by Robert T. Tuohey
Due to font-incompatibility, the traditional + over =, indicating "small advantage to white" is represented as the notation squared, i.e., h3², whereas "small advantage to black" is the notation cubed, i.e., Rxb4³.
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1.g3 Benko's opening:A00 1...e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.d3 g6 4.c4 d4 Out of book, but playable. 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Nbd2 a5 8.Rb1 Nf6 9.b3 0-0 10.a3 Qe7 11.b4?! This is an error. White expects simply to trade a pair of pawns and a knight, the wily Kortchnoi, however, sees the flaw in this proposed exchange and takes advantage. 11...axb4 12.axb4 Nxb4 13.Nxe5 Na2 Double threat: QxN and the unstoppable Nc3 fork.[13...Qxe5?! 14.Rxb4³] 0-1
(2) Van Geet - Sande [A00] cr, 1987
1.Nc3 Dunst opening:A00 1...d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nxe4 e5 4.Bc4 Be7?! Book here is [4...Nc6 If now 5.Qh5 g6 (5...Nh6 6.d3 Bb4+ 7.c3 Bg4 8.Qg5 Qxg5 9.Bxg5 Be7) 6.Qf3 f5 7.Ne2 Na5 With no particular advantage for White in any case.] 5.Qh5 Forking the f and e pawns. 5...Nh6 6.d3 Black resigned. 6...Bg4 7.Qxe5 0-0 8.Bxh6 gxh6 9.Qf4 Black at least -2.00 1-0
(3) Bird,H - Gunsberg,I [A02] Hastings, 1892
1.f4 A02 Bird's opening 1...e5 From gambit 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 g5 Lasker variation 5.c3 g4 6.Nd4?? Nc6?? An incredible miscalculation for a master. [6...Qh4+ 7.g3 Qxg3+ 8.hxg3 Bxg3#] 7.Qa4 Qh4+A move too late. 8.Kd1 g3 9.b3? Bird now returns the favor with his own blunder! [9.h3²] 9...Qxh2 0-1
(4) Venert - Mechkarov,V [A40] Bulgaria , 1970
1.d4 Nc6 Lundin def. A40 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.d5 Ne5² 6.Nd2?? [6.Nxe5 dxe5² Is correct, with advantage to White.] 6...Nd3+ One must ask, "What did White expect after d5 other than Ne5? This being the reasonable course, did he not plan to play NxN?" Again what we have here is lack of analysis. 0-1
(5) Thormann,W - Bischoff,K [A42] Germany , 1982
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 Nc6 Modern defense: Averbakh system, Kotov variation 5.d5 Nd4 6.Be3c5 7.Nge2 Qb6 8.Qd2 Nf6 9.h3 Out of book. [Book: 9.f3 Nd7 10.0-0-0+- +1.00] 9...0-0 10.Rb1 Qa5 11.Rd1?? Nxe4! White resigned: at best -2.00 12.Qc1 [12.Nxe4 Nc2# Smothered mate with Queen pin!] 12...Nxe2 13.Bxe2 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qxa2 0-1
(6) Shereshevsky,M - Gusev,Y [A43] Soviet Union, 1977
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 Old Benoni def. A43 3...e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Qxd5 Be7 7.Bg5 0-0 8.0-0-0² End of book. 8...Nc6 9.a3 b5 [9...Bxg5+! The only continuation which minimizes White's advantage to about .75. 10.Nxg5 Qe7] 10.e3! Rb8 11.Bd3!! c4 [11...d6 12.Qxc6 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 Qxg5 14.Qxd6 Bb7 With Black about -1.00; 11...Re8 12.Bf4 Also leaving Black about a point behind.] 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Bxe7 White finding the 10th and 11th moves is a wonderful example of real master-level analysis; that Black, however, could not rejoin with BxB is hardly to be censured as the position is damned hard. 1-0
(7) Litvinov,V - Veresov,G [A85] Minsk , 1958
1.c4 f5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Dutch def. A85 3...e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Book, which ends here, is g3; the text move however is also possible. 5...0-0 6.e3 b6 7.Be2 Bb7 8.0-0 Bxc3 The start. 9.Qxc3 Ne4 10.Qc2 Rf6 11.Nd2 Rh6 12.g3?? White's fatal blunder: this luft ruinously weakens the King's position. [12.Nf3] 12...Qh4! 13.Nf3 [13.gxh4?? Rg6+ 14.Bg4 Rxg4+ 15.Kh1 Nxf2#] 13...Ng5 White resigned here. 14.d5 Nxf3+ 15.Kg2 Qxh2+ 16.Kxf3 exd5 17.cxd5 [17.Qxf5 Rf6] 17...Qh5+ 18.Kg2 Bxd5+ 19.e4 Qh2+ 20.Kf3 Bxe4+ Resume: Not so much a trap as an example of serious miscalculation on White's part: g3, instead of Nf3, loses the game. Key points:1) in general, proper analysis, and 2) ANY pawn moves from the castled position must be considered with the utmost care. 0-1
(8) Bhend - Schneiders [B00] San Bernardino , 1985
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 B00 Guatemala defense 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.Nge2 [5.Nf3 Bb4 6.Qe2 d5 7.exd5 Nxd58.Bd2 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Be7 10.0-0 0-0+- .75 Is book for the d5 push.] 5...d5 Out of book. This push is premature; the e-pawn, anchored by the sensitive f-7 pawn, is vulnerable. Book here is c5, with .75 advantage to White. 6.e5 Nfd7 7.Nf4! c5?? [7...Qh4 Allows Black to escape with a whole skin as it prevents the check after Nxe6. Positionally, as in all such lines as this, .75 to White.] 8.Nxe6 Qe7 [8...fxe6 9.Qh5+ Ke7 (9...g610.Bxg6+) 10.Bg5+ Nf6 11.exf6+ Kd7 12.fxg7 Be7 13.Bxe7 Kxe7 14.Qh4+ Kd7 15.gxh8Q Qxh4+- 6.50]9.Nxd5 Black resigned here. 9...Bxd5 10.Nc7+ Kd8 11.Nxd5+- 2.50 Resume: Black goes out of book on move 5; White finds the refutation and within two moves (e5, Nf4) has Black in trouble; Black, however, not realizing his predicament, again blunders with c5; Nxe6 brings Black back to reality, but the shock is perhaps too much and he is unable to find Qh4, instead playing the feeble Qe7; seldom does a faulty position have but one hole, and White finds the second with the crushing Nxd4. 1-0
(9) unknown - unknown [B00] fool's mate,
1.e4 f6 B00 Barnes defense 2.d4 g5 Hard to comment on this... [2...Kf7? B00 Fried fox defense is one, questionable, book continuation...but I like the name!] 3.Qh5# Welcome to Fool's Mate. 1-0
(10) Arnason,J - Pribyl,J [B07] Yurmala ,1987
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 Qa5 5.Bd3 e5 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.f5 Nbd7 8.Nf3 Bc5 B07 Pirc: 3.Nc3 c6 9.Bd2 Out of book. 9...Ng4 That this maneuver is doomed to boomerang is not something at all obvious. Key factors contributing to Black's eventual downfall are 1) the advanced f-pawn which serves as the spearhead of the attack, 2) that the Queen and knight are nicely placed to cooperate in the assault, and 3) that the Black king is virtually unguarded, save the futile g6. 10.Ng5! Attack on the weak f-7 pawn and the offer of a (poison) rook. 10...Nf2 Black bites. [10...Bf2+ 11.Ke2 Bc5 12.Qe1 Ndf6 About equal.] 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qf3 It's interesting that by this time, though by no means obvious, Black is actually without any good move! 12...Nxh1?? [12...0-0 13.fxg6 Nxd3+ 14.Qxd3 fxg6 15.Qc4+ Kh8 16.Nf7+ Rxf7 All defenses in this position are about equally bad. 17.Qxf7 White +3.00] 13.fxg6 Rf8 [13...f6 14.g7 Rg8 15.Qh5+ Kd8 16.Qf7 White about +5.00] 14.g7 Qc7 15.g8Q! 1-0
(11) Angantysson - Kaiszauri,K [B08] Reykjavik, 1982
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 B08 Pirc: classical (two knights) system 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 Bg4 7.Be3 Nc6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.Be2² Out of book. 11...Nd7 12.g4 Kh8 13.Kg2 Ng8 14.h4 Classic poison pawn. 14...Qxh4?? 15.g5 The nail in the Queen's coffin. At 14. h4 the position was about equal; possibilities for Black being f5 or Ne7. 1-0
(12) La Rota,F - Sarwer,J [B10] St. John open-2, 1988
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 B10 Caro-Kann: two knights variation 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg4 6.g3 Up to here is book; slight advantage to White. 6...Nbd7 I find this hard to believe... 7.Nd6# Lovely smothered mate with pin. 1-0
(13) Keres,P - Arlamovsky [B10] Szczawno Zdroj, 1950
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nbd7 6.Nd6# Here GM Keres paints us the same picture, and his obliging opponent allows one stroke less! 1-0
(14) Tartakower,S - NN [B12] Paris, 1932
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 B12 Caro-Kann: Tartakower (fantasy) variation 3...dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 Also preventing Qh4+ 5...exd4 6.Bc4 [6.Nxd4?! Qh4+ 7.g3 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2 Necessary pin to salvage the forked rook. 8...Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2-+ Black ahead 1.00; 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Returns White to something close to equality, but with the handicap of the isolani e-pawn.] 6...Bb4+ [6...Bc5 7.c3 Qe7-+] 7.c3 dxc3?? 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Qxd8 cxb2+ 10.Ke2 bxa1Q [10...bxc1N+ 11.Rxc1 Nd7 12.Rd1 Ndf6 13.Ne5++- Ke6+- Here Black survives, albeit in dire straits and about -2.50.] 11.Ng5+ Kg6 12.Qe8+ Kh6 [12...Kf6 13.Rf1+ Bf5 14.Rxf5#] 13.Ne6+ Discovered check. 13...g5 [13...Bd2 14.Bxd2+ g5 15.Bxg5#] 14.Bxg5# 1-0
(15) Botvinnik,M - Spielmann,R [B13] Moskva, 1935
1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 Caro-Kann: Panov-Botvinnik attack 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6?! [6...dxc4 Was probably the better idea. 7.d5 Na5²] 7.cxd5 The start of White's trap. 7...Qxb2 The poison will become obvious in a moment. [7...Bg4 Also leads to trouble. 8.f3 Nxd4 9.fxg4 Qxb2 10.Rc1+- 2.50] 8.Rc1 Protecting the knight. [8.dxc6 Qxc3+ 9.Bd2 Qxd4-+] 8...Nb4 Bringing the knight into play. However... 9.Na4 Attacking-trapping the Queen: the offered pawn not only is poison but force-fed! 9...Qxa2 [9...Qa3 10.Rc3 Qxa2 11.Bc4 Bg4 12.Nf3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nc2+ 14.Qxc2 Qa1+ 15.Qc1 Qxc1+ 16.Rxc1+- Same story: White +2.50] 10.Bc4 Bg4 11.Nf3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Black resigned here. 12...Nc2+ The trapped Queen must sac her knight. 13.Qxc2 Qxc2 14.Rxc2 With White ahead by almost 2.50 1-0
(16) Borngasser,R - Lodes,H [B15] Germany ,1988
1.e4 g6 2.d4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Caro-kann by transposition. B10. 5...Nd7 Out of book. 6.Bc4 Bg7 [6...e6² No mystery here. Black just wasn't thinking and quickly played the "natural move" ~ the result being a natural disaster.] 7.Bxf7+! The beginning of a blistering attack. 7...Kxf7 8.Neg5+ Ke8 9.Ne6 Qb6 [9...Kf7?? 10.Nfg5+ Ke8 11.Nxd8] 10.Nxg7+ Kf7 11.Ne6 A Trojan horse. 11...Kxe6?? Having committed the Fourth Deadly Sin, Black now proceeds to the Fifth. [11...Ngf6 And Black survives, albeit -1.50.] 12.Ng5+ Kd6 13.Bf4+ e5 As good as anything in this hopeless situation. 14.dxe5+ Black, down by about 5.50 points, decided to tip the King at this point. 1-0
(17) Ali - Westin [B17] London, 1987
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 B17 Caro-Kann: Steinitz variation 7...h6?? A classic mistake. [7...Nb6 8.Be3³ Perhaps the better book continuation.] 8.Nxf7! Kxf7?? [8...Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qb6 10.0-0-0 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Rg8+-] 9.Qxe6+ Kg6 10.Bd3+ Kh5 11.Qh3# 1-0
(18) Perenyi,B - Eperjesi,L [B17] Budapest, 1974
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 8.Bd3 B17/13 Caro-Kann: Steinitz variation (8.Bd3) 8...h6² Out of book. [8...Qxd4 9.N1f3 A) 9...Qd5 10.0-0 (10.Bd2 Be7 11.c4 Qd6 12.Rd1 h6 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Bf6³) 10...h6 11.Ne4 Be7 12.c4 Qh5 13.Rd1 e5³; B) 9...Qg4 10.Nxf7 (10.h3Qa4 11.Ne5 Be7 12.Ngxf7 0-0 13.Ng5 Nbd5 14.Ngf3=) 10...Rg8 (10...Kxf7?? 11.Ne5+) 11.0-0 Bc5 12.Be3 Be7±] 9.N5f3 c5 10.dxc5 Nbd7 11.b4 b6 12.Nd4 bxc5?? 13.Nc6 Qc7 14.Qxe6+! With a lovely example of a minor piece mate to follow. 1-0
(19) Deep Blue - Kasparov G [B17/01] NY Deep Blue Rematch, 1997
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 Here Deep Blue transposes the usual sequence. [5.Bc4 Ngf6 Now 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Now 7...h6 (Or 7...Nb6 ) ] 5...Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 h6?? The world champion, evidently exhausted in this final match, has played the necessary sequence incorrectly, and thus falls victim to a simple "transposition trap"! To the less than GM player, this sac looks questionable, but has been found to be sound! [Book here is: 7...Be7 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4+-] 8.Nxe6! Qe7 9.0-0 fxe6 10.Bg6+ Kd811.Bf4 b5 12.a4 Bb7 13.Re1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Kc8 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Qd3 Bc6 17.Bf5 exf5 [17...Nb4] 18.Rxe7Bxe7 19.c4 White's advantage is only about 1.50; the position of Black's king, however, is rather precarious. In nearly all circumstances, White will come out on top here. 1-0
(20) Kujuth - Fashingbauer [B20] Milwaukee, 01.01.1950
1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 B20 Sicilian: wing gambit, Marshall variation 3...Nc6 4.axb4 Nf6 5.b5² An odd variation, but book nonetheless. 5...Nb8?! Obviously just increases White's lead, and allows a pawn roller to get underway; something akin to an Alekhine's defense gone wrong. [5...Nd4] 6.e5 Qc7 7.d4 Is correct, not [7.exf6 Qe5+ Leaving Black +1.50] 7...Nd5 8.c4 Nb6 9.c5 Nd5 10.b6 Black called it a day here, perhaps reconsidering ill-studied odd variations. 10...Nxb6 Is the only way out of this mess. [10...Qd8 Is worse. 11.Rxa7 White will soon be ahead by about 3.00] 11.cxb6 Qxb6 White +1.50, at least. 1-0
