03 Apr 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERI agree it is a surprising and brilliant move. But there were plenty of equally good alternatives in a game that was positionally won already 10 or 15 moves before.
Topalov - Shirov, Linares 1998
Black to Play
[fen]8/8/4kpp1/3p1b2/p6P/2B5/6P1/6K1[/fen]
Stick that in Fritz's pipe and smoke it!
03 Apr 05
Originally posted by TheBloopJust wondering, did anyone try sticking this in fritz prior to move 22, when Marshall evidently was planning this?
Yes, I agree...every chess program I have found the same move.
One thing that was suspicious about the move... Marshall had an electronic ear piece in his ear during this game. Levitzky later accused Marshall of being fed moves by someone using a computer back in Rebecca's office. Marshall claimed he was merely listening to a broadcast of the 1912 Wo ...[text shortened]... ies (which, incidentally, was won by the Red Sox). This game was played in a bar in Boston. 😉
03 Apr 05
Originally posted by hahahaaaaI just threw this game into Deep Fritz 8, and in the "explain all moves" window, it picked Re4 as the best available move. That would certainly prevent the Knight from doing it's thing along the e-file.
Just wondering, did anyone try sticking this in fritz prior to move 22, when Marshall evidently was planning this?
But I only went back as far as analyzing white's 23rd move (actually played as Re5-c5...that move got the rook out of the e-file, clearing the way for the Black Knight).
Keeping the rook on the e-file might have, at least for the moment, spoiled Marshall's plan.
03 Apr 05
Originally posted by FireswordIndeed one of the very best 'positional' queen sacs ever! Despite the fact that both players missed 'the best' moves later on, it stands as a great performance. I remember the analysts going wild immediately after the move was made.
Ivanchuk-Shirov, Wijk ann Zee 1996
[fen]2k2b1r/pb1r1p2/5P2/1qnp4/Npp3Q1/4B1P1/1P3PBP/R4RK1 w - - 5 20[/fen]
This is in my opinion one of the most beautiful moves. Here white played:
21. Qg7!!
He won the game in 31 moves.
'Chuck' is still brilliant today. He played several nice games in the Amber tournament last month.
03 Apr 05
Originally posted by TheBloopThanks, I don't have fritz, so I was kind of curious.
I just threw this game into Deep Fritz 8, and in the "explain all moves" window, it picked Re4 as the best available move. That would certainly prevent the Knight from doing it's thing along the e-file.
But I only went back as far as analyzing white's 23rd move (actually played as Re5-c5...that move got the rook out of the e-file, clearing the way f ...[text shortened]... eeping the rook on the e-file might have, at least for the moment, spoiled Marshall's plan.
03 Apr 05
Originally posted by FireswordIs there an online link to this game? I can't find it on chessgames.com.
Ivanchuk-Shirov, Wijk ann Zee 1996
[fen]2k2b1r/pb1r1p2/5P2/1qnp4/Npp3Q1/4B1P1/1P3PBP/R4RK1 w - - 5 20[/fen]
This is in my opinion one of the most beautiful moves. Here white played:
21. Qg7!!
He won the game in 31 moves.
04 Apr 05
1 edit
Originally posted by buffalobillIt is indeed on chessgames.com ....
Is there an online link to this game? I can't find it on chessgames.com.
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1060750
Wonderful game.
link below to Tim Krabbe's "10 Most Amazing Moves Ever"...
http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess/fant100.htm
04 Apr 05
1 edit
Originally posted by Mephisto2It seems unnecessarily risky to me.
Indeed one of the very best 'positional' queen sacs ever! Despite the fact that both players missed 'the best' moves later on, it stands as a great performance.
Why not
21. Nxc5 Bxc5 first
and then
22, Qg7
Do you know what the missed 'best' moves were?
After 23. Nxc5 there are nebulous complications but where is the positional win?
04 Apr 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERTo make it easy for everyone, here is the game Ivanchuk-Shirov, Wijk aan Zee 1996:
It seems unnecessarily risky to me.
Why not
21. Nxc5 Bxc5 first
and then
22, Qg7
Do you know what the missed 'best' moves were?
After 23. Nxc5 there are nebulous complications but where is the positional win?
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.exf6 Bb7 12.g3 c5 13.d5 Qb6 4.Bg2 0-0-0 15.0-0 b4 16.Na4 Qb5 17.a3 exd5 18.axb4 cxb4 19.Be3 Nc5 20.Qg4+ Rd7 21.Qg7 Bxg7 22.fxg7 Rg8 23.Nxc5 d4 24.Bxb7+ Rxb7
25.Nxb7 Qb6 26.Bxd4 Qxd4 27.Rfd1 Qxb2 28.Nd6+ Kb8 29.Rdb1 Qxg7 30.Rxb4+ Kc7 31.Ra6 Rb8 32.Rxa7+ Kxd6 33.Rxb8 Qg4 34.Rd8+ Kc6 35.Ra1 and black resigned.
Commentors (a.o. Larry Christiansen and Boris Alterman) were shocked at first (they expected the simple 21.Nxc5), but became more and more impressed by the sac as the game went on.
Black's 23. ... d4 was criticised because it opened the diagonal, as well as giving the exchange away. Instead 23. ... Rc7 Nxb7 24.Rxb7 was given.
White's 32.Rxa7+ was perhaps not as good as 32.Rxc4+ Kd7 33.Rf4
04 Apr 05
Originally posted by XanthosNZHere is Nigel Short's recent opinion of the game:
I would give 23. ... Qg3 one exclamation mark no more. It is not a move that requires huge calculation or judgement to play. The longest line given is to 27w. That's only 7 ply.
Sure it's beautiful but exclamation marks are generally given for brilliance not beauty.
[fen]b2r3r/k4p1p/p2q1np1/NppP4/3p1Q2/P4PPB/1PP4P/1K1RR3 w - - 0 24[/fen]
Kasparov ...[text shortened]... 4. Rxd4!!
Of course if we include puzzles then the infamous Qg5 puzzle is pretty spectacular.
White: Garry Kasparov
Black: Veselin Topalov
Hoogovens, Wijk aan Zee
20 January 1999
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 Topalov does not frequently play the Pirc Defence, but with his repertoire of occasional Benkos and Benonis and Dragons he is clearly not averse to fianchettoing his king’s bishop. 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 6. Bh6 is perhaps more precise because White can sometimes dispense with f3 and play f4 in one move. 6. ...b5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 A novelty at the time. White prevents b4. As Black is also likely to castle queenside this is unlikely to prove too weakening. 10. ...e5 11. 0–0–0 Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nc1! Heading for the vulnerable a5 square. 13. ...0–0–0 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3! The right way to develop the bishop. 17. ...Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5! Despite the risk, Topalov quite rightly seeks activity in the centre. 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 White’s position seems critical; the d-pawn is apparently dropping off for no compensation. Kasparov, however, has an idea in mind.
24. Rxd4!! A wonderful combinative blow. That said, the sacrifice was completely forced and its acceptance permits a draw at least, which means that it entails no risk whatsoever. For this reason alone I would not consider the game to be Garry’s most brilliant. 24. ...cxd4? Losing. 24. ...Kb6! 25. Nb3 Bxd5 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 Rhd8 28. Red1 was rather optimistically given as equal by Kasparov in his published analysis of this game. Nevertheless Black stands better. 25. Re7+! Kb6 25. ...Qxe7 fails to 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7 mate; the alternative 25. ...Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 27. Rxd7 Rxd7 28. Bxd7 leaves Black in trouble because his rook hangs. 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 28. Ra7 Bxd5 (28. ...Nxd5 29. Rxa6+!! Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2! – watch this idea – leaves no defence to Qb3+) 29. Qc3! threatens the same mating motif. 28. ...Qxd5 29. Ra7! 29. Qc7 Qd1+ 30. Kb2 Qd4+ 31. Kb1 would be a draw. 29. ...Bb7 30. Rxb7 Qc4 30. ...Rd6 allows 31. Rb6!! Rxb6 32. Kb2! again! 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 31. ...Rd1+! 32. Kb2 Ra8! 33. Qb6! Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 a5 36. Be6! axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Kb6 otherwise c3(+) 39. Rxh7 is winning. 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+! finely calculated again. 33. ...Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1! Rd2! trading blows. If 36. ...Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ mates next move. 37. Rd7!! A delightful pin. 37. ...Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Finally cashing in. The rest is trivial. 39. ...Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 Black resigns.
04 Apr 05
2 edits
Originally posted by MetamorphosisThis site actually contains the 110 most amazing moves ever, ranked from 1 to 110. Marshall's move cited on this thread is ranked # 3 of all time by that site.
link below to Tim Krabbe's "10 Most Amazing Moves Ever"...
http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess/fant100.htm