Rubinstein - Hromadka
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***
( Note: K. Hromadka would probably be a GM by today's
standards. His peak rating,
BEFORE being adjusted for inflation, was close to 2600.
{Source: FIDE
web-site.} )
One of the
very best games that the
great Rubinstein ever played.
(I suggest the name of: "The Rubinstein
Star.")
***********************************************************************************
The great
(Emmanuel) Lasker himself called
it:
"One of the greatest brilliancies of
the last twenty or thirty years." (!!!)
Jose Capablanca called it: "A masterpiece of the chess-board."
"One of the most profound games
of that entire era of chess."
- GM Salo Flohr.
(Flohr and Botvinnik wrote a series of articles on great games that was
published in Soviet
magazines during the 1930's and the 1940's.)
"The very brilliant tactics in the
following impressive game, are
reminiscent of none other than
the great Paul Morphy."
- GM (and Dr.) Savielly Tartakower.
GM Hans Kmoch said it was one of
the greatest games Rubinstein ever
played.
He said it was: "A star of the first magnitude."
This game was one of only TWO wins
that Rubinstein played at this event.
The other game won a best game
prize. (vs. Tarrasch.)
This game was the winner of:
<< Brilliancy Prize, Number One. (#1.) >>
(First Brilliancy Prize.)
GM Andrew Soltis considers this a
great game, he showers both
players with exclams.
It is also
Game # 93, (page # 236) of his
book on,
"The 100 Best," (games
of chess) ever played.
I will only add that this game is one
of the very best games that one of
the greatest geniuses of chess
ever
played. Additionally there are many
themes (such as FOUR on doubling)
that are demonstrated
in this game.
The real kicker is that many were not
discovered or "patented" until well
AFTER this
game was played!!!! {A.J.G.}.
***
<< Rubinstein's artistry was not
confined to the endgame. He could
weave combinations in the
midgame
to compel admiration, and perhaps
secretly - envy. >>
<< He begins here with a quiet move
little move, ostensibly to dislodge a
an annoying Knight. Hardly
has the
Knight left, when Rubinstein hurls a
couple of thunderbolts at the fortress
of the enemy King.
The sparkling
play that ensues makes this game
a worthy runner-up to ...
"The Rubinstein Immortal." >>
- the late, great Irving Chernev. See his
book: "The Golden Dozen," page # 38.
(This game is often - mistakenly -
given by many sources as having
played in Vienna, 1922.
But that
is incorrect. ---> See: "The Oxford
Companion to Chess,"
for just
one example of this error.)
1. e4
e5; 2.
f4
Bc5!?;
The King's Gambit Declined.
At the time this game was played, this was thought to be the very best line for Black.
One of the greatest King's Gambit
players of all time, R. Spielmann,
felt this was perhaps the best
defense to this particular opening.
Needless to say, any variation where
Black adheres to the Four Basic
Principles of the Opening is
approved
of by this Master. (Meaning the
King's Gambit Declined is just as
good as any other line
in this
particular opening.)
[ The King's Gambit Accepted runs:
2...exf4; 3.Nf3, etc. {Diagram?}
See my web page on the game:
<< B. Spassky - D. Bronstein;
28th U.S.S.R. Championship,
Leningrad, 1959. >>
for more details and a complete
opening survey on the King's
Gambit. ].
3. Nf3,
Development is the {correct}
order of the day.
This one move does it all. White
controls the center, develops a piece,
and prepares K-side
castling.
And by attacking Black's King-Pawn,
White forces the second player to
address the
question of the
material balance.
[ A standard trap here is:
3.fxe5??
Qh4+; 4.g3,
{Diagram?} (4.Ke2??
Qxe4#)
4...Qxe4+; 5.Qe2
Qxh1; "-/+" Black
is winning easily. ].
3...d6;
The correct move, Black
guards the key center pawn,
and also paves the way for
the
development of the QB. (And the whole of the Q-side
as well.).
4. Nc3,
Simple development.
(Center, gets a piece out, etc.)
This is never the wrong approach either!!
[ The 'book' continuation is:
4.c3!
Nf6; 5.fxe5!?,
{Diagram?} This exchange seems to just
help
Black out by simplifying
and opening lines for the Q.
(I prefer the continuation: 5.d4!
exd4;
6.cxd4
Bb4+; 7.Bd2!
Bxd2+; 8.Nbxd2
0-0; 9.Bd3
Bg4; 10.0-0
Nc6; 11.Qb3!,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White has a little more space
here, and the freer game.
{A.J.G.})
5...dxe5; 6.d4
exd4;
7.cxd4
Bb4+; 8.Bd2
Qe7;
9.Bd3
Nxe4; {Diagram?}
The end of the column.
10.Bxe4
Qxe4+; 11.Kf2
Bxd2;
12.Nbxd2, {Diagram?}
Sophia Polgar - G. Flear;
Brussels, 1987. (White could try:
12.Qxd2!? "~")
Now the continuation:
12...Qd5; 13.Re1+
Be6; "=" {Diagram?}
is equal, according to MCO.
[ See MCO-14; pg.'s # 16-17,
columns # 31-35,
(Mainly column no. # 33, here.),
and also note # (l.). ]. ].
Now both sides continue to develop.
4...Nf6; (Maybe - '!')
This is the correct way of handling
this opening. Black develops and
prepares King-side castling.
He is also offering a pawn gambit, but it is a 'Greek Gift,' and one White should probably decline.
[ The theoretically approved way
of handling ...Nc6; here was
actually pioneered
by Rubinstein himself. 4...Nc6!?; 5.Bb5!,
"+/=" etc. {Diag?}
(The older method was:
5.Bc4!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
with a tiny advantage.) ].
5. Bc4,
One move which hits the center,
develops, and prepares castling.
This is also the approved method
(by modern opening theory) of development in this position.
[ Too adventurous for White
is the line:
5.fxe5!?
dxe5; 6.Nxe5!?
0-0!; {Comp.}
Black has good compensation and great
play. (6...Qd4!?;
7.Nd3, "+/=")
].
5...Nc6;
Black develops in the approved
manner of the Classical School.
(This is also the main line here,
even by Modern-day theory.)
6. d3
Bg4!?;
White has a very strong grip on
the key central squares, so
Black would naturally want to pin
White's Knight so he might be
better able to fight for these
squares himself.
This line is actually very old, dating back nearly 100 years, (Maybe more!); in opening praxis.
Older texts used to praise this move and even give it an exclam. (6...Bg4!)
(Modern praxis does not approve
of this entire line for Black. See
some of the lines quoted
from: "Modern Chess Openings,"
for possible alternatives that are
more current according
to today's
opening theory.)
[ One author says a better line is:
6...Be6!?; "~" {Equal?}
'!' - Irving Chernev.
Black could also try: 6...Na5!?;
"~" with an unclear position. ].
7. h3!?, (Maybe - '!')
White decides to "kick" the
Black Bishop without delay.
(This is called, 'asking the question.')
[ MCO gives the simpler line of: 7.Na4!? Bb6; {Diagram?} The most natural response.
( A wild game is:
7...Bxf3!?; 8.Qxf3
Nd4?!; 9.Qg3!
Nxc2+!?; 10.Kd1
Nxa1; 11.Qxg7
Rf8;
12.fxe5
Nh5; 13.Qg4!
Qd7; 14.e6!
Qxa4+; 15.b3
Nf6!; 16.exf7+
Rxf7; 17.Bxf7+
Kxf7;
18.Rf1
Qd4!; 19.Qe2!
Rg8?; {Diagram?}
A big mistake, according to
GM Andy Soltis.
(A little better is: 19...Qe5;
20.Rf5
Qxh2!, "-/+" - GM A. Soltis.)
20.Bb2
Rxg2!?;
21.Bxd4
Rxe2;
22.Rxf6+
Kg7!?; 23.Rxd6+!
Bxd4;
24.Rd7+
Kf6; 25.Kxe2,
"+/"
and White won. (1-0)
. D. Janowsky - Leonhardt; Barmen, 1905.
(Culled from the Soltis book.)
)
We now return to the MCO
analysis of this line.
8.Nxb6
axb6; {Diagram?}
This is forced.
(The other
capture is away from the
center ... and gives Black
more pawn islands.)
9.c3
0-0; "+/=" {Diagram?}
when GM Nick de Firmian in MCO
considers White to be
clearly a
little better - in this position. (I am not sure, but this position
looks closer to equal to me.)
[ See MCO-14, pg's 16-17,
and column no. # 31.] ].
7...Bxf3; 8.
Qxf3
Nd4; ('!?')
"The fighting becomes fast
and furious."
- GM S. Tartakower.
This is not the recommended move
here by {modern} opening theory,
but the computers like this
move
and even say Black has the
advantage here. ("=/+")
[ According to GM S. Tartakower,
a better line for Black is: 8...exf4!?;
"~" (Maybe - "=")
with nearly an equal game
for the second player here. ].
9. Qg3!?, (Probably - '!') {Several writers give this move
an exclam here.}
The most aggressive line.
(It is very old too, GM Hans
Kmoch refers to it as "ancient!" I found one game in a book
dedicated to older games that
was played in 1843. Blackburne also played in similar
fashion to
defeat Anderssen in Vienna, 1873!)
'!' - IM John Donaldson. '!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ Too passive and time-consuming
is the continuation: 9.Qd1!?,
('?!') {Diagram.} when Black
should have no
problems from this position. Now Black should play: 9...Nd7!;
"=/+" {Diagram?}
and Black is slightly better. ].
9...Qe7; (Maybe - '!')
Black declines to go snatching
the material. (Several authors
have given this move an exclam.)
Black has fair chances here, according to MCO-14.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
[ Chernev says far too risky is:
9...Nxc2+!?; ('?!')
{Diagram?} Kmoch also remarks that the
acceptance of the material that
White offers here is MUCH too
dangerous for the second player.
10.Kd1
Nxa1; {Diagram?}
Black is obligated now. (10...Nb4?;
11.Qxg7, "+/")
11.Qxg7, {Comp.} {Diagram?}
M. Tchigorin - H.N. Pillsbury; (Round. # 1)
Hastings, (ENG); 1895. White won a very sharp game.
(But Pillsbury missed some chances.)
Another line here is:
9...exf4!?; 10.Qxg7,
"+/=" which is {mostly} unclear.
(Slightly better for White?)
According to Tartakower, very
bad for White is the line:
9...0-0!?; {Diagram?}
Tartakower says this move is
very bad, another author gives
it a dubious appellation. ('?!')
10.fxe5
dxe5; 11.Bg5
Nxc2+; 12.Kd2,
{Comp.} {Diagram?}
when he says White is
MUCH
better. (BUT!!! That is NOT at
all clear, or that easy.) ].
10. fxe5!?, (Maybe - '!')
Chernev (correctly) remarks that
this move is very sharp and opens
lines for both a White Rook
on the
f-file, and the White QB.
(Both Kmoch and White give this
move an exclam here, as also
does the Russian Rubinstein biographer, Yuri Razuvaev.).
'!' - GM Hans Kmoch.
[ 10.Bb3 ].
10...dxe5[];
This is definitely forced.
[ 10...Nxc2+?!; 11.Kd1
Nh5;
Black's best chance. (11...Nxa1?;
12.exf6
Qxf6; 13.Nd5,
"+/")
12.Qf3
Nxa1; 13.Qxh5
0-0;
14.exd6
Bxd6; 15.Bg5,
{"Compensation"}
(If White wins the Black Knight
on a1, he will be way ahead
in material.) ].
11. Kd1!,
A very hyper-modern and "Steinitzian" move. Rubinstein
clearly demonstrates that he
understands the concept of the
strong King.
All the Russian writers have also praised this move.
Many of my students have told me
this move simply looks too odd.
"How does White unravel his
pieces and get his QR into play?," they would ask me.
'!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ If 11.Bb3!? 0-0-0; "<=>" {Diagram?} with good play for Black. ].
11...c6; (Maybe - '!')
This move does many things,
chiefly it keeps the White pieces
out of the d5-square
and also
prepares the thrust, ...b5!
[ Interesting is: 11...0-0-0!?; 12.Rf1, "<=>" ].
12. a4!,
White says: "I cannot allow you
the luxury of the pawn advance,
...b7-to-b5."
(This restrains any queen-side
pawn advances, says Chernev.).
'!' - GM Hans Kmoch. '!' - IM John Donaldson. '!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ 12.Rf1!? Rg8; 13.Bd2 b5; "=" ].
12...Rg8!?;
Black decides he cannot any longer
risk White capturing the g-pawn.
