Please bring a chess board, there is only one diagram - so you will
definitely need a board. I suggest that you
use several boards ... or
maybe one main board, at least one smaller board; and even a possibly a magnetic
chess
set. (Click HERE
to go to my big "GeoCities"
chess web site. Then go to my "Training
Page,"
for more details on this procedure.) ---> Click HERE
to see this game in js-replay format.
This
is a game I first saw as a teen-ager ... I forget who it was who showed it to
me. But I did not forget the game, it has a charm all it's own. Later, I was
given a copy of Evan's book, and once again ... I was fascinated with this game
- especially the problem-like finish of this game.
When
I got my own computer, I immediately began annotating games, this was one of the
first I did. Then I came back to this game ... many, many, many times. I started
annotating this game (again) when I was working at a radio station ... but I
lost all those files when my hard drive crashed on that unit. (At that time, I
had no back-ups. This was probably circa 1996.) Then I got another computer, and
once again I turned my attention to this game.
I
took this game up again in like March of 2000, but it was, "a
hit-or-miss" affair. (I would work on it for a few hours, then lay it
aside, perhaps not returning to it again until weeks later.) I finally got
serious about this game in May of 2002, but I did not work on it consistently. I
later decided to include a brief opening survey, this turned into a small
repertoire on my computer on the Petroff Defense. (I only include a very small
portion of that work here.) I also wanted to high-light GM L. Evans' notes, I
felt they were above average. Most of his conclusions are valid, even after I
subjected them to intense scrutiny and computer analysis. (This is very
rare!)
This
game eventually resulted in a repertoire (to learn the basic theory of the
line), an untold number of Internet searches, dozens of database searches, and
also literally hundreds of hours of computer-assisted analysis. (Tedious work,
yet always worth it in the end.) I wanted to create a deeply annotated
game that was several cuts above the norm. Yet I wanted the average player to be
able to follow along. I also wanted to retain - as much as possible - the
original flavor of GM Larry Evans' original notes. Only you can decide whether
or not I have succeeded.
GM Larry Evans (2550) - GM Arthur Bisguier
(2500)
[C42]
U.S. Champ. New York, NY, 1959.
[A.J. Goldsby I]
***
One of the best games Evan's ever played. It features a finish
to this contest that
could have been a composed problem. (Exceptionally beautiful and
problem-like!)
***
"An
excursion into a forgotten branch of an almost forgotten defense."
(This was written before Karpov began regularly using the Petroff
Defense.)
"On move six, Black plays with the recklessness of an angry bull charging
a
locomotive." - GM Larry Evans. (See the book, "Modern
Chess Brilliancies,"
by GrandMaster Evans. Game # 39, page # 96.).
***
See
my letter to GM Larry Evans in
the February, 2003
'Chess Life'
magazine.
(As concerns this game. Page # 65.)
1.e4
e5; 2.Nf3 Nf6; 3.Nxe5, {Diagram?}
The most common line at
the GM level.
(Click HERE
to see a recent GM game with the Petroff.)
*****
[ White can also play the line: 3.Nc3
Bb4; is called
the "3 Knight's Variation."
( The move 3...Nc6; transposes to the line, called,
"The Four Knight's
Variation." ).
***
Fischer recommends: 3.d4,
Steinitz once opined that this is
the only way for White to gain an advantage here.
3...exd4;
4.e5 Ne4;
5.Qe2!?,
An interesting attempt at gaining an advantage.
(GM
L. Evans says White could play the line: 5.Qxd4 d5; "=" {Diagram?}
and the position is pretty close to being equal. And modern opening theory
basically bears this opinion out.)
5...Nc5, This is almost certainly
best.
( Grand-Master Larry Evans gives the line: 5...Bb4+!?; {Diagram?}
This
looks dangerous to me. 6.Kd1 d5; 7.exd6 f5; 8.Ng5!? Kf8; {Diagram?}
This is
probably best. (GM Larry Evans gives the lines: 8...0-0!; 9.Nxe4
fxe4;
10.Qc4+ Kh8; 11.Qxb4 Nc6; "~" Evans calls this unclear,
but that is silly -
White is clearly better. ("+/-") {White should
play Qe1!}) 9.Nxe4 fxe4;
10.dxc7 Qxc7; 11.a3
Bd6; 12.Qxe4, "+/=" White is clearly just a little better here. )
6.Nxd4, This is probably best.
(Perhaps
playable is: 6.Bg5!?)
6...Nc6;
7.Nf3!, "=" It is best for
White to avoid any exchanges at
this point. The position is quite level.
