07 Aug 11
Originally posted by tortenThank you very much. I have seen the game before- in a database for Bird's Opening! It effectively transposes to a Bird's Opening at move 9.
As promised a nice miniature for Andrew.Two actually,there's just so much good stuff in this book.My best buy since long!
So I noticed you play Alekhine's defence.
N.N.-Geschew 1935
[pgn]1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 c6 4. dxc6 Nxc6 5. d3 e5 6. Bg5 Bc5
7. Ne4 {does this position look familiar to you?} Nxe4 {but of course!} 8. Bxd8 Bxf2+ 9. Ke2 Nd4 {black ...[text shortened]... ving it} 12. Qh5 {!! black resigned.The queen is taboo and 12....,Nf6 fails to 13.Ng4}[/pgn]
I also like to think of it as a Queen's Indian Defense Reversed (Queen's Indian Attack?), as the position after move 9 is a normal one for the Queen's Indian with colors reversed.
Sometimes the extra tempo that comes from playing a "colors reversed" system doesn't mean much, simply because not all systems are very time-sensitive, and a single tempo may not have much intrinsic value.
I don't think that was the case here!
14 Aug 11
Originally posted by tortenThanks for posting the Alekhine defence games! I will have to keep any eye out for Legal's mate in the 2.Nc3 variation.
As promised a nice miniature for Andrew.Two actually,there's just so much good stuff in this book.My best buy since long!
So I noticed you play Alekhine's defence.
N.N.-Geschew 1935
{snip}
Speaking of opening disasters, I don't have any Alekhine defence disasters of my own (where I triumph!), but I had this game in a tournament earlier this year which qualifies as an opening disaster. I have never tried the Sicilian myself given I don't know enough about it, but my opponent gave it a go.
14 Aug 11
1 edit
Hi Torten.
Smashing post.
Sounds like you are really enjoying that book.
I've loads of these books. 1,000 Miniatures by Chernev and this Russian
book of 444 short games which has some wonderful pieces of creativity.
Just a wee teensy bit of advice.
Try and write (and post) for your weakest reader. Show the finish.
(a lot of guys are a bit shy about asking. I know, I (and others ) get their
PM's asking me to explain what 'so and so' meant.)
Here you say "The queen is taboo and 12....,Nf6 fails to 13.Ng4." I see the mate
and so do loads of others. But some may not see the double checkmate and will
think the idea of Ng4 is take the f6 Knight and mate on h7 and wonder why
N(f6)xQ or gxQ does not work. So perhaps show them.
As you will see all is not clear.
(infact, as you will also see it was beyond at least one OTB player.)
The Queen is taboo.
Let us have a look at how the game actually finished. There is no forced mate.
There hides in there a beautiful 3 piece mate that others may not have seen.
It's always a joy to bring one of these out.
Beautiful. Messing about with these miniatures still gives me hours of fun.
Is it of any value as a method of instruction.
Does it improve one's play?
Well this position appeared in Bellon - Pfleger 1972.
Yes it's the same exact position we are looking at.
White did not find Ng4! he played Qh6 instead and the game was drawn in 39 moves.
Remember to have a look carefully at these games.
Try different defences in the 'so called lost positions'.
You find other mating ideas and cute wins (as above).
Pull them to bits and disect them. You pick up lods of ideas.
As a minor gripe I'd say you have posted too many too quickly.
There are loads of unheard melodies in those games
Sometimes all is not what it seems...
Game 590 from Chernev's 1000. Owen v Burn London 1887.
Here is how it went.
OK let us have a wee poke about with it.
None of what follows is mentioned by Chernev.
What happens if Black takes back on f6 with the Knight.
Very messy, let's go back and have another good look.
And so it goes on and on till I'm happy I that the corpse of a lost game
has no more secrets to reveal. I use to spend hours on games like this.
I reckon if I had put ½ as much energy into endings and middle game postional play
as I did with traps and mini games I might have turned into a proper chess player.
14 Aug 11
Originally posted by greenpawn34I love such books.I always try to get people to read them,but they rarely do.
Hi Torten.
Smashing post.
Sounds like you are really enjoying that book.
I've loads of these books. 1,000 Miniatures by Chernev and this Russian
book of 444 short games which has some wonderful pieces of creativity.
Just a wee teensy bit of advice.
Try and write (and post) for your weakest reader. Show the finish.
(a lot of guys are a b ...[text shortened]... . I know, I (and others ) get their
PM's asking me to explain what 'so and so' meant.)
I guess it's the 'don't play for traps' advice you read in beginner handbooks.
But all good players know the traps!If not they end up in these books.
With red faces 😉
While instruction wasn't on my mind I would think these games cannot but instruct.
I'll give another and with emphasis on instruction.
A good club level trap in the Caro-Kann.
Alekhine-Bruce 1938
And please,if any questions don't be afraid to ask.Now and in the future.