| Sep-20-21 | | Gaito: 
click for larger viewBLACK TO MOVE
Marshall played here 8...Bb6, after which the game is roughly equal. Deserving attention was also 8...Bc5, and then:
A) 9.d4 Be7 10.Qf2 O-O 11.Bd3 c5 12.Qg3 Kh8 13.Rf1 h6 (13...c4? would not work on account of 14.Bxh7! with a strong attack) 14.dxc5 Nd7 with an unclear game. B) 9.Qb5+ Nd7 10.d4 c6 11.Qe2 Be7 12.Qf2 Qa5 13.Qg3 g6 14.Bd2 with approximate equality. |
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| Sep-20-21 | | Gaito: 
click for larger viewWHITE TO MOVE
It is apparent that Black emerged from the opening with a comfortable game. In this position Torre played 11.Qe3 (presumably with the idea of preventing ...c5 which is Black's thematic breakthrough in a position like this one). However, an interesting alternative would have been 11.a4!? with the obvious threat a5, whereupon Black would almost be forced to play 11...Nc6 thereby hampering the advance of his own c-pawn, because if 11...c5 at once, then 12.a5! Bc7 13.Qb5! would give White a certain spatial advantage and excellent piece play, and his King would be relatively safe in the center. |
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| Sep-20-21 | | Gaito: 
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BLACK TO MOVE
Marshall played here 20...c6 which is objetively Black's best move in this position, a move that seizes control of d5 and protects his b7-pawn which is under attack.
In case of 20...c5?!, trying to open up the game so as to exploit the insecure position of White's King in the center, a likely continuation could be 21.d5! (but not 21.Qxb7? cxd4 22.Rb5 dxc3, opening up the position and winning easily by a direct attack on the exposed White King)
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Further, there might follow 21...Qxe5 22.Re1 Qc7 23.Be7 Rfe8 24.d6, and White would win without trouble on account of the strength of his passed pawn (See diagram below):
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| Sep-20-21 | | Gaito: 
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This was a critical position that might have changed the outcome of the game.
Marshall played the feeble 25...f4?, a careless move that loses by force. Perhaps he made an error in his calculations. Correct was 25...fxg4 26.Qxf7+ Qxf7 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 28.Rxb7+ Ke6 29.hxg4 c5!, and Black holds his own in this rook ending which should end in a draw with correct play by both sides (See diagram below):
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For example: 30.Rxg7 cd 31.cd Rxd4, etc. Black should draw easily. |
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| Sep-20-21 | | Gaito: 
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BLACK TO MOVE
Black's position is so bad that it is almost resignable. Computer evaluation by SF14 is as high as +5.32. There followed 29...Qg6 30.Qe2 f3 31.Qh2 Rd8, reaching the following position:
click for larger viewAfter having played very well for the last few moves, it was now Torre's turn to go wrong. White wins outright with the problem-like move 32.e6!! This move is quickly spotted by the engine. Sure enough, for a human being it would not be easy to part with his advanced passed pawn, which is the pride of his position. After 32.e6!! Rf4 (if 32...Qxe6 33.Qh7+ forces mate in short order. SF14 says it is mate in 14 moves ,which we surely should believe without requesting proof) 33.Rxb7+ Kf6 34.Qh6! Rg8 35.e7, and Black is busted. See diagram below:
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| Sep-20-21 | | Gaito: To be sure, very few human players would have spotted the problem-like move 32.e6!!, which is a typical engine's move. Nevertheless, even after 32.Rbf1 which was the move actually played, White's position is still winning (computer evaluation by SF14: +2.70). Black played then 32...Rf4 and the following position was reached:
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This position is supposed to be winning for White (computer evaluation by SF14: +2.67). White could now play 33.Kb2 at once, protecting his weak pawns, but what he played was also good: 33.Qh3 f2 34.Kb2 (Now 34.e6! deserved attention) 34...Rdf8, and the following position was reached:
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WHITE TO MOVE
35.Qe3??
Torre missed the last train to victory by removing his queen from the open h-file where it was very good placed with some nasty threats. Correct was 35.Qh2!, for example: 35...Rxg4 36.e6! and White wins outright. If then 36...Qxe6? 37.Qh7+ Kf6 38.Rh6 mate.
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Kibitzing
