october 1st 2019

For this first course, brought forward for reasons explained by the Master in the post-scriptum, the usual listeners were present except for Pierre who was detained in Germany.

 For the normal game part, some beautiful endgames dissected in a surgical way and a great attack game.

For the fairies, some new features difficult to animate. 

Below is the masterly report


Master's words


Aguirre 1Bernanos

"My superior wants to see you -- which one? There are so many people who are superior to you" (Cl. Eastwood in "The Punishment").

"Ich bin der Zorn Gottes, wer sonst ist mit mir?" (Klaus Kinski in "Aguirre"). I am the wrath of God, who else is with me?

"A world dominated by the Force is an abominable world, but the world dominated by the Number is ignoble. The Force sooner or later gives rise to rebels, it breeds the spirit of revolt, it makes heroes and martyrs. The abject tyranny of the Numbers is a slow infection that has never caused a fever" (G. Bernanos).

"The silence of the slippers is sometimes more frightening for the country than the noise of the boots" (E. Jünger). We know that EJ was an entomologist, but so are we: aren't diagrams butterflies?

"I have heard of a phenomenon called chess fatigue, but I don't know what it is. I know about tournament fatigue, one of the symptoms being that I sleep an extra hour a night" (B. Larsen). At least when the game is not adjourned!

"Larsen doesn't play very well -- But you lost to him -- I underestimated him -- But you lost a second time! -- This time I overestimated him!" (B. Ivkov).

During this time, the bewildered Frenchmen make prognostication contests on the tournaments, discuss endlessly about the results, the chances of qualification of X... or Y..., but without ever commenting, let alone analysing, the games! Prono-elo-dodo. Degeneration.

Rook & Bishop vs. Rook (my lifelong obsession, you know) but here, a triple purpose: to quote the lunatic and delightful Speelman; to break a record in the index with the 19 letters of White's conductor; to pay homage to a titled player who knows how to win Philidor's position (perhaps after adjournment?). Moreover, it can be a salutary refreshment of memory, three years later: for more details, see Caruana-Svidler in http://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/en/pages/cours/cat-2016/october-4-2016.html    

In bishops of different colours, if the two pawns are separated by two rows, the pawn-bishop pair ("c" & "f") is the stronger and usually wins. Keep in mind in one of the most extraordinary tangle I have ever encountered.

Maroczy 1Tartacover 2

Three practical exercises (taken from tournament games) for the next lesson (we will resume the studies later).

Tarta's most famous game, where the sacrifice of an entire rook prepares... the quiet development of the Queen's wing. Our 1953 grandmaster comments in true French, and not, as most of our contemporaries do, in "a pidgin such as was gibbered in the 19th century by those living on the coasts of the Levant" (Fr. Léger in 1992).

This game is a masterpiece which in 1922 was badly judged, but "the judges prefer brilliant combinations, God forgive them", said Uncle Halber (-stadt), another exceptional Frenchman from the East.

We start the fairies with the little riddle given in June: castling, promotion and prise en passant. Then a 9X9 chessboard and a "theoretical novelty".

Training. The 2-moves are of varying difficulty, but you should solve them all. The 1st, 5th, 6th (the latter performing an ABC-BCA cycle), 7th, 8th & 9th have several attempts. Watch out for Hoffmann's, which dried out two world champions. But that was in limited time. You have plenty of time!

Kovacevic 2The first two 3#'s are offered for your judgement: the first one got the 2nd prize, the second the 1st. It seems to me that this order should have been reversed. Give your opinion (top and right). But take some time to solve them: both are worth it! The theme is: model pinning mats. The first one, given at the 2017 Ukrainian championship, was solved only by two competitors, and incompletely by a third. The last 3#, easier, presents us with 2nd/3rd move exchanges (AB-BA & CD-DC) but without any trouble.
Larsen kak

The first 4# was given at the 2017 Swiss Championship. It offers us 2 model mats and 2 other pure mats. The second one, from the great specialist of difficult selfmates, is also very affordable. It shows us seven squares of the 3rd row visited by the Queen. Two other easy moremovers, the first by a gifted Frenchman who mysteriously disappeared (don't forget the twin, after the key you have a new mate in 5), the second by the great specialist of the retro who made me suffer so much (but knew how to enjoy it) in the 1960s and 70s!

Homage to Benkö who let us go, with an helpmate 2.5# (White starts and mates on his 3rd move) in collaboration with a regular of our course. Again, don't forget the twin. The 3-move helpmate was given at the 2017 Warsaw Grand Prix. The winner, Murdzia, only found one solution. The next one is fortunately much easier, despite its 3 solutions. Finally a selfmate in 3 moves with an AB-BC-CD-DE-EA cycle in a nice form.

Have a good time. See you in a few weeks if Deus vult.

