Game of the week

July 24, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

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

Game of the week

July 17, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

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

Game of the week

July 10, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

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

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

Game of the week

July 3, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

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

Game of the week

June 26, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

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

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

Game of the week

June 12, 2022June 12, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "Gjovik 1983"]  [White "Pia Cramling"]  [Black "Jim Plaskett"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B46"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "59"]  [EventDate "1983.??.??"]  [EventCountry "NOR"]  [SourceTitle "CH, Aug-Sept 1984"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 (  7... dxc6 {is better, e.g.,} 8. O-O Nf6 9. f4 Bc5+ 10. Kh1 e5 $11) 8. O-O (8.  Qg4 $1 Nf6 9. Qg3 $14) 8... Nf6 9. Qe2 d5 10. Bg5 dxe4 $2 (10... Be7 11. Rae1  Rb8 12. e5 h6 $1 13. Bd2 Nd7 $11 {Fajs-Gefenas, ICCF Email 2015}) 11. Nxe4 Nxe4  12. Bxe4 Bd6 13. Qh5 Rb8 14. Rad1 Rb5 15. h4 (15. a4 $1 Rb4 16. Rfe1 Rxa4 17.  Bd2 h6 18. Qh4 Bb7 19. b3 $16) 15... h6 16. c4 Re5 $6 (16... Rc5 17. Rxd6 Qxd6  18. Rd1 Qc7 19. Bd8 Rxh5 20. Bxc7 O-O 21. g3 $16) 17. Rxd6 Qxd6 18. Rd1 Rxg5 $6  (18... Qc7 19. Bxc6+ Kf8 20. Bd8 Rxh5 21. Bxc7 $18) 19. hxg5 Qc5 $6 (19... Qc7  20. gxh6 Rxh6 21. Qg5 Qh2+ 22. Kf1 Qh1+ 23. Ke2 Qh5+ 24. Qxh5 Rxh5 25. Bxc6+  $18 {puts up more resistance}) 20. Qh4 Bd7 (20... O-O 21. gxh6 g5 22. Qg3 $18 {  is an irrelevant improvement}) 21. Qg3 (21. Qf4 {is quicker}) 21... Ke7 $2 (  21... e5 22. b4 Qe7 23. Qf3 $18 {would prolong the game without changing the  outcome}) 22. b4 Qxb4 23. Qc7 (23. gxh6 Rxh6 (23... gxh6 24. Qh4+ Ke8 25. Bxc6  $18) 24. Qc7 $18 {is even more brutal}) 23... Rd8 24. Bxc6 hxg5 25. Rxd7+ (25.  Bxd7 $1) 25... Rxd7 26. Qxd7+ Kf6 27. Qd4+ e5 28. Qd8+ Kg6 $2 {Black hopes for  a quick death} (28... Qe7) 29. Qd3+ $2 (29. Be4+ f5 30. Qe8+ Kf6 (30... Kh6 31.  Bxf5) 31. Bd5 g4 32. Qf7+ Kg5 33. Qxg7+ {leads to checkmate}) 29... f5 $2 (  29... Kf6) 30. g4 {This time White gives Black the quick death he longs for}  1-0

