Helmut Pfleger vs Vincent McCambridge (1981)

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Helmut Pfleger vs Vincent McCambridge
Lone Pine Open (1981), Lone Pine, CA USA, rd 7, Apr-06
Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense. General (D58) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Mar-29-22		Brenin: 30 Nxf7+ Rxf7 31 Rh5+ Rh7 32 Qc8+ Kg7 33 Qb7+ Kf6 (Kg6 34 Qxh7+ Kf6 35 Rh6+ is no better) 34 Qxa6+ Kg7 35 Qb7+, leaving White the exchange and a P ahead.

Mar-29-22		stacase: Way easier than Monday. 30.Nxf7+ threatens mate unless 30...Rxf7 and the rest is a walk in the park.

Mar-29-22		Brenin: 18 ... Ba6 was a blunder, allowing the doubling of Black's K-side Ps and the eventual exposure of his K, since 19 Nxf6+ Nxf6 20 Qxb8 loses the B on a6. Black should have played 18 ... Ra7, though White stands better after 19 Nxf6+ Nxf6 20 Ne5.

Mar-29-22		mel gibson: Many moves win here - Black is in a hopeless position. Stockfish 14 says 30. Nxf7+ (30. Nxf7+ (♘h6xf7+ ♖f8xf7 ♖b5-h5+ ♖f7-h7 ♕g4-c8+ ♔h8-g7 ♕c8-b7+ ♔g7-f6 ♕b7xh7 ♕d4-c5 ♖h5-h6+ ♔f6-e5 ♖f1-e1+ ♔e5-d4 ♖e1-d1+ ♔d4-e5 ♖h6xa6 ♘a4-b6 ♕h7-h5+ ♔e5-e6 ♕h5xc5 ♔e6-f7 ♕c5xb6 f4-f3 ♖a6-a7+ ♔f7-e8 ♖d1-d8+) +M14/58 52) White wins _ mate in 14.

Mar-29-22		TheaN: Hm. I played this slightly different than the text, and it seems like that line is not much worse. After <30.Nxf7+ Rxf7 (Kh7 31.Rh5 Rh6 32.Rxh6#)> I played <31.Rb8+> immediately. The point being that after <31....Kh7> Rf8 just throws material <32.Qh5+!> White takes just enough escape squares from Black to force a win: click for larger view 32....Kg7 33.Qh8+ Kg6 34.Qxd4 #10 and the Black camp is decisively uncoordinated, and after <32....Rh6 33.Qxf7+ Qg7 34.Qf5+> White still has the exchange and a pawn, but <34....Rg6 35.Re1 +-> keeps all the activity too.

Mar-29-22		TheaN: White can also win the queen relatively easy with 30.Rh5?! Rg6 (Qg7 31.Nf5+, else Nxf7+) 31.Nf5+ Kg8 32.Qh4! click for larger view 32.....Qf6 is forced, as Black needs to do three things: save the queen, defend h8 and defend e7. It's already a wonder this move is available. Of course, after 33.Ne7+ Qxe7 34.Qxe7 +- it's just a band-aid.

Mar-29-22		raymondhow: Like the engine I went for 30.Rh5 because looked like would lead to greater material win than 30.Nxf7+.

Mar-29-22		perfidious: Embarras de richesse. My first thought was 30.Rh5, which wins but is not as clean as Pfleger's line.

Mar-29-22		agb2002: The rook on f8 protects the back rank. This suggests 30.Nxf7+ Rxf7 (30... Kh7 31.Rh5+ Rh6 32.Rxh6#) A) 31.Rb8+ Kh7 32.Qh5+ (or 32.Qg8+ Kh6 33.Qxf7 wins decisive material) 32... Rh6 (32... Kg7 33.Qh8+ Kg6 34.Qxd4 wins the queen) 33.Qxf7+ Qg7 34.Qxf4 wins decisive material. B) 31.Rh5+ Rh7 32.Qc8+ Kg7 33.Qb7+ (or 33.Rxh7+ Kxh7 34.Qxa6 wins decisive material), followed by Qxh7 or Rxh7, is winning. I'd play 31.Rh5+.

Mar-29-22		saturn2: As <MGP> I had 31.Rb8 as follow up. The computer says it is mate one move later than 31.Rh5

Mar-29-22		AlicesKnight: I thought Nxe7+ looked 'snazzier' and Rh5 looked 'solid', and both brought success. The silicon seems to like the former.

Mar-29-22		parch: Looked at 30.Rh5 first, settled for 30.N:f7+.