This move is safe, sane, logical ...
and the choice of many strong
chess analysis engines.
(P.C./ computer chess programs.)
Several authors have condemned
this move as too passive, (Given it
a - '?'); and suggested Black
play
other lines ...
but NONE of these lines stand up
to computer analysis!!!!!
[ Black could try:
12...0-0-0!?; 13.Qxg7,
"~" which is VERY unclear.
(And perhaps bad for Black;
especially in the long run.);
MANY authors recommended:
12...Nh5!?; ('?!') 13.Qg4!,
"+/=" {White is better.}
but repeated computer analysis
prove that White is slightly
better here, in this position. ].
13. Rf1, (Maybe - '!')
This is probably the best
move here for White.
"Initiating a lasting pressure on the King's Bishop-file." - GM S. Tartakower.
[ 13.Bg5!? h6; "=" - GM S. Tartakower. ].
13...h6!?;
Black feels he must prevent the pin,
but this costs times and weakens
squares ...
(on the K-side); as well.
(Several writers have condemned this
move as well. {'?!'} But I will only note
that Chernev and
Soltis did NOT
condemn this move ... and that allowing
the pin leads to a VERY CLEAR and
large advantage for White!)
[ Several writers have suggested
that Black instead play:
13...0-0-0; 14.Ne2
Kb8;
15.Nxd4
Bxd4; 16.c3
Bc5;
17.Kc2, "+/=" (Maybe
- "+/") {Diagram?}
... but White has an advantage
in this position as well. ].
14. Ne2, (Maybe - '!')
White understandably wishes to
rid himself of the strong Black
steed on the powerful d4-square.
(This piece ... on a very good
out-post, is also making White's
King very uncomfortable!)
[ A possible improvement here
is the move: 14.Nb1!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?} intending to boot
the Knight and
keep more pieces on the board
to maintain the pressure.
(Several computers
like this
line better than the game.) {But this line is potentially very
risky as White begins to
fall
behind in development - - -
with his King stuck in the center.} ].
14...0-0-0!?;
Black castles, getting his King
to seeming safety.
This is good and normal.
Several writers have suggested
that Black do better by exchanging
Knights on e2,
but this is bogus.
[ Worse for Black is the line: 14...Nxe2?!; 15.Kxe2
0-0-0;
16.Rf5!
Bd6; 17.Be3
c5;
18.Kf1!, "+/" {Diagram?}
White is clearly better. ].
15. Nxd4
Bxd4;
This looks (positionally) forced.
(To put a pawn in the path of
the Black Bishop is not logical,
and makes Black's
dark-squared
Bishop a much-worse piece.)
[ Worse for Black
is: 15...exd4?!; {Diagram?}
Black has blocked his Bishop
and opened
a key line to his
King. 16.Bf4,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White is clearly (a little) better. ].
16. c3
Bb6;
The safest looking square.
[ A tad more risky is: 16...Bc5!?; 17.b4! Bd6; 18.Be3, "+/=" {Diagram?} White is a little better. ].
17. a5, (Maybe - '!')
White gains space without losing
time, and also drives Black's B to
a slightly worse square.
Notice how White's QR stands on an active square ... without ever having to move a single time!!!
GM Soltis notes that it is not at all obvious how White will profit from the current set-up.
[ 17.Rf3!? ].
17...Bc7;
This looks forced.
18. Be3
Kb8;
Moving the King to a safer square.
[ 18...Nh5??; 19.Qg4+,
("+/-") {White is forking the King and the Knight.}
The same fork kills Black on
18...Nxe4?? (19. Qg4+, "+/-") ].
19. Kc2!, "+/="
White safe-guards his King,
connects his Rooks ... and avoids
any nonsense like ...Nxe4.
Almost ... as if by magic ...
after a Houdini-like untangling -
(Even the computers did not see
this
one coming!); White has emerged
from the opening with a clear plus!!
"White now has a powerful position.
He has the two Bishops, and good
attacking prospects
on both wings." - GM Hans Kmoch.
[ Several of my students have suggested the move: 19.b4!?, {Diagram?} here, in this position. ].
19...Ka8;
Black decides his great leader will
be safest in the corner.
[ 19...Rd7!? ].
20. Rf3!, (Maybe - '!!')
A problem-like theme, White
prepares both doubling or tripling
on the f-file, and a battery on the
g1-a7 diagonal as well.
This would lead to a SIMULTANEOUS double-attack on both the f7 and the a7-squares!
"High strategy based on bi-lateral objectives." - GM S. Tartakower.
'!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ The "pawn-storm" method
by playing: 20.b4!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?} may be a little crude,
but also
good enough for a small
advantage for the first player. ].
20...Nd5!?; (Maybe - '!')
Black plays a very interesting move,
trying to stir up some much-needed
counterplay.
"An ingenious means of working up an attack if White captures the Knight." - Irving Chernev.
(Burgess condemns this move,
{'?!'}
but offers no viable alternative.
His analysis of this game is
very poor
and also extremely superficial. I
also note that two GM's give this
move an exclam here.).
'!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ If 20...h5!?; 21.b4, "+/=" White is clearly a little better here.
The continuation:
20...a6!?; {Diagram?}
("+/") simply weakens too many squares
around the 2nd players King.
Several famous authors have
suggested Black play B-N1.
E.g., 20...Bb8!?; {Diagram?}
This could be inferior.
21.Qf2
Rd7; {Diagram?}
- GM S. Tartakower.
22.g4!, "+/=" (Maybe - "+/")
{Diagram?} White is clearly better here. ].
21. Bg1!,
The simplest, White chooses -
in grand fashion - to maintain
the maximum amount of pressure.
< White refuses to allow his opponent to "fish in troubled waters." > - GM S. Tartakower.
'!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ It seems White could have also
played:
21.Bxa7!?
Kxa7; 22.Qf2+
Kb8;
23.exd5
e4;
24.Rxf7,
"+/=" ("+/" ?)
with some advantage to White.
The wrong approach here for
White is to just thoughtlessly
grab the proffered piece.
21.exd5!?, (Probably dubious
/ '?!') This is too risky to be any good. 21...cxd5; 22.Bb3
e4;
23.Bf4,
(23.Rf4?
g5; "-/+" 23.Qg4!?, - {A.J.G.})
23...exf3; 24.Bxc7
Qe2+;
25.Kb1
f2; "-/+" - Irving
Chernev. ].
21...Nf4;
Black puts his Knight on the
"great" out-post square.
This is probably forced
for Black. If Black passively
retreats, he gives White the
better game -
for ...
absolutely no cost. (!)
[ 21...Nf6!?; 22.Qf2
Bb8;
23.Qc5, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with White having the
better
game here, in this position. ].
22.Qf2!, "+/"
White completes the idea that
he started earlier. The exclam
is for his consistency.
For problem solvers, White's play
is especially beautiful. He has
shown the unmasking of f7,
and
both the "TOURTON" and "ZEPLER" doubling themes!
White's advantage now seems to be increasing with each move.
'!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ White could have also played: 22.h4!?, {Diagram?} with an interesting game.
Or even 22.b4!?, "~" {Diagram.} with wild play to follow. ].
22...Bb8;
This looks forced - to guard a7.
[ Obviously bad for Black are: 22...b6??; 23.axb6, "+/-" Or 22...a6??; 23.Qa7# ].
GM Ruben Fine picks the game
up from this point.
23. g3!!, (Maybe - '!!!/!!!!')
{Diagram?}
An incredible pawn sacrifice that
is not at all obvious. What is the
point of this move?
As a teen-ager, I borrowed a
very old book of Rubinstein's
games, and I still remember
how
surprised I was by this
move. (You can calculate several
moves ahead and still not really
grasp
exactly what his move
accomplishes here.)
Yet no other author (that I know
of) praises this move or even
bothers to give it an exclam.
{When I first wrote this, I was
only looking at one book - and
operating mostly from memory.}
The move, 23.g3!!!, is also the first move in a whole string of really incredible chess moves.
"Beginning a mighty combination." - GM Hans Kmoch.
"Skillfully conquering the g-file." - GM S. Tartakower.
"A fine piece of calculation." - GM A. Soltis.
'!!' - GM Hans Kmoch. '!!' - GM Ruben Fine. '!' - FM G. Burgess. '!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ With the very simple move:
23.h4!?, "+/=" (Maybe
- '!')
White gains
a small, but fairly significant advantage. ].
23...Nxh3; {Box?}
Black figures he may as well take.
