| May-24-04 | | Whitehat1963: Is there no hope? What's the finish? |
|
| May-24-04 | | Cyphelium: The point of Rd8-c8 is unpinning the rook, so that black can just trade down to a won endgame. Actually, he may even have a winning attack. After the queen moves away with 40. Qd2 (he has to cover d1 - otherwise Qg4 picks up the rook), 40.- Bxe3 41. fxe3 Rc4 and when the rook arrives on g4, it's the end. He could also try 40. Qb3, but after 40.- Bxe3 41. fxe3 Qg4+ 42. Kf2 Rc4 the rook will infiltrate. Also, in the unlikely event of white surviving this, if the queens are exchanged, then the rook endgame is completely won for black. |
|
| May-24-04 | | Poulsen: I agree: If 40.Qd3 then 40.-,Rc3 41.Qe2,Rxe3!.
Whites best seems to be 40.Qe2, covering g4 and c4, but after 40.-,Bxe3 41.fxe3,Rc3 42.Re1, then 42.-,Ra3 and white is out of good moves. |
|
| Mar-29-19 | | Marcelo Bruno: I read that this game was their last battle, that ceased their chess rivalry. |
|
| Mar-30-19 | | ughaibu: Well, it was Winawer's last tournament, so their official games ceased, but I don't think this is sufficient to conclude that their rivalry ended. First there's the question of whether or not there was a rivalry, after all, Blackburne's score of +7 -2 =9 might have convinced both him and Winawer that he had already established his superiority. Then there's the question of whether or not their rivalry, assuming there was one, was extended in later casual games. Further, there's the question of collateral rivalry. For example, when this game was played Winawer's score against Schallop was +3 -2 and Blackburne's was +4 -5 =1, as Schallop was still alive, Blackburne might have harboured ambitions to better his record, against him, with respect to Winawer's. Any other problems with the assertion that their rivalry ceased with this game? |
|
Nov-11-19
 | | KEG: Blackburne mercilessly outplayed Winawer, quickly obtaining the better position as Black and then picking up two pawns when Winawer blundered. Winawer lost on time at move 45, but he was lost long before that. With this win, Blackburne moved (temporarily) into a tie for first. He later faded, and finished in a tie for 7th place. Meanwhile, Winawer was having one of the worst results of his career, ending up behind everyone except the hapless last-place Didier. 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 e6
5. NxN
Hardly the most enterprising line for White, but sufficient for equality. 5... bxB
6. Bd3 d5
click for larger viewBlackburne must have been happy. His only weakness was his back-ward c-pawn, but Winawer solved that problem for him soon enough with his poor 10th move. 7. Qe2
7. 0-0 of 7. Nc3 were better.
7... Nf6
8. Nd2
Needlessly tangling his pieces. 8. Nc3 or 8. 0-0 made more sense. 8... Be7
9. 0-0 Nd7
9...0-0 was probably theoretically better, but the text is typical Blackburne. He is preparing for c5 and unleashing his e7 Bishop. Blackburne had decades of experienced at springing onto the attack from such formations. 10. exd5
Solving Blackburne's only problem (his backward c-pawn). 10. Nb3, or even 10. b3, were better. 10... cxd5
click for larger view11. Nf3 0-0
12. c4
Creating weaknesses and allowing Blackburne to obtain the initiative. 12... Nc5!
click for larger view13. cxd5
Weak. He should have retained his Bishop by 13. Bc2. Now Blackburne takes charge with a neat little combination. 13... NxB
14. QxN Bb7!
click for larger viewPerhaps Winawer expected 14...exd5 or 14...Qxd5, which would saddle Black with an isolated pawn. 15. d6
Another doubtful choice. 15. Be3 or 15. Rd1 or even 15. Bf4 were all better. 15... Bxd6
16. Rd1
click for larger view16... Bd5
Missing the neat 16...Qc7, since if 17. Qxd6?? [17. Ng5or 17. Bg5 are correct) Black wins with 17...Rfd8. But Blackburne still had much the better game even after the text. 17. Ng5
Using the mating threat to weaken Black's King-side pawns. 17... g6
18. Qh3
Pushing a good idea too far. Having forced 17...g6, Winawer should have retreated with 18. Nf3 or 18. Ne4 (or perhaps tried 18.b3). 18... h5
click for larger viewDespite his missteps, Winawer's position was probably salvageable. But from here he collapsed, and Blackburne quickly overwhelmed him, |
|
Nov-11-19
| | KEG: Post II
19. Qd3
Winawer was clearly losing the thread of the game. He should probably just have played 19. Nf3 or 19. Qe3. 19... Be5
This maintains Black's advantage, but 19...Qc7 was even better. 20. h4
Continuing to dig a hole for himself. 20. Qe2 or 20. Nf3 were better. 20... Qf6
I don't understand the idea behind this move. He should have seized the b-file with 20...Rb8. 21. Qe2
Again missing the chance to regroup with 21. Nf3. 21... Rac8
Strong, but putting one of his Rooks on b8 would have been stronger still. 22. Nh3
Further messing up his position. Why not the simple 22. Nf3? 
click for larger viewWinawer was still breathing, but his position was a sorry sight. But how to demolish it? 22... Qf5
Another strong but far from best move by Blackburne. With 22...Rc4, he would have a strategically won game. 23. Be3
23. Bh6 would at least have given Winawer some counter-play. From here, Blackburne ran him off the board: 23... Rc2!
click for larger viewOuch!
24. Rd2 RxR
25. QxR?
25. BxR was the only chance of offering any real resistance. After the text, the position was: 
click for larger viewBlack to move and win.
25... Bxg2!
A pretty combination which essentially concludes the game (at least from a competitive prespective). 26. KxB Qg4+
27. Kf1 QxN+
28. Ke2 Qg4+
With the move 30 time control approaching, Blackburne probably just wanted to gain time on the clock. 29. Kf1
click for larger view29... Qxh4
29...Rb8 was stronger, but the text obviously also wins, and Blackburne may have lacked the time to explore the merits of 29...Rb8. 30. Rc1
Winawer's last move before the time control was hardly best. He should have played 30. Rd1 or 30. Qd1. To his credit, Winawer notices that 30. Bxa7?? would lose a Rook to the 30...Qh1+ skewer. The rest should have been clear sailing for Blackburne. 30... Rd8
31. Qc2
click for larger viewUp two pawns, Blackburne had a clear win. In what followed, Blackburne never relinquished his winning edge. But, as I will discuss in my next post on this game, Blackburne seems to have become distracted (or bored) and thus the contest was prolonged until Winawer lost on time while making his 45th move. |
|
Nov-12-19
| | KEG: Post IV
To this point, Blackburne had played excellent chess and had obtained a won game. For the next several moves, however, Blackburne--perhaps piqued by Winawer's decision to play on in a hopeless position--did no more or less than he needed to do to maintain his winning edge. This is unlike such players as Lasker, Pillsbury, and later Fischer and Kasparov, who would try to play the best moves and win as quickly as possible. 31... Qh3+
31...Qg4 was faster.
32. Ke1 Qh1+
32...Qf3 would have shortened proceedings.
33. Ke2 Qd5
Still on the slow track to victory. 33...Qg2 was the express method. 34. b4
Creating new weaknesses. 34. b3 would have made Blackburne's task longer. 34... Bd4
34...Qg2 was still faster.
35. Rd1
Winawer also seems to have been giving the game at this stage less than its all. 35. Qc4, despite allowing the trade of Queens, was a better way to extend the game. After 35...Rd1, the position was:
click for larger view35... e5!
Back on track!
36. a4?!
Wild play by Winawer. But it shouldn't matter at this stage. 36... Qd7
More slothful play by Blackburne. 36...h4 or 36...Qg2 were faster. 37. b5?!
Continuing his reckless play.
37... Qg4+
38. Kf1 Qh3+
38...Rc8 immediately was simplest.
39. Kg1 Rc8!
click for larger viewThis is where the score ends on this site. It was where the score ended in the original version of the Tournament Book, which then said that "Black lost on time." So was this the end of the game? The comments on this site back in 2004 question why the game ended here, and considered how play would have proceeded after 40. Qd2 [Black then wins by 40...BxB 41. fxB Rc4] or 40. Qd3 [after which Black wins by 40...Rc3--thoush 40...BxB also do the trick]. In fact, the game did NOTA end after 39...Rg8 according to a supplement to the Tournament Book. The source for the additional moves is identified as "Morgan's Shilling Library, Book 13,pp. 57-58. The supplemental sources relied on in my updated version of the Tournament Book are not always reliable. Thus, I can not be sure this the source given here is to be trusted. What I can say is: (i) Blackburne had a won game after 39...Rc8; and (2) the supplemental source here just might be correct. I will discuss the moves given in this supplemental source in my next and final post on this game. |
|
Nov-12-19
| | KEG: Post V
40. Qe2
Hopeless, but so was everything else:
click for larger view40... BxB
41. fxB
If 41. QxB Qg4+ picks up the White Rook.
41... Qg3+
Blackburne had so many crushing moves here (41...e5; 41...Rc5; 41...Rc3; 41...Qh4) Blackburne can perhaps be excused from choosing the slow route. 42. Kf1
click for larger view42... Rc3
Again prolonging White's death throes. 42...e4 or 42...Rc5 were quicker. 43. Re1 e4
Again declining to play the faster 43...Qh4 or 43...Ra3 or 43...Rc5. 44. Qd2
44. Qf2 or 44. Qg2 offered stouter resistance.
The position after 44. Qd2 was:
click for larger view44... Ra3
44...Rc5 would have been murder. But Blackburne perhaps noticed Winawer's clock and decided to move immediately and leave Winawer no time to think. 45. Qf2
As he made this move (the last before the move 45 time control), Winawer's time expired and he was spared any need to play out his hopeless position. Counting this move as made, the final position was: 
click for larger viewHad Winawer made his move in time, Blackburne could have won with either 45...Qg4 or 45...QxQ+. As it won, he won via Winawer's time forfeit.
0-1 |
|
|
|
|
Kibitzing