Mar-29-22		Teyss: <Brenin> In your line after 35.Qb7+ Kf6 36.Qxh7, White is not an exchange up but 2Rs vs N which is better. click for larger view Note that other BK moves on 33, 34 or 35 lead to a quick mate. Black also could interpose with 34...Qb6 35.Qxb6+ Nxb6 36.Rxh7 but it's even worse. click for larger view Surprising that SF gives 34.Qxh7 as per <mel gibson> without taking the a6 R first. Typically an engine move seeing #14, as a human I prefer to have more material to conclude. <TheaN> Your lines are interesting but I find the text line more forcing.

Mar-29-22		TheaN: <Teyss: <TheaN> Your lines are interesting but I find the text line more forcing.> 'Forcing' is somewhat subjective. In the end, Rh5+ is #14 and Rb8+ is #15, so we probably all end up playing the sub-optimal variation at some point to simplify. Lets compare; 30.Nxf7+ Rxf7: 31.Rh5+ Rh7 32.Qc8+ Kg7 33.Qb7+ click for larger view and here SF switches to a mating mood but as stated, after 33....Kf6 (Kg6 34.Qxh7+) 34.Qxa6+ will pick up Ra6 with tempo and White will be up two exchanges. Instead 31.Rb8+ Kh7 32.Qh5+ Rh6 33.Qxf7+ Qg7 34.Qf5+ Rg6 35.Re1: click for larger view White's up less material, but Black pieces are completely paralyzed. What exactly is Black going to do to prevent the rook from joining? SF immediately throws the knight for some breathing room. Before this, White had the option to trade queens and win Pa5 with no play left for Black whatsoever. Purely by material Rh5+ is superior. By conversion, it has just a slight edge imo.

Mar-29-22		plzrelax: Hello, first time posting. What can black do to stop mate after 30.Rh5?

Mar-29-22		keypusher: <plzrelax: Hello, first time posting. What can black do to stop mate after 30.Rh5?> Welcome! He can stave off immediate mate with 30__Rg6 (31.Nxf7+ Kg7). You can press the engine button in the lower right corner to get a computer�s opinion.

Mar-29-22		TheaN: <plzrelax: Hello, first time posting. What can black do to stop mate after 30.Rh5?> Eventually he can't, but an immediate mate threat is indeed prevented as per <keypusher>'s 30....Rg6! which conveniently stops the mate threat. However, after 31.Nf5+ Kg8 32.Qh4!, the only defense is 32....Qf6 33.Ne7+ Qxe7 34.Qxe7 +-.

Mar-29-22		parch: <plzrelax: Hello, first time posting> I had gone for 30.Rh5 first, came up with...Rg6 31.Nf5+ Kg8 32.Qh4 Threatening Ne7+.

Mar-29-22		chrisowen: Luft v it coz arrive it Nxf7+ hub it vil aflush plush buck it wag luft v it coz arrive it knight pet heart reg gran it vat quandary it wimbles flick it coz it v i dj jump it kant hole v it v i yes sir dug bow it v i map x it flock v it v i z it vanquish hup it vim it v c lo it vin fraggier it v enough fags black v it v give it finish idiom it uvray hug it von ghoul axiom jubbly efface blubb v it v cervix i abridge light nah back lecture bubble v it vet ah ro adept clubhouse it aced it var c did bereft gm it vat chalice v it v cj mack cate v it v at cd fine it vigil it v eg cd left flip v it v pug bums c leed it hoof clue it v i muck ft bluff c geed it v grief v it vader it c v fee it nought da v it v i cc me bluff gr hi ide it vent jenga it ok it v i cod it ton ft v it visage clock hut me fell purge it ven i gel flute v it hm per it v i nn vet c bride it v i mag c ten c v in grid v it beam much it o it v Nxf7+ fag;

Mar-29-22		Teyss: <TheaN> You are right, "forcing" is quite subjective, let's say "simpler for my small human brain." Forgot which player said something like "If you can win material now or mate in a few moves, take the material because you might be missing something." Thanks for your useful posts.

Mar-29-22		TheaN: <Teyss: <TheaN> You are right, "forcing" is quite subjective, let's say "simpler for my small human brain." Forgot which player said something like "If you can win material now or mate in a few moves, take the material because you might be missing something."> Fair. It's always a bit of an oddball with these kind of positions. Even though engines are right that the ply to mate objectively decides which move is best, the practical decisive move usually means more in human chess. In this case I might even argue for the 30.Rh5 line, <if> you spot 30....Rg6 31.Nf5+ Kg8 32.Qh4 +-. All three lines don't really deviate much from each other, as long as White wins at least one exchange or keep threatening mate. It's something else if a different line clearly leads to a much smaller advantage, like +2 vs +10: even if you find a converting line in the +2 variation, it's clear the other line is more decisive faster. <Thanks for your useful posts.> And thanks :>

Mar-29-22		Steve Holloway: I only saw 32.Rb8+ and 32.Qc8+. Both win, but not as easily

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