E. Saunders - H. Saunders
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Chernev writes:
"Child prodigies are rare enough, but when the prodigy is a girl - that is unique!
And, to pile wonder on wonder, this little girl of
ten could play chess without
looking at the board! So here is Elaine Saunders (Pritchard) playing blindfold
against her father, just as young Morphy did against his, back in 1849."
[ See the book, {The} "1000 Best Short Games
of Chess,"
by Irving Chernev. Game # 550, page 274. ]
For my part, I will say it is a well-played game by White ...
but few positive things can be said about the way Black handles the defense.
1. e4
e5; 2.
Nf3
Nc6; 3.
Bc4
Bc5; 4.
b4
Bxb4; {Diag?}
The Evans
Gambit Accepted.
5. d4 Bc5!?;
{Diagram?}
Perhaps a tempo-waster.
[The book line is:
5...Ba5; 6.d4
d6;
7.Qb3
Qd7; etc. ]
6. d4
exd4; 7.
cxd4
Bb6; 8.
0-0
d6; 9.
Bb2!?, {Diag?}
Probably not the best.
The book move is 9. Nc3. I am also partial to 9. h3!?
[ Junior 6.0: 9.Nc3
Bg4!?;
10.Qd3
Qf6; 11.Nd5
Qg6;
12.Nf4
Qf6; ("=") 0.00/11
].
9...Na5?!; ('?')
{Diagram?}
Terrible. A total waste of time.
[ 9...Nf6; 10.Nc3 Bg4; ("Black is slightly better, or "=/+") ]
10. Nc3!
Nxc4; 11.
Qa4+
Qd7; 12.
Qxc4, {Diagram?}
(White has compensation for the material invested.)
12...Nf6;
13. e5
dxe5?!; ('?') {Diagram?}
Behind in development, Black should not open lines for White's pieces.
[
13...Ng8
].
14.dxe5!?, ('?!')
{Diagram?}
This is probably inferior to
taking with the Knight.
[ 14.Nxe5! ("+/=") ].
14...Nh5!?; (Maybe - '?!') {Diagram?}
"A Knight on the rim is dim."
- Chernev.
Black strands his knight. On top of that, Black may now have to open
more lines. It is clear from the follow-up, Black did not have a clue as
to the correct plan.
[ After the move:
14...Qg4!; ("=/+") Black may
actually be better.
Black could also play: 14...Ng4?!;
15.e6!, ("+/-") Or
14...Ng8!?; {Unclear.}
White has a solid lead in development, but it is not clear that he can turn
that into anything. ].
15. h3
f5?; (Maybe - '??')
{Diagram?}
Black self destructs.
[ Black is definitely OK after:
15...Qf5!; {Unclear?}
16.Rad1,
White has comp.].
16. exf6
Nxf6; 17.
Rfe1+
Kf8; 18.
Ba3+, {Diagram?}
Black Resigns. 1 - 0.
A wonderful game by a 10-yr old girl, especially being blindfold.
(But a miserable game by Black.)
[ Chernev writes:
"Further resistance is futile.
If 18.Ba3+
c5;
19.Bxc5+
Bxc5; 20.Qxc5+
Kg8; 21.Rad1,
("+/-") {Diagram?}
and a child could win it." (Chernev goes no further, but
one sample
win could be:
21.Rad1
Qc6?!;
If Black does not want to be mated,
he must play something like 21...h6; and give up his Queen.
{Of course, this is hopeless for Black.}
22.Rd8+
Kf7; 23.Re7+
Kg6; 24.Qg5#, {A.J.G.}
]
(I don't believe Chernev awards any exclams or question marks in this game.)
This game is a slightly
shortened version of the game as it exists in my database.
(I have shortened it a little for publication.)
If you would like a copy of that game to study, please contact
me.
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Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby, 1999
- 2004.
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2005. All rights
reserved.