and endgame has seldom ben
approached. Tere is something almost visionay about the way he extacted
wins from bar en or even downright bad positions. Yet he himself described
his methos-incredibly-a 'common sense' .
Lker-Lee
Lmcn1899
Cao-Kann
e4 c6
Although this move had been re
corded as long ago as the 16th cen
tury, at this time it was still a novelty
in tourament play, dating from the
1880s and being played only ver
raely.
2 d4 d5
J vcJ
4 vxe4
5 gJ
6 O
dxe4
3f5
3g6
v7
All this is still played today.
Black prevents White fom playing
le5.
7 h4
7 .d3 is a perfectly good altera
tive but Lasker's line leaves Black
with fewer options.
7 ... h6
4 Gae 15
8 3dJ
9 WxdJ
0 3d2
3xdJ
6

Thus Black gets a satisfactor de

velopment for all his pieces. Hs po
sition, howeve, is wholly defensive.
Against the World Champion, this
wa presumably Lee's abition-an
impression which the rest of the
gae confrms.
0-0-0
2 e
J WbJ
Wc7
0-0-0
Lasker was, par excellence, an
improviser-prepaed at the drop of
a hat to conduct ay sort of defence
or attack. At this moment he is in te
act of deciding on the king as his ob
jective-a natural enough decision
in view of Black's defensive attitude.
J ... 3d6
4 v2 vg4
A faint ficker of aggession-just
abut Lee's only one i ths gae.
5 BH 6
6 Wa4 Gb8
7 c4I
The real assault begins. Lasker
fealessly denudes his own king,
Black being ver ill-placed for any
sort of counter-ofensive. There is
now an immediate threat of 18 c5
ad 19 .f4.
7 .
8 t
We7
Wc7
Now that White has released his
contol of f4 there is no venom in
playing c4-c5. Black therefore re
ts to c7 wit his queen, intending
to force off the bishops by 19 .. . .f4.
This is pure spoiling tactics, and
Lasker decides not to let him have
his way.
w
9 gJI
20 bI
2 d
22 3eJI

e5(D)
Typical Lasker: he suddenly pro
duces bewildering multiple threats:
'xa7+, .xa7+, lxd6, c5. Lee de
cides to eliminate the troublesome
c-pawn and it is difcult to fnd ay
thing better for him to do. But now
he is in the hands of the greatest of
all masters of middlegae compli
cations.
22
2J 3xa7+
24 2d4I
vxc4
c7
Now 24 . . . lb6 would allow 25
.xb6+ 'xb6 26 W #,the aterna
tive 24 . . . l5 would b no btter due
to 25 txe5 .xe5 26 W+and mate
next move.
24 . b5
25 vxb5+I
A knight is a small enough prce
to pay for the utter destruction of
Black's kng-shelter.
25 . cxb5
26 Wxb5 l
Removing the knight from the c
fle sets up a discovered check fom
Black's king-an unusual but occa
sionally effective defensive idea.
Lasker shows that the cross-check
need not b feaed.
B
27 Wa5+I b7+
28 3cI(D)
Threatening 29 'ib6+ and 30
'i a7#. Meanwhile the outlying black
knight on a3 is left, appaently un
heded, until in due course-at move
34-its time comes to be captured
with check.
28
29 bxc
3 vxd4
3xc5
xd4
There has been a great deal of
bloodletting but White still has all
Lker-Le 41
the material he needs for the fnal
hunt of te black king fom b7 to his
destiny on h2.
J0 . Wd8
After 30 . . . 'i a8 White would play
31 c6+ b8 32 'ib6+ c8 33 lf5
mating on e7 or d6.
J c
J2 Wa8+
JJ Wa7+
c8
Gc7
d6
Now at last White can take the
knight with check; but Black had no
option: 33 . . . 1c8 34 'ib7#.
J4 WxaJ+
Black is two pawns down and
could now resign with a clear con
science. Instead he continues to
watch with fearful fascination the
march of his king to execution.
3 d5
J5 2dI 1
J6 +
If 36 . . . 1e4 White mates on the
move with 37 'd3#.
J7 Wd6+ 5
J8 WdJ+ g4
After 38 . . . 1e6 Black would be
quickly mated by 39 le1+.
J9 v5+ -0
Mate is unavoidable: 39 . . . h3
(or 39 ... 1h5 40 'i f3+ and mate next
move) 40 'fl+ h2 41 'h1#.
Game 16
Karel Treybal (bor 1885) was a Czech master who seldom venture fa fom
his native land. He compted in a dozen interational touaments over a span
of tirty years and was seen in England at te Folkestone Olympiad in 1933.
No less a judge ta Alekine describd him as 'conspicuously endowed with
the imaginative sense' . Treybal was only nineteen yeas old when he played
the following gae at a Pague chess club.
42 Game 16
Kum- Tybm
Caul Game, Prague 190
Salvio Gambit
e4 e5
2 f4
The sixth and last King's Gabit
in our king-hunt collection.
2 ex4
J g5
4 9c4 g4
5 ve5
On the face of it, the Salvio Gam
bit would seem less inviting than the
Muzio idea of leaving the knight to
be taken (see Gae 2) for it invites
an immediate queen check with the
consequent displacement of White's
king. Yet it was the choice of Steinit
in serious match play against Zuker
tort and Anderssen.
5 ... d5
In the heyday of the King's Gam
bit Black invaiably checked at once;
but the counter-sacrifce . . . d5 is good
against nealy any form of the King's
Gambit.
6 9xd5 W4+
1 G H
The necessity for this move, both
here and in the Bishop's Gambit (3
ic4) seems to spoil one primary ob
ject of the opening-the use of the f
file for attack. In practice the loss of
time by the black queen often allows
White to get quick counterplay with
his minor pieces.
7 vf6
Black invites White to take the f-
pawn, either with bishop or with
knight. He could, of course, have
defended by 7 . . . lh6. White's man
headache is that he must constantly
watch the possibility of sudden
black attcks by . . . f or . . . g3.
8 9xO+ Cd8
The addict of the King's Gambit
cares little, a a rule, for the saety of
his own king; his interest is exclu
sively in the other one.
9 d4 vc6
0 vxc6+ bxc6
Again, the fact that his pawns are
now well and truly wrecked dos not
worry Black, but the new diagonal
now available to his queen's bishop
probably gives him great pleasure.
11 C OI (D)
Sooner or later this move usualy
means the break-up of the white
kingside in the Salvio Gabit.
w
2 gJ?
White should have brought his
outlying bishop back into the game
at c4, preventing Black activating
his own bishop by . . . ia6.
2 ..
WJ
J c
The white king begins his fatal
journey to the eighth rank. He has no
option, for 1 3 e1 is followed by
1 3 .. .'g2 14 :n .a6.
J ... W g2+
4 eJ 3a6I
Threatening 15 . . . ih6.
5 f4
What else? There is no escape by
15 d5, for Black would promptly
plug the fight by 15 . . . c5.
5 3h6+
6 WJ
7 x6
There is nothing better because
Black threatens 17 . . . re7 followed
by a quick mate, but now Black has a
Chajes - Tartakower 43
forced mate in six, starting wit a
quiet move.
7 :f
8 d +I
9 W5+
20 6 3g7+I
Willy-nilly the white king must
capture his third piece in fve moves.
If 21 e6, then 21. . .'g6.
2 g7 W g6+
22 & d7#
A royal mate. Compae this with
simila finishes by Morphy (Game
5), Edward Lasker (Game 1 8) and
Lawrence (Game 41).
Game 17
In the Karlsbad Tournament there occured another example-like Game
10-of a minor master scoring a spectacular victory against an admittedly
much greater player. In this mam oth tourament of twenty-six players Os
car Chajes (bor 1873) fnished in joint bottom place. Yet against Tartakower
he showed superb form, frst winning material and then retuing it in order to
drive the black king across to c7 and back again to be mated on his stating
square, g8.
Tartakower, who ended up in joint eighth position, himself never lost his
boyish relish for a good king-hunt; once thoroughly outplayed he was often
willing to give his opponent the pleasure of mating him. He probably tought
it was the least he could do for the unfortunate Chajes; one imagines him
watching the process with a professional detachment and thinking how he
might prhaps have done it btter himself.
Cha]es-Tanakewer
Karlsbad 1911
King's India
d4 6
2 d6
These were the very early days of
the Indian defences, of which Tar
takower was one of the pioneers. The
present order of moves usually fore
shadows what is now known as the
Old Indian, with a black bishop on
e7. Game 32 is an example.
J c vb7
4 vb2 g6
5 e4 3g7
Black has, after all, chosen a
King's Indian formation. White's
44 Game 1 7
position, with the c-pawn advanced
only one step, certainly takes some
of the sting out of the placing of the
bishop on g7.
6 3dJ 0-0
7 9H e5
8 9gJ
The knight has reached a good de
fensive post, screening the king's
position and observing some impor
tant light squaes. On this square it
stands motionless for 26 moves. It
ten maes one more move-a move
which more tha justifes its caeer.
8 B
9 0-0 c6
0 2e Wc7
In the cente the state of tension
persists, with much manoeuvring
behnd the lines, each wating for the
other to commit himself with an ex
change or an advance.
3d2 lf
2 hJ 3e6
J 9g5
The frst step over the frontier.
Nowadays even this would probably
have been prevented by . . . h6 before
placing the bishop on e6.
J .. h6
Now, however, there seems less
point to creating the kingside weak
ness: White was probably going to
take te bishop anyway.
4 vx 9x
5 3eJ vd7
Still the jockeying for position
continues in the cente. This knight
move puts two exta defences on the
black e-pawn and one extra attack
on the white d-pawn. Yet it may be
tactically wrong, for Black's most
sensitive point is the h6-pawn, and
a knight would have been handy
within reach of g8.
6 3c2 2ad8
7 Wd2
Now Black feels the weakness of
h6.
7 ... G h7
8 f4
Thus things come to a head in the
cente; White threatens f5.
w
8 ex4
9 3xf4 c5(D)
Strategically this is logical play,
seeking to unleash the latent power
of his bishop, on which the whole
black game is based. With this move
and his next Tatakower is playing
to loosen up the white queenside,
but within half a dozen moves it be
comes clea that he ha losened his
own position even more. The white
formation is resilient.
20 3eJ W6
2 2ed cxd4
22 cxd4
Chajes has achieved his object of
keeping two centre pawns, and he
dares Black to take the undefended
b-pawn.
22 ... 2c8
2J 3a4I
A decidedly awkward pin, which
Tartakower may not have taken into
consideration. White seizes this
moment to make a well-judged ex
change of bishop for knight, intro
ducing a complex passage of play
based on the position of the black
queen on the same diagonal the e3-
bishop. The fanchettoed bishop is
allowed to achieve his ultimate am
bition of mastering the whole long
dark diagonal across to the rook on
a1-but it costs Black two minor
pieces.
2J Ae7
24 3xd7I 2xd7
25 d5I vc
26 b4I 3xa1
27 2xa1 W d8
28 bxc5 dc
Black has rook and pawn aganst
bishop and knight. His game looks
by no means lost for he has a 3-1
queenside majority, the c-pawn ap
pearing paticularly menacing. His
trouble is the weakness of his king
position, and this is the usual penalty
of winning the exchange at the cost
of relinquishing the bishop on g7.
29 'ih?
An unnecessary precaution, as
White could have grabbed the h6-
pawn without more ado: 29 ixh6
'ih4 30 if4 g5 31 ie5 f6 (31 . . .le8
32 'ic3) 32 'f! , with a deadly
check to come on f5. In this case
White would have had a winning
Chajes - Tartakwer 45
position, whereas the move played
allows Black's c-pawn to become
more of a menace.
29 ... c4
Given the choice of defending his
h-pawn by 29 . . . \f or going all-out
for counterattack, Tartakower opts
for the latter. It would be interesting
to know how long he took in consid
ering this move.
J0 3xh6 c
J1 W f4
Now there is a crisis in the air. On
the one hand White threatens 32
ig5 followed by 'ih4+ and if6,
with a mating attack. On the other
hand the black c-pawn has reached
the sixth rank, with three major
pieces well placed to support it.
J1 ... f6
Tartaower prevents 32 ig5 and
33 'h4, but by shutting of the
queen he permits White to play the
same moves in reverse order. Black
is doomed.
w
J2 W4I c2(D)
JJ ig5+?
It turns out that the combination
initiated by this move is far from
46 Game 1 7
clear-cut. Black wasn' t threatening
anything, so White could have mobi
lised his reserves by 33 lfl, when
there is not the slightest chance that
Black will survive, for example:
33 . . . lf 34 .cl+ g8 35 'i g4 h7
(or 35 . . . g5 36 e5) 36 e5 f5 37 'if4
'i xd5 (to prevent e6) 38 6+ g8
39 'ixg6+ .g7 40 'ixf5, complet
ing the destruction of Black's king
side.
JJ ... g7
J4 vf5+I
Black thought that by guading
the f-pawn twice he had prevented
the breakthrough, but this sacrifice
deflects the g-pawn so that after 35
'ih6+ the f-pawn will fall. Black
canot refuse the knight: 34 . . . f8?
35 'h8+ f 36 'i g7+ 'e8 37
'g8#. Or 34 . . . g8? 35 .xf6 with
much the sae result.
J4
J5 W 6+
J6 .xf6
g5
g8
White simultaneously threatens
the queen and mate in three begin
ning with 37 'ih8+. Black paries
both threats, his pawn meanwhile
waiting impatiently on the seventh
ra.
W c7+
J7 gJ 2h7
J8 'i g6+ G
If Black ties 38 . . . lg7 White can
simply reply 39 .xg7 after which
39 . . . 'i xg7 allows 40 'i e6+ and 41
'hc8, while 39 . . . c1'i leads to 40
.c3+! followed by 41 .xc1 , com
ing out a bishop aead.
J9 'i x (D)
B
Agan Black ha a threatened dis
covery hanging over his head. This
time he makes his new queen, but it
turns out to be the fatal error. After
39 . . . .f! Black would have ever
chance of saving the gae.
J9 ...
cW ?
40 2xc W xc
The position is still fascinating.
For the moment Black has two rooks
against a bishop and thee pawns.
White cannot afford to play 41
.b2+ .f7 and he must certainly
avoid 41 'ixh7 .c2#! But he can
make better use of his discovered
check:
4 3cJ+I
Cutting Black's communications
on the c-fle so that if now 4l . . . .f
White can play 42 'xc8+.
4 ... e7
White could now play 42 'i xh7+,
but this is his day and he is not going
to b satisfed with anything less
than the most precise play. He draws
his cordon tight aound the feeing
king and still gets his rook with
check fve moves later on.
42 'i e+ d8
4J 3f6+ c7
44 3e5+ Gd8
Just as in the previous game the
black king bgins his return journey.
45 Wg8+ Gd7
46 Wxh7+
Had White played this fve moves
earlier the black king could have run
out to the queenside via d6. Chajes
has preferred to confine him where
the white centre pawns can have
their effect. It must be remembered
that all this time Black is threatening
mate on the move.
4
47 Wg8+
48 d6+
e8
Ge7
Gd7
Eward Lsker - Thmas 47
49 Wg4+I
Subtly confning the king within
the cordon. If now 49 . . . c6 Black
loses both his pieces!
49 d8
50 3f6+ e8
5 We6+
52 We7+ Gg8
Home!
5J Wg7#
Black still theatens mate in one!
Similar strings of forcing moves
while under threat of mate may be
seen in Game 19 (Nimowitsch-Ta
rasch) and in Game 28 (Yanofsky
Dulanto).
Game 18
The illustious nae of Lasker has sometimes been the cause of confsion in
the chess world. Emanuel was the great World Chapion who reigned fom
1 894 to 1921 . Berthold, his brother, was eight years older and, although he
never took chess very serously, a few of his games are in print. Edward wa
also a German but becae an American citizen after the First World Wa. He
was not related to the others but was a frend and admirer of Emanuel, al
though eighteen yeas his junior. He played in several international toua
ments, but the following game-perhaps his best-known one-was only a
skittle. It was played in the City of London Chess Club just a few hours afer
Lasker arrived in England from Germany, and he understood so little of the
English language that he was not aware of his opponent's name until after te
game. Mr Thomas-later to become Sir George-was at the time and for
many years ater one of England's strongest players.
EdwardLasker -Them
Casual Game, Lndn 1912
Dutch Defence
d4 f5
The Dutch Defence has gone in
and out of fashion. Botvinnik won
many fne gaes with it, but therea
ter it sufered a long-lasting decline
until it revival in te late 1980s.
2 l
This forthright development is
simple and good, though less often
seen than some other possibilities.
48 Gae 18
2 c4 permits Black to play an early
. . . .b4+ and exchange of a pair of
bishops. 2 g3 is a shrewd line, as te
bishop is usefl on g2 no matter
what central pawn formation Black
adopts.
2
f6
J ll
4 3g5 3e7
5 3xf6
White's pla is quite simple-to
force e4 without making a gabit
out of it.
5 3xM
6 e4 fxe4
7 vxe4 b6
8 <?I
Objectively spaking, this attack
ing attempt is premature. 8 .d3 is
sounder.
8 ...
9 3dJ
0-0
3b7
It is easy for the achair critic to
blame Black's play after seeing the
catastrophe that overtakes him. If
Black had played 9 .. . .xe5 10 dxe5
lc6! , then he would have won a
importat pawn, since 10 'ih5 ca
be met by 10 . . . lf5.
0 W5 (D)
B
Lasker threatens 1 1 lxf6+ fol
lowed by taking on h7. Even here
Black could have gained the advan
tage by 10 . . . .xe5 1 1 dxe5 ( 1 1 lf6+
lxf6 12 'i xh7+ f8 1 3 'i h8+ e7
14 'i xg7+ lf 15 'i xe5 'ig8 wins
for Black, while 1 1 'i xe5 l6 wins
the d4-pawn) lf5, followed by ta
ing on e5.
Thomas, however, prefers a dif
ferent and apparently satisfactor
defence:
0 ... We7??
The idea is that afer 1 1 lxf6+
Black recaptures with the pawn, and
the h-pawn then stands guarded by
the queen. What only Lasker had
seen is that White has a beautifl
forced mate:
Wxh7+I I x7
2 k6++
h6
He has no choice: 12 . . . h8 13
lg6#.
J vg4+ g5
4 h4+ 4
Every move is forced, just as in
the Falkber game, No. 3.
15 gJ+

6 3e2+
White could have mated one
move more quickly, by 1 6 0-0 (or 16
fl), followed by 17 lh2#, but to
complain at this would be pedantic
in the exteme.
6
7 2b2+
8 d
g2
g
Thus ever white piece partici
pated in the king-hunt, the whole
black amy bing meanwhile cut of
fom te battlefeld.
Nimzowitsch - Tarrasch 49
Gae 19
Nimzowitsch the iconoclast challenged many of the dogmas ofTarach the
classicist, in prnt and at the board. There was no love lost between them, and
victores were always a source of satisfaction to the winner. Probably the one
that pleaed Tarasch most of al was the following game, played when he wa
52 and his rva 28. Not only is the white king chased to the seventh ran but
the game is embellished by the celebrated double bishop sacrifce made fa
mous by Lasker in his game with Bauer at Amsterdam a quarter of a century
earlier.
Nlmewlum-Tanm
St Petersburg 1914
Queen's Gabit Declined
1 d4 d5
2 .n c
Tarasch generaly played this
move straight away as a matter of
principle when facing 1 d4. He pre
ferred to accept the slight loosening
of his position which it involves
rather than endure the cramped situ
ation which is Black's lot in the Or
thodox (Games 21 and 23) and Slav
(Game 27) Defences.
J c4 e
4 eJ
On this occasion Nimzowitsch
continues with the symmetcal de
velopment which Tarrasch himself
thought best. Schlechter and Rubin
stein worked out the line based on 4
cxd5 followed by g3 ad ig2 which
is still regade a bst today.
4 v6
5 3dJ t
6 0-0 3d6
7 bJ 0-0
8 3b2 b6
9 vbd2
The frst break in the symmety.
The knight accepts a modest posi
tion rather than obstruct the b2-
bishop and al-rook, which will soon
come to c l .
9
0 :et
cxd5
3b7
We7
Black was teatenig to swap of
the b2-bishop by means of l l . . .cxd4
ad 12 . . . ia3.
11 ...
exd5
2 vb4
This is subtle and logical. The
threat of .f5 induces Black to play
. . . g6, weakening the dak squaes
and making the b2-bishop a poten
ta game-winner. Nimzowitsch con
siders the loss of time a good
investment.
2 g6
J vM 2d8
4 dc
The power of the fianchettoed
bishop is now clear, but it is Black
who will have the better pawn con
trol in the centre. The clash of two
ideas maes fascinating chess.
4
bxc5
5 3b5
50 Game 19
The light-squared bishop intends
to augment the effect of his dak
squared colleague by removing the
knight that guards the central dark
squares.
5 ve4
9xc6
v xd2
d4
6 9xc6
7 W c2
8 vxd2
A sharp reminder that Black aso
has a bishop on the long diagonal:
the pawn move simultaneously
opens the line of the black bishop
and closes the line of the white one.
Worse still, Black has two bishops,
as Nimzowitsch soon has cause to re
gret.
B
9 exd4(D)
9 1xh2+I
20 & xh2 W h4+
2 Gg 1xg2II
The white king is so isolated fom
al his forces that Tar asch can af ord
to immolate both bishops to expose
him. If now 22 'xg2 Black plays
22 . . . 'i g4+ followed by 23 . . . ld5. So
the king prepares to make a bolt for
it.
22 O fe8
Mercilessly cutting off the e-fle
escap route. If now 23 xg2 Black
wins at once by 23 . . . le2+.
2J v 4 W+
24 GO 3xH
The unkind point is that after 25
.xfl the white queen would be lost
to 25 . . .ih2+, so now the hunt is re
ally on.
25 d5
White reopens the long diagonal,
hoping that even yet he may make
something of his threats of 'c3 and
t:f6+.
25 ..
f5I
Tarrasch could have won crudely
but safely enough by 25 . . . 'i g2+ fol
lowed by the exchage of queens.
He chooses a neater way which in
volves allowing White to achieve his
ambition of occupying that long
dak diagonal.
26 W cJ(D)
B
Nimzowitsch at last gets in his
attack, threatening 27 'ig7#. But it
is too late: Black has a forced mate
in fve.
26
27 eJ
Wg2+
xe4+I
28 fxe4 f4+
28 . . . 'i g3+ 29 d2 'if2+ 30 ld1
'e2# was simple and clear, but the
move played is also flly adequate.
29 x4 2M+
J0 eS W2+
J1 2e8+
J2 d7 3b5#
Alekhine - Yates 51
A pure mate brings the king-hunt
to an end.
Had White played 32 f6 the
mate would have been 32 . . . 'i h4#.
Meanwhile Nimzowitsch has been
threatening mate in one for the lat
seven moves. Compare Games 17
and 28.
Game 20
In the next game a World Champion is handled very roughly by the British
champion, Frederick Yates. F. D. Yates (born 1884) was a stolid Yorkshire
mao. He was slow to mature as a player, not making any great stir in the chess
world until his late twenties, but after this he bcame more and more a men
ace to the world's top grandmasters and scored many fne victories.
His style of play curiously echoed the pattern of his own career-slow in
the initial build-up period, with no attempt at wild play, but powerfully ag
gressive in the middlegame. Alekhine always found Yates a handfl, losing
two tournament games to him and having several frights at other times.
In the present game Alekine's king is smoked out by a fine sacrifcial
combination and undergoes a ffteen-move hunt all within a little squae 3x3.
For the ultimate in close chasing like this see Game 37, Ivkov-Byrne, Varna
1962.
AIeMine -Yat
Karlsbad 1923
King's Indian
1 d4 v6
2 c4 g6
Fashions in the chess openings
have often been moulded largely
by the infuence of a single player.
Before the First World Wa, the In
dian defences made only the most
sporadic appearances. It was ver
largely Yates himself who shaped the
King's Indian into a reliable defence
in the early 1920s and gave it it frst
populaity. In the present gae he is
playing his pet defence against a
very great master, soon to become
World Champion, and a very good
case he makes out for it.
It was Euwe who drove it out of
fashion in the 1930s, and probably
Bronstein and Boleslavsky, in the
late forties and early ffties, who did
most to bring about the renaissance
which still persists today.
J gJ 3
8
4 3g2 0-0
5 vJ d6
6 v6
52 Game 20
This was the way Yates played the
defence, provoking d5, after which
he liked to retire the knight to b8 and
then redevelop it via d7 or a6 to the
stong squae c5.
7 d
8 e4
9 0-0
vb8
vbd7
a
With an eye to the future he safe
guads the square c5 against the pos
sibility of b by White.
0 3eJ
Alekhine typically plays to cross
his opponent's plans, and Yates now
seizes the opportunity to plant a
knight on e5 instead.
0
3d4
2 vxe5
J c5
vg4
vge5
vxe5
White opens operations on the
queenside, hoping presenty to ex
tend the range of his g2-bishop
which for the moment is blocked by
his own pawns.
J
4 3xc5
5 3d4
6 2e
dxc5
b6
3a6
Now White theatens to play 17
f4, driving away the knight and then
following up with 1 8 Jxg7 , leaving
Black with weak dak squares on the
kingside.
6 ... Wd6I(D)
A diabolically subtle rply. After
17 f4 Black intends 17 . . . ld3 18
Jxg7 1c5+! 19 h1 lf+ 20 g1
lh3++ 21 h1 'i g1 +! 22 .:xg1
vO#. This was evidently Yates's
day.
w
7 3H 3xH
8 BxH
The biter bit! It is the white king
side which has been weakened.
8 .. c5
Undetered, Yates lays another
snare: the enpassant capture would
now be answered by 19 . . . 'ixd4! 20
'i xd4 lf3+ winning a piece.
9 3xe5 Wxe5
20 J 2ab8
2 5 f5
Alekhine was of course a master
of every phase of te game. Yates on
the other hand excelled particularly
in the late middlegame, and here
he is in his element. Three-quarters
of the minor pieces have gone, he
ha an excellent bishop and good
chances of a breakthrough with his
rooks in te region of the white king.
In reserve he also has a queenside
majority of pawns, but for the mo
ment his interest is elsewhere.
22 2ae f4I
2J Wd7 bd8
24 gxf4 Wxf4
White is now obviously in danger
from Black's heavy pieces. He can
hardly take the e-pawn, for afer
25 . . J8 followed by . . . e5 White
would be swifly mated.
25 We6+ b8
26 O Wg5+
27 b1
2d6
28 WJ
By a devious route White's queen
has found her way to the threatened
sector; but the black pieces ae con
verging ominously, with invasion
points at e5 and f4 which the white
knight is powerless to cover.
28 e5
29 2e2 2df6
J0 vd 2f4
J J
The knight is now within range of
defensive points at g2 and g4, but
Black's initiative keeps him one vital
move ahead all the time. He now ex
pels te white queen from the imme
diate vicinity.
J ... 2b4
J2 W
From this point the white queen
never returns; but it is an unavoid
able desertion (32 'g2 lxh2+).
J2 .. W 5
Threatening immediate destuc
tion by 33 . . . lxh2+.
JJ vg4(D)
White totters on the brnk, ad yet
his defence seems to hold, for he not
only protects the h-pawn, but aso
threatens to smash the attack at once
by lxe5.
JJ ...
2xg4II
A superb permanent sacrifice of
the exchange which must have been
based more on intuition tha analy
sis. Yates' s courageous play was
Alekhine - Yates 53
B
never better exemplifed than in this
combination, played, we have to
remember, against Alexander Ale
khine.
J4 fxg4
Of course the queen could not
take, but now, ater the white king is
driven to g2, Black will have queen
and rook simultaneously attacked,
and will have to embark on a pro
tracted king-hunt wth queen and
bishop against queen and rook. The
dak-squared bishop, however, is a
strong as a rook, as White fnds him
self with nearly all his material on
light squares, obstructing his king's
escape.
3
J5 g2
3
J7

