Solitaire Chess / Instruction
A Tale of Hoffmann
An example of the fierce gladiatorial spirit of Asa Hoffmann By BRUCE PANDOLFINI
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, ASA HOFF- mann has been a stalwart player on the American chess scene (see November 2014 “My Best Move”). Known as a master of a variety of games (chess, back - gammon, Scrabble, bridge, and poker for sure), he has distinguished himself as a savvy and creative grappler in the chess arena. Asa is a true chess gladiator. Indeed, his wonderful game collection The Chess Gladiator reflects his resourceful excellence. A nice display of his fierce fighting qualities can be seen in this game against Martin Harrow (Black), played in the 1964 Manhattan Chess Club Cham- pionship. The game began:
Sicilian Defense, Sozin Attack (B88) Asa Hoffmann Martin Harrow
Manhattan CC Championship, New York, 1964
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
6.
Bc4
Par Score 5 Many of us grew up calling this Fis-
cher’s move, though it had been played before Bobby, and it’s still being played today. Although people like different tries here, receive full credit for other reasonable sixth move tries, including Be2, Bg5, f4, and g3.
6. … e6 Black replies in a standard way, open-
ing up so that the king-bishop can move to e7. Putting the king-pawn on e6 also obstructs the c4-bishop’s diagonal toward f7.**
7. Bb3 Par Score 5 This is a normal retreat in such setups.
The square c4 typically comes under fire along the c-file (... Ra8-c8, for instance), from ... b5 (... b7-b5), and sometimes ... d5 (... d6-d5), so the bishop is safer at b3.
7. … a6 Black guards b5 and prepares a subse-
quent ... b7-b5, and possibly ... b5-b4 there after, attacking the white e-pawn indirectly.**
8. Be3 Par Score 5 White secures the d4-knight and the
a7-g1 diagonal. This makes advance of the white f-pawn more feasible.
8. 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. Some- times 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.**
46 July 2015 | Chess Life … Qc7 Black makes use of the half open c-file.
At c7, the queen also influences an impor- tant central square, e5.**
9. f4 Par Score 5 White envisions opening the f-file. He
also prepares the possibility of e4-e5 (if conditions are right), and, more proba- bly, f4-f5. This advance is key because it strengthens the power of the b3-bishop.
9. … Na5
Black plays for the two bishops, espe- cially hoping to exchange the knight for the
potential monster at b3. Its main drawback is that this ploy removes the queen-knight from observation of the center.**
10. 0-0 Par Score 5 By getting his king out of the center,
White is more ready for business. The attack can now proceed in earnest.
10. … b5 Black eyes the attack b5-b4, driving the
c3-knight from the defense of the e4-pawn. The white king-pawn can also be assailed by developing the light-square bishop to b7.**
11. f5 Par Score 6 Here come the guys. Hoffmann wastes
no time pushing his assault. Now e6 is fac- ing strong pressure.
11. 12. … cxb3! Nxb3
Black does this not just to get the bishop. He also wants to secure e6.**
Par Score 7 Many of us wouldn’t even consider tak-
ing away from the center. But Hoffman realizes that this way of taking back gets rid of a potential target (the c2-pawn), while also giving White an opportunity for attack along the c-file (Rac1) against Black’s queen. Only 3 points part credit for the pedestrian take-back, 12. axb3.
12. … 13. Rc1 Be7
Black wants to get castled, so he devel- ops the king-bishop.**
Par Score 6 Give yourself 1 bonus point if you knew
that White was threatening various discov- eries against Black’s queen.
13. … 14. Qf3 Qb7
Naturally, Black decides to get the queen off the c-file.**
Par Score 6
With this, White adds protection to e4, doubles on the f-file, and connects the rooks.
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