chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Geza Maroczy vs George J Beihoff
"The Maroczy Blind" (game of the day Jul-18-2023)
Manhattan CC-ch (1926), New York, NY USA
Colle System (D05)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 923 more games of Maroczy
sac: 17...Rxf5 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: To access more information about the players (more games, favorite openings, statistics, sometimes a biography and photograph), click their highlighted names at the top of this page.

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
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Mar-25-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  gawain: I celebrated too soon, seeing the back rank mate 25...Qc1 26 Rxc1 Rxc1# . Would I ever have been surprised when my opponent uncorked 26 Qxg7# instead!
Mar-25-14  goodevans: 25.Qe5? Oops!

I think white's fine until this blunder. 25.Nf3 is a better way to defend d4 and it's not clear that black would have sufficient compensation for his exchange sac since white has as many attacking chances.

<Penguincw: I had 25...Qc1 is mind. It's probably winning as well...>

25...Qc1 26.Qxg7++

Mar-25-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  alexrawlings: Hmm... as a 1800 rated player I'm a bit embarassed to admit that I didn't see this. I spent my time trying to work out if I could get away with <25.. Nxd2> and never even got a sense that a bank rank mate was on.

Still a great learning puzzle and hopefully my chess brain will remember this puzzle if this ever happens to me in a game!

Mar-25-14  johnlspouge: < <alexrawlings> wrote: Hmm... as a 1800 rated player I'm a bit embarassed to admit that I didn't see this. I spent my time trying to work out if I could get away with <25.. Nxd2> and never even got a sense that a bank rank mate was on. >

After examining material balance, I examine King safety, which determines the continuation here.

The White Kg1 has two squares g1 and h1 available to it, which suggests the back-rank mate. White can play 26.Qe5-e6+ or 26.Qxg7#, so a combination requires forceful play by Black. Thus, the only check 25...Qe3+ is interesting.

Another useful rule is to examine every forcing move, which also draws attention to 25...Qe3+.

Mar-25-14  kevin86: Black will mate on the back row whether or not white takes the queen. Black must have made a checking move, as his own king is threatened with mate.
Mar-25-14  whiteshark: <25...Qe3+!!>, and that's it. Pretty tough for a Monday.
Mar-25-14  Mating Net: The only win for George J Beihoff but he mates an original GM, not too shabby.
Mar-25-14  RedShield: Didn't someone already use the pun <Maroczy Blind>?
Mar-25-14  sfm: <Mating Net: The only win for George J Beihoff but he mates an original GM, not too shabby.> Absolutely not. Against those opponents I'd have been proud of a zero!
Mar-25-14  Once: Hmm ... more interesting than it looks. The obvious Tuesday win is 25...Qe3+ taking advantage of the weakened white back rank. The Rg2 is in fancy dress as a fat pawn. Together with black's paratrooper knight on e4, we have all the signs for a back rank mate.

But it's not quite so simple. What happens if White wriggles like a good un? After 25...Qe3+ 26. Kh1 Qxe1+ 27. Rg1 Nf2+ 28. Kg2, we get to here:


click for larger view

In human mode I spent quite a bit of time pondering this position. No immediate mate is apparent, so what do we do? We ought to notice that we even though we snaffled a rook in the combination, we are not a rook ahead. We started the puzzle the exchange down, so winning a rook really means winning a minor piece. We've won material but not cornered the blighter yet.

Being a pragmatic soul, I thought of exchanging down to a win on wood. 28...Qxe5 29. dxe5, then extricate the even more deeply infiltrated paratrooper knight, neutralise white's passer and grind out a 60 move win.

And I have to admit that said variation taxed what remains of my grey cells as I worried that the knight might be cornered and lost or the white pawn would race through to Westminster Abbey.

But m'learned colleagues <agb2002> and <gofer> have spotted the better continuation. After 28...Qxd2!


click for larger view

Black threatens a devastating discovered check and white doesn't have a perp or mating attack of his own. Fritzie subsequently says that this is mate in 11, where my grubby queen swap is in the ball park of -6.

Quite a bit more involved than your normal choosday.

