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Yuri Averbakh vs Viktor Korchnoi
Yerevan (1965)  ·  Indian Game: Przepiorka Variation (A49)  ·  0-1
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Given 25 times; par: 62 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
May-13-09  Udit Narayan: I considered 39...Nc3 and thought it was sufficient to allow the passed pawn to promote. But 39...Rc1 is much simpler, not to mention definitely more crushing.
May-13-09  5hrsolver: <Udit Narayan: I considered 39...Nc3 and thought it was sufficient to allow the passed pawn to promote. But 39...Rc1 is much simpler, not to mention definitely more crushing. >

39...Nc3 40.f3 intending Nf2 to stop the passed pawn.

May-13-09  tivrfoa: I think 39. ... Nc3 also works:

39. ... Nc3
40. f3 h2
41. Nf2 Ne4+!

May-13-09  ILikeFruits: he got pawned...
by vik-t-or...
ohhh...
ohhh...
ohhh...
May-13-09  Udit Narayan: <5hrsolver> I see why it doesn't work now. 39...Nc3 gives white enough time to set up a defense.
May-13-09  5hrsolver: <tivrfoa: I think 39. ... Nc3 also works:

39. ... Nc3
40. f3 h2
41. Nf2 Ne4+!>

42.fxe4

May-13-09  tatarch: <tivrfoa: I think 39. ... Nc3 also works: 39... Nc3 40. f3 h2 41. Nf2 Ne4+!> 42.fxe4, no?

I agree with those who think this leads to a tough endgame at best-- I can understand why white would resign at the GM level, but I bet most of us would keep playing with a 2 pawns vs. a knight and I also bet most of us could screw up the win for black somehow.

May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  outplayer: First I looked at 39...h2. When i saw that this doesn't work I saw the interfering move 39...Rc1!
May-13-09  eggy23: I apologise if this line has been discussed already, but I dont see what is wrong with

39...Nc3
40 f3 h2
41 Nf2 Ne4+

if 42 Kd3 Nxf2+ followed by a queen

if 42 Ke3 Nxf2 43 Rb1 h1 (queen) 44 Rxh1 Nxh1 (white gets a rook for pawn)

Anyone see any flaws with my lines?

May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Kasputin: Yikes - missed it. I thought about advancing the passed pawn first, and after white plays Rb1 then black responds with 40 ...Ra4. I didn't think this was right, but I didn't think about the correct candidate either.
May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jimfromprovidence: I thought that this was a tricky two-part puzzle. After seeing 39…Rc1, you also have to see the line 40 f3 h2 41 Nf2 Rf1! (not h1Q) as pointed out by <eatingcake> and expounded upon by <CHESSTTCAMPS> and others.


click for larger view

41…Rf1 is much better than h1Q because the threat of h1Q is still there while also winning a piece for black. Now, white’s rook has to be totally occupied to try to stop that threat.

After 42.Rc2 Rxf2 43.Rc1 black has 43…Rg2 looking at Rg1.


click for larger view

White has to play 44 Rh1 to stop 44…Rg1. Since the rook is stuck on h1, black can now march his king down the board and along with his knight, start to methodically pick off white’s pawns.

May-13-09  eblunt: < YetAnotherAmateur: The best defense I could find for white against 39. ... Rc1: 40. f3 h2 41. Nf2 h1=Q
42. Nxh1 Rxh1 >

41 .... Rf1 and black will be a piece for 1 pawn up after losing the N.

May-13-09  eblunt: Or, as <Jim> explains far better, just above ....!!
May-13-09  Big Easy: I'm thinking 39 ...Rc1!!

White can capture the rook with the king or the knight, however, black responds with 40 ...h2 and white has no way to prevent the promotion.

The move also prevents white from playing 40. Rb1 which is necessary to keep the pawn from reaching the last rank.

May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: 39...Rc1!! One of the greatest desperato moves on record. When white captures the rook,the piece at c1 will block the defensive move of Rb1-now the pawn cannot be stopped after h2 and h1=Q
May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  DarthStapler: Got it
May-13-09  doubledrooks: Saw 39...Rc1, but overlooked the defense with 40. f3 and 41. Nf2.
May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  hedgeh0g: Found 39...Rc1! A clever interference tactic. This is my favourite type of tactic in chess, because it's so rare and counterintuitive, yet looks so dazzling when played.

As for White's "defense" with 40. f3, can't Black simply play 40...h2 41. Nf2 Rf1? How does White proceed?

May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  egilarne: 39...Rc1! - in seconds, I had seen the position before - - -
May-13-09  StevieB: Hey, I got it today, stop the presses. 2 outta 3 so far. Hooray! You gotta love those one move solutions.
May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Patriot: <hedgeh0g: As for White's "defense" with 40. f3, can't Black simply play 40...h2 41. Nf2 Rf1? How does White proceed?>

Maybe 42.Rc2 Rxf2 43.Rc1 and the pawn doesn't safely promote, but white is lost either way. If 43...Rg2 44.Rh1 for example. So I'm not sure if just 41...h1/Q is any worse than 41...Rf1. It may be that white's rook is so tied down in the Rf1 line above, that it's almost as if they are traded off.

May-13-09  GreenFacedPatzer: Dude, after agonizing five minutes over Tuesday's problem (and coming up with the wrong solution), I see this one in a few seconds. I'm black, I have a lovely advanced pawn, I want to make it a queen. White's rook is the only piece that can stop it. Can I block the rook? Yes indeedy: Rc1, and white has a bunch of impotent choices, but nothing that can stop me.
May-13-09  TheTamale: <YoungEd: Looks like I'm wearing my 1200 hat this week. 0/3 :( > Ha ha; that was me last week. This week I only got Monday's. The thing that irks me is that today's for me was actually easier than yesterday's.
May-13-09  WhiteRook48: Looks like I'm thinking like a 900!
May-13-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  PinnedPiece: What was the purpose of 38.Kc2????
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