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Georgy Agzamov vs Murray Chandler
Rakovica (1982), Rakovica, Belgrade YUG
Semi-Slav Defense: Botvinnik System (D44)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-18-23  Brenin: White is a P ahead, but his Q is attacked, and if it escapes the R on a4 is lost. Therefore 24 Qxa8 Bxa8 25 Rxa8, and White has R+B+P for the Q, and control of Black's back rank, immobilising the R on h8 and the B on f8. White's best response is 25 ... c3, but after 26 bxc3 bxc3 27 Bf4+ White's extra pieces should be able to hold the passed P.
Mar-18-23  jrredfield: I very quickly started leaning toward 24 Qxa8 but have to admit I wasn't totally sure of the full combination that would put White in command. But nothing else seemed to work as well, although 25 Bf4+ might have some value to stall White's need to resolve the a file tactical considerations. After spending more time analyzing the position, I see that with 24 Qxa8 Bxa8 25 Rxa8 c3 26 bxd3 bxc3 27 Rxa7+ Kc6 White can bring over the other rook and launch an all out attack on Black's helpless King.
Mar-18-23  Brenin: Did Black play 20 ... Kb8 deliberately, instead of the safer Qd7 or Kc7, in order to tempt White to play 21 Qd4 Nxa4 22 Qxa7+ Kc7 23 Rxa4, so that 23 ... Ra8 apparently traps the Q? If so it was a poor plan, as it is refuted not only by 24 Qxa8 as in the game, but also by the less spectacular 23 Qxa4, which leaves White a P up.
Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: What stoped black from simply playing 25...Bg7 ?

If 25. Rxh8, then 26...Bxh8. If 26. fxg7, then 26...Rxa8. Either way, I don't see how white can promote the ♙ on f6.

Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: <al wazir>, possibly 25...Bg7; 26.Ra7+,K-any; 27.fxg7.
Mar-18-23  TeaChess: 25…Bg7 will lose to 26 Ra7+
Mar-18-23  devere: Not much of a problem since there isn't any choice. White is forced to win with 24.Qxa8
Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  raymondhow: After first two moves I went for the immediate check with 26.Bf4+, seems to work just as well.
Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  agb2002: White is one pawn up.

Black threatens Rxa7 and Qxa4.

White has Qxa8 and Bf4+.

In the case of 24.Bf4+:

A) 24... Kc8 25.Qxa8+ Bxa8 26.Rxa8+ followed by Rfa1 looks winning.

B) 24... Kc6 25.Qxa8 Bxa8 26.Rxa8 Bg7 27.Ra7 Bxf6 28.Rfa1 Bxb2 29.Rc7+ Kb6 30.Raa7 Rb8, unclear.

C) 24... Bd6 25.Qe3 Qxa4 26.Qe7+ Qd7 27.Bxd6+ Kc8 (27... Kc6 28.Bxd5+ and 29.Qxd7 is winning) 28.Bxb4 Qxe7, unclear.

-----

In the case of 24.Qxa8 Bxa8 25.Rxa8 White prepares Rfa1 or Rd1 and reserves the checks Ra7+ and Bf4+ when appropriate.

-----

I think I'd play 24.Qxa8 because the only alternative, 24.Bf4+, does not look convincing.

Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: I wasn't at all sure where this as going, so I had to take it a move at a time. The lack of what I thought were good alternatives got me to 28 Rd1 Ke6. Is W now winning?

I then chose 29 Bxd5+, so I missed the chance to skewer K and R. Not sure if 29 ... Kxf6 was right. Does B get away with ... Kf5, avoiding the loss of material?

Mar-18-23  mel gibson: I chose 24. Bf4+

Stockfish 15 followed the text line which is much stronger:

24. Qxa8

(24. Qxa8 (Qa7xa8 Bb7xa8 Ra4xa8 c4-c3 b2xc3 b4xc3 Be3-f4+ Bf8-d6 Bf4xd6+ Kc7xd6 Ra8xh8 c3-c2 Rh8-c8 Qb5-e2 Bg2-h3 Qe2-d3 Bh3-g4 Qd3-e4 Bg4-d1 c2xd1R Rf1xd1 Kd6-d7 Rc8-c3 Qe4-f5 Rc3-d3 Kd7-e6 Rd3xd5 Qf5-c2 Rd5-d2 Qc2-c4 Rd2-d4 Qc4-a2 Rd1-e1+ Ke6xf6 Rd4-f4+ Kf6-g5 Re1-e3 Kg5-g6 Re3-f3 Kg6-g7 Rf4xf7+ Kg7-g8 h2-h3 Qa2-e2 Kg1-h2 Qe2-c2 Rf7-f4 Qc2-a2 Rf3-c3 Kg8-g7 Rc3-e3 Kg7-g8 Rf4-f5) +9.63/45 861)

score for White +9.63 depth 45.

If I force Stockfish to play my move:
24. Bf4+

(24. Bf4+ Bd6 (Bf8-d6 Qa7-e3 Qb5xa4 Qe3-e7+ Qa4-d7 Bf4xd6+ Kc7-c8 h2-h4 Qd7xe7 f6xe7 Kc8-d7 Bd6xb4 Kd7-e8 Rf1-d1 Rh8-h5 Bb4-c3 Ra8-a6 Bg2-f3 Rh5-h6 h4-h5 Rh6-d6 Bc3-d4 Ke8xe7 g3-g4 Ke7-f8 g4-g5 Rd6-d8 Kg1-h2 Bb7-c8 Kh2-g3 Bc8-f5 Bf3-g4 Bf5-c2 h5-h6 Ra6-a8 Rd1-h1 Bc2-h7 f2-f4 Rd8-e8 Bg4-f3 Ra8-b8 g5-g6 f7xg6 Bf3xd5 Rb8-c8 Rh1-a1 Re8-d8 Bd4-g7+ Kf8-e7 Ra1-a7+ Rd8-d7 Ra7-a5 Ke7-e8 Bd5-e6 Rd7-d3+ Kg3-h4 Rc8-c6) -2.87/44 273)

score for Black -2.87 depth 44.

Mar-18-23  goodevans: Amazingly this position has subsequently been reached in at least two other games: <Angelos Vouldis vs Ilias Kourkounakis, 2002> and <Vardges Tovmasian vs Kateryna Dolzhikova, 2011>.

Unfortunately, chessgames doesn't seem to have either of these games but I can tell you that White 'solved the puzzle' correctly in both.

Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: I'd gen quirk u c jazz ploy Qxa8 abridge lug axiom jab affable pan bud c excalibur Qxa8 ore;
Mar-18-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  al wazir: <An Englishman> & <TeaChess>: Yes, after 26.Ra7+ white wins the ♗.

Thanks.

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