Mar-25-14  BOSTER: This is the pos. white to play 13.


click for larger view

Black pos., where most the pieces are on the queen's side looks very suspicious. After 13.dxc5 if Bxc5 we have <almost> the possibility to sacrifice couple bishops. 14.b4-to deflect the bishop from diagonal g1-h7 Bxb4.

Mar-25-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: Geza Maroczy - George J Beihoff
[A46]
Manhattan Chess Club Championship
New York City, USA, 1926.
[A.J.G.]

A quick look at this game.

1.d4 d5; 2.Nf3 e6; 3.e3 Nf6; 4.Bd3 Bd6; 5.0-0 0-0;

So far, White is playing the super-safe Colle Opening. [ See MCO-15, page # 506.]


click for larger view

Meanwhile ... Black adopts the "copy-cat approach."
(I also have had trouble with coming up with an effective plan when my opponent simply mimicked all of my moves.)

6.b3 b6; 7.Bb2 Bb7; 8.Nbd2 Nbd7;

So far, so good.
(Total symmetry, which is somewhat rare in master-level chess today.)


click for larger view

Both Fritz and Houdini rate the current position as about equal, and it is difficult to even try to dispute such a logical assessment.

Now White buries a Knight into the outpost on e5.

9.Ne5 c5; (Hmmm.)

Black breaks on the Q-side.

Since I first began studying chess, I know that such a break is both correct, normal and good chess.

[RR 9...Ne4; - Fritz 13. ]

10.f4 Rc8; 11.Qf3! Qc7;

Both side have developed in a relatively logical manner, now the players need to decide on a course of action for the middlegame.

12.Nxd7!?, (Illogical?)

White swaps off the monster Knight on the key e5-square.

To me, this is not the best way to handle this position. What is funny is that even the engines do not show a simple or easy path for White ...

[ The iron giant likes: RR 12.Qe2!? Ne4; 13.Nxe4 dxe4; 14.Bb5 Nxe5; 15.fxe5 Be7; 16.c4, (more space) with <maybe> a small edge for White. ]

Now White's P.O.D. is revealed, Maroczy is hoping to make inroads on the King-side.

12...Nxd7; 13.Qh3 f5;

White has done all that he could (thus far) and reaches a (temp?) stopping point.

14.g4!?, (Dubious?)

White lashes out ...

This is probably too violent and compromises White's King-side too much to be one-hundred percent correct.

[ 14.Nf3 h6; ∞ (unclr) ]

14...cxd4; 15.Bxd4 e5?!;

Black goes for a "break-loose" type of idea. (Looks OK?)


click for larger view

Ferocious Fritz brands this as just plain bad ...

[ Much better was: >/= 15...Nc5; 16.Nf3, '=' with an equal game. ]

Mar-25-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: <(Conclusion of annotations for this game.) <<<<<>>>>> >

16.fxe5 Bxe5; 17.Bxf5 Rxf5!;

Out of either desperation or a good sense of self-defense, Black sacks the exchange and the box verifies this as the correct approach for Beihoff.

[ Much worse was: </= 17...g6?; 18.Be6+ Kg7; 19.g5, & White's winning. ]

Amazingly, the next three moves are all 100% best, according to the computer. (Who says all old chess is bad chess?)

18.gxf5 Bxd4; 19.exd4 Qxc2; 20.Qe3 Nf6!; (Head for the OP?)

Black goes for the e4-point.


click for larger view

Fritz indicates that White should be winning here ... (It's not that easy to play Maroczy's position, Black has a lot of counterplay and the WK is not at all secure.)

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******

Now both Houdini & Fritz show that Rac1 was best for White. (Maroczy might have seen this, but backed away ... Black could sack on c1, and the WK will have a hard time finding a safe haven on the chessboard.)

21.Qf4!? Ba6!; 22.Rf2!? h6; 23.Re1 Qc3;

Black has done the best that he could do, Fritz reveals that 24.Re7! was just a won game for White.

24.Rg2 Ne4; 25.Qe5??,

White drops the ball ... just inches from the goal-line!


click for larger view

Now we have reached the position for today's POTD.

[ Better was: ยน25.Kh1, with a won game for White! ]

Black to move and win: 25...Qe3+!; (Ouch!!!!)

Beihoff apparently does not miss his opportunity!

Maroczy shoots up the flag of surrender, there was no point in continuing from here.

0-1

Mar-25-14  thegoodanarchist: Got it. No special tactical vision needed, obviously.

Black wins with 25...Qe3+ 26. Rxe3 Rc1+ 27. Re1 (27.Nf1 Rxf1#) Rxe1+ and mate next.

Mar-25-14  M.Hassan: "Easy"
Black to play 25...?
Black has a Bishop for a Rook.

It is easy to see that if black delays the attack he can be mated on g7. On the other ahnd, he has a superb Bishop on a6 that can bring him win (with the help of other pieces of course):

25...........Qe3+
26.Rxe3 Rc1+
27.Nf1 Rxf1#
<27.Re1 Rxe1+ 28.Nf1 Rxf1# could be another line to delay mate>

If Queen is not taken, an interesting line is created:

26.Kh1 Qxe1+
27.Rg1 Nf2+
28.Kg2 Qxd2
29.Qe6+ Kh8
30.Qg6 Ne4+
31.Kh3 Ng5+
32.Kg3 Rc3+
33.Kg4 Qe2+
34.Kh4 Qxh2+
35.Kg4 Be2#
More complicated than what at first it looked!. I am not sure if I am 100% right. Glad to receive comments

Mar-25-14  PJs Studio: Once - good take on the practical analysis after ...28 Qxd2 (to add a wrinkle - also possible is 27...Qxd2). Computers excel in complications, but they also DO NOT fear the clock. (Rather annoying to me...)

I have ruined the score (taken the easy way out) of some darn nice games to lock down the full point. Beautiful wins are great, but losing on time while looking for beauty is unacceptable.

In other words, I'm with ya.

Mar-25-14  Whitehat1963: Couldn't find this one. Gonna be a long week!
Mar-25-14  BOSTER: White to play 25. only half move before POTD.

Nobody touch white queen on f4.

My guess after 25.Nf3 white
is better.

Mar-25-14  Nullifidian: 25... ♕e3

If White takes, then it's mate in 3.

The best continuation is 26. ♔h1 ♕xe1+ 27. ♖g1 ♘f2+ 28. ♔g2 ♕xd2, but Black's material superiority still makes it a done deal.

Jul-18-23  Cecco: <BOSTER>, the position after 24. ... Ne4 should indeed be winning for white, but it seems that 25. Nf3 loses the advantage after 25. ... Ng5.
Jul-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: I had no idea Maroczy ever played in a Manhattan Chess Club championship. Doesn't look like he did particularly well. He lost a miniature as White against Tenner: Maroczy vs O Tenner, 1926.

drew Kupchik, who played an Exchange Slav: Kupchik vs Maroczy, 1926.

drew Kashdan: Kashdan vs Maroczy, 1926.

beat Norwood: Maroczy vs C E Norwood, 1926.

beat Cohen: Maroczy vs S Cohen, 1926.

beat Herman Steiner, who went on to become a strong player but was only about 21 at the time: H Steiner vs Maroczy, 1926.

Not sure when exactly this tournament was played. Maybe for Maroczy it served as a warmup for Lake Hopatcong (1926). That was a great tournament for Kupchik, who finished second to Capablanca and ahead of Maroczy and Marshall.

Jul-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: My comment about Maroczy seemingly not doing particularly well was incorrect, it seems. Based on a comment by the late great <Phony Benoni> on Kupchik's page, it seems that this was the 1926-27 championship (so NOT a warmup for Lake Hopatcong 1926, as I had erroneously surmised), and that Maroczy won it, followed by Kupchik and Kashdan tied for 2nd-3rd.
Jul-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: 25.Kh1! wins easily, as <LMAJ> suggests in his annotations. 25.Nf3 is not so good for 25...Ng5! and white is forced to sac an Exchange 26.Rxg5. 25.h3 is also playable but 25.Kh1!, which safely avoids all complications is definitely better.
Jul-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: <Honza Cervenka: 25.Kh1! wins easily,>

[Diagram?].

Jul-19-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <offramp: <Honza Cervenka: 25.Kh1! wins easily,> [Diagram?]>


click for larger view

search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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