Zukertort Opening

The Zukertort Opening was already discussed in one previous blog.  The following game demonstrates the Nimzo-Larsen Variation of the opening.

VIACHESLAV RAGOZIN vs. PETER ROMANOVSKY
Leningrad, 1927

1. Nf3, Nf6
2. b3 ....

The Nimzo-Larsen Variation.  It aims to develop the c1 Bishop at once.

2. .... g6
3. Bb2, Bg7
4. g3, d5
5. Bg2, c5
6. 0-0, 0-0
7. d3, Nc6
8. c4, d4
9. Nbd2, Qc7
10. h3, Nh5
11. Ne4, b6
12. a3, Bb7
13. Qc2, f5
14. Ned2, e5!!

Solidifying the central pawn structure.  This is crucial to the outcome of the game.

15. b4, Rae8

Black correctly assessed that the center is more important than his right flank.  If 15....cxb4, 16. axb4 Nxb4, 17. Qb3 a5, 18. Ba3.... then the resulting position favors White.

16. Rfb1, e4!!
17. dxe4, fxe4
18. Ng5 ....

It is unwise to take the pawn. If 18. Nxe4 cxb4, 19. axb4 Nxb4, 20. Qb3 Bxe4 then Black gains material.

18. .... Rxf2!!
19. Ndxe4 ....

 If 19. Kxf2 then Black replies with 19....Qxg3!! Kg1, 20. Nxb4 threatening 21. Qxg2 mate.

19..... Nxb4
20. axb4, Rxg2+
21. Kxg2, Qxg3+
22. Kf1 ....

If 22. Kh1, then Black continues with 22....Be5, 23. e3 Qxg5...

22. .... Bxe4
23. Qxe4 ....

No other choice. For if 23. Nxe4 Rf8+...

23. .... Rxe4
24. Nxe4, Qxh3+
White resigns.

No matter where the White King goes, he will have a hard time defending his position (i.e. 25. Kg1 Nf4!! and mate next move. If 25. Ke1 or Kf2 Black still weaves a mating net with combination of Bh6, Nf4, Qe3, or Qh1).

Ruy Lopez Opening

PAUL MORPHY vs. ADOLF ANDERSSEN
Paris 1858

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Nf6
4. d4, Nxd4
5. Nxd4, exd4
6. e5, c6?

A weak move, seen as the ultimate cause of this game's loss.

7. 0-0, cxb5
8. Bg5 ....

This pin is seen as much stronger than taking the Knight at once.

8. .... Be7

The correct reply.  If 8....h6 then White replies with 9. exf6 hxg5, 10. Re1+!! and White wins an extra piece with an overwhelming position.

9. exf6, Bxf6
10. Re1+, Kf8
11. Bxf6, Qxf6
12. c3, d5
13. cxd4, Be6
14. Nc3, a6
15. Re5, Rd8
16. Qb3, Qe7
17. Rae1 ...

Strengthens the e-file.  If 17. Nxd5, then Black replies with 17....Qd6, and the Knight is pinned.

17. .... g5

Black prevents the advance of the f-pawn.

18. Qd1, Qf6
19. R1e3!!, Rg8?

A losing move.  However, the game at this point is beyond recovery.

20. Rxe6, Resigns

White is now positionally and materially superior.  If 21....fxe6, then 22. Rf3!! and Black loses his Queen.

Sicilian Defense, French Variation

VIACHESLAV RAGOZIN vs. P. NOSKOV
Moscow-Leningrad Match 1930
Sicilian Defense, French Variation

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, e6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nd2 ....

The French Variation of the Sicilian Defense.  Instead of the normal 6. Nc3, White intends the keep open the b2-f6 diagonal for future attack.

5. .... d6
6. Bd3, Nc6
7. Nxc6, bxc6
8. 0-0, Be7
9. b3, 0-0
10. Bb2, Nd7
11. f4, Bf6
12. e5!, dxe5
13. Ne4, exf4
14. Nxf6, Nxf6
15. Rxf4 ....

By a series of moves, White managed to control the b2-f6 diagonal, which would be crucial to the outcome of the game.

15. .... Re8
16. Rxf6!! ....

 16. .... gxf6
17. Qg4+, Kf8

If Black chooses 17.... Kh8, then 18. Qh5!! and 19. Qxh7 mate.

18. Ba3+, Re7
19. Bxh7!!, Qb6+
20. Kh1, Ke8

Faced with a mating threat at g8, Black sought an escape square for his King.

21. Rd1, Resigns

The escape square is blocked!  There is no way Black could prevent the mating move 22. Qg8.  Superb play. This game is listed as one the best chess games of all time.

King's Gambit Accepted

Once again, we are posting an article on the King's Gambit.  In the gambit, the f4 pawn is being offered so that White could build up a strong center with d2-d4.  Theory has shown that in order for Black to maintain his f4 pawn, he must weaken his king-side.

PAUL MORPHY vs. ADOLF ANDERSSEN
Paris 1858
King's Gambit Accepted, Kieseritzky Gambit Berlin Defenese

1. e4, e5
2. f4, exf4
3. Nf3, g5
4. h4, g4
5. Ne5 ....

The Kieseritzky Gambit, said to be stronger and positional in nature. The Gambit was used by Boris Spassky to beat Bobby Fisher in a famous game during the year 1960.

5. .... Nf6
6. Nxg4, Nxe4
7. d3, Ng3
8. Bxf4 ....

White sacrifices a Rook in exchange for an attack on the uncastled Black King.

8. .... Nxh1
9. Qe2+, Qe7

If 9....Be7 then 10. Nf6+ Kf8, 11. Bh6+ mate.

10. Nf6+, Kd8
11. Bxc7!!, Kxc7
12. Nd5+, Kd8
13. Nxe7, Bxe7
14. Qg4, d6
15. Qf4, Rg8
16. Qxf7, Bxh4+
17. Kd2, Re8
18. Na3, Na6
19. Qh5 ....

Threatening both Bishop and Knight.

19. .... Bf6
20. Qxh1, Bxb2
21. Qh4+, Kd7

If 21....Re7 then 22. Re1!! with a great attack.

22. Rb1, Bxa3
23. Qa4+, Resigns

With material and positional advantage, White wins after 23....Kd8, 24. Qxa3.  A simple yet elegant finish.

To see the POPULAR VARIATIONS of this opening, visit  KING'S GAMBIT ACCEPTED.

Alekhine Defense

The Alekhine Defense was featured in a previous post (Adams vs. Kline). The following game again illustrates the capability of the opening to provide avenues of attack for aggressive players.

NIGMADZIANOV vs. KAPLIN
USSR 1977
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation

1. e4. Nf6
2. e5, Nd5
3. d4, d6
4. Nf3, Bg4
5. Be2, c6
6. c4, Nb6
7. Nbd2, N8d7
8. Ng5!, Bxe2
9. e6!! ....

Threatening mate at f7.






9. .... f6
10. Qxe2, fxg5
11. Ne4, Nf6

If 11....h6. then 12. Qh5+ mate.

12. Nxg5, Qc7

Black avoids a fork by the White Knight and creates an escape square for his King.

13. Nf7, Rg8
14. g4!, h6
15. h4, d5

Black hoped to free his Queen, but it was not to be.

16. c5, Nc8
17. g5, Ne4

Black correctly avoided 17....hxg5, 18. hxg5 allowing White to activate his h1 Rook.

18. gxh6, gxh6
19. Qh5, Nf6
20. Nd6+!!, Kd8

The Knight cannot be captured because of the double-check.

21. Qe8+!!!, Resigns

A dazzling finish reminiscent of medieval times. If Black's Knight captures the Queen, then White's Knight mates with 22. Nf7+.

Polish Opening

The Polish Opening or The Sokolsky Opening (also called The Orangutan) is an uncommon chess opening in which White opens with 1.b4. According to ChessBase, in master level chess, out of the twenty possible first moves from White, 1.b4 ranks ninth in popularity.

BERNARD FLEISSIG vs. CARL SCHLECHTER
Vienna 1895

1. b4, e6
2. Bb2, Nf6
3. a3, c5
4. b5, d5
5. d4, Qa5+
6. Nc3? ....

Why not c3? If Black continues 6.....Ne4, then 7. Qd3.

6. .... Ne4!
7. Qd3, cxd4
8. Qxd4, Bc5

 9. Qxg7, Bxf2+
10. Kd1, d4!!

White cannot take the Knight because of a mating threat at e1.

11. Qxh8+, Ke7
12. Qxc8, dxc3
13. Bc1, Nd7

This move secures the d file for Black's attack.

14. Qxa8, Qxb5
15. Bf4, Qd5+
16. Kc1, Be3+
17. Bxe3, Nf2!!!

The move that clinches victory for Black.

18. Bxf2 ....

Forced, since Black threatens mate at d1.

18. .... Qd2+
19. Kb1, Qd1+
20. Ka2, Qxc2 mate

The culmination of a brilliant attack.

Zukertort / Reti Opening

The Zukertort Opening is also known by another term "Reti Opening" and is characterized by the opening move 1. Nf3 although most sources define the Réti more narrowly by the sequence 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4.

TIGRAN PETROSIAN vs. LUDEK PACHMAN
It Bled, 1961
Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation

1. Nf3, c5
2. g3, Nc6
3. Bg2, g6
4. 0-0, Bg7
5. d3, e6
6. e4, Nge7
7. Re1, 0-0
8. e5, d6
9. exd6, Qxd6
10. Nbd2, Qc7
11. Nb3, Nd4
12. Bf4, Qb6
13. Ne5, Nxb3
14. Nc4 ....

A tempo move.

14. .... Qb5
15. axb3, a5

The pawn advance prevents 16. Ra5.

16. Bd6, Bf6

If 16. ... Re8 then 17. Be5! ... creating a potential fork attack on d6 by Knight.

17. Qf3, Kg7
18. Re4 ! ....

Fischer commented at this point that Petrosian is preparing for a very beautiful finish.

18. .... Rd8
19. Qxf6+!!


19. .... Kxf6
20. Be5+, Kg5

If 20....Kf5, then 21. Ne3+ Kg5, 22. Bg7 ... with the same outcome as in the actual game.

21. Bg7, Resigns

There is no hope after 21....Nf5, 22. h4+ Nxh4, 23. gxh4+ then 24. Bf3+ or Bh3+ whichever way the Black King goes.

If 21….h5, then 22. h4+ Kf5, 23. Bh3 or Ne3 mate.

If 21….f5, then 22. h4+ Kh5, 23. Bf3 mate.

A gem of a game!