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Laszlo Szabo vs Alexander Zaitsev
Ludwigsburg (1969), Ludwigsburg FRG, Apr-??
English Opening: Agincourt Defense. Neo Catalan Declined (A14)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-11-04  Resignation Trap: I was glancing through the book Alexander Zaitsev by Arkhangelsky and Kimelfeld (in Russian) and the finish of the game caught my attention. I went to www,chessgames.com for the complete score, and I was alarmed, to put it mildly.

First, the player of the Black pieces was Alexander Zaitsev , not Igor. Second, Laszlo Szabo was not involved in another double-blunder as in the famous game Szabo vs Reshevsky, 1953 NO! His actual move in this game was 34. Qb2 (Not 34. Qb7???), stopping mate, while threatening mate in one himself.

Unfortunately for the Hungarian veteran, his next three moves added up to one big blunder which Black exploited with 37...f4! After 38. exd4 (38. g4 was a better try) Rc2+!! Szabo had nothing better than resignation. For if 39. Qxc2 e3+ 40. Kxe3 Qxc2 41. Rd2 Qc3+ 42. Ke2 a5 (or 42...g6) will follow, when White will soon start to shed pawns due to an impeding zugzwang.

Dec-13-04  Resignation Trap: I actually meant "impending".

Anyway, less than a month later, Sasha swindled Szabo of another half-point: Szabo vs Saizev Alexander, 1969

Feb-01-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: <Resignation Trap> It's been over four years since your comment, but I am glad to see that www.chessgames.com fixed the problems you pointed out.

At the end, White fell into a nice trap, but moves 35-37 look like natural moves after all, and you have to give Black credit for 37...f4! White didn't have to play 38.exd4. As you said, 38.g4 was better (and if 38...exf3 39.Rd2.) 38.Rd2 directly doesn't work: 38...fxg3+ 39.hxg3 Qf5 40.f4 Qg4 and White falls apart. But even with 38.g4 White is in a difficult predicament.

With the benefit of hindsight, I suppose 23...h5 should have been answered with 24.h4.

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