Mine is definitely Kramnik v Carlsen corus 2008. This was just before Magnus became World number one. I believe this is his first classical win against Kramnik. I just love the way black provokes white into over stretching and then unleashes the kingside pawns! The whole game has a really nice flow. 🙂
What is your favourite game and why?
Don't know if it was a master game or not, but years ago there was a game in a book called "The chess players bedside book".It involved a queen sacrifice followed by a series of bishop checks resulting in the King walking across the board to the eventual mate(by a rook I think).
Unfortunately I've misplaced the book.i know it's available on Amazon but the day I decide to buy it the original is bound to turn up!!
Originally posted by @vendaThat's a shame, do you remember one of the players? If it is a brilliancy then it would probably appear in their "best games" section on chessgames.com.
Don't know if it was a master game or not, but years ago there was a game in a book called "The chess players bedside book".It involved a queen sacrifice followed by a series of bishop checks resulting in the King walking across the board to the eventual mate(by a rook I think).
Unfortunately I've misplaced the book.i know it's available on Amazon but the day I decide to buy it the original is bound to turn up!!
Hi Venda,
The game you probably mean is:
Eugen Sobernheim vs Salomon A Langleben, Montreal (1895)
It is on page 36 of 'The Chess Player's Bedside Book'.
There seems to be a historical debate about the who, when and where of this game.
The names are often swapped and sometimes the game is placed in New York.
More here...it is Chess Note 7989. Royal Walkabout.
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter104.html
Originally posted by @sundown316Oh yes. There is more to the story, however.
Lasker-Capablanca, St. Petersburg 1914. The ultimate chess psych-out. Lasker needed a win to catch Capa, but instead of going into some wild attacking line, he plays one of the most drawish variations in chess, throws Capa completely off his game, and wins a magnificent game.
In Round 6, Alekhine had played the same opening variation (Spanish Exchange) against Lasker and lost. Then in Round 7, Lasker, with the White pieces, played it against Capablanca. That Lasker would risk playing the opposite color in a game he had just won must have thrown everyone for a loop. Pure chutzpah.
Here is the Alehkine - Lasker game, St. Petersburg 1914, 89 moves (an extraordinarily difficult endgame):
And now, the next round, Lasker - Capablanca, in which Capa goes down in a mere 42 moves:
The stuff of legend.
Even more to the story and little do with psychology which was Reti's take on things.
Tarrasch asked Lasker why play the Exchange Variation.
Lasker replied he did not know how to continue in another variation that Tarrasch
had suggested for Black in the Lopez so played the exchange.
Capa had played the Black side of an exchange Lopez just before the
tournament, it was a draw, the game would have been known to Lasker
and it is very possible Lasker noted Capa's uncertain play.
(This is David Hooper's take on the matter)
Capa took, for him, an uncharacteristic dip in form. He noted up this game
in Chess Fundamentals mentioning nothing about being surprised by Bxc6
but rather surprised by his own play (and how bad it was). The next round
v Tarrasch he lost a piece in 15 moves then snapped out of it and fought
like a cornered rat nearly drawing the game. Tarrasch won in 83 moves.
If he had drawn this game he would tied for first place with Lasker.
So it was good old fashioned opening prep v an opponent whose form was on the dip.
One of my all-time favorites is Euwe-Lasker, Zurich 1934. I've always marveled at how Lasker at age 66 is able to prevail after such an innocuous-looking opening. The way he is able to take over the d-file with his rooks is a thing of beauty. If I remember right, each player offers a queen sac. After Lasker gives up his queen for minor pieces the resulting unbalanced position required genius at the highest level to foresee and evaluate correctly.
Euwe - Lasker, Zurich 1934
The Dutchman, Euwe, would take the world's championship from Alehkine the following year, in 1935, but he is outplayed here by the 'old fox' in a thrilling game in which both queens are hanging:
Euwe once commented: "We learn nothing from Lasker's games; we can only marvel at them."
Kan - Lasker, Round 1, Moscow, 1935.
Final standings: Botvinnik & Flohr 13, Lasker 12-1/2, Capablanca 12, Spielmann 11, Kan and Lowenfish 10-1/2. Lasker defeated his old rival Capablanca and drew Botvinnik.
PS A bit of historical background to Lasker and the Moscow tournament: The Laskers were Jewish and their property had been seized by the Nazi government. They had no home and no bank account. Lasker desperately needed the prize money; you could say some people perform better under pressure!