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Ove Ekebjaerg vs Gert Timmerman
"Gert Rude" (game of the day Oct-21-2005)
cr NL NBC-25 (1991) (correspondence)
Vienna Game: Stanley. Frankenstein-Dracula Variation (C27)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 27 times; par: 55 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Oct-21-05  ikava: Hello: Can someone explain what is a Zugzwang?
Oct-21-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Zugzwang, in short, it's your move, and every piece that can move causes your position to get worse, or even lose the game. I am sure other posters will give a 'slight' variation on the definition of the word. =) Also look at Game Collection: Zugzwang! by <iron maiden>.
Oct-21-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Latest hit-single, "Everyone Wang-Zugz Tonight."
Oct-21-05  geaux82: i thinks the theme of sac rook finds that in san luis 2005 games. correct?
Oct-21-05  Tartalacreme: <moiz: If I were Gert Jan Timmerman, I would consider myself at par with Tal, Morphy and Fischer all together, for that one day!!!>

Timmerman is the 15th correspondence chess world champion. As this game was played by correspondence, it lasted several months.

Oct-21-05  ikava: Thanks Wanabee. In which move would you say the zugwang starts? What´s the origin of the word??

Oct-21-05  Madman99X: Is there anything white can do after say.... move 24?

24. c3 comes to mind, as 24... h5 seems to give up the last ounce of time white has left.

Simply put, I would like to think that one has at least drawing chances, after having traded both knights for the opponents rooks.

Oct-21-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: <ikava> I can answer the second question, Zugzwang, is a German word http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zugzwang

I am not smart enough to answer your first question. Some of the more knowledge enriched members here might be able to help you there.

Oct-22-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Technically, the final position is not a true Zugzwang, even though Black can choose to win by that means. Part of the problem is that there are two definitions of zugzwang. The strict definition is that *both* players have reached a position where whoever moves first loses. The most famous example is the Trebuchet: White--Kf5,Pe4, Black--Kd4,Pe5. The player to move must lose his pawn. I prefer the looser definition--only one player is put in zugzwang. In this game Black is never, and can never be put in Zugzwang.

Incidentally, I have heard differing opinions on whether zugzwang must be capitalized or not.

Now that I've completely confused everyone, I must add another required component of a zugzwang--the winning side must not threaten anything at the moment of zugzwang. Zugzwang is compulsory self-destruction.

In this game, Zugzwang has not yet occurred at the moment White resigns. Black can, if he chooses, force White into Zugzwang by the series of moves I mentioned in my initial post. However, Black also threatens instead to launch a mating attack that will lead to at least a decisive gain of material--therefore, the final position is not a true zugzwang. That's one of the reasons why this game is so amazing. Black can either mate his opponent or force him to self-destruct.

And White can't stop either.

Oct-22-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: The third line - right at the top of the page - gives the opening: <"cr NL NBC-25 1991 · Vienna Game: Stanley. Frankenstein-Dracula Variation (C27)..."> What is the "Stanley" bit?
Oct-22-05  backyard pawn: Zugzwang. Hmmm. I've often felt that whatever move I choose, I will weaken my position.
Oct-22-05  sfm: <An Englishman: [Zugzwang]... The strict definition is that *both* players have reached a position where whoever moves first loses.> You don't give a source for this "strict definition". I think the most common interpretation is that there's zugzwang if a player - one is enough! - damages himself by having to move.

There's no zugzwang here at all, as white does not damage himself by having to move. He can simply put the rook back on d1 or f2 and is no worse of than before. His problem is that the black king calmly walks to a4 and then follows -,axb2+ Rxb2, Ka3 and it is all over.

Oct-23-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: sfm, my old chess club had a few members who would argue over this all the time; that's my source, such as it is.

The second paragraph puzzles me. In the final position, after 37.Rd2-d1??, axb2+; 38.Rxb2+,Bxb2+; 39.Kxb2,Bxd1, White is very much worse off than before--he's down a piece and a pawn. Perhaps you meant d2 and f2. But if you go back to my first post (all the way back to the start), after 37.Rf2,Bd4; 38.Rd2,h6!, now White can no longer safely put the Rook on f2. You are right that there is no zugzwang after 36...Kb6!, but I have already said that in the post to which you responded. Black *threatens* zugzwang. The Zugzwang is one of the threats in the final position--threats to which White has no reply. The other threat is the mating attack you mention, one which I also mentioned in my original post.

Oct-31-05  RonB52734: <offramp>: <What is the "Stanley" bit?>

Presumably, it refers to Charles Henry Stanley.

See http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

Nov-01-05  schnarre: Probably.
Mar-02-07  crptone: This is the lamest pun I have ever encountered!!
Jul-09-07  truefriends: <Saruman: Up to 10.-b6 I think its all theory.> My Fritz openingbook gives the move 19. Nh3 as the first new move
Dec-29-07  Archives: oooh, lovely game!
Aug-12-08  arsen387: the main threat here is not Zugzwang but the the mating attack pointed by <sfm> in his post: <problem is that the black king calmly walks to a4 and then follows -,axb2+ Rxb2, Ka3 and it is all over.> To defend against that blacks must drop material. really cool game
Aug-12-08  gus inn: Very , very impressive !
Aug-15-09  whiteshark: <crptone: This is the lamest pun I have ever encountered!!> That may well be. Another -subtle?- point is that both words <Gert rude> read as one made an oldfashioned girl's name, at least in German. :D
Aug-09-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: <Tartalacreme>Timmerman is the 15th correspondence chess world champion. As this game was played by correspondence, it lasted several months.

<Tartalacreme>,
This is the sort of game that you love to play by CC. I can imagine Timmerman doing some evening analysis, then getting a good night's sleep and doing some more in the morning, with a nice drink for company. :-)

Sep-25-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: Amazing game. I've known a Gert rude or two in my time.

Chessgames.com's The World had the pleasure of playing (and beating) Mr Timman.The World vs G Timmerman, 2007

Jun-06-15  kevin86: Suddenly, white has no move!
May-19-17  Timi: In the final position Black's intention is to get the king to a4, exploiting the fact that White can only move the d2-rook back and forth, so he can take axb2+, after Rxb2 it follows Ka3
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