Dec-28-18
 | | KEG: A wild game. After some normal play in an Open Ruy Lopez, Billecard builds a winning position against Janowski and has numerous opportunities to put the game away. Both sides err repeatedly, and the game continues until Billecard gives away first his advantage and then the game. Not the finest played of games, but never dull and often entertaining. 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Nxe4
The Open Defense to the Ruy Lopez. For quite a while, the players follow one of the normal lines. 6. d4 b5
7. Bb3 d5
8. dxe5 Be6
9. c3 Bc5
10. Nbd2 0-0
11. Bc2
The position was now"
click for larger viewThe so-called "Dilworth Attack (11...Nxf2 or 11...Bxf2+) is often played here. 11...Bf5 is most frequently played, and is arguably best. But Janowski has other ideas: 11... f5!?
This is perhaps the most complex response. It gives White a passed e-pawn, but it also gives Black strong play in the center. Just the sort of double-edged move likely to attract a wild tactician like Janowski. 12. Nb3 Bb6
13. Nfb4 NxN
14. NxN Qd7
14...Bd7 was best, but Janowski was rarely satisfied with attempts to seek equality. 15. f3 Nc5
16. Kh1 Nb7
16...a5 or 16...f4 are better and seem to be more in Janowski's style. 17. a4
This left:
click for larger view17... c5?
A wild and crazy move that should lose by force because the Black b7 Knight is hanging. 18. NxB QxN
19. f4?
Misses his chance. Billecard should have been able to win here with 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxf5! Qxe5 [if 20...QxB? 21. Qd5+ Qf7 22. e6! Qe7 23. RxR RxR 24. Bg5! Rd8 25. Qe4 QxB 26. QxN] 21. RxR RxR 22. Bd7 Qd6 23. Bxb5. 19... c4!
Janowski fights his way back into the game.
20. b4
Despite his error on move 19 and despite Janowski's fighting 19...c4!, Billecard still has the edge after this. 20. g4 was also good. 20... a5?!
Another wild move by the always tempestuous Janowski. 20...bxa5 or 20...g6 were better. The position was now:
click for larger viewAs I will discuss in my next post on this game, Janowski here and in what followed continued to flirt with disaster in his efforts to complicate. Given the dreadful positions into which he was to place himself, it is remarkable that Janwoksi eventually came out on top. But with Janowski, perhaps nothing should be deemed surprising. |
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Dec-29-18
| | KEG: Post II
21. axb5
21. Ba3 immediately was even stronger.
21... Rxa5
22. Ba3
This left:
click for larger view22... Rfa8?
Once again in this game Janowski put himself in the line of fire, and this time his mistake should have been fatal, since his b7 Knight was still hanging. 23. Bb4?
Overlooking another win. 23. Bxf5! sure seems to do the trick for Billecard here (23...QxB 24. Qxd5+ leaves White up two pawns with an overwhelming position). But even after this blunder, Billecard probably still had a won game. 23... R5a7
At least Janowski's b7 Knight was now protected. 24. Qf3?
"!"--Tournament Book.
The "!" from the Tournament Book is inexplicable. Billecard should still have played 24. Bxf5!, since after 24...QxB 25. Qxd5+ Kh8
26. Qc6! White is at least temporarily down a piece but has two pawns in return and rules the board. After the text, Billecard has forfeited most of his advantage. 24... bxa4
25. Rfd1?
"!"--Tournament Book.
Another bad move by Billecard that was once again rewarded with a "!". 25. Qh3 was the only way for White to play for an advantage. 25... Rd8
26. Rxa4 RxR
27. BxR
The position was now:
click for larger viewChances were roughly equal at this stage, but Janowski, true to form, could not let well enough alone. 27... Bc5?!
27...Nc5! was the way to hold the balance. Now, Billecard was back in the driver's seat, but not for long: 28. Bc2?
"!"--Tournament Book.
Another bad move by Billecard got him yet another exclamation point. 28. Bb5 was best. Alternatively, White would hold a big if not winning advantage with 28. h3. 28... BxB
28...g6 was the way for Black to get back into the game, but Janowski was not interested in playing defense. 29. cxB
The position was now:
click for larger view29... g6
29...h6 was the best chance.
30. h3 Qd7
Another misguided effort by Janowski.
31. Qc3 Qc6
Janowski had to try 31...Kf8 or 31...Kf7. Now, he was lost yet again" 
click for larger viewThings again looked grim for Janowski, but--as I will discuss in my next post on this game--though Billecard now had a win here, the up and down struggle was destined to continue and the final climax was still lay several moves ahead. |
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Dec-29-18
| | KEG: Post III
The game had certainly been zany to this point. But the madcap play had hardly begun. 32. Kh2?
Billecard had another chance to win here with 32. Qd4! (after which Black can choose his poison--if his Rook abandons the d-file Billecard wins the d-pawn and forces the trade of Queens; alternatively, if he keeps his Rook on d8 then White wins with 33. Ra1). After the text, Janowski can get back in the game with 32...Ra8! But instead he played: 32... h5?
Janowski was once again in bad shape:
click for larger view33. Qd4! is a killer here for White for much the same reason that 32. Qd4! would have been a winner. But Billecard played: 33. Qf3 Qe6
34. Rg1
Billecard wimped out here. He probably still had a win with 34. Qf2 or 34. Qe3. 34... Ra8?
More sloppy play by Janowski. He had to bring his King to aid in the defense with 34...Kg7 or 34...Kf7. 35. Rb1?
