Sabah Chess Association

I liked it and It is a very logical game. Also Explained Well.

I dont know who played it but obviously he would be a grandmaster.

I would like to share this game with all chess lovers. So read it below.

(1) P-e4 P-e5

(2) Kt-f3 Kt-c6

(3) B-b5 P-a6

As explained previously this move cannot be regarded as loss of

time as White has to either retreat with the Bishop, adding

nothing to his development, or exchange on c6, helping Black’s

development by opening a line for the Bishop c8.

(4) B-a4 Kt-f6

The move B-c5 which Black might consider instead of Kt-f6 is not

to be recommended as White would reply P-c3 and then force the

exchange of Black’s center-Pawn by P-d4. The complete control of

the center which White would gain in the further course of the

game would soon give him an overwhelming attack. For instance:

(4) …, B-c5; (5) P-c3, Kt-f6; (6) o-o, o-o;

(7) P-d4, Pxd4; (8) Pxd4, B-b6; (9) P-e5, Kt-e8; (10) P-d5, Kt-

e7; (11) P-d6, Pxd6; (12) Pxd6, Kt-g6; (13) B-g5, etc.

(5) P-d3

It is customary for White to castle at this point. P-d3 is

certainly a good move as it enables the development of the

Queen’s Bishop, but o-o is very likely better as it reserves the

option of advancing the Queen’s Pawn either one or two squares.

When advancing the Pawn two squares White has to avoid the

following trap: (5) o-o, B-e7; (6) P-d4, P-b5; (7) B-b3, Pxd4

(not Ktxd4 on account of (8) Bxf7 and (9) Ktxe5 +); (8) Ktxd4

??, Ktxd4; (9) Qxd4, P-c5 followed by P-c4 winning the Bishop.

What White can try in this variation is the Pawn sacrifice (8) P-

c3, Pxc3, through which he obtains a considerable advantage in

the development of the pieces.

After (5) o-o White threatens to win the Pawn e5 by (6) Bxc6 and

(7) Ktxe5, as now Q-d4; (8) Kt-f3, Qxe4 is not possible on

account of (9) R-e1. Black has various ways to counter this

threat. He can either defend the Pawn by P-d6 or play B-e7 with

the view to capture the Pawn e4 in case White should take the

Pawn e5, or, finally, he can capture the Pawn e4 at once.

All of these three variations are playable for Black although it

appears that White obtains a slight advantage however Black

continues. This opening is consequently a great favorite in

modern Tournament play.

[Footnote: Following are the two main variations which have been

adopted in the practice of the Masters:

A. (5) o-o, B-e7; (6) R-e1 (protecting the Pawn e4 so that

Black has to defend himself against Bxc6 and Ktxe5), P-b5; (7) B-

b3, P-d6; (8) P-c3 (preserving the Bishop against the exchange

threatened with Kt-a5), Kt-a5; (9) B-c2, P-c5; (10) P-d4, Q-c7.

Now the Pawn e5 is sufficiently protected and Black threatens to

exert pressure on d4 by playing B-g4 and Kt-c6. It might seem

that White can ignore this threat and as soon as d4 attacked

either exchange the Pawn on e5 or advance him to d5. However, the

former maneuver would open the d-file for Black's Rooks and the

latter would not be very good either before Black has castled;

for the advance of the d-pawn closes the center-files permanently

for the Rooks so that Black's King is safe in the center while

White may have to face an attack on the King's wing which Black

might initiate by storming with the h and g Pawns.

For all these reasons White is justified in making the waiting

move (11) P-h3, which safeguards the square d4 against the

indirect attack B-g4 and at the same time prepares an attack

along the lines of the one discussed in connection with Diagram

52. After (11) ..., Kt-c6; (12) B-e3, o-o; White can safely

advance the Queen's Pawn and then launch the attack referred to

above.

B. The second variation arising from the position of Diagram 62

is (5) o-o, Ktxe4. It seems rather dangerous for Black to take

the Pawn as long as his King is in the e-file which White can

occupy with his Rook; but after (6) R-e1, Kt-c5; (7) Ktxe5,

Ktxe5; (8) Rxe5 +, Kt-e6, White has not much attack and for this

reason the opening is generally treated in a different way. As

the strongest move is considered (6) P-d4. Black can hardly take

this Pawn as R-e1 and Ktxd4 would follow threatening to win a

piece; but he may try to maintain his Knight on the dominating

square e4 by (6) ..., P-b5; (7) B-b3, P-d5. After (8) Pxe5, B-e6;

(9) P-c3 (again providing a retreat for the Bishop), B-e7; (10)

Ktb1-d2, Black's best continuation is probably Ktxd2; (11) Qxd2

(not Bxd2 on account of B-g4); Kt-a5 or o-o. The maneuver (10)

..., Kt-c5; (11) B-c2, P-d4, which was tried in several recent

tournaments, is of doubtful value as Black loses control of the

important center-square e4. White can use this square for an

attack on the weak point c6 as follows: (12) Kt-e4, Pxc3; (13)

Ktxc5, Bxc5; (14) B-e4, Q-d7; (15) Q-c2, B-d5 (in order to answer

R-d1 with Bxe4); (16) B-g5, and Black does not seem to have a

satisfactory defense. For instance (16) ..., B-b6; (17) Ra1-d1,

Bxe4; (18) Qxe4, Q-e6; (19) R-d6 or (16) ..., Bxe4; (17) Qxe4,

Pxb2; (18) Ra1-d1, P-b1 (Q); (19) Rxb1 followed by R-c1.]

(5) … P-b5

The simplest and probably best way to defend the Pawn e5 against

the threat Bxc6 and Ktxe5 is P-d6 without P-b5.

(6) B-b3 P-d6

The alternative was B-c5. White could then not have captured the

Pawn e5 by (7) B-d5, o-o; (8) Bxc6, Pxc6; (9) Ktxe5 on account of

Q-d4, threatening mate on f2 and attacking the Knight.

(7) Kt-g5

This attack with two pieces in the early stage of the opening is

contrary to the general principles of strategy. White wins a Pawn

but this cannot be considered an adequate equivalent for the time

he loses in doing so. He neglects his development and he is bound

to suffer for that sooner than he can make the weight of his

extra-Pawn felt.

(7) … P-d5

(8) Pxd5

Black cannot recapture the Pawn as this would give White an

occasion to initiate a violent attack starting with the sacrifice

of the Knight on f7, thus: (8) …, Ktxd5; (9) Ktxf7, Kxf7; (10)

Q-f3+, K-e6 (the Knight d5 has to be protected); (11) Kt-c3,

Ktc6-e7; (12) o-o, followed by R-e1, P-d4, etc. The exposed

position of Black’s King is well worth the piece which White has

sacrificed.

(8) … Kt-d4

With this move Black crosses White’s plans by exchanging the

Bishop who was to play the main part in the attack, and, as a

consequence, the Knight g5 does not have a chance to do any

useful work either.

(9) P-d6

Opening again the diagonal of the Bishop and getting rid of the

advanced Pawn by exchange before Black has an occasion to capture

him.

(9) … Ktxb3

(10) Pxc7 Qxc7

Black could regain his Pawn by Q-d5; (11) Pa2xb3, Qxg2; (12) Q-

f3, Qxf3; (13) Ktxf3, B-b7; (14) K-e2, B-d6 and Bxc7; but in

doing so he would give up his advantage in development, which, as

the further course of the game proves, is much more valuable.

(11) Pa2xb3 B-b7

(12) o-o P-h6!

If Black proceeded to develop his pieces indiscriminately, his

advantage would soon vanish. White needs only two moves–R-e1 and

Kt-e4–to paralyze the effect of Black’s powerful Queen’s Bishop

and to regain control of the center where at present Black has

the upper hand on account of his center-Pawn.

(13) Kt-f3 B-d6

(14) R-e1 o-o

(15) Ktb1-d2 Ra8-d8

(16) P-c3

White does not risk Kt-e4 as Black, after Ktxe4; (17) Pxe4, can

uncover the Rook by B-b4 attacking White’s Queen and Rook at the

same time. White’s only defense would be (18) B-d2 or Kt-d2, but

he would pin himself badly in either case and Black would obtain

an overwhelming attack by P-f5, which enables his King’s Rook to

join the fray.

With P-c3 White protects himself against B-b4 and now actually

threatens to interrupt the diagonal of Black’s Queen’s Bishop.

Black will naturally try to prevent this and the first move which

presents itself for the purpose is P-e4, opening a line for the

Bishop d6 and the Queen at the same time. At first sight the move

does not seem playable as on e4 the Pawn is three times attacked

and only twice defended; but White cannot withdraw both the

Knight d2 and the Pawn d3 from the Queen’s file on account of the

threat Bxh2+ winning the Queen for Rook and Bishop. Black can,

therefore, safely advance the Pawn.

(16) … P-e4

(17) Pxe4 Ktxe4

(18) Q-c2

Now that the Queen has left the d-file, unpinning the Knight,

something must be done for the Knight e4 who is twice attacked

and only once protected. Two moves come into consideration. One

is P-f5 which maintains the Knight in the dominating center-

position, as White cannot take him without opening the f-file for

Black’s Rook and losing the Pawn h2 who needs the protection of

the Knight f3. The other is Ktxd2, winning the Pawn h2 right away

no matter whether White retakes with the Bishop or with the

Knight. Which of the two moves is the better is difficult to say

and is more or less a matter of temperament. A player who prefers

a slow and sure advance will choose P-f5. A player who likes a

faster pace will start the hand-to-hand fight without delay by

Ktxd2. It is the latter move on which Black decides.

