Solitaire Chess
Who’ s Giving the Exhibition?
By Bruce Pandolfini
Two amateur heads can be better than one master.
In most simultaneous exhibitions the exhibitor, usually a strong player, takes the white pieces, hoping to make up for playing against a bunch of opponents. But now and then the exhibitor may take black on some of the boards, or all of them, which surely makes it a bit harder for the exhibitor. Moreover, most of the time, the exhibitor faces just one player per board. At other times, however, several players may form a consulting team and work as a unit at a particular board, which, depending on how well the amateurs function as a team, may or may not be an advantage. In the following game, both anomalies take place. The master( Isaac Kashdan) starts with Black and his opponents( two amateurs) consult against him on the white side. As we shall soon see, this time around the outcome turns out favorably for the amateurs and not so nicely for the master:
French Defense, Tarrasch Variation( C06) McKee and Thompson Isaac Kashdan Simultaneous Exhibition 1932
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. e4 cxd4 9. e5 Nd7 10. cxd4 f5 11. exf6 Nxf6
r + lwq-trk + zpp +-vl-zpp- + n + psn- + +- + p +- +-- +-zP- +- + +- + L + N +- PzP-sN-zPPzP tR-vLQ + RmK-
Your starting position
Now make sure you have the above position set up on your chessboard. As you play through the remaining moves in this game, use a piece of paper to cover the article, exposing White’ s next move only after trying to guess it. If you guess correctly, give yourself the par score. Sometimes points are also rewarded for second-best moves, and there may be bonus points— or deductions— for other moves and variations. Note that ** means that the note to Black’ s move is over and White’ s move is in the next line.**
12. Nb3 Par Score 5
White probably played this move to open a path for the queen-bishop, but in doing so also eyes the c5-square.
12. … Bd6
Black wants to advance the e-pawn. That will free his pieces, though it means taking on an isolated d-pawn after d4xe5.**
13. Re1 Par Score 5 White clamps down on e5.
13. … Qc7 Black renews his“ threat.”**
14. Qe2 Par Score 5
White does some more clamping down. Their idea( McKee and Thompson) is to keep the e6-pawn backward while setting up for Nf3-e5 at the right moment.
14. … Bd7
If 14.... Nb4, then 15. Bb1, after which the advance a2-a3 drives the knight back.**
15. Bd2 Par Score 5
This completes development and clears c1 for their rook. Receive full credit for 15. Bg5, with the idea of Bg5-h4-g3, trading dark-square bishops.
15. … Rae8
Award yourself 2 bonus points for calculating 15.... Nb4 16. Rac1 Nxd3 17. Rxc7 Nxe1 18. Rxd7 Nxf3 + 19. gxf3 Nxd7 20. Qxe6 + Rf7 21. Qxd6 emerging with material advantage. With his rook move Kashdan renews the idea of e6-e5.**
16. Rac1 Par Score 5
The Allies counter by pinning the knight.
16. … Bc8
Black anticipates the entry of a white knight at c5 or e5.**
17. Ne5 Par Score 5
The Allies calmly improve their position. The knight can hardly be removed for if 17.... Bxe5( 17.... Nxe5? 18. Rxc7) 18. dxe5 Nd7 the black knight is displaced, inviting attack. That proceeds by 19. Qh5 g6( 19.... h6 20. Bxh6) 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Qxg6 + Kh8 22. Rc3, followed by a possible Rc3-h3. Add 2 bonus points if you saw the general outline.
17. … Qb6
White’ s last move weakened the defense of his d4-pawn, so Kashdan takes the opportunity to unpin the c6-knight.**
18. Be3 Par Score 5
White defends d4 while setting up a discovery on the queen, in the event of... N( B) xe5, dxe5. Accept 1 bonus point if you so perceived the possibility.
18. … a5
Black is thinking of advancing on the knight by a5-a4. But in the process b5 is weakened and the knight has a good square to go to anyway.**
19. Nc5 Par Score 5
The white knight moves onto a good square, the secondary outpost.
19. … Qc7
He’ s not ready to yield his dark-square bishop( 19.... Bxc5) and taking 19.... Nxe5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 runs into 21. Nd7( 1 bonus point). Meanwhile, the queen has nothing further to do on b6, so Kashdan redeploys.**
16 Chess Life— July 2012 uschess. org