{A.J.G.}
a). The position is almost certainly equal after the
continuation: 7.Nf3 Be7; {Diag?}
This is easily best. (Larry
Evans quotes the line: 7...Rb8!?; 8.c4 Be7;
9.Qc2, "~" {Diagram?} GM Evans claims a large advantage here for White, but
that is not all
that clear. GM R. Fischer - German; Stockholm, 1962.)
8.Nc3 a6; 9.Be3 0-0; 10.0-0-0; "~" {Diagram?}
White may even have a small advantage in this position. (Analysis line.)
{A.J.G.}
b). The modern book line is: 7.Be3 Nxd4;
8.Bxd4 Ne6; 9.Bc3 Be7; 10.Nd2 d5;
11.exd6 Qxd6; 12.Nc4 Qc5;
13.0-0-0 0-0; "=" {Diagram?} with close to
an equal position. ].
*****
3...d6;
{Box.}
This is, of course, completely necessary.
[ A common trap is: 3...Nxe4?; 4.Qe2 d5;
5.d3, "+/" {Diagram?} etc.
when White is clearly better. ].
4.Nf3
Nxe4;
"This position was also reached for the first time in
modern world championship history
in the thirteenth and fifteenth games of the
match: GM B. Spassky - GM T. Petrosian;
Chess World Championship, Moscow,
1969."
"Black achieved his objective by scoring rather short draws
in both."
- GM Larry E. Evans.
White
to move, common here is the move d4.
5.c4!?, (Interesting.)
"Playable, but harmless." - GM Larry Evans.
(I respectfully disagree, I have won many games - even against Masters
.......
- with this line. {A.J.G.})
[ MCO-14 gives the line:
5.d4
d5; 6.Bd3 Be7; {Diagram?} Currently,
this is the
main line according to several books.
(The move 6...Bd6;
{Diagram?} is also
very popular from the 1990's, to the present.)
7.0-0 Nc6; 8.c4 Nb4;
9.Be2 0-0;
10.Nc3 Be6;
11.Be3!?, {Diagram?} This is simple and very straight
forward.
( Interesting is: 11.a3!?,
{Diagram?} with a complex game.
{A.J.G.}
MCO-14 says the line starting with the move 11.Ne5!?,
{Diagram?} is also critical. ).
11...Bf5!?; (Hmmm.) {Diagram?}
MCO awards this an
exclam ... but I have some
reservations. {A.J.G.} (
An alternative line is: 11...f5!?; 12.a3!? Nxc3;
13.bxc3 Nc6;
14.Qa4 f4?!; {Diagram?} This
definitely looks weak to me. ({Inferior?}
( Probably better is: >= 14...Re8; ). 15.Bc1
Kh8; 16.Rb1, "+/=" White has a solid
edge here. [ See MCO-14, pg. # 96-97;
column # 1, and note # (d.). ] ).
12.Qb3! c6;
{Diagram?} The end of the column. ( Is the move 12...Nf6!?; {Diagram?}
a small improvement over the
line in the text? {A.J.G.} ). 13.c5!?,
{Diagram?}
Many sources say this
is best here - but I have my doubts. {Serious ones! - A.J.G.}
***
( I spent several different study
sessions, ...... - over many different days -
exploring the complexities of the following line
here, which seems to be a fair
improvement
over the actual text line as given by MCO: >/= 13.cxd5! cxd5!?;
{Diag?}
Is this forced?
(An alternative line is: 13...Nxc3; {'risky'} 14.bxc3
Nc2; 15.Rad1 Nxe3;
16.fxe3 cxd5; 17.Qxb7, "+/=" {Diagram?} White definitely has a small advantage
here. {A.J.G.}). 14.Rfc1 Qd7!?;
It is hard to say what move Black should play in
this position.
(
Maybe better is: 14...a5!?; 15.Bf1!, "+/=" ) 15.Ne5! Qd6;
16.g4! Be6;
17.a3!,
"+/=" {Diagram?} when White definitely has the upper
hand, here. (Maybe "+/")
July through
August, 2002. {A.J.G.} ).
***
(Returning to the {analysis} line that MCO gives.)
13...Nxc3; 14.bxc3 Nc2;
15.Qxb7!?, {Diagram?} This is an attempt
to complicate
things, apparently more conventional methods yield no advantage at
all for White.
(15.Rad1 Nxe3; "=" MCO). 15...Nxa1; 16.Rxa1;
"~" {Diagram?} (Maybe - "=/+")
GM N. de Firmian - Marciano;
Elista Olympiad, (RUS);
1998.
[ See MCO-14; pg.'s # 96-97, column # 1, and also note # (f.). ].