[ The continuation: 23...Ne6?!; ('?') 24.Rxf7, "+/" wins a pawn (for White) for free. ].
24. Rxf7!,
AH-HA!! (Uh. Err, I think.).
One of those very tricky and unexpected 'in-between' moves.
Instead of retreating his Queen, White attacks his opponent's lady.
[ If instead White plays: 24.Qc5
Qxc5;
"=/+"
Or 24.Qf1?!
Ng5; "=/+"
Black is a little better in both lines. ].
24...Qd6; {Box?} This looks forced for Black.
[ Bad for Black is: 24...Nxf2?; 25.Rxe7
Rgf8;
(25...Bd6!?; 26.Re6!,
"+/") 26.a6!, {Diagram?}
The best according to Chernev.
(Better for White is: 26.Rxg7,
"+/-" - {A.J.G.}
26.Rf1, "+/" - GM
Hans Kmoch.) 26...b6; 27.Be6!,
"+/" - Irving Chernev.
White is clearly much better here. ].
25. Qb6!!,
Rubinstein plays the surprise move.
Like Marshall, he places his Queen
on a square - that at first
glance -
looks completely untenable.
(This is also another theme in
the realm of problem solving.)
A shocking move, according to the tournament committee.
"A staggering move," says Irving Chernev.
"Brilliant and devastating." - GM Hans Kmoch.
"A real thunderbolt." - GM S. Tartakower.
Razuvaev calls this move electrifying.
'!!' - GM Hans Kmoch. '!!' - GM Ruben Fine. '!!' - IM John Donaldson. '!!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ The average Master may have
been very happy with the line:
25.Qc5!
Nxg1; 26.Qxd6
Bxd6;
27.Rxg1,
"+/=" (Maybe - "+/")
when White is better. ].
25...Rd7,
This looks forced to me.
(Black
had to guard against the
threatened mate on the b7-square.)
[ A complete failure for Black is: 25...axb6?!; 26.axb6+
Ba7;
27.Rxa7+
Kb8; 28.Rfxb7+
Kc8;
29.Ba6!?, ("+/-")
{Diagram?} Black is completely helpless,
according to Chernev.
(The computer likes the move:
29.Bc5!, "+/-" {Diagram?}
... winning for White.)
].
26. Bc5!!,
A marvelous intermezzo.
The newspapers the next day
said this move obviously came
as a complete surprise to
Rubinstein's poor and unsuspecting
opponent.
Chernev notes that Black's Queen does not have a decent flight square!
'!' - FM G. Burgess. '!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ Later, sometime after the game,
Rubinstein said White could also
win with the very simple Rxd7.
(The proof is in the pudding.)
26.Rxd7!
Qxd7; 27.Bxg8!
axb6;
Black must capture here, or
simply be materially inferior.
28.axb6+
Ba7; 29.Bc5!
Qd8;
30.Be6!
Ng5; 31.Bc8!
Nf3;
(Much worse for Black is: 31...Qxc8?;
32.Rxa7+
Kb8; 33.Bd6+
Qc7; 34.bxc7+
Kxa7;
35.c8Q, "+/-" {Diagram?}
when White is winning.) 32.Rxa7+
Kb8; 33.Bxb7
Qf6;
34.Ba6
Ne1+; 35.Kb1!
Nxd3;
36.b7!
Qf1+; 37.Ka2
Nc1+;
38.Ka3, "+/-"
and White is winning.
(Easily.)
As far as a I can tell ...
NO OTHER MASTER or author ...
ever pointed this line
out before!! {A.J.G.} ].
26...Rxf7, {Box?}
This looks forced for Black.
"The Queen has no satisfactory flight square in this position." - GM A. Soltis.
(Soltis gives this move an exclam - which surprised me.).
'!' - GM Andy Soltis. (!!)
[ Worse was: 26...Qc7?; 27.Qxc7 Rxc7; 28.Rxc7 Bxc7; 29.Bxg8, "+/-" ].
27. Bxd6
Rf2+!;
A last bit of trickery from Monsieur
Rubinstein's very sly opponent.
[ A complete mistake is: 27...axb6??; 28.axb6+ Ba7; 29.Rxa7#, Check-mate.
Also bad for the second player is:
27...Bxd6?!; 28.Bxf7
axb6;
Otherwise, Black is materially lost.
