Chess is primarily vertical. We’ve trained ourselves to think of moving up the board.
We often overlook retreats.
Bobby Fischer White
Robert Burger Black
San Francisco 1964
Two Knights Defense, Fritz Variation C57
1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗c4 ♘f6 4 ♘g5 d5 5 exd5 ♘d4
This is a super-trappy alternative to 5...♘a5. For example, 6 d6? ♕xd6 7 ♘xf7 ♕c6 8 ♘xh8? loses to 8...♕xg2! 9 ♖f1 ♕e4+ 10 ♗e2 ♘f3 mate.
6 c3! b5!
So that 7 ♗b3 ♘xb3 8 ♕xb3 ♕xd5. Or 7 ♗e2 ♘xe2 and Black has few troubles.
7 ♗f1! ♘xd5 8 cxd4
Black also has tricky chances after 8 ♘xf7 ♔xf7 9 cxd4 exd4 or 8 ♘e4 ♕h4.
8...♕xg5 9 ♗xb5+ ♔d8 10 ♕f3 ♗b7 11 0-0 exd4
Now 12 d3 can be met by 12...♘f4!.
Then 13 ♕xb7 ♘h3+ draws (14 ♔h1 ♘xf2+! 15 ♔g1 ♘h3+ 16 ♔g1 ♘h3+, because 15 ♖xf2?? ♕xc1+ mates).
Question 116: What is a better 13th move for White?
White’s should try 12 ♖e1, threatening mate, and then 12...♗d6 13 d3.
12 ♕xf7?
Threatens mate on d7 or e8.
12...♘f6! White resigns.
Easily overlooked. Black covers both mates, threatens his own with 13...♕xg2, and adds two more threats, 13...♗d5, trapping the queen, and 13...♕xb5.
Tal Baron White
Cyril Marcelin Black
Hagenau 2013
1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗c4 ♘f6 4 ♘g5 d5 5 exd5 ♘d4 6 c3 b5 7 ♗f1 ♘xd5 8 cxd4 ♕xg5 9 ♗xb5+ ♔d8 10 0-0 ♗b7 11 ♕f3 ♖b8 12 d3 ♕g6 13 ♕g3? exd4 14 ♘a3? ♗xa3 15 bxa3 ♘c3! 16 ♕xg6 hxg6 17 ♗c4 ♘e2+ 18 ♔h1 ♔d7! White resigns.
Question 117: Why resign?