Kevin Spraggett vs Artur Yusupov (1989)

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Kevin Spraggett vs Artur Yusupov
Yusupov - Spraggett Candidates Quarterfinal (1989), Quebec City CAN, rd 2, Jan-22
Zukertort Opening: Queen Pawn Defense (A06) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening	find similar games	15 more K Spraggett/A Yusupov games
sac: 31.Rxc6	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: As you play through the game, you can get the FEN code for any position by right-clicking on the board and choosing "Copy Position (EPD)". Copy and paste the FEN into a post to display a diagram.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.

PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE. [CLICK HERE]

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 2 OF 2 · Later Kibitzing>
Oct-07-13		RookFile: 54. Rh8 Kg7 (else queen drops) 55. Rg8+. Next.

Oct-07-13		Maladetta: Enviable board control throughout.

Oct-07-13		morfishine: <54.Rh8+> and the Black Queen is lost *****

Oct-07-13		radtop: Time trouble?

Oct-07-13		patzer2: <Maladetta: Enviable board control throughout.> I agree! The exchange sacrifice 31. Rxe6!, shattering Black's Queen side pawn structure, certainly was an enterprising way to control the board.

Oct-07-13		Nick46: <Maladetta: Enviable board control throughout> ,but especially at the end.

Oct-07-13		TheaN: Monday 7 October 2013 <54.?> Monday and of course the combination itself is easy to comprehend. Take-out-the-defender tactics pur sang, white will win the black queen for rook with <54.Rh8+>: in case black moves out of the way 54....Kg7 55.Rg8+ does in fact the same. If black settles with <54....Kxh8 55.Qxg6> he might be on the move, but there is not a whole for black to do. The rooks are unconnected, the pawns on the kingside are weak and white can pressure promotion with Bb7 and Qb8. All of this is impossible for black to hold. A subtle nuance in this puzzle is the order of moves and writing down variations. This two-move combination is a short but perfect example of how longer combinations can not necessarily be better for the defending party. I would write down <54.Rh8+ Kxh8 (Kg8 55.Rg8+ Kxg8 56.Qxg6+ ) 55.Qxg6 >. Quite a lot of players would just leave out the Kxh8 line stating something like "similar as in the main line". Typically, however, it seems evident that the line Kg8 is worse than Kxh8 as the following Qxg6+ is with check after black is forced to capture on g8. White will immediately win extra pawns (or more) and speed up victory. As such, the line with Kg8 is longer at first (one move) but worse after (few moves quicker to the end). Optimally the 'better' line should be the main line, but in this example this is a well hidden subtlety.

Oct-07-13		whiteshark: <54.Rh8+!> and that's it.

Oct-07-13		Herma48852: Lucky I returned here on a Monday for something at my level: 54. Rh8+ Kg7 (.. Kxh8 55. Qxg6) 55. Rg8+ Kxg8 56. Qxg6

Oct-07-13		FSR: 54.Rh8+ Kg7 55.Rg8+ wins Black's queen and the game.

Oct-07-13		FSR: Zukertort Opening? Looks like a Reti to me.

Oct-07-13		gawain: A novel position (to me) My first try was 54 Rg8--no go, obviously. I was forced to consider 54 Rh8+ which leaves Black only two moves, both losing. Nice.

Oct-07-13		kevin86: White plays Rh8! and wins the queen by diverting her defender,king away.If black declines the rook goes to G8 and wins by diversion or skewer.

Oct-07-13		Once: There is an odd symmetry in chess that kings make poor defenders of queens, and queens make poor defenders of kings. His majesty is prone to distraction. Her majesty is too expensive to block attacks from lesser pieces. A fine pair they make.

Oct-07-13		ruzon: Going back one move, isn't 53 Ng5+ an improvement? After 53...hxg5 54 Rh8+ Kxh8 55 Qxg6 the Black king is stuck in the corner, the pawns are doubled, and the Queen protects the a6 pawn.

Oct-07-13		Penguincw: Not good (failing to solve Monday puzzles on back to back weeks). I got 54.Rc7 and 55.Be4.

Oct-07-13		SilverLining: Wouldn't 52. Bg3 shag the queen at a lesser cost? Queen moves off diagonal and mate Queen takes knight and bishop checks Queen makes game move and knight checks then bishop pins

Oct-07-13		SilverLining: Earlier post meant 52. Bishop H 3 !!! Sorry

Oct-07-13		thegoodanarchist: The Black Book (ECM) has a similar combination played by Korchnoi. Wish I could recall which page...

Oct-07-13		Nullifidian: 54. ♖h8+ ♔xh8 (♔g8? 55. ♖g8+) 55. ♕xg6

Oct-07-13		sfm: Pretty ending. Black is gone after 50.-,Kh7? but it was totally hopeless anyway. 51.d4 and 52.g4 - two murderous pawn moves! Could also have been a good later-in-the-week puzzle with 51.? <ruzon: Going back one move, isn't 53 Ng5+ an improvement?> After 53.Nf6+,gxN 54.Rh8+,KxR 55.QxQ everything around the Black king is up for grasp. So I think that 53.Ng5+ is just 'almost as good'.

Oct-07-13		sfm: <SilverLining: Earlier post meant 52. Bishop H 3 !!! > Whether it is better is not so easy to answer, as the main line is so totally depressive for Black. But it's good for sure!

Oct-07-13		sfm: Now we're in the alternatives, 52.Ng5+,Kg6 53.Rc6+,KxN 54.Rc5 is also not so bad. But probably not as good as the played.

Oct-08-13		SilverLining: sfm, 52.Ng5+ It appears you've one-upped both the game line and my own. Move 54.. Black defends his queen 55. White trades R for Q, Black recaptures 56(!) White queen forks black king for Rook on b4

Oct-03-16		PhilFeeley: In his tribute to Dvoretsky, Spraggett specifically mentions this game. https://kevinspraggettonchess.wordp... (Sept. 26., 2016)

search thread:
< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 2 OF 2 · Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
Nothing in violation of United States law.
No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
No trolling.
The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.

NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.