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Nicolas Rossolimo vs Robert Byrne
68th US Open (1967), Atlanta, GA USA, rd 6, Aug-18
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian. Open (B32)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-28-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: Anthony Saidy wrote about this game in the 1967 U.S. Open tournament book:

<A Salute to a Grandmaster -- Nicholas Rossolimo

"Grandmaster is not merely a title gained by fulfilling certain technical requirements, but a State of Mind. A true grandmaster thinks grandly, and advances chess art or technique to new heights. When the chess history of our time is written, the name of Rossolimo will find its unique place.

"Although he won the strongest-ever U.S. Open in 1955, Rossolimo has not stormed Caissa's summit. Instead, he has coveted her with artistic works of beauty. Thus, his surpassingly brilliant Q-N6 against Reissman, played this year in the autumn of his career, will be enjoyed by chess lovers many decades after the achievements of "prevention" have been consigned to the dusty archives of scientific technique.> (Rossolimo vs P Reissman, 1967)

<"In his game at Atlanta against Grandmaster Robert Byrne, Rossolimo was out-played in the opening. On move 28 he found his King shakey, and had two inactive knights against two bishops. The situation looked grim, but in a burst of imagination, Rossolimo launched a brilliant attack involving the sacrifice of a full Rook!>


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[Position after 28.Rxh6]

<Shaken from his preplanned victorious course, Byrne elected to take a draw by repetition. He later was quoted as saying that 28.Rxh6!! was the most brilliant move he had ever faced. Small matter to the delighted spectators, that a winning continuation was later found for Black. Pyrotechnics had sparked from the chessboard, and a new gem was added to the body of chess art.">

The win for Black which Saidy mentioned was found by Walter Browne in the position after 32.Nf4:


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Instead of 32...Re7, Browne suggested 32...Kf8 33.Ng6+ Ke8 34.Qh8+! Bf8! (not 34...Bxh8 35.Rxh8+ and mate follows) 35.Rh7 a3! 36.b3 (36.b4 Qa4) Qa5 37.Nb1 Qa7!, and Black's counterattack carries the day. Another possiblity after 35...a3 is 36.Nxf8 axb2+ 37.Kxb2 Qa1+ 38.Kc2 Rxh7 39.Nxh7+ Kf7! and White's queen is trapped.

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