chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Isaac Boleslavsky vs Paul Keres
USSR Absolute Championship (1941), Leningrad-Moscow URS, rd 10, Apr-06
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense. Chigorin Defense Panov System (C99)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35434 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 21 more Boleslavsky/Keres games
sac: 85.Nxh3 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Olga is our default viewer, but we offer other choices as well. You can use a different viewer by selecting it from the pulldown menu below and pressing the "Set" button.

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
Dec-20-07  amuralid: Analysis starting move 68:
http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_o...
Dec-31-17  Count von Twothree: This is a remarkable ending because on move 78 Keres was winning, but he blundered, throwing away the win. He could still have bailed out with a draw by repetition on move 81, but declined this as well, so that a position he was winning on move 78, he was losing by move 81.
May-23-25  Stolzenberg: Probably <Count of Twothree>: means

78. ... Nb3 (threatening 79. ... Nd4#) 79. Ke2 (otherwise mate in 1) 79. ... Nd4+ 80. Kd3 f3

However it does not seem to be so easy:

81. d6 f2 82. Ne3 f1=Q+ 83. Nxf1 Kxf1 84. d7 Ne6 85. Kc4 Kg2 86. Kd5 Nd8 87. Kxe5 Kxh3 88. Kf6 Kxg4 89. e5 h3 90. e6 = draw

May-23-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Two knights blah blah blah can't blah blah blah dance at blah blah blah blah two weddings blah blah blah.
May-24-25  Stolzenberg: <offramp>: Here is the rest: 90. ... Nxe6 91. Kxe6 h2 92. d8=Q h1=Q blah blah.

This endgame ♕ vs ♕ + ♙ is a draw which every endgame database will show.

Jun-14-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: <Mikhail Botvinnik> in <Championship Chess> states that Keres rejected 68...Ng1 due to 69. Ne5. However after 68... Ng1 69. Nxe5 dxe5 70. d6 f3 71. Ke3 f2 72. Kxf2 Nxh3+ Black wins, as 73...Nf4 & 74...Ne6 stop Boleslavsky's pawn from queening.
Jun-14-25  Olavi: To avoid misunderstanding: Botvinnik writes that Keres 'evidently' rejected it because of 69.Nxe5, and indeed, why else reject Ng1. And Botvinnik gives Polyak's variation ...72...Nxh3+ and Black wins.
Jun-14-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <Count von Twothree> seems to be right about move 78: 78....Nb3 79.Ke2 Nd4+ 80.Kd3 f3 81.d6 <Nb3>! 82.Ne3 Nc5+ 82.Kc4 Nd7 83.Kb5 (83.Kd5 Kf2 84.Nc4 Ke2! 85.Nxe5 f2) 83....Kh2 84.Kc6 Nf6 85.Kc7 Kxh3 with the basic idea that Black's knight can sacrifice itself for the d-pawn while White's knight faces the aforementioned two weddings problem.

This is obviously an engine line, but it shows White's troubles: 86.Kd8 Nxe4 87.Kc7 Nf6 88.Kd8 Nxg4 89.Nxg4 Kxg4 90.d7 h3 91.Ke7 f2 92.d8/Q f1/Q 93.Qc8+ Qf5.

White has managed to get to a queen ending, but it's hopeless.

Jun-16-25  Stolzenberg: <keypusher>: 78. ... Nb3 79. Ke2 Nd4+ 80. Kd3 f3 81. d6 <Nb3!> a very strong move, that's the way to do it!

Here a few lines besides 82. <Ne3>:

<82. d7> Nc5+ 83. Ke3 Nxd7 84. Kxf3 Kh2 85. Kf2 Kxh3 86. Kf3 Kh2 87. Kf2 Nf6 88. Nxe5 Nxe4+ 89. Kf3 Nd2+ 90. Kf2 h3 91. Nf7 Ne4+ 92. Kf3 Kg1 = 0:1

<82. Ke3> f2 83. d7 f1=Q 84. d8=Q Qxh3+ or 84. ... Qxc4 = 0:1

<82. Nxe5> f2 83. Nf3+ Kg2 = 0:1

<82. Nd2> f2 = 0:1

<82. Kc3> Nc5

a) 83. Nd2 f2
a1) 84. Kc4 Nxe4 85. d7 Nxd2+ = 0:1 or
a2) 84. Kb4 Nd7
a2x) 85. Kc4 Nf6 or
a2y) 85. Kb5 f1=Q 86. Nxf1 Kxf1 87. Kc6 Nf6 88. d7 Nxd7 89. Kxd7 Kg2 90. Ke6 Kxh3 and the black pawn comes first = 0:1

b) 83. Nxe5 f2 84. Nf3+ Kg2 85. Nd2 Nxe4+ = 0:1

<82. Kc2> f2 83. Ne3 Nc5 = 0:1

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