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David Bronstein vs Max Euwe
Zuerich Candidates (1953), Zurich SUI, rd 6, Sep-08
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Bernstein Defense (E59)  ·  1/2-1/2

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)13...c4 was played in Geller vs N Karaklajic, 1956 (0-1)better is 15.e5 Bxf3 16.exf6 Nxd4 17.Bxh7+ Kf8 18.fxg7+ Kxg7 = +0.50 (22 ply)= -0.20 (28 ply) 17...Rxd4 18.h3 Be6 19.Qc2 Rh4 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bb2 Qf7 = -0.36 (22 ply) ⩲ +1.46 (22 ply)better is 26.Bxe5+ Rexe5 27.fxe5+ Kg7 28.Qb2 Qb5 29.Qxb5 Rxb5 = +0.36 (23 ply)= -0.25 (26 ply) after 26...Kg7 27.Qg5 Re6 28.Rac1 Qb6 29.Rxf5 h6 30.Rxf7+ Kxf7 27...Rc7 28.Qf6+ Kd7 29.Qxf7+ Kc8 30.Qf6 Qb6 31.Rad1 = +0.08 (27 ply) ⩲ +0.87 (22 ply)better is 30.h3 Rc8 31.Bb4 Qe6 32.Rxc8 Kxc8 33.Rc1+ Kb8 34.Bd6+ ⩲ +0.68 (21 ply)= +0.12 (25 ply) 31.Qh6 a5 32.Bc3 Re2 33.Qf8 Qe6 34.Bxa5 Rxa5 35.Qc8+ Ke7 ⩲ +0.90 (23 ply)= 0.00 (28 ply) after 31...h5 32.Qc4 Ke8 33.Bc3 Qc5 34.Qb3 Qb5 35.Qxb5+ Rxb5 better is 32.Qxh7 axb4 33.Qxf7+ Kd8 34.Qg8+ Ke7 35.Qg7+ Kd6 = 0.00 (28 ply)better is 32...g5 33.Qh5 Qg6 34.Qf3 Bd3 35.Qxf7+ Qxf7 36.Rxf7+ Re7 ⩱ -0.71 (26 ply) 33.Bg3 Re4 34.Qg5 Qd8 35.Qh6 h4 36.Bc7 Qe8 37.h3 Re2 = -0.02 (23 ply) 33...Qd8 34.Qa4+ b5 35.Qb3 Ke8 36.Bg3 Re6 37.Bc7 Qa8 ⩱ -0.82 (23 ply)= 0.00 (28 ply)42.Rd5+ Kh6 43.Rxa5 Qe4 44.Rb5 Qd3 45.Rfb1 Qxa3 46.Rxb7 = 0.00 (38 ply)1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35437 more games annotated by Stockfish]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-20-05  aw1988: I absolutely cannot believe there is no kibitzing on this one. Bronstein, the artist that he is, launches an extremely daring attack, the calm Euwe defends, and what is left is a wonderful draw.
Apr-21-05  shortsight: If this is the draw we see at the current super-GM level, I don't think anyone will be whining about draw at all.
Apr-21-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: <aw1988> It's like the genie in the bottle, isn't it? I mean, why did you take so long to kibitz on it?
Apr-21-05  aw1988: I don't count. :D
Apr-21-05  Shams: In his famous tournament book Bronstein says, if I recall correctly, that he was unable to find a win in the post-mortem.
Apr-21-05  Rama: This would be very difficult for either side to win. White could start grabbing black pawns but he has his own a-pawn to worry about and the black Queen is certain to generate some double attacks with the rooks separated. The danger is very great. Agree?
Apr-21-05  aw1988: I think 21. Qd2 is incorrect. It doesn't look like white has enough compensation.
Apr-21-05  aw1988: Eh, maybe 20. Nf6+ too, since Qd2 after that looks forced.
Apr-21-05  drukenknight: a yugo. correspondence game the following year continued:

25. Bd4 Rxd5
26. fxe5+ Ke6
27. Bxc5 Rxd2
28. Bxe7 Kxe7
29. Rf2 etc

but still a draw (42 moves).