PGN Reader

Master's diagrams

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "1988.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Sunthornpongsathorn V, Manor I"] [Black "0430.10"] [Result "0-1"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/K6R/3r4/bP4k1/8/8/8 w - - 0 53"] [PlyCount "164"] [EventDate "1988.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {The rules at the time gave more than 50 moves, due to a "lunacy" of FIDE, as J. Speelman says. But the " mental health" (sanity) has returned. Jon is optimistic: only in that sense.} 53. Rb6 (53. b5 $11) 53... Kf4 54. b5 Ke5 55. Rb8 Rd7 56. b6 Bc6 57. b7 Kd6 58. Kb6 $1 (58. Ka7 $2 Kc5 $8 59. Ka8 (59. Ka6 Rd1) 59... Kb6 $8 60. Rh8 Bxb7+ 61. Kb8 Rg7 62. Rf8 Rg1 $19) 58... Bd5 59. Ka6 Bc6 60. Kb6 Bd5 $1 61. Ka6 Be4 62. Kb6 Bc6 $1 {Z} 63. Rh8 $2 {Loses because there will be no access on h1 !} (63. Rf8 $1 Rxb7+ 64. Ka6 $8 $11) (63. Rg8 $1 Rxb7+ 64. Ka6 $8 Rb3 65. Rg1 $3 {[#]} (65. Ka7 $1 Kc5 66. Rg1 $3) (65. Rg5 $1 Bd5 66. Rg1 $3) 65... Be4 (65... Kc7 66. Rg5 $1 {Szen}) 66. Rd1+ $1 Kc5 67. Rc1+ $1) (63. Re8 $1 Rxb7+ 64. Ka6 $8 Rb3 65. Re1 $3 $11) (63. Ka6 $2 Kc5 $8 64. Rf8 Bxb7+ $8 65. Ka7 (65. Ka5 Be4 $1 66. Ka4 Rd3 $8) 65... Bc6+ $8 66. Kb8 Kb6 $8) 63... Rxb7+ $8 64. Ka6 Rb4 $2 {Welcome to the Croskillian galaxy !} (64... Rb3 $3 65. Rh2 (65. Rg8 $6 Kc5 $8) (65. Ka7 Kc5 $3) (65. Rh5 Bd5 $8) 65... Be4 $8 66. Rh5 (66. Rd2+ Kc5 $1 {(no more check on c2)} 67. Ra2 Rb8 $1) 66... Bd5 $8 67. Rh2 Rb4 $8 68. Rd2 $1 (68. Rc2 $6 Bc4+ $8 69. Ka5 Kc5 $8) 68... Kc5 $8 69. Rc2+ Bc4+ $8 70. Ka7 Kc6 $8 71. Rg2 Rb7+ $8 72. Ka8 Rb1 $8 73. Rc2 Rb4 $8 74. Rg2 $1 {: is the Crosskill' monster at the 13th move; remember that mate occurs at the 49th if you play normally, at the 55th if one plays King against King and Rook}) (64... Rb2 $2 65. Rh3 $1 (65. Rh5 $1) 65... Kc5 66. Rc3+) 65. Ka5 $2 (65. Rh3 $3 Bd5 66. Rd3 $1 Kc5 67. Rc3+ $8 Bc4+ 68. Ka7 $8 Kc6 69. Rh3 $3 (69. Rg3 $2 Rb7+ 70. Ka8 Rf7 $1) 69... Rb7+ 70. Ka8 Rf7 71. Rh6+ $1 Kc7 72. Ka7 $8 Rg7 73. Rh1 $1 Rg6 74. Rh7+ $8 Kc8 75. Rh8+ $8 {: check that rook wouldn't have if it had come on the "g" column}) (65. Rh2 $2 Bd5 $8 66. Rd2 Kc5 $8 67. Rc2+ Bc4+ $8 68. Ka7 Kc6 $8 69. Rh2 Bd3 $3 70. Rf2 (70. Rh6+ $6 Kc7 $8) 70... Rb7+ $3 71. Ka8 Rb1 $3 72. Rf3 Bc4 $8 73. Rc3 Rb4 $8 {as above}) 65... Rb5+ $8 66. Ka6 Rb1 $2 ( 66... Rb3 $8) 67. Rh2 $1 Kc7 68. Rh7+ $1 (68. Rh5 $1) 68... Bd7 69. Rh5 $8 { Szen.} Rb4 70. Rc5+ Kd6 71. Rh5 Rb2 72. Ka5 Bg4 (72... Kc7 73. Rg5 $1 {Kling & Kuiper}) 73. Rb5 Ra2+ 74. Kb4 Be6 75. Kc3 Bd5 76. Rb8 Ra3+ 77. Kd4 Ra4+ 78. Ke3 Ke5 79. Re8+ Kd6 80. Rh8 Kc5 81. Rc8+ Bc6 82. Kd3 Ra3+ 83. Kd2 Kd5 84. Rd8+ Ke4 85. Rc8 Rd3+ 86. Kc2 Bd5 87. Rc3 Rd4 88. Rh3 Rc4+ 89. Kd2 Kd4 90. Rd3+ Ke5 91. Rh3 Ra4 92. Rg3 Be4 93. Ke3 $1 {The "2nd row defence" process can be partially applicable.} Rc4 (93... Ra3+ 94. Kf2 $8) 94. Rg5+ $1 Bf5 95. Rg8 (95. Rg3 $1) 95... Rc3+ 96. Kd2 Rb3 97. Re8+ Kd4 98. Rd8+ Kc4 99. Ra8 (99. Ke2 $1) 99... Be4 100. Ra4+ Kd5 101. Ra8 Rd3+ 102. Ke2 Rh3 {The game should normally stop.} 103. Kd2 Ke5 104. Rb8 Rg3 105. Rd8 Bd5 106. Rh8 Kd4 107. Re8 Rg7 108. Rd8 Rg2+ 109. Kc1 $6 {Corner a1 should be avoided.} (109. Kd1 $1 {Cochrane}) (109. Ke1 $2 Ke3 $3 {[#]} 110. Kd1 (110. Re8+ Be4 $8 111. Rf8 Bg6 $1 {Philidor}) 110... Be4 $8 111. Kc1 Rc2+ $8 112. Kd1 Rc7 $1 113. Ke1 Rc1+ 114. Rd1 Rc2 $8 115. Rd7 Rb2 $1 {Philidor}) 109... Kc4 110. Rd7 Be4 111. Rd2 $1 Rg8 112. Rd7 (112. Rb2 {(for Kd2)} Rd8 (112... Kc3 113. Rc2+ $8) (112... Kd3 113. Rb3+ $1) 113. Rd2 $1 Ra8 114. Rb2 $1) 112... Bf5 113. Rd6 Rg2 114. Rd2 Rg6 115. Rf2 Kc3 116. Rc2+ $1 (116. Rd2 $6 Be4 117. Rd6 $1 Rg1+ 118. Rd1 Rg2 119. Rd2 $8) 116... Kd3 117. Rc5 (117. Rd2+ $6 Ke3 $1 118. Ra2 $1 (118. Rd8 $2 Rb6 $8) 118... Rb6 119. Re2+ $3 {[#]}) 117... Be4 118. Kb2 (118. Rc8 $1 Ke3 119. Rc7 { (Kling & Kuiper)} Rb6 120. Rc3+ $6 (120. Kd1 $1 {Szen}) 120... Ke2 121. Rb3 $3 {[#]}) 118... Kd4 119. Rh5 Rg2+ 120. Ka3 Bd5 121. Kb4 (121. Rh3 Kc5 122. Rc3+ $1 (122. Ka4 $1) 122... Bc4 123. Ka4 $8 {Szen}) (121. Rh8 Kc5 122. Rc8+ $8) 121... Rb2+ 122. Ka3 $2 {Mistake aggravating that of the 109th move: we are heading for the uncomfortable corner.} (122. Ka4 $8 {(in Cochrane manner)} Kc5 (122... Kc4 123. Rh4+ $1 Kc5 124. Rh3 $8 {idem}) 123. Rh3 $8 {Szen}) (122. Ka5 $2 Kc5 $1) 122... Rb3+ $8 123. Ka4 Kc4 $3 {[#]} 124. Rh4+ (124. Rxd5 Rb1 $3 {[#] in Barber-Saavedra manner}) 124... Kc5 $8 125. Ka5 {It's now Philidor.} (125. Rg4 Rh3 126. Ka5 Rh8 127. Rg6 Rb8 $1) (125. Rh5 Rg3 126. Re5 Rg8 127. Ka3 Rg2 $8) 125... Rb7 (125... Bf3 $1) 126. Rh6 Rb1 $6 (126... Bf7 $8 {: text}) 127. Rh4 Rb7 $1 128. Rh6 Bf7 $8 129. Rf6 Bc4 $8 130. Rf5+ Bd5 $8 131. Rf6 Rb5+ $3 {[#]First characteristic check. } 132. Ka6 Rb3 $1 133. Ka7 Rb7+ $3 {[#]Second check.} 134. Ka6 Re7 $8 {Finally a titled man who knows Philidor's process !} 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2000.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Von Buelow G, Ortmann D"] [Black "0030.43"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/5pKp/4kP2/3p2PP/8/2PbB3/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2000.??.??"] [EventType "swiss"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1. g5 $1 {The only possible action.} fxg5 (1... hxg5 2. h5 $18) 2. h5 $8 g4 $1 (2... Kf4 3. f6 $8 g4 4. Bxg4 $1 Kxg4 5. f7 $8 Bb4 6. Kxh6 $8 $18) (2... Bb4 3. f6 $8 (3. Bg4 $2 Be7 $1 4. Kxh6 Kf6 $8) 3... Bf8 4. Kf7 $8 Bd6 5. Kg7 $8 Kf5 6. f7 $8 g4 (6... Ba3 7. Bd3+ Ke5 {(...Kf4 Kxh6!)} 8. f8=Q $1 Bxf8+ 9. Kxf8) 7. Bxg4+ $8 Kxg4 8. Kxh6 $8 Kf5 9. Kg7 $8 Kg5 10. h6 $8 $18) 3. Bxg4 $2 { Compromise win.} (3. f6 $3 {(described as "?" by a German "expert")} g3 4. Bf1 $8 Bg5 (4... Bb4 5. Bh3 $8 {(preventing ...Kf5 on Kg7)} Bf8 6. Kf7 $8 Bb4 7. Kg7 $8 Bd6 8. f7 $8 {idem}) 5. f7 $8 Be7 6. Bg2 $8 (6. Kg7 $2 Kf5 $8 { : bK will have time for ...Kh5-g4-f3}) 6... Bf8 (6... Ke6 7. Kg7 $8) 7. Kh7 $8 Kf4 8. Kg8 $8 Bb4 9. f8=Q+ Bxf8 10. Kxf8 Kg4 11. Kf7 Kxh5 12. Kf6 $1 Kg4 13. Ke5 $8 {(Bishop is essential in g2)} d3 (13... h5 14. Kxd4 $8 h4 15. Ke3 h3 16. Bc6 $1 $18 {idem}) 14. cxd3 $8 h5 15. Ke4 $8 h4 16. Ke3 $8 h3 17. Bc6 $3 {[#] (or on b7)} (17. Bf3+ $2 Kf5 $8 18. Bb7 g2 $1 19. Bc8+ {(Kf2 ...Ke5!)} Ke5 $8 20. Kf2 Kd4 $8 21. Bf5 Kc3 $8 $11) (17. Bd5 $2 Kf5 $1) 17... Kh4 (17... h2 18. Bg2 $1 Kg5 19. Kf3 $1) (17... g2 18. Kf2 $8 Kf4 19. Bd7 $8 Ke5 20. Bxh3 $8 Kd4 21. Bf5 $8 $18) (17... Kg5 18. Kf3 $1) (17... Kf5 18. Bd7+ $8) 18. Kf3 $1 h2 19. Kg2 $8 Kg4 20. Bb7 $1 Kf4 21. d4 $8 Kg4 22. Bf3+ $8 Kf4 23. d5 $8 h1=Q+ 24. Kxh1 Kxf3 25. Kg1 $8 $18) 3... Bg5 $8 4. Be2 Bh4 5. Bc4 Bg5 6. Bd3 (6. Ba6 Bh4 7. Bc8 Bg5 8. f6 Bxf6 $8 9. Kxh6 Kd6 $1 (9... d3 10. cxd3 Kd6 $8) 10. Kh7 Ke7 $1 11. Kg8 (11. h6 Kf7) 11... Bg5 $1 12. Kg7 Bf6+ $1 13. Kg6 Be5 14. h6 Kf8 15. Bg4 Bg3 $11) 6... Bh4 $1 {Or in d8, e7, even in f6, although taking the square to the king.} (6... Bc1 $2 7. f6 $8) (6... Bf6 $6 7. Kxh6 Kd6 $8 8. Kg6 Ke7 $8 9. h6 Be5 $8 10. Bc4 Bf6 $8 (10... Bh8 $2 11. Kh7 $8) 11. Bd5 Be5 $8 12. Kh7 Kf8 $8 13. Bc4 Bf6 $8 $11 {: in 10...Ke5? the Black King and Bishop are switched, which is catastrophic}) 7. Kxh6 Kf6 $8 8. Kh7 {White would like to exchange his "h" pawn for the d4 pawn, obtaining the strongest pair with 2 columns distance, that of the bishop-pawn. But this will not be possible on a good defence.} Bg5 9. Kg8 Bh6 10. Be4 Bg5 $1 {Or on c1, d2...} (10... Ke5 $2 11. Kh7 $8 (11. Kf7 $2 Kxe4 $8 12. Kg6 Bf8 $8 13. f6 Ke5 $8 $11) 11... Bf8 ( 11... Bc1 12. Kg6 $1) 12. Bd3 $8 Kf6 13. h6 $8 Kf7 (13... Kg5 14. Kg8 $8 Bxh6 15. Kf7 $8 Kf4 16. Kg6 $1 {as below}) 14. Bc4+ $8 Kf6 15. Be6 $8 Kg5 16. Kg8 $8 Bxh6 17. Kf7 $8 Kf4 18. Kg6 $1 Bf8 19. f6 $1 Ke4 (19... Ke5 20. Bc4 $1) 20. Bc8 $1 Ke5 21. Bh3 $1 {Z [#]} Bd6 (21... Ke4 22. Bf1 $8 Ke5 23. Bc4 $8 {Z} Kd6 24. Kf7 $8 Bh6 25. Ke8 $8 $18) 22. Kg7 $8 Ke4 {(threatens ...d3)} 23. Bf1 $8 Be5 24. Kg6 $8 Bd6 25. f7 $1 $18 {and King accesses g8 without losing the c2 pawn }) (10... Bg7 $2 11. Kh7 $8 Kf7 (11... Bf8 12. h6 $8 {idem}) 12. Bd5+ $8 Kf6 13. h6 $1 Bf8 14. Be6 $8 {as above}) 11. Kf8 Bh6+ 12. Ke8 Bg5 (12... Bf4 13. Kd7 Bc1 $1 (13... Ke5 $2 14. Ke7 $8 Bg5+ 15. f6 $1 {(or Kf7!)} Bxf6+ 16. Kf7 $8 Bh8 17. Bd3 $18) 14. Kd6 Kg5 $8 {: see 13th move}) 13. Kd7 Bf4 $1 { Several ways of drawing still exist, some of them quite acrobatic.} ( 13... Ke5 $1 14. Bd3 Kf6 $8 15. Kd6 Kf7 $8 16. Bc4+ (16. Ke5 Bf6+ $8) 16... Kf6 $8 17. Be6 Bc1 $1 18. Kd5 d3 $8 (18... Be3 $2 19. Ke4 $8 {threatens c4!}) 19. cxd3 Kg5 $8 20. d4 Kxh5 $1 21. Bf7+ Kh6 $1 $11) (13... Bc1 $1 14. Kd6 Kg5 $3 {[#]} (14... Kf7 $2 15. Ke5 $1 Bb2 16. Bd3 $1) 15. Bd3 (15. Ke6 Kxh5 $8 16. f6 Kh6 $1 $11) ( 15. Ke5 Bb2 $3 16. f6 d3+ $1) (15. Kd5 Bb2 $8 16. Ke6 Kxh5 $8 {(...Ba3? Bf3! ... .d3 c4!! and not cxd3? ...Bb2!= : the "milky way" wins against the 3 pawns)} 17. f6 Kh6 $1 {(or ...Ba3!)} 18. Kf7 d3 $3 19. Bxd3 Kg5 $8 $11) 15... Kxh5 $8 16. f6 Kh6 $8 (16... Ba3+ $2 17. Ke5 $8 {: see 13...Bd2?}) 17. Ke7 (17. c4 dxc3 $8 {: see below}) (17. f7 Kg7 $1 18. Ke7 Ba3+ $8) 17... Bg5 $8 ( 17... Ba3+ $2 18. Kf7 $8) 18. Be4 Bh4 $1 $11) (13... Bd2 $2 {(can we guess that this will be met with an interception of the black bishop by... his pawn ?)} 14. Kd6 $8 Kg5 15. Bd3 $3 Kxh5 16. f6 $8 Kh6 (16... Bb4+ 17. Ke5 $8 Kg5 {(...Bc5 idem)} 18. f7 $8 Bc5 19. Kd5 $1 Bf8 20. Kxd4 $8 Kf6 21. Bc4 $8) 17. c4 $3 {[#]} dxc3 18. f7 $8 Kg7 19. Ke7 $8 $18) (13... Bh6 $6 {(risky if you haven't planned everything)} 14. Kd6 Bg7 $3 {[#](a difficult defense)} (14... Kf7 $2 15. Kd5 $1 Bg7 16. h6 $3 {[#] (only wins because the bishop is attacked, so that the defence ...Ke7 is unavailable)} Bf6 {(...Bxh6 Kxd4 getting the right pair)} 17. Kd6 $3 Kg8 {(.. .Bh8 Bd5+ ...Kf6 Be6! or ...Bg5 Bd5+ ...Kf6 h7! ...Kg7 Bg8)} 18. Ke6 $8 Bg5 19. Ke5 $8 Be3 20. f6 $8) 15. Kd5 (15. Bd3 Kf7 $8 16. Bc4+ Kf6 $8 17. Be6 d3 {(or . ..Kg5 or ...Bf8+)} 18. cxd3 Kg5 $8 19. Ke7 {(Kc5 ...Kxh5)} Bc3 20. h6 Kxh6 $8 $11) 15... Ke7 $8 16. h6 Bf6 $1 17. Bd3 Bh8 $1 $11 {or ...Kd7!}) 14. Bd3 $1 { This complicates matters.} Be5 $2 {The only black mistake of the game! The h6 push is devastating when the white king has reached or passed the d6 square. Instead, three moves draw.} (14... Kg5 $2 15. Ke6 $1 (15. h6 $1 Kxh6 16. f6 $8 Bc1 17. Ke8 $8 Ba3 18. Kf7 $8) 15... Kxh5 16. f6 $8 {(the Bishop is badly placed in f4 because he will not have access to the diagonal a3-f8, compare with the continuation 13.. .Bc1!)} Kh6 17. f7 $1 (17. Kd7 $1 {but neither on e7 nor on f7 : ...Bg5!}) 17... Kg7 18. Ke7 $8 $18) (14... Kf7 $1 15. Kc6 Bg5 $1 (15... Kf6 $2 16. Kd5 $8 Be3 17. Ke4 $1 {(or h6!)} Bg1 {(...Kg5 c4!)} 18. h6 $1 Kf7 19. Ke5 $1) (15... Bh6 $2 16. Kd5 $1 Bg7 17. h6 $8 {: see 13...Bh6, 14...Kf7?}) (15... Be5 $1 16. Kd5 { (h6 ...Re7!!)} Bh8 $1 {(or elsewhere on that diagonal)} 17. Kd6 Bg7 $8) 16. Kd5 Bf6 $8 17. h6 Ke7 $8 $11 {(harmonious formation)}) (14... Bh6 $1 15. Kd6 Bg7 $8 16. Kd5 Ke7 $8 $11 {as already seen}) (14... Bg5 $1 15. Kd6 Kf7 $8 16. Kd5 Bf6 $8 17. h6 Ke7 $8 $11) (14... Bc1 $2 {(is no longer the right move because the Bd3 forbids the defence ...Bb2 for notably Ke5 ...d3+ !)} 15. Kd6 $8 Kg5 (15... Bd2 16. Kd5 $8 Be3 17. h6 $8) 16. Ke5 $1 Bb2 {(compare with 13...Bc1!)} 17. f6 $1 $18) 15. h6 $8 Kf7 16. Bc4+ $3 {[#]The only plan.} ({Or} 16. h7 Bg7 17. Bc4+ $8) 16... Kf6 (16... Kf8 17. Ke6 $1 Bh8 18. f6 Ke8 19. f7+ Kf8 20. Bd3 Bf6 21. c4 $1 dxc3 22. Kxf6 $8 c2 23. h7 $8 {followed by mat}) 17. Ke8 $1 (17. h7 $1 Kxf5 ( 17... Kg7 18. Ke6 $1 Bf6 19. h8=Q+) 18. Bd3+ $1 Kg5 19. Ke6 Bh8 20. Kf7 $18) 17... Bd6 (17... Kxf5 18. Kf7 $1) (17... Kg5 18. h7 $1 Kh6 19. f6 $1 Bxf6 20. Kf7 $8) 18. Bd3 $1 Be5 (18... Bb4 19. h7 Kg7 20. f6+ $8 Kh8 21. f7 Bc5 22. Be4 $1 d3 23. cxd3 Kg7 24. d4) 19. Kf8 Kg5 20. h7 1-0 [Event "Teplitz-Schoenau"] [Site "Teplitz-Schoenau"] [Date "1922.??.??"] [Round "4"] [White "Maroczy, G."] [Black "Tartacover, X."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A85"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "1922.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "GER"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1. d4 e6 {To avoid the Staunton gambit 1...f5 2 e4 but allowing into the French defence by 2 e4.} 2. c4 f5 3. Nc3 (3. g3) 3... Nf6 4. a3 {Steinitz's idea.} (4. Bg5 Bb4 $1 5. Qc2 (5. e3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Qe8 10. Ne1 d6 {Sjoberg,V-Alekhine,A/Stockholm 1912}) (5. Qb3 c5 {XT}) 5... b6 (5... O-O 6. e3 c5 7. Nf3 Qa5 8. Bxf6 Rxf6 9. Bd3 cxd4 10. exd4 Nc6 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. c5 {Spassky,B-Antoshin,V/Moscow 1955/URS-ch}) 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 O-O 8. Nf3 Bb7 9. g3 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Bg2 d6 12. O-O Nd7 13. Ne5 dxe5 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Qxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxb7 Rad8 $11 { Alexander,F-Tartacover,X/Southsea 1950}) (4. e3 b6 (4... Be7 5. Bd3 d5 6. Qc2 c6 7. b3 {Smyslov,V-Asmundsson,I/Reykjavik 17/107 1974}) (4... Bb4 5. Bd3 { (Fd2 ...b6 XT)} Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 O-O 7. Ne2 b6 8. f3 Nc6 9. O-O Bb7 10. e4 fxe4 11. fxe4 e5 12. Ng3 d6 13. d5 Na5 14. Nf5 Bc8 15. Bg5 Bxf5 16. Rxf5 {Seirawan, Y (2585)-Gurevich,D (2490)/USA (ch) 48/135 1989}) (4... d5 5. Bd3 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. f3 O-O 8. Nge2 Qc7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Kh8 11. Bd2 {Korchnoi,V (2625) -Nikolic,P (2635)/Sarajevo 1998}) 5. d5 Bd6 6. g3 Bb7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Nge2 Na6 9. O-O c6 10. b3 $11 {Mamedyarov,S (2817)-Gasanov,E (2499)/St Petersburg 2018}) ( 4. g3 {("recommended by the modern strategy, from the previous move" XT)} Bb4 5. Bd2 (5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qb3 a5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Qxc3 a4 9. Nh3 d6 10. O-O Qe7 { Krzyzanowski,M (2427)-Piorun,K (2591)/Warsaw 2015}) 5... Nc6 6. a3 Be7 7. d5 Ne5 8. Qb3 Bc5 9. Bg2 Qe7 10. Nh3 Bb6 11. Na4 Ne4 12. Bb4 d6 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Nf4 O-O 15. Qc2 Ng4 16. O-O (16. dxe6 $1 Nexf2 $2 17. O-O $1 Ne3 18. Nd5 $1 $18 ) 16... e5 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 c5 19. Be1 Ng5 20. h3 Nh6 21. Bd2 f4 $1 {Vark, K-Keres,P/Paernu 12/88 1971}) (4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Qb3 (5. g3 Ne4 6. Qc2 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b6 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Nd6 10. d5 exd5 11. Bg5 Qc8 12. Nd4 {Ivanchuk,V (2705)-Agdestein,S (2610)/Tilburg 59/574 1993}) 5... Qe7 6. Bd2 (6. g3 Ne4 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Qc2 O-O 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Na5 11. c5 b6 12. Nd2 Nxd2 13. Bxd2 Bb7 {Gurevich,M (2645)-Korchnoi,V (2625)/Rotterdam 49/(120) 1990}) 6... b6 7. g3 Bb7 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. O-O Na5 10. Qc2 Nxc4 11. Nb5 Nxd2 12. Nxc7+ Kf8 13. Nxd2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Rc8 15. Nf3 Qd8 16. Rac1 Ke7 17. Qa4 Rxc7 18. Qxb4+ d6 $11 {Aronian,L (2792)-Carlsen,M (2855)/Leuven 2016}) (4. Qc2 Be7 (4... Bb4 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. f3 Nh5 8. Nge2 Qh4+ $6 9. g3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qe7 11. O-O Nf6 12. c5 $14 { Saduakassova,D (2472)-L'Ami,E (2643)/Wijk aan Zee 2019}) (4... b6 5. a3 Bb7 6. e3 Bd6 7. Nge2 O-O 8. Nf4 a6 9. Be2 g5 10. Nd3 Bxg2 11. Rg1 Bb7 12. Rxg5+ Kh8 13. Bd2 $16 {Wojtaszek,R (2599)-Ulibin,M (2521)/Stockholm 2009}) 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e4 fxe4 7. Nxe4 Nc6 8. Nxf6+ Bxf6 9. Be3 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Bd3 Qh4 13. g3 Qh5 $11 {Pachman,L-Larsen,B/La Habana (ol) 2/62 1966}) 4... Be7 ( 4... b6 5. Bf4 Bb7 6. e3 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Be2 Ne4 9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Nd2 d6 11. Bg3 Bf6 12. Qc2 c5 13. Nxe4 cxd4 14. Nxd6 Bxg2 15. Rg1 Bc6 {(Mason,J-Bird,H/ Vienna 1882)} 16. Bd3 $16) (4... d5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 {XT}) (4... a5 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Bf4 d6 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 Nh5 9. Bg3 Nd7 $14 {Neumann,G-Anderssen,A/Berlin 1866}) (4... g6 5. Bf4 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Nf3 d6 8. Be2 h6 9. h3 g5 10. Bh2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 b6 12. Rd1 Kh8 13. b4 $14 {Topalov,V (2772)-Vallejo Pons,F (2698)/ Tromso 2014}) (4... d6 5. Nf3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O Qe7 9. Re1 Ne4 10. Qd3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 e5 12. e4 Nc6 13. c5 exd4 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. cxd4 fxe4 16. Rxe4 Qf7 $14 {Kotanjian,T (2471)-Nikolic,P (2596)/Kusadasi 2006}) 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 (6. Nf3 d5 7. b3 c6 8. Bd3 Bd7 9. Qc2 Kh8 10. Bb2 Bd6 11. c5 Bc7 12. b4 Be8 13. Ng5 Qe7 14. f4 Nbd7 $11 {Maroczy,G-Chigorin,M/Budapest 1896}) 6... d5 { It is, slightly delayed, the "rocky triangle" aka "stonewall" which "contains many an offensive idea for Black". (XT).} (6... b6 7. Nge2 (7. e4 {XT}) 7... Bb7 (7... d6 8. Qc2 c5 9. d5 exd5 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. Nf4 Ne5 12. Be2 a6 13. Ne6 Bxe6 14. dxe6 Ra7 $16 {(Neumann,G-Paulsen,L/ Baden-Baden 1870)} 15. Nd5 $16) 8. O-O c5 9. d5 Bd6 10. h3 (10. f4) 10... Qe7 11. Qc2 Kh8 {(Kopylov,A (2444)-Kuzubov,Y (2623)/St Petersburg 2011)} 12. f4 exd5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Bxf5 Bg8 16. Nc3 $14) (6... d6 7. Qc2 (7. e4 {XT}) 7... g6 8. Nge2 e5 9. f3 c5 10. d5 a6 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. a4 Rb8 13. e4 f4 14. a5 b6 $14 {Boensch,U (2510)-Knaak,R (2500)/Dresden 1988}) 7. Nf3 (7. f4) (7. Nge2 c6 8. f3 Bd6 9. c5 Bc7 {and e3-e4 is still prohibited (XT) by ... fxe4 & ...Ng4}) 7... c6 (7... Ne4 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qb3 {XT} Nxc3 10. Qxc3 c6 11. O-O) 8. O-O Ne4 9. Qc2 (9. Ne5 {(try of an "anti-stonewall")} Nd7 $1 (9... Bd6 10. f4) 10. Nxd7 (10. f4 Nxe5 11. fxe5 b6) 10... Bxd7 11. f3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 {XT} Qc7 13. Qb3) 9... Bd6 10. b3 Nd7 11. Bb2 {"Filled with confidence in the scientific basis of his game, the having move treats the game in a purely positional way, while Black considers the position as a vast problem: mate in 25 moves!"(XT)} (11. a4 Qe7 (11... Rf6 12. Ba3) 12. Bb2) 11... Rf6 {"The rook -- that "ponderous" figure -- still wants to collaborate with the "flying squad" in the following assault". (XT).} (11... Qf6 {pour ...g5-g4 XT}) 12. Rfe1 {"With a view to vacating the f1-square for Bd3 or possibly Nf3, after which White's royal rampart would become impregnable" (XT).} (12. Ne2) (12. Ne5 Rh6 (12... Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. Nxe4 Bxh2+ $1 15. Kxh2 Rh6+ 16. Kg1 fxe4 17. Be2 Qh4 18. f4 e5 $1 $44) 13. f4 (13. f3 $6 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 {XT} 15. fxe4 Bxh2+ 16. Kf2 Qh4+ 17. Ke2 dxe4 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19. Bxe4 e5) 13... Bxe5 14. fxe5 Qh4 15. h3 Rg6 (15... Ng5 {XT} 16. Ne2 Rg6 17. Kh2) 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Qf2 Qxh3 18. Nxe4 Nf8 19. Nd6 Rg4 20. Qe2 Ng6 21. Rad1 Bd7 22. Nxb7 Nh4 23. Rf2 Be8 $44) 12... Rh6 {Threatens ...Bxh2+ Nxh2 ... Qh4.} 13. g3 Qf6 $1 14. Bf1 (14. Nd2 $2 Nxf2 $3 15. Kxf2 Rxh2+ 16. Kg1 (16. Kf3 Qg5 {followed by mat}) 16... Qg6 $1 (16... Bxg3 $1 {XT}) 17. Ne2 Bxg3 $19) 14... g5 15. Rad1 $6 {"Too much preparation" (XT).} (15. Bg2 Qg6 16. Nd2 Qh5 {XT} 17. Nf1 Ndf6 18. f3 Nxc3 19. Bxc3) 15... g4 16. Nxe4 {"Opens up an additional vertical base" (XT) but already seems necessary.} (16. Nd2 $6 Nxf2 $1 17. Kxf2 Rxh2+ 18. Kg1 (18. Bg2 Bxg3+ $1 {XT} 19. Kg1 f4 $1 20. Re2 f3) 18... Bxg3 19. Re2 Rh6 (19... Rxe2 20. Bxe2 Qh4 21. Nf1 Bf2+ 22. Kg2 Nf6 23. Bd3 g3) 20. Bg2 Bh2+ 21. Kf1 Qh4 22. Bc1 Nf6 $17) (16. Nh4 $2 Rxh4 $1 17. gxh4 Qxh4 $19 {XT}) 16... fxe4 17. Nd2 {White King is only really defended by Bf1, but the black Queen-side is still in an embryonic state. The question for Black is: "to prepare or to pick", says XT.} Rxh2 $3 {[#]It was not until the 2010s for a cyber-monster, in this case the super-corpse, to match Tarta and... find this move} (17... Nf8 { ("allowing the opponent to consolidate" according to XT)} 18. Bg2 (18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qxe4 Qf5) 18... Ng6 (18... Rxh2 19. Kxh2 {(Nxe4 ...Rxg2+)} Qxf2 20. Rc1 Qxg3+ 21. Kg1 Ng6 22. Nf1 Qh4) 19. Nf1 (19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Nc4 $1 Bf8 $1) 19... Bd7 20. Re2 (20. Bc3 Rf8 {(or ...Nh8)} 21. Bb4 {XT} Bxb4 22. axb4 Nh8 $1 {to f3}) (20. Qe2 Qg5 21. b4 Rf8 22. b5 Nh4 {XT}) 20... Rf8 $1 $17 (20... Nh8 $1) 21. b4 $2 Nh4 $1 $19) 18. Kxh2 (18. Nxe4 Qh6 $8 {XT} 19. Bg2 Rxg2+ $1 (19... dxe4 $1 20. Qxe4 Nf6 21. Qc2 Bd7 22. e4 Be7 $17) 20. Kxg2 Qg6 21. Rh1 dxe4 22. Rh4 Nf6 $17) 18... Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 (19. Bg2 Nf6 $3 {(the strongest)} (19... Bxg3+ 20. Kh1 Qf6 $6 {(...Bd6)} 21. Re2 $8 Bf2 22. Rxf2 {(Nf3!)} Qxf2 23. Qc3 {(Rf1 XT ...Qh4+ Kg1 ...Nf6 instead of ...Qxe3 Nxe4!)} Nf6 {(otherwise Nxe4)} 24. Nf1 Nh5 25. a4) (19... Qxg3+ $2 20. Kg1 {XT} Qh2+ 21. Kf2 $2 {(Kf1! ...Nf6 Nxe4!=)} Bg3+ 22. Kf1 b5 $3 {[#]} 23. cxd5 {(Nxe4 ...Ba6!, idem on cxb5)} cxd5 {(or ...Ba6!)} 24. Bc3 {(b4 ...Bb7)} Ba6 25. Bb4 Rc8 26. Qb2 Nc5 $3 {[#](...Rc7!)} 27. dxc5 Rf8+) 20. Rc1 (20. Nxe4 Bxg3+ 21. Nxg3 Qxc2) (20. Qc3 Qxg3+ 21. Kg1 Qh2+ 22. Kf1 Nh5 $1 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. d5 e5 $8 25. dxc6 Ng3+ 26. Kf2 Be6 $19 {XT}) 20... Qxg3+ $1 21. Kg1 Qh2+ 22. Kf1 (22. Kf2 Bg3+ 23. Kf1 Bd7) 22... Nh5 $1 (22... Bd7 $1) 23. Qd1 (23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Re2 Ng3+ 25. Ke1 Bd7) 23... Ng3+ 24. Kf2 Qh4 $1 ( 24... Bd7 $2 25. Qxg4+) 25. Kg1 {(Black has only 3 pawns for a Rook. but one does not realize it !)} Bd7 $1 26. Rc2 (26. Nf1 Nxf1) (26. Rf1 { give mat in 3}) 26... Rf8 27. Nf1 Nxf1 28. Bxf1 Rf6 29. Ree2 g3 30. Bc3 Be8 $1 (30... Rh6 31. Bg2) 31. Rg2 Bh5 32. Be2 Bf3 $19) 19... Nf6 $1 {[#]"The whole of White's second rank still paralysed, Black has time to bring his reserve troops". (XT).} (19... Qxg3 $6 20. Nb1 $1 {XT} Nf6 21. Qg2 Qh4+ 22. Kg1 g3 $17) 20. Re2 $1 (20. Rc1 Qxg3 $1 (20... Nh5 $2 21. Nxe4 $1) 21. Re2 Bd7 22. Rg2 Qh3+ $1 23. Kg1 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Qh6+ $1 25. Kg1 Bf4 26. Re1 Rf8 $19) 20... Qxg3 21. Nb1 (21. Qc3 Nh5 $2 (21... Qh4+ $1 22. Kg1 g3 $1 23. Rg2 Ng4 24. Nxe4 dxe4 $19) 22. Rg2 Qh4+ 23. Kg1 Ng3 {(threatens ...Qh1+ & ... Bd7)} 24. Rh2 $8 Qg5 25. Rf2 Nf5 {(XT talks about "decisive threats" but...)} 26. Nxe4 $3 {[#]} (26. c5 g3 $1 {(or ...Bg3!)} 27. Rg2 Bf8) 26... dxe4 27. d5 e5 28. dxc6 {(defend e3 !)} Nh4 $1 29. Bg2 $1 {with rescue}) (21. b4 Bd7 $1 (21... Nh5 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. d5) 22. Nb3 Rf8 23. Nc5 Bc8 24. Rh2 Nh5 $3 {[#](threatens ... Qxh2+)} (24... b6 $1) 25. Rxh5 (25. Bc1 Qf3+ 26. Rg2 Ng3+ {with 2 distinct mats in 3}) 25... Rf2 $8 26. Qe2 Be7 $3 {(for ...Bh4)} 27. Nb3 Bh4 $1 (27... Rxe2 $1) 28. Qxf2 Qxf2 29. Nd2 (29. Bg2 Qc2) 29... Kg7 {(for ...Kg6)} 30. Bg2 Qe2 31. Rf1 Bf2 $1 (31... Qxd2 $2 32. Rxh4) 32. Bc1 Bxe3 $19) (21. c5 $1 {( less evil ?)} Bc7 $1 22. Nc4 $1 (22. Rg2 Qh3+ $1 23. Kg1 Qxe3+ 24. Kh1 Qh6+ 25. Kg1 Bf4) 22... dxc4 (22... Qh4+ 23. Rh2 $8 Bxh2 24. Qxh2 Qxh2+ 25. Kxh2 dxc4 26. bxc4 Bd7 $17) 23. d5 (23. bxc4 Qh4+ 24. Kg1 g3 25. d5 $8 exd5 $17) 23... Nxd5 24. Qxc4 Qh4+ {(...Bd7 Rxd5! ...cxd5 Qd4)} 25. Kg1 g3 26. Bg2 (26. Rxd5 exd5 $1 27. Qd4 Qh6 $8 28. Bh3 Bxh3 $1 29. Qh8+ Kf7 30. Qxa8 Bg2 $3 {[#]}) 26... Qh2+ $1 27. Kf1 Qh5 28. Ke1 (28. Bxe4 Nxe3+) 28... e5 29. Rxd5 cxd5 (29... Be6 $2 30. Rd8+ $1 Kf7 31. Qxe6+ $1) 30. Qxd5+ Qf7 $17) 21... Nh5 $1 ({Even better} 21... Qh4+ $1 22. Rh2 Qg5 $8 23. Rg2 (23. Qg2 h5 $1) 23... Bd7 $1 24. Be2 Kh8 $19) ({less precise} 21... Bd7 22. Rh2 $1 Qf3+ 23. Bg2 Qf5 24. Rf1) 22. Qd2 (22. Rg2 Qh3+ (22... Qh4+ $1 23. Kg1 Bd7) 23. Kg1 Bd7 $1 {XT} (23... Qxe3+ $2 24. Qf2) 24. Bc1 Qh4 $1 25. Rh2 Qg5 $1 26. Rg2 Rf8 27. Nc3 Rf3 $1 $19) (22. Bc1 Bd7 23. Rg2 (23. Nc3 Rf8) 23... Qh4+ 24. Kg1 Ng3 (24... Rf8) 25. Rh2 Qg5 { (as on 21 Qc3)} 26. Rf2 h5 27. a4 Nf5 $19) (22. a4 Bd7 23. Ba3 Bxa3 24. Nxa3 Rf8 25. Qd2 Rxf1+ $3 {[#]} 26. Rxf1 Qh3+ $8 27. Kg1 Ng3 $8 28. Rg2 Qh1+ $8 29. Kf2 Nxf1 $8 30. Rxg4+ Kh8 $8 31. Qe2 (31. Qd1 e5 $1 32. Rg1 Qh2+ 33. Rg2 Qxg2+) 31... Qh3 $3 (31... Nd2 32. Rf4) 32. Rg2 Nh2 $8 33. Rg3 Qh4 $19 {: there will follow .. .Nf3}) (22. Bc3 Qh4+ $1 23. Kg1 Bd7 {(...Ng3)} 24. Bb4 Bc7 (24... Bxb4 25. axb4 g3 26. Nc3 Rf8 27. Rg2 Ng7 28. Re1 Rf6 {(...Nf5 Qf2)} 29. Ne2) 25. a4 a5 26. Ba3 Ng3 27. Rh2 Qg5 $17) (22. Rh2 Qf3+ $8 23. Rg2 (23. Bg2 $2 Ng3+ 24. Kg1 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Qf2 $1 $19) 23... Ng3+ 24. Kg1 Bd7 25. Nc3 Nf5 26. Qf2 Nxe3 $19) 22... Bd7 $1 {[#]A new 'resting move', as they say. If the boa constrictor rests.} (22... Qf3+ $2 23. Kg1 {XT} Bd7 24. Bc3 Ng7 25. Rg2) ( 22... Qh4+ $1 23. Kg1 (23. Rh2 Qg5) 23... Bd7 24. Bc3 Ng7) 23. Rf2 $6 (23. Qe1 {(the toughest)} Qf3+ $1 (23... Rf8 $6 24. Qxg3 {rather than Nd2 XT ...Rf3} ) 24. Rg2 (24. Kg1 Ng3 25. Rg2 Nf5 $1) 24... Qh3+ $1 {XT} (24... Ng3+ $1 25. Kg1 Nf5 $1) (24... Bg3 $2 25. Be2 $1) (24... Rf8 25. Kg1) 25. Kg1 Ng7 $1 { (for ...Nf5-h4)} (25... Rf8 $2 26. Re2 $1 {(on Nd2? either ...Bg3 Rxg3 ... Qxg3+ XT, or ...g3! for ...Rf6!)} Qf3 27. Rf2 $1 Qg3+ 28. Rg2 $11) 26. Rdd2 g3 27. a4 Nf5 $19) 23... Qh4+ $1 {The best.} (23... Ng7 $1) 24. Kg1 (24. Rh2 Qg5 $1 {(why give this Bishop ?)