Mikhail Lubensky vs Efim Geller (1949)

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Mikhail Lubensky vs Efim Geller
URS-ch sf Tbilisi (1949), Tbilisi URS, rd 2, Apr-??
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation (E70) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 3 OF 3 · Later Kibitzing>
Sep-19-18		Sally Simpson: *** "The crowded hall is flooded with light. The pieces on the demonstration board move slowly. A murmur runs though the hall as a game becomes more and more tense as new threats arise and are effectively refuted. The gaze of the spectators is drawn time and time again to the game where one attack follows another in swift succession, where unexpected manoeuvres lead to unusual and involved positions. That game is being played by Grandmaster Geller." Kotov and Yudovich in 'The Soviet School of Chess.'

Sep-19-18		Strelets: Excellent tribute by Kotov to the player who did this to him in the same Soviet championship as this semifinal: Kotov vs Geller, 1949,

Sep-19-18		gawain: Expecting a fairly easy puzzle I tuned in and found this beast instead! Thanks, everyone, for the many interesting comments.

Sep-19-18		Sally Simpson: Hi Strelets, "I sometimes wonder what might have happened had Geller won at Curaçao 1962." I think we would still have got 'The Russians Have Fixed World Chess.' http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/... (from Edward Winters Chess Notes 10956) I also think Botvinnik would have beaten Geller. Botvinnik had learned in his matches v Tal how to rob imaginative players of the unbalanced positions they tended to thrive on. Maybe age would have told in favour of Geller who would no doubt have scored a few stunning victories but he was also lovingly erratic. It would have been interesting.

Sep-19-18		saturn2: <but he was also lovingly erratic> Maybe because he started chess relatively late in his life. I saw a picture of him from 1953 - a time when he was called the Russian Morphy. In 1984 me being a teenager played simultan against him. He had a big stomach then which surprised me since I had ecpected the ascetic man from the pic with the Morphy like glance. He won almost all games and lost none. He would get angry when someone did not observe the touch move rule.

Sep-19-18		cormier: click for larger view Analysis by Houdini 4 <<33...Be3+ 34.Rxe3> Rf8> 35.Nf4 Qh2+ 36.Kf1 Nxe3+ 37.Ke1 exf4 38.a8Q Qxg3+ - + (-14.28) Depth: 22 dpa 33...Be3+ 34.Rxe3 - + (-13.69 --) Depth: 23 dpa <and 34...Rf8> click for larger view Analysis by Houdini 4 <35.Nf4 Qh2+ 36.Kf1 Nxe3+> 37.Ke1 Qxg3+ 38.Kd2 exf4 - + (-13.92) Depth: 22 dpa 35.Nf4 Qh2+ - + (-14.49 --) Depth: 23 dpa click for larger view Analysis by Houdini 4: d 21 dpa done <<1. - + (-13.68): 37.Ke1 Qxg3+ 38.Kd2 Qxf4> 39.a8Q Nxd5+> 2. - + (-19.10): 37.Ke2 exf4 38.a8R Qxg2+ 39.Ke1 Rxa8 40.Qxa8+ Kg7 41.Qa2 Qf1+ 42.Kd2 Qf2+ 43.Kc1 Qxa2 44.Nxa2 f3 45.Nc3 f2 46.Kd2 f1Q 47.Kxe3 Qg1+ 48.Kd3 Qxg3+ 49.Kd2 h5 50.Nd1 Qe5 51.Ke3 Bb5 52.Kd2 h4 53.Kc1 Qf4+ 54.Kc2 Qxe4+ 55.Kd2 Qd4+ 56.Kc1 Qf4+ 57.Kb1 Bd3+ 58.Kb2 Qd2+ 59.Kb3 Qxd1+ 60.Kc3 Qc2+ click for larger view Analysis by Houdini 4: d 21 done <<1. -+ (-15.42): 39.a8Q Nxd5+> 40.Kc2 Nb4+> 41.Kb1 Nxa6 2. -+ (-24.09): 39.Kd3 Qf2 40.Qa3 Nc2 41.a8Q Nxa3 42.Qxa3 Qg3+ 43.Bf3 Qxf3+ 44.Kc2 Qg2+ 45.Kc1 Bg4 46.Qa4 Rf1+ 47.Nd1 Rxd1+ 48.Qxd1 Bxd1 49.Kxd1 Qxe4 50.Kd2 Kf8 51.Kc1 Qc4+ 52.Kd2 Qd4+ 53.Ke2 Ke7 54.Kf3 e4+ 55.Kg3 Qxd5 56.Kf4 Qd3 57.Kf5 e3+ 58.Kg4 e2 59.Kh5 Qh3+ 60.Kg6 Qe6+ 61.Kg7 Qf6+ 62.Kg8 e1Q click for larger view Analysis by Houdini 4: <d 21 dpa 1. - + (-15.22): 40.Kc2 Nb4+> 41.Kb1 Nxa6 42.Qxa6 Qd2 43.Qa2+ Qxa2+ 44.Nxa2 Rf2 45.Bh1 Rf1+ 46.Kc2 Rxh1 47.Nc3 Kg7 48.Kd2 h5 49.Nd1 h4 50.Nf2 Ra1 51.Kd3 h3 52.Nxh3 Ra3+ 53.Kc4 Rxh3 54.Kb4 Re3 55.Kc4 Rxe4+ 56.Kc3 d5 57.Kd3 Kf6 58.Kc2 Re2+ 59.Kc3 Re3+ 60.Kd2 d4 d 20 dpa 2. - + (-25.21): 40.Kd1 Bg4+ 41.Kc2 Nb4+ 42.Kb3 Nxa6 43.Qd5+ Kh7 44.Qxd6 Rb8+ 45.Qxb8 Be6+ 46.Nd5 Nxb8 47.Bh1 Qc1 48.Bg2 Qe3+ 49.Kc2 Qe2+ 50.Kc3 Qxg2 51.Kd3 Qf3+ 52.Kd2 Qf2+ 53.Kd1 Kh8 54.Kc1 Qe1+ 55.Kb2 Bg4 56.Nc7 Qb4+ 57.Kc2 Qxe4+ 58.Kd2 Qb4+ 59.Kc2 Qc5+ 60.Kb1 Qxc7 61.Kb2 Be6 62.Kb1 h5 63.Kb2 Kh7 64.Kb1 h4

Sep-19-18		cormier: patzer2: <you had it already> P.S.: So where does White go wrong? White's game takes a big turn for the worse after 28. a5? Qh5 ∓ to -+ (-1,80 @ 30 ply, Stockfish 9). Instead, 28. Bh3 Nhf6 29. Kg2 Ra8 30. Bd2 Bxa4 31. Nxa4 Rxa4 32. Nc3 = (-0.08 @ 36 ply, Stockfish 9) holds it level.

Sep-20-18		Sally Simpson: Hi saturn2, Deep pure jealous you got to play him. Simul masters and their rules differ. Shamkovich allowed one pass, Aagaard as many as you like (I got a draw in both). On one occasion I was reading about in CHESS a famous British G.M. insisted you move the moment he appeared at board, if not he would push pieces off the board. Game Over. First fell for Geller when this game slip over my board in the 70's. Geller vs Kogan, 1946 '...lovingly erratic' see Flohr vs Geller, 1957 where I have just added a post.

Sep-20-18		agb2002: <patzer2: <agb2002> In your B.1.b line <33...Be3+ 34.Rxe3 Qh2+ 35.Kf1 Nxe3+ 36.Kf2 Nxg2 37. Qxd6 Rf8+> ... White wins after 38. Qxf8+ Kxf8 39. a8=Q+ Ke7 40. Qh8 +- (+4.42 @ 40 ply, Stockfish 9).> Thank you! Not my best day...

Jun-09-22		Brenin: Another recycled POTD, this one from before my time on CG. I liked the look of 33 ... Be3+ 34 Rxe3 (otherwise 34 ... Rxa7 and 35 ... Ra1+) Qh2+ 35 Kf1 Nxe3+ 36 Kf2 Nxg2 37 Qb7 Rf8+ 38 Nf4 Nxf4+, but 37 Qxd6 gives White a draw. Better was the quiet but lethal 34 ... Rf8, e.g. 35 Nf4 Qh2+ 36 Kf1 Nxe3+, with a clear win.

Jun-09-22		GufeldsVengeance: It is so "medium" that Geller didn't get the right answer. The people who come up with the rankings are a joke. The answer is ..Be3, Rxe3, Rf8... Not "medium" Not even close.

Jun-09-22		mel gibson: A recycled puzzle which I analysed on Sep-19-2018. I redid this puzzle - this time with Stockfish 15 and more time on my more powerful 8 core computer. Why did White resign? Stockfish 15 says White is only one pawn and a half down. 35. Kf1 (♔g1-f1 ♘g4xe3+ ♔f1-f2 ♘e3-g4+ ♔f2-f1 ♖a8-f8+ ♔f1-e1 ♕h2xg2 ♔e1-d2 ♕g2-f2 a7-a8♕ ♕f2-e3+ ♔d2-c2 ♖f8xa8 ♕a6xa8+ ♔g8-f7 ♕a8-b8 ♕e3-c5 ♕b8-h8 ♘g4-f6 ♕h8xh6 ♗d7-g4 ♕h6-d2 ♘f6xe4 ♕d2-d3 ♘e4-f6 ♔c2-d2 ♕c5-a5 ♔d2-e1 ♕a5-b4 ♔e1-f1 ♕b4-b2 ♕d3-c4 ♔f7-g6 ♕c4-d3+ e5-e4 ♕d3-e3 ♗g4-f3 ♘c3-d1 ♕b2-b1 ♔f1-e1 ♘f6-g4 ♕e3-a3 ♗f3xe2 ♔e1xe2 ♕b1-b5+ ♔e2-e1 ♕b5xd5 ♕a3-c3 ♘g4-e5 ♘d1-f2 ♕d5-e6 ♔e1-f1 ♘e5-g4 ♘f2xg4 ♕e6xg4 ♕c3-b3 ♕g4-f5+ ♔f1-e1 ♕f5-a5+ ♔e1-e2 ♕a5-h5+ ♔e2-e1 d6-d5 ♕b3-b8 ♕h5-h1+ ♔e1-d2 ♕h1-h6+ ♔d2-e2 ♔g6-f5 ♕b8-c8+ ♕h6-e6 g3-g4+ ♔f5-f6 ♕c8-d8+ ♔f6-g6 ♔e2-d2 ♕e6-e5 ♕d8-g8+ ♔g6-h6) -1.55/55 378 score for White -1.55 depth 55. Yet if Black makes the right moves from the puzzle position - he can win easily: 33... Be3+ (33. .. Be3+ (♗g5-e3+ ♖f3xe3 ♖a8-f8 ♘e2-f4 ♕h5-h2+ ♔g1-f1 ♘g4xe3+ ♔f1-e2 e5xf4 g3xf4 ♘e3xg2 ♔e2-d3 ♕h2-g3+ ♔d3-c4 ♘g2-e3+ ♔c4-b4 ♕g3-g2 ♕a6-a2 ♕g2xa2 ♘c3xa2 ♖f8-a8 ♘a2-c3 ♖a8xa7 ♔b4-b3 h6-h5 e4-e5 h5-h4 ♘c3-e4 h4-h3 ♘e4-f6+ ♔g8-f8 ♘f6-h5 h3-h2 ♘h5-g3 ♔f8-g8 f4-f5 ♘e3xf5 ♔b3-b2 d6xe5 ♘g3-h1 ♖a7-a4 ♔b2-b1 ♖a4-f4 ♔b1-c2 ♘f5-e3+ ♔c2-d2 ♘e3xd5 ♔d2-d3 ♗d7-b5+ ♔d3-c2 ♔g8-f7 ♔c2-b3 ♖f4-f3+ ♔b3-a2) +51.42/48 1097) score for Black +51.42 depth 48.

Jun-09-22		sorso: 34 rf8 good move? 34...Rf8 35. Rf3 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Rxf3+ 37. Bxf3 Ne3+ 38. Ke1

Jun-09-22		saturn2: <Jimfromprovidence: FWIW, in the 34...Rf8 option white also has 35 Rf3 as a defense. It's kind of an interesting sub-line, because now black has to see that 35...Rxf3, allowing white's a pawn to promote with check by 36 a8Q+, below, does white no good. BTW in the top diagram, 35...Qh2+ is losing for black.> As far as I see 35...Qh2 is winning for black. 36.Qh2 Kf1 37.Rxf3 Bxf3 38.Qf2. No?

Jun-09-22		agb2002: Level 2: 20.? Steinitz vs Meitner, 1859 click for larger view

Jun-09-22		Stonehenge: <White in this game is Tadeusz Lubienski>. Probably fake news. The Ukrainian player M Lubensky is far more likely.

Jun-09-22		Brenin: <sorso>: 33 ... Be3+ 34 Rxe3 Rf8 35 Rf3 Rxf3 wins for Black, e.g. 36 Bxf3 Qh2+ 37 Kf1 Qf2 mate, or 36 a8=Q+ Kh7 and a similar mate is inevitable.

Jun-09-22		parch: 33...Be3+ 34.R:e3 Rf8 35.Nf4 Qh2+ 36.Kf1 N:e3+ 37.Ke2 ef4 Looks good for Black. Have not looked at the 34....Qh2+ option. nor the 34...Rf8 35.Rf3

Jun-09-22		Cellist: I also liked 34. ... Rf8 and thought this was easily winning (which is right if B finds the correct follow-up). I did not see, however, that 35. Rf3 (which I correctly discarded as weaker than 35. Nf4) has to be answered by Rxf3 and not Qh2+.

Jun-09-22		chrisowen: I no vibrant fleck out it's Be3 gang budge beach blusher I c bad cad chuffed iota auld fag clung I cheers Be3 jack job;

Jun-09-22		TheaN: Hm. Tricky Thursday. Given this was used as a Wednesday before, and it's now clear Geller erred in the finish, perhaps a bit too tricky. I too was drawn too much to the game line, <33....Be3+> only pressuring move <34.Rxe3!> else Rxa7 and a clearly lost game as White lost all leverage. <34....Qh2+?!> click for larger view It makes so much sense, it's almost weird it's not the best move. Black postponed Nxe3 to create a tempo, yet 35.Kf1 Nxe3+ 36.Kf2 Ng4+; kind of an important point here that 36....Qxg2+ 37.Ke3 +- doesn't lead to anything, 37.Kf1 Rf8+ (which now comes too late) 38.Ke1: click for larger view After 38....Qxg2 ∓ Black's better, but White ends up using his asset on the a-file. After <34....Rf8!>: click for larger view Black plays the rook away early, and now it threatens Qh2#, so White has no time to play the a-pawn. That's key: White loses a move to prevent the mate, in comes out much worse in all variations. The two key lines are 35.Rf3? Rxf3!! as now the mate's unavoidable, so the a-pawn doesn't even matter. 36.a8Q+ Kh7 37.Qh8+ Kxh8 38.Qa8+ Kh7 39.Qh8+ Kxh8 40.Bxf3 Qh2+ 41.Kf1 Qf2#. Instead, <35.Nf4> gives Black the extra move that White didn't want to concede: <35....Qh2+ 36.Kf1 Nxe3+ 37.Ke2 exf4 -+> and again a8 doesn't really matter, as Black's now up a rook and will win an additional piece.

Jun-09-22		yrotcivca: 35. Kf1 Nxe3+ 36. Kf2 Nxg2 37. Qxd6 Nf4+ 38. Kf3 Nxe2 39. Nxe2 Qh5+ 40. Ke3 Bg4 Is the reason white resigned, he is down too much material

Jun-09-22		yrotcivca: Or 35. Kf1 Nxe3+ 36. Kf2 Nxg2 37. Qxd6 Nf4+ 38. Kf3 Nxe2 39. Qxd7 Nxc3 40. Qc6 Qe2#

Jun-09-22		Brenin: <yrotcivca: 35. Kf1 Nxe3+ 36. Kf2 Nxg2 37. Qxd6 Nf4+ 38. Kf3 Nxe2 39. Nxe2 Qh5+ 40. Ke3 Bg4 Is the reason white resigned, he is down too much material.> Instead, 38 Ke3 Nxe2 39 Qg6+ Kf6 40 Qf6+ Ke8 41 Nxe2 Rxa7 42 d6 Ra3+ 43 Kd2 or 42 ... Bg4 43 Qxe5+ is a draw. White should have played on.

Oct-12-22		mayankk06: Such an interesting double blunder. Shows how everyone is so human without an engine, and superman with one. My first instinct was also that 33 ... Bxe3 34 Rxe3 Qh2+ 35 Kf1 Nxe3+ forking King and Bishop, and followed by Rf8 at some point, is just too much for the White King to handle. Only when I went through the comments again did I realise that the right continuation was 33 ... Bxe3 34 Rxe3 Rf8! allowing the 34 ... Nf4, 34 ... Rf3 defences as well as a8+ Queening later. Very instructive.

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