Keres - Alexander
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Chernev writes:
"Keres, like Alekhine, can pack more combinative action into one game than
some Masters do in a lifetime of play. Watch the sparks fly in this 20 move sizzler!"
[ See the book, {The}
"1000 Best Short Games of Chess,"
by the late,
great Irving Chernev. Game # 738, pages 385-386. ]
A very, very brilliant game of chess.
Keres definitely packs some big tactical
punches into a very short span of time. A real tactical melee.
Brilliance by Keres of the very First Order.
1. d4
Nf6; 2.
c4
e6; 3.
Nc3
Bb4; {Diagram?}
"The 'Nimzo-Indian'
Defense."
4. Nf3!?,
{Diagram?}
Simple
logical development. Kasparov would later champion this line.
[
White could have also played:
4.Qc2,
which is: "The Classical Variation."
See the game Capablanca - Mattison;
for the move, 4. Qc2.
(And a complete analysis of that line in the Nimzo-Indian.)
Or 4.e3,
which is, "The Rubinstein Variation." (The most popular.) ].
4...b6!?, {Diagram?}
Fianchettoing the QB is a common idea in this variation, but it is
not clear which line is the best for Black.
[ The book line is:
4...d5; 5.Bg5
Nbd7; 6.cxd5
exd5; 7.e3
c5;
8.Bd3
Qa5; 9.Qc2
c4; 10.Bf5
0-0; 11.0-0,
("=") Etc.
(See the diagram just below.)
The position is close to
equal, or White may have a
very small edge. ("+/=") ].
5. g3, (Maybe -
'!?") {Diagram?}
A standard way of meeting Black's fianchetto of his QB - White
fianchetto's his own KB.
{
MCO-14 gives the line: 5.Bg5!?
h6; 6.Bh4
Bb7; 7.e3
g5;
(7...Bxc3+!?~;
is col. # 62.)
8.Bg3
Ne4; 9.Qc2
Bxc3+;
10.bxc3
d6; 11.Bd3
Nxg3; The end of column # 61,
page # 553. 12.fxg3,
(12.hxg3!?
Nd7; ("=") This looks "+/=" to me. {A.J.G.})
12...Nd7; 13.0-0
Qe7; 14.Rf2
0-0-0!?; 15.Be4
Rhf8!; 16.Ne1
Bxe4;
17.Qxe4
Kb8; 18.Qh7!?,
(18.Qc6!,
("+/=") - {A.J.G.} Or 18.Rb1!?;
or 18.Nc2!?~)
18...Rh8; 19.Qc2
h5; 20.e4
h4; ("=")
(See
the diagram just below.)
"The chances are even." - GM N. DeFirmian in MCO.
Zvjaginsev - J. Timman;
Biel, 1995.
[ See MCO-14; pages # 553-554, columns # 61-66;
(Mainly column # 61 here.)
and note (d.). ] }.
5...Bb7; 6.
Bg2
Qc8!?; {Diagram?}
Black defends his Bishop on b7
and prepares the nice break,
Pawn@c7 to c5.
But ...
I do not like this move. It is artificial
looking and sets Black up for
a fork
on d6. It also weakens the already
critical dark squares, especially d6.
[
Probably best is: 6...0-0!;
7.0-0
c5!; with close to equality for Black. ].
7. 0-0, (Maybe - '!')
{Diagram?}
This is the best, as it frees the
Knight on c3 from the pin.
[
Interesting is: 7.Bf4!? ].
7...c5?!; (Maybe - '?')
(This move has definite drawbacks.)
This is dead wrong. Black further
exacerbates his dark-square problem.
[Much better was:
7...Bxc3; 8.bxc3
0-0; 9.Bf4,
("=" or "+/=") ].
8. Nb5!
cxd4[];
{Diagram?}
This is 100% forced now.
(Black needs to [un-cover]
the protection to d6.)
[ Not 8...Qc6?; 9.d5! exd5; 10.Ne5!, ("+/-") ].
9. Bf4!,
{Diagram?}
Very thematic.
Chernev writes: "Now threatening a check at B7, (c7)."
"Spearing the dark squares,
and threatening Nc7+ - winning
an exchange."
- LM A.J. Goldsby I.
[
9.a3!?
a6!~] .
9...Na6;
{Diagram?}
This is forced to prevent Nc7.
[
9...a6??; 10.Nc7+
Kf8; 11.Nxa8,
("+/-") ]
10. Bd6!,
{Diagram?}
A very
good move.
Chernev writes:
"Intending 11. BxB/b4, NxB/b4;
12. N-Q6ch (Nd6+),
winning the
(Black) Queen."
[
Also good for White is:
10.Qxd4!?, ("+/=")
when
White is clearly better. ].
10...Qxc4;
{Diagram?}
Seems to be the only
defense for Black.
[
Inferior are: 10...Ne4?!;
11.Bxb4!
Nxb4; 12.Nd2!, ("+/-") is winning for White.
Also bad for Black is: 10...h5??;
11.Bxb4
Nxb4?!; 12.Nd6+,
("+/-")
which wins the Black Queen.
A mistake is: 10...Bxd6??;
11.Nxd6+, which also wins the Black Queen.
("+/-")
Interesting is: 10...Bc5!?;
11.e3!,
("+/=")
And White is better.
(This line is CLEARLY better
for White, yet it may
not be
much worse than what happened
in the game.) ].
11. Qa4!,
{Diagram?}
Clearly the best. (It
takes the computer a few seconds to find this move.)
Chernev writes:
"Now he plans:
a.) 12. P-QR3 (a3) attacking the pinned Bishop;
b.) 12. R-B1 (Rc1) driving the Queen away from the Bishop; and
c.) 12. Kt-K5 (Ne5) {attacking the Queen and the other Bishop} 12...Q-B1; (Qc8)
13. BxB/Kt4 (Bxb4), winning."
Chernev continues:
"Keres, as we see, is a triple-threat man."
11.
Qa4! is easily the best move. White has multiple threats.
The end is probably near for Black.
[
Also interesting is 11.a4!?
("+/-") ].
11...Bc6!?; (Maybe - '?!') {Diagram?}
Chernev makes no comment on
this move,
but it looks like a possible error.
(The computer evaluations jump quite a bit after this move.)
[Maybe Black had to try:
11...Qc6!?; but White can respond
with 12. BxB/b4, winning a piece. ("+/-") ].
12. Nfxd4
Bxg2; 13.
Qxa6!, (Maybe only - '!?') {Diagram?}
Definitely interesting.
It is hard to be sure, but this may not be the best move.
Chernev writes: "Menacing the Queen by discovered attack."
[
Not 13.Kxg2?
Qd5+; 14.Nf3
Bxd6; 15.Rad1
Nc5!; and the game is close to equal.
( 16.Qa3!?, "+/=" );
The computer gives as best: 13.Rfc1!?, (!) 13...Qxd4; What
else can Black do?
(13...Nc5;
14.Bxc5
Qxc5; 15.Rxc5,
"+/-") 14.Nxd4
Bxd6; 15.Qxa6,
"+/-"
and Black can resign.
(This seems to be easier than
the actual game continuation.) ].
13...Bxf1;
{Diagram?}
This looks completely forced.
[
No better for Black was:
13...Qc8!?; ('?!') 14.Qxc8+!
Rxc8; 15.Kxg2
Bc5;
16.Nxa7!
Ra8; 17.Ndb5!
Bxd6;
18.Nxd6+
Ke7; 19.Nab5,
"+/-" and White -
a piece up - is easily winning. ].
14. Rxf1!,
{Diagram?}
A nice, cool, calm recapture.
[Not
14.Nc7+?!
Qxc7; 15.Bxc7
Bh3; which allows Black counterplay. ].
14...Qxd4; {Diagram?}
Equal to capitulation.
(To me, anyway.)
Chernev writes:
"Not desperation, but there is
no plausible defense.
If 14...Qc8;
15.QxQ/c8+ wins a piece. Or if
14...Kd8; 15. b2-b3 does likewise,
while 14...Rc8; permits 15. BxB/b4."
[
If 14...Qc8!?; 15.Qxc8+
Rxc8; 16.Bxb4
Ne4; 17.f3
Rc4; 18.Ba3!,
"+/-"
White is winning. If 14...Nd5;
15.e4!, ("+/") White is
clearly better,
if not winning.
(Maybe - "+/-");
Or
14...Kd8
; 15.Bxb4!, This must be
best.
(Chernev recommends (the vastly inferior) instead:
15.b3!?
Qc8; 16.Qxc8+
Rxc8;
17.Bxb4, "+/-")
15...Qxb4; 16.Qb7
Rc8; 17.Nxa7
Qc4; 18.Nxc8
Qxc8;
19.Qxb6+, White is clearly much better.
("+/-" or "+/-");
If 14...Rc8?; 15.
b3!, "+/-" White is winning easily.
(The Black Queen has no
viable squares to protect the
Black Rook on c8. I.e.,
15...Qc1!?; 16. BxB/b4! )
Chernev instead recommends
(after 14...Rc8?;) that Black play the move, Bishop captures Bishop/b4, i.e.
15.Bxb4
Kd8; (15...Qxb4??;
16.Qxc8+)
16.Qa3, "+/-"
].
15. Nxd4
Bxd6; 16.
Nb5!, {Diagram?}
The sharpest and best.
[
Not 16.Qb7?
0-0; 17.Nb5,
(+/=") which allows most of White's
advantage
to evaporate. Maybe 16.Rc1!?,
"+/-" ].
16...Ke7;
{Diagram?}
Not much choice here.
Chernev writes:
"What else? If 16...Bb8; (to guard the c7-square) then 17. Qb7,
catches the Rook, or if 16...Be5; then 17. f4, drives the Bishop
off the diagonal."
17. Rd1
Bc5;
{Diagram?}
The
best?
"The alternatives allow White to win by the tactic of exchanging,
then pinning."
- Chernev.
(See the 2 variations below.)
[Chernev offers the variations:
Var. # 1.) 17...Ne8?;
18.Nxd6
Nxd6; 19.Qa3,
"+/-" or ...
Var. # 2.) 17...Nd5?;
18.Nxd6
Kxd6; 19.e4,
"+/-".]
18. a3!?, (Maybe - '?!')
{Diagram?}
White prepares to kick the Bishop.
[Maybe the best is: 18.e3! Rhc8; 19.a3, "+/" White is better. (Maybe - "+/-") ].
18...Ne4!?; (Maybe - '?!')
{Diagram?}
No comment from Chernev, but
this move has got to be a major
oversight or error.
(At the very least, Black should
have tried the BxPch move.)
This move looks strong, with its
double attack on f2, but misses
White's response.
[
Black had to try: 18...Bxf2+!!;
a real shot by Black. 19.Kg2, (!) Looks forced.
(NOT 19.Kxf2?, ('??')
19...Ne4+; 20.Ke3
Nc5;
White's Queen is now trapped.
21.Qxa7[]
Rxa7; 22.Nxa7
Ra8; "=/+")
19...Rhd8!; 20.Kf3!,
"+/" or "+/-"
White ... after navigating an incredible minefield ... is clearly better, if not winning.
].
19. Rxd7+!,
{Diagram?}
A very nice move, and a nice
example of a "pseudo-sacrifice."
[
Also good was: 19.e3!?, "+/-"
].
19...Kf6; {Diagram?}
This is forced.
[
Chernev writes:
"If 19...Kxd7?!; ('?')
20.Qb7+
Ke8; 21.Qxa8+,
followed by removing the other Rook.
("+/-") ].
20. Qb7, (Maybe - '!')
Black Resigns. 1-0
[
Chernev gives the following variation: ( 20.Qb7, and
now) and says:
"If 20...Nxf2; 21.b4
Be3; 22.Qf3+, ("+/-") makes further resistance futile." ]
***
An incredible game of chess, but Alexander did not exploit all of his
opportunities to the maximum extent.
(Keres may have missed the
best move, and Chernev was NOT in
his usual flawless form.)
Easily in the -
<< "Top 100" Most Brilliant Short {Miniature} Games Ever Played. >>
(But perhaps not quite accurate enough to be in the Top 10.)
But a very pretty game of chess, none-the-less!!
1 - 0
(I
was still a probably a pre-teen-ager when I borrowed a book from a friend.
It was a book of Keres' games.
Many of his games impressed me mightily. This game was one of them.
I am truly happy to finally be able to bring you this game.)
This game is the full
length version of the game as it exists in my database.
(I have not shortened it for publication.)
If you would like a copy of that game (in ChessBase
format) to study, please contact
me.
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Copyright A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby,
1998 - 2005.
© A.J. Goldsby, 2006. (All rights reserved.)