Swindle of the Century (part 2)

White: Larry Evans                                 Black: Sammy Reshevsky

US Championships 1964

Spoil alert! If you have not read the previous article, the ‘Swindle of the Century (part 1)’, it is recommended that you do so before reading this one which gives the game away. The challenge was to work out the result of the game which did not – contrary to all all appearances – end in a win for Black. If you read the article and resisted the urge to Google the answer, here it is.

The game ended in a draw! 1….Qxg3 may have seemed the obvious move but how often has the obvious move proved to be the wrong one? The correct move was 1….Qf6! If 2. gxf4 then 2….Qxh4 wins. Instead, this is what happened:

1….Qxg3?  2. Qg8!!

Larry Evans describes what happened next:

“Reshevsky still had no inkling of the plot.  He actually thought I was reaching out to shake his hand, which is a customary gesture when resigning.”

    2…..Kxg8

3. Rxg7+!!    Draw agreed

Black must either capture the rook (stalemate) or face perpetual check. Larry Evans describes his opponent’s reaction:

“Reshevsky’s face turned a delicate shade of scarlet.  He laughed wryly at his own stupidity….”  It wasn’t long afterwards that the the result was dubbed ‘The Swindle of the Century’.

 

Millar Cup v Ramsgate (a)

Broadstairs     5                Ramsgate     2 

1 David Faldon (175) 1-0         Brian Westover (153)
2 Bob Page (145) ½-½         David Williams (151)
3 Paul Carfrae (131) ½-½         Steve Guy (138)
4 John Couzens (118) 1-0         Malcolm Snashall (122)
5 Bob Cronin (112) ½-½         Brian Williamson (96)
6 Andy Flood (111) 1-0         Fred Hiron (86)
7 Reg Pidduck (106) ½-½         Josh Vaughan (77)

David Faldon writes:

Our second Millar Cup win of the season was a healthy step towards our goal of regaining the Thanet Shield from Ramsgate, last year’s winners. For a change, board 1 was first to finish. My risky plan of early queenside castling triggered a huge all-in assault as Brian sacrificed three pieces for an attack, but the white king proved hard to catch. The exchange variation of the French doesn’t have to be dull. The next four games to finish were the four draws, but none of these was exactly dull either. Bob P on board 2 found a nice move to defuse some annoying pressure and Bob C on board 5 scored his first half-point of the season with a very well-judged game from beginning to end. The board 7 game was equally well-played on both sides. The most exciting of the draws, however, was on board 3. Paul got a passed pawn to the sixth rank and seemed poised for victory, only for Steve to save himself with a clever rook-for-bishop sacrifice. By the time the last of these four draws was agreed, both of the remaining games looked very promising for us, and so it proved. First John wrapped up his game on board 4 when he took his passed f-pawn in for a touchdown and then Andy completed our 5-2 victory with a neat demonstration of the mischief you can cause with two knights against two bishops. All in all, a very satisfying win. Let’s hope this good form can carry over into the new year.

Swindle of the Century (part 1)

This is a position that occurred towards the end of a game in the 1964 US Championships. Black appears to have everything under control.  Sure, White’s pesky queen and rook are making a nuisance of themselves and Black’s knight and queen are both en prise but he has an apparent winning move in 1…Qxg3 threatening mate in one. However, as the title implies, Black did not win this game so this is your mission: Black to play: what is the result?  Tempting though it may be to Google the game – and it should not be difficult given the names of the two players and the tournament – try to resist the urge and work it out for yourself as the result will be far more satisfying! Answer next week.

White: Larry Evans                                 Black: Sammy Reshevsky

US Championships 1964

 

 

Mick Croft Cup v Woodnesborough (h)

Broadstairs   1½              Woodnesborough    3½

1 David Faldon (175) ½-½ Harry Sharples (156)
2 Bob Page (145) ½-½ Robin Bellion (135)
3 Paul Carfrae (131) ½-½ Kit Blundell (127)
4 Michael Doyle (89) 0-1 David Erwee (108)
5 Richard Bowles (52) 0-1 Brian Rodwell (98)

David Faldon writes:

The match got off to a bad start for us when Mike’s speculative sacrifice met resolute defence. He fought on a piece down, then two, but in vain. Richard (playing black) got in trouble in the opening too, but he recovered well. Just when things were looking up a tactical oversight torpedoed his recovery. 0-2 to Woodnesborough. We now needed 2½ points from the last three games as that would tie the match at 2½ points each and we’d win on tie-break (wins on higher boards). For an hour or so it looked like we’d achieve our goal as Bob got a dominating centre and Paul cleverly won a bishop + knight for a rook. Unfortunately both positions became blocked and two draws were agreed: 1-3. The top board promptly agreed a draw, too, as their result no longer mattered. Congratulations to Woodnesborough and good luck to them in the final against Bridge.

Game of the Week 3

Hot off the press is this game played today (Sunday) between Magnus Carlsen and Lev Aronian.  As I write it has only just finished so I can’t add any comments (not that they would be worth anything) except to say that the last fifteen moves or so prompted so many comments from those watching or following online that no-one seemed to be able to forecast the result. I suspect that the chap who wrote at about move 35 that if Carlsen were to win “I will cut off my head and mail it to you!” is mightily relieved although it’s a shame the logic of this desperate promise is slightly faulty. Have a look at the game and be honest – would you have backed Black at move 30? White had many takers although one suspects that had Carlsen been playing with the Black pieces there may have been fewer.

White: Magnus Carlsen (2850)            Black: Lev Aronian (2781)

European Team Championship