Bishop's Opening, McDonnell Gambit

ARNOLD DENKER vs. ARTHUR RANDOLPH SHAYNE

Rochester, New York, 1945

1. e4, e5

2. Bc4, Bc5

3. b4, Bxb4

A pawn sacrifice, common in Bishop's Opening, the objective of which is to consolidate White's center.

4. c3, Bc5

5. d4, exd4

6. Nf3, Nf6

7. e5, Ne4

8. 0-0 ....

White could take the d pawn immediately, but he has other things in mind.

8. ... Nxc3

9. Nxc3, dxc3

10. Bg5, Be7

11. Qd5, Rf8

12. Bf6! ...

A subtle move.  This neat Bishop gambit forces White to open the e-file.

12. ... gxf6

13. exf6, Bxf6

14. Rfe1+, Be7

15. Ng5! ...

15. ... c6

Black tries to drive away White's Queen, but Black is unperturbed.

16. Nxf7, cxd5

If 16.... Qc7 then 17. Qh5! with great attacking possibilities.

17. Nd6 mate

Sicilian Defense

Viswanathan Anand vs. Peter Svidler
6th Round, 2016 Moscow Candidates Tournament

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, a6
4. Ba4, Nf6
5. 0-0, Be7
6. Re1, b5
7. Bb3, 0-0
8. a4, Bb7
9. d3, Re8
10. Nbd2, Bf8
11. c3 ...

Anand prepares for d4....

11. ... Na5
12. Bc2, c5
13. d4, exd4
14. cxd4, d5
15. e5, Ne4
16. axb5, axb5
17. Nxe4, dxe4
18. Rxe4 ....

The Rook is poisoned.  If 18....Bxe4, 19. Bxe4 followed by 20. Bxh7 and 21. Ng5 with good attacking prospects.

18. .... Nb3

Black offers his Knight in return, to lure White's c2 Bishop away from action.

19. Rxa8, Bxa8
20. Ng5, Nxc1
21. Qh5!! ....

   
White's attacking prospects are greater than the value of captured material.  Here, White has a two-pronged attack.

21. .... h6
22. Qxf7+, Kh8
23. Rg4 ....

The move takes the Rook away from harm, and defends the Knight from Black's Queen.  If 23. Qg6, then Black equalizes with Qxg5.

Now, if 23....hxg5, then 22. Qh5+ Kg8, 23. Bh7+ Kh8, 24. Bg6+ Kg8, 25. Qh7 mate.

23. .... Qa5

Black creates a diversion on the Queen side of the board.

24. h4 ....


Whites creates an escape square for his King.

Having no other good move, Black resigns. White's Queen cannot be prevented from going to g6 and h7.

At this point, if 24.....hxg5, then 25. Qh5+  Kg8, 26. Bh7+ Kh8, 27. Bg6+ Kg8, 28. Qh7 mate.

If 24....Qe1+, 25. Kh2 Ne2, 26. Nf3 !!...

A superb play by Viswanathan Anand!

Sicilian Defense

GM Ian Rogers vs. IM Michael Hennigan
Hastings Premier, 1993

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, e6
4. Bxc6, bxc6
5. 0-0, d5
6. d3, Ne7
7. c4, Ng6

Undeterred by a double-pawn, Black develops his pieces.

8. Nc3, Be7

Black should have moved 8. .... Bd6 right away.

9. b3, 0-0
10. Ba3, Bd6
11. Re1, d4
12. Na4, e5

Black has to block the advance of White's e-pawn.

13. Bxc5, Nf4
14. g3?! ....

A dubious move.  14. h3 makes more sense.

14. .... Nh3+
15. Kg2, Bg4

Black threatens Ng5 winning the Knight.

16. Qd2, f5!!
 

17. Ng1 ....

White cannot take the pawn.  Doing so would put tremendous pressure on the f-file.

If 17. Nxe5 Bxe5, 18. Bxf8 Ng5! Black plays aggressively.

17. .... Nxg1
18. Kxg1, Bf3
19. Bxd6, Qxd6
20. Qg5, f4
21. Rec1 ....

White's King intends to run to the queen side.

21. .... Rf6
22. Kf1, Rg6
23. c5, Qc7
24. Qh4, Rh6
25. Qg5, Rh5!!
 

 The Queen is "mated", so White resigns.  While 25.....Rxh2 is also good, the text nails down the Queen immediately.

A superb ending !