Game of the week

December 12, 2021 by Robert Huntington | 1 Comment

It is with great sadness that I learned of the recent death of Dr. Edward Epp, a friend and regular on the New England chess scene ever since I started playing. As a tribute to Ed, I present a win of his over the winniest player ever.

  [Event "Natick 1997"]  [White "Edward Epp"]  [Black "John Curdo"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A04"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "75"]  [EventDate "1997.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "Unknown"]  [SourceDate "2009.03.03"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.03.03"]   1. Nf3 f5 2. e4 $5 fxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 (3... e5 $5) 4. d3 e5  5. dxe4 h6 6. Nf3 Bc5 (6... Nc6 7. Bc4 Bc5 8. O-O d6 9. Nc3 Bg4 $11) 7. Nxe5  O-O 8. Be3 (8. Be2 Bxf2+ $1 9. Kxf2 Ng4+ 10. Kg1 Nxe5 11. Qd5+ Nf7 12. h3 d6  $11) 8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 Qe8 10. Nf3 $6 (10. Ng4 Nxe4 11. Qd5+ Kh8 12. Bd3 Nf6  13. Nxf6 Rxf6 14. Qe4 Qxe4 15. Bxe4 c6 16. c4 d6 $11) 10... Nxe4 (10... Qxe4 $1  11. Qd2 Re8 12. Nc3 Qxe3+ 13. Qxe3 Rxe3+ 14. Kf2 Re8 $15) 11. Bc4+ Kh8 12. Nbd2  $6 (12. O-O d6 $11) 12... Nf6 (12... Nd6 $5) 13. Qe2 d5 (13... Nc6 $5) 14. Bd3  Bg4 (14... c5 $1) 15. O-O c5 (15... Nc6 $5) 16. c4 $6 (16. c3 Nc6 $11) 16...  Nc6 (16... dxc4 $1 17. Bxc4 Nc6 $15) 17. cxd5 (17. Rae1 dxc4 18. Bxc4 Rd8 $15)  17... Nxd5 18. Rae1 Rd8 (18... b6 $5) 19. Bb1 Qh5 $6 (19... b6 20. Qc4 Be6 $11)  20. h3 (20. Qb5 $14) 20... Bc8 $2 (20... Bxf3 $11) 21. Ne4 b6 $2 (21... Nf6 22.  Nxf6 gxf6 (22... Rxf6 23. Qc2 Bf5 24. Qxc5 $16) 23. Rd1 Ne5 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25.  Qc2 Rd7 26. Nh4 b6 (26... Qxh4 27. Qxc5 Kg7 28. Qxc8 $16) 27. Qa4 c4 28. Nf5  Qg5 29. Be4 $16) 22. a3 $2 (22. Ng3 Qe8 23. Qc2 g6 24. Nh4 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Ne5  26. Qe4 $18) 22... Ne5 $2 (22... Qe8 23. Nh4 Rxf1+ 24. Rxf1 Ne5 $11) 23. Ng3  Qe8 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. Qc2 Rxf1+ $2 (25... g6 26. Qxg6 Qg7 (26... Rxf1+ $2 27.  Nxf1 Qg7 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. Rd1 $18) 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. Nh5+ Kh8  30. Ba2 $18) 26. Rxf1 g6 27. Qxg6 Qg7 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. Rd1 Kf6 (29... Rd7 30.  Bf5 Nxe3 31. Rxd7+ Bxd7 32. Bxd7 $18 {might prolong the game slightly}) 30. e4  Rg8 31. Nh5+ Ke7 32. exd5 Bxh3 (32... Rd8 {is only slightly better}) 33. d6+  Kd8 34. Nf4 (34. Rd2 $1 {Not that it matters (it doesn't)}) 34... Bg4 35. Rd2  Rf8 36. Ng6 Rf6 37. Ne5 Bd7 38. Rf2 1-0

Game of the week

December 5, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "World Under 16 Championship"]  [Date "1982"]  [White "Simen Agdestein"]  [Black "Evgeny Bareev"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D19"]  [WhiteElo "2280"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "58"]  [EventDate "1982.??.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "10"]  [EventCountry "ECU"]  [SourceTitle "CL, March 1983"]  [SourceDate "2019.12.09"]  [SourceVersionDate "2019.12.09"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O  O-O 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 (11... Re8 $1 12. e5 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nd5  $11) 12. h3 (12. e5 $5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15. Bd2 Qa5 $11) 12...  Bxf3 13. Qxf3 e5 14. Be3 (14. d5 $5) 14... Re8 (14... exd4 15. Bxd4 Bc5 $11)  15. Qe2 $6 (15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Bc2 exd4 17. Bxd4 Rad8 $11) 15... exd4 16. Bxd4  Nf8 (16... Bc5 $5) 17. Bxf6 $6 (17. Be3 a5 $11) 17... Qxf6 18. Rac1 $6 (18. Qc2  Ne6 $15) 18... Rad8 19. Bb1 (19. Rfd1 $5 Rd4 $17) 19... Ne6 (19... Ng6 $1 $17)  20. e5 Qh6 (20... Nd4 $5) 21. Ne4 $2 (21. Rcd1 Ba5 $15) 21... Nf4 22. Qf3 (22.  Qe3 $5) 22... Rxe5 23. Rc4 Nd5 24. Ng3 $6 (24. Ba2 Qg6 25. Rd4 Ba5 26. Nc5 Bb6  $17) 24... a5 (24... Qd6 $5) 25. Nf5 $6 (25. Re4 Qe6 $17) 25... Qf6 26. Qd3 (  26. Nh4 Be7 $19 {puts up more resistance}) 26... Kf8 $1 27. Nd4 $2 (27. Qf3 g6  $19 {would prolong the game}) 27... Nf4 (27... Nb6 $1 {is even stronger}) 28.  Qxh7 Rh5 (28... Rxd4 {is also even stronger (not that it matters)}) 29. Ne6+ $2  (29. Qe4 Rxd4 30. Rxd4 Qxd4 $1 31. Qxd4 Ne2+ $19 {would prolong the game  pointlessly}) 29... Qxe6 0-1

Game of the week

November 28, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "1994 Memorial Day Classic"]  [Site "Long Beach, CA"]  [White "Smbat Lputian"]  [Black "Rosendo Balinas"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A40"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "53"]  [EventDate "1994.05.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "6"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "Unknown"]  [SourceDate "2009.03.03"]  [SourceVersionDate "2009.03.03"]   1. d4 Nc6 $5 2. Bg5 (2. d5 Ne5 3. e4 e6 4. dxe6 dxe6 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nc3 Nf6  7. f4 $14) 2... f6 (2... d5 $5 $11) 3. Bh4 e5 (3... d5 4. e3 e5 5. dxe5 Nxe5  $11) 4. dxe5 (4. d5 Nce7 5. e4 c6 $11) 4... Nxe5 (4... Qe7 $5) 5. e4 Bb4+ (5...  d5 $11) 6. Nd2 d5 $6 (6... d6 7. Qe2 Bc5 $11) 7. c3 Be7 8. Ngf3 Bg4 $6 (8...  Nxf3+ 9. Nxf3 dxe4 (9... f5 $5) 10. Qa4+ Qd7 11. Qxe4 $14) 9. Be2 (9. Qb3 $5)  9... Bxf3 (9... Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 $16) 10. Nxf3 dxe4 11. Qa4+ Qd7  12. Qxe4 Qc6 ({Slightly better is} 12... O-O-O 13. Nxe5 Qd2+ 14. Kf1 fxe5 15.  Rd1 Qf4 (15... Qxd1+ 16. Bxd1 Rxd1+ 17. Ke2 Rxh1 18. Qg4+ Kd8 19. Qxg7 $18) 16.  Bg4+ Kb8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Qxf4 exf4 19. Bxd8 Nh6 20. Bg5 Nxg4 21. Bxf4 $16)  13. Qf5 Nh6 14. Qh5+ Nhf7 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. O-O Qh6 (17... Rae8 {  is a marginal improvement}) 18. Qf3 (18. Qf5 $1 $16) 18... Nd6 $2 (18... c6 19.  Bd3 $16) 19. Qd5 (19. c4 $1 $18) 19... Rhe8 20. Qc5 Kd8 $6 (20... Kf8 21. Qxc7  Re7 22. Qa5 $16) 21. Rad1 Re7 $2 (21... Kc8 22. Rd5 Qf6 23. Rfd1 $18 {puts up  more resistance}) 22. Qd5 Qe6 $6 (22... Rb8 {would needlessly prolong the game}  ) 23. Qxb7 Qc8 $6 ({so would} 23... Rc8) 24. Qd5 (24. Qe4 $1 {is even stronger}  ) 24... Rb8 25. Qg8+ (25. c4 $1) 25... Re8 26. Qxg7 Rxb2 $2 (26... Qe6) 27. Bg4  1-0

Game of the week

November 21, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "Briansk 1978"]  [White "Alexander Panchenko"]  [Black "Vladimir Baikov"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C78"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "72"]  [EventDate "1978.??.??"]  [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 b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. c3 Nxe4 8. d4  Na5 9. Bc2 exd4 10. b4 Nc4 (10... d3 $5) 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Re1 d5 13. Nxd4 Bd6  $6 (13... c5 $1 14. bxc5 Bxc5 15. f3 O-O 16. fxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4 $14) 14. f3 Qh4  15. g3 $2 (15. h3 Qg3 16. Nf5 Qh2+ 17. Kf2 O-O-O 18. fxe4 dxe4 19. Qg4 Kb8 20.  Qxe4 Rhe8 21. Qxe8 Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Kb7 23. Re4 g6 24. Nxd6+ Nxd6 25. Nd2 $1  Nxe4+ 26. Nxe4 Qe5 27. Nc5+ Kc6 28. Be3 $16 {Klinger-Mainka, Dortmund 1989})  15... Bxg3 16. Re2 Be5 17. fxe4 dxe4 (17... O-O-O $1 $11) 18. Qf1 $2 (18. Na3  Nb6 $11) 18... Rd8 $6 (18... O-O-O $15) 19. Qg2 $2 (19. Kh1 Bxd4 20. cxd4 Rxd4  21. Nd2 O-O $11) 19... Rxd4 $1 20. cxd4 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 f5 22. Bg5 Qh5 23. Nc3  Bxc3 24. Rf1 (24. Rxe4+ fxe4 25. Qxe4+ Kd7 26. Qf5+ Kc6 27. Qe4+ Kb6 28. Be3+  Nxe3 29. Qxe3+ Kb7 30. Qxc3 Qd5+ $19 {is only slightly better}) 24... O-O 25.  Ref2 (25. Be7 Re8 $19 {is another insufficient improvement}) 25... h6 (25...  Bxb4 $19 {is even stronger}) 26. Bf4 (26. Be7 Ne3 $19 {is irrelevantly better})  26... Bxb4 27. Qg3 (27. a4 Bc3 $19 {would prolong the game without changing  the result}) 27... Bd6 $6 (27... g5 $1 $19 {is the quick way}) 28. Bxd6 (28.  Qc3 {is ever so trivially better}) 28... cxd6 29. Rg2 (29. Rf4 e3 $19 {is yet  another irrelevant improvement}) 29... Rf7 ({Once again,} 29... g5 {is quicker}  ) 30. Qc3 Kh7 (30... g5) 31. a4 Ne5 $6 (31... g5) 32. axb5 (32. Qd4 {is  slightly better and would not change the outcome}) 32... axb5 33. Qd4 Rf6 (  33... Nd3 $1 $19) 34. Qa7 (34. Rfg1 {puts up more (futile) resistance}) 34...  Rg6 35. Rxg6 (35. Qf2 {might prolong the game a few moves}) 35... Qxg6 (35...  Nxg6 $1) 36. Rg1 Ng4 0-1

Game of the week

November 14, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Site "Soviet Union 1976"]  [White "Albert Kapengut"]  [Black "Yuri Anikaev"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B85"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "67"]  [EventDate "1976.??.??"]  [EventType "schev"]  [EventRounds "5"]  [EventCountry "URS"]  [SourceTitle "StarBase 4.56"]  [SourceDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2004.11.04"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. f4  a6 9. a4 Nc6 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Qe1 Bd7 12. Nb3 Nb4 (12... b5 $5) 13. Qd2 e5 (  13... d5 $5 14. e5 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. c3 Nd5 $11 {Beliavsky-Dieks, Teeside  1973}) (13... b5 $1 $11) 14. a5 Be6 $2 (14... Rfe8 $11) 15. Ra4 Bxb3 16. cxb3 (  16. Rxb4 $1 Be6 17. Bb6 $16) 16... Nc6 17. Bb6 (17. Nd5 $5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Nd4  19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Rxd4 $14) 17... Qd7 18. Rc4 (18. f5 $1 $14) 18... Bd8 19. Nd5  (19. Bxd8 $5) 19... exf4 20. Bxd8 Qxd8 21. Nb6 (21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Rxf4 Qg5 $11  ) 21... Rb8 (21... Ne5 $5) 22. b4 (22. Rxf4 $5) 22... g5 23. g3 Ne5 (23... Re8  24. gxf4 Nxe4 25. Qd3 f5 $11) 24. Rd4 Ng6 $2 (24... Nc6 25. Rxd6 Qe7 26. Rxf6  Qxf6 27. Nd7 Qg6 $11) 25. e5 $6 (25. gxf4 gxf4 26. e5 Nd7 (26... Nxe5 {  transposes to the game}) 27. Nxd7 (27. Rxd6 $2 Qg5+ $15) 27... Qxd7 28. exd6  $16) 25... Nxe5 (25... Nd7 $2 26. Rxd6 $16) 26. gxf4 gxf4 $2 (26... Nc6 $1 27.  Rxd6 Qe7 28. Rxf6 Qxf6 29. Nd7 Qe7 $11) 27. Qxf4 Ne8 $2 (27... Kg7 28. Nc4 $16)  28. Qh6 f5 $2 (28... Ng6 29. Nd5 $18) 29. Bc4+ Nxc4 $2 (29... Rf7 30. Rxf5 $18)  30. Rg4+ $1 Kf7 31. Nxc4 Nf6 $6 ({After} 31... Rg8 {it will take White twenty  moves to checkmate Black}) 32. Rg7+ Ke6 33. Re1+ Kd5 34. Nb6+ (34. Qd2+ {  mates in six, whereas the text allows Black to postpone mate by taking on b6}) 1-0

Game of the week

November 7, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "1973 Canadian Open"]  [Site "Ottawa"]  [White "Kevin Spraggett"]  [Black "Bruce Amos"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C05"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "67"]  [EventDate "1973.07.28"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "CAN"]  [SourceTitle "Canbase"]  [SourceDate "2015.08.19"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2015.08.19"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 (5. Bd3 $14) 5... c5 6. c3 Nc6 7.  Ndf3 Qa5 $6 (7... Qb6 $1 8. g3 Be7 9. Ne2 O-O 10. Bh3 a5 $11) 8. Kf2 (8. dxc5  $1 Qxc5 9. Bd3 f6 10. Qe2 $14 {Michiels-Rasmussen, Hinnerup 1979}) 8... b5 9.  Bd3 $6 (9. a3 c4 $11) 9... b4 10. Ne2 Nb6 $6 (10... Be7 $1 $15) 11. Bd2 Na4 $2  (11... Nc4 $1 $11) 12. Rb1 (12. cxb4 $1 Nxb4 13. Bxb4 cxb4 14. Qd2 $16) 12...  Bd7 13. g4 $6 (13. f5 $1 exf5 14. Nf4 $16) 13... Rb8 14. cxb4 Nxb4 15. Bc2 (15.  Kg2 $5) 15... Qa6 $2 (15... cxd4 16. Nexd4 Qa6 17. Bxa4 Bxa4 18. Qe2 Be7 $11)  16. b3 Nb6 17. Bxb4 cxb4 18. Ra1 (18. f5 $1 $16) 18... Be7 (18... h5 $1 19. Bd3  Bb5 20. Bxb5+ Qxb5 21. g5 $16) 19. Qd2 (19. f5 $1 $16) 19... Rc8 (19... Bb5 20.  Ng3 $16) 20. f5 f6 $2 (20... Bb5 21. Nf4 $16) 21. Bd3 Bb5 (21... Nc4 $5 22.  bxc4 dxc4 23. Be4 c3 24. Qe3 $18) 22. Bxb5+ Qxb5 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Nf4 exf5 (  24... O-O 25. Nxe6 $18 {puts up more resistance}) 25. Rhe1+ (25. g5 $18 {  is even stronger}) 25... Kf7 26. g5 Bd8 27. Re5 $2 (27. Ne5+ Kg8 28. h4 $18)  27... g6 $2 (27... Rf8 28. Rxf5+ Kg8 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rc1 $16) 28. Rae1 Rf8  29. Ne6 (29. Re6 $1 Nd7 30. Rd6 $18 {is the quick method}) 29... Re8 $2 ({  Black can prolong the game by giving up the exchange with} 29... Be7 {but why?}  ) 30. Qe3 Qc6 (30... Qd7 {is a pointless improvement}) 31. Nxd8+ Rcxd8 32. Re7+  Kf8 (32... Kg8 {postpones checkmate but, again, why?}) 33. Qe5 Qc2+ 34. Kg1 1-0

Game of the week

October 31, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "Manchester 1979"]  [White "Keith Arkell"]  [Black "Murray Chandler"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B07"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "95"]  [EventDate "1979.09.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]  [SourceTitle "www.newzealandchess.co.n"]  [SourceDate "2019.11.05"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2006.11.24"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. Qe2 Nc6 6. e5 Nd7 $6 (6... Nxd4 $5  7. exf6 Nxe2 8. fxg7 Rg8 9. Ngxe2 Rxg7 (9... e6 10. h4 d5 11. Bb3 Rxg7 12. Bh6  Rg8 $11) 10. Bh6 Rg8 11. h4 Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. O-O-O c6 $11) 7. Nf3 Nb6 (  7... dxe5 8. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 9. Ng5+ Ke8 10. Qc4 e6 11. Nxe6 (11. Qxe6+ $2 Qe7  12. Nd5 Qxe6 13. Nxc7+ Ke7 14. Ngxe6 Bf6 $15) 11... Nb6 12. Nxg7+ Kf8 13. Ne6+  Bxe6 14. Qxe6 Qh4 (14... Qe7 $2 15. Bh6+ $18 {McNab-Green, Cagnes sur Mer 1977}  ) 15. O-O $14) 8. Bb3 O-O 9. Bf4 (9. h3 $1 $14) 9... a5 (9... Bg4 10. O-O-O Qc8  $11 {Neerava-Reilly, Toowoomba 1985}) 10. a4 Bg4 (10... dxe5 11. dxe5 Bg4 $11 {  Biro-Barua, Rhodes 2019}) 11. O-O-O Qc8 12. Qe3 (12. h3 $5) 12... dxe5 13. dxe5  Be6 (13... Nb4 $1 $11) 14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Bh6 (15. Nd4 Qd7 16. b3 $14) 15...  Rad8 16. Rxd8 $6 (16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. b3 $11) 16... Rxd8 17. Bxg7 (17. b3 Qg4 $15  ) 17... Kxg7 18. h4 $2 (18. b3 Qg4 $15) 18... Nc4 19. Qf4 N4xe5 20. h5 (20.  Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Qxe5+ Nxe5 $17) 20... Qf5 21. h6+ Kg8 22. Qxf5 gxf5 23. Nb5 $6 (  23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Nb5 Rd7 $17) 23... Rd7 $2 (23... Ng4 $1 $19) 24. Rd1 Rxd1+  25. Kxd1 Nxf3 26. gxf3 f6 27. Nxc7 Kf7 28. c3 Kg6 29. Ne6 Kxh6 30. Nc5 Kg5 31.  Nxb7 Kf4 32. Ke2 Ke5 33. Nc5 $6 (33. b3 $11) 33... Kd5 34. Nb3 h5 (34... f4 {  is somewhat better}) 35. Nd2 f4 36. Kf1 f5 37. Kg2 (37. b3 e5 38. Kg1 e4 39.  fxe4+ fxe4 40. Kg2 $11) 37... e5 38. Kh3 $6 (38. b3 e4 39. Nf1 $11) 38... e4  39. fxe4+ fxe4 40. Kh4 $2 (40. Kg2 h4 41. b3 Ne5 42. b4 e3 43. fxe3 fxe3 44.  Nf1 e2 45. Kf2 exf1=Q+ 46. Kxf1 $11) 40... Ne5 41. b4 $2 (41. Nf1 Nd3 $19 {  would prolong the game}) 41... e3 42. fxe3 fxe3 43. Nf1 e2 44. Ne3+ Ke4 45. Ng2  Nd3 46. Kg3 h4+ 47. Kxh4 Kf3 48. Kh3 0-1

