Jan-06-23 Botvinnik vs A Batuev, 1931
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Gaito: [DIAGRAM]
WHITE TO MOVE
Botvinnik played the shiny 25.Qxe7!? which is suffcient to win, but it was totally unnecessary. Black resigned in view of 25...Nxe7 26.Rxe7 Bd5 27.Rxf7 Bxf7 28.Kf2, and the ensuing pawn ending is easily won by White. From the diagrammed position, the ... |
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Jan-06-23 Bogoljubov vs Botvinnik, 1936 
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Gaito: White resigned, as he will be quickly mated after 26.Qd1 e3! 27.Qe2 Qa1! (see diagram below)
[DIAGRAM]
For instance: 28.Kf1 Bxe1 29.Qxe1 Rd1 with mate in three or four moves at the most |
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Jan-06-23 J Xie vs Larsen, 1994 
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Gaito: Great strategic game by Xie Jun. I guess that Botvinnik or Capablanca would have been delighted to see this masterpiece. Notice that White always had a clear plan in mind (no need to calculate lengthy variations). 12.Qc4! was the first part of the plan (preventing Black from moving a ... |
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Jan-01-23 Carlsen vs Jakovenko, 2009
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Gaito: This is the typical Carlsen game, where the young Norwegian master played with a simple and clear plan throughout (to advance his K-side pawn majority) and at the same time he didn't give his opponent the least chance of counterplay. Chess is made to look simple when played by
... |
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Dec-16-22 Polgar vs Mamedyarov, 2002 
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Gaito: Some of the younger grandmasters today do not know the classics. But Judit does know the classics! Everybody knows that the move 11.Ng5!? was first played in the 10th match game Karpov vs. Korchnoi, Baguio, 1978. In that game Korchnoi played 11...dxc3 and the game was drawn. Sure ... |
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Oct-25-22 M Stean vs Browne, 1974
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Gaito: [DIAGRAM]
BLACK TO MOVE
In this position Browne had an opportunity to return the pĂece and run away with his king to b8 and a7. At any rate, Black has a clear advantage, but 18...Kc7!? would at least have put Black's King at a safer place, for example: 19.Qxe7+ Kb8 20.fxe5 Re8 ... |
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Oct-24-22 Marcel Sisniega 
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Gaito: <syracrophy>: Thank you very much for your kind words! |
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Oct-24-22 Shirov vs G Toczek, 2022
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Gaito: Another possible defense for Black, and well worthy of consideration, would have been perhaps 26...Rd7 27.exd5 Be7 (instead of 27...Be6) 28.Qd4 Qc5!, reaching the following position:
[DIAGRAM]
If then 29.Qxg7 Rf8 30.Bc3 Bc4 31.Rge1 Rxd5 apparently is unclear (see diagram)
[DIAGRAM] |
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Mar-07-22 J Szmetan vs K Frey Beckman, 1977
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Gaito: Komodo 13 doesn't like the move 7...c6? Instead, the engine recommends 7...h6 with equality. |
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Dec-03-21 Marshall vs F Duz-Khotimirsky, 1911
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Gaito: 12...Qg3. "Poor Marshall dead"" 13.Qxg4. "Oh no. Marshall not dead. I dead!" |
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