Ruy Lopez
White: W. CRUZ (Brazil) Black: F. APSCH EN E E K (Latvia) e4 2 Nf3 3 Bb5 4 Bxc6 e5 Nc6 a6
This variation, especially in con nection with 5 d4 and the sub sequent exchange of queens, has practically been abandoned for some years since it has been shown that Black not only has nothing to fear in the resulting ending but that, thanks to his pair of bishops, he possesses certain winning chances.
4 5 d4 6 Oxd4 7 Nxd4 dxc6 exd4 Oxd4 Nf6?
This is an inferior move since White's e4 square can easily be protected•while the knight has only very small prospects at f6. The correct plan consists of occupying the two centre files with the rooks, not reducing the forces (particularly maintaining the two bishops) and gradually restricting the enemy pieces. For example 7 . . . Bd7, followed by . . . 0-0-0, Ne7-g6, Bd6, RheB with a promising game.
8 f3 Bc5? Now the exchange of one of the bishops is necessary without the
Game 18 Ruy Lopez
slightest positional compensation. Still indicated was 8 . . . Bd7, followed by 9 . . . 0-0-0. 9 Be3 0-0 10 Nf5 Of course! 10 . . . Bxe3 10 . . . Bb4+ would be no better; 1 1 c3 Bxf5 12 cxb4 etc. with advantage to White. 11 Nxe3
From now onwards any exchange that does not alter the pawn structure will favour White because it will facilitate the exploitation of his extra pawn on the king's side.
1 1 Be6 1 2 Nc3 Rad8 13 0-0 Rfe8 14 Rad1 Bc8 1 5 Rfe1 15 RxdB RxdB 16 R d 1 etc. would be an excellent manoeuvre in accordance with the above note. But White is anxious to obtain something more than a simple pawn majority and hopes that h is opponent will give him opportunities for it. Often such tactics serve only to give the opponent chances of a counter attack.
Game 18 Ruy Lopez 1 5 g6 16 Kf2 Kg7 1 7 g4 h5 18 h3 Rh8 19 Kg3
The exchange of rooks on the queen's file was still indicated. The attempt to advance the central pawns merely results in giving more opportunities to the enemy bishop.
19 Nd7
20 f4 Nc5
21 e5 a5
22 Nc4
With the purpose of exchanging the Black knight which has suddenly found an excellent observation post. 22 23 Nd2 24 hxg4 25 Nde4 b6 hxg4 Rh7 Nxe4+ Reasonable chances at least would have been provided by playing 25 . . . RdhB 26 Nf2 etc.
26 Nxe4 Rdh8
27 Nf2 Be6
28 b3
With the object of answering 28 . . . Bd5 with 29 c4.
28 . . . a4 The reduction of forces on the queen's flank cannot be condemned, especially as the manoeuvre is related to the possible exploitation of the a-file.
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29 Rh1 Rxh1
30 Nxh1
After 30 Rxh 1 Ra8, followed by 31 . . . f6 Black would not necessarily be lost either.
30 axb3
31 axb3 Ra8?
Now Black overplays h is hand and forgets that his king can fall into a mating net. After the attack on White's e5 with 31 . . . f6 32 exf6+ Kxf6 the bishop would be superior to the knight and this circumstance would compensate for White's advantage on the king's side.
32 Nf2 Ra2
Logical but fatal. 32 . . . Kf8 33 Ne4 Ke7 etc. would offer a better chance of salvation.
Position after 32 . . . Ra2 33 Ne4!
A correct pawn sacrifice which permits the decisive invasion of the enemy fortress by the White army.
33 . . . Bd5
Or 33 . . . Rxc2 34 Rd8 with the inevitable threat of 35 Nf6.
34 Nf6 35 Ra1 !
Rxc2
The key to the offensive
stratagem which forces the entry of the White rook to the eighth rank.
35 Rc3+
36 Kh4 Bg2
The only way of defending against the mate that was looming but White has at his disposal other means of attacking which cannot all be parried. 37 RaB 3B Kg5 39 NeB+ White to move Rh3+ RhB Kh7 Position after 39 . . . Kh7 GAME 1 9 Munich 1 94 1 Ruy Lopez White: G. K I EN I N G E R Black: A. ALEKH I N E e 4 2 Nf3 e5 Nc6
Game 19 Ruy Lopez
40 Kf6?
White is anxious to play a 'brill iant' move and scorns the easy winning l ine which was 40 e6! fxe6 4 1 ReB (or 4 1 Rd8).
40 . . . c5
The last m istake. He could have played 40 . . . Bd5 with the double threat of 41 . . . Bxb3 and 41 . . . c5. I f then 4 1 b4 he would play 41 . . . c5 42 RdB Bc6 etc. and would be saved.
4 1 Kxf7
Indirectly protecting the rook by the threat of 46 Nf6+ Kh6 47 g5 mate. Black's reply is forced.
41 42 KxfB 43 Nf6+ 44 f5 RfB+ Bxa8 KhB g5 Or 44 . . . gxf5 45 g5, followed by 46 g6 and 4 7 g7 mate. 45 e6 Bc6 46 Nd7 Black resigns 3 Bb5 4 c3 Bc5 Qf6 Page 39
Game 19 Ruy Lopez 5 0-0
Better is 5 d4 and if 5 . . . exd4 then 6 e5! Against 5 d4 I had the intention of playing 5 . . . Bd6? but is is evident that in this case too White would have remained with greater freedom of action. On the other hand the text move does not offer more than limited difficulties.
5 Nge7
6 d3
The continuation given by Bilguer 6 d4 exd4 7 Bg5 Qg6 B Bxe 7 Nxe 7 9 cxd4 Bb6 1 0 Nc3 0-0 1 1 Bd3 does not, in my view, offer any danger to Black if he continues with 1 1 . . . d6 12 e5 Qh6 etc. 6 h6 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 Nc4 Ng6 Position after 8 . . . Ng6 9 d4
As a consequence of the exchanges which result from this move Black obtains a very appreciable advantage in space. Correct would Page 40
be 9 b4 Bb6 (if 9 . . . Be7 then 1 0 Ne3) 1 0 a4 a6 1 1 Nxb6 cxb6 1 2 Bc4 d6 13 Be3 Nf4 and after this White cannot play 14 Bxb6 because of 1 4 . . . Bh3! 1 5 N e 1 Qg6 1 6 Qf3 Bg4 etc. but his position is nonetheless slightly preferable. 9 10 Bxc6 1 1 Nxd4 exd4 dxc6 !
Necessary because after 1 1 cxd4 the double pin 1 1 . . . RdB 1 2 Be3 Bg4 would have had very d isagree able consequences.
1 1 - - - ReS
But now the direct threat against the e-pawn is more effective than 1 1 . . . Rd8.
1 2 Nb3
The lesser of two evils because if 1 2 . . . Rxe4 then 1 3 Qd3 etc. But the fact is that now the White knights will have a restricted field of action.
12 Bf8
13 Oc2
Against the plausible move 1 3 f3 Black would simply have played 1 3 . . . Be6 1 4 Ne3 Rad8 1 5 Oc2 Nh4 16 Nd4 Bc8 and would have achieved a co-ordination of his forces that would have been full of promise. The text move (which eventually prepares for f4) allows him to hold up more effectively the White queen's side development. 13 14 Ncd2 15 f3 Oe6! Nh4 c5!
Neither 15 . . . Qg6 16 Nc4 nor 1 5 . . . Bd6 (threatening 1 6 . . . Nxg2) 16 Nd4, followed by 17 Nc4 would have brought a substantial advantage. The text move prepares for . . . Bd6 and at the same time for an eventual . . . Rd8, followed by the occupation of the square d3.
1 6 Rd1
This move - in reality practically forced in order to give the knight a square - allows Black to create a sacrificial combination. Black to move
Position after 16 Rd1 1 6 . • . Nxg2!
Because otherwise White would play 17 Nf1 with a defendable position.
1 7 Kxg2 18 Kg1
Qh3+
Against 1 8 Kh 1 Bd6 19 f4 (so as to be able to save himself after 1 9 . . . Bxf4 20 Nf1 Qf3+ 2 1 Qg2 Oxd 1 22 Bxf4 etc.) Black had prepared this pretty variation: 19 . . . Bf5 20 Re1 (if 20 exf5 then 20 . . . Re2) Bxf4 21 Nf1 Bxe4+ and wins.
Game 19 Ruy Lopez
18 • • • Bd6
After 1 8 . . . Re6 19 Nf1 Rg6+ 20 Ng3 h5 21 Qg2 Qxg2+ 22 Kxg2 h4 23 f4 White would have freed him self without great discomfort.
19 Nf1
To 19 Nc4 Black would have replied 19 . . . Re6, forcing the exchange sacrifice 20 Rxd6 and after 20 . . . cxd6 21 Qf2 he would have continued the attack by 21 . . . f5 without its force being lessened.
19 Qxf3
20 Rd3
20 Qd3 would be useless on account of 20 . . . Oxd3, followed lay 21 . . . c4. 20 Oxe4 21 Rd2 Qh4! 22 Rg2 Bh3 23 Qf2 Black to move Position after 23 Qf2 23 . • • Qe4!
Now Black can proceed to the l iquidation because he obtains