(9) Kastor,M (1622) - Bukh,Y (1933) [C50]
Mechanics Tuesday Marathon San Francisco, CA (6), 06.07.2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.Nc3 Bg4 Diagram

6.Be3 [ 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nf6 8.d5 Nb8 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.g4 Nf8 11.h4 Qd7 12.Bb5 c6 13.Be2 Bd8 14.g5 Ng8 15.0-0-0 Bb6 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.Qe3 Qc7 18.f4 Ng6 19.f5 Nf4 20.h5 h6 21.f6 gxf6 22.g6 Kf8 23.gxf7 Ne7 24.Bg4 cxd5 25.exd5 f5 26.Bf3 Qc5 27.Qe1 Kxf7 28.Rh4 Ke8 29.Kb1 b5 30.Rxf4 exf4 31.Qe6 Kd8 32.Nxb5 Qxb5 33.Qxd6+ Qd7 34.Qf6 Rh7 35.d6 Ke8 36.Re1 Ra6 37.Qg6+ Rf7 38.Bd5 Rxd6 39.Qxf7+ Kd8 40.Qf8+ Qe8 41.Qxe8+ Kxe8 42.Bxb7 Kf7 43.a4 Nd5 44.Bxd5+ Rxd5 45.b4 f3 46.a5 Rd4 47.c3 f2 48.Rf1 Rd2 49.a6 Ke6 50.b5 f4 51.Rxf2 Rxf2 52.a7 Rf1+ 53.Kb2 1-0 Alekhine,A-Breyer,G/Mannheim 1914/EXT 2001 (53); 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Qxd4 Bxf3 8.gxf3 Nf6 9.Rg1 Kf8 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Be3 Ne8 12.f4 c5 13.Qa4 Qc8 14.0-0-0 c6 15.Qa3 Kg8 16.e5 Qf5 17.Qa6 Qc8 18.Qxc8 Rxc8 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Ne4 Bc7 21.Nxc5 h6 22.Nd7 a5 23.Ne5 Bd6 24.Rd4 h5 25.Ra4 Nf6 26.Rxa5 Nd5 27.Bd2 Rh6 28.c4 Ne7 29.Nd7 Rg6 30.Rxg6 Nxg6 31.Ne5 Nxe5 32.fxe5 Bc7 33.Ra6 Bxe5 34.h3 Bd4 35.f4 f6 36.b4 Kf7 37.Kc2 Kg6 38.Ra3 h4 39.Rd3 Bf2 40.f5+ Kh7 41.Rd7 Ra8 42.Kb3 Re8 43.a4 Re5 44.a5 Rxf5 45.a6 Rf3+ 46.Kb2 Rxh3 47.c5 Bg3 48.Bc3 Rh2+ 49.Kb3 Re2 50.a7 Re8 51.Bxf6 Ra8 52.Rxg7+ Kh6 53.Kc4 Bf2 54.Rc7 Kh5 55.Be5 Bg3 56.Bxg3 hxg3 57.Rg7 Kh4 58.b5 cxb5+ 59.Kxb5 1-0 Sveshnikov,E-Padevsky,N/Plovdiv 1973/EXT 2001 (59); 6.d5 Nd4 7.Be2 Nxe2 8.Qxe2 a6 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Bd2 b5 12.a3 Nf6 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.Rdg1 Rb8 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nh4 b4 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.axb4 Rxb4 19.Na2 Rd4 20.h4 Nf4 21.Bxf4 Rxf4 22.f3 Rxh4 23.Kb1 Rxh1 24.Rxh1 Bxg5 25.Rd1 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1 a5 27.c4 h5 28.Nc3 Kf7 29.Qe2 Bf4 30.Nb5 Qd7 31.c5 dxc5 32.Na7 g5 33.Nc6 g4 34.fxg4 Qxg4 35.Qf1 Kg6 36.Ka2 Bg3 37.Qf8 Qxe4 38.Ne7+ Kg5 39.Qxg7+ Kh4 40.Qf6+ Kh3 41.Qf1+ Kg4 42.Qd1+ Qf3 43.Qa4+ e4 44.Qd7+ Kg5 45.Qe8 Kh4 46.Qg6 Kh3 47.Nf5 Bf2 48.Qe6 Kg2 49.d6 cxd6 50.Nxd6 e3 51.Ne4 e2 0-1 Memmo,M-Schmidt,D/IECC email 1998/E-Mail 2000 (51)] 6...exd4 [ 6...Nf6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.gxf3 exd4 9.Bxd4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 c6 11.Qe3 Qb6 12.0-0-0 Qxe3+ 13.fxe3 0-0 14.Ne2 Nd7 15.Nd4 g6 16.Rdg1 Kh8 17.f4 Nc5 18.Bd3 Bf6 19.Nb3 Nxb3+ 20.axb3 Rfe8 21.h4 a5 22.h5 Kg7 23.Rg2 a4 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.bxa4 Rxa4 26.Kd2 Bxb2 27.Rb1 Rb4 28.c3 Rb3 29.Kc2 Rxc3+ 30.Kd2 Rb3 31.Kc2 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2 Golombek,H-Sultan Khan,M/London 1932/EXT 2003 (31)] 7.Bxd4 Diagram

7...Nxd4 [ 7...Nf6 8.Be3 ( 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.h3 Bh5 10.Bb5 0-0 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Qe2 d5 13.e5 Re8 14.0-0-0 . 0-1 Beck,F-Schengel,M/Verden 1999/EXT 2001 (14) nicht rekonstruierbar) 8...0-0 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nd2 Na5 12.Be2 d5 13.e5 d4 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Nde4 dxe3 16.Qxd8 exf2+ 17.Kxf2 Bxd8 18.Nc5 Bf6 19.N3e4 Bd4+ 20.Kg2 b6 0-1 Garreta Martinez,A-Bruned Segura,M/Terrassa 1996/EXT 2002 (20)] 8.Qxd4 Diagram

8...Bxf3? [ 8...Nf6] 9.gxf3? [ 9.Qxg7 Diagram

9...Kd7 ( 9...Bxg2 10.Qxf7+ Kd7 11.Qf5+ Ke8 ( 11...Kc6 12.Qb5#) 12.Qh5+ Kd7 13.Be6+ Kxe6 14.Qf5#) 10.Qxh8 Bxg2 11.Rg1] 9...Bf6 10.Qe3 Ne7 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.Kb1 c6 13.Bb3 Qc7 14.h4 Rfe8 15.Qd2 Rad8 16.f4 b5 Diagram

The engines are lighting up. At this point, ala Keres and Kotov's Middlegame book, black has the advantage of targets for his pawn assault. This was said to be essential, as the side with pawn hits wins tempo. Due to white's lack of a g pawn, and black's sentry on d6, the lone black target, namely the Bf6 seems unassailable. Meanwhile, black has various options of moves to target the Nc3 and Bb3.17.h5 h6?! [ Fritz seems to be reading my mind. It seems to us that black need not waste time moving pawns in front of his king. After 17...a5 if 18.h6 g6 Diagram

And white must find a safe haven for his Bb3, probably by moving the a pawn. The weak dark squares around black's king can't be that weak, with the unopposed mighty warrior on f6 who may safely retire to h8 if need be, while maintaining pressure all the way to c3, b2, and perhaps beyond.] 18.Rhg1 a5 By not entering the above note, white has been allowed a possible attack on h6. Black has not prosecuted the attack with utmost efficiency. 19.a3 [ 19.f5 a4 20.Qxh6 Diagram

20...Kf8 21.Qh8+ Ng8 22.Bd5 g5 ( 22...cxd5? 23.Nxd5) 23.Qh7 b4 24.Nb5 cxb5 25.f4 Rc8 26.Rc1 b3 27.axb3 ( 27.fxg5? bxc2+ 28.Ka1 Bxb2+ 29.Kxb2 Qc3#) 27...axb3 28.Bxb3] 19...Nc8 20.f3 Nb6 21.Ne2 [ Fritz still wants to exploit the h6 weakness with 21.f5 Kh8] 21...a4 [ 21...Nc4 22.Bxc4[] bxc4 23.Nd4] 22.Ba2 Diagram

22...c5 [ Perhaps the open b file is a good trade for the relief white gets to be rid of his somewhat incarcerated Ba2 after 22...Nc4 23.Bxc4 bxc4 24.Nd4 ( 24.c3 d5) 24...Rb8 25.c3] 23.Ng3 c4 [ 23...b4 Fritz suggests the apparent sacrifice of a pawn for the open b file. 24.Nf5 ( 24.axb4 cxb4 25.Nf5 ( 25.Qxb4 Rb8 26.Qxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd6 Bxb2 28.Kxb2 Nc4+ 29.Kc1 Nxd6) 25...b3 ( 25...Kh8) ) 24...b3 25.cxb3 axb3 26.Bxb3 c4 27.Bc2 c3 28.Qg2 Kh8 29.b3 ( 29.Nxg7? Rg8) 29...Nc4 30.a4 Nd2+ 31.Rxd2 ( 31.Ka2 Qb6 32.Rb1 a) 32.Qg3 Ra8; b) 32.Ra1 Ra8 33.Rab1 (b) 33.e5 Rxa4+) 33...Nxb1; 32...Nxb1) 31...cxd2 32.Qxd2; 23...Kh8 24.Nf5] 24.c3 Kh8 25.Nf5 Diagram

25...Re6? this looks like a completely absurd square for a rook to me. He ends up getting stuck coming back. Far better was to find active play, if at the cost of d6, so be it, perhaps on the queenside. At least, if he came up with the plan he implemented with the dubious pawn breaks that we will soon see, he could have efficiently deployed in that direction with the heavy pieces. [ 25...b4 26.Nxd6 ( 26.cxb4 c3 27.bxc3 Nc4 28.Bxc4 Qxc4 29.Qc2) 26...Re7 27.e5 it looks fully dubious.] 26.Ka1 [ 26.Rg4 b4 27.axb4 ( 27.cxb4 c3 28.bxc3) 27...a3 28.Nd4 axb2 29.Nxe6] 26...b4 Diagram

27.axb4? [ A far better castle for white's king was to be found after 27.cxb4 c3 a) 27...Na8 (trying desparately to get to a nice square like b5). 28.Nxh6 (a) 28.Nd4 Rc8 29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.Qxd6 c3 31.Qxc7 Nxc7 32.e5) 28...gxh6 (a) 28...c3 29.Nxf7+ Qxf7 30.bxc3) 29.f5; b) 27...Nc8; 28.Qd3 cxb2+ ( 28...Ree8 29.bxc3 Rd7 ( 29...Bxc3+ 30.Kb1 Bf6 31.Rc1 Qd7) ) 29.Kb1 Diagram

29...Qd7 a) 29...Ree8? 30.Nxd6 Rf8 (a) 30...Rd7 31.Nxe8; a) 30...Be7 31.Nxf7+ Kh7 32.Nxd8; a) 30...Re7 31.e5) 31.e5 Be7 32.Kxb2 white should be safe and after redeploying to the c or g files could enjoy an attack in addition to the two pawn advantage.; b) 29...d5? 30.e5 Bxe5 31.fxe5 Qxe5 32.Nxg7 Rc6 33.Nf5 Rdc8 34.Qd4 Rc1+ and black is careening into a dead lost endgame.; c) 29...d5 30.e5; d) 29...Nc8 30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Nd4; e) 29...Rd7 30.Bxe6; f) 29...Rc8 30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Nxd6; 30.Bxe6 fxe6 opening up the second rank 31.Nxd6 Nc8 32.e5 Nxd6 ( 32...Be7? 33.Rxg7 Kxg7 ( 33...Bxd6 34.Qh7#) 34.Qg6+ Kh8 ( 34...Kf8 35.Qf7#) 35.Nf7# Diagram

) 33.exf6 and black is way busted.] 27...a3 28.Nd4 In this position, white has made a decision that the engines claim is crucial. Instead of allowing a position with a less defensible pawn on a3, he blocks the long diagnol and plans for a second rank defense. However, the plan allowing the open c file and giving black a blocked a-file with a pawn on a4 looked reasonable. Perhaps he feared that the Bf6 would be too strong along the long diagnol. [ After 28.bxa3 The a-file seems less defensible than the c-file in the above line in my assessment, although the Re6 could be misplaced for that plan in light of 28...d5? (trying to clear a route for Re6-a6) 29.e5 ( 29.exd5? Nxd5 and obviously c3 and a3 are targets. 30.Nd4 Ra6 31.Kb2 Rda8 In this diagramed position we see the error of white's ways. Black is breaking through on the a-file here and the Bf6 has more obstacles, but at this point they look more like targets. A serious difference could be the difference of black's queenside pawn residing on c4 rather than a4. On a4, it served white as an immovable obstacle to black's army, while here it serves to slow or stop white's Ba2 from his potential along the a2-g8 diagnol. From this position, Fritz is suggesting 32.Bb1 which allows the rooks to menacingly break white's door, but a crucial entry point on a2 is a stopgap. As in the text, the Ba2 is transferred to the less powerful b1-h7 diagnol. 32...Nxc3 ( 32...Rxa3 33.Qc2 ( 33.Rg2? Qa7 34.Qc2 Rb3+ 35.Qxb3 ( 35.Nxb3?? Qa3#; 35.Kc1 Rxc3) 35...cxb3 36.Kc1 ( 36.Kxb3 Qa4+ 37.Kc4 ( 37.Kb2 Qa3+ 38.Kc2 Qxc3#) 37...Rc8+ 38.Kd3 ( 38.Kxd5 Qa8+ 39.Kd6 Qa6+ 40.Kd5 Qc4+ 41.Ke4 Re8+ 42.Kf5 Qc8+ 43.Ne6 Qxe6#) 38...Qxd1+ 39.Ke4 Rxc3 40.Ne2 ( 40.Re2 Qxd4+ 41.Kf5 Qxf4#) 40...Qxb1+ 41.Kxd5 Qd3+ 42.Nd4 Qxd4#) 36...Nxc3) 33...Ra2+ Diagram

a) 33...g6 34.hxg6 Rb3+; b) 33...Nxc3?? 34.Qh7#; c) 33...Rb3+ 34.Nxb3 Bxc3+ (c) 34...cxb3?? 35.Qh7#) 35.Kc1 Qxf4+ 36.Nd2 f5 (c) 36...g6 37.hxg6) 37.Qxf5; 34.Bxa2 ( 34.Kc1 Rxc2+ ( 34...Qxf4+) ) 34...Qa7 35.Kb1 a) 35.Kc1; b) 35.Nb5 Qxa2+ 36.Kc1 Nxc3 37.Nxc3 Qa1+ 38.Kd2 Bxc3+ 39.Ke2 (b) 39.Qxc3? Ra2+ 40.Ke3 Qxc3+) ; ) ) ] 28...axb2+ 29.Qxb2 Ree8 black admits the mistaken nature of his 25th move. 30.Rg2 Ra8 31.Kb1 Na4 Diagram

because of the weakening way that white has configured his queenside (allowed the open a-file and a constricting pawn on c4 instead of a4) that has made it difficult for him to coordinate his forces, especially the very constipated Ba2, he is forced into a tortured passive defense as opposed to a more agile counterplay type of defense with lines along the center and long diagnols. However, I believe he successfully navigates this phase of the game into one he could have won. We shall see.32.Qc2 Reb8 33.Kc1 Ra6 34.Bb1 re-establishing an x-ray mating battery. 34...Kg8 Diagram

I have decided not to give this a question mark, but after some thought, the engines have come to the wopping conclusion that white is now up 5 pawns. [ I can't really seem to find an adequate defense. White seems to be able to weather the vicious storm after 34...Nxc3 35.Qxc3 Ra4 ( 35...Rab6 36.Rb2) 36.Rb2 Qa7 37.Qxc4 Raxb4 38.Rxb4 Qa3+ 39.Kd2 Qxb4+ 40.Qxb4 Rxb4 41.Nf5; 34...Bxd4 35.Rxd4 f5 ( again black seems to miserably fail after 35...Kg8 36.e5) 36.e5 Qf7 37.Rg6 dxe5 38.Rxa6 exd4 39.Rxa4; 34...Nc5 35.e5 Nd3+ 36.Rxd3 cxd3 37.Qxd3 g6 38.hxg6 fxg6 39.Rxg6 just one of those things.] 35.e5 dxe5 Now it's 7.5 pawns. 36.Qh7+ Kf8 37.Nf5 Diagram

37...g5 [ the only other option is 37...g6 the white Queen will mate on h8 otherwise. 38.hxg6 ( 38.Nxh6 Rd6 is the only way to give up a buttload of material for an escape hatch. 39.Qg8+ Ke7 40.Qxf7+ Kd8 41.Qxf6+ Kc8 42.Rxd6) 38...fxg6 "best" is the absurd "decoy" with the black Queen as bait. ( 38...e4 39.g7+ Bxg7 40.Qxg7+ Ke8 41.Qg8#) 39.Qxc7 Rba8 40.Nxh6 Be7 of course it actually only delays things a bit. 41.Qxc4 Kg7 42.Qf7+ Kh8 43.Nf5 Bf6 44.Rh1+ Bh4 45.Rxh4#] 38.Qxh6+? [ possibly the crucial mistake! misses mate in 5! {:D 38.Nxh6 Rd6 again the only escape hatch. 39.Rxd6 ( slower is 39.Qg8+ Ke7 40.Qxf7+ Kd8 41.Qxf6+) 39...Ke7 ( 39...Qxd6 40.Qxf7#; 39...Ke8 40.Qg8+ Ke7 41.Nf5# Diagram

very pretty) 40.Nf5+ Kf8 41.Rxg5 Bg7 ( 41...Bxg5 42.Qg7+ Ke8 43.Qg8#) 42.Qxg7+ Ke8 43.Qg8#] 38...Ke8[] Diagram

39.fxg5? [ much better was 39.Rxg5 Rd6 ( The key is understanding that 39...Bxg5? 40.Qh8# and that one needs to pound through with the heavies for the kill.) 40.Nxd6+ ( 40.Rg8+ Kd7 41.Nxd6 ( 41.Rxd6+ Qxd6 42.Rxb8 Qxb8 43.Qxf6) 41...Rxg8) ; also far more resounding was 39.Qh7 Qe7 henious. mate is threatened by the queen along the back rank again.( 39...Rd6 40.Rxd6 Qxd6 ( 40...Qe7 41.Nxe7; 40...Nxc3?? 41.Qg8#) 41.Nxd6+) ] 39...Nxc3?? this is getting really ugly. Black just went from down a queen to down two queens again. 40.gxf6 Nxd1? should have been mate in 8. I guess I'll only allot one question mark for missing that. 41.Qh8+?? [ There's no reason to put the queen en prise on top of everything else. White would have still had the mating net idea of one heavy on each of the g and d files with the knight (and now the pawn) closing the net if he would have played 41.Qd2 Rd6 Diagram

"best" with 7 moves of computer spite psychosis. ( 41...Qd7 42.Rg8#; 41...Kf8 42.Rg8+ Kxg8 no way out. 43.Qh6 Rxb4 44.Qg7#) ; 41.Rd2] 41...Kd7 Now we're at the point I found interesting. white has completely mucked up his crushing attack, but the engines feel he might still be slightly better. Worst come to worst, right now he should acquiesce to the reasonable material balance on the board, i.e. a bishop and pawn for a rook. Granted, he has very serious problems, but I thought there might have been a mating net possibly without the white queen on the board. 42.Rd2+ [ 42.Qg7 Nc3 now white at least tries to keep his extra pawn (not sure how he holds onto b4) by trading with check plus he gets more open lines. ( 42...Kc6 43.Ne7+ Kb7 ( 43...Kb5 44.Nd5 Qb7 ( 44...Qd7 45.Rd2 Rd6 46.Be4 Nf2 47.Rxf2 Rxd5 48.Bxd5 Qxd5 49.Rd2 Qxf3 50.Qxf7 Qc3+ 51.Kd1[] Qf3+ 52.Ke1 Qh1+ 53.Ke2 Qg2+ 54.Ke3 Qg3+ 55.Ke2=) ) ) 43.Qxf7+ Kc6[] 44.Qxc4+ Kb6 indeed. 45.Qxc7+ Kxc7 46.Rg7+ Kc6 47.Be4+ Nxe4 48.fxe4 Rxb4 49.f7 Ra1+ 50.Kc2 Ra2+ 51.Kc3 Kb5 52.Ne3 Rxe4 53.Kd3; 42.Qh7 Rxf6 a) 42...Nc3 43.Qxf7+ Transposes to above; b) 42...Kc6 43.Ne7+ Kb5 (b) 43...Kb7 44.Qe4+) 44.Kxd1 (b) 44.Qxf7 Rd8 (b) 44...Ne3 45.Rd2 (b) 45.Re2? Qa7 46.Rd2 (b) 46.Qh7 Qd4) 46...Ra1 47.Rd5+[] Kxb4 48.Nc6+ Kc3 49.Nxa7 (b) 49.Nxb8 Qa3#) 49...Rbxb1#) 45...Qa7 46.Rd5+ (b) 46.Nd5 Qxf7) 46...Nxd5 47.Qxd5+ Kxb4 (b) 47...Ka4 48.Qxc4 Qg1+ 49.Kc2 Qf2+ 50.Kc1 Qe3+ 51.Kb2 Qd4+ (b) 51...Rxb4+? 52.Qxb4+ Kxb4 53.Nd5+) 52.Qxd4 exd4 53.Nd5 This position I find very interesting as an endgame. Three pawns for two exchanges at the moment and the white King could be ready to attack black's last pawn while his are all passed and potentially dangerous. 53...Rd6 54.Be4 (b) 54.Ba2 Kb5 55.h6 Rh8) 54...Kb5 55.Kc2 (b) 55.h6 Rh8 56.h7 Rxh7 57.Bxh7 Rxd5 58.f7 Rd8 59.Kc2 (b) 59.Kb3 d3 60.f4 d2 61.Bc2 Rf8 62.Kc3 (b) 62.f5) 62...Rxf7 63.Kxd2) 59...Kxb4 60.Kd3 Kc5 61.f4 Rf8 62.Bg8 Kd5 63.Kd2 Ke4 64.f5 Kxf5 65.Kd3 Ke5 66.Kc4 Ke4 67.Kc5 (b) 67.Bh7+ Ke3 68.Kd5 (b) 68.Bg6 Rc8+ 69.Kd5 d3 70.Kd6 d2) 68...Rxf7) 67...d3 wow black wins. mate in 17. i'm not going there.) 55...Kc4 56.f7 Rf8 57.Ne7) ) ) 44...Rd8+ 45.Kc1 Rxf6; ] 42...Kc6 43.Be4+ [ 43.Ne7+; 43.Qh6; 43.Qh7 Nc3 44.Ne7+ Kb5] 43...Kb5 44.Qxb8+ [ 44.Rd5+ Kxb4; 44.Ne7 Ra1+ 45.Kc2 Rxh8] 0-1