Oh, do I remember those days of old when I first came across from European friends the name and a few games from a new TERROR who flaunt the title master in opponents’ faces with his often risky and brilliant tactical motifs that seemed to find them swept off the board with regularity. I do not believe I have the talent of Tahl or Tal as his name changed maybe to save a penny or two on typesetting but his play inspired me whereas after these two titanic fights (for me anyway) I must question my own sanity at times! Ah, for the days of original thought and free of those pesky machines to come and tarnish our beloved game.
White: O. J. Cowles Black: Donald P. Reithel
King’s Gambit Declined
1.e4 e5 2.f4 Qh4+
When I first got into chess I had a hard time meeting the KG because I had very little knowledge about chess openings. And as a child I liked the power of the Queen and hence thought she ought to be put into action as quick as possible. Since, I have played this odd move a few times even against experts with success. It certainly smacks against what coaches and teachers have expressed or written about but out of the mouth of babes or maybe the term “little children will lead” expresses some optimism that youth even in ignorance can sometimes confound the wisest among us!
3.g3 Qe7 4.fxe5 d6 5.Nc3 dxe5 6.d3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.Nf3 Be6 9.Be3 Ng4 10.Bd2 Qc5
As a result of rapid development of forces, my square count has caused White some difficulty in forming a good plan.
11.Rf1 Ne3 12.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 13.Qe2 Qxe2+ 14. Nxe2 f6 15. a3 O-O-O 16. O-O-O Be7 17.Nh4 Rhe8 18.Nf5 Bf8
Naturally avoiding further captures and this retreat solidifies the Kingside pawn structure and any attack will bite on granite.
19.Kb1 Nd4 20.Nfxd4 exd4 21. Nf4 Bg8
The Bishop-pair are effective from this rank.
22.Rf2 Rd6 23.Ne2 c5 24.Rdf1 Re5 25.Nf4 Be7 26.Nd5 Kd8 27.h4 Bxd5 28.exd5 g6 29.g4 b5 30.Rd1 a5 31.Ka2 a4 32.Bf3 f5 33.g5 Re3 34.Rdd2 Rd7 35.Bg2 Bd6 36.Rf1 Rde7 37.h5 Rg3 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.Rf3 Rxf3 40.Bxf3 Re3 41.Bh1 Bg3 42.Rg2 f4 43.Rg1 f3 44.Rf1 f2 45.Bg2 Re1 46.Bh3 c4 47.d6 Bh4 48.d7 Bg3 White Resigns (0-1)
White could have resigned earlier as he seems to be suffering that old problem of being in a zugswang ’s black hole.
*** **** **** **** **** ****
Another battle with the same opponent left my mind thinking I must be insane to play against what is only to be assumed as madness.
White: Donald P. Reithel Black: O.J. Cowles
Caro Kann Defense
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2
Normally I played 3.exd5 during this period but wanted to test this relative new idea that some favored as slightly more accurate than putting the Knight on c3 but it goes into the regular line anyway.
3…dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5
As I recall I spent some time debating my good and bad side to whether I should try the tricky 5.Qd3 but most likely wise not to risk losing rating points. It was once played Reti against Tarkatower and as I remember Reti won with a brilliant and insightful mate at d8!
5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h5
Normal is the move 6…h6 but Larsen if I recall gave this some practice.
7. Nh3 e5 8.dxe5 Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qxe5+ 10.Be2 Qxb2
So my opponent starts gobbling up pawns and by the time move 13 comes along I was wondering why I ever took up this game!
11.O-O Qxc2
Another pawn bites the dust.
12.Qe1 Be7 13.Rc1 Qxa2
Another pawn goes in the box. This crazy game we call chess!
14.Bc4 Qa3 15.Bg5 Nd7 16.Nf4 Ngf6 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Qe6 O-O-O 19.Ba6 Qxa6 20.Qxe7 Rde8 21.Qxg7 Rhg8 22.Qf7 c5 23.Rfe1 Ref8 24.Qe7 Re8 25.Qf7 Ref8 26.Qe7 Qb6
My opponent must have been thinking: “No draw, Baby!”
27.Ne4 Nd5 28.Qh7 Re8 29.Qf7 Nc7 30.Red1 Ne5 31.Qf4 Rgf8 32.Nd6+ Qxd6 33.Rxd6 Rxf4 34.Bxf4 b6 35.Be5 Re5 36.Rxg6 Kb7 37.Rg5 Rd5 38.Rxd5 Nxd5 39.g4 hxg4 40.Rc4 a5 41.h5 Kc6 42.h6 Nf6 43.Rf4 Nh7 44.Rf7 Ng5 45.Rg7 c4 46.Rxg5 c3 47.Rxg4 b5 48.Kh2 c2 49.Rg1 b4 50.h7 b3 51.h(Q) Black Resigns (1-0).
Now I know why I got prematurely gray!
