Spassky's Trap and James Todd

I’ve never understood the concept of having a favourite artist, surely one
cannot like everything the painter paints. You can have favourite paintings
but a favourite artist? Have you met them, are they related like a favourite aunt?

But I have joined the throng and now have my very own favourite artist.


James Todd who did the cover of Chess Life December 1998. If you google
‘James Todd’ you will come across some amazing chess themed paintings.
And speaking of covers of Chess Magazines, here is CHESS February 1978.


(my favourite Chess magazine) And within its glorious pages is the puzzle I gave
last week but did not know who played it even though I know I had seen it before.

Vaccaroni
This issue also carried a report of the Spassky - Korchnoi candidates match
complete with an advert for one of the first instant books by Raymond Keene.


Mention is also made of the gamesmanship going on . Korchnoi had defected
from the U.S.S.R. and was stateless so played without a flag on the playing table.


Spassky kept sliding his flag towards Korchnoi and Korchnoi kept sliding it back.



Vaccaroni - Mazzzacci, Rome 1891

• 8
• a
• 7
• b
• 6
• c
• 5
• d
• 4
• e
• 3
• f
• 2
• g
• 1
• h

Reveal Hidden Content


I know but this time we know who played it.

N. Berry - N. Farrell, Edinburgh 2025 (White to play)

• 8
• a
• 7
• b
• 6
• c
• 5
• d
• 4
• e
• 3
• f
• 2
• g
• 1
• h

Reveal Hidden Content

This one I made up by removing a few pieces from an actual game.
You should spot the trick but you must also see White’s 5th move.

• 8
• a
• 7
• b
• 6
• c
• 5
• d
• 4
• e
• 3
• f
• 2
• g
• 1
• h

Reveal Hidden Content

Because the first one was a joke here is Enik - Eiffel, Correspondence, 1957

• 8
• a
• 7
• b
• 6
• c
• 5
• d
• 4
• e
• 3
• f
• 2
• g
• 1
• h

White is losing but can you see how they saved the game.
Reveal Hidden Content


Let’s go back to the Spassky - Korchnoi match and see this great piece of chess.

In game 7 Spassky set Korchnoi a beautiful trap that deserved a better fate,
but having said that we must give full credit to Korchnoi for defusing it.

• 8
• a
• 7
• b
• 6
• c
• 5
• d
• 4
• e
• 3
• f
• 2
• g
• 1
• h

Korchnoi, White is to play and obviously 1.Qb7 wins on the spot. Yes?
If, as Korchnoi did, you suspect a trick then you finally see what Spassky
had up his sleeve if you play 1.Qb7. Study it and spot that it is unsound
because you have a neat defence. However look again....Korchnoi did.

We will play over the trap and what could have happened.
Korchnoi - Spassky, Candidates Final, Game 7, Belgrade 1977


For the traditional RHP example of a similar trick we offer this missed opportunity,
Always remember that when back rank mates are in the air and there is a pawn
on the 6th or 7th rank then a whole new batch of tactical tricks are opened up.

Bobla45 - pangto RHP 2005
Where we see both sides missing Back Rank Tricks.



The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 202305