(21) Nagy - Balogh [B20] Budapest, 1947
1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 B20 Sicilian: wing gambit 3.d4 e5 Out of book. 4.dxe5 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bf4 Ng6 7.Bg3 Qa5 Setting up the discovered check, with triple attack on e5 to boot. 8.Qd5 This miscalculation will increase Black's lead to about 1.00 [8.Nbd2 Guarding against the disc. ch. 8...Ncxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Be2 Be7³] 8...b3+ 9.Qxa5 b2 [9...Nxa5 10.axb3 Bb4+ 11.Nbd2² With slight edge returned to White.] 10.Qc3 Bb4White resigned here. With best play, however, White is only down by about 1.00 11.Nbd2 Where it should have been put on move 8. 11...Bxc3 12.Rb1 Ngxe5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5³ 0-1
(22) Shirazi - Peters [B20] US Berkeley ch, 1984
1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 B20 Sicilian: wing gambit, Marshall variation 3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.axb4?? Obviously, way out of book. 5...Qe5+ Fork you very much. 0-1
(23) Krogius - Ojanen [B21] Helsinki, 1944
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 e5 4.c3 B21 Sicilian: Andreaschek (Smith-Morra) gambit 4...dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4² End of book. White, while ahead in development, is down by a pawn. 6...h6?? Good example of bad calculation. [6...Nc6 Prevents the ensuing disaster by protecting the e-pawn.] 7.Bxf7+! Kxf7 8.Nxe5+ Ke79.Nd5+ Ke6 10.Qg4+ Kxe5 11.Bf4+ Kd4 12.Be3+ Ke5 13.Qf4+ Ke6 14.Qf5# 1-0
(24) Dutch - Sugden,J [B21] London, 1964
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 B21 Sicilian: Smith-Morra gambit 3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 Bg4 Out of book. 6.Qa4+ Nc6 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nb5 0-0-0 With the very slight developmental edge to Black. 9.Nxa7+? [9.Be3³Saves the day.] 9...Nxa7 Taking the knight is suicidal, and only by eating the loss can White continue. 10.Qxa7 [10.Qc4+ With Black nearly ahead 2.00] 10...Qd1+!! Thinking of the great Morphy, Black resigns. 11.Kxd1 Bg4+ 12.Ke1 [12.Kc2 Bd1#!] 12...Rd1# Resume: 1) Poor OTB analysis, and 2) the error of attack before development. 0-1
(25) Petterson - Larsson [B21] Uppsala, 1963
1.e4 c5 2.d4 B21 Sicilian: Smith-Morra gambit 2...cxd4 3.c3 e5 4.cxd4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qe3 Nf6 End of book, with White having slipped to mere equality. 7.Bc4 Ne5 8.Bb3 b6 9.h3 White loses ground with this - he needed to develop. Nf3 or f4 were both good. 9...Bc5 Black presses his lead in development with simultaneous attack. 10.Qg3?? [10.Qe2 Was correct, with the slight edge in development to Black.] 10...Bxf2+ After the fork, Black is ahead at least 6.00 0-1
(26) Kramadzhian - Schipkov,B [B21] Novosibirsk, 1988
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 e6 6.Bc4 B21 Sicilian: Smith-Morra gambit, by transposition. 6...Qc7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.Bb3?? [9.Nb5³ Is a possibility.] 9...Nd4 A real catch-22 for White: take the knight or don't take the knight ~ in any case, it's good knight! 0-1
(27) Welling,G - Brinkhorst [B21] Eindhoven simul , 1980
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 e5 4.c3 B21 Sicilian: Andreaschek (Smith-Morra) gambit 4...dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4 h6?? Same blunder as in the previous game; same final result, too. What Black fears is a B & N f7 assault; here, however, h6 spells disaster. [6...Nc6 7.Ng5 Nh6 Stopped.; 6...Qc7] 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Nxe5+ Ke8 9.Qh5+ The immortal Greco would love this! 1-0
(28) Szakolczai,P - Marold,T [B23] Stockerau jr , 1991
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 B23 Sicilian: closed 2...d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Book: 5...Bg4?? [5...Nc6 6.0-0 e6 7.d3Nge7 8.Qe2² End of book.] 6.Bxf7+ Kd7 [6...Kxf7 7.Ng5+ Ke8 And the hanging bishop is hung.] 7.Ne5+dxe5 8.Qxg4+ Kc7 9.Nd5+ Kc6 10.Qe6+ Qd6 11.Bxg8 Nd7 12.Nxe7+ Kc7 13.Nd5+ Kc6 14.b4 Black resigned here. 14...Qxe6 15.Bxe6 cxb4 With Black down by a piece and a pawn. 1-0
(29) Kasparov,G - West,G [B40] telex, 1977
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 B40 Sicilian: Pin variation (Sicilian counter-attack) 6.e5 Koch variation 6...Nd5 7.Bd2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bf8 Avoiding another trap. [8...Be7 9.Qg4 0-0 10.Bh6 g6 11.Bxf8 Bxf8 Losing the exchange, and most likely the game with it.] 9.Bd3² End of book. 9...d6 10.Qe2 Nd7?? [10...dxe5 11.Qxe5²] 11.Nxe6 Qb6 [11...fxe6 12.Qh5+ g6 (12...Ke7 13.Bg5+ Nf6 14.exf6+ gxf6 15.Bxf6+ Kxf6 16.Qh4+) 13.Bxg6+ hxg6 14.Qxg6+ Ke7 15.Bg5+] 12.Nc7+ With a nasty discovered check if QxN. Kd8 loses the rook. What a mess. 1-0
(30) Marco,G - Maroczy,G [B41] Ostend, 1905
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 B41 Sicilian: Kan variation 5.Be3 Nf6 6.Nd2 d5 7.e5 Nfd7 8.f4 Nc6 9.c3² g5?! Seriously weakening the key h5-g6-f7 diagonal. [9...Nxd4 10.cxd4²] 10.Nxe6 The classic knight sac. 10...fxe6 11.Qh5+ Ke7 12.f5 Nf6?? Black about -4.00 with this blunder [12...Bg7 13.Bxg5+ Nf614.Bxf6+ Bxf6 15.exf6+ Kxf6+- +1.50 And Black survives, though with a hard time ahead.] 13.Bc5+ 1-0
(31) Karklins,A - Sandrin,A [B47] Master Challenge ,1990
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 B47 Sicilian: Taimanov (Bastrikov) variation 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 b5 8.0-0 Bb7 9.Re1 d6 10.a4 b4 [10...bxa4 Was correct. 11.Rxa4²] 11.Nd5! exd5?! [11...Qb8 12.Nb6 Ra7 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.a5 With about .75 positional advantage to White.] 12.Nxc6 dxe4 [12...Bxc6 13.exd5+ Be7+-] 13.Bxe4 Ne7 14.Qf3 f5 15.Bd5 Black resigned here as all variations lead to a lost piece. 1-0
(32) De Bolster,M - NN [B53] Netherlands , 1970
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 By transposition, the Smith-Morra gambit. 5...Nf6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.e5 Nxe5?? 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Bxf7+ And the King loses his mate. 1-0
(33) Karniewski,Z - Kolacin,V [B70] cr, 1993
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Nf6 B70 Sicilian: dragon variation 6.h4 Bg7 Out of book. 7.Be2 0-0 8.h5 Nbd7 [8...Nc6] 9.hxg6 Prying open the h-file is basic to defeating the Dragon. 9...hxg6 [9...fxg6 10.Bc4+ Kh8 11.Ne6 Qb6 12.Nxf8+- 2.00] 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Rxh6 Kg7 [11...Nc5 Double-teaming the e-pawn. 12.Bf3²] 12.Qd2 Up to here this is a type of clockwork attack against the Dragon - with, however, a nasty trap in the wings! 12...Rh8?? One "natural move" too many! From here the mate is forced in six. [12...Nc5 Black needs counterplay; the menacing rook must be let alone for the nonce! 13.Bf3²] 13.Nf5+Kg8 [13...gxf5 14.Qg5+ Kf8 15.Rxh8+ Ng8 16.Qxg8#] 14.Rxh8+ Kxh8 15.Qh6+ 1-0
(34) Soltis,A - Browne,W [B87] New York ,1970
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 B87 Sicilian: Sozin (with...a6 &...b5) 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qf3 Bd7?? An out-of-book blunder. [9...Bb7] 10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxe6 e4 [Both 11...fxe6 ; and 11...Bxe6 hang the rook.] 12.Nxg7+ Kf8 13.Nxe4 Bc6 [13...Kxg7 14.Nxf6 And again the rook goes down the drain.] 14.Bh6 Bxe4 15.Nh5+ This unveiling of the bishop caused Black's resignation. 15...Kg8 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxe4 1-0
(35) Kieninger G - Mross [B91] Munich , 1941
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 b5 B91 Sicilian: Najdorf, Zagreb (fianchetto) variation 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.0-0 Nbd7? Out of book. [8...e6 9.Re1 Qc7 10.a4 Is one correct continuation.] 9.Re1 Development. 9...e6 10.e5 Discovered attack with fork. 10...Bxg2 11.exf6 Bb7 12.fxg7 Bxg7 And Black thinks he has weathered the storm. 13.Nf5!+- Forking the d-pawn and the bishop. 13...Bf8?? The type of natural-looking move that you later kick yourself for. [13...Be5 14.Nxd6+ Bxd6 15.Qxd6+- 1.00 at least.] 14.Rxe6+! Finis. 14...fxe6 [14...Be7 Prolongs the, forced, agony. 15.Nxd6+ Kf8 16.Bh6+ Kg8 17.Qg4+ Bg5 18.Re8+ Nf8 19.Rxf8+ Qxf8 20.Qxg5+ Qg7 21.Qxg7# This is one of the loveliest examples of OTB analysis I have come across: 1) Black makes, what appears to be, a minor deviation from book on move 8 - but White sees the flaw, and acts accordingly, keeping up the pressure till Black blunders on move 13, and 2) the forced mate which follows demonstrates a marvelous cooperation of the White forces.] 15.Qh5# 1-0
(36) Timman Jan - Polugaevsky Lev [B96] Hilversum AVRO 5, 1973
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 B96 Sicilian: Najdorf (7.f4) 7...Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 h6 12.Qh3² Out of book. 12...0-0-0 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Nd5 Qa5?? [14...Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 Was correct - now with the slight edge to Black!] 15.Nb3 Black resigns: The would-be pawn-snatching Queen finds she's heading for the box! 15...Qxa2?? 16.Nc3 A Queen for a knight! 1-0
(37) Shirov,A - Bareev,E [C00] Novgorod, 1994
1.e4 e6 2.d3 C00 French: King's Indian attack 2...d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 b6 5.c3 c5 6.g3 Ba6 7.c4² End of book. 7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bb7 9.Bg2 Qc7 10.e5 Ng4 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Ne4 Rd8 13.Qa4 Qd7 14.Bg5 At this point, the situation actually favors Black - but pawn-grabbing cost the game. 14...Ncxe5? [14...Nd4 Was correct.] 15.Rad1 Black resigns. 15...Qxa4?? [15...Bd5 16.Qxd7+ Rxd7 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.cxd5 Rxd5 19.Nf6+ gxf6 20.Bxf6 Rg8 21.Bxd5 And Black is totally lost.] 16.Rxd8# Morphy's mate for a lady. 1-0
(38) Tatai,S - Kortchnoi,V [C01] Beer Sheva, 1978
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 C01 French: exchange variation 3...exd5 4.Bd3 c5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qe2+² Out of book. 6...Be7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.h3 With this Black has equalized. [8.c3 0-0 9.Be3 Maintains a small lead for White.] 8...0-0 9.0-0 Bxc5 10.c3 Just maintains equality. [10.Bg5 Is no better.] 10...Re8² 11.Qc2 Qd6 Kortchnoi eyes g3. 12.Nbd2?! Ignores the problem and thereby hands the lead to Black. [12.Ng5 h6] 12...Qg3 13.Bf5? [13.Kh1 Bxf2 Down a pawn, Black will, at least, survive.] 13...Re2 Piling on the embattled f-pawn. 14.Nd4 Is as good as Black can find by now, but is nonetheless crushed by the text move. 14...Nxd4! Black resigned. 15.cxd4 Bxd4 16.Ne4 Suicide-mission to temporarily shore up the crumbling f-pawn. 16...dxe4 17.Qxe2 Bxf5 With Black ahead about 2.50 0-1
(39) Hedlund,B - Lindqvist,I [C13] cr, 1981
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 C13 French: Albin-Alekhine-Chatard attack 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qe7 9.Nf4 Nc6 10.Qg4 f5?? An out-of-book blunder. One book possibility is: [10...g6 11.0-0-0 h5 12.Qg3 Nb6²] 11.Qh5+ Qf7 [11...g6 Won't work. 12.Nxg6 A forcing fork! 12...hxg6 13.Qxh8+ This motif of Q&N with g6-Nxg6, is quite common in amateur play, and should be well understood.] 12.Nxe6! The weak e6-pawn motif. 12...g6 13.Nxc7+ Kd8 14.Qh2 Ndxe5 KxN loses at once. 15.Nxa8 Getting back the pawn, but losing the (lost-in-any-case) rook. 1-0
(40) Rellstab,L - Huber [C13] Germany, 1925
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 C13 French: Albin-Alekhine-Chatard attack 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qd8 9.Qg4 g6 10.Bd3 Out of book with small advantage to White. 10...c5 [10...Qe7It is not readily apparent that the f-pawn is dangerously weak and needs this support.] 11.Nb5 cxd4 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.Nxf7! Not an obvious move. Black resigned. 13...Kxf7 14.Ng5+ A nasty position for Black! QxN is the price for continuing. 1-0
(41) Bronstein,D - N.N. [C22] Sochi simul, 1950
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 C22 Centre game 4.Qa4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d5 6.Bg5 dxe4 7.Nxe4 Qe7 8.0-0-0 Qxe4?? 9.Rd8+!! Sacrifice, discovered attack, hanging Queen, pinned knight: Time to resign! 1-0
(42) unknown - unknown [C23] scholar's mate
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 C23 Bishop's opening: classical variation 3.Qh5 Nf6 [3...Qe7 Is the simple answer.; 3...g6?? 4.Qxe5+ Qe7 5.Qxh8 Qxe4+ 6.Ne2] 4.Qxf7# 1-0
(43) Armas,I - Hartung,T [C24] Dortmund open, 1988
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 C55 Two knights defense (Modern bishop's opening) 4...d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Bg4 A relative, as opposed to absolute, pin, which turns out to be false pin! 7.Re1 f6?! [7...Be7] 8.Nxe5!! Black resigns. 8...Bxd1 Is worst. [8...Nxe5 9.Qxg4 Ne7 10.Qe6 Nxc4 11.Qxc4+- 1.50 at least] 9.Nxc6+ Be7 10.Nxd8 Rxd8 11.Rxd1 It is instructive to compare this game to the famous Legal's Mate (#93 in this collection). 1-0
(44) Tagansky - Glazkov,I [C24] Moskva , 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 C55 Two knights defense (Modern bishop's opening) 4.d3?! This passive book-continuation is all ferocious Black needs! Any piece deployment toward the center would have been better. [4.Nc3; 4.Ng5] 4...d5! The start of a blistering attack from which White will never recover. 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Re1 0-0 8.Nxe5 C24 Bishop's opening (with 3.d3) 8...Qh4 All book to here. [8...Nxe5 9.Rxe5+-] 9.Rf1?? Unbelievably, this innocent-looking retreat, which is out of book, is the fatal flaw behind White's early demise! [9.Nf3! Strangely, this position, which looks rough on White, is not only book, but , all-in-all, retains White's usual .50 advantage!] 9...Nxe5 10.Bxd5 Bg4 Look at Black's overwhelming lead in development; and note their co-operation! [10...Ng4 11.Bf4 Nxf2 Also wins for Black.] 11.Qd2 Rad8 12.Nc3 Loses ground for White. [12.Bxb7 Is no better. 12...c6 13.b4 Nf3+ 14.gxf3 Bd6 Again, White is lost.]12...Rxd5 Removing the essential defender! 13.Nxd5 Nf3+ 14.gxf3 Bd6 15.h3 Bh2+ A passive continuation and one, though crucial, out-of-book move, and Black crushes White with a whirlwind attack! A very impressive example of finding the flaw in an opponent's opening play. 0-1
(45) Tchigorin,M - Bernstein,O [C30] Kiev , 1903
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nf6 C30 KGD: 2...Nf6 3.fxe5 Nxe4 4.Nf3 Ng5 5.c3 Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Qg5 7.Be2 Qxe5 The Queen capturing a pawn in front of her King is always a dangerous maneuver requiring extreme care. 8.0-0 Qe79.d4 c6 10.Qg3 d5 11.Bg5 Black resigned. 11...f6 12.Re1 fxg5 13.Bh5+ g6 14.Rxe7+ Bxe7 15.Bf3 0-0²Actually, Black got his money's worth, at least theoretically: Q for P, B, & R. Practically, the play would be tough, however. 1-0
(46) Neberman - Silbermann [C30] Berlin, 1902
1.e4 e5 2.f4 C30 King's gambit 2...f5 A counter-gambit. 3.exf5 exf4 4.Qh5+ Naturally enough. 4...g6 [4...Ke7 Will save Black - for the moment.] 5.fxg6 Nf6?? Trying to scare away the big, bad Queen. [5...Qe7+6.Ne2+-] 6.g7+! Nxh5 7.gxh8Q Reincarnated! 7...Qh4+ 8.Kd1 d6 From here Black has nothing. 9.Nf3 Bg4 A "clever" move. 10.Be2 Qf2?? [10...Qe7 Delays things awhile longer.] 11.Re1 Nd7 12.Bb5+ Kd8 13.Qxf8+ Nxf8 14.Re8# Morphy. 1-0
(47) Jong - Jacobson [C30] Holland ,1918
1.e4 e5 2.f4 C30 King's gambit 2...d6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Be6 Will only weaken Black's Italian Diagonal after the exchange. [4...exf4³] 5.Bxe6 fxe6 6.0-0 exf4 7.d4 e5 8.d5 Nce7 9.Ng5 h6?! 10.Ne6 Qd7 11.Bxf4 Ng6?! [11...exf4 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Rxf4! Nf6 14.Qf3+-] 12.Qh5 N8e7 13.Bg5 hxg5 14.Qxh8! Nxh8 15.Rxf8#A species of the Arabian Mate genus. 1-0
(48) Prokes - Krofta [C30] Prague ,1909
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 C30 KGD: classical (4.c3) 4...Bg4 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 exf4 Center thrust. 8.d4 Qh4+ 9.g3 fxg3?? An awful blunder; evidently based on not having the stomach for the required Queen exchange. [9...Qxg3+ Was correct.] 10.Qxf7+ Kd8 11.Qf8+ Kd7 12.Be6+ Kxe6 13.Qf5+ Ke714.Bg5+ And so the Black Queen is exchanged - for a bishop! 1-0
(49) Alekhine,A - Tenner,O [C30] Koln , 1911
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 C30 KGD: classical variation 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bg4 Again, a relative pin which will be overestimated! 7.Na4 exf4 8.Nxc5 dxc5 9.Bxf4 End of book. 9...Nh5 10.Be3 Ne5? [10...Qe7 11.Bb5 0-0+-] 11.Nxe5! Bxd1 12.Bxf7+ Ke7 [12...Kf8 13.Bxc5+ Qd6 14.Bxd6+ cxd6 15.Rxd1 Nf6 (Not 15...dxe5 16.Bxh5 With Black in the hole for 2 pawns and a piece.) 16.Nc4 Kxf7 17.Nxd6+ With Black negative 3 pawns.] 13.Bxc5+ Kf6 14.0-0+ Kxe5 15.Rf5# Alekhine in action! 1-0
(50) Freese,M - Hayes,R [C30] Dayton , 1984
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 C30 KGD: classical variation 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Be2 Re8 8.Qd3 Nc6 9.Be3?! Nb4 10.Qd2 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Rxe4 12.Bf3 [12.Bd3 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 And White survives, though a pawn down and in a poor position.] 12...Rxe3+ 0-1
(51) Bartuschat - Hirsch [C30] Germany, 1935
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 C30 KGD: classical variation 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Nf3 Re8 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nc6 11.Kf1 Odd. [11.Bd2 Is better.] 11...Nd4 12.Qg3 b5 13.Qh4?! Nxe4 14.Qxd8 Ng3+ 15.Kg1 [15.Kf2 Nxh1+ 16.Kg1 Raxd8 17.Kxh1 Re1+ 18.Kh2 With White lost.] 15...Nf3# 0-1
(52) Maclellan,I - Thompson,D [C30] Denver , 1984
1.e4 e5 2.f4 C30 King's gambit 2...d6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.Nc3 Nd4 6.Nxe5?! White plays for a cheapie. 6...dxe5 Slap! [6...Bxd1?? 7.Bxf7+ Ke7 8.Nd5# Legal justice!] 7.Qxg4?? Hanging bishop? More like poisoned! E2 needs to be blocked with the B or N. 7...Nxc2+ 8.Kd1?? [8.Kf1 Not that this helps much: Black is lost in any case. 8...Nxa1-+] 8...Ne3+ Again, justice prosecutes greed and miscalculation. Nice example of underestimating the opposition, playing him cheap - and getting burned for it! 0-1
(53) Wood,S - Griffith [C30] London , 1901
1.e4 e5 2.f4 C30 KGD: classical variation 2...Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Bg4 6.d3 Allows Black to continue the attack. [6.Na4 Relieving the pressure. 6...Bb4 7.c3 Ba5²] 6...Nd4 7.Nd5?! [7.h4³ Blunts Black's assault.] 7...Bxf3 8.gxf3 Qh4+ 9.Kd2 c6 Trap! The knight is the only guard for the key b4 square. [9...Qf2+ Premature, as the White King merely slips out the side door. 10.Kc3] 10.Nc7+ Kd7 11.Nxa8 Loses at once: poison rook. 11...Bb4+ 0-1
(54) Janny - Steiner,L [C30] Hungary , 1922
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 C30 KGD: classical variation 3...d6 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.d3 Bg4 6.Nc3 Nge7? [6...Nd4 7.h4 exf4 8.Bxf4 Nf6 9.Na4 Bb4+=] 7.Bxf7+ Kf8 [7...Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Hanging bishop collected by the waiting Queen.] 8.Bb3 Nd4 9.Nxd4 Exposing the pin for what it is: false! 9...exd4 [9...Bxd1 10.Ne6+ Ke8 11.Nxd8 Kxd8 12.Nxd1] 10.Qxg4 dxc3 11.Qe6 Qe8 12.f5 Bd4 13.f6 Bxf6 14.Qxf6+ gxf6 15.Bh6# A lovely example of Boden's Mate. 1-0
(55) Unknown - Beis [C31] Germany ,1940
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 C31 KGD: Falkbeer, Tartakower variation 3...dxe4 4.Nxe5 Nc6 5.Bb5 Going for a basic pin-attack. 5...Nf6!? 6.Nxc6 And now follows through with it. [6.d3 Prevents the upcoming shock by giving the Queen an escape square ~ but White is too rook-hungry to bother about this! 6...Bd7²] 6...bxc6 7.Bxc6+ Bd7 8.Bxa8 Bg4 9.Bc6+ Ke7 White resigned. 10.Qxg4 Nxg4 11.Bxe4³ And White has obtained P, B, & R for Q, as well as displacing the opposing King; at best, Black has but a small advantage. Practically, however, White must bear the burden of exacting play. 0-1
(56) Riguad - Cooper [C31] France , 1974
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 C31 KGD: Falkbeer counter-gambit 3.fxe5?? A classic mistake in the defense of this counter-gambit. [3.exd5 e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4+- C32 KGD: Falkbeer (5.dxe4), is one of the, numerous, book possibilities for White.] 3...Qh4+ 4.g3 Qxe4+ 5.Kf2 Bizarre; but seeing as the rook is gone it little matters. 5...Bc5+ 0-1
(57) NN - Gedult,D [C31] Paris ,1981
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 c6 C31 KGD: Nimzovich counter-gambit 4.Qe2 cxd5 5.Qxe5+ Be7 A standard trap in this, somewhat unusual, line. 6.Qxg7? Bf6 Black resigned. 7.Qxh8 Bxh8 A rook and 2 pawns for the Queen, and considering the position, leaves White in the hole about 2.75 = a minor piece. 0-1
(58) Sanders - Amateur [C31] New York , 1910
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.Nc3 C31 KGD: Falkbeer, Milner-Barry variation 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 exf4 5.Bc4 Qh4+ 6.g3? [6.Nf2 Is, needless to say, the sane solution here.] 6...fxg3 7.Qe2 Setting up a discovered-double check. 7...g2+ 8.Kd1 [8.Ng3+ A sane, though still-losing, move, considering the loss of the rook.] 8...gxh1Q Too damn quick!!! [8...Bg4! 9.Nf6+ Kd8 10.Nxg4 gxh1Q] 9.Nf6+ Kd8 10.Qe8# Sanders bet heavily on his amateur opponent's lack of foresight and greed. Rather funny this final position. 1-0
(59) Ludwig - Weiss [C33] cr , 1946
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Qf3 C33 KGA: Breyer gambit 3...Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bxf4 Be7 8.Nd2 Bf5 9.0-0-0 Qd7 10.h3 [10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Qg3] 10...Nxd4! Nailing the slight weakness. White resigns. 11.cxd4 Qc6+ 12.Nc4 All but forced. [12.Kb1?? The goof Black was hoping for. 12...Nxd2+] 12...dxc4 With Black ahead by a pawn. 0-1
(60) Lokasto - Marcinkowski [C33] Poland , 1971
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 C33 King's gambit accepted 3.Bc4 C33 KGA: bishop's gambit 3...d5 Bledow variation 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 Bd6 Boren-Svenonius variation 6.Nf3 Qh5 7.d4 Ne7 8.Nc3 f6 9.Qe1 Nbc6 10.Ne2 Loses ground. [10.Bxc6+ Nxc6] 10...g5 11.Bxc6+ Nxc6 12.e5 A minor trap. 12...fxe5 13.dxe5 Bb4 [13...Nxe5? 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Ng3 fxg3 16.Qxe5+ Kf7 (16...Kf8?? 17.Qxh8+) 17.Qxc7+ Kg6 With White about 1.00 to the good.] 14.c3 Bc5 15.b4?? An awful blunder; in fact, the worst possible move. [15.h4 Is one possibility.] 15...Qxf3+! White hits the showers. 16.gxf3 Bh3# 0-1
(61) Courel - Blake [C33] England , 1904
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 C33 KGA: bishop's gambit, Bledow variation 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 g5 Chigorin's attack 6.g3 Gifford variation 6...fxg3 7.Kg2? [7.Qf3 g2+ 8.Kxg2 Very odd-looking, but the position is about equal!] 7...Bd6 8.h3 Ne7 9.Nf3 Qh5 10.Nc3 Ng6 11.d4 Bf4 [11...Nf4+] 12.Ne2 [12.Bxf7+! Kf8 13.Bd5³] 12...Qxf3+! White resigned. 13.Kxf3 Nh4# A very unusual-looking mate. 0-1
(62) Westerinen,H - Franzen,J [C33] Belgrade , 1988
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 C33 KGA: bishop's gambit 3...d5 4.exd5 [4.Bxd5] 4...Qh4+ 5.Kf1 f3 6.Bb5+ c6 7.Nxf3 Qh5 8.Qe2+ Be7 9.dxc6 Nxc6 10.Ne5 Qf5+ [10...Qxe2+] 11.Ke1 Qxc2? [11...Bd7 At a time like this, defense is more important than pawn-snatching.] 12.Nc3 Bd7 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bd3 The unexpected! 14...Bxg2 A weak attempt at counterplay. 15.Rg1 1-0
(63) Westerinen - Arkhipov [C33] Budapest ,1983
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nc3 C33 KGA: Keres (Mason-Steinitz) gambit 3...Qh4+ 4.Ke2 Ne7 5.Nf3 Qh5 6.d4 g5 7.Kf2 Unpinning the knight and disaligning the K & Q. 7...d6 8.Be2 Bg7 9.Nb5 Na6 10.c3 g4 11.Ne1 Bh6 12.Kg1 Rg8 13.h3? [13.Qa4 Forcing some type of counterplay.] 13...f3 14.hxg4 Poor calculation. 14...f2+ The Queen, attacked by an impudent pawn and additionally given a hard stare by a rook, placidly commands her own foot-solider forward to sting the enemy king! 0-1
(64) Rudolf,W - Unknown [C33] Unknown , 1912
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 C33 KGA: bishop's gambit 3...Bc5 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 Bb6 6.Nf3 Qd8 7.Bxf4 Ne7 8.Ng5 White has occupied the center: Black needs to strike back. 8...0-0 Castling into disaster. [8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5+-] 9.Qh5 h6 10.Bxf7+ Kh8 11.Qxh6+!! gxh6 12.Be5# Lovely: a Queen sacrifice followed by triple minor piece mate! 1-0
(65) Schill - Spiegel [C34] Washington , 1978
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d6 C34 KGA: Fischer defense 4.d4 g5 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.0-0 h6 7.c3 Ne7 8.g3 fxg3 9.hxg3 0-0? 10.Bxg5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 Bh6 12.Qh5 Bxg5 13.Qxg5+ Kh7 14.Rf6 Ng6 15.Bxf7 1-0
(66) Wall,B - Hsieh,H [C34] Palo Alto , 1988
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 C34 King's knight's gambit 3...Bc5 4.d4 Bb6 5.Bxf4 Qe7 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 White has the center. 8...d6 9.Kh1 Bg4 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Bxf3? 12.Qxf3 Ne8 13.Nd5 White gambles on Black's miscalculation. [13.Qxb7] 13...Qe6?? [13...Qh4 Was correct. 14.Bg3 Qd8] 14.Bf5! Jackpot! 1-0
(67) Efimov - Bronstein [C34] Kiev , 1938
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 C34 KGA: Schallop defense 4.e5 Nh5 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 dxe5 7.Nxe5?-+ Hands the advantage to Black. [7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Nxe5+² A common situation allowing 2 pawns and displacement of the King for the light-square bishop.] 7...Qh4+ 8.Kf1 [8.Ke2 f3+ 9.gxf3 Nf4+ 10.Ke3 Bc5+ 11.d4 Ng2+ 12.Ke2 Bxd4-+] 8...Be6 9.Bxe6 Ng3+ 10.Kg1 Bc5+ 11.d4 Bxd4+ 12.Qxd4 Ne2+ 13.Nxe2 [13.Kf1 Is White's only "saving" move.] 13...Qe1# 0-1
(68) Teschner,R - Unknown [C35] Southsea ENG ,1951
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 C35 KGA: Cunningham defense 4.Bc4 Nf6 C35 KGA: Cunningham, Euwe defense 5.Nc3 Nxe4 6.Bxf7+ [6.Nxe4 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5³] 6...Kxf7 7.Ne5+? With the offer of a knight, White lures the Black King mid-board. 7...Ke6 8.Qg4+ Forcing the issue. 8...Kxe5 9.d4+ Kxd4 10.Be3+ Ke5 Black resigns, undoubtedly due to the bizarre position of his King: White will be able to rapidly turn the situation around. 1-0
(69) Sheratte,M - Dutcher,L [C35] cr , 1975
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Nf6 C35 KGA: Cunningham, Euwe defense 5.e5?! Ng4 6.Nc3? [6.0-0 Was better.] 6...Bh4+ 7.Kf1 [7.Nxh4 Qxh4+ 8.g3 fxg3 With White lost.] 7...h6? Simply throws away Black's advantage. [7...Nf2 Going for the fork was correct.] 8.Ne4 d6 9.exd6 cxd6 10.Nxd6+? Qxd6 11.Nxh4 Ne3+ The pin is mightier than the sword, as Reinfeld punned it. 0-1
(70) Wood,B - Stokes,G [C35] Birmingham ENG, 1964
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.Bc4 Nf6 C35 KGA: Cunningham, Euwe defense 5.Nc3 Nxe4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ne5+? Luring the Black King into the open. 7...Ke6 8.Nxe4 d5 [8...Kxe5] 9.Qg4+ Forcing the issue. 9...Kxe5 10.d4+ Kxd4 11.c3+ Kc4?? [11...Ke5 12.Bxf4+ Kxe4 13.Qf3+ Kf5 14.Bxc7+ Kg6 15.Bxd8 Rxd8+-] 12.Qe2# 1-0
(71) Meek - Amateur [C36] New Orleans , 1855
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 C36 KGA: Abbazia defense (classical defense, modern defense) 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bg4 6.Qe2 Bxf3?? 7.Nf6# Simply Black's, awful, blunder. 1-0
(72) Wall,B - Wick,M [C36] Honolulu , 1971
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 C36 KGA: Abbazia defense (classical defense, modern defense) 4.exd5 Nf6 modern variation 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 Bg4 7.Qe2+ Be7 8.d4 cxd5 9.cxd5 Nxd5? Not a trap, but rather a simply blunder by Black. 10.Qb5+ Qd7 11.Nxd5 1-0
(73) Dykes,B - Blount,M [C37] Ohio , 1981
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 Muzio gambit 5...gxf3 6.Qxf3 Bc5+ 7.Kh1 Qf6 8.Qh5? [8.Qxf4] 8...Qg6 9.Qe5+? Ignoring the hanging bishop! [9.Qxc5] 9...Be7 Safe again. 10.Qxh8? Bf6 The bishop which should have been snatched traps the negligent Queen. 0-1
(74) Marshall,F - Young [C37] USA Simultaneous Exh, 1913
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 C37 KGA: King's knight's gambit 4...g4 5.0-0 Muzio gambit 5...gxf3 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qxf3 Qf6 8.d4 Qxd4+ 9.Be3 Qf6 10.Nc3 Ne7 11.Bxf4 d6 12.Qh5+ Kg7?? [12...Qg6 Was correct.] 13.Bh6+ Qxh6 14.Qf7# 1-0
(75) Itze - Reinle [C37] Germany , 1925
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.Ne5 Salvio gambit 5...Qh4+ 6.Kf1 Bg7 Indeed, a trap. [6...Nh6] 7.Nxf7 d5 8.Bxd5 Pawn sac to open the bishop's diagonal. 8...Bd4 9.Qe1 g3 10.h3 [10.c3 White badly needs counterplay to divert the Black forces.] 10...f3 11.Nxh8 Bxh3 12.Rxh3 Qxh3 13.gxh3 g2# 0-1
(76) Ornstein,A - Westerinen,H [C38] Dortmund, 1975
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4 C38 KGA: Philidor gambit 5...h6 6.d4 d6 7.hxg5 hxg5 8.Rxh8 Bxh8 9.Kf2 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bg4 11.Qd3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nc6 13.Qh3 Bg7 14.Qf5?? Leads to trouble. [14.d5 Ne5] 14...Nxd4 15.Qxg5 Bh6 White resigned. 16.Qa5 Ng4+ 17.Kg1 Qh4 0-1
(77) Lazard - Unknown [C38] Unknown , 1903
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 C38 King's knight's gambit 5.d4 g4 6.Bxf4 [6.Ne5] 6...gxf3 7.0-0? [7.Qxf3] 7...fxg2 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 Leading to forced mate! 9.Qh5+ Ke7 [9...Ke6 10.Qd5+ Kf6 11.Bg5+ Kg6 12.Qf5+ Kh5 13.Bxd8+ Kh6 14.Qg5#] 10.Bd6+ Kxd6 [10...cxd6 11.Qf7#; 10...Ke6 11.Qd5#] 11.Qc5+ Ke6 12.d5+ Ke5 13.d6+ Kxe4 [13...Ke6 14.Qd5#] 14.Nd2# 1-0
(78) Schwartz - Samsonoff [C39] Heidelberg, 1908
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 C39 King's knight's gambit 4...g4 5.Ng5 C39 KGA: Allgaier gambit 5...d6 6.Bc4 Nh6 7.0-0 Be7 8.d4 f3 9.gxf3 Nc6 10.fxg4 Nxg4?? 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 [11...Kd7 12.Qxg4#] 12.Qxg4 Bxg4?? [12...Bxg5 Will hold, but not for long.] 13.Ne6+ Bxe6 14.Bh6# 1-0
(79) N.N. - Bronstein,D [C40] Moskva,1954
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5 C40 QP counter-gambit (elephant gambit) 3.Nxe5 dxe4 4.Bc4 Qg5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Qh5? [6.d4 Qxg2 7.Rf1] 6...Qxg2-+ 7.Bxg8 Qxh1+ 8.Ke2 Rxg8 9.Qf7+ Kd6 10.Qxg8?? [10.Nc4+] 10...Kxe5 11.Qxf8?? Simply hastens White's demise. 11...Bg4+ 12.Ke3 Qe1# 0-1
(80) De Legal - Saint Brie [C41] Paris , 1750
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 A relative, and false, pin. 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 [5...dxe5+-] 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5# 1-0
(81) Isaksson - Broberger [C42] cr , 1976
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 C42 Petrov's defense 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 C42 Petrov: classical attack 5...d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Re1 Chigorin variation 8...Bg4 9.c3 Nf6 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Nbd2 Nh5? [11...Re8²] 12.Bxh7+ Black resigned. 12...Kxh7 [12...Kh8 Yields the same results.] 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.Ng5+ Kh8 15.Qxg4 Nf6+- 1-0
(82) Hunerkopf - Spassky [C44] Germany , 1984
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 C44 Scotch gambit: Dubois-Reti defense 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 Out of book. 8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.f3 c5 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Qa3 Qh4+ 14.g3? Really, just a blunder. [14.Kd1] 14...Nxg3 15.Bf2? Qh6 0-1
(83) Rodzynski,J - Alekhine,A [C50] Paris , 1913
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 C50 King's pawn game (Italian game) 3...d6 4.c3 Bg4 5.Qb3 Qd7?! [5...Na5] 6.Ng5 Nh6 7.Bxf7+ Nxf7 8.Nxf7 Qxf7 9.Qxb7 Kd7? 10.Qxa8 Qc4 11.f3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Nd4 13.d3 Qxd3 14.cxd4 Be7 15.Qxh8?? Loses at once. [15.Nd2 Rxa8-+] 15...Bh4# 0-1
(84) Tartakower,S - Nyholm,G [C52]Baden , 1914
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 C52 Evans gambit 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 Tartakower attack 7...Qd7 8.a4?!-+ [8.dxe5³ Was the reasonable course.] 8...a6 9.dxe5 Bb6?! 10.a5 Nxa5 11.Rxa5 Bxa5 12.exd6 b5? [12...cxd6 And Black maintains a solid lead.] 13.Bd5 c6 14.Ne5 Black resigns. 14...Qxd6 15.Bxc6+ Bd7 16.Qxf7+ Kd8 1-0
(85) Reti,R - Lasker,E [C56] Wien , .1908
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 C55 Two knights defense 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Nxe4 C56 Two knights defense 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd8 9.Nxe4 Be6 10.c3? [10.Neg5] 10...dxc3 11.Qb3? [11.bxc3 Is also bad for White.; 11.Qa4 Was better. 11...cxb2 12.Bxb2³] 11...Bb4 12.Neg5 cxb2 13.Nxe6 A total miscalculation. [13.Bxb2-+ 1.50] 13...bxa1Q 14.Nxd8+ Bxe1 15.Nxc6 Qxc1 0-1
(86) Fischer,R - Burger,K [C57] San Francisco ,.1963
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 C57 Two knights defense 4...d5 5.exd5 Nd4 Fritz variation 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5 8.cxd4 Qxg5 9.Bxb5+ Kd8 10.Qf3 Bb7 11.0-0 e4!? 12.Qxe4 Bd6+- 13.d3? [13.Re1] 13...Bxh2+ 14.Kxh2 Nf4 0-1
(87) Zukertort,J - Anderssen,A [C60] Breslau , 1865
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 C60 Ruy Lopez: Cozio defense 4.c3 d6 5.d4 Bd7 6.0-0 Ng6 7.Ng5 h6 8.Nxf7? Kxf7 9.Bc4+ Ke7 10.Qh5 Qe8?? White's unsound gamble hits paydirt. 11.Qg5+ Going for the pretty mate ~ Bg5+ works just as well. 11...hxg5 12.Bxg5# 1-0
(88) Anderssen,A - Suhle,B [C60] Breslau , 1859
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 C60 Ruy Lopez: Cozio defense 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Ng6 6.Nxd4 Be7 7.Nf5 0-0 8.Nc3 Bc5 9.Qh5 d6 10.Bg5 Qe8? 11.Nxg7! Kxg7?? 12.Qh6+ Black resigns. 12...Kg8 13.Bf6 1-0
(89) Rabinovich,I - Savitsky,L [C68] Leningrad , 1934
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 bxc6?! [4...dxc6 Is book.] 5.0-0 Qf6?! [5...d6 Was better, as it keeps f6 open for the knight and does not expose the Queen to attack.] 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bb7 8.Nc3 Bc5 9.e5 Qg6? [9...Qd8 Simple retreat, while losing time and space, is now needed to correct 5....Qf6.] 10.Nde2 Ne7 11.Nf4 Qf5 12.g4 1-0
(90) Matanovic,A - Planinc,A [C68] Novi Sad, 1975
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 C69 Ruy Lopez: exchange variation (5.O-O) 5...Bd6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 f6 8.e5 fxe5 9.Nxe5 Ne7 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Rfe1 Rf5 13.Nf3 Rxg5 14.Rxe6 Rf5 15.Re2?? [15.Qc4 Is one possibility.] 15...Rxf3! White resigns. 16.gxf3 [16.Qg4 With White -2.50.] 16...Bxh2+ 0-1
(91) Brohl,M - Glaeser,W [C68] Dortmund , 1988
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 C68 Ruy Lopez: exchange variation 4...dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 C69 Ruy Lopez: exchange variation, Alapin gambit 7.d3 Qf6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Re1 Ng6 10.hxg4?? [10.d4² Was correct.] 10...hxg4 11.Nh2 Bc5-+ All moves are losing for Black, but he manages to find the best - for his opponent! 12.Ndf1?? Qxf2+ 13.Kh1 Qg1# 0-1
(92) Privalov - Malaniuk,V [C69] Tallinn , 1974
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 C69 Ruy Lopez: exchange variation, Alapin gambit 7.d3 Qf6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Re1 Ng6 10.d4 Bd6 11.hxg4 hxg4 12.dxe5? Bxe5 13.Nxe5 Qh4 Leading to forced mate. 14.f4 g3 15.Kf1 Nxf4 No escape. 0-1
(93) Mosionzhik - Nikolaevsky,Y [C77] Moskva, 1972
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 C77 Ruy Lopez: Morphy defense 5.Qe2 Wormald (Alapin) attack 5...b5 6.Bb3 Na5 7.d4 Nxb3 8.axb3 exd4 9.e5 Nd5 10.Nxd4 Bb7 11.0-0 Qh4 12.Nf5 Nf4 13.Qd1? [13.Qxb5] 13...Qh3 14.Ne3 Bxg2 0-1
(94) Philippe - Dizdarevic [D01] unknown , 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 D01 Richter-Veresov attack 3...c6 4.f3 Qb6 5.Na4 Qa5+ 6.c3 Nbd7 7.Nh3 e5 8.Bd2? b5-+ Improper placement costs a pawn. 0-1
(95) Fedorowicz,J (2601) - Brower,S (1826) [D06] Chicago US Open, .1994
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 D06 QGD: Grau (Sahovic) defense 3.cxd5 Bxb1 4.Qa4+ Qd7 5.Qxd7+ Nxd7 6.Rxb1 Ngf6 7.Nf3 Nxd5 8.e4 Nb4 9.a3 Nc6 10.Bf4 0-0-0? [10...e5] 11.d5 Ncb8 12.Rc1 c6 [12...e5 Is no better, as the c7 pawn is still under heavy fire. 13.dxe6] 13.dxc6 Nxc6 14.Rxc6+! Leading to a double bishop mate. 1-0
(96) Veselovsky - Kudishevich [D15] Soviet Union , 1969
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 D15 QGD Slav accepted 5.e4 b5 Slav gambit 6.e5 D15/07 QGD Slav: Tolush-Geller gambit 6...Nd5 7.a4? e6 8.axb5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 cxb5 10.Ng5 Bb7 11.Qh5 Qd7 12.Nxh7 Nc6 13.Nxf8 Qxd4 White resigned. 14.cxd4 Rxh5 15.Nxe6 fxe6-+ By about 1.00. 0-1
(97) Nadel - Margulis [D17] Berlin , 1932
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 D17 QGD Slav: Czech defense 6.Ne5 Krause attack 6...c5 7.e4 Nxe4 8.Qf3 cxd4 9.Qxf5 Nd6 10.Bxc4 e6? [10...Nxf5?? 11.Bxf7#] 11.Bb5+ Ke7 Game lost. 12.Ng6+ hxg6 13.Nd5+ exd5 14.Qe5# 1-0
(98) Kelly,V - Levy,L [D50] US Open, 1972
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 D50 QGD: 4.Bg5 4...c5 Been-Koomen variation. 5.cxd5 D50 QGD: semi-Tarrasch 5...cxd4 6.Qxd4 Be7 7.Rd1 exd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Bxf6?? [9.Qxd5 Nxd5 10.Rxd5 Be6 11.Rb5³] 9...Qa5+ 10.Qc3 Bb4 0-1
(99) Antunes,A - Suta,M [E30] cr , 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 E20 Nimzo-Indian defense 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Qe7 [5...c5 6.d5 The Leningrad Var.] 6.e3 d6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5 Qe4 Equalizing. White, evidently so shocked at NOT obtaining the forked knight, resigns! 0-1
(100) Ghitescu,T - Fischer,R [E51] Leipzig , 1960
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 dxc4 E51 Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3, Ragozin variation 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.Bb5 e5 10.Bxc6 exd4 11.exd4 bxc6 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Qd3 Note the Queen is hanging. 13...c5 14.dxc5?? Now hung. [14.Rfe1 Was one possibility.] 14...Bxh2+ 0-1
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