chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Efim Geller vs Ratmir Kholmov
Przepiorka Memorial (1957), Szczawno-Zdroj POL, rd 1, Jul-27
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation (E26)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 26 more Geller/Kholmov games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-25-05  SamuelS: <vampiero>, 33. Kf8 is the only move which does not allow White to force a checkmate with checks. The result is the the same, however, with or without checks.
Nov-25-05  HelaNubo: I saw 31.Rf6 which is winning too, but is not the best move. (It is the second best move after Nxf7 according to Fritz). I was seduced by the line 31...Kxh6? 32. Qf4+ and mate in four, or 32...Qd5 33. Rfxf7+ Rxf7 34. Rxf7+ Qxf7 35. Nxf7 Kxf7 36. Qc4 and the black knight is gone.
Nov-25-05  AdrianP: I had 31 Nxf7 Rxf7 and wanted to go for the 'crafty' 32 Qe6!!??, following which 32. ...Rxc7 33 Rxc7 and mate soon follows; and the main point being 32. ... Rbf8 33. Qf6!+ and Black wins quickly. I wasn't discouraged by the fact that Black has one check on a1 or d1, because the White king just slides to safety on h2.

Unfortunately, this idea has a simple and major flaw, namely Black brings his queen back to f5 and that's attack over. One of those backwards queen moves that's difficult to spot.

Maybe it's because it's a Friday that I didn't look at the simple 32 Rxf7...

Nov-25-05  jahhaj: 31.♖f6 also, maybe because it's a Friday I overlooked the more obvious 31.♘xf7. I suspect White has a number of winning lines.
Nov-25-05  FranciscoBardo: I think the question was how many ways can you win this position :). I guessed e6, and it seems to me it also wins.
Nov-25-05  euripides: Not easy to see at move 15 that within six moves White will control the c file.
Nov-25-05  melianis: 31.Rd6 Qb1 32.Rd1 Qb2 33.Rf5+ Kh8 34.h5 gxf5 35.Qxf5 (intending Rc2)... no. didn't get the sacrifice.
Nov-25-05  gchristopher: I hated this puzzle. I found a long win, by checking on the black king by 33. e6+ ..., and found a very short kill, with 33. Qe6+ ...(instead of the rook check). Geller's win wasn't either fun with the pawn nor to the kill with the queen. How would I find what I think is a rather poor combo? But any way, I got the 31st and 32nd moves alright.
Nov-25-05  NBZ: after Kxf7 Qe6+ also works. If Kf8 Rc7 transposes to the game. Or Kg7 when Rc7+ Kh6 Qe7! with mate on h7 or g5
Nov-25-05  EmperorAtahualpa: I guess I had the worst solution of all of you guys....LOL. What I had in mind just doesn't make any sense... I was thinking of 31.Qf4?? preparing the queen to go to f6. However, then the Knight at h6 becomes unguarded so there goes my "brilliant" plan..
Nov-25-05  EmperorAtahualpa: By the way, Kholmov certainly wasn't a "nobody" but he was crushed in this game pretty mercilessly.
Nov-25-05  ReikiMaster: <vampiero> I was going to nominate that the November's easiest answer since Kf7-h8 is illegal. However, since <DAL9000> stepped up to continue your line, I withdraw the nomination!
Nov-25-05  TopaLove: I calculated 34.♕g5, then I can play 35.♕f6+ or 35.♕h6+
Nov-25-05  dakgootje: just it...just like yesterday...not my best week this far..
Nov-25-05  babakova: Got this one just right. Easy to calculate with many captures.
Nov-25-05  TTLump: I didn't even look at 31. Nxf7.

I was so focused on trying to take advantage of the pins on the f-pawn and the g-pawn, I ended up opting for 31. e4 which paves the way for 32. Nf5+

even after 31. Nxf7, I still didn't see the rest of the solution. 34. Qe6 is one of those non-forcing moves of the kind that I find extremely difficult to see 6-ply ahead!

Nov-25-05  apoorv: i thought of Qf4, and i see no way how it loses, threathening Qf6#
Nov-25-05  Guest1825: Got it. Taking on f7 was my first guess, because of the king. <TTLump I ended up opting for 31. e4 which paves the way for 32. Nf5+ > Interesting, but why did you stop your calculations there? Did you find checkmate? What would happen if Black simply takes the knight after 31.e4? I think the king just gets pushed back to g8. You've probably found a stronger variation, right?
Nov-25-05  TTLump: <Guest1825> Yes, after 31. e4 Kxh6, 32. Qf4+ Kg7, 33. Rf6! ... and Black has a tough choice here, Sac the Queen with 33. ... Qc4 or it's mate in 3 on the seventh rank, but black has better choices than 31... Kxh6, such as 31... Nd4 (preventing 32. Nf5+), 32. Rf6 and from this position, Black is lost!

31... Nc5 might actually be better for black (because it might let the Black Queen into the fray with Qxe4 at some point, but I have not followed this one through.

Nov-25-05  kevin86: The knight sac brings black's king into the open-to suffer the slings and arrows of rooks and queen.
Nov-25-05  Dick Brain: How funny. I lost to Shredder in blitz with a similar finish not nore than an hour ago.
Nov-25-05  Dick Brain: Similar as in a sacrifice at f7 followed by mate with rook on the seventh and a queen via e6. I mean really similar.
Nov-26-05  patzer2: Black's demolition of pawn structure combination 31. Nxf7!! sets up a mating attack after the game continuation, with the neat waiting move followup 34. Qe6!
Nov-27-05  Guest1825: <TTLump- excellent e4 investigation!>
Feb-06-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: 17...Qe7 and 18...Rc7 could have been better choices. Nice game by Geller.
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. 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.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

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

Blow the Whistle

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.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC