Glucksberg - Miguel Najdorf
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the text to move the pieces on the board.)
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Irving Chernev gives the following introduction to this game, in his book; "The
1000 Best Short Games of Chess."
(Game # 837.)
Chernev writes: "In this delightful game, which Tartakower called 'The Polish Immortal,' Najdorf sacrifices all of his minor pieces to mate with a Pawn. A work of art which would deserve high ranking on any critic's list of brilliancies."
Beautiful words, and well-deserved. I consider Chernev to be one of the pre-eminent experts in this area. Based on this game and Chernev's
judgment of it, I believe this game to be one of, "The 10 Most Beautiful Short Games of Chess (Miniatures) Ever Played." I
would also like to propose a new name. (One that does not have racial overtones
or is degrading in any way.) I would like to christen this game:
Miguel Najdorf's "Evergreen Game."
... LIFE-Master A.J. Goldsby I.
1.d4 f5; 2.c4 Nf6; 3.Nc3 e6; 4.Nf3 d5!?
Black is going to construct the "Stonewall Formation."
(Of the Dutch Defense.)
[ Some books recommend that Black play the precautionary ...c6 first.
For example:
4...c6;
5.Bf4
d6; (5...d5!?
) 6.e3,
etc. ]
5.e3
c6; 6.Bd3
Bd6;
('!' - The most aggressive.)
7.0-0
0-0; 8.Ne2!?,
White (needlessly) rearranges his pieces.
[I think the best move for White is:
8.Rb1!, "=" with the idea of
maybe expanding on the Queenside. White can also play:
8.c5!?
].
8...Nbd7;
A relatively normal and quiet closed position.
9.Ng5?!, A tricky move, but White vastly underestimated his opponent's resources.
(A reasonable move, as White hits the e6-square.)
[ 9.c5!? ]
9...Bxh2+!!;
White may have seen this, but not the follow-up.
This is a very sharp move, and basically risky - as the Bishop risks immolation on the Kingside. But the risk is justified and Najdorf has correctly foreseen that he may play this move.
10.Kh1, This is much better than the
alternative.
[Not 10.Kxh2? Ng4+; 11.Kg1 Qxg5;('/+'); and Black is a lot better.]
10...Ng4!; An excellent and sharp response. Black is playing very sharply.
[ Maybe White had only counted on:
10...Qe7!?; which is defensive,
but very tame. ]
11.f4, White tries - belatedly - to close
lines.
[If White plays 11.Nxe6?;
then 11...Qh4!;
"-/+" cooks his goose.
The only good move for White is:
11.Nh3
Bd6;('=/+')
which is slightly better for Black. ]
11...Qe8!; A very
good move, guarding e6 and simultaneously working to get the Black Queen to the
h5-square ... where it can threaten death and destruction to the White King.
12.g3
Qh5;
13.Kg2,
["Box."] This looks forced.
[The alternatives are: 13.Nxe6??
Bg1+!; 14.Kg2,
14.Kxg1?
allows a mate in one.
14...Qh2+; 15.Kf3
Qh1#
A rather shocking mate. ]
(Diagram.) Black to play. He plays a very shocking move.
13...Bg1!!; (Maybe
- '!!!')
Even in the year 2000, the computers did not immediately see this move.
[Maybe White expected Black to play something like:
13...Ndf6;
and the position is
unclear. ]
14.Nxg1, This is
forced.
[14.Rxg1? Qh2+; and mate next move. ]
14...Qh2+; 15.Kf3,
White is just barely hanging on.
15...e5!;
Another surprise for
White.
[White may have been expecting the continuation:
15...Qh1+;
16.Ke2
Qg2+;
17.Ke1
dxc4;
18.Bxc4
Qxg3+;
19.Kd2
Nb6;{Unclear}etc. (White may be surviving here.) ]
16.dxe5[], Again this is
forced.
[16.Qe2?
e4+;
17.Nxe4
fxe4+; (17...Nde5+!!)
18.Kxg4
Ne5+;
19.Kg5
Qh6#.
]
[A beautiful line is: 16. Ne2+?!, e4+!; (Not at all
to win material.)
17. Nxe4, Nde5+!! A bolt of pure lightning.
18. dxe5, Nxe5+!; 19. fxe5, fxe4#.]
16...Ndxe5+!;
(Maybe - '!!') Black continues to pour gasoline on the flame.
(Black must not dawdle, as White may eventually free himself.)
17.fxe5
Nxe5+; 18.Kf4
Ng6+;
19.Kf3
f4!!; (Maybe
- '!!!')
Another brilliant move, showing that Black is 100%
committed to try and give mate.
(And the sacrifices continue to rain down on the unfortunate White King!)
[Perhaps White expected the following continuation:
19...Ne5+
;
20.Kf4
Ng6+;
21.Kf3
Ne5+; 22.Kf4
Ng6+;
23.Kf3=
, with a draw. ].
20.exf4[],
Looks forced.
One wonders if White saw his doom approaching?
Or was the first player blissfully unaware of what was about to happen to him?
[20.cxd5?
Bg4+!; 21.Ke4,
(21.Kxg4??
Ne5#
) 21...Bxd1;
('-/+')
Chernev gives:
20.gxf4??
Ne5#; (Or 20...Nh4#
)
Chernev also gives:
20.Bxg6
Bg4+!;
21.Kxg4
Qxg3+;
22.Kh5
hxg6+;
23.Kxg6
Rf6+;
24.Kh5
Rh6#!
A cute variation where the White King is herded like cows on a cattle drive.]
(Diagram.) Black to move. What move would you play?
20...Bg4+!!;
An extremely brilliant denouement.
And probably another surprise for White.
(And the rationale behind this move is not easily or readily apparent.)
21.Kxg4, Black could avoid mate by playing 21. Ke3, but after Black
captures the White Queen; the first player's position would - of course! -
be hopeless.
[21.Ke3
Bxd1;('-/+') ]
21...Ne5+!; 22.fxe5
h5#!;
0-1
As pretty as an ending to a game of chess as you are likely to ever see.
0 - 1
This is actually a MUCH
shortened version of the game as it exists in my computer database.
If you would
like to obtain a copy of this game, (for your own personal enjoyment - or to study
and improve your chess); please get in touch with me.
Click HERE to return to my Yahoo/GeoCities chess web site.
Click HERE
to return to my web page dedicated to,
"The Best Short Games of Chess."
© A.J. Goldsby
I;
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, ©
2001 - 2005.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2006. All rights reserved.
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