Isaac Kashdan vs Israel Albert Horowitz (1936)

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Isaac Kashdan vs Israel Albert Horowitz
United States Championship (1936), New York, NY USA, rd 3, Apr-27
Queen's Gambit Declined: Vienna. Quiet Variation (D44) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening	find similar games	25 more Kashdan/I A Horowitz games
	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: To flip the board (so black is on the bottom) press the "I" key on your keyboard.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.

PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Oct-12-24		KEG: Kashdan and Horowitz had both won their first two games and were tied with Dake and Treysman for first place after two rounds. Given that Horowitz went on to defeat Reshevsky in Round 4, he might have had excellent chances of a high finish in this 1936 US Championship had he not lost this game (which put Kashdan in sole possession of first place after three rounds). Both players began this game cautiously, avoiding any sort of sharp play. Indeed, the position was entirely symmetrical after 14 moves. But beginning on moves 17 and 19, Horowitz commences a faulty aggressive plan that left him close to lost. His blunder on move 20 cost him a pawn, and his careless 22nd move lost the exchange, and later led to the loss of a piece. As it turned out, this game was a walk in the park for Kashdan . It leaves little work for any commentator. 1. d5 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 "Leading to a variation of the Meran Defense. 6. a4 is an alternative, but Black can equalize without difficulty." (Tournament Book) In fact, 6. a4 is probably the only way White can make any serious effort to hold any advantage. Even then, admittedly, Black should have little difficulty equalizing. In any case, the position after 6. Bxc4 was: click for larger view 6... b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. 0-0 c5 9. Qe2 click for larger view 9... Nc6 The more usual 9...Nbd7 is probably more accurate, but at this stage of the game both players appeared to seek symmetry. 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. a3 0-0 12. b4 Bd6 13. Bb2 Qe7 click for larger view So here we have it, complete symmetry. 14. Rad1 On the face of it, 14. Ne4 was the best prospect to try to make something out of nothing. But--at least to this point--neither player seems to have wanted to take the first plunge at any form of aggression. 14... Rad8 Seemingly more interested in preserving symmetry than in equalizing with 14...Ne5. 15. Rfe1 click for larger view The Tournament Book chided Kashdan for his last move, calling it "indifferent." It goes on toe call 15. Ne4 "the proper idea." I agree that 15. Ne4 was almost certainly better, but White is obviously fine in either case. The text is not a mistake; it was just entirely unambitious. 15... Bb8 As will be seen, Horowitz by-passed the superior 15...Ne5 based on a flawed idea. 16. Ne4 At last! 16... NxN The superior 16...Nd7 would almost certainly have been Horowitz' choice had he not been bewitched by the unfortunate plan he was about to unleash. 17. BxN click for larger view So far, nothing much had happened in this game. But from here Horowitz lashed out with a misguided plan that led him on a quick path of destruction.

Oct-12-24		KEG: Post II 17... f5?! Rightly condemned in the Tournament Book, which rightly suggests 17...RxR after which White's edge, if any would be minuscule. As stated in the Tournament Book, the text seriously weakens Black's pawn structure. It was, however, part of Horowitz' flawed idea which would soon become clear. 18. Bb1 RxR 19. RxR click for larger view Black's weakened pawns are an eyesore, but he might nonetheless have been able to hold the position with 19...Rd8 or maybe 19...h6. But now Horowitz' plan was revealed. 19... e5?! Though not questioned by the Tournament Book, the text was a bad mistake. Perhaps Horowitz missed the simple refutation. Kashdan most definitely saw it: 20. e4! click for larger view "!"--(Tournament Book). "Preventing 20...e4, and leaving the Black e-pawn backward and exposed to attack." (Tournament Book) Horowitz here probably had nothing better than 20...f4 21. Ba2+ Kh8 22. Bd5 as given in the Tournament Book. Horowitz would even then have had his hands full to try to hold the game. We have no way of knowing if Horowitz' next move was part of his plan. In any case, it was awful: 20... Nd4? This loses a pawn and leaves Black little chance to recover. As will be evident presently, however, Horowitz had one more bad plan up his sleeve. [It pains me to report all this. When I started playing chess, Horowitz's books were among my early companions. His play in this game, however, leaves no hint of his fine talent. He DID, after all, defeat the mighty Reshevsky in the next round]. 21. NxN exN 22. Bxd4 click for larger view 22... Bxe4? Did Horowitz just miss the fact that this loses the exchange instantly? Did he have some deeper idea in mind? In any case, the text was a disaster: 23. Bc5 click for larger view Ouch! Horowitz now tried a desperate trick. But Kashdan was not to be caught napping: 23... Qe5 If 23...Qc7 (probably Black's "best"), 24. Bd6 is decisive. If instead 23...Qh4, White wins easily after 24. g3 Qh3 25. BxB. 24. f4 The most accurate way to end Black's resistance. 24... Qxf4 25. g3 Qf3 "A last attempt, which costs a piece, however." (Tournament Book) click for larger view 26. QxQ BxQ 27. Ba2+ He could also just have played 27. Rf1 immediately. 27... Kh8 28. Rf1 click for larger view 1-0 A terrible debacle for Horowitz. As for Kashdan, he did what he had to.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
Nothing in violation of United States law.
No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
No trolling.
The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.

NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.