**********
White could also play: 5.Qe2!? Qe7;
"=" {Diagram?} which led to a tame draw
in the
15th game of the famous Spassky - Petrosian Match.
].
5...d5; (center)
Black anchors his Knight almost permanently on the e4-square.
*****
[ The
main alternative is: 5...Be7; 6.Nc3,
('!?') {Diagram?} The sharpest move.
***
( White could also play: 6.d4 0-0;
7.Bd3 d5; ('!?') {Diagram?}
This looks natural,
but ...
( Perhaps a better line is: 7...Ng5!; 8.Nxg5!?,
I am not sure if
this is best.
(Seemingly an improvement here is: 8.0-0!, "+/=" {A.J.G.}).
8...Bxg5;
9.Qh5!? Re8+; 10.Kd1 h6;
11.Bxg5 Qxg5; 12.Qxg5 hxg5; 13.Nc3 Bd7;
14.Kd2 Nc6; 15.Nd5 Rac8;
16.Kc3 Ne7; "=" {Diagram?}
This position is approximately level. This is from the encounter:
GM V. Kupreichik - GM E. Rozentalis; U.S.S.R.
Championship,
(semi-finals). Daugavpils/RUS/1989.
(Black went on to win, but the current position is equal.) {A.J.G.} ).
8.0-0 Nc6; "=" {Diagram?} The position is equal.
- GM Larry Evans.
(This
may be nothing more than a transposition back to the main lines.) {A.J.G.} )
***
(Returning to the main analysis line that began with 5...Be7.)
6...Nxc3; 7.dxc3 Nc6; 8.Bf4 Bg4; "~"
{Unclear?} (Maybe "+/=") {Diagram?}
... "with
even chances." - GM Larry Evans.
Richard Teichmann - Frank
Marshall; San Sebastian, 1911. ].
*****
6.Nc3!?, (Maybe - '!')
This is probably the most energetic
option for White here, at this point.
[ 6.cxd5 Qxd5; 7.Qc2 Nc6; "="
].
6...Bc5!?; ('?' - GM Larry Evans)
{Diagram?}
"Black is seized by a severe attack of daydreaming." - GM L.
Evans.
Black plays a move that provokes White into a good move - an advance in
the
center with a gain of time.
I tested this position extensively in the year
1997. Many strong programs and
D.M.P.'s (dedicated micro-processors)
of that time also picked this move.
{A.J.G.}
(
It
would seem that Evan's branding of this move as a question mark is a little
bit
of a knee-jerk reaction. {Overly harsh.} )
[ Another alternative was: 6...Be6;
7.cxd5 Nxc3; 8.dxc3 Qxd5; 9.Bf4, "~"
with a position that is roughly
equal.
Another playable move is: 6...Nf6; "~"
(About "=") which is
the course of action recommended by GM Larry Evans. ].
7.d4
Bb4; 8.Qb3! c5!?;
Black wishes to vigorously counter-attack
the center.
While on paper, this might seem like a good idea, it is probably
NOT a wise idea
for Black to open up the game at this point ... especially with
his King still in the center
of the board.
GM L. Evans makes
NO comment here,
but this could be ... THE LOSING MOVE ...
for Black. ('!!') (It probably deserves the appellation of: '?!'
- at the very least.)
[ A modern book line is: 8...Qe7;
9.Be3 c6; 10.cxd5 cxd5; 11.Bd3 0-0;
12.0-0 Bxc3;
13.bxc3 Be6; 14.Ne5, "+/=" {Diagram?}
and while the first player
holds a slight advantage here, this is
certainly much better than what occurred
in the actual game! (This is an
analysis line from one of my books. The authors
quote no games from this position,
and I could find no significant matches in a
search of different databases - by position
- at this
point.) ].
White comes up with an excellent way of exploiting his opponent's (mis-guided)
idea
of opening the game up before his King was safe. (Not a wise
idea.)
9.Bd3!,
A very energetic idea, and perhaps the most logical way of getting the
advantage.
I would also be negligent if I did not point out that this game
bears a strong resemblance
to many of Morphy's contests. (The basic idea of
White sacrificing a pawn to catch his
opponent's King in the center was seen in
MANY of Morphy's games!)
[ 9.cxd5 Qa5;
10.dxc5; "~" {Diagram?} The position is unclear. ].
9...Qa5!?;
This may be Black's best move here - now, in this position.
(Computer analysis confirms this.)
[ Much
worse for Black was: </= 9...dxc4!?;
('?!') 10.Bxc4 Nd6; 11.0-0 Nxc4;
12.Qxc4 0-0;
13.dxc5 Na6; 14.Be3, "+/=" {Diagram?} when White holds a
marked edge in this position. ].
10.0-0!,
"White uses his advantage energetically and with classic
simplicity."
- GM Hans Kmoch.
[ 10.a3 Nxc3, "=/+"
{Diagram?} (Black is slightly better.) ].
10...Nxc3;
This looks to be just about forced here.
[ Worse for Black is: 10...Bxc3?!; 11.cxd5!
Bxd4; 12.Bxe4, "+/" {Diagram?}
and White is much better here. ].
11.bxc3 Bxc3;
This seems to be forced as
well.
"Black not only attacks a Rook, he also prevents a check on the
King file. But it is the
setting for a debacle." - GM Larry Evans. (He goes
on to discuss the exact specifics
of the position. Mainly that White is ahead in
development and must use the "Morphy
Principles" to exploit his
advantage.)
[ 11...dxc4?; 12.cxb4! cxb3; 13.bxa5 bxa2;
14.Re1+ Kf8; 15.Ba3, "+/-"
White is clearly winning
here. ].
12.Bb2!,
A nice part of the whole chain of ideas
that White began with the concept
of a sacrifice of a pawn.
[ Playable is: 12.Rb1 cxd4;
13.cxd5, "~" {Unclear.} {Diagram?}
The
position is unclear. (But White has fair play.)
(If 13.Ba3!? dxc4; 14.Bxc4, and
White has some compensation.) ].
12...Bxb2;
13.Rae1+, ('!')
The point, Black's King is misplaced. (He is unable to castle.)
[ If 13.Qxb2!? cxd4;
{Diagram?} or 13...0-0; and Black is about OK.
].
13...Kf8;
Forced.
[ 13...Be6?; 14.cxd5!, "+/-"
{Diagram?} & White wins. ].
The
next couple of moves are really forced.
14.Qxb2 cxd4; 15.cxd5 Nd7;
GM L. Evans calls this, "A desperate attempt to catch up in
development."
[ Not 15...Qxd5??; 16.Qb4+, ("+/-")
{Diagram?} and White
mates. ].
16.Qxd4 Nf6;
17.Qe5 Qc5; 18.Ng5!? Bd7; {Diagram?}
"This meets the threat of NxPch and frees the QR. Superficially
Black's only
problem is the disastrous placement of his King." - GM Larry
Evans.
[ Worse for Black would be </= 18...h6?;
19.Nh7+, "+/-" {Diagram?}
and White wins. {A.J.G.} ].
19.Ne4!?,
(Maybe - '!')
A very energetic move.
GM Evans gives this move an
exclam ('!') but I am not 100% convinced of that.
[ Seemingly better is: >/= 19.Rc1,
(!) 19...Qa3;
20.Bf5 Bxf5; 21.Qxf5 Qe7;
22.Rfe1,
"+/" {Diagram?} and White is
nearly winning. (Maybe "+/-")
This is a definite improvement
over GM Evans' analysis! ].
19...Nxe4;
This appears to be forced.
[ A bad mistake is: 19...Qxd5??;
20.Nxf6 Qxe5; 21.Nxd7+ Kg8;
22.Nxe5,
"+/-" {Diagram?} and White wins easily on
material. ].
20.Rxe4 Re8;
21.Qf4
Qxd5;
Black seems to be defending fairly well, especially given the circumstances
Black finds himself in.
22.Rfe1!,
White comes up with a
creative and very energetic offer of a piece.
It is also one Black may not
accept.
[ The continuation: 22.Rxe8+ Bxe8;
23.Re1,
just transposes back
to the game. ].
22...Rxe4;
The best move. (Black dares not
gobble the bait.)
[ Its a quick finish after: 22...Qxd3??;
23.Rxe8+ Bxe8;
24.Qb4+ Kg8;
(The move 24...Qd6; delays the mate,
and lasts one extra play.) 25.Rxe8# ].
23.Bxe4 Qe6;
GM L. Evans says this is probably best.
[ If Black plays: 23...Qc5?!; 24.Qb8+
Be8; 25.Bxb7 Qb5; 26.Qd6+ Kg8; 27.Qd8!,
("+/-")
{Diagram?} and White wins. - GM Larry Evans. ].
24.Qb8+ Be8;
25.Qxa7
b6?!; (Maybe - '?')
"Black has defended sensibly, but his game is lost. Only 25...g6; offers
some
fighting chances." - GM Larry Evans.
