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Jackson Whipps Showalter vs Harry Nelson Pillsbury
Cambridge Springs (1904), Cambridge Springs, PA USA, rd 11, May-12
Russian Game: Classical Attack. Berger Variation (C42)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-30-03  Kenkaku: This one came at the end of his all-too-short career. I find it amazing that he was able to get such a brilliant win over Lasker in 1904, when he was so far gone with his illness.
Apr-28-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: I think he (Pillsbury) summoned all of his energies ... all that he left ... to defeat Lasker. A lot of people think Showalter was not a tough opponent. I think this game should go a long way to dispel that! (Sick or not ... most people could NOT defeat Pillsbury!!!)
Apr-28-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: For those who are interested, my friend has a beautiful website on Cambridge Springs, 1904. Use any search engine, type in "chess," "Cambridge Springs," "tournament," and the year, "1904," and you should quickly find it.
Sep-03-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: http://home.roadrunner.com/~etzel/c...

THE website for this tournament.

Dec-19-10  virasakof: how about 30 Qd8+
Dec-19-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: <virasakof>how about 30 Qd8+

<virasakof>,
The Queen is pinned against the King by the Black bishp, and cannot move.

May-23-22  Brenin: Black's Q needs be on the f-file to answer Qd8+ with Qf8, so tempt or drive it away with 31 Re2, e.g. 31 ... Qxe2 32 Qd8+ Rxd8 33 Rxd8 mate, or 31 ... e3 32 Qd8+ Qf8 33 Qxf8+ Rxf8 34 Rxg2, or 31 ... Qf8 32 Rxg2, both winning a R.
May-23-22  newzild: Perhaps a bit tricky for a Monday because of the number of lines involved, as well as the cook 31. Qd8+?? Qf8.
May-23-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  thegoodanarchist: Jackson Whipps Pillsbury
May-23-22  landshark: Time for bed -
I solved this for <Black> to move.
May-23-22  Brenin: <landshark>: Bad luck! Black to move is easy: exchange Qs and Rs on d2, then Rxb2+. White wins the P on e4, but Black's g- and h-pawns give him a clear win. Doubtless that was what Black had in mind when playing 30 ... Qxf2.
May-23-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  agb2002: White is two pawns down.

Black's back rank is weak but 31.Qd8+ is met with 31... Qf8. Therefore, 31.Re2:

A) 31... Qxe2 32.Qd8+ and mate next.

B) 31... e3 32.Qd8+ Qf8 33.Qxf8+ Rxf8 34.Rxg2 + - [R vs 2p].

May-23-22  saturn2: 31.Re2 threatens Rxf2 and Qd8
May-23-22  mel gibson: Black has some bad, back rack mating problems.

Stockfish 15 says:

31. Re2

(31. Re2 (♖e3-e2 e4-e3 ♕d2-d8+ ♕f2-f8 ♕d8xf8+ ♖b8xf8 ♖e2xg2 ♖f8-g8 ♖g2-e2 h7-h5 ♖d1-h1 g7-g6 ♖e2xe3 ♖g8-g7 ♖e3-e6 ♔h8-h7 b2-b4 ♔h7-h6 ♖e6-a6 c7-c6 ♖a6xc6 ♔h6-g5 ♔c1-c2 ♔g5-g4 ♖h1-g1+ ♔g4-f5 ♖c6-c5+ ♔f5-f6 ♖g1-h1 ♔f6-e6 ♔c2-b3 ♔e6-d7 a3-a4 ♔d7-e6 b4-b5 ♔e6-d6 ♔b3-b4 ♔d6-d7 ♔b4-a5 g6-g5 ♖h1xh5 g5-g4 ♖c5-g5 ♖g7xg5 ♖h5xg5) +9.76/38 698)

score for White +9.76 depth 38.

May-23-22  AlicesKnight: Seen in an old book years ago. Re2 wins at least a R for White. Black's previous move should have been to capture the P with the R, not the Q.
May-23-22  saturn2: Black missed 25...Rf6
May-23-22  Stanco: 31.Re2
May-23-22  TheaN: Perhaps a bit sophisticated for a Monday, after <31.Re2>, the key is not 31....Qxe2? 32.Qd8+ but <31....e3 32.Qd8+ Qf8 (Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Qf8 34.Rxf8#) 33.Qxf8+ Rxf8 34.Rxg2 +->. The fact that this line is four moves long already shows it's more difficult than the usual start of the week. Seeing the Re2-Qd8+ idea is key, though.
May-23-22  Cheapo by the Dozen: <TheaN> is correct. This is a Tuesday puzzle.

Fortunately, I love Tuesday puzzles!

May-23-22  Cheapo by the Dozen: 30 Rxe3 was a very successful trap or, as some call them, cheapo. :)
May-23-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  dorsnikov: Nailed it. Big Deal !? So did everyone else.
May-23-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: Equips oar Re2 fanfare eiderdown gobble blubb ghoul cabaret c u e2 doctor jangle too na its lion Re2 beauty
May-23-22  AnotherNN: Not so straightforward after all ...
After 31.Re2, then Black replies 31.... e3
Then 32. Qd8+ (not 32, RxQ because of 32... pxQ+!) 32.... Qf8 33.QxQ+ RxQ 34. RxR
May-23-22  johnnydeep: A little tough for a Monday IMHO. The "obvious" queen sac check doesn't work at all.
May-23-22  Transfinite Cardinal: Magnificent
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