(18) … Ktxd2

White now faces the dilemma whether to recapture with the Bishop

or with the Knight. If he takes with the Bishop Black exchanges

on f3, breaking up White’s chain of Pawns, and he regains his

Pawn by Bxh2. If he takes with the Knight, Black also wins the

Pawn h2, but the other Pawns in front of the King remain intact.

The drawback to the latter continuation is, however, that White’s

development is delayed for another two moves, as the Queen’s

Bishop is shut in. For this reason White decides on Bxd2,

probably also hoping that he will be compensated for the broken

Pawn position by an attack in the g- or h-file which Black’s

maneuver opens.

(19) Bxd2 Bxf3

The fact that Black has to exchange his well placed Queen’s

Bishop in order to win the Pawn h2 was very likely another reason

which induced White to retake with the Bishop.

(20) Pxf3 Bxh2+

(21) K-g2

A general survey of the position shows clearly that Black has the

advantage. His Rook d8 is ready to take part in the battle while

White has to make several preparatory moves with his Rooks before

he can make use of them on the King’s wing, the only part of the

board where they have a chance to be effective. In the e-line

which White’s Rook controls at present, there is no tangible

object for an attack.

Moreover, White’s King is rather exposed while Black’s King is

safely entrenched behind his Pawns.

A good continuation for Black, which presents itself at first

thought, is R-d6, enabling the doubling of the Rooks in the d-

line or the participation of the Rook d6 in a fight on the King’s

wing.

(21) … R-d6

(22) R-e4

White cannot take the Bishop h2 as Rxd2 would win the Queen. (22)

P-f4 would not be good either as Black would reply Q-d7,

threatening Rxd2 as well as Q-g4+; Kxh2, R-g6 and mate in two

moves.

With R-e4 White attempts to protect his King by R-g4 against

attacks in the g-file, and Black naturally tries to foil this

attempt.

(22) … P-f5

(23) R-h4

Black has now to decide whether he should withdraw his Bishop to

e5 or counterattack White’s Bishop by Q-d7 or Q-d8 or Rf8-d8. The

counterattack looks better as it threatens to force an entrance

for the Rooks in the second rank, displacing White’s Queen and

attacking the King from the flank. The withdrawal of the Bishop

would give White time to play his Queen’s Rook over to the King’s

wing.

The most forcible of the three moves available for the

counterattack is Q-d8, which attacks the Rook h4 too, thereby

depriving White of the possibility to save his Bishop by flight.

(23) … Q-d8

(24) Rxh2 Rxd2

(25) Q-c1

White’s Queen has now hardly any mobility and in addition she

shuts off the Queen’s Rook from the King’s wing. Black, on the

other hand, can easily get his Rooks to cooperate by doubling

them either in the d-file or in the second rank. He decides on

the former alternative because the control of the Queen’s file

keeps White’s troops separated in two parts which have little or

no communication with each other, while Black’s pieces are ready

for concentration on the King’s wing at any moment.

(25) … Q-g5+

(26) K-h1 Rf8-d8

(27) Q-e1

With the intention to play Q-e6+, thereby gaining time to swing

over the Queen’s Rook to the King’s wing.

(27) … K-h7

(28) Q-c1

The Queen cannot leave the first rank on account of the threat R-

d1+. It lies near for Black to try to force her out by attacking

the square d1 once more with the Queen, thereby threatening to

win the Queen for a Rook by the check on d1. He can accomplish

this by playing the Queen into the d-file behind the Rooks.

(28) … R-d6

(29) P-c4

Apparently White does not recognize Black’s intention, or he

would have played (29) Q-f1 in order to answer Q-d8 with (30) R-

e1, R-dl; (31) K-g2. But Black would then also have had an easy

win by playing (29) …, Rxb2 and doubling the Rooks in the

second rank.

(29) … Q-d8

(30) Q-c3

The only alternative to save the Queen was K-g2, but then R-d1

would have won a clear Rook.

Black now enforces a mate in ten moves: R-d1+; (31) Rxd1, Rxd1+;

(32) K-g2, Q-g5+; (33) K-h3, R-g1; (34) Q-d4, Q-h5+; (35) Q-h4,

Qxf3+; (36) Q-g3, Rxg3+; (37) Pxg3, P-f4; (38) K-h4, Qxg3+; (39)

K-h5, Q-g5 mate. This instructive game was not lost through a

faulty combination but on account of loss of time in the opening

which could not be regained.

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