Game of the week

October 24, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "1986 World Open"]  [White "Viswanathan Anand"]  [Black "Leonid Bass"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B10"]  [WhiteElo "2405"]  [BlackElo "2460"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "101"]  [EventDate "1986.07.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CL, Oct 1986"]  [SourceDate "2019.05.21"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2019.05.21"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 (3... Nf6 $5) 4. cxd5 Qxd5 (4... Nf6 $1 5. Bb5+  Nbd7 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Nf3 Nxd5 9. O-O f6 10. d4 e6 $11) 5. Nc3 Qd6 6.  d4 e6 7. g3 (7. Bd3 $5) 7... Nc6 (7... Nf6 $1 $11) 8. Nge2 (8. Nf3 $1) 8... Nf6  9. Bg2 Be7 10. O-O (10. Bf4 $5) 10... O-O 11. Bf4 Qd7 (11... Qd8 12. a3 $14)  12. Rc1 Rd8 13. Qd2 (13. Qa4 $1 Nb4 14. Qxd7 Rxd7 $11) 13... b6 (13... Nxd4 $2  14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Qxd4 Rxd4 16. Nb5 $16) (13... e5 $5 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. Bxe5  Bh3 16. Nf4 Bxf1 17. Ncd5 Qd7 (17... Qe8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Rxf1  $44) 18. Rc7 Nxd5 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Kxf1 $11) 14. Rfd1 Bb7 (14...  Ba6 $5 $11) 15. d5 exd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qxd5 18. Rxd5 Rxd5 19. Bxd5 Rc8  20. Kg2 (20. Nc3 Nd8 $11) 20... Nd8 (20... Ba6 $1 $11) 21. Rxc8 Bxc8 22. Bb8 a6  23. Nc3 (23. Ba7 b5 $11) 23... Bf6 (23... b5 24. Kf3 Kf8 $11) 24. Bc7 (24. Kf3  $1 b5 25. Ke4 Be7 26. a3 Kf8 27. b4 Ke8 $11) 24... b5 25. Ne4 Be7 26. Kf3 Ne6  27. Be5 Nc5 $2 (27... f6 28. Bb8 Bd7 29. Ke3 Kf8 $11) 28. Bd6 Bxd6 (28... Nxe4  29. Bxe7 Nd2+ 30. Kf4 $16 {is slightly better}) 29. Nxd6 (29. Bxf7+ $2 Kxf7 30.  Nxd6+ Ke6 31. Nxc8 Nd3 $15) 29... Be6 30. Bxe6 fxe6 (30... Nxe6 $6 31. Ke4 Ng5+  32. Kd5 $18) 31. Ke3 Na4 (31... e5 32. b4 $18 {is a bit better}) 32. b3 Nc3 (  32... Nb6 {is too small an improvement to make any difference}) 33. a3 Nb1 $6 (  33... Kf8 34. Ne4 Nd5+ 35. Kd4 $18) 34. a4 bxa4 35. bxa4 Nc3 36. a5 Kf8 (36...  Nd1+ {is an irrelevant improvement}) 37. Kd4 Nd5 38. Kc5 Ke7 ({So is} 38... g6)  39. Nc8+ $6 (39. Nf5+ $18 {is the quick method}) 39... Kd8 40. Nb6 Nc3 $2 (  40... Nf6 41. Kc6 Ng4 {offers more resistance}) 41. Kc6 g5 (41... Nb5 {is a  small, but futile improvement}) 42. Nc4 $6 (42. Nd7 {is better}) 42... g4 43.  Ne5 h5 44. Nd3 Ne4 (44... Kc8 {is another irrelevant improvement. Black is  burnt toast (and has been for some time)}) 45. Kb6 $2 (45. Nb4 $1 {'s  evaluation by Stockfish is double that of the text (not that it matters--it  doesn't)}) 45... Kd7 46. Kxa6 $6 ({Again} 46. Nb4 {is a lot better than the  text but, again, it doesn't matter}) 46... Kc6 47. Ka7 Kc7 48. Nf4 e5 49. Ne6+  Kd6 $2 (49... Kc6 50. a6 Nf6 51. Kb8 Nd7+ 52. Kc8 Nb6+ 53. Kd8 Nc4 54. Ng7 $18  {would prolong the game without changing the result}) 50. a6 Nc3 51. Kb6 1-0

