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Ludwig Rellstab vs Efim Bogoljubov
Western Zone Championship (1949), Bad Pyrmont GER, May-??
Semi-Slav Defense: Meran. Wade Variation (D47)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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sac: 37...Rxf2 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-22-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: Lovely game.
Nov-02-22  Brenin: 37 ... Rxf2 and if 38 Kxf2 (not 38 Rxf2 Qd1+ 39 Rf1 Bd4+ 40 Kh1 Qxf1 mate) then 38 ... Qd4+ drives the K out of his fortress, and the Q and B combine to deliver mate or promote the b-pawn, e.g. 39 Ke1 Qe3+ 40 Kd1 b1=Q+.
Nov-02-22  Brenin: Wnite can decline the R sac, e..g. with 38 a8=Q, but then 38 ... Rxf1+ 39 Kxf1 Qf5+ and 40 ... b1=Q wins.
Nov-02-22  newzild: I saw the first three moves of the game continuation but wasn't convinced it would lead to mate so I went for 37...Qe2, with threats like 38...Qxf2+ and 38...Rd1.
Nov-02-22  newzild: ...Checked with Stockfish and 37...Qe2 is indeed winning (-4.75), whereas 37...Rxf2 is a rather complicated mate in 10.

So the game continuation is better.

Nov-02-22  mel gibson: I got this one wrong.
I thought 37... Rc2 to help Queen the pawn on b2, but it ends up as a draw. End games are difficult.

Stockfish 15 follows the text and says mate in 11:

37... Rxf2

(37. .. Rxf2
(♖d2xf2 h2-h4 ♕e5-e3 h4xg5+ ♔h6xg5 ♕b7-b5+ ♖f2-f5+ ♔g1-h1 ♕e3-e4 ♖f1-f3 b2-b1♕+ ♕b5xb1 ♕e4xb1+ ♔h1-h2 ♗g7-e5+ g2-g3 ♖f5xf3 a7-a8♕ ♗e5xg3+ ♔h2-g2 ♕b1-f1+) +M11/83 98)

Black wins _ mate in 11.

Showing my incorrect move:
37... Rc2

(37. .. Rc2 38. a8=Q (a7-a8♕ ♖c2xf2 ♕a8-a6 ♕e5-f5 ♖f1xf2 b2-b1♖+ ♕b7xb1 ♕f5xb1+ ♖f2-f1 ♕b1-g6 ♔g1-h1 ♗g7-f6 ♕a6-e2 ♔h6-h7 ♕e2-e3 ♗f6-g7 ♕e3-f3 f7-f5 ♖f1-e1 g5-g4 ♕f3-d1 e6-e5 ♕d1-d7 f5-f4 ♖e1-d1 ♔h7-h6 ♖d1-e1) 0.00/54 38)

score = 0.00 = a draw.

Nov-02-22  jrredfield: I got the first four or five plies in under 30 seconds. If White counters with 38 Rxf2 instead of 38 Kxf2, it's a mate in 3 for Black: 38 ... Qe1+ 39 Rf1 Bd4+ 40 Kh1 Qxf1+
Nov-02-22  jrredfield: I see that <Brenin> already pointed out the mate in 3 after 38 Rxf2.
Nov-02-22  Mayankk: Both sides are dreaming to Queen their pawns soon. This necessitates quick action and the f2 Bishop is an obvious target.

37 ... Rxf2

A) 38 Rxf2 Qe1+ 39 Rf1 Bd4+ 40 Kh1 Qxf1#

B) 38 Kxf2 Qd4+

B.1) 39 Kg3 Be5+ 40 Kh3 Qg4#

B.2) 39 Kf3 g4+ 40 Kg3 Be5+ 41 Kh4 g3+ 42 Kh3 Qg4#

B.3) 39 Ke2 Qc4+

B.3.1) 40 Kf3 is similar to B.2

B.3.2) 40 Kf2 Bd4+ 41 Kg3 h4+ etc.

B.3.3) 40 Kf2 Bd4+ 41 Ke1 Qc3+ 42 Ke2 Qc2+ 43 Kf3 g4+ etc.

C) 39 a8=Q Rxf1+ 40 Kxf1 Qf5+ 41 Ke2 b1=Q and Black is a Bishop up.

Nov-02-22  Cheapo by the Dozen: The pretty part to me is what happens if White just ignores the f2 rook and, for example, queens the pawn.

38 ....Qe2 then forces a quick mate. Despite having 2 queens, White can't generate anything like a perpetual check, and also can't defend directly against the 2 different mates at f1. Simply moving the rook away doesn't turn out to work either.

Nov-02-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: After 37 ... Rxf2, I was expecting 38 a8=Q. I thought I'd solved it with ... Qe2 39 Rb1 Rf1+ 40 Rxf1 Rd4+ 0-1

So I was wrongfooted when I saw 38 Kxf2. I hadn't considered that as it looked like it would be a routine K hunt with the b2 pawn and the Q,B operating in tandem.

OTB as W I'd have played 38 a8=Q and hoped for the best

Nov-02-22  saturn2: Saw 37.. Rxf2 and the three answers
38.a8, Kxf2 and Rxf2
Nov-02-22  saturn2: <White just ignores the f2 rook and, for example, queens the pawn. 38 ....Qe2 then forces a quick mate.>

Against 38.a8 I had Rxf1 which is slower but also effective.

Nov-02-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: I had no idea bogo was still alive as late as 1949.
Nov-02-22  TheaN: I actually chose <37....Qe2?!> which is sadly a tad bit sub-optimal. A shame given it's usually the waiting move that's stronger. Having said that, 37....Rxf2! #10 isn't super trivial either, but I mainly missed 38.a8Q Qe2! #4.

Qe2 is interesting though, as it threatens Qxf2+, ie 38.a8Q Qxf2+ 39.Rxf2 Rd1+ 40.Rf1 Bd4+ 41.Kh1 Rxf1#. White doesn't have too much against this.

The rook can't move because only 38.Rb1 makes sense (38.Re1 Qxf2+ 39.Kh1 Qxe1#), then 38....Rd1+ #2 is mate. If the bishop moves he has to stay on a7-g1 because of Bd4+ with disaster, but after 38.Bc5 or 38.Bb6 (the former being slightly better as the queen controls the b-file), 38....Rd1 #11 is curtains. The queen does have a lot of squares, but will be overworked. If you move her she has to cover either a7-g1 to prevent Bd4 or a4-d1 to prevent Rd1. Ie 38.Qb6 Rd1 -+, 38.Qb3 Bd4 -+.

That only leaves giving air to the king, <38.h4> being obviously best as it's also a jab against the Black king. I underestimated this move slightly, but Black should win after <38....Rd1 39.hxg5+ Kxg5!> there's no useful checks for White <40.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 41.Kh2 b1Q!> threatening Be5+ and Qh1+.


click for larger view

Tricky position though, more so than after 37.Rxf2. White here has 42.Be3+ but this leads to <mate> after 42....Kg4!! (balls of steel shall we say). Instead, <42.Qxb1 Qxb1 43.a8Q Be5+ 44.Bg3 Bxg3+ -+> and Black has a somewhat straightforward queen endgame.

Nov-02-22  Lambda: I ended up with one incredibly intricate (and I'm sure unnecessarily complex) line: 39.Kg3 Qg4+ 40.Kf2 Bd4+ 41.Ke1 Bc3+ 42.Kf2 Qd4+ 43.Kg3 Qh4+ 44.Kf3 Qf4+ 45.Ke2 Qd2+ 46.Kf3 Qd3+ 47.Kf2 Bd4+ 48.Ke1 b1=Q+
Nov-02-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: I'm crazes gun valour quick Rxf2 abc claw its duh its axiom jug key anaconda koine ajar its Rxf2 eon.
Nov-02-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: When I see a position like this puzzle, sure, I do my homework to solve the puzzle, but I also note... How did black get his king to be so safe?

King safety is always essential, but in crazy games like this it may be found in unusual places, like the h6 square.

Black made several very accurate moves to get there.

24...Kf6! Then 26...Kg6! Both of those moves were made in the heat of middle game battle, when many players would be too wound up to think of king moves. Finally, 31...h5 may not be necessary, but why not complete the impenetrable king's home? It gives black piece of mind.

Nov-02-22  Messiah: <chrisowen: I'm crazes gun valour quick Rxf2 abc claw its duh its axiom jug key anaconda koine ajar its Rxf2 eon.>

Well done, the moderation is very effective!

(feel free to ban me for this)

Nov-02-22  agb2002: Black has two extra pawns.

White threatens a8=Q.

Black can start an attack against the white king with 37... Rxf2:

A) 38.Rxf2 Qe1+ 39.Rf1 Bd4+ 40.Kh1 Qxf1#.

B) 38.Kxf2 Qd4+

B.1) 39.Ke1 Qe3+ 40.Kd1 Qd3+ 41.Ke1 b1=Q+ 42.Qxb1 (42.Kf2 Bd4#) 42... Qxb1+, followed by 43... Qa2+ and 44... Qxa7, wins decisive material.

B.2) 39.Kf3 Qd3+ 40.Kf2 Bd4+ 41.Ke1 Qe3+ 42.Kd1 Qd3+ as in B.1.

B.3) 39.Kg3 Be5+ 40.Kf3 (40.Kh3 Qg(h)4#; 40.Rf4 Qxf4+ 41.Kh3 Qg4(h4,xh2)#) 40... Qd3+ as in B.2.

B.4) 39.Ke2 Qc4+

B.4.a) 40.Kd1 Qd3+ as in B.1.

B.4.b) 40.Kf3 Qxf1+ 41.Ke3 (41.Kg3 Qf4+ and mate next; 41.Ke4 Qxg2+ and 42... Qxb7 wins) 41... Qe1+ 42.Kd3 (42.Kf3 g4+ 43.Kf4 B(Q)e5#) 42... b1=Q+ wins.

B.4.c) 40.Kf2 Bd4+ 41.Kg3 (41.Ke1 Qc1+ 42.Ke2 Qe3+ 43.Kd1 Qd3+ as in B.1) 41... Qxf1 wins (42.Qf3 Qxf3+ and 43... Bxa7).

B.4.d) 40.Ke3 Bd4+

B.4.d.i) 41.Ke4 Bxa7+ 42.Kf3 (42.Ke5 Qd4#) 42... Qxf1+ and mate in two.

B.4.d.ii) 41.Kf3 Qxf1+ as in B.4.b.

B.4.d.iii) 41.Kd2 Qc3+ 42.Ke2 (42.Kd1 Qd3+ as in B.1) 42... Qe3+ 43.Kd1 Qd3+ as in B.1.

B.4.e) 40.Kd2 Bc3+ 41.Kc2 (41.Ke3 Bd4+ transposes to B.4.d) 41... Bd4+ 42.Kb1 (42.Kd2 transposes to B.4.d.iii) 42... Qxf1+ 43.Kxb2 Qf2+ and 44... Bxa7 wins decisive material.

B.4.f) 40.Ke1 Bc3+ 41.Kf2 Bd4+ transposes to B.4.c.

C) 38.a8=Q Qe2

C.1) 39.Qaa6 Rxf1#.

C.2) 39.Qf3 Qxf1#.

C.3) 39.Rxf2 Qe1+ as in A.

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