MARK RUBERY CHESS

The Czech born American grandmaster, Lubomir Kavalek, (1943-2021) was one of the top players in the world during the 1970’s and became highly regarded as a chess journalist with his columns in the Washington Post and later the Huffington Post.

One of the most amazing games ever played occurred between two students who were later to become prominent grandmasters. Kavalek’s interpretation of the relative values of the pieces (particularly the bishop) makes this encounter a particular joy to play through.

Gufeld, E - Kavalek, L [C64]

WchT U26 9th Marianske Lazne, 1962

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 f5 5.d4 fxe4 6.Ng5 (6 Bxc6 dxc6 7 Nxe5 is considered the most accurate line)...

Bb6 7.d5 e3! 8.Ne4 Qh4 9.Qf3 Nf6 10.Nxf6+ gxf6 11.dxc6 exf2+ 12.Kd1 dxc6 13.Be2 Be6 14.Qh5+ Qxh5 15.Bxh5+ Ke7 (Black has enough pawns for the piece with the pawn on f2 being especially menacing) 16.b3 Bd5 17.Ba3+ Ke6 18.Bg4+ f5 19.Bh3 Rhg8 20.Nd2 Bxg2 21.Bxg2 Rxg2 22.Rf1 Rd8 23.Ke2 Rxd2+!! (Since

Nc4 would attack the bishop that defends the advanced pawn on f2, Black eliminates the piece to retain his mighty prelate –a theme repeated a few moves later) 24.Kxd2 e4 25.Bf8 f4 26.b4 Rg5! (White intends Bc5 to exchange the powerful enemy bishop thus Kavalek prepares to sacrifice a second exchange to prevent this)

27.Bc5 Rxc5! 28.bxc5 Bxc5 29.Rab1 f3 (In this amazing position the bishop and pawns prove to be far more effective than a pair of rooks)

30.Rb4 (30 Rh1 Ke5 31 Rxb7 e3+ 32

Kd3 e2 33 Rbb1 Be7! 34 Ke3 Bh4)... Kf5 31.Rd4 Bxd4 32.cxd4 Kf4 0–1 (The final march of the e-pawn will prove irresistible)

“Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe