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Paul Keres vs Vladimir Petrov
USSR Championship (1940), Moscow URS, rd 19, Oct-02
King's Gambit: Falkbeer Countergambit. Charousek Gambit Keres Variation (C32)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
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Aug-10-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: Delve in forest a c4 keres un-cork gob-smacked g4 queenee can fish

for lip sink queen e8 mitigate king gets materd very shortly account

in good, lesson to be discovered in just Chopin liked "Hats off

gentlemen, a genius!" staunch rebuttal c6 defence undone by Rxd5 and

search in see bishops provide as Anderssen try "Chess is the

gymnasium of the mind." Deja vu for hood encapsulate it her in e8 c4

suffer style in resplendid jaunt e8+ ran faithful rook step in to

block queen ear, gentle bishop opening b4 free tunnelled in g6#

Aug-10-12  Abdel Irada: <Choose your poison>

Passive-queen-sac week continues on CG.com, this time with Keres' startling 21. ♗c4!. This hangs two pieces, but Black daren't take either of them, as the following variations prove:

(1) 21. ...♘xe3?;
22. ♖d8†, ♔h7 ▢;
23. ♖h8#.

(2) 21. ...♕xc4?;
22. ♕e8†, ♖f8;
23. ♕xg6#.

Declining the offer, for the most part, amounts to choosing arsenic over cyanide. White won't have an immediate mate, but he will win decisive material. Some examples:

(3) 21. ...♗e6;
22. ♗xd5

(4) 21. ...♕f4;
22. ♕xf4, ♖xf4;
23. ♗xd5†

(5) The toughest nut to crack is the unassuming 21. ...c6!. This might continue:

22. ♖xd5!, cxd5;
23. ♗xd5, where Black can go wrong with

(5.1) 23. ...♗d7/♗f5; 24. ♕h6 , and mate will be impossible to forestall. He has better, however, in

(5.2) 23. ...♔f8;
24. ♕c5†. Now Black perishes with either

(5.2.1) 24. ...♔e8;
25. ♖e1†, ♔d8;
26. ♗f6†!, ♖xf6;
27. ♕e7# or

(5.2.2) 24. ...♔g8;
25. ♕e7, ♕f4†;
26. ♔b1, ♗g4;
27. ♗f6, ♖af8;
28. ♗xf7†, ♖xf7;
29. ♕e8†, ♖f8;
30. ♕xg6#.

The lines in variation (5) are complex, and I may have overlooked stronger plans for either or both players, but they're the best I've been able to find so far.

Now to see if the immortal Keres found an improvement.

Aug-10-12  Abdel Irada: Confound Vladimir Petrov, anyway!

He failed to find the most stubborn defense, so now I don't get to see how Keres would have busted it.

Aug-10-12  agb2002: White has the bishop pair for a bishop, a knight and two pawns.

Black threatens 21... Nxe3.

The black queen protects the pawn on g6, preventing 21.Qe8+ Rf8 (21... Kh7 22.Qh8#) 22.Qxg6#. The rook on d1 could also take part in the attack through Black's back rank. The rook on f7 would be useless if pinned with White's LSB on c4. These details suggest 21.Bc4, to maximize the coordination of the white pieces and threatening also Bxd5:

A) 21... Nxe3 22.Rd8+ Kh7 23.Rh8#.

B) 21... Qxc4 22.Qe8+ and mate next.

C) 21... Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Nxe3 is similar to A.

D) 21... c6 22.Rxd5 cxd5 (22... Qxc4 23.Qe8+ and mate next) 23.Qe8+ Rf8 24.Bxd5+

D.1) 24... Be6 25.Bxe6+ Kh7 (25... Qxe6 26.Qxe6 Rf7 -26... Kh7 27.Qe7+ and mate in two- 27.Qxg6+ is a massacre) 26.Qe7+ and mate in two.

D.2) 24... Kh7 25.Qe7+ and mate in two.

E) 21... Qf4 22.Qxf4 Rxf4 (22... Nxf4 23.Rd8+ Kh7 24.Rh8#) 23.Bxd5+ Kf8 (23... Kh7 24.Rde1 with the threat 25.Re7+ Kh6 26.Bg7+ Kh7 27.Be5+) 24.Rdf1 Rxf1 25.Rxf1+ Ke7 (25... Ke8 26.Bf7+ and 27.Bxg6 + - [B vs P]) 26.Rf7+ Kd6 27.Be4 Be6 28.Rf6 Ke7 29.Bxg6 Bxa2 30.Bxh5 + - [B vs P] (30... Rh8 31.Re6+ B(K)xe6 32.Bxh8).

Aug-10-12  morfishine: Finagled with this for awhile before realizing <21.Bc4> works since a rook check at <d8> or a Queen check at <e8> result in the same thing: mate at either <h8> or <g7>. Black's bishop at <c8> leaves the back-rank vulnerable:

(1) <21...Qxc4 22.Qe8+ Rf8 23.Qxg6#>

(2) <21...Nxe3 22.Rd8+ Kh7 23.Rh8#>

(3) <21...c6 22.Rxd5> Here, I am unable to find a decent Black reply:

(3a) <22...exd5 23.Qe8+ Rf8 24.Bxd5+>

(3b) <22...Qxc4 23.Qe8+ Rf8 24.Qxg6#>

(3c) <22...Be6 23.Rd4>

(3d) <22...Bf5 23.Rd4 Qg2 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7 25.Qb3+> and White, up a rook, wins:


click for larger view

Aug-10-12  RandomVisitor:


click for larger view

Rybka 4.1 x64:

[+4.18] d=22 21.Bc4 Be6 22.Rxd5 Qxc4 23.Qxe6 Qg4 24.Qxg4 hxg4 25.h5 Kh7 26.Rg5 Kh6 27.Rxg6+ Kh7 28.Rxg4 Raf8 29.Rhg1 Rf1+ 30.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 31.Kd2 Rf7 32.Rg6 c5 33.Kd3 b6 34.Bf6 Rf8 35.Ke4 Re8+ 36.Be5

[+3.29] d=22 21.Qc5 Bf5 22.Qxd5 Qf4+ 23.Kb1 c6 24.Qc4 Bxd3 25.Qxd3 Qf5 26.Qxf5 Rxf5 27.Rhg1 g5 28.Rxg5+ Rxg5 29.hxg5 Re8 30.Rh1 Kh7 31.Rxh5+ Kg6 32.Rh6+ Kxg5 33.Rh7 Rb8 34.Bd4 b6 35.Rxa7 Kf5 36.Bf2

Aug-10-12  Abdel Irada: <Upon further review...>

Batter me, fry me and serve me with a side of chips. In my line (5), I completely overlooked the deadly zwischenzug 23. ♕e8†. After the forced 23. ...♖f8, White obliterates Black's defenses in short order with 24. ♗xd5†, ♗e6; 25. ♗xe6†, ♔h7; 26. ♕e7†, ♖f7; 27. ♕xf7†, ♔h6; 28. ♕g7#.

Aug-10-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  LoveThatJoker: Tremendous! A GM Keres puzzle!

<21. Bc4! c6>

[21...Qxc4 22. Qe8+ Rf8 (22...Kh7 23. Qh8#) 23. Qg6#; 21...Nxe3 22. Rd8+ Kh7 23. Rh8#; 21...Qf4 22. Qxf4 Nxf4 (22...Rxf4 23. Bxd4+ ) 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rhf1 as Black loses his N on f4]

<22. Rxd5 cxd5 23. Bxd5 Kf8>

The best of the available K moves. Had the K stayed on g8, White would have the dual threats of Qe8+ and Qh6; also, the f4 square would be taboo for Black's Q.

<24. Qh6+ Ke8>

(24...Ke7 25. Bxf7 as well )

<25. Bxf7 Kxf7 26. Qh7+> and White will win due to both Black's Q-side being undeveloped and White's R entering the battle decisively.

LTJ

Aug-10-12  CHESSTTCAMPS: White's powerful Harrwitz bishops and active major pieces provide more than ample compensation for the two-pawn deficit. Black's biggest weakness is the back rank undefended by the Ra8 which is blocked by the undeveloped Bc8. (How often have we seen this?) Black threatens 21... Nxe3 (and can answer 21.Qe5 with 21... Qf4+), but as in yesterday's POTD, the threat against the queen can be ignored.

21.Bc4!! finishes elegantly, exploiting the overworked Q and Rf7:

A) 21... Nxe3 22.Rd8+ Kh7 23.Rh8#

B) 21... Qxc4 22.Qe8+ Rf8 (Kh7 23.Qh8#) 23.Qxg6#

C) 21... c6 22.Qe5! Qf4+ (22... Rh7 23.Qe8#) 23.Qxf4 Nxf4 24.Rd8+ Kh7 25.Rh8#

D) 21... Qe6 22.Qd4! Qe3+ (the double threat of Qh8# and Bxd5 can't be met) 23.Qxe3 Nxe3 24.Rd8+ etc

E) 21... Be6 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 wins a piece and the game.

Time for review...

Aug-10-12  Patriot: Black is up a few pawns for the bishop pair and threatens 21...Nxe3.

21.Qe8+ Rf8 22.Qxg6+ Qxg6 23.Bxg6 Nf4 looks interesting.

21.Qh6 Qf4+ makes it tough for white.

I'll go with the first line.

Aug-10-12  fokers13: <Patriot> Happy that someone came up with the first idea(even though i didn't put in as much effort as i should have),i believe thet position after Rg1 is quite promising for white despite being a pawn behind.
Aug-10-12  psmith: 21. Bc4 was actually easy to see… 21…. Nxe3 22. Rd8+ Kh7 23. Rh8#; 21…. Qxc4 22. Qe8+ Rf8 23. Qxg6#; 21…. c6 22. Rxd5 cxd5 23. Qe8+ Rf8 24. Bxd5+. Well, I missed a couple of variations, but I'll count it.
Aug-10-12  PizzatheHut: How does white continue on 19...Nxd3+ followed by 20...Bxe6?
Aug-10-12  James D Flynn: Black is 2 pawns up but his K appears somewhat exposed to the bishop pair. White’s immediate concern is the black N attack on the White Q, therefore a Q move appears forced: candidates 21.Qh6, Qe5,Qc5. 21.Qh6 Qf4+ 22.Qxf4 Nxf4 23.Bc4 Be6 and the position is simplified with Black retaining his material advantage. 21.Qe5 Qf4+ transposes to the Qh6line.
21.Qc5 Be6 22.Bxg6 Qxg6 23.Rhg1 Bg4 24.Rxd5 Kh7 25.Rg5 Qf4+ 26.Kb1(threat Rxh5+) Qh6 27.Rxg4 hxg4 28.Rh5 and White will enter the end with Q and B versus 2 Rs and mating threats eg.Qxh5 29.Qxh5+ Kg8 30.Qh8# or Rg8 29 Bc1 Qxh5 30.Qxh5+ Kg7 31.Qh6#.
Aug-10-12  Babes: @PizzatheHut White plays 20. cxd3 and if 20...Bxe6 then 21. Qh6 f6 22. Rhg1-g6-f6 is game over. 20...Qxe6 runs into basically the same thing, and against 20...fxe6 21. Rdf1 looks like the way to go, and with opposite color bishops, Black's weak dark squares, and the pitiful state of Black's queenside, White's attack should be far too powerful.
Aug-10-12  Marmot PFL: This was one of the most difficult puzzles in a while, as there were many candidates. I ruled out Bc4 not because of Nxe3 Rd8+ etc, but because black had Qxc4 or c6. White can answer both I didn't look far enough. Instead I would settle for the ending 21 Qe8+ Rf8 22 Qxg6+ Qxg6 23 Bxg6 and Rg1, but that is probably just a draw.
Aug-10-12  Blunderdome: Played Bc4 but only analyzed Nxe3 and Qxc4, didn't really think about c6.
Aug-10-12  KingV93: Good puzzle. I saw the mating idea but not the how to implement it. Gotta look a little harder.

I also like this one as I have been playing the Kings Gambit a lot and have been getting the Falkbeer in response and have been searching for the best way to respond. I'll have to try 4.d3 and work on getting out of the opening with better success. I have scored some wins against it but it is a good response to 2.f4

Aug-10-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: 21.Bc4! looks good. Pins the Rook on f7, so If NxQ, then Rd8+ and mates.

One of the things that I tell my students all the time is when you get a promising position, look to get all of your pieces involved in the attack.

Aug-10-12  kevin86: 21 Bc4!! was brilliant. The queen is immune and the attack proceeds.
Aug-10-12  David2009: Keres vs V Petrov, 1940 White 21?

21 Bc4 GOOT! seeing Qxc4 22.Qe8+ Rf8 (or Kh7 23.Qh8#) 23.Qxg6#, or Nxe3 22.Rd8+ Kh7 (forced since the Rf7 is now pinned) Rh8#. Black can stave off mate by surrendering material with 21...Be6. Time to check:
====
Well, I have learned something today. Not so much about tactics as about the perils of over-confident transpositions in Rook endings. I set the puzzle position


click for larger view

(Keres vs V Petrov 1940 21?) up on Craft End Game Trainer:
http://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-t... and bashed out the following moves without much thought:

21.Bc4 Be6 22.Rxd5 Qxc4 23.Qxe6 Qc6 24.Qxc6 bxc6 25.Rg5 Kh7 26.Rhg1 Rg8 27.Ra5 Rf4 28.Rxa7 Rxh4 29.Rxc7+ Kh6 30.Rxc6 Rg4 31.Rxg4 hxg4 32.Be5 Re8 33.Bg3 Kh5 34.Rc5+ g5 35.Bf4 Re4 36.Bxg5 g3 37.Bf4+ Kg4 38.Bxg3 Kxg3 39.Rf5 Kg4 to reach with White to play:


click for larger view

(Keres vs V Petrov 1940 var, 40?) With the Black King cut off this is an easy White endgame win right? Wrong - you try it! Further Crafty EGT link to the second diagram:
http://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-t...

Aug-10-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jimfromprovidence: I saw 21 Bc4 Be6 22 Bxd5 Bxd5 23 Rhg1!


click for larger view

One reasonable continuation is 23...Bg2 24 Qh6.


click for larger view

Black now has to trade queens and is losing after 24...Qf4+ 25 Qxf4 Rxf4 26 Rxg2.


click for larger view

White threatens Rxg6+ as well as Rd7.

Aug-10-12  Chessdreamer: Presumably Black actually resigned after 23.Qe8+ 1-0.
Aug-10-12  backrank: <Chessdreamer: Presumably Black actually resigned after 23.Qe8+>

According to Reinfeld, he did so.

Aug-10-12  Patriot: <<fokers13>: <Patriot> Happy that someone came up with the first idea(even though i didn't put in as much effort as i should have),i believe thet position after Rg1 is quite promising for white despite being a pawn behind.> Thanks! It doesn't look bad at all. Houdini gives white a slight advantage. But of course it says white is winning by a big margin after 21.Bc4.
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