KindredSpirit’s Kaleidoscope: Ruy Lopez featuring the Steinitzian Berlin Defence

Success in chess tournaments often rest with standings, final round, and temperment of the opponents. When vying for a top place, the result can add drama that proves that chess is indeed SPORT.  Is there any doubt that chessplay is both physical and mental torture?  No one less than Bobby Fischer reflected in interviews that it is like boxing for three rounds with both physical and mental exertion. You want to lose weight? Play chess!

The Vancouver Open of 1975 was the last tournament for GM Paul Keres.  He won the event with a score of 7 wins and 3 draws.  He died on returning to his home in Estonia.

In this, the final round, Keres needed only to draw to win the tournament and Browne needed a win to gain a part of the prize fund.

            White:  Walter Browne      vs.    Black:  Paul Keres               Opening: Ruy Lopez                  Vancouver, Canada  1975

1. e4  e5  2. Nf3  Nc6  3. Bb5  Nf6  4. d3

This move was seen frequently as far back as the Steinitz vs. Zukertort world championship match of 1886.  An excellent book covering this period in chess history is William Steinitz, Chess Champion– A Biography of the Bohemian Caesar by Kurt Landsberger (A McFarland Book).

4. … d6  5. c3  Be7  6. Nbd2  O-O  7. O-O  Bd7  8. Re1  Re8  9. Nf1 Bf8  10. Bg5

In 1983, Romanishin against Fernandz Garcia played 10. Ng3  g6  11. Ba4  Bg7  12. d4  Na5 13. Bc2  c5 with a position having more normal features of a Lopez pattern.

10. …h6  11. Bh4  Be7.

Keres is looking to exchange to get to a drawish endgame.

12. Ne3

Browne realizes the usual Knight tour ending in Ng3 is flawed because 12…g5  traps the Bishop.

12. … Ng4  13. Bxe7  Nxe7

Death comes with 13….Nxe3?? 14. Bxd8  Nxd1  15. Bxc7  Nxb2  16. Rab1 traps the Knight.

14. Nxg4  Bxb5  15. Nh4  Bd7  16. Re3

One can hardly fault Browne for this reckless venture to the Kingside by the Rook.  He wants to throw it all in for a sharp attack that can, in the final analysis, be repelled.

16. … Kh7

Keres suggests he missed the superior 16…Nc6. Perhaps Browne calculated this along with the following tactical resources: 17. Nxh6+ gxh6 18. Qh5 with dangerous conditions in the position.  For example, Black can try 18. …Qf6 19. Rf3  Qe6 20. Nf5 Kf8 21. Nxh6 Nd8 22. Qg5 with a strong attack that is likely decisive for White.  The problem is that Browne may have seen the defence too late of 18…Re6! that  post game analysis shows refutes the combination.

17. Rg3 

And here, trying 17. Qf3 runs into 17. …Nd5 18. exd5  Qxh4 19. h3  f5  20. Nh2  Rf8 with good play.

17. … Ng8!

Forcing White to retreat because of 18. Nf5 g6 19. Nfe3  h5  20. Rh3 Kg7 wins a piece. Here is a case of reverse Spanish Torture as White suffers the ill effect from passive opening play.

18. Nf3  Bxg4 19. Rxg4  Nf6  20. Rh4  Kg8.

Black must play with care because moving too fast with something like 20…d5 21. Qb3 dxe4 22. Ng5+ is hard to swallow and delight Browne.

21. Rh3 d5  22. Qe2  Qd7  23. Nh4  dxe4 24. dxe4 Rad8

Controlling the d-file.

25. Nf5  Qd2  26. Qf3  Re6!

Do you see why taking the b-pawn would be bad for Black?

27. Rg3  g6  28. Rf1  Qf4!

Killing most chances for any meaningful counterplay that could result from …Qxb-Pawn. Black continues to take advantage of the separation of the White Rooks.

29. Rd1  Ree8  30. Ne7+ Kg7 31. Nd5  Qxf3  32. Rxf3  c6  33. Ne3  Rxd1+  34. Nxd1  Rd8

Black continues to control the d-file. The Kingside attack by White has come to an end where the remaining Rook gives no relief for White. A dominate Rook is always a winning force in endgame play.

35. Ne3  Nxe4  36. h3  Ng5  37. Rg3  f5  38. Nf5+  gxf5  39. b4  f4 40. Rg4  Kg6  41. hxg5  hxg5  42. g3  Kf5  43. f3  Rd1+ 44. Kg2 0-1

The final moves may have been blitz or unwillingness on White’s part to give it up.

Such play is tedious for the players as well as the readers of a complete game. Sparkling gems cannot always be the purpose in modern Grandmaster tournaments.  Trying to force something out of nothing can lead to misplaced pieces.  In this case, the White Rooks found themselves showing weakness by disconnect.  Yet, the Black Rook on a8 remained inactive for some time.  This allowed White the chances for a King hunt that fell short.  As I have noted in some past articles, an attacker to be successful must throw as many pieces into the fray as possible.  If not adequately accomplished, the result is demonstrated by this game.