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Harry Pillsbury vs David G Baird
1st City Chess Club Tournament (1893), New York, NY USA, rd 2, Dec-10
Queen Pawn Game: General (D00)  ·  1-0

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) 5.Ngf3 Nbd7 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 c5 8.c3 cxd4 9.exd4 b6 = +0.47 (22 ply)= -0.37 (24 ply) 6.Ngf3 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 Bxe5 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Qa4+ = +0.15 (25 ply) ⩱ -0.63 (22 ply) after 6...c5 7.Ne2 c4 8.Bc2 b5 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Bc7 11.O-O better is 8...O-O 9.O-O Ne4 10.b3 c5 11.Bb2 Rc8 12.Rc1 Ndf6 = -0.39 (23 ply)= +0.22 (25 ply)better is 13.Be2 c5 14.O-O O-O 15.Qe1 Bc6 16.b3 h6 17.Qg3 a5 18.Bb2 = +0.45 (22 ply)= -0.27 (22 ply)better is 17...c5 18.Ba3 O-O 19.O-O-O Rfc8 20.c4 cxd4 21.Rxd4 bxc4 = -0.25 (22 ply)better is 18.Bb2 Qg4 19.Bd1 Qg5 20.c4 Bb7 21.Qf2 h4 22.Rg1 hxg3 = +0.45 (21 ply)= -0.10 (20 ply) 19...Nb6 20.Rg1 Rb8 21.Bc3 Kf7 22.Ba5 g6 23.Rd1 bxc4 = -0.10 (22 ply)better is 20.g4 fxg4 21.Rg1 bxc4 22.O-O-O cxb3 23.Bxb3 Bd5 24.Rxg4 ⩲ +0.67 (23 ply)= +0.07 (25 ply) 21...exd5 22.cxd5 Bb7 23.d6 Nc5 24.Kb1 gxh2 25.Qe1 f4 = 0.00 (24 ply) ⩲ +1.05 (24 ply) 23.cxb5 g2 24.Rhg1 Nd3+ 25.Kb1 axb5 26.Rxg2 Qh6 27.Bd4 ⩲ +0.99 (23 ply)= 0.00 (26 ply)better is 24.hxg3 Qxh1 25.Rxh1 Rxh1+ 26.Kb2 O-O-O 27.cxb5 axb5 = +0.24 (26 ply)= -0.35 (22 ply)better is 25.Rdf1 f4 26.exf4 Nd4 27.Qc4 O-O-O 28.bxa6 Qe3+ 29.Kb1 = 0.00 (24 ply) 25...Rh6 26.Kb1 Qg2 27.bxa6 Rxa6 28.Qb4 Kf7 29.Bb2 Rc6 ⩱ -0.73 (23 ply)+- +2.70 (25 ply) 26...Rh6 27.Rxh2 Kf7 28.Rxh6 Qxh6 29.Rd7+ Kg8 30.b6 Kh7 ± +1.63 (25 ply)+- +6.86 (27 ply)+- mate-in-8 after 30...Kc7 31.Rd7+ Kc8 32.Qxb6 Qc1+ 33.Kxc1 Kxd732...Qb1+ 33.Bxb1 Rh2+ 34.Ka1 Rxa2+ 35.Bxa2 e3 36.Qc7# +- mate-in-41-0

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

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Given 10 times; par: 56 [what's this?]

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

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: Oh, my. Rarely have I seen a position in which the defender finds tempi so useless.

The main line is:

29 Rd1 h1(Q)
30 Rxd6+ Qxd6+
31 Qxd6+ Kc8
32 b6
33 Qc7#

The point is that nothing on Move 32 helps Black at all. No alternative on Move 29 helps either.

So the only real alternate line I see is:

29 Rd1 h1(Q)
30 Rxd6+ Kc7
31 Qd7+ Kb8
32 Rxb6 Ra7
33 ba

with mate to follow.

Jan-25-14  agb2002: White has a bishop for a rook and two pawns.

Black threatens 29... e3 and 29... Qd4+ followed by 30... Qxe5.

White can incorporate the rook into the attack with 29.Rd1:

A) 29... h1=Q 30.Rxd6+

A.1) 30... Qxd6 31.Qxd6+ Kc8 (31... Ke8 32.Qe7#) 32.b6 and mate soon after a few spite checks.

A.2) 30... Kc7 31.Rd7+ Kc8 (31... Kb8 32.Qxb6 e3 33.Bd6+ Kc8 34.Qc7#) 32.Qxb6 Kxd7 33.Qd6+ Kc8 (33... Ke8 34.Qe7#) 34.b6 as in A.1.

B) 29... d5 30.Qxb6+ is similar to previous lines. For example, 30... Kc8 31.Qe6+ Kb8 32.Qd6+ Ka7 33.b6#.

C) 29... Kc7 30.Bxd6+ Qxd6 (30... Kd8 31.Bb8+ and mate in two) 31.Qxd6+ Kc8 32.b6 and 33.Qc7#.

D) 29... Rh6 30.Qg8+ Kc7 31.Qxg7+ Kb8 32.Qxh6 + - [B vs P].

E) 29... Ra7 30.Rxd6+

E.1) 30... Kc7 31.Rd7+ Kc8 (31... Kb8 32.Qxb6 h1=Q 33.Bd6+ Ka8 34.Rd8+ Rxd8 35.Qxd8 Bc8 36.Qxc8#) 32.Qxb6 Kxd7 33.Qd6+ Kc8 34.b6 Ba8 35.bxa7 h1=Q 36.e6 Kb7 (36... Rd8 37.Qb8#) 37.Qd5+ Kb6 (37... Kc8 38.Qd7#; 37... Kxa7 38.Bc5+ Kb8 39.Bd6+ Ka7 (39... Kc8 40.Qxa8#) 40.Qc5+ Kb7 41.Qc7#) 38.Bc5+ Kb5 (38... Kc7 39.Qd7#; 38... Ka5 39.b4+ Kb5 40.a4#) 39.a4+ Ka5 40.b4#.

E.2) 30... Qxd6 31.Qxd6+ Kc8 32.b6 transposes to E.1.

Jan-25-14  morfishine: Since 29.Bxd6 allows 29...Qd4+ 30.Kc1 Qg1+ 31.Kd2 Qf2+ 32.Kc1 (if 32.Kc3 Rc8+) White must find something else

I only see one other candidate <29.Rd1> threatening 30.Rxd6+

<29.Rd1> This triple-attack on the d-pawn cannot be adequately defended

<29...Re8> (29...Rh6 fails to 30.Qg8+ Kc7 31.Qxg7+ Kc8 32.Qxh6)

<30.Rxd6+> To this, I don't see a good response for Black; If 30...Kc7 then 31.Qd7+ Kb8 32.Rxb6 and White wins; or 30...Qxd6 31.Qxd6+ Kc8 32.b6 and mate at c7

*****
PM: Right theme, wrong continuation for Black

*****

Jan-25-14  Granny O Doul: I was expecting something more like 32. Qe6+ Kc7 33. Bd6+ Kb6 34. Bc5+ Kc5 35. Qd6+ Kb5 36. a4+ Ka5 37. Qc5#.
Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: Nailed it perfectly!

That said, it took me a lot of time/tries to do so.

Jan-25-14  dakgootje: Had some problems with 29. Rd1 h1=Q 30. Rxd6 Kc7 31. Qd7+ Kb8 because 32. Rxb6 doesn't automatically win after 32. ..e3.

By defending with the queen, rather than Ra7, 33. bxa6 can simply be answered with Rxa6.

White still has some ideas, eg with Bd6, but found it too complicated to find anything decisive quickly.

As <agb2002> notes in his line A2 the trick seems to be playing to seemingly less logical 31. Rd7! And black seems lost, that is, I can't find a bust in his line.

Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: <dakgootje>,

Actually, Bd6+ looks like mate in two, via Rxa6#.

What am I overlooking?

Jan-25-14  morfishine: <dakgootje> After 29.Rd1 h1=Q 30.Rxd6 Kc7 31.Qd7+ Kb8 32.Rxb6 e3 33.Bd6+ Ka7 and now White has <34.Bc5> and Black has too many threats to defend: (ie: 34...Kb8 35.Qd6+ Kc8 36.Bxf5#)

*****

Jan-25-14  dakgootje: < Cheapo by the Dozen: <dakgootje>,

Actually, Bd6+ looks like mate in two, via Rxa6#.>

Oh, that's a nifty idea! I stand corrected, I completely missed that.

Heh, note to self: if you bother commenting on a weekend puzzle, at least grab a board to check :P

Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: <dakgootje>

I've been doing these puzzles for a few weeks, and I haven't grabbed a board or fired up a chess engine once.

Of course, I HAVE made a number of careless mistakes. ;)

Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: <Thumbtack>

I thought Colle System too for a few moves. But it didn't really have the feel of a Colle System game, which is often a struggle to see who makes a strong e-pawn break first.

And it also didn't feel like a Colle System because of the missing Nf3. :)

Jan-25-14  Patriot: Black is up the exchange and two pawns. Black may be threatening 29...Re8 or 29...Qg1 or 29...Qd4+ and then 30...Qg1+ or 29...e3.

The strongest move I see is 29.Bxd6:

29...Re8 30.Be7+ Kc7; Here I'm looking at 31.Qf7 threatening a discovered check or 31.Qc4+.

31.Qf7 Qd4+ 32.Ka3 Qg1 33.Bc4+

31.Qf7 Qxb5 32.Bc5+ Qd7 33.Bb6+ Kc6 34.Bxe4+ fxe4 35.Rc1+ Kxb6 36.Qxd7 h1=Q 37.Qd4+

That's a crazy line though not entirely forced.

29.Rd1 also looks very interesting.

29...h1=Q 30.Rxd6+ Qxd6 31.Qxd6+ Kc8 32.Qe6+ Kb8 33.Bd6+ Ka7 34.Qc4

I like 29.Rd1 the best as it's threats seem simpler.

Jan-25-14  Patriot: I completely missed some ideas. The position is a lot richer in threats than I was able to see.

29.Bxd6 turns out a draw. Black has 29...Qd4+ 30.Ka3?? axb5#! That's also a problem in my line <31.Qf7 Qd4+ 32.Ka3 Qg1 33.Bc4+>.

But I also didn't see a simple b6 idea at the right moment.

Board vision!

Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: <Patriot>,

Qd4+ can't be answered with Ka3, because ab is mate!

But if White retreats to the back rank instead, then Qg1 is check.

Also, in your Bd6+/Be7+/Q7 line, Rxe7 cools things down in response. And as noted above, there's time to interpolate Qd4+/Qg1+ before doing so, so Black should retain a hefty material advantage.

Jan-25-14  BOSTER: The combo in this game began with white to play move 27.


click for larger view

To see only the ending
of the combo this is the same like come to the party when most have already left.

Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: <Boster>

Push the start back to move 27, and the solver also has to work through the 27 Bd6 line. But

27 Bd6 Kf7
28 Bxc7 Rc8

probably puts that to bed, as Rf1 seems to be well-answered by g6.

Jan-25-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: A pretty crazy finish, as black gets the queen back, but ends up losing.
Jan-25-14  Marmot PFL: I admire the black king for staying in the center and taking the heat of the battle alongside his men, instead of cowering in the wings like most royalty.
Jan-25-14  bahduggi: 'very difficult' ?? Perhaps that would be closer to being so if we backed the game up a bit. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the poster intended it to be w to play on his 27th.
Jan-25-14  Patriot: <Cheapo by the Dozen> You're right. Thanks!
Jan-25-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <ThumbTack: I learned this opening long ago as the Colle System. After f4, I think it was called the Stonewall.> Yes, the ♙s are in a stonewall formation. But evidently <CG> doesn't regard either the Colle or the Stonewall as a proper opening name, because it's labeled here as just "Queen Pawn Game."
Jan-25-14  devere: <Cheapo by the Dozen: Oh, my. Rarely have I seen a position in which the defender finds tempi so useless. The main line is:
29 Rd1 h1(Q)
30 Rxd6+ Qxd6+
31 Qxd6+ Kc8
32 b6
33 Qc7#
The point is that nothing on Move 32 helps Black at all. No alternative on Move 29 helps either. So the only real alternate line I see is:
29 Rd1 h1(Q)
30 Rxd6+ Kc7
31 Qd7+ Kb8
32 Rxb6 Ra7
33 ba
with mate to follow.>

Most precise seems
29 Rd1 h1=Q 30 Rxd6+ Kc7 31.Qd7+ Kb8 32.Rxb6 Ra7 33.Bf8


click for larger view

33...Rxf8 (Qd1 delays mate by 1 move) 34.bxa6 e3 35.Qd6+ Kc8 36.Qxf8+ Kc7 37.Qd6+ Kc8 38.Bxf5#

Bravo Pillsbury!

Jan-25-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: <devere>,

I think that I overlooked the option of defending b7 by e6 in this line, and hence your analysis is correct.

Well done!

Apr-21-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: An amazing final position!

Black - so far ahead in material, can do nothing to save his King.

Dec-23-18  Saniyat24: The lone baird (poet in Scottish) in the far away forest...!
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