Mystery game #10: A Short History of Violence

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  • Mystery game #10: A Short History of Violence

    Here is the text of an interesting game. Add respectful comments, please; such as guesses on identities and / or strengths of the players, format, era of game, pertinent variations, etc.

    1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.O-O-O Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Kb1 Bb7 13.g5 b4 14.Nce2 Nc5 15.Ng3 f5 16.Qh5 fxe4 17.Bh3 Bd5 18.Ndf5 Bxa2+ 19.Kxa2 exf5 20.Nxf5 Qa5+ 21.Kb1 b3 22.cxb3 Nxb3 23.Nxe7 Kxe7 24.Qg4 Ra7 25.Rhe1 Qa1+ 26.Kc2 Rc7+ 27.Kxb3 Rb8#, 0-1.

  • #2
    Wayne Coppin 2090 -- Frank Dixon 2069, Kingston Chess Club Fall Rapid 1999 (4), G/30. Notes by Frank Dixon, elapsed time in brackets.
    Sicilian Najdorf, B99.
    1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.O-O-O Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 (2,2) 12.Kb1
    [In our brief post-game analysis session, Wayne informed me that this is a novelty. I checked at the time, and could find no other examples at various online databases, but there could have been. In the years since, there have been at least three strong Master examples, all of which are listed at 365chess.com. Simply type in the moves and perform a search of this position.]
    12...Bb7 (2,8)
    [The main alternative is 12...b4, and my choice may be a mistake, since this bishop is one of Black's main defenders on the important h3-c8 diagonal. However, in a rapid format, I knew my choice would lead to a sharp game. I do facilitate the possibility of castling on either side.]
    13.g5 b4 14.Nce2 Nc5 15.Ng3 f5 16.Qh5 fxe4 (12,10)
    [After playing briskly through the opening moves, and into the early middlegame, White now starts burning clock time in a complex position.]
    17.Bh3 Bd5 18.Ndf5! Bxa2+ (16,13) 19.Kxa2 exf5 20.Nxf5 Qa5+ 21.Kb1 b3 22.cxb3 Nxb3? (26,19)
    [This knight needed to stay at c5 to guard e6, as will be shown in the note to White's 23rd move. Instead, 22...Ra7 keeps options open.]
    23.Nxe7?
    [This loses the game. GM Andrew Soltis, in his fine book 'The Inner Game of Chess', devotes a chapter to 'Choice', and this position fits perfectly with his approach. White, with the choice of four knight moves, can win with 23.Nh6!, as I showed Wayne after the game. Vis: 23.Nh6! Rf8 24.Be6! Nc5 25.Nxf7!!, and Black has no defense to a double discovered check, other than giving up the exchange with 25...Rxf7 26.Qxf7+, which is losing. Wayne was not especially happy to be shown this. Other knight moves, such as 23.Nxd6+ and 23.Ng7+, are also interesting but less effective. Now Black wins elegantly, since he gains efficiency and coordination on his next two moves, connecting his rooks and getting the c7 square for a check, away from the light-squared bishop which guards c8.]
    23...Kxe7 24.Qg4 Ra7! 25.Rhe1 Qa1+ 26.Kc2 Rc7+ 27.Kxb3 Rb8#, 0-1. (29,22)

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