chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Alexander Ivanov vs John Curdo
New England Open (1990), Worcester Mass, Sep-03
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense. Modern Steinitz Defense (C72)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 3 more A Ivanov/J Curdo games
sac: 18.Bd7+ PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: If we are missing an important game, you can submit it (in PGN format) at our PGN Upload Utility.

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
Nov-28-05  Dres1: Daaaamn John, you got smoked!
Nov-28-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: It's a very nice miniature.
May-01-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: It's not every day you see FM Curdo getting pulvarized in 19 moves.
Feb-15-12  bwarnock: I've got one like this against Ivanov (not quite as devastating, but almost) - I'll see if I can dig it up....

BW

Feb-16-12  bwarnock: I was experimenting with different ideas in Alekhine's defense but to no avail here:

Queen City Open, Manchester, NH 2/18/89

A Ivanov - B Warnock
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 c6 5.c4 Nc7 6.Be3 Bg4 7.Qb3 Qc8 8.Nbd2 e6 9.exd6 Bxd6 10.Ne5 Bf5 11.g4 Bg6 12.Bg2 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Nd7 14.f4 Na6 15.Qa3 h5


click for larger view

Here I was expecting 16.h3 when I figured White would be somewhat better after 16... hxg4 17. hxg4 Rxh1+ 18.Bxh1 c5 followed by Qc7 and O-O-O ... instead watch what happens:

16.f5! exf5 17.gxf5 Bxf5 18.O-O! Nb6 (??)

(bad - but Black's in trouble anyway - 18... g6 is tougher)

19.c5 Nd5 20.Nc4

White's winning a piece (!)

20.... O-O 21.Nd6 Qe6 22.Rxf5 1-0

<>

May-20-14  zanzibar: A little interesting that 9.c4, which really doesn't seem to help White all that much allows the bishop to maneuver over for the win at the end.

Black should have played 9...Nxd4 both simplifying and allowing the e7-knight to get to to c6. Or 9...g6 planning to fianchetto, or even 9...Ne5.

But Black squandering some good tempos putting the knight on g6 then h4, not such a good idea. Not with the king in the center.

That's my take on it anyways.

Jul-04-14  RookFile: 5....Bg4 was odd from Curdo, nobody knew better than him that Bd7 was more solid. Then, he surely considered 8....Nxd4 trying to get a couple of minors off the board, albeit at the cost of centralizing white's queen. I guess he wasn't in the mood for getting ground down by Ivanov's endgame technique - but of course, the grandmaster was more than up to the challenge of how to play a lethal middlegame.
Jul-04-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: What <RookFile> states is reasonable regarding Black's fifth move, so far as I know--I am sure though that in the more than two years since Ivanov had lived in Massachusetts when this game was played, he and Curdo had already met numerous times and it would not surprise me at all if John has already tried 5....Bd7.
Jul-04-14  zanzibar: I suppose if 5...Bg4 then after 6.h3 Bxf3 would be more "natural" (or even 6...Bh5). Otherwise 5...Bd7 straight-away.

I was wondering if 7.d4 before c3 was too aggressive.

Maybe not:

7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.c3
( 10.Qxd4? c5 11.Qd5 c4 ) 10...dxc3 11.Qh5 Qf6 12.Nxc3 c6 13.Re1 Qg6 14.Qf3 Qf6 15.Qe3 Be7 16.e5


click for larger view

White sacks a pawn for lead in development and tries to catch Black's king in the center - reminds me a little of Smith-Morra (well, maybe not).

Jul-04-14  zanzibar: (The power of the e-file)
Apr-23-16  happyjuggler0: Perhaps Curdo had planned to play 6 h5 but accidently touched his bishop by reflex? For an example of that move, see:

J Peters vs J A Curdo, 1970

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.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
miniatures
by JustAnotherPatzer
Amusing Games
by sleepyirv
White finishes with a cute little mate
from Humor in chess by Gregor Samsa Mendel
Spanish, Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz Def (C72) 1-0 Pin, Dbl+
from 5 Pins Ins and Outs, ECO C 50s, 60s-90s by fredthebear
A twist in the Spanish
from MENDERA's favorite games by MENDERA
19 moves
from Chess Miniatures, Collection II by wwall
Spanish, Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz Def (C72) 1-0 Pin, Dbl+
from 19 and Under League C Only Excludes Fredthebear by fredthebear
Selected checkmates
by Chessdreamer
Amusing Games
by Jaredfchess
Spanish, Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz Def (C72) 1-0 Pin, Dbl+
from Attacks and Sacs of f7 Vol. II by Fredthebear by nakul1964
Spanish, Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz Def (C72) 1-0 Pin, Dbl+
from Attacks and Sacs of f7 Vol. II by Fredthebear by kishchess
Spanish, Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz Def (C72) 1-0 Pin, Dbl+
from Pins Ins and Outs, ECO C 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s-90s by rbaglini
Spanish, Morphy Def. Modern Steinitz Def (C72) 1-0 Pin, Dbl+
from Attacks and Sacs of f7 Vol. II by Fredthebear by A1Rajjpuut

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 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC