chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Ossip Bernstein vs Alexander Kotov
Groningen (1946), Groningen NED, rd 18, Sep-05
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen. Classical Variation (B84)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 774 more games of Kotov
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Olga is our default viewer, but we offer other choices as well. You can use a different viewer by selecting it from the pulldown menu below and pressing the "Set" button.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-01-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  agb2002: Usual suspect.
Dec-01-17  gofer: Hmmm, not a <Friday> puzzle for two reasons;

1) It's a forced mate in 3 (< 50 f5+ exf5/Qxf5 51 Qxh6+ gxh6 52 Rag8#>)

2) Black is about to play <50 ... Qxf4+> which at least levels the playing field, so <50 h4> is too slow and <50 Kg3> simply loses to <50 Rb3+ Kh4 51 Rxh3+! Kxh3 52 Qh1+ Kg3 53 Rb3+>. So, the only other sensible move to look at, that stops <50 ... Qxf4+>, is

<50 f5+>!

~~~

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble...

Dec-01-17  gofer: <paavoh: On the easy side for an end-of-the-week puzzle. With - Rxb2 coming, every White move must be with a check>

If white gambles on <50 ... Rxb2>, then <50 h4> is playable!

<50 h4 Rxb2 51 h5#>

But <50 h4> loses to <50 ... Qxf4+ 51 Qxf4 Rxf4!>

Dec-01-17  Gilmoy: Shades of Carlsen vs Karjakin, 2016, 50.Qh6+! to defend his WC title :o


click for larger view

Perhaps Carlsen remembers this Bernstein-Kotov game, or has seen something like it? With QRR and some pawns, one deflection sac can open files and ranks for a <two-Rook mate>.

If that wasn't already a training meme, it is now!

Dec-01-17  groog: For a Friday, today was surprisingly easy.
If I hadn't known it was a puzzle, maybe more difficult to spot.
Dec-01-17  malt: 50.f5+ ef5 51.Q:h6+! gh6 52.Rag8#
(50...Q:f5 51.Q:g6+! gh6 52.Rag8#)

Have seen this one before, still a nice finish !!

Dec-01-17  stacase: Way too easy for a Friday.
Dec-01-17  morfishine: I saw this game a long, long time ago

*****

Dec-01-17  gars: Too easy for a Friday, since I solved it in less than five minutes. Kotov, then 33 years old and a tough player, must have been very angry with himself after losing this game to Bernstein, 64!
Dec-01-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  catlover: I actually remembered this game and the solution. Was it really 12 years ago?
Dec-01-17  patzer2: For a more difficult puzzle, try visualizing the possibility of the winning mate-in-three after 47. Ra8 Rexb4? (47...Rc4 =) 48. Rcc8 +-.

For even more difficulty, since 47. Ra8 Rc4 = gives Black an easy dead even game, can we find a better 47th move for White?

Yes we can. White can improve with 47. Rd8 ⩲ which wins a pawn after 47. Rd8 Rc4 (not 47...Rexb4? 48. Rcc8 +-) 48. Rxc4 dxc4 49. Rd4 Rc7 50. Qc1 h5 51. Rxc4 ⩲ to = (+0.11 @ 37 ply, Stockfish 8).

The beauty of 47. Rd8 ⩲ is that it not only baits the same trap for Black (i.e. 47. Rd8 Rexb4? 48. Rcc8 +- versus 47. Ra8 Rexb4? 48. Rcc8 +-), but it also gives White the advantage if Black responds with the only saving move 47...Rc4.

Black can probably hold the draw with near perfect play after 47. Rd8 Rc4 48. Rxc4 dxc4 49. Rd4 ⩲. However, unlike 47. Ra8 Rc4 =, 47. Rd8 Rc4 48. Rxc4 dxc4 49. Rd4 ⩲ gives White practical winning chances as it makes the task of securing the draw much harder for Black.

Dec-01-17  Dionysius1: Very reminiscent of the last moves of the Carlsen Karjakin world chamionships
Dec-01-17  patzer2: Instead of 33...b4 = (0.00 @ 28 ply, Stockfish 8), Black can significantly improve with 33...Rc7! ⩱ (-0.68 @ 34 ply, Stockfish 8).

The potential back rank mate threat with 33...Rc7 makes the coming 34...b4 ⩱ much stronger than the immediate 33...b4 =. After the Stockfish 8 best play line 33...Rc7 34. Rhd3 b4 35. axb4 axb4 36. h6 (necessary to avoid the back rank mate) 33...bxc3 37. Rxc3 Qd7 ⩱ (-0.68 @ 34 ply), the isolated White pawn on b2 becomes an easy target for Black.

Dec-01-17  JohnDMaster: One star, the path to success is obvious with really one one tree of analysis and one true forcing move!
Dec-01-17  kevin86: White either win the queen of mates quickly!
Dec-01-17  dfcx: <kevin86: White either win the queen of mates quickly!>

It's always mate in 3.

50.f5+ Qxf5
51.Qxh6+ gxh6
52.Rg8#

Dec-01-17  FlashinthePan: After 47. Ra8, Black apparently didn't see the threat, as he could still escape with 47...f6 (or am I missing something?).
Dec-01-17  patzer2: <FlashinthePan> After 47. Ra8, Black's only escape is 47...Rc4 =. If 47...f6, then 47. Rcc8 +- and White still wins.
Dec-01-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  varishnakov: This is the easiest thing I have ever seen in my life. I demand a new puzzle. I am very angry.
Dec-01-17  JeffH1165: Definitely easy for Friday. Way easier than Wednesday or yesterday.
Dec-01-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  Bubo bubo: Mate-in-three: 50.f5+! exf5/Qxf5 51.Qxh6+ gxh6 52.Rag8#.

A single three-move line with a ♕-sac: Friday is the new Monday?!

Dec-01-17  Steven87: First Friday I've gotten.
Dec-01-17  WhiteRook48: I saw that thing with f5+ and the queen sac on h6 in about ten seconds. I don't think "difficult" puzzles are supposed to be that easy?
Dec-02-17  PhilFeeley: Nice queen sac (to be).
Jan-24-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: Very pretty combination.
Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 3)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
tactics
by bishop
Ossip Bernstein, 1946
from More games ! It never stops ! Thank G-D ! by arielbekarov
KOLLA MATTSÄTTNINGEN!
from xfer's favorite games 2006 by xfer
b84
from favorite games according to opening b00-b99 by mirage
Ernesto7's favorite games
by Ernesto7
50.? - 19feb
from Puzzles 2005 part 1 - 01jan-.......... by andychess
Ossip Bernstein (1882-1962)
from PLayer of the day:notable game II by nikolaas
Beautiful Endings
by Kingsandsquares
partij 21
from 100 opzienbarende blunders by i.abderrahim
50. f5+!
from Mate (Mate-in-Three) by patzer2
ething's favorite games
by ething
Round 18
from Groningen 1946 by number 23 NBer
#Angriff mit Damenopfer
from zz03_Heavy pieces in action: pure QRR middlegame by whiteshark
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen. Classical Variation
from marwanredman123's favorite games 3 by marwanredman123
50.? (Saturday, February 19)
from Puzzle of the Day 2005 by Phony Benoni
50.? (December 1, 2017)
from Friday Puzzles, 2011-2017 by Phony Benoni
Positional
by Tridel
teha h6
from Kombat by Gottschalk
Round 18
from Groningen 1946 by JoseTigranTalFischer

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC