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Joel Benjamin vs Yasser Seirawan
USA (1979)
French Defense: Tarrasch. Closed Variation (C05)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-13-06  Resignation Trap: Did Yasser get his King and Queen mixed up in this game? With 18...Kd7 and 19...Qg8, it certainly looks that way! And look at the position after Black's 27th move!
Nov-14-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: I do get the impression that Black thought he was castling with 19...Qg8.
Nov-14-06  who: Fritz thinks that 24...Rxc6 saves the game, but I'm very confused.
Nov-14-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: By the way, it's worth noting that Benjamin was 15 at the time of this game.
Dec-03-06  Resignation Trap: <<Phony Benoni>: By the way, it's worth noting that Benjamin was 15 at the time of this game.>

Yes, and Seirawan was an experienced veteran at age 19.

Dec-13-06  ToTheKings: This game should be in his notable games in my opinion, since it is quite amazing. Anyone agree?
Oct-18-14  Howard: Benjamin stated in New in Chess a few years back that this game was probably the best in his career, stating, "I've probably never improved on that one (referring to this game)."
Aug-11-19  Retireborn: Anyone know the occasion/tournament for this game? Informator just puts USA as usual.
Aug-11-19  whiteshark: <Retireborn> CB puts it as

[Event "USA U20-ch Hollywood Chess Set"]
[Site "Hollywood"]
[Round "3"]

also maybe of interest ...

[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2485"]

Aug-11-19  Retireborn: <whiteshark> Many thanks! Very helpful.
Aug-11-19  Retireborn: I further find that this was an 8-player invitational in June, whch Seirawan won with 5/7, despite losing this game and also to tail-ender McCambridge.

May have been a qualifier for the World junior ch; Seirawan played at Skien in July.

Aug-11-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <Retireborn>, this was indeed from the 1979 US Junior.
Aug-11-19  Retireborn: <perfidious> Thanks, have now added it to my collection of annotated games.

Interesting that Benjamin called this his best game. Perhaps he changed his mind after his Mona Lisa moment:-

Joel Benjamin vs Gufeld, 1998

In Informator, Byrne & Mednis recommend 24...Rxc6 25.Bxa5 without giving an evaluation, although they note that White is threatening to capture on d5. Perhaps Black can defend with 25...Ke8, breaking the pin, but his position remains unappealing.

Dec-27-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: <Classical games: Joel Benjamin beat Yasser Seirawan 5 to 1, with 9 draws.>

strange it's so one sided, as Yaz had fine international results, a lot of experience. He's just 19 here, not peaked yet, but neither had Benjamin.

Right around 1983 Benjamin won the USA championship and the NY Post ran a story with the headline "Bobby Fischer in Brooklyn!" Of course Benjamin had none of the potential that Fischer had, at the same age, but it made a nice story.

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