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George Norman vs Milan Vidmar
Hastings (1925/26), Hastings ENG, rd 1, Dec-28
Indian Game: West Indian Defense (E61)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-23-02  bishop: 10.Ne2?
Feb-21-03  kostich in time: As Fine put it,in this game, Vidmar picks up a pawn with a fork
Aug-04-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: Amazingly, in the same position Kasparov played 10...Nb4?, when 11.Bd2! would have left Black with only a small advantage. M Roberts vs Kasparov, 2012. See my comments at http://chicagochess.blogspot.com/20....
Apr-24-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Hi FSR,

I too used this game, the first example of what I am calling the Vidmar Trap (though it is infact a Pitfall as there is no material risk when playing 9...Nd7 should White avoid it.)

Did not know Kasparov missed it.

https://www.redhotpawn.com/chess-bl...

Mar-14-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: <Go Vid, 19!>
Aug-21-23  Brenin: Black is 2P up with a much better position. White's f2 is a weak point. 18 ... Rxf2+ 19 Bxf2 Rf8 looks playable, but 18 ... Nxf2 19 Bxf2 Bd4 looks stronger, so much so that White resigned. For example, 20 Rxh7 (desperation!) Rxf2+ 21 Kg1 (Ke1 Qxe2 mate) Rf7+ 22 Nxd4 Qxd4+ 23 Kh1 (or Kh2) Rxh7, winning the Q.
Aug-21-23  Mayankk: 18 ... Nxf2 19 Bxf2 Bd4. White has now pinned White Bishop as well as Knight while the two White Rooks are off position and unable to step in.

That means that White will either lose the Queen or else allow 20 Rxf2+ Ke1 21 Qxe2# or 20 Rxf2+ Kg1 21 Rxe2+ etc with loss of material.

Aug-21-23  mel gibson: I knew it was either the Knight or the Rook to take f2. Both moves work.

Stockfish 16 says:

18. .. Nxf2

(18. .. Nxf2 (Nd3xf2 Be3xf2 Bg7-d4 Qh3-g3 Rf8xf2+ Qg3xf2 Bd4xf2 Kf1xf2 Ra8-f8+ Rh4-f4 Rf8xf4+ Ne2xf4 Qc4-d4+ Kf2-f3 Qd4-f6 Kf3-e3 Qf6xb2 Ra1-e1 c5-c4 Ke3-f3 ) +6.39/42 117)

score for Black +6.39 depth 42.

If I force SF to take with the Rook:

18. .. Rxf2

(18. .. Rxf2+ 19. Bxf2 (Be3xf2 Ra8-f8 Kf1-g1 Nd3xf2 Qh3-b3 Qc4xb3 a2xb3 a7-a6 Rh4-f4 Rf8xf4 Ne2xf4 Bg7xb2 Ra1-e1 Bb2-d4 Kg1-f1 Kg8-f7 Nf4-e2 Bd4-e3 Ne2-g1 Nf2-g4 Ng1-h3 h7-h6 Kf1-e2 Be3-d4 Re1-f1+ Ng4-f6 ) -4.03/45 184)

score for White -4.03 depth 45.

Aug-21-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Poor Mr. Norman--he actually won two games in the event, so he was a pretty good player, but they seem to have gotten lost in the mists of time.
Aug-21-23  saturn2: I had the gameline quickly but thought by 20.Qg3 white can play on. After exchanges on f2 it is Q+R vs 2 R+N. However black's attack is too strong.
Aug-21-23  agb2002: Black is two pawns up.

White threatens Rxh7.

The black queen x-rays the white king and after 18... Nxf2 19.Bxf2 (19.Qh2 Ng4+) 19... Bd4 20.Rxh7 Rxf7+ 21.Kg1 (21.Ke1 Qxe2#) 21... Rf7+ 22.Nxd4 Qxd4+ 23.Kh1 Rxh7 Black wins decisive material.

Aug-21-23  Autoreparaturwerkbau: While 18...♘xf2 seems more "obvious" and is also the move actually played, i would rather play less flashy 18...♗xb2 instead.

White has to respond with moving a1-rook, but there is no good place for it on the first rank and the bishop still protects <and> attacks on a1-h8 diagonal.

Aug-21-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: With q jolly cue its a Nxf2 accord mack bereft ya face its co its a cig mug Nxf2 duff;
Aug-21-23  saturn2: Black is already in a very strong position. 18...h5 to prevent Rxh7 is also winning.
Aug-21-23  varishnakov: I got it but it didn't seem as easy as Mondays used to be a long time ago when I was doing chessgames puzzles daily. Then it was almost always a queen sac for mate or material gain. Lately it seems like there are many moves that win in every puzzle.

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