Game of the week

October 17, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "Druskininkai 1987"]  [White "Boris Alterman"]  [Black "Vladimir Kramnik"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A32"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "70"]  [EventDate "1987.??.??"]  [EventCountry "URS"]  [SourceTitle "LF14_08"]  [SourceDate "2014.08.06"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2014.08.06"]  [SourceQuality "2"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. g3 Qc7 7. Qd3 (7. Be3  $142 Qxc4 8. Rc1 $44) 7... Nc6 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Bg2 Be7 (9... e5 $5) 10. O-O O-O  11. h3 (11. Qc2 e5 $11) 11... e5 12. Be3 $6 (12. Qe3 Nd7 $11) 12... Be6 13. b3  Nd7 $6 (13... Rad8 $15) 14. Ne4 (14. Nd5 $5 cxd5 15. cxd5 e4 16. Qxe4 Nf6 17.  Qc4 Qxc4 18. bxc4 Bf5 19. c5 $44) 14... h6 15. g4 (15. Rad1 f5 $15) 15... Rad8  $6 (15... f5 $15) 16. Qc3 $6 (16. Ng3 $11) 16... Rfe8 (16... f5 $15) 17. Rad1  Nf8 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. Na4 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Ng6 (20... Bh4 $11) 21. Bb6 Qb8 22. e3 (  22. Qa5 Be6 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. Qxc5 h5 $1 $11) 22... Be6 (22... f5 $11) 23. Qd3  Qc8 $6 (23... Nh4 24. Be4 g6 25. Nc5 Bxc5 26. Bxc5 h5 $11) 24. Nc5 (24. Be4 $14  ) 24... Bxc5 25. Bxc5 Nh4 $6 (25... f5 $11) 26. Be4 h5 27. f3 g6 28. Kf2 $6 (  28. Qc2 $14) 28... f5 29. gxf5 gxf5 30. Rg1+ $6 (30. Qd6 $5 fxe4 31. Qxe5 Bf5  32. Qg3+ Ng6 33. Qg5 b6 34. Rd6 bxc5 35. Rxg6+ $11) 30... Kf7 (30... Kh7 $1 31.  Qc3 fxe4 32. Qxe5 Nf5 33. fxe4 Qd8 34. exf5 Qd2+ 35. Kg3 Rg8+ 36. Kh4 Rxg1 37.  fxe6 Qf2+ 38. Kxh5 Qf3+ 39. Kh4 Rg6 40. Qc7+ Kh6 41. Qf4+ Qxf4+ 42. exf4 Rxe6  $15) 31. Qc3 Ng6 (31... fxe4 32. Qxe5 Nf5 33. fxe4 Qd8 $11) (31... Qd8 $1 $15)  32. Bc2 Qd8 33. Qe1 $6 (33. Qb4 Qh4+ $11) 33... Qh4+ 34. Rg3 Rg8 35. Kg2 $4 (  35. Kf1 f4 36. Bxg6+ Rxg6 37. Rxg6 Bxh3+ 38. Ke2 Qxe1+ 39. Kxe1 Kxg6 40. e4 b5  $11) 35... f4 0-1

