chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Stefan Izbinsky vs Akiba Rubinstein
3rd All-Russian Masters, Kiev (1903), Kiev, UKR (Russian Empire), rd 10, Sep-26
Spanish Game: Open Variations. Howell Attack (C81)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 56 times; par: 57 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 1 more S Izbinsky/Rubinstein game
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can make these tips go away by registering a free account then visiting your preferences page. Simply check the option "Don't show random tips on game pages." and click the Update Profile button at the bottom.

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-17-06  Bridgeburner: A lovely clear game by Rubinstein.

White plays the opening reasonably well and could have preserved a slight opening advantage with 13.Bc2 instead of the strange 13.Na3? Was White seriously thinking that Black would stop to defend the b pawn instead of advancing it? White's game is clueless after this move, lurching from disaster to disaster, especially at moves 17, 20 and 21.

Black's 13...b4 delivers an enduring initiative that needed better defence than White provided.

17.Nd2 gives up a pawn and the ghost: 17.Ne3 (17...d4 18.Nc4) was White's last chance to defend.

If 22.h3 then 22...Qg3 23.hxg4 Qh4#

After 22.g3, 22...Qf6 would have been immediately decisive, eg: 23.Ba3 Bf5 24.Rae1 Be5+ 25.Rxe5 dxe4 leaves Black the exchange and a passed pawn to the good with White's King exposed. The actual move made allows the exchange of Queens, although White is still lost.

A seemingly effortless win by Rubinstein honored by being included in two game collections on this site.

Jan-28-13  Diglot: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Qe2 Be7 10.c3 0–0 11.a4 Rb8 <Perhaps 11...Qd7 or 11...Nc5 would be better here> 12.axb5 axb5 13.Na3 <A peculiar move> 13...b4 14.cxb4 Rxb4 <Definitely better to capture with the Rook than the Knight> 15.Ba2 Bc5 <15...Nc5 looks like an equally good move after 16.Nc2 Re4 17.Be4 d4 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qb5 with either 19...Qd5 or 19...dxe3 giving a good advantage to Black> 16.Nc2 Rb8 17.Nd2 < Better would have been 17.Ne3 and if 17...d4 then 18.Bb1 or 18.Nc4> 17...Nxd2 18.Qxd2 Nxe5 19.b4 Bb6 20.Kh1 <Not good. White needed to do something more that was immediately more productive, such as 20.Nd4 or 20.Bb2> 20...Qh4 <20...d4 is an interesting alternative> 21.f4 <A mistake which gives Black an attack. Either 21.Qf4 or 21.f3 was needed> 21...Ng4 <Rubinstein's position here is reminiscent of his position towards the end of the famous game Rotlewi vs Rubinstein, 1907> 22.g3 <Forced> 22...Qh3 23.Qg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Bf5 25.Bb3 <25.Bxd5 Bxc2 can't be much worse than what was played> 25...Rfe8 <25...Be4+ 26.Kh3 f5 is a nice alternative> 26.Re1 Be4+ 27.Kh3 <27.Rxe4 may actually fare better> 27...Nf2+ 28.Kh4 Bxc2 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.Bxc2 Bd4 <This move gives Black the win> 31.Ra6 Bf6+ 32.Rxf6 <32.Kh5? loses to 32...g6+ 33.Bxg6 hxg6+ 34.Kh6 Ng4#> 32...gxf6 33.Bf5 d4 34.Kh5 Re2 35.b5 Kg7 < Nice!> 36.g4 Ne4 <White resigns in view of Black's decisive advantage. Note that White cannot take the Knight with 37.Bxe4 as 37...Rxh2# would follow. Better than 36…Ne4 is 36...Nd3 winning the Bishop, because if White doesn’t play 38.Kh4 or move the g- or h-pawns, it's mate> 0–1

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.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

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