Vasily Smyslov vs Fred Kohn (1976)

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Vasily Smyslov vs Fred Kohn
Columbus simul (1976) (exhibition)
French Defense: Winawer Variation. Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit (C15) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Jul-20-11		number 23 NBer: Smyslov drops a rook on the nineteenth move and has no comments? A shocker. Though his position looked a mess in any event.

Jul-20-11		Phony Benoni: I'd like to know what Smyslov was doing in Columbus. He did play in Lone Pine that year, so this may have been from a simul at about that time. That is, if it actually is Smyslov playing White.

Sep-06-11		perfidious: <Phony Benoni> Of course, this could be rather like the Schulien-Korchnoi games which were making the rounds here a time ago....

Jan-10-13		Phony Benoni: I just received a note from Fred Kohn over at GameKnot. It was indeed a simul, and one in which Smyslov performed badly, winning only about half of his games.

Aug-06-16		perfidious: <number 23 NBer: Smyslov drops a rook on the nineteenth move and has no comments? A shocker. Though his position looked a mess in any event.> Even before 18.f3, Smyslov's game looks clearly worse despite the extra pawns, due to his lack of development. This has come to resemble a Winawer Poisoned Pawn in which Black has managed to successfully play ....d5-d4 as well as inveigle his opponent into giving up the centre with dxc5; in short, a dream position.

Dec-30-18		fkohn: When Smyslov played 18. f3 I could hardly believe my eyes. And when he played 19. ♕f2 I was so excited I broke protocol and played my 19th move immediately. My game was the first one to finish.

Feb-03-19		jith1207: Well Played, <fkohn>. What do you think made Smyslov blunder?

Jul-08-19		fkohn: <What do you think made Smyslov blunder?> Well he had a very bad night. As I recall, he lost 15 games in addition to giving up a draw or two. Maybe he was just tired.

Sep-18-24		FSR: <NM Steve Wygle presents a copy of his column in the Dispatch from April 1, 1976 featuring local player Jeff Coakley's win over Vassily Smyslov in his simul here on March 25, 1976. Ex-world champion Vassily Smyslov's simultaneous exhibition last Thursday night was an unqualified success. Forty-five local enthusiasts challenged the Soviet grandmaster in a grueling 4½-hour session. Five players, Joe Chiarelli, Jeff Coakley, John Hamilton, John Hampton and Fred Kohn, forced the Russian star to turn his King over in defeat. Ten players, Ralph Anthony, Sam Bornholdt, Don D'Angelo, John Hoffamn, Viti Karnitis, Harold Kohn, Ed Lipinsky, Paul May John Tannehill and Steve Wygle, earned hard-faught draws. In six previous exhibitions on the West coast, Smyslov had drawn 23 and lost none out of more than 230 games played. Despite showing some signs of fatigue from this heavy schedule, the Soviet grandmaster moved rapidly, averaging 10 seconds' thought for each move. The best win from Smyslov was the following effort by Coakley. Pirc Defense: Main Line, Austrian Attack GM Vassily Smyslov Jeff Coakley Columbus, OH 1976 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O A common alternative is 5. ... c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Bd3 Qxc5 8. Qe2 O-O with equal chances. 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Be3 While this solid developing move can't be bad, it allows Black to begin active counterplay. Here 7. e5 dxe5 8. fxe5 Ng4 is the more critical line. 7. ... Ng4 8. Bg1 e5 9. d5 Nd4 10. h3 Nh6 11. Nxd4 This leads to difficulties for White. Smyslov is trying to win the Black QP, but Black keeps it alive with tactical threats. 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Qd2 with an unclear and complicated position. 11. ... exd4 12. Ne2 f5 13. Qd2 Not 13. Bxd4, Bxd4 14. Nxd4, Qh4+ with clear advantage to Black. 13. ... fxe4 14. Bxe4 Re8 15. Bf3 Nf5 16. O-O-O Ne3 17. Bxe3 An unpleasant decision, but 17. Re1 Qf6 leaves all White's men awkwardly placed. 17. ... dxe3 18. Qb4 Here 18. Qe1 was preferable. Smyslov's attempt to keep his Queen in active play merely allows Black to advance his Queenside Pawns with gain of time. 18. ... a5 19. Qc4 b5 20. Qb3 If 20. Qxb5 Bxh3 21. c3 (21. Rxh3 Rb8 22. Qa4 Bxb2+ 23. Kb1 Ba3+ gives Black at least a draw), Bd7 22. Qc4 Qb8 23. Nc3 Qb6 leads to a very sharp position. Still, this was a better practical chance for White. 20. ... b4 21. Rhe1 Ba6 22. Nd4 This move, threatening Ne6, Nc6 and Rxe3, looks good, but Black has prepared a simple and effective reply. 22. ... Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Qf6 24. c3 Forced to prevent the loss of the KBP, but Black can now open the b file. 24. ... Rab8 25. Qa4 An instinctive move that loses quickly. After 25. g3 Black has a difficult task: best seems 25... Rb6 26. Re4 Rxe4 27. Bxe4 bxc3 28. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 29. bxc3 Bc4. 25. ... bxc3 26. bxc3 Qh4 27. Qd1 Qf2 28. Be2 Rb6 Decisive. While none of White's pieces can move, Black doubles his Rooks on the b file. 29. c4 Reb8 30. Kc2 Rb2+ 31. Kd3 Loses the Queen, but 31. Kc3 Rb1 32. Qxb1 Rxb1 33. Rxb1 Qxe2 gives Black an easy win. 31. ... Rd2+ 32. Resigns> https://thechessenterprise.com/blog...

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