Friday 4 December 2009

OK, don't take my rooks

One of the greatest games ever played (IMHO) was the clash between Steel and Amateur, Calcutta 1886. In the game White sacrifices his queen, and then 2 rooks, all the while marching his king up to a6 the effect a brilliant (if avoidable) mate.
Part of the charm of the game was that White chose an opening that exposed his king to attack. These days such games are a rarity, but not completely unknown. Just last month 2 strong US players chose to repeat the exact opening of the Steel v Amateur game, at least up until move 8. However Black tried a different line, and while I'm not sure whether White appreciated the significance of the change, Black quickly reached a winning position.

Pruess,D (2389) - Moreno,Ale (2391) [C25]
USCL SF 2009 ICC INT (1), 18.11.2009

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nc3 exf4 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Ke2 d5 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.exd5 0-0-0 8.dxc6 (8. ... Bc5 was played by Amateur) 8. ... Nf6 9.cxb7+ Kb8 (D)
10.Qe1?
This move works against Bc5 but fails dismally in this game 10. ... Bxf3+ 11.gxf3 Re8+ 12.Ne4 Qh5 13.Kf2 Nxe4+ 14.Kg1 Bb4 15.Qxb4 Qxf3 16.Qe1 Ng3 0-1

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