Burying his Bishop for no good reason. 35. Re1 was very strong here. 35... Kg7
Even better here, having played 34...Ra8, was 35...Ra4. 36. g4
Missing 36. Rd1, which would still leave Billecard with decent winning chances. The pawn swaps initiated by the text allowed Janowski to get back into the game--yet again! 36... hxg4
37. hxg4
The position was now:
click for larger view37... Rh8!
An essential intermediate move. Had Janowski careleesly played 37...fxg4 38. Rxg4 would have been crushing. 38. Kg3 fxg4
38...Nd8 was better.
39. Qxg4
Janowski again faced a dangerous situation:
click for larger view39...QxQ+ here would lose after 40. KxQ Nd8 41. Rd1 and White wins the d-pawn and the game. If instead 40...Rd8 41. Kg5! But Janowski here found the only move to keep him in the game: 39... Nd8!
40. QxQ NxQ
The following endgame was now reached:
click for larger viewIt might now appear that the game was headed for a draw. But not with these guys at their respective helms. indeed, the biggest thrills in this game still lay ahead, as I will discuss in my next post on thos game. |
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Dec-29-18
| | KEG: Post IV
While the game was nominally even after the trade of Queens, both sides had threats and the position was very difficult. On reflection, my statement in my last post that the game appeared headed for a draw was probably wrong. 41. Rd1
A good way to restrain the Black pawn phalanx. An alternative strategy was to try 41. b5 and play offense (e.g., 41...Rb8 42. Kf3 intending if 42...Rxb5 43. Rxg6+. I prefer Billecard's move, though both seem sensible. 41... d4?!
This unleashes the power of Billecard's b1 Bishop and gives White serious winning chances. Janowski could have held the fort with either 41...Rd8 or 41...Nc7. After the text, he was in trouble again, though it is not clear that he was lost at this stage (though with further manic play he would be soon enough). 42. Ba2!
This is the move Janowski should have considered before playing 41...d4?!. 42... Rc8
This was obviously the only chance for Black.
The position was now:
click for larger viewQuite a double-edged position. The x-ray attack by White's a2 Bishop on the now undefended Black Knight at e6 gave Billecard time to make serious trouble for Janowski with the simple 43. Kf3! With this, the White camp is defended while all of White's threats remain intact. 43. b5 was not as good in light of 43...d3.
But Billecard found a far worse move that left him hopelessly lost with best play by Janowski: 43. Rc1?
The position was now:
click for larger viewJanowski could now have likely have won with the most obvious move on the board> 43...d3 (e.g., 44. Rxc4 Ra8 [ouch!] 45. Ba3 Ra3 46. Bd1 Ra1 47. Bb3 d2 48. Kf2 Rc1! 49. Re4 d1(Q) 50. BxQ RxB) Granted, the resulting ending with Rook Knight and pawn against Rook and three pawns would be tough to win). But Janowski here seemingly lost his mind and played: 43... c3?
The position was now:
click for larger viewThe diagram is not a typo. Janowski indeed hung his Knight, And indeed Billecard could have likely won by just snatching the hanging piece (e.g., 44. BxN d3 45. Bg4 [45. Bb3 also wins] c2 46. Bd1!46...Rc4 [46...cxB(Q) leads to a Rook and pawn ending with White a pawn up with a likely win] 47. Bxc2 dxc2 48. g5 again reducing to a Rook and two pawns versus Rook and pawn ending that White should probably win). But as I will discuss in my next post on this game, Billecard did not take the offered Knight but instead--and despite further inaccurate play by Janowski--managed to maneuver himself into a hopelessly lost position in just three (terrible) moves. |
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Dec-29-18
| | KEG: Post V
The finale of this game was not pretty, but it was thrilling. 44. Bb1?
Not only missing the likely win with 44. BxN discussed in my last post, but putting himself in a hole. 44. f5 gxf5 46. BxN d3 47. Bxf5 was also better than the text. After 44. Bb1?, the position was:
click for larger viewSuddenly, Janowski was the one with winning chances. He should here have played 44...Rf8 going after the White f-pawn while keeping his threats with his passed c and d pawns intact. This may not win for Black, but Billecard would have been under severe pressure. But, instead of 44...Rf8, Janowski played:
44... Rb8
Chasing the wrong target. Billecard now has a clear route to a draw with 45. f5! But instead he erred with: 45. Kf3
"?"--Tournament Book.
For once in this game, I agree with the Tournament Book on the merits of Billecard's move here. After 45. f5 gxf5 46. Bxf5, Billecard would have been fine (e.g., 46...Nd8 47. Kf4 Rxb4 48. Ke4; and if then 48...Nc6 49. Kd5! Ne7+ 50. Kc5). After the text, Billecard would have to walk a tightrope to survive. 45... Rxb4
This left:
click for larger viewBillecard was not just down a pawn here, but was faced with Janowski's monster c and d pawns. His only chance was to try 46. f5! Matters could then have gotten interesting (e.g., 46. f5 gxf5 47. Bxf4 Nc5
48. Rg1+ Kf7 49. Rh1 Rb3 50. Rh7+ Ke8 51. Kg4 leaving White with chances. But Billecard blundered here with:
46. Ke4?
The rest was a massacre.
46... Nc5+
47. Kd5
47. Kf3 was perhaps a bit better, but also totally hopeless. After the text, the position was: 
click for larger viewNow, Janowski, who had other ways to win, finished with a flourish: 47... RxB
48. RxR
This left:
click for larger view48... c2
48...d3! was even more crushing. But Billecard had seen enough. After the text, he could play on with Rook and two pawns against Queen and pawn (49. Rc1 d3 50. KxN d2 51. Rxc2 d1(Q). Understandably, Billecard wanted no part of such a futile struggle. 0-1 |
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Kibitzing
sac: 47...Rxb1