Morphy's Ball in Corner Pocket

PAUL MORPHY vs. CHARLES LE CARPENTIER
New Orleans, 1849
Irregular Opening

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. d4, exd4
4. Bc4, Bb4+
5. c3, dxc3

White sacrifices one pawn after another.  What could be his plan?

6. 0-0-0, cxb2
7. Bxb2, Bf8
8. e5, d6
9. Re1, dxe5
10. Nxe5!!, Qxd1
11. Bxf7+!! .....

A surprise move!  Morphy takes advantage of the opponent's exposed King.

 11. .... Ke7

If 11.....Kd8, then 12. Rxd1+ ....

12. Ng6+!!, Kxf7

The most logical move against White's double-check.

13. Nxh8 mate.

Astounding!  A brilliant Queen sacrifice.

Marshall's Immortal Queen Sacrifice

STEFFAN LEVITSKY vs. FRANK JAMES MARSHALL
DSB Kongress XVIII, 1912
Sicilian Defense, Marshall Gambit

1. d4, e6
2. e4, d5
3. Nc3, c5
4. Nf3, Nc6
5. exd5, exd5
6. Be2, Nf6
7. 0-0, Be7
8. Bg5, 0-0
9. dxc5, Be6

If 9..... Bxc5, then 10. Bxf6 Qxf6, 11. Nxd5 ... and White has a strong attack.

10. Nd4, Bxc5!

The pawn is there for the taking.

11. Nxe6, fxe6
12. Bg4, Qd6
13. Bh3, Rae8

Black strengthens the center.

14. Qd2, Bb4

This move effectively pins the Knight.

15. Bxf6, Rxf6
16. Rad1, Qc5

Putting pressure on the Knight at c3...

17. Qe2 ....

White disregards Black's threat ...

17. .... Bxc3
18. bxc3, Qxc3
19. Rxd5, Nd4!
20. Qh5, Ref8

Escapes threat and attacks the f2 pawn...

21. Re5, Rh6!!

22. Qg5, Rxh3!!

Now, if 23. gxh3 then 23....Nf3++ and White loses his Queen.

23. Rc5, Qg3!!!
(0:1)

And mate next move...

The Queen cannot be taken.  If 24. hxg3 then 24....Ne2 mate.  If 24. Qxg3, then 24....Ne2+, 25. Kh1 Nxg3+, 6. fxg3 Rxf1 mate.  If 24. fxg3 Ne2+, 25. Kh1 Rxf1 mate.

An amazing finish!

Horwitz Defense

The opening was popularized by Bernard Horwitz, then one of the Berlin Pleiades. After settling in England in 1845 he played in the 1851 tournament, beating Henry Edward Bird but then being knocked out by Howard Staunton. His true love was chess problems and together with Josef Kling wrote the classic book 'Chess Studies'. He was the winner of the first study composing tourney in 1862.

 

The Horwitz Defense begins with 1. d4, e6.  Possible continuations include 2. e4 (the most popular) and 2.c4.   The game may be transposed into a Benoni or Sicilian Defense.

The following game is known in other chess literature as the "Immortal King Walk Game".  Play it and find out why.

EDWARD LASKER vs. GEORGE ALAN THOMAS
London 1912
Horwitz Defense

1. d4, e6
2. Nf3, f5
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Bg5, Be7
5. Bxf6, Bxf6
6. e4, fxe4
7. Nxe4, b6
8. Ne5, 0-0
9. Bd3!! ....

Preparing onslaught on the king's side.

9. .... Bb7
10. Qh5, Qe7

11. Qxh7!! ....

A Queen sacrifice that shocked everyone including Thomas.

11. .... Kxh7
12. Nxf6!!+, Kh6

If 12. .... Kh8, then 13. Neg6! mate.

13. Neg4+, Kg5
14. h4+, Kf4
15. g3+, Kf3
16. Be2+, Kg2
17. Rh2+, Kg1
18. Kd2 mate.

A nice ending to a beautiful Queen sacrifice. Notice that the enemy King is brought all the way to the back rank.

To view the game in PGN format, you may visit The Immortal King Walk Game.

The Evergreen Game

This post features another magnificent game by Adolf Anderssen.  Containing one of the most brilliant attacks ever recorded, this game is immortalized as the Evergreen Game.

You may also want to view Adolf Anderssen's  The Immortal Game.

ANDERSSEN vs. DUFRESBE
Berlin, 1852
Ruy Lopez Opening

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Bc5
4. b4 .....

The Evans Gambit - a sharp try for control of the center and attacks on f7.  Gary Kasparov played the Evans Gambit a number of times in modern grandmaster play, a testimony to its soundness.

4. ..... Bxb4
5. c3, Ba5

Black keeps the pressure on c3. This is the only move that prevents White from getting a firm pawn post on d4.