[ The best defense is ...g6; but
White should still win, i.e. 25...g6; 26.Qxb7
Kg7!;
{Diagram?} Many days of
computer-assisted analysis reveals that this move
is probably the best play
for Black.
( GM L. Evans gives the slightly weaker move
...Qxa2; and considers it the
best line for Black.
26...Qxa2; 27.Bd5!, {Diagram?}
The best move, this
is confirmed
by deep computer analysis.
***
Evans now gives the following slightly inferior
line, and considers it best.
27.Qb4+!? Kg7; {Diagram?} This is forced.
(27...Kg8??; 28.Bxg6, "+/-")
28.Qd4+ f6; 29.Bd5 Qa3; 30.Ra1 Qd6;
31.Ra7+ Kf8; 32.g3!, "+/-" {Diagram?}
and ... "the threat of Rb7 and then Rb6 totally
immobilizes Black." - GM L. Evans.
(For example: 32.g3! h5; 33.Qb2!, "+/-" winning for White.)
***
(We return now to the examination of Evan's line that began with
26...Qxa2.)
27...Qa3;
28.g3 Qd6; {Diagram?} Larry Evans says this holds for Black.
But after:
29.Qb2 Rg8; 30.Rd1 Qc5; 31.Bg2! Qa5;
32.Ra1 Qd8; 33.Qc3! Qb6;
34.h4 h5; 35.Ra8 Ke7; 36.Bd5!, "+/-" {Diagram?}
White is winning. )
(We now return to our examination of the main analysis line, that began
with 25...g6!)
27.Qb1 Qf6;
28.f3 Qd4+; 29.Kh1 Ba4; 30.a3!, "+/=" (Maybe
- "+/") {Diagram?}
and White is clearly better. ].
26.Qa3+
Qe7;
This is forced.
[ 26...Kg8?!;
27.Bxh7+!,
("+/-") ].
27.Bc6!;
(nice) (Maybe - '!!') (See the diagram just below.)
Black Resigns.
(1 - 0.)
One of the prettier games ever played in a U.S.
Championship!!
[ A less impressive line is: 27.Qc3 Qd8;
28.Qb4+,
("+/");
White is much better, but not clearly
winning.
Most of my students find the line: 27.Qxe7+!? Kxe7;
28.Bxh7+ Kf6; 29.Be4, "+/="
{Diagram?} but Black has ... "some drawing
chances." (- GM Larry Evans.)
White mates after: 27.Bc6! Qxa3;
{Diagram?} If Black loses his Queen for nothing
he may as well resign. (I.e., 27...g6;
28.Rxe7, "+/-") 28.Rxe8#
].
1
- 0
(Code Initially) Generated with ChessBase
8.0
Bibliography:
-
"Modern
Chess Brilliancies," by GM Larry Evans.
(ISBN # 0-671-20578-1) © 1970.
A Fireside Book, published by the Simon and Schuster
company.
(I am sorry to say this excellent book is out of print.)
-
"A
Chronology of U.S. Championship Chess,"
by I.A. Horowitz.
(The games and stories, covers the mid-to-late fifties and the very early
60's.)
-
"Modern
Chess Openings, Fourteenth (14th) Edition."
(McKay Chess Lib.)
By GM Nick de Firmian & Walter Korn.
(ISBN # 0-8129-3083-5) © 1999.
Printed by the David McKay Co, a division of
Random
House, Inc. (NY)
I also consulted dozens of other books. For example I have many books that
cover the U.S. Chess Championships; like the books by Lombardy, Gaige,
and Soltis.
I have literally hundreds of opening books, & I have at least
10 books and pamphlets that specifically cover the Petroff Defense.
[C42] I
also have ECO, BCO, NCO, SCO, etc. (ECO = The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, by the
Informant folks. Etc.) I also have the Informant monograph on the Petroff's Opening.
(Informant.) I don't think I could list all the sources I consulted, (such as back
issues of old magazines, etc.); but the main 3 given I have here are certainly the most significant
sources I have quoted.
SEE
MY LETTER!!!!! ... to GM Larry Evans
in the February 2003 issue of 'Chess
Life.'
(Page # 65. In his regular column, "Evans on Chess.") Its about
this web page!!
(Would someone who has a good scanner, scan this page of Chess
Life and send it to me
... as an e-mail attachment?)
Here
is another game
for you to study ... that is also a Petrov/Petroff Defense.
Copyright (c) {LM} A.J. Goldsby I
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 1995-2008.
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2009. All rights
reserved.
*******
This page first posted on the Internet on August 18th, 2002.
Last update: June 10th, 2003. Last
edit or save on: Thursday, June 20, 2013 11:39 PM
.
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