MARK RUBERY CHESS
As the storm clouds of World War 2 were beginning to gather, a strong international tournament took place at the English town of Margate. The English representative was White against a young Paul Keres who was already considered one of the best players in the world. The game ran a fairly predictable course with Golombek trying to steer the game from complications to the safer haven of a slightly inferior ending. When Keres played his final move it had not occurred to either player than White could now force the draw he had long been striving for. Golombek,Harry - Keres,Paul [D74] Margate (6), 1939
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nf3 0–0 7.0–0 c6 8.e4 Nb6 9.h3 Be6 10.Nc3 Na6 11.Be3 Qc8 12.Kh2 Rd8 13.Qc1 Nc7 14.Rd1 f6 15.Qc2 Bf7 16.Rac1 Nc4 17.Qe2 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Rd6 19.Ng1 Qf8 20.f4 e5 21.dxe5 fxe5 22.Nf3 exf4 23.Qxf4 Rad8 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Rf1 Bc4 26.Qxf8+ Bxf8 27.Re1 Rd8 28.Bf1 Bxf1 29.Rxf1 Ne6 30.Kg2 Bb4 31.Ne2 Be7 32.Rc1 Ng5 33.Rc3 Nxf3 34.Kxf3 Bf6 35.Rc2 Be5 36.Ke3 Rd1 37.b3 Bc7 38.Nf4 Kf7 39.Rd2 Bb6+ 40.Ke2 Rxd2+ 41.Kxd2 Bf2 42.g4 Kf6 43.Ke2 Bd4 44.Kf3 a5 45.g5+ Ke5 46.Nd3+ Kd6 47.h4 b5 48.Ne1 Bc5 49.Nd3 Bb6 50.Nf4 Bd4 51.Nd3 c5 52.Nf4 c4 53.bxc4 bxc4 54.Nd5 Ke5 55.Nf6 h5 56.Nd5 c3 57.Nf4 c2 58.Nd3+ Kd6 59.Ke2 Bb2? 0–1
Reuben Fine in his classic book ‘Basic Chess Endings’ gives 59…Bb2!! With
the line 60 Kd2 c1=Q+ 61 Nxc1 Bxc1+ 62 Kxc1 Ke5 63 Kb2 Kxe4 64 Ka3 Kf4 65 Ka4 Kg4 66 Kxa5 Kxh4 67 Kb5 Kxg5 68 a4 h4 and Black queens first. It appears that Fine was perhaps in a hurry to confirm what seemed the logical outcome: the great Keres wraps up the ending with a pretty move and his English opponent (better known for his chess column in the Times of London) complies by resigning.
It took the publication of Euwe and Hopper’s ‘A Guide to Chess Endings’ published 20 years after the game, to put the record straight. 59…Bb2?
Is described as a curious blunder as after 60 Kd2 c1=Q+ 61 Nxc1 Bxc1+ 62 Kxc1 Ke5 63 Kb2 Kxe4 64 Kc3! Kf4 65 Kd4 Kg4 66 Ke5 Kxh4 67 Kf6 Kg3 68 Kxg6 h4 69 Kf6 h3 70 g6 and White queens with check which secures the draw. Instead 59…Be5 (or 59…Bc3 60 a4 Ke6 61 Ke3 Be1!) ensures the win as after 60 Kd2 Bg3 the kingside pawns fall.
Golombek went on to translate three well received volumes- The Early, Middle, and Later games of Paul Keres Not without reason is it the one game that, since its invention around A. D. 600, has been played in most of the world, has captivated the imagination and interest of millions, and has been the source of great sorrows and great pleasures. – Norman Reider