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David Bronstein vs Pal Benko
Moscow-Budapest (1949), Moscow URS, rd 9, Apr-??
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit. Marshall Variation (B20)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-13-04  InspiredByMorphy: This is a great game! I wanted Bronstein to win soo badly! Good play by both sides.
Apr-09-05  aw1988: I just thought "How can this be a draw, white is losing a rook after Rxe7+". Then, to my angst, I realized that a) it is white to move and b) black can also move with draw.
Apr-09-05  Milo: The "back rank defense" as they call it in FCE (I think).
Jul-23-05  Resignation Trap: <InspiredByMorphy> Botvinnik didn't agree with you. While preparing for his 1951 match vs. Bronstein, this is what he wrote in his personal red notebook about this game: "Sicilian with 2. b4. Benko played for simplification and had complete equality. In the endgame played weakly and 'Br' skilfully gained (apparently) a very good ending. Played for exchanges, won a pawn, but on one flank was unable to do anything.

Agonising adjournment session in a theoretically drawn position.

A poor game."

Jul-23-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  IMlday: Yikes!
Jul-15-14  Howard: Looks like someone was trying to squeeze water out of a stone here. I assume the endgame tablebases would confirm that this was all in vain, assuming correct play by the weaker side, correct ?
Jul-15-14  zanzibar: Shredder's 6-man endgame tabledase gives White a win in 33-moves after 54.Rxh4.

Not an easy task, apparently:


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The game, with perfect play by Black, was decided on the next move:


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54.e6 gave a draw.

Winning moves were 54.Ra4 or 54.Ke6 (adding two moves).

Jul-15-17  RookFile: Hard to believe Benko held this. He was lost and had to basically play perfect moves to even have a chance. He was rewarded for his defensive efforts.
Jun-18-18  Omnipotent00001: The position after white's 38th move is a draw.

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