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Joseph Blackburne vs Johannes Zukertort
Simpson's Divan, London (1876), London ENG, rd 3, Apr-08
Scotch Game: Schmidt Variation (C45)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Aug-29-07  znprdx: <beenthere240: <twin> After 20.Rxh7 black can play Qf5?!> Yes interesting Also look at Rxe5 which lets the Queen back to e8(to capture on f8) getting mighty wild...
Aug-29-07  beenthere240: Black may also be able to take the rook after 20. ♖xh7 ♔xh7 21. ♕h4+ ♔g8, 22. ♗h6 ♕f5 23. ♗xf8 ♕h5 again blocking the mating attack.
Aug-29-07  znprdx: znprdx: <Though (as many kibitzers already pointed out) what can White do after 29..Bc5 ?> Pretty! Was this a quiet brilliancy? Um-er-ah, what happens after 30.R(a)e4 or even Qf2...is the d3 discovery a guaranteed win? Looks a bit fuzzy to me. 29...Qxe5 is down right depressing :) what a gutless continuation. Thank the stars there is Carlsen on our chess horizon...
Aug-29-07  MostlyAverageJoe: <znprdx: </// what can White do after 29..Bc5 ?> Pretty! Was this a quiet brilliancy? Um-er-ah, what happens after 30.R(a)e4 or even Qf2...is the d3 discovery a guaranteed win? Looks a bit fuzzy to me.>

Yeah, it is fuzzy allright. For both sides, computer analysis of the followups to Bc5 shows a maze of many twisted variations, all alike. Takes 7-8 moves look-ahead to pick the best one.

Aug-29-07  YouRang: Wednesday: Things get a bit trickier.

Got it, though. I noticed pretty quickly that black can pick up a rook and bishop for his queen. A bad trade by itself, but if there are further tactics that can win more material, it could be the solution.

In this case, it looked like there would be further tactics. After 29...Qxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Rxc1+, white must play 31. Ke2 (31. Kf2 is met by the 31...Be1+ skewer).

Seeing what to do after 31. Ke2, was the hard part, but really, 31...Rxe5+ emerges as the only choice, setting up the winning rook skewer (either the one played, or if 32. Kd2 Rc3+ skewer).

Aug-29-07  newton296: Qxf1!!

didnt know what to do after ke2 . way out of my league.

Aug-29-07  kevin86: I deserve an F- on this puzzle. First,I thought it was white's move and 29 ♖xh7 was the winning move-I didn't even see the black queen en prise. I then noticed 29...♖xc1,but no follow-up.

In short,I would have made far inferior moves for bOTH players-so I guess I should get a DOUbLE F.

Aug-29-07  xKinGKooLx: I don't believe it! Why do I always miss easy Wednesday puzzles?! I saw the entire sequence up to 31. Ke2, but I didn't see the key move 31. ...Rxe5+! I'm giving myself the point for today anyway. :) I need to work on seeing a lot more moves ahead than I can now!
Aug-29-07  EdwardT: can anyone tell what ...d3 whould do?
Aug-29-07  outplayer: You need to see four moves ahead to solve a medium/easy difficulty puzzle. As I didn't calculate until 32...Re1+ I have failed to solve this although I could see the queen sacrifice.
Aug-29-07  zb2cr: <EdwardT>,

You're proposing 29. ... d3 for Black? Hmmm. After 30. Rxf5. White's Queen pins the Black KNP, so the Rook can't be recaptured. Now, it looks to me that Black has only two possibilities:

a. 30. ... Rxc1+. Now, obviously White doesn't cooperate by moving the King, he instead plays 31. Rf1; Bc5+; 32. Qf2 ( 32. Kh1??, Rxf1#), d2; 33. Qxc5, Rxc5; 34. Rd4, Rcxe5 and material is even.

b. 30. ... d2; 31. Rc4, dxc1=Q+; 32. Rxc1, Rxc1+; 33. Rf1, Bc5+; 34. Qf2, Rxf1+; 35. Kxf1, Bxf2; 36. Kxf2, Rxe5 and Black wins.

I think improvements for White are possible. Can anyone suggest some?

Aug-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Pawn and Two: 29...Qxf1+! - <A splendid conception, which immediately forces the game.> - Steinitz

Aug-29-07  EdwardT: what if 29..d3 30 Rxf5 Bbc5+? i mean my mistake could be obvious but im curious
Aug-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  fm avari viraf: I think, Blackburne played 29.Rf1 mechanically without giving a second thought & unfortunately, it turns out to be a mistake. Now, Black simply plays 9...Qxf1+ & wins no matter where the White King goes. If 30.Kf2 then Be1+ & Bxg3 wins. If 30.Ke2 then Rxe5+ wins. Therefore, before making a move try to give a second thought, it might save your day!
Aug-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  fm avari viraf: My apology, first 30.Kxf1 & Rxc1+ which was omitted in my first post.
Aug-29-07  TheaN: Well, I'm ready for tomorrow. This queen sac is history now XD.
Aug-29-07  hopeful monster: I saw up to 33...Rxe5, but missed a subtlety: 34. Rxd4 forks the bishop at b4 and the back rank mate at d8. Black only comes out a bishop ahead because 34...Bd6 (or Bf8) solves both problems.
Aug-29-07  birdplaya: The puzzles have been really easy this week. Hope that the later ones are a little more challanging.
Aug-29-07  birdplaya: I saw 29. ... Rel+ 30. Kd3 Re3+ 31. Qxe3 dxe3 32. Kxe3 Rxe5+

Both lead to almost the same position

Aug-29-07  psmith: <EdwardT> 29... d3 is met by 30. Rxb4. Black still gets an advantage but the win is not as immediate as after 29... Qxf1+.

29... d3 30. Rxb4 Qxf1+! 31. Kxf1 d2 32. Rxb1 d1/Q+ and either 33. Qe1 Qd3+ or 33. Kf2 Qc2+ picks up the R on b1. Analysis aided by Fritz 5.32.

Aug-29-07  patzer2: For today's puzzle solution, Black plays 29...Qxf1+! This sham-sacrifice of the Queen sets up a winning skewer after either 32. Kd3 Rc3+, 32. Kf2 Be1+ or 32. Qxe5 Re1+! as in the game.
Aug-29-07  PAWNTOEFOUR: hey,if i get the 'first' move,i give myself a half point......so i got one and half points today
Aug-30-07  twin phoenix: Thanks beenthere and znprdx. i knew there was probably something i'm was missing. i think beenthere's second line definately stops my idea and then white is lost. it was just too good to be true.... masters don't miss such shots!
Aug-30-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: Fine game by Zukertort, but this game does not compare to the marvelous game that he played against the same opponent: Zukertort vs Blackburne, 1883
Sep-04-07  twin phoenix: thanks for sharing that game chancho it is absolutely gorgeous!
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