} (24... Bxh2 25. Qxh2 Qg5 {XT} 26. Be2 Ng7 27. Qe5 $1 Qh4+ 28. Qh2) 25. Rg2 (25. Bc1 Rf8 26. Rf2 Rf3 $1 27. Kg1 g3 $19) 25... Rf8 26. Kg1 (26. Nc3 Rf3 {(threatens ...Rh3+ & ...Qh4)} 27. Kg1 Ng3) 26... g3 27. Nc3 Rf2 $1 $19) 24... Bg3 $6 (24... Ng3 $6 25. Rh2 {XT} (25. Bg2 $2 Nf5) 25... Qg5 26. Rf2 Nf5) (24... g3 $3 {(less convincing according to XT, but... a contrario, very expeditious !)} 25. Rg2 Rf8 $1 26. a4 Rf6 $1 {[#]} 27. Ba3 Bxa3 28. Nxa3 Ng7 {(for ...Rh6)} 29. Qe1 Nf5 $19) 25. Bc3 $2 {After that, there will be no no more doctors.} (25. Rg2 Rf8 26. Qe2 (26. Bc1 Bc7) 26... Rf3 $1 27. Bc3 (27. Nd2 Ng7) 27... Bd6 28. Be1 g3 29. Nd2 Qg4 (29... Rf6 $1 30. Rc1 Rg6 $1 {(or on h6)} 31. cxd5 Qh2+ $1 32. Rxh2 gxh2+ 33. Kf2 h1=N#) 30. Rc1 Ng7 {("with demolition" XT)} 31. c5 Bc7 32. Qd1 Nf5 $1 $19) (25. Rh2 $1 {(less evil according to XT)} Qg5 $1 (25... Bxh2+ 26. Qxh2 Qg5 27. Bc1 g3 28. Qh3 $1 Rf8 29. Be2 Ng7 30. Rf1 h5 31. Rf4 Rxf4 32. exf4 e5 $1 $17 33. Qxd7 $2 Qh4 $19) 26. Rg2 { (compare with the 24 Rh2 continuation)} Bc7 27. Nc3 (27. Be2 Ng3 28. Rxg3 Bxg3 29. Rf1 Be8 $17) 27... Rf8 $1 (27... g3 $1 28. Be2 Rf8) 28. cxd5 exd5 29. Nxe4 $1 dxe4 30. d5 Bb6 $1 31. Bd4 c5 32. Bb2 c4 33. Bd4 cxb3 34. Bxb6 axb6 35. d6 Rf3 ( 35... Nf6 36. Bc4+ Kg7 37. Qc3) 36. Qd5+ Qxd5 37. Rxd5 Nf6 38. Rg5+ Kf7 $17) 25... Bxf2+ 26. Qxf2 g3 $8 $19 27. Qg2 Rf8 {Threats ...Rf2, with the alternative Qh1 (...Rh2 XT) or Qh3 which you will have the pleasure to discover yourself, before reading the solution below.} 28. Be1 (28. Rd2 Rf3 $1 (28... Ng7 $1 29. Re2 Nf5 30. Bb4 Rf6) (28... Qg5 $1 29. Re2 e5 $1) 29. Re2 Qg5 30. Be1 (30. Bd2 {(or Bb4)} Be8) 30... h6 $1 {[#](XT ; the idea can be seen on Bb4)} (30... Be8 $1) 31. Bd2 (31. Bb4 Rxe3 $1 {(or ...Ng7!)} 32. Bd2 Rxe2 $8 {(bQ is protected)} 33. Bxe2 Nf4 $1) (31. Qh1 e5 $1 32. dxe5 Bg4 33. Bh3 {(Nc3 ...Rf8)} Rxe3 $1 { (or more simply ...d4!)} 34. Bxg4 Rxe2 $8 35. Bxe2 Qe3+ $8 36. Kf1 Nf4 $8 $19) (31. Nc3 Ng7 $1 32. Qh3 Nf5 $1 33. Bg2 Be8) 31... Nf6 $1 (31... Ng7 $1) 32. Nc3 (32. Be1 e5 $1) 32... Ng4 33. Nd1 Nh2 34. Re1 (34. Nf2 e5 $19) 34... h5 $1 (34... Rf7 $1) 35. Be2 h4 $1 {XT} 36. Qh3 Rf7 $19) (28. Qh1 Qg5 $1 29. Re1 Rf2 30. Bg2 Nf6 $1 {(the simplest)} (30... Qf6 $1 {(difficult but terribly strong ; better than ...Qf5 Qh3)} 31. Qxh5 {(or similarly Qh3 ... e5!! Qxd7 ...Rxg2+! and a future ...Nf6+! ; or Bxe4 ...dxe4 Qxh5 ...Rg2+! ; or Rd1 ...Rb2! Rf1 ...Rxb1! or finally Bh3 ...Rh2)} Rxg2+ $8 32. Kxg2 Qf2+ $8 33. Kh3 e5+ $8) (30... Ng7 $1 31. Nd2 Nf5 32. Qh3 {(Bxe4 ...Nh4 Bf3 ...Rh2)} Nh4 33. Nxe4 dxe4 34. Bxe4 Rh2 35. Qf1 g2 $19) 31. Nd2 (31. Bd2 Ng4 $1) 31... h5 $1 (31... Ng4 $1) 32. Nf1 h4 33. Bb4 e5 $1 34. dxe5 Ng4 35. Bd6 (35. e6 Bxe6) 35... Rxf1+ $1 {(more human than ...Nh2! Nxh2 ...h3!!)} 36. Bxf1 (36. Kxf1 Nxe3+ 37. Kg1 {(otherwise ...Bg4+)} Nc2 38. Re2 Qc1+ 39. Bf1 Ne3 $19) (36. Rxf1 Qxe3+) 36... Nh2 $1 (36... Nf2 $1 37. Qg2 h3) 37. Bg2 Bg4 $19 {XT}) (28. Qh3 $2 Rxf1+ $1 29. Qxf1 Qh2#) 28... Rxf1+ $1 {"The Second Assault" (XT). It is a question of "to gain the time necessary to bring the d7-Bishop, until then idle, into the in the heat of battle". Our hero wants to play with one rook less !} (28... e5 $3 {(wrongly considered as "nebulous" byXT)} 29. Rd2 exd4 $1 (29... Qg5 $1 30. Re2 Bg4) 30. Rf2 {XT} (30. exd4 Rf3 $1 31. Be2 Bh3 $19) 30... Rf3 $3 {[#]} (30... Rxf2 $1 31. Bxf2 Bg4) 31. Nd2 (31. Rxf3 exf3 32. Bxg3 Nxg3 33. Qxf3 Bg4) (31. cxd5 dxe3) 31... Rxe3 $1 32. Re2 Nf4 $19) (28... Qh2+ {(gives only a winning endgame, ...Qg5! is more vicious, like ...Rf3!)} 29. Qxh2 gxh2+ 30. Kxh2 Rxf1 31. Nd2 {XT} Rf5 $1 32. Bh4 Kf7 $19) 29. Kxf1 e5 $1 30. Kg1 (30. Bxg3 Nxg3+ 31. Kf2 (31. Ke1 Bh3 $1 32. Qf2 Bg4 $1 {(for ...Qh1+)} 33. Rc1 exd4) ( 31. Kg1 Bh3 $1) 31... Bg4 $3 {[#](masterful unpinning)} 32. Re1 (32. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 33. Kxg3 Bxd1 $19 {XT}) (32. Rf1 Ne2+) 32... Nf5+ $1 (32... Ne2+ $1 {XT}) 33. Kf1 Kh8 $19) (30. Ke2 Bg4+ $1 31. Kd2 Qh2 $1 $19 {XT}) 30... Bg4 $1 (30... Bh3 $1 31. Qc2 (31. Qh1 Qg4 $1) (31. Qd2 Bg4 $1) 31... Qg5 $1) 31. Bxg3 (31. Rd2 exd4 $1 (31... Bf3 $1 32. Bxg3 Nxg3 33. Qh2 Qg5 $1 34. Kf2 Nf5 35. Qg1 Bg4 36. Ke1 exd4 $19) 32. exd4 (32. Rxd4 Bf3 $8 33. Bxg3 Qg5 $1 {(...Nxg3? Qxf3)} 34. Qh3 {(Qf2 ...Nxg3)} Qxe3+ $8 35. Kh2 Nf6 $3 36. Qe6+ Kg7 $8 37. Be5 Qf2+ $8 { with mat in 3}) 32... Bf3 $8 33. Bxg3 Nxg3 34. Qh2 Qg4 $1 (34... Qxh2+ 35. Rxh2 Ne2+ $2 {(XT ; better ...e3!)} 36. Kf2 Nxd4 37. cxd5 cxd5 38. Nc3 Nxb3 39. Nxd5) 35. Nc3 (35. Kf2 e3+ $1) 35... e3 $1 36. Rb2 e2 $19) (31. Nd2 Bxd1 32. Nf1 Bf3 33. Bxg3 Qg4 $19) 31... Nxg3 32. Re1 Nf5 {"Black keep work with sledgehammers, including direct threats". (XT).} 33. Qf2 (33. Kf1 exd4 $1 (33... Kh8 $1)) 33... Qg5 34. dxe5 $6 (34. Kf1 Qh5 $1 (34... Bh3+ $1 35. Ke2 exd4 36. Rg1 Bg4+) (34... exd4 $1 35. exd4 Bh3+ {(or ... e3)} 36. Ke2 Qg4+ 37. Kd2 e3+ 38. Rxe3 Qxd4+ 39. Ke2 Bg4+) 35. Kg1 (35. Qg1 Qh4 $1 {(or ...Kh8!)} 36. Nc3 Ng3+ (36... exd4) 37. Kg2 Nh1 $1 38. Kf1 Qf6+ {XT}) 35... Bf3 $1 (35... Nh4 $6 {XT} 36. Nd2) 36. Qh2 Qg5+ 37. Kf2 exd4 $19) 34... Bf3+ 35. Kf1 Ng3+ {"The judges awarded this game the 3rd beauty prize, although the majority of the judges declared peremptorily that such sacrifices are incalculable and therefore deserve no encouragement" (XT). "The times change, judges do not" (AV).} (35... Ng3+ 36. Kg1 Nh1+ $1) 0-1 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1971.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Savournin, J."] [Black "1885.12"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3BK3/1B6/R5p1/4Nk2/R5N1/2rp3P/1Qrb2n1/5b2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1971.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1892.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "X..."] [Black "1424.32"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3B3n/8/2BkPp2/R1r1NP2/1P6/2pK4/8/Q7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1892.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Gorbatenko, Y."] [Black "4738.34"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3Rn3/5P2/n2Nprb1/4k2N/K1Q2pP1/pp3P2/4r3/q7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1929.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Larsen, KAK."] [Black "4858.45"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r1BRK3/1pP2R2/1B1N2P1/1p1pkppQ/1N3r2/2nb2P1/3P1n2/7q w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1929.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Presented at the Lithuanian Championship 2017.} -- 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1976.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Boettger, H."] [Black "4728.24"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rq4/8/1n2B3/3N1N2/1pRpkP2/1K3p2/4PB1p/3r1Q1n w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1976.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Presented at the 2017 Slovakian Championship.} -- 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1996.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Velimirovic, M."] [Black "1258.03"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2B1n3/1p3R2/4R3/3kp3/2N5/N2nBpK1/2Q5/5b2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1996.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1988.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Cheylan, Y."] [Black "1885.24"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4b1nr/1Q1p1R2/R2pkp1P/3pN2B/K5P1/b1B5/4N3/5r2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1988.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1949.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Trueck, H."] [Black "4585.22"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3nK3/8/3N3R/1B1k2p1/1P2Np2/3Pq3/b4Q1r/B3R1b1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1949.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2003.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Lewis, T."] [Black "3211.32"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2k5/B3K3/P5p1/3NR3/3P4/1p3P2/2q5/2R5 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2003.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Pachl, F & Müller D"] [Black "1258.35"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1b6/3NNn2/2p4B/2p5/Q1p1k1P1/1B2p1p1/2Pn2P1/3RKR2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1990.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Hoffmann, P."] [Black "1245.34"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1KNR4/2Pb3p/1p5p/1Rnk1N1Q/6P1/6P1/p1P5/B7 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1990.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Presented at the 1998 World Championship.} -- 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1975.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Moore, RC."] [Black "4588.54"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "6B1/7K/5p1p/2NPpQb1/P1kqn1Rr/B3n1p1/P1bPP3/2RN4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1975.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "2#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Kovacevic, M."] [Black "4288.30"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2n5/2b5/2q5/7R/1QbBkP2/1N1RP3/2B3P1/1nN2K2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {Presented at the international tournament on 24.1.16.} -- 1-0 [Event "3#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1928.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Knotek, L."] [Black "1778.06"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2b4K/8/6pp/2B1Npkr/4pR1p/6np/2Q2N1b/5nr1 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1928.??.??"] [EventType "game"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "3#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1928.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Drnek, J."] [Black "1216.12"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7R/5p1Q/8/4P3/5nk1/R6n/K4p2/5B2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1928.??.??"] [EventType "game"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "3#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1961.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Rudenko, V."] [Black "4888.16"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "b3NNKn/5pP1/Qb1p1pp1/4qkp1/1R2n1p1/6P1/4R3/BBrr4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1961.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "4#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1984.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Miltner, V."] [Black "0102.20"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2K5/8/8/4kNP1/2PN4/5R2/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1984.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "4#"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Gamnitzer, C."] [Black "1768.74"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "7n/8/KPPP4/n1N4p/RPk1PP2/p3pQ2/1bp1N1P1/rb1r4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "5# b) after key"] [Site "?"] [Date "1964.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Brévaux, P."] [Black "0021.11"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2N5/6K1/8/5k2/3Pp3/4B3/4B3 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1964.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "6#"] [Site "?"] [Date "1942.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Fabel, K."] [Black "0141.00"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/3R4/8/K1k1N3/4b3/1B6/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1942.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "h#2,5 b) Rf6 on d6"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Kalotay, A & Benkö P"] [Black "3540.00"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/8/5r2/3qkb2/8/8/8/R3KB1R w KQ - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "h#3 2 sol"] [Site "?"] [Date "1966.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Valcins, E."] [Black "3786.07"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1K6/4p3/4p3/5Bpp/1pkB2b1/3nq1R1/p2rp2b/1r3n2 b - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1966.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 1-0 [Event "h#4,5 3 sol"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Foster, G."] [Black "0031.03"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4b3/N2pp3/1K2k3/2p5/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] {After H. Fischer, 1917.} -- 1-0 [Event "s#3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2004.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Janevski, Z."] [Black "4862.36"] [Result "0-1"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2p5/bp4pp/rR2P1Pq/1pK1k3/bP5N/rp3RN1/3Q4 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "2004.??.??"] [SourceDate "2000.07.25"] 0-1




"non-CB support diagrams" (animated fairy)





post-script of Master :

Why was this course brought forward by a fortnight?

Venice, Marco Polo airport. I catch the bus to Mestre station, to reach Trieste, from where I will be taken to Croatia. A "nice immigrant", from a southern country (a "chance for Italy"), reaches into the left pocket of my jacket, taking my ID and bank cards. I realise this as I get off the bus, look for a police station. A cop at the station points me to one 200 metres away.

Finding no more police station than butter on a spit, I take refuge in a café. The waitress is a nice immigrant from a country far to the east and north, named Li Li. She tells me that she doesn't know any police station (I'll know later that it's not 200 m away but 2 km). She lends me her phone to call France and thus block the bank card. She refuses to let me pay for the drink and the phone (!), in front of the owner of the café who does not protest. Thank you Li Li. She calls a cop for help.

He advises me to go back to the station where there is a "railway police" that I had spotted but which seemed closed. I'm about to make a theft report, but the clerk refuses to do so, claiming that the only person able to do so will only be there tomorrow morning. I go out without realising what this implies, manage to reach my family in Trieste, sceptical about the possibility of obtaining a document allowing me to pass to Croatia (which is "in Europe" without being there).

I go back to the incompetent cop, who tells me that I can get such a document at the French consulate in Venice, but only... tomorrow afternoon. My family decides to join me in Mestre. Other cops are walking around the station, paid to do nothing. I tell them what's happening to me and ask if they think it's normal to be refused a document that's necessary, if only to get a hotel room. A moron replies that it's "Italian law". My reply: "Italian law makes a 70-year-old sleep in the street".

Three hours later, Madame arrived in Mestre and managed to book a small studio. To get me in, she found a photocopy of my stolen identity card on her haiped, by some miracle. The next day, the gymkhana in the Venetian labyrinth will take us several hours: to make matters worse, the address of the consulate on the internet is wrong. And of course, we were told that it was impossible to provide us with a piece of paper that could get me across the Croatian border. My dearest, who didn't really believe in this, concludes that all I have to do is go back to Cannes.

It takes a month and a half to make an identity card. Two weeks to get a birth certificate, while several documents, not to mention the photocopy, show that I already had to provide one in due form. Long live France, long live Italy. You'll tell me that this is a change from line 13 of the Paris metro. Not really. Invaded and degenerate Europe is the same.


Daniel :

My only real visit to Venice was in 2003 and it is an excellent souvenir.

But historically, the first time I set foot in Venice was during a train stop (sleeper train for a 2-day and 2-night trip), on my way back from the International Railwaymen's Championship that was taking place in Bulgaria in Varna.
Funny detail, the cartoon made at the time for this occasion is visible on the welcome photo "de lecoursdumaitre" next to the wall chessboard, but not detailed enough to be advantageously zoomed.
I was still a junior at the time and the team was composed of, among others, Benoît and Savalle, well known by Alain. Fortunately, this was on the return journey because when I set foot on Italian soil, my wallet had already disappeared!
I then remembered that during the night, someone wearing a cap and wanting to look like a ticket inspector had entered the compartment "to capture a blanket".
Youth is formed by experience.


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