My fiancé and I were in Vegas, and she was very upset. I said, "Don't worry, I'm sure this happens all the time here -- I'll just write them a note. So I tore off some hotel room notepaper and wrote, "We are really sorry we broke the bed. Please fix before tonight! Thank you!" and I put some tip money by the rather worse for wear sleeping apparatus, and we headed out to our morning round.

I was paired with IM Andranik Matikozyan. I had Black. My score against him at this point was one draw, and eight losses, several of which have amused you hardhearted readers in my last few columns. This one would turn out differently.

Why? I'm not sure. The broken bed was a good omen, of course, but the game -- as so many of these with my difficult opponent -- turned on a single move.

I still don't know whether to give that move, 15...Rdg8, two exclamation points, or two question marks, but one thing is certain: this move won the game.

Here we go: my tenth game against Andranik Matikozyan.

IM Andranik Matikozyan - IM Timothy Taylor
Four Knights Game [C47]
North American Open, Las Vegas 2005
1.e4

 My difficult opponent played his usual first move, and I sank into thought. Normally I played 1...c5, and I have experimented with the Caro-Kann, but the last time I had had Black against Matikozyan (as recounted in my last column, True Combat/Difficult Opponent/#4) I had surprised him with Alekhine's Defense, against which he had had bad results. He played the passive non-move 2.d3, I quickly got the better game, and of course lost later, as I recounted in gory detail.

So I wondered: had he studied Alekhine's Defense since our last encounter? I hardly knew the opening; I only played it for surprise value. What if he played the theoretical 2.e5 -- I would have no more than a vague clue!

But if I played Sicilian or Caro-Kann, openings he played against often, he would roll out his familiar systems, and be a fish in water. I figured I was in Vegas anyway -- time to gamble. I casually flipped the Knight over my pawns.

1...Nf6 2.Nc3

Yes! Apparently he hadn't cracked any Alekhine's Defense books -- 2.Nc3 is certainly better than the self-blocking 2.d3, but such a defensive move gives few chances for advantage. White has to try 2.e5 if he wants anything from the opening, as now Black enters a double King pawn game where White's most dangerous option, the Ruy Lopez, is no longer available.

Now we get to play, "Name that Opening!"

2...e5

This makes it a Vienna Game, and we could stay with that name if White played 3.f4 or 3.Bc4.

3.Nf3

This is a Three Knights Game, and might stay that way if Black plays 3...Bb4.

Nyet!

Some time after I played this game, I purchased the excellent book The Four Knights by Jan Pinski. He has a very humorous comment on this bishop move: "The natural and probably also the best move is 4...exd4, moving into the Scotch Four Knights or the Belgrade Gambit. However, there are those who like to complicate.

Yes, I am one of those!

5.d5

On unfamiliar terrain, Matikozyan immediately loses his way. The best move, and only way White can fight for advantage, is 5.Nxe5, though even then Black can probably equalize with the accurate 5...Qe7.

After 5.d5 Pinski has another excellent comment: "After this Black has a good game. The main reason is that the position is closing, and Black has his bad bishop outside the pawn formation, while White has his inside."

5...Ne7

With a favorable structure, there was no reason for me to open the game with the slightly dubious 5...Nxe4, when White has both 6.dxc6 and maybe even stronger, 6.Qd3.

6.Nxe5?!

Madness! Had his string of successes relaxed my difficult opponent's vigilance? White should not try to win a pawn in an undeveloped position. Correct is the normal 6.Qd3 with equality.

6...d6 7.Nf3

No better is 7.Nd3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nxe4 9.Qf3 Nxc3 (9...f5!? and Pinski claims an advantage for Black, though Fritz says =) 10.Nf4 Na4 11.Bd3 Nc5 and Black is slightly better, though of course one must avoid 11...0-0?? 12.Qe4 and White won in Spielmann-Bogoljubow, Stockholm 1919.

7...Nxe4 8.Qd4

White continues in kamikaze style!

8 Nxc3 9.bxc3

9.Qxb4 Ncxd5 and White doesn't have anything for the pawn.

9 Bc5 10.Qxg7 Rg8 11.Qh6

Pinski points out that if 11.Qxh7 Bf5 12.Qh4 Black equalizes with 12...Nxd5, but I might have played 12...Qd7 13.Bg5 0 0 0 with wild play similar to the game.

11...Bf5 12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Bd3 0-0-0 14.0-0 Rg6 15.Qh4

It's only move 15 and White already has a terrible position, but that's nothing new in these Matikozyan-Taylor battles! The only thing that differs in this game is the result, and my next move turns out to be critical not only for the game, but for the unofficial match I believe -- it is because of my next move that I finally got on the scoreboard!

But first, let's take the requisite look at White's disadvantages.

What really stands out is that the pawn-grabbing mission has been a catastrophe: White lost several moves with his Queen, which is now badly placed on the edge of the board. The snatched pawn opened the g-file for Black's Rooks, which are ready to double and bear down on White's King. On the other side of the board, White has doubled pawns and his only center pawn is en prise.

Therefore it's not at all surprising that Black has an essentially forced win in this position, namely the sharp and accurate 15...f6!

This move forces the g-file open while disrupting White's already shaky piece coordination. White has several replies, but no saves: Black wins material and maintains an excellent position in all lines, as the following variations demonstrate:

a) 16.Bd2 Rdg8 17.g3 (17.Ne1 Nxd5) 17...Rg4 18.Qh3 (18.Qh6 Rxg3+ 19.hxg3 Rxg3+ 20.Kh2 Rh3+ 21.Qxh3 Bxh3 22.Rg1 Bg4 23.Nd4 Bxd4 24.cxd4 Bf5 25.Rae1 Bxd3 26.cxd3 Ng6 27.Re6 Qa4 28.Rxf6 Qxd4 29.Bg5 Qxd5 +) 18...Rxg3+ 19.Qxg3 Rxg3+ 20.hxg3 Nxd5 with attacking chances and material advantage.

b) 16.Bf4 Rg4 17.Qh6 Ng8 -+.

c) 16.Bh6 Bxd3 17.cxd3 Nf5 -+.

d) 16.Be3 Rg4 17.Qh5 (17.Qh3 Rdg8; 17.Qh6 Bxd3 18.cxd3 Rxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Qg4+ 20.Kh1 Qxf3+ 21.Kg1 Rg8+ -+) 17...Bg6 18.Qh3 (18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qh7 Rxg2+ 20.Kxg2 Qg4+ 21.Kh1 Qxf3+ 22.Kg1 Nf5 23.Bxc5 Qg4+ 24.Kh1 Nh4 wins the Queen) 18...Nxd5 + e.g. 19.Bxc5 Bxd3 20.cxd3 Nf4 21.Qh6 Rxg2+ 22.Kh1 Qg4 23.Ne1 dxc5 24.Qxf6 Rxh2+ 25.Kxh2 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 Ne2 mate.

e) 16.Bc1 Rdg8 17.Ne1 (17.g3 Rg4 +) 17...Nxd5 -+.

f) 16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.Qg4 fxg5 -+.

g) 16.Bxf6 Bxd3 17.cxd3 (17.Bxe7 Bxf1 18.Bxd8 (18.Kxf1 Rdg8 and the advantage of the exchange is decisive: White can't keep the rooks out, as 19.g3 fails to 19...Rg4 20.Qf6 Re4 21.Bf8 Rg6 22.Qh8 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 Rxg3+ 24.hxg3 Qxg3+ 25.Kh1 Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Rg4+ 27.Kh2 Qg2 mate) 18...Bxg2 19.Ne1 Bh3+ 20.Kh1 Qf5 with a winning attack, ...Bf2 being the main threat, and 21.Qe7 Rg1+ is an example of a pretty finish) 17...Nf5 Black wins material 18.Bxd8 relatively best (18.Qf4 Rxf6 19.g4 Nh4 -+) 18...Nxh4 19.Bxh4 Qf5 e.g. 20.Rfe1 (20.Ne1 Qxd5 21.Bg3 Bb6 -+) 20...b6 21.Kh1 (21.d4 Qxf3 22.Bg3 Qxc3 23.dxc5 Qxc5 -+) 21...Qxd3 22.Rad1 Qxc3 and the Black Queen should defeat White's Rook and Knight.

So 15...f6 sure is a great move, right? And you would be right -- Black sacrifices his opponent's pieces , wins material, and logically reaches a winning position.

But you know what would have happened had I played that way. I would have reached, say, variation g above, obtained Queen for Rook + Knight, and then I would have lost my Queen to a Knight fork! Then I would moan and groan and my score would stay in the cellar!

Truth be told, I didn't even give a thought to the strong, logical, and correct 15...f6 -- instead I followed my principle (though one should never follow principles, even one's own, so slavishly) never think on an intuitive sacrifice and played, instantly --

15...Rdg8!!

You see, I've decided to go with two exclams, instead of two question marks, even though objectively the move loses all my advantage! And yet this move wins the game!

The explanation of that paradox lies in my oft-cited reference to Spielmann's sacrificial shock, namely the propensity of players (I am referring here exclusively to human beings!) to blunder immediately after the opponent sacrifices!

Stunned by my out of the blue instant piece offer, my difficult opponent sank into agitated thought, and remained there for over a half hour. Finally he declined the sacrifice -- and lost any chance of saving the game.

16.Rfe1?

The only correct move is the acceptance 16.Bxe7 and now:

A. 16...Rxg2+ (this obvious try seems to fail) 17.Kh1 Bg4 with the idea of a beautiful win if White takes the Rook, (18.Kxg2 Bh3+ 19.Kh1 Bg2+ 20.Kg1 Bxf3+ 21.Bg5 f6 -+) but the capture is not forced; White wins with 18.Nd2.

Black can try a different 17th move, but after 17...Bxd3 18.cxd3 Qf5 19.Qe4 Qh3 20.Bh4 R2g4 (20...Rxf2 21.Rg1 Rxh2+ 22.Nxh2 Bxg1 23.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 24.Kxg1 +-) 21.Rg1!! this spectacular resource not only saves White's game but actually wins for White: the key is the mate at d8 after 21...Rxe4 22.Rxg8+ Kd7 23.Rd8 mate.

B. 16...Rg4, best, regaining the piece with equality, though that last word wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I sacrificed! 17.Qh5 (White has to give the piece back: disastrous is 17.Qf6 Bxd3 18.cxd3 Rxg2+ 19.Kh1 Qh3 threatening 20...Rh2+ and mate. After White's only defense, 20.Rg1 Bxf2 wins, e.g. 21.Qxf7 [nothing stops the mating attack -- 21.Qf4 loses similarly to 21...Qf3!] 21...Qxh2+ 22.Nxh2 Rxg1+ 23.Rxg1 Rxg1 mate.).

Now back to the main line after 17.Qh5: Black continues 17...Rxg2+ 18.Kh1 Bxd3 19.cxd3 (19.Rg1 Rxg1+ 20.Rxg1 Bg6 21.Bh4 Re8 22.Qg4 Be4 +) 19...Qxe7 20.Rg1 and the game is equal, e.g. 20...Rxg1+ 21.Rxg1 Rxg1+ 22.Kxg1 Qf6 23.Kg2 h6, =.

16...Nxd5

Black has recovered his pawn with a big advantage.

17.c4 Bxd3 18.cxd3

Even easier is 18.cxd5 Bxc2 19.Re7 Qf5 -+.

18...h6!!

The best way to open the g-file is to close it!

19.cxd5

There are no saves: if 19.Be3 Nxe3 20.fxe3 Rxg2+ 21.Kh1 (21.Kf1 Qf5) 21...Qf5 22.Qe4 Qh3 23.Rg1 d5! 24.cxd5 Bd6 and wins as there is no defense to Rook or Queen takes on h2 with check.

19...hxg5

Closed g-file?

20.Qe4 g4 21.Nh4 g3!

Open g-file! In view of the pin and the threat ... gxf2+, Black's rook is immune and the g-file opens for the rampaging rooks.

22.hxg3 Rxg3 23.Kf1

23.Nf5 Rxg2+ 24.Kh1 R2g5 and mates, as the following try fails to the easy Queen sac: 25.Ne7+ Qxe7.

23...R3g4 24.Qh7 Bd4 25.Nf5

Or 25.Rab1 Rh8.

25...Rh8, 0-1.

And here, for the first time ever (but one hopes, not the last) my difficult opponent resigned the game to me. The variations are so simple that even I couldn't blow this one! All White has after 25...Rh8 is 26.Ne7+, but then 26... Kd8 27.Qxf7 Bxa1 28.Rxa1 (28.Kg1 Rxg2+ 29.Kxg2 Qh3+ 30.Kg1 Qh1 mate) 28...Rh1+ 29.Ke2 Rxa1 30.Qf8+ Qe8 31.Qf6 (31.Qxe8+ Kxe8 32.Nf5 Rxg2 etc.) 31...Qxe7+ and Black emerges with the substantial cushion of two extra rooks.

What can one learn from this zany game?

First, the basics: one should be at least generally prepared for all openings, so if you are an e4 player, you should have a line against Alekhine's Defense.

Second, pawn snatching in an open game is no more recommended now than in Morphy's day -- yes, your Queen can probably snatch something, but while it s running around after some tiny material gain, your opponent is mobilizing all his forces!

But now we come to the crux of the struggle, the human element, Black's fifteenth move. I had a clear, Fritz approved winner. The variations were numerous but not deep; all could have been easily calculated at the board.

Instead I played a wild, Spielmann (but not Fritz!) approved speculative sacrifice that with best play leads only to equality -- in other words, I could have lost my whole advantage.

But the psychological effect of the surprising sacrifice, a move played instantly, had an enormous effect on my opponent. One could say the psychological blow was stronger than the actual chess attack. I give two exclams to this crazy move because it worked.

I finally scored a win against my difficult opponent. My lady and I returned to our room. The bed was fixed. We celebrated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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