chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Willem Schelfhout vs Geza Maroczy
Amsterdam (1920), Amsterdam NED, rd 4, May-28
King's Gambit: Declined. Classical Variation (C30)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)better is 7.Na4 Bd6 8.O-O h6 9.Bxc6+ Nxc6 10.d3 O-O 11.Be3 Nd4 = +0.02 (23 ply) ⩱ -0.70 (22 ply)better is 8.Na4 Bd6 9.c3 a6 10.Bxc6 Nxc6 11.Be3 f5 12.Nc5 Qe8 = -0.22 (24 ply)better is 8...f6 9.Bd2 Bg4 10.Na4 Bd6 11.c3 a6 12.Bxc6 Nxc6 ⩱ -0.93 (20 ply)better is 9.Na4 Bg4 10.Nxc5 Qxc5 11.Bxc6 Nxc6 12.Qd2 f5 13.Be3 = -0.32 (22 ply) 9...Bg4 10.Bxe7 Nxe7 11.Bc4 c6 12.O-O-O b5 13.Bb3 Bxf3 ⩱ -0.92 (21 ply) 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.Bc4 c6 12.Be3 b5 13.Bb3 a5 14.a4 Be6 = -0.14 (25 ply)better is 10...Ng6 11.h4 h5 12.O-O-O c6 13.a4 Bg4 14.Ne2 Nxf3 ⩱ -0.98 (22 ply) 11.Nxd4 Bxd4 12.Be3 b5 13.Bb3 a5 14.a4 Be6 15.axb5 Bxb3 = -0.28 (23 ply) ∓ -1.90 (24 ply) 15.Be3 Be6 16.Bxc5 Qxc5 17.Rc1 Qd6 18.Ne2 Bxb3 19.Kf2 a4 ⩱ -1.42 (21 ply)better is 15...Be6 16.d4 Bxd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Qxd4 Qxh2 19.Qe3 -+ -3.33 (23 ply) 16.Na4 bxa3 17.Nxc5 a2 18.Be3 a1=Q+ 19.Kc2 Qxd1+ 20.Rxd1 ∓ -1.87 (24 ply)-+ -3.48 (25 ply) 19.Rc1 c5 20.Kd1 f5 21.Nexd4 exd4 22.e5 Qd5 23.Qc2 Rfc8 -+ -2.68 (22 ply)-+ -4.84 (25 ply)24.Rxc6 Qa2+ 25.Kc1 Qa1# -+ mate-in-20-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35435 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 923 more games of Maroczy
sac: 21...Ra1+ PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Premium members can suggest a game for Guess-the-Move with the Guess-the-Move Suggestion Queue.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-02-07  Themofro: Nothing to it. The doubled and weak pawns around the king, the open a-file they all scream for the rook sacrifice. A nice puzzle regardless and a good game by Maroczy.
Jan-02-07  dzechiel: Saw this one instantly. Too easy for a Tuesday puzzle. Maybe too easy for a Monday puzzle. :)
Jan-02-07  Operation Mindcrime: Woo hoo! Got this in a few seconds.

Sort of cheated, though, because this position was just crying for a sacrifice at a1 (it occurs more commonly at h1 or h8, when it's usually followed by a ♕ check on the h-file). The idea is to get the queen into the attack with tempo, after which ♗xb3 literally drives in the last nail.

Great game by Maroczy, though I think his opponent was a bit obliging....

Jan-02-07  Bob726: Too easy, got it in less than a second
Jan-02-07  ColoradoHamster: I thought this was good for a Tuesday. Rook sac to gain a tempo, Queen check, then bring the Bishop. Nice.

<ax2kool: yay! i got this one....BTW has Kings Gambit worked for anyone except for Morphy?>

Judit Polgar used to play the King's Gambit, with some success.

Jan-02-07  gamer945094: <Chris1Clark>, what about 24.Qxb3 in your line?
Jan-02-07  FLCLlove: <ax2kool: yay! i got this one....BTW has Kings Gambit worked for anyone except for Morphy?>

Chigorin played well with King's Gambit and played it often. Steinitz was rather successful as well.

Jan-02-07  dassy: I cant see the win for Black if at 21. Qc1
Jan-02-07  melv: Spasky also played the kings gambit.
Jan-02-07  FLCLlove: Though Spassky rarely lost with the King's Gambit, he drew almost as often as he won with it.

What are you seeing to stop the mate with Qc1 that's any different.

Jan-02-07  Stellar King: got it!! the diamino's mate!!!!
Jan-02-07  YouRang: <dassy: I cant see the win for Black if at 21. Qc1>

True, but after playing around with that line for a while, it still looks bad for black:

<21...Qa7!> making threats along the a-file while still guarding against Nxd4

<22. Nd2> White's only way to guard against Bxb3 (23. Kc2? Bxb3! 24. Kxb3? Qa4#). However, at d2, the knight no longer guards e5, and it blocks its rook from guarding Pe3. This allows...

<22...Ne5> (threatening Pe3) <23. Kc2> (guard Pe3 with king) <23...Qc5+>

<24. Nc4> (blocking check)


click for larger view

Black's pieces are terrible and he has isolated & doubled b-file pawns, while black's pieces have great mobility and good advanced pawns. Black will soon get the f-file rook in play with ...f5.

Jan-02-07  FLCLlove: I know I'm rusty so please tell me if I'm missing something.

21.Qc1
21...Ra1+ Following along the same lines as the original game. 22.Kxa1 This move is forced.
22...Qa5+
23.Kb1 Again, no way to block and nowhere to go; forced move. 23.Bxb3
Only way to survive following this is to sac the Queen at c2.

Better are 21.Qd1 or 21.Qc2.

Jan-02-07  YouRang: <FLCLlove> After 21. Qc1 Ra1+ 22. Kxa1 Qa5+ 23. Kb1 Bxb3, White has 23...Qxc6, and there's no mate because the king can escape to d2 (which was blocked by the queen in the 21. Rc1 line).
Jan-02-07  FLCLlove: Okay thanks.
Jan-02-07  Fisheremon: <mikrobi: for Fisheremon :
11 Ne2 ?!, Nf3 ! i think.>
not Fisheremon, but Tacticstudent. I just proposed a save on 17th move for White.
Jan-02-07  EXIDE: I came up with 21 ..., Bxb3 as winning as white has no reply to black Queen moving to a5 and checking on a1 next move.
Jan-02-07  malthrope: <EXIDE: I came up with 21 ..., Bxb3 as winning... [...]>

One slight problem with 21... Bxb3 due to 22. Rxc5! ;-) - Mal

Jan-03-07  EXIDE: <malthrope> thanks! My error. Just for info. I recently became a premium memember and am enjoying the opening explorer. Improved my game. Not today I guess.
Jan-03-07  WBP: Fischer played the King's gambit three times as white and won all theree games, once as black, and lost (against Spassky). Spassky lost only once with the opening in, as I recall, 32 games in which he employed it, and he won at least 14 of those games. The King's gambit is, despite the rather negative response it gets among many chessplayer, still a potent, surprising, and very rich and rewarding opening for the player or the white pieces.
Jan-03-07  mikrobi: For Fisheremon: sorry...
Jan-03-07  malthrope: <EXIDE: <malthrope> thanks! My error. [...]>

Well, the initiative here is everything! (forcing lines). Although, luv the chess combinations where the 'quiet killer move' is the coup de grâce! ;-) - Mal

Jan-03-07  mikrobi: Bronstein played the King's gambit too. He gave and interview before his death and said that after e4, e5 the best move is f4... You can read it at chesspro.ru unfortunetly in russian... But Fischer learnt russian language to understand russian chess analyzes :)
Jan-03-07  euripides: What's unfortunate about Russian ?
Mar-03-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  WTHarvey: Black mates in 5.


click for larger view

21. …?

Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 3)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC