Before starting on this fourth article in this series on chess combinations, please read the boxed note at the start of Chess Combinations: beauties from lesser known masters – 3 to make the best use of the moves and comments in the chess game covered here.
The game was played in the tournament at Bad Woerishofen in 1989. The game employs Ruy Lopez opening about which you have read in Chess Opening basics: Ruy Lopez (or the Spanish opening) and saw another example in Chess Combinations: beauties from lesser known masters – 3.
However, the present game follows the line of Marshall Gambit (ECO code: C89) where Black offers his KP in return for opening of diagonals b7-h1, d8-h4 and the e-file, hoping to use those at opportune time, and removal of White’s KN which normally acts as a defensive piece. The first diagram shows the position after 17 moves which were all played in line with the theories. In fact, you will find identical position in Euwe-Donner game played at Amsterdam in 1950 where the line changed track from move 18 and White won after 42 moves.
Let us see how it goes in the present game.
| Position after 17. … Kh8: |
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| 18. | Qf1 | Qh5 | Black had to avoid Queen exchange as it did not leave him with any compensation for his sacrificed pawn |
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| 19. | Nd2 | g5 | |||
| 20. | Bxd5 | cxd5 | White removed the Knight to reduce pressure on f4 pawn to avoid the need to break up his castle. 20. fxg5 f4 21. gxf4 Nxf4 (threatening 22. … Nh3+) 22. Bxf4 Bxf4 with all kinds of threats. |
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| Position after 20. … cxd5: |
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| 21. | a4 | bxa4 | White is desperate to open some lines for movement of his pieces. |
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| 22. | Rxa4 | Rae8 | White’s pawn structure totally immobilized his QB which also had to support the f4 pawn. Black exploited this to place his Rook on the open e-file (one of the objectives of his opening strategy). |
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| 23. | Raa1 | Re6 | |||
| 24. | Rxa6 | White hoped to pin the Bishop to safeguard his f4 pawn ……… |
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| Position after 24. Rxa6 |
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| 24. | … | gxf4 | ……… but Black timed his exchanges perfectly to quash White’s ideas. |
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| 25. | Bxf4 | Rxe1 | |||
| 26. | Qxe1 | Bxf4 | |||
| 27. | gxf4 | Be2! | White was ultimately forced to break up his castle and open the g-file. Black was prompt in utilizing this advantage. |
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| The position after 27. … Be2 |
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| White resigned as he has no defense against coming 28. … Rg8+ without giving up his Rook. If the Rook moves, then 28. … Rg8+ 29. Kf2 (29. Kh1 Bf3+ 30. Nxf3 Qxf3#) Qxh2+ 30. Ke3 Re8+ 31. Ne4 Rxe4+ 32. Kd2 Bc4+ 33. Kd1 Rxe1+ 34. Kxe1 Qe2# | |||||
