chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Leonid Shamkovich vs Boris Spassky
"I've got thiS-pass-key" (game of the day Mar-29-2021)
USSR Championship 1961b (1961), Baku URS, rd 16, Dec-11
Spanish Game: Closed. Averbakh Variation (C87)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 4 more Shamkovich/Spassky games
sac: 55.Nxe3 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

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
Dec-26-13  Howard: Benko analyzed the endgame for this game back in the 1980's for his "Chess Life" endgame column.
Feb-01-20  Olavi: 56...Ba8 draws, according to Flohr in the tournament bulletin. It seems good, the main point being that a future Kxa8 will be answered by Kc8(c7), boxing the wK in.
Feb-01-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: IIRC, <Honza> and I had a look at similar endgame motif, where the King shuffle Kc8/c7 saves Black.

As for the saving move Ba8, I am reminded that Arno Nickel has suggested a Correspondence version where being stalemated would be a minor loss-worth 1/4 point. GMAN appeals to endgames a Pawn up. But how would you like to be a Pawn <up> with White, your move, and you lose 3/4 a point like this?


click for larger view

Jul-12-20  edubueno: There were at least two mistakes on black movements 56 and 57. The black king should go directly to the h pawn, and draws easily.
Mar-29-21  I like ya cut g: Why did black resign in the final position? It looks like a draw to me.
Mar-29-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: <I like ya cut g> White's plan is to march his king to d8, followed by Kxc7, then push the b-pawn, win the bishop and finally queen the a-pawn.

How does that look like a draw? Can you post an example line?

Mar-29-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  AylerKupp: <I like ya cut g> FWIW in the final position White mates in 19 moves with best play by both sides per the Lomonosov tablebases. It's also a win for White after 59.Kxe3, White mates in 23.
Mar-29-21  RandomVisitor: With cold precision, Stockfish declares that 4 moves for black draw at move 56, Bb7 not among them:

<TB6>


click for larger view

Stockfish_21032417_x64_modern:

<62/10 01:32 -0.00 56...Ba8> 57.h5 Ke5 58.Kxe3 Kf5 59.b4 Kg5 60.b5 Kxh5

62/10 01:32 -0.00 56...Ke4 57.h5 Kf5 58.Kxe3 Kg5 59.Kd4 Ba8 60.Ke5 Kxh5

62/8 01:32 -0.00 56...c5 57.h5 Ke5 58.Kxe3 Kf5 59.a8R Bxa8

62/8 01:32 -0.00 56...Ke5 57.Kxe3 c5 58.h5 Kf5 59.a8R Bxa8

<61/65 01:32 +152.55 56...Bb7> 57.h5 Ke5 58.b4 Kf6 59.Kxe3 Ba8 60.Kf4 Bg2 61.h6 Ba8 62.h7 Kg7 63.Ke5 Kh8 64.Ke6 Bc6 65.b5 Bf3 66.Kd7 Kg7 67.Kxc7 Kxh7

Sep-17-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: 56...Bb7? was a loss of critical tempo. 56...Ba8 would have been quite difficult to play over the board but 56...c5 preventing quick advance of b-Pawn or 56...Ke4 forcing white to play 57.h5 (57.b4? Kf4 58.h5 Bf3+ 59.Kd3 e2 60.Kd2 Kg5 -+) 57...Kf5 58.Kxe3 c5 59.h6 Kg6 60.Kf4 Kxh6 61.Ke5 Bf3 62.Kd6 Kg5 63.Kxc5 Kf4 64.Kd6 (64.b4 Ke5=) 64...Ke3 65.b4 Kd4 66.b5 Kc4 67.b6 Kb5 68.Kc7 Ka6 = is not so difficult to calculate, as the moves are quite obvious and all it is just about counting of tempos. I guess that Spassky underestimated a danger of the position, when he played 56...Bb7.

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.

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 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC