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Anthony Kosten vs Murray Chandler
"Farewell, My Lovely" (game of the day Oct-20-2021)
Hastings (1990/91), Hastings ENG, rd 13, Jan-??
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan. Sveshnikov Variation Novosibirsk Variation (B33)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-24-08  njchess: Today's puzzle is an example of why it pays to practice endgame mating positions.

This is an example of a similar practice position.

Black to move. Mate in four.


click for larger view

In this example, gxf2 stalemates, and any other move besides g2 allows the White king to escape.

Given the example above, I don't need to analyze gxf2 because I already know that I just need to limit the movement of White's king. Therefore, I should play 33. Qh1+ and mate is forced in five (not four since Black cannot play his rook to the h-file).

This game is an example of the sharp Sicilian Lasker-Pelikan aka Sveshnikov variation characterized by 7. ... e5, which leads to the Novosibirsk Variation as delineated by 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Nd5 Bg7!? (as opposed to the sharp f5).

c3 is also playable to 12. Bd3 and the two often transpose. <MaxxLange: Is 12 Bd3 just bad in this line?> No, its a normal move meant to deter Black from playing f5.

With the opening concluded, White begins an immediate, speculative attack by 15. c4!?. Usually, White proceeds with a king side attack involving f4, Qf3, Qg3 etc., while Black seeks counter play on the queen side. Better would have been c3.

Black counters with 15. ... f5 and by 21. ... e4!, White is in serious trouble. His attack has fizzled and after 22. Qb3 Be5, Black's position is better.

23. ... Bd7 appears to just attack the knight, but it's true intent is to allow Black to play Rg8. 24. ... Qe8! is an extremely subtle move. Like the previous move, the intent appears to be to attack the knight forcing White to defend it. However, it's deeper motive is to put the king on the e8-h5 diagonal preparing for the king side assault. The immediate Qh4 loses tempo after g3.

26. h3? is less accurate than g3 (made even more obvious by 28. g3). 27. ... Rg8! appears to lose the rook, but Black isn't worried about losing material at this point.

White is now in a difficult and losing position. 29. Rc7?, 30. Rec1? may have been an attempt to bluff or confuse Black. But, Black is undeterred, and while 31. R1c3 over R7c2 lets White keep his queen, it overlooks a pretty end mate.

Dec-24-08  MaxxLange: <njchess> thanks!
Dec-24-08  eaglebroadwinged: MATE IN 3: 1.....gxf2; Kxf2,Rg2+; Ke1(f1), Qh1+
Dec-24-08  johnlspouge: < <eaglebroadwinged> wrote: MATE IN 3: 1.....gxf2; Kxf2,Rg2+; Ke1(f1), Qh1+ >

Hi, <eaglebroadwinged>. This is the first time you have kibitzed. Welcome to the neighborhood!

The variation you give was definitely the first to catch my eye, but it does not quite work:

33…gxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Rg2+ 35.Ke1 Qh1 36.<Rf1>

The chess program Toga II 1.3.1 evaluates Black at the equivalent of about 2 Ps. The zwischenzug 35...Qh4+ (see my post below) leads to a direct mate.

Please do not be discouraged. We all make mistakes, and people kibitz here to learn. (Well, most of us do, at least :)

Dec-24-08  beginner64: Nice enough! I noticed that Rf7 is really en prise as recapturing with bishop leads to a quick mate on f2.

Then, I noticed that if g pawn can queen with the king on h file, the mate will follow. That leads to Qh1+, with a sequence of very forcing moves leading to a 4 move mate.

Even after 33.. Rxf7, whites best move seems to be 34. Rxg3 Bxg3 35. Qxg3, which loses another exchange and allows the exchange of queens, but removes the dangerous g pawn and saves the game for a few more moves. Pretty much any other move (other than Rxg3) allows the g pawn to queen.

Dec-24-08  xrt999: Here is what I came up with. Even though this line is forced, I was thinking as I was playing it that it must be wrong, since this is Wednesday!...

33. Rf7 gxf2+
34. Kxf2 Rg2+
35. Ke1 Qh4+
36. Rg3 Bxg3+
37. Rf2 Bxf2+
38. Kd2 Bd4+
39. Kc1 Qh1+
40. Qd1 Bxb2+
41. Kb1 Qxd1+
42. Ka2 Qxa4+
43. Na3 Qxa3+
44. Kb1 Qa1#

Dec-24-08  DarthStapler: Is there anything wrong with gxf2+ Kxf2 Qh2+ Ke3 Rg3+ Rf3 Rxf3#?
Dec-24-08  DarthStapler: Nevermind, I found the problem
Dec-24-08  TheaN: Bizarre position, where I just evaluated Rxf7 (and probably gxf2† with some more thought) and a winning position. I have to agree that that is not worth a point as White can deviate after Rxf7: of course 34.Bxf7 Qh2† 35.Kf1 Qxf2‡... but Black is just up an exchange after Rxf7. But the troubles are not yet gone, and Black will win. Qh1† is very nice though.
Dec-24-08  Zzyw: Went with 1... Qh2+ 2. Kf1 Rxf7 and surely white will resign. Flawed puzzle imo.
Dec-24-08  Amarande: <xrt999> Ah well, I managed to overlook something simpler, though it's at least a working mate ...

After 36 Kxh2 g1Q+ 37 Kh3, I thought that it was then a mate in two moves: 37 ... Qg2+ and 38 ... Qg4# (or vice versa). I didn't see 37 ... Qh1# for another moment ...

Dec-25-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Richard Taylor: <goodevans: <Richard Taylor ... he calculates very deeply> Yes, and he also thinks very fast: When I played him he was taking 15 to 30 seconds on each board, but since there were about two dozen boards I was getting a reasonable amount of thinking time ... to start with...>

You did well! I simply blundered but I couldn't think as fast as him - actually I don't like playing in simuls

He also edited the BCM and writes chess books (and is the manager of Gambit Books - I have a few of them - they are often very good) - yes in the 80s he was one of the best in the world and still plays pretty well. Some of his other games have featured on here - wins and losses.

Jul-29-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  sleepyirv: "Farewell, My Lovely" is a Philip Marlowe novel by Raymond Chandler and describes the winning tactic very well.
Oct-20-21  Brenin: A lovely finish, and some inspired analysis from kibitzers back in 2008, when Black's 33rd move was a POTD.
Oct-20-21  Brenin: To misquote the great Raymond Chandler, Bh2+ kicked a hole in Kosten's stained glass window.
Oct-20-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Exciting game, and too much for me poor brain to handle. Why not 28.Bxg8?
Oct-20-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Love this pun. The white king will soon be sleeping the big sleep.
Oct-20-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: Anthony C Kosten must have said "ACK!" after Bh2+.
Oct-20-21  newzild: A cool game by my countryman, but even more interesting is his amazing missed win against Karpov on move 28:

Karpov vs Chandler, 1983

Would make a good Sunday puzzle.

Oct-20-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  ajk68: 30. Rec1?? Wow. I have to assume this was a miscalculation or desperation hoping for a complication.

Trying to keep the castled position somewhat solid was the natural move. It may not have been enough, but it was much better than the text move.

Oct-20-21  Ironmanth: Nice finish! Thanks, chessgames. Y'all stay safe out there today.
Oct-20-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <An Englishman: Good Evening: Exciting game, and too much for me poor brain to handle. Why not 28.Bxg8?>

Just 28....Rxg8 29.g3 f4 and the kingside caves in, e.g. 30.g4 Bxg4 or 30.Rcd1 e3!.

Oct-20-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: Nice pun.
Oct-21-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  fredthebear: The position after 35.Kg1 is in Murray Chandler's book "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess". It is position 205) on p. 105 of Deadly Checkmate #46, Pawn on the Seventh Rank. People may scoff at a kiddie book written by a GM for training purposes, but these are masterly moves that win games, and solve puzzles. Good chess is good chess, no matter your age.

Those who read the classics will recognize this finish as a derivative of Anderssen's Mate (pawn supports rook in the corner, or promotion mates w/the new queen). Here's another famous shot (Queen sacrifice) by the great AA: Anderssen vs Zukertort, 1869

Oct-21-21  Brenin: <fredthebear>: I strongly recommend Murray Chandler's book "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess". When I gave a copy to my grandchildren they were delighted. Their dad was less so, especially when I made him promise not to read it himself.
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