The second game, against Roger Webb (Simonīs brother) was a good lesser-known candidate for swindle of the century. Wicker lost his queen for a knight around move ten and drew. The first game (the Mutkin debut?) was a good lesser-known candidate for Worst Game Of The Century. It went something like this:

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 g4 d6? 5 g5 Ne4??? 6 Bg2, and, a few moves later, 1-0.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4. g4 d6? 5.g5 Ne4?? 6.Bg2 Qa5+ 7.Kf1 f5 8.f3 Nxg5 9.Bxg5 bxc4 10.Nc3 1-0

So instead, we'll bring it in "by the back door".

White: K J Wicker
Black: R Webb
London League Division 1 match, 1978.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g4

The Mutkin Counter-Gambit.

4. ... Nxg4 5.cxb5 e5 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.Bg2 d5 8.Qa4? Qh4 9.Nh3?? Ne3!

Faced with playing either an ending a clear piece down, or a wild melee with only N for Q, White opts for the latter.

10.Bxe3 Qxa4 11.Nc3 Qb4 12.O-O Nd7 13.Nf4 Nf6 14.Nd3 Qh4?(Qa5!) 15.Bf4 Be7 16.Bg3 Qg5 17.e4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Rb8 20.h4 Qg4 21.Bc6+ Kf8 22.Ne5 Qf5 23.Rfe1 Rb6? 24.Rad1 Qc2 25.Rd3 Bf6 26.Red1 g6 27.Ng4 Kf7?(Bd4!) 28.R1d2 Qb1+?(Qc1+!) 29.Kg2 Rf8 30.Nxf6 Kxf6 31.Rf3+

click for larger view

Here the game was adjourned, under the League rules that applied at the time. It was agreed drawn without further play in view of the forced line:

31. ... Kg7 32.Be5+! Kg8 33.Rxf8+ Kxf8 34.Rd8+ Ke7 35.Re8+! Kf7 36.Rxc8 - with the threat of perpetual check unless Black plays 36. ... Rxc6 37.bxc6 Qe4+ 38.Kg1 Qxe5 39.c7!

Here, 39. ... Qe1+ 40.Kg2 Qe4+ 41.Kg1 Qb7 is a loss after 42.Rh8!

200 Modern Brilliances

http://www.amazon.com/French-Winawe...