World Champion Chess for Juniors by Joel Benjamin

Author:Joel Benjamin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New in Chess

14.♘c4!

This nice in-between move cuts out some of Black’s options, like 14.axb3 ♘d5 15.♘c4 ♕c6. Note how grandmasters don’t blitz off automatic recaptures!

14...♕b5?!

The queen is clearly out of play here, but Pachman was worried about protecting his c5-pawn. 14...♕d8 15.axb3 ♘f5 covers everything, but how does Black develop his pieces?

15.axb3 a5

The open a-file is chipping in as Black feels compelled to make this ugly time-waster to prevent 16.♖a5. But 15...♘d5 16.♗d6 ♖d8 17.♖a5 ♕d7 18.♗xc5 just wins a pawn, as 18...b6? 19.♗xb6 would just cost another.

16.♗d6! ♗f6?

Up to this point we’ve seen a buildup of apparently small mistakes put Black in a really unpleasant position. But in trying to hold on to all his possessions, Black lets the house cave in... though it takes some real creativity to see why. Knowing when to concede a little material, usually a pawn, to relieve pressure is a very useful skill.

16...♖e8 17.♗c7! will cost Black a pawn or more. It may already be too late to hope to save this position!

17.♕f3 ♔g7 18.♖e4

Petrosian could have actually executed the brilliant sacrifice a move earlier, with 18.♕xf6+!! ♔xf6 19.♗e5+ ♔g5 20.♗g7.

Black can still only delay checkmate for a few moves. For instance, 20...e5 21.♖xe5+ ♗f5 22.f4+ ♔g4 23.♘e3+ ♔h5 24.♗f3# would be one finish.

18...♖d8?

I don’t think Pachman saw what was coming, but if he did, he might have chucked an exchange with 18...♘d5 just to keep future generations from studying this game!

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