J8 gJ
J9 bJ
2M+
Wxb2+
W+
d4+
W g+
39 lg2 'el + 40 h3 g5 tans
poses to the game.
J9 ..
40 lg
The rook is forced fom one light
square to another, obstructing the
king still more.
54 Game 20
40 .
41 't g3
'l+
In reply to 41 lh2 Yates gave
4l . . .'f3+ 42 't h4 .f6+ 43 g5 'f4+
44 'th3 .es! 45 lg2 'f3+ 46 'th4
'h5#.
41
42 't h3
w
'j et+
g5I(D)
Yates quietly closes the cordon,
threatening 43 . . . 'h4#. Checking
now does White no good, the king
move does not prevent the mate, and
since 43 lh2 allows 43 . . ,'j e3+ 44
'tg2 'f+ 45 't h3 'f3#, White has
nothing to do but take the rook rght
away to c2.
43 lc2
This is the only available squae,
and certanly it gives a to the white
king. But the rook itself is now unde
fended, and Yates immediately takes
advantage of this fact.
4J .. 'f+
44 &h2
If 44 lg2 Black can continue
44 . . . 'ihl + 45 'tg3 'h4+ 46 't f3
'ih3+ 47 lg3 'ifl#.
44
45 't h3
46 g3
46 lh2 would have allowed mate
on the move; but now Yates plays a
second non-checking move, subtly
exploiting the position of the outly
ing rook and forcing a win in al
vaiations.
46
WdI I
Now the rook cannot ret to the
kingside without producing a fata
self-block; e. g. 47 lh2 'i d3+ 48
'tg2 'i e2+ 49 'tg3 'i e3+ 50 'tg2
'f+ 51 't h3 'i f3, or47 lg21el+
48 'tf3 'i e3#. Alekhine might have
tried 47 'i f7 (47 . . . 1xc2?? 48 'i f8#)
but Yates would simply have played
47 . . . 'i d3+ winning the rook with
check (if 48 'i f3, then 48 . . . .e5+).
This sixteen-move ending, so rch
in epaulettes and half-epaulettes, is
as fne an example as any extant of
queen and rook being completely
domnated by queen and bishop.
47 lc3 Wg+
Of course Yates is not interested
in exchanging his tumphant bishop
for the miserable rook. This is a
king-hunt and it must move to its
predestined end.
48 h3
48 't f3 'f#.
48 . 'fi+
49 't g3
49 't h2 .gl +, followed by mate
in three more moves.
49 .f+
50 't .gl+
5 't g3 'f+
52 't h3 W
Amaingly, Black's e-pawn never
moved!
Marshall - Bogoljubow 55
Gae 21
F. J. Mashall (born 1 877) held the championship of the USA for twenty
seven years and seldom played a dull gae. This last statement could b ap
plied also to his present opponent, who appears later on (Game 26) as the
hunter.
Manhml~ egel]ubew
New York 1924
Queen's Gambit Declined
d4 vf6
2 e6
J g5
After 3 c4 Bogoljubow's favour
ite line was 3 . . . .b4+. The early
move of the c 1 -bishop prevents this,
but it leaves Black with a strong re
ply in 3 . . . c5 ! . However, Black pre
fers to revert to classicism.
J d5
4 e3 vbd7
5 c4 c6
The game has now become a
standad Queen's Gambit Declined,
with Black apparently aiming at
the Cambridge Springs Defence-6
.c3 W. This Marshal! prevents in
the simplest way, by going into the
Exchange Variation.
6 cxd5
7 vcJ
exd5
W a5?I
Half the strength of the Ca
bridge Springs consists of the latent
attack against the white bishop on
g5. After te exchange of pawns ths
no longer exists and the queen move
achieves litte.
8 3dJ
9 W c2
0 vxg5
ve4
vxg5
h6
.f
12 0-0
1J aJI
3e7
0-0
The awkwad position of the
black queen allows Masha! to stat
a minorty attack, threatening b4-b5.
Black has to spend two moves on
preventive measures, afer which
White is justifed in turning his at
tention to the black king.
J W d8
4 2ae
a5
5 W e2 vf6
The white pieces are all set and
Masha! now goes all-out for a mat
ing attack in the style of many of
Pillsbur's games.
6 v5I
7 f4
8 3b
9 W c2
3d6
c5
3d7
This manoeuvre with queen and
bishop, which we have already seen
in Game 14 (Schlechter-Maco ), puts
strong pressure on h7, intoducing
the threat of 20 .xd5! .
19 3c6
20 dxc5 3xc5(D)
21 +h
Once the black knight is dis
lodged fom f6 the white attack must
brea through. One threat is .g4,
but Marshall also frees the e-pawn
for the advance e3-e4-e5.
56 Gae 21
w
2
22 e4
2J vxc6
24 e5
25 17+
le8
3d4
bxc6
-g4
Thus White achieves his main
aim. But meanwhile Bogoljubow has
made an escape route for his king
and the mate is not yet in sight. In
fact the black king will be mated on
a4!
25 ..
26 gJ
Black also had his threat, namely
26 . . . 'ih4! .
26 ...
W6
27 3f5
Attacking the knight but aso cov
ering d7 in readiness for the inevita
ble king-hunt.
27 ... l+
28 :x
Alekhine called this an unneces
sary sacrifce, and recommended 28
<g2. The idea that sacrifcial lines
should be played only when neces
sary shows that Alekhine, for al his
attacking genius, could also be very
pragmatic. In fact, both moves are
about equally efective.
28
29 W8
J0 Wxg7I
ix
e7
The hunt is really on; Black can
not stop to tae the rook without b
ing mated in six by 31 'f6+ f8 32
'xh6+ g8 (32 ... e7 33 'd6) 33
ih7+ h8 34 ig6+ g8 35 'h7+
f8 36 'xf#.
J0
J Wf6
w
J2 e6I
d8
le7 (D)
There are many ways to win. To
more ae 32 ldl ic5 (or else White
sacrifces on d) 33 b4! axb4 34
axb4 when Black cannot tae on
b4 with either piece, and 32 'xh6
(threat 33 'f8+ leS 34 'd6#) ld7
33 le2 when White has a materia
advantage and a crshng attck.
The move played takes immedi
ate advantage of the helpless black
rook; 32 . . . ixel is met by 33 exf!
ad the pawn promotes.
J2 3d4
JJ eMII 3xf6
f'i +
The queen does a vanishing act
on f6, instantly reappeaing at f8
and making a clea rook proft on the
dea.
c7
35 lbe7+ ixe7
3 Wxa8
The game is as good a over, for
White is knight ad pawn up and
threatening 37 'c8+. Black might
have resigned, but he lets us see the
elegant fnish of te hunt.
3 d6
J7 W8I
Richter - Kretschmr 57
White threatens 38 'e5+ c5
and either 39 'xe7+ or 39 oa4+
winning the queen. Black avoids
bot threats but is sumaily mated.
J7 Wd8
J8 W+ c
J9 v4+ c4
40 WcJ+ b5
4 3dJ+ 4
42 WcM
Mashall announced this mate a
ter Black's 37th move.
Game 22
One of the great tacticians of the 20th century was Kurt Richter of Berlin
(br 190). Apat fom the touament at Podebrady in 1936 he was content
to remain inside Gerany, quietly enjoying his chess and wrting many at
tractive books in the process. The following gae is phenomenal-studded
with sacrifces and showing a king-hunt fom e8 to el .
Rchr- Knuchmar
Berlin Chapionship 1925
Richter-Veresov Attack
d4 d5
2 o
Richter played this move so ofen
that it ended up bearing his name. It
has an anti-positional look in its ob
stuction of the c-pawn, ad it leaves
Black with plenty of options, but
White ca develop rapidly.
2 ... .f6
When Black played 2 . . . e6 Richter
continued with 3 e4, tansposing into
the French Defence, aganst which
he scored some fne victories, par
ticulaly wit the line 3 . . . of6 4 ig5
ie7 5 ixf6 ixf6 6 e5 ie7 7 'g4.
3 ig5 h6
Black has a lage choice here:
3 . . . if5, 3 . . . c6, 3 . . . g6, 3 . . . .bd7 and
3 . . . o4 ae all reasonable movs.
4 ih4 if5
5 f
Black ha been playing to prevent
White's e, but Whte plays to force
it; this is an essentia part of Rch-
ter' s scheme.
5 .b7
6 od .d
7 e4 3xm
8 fxe4 J
White has established mobile
centre pawns, but Black seizes an
unusual opportunity of seeing that
he dos not retain the two bishops a
well.
58 Game 22
9 WdJ
0 'x g5
3gJ c
2 0-0-0
Black's castling prospects are not
very promising on either wing, and
White has a fine open game with
varous attacking possibilities. Rich
ter asks for nothing btter.
2 W
J b 3g7
4 v2 :m
Black protects his f-pawn in
readiness for castling queenside, but
Richter gives him no pace.
5 h4 f5
6 e5 e6
7 hxg5 hxg5
8 h7 g8(D)
Wit chaacteristic vigour Richter
has been making threat after threat
to prevent Black from castling. Now,
however, it does look as though he
has run out of stea and that Black
will quietly equalise.
9 d5I
This type of sacrifce-indee
this very move-fen occured in
Richter's games. He extends the
range of his rook and vacates a
squae for his knight, with a still
more remakable sacrifce in view.
9 cxd5
20 4 v
2 xe6I
Black's last move was intended,
of course, to prevent this very cap
ture. Richter decides, even at the
cost of a piece, to prevent castling.
He can hardly have been sure of a
forced win, but he combines by in
tuition. He can expect at least a per
petual check, and there ae always
winning chances when the king is
on the rn.
2 ... v
After 2l . . .xh7 22 lxd5 ! 'ib6
23 ld6 'a 24 'xf5 White ha a
crshing attck.
22 wx W6
2J W g6+ e7
The primay object is attained:
Black cannot castle. The perpetual
check is already available (by 24
'f6+, etc. ) but Richter is not inter
ested, even tough this is objectively
the bst course.
24 c4?I
More opn lines!
24 . d4 (D)
25 xd4I
Throughout the attack Black ha
seemed to be just one move short of
salvation-a not unusual state for
Richter's opponents! White there
fore burns his boats and goes in for
the kll. He is sure to regain a mnor
piece, a 25 ... 'xd4 removes a guad
fom the knight, while 25 . . . xd4 re
moves one fom the bishop. Even so,
w
he will remain a rook down, ad still
the win is not forced.
25 ... Wxd4
After 25 . . . lxd4! 26 lxg7+ lxg7
27 'i xg7+ e8 there is no perpetual
check, and White would b hard
pressed to make even a draw. It is
less accurate to play 25 . . . :af8, for
after 26 ld 1 ! (not 26 :d6 'i g 1 +)
White has two pawns and a danger
ous attack for te piece.
26 Wf6+ &d7
27 W O+ &m?
After this slip White has a draw.
27 . . . d8! 28 'ixg8+ 3D would
have forced White to attend to the
mate on dl , and then he would have
inadequate compensation for the
piece.
28 Wxe6+ cS? (D)
By playing 28 . . . c7 Ketschma
would still have drawn the game, for
White seems to have nothing better
than prtua check on the sixth ad
seventh ranks. With a whole rook in
hand, however, Black is evidently
hoping for a win. If he can work his
king round to a6 he will be able to
develop his extra piece at last. He
cannot achieve this aim by 28 . . . c7
Richter - Kretschmar 59
because of 29 'i f+ b6? 30 .f
winning the queen, so he ties to go
via c5; and indeed it is difcult to
see how White is going to stop him.
Black still threatens mate in one.
w
29 3OII
A worthy fnishing touch to this
elegant game. Black ha no option
but to take the bishop, after which
his king, deserted in mid-board, will
be completely at the mercy of the
white queen-while his own queen,
bishop and two rooks look on pow
erless to interene.
29
J0 W d5+
J W d6
32 b4+
JJ W d7+
WxO
b6
a
a4
This manoeuve alows the rook
to participate in the attack with gain
of tempo.
JJ b
J4 W5+ qc
J5 2hJ+ d
3 W2+ Ge
J7 2h+ -0
After 37 . . . .n 38 cl + White
takes the queen with check.
60 Ga23
Gae 23
Rudolf Spielmann (bor 1883) was kown i his day as 'The Last Pophet of
Romanticism' , nobody foreseeing the advent of Mikhail Tal ! Spielmann
loved a kng-hunt, kept a shar eye opn for it at ever stage of te game, and
devoted a whole chapter to the subject in his book Richtig Opfem.
His opponent here is not the great Akiba Rubinstein but his son, a com
paratively minor master. Whether Spielmann would ever have dared to treat
Akiba quite like tis is doubtfl, but the metho is absolutely typical of hi.
In the fst fourteen moves he sacrifces two pieces-not for mate nor for any
forced winning line but seeing only, as he admitted, that he could get the
black kng on the rn.
5lelmann- 5.Rublnsteln
Trebitsch Memorial Tournment,
Venn 1933
Queen's Gabit Declined
d4
2 c4
J
6

d5
For the opening stages compare
Game 14 (Schlechter-Marco) and
particulaly the note to White' s 8th
move.
4 3 e7
5 3g5 0-0
6 eJ b
7 3dJ 3 b7
8 3 xf6 3 M
9 cxd5 exd5
0 h4
All this is exactly as Mashall
played at Paris 1900. Both Bum and
Marco continued 10 . . . g6 and were
demolished forthwith by 1 1 h5. The
alterative defence IO .. . h6, provok
ing 1 1 g4, does not look any more
inviting. Rubinstein decides to leave
the kingside alone ad counter cla
sically against the white centenot
a bad idea if only the kingside will
hold.
0 . c5
3 x7+
A hackneyed enough beginning,
to be sure, but the rest is not so
simple. If Black plays the best de
fence-ad he does-there is no
mate. White has to invest a second
piece and develop a great lateral
hunt which eventually embraces all
eight fles.
...
7
2 vg5+
Black has evidently foreseen that
he has just one reply which keeps
the game alive. Not 1 2 . . . i.xg5 1 3
hxg5+, nor 1 2 . . . g8 1 3 'ih5, wit
immediate mate, nor 12 . . . g6 1 3
'd3+ h5 14 g4+ xg4 15 :g1 +
h5 16 'i h7#.
He therefore plays:
2 . h6I
J 'i d3
Threatening 14 't h7#.
J ...
g
He cannot play 1 3 . . . :hS bcause
of 14 lxf7 +, but now he intends
. . .<g7 followed by ... lh8 with a ten
able psiton.
4 h5I (D)
This second piece sacrifce is the
best chance. The threat now is 1 5
lxf7+ followed by 'xg6#.
B
4 . 3xg5?I
The frst slip. After 14 ... xg5! 1 5
f4+ ( 1 5 e4 .xd4! ) h6 16 hxg6+
'g7 17 lh7+ g8 White cannot
justif his sacrifces.
5 hxg6+
'g
16 2h7+ &f6
The black king must keep run
ning. If 1 6 . . . g8 there follows 17
gxf7+! lxf7 1 8 1g6+ and mate the
followng move.
7 0-0-0I
White, still two pieces down, qui
etly castles, tucking his king away
and mobilising the second rook.
Meanwhile Black has two pieces
right out of the game, still unmoved.
17 . c4
Rubinstein gains a tempo and pe-
vent te opning of more lines.
8 We2 Ge7
9 f4 3f6
20 e4I
Spielmnn -S. Rubinstein 61
Spielmann forces opn the cent
fearlessly, so tat his little amy of
four pieces may deisively overun
Black's force of six. The theat is 21
e5, with an avalanche of pawns.
20 ... dxe4
21 vm d7
Level exchanges would of course
suit Black admirably; but unfortu
nately for him 2l. . . .xe4 would not
have ben a level exchage, for afer
22 1xe4+ the aS-rook would go a
well.
22 d5 v6?
At last! But the knight is hadly
more 'developed' here tha on b8.
22 . . . 'e7 wa a much better defence,
preventing d6 because of the attack
on e4, and intending . . . 'd8 fol
lowed by . . . ld7, when Black ha
solved the problem of developing
the queenside pieces.
2J
8
Bg8
After 23 . . . .xg7 24 1g4+! c7
25 'ixg7 White still has a ver
strong attack, for example 25 . . . <b8
26 'i e5+ l7 27 d6 le6 28 lg5! .
h6I
Afer tis White is bound to begi
winning back material. If 24 . . . .e7
White plays 25 d6, winnig te
bishop and opening the gae still
fher. Rubinstein choses, prhaps
a little more promisingly, to let his
queen go. For it he will have rook
and two bishops-norally more
than equivalent-and also removes
te advanced g-pawn.

25 2d6+
26 W xc4+I
Sxg7
c7
62 Gae 24
Masterly precision. Black's king
stll takes precedence over te queen
as a taget. Now he is forced to shut
in his aS-rook.
26
27 Bxd8+
w
28 b1
b8
Bxd8(D)
Black was threatening to retur
the compliment and win White's
queen with 28 . . . 1c8.
28
29
J0
J1
d6
f5
Wxe4
3xe4+
vc5
Black rearanges his forces clev
erly, but in vain. Hs misplaced kg
cannot escape the white queen and
rook.
J2 W c6
JJ Wd5
J4 WxO
J5 Wg8+
J6 Wd5+
J7 Wc6
2c8
2d8
2d7
b7
b8
The seventh queen move in suc
cession-ad there are still three to
come-threatens to win one of the
black pieces by 38 b.
J7
J8 W xb6+
J9 Wc6
40 Wc7+
a
vb7
2d8
1-0
Thirty moves ago the hunt stated
on h7. The end of the long trail
would be40 . . . a7 ater which White
could continue by simply taking the
bishop or, more conclusively, by
41 ld5 threatening 42 lxa5#; then
4l . . .a6 42 Wc6+ a7 43 lb5
forces mate.
Game 2
The next game shows a World Chapion in the bud-Botvinnik at the age of
24. The fact that this devastating win is not even included in Botvinnik's own
selection of his hundred best games between 1926 and 1 946 is an eloquent
comment on the standard of his play during those yeas.
en k- Chekhever
Moscow 1935
Reti's Opning
1 d5
2 c4
Reti pioneered this order of
moves but it is not so much an opn
ing as the basis of a complex of
openings which melt bewilderingly
into one another.
2 . e6
White is aming to provoke 2 . . . d4,
but it is not commonly played. After
Black's present move, White can re
vert to te Queen's Gambit Declined
by 3 d4, but this also is not so com
mon, for the simple reason that peo
ple who intend that opning are
likely to play either 1 d4 or 2 d4.
J bJ
Now the opening is taking shape.
The present system was often used
by Nizowitsch, whose name is
sometimes given to it. It has much in
common with the system known as
Bird's Opening ( 1 f4) and also, with
reversed colours, with a for of the
Dutch Defence. White's main aim is
to contol the e5-square.
J vf6
4 3b2 3e7
5 eJ 0-0
6 3e2 c6
7 0-0 bd7
8 a6
9 4
The best square for the knight in
Bird's Opening ad related systems
is e5. This in fact is where it is head
ing but it must frst make way for the
advance of the f-pawn.
9 dxc4
0 bxc4 c5
f4I Wc7
2 lf! 2 d8
J Wc2 Cd7
4 d4
Black is badly cramped, his c8-
bishop and aS-rok being useless for
the time being. White on the other
hand has a mobile cente and varied
attackg possibilities.
Botinnik - Chekhover 63
4 ... c5
Black is in a quanday. He must
have a, and as White has prevented
. . . e5 this seems the next best thing.
With this and his next three moves
he gets a certain aount of feedom,
but manages to fee White's gae
even more-a not uncommon result
when tying to break out of a con
sticted position.
5 ve5
The basis of many a kingside at
tack. Pillsbury, for instance, made
quite a tademak of it in the Queen's
Gambit Declined, but of course it
was a favourte move long bfore his
time. Where it stands, the knight is
almost intolerable for Black, but its
capture immediately opns te f-fle
and displaces Black's knight from
its best defensive square, f6.
B
15 b
6 3dJ cxd4
7 exd4(D)
White has the hanging pawns. If
one of them could be induced to ad
vance, Black might blockade them
and prove tem weak, but there is no
chance of this. On the contar they
64 Gae 24
exert a powerul crippling infuence
over Black's whole gae.
7 .
i
b7
8 We2 m
Black over-protects h7 so that the
displacement of his oter knight
would not be so serious; but a knight
on f8 does have the tactical disad
vantage of making the defence of
f7 rather more awkward-as Chek
hover presently fnds to his cost.
19 1
With all deliberation Botvinnik
starts walking his knight round fom
c3 to f whence it will b able to pro
ceed either to g4 or else, via h3, to
g5.
19
l
a7
Presumably to protect the king
side along the second rak. But there
is an awfl lot of wood in between.
20
l
f W8
2 vJ h6(D)
Played to prevent 22
l
g5. This,
however, is one of the not infequent
cases where it is found on frther in
spection that the preventive move
dos not in fact prevent.
w
22 g5I
The sacrifice of this knight (and
only by taking it can Black defend
f7) is aply justifed by the power
ful play it gives to the rooks.
22 .
hxg5
2J fxg5 v7
He dae not move the oter knight
and let in the white queen. But now
comes:
24 ?
This may be in the true spirit of
the king-hunt, but the simple fact is
that this move not only throws away
the win, it even put White in dager
of losing. What maes it especialy
unnecessay is the fact that White
has a direct win by 24
l
xd7
l
xd7
(or 24 . . .
l
xd7 25
l
xf7!

xf7 26
'i
h5+ forcing mate) 25 gxf6
i
xf6
26
l
xf6! gxf6 27
_
g4+
r1
f8 28
i
a3+
.
d6 29
'i
g3
<
e7 30 c5 ! with
overwhelming theats.
B
24 r
25 gI(D)
25

g8?
Now Black's king gets chased
right across the board. The best de
fence was 25 . . .

f8 26
'i
xe6
l
e5
and now:
1) 27 dxe5
.
c5+ 28

h1
.
xg2+!
29
'
xg2
l
xd3 30
l
xf6+ gxf6 31
'i
xf6+ is given as a draw by Botvin
nik, but I cannot see any draw after
3 1 . . .

g8 32
'i
e6+
'
h8 33
'i
f6+
l
g7.
2) Botvinnik himself gave 27
l
xf6+! gxf6 28
'i
h3
.
b4 29
l
e1
.
c8 30
'i
h6+
'
e8 31 dxe5
.
xe1 32
'i
h8+

d7 33
'i
g7+
'
c6 34
.
xf6+

c7 35 e6, etc. However, there ae

improvements for Black in this line.
First of al , 29 ...
.
xg2! 30

xg2
.
xe1
3 1 dxe5 fxe5 leaves White strug
gling. Secondly, 28 . . .
.
b4 is by no
means forced; one reasonable al
ternative is 28 . . .
.
c5 ! ? 29 dxc5
.
xg2 30
'i
h6+

g8 31
.
f5
l
e8 32

xg2
'i
a8+ 33

g1
'i
c6 activating
Black's pieces, and now it is White's
king that is looking exposed. All in
all, White's attack is unconvinc
ing-he might hop for a draw, but
certainly not more.
26
'i
xe6+
27
1
3+
28
.
fS!

h8

g8
Threatening mate in three by 29
.
e6+ and 30
'i
h8+.
2
29
.
e+
J0
'i
xe6
Chekhover is happy to see the
forces reduced for he is still two
pieces up. The agony of the king
hunt await him nevertheless.
J0 h8
31
1
3

g8 (D)
32
l
x6!
The crown of the combination.
White will have rook and bishop
Botinnik - Chekhover 65
w
against Black's two rooks and two
bishops, but mobility maes all the
difference. Just a move or two to
release the pieces in the north-west
corner would win the game for
Black but, alas, he must spend all
his time moving his king.
32
.
x6
33
1
7 + G
J4
l
el
Threatening
'i
h8#.
3 ...
.
eS!
What else? The e-fle must be
closed and 34 . . .
.
e7 would be a self
block.
35
1
8+

e7
3
'
xg7+!

d6
If 36 . . .
'
e8, then 37
'
f7#, so the
black king has to obstct te queen,
and the bishop can then be taken
without setting her free. It is now
mate in seven.
37
'i
xeS+

d7
38
'
fS+

c
Or 38 . . .

c7 39
l
e7+

c6 40
'i
f3+

d6 41
.
a3#.
39 dS+

cS
40
.
a+
The bishop, fanchettoed at move
four, has stood ever since on b2,
66 Game 25
motionless, yet powerflly influenc
ing the play. Now it makes its second
and thid moves and the mating net
closes.
40 ... xc4
4 We4+ c
41 . . . b5 is no better because of
42 Wb.
42 3b4+ b2
4J W#
Game 25
Chekhover (bor 198) is out of luck in the present collection, for he loses the
next game too. It was played in a match between two Russian masters best
known as composers of endgae studies. In this feld their names ae world
famous, but both were also fne players, a statement which is bore out by the
fact tat each achieved te considerable feat of reaching te fnal of the USSR
Chapionship. Kasparian (born 1910) was particulaly original in the mid
dlegame and the following exhilaating chase to the eighth rank is an excel
lent exaple of his play.
Chekhever- Kpanan
2n Match Game, Erevan 1936
Kng's Indian
d4 f6
2 c4 d6
J O g6
4 g3 .g7
5
g2 0-0
6 0-0
The g3 line against the King's In
dian has been used a great deal since
that period. Normaly it presents no
great dangers to eiter side, but in the
present game things soon te a un
usual turn.
6 bd7
7 vJ e5
8 dx
The natural way to stabilise the
cente would b for White to play 8
e4, reserving the option of d5 later
on. Chekhover wants to mae a
open game of it from the stat; later
on he fnds it a little too open.
8 ...
d
9 Wc2
White's intention is to fanchetto
his other bishop ad then play ladl,
but the mobility of the black e-pawn
proves to b his undoig .
9 2
10 bJ
Still White refrains from e4, and
Kaspaia now makes a vigorous
advance which succeeds in loosen
ing te psition of te white kng.
0 mI
11 v4 eJI
2 f4
After playing 10 b3 Chekhover
is understandably unwilling to play
12 .xe3. Black would exchage of
the bishop by 1 2 . . . lg4, leaving his
own dark-squared bishop ver pow
erfl.
12 . m
1J 3b2 W I
This, surprsingly enough, is the
queen's shortest route to the king
side.
14 tf W5I
15 1
c5
16 3e5
White i stll bnt on using the long
dark diagonal. He could, no doubt,
have won the outlying e-pawn, but in
any case his king will now be very
exposed, for Black can remove the
defensive g2-bishop at any time by
. . . .h3.
B
16 3f5
17 2 (D)
17 .. 2xe5I I
A fne positional sacrfce. The
rook can be taken three ways, and
in all of them the diagonal of the
g7-bishop opens with devastating
efect: 18 1xe5 tfe4, or 18 txeS
tg4 1 9 h4 .e4! 20 .f3 .xf3 21
:xf3 td3 ! , the latter line being a
novel way to step up the pressure on
e5.
18 fxe5
19 hJ
g4
xe5I
Chekhover - Kasparian 67
White's kingside is ruthlessly
stripped. The knight pinned against
the queen will b easily regained.
20 vxe5 3xhJI
21 :et
There is nothing better to do than
mobilise the reserves. White cannot
keep his winnings by 21 .xh3 for
after 2l . . .1xh3 22 :f :e8 23 1d4
.xe5 24 1xe3 (24 'xc5 .xg3)
'd7 ! 8 lack ends up with a material
advantage.
21 ... 3xe5
22 Wc2 3xgJ
The white king stares destrction
in the face, and seems likely to be
mated where he stands. In fact he
will make a journey to e8.
2J xeJ
Chekhover no doubt took some
satisfaction in removing the origina
cause of all the trouble!
8
2J 3xg2
xg2 2+
25 O 3h4
Threatening mate by .. :ig3.
26 2gI J+
27 4 (D)
27 .. 2
68 Gae 26
Missing mate in five by 27 . . . g5+
28 .xg5+ (or 28 'e5 'xe3+, etc.)
.xg5+ 29 'xg5 (29 e5 'i e6+)
te6+ 30 'f6 'ih4+ 31 'e5 'i f4#.
2 g4 e6+
29 'e vg5+
Now there was a possible mate in
four by 29 . . . .g3+ 30 .xg3 (30 e4
'ixg4+) 'i xg3+ 31 e4 'i f4+ 32
d3 'i d4#.
With the move played, Kaspaian,
one of te greatest ever masters of
the mating study, crosses his fn
gers and hops for 30 'f4, to which
he will reply 30 . . . 'f3+! ! 3 1 exf3
th3#, and be happy for the rest of
his life. But Chekhover is also a mas
ter of the study. He avoids both this
and 30 <f6 .e6#, and continues his
headlong fight.
J0 &d6
J ZgJ
J2 +d7(D)
3gJ+
WxgJ+
Another neat little study has
arisen and Chekhover fnds it too in
teresting to be resigned. Kasparian
rises to the occasion by offering the
second exchange and demonstrating
that queen and knight ae suffcient
for his needs.
J2 ... W xg4+I
JJ &x
+e7
J5 e8
W c8+
Wc7+
If 35 'f6 Kasparian can reply
quietly 35 . . . h6! threatening mate not
only by . . . 'd6 but also by . . . th7.
J5 ... vI
This move also threatens two
mates.
J6 2 d
Chekhover prevents one of them,
36 . . . 'i d8#, but not the other:
3 .. vg7#
Such fnishes are the regular
stock-in-trade of these men, two of
the world's greatest composers. One
imagines them now eagerly seizing
the pieces and demonstrating to one
another all the other fascinating
things that nealy happened.
Gae 26
Efm Bogoljubow wa one of the greatest of Ukainia grandmaters. He wa
bor in 1889 and reached his prime in the 1920s, his zenith being the toua
ment of Moscow 1925 which he won ahead of Lasker and Capablanca. In
1929 and again in 1934 he tried unsuccessfully to wrest the world chapion
ship from Alekhine. He became a naturalised German and spent the last
twenty-fve yeas of his life in Germany. The following gae was played in a
Machte - Bogolubow 69
small all-German tourament. His opponent was little known interationally
so the game has not been much publicised; but the elegance of the hunt, with
one knight being ofered four times before being fnally accepted, makes it
one of Bogoljubow's best productions.
Macbate- egegubew
Ba Elter 1936
Giuoco Piano
m e5
2 vO l
J 9c4
9c5
4 dJ d6
The Giuoco Pianissimo may be
old-fashioned but is not so dull as
some of its critics make out. The
clash comes more quickly when
White plays 4 c3 (see Games 1 and
30) but there is plenty of play in the
more deliberate method of the pre
sent gae.
5 3eJ 9b6
6 vf6
7 Wd 9g4
In spite of its name the opening
provides rapid and efortless devel
opment to both sides. In the moder
Sicilian, by contat, it is not unusual
afer seven moves to see the black
kingside still untouched. The fact
that both sides can develop so eaily
is, of course, the very reason why
most modem masters avoid the
opning.
8 -
9 .xd5
0 cJ
vd5
0-0
In te Giuoo Piano it is comon
practice to keep the opponent guess
ing as to one's castling intentions,
but the touble with the present move
is that it will leave the white king un
comfortable on either wing: it loos
ens the queenside and at the same
time permits Black to brea up the
kingside.
0

2 f4
.xf
Wf6
Here White might have staked
everting on 12 re2 with immedi
ate use of te g-fle. Bogoljubow
would no doubt have reacted sharly
in the centre, forcing . . . d5 without
delay.
w
2
J beJ
.xe3
v7I(D)
This is the grandmaster getting
to work to force the game, conscious
tat the opposition is not quite up to
his own class. He invites 14 .xb7,
ater which 14 . . . Ab8 would give him
a powerful initiative; e. g. 15 .d5
(not 15 .a6? which loses a piece
afer 15 . . . d5 !) lxd5 16 exd5 exf4,
70 Game 26
tearing the centre wide open. White
avoids this but however he plays now
he is bound to be in difculties, sim
ply because his king is so much less
secue than Black's.
4 3bJ a5I
5 0-0
Machate chooses the kingside;
not very inviting, certiny, but Black
ha a ready-made attack on the other
wing too.
5 .. a4
6 3c2 a
Bogoljubow had a particula pre
dilection for spreading his opera
tions over the whole boad. In typical
fashon he has taken the initiative on
the queenside, but it is still not eay
to see how he will manufacture his
win. Both his bishops have gone and
there is no direct way of getting at
the exposed white king. Meanwhile
there is considerable potentia in the
cental white pawn-mass.
7 b c5
8 fxe5 Wxe5
9 bxc5 W xc5
20 3bJ d5
2 d4 W c6
22 exd5
White' s object is to engineer a
concerted advance of the cente
pawns; a good idea but it might have
been better achieved by 22 e5 ! wit
e4 to follow soon.
22 vxd5
2J c4
For eight moves Bogolubow has
restrained himself fom attacking in
the region of the castled king. Now
the time has come and he gives a
rearkable demonstration of the
power of queen ad knight in combi
nation, not calling on his rooks for
another ten moves.
2J .. 'i g6+!
2
Compulsory, alas, for 24 hl a
lows 24 . . . 'i e4+ winning at least a
pawn and forcing te queens of.
24 .. vf6I
Now the knight gets into the at
tack, either at e4 or at g4.
25 3c2 lg4+
26 e2 W 5I
Quietly inducing te king to keep
wag.
B
27 dJ 5+!
28 c (D)
28 .. v?
Missing 28 . . . lxc4! 29 ixh7+
(after 29 xc4 lfc8+ 30 d3 'ib5+
31 e4 'i c6+ 32 d3 'i c4+ Black
wins an important pawn) 'xh7 30
xc4 lfc8+ 31 b3 'i e4 wit a de
cisive attack.
29 W e2?
After 29 'ig2! Black would cer
tainly have had no advantage, for
exaple 29 . . . 'i a5+ (29 . . . lxh2? 30
lfS ! 1h6 3 1 lh1 1xe3+ 32 .d3
lad8 33 dS wins the knight) 30 d3
vb43 1 1xb7 lab8 32 1e4 lg6 33
.b3 and Black has little to show for
te pawn.
After the move played, the kight,
pinned against the queen and twice
attacked, appears for a moment to b
lost, but everything has been fore-
seen.
29 .
Even the black a-pawn, advaced
at moves 14- 1 6, is now playing a pat
in the encirclement of the white
king. And still the knight wizadry
continues.
30 d3 ve5+I I
An echo of move 27. Had the
knight been accepted then, the king
and queen would have been crudely
skewered by . . . ld8+. This time the
ofer is more subtle: 31 dxeS lad8+!
32 e4 ld2 (with the queen on g2,
White ha the defence lf) 33 1el
f6 with a decisive attack.
J e f5+
J2 f4 vg4
With a nasty threat of . . . 'i c7+.
The knight has made six of Black' s
last ten moves-and there are more
to come!
JJ gJ 2ae8(D)
Apart fom castling, this is the
fst rook move in the whole game.
Machate - Bogolubow 71
w
J4 :o
' Protecting' the e-pawn; but this
is another of tose preventive moves
which do not prevent.
. veI
It's that knight again! If 35 lxe3
Black forks with 35 . . . f4+.
J5 WdJ Wc7+
J6 hJ
2f6I
The fnal achievement of the
knight is to stand passively en prise
at e3, giving Black the one tempo
he needs to administer te coup de
grace with queen ad rook. White
must capture, for there is a theat of
37 . . . lh6.
J7 xeJ
J8 g2
0-
Foreseeing the mate which Black
can force ater 39 fl (or 39 f3
lh3#) 'i h1+ 40 f lh2+ 41 g3
'i g2+ 42 f4 . g4#.
Game 27
The Olympiads, which draw together players with a wide range of ability and
vaying styles and methods, never fail to produce plenty of out-of-the-ordi
nay chess. (See Gaes 28, 37 and 41 . )
7 Game 27
The Munich Team Tourn;ent of 1936 was an unofcia Olympiad, inter
polated btween Wasaw 1 935 ad Stockholm 1 937. The mathes were con
tested on eight boads instead of the usual four, and although tere was a clash
of dates with the grandmaster tournaent at Nottingham, a wealth of good
chess was played. The following game-yet another eight-rank hunt-is too
goo to b missed.
Ichim - Relll
Munich Team Tourment 1936
Slav Defence
1 d4
d5
2 tr6
J c4 c6
This Slav Defence difers from
the Orthoox 3 . . . e6 of Games 14, 21
and 23 not only i n leaving the c8-
bishop unobstructed, but also in
preparing in some variations to take
on c4. The system wa very popular
about tis time on account of its
thorough exploration during the
1 935 Euwe-Alekhine World Cham
pionship match, in which both play
ers adopted it repeatedly.
4 t dc4
5 a4
After this move Black develops
the bishop which is usually such a
problem in the Orthodox Queen's
Gambit Declined. Another method
sometimes used by White is to allow
Black to play . . . b5 and then attack
wit a4.
5 ... f5
6 5
Simply 6 e3 is another way to re
cover the pawn. 6 th4 on the other
hand achieves little; the black bishop
retires to c8, leaving White's knight
rather out on a limb.
6
7 lxc4
8 gJ
tb7
"c7
This is the idea of retaking the
c4-pawn with te knight: the bishop
is to b developd on g2.
8 ... e5
Thus Black secures total feedom
for his pieces.
9 dxe5
10 f4
1 g2
9xe5
vfd7
0-0-0?I
The pinned black knight is not in
danger: it can always be sustaned
by . . . f6. Queenside castling, how
ever, is certainly tempting provi
dence, for two white bishops point
that way, and tere ae opn fes for
both rooks. Euwe, a connoisseur of
this defence, won a fne gae from
Alekhine by refaining fom catling
until move 26, and then choosing the
kingside.
12 'i cl
f6
J 0-0
h5
This rapid opening of the h-fle
was no doubt Black's idea in ca
Hing queenside, but White is also
well-placed for similar tactics and
the white pieces ae more aggres
sively placed to support an attack on
te kng.
14 a g5
5 9xe5I (D)
B
Already the complications ae
critical and the result of the game
may hang on a single tempo. To this
excellent move Black cannot reply,
as he would no doubt prefer, with
l 5 . . . gxf4 bcause he would then lose
the exchange after 1 6 tf7; so four
pieces come off, leaving White with
the vital tempo for a6, which will
open an even more dangerous fle
and strengthen the fanchettoed
bishop.
15 vxe5
16 3xe5 W xe5
7 a6I h4
8 axb7+ b8
If Black plays 1 8 . . . 'xb7 White
fnishes beautiflly: 19 tb5! ! 'i xb5
20 .xc6+!. 1hc6 21 lha7+! win
ning the queen, and mating before
the black pieces can intervene.
19 v4 hxgJ
Black opens the h-fle, and ap
peas to be not without chances of
his own.
20 hxgJ 3e4
A strong move-indeed essen
tial-both for attack and defence.
The white g2-bishop is neutalised.
2 W c4I 2d4
Ichim- Rossel 73
Black could have killed the attack
stone dead by 21 . . . .xg2 22 xg2
'i d5+, although White would retain
an edge in the resulting endgame.
Instead, Rosselli decides to keep up
the tension, but this turs out to be a
serious misjudgement.
22 Wa6I W5(D)
After 22 . . . .xg2, White mates by
23 tb6! . The move played aims to
force the queens off, which here
would lead to a more or less equa
position. But chess is an unkind
game: Rosselli's ingenuity has in
fact let him in for an immortal king
hunt.
w
2J Wxa7+I I xa7
24 vc5+ b6
24 .. .'b8 is no better: 25 la8+
c7 26 :c8+ d6 27 txe4+ le
28 b81+ 1xb8 29 ld 1 + e5 30
lxb8, followed by le8+ and .dd8,
leaves White a clear enough win. Af
ter 24 . . . .a4 White reaches an end
ing with a safe extra pawn, which
should be enough to win.
25 b8W+ xc5
The white queen has reappaed
without delay, and the real sacrifce
74 Gae 28
amounts to a bishop for a pawn-a
smal investment which ha brought
the black king to the fourth rank,
with the certainty of further travels
in te nea fture.
26 Wa7+
d5
27 2a5
Had Black played 26 . . . 'b6 this
same rook move, with check, would
still have won the queen. Black
could now resign, but he lets us see
the rest of te hunt.
27 3c5
28 2xb5 cxb5
29 W d7+
3d6
3 3xe4+
xe4
J1 We6+ 3e5
J2 f4 gf4
JJ 2M4+ e
J4 WJ -0
The black king will be driven to
the eighth rank to be mated: e.g.
34 ... d2 35 'c3+ xe2 36 lf+
d1 37 lfl+ e2 38 le1#.
Game 28
The Buenos Aires Olympiad of 1 939 was in progress at the outbreak of te
Second World Wa. It is had to believe that the game which we select fom it
was the work of a schoolboy, A be Yanofsky, playing top board for Canada at
the age of 14. At move 21 White's queen is attacked and it appeas that any at
tempt to save it pents mate. Black might have been excused for aticipating
a win rather than a king-tp to te eighth rank!
An even more proigious prformance, by an even younger player, may be
found in Game 35.
Yanefsky- Dulante
Buenos Aires Olympi 1939
French Defence
1 e4
e6
In later years Yanofsky became an
authority on the French Defence.
Here he is quite happy playing the
white pieces against it.
2 d4 d5
J l 6
4 3g5 dxe4
The surender of the cente at this
point avoids the highly anaysed
Classical Defence ad gives Black a
safe though not very active game.
5 9xe4
6 lf
7 9xf6+
bd7
3e7
9xf6
7 . . . .xf6 is probably a safer line.
8 3dJ c5
9 dxc5 Wa5+
0 cJ Wxc5
11 0-0 0-0
12 2e 2d8
1J ve5
White opens his attack. Its frst
objective is the weaened f7-pawn,
but the queen's road is also cleared
to h5, fom which point she will op
erate simultaneously against f and
h7.
J ... m?
Oblivious of what his schoolboy
opponent is prepaing.
4 3xf6 3xf6(D)
w
5 3xh7+
The most hackneyed sacrifce of
all, which nevertheless leads to an
infinite variety of afterplay. Con
trast, for instance, the sequel to a
simila sacrifce played by Spiel
mann in Gae 23. If now 15 .. .'xh7
White has the familiar mating proce
dure 1 6 1h5+ 'g8 17 'ixf+ 'h7
1 8 le3, etc.
5 'f
6 Wh5 3xe5
There is little choice. If 16 . . . g6
White can play 17 ixg6 fxg6 1 8
'i f3 'g7 19 lg4! .
7 Ze5
8 3e4
Wc7
3b7
Presumably this was why Black
played his queen back to c7. But it is
the unfortunate position of the queen
on b7 which plays an important part
in the king-hunt which follows. Yan
ofsky records that he had planned it
all, including the rook sacrifce at
move 22, before playing 14 .xf6.
w
Yanofsk- Dulanto 75
9 3xb7
20 'S
2 Wxg7
22 :e+! !
Wxb7
Ge7
lg8 (D)
Without this key move the whole
line of play would be false, for the
white queen is tied to the g-fle on
pain of instant mate.
22 e6
2J le+
The black king has four possible
moves. If 23 . . . 'f5 White mates in 3
starting with 24 l:e5+, 23 . . . 'd7 24
'i xf7+ costs the queen and 23 .. .'d5
24 c4+ 'c6 25 'i f6+ is simila to
the game. He therefore tes:
2J Gd6
2 W f6+ 'c
Any other move and the black
king and queen ae skewered by
queen or rok.
25 l: e5+ Gc4
26 bJ+ GdJ
26 . . . 'xc3 would be met by 27
le2+ 'd3 28 le3+ 'c2 29 'c3+,
etc.
27 Wd6+ 'c2
If 27 . . . 'xc3 White mates by 28
l: e3+ 'b2 29 :e2+, as in the game.
76 Gae 29
28 2e2+ -0
28 .. .'xc3 allows mate in one by
29 tl d2#; while if he gos to the
eighth rank it is mate in two by 29
'd2+, etc. White had to conduct the
whole chase with checks since he
was continuously under threat of
mate in one.
Game 29
International chess was quick to revive after the end of the Second World
Wa. The frst rea encounter of top-class players since 1 939 took place at
Groningen in Holland. This was durng the interegnum after the death of
Alekhine, and the line-up contained enough talent to make it stronger than
Interzonals of the present day. Top place was shared btween ex-chapion
Max Euwe and Botvinnik, who was to become the new chapion two yeas
later.
The Second World War was particulaly cruel to the caeer of Euwe (bor
1 901), swallowing the yeas which should have maked the very pea of his
achievements. The following game, in which Euwe mercilessly pursues the
Hungarian grandmater Szabo, is probably the most spectacular he ever
played. It is te only one in the present collection in which the king is made to
traverse al eight fles as well as all eight ranks.
5be - Euwe
Groningen 1946
Queen's Gabit Accepted
d4 d5
2 c4
dxc4
J vO a6
Euwe played the openings with
great skill. His favourite teatment of
the Queen's Gabit was eiter diect
acceptance, as here, or else the Slav
Defence with an ealy capture of the
c4-pawn. The move . . . a6 is usualy
played sooner or later in the Gambit
Accepted, ad by playing it now
Euwe restricts White' s choices, in
paticular preventing him fom play
ing tl a4+, the Manheim Variation.
4 e v6
5 3xc4 e6
6 0-0
7 We2
8 2d
9 3bJ
c5
6
b5
c4
Black establishes a queenside
pawn majority, but the real motive of
this move is tactical-naely to ex
change of the white bishop.
0 3c2 vb4
vcJ vxc2
2 Wxc2 3b7
J e
Understandably White wants to
make something out of his cente
pawns, but this advace is prema
ture, as Euwe immediately shows.
White had at his disposal a combina
tion which has won many games in
similar positions of the Queen's
Gambit Accepted (e.g. Reshevsky-
Vidma, Nottingham 1936): 1 3 d5
exdS 14 e4! with dangerous play
against the black king and queen.
1J .. b4I
14 e5
Practically forced.
14
15 eM6
16 Wa4+
17 Wxc4
18 We2
bxcJ
g6
Wd7
2c8
2g8(D)
With queen, two rooks and two
bishops readily available, Black has
a tremendous attack, and in view of
all the open lines it is doubtfl if
White's game could possibly be
saved. The black king is safest in the
centre.
19 ve1 W d5
20 O d6
21 h1 Wh5
22 hJ 2gJ
2J 3eJ &e7
24 wn 2cg8
25 bxcJ(D)
For ten moves this pawn has stod
unmolested, both sides having been
too busy to do anything about it.
White takes it now, having literally
Szbo - Euwe 77
nothing better to do. But the white
baricades are bound to be overrun.
25 ... xg2I
26 Wxg2
If 26 lxg2 Black wins by meas
of 26 . . . 'xh3+ 27 g1 xf3.
26 ... g2
27 xg2
White has managed to get two
rooks for his queen, but the hunt is
only just beginning.
27
28
29 e2
Wg6+
gJ+
xeI
The hide-bound classicist may be
surprised to see the bishop pair
squandered in this way, but, as Euwe
himself has pointed out, the pres
ence of bishops on opposite colours
is a distinct asset to te side which is
attacking the king. Certainly he now
demonstates that he ha all the at
tacking material he needs wit
queen and the unopposable bishop
on the light squaes.
J0 2xe
J1 &dJ
J2 a4
JJ +c4
Wg2+
xO
e4+
Wc2(D)
78 Game 30
33 . . . .c2! was even quicker, when
White is helpless to meet the threat
34 . . . 1d5+ 35 b a5+.
d5
Black was threatening a quick
mate with 34 . . . .d5+. White must
clea d4 to give room to his useless
bishop.
J4 ...
J5 b4
3xd5+
d7
A forgotten ally comes across to
complete the mating net; but this
plan is not without rsk, for White
still possesses two potentially dan
gerous rooks. They have the d- and
b-fles already at their disposal and
now Szabo deliberately gives up an
other pawn to opn the c-fle as well.
Black will have to be caefl not to
give the rooks a single chance to en-
ter.
J6 c4
J7 a5
J8 xa6
J9 b7
40 3b6
Wxc4+
WcJ+
3c4+
WJ+
WO+
The whole of this ending has been
a suprb exhibition of the latera and
diagonal powers of the queen.
4 b8 3a6I
Now White allows himself one
consolation check but mate must
follow.
42 2ed+ e8
0-
Because of 43 c7 'ib7+ 44
d6 1xb6#.
Gae 30
Here is another exaple ofEuwe's vigorous play in this perio. The redoubt
able and well-loved Tartakower is unfortunate in this selection, apparing for
the second time as the victim.
Trtower - Euwe
Venice 1948
Giuoco Piao
e4 e5
2 vO l
J 3c4 3c5
4 cJ 3b6
This move ad Black's next two
constitute the strongpoint system of
defence in the Giuoo Piano. Black
avoids exchanging his e5-pawn,
keeping it well protected as a perma
nent feature of his game.
5 d4
We7
Now that the black bishop has
retreated from c5 the exchange of
pawns is no longer compulsory. For
compason see Game 1 .
6 0-0 d6
White is at liberty at any time to
play d5 or dxe5, but either of these
moves would opn a diagonal for the
b6-bishop.
7 hJ
8 2e
9 vaJ
vf6
0-0
8
Euwe conceives a remarkable
plan in the Steinitz manner, with
drawing both knights to the back
rank in order to have . . . c6 and . . . f6
available. However, this plan is ex
tremely time-consuming and Black
soon runs into trouble.
0 3H
vc4
ve8
f6
Black had no other reasonable
way to meet the attack on e5, but
now the opening of the b3-g8 diago
nal costs Black a pawn.
2 a4I c
J lb ab
4 WJ ve6
5 Wxb6
This is the critical position. White
has both won a pawn and gained
the bishop pair; moreover Black's
knight is sitting immobilised on e8.
It seems incredible that a player of
Tartakower's class could lose this
winning position, yet, incredibly,
twenty-eight moves later his queen,
still unoved at b6, has te option of
being lost or forming a self-block in
her own king's mating net!
5 g5
6 3c4 h6(D)
7 h4?
A serious eror. Black's only hope
is a desperate kingside attack, yet
White spends time opening lines
Tartakwer - Euwe 79
w
which can only assist Black's at
tack-one could hadly wish for a
more co-operative opponent. Any
normal plan of development, such as
17 ie3, or 17 b3 followed by ia3
and lad1, should sufce for victory.
Perhaps 17 d5 cxd5 1 8 ixd5 l8c7
19 ic4 is most accurate of all, in
tending b3 and ia3, since this not
only opens more lines for the bish
ops but also allows the queen to re
teat to e3, if necessy.
7 h7
8 hxg5
hxg5
9 dxe5 dxe5
20 3eJ 8
2 gJ g6
Thanks to White' s faulty play,
Black already has serious threats on
the kingside, and accurate defence is
required . . .
22 g2?(D)
. . . which is not forthcoming. 22
ifl , intending ig2, was the way
to meet the h-fle theats. White in
tended, no doubt, to exchange off
one pair of rooks, but he is one move
too late: the lightning stikes.
22 vf4+I I
2J gf4 3hJ+
80 Gae 30
B
24 gJ
White must rtr the piece in this
way, for if 24 gl Black continues
24 . . . gxf4 threatening either . . . 'h7
or . . . fg7, with immediate destrc-
tion.
2 .
25 xf4
exf4+
Wd7II
Euwe's conduct of the attack is
the essence of perfection. After this
surprising fnesse White's only way
to avoid mate in two or three moves
is to retire his knight to the pathetic
squae h2.
26 lh gxf4+
27 xf4 84+
28 e3 g2
Black theatens 29 . . . lxe4#, but
this is easily prevented. After his
next move White probably saw vi
sions of rallying his forces and get
ting away with his two exta pawns
after all.
29 vO(D)
29 ... xe4+II
Black forces a renewal of the
hunt. Now te white king will stand
in the centre of the boad, exposed to
the full power of Black's four re
maning pieces.
B
J0 e4
J d3
Anything else is worse, for in
stance 3 1 f4 'i f5+ 32 g3 fh3+
33 f4 fxf3#. Other moves lose
the outlying queen either by a fork
or a discovered check.
J
J2 d4
JJ dJ
J4 c2
Wf5+
W f4+
W xc4+
M
At last White ha a moment's res
pite to bring his queen back into the
gae, but now tat Black has picked
up two minor pieces he can hardly
invite the exchange. He decides in
stead to make an escape route for hs
king to get away to the a-fle via the
dark squaes.
J5 bJ
b2
The non-checking moves ae al
ways the difcult pa of a king
hunt. Now White ca give a check or
two.
J7 g1+ r
J8 Rc
He decides against the second
check. After 38 fc7+ e6 White's
queen would b more remote tha
ever, and in no less danger, for ex
ample 39 lacl fails to 39 . . . 'd2+ 40
a3 lb5+! .
J8 ... W d2+
J9 aJ(D)
For the third time the game corus
cates into brilliace. The white kng
has ben driven into the line of fre of
the unmoved rook and the game ends
with successive sacrfces of knight
and rook, reminiscent of Black
burne-Lipschutz, New York 1 889.
Every chess master hopes to create
one immortal gae in his lifetime.
This is Euwe's.
J9
40 bxc4
vc4+II
2xa4+I I
Smyslov - Floran 81
4 xa4
42 b4
0-
For 43 c5 loses the queen to
43 . . . 'xf+, and the only alternative
is 43 'a3#.
Game 31
Vassily Smyslov (bor 1921 ) won the World Championship i n 1 957 but held
it for one year only. He is one of the giats of the game; the massive style
which marks his maturity alarms even his fellow grandmasters. The follow
ing game, played in his twenties, is not really typical. It shows another king
being driven staight across the board to b mated on the eighth rank.
5myslev- Flerian
Moscow v Budpest Match,
Moscow/Budpest /949
Grinfeld Defence
d4 vf6
2 c4
g
J vcJ d
Smyslov later became one of the
leading authorities on this defence.
4 lC $ g7
5 WJ dxc4
6 W xc4 0-0
7 e4
The usual state of afairs in the
Grinfeld Defence is that White gets
a stong-lokng cente which, how
ever, generally breaks up under pres
sure fom the g7-bishop combined
with a ealy . . . c5.
7 6
8 3 e2 c
9 d e
The destruction of White's cen
tral formation proceeds systemati
cally. Black has also achieved the
endgame advantage of a majority of
pawns on the queenside. It is a long
82 Game 31
time before there is ay hop of mak
ing use of this; in fact, in the present
game, White keeps his opponent so
busy on the kingside that the queen
side pawns never move at all.
0 0-0 exd5
11 exd5 Wa5
12 a
Here this move indicates not a
timid player but a resolutely aggres
sive one, for it prevents 12 . . . 'b4 af
ter which White would either have to
exchange queens or else retreat with
loss of time and initiative.
12 3f5
1J W4 8
14 3h6
White methodically removes the
dak-squared bishop-a standard
procedure against the kingside f
anchetto formation.
B
14
15 3xg7
16 vg5(D)
ve4
+xg7
The attack which Smyslov opens
with this move should not have been
decisive. Black undoubtedly ought
to have played 1 6 . . . lxg5 1 7 1xg5
1d8 with a defensible game and
goo prospects in the ending, but no
doubt he relied upon the fact that
White cannot take the h-pawn with
out losing a piece. Black does in
deed win a piece, but he could
hadly have foreseen the full cost!
16 vxcJ?
17 Wxh7+ 6
18 bxcJI
Now Black can take knight or
bishop. After 1 8 .. Jhe2 White plays
19 f4 and one continuation given by
Smyslov was 19 . . . 1c7 20 d6 1d7
21 .ae1 lxe1 22 lxe1 le8 23 le7!
lxe7 24 'i h8#.
B
18 +xg5
19 1
g
II(D)
The non-checking moves are al
ways the difcult ones to foresee,
and no doubt this is the one which
Florian overlooked. He is invited to
take the bishop as well, but if he
does he is mated; e.g. 19 . . . .xe2 20
f4+ g4 21 h3+ g3 22 .f3+ h4
23 'i h6#.
19 .e4
20 f4+ 2M4
21 24 Gf4
22 2f+ e
If22 . . . e4, Smyslov had another
quiet move in readiness: 23 .c4! .
2J We5+ d2
24 3c4I Wxa
Averbakh - Kotov 83
The condemned man eats the pro
verbial heaty breakfat.
25 2O+ 1-0
25 . . . dl 26 'i e2+ cl 27 lfl#.
Game 32
Most of our games-since te fst eight-have ben fom interational tour
naments. The next one is, if possible, even more deadly serious for it comes
from the penultimate stage of a World Championship series. The reader may
be forgiven if after playing through the game he fnds this difcult to believe!
Alexander Kotov (born 1913) reached the peak of his form hereabouts. In
1952 he won the Saltsjobaden Interzonal by three clear points and te follow
ing game was played in the subsequent Candidates Tournament in Switzer
land.
The spctacular sacrifce of queen for only a pawn can hadly be paralleled
in mater play, for it does not lead to any clea mating line but merely brngs
the white king into a sector from which there is no escape. Averbakh ha to
mae no fewer than thirteen king moves in te 3x2 rectangle h4-h5-f4-f5.
Averbak- Kotov
Neuhausen-Zurich
Candidtes Tourment 1953
Old Indian
1 d4
2 c4
J <O
4 vJ
5 e
v6
d6
vbd7
e5
3e7
Black settles for the Old Indian
formation. By 5 . . . g6 he could still
have gone over to the King's India.
6 3e2 0-0
7 0-0
c6
Black's position is now identical
with the Haham Variation of Phili
dor's Defence, in which, however,
White would probably have a bishop
instead of a pawn at c4. The solid
pawn formation here employed by
Black is one in which Steinitz al
ways placed great fath.
8 W c2 2e8
9 2d1 3M
These last two moves of Black
are designed to over-protect his e5-
pawn and also to bring latent pres
sure to bear on the white e4-pawn .
With many players the ulteror mo
tive is to induce White to react by
closing te centre by d, after which
Black will have time for a leisurely
build-up against the white king.
10 2b1
Just as in the Hanham Vaiation it
would be unwise to allow White un
challenged expansion on the queen
side.
11 d5
l
8 Gae 32
12 3eJ Wc7
J bJ 3d7
14 bc1 g6
5 l ab8
6 bJ
So fa the game's cente of gravity
is well over towards the queenside;
the kingside is as yet undisputed no
man's land. This last move invites
Black to close up the cente com
pletely-an invitation which he ac
cepts. During the next dozen moves
bot sides turn their attention to the
kingside and there is a genera mi
gration across the boad.
w
16 bJ
17 WxbJ
c5
8 b2 +b8
9 Wc2 vg8
20 3g4 vb6
2 3xd7
Wxd7
22 Wd2 vg8 (D)
2J g4
An extemely risky plan. As
Bronstein puts it: 'Averbakh goes to
put out the fre with gasoline.'
2J ... f5
Now the battle for the kingside
is really on. White's king position is
considerably weakened but he is
hoping his rooks will take contol.
24 O 3e7
25 2g :r
26 lc :n
27 gf5 gf5
28 2g2 f4
29 3O
6
J0 ve2(D)
In view of Black's theatened
30 . . . :h6 White must defend the h
pawn. The knight comes across, cre
ating an incidental threat of 31
'xa5, to which White expcts the
reply 30 . . . b6 as a matter of course.
Then 3 1 tgl and everything is un
der control. Even if Averbakh had
seen Kotov's idea, there was little he
could have done to prevent it.
B
3
J & xbJ
J2 g4
Now the white king is in a box,
and there is no way out. But how to
actually mate him is another matter.
The touble with sacrifcing a whole
queen is that the opponent can al
ways aford to give back even two
pieces and still win the endgame.
J2 .. vf6+
JJ G5 7
The threat is 34 . . . lf8+ 35 g4
lg8+ 36 f5 lf6#.
J4 g5I
J5 g4
J6
Black needs time to work out his
mating procedure so, with a whole
range of discoveries at his disposal
he now makes use of some see-saw
checks to catch up on the clok.
J6 ... vg8+
J7 g4 6+
It turns out that 37 . . . ixg5 would
have been the most efcient win, but
Black wanted to reach move 40 be
fore making any irrevoable deci-
si on.
J8 G5 vxd5+
It is a little risky to give the white
queen a possible point of entry, but
Black dare not rsk a draw by repeti
tion of position.
J9 g4 vf6+
40 f5
vg8+
4 g4 v6+
42 G5 vg8+
4J Gg4 3xg5
Kotov is ready to try again to fnd
the decisive line. His precious pieces
are being thinned out: only knight
and two rooks are left to fnish the
job. White is still a vast amount of
material ahead and he needs only a
move or two of respite from the
checks to get it into action.
44 g5 O(D)
Black must play forcing moves,
but this does not necessarily mean
checks. He now threatens 45 . . . lg7 +
Averbah - Kotov 85
w
46 f5 lf6. Wit must concede a
piece, but this he can well aford.
45 3h4 g6+
4 h5 fg7
Threatening 47 . . . lh6.
47 3g5 xg5+
48 h4 k6I
White still has a queen against
rook and two pawns but Kotov plays
inexorably for mate. Now he threat
ens 49 . . . lh5#.
49 9gJ
This propitiatory sacrifce of an
other piece is forced, and it brings
the material situation to something
like equality. But Black will not be
denied his mate.
49 ... gJ
Not 49 . . . fxg3 of course, for White
would b only too pleaed to play 50
'i xg5. Now for one moment Black
does not threaten mate in one, and
te white queen can make a despai
ing efort to get into the gae.
50 Wxd6
lg
51 W8 g8
0-
Certainly the most spectacula
king-hunt ever seen in te World
Championship seres.
86 Game 33
Gae 33
The Soviet Championship was by far the stongest national chapionship in
the world-stonger than most internationa events. When a nineteen-year
old Latvian found his way into the fnal in Januay 1 956, there was some su
prise. When he fnished one point bhind the winners there was astonishment.
We who know the subsequent history of Mikhail Tal (bor 1936) tend to take
the sheer fantay of his ealy games as a matter of course; at the time the vet
erans could hadly blieve thei eyes, but decided to wait for another toua
ment to see whether he could keep it up.
Tm- 5lmag
USSR Ch, Lningra 1956
Pirc; Czech Variation
e c6
2 d4 d6
Tal's reputation had preceded
him. Whether it was wise for Sima
gin-an experienced master, nine
teen yeas senior to Tal-to adopt
not merely the Pirc, which gives
White a free hand in the centre, but
this ulta-conservative version of it is
doubtful. Probably nothing could
have pleased Tal btter.
J vcJ vf6
4 f4 W6
5 <O 3g4
6 3e2 vbd7
7 e5
True to his temperament Tal opns
battle without waiting to castle or
complete the development of his m
nor pieces. The black kingside is
cluttered up and White has no inten
tion of giving him time to play . . . e6
or . . . g6 and release hs dark-squaed
bishop.
7
8 0-0
To Tal, at least at this ealy stage
of his career, the doubled c-pawns
meant merely another opn line for a
rook.
9 bxcJ
10 vg5
1 Wxe2

3xe2
h6 (D)
The master calls the youngster's
bluf, forcing him to choose btween
sacrifce and ignominious retreat.
The idea that anyone should ever
have provoked Tal by confronting
him with such a choice is now hadly
believable. Without more ado the
hunt is on.
w
12 vxOI
1J f5I
4 b++
A knight is a reasonable enough
price to pay for a king on e6, while
the white heavy pieces have plenty
of open lines at their dispsal. White
seems to have a choice of inviting
continuations.
5 bII
This fantastic move, which would
not have crossed the minds of most
players, is recognisable today as
pure Tal. If Black refuses the rook,
White has simply placed it in play
wit gain of tempo, and after captur
ing the e-pawn will soon be cutting
Black to pieces on the cente fles.
5
Wxb
6 Wc4+I
The point is that the black king
must now move to a dark square, af
ter which te black queen will b lost
by a discovered attack.
6 d6
7 3aJ+ c7
8 xb 3xaJ
Black seems to have obtained
rook, bishop and knight for his
queen, but the key to the whole com
bination is the double threat con
tained in White's next move, which
Tal - Simgin 87
leaves Black the choice of giving up
the bishop or allowing te king-hunt
to stat al over again. To the delight
of the reader he chooses the later
course and Tal sets to work with re
newed vigou, in spite of the fact that
he now has only two pieces left.
9 WbJI 3e7
20 Wxb7+ d6
2 dxe5+?
After 21 2dl ! e4 22 d5 Black's
position would have collapsed im
mediately, whereas now Black's
wanderings continue.
2
22 2d+
2J WJ+
24 2D+
25 2e+
26 g4+I
Tal' s resources ae inexhaustible.
If this pawn is taken either by king
or knight Black loses a piece.
26 6
27 2f+ g6
28 We6+ b7
Simagin resigns himself at last
to the loss of a piece. 28 . . . if6 also
would not save it: 29 _f5+ f30
_xe5! .
29 Wxe5 2he8
J0 2OI 3M
J Wf5+ g8
Catled at last? Black fnaly get
his rooks into play, and the tempo of
the gae slackens. But White is now
comfortably ahead and soon forces a
won ending:
J2
JJ gJ
J4 h4
3c5+
eJ+
R(D)
88 Gae 34
w
J5 Rxg7+I
Even at this late stage Tal takes
the elegant way. In retur for the des
perado rook he gets the bishop and
one of the queenside pawns. The re
sulting passed pawn, coupled with
the exposure of the black king, gives
the queen an eay win against the
two rooks.
J5 ... xg7
3 Wxc
J7 Wxa7+
J8 Wa8
l8
g6
6
Black cannot even snatch the c
pawn: 38 . . . lxc3 39 'g8+ f40
'S+ ad 41 1xc3.
J9 a4
This is te winner.
J9 e5
40 a5 d5
4 Wd8+ m
42 a6

