Author Archives: Yelena Dembo

 [Event "First Saturday Budapest"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2000.??.??"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Dembo, Y (WIM)."]  [Black "Driamin, D (IM since 2003)"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteElo "2342"]  [BlackElo "2281"]  [Annotator "Variations by Dembo,Y"]  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "r3kn1r/1p1bbp2/4p3/3pP1p1/p2q2P1/P2B4/1P3P2/R1BQRNK1 w kq - 0 19"]  [PlyCount "47"]  [EventDate "2000.??.??"]   {It is hard to believe, but the opponents reached this complicated position on  the 19th move only ten minutes after the start of play. This variation of the  French Defence, involving the sacrifice of my d-pawn, had occured before in my  games. My Muscovite opponent knew that of course and had prepared for the game  very meticulously; in particular he spent about one-and-a-half minutes for the  first twelve moves... Naturally, this did not appeal to me but I did not want  to refrain from my variation. I had great faith in my ability to checkmate the  opponent's uncastled king! For this it is necessary to bring about a very  sharp and complicated position...  #} 19. Be3 $1 {The first move leading to  this aim. At last my opponent thought for 40 minutes! Before this move White  already was a pawn down and now offers two more; Black even has the choice!  Now there is no question "to take or not?": the black queen has no other moves.  The question is only which pawn to take and what to do after that. After  prolonged thought Black decided to take the central pawn, an understandable  decision.} Qxe5 (19... Qxb2 20. Rb1 Qxe5 21. Bf5 $13) 20. Bf5 $3 {After the  game my opponent admitted having missed this move - also understandable...  At  this moment 30-35 chessplayers gathered around our table and one grandmaster  said to my father and coach: "your daughter is either a genius or crazy!" "Of  course the first!" was the prompt answer of my father, but his hands were  still shaking even some hours after the game, due to the emotional strain...  White has achieved her aim: the position is becoming totally crazy. White's  idea is now Bd4 or Bxg5.  Here Black once again sank into thought, calculating  several variations; as a result he ended up in serious time-trouble.} Rh4 $5 {  An interesting move. But what about material? How will the position be after  mutual captures?} 21. Bxg5 Qxb2 22. Bxh4 Bxh4 {The captures have finished, so  let's sum up!  For WHITE:  1) the material balance: White has a rook against a  bishop and two pawns.  2) the white king is deprived of protection and the  f-pawn is under attack, but there is no way for Black to increase the pressure  on it.  3) the bishop on f5 is very unusually but nicely placed, but it is not  clear how to make use of it.  4) the white queen and the rook on a1 are out of  play.  For BLACK:  1) the material situation is OK.  2) Black has the  bishop-pair.  3) the queen and the Bh4 are very active. The f2-square in  particular can become a very dangerous point of intersection.  4) the rook and  the knight are inactive.  5) the Bd7's situation lies somewhere in between.  6)  but the main feature of the position is the king on e8. It is true though that  an immediate attack against it is not apparent. Therefore the conclusion is:  it is necessary to improve the activity of my pieces.} 23. Qf3 {There are  three ideas behind this move:  1) the queen is more active now;  2) the f-pawn  is protected;  3) the d1-square can be used by one of the rooks (I don't know  which yet!).  And we come to a new "Dembo-rule": "if there are two or more  ideas behind your move, then it is usually a good move!"} Qf6 24. Rac1 $6 {I  am trying to prevent the black king from castling, but 24.Ng3!? with an idea  of Nh5 was much stronger. Of course it would have been a blunder to play 24.  Qd5?? because of 24...Qxa1 - "blow back"!} Bc6 {My opponent, just like me,  didn't see the move 24...Kd8. It is hard to say how the game would have ended  after that move... But Black was already in serious time-pressure.} 25. Ng3 {  The pin on the f-file is very dangerous for White, as Black constantly has at  his disposal threats to win the bishop or exchange queens. Therefore the  knight is in a hurry to drive away the black queen.} Nd7 {Black brings his  knight into the game as well.} (25... Qh8 26. Nh5 Be7 27. Bb1 Nd7 28. Qe3 $13)  26. Nh5 Qg5 27. Nf4 {The knight's route from b1 to f4 was long and complicated,  but it now consitutes a source of danger to the black king.} O-O-O {Black  managed to beat back the first wave of attack. # But a second wave is forming..  .} 28. Nxd5 $1 {##A very interesting idea!} ({Much worse was} 28. Bxe6 $2 fxe6  29. Nxe6 Qf6 $1 30. Qe2 Ne5 31. Nxd8 Nf3+ $17) 28... exd5 (28... exf5 29. Ne7+  Kb8 (29... Qxe7 30. Rxc6+ bxc6 31. Qxc6+ Kb8 32. Rb1+ $18) 30. Rxc6 (30. Nxc6+  bxc6 31. Rc4 Qg6 $1 (31... Qf6 $2 32. Rxc6 Qb2 33. Qf4+ $18) 32. Rb1+ $40)  30... bxc6 31. Rb1+ Nb6 (31... Ka7 32. Nxc6+ $18) 32. Rxb6+ Ka7 33. Ra6+ Kxa6  34. Qxc6+ Ka7 35. Qc7+ Ka6 36. Qc6+ $11) 29. Qxd5 {Now White has rook for two  minor pieces. The genius Mikhail Tal very much liked to bring about and use  this material correlation...} Qh6 {After this move my opponent had 15-20  seconds left until the time-control on move 40. People around the board were  already holding their breath...} ({Instead of 29...Qh6 Black had at his  disposal a brilliant idea, sacrificing a bishop:} 29... Bxf2+ $5 30. Kxf2 (30.  Kf1 Qf4 {Threatening ...Bc5.} (30... Kc7 31. Kxf2 Qf4+ 32. Kg1 Qg3+ $11) 31.  Rxc6+ Kb8 (31... bxc6 32. Qxc6+ Kb8 33. Re4 $16) 32. Rc4 Bd4+ 33. Ke2 Re8+ 34.  Kd1 Rxe1+ 35. Kxe1 Qe3+ 36. Kd1 Qg1+ 37. Kc2 Qf2+ $11) 30... Qf4+ 31. Kg1 (31.  Kg2 $4 Qd2+ $1 $19 {# I don't know which lines my opponent calculated but I am  still curious if he had seen this unique position before making the move 29...  Qh6. What a position! I wouldn't want to lose this way.}) 31... Qg3+ 32. Kf1  $11) ({In case of} 29... Qf6 {I was seriously contemplating 30.Re6 with a  possible draw.} 30. Re6 fxe6 31. Rxc6+ bxc6 32. Qxc6+ Kb8 33. Qd6+ Kc8 (33...  Ka8 34. Be4+) 34. Qc6+) 30. Red1 {It appears that the bishop is about to start  working: 31.Bxd7 is threatened.} Kb8 31. Rxc6 $1 {Unfortunately this last  sacrifice only leads to a draw, but luckily for me my opponent was intent on  winning!} bxc6 (31... Qxc6 $1 32. Qxc6 bxc6 33. Rxd7 (33. Bxd7 Kc7 $19) 33...  Rxd7 34. Bxd7 Kc7 35. Be8 $11) 32. Rb1+ Kc7 (32... Kc8 {would lead to a nice  finish (nice for White, that is!) after} 33. Qe5 $1 $18) 33. Qa5+ {Again  inviting the black king to c8.} Kd6 (33... Kc8 34. Qe5 $1 $18) 34. Rd1+ Ke7 35.  Qc7 Kf8 {My opponent had only a few seconds left, but still dreamt of winning!}  36. Rxd7 Rxd7 37. Qxd7 Qc1+ 38. Kg2 Qxa3 39. Qxc6 Qa2 $4 $138 {A terrible  blunder in time-pressure.} ({After} 39... Kg7 {the position would be equal.})  40. Qh6+ $1 Ke8 41. Qh8+ {Never offer the opponent a tempo!} Ke7 42. Qxh4+ {1:  0 :  After the game my father told me: "I lost some kilograms during these few  hours!" I think I also did...} 1-0 

 [Event "Hastings"]  [Site "Hastings"]  [Date "1895.??.??"]  [Round "10"]  [White "Steinitz, W."]  [Black "Von Bardeleben, C."]  [Result "1-0"]  [Annotator "Variations by ChessBase"]  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "r3k2r/pp1qn1pp/2p2p2/8/3P4/5N2/PP2QPPP/2R1R1K1 w kq - 0 17"]  [PlyCount "17"]  [EventDate "1895.08.05"]  [EventType "tourn"]  [EventRounds "21"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]   {I would like to start with one of the most famous games of the 19th century.  There initially was no reason why this game should become famous. First of all,  neither combatant played in the best way possible. But if Steinitz just missed  some STRONG moves (from our modern point of view!), Bardeleben made one BAD  move already in the opening and had to give up any idea of castling. Then,  there was a significant difference in the players' respective chess strength,  although Steinitz had lost his World Champion title the previous year.  The  game acquired its fame (and I think forever!) thanks to the incredible events  that took place between moves 17 and 25 (and could last until the 35th move,  had Curt von Bardeleben not disappeared from the tournament hall in a terrible  emotional state, without even informing Steinitz of his resignation! And deep  down inside I understand his reaction!!).  Naturally it isn't difficult for a  chessplayer with an attacking style to make Steinitz's 17th move, but JUST  this one move. It is clear that after this move there MUST EXIST good  compensation for the sacrificed pawn. But Steinitz converted a good positional  IDEA (the pawn-sacrifice, 17.d5!!) into a detective story with an exciting  scenario, the outcome of which (the "last move" of Black) would not fail to  attract anyone!  #  Here we are starting our discussion of "Dembo-rules", a  set of original and very useful chess rules. The first of them will be the  rule about gifted moves.} 17. d5 $3 {This move is gifted according to my  classification system. What do I mean?  Moves can be classified in three  different levels:  THE FIRST LEVEL - a reasonable move. It is evident from  this move that the chessplayer invests some thought on it and tries to conduct  a plan, to improve his pieces etc.  THE SECOND LEVEL - a competent move. It  implies that the chessplayer understands the position, is a serious student of  the game, reads chess books, has a good trainer. Overall, that he has strong  chess foundations!  THE THIRD AND HIGHEST LEVEL - the "gifted" move. It is a  move with an unusual, original idea, often involving a certain degree of risk;  a move which many chessplayers would reject for one very simple reason: it  wouldn't come to their mind! To avoid any misunderstanding, let me clarify  that this move does not necessarily lead to a win, it is not necessarily the  objectively strongest. No! But it is very interesting, it is gifted. I would  also like to clarify that such a move may often contradict the principles that  characterize moves of the first two levels! Such contradiction is however  absolutely logical! Something gifted is often extraordinary and therefore  provokes arguments...  So, we start with a gifted move, 17.d5!!  This GIFTED  MOVE offers White prospects for a brilliant attack and brought  world-wide  fame to this game.  White opens files towards Black's uncastled king and at  the same time obtains an excellent square for his lazy knight!  This move  brings us to the first "Dembo-rule": "don't be afraid to sacrifice a pawn for  the initiative!" And this move (pay attention!) also showcases another  "Dembo-rule": "if it looks impossible but you want to do it VERY MUCH, it is  possible!" What do I mean by that? Of course you understand that after the  move 17.d4-d5 your pawn will be captured (so it looks impossible to push the  pawn!), but you VERY MUCH want to get rich piece-play, therefore this move  turns out possible.} cxd5 (17... Kf7 18. dxc6 Nxc6 19. Rcd1 $40) 18. Nd4 {The  knight looks excellent on the blockading d4-square! I think it is safe to  assume that this position was studied very carefully by A.Nimzowitsch and had  great influence on the development of his views. This is high-level positional  play!  When I show this game to my students, I usually tell them (before  showing the move 17.d5!!): "Look here: your knight on f3 has no good moves, no  good squares, it doesn't do anything, and at this moment you play as if you  are a piece (or three pawns) down. But after the pawn-sacrifice on d5 your  knight enters the play with great effect and at the formal cost of only one  pawn. What a strong centralized piece you have obtained in return! AT THE  MOMENT it is the most dangerous and threatening piece on the board!"  By the  way, White has two immediate threats: 19.Nf5 and 19.Ne6.} Kf7 19. Ne6 {/\ 20.  Rc7} Rhc8 {The struggle for control of the 6th and 7th ranks is swinging in  White's favor. Thus, Black tries to create counterchances based on White's  back rank; you see, White now has to consider an exchange on c1 in every  variation.} (19... Rac8 20. Qg4) (19... Nc6 20. Nc5 Qc8 21. Qb5 Rb8 (21... Nd8  22. Nd7 Nc6 23. Qxd5+ Kg6 24. g4 $40) 22. Na6 Ra8 (22... bxa6 23. Qxd5+) 23.  Qxd5+ Kg6 24. Nc5 Rd8 25. Qe4+ f5 26. Qh4 $40) 20. Qg4 $1 {White increases the  pressure by threatening a mate in two.} g6 21. Ng5+ {The knight merrily  behaves like a "hooligan", but now in addition White has the e-file. Hence  began miracles...} Ke8 (21... fxg5 $4 22. Qxd7 $18) 22. Rxe7+ {This blow is  crying out to be played, but now White must carry out his entire operation  with checks, as the Rc1 is hanging. Is it possible?} Kf8 (22... Qxe7 23. Rxc8+  Rxc8 24. Qxc8+ $18) (22... Kxe7 23. Re1+ Kd6 24. Qb4+ Rc5 (24... Kc6 25. Rc1#)  (24... Kc7 25. Ne6+ Kb8 26. Qf4+ $18) 25. Qf4+ (25. Ne4+ {+- ChessBase} dxe4  26. Rd1+ Ke6 $19 {Dembo,Y}) 25... Kc6 26. Re6+ $18 {Dembo,Y}) 23. Rf7+ $1 {You  can call this rook a nuissance, a fly in your milk, a pain - whatever you  like! But what to play with Black? He makes all the best moves, but his  misfortune lies in the fact that Steinitz's conception is not only long,  beautiful, colourful; it is forced too!} (23. Qxd7 $4 Rxc1+ $19) 23... Kg8 $1 (  23... Qxf7 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Qxc8+ Qe8 26. Nxh7+ $18) 24. Rg7+ $1 Kh8 $1 (  24... Kf8 25. Nxh7+ Kxg7 26. Qxd7+ $18) 25. Rxh7+ $1 {That's all! The black  king has reached the edge of the board and now has to return. But now White  can use the h-file for his attack - the key to victory.  Black actually didn't  make his next move and his reaction was quite unusual: he left the tournament  hall without notice! And, I repeat, it is possible to understand him...} (25.  Rxh7+ $1 Kg8 26. Rg7+ Kh8 (26... Qxg7 27. Rxc8+ $18 {Dembo,Y}) 27. Qh4+ Kxg7  28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qh8+ Ke7 30. Qg7+ Ke8 31. Qg8+ Ke7 32. Qf7+ Kd8 33. Qf8+ Qe8  34. Nf7+ Kd7 35. Qd6# {...and Black got a zero.  1-0  It seems to me that it  was not the variations themselves that prompted Black to disappear from the  playing hall. One can lose a game, especially if the opponent has, until a  year before, been World Champion!  It seems to me that Black couldn't provide  any more resistance to the combination's titanic flow of energy; a superhuman,  cosmic energy indeed.  Play LIKE THIS!  Two questions come to mind after going  through this game:  1) Who can put into words what was going on in  Bardeleben's heart and mind as he was leaving the playing hall? The conclusion  of the game greatly resembles murder, thus his nerves collapsed.  2) From  which move had the brilliant tactician Wilhelm Steinitz seen the variation all  the way to its conclusion (35.Qd6#)?  Perhaps from the GIFTED MOVE 17.d5(!!)?})  1-0