| Apr-25-05 |
| Poisonpawns: This is some grind it out endgame!! Can a player with experience please help,I think there is a draw for black but I cant find it.This Rachels guy was very strong,does anyone know what he is doing now? I am sure he passed up chess for monetary reasons as most american chess players have to do unfortunately.It is such a shame when i see games like this,that we in america do not support our talented players.This makes Bobby Fischers feat even more amazing!! |
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| Sep-17-05 |
| Killingsworth: Stuart Rachels is now a assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Alabama. I had the pleasure of sitting across the chessboard with Stuart on many occassions many years ago. Whne we played skittles he would look at a blunder by an opponent and just touch one of his pieces thereby telling you why your move was a mistake. Stuart went to Russia once and visited with Kasparov while Kasparov was still living with his mother. Kasparov was world champion by that time. He had lost his jacket and was frightfully looking for it. Stuart told him not to worry about it that he could always get another one. Gary was almost in tears and told Stuart, "No, No, NO. You do not understand. My mother, she will kill me!!" Stuart is a very nice guy and still plays occassionally on the internet chess club. |
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| Dec-27-07 |
| OBIT: I seem to recall once beating Rachels in 20 moves, but then he was only nine years old at the time. :) He shows some nice endgame technique and incredible determination in this game vs Gurevich. It seems like Gurevich should have been able to draw the ending, but it is definitely difficult. His king has to stay mobile, following the White king to either side. For example, if he had played 61...Kb7, his king is unable to leave the queenside, and White then wins by sending his king to the kingside to push the pawn through. He also can't commit his king to the kingside, as the game continuation shows - White wins by trapping the a-pawn, and the Black king is too far away (barely) to get back in time. So where did Gurevich lose this? I'm thinking move 82 is where he cracked, when his rook gave up the sixth rank and his king headed to the h-file. After 82...Rc5+ 83. Re5, if he tried 83...Rc6, Rachels had 84. Re6 Rc5+ 85. Kg6!, winning the a-pawn since 85...Rxa5?? 86. Re8 is mate. If 82...Rh6 instead, then 83. Re6! wins (not 83...Rxh5 84. Kg6), while 82...Rc1 allows 83. Re6 Rc5+ Kg6, again winning the a-pawn. That leaves 82...Kf8! as the only try, but it appears to hold the draw - note there are no sucker mates now, for example if 83. Re6 Rc4+ is okay. |
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sac: 18.Rxc6