4J a7
le2
A last hop: 4 a81 lxh2#!
44 WdJ+ J
45 WxeJ+I -0
This is an appropriate finish to
the game, which has been played
throughout with such magnifcent
verve. Whichever way Black re
captures, the a-pawn queens.
Game 34
The next game must surely be unique aong king-hunts. Botvinnik is the
winner, ad just a in Game 24, played twenty-one yeas ealier, he chases te
black king fom the frrst rank to b2. The diference is this: that whereas the
1 935 result was obtined by means of a bar age of checks, the present hunt is
caried out, from beginning to end, without a single check! Playing it over,
one catches a whiff of brimstone in the air ad gets a strong impression that
some sort of black magic is involved.
ehlm~ Gllgerlc
Moscow Olympi 1956
English Opning
c4 g6
2 gJ c5
J g2 g7
4 6
5 v 6
This deliberate breaking of the
symmetry is a clea indication that
Gligori6 is lookng for a win ad not
a draw. His idea is that the knight
will head for f5 in order to restan
White from playing d4. The faw
with this plan is that White has not
catled. Botvinnik, with his usual
courage, opens an immediate attack
along the h-fle and set of a remark
able tn of events.
6 h4I d6
7 dJ Zb8
This move is usually goo in such
positions. It has the negative virtue
of removing the rook fom te atten
tions of the white g2-bishop and the
positive aim of supporting the ad
vace of te b-pawn.
Under the present circumstances,
however, it is a strategic miste as it
leaves Black virtually unable to ca
tle on either side.
8 h5
With the black knight on f6 it
would have ben much more dif
cult to force this advance.
w
8 3d7
9 3xh6 3xh6
10 hxg6 hxg6(D)
11 WcI I
Thus the queen forces her way
into Black's position.
An interesting echo of all this o
cur ed in the game Mora-Suttles at
the Tel-Aviv Olympiad eight yeas
Botinik - Gligorit 89
later: 1 e g6 2 h4 ig7 3 l3 lc6
4 h5 d6 5 ic4 ld4 6 d3 lh6 7
ixh6 ixh6 8 lge2 ig4 9 hxg6
hxg6 (D)
w
10 'c1 ih5 (taking the queen
would result in the loss of a piece a
ter lxh8+ followed by lxd8+ and
lxc1) 1 1 f4 e5 12 lxd4 ixf4 1 3
0-0 ixc1 1 4 ixf+ d7 1 5 ie6+
'e8 16 .f+ 1h-lf2.
In Botvinnik-Gligoric Black has
no way of blokng the h-fe.
3g7
2 Zx8+ 3xh8
J W6 3xc+
Black has virtually no choice, for
White treatens not only 'xh8# but
also lg5. This latter move is not
prevented by 13 . . . if6 for after 14
lg5 Black could not capture.
4 bxc
5 lg5
Flohr, the perfectionist, pointed
out that 15 d2 would have been
still better, inducing Black to de
fend with 15 ... 'i e7 ad only ten 16
lg5. The idea is that Black would
have been deprived of the defensive
resource that he now employs.
9 Game 34
15 ... e7I
Thus the black queen is given an
avenue to reach the kingside. How
ever, this voluntary move of Black's
king is the frst of a long, long tail.
16 d2 3e8?
But this is a fatal chage of pla.
16 . . . 'h8 would have eliminated the
worst of the danger. Now the queen
is enclosed again.
17 W
g
d7
From now on te black king is the
hae, keeping one jump ahead of te
hounds.
18 f4
19 Bh1
W e7
vd8
This ugly agglomeration of black
pieces will result before long in not
only the king but also the queen be
ing in danger of checkmate!
w
20 l c7
21 Bb8 .c (D)
22 vf6I b6
If 22 . . . ixg2, White does indeed
checkmate the black queen by 23
.es. The tact of tertor chosen by
the black king is the safest pat of te
boad for the moment-but it is not
safe enough!
2J 3xm vm
2 Bh7
v8
25 'xg6! a6
After 25 . . . fxg6 26 .xe7 White
soon picks up a second pawn, so te
king continues his travels.
26 a4
a5
27 'g5 a4(D)
As no reasonable defensive plan
presents itself Black decides at leat
to give himself a passe a-pawn! But
from this excursion the king will
neve ret.
w
28 Bh1I
This rapid shift from the north
east corner for service in the south
west recalls the fnish of the fme
game Alekhine-Chajes, Karlsbad
1923.
2 ... bJ
Straight into the jaws of death.
But if 28 . . . , then 29 .a1+ b6
30 lS+.
29 W h4 b2
3 g4 1-0
Mate is inevitable. Probably the
most original game in this collec
tion, epitomising the genius of Bot
vinnik.
D. Bme - Fischer 91
Gae 35
The 1950s saw the emergence of the greatest chess prodigy of all time in
Robert Fischer. He eclipsed the fabulous exploits of Morphy, Capablanca,
Reshevsky, Yanofsky and Poma, at least in point of age. The greatest of these,
Capablanca and Reshevsky, only entered the international aena seriously
at about twenty-three years of age after being infant prodigies. Fischer
was already an internationa grandmaster at 15; while still a teenager he wore
the battle honours of Portoroz, Ma del Plata, Zurich, Bled, Belgrade,
Leipzig, Stockholm and Varna, to name only the most imporant events.
It is unlikely that Fischer will ever play a better gae tha one of the ea
liest of his ever to be recorded, the win against Donald B yrne in the Rosen
wald Tournament when he was thirteen years old. Move ater move is
astonishingly unexpected, and Byre's king is eventually chaed for foureen
moves, all but one of tem back and forth along hs own back rank.
D.yrm- Fbcher
Rosenwald Tourent,
New York 1956
Grinfeld Defence
.f
2 c4
J vJ
4 d4
5 if4
.f6
g
3g7
0-0
d5
At the age when many a school
boy is just learning the mysteres of
Scholar's Mate, Fischer plays a so
phisticated transposition into the
Grtnfeld Defence, with which he
ha won many a victory since.
6 WJ dxc4
7 W xc4 c6
8 e4 vbd7
9 2d vb6
0 W c5
Already the game is taing an
original shap. White should have
played 'b3 or 'd3 and followed
up with ie2 and 0-0. Although the
danger is far fom obvious, it turns
out that his queen has ventured too
far afeld.
0 ... 3g4
Black is in sight of complete fee
dom by meas of . . . .fd7, soon forc
ing . . . e5.
3g5(D)
B
White hopes to prevent Black's
... .fd7, but he is now given cause to
regret his delay in getting his king
into safety. The next seven moves
provide one of the most remakable
92 Game 35
passages in the whole of recorded
chess.
... v 4II
This knight cannot be taken, e. g. :
12 lxa4 lxe4 with the variations:
1 ) 13 "xe7 lxg5 14 "xg5 le8+
15 'd2 .xf3 16 "xd8 laxd8.
2) 1 3 "i blxg5 14 lxg5 .xd1
15 'xd1 .xd4.
3) 1 3 "c1 "a5+ 14 lc3 .xf3
15 gxf3 lxg5.
In al cases Black has a winning
position.
2 WaJ
J bxcJ
vxcJ
vxe4I
Black's moves look like over
sights, but he is seeing everyting.
4 3xe7 Wb6I
Even the exchange is taboo ater
15 .xf8 .xf8! 1 6 "ib3 "xb3 ! 17
axb3 le8 18 .e2 txc3 1 9 ld2 .b4
20 'fl tb1 , followed by . . . .xf3
and . . . td2+, so White maes one
last attempt to get castled.
5 3c4 vxcJI
If the knight is taken this time
Black regains the piece by . . . lfe8
with a winning game; or if 1 6 .xf8
he gets the advantage by 16 . . . le8+.
But he has another move which
surely Black has overlooked:
6 .cs
Apparently a complete reftation,
for White is now attacking queen,
rook and knight; but now comes the
final ferocious kick of the combina
tion.
6 ..
2fe8+
7 ' 3e6II(D)
An utterly fantastic position. The
combination works without a faw,
w
for example 1 8 .xe6 ( 18 'hc3
"xc5 ! 19 dxc5 .xc3 and 18 .e2
lb5 also win for Black) "b5+ 1 9
'gl le2+ 20 'fl lg3++ 21 g1
'fl + 22 lxfl l2#.
18 3xb6
White takes the queen and awaits
his fate. For the next twenty-four
moves we are treated to a very con
vincing king-hunt by the black mi
nor pieces.
18 ... 3xc4+
19 +g ve2+
Black proceeds to use a string of
see-saw checks to pick up some ma
terial, at the same time gaining some
usefl time on the clok.
20 GH vxd4+
2 Gg
2+
22 &H l
2J Gg axb6
24 Wb4
Still Black has only two bishops
and two pawns to balance te queen.
24 . . . lxd1 would b answered by 25
"xc4 with chances of suvival.
2 . 84I
On this day Fischer could do no
wrong. The only way now for White
to guad his rook would b 25 "i d6,
but ten follows 25 . . . txd1 26 1xd1
.xa2 with immediate destruction by
27 . . . .at . White must therefore con
cede te rook, after which he is lost
on material alone, but he chival
rously-r stubboy-plays on, and
lets us see how a won gae is won.
25 xM kd
26 b Bxu
27 h2 tx
28 Be1
Bxe
29 . d8+ .f
J0 vxe .dS
31 tf l
J2 W8 b5
Black could, if he so wished,
mach right ahead with this pawn;
but he has other ideas.
JJ h4
J4 tS
h5
g
7
The release of the dark-squared
bishop brings about a quick fnish,
Tal - Panno 93
for rook and two bishops consttute a
deadly mating machine even with
out the help of a knight. The imme
diate threat of . . . .d6 induces White
to take his king of the diagonal.
J5 g1 3c+
3
If the king moves to h 1, then mate
is delivered by 36 h1 tg3+ 37
h2 tn+ and 38 . . . ixg2#.
J6 vgJ+
J7 e1
.b+
J8 d1 3bJ+
J9 c ve2+
40 b1 l+
4 +c .c
Not many better games than this
one have ever been played-by any
one. The only compaable brlliancy
by one so young is Capablaca's lat
match-game against Corzo, played
in 190.
Game 36
Ta's elders prophesied that his zest for happy-go-lucky chess would lead hi
to disaster in the interational aena. They were stunned when he won te In
terzonal in 1 958, the Candidates in 1 959 and the World Championship in
1 960. His prodigious genius wa now undeniable.
The following gae against the Argentinean Grandmaster Oscar Panno is
a god illustration of the rich complexity of his style at this time .
Tm~ F e 6 Be b5
Portorz IZ 1958 7 3bJ d6
Ruy Lopez 8 c 0-0
9 hJ 7
1 m e5 The Closed Defence to the Ruy
2 tf 6 Lopez has been pretty well ham-
J .b5 a6 mered out, but hereabouts the mas-
4 3a4 f6 ters bgin to difer in thei teatment
5 0-0 3e7 of the middlegame. Some like to
94 Game 36
play the black rook to e8 and follow
with . . . 3D,possibly prefacing tese
moves with . . . h6 to keep the white
knight away from g5. Another old
and popular line is . . . vfollowed
by . . . c5. Pan no does indeed use this
idea later on, but frst brngs te f6-
knight over to b6, within jumping
distace of c4.
0 d4
3eJ
2 cxd4
J 3c2
4 e5
vb6
exd4
l
c
A predictable reaction from Tal :
the absence of the black king's
knight fom its usual defensive post
prompts him to opn up the lines for
his bishops to attack the kingside,
even though it may mean the com
plete disappearace of his pawn cen
te.
4
5 vxe5
6 WJ
7 3bJ
dxe5
vbc4
D
f4
Panno's defensive scheme is to
shut out te dak-squaed bishop and
then capture the light-squared one,
after which he hopes to have good
play with his own two bishops.
8 3d2 9xbJ(D)
9 vc6I?
Complications proliferate of their
own accord in Tal's games. Whether
the transaction implicit in this move
ought to have won is doubtful-but
it does !
9 .. vxaI
Undoubtedly the best way. To
have saved the queen would have
w
cost material, but now Black gets
rook and two knights for the queen,
with, one would have thought, ex
cellent chances. It has been said,
however, that Tal's queen is worth
more tan other queens, and the fnal
phases of this game bear out this
hypothesis.
20 vxd8
2 W O
22 xe7
2J 3xf4
3f5
2d8
3xb
2xd4
Black might have tried 23 . . . cxd4
instead, with theats of pushing the
d-pawn. The present move, which
leaves Black with a queenside ma
jority as well as his fve pieces, also
looks goo, but now the white queen
begins to show her paces.
2 W g4 3g6
25 W e6+ 3O
26 W f5 vc2
27 bJ 3g6?(D)
Pano had kept things under con
tol up to ths point, but now, in time
trouble, he goes wrong. There were
several other possibilities, but the
soundest line was 27 . . . ldl+ 28 h2
ld2 29 .xd2 lxd2, which keeps
the draw in hand and even offers
Black slight winning chances. How
ever, te idea that an opponent who
is already, numerically, reduced to
three pieces against five should be
considering sacrificing two of them
in order to conduct a king-hunt with
the remaining one is not what one
usually considers. Yet this is pre
cisely what Ta now dos.
28 xg7+I I
29 3h6+I
J0 'i x+
J bxc4
g7
6
g5
bxc4
3 1 . . .lxc4 appars more natural;
presumably Panno wanted to pre
vent 31 'd8+. Black still has his
rook and two minor pieces against
the bare queen, but the exposure of
his king-aways paramount in
queen endings-now tells heavily
against him. White's king ad pawns
also play a vital pa.
J2 gJI 3e4
Black takes the opporunity to
threaten something on his own ac
count: 33 . . . ldl+ 34 h2 lhl#.
JJ h4+ g4
Still threatening mate; and after
34 Wf4+ h3 Black wins at once.
Tal -Pan 95
J4 h2I
White avoids the mate and now
threatens 35 'f4+ h5 36 'g5#.
3f5
There is nothing better, though it
loses a piece. White could play 35
f3+, but he ha someting better:
J5 W f6I
Tal threatens instead to win two
piees by 36 Wg5+ f3 37 1xf5+.
J5 . h6
J6 'i eS
Now the theat is 37 'e2#. What
a queen!
36 le
J7 W g7+ w
3 'i c3+ vJ
J9 g 3g4
40 fxeJ h5
4 W e(D)
Yet aoter theat of mate in one:
42 'f2#. Tal has u te black self
bloks with great virtuosity.
4 ... 2xeJ?
Panno fnally makes a serious er
ror, ironically just when the time
control had passed. Afer 41 . ..le6!
42 e4 c3 43 'ixc3+ xe4 4 'ixc5
Black would keep his a-pawn, and
96 Gae 37
set up a fortress with all his pieces
defended. In this case the result
would have be n a draw, but it is had
to keep a clear head after the sort of
battering that Tal has handed out.
42 WH+ e
4J Wxc4+ W
44 WH+ 'e
45 Wxa6
This is the last straw: White pro
poses to make a second queen!
45 .. d4
Black would have had more draw
ing chances after 45 . . . lxg3+, but
Tal's queen would probably have
been too much for him in the end.
46 1d6+ Gc4
47 a4 8e+
4 Be2+
49 GH Ra2
Behind the pawn, but there is no
stopping it.
50 Wa6
5 a
d4
c4
Panno, game to the last, also te
for a promotion, but still his king is
hounded by the enemy queen.
52 ..6 d5
5J a6 2+
54 cJ
55 a7 c2
It has been a battle roya but with
the black king now all alone in md
boad the white queen is bound to
have the last word. Tal solves the
problem neatly:
56 WJ+ d6
57 WdJ+ 1-0
If the king goes to the c-fle the
pawn falls with check, 57 . . . e5
would lose to 58 1c3+ and finally
57 . . . e6 fails to 58 1e4+ n 59
1xc2 lxa7 60 1h7+ followed by
61 1xa7.
Game 37
Bora lvkov (bor 1 933) became World Junior Champion in 1951 and in the
Vana Olympiad of 1 962 he won a remarkable game which did not receive
much publicity, being a little too long for most of the magazines and columns.
Robrt Byme, brother ofFischer's opponent in Gae 38, wa battered by te
young grandmaster to such efect that he had to make no fewer tan twenty
fve king moves, almost all in the little tiangle h7, h6, g7.
vkev - R.yme
Vama Olympia 1962
French Defence
1 e4 e
2 d4 d5
J l b4
4 e5 ke7
5 a
In this line White reckons that the
two bishops and dak-squae pres
sure will more than compensate for
the long-ter weaness of the dou
bled c-pawns.
5
6 bxcJ
xcJ+
M
The idea behind ths emerges a
\
moves 9 ad 10. Tese days te com
bination of . .7 and . . . b6 is not
highly regaded, and the move . . . b6
is usually coupled wit ... 1d7.
7 Wg4
This move is one of White's
standad reactions to the Winawer
Variation of te French, since the
black g-pawn has been lef without
defence, ad te whole course of the
game is often infuenced by the
method Black uses to defend it.
Sometimes he prefers to let it go.
7 g6
8 h4
A vigorous line which has an un
settling efect on Black's attempts to
get a comfortble psition.
8 ... h5
9 W d
The white queen retires, well sat
isfed with the weakening induced in
the black kingside pawns. It may be
agued that the white kingside has
been equally weakened; the difer
ence lies in the central pawn struc
ture. One does not need to be a
gradmaster to see that White is
bound to have the initiative on the
kingside of the board, where it will
b difcult for Black to get any play
at all.
9 ... 3a6
The point behind Black's sixth
move. The theory is that owing to the
black pawn-chain on d, e6 and f,
the c8-bishop is a ' bad' bishop, with
little scop, wherea te corespond
ing white bishop on f1 is much more
active since most of the white pawns
Ivkv - R. Byre 97
are on dark squaes. The exchage
of these two bishops is therefore
reckoned as a strategic success for
Black. The danger is that Black's
knight ends up on a6, and the time
taken to bring it back into the gae
will allow White to develop a dan
gerous initiative. In this game it
stands imobile for the next forty
fve moves, and then Byrne gives it
one token move before resigning.
0 3xa6
a6
3g5 Wd7
2 2 Wa4?I(D)
Black is correct in judging that
his attack-if any-must be on te
queenside, but as played the queen
joins the knight in the wilderness,
and it is the absence of these two
pieces which provides White pres
ently wit the opportunity of play
ing a remakable combination.
Instead, Black should have tied
1 2 . . . lb8 followed by . . . lc6 to i
prove his kight position. Later on
te kight might move to and c4.
w
J J 7
Black is aso reduced to desprate
meaures to defend the h5-pawn
98 Game 37
against the threat of lg3. His move
allows . . . g6, but results in a further
weakening of te dark squaes.
4 vf4 g6
5 W d d7
6 3xe7 xe7
7 .o .
8 hJI
White plays relentlessly against
the weakened dark squares: invasion
at g5 or f6 canot b stved of.
8 ..
c
This comes much too late to in
convenience White.
9 vg5 c4(D)
It is diffcult to see what Black
hoped to achieve with this furher
advance. Perhaps he hope that by
completely solidifying the wall that
cuts the boad into halves he could
create an impregnable region on the
queenside into which his king could
escape in due course. But, as so
ofen, it is the little miracle of a sacri
fice which upsets all the calcula
tions.
w
20 vxI R
2 W g5+ G
22 R+ x
This is evidently the psition that
White had visualised. Whenever he
checks from f6 or on the back rank
the black king is tied to the defence
of his rook, and White can do a fai
amount of damage with his checks.
But the situation remains quite
ticky, for White ha only two pieces
and one of them is right out of play.
If he is to achieve more than a per
petual check he must mobilise the
rook, and ay roundabout meto of
doing so would allow Black to bring
queen and knight into action. Ivkov
ha set himself an intrguing prob
lem and his solution to it provides
one of te most fascinating passages
of play in this book.
2J
24
25
26
W xg6+
W ,6
xe6+
Three pawns for the knight al
ready provide White with a fair
bagain and he might be thinking in
terms of a win based on his two
passed pawns. In fact his plan is:
frst opn a fle on the kngside, then
bring the rook across the back rank
to join the attack. He must never al
low Black to play . . ... xc2, for then
it would be extemely difcult to get
the rook across.
27 We7+
28 W ,6
29 W O+
3 g4I
g6
h7
h6 (D)
Nicely timed: 30 . . . 1xc2 31 g5#!
J0 bxg4
J .. ,6
w
The next stage is to win the g4-
pawn wit check.
J
h7
J2 Wf5+ h6
JJ Wg5+ h7
W5+ g7
J5 Wxg4+ h7
Now the ideal plan for White
would be to drive the black king on
to the g-fle and then play d2,
theatening lgl with check. This
proves to b an impossibility, but the
series of exploratory checks which
follows serves the incidenta purpose
of gaining moves as the time contol
draws nea.
3 Wf5+
J7 Wg5+
J8 W5+
J9 Wg4+
h6
h7
g7
The position is identical with that
on move 35. No doubt Black is keep
ing a sha look-out for the draw by
reptition of position.
J9 . h7
40 Wf5+
Now it is identical with move 36.
40 h6
41 We6+ h7
42 We7+
h6
Jvkv - R. By me 99
h7 (D)
w
44 d!
Black, of course, ha resolutely
refsed to quit the h-fle, so Ivkov
takes the plunge. The rook is to
come across, even though not with
check. This means that Byrne now
has one precious move at his dis
posal for stengthening his defence.
44 ...
We8
45 2g
Each side now has queen and
rook in action but still there is no
peace for the black king. Mate in one
is threatened, and a soon as the
black rook emerges it will be ex
changed off. The white pawns will
then prove too much for the black
knight. The white queen is retained
for harying the enemy king: in the
absence of queens the black king
would suddenly become a strong
piece.
45 2g8
4 Wf5+ h6
47 Wf4+ h7
48 Wf5+
No harm in gaining a little more
time.
10 Game 38
48
49 g8
50
h6
Wxg8
The threat of e7 and 'i f8 brings
the end in sight.
50 ...

g7
50 . . . 'i g6 loses to 51 'i e5! 1e4 52
'f6+ 'g6 53 1h8+ 'ih7 54 'i f8+
'g7 55 e7 &x7 56 'i f4+.
5 Wxd5
The cruel annexation of a fourth
and then a ffth pawn simply under
lines Black's helplessness.
5 Wf6
52 Wxc4

M
+
After all he has gone through
Black probably found considerable
satisfaction in tis check, though it
does him little goo: the white king
has an even better shelter on b2.
5J c Wf4+
He must attend to rescuing his
wretched knight.
54 b2
55 e7
vc7
-0
The knight which has just made
its second move (out of 54! ) is lost.
The way in which a denude king
can paralyse a whole game could
hadly b better illustated.
Game 38
Chess played by post is far fom being the long-drawn-out dull afair some
players imagine. The chance to consult books (this is perfectly legitimate)
lends precision to the opening and ending stages, while the opportunity of
analysing by moving the pieces to one's heart's content brngs about deep and
surprising combinative play which would be difcult to handle over the
boad. We had one exaple in Gae 12. Here is aother, in which a brilliant
sacrificial attack sweeps the black king right down to the eighth rank to be
mated.
Meser - Underweed
Correspondence, Canda 1962
Sicilian
e4 c5
2 b4
The Wing Gambit-ne of the
liveliest replies to the Sicilian. Since
one point of the Sicilian is to gain
an extra cente pawn it ofen gives
White an immediate psychological
advantage to buy a strong centre
himself at the cost of a wing pawn.
2 .. cxb4
J a
Another way of playing the gam-
bit is 3 d4.
J
4 axb4
5 cJ
6 d4

3xb4
3e7
This centre-perhaps not so
stong as it looks-is White's am in
the Wing Gabit. Black aleady has
an endgame asset in his passed a
pawn, but the endgae is fa away.
6
7 lf
d6
Wc7
Black dawdles. It is an urgent
matter to get the knights out; or he
could have tken an immediate crack
at the white cente by . . . f5.
8 id v6
9 0-0
0-0
0 e5I
Now te black kng is in rea dan
ger. White will soon be able to play
f4 and have every piece available for
te atck.
0
dxe5
vxe5 vb7
2 f4 b6
J c4 3b7
4 J a6
Partly to prevent lb5 but also to
free the aS-rook. The open a-fle
which White obtaned fom his ga
bit is playing its pat.
5 3b2
Wd6?
An artifcia move; the threat to
the d4-pawn is easily met, where
upon te queen is simply misplaced.
Afer 15 . . . .ad8 White would have
no immediate way to make progess.
6 :a
By preventing a check White in
directly defends the d-pawn; if now
1 6 . . . 'ixd4 the queen is lost after 17
ixh7+.
6
7 g4I
8 g5
9 4
fe8
lf
l7
'c7
Over the lat few moves Black has
simply maked time, while White's
pieces have moved up to theatening
positions.
Moser - Underood 101
20 W5 vg6(D)
With all the pieces still on the
boad White has a colossal attack,
but how is he to smash it home? This
is where home analysis comes in
usefl!
2 vxO?I
This sacrifce isn't really corect,
so objectively White should have
prefered a slower build-up, for ex
ample 21 lxg6 hxg6 22 'h4, in
tending .f3-h3. However, it is had
to criticise this move too harshly
when one sees what happns next!
2 ...
vxf4??
Black backs down fom accepting
the sacrifce-but rns into an even
lager one! There were two good al
teratives for Black:
1) 2l . . .xf 22 'i xh7 lf8! 23
'ih5 'g8 24 lf6+ ixf6 25 ixg6
(25 gxf6 'i f7) lxg6 26 Wxg6 .f8!
27 gxf6 .xf6 and Black has the ad
vantage since it is now White's kng
which is more exposed.
2) 21 . . .:f8 ! ? 22 l5 lxe5 23
fxe5 ixe4 24 .xf8+ .xf8 25 ixe4
'ixc4 and Black is clealy better, a
White's king is again in danger.
102 Gae 38
22 Wxh7+I I (D)
The postman innoently drops a
grenade through Mr Underwood's
letter-box. If Black takes the queen,
White simply plays 23 lf6, and a
though there ae two ways of inter
posing to the bishop, one way of
capturing the bishop and three ways
of taking the knight, all are equaly
invalid. It is double check and there
fore mate.
But this is not all: Moser's letter
proeeds to anounce that he now
mates in twelve! The rest of the let
ter, which Underood must have
read with bulging eyes, went as fol
lows:
22 ... 1
If 22 . . . xf White mates in two
by 23 g6+ and 24 'h8#.
23 W8+
2 g6+I
xg6
25 2g2+I I
All this i s beautifully played. If
Black refuses the rook by 25 . . . f5
White has 26 ld6++ (double check
again) f6 27 1xg7#. If, on the
other hand, he plays 25 . . . lxg2 then
the white bishop is feed fom attack
and a discovered single check be
comes possible.
25 ... vxg2
26 v6+ g5
If 26 . . . f6 White's other rook
comes across.
27 Wxg7+ h4
28 W6+(D)
White could have mated one
move more quickly by 28 'g3+ and
two moves more quickly by 28 .e2,
as I suppose Mr Underwood should
have immediately pointed out.
B
28
29 .e2+
30 .x+
31 +
g4
.o
x
e2
If 31 .. . g4 White mates in two
by 32 h3+ and 33 l4.
32 2O+ dl
Or 32 . . . d3 33 'd2#.
33 'cl#
Another advantage of postal chess
is that when you get a lovely forced
line like this your opponent doesn't
get a chace to spoil your fn by re
signing!
Penrose - Popov 103
Gae 39
Until recent times, Jonathan Penrose (born 1934) was one ofthe most suc
cessful of all British chapions. In the 1963 Enschede Touaent of seven
teen competitors he fnished just one point behid the winner, Gligorie. The
most spectacula of his ten wins was scored against Popov of Bulgaria, the
black king having to make a thirteen-move trek fom g8 to a2. Ater giving up
over-the-board play, Penrose went on to even greater success in the feld of
postal chess.
Curously enough, in ts sae touament Popv played possibly te fust
over-the-boad gae with the provocative line 1 e4 lf6 2 e5 0 3 d4 d6 4
of3 dxe5 5 oxe5 l7. White sacrifced on f, Popv's king went for a walk
and he won! Against Penrose, however, Popov's king was not so lucky.

