chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Chessgames premium membership fee will increase to $39 per year effective June 15, 2023. Enroll Now!

Stelios Halkias vs Stefan Kristjansson
"The Incredible Halk" (game of the day Dec-02-2004)
European Championship (2004), Antalya TUR, rd 9, May-24
Zukertort Opening: Wade Defense. Chigorin Plan (A41)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 2 more S Halkias/S Kristjansson games
sac: 19.Rxe6 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can step through the moves by clicking the < and > buttons, but it's much easier to simply use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.

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-02-04  Milo: Is the rook sac any good?
Dec-02-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: After 41♖c6+ ♕xc6 42 dxc6 and the pawns win for white.
Dec-02-04  dbulger: looks pretty damn sweet to me.
Dec-02-04  sourcerer: pretty good sac
Dec-02-04  JohnBoy: Already by move 9 blacks position is seriously compromised. The white bishops are going to exert a lot of pressure on the h2-b8 and h3-c8 diagonals, the black kingside ishaving developmental difficulties, and the e file is open for white.

It is hard to find a strategy for black at this point. does ...a6 and then ...b5 get one anywhere? Should ...e6 be played with the idea of ...Ne7-c8 and trying to hunker down on in defense of the d6 pawn? The first few moves here need to be seriously reviewed, as black has a greviously misconceived opening plan.

Dec-02-04  patzer2: I haven't analyzed 19. Rxe6+!! in any depth to see if Black might have any survival chances, but Black's futile struggles here certainly highlight the problems an opponent faces in trying to defend against these "demolition of pawn structure" tactics (in this case via the sacrifice on e3/e6 theme).
Dec-02-04  patzer2: If 39...Kb7, then 40. Rc6 is decisive. Play might continue 40...Rd8 (40...Qxd5 41. Qc8+ Ka7 42. Ra6#) 41. RxQ! RxQ 42. Rd7+ Kb6 43. Rxg7 .
Dec-02-04  Milo: How about 20...Nf5. Does that give black any hope?
Dec-02-04  JohnBoy: Actually, <patzer2>, I believe that 39...Kb7 is dealt with more brutally by 40.Qc8+ Ka7 41.Rc6. White then doesn't need to give up the Q and maintains several mate threats.

But we certainly agree that this is a pretty compromised position for black.

Dec-02-04  themindset: interestingly, crafty is screams for 17.Be6+ with a huge + for white. but rates the 19.Rxe6 sac as roughly equal (with best play, which black did not provide in this game).
Dec-02-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: Halk no like pawns in front of black king. Pawns make Halk angrrrrrry!! Halk smash!!!
Dec-02-04  crafty: 17. ♗xe6 ♘b8 18. ♗xe7 ♖xe7 19. ♗h3 O-O 20. ♖xe7   (eval 2.51; depth 13 ply; 500M nodes)
Dec-06-04  patzer2: <themindset> and <crafty> Thanks for pointing out an even better demolition of pawn structure combination with 17. Bxe6!!

<JohnBoy> Thanks for the alternative win after 39...Kb7.

Dec-07-04  patzer2: 17. ♗xe6!! ♘b8

[17...fxe6 18. Rxe6 Nf8 19. Bxe7 Rxe7 20. Rxc6 Rd7 (20...Rc7 21. Nxd5 ) 21. Re1+ Re7 22. Rxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qxd5 Qd7 24. Qc4 (24. Rd6 Qc8 25. Qc6+ Qxc6 26. bxc6 ) 24...Kd8 25. Ne4 Bxd4 26. Rd6 ]

[17...Ne5 18. Bxd5 cxd5 (18...Qxd6 19. dxe5 Qb8 20. Bxf7+ Kf8 21. Qe6 cxb5 22. Rd6 ]

[17...0-0 18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. Bxe7 Rxe7 20. Rxe7 Qxe7 21. bxc6 Rc8 22. Qxd5 ]

[17...Nb6 18. bxc6 Qxd6 19. cxb7 ]

17...♗xe6 ♘b8 18. ♗xe7 ♖xe7 19. ♗h3 0-0 (19...Rxe1 20. Rxe1+ Kf8 21. bxc6 Nxc6 22. Qb7 ) 20. ♖xe7 ♕xe7 21. bxc6 ♘xc6 22. ♕xd5

Dec-07-04  patzer2: After 19. Rxe6!? fxe6 20. Bxe6, Fritz 8 indicates Black equalizes with the surprise defensive move 20...Rb6! =.

Play might continue 20...Rb6! 21. Bxb6 Qxb6 22. Nxd5 Qc6 23. Nc7+ Kd8 24. Qxc6 Nexc6 25. Nxb5 Rf8 26. d5 Ne5 27. Nxa7 Nxf3 28. Nc6+ Nxc6 29. dxc6+ Nd4 30. Bc4 Rxf2 when Black's extra piece and active development appear sufficient to compensate for a three pawn deficit.

Dec-07-04  patzer2: White misplays the attack with 23. Bd3?!, as 23...Qc8 = gives Black equality.

Better is 23. Bxe7! Kxe7 (23...Qxe7 24. Qc8+ Qd8 25. Bf7+ Ke7 26. Re1+ Kxf7 27. Qxd8 ) 24. Bh3! , when White wins with three pawns for the piece due to Black's exposed King position and awkwardly placed pieces.

Dec-02-15  Poisonpawns: The Rook sac is just fine. First it is difficult for black to find 20..Rb6!? and after 21.Qe2! not 21.Bb6?(cashing in to early ) white is just better.

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.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
sac
from tianle's favorite games by tianle
17. Bxe6!! is better than 19. Rxe6!?
from Demolition of Pawns: f6 (f3), e6 (e3), a7 (a2) by patzer2
For studying !
from Chess, chess and again chess .... by arielbekarov
Fine play by the Greek young grandmaster
from Unusual Openings -Amazing games by gulliver
December 2: The Incredible Halk
from Game of the Day 2004 by Phony Benoni
Game of the Dec-02-04
from Games of the day 5 by Herkus
December 2: The Incredible Halk
from Game of the Day 2004 by Jaredfchess
17. Bxe6!! is better than 19. Rxe6!?
from Demolition of Pawns: f6 (f3), e6 (e3), a7 (a2) by nakul1964
17. Bxe6!! is better than 19. Rxe6!?
from Demolition of Pawns: f6 (f3), e6 (e3), a7 (a2) by Del ToRo
17. Bxe6!! is better than 19. Rxe6!?
from Demolition of Pawns: f6 (f3), e6 (e3), a7 (a2) by trh6upsz
17. Bxe6!! is better than 19. Rxe6!?
from Demolition of Pawns: f6 (f3), e6 (e3), a7 (a2) by Baby Hawk

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 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC