Solitaire Chess / Instruction Sac, Sac, and Sac
Austrian Rudolf Spielmann specialized in sacrifices leading to a mating attack. See if you can match wits with him. By BRUCE PANDOLFINI
IF ANYONE’S NAME IN CHESS IS SYNONY - mous with sacrifice it’s Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942). His play was characteristic of sacri - fices of all kinds, and he even wrote a wonderful book about it. His celebrated The Art of Sacrifice in Chess defines various types of sacrificial offerings by theme and result. If he specialized in any particular kinds of sacrifice, it was those producing mating attacks. In a match game played in Vienna against Baldur Hoenlinger (Black) in 1929, Spielmann nicely maneuvered his forces into a surprising mating force. The contest began:
CARO-KANN DEFENSE (B15) Rudolf Spielmann Baldur Hoenlinger Vienna, 1929
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Ng3 e6
thanks to the pawn at d4 holding back the pawn at e6.
6. … c5 Black counters, trying to swap c-pawn for d-
pawn. Once the d4-pawn disappears, the pressure against Black’s center will be reduced.**
7. Bd3 Par Score 5 This is an excellent diagonal for the bishop. If
Black castles kingside, the bishop is poised for attack.
7. … Nc6 With this developing move, Black continues
his assault against White’s center pawn. Give yourself 1 bonus point if you realized that 7. ... cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 loses the queen to 9. Bb5+.**
8. dxc5 Par Score 4 This ends the threat altogether. The center is
now open, which is right up Spielmann’s aggres - sive alley.
8.
bargain.** 9.
… Bxc5 Black recaptures and develops a piece in the a3 Par Score 5 White stops an eventual ... Nc6-b4, while
prepar ing to advance the b-pawn. Add 1 bonus point if you saw that 9. Bg5 could be answered by 9. ... Qb6.
Now make sure you have the above position
set up on your chessboard. As you play through the remaining moves in this game, use a piece of paper to cover the article, exposing White’s next move only after trying to guess it. If you guess correctly, give yourself the par score. Sometimes points are also awarded for second-best moves, and there may be bonus points—or deductions— for other moves and variations. Note that ** means that White’s move is on the next line.**
6. Nf3 Par Score 4
White develops a piece, secures d4, and observes e5. For now, White’s spatial advantage is clear,
44 January 2016 | Chess Life 9. … Black gets ready for business.** 10. 0-0 10.
to b7.** 11.
… Par Score 5
White gets ready for business, too. Let the games and sacrifices begin!
b6 Black is planning to develop his queen-bishop b4 Par Score 5
Surely, Black was expecting this move. White hopes to post his queen-bishop on b2.
0-0
11.
…
consideration.** 12. Bb2
Be7 It looks risky, but 11. ... Bd4 was worthy of Par Score 5 Aligned bishops: probably, Spielmann assailing
juices were beginning to flow as his spatial edge increased.
12. … Qc7
Black could have played 12. ... Bb7, and another try was 12. ... a5, hoping for counterplay.**
13. b5 Par Score 5
White drives away the knight, though this does surrender the squares a5 and c5. Perhaps Black will be able to take advantage of those invitations.
13. …
into c4 someday.** 14. Ne5
Na5 To be sure, Black’s knight would love to come Par Score 5 Spielmann occupies a strong post and prevents
... Na5-c4. Give yourself 1 bonus point if you played 13. b5 with 14. Ne5 in mind.
14. …
and fights back for central activity.** 15. Ng4
Bb7 Black completes his minor piece development Par Score 5 White’s threat is obvious: to mess up Black’s
kingside pawn structure. Give yourself 1 bonus point if, in playing 15. Ng4, you analyzed 15. ... Nc4 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 (or 16. ... gxf6 17. Qg4+, hitting the knight at c4) 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qg4+, winning a knight.
15. … Qd8
Black tries to strengthen f6. Nevertheless, White has a pronounced initiative.**
16. Ne3 … Par Score 5 It’s not time to trade pieces yet. Meanwhile,
this opens the d1-h5 diagonal for White’s queen. 16.
Nd5
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