2
J
4
5
6
Fenme~ Feev
Enschede Z 1963
Sicilian
e c5
e6
d4 cxd4
Cxd4 a6
3eJ v 6
3dJ d?
This cannot be good, since Black
has to waste a lot of time. Any nor
mal developing move is better, for
example 6 . . . t6 or 6 . . . d6.
7 e5 vg8
He cannot play 7 . . . .fd7 because
of 8 lxe6! fxe6 9 '5+, etc.
8 l
Backward play by Black in the
openings is acceptble in some posi
tions, but the present situation, in
which White has developed al his
minor pieces while Black has appa
ently not yet made a start, is an ex
treme cae. Perhaps Popov thought,
as Steinitz might have done, 'Now
I have no weaknesses' .
8
9 f4
0 3xd4
0-0
2 3xc5
l
xd4
Wc7
3c5
Wxc5+
Still Black has only his queen in
play; but by destoying the white
pieces he is catching up in develop
ment.
J h v7
4 c4
A shrewd move. If Black should
push . . . d4 White gets an excellent
squae for his knight at e4. On the
other had if Black refains from
this advance, the threat to open the c
file will make it out of the question
for him to castle queenside; ad if he
castles kingside White is nicely
poised for an attack wt pieces.
4 .. 0-0
5 W5
As usual the absence of a defen
sive knight on f6 brings immediate
danger.
5 h6
6 2O dxc4(D)
10 Game 39
w
7 c4
This knight threatens to pene
trate powerfully to d6. A plausible
defence would be 17 .. .ldS so as to
answer 18 l6 with 1 8 .. .lhd6 (the
e-pawn is pinned), but White could
simply play 18 'ih4 which not only
unpins his e-pawn but pins the black
knight and enforces l6.
7 .. vf5
8 3xf5 W xc4
Black has evaded the danger from
the knight but the pressure fom
three pieces in the region of his king
is still serous.
9 .dJ W4
20 gJI
White threatens 'i xh6, and the
obvious defence 20 . . . 'ixf4 would
only invite 21 :n, after which the
black king's position would rapidly
be overrun by the combined weight
of four pieces. Black takes the only
alterative:
20 ... h8
2 W e2?
A puzzling retreat: perhaps he
was hoping to force his queen to e4
later on. At any rate the move con
ceas a vicious trap: 21 . . .'i xf4 22
:g4 !, checkmating the black queen
in mid-board. But the ofe of the
pawn is so blatant that Popov could
hardly be expected to assume that it
was accident.
As we will reveal later, White ha
a much stonger move.
2 ... 3d7
Black has amost equalised. He
now intends 22 . . . .b5, destroying
the white bishop and remaining wit
a tenable major-piece ending.
22 a W a4(D)
If Black had had any inkling of
what wa i Penose's mn he would
certainly have played 22 . . . 'i e7. But
he is determned to play 23 ... .b5.
w
2J xg7I I
The draatic start t o a spectacu
la king-hunt. It is interesting to
know fom Penrose himself tat he
had considered the combination two
moves prevously, when his queen
stood on h5. Being unable to see
his way through all the complica
tions he dismissed the whole idea as
unplayable in such an important
game. Post-mortem aalysis, how
ever, establishe that at move 21 the
sacrifce would have been even more
efective tan it is at move 23.
In view of the fact that Popov is
now threatening to draw anyway by
exchanging the bishops, and since
the rook sacrifce can hardly yield
less than a perpetual check, Penrose
now starts his hunt, and conducts it
triumphantly across all eight fles
ad seven ranks.
2J
2 W g4
25 W4
g
h8
The theat of 26 "xh6+ and 27
"h7# now compels Black to shed
two more pawns, after which the sac
rifce of a whole rook looks a little
less vast.
25 f5
26 ex6 lt
27
'
:6 g8
Had White played the sacrifce on
move 21, when the black bishop was
on c8, he would now have an instat
win by h7+ :xh7; "g6+ f8;
"xh7 with mate to follow.
28
'
g6
29 'i6
These last two checks not only
gain useful time but aso give Black
the opportunity of tying to rn away
by 29 . . . e8, after which 30 'h8+
lf8 31 g6+ would win both rooks.
29 ... g8
Thus White is asured of his per
petual check; but how is he to win?
J0 W g5+ 1
J g6I
This is the winning move. Pen
rose threatens not only 32 xf, af
ter which 32 . . . xt would allow 33
Penrose - Popov 105
"g7+ e8 34 "e7#, but also 32
1h6+ e8 33 1h8#. The attempt
3 l . . .e8 is no defence: White still
mates in te by 32 1h6+, etc.
J ... e
By creating a fight on e6 Black
just contrives to escape the mating
vaiations given above; but now he
stats his jouey down the diagona,
staight as an ar ow fom g8 to a2.
w
J2 16 g8
JJ x+ r
W
g
+ e (D)
J5 We7+ d5
Here he had the option of dou
bling back by 3S . . . f5 but then
would follow: 36 1xe5+ g6 37
'gS+ f. Now there is no black e
pawn, therefore 38 le1 ! lg8 39
le7+ f8 40 1h6+ and mate next
move.
3 Wxe5+ c4
36 . . . c6 37 lc1+ b6 38 _cS#.
J7 lcl + b3
Or 37 . . . d3 38 lc3+ d2 39
"e3+ d1 40 lc1#.
3 W c+ a
J9 b -0
He is mate by ll .
10 Gae 40
Game 40
Viktor Korchnoi (born 1 931 ) and Leonid Stein (bor 1934) each won the
USSR Chapionship thre times during the prod 196-67. These two fne
players thus between them took this strongest national chapionship six
times in eight yeas-Petosian and Spassky ting te other two.
The following game was played not in the actua Soviet Chapionship but
in the Soviet Zonal Tournaent of seven top contenders for world honours
which was played during the early months of 1964. On this ocasion it was
Stein's tu to get the beter of a rousing encounter.
1
2
J
4
5
6
Stein - Korcbnoi
Moscow Z 1964
Sicilia
m c5
vO d6
d4 cxd4
vd4 vf6
vcJ a6
3e2
White relies on a old, well-tested
variation. The more aggessive alter
natives 6 .g5 and 6 3c4 are not
neessarly stonger.
6 ... e
Black also chooses an old forma
tion, the Scheveningen Defence,
rather than the schemes based on
6 . . . e5.
7 0-0 3e7
8 f4 Wc7
9 We
The frst really signifcat move:
he makes for the kgside.
9 ... 0-0
0 WgJ W6
These two moves indicate the re
spective spheres of infuence in
which the two players intend to opr
ate. White moves to the kingside,
preparing e5; Black moves the other
way, attacking and pinning White's
knight. This provoative move com
pels Stein to choose between retac
ing his steps with 1 1 WDor letting
the b-pawn go.
.e3
Stein accepts the challenge with
alacrity . . .
... Wxb2
. . . and Korchnoi in turn accepts
White's challenge. It has been rec
ognised for a hundred years and
more that winning the b-pawn with
the queen in the early stages of a
game is very dangerous. Over the
years the majority of recorded ex
amples show that the loss of time
ad position involved ae fata in the
long run, although te result is not a
foregone conclusion.
Korchnoi's love of grabbing ma
terial is legendary and such is his
defensive skill that he gets away
with it far more often than not. How
ever, in this gae he is ting on too
much.
2 3O
This excellent reteat not only de
fends the c3-knight but theatens to
win a piece by 1 3 .ab1 'i a3 14
0! 'i xg3 15 lxe7+.
2 W4
J e5 dxe5
4 fxe5 v8
He cannot play ,J. . . ld5 because
of 1 5 lf5 ! exf5 16 lxd5 and again
White will win the bishop on e7.
5 3dJ Wa5
6 v4(D)
This is the way it usually works
out. Stein has a six-piece attack
against the black king while the
black queenside pieces ae as yet un
touched. Yet Korchnoi's talent in de
fence brings him within an ace of
surviva.
B
6 vd7
7 vO
g
8 3d4 g7
9 f6+ 3xf6
20 ex6 h5
2 W4 Wd8
Black ha matched White move
for move, and still has his pawn, but
now te lat white piece joins te at
tack. The stain of fnding viable de
fensive moves in such a position is
tremendous.
Stein - Korchnoi 107
22 2ae 6
2J vg5
Wit the threat 24 .xf6 &xf6
25 .xf6. Black's only way then to
save king and queen appears to be
25 . . . 'i b6+ 26 h1 h5, but after tat
comes 27 1xh5 ! ! gxh5 28 .h7#.
Korchnoi now rets both his exta
pawns, but the resulting position fa
vours Wite.
2J e5I
2 3xe5
h6
25 3xf6 hxg5
26 Wxg5?I
This move is had to understand;
White' s dark-squaed bishop is the
mainstay of his attack, so he should
preserve it by 26 .xg5.
26
-
vxf6
27 x6 Wd4+
2 h Wg4
Black is still in the game. The
point g6 is protected against sacri
fce, and he is ready to complete his
development at lat by ... .f5.
29 W6 .f (D)
w
J0 hJ?
An odd move which thows away
much of White's advantge. Afer 30
JOB Gae 41
.xf5 gxf5 1 lefl lae8 32 h3 'g7
33 ll xf5 White reaches a pleasant
four-rook ending with a clea exta
pawn. Although his broken queen
side pawns mean that the ending is
not a certain win, White's practica
chances would b good.
J0 .. W d4?
Korchnoi ha defended resource
fully, but here he slips up just when
he might have reached the draw. Af
ter 30 . . . 'b4, attacking the rook on
e1, the gae might still have been
held.
J 2M5I
Stein pounces on Korchnoi's mis-
take-suddenly it's a kng-hunt.
J
g
J2 2eJI W g7
JJ W4 W a+
J4 'h2 e8(D)
Yet again Korchnoi has managed
to save both king and queen, but
now he is at the end of his resources.
His queen and one rook are stuck in
corners, and his king is now hunted
across to c6, back to h5 and fnaly
home again to be mated on the
squae that he now occupies.
J5 2gJ+ 'f
J6 16+ &e7
J7 2eJ+ +d7
J8 3xf5+ &c7
J9 W f4+ 'c
Or 39 . . . 'b6 40 'd6+ 'a7 41
'c5+ b 42 'c7#.
40 Wc4+ 'd6
Or 40 . . . b6 41 lb3+ 'a7 42
'i c5+ 'b8 43 'i d6+ 'a7 44 'b6+
b8 45 'i xb7#. So the king stat on
the retu crossing.
4 W4+
42 ld3+
4J 'd6+!
'd5
'eS
An elegant fnishing touch.
4J ... G5
4 lf+ Gg5
Or 4 . . . e4 45 'd3+ 'e5 46
lf5+ 'e6 47 'i d5+ 'e7 48 Ixf7#.
45 W f4+ 'b5
46 g4+ g6
47 'xt+ -0
The conclusion might have ben
Q . . . h6 48 'ih5+ 'g7 49 lf+
'g8 (Home! ) 50 'i h7#.
Gae 41
For our next gae we retun once more to the Olympiads. Since their bgin
ning in London in 1927 these geat biennial gaterings have produced a vat
reservoir of chess in ever conceivable opening, played by every grade of
player fom World Chapions to unashamed skttlers.
Fnns- Launnce
Lgan Olympiad 1968
Sicilian
e4
c5
2
J c4
Unusual at this point. White aims
to set up a kind of Maroczy Bind
position. Over the next few moves
Black makes little attempt to ob
stuct this plan.
J
4 3e2
5 0-0
6 vcJ
7 aJ?
a6
vc6
v6
Wc7
A wate of time-White could
have played d4 straight away. White
need not fear . . . ib4 and . . . .xc3,
which would weaken Black's dark
squares too much.
7 b6
8 d4 cxd4
9 vxd4 3b7
0 3eJ 3d6
Black is not anxious to advance
his d-pawn and cheerfully obstructs
it. He is more concerned to develop
dak-squaed pressure and for this he
needs his bishop actively placed, not
bloked in on f8 or e7.
hJ?I
This is fa too timd. Wt could
have st oprations at once by 1 1
f4.
. 3e5
Threatening 12 . . . lxd4 1 3 .xd4
lxe4. Black takes full advantage of
the fact that White has wasted two
tempi.
Prin -Lurence 109
2 W dJ h5
A violent and rash move which
pays off in the present gae. For
tune favours the bold-sometimes!
J 2fc
3h2+
4 D?I
This move leads to tactics favour
able for Black. White should have
played 14 h1, even though the
king is lined up with both the h8-
rook and the b7-bishop.
4 l
5 W d vxe4
6 va4
With all the pieces still on the
boad, complications readily prolif
erate. Prins ha a remakable scheme
in mind.
6 .. l (D)
w
17 vxb6I?
Regaining his sacrificed pawn.
After White's forthcoming 18 lf3,
attacking an undefended bishop on
h2 and simultaneously pinning a
knight on c5, he is certan to get his
piece back. The idea is certainly in
genious but, as so often happens,
initiating tctics while in a psition
ally inferior position leads to a sad
110 Gae 41
end. In this cae the idea is tactically
sound, in that White does regain his
piece, but White's position is shat
tered.
17 .
18 lf
Wxb6
Wc6?
Unpinning the knight and also
preventing 19 lxh2 because of the
reply 19 . . . 1xg2+. However, Black
had a much stronger continuation in
1 8 . . . lg4! 19 lxh2 (19 hxg4 hxg4 is
very bad after 20 le1 if4 or 20
lg1 'c6) lxe3+ 20 fxe3 le4 21
'd3 'c7! , followed by . . . 'g3.
19 3xc5 3f4
All fascinating. Black now threat
ens both 20 . . . 'xc5 and 20 . . . ixc l .
20 3eJ
This saves everything and is the
only way to do so. The position is
now equa.
20 . 3xeJ
21 fxeJ vg4I
When Black played 12 . . . h5 it was
probably with this move in mind
sooner or later. Although the knight
sacrifce only leads to equality, it
gives White plenty of chances to go
wrong.
22 hxg4?I
White could have simply de
fended his e-pawn by 22 'd3 or 22
'd4, with an equal gae. Taking the
knight is more rsky.
22 hxg4
2J ve?
Now he is suddenly lost. Steinitz
would certainly have relinquished
his winnings by 23 'd4 gxf3 24
ixf3 Wc7 (24 . . . d5 25 Wxg7 0-0-0
26 Dis also very good for White),
but the position is still rather uncom
fortable for White. Afer 25 Wxg7
0-0-0 Black has a very dangerous at
tack, while otherwise White will al
ways suffer fom his ragged king
position.
2J 2h1+
24 (D)
2 gJ+I
Did Prins overlook this? O per
haps Black's next?
25 xgJ 2xe1I
26 Wxe1
There is nothing better, but now
Black has mate in fve.
26 . Wxg2+
27 4
Or 27 b4Wh2+ 28 g5 f6+ 29
g4 f5+ 30 g5 Wh6#.
27 ... g5+
27 . . . e5+ was one move faster!
28 e5 We4+
0-
White resigned to spare his king
the indignity of 29 f6 Wf5+ 30
g7 Wg6+ 31 h8 0-0-0#!
A neat partner to Game 5 in
which Morhy, 1 10 years earlier,
played 0-0.
Sporish - Sorokin 111
Gae 42
In chess, unlike real life, excessive greed is usualy brutally punished. The
player who chases afer materal gain at the expense of development is aking
to be on the wong end of a king-hunt. However, the dividing line between a
courageous capture and a foolhady one is often ver fne. This is especially
so in that most contoversia of all chess opnings, the Poisoned Pawn. Ever
since Bobby Fischer stated playing 8 . . . 'xb2, the soundness of Black's pro
vocative manoeuvre has been debated in both practica play and theoretical
journals. Even today, nobody knows for sure wheter or not Black can really
get away with his audacious plan.
In the following gae, Black not only plays the Poisoned Pawn, but he
adopts an especially risky sideline which practically invites a kng-hunt.
White is ready to oblige, and for a long time te stuggle hags in the balace.
Finally Black makes a slight misstep, and in such a position a slip can only
have one result-mate!
Sporish - Sorokn
USSR 1968
Sicilian
1 e4 c5
2 w d6
J d4 cxd4
4 vxd4 vf6
5 cJ a6
6 3g5 e
7 f4 Wb6
This move, taing am at b2, initi
ates the Poisoned Pawn. White can
avoid sacrfcing the pawn by 8 tb3,
but then the knight is less actively
placed and Black's queen ca later
retire to c7.
8 Wd2
9 2b1
10 e5
Wxb2
WaJ
These days 10 f5 is considered
more dangerous, but in 1968 10 e5
was 'Hot Theory' .
10 ... h6
The main line is 10 . . . dxe5 1 1 fxe5
tfd7, which today is thought satis
factory for Black. Altough the va
ation Black adopts is unusual, there
is no known refutation.
11 3xf6 gf6
12 t
All the black pieces ba one std
on their origina squares, and White
has the deadly threat of 13 txf6+,
but despite this the position is far
from clea. Potentially, Black's i
bishop is a major asset, a White's
dak squares have ben weakened by
both 8 . . . 1xb2 and 1 1 ixf6.
12 fxe5(D)
1J 2bJ
In such positions, the attacker
must avoid having a rush of bloo to
the head and over-sacrifcing. Afer
13 fxe5 dxe5 14 tf6+ We7 15 tf5+
Wxf6 1 6 lb3, for exaple, given in
some books as winning for White,
Black can play 16 . . . 1xb3 17 axb3
112 Gae 42
w
exf5, retuing some material to hat
the attack, and it is not White, but
Black, who wins.
J Wxa
As we shall see, this capture is
motivated not only by greed; Black
has a defnite idea in mind which re
quies the queen to be on a. The a
terative 1 3 . . . 1a4 14 fxe5 dxe5 15
lf6+ e7 16 lf5+ leads to a prob
able draw after either 16 . . . exf5 17
ld5+ e6 1 8 lc7+ <e7 19 l5+
or 16 . . . xf6 17 'i d8+5 18 id3+
e4 19 0-0+ 'ie5 20 'if6+ d6 21
'i xh8 l7 22 lxf exd3 23 lxd3+
c6 24 lxflxf8 25 'xf b6 26
'f+ c7 27 'g3+ (that's what
opning theor says, anyway).
4 vf6+ e7
5 fxe5 dxe5
6 vf5+(D)
A crtical moment. Which knight
should Black take?
6 ... 6
Black could have forced a draw
by 16 . . . exf5 17 0+ e8 1 8 lc7+
e7 and White has nothing better
than returning to d5, since 1 9 lxa8
'a1 + 20 e2 lc6 gives Black a
crshing counterattack. Instead he
8
bravely gos for the win, but if you
play with nitro-glycerine then you
have to b ver, very caefl.
7 Wd8+
g
Forced, as 17 . . . <xf5 1 8 lf3+
<g4 19 h3+ h5 20 g4+ g6 21
'i f6+ 'i h7 22 'xf+ .g7 23 .d3+
leads to mate.
8 7+
The point of Black's 13 . . . 1xa2 is
that 1 8 .g3+ h7 19 'if6 may be
met by 19 . . . exf5, and the queen de
fends f.
8 3xe7
Good judgement, as 1 8 . . . h7 19
id3+ e4 20 0-0 i s extemely dan
gerous for Black. The continuation
mght very well be the spectacula
variation 20 . . . .g7 21 .xe4+ f5 22
lxf5 ! exf5 23 lxf5 ! 'a4 (the ony
move) 24 'e7 lg8 25 lf8+ h8 26
lxg8+ xg8 27 'd8+ 28
lf3+ e6 29 id5+ <e5 30 le3+
f4 31 le4+ 'xe4 32 .xe4 xe4
33 'xc8, with a clea advantage to
White, since he will win one of
Black's minor pieces.
9 W xe7(D)
Taing the rook would be rdicu
lous, since after 1 9 'i xh8 ih4+ 20
g3 'a5+ 21 f2 'd8 Black would
brng the attack to a dead stop.
8
9 .
Giving a check is cerainly cor
rect, because White is more or less
forced to reply e2, blocking in his
bishop. Although it would have been
very had to appreciate why at this
stge, 19 . . . 'al +! 20 e2lc6 would
have been better (we shall see the
reason later). The gae hinges on
the extremely subtle diference be
tween the two checks.
20 e2
Not 20 'f? 'i d2+ 21 ie2 'f4+
22 lf3 l6!, and White's attack col
lapses.
20 ...

There is nothing else Black ca do

against the threat of lg3+, but now
the kng-hunt begins in eaest.
2 lg3+ '5
22 :+!
Not 22 'xt+ 'e4 23 'i f3+ d4
and, atonishingly, White has no fol
low-up.
22
2J le+
24 c4+
e4
d5
Sporish - Sorokin 113
Black threatens not only White's
queen, but also the crshing . . . t4+,
so every move must be with gan of
tempo.
24 . c4 (D)
w
25 'd6!
Having driven Black's king onto
the fl-a6 diagona, White is ready t
meet . . . td4+ with a check of his
own, so he can afford a quiet move.
After the direct 25 f2+ d5 26
ic4+ xc4 27 lcl + d. 28 ldl +
t4 te situation is much less clea.
25 b5
Black has no good defence, for
example 25 . . . 1d5 26 'a3! (not 26
f+ d4 27 'i a3, when 27 . . . 'a5 !
is stong) 'd4 (now 26 . . . 'a5 loses
to 27 f3+! d5 28 ld3+ and
Black cannot sneak out via e4, so
White wins by means of 28 . . . t4+
29 lxd4+ 'xd4 30 'xa5) 27 f+
'd. 28 ie2 and Black cannot meet
all the threats.
But now suppose that Black's
queen were on al instead of a; then
25 . . . ld8! would win, since afer 26
d2+ (or 26 f+ 'xfl+) 'xf1 27
lc3+ b5 28 lb3+ a Black's
114 Game 43
king escapes to a7. Thus 19 . . . 'i a1 +
would have been better for the un
likely reason that on a1 the queen
stands ready to eliminate the f1
bishop when it gives a discovered
check. This apparently insignifcant
fnesse might have tipped the bal
ance in Black's favour.
26 lb3+
Now it is White who doesn't want
the draw, which he could have forced
by 26 lxe5+ txe5 27 e3+ a4 28
'i d1+ a3 29 'i a1+.
26 .. 'c4
27 lbl! (D)
White tightens the noose around
the royal neck with a move which,
amaingly, forces mate in a further
eight moves. Note that 27 lb2? fails
to 27 . . . td4+ 28 .e3 .c3! and now
White's rook is under threat, so the
attack grinds to a halt.
27 ld8
After the alternative continuation
27 . . . td4+ White has a beautifl
B
forced mate by 28 'e3+ .c3 29
.d3 tb3 (to cover cl ) 30 .b5 ! !
'i xb5 (or 30 . . . axb5 3 1 lhc1+ txc1
32 'i c5#) 31 lhc 1 + txc 1 32 'i d2+
c4 33 lxc1+ 'b3 34 'i c3+ 'a4
35 la1#.
2 'e3+ 'c3
White is a knight and four pawns
down and his queen is under attack,
but Black's king has simply ven
tured too far into enemy teritory.
29 .d3 -0
Black can only delay lhcl # with
the spite check 29 . . . 'i b6+.
Game 43
In the following gae, White plays 17 moves of opning theory but wins with
a spectacular and very deep combination which starts as ealy a move 19. I
cannot say whether this was over-the-board improvisation or goo opening
preparation, but it raises the question as to whether a game that consists
largely of home analysis should be describd as 'brilliant' . Some might ague
that true brilliance depends on spontaneous creativity, and not on long hours
of home analysis. My own view is that when refering to the game, only the
moves are relevant, and it doesn't matter whether they were the result of in
spiration or diligence. However, when alluding to the player it does make a
diference. I, indeed, much of this gae was home analysis, then te gae is
brilliant, bt Ostapenko might be better descrbed a industous.
Readers interested in te theory of this very sharp line, the so-called
' Velimirovic Attck' , should consult a goo opning bok.
8
Osenke -YaHev
USSR 1969
Sicilian
e4 c5
2 f vc6
J d4 cxd4
4 xd4 6
5 vcJ d6
6 3c4 e6
7 .e3 .e7
8 We2 0-0
9 3bJ Wc7
0 0-0-0 a6
2hg b5
2 g4 b
J xc6 'ic
4 vd5 exd5
15 g5(D)
5 ... dxe4
This is not an opening theor
book, so I have passed over these
moves in silence. Thanks to Osta
penko's magnifcent attack in this
game, 15 . . . dxe4 has now fallen out
of favour, and current theory consid
ers 15 . . . xe4 the critical line.
6 gf6 3xf6
7 .dS 4
Ostapen- Yarsev 115
1s W5I
Ostapenko's discovery. After 18
.xa8? .e6 19 .d4 (19 .xe4?
.xb2+ 20 xb2 Wa3+ wins) .xd4
20 :xd4 Wxa2 Black ha good cor-
pensation for the exchange. Bole-
slavsky once recommended 1 8 .g5
.xg5+ 19 :xg5 .e6 20 .xa8
:xa8 21 'i xe4 as good for White,
but this does not seem to have been
tested in practice.
8 ... .e6 (D)
Yatsev could hardly have antici-
pated the stor which White now
unleashes. In any case, there can
hadly be a better move for Black.
Note that 18 . . . g6 loses to 19 :xg6+.
w
9 2xg7+II 3xg7
20 2g :es
The only move. Black must cre
ate an escape route for his king, e.g.
20 ... :ac8 loses to 21 :xg7+ xg7
22 . g5+ h8 23 .d4+ f6 24
.xf6+ :xf6 25 xf6+ g8 26
.xe6.
2 2xg7+I I
White disproves the old adage
that lightning never strikes twice in
the same place. The alterative is 21
116 Game 43
.xe4, but then 21 . . .'f8 (The Sicil
ian Sozin by Harding, Botterill and
Kottnauer suggests 21 . . .lxc2+ 22
.xc2 lc8, even though 23 lxg7+!
f8 24 lg8+! xg8 25 txh7+ f8
26 1h8+ e7 27 txc8 wins by
force) 22 lxg7 b3! 23 txh7 tl a5!
(23 . . . bxa2? 24 g8+ e7 25 .g5+
d7 26 lxf+ forces mate) is com
pletely unclea.
2
22 16
2J .xe (D)
xg7
g8
White threatens mate in tree by
24 .xh7+ h8 25 .d4+, so Black
is compelled to prevent the dak
squaed bishop arriving on the long
diagonal.
2J ... bJ
This covers d4 and sets up even
tual counterplay based on . . . bxa2.
The alternative was 23 . . . lc5, but
then 24 .xh7+ h8 25 .d4+ le5
26 .e4+ (better than Ostapenko's
26 .f5+ g8 27 .xe5 dxe5 28
1h7+ f8 29 .xe6, when 29 ... e8!
is unclea) g8 27 .xe5 dxe5 28
tlg5+ f8 29 .xa8 gives White a
clea exta pawn in te ending.
After the move played, the king-
hunt moves into top gea.
2 .xh7+ h8
25 .fS+ g8
26 17+
27 .h6+ e8
28 Wg8+ e7
Afer 28 . . . d7 29 1xf+ c6 30
.xe6, the position is the same as in
the game, except for the insignif
cat diference that the white bishop
is on h6 instead of g5.
29 3g5+ d7
J0 WxO+ c
J 3xe6(D)
Black ha a fee move, but the at
tacking force of a queen and two
bishops severely restricts his op
tions.
J b6?
Loses by force, a dos 3 l . . .'xa2
(3l. . .bxa2 fais to 32'd7+) 32 .d5+
c5 33 .e3+ b5 34 tlb7+ a4
35 .xb3+ xb3 36 1xb3+ a5
37 .b6. The only way to continue
the game is by 3 1. . .1e4! (not men
tioned by Ostapenko ), when White
appeas to have nothing better than
32 1d7+ b6 33 txd6+ lc6 34
.d8+ lxd8 35 'xd8+ a7 36
.xb3 'i el+ 37 'dl 'xf. White
cannot save his h-pawn without al
lowing pertual check, so Black has
some drawing chances.
J2 3eJ+ a
There is no longer any defence,
e.g. 32 . . . lc5 33 .d5 lb8 34 'e7
'c6 35 .xc6 bxa2 36 'xd6 al'+
37 d2 'a5+ 38 c3 and Black's
king succumbs.
JJ 3xc8
2xc8
Material equality is restored, but
the onslaught continues neverthe
less.
Lin - Vorotnikov 117
.. f5+ lc
After 34 . . . b 35 .d2+ c4 36
axb3+ Black loses his queen.
J5 Sxc5 W5
Alternatively, 35 . . . bxa2 36 b+
b5 37 1d7+ c4 38 1g4+ d5
39 c4+ e5 40 .d4#. Black ha
never been able to fmd time for
. . . bxa2-he has been too busy at
tending to White's theat.
3 .b4+ xb
J7 c4
J8 Wxb5+ b5
J9 bJ+ dJ
40 d1 1-0
Game 44
Sometimes it is quite unclear which king is going to be hunted. In completely
wild tactical battles, it often happens that both sides are doing their best to
expose te enemy king and drive it out into te open. These situations are par
ticulaly mind-bending, because each move has to b a compromise between
guading one's own king and furthering one's attackng ambitions. Getng
the balance right is as much a matter of judgement as caculation, bcause at
tournaent time-limits it is impossible to calculate precisely every vaiation.
In the following game, Black adopts an ulta-sharp opening variation in
volving an ealy piece sacrifce. His blitzkrieg soon has White stuggling to
avoid being mated, but he has one reason for optimism-Black's king is
tapped in the centre of the boad. Eventualy Black's attck reaches it apo
gee, and at tis point Black could have forced prptual check. Eiter Vorot
nikov didn't see it, or he unwisely decided to press for the win, and soon
White was able to retur all te sacrifced materia t stat his own kng-hunt.
Lukn-Vemtmkev
USSR 1973
Ruy Lopez
1 e4
2 lf
J 3b5

v
a6
'
4 3a4
5 0-0
6 hJ
d6
Sg4
h5
The game has hadly stated, and
already Black ofers a piece. This
line wa quite popula in the 1970s,
but toay it has vitually vaished.
l iB Gae 44
7 d4
By threatening d5, White brings
his cl -bishop into play with gain of
tempo. The immediate capture on g4
is bad, because after 7 hxg4 hxg4
White's knight cannot move on ac
count of 8 .. .'ih4.
7
8 ib3
9 hxg4
b5
vxd4
Now the cl-bishop covers g5, so
White can accept the sacrifice with
out incuring an immediate disaster.
Nevertheless, Black gains reason
able compensation in the shape of
two pawns and dangerous attacking
chances.
9
10 vg5
hxg4
vh6
Black must defend f, so he is
forced to block the menacing h-fle.
On the other hand, the knight on g5
has no retreat, so l l . . . ie7 is a sig
nifcant threat.
11 f4
This move lends further support
to the knight on g5, prepaes a possi
ble attack against f and undermines
Black's knight on d4. The negative
side is that it opens the a7 -g 1 diago
nal aganst White's king. 1 1 g3, 1 1
ie3, 1 1 id5 and 1 1 c3 have also
been tried, but a discussion of the
relative merits of these moves be
longs to a book on opning theor!
11 ... d(D)
Black immediately sets about oc
cupying the newly opened diagonal,
even at the cost of a frther sacrfce.
2 ixd5 3c
1J ie3 Wd6
w
Supporting the bishop ready for
the knight on d4 to move away.
4 bI
As an indication of how caefl
White must be, the obvious 14 c3
fails to 14 . . . tc2! 1 5 1xc2 (15 if
g3 16 'xc2 tg4! wins for Black)
ixe3+ 16 h2 tf5+ 17 th3 exf4
with a decisive attack, for example
18 exf5 g3+ 19 hl 'xd5 mates in
four more moves.
The move played is pat of a
scheme to eliminate Black's threat
ening dak-squared bishop.
14 ... ib6
15 c4?
Exteme accuracy is required, or
White's king will be hunted, for ex
ample the geedy 15 ixa8? loses to
15 . . . txc2 16 if (after 16 'xc2
ixe3+ 17 h2 tf5+ 1 8 th3 td4
1 9 'c3 exf4 Black's attack is far
too strong-White's king cannot
survive if it is driven to the h-fle)
ixf+ 17 xf2 'ib6+ 18 g3
'i e3+ 19 h2 tf5+ 20 th3 lbh3+
21 gxh3 'i xh3+ 22 gl 'i g3+ (frst
Black transfers his queen to h4 with
gain of tempo, or else White will
mate by ic6+) 23 hi 'h4+ 24
g1 lg3 25 .c6+ f with a win
ning attack for Black.
However, here White probably
missed the stongest continuation:
1 5 fxe5 ! 'he5 (tricky moves by the
d4-knight don' t work-White is just
too fa aead in material) 16 .xa8
and Black has no good follow-up,
for example 16 . . . Wxg5 17 .xd4,
16 . . . g3 17 l3 or 16 . . . lhf5 17 lxf5
Wh2+ 18 fl Whl+ 19 .gl . It ap
peas dangerous to brng the black
queen within range of h2, but it is
more important that the queen loses
contact with c6, and so moves by te
d4-knight can be met by .c6+ forc
ing mate.
5 . bxc4
Forced, or else c5 shuts out the
bishop, but now White's hi -knight
can head for c4.
6 J f5I
Blow and counter-blow! White
has no time for 17 lxc4, because
17 ... .xe3+! 18 lxe3 lxe3 19 Wa+
e7 20 .xa8 lxfl gives Black a
clear advantage.
w
7 3O gJ(D)
8 vxc4
Lkin - Vorotnikov 119
White is forced to pat wit his
bishop, as 18 'a4+ e7 19 lxc4 is
met by 19 . . . gxf+ 20 :xflg4! 21
lxd6 .xf2+ 22 fl lg3#.
8
8
+
9 R 3xO+
20 x
It ofen happens that materia and
the initiative counterbalance one
another. Now White is te exchage
down rather than a piece up, but he
has eliminated Black's dangerous
bishop ad moved over to the attack
himself. Now he threatens lxd6+,
.xa8 or exf5.
20 ... Wxb4
Eliminating the pawn on b gives
the queen access to c5.
2 .c6
In such a chaotic position, piece
activity is more important than ma
teral. Afer 21 .xa8? Wxc4 22 exf5
Wxf4+ 23 Wf3 'xg5 24 Wc6+ f
Black's king is heading for safety on
h7, and suddenly White's king is
again te more exposed.
2 ... e7
Black could have forced a draw
by 21. . . f 22 .xa8 (22 exf5 Wc5+
23 e1 'xc6 wins for Black) 'c5+
23 e1 'i g1+ 24 d2 'i d4+ 25
e1 'c3+ (or simply 25 . . . 'g1+)
26 lg4+ 27 'i xg4 'd4+ 28
'i c3+, but he courageously tries to
win.
22 Wd7+ f
2J e5(D)
White has activated his queen
with gain of tempo, and now he can
remove one of the minor pieces en
'ngering his king. Not 23 .xa8?
120 Game 44
lg4+ 24 f3 'i c3+ 25 xg4 Wg3+
26 xf5 'xf4#.
B
2J .
But this is going too far. After
23 . . . 1xc4 24 .xa8 lg4+ 25 f3
Wxf4+ 26 e2 'i e3+ 27 dl lhl+
28 c2 'c5+ 29 b3 'b6+ 30
c2 the complications would have
burned out into perpetual chek-a
fair result to a titanic stggle. In
credibly, this is how an ealier gae
C
iric-Scholl, Amsterdam 1970, fn
ished. One may speculate as to
whether Lukin or Vorotnikov knew
of te ealier encounter, but I would
guess not in view of the subsequent
inaccuracies.
Afer the move played, the mate
rial balance once again swings to
wads White.
24 G?I
24 el ! is simple and stong. A
ter 24 . . . 'xc4 (24 . . . 'gl+ 25 e2
Wxal 26 .xa8 1xa2+ 27 l2
forces mate) 25 .xa8 Wc3+ 26 e2
'i c2+ 27 'd2 Wc4+ 28 'd3 Black
ha no prtual check, so Wite can
liquidate to an endgae while pre
serving his material advantage.
2 1xc4
25 3xa8
1x4
2 e2 1xg5?
At this critical moment, Black
decides to regan his materia and
even go two pawns up; readers will
not be surprised to lea that such
materiaism is going to be drasti
cally punished. 26 . . . Wc4+ 27 d2
1f4+ 28 c3 would also have ben
ver good for White. The correct
move was 26 . . . g6!, gving the king a
fight squae on g7. After 27 f6 1xf6
28 le4 1b6 29 lhl the position
would have ben totly unclea.
27 Wc8+ e7
28 W xc7+
And not 28 1xh8? Wg4+ 29 .f3
Wc4+ 30 d2 'd4+, when Black
wins. This game must set some sor
of record for the number of en prise
rooks declined.
w
2

