chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Robert Byrne vs Larry Evans
"Byrne Baby Byrne" (game of the day Mar-11-2011)
United States Championship (1965), New York, NY USA, rd 11, Dec-30
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. Poisoned Pawn Accepted (B97)  ·  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)better is 12.Ne4 Qxa2 13.Rd1 h6 14.Bh4 Qb2 15.Qe3 Bc5 16.c3 Qa3 ⩱ -0.62 (28 ply)12...Be7 was played in I Bilek vs Fischer, 1962 (0-1) ⩱ -1.30 (19 ply) 14.a3 Bc5 15.Bxe6 O-O 16.Bd5 Nxe5 17.Nf3 Re8 18.Ne4 Nbc6 ⩱ -0.93 (18 ply) ∓ -2.05 (20 ply)better is 16.exf6 Kh8 17.Bd3 Rg8 18.Qh6 Nf8 19.Ne4 Bc5 20.c3 Nbd7 ⩱ -1.12 (21 ply) ∓ -1.70 (20 ply) 17.Nce2 f5 18.Rh3 Nf6 19.Rff3 Kh8 20.Re3 Qxe3+ 21.Qxe3 ⩱ -0.80 (24 ply)-+ -4.27 (19 ply) 21...Qg4 22.Qxf6 Qxg3 23.hxg3 Nbc6 24.Re1 Nxc4 25.Nxc4 +- +3.68 (24 ply)+- +7.10 (24 ply) after 22.Bd3 Nc6 23.h3 Ne5 24.hxg4 Qxg4 25.Rxg4+ Nxg4 26.Qh4 +- mate-in-17 after 28.Nh5 Rg8 29.Bxf7 Rxg4 30.Nf4 Rh4+ 31.Qxh4 Kg736...Ng7 37.Nb6 Be6 38.Nxa8 Kg8 39.Qb8+ Kf7 40.Qb7+ Kf8 +- +10.21 (30 ply)1-0

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

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 14 times; par: 41 [what's this?]

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

explore this opening
find similar games 15 more R Byrne/Evans games
sac: 15.Bf6 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: To flip the board (so black is on the bottom) press the "I" key on your keyboard.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-16-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: <Conrad93><how is that possible? Is Byrne Nostradamus?> I'm guessing here, but: Up to move 14 was probably a known "book" line at that time; Byrne could have prepared the almost forced line from move 15 to around move 30, most branches of which lose even faster; and the rest was probably found over the board.
Dec-16-12  Boomie: 12...Bb4 is inaccurate. However the refutation 12...Qa5 wasn't found until 1967 by Fischer. Although white has a huge initiative, black can survive with at least a pawn to the good.

The King of the Poisoned Pawn showed how black can exploit 12. Bc4

G Mazzoni vs Fischer, 1967

15...gxf6 is a blunder after which black is probably lost.

Better is:

15...Nxf6 16. exf6 Rd8 17. fxg7 Rxd4 18. Qf2 Qf5 19. Qxd4 Bc5 20. Rxf5 Bxd4+ 21. Rf2 b5 22. Be2 Nd7


click for larger view

With about a half a Houdini pawn advantage for black.

Dec-17-12  Conrad93: Even with the refutation, the double knight sacrifice is brilliant.

Even Rybka missed it for a second.

Dec-17-12  Boomie: <Conrad93: Even with the refutation, the double knight sacrifice is brilliant.>

Indeed. A good example of tactics springing from an idea. Once he saw how powerful Rg3 was, the line clearing sacs became obvious.

Dec-18-12  Conrad93: 28.Nxf5 was more effective. That's my only issue here.
Apr-13-13  Calli: Horowitz in the NYT says that Byrne hoped to play his prepared line against Fischer who often played the Najdorf Poisoned pawn, but Byrne drew Black against RJF in the tournament, Fischer vs R Byrne, 1965 so Evans had the headache of trying to figure out Byrne's prep over the board.
Apr-14-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: I realize it's already served as Game of the Day, but I respectfully nominate this one for Game of the Day tomorrow to honor Mr. Byrne.
Apr-14-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: What a barn-burner!
Apr-14-13  RookFile: This is the way chess should be played. A game that does credit to both players.
Apr-14-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  kingscrusher: RIP Robert Byrne

I have video annotated this game here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqod...

Jul-22-13  Caissanist: Lubosh Kavalek annotated this game in his obituary for Byrne in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lubom... .
Oct-08-13  MarkFinan: I was just about to comment on how totally brilliant this game is, then eerily realised I'd commented twice before on exactly the same days a year apart! Unbelievable, haven't seen a game in top level chess for eons

Feb-19-14  MarkFinan: Found it! What a complete numptie I really am, lol. I did mean that it was a win for white!? 😃😃
Feb-23-14  wrap99: Does the early a6 by Black not make this the O'Kelly variation and if so, isn't 3.c4 much stronger than 3.Nc3?
Feb-23-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <wrap99: Does the early a6 by Black not make this the O'Kelly variation (?)>

It would have if White had not opted for a transposition.

<....and if so, isn't 3.c4 much stronger than 3.Nc3?>

Believe the theoretical recommendation is indeed 3.c4 with a good game, which is why this is seldom seen.

Feb-26-14  MarkFinan: I still think that Nf5!! (and the move preceding and following) here is one of the best combination of moves I've seen in chess. I realise that is some statement to make because a lot of people here know a lot more than me, but even so? How *classy* is this? #brilliant


click for larger view

And then when exf5 to follow with Ne4!! Maybe Mr Goldsby would like to make a video on this?? 😃

Nov-06-14  Cheapo by the Dozen: Move 34 seems like Monday/Tuesday puzzle material.
Mar-14-16  morfishine: And I thought "Super Nez" laid out some crazy combinations, this has to be Byrne's best, god rest his soul
Mar-15-16  andrewjsacks: Too little-known a game.
Mar-25-16  Imran Iskandar: What a game! Can't believe I hadn't come across this sooner!
Sep-04-16  victim2: Oh yes please.
Make it all burn.
My count...

I give it about a few months to a year.
I suggest you all get your sherry and vanilla.

And watch the show gents :)

Apr-06-17  RookFile: What a great game. Evans was so close to beating off this attack. Byrne had to play an amazing attack!
May-19-20  MaczynskiPratten: One author who did appreciate this game was Irving Chernev. In "The Chess Companion" (1970) he included it with the note, "Robert Byrne turns out a sparkler which may well be the most brilliant game played by an American in the last ten years."
May-21-21  Cibator: <FSR: I submitted this pun! It is an allusion to the song "Disco Inferno" (Burn, baby, burn! Disco inferno!"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_...

Strewth, and there was I thinking it meant this 'ere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bML...

- an incredibly prescient (and also very catchy) song which came out a good two years earlier than "Disco Inferno", but as it was by a lowish-profile UK band, probably never figured in the USA.

May-21-21  Granny O Doul: Of course, the phrase was a popular chant during the era of urban riots in the USA in the 1960s.

It was also, I see, a pulp novel by a young aspiring screenwriter named Samuel Fuller in 1935. In this instance, reportedly, the phrase was used to taunt rather than to incite. More or less as the simple "burn!" was used in much of Canada and the midwestern USA in the 1970s, later revived by That Seventies Show.

Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 3)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  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:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. 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.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

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

Blow the Whistle

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.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC