David Janowski - Fritz Samisch
Marienbad, Germany. 1925
(1st Brilliancy Prize!)
                      |
or click on the actual moves to play through the variations.)
(1st Brilliancy Prize!)
|
|
Chernev writes:
"Even in the twilight of his career, Janowsky could make electrifying moves. Herewith a game that was awarded
First Brilliancy
Prize (!) in an International Tournament."
- Irving Chernev.
("1000 Best Short Games of Chess."
Page # 350, Game # 682.)
I, for one, saw this game many, many years ago; probably well before I
was a teen-ager. I can remember the awe and wonder White's play
inspired in me. It is truly a work of chess art and a very strong candidate
for the list, "The Ten Prettiest Short Games of Chess Ever Played."
- LIFE Master A.J. Goldsby I
In my opinion, this game is also fairly unique in chess literature and praxis.
White delivers a killing blow without ever castling. The final move is as
shocking as any of the Great Tal's ... (Or Fischer's, or Kasparov's)
"Coup de Grace's."
Another thing is that I spent over three weeks (off and on) analyzing this
game. It stands up very, very, very well to intense scrutiny ......
and
computer-aided analysis.
(Unlike many of the older games!)
I arrived at the ratings by using the current rating list and averaging
each player's five year <best> average - if he were alive today.
1. d4
Nf6; 2. Nf3
e6; 3. Bg5, Another example of the "Torre Attack."
(See the game, Torre - Lasker; Moscow, 1925.)
I was taught by a Master (perhaps incorrectly so), that you should never
make this move until after Black has played both ...e6 AND ...d5.
[More normal here is:
3.c4
,
with a more common QGD-type position.
For example: 3...d5; 4.Bg5
Nbd7;
5.Nc3
c6;
(See the analysis diagram below.)
|
is a 'normal' position of the Q.G.D.
(Queen's Gambit Declined.). ]
3...c5; (Maybe an
exclam.)
A good move, striking at the center.
[The line 3...d5;
4.
c4, will probably transpose back to regular
continuations of the Queen's Gambit Declined. ]
4. e3
Nc6; ('!?') This is OK. It controls key central squares.
Its a developing move. But maybe it's a little clumsy.
The main line given by
MCO is: 4...Be7!; 5.
c3
b6!;
6. Bd3
cxd4!;
7. exd4
Ba6!;
8. Bxa6
Nxa6; 9.
Nbd2
0-0;
According to MCO, the position is
equal. But the computers give
a very slight edge to White. ("+/=")
{The exclams are mine. A.J.G.}
[ See MCO-14;
pg.'s 499-501, columns 5 & 6,
(Mainly column # 5, here.)
and notes # (q, r, & s.) ]
MCO also gives the line:
4...Qb6!?; [Hitting the QNP.]
Very sharp. And
maybe slightly risky.
5. Nbd2, (!) [Gambit] (If
5. Qc1!?
Nc6; 6.
c3
d5; "=")
5...Qxb2; 6. Bd3
Qc3; (6...Nc6;
7. 0-0
d5; 8.
Bxf6
gxf6; 9.
c4; and White
probably has compensation for the material sacrificed.) 7.
0-0
d5; 8.
Bxf6, ('!')
(Not 8.
Re1?!
cxd4!; "=/+")
8...gxf6; 9.
dxc5, ("Comp." for White.) 9...Bg7;
10. Rb1
Qxc5; 11.
e4
dxe4;
12. Nxe4
Qc7; 13.
Bb5+
Kf8;
("Unclear")
"The position is unclear," - GM N. DeFirmian.
From the game, J. Benjamin - L. Yudasin; New York, 1990.
[ See MCO-14;
pg.'s 499-501, columns 5 & 6,
(Mainly column # 5, here.)
and note # (r.). ]
5. Nbd2
b6; 6. c3,
Nice.
One writer
described this as a "Bulwark of pawns."
The pawns on c3, d4, and e3 form a nearly invincible triangle in the
center, powerfully controlling the squares in that region. The
dark-squared Bishop is not inhibited, because it is developed outside
the pawn chain. The light-squared Bishop may arrive at the d3-square
with full confidence knowing it will have two wonderful diagonals that
strike at both sides of the board. (Esp. on the b1-h7 diagonal, as this
is where the Black Monarch will wind up residing.)
- In a way, this is an ideal attacking formation for White.
[ The move 6. Be2!?,
"=" does not yield much of an advantage for White. ]
6...Bb7; Black hopes to avoid trouble by fianchettoing his usual
"problem child."
Now after White's next move,
the Pawn Structure is
very similar to
a Colle Opening, but with the White
Bishop on g5
- - - instead of g1. (This may have been Torre's original idea, to maximize
his Pawn
Structure so as to give clear lines to his Bishops.)
7. Bd3, ('!') The two White Bishops, working in concert, make
an intimidating pair.
This move is easily the most natural and the best.
[One very strong computer program, preferred the move: 7.
dxc5!?, "="
although it is clearly inferior to
7. Bd3. ]
7...cxd4!?; Maybe this was part of Black's later problems.
White clearly is the one who profits from the open lines - especially the
way the game was played.
[Maybe safer was:
7...h6!?; 8.
Bh4
Be7; ("=") etc.]
8. exd4!, "+/="
(e5 = a good outpost)
This is probably the most accurate. (White wishes to reinforce his
outpost on e5 by also half-way opening the e-file. This will eventually
lead to more pressure on the Black King.)
[A symmetrical pawn-structure could be had by playing 8.
cxd4, although
this will not put any great pressure on the Black position. (8. cxd4, does
abide by the principle of,
"Always capture towards the center." But none
of these little 'rules-of-thumb' are correct 100% of the time!)
Now play can continue:
8...Be7; 9.
0-0
h6; "=" ]
8...Be7; Black
develops.
9. Nc4!, A very energetic move! It is not without good reason that
Janowski was known as one of the greatest attackers who ever lived.
[The simple move - 9. 0-0,
"+/=" - does not yield White more than a
miniscule advantage. ]
9...0-0; The [seemingly]
indicated move.
10. Qc2!, Janowski
points a dangerous battery at the Black King.
"L'Audace, L'Audace, ... toujours L'Audace!"
(Probably Napoleon and then later - General George Patton.)
( A loose [chess] translation might be: "Always take the initiative and
ALWAYS be aggressive." )
It is obvious the great Janowski understood this 50 years before Tal was ever born!
[The more routine: 10. 0-0, "+/=" - yields White only a small advantage.]
After contemplating for quite some time,
Samisch played ...
10...Qc7!?; (Maybe - '?!')
Perhaps Samisch was concerned about the possibility of a Kingside attack,
especially considering who his opponent was!! (Janowski has got to be one
of the greatest attacking players of all-time ... certainly in the 'Top 25.')
[ Most {average} players would probably play:
10...h6!?; but perhaps
Samisch was concerned with the possibility of a King-side attack. (11. h4!?)
11. h4, (White has both a King-side attack and a dangerous
initiative.)
(See the diagram directly below.)
|
(See later in the game for a variation that demonstrates what happens
when Black is foolish enough to
capture on g5 and open the h-file
to his King.) ]
11. h4!?, (Probably - '!!'
- - - In MY book, anyway.)
All the computer programs of today (2001) bypass this move
in favor of Bxf6, followed by Bxh7+.
(At least initially.)
Several strong computer programs (like ChessMaster) never even [seriously]
consider 11.h4!?, even after 15 minutes of computing time.
{Set only to show the three best lines!}.
Janowski has decided he wishes to attack the White King, and nothing ...
and I do mean NOTHING!! ... is going to stand in his way!
[ Practically ALL the computers play the following line:
11. Bxf6!?
gxf6!;
unbalancing the position.
(11...Bxf6?!;
12. Bxh7+
Kh8; 13.
Bd3, "+/" (Maybe - "+/-")
gives Black absolutely no compensation for the Pawn.)
12. Bxh7+
Kh8; Maybe White is a lot better.
"+/=" or "+/". ]
11...h6; Kicking
the White Bishop on g5. (He thinks.)
12. Qd2!!, Another exceedingly brilliant move. I have given this position
to many (!) players over the years. [Including several Masters.] Not
one
player - to the best of my knowledge - has ever picked this move. The
move has many threats, perhaps the simplest one to spot is to sack on
h6, followed by a mating attack.
(Another kinda subtle one - is to play
0-0-0, Bb1, and Qd3 ... with a strong attack.) (The computers do not
strongly consider this move, even after several minutes of analysis.)
[ The computer program, Junior 6.0 gives the line:
12. Bxf6
Bxf6;
13. 0-0
d5;
14. Ne3
Qf4;
15. Bh7+ Kh8;
("=")
(Maybe White has an almost microscopic advantage.
And then again ...
maybe not!) -0.15/9;
Or 12. 0-0-0!?
Rfc8!; ("Unclear") But
not 12. Bd2?!
Ng4!; "=/+"
One computer program even chose the move 12.
b3!?, here;
but it clearly does not yield White much. 12...d5; 13.
Bxf6
Bxf6;
14. Ne3
Rfc8; "=/+" ]
12...Ng4!?; A very reasonable move.
Black avoids any problems by protecting the h6-square and by offering
to exchange dark-squared Bishops.
[ Two different computer programs, {Fritz and Rebel} offer the continuations
of:
12...b5!?; or 12...Nh5!?;
both of which are [incorrectly] considered a
little better for Black after nearly 10 minutes of computer time.
OPEN H-FILE Variation - [Now] Definitely NOT the greedy:
12...hxg5?!; ('?') Not good.
The basic problem with this move is it opens a file directly to
the Black King ... which is not a good thing to do!! (At least
for Black!)
13.
hxg5
Nd5; Seemingly the only good move.
OR 13...Ne8?!;
('?') leaves Black too cramped to be really good.
Or 13...Ng4?;
14. Bh7+
Kh8; 15.
Bf5+
Kg8;
(15...Nh6?;
16.gxh6!, --->
and the White attack continues unabated.)
16.Bxg4, "+/-" leaves White
with a very large advantage. 14.
Bh7+
Kh8; 15.
g6!
f6[];
{Not 15...fxg6?
16.Nce5
Rf6; 17.Qg5!,
"+/" (Maybe - "+/-")} 16.
0-0-0,
The simplest and most direct. (16.Ne3!?)
16...Ncb4; {16...Nf4!?;
17. Qe1!, "+/-" (Maybe "+/-")} 17.
Ne3
Nxa2+; 18.
Kb1
Naxc3+;
19. bxc3
Nxc3+; 20.
Kb2
Nxd1+;
21. Qxd1
Bxf3!?; Not really a good
move.
But now Black is completely helpless against the coming combination.
Black can also play: 21...Qf4; 22. Rh4! Qxh4; 23. Nxh4, "+/=",
***
Or: 21...Bd6;
(See the analysis diagram below.)
|
Now comes a 'meteor shower' of sacrifices.
22. Ne5!!
Bxe5!?;
(22...fxe5;
23. Bg8+!!
Kxg8; 24.
Rh8+!
Kxh8; 25.
Qh5+
Kg8; 26.
Qh7#)
23. Bg8+!!
Kxg8; 24.
Rh8+!
Kxh8;
25. Qh5+
Kg8; 26.
Qh7#;
An amazing contrast between spiritual purity (the mate), and greed.
(greed = material possessions)
Now back to the analysis of the main line: (after
21...Bxf3!?)
22. Bg8+!!
Kxg8; 23.
Rh8+!
Kxh8;
24. Qh1+, and White will deliver mate
shortly. ("+/-") A nice variation with a nice
"cascade effect" of sacrifices. ]
13. Bf4!, A good general rule-of-thumb is to never exchange pieces
when you are attacking. Janowski wisely follows this rule.
(Even though he seems to have forgotten the one about
castling!)
[ 13. Bxe7!?
Nxe7; "=" ]
13...d6; Practically the only [good]
move for Black. White now sees
Black's only really effective defender of the King-side is the Black Knight
on g4 ... so he swaps it off.
14. Ne3!, Clearly the most vigorous, and the best.
[The new CB program,
{Nimzo8} gives the line:
14. Qe2!?
Qd8;
15. Ne3
Nxe3!?; (15...Nf6!
; {A.J.G.}) 16.
Qxe3
d5; ('?!/?')
17. Bxh6!, "+/-"
]
14...Nxe3!?; This seems to help White, so maybe it should be avoided.
[ Maybe Black could play:
14...h5!?
;
(Weakens Black's Kingside.);
Or Black could try: 14...Nf6!?;
This leaves Black rather congested and
perhaps vulnerable to a g2-g4 thrust and an ensuing King-side attack.)
But its not clear either of these
moves would have definitely {successfully}
extracted Black from
his predicament. ]
15. Qxe3
h5; ('[]' or 'Box.')
Maybe forced and the only
really good move for Black now.
[ MAIN LINE 'Variante':
Many computers [initially] pick the move:
15...e5?!
; (Maybe - '?')
But this is terrible as White can now simply carry through with his idea.
16. Bxh6!
gxh6; 17.Qxh6,
(White has good comp and a great attack.)
17...f5[];
Absolutely the only move.
Other moves lose horribly: 17...f6??;
18.Qh7#.
Or 17...Rfe8??; 18.Qh7+
Kf8
; 19.Qh8#;
Or 17...Rfd8??; 18. Qh7+,
and mate next move. (18...Kh8; 19. Qh8#)
(18.
Bh7+
Kh8; 19.Bg6+
Kg8; 20.
Qh7+
Kf8; 21.Qxf7#,
also works; but is [unnecessarily] one move longer.)
Now back to the analysis of the main line variant:
18. Bc4+!
d5; 19.
Qg6+!
Kh8; 20.
Ng5
Bf6;
There is no meaningful
defense.
Or Black could try:
20...Bb4!?; ('!')
It's not wise in such situations to block the co-ordination
of the pieces on the first rank. Its far better to play good defence and
return some of the material.
Of course here there is no defense.
21. Qh6+!,
(The move, 21.
Bxd5!?, "+/-" also works.)
21...Kg8; 22.
Bxd5+
Rf7; 23.Nxf7!,
"+/-" The threat is a mate in one
with Qh8. If Black takes on f7 with his Queen, White plays Qg6+!
(Followed by a mate and/or winning the Queen.)
Or 20...Bd8?!;
(Blocking the first rank.) 21.
Bxd5, "+/-"
Or 20...Bxg5??;
A terrible move, opening the h-file. 21.
hxg5+
Qh7[];
22. Rxh7#.
Again, we return to the analysis of the main line 'variante.'
21. Bxd5
Rf7; 22.
Bxf7
Bxg5; (There is little
Black can do, now.)
23. hxg5#, A nice attack for White. ]
FM Graham Burgess,
in his book;
"Chess Highlights Of The 20th Century,"
picks up his coverage
of this game with this position. (Year-1925, pg. # 55.)
16. Rh3!, (Maybe- '!!')
White refuses to let his Kingside attack die!
Few computers - if any - pick this move from the get-go.
A nice 'Rook Luft.' Although this type of move is common now, it was a very original maneuver at that time, and had been seen in only a handful of games.
"16. Rh3!?" - FM G. Burgess.
[The "Average Guy off the street," might play:
16. 0-0, "+/=" and White has
a very slight advantage.
( - - - Many boxes [dedicated chess-playing,
micro-processors];
also pick this move. )
White could also play: 16. Ng5!?,
(With initiative.) - Chess Machine.
Or 16. Rd1!?, (Maybe White
has a very small advantage.)
- A 'Novag Diamond' chess computer. ]
All of the above are reasonable moves. 16. 0-0, is the move you would
probably expect, but Janowsky is going to use every tempo to ATTACK.
This means he cannot even spend one unit of time to render his own
King safe!
16...e5; (Box?) {'!'}
This move seems both good AND forced.
(Its also the first choice of quite a few strong chess-playing programs.)
"Black hits back in the center, the standard method."
- FM G. Burgess.
[Some other choices for Black here might be: 16...g6!?;
(See the analysis diagram below.)
|
(Maybe - '?!')
Many programs and boxes pick this move, yet its hard to
have any confidence in it. It invites a sacrifice on g6 and also gravely
weakens ALL the dark-squares around Black's King.
Now White should play: 17. Kf1
Rac8; 18.
Re1
Bf6;
19. Bh6
Bg7;
20. Bxg7!, (20.
Kg1!?, or 20. Rg3!? both
"+/=") 20...Kxg7;
21.
Rg3, ("+/=")
White has a definite initiative and the makings of a good attack on the Black King.
(White could also try: 21.
d5!?
exd5; 22.
Qg5, {Unclear?})
16...Rad8; - An earlier version of Crafty. (Shareware.)
Now White could play:
17. Bh6!, "+/=" with a strong attack. ]
17. dxe5, Too natural not to be good.
[The ultra-tame 17. Bh2?!
exd4;
18. cxd4
Rfe8; 19.
Kf1[]
Bf6; "=/+"
(Black is just slightly better.) gives away all of White's advantage.]
I only mention this because it has been a move often picked by my students.
17...Nxe5; Forced.
18. Nxe5!, Some might hesitate to grab a Pawn ... with your King still
in the center.
[ Not nearly as good are:
18. 0-0-0?!
Nxf3; 19.
gxf3
Rfe8; "="
Or 18. Bxe5?
dxe5; "=/+" ].
18...dxe5!?; (Maybe - '?!/?')
Looks like the only move
... but its not!
It may also be the losing move!!
(I am not sure, but I think I might be the first one to point this out.)
(Almost a year after I first annotated this game, I discovered Burgess
had also given this move a question mark. BTW, his book came out
well after this game was published on my web site!)
[
Maybe best is:
18...Bf6!; Black stays,
"fully in the game," with
this move, according to FM G. Burgess.
19.
Rg3!, { 19.Nxf7?
Rae8; 20.
Nxd6
Rxe3+; ("-/+")
}
19...dxe5; 20.
Bg5
Qe7;
21. 0-0-0,
"+/=" when White must be at least a
little better.
(His King is much more secure than his counterpart.)
I also want to point out that this
game was published on my website
almost a full year before
Burgess's book was released. ]
19. Bxe5!, Again the best move.
[White could try:
19. Qxe5, Reasonable looking,
and not terrible.
19...Qxe5+;
20. Bxe5
Rfd8;
21. Bd4, "+/=" (or
"+/") and White has:
A.) Exchanged Queens; and
B.) Kept an extra pawn. ]
19...Bd6!?; (Maybe -
'?!')
Some annotators have questioned this move. Yet it is a very natural
looking move. And White maintains a very distinct advantage, no matter
what Black plays!
"This loses on the spot, but there was nothing that was satisfactory."
- FM G. Burgess.
(Pardon me, but isn't this nothing more than an oxymoron?)
[ For example:
19...Qc5; 20.
Bd4!
Qd6;
21. Rg3
g6;
(21...Bf6;
22. Qh6!
Rfe8+; 23.
Kf1
Kf8; 24.
Rxg7, "+/=")
22. Qh6, "+/" White is very clearly much better, if not winning outright.
("+/-")
Or 19...Qd7!?; 20.
Bxg7!!, "+/" (Maybe - "+/-")
About the same (as the above variation ) is:
19...Qd8!?; 20.
Bxg7!!
("+/-")
(20.0-0-0!?, "+/")
]
20. Qh6!!, (Maybe - '!!!')
"Where did that come from?"
- Chernev.
An exceedingly brilliant - and to me, {A.J.G.} quite shocking - move.
This is absolutely brilliance of the first magnitude. Maybe one
of
THE most shocking moves in all of the annals of chess.
***
I remember how blown away I was by this move.
(I had thought for at least 10 minutes and played 20. BxB/d6
and 21. 0-0-0, when a friend had first shown me this game.)
***
I really like 20 Qh6!!! At first blush, it
looks like nothing more than
a crass
blunder. The <shock value> of this
move
... on a scale of 1 to 10 ...
has
got to be an absolute 10!
Because there is no defense to White's many threats ...
Black RESIGNS!!! 1 - 0.
To me, White's 20th move is one of the most shocking, amazing, and
unexpectedly beautiful strokes in all of chess.
{A.J.G.}
According to the book of the tournament -
... which I used to have ...
a panel of judges took quite some time - and carefully considered
many games -
... before justly awarding this game the ...
1st BRILLIANCY PRIZE!
{A.J.G.}
(All I can say is there must have been dozens of beautiful games from
this event, if they had to think more than 5 minutes!)
***
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby I.
© A.J. Goldsby, 2000 & 2001.
***
[ After:
20. Qh6!,
(The ONLY move in this jewel of a game given an
exclamation point by Chernev. And he only gives it a measly one exclam.
I am a big, big fan of Chernev, but he miserably fails us here!)
After this move Chernev writes that Black is quite helpless.
Indeed he, is ... as the following variations clearly demonstrate.
20...gxh6; Nothing works for Black here.
Black can also play: 20...Bxe5;
21. Qh7#;
Or 20...f5; 21.
Bc4+
Rf7;
(21...Qxc4; 22.
Qxg7#) 22. Qxg7#;
Or 20...Rfe8;
21. Qxg7#.
The following variation , for some odd reason,
is NOT given by Chernev.
Or 20...f6; 21.
Qh7+
Kf7;
22. Bxd6
Rfe8+!; 23.
Kf1
Qxd6;
24. Bg6+
Ke6;
Looks [sadly] forced.
{Or 24...Kf8; 25.
Qh8+
Ke7; 26.
Re1+
Kd7; 27.
Bxe8+,
and White is a
Rook ahead, with an easy win. ("+/-") }
25. Re1+
Kd7; 26.
Bxe8+
Rxe8;
27. Qxg7+
Kc6!; 28.
Rb1!, "+/-"
White is winning easily.
[ Not 28.Rxe8?!
Qd1+;
Black wins back some material. 29.
Re1
Ba6+;
30.Kg1
Qxe1+
; 31.Kh2
Qxf2
; 32.Qg3, "+/-"
... but White still wins. {A.J.G.} ]
(Now after 20. Qh6!! gxh6; White plays... )
(See the analysis diagram below.)
|
A mate so pretty, it deserves its very own diagram!
Some players do not realize just how strong Janowski really was. He was probably in the World's Top 50 for a period of time that spanned several decades. He was solidly in the World's "Top Ten," for over 15 years.
(He loved "The Two Bishops," like few Masters before or since.
He also hated the ending and was notorious for becoming impatient
and throwing a game away during that phase of the game.)
Only a handful of people ever won more brilliancy prizes than Janowski.
This game clearly demonstrates Janowski's incredible genius.
(An average player might play something like: 20.
Bxd6?!
Qxd6;
21. 0-0-0
Qf6;
22. f3, "+/" and be happy with a fairly sizeable advantage.)
]
1 - 0
Click HERE
to return to my Yahoo/GeoCities chess web site.
(Home Page.)
Click HERE to return to my (GeoCities) "Best Short Games Page."
(Page last up-dated: July 26th, 2003.)
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby I.
©
A.J. Goldsby, 1999 - 2003. © A.J. Goldsby, 2004.