Game of the week

October 10, 2021 by Robert Huntington | Leave a comment

  [Event "1986 World Open"]  [White "Lev Alburt"]  [Black "Leonid Bass"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D90"]  [WhiteElo "2515"]  [BlackElo "2460"]  [Annotator "ATH"]  [PlyCount "59"]  [EventDate "1986.07.??"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "USA"]  [SourceTitle "CL, Oct 1986"]  [SourceDate "2019.05.21"]  [SourceVersion "1"]  [SourceVersionDate "2019.05.21"]  [SourceQuality "1"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bd2 {mostly harmless}  O-O 7. e4 (7. Rc1 {is the main alternative here, e.g.,} Nxc3 8. Bxc3 c5 9. dxc5  (9. d5 $5) 9... Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1 Be6 $11) 7... Nb6 8. Be3 Bg4 9. Qd2 (9. e5 $1  Nd5 $11) 9... Bxf3 (9... Nc6 $1 10. d5 Na5 $15) 10. gxf3 Nc6 11. e5 (11. O-O-O  Qe8 $11) 11... Qd7 (11... Qc8 $1) 12. f4 $6 (12. O-O-O e6 $11) 12... Rfd8 13.  O-O-O Nb4 (13... e6 $5) 14. Rg1 Qe6 (14... N4d5 $11) 15. a3 Na2+ (15... N4d5  $11) 16. Nxa2 (16. Kb1 $1 Nxc3+ 17. Qxc3 $14) 16... Qxa2 17. Bd3 Qd5 $2 (17...  e6 18. Qc3 Rac8 $11) 18. Qc2 (18. Kb1 $1 $16) 18... e6 $6 (18... Qa2) 19. Kb1  c6 $6 (19... Rab8 20. Rc1 c5 21. Be4 $16) 20. h4 Nc8 (20... Rac8 21. h5 $18 {  puts up a tad more resistance}) 21. f5 exf5 22. Bxf5 (22. Bg5 $1 $18 {is even  stronger}) 22... Ne7 23. Be4 Qe6 24. h5 Rd7 (24... Kf8 $5 25. Bg5 $18) 25. f4  Kf8 ({According to Stockfish,} 25... Kh8 {is irrelevantly better}) 26. Rg3 $6 (  26. Rg5 $1 $18 {with the threat of f5 trapping the queen and it's curtains})  26... Rad8 27. f5 $2 (27. Rf1 $18) 27... gxf5 $2 (27... Nxf5 28. Bxf5 Qxf5 29.  Qxf5 gxf5 30. Rf1 $16) 28. Rdg1 Bh6 (28... Rxd4 29. Bxd4 Rxd4 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31.  Rxg7 Qxe5 (31... Nxg7 32. Qc5+) 32. Rxh7 $18 {prolongs the game without  affecting the outcome}) 29. Qc5 Rd6 30. Bxh6+ 1-0

ALL THINGS HUMAN

HOMO SUM; HUMANI NIL A ME ALIENUM PUTO.

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