Moves that would be good in calm positions can be dreadful when the speed of play accelerates.
Reuben Fine White
Bobby Fischer Black
New York 1964
Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation B87
1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ♘xd4 ♘f6 5 ♘c3 a6 6 ♗c4 e6 7 ♗b3 b5! 8 ♕e2 ♗e7 9 g4?
This push works well when threats come slower, such as after 7...♘c6 8 ♗e3 ♗e7 9 ♕e2 and later g2-g4.
9...b4! 10 ♘b1 d5!
After 11 exd5 ♘xd5 Black tries to exploit the h1-a8 diagonal and dark squares that 9 g4 weakened (12 0-0 0-0 13 ♖d1 ♗d6 and ...♕h4).
11 e5 ♘fd7
Now the b3-bishop is almost useless and the e5-pawn is a target (12 f4 ♗h4+).
12 ♗f4 ♕b6!
The knight is attacked and 13 c3 bxc3 14 bxc3 ♘c6 favors Black.
13 ♘f3 a5! 14 ♗a4
This bishop was threatened by 14...a4.
14...0-0 15 ♗e3 ♕c7 16 ♗d4 ♗a6! 17 ♕e3 ♘c5 18 ♗xc5 ♗xc5
Now 19 ♕f4 ♕b6 20 ♕g3 allows 20...♗d4! 21 c3 bxc3 22 bxc3 ♕b2!.
Question 36: But what if 21 ♘xd4 ♕xd4 22 c3 ?
19 ♘d4 ♕b6! White resigns.
And here 20 c3 loses to 20...bxc3 21 bxc3 ♕b2.
Here’s what can happen when Black’s counterplay is too slow:
Domingue Moullimard White
Erwan Marre Black
Paris 1999
1 e4 c5 2 ♘f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ♘xd4 ♘f6 5 ♘c3 a6 6 ♗c4 e6 7 ♗b3 b5 8 ♗g5 ♗e7 9 ♕e2 ♕c7 10 0-0-0 0-0? (10...b4!) 11 f4 ♖e8 12 h4 ♘fd7?? 13 ♘xe6! fxe6 14 ♗xe6+ ♔h8 15 ♘d5 ♕d8 16 ♗f7 ♘f6 17 ♘xf6 ♖f8 18 ♕h5! ♗xf6 19 ♗g6 h6 20 ♗xh6! resigns.