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Jan Smejkal vs John Moles
"Whack A Moles" (game of the day Jul-01-2007)
Skopje Olympiad qual-5 (1972), Skopje YUG, rd 7, Sep-25
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation. Gligoric-Taimanov System (E92)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jul-01-07  wouldpusher: Wait a minute...

What happens on 46. ... Nc5 47. Qe7 Nxb7 48. Qxb7 c5? Isn't Black winning then?

Jul-01-07  xeneizexxx: 46. ... Nc5 47. Qd8 Nxb7? 48. Qh8++
Jul-01-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: 46...Nc5 47. b8=Q (47. Qd8??? Qxd8) Nxd7 48. Qh8#. 47. Qc8 also wins.
Jul-01-07  wouldpusher: I see now. Thanks for pointing those stuff out.
Jul-01-07  Ashram64: Qh8 is a tacky little move
Jul-01-07  Ashram64: too bad no one called holly is playing moles...
if not we can call "holy moly"
Jul-01-07  beginner64: Interesting that black bishop on 41 is immune.

41 ..Be3. 42. Bxe3 Qe1+ 43. Bg1 leads to stalemate after Qh4+ and Qe1+.

Similarly if 43. Kh2 Qh4+ 44. Kg1 Qe1+ stalemate.

Jul-01-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  fm avari viraf: <beginner64: 41...Be3 42.Bxe3 Qe1+ 43.Bg1 leads to stalemate> There is no stalemate but Black draws by repetition i.e. 42...Qe1+ 43.Bg1 Qxh4+ 44.Bh2 Qe1+ draws. But White cleverly avoids all such tricks & goes on with his high class technique to promote his b-pawn & thus Blacks surrenders.
Jul-01-07  wouldpusher: I looked at the game for four times already and now I appreciate 44. Kh2! more.

It is both a waiting move and at the same time prevents perpetual check that will arise with Queen checks on d1 and h4. Moles had no good choice but to take the Knight, removing the guard of b7 and d7 in effect.

Had Moles played something else which maintains the Knight as guard for b7 and d7, let's say 44. ... Kf7 or ... f5 or ... g5 instead of the text, 45. Nxc5 Qxc5 46. Qd7+ followed by b7 and Qc8 promotes, while 45. ... Qxb6 loses to an attack by pushing the Black king to the corner, posting the Queen on the 7th rank, then playing Ne6 and Qg7#, e.g. 44. ... f5 45. Nxc5 Qxb6 46. Qd7+ Kf6 47. Qe6+ Kg7 48. Qe7+ followed by Ne6 and Qg7#. If Black plays the King to the 8th rank on the 44th move, 45. Qd8+ and 46. Nxc5 still wins in the same way.

Jul-02-07  kevin86: Mr. Moles put up a good fight-no reason to bury yourself in the ground over. I like 47 ♕c8 after 46...♘c5. It is simplest and threatens to queen and to mate. Cute moves as ♕d8-in this case-often lead to disaster.

To paraphrase "Hoccum's razor":the simplest move is often the best. (I'm guessing the Hoccum didn't grow a beard-lol)

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