E. Gruenfeld - E. Bogolyubov;
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Chernev writes:
"Pioneering a new counter-attack against such an able theoretician as Grunfeld is not a rewarding experience. Bogo tries it and is thoroughly trounced in nineteen vigorous moves."
[See - Irving Chernev in his book:
"The 1000 Best Short Games of
Chess."
(Game # 665, page # 340.)]
I went over all the games in this book when I was just a young lad.
(I borrowed it from a friend, and sometimes looked at 50 games a day! A few years later, unable to find a copy of the book, I copied the entire book to several spiral-bound notebooks ...... by hand!!)
A few games made a tremendous impression on me, and I remember them to this day. Unfortunately, this game is not one of them.
This does not mean to say the game is not outstanding and beautiful ... it definitely is.
But I deeply annotated this game in my quest to find, "The Ten Most Beautiful Short Games of All Time." I don't think this one quite makes the cut. It simply lacks that "something special." While Grunfeld plays with great energy and clarity, his opponent did little (other than snatch a pawn!) to make this game stand out above all others. It is nothing especially unique or of outstanding merit ... in my own opinion.
However, it is still a very brilliant game. While perhaps not in the list of
the "Ten Most Beautiful Short Games of Games," it is still a brilliant
and pretty game. And it deserves to be remembered solely on its OWN merits.
Certainly it is one of Grunfeld's finest wins against one of the world's better
players.
- U.S. Chess Federation LIFE Master A.J. Goldsby I.
1. d4
Nf6; 2.
Nf3
e6; 3.
c4
c5!?;
Normally this is a prelude to a Benoni ... or if White wishes a Sicilian or
even a Queen's Gambit Declined.
[The move 3...d5; is a transposition back to a normal
variation of the "Queen's Gambit Declined." ]
4. d5,
The most aggressive, gaining
space for White.
[ Or White could play:
4.e3
d5; 5.Nc3
Nc6; is a "Semi-Tarrasch Defense."
Or 4.Nc3
cxd4; 5.Nxd4
a6;
is a formation with a Sicilian-type
pawn structure. ]
4...b5!?;
This is known as - believe - the "Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit."
(But ... as we see here, Bogo was probably the originator of this opening
system!!)
This is considered a reliable system today and even GM's such as Lev Alburt have been known to employ it on occasion.
[ The continuation:
4...exd5; 5.cxd5
d6;
6.Nc3
g6; 7.e4
Bg7;
8.Be2
0-0;
9.0-0, ("+/="),
is a standard "Modern Benoni." ]
5. Bg5!, I prefer to develop rather than to snatch pawns.
[ The continuation:
5.dxe6
fxe6; 6.cxb5
d5; {Compensation for Black}
gives Black a big center and reasonable compensation for his sacrifice. White also has doubled b-Pawns. ]
5...h6!?; Black immediately challenges the Bishop, although it is not clear if this is best.
(Perhaps Black should concentrate on systematic development instead.)
[ Black could also play:
5...Qa5+; 6.Qd2
Qxd2+;
7.Nbxd2
bxc4; 8.e4
Bb7;
9.Bxf6
gxf6
10.Bxc4
Na6; ("~") The position is very unclear - White may have a tiny advantage.
White can also play:
5...bxc4; 6.Nc3
Qa5;
7.Bxf6
gxf6; 8.e4,
White has a good position, {Compensation?}; although it is not 100% clear who is better.
(Perhaps the position is very close to equal?)] .
6. Bxf6
Qxf6; 7.
Nc3
b4;
("!?") Seems slightly risky, as the White Knight
on b5 exerts a lot of pressure on the position.
[ 7...bxc4!?; 8.e4,
("=") ] .
8. Nb5
Na6; 9.e4!,
The most energetic move.
White does not worry about defending his QNP.
(This is also the first move to receive an exclam from Chernev.)
I admire the way that Grunfeld conducts this entire game, with great energy and clarity.
[ 9.Qd2!?
