One Queen Beats Two Queens
By 18 Nov 12 on
7414 views | 1 edit | Last edit on 19 Nov 12
A great man once wrote:
“One thing leads to another.”
I’ve no idea who it was. I used to know but one thing led to another
and I’ve forgotten, But who ever he was he was right.
I’ve been thumbing through;
Saidy mentioned a Reshevsky’s part in the 1948 World Championship.
My mind recalled Reshevsky missed a win v Botvinnik.
So, find the missed win, look for examples of similar missed wins in RHP
and there is a blog theme.
So I find Reshevsky’s best games, open up the book and the word ‘trap’
leaps out at me. ‘An ingenious trap’ writes Reshevsky.
Who is this who sets ‘ingenious traps’ I ask myself and I discover it is none
other than Capablanca!
Well, well, well. How charming is that?
I set traps and get called a caveman, Capablanca does it and is called a genius.
Humph!
I like showing Capa traps because a lot of previous writers babble on
on that Capa never stooped to such low levels of play.
Of course he did, except his had that touch of class, though I have to admit
as a top trap setter this one is rather transparent.
Here is the trap. Reshevsky - Capablanca, Margate 1935
Capa had been under the cosh for most of the middle game defending a backward
b-pawn. He missed a good chance to complicate things but let that moment slip by
and was left with a really awkward position to hold. (if indeed he can be held.)
Capa must have known he would be seeking a trap or two to get him
out of trouble, because first he offered a draw which was politely declined.
If I was writing this in the 1930’s I could add another Capa myth.
Capablanca Myth No.112
“Before lowering the tone of a game by setting traps Capablanca would first
offer a draw. Only if it was declined would he then set ingenious traps.”
Anyway one thing was leading to another so I found the Botvinnik game.
It was Reshevsky - Botvinnik AVRO 1938.
My mind was playing traps on me! It not 1948, but 1938.
Botvinnik, according to Reshevsky’s notes, was coasting to a win but allowed
him to complicate matters by giving up his Queen for two Rooks.
This appeared on the board.
So where is this leading?
RHP games where two Rooks beat a Queen?
Nah GP. That's a naff idea.
So I log onto RHP and see someone has sent me a game.
‘One Queen beats Two Queens’ is the title.
And one thing led to another.
HikaruShindo -jaryvan RHP November 2012
So thanks to HikaruShindo we have a theme for this weeks blog.
Players becoming mesmerized by the prospect of having two Queens.
rooki - bbmo2001 RHP 2010 will give you the idea.
midknight - derbrad RHP 2007
darksideofthemoonie - 2advent RHP 2010
What a game Look at this position after Black’s 43rd move.
And 50 gruelling moves later we reach here.
Black has fought off White’s attempts at perpetual check and
is now on the brink of winning.
This is where you will chuck most won games. When you are on the brink of
winning you are also on the brink of blunderland. Never forget that.
mikenay - Wiabj RHP 2007
Another example of the promoting player slipping into relaxed mode.
And finally for a complete change…
I came across this in 'Kings, Commoners and Knaves' by Edward Winter.
It's a position from a game by two unknown players in the British Chess
Magazine March 1907.
The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 149765
