Joel Benjamin vs Zdenko Kozul (1997)

Joel Benjamin vs Zdenko Kozul
WchT 4th 1997 · Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer. Neo-Modern Variation (B67) · 0-1

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sac: 31...Qxc3	PGN: download \| view	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 2 OF 2 · Later Kibitzing >
Nov-14-04		Sneaky: I guess you're right. So it's just a question the bishop pair overcoming a rook and a knight, easy to imagine when the knight is out of play. I saw everything up to 35.Ka1 but then I assumed ...exf4 where White probably winning. I was starting to think this was another "spoiler" where any move works except the sac.

Nov-14-04		Bluelapis: <actinia: maybe 33. Qe2 Rc2 34. Qc2 Rc2 35. Kc2 Be4 36. Kc3 Be3 with two central passed pawns and two strong bishops> Is mate possible with two bishops ?? Or Should mate help from pawn promotion?? I wonder about it :-)

Nov-14-04		molinov: I started thinking about the Queen sacrifice but then couldn't see what happens after 33.Qxc3 Rxc3 34.Nxf4 dxf4 35.Rd3.

Nov-14-04		offramp: I couldn't get the q-sacrifice to come off either so I started looking at 31...d5. This was a hard one!

Nov-14-04		molinov: the line I gave is not the best for White. Since after 35.Rd3 Rxc2 would follow and after 36.Kxc2 Bxe4. I stil think that Benjamin had chances had he returned the Queen.

Nov-14-04		molinov: <acirce,Honza or Crafty>: please help.

Nov-14-04		santhosh achar: i thought about 31...Qb4 what's wrong with that?

Nov-14-04		ongyj: I totally agree with Molinov:) Someone please help with this one thanks.

Nov-14-04		crafty: 33. xc3 xc3 34. xf4 exf4 35. d3 c8 36. d1 f3 (eval -2.81; depth 20 ply; 1000M nodes)

Nov-14-04		Sneaky: Thanks Crafty, I see now that White playing Nxf4 in many variations isn't as good for White as you might think, as after ...exf4 the newly passed f-pawn becomes a monster.

Nov-14-04		crafty: 31...b4 32. xf4 xc3 33. xc3 xc3 34. f2 xe4 35. d5+ (eval 1.66; depth 14 ply; 1000M nodes)

Nov-14-04		cheski: Not the most helpful Queen moves for White in this game.

Nov-14-04		ryduke: I think I've found a line with great drawing chances for white: 31. ... Qxc3 32. Rxc3 Rxc3 33. Qh1!! Rxc2 34. Nxf4 Rb2+ 35. Ka1 Rcc2 36. Nd3 Rxa2+ 37. Kb1 Re2 38. Re1 Bxe4 39. Rxe2! Rxe2 40. Qc1 Bxd3 41. Ka1 and the queen vs. bishop and rook should probably be a draw.

Nov-14-04		Iron Dragon: How about 31...b4?

Nov-14-04		Knight13: Very good puzzle. I agree with Sneaky. What if 33. Qe2?

Nov-14-04		kevin86: A nice finish!! I saw that a queen sac was coming,but not from whenst it would come. NEVER underestimate the power of the rooks on the seventh rank (or 2nd if black)

Nov-14-04		actinia: <ryduke> 33. Qh1 Rxc2 34. Nxf4 exf4 might be the line. Black still has nasty back rank threats.

Nov-14-04		Dick Brain: <santhosh achar> I thought it was 31...Qb4 for a while too. Something like 31...Qb4 32. cxb4(?) Rxc2 33. Nxf4 Rb2+ etc. and wins. But I realized it cannot be that easy on Sunday.

Nov-14-04		ryduke: <actinia> 35. Qg1 gives white a slight edge for if 35. ... Rcc2 36. Qa7+ wins the bishop on a8 and the pawn on a3.

Nov-14-04		actinia: <ryduke> black has a few options after Qg1. for instance 35. ... Bxe4, threatening Rc1 mate. if 36. Qa7+ then R2c7+ or Kf8 will mate. white should try 36. Ka1 Kf8, after which white is hard pressed to find a defense.

Nov-14-04		ryduke: <actinia> Oops I gave a line for 34. ... Rb2+ 35. Ka1 exf4 36. Qg1 which is probably fine for white. Your line with 34 ... exf4 looks to win for black.

Nov-14-04		apple head: who got this right? To me it was quite easy

Nov-14-04		schizoidman: I agree with molinov. 33.Qxc3 Rxc3 34.Nxf4 exf4 35.Rf1 f3 36.Rf2 and I do not see how black can make progress.

Nov-14-04		pilobolus: Wow!!!

Nov-16-04		patzer2: The puzzle solution 31...Qxc3!! is a deep and subtle "double attack" to exploit the "weakened castled position." The move threatens the decisive minority mating attack that follows in the game (39. Kc1 Ra1#), but it also simultaneously threatens to create a decisive "passed pawn" as in the lines above by <actinia> and <crafty> (see also <Sneaky>'s post).

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 2 OF 2 · Later Kibitzing >

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