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Samuel Reshevsky vs David Bronstein
"Whizz KID" (game of the day May-29-2006)
Zuerich Candidates (1953), Zuerich SUI, rd 13, Sep-22
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Long Variation (E68)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

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

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Given 27 times; par: 84 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-25-09  WhiteRook48: ok, that pun was just funny
Jan-29-09  WhiteRook48: and really funny
Mar-06-09  Jim Bartle: Bronstein writes that white had a winning combination if black had played 32...Qe5. White follows 33. Rxf5 and wins with either recapture.
Jul-21-10  Ulhumbrus: After Black's fifteenth move 15...Qa5 Ulf Andersson gives <16 Rxd6 Ne5 17 b3 axb3 18 axb3 Bxh3! 19 Bxh3 Nf3+ 20 Ke1 Nxe1 21 Kxe1 Nxe4! 22 Rd3 Qa1+! 23 Nb1! < if 23 Nd1 then 23...Ra2 24 Qc1 Nxf2!! and Black is winning: 25 Kxf2 Rxe3> 23...Ra2 24 Qd1 and Black has a beautiful position>
Dec-19-10  YCP: Why not 30. Bxd8
Jan-23-11  Whitehat1963: Seems like a tricky endgame, which might account for the low par score in Guess the Move.
Jun-21-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: 12 Rb1 with the idea of an early b4 is considered strongest nowadays but at the time of this game the best plans for White had not yet been discovered. 12..Nfxe4 13 Nxe4..Bxd4 14 14 Bg5..Qd7 (14..f6? 15 Bxf6!) 15 Nxf6+..Bxf6 16 Bxf6 would have won a pawn but given up his invaluable dark-squared bishop. Bronstein gave a sample line indicating the danger of taking the pawn with 16 Rxd6: 16..Ne5 17 b3..Bxh3 18 Bxh3..Nf3+ 19 Kf1..Nxe1 20 Kxe1..axb 21 axb..Nxe4 22 Rd3..Qa1+ 23 Nd1..Ra2 24 Qc1..Nxf2 25 Kxf2..Rxe2+.

Bronstein after 18 f4: "After making this active move Reshevsky offered a draw, although to all appearances he was in a fighting mood, and would have been upset if I had accepted the offer. His question "Are you playing for a win?" more of a probe against an opponent whom he wanted to egg on into making some rash step."

Dvoretsky pointed out that Bronstein missed a promising sacrifice with 33..Nxa2 34 Qxa2..Rxe5 35 Rxe5..Bxe5 36 Bf2..Bd4 37 Rd3..Qf5! 38 Qd2..c5 with excellent compensation for the piece. After 35 Rf8 Reshevsky again offered a draw but with the strong pawn on a3, the exposed white king and the superior minor pieces Bronstein refused the offer. A really great fighting game.

Oct-04-14  tranquilsimplicity: Firstly, I thought it was against Chess etiquette to ask for a draw twice? Correct me if I am wrong.

Secondly and finally, I find that when it comes to creative play involving sacrifices, it is difficult for one player to judge another's play, because the one being corrected for missing a particular "promising line or combination" may have seen the particular line and not warmed up to the benefits of it. And thus chosen to continue in a different manner. In fact, this argument has led to my suspension of criticising the play of others. It would be better to make suggestions.#

Oct-04-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: <tranquilsimplicity: Firstly, I thought it was against Chess etiquette to ask for a draw twice? Correct me if I am wrong.>

Not familiar with that. I don't see a problem if the situation on the board has changed.

Oct-04-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: The scenario described by <plang> would never have bothered me, either, though I recall two instances in the 1980s where my opponent proposed a draw no less than six times.
Oct-05-14  tranquilsimplicity: Ah! I actually enquired from ignorance not presumption. Now I feel less guilty about 2 tournaments games that I drew, but upon later analysis knew I could have lost. I had felt this during the game. And the guilt arose because I could sense that my opponents knew they had a better position. Thank you for the correction.#
Oct-05-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: I am often offered draws when my position is better (and often multiple times, especially by kids), or when I have the initiative and playing the other side is hard.

The good thing is that draw offers when your position is better are a sign of insecurity or a sign that your opponent feels uncomfortable with their position, confirming your own evaluation.

Oct-05-14  tranquilsimplicity: <Fusilli> Indeed. I have also been offered draws when I am clearly better and have a won game; especially by kids. Sometimes it crosses my mind, "This surely isn't Chess etiquette. Asking a draw when on the verge of losing". But being a nice guy, I just decline and usually they resign.#
Oct-05-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: <tranquilsimplicity> I usually decline just by making my move, or politely saying "I want to play on", but on a few occasions, when offended by the "offer", I curtly said "no", even right after hearing it, before I moved.

And how ridiculous to call them "offers", by the way. You cannot offer what you don't have! Once I wrote a letter to Larry Evans' column in Chess Life suggesting that we should say "I propose a draw" rather than the condescending "I offer you a draw". He said he agreed with me, but realistically added "good luck"... with getting people to switch.

Oct-05-14  breaker90: There have been quite a few times in my chess career when I get offended by a draw offer from a lower-rated opponent. The position is rich and complicated and I have an advantage... and then they offer a draw to me. This actually makes me want to beat them even more.
Oct-05-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: One strong player I knew long ago was in the habit of proposing draws to clearly weaker players in many cases when he felt he stood worse, though he would never have insulted an equal by doing so.
Oct-06-14  tranquilsimplicity: <Perfidious> Now that chap was what we call a gentleman.

<Fusilli> Ha..ha..ha..Your way of handling ungentlemanly draw "offers" is enlightening; I will adopt it. And I also agree with you that the condescending "I offer you a draw" ought to be replaced by "I propose a draw".#

Oct-06-14  tranquilsimplicity: And if I ever want a draw, I will propose and not offer. I will also teach my nieces to propose draws; never mentioning the phrase 'offer a draw' ever again.#
Oct-07-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: <tranquilsimplicity> That's the spirit! I think I've been saying "Would you like a draw?" Anything but "I offer you a draw"!
Dec-25-14  Ulhumbrus: <plang: 12 Rb1 with the idea of an early b4 is considered strongest nowadays but at the time of this game the best plans for White had not yet been discovered.> This brings to mind the games F Zita vs Bronstein, 1946 and Pachman vs Bronstein, 1946
Dec-03-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jonathan Sarfati: Opposite-coloured Bs with Qs on is a Bronstein speciality. Compare Taimanov vs Bronstein, 1975
Aug-17-19  typhoonsub: 31...Nc2! was decisive
Nov-07-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  saffuna: Analyzed by Daniel King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW5...

Bronstein wrote he was ordered to play for a win.

Apparently Reshevsky could not play 44. Qxb7+ because the black queen would continue to approach and the checks would run out.

Nov-07-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  saffuna: Reshevsky offered draws after 18. f4 and 34.e6.
Nov-09-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <Apparently Reshevsky could not play 44. Qxb7+ because the black queen would continue to approach and the checks would run out.>

In the tournament book Bronstein describes it as a rare example of a king pushing back a queen: 44.Qxb7+ Kd8 45.Qa8+ Kc7 and the queen is out of checks and can't assist the king. If 46.Bg2, then ...Qe1+ 47.Kh2 Be5#.

<Bronstein wrote he was ordered to play for a win.>

My opponents regularly receive such orders, and always carry them out.

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