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Max Euwe vs Yuri Averbakh
Zuerich Candidates (1953), Zuerich SUI, rd 11, Sep-16
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation. Bernstein Defense (E58)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 34 times; par: 62 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-03-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: Very bad "bad Bishop".:-)

Averbakh's sac of Knight in ending was not extremely difficult to find and calculate, but it is nice and very instructive.

Feb-03-04  Bears092: It's not hard to find. It's just hard to find which move to play it on.
Apr-14-05  Poisonpawns: Incredible ending 36...Nxa3!! clearing the road for the pawns!
Apr-14-05  RookFile: Wonder why Euwe played Nc3 and then
resigned. Hard to understand, did
he feel the need to throw the knight
out the window for free?
Apr-14-05  aw1988: White had a forced win with 40. Ba3!! .
Apr-14-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: How? 40...Nxa3 and then what? 41 Nc3 Nc2+ and ...a3 certainly doesn't look good.
Apr-14-05  aw1988: I was kidding.
Apr-14-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Sorry, I am a moron.
Apr-15-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: <aw1988> Objection: Leading.

Counsel is hereby reminded that any intentional misrepresentation constitutes grounds for sanctions. Move to strike.

*slap*

Apr-15-05  aw1988: <tpstar> What am I paying you for, anyway?!
Apr-15-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: <aw1988> Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?
Apr-15-05  aw1988: Lol. Very clever. You must read quite a bit.
Jun-25-05  gladiator367: Throughout this game the bishop was acting like a pawn.
Oct-02-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: According to Jon Speelman, Euwe should have moved his Knight towards b1 to reinforce the Queenside, eg 32. ♘f4 ♔f7 33. g3 ♘d6 34. ♘g2 ♘b5 35. ♘e3 ♔e6 36. ♘f1 ♘f8 37. ♘d2

Source: Jon Speelman, "Endgame Preparation", Batsford, 1981

Feb-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: 11 Nd2 was apparently prepared by Euwe for the tournament but it is very slow and has never been repeated; 11 Ne5 is the standard move. Several commentators were critical of 15 Re1 saying that 15 e4 at once was best; Averbakh said he would have responded with 15..b4. Euwe's strategy of allowing his bishop and rook to get locked in on the queenside was certainly unusual. Averbakh was critical of 21..Nfg8?! allowing White to activate his pieces recommending instead 21..Rae8 22 e5..Nfg8 23 Nh5..f5. Also he thought that 22..Qd8 would have been better than his 22..f5?!. 26 Re5! forcing 26..Nfe7 and only then 27 Rae1 would have made Black's defensive task more difficult.

<According to Jon Speelman, Euwe should have moved his Knight towards b1 to reinforce the Queenside, eg 32. f4 f7 33. g3 d6 34. g2 b5 35. e3 e6 36. f1 f8 37. d2> Actually, this analysis is taken directly from Bronstein's book; Averbakh thought that this line was still winning for Black after 33..g5 34 Ng2..Ng6 and if 35 Ne3..Nxe3 36 Kxe3 followed by bringing the king to f5 and opening lines by advancing his kingside pawns.

Euwe apparently did not see Averbakh's piece sacrifice; instead of 34 f4? he should have been bringing his knight back with 34 Nf4 to support his bishop. A pretty finish would have been 37 Nxd5..Nc2+ 38 Kd2..Ne4+ 39 Kc1..Nf2 40 Nb6..Nd3+ 41 Kb1..a3 42 Nxc4..a2#. Note that 39..Nxe2? 40 Kxe2..c3 41 Kd1..b2 42 Bxb2..cxb 43 Kc2..a3 44 g5! would only have drawn.

Mar-22-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  woldsmandriffield: Averbakh’s plan of 19..Ne7, 20..Kh8, and 21..Nfg8 was exceptional.
Mar-22-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: < RookFile: Wonder why Euwe played Nc3 and then resigned. Hard to understand, did
he feel the need to throw the knight
out the window for free?>

Bronstein and Najdorf both indicate that White resigned after 39....Nb1. I'll submit a correction.

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