6. d4, exd4
7. 0-0 .....

An extra aggressive castling maneuver. Now the PIN on the c3 is broken, enabling White to get a pawn center if given the opportunity. And now the Rook is activated to slide over to the critical e file.

7. ..... d3

Black thinks White will take the pawn, hindering the latter's development and effectively stopped White from getting a strong pawn center.

8. Qb3 ......

Attacking the weak f7 pawn.

8. ..... Qf6
9. e5 .....

Black cannot take the e pawn because of the resulting pin by Re1.

9. ..... Qg6
10. Re1 .....

White controls the e file. Although the file is not yet open, White puts a tremendous pressure on the center.

10. ..... Nge7
11. Ba3, b5?

An attempt to remove some of the pressure off f7. Black should have castled immediately.

12. Qxb5, Rb8
13. Qa4, Bb6

Black adds pressure on the weak f2 pawn, at the same time relieving the c6 Knight of the responsibility of defending it.

14. Nbd2, Bb7

Black would have been better off if he castled at this point. Not castling early in the game will lead to his downfall.

15. Ne4 .....

Centralizing the Knight where it attacks key squares.

15. ..... Qf5

A needless move. Black had better moves like d2.

16. Bxd3, Qh5
17. Nf6+!! .....

The beginning of one of the most brilliant attacks in chess.

17. ..... gxf6
18. exf6, Rg8!!

A strong move that activates the rook, attacks the f3 Knight, and threatens mate.

19. Rad1!! .....

White offers the f3 Knight in exchange for a brilliant attack.

19. ..... Qxf3
20. Rxe7+!!, Nxe7

Black would have done better with Kd8.

21. Qxd7+!! .....

Sacrificing the Queen for an unstoppable mate.

21. ..... Kxd7
22. Bf5+!!, Ke8
23. Bd7+, Kf8
24. Bxe7 mate.

Brilliant! If black would have just castled back when he had the chance, none of this would have happened.

The Importance of Castling

Castling is one of the basic and important concepts in the game of chess that instantly enhances the dynamic potential of a chess player.  The objective of castling is to provide safety to the King from the threat and at the same time, bring the rook, occupying the flanks, for better play in the initial stages.

Tarrasch was the second best player of his day.  This game effectively illustrates the importance of castling and the security of the f pawn.

TARRASCH vs. KURSCHNER
Nuremberg, 1893
French Defense

1. e4, e6

In the French Defense, Black allows White to get a pawn center, only to contest it later.  Very sound but leads to slow positional game.  Not recommended for beginners.

2. d4, d5
3. Bd3 .....

The Bishop is in a position to attack both sides of the board.

3. ..... Nf6
4. e5, Nfd7
5. Nf3, c5

The move is often played by Black in the French Defense, with the idea of undermining d4, and further weaken White's central pawn structure.

6. c3, Nc6
7. 0-0, f6?!

Pushing the f pawn is not advised.  This exposes the King too early in the game.

8. Re1 .....

Controlling the e-file.

8. ..... f5

Black spends another move to close the e-file.

9. Be3, c4

Black decides to close the center. This leads to a positional struggle.

10. Bc2, Be7
11. b3!! .....

White tries to break apart the pawn structure.

11. ..... b5
12. a4, bxa4
13. bxc4 .....

This takes a critical pawn off the center.

13. ..... dxc4
14. d5 .....

Cracking the position wide open.

14. ..... N6xe5
15. dxe6!! .....

Now White's central pawn has become extremely dangerous.

15. ..... Nxf3
16. Qxf3, Nb6
17. Qxf5 .....

Threatening Qf7 mate.

17. ..... Bf6

If 17.....Rf8, then 18. Qh5+ g6, 19. Bxg6 hxg6, 20. Qxg6 and mate next move.

18. Bc5!! .....

Locking the enemy King in, prevents it from castling.

18. .... Bb7
19. Qg6!!! .....

A Queen sacrifice taking advantage of the missing f pawn.

19. ..... hxg6
20. Bxg6 mate.

The moral of this chess game is not to push the f pawn without good reason....Castle!....and center pawns are deadly.

Bird's Opening

The Bird's Opening is characterized by the move 1. f4.  As White, it is employed as an innovation to the usual 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, and 1.Nf3. These are the ones we see without fail at the tournament level. However, there are other systems lying in wait for those practitioners who will study, play, and create innovations that raise them up to a level of respectability and playability that transcends the club level. I suggest Bird's Opening (1.f4) as one of those opening systems. Sometimes reviled, often ignored, Bird's is an opening with possibility.

The final combination in the following game has a curious motif:  in order to force mate, White has to get his Queen out of the way.  So a Queen sacrifice paves the way to victory.

TARRASCH vs. SATZINGER
Munich, 1915

1. f4, e6
2. Nf3, d5
3. e3, c5
4. b3, Be7
5. Bb2, Bf6

Both players are contesting the long diagonal.

6. Ne5, Bxe5
7. fxe5! .....

This allows Black to win a Pawn by 7. ..... Qh4+, 8. g3 Qe4, 9. Rg1 d4, 10. Na3 Qxe5.  However, on further study of the position, we find that White can regain the Pawn favorably with 11. Nc4 Qf6, 12. exd4 cxd4, 13. Qg4 Nc6, 14. Bg2 e5, 15. Bxc6+ bxc6, 16. Qe2 attacking the King Pawns and threatening B x P as well.

7. ..... Ne7
8. Bd3, N8c6
9. 0-0, 0-0
10. Qh5, Ng6

Parrying the above threat.  But White still maintains a strong attacking position.

11. Rf3, Nce7
12. Nc3, a6
13. Raf1, b5
14. Nd1, Bb7
15. Nf2, c4
16. Ng4 .....

Contemplating 17. Nf6 with a strong attack at g7.

16. ..... f5
17. exf6, Nf5
18. fxg7, Nxg7

White has several winning lines now, but he would find the prettiest way.

19. Qxh7!!, Kxh7
20. Rh3+, Kg8

If 20. .....Nh5, there follows 21. Rxh5 Kg8, 22. Rh8+, Nxh8, 23. Nh6 mate.

21. Nh6+, Kh8
22. Nf7+, Kg8
23. Rh8+!, Nxh8
24. Nh6 mate

A most unusual finish.  The whole key to White's successful attack lies in his far-sighted 7. fxe5!

The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game (1. d4), and characterized by the opening moves 1. d4 d5, 2. c4.   The Bishop's Pawn is the gambit, being offered in exchanged for control of the center.

White's aim is eventually to create a pawn center at d4 and e4, coupled with pressure on the Q-side using the QB-file. Black must either accept the gambit (Queen's Gambit Accepted), resort to a speculative counter-gambit, or protect his QP with a pawn (Queen's Gambit Declined) - if he makes an immediate developing move White gains an advantage. In most lines Black declines the pawn (although the Gambit Accepted (2...dxc4) is not unpopular), whereupon White seeks a Q-side minority attack.

CASAS vs. PLAZZINI
Buenos Aires, 1952
Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4, d5
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. Nf3, Be7
5. Bg5, N8d7
6. e3, 0-0
7. Qc2, c5
8. cxd5, Nxd5

The usual continuation is now 9. Bxe7 Qxe7, 10. Nxd5 exd5, 11. dxc5 Nxc5 - whereby Black has freedom of action in return for an isolated Queen Pawn which may come under pressure from White's pieces.

9. Nxd5 .....

Now it is possible for Black to transpose into the previous note with 9. .....exd5, 10. Bxe7 etc.  Instead, he varies.

9. ..... Bxg5
10. h4! .....

A successful attempt to entrap Black, who should resist sturdily with 10. .....Be7.

10. ..... Qa5+?!

11. b4!! .....

Completely unexpected by Black.  It is now too late for him to retreat his Queen, for then 12. hxg5 (threatening Qxh7 mate) leaves White a piece ahead.

11. ..... cxb4

This looks like a clever maneuver, for after 12. hxg5 Black has 12. .....b3 discovered check driving White's Queen off the critical diagonal.  Then, after 13. Qd2 or Qc3, Black can safely answer 13. .....Qxd5 and all is well.

This is as far as Black calculated.  But White saw farther ahead.

12. Qxh7+!!, Kxh7
13. hxg5+, Kg6
14. Ne7 mate

One of the greatest surprise combinations ever perpetrated on an unsuspecting opponent.

Do you want a chess game in your mobile phone? You may visit Mobile Phone Software.

Center Counter Defense

Classified as an irregular defense, this opening is also known as Center Counter Game or Scandinavian Defense, having been analyzed by Scandinavian players in the 19th century. Black's challenging 1..P-Q4 reply to White's 1. e4 aims to open up the center (usually with the combined early development of Black's queen) preventing positional play, but should present no severe opening problems for the competent White player.

The following game is also known as the Peruvian Immortal Game.

CANAL vs. DUBYNA
Budapest, 1934

1. e4, d5
2. exd5, Qxd5
3. Nc3, Qa5
4. d4, c6

Excessive caution. It is a good idea to develop a piece, say 4. ... Nf6.

5. Nf3, Bg4
6. Bf4, e6
7. h3, Bxf3

One should not exchange a Bishop for a Knight so readily. Aside from that, Black brings the White Queen into active play.

8. Qxf3, Bb4
9. Be2, Nd7
10. a3!, 0-0-0

Black carelessly relies on what he thinks is a foolproof pin. It seems, superficially, that 11 axb4 would be too costly for White.

11. axb4!!, Qxa1+
12. Kd2, Qxh1
13. Qxc6+!! ....

Exquisite!   Only a chess master sees the beauty of this move in a trice, and evaluated several moves ahead.

13. ..... bxc6
14. Ba6 mate.

Beautiful! It is instructive to go back over the game to see how Black unwittingly forced White to go into this combination.

Do you want chess in your mobile phone? Visit Free Mobile Phone Software.

Queen Sacrifice

In a chess blog full of Queen sacrifices, the Queen sacrifice in the following game is truly remarkable.  In fact, the whole game is off the beaten track.

FOX vs. GOLMAYO
Antwerp, 1901
Ruy Lopez Opening, Berlin Defense Rio Gambit Accepted

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Nf6
4. 0-0, Nxe4

The old Berlin Defense, rarely seen nowadays.

5. Re1 ....

The alternative 5. d4 is more likely to create difficulty for Black.

5. .... Nd6
6. Nxe5, Be7

Of course not 6. .... Nxb5, 7. Nxc6 dis ch winning Black's Queen.

7. Bf1, 0-0
8. d4, Nf5
9. c3, d5

Here Black has an easier game with 9. .....Nxe5, 10. dxe5 d6.

10. Qd3, Re8
11. f4, Nd6
12. Re3, Na5 ?

Feeble.  Much better was 12.....Bf5 then Be4.

13. Nd2, Nf5 ?
14. Rh3, Nh4 ?

Instead of effectively centralizing his Queen Bishop, Black has badly posted his Knights.

15. g4, Ng6
16. Rh5 ......

White intends to increase pressure with Qh3, but Black's next move offers a stunning inspiration.

16. .... Nc6

17. N2c4 ! ......

One of the deepest surprise moves ever played. Had Black dreamed of what was coming, he would have tried 17. .... Ncxe5.

17. .....dxc4

18. Qxg6 !! .....

The expendable Queen.  After 18. ....fxg6 there follows 19. Bxc4+ Kf8, 20. Nxg6+ hxg6, 21. Rh8 mate.

18. ... hxg6

19. Nxg6!, fxg6

20. Bxc4, Resigns

Black cannot stop mate.  Truly an unconventional game.

Tired?  Do you have a mobile phone?  Visit Free Mobile Software.

Falkbeer Counter Gambit

The Falkbeer Gambit is usually employed by Black against the King's Gambit with the idea of paralyzing White's center.  The Gambit offers a pawn instead of taking the gambit and advances the e-pawn with the idea of preventing Nf3 and the advance of White's d-pawn.

ROSANES vs. ANDERSSEN
Breslau, 1862

1. e4, e5
2. f4, d5

This countergambit surrenders a pawn for technical and psychological reasons.  The technical objective is to obtain a substantial lead in development, the psychological motive is to befuddle White.

3. exd5, e4

This pawn can be a stumbling block to White by preventing the natural Nf3; or it can become a target for White's attack, provoking him to waste time winning the advanced pawn.

This explains why White's best course is to shunt aside these complications and simply play 4. d3, ensuring the removal of the obnoxious pawn.

4. Bb5ch, c6
5. dxc6, Nxc6
6. Nc3, Nf6
7. Qe2 ......

White is following the faulty tactic of winning the King Pawn.  He will live to regret it.

7. ......  Bc5 !
8. Nxe4, 0-0

For after 9. Nxc5 Black wins the White Queen with 9. ...... Re8.

9. Bxc6 ........

Getting rid of an important enemy piece, but opening up a file which will be useful for Black later on.

9. ...... bxc6
10. d3, Re8
11. Bd2 .......

White prepares to castle, as the King file is getting too hot for his King.

11. ....... Nxe4
12. dxe4, Bf5

Developing with gain of time.

13. e5, Qb6

A double-threat: 14. .....Bxg1 and 14. ... Qxb2.  White's reply is forced.

14. 0-0-0, Bd4 !

Neat play. White threatens mate.

15. c3, Rab8 !
16. b3, Red8!
17. Nf3 ......

White can hold out much longer with 17. Kb2, although after 17. ... Bc5 he would be helpless against Black's attack.  The text permits a lovely finish.

17. ......  Qxb3

The proverbial bolt from the blue, and still threatening mate.

18. axb3, Rxb3

And now, with his Queen gone, Black threatens 8. ..... Rb1 mate.

19. Be1 ......

To create a flight square for his King.

19. ..... Be3+
20. Resigns

Here we see the real point of 16. .....Red8 !!!  Black's devilishly posted King Rook cuts off the escape of White's King, so that Black can continue with 20.....Rb1 mate.

Tired? Do you have a mobile phone? Visit Free Mobile Software.