(D)
29 Wc8+?I
The lage number of alternative
checks has confused White. He
could have won more simply by
playing 29 18+ e7 30 Wxe5+
f8 31 Wb8+ e7 32 'ib4+ f6
33 'd6+ xf5 34 :n + g4 35
.f3+, bt he probably didn' t wat to
take te e-pawn for fea that it would
alow a later . . . le8 with check.
w
29 e7
3 W c+
J W d6+ G5
J2 H+ g4
JJ .f+ gJ(D)
I suspect that White didn't imag
ine that the king would be relatively
T Espig -Zinn 121
safe on g3. Only his accurate follow
up guaantees success.
WI
The only dangerous check is on
e 1 , and the queen fnds an excellent
route to this key squae. The threat
is 35 'el + f4 36 'd2+ f5 37
.h5+. Black is curiously unable to
defend himself.
... m
O34 .. .f6 35 'e1 + f4 36 .h5+
e4 37 'b4+ d5 38 ld1 + e6
(or 38 . . . c6 39 'd6+ bS 40 lb1 +
c4 41 lb4+ c3 42 .. cS#) 39
'd6+ fS 40 'd7+ f4 41 lfl +
g3 42 'h3#.
J5 e+
3 W d+
J7 3xe4+
J8 3O+
J9 3h5+ -0
Black is forced to part with his
queen.
Game 45
Some king-hunts cover a wider aea than oters. The following one is excep
tional in that the black king visits al eight fles and six ranks. Moreover,
many such king-hunts ae rather uninteresting because the king is obviously
going to b mated in the end, and indeed there ae often several methods of
execution-but in this example it is fa fom clea wheter the prey is going to
escape. Add to that the spice of time-trouble and you have the recip for a
classic roya chase.
T. Elg- Zlnn
Est Gerny 1973
Moern Defence
m g6
2 d4
3g7
J l c
4 f4 d5
5 e5 h5
Black's plan in this opening is to
set up a flblokade on te light
squaes, hoping that if he can con
tain White's kingside ambitions,
then he will b able to develop a later
122 Gae 45
queenside initiative. Both sides usu
ally adopt a slow manoeuvring stat
egy, but not in ts gae!
6 3g4
Since Black intends occupying
the light squares with his pawns, he
doesn' t mind the eventual exchange
of his ' bad' bishop.
7 3e2
8 3eJ
e
k7
This gae is slightly unusual in
that Black's kng' s knight remains
on g8 instead of being developed to
h6. Black's idea is to wait until it
becomes clearer whether the knight
belongs on e7 or h6, but Black's
blockade is less secure tan norma,
since the knight is not covering g4
and f5. It is White's attempt to ex
ploit this omission that causes the
gae to catch fe.
9 gJ
White's plan is to force the ex
change of the g4-bishop and then
expand on the kingside by h3, g4
and eventually f5. However, the im
mediate 9 h3 is premature because
of 9 . . . .xf3 10 .xf3 h4, bloking
White's kingside ambitons.
9 b5
0 bJ
3M
3M 3M
Although reteating the bishop
may look odd, it is quite noral in
this line. The bishop is needed on the
f8-a3 diagonal to support Black's
queenside advance.
2 GO
Also quite normal; White con
nects his major pieces on the frst
rank, and prevents Black meeting g4
by . . . hxg4 followed by . . . :xl + ad
. . ...h4+. In this vaation White's
king is usualy bst placed on g2.
2 . vM
J bJ
Thanks to Black's omission of
. . . lh6-f5, White has managed to
save a tem by avoiding .. d. Wen
the queen does move, it will be to a
more efective squae.
J ... Wc7
This was Black's last chance to
steer the gae into more conven
tional channels with 13 . . . l7, al
though after 14 g4 Black's knight
cannot occupy f5 and is poorly
placed on e7, blocking in the f-
bishop. It is clear that Black's open
ing stategy has failed.
4 g4 h4(D)
w
5 DI
The start of the complications.
White could have continued qui
etly with l2 or "d3, aiming for f5
under less double-edged circum
stances, but the continuation shows
that this brave decision was justi
fed.
5 ...
g
Black must accept, or else fxg6,
followed by 1d3 and le2-f4, will
shatter Black's psition.
6 gD eM5
7 WdJ Wd7
After 17 . . . le7 18 .g5 0-0-0 19
lhg 1 le8 20 laf1 Black ha almost
no active play, so White need not be
in any hury to regain the f5-pawn
with ixe7.
8 2 0-0-0
Black must have felt relieved to
remove his king from the cente, but
White stikes on the queenside too.
9 a4I bxa4
After 19 . . . b4 20 la8 21 c4
bxc3 22 lhc1 White will develop a
crshing attack down the c-fle.
20 c4I
The point. 20 bxa4 lc4 would al
low Black to block White's attack,
but now he cannot prevent the posi
tion opening up completely. More
and more Black is missing his light
squared bishop.
20 .. dxc4
Alternatively 20 . . . axb3 21 cxd5
cxd5 (2l . . .lxd5 22 1xb3 lxe3 23
lhb1 1c7 24 .xc6 1xc6 25 lcl
wins) 22 1xb3, with a tly gigatic
attack.
2 bxc4
Threatening to win by means of
22 c5 .xc5 23 1a6+.
2 . c5
22 d5 f6 (D)
Undoubtedly Black's best chance,
provoking an immediate crisis be
fore White brings his last attacking
pieces into play wit lf4 and lhbl .
2J e
T. Espig - Zinn 123
w
This move is more or less forced,
as White canot allow . . . fxe5, while
23 exf6 lxf6 brings Black's reclu
sive knight surging into the game.
2J ... Wxe6
2 vd4 Wd7
After 24 . . . 1e5 25 lc6 1g3+ 26
'e2 le8 27 1xf5+ b7 28 d6
White has a winning attack, for ex
ample 28 . . . 1xd6 29 lb4+ 'c7 30
la6+ 'd8 31 lhd 1.
25 -5 7
Black must eliminate the domi
nating knight on f5.
26 3g4 Gb7
27 3f4
White aims to play d6, opening
the long diagonal onto the enemy
king.
27
28 3M5
29 d6
5
1t
3h6
Once again, Black seeks to defuse
White's attack by exchanges, but de
spite his systematic defence White's
attack is simply too strong. The
threat was 30 1e4+ a6 31 lxa4+
lxa4 32 1c6+, and 29 . . . 1xc4 loses
to 30 1f3+ ld5 31 lxa4 1xa4 32
1xd5+ b6 33 lb1+.
124 Gae 45
J0 We4+ b8
J d7+
If Black had not played . . . .h6,
this would lead to immediate mate.
J 3xf4
J2 W xf4+ Gb7
JJ W e4+
This position is won for White,
but there is no absolutely clea-cut
winning line. Therefore White re
peats moves to edge closer to move
40.
w
JJ
W f4+
J5 3e4+
3 Za4+I?
c7
b7
Ga6 (D)
White can hardly b blamed for
missing a somewhat simpler win
while short of time-the position is
enormously complicated. After 36
"c7 (not 36 'i d6? "xd7 defending
a4) "xc4 (36 . . . 'i xd7 37 .b7+ 'i a5
38 'ixc5+) 37 lxa4+ "xa4 (or
37 . . . xa4 38 .b7+ b5 39 lbl+
'b4 40 'c6+ c4 41 'e4+ b5
42 lxb4+ cxb4 43 'c6+ a5 44
Wa6#) 38 .b7+ 'ia5 39 'i xc5+
Wb5 40 lal+ a4 41 'xa7+ b4
42 lbl+ c4 43 .a6 Black could
no longer resist, but then we would
have missed the full kng-hunt.
3 a4
J7 W d6+ a
J8 Wc7+ 'ib4
Black's moves are forced to avoid
immediate mate.
8
J9 Zb+(D)
J9 ..
c
Black faced a critical decision on
move 39-never a pleasant circum
stance. After 39 . . . a3, suggested in
/nformatorwithout further analysis,
White wins by 40 'ib7 (as indeed I
scrawled in my copy of lnforator
15 during 1973 ! ) b6 41 'i a6+
a4 42 .al+ b2 43 'b5+ c3
4 e3 followed by lcl#.
However, 39 . . . 'ixc4 would be a
tougher defence. White then has two
possible winning lines:
1) 40 .c6 lxd7 41 .b5+ c3
42 'i a+ c2 43 'el ld2+ 4 fl
c4 45 .xa4+ .d3 (45 . . . 'ic3 46
lcl + .d3 47 .c2+ lxc2 48 .dl +)
46 .b5 (threat .b3+) 'i c3 47 'i cl +
d3 48 .b3+ e4 49 .c6+ f5 50
lb5+ 'ig6 51 'xd2 should be a
comfortable win. Black ha three
pawns for the piece, but they are all
isolated and White still has a very
strong attack.
2) 40 lc1 + (this is even more
conclusive, but it is fairly complex)
and now (D).
B
2a) 40 . . . b5 41 'ib7+ a5 42
'ixa7+ b4 43 lb1+ (or 43 .. .'a3
44 la1 +) c3 44 'i xa4 wins.
2b) 40 .. .'b4 (40 . . . b3 41 'i b7+
lb6 42 'i xa7 is te sae) 41 'i b7+
lb6 42 'xa7 lb8 (42 . . . la4 loses
as in line 2a) 43 dS' 'i xa7 4 1d2+
b5 45 lb1 + mates.
2c) 40 . . . lc3 41 'i a d4 42
'ixc3+ xe4 43 'i e3+ (White wins
Th. Epig - Zinn 125
with a long series of checks which
removes Black's defensive pawns
one by one) f5 44 'ixc5+ f4
(44 . . . g6 45 lg1+ h6 46 'e3+
'h5 47 'if3+ h6 48 tf4+ 'h5
49 'i g4+ 'ih6 50 'i xh4+ mates,
much as in the game) 45 'i e3+ f5
46 'i f3+ 'e6 47 le1 + d6 48
'i a+ 'c6 49 ta6+ c5 50 'i xa7+
'ib5 51 .b1 + c6 52 lc 1 + 'd6 53
'i c5+ 'xd7 (53 . . . 'e6 54 le1 +) 54
ld1 + e8 55 le1+ 'd7 56 'i a7+
winning Black's queen.
40 W+ Gd4
4 'i d+ 'xe4
After 4l . . .e5 42 .d5 'ih5 43
le1+ f5 (43 . . . d6 44 .f3+) 44
le7 White has the decisive threat of
45 .e4#.
42 lel+ -0
Black gave up in view of 42 . . . 'if5
43 'd3+ g5 44 lg1+ 'h6 (or
44 .. .'f4 45 lg4+ e5 46 le4+
f5 47 le7+) 45 'i e3+ 'h5 46
'f3+ h6 47 'i f4+ 'h5 48 'ig4+
h6 49 'ixh4+ 'h5 50 'i xf6+
h7 51 'g7#. In this line Black's
king walked fom a6 to h7, via c3!
Gae 46
It is time for that taditional piece of self-indulgence, a gae by the author.
The opning of this gae is one of the shast in the book, since it involves
Black in the sacrifce of a whole rook. It is tue that White ends up with a
knight trappd on a8, so some might say that it is really only a exchage sac
rifice, but since Black usually cannot afford the tempo required to actually
tae the knight, it usually stays on the boad fa longer than one might expct!
In addition to the possible eventual capture of this knight, Black also ha a
stong initiative. The theor of this line is ver complex, but te risks associ
ated with it ae so great that these days it is usually only seen in corespon
dence chess. I intouced an innovation on move 13, and such is te volatile
126 Game 46
nature of the position that even one slight inaccuracy by White was enough to
plunge him into dificulties. Soon White's king was prised out fom behind
his defensive pawns and a full-scale king-hunt was in progess.
tHn- Num
Teesside Student Olympiad 1974
Vienna Opning
e e5
2 vf6
J 3c4 oe
4 W 5 v6
5 3bJ 9c6
6 tb5 g6
7 "f f5
8 "d5 "e7
9 9xc7+ Gd8
0 9xa8 b
dJ
Readers interested in the exten
sive theory of this line should refer
to The Complete Vienna by Tseitlin
and Glakov, or Harding's old book
Venna Opening, which is still worh
consulting. White's man aterna
tives are 1 1 d4, 1 1 txb6 and 1 1
"f3, but to this day nobody is sure
which move is best!

2 h4
J "f
3b7
f4
3h6(D)
This is the new idea which was
introduced in this game. Hitherto,
Black had usually played 13 . . . t4
14 1g4 ih6. My idea was to invert
these moves, which at least has the
beneft of setting White new prob
lems. Curiously enough, Black has
recently reverted to 13 . . . l4, but
with the idea of meeting 14 1g4 by
1 4 . . . .g7. This was played in the
w
important game Ekebjrrg-Timmer
man, Corr 1991 , a game which is
regrettably not mentioned in the
above-mentioned book by Tseitlin
and Glazkov (indeed, it virually re
futes one of the lines given by them).
4 Wg4?
White maes the mistake of t
ing to tanspose back into the old
line, and Black's new idea notches
up an immediate success. There ae
vaious alteratives, but we ca only
summarise the aalysis here:
1) 14 id5 ixa8 ! 15 te2 tf5
16 c3 txh4 17 1h3 ig5 1 8 g3 tf5
is unclear.
2) 14 .d2 td4 15 1g4 e 16
0-0-0 e3 17 fxe3 txb3+ 18 axb3
fxe3 19 ie1 ei+ 20 ld2 .xd2+ 21
'xd2 le8 22 txe2 "e3+ 23 'dl
h5 24 1g5+ "xg5 25 hxg5 .xg2
wit an edge for White.
3) 14 te2 td4 15 1h3 txe2
16 'xe2 ixa8 17 id2 lf8 1 8 f3
tf5 19 lae1 tg3+ 20 "xg3 fxg3
21 ix6 'c7 is roughly equa.
4 mI
This is the key difference. Black
can spnd his tempo on a much more
usefl move than . . . ld4. The imme
diate central breakthrough not only
gives White no time to organise his
defence, but it also creates the option
of . . . le5.
5 .x4
Other moves ae no btter:
1) 15 dxe4 i bad afer 15 ... 'i xe4+
1 6 e2 ld4 17 d 1 ( 17 .e3 fxe3
1 8 'ixe4 exf2+ 19 fl lxe4 20
lxd4 .e3 wins for Black) xe2 1 8
le1 (not 1 8 'ixe2 'i xg2) 'd4+ 19
xe2 (19 .d2 'xb2 20 xe2 .a6+
21 f3 f5 with a crushing attack)
.a6+ 20 f3 e4! and now White
is helpless, since 21 lxe4 loses to
2l . ..'d1+.
2) 15 e2 exd3 16 cxd3 e5 17
'ih3 f3 1 8 gxf3 .xc1 19 lxc1
lxd3+ 20 d2 l! 21 'g2 l1
22 lxb6 le8 ! and White i s in seri
ous touble.
5 . exd
6
After 16 d1 e4! 17 3 le5
1 8 .xe5 'ixe5 19 c3 lxf2+ 20
lxf2 'i e3 White has to give up most
of his pieces to prevent mate.
6 .x4
7 'i x4 . (D)
8 'i gJ
Although the queen can move to
many different squares, none of the
alteratives is at all appealing:
1 ) 1 8 'i g5 (18 'i d2 l4 leads to
a similar position) lxf+ 19 xf
le4+ 20 fl xg5 21 hxg5 dxc2
22 .xc2 .a6+ 23 f 1c5+ 24
st Hansen -Nunn 127
w
g3 1xg5+ 25 f 'cS+ wins for
Black.
2) 18 'i c1 d2! 19 'd1 (19 'i xd2
le4 20 'i e3 lxf 21 1xf lxf+
22 xf2 'cS+ 23 fl 4) .a6+
20 e2 'i e3 21 gl lxf2 and now
White's position collapses.
3) 18 'i h6 lf5 19 'i f4 le3+ 20
fxe3 lhf4+ 21 exf4 dxc2 22 .xc2
.a6+ 23 f2 'i cS+ 24 g3 'xc2
with a lage advantage for Black.
4) 18 'ih2 l4 will taspose to
the gae.
5) 1 8 'i g4 le4 19 lf3 le5 20
lxeS (or 20 1h3 lxf3 21 gxf3
ld2+) 1xe5 21 g1 lf4 22 1dl
xf 23 'i e1 'c5 24 'i c3 lxh1 +
25 1xc5 bxcS 26 xh 1 lxh4+ 27
g1 lg4 and wins.
6) 1 8 1a4 bS ! 1 9 1a3 b4 20
1a4 lxf+ 21 xfle4+ 22 e3
'i c5+! 23 xe4 1d4+ 24 f3 l7+
followed by mate.
8 v4
9 1c7+ e
20 J
The alternative is 20 lf3 (20 f
loses to 20 . . . 'i c5 ! 21 3 l2+ 22
e1 1e3+ 23 d1 1e2+ 24 cl
lxb3+ and mate) 1c5 21 gl
128 Game 46
lxf3 ! . In my 1 97 4 notes I had as
sessed this position as better for
Black. Undeterred by this, the 1986
correspondence game Wibe-Bryson
continued: 22 h2 (22 cxd3 1xf+
23 h2 lf4! wins for Black) 'ih5
(22 . . . 'xf is also very strong) 23
lhf1 td4 24 lae1 (24 .e6 'xh4+
25 .h3 .xh3+ 26 gxh3 lf3+ 27
g2 'ig5+ 28 h1 lh4 wins) d2
0- 1 .
B
20 txf
21 vO(D)
21 ... 'e2+
Here I missed a chance to win
more quickly by 21 . . . 1e3! 22 g1
lxf! (treatening 23 ... lf4+ 24 h2
lxh4#) 23 1h2 (or 23 .h3 lf3+ 24
'ih2 lxh3+ 25 gxh3 'i f+ 26 'i h1
la5+) le2+ 24h1 le1+ followed
by mate. The reason for overlooking
this is purely psychological; given
the chance to take various white
pieces wit check, it is hard to imag
ine that there might b a stronger
continuation which doesn't involve
checking at all.
22 g1
23 'i h2
'i xf+
1xh4+
2 g
25 h
Wd4
v5
Spuing the prpeta check and
closing in for the kill. The immedi
ate threat is 26 . . . 1h4+ 27 gl
'i f+ and 28 . . . 1xg2#.
26 m
The only defence, for example
26 1xb7 lg4+ 27 'h3 lf2+ 28
'h2 'ih4+ 29 'ig1 'xh1# or 26
laf1 'ih4+ 27 'g1 lxfl + 28 'ixfl
1xh1 +, but now the white king is
levered out and the king-hunt gets
under way.
26 .. vg4+
27 'g3
Both 27 h1 and 27 'h3 run into
27 . . . .xg2+! 28 xg2 te3+ mat-
ing.
27 .. 'i e+
28 g4 (D)
After 28 h4, Black forces mate
by 28 . . . 'ih6+ 29 'xg4 (29 'ig3
1h2+ 30 xg4 'i h5+ is the same)
1h5+ 30 g3 1g5+ 31 h3 1xg2+
32 h4 g5+ 33 h5 1h3+ 34 'ixg5
h6+ 35 'g6 .e4+ 36 g7 1g4+
37 'xh6 \g6#.
B
2 .. h5+
It would have ben simpler to play
28 . . . 'i e2+ 29 h4 'h5+, transpos
ing into the previous note.
29 h4 g5+
29 . . . 'i e4+ is a quicker win: 30
g5 'i e7+ 31 h6 (31 xg6 .e4+
32 xh5 :h8+ 33 g4 'h4#)
:hs+ 32 xg6 .e4+ 33 :fs 'ih7+,
but te move played also leads to
mate.
J0 xh5 2h8+
J g6
Or 31 g4 :h4+ 32 f5 'i e4+
33 f6 :h6+.
J . .m+
J2 :
32 g7 'd4+ 33 :f6 lh7+ 34
g8 'ixf6 with a rapid mate.
Gusev - Zhuravlev 129
J2 ...
JJ M5
3M5+
2M+
This forces mate in seven more
moves.
J4 g6
34 g4 'e4+ 35 xg5 'i xg2+ is
no btter.
...
J5
g
W e4+
W e7+
Now the king has to turn around
and go back.
3
g
J7 h5
J8 g4
Slightly accelerating the end, but
38 g6 :f6+ 39 xg5 'i g7+ only
lasts two moves longer.
J8 WW
Gae 47
The phrae 'playing with fe' might have been invented to describ the adop
tion of certain opening systems. Many lines of the Sicilian Najdorffall into
this category. In the following game, Black is confonted by a slightly un
usual move, and replies in a way which positively invites White to sacrfce
on b5. Gusev duly obliges, and after an inaccuracy by Black we ae teated to
a king-hunt fom e8 to h2. It must have ben scant consolation for Zuravlev
when, seven yeas later, an improvement for Black was discovered which vin
dicated his decision to allow the sacrifce on b5.
Gusev- Zhuravlev 7 f4 3e7
USSR 1976 8 WO Wc7
Sicilian Najdorf 9 0-0-0 vb7
0 WgJ
m c This is the slightly unusual move
2 d6 mentioned above ( 10 g4 and 10 .d3
J d4 cxd4 ae more comon). Te safest reply
4 vxd4 vf6 is 1 0 . . . h6 1 1 .h4 g5, transposing
5 t a6 to a standard position; lO . . . tcS is
6

g5 e certainly a playable ateratve, but

130 Game 47
much less is kown about this possi
bility.
0 b5
One of the points of 10 ..g3 is
that, by supporting e4-e5, it sets up
the possibility of a sacrifce on b5. It
follows that this move, by which
Black daes Whte to do his worst, is
a critical test of White's idea.
$ xb5 b5
2 vxb5 W b8
The best squae. 1 2 . . ... c5 13 e5
0-0 (or 1 3 . . . dxe5 14 fxe5 txe5 15
i.e3 ad Black must retu the piece
since 15 . . . th5 rns into 16 i.xc5
txg3 17 tc7+ f8 1 8 :d8#) 14
exf6 txf6 1 5 txd6 th5 16 .. f3
i.xd6 17 ..xa8 is very good for
White, Petri-Wessman, Baguio City
jr Wch 1987.
J e5 de
This is the most natua move, but
1 3 . . . :a 14 exf6 gxf6 may also b
playable. After 15 ld4 fxg5 16 lc6
'a8 17 txe7 xe7 1 8 f5 :xf5 19
'xd6+ e8 20 :he1 'i a6 21 'i d4
:g8 22 t4 :f4 23 g3 :xe4 24
:xe4 "ba2 Black was clearly bet
ter in Strenzwilk-Renet, St Main
1992. 15 i.h6 :xb5 16 txb5 'xb5
17 'g7 :f8 1 8 Wxh7 'ih5 is more
critica, wit a unclea position.
4 fxe5
5 :he(D)
5 . vd7?I
15 . . . t4? is even worse, for ex
aple 1 6 'c7 td5 (16 . . . i.b7 17
'xc4 0-0 1 8 .f4 is a better chance,
but still go for White) 17 :xd5 0-0
1 8 .xe7 1-0 Vtolins-Anetbaev,
Riga 1975. Black's corect reply was
8
eventually discovered by Waiter
Browne: 15 ... tg6 16 lc7+ f8 17
txa8 'xa8 18 .. c7 h6 19 .e3 t8
and Black has the advantage, Shi
rai-Browne, USA Ch 1 983. This
game effectively killed of the vai
ation fom White's point of view.
6 $ f4 W7
Best, as 16 . . . e5 17 :xe5 txe5 18
i.xe5 ..b7 19 i.xf6 gxf6 20 ..g7
:f8 21 td5 d7 22 Wg4+ c6 23
_c4+ .c5 24 l4+ d6 25 t7!
xc7 26 .. xc5+ b8 27 tc6+
wins for White.
7 $d6(D)
Threatening 1 8 lc7+ f8 19
i.xe7+ xe7 20 txe6! . Grabbing
material by 17 'xg7 :g8 1 8 tc7+
'ixc7 19 'xg8+ txg8 20 i.xc7
i.b7 is far less clear, since the b7-
bishop is very active and in an end
ing Black need not wory about his
king.
7 ... 6?I
Only this move fnally allows
White a clea advantge. 17 . . . is
also doubtful afer 1 8 i.xe7+ xe7
19 td6 ..b4 (or 19 . . . 'c6 20 'xg7
:f8 21 tf5+ e8 22 :d6, followed
by a deadly srfce on e) 20 le6+
B
(20 'ixg7 'i f4+ 21 b1 lf8 is less
efective) fxe6 (20 . . . f8 21 l5) 21
'ixg7+ d8 22 'i xh8+ c7 23
lcb5+ c6 24 'i d8 'a 25 ld4+
xd6 26 lb3+ 'i d5 27 lxd5+ exd5
28 ld4 and White's two connected
passed pawns combined with his
continuing attack will make life vir
tualy impossible for Black. The best
defence was 17 . . . lh5 1 8 'h3 (18
'ig4 ldf6 19 'i c4 0-0 20 g4 lxg4
21 'ixg4 lf6 is fne for Black)
lhf6 1 9 lc7+ (avoiding the repeti
tion of moves; 19 lbe6 fxe6 20 l7 +
f8 21 'i xe6 .xd6 22 'xd6+ f
23 'i e6+ is a draw at best) d8 20
.xe7+ xe7 (20 . . . xc7 21 'i g3+
b6 22 ld4 wins for White) 21
lxa8 'i xa8 22 'i g3, with an unclea
position.
8
9
20
7+
3xe7+
vxe6I

e7
Going for the king-hunt is the
most incisive continuation. In lnfor
mtor, Gufeld gave 20 'i xg7 lg8 21
l3d5+ lxd5 22 lxd5+ 'i xd5 23
'xg8 a good for White (for exa
ple 23 . . . 'ixa2 24 'xc8 'i al + 25
d2 ld6+ 26 e2 'i xb2 27 fl
Guev -Zhravlev 131
and White escapes with an extra
exchange), but 20 . . . 'ixc7 21 'xh8
.b7 is better, with a murky position.
If Wite wated to continue quietly,
he could play 20 lxa6 'xa6 21
'ixg7 lf8 22 'g5, with an un
doubted advantage, but the move
played is even stonger.
20 2xe6
2 e6
22 2e+ 5
23 h4
White would not have sacrifced
on e6 if his intention had been
merely to force a draw by 23 :n +.
By threatening mate in one, White
takes away the g5-squae with gan
of tempo.
23 h6
24 'd3+ g4
Afer 24 . . . 4. White forces mate
by 25 le2+ e5 (or 25 . . . g4 26
'g3+ f5 27 l4#) 26 lg3+ 4
27 'f5+ xg3 28 le3+ h2 29
'h3+ g1 30 le1+ 31 'e3+
xg2 32 lgl + h2 33 'ig3#.
25 '3+
h5
Black's moves ae all forced:
25 . . . f4 26 g3+ f3 27 'f5+ g2
28 le2+ xg3 29 le3+ leads to
mate.
26 'f5+ g5 (D)
27 mg5?
Having played more or less fault
lessly so fa, White, at this critical
juncture, overlooks a quick win: 27
le2! (27 lh1? is met by 27 . . . 1xg2,
so White must fst defect the
queen) 'c7 (there is no other an
swer to the theats of 28 lf4+ and
28 lg3+) 28 lh 1 forcing mate.
132 Game 47
w
27
'i
g
Forced. This meets the threat of
28 gxf6+, a 28 . . ... g5 is check.
2 2 ?I
After this White is again winning
comfortably. 28 . . . h4 would have
been a much tougher defence, but
White could still have won by 29
lf4! .. c6 (te only move; 29 . . . 2
30 gxf6, 29 . . ... f 30 lg6+ g3 31
lgl+ f 32 lfl+ and 29 . . ... b7 30
gxf6 are all hopeless) 30 lgl ! tl S
(30 . . . l5 31 lg2+ .. xg2 32 .. f4+
h3 33 lxg2 xg2 34 .. xf6 wins
more material) 3 l lg2+ (31 le6 is
ingenious, but only leads to a draw
after 3l . . .lxe6 32 .. xf6 .. e 33
,. f+ h5 34 .. xf7+ h4 35 .. f+
h5) .. xg2 32 .. f4+ h3 33 lxg2
xg2 34 .. xf6 lg8 (there is nothing
better; 34 . . . lg6 loses to 35 'xf)
35 gxh6 .e6 (or else Black loses his
last pawn) 36 'i g7+ and the pawn
promotes.
29 lg3+ h4
30 le+

g3
After 30 . . . 'ixe4 31 lxe4 l7b6
32 'i e5 lg8 (32 . . . ld8 33 gxh6) 33
c4 White picks up the knight and
wins on matera.
J lg4
Rater surprisingly, White msses
a forced mate by 3 1 ..g4+ h2 32
'h4+ gl 33 lel + n 34 Wg3+
hl 35 lxfl#, but the move played
is also sufcient for an eay win.
w
J h (D)
32 l
g
+

