| Aug-21-06 | | Runemaster: One of Short's many wins from the one-sided match between the US and UK champions. The major factor in Short's easy win in the match was his dominance against Alburt's favourite defence, the Alekhine. Here, Short wins a pawn and converts in the endgame; Black is unable to create a passed 'h' pawn and White will decide the game on the queenside. |
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| Aug-21-06 | | RookFile: Well, in this same town (Foxboro), the New England Patriots would later win 3 NFL championships. |
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Jul-19-13
 | | offramp: When the match started I'm certain that both players had identical Elo ratings. 2550 springs to mind. |
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Sep-27-13
 | | keypusher: 20....Qa6 21.axb3! Qxa1 22.Qd6 f6 23.Na3 Qa2 (23....Qxb2 24.Nc4 loses on the spot) 24.Nb5 Bg4 25.Qd8+ Kf7 26.Qd5+ Be6 (26....Kxe7 27.Bd6+ is crushing) 27.Qxb7 and White wins. |
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Sep-27-13
| | keypusher: Shredder thinks the ending after 20....Qg5 21.axb3 Qxg3 22.hxg3 Kxe7 is OK for Black. Instead of 33....Bxd4?, it likes 33....Bb3. |
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Feb-08-14
| | offramp: This was the first game of the match. Both players had the same rating: 2535. The match began on 18th January 1985.
Raymond Keene wrote:
<After he won the 1984 US championship, Soviet émigré Grandmaster Lev Alburt had a bright idea: to challenge the British champion, Nigel Short, to a match for the title of 'Champion of the English-Speaking World'. There were many advantages to this scheme - a drawn or won match would increase Alburt's reputation, while an honourable defeat would do little to
damage his prestige. Further, sponsors in Foxboro, Massachusetts, were
prepared to put up an $8,000 prize fund with $5,000 going to the winner. As
the pound began to sink against the dollar in the early part of this year,
such a prospect must have seemed increasingly attractive to young Nigel.
Whatever Alburt's initial expectations, what occurred was a disaster for him,
even though he was aided by GM seconds, Djinjihashvili and Sosonko, while
Nigel had to rely on his own wits.> |
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Feb-09-14
| | offramp: The first game of the match. This game was played on 18th January 1985. Both players had identical Elo ratings of 2535. Raymond Keene wrote: <After he won the 1984 US championship, Soviet émigré
Grandmaster Lev Alburt had a bright idea: to challenge the British champion, Nigel Short, to a match for the title of 'Champion of the English-Speaking World'. There were many advantages to this scheme - a drawn or won match would increase Alburt's reputation, while an honourable defeat would do little to damage his prestige. Further, sponsors in Foxboro, Massachusetts, were prepared to put up an $8,000 prize fund with $5,000 going to the winner. As the pound began to sink against the dollar in the early part of this year, such a prospect must have seemed increasingly attractive to young Nigel.
Whatever Alburt's initial expectations, what occurred was a disaster for him,
even though he was aided by GM seconds, Djinjihashvili and Sosonko, while
Nigel had to rely on his own wits.>
Short takes an early initiative against Alburt's absolute fave defence: The Alekhine's. Alburt had in fact just written a book on this opening. Not a good advert! After 18... h6
click for larger view
But Alburt controls the position and reaches an ending where if anything his position looks better:
30...Be5
click for larger view
Black loses a pawn and play goes into a rook ending after 40. Rxe4+ 
click for larger view ...which Short plays really well and manages to win. |
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Feb-09-14
 | | perfidious: Alburt's play from the second diagram in <offramp>'s previous post looks logical to a point with 30.....Be5 31.Rfd1 Rh7 32.Ra5 Bf6 33.Bd4; but I wonder about acquiescing in the exchange of dark-squared bishops, as Black falls into a passive position once the good bishop comes off. Instead of the line chosen by Black, maybe 33....Bb3 34.Rd2 Bd8 offers more, though in my opinion, White has enough activity to hold the balance in the face of the bishop pair. |
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| Jul-19-14 | | estrick: According to Kmelnitsky, 12.Bf6 is considered the main line,
and the moves 12. Nf6!? and 13.d5!? by White are somewhat dubious. After Black plays 12. ...Kf8, 13. ...e4!, followed White moving their queen, 15. ...Nxd5! is strong. see
E Mnatsakanian vs Khmelnitsky, 1989 |
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| Sep-21-22 | | atragon: 14. Qg3 Na6! and black is absolutely OK |
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Kibitzing