Be7; {
9...d6!?; 10.dxe6
Qxe6;
11.Rd1, ("+/=") }
10.e4
Bb7; 11.a3
0-0, ("=") {A.J.G.} ]
9...Qxb2!?; Many have criticized this as too risky, but Black is having
trouble developing.
(In other words, Black is already in hot water, and may as well swim!)
[ Several annotators have said
that safer for Black is:
9...d6;
but then White can
play 10. Qa4!, ("+/="). ]
10. Bd3
Qf6; 11.
e5
Qd8; 12.dxe6!,
The most accurate.
(And the second move in this game to receive an exclam from Chernev.)
Generally, when ahead in development, you should OPEN lines and not
close them.
{I refer to this as one of the "Morphy
Principles," because they were first seen
repeatedly and systematically only in the great Morphy's games!}
[ Maybe not as clear is:
12.d6!?
Qb6; 13.0-0,
with an unclear position. ]
12...dxe6;
The only good recapture.
[Chernev says:
"Not 12...fxe6??; 13.Bg6+
Ke7;
14.Qd6#." ]
13. Be4
Qxd1+!?; Black is already experiencing difficulties.
(In other words, there may be no salvation for Black's game now!)
[ The continuation:
13...Rb8; 14.Qxd8+
Kxd8;
15.0-0-0+
Ke7;
{Or 15...Ke8?!;
16.Bc6+
Ke7; 17.
Nxa7, ("+/-")
} 16.
Nxa7, ("+/-") gives White
a definite advantage.
(Maybe - "+/-" ?)
{Most of this is a possible
transposition to the game!} ]
14. Rxd1
Rb8; 15.
Bc6+
Ke7; 16.
Nxa7
g5;
There is not much good here for Black.
[16...Bb7; 17.Bxb7!,
(The continuation:
17.Rd7+
Ke8; 18.Rxb7+,
also wins easily for White.) 17...f6[];
Is this forced? (Or Chernev gives the continuation:
17...Rxb7?;
18.Nc6+
Ke8;
19.Rd8#)
18.Nc6+
Ke8; 19.Bxa6,
And White is winning. ("+/-") ]
17. Bb5
Bg7?!; Black is struggling on the
edge of the precipice.
[ Black can also resign after:
17...Bb7!?; 18.Rd7+
Ke8;
19.Rxb7+
Kd8;
20.Bxa6, ("+/-"), but at least he is not mated!
******
(The best line for White maybe to set up a
killing discovered check, i.e.
20.Rd7+!
Ke8;
21.Re7+!
Kxe7[]; (Box, or
forced.)
(Or 21...Kd8?;
22.Nc6+
Kc8; 23.Bxa6+
Rb7; 24.Bxb7#
)
22.Nc6+
Kd7; 23.Nxb8+
Kc8;
24.Nxa6, ("+/-"),
and White is up two minor pieces.) ]
18. Nc6+
Kf8; 19.
Rd8# 1 - 0
A beautiful and very energetic game by Grunfeld.
Ewfim Dmitriyevich Bogojubow (1889 - 1952.) - Awarded the title of "GrandMaster" in 1951, he was easily one of the world's best six players in the 1920's. (Probably at one time second only to Alekhine. {1929} He finished ahead of Alekhine more than once, and finished in 2nd place behind Alekhine several times also. Bled, 1931 is a good example of this.) A Ukrainian by birth, (born April 14th, 1889.); he became a German citizen in 1952. His name, also spelled 'Efwim Bogolyubov,' {Russianization} means "beloved of God."
Nathan Divinsky remarks: that he was a student of theology who easily
belonged in the World's Top Ten during the 1920's. (He gave up theology for a
career in chess.)
[See "The Batsford Chess Encyclopedia,"
by Nathan Divinsky.]
He played two World Championship Matches against Alekhine. (He lost both of
these.)
He won many, many tournaments and matches. (He won
five (5) of the eight (8) tournaments for the internee's at Triberg.) He won several
(many) [major] International Chess Tournaments. He was FIRST (1st) at Bad
Pistyan, 1922. He won FIRST (1st) at Carlsbad 1923.
His finest tournament may have been Moscow, 1925. He won FIRST PRIZE (1st), ahead of ALL the best players of his day, including all the young Russian players, Emanuel Lasker, Jose, R. Capablanca, and Akiba Rubinstein. (His excellent score was: +13, =5, -2. In one of these games he turned down a draw, tried too hard to win, and ended up losing.) He also won Piest'any 1922; and Bad Kissengen, 1928 ... ahead of Capablanca, Rubinstein and Euwe. He won the Championship of the USSR in 1924 by a two and a half point margin. (He also won again in 1925.) He won the German Open Championship in 1925 ahead of Rubinstein, Lasker, and Nimzovich. He may be the only man to have won both the German and Russian Championships, and certainly the ONLY man to hold both titles at the same time!! (He also won the German Championships again in 1927, 1931, 1933, and 1949.)
In 1920 he won a close match to Nimzowitsch, (+3, -1, =4) but lost narrowly to Rubinstein. (+4, =3, -5.)
He was a brilliant attacker whose endgame was not up to the same standard as a Lasker, Capablanca, or Alekhine. He also won many brilliancy prizes and awards for outstanding play. A study of his games would benefit nearly any player.
Divinsky writes: "His play was marked by boundless energy, supreme optimism, and an ability to combine maneuvers on both sides of the board." Divinsky also notes he had minus (negative) scores (lifetime) against many of the best all-time players. (Players such as Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, {+13, = 37, - 35} Rubinstein, Euwe, and Vidmar.) I {A.J.G.} think this does not reflect badly on Bogo, its just Lasker, Capa, and Alekhine are three of the greatest players who ever lived ... and Bogo was unfortunate that he did not live during a different time period ... one when these players were not active.
Bogo also created in the Opening phase of the game, but failed to analyze some of his ideas beforehand. This led to several unexpected reversals. Euwe considered him a great player, possessed of a great positional and tactical talent. His weaknesses, Euwe felt, were his overwhelming enthusiasm and a lack of objectivity. (I also feel he was not as concerned about the endgame, and tended to gloss over this phase of the game.)
He was a brilliant player who was also greatly admired and respected by his peers. He suffered a fatal heart attack on June 18th, 1952; returning from a simultaneous exhibition.
(Sources: "The Encyclopedia of Chess," by Anne Sunnucks; "The OXFORD Companion To Chess," by David Hooper & Kenneth Whyld; and "The Batsford Chess Encyclopedia," by Nathan Divinsky.) {Plus several others.}
Ernest Franz Grunfeld (1893 - 1962) - (Also spelled Gruenfeld in some countries.) A Viennese player who was awarded the title of GM in 1950. An author and a player. For a few years in the 1920's, he was probably in the World's Top Ten players.
His best result was probably Meran, 1924. He took clear FIRST (1st) with a score of +9, =3, -1. Here he came ahead of several of the strongest players of his day, including Spielmann and Rubinstein. He also tied for FIRST (1st) at Budapest 1926, ahead of Lasker, Reti, Rubinstein, and Tartakower. He played on many Olympic Teams for Austria, competing regularly for a span of over 10 years.
He was a creator and one of the first truly scientific opening analysts and super- theoreticians. The opening 1. d4, Nf6; 2, c4, g6; 3. Nc3, d5!? bears his name and has been played by virtually every great GM in the last 50 years.
He wrote several books on the opening and co-authored the book on the tournament, Teplitz-Schonau 1922. His game against Apenscheeks from the 1933 Folkstone Olympiad is considered one of the best games of that event, and indeed the decade.
He was in poor health when he passed away in 1962.
(Sources: "The Encyclopedia of Chess," by Anne Sunnucks; "The OXFORD Companion To Chess," by David Hooper & Kenneth Whyld; and "The Batsford Chess Encyclopedia," by Nathan Divinsky.) {Plus several others.}
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Copyright, A.J. Goldsby I.
© A.J. Goldsby,
1995 - 2005. © A.J. Goldsby 2006.
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