Game of the week

June 5, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Site "Bognor Regis 1966"]  [White "Michael Basman"]  [Black "Victor Ciocaltea"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A48"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "43"]  [EventDate "1966.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "10"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 ({This game was played before Basman's tragic mental breakdown, which  led to his continually playing} 1. g4 {and apparently believing that it was a  good move.}) 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 (4. Nc3 $5) 4... h6 (4... d5  $11) 5. Bh4 O-O 6. Nbd2 b6 $5 (6... d6 $11) (6... d5 $11) 7. e3 (7. e4 $5) 7...  Bb7 (7... d6 $11) 8. Bd3 c5 (8... d6 $5 9. O-O Nbd7 (9... Re8 $5) 10. Re1 {  Abdulla-Md, Dhaka 2017} c5 $11) 9. Bxf6 {Huh? Why? Did he somehow anticipate  Black's response?} (9. O-O d6 $11) 9... exf6 $6 {Another huh? Why?} (9... Bxf6  $11) 10. dxc5 bxc5 $2 (10... f5 11. cxb6 Qxb6 12. Be2 $14) 11. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 12.  Qb3+ Kh7 (12... d5 13. Qxb7 Qd7 14. Qxa8 Nc6 15. Qxf8+ Bxf8 16. O-O $16 {  is a small improvement over the game for Black}) 13. Qxb7 Nc6 $6 (13... Qb6 14.  Qd5 (14. Qxa8 Nc6 15. Qxf8 Bxf8 16. O-O-O $16 {isn't quite as good}) 14... Qxb2  15. Rb1 Qxc3 16. Qxa8 Nc6 17. Qb7 Rb8 18. Rb3 Qc1+ 19. Ke2 Qxh1 20. Qxd7 $16)  14. Qb3 (14. O-O-O $1 $18) 14... d5 (14... Rb8 $5 15. Qa3 $16) 15. O-O Ne5 $6 (  15... f5 16. Qa3 $16) 16. Rad1 Qb6 $2 (16... Rb8 17. Qc2 $16) 17. Nxe5 fxe5 18.  Qxd5 Qxb2 (18... Rfd8 19. Qb3 $18 {offers ever so slightly more resistance})  19. Ne4 (19. Rb1 $18 {is slightly stronger}) 19... Qa3 (19... Kh8 {is a small  and irrelevant improvement}) 20. Qc4 Rad8 21. h3 (21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rb1 $18 {  is a bit stronger}) 21... Qa5 22. a4 {My source ends here. It's seem premature  to resign and early to lose on time but Black is quite lost. Stockfish rates  the position as +4.09 after 39 ply..} 1-0

Game of the week

May 29, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

Grandmaster Averbakh passed away two weeks ago at age 100. He was especially known for his widely translated volumes on endgames. I picked up the complete set in a cheap East German edition years ago but unfortunately it disappeared when I tried to ship it home. Sigh. Fittingly, this game of his involves an ending.

  [Event "Soviet Union 1974"]  [White "Gennady Ageichenko"]  [Black "Yuri Averbakh"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C84"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "120"]  [EventDate "1974.??.??"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 (6. Re1 {is, of  course, the main line}) 6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. Nd5 Na5 9. Nxe7 Qxe7 10. d4 (10.  d3 O-O 11. Re1 c5 $11) 10... Bb7 (10... h6 11. dxe5 dxe5 $11 {Mikenas-Koblencs,  Parnu 1954}) 11. Bg5 Nxb3 12. axb3 h6 13. Bh4 $6 (13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Re1 (14.  Qd3 $5) (14. d5 $5) 14... O-O $11) 13... Rd8 $6 (13... g5 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bg3  Nd7 16. Qe2 h5 $15) 14. Qe2 $6 (14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. d5 O-O $11) 14... g5 $6 (  14... exd4 $15) 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. Bg3 Nxg3 (16... dxe5 $5 17. Nxe5 Rd6 18. Nd3  Re6 19. Qd1 $11) 17. fxg3 (17. hxg3 $5 O-O 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 $11) 17... O-O 18.  Rae1 Rde8 19. Nd4 $2 (19. Qf2 Bxf3 20. exd6 Qxd6 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Qxf3 Qg6 $11  ) 19... Qxe5 20. Qf2 Be4 21. g4 Qg7 22. c3 $6 (22. Ra1 c5 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5  Qd4+ 25. Kh1 Re5 $15) 22... b4 $2 (22... Bd3 23. Nf5 Qg6 24. Ne7+ Rxe7 25. Rxe7  Bxf1 26. Qxf1 Rc8 $17) 23. cxb4 Bd3 24. Nf5 $2 (24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Rd1 Be4 $11)  24... Bxf5 25. gxf5 Qf6 26. h3 (26. Qd2 $5 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Rc8 $17) 26... d5 (  26... Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Rb8 $17 {is a small improvement for Black}) 27. Kh1 $6 (27.  Qc5 Rxe1 28. Rxe1 c6 $17) 27... Re4 (27... d4 $1 $17) 28. Rxe4 (28. Qc5 $1 Rfe8  $17 {is a modest improvement for White}) 28... dxe4 29. Qc5 Re8 30. Qc3 $6 (30.  b5 Re5 31. Qc6 Kg7 $17) 30... Qxc3 $6 (30... Qb6 31. Qc5 e3 $19) 31. bxc3 e3  32. Re1 e2 33. Kg1 Re3 $6 (33... Re5 $1 34. g4 Re3 $19) 34. Kf2 Rxc3 35. Rxe2  Rxb3 36. Re4 Rc3 37. h4 (37. Re5 Rc4 38. Ra5 Rxb4 39. Rxa6 Rb6 $17 {is  slightly better than the game for White}) 37... Kg7 (37... gxh4 $17 {is  somewhat stronger}) 38. hxg5 (38. h5 Kf6 $17 {is another small improvement for  White}) 38... hxg5 39. g4 Kf6 40. Ke2 c5 41. bxc5 Rxc5 42. Kf3 $2 (42. Ra4 a5  $17 {and Black still has his work cut out for him}) 42... a5 $6 (42... Rc3+ 43.  Kf2 Ra3 44. Rc4 a5 45. Rc6+ Ke5 46. Rc7 f6 47. Rc5+ Kd6 48. Rb5 Kc6 $19 {  is stronger}) 43. Re8 $2 (43. Ra4 Re5 $19 {still loses but makes Black work})  43... Rc3+ 44. Kf2 a4 45. Ra8 a3 46. Ra5 Rb3 47. Kg2 Rb2+ 48. Kg3 a2 49. Kf3  Ke7 50. Ra6 f6 (50... Kd7 51. f6 Rc2 {is the quick method}) 51. Ke4 Kd7 (51...  Rd2 52. Ke3 Rc2 {is also quicker}) 52. Kd5 Kc7 53. Kc5 Kb7 54. Ra3 Rg2 (54...  Rh2 $1) 55. Kd6 Re2 56. Kc5 Rc2+ 57. Kb5 Rg2 58. Kc5 Rxg4 59. Kd5 $6 (59. Rxa2  Rf4 {would only prolong the game without changing the result}) 59... Rg2 60.  Ke6 ({Ditto for} 60. Ke4) 60... g4 0-1

Game of the week

May 22, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "Leningrad Spartakiad 1969"]  [White "Semen Furman"]  [Black "Alexander Cherepkov"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "E59"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "63"]  [EventDate "1969.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3  Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 11. Bb2 (11. Bd3 e5 12. Qc2 Re8 13. dxe5 Nxe5  14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. f3 Be6 16. Re1 c4 17. Bf1 Nd7 18. e4 Nc5 $11) 11... e5 12.  Rc1 $5 (12. h3) (12. a4 $5) 12... Bg4 (12... e4 13. Nd2 Ng4 14. g3 Qd6 15. Nxe4  Qh6 16. h4 Nxe3 17. Nf6+ $1 (17. fxe3 Qxe3+ 18. Rf2 Qxe4 $11) 17... gxf6 18.  fxe3 Qxe3+ $11) 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 (14. Be2 $5) 14... Bg6 15. Qe2 (15. Bb5 $5)  15... Rad8 (15... e4 $1 16. Nh4 Na5 $11 {Romanov-Klima, Karvina 1998}) 16. Ba2  (16. Rfd1 e4 $11) 16... Rfe8 (16... Qe7 {is better}) 17. Rfd1 e4 (17... h6 $11)  18. Nh4 Qe7 $6 (18... Na5 $11) 19. Rf1 (19. Ng2 $1 h6 20. Qb5 Rd7 21. Nf4 $14)  19... Kh8 20. Rce1 h6 (20... Na5 $5 $11) 21. Nxg6+ fxg6 22. f3 exf3 23. Qxf3  Ne4 (23... Rf8 $5) 24. Qg2 Qh4 (24... Na5 $11) (24... Kh7 $11) (24... Rf8 $11 {  Basically, the position is equal}) 25. Kh2 (25. Bb1 $11) (25. Bc4 $11) (25. a4  $11 {In other words, the position is equal}) 25... Re7 (25... Rd7 $11) (25...  Kh7 $11) (25... Ng5 $11) 26. Re2 Kh7 27. Rf4 Ng5 28. Bb1 Rde8 29. Bc1 Ne6 $4 (  29... Na5 $11) 30. Bxg6+ $1 Kg8 (30... Kxg6 $2 31. Qe4+ Kg5 32. Qf5#) (30...  Kh8 31. Bxe8 Rxe8 32. Rf1 $18 {would allow Black to hold out a little longer})  31. Bxe8 (31. Rf5 $1 {is even stronger (not that it matters)}) 31... Nxf4 $2 (  31... Rxe8 32. Rf5 $18 {is an irrelevant improvement}) 32. exf4 1-0

Game of the week

May 15, 2022 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "Toronto"]  [Site "1999 Pan-American Open"]  [White "Bryon Nickoloff"]  [Black "Pascal Charbonneau"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D27"]  [WhiteElo "2513"]  [BlackElo "2355"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "57"]  [EventDate "1999.12.26"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "5"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "CFC 2003.10"]  [Source "CFC"]  [SourceDate "2003.10.??"]  [SourceVersionDate "2003.10.??"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. O-O c5 7. Bd3 (7. b3 cxd4  8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 b6 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Bb2 Nbd7 12. Nd2 Bc5 $11 {Zhu  Chen-Hommerson, Caleta 2014}) 7... Nbd7 8. Qe2 (8. Nbd2 b6 9. b3 cxd4 10. Nxd4  Bb7 $11) 8... b6 9. dxc5 (9. Rd1 Bb7 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. a3 O-O 12. b4 Bd6 13.  Bb2 (13. Bxh7+ $5 Kxh7 14. Rxd6 Bd5 $11) 13... Qe7 14. Nbd2 b5 15. e4 e5 $11)  9... Bxc5 (9... Nxc5 10. Bc2 Bb7 $11 {Turova-Demina, St. Petersburg 2002}) 10.  e4 (10. a3 O-O $11 {Hunger-Bohak, ICCF email 2018}) 10... Qc7 $6 (10... Bb7 $11  ) 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nbd2 (12. Bd2 $1 O-O 13. Na3 Bxa3 14. bxa3 g6 15. Rac1 $14)  12... Bb7 13. Nb3 Be7 (13... Nb4 $1 14. Bb1 Be7 $11) 14. Bd2 O-O 15. Rac1 (15.  Rfc1 {is slightly better}) 15... Qb8 16. Rc4 (16. Rfe1 $5) 16... f5 $2 (16...  a5 17. Rg4 Nb4 18. Bh6 g6 19. Bxf8 Bxf8 20. Be4 Ba6 21. Qd1 Bxf1 22. Bxa8 Bb5  23. Nbd4 $14) 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Ng5 $6 (18. a3 h6 19. Re4 $16) 18... g6 $2 (  18... h6 19. Nf3 $14) 19. Rfc1 $6 (19. Re1 Nf8 20. g3 $18) 19... Nf8 (19... Ne5  20. Rh4 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Rf5 22. Rxh7 Bxg5 23. Qh3 Bf6 24. Rd7 $16 {is a small  improvement for Black}) 20. Nd4 (20. Rd1 $5) 20... Bd6 $2 (20... b5 21. R4c2  $16) 21. Ndxe6 (21. g3 $1 $18) 21... Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Bd6 (22... Nxe6 23. Nxe6 Qd6  24. Nc7 $18 {puts up more resistance}) 23. Rh4 $6 (23. Nxf8 Qxf8 24. Nxh7 $1  Kxh7 (24... Rxf2 25. Nxf8 Rxe2 26. Bxe2 Rxf8 27. Bf3 $18) 25. Qh5+ Kg7 26. Bh6+  Kf7 27. Bxg6+ Rxg6 28. Bxf8 $18) 23... Nxe6 24. Nxh7 $6 (24. Nxe6 Qe8 25. Re4  $18) 24... Nef4 $2 (24... Qd8 25. Qg4 $16) 25. Nxf6+ Kg7 (25... Nxf6 26. Bxf4  $18 {is an irrelevant improvement}) 26. Bxf4 Nxf4 27. Rxf4 Qh8+ 28. Nh5+ ({  After} 28. Kg1 {, White mates in 13}) 28... gxh5 $2 ({After} 28... Qxh5+ 29.  Qxh5 gxh5 30. Rd4 $18 {, Black survives into a hopeless endgame}) 29. Rc7+ {  with mate in four} 1-0

ALL THINGS HUMAN

HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

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