David Howell vs Ali Bitalzadeh (2009) Howell Does He Play?

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David Howell vs Ali Bitalzadeh
"Howell Does He Play?" (game of the day Dec-13-2009)
Corus Group C (2009), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 12, Jan-31
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation (B40) · 1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Given 25 times; par: 12 [what's this?]

explore this opening	find similar games	1 more D Howell/A Bitalzadeh game
sac: 16.Bxh6	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

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Jan-31-09		luzhin: A brutal little game by Howell: if 16...gxh6 17.Nf6+! Bxf6 18.Bd3+ Kh8 19.Qe4 forces mate.

Mar-16-09		notyetagm: 16 ♗c1xh6! click for larger view <luzhin: A brutal little game by Howell: if 16...gxh6 17.Nf6+! Bxf6 18.Bd3+ Kh8 19.Qe4 forces mate.> click for larger view click for larger view click for larger view click for larger view 17 ♘e4-f6+!, the same type of <OBSTRUCTION> sacrifice from the famous Fischer-Byrne game, in both cases with the same idea of making the opponent <SELF-BLOCK> the Black f7-pawn so that a mate threat to the h7-square cannot be met by <BLOCKING> the b1-h7 diagonal with ... f7-f5.

Mar-16-09		notyetagm: I was comparing Howell's 17 ♘e4-f6+! with Fischer's 19 ♖f1-f6!! in Fischer vs Benko, 1963.

May-03-09		hedgeh0g: Fantastic attacking game by Howell.

May-17-09		notyetagm: Game Collection: Tempo (FORCING MOVES) lets you move for free D Howell vs A Bitalzadeh, 2009 M Khachiyan vs D Eckert, 2009

Jun-20-09		notyetagm: Game Collection: Tempo (FORCING MOVES) lets you move for free D Howell vs A Bitalzadeh, 2009 M Khachiyan vs D Eckert, 2009 Shirov vs Gelfand, 2009

Dec-13-09		Blunderdome: Seems his rating should have been enough for Corus B, at least.

Dec-13-09		An Englishman: Good Evening: It's astounding to see how quickly Black's position falls apart. Is the sacrifice still sound if Black had played ...Kh8 instead of ...Kh7 (Bd3 gained a tempo in one variation because it was a check)? If yes, then perhaps Black had to play 13...Bxg5.

Dec-13-09		al wazir: 16...gxh6 17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. Bd3 (18. Qh5? Qf4) e5 19. Qe4 Kg7 20. Nh5+ Kg8/Kh8 21. Qh7#.

Dec-13-09		Pencho: Now 2 different games by Howell are having the same pun - this one and here's the other one: T Nyback vs D Howell, 2007 I must say Howell played in both very well :))

Dec-13-09		Oliveira: Yeah, he seems to have played pretty well.

Dec-13-09		Tifeon: For a while, I though 15...e5? is possible, but I guess White will just nail the advancing pawn with 16. Qg3 and take it later. 12...b6 seems problematic. Maybe 12...Na5 would do better? Or 12...Bf6 to get more control over e5? Any analysis on it? It's funny that if Black settled for 14...Qd8 instead of 14...Qc7, he would have 18...Rh8 to save the game for at least a little bit longer (but I guess 19. Bd3 would clinch it anyway).

Dec-13-09		keypusher: Howells and imprecations against the pun!

Dec-13-09		costachess: 15 ... f5 click for larger view

Dec-13-09		costachess: I think that the best move to white after 15 ... f5 is 16.Qg3. But 15 ... f5 is the best move to black in this point.

Dec-13-09		Andrew Chapman: <16...gxh6 17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. Bd3 (18. Qh5? Qf4) e5 19. Qe4 Kg7 20. Nh5+ Kg8/Kh8 21. Qh7#.>how about 18.Qe4 forcing Bxf6 19.Bd3 and Qh7

Dec-13-09		WhiteRook48: don't see what happens after 17...Bxf6

Dec-14-09		notyetagm: <costachess: 15 ... f5 click for larger view > I love this little tactical sequence. White (Howell) was able to play 15 ♕d1-g4!, not fearing the <PAWN FORK> 15 ... f7-f5? because he has the resource 16 ♕g4-g3!, attacking the <UNDEFENDED> Black c7-queen. 16 ♕g4-g3! click for larger view

Dec-14-09		al wazir: <Andrew Chapman: <16...gxh6 17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. Bd3 (18. Qh5? Qf4) e5 19. Qe4 Kg7 20. Nh5+ Kg8/Kh8 21. Qh7#.>how about 18.Qe4 forcing Bxf6 19.Bd3 and Qh7> Yeah, that works.

Aug-26-10		GrahamClayton: <luzhin>A brutal little game by Howell: if 16...gxh6 17.Nf6+! Bxf6 18.Bd3+ Kh8 19.Qe4 forces mate. <luzhin>, The trick here is that 17...♗f6 stops ♗lack from playing 19...f5, which is the defence against 20.♕h7#. A motif well worth remembering.

Jun-17-11		notyetagm: Game Collection: FORCING MOVES SHOW YOU WHERE PIECES REALLY ARE --- D Howell vs A Bitalzadeh, 2009 15 .. f7-f5? 16 Qg4-g3! queen really on g3 attacking undef c7-Q J Sriram vs R R Laxman, 2009 19 Bd3xh7+!, 20 f6xg7+ mean White e2-queen not really en prise! Aronian vs Anand, 2011 39 Qb4-b2+!, 40 Bf3-e2 means g2-pawn need not protect f3-bishop

Oct-06-14		Autoreparaturwerkbau: I don't see the enthusiasm about 15...f5, 16.Qg3 sequence. Black replies with say 16...f4. Now, where is white's win? What am i missing?

Oct-28-14		Richard Taylor: Of the choices at move 15. Qg4 is the weakest. Better is 15. Bb3. < Autoreparaturwerkbau: I don't see the enthusiasm about 15...f5, 16.Qg3 sequence. Black replies with say 16...f4. Now, where is white's win? What am i missing? > Nothing. Black is able after a few moves i.e after Qd3 he can play Na5 swap the B and then play Bb7 and he is o.k. But 15. Qg4 ?! then Kh7?? That is Black worst move, although earlier I think swapping on c3 is inaccurate. But otherwise Black is o.k. how after Kh7 he is lost. But 15....f5 holds his game easily, as you yourself can see! The others have been blinded by the very nice tactics after Kh7??

Oct-30-21		Whitehat1963: Well, that was fun while it lasted. What are you doing the rest of the afternoon?

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