[Event "ICC"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2013.05.06"] [Round "?"] [White "*Ravinsky"] [Black "*Ilivitsky"] [Result "*"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [TimeControl "120+12"] {MrSpock sets White's name to Ravinsky. MrSpock sets Black's name to Ilivitsky. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: As time passed in grandmaster chess, all basic strategical ideas were refined with new twists and subtleties. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Players found ways of implementing the "stock" ideas in new and more creative ways. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This next game, Ravinsky-Ilivitsky, from the USSR, 1952, is one of the most creative and beautiful games played using the g7 sacrifice! MrSpock moves: e4} 1. e4 {MrSpock moves: c6 MrSpock moves: c5} c5 {MrSpock moves: d4 MrSpock moves: Nf3} 2. Nf3 {MrSpock moves: d5 MrSpock moves: d6} d6 {MrSpock moves: Nc3 MrSpock moves: d4} 3. d4 {MrSpock moves: dxe4 MrSpock moves: cxd4} cxd4 {MrSpock moves: Nxe4 MrSpock moves: Nxd4} 4. Nxd4 {MrSpock moves: Nf6 MrSpock moves: Nf6} Nf6 {MrSpock moves: Ng3 MrSpock moves: Nc3} 5. Nc3 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Nimzowitsch loved to test his theories on various doubled pawn structures, and was probably prepared for Nxf6+, after which both exf6 and gxf6 have been played. MrSpock (DM)(TD) kibitzes: Spielmann plays for a psychological advantage instead... Pacman whispers: sure MrSpock moves: e5 MrSpock moves: a6} a6 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: and he gets an immediate reaction! MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black would like to see 6.dxe5? Qxd1+ and then ...Nf6-g4 with the initiative. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: But Spielmann does not comply. MrSpock moves: Nf3 MrSpock moves: f4} 6. f4 {MrSpock moves: exd4 MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This system was never incredibly popular during the explosion of Sicilian ideas during the mid-twentieth century. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: However, it is quite good and enjoys more popularity nowadays as an effective anti-Najdorf system for White. MrSpock moves: e5} e5 {MrSpock moves: Nxd4 MrSpock moves: Nf3 } 7. Nf3 {MrSpock moves: Be7 MrSpock moves: Qc7} Qc7 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: ...c5?! would be unwise, provoking White while behind in development. MrSpock moves: Be2 MrSpock moves: Bd3} 8. Bd3 {MrSpock moves: O-O MrSpock moves: Be7} Be7 {MrSpock moves: O-O MrSpock moves: O-O} 9. O-O {MrSpock moves: Kh8 MrSpock moves: O-O} O-O {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This is something often seen from Nimzowitsch- a cryptic, unfathomable maneuver with some idea of prophylaxis behind it. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This sort of move is brilliant when it works, but just a waste of time when it doesn't. MrSpock moves: b3 MrSpock(DM) (TD) kibitzes: Both sides complete their mobilization with normal moves. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Now White begins his buildup towards an attack. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: In the Najdorf, as in many Sicilian systems, White's attacking buildup begins before Black has time to fully mobilize. MrSpock(DM) (TD) kibitzes: If Black falls too far behind in development, he will be obliterated. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: However, if he is not too extravagant and defends carefully, his own position will start to show its power just as White's attack is beginning to lose its steam. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: At that point, the initiative usually passes to Black, whose pieces go screaming across the board with devastating effect. MrSpock moves: Qe1} 10. Qe1 {MrSpock moves: Ng8 MrSpock moves: b5} b5 {MrSpock moves: Bb2 MrSpock moves: a3} 11. a3 {MrSpock moves: Nd7 MrSpock moves: Nbd7} Nbd7 {MrSpock moves: Ndf5 MrSpock moves: fxe5} 12. fxe5 {MrSpock moves: Bf6 MrSpock moves: dxe5} dxe5 {MrSpock (DM)(TD) kibitzes: Now we can see what Nimzowitsch had in mind. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: He is playing in the spirit of the Caro-Kann, attempting to nullify White's pressure as it builds against his kingside. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Spielmann, being the ever-creative player, finds an interesting idea here.. MrSpock moves: Ba3 MrSpock moves: Nh4} 13. Nh4 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: .. and instead of cooperating with Black, he offers a sacrifice! MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Prizing his dark-squared bishop over an undeveloped rook, White hopes to gain a greater advantage in development and launch an attack. MrSpock moves: Bxa1 MrSpock moves: Bd8} Bd8 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black goes for it, and the attack begins! MrSpock moves: Qxa1 MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black sees that a White knight is coming to f5, but he does not want to play g6, and risk weakening his dark squares around the king. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: So he removes his dark-squared bishop from the knight's reach. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: A reasonable notion, but it has its own risks. MrSpock moves: Kh1} 14. Kh1 {MrSpock moves: Ndf6 MrSpock moves: Nc5} Nc5 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Nimzowitsch offers the material back, and quite possibly never had an intention of holding onto it permanently. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: However, the mere acceptance of the rook has given White a strong initiative! MrSpock moves: Rd1 MrSpock moves: Bg5} 15. Bg5 {MrSpock moves: Qe8 MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This is a strong move, because it prevents the d8 bishop from easily finding a comfortable and active location such as b6- the bishop must now stay to answer Bg5xf6 at any moment. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: White is managing to create disharmony in Black's position. MrSpock moves: Be6} Be6 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Now look carefully at this position. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Two strong pieces (Ba3, Qa1) are aiming at Black's kingside, and all White's pieces are playing- MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: in turn, most of Black's queenside is still asleep. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Spielmann, in his usual style, looks for the chance to strike immediately... MrSpock moves: Nxg7 MrSpock moves: Nf5} 16. Nf5 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Absolutely! Spielmann tears open the long diagonal to the king. MrSpock moves: Kxg7 MrSpock moves: Nh5} Nh5 {MrSpock moves: Rd6 MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black decides to try and release the pressure by exchanging the bishops. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: However, White is unruffled, and simply insists on the continuing gain of tempi for his coming attack. MrSpock moves: Qh4} 17. Qh4 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Notice that he never once considers to restore the material balance. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Once the decision to sacrifice was made, he values and uses the compensation he got - the initiative - over any chance to regain his sacrificed material. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black's position now quickly collapses! MrSpock moves: Be6 MrSpock moves: Nf4} Nf4 {MrSpock moves: Nh5+ MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black is fighting actively to combat White's initiative, but this backfires in spectacular fashion. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: It does not appear that White is ready to strike, but he is! MrSpock moves: Nxg7} 18. Nxg7 {MrSpock moves: Kg6 MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: and he unleashes the sacrifice on g7! MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: But is this sound? Can it really work? MrSpock moves: Kxg7} Kxg7 {MrSpock moves: Qe5 MrSpock moves: Rxf4} 19. Rxf4 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: and Black resigned. The queen and two bishops will force mate in about six more moves or less, no matter what Black does. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: When this game was played, the idea of sacrificing a knight on g7 to tear open a path to the king was a relatively new idea. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: But now,the notion of maneuvering a knight to f5 or h5, where it is within striking distance of g7, and may go to f6, h6, or sacrifice on g7, is a "stock" idea in the arsenal of every grandmaster. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: In order for you to play successful attacks, you don't have to re-invent the wheel--you simply have to amass a a number of "stock" ideas and recognize when they are called for in your position. MrSpock (DM)(TD) kibitzes: Let's see the next game. MrSpock backs up 37. MrSpock(DM) (TD) kibitzes: Yes it can! -Two- sacrifices blast away all of Black's troops on the kingside, and White's pieces pound their way relentlessly toward the enemy king! MrSpock moves: exf4} exf4 {MrSpock moves: Qh6+} 20. Qh6+ {MrSpock moves: Kg8} Kg8 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: But how to continue now? MrSpock(DM) (TD) kibitzes: It doesnt look like White has a way to make another threat.. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: yet Ravinski comes up with a brilliant continuation! MrSpock moves: Bf6} 21. Bf6 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: double exclam!! Threatening instant mate on g7, and when Black captures... MrSpock moves: Bxf6} Bxf6 {MrSpock moves: e5} 22. e5 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: double exclam again!! Mate is threatened on h7 now! Black is forced to capture on d3... MrSpock moves: Nxd3} Nxd3 {MrSpock moves: exf6} 23. exf6 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: exclam again! The mate threat comes -back- to g7! And this time, there is no defense! MrSpock moves: Nf2+} Nf2+ {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Black puts a last effort into some hope of perpetual check... MrSpock moves: Kg1} 24. Kg1 {MrSpock moves: Nh3+} Nh3+ {MrSpock moves: Kf1} 25. Kf1 {MrSpock (DM)(TD) kibitzes: But White wants no part of it! He has worked out an escape: MrSpock moves: Bc4+} Bc4+ {MrSpock moves: Ne2} 26. Ne2 {MrSpock moves: Bxe2+} Bxe2+ {MrSpock moves: Ke1} 27. Ke1 {MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Exclam! And having no more checks, facing mate in one, Black resigns. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This completes part 1 of our study of the knight sacrifice on g7. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: In part two, we will take a look at games of more contemporary grandmasters. MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: This lecture was written by acz. I hope you enjoyed it! MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Thank you for attending this episode of Mr. Spock's Lectures! MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: Live long and prosper! MrSpock(DM)(TD) kibitzes: The next lecture will start on the hour. Type "date" to see the current time.} *

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