May-28-13
 | | Phony Benoni: The early history of this variation is interesting. Though there were a couple of earlier games, the story really begins with Botvinnik at the Moscow tournament in June, 1936:
click for larger viewIn round 14, Botvinnik played <10...Na5>, which seems to have been the usual move at the time. He won the game (Kan vs Botvinnik, 1936 ), but may not have been satisfied with the opening. Four rounds later, in
click for larger view Botvinnik played <10...d5> instead. Though he only drew, he preferred the line because of the immediate central counter to White's flank attack. Two months later at Nottingham, he used in in a famous draw with Alekhine, probably the most famous game in this variation: Alekhine vs Botvinnik, 1936. Now Podebrady was played in July, between Moscow and Nottingham, but it appears that Botvinnik's 10...d5 may not have reached the attention of Eliskases. Or maybe he just preferred 10...Na5, which has continued to be played over the years. Black gets better results theoretically with 10...d5, but the play is very sharp and may not be to everyone's taste. Also, see Foltys vs Pelikan, 1936, played eight rounds earlier at Podebrady. Pelikan lost after 11...Nd7, so maybe Eliskases' 11...Ne8 was meant as an improvement. |
May-28-13
| | Phony Benoni: <Rookiepawn> On his 18th move:
click for larger viewIt's possible that Black played 18...b6 simply to save his a-pawn. He probably considered 18...h5, but decided there was no rush to play that move. As for avoiding 19...gxf5 to produce this postion:
click for larger viewWhite would respond 20.exf5, and Black can't play 20...Bxf5 due to 21.Qxf5 Qxf5 22.Nxe7+. |
Kibitzing
sac: 28.Rxh5