29.axb6+
Kb8; 30.Bxg8,
"+/-" with an easily won game for
White - - - in this position. ].
28. Qxf2!,
Rubinstein is elegant right up
to the very end.
(Almost a dozen authors have
adorned this move with an
exclamation point here.).
"The simplest and best." - GM S. Tartakower.
"A glorious finish." - Harry Golombek.
'!' - GM Hans Kmoch. '!' - GM Ruben Fine. '!' - IM John Donaldson. '!' - GM Andy Soltis.
[ Inferior - to the game -
is the following continuation:
28.Kb3!?
Bxd6; 29.Qe3
Rgf8;
and ... "Black still needs subduing."
- Irving Chernev.
30.a6, "+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is better...... (But he had better!) ].
28...Nxf2;
Black obviously must capture the
Queen. (Or resign!)
29. Bc5!, "+/-"
Another tactical shot, now
Black has both his Rook on the
g8-square, and his Knight on
the
f2-square under fire.
(Hanging.)
There is no suitable defense here, so Black resigns. 1-0
'!' - GM Hans Kmoch. '!' - GM Ruben Fine. '!' - GM Andy Soltis.
<< "A game which, in a most agreeable
way, shows the power of combination and the logical method
of
the great Polish Grand-Master," wrote Gideon Stahlberg. >>
- GM Andrew Soltis.
One of the most beautiful games
of chess Rubinstein ever played.
(The two Russian biographers of
Rubinstein also call this one of
the best games he ever played.)
[ A simpler win was:
29.Bxg8!?
Bxd6; 30.Be6!
Bc5;
31.Kd2
h5; This is forced.
(Or 31...Kb8?; 32.b4
Bd6; 33.Rf1,
"+/-")
32.b4
Bd6; 33.Rf1
Ng4; 34.Bxg4
hxg4; 35.Rf7,
"+/-" with a won endgame. ].
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
I consulted the following books, in
order they are listed, to annotate
this game.
(I actually started with
another book, which has the story
of Rubinstein's life, then it goes on
to
give several hundred games;
most are NOT annotated. After
verifying the game score from
this
book, I then took a stab at
annotating the game myself.
I did this FIRST, then I turned on
the
computer and began consulting
the opening books.).
(The best books for info and
commentary on this game is:)
# 1.) "The Golden Dozen,"
< The 12 Greatest Chess Players
of All Time. > by Irving Chernev. © 1976, Oxford University Press.
# 2.) "Rubinstein's Chess Masterpieces," < 100 Selected Games. > by GM Hans Kmoch. © 1941, by Horowitz & Harkness. (Published in 1960 by Dover books.)
# 3.) "The World's Great Chess Games," by GM Ruben Fine. © 1951, 1976; by R. Fine. (Published by Dover books, 1983.).
# 4.) "500 Master Games of Chess," by GM Savielly Tartakower and also J. Du Mont. © 1952; by the authors, and G. Bell & Sons, Ltd. (ENG) Published in 1975 by Dover Books.
# 5.) "Akiba Rubinstein: The Later Years." by IM J. Donaldson & IM N. Minev. ISBN: # 1-879479-26-5 © 1995, I.C.E. (International Chess Enterprises); Inc.
# 6.)
"Chess Highlights of The
20th Century," by FM G. Burgess. © 1999, Gambit Publications, Ltd.
(Although this is a great book, it
is obvious that his analysis of
the games is often very light.
Most often, he simply repeats
what others have written and
offers NOTHING new!).
# 7.) "The 100 Best," (The 100 Best Games of the 20th Century, Ranked.) by GM Andrew Soltis. © 2000, A. Soltis & McFarland Books.
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I, Copyright © A.J.G; 2002.
GM Akiba Rubinstein
- {1882 - 1961}, was maybe the strongest player to
have never won the World Championship. Easily one of the four best players
in the World during the period from 1907 to 1922, according to the Oxford
Encyclopedia of Chess. He was the first (and maybe only) player to win
FIVE
(5) International Tournaments in a row. (Clear first, no ties.) In
1912 he also
won all five tournaments he played in.
"His play - during this period was
unparalleled.
His tournament record for the six years 1907 to 1912 was much
better than that of
ANY other Master; at one time or another he had met the
best ten or eleven players," (in the World); "and he had a minus score
ONLY
against Maroczy."
(From a chess encyclopedia.)
In 1918, he defeated Schlecter.
He
won many tournaments and matches. Aside from beating Schlecter, he also
beat Marshall, (1908, +4, =1, -3); and Bogolyubov. (1920, +5, =3, -4)
His
greatest International Tournament wins were St. Petersburg, 1909; Breslau,
1912;
San Sebastian, 1912; Vilnius, 1912; (he beat Alekhine TWICE!) - Triberg,
1921;
and Vienna, 1922.
(This tournament was one of the all-time greatest. Virtually
all
of the best players of that time were present. Rubinstein was winning in
virtually
every game. In the end, he
has like 10 wins and four or five draws. He lost NONE!
He also won the first
brilliancy prize in this event! His games from that event are
perhaps the most beautiful and accurate of his entire career.)
Rubinstein
was a great student of the opening and one of the greatest end-game
players of all time. Players made remarks like: "Rubinstein is a
Rook-and-Pawn
endgame played by the gods." Another chess editor, circa 1909, wrote:
... "that
if Rubinstein had won such a Rook-and-Pawn endgame 100 years ago, he would
have been burned at the stake for being in league with devils."
(!!!!!)
GM
Ruben Fine once said that Rubinstein was the
greatest of ALL the
Masters ... when it came to the end-game. (Ahead, even
of Capablanca!!)
Rubinstein
was a great innovator, there are close to half a dozen different main
lines of openings that are still used today, from the Nimzo-Indian to the
Four
Knight's Opening; that his name is still attached to. He left his mark on
any
opening he studied or played.
According
to many players, prior to World War I, Rubinstein was, "The young
field general who knew THE Marshal's baton was firmly
ensconced in his own
knapsack." But after the war, he was never quite the same, - he was
plagued by
doubts, and began being bothered by 'nervous tics' and other mental
problems.
He slowly began to slide downhill and was never quite the same.
Click HERE for more info on this great player. (Including his complete tournament record.)
**********
IM
Karel Hromadka: (Born in Austria.)
A long-time & strong Czech player.
Born - April 04, 1887. Deceased - July 07, 1956.
A
fairly strong player, (FIDE awarded him the title of IM,
posthumously.); he would probably
be a GM of he were alive today. (His peak rating, BEFORE
being adjusted for inflation, was
very close to 2600!) He won many tournaments and matches. (He lost a match
by only 1 game
vs. Spielmann when that player was at the height of his powers!) He also
won the Championship
of Prague MANY times. Additionally he played on his
country's Olympiad Team several times
as well. He was always a feared competitor and played in dozens of tournaments.
His
best tournament results were: Brno, 1907. (1st Place.)
Brno. 1909. {Quadrangular DRR} (1st Place.)
Vilnius (Russian Championship, 'B'), 1912. (1st Place.)
Prague Championship, (many strong players competed); 1914. (1st
Place.)
Schach-Kongress, 1936. (1st Place.)
K.
Hromadka is also an innovator. He had many original ideas in the opening.
His
chief idea
was "THE HROMADKA VARIATION." (A predecessor/precursor of the Benoni.)
This game was first posted on June
25th, 2002.
(Page last updated on: Aug. 21st, 2002.)
Last edit/save on: 03/17/2014
.
I worked on this game several times over the past 5-7 years.
(A continuing project!)
But it was only after I was chatting with a titled player on The
Internet Chess Club, and he told
me he had never studied this game, that I finally decided to post the web page on this
epic encounter.
This game is pretty much
the full 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 to study, please contact
me.
Click HERE to return (or go to) to my <<formerlyGeoCities>> "Home Page."
Click HERE to return (or go to) to my 'AF Downloads' "Home Page."
(Or press the "BACK" button on your web browser.)
Click
HERE
to go to, or return to, my:
(GeoCities) "Best
All-Time [Chess] Moves Page."
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HERE
to go to, or return to, my:
(GeoCities) "Best
(All-Time) [Chess] Games Page."
Click
HERE
to go to my (GeoCities) "Best
Short Games Page."
(If you liked this game, you will enjoy the many games that are
available on this page.)
Click
HERE to go to,
"La Mecca."
(An on-line, chess encyclopedia.)
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby, 1985 - 2013.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2014. All rights reserved.
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