chessgames.com

Vera Menchik vs George Alan Thomas
London (1932)  ·  King's Indian Defense: Saemisch. Orthodox Variation (E85)  ·  1-0
To move:
Last move:

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 5 times; par: 26 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 17 more Menchik/G A Thomas games
PGN: download | view Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can step through the moves by clicking the and buttons, but it's much easier to simply use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Pgn4web Quickstart Guide.

Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-08-02  pawntificator: 18 Nf5!
Nov-23-03
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: <18 Nf5!> A common and beautiful motif in the Saemisch Attack.
Nov-23-03
Premium Chessgames Member
  Eggman: <18.Nf5!>

Kmoch's so-called "Benoni Jump".

Sep-18-04  morphy234: nice queen sacrifice!
Dec-18-05  Chopin: She is impressive-Qxh7 leads to a beautiful mate.
Feb-26-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  raydot: It was the Indian that caused the problem, no? Black let the weak dark squares around the g-pawn become fodder for the attack. Astute play by Menchik.
Apr-02-06  Halldor: Beautiful ending by Menchik - White to play and win:


click for larger view

Apr-02-06  Halldor: Not quite as beautiful finish but a bit longer life for Black would be: 23...Rxg6 24.Rxg6 Rg8 25.Rxg8 Kxg8 26.Qg7#
Jul-06-07  sanyas: This is what you might call a clockwork attack.
Feb-06-08  Amarande: Actually, Black's mistake, as Hans Kmoch suggested in <Pawn Power in Chess>, seems to have been trading the Knight on move 18. This piece is too important for defense and Black cannot really hold on without it.

Of course if 18 ... Kf6?? 19 g5#. Nor would 18 ... gxf5? do, as there follows 19 gxf5+ Ng6 (or 19 ... Kh8 20 Qh6 Rg8 21 Qf6+ and mate next move) 20 f6+! Kxf6 (else Qh6) 21 Qg5+ Kg7 22 h6+ Kg8 (or Kh8) 23 Qf6 and mates.

But after 18 ... Bxf5! 19 gxf5 Nd7 a continuation of the attack appears to be difficult. White's Bishop is bad, very bad, and is almost impossible to use effectively in the attack, the Knight will be needed on the Q side for defense against Black counteraction, and f6 is too guarded to allow White to secure her Pawn there. White can continue with 20 h6+ and 21 fxg6, with strong attacking chances, but it doesn't look as if she can really penetrate against the defense of the Black Rook and two Knights ...

Mar-14-08  popyseed: may be black could have tried 20...Kxf6
Mar-14-08  Granny O Doul: <popyseed> That leads straight to mate after 21 Qg5+ Kg7 22 h6+ and 23 Qf6.
Oct-27-09  WhiteRook48: If I'm right 24 Rh1 also wins but not as elegantly
Feb-26-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  Eyal: <Amarande: Actually, Black's mistake, as Hans Kmoch suggested in <Pawn Power in Chess>, seems to have been trading the Knight on move 18. This piece is too important for defense and Black cannot really hold on without it [...] But after 18 ... Bxf5! 19 gxf5 Nd7 a continuation of the attack appears to be difficult. White's Bishop is bad, very bad, and is almost impossible to use effectively in the attack, the Knight will be needed on the Q side for defense against Black counteraction, and f6 is too guarded to allow White to secure her Pawn there.>

Is this really what Kmoch says? In fact, Black is completely lost after 18... Bxf5 19.gxf5 Nd7 too (a computer gives something like +2.50-3 for White), one important reason being that with White playing Nb5 Black has no Q-side attack to speak of - in fact, he has problems there as well as on the K-side, e.g. 20.Bh3 (a good way to activate the supposedly "very bad" bishop) Nf6 (or 20...Rad8 21.f4) 21.Nb5 Qb8 22.Qg5 h6 23.Qh4 g5 24.Rxg5+! hxg5 25.Qxg5+ Kh7 26.h6 Rg8 27.Qxf6 Qf8 28.Nxc7 etc.

Aug-25-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  sevenseaman: It ought to be called the 'Vera Menchik' mate, so popular these days.
NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!
If you already have an account, you should login now.
Please observe our posting guidelines:
  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
  3. No personal attacks against other users.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
Blow the Whistle See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.


NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.
Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]
July 1950 - A Queen's Sacrifice
from Solitaire Chess column in Chess Review by SirIvanhoe
Vera Menchik (1906-1944)
from Player of the day: notable game IV by nikolaas
More 1. d4!
by Benjamin Lau
Wow!
by 64rutor
dedicated to Tal + others
by hartkoka
Unleashed Tactics
by Dustin J.
446
from 500 Master Games of Chess III (part 2) by alachabre
More Fawn Pawns
by SwitchingQuylthulg
G446
from 500MGC3 by morwa
good mates
by PTenzel
pawn on f6
from Nf5 sac against the kingside castled fianchetto by takchess
Round Four, Game 20
from London International Chess Congress, 1932 by Resignation Trap
#12 - Unwilling club members
from "Wonders and Curiosities of Chess" - Pt 1 by GrahamClayton


home | about | login | logout | F.A.Q. | your profile | preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | new kibitzing | chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Little ChessPartner | privacy notice | contact us
Copyright 2001-2013, Chessgames Services LLC
Web design & database development by 20/20 Technologies