g2
33 _xdS+ h3
@
6
Black's position is hopless; his
king is horribly exposed to forks by
the white queen, so he cannot
counter the h-pawn.
f6
Desperately trying to secure e5
for the knight, but White' s reply
immediately frustrates this plan.
34 . . . lxh6 35 Whl + ad 34 ... lf6 35
_f3+ were also termnal.
35 h7 l
35 . . . l5 loses staight away ar
36 Wg8.
3 . f
37 . x6
38 'i :
h
l7
m
Black did not cae to see White
gradually advancing his three con
neted ps pawns!
Smagin - Bukhtin 133
Gae 48
Double check is one of the most forcing moves in chess-the only possible
reply is a king move-yet it is quite rae in over-the-boad play. When it dos
occu, it usually signals the rapid end of the game. It is therefore exceptional
for a protacted king-hunt to star with a double check, and even more so for
the double check to b a deeply caculatd rok sacrce.
5m- uMdn
USSR 1982
Sicilian Najdorf
e c
2 d6
J d4 cxd4
4 d4 6
5 v a6
6 3eJ e5
7 vbJ
This move signas White's inten
tion to adopt an aggressive system
based on castling queenside and
aiming for a kingside pawn advance.
Play usually develops very sharply
since Black must react quickly on
the queenside if he is to defect
White fom his own attack.
7 . 'i c7
This is slightly unusual-Black
dosn' t normally commit his queen
so ealy, usually preferring to play
more fexible moves, such as . . . .e6
and . . . lbd7, bfore maing ay re
ally comttal decision.
8 'i d2
3e7
9 0-0-0 0-0
0 f4 vb7
Another unusual move; Black
normally plays . . . .e6 frst in order
to make sure that White cannot es
tablish a kight on d5.
g4I?
A ver brave decision; such at
tacks ae norally prepared by .e2
(sometimes with h3 or lg1). Here
White is trying to exploit Black's
omission of . . . .e6 to accelerate his
attack; objectively, this idea is prob
ably not entirely sound, but over
the-boad play and home analysis
ae diferent worlds.
..
g4
The Inforator notes by Dolma
tov and Smagin claim that if Black
declines the offer by 1 1 . . . b5, then
White gains a clea advatage afer
12 g5 b 13 gxf6 bxc3 14 'd5 .b7
15 fxe7 ixd5 1 6 exf8'i + :xf8 17
exd5. However, Black has a masive
improvement in this line: 14 . . . cxb2+
1 5 xb2 ixf6! 16 1ha8 ib7 17
'a7 :as and it is not White but
Black who ends up clearly better.
Moreover, White's chances are not
improved by a prelimina exchage
on e5, since 12 fxe5 dxe5 1 3 g5 b
14 gx. bxc3 15 'd cxb2+ 16 b2
lxf6! 17'i xa8 .g4 18'xa6.xdl
19 .d3 .f3 is agan ver goo for
Black. It follows that White would
have to play more quietly afer
1 1 . . . b5, so this is just as good a the
move played.
2 v Wd8
134 Game 48
J xe7+
There is nothing better for White,
as afer 13 f5 0xe3 he would have to
take on e7 in ay cae. Of course, it is
not bad to take the bishop, but given
that White has sacrifced a pawn to
occupy d5 with his knight, the fact
tat he imediately has to exchange
it maes the whole concept appea
faintly illogical.
13 ... Wxe7
14 f5
After 14 ig1 exf4 15 'xf4 0gf6
the pressure against e4 gives White
no time to develop his own attck.
4 ... xeJ
5 WxeJ f6
White has sufcient play for the
pawn, but no more.
6 lg1 h8?I
16 . . . g6 was a more accurate way
to nullify the g-fle threats-it weak
ens the dark squares slightly, but
White is not in a position to exploit
this since he has no dak-squaed
bishop.
7 5
Intending 0c4, attacking d6 and
threatening 0b6. Black's next move
is designed to prevent tis, bt some
thing worse happns instead.
7 .. b5?
Defnitely wrong. After 17 . . . id7
1 8 0xb7 ( 1 8 0c4? ic6 19 0xd6
lad8 is good for Black) d5 19 .c5!
.xc5 20 0xc5 ic6 21 03 dxe4 22
0xe5 idS White has a slight end
gae advantage, but noting more.
18 vc6
White must not invert moves by
1 8 lxg7 xg7 19 .g5+ h8 20
0c6, since 20 ... lg8 21 'h4 lg4 22
'ixg4 (not 22 'h6? 0g8 and Black
wins) 0xg4 23 0xe7 ib7 24 lxd6
ixe4 leads to an unclea ending.
w
18 .. Wc7(D)
19 lxg7! .:c6
The alteratives ae even worse,
for example:
1) 1 9 . . . lg8 20 lxg8+ 0xg8 21
f6 0xf6 (or 2 l . . .'xc6 22 .g5
0xf6 23 'xf6+ g8 24 'd8+ g7
25 lxd6 winning) 22 'i h6 0g8 23
.xd6 'xd6 24 lxd6 and, thanks to
Black's passive knight, White has a
ver promising endgae.
2) 19 . . . 0xe4 20 lxh7+ xh7 21
Wxe4 f6 (there i s nothing better) 22
ld3 lt 23 . g4 h8 24 'h5+
g8 25 lg3+ lg7 26 .e8+ h7 27
lh3#.
3) 19 . . . 0e8 20 lxh7+ xh7 21
'h3+ g8 22 . g4+ h7 23 ld3
with a decisive attack.
20 W6 Wxm
Not 20 . . . d5 21 lxh7+ winning
the queen.
21 . xf6I
The exclaation mak is for not
being tempted by the alternative 21
lg5 Wf4+ 22 b1 1xg5 23 Wxg5
le 24 Wh4 .xf5 25 .d3 d5 26
Wh5 .g6 27 Wxe5+ f6 28 1d4,
which is a risk-fee line giving White
good winning chances. The fact that
White prefered to continue his at
tack shows that he had it worked out
to the end.
2 . Wf4+
The prelimina check means that
Black will later be threatening to
take the rook on d 1 . This possibility
makes no diference in te game
continuation, which works equally
well whether White's king is on b1
or c l .
22 b1 Wxf5(D)
White's preliminary tactics were
just the starter for the main king
hunt, which begins with the follow
ing rook sacrifce.
w
Smgin -Bukhtin 135
2J lx7++! 7
2 id e4
25 W4
g
26 3xe4
Much better than 26 lg1+ "g6
27 lxg6+ fxg6 28 1xe4 if5, when
Black would have survived the
worst.
26 ... Wg4?I
Thanks to the check on f4, Black
is threatening mate on d1, but it is of
no help as White can force mate
using only checks. 26 . . . Wc5 would
have prolonged the gae, but afer
27 "g3+ f6 (27 . . . h8 28 ld5
Wxd5 29 "h4+ g7 30 ixd5 lb8
31 'g5+ h8 32 ie4 wins) 28 ld5
1xd5 29 ixd5 lb8 30 1xd6+ .e6
31 'xa6 the fnal result would have
been the same.
27 W7+ 6
28 W6+ e
29 Wxd6+ xe4
J0 Wd5+ e3
Or 30 . . . f4 31 lfl + e3 32
'd3#.
J le1+
J2 Wd2+
JJ WeJ+ g2
2g+ -0
Afer 34 . . . xh2 35 "f+ it is
mate next move.
Gae 49
We have already seen a couple of postal gaes in this book (see Gaes 12
and 38), but this gae, between two top-fight corespondence players, is
surely the most aazing and creative of the thee. Play develops along very
unusual lines right fom te opening, with both sides forfeiting the right to
castle. White fnds a whole seres of orginal tactical idea to keep his attck
136 Gae 49
going, but a a result ends up with his bishop trapped on h8(!). Just when
Black appeas to be rounding up the erant piece, a new sacrifce starts the
kng-hunt. Black's king is pusued all the way to al, whereupon Wite fnally
forces mate with a problem-like idea. The play taes place over the whole
boad-1 have not seen ay other gae in which Black accept a sacrifce on
h8, and a a result his kng is mate on al !
Keylev- Kemlev
Corresponence 1983
Sicilian
e4 c5
2 k6
An unusual line which combines
elements of the Sicilia and Alek
hine's Defence. These days it has a
por reputtion and has virtually dis
appeaed from master play, but one
can never tell what the next tur of
te wheel will bring.
J e5
4 vcJ
5 ve4
5
e
The main reason for the curent
disfavour is the line 5 lxd5 exd5 6
d4, but Kopylov's move is also quite
dangerous.
5 . 6
6 c4 b4
The leading alternative, 6 . . . lb6,
also leads to sharp play. The main
danger of playing . . . ldb is that the
knight will soon b forced back to
a6, where it may end up out of play.
7 a .
8 WJ
The immediate 8 :bl is met by
8 . . . la2, and Black solves the prob
lem of his wayward knight by ex
changing it for White' s bishop. The
move played intends lb1 without
alowing the reply . . . la2. However,
it is by no means clea tat 8 1b3 is
the best move; 8 ie2 and 8 lc3
are the alternatives, for exaple 8
lc3 d5 9 exd6 ixd6 1 0 lb5 ib8
1 1 b3 ld4? (1 1 . . . le5 is better) 1 2
lbxd4 cxd4 1 3 ib2 tc6 14 b4
'f5 15 b5 was goo for White in a
other Kopylov-Korolev correspon
dence game (1984).
8 ... d5
9 exd6 e
Curiously enough, ECO consid
ers this whole line to b good for
White, omitting to mention Kopy
lov' s recommendation in 1nfor
tor, namely 9 . . . f5. After 10 lxc5
'hc5 1 1 axb4 'xb4 White has at
most a slight advantage. In the game
Black decides to improve his pawn
stcture before regaining the pawn
on d6, but the dager with such a
policy is that a appaently dead
pawn ca eaily turn into an invl
nerable Frankenstein monster.
0 b v6(D)
During the next phase of the
game, the stggle revolves aound
the pawn on d6. If White can main
tain it, then Black will b unable to
develop his f8-bishop and castle
kingside. If it falls ten Black will
have a positional advantage due to
White's backwad d-pawn.
w
g4
An aaing move; drastic meas
ures were necessa to prevent Black
kicking the knight away by .. . f5.
Black cannot capture on g4, because
his own b7-pawn is hanging, but he
fnds anoter way to threaten the ad
vanced pawn.
... 'i d8
2 d4I?
Once again White fnds a way to
keep Black of-balance.
2 ... exd4?I
1 2 . . . ixd6 would have been an
swerd by 13 d5 td4 14 lxd4 exd4
1 5 'b5+ f8 16 h3 (16 ig2 is in
teresting, as it isn't clear if White
really needs to spend a tempo de
fending the g4-pawn) 'e7 17 ig2
f5 18 ig5 'c7 19 gxf5 ixf5 20 0-0
and Black's expsed king and poorly
placed knight give White the adva
tage, for exaple 20 . . . h6 21 ih4
ixe4 22 ixe4 g5 23 ig3 ixg3 24
fxg3+ g7 25 ig2, followed by
lb1-e1-e6.
Black could also have ted play
ing 12 . . . cxd4 13 c5 lxc5 14 lxc5
'a5+ 1 5 id2 'xc5 16 lg5 'xd6
17 'xf7+ (not 17 lxf7? 'g6 and
Kopylov - Korolev 137
Black wins) d8 18 'c4 e8, when
White can either repeat moves or
play 19 ig2, when Black's inability
to castle gives White very goo at
tacking chances.
The ' ?! ' attached to te move
played is perhaps rather hash, be
cause it would b virtually impossi
ble, even in corespondence play, to
predict that the game continuation
would turn out to b goo for White.
J if4
White's sacrifce has temporar
ily secured the d6-pawn, so Black
now tries to dislodge te supporting
knight on e4.
J ... 'i d7
Not 13 . . . l 14 'c2 ixg4 15
l id7 (15 ... ie6 16 'a+l6 17
lxc6 'd7 18 .g2 wins for White)
16 1e2 with deadly theats along
the e-fle.
4 3gJ
White cannot aford to waste a
tempo on 14 h3, bcause then 14 . . . f5
is ver good for Black.
4 ... h5
If Black can induce gxh5, ten
. . . f5 will drive the knight away. Ac
cepting the pawn by 14 ... 'xg4 was
too hazardous, for example 1 5 lfg5
1h5 16 ih3 b6 (or 16 . . . ixh3 17
1xb7 lc8 18 lxh3 'xh3 19 'xa6
and Black han't solve te problem
of his f8-bishop) 17 'a4 ib7 18
d7+ rd8 19 'i d1 'g6 (19 . . . 'xd1+
20 .xd1 and f7 falls) 20 'f3 with
deisive threats.
5 d2I
Not 15 gxh5 f5 16 ih3 2xad
White's position is in disaray. It is
138 Gae 49
worth offering the g-pawn to bring
te rok to the e-fle.
5 hxg4
6 2e d8
7 e5 e5
Afer 17 . . .'if5 18 lxc6+ bxc6 19
1a4 White treatens both 1xc6 and
'a5+.
8 3xe5 'i c6
The obvious 1 8 . . . f5 fails to 1 9
lf6! 'i c6 20 ld5 .xd6 21 .xg7
lxh2 22 .f6+ d7 23 .d3 lxf+
24 d1 with an overwhelming at
tack.
9 lg5 5(D)
Black deserves geat credit for his
resourceful defence. Accepting the
rook would b fatal : 19 . . . 'i xhl 20
lxt+ d7 21 lxh8 .xd6 (or else
White has a very strong attack with
out any sacrce) 22 .xd6 xd6 23
'i g3+, followed by .g2.
w
The move played looks ridicu
lous, as White ca reply 20 lxt+,
but then Black would reveal the
point of his defence-20 . . . e8! ,
when White lacks ay realy dager
ous discovered checks, and the t7-
knght is unexpctedly tappd!
20 3xg7I
Blow for blow! With his rook and
knight hanging, White also puts his
bishop en prise.
20 3xd6
Of course 20 . . . .xg7 fails to 21
lxt7+ d7 22 le7#. Other moves
are also bad, although the reasons
are more subtle: 20 . . . .e6 21 .xf8
'ixh1 22 f3 1xh2+ 23 d1 b6 24
1b5 lb8 25 lxe6+ fxe6 26 lxe6
ld7 27 1c6 mating, 20 . . . 1xh1 21
lxf+ d7 22 1b5+ 1c6 23 .xf
1xb5 24 cxb5 is agan forced mate,
and fnally 20 . . . lxg5 21 .xf8 'xh1
22 .e7+ d7 23 .xg5 gives White
a crushing attack witout any sacri
fce.
2 lxO+ c7?I
Once again, a tiny inaccuracy has
far-reaching consequences. In In
formtor, Kopylov gave 21 . ..d7
without futer analysis, but it seems
to me that Wite ca force a favour
able ending by 22 lxd6 1xd6 (not
22 . . . 1xhl ? 23 le4 1xh2 24 lf6+
c7 25 lxh5 1xh5 26 .e5+ d8
27 .f6+ c7 28 'i g3+ winning) 23
1g3 (not 23 .g2? lg5 ! 24 .h8
1h6 25 .xb7 .xb7 26 1xb7+ l7
27 le7+ xe7 28 ..xc7+ f8 wit
advantage to Black) 1xg3 (Black
has little choice, as otherwise White
rescues his bishop by .e5, ad once
White completes his development
by .g2, Black's exposed king will
be sliced to ribbons by the bishops)
24 fxg3 d6 25 .g2 lb8 26 b4!
ad, wth the opning of the positon,
Black's vulnerable king and back
wad development bcome serous.
22 vxd6 Wxd6
2J ig2
Note that 23 1g3 'hg3 24 fxg3
is not dangerous with the king on c7,
as Black can immediately develop
his bishop.
2J ... lgS
Black's position is structurally
wrecked; he cannot develop his
queenside because of the pressure
on b7, his knight is out of play and
his king is exposed. It follows that
his only chance is to exploit the one
feature of the position operating in
his favour-the fact that the g7-
bishop might be trapped. If White
can rescue his bishop, then the game
is efectively over, so Black must act
quickly.
2 ih8 W6
After 24 . . . lh5 25 le8 lb8 26
1g3 1xg3 27 hxg3 lhhl 28 ixhl
the ending is lost for Black. Black
appears to have achieved his aim
wit te text-move, since not only is
the bishop tapped, but there is aso a
discovered check in the a.
25 'g3 b6
After 25 .. .'d7 (or 25 . . . Cd8 26
dl , and here 26 . . . 'hh8 loses to 27
'i d6+ id7 28 1e7+ Ce? 29 \xg5)
White continues 26 1f4 lg6 27
ie5 1xf4 28 ixf4 !c7 29 le5,
with a huge endgame advantage.
26 d
Now White threatens ie5, hence
Black is forced to accept the sacri
fce.
26
27 Wd6+
28 Cd!
1x8
CaS (D)
Kopylov - Korolev 139
w
A remarkable switchback by the
white king. Having moved to dl just
two moves ago, the king returs to
d2 to clear the way for White's
rooks. The threat is 29 b4+ Ca4 30
ic6+ bxc6 31 1xc6+, forcing the
king to a3 or b3, followed by a rapid
mate using the rooks.
2 ... 3f5
After 28 . . . d3, White wins by 29
b4+ Ca4 30 ic6+ bxc6 3 1 1xc6+
'b3 32 lbl + Ca2 (or 32 .. .'xa3 33
lal + Cb3 34 lhbl+ Cxc4 35
lc 1 + 'd4 36 'i d6+ Ce4 37 lc4+
'i d4 38 lxd4+ cxd4 39 le1+ Cf5
40 le5+ 'f4 41 le6+) 33 1a4
'ib2+ 34 lxb2+ Cxb2 35 lbl +
'xbl 36 1b3+ 'al 37 Wc3 cxb4+
38 axb4, followed by mate.
29 3xb7
Black's last move prepared a cun
ning defence if White tried to exe
cute his treat: 29 b+ Ca4 30 ic6+
bxc6 31 1xc6+ Cb3 32 lbl + Ca2!
(not 32 ... ixb1 33 lxbl + mating a-
ter 33 . . . Ca2 34 1a4 Cxbl 35 1b3+
Cal 36 cl or 33 . . . Cxc4 34 1e6+
Cb5 35 a4+ 'xa4 36 1xa6#; the
point is to retain the bishop so a to
cover both b1 and c2) 33 1a4 1h3!
140 Game 50
and suddenly not only does White
have no mate, he is even faced by a
mating attack fom Black! This line
proves how fnely balanced the cur
rent king-hunt is.
29 ...
2g6
3 b4+ a4
Forced, a White wins eaily after
30 . . . cxb4 3t axb4+ a4 32 :at+
b3 33 'ig3+ d3 34 :hbt+ xc4
35 'i f4+ b5 36 'i xf5+.
J .c6+
bJ
Black continues to defend ingen
iously. 31 . . .xa3 fails to 32 'i g3+
b2 (or 32 ... d3 33 :at+ b3 34
:hbt + xc4 35 'i f4+ 'i d4 36 :c1 +
b3 37 .d5+ 'i xd5 38 :cbt#) 33
:bt +! .xbt 34 :xbt+ xbt 35
'ib3+ at 36 'i a3+ bt 37 .e4+,
so Black avoids taking the a3-pawn,
thereby denying White the crcia
move 'i a3+.
J2 WgJ+ b2(D)
White wins on material after
32 . . . d3 33 :bt + a2 34 :at+ 'i xat
35 :xat + xat 36 'i e5+ a2 37
.xa8, while 32 . . . a2 33 :at+ b2
would only last one move longer
tan the gae.
JJ 2b+I
w
A wonderful fnish involving te
sacrifce of both rooks.
JJ 3xb
2xb+ b
J5 '3 at
J6 cl! -0
Certainly not 36 c2?? d3+,
opening the way for Black's queen
to come to b2. The corect metod is
frst to defect te queen to h6, when
there is no defence: 36 . . . 'h6+ 37
'c2 d3+ (after 37 . . . 'i d2+ 38 xd2
White also wins the rook on a8) 38
'i xd3 'i g7 39 'i dt + a2 40 'ibt +
xa3 4t 'i b3#.
The fnal king triangulation is a
ftting end to one of the most inven
tive and complex games in the bok.
Game 50
Many of the most spectacula games in this book featue relatively unknown
players, at least on the losing side. Readers may conclude from this that top
players don't get their kings hunted, but this is only patly true. Top players
ae more likely to see the king-hunt coming, and choose a ateratve which
ofers more practical chances. In these games the kng-hunt ocurs only in the
notes, ad may not b appaent witout te winner's own commenty. How
ever, it can happen that a leading gandmaster falls victim to a kng-hunt, es
pcially if, as in the following game, Gar y Kapaov is his oppnent.
Kasparov -Ponisch 141
This gae is a typical Kasparov powerhouse performance-an opening
innovation creates imediate problems, then a small tactical interlude eroes
the defences to Black's king. Next a blokbuster sacrifce rips away te re
manig pawn cover, and we ae son teated to a thrilling kg-hunt.
Kamv- Porh
Nikic 1983
Queen's India
d4 6
2 c4 e
J b6
4 v 3b7
5 a d5
6 cxd5
vxd5
7 eJ vxcJ
8 bxcJ 3e7
9 .bS+ c
10 .d c
0-0
2 3b2 lc
J We2 0-0
4 Rd W c7?I(D)
After this game, players were
understandably reluctant to repeat
Portisch's move. Instead, attention
switched to 14 . . . cxd4 15 cxd4 .f6,
when the two main lines are 16 c4
and 16 lfe 1 . The main merit of the
immediate pawn exchange is that it
forces White to recaptue with the c
pawn (since 14 . . . cxd4 15 exd4? v
contols c4 and thereby imprisons
the bishop on b2), which makes it
hader to activate the two bishops
against Black's kngside.
5 c4I
An earlier game, Polugaevsky
Portisch, Plovdiv Echt 1983, had
ende tely by 15 c4 v 16 lfe1
lf_ lf, but Kapaov's innovation
w
pinpoints the faw in Black's stat
egy. White is already on the point
of playing d,opening up the long
diagonal, when both bishops ae
aimed at Black's vulnerable king
side. Black's main problem is the
lack of defensive minor pieces nea
his king.
5 ... cxd4
After 15 . . . v (15 . . . .f6 16 d
v 17 oxe5 .xe5 1 8 .xh7+, fol
lowed by -ns+, wins for White) 16
d5 exd5 17 cxd5 c4 1 8 .f5 lcd8
19 e4 White's central majority and
kingside attacking chances a more
dangerous than anything Black ca
muster on the queenside.
6 exd4 v5
This move is the critical test of
White's plan. If he is now forced to
defend the c4-pawn by 17 lc1, then
17 . . . .f6 followed by . . . lfd8 will
nullify White's attack and step up
the pressure on the weak hanging
pawns to brng pint.
142 Gae 50
7 d5I exd5
It t out that Black ha no time
to take on c4: 17 . . . lxc4 1 8 'e4 g6
19 .xc4 'xc4 20 'e5 f6 21 'xe6+
:n 22 :c 1 'i a6 23 d6 :xc 1 24
lxc 1 .d8 25 .xf6 .xf6 26 lc7
ad White wins.
8 cxd5 3xd5
9 3xh7+ 7
20 xd5
This transaction has not upset the
material balance, but positionally it
ha been in White's favour. The cen
te has been swept away, and the de
fences to Black's king have been
weakened by the disappearance of
the h7-pawn. All the white pieces,
with the exception of the rook on f1,
ae ready to attack Black's king.
20
g8 (D)
Afer 20 . . . 'c2 Wt has te happy
choice between Kaspaov's line 21
ld2 'c5 22 le5, moving towads
Black's king, ad the simple 21 'e5
.f6 (2l . . .f6 22 'xe7 'xb2 23
lh5+ 'g8 24 'e6+ wins) 22 'h5+
g8 23 .xf6 gxf6 24 lf5, with a
decisive advantge.
w
2 3xg7II
This sacrifce ha a spcial bauty
because it dosn't lead t an imei
ate and easily calculated holocaust,
but rater to a al-round stengthen
ing of White's atack.
The more obvious 21 lg5 was
less effective. Curiously, Kasparov
gave 2l . . .'c2! as unclea (his ' ! ' ),
but then 22 'i xe7 'xb2 23 'e4 g6
(or 23 . . . 'c2 24 ld3 g6 25 'h4
g7 26 'd4+ g8 27 lh3) 24 'h4
'g7 25 ld7 is crushing. 21 . . .lc4
22 .xg7 xg7 23 'g4 is also win
ning for White, so the best defence
is 21 . . . .xg5 22 lxg5 (22 .xg7
xg7 23 lxg5+ f6 24 'i g4 'c3
25 ldl lfd8 is unclea) f6 when
White's advantage has more or less
dissipated.
2 .
22 ve5
g
d8
Other moves ae worse:
1 ) 22 . . . f5 23 ld7 'c5 24 ld3
wins .
2) 22 . . . 'c2 23 'g4+ h7 24
.d3 lc6 25 'f5+ fnishes Black
of.
3) 22 . . . lh8 23 'g4+ f8 24
'f5 f6 25 lel lc6 (25 . . . 'cl 26
lddl and 25 . . . lh6 26 'i e6 fxe5 27
'xh6+ are also winning) 26 ld7+
f 27 lxe7+ is crushing.
4) 22 . . . lcd8 23 'i g4+ h7 24
ld7 f5 25 lxf8+ lxf8 26 lxf5
lxf5 27 'ixf5+ with a decisive ad
vantage.
2J W g4+ f
W DI
More accurate than 24 l7+
lxd7 2 :Xd7 'c5 (lnforor gave
25 . . . 'e5, presumably a misprint a
it allows lxe7), when White lacks
a forcing continuation. The move
played provokes a further weakness
bfore cashing in with t7 +.
. f6
White mates after 24 . . . d6 25
'if6 g8 (25 . . . 4 26 tg6+ e8
27 le1 + d7 28 le7+) 26 'i g5+
27 'ih6+ g8 (27 . . . e8 28 lel) 28
ld4 f5 29 . e6+ g7 30 'i g6+ f8
3 1 'ixf5+. The greedy 24 . . . xa3
fails to 25 td7+ lxd7 26 lxd7 'i c4
27 lfdl (threat 'i f6) 6 (27 . . . e7
28 . e5) 28 l7d3 winnng materia.
25 v7+
Kaspaov gave 25 tg6+ a ques
tion mak, but actually this move is
also goo: 25 . . . g7 (25 . . . e8 26
'ih5! lxd5 27 te5+ mating) 26
tf4 lxd5 27 txd5! (after 27 . g6+
h8 White had better take the draw
since 28 t6 lg5 29 'ih6+ g8 30
txc7 lxc7 is fne for Black) . e5
28 txe7 'i xf5 29 txf5+ and Black
has to put his king on a bad squae
because of the knight forks. The re
sulting ending with an extra pawn is
very good for White.
25 ... 2xd7
Not 25 . . . g7 26 le1 'i c l 27
'ig4+ f7 28 'i e6+ g6 29 'i xe7
and wins.
26 d7 W c5
27 W7
2c7
28 W8+
This preliminary check is essen
tial bcause of a cunning trap: 28
ld3? 'ixf2+! 29 xf c5+ 30
g3 lxh7 and Black is at least
equal.
28 ... r
Kasparov - Portisch 143
29 2dJ(D)
The immediate complications
have subsided, but this is scat com
fort for Black. Material is approxi
mately equal, but his king remains
horibly exposed. Even if he sur
vives the onslaught of White's heavy
pieces, there will aways be the
pased h-pawn to contend with.
B
29 ... 4
O 29 . . . f (29 ... t6 is bad aer
30 lg3) 30 lg3 l4 31 'i g8+ e7
32 lc3 b5 33 le1+ d8 34 ld3+
ld7 35 lxd7+ xd7 36 'i e6+ c7
37 a4 with a lage advantage for
Wite.
J0 d1 -5
30 . . . d6 would have been more
resilient, but after 31 lh3! (Ka
paov's 31 ld5 'i c6 32 h is less
clea-cut) e6 (3 l . . .lc8 32 lh7+
e6 33 .g7 ts 34 le1 and
31. . .le7 32 lh6 ae bot ver go
for White) 32 'ig8+ lf 33 lh7
'i c7 34 'i e8+ le7 35 lxe7+ xe7
(35 . . .. xe7 36 'i c8+) 36 . g8+ f5
37 g4+ White forces a quick mate.
The move played is a natura at
tempt to bring te knight over to te
14 Game 51
kingside, but it allows Kasparov to
start the fnal kng-hunt.
J W7+
J2 W g8+
JJ g4+I f4
O 33 . . . c4 34 ih7+.
2d4+

J5 WJ+ -0
In view of 35 ... 'c3 36 Wd+
c23TWc4+and mate next move.
Game 51
Almost every player has a paticula opponent that he simply cannot play
against. When you are facing such an antagonist, it doesn't seem to matter
what you t: the end result is the sae. Afte a few losses, you stt to expect
defeat even as you sit down at te stt of the game. The Gers have a pithy
word for such an opponent: angstgegner. Leaving aside for a moment what
the lack of an exactly equivalent English word tells us about the different
psychology of English and Germans, what can you do when you play an
angstgegner? Perhaps the bst advice is to build up your confdence by m
ing a couple of draws. It is tempting to try to avenge your ealier defeats by
sweeping him off the board, but this strategy usually results in a further de
feat. A solid draw or two will prove to yourself that you can play reasonably
against him, and provides the foundation for winning attempts in later games.
In the following game, Ljubojevic is facing his angstgegner Nigel Short.
During the perio 1988-92, these two players met twelve times. There were
four gaes with Shor playing Black, and all these were drawn, but the eight
gaes where Shor was White ended 711-ll in his favour, a remakably one
sided score for two leading grandmasters. This game is an example of how
not to hadle such a situation. Ljubojevic adopts a double-edged opning in
volving castling on opposite wings, hading Short a straightforwad attack
ing plan. When Ljubojevic provokes Short by removing a defensive knight
fom the kingside, Shor is only too happy to oblige: a double piece sacrifce
leads to a deadly king-hunt ad another '0' for Ljubojevic on the score-ha .
5heH- L]ub]ewc 6 3g5
Amsterdm (Euwe Memorial) 1988 7 W d2 a6
Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer 8 0-0-0 h6
9 3eJ 3d7
1 e c5 10 f4 b5
2 d6 11 3dJ 3e7
J d4 cxd4 12 b1 b
4 vd4 6 The big danger for Black in such
5 J l positions is tat . . . 0-0 will alow
White an automatic kingside attack
by h3 and g4-g5. This attack is pa
ticularly strong when Black has
played . . . h6, because when White's
pawn ar ves on g5 Black will be un
able to avoid some open lines in
front of his king. Forcing the knight
back to e2 doesn' t help, because a
later lg3 will enable this knight to
join in the kngside attack.
Black's most common alterna
tives ae 1 2 . . . 'i c7, 12 . . . lxd4 and
te immediate 12 . . . 0-0; for a detailed
discussion of these lines, readers
should refer to Beating the Sicilian 3
by John Nunn and Jo Gallagher.
1J ce2 0-0?I
In combination with Black's pre
vious move, this is really asking for
trouble. 13 . . . 'i c7 is more accurate,
whereupon 14 h3 may be met by
14 . . . lxd4 1 5 .xd4 ( 1 5 lxd4 'ib7
awkwardly attacks e4) e5 16 .f2
a; Black intends delaying . . . 0-0 un
til he has made further progress on
the queenside (Kavalek-Korchnoi,
Ostava 1994). 14 :bel is a more ac
curate reply, supporting e4 so as to
meet . . . lxd4 by lxd4.
14 hJ Wc7?
After this second casual move,
Black's position is already critical.
14 . . . lxd4 15 .xd4 .c6 was btter,
forcing White to make a choice
about how to defend e4. 16 e5 dxe5
17 fxe5 l4 is fne for Black and 16
lg3 blocks the g-pawn, so White
would probably have to play 16
'i e3, but then 16 . . . 'ib8, intending
either . . . e5 or . . . 1b7, gives Black
counterplay.
Short - Ljubojevit 145
15 g4
Of course. Now White can meet
an attack on e4 by lg3 and :bel.
8
15 W7
16 vgJ
vxd4
17 3xd4 .c6
18 2he1(D)
18 ...
2f
Black is in big trouble whatever
he plays. White already threatens to
rip opn Black's king position by g5,
while Black hasn' t made the slight
est progress on the opposite wing.
Short proposed 18 . . . ld7, but his
own suggestion of 19 g5 ! hxg5 20
:gt looks ver strong, for example
20 . . . e5 21 lf5 :res 22 fxe5 lxe5
(22 . . . dxe5 23 :xg5) 23 .xe5 dxe5
24 :xg5 .xg5 25 'i xg5 f6 (or
25 . . . g6 26 'ih6 mating) 26 ic4+
M27 'ih5 with a forced mate, or
20 . . . :ac8 21 l g6 22 f5 .xe4 23
f6 .d8 24 'i xg5 e5 25 :dn with a
decisive attack.
19 g5 hxg5
20 fxg5
7 (D)
20 . . . lh7 21 h4 would have pre
vented an imediate breakthrough
by White, but the h7-knight would
146 Gae 51
be sidelined and White would b
able to build up his attack by 'g2,
lh5 and so on.
2 3xg7I
Short stats the king-hunt with a
spectacular piece sacrifce. All the
white pieces will take part in the at
tack, while Black's forces will be
mere spectators, fa away from the
man action.
2 ... xg7
22 5+
g
Other moves lose even more
quickly, for example 22 . . . g8 23 g6
fxg6 24 'h6 .f8 25 'g6+ h8
26 .g1 mating, 22 . . . f8 23 g6 .f6
24 lxf6 lxf6 25 .fl e7 26 'i g5
winning material or 22 . . . h8 23 g6
.f8 24 .g1 fxg6 25 .xg6 t5 26
.h6+ .xh6 27 1xh6+ 'h7 28
1f6+ g8 29 .g1+ wit a quick
mate. The move played prevents g6
by physically blocking the g-pawn,
but the king is the worst piece to use
a a blokader.
2J e5+I x5
. f4
Threatening 25 1g4#.

3xg5
Or 24 . . . .f3 25 1xf7+ h4 26
1h7+ g3 27 .g1 + .g2 28 .e4
wit a tota cattophe.
25 . x+ h4
26 7+ gJ
27 W5 h(D)
Black's position is beyond sav
ing: 27 . . . .g8 loses to 28 _g4+ h2
29 'g1+ xh3 30 .fl+ h4 (or
30 . . . .g2 31 .d3+ h4 32 .xg2)
31 . h2+ g4 32 .d4+ f5 33
1h7+ .g6 34 .h3#.
w
28 Wxg5
Short's only slight inaccuracy in
the whole gae. White had a forced
mate in seven by 28 1e2+ xh3
(28 . . . .g2 29 lh1 + g3 30 . g4+
t 31 'xg5 and mate in two more
moves; 28 . . . g3 29 .gl + .g2 30
.e4 f4 31 _g4+ xe5 32 1xg5+
xe4 33 .ge1+ f3 34 1e3#) 29
1h5+ .h4 30 .e3+ mating i te
more moves. However, the move
played is aso quite sufcient to win.
28 g8
29 .d+ 3g2
3 . f4 gJ
J 3e4
Wxe4
J2 Wxe4
1-0
Shumiakina - Tazheva 147
Gae 52
The three Polga sisters have put women's chess fy on the map, but there
are plenty of other women players competing in grandmaster tournaments.
The Polgars, Craling, Chiburdanidze and Xie Jun have all proved tat
women can b successful, even against top-class opposition. However, de
spite tese successes, women remain severely under-represented at al levels
of chess-a situation which will probably only change very slowly.
The following gae is between two women players who ae not so well
known, but it is a tremendous stuggle all the sae. In a razor-sharp opning,
Black makes a slight inaccuracy and White responds with a long-term sacri
fce of a queen for two mnor pieces. White's compensation is mainly based
on the black king being caged on g8. Ironically, Black fnally manages to
release her king, ony to see it pursued to it death.
5bumaMna - Tbeva the text is 17 .. .ie7, which is based
USSR 1990 on the tactical point 18 .g5! 'ixg5
Semi-Slav 19 lxe6'i xg2+! 20xg2lf4+21
fl lxe2 22 :a 1 ! fxe6 23 .xd7+
1 d4 6 f 24 .xc8 .xc8 25 xe2 .a6+
2 c4 26 e3, with a roughly equal end-
J d ing (I.Sokolov-Shirov, Stokholm
4 l c6 1989/90).
5 eJ lbd7 18 3xa6 3xa6
6 3dJ dxc4 19 W xa6 2a8?
7 3xc4 b5 With the beneft of hindsight, it is
8 .d3 .b7 possible to say that this move is a
9 e b mstae. The best line is 19 . . . .g7
10 va4 c ( 1 9 . . . lc5 ha also been tried, but
11 e5 v5 this is more risky) 20 .g5 lc7,
2 0-0 cxd4 when both 21 'ib7 :b8 22 .xd8
13 vxd4 vxe5 :xb7 23 .xc7 :xc7 24 lb5 :c2
4 .b5+ v7 25 :acl :xcl 26 :xc1 0-0, Vyzh-
5 2e1 :c manavin-Novikov, Moscow 1990
6 W 5 g6 and 21 'i a5 :as 22 .xd8 :xa5 23
17 W e2 a6 .xc7 :xa4, I.Sokolov-Chmi, Wijk
If readers are interested in the a Ze 1991 were at least equal fo
theory of this ultra-sha vaation, Black.
they should consult Peter Wells's 20 W c4(D)
bok The Complete Semi-Slav. Suf- Not 20 'i c6?! le7! ad Black
fce to say that the main alterative to equalises.
148 Game 52
B
20 3 e7
This is actually the frst original
move. The earlier game Timman
Nogueiras, Rotterdam 1989 contin
ued 20 .. Jba4 21 'xd5 i. e7 22
xe6! fxe6 23 'ixe6 2 24 i.h6
l 25 i.xf8 xf8 26 'i c4 with a
clear advantage to White. Timman's
notes to this game mentioned the
possibility of 20 . . . i.e7, and gave the
following queen sacrifce as being
good for Whte. Why, then, did Black
adopt precisely this line? Read on!
21 Wc7
The Rotterda tournaent book
expressed the opinion that the queen
sacrifce would be less strong after
21 . . .'c8, but in fact it seems to be
just as good: 21 . . . 1c8 22 1xd5!
(Timman suggests 22 i.h6) exd5 23
xe7! 'i c2 (23 . . . 'i a6 loses to 24
l 5 2 :e5+ d7 26 5+)
24 xd5+ d8 25 i.g5+ f6 26
xf6 'ixa4 (26 . . . xf6 27 i.xf6+
d7 28 .adl + wins) 27 .edl c7
28 .acl + 5 29 .xc5+ ad now:
1 ) 29 . . . b7 30 .d7+ a6 31
.d6+ b7 32 b3 (the immediate
d5 is impossible because of mate
on dl ) Wxa2 33 ld5 .af (to cover
f4) 34 .d7+ a8 35 b6+ b8 36
lc8+! .xc8 37 i.f4+ lc7 38 .xc7
g5 39 i.g3 and Black is helpless.
2) 29 . . . b6 30 b3 'xa2 31 i.e3
lad8 32 l5+ .xd5 33 .cxd5+
c6 34 .c5+ b7 35 .b5+c7 36
.xb4 with a clear advantage for
White.
22 Wxd5I exd5
Black must accept, as 22 . . . .xa4
23 'ib5 .a8 24 xe7 xe7 25
'ixb4+ is winning.
2J xe7+
24 i. h6+
w
25 I

g8 (D)
This must have ben an unplea
ant shock for Black. Timma's
analysis had continued '25 .ael and
wins' but Tazheva had probably
noticed that 25 . . . 'i xc6! 26 .e8+
f8 then wins for Black. However,
Shumiakina did not fall into the tap
of blindly following Timman, but
found a strong move whch justifes
the queen sacrifce.
25 . 'xc
2 d7
At the moment White has only
bishop, knight and pawn for the
queen, but the black king is com
pletely imprsoned. The immeiate
threat is 27 lael , setting up irresist
ible threats, so Black is forced to
jettison another pawn to fee her
king. The materal balance is still in
Black's favour, but White's initiative
is more important and Black never
completely solves the problem of
what to do with her king.
26 ... g5
27 3xg5 h6
White wins after 27 . . . ld8 (27 . . . b3
28 a3 doesn't chage the situation)
28 e5 1d6 29 fuf7 1xe7 30
.xe7 xf 31 i. xd8.
2 3f6 ld8
29 3d4I
Better than 29 lael lxd7 30
:es+ h7 31 lxh8+ g6 32 .d4
f6! and Black has covered up her
dak-squaed weakesses.
29 ... 2x7
Other moves ae also uninviting:
1 ) 29 . . . 'c4 30 ldl (threatening
b3 followed by ldel ) 1xa 3 1
ldel 'i a4 32 f6+ f8 3 3 5
g8 (33 . . . lh7 34 i.c5 ! g8 35
le8+! ) 34 l7 e3 ! with a decisive at
tack.
2) 2 9 .. .f6 30 lxf6+ f8 31 .ae 1
again with an enormous attack for
White.
3) Shumiaina suggested the a
terative 29 . .. h !? , but ten 30 lf6+
31 bl is very good for White
in any case.
After the move played, the king
hunt get under way.
3 le+
31 l8
h7

g
(D)
w
Shuiakina - Tazeva 149
J2 2g8+ 5
Or 32 . . . h5 (32 . . . h7 33 lg7+
h8 34 lg6+ f6 35 lxf6 'i c4 36
lf7+ 'i xd4 37 lbd7 'i d2 38 a4
winning on material) 33 :et f6 (if
33 . . . f5, then 34 f4 and Black cannot
meet the threat of 35 g4+ fxg4 36
le5+ h4 37 if2+) 34 g4+ h4
35 g2 h 36 f hxg4 37 fxg4, with
i.f# to come.
JJ le1
White slowly tightens the net
around Black's kng. The rooks sea
of all possible escape routes.
JJ ... f6
33 . . . 'i c7 34 g4+ f4 35 g2
le7 36 ie3+ lxe3 37 lxe3 is aso
hopless.
g4+ 4
J5 gl h5
There is no defence to the vaous
threats, for exaple 35 . . . 'ib7 36
le6 lg7 37 h3, or 35 . . . ld6 36 lg6
'a6 37 le7.
3c e
Or 36 . . . e5 37 le8+ d6 38
i.f4+ cS 39 :et +, also winning
te queen.
37 le+ d3
38 ld1+ 1-
150 Gam53
Gae 53
The borderline between genius and insanity is very nar ow, so it is said. This
is certainly true on the chessboad (also aongst the players, some might
add). If a leading player tries an outageous idea and it succeeds, then it is de
scribd as 'a brilliantly orginal concept' and is universally praised as the
work of genius; if it fails, the chess jouralists ask 'how could such a stong
player have been so ignorant of basic principles .. .' , etc. Superfcial assess
ments, backed up by a reproire of trite, hackneyed phraes ae depressingly
comon. Yet it ofen happens that te result of te game is not determined by
the merit of the idea itself, but by the accuracy (or otherwise) of the follow
up.
In the following game Zsuzsa Polga tries just such an idea involving an
ealy king advance. Everyboy knows that you ae not supposed to play like
this, but here there were sound positiona reasons behind the pla. Without
Rohde's vigorous response, Black would probably have got away it, but in the
gae White's piece sacrifce stirred up a horet's nest of complications. After
missing the best defence, Black was subjected to a cross-boad king-hunt.
Rebde- ZsuFelgar
New York 1992
English
1 c4 e5
2 vJ v6
J f
4 d4 m
5 lg5 h6
6 hJ g5
An ambitious plan. The question
is whether Black has gained space
without loss of time, or whether
White ha tempted Black into over
extension.
7 lgI
An improvement over 7 f3 exf3 8
exf3 .g7 9 d5 'i e7+ 10 d2 l4
1 1 .d3 d8 1 2 lg1 b5 ! , which
proved good for Black in Seirawan
Browne, Lone Pine 1979. The idea
behind lg1 is to follow up with h4
and possibly lh3, trying to force
Black to commit the g5-pawn. If
Black plays . . . g4 ten her king side
prospects will have vaished and
White will gan f4 for his knights, so
it would be btter if Black could
maintan the pawn on g5, but this is
not easy.
7 .g7
It turns out that Black's best pla
is to meet h4 by . . . g4. It is possible to
fight for the f4-square by . . . lf6-h5
and, if necessary, . . . 7-g6. Admit
tedly Black's pawns have lost their
flexibility, but White ha lost a lot of
time ad this maes it had for him
to gain any advatage. One example
of ths plan is Polugaevsky-Seir
awan, Haninge 1 990, whch contin
ued 7 . . . lf6 8 h4! g4 9 e3 lh5! 10
lge2 7 11 .d2 .g7 12 'i b3 d6
13 llg6 14 lg3 lxg3 15 fxg3
h5 1 6 ja5 b6 17 jc3 c6 18 lf4
lxf4 19 gxf4 lf.lh.
8 eJ lf6
9 h4 ?I
This is the double-edged idea
mentioned above. Black could still
have adopted the . . . g4 plan, for ex
ample 9 . . . g4 10 lge2 lh5 ! l l l5
le7 1 2 lef4 lxf4 13 lxf4 h5 14
jd2 lh6 15 'ib3 d6 16 lc1 lg6
with equaity, Rohde-Browne, Phila
delphia 1992.
0 lhJ! g6 (D)
The logical consequence of the
previous move, but this will be the
last voluntary move made by the
black king. Black defends the g5-
pawn with her king, relying on the
closed nature of the position to save
it from serious harm. If White had
continued quietly, then Black would
have completed her development
by . . . d6, . . . 'e? and so on, when the
knight on h3 would have ended up
out of play. However, White, quite
corectly, decided to open the posi
tion, even at the cost of materia sac
rfce.
w
OI W e7
Rohe -Zuza Polgar 151
Black is trying to avoid ending up
with a weak pawn on e, for exa
ple 1 l . . .d6 12 lf e7 13 fe4 fe4
14 h5+ h7 15 g4, followed by jg2
and, if necessary, 'c2; Black can
not defend the e-pawn adequately.
1 1 . . .le8 is no better, for example 12
hxg5 hxg5 1 3 fxe4 lxe4 ( 1 3 . . . fxe4
14 lf followed by either g4 and
jg2, with pressure on e4, or an at
tack by je2 and jh5+) 14 'h5+! !
f6 (14 . . . xh5? 15 lf4+ g4 1 6
je2+ g3 17 lh3#) 15 lxe4+ and
'xg5+, winning.
12 be4I vm
J xe4 Wxe4
After 1 3 . . .fxe4 14 lf2 (White is
already threatening lxe4) d6 15
lxe4 lxd4 16 jd3 jf5 17 lg3
White is winning.
14 jd!
The start of White's sacrificial
attack.
4 ... W xg(D)
Not 14 . . . 'xh4+ 15 lf 'g3 1 6
'h5+ f6 1 7 jxf5 ! , winning since
17 . . . xf5? fails to 1 8 'f7+ jf6 19
e4#.
w
15 3M5+I
152 Ga53
Black ha to take, or else lg1
wins.
5 ...
hS
6 lf+ e
Better than 16 . . . g6 17 'i d3+
hS 1 8 lf4+! gxf4 19 'i f5+ xh4
20 :xf4+ g3 21 lg4+ h2 22
lh4+ gl 23 .d2 with 0-0-0# to
come.
7 W5I
Not 17 d5+? e7 and Black es
capes with a decisive material ad
vantage. The strength of White's
attack is quite unexpected, in that
White does not have a lage lead in
development-only the queen ad
the rook are actively paticipating.
Moreover, White's own king is not
very safe. This is one of those combi
nations which isn't based on general
principles; it just happens to work
because of chance elements in the
position.
17 ... 5?
Black correctly decides to retu
the exta piece in order to break up
White's threatening pawn centre,
but this wa not the bst way to do it.
After 17 . . . 'ig3+ 18 e2 Black has
vaious continuations, but only one
is good:
1) 18 ... gxh4? 19 'if7+ d6 20
c5#.
2) 1 8 . . . BM 19 'i g6+ .f6 (White
also wins after 1 9 . . . lf6 20 d5+ e5
21 'ixg7) 20 hxg5 hxg5 21 :xf6+
lxf6 22 lxg5+ e7 23 'i g7+ and
Wite wins.
3) 1 8 . . . .f6 1 9 'ig6 'ig4+ (after
1 9 . . . BM we have tansposed to line
2) 20 d2 ad White wins.
4) 1 8 . . . .xd4! (itlooks wrongto
give up this importat bishop, but it
turns out that the centalised knight
is more effective at co-operating
with Black's queen) 1 9 exd4 (inter
posing 19 'ig6+ e7 or 19 'i f7+
d6 favours Black) lxd4+ 20 d2
d6! (intending . . . c6 and then
. . . d6) 21 hxg5 'i e5 and although
Black's position hangs on a knife
edge, I cannot see ay way for White
to gain the advantage. One line rns
22 le1 'i a+ 23 d3 le6 24 'i g6
hxg5 2 lxg5 :c and te possibil
ity of . . . 'i fS+ saves te day.
Even though this possibility may
save Black, the plan of . . . f and
. . .g6 certainly deserves its ' ?! ' ;
putting yourself i n the positon of
having to fnd 15 consecutve 'only'
moves to stay on the board simply is
not practical.
18 dxe5
3xe5
Or 1 8 . . . 'i g3+ 19 e2 'i xe5 20
'if7+ d6 21 :rs 'ih2+ 22 lf
winning.
From now on, White conducts
the attack very accurately and Black
ha no chance to escape.
9 'i f+ d6 (D)
w
20 6I
The king-hunt hots up. 20 ... ixf6
loses to 21 'xf6+ c5 22 b+!
xb 23 lbl + a 24 'c3.
20 c
2 b4
Gb4
22 id+ a
There are plenty of alternatives,
but they all lose: 22 . . . ic3 23 ixc3+
xc3 24 lf2 'hl + 25 e2 'xh3
26 'f6+ b4 27 1b2+, 22 ... 'xd2+
23 xd2 ixal 24 :n, 22 . . . a4 23
'g6 ig3+ 24 dl 'hl + 25 e2
and finally 22 .. .'c5 23 lf2 ixf6
24 'xf6 d6 25 ld3+ c6 26 lb+
d7 27 'i xh8.
2J c5I d5
cxd6 ig3+
Interpolating 24 . . . b2 25 lcl
doesn't help: White wins just as in
Topalov - Bareev 153
the game afer 25 . . . ig3+ 26 lf
ixf+ 27 lxf2 'gl + 28 e2
ig4+ 29 lxg4 'xg4+ 30 d3.
25 I
The last fnesse. After 25 lf2?
ixf+ 26 lxf 'gl + 27 :n 'i g3+
Black would either give perpetual
check or exchage queens.
25 ... 'l+
O 25 ... .xf+ 26 lxf2 'i gl + 27
e2 ig4+ 28 lxg4 1xg4+ 29
d3 and Black's checks come to an
end.
26 e2 ig4+
27 dJ idl
2 icl+ a4
29 'c4 a
3 id+ -0
In view of 30 ... b 3 1 lbl+ fol
lowed by mate.
Game 54
In te following gae, aoter leading gradmaster fnds his king bing sub
jected to a humiliating king-hunt at a remakably ealy stage-indeed, te
whole game lasts just 23 moves. The reason for Topalov's embarassment
was his reluctance to accept tat he had ganed no advantge fom te opn
ing. In top-class games, exploiting the advantage of the white pieces is very
important, because you can be sure that you will be tortured when you ae
Black, but it is easy to fall into the trap of tying too had with White. A slight
inaccuracy is all that is required to throw away the advantage of the frst
move, and then it is btter to accept that the position is just equal, rather tha
continue to press hard witout any justifcation. Topaov makes just this eror
and Bareev is quick to exploit his misjudgement; a double rook sacrifce in
te style of the 19th centur st up an astonishing forced mate in ten.
Tealev- am v
Unres 1994
French Dfence
e4
2 d4
J J
4 ig5
5 le
6 3xf6
d5
k6
de
3e7
3M6
154 Game 54
7 c
A slightly unusual move. The
most comon continuation is 7 .f3
0-0, and ten the main line is 8 1d2,
although 8 c3, 8 .c4 and 8 13
have also been ted. The idea of de
laying .f3 is that White can some
times play f4, which prevents Black
breakng out in te cente by . . . e5.
7
.
7
8 Wc2?I
8 .f3 0-0 transposes into the 7
.f3 0-0 8 c3 line mentioned above.
The move played is designed to wat
for Black to play . . . 0-0, and then
White will reply f4, followed by
0-0-0, .d3 and .f3, with good at
tacking chances on the kingside.
However, Bareev effectively nulli
fies this plan, so if White wanted to
play f4, he should have done so
staght away.
8 ... e5I
This crosses White's idea of play
ing f4, and equalises. Just to show
the antiquity of this line, it is worh
quoting the game Maoczy-Betbe
der, Hamburg OL 1930, which con
tnued 8 . . . 'e7 9 0-0-0 b 10 f4 .b7
1 1 g3 0-0-0 12 .g2 c5 13 .f3 cxd4
14 .xd4 .xd4 15 lxd4 .c5 16
le1 with an equa position, altough
Maoczy won in the end.
9 de5
Baeev suggest 9 0-0-0, which is
cerinly more combative, although I
doubt if it gives White any advan
tage.
9 .e
White faces a slightly awkward
situation; at the moment he cannot
castle queenside, and his kingside
pieces ae had to develop because
he cannot play .f3.
10 f4
Ths is a sensible way to solve te
problem. White drives the knight
away from e5, so that he can play
.d3 and 0-0-0, bringing his king
into safety. Of course, this involves
some more non-developing moves,
so White has to be ver careful, but
he can just about get away with it .
1 0 .e2, intending .f3, is another
safe continuation, but 10 .b5+ is
bad after 10 . . . c6 1 1 ld1 'e7 12
.d6+ f8 13 .e2 .e6-neiter
side can castle, but whereas Black
can solve the problem of his king
by . . . g6 and . . . g7, White will have
more touble fnding a safe spot.
10 .g6
11 gJ
0-0
12 .d3
The best line. Trying to castle
kingside is worse: 12 .g2 le8 13
.e2 .f5 ad Whte i s aleady i n big
trouble, for exaple 14 0-0 1e7 15
.xf6+ 'xf6 16 'd2 lad8 17 1e1
.g4 18 lf 'b6.
12 Wd5I
White was threatening 0-0-0, but
once again Baeev does his best to
interfere with White's plas.
1J a?(D)
This is one non-developing move
too fa, and now the storm breaks
with devastating ferocity. The alter
natives were:
1) 1 3 .xf6+? gxf6 14 0-0-0
1xh1 15 .e4 .f5! and Black ends
up with an exta exchage.
2) 1 3 0-0-0 1xa2 14 lxf6+ gxf6
and White doesn't have sufcient
compnsation for the pawn.
3) 1 3 lf3 .g4 ( 13 . . . .h3 14
lxf6+ gxf6 15 f is fne for
White) 14 0-0 .e7 and te two bish
ops, coupled with White's weakened
kingside, give Black an edge.
4) 1 3 le2! .e7 14 a3 .g4 15
0-0-0 (15 h3 .f3 1 6 .h2 .ad8 17
0-0-0 c6 18 .t .xe4 19 .xe4
1xdl + 20 1xd1 .xdl+ 21 xd1 is
equal) 'h5 (better than 15 . . . .ad8
1 6 lf 1e6 17 lxg4 'i xg4 18
.e4, with an edge for White) with
an unclea psition.
8
1J lxf4I
A shattering blow.
14 vxf6+
White cannot accept the sacrifce:
14 gxf4 .h4+ 15 fl (15 d2 .d8
and 15 e2 .g4+ 16 lf3 f5 ae aso
lost) f5 16 lf3 (16 1e2 'h8 ad 16
ld2 Wxh1 17 ldf3 .e7 are very
goo for Black; in the latter case
White cannot exploit the tapped
queen) fxe4 17 .xe4 .h3+ 18 'g1
'i c5+ 19 ld4 .xf4 with a decisive
attack.
Topalov - Bareev 155
Topalov decides to regain the
pawn on h7, but his king remains
tappd in the cente.
14

6
15 3W7+ 'g7
16 We4 (D)
The only move, as 16 .e4 le8
and 16 gxf4 .e8+ 17 'f 'i xh1 ae
hopless.
8
16 ... 2e8II
By far the stongest continuation.
16 . . . l3+ 17 fl (not 17 'e2? le8
18 Wxe8 .g4+) Wxe4 18 .xe4
lxb2 1 9 lf3 le8 and 16 . . . Wxe4+
17 .xe4 .e8 1 8 gxf4 lxe4+ 19
'f lxf4+ bot lead to a favourable
ending for Black, but Bareev cor
rectly decides to go for a clean kill.
Note tat 16 . . . f5? would b a serious
eror, since 17 Wxf4! le8+ 1 8 Wf2
Wxh1 19 Wg5+ 'xh7 20 'h5+
'g7 21 'i g5+ 'f8 22 'ih6+ 'e7
23 .e1 + 'd7 (23 . . . .e6 24 lf3
Wxe1 + 25 'xe1 is fne for White)
24 ld 1 + 'e7 is just a draw.
17 Wxe8 .fS!
18 1xa8 (D)
There was little choice, since 18
We7 ld3+ 19 'fl .xh7 wins the
156 Gae 55
rok on h1 and 18 1a4 1xh1 1 9
0-0-0 ld3+ 20 lxd3 1xg1 + 21
ld 1 1e3+ picks up the bishop on
h7. However, after the move played
Black ca force mate in ten.
B
8 . "e+
9
1 9 d1 1c2+ 20 e1 ld3+ 21
fl 'f# and 19 fl h3+ 20
lxh3 1e2+ 21 g1 1g2# result
in immediate mate, while 19 d2
1g2+! 20 e3 (or 20 e1 t3+ 21
d 1 g4+ and mate next move)
tansposes to the game.
9 ... .g2+ (D)
w
20 e3
21 d4
22 c
O 22 c4 lb6+ 23 b 1xb2+
24 a5 lc4+ 25 a b5#.
22 ... 1e3+
2J c4
White can choose his fate: 23
xd5 e6, or 23 b5 1b6+ 24
c4 l3#.
2J ... lb6+
0-
In anticipation of 24 b5 (24
b3 1e6+ 25 b4 1c4+ 26 a5
1c5#) 1d3+ 25 a5 1a6+ 26 b
1a4+ 27 c5 1c4#.
Gae 55
There is no btter way for a young player to mae his reputation tat to win a
brlliat gae which is reprinted al over the world. These days, there ae so
many promising young players that it takes something special to stad out
from the rest, and a queen sacrifce followed by a king-hunt is just what is
needed. The 18-yea-old Zviagintsev achieved exactly this type of instant
fae when he won the following spctcula gae at te stt of 195. White
made ealy headway on the kingside, but his threats were repulsd ad a
sha, but roughly equa, position resulted. All it took wa one natual-look
ing but eroneous move and Zviagintsev strck, frst with a knight sacrfce
and ten wit a queen ofer. White's king wa pusued to it death on h6.
Clfuen- Zvlaglnmv
Wijk an Ze Open 195
Semi-Slav
d4
2 d
J c4 6
4 c6
5 eJ lbd7
6 'i c2 M
Peter Wells, in his excellent bok
The Complete Semi-Slav, comments
that 6 . . . id6 is 'almost universally
played' , and doesn't mention this
move at all. The plan of coupling the
queenside fanchetto with . . . ie7 has
suddenly become quite popula, pr
haps out of boredom with the stand
ad lines.
7 ie2
A quiet reply. 7 id3 ib7 8 0-0
looks more dynamic, but of course
this is largely a matter of taste.
7 ib7
8 0-0 3e7
9 Bd
It can be useful to put te rook op
posite Black's queen, but here Black
ca simply side-step the danger by
playing . . .'c7. A more common
plan is 9 b3 0-0 10 ib2.
9 .. 0-0
0 e4
White could still continue wit 10
b3, but he decides to opn the cente
immediately.
0 ...
vxe4
dxe4
'i c7
It is dangerous to open the d-fle
whle te queen is still on d8, for ex
ample after 1 1 . . .c5 1 2 lxf6+ ixf6
Cientes -Zviagintsev 157
13 dxc5 bxc5 14 if4, the weakness
of d6 and Black's broken queenside
pawns give White te edge.
2
Better than 12 lxf6+?! (12 ig5
leads to safe equality) lxf6 1 3 c5
(trying to block in the b7-bishop)
bxc5 14 dxc5 a and the bishop can
emerge at a6, while d5 is a ver go
squae for the black kight.
2 ... c5
J d(D)
An ambitious response. I White
can maintain the pawn on d5 then
Black's pieces will have less ma
noeuvring room, but there is an ob
vious danger that the advanced
pawn will become weak. After 13
lb5 ( 13 ig5 i s also possible) 'bS
14 g3 cxd4 15 lbxd4 the positon is
roughly equal.
B
J ... exd5
4 cxd5 a6
With a view to . . . b5-b4, drving
away a defender fom te d5-pawn.
5 v4I?
For a second time White dos not
shink fom a double-edged course
of action. Now Black is more or less
158 Game 55
forced to play . . . g6, which slightly
weakens his king position, but if
White's kngside initiative comes to
nothing, then the knight on h4 will
have to reteat, losing tme.
5 .. g6
After the immediate 15 . . . J.d6
White could continue with 16 g3,
as in the game, or he could play 16
tfS J.xh2+ 17 h1 J.d6 18 te4
txe4 19 'he4 tf6 20 'ih4, offer
ing a pawn to enhance his kingside
threats. Black prefers to play safe
and stop the knight moving to f5.
6 3 h6 2fe8(D)
w
7 W?I
White wants to make use of the
knight's position on h4, so with this
move he intouces the possibility of
tfS. Unortunately the knight never
reaches fS, while Black is given the
chance to avance on the queenside.
17 a4 J.d6 1 8 g3 was correct, pre
venting . . . b5, with equality.
7 3 d6
8 gJ b5I
9 J. f
Suddenly it is clear that 19 tfS
would backfe after 1 9 . . . b 20 ta4
(20 txd6 'i xd6 21 ta4 'ixdS)
t, when Black can safely tae te
knight. White is therefore reduced to
simply defending the weak dS
pawn, but now the knight on h4 is
lookng out of play.
9 .
20 v2
b4
v4?I
According to Zviagintsev's com
ments, it would have been more ac
curate to play 20 . . . te5.
2 Wc2 k6(D)
w
22 tg2!
A good defensive move. Black's
slight inaccuracy ha given White a
breathing space, and he corectly
uses it to bring his knight back into
the game. White might follow up
with J.f4, exchaging bishops (the
immediate 22 J.f4 fails to 22 . . . J.xf4
23 txf4 g5), or play the knight to
e3, lending further support to the
d5-pawn.
22 . Wd7
2J M
The point of Black's last move
lies in the line 23 J.f4 J.f8, and
White has problems holding onto
the dS-pawn.
2J Bad8
g2?(D)
One mistake is enough. This
move leads to tactical rin for the
seemingly innocuous reason that it
leaves g4 insufficiently protected.
After 24 lac 1 ! the positon would be
baanced-the combinative continu
ation 24 . . . lxf 25 xf2 'i h3 fals
to 26 f4 'i xh2+ 27 lg2 xf4 28
lxf4 and White wins.
8
24 ... lxf!
Zviagintsev doesn't hesitate to
lob a grenade into White's kingside.
25 xf lxe3!
26 xe3
Of course, anything is better than
getting mated, but it is easy to under
stand Cifuentes's decision to avoid
26 xe3 lg4+ 27 d2 lxh6 28
cl 'i e7-White's al-rook is to
tally bloked in and his dark squares
are horrificaly weak; after 29 .e4
1he4 30 xe4 lg4 Black has a
lage advantge.
26
27 w
28
29 w
lg4+
v+
lg4+
W I (D)
Cientes - Zviagintsev 159
w
No draw! White's extra rook is
lagely irrelevant a Black's pieces
converge on the enemy king.
3 f4
Leads to a brilliant finish, but
tere was noting btter:
1) 30.e4 1xe4+31 xe4le8+
wins.
2) 30 'i d2 le8 3l lf4 xd5+!
32 lxd5 (32 'ixd5 lh2+ 33
1xe3#) 'e4+ and White loses al
his pieces with check.
3) 30 g5 le8 is much like the
gae.
4) 30 cl c4! (with two threats:
3l . . . .xd5+ 32 lxd5 'i xd5+ 33
'i e4 lh2+ 34 f2 c5+ 35 e3
xe3+ 36 xe3 1c5+ 37 ld4
lxd4 38 'i xd4 lg4+ 39 e4 'i f5#,
and the simple 31 . . .c5 with an
overwheling attack) 3 1 'e4 (31
lf4 lh2+ 32 f c5+) .xe4+
32 xe4 lf2+ 33 d4 lxdl 34
xc4 lc8+ 35 d3 e5 wit a won
ending for Black.
3 B
The alterative 30 ... .xf4 31 1e4
1xe4+ 32 xe4 e5 was not bad,
but Black is playing for mate. The
imediate threat is 31 . . ..xd5+.
16 Game 55
J Wc4 (D)
31 'i d2 runs into 3 l . . . .xd5+ 32
'xd5 'xe2#, but the move played
alows a beautifl mate in six.
J .
The fnal king-hunt of the book
would not be complete without a
queen sacrifce.
J2 3xeJ
xeJ+
JJ g4 3c8+
gS
Or 34 h4 .e7#.
J4 .. h6I
Not 34 . . . g7 35 lhl and White
can prolong the gae.
J5 6 e5
0-
There is no defence to the twin
mating threats of 36 . . . .f8# and
36 . . . lh5#.
John Nunn is one of the worl d's top grandmasters, especi al l y noted for hi s
attacki ng ski l l s. He has won four i ndivi dual gol d medal s at chess ol ympi ads,
and won the Hasti ngs tournament twice. He fi ni shed thi rd i n two Worl d Cup
:e i n 1 989.
and transl ator, but hi s greatest
other books i ncl ude Lessons in
:ummit
Planning Pawn Power
Nei l McDonal d Angus Dunni ngton
Gambits Think Like a Grandmaster
-
Graham Burgess Al exander Kotov
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Piece Power Steve Davis Plays Chess

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Peter Wel l s Steve Davis & Davi d Norwood
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