Apr-05-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: The main alternative to 15 Qxc5 is 15 e5 leading to the long theoretical line 15..Bxf3 16 exf..Nxd4 17 Bxh7+..Kh8 18 fxg+..Kxg7 19 Bb2 which I.Sokolov used to defeat Kasparov in 28 moves at Wijk Aan Zee 1999. Nowadays, the best response to 15 Qxc5 is considered to be 15..Bxf3 16 gxf..Qd7. Bronstein, Wood and Soltis all give 17..Rxd4 18 Bb2..Rd7?! 19 Qc2..g6 and either 20 Ne4 or 20 Qc3
with a huge advantage for white but in this line 18..Rf4 is a much stronger defense. 22..Rd8! is a very clever defense to Bronstein's equally clever piece sacrifice. Euwe returns the piece but his king is relatively safe hiding behind his major pieces. Bronstein felt that 28 a4 and 29 Ba3 would have been stronger forcing black to give back the exchange while maintaining an attack. 31 Rxf5..gxf 32 Qg8 can be defended by either 32..Qc6! (Bronstein) or 32..Ke6 (Wood).
Mar-22-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Najdorf pays tribute to Bronstein in his note to 16.Qxc5:

<Without doubt, Bronstein is currently the most ambitious and tenacious of grandmasters. His own Soviet colleagues esteem him to the highest degree; they "adore" him for his prodigious talents and the inexhaustible wealth of ideas that pour out of every minute of his games.

Although we ourselves fall victim many times to his overflowing fantasy, he is in our opinion the player who most "shakes the board," making it come alive and turning the chess struggle into an emotional spectacle for the public. As commentators, we can only suffer and work desperately to uncover his profound ideas and thereby show them to the reader.

At this moment in the game, Bronstein thought for an hour and a quarter before deciding to take the pawn. What was it he saw during that time? Nothing less than these variations:

15.e5 Bxf3 16.exf6 Nxd4 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.fxg7+ Kxg7 19.Bb2


click for larger view

19....Qf4 with the following continuations:

(a) 20.gxf3? Re5! 21.Bxd4 cxd4 threatening ...Rg5+ and ...Rh5;

(b) 20.Qf5 Qxf5 21.Bxf5 Bc6;

(c) 20.Qxc5 Kxh7 21.Qxd4 Qxd4 22.Bxd4 with an extra pawn but also opposite-color bishops and a high probability of a draw.

Or even better, 19....Qe5 (in place of ...Qf4) 20.Bxd4 (if 20.gxf3 Nxc2 21.Bxe5+ Kxh7) 20...cxd4 21.gxf3 (not 21.Qf5 Qxf5 22.Bxf5 Be2 and the d-pawn advances) 21....Rh8 22.Qe4 Qg5+ 23.Qg4 (not 23.Kh1 Rxh7 24.Rg1 Rxh2+! 25.Kxh2 Rh8+ 26.Qh4 Rxh4#) 23....Qxg4+ 24.fxg4 Rxh7 25.Rad1 Rd8 26.Rd3, draw.

After so much analysis, Bronstein decides on ...another line of play(!) likewise very complicated, with the hope of better prospects. Such is the character of this formidable fighter.>

One nice surprise from getting Najdorf's tournament book -- it has definitely deepened my appreciation of Bronstein as a player.

Nov-25-19  Everett: <One nice surprise from getting Najdorf's tournament book -- it has definitely deepened my appreciation of Bronstein as a player.>

Interesting to hear. Najdorf and Bronstein seemed fond of each other, and played many rapid/blitz games during the down times.

Dec-09-21  FM David H. Levin: <plang: Bronstein felt that 28 a4 and 29 Ba3 would have been stronger forcing black to give back the exchange while maintaining an attack.>

On 28. a4, Bronstein examines 28...Re6 and 28...Rexe5. But stronger seems 28...Qb6, to enable 29. Ba3 to be answered by 29...Rexe5.

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