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Vincenzo Castaldi vs Samuel Reshevsky
Dubrovnik Olympiad (1950), Dubrovnik YUG, rd 2, Aug-21
Zukertort Opening: Queen Pawn Defense (A06)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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find similar games 1 more V Castaldi/Reshevsky game
sac: 12...axb4 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-10-03  Shadout Mapes: Here's a fun one. Can't say I liked white's opening system, though. And I don't see how this si similar to the position shown on the A11 page.
Nov-10-03  JSYantiss: I didn't like White's opening here either, but couldn't he have played 14. Qxc8 and come out of it down only two pawns?

Then again, the two key factors here are 1. the word ONLY and 2. His opponent was Reshevsky, who would have taken that two pawn advantage to the bank. :)

Nov-10-03
Premium Chessgames Member
  Eggman: Is it proper to speak of being down two pawns because one is down two points? In any event, White could have played on for a bit (I certainly would have), but against Reshevsky he is no doubt lost.

Tell you one thing: I doubt that Reshevsky as White would have resigned - he was known for pulling off some great come-from-behind victories.

Nov-10-03  MoonlitKnight: Sam must surely have realized the combination when he played 10...♘d7.
Nov-10-03  patzer2: After 11...a5! Reshevsky has a clear advantage. Black was already threatening to win a pawn or the queen with 12...axb4, but Castaldi makes it a clear win for black with the blunder 12. Ba3?? Relatively better was 12. Qd1 or 12. a3 or 12. b5, although black still holds the advantage.

Fritz 8 @ 16/44 depth & 688kN/s analyzes

(-0.78) 12. Qd1 Nxb4 13. Nb3 a4 14. Ba3 Nc6 15. Nbd2 Nde4 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Re1 Bg4 18. Qb1 Qa5

(-0.81) 12. a3 axb4 13. Qc2 Nc5 14. Nb3 b6 15. Qb1 Ra4 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. Qb3 Ra8

(-0.87) 12. b5 Nb4 13. Ne1 Nc5 14. Qd1 Ncxd3 15. Nxd3 Nxd3 16. Ba3 Qc7 17. Qe2 Ne5 18. c5

Nov-10-03  kevin86: oops,queen trapped!
Oct-15-04  WMD: Castaldi beat Reshevsky at the 1937 Olympiad so this game was probably sweet revenge.
Dec-13-04  GreenDayGuy: Instead of 12. Ba3, maybe 12. b5 Ne5 13. NXP would have given white a good game.
Oct-25-08  notyetagm: 12 ♗c1-a3?


click for larger view

Weteschnik, "Understanding Chess Tactics", pages 204-205:

<So if you take or recapture a piece you should know how to leave the square you took on (in case you can be attacked there). Here Castaldi-Reshevsky, Dubrovnik (ol) 1950, is quite instructive.

1 ... axb4! 2 Qxa8 Nb6

And the queen is trapped.>

12 ... a5xb4! 13 ♕a4x♖a8 ♘d7-b6 <trapped piece> 0-1


click for larger view


click for larger view

So White is forced to resign here on move 14(!) simply because he did *not* have a plan for extracting/retreating his queen from the a8-square if it were to be attacked.

<<<Weteschnik emphasizes that you must determine this "exit strategy" <BEFORE> you commit your piece to a particular square.>>> You simply *cannot* do what White does here, plan to play 13 ♕a4x♖a8 and then wonder how in the world you are going to save Her Majesty after Black attacks it with 13 ... ♘d7-b6.

Oct-25-08  AnalyzeThis: This is really cute!! LOL.
Oct-25-08  notyetagm: <AnalyzeThis: This is really cute!! LOL.>

Yes, very nice, forcing a win on move 14.

Jul-24-19  sea7kenp: